Contruction National Summer 2019

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COVER STORY

Gallery restores city’s pioneering spirit

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The cover of this issue showcases the new MK Gallery in Milton Keynes. Milton Keynes was founded on design, and design is to the fore with the MK Gallery.

Built as an extension to the original 1990s structure, which it incorporates, the new space reflects the spirit of cutting-edge design that marked Milton Keynes out when the new city was developed.

Five gallery spaces can accommodate the most ambitious exhibitions, while a performance and meeting space overlooks the geometric elegance of Campbell Park.

Find out more from page 18

Cover image courtesy of Iwan Baan

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NEWS

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Licensing scheme takes a step nearer to reality

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HS2 hits employment support landmark

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Honour for CIOB luminary

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Grenfell: the industry joins calls for more action

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Midlands Met hospital back on track

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Major redevelopment gets go-ahead

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Young planners take to the water

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES 17

Historic building reconstruction nears completion

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Gallery restores city’s pioneering spirit

TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIPS

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CITB sets out its ‘Big Six’ plan for the future

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TV star urges girls to consider construction

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APPG to investigate recruitment of women

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Scotland nurtures rural skills

CARE HOMES

ENQUIRIES: Advertising

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Public and private thrive side-by-side

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New provider leads the way in green and techno-savvy care provision

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Double opening confirms Cumbria CC as a serial care home developer

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Innova cements position as leading healthcare equipment supplier

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Bespoke design promotes a calm environment

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With care home design, two into one WILL go!

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Latest in established stable promises to turn heads

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 FLOOD EXPO 31

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Flood Expo helps make sense of recent events

GREEN TECHNOLOGY 32

Boningale help university students learn how to make our cities greener

WORKING AT HEIGHT 33

NASC publishes annual Safety Report

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New NASC vice president selected

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Scaffold fall highlights need for unauthorised access prevention

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CISRS OSTS continues to thrive in UAE

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NASC to help members bring 400 operatives into industry

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Westminster Hall debate discusses APPG report

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Wales to get new scaffolding training centre

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ZOOS 38

Zoos are doing it for themselves

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Fairtrade extension helps celebrate two decades of development

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Colchester Zoo’s in-house team uses local suppliers to carry out developments

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Admissions hall enters a new phase

GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS 45

Ground source integral to net zero target, says trade body

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MODULAR BUILDINGS AND THE NHS 47

The hospital ‘cabin’ comes of age

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Canopies provide real healthcare cover

HOUSING 48

NHBC announces PiJ Quality Award-winners

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Glasgow announces record affordable homes budget

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Planners give go-ahead for two new villages in Ebbsfleet

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FMB attacks planning delays highlighted by MPs

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Infrastructure fund will lead to extra homes

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Constructive

comment

[WHILE FOR MANY June brings the prospect of summer and balmy days, for a sizeable number of people in

London it brings only the memory of the terrible day two years ago when Grenfell Tower went up in flames, claiming the lives of more than 70 people and blighting those hundreds more.

Across the water, lawyers for the victims and their families have filed suits against a number of US companies, including the manufacturer and distributor of the cladding panels that have been the subject of so much controversy since.

The continued presence of those and similar panels on private blocks around the country is causing further distress to many more people, with little sign of action to force their removal.

• It’s unlikely the tragedy of Grenfell would have been avoided had there been a system of licensing for the construction industry, as the firms working on such buildings are of the highest calibre. There have been calls for such a system, nevertheless, backed by figures revealing more than half of people who had commissioned building work had had a negative experience.

Nearly three quarters of people questioned in a survey said they are in favour of a licensing system, while 90% are in favour of criminalising rogue builders. The proposals fall short of the death penalty stipulated by King Hammurabi of Babylon around 4,000 years ago, but legal sanctions are in the mix.

• A more solid commitment from government is the pursuit of zero emissions by the UK by 2050. If that target is to be reached the construction industry has a major role to play. Much progress has already been made, with the whole-life footprint of a building, from quarry to recycling yard, being considered at the design stage by sophisticated BIM systems.

A big chunk of a building’s emissions comes from heating and cooling, and there the technology is available right now to address the issue. Ground source is a technology we have been looking at in recent issues: maybe government should take heed.

• Modular building is a proven technology for making savings; not just in carbon emissions, but also time and resources. It is a method that is being embraced in the NHS to build everything from whole wards to relaxation spaces.

A number of companies are hitching themselves to the organisation’s modular building framework and offering some impressive expertise.

• Bringing all the disparate elements needed to build a home is the complex job of the site manager. For nearly four decades the NHBC has been running its Pride in the Job competition to reward the best in that profession. The winners in the first round of the road to the finals were announced in June. We will, as always, be charting their successes.

• Climate change has been cited as the culprit for the increase in extreme weather events in this country of late – and it has been raining rather a lot recently. Flooding can devastate whole communities, as the people of Wainfleet know to their cost.

It is, therefore, a great advantage to have the biggest flood industry exhibition in town: Birmingham being the town in question. The Flood Expo will be taking place in September and Construction National is proud to be acting as a media partner.

