Construction UK Magazine End of Year Review 2016 by Lapthorn Media

END OF YEAR REVIEW 2016 LDN wins Skipton Town Hall revamp

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New Emissions Standards For Non-Road Mobile Machinery

Engel have High Viz safety workwear all wrapped up Create a spa-like luxury bathroom in the home suitable for everyday day residential living with

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Contents End of Year Review 2016

LDN wins Skipton Town Hall revamp

Engel have High Viz Safety Workwear all wrapped up

New-build ground rent scandal could spark legal battles

NorDan’s Scandinavian timber windows feature in RIBA award winning design from architects Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTE) for Hill Partnerships

Ares Prism Illuminate the path ahead and avoid surprises on your project.

PICS Ltd Looking to add colour to your concrete paving, flooring or walling?

Energy Controls Group Ltd Are your meters legal?

Finance 4 Business Uncertainty

30 36 38 52 56 58

04 06

within budget delivery.

Toupret UK have launched the first range of DECONTAMINATING skimming fillers which contain the active Toupret registered SANEO formulation Create a spa-like luxury bathroom in the home suitable for everyday day residential living with Sottini

Monika Slowikowska and her construction company are finalist’s in National Federation of Builders Awards 2016 Winners of Considerate Constructors Scheme 2016 National Awards to be revealed

GenCat Ltd New Emissions Standards For Non-Road Mobile Machinery Planning permission granted for £35m Ecclesall Road development

News4u Ltd Marlowe Way Ramsgate Kent CT12 6FA Tel 01843 598634

Production/Design Matthew Ryan matthew@constructionmaguk.co.uk

Editor Maria Still editor@constructionmaguk.co.uk

Sales Executive Hannah Marshall hannah@constructionmaguk.co.uk

Editorial Assistant Lauren Moore editorial@constructionmaguk.co.uk

Accounts Richard Lapthorn accounts@constructionmaguk.co.uk

Features Editor Paul Attwood paul@constructionmaguk.co.uk

Circulation Manager Jake York subs@constructionmaguk.co.uk

Sales Manager Marianne Ward marianne@constructionmaguk.co.uk

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in Construction UK Magazine however, the publishers accept no responsibility for the claims or opinions made by advertisers, manufactures or contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic (including photocopying) or stored in any information retrieval system without the prior consent of the publisher.

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016 03

News

LDN wins Skipton Town Hall revamp LDN Architects has won a publicly tendered contract worth £318,000 to regenerate the Grade II-listed Skipton Town Hall The Edinburgh-based practice defeated an unnamed shortlist of rival firms to land the Craven District Council-backed scheme. The project will restore the concert hall, museum and gallery inside the landmark 1862 Neo-classical-style building on Skipton High Street. A tourist information centre, reconfigured backstage area and council offices will also be required. According to the contract notice: ‘The designs must be sympathetic with the age of the building whilst being accessible to all and flexible to enable

Transformative Park & Ride scheme hailed as Civic Building of the Year Having only opened 18 months ago, Colchester’s first park and ride facility has been named as Civic Building of the Year by the SPACES Awards. The £4 million project, delivered by independent management, design and construction consultancy Pick Everard last year, has revolutionised the commuter traffic in Essex’s oldest town. The consultancy picked up the hotly contested Civic Building of the Year award at a ceremony on Friday 4th November. “It’s a great honour to have been recognised at a national level for designs which have made such a difference to the local area,” said Gary Buick, director at Pick Everard. “We’re delighted to have won this industry standard award, recognising the revolutionising effects the building has had on the city as well as the excellent standards achieved in terms of design and construction,” continued Gary. Winners are selected through a rigorous

shortlisting process and assessment panel visits. The SPACES Awards is the only awards scheme which recognises design and construction excellence in the public sector and receives submissions from projects across the UK each year. Pick Everard delivered design, project management and contract administrator services on the project. “Colchester’s park and ride is at the cutting edge of contemporary design, with bespoke timber beams creating a focal point to the terminal building – as well as forming the superstructure frame. The seedam brown roof and timber cladding have also added to the overall aesthetic which has created a sense of space inside and movement within the building. “We’ve designed a functional and practical building which is wholly fit for purpose – as well as maintaining an innovative design which is completely in keeping with the surroundings,” said

Gary. The park and ride facility usage has almost doubled since its initial opening, with almost 3,600 visitors, residents and commuters making use of the new facilities every week – with seasonal peaks boosting these figures throughout the year. “The chronic need to alleviate congestion was evident and what the park and ride scheme has created is a sustainable traffic flow, transferring journeys to a more network efficient bus service. In terms of environmental impact, this has obviously made a huge difference. “Acting as project manager and contract administrator, we were also able to accommodate the tight timescales requested by the clients,” added Gary. Pick Everard, which operates nationally, celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, with 11 offices across the UK.

£2m expansion work creates 300 school spaces across Nottinghamshire More than 300 extra school spaces across Nottinghamshire have been created this year, to meet the ever-growing demand of extra school places in the region. South Wilford Primary School, Flintham Primary School in Newark and Butlers Hill Infant and Nursery School and Broomhill Junior School in Hucknall have all undergone more than £2.5m worth of expansion work through local contractor, Ashe Construction. Working in partnership with the East Midlands Property Alliance (empa), each project was completed on time and included ten new classrooms, play areas and a car park. Sheridan McKnight, partnerships director at Ashe Construction is delighted with all the finished projects. He said: “While each school had been working effectively, high demand for extra places in Nottinghamshire meant that

they were starting to outgrow their capacity. As a result, there was a big requirement for new classrooms and spaces. “Everyone at Ashe Construction has worked hard over the past year to ensure each project was delivered on time and budget and to the highest standard. “We are delighted that the staff, parents and children are pleased with the finished projects. The completed expansions mean that students and staff will be able to enjoy their greatly improved school surroundings while having even more space to learn. “Ashe Construction

04 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

will be continuing its work with other schools in Nottinghamshire over the next 12 months, to help provide even more school places and meet the needs of the community.” Working across Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands region, Ashe Construction has created 810 extra school places this year and is currently working towards creating an extra 680 places for the start of 2017.

News a variety of uses. ‘Concept proposals to RIBA Stage 2 have been prepared and a Heritage Lottery Fund Stage 1 application to fund improvements to the museum and gallery area has been awarded a first-round pass.’ LDN will now submit an HLF Stage 2 funding bid and develop the scheme up to RIBA Stage 7. The project is the third phase of improvements to the building. Local firm Bowman Riley Architects completed the £770,000 first phase, delivering a new accessible entrance, ground floor toilets and commercial spaces in 2015. Work on the second phase, which will repair the roof and refurbish the main foyer started earlier this month. Proposals to create a new restaurant within the historic complex are also under discussion.

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*HQGHU SD\ JDS DW SHUFHQW IRU &RQVWUXFWLRQ 6HFWRU ONS statistics show the gender pay gap has narrowed to 18.1 per cent

National gender pay gap now lowest on record – 18.1 per cent Lowest gender pay gap since the survey began in 1997, when the gap for all employees was 27.5%

The Minister for Women and Equalities, Justine Greening has welcomed figures showing the gender pay gap is now the lowest on record. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics, provide the most accurate data on the median average difference between men and women’s earnings. These statistics show that the construction sector has a gender pay gap of 16.3 per cent – that’s 1.8 per cent below the national average. From next April the Government will be taking action to tackle the gender pay gap by requiring all employers with more than 250 employees to publish their gender pay and gender bonus gaps. This will help shine a light on the barriers preventing women from reaching the top. The benefits of helping women to unlock their talents are huge – tackling the UK gender gap could add £150 billion to our annual GDP in 2025. That’s an opportunity that neither Government nor businesses can afford to ignore. Minister for Women and Equalities, Justine Greening said:

“It is fantastic to see we now have the lowest gender pay gap on record. No woman should be held back just because of her gender.

Plans have been submitted by Bennetts Associates for a new sports hall near King’s Cross station in north London. Backed dy developer Argent, the scheme will sit on the north east corner of the wider King’s Cross development, on the so-called Q2 site in York Way. The hall, which will be for public use, will be built to Sport England standards and incorporate an overlaid combination of four standard badminton courts, a basketball court, a volleyball court and a five-a-side football pitch. Part of the building will initially be used as a construction training centre, with a smaller fitness suite above. Argent project manager Luka Vukotic said the design of the scheme was ’exceptionally important’. ’There are Network Rail tunnels just 2.5m to 3m below ground level, so it was very challenging to design a building for this site,’ he said. Cross-laminated timber soldier walls and slabs have been paired with glulam columns and beams for the project in an effort to keep weight down. Much of the timber will be exposed inside the building, which Vukotic said would ensure the building was ‘true to itself’ and offered a ‘great atmosphere’.

“The changes we’ve made so that men and women can share their parental leave, the support we’re giving to get more women into the top jobs at our biggest companies and our drive to get more girls taking STEM subjects at school are all helping to reduce this gap. “We’ve achieved amazing things but there’s more to do – that’s why we are pushing ahead with plans to require businesses to publish their gender pay and gender bonus gap for the first time ever from April next year.” To help drive further progress and help eliminate the gender pay gap in a generation the Government is:

Introducing requirements for all employers with more than 250

members of staff to publish their gender pay and gender bonus pay gaps for the first time ever from April next year; Working with business to have 33 per cent of women on boards by 2020 and eliminate all-male boards in the FTSE 350; and Doubling the amount of free childcare available to working parents of three and four year olds, helping to remove the barriers that can prevent women from returning to the workplace. This builds on the changes Government has already introduced to support women in the workplace, including:

Extending the right to request flexible working to all employees; Introducing a new system of flexible parental leave; Supporting women’s enterprise by helping female entrepreneurs start up and grow their own business; and

Increasing the National Living Wage, of which two-thirds of recipients are women.

&RQVWUXFWLRQ 8. 0DJD]LQH - End of Year Review 2016 05

ENGEL HAVE HIGH VIZ SAFETY WORKWEAR ALL WRAPPED UP One of Europe’s leading workwear manufacturers, Danish company F. Engel have introduced a wide range of high visibility safety workwear in accordance with the new International and European standardisation EN ISO 20 471 With customers’ safety as the company’s prime concern, each item of warningclothing is produced with the largest possible fluorescent and reflective areas thus ensuring the safest levels of visibility both day and night. LOXY high visibility reflector tape, proven for its hard wearing and effective performance, is used throughout the range. In addition to the focus on safety, most garments are made with a high specification of polyester and cotton mix to give long term durability and provide a perfect, comfortable fit, giving stretch and freedom of movement; attention is also paid to important practical details such as concealed zip and stud fastenings for added weather protection, and secure, functional pockets. Linings made from a new, soft and durable blended fabric of 70% polyester/30% cotton with a 100% filament yarn warp and a mixed fibre weft, provide guaranteed inner warmth.

