Construction National Summer 2018

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COVER STORY

Award-winning scheme shows the value of SuDS

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The front cover of this issue features the award-winning Bridget Joyce Square in London’s White City.

Winner of the top prize in the 2017 Landscape Institute Awards, the President’s Award, it demonstrates how the management of rainwater should be considered as an integrated part of landscape design.

A sustainable drainage system (SuDS) is at the heart of the scheme by Robert Bray Associates, which solved the issue of flooding outside a school and created a community resource. Company director Kevin Barton discusses water management in depth as part of our special feature on SuDS. Our SuDS feature begins on page 44

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NEWS 9

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Lords committee: off-site the key to meeting housing targets

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Government looks to Bytes and Mortar

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Project completion means there’s more room in the Elephant

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Firemac receives Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2018

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Council takes control of major development

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Advanced protection for National Rail College

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Contractor payment practices come into the public domain

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Wood Awards finalists announced

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NBT signals expansion as woodfibre insulation market heats up

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On Hand & On Demand: OnLevel increase stock levels following increase in customer demand

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Remguard – a revolution in site surveillance

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Aarsleff Ground Engineering handed RoSPA Gold Award for health and safety practices

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Charity looks to address cancer in the construction sector

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NHBC looks forward to the home of the future

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Portamix unveils new brand in Paris

LONDON BUILD 2018

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ENQUIRIES: Advertising

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London’s construction industry gathers to assert its predominance

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Buy direct and get it fast

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Get a little VIP treatment

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Meet the Buyer, with Constructionline at London Build

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Plant tyre specialist is first-time exhibitor

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Super sewer’s safety guru to speak at Future London Summit

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The future’s in London

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magicplan: the floor plan app to plan renovation projects

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Steel – your material of choice

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There’s plenty to discuss at London Build

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Love your workplace: office design for better well-being and productivity

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Are You Working at Height Safely?

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Crossrail showcases UK suppliers for Elizabeth line

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Fit-out market heading for choppy waters

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London unveils plan to become a walking city

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Shaping the future in White

For all other enquiries: Tel: 0161 710 3880 Fax: 0161 710 3879 Email: editorial@dmmonline.co.uk Suite 2, 61 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 3AW Editor: Chris Stokes Copyright Construction National.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior permission of Construction National. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company Plc www.magprint.co.uk

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CONTENTS TRAINING, EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIPS

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Industry rallies around skills initiatives

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London Chamber joins call for levy changes

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A fresh approach to developing degree level skills for the construction industry

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Civil engineers seek best graduates and apprentices

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Industry first for University of Derby Minerals Course

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Government’s latest skills initiative is broadly welcomed

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T-Levels: employers and educators not up to speed

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Trades welcome new apprenticeships

SuDS AND DRAINAGE 44

Without SuDS we’re just pouring a precious resource down the drain

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Water management: the answer, as always, lies in the soil

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Best sustainable drainage schemes recognised at inaugural awards

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The journey to viewing SuDS as a given starts here

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Blue-green future cities

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ZOOS 55

Success stories follow developments in zoos and wildlife parks

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Norfolk wetlands show off their bird life

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Dudley just keeps on developing

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Wildlife trust scores highly in the green stakes

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Summertime brings no easy living for zoo designers

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Tigers burn bright in Knowsley’s latest attraction

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Dinosaurs get a celebrity welcome

WORKING AT HEIGHT 62

NASC contractual guidance notes updated and extended

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NASC to host safety seminar

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Supplier members on the rise

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CISRS CPD – one year on

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Students give construction a try

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Scaffolding apprenticeship switch set for October

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Fatality figures prompt renewed emphasis on safety

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Prosecutions highlight risks of working at height

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DEMOLITION 68

European demolition report published

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Members claim more awards

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NFDC’s female VP speaks on equality issues

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Federation’s ‘Demolition Man’ hits the road

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Killingholme demolition transforms the Lincolnshire skyline

GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS 72

Balanced Energy Networks provide innovative clean heating without combustion

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A change of direction pays dividends

CARE HOMES 74

Care provision is an on-going development

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New home is set to offer a Welcome in the Valleys

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World Cup veteran joins local worthies to open new care home in Southport

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Group’s team scoop care awards

HINKLEY POINT C 79

New nuclear power project forges local links

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Keeping things cool is a specialist business

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[THE RECENT HEATWAVE across the country is the longest spell of hot, dry weather since 1976. It brought the

threat of the dreaded hosepipe ban in the North West.

Torrential downpours following the – inevitable – break in the weather led to the cancellation of the ban. But not before screens were filled with the sight of parts of Lancaster under three feet of water just days before the ban was due to be put in place.

The inevitable question asked was why water levels in the reservoirs that supply the region were at such a low level in one of the wettest parts of the UK. On a more fundamental level, questions arise around the management of rainwater in our cities and towns.

One of the solutions is sustainable drainage systems, or SuDS. In this issue we take an in-depth look at what SuDS can do to make our cities more environmentally friendly: combining green and blue infrastructure. Our front cover showcases an award-winning scheme in London’s White City.

• Sustainability is the basis for development of the technology to exploit renewable energy, of course, and one of the most successful forms of such ‘passive’ heating is the ground source heat pump. The capital again provides us with a good example of the innovative use of new thinking in the retrofitting of a scheme at London South Bank University.

• Nuclear power is not everyone’s idea of green energy, but the construction team behind the country’s first new nuclear power station in a decade are nevertheless determined to put themselves at the forefront of community engagement, while bringing much needed employment to the local area around the Hinkley Point C plant. It has won them a raft of awards.

• The construction of new generation power stations, alongside a blossoming of renewable sources, has led to the decommissioning and eventual demolition of some of the older iconic structures. One such was Killingholme Power Station in Lincolnshire.

Last November the mothballed plant was ‘dropped’ by an expert team using strategically-placed charges following weakening – all using the latest BIM technology.

• BIM is one of the subjects under discussion at the series of ‘summits’ at this year’s London Build Expo. Construction National is once more proud to be acting as a media partner for the event. The breadth of subjects under discussion at the show demonstrates the many areas of activity of the construction industry. The Future London Summit in particular brings together those strands in a two-day examination of what the future holds for the capital.

• A major talking point in the industry continues to be the skills crisis. The latest initiative from the government to tackle that issue is the Construction Skills Fund. The move has been broadly welcomed by the industry; but, as usual, the devil is in the detail and everyone is waiting to see how it pans out.

• One of the major points of debate in the community at large is the crisis in care provision. Over the past couple of years we have been able to shine a light on how care provision is nevertheless continuing to be developed, with new technologies and build methods being incorporated to provide some truly stunning facilities. This issue is no different.

• One of the modern methods of construction that needs to be embraced more generally in the housebuilding industry is off-site construction. That is according to a committee of the House of Lords. According to Their Lordships, the housebuilding industry hasn’t a hope of providing the number of new homes this country needs by traditional methods, and off-site production offers a reliable, fast and sustainable way of increasing productivity. q

Chris Stokes Editor, Construction National

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Lords committee: off-site the key to meeting housing targets [ THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR as it currently operates cannot meet the

UK’s need for housing and may struggle to meet the need for infrastructure.

That was the message of a report from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee into off-site building, published on 19 July.

The report, Off-site manufacture for construction: Building for change, says that off-site manufacture (OSM) can help to increase productivity in the construction sector while reducing labour demands, improving the quality and efficiency of buildings and reducing the environmental impacts associated with traditional construction.

However, the committee says, take up of OSM is varied and somewhat limited across the sector because it is working with out-dated and unsustainable business models that are not conducive to OSM for construction. OSM requires collaboration between clients, designers and contractors from an early stage but much of the evidence the committee received painted a picture of a construction sector that is fragmented and lacking in trust. These barriers must be addressed by the sector itself and strong leadership is needed from the Construction Leadership Council (CLC).

Committee chairman Lord Patel said: “There are clear and tangible benefits from off-site manufacture for construction which make a compelling case for its widespread use. We heard evidence that OSM could increase productivity in the sector by up to 70%.

“The construction sector’s business models are no longer appropriate and are not supporting the UK’s urgent need for new homes and infrastructure. The construction sector needs to build more trust and create partnerships so that companies can work together to improve the uptake of off-site manufacture, and the Construction Leadership Council should provide the necessary leadership.”

The Construction Leadership Council issued a statement welcoming the report. The CLC said: “Off-site manufacture is a key strategic component of the CLC’s vision for a transformation of the construction sector driven by a focus on digital, manufacturing and whole-life performance – as set out in the Construction Sector Deal.”

The committee recognised that the Construction Sector Deal and its stated ‘presumption in favour’ of OSM have shown a strong commitment to investing in the area and welcomed many of the initiatives. That presumption must be backed-up however.

The report says: “The committee recommends that the government develop and publish a series of key performance indicators against which the success of the ‘presumption in favour’ can be assessed. Where the presumption in favour is set aside and a project goes ahead that does not use off-site manufacture, the government should publish a statement

explaining why it has not been used and justifying that decision.”

In many cases, the report says, OSM is suitable for the construction of important social infrastructure such as hospitals and houses. The committee heard evidence that if the government is to achieve its aim of building 300,000 houses a year by 2020, OSM would be the only way to meet this target, and that traditional construction methods do not have the capacity to build enough homes. The government must set out what conditions it will attach to the extra financial support for housing to drive the uptake of off-site manufacture and other innovative technologies.

On the issue of the skills shortage, the report states: “While OSM could lessen the labour shortage, the different skills required for manufacturing are currently lacking in the UK labour market and must be developed. OSM will require a combination of skills involving site implementation, digital and procurement. The government must therefore ensure that young people entering the workplace are equipped with the digital skills needed for modern methods of construction, including off-site manufacture.”

Lord Patel concluded: “The role of the government and the wider public sector is pivotal in a move to greater use of off-site manufacture. The report sets out actions that the committee thinks the government should take, including implementation of the Construction Sector Deal, committed execution of the ‘presumption in favour’ of off-site manufacture and a greater move to procuring for whole-life value rather than lowest cost.” q

Government looks to Bytes and Mortar [ THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR DEAL was unveiled on 5 July

by Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark, in a speech to the Northern Powerhouse Summit in Newcastle – under the slogan Bytes and Mortar. It was received by the industry with a certain amount of acclaim.

The chief executive of Build UK, Suzannah Nichol MBE, welcomed the deal, saying: “Construction is almost 10% of the UK economy, driving productivity while shaping our day to day lives and communities. Today’s announcement sets out a bright vision for the future of UK construction along with a plan that the industry can, and should, all get behind.

“Through Build UK, the sector is already making huge strides to meet the ambition within the deal. The announcement specifically references our standardised pre-qualification process, which is at

the pilot stage. We have also brokered cross-industry agreement on the more contentious issue of payment and a commitment from government to develop a fairer and more sustainable approach to contractual and payment practices will help us.”

Andrew Wolstenholme, co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, said: “We build the schools to educate the young, the hospitals to care for the sick, the police stations to keep us safe, the roads and railways that get us to work, the power stations that keep us warm and the homes we return to each day. For those reasons and more, we are an industry that must be at the forefront of the UK’s future growth and prosperity.

“These are an imposing set of challenges – however the sector deal announced today represents a collaboration between industry and government aimed at addressing them” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Project completion means there’s more room in the Elephant [LEADING PROPERTY and construction

consultants McBains has announced the completion of one, and partial completion of a second, major multi-use development in London’s Southwark Regeneration Area – Elephant One (Phase One) and Two Fifty One respectively.

McBains’s involvement in the Phase One redevelopment of Elephant One at Elephant and Castle (pictured), in London’s Zone One, has stretched over a decade and is the largest multidiscipline project the company has undertaken in the capital. The team has provided project management, contract administration and design services on the build – from its early planning phase in 2007 through to its completion in June.

The mixed-use development, situated opposite Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, was designed entirely using BIM and its construction was fully co-ordinated by the design team, both on and off-site. That method helped reduce activity and pressure on site, benefiting the project and the local environment.

Comprising three towers of 374 apartments, 270 student rooms and 12 commercial units – including an on-site Sainsbury’s superstore and

GymBox – the development is one of city’s first build-to-rent schemes.

The borough also recently saw a further sectional completion at Two Fifty One,

Southwark Bridge Road. The project comprises a single 41-storey residential tower and a sevenstorey office block. The tower contains 338 apartments across an array of tenures, including affordable, private, premium and premium plus.

Features at Two Fifty One include a communal lounge, gymnasium, club and conference rooms, as well as a private cinema, green wall and communal garden.

McBains supported the design team and contractor with the design and manufacture of concrete frames for both Elephant One and Two Fifty One, using a ‘design for manufacture and assembly’ (DfMA) system developed by Laing O’Rourke.

Director Clive Docwra commented: “Elephant One and Two Fifty One exemplify the growing appeal of this centrally-located borough and the need for new and improved housing stock.

“Elephant One carries particular importance for us at McBains, in so much as it was our largest and most complex interdisciplinary project to date. So, to have been involved in its development from start to finish, and to have played a part in one of Europe’s largest regeneration programmes, is a real coup.” q

Firemac receives Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2018 [NORTH BERWICK-BASED FIREMAC LIMITED has received a

prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category, for its Firemac FM Fabric PSA – a high performance self-adhesive glass woven fire resistant fabric that is applied to galvanised steel ductwork to create a fireresistant ductwork system.

This is the latest innovation from the company which revolutionised the fire-resistant ductwork sector when it first introduced its third-party certificated fabric-based Firemac FM Fabric system to the UK some 15 years ago.

Firemac FM Fabric PSA is sold directly to ductworkers, allowing the fabrication of fire resistant ductwork to be completed under factory controlled conditions, and without the need to rely on third party suppliers. This has put the full contract – both standard ventilation ductwork and fire resistant ducts – in the hands of the ductworkers themselves.

Firemac FM Fabric PSA is an innovative glass fibre fabric less than 0.5mm thick. It is backed by a self-adhesive coating which makes it lightweight, durable and quick and easy to apply without any curing time. This speeds up supply and, due to the lightness of the fabric, the ductwork does not need any additional supports.

Manufactured in the UK, Firemac FM fabrics were fixed to the ducts using a spray contact adhesive, but in 2013 the company began to develop a fabric backed with a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). With no need for the adhesive to be applied as part of the fabrication process, the new Firemac FM Fabric PSA has halved production times.

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are awarded for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social

mobility. They are the UK’s most prestigious business awards, given only to companies or individuals who are outstanding in their field.

On receiving the award, Firemac managing director Donald Mackay (pictured) said: “When I started the business I was based in my house, with a phone and a computer. Since then the company has grown incredibly and now employs 23 staff, working in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia. The development of our PSA fabric was a real collaboration between our technical and sales teams and our excellent suppliers.

“The result is a fantastic product which our customers have adopted to such an extent that our UK sales have doubled since its introduction in September 2014. To win the Queen’s Award is a huge achievement for us – it is a result of the hard work of all our staff and the loyalty of our customers.”

Firemac is now one of the UK’s leading suppliers of fire resistant ductwork, with their systems having been installed in major infrastructure projects including London Underground, Anfield Stadium and a number of power stations. It is also used by a wide range of major blue chip companies – such as Hilton Hotels, Ministry of Defence, Whitbread, Marks and Spencer’s, Nandos, Burger King, Premier Inns and Holiday Inn. Firemac systems are also installed in some major international projects including the Doha, Lucknow and Jakarta Metros, the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa as well as other many other commercial developments in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kenya, India, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia. q • For further information on the Firemac range visit www.firemac.com, email: info@firemac.com or call +44 (0)1620 892202. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Council takes control of major development [IN A LANDMARK DECISION, Enfield Council’s cabinet has agreed

in principle a series of decisions that – subject to call-in – will see the council take overall control of the flagship Meridian Water development.

The development is set to provide 10,000 new homes, workspaces, a new railway station and associated infrastructure.

The decisions, taken at a meeting on 25 July, mark the end of the procurement process for a single ‘Master Developer’, in favour of the council taking the lead responsibility for setting strategies, working up the masterplan and deciding the optimal phasing plan for delivery.

Cllr Nesil Caliskan, Leader of Enfield Council, said: “Meridian Water is back on track and the way we are delivering is genuinely new for a local authority.

“Going forward we will be in control and we will be the custodians of the place Meridian Water will become: investing council money and resources to ensure that local people are the principal beneficiaries of the new homes and jobs that will be created.

“We will select development and other partners to work with the council to bring forward specific parts of the regeneration, whether that is for housing delivery, new employment spaces or meanwhile uses, and we will hold the vision for Meridian Water and oversee its delivery.”

Following the cabinet decisions, three development sites are being brought forward, with the first site being offered via the GLA’s London Development

Panel immediately after the summer. That will allow for a quick procurement process open to all the organisations and joint ventures who secured a place on the panel.

Importantly, the sites will be offered on the basis of a Development Agreement rather than sale of the land, allowing the council to retain control; for example to ensure the quality of design and build and prioritise sales of new homes to local people first.

Deputy Mayor for housing and residential development, James Murray, declared: “I welcome the new direction Enfield Council has set out for how these benefits will be realised, with direct control and investment by the local authority. We are working, on behalf of the council, to secure government funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund for Meridian Water; and with the new train station opening in May 2019, the future looks very promising.” q

Advanced protection for National Rail College [A KEY DRIVER in the successful

delivery of the UK’s £42.6 billion HS2 project, the new National College for High Speed Rail is now protected by industryleading fire panels from Advanced.

Located in Doncaster, a town historically known for its prominent role in rail engineering and maintenance, the college occupies 76,000 sq ft of teaching and workshop space, with specialist training installations, including 150 metres of external track and catenary. It will train thousands of engineers to meet HS2’s future needs, as well as those of the wider rail sector. With 2,000 apprenticeship opportunities set to be created by HS2, and 25,000 people employed during construction, there has been, and continues to be high demand for appropriately skilled workers.

The Advanced MxPro panels were specified by the team at GBE Fire and Security, who were appointed by main contractor Briggs and Forrester to specify, install and commission the fire system at the site.

Andy Westgarth, GBE’s business development manager, commented: “We’re thrilled to have been involved in this project. The college will create many opportunities for young people and make a major contribution to the Northern Powerhouse. With sensitive installations, including electrical catenary, a high-quality fire system is essential and, as a longstanding Advanced partner, we feel that MxPro panels are the ideal solution.”

MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire system solution.

It offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and

support. MxPro panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into high speed, multi-loop panels in 200 node networks covering huge areas. MxPro’s legendary ease of installation and configuration and wide peripheral range make it customisable to almost any application.

Neil Parkin, Advanced sales manager for the north, commented: “This is the latest in a series of high-profile rail sector installations for Advanced panels. We have worked with GBE on many projects and it’s great to be working with them on such a positive project. MxPro ticks all the boxes for the National College for High Speed Rail, combining proven reliability with innovation and ease-of-use.”