• Exhibitions of all sizes – art exhibitions, that is – are also now possible at Milton Keynes, with the completion of the new MK Gallery there. Bringing back the city’s proud tradition of daring design, the new gallery combines elements of the city’s brutalist origins with its more gentle rural surroundings, with an added dash of the playful. You can appreciate it in all its glory on the front of this issue. q

Chris Stokes Editor, Construction National

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Licensing scheme takes a step nearer to reality [ A NUMBER OF professional bodies in the industry have come

together to develop a licensing scheme for construction companies – to transform the sector into a high-quality and professional industry.

The impetus for the scheme has been the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which proposed the scheme last year. Now, a new Construction Licensing Task Force, supported by a range of industry bodies, will lead the development of the licensing scheme.

Figures show that one third of homeowners are put off doing major home improvement work because they fear hiring a dodgy builder, meaning the UK economy could be missing out on £10bn of construction activity per year because of anxiety over rogue building firms. Moreover, a majority of people (55%) who commission home improvement work have had a negative experience with their builder.

The decision to establish a Construction Licensing Task Force follows a recommendation in an independent research report by consultants Pye Tait. Licence to build: A pathway to licensing UK construction details the benefits of introducing a licensing scheme for the whole construction industry and puts forward a proposal for how it could work.

The Task Force will be chaired by Liz Peace CBE, former CEO of the British Property Federation, and a number of leading organisations

HS2 hits employment support landmark [ AT THE END OF MAY the HS2 project reached a milestone in

its operational strength when it was announced that the project was supporting 9,000 jobs around the country. The news came as work on the route from London to Birmingham saw activity on over 250 work sites.

Over 2,000 firms across the UK now have contracts with HS2: 70% of them SMEs and 98% of them British. At peak construction, over 30,000 people will be needed to design and build the railway. Since Royal Assent in 2017, there have been 324 apprenticeships within HS2 Ltd and the supply chain.

Speaking as the 9,000 job milestone was announced on 23 May, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Delivering HS2 is a manifesto commitment. Today’s announcement shows HS2 is happening and is yet another example of how this government is making sure Britain works for everyone, delivering jobs and growth across the country.

“And this is just the beginning. At its peak HS2 will directly provide 30,000 jobs, not only on the route but across the UK, and when ready will deliver the vital extra capacity – both new intercity capacity and in the space it releases for freight and intra-urban commuter services on existing lines – and connections needed to not only drive productivity growth but to deliver regeneration across the Midlands, North of England and beyond.” q

will sit on it. Plus, senior civil servants from BEIS and MHCLG will sit on the Task Force as observers.

Ms Peace said: “Licensing has support in principle from more than 30 construction organisations and consumer groups. The Task Force will be supported by major players and, in an industry that is often criticised for being too fractured and disparate, I am heartened by the fact that the sector is coming together to lead the industry in a new direction.”

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The vast majority of builders and homeowners want to see the construction industry professionalised. It’s unacceptable that more than half of consumers have had a negative experience with their builder. However, we shouldn’t be surprised by that, given that in the UK it is perfectly legal for anyone to set up a building firm and start selling their services without any prior experience or qualifications.

“That cannot be right, given the nature of the work and the potential health and safety risks when something goes wrong. In countries like Australia and Germany building firms require a licence and we want to develop a scheme that regulates our industry in a similar manner. I am delighted to be part of the Construction Licensing Task Force and will ensure that any such scheme works for small building firms.” q

Honour for CIOB luminary [ JAMES WATES, a past

president of the Chartered Institute of Building, has been knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to business and charity. Mr Wates (right), who already has a CBE for services to construction and the charitable sector, served as CIOB president from 2010 – 2011.

He has spent the whole of his career in the construction industry, working his way up through the family business to become chairman in 2013. He is still a vocal presence in the industry, ensuring that Wates are among the Hackitt Early Adopters.

Eddie Tuttle, CIOB director of policy, research and public affairs, said: “James has been an industry leader for many years and he continues to lead by example – his work to raise the profile of the changes needed post-Grenfell has been very influential and helped to drive the agenda forward. I congratulate James on this well-earned recognition.” q

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Grenfell: the industry joins calls for more action [THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY of the

Grenfell tragedy drew varied comment from across the construction industry. Many were frustrated by the slow pace of action to implement measures to prevent similar tragedies.

The response of Lesley McLeod, chief executive of the Association for Project Safety was typical of many. Ms McLeod said: “Attitudes to health and safety – as well as fire regulations – have to change and change without further delay. Risk management is not a comedy club joke or trivialised to the level of an optional extra such as carpets or kitchen splash backs. It is a vital part of reducing the threat of accident, ill-health or even death – saving money and avoiding costly retrofitting.”

She compared the construction industry to the medical profession, in that its first priority should be to ‘do no harm first’.

“Projects should only ever be eye-candy second,” she said. “New properties – and those undergoing modernisation – must be built with safety front and centre and we need to keep putting the case forcibly and firmly that, when everything is squeezed to secure maximum value, safety must never be comprised by cost-cutting.”