Most items also have a water, oil and dirt repellent finish and the fabrics have been tested to comply with the new EN ISO standards to over 50 industrial or domestic wash cycles. For more than 85 years, workwear from F. Engel™ has been selected by customers from all over Europe as the first choice for allround protection and maximum comfort no matter what a work situation may demand. Founded in 1927 by Carl J. Engel Senior and now 4th generation family-owned, the company has 850 employees based at its Headquarters in Norgesvej, Denmark and 2 factories in Lithuania. Since it first began, with the importing of denim from the U.S. as a hard wearing fabric, the company’s aims have always been the same – to provide superior quality, value for money workwear designed for a perfect, flexible fit and to give long lasting, reliable service.

All Engel garments are available from The Workwear Trade Centre, Milton Keynes; Telephone: 01908 561569; email: sales@wtc-workwear.co.uk and Anchor Safety, Ipswich; Telephone: 0800 328 5028; email: sales@ anchorsafety.co.uk

Since it first began, with the importing of denim from the U.S. as a hard wearing fabric, the company’s aims have always been the same – to provide superior quality, value for money workwear designed for a perfect, flexible fit and to give long lasting, reliable service.

06 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

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News

Legal loophole allowing construction vehicles to ignore critical safety measures Marking the beginning of Road Safety Week, the Mineral Products association warns that a legal loophole is allowing critical safety measures to be bypassed by industry vehicles.

through contracts, it provides a common standard for managing road safety to be implemented in a consistent manner by construction clients, contractors, the supply chain and hauliers. In recent years, the initiative has significantly improved road safety as the whole construction supply chain has taken sustained action to train drivers, equip HGVs with additional safety equipment to eliminate driver blind spots and improve the planning of deliveries to sites in order to reduce collisions between industry

The mineral products industry is responsible for delivering one million tonnes of mineral products from over 2000 sites throughout the UK, including aggregates and asphalt each and every day totalling 360mt pa. The industry is one of the major users of rail and water freight but the The CLOCS Standard has been developed majority of this total is transported for use by the construction industry to by road, including reduce collisions between industry vehicles virtually all “final and vulnerable road users. Implemented mile” deliveries to construction by construction clients through contracts, it projects

benefits are felt nationally. Alongside this, the MPA has also been calling on the Department for Transport for some years to close a loophole in the law enabling significantly unregulated HGVs to operate. The legal loophole means that hundreds of so- called “volumetric vehicles” delivering construction materials such as concrete are regulated as “engineering plant” rather than HGVs. In practice, however, volumetrics are HGVs which carry the raw materials for making concrete in hoppers on the back of the vehicle but are subject to very limited regulation. In contrast, the commonly seen ready mix concrete mixers with rotating drums are fully regulated as HGVs.

This lack of regulation means that volumetric drivers do not have any limits on working hours, whereas HGV drivers have to meet strict driver’s hours’ limits imposed for safety reasons. Companies operating volumetrics do not require HGV Operator licences and are not regulated vehicles and vulnerable road users. by the Traffic Commissioners, who have The recently published MPA’s Driver’s powers to stop a low-grade HGV business Handbook which has already reached from operating). Volumetrics also typically operate to well above regulated HGV 20,000 drivers is a resource for all drivers weight limits – for example well above to help them understand and manage the 40 tonnes when the equivalent HGV limit risks that they face and can create when is 32 tonnes. The issue here is not the driving and operating vehicles for work. use of volumetrics, which are particularly suited to delivering Alongside this, the MPA has also been smaller loads of concrete to calling on the Department for Transport for customers, but some years to close a loophole in the law the fact that enabling significantly unregulated HGVs they are able to ignore critical to operate. The legal loophole means that safety regulations hundreds of so- called “volumetric vehicles” required for other delivering construction materials such as HGVs. Whereas a number of MPA concrete are regulated as “engineering member companies plant” rather than HGVs. choose to operate volumetrics to the same regulatory standards as other However, CLOCS is still not implemented HGVs, the current loopholes enable other across the UK, being largely London businesses to operate volumetrics to focussed, and construction clients need a low level of regulation which should to ensure CLOCS is a general procurement horrify anyone interested in road safety. condition. There is a renewed campaign Government action is long overdue. underway however to spread the use of CLOCS across the UK and the ease with which construction clients, contractors, The MPA is keen to support Road suppliers and hauliers can access and Safety Week and will continue to implement the scheme should ensure its work to promote on road safety.

provides a common standard for managing road safety to be implemented in a consistent manner by construction clients, contractors, the supply chain and hauliers.

Consequently, for the Mineral Products Association (MPA), road safety, particularly that of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, is paramount, and extends beyond members’ sites to the wider community

Recognising this, the MPA took the initiative in 2011 of developing its own cycle safe campaign and its members subsequently agreed a policy of retrofitting their existing HGV s with cameras, more mirrors and other technology, procuring new vehicles incorporating modern technology as well as increasing driver training. MPA was also an early supporter of the Construction Logistics & Community Safety (CLOCS) initiative which took account of the efforts made by the mineral products industry. Bringing together all elements of the construction industry and its supply chain with the active support of road safety campaigners, CLOCS revolutionises the management of work related road risk and embeds a road safety culture across the sector. The CLOCS Standard has been developed for use by the construction industry to reduce collisions between industry vehicles and vulnerable road users. Implemented by construction clients

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016 09

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News

US giant snaps up three UK concrete pumping firms The United States’ largest concrete pumping specialist has waded into the UK sealing a deal to buy three prominent concrete firms. Denver-based Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping has bought Camfaud Concrete Pumps, Premier Concrete Pumping, and South Coast Concrete Pumping. The new consolidated UK business will continue to operate under the firm’s existing trade names. Tony Faud, managing director of Camfaud, will become the managing director of the new UK operations and will be supported by all of the existing senior managers of the UK businesses. Also he joins the BrundageBone board of directors. The value of the deal was not revealed but was funded by Californian private equity investor Peninsula Pacific. In the United States, Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping employs over 700 people in nearly 80 locations in 20 states across the western, mountain, south-central, mid-western and southeast regions of the country. Bruce Young, chief executive officer of BrundageBone, said:

The addition of Camfaud, Premier and South Coast fit well with our own business model, and together we can leverage our capabilities on a multinational basis to best serve our customers.

New-build ground rent scandal could spark legal battles Solicitors who failed to warn of soaring ground rents on leasehold properties face a wave of claims for professional negligence, following revelations on a scandal that has engulfed thousands of unwitting homebuyers. Many have been unaware that the ground rent on new-build leasehold properties they have bought can escalate dramatically in future years following the introduction of new clauses in which it doubles every decade. Although most housebuilders have switched to a new formula of increases based on RPI, some people are finding that the new-build home they bought as recently as 2010 is virtually unsaleable. But a lifeline has emerged for distressed buyers in the form of the Council of Mortgage Lenders handbook, which is meant to guide the process of conveyancing. Graham Balchin of solicitors Carter Lemon Camerons says: “It is a requirement of most lenders [see the CML Handbook section 5.14.9] that the lender is informed of any increase in the ground rent that may materially affect the value of the property. If the conveyancing solicitor fails to warn the purchaser, and any lender providing a mortgage secured on the property, that the lease terms may adversely affect the value of the leasehold property, they may be liable in negligence.

“Moreover, with the financial support of Peninsula Pacific behind us, we have the right foundation to continue to prudently expand as conditions warrant.” Faud said: “We’re highly enthusiastic to partner with Brundage-Bone to create a premium international concrete pumping enterprise. “Brundage-Bone is a natural fit for the UK businesses given our shared values and strengths.”

12 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

News “I have acted – and am currently acting – for a number of flat owners who have suffered substantial loss as a result of purchasing leasehold property with onerous ground rent clauses. In those claims we have been able to recover compensation from the solicitor.”

experienced conveyancer would have understood it and advised the buyer. But most conveyancing is done by pretty junior people who don’t realise just how onerous these terms are.”

Many have been unaware that the ground rent on new-build leasehold properties they have bought can escalate dramatically in future years following the introduction of new clauses in which it doubles every decade.

Balchin adds that the insurers for solicitors, who cover the cost of professional negligence claims, have accepted that a doubling of the ground rent every 10 years is an “onerous term”. Money has also been contacted by Myles Hickey of solicitors Dowse & Co, who also suggests householders claim for professional negligence. In one case Hickey handled the client was on the hook for an increase in the initial £400 annual ground rent to an extraordinary £409,600. “It is scandalous that the solicitors acting for the leaseholders failed to pick up this glaring problem before contracts were exchanged. I would suggest that failure to alert a buyer to the risks they face from periodic doubling of ground rent is obvious professional negligence,” he says.

Many young buyers are encouraged by developers to use solicitors for conveyancing recommended by them, who then fail to warn the buyer of the onerous ground rent clauses.

Balchin says: “Estate agents are also to blame. They will recommend solicitors who will make the sale happen because the agent wants to get their commission. The agent, of course, is acting for the seller and can try to conceal just how high the ground rent is. In one case I was told of the agent saying the ground rent was just £27 per month, rather than £350 a year. That makes a very high figure for a flat in Nelson, Lancashire, sound quite reasonable. They don’t mention that the ground rent doubles every 10 years.”

Balchin points out that leasehold house buyers find themselves in a worse position than flat buyers. If a developer such as Taylor Wimpey sells the freehold of a block of flats, it has to offer the leasees a right of first refusal. But owners of leasehold homes have no such right. This explains why buyers of new-build houses have contacted Money after discovering that only a couple of years later the freehold on their home has been sold to another company without their approval. Many young buyers are encouraged Buying the freehold can by developers to use solicitors for then become conveyancing recommended by them, very expensive.

Some of the cases seen by Balchin are remarkable. “I was approached by someone who who then fail to warn the buyer of the had bought a home in southeast London 20 years ago for onerous ground rent clauses. £150,000. Since then the ground rent has gone up to £32,000 a year. A clause in his lease said the ground rent would increase to a percentage of the rentable value of the property. It’s something you see in some commercial leases, but not normally in residential. It was very well hidden and no one paid attention. It started at £50 a year, or 1% of the sale price, or 60% of the rentable value, whichever is higher. An

Balchin says he seeks compensation from the leaseholder’s conveyancing solicitor based on a surveyor’s valuation of what the property would be worth with and without the onerous

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016 13

News Research by the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership reveals there were £1.9bn of new-build leasehold homes sold in 2015. So far this year the total is £775m. “As the Land Registry can take several months to record a new transaction, the 2016 data is incomplete. It should not be assumed the 2016 figure will be lower than 2015,” says Sebastian O’Kelly of LKP.