Advanced are members of the Rail Industry Fire Association (RIFA) and have panels installed in a number of other rail-related buildings, including the Tottenham Court Road Crossrail station, almost 100 London Underground stations, the Hitachi Rail Europe factory in Newton Aycliffe and the Tyne & Wear Metro.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease-ofuse of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems. q • For further information visit the website at www.advancedco.com. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Contractor payment practices come into the public domain [BUILD UK has published information on the payment performance of

“Build UK is leading the industry by publishing its members’ its contractor members, using data submitted under the Duty to Report on payment performance. I hope to see more of these initiatives being Payment Practices and Performance. led by industry to help us drive a positive change in culture and help Identified as a specific action within the Construction Sector Deal, Build eliminate poor payment practices.”

UK members have collectively agreed for Build UK to benchmark them on Information is currently available on the Build UK website for 24 both the average time they take to pay invoices and the percentage of their out of 27 Build UK contractor members who fall within the scope of invoices paid beyond terms. the Duty to Report. The full set of results will be published in October The Duty to Report, which requires all large companies to report on their once the remainder have submitted their first reports. Detailed payment practices every six months, has enabled Build UK to present a information on all businesses that are required to report can be found clear and comprehensive picture of payment within construction for the on GOV.UK. q first time. Not only will this enable the supply chain to make more informed decisions, it demonstrates a real commitment to addressing this long-standing issue and will help to drive good practice.

The government has welcomed the move THE FINALISTS have been announced for this year’s Wood Awards. The awards are split with the need for a more sustainable business into two main categories: Buildings, and Furniture & Products. Within the Buildings category 20 model and improved payment practices set exceptional projects across the UK have been nominated for the five subcategories: Commercial & out within the Sector Deal published earlier Leisure, Education & Public Sector, Interiors, Private and Small Project. this month.

The judging panel, led by three-time Gold Award winner Stephen Corbett of Green Oak Carpentry, Minister for Implementation Oliver Dowden will visit all the shortlisted projects in person – making it a uniquely rigorous competition.

CBE MP said: “Government is leading by The shortlist will be showcased at the London Design Fair at the Old Truman Brewery from example in fair payment practices. All public 20–23 September and the winners will be revealed at the annual Wood Awards ceremony at sector organisations are required to pay Carpenters’ Hall on 20 November. The ceremony will be hosted David Hopkins, director of the undisputed invoices in 30 days and ensure this Timber Trade Federation. q payment term is passed down the supply chain.

Wood Awards finalists announced [

NBT signals expansion as woodfibre insulation market heats up [UK SUPPLIER OF the Pavatex woodfibre

insulation range, NBT, has responded to increased demand for natural, breathable insulation materials by expanding its team with the appointment of new sales manager Phil Griffiths (pictured).

NBT has been instrumental in raising awareness of the benefits of natural, renewable insulation materials amongst housebuilders, specifiers and contractors, demonstrating the thermal performance and building comfort of breathable systems for both new build and retrofit installations.

Phil Griffiths is part of a planned expansion at NBT and he brings 28 years of sales experience to the team, where he will work alongside the technical expertise of the company’s building physicists to drive sales and build customer relationships.

Phil’s experience in the construction sector includes roles with some of the biggest brands in building products, including British Gypsum and Saint Gobain. He also spent seven years at insulated concrete formwork (ICF) specialist Integraspec and has excellent technical understanding of modern methods

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of construction, thermal performance requirements and specification challenges.

Phil commented: “This is a very exciting time in the construction sector with lots of innovation in the building products market and a genuine design focus on thermal performance, sustainability and building comfort.

“NBT’s Pavatex range ticks all those boxes,

offering a renewable and recyclable insulation product with excellent thermal performance and buildability benefits. I’m joining the company at a time when it’s already reaching beyond the realms of ‘eco’ and ‘heritage’ projects, with plenty more scope for growth still to come. I’m looking forward to working with specifiers and contractors and continuing to raise the profile of woodfibre insulation in the sector.”

NBT’s managing director Andrew Mitchell added: “Phil’s appointment marks a milestone for NBT as we move out of a phase of being a niche supplier and into the mainstream construction market where the Pavatex range can not only hold its own against conventional forms of insulation but can demonstrate considerable advantages.

“His talent, contacts and understanding of the construction market will be a significant advantage to NBT and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team.” q • For further information visit the website at www.natural-building.co.uk, email info@ natural-building.co.uk or call 01844 338338.

On Hand & On Demand: OnLevel increase stock levels following increase in customer demand

[ONLEVEL UK has recently invested further into its stock holding,

following increased customer demand and an impressive first year of activity in the UK. Due to the unprecedented success of the SKYForce Juliet Balcony system and the innovative TL range of frameless glass solutions, the company has restructured its warehouse operation to cater for the increase in orders.

The benefit of increased stock holding is immediately passed on to OnLevel’s clients. The investment in stock of the most popular profiles, handrails and accessories means lead times can be as short as 24 hours from order to delivery.

OnLevel managing director Gary Dean (right) commented: “Before I launched the business in the UK, I knew that location was key to be able to supply demand, that’s why I chose our home in Manchester – the warehouse is based in Ashton-underLyne next to the M60. With our additional sales and training support offices we are able to service the UK market quickly and efficiently.”

“We have a 5,000 sq ft warehouse that is always busy and filling quickly. But It’s vital that we provide our clients with a speedy turnaround, from order placement through to delivery, with products from stock.”

Care and consideration OnLevel are keen to get product to client as fast as possible – but not at the expense of perfect condition, and so each item is triple packed. Firstly, each profile is foil wrapped; secondly, it is packaged in a cardboard outer; and finally each package is protected by external corners and/or an additional outer box. OnLevel’s transport damage is less than 0.5% due to the time and money they invest in packaging for a perfect product.

The company are the innovation specialist for high-quality balustrade profiles in all shapes and sizes – providing aesthetically pleasing, safe, tested, independently certified, highly durable balustrades for living or work spaces.

OnLevel supply certified dry-glaze frameless glass balustrade systems in 0.75kN, 1.5kN and 3kN performance standards, and Juliet Balcony solutions up to 3m spans - with unique, patented, fast installation solutions.

Additionally, they supply glass clamps, structural glass point-fixings, stainless steel, aluminium and wooden handrails, Fischer, Wurth and Hilti fixings and accessories such as stainless steel cleaner, adhesive and glass cleaner. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Remguard – a revolution in site surveillance [ THE FUTURE of site surveillance has

landed with the launch of the Remguard security system – a surveillance product like no other, using the latest patented audio intervention technology, warning intruders that they are being watched.

FOC Sales Ltd has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with security experts Remvox Ltd, aimed at providing sites and premises with state-of-the-art, rapidly-deployable security systems, which use intelligent detection software to offer maximum surveillance.

Steve Booth, FOC Sales Ltd managing director, said: “We are delighted to announce our new partnership deal with Remvox. We have a real desire to improve products and services on-site to help personnel carry out their jobs more efficiently and safely, through new innovations and solutions. We provide that expertise, and develop and sell products which we feel are really needed in the industry.”

As solution providers, the FOC Sales team and Remvox researched and talked to site personal about their issues with current security surveillance equipment. It revealed a series of problems such as instability; only having one camera which didn’t give a 360 degree clear view; and wires and cables

protruding down the outside of the columns, which could be easily cut and tampered with by would be thieves.

The team set about manufacturing an easily deployable system, which would resolve all of these issues and give added value through new technologies. They came up with the Remguard product with stability prevention, video analytics, digitally

enhanced imagery, audio intervention and four cameras which can detect from any angle to over four miles – all of these functions can be controlled remotely, off-site from a smart phone, tablet or PC, at any hour of the day or night.

The unit is self-contained so can be easily redeployed from site to site. It works without grid mains power and runs off a bespoke internal uninterrupted power management system, meaning the unit will run for up to 12 weeks without the need for fuel replenishment.

The system is like no other on the market and recent testimonials prove it’s a winner on site. Bridgewaters of Coventry love the system and said: “Excellent system, it stopped break-ins immediately.” Ground Control, Rugby said the system was ‘brilliant’ and that they would be ordering more units in 2018.

The team attended this year’s Hillhead exhibition in Buxton in June, demonstrating to visitors how technology can save manhours, protecting sites and premises with minimum effort. q • For further information and all enquiries email enquiries@remvox.co, telephone 0330 122 9001 or visit www.focsales.com/remvox.html for insights and indepth analysis of all Remguard products.

Aarsleff Ground Engineering handed RoSPA Gold Award for health and safety practices [AARSLEFF GROUND ENGINEERING, based in Newark, has

been handed a prestigious award in recognition of its practices and achievements in helping its staff and customers get home safely at the end of the working day.

The company has achieved a Gold Award in the internationallyrenowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK. They were presented with the award during a ceremony at Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel in July.

The RoSPA Awards scheme, which receives entries from organisations around the world, recognises achievement in health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

Robert Speakman, STEQ (Safety, Training, Environment, Quality) manager at Aarsleff, said: “Health and safety has been championed as one of Aarsleff Ground Engineering’s core business values for over 25 years. The award demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement in accident and ill health prevention at work and is a fantastic achievement for our team, confirming our continued commitment to occupational safety, development and management.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of qualifications, awards and events, said:

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“The RoSPA Awards are the most highly-respected in the health and safety arena, with almost 2,000 entrants every year, and allow organisations to prove excellence in the workplace, demonstrating a commitment to the well-being of not only employees but all those who interact with it.”

The majority of awards are non-competitive and mark achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels.

Gold medals, president’s awards, orders of distinction and the Patron’s Award are presented to organisations sustaining the high standards of the gold level over consecutive years.

Competitive awards go to the best entries in 24 industry sectors including construction, healthcare, transport and logistics, engineering, manufacturing and education.

There are specialist awards for health at work, environmental management and fleet safety, as well as excellence trophies for the best international, new entry and workforce involvement and for organisations operating or based in Scotland. RoSPA’s top accolade is the Sir George Earle Trophy.

Headline sponsor of the RoSPA Awards 2018 was NEBOSH – the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health – for the 13th consecutive year. q • For more information about the RoSPA Awards visit www.rospa.com/awards

Charity looks to address cancer in the construction sector [ A NEW CHARITY has been launched which aims to transform

cancer advice and support for people working in the construction and built environment sector – as well as raising money to help fund research.

We Build the Future is the result of work by a cohort of leading industry figures, since its inception last year by Richard Harral, technical director of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers.

Richard launched the initiative following the death of his father from cancer in 2016.

Working in partnership with Cancer Research UK and the Lighthouse Club, We Build the Future has three specific objectives: • To support people who work in the construction and built • environment sector who face the challenge of dealing with • cancer in their lives • To fund research to help accelerate improvements in the • prevention, detection and treatment of cancer • To promote health and wellbeing in the construction and • built environment sector in order to help reduce the risk of • people developing cancer in the first place Launching the new charity, Richard Harral said: “One in two people will develop cancer at some stage in their lives. We want to ensure that, whatever the circumstances – whether it's dealing with a personal cancer diagnosis or cancer affecting friends or family – the people in our industry get the support and advice they need. With three million people

working in our sector, if we all give a little we can transform people’s experience and help more people everywhere beat cancer, sooner.”

We Build the Future is asking people in the industry to donate their earnings for an hour every year to help develop their campaigns.

Donation can be made via www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/ webuildthefuture/donation. People can also follow the campaign on Twitter @webuildtf or #beatingcancersavinglives. There is also a short cancer survey to enable the charity to understand how best to help people at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HNMXZTT. Caro Evans, director of partnerships at Cancer Research UK, said: “Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen cancer survival in the UK double in the last 40 years. But one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer, which means there’s still so much more we need to do.

“We’re proud to be working with We Build the Future: their passion and ambition to support people within their industry when they’re faced with cancer makes it the perfect fit with Cancer Research UK. Together we can reach even more people with information about cancer and raise more money for vital research.”

We Build the Future is also interested in speaking to people from the construction and built environment sector who would be willing to help produce some case studies of dealing with cancer, or who would be happy to act as ambassadors at regional events to help raise the profile of the charity. Contact info@webuildthefuture.org. q

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NHBC looks forward to the home of the future >A REPORT COMMISSIONED by the NHBC Foundation has looked

ahead to predict what the house of the future will look like. It foresees radical adjustments to house building design, inspired by new technology, population shifts and climate change.

Futurology: The new home in 2050 postulates that the home of the future will increasingly tap into neighbourhood energy systems, feature flexible layouts and use improved technology to make automatic decisions about heating, security and even postal deliveries.

The report suggests that demographic changes will drive demand for multi-generational accommodation. More homes will be designed with flexible layouts to suit different generations, which can be adapted as families’ needs change.

Inspired by the need for more urban housing in already densely populated areas, future designs will produce homes with smaller footprints but more storeys – using balcony and roof space to provide outdoor space.

Architects may draw inspiration from good compact design, such as in boats or caravans, to produce more ‘micro-living’ options for single people.

More innovation will be used when designing ‘third age’ homes for people over 65, reflecting demand for accommodation with lifts, level access and communal activities, whilst retaining privacy and a sense of ownership.

By 2050, technology will transform homes into collectors and storers of energy, with electricity generated by non-fossil fuel most likely to be used to heat homes and provide hot water. Electric cars will be commonplace with every property equipped with a charging point. The future home will manage its energy use from a centralised platform, combining heating, electrical consumption, ventilation and vehicle charging.

Even letter boxes will be replaced by smart delivery boxes which will be able to receive registered deliveries and store valuable parcels.

NHBC’s head of standards, innovation and research, Neil Smith, commented: “In the next 30 years we will witness substantial changes to home-life through technological advancement, in response to societal, demographic and climate changes. Thinking ahead and considering on a regular basis how the homes we build will need to change to accommodate those demands is a good way to ensure that we are not taken by surprise.” T

Portamix unveils new brand in Paris >PORTAMIX, the world’s best mix-and-pour

flooring system, unveiled its new brand at the World of Concrete trade show in Paris this April.

Portamix was invented in New Zealand

by Miles Suckling in 1998 and has revolutionised the concrete and floor application industry since.

“A floor coating manufacturer had asked us to source a mixer that could efficiently mix multiple bags of coating material and be easily transported onsite to be applied,” explained Miles Suckling.

“We searched far and wide around the world and realised the product didn’t exist. By asking around, we also realised plenty of people wanted such a product. So, we designed and built it.”

“20 years on and Portamix is still the most effective mixer in its class. It mixes epoxies, resins and cement-based products very quickly – plus it’s very manoeuvrable, simple to use and easy to clean. For contractors, that means less strain or injury and much higher productivity.”

Until now, the Portamix brand and its flagship products, Mega Hippo and Pelican, have sat under the Intex brand – the Australasian supplier of high quality drywalling tools. But Portamix relaunched at the World of Concrete trade show in Paris, standing on its own two feet.

“We’ve given the branding a subtle refresh

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Portamix inventor Miles Suckling says he was excited to unveil the new brand in Paris to modernise and strengthen it, and we’ve designed and built a brand new Portamix website,” said Miles Suckling. “But don’t worry, the products are the exact same ones contractors have been trusting for years.”

Portamix has grown so much in recent years that it quickly became clear splitting away from Intex was the only logical decision.

“We’re so pleased at where Portamix has got to in the past two decades,” added Miles.

“We’re selling our products globally and now we’re raising our profile so that contractors know there is a product available that will make their life easier – launching the new brand in Paris was a nod to that.” T • For further information visit the website at www.portamixglobal.com and watch the Portamix brand video at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=hwGJPNN7IK0

If you are one of our many online readers simply click on any of the logos listed below and you will be automatically directed to that company’s website.

To get your company’s website listed on this page just give us a call on 0161 710 3880 or email ian@dmmonline.co.uk

Innovative Manufacturers of Adhesives, Grouts, Cements and Coatings

New & Used Portable & Modular Building Sales.

• Alteration • Refurbs • Installation • Relocation

Online Tradesman Search Facility & Directory

Suppliers and Distributors of Scaffolding and Access Equipment

Construction Finance Specialists

Working within the Construction Industry • Health & Safety Training • Roofing Training

High Speed 4G Wireless Broadband Routers

Cable Management Systems

Your partner for working safely at heights

www.astapowerproject.com/bim

www.cotacabin.co.uk

www.scaffoldingsales.co.uk

www.nimrod-training.co.uk

www.skyhook-gb.com

www.rotafix.co.uk

www.stockporttradesmen.com

www.ultimatefinance.co.uk

www.4grouter.co.uk

atoz

Asta Powerproject BIM – affordable 4D planning

construction national website

Welcome to our A to Z guide of the websites of some of the industry’s leading players.

www.xsplatforms.com

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London’s construction industry gathers to assert its predominance [ OCTOBER WILL SEE the return to

London’s Olympia of the highly successful London Build exhibition and conference. Since its launch four years ago London Build has established itself as the largest construction show at the Olympia, covering all sectors of the construction industry. After reaching full capacity in the Central and West Halls, London Build will be moving to the Olympia’s National Hall for this year’s show, which takes place on 23-24 October.

London Build has steadily built a regular audience, because of the show’s unique focus on London and the surrounding region – together with its first-class content, unrivalled networking events and associated entertainment.

A spokesperson for show organiser Oliver Kinross explained: “London is the economic powerhouse of the UK and the fourth wealthiest city by GDP in the world. Construction activity in London outpaces that of the rest of the UK. It is driven by a population growth rate that is double the rest of the country – in fact in the next six years London’s population will rocket to over 10 million, making it a world 'mega-city' – in addition to its role as one of the world's major hubs for international business.”

Last year’s show boasted record numbers, with 254 exhibitors, 17,627 pre-registered visitors, 105 strategic partners and 184 speakers.

The spokesperson continued: “At London Build you can win contracts, sell products, gain access to the latest construction intelligence in London and the wider region, promote your brand, open new business opportunities, meet pre-qualified buyers and much more.”

Entry to the show is free, bookable at www.londonbuildexpo.com/register-yourtickets. It offers the opportunity to meet with key players from the biggest construction companies. Plus, as Construction National is once again acting as a media partner for the event, there will be free copies of the magazine available to take home.

The extensive exhibition space features over 300 exhibitors and nine specialised zones: the BIM & Digital Construction Zone, Building Zone, Fire Safety Zone, Infrastructure Zone, Interior and Fit-out Zone, the London Design Zone, Product Innovation Zone, Plant Machinery and Equipment Zone, and the Sustainability Zone. Those specialist zones act as the focal point for eight ‘Summits’ – conferences and seminar programmes examining the subjects in depth. They are complemented by a Skills Hub, examining the future of skills in the industry.

Speakers include senior representatives from Heathrow Airport, Tideway, Mace, Laing O’Rourke, Costain, Transport for London, Mott MacDonald, Arup, AECOM, Interserve, Wates, Skanska, BPD and many more. All conference and workshop sessions are CPD-accredited and free to attend.

London Build is also active in the promotion

of inclusivity in the industry. The contribution of the LGBT community to London’s construction industry will be celebrated, and the third Women in Construction Morning Tea will take place on 24 October.