The RIBA was equally forthright in its description of progress. In a statement issued on 13 June, the day before the anniversary, the institute said: “It is a sad fact that there is little difference between the fire safety regulations now, and those in place before.

“We are still waiting for the government to start a full review of current fire safety standards and England lags behind Scotland, Wales and other countries when it comes to changes that will make homes safer. Until the government addresses these critical concerns, new homes are still being built using the fire safety guidance widely deemed as unfit for purpose.”

In response to the government’s announcement of a consultation on further regulation – based on its Building a Safer Future plan published last December – the RIBA said: “The RIBA particularly commended proposals for tighter regulation of higher risk residential buildings of 18m or more in height – much lower than the 30m+ threshold recommended in the Hackitt Review. UK government simultaneously launched a consultation inviting feedback on the proposals outlined in this report which the RIBA will be responding to over the next few months.”

Launching the consultation on 6 June, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) said: “The

consultation launched today proposes a stronger voice for residents of high-rise buildings to ensure their concerns are never ignored. This includes better information regarding their buildings so that they can participate in decisions about safety, as well as clear and quick routes of escalation for their concerns if things do go wrong.”

The second anniversary of the fire brought forth outpourings of empathy from across the country, together with demonstrations against the lack of progress in addressing the issues. It also coincided with the launch

of lawsuits in the United States against a number of US companies.

As the MHCLG said in its statement: “The Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June 2017 resulted in the greatest loss of life in a residential fire in a century. It shattered the lives of many people and shook the trust of countless more in a system that was intended to ensure the most basic human need of having a safe place to live.”

The country will wait to see if anything has changed by the time third anniversary comes round. q

Midlands Met hospital back on track [ GLEEDS HAS BEEN NAMED as the NEC4 project manager on the Midland Metropolitan

Hospital development in Smethwick, West Midlands. Appointed under the NHS Shared Business Services framework, they will be supported by Arup and Stride Treglown as works supervisors on behalf of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

The new hospital project – the first to be built in the West Midlands since 2010 – fell victim to the collapse of Carillion last year. After a nine month suspension, remedial works to prepare the site for completion and ensure it remains safe and secure resumed late last year and the facility is expected to be ready to open its doors to patients by 2022.

Its 670-bed urgent care centre will replace the accident and emergency departments at two hospitals in the region, while its treatment centre will be equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic equipment and 15 operating theatres, allowing it to offer specialised surgery and maternity services to approximately three quarters of a million residents across the Black Country and Birmingham.

Mike Penny, the director at Gleeds who will be leading the project, said: “Gleeds has extensive experience of delivering large healthcare schemes and has put together a team of experts with a vast pool of technical knowledge upon which we can draw to assist in the delivery of this project.

By joining forces with Arup and Stride Treglown to supervise the works we further strengthen our offering, supporting the NHS in achieving its goal of providing fully integrated care of the highest quality.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Major redevelopment gets go-ahead [PLANS FOR A major new mixed

redevelopment in the centre of London have secured the go-ahead. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan resolved to grant planning permission for the Kensington Forum – a landmark new hotel, serviced apartment and conference scheme by Queensgate Investments and Rockwell.

Designed by leading architects SimpsonHaugh, the proposed scheme will replace the existing 906-room hotel, recognised as a local eyesore, with an exceptionally high-quality development providing outstanding facilities. They will include restaurants, bars, a health spa and conference facilities: facilities vital to support London’s continued role as a world city and major global destination for business events.

Kensington Forum will also deliver substantial public benefits for both the local and wider community. It will create more than 800 employment opportunities and support them with £1.4m of training initiatives. It will also accommodate 62 genuinely affordable social rented homes, worth £90m – the first private development in London to do so.

Both initiatives will meet a clear and pressing need in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Alongside the hotel will be a new, publicly-accessible and sensitivelydesigned 2,700m2 garden square, which will be the only publiclyaccessible green space within a kilometre of the site. A further £2.8m will be put towards public realm improvements to the area around Gloucester Road Station.

Jason Kow, chief executive of Queensgate Investments, which owns the

Kensington Forum, commented: “Queensgate Investments is proud that the Mayor has resolved to grant this unique opportunity to create one of London’s largest hotel and serviced apartment schemes, while also delivering for the needs of the local community and Londoners alike.”

Donal Mulryan, founder of Rockwell, added: “We are delighted that the Mayor of London has resolved to approve this landmark development, which we’ve designed to last at least 150 years and that will continue to deliver for the local community. Kensington Forum is an ambitious scheme of exceptional quality which sets a new benchmark for global visitor accommodation. In doing so it delivers an overwhelming amount of genuinely affordable homes, meaningful employment opportunities, green space and public realm.” q

Young planners take to the water [EAST MIDLANDS YOUNG PLANNERS (EMYP) is set to host its

annual summer social on board ship. The event, on 11 July, will be a social cruise along the River Trent in and around Nottingham. The group, which represents young members of the Royal Town Planning Institute, across the East Midlands region and further afield, is made up of 280 members working in planning positions and allied professions.

The EMYP aims to bring together planners with up to 10 years postgraduate planning experience via thought provoking and relevant CPD events, social gatherings and networking opportunities across the region.