Builders traditionally sold houses as freehold, but they’ve switched to leasehold on some estates, saddling buyers with spiralling ground rents. In some cases highlighted by Money, buyers later say their homes are unsaleable. ground rent clauses. But he warns that leaseholders need to begin legal action sooner rather than later: “A claim must be brought within six years of exchange of contracts.” Unfortunately, many people don’t realise until they come to sell, which can be too late. Ground rent clauses which rise linked to RPI are less likely to succeed as a claim than ones that double every 10 years, he adds. Meanwhile, Conservative MP Peter Bottomley, joint-chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on leasehold reform, this week challenged Peter Redfern, chief executive of Taylor Wimpey, to explain his company’s policy. “Is there any reason to sell a new house leasehold except to put the new owner at a disadvantage? This may have been legal; it is clearly undesirable. A respectable company, I believe, should rule out this arrangement as corporate irresponsibility.” In a statement, Taylor Wimpey indicated that it is prepared to look again at its ground rent clauses. It said: “We reviewed the mechanism for ground rent increases in 2011 and decided that the RPI was a more appropriate measure going forward. All Taylor Wimpey homes on developments commenced after 2011 have been sold with ground rent increases linked to the RPI. All purchasers have independent legal advice.

Clauses in the lease allow the freeholder to double the ground rent every decade, with it rising to £9,000 or more in some cases. Leaseholders wanting to buy the freehold find the builder has sold it on to another firm, which then seeks huge sums even though the lease may only be a few years into a 999-year term. “The new-build leasehold houses stretch right across the country, from Penrith down to the Isle of Wight,” says O’Kelly. “Several areas of Wales are affected, with a reintroduction of leasehold houses on a scale not seen since mine owners began building tied accommodation in the Valleys. A disproportionate amount seems to be in the north-west and in poorer areas.” However, there are also smatterings of new leasehold house sales in the south-east and south-west, with heavy concentrations in Thurrock and Peterborough. So far, the most expensive new-build leasehold house sold this year was in Hammersmith for £3.3m.

Clauses in the lease allow the freeholder to double the ground rent every decade, with it rising to £9,000 “Until recently, we hadn’t been aware of the concern or more in some cases. Leaseholders of some customers and homeowners regarding wanting to buy the freehold find the these pre-RPI clauses and the difficulties that they builder has sold it on to another firm, are currently experiencing in selling or mortgaging which then seeks huge sums even their homes. Having heard the cases described and in order to establish the facts, we are undertaking a though the lease may only be a few review.” years into a 999-year term. A country-wide problem Nearly £2bn-worth of new-build leasehold houses were sold in England and Wales last year, according to a detailed analysis of Land Registry data. Builders traditionally sold houses as freehold, but they’ve switched to leasehold on some estates, saddling buyers with spiralling ground rents. In some cases highlighted by Money, buyers later say their homes are unsaleable.

14 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

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18 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

Knowledge grows

NorDan’s Scandinavian timber windows feature in RIBA award winning design from architects Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTE) for Hill Partnerships

The Avenue development at Saffron Walden, has just won a RIBA National Award in 2016. Designed for developers Hill, Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects have managed to extract the maximum from the location lush with mature lime trees, dating back to 1879 when a Quaker Friends School was established on the site.

best of new housing developments: a committed client, a skilled architect, and a site with a fabulous mature landscape. The palette of materials is traditional but the detailing is modern and crisp. The housing off the main avenue forms a series of courtyards that strike a clever mix of coherence and community for the owners. This is a great lesson in defensible space without the requirement for any signage – simple and successful urban design in action.’

small houses specifically designed for the over-55 market.

The scheme responds sensitively to its mature landscaped context, within a Conservation Area and adjacent to a listed water tower. The heart of the scheme is a retained avenue of mature lime trees, The Avenue. The homes here are arranged around courtyards behind a The team set out to retain as many of new garden wall, or are set back beyond grassed and planted verges. The new the trees as possible and in doing so landscaping includes relocated native they have created a striking avenue at hedgerows, planted the heart of the fruit trees from scheme which The Avenue represents the best of new housing now forms a existing rootstock developments: a committed client, a skilled on the site, and well-used public architect, and a site with a fabulous mature retention of most route through the development. of the mature landscape. The palette of materials is traditional trees. Nice touch that but the detailing is modern and crisp. the choice of NorDan supplied Norwegian top swing aluminium clad timber Designed timber windows from NorDan This development by Hill Residential, complements timber shingle cladding to designed by architects Pollard Thomas windows from their NTech 1.2 range. With a grey or white fully finished factory some of the external walls. Edwards (PTE), has 76 new homes painted frames. ranging from one-bedroom flats to fiveOn presenting the award the judges bedroom detached houses and includes commented: ‘The Avenue represents the 25% affordable housing and 18 flats and www.nordan.co.uk

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016 19

Illuminate the path ahead and avoid surprises on your project. Global rail infrastructure is undergoing unprecedented transformation, with modernization and construction projects amounting to billions of pounds underway and numerous others under appraisal. As demand increases and mass transit goes deeper underground, the challenge of building and maintaining this network is enormous. Costs are greater, contracts are more complex, and the supply chain is strained, exacerbated by global demand for the skilled resources needed to deliver this work. As the intricacy of these public projects increases so does scrutiny and the need for accountability. Faced with these challenges, infrastructure owners have striven to develop best practices, especially in the arena of project and programme management, where it is now considered vital to implement a system of record to accurately identify project risk and secure on-time, within budget delivery.

ARES PRISM G2 is an end-to-end, total cost management solution designed to help organizations reduce costs with increased visibility throughout their projects lifecycle. Organisations in more than 50 countries rely on PRISM for dependable forecasts, cost control, and performance measurement through the planning, execution and completion of projects. PRISM aligns the project budget and schedule, provides automated change management, and delivers predictive analytics so that managers can make better informed decisions. To learn more about ARES PRISM G2 and request a Demo Presentation visit us at:

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News

The Construction sector showing no prolonged Brexit effect With the first three months of post-Brexit figures in the books, construction sector contracts across September reached a total of £5.6 billion, a minor increase on August, and after a summer wobble the industry seems to have stabilised. According to the October edition of the

Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI, the residential sector played a prominent role in stabilising construction figures across September. With the government pushing for more housing to be built and ambitious targets set, over £1.7 billion of residential contracts were agreed to on the month, a year on year increase of

12 per cent. Another sector that performed well this past month was the hotel, leisure & sport industry, with construction contracts value worth over £500 million, a massive 99 per cent higher than a year ago. This was helped greatly by the commissioning of the Aberdeen

Energy saving community project wins prestigious Energy Awards Project ERIC (Energy Resources for Integrated Communities) was announced as a winner in the prestigious 2016 Energy Awards at a ceremony in London on 30 November 2016. The project was named Residential Energy Project of the Year and was also highly commended in the Innovation Energy Project of the Year category.

Professor Rajat Gupta, Director of the Low Carbon Building Group and Oxford Institute of Sustainable Development, and academic lead on the project said: “We are delighted to have won and be named highly commended in the Energy Awards which are highly regarded in the industry. “The awards have provided fantastic recognition for the hard work of the Project ERIC team and also raises awareness about the opportunities for community energy sharing schemes.”

The £1.2million UK Government funded project, in which Oxford Brookes University is the lead academic partner, Project ERIC “We are delighted to have won and be named demonstrates was launched highly commended in the Energy Awards which how distributed in January are highly regarded in the industry. The awards generation 2015 as a have provided fantastic recognition for the hard (solar PV) and collaboration smart battery work of the Project ERIC team and also raises between Moixa storage in a Technology, awareness about the opportunities for community community can Bioregional, energy sharing schemes.” Professor Rajat Gupta, be managed Oxford City Director of the Low Carbon Building Group and to reduce Council, Oxford Oxford Institute of Sustainable Development average peak Brookes grid load and University, increase self-consumption of local PV generated GreenSquare, JoJu Solar, Re-energise, British Gas electricity across the Rose Hill estate in Oxford, and SSEN. benefiting both local people and the environment. ERIC has installed smart battery storage packs and Prof Rajat Gupta and Dr Adorkor Bruce-Konuah of electricity-generating photovoltaic panels on more the Low Carbon Building Group at Oxford Brookes than 80 homes, plus a community centre and a are responsible for monitoring and evaluating school. the energy savings achieved at the household and community level, and the experiences of the An electric car club is also part of the research and occupants. demonstration project. As part of the project evaluation, residents were

22 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

News exhibition and conference development worth £330 million. The sector’s improved performance will be received favourably after a fairly stagnant year.

month was infrastructure, which was down by a substantial 44.5 per cent on the month compared to September 2015. Additionally if it wasn’t for the £657 million M4 smart motorway The most disappointing sector on the scheme in Berkshire, then this figure would be much lower. Rather than following in the footsteps of his

predecessor George Osborne, Mr Hammond is expected to take a different approach, by announcing top-level spending decisions rather than full details of individual projects. Amid economic uncertainty during Brexit talks, he is set to adopt a more flexible approach. found to be concerned about rising energy prices and believe it is important to reduce both their household energy use and the energy use of the community as a whole. An assessment of the household electricity use and solar PV systems revealed a wide variation in the amount of electricity used by each household, while all PV systems are performing significantly well and generating good amounts of renewable energy. Professor Gupta continued: “This assessment further reinforces the opportunity for a community energy share scheme in Rose Hill. The rigorous academic evaluation of the project will seek to provide the evidence for this opportunity in 201617 while fostering a greater understanding of energy issues.” Project ERIC is funded by Government’s innovation agency Innovate UK under the Localised energy systems competition. The Energy Awards ceremony took place at the Hilton Park Lane in London.

Commenting on the figures, Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI, said: “Overall, the construction sector

has so far been robust enough to stave off the potential effects from the shock Brexit vote and has kept contract values at a healthy level, helped significantly by residential projects and the often wavering infrastructure sector.” “A welcome boost for the industry would be an increase in contract values from other sectors outside of residential & infrastructure, such as commercial & retail, which had its poorest month in September since May 2015.”