Away from all the serious business, it is after all October – or Oktober to our German colleagues. And that can only mean a return of the popular Oktoberfest Beer Festival, where visitors can enjoy a traditional German stein with pretzels, schnitzel and live Bavarian oompah music.

On the evening of 23 October the industry decamps to the Royal Garden Hotel for the London Construction Awards. The awards recognise the best in London’s booming construction industry across 12 categories – ranging from Architecture in Design to Women in Construction, plus the coveted London Build Excellence Award. They reward solution providers, contractors, architects, developers and local authorities and feature top-level guest speakers, entertainment, a three-course dinner and exclusive networking opportunities.

The awards ceremony will be hosted by sophisticated raconteur Marcus Brigstocke.

The finalists in the various categories have been announced and the full list can be viewed at www.londonbuildexpo.com/londonconstruction-awards. q • For more details on visiting, exhibiting or sponsoring London Build or the London Construction Awards, visit the website at www.londonbuildexpo.com or email enquiries@londonbuildexpo.com.

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Buy direct and get it fast [ ARE YOU INVOLVED in fast-paced retail

and leisure fit-out projects and chasing multiple suppliers for delayed deliveries? Are you paying more than you should be for your consumables? It could be that Bryson – the supplier dedicated to retail and leisure fit-out contractors – have the solution.

Established over 40 years ago, Bryson are now the UK’s leading manufacturer, importer and distributor of fixings, temporary protection and safety solutions – offering fast, nationwide delivery direct from the manufacturer to any site.

Still a family-owned business, Bryson has grown steadily since its establishment in 1974. As a result of offering nothing less than quality service and products, as well as absolute devotion to its customers’ needs, the business has quadrupled in size over the past five years.

Bryson pride themselves on having the fastest nationwide delivery service in the industry, meaning customers can place orders as late as 5.30pm for next-day delivery before 12 noon. Plus, if they’re working in London and next-day delivery before noon just isn’t quick enough, they can have it the same day! They can order

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place orders within 30 seconds. Bryson also offers customers the convenience of an app, allowing you to browse products, place orders and stay up-to-date with the latest offers, bargains and news. And it’s completely free!”

Bryson supply fixings, temporary protection, site welfare, signage, safety, PPE, sealants, adhesives, brickwork sundries, site electrics, tools, power tool accessories and much more. q • To request a copy of their latest catalogue call 020 8660 9119 or visit bryson.co.uk.

by 10am for same-day delivery to any site within the M25.

Managing director Daniel Reiner explained: “With Bryson you won’t have to wait all day for your goods to turn up. Our fast sameday delivery service will save your site managers from wasting time collecting goods from merchants.

“The bryson.co.uk website offers a fantastic online ordering experience, giving you instant access to over 20,000 products, plus new benefits to help you

Get a little VIP treatment [ FOR THOSE WHO want a little bit more

from their visit to London Build, there a number of VIP Tickets available.

The VIP Ticket will give enhanced access to London Build, plus many more benefits.

They include VIP access to the show – all eight conferences and workshop floors plus the exhibition – plus access to and free drinks at the VIP area for networking with high-level construction and architecture professionals.

There is also the exclusive opportunity to download a compilation of PowerPoint presentations from the conference and workshop speakers, as well as exclusive access to the Construction Tenders Database and the London Build Construction Directory – an essential directory of construction companies, construction professionals and their contact details. It includes contractors, housebuilders, architects, developers, building companies, distributors, engineers and many more.

A further publication is the Building & Construction Intelligence – Project Leads report. It contains leads, data and insight on a wide range of construction projects across London – both inside and outside of planning. Readers can gain insight into projects and procurement opportunities

relevant to their business and gain contact details on key decision-makers with this single-user licence.

The VIP Ticket also gives access to press and media contacts at London Build, as well as a free beer, wine or soft drink token at Oktoberfest – the two are often intertwined.

London Build’s event partners are also offering free versions of a range of

construction, architecture and BIM software, while Oliver Kinross are giving free listings of company logos, profiles and contact details for 12 months on the highly-trafficked London Build website, plus 15% off VIP Tickets for any upcoming Oliver Kinross construction show. They include New York Build, Chicago Build, Sydney Build, Auckland Build and Scotland Build. q

Meet the Buyer, with Constructionline at London Build [ ONE OF THE major opportunities to explore new avenues at this year’s London Build will

be Constructionline’s industry-leading Meet the Buyer event.

Constructionline is the UK’s leading provider of third-party, technology-enabled qualification and accreditation services. Part of Capita Plc, the service plays a critical role in the procurement value chain, collecting, assessing and monitoring over 30 million pieces of information from more than 46,000 suppliers through a PAS 91:2013+A1 2017 aligned question set.

Its Meet the Buyer events are a great opportunity for suppliers to introduce themselves to new buyers and learn about new projects. For buyers, they enable them to increase their supply chain and increase their brand profile to potential new clients. Overall they provide a great opportunity to network with colleagues within the industry and members of the Constructionline team.

Entry to the Meet the Buyer event is free to visitors to London Build. For more information on this and all of Constructionline’s events, visit www.constructionline.co.uk. q

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Plant tyre specialist is first-time exhibitor [ EXHIBITING AT LONDON BUILD for the first time this year are

tyre specialists Continental and subsidiary Bandvulc. Continental, which acquired the commercial vehicle retreader Bandvulc in 2016, recognises the construction sector as a specialist operation and has worked towards the development of products which meet the specific needs and requirements of the industry.

Said Bandvulc’s commercial director Phil West: “The event will provide us with the ideal opportunity to show both products and services to a focused audience, which recognises the expertise required to deliver and demonstrate best-value over best-cost solutions.”

In the past 70 years the movement of people towards cities has accelerated. While in 1950, only 30% of the world’s population lived in cities, the figure is projected to rise to around 66% by 2050. With more and more people living in urban areas, the need for housing, schools, hospitals, offices, warehouses, factories, roads and rail will also increase – as will the demand for construction plant.

Both Bandvulc and Continental have been very active in the development of products in the sector and London Build is therefore seen as the perfect platform to showcase the group’s new portfolio of construction tyres: the Conti Cross and EarthMover ranges, together with Bandvulc’s BIG and BDY range.

The hugely successful BIG and BDY range for urbanised tipper and aggregate operations feature a range of attributes, including sidewall protection, enhanced tread design and – in the case of BDY – directional performances. Manufactured in all the popular sizes, both products have proven themselves instrumental in driving down wholelife costs for transport operators The new Conti CrossTrac tyres have been developed using the latest truck tyre technologies and Continental’s long-standing experience – knowing that the tyre needs to cater for the requirements of gruelling applications. The result is a balance of flexibility and outstanding durability, traction and robustness for hard off-road conditions, as well as smooth performance on the road.

The Bandvulc BIG (above) and Conti EarthMover ranges (below) will be showcased at London Build

Continental has also developed the ContiEarth range for the specific needs and requirements of construction machinery. Each of the series of off-the-road tyres is equipped with a specifically developed tread pattern tailored for the particular needs and requirements of the loaders, dump trucks and bulldozers used in construction and mining projects. q • Visit Continental and Bandvulc Tyres at London Build Expo 2018 at Stand F27.

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Super sewer’s safety guru to speak at Future London Summit [ VIEWERS OF the BBC’s The Five Billion Pound

Super Sewer cannot fail to have been impressed with the sheer scale of the project to construct a huge new sewer beneath London’s streets. When completed, it will mark the end of millions of tonnes of raw, untreated sewage overflowing the system and spilling into the Thames each year.

As the population of London reaches nine million, the need to construct the 25km Thames Tideway Tunnel to intercept, store and ultimately transfer sewage waste away from the River Thames has become imperative.

Construction began in 2016, with completion planned for 2023; and the scheme has already hit several milestones. As recently as June the two tunnel boring machines – Millicent and Ursula – were lowered underground. With the machines weighing in at over 850 tonnes each, lowering them was a lengthy and complicated process and took approximately eight hours each.

Steve Crofts is head of health, safety and wellbeing (HSW) at the Tideway project. He is responsible for supporting and guiding the programme manager and principal contractors to enable them to deliver Tideway’s vision of transformational HSW performance.

Steve will be speaking at London Build’s Future London Summit on 24 October and taking part in the panel discussion on health and safety afterwards.

The show’s organisers caught up with Steve in advance of the show to ask him about the Tideway project and the HSW processes involved. They began by asking him what the tunnel will mean for London.

“The biggest challenge so far has been ensuring that we avoid the initial “The Thames Tideway Tunnel will mean a cleaner, healthier river ‘spike’ in incident rates that previous large infrastructure projects have for London, by removing tens of millions of tonnes of raw sewage that experienced. Having successfully avoided this spike, the challenge now is overflows from the sewer system into the Thames every year.” to continue to improve our performance across the programme during the He went on to explain what innovative construction methods are being increasingly intense construction phases.” used and to detail the most significant challenges and successes regarding And finally; why is it so important to attend London Build? the HSW of the project.

“We want to ensure the work we’re doing to lead the industry forward is “All those working on the Tideway project are encouraged and assisted captured and shared with as many as possible, to ensure it has a lasting, in their efforts to innovate – moving the industry forward and ensuring the positive impact.” success of the project.

Plus, of course, you get to meet Steve. q “One innovation that has taken place is to use an electrically-powered hydrofraise to reduce noise during diaphragm walling activities. Another is the extensive use of virtual reality during tunnel boring machine design to help both design out health and safety hazards and to familiarise operatives with machines before delivery and operation.

“We even have an interactive and engaging THE PRESENTATION BY Steve Crofts and the panel discussion that follows it will full-day induction for everyone on the project draw to a close the two-day Future London Summit, that will have ranged across the that utilises a permanent set and actors to full spectrum of what the future holds for the capital. Issues discussed will include ensure all are fully immersed in the day. climate change and nuclear power; transport and infrastructure, including Heathrow, “On Tideway we were keen to see the Crossrail and TfL; and the social dimensions to building for the future. early engagement of occupational hygienists Two overarching issues will take up a sizeable portion of debating time: the housing at the design phase to ensure construction crisis and the fall-out from the Grenfell Tower disaster. Dame Judith Hackitt’s report requirements consider operatives’ health will form the basis of a discussion on the ‘golden thread’ of information and data. and are designed accordingly; and we have Plus, for those with a sense of heritage there’s a presentation on the History of the also been developing ‘intelligent tracking’, to Royals – not the Royal Family but the Royal Dockyards and their regeneration! monitor operatives’ locations during exclusion And of course, there will be a debate on what Brexit means for the London zone activities and for the management of construction industry. q muster points.

The future’s in London [

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magicplan: the floor plan app to plan renovation projects [PLANNING RENOVATION PROJECTS can be time-consuming for

any renovation or construction company. And sometimes the planning even leaves customers with a feeling of unease. “Is the quote they gave me transparent and reliable?” “How long will the renovation process be?”

“Can I trust their calculation?” It does not have to be that way. The floor plan creation app magicplan utilises Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manage and plan renovation projects in a smart and efficient way.

Floor plan creation with AR and AI Floor plan creation with the award-winning magicplan app is precise, simple and fast. Thanks to AR it actually is as simple as taking a picture.

With a device’s camera users aim at the corner of a room and click, the floor plan is created. Furniture, notes and other objects can be added and the rooms can be viewed in 3D. As magicplan uses AI the app automatically detects and captures doors and windows. On-site data is captured in minutes.

Estimations and quotes on site But magicplan is much more than just a floor plan creation app. It is a unique tool to compute the costs and materials of any renovation project.

Based on the captured plan’s data, such as surface and surrounding, the app shows estimations in an instant and on-site. Companies can upload their own price lists to let magicplan create transparent, customised quotes on-site. They can increase their customers’ trust in no time as magicplan builds on solid data. Jobs can be won on the first client visit.

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Managing projects with magicplan From the app to the web: the magicplan cloud allows companies to plan their renovation projects. All the members of a team are connected and can be managed from a centralised source. Moreover, the cloud is the place to link companies with their partners – for example, to get construction material delivered. The cloud turns magicplan into a managing tool for renovation projects.

Today’s success, tomorrow‘s possibilities magicplan has been downloaded over 15 million times and is used by companies all around the world. “Our users map the equivalent of a small town every day”, says Andreas Böhm, CEO of magicplan. But the possibilities of AR and AI are endless. It is magicplan’s goal to disrupt processes and product chains around homes and houses for good. q

Steel – your material of choice [ AS A LEADING UK steel manufacturer of structural sections,

we’re here to tell you how quality steel can make a difference to your next construction project.

Steel continues to be a popular framing material for buildings, bridges and other structures. Whatever the size of your project, we’re here to help. With our extended stock range and comprehensive UK steel distribution network, we offer local supply tailored to your requirements.

So why should you use steel as your material of choice?

Using steel for your construction requirements brings numerous benefits to your project – including quality, structural efficiency, sustainability and cost effectiveness. While maintaining its strength, steel is known to perform better in all environments as its ductile properties enable it to withstand energy impact in all weather conditions.

The flexibility and adaptability of steel makes it perfect for the longterm. We know time is of the essence in every project so the fact that steel can be mass produced and pre-fabricated both on and offsite makes steel the ideal material of choice.

The many advantages of using steel for construction are highlighted by steel’s market share, which over the past 15 years has consistently been around 90% for single-storey industrial buildings and 70% for multi-storey non-residential buildings.

There is the perception that our steel is only used in larger projects – this is not the case! Our steel is not only used in iconic buildings to transform skylines across the world, but also for smaller, local projects including schools and hospitals.

We work closely with our customers to understand their needs and to address common industry challenges such as accessibility and high demand. Our distribution network is expanding to accommodate delivery and collection on a more local scale with our most recent offices opening in the North West and Somerset.

Some recent projects where we’ve supplied steel include Uxbridge’s largest office redevelopment, The Charter Building, and the £12 million development of the Belize Civic Center Sports Complex. q • To find out more about British Steel’s range of construction products or to speak to a member of the team, visit the website at www.britishsteel.co.uk/construction. You can also visit us at London Build 2018 at Stand F16.

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There’s plenty to discuss at London Build [IN ADDITION TO the Future London Summit, Building for the

Future is one of the topics addressed in the BIM and Digital Construction Summit at London Build. BIM is the hot topic in construction design, with the government’s target of Level 2 BIM by 2016 looking to be both missed and out-of-date.

The good news is the industry has left the government behind and is forging ahead with ever-changing technology standards. The BIM and Digital Construction Summit will be delving into the modern-day alchemy of technology over the full two days of London Build.

Innovation is always the goal for any technological advance, and the Innovation Summit will debate the latest trends in building innovation.

From modern methods of construction to preserving historic buildings, new approaches will be examined.

Technology is again at the forefront, with the combination of off-site construction and digital modelling helping to improve efficiency and quality. There is a sci-fi element to the debate: will the combination of artificial intelligence and robotics render humans obsolete on construction sites? Find out at London Build.

The future for construction lies in sustainability, and the Sustainability Summit will look at both the big picture and the detail of this crucial issue. As well as discussions on sustainable building materials and designing-in low carbon use, there will be presentations on the circular economy and a number of case studies. Tideway again acts as a useful example.

The Association of Consultant Architects is the driving force behind day one of the London Design Summit. Luminaries from that organisation will be offering views on subjects ranging from Sir John Egan’s 1998 Rethinking Construction to Dame Judith Hackitt’s ‘golden thread’.

Day two of the conference reverts to a more conventional format, with a mix of presentations and panel discussions.

The lessons of Grenfell will be dominating this year’s Fire Safety Summit at London Build. The conference has become a regular feature of the show, but this year it carries an added and unwanted significance.

A wide-ranging series of presentations and discussions will cover fire safety within buildings, safety on site and the role of technology in preventing fire.

Another regular feature rounds off the programme of discussion forums, with the Interior and Fit-out Summit examining the latest innovations in what’s inside a building. Presentations will keep delegates up-to-speed with new developments in materials, while industry experts will address issues regarding health and safety, training and sustainable solutions.

All the conference sessions are CPD accredited and offer unparalleled opportunities to keep abreast of developments across the board in the industry in London. q • For full details of conference sessions visit www.londonbuildexpo.com/ whats-on/conference-programme

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Love your workplace: office design for better well-being and productivity [BUSINESSES ARE INCREASINGLY aware

that getting the right office interior is crucial for both employee well-being and efficiency. AJ Products can help to create well-planned, healthy work environments completely customised to each business.

Numerous studies have shown a direct relationship between the workspace and employee performance. As a result, many businesses want to make employee well-being the central focus of their workplace design. At AJ Products we take this seriously. For over 40 years we have been supplying furniture and customising interior solutions for every type of workplace: from offices and conference facilities to manufacturing plants and warehouses. Whether it’s a complete refit or just one chair, AJ Products will support you. We want every business to love their workplace!

Good ergonomics guarantee employee wellbeing Good ergonomics in the workplace ensure that employees work comfortably and reduce the risk of any health problems. AJ Products is committed to promoting an active way of working – a concept that is increasing in popularity with businesses across all sectors. We provide sit-stand solutions, including standing desks and active chairs, as well as anti-fatigue matting and cleverly-designed trolleys to improve ergonomics in every workplace.

The latest addition to our health-conscious product range is a standing meeting table designed to encourage more active meetings! No matter the environment, we won’t compromise well-being.

Convenience is key One of the key aims for any business refitting their offices is to improve efficiency and productivity. Effective workplace solutions can revolutionise the way a business works. By prioritising solutions designed to save space, time and effort, a business will see numerous benefits including improved health and safety, and increased output without added pressure on staff.

AJ Products can also provide a planning service to help maximise the use of available space.

Adaptability and sustainability give customers peace of mind When refitting a workplace, you need to be sure that the solutions you offer will serve the business well for many years to come. Flexibility is one of AJ’s principal product development concepts; we create furniture that can be adapted to many different types of work environments and will expand with the business.

Quality and environmental consciousness are also essential. AJ Products’ ISO certifications and minimum three-year product guarantee demonstrate our commitment both to the quality our customers have come to expect and our planet.

AJ Produkter AB, the parent company of the 19 AJ subsidiaries across Europe including the UK branch, is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

doing so, we have a clear picture of what clients want as well as what they need so that we can design and manufacture better products to meet those needs.

What the customer wants, what they need and everything in between Our innovative, ergonomic office furniture is just one area of expertise in our extensive product range. We also provide premises management equipment, materials handling solutions, lockers and changing room facilities, conference furniture, warehouse shelving and racking, workbenches, industrial matting and much more.

Thanks to our 40 plus years of experience, AJ Products can provide a complete solution – from free-of-charge project planning and design suggestions to quick delivery and installation.

We are a one-stop shop for all workplace needs.

Whether a one-off order or a large refit project, AJ Products is here for whatever you need. q • For more information on how we can support your design project visit our website at www.ajproducts.co.uk or call us on 0800 634 4369 to speak to our sales team.

Function vs style Function is an obvious part of office design but aesthetics are also important. The office is the company’s face to the world and it should reflect the organisation’s personality and values.