Membership is a 50:50 split between the private and public sectors.

The summer social is open to members and non-members and will be a great opportunity for people to network in a relaxed and social setting.

The event will allow those attending to take in some of the great scenery along the banks of the River Trent as well as appreciate the fantastic developments that have recently been built or are under construction.

This year’s event has been sponsored by Roythornes Solicitors and Ramm Sanderson Ecology. Charlotte Lockwood, a committee member of the EMYP and an associate at Roythornes, said: “We are delighted to sponsor the event this year as we see the EMYP as providing a really useful hub for young planners to meet, share knowledge, develop their contacts and progress their professional development.

“The summer social is a great opportunity for people with a planning role or a vested interest in planning development and construction matters across the East Midlands to network and build relationships, as well as meet new contacts.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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atoz construction national website

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

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

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Your partner for working safely at heights

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Historic building reconstruction nears completion [

AT THE Weald & Downland Living Museum in West Sussex – known popularly as the location for TV’s The Repair Shop – work is nearing completion on the reconstruction of two 18th/19th century buildings: the dairy from Eastwick Park Estate and the bakehouse from Newdigate – both in Surrey.

Both buildings were in a poor condition and at risk in their original location, so – following detailed recording – they were dismantled and stored at the museum. They are now being re-erected at the museum thanks to substantial funding, including a £224,500 grant from the DCMS/Wolfson Museums & Galleries Improvement Fund and a number of donations totalling £58,500.

Over the past couple of years, repairs to the timbers have taken place at the museum’s workshop in the Downland Gridshell building, following which construction on site started.

The museum’s philosophy is to use as much existing material as possible, which has been achieved by sensitive timber repairs and gentle cleaning of the bricks from the buildings. In April the joinery was installed in the dairy, with the windows and other features to follow.

Pictured on the left in the main photo is the dairy – an ornamental building, in the tradition of model dairies of the era in the grounds of estates, with a thatched roof. It comprises two octagonal buildings with a covered walkway between them. The smaller serves as a scalding house and the larger as the dairy. The joinery of the building shows evidence that the woodwork was painted in a burgundy colour and a final stage of the process will be to limewash the walls, as they were originally.

The bakehouse (on the right) is a much humbler building, in keeping with the many vernacular buildings at the Weald & Downland Living Museum. Part of the original building was used for agricultural purposes, before a bread oven in an extra room was attached. Work continues on the interior of the bakehouse and when complete it will produce bread and other simple recipes, as the last baker did. It will be able to use stoneground wholemeal flour from the 17thcentury watermill at the museum.

Cultural engagement manager Lucy Hockley is excited at the prospect of visitors seeing the three buildings working together. She commented: “These new exhibits, alongside the working watermill, will form a hub of historical food production. Together they offer a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to learn about how staples of our diet were produced, in a way that will engage all the senses and provide a fascinating later comparison to our well-known Tudor farmhouse and kitchen. The buildings, and their construction process, embody the museum’s core aims of providing lifelong learning and ensuring high standards of collection care.”

She paid tribute to the many craftspeople who have been involved in this project: from Joe Thompson and Claire Vidler on the timber-frame repairs to Cocoon Exterior Works on the brickwork, Chris Tompkins and team on the thatched dairy roof, Andy Holden on the lime plaster in both buildings, museum volunteer Jeff Ayling on the internal shelving in the dairy and numerous other volunteers who helped with the cleaning of bricks, internal preparation or painting. q

The dairy (left) and bakehouse in their original locations

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Gallery restores city’s pioneering spirit

[ON 16 MARCH the city of Milton Keynes saw the opening of its

new MK Gallery: designed by 6a architects and constructed by Bowmer and Kirkland.

The original MK Gallery was constructed in the late 1990s and is located at the top of Midsummer Boulevard, next to the Milton Keynes Theatre. The new development retains the first structure and adds a new, steel-framed building, to more than double its size. The team delivering the project also includes project managers Jackson Coles, structural engineers Momentum, environmental engineers Max Fordham LLP and quantity surveyors Gleeds.

The new gallery reflects the natural world, in its polished stainless steel exterior surfaces inspired by classic Milton Keynes architecture and the geometries of the adjacent Campbell Park. The completed development, including both old and new structures, provides five exhibition galleries with a total of 500m2 of exhibition space, a large learning and community

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studio and The Sky Room (above) – a flexible auditorium on the upper floor with 150 retractable seats and views over Campbell Park and the surrounding countryside. This ‘high-tech cabin’, with exposed metallic soffit and services, features Douglas fir panels and a huge multi-coloured curtain striped in sedimented landscape colours that can be drawn across the window.

Speaking ahead of the completion of the project, Cllr Peter Marland, leader of Milton Keynes Council, said: “We are proud to be partners and funders of the new MK Gallery. We passionately believe that investment in culture is investment in the future health and wellbeing of our citizens and will help us to build the reputation and success of our city. We are looking forward with excitement to the opening next spring.”