£1.3Bn to be announced in Autumn Statement to target road congestion Chancellor Philip Hammond will announce in Autumn Statement extra £1.3Bn is to be spent on improving Britain’s roads. Philip Hammond plans to spend £1.3Bn on road improvements, which will be announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. The statement will include £1.1Bn to cut road congestion and £220M for tackling “pinch points” on England’s motorways and major A roads, as part of a wider package of infrastructure investment worth billions of pounds. The Treasury said investment in infrastructure and innovation to boost long-term economic growth following Brexit, would be central to the statement, with the government launching its industrial strategy in the coming weeks. Priority will be given to projects that can be built quickly and be immediately beneficial. One project to be given the go-ahead will be £27M expressway connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. Road congestion costs the UK £13Bn every year, according to the Treasury, who claims that the equivalent of more than 100 wording days could be lost by

2040 unless action is taken now. Rather than following in the footsteps of his predecessor George Osborne, Mr Hammond is expected to take a different approach, by announcing top-level spending decisions rather than full details of individual projects. Amid economic uncertainty during Brexit talks, he is set to adopt a more flexible approach. “He believes the Treasury should be focused on its core job of economic policy, managing the public finances, and not doing spending departments’ jobs for them,” a spokesman said. The Treasury also said the Autumn Statement would provide “targeted help to ordinary working families who are struggling to get by”. Politicians in northern England are calling on Mr Hammond to prioritise the Northern Powerhouse rail over London’s Crossrail 2, with comments for Greater Manchester mayoral candidate Andy Burnham wearing the Chancellor that northern motorways are reaching “saturation point” and train capacity is “at the limit”.

Rather than following in the footsteps of his predecessor George Osborne, Mr Hammond is expected to take a different approach, by announcing toplevel spending decisions rather than full details of individual projects.

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016 23

Looking to add colour to your concrete paving, flooring or walling? PICS provide the best in quality manufactured decorative concrete, and textured lightweight render walling systems for specification, and installation for the commercial and domestic construction markets. Whether the construction process requires Colourmix to integrally colour concrete, or the use of Picspave to create a pattern imprinted concrete finish, PICS have the solution through our range of coloured and textured systems. Coloured exposed aggregate, or Picstain for colouring existing plain concrete, there is almost no surface finish that cannot be recreated. Wallcrete coloured and textured renders offer a bespoke option for matching original wall surfaces or being creative with wall finishes, adding colour and textured finishes to projects from theming work in the commercial leisure or retail sectors through to standard finishes in the domestic property market. Full training and technical support from PICS offers the construction market the opportunity to get involved in the design and specification through to the final installation or utilising the experienced

Wallcrete coloured and textured renders offer a bespoke option for matching original wall surfaces or being creative with wall finishes, adding colour and textured finishes to projects from theming work in the commercial leisure or retail sectors through to standard finishes in the domestic property market. Pattern Imprinted Concrete Supplies Ltd Unit 2 Red Shute Hill Ind Est, Hermitage, Berkshire RG18 9QL t: +44 (0) 1635 202224 | e: sales@picsuk.com www.picsuk.com | www.hatcrete.com

24 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

Picspave installer network in the UK and abroad. Using products and installation techniques recognised worldwide, PICS continue to expand and offer both PICS and Hatcrete branded colouring products for the readymixed concrete industry, concrete product manufacturers and industrial flooring sector - whatever your role in construction, PICS are here to work with you. Simply call us to discuss any project or application that needs a colour or texture solution.

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ARE YOUR METERS LEGAL? Get ready for the new change in legislation Q In October 2016, legislation governing the design and manufacture of energy meters is set to change.

urrently ALL electricity and gas meters installed in the UK for billing or prepayment of energy MUST by law (Electricity Act 1989) be of a type approved by Ofgem (Office of Gas & Electricity Markets). There are no exceptions or exclusions. In October 2016 Ofgem legislation will be replaced by new MID regulations (Measuring Instruments Directive). Ofgem regulations will still apply to existing meter installations but Landlords could be liable for prosecution if they install meters that do not meet the new MID requirements.

It is essential that Holiday Park owners and Landlords understand their legal obligation to use approved meters...

Consumer protection The purpose of these regulations is to protect the consumer by ensuring that all meters are manufactured under controlled conditions in order to guarantee long-term accuracy and quality assurance. It is therefore essential that Holiday Park owners and Landlords understand their legal obligation to use approved meters for billing their consumers for energy. Ask your meter supplier for a copy of the MID Approval Certificate for YOUR METERS or visit the Government website to see if your meter is listed and approved: - https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/schedule-4-uk-nationally-approvedelectricity-meters. Further details from Energy Controls Group Ltd., PO Box 1141, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 1XN. www.econtrols.co.uk Email: sales@econtrols.co.uk

26 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

Metering, Measuring, Managing Resources

SMART Meters for Electricity and Gas Did you know that there are clearly deﬁned laws and regulations in the UK governing the type of electricity & gas meters used for prepayment and billing purposes?

Consumer conﬁdence The purpose of these regulations is to protect the consumer by ensuring that all meters used for billing purposes are manufactured under controlled conditions in order to ensure accuracy and reliability. It is essential that Landlords and Property Managers understand their legal obligation to use approved meters for billing their consumers. The consequences of using unapproved meters are that consumers may have a right to refuse to pay for their energy and the Landlord may be liable to prosecution.

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Uncertainty First we had the Brexit vote, causing uncertainty across the market. Many firms stating their results have been affected by this uncertainty. Article 50 hasn’t been triggered yet, so has anything really changed? Now the US election winner being Donald Trump, we are entering another round of uncertainty. The exit polls got it wrong on both events, so should we have been surprised he won? So, what actually is uncertainty? Finance 4 Business (F4B) is a multi-award winning finance brokerage, largely recognised as the leading firm within the industry. Having seen through the financial crisis, recession, Brexit vote and now the US elections, it is safe to say, F4B have experienced it all. So is it all bad news? Despite all the uncertainty reflected in the market, Russell Martin, Managing Director of F4B is still bullish. “The appetite for development and Buy to Let finance has increased significantly. With challenger banks and specialist lenders, competing with the mainstream lenders, there is far greater choice and flexibility for the investor. BoE base rate is at an historic low, which is reflected in the commercial finance rates on offer”. “Many people fear further rejection,

especially if they have approached a high-street lender, usually their own bank. This is mainly due to the criteria imposed, following the financial crisis. This is still being affected, hence the sentiment is they don’t want to lend. Many are unaware of the alternative market, which is why we are now seeing an increase in referrals from existing clients, financial advisers, accountants, solicitors and commercial estate agents”. With the housing shortage becoming an ever-increasing problem, particularly in affordable housing in the south, rentals have increased dramatically. The lenders rates are extremely attractive to borrowers, but not good news for savers. Many investors are now looking at property as a source of receiving bond like income streams. Corporate Bonds average yield is at 3.4%, consider taxation and inflation, it takes this yield down to around 2%. Average rental yields in parts of the UK, have surpassed 7%. Certain areas have recorded higher, due to the demand for the property or postcode. The construction of affordable housing, is not meeting demand, which is another reason for the increase in rentals. Coupled with more students than ever going to university, this has also increased demand. Looking at the market, it is clear to see that there is an appetite to lend. It is worth stating, some of the starting rates or offers, would be exclusive to F4B:

Bridging Loans

Interest rates from 0.58% pcm Funding can be complted within one week Up to 100% of purchase price available

“The appetite for development and Buy to Let finance has increased significantly. With challenger banks and specialist lenders, competing with the mainstream lenders, there is far greater choice and flexibility for the investor. BoE base rate is at an historic low, which is reflected in the commercial finance rates on offer.” Russell Martin, Managing Director of F4B Development Finance

t Up to 100% Loan to Cost t Rates start from 4.5%pa Commercial Mortgages

t Up to 80% LTV t Rates from 2% above BoE Base Rate (pa) t Loan terms up to 30 years “Using a broker such as F4B, provides you with access to products, not available or even considered. We do not charge up-front fees, so focussed purely on the clients’ needs, not our own. We engage with the clients from outset, ensuring deals are completed, within their expectations.

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016 29

TOUPRET UK have launched the first range of DECONTAMINATING skimming fillers which contain the active Toupret registered SANEO formulation. TOUPRET SKIMMING FILLERS WITH SANEO are unique in their ability to capture and destroy FORMALDEHYDE molecules that are present in the air in your home, work place, schools and other common areas.

Toupret UK, s Jim Newark goes on to explain:

A recent article in The Daily Mail by Jaya Narin reported on recent tests carried out by Professor Alaistair Lewis of The National Centre for Atmospheric Science at The University of York who explained the problem and the research that they did .The bottom line of these tests was made very clear in that Formaldehyde causes cancer particularly in the nose and throat .Many of the tests conclusions are in line with what TOUPRET external test laboratory [EUROFINS] have ratified in accordance with ISO 16000 Standard on the claims made by Toupret SANEO and the benefits of acting to reduce this pollutant .

â&#x20AC;&#x153;FORMALDEHYDE is the NO.1 indoor pollutant recently classified as CMR in Europe and classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation. FORMALDEHYDE is used in many manufacturing processes that end up in the home and workplace. Surprising to many of us normal folk, chemicals given off by scented candles, plug in scented devices and household cleaning products. give of LIMONENE.

The two new TOUPRET SANEO skimming fillers are now available to be ordered through most professional trade Builders Merchants, Independent trade paint stores, Brewers Decorating centres, Crown Decorating centres, Dulux Decorating Centres and Johnstone Paints trade centres. Enquries Toupret office 0203 6916747 or email toupretuk@toupret.com. Website www.toupret.com

TOUPRET SANEO products take up to 24 hours to effectively start purifying the air inside, thereafter releasing clean air back into the environment.

PLANEO G with SANEO The first product /tools combination that successfully achieves perfect finishes when manually skim filling walls and ceilings prior to painting or wallcovering. Perfect for renovation and new work. Especially useful for the trades man who needs to quickly patch areas where traditional plastering is not cost effective.

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Unfortunately although smelling fresh and pleasant its chemical reaction with normal air in your house etc. can produce molecules of FORMALDEHYDEâ&#x20AC;?

This process continues for the life of Toupret skimming filler . The benefits of SANEO go further because it still works after being painted by any normal paint system or wallcovering . If combined with a decontaminating paint it reinforces its effectiveness.

The benefits of SANEO go further because it still works after being painted by any normal paint system or wallcovering. If combined with a decontaminating paint it reinforces its effectiveness.

AIRSPRAY FINISH with SANEO The first AIRLESS spray product with SANEO that requires no trowelling! Also its machine flow of 2.6 litres per minute combined with a tip size of 4.19 means it can be put through smaller cost effective airless spray machines than most other ready to use or powder skimming fillers.