AJ Products offers furniture and interiors to suit the entire spectrum of office styles and budgets.

We have something for everyone! Our premium product range is ideally suited to companies looking to project a very high-end image, such as media corporations or those in the financial sector. However, we can also make the most of tight budgets and will help you deliver a welcome solution to any client.

Happier and healthier workplaces AJ Products is committed to making workplaces happier and healthier places to be. Everything we do, we do with a passion to deliver the best solution for each workplace. We sell tables, chairs and shelving, but that is not what our customers buy from us. They buy nicer offices, practical warehouses and better workplaces. For over 40 years we have studied our customers’ needs. By www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Are You Working at Height Safely?

[WORK ENVIRONMENTS are rapidly developing, and it is imperative

to reinforce basic knowledge on safe Working at Height. Figures from the HSE show that falls from height remain the single biggest cause of fatality on construction sites, so – are you working at height safely?

• Safety Lines are compatible with nearly every roof build up, meaning the system is a first choice when it comes to preventing falls whilst completing maintenance works and other Work at Height tasks.

• Walkways are a bespoke solution to combat potentially dangerous roof surfaces, removing the hazard of trips, slips and falls from height.

FACT: Working at Height constitutes any work taking place on, below, or above ground level where there is a risk of personal injury through falling or from falling objects.

Safe Equipment

Training Training is the first step to ensure that you are protected whilst Working at Height. Specialist training courses are designed to help you comply with relevant regulations and at the end of a training course, you should be confident to: 1. Undertake a Working at Height risk assessment; 2. Use access equipment safely; 3. Reduce or eliminate risk of falls from height; 4. Ensure compliance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005; 5. Carry out an effective rescue.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a vital part of protecting personnel against health and safety risks at work, and for Work at Height – this includes items such as safety harnesses, fall arrest lanyards and hard hats. Your employer has a responsibility to ensure that personnel are trained when it comes to selecting the correct PPE for the job, as well as for regular maintenance and compliance testing of the equipment.

Inspection, Testing and Certification

Fall Protection Systems

It is important that your fall protection systems and PPE are tested for compliance annually by a competent person and clearly tagged for use.

A non-compliant system puts lives at risk and can render employers liable in the case of an incident, as well as potentially invalidating insurances. q

Current health and safety legislation dictates that a fall protection system should be in place when employees or contractors carry out Work at Height (2m or higher). There are many fall protection systems available, and here we discuss the benefits of Heightsafe’s regularly installed systems: • Guardrails provide a building with adequate collective edge protection, meaning employees or contractors can move around the roof freely without the potential of entering a fall risk area.

• For further information visit the Heightsafe Systems website at heightsafesystems.com, email info@heightsafesystems.com, call 020 3819 7199 or visit us at the London Build Expo on 23-24 October 2018 at stand B46A.

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Crossrail showcases UK suppliers for Elizabeth line [DRAMATIC NEW IMAGES released by Crossrail, showing progress

at Tottenham Court Road, have highlighted the critical role played by businesses across the UK in the delivery of the Elizabeth line. Tottenham Court Road station will be at the centre of London’s first new underground railway in a generation, which will run from Berkshire and Heathrow in the west to South East London and Essex in the east.

The project is now in its final phases, with the new Elizabeth line trains being tested in the tunnels and the stations being fitted out with architectural finishes. The line will open in stages from December, with new state-of-the-art stations – all step-free.

Constructing the railway has been one of the most challenging and complex infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the country. It has needed the very best UK materials and expertise in civil engineering, design, manufacture and systems technology, with 96% of contracts awarded to companies based within the UK, supporting the equivalent of 55,000 full-time jobs.

Sir Terry Morgan, Crossrail chairman, commented: “The construction of the Elizabeth line through the heart of London is one of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Europe. It has been made possible thanks to the skill and dedication of suppliers from every corner of the UK, who are not only using their expertise to deliver this project, but also other projects here in the UK and abroad.”

Crossrail will be one of the case studies examined in detail at London Build’s Future London Summit. q

Fit-out market heading for choppy waters [THE LATEST London fit-out report from international quantity

surveyors Turner and Townsend reports a continued uncertainty in the market during the first half of 2018, with further cooling and a decrease in construction output – despite forecasts pointing to minor growth in 2018.

The report states: “Trade contractors continue to be stretched and are unwilling to invest in increasing capacity at this time, meaning early engagement of the supply chain becomes increasingly important on single stage tender routes.”

On prices, the report has this to say: “In 2018, price growth is expected to decrease by 0.2 percentage points from 2.2%, indicating a reduction in the quantity of commercial fit-out opportunities and a gradual slowing in the construction market. Skills shortages and rising material costs continue to pose problems for the fit-out market. These also remain the biggest challenges for the wider construction industry while Brexit negotiations continue into 2019 and post-Brexit negotiations commence with other trading regions. A reliance on migrant labour to compensate for an ageing workforce is likely to mean an upward trend in labour costs, resulting in inflation forecasts rising into 2019 and 2020.”

The report also advises clients to ‘tread carefully’ by ensuring that due diligence is applied to the supply chain. References and pre-qualification of trades will help ensure that clients are receiving the right quality of supply chain, the report says.

It also advises early conversations with main contractors and suppliers to provide greater visibility of the pipeline of work and allow effective bid planning. As always, clients should be aware of ‘abnormally low bids and what that may mean for the quality of service offering provided’.

For the latest news and opinion on fit-out, visitors to London Build can check in at the Interior and Fit-out Summit. q

London unveils plan to become a walking city [LONDON’S WALKING AND CYCLING commissioner Will Norman

has unveiled the capital’s first Walking Action Plan. It sets out how London will become a city where walking, for those that can, is the most obvious, enjoyable and attractive means of travel for all short trips. The plan, which is supported by Public Health England, has an ambitious vision to make London the most walkable city in the world, with a million extra walking trips taking place each day by 2024.

The Mayor of London wants to increase the proportion of people walking, cycling and taking public transport to 80% of journeys by 2041, from 63% now. And the Mayor is investing a record £2.2bn in streets across London to make them better for walking and cycling, and improve air quality.

Walking is an easy and affordable way for Londoners to integrate more physical activity into their daily lives. However, research shows that too many people are put off because of concerns about road danger or worries about their levels of physical fitness. The Walking Action Plan aims to help Londoners overcome those barriers by: • Designing, building and managing streets for people walking – by • delivering better public spaces, more walking routes and more • numerous and wider pedestrian crossings • Ensuring that walking is prioritised in every new infrastructure scheme, • through London’s first-ever pedestrian design guidance, plus a range of • other tools and analysis to support boroughs to deliver local schemes • Enabling thousands more children to walk to school by doubling • the number of Gold-accredited STARS schools, which champion • healthy routes to school, and by supporting timed road closures, car • free days and 20mph speed limits around schools • Rolling out innovative new traffic signal technology that makes it safer • and easier for pedestrians to cross roads, while minimising congestion • Creating new ‘Active Travel Hubs’ at London Underground stations, • making it easier to walk as part of an onward journey Major projects are already underway to enable more walking across London, such as Highbury Corner, where a new public space and new pedestrian crossings are being installed, and at Old Street where work will begin to transform the roundabout in 2019.

The experience of pedestrians will also be improved around Swiss Cottage, with new crossings and the removal of the dangerous gyratory. In Kingston, TfL funding is helping to deliver improved pedestrian and cycling routes between the town centre and the riverside.

The London Build Sustainability Summit will be debating ways to improve the environmental impact of our cities. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Shaping the future in White [SERVING CUSTOMERS in more than 70 countries under the brand

name Aalborg White, Aalborg Portland is a major global player in the white cement market with more than 3Mta of production capacity, installed in white cement plants strategically located on four continents.

All production sites benefit from large resources of high-purity limestone and other key raw materials needed to produce high-quality white cement with consistent chemical features, uniform white colour and high strengths.

In White: Aalborg Portland’s white innovation engine Over the last few decades, Aalborg Portland has focussed on understanding the needs of its customers and supplying white cement with properties best suited for their applications.

Extending this work, the group will pursue a new strategic focus that places it at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to challenge existing products and fully exploit the potential of white cement.

Aalborg Portland has established a global innovation engine for white cement to generate a pipeline of high potential value proposition initiatives including development of new solutions for well-known applications, or completely new applications for white cementbased products.

The company’s extensive global knowledge on well-established and emerging applications for white cement and technological know-how are key to this development. To date new solutions based on high-value and fast-developing technologies, such as ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) and glass fibrereinforced concrete (GRC), have been identified for further development.

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Sustainable white concrete applications Some emerging, but rapidly growing applications for Aalborg White cement are related to the chemistry and purity of the cement and the superior mechanical properties that can be achieved in concrete through advanced production technologies. Very high strength and outstanding durability can be achieved by manufacturing very thin panels and elements based on Aalborg White cement. As an example, this principle can be applied to facade elements to achieve compact, high-insulation panels – thereby benefitting from low weight per sq m, reduced wall thickness and surfaces finished in one process.

White cement also plays an important part in building a sustainable environment. For example, white concrete products can contribute to saving energy and improving the thermal comfort of dwellings. This results from the fact that light colours reflect sunlight more effectively than dark ones.

Providing more reflective surfaces such as light-coloured roofs, walls and pavements, will result in more energy reflected and consequently create a cooler temperature. The substitution of dark roofs, walls and pavements with white significantly lowers the ‘heat island effect’, reducing the need for power-hungry artificial cooling in buildings. White cement plaster or panels reduce the need for artificial lighting in tunnels, resulting in power savings.

The light-reflecting property of white concrete is particularly useful in the manufacture of kerbs, road markings, tunnel ramps, paving stones, and road and sound barriers, where it is playing an increasingly important role in contributing to safety by reducing the rate of traffic accidents. q

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Industry rallies around skills initiatives [THE SEEMINGLY-ENDLESS debate over

the skills shortage in the construction industry continues to attract government initiatives, industry ideas, proposals for improvement to current structures and even a few success stories!

The latest in the list of the former is the Construction Skills Fund – an 18-month initiative to ramp up skills levels by bringing training back on site. The initiative has been broadly welcomed by the industry, with the usual caveats. There seems to be a willingness on the part of the industry to give the new scheme a try – not always the case.

In terms of improvements to current structures, the main gripe from the industry is the inability of the apprenticeship levy to accurately reflect the real needs of the industry in terms of training. Such diverse organisations as the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Master Builders have called for a change to allow the cascading down of funding to the companies who actually carry out on-site training – mainly sub-contractors in the construction industry.

On the plus side, the roll-out of degree

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apprenticeships seems to be meeting with a marked level of success. Degrees with an onsite element, which used to be called ‘sandwich

courses’, have long been the backbone of the industry and now attract much-needed attention – and funding. q

London Chamber joins call for levy changes [SIGNIFICANT CHANGES NEED to be made to skills and training provision in London if

the capital is to continue to thrive, according to a report by London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the consortium of London Councils. The report, London’s Local Business Survey: Assessing the capital’s skills challenge, also claims that a radical overhaul of the apprenticeship levy is needed.

During the compilation of the report, more than 1,000 businesses were surveyed by ComRes. The survey asked London business leaders about the skills and recruitment challenges their companies faced and their views on training and apprenticeships.

It found that 42% of businesses that have to pay the apprenticeship levy still did not plan to use apprenticeship funding over the next 12 months – while an additional 40% expected to spend just half or less. q

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A fresh approach to developing degree level skills for the construction industry [WORKING CLOSELY WITH industry employers the

University of Kent is developing new construction degree apprenticeships. Ready to be rolled out from January 2019, the apprenticeships will be delivered nationwide.

The apprenticeships are the result of the industry’s strong desire to get more young people into construction careers and to help new and existing staff to develop higher level skills.

There is clear enthusiasm and commitment in the industry for developing talent, when it came to apprenticeships the message from employers is: “20% off-the-job training is an investment, not a deterrent”. Despite their enthusiasm, they face barriers to recruiting degree apprentices: a shortage of courses and difficulty finding the right candidate.

Keen to tackle these challenges the University of Kent has been developing new training progammes, the first of which is Construction Quantity Surveyor (due to launch January 2019). Designed in partnership with employers it’s a flexible course, to fit around workplace priorities and the use of blended learning – a combination of online and face-to-face learning means it’s available nationwide.

The university has also been running an outreach programme – engaging with schools and colleges to inspire young people about careers in construction. Over 100 young people have had the chance to take part in employer-led ‘taster days’, giving them hands-on experience of a range of construction careers.

Taster days have challenged industry stereotypes and showcased career opportunities students may not have been aware of. As a follow-up 200

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employers and young people came together for a networking event, where employers were able to offer interviews and work experience.

The future looks bright for degree apprenticeships; changes to funding mean employers now have up to 100% of apprenticeship training costs covered and there are a growing number of apprenticeships to choose from. Employers are optimistic these changes will bring a range of benefits: increased diversity, a productivity boost and a solution to skills gaps.

The University of Kent has a dedicated Centre for Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, which provides a full package of support to employers from providing apprenticeships advice to help with recruiting the right candidate.

Kent is currently accepting expressions of interest from employers for Construction Quantity Surveyor apprenticeships. The university offers a range of other apprenticeships across areas such as management and procurement. q • For more information see www.kent.ac.uk/apprenticeships or contact the CHDA team on apprenticeships@kent.ac.uk or call 01634 888459.

Civil engineers seek best graduates and apprentices [ENTRIES CLOSE ON 24 AUGUST for the New Civil Engineer

Graduate and Apprentice Awards 2018. Those who have graduated with a civil engineering or related degree in the past two years, or are actively pursuing EngTech MICE as an apprentice, can be in the running to win the accolade of New Civil Engineer Graduate or Apprentice of the Year and share the £4,000 prize pot.

This year the award has a real focus on technology. The judges are looking for graduates and apprentices who are not just comfortable working in a digital environment, but seeking to improve the use of technology in their company or the wider industry.

In addition to receiving the award and sharing the £4,000 prize pot, winners will benefit from a host of networking opportunities – including invitations to three ICE prestige events and five New Civil Engineer events.

They will also directly influence New Civil Engineer’s agenda by joining its Editorial Advisory Board and be invited to a post-event dinner

in the President’s Dining Room with fellow winners, key sponsors, judges and industry leaders.

To qualify, graduates should have graduated during 2016 or 2017 and now be in their first post-graduate role, and be training towards CEng or IEng qualification via an ICE-accredited training programme.

Apprentices should be actively pursuing the EngTech qualification via an ICE-accredited technician training programme.

Entries should be made online at graduates.newcivilengineer.com/enter before 24 August. q

Industry first for University of Derby Minerals Course [A STUDENT AT the University

Robin explained: “Lifelong learning is so important of Derby’s Centre for Mineral for our industry and formal Products has become the first academic qualifications person in the mineral extractives can help you develop both and quarrying industry to achieve personally and professionally. a first class honours degree on a Without it I wouldn’t have course developed in partnership unlocked the potential cost with the Institute of Quarrying (IQ). savings identified in my Robin Gillespie is Hanson UK’s report. Those findings have area operations manager for the already been introduced at North of England. He received his Shap and recommended Bachelor of Science in Minerals for implementation at Management at a degree ceremony HeidelbergCement quarries at the University of Derby in July. around the world, with Robin says: “I enrolled on the potential annual savings of inaugural BSc course in 2014 but £750,000.” dropped out after six months due to James Thorne, IQ’s chief time pressure to focus on my work. executive officer, said: “What I restarted the course in 2016, Pictured (left to right) are Chancellor William Cavendish, Earl of Burlington; a fantastic achievement by combining my studies with my role Robin Gillespie, Area Operations Manager North West, Hanson UK; Robin and all of this year’s as unit manager at Shap Quarry in Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Kathryn Mitchell cohort. His success marks Cumbria. It was a lot of hard work a significant milestone in the continual progression of the mineral and required considerable commitment. I was fortunate to have incredible extractives programmes at the University of Derby. support from both Hanson and the staff at the University of Derby, but I “IQ’s partnership with the University of Derby is helping raise am so proud to be the first first.” standards of professionalism throughout the industry, as more and One of the leading suppliers of heavy building products in the UK, more individuals and operators recognise the profound benefit of Hanson UK is developing talent to drive innovation and future business academic qualifications from higher apprenticeships through to growth. Karen Wright, talent and development manager, explained: “We honours degrees.” provide a number of structured support programmes providing the training Professor Judith Lamie, pro vice-chancellor external affairs at the and necessary skills for those that aspire to be our future business leaders.

University of Derby, said: “The university’s Centre for Mineral Products “Robin is a great example of what other science and engineering delivers industry standard and globally recognised qualifications to graduates could achieve on our graduate management trainee programme. the mineral products sector. We have a longstanding commitment to These are in place to attract, develop and retain the talent that Hanson training and development in the mineral products industry and are and the quarrying industry need for the future.” extremely proud of our students who qualify in this field.”

The BSc (Hons) Minerals Management is a part-time degree designed Mark Osbaldeston heads up the Centre for Mineral Products at the specifically for the mineral products industry to prepare its leaders and University of Derby. He added: “I’m personally delighted for Robin that managers for the future. The blended learning course involves online he received a well deserved first class honours degree. His application modules, as well as field projects. Robin’s work-based project looked at and enthusiasm for the course was exceptional.” q the benefits of using electronic delay versus pyrotechnical detonations for quarry blasting. The 63 page report earned him an impressive 86 per cent • For more information visit www.derby.ac.uk/minerals. mark and played a major part in securing the top grade. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Government’s latest skills initiative is broadly welcomed [THE £22M Construction Skills Fund to help

tackle the construction skills shortage, launched

by Skills Minister Anne Milton on 18 June, has brought a mixed reaction from the industry.

The £22m fund is aimed at bringing training onto construction sites, allowing learners to apply their knowledge in a real-world environment. That, it is hoped, will help meet the needs of employers and tackle the skills shortage. It is also aimed at supporting those who want to join the industry, particularly adult learners.

The 18-month scheme is funded by the Department for Education and will be administered by CITB, which has called on employers, housing associations and other interested bodies such as LEPs and local authorities, to submit Expressions of Interest.

The fund will support 20 on-site training hubs in England, offering work experience and placements for people in work to join the industry, as well as entry pathways for those currently unemployed and career switchers.

Announcing the initiative, Anne Milton said: “For our economy to thrive we need everyone, regardless of their age or background, to be able to get the training and the skills they need to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead. The government has committed to building 300,000 new homes a year by the mid2020s and we want to make sure that we are investing in the UK skills base to deliver this.”

Steve Radley, CITB policy director, added: “The Construction Skills Fund is a milestone

scheme for the sector and provides a significant investment in skills and training. It will help attract new talent and bridge the gap between training and working in the industry. Having training on or near to major projects will reveal what an exciting sector this can be, while also putting new talent in the shop window.

“We want all interested organisations to submit Expressions of Interest that are innovative, collaborative and with training at their heart. We will support applicants through the process and provide expert guidance to apply to the fund.”