Integrated into the new scheme is City Club, a sequence of new public spaces in and around the new gallery. Artists Gareth Jones and Nils Norman were commissioned to create the space, in collaboration with

6a architects and graphic designer Mark El-khatib. Inside, the facilities include a foyer, café/bar as well as The Sky Room itself. Outside are a playscape, a garden and a new façade for the existing gallery building. The new entrance includes a colour scheme that revives the original gallery’s ‘sandstone and terracotta’ façade of 1999, with additional iconic signs from early Milton Keynes. They include a large red neon heart, the first ever logotype for Milton Keynes and a double-headed axe – signs which are part of a homage to the city’s iconic original design.

The development provides facilities for major exhibitions – both contemporary and historical – films, music, performance, family events, workshops, and social spaces open free to all. The five exhibition galleries – the first over 9m-high, the others 6m-high – are all white with polished concrete floors and exposed services on the ceilings.

The new MK Gallery opened with The Lie of the Land (pictured below), an ambitious exhibition spread across all five galleries and curated by MK Gallery director Anthony Spira, with Sam Jacob, Claire Louise Staunton, Fay Blanchard, Tom Emerson, Gareth Jones and Niall Hobhouse.

The exhibition was designed as a kind of cabinet of curiosities that places Milton Keynes and the new gallery in a playful context. It looks at changing attitudes towards leisure, culture and landscape over more than 250 years.

Anthony Spira commented: “Our ambition has been to create a building where the art centre and the social spaces come together in what we believe is a rare example of collective authorship across disciplines, where art, architecture and design are interchangeable. In doing so, we are proposing a new kind of accessible art centre, which pays tribute to and tells the story of Milton Keynes, fully engaged with playful ways of seeing and definitively open to all.”

The city of Milton Keynes – planned in that late 1960s and built in the early 1970s – expresses the utopian aspirations and aesthetics of the time on a scale that exists nowhere else in the UK. The lead architect for Milton Keynes, Derek Walker, aimed to create a city ‘greener than the surrounding countryside’.

Early exponents of hi-tech, such as Norman Foster, Pierre Botschi, James Stirling, Jeremy Dixon and Edward Jones, were involved in the first phases of the development of Milton Keynes.

Today, it is one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe, with one of the strongest economies in the UK. But Milton Keynes has been designated a ‘cultural cold spot’ and the new MK Gallery aims to revive the ambitious, innovative and generous spirit that drove the Milton Keynes Development Corporation. q Images courtsey of Iwan Baan, Johan Dehlin and Jonathan Hordle/PA Wire

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CITB sets out its ‘Big Six’ plan for the future [ON 1 MAY the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) published

its business plan for 2019-2021, in which it sets out its plans to help the industry meet critical skills challenges and secure its future workforce.

It was the CITB’s response to industry’s demands for it to become more strategic and better focused.

The plan outlines what the board sees as the ‘Big Six’ skills challenges, based on research and insight from construction employers across Great Britain. They are: • Making construction an attractive career to a broader range of recruits • Developing a ‘site-ready’ workforce • Getting more construction learners to join the industry • Growing the number and diversity of apprentices • Helping smaller firms invest in the training that can transform their • business • Boosting the number of assessors for vocational qualifications With an ageing workforce and the potential loss of EU workers, the industry has a critical need for a new generation of skilled, motivated workers. CITB is therefore launching a nationwide careers campaign that will attract and inspire many more recruits from all walks of life.

This big, bold campaign will highlight the many fantastic and well-paid career opportunities available, reaching groups who have traditionally been underrepresented in the industry. It will provide clear information on how to get into construction – including through apprenticeships and work experience – and will showcase the support available, such as higher CITB funding rates for apprenticeships.

Construction firms also say they struggle to find site-ready recruits, so CITB will tackle that head-on by expanding the Construction Skills Fund initiative launched last year, which is funded by the Department for Education and delivered by CITB. With 26 onsite hubs now running across England, CITB will use industry funding to create a further 20 hubs to extend the scheme to Scotland, Wales and other regions in England. The new hubs will give thousands of local people valuable on-site experience and deliver the work-ready candidates employers need.

Construction now has more than a million SMEs, making them essential contributors to the sector and the economy. Yet many smaller firms operate on wafer-thin profit margins, making it hard for them to invest in the training that can transform their business.

In 2018 CITB helped over 1,400 smaller employers access £6m in training support through its Skills and Training Fund. In the coming year, it aims to continue to invest by growing the fund to £8m, reaching 1,900 firms.

CITB chief executive Sarah Beale said: “Our Business Plan identifies the most pressing skills challenges we face as an industry, and sets out the detail of how CITB will work with partners to address them.

“We’ve built the plan by listening to employers and their needs, and making sure CITB is focused on a small number of really critical projects that it is best placed to deliver, while improving our services, too.

“Working with employers, learners and education, I’m confident that this plan will help transform construction and make it fit for the future.” q

TV star urges girls to consider construction [ GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF star Ruby

Bhogal had an empowering message for over 600 Welsh schoolgirls during a unique, nationwide event at the Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC).

Speaking on International Women’s Day on 8 March, Ruby – who has a Master’s Degree in Architecture – said: “We need to break stereotypes and showcase the hidden talent amongst young women.”