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30 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

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News

Council invests in Genr8 Ashford’s future with Submits Plans for town centre cinema and Rochdale Riverside restaurant agreement A major new leisure development in Ashford has been given final approval, paving the way for a cinema, hotel and seven restaurants on land at Elwick Place. Ashford Borough Council will fund construction of the new town centre complex, which marks another step forward in Ashford’s major regeneration project. The announcement was made by Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, at last week’s Cabinet meeting. Planning permission was granted in December 2015. Formal approval for the borough council to fund the development, subject to resolving a number of outstanding matters, was given by councillors in April 2016. An announcement followed at the end of June that the town centre cinema will be operated by Picturehouse, Cineworld’s boutique cinema brand. Some preparatory work is being undertaken on site and further enabling works will take place in the New Year. Further timescales will be announced in due course. Cllr Clarkson said: “It is pleasing to announce another significant development on one of our major regeneration projects. Already, the impressive Ashford College building signifies a promising future, not just for the students who will pass through its doors, but it now stands watch over an area of the town that will see the development of brown field sites at Elwick Place, the Commercial Quarter and Victoria Way. “We are evolving as a council. We are commercially-minded, adopting practices seldom seen in local government to achieve our ambition of delivering a vibrant town centre,

inward investment and a future where we are self-reliant. This approach is valued by central government and by developers, and we look forward to working closely with Stanhope over the months ahead.”

Genr8 Developments has submitted a detailed planning application in respect of its proposed £60 million retail and leisure development in Rochdale Town Centre. The scheme, branded as Rochdale Riverside, extends to approximately 200,000 sq ft (18,580 sq m) and comprises 24 retail and leisure units ranging from 1,000 (93 sq m) to 20,000 sq ft (1,858 sq m) together with a six screen cinema and approximately 350 car parking spaces. It is anchored by a 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) M&S and a 22,000 sq ft (2,044 sq m) Next. Reel Cinemas has signed to operate the cinema which will sit above the retail and leisure element of the scheme. The retail units will all be constructed to a height of around 10 metres to allow retailers to trade from both ground and mezzanine

Cllr Neil Shorter, Ashford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for budget and resource management, said:

As well as ensuring the delivery of Elwick Place, this illustrates Ashford Borough Council’s enterprising approach. We are business-like, delivering investment and creating jobs. This approach is securing an economic base that enables us to continue to deliver the services that are valued by residents right across the borough while remaining, by some distance, the lowest taxing authority in Kent. The borough council’s strategy is to be able to operate free of government grant by the 2018-19 financial year, with government funding having reduced by 40% in the last six years. It proposes to use the income generated through rents and business rates to sustain and improve its services without the need for central government funding.

This is an approach that is proving successful already, with a report to Cabinet members in October showing that the council’s acquisitions are providing a strong return on investment – with a significant return for the council on International House and for Wilko. It has also retained half of the growth in business rates it has seen above its baseline position through the promotion of inward investment and creating a climate for economic growth among businesses of all sizes in the borough. Cllr Graham Galpin, Ashford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for town centres and business, said: “We are making a big statement here to businesses and residents. This council is so passionate about the success of its town centre that it is once again investing in it. Park Mall was in need of a lift, so we acquired it and have transformed its fortunes, offering smaller business owners the flexibility to build their livelihoods. Elwick Place is needed to stimulate Ashford’s night-time economy.” Cllr Clarkson concluded: “Ashford is a place of positive action with a can-do authority that continues to place its faith in a revived and reinvigorated town centre. These are really exciting times for Ashford.”

Modular housing development, Mountearl Gardens achieves practical completion With the Government’s recent announcement that more homes in the UK should be built using the modular housing concept to meet the acute housing shortage, one architectural practice and developer have just achieved practical completion on its modular site in London. Mountearl Gardens in Streatham Hill, designed by leading architecture and design practice, HKR Architects and built by affordable housing developer Pocket, provides 29 one bedroom apartments, three, two bedroom apartments and a wheelchair accessible unit. The development, built on a redundant single storey garage site off Mountearl Gardens in Streatham Hill, was designed to create a domestic scaled, elegantly proportioned and visually interesting building, which can be built quicker and result in a higher quality finish. The scheme was delivered in BIM, greatly facilitating the manufacture

process. HKR was able to directly share and develop the building model with the fabrication team, testing build-ability, coordination, and improving cost certainty and programme. Using BIM at the appropriate level of detail ensured a greater accuracy, mitigating the risk of on-site discrepancies and ensuring greater quality off-site fabrication. The modules were completely finished internally in the factory with some minor finishing once on site. They were delivered complete with windows, doors, insulation, plumbing, wiring and ducting. Upon delivery they were then slotted into place as final services were connected on site. Geoff Brocklehurst, Director at HKR Architects comments, “As a practice we have been involved in the modular housing concept for nearly ten years and through our work with developers such as Pocket, we have perfected our design methods to deliver a product which is architecturally appealing but has the ability to be built at a reduced budget and quicker

32 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

News levels.

Councillor Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said:

The scheme is being delivered jointly by Genr8 Developments and Kajima in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council. Letting agents are Cheetham & Mortimer and Lambert Smith Hampton. Partner at Cheetham & Mortimer, Warwick Smither, said:

“This is a hugely important milestone for the regeneration of our town centre. The new stores and high street names will attract new shoppers back to town and give a massive boost to all retailers. It’s a unique mix of retail and leisure which will create 1,000 new jobs and boost the local economy by £17m.

This is a major milestone in the delivery of this exciting retail and leisure development in the heart of Rochdale. We are in detailed negotiations with a number of major operators who are looking to secure representation in Rochdale Riverside. On top of the tenants already secured, these additional retailers and leisure occupiers will help reposition Rochdale and regenerate the whole town centre. The application is expected to be considered early in the New Year. Demolition works have already commenced and construction works are programmed to start by late summer 2017.

“This is a red letter day for Rochdale and yet more evidence in the turnaround of the fortunes of our town centre. “Rochdale Riverside is an important part of our £250m regeneration programme, which has transformed Rochdale beyond all recognition since 2010. This latest milestone is another boost to our borough’s retail offer, coming just weeks after the submission of a planning application for a brand new Rochdale Market.” The scheme has been designed by TP Bennett Architects and an exhibition of the development proposals will be on display at the Council Offices, No.1 Riverside from will be on display from Monday 28th November for a period of two weeks.

European Standard for concrete structures is revised BSI, the business standards company, has revised BS EN 206 Concrete – Specification, performance, production and conformity. The European Standard applies to concrete for structures cast in situ, precast structures, and structural precast products for buildings and civil engineering structures.

BS EN 206 covers constituents of concrete; properties of fresh and hardened concrete and their verification; limitations for concrete composition; specification of concrete; delivery of fresh concrete; production control procedures; and conformity criteria and evaluation of conformity.

The standard covers all types of concrete and nearly all types of precast concrete*. BS 206 also covers concrete for pavements where there are additional complementary requirements cited in the European Standard for Concrete pavements.

The standard will be of use to all members of a construction project who provide or require information on ready mix concrete, including construction contractors, specialists, manufacturers, specifiers and structural engineers.

The revision specifically addresses that concrete may be designed for a working life of up to and over 100 years. This ensures that when its sustainability credentials are compared to other building materials the comparison may be carried out on an equitable basis.

BS EN 206 was developed using a collaborative consensus-based process with input from experts within the construction product sector such as the British Ready Mix Concrete Association, as well as structural engineers, construction product manufacturers, specifiers and trade

than traditional build.” “Mountearl Gardens is a prime example. The apartments have been cleverly designed to feel much larger with floor to ceiling windows to allow in natural light, plenty of storage to reduce clutter, room for a dining table and chairs and underfloor heating so furniture can be placed wherever residents want it and don’t have unwanted radiators in the way. The majority of the building was constructed off-site and delivered to site over a three-week period, resulting in a real reduction in on-site wastage and disturbance to the local community.” Modern methods of construction (MMC) resulted in significantly less disruption to local residents - 60% fewer trucks coming to site and 90% less waste. It is also estimated that MMC reduced the project time by six months. However, this hasn’t meant an adverse impact on quality; Pocket’s high build and sustainability standards are always maintained. One of Pocket’s most striking distinctions is that buyers own 100% of their home which differs from more complicated shared equity schemes. The apartments were sold outright at a price that was at least 20% cheaper than the average home in the same area.

association representatives. Anthony Burd, Head of Built Environment at BSI, said: “The characteristics of concrete that may be needed depends on its end use application. These can range from such things as strength, maximum aggregate size or consistency to visual concretes where aggregate structure is on display. With such an array of variations possible it is useful to have guidelines for the specifier and the producer to refer to. BS EN 206 can help with this, and now with the added clarity this amendment brings, this process is much easier. The amendment to BS 206 was a result of BSI’s participation in the CEN technical committee CEN/TC 104. BS EN 206 does not cover health and safety requirements for the protection of workers during production and delivery of concrete.

HKR is currently working on two other Pocket Living projects, Juxon Street and Sail Street, both scheduled to finish in January 2017. Identical modules have been created across the three projects, but are designed and assembled to create three distinctly different schemes. The sites are constructed concurrently, requiring additional coordination to ensure factory slots, delivery and sequencing across all sites is meeting programme. Marc Vlessing, CEO of Pocket, said: “Pocket is always looking for new and innovative ways to help house London’s first time buyers. What we have done at Mountearl Gardens is hugely exciting as it has significantly sped up the delivery of affordable homes for local people, whilst at the same time reducing the disruption to local residents.” HKR Architects has a track-record of delivering significant residentialled mixed-use projects both locally and internationally and have delivered over £5bn of residential development in the last 10 years, amounting to over 18,000 units including around 3,000 units using MMC’s, including volumetric methodologies. HKR is one of a small number of practices with the working knowledge and practical experience to develop deliverable modular solutions.

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016 33

CREATE A SPA-LIKE LUXURY BATHROOM IN THE HOME SUITABLE FOR EVERYDAY DAY RESIDENTIAL LIVING WITH SOTTINI It used to be just high rise city centre apartments where recreating the look and feel of a five star hotel were typical requirement for architects, designer and specifiers to address. However, with busy modern day lifestyles, new demands and the growing importance of the role of the bathroom within the home, house buyers are now increasingly looking for a bathroom that offers the luxury look and feel of a five-star hotel or spa, but combined with the appropriate functionalities to deal with the practicalities of everyday life. Consumers seem to be attaching a greater importance to the role of the bathroom in the home, not just for its functionality but also its holistic benefits for unwinding and retreating from the stresses of modern day life. Bathrooms are being designed to balance the practical needs of hopping in the power shower before work, with offering users the ability to ‘treat’ themselves every day in serene space to have a leisurely soak in a statement bath. When it comes to making the new home purchase decision, having a bathroom space that offers this lifestyle choice is an incredibly important and persuasive factor.