The initiative brought a warm response from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), which expressed an intention to submit an Expression of Interest in bidding for part of the new fund. It encouraged members to get in touch if they are interested in doing so.

Commenting, CECA director of external affairs Marie-Claude Hemming said: “The Construction Skills Fund will deliver invaluable on-site learning for those working in the construction and infrastructure sectors. There is a substantial pipeline of work to be delivered over the next decade which will require a highly-skilled and diverse workforce.

“Investing in on-site training will be hugely beneficial for both employers and employees, as it will enable industry to attract and retain a sufficiently skilled workforce, while providing on-the-job experience for learners and prepare them to hit the ground running when they enter the world of work.”

Others feared that, while the fund will be valuable in itself, it is only part of the solution.

Tony Ginda, membership development director of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers, wrote in its blog: “The big problem is that the construction industry is not a sector that offers appeal to many young people. We used to have people that were proud of their craft. Over time we have lost this and been left with an image of an outdated, unimaginative and uninspiring industry. For those that work in the sector, we know this couldn’t be further from the truth.

“So, while the fund will create 20 onsite hubs where people can gain skills, we need to think about how do we make this an attractive proposition? How do we get to the people that would really benefit from this opportunity? And how do we make sure we are choosing the people that can add the most value to the industry? How do we make sure it is inclusive and it appeals to all, regardless of age, sex or race?”

He expressed a hope that the initiative would last longer than its planned 18 months, and become more than just a ‘short-term numbers game’.

“Changing the image of construction is going to take time,” he wrote. “We also need to think about the gender pay gap and how we can make it an inclusive industry. We are on the right path. Training and employment can offer a viable alternative to study and workplace.” q

T-Levels: employers and educators not up to speed [RESEARCH PUBLISHED in June revealed that just 17% of UK

employers feel they have a good understanding of the new T-Level qualification, with almost half (49%) rating their understanding as poor. Moreover, 54% of education providers rate their understanding of T-Levels as either ‘middling’ or ‘poor’. That revelation comes at a time when the new qualifications are due to be introduced into the curriculum in just two years.

The research was carried out for City & Guilds and the Association of Employment and Learning Providers.

Kirstie Donnelly, managing director of the City & Guilds Group, commented: “Skills gaps and skills shortages are severely hampering UK productivity and T-Levels have the potential to help solve these, providing young people with high-quality technical education to both improve their employability and create a betterskilled workforce.

“While it’s encouraging that the government has listened to the concerns of employers and the education sector, and signalled a move towards greater flexibility for work placements in its consultation response, questions still remain around how to ensure

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enough employers are engaged and ready to take on the number of young people needed.”

A central plank of the T-Level programme is a mandatory work placement of 45 days. Currently, around three quarters of employers and training providers offer work placements of one to two-week duration for 16-19-year-olds. Only 8% of employers provide placements of the duration required for T-Levels.

Said Ms Donnelly: “Despite supporting T-Levels in principle, employers and education providers are voicing serious concerns about the implementation of the new qualifications, particularly around their ability to deliver on the promise of a substantial work placement opportunity. Without the proper infrastructure and financial support in place before roll-out, we risk creating cold spots around the country where students simply aren’t able to access a high-quality placement in their chosen area of study.”

Encouragingly, most employers showed support for that valuable part of the new qualification, with almost three quarters (74%) of those surveyed saying they are willing to play a greater role in helping students apply their learning in the workplace setting. q

Trades welcome new apprenticeships >NEW, HIGHER-QUALITY bricklayer and plasterer apprenticeships have received final sign-off by the government, after a rigorous development process. The move has been welcomed by both the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and the Bricklayer and Plasterer Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group.

FMB chief Brian Berry said: “These higher-quality construction apprenticeships have the potential to help solve the construction skills crisis. The bricklayer and plasterer apprenticeships were designed by employers which will ensure they produce the tradespeople they need.

“The apprenticeships are longer in duration and cover a broader range of knowledge and hand-skills. This not only benefits the

employers but also the apprentices who will be arming themselves with a wider range of skills for their future careers.”

His words were echoed by Julian Weightman, builder and chair of the Bricklayer and Plasterer Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group. He said: “The new bricklayer and plasterer apprenticeships were shaped by employers in the construction industry. This ensures that apprenticeship training actually reflects what’s required in the workplace.

“These new apprenticeships will produce bricklayers and plasterers who are broadly skilled and are able to work for large and small construction firms alike. Although the process of developing these apprenticeships has not been particularly speedy or straightforward, we are delighted with the end result.” T

Construction training courses and/or apprenticeships are available at the following colleges: Barking & Dagenham College

7KH 6KHI¿HOG &ROOHJH

Rush Green Campus, Dagenham Road, Romford RM7 0XU

City Campus, Granville Road, Sheffield S2 2RL

Bridgwater & Taunton College

South Thames College

Bath Road, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4PZ

Tooting Centre, 71 Tooting High Street, London SW17 0TQ

Croydon College

Stoke on Trent College

College Road, Croydon CR9 1DX

Stoke Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DG

Kendal College

Warwickshire College Group

Milnthorpe Road, Kendal LA9 5AY

Warwick New Road, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5JE

New City College

West College Scotland

T: 020 3667 0294 E: admissions@bdc.ac.uk W: www.bdc.ac.uk

T: 01278 655111 E: business@btc.ac.uk W: www.btc.ac.uk

T: 020 8686 5700 E: info@croydon.ac.uk W: www.croydon.ac.uk

T: 01539 814700 E: enquiries@kendal.ac.uk W: www.kendal.ac.uk

T: 020 7613 9123 E: info@ncclondon.ac.uk W: www.ncclondon.ac.uk Falkirk St, London N1 6HQ

T: 0114 260 2600 E: info@sheffcol.ac.uk W: www.sheffcol.ac.uk

T: 020 8918 7777 E: info@south-thames.ac.uk W: www.south-thames.ac.uk

T: 01782 208208 E: info@stokecoll.ac.uk W: www.stokecoll.ac.uk

T: 0300 456 0047 E: info@wcg.ac.uk W: www.wcg.ac.uk

T: 0300 600 6060 E: info@wcs.ac.uk W: www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk Paisley Campus, Renfrew Road, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA3 4DR

Weymouth College

T: 01305 761100 E: igs@weymouth.ac.uk W: www.weymouth.ac.uk Cranford Avenue, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 7LQ

Salford City College

Wiltshire College

Frontier House, Merchants Quay, Salford M50 3SR

Trowbridge Campus, College Road, Trowbridge BA14 0ES

T: 0161 631 5555 E: apprenticeships@salfordcc.ac.uk W: www.salfordcc.ac.uk

T: 01225 350035 E: info@wiltshire.ac.uk W: www.wiltshire.ac.uk

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Without SuDS we’re just pouring a precious resource down the drain [IN THE NORTH WEST the recent dry spell resulted in

the prospect of a ban on the use of hosepipes for private individuals. It is a rare but recurrent measure – last introduced in 2010 – but on this occasion it brought forth queries as to why one of the wettest places in the country is running out of water. The finger was pointed at the water company, which is leaking water at a rate equivalent to 55 litres per person per day.

The story has also brought a greater emphasis on how the precious resource of water is managed. In the North reservoirs rather than aquifers provide most of the water supply; yet we arrange our drainage system in such a way as to let it run off into the ground – resulting in flash floods in the very area threatened by the hosepipe ban.

Traditionally, rainwater was seen as a nuisance: something that had to be carried away and into the rivers as quickly as possible. It was not seen as a resource to be harvested.

Recently, things have begun to change, and sustainable drainage systems, or SuDS, are making their mark on the urban landscape. In this feature we look at some of the notable elements of SuDS installations. One of the country’s leading designers of SuDS explains in detail what the systems involve, with one of his creations featuring on the front cover of this issue. Plus, the installers of a system at the Jaguar Land Rover plant describe what that system entailed.

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The role of plants in the SuDS ecosystem is investigated and we conclude with a look at the winners of susdrain’s SuDS Awards. susdrain is the sustainable drainage community of CIRIA and one of that organisation’s luminaries explains the process of arriving at the winners. q

Water management: the answer, as always, lies in the soil

> HAVING A BASIC UNDERSTANDING of how plants and

substrates work will enable designers to maximise their water management performance. That is the message from sustainable landscaping experts Boningale Nurseries.

Maggie Fennell, technical green roof expert at the Shropshire-based firm, explained that a knowledge of local climate conditions means that designers can ensure landscapes and green roofs maximise their efficiency when it comes to implementing sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS): the strategies that are put in place to ensure that surface water drains efficiently, while minimising pollution.

“Planted areas help to tackle the problem of flooding that is caused by excess storm water run-off from impermeable surfaces in built-up areas,” said Maggie. “The three key factors to consider when designing a planted area are levels, controls and permeable materials.”

Maggie continued: “When considering levels, look at the journey taken by water hitting the site from the highest point to the lowest.

Green roofs are a great tool to use, because however big the footprint of a building, covering the roof surface with substrate and vegetation means that rainwater can be captured where it falls. That relieves pressure on any additional flood mitigation measures that are in place between the roof and the sewer.”

She added that even dipping kerbs or adding extra grates around carpark border beds can help to mitigate flooding by directing water towards more permeable spaces – rather than raising planting above the impermeable surface.

“Make sure your planting choice takes account of extra expected water levels and can cope with polluted water if necessary,” she counselled.

Flow controls are devices that only let a certain volume of water pass through at a time, so that water can be held up at appropriate points as it traverses the landscape. They can be fitted to planters, as well as both hard and soft landscaping features such as permeable paving areas and swales.

They can also be used to great effect on green roofs – creating socalled ‘blue roofs’ – as long as the building has sufficient load-bearing

capacity for the extra water storage. Those kinds of controls allow engineers to calculate and manage the water flows through the site and they should be appropriately maintained.

“The horticultural aspects of water management can easily be overlooked,” Maggie continued, “but soft landscaping has a huge part to play in flood mitigation. Using free-draining substrates instead of standard topsoil can hugely improve the SuDS performance of any planted area. Our gravel-based planting system Floratopia, designed and researched by Michael Livingstone and James Hitchmough at the University of Sheffield, has been used for pioneering work on the most suitable species for those situations.

“Plant selection must always be carefully considered when you are holding water in planted areas for longer by using outlet controls. Even green and blue roof system performance can be enhanced by using the correct substrates and plants for the local climate conditions.”

There has been a great deal of inspiration for water-conscious landscapers and gardeners through many of the RHS flower shows and popular gardening television programmes. Great, inspiring landscapes like the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park have proven that environmental performance does not require a compromise on aesthetic brilliance.

When the fact that more local councils are starting to implement standardised SuDs plans is taken into consideration, it shows that there is mounting evidence for making water management a fundamental part of all landscape design and practice. T • Boningale GreenSky is the award-winning green roof department of Albrighton-based Boningale Nurseries, who have developed marketleading horticultural products and guidance in partnership with the technology experts at the University of Sheffield. The research has been incorporated into a number of interactive design tools that are freely available at www.boningale-greensky.co.uk. For further information contact Maggie Fennell at Boningale on 01902 376500 or email maggie.fennell@boningale.co.uk. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Best sustainable drainage schemes recognised at inaugural awards [ON 18 JULY more than 100 guests

The project demonstrates how using SuDS as a catalyst has turned a ‘grey’ gathered in London’s City Hall Living redundant highway into ‘green’ flowering Room for the inaugural SuDS Awards. meadows and wetlands. The judges The awards were created by susdrain, considered it to be the ‘epitome of high the sustainable drainage community of quality SuDS’.

CIRIA, the Construction Industry Research Commenting on the award, Sheffield City and Information Association, and were Council’s principal landscape architect Zac supported by the Greater London Authority.

Tudor said: “Designers need to think wider They showcase those delivering highthan just a space looking good; spaces quality sustainable drainage systems need to function for the future, building (SuDS) and attracted over 40 entries in climate change resilience and making from across the UK. Winners were landscapes work harder by providing announced in three categories, along multiple benefits.” with the Overall Winner and a SuDS The New Build Large Scale category was Champion, as voted for by the industry.

Chryse Tinsley of Leicester City Council was named as won by the London Borough of Hillingdon Attendees were treated to an SuDS Champion for St Andrews Park in Uxbridge. The impassioned call for the rewilding of scheme included permeable paving within our urban areas by keynote speaker parcels and water butts to the rear of properties.

Theo Thomas, the London Waterkeeper. A summary from the chair, The winner in the New Build Small Scale category was the access Andrew Eden of the Environment Agency, left the audience with three road to the new headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Chelmsford key messages - strive for beauty, engage with stakeholders early, and – the Watch Tower. consider communities and what will benefit them.

The SuDS Champion was named as Chryse Tinsley of Leicester City The Overall Winner, following success in the Retrofit SuDS Project Council. She said: “Winning this award is really important for me and category, was Sheffield City Council for Grey to Green Phase 1 – the Leicester City Council; it recognises our work and also reinforces our intent first stage in a multi-phase regeneration project in Sheffield city to do more and better SuDS for the city.” q centre, which aims to transform the Riverside Business District.

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The journey to viewing SuDS as a given starts here SUZANNE SIMMONS MSc CMLI, project manager at CIRIA, reflects on the SuDS Awards, and offers an insight into the judging process

[IT’S BEEN ten years since the Pitt Review, eight years since the

Flood and Water Management Act and nearly seven years since susdrain was launched – CIRIA’s initiative to share good practice on SuDS. In that time, and since the emergence of the government’s non technical standards for England and more recently the Welsh government’s adoption of Schedule 3 from the FWMA 2010, there has been recognition that uptake of SuDS has increased.

Something that had not yet been fully explored was whether ‘new SuDS’ are ‘good SuDS’. With this in mind, and a need to capture and recognise the many excellent but unsung projects that are emerging, susdrain launched the SuDS Awards scheme.

The primary aim of the awards is to gain an improved resource base of up-to-date case studies: something cited as a critical requirement by regulators, designers, manufacturers and developers.

The award categories cover new-build small projects (under one hectare), new-build larger scale projects (one hectare and over) and retrofit SuDS. In addition, nominations were sought for SuDS Champions. This award is in recognition of individuals who have influenced strategic thinking, design, development and acceptance Sheffield City Council’s large scale retrofit SuDS project, Grey to Green Phase 1, won the Retrofit category as well as being proclaimed Overall Winner of SuDS, both at local level and in a developer-led market – one that has often been slow to react to innovation.

Submissions far exceeded expected numbers, with 40 case studies collated for judgment and 13 SuDS Champion nominations, shortlisted to six put forward for the public vote. Receipt of new case studies (in addition to the 50 already on the website) places susdrain in a strong position to present the quality, depth and range of SuDS that are emerging across the UK. So what were the general thoughts of the judging panel, made up of representatives from central and local governments, engineers, landscape architects and water and sewerage companies? Overall, they were pleased with the range of projects and strong submissions that they hadn’t heard of before – unusual in this niche area of drainage construction and design. Their overall impression was SuDS, as an approach, was generally progressive and robust. That should, however, be caveated with a note that there is always room for improvement.

London Wildlife Trust’s Heron Court SuDS project on the Rosendale Gardens Estate in London received commendation in the Retrofit category.

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Winner of the New Build Large Scale award was London Borough of Hillingdon’s St Andrews Park project in Uxbridge This is by no means a scientific overview, as we know there are many good SuDS schemes that were not submitted; but the law of averages suggests that retrofit schemes in particular are thriving, despite there being no legislation in place to demand their construction. These are projects that demonstrate the power of community engagement and collectivism that involves ‘placemaking’ as well as surface water management.

The best schemes all delivered multiple benefits – water quantity, quality, amenity, biodiversity and more – and generally emerged from design collaboration between professions and in some cases the communities that they serve. Often they were the product of a single persistent champion – one who pushed for the correct outcome despite a limited regulatory framework to support them. It is those people we wanted to acknowledge in the SuDS Champion Award category.

In a few cases the judging panel expressed frustration over simple, missed opportunities in projects that delivered only limited benefits, where many more benefits might have been gained with a little more foresight and better collaborative engagement. Some larger projects scored well as overall landscape development schemes, but, in designing separate surface water management components they lacked the more desirable connectivity of source control and an interconnected management train.

We must, however, stress that collating case studies for an awards event is an iterative process, and by gaining a library of new case studies susdrain can continue to quench a thirst for more examples of good SuDS practice. So an awards event is an ideal opportunity to celebrate great SuDS and harvest those examples that have not yet been shared.

As susdrain’s formal case studies are all peer reviewed, it allows designers, contractors, clients and developers to reflect on the impact of their projects, by considering both successes and challenges throughout the planning, design, construction, adoption and functional stages. Once the best SuDS Awards submissions have been peer reviewed, and when clarifications have been addressed, they will be released as formal case studies in the susdrain library.

CIRIA and susdrain will continue to celebrate good SuDS and push for improvement and self-reflection from within the industry, in the anticipation that SuDS will become a normal part of the planning and design process.

While the quality of the winning schemes is high, we are not prepared to accept that this is a battle won – indeed the opposite, we see this as only the beginning of what will be a journey and one that we hope developers, designers and approvers will join us on. q All images courtesy of susdrain

The winner in the New Build Small Scale category was the access road to the Water Tower, headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Chelmsford

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Blue-green future cities

KEVIN BARTON, director at Robert Bray Associates Ltd, explains how creative rainwater management might redefine our cities.

>CITIES HAVE TURNED their backs on

secondary rivers and in some cases even their primary rivers. Having been used in the past to transport waste away from populated areas, they became hidden away and sometimes covered over completely – lost and almost forgotten.

kills; CSOs regularly discharging a mixture of rain and foul sewage into rivers; piped sewer systems that enable misconnections resulting in foul-smelling and lifeless urban watercourses; flooding; and a disconnect between people and the natural water cycle.

Water as a component of a healthy, resilient city Now we are beginning to realise that rain is an increasingly precious resource and managing it sustainably is a key component in our future cities’ climate resilience.

But managing rainwater effectively to reduce pollution and flooding – often referred to as Sustainable Drainage Systems or SuDS – is only one of a number of ways that we need to demand more performance from our urban environments. Sustainable transport, health and

Polluted and warm (lower dissolved oxygen levels) runoff from north London hits the River Lea after a storm in the summer of 2013, killing thousands of fish and other river life.

This is routine in our urban environments Our cities have treated rain as a problem to be solved. Like many a human endeavour, solving one problem created a multitude of others including high levels of pollution in streams and rivers resulting in mass fish

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wellbeing, urban heat island effect, ecosystem services, water security, local food growing, air quality, sustainable energy production, energy efficiency and promoting social cohesion are just a few of the increasing demands we are putting on our cities.

Well-designed green infrastructure and public realm contributes significantly to all these needs.

Tree planting, shrub plating, grass, meadows, green roofs, green walls, woodlands, orchards, allotments, parks, pocket parks, play areas, gardens, recreation grounds, wetlands, nature reserves… they all have an important part to play to meet the needs of the cities of the future.