The event, hosted by CITB Wales, showcased the variety of construction career paths available to girls across the country.

A live-stream from the CWIC Hub saw Ruby address five other venues across Wales. At the locations, over 600 girls of Year 8 and above heard Ruby discuss her role as a project manager in the rail industry and star of last year’s Great British Bake Off. They also heard from Fabienne Viala, chair of Bouygues Construction, and Carole Ditty, legal director of Bouygues UK, about their roles and experiences as senior women in the sector.

Ruby added: “Construction offers a large spectrum of opportunity; it can take you worldwide and across a number of fields. It has led me to personal satisfaction and it’s why I’m a huge advocate for

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women exploring construction.”

During a video shown at the event Fabienne Viala said: “I’ve worked in construction for 30 years and it’s been great fun. Construction is a fascinating industry; there’s never a routine.

“We need to build more schools, more housing, more roads and to modernise. I think that bringing more girls into the construction industry is key. We want to look like our clients and the communities in which we want to build. A more diverse, inclusive workforce will make us better at what we’re supposed to be doing in the industry. My advice to girls is: be yourself, believe in yourself and go for it!”

Donna Griffiths, CITB’s partnership manager for Wales, said: “CITB Wales was delighted to host this unique collaboration with construction employers and colleges across Wales. We share Ruby’s passion; CITB wants more women to train and begin rewarding construction careers. Ruby is a fine role model for students; it was a great event. ” Students had the opportunity to take part in a range of interactive activities with construction employers who shared information on how to get involved with work experience and apprenticeships. q

APPG to investigate recruitment of women [

THE All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Excellence in the Built Environment announced in April that its seventh inquiry will look at how the recruitment and retention of more women into construction might help to ameliorate the industry’s skills needs, post-Brexit.

The APPG has called upon “…organisations, businesses and individuals to submit evidence on how the recruitment and retention of more women could be achieved within the construction industry and the built environment professions; and, in parallel, how this may help the industry and the

professions replace migrant skills, which may be lost after Brexit.”

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has responded to the inquiry with an outline of what the industry is doing to promote diversity and some examples of best practice. However, the CIOB has also noted that it’s important to ‘walk the walk’ on the issue and that examining good practice and areas for improvement in-house are a must; the institute cited examples of some progressive steps to support gender equality, with the first female CEO taking up her role later this year and the

Novus network in Manchester now comprising an all-female committee.

Rebecca Thompson FCIOB, a past president of the CIOB and director of Thompson Heritage Consultancy, said: “I am delighted that this issue is being highlighted as it is something that needs to be addressed to improve diversity and inclusion within the construction workforce and the range of skills and experience available. As we’ve said in the response, it’s a powerful opportunity to advocate equality in the workforce, bringing expertise from other sectors and industries.” q

Scotland nurtures rural skills [A NEW STRATEGIC APPROACH to support the skills needs of rural Scotland has been launched. The Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland aims to address skill shortages, talent retention and attraction, and demographic challenges, through enhancing work-based learning and increasing access to education and skills provision.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing joined Skills Minister Jamie Hepburn to launch the Action Plan, which has been developed by Skills Development Scotland in collaboration with stakeholders. Its priority actions include: • Taking a collaborative approach to delivering skills provision • Providing accessible education and skills provision • Upskilling and reskilling the current rural workforce Speaking at Scotland’s Rural College Barony Campus in Dumfries,

Mr Ewing said: “Faced with the fast-paced changes occurring in our workforce, it is absolutely vital that we ensure people continue to have the skills required to enable them to develop and succeed in their working life. The more skills an individual can develop and retain, the more opportunities that person will enjoy in life.

“This new approach will help individuals to develop the skills required for jobs across rural Scotland – both now and in the future.” q

Construction training courses and/or apprenticeships are available at the following colleges: Accrington and Rossendale College

New College Lanarkshire

T: 01254 389933 F: 01254 354001 E: info@accross.ac.uk W: www.accross.ac.uk

T: 0300 555 8080 E: info@nclan.ac.uk W: www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk

Broad Oak Campus, Broad Oak Road, Accrington BB5 2AS

Motherwell ML1 2TX

Bath College T: 01225 312 191

Apprenticeships at Salford City College

W: www.bathcollege.ac.uk E: apprenticeships@bathcollege.ac.uk

Motherwell Campus, 1 Enterprise Way,

City Centre Campus, Avon Street, Bath BA1 1UP

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

Somer Valley Campus, Wells Road, Radstock BA3 3RW

Frontier House, Merchants Quay, Salford M50 3SR

Easton & Otley College

The Sheffield College

Easton Campus, Easton, Norwich, Norfolk NR9 5DX

City Campus, Granville Road, Sheffield S2 2RL

Leeds College of Building

West College Scotland

North Street, Leeds LS2 7QT

Paisley Campus, Renfrew Road, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA3 4DR

T: 0800 0224556 E: info@eastonotley.ac.uk W: www.eastonotley.ac.uk

T: 0113 222 6061 E: info@lcb.ac.uk W: www.lcb.ac.uk

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

T: 0300 600 6060 E: info@wcs.ac.uk W: www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk

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Public and private thrive side-by-side [THE LOOMING CRISIS in social care continues to hit the headlines, with local authorities continuing to cut budgets and many looking to move out of the sector altogether, leaving provision to the private sector.