Each piece in the Sottini collection has been developed individually with high design specifications and precision engineering, ensuring each basin, bath and WC is a unique piece: a work of art and a design statement. The new collection by Sottini, the timeless bathroom brand built on a heritage of quality and innovation in design, is geared towards both the house developer and hotel sectors, which ensures residential property developers can create the perfect look that appeals to consumers looking to replicate the very best in high-end hotel luxury style in a domestic bathroom. The hotel bathroom has a lot in common with its domestic counterpart, not just in terms of creating a spa-like, relaxing sanctuary, but also in creating an individual finish with a sense of character that sets them apart from the competition. With people being constantly on the go, not only is it essential to have a practical space for your morning routine, or bath time with the kids, but also a space that becomes a sanctuary of peace and tranquillity at the end of the day. This means that bathrooms are now up there with the kitchen when it comes to selling houses. Luxury, style and elegance is what bathrooms of first-class hotels are defined by – and Sottini has collaborated with internationally-renowned and award-winning product designers from around the world to create a collection of elegantly-crafted individual items that can be curated in a multitude of combinations for a domestic setting. The new Sottini vision enables customers to simply imagine their own unique bathroom space. The products in each category have been designed to work in harmony with each other, enabling customers to design their perfect bathroom and to form an emotional connection with their surroundings. Each piece in the Sottini collection has been developed individually with high design specifications and precision engineering, ensuring each basin, bath and WC is a unique piece: a work of art and a design statement – enabling the integration of the luxury experience of a hotel stay into the bathroom of a new home.

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36 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

News

Monika Slowikowska and her construction company are finalist’s in National Federation of Builders Awards 2016 Golden Houses Developments has been shortlisted to receive two awards from the National Federation of Builders (NFB). The NFB Awards 2016 celebrate the high-quality work and commitment delivered by members across England and Wales. The awards also reflect the dynamic nature of the construction industry and the excellent standards upheld by NFB members. Golden Houses Developments is a finalist for the House Builder of the Year Award 2016, whilst the company’s founder and director, Monika Slowikowska has been shortlisted for the Inspirational Individual Award 2016. Many companies entered the awards and a panel of expert judges, including a representative from the British Safety Council, narrowed entries down. Reaching the final stages indicates that Golden Houses Developments demonstrated that the company carries out work to exceptional standards. Golden Houses Developments, the UK-based construction business specialising in high-end residential projects, has tripled turnover and expects to exceed turnover by £80 million by 2020.

One of very few construction companies led by a woman, Golden Houses Developments brings unrivalled skill, professionalism and integrity to its work and simplifies the building process through clever design and attention to detail. Monika’s project was shortlisted at the RIBA Awards in 2011 and featured on the cover of ELLE Decoration in May 2012. Earlier this year, the company worked with George Clarke, presenter of Channel 4’s hit television show, Amazing Spaces, taking on the challenge to build houses and flats in seven weeks.

Winners will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony taking place at the Amba Hotel Marble Arch, London on Thursday 24 November 2016.

Speaking on the awards, Monika Slowikowska says “It’s such a huge honour to be a finalist in not just one, but two categories and be amongst such prestigious companies. We’re “It’s such a huge honour to be a finalist in not just one, but so pleased to see that our focus on solutions and commitment to building amazing relationships has two categories and be amongst such prestigious companies. grabbed the judge’s attentions. It has already been We’re so pleased to see that our focus on solutions and an amazing year for Golden Houses Developments, commitment to building amazing relationships has grabbed from announcing our significant growth to featuring on Channel 4’s Ugly House to Lovely the judge’s attentions.” Monika Slowikowska House, we’re excited to continue this progress.”

AHR wins planning for new UKHO office building Planning has been approved for the new UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) building at Admiralty Way, Taunton. Designed by AHR, the 11,000 sq m facility will replace existing buildings that are inefficient and expensive to maintain, providing up-todate technology infrastructure and working conditions that will enable the organisation to sustain a long-term future. The modern three storey office building is designed to accommodate 700 desks in open plan arrangement with flexible floor plates with extensive meeting, breakout and collaboration spaces. The UKHO’s brief was to encourage a ‘one team’ approach, in contrast to their current cellular buildings. This has been achieved by arranging two wings either side of a central atrium. Open balconies and bridges create physical and visual connection between all parts of the building resulting in an impressive sense of openness for such a large facility. The ground floor contains a meeting suite, training rooms, recreation and dining areas and administration offices. The upper floors are split into four open plan office spaces arranged around central core facilities. The central atrium contains a feature stair

that leads to wide bridges which provide access to the wings and breakout space. The bridges step diagonally across the section to create an unrestricted view upon entering the building.

The design builds upon AHR’s experience of designing low energy naturally ventilated workplaces at the BCO National Award winning Keynsham Civic Centre offices. Each wing will accommodate 70 workspaces and collaboration between teams is achieved on broad four metre wide bridges which cross the atrium and cater for a variety of meeting and breakout activities. Each office has access to an external balcony The design builds upon AHR’s experience of designing low energy naturally ventilated workplaces at the BCO National Award winning Keynsham Civic Centre offices. Passive sustainable features include an exposed concrete frame and generous 3.6 metre floor to ceiling heights creating impressive levels of natural daylight.

38 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

The glazed atrium roof consists of 203 roof lights which open to allow natural ventilation. Sinuous oak clad baffles hang from the atrium roof and reinforce the visual concept of linear movement through the atrium. These baffles provide acoustic absorption and are an integral part of the passive environmental design shading and reducing glare to the offices below by diffusing low angle sun to create a consistent level of daylight. The elevations seek to reinforce the concept of horizontality that is present in all aspects of the design. Linear brickwork and timber cladding reinforce the sense of linearity and long ribbon windows feature regular openable louvres for natural ventilation and night time cooling of the concrete frame. Karle Burford Director at AHR said ‘AHR is delighted to be moving forward with the next stage of this project. We hope the new facility will provide an inspiring workplace and enable the UKHO to deliver world class service to its global customers‘.

Construction is due to begin in spring 2017 with occupation in Autumn 2018.

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Crane hirer Hewden fighting for survival

Steelwork contractor Severfield lifts margins to 7%

Hire specialist Hewden is fighting for survival after talks to find a new backer are understood to have stalled. The firm is seeking to refinance £190m of borrowings, which are due to expire in the coming months.

This morning chief executive Ian Lawson revealed pre-tax profit in the first half had jumped to £7.4m from £3.1m in the same period in 2015 from stable turnover of £118m.

It had been working with restructuring experts at Deloitte, who were hoping to refinance the business or sell it. But, according to Sky News, negotiations with potential new investors, including Alchemy Partners, have not been successful. The financial problems put at risk over 750 jobs at 32 depots across the country. Hewden is owned by private equity firm Sun European, which paid £110m to acquire Hewden from Canadian firm Finning in 2010. In a statement at the end of October the firm said: “Hewden has been impacted by market uncertainty following the vote to leave the EU. The vote has adversely affected a number of large construction and capital investment projects. “The company is in constructive dialogue with stakeholders to resolve the situation in a consensual manner and is optimistic that a positive solution will be found. “The company is working with its advisers Deloitte to reach agreement with lenders on an extension of its debt facilities, whilst also testing market appetite for a sale of the business.” The hirer’s most recent accounts at Companies House, show it suffered a pre-tax loss of £16.6m on sales of £106m in 2014.

Britain’s biggest steelwork contractor has restored margins to 7% after streamlining production and tightening up on contract management.

Lawson said the steelwork contractor was on course to exceed management expectations for the full-year as orders and performance improved. Severfield said it planned to spend a further £2m developing its bridge fabrication facilities over the coming year to capture the forecast uplift in Government infrastructure spending. He said: “Margins are significantly up, our order book has continued to rise to a six year high while our pipeline remains steady. “In combination with the strong cash generation in the first half, this has given us the confidence to increase the interim dividend by 40% and we expect profit growth for the full year to be comfortably ahead of expectations.” He added: “We have a strong platform from which to implement our strategy, which targets to double our underlying profit before tax over the next four years, and continue to create value for our shareholders.” Severfield said the uplift in operation margin from 4.3% to 7% over the year was also partly helped by a contribution from its Composition Metal Flooring business, where it holds a 50% stake. Major new orders include the commercial tower at 22 Bishopsgate in London’s square mile, new distribution centres including one for an on-line major retailer, a retail centre expansion and the Graphene Innovation Centre in Manchester. Lawson added the pipeline for potential future orders also continued to remain steady with production levels set to remain strong for the foreseeable future.

This was the worst of a string of bad years that included losses of £13m in 2013, £12m in 2012, £3.9m in 2011 and near £14m in 2010.

Government backs third runway at Heathrow The government has decided a new runway will be built at Heathrow, rather than at Gatwick, following years of speculation Transport secretary Chris Grayling is set to announce the decision, decided by a ninestrong subcommittee chaired by the prime minister, to the House of Commons. The announcement will be welcome news for Grimshaw, which in July this year beat Zaha Hadid Architects, Benoy and HOK in the contest to design a new ‘hub airport of the future’ as part of Heathrow’s £16 billion growth plans. It also signals the end of Terry Farrell’s rival plans for an extra runway at Gatwick for now.

of the world, supporting exports, trade and job opportunities. ‘This isn’t just a great deal for business, it’s a great deal for passengers who will also benefit from access to more airlines, destinations and flights.’ The decision comes more than a year after Howard Davies’s independent Airports Commission, set up by the government in 2012, recommended a third runway be built at Heathrow.

In a statement, Grayling described the decision as ‘truly momentous’.

Even so, it is expected to be another year before MPs vote on the decision. Moreover, the Airports Commission has said construction is not likely to begin until 2020 or 2021. If approved, the runway could be completed by 2025.