Rather than approach the ‘blue infrastructure’ of rainwater management as separate to green infrastructure, we need to consider them together as components of a multifunctional

The management of rainwater and the qualities it can bring to placemaking should be considered as an integrated part of landscape design. Early concept ideas for the multi-award-winning Bridget Joyce Square in White City (left) demonstrates playful water management in tandem with designing for people and wildlife. Utilising permeable paving, raingardens and large planted and treed basins, the majority of the fabric of this landscape manages rainwater, yet every part of the landscape is also designed to respond to the needs of the local community.

urban fabric – adding ‘blue’ to green infrastructure makes it perform even better.

The benefits of embracing rain The integration of rainwater management into the design of green infrastructure and the public realm adds a range of benefits and resilience to all these landscape typologies.

By treating the rain that lands on development as a resource – an opportunity rather than a problem – we can unlock this potential.

Drought is a common problem in cities, yet we quickly pipe away much of the rain that lands on them!

SuDS holds rainwater in the landscape for a period of time encouraging as much as possible to soak into the ground, be taken up by plants or to evaporate. This makes these landscapes more seasonally drought resilient and dramatically reduces our reliance on potable water for irrigation – leaving more in the reservoirs for human consumption.

Even short summer storms can deliver significant volumes of rainwater to planting and trees.

This design of a linear bioretention raingarden in Camden exploits the proximity to vehicular sources of air pollution to improve air quality for pedestrians.

Detailed design of these can include measures specifically to target air quality.

We are currently designing a 140m length bioretention raingarden between a road and pavement in Camden which we felt was a perfect opportunity to explore the air quality benefits such SuDS installations can provide with a few design tweaks. A ‘fedge’ (fence with climbing plants) running along the length of the raingarden provides a vegetated baffle at the roadside. Air quality monitoring will be carried out to determine its impact.

The gift of clean water

used for water features from fountains to rills, water play, to support healthy wildlife habitats and to irrigate food crops in gardens, allotments or urban farms, thereby supporting food security.

Places that come alive when it rains Carefully and creatively integrating the collection, cleaning, movement and temporary storage of rainwater into the design of our landscapes creates places that come alive when it rains.

A new dynamic character is generated when it rains – water cascades, trickles, spouts, flows, creeps, spreads and stills in as many ways as we can imagine, bringing life and animation to the landscape.

Our designs encourage people to experience weather – to be reconnected in a small and positive way with the water cycle and the nature that it supports. In them people can hear, see and touch the flow of rainwater. We design our landscapes to encourage people to go outside and experience the rain.

To hijack a popular phrase relating to rain: there’s no such things as bad weather – just inappropriate landscapes. q

It makes our trees, plants and green roofs Designed properly, managing rain as close more healthy and vigorous which increases to where it lands as possible and removing their beneficial impacts, whilst the increase in waterborne pollutants through the use of what the amount of evaporation and transpiration are called ‘source control’ features, SuDS caused by deliberately managing rainwater in can generate a controlled flow of clean water the landscape turbo-charges its ability to reduce when it rains. This is significant because it the urban heat island effect. offers many opportunities both within the This is particularly pronounced on green roofs development we are designing and to the where typically the urban roof environment can wider community and environment. become very hot. Adding soil and vegetation In fact this is probably the biggest gift that can dramatically reduce these temperatures and SuDS offers to the public realm. the heat radiation that contributes to the urban This controlled flow of clean water can heat island effect. be utilised by people and wildlife. It can be This tempering of roof temperatures also allows photovoltaic panels on the roofs to perform more efficiently.

By tweaking the green roof to also attenuate rainfall in situ, not only can huge savings be made compared to typical underground storage systems and the roofs be more drought resistant, but the beneficial effects to heat island effect and energy production are amplified by the prolonged presence and evapotranspiration of water on the roof.

Roadside bioretention raingardens – sunken planted pockets next to roads, collecting and cleaning polluted road runoff This rainsculpture celebrates the flow of rainwater bringing it from roof level, down through a steel – are perfectly placed, between vehicle rope helix, to a decorative raingarden (left). Flowing rainwater is spread between steel ropes (right) in exhausts and pedestrians, to help reduce dancing sheets causing people to venture outside in the rain to see the spectacle. the impacts of toxic emissions. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Success stories follow developments in zoos and wildlife parks [WHEN Construction National produced its first special feature on

developments at the UK’s zoos, we little thought it would be the start of a longrunning series highlighting the range of development work going on around the country and the specialist trades and skills involved in those developments.

We have also discovered the valuable conservation work carried out by zoos in the 21st century. Nowhere has that been demonstrated better than in the story of sun bears Milli and Toni, who have become parents to the first sun bear cub born in the UK. Last year we reported on the latest phase of Chester Zoo’s Islands project – a massive undertaking to reproduce the environment of South East Asia. Part of that project was an enclosure for Milli and Toni, who were rescued from poachers in Cambodia.

They were taken from the wild as young bears by traders, who killed their mothers and kept them as mistreated pets. Now, after moving into a brand new habitat in Chester, the pair have produced their first healthy cub.

Recently we have been able to blur the distinction between conservation of exotic wildlife and our own native species. Wildlife conservation reserves in the UK apply as much expertise to their new developments as any zoo – and the results can be just as successful.

Species previously extinct or nearing extinction have been brought back into the wild of the British countryside thanks to careful breeding programmes.

They include the red squirrel – around 40 of which are reintroduced into

the wild each year having been bred in captivity – and the common crane, which had been extinct in the UK for 400 years before returning to the East of England in 1979.

Sometimes the distinction between zoo and wildlife park is itself blurred, as is the case at Dudley Zoo. The zoo’s conservation officer Chris Leeson has been working with members of the Birmingham and Black Country Bat Group, known as Brumbats, in Big Ben cavern at the back of the zoo’s birds section to monitor wild bats that roost there.

Chris said: “By listening to various sound frequencies we can determine which type of bats we have and so far we have evidence of nine species.”

Dudley Zoo is one of the zoos we look at in this issue. Following its 80th anniversary last year, a flurry of building work includes a home for a pair of binturongs. Another endangered species is the amur tiger, the latest addition to the animal kingdom at Knowsley Safari Park. They were recently featured on TV being fed frozen meat ‘lollies’ during the heatwave.

Domestic wildlife watching is being promoted by new visitor centres in Essex and Norfolk. One of them, the flagship of Essex Wildlife Trust, has been awarded a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, while education is the aim of a new bird hide at Pensthorpe.

These developments are joined by an exhibit of truly extinct species.

Dinosaurs make an animatronic return to Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire! q

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Norfolk wetlands show off their bird life [AREAS OF THE Wensum Valley in Norfolk which had never before

been accessible to the public are now on display, following completion of a new bird hide at Pensthorpe Natural Park. The hide overlooks newlyopened wetland areas and marks the first time in over a decade that Pensthorpe has revealed new parts of its 700-acre estate to the public.

This stretch of the River Wensum and its surrounding wetlands is home to species such as bitterns, reed warblers, marsh harriers, reed buntings, otters and cranes. The area is specifically managed to encourage waders to breed, and sightings of garganey and great egrets have already been reported.

The bird hide is the result of a £53,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and includes extra-large, expansive viewing panels, plenty of seating and enough room to accommodate an entire classroom of pupils.

Richard Spowage, reserve manager at Pensthorpe Natural Park, commented: “The educational possibilities opened up by the new hide will enable us to excite the next generation about both the fragility and prosperity of the natural world and teach them the characteristics that make the Wensum Valley so special.”

The new river-learning facility is the final phase of work by the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust to restore a 3km stretch of the River Wensum which runs through the reserve. The restoration work has returned the river to its natural splendour, worthy of the highest international protection status the river now enjoys.

Bill Jordan, owner of Pensthorpe Natural Park, explained: “Much of our attention has been focused on ways to enhance the Wensum, which we are fortunate to have running through the heart of the estate. Our river restoration project has enabled us to install important watercourse features and reed beds, install a sustainable drainage system, plus re-instate meanders which were previously removed to aid getting water off farmland. Water voles and kingfishers are just some of the native species thriving thanks to the work.”

The hide has been adorned with interpretation panels carrying illustrations by the acclaimed artist and illustrator Tim Wootton, a former winner of Young European Bird Artist of the Year and BBC Wildlife Magazine Wildlife Artist of the Year.

This year marks 30 years of Pensthorpe Natural Park and one of the special events staged to mark the occasion was Night Time in the New Hide, allowing visitors to watch the birds coming in to roost among the reed beds. q

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Dudley just keeps on developing [IN THE LAST FEATURE on zoos we reported on the new extension to the snow leopard enclosure at Dudley Zoo, which had recently been completed and become home to the magnificent leopard pair Margaash and Taïga. In the months since then, both snow leopards have celebrated birthdays, bringing the new enclosure to even wider public attention. In May Margaash reached the ripe old age of eight, while his youthful companion turned three the following month.

The £50,000 extension to the pair’s habitat, which incorporates both established foliage and newly-planted trees – donated by a local garden centre following the Christmas period – together with a ‘scratching post’ fashioned from recycled rope, was completed in February and has increased the size of the enclosure by around 60%.

Developments at Dudley didn’t stop with the snow leopard exhibit, though.

In May the zoo welcomed Elliot, a binturong – also known as a bearcat. Elliot moved into an incredible new £25,000 abode.

The 4.5m high impressive structure includes glass viewing areas, a climbing frame and two old whisky barrels which were kindly donated by a local reclaimed building materials company. Part of one barrel is suspended in the outdoor section of the enclosure and the other barrel has been embedded into a false tree trunk as a binturong bed. The indoor tree was decorated by talented amateur artist Colin Reddall – the dad of lower primates keeper Jade.

Zoo director Derek Grove said: “The binturong is an interesting addition to our exotic collection and will hopefully prove fascinating to our visitors, too. We are also thrilled with the enclosure which has a large glass area allowing people to get great views.”

The binturong, an arboreal species from South and Southeast Asia, has scent glands under its tail which it uses to mark out branches and foliage in its territory; but to humans it smells like buttered popcorn!

Senior keeper Sam Grove added: “Elliot is settling in really well and going into his outdoor area to explore. His favourite part of his new home is the barrel in the indoor section, which is where he sleeps and he loves to curl up there.”

In June Elliot was joined by female Ellie.

The latest addition to the zoo’s ever-changing estate is a £25,000 home for its black lemur family. q

Wildlife trust scores highly in the green stakes

>WILDLIFE CONSERVATION may be the principal activity of Essex

Wildlife Trust – one of the country’s leading wildlife charities – but energy conservation and care of the environment are equally important when it comes to their buildings.

Its Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre was recently awarded the BREEAM 'Excellent' rating for its sustainable design and operation.

The popular centre, in Hornchurch Country Park, was opened in 2015 by BBC Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams. It was funded by an £816,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and is a partnership project between Essex Wildlife Trust and Havering Council, which owns and manages Hornchurch Country Park. It is a favourite spot for families and wildlife watchers alike and has now been recognised as one of the most environmentally-friendly buildings in the area.

Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre achieved its BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating by scoring highly in the three main sustainability categories: Energy, Materials and Health and Wellbeing. The factors contributing to that score included: • Using re-cycled materials in construction • Materials used were obtained only from responsible sources • Only materials given an A+ or A Green Guide Rating were selected • Energy efficient equipment was used • Passive build design meant minimising the need for heating, lighting • and mechanical ventilation.

Offcuts of wood left over from the build were re-used to make barn owl boxes.

Energy efficiency was equally to the fore with the design for the trust’s more recent visitor centre just outside Walton on the Naze. The Naze Education and Visitor Centre forms the second stage of the ‘Naze Heritage Project’, improving visitor facilities and interpretation of the site. The first stage involved stabilising the cliffs next to this unique coastal landscape of outstanding geological and biological importance.

The centre utilises modern construction techniques to conserve energy

and make best use of the natural heat of the sun.

The main building (pictured) has a curved ‘green’ roof, clad in sedum planting. It sits alongside a raised area of ground, shaped and sculpted to help it blend into the hilltop.

According to architects Laurie Wood Associates, the mound acts as a buffer, providing valuable wind protection and significantly improving energy performance. It also adds protection to the building, helping to reduce maintenance costs.

“Large overhangs on all sides of this curved roof give added weather protection to the building envelope, and help control sunlight in summer,” said the architects.

The ‘brise-soleil’ effect shades the building from high-level sun in the summer, while allowing in low level sunshine in winter, providing natural heating. T

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Summertime brings no easy living for zoo designers

[WITH THE BUSY PERIOD drawing to a close the team at Nautilus

Creative Services would normally be looking forward to a relatively relaxing summer. Not so this year, however – Nautilus have some very involved projects in the pipeline, with more and more clients approaching them for their project design and turnkey services for creating zoo and aquarium exhibits.

Director Paul Bullimore explained: “We are in early talks for some really exciting zoo and aquarium projects and are halfway through an interesting job on the Bear Grylls Experience at the NEC in Birmingham. This is a really interesting project, due to open later this year, and really showcases the versatility we have become renowned for.”

Nautilus have completed several zoo projects over the past 12 months and are starting to see ‘really nice’ repeat commissions coming from happy existing clients, as well as some potential new customers around the globe.

Said Paul: “Logistical planning for contracts in other continents often proves a challenge; but with a number of projects spread over four continents in the past, we are now able to plan these projects with minimal headaches!”

A unique service Nautilus take great pride in offering a unique turnkey service, drawing on years of extensive experience in their highly specialised field. Zoo and aquarium exhibits have been their core focus since the company’s inception over 18 years ago and as a result of that high level of expertise this unique, innovative and creative company has continued to grow and flourish.

As a result of those consecutive years of steady, controlled growth Nautilus are extremely proud to be helping a range of major zoo and aquarium clients to realise their ambitious projects. Recent and current clients include Marwell Zoo, Chester Zoo, Banham Zoo, Zurich Zoo, Longleat Safari Park, Liverpool Museums, the Eden Project and the Environment Agency – in addition to the Bear Grylls Experience.

The company recently expanded the possibilities of project design even further by embracing VR technology, enabling clients to virtually experience their planned projects before they’ve even been built!

Expanding creativity Clients come to Nautilus for a number of services, such as theming, life support system design and installation, tank and pool design and construction, as well as – increasingly – creative design services. There has been a major shift in the style of immersive, themed exhibits over recent years, enabling the team to really push their design approach.

They are also corporate members of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA), and as such play a key role in supporting and attending their conferences.

Paul explained: “This enables us to really understand developments in exhibit design, focusing on the needs of the animals and keepers as well as the aesthetic appeal. Conferences attended across Europe, including the Zoo Design Conference, have been of huge benefit in enabling us to ensure we are in a position to offer real value to clients’ projects.”

Operational experience The team have unsurpassed levels of experience in not only designing and building zoo and aquarium projects, but also operating them. That sets them apart from other companies in the industry.

It is that operational experience that has enabled them to offer unique support to clients in designing and building a range of world-class exhibits. They offer integrated and seamless services in design, project management, construction, technical services, glazing, theming and planting.

So, throughout a busy summer Nautilus is continuing to relish the challenge of creating truly unique concept designs for their valued clients. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Tigers burn bright in Knowsley’s latest attraction

[A NEW DEVELOPMENT at Knowsley

Safari Park will allow visitors to learn all about the endangered Amur tiger – also known as the Siberian tiger.

The complex structure has been designed to provide state-of-the-art animal welfare facilities and includes over 20 tonnes of galvanised steel.

The journey through the reconstructed tiger habitat reveals six full-length viewing windows weighing over one tonne, plus other interesting observation points. Overall, the visitor experience was designed with fun and learning in mind.

As part of the new tiger exhibit, steel fabrication experts CLM Services were awarded the specialist works package to construct the five ‘off-show’ tiger enclosures and carry out the installation of the glass viewing screens. Their experience in the zoological sphere, and specifically in the design, manufacture and installation of off-show

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enclosures, allowed them to work closely with the principal contractor and Knowsley Safari Park to help finalise the design and ensure the desired specification was achieved.

The off-show facility provides dens which are used by the keepers to care for the tigers. It includes 23 slides between the five dens, which enable the keepers to move the tigers safely between enclosures with ease – improving the welfare of the tigers and the safety of the keepers.

Design CLM’s design team attended weekly meetings with Knowsley Safari Park’s property services team and the principal contractor, Horticon. That early engagement allowed them to contribute to the overall design and suggest alternative solutions, to add value and eliminate potential issues. The team provided CAD drawings and a

site engineer to set out the footings required for the dens. That provided accuracy and precision for the on-site installation team and allowed the main structure of the dens to be built within three weeks, keeping the installation in line with the overall project programme.

The benefits The finished result is very user friendly for the keepers, enabling a high level of welfare and safety.

The overall look and feel are reflective of the tigers’ natural habitat and the overall installation provides a fun and interactive visitor experience – allowing visitors to get up close with the animals while providing secluded areas away from the public.

A video charting how the new facility was constructed can be viewed at www. knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk/changes/3years-making/. q

Dinosaurs get a celebrity welcome >MARCH SAW A packed opening ceremony at Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire for its brand new

Dinosaur World attraction. The installation was the latest incarnation of the international franchise, and the opening was carried out by a suitably famous team of celebreties.

They included McBusted and McFly band member and children’s author, Tom Fletcher – accompanied by his wife Giovanna – plus Big Brother presenter Emma Willis and Spice Girl Emma Bunton. They all joined in to cut the ribbon and announce the new attraction open!

The celebs, their guests and their children explored the 30 extraordinary life-sized animatronic dinosaurs that inhabit World of Dinosaurs, before taking in the rest of Paradise Wildlife Park with its huge range of animals and experiences.

World of Dinosaurs at Paradise is now one of the UK’s biggest dinosaur attractions and features moving, snapping, roaring dinosaur models. From cunning velociraptors, to vast brachiosaurs and from terrifying spinosaurus to unpronounceable pachycephalosaurus – plus, of course, a mighty T-rex: they are all there.

The exhibit also features a ‘Dino Dig’ area, plus lots of other dinosaur-themed treats for all the family.

Visitors can experience a dinosaur train ride – the ‘Rex Express’ – through the World of Dinosaurs, where every twist and turn reveals a new prehistoric surprise.

The attraction is part of a worldwide series of Dinosaur World exhibits created by Sichuan, China-based Gengutech and is the brainchild of Paradise Wildlife Park’s CEO Lynn Whitnall.

The installation of the giant animatronic beasts was carried out during the cold of late December last year – not normal conditions for dinosaurs.

As the company pointed out in its blog: “In the winter of Hertfordshire, the bad weather has brought us a lot of trouble. In the process of installation, we met with varying degrees of rainfall and snow.”

However the Chinese installation team and the local team, headed up by operations manager Craig Whitnall and building manager Michael Thomas, pulled together to overcome the difficulties and finish the installation on time. The team from Paradise Wildlife Park then invited their guests to a traditional Christmas dinner.

Despite the bad weather conditions, the models stood the test and offered up no problems.