Others, however, see the way forward in modernisation and the optimisation of resources, together with the introduction of new technology. One of those is Cumbria County Council, which has recently completed a trio of new homes to replace a clutch of outdated facilities.

The new homes are at the vanguard of a trend which contractor Eric Wright Construction sees as a growing one in the sector.

Technology – of the green sort – is also at the heart of a new venture in the care home sector. A brave new company is incorporating the health of the planet into its healthcare offering. Its first home, on farmland in Surrey, introduces this latest in our review of what’s new in care.

A more established stable, in Lancashire, is also expanding. The home, in Oswaldtwistle, hasn’t even opened yet, but it’s attracting ‘likes’ from such respected players as MHA. Not only is the operator delighted by the daring design of the new home, they are justly proud of the employment opportunities it offers. q

New provider leads the way in green and techno-savvy care provision [ THIS SUMMER WILL SEE the unveiling

of a new model in private residential care provision. Amina Meadows is the first offering from Amina Homes, a provider that has been set up to offer personal care services carried out in a technologically smart, ecologically friendly and homely environment. Located on 23 acres of beautiful farmland in Harwich, Essex, it is one of two currently under construction for the company.

The newly constructed homes have been built and designed with the latest environmentally-friendly materials and methods. They will be utilising state-of-theart technology to provide for the comfort and safety of the people in the home while creating the smallest possible carbon footprint.

Amina Meadows consists of 38 en-suite bedrooms and will be the first to embed smart technology and green thinking into the company’s culture and daily living. Amina Meadows is already growing its own organic vegetables and will use locally-sourced produce in the kitchen.

There is also a plan to host a Farmer’s Market which will promote the company’s values and ethics within the local community.

Amina Homes has invested in renewable energy, recycling systems and smart technology, which minimises the negative impact upon the

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environment and enables a sustainable living and working environment.

The homes offer generously-sized bedrooms with en-suites. All the rooms have secure access to private courtyards and gardens. And both homes are designed to include a bright communal living space, a cosy library, elegant café and a relaxing beauty spa.

Operations director Paige Webb explained: “We know the importance of having your own personal touch, so occupants are given the option to fully customise their living space. We encourage our guests to bring their own furnishings and belongings to help them feel at home during their stay.”

Amina Homes is currently in discussions with several partners to fund the construction of the next generation of smart, ecologically friendly care homes. All professionals and contractors will be appointed in accordance with the company’s green and caring philosophy. They include quantity surveyor Christophorides Makris & Partners LLC, who travelled from Limassol in Cyprus to offer their services. The practice offers a range of professional services to a high level of environmental responsibility.

Looking forward to the opening of Amina Meadows in the summer, Paige Webb said: “We are excited for the launch of our first smart and green care home.” q

Double opening confirms Cumbria CC as a serial care home developer

[ THE EARLY PART of the year saw the culmination of a major

project to upgrade social care in Cumbria. During that period two new care homes were completed – one in Carlisle, the other in Copeland, near Whitehaven (above left) – to replace a number of older homes that had reached the end of their useful lives.

The two homes mark an innovation in the delivery of care provision in that both have been built to the same design, with slight variations. Staggering the build schedule has enabled the same subcontractors to work on both sites.

The 60-bed homes each cost in the region of £6m and will provide modern, quality care for older adults, especially those who need to be supported with dementia and complex care needs. The home in Carlisle – named Burnrigg Court – was completed at the end of December with its twin, known as The Gables, following two months later.

Residents are now settling into their new, state-of-the-art facility.

Speaking at the completion of The Gables, Cumbria County Councillor Patricia Bell, cabinet member for health and care services, said: “This is an exciting development and the whole of Cumbria will feel the benefits of this significant investment for many years to come.”

Each of the rooms on both sites has en-suite facilities. They are arranged as suites of 12 rooms, each with its own communal kitchen, lounge and dining area, with two further intimate lounge areas for smaller groups.

There is access to the garden from all the ground-floor bedrooms and both schemes have extensive external areas, with landscaped paths and planting which can be safely and easily accessed. The bedrooms on the first floor have access to an external patio from the communal lounge/social space, which has views over the local area.

The garden also offers further amenity to the residents by giving them the opportunity to carry out outdoor activities.

Cllr Keith Hitchen, chair of Copeland Community Fund, added: “These facilities will bring real advantages to our community. To find somewhere that is actually very dementia-friendly – the rooms are spacious, light and airy – and all the technology that’s built into it now is just unbelievable.”

Irene Maxwell, the senior manager for care provision at the council, was also enthusiastic about the technological advances reflected in

the new homes. She said of The Gables: “It meets all the modern standards and has high-spec technological equipment. It has hoists in every bedroom and everyone is really looking forward to moving in.”

Every aspect of the homes’ design and construction has involved local user input, even the choice of names. Burnrigg Court relates to the history and locality of the Carlisle home, while the name of the Whitehaven home was suggested by one of the residents, who said that, as the new home is located near where all the roads from different communities meet, it should be called The Gables. That reflects the fact that residents from existing homes have moved in to the new, modern homes: bringing together local communities.