He added: ‘A new runway at Heathrow will improve connectivity in the UK itself and crucially boost our connections with the rest

According to the commission’s final report, the third runway at Heathrow will cost £18.6 billion to build. The government has said that the

40 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

extra runway will deliver economic benefits to passengers and the wider economy worth up to £61 billion over 60 years, as well as creating 77,000 additional local jobs by 2030. In addition, the government will provide a mitigation package for the local communities most affected by expansion worth up to £2.6 billion. It will include over £700 million worth of noise insulation for homes, and £40 million to insulate and ventilate schools and other community buildings. Commenting on the announcement, Farrells partner Neil Bennett said: ’This is just another step on a winding road and we suspect Gatwick will still get its additional runway and terminal much earlier than Heathrow. There’s probably a need to expand both airports but Heathrow is not deliverable in the same timespan that Gatwick is. ‘There’s a much greater level of complexity at Heathrow because they need to either divert

News

London wharf saved for concrete batching plant Independent building material firm Brett Group will now take a long lease on the site to build a much-needed materials handling facility to supply London development. But the deal has thrust Brett Group into conflict with Galliard Homes, which owned the whole Peruvian Wharf site and still plans to build nearly 950 flats directly behind the aggregates and batching plant facility. Brett has just objected to Galliard’s detailed planning application warning that its design fails adequately to take account of noise and air quality issues, particularly regarding its future business needs to work unsociable hours to maximise use on Thames tides. The wharf has been protected since 1997 under the Mayor of London’s policy to safeguard strategically placed wharves for cargo handling.

thousand flats in three clusters of blocks just behind the facility, next to the West Silvertown DLR station. Mike Watson, Technical & Architectural Director at Galliard Homes, said: “The PLA has long had an option to purchase this land and we very much welcome the riverside part of the site finally being bought back into use. “We recently submitted plans for the remaining parts of Peruvian Wharf for high quality residential development delivering 940 new homes as well as a new public square and commercial space around West Silvertown DLR station. “The proposals have been specifically designed to co-exist successfully with a working wharf and to ensure there is a comprehensive approach to bring the site back into use as it is an important part of the GLA’s emerging Royal Dock’s planning framework.”

The port authority has now completed the £3m acquisition of the site after a long battle over the wharf’s planning status, subsequently acquiring the site when the former landowner didn’t reactivate it for cargo-handling. “We’ve fought long and hard to get Peruvian Wharf back into use,” said PLA chief executive, Robin Mortimer. “The river will play a key role in servicing the construction of at least 260,000 new homes and communities, offering 360,000 jobs. “This will help keep tens of thousands of lorries off London’s roads every year, reducing air pollution and improving local people’s quality of life.” Brett will develop an integrated terminal on the site, which is expected to be operational late in 2017. Galliard Homes is planning to build nearly a the M25 or place it in a tunnel. Heathrow’s expansion is also more than double the cost of expanding Gatwick which is a lot simpler and has much less local opposition.’ Three options were considered by the commission: a third Heathrow runway, an extension of Heathrow’s northern runway and a second runway at Gatwick. At the Tory Party Conference earlier this month, Grayling said that a new runway in the South East would ‘send a signal to the world that Britain is open for business’. But the decision is likely to divide the cabinet and is strongly opposed by both education secretary Justine Greening and foreign secretary Boris Johnson, with the latter pledging to lie down ‘in front of those bulldozers’ in a bid to stop the runway’s construction.

which saw Johnson, when he was London mayor, back a plan by Foster + Partners for a new facility in the Thames Estuary, nicknamed ‘Boris Island’. But this and other alternative proposals, including Weston Williamson’ s expansion of Luton AIrport, and Make’s extension of Stanstead, were side-lined by the Airports Commission three years ago. In 2009, while Conservative opposition leader, David Cameron pledged that he would not build a third runway at Heathrow, with ‘no ifs, no buts’. Current London mayor Sadiq Khan has backed a second runway at Gatwick instead of a third at Heathrow.

Former London mayoral candidate and Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith has also threatened to quit and run as an independent candidate if the Heathrow runway is approved.

Last month, executives from Gatwick and Heathrow battled it out at the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum over which airport should expand.

The controversial move follows years of speculation over airport expansion in the South,

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive officer at Heathrow Airport, said: ‘Leaving the EU means

that it’s more essential than ever that we create trading links to the growing markets of the world – and that we control our own trade routes. ‘Only Heathrow expansion can do this. And it’s an urgent task, if we are to have a strong and fair post-Brexit economy.’ But Gatwick Airport’s chief financial officer, Nick Dunn, claimed the Airports Commission’s conclusions were misleading:

While agreeing there was a ‘pressing need’ for airport expansion in the UK, Dunn said that Freedom of Information evidence obtained by Gatwick showed that a second runway at Gatwick would achieve the ‘same economic outcome’ as a third Heathrow runway and could be built at a lower cost through longer phased expansion – as well as being better for the environment.

Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016 41

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Government Launches Fund to Accelerate Large Sites Housing minister Gavin Barwell has announced an £18 million fund to accelerate housebuilding on large sites. Councils can now bid for a share of the government’s “capacity fund” which the government said would address planning issues which cause delays for housebuilders. The fund will primarily be aimed at sites of 1,500 units or more, with the money set to speed up delivery of up to 800,000 homes and infrastructure across large sites in England. The fund is in addition to other measures announced today. The government has announced six more Housing Zones which it said would help deliver almost 10,000 new homes on brownfield land. All are eligible for capacity funding. The zones are:

Demolition and repairs move apace following Wellington quake

Contracts let following last week’s earthquake in Wellington, New Zealand, include one to demolish a nine-storey building and a project to strengthen a multi-storey car park. Work is set to start this week to demolish a quake-damaged office block as there are concerns that it could collapse. An 85t ‘ultra-highreach’ excavator has been moved onto the site ready to start initial demolition works once all services have been disconnected. Demolition is expected to take about two weeks, weather permitting. A hydraulicallypowered ‘demolition shear’ at the end of the excavator’s boom will chew through the building’s concrete and steel structure. Temporary strengthening of the multi-storey Reading Cinema car park in Tory Street is expected to start during the next few days. Steel props and framing will be installed along, possibly, with Kevlar ‘wraps’ on building pillars to stabilise the structure. This work may take up to a month.

Sheffield Housing Zone, South Yorkshire; North East Lincolnshire Urban Housing Zone, with sites in Grimsby and Cleethorpes; Hoyland-Wombwell Strategic Housing Zone, Barnsley, South Yorkshire; Sandwell Housing Zone, Sandwell, West Midlands; Pennine-Lancashire Housing Zone, with sites in Blackburn and Burnley; Wirral Waters Housing Zone, Merseyside.

The government also revealed that it would support and fund a new Garden Town at Otterpool Park in Shepway, Kent, set to be built on previously developed land and public sector land and deliver up to 12,000 new homes. Developers will also be able to apply for funding through the recently announced £3 billion Home Building Fund.

New construction pay index reveals earnings winners across England and Wales Construction pay trends index launched reveals Wales has seen biggest year-onyear increase in earnings amongst selfemployed tradesman. The first ever construction pay trends index has been launched to reveal that Wales has seen the biggest (5.3%) yearon-year increase in earnings amongst self-employed tradesman, compared to just a 1.8% uplift nationally across England. The new “Construction Pay Trends” index has been developed by audit and contract solutions provider, Hudson Contract and harnesses payroll data from over 2,000 building firms across England and Wales. The interactive tool reveals weekly pay differences by region, age and sub sectors such as bricklaying and joinery through to roofing and surfacing contractors. Providing tradesman, building apprentices and other industry analysts with a unique insight into pay levels, it also reveals the impact weather, location and economic factors have on earning potential. The biggest drop in average weekly pay in the building industry was experienced in the North East which saw a 2.1% decrease in earnings year-to-date in 2016 compared to 2015. It was closely followed by a 0.4% decrease in London, with the regional trends illustrated in the following top 10:

t Wales (+5.3%) t Yorkshire & The Humber (+4.2%) t East of England (+1.8%)

46 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

t North West (+1.7%) t East Midlands (+1.7%) t West Midlands (+1.5%) t South East (+1.3%) t South West (+1.1%) t London (-0.4%) t North East (-2.1%) The roofing industry had the highest increase in earnings year-on-year for subcontractors, experiencing a 6.1% growth, followed by 48% in plastering and 4.2% in scaffolding. Those working in the equipment and operator hire industry witnessed a surprising 4.1% average drop in earnings year-to-date in 2016 compared to 2015. This was followed by a notable yearly pay decrease of 1% in Bricklaying and only a 1.1% average increase in earnings for Civil Engineering tradesmen. Ian Anfield, Managing Director at Hudson Contract, said: “We’ve developed the Construction Pay Trends index to provide the most comprehensive insight into pay levels across the industry. It has revealed some fascinating trends on both a national and regional level, with tradesman in Wales experiencing the sharpest annual growth in earnings. “The index will update monthly to reveal the latest pay trends – providing the perfect online career resource for building apprentices through to industry analysts assessing the ongoing health of the construction sector.”

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News

Significant expansion works start at Rugby school Expansion works at Hillmorton primary school are now underway as the school undergoes a major extension by midlands contractor Ashe Construction. The £2.1 million investment to expand the school on Watts Lane will include an additional seven classrooms, doubling the school capacity in time for the start of 2017 academic year. Connected to the existing building the new extension will enable the primary school to become a two-form entry school and give the building a much needed refresh. Catherine Crisp, head teacher at Hillmorton primary school

said: “We’re so glad that works have officially started on the school and can’t wait to see the finished project. The demand for more school spaces has been growing year on year and the new extension will enable us to meet the needs of the community we serve.” Sheridan Mcknight, partnerships director at Ashe construction said: “This significant project will be split into two phases; phase one will see the addition of two new classrooms and phase two will include the development of a two storey unit with five new classrooms. The refurbishment will create a bright and engaging working environment for the primary pupils and benefit thousands of students for years to come.”

Winners of Considerate Constructors Scheme 2016 National Awards to be revealed London, United Kingdom, 1 November 2016: The Considerate Constructors Scheme the national scheme established by the construction industry to improve its image - is getting ready to reveal the UK’s most considerate companies and suppliers of 2016. The Scheme, which has registered around 900 companies and suppliers in the past 12 months, will be hosting the 2016 National Awards on 10th and 11th November, at the luxurious Four Seasons hotel on Park Lane. Supplier Registration was introduced in 2014 and this year’s awards mark the first year that suppliers will be eligible to win a National Award. Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders, and Liz Male, Chairman of TrustMark will be announcing whether each winning company has received

a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award for their achievements. There will also be Runner-up Awards and winners for the coveted ‘Most Considerate Company’ and ‘Most Considerate Supplier’ Awards. Considerate Constructors Scheme Executive Chairman Isabel Martinson said: “The Awards celebrate the phenomenal efforts being made to improve the image of the industry for the benefit of the public, the workforce and the environment. “It is particularly exciting this year to be awarding, for the first time, the significant contribution that suppliers are making. As the industry knows, suppliers perform a vital role in the construction process, and have a significant responsibility to behave in a considerate manner at all times to ensure they portray a positive image of the industry they represent.”