World of Dinosaurs was complete and open in time for the Easter holidays and summer season. The park isn’t resting on its laurels, however; it is now in the process of building new animal habitats for 2019. T

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NASC contractual guidance notes updated and extended >EIGHT CONTRACTUAL GUIDANCE NOTES have been updated

as part of the NASC’s ongoing efforts to ensure all reference materials remain fit-for-purpose.

The documents, which cover a wide range of topics including pavement licences, pre-tender information and employment contracts, were reviewed and amended by the NASC Contracts Committee.

A new guidance note – CG23:18 Training Costs Agreements – has also been published and added to the online shop.

This document identifies a number of important factors scaffolding contractors should consider when seeking to reclaim any part of the cost of work-related training incurred when an employee leaves the company.

David Brown, chair of the NASC Contracts Committee, said: “These documents provide scaffolding contractors with vital contractual guidance across a broad range of topics.

“The guidance is intended to make complex issues and requirements easier to understand and action, helping contractors to ensure they have appropriate contracts in place with clients and suppliers.”

Robin James, NASC managing director, added: “We are pleased to have updated a significant portion of the NASC contractual guidance library.

The confederation looks to review all published materials every five years, bringing them up to date with legislation and the evolving requirement of scaffolding contractors as required.

“As part of this objective, the Contracts Committee will be meeting to review a number of further contractual guidance documents later this year as well as Q1 2019.”

The notes are all available for purchase via the NASC online shop. T

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NASC to host safety seminar >THE National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) is

hosting a Safety Seminar in Manchester on Thursday 20 September.

The purpose of this informal event is to bring delegates up to speed with how the confederation continues to raise health and safety standards in the industry and how this benefits them.

The event is aimed at senior decisions makers and health and

safety and procurement professionals working for businesses and organisations that employ scaffolding and access contractors in the region.

The two-hour morning seminar will take place at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate. To register your interest in attending please email enquiries@nasc.org.uk. T

Supplier members on the rise > FORGECO LTD has become the third established scaffolding

supplier in as many months to have their application to become an NASC full non-contracting member approved. The company, based in Wolverhampton, imports and distributes a wide range of scaffolding equipment and fittings.

Forgeco Ltd’s application – like those recently submitted by PSB Sales Ltd and PcP Gratings Ltd – met the stringent NASC membership criteria, and they were formally accepted as NASC members in July.

Samuel Crowley, group technical director at Forgeco Ltd’s parent company SCP Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have attained NASC full non-contracting membership. By joining the NASC and undertaking the manufacturer product audit process we are now able to make our customers’ lives easier and help them keep their supply chain as streamlined as possible.”

Sean Pike, chair of the NASC Hire, Sales and Manufacturing Committee and managing director of Layher UK, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Forgeco Ltd into the NASC full noncontracting membership fold. Holding this membership provides additional reassurance to Forgeco Ltd customers that their products are proven to perform to the highest standards.” T www.constructionnational.co.uk

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CISRS CPD one year on >SINCE THE INTRODUCTION of Scaffolder CPD into the Construction

Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) on July 1st 2017, more than 2,500 scaffolders have completed the two-day programme.

CISRS announced their intent to introduce the CPD requirement around 12 months ahead of its launch date and not all within the sector welcomed the news with open arms. However, feedback from those who have completed CISRS CPD to date has been overwhelmingly positive, with the vast majority of attendees stating that it was constructive and beneficial.

Joe Freaney, contracts manager at GKR Scaffolding Ltd, said: “Before attending the course to renew my advanced ticket, I thought it was going to be two wasted days of my week. How wrong was I! “I found the course to be very informative and learned many things about TG20:13 that I thought I already knew but didn’t. It’s always good to refresh the massive amount of technical data that we use on a day-to-day basis.”

CISRS will conduct an in-depth review of the current CPD programme in due course, during which feedback from the industry will act as a main focus.

Comments will be taken on board and the next cycle of CPD will look to address any common themes raised.

David Mosley, CISRS scheme manager, said: “Despite some reticence it has been a very busy and successful 12 months for CISRS CPD – courses are full and feedback is positive. There will always be some resistance to

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changes; when the card renewal and Health and Safety Test requirement was introduced into industry training schemes in 2000, there was a much bigger backlash from the sector.

“However, the majority of people involved in scaffolding accept that the introduction of CPD was the right thing to do.” T

• For more information about CISRS CPD visit www.cisrs.org.uk

Students give construction a try [MORE THAN 300 TEENAGERS were

given a hands-on introduction to scaffolding at a construction industry taster day.

The Give Construction a Try event saw youngsters from more than 25 schools across West Yorkshire descend on the South Leeds Stadium for a careers day with a difference.

More than 30 exhibitors set up stall at the stadium, giving the pupils the chance to get to grips with a wide range of construction industry professions.

CISRS approved training provider Generation Altrad and NASC member Complete Access Scaffolding Ltd represented the scaffolding industry at the event – with the former using K’Nex models to let the young delegates build model scaffolds and the latter letting the teenagers try their hand with the real thing with on a pre-erected scaffold tower situated outside the main exhibition hall.

Dave Mosley, CISRS scheme manager, who also attended the event said: “It was great to see so many youngsters get involved with scaffolding at this event. Days like this are vital in promoting the various opportunities that are available to young people within the UK construction industry.

“Unless they have friends or relatives

working within scaffolding, it can be overlooked as a career choice for young people. We want to highlight the fantastic opportunities it can offer not only as a qualified tradesman, but also through roles in site supervision, health and safety, scaffold inspection, design, estimating, training and ultimately management.” q

Scaffolding apprenticeship switch set for October [ THE NEXT GENERATION of scaffolding apprentices in England

will be trained through the Scaffolding Trailblazer programme, which launches on October 1 this year.

This programme will replace the current apprenticeship framework, which will be withdrawn on the same day. Those who register on the current system prior to the changeover will have a two-year run out to allow these apprentices to complete their training.

The government established the Trailblazer initiative as part of a major reform of apprenticeship training in England. Scotland and Wales have yet to sign up to the programme and as such apprentices within these countries will continue to train via the current framework.

The Scaffolding Trailblazer standard was developed by a committee comprising representatives from around 15 scaffolding contractors and supplemented by Institute for Apprenticeships staff, CISRS, CITB and two approved training providers.

The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) has been tasked by the committee with providing programme criteria and materials such as PowerPoint presentations, lesson plans and test papers for those looking to deliver Trailblazer.

Dave Francis, Scaffolding Trailblazer

committee chair, said: “The Trailblazer initiative has allowed us to complete a full review of the apprenticeship programme. Together with the support of the Institute for Apprenticeships, industry professionals have developed the standards necessary for individuals to enhance their careers in the construction sector through a Trailblazer apprenticeship.

“Employers have the ability to directly control their employees’ training, with the knowledge that they are participating in a standardised apprenticeship programme with full quality assessment, delivering the workforce that industry requires.” q • For more information on the Scaffolding Trailblazer programme visit www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/scaffolder/

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Fatality figures prompt renewed emphasis on safety >“A WAKEUP CALL” is how the Prefabricated Access and Scaffolding Manufacturers Association (PASMA) described the HSE’s provisional figures for work-related fatal injuries for the year 2017/18. At 144, the figure represents an increase of nine fatalities over the previous year. That is despite an overall long-term reduction in the number of fatalities since 1981 and is clearly a source of concern, according to HSE chair Martin Temple.

Of the 144 fatal injuries recorded, 38 were construction workers – accounting for the largest share of any industry. The annual average rate over the last five years in construction is around four times as high as the all industry rate.

Falls from height also remained the single biggest cause of fatalities, accounting for 35 – almost a quarter of the total.

PASMA chair Gillian Rutter commented: “Everyone involved in the work-at-height sector will be disappointed and concerned by these

figures. They reinforce the need for two things: first, the unrelenting promotion of safety, standards and best practice; second, the need to seek out and introduce new initiatives.”

Two such recent initiatives are the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height and the No Falls Foundation.

Instigated by PASMA and supported by the Access Industry Forum (AIF), the APPG launched its first official inquiry into the number of serious injuries and fatalities resulting from falls from height and falling objects in the workplace last year. It received over 60 evidence submissions and held its first oral session on 28 March. A report, with recommendations, is currently in the course of preparation and is expected to be published in the autumn.

The No Falls Foundation is the first and only UK-based charity dedicated exclusively to the work-at-height sector. Supported by the AIF and other stakeholders, its aim is to prevent falls from height and to help people affected by the life-changing

Prosecutions highlight risks of working at height

consequences of a fall. It has three principal objectives: preventing falls, researching the causes of falls and providing support.

Said Gillian Rutter: “These initiatives will, over time, add considerably to the resources available to help keep people safe when working at height. It’s only by constantly advancing the height safety agenda that we will make a significant impact on these alarming statistics. These are people, not numbers.” T

>IN THE MONTH following the release of the figures for fatalities at

work – highlighting the prevalence of incidents involving work at height – the HSE reported a rash of prosecutions of companies following falls from height of employees.

Prosecutions were mounted across the country during July – six in the space of one week – of companies who had failed to plan adequately for work on roofs and other elevated surfaces. As recently as 1 August a biomass and solar company in North Yorkshire was fined £32,000 plus costs when a worker fell from a roof while installing a flue.

After the hearing, HSE inspector James Harvey commented: “Work at height, such as roof work, is a high-risk activity that accounts for a high proportion of workplace serious injuries and fatalities each year. This case highlights the importance of following well-known industry guidance to plan and assess the work at height requirements needed to complete the work safely.”

The previous week two Dorset firms were sentenced by magistrates for breaches of the CDM Regulations and Work at Height Regulations respectively.

That followed a week in which companies from Manchester, Scunthorpe, Milton Keynes, Essex, Middlesex, Lanarkshire and Bedfordshire were prosecuted in courts across the country for failings in ensuring safety while working at height.

Even the day before the figures for fatalities were released by HSE, two companies, including the Aldi supermarket chain, were fined after a worker fell from a store roof in Manchester. The supermarket giant was fined a whopping £340,000.

PASMA training committee chairman Brian Parker commented: “Every worker has a right to go home at the end of the day. These workers very nearly didn’t. All work at height must be properly risk assessed with preventative measures put in place and carried out by competent people.

There is no excuse for risking people’s lives.” T www.constructionnational.co.uk

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European demolition report published [THE European Demolition

Association (EDA) has published a new edition of the European Demolition Industry Report. The document is the fourth edition.

Through its statistics group, led

by German Demolition Association manager Andreas Pocha, EDA gathers information from contractors in the demolition sector, analysed at a European level and country-bycountry. The languages used in the report are English and the national language of each country.

The European Demolition Industry Report 2018 includes detailed information about the trends of the demolition industry in the previous years, forecasts and specific information about: • Company and activity • Volume of business • Development of demolition activities • Investment in demolition machinery, equipment and consumables • Development of the workforce • Business prospects In addition, the 2018 report includes a comparative graph for each country, with the information collected in previous editions showing trends in the demolition industry for each topic analysed since 2015 – when the first edition was published.

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In order to collect the information, EDA designed an on-line survey that was translated into several languages, with general questions about the companies, developments in 2018 and the forecast for 2019.

To thank participants for the time spent answering the survey, EDA will provide those who answered it with free online access to the European Demolition Industry Report 2018.

Meanwhile, the National Federation of Demolition Contractors was presented with an award by the EDA. The award was given ‘in appreciation to the NFDC for its active participation and contribution to the development of the global demolition industry’.

Later this year the EDA is hosting a ‘think tank’ discussion on Equipment for Demolition. The meeting will be held in Brussels on 11 October and will be open to all in the industry. The think tank is the third in a series held by the EDA, following The Next 10 Years, held in 2016, and Recycling and End-of-Life of Construction Products in 2014.

The event will consist of two workshops, each composing a round table and a debate, and will take place at the headquarters of the Belgium Confederation of Demolition and Dismantling Works. q

Members claim more awards [NFDC MEMBER Keltbray Group has won this year’s Construction

News Specialist Contractor of the Year Award. The company was presented with the award in a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on 12 July. The judges declared Keltbray the winner because of its exceptional commitment to improving every aspect of its business and a determination to raise standards across the industry.

Keltbray (pictured with their award – right) demonstrated these attributes in several ways, including its expansion in the past year with the launch of Keltbray Structures: a business providing concrete structure solutions. The new unit allowed the group to go beyond preparing new sites for infrastructure and developments, and contribute to a project for a longer period.

The judges were pleased to see that Keltbray went that extra step when it came to best practice, sharing its innovations and methods with the rest of the industry in an effort to raise standards for all. They were left with the clear impression that the business cares deeply about its staff and supply chain, and that it wants to improve them as much as possible.

The win followed success for another NFDC member, Erith Contractors (above), in March, when it was named winner in the Demolition Specialist of the Year category in the Construction News Specialists Awards. q

Federation’s ‘Demolition Man’ hits the road [ THE National Federation

of Demolition Contractors has announced the appointment of Steven Tempest-Mitchell (right) as its ‘Demolition Man on the Road’ – a roving ambassador for the federation, whose role is specifically built around promoting the NFDC brand awareness in the market place.

Steven’s demolition knowledge spans over 40 years and he will be working closely with the team at NFDC head office and its members around the country, to develop and promote the reason why companies should only use members of the federation when choosing a demolition contractor.

One of his first jobs will be to contact members directly to discuss ideas and input, and find out what they require. Companies with a need for major demolition work can look forward to Steven explaining to them why they need an NFDC member! q

NFDC’s female VP speaks on equality issues [ A VICE PRESIDENT of the National Federation of Demolition

Contractors was one of three female safety and health professionals interviewed by Safety Management magazine – the in-house journal of the British Safety Council.

Holly Price is vice president and the first female national officer of the NFDC. She is also director of training and development at Keltbray Group.

Belinda Liversedge interviewed Holly for the magazine. When asked about the challenges she encountered as a woman in the industry, it is no surprise there were a number, beginning with the very first years of her career.

Following a summer job at a demolition company she expressed an interest in becoming an explosives engineer: “…as a 16-yearold girl, they looked at me as if I’d gone mad. They told me it was impossible.”

She described the gender pay gap in construction (reported at 25%, the worst industry in the country) as ‘obscene’, but was encouragingly optimistic about the future, seeing gender differences in the industry as a historic phenomenon.

“We’re dealing with legacy issues,” said Holly. “I don’t believe it’s the people in the workplace today who have created them, but I do think it is the responsibility of us in the workplace today to fix these for future generations.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Killingholme demolition transforms the Lincolnshire skyline

[

chimneys. Given the prevalence of the Didcot disaster memory in the ERITH CONTRACTORS LTD have changed the North Lincolnshire formulation of demolition planning, an engineered and strictly-controlled skyline forever with the explosive demolition of Killingholme Power Station process was called for, to ensure complete control of the pre-weakening of and its three 280ft-tall chimneys. The iconic structure faced north over the the top hung boilers and enable the planned explosive event to take place.

Humber Estuary towards Hull and had fed electricity into the National Grid Using MIDAS GEN software, a full stress model of the structure between 1992 and 2016. was built by modelling the key structural members and connections.

The 500MW power station comprised three gas turbines, a steam turbine, Understanding the structure and how it would react to the process cooling towers and a significant number of support structures. To enable the of pre-weakening was key to the safe progression of the contract to demolition works, Erith took full responsibility for the terminal isolation and the explosive event. Once the model had been service disconnection, ensuring the site was ‘cold constructed, Erith were able to devise a suitable and dark’ in readiness. pre-weakening strategy, which would enable A significant hazardous material abatement phase the removal of sufficient members to enable a was then carried out. That comprised the removal of fail, but ensure it was safe in its temporary preasbestos products and large-scale decontamination, weakened state. which in turn involved the removal of significant Once the deconstruction model had been chemical materials associated with the former constructed, the full model and calculation operation of the station, and the removal of bulk oil document went for CAT2 checking and was sent to systems and a number of transformers. two independent consulting engineers for dual CAT3 The demolition work in the early stages of the models to be created. project involved the removal of the cooling towers, Following a process of robust checking that took water treatment plant, offices and admin buildings – two full months of engineering workshops, meetings to create room for the demolition of the main turbine and site investigations, the work was agreed as hall structures. That was carried out using both being suitable, sufficient and safe. With the design Hitachi PC490-class high-reach and P360-class accepted, a quality plan was devised comprising conventionally-rigged excavators to process and load 294 stages. Comprehensive review and approval away the demolished materials. Some 3,000 tonnes by the entire project team – demolition engineers, of material was processed and recycled during that site managers and burning operatives – was phase of the programme. subsequently achieved.

Working concurrently with the early demolition The design and quality plan delivered the most work, a team of de-planting operatives undertook joined-up of demolition sequences: with over the mammoth task of systematically breaking down 140 locations pre-weakened by the two burning the four giant turbines that were integral to the operatives, then checked by demolition and structural plant. Using Hytorc and ITC unbolting systems, engineers, the pre-weakening was completed. approximately 5,500 bolts up to 200mm in Approximately 90kg of cutting and kicking diameter were removed, to enable the re-energised charges were placed around the structure and – and tested – overhead gantry cranes to be used to nearly 40 tonnes of sand was laid as containment break up the turbines into their component parts. around the firing points. With a squad of 26 trained Over 200 lifts of up to 80 tonnes in weight were operatives managing the perimeter, the demolition carried out, to enable the removal of the plant engineers safely detonated the explosives on the items for recycling within the UK marketplace. planned morning – to the delight of a crowd of That in turn enabled the gas turbine hall and steam onlookers who had gathered outside the exclusion turbine hall superstructures to be demolished, zone to watch the event. using a Hitachi EX670 high-reach excavator In a split second, 3,300 tonnes of steel equipped with a Kinshofer shear. Processing was superstructure and three top-hung boilers fell, as carried out by three supporting Hitachi EX470 the engineers had predicted. The desired outcome excavators equipped with La Bounty, Rotar and was a boiler cell and superstructure that was Kinshofer shears. within the range of mechanical plant. Following the The power plant also housed three heat all-clear, five EX470s and shears spent nine weeks recovery steam generators, which comprised topThe above sequence shows the last moments of Killingholme Power Station processing the steel work and loading it away. q hung boilers, a recharge circuit and three large www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Balanced Energy Networks provide innovative clean heating without combustion

by EDWARD THOMPSON, director of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association

>A RETROFIT district heating system has

recently been installed in the heart of London South Bank University (LSBU) by the Balanced Energy Networks (BEN) consortium.

The BEN project, which is part-funded

by Innovate UK, incorporates a number of innovations which highlight the route towards clean heating. That in turn addresses the stated objectives of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in its recent Clean Growth Strategy and DEFRA’s objectives in its Clean Air Strategy consultation.

BEIS believes in district heating as a route to reducing carbon emissions. However, there are formidable obstacles in the way of establishing district heating systems based on combined heat and power (CHP): the enormous cost of establishing and administering a central energy centre, the cost and disruption of installing

A high-temperature heat pump has been installed in each building on the network

heavily insulated pipework in the ground, and the legal barriers to signing up tenants for very long-term contracts.