Top performing registered companies and suppliers get ready to celebrate success at Considerate Constructors Scheme National Awards

52 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

Ashe Construction will be working in partnership with Pick Everard, an independent management, design and construction consultancy, and the East Midlands Property Alliance (empa) on the year-long school project. empa, which is managed by Scape Group works in collaboration with a collection of local authorities and partners to deliver public sector projects on time and to budget. Ian Towlson, regional frameworks manager for empa said: “This is one of a number of school projects we are delivering in Warwickshire as we help the council meet the growing demand for school spaces. It’s a substantial project and we look forward to pupils enjoying their new school surroundings next year.” Alastair Hamilton, partner at Pick Everard, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Ashe Construction and empa to achieve a state of the art school extension for Hillmorton Primary School.

“During the last 10 years we have really grown our work in the education sector and now have a strong track record in both schools and further education; in particular our work for independent schools has significantly increased. We look forward to helping Hillmorton to create great teaching facilities for its pupils and employees.”

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New Emissions Standards For Non-Road Mobile Machinery New emissions standards have been introduced for Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) used on construction projects in London, as part of plans to improve air quality in the capital. The emissions standards for NRMM apply to all projects in Greater London and will be enforced by local authorities. The Bersy DPF systems are designed to be retrofitted to construction equipment, avoiding the need to replace or re-engine equipment. All Bersy DPF systems are fully certified by the Energy Saving Trust. Contact us for more information or a quote

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56 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

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Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016 57

News MSPS creates ‘masterpiece’ in canopy design for Merseyrail’s Waterloo Station Morgan Sindall Professional Services (MSPS), the multi-disciplinary design and engineering consultancy, used the inspiration of a local artist to create a new canopy to shelter passengers from the elements and improve access to and from the platforms at the historic Waterloo (Merseyside) railway station. The station owners, Merseyrail, wanted an attractive canopy that was sympathetic with the environment and includes original artwork by the world-renowned sculptor, Sir Antony Gormley OBE. The station is also the gateway to Crosby beach, featuring Sir Antony’s master work ‘Another Place’. MSPS designed a solution that combined modernity with practicality, fusing cladding with glazing to create cantilevered canopies over the platforms, waiting areas, and access routes between platforms and the existing stairs. A section of the covered area has also been enclosed to provide a heated waiting room. Peter Day, director of rail for MSPS says: “The previous design comprised a large central glazed Macemain type shelter structure on the island platform. The client wanted a new solution that was more inspiring and more in keeping with the modern art that is a key feature of the interior design. Our new design is both practical and contemporary, giving the shelter that passengers need in a style that is sensitive to its environment.” Opened in 1848, Waterloo became part of the Merseyrail network’s Northern Line in 1978. The station was refurbished in 2011 and announced plans for a £3.7 million improvement programme in 2014. The latest programme of works also includes modifications to platform surface drainage and lighting as well as customer information signs, CCTV and PA systems.

New attempt to stop Neville and Giggs’ Manchester towers Conservationists have applied for heritage protection for a religious building in Manchester city centre earmarked for demolition under plans by football stars-turned-developers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs The Twentieth Century Society has submitted an urgent application to Historic England to list the 1950s-built Manchester Reform Synagogue in Jackson’s Row, close to Manchester’s celebrated Town Hall. It is one of three buildings of historical interest that would be torn down to make way for the St Michael’s scheme, drawn up Ken Shuttleworth’s practice Make. The current plans feature a 31-storey tower and a 21-storey block containing hotel, apartment and office facilities and a major new public space. The proposals also include a new home for the synagogue. However, Twentieth Century Society adviser Tess Pinto said the ‘shocking’ plans showed ‘no consideration to Manchester’s special sense of place’ As well as the demolition of the synagogue, the proposed scheme on Jackson’s Row would see the demolition of the 1930s Bootle Street Police Station and a Victorian pub. The site would border a conservation area containing the listed Public Library, Town Hall and Town Hall Extension buildings. ‘The plans will not only sweep away two fine 20th Century buildings, but will have a devastating impact on the neighbouring conservation area,’ said Pinto. The synagogue, designed by architects and worshippers Levy and Cummings, was the first post-war building constructed in Manchester after the Second World War.

A full application is expected to be submitted imminently.

Planning permission granted for £35m Ecclesall Road development Bond Bryan are delighted that planning permission has been granted for Ecclesall Road – a mixed-use residential and retail scheme. The £35m development looks to renew an acre and a half of a former low-rise and low-density car dealership site, with a high-rise urban scheme of residential apartments, student accommodation and retail space. Designed in two parts, a eleven storey student building adjacent to Pomona Street and a cluster of three residential blocks rise above a ground floor of retail spaces; the project is then unified around a first floor landscaped courtyard that is shared by residents. The ground floor units will be let to restaurants and bars and higher-end shopping to complement the existing experience on Ecclesall Road. Director, Darren Southgate commented: “Each building has its very own ‘character’, yet between the different parts of the development, a harmonious ‘family’ effect is created amongst them. Each of these buildings functions as a singular, but together - as a whole - they create a family of structures that respond to environmental and building science considerations through their orientation and relative siting, thus maximizing their natural light and acoustic privacy. The eleven-storey residential block rises strong in form using dark grey bricks, deep reveals and large-format windows. The Pear Street block

is smaller but has softer features and finer detail - curved and splayed corners, top-floor setbacks, warmer coloured bricks – which give a more feminine character. The Pomona Street block is the shortest but most exuberant in character, with warm brick colours, rhythmic window patterns and an articulated zinc clad top: a more ‘youthful’ character.” Dan Simpson, from developer Hallminster Ltd, said the development would be ‘visually striking’ and a major ‘boost’ to the area. He added: “It’s an important mixed-use scheme for Ecclesall Road, on a site that has been long overdue for redevelopment. It will be a very high quality project with a community feel and will bring that part of the road alive, providing an important link between Ecclesall Road and the city centre. We kept going when things were tough in 2011 and 2012, ensuring there were still cranes on the skyline of Sheffield, and now this is one of our biggest projects so far. It will regenerate another part of Ecclesall Road - in keeping with its distinctive character - creating a new sustainable community and providing

58 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

employment opportunities for the city at the same time. Residents living in the apartments will have semi-private gardens, roof terraces and balconies, as well as a communal courtyard. Mr Simpson added: “The development is intended to look visually striking and will have a very high specification.” It will incorporate environmentally-friendly measures, modern methods of construction - and utilisation of materials that have a relatively low embodied energy will make the development sustainable.” Construction on site is planned to commence in early 2017 with a completion date in late 2018.

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Johnstone Town Hall Renfrewshire Council/Holmes Miller Image courtesy Andrew Lee Photographer

Ibis Hotel, Soco Development, Edinburgh ICA Architects Image courtesy Scott Louden Photography

Rowett Institute, Aberdeen Halliday Fraser Munro

Stratheden IPCU, Fife NHS Fife/Oberlanders Architects Image courtesy Keith Hunter Photography

Advocate’s Close, Edinburgh Morgan McDonnell Architecture Ltd

Western Isles Schools 3D Reid Architects

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News

Structural Concrete Alliance announces 2016 award shortlist The Structural Concrete Alliance has shortlisted three projects for the 2016 Structural Concrete Alliance Award for Repair and Refurbishment, with the winner to be announced by journalist Kate Silverton at the Concrete Society Awards Dinner to be held at the Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane, London on 17th November. The winners were chosen from entries received from members of the three trade associations which make up the Structural Concrete Alliance: the Concrete Repair Association (CRA); Corrosion Prevention Association (CPA); and the Sprayed Concrete Association (SCA).

tonnes per anchor and included the safe detensioning of the existing wire from around the bund wall, using a post-tensioned assisted strap restrainment system. Defective concrete areas were repaired using a polymermodified mortar, with a polymer-modified fairing coat and cementitious coating applied in the rebates. The refurbishment and strengthening of the twin bore, 4 lane Woodhouse Tunnel in Leeds conducted by Volkerlaser involved two years of nightshifts to minimise disruption to the public.

It involved a complex combination of extensive concrete repair; strengthening by reinforcement addition; The shortlisted projects include Sika Ltd for its extensive sprayed concrete to large areas of repair; the restoration of Poplar Baths in London; CCL (GB) Ltd introduction of galvanic anodes in most of the repaired for its upgrading and strengthening work at National concrete; and traditional formwork and reinforced Grid PLC’s Isle of Grain site near Rochester, Kent; and concrete construction of wall thickening, involving Volkerlaser for the refurbishment and strengthening of extensive drilling and dowel fixing to tie the new the Woodhouse Tunnel in Leeds. construction to the weak existing walls. VolkerLaser developed a small structural tie allowing smaller drilled Sika provided holes and materials for reducing Choosing the winners was extremely difficult an extensive phasing this year due to the high quality and diversity of programme of requirements, concrete and saving time the entries. CCL’s solution for the Isle of Grain structural repairs and money. bund was selected as we were impressed by the to transform the innovative approach to safely detensioning the Grade II listed Commenting Poplar Baths from existing wire system, which we recognised as being on the award, a former public the judges extremely technically challenging. baths to a statestated: of-the-art leisure centre. Owned by Tower Hamlets Council, the building “The annual Structural Concrete Award aims to was in such a poor condition due to chloride-induced identify innovative structural concrete repair and cracks across its entire 1,600m2 surface area that it refurbishment solutions that overcome demanding was included on English Heritage’s at Risk Register. engineering challenges, while advancing technology and understanding. In conjunction with the English Heritage and main contractors Guildmore, APA Concrete Repairs delivered “Choosing the winners was extremely difficult this year a long-term concrete repair system and protective due to the high quality and diversity of the entries. coating works to the building. Galvanic, sacrificial CCL’s solution for the Isle of Grain bund was selected anodes were installed to manage steel corrosion in the as we were impressed by the innovative approach to interior which consists of curved reinforced concrete safely detensioning the existing wire system, which we columns forming a series of arches. recognised as being extremely technically challenging. CCL (GB) Ltd provided a solution to replace the existing restrainment system to the outside of the concrete bund walls surrounding the liquid gas steel tanks on the site. The 50,000m3 capacity tanks, originally commissioned in 1981, are each surrounded by a reinforced concrete bund wall to provide secondary containment in the event of a rupture of the steel tank. The bespoke solution involved the design of special anchors capable of restraining bursting forces of 223

“Sika’s sympathetic restoration of Poplar Baths and the complexity of the logistics required in Volkerlaser’s refurbishment of the Woodhouse tunnel served to highlight the innovation and flexibility our specialists must offer in developing repair and refurbishment solutions”

For further information, visit www.structuralconcretealliance.org.uk.

60 Construction UK Magazine - End of Year Review 2016

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