In the case of London South Bank University there was no free space that could have been allocated to installing a central CHP-based energy centre.

There are also increasing concerns about the idea of installing combustion-based engines in the centre of London, which is already breaching air pollution limits. Plus, there is the realisation that, with the rapid decarbonisation of the grid, combined heat and power based on combustion is no longer a valid route to reducing CO2 emissions.

An alternative approach has been designed and delivered based on an ambient ground temperature: known as the Heat Sharing Network. The network draws water from the London Chalk Aquifer, 112m below the ground.

It circulates the water via the plant room of each building on the network, and returns the water to the aquifer via another discharge borehole.

A high-temperature heat pump has been installed in each building on the network in its plant room. The pump extracts heat from the water in the network and transfers it to the existing heat distribution system in each building.

This form of heat transfer avoids the use of combustion completely. There are therefore no emissions of CO2 on site, which answers the Clean Growth Strategy comprehensively. There are also no emissions of NOX, SOX or particulates, which also totally answers the Clean Air Strategy.

As well as avoiding CO2 emissions and air pollution issues, the BEN installation at LSBU has avoided the cost of digging up the roads within the university to install a heavily-insulated metal pipe network. Instead, low diameter plastic pipes have been mounted on the walls of existing buildings to transfer water from the aquifer via plant rooms in

Low diameter plastic pipes have been mounted on the walls of existing buildings to avoid the cost of digging up the roads

A change of direction pays dividends >ESTABLISHED IN 1984, H D Services Ltd specialises in the niche

areas of water supply, sewage treatment systems and heating solutions targeted predominantly at self-builders, developers and contractors.

The firm was initially set up as a cable percussion drilling and sewage treatment installation company, but attendance at a renewables conference in 2009 gave the team a necessary prod in a different direction, and they decided to turn their hand to the renewable heating market. When they realised the potential for a single hot water and heating solution, they made the decision to supply open-loop groundsource heat pumps, which rely on groundwater as a heat source.

The company is well practised in the fields of sewage treatment system installation and borehole construction. It employs their dedicated cable percussion drilling technique – recognised as being a cleaner approach to drilling chalk aquifers.

Their designers, suppliers, installers and maintenance experts operate from strategically situated offices in Buckinghamshire, from where they deliver suitable solutions for clients with specific heating and water requirements across the South East.

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The team has a number of industry awards under its belt: most recently a ‘Highly Commended’ for Small Project of the Year at the East of England Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes Awards 2017. They have also won ‘Highly Commended’ in both the RHI Installer of the Year and Small Project of the Year categories for the East of England at the National Energy Efficiency Awards.

Those commendations recognise the excellent value provided by H D Services and are a testament to the workforce’s commitment to the cause. That quest for on-going success and best practice is further supported by the organisation’s commitment to industry compliance.

It is largely because of its coherence with Environment Agency requirements and knowledge of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) that the business has been able to secure projects with customers of a notably high status, such as councils, architects and domestic clients. In particular, significant organisations that have joined forces with H D Services are RSPB, the National Trust and the Forestry Commission. T

each building and back to the aquifer.

The cost and disruption of refurbishing the heat distribution mechanisms in each building have also been avoided, by retaining the existing heat emission systems and using specifically designed high-temperature heat pumps – which can deliver water at up to 82°C when required. That was key to installing the new network into a busy site without the buildings suffering any downtime. The existing gas boilers have been retained on site as a back-up.

In addition to the innovations detailed above, the heat pumps employ ‘demand-side response’ (DSR).

They are linked to the electricity supply companies via a DSR aggregator, which permits them to take advantage of cheaper electricity when this is offered by the grid – and to avoid the use of expensive electricity in peak hours.

The BEN consortium has also designed and

installed heavily-insulated thermal energy storage tanks for hot water, which provides additional flexibility and capacity to take advantage of DSR, both for heating and for domestic hot water.

The consortium comprised: London South Bank University; ICAX, who provided the design and project management; Upside Energy, who worked with ICAX to enable DSR for heat pumps and heat storage; Mixergy, who designed and provided thermal energy storage tanks; TFGI, who drilled the boreholes to the London Aquifer; Origen Power and Cranfield University, who have designed and constructed a fuel cell calciner demonstrator, which generates electricity in a combustion-free process that removes CO2 from the atmosphere.

The result is a network which balances the temperature in the buildings against the thermal mass of the London Aquifer. The BEN is capable of transferring heat into the buildings in winter and

out of the buildings to the aquifer in summer. The timing of electricity consumption from the grid is balanced against the fluctuating diurnal demand and supply for electricity, as signalled by demandside management in real time.

A BEN also provides a mechanism for balancing the budgets of its owners, as it is radically cheaper to install than a CHP-based network and also cheaper – and cleaner – to run than a gas-based network for heating and a chiller-based system for cooling.

The BEN consortium has demonstrated that the future of clean heating that the government has been striving for can be achieved now using ground source heat pumps. The horns of the ‘Energy Trilemma’ have been blunted. q • Many more details on the project are available at www.BENuk.net

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Care provision is an on-going development [ THE ISSUE of social care is still very much a topic of

debate. But while politicians and campaigners discuss funding, the providers of care in the private sector get on with the job – building up-to-date and, in many cases, luxury accommodation for older people.

The two homes featured in this issue certainly fall into that latter

category. One, in Southport, has recently opened and features a truly high standard of facilities for older people, with a part of the accommodation centred on caring for those with dementia.

The other is under construction in South Wales. It will provide a luxury environment in the heart of the Welsh Valleys, with an emphasis on maintaining fitness in later life. q

New home is set to offer a Welcome in the Valleys

[A LUXURIOUS FLAGSHIP care home in

Abergavenny is on track to open in November.

Foxhunters Care Community is a new venture by Dormy Care Communities.

Nestling in the Welsh Valleys, with views of the Blorenge mountain, the new home is built over just two floors, allowing it to meld into the surrounding countryside.

Foxhunters will offer 70 en-suite rooms, fully furnished with complimentary Wi-Fi, personal telephone line and a call system to gain assistance from staff when needed.

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Alternatively, there will be some unfurnished accommodation available for those who prefer to bring their own furniture.

As well as providing a mix of residential, nursing and dementia care, Foxhunters features some impressive facilities for residents, including a cinema, gym and hairdressing salon.

Foxhunters will also have its very own chef.

In addition to a communal dining room offering a varied menu using locally sourced produce, the home will feature a private dining room that residents and families can use for special

occasions. That is in addition to a coffee shop offering complimentary hot and cold drinks and delicious snacks throughout the day.

The communal areas will be varied and suitable for groups, or a cosy corner to just read a book and take in the surroundings. A fully stocked bar will allow residents to join in social events or just have a quiet drink with families and friends.

The gym will be equipped with the very latest equipment designed for the older client to ensure that exercise really is accessible to

all. With beautiful landscaped gardens and sensory areas, residents will be encouraged to enjoy the facilities inside and out of the home, benefiting from the simple pleasure of things they used to enjoy.

Monmouth MP David Davies was given a tour of the site in July by Dormy Care’s founder, Helen Maiello. He also spoke to other key people involved in the project, including Dormy Care chairman Mike Parsons, home director Marie Wood, Nigel Hanney of Cardiff-based contractor Carter Lauren and project manager Magnus Petts of Chessmann Consulting.

Mr Davies said he was impressed by what he saw and is confident it will benefit the economy, locally.

“This is great news for Abergavenny,” he said, “with the number of jobs created and the positive impact this investment will have on the local economy. It was great to meet Helen and those involved and have a tour of the site and see their impressive plans taking shape.

From what I’ve seen so far it’s going to be a huge success.”

Helen Maiello was enthusiastic about the MP’s visit. She said: “We were really pleased that Mr Davies wanted to come to see us. We appreciate how busy he is, so we are grateful to him for taking the time to visit Foxhunters and we hope he’s been impressed by what he’s seen.

“Dormy Care is thrilled to be opening our flagship home in Abergavenny. We want it to be a home from home where people can start

David Davies MP chats with Dormy Care founder Helen Maiello a new chapter in their life and can remain engaged with the local community. We’ve built this home for the future, with the technology that’s needed to be able to provide fantastic care, and getting the right people in at the right time to be able to deliver that.

“Foxhunters is one of the only care communities currently being set up in Wales at the moment. We have been inundated with people interested in residency and working here – so much so that we could staff the building three times over. This level of interest highlights

the need for such luxury and quality provision, especially in Monmouthshire, and we are excited to be playing our part in providing that.”

To provide more information on the home and its facilities, Dormy Care has opened an information centre in the centre of Abergavenny.

It was opened by local rector Rev Chris Walters.

A marketing suite is also set to open at the end of August. q • For further information visit the website at www.dormycare.co.uk

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World Cup veteran joins local worthies to open new care home in Southport [ MARCH SAW the official opening

of a brand new care home in Southport, Merseyside, by local care provider Athena Healthcare Group. Hesketh Park Lodge is one of a number of ‘lodges’ to be built and operated by the group. This latest is situated on Albert Road, overlooking the notable local landmark Hesketh Park. It occurs as the park itself celebrates its 150th anniversary.

Hesketh Park Lodge is a purpose-built care home designed by architects NJSR to meet the needs of residents over the age of 65, providing both long and shortterm care. Built by main contractor Jupiter Construction, it is arranged over four levels, using intelligent design, and will provide a safe and responsive community of support and expertise for people ageing well and those with a range of additional needs.

The spacious, well-equipped bedrooms feature an en-suite wet room, call system, adjustable profile bed, telephone, digital flat-screen TV and wireless internet access. They are all furnished to a high standard with good-quality fixtures and fittings, making them practical, homely and easily accessible.

Many of the bedrooms have views across Southport, as well as the beautiful landscaped gardens, providing a peaceful and relaxing environment for residents.

Each floor has spacious lounges, dining rooms and kitchen facilities. The communal rooms are all furnished with good-quality sofas, chairs and tables.

There are homely touches to help people feel relaxed and comfortable. Display cabinets containing memorabilia from the past include old household packaging, tennis racquets, cricket bats and even kitchen scales to prompt memory recall.

The communal facilities also include a dedicated hairdressing facility, a bathroom with bath and hoist and a beautiful garden for people to enjoy on warm sunny days and balmy evenings.

In keeping with the standards established by Athena Healthcare in its ‘lodge’ series of care homes, Hesketh Park Lodge provides a hotel-style level of service for people who are ageing well with a relatively low level of dependency. That is for individuals who have chosen to live in a care home community while continuing to enjoy a varied and busy life.

The first floor is designed for people with higher levels of dependency and its members of staff have the specialist skills to meet these needs. That includes residents who are living with dementia as a result of conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

A full range of external professionals also make regular visits to Hesketh Park Lodge, including GPs, hairdressers, opticians and chiropodists.

Head of operations at Athena Healthcare Group, Jo Revie, commented during the build process: “It’s really exciting times at www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Hesketh Park Lodge as both our construction team and operations team pull together to make sure that the home truly is a beautiful place to live.

“The new staff team are in place and receiving a full week’s induction training to make sure that they fully understand how to deliver care of the highest standard.”

The opening of Hesketh Park Lodge was marked by a ceremony that was itself a cause for celebration. In attendance was football legend Billy Bingham MBE, the former Everton and Northern Ireland player and manager of the Northern Ireland national team, which he took to the second round of the World Cup in 1982. He is perhaps less well known for his management of the Southport side.

Billy joined the Mayor and Mayoress of Sefton, Cllr Dave Roberson and his wife Wendy, and the Mayoress of Maghull, Cllr June Burns.

They all assisted with cutting the ribbon and unveiling the plaque.

The sweet sounds of a harpist filled the lodge as guests enjoyed refreshments and a fresh buffet lunch, prepared on site, before being taken on a guided tour of the lodge and its state-of-the-art facilities.

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Gayle Turner, the registered manager at Hesketh Park Lodge, together with Athena Group’s head of operations and chief executive Steven Wylie were also in attendance.

Steven Wylie said: “I am very pleased to announce the opening of Athena Healthcare Group’s fifth bespoke care facility, Hesketh Park Lodge. I would like to thank Gayle and all the team who worked tirelessly throughout the preparation of the lodge and I wish them every success as we invite our residents into their new home. q

Group’s team scoop care awards [ ATHENA HEALTHCARE GROUP is a trusted provider of high-

quality residential and nursing care homes in the North West.

Working closely with families and their loved ones, the group provides a bespoke service, combining professional and dignified care with comfortable and modern facilities.

Staff are carefully selected to adhere to the company’s Care Philosophy. The standards they maintain were reflected in a number of successes in the North West Region Great British Care Awards 2017 last November. The purpose of the awards is to promote best practice within both home care and care homes sectors, and pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.

The group’s events ambassador Lesley Malone was crowned winner of the Care Innovator Award. The judges said: “Lesley displayed a clear energy and passion coupled with commercial acumen to develop the North West Community Hub, which is leading the way in bringing care home activities and integration across the region, with future plans to develop a groundbreaking schools booklet.”

Clinical skills teacher Fiona Cassells took home the award for Care Trainer, drawing the comment: “Athena are lucky to have such an enthusiastic person responsible for training their staff and clearly capable of moving the organisation forward.”

Fouad Saad is a carer at the group’s Parklands Lodge home.

Fouad received the Newcomer Carer Award, before going on to win the category at the national awards in Birmingham in March.

The judges there said: “Fouad likes to give 110% and is always happy to seek help and advice and is confident when dealing with colleagues and families.”

Joe Sherville, one of Athena’s much-loved volunteers, was also praised at the North West awards and came out on top for the Unpaid Carer Award. The judges noted that: “Joe is at retirement age but his energy and dedication for elderly people is overwhelming.” q

New nuclear power project forges local links [THE TEAM BUILDING the UK’s first

new nuclear power station in a generation, at Hinkley Point C, are at the forefront when it comes to impressing the regional community – both the construction industry and the wider population.

In June the South West Constructing Excellence Awards – also known as the South West Built Environment Awards – proved a fertile hunting ground for the project. The partnership of Kier, BAM and BLOR scooped a hat-trick of awards: three out of three entered!

The 450 delegates who gathered at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol witnessed the team awarded the gongs for Integration and Collaborative Working, Client of the Year and Winner of Winners.

David Sutton, civils delivery director at Hinkley Point C, said: “We entered three categories and we're thrilled that we won all three. These awards represent a huge amount of collaboration, innovation and hard work right across the HPC team. I’m proud that we have been acknowledged not only as Client of the Year but as the Winner of Winners. Team HPC is leading the way in construction excellence and we are proud to be part of it.”

Dave Speight, head of civils, added: “The Innovation and Collaborative Working award is particularly significant for a nuclear construction project as big as ours. Developing a new approach to integrated and collaborative delivery, the HPC project delivery model was

recognised as industry-leading innovation, beating several strong contestants in conventional construction projects.”

The awards follow recognition of the project’s efforts to be a ‘good neighbour’ to the local community at the Considerate

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Constructors Scheme’s 2018 National Site Awards in April. The Hinkley Point C project team was recognised with a Gold Award, presented to representatives of EDF Energy and the contract partners.

The awards recognise the highest levels of consideration and care shown by those registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme towards their neighbourhoods, the general public, their workforce and the environment. Judged by scheme monitors visiting the sites, they rate a company’s considerate performance against the Code of Considerate Practice.

Rob Jordan, HPC’s construction director, said: “It is gratifying to see our team’s efforts being recognised for helping to deliver a vital infrastructure project while respecting the needs of the community surrounding the site. Inevitably, such a huge project will raise issues for our neighbours, but it is how you plan for and rise to those challenges that determines success and I applaud the team for their efforts. I’d also like to share that appreciation with our neighbours for their constructive engagement with us in finding solutions.”

The huge project involves the creation of a new nuclear power station with two 1,650Mw reactors and associated developments. There are over 3,000 people working at the Somerset site each day.

The site team was congratulated for their community engagement, appearance, workforce safety and environmental consideration.

Russell Lang, Kier BAM’s project director, commented: “We are delighted with this prestigious industry scheme award. It demonstrates the collaborative approach taken on the HPC project for best in class considerate practice.”

His counterpart at BYLOR, Nicolas Caille, added: “Hinkley Point C is a project which inspires collaboration: this Gold Award is a testament to our efforts to work together as one team, demonstrating best practice in the construction industry.”

The efforts to integrate into the local community are mirrored by the level of involvement of local companies in the project. Figures released by the government show that companies in the South West have won contracts worth more than £1.3bn for the HPC project – with £650m already spent in the local economy.

The figures were reported in the Hinkley Point C Wider Benefits Realisation Plan, published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The plan sets out how the project is creating opportunities for local companies and workers, as well as helping to reinvigorate UK industry, enabling British companies to compete for nuclear contracts across the world.

Nigel Cann, HPC delivery director, explained: “South West firms have worked hard to win contracts and meet the high standards of safety, quality and efficiency required on this project. They have been real pioneers and shown ambition and

determination. Their experience provides a lesson for other regions to follow.”

Combining forces has been a key part of the path to success of South West firms, with several forming alliances in order to compete successfully in scale and expertise, with the backing and support of Somerset Chamber of Commerce.

With more than 80% of contracts awarded, the project is on track to spend 64% of the construction value of Hinkley Point C with UK-based companies: up from the original estimate of 57%. It is expected that 25,000 people will work on the construction of the plant, in a broad range of occupations and careers, and it will provide around 900 jobs throughout its 60-year operational lifetime.

A further boost to the local community, in terms of training for the future, was announced in May when HPC announced the number of apprentices working on the site had reached 250. q

Keeping things cool is a specialist business [AS A MARKET LEADER in the industrial refrigeration and process

cooling sector, J & E Hall is uniquely placed to work in partnership with its customers – who come from a diverse range of industries.

J & E Hall design, manufacture and install tailor-made refrigeration systems to meet the most challenging refrigeration and air-conditioning applications. They are able to develop bespoke refrigeration packages – using ammonia, HFC, HFO, CO2 and hydrocarbon refrigerants – to provide assured performance and reliability in the most demanding conditions. It is a single-source solution, taking care of everything from initial consultation to commissioning and on-going maintenance.

Refrigeration is an integral part of many facilities and J & E Hall understand the stringent processes involved. Their specialist knowledge is coupled with a detailed understanding of process and design requirements.

Said director of process systems Graham McDermott: “Our

experienced sales, project management and design teams are based in the UK, but can conduct design and feasibility studies for any new and existing installation across the world. We develop systems and solutions to meet our clients’ exacting standards and our fully-trained engineers have the expertise to ensure all equipment is running correctly and efficiently, to optimise performance.”

J & E Hall will be supplying 10 chillers for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. The contract includes four 2.8MW chillers, four 480kW chillers and two 600kW chillers.

Graham McDermott explained: “Using a UK supply chain, the chillers will be designed, built and factory-tested by J & E Hall. That will involve specialised cooling to meet the high safety requirements of a nuclear installation. We are very proud to be working with NNB GenCo, which is building the nuclear power station on behalf of the energy supplier EDF Energy.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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