Cllr Bell explained: “It has been a huge combined effort from the

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Innova cements position as leading healthcare equipment supplier [

service managers, the council’s capital programme team and the contractors to achieve this while ensuring that the needs of staff and residents have been reflected in all the decisions around the design, build and names. The new care homes will provide a fantastic facility for their local communities.”

The names were officially announced during a hand-over ceremony of the homes by main contractor Eric Wright Construction. At the ceremony the managers of the two homes gave their assessment of the facilities.

Helen Green, manager of The Gables, said it was “…exciting times for everyone; staff and service users,” while Burnrigg Court’s manager Tracy Bindokas commented: “The building is beautiful and will benefit the service users and staff with the modern systems that are in place.”

The completion of the two homes brings to a conclusion a major refurbishment of the council’s homes. In 2017 the first of three new facilities – Parkview Gardens in Barrow – opened to much acclaim.

Cllr David Southward, cabinet member responsible for property, said of The Gables: “This is one of three homes like it in Cumbria. I think together with our proposed extra-care housing plans, this will complement the whole service for the elderly people of Cumbria.”

The redevelopment of Cumbria’s care homes has not only benefited the older population in need of social care. It has also brought muchneeded employment opportunities to the predominantly rural part of the North West, in the shape of apprenticeships, short-term work placements and training opportunities for local students during the build phases and in the care sector once completed and opened.

Developments in Cumbria reflect a growing trend among local authorities around the country. John Wilson, managing director of Eric Wright Construction, explained: “We’re working on a growing number of complex care schemes across the UK as local authorities recognise the benefits that they bring to health and wellbeing.” q

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AFTER A record-breaking year, healthcare equipment supplier Innova Care Concepts celebrated a decade in business in December.

Originally established in 2008, Innova has gone from strength to strength and has quickly become a key distributor to healthcare environments all over the UK. The company is now a leading supplier to hospitals, hospices, care homes and even the homes of private individuals. This year alone, Innova has won two NHS contracts and multiple deals with Spire Healthcare Group and other private hospital groups.

The company has also been awarded contracts to supply and install four new stainless-steel hydrotherapy pools. Tom Hulbert, Innova’s managing director, said: “When we first started this company ten years ago, we wanted to find a way to combine functionality and aesthetics in healthcare equipment. This has been a massive year for Innova; we’ve smashed our targets and really cemented our position as a go-to supplier of innovative, high-quality healthcare equipment in different markets.”

Innova has recently taken on four new installation staff, an engineer and a design technician to keep up with the demand for its products and services.

2019 will also see the company begin work at the new NHS Midland Metropolitan Hospital where 280 Innova hoists will be installed in a deal worth almost £1 million.

Cory Keir, who has been part of the Innova team since 2016, was initially hired as a warehouse operative. He has since worked his way up to be Innova’s senior project manager and will oversee all installations as well as managing the company’s new recruits.

Cory said: “Innova has provided me with so much training and opportunities for career development, so to now be our senior project manager is truly an honour. This is a great company to work for, and I’m very glad I took that warehouse job all those years ago!” q

Bespoke design promotes a calm environment

[

GILLING DOD ARCHITECTS were appointed to deliver the RIBA Stages 3-7 design for Cumbria County Council (CCC) on both of the two 60-bed care homes through Eric Wright Construction. They worked closely with the CCC to resolve a number of design and buildability issues, re-submitting both projects for planning. The projects are based on the same design, with some site specific variations reflecting the different locations.

Gilling Dod also carried out detailed user consultation to ensure the design met with the end users’ requirements. The consultation continued with a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals throughout the project, via a series of workshops, to ensure that all the stakeholders’ input was captured. The development was very much a community project and service users were central to the design requirements.

Said Gilling Dod director Jo Kember: “Our aim was to provide a welcoming, homely environment for those residents living with dementia.

Central to the design is the community space and the role of the café as the heart of the scheme – it provides a valuable social area for the residents, allowing interaction between the residents, their carers and their families.”

A diversity of social space encourages service users to interact, but also gives them an opportunity to make their own choice of environment.

Gilling Dod Architects, with support from their in-house interior design team, have created an interior that reduces anxiety, promotes calm and enhances service users’ privacy and dignity, while providing spaces which empower the residents.

Jo Kember concluded: “This development delivers a holistic approach to care and offers an environment that is safe, calm and embraces the local community. We are incredibly pleased to have been part of this project and the final outcome is one that will hugely benefit the residents of both Burnrigg Court and The Gables.” q

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With care home design, two into one WILL go!

[THE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM appointed for the design,

project management and cost consultancy services for the two homes included Wilson Mason and Identity Consult. It proved to be an exciting period for all involved to see the result of two years work materialise.

The developments are part of Cumbria County Council’s on-going plan to transform its care facilities and take the place of existing care homes built in the 1960s and 70s, which are coming towards the end of their lifespan. The homes provide modern quality care for older adults, especially those who need to be supported with dementia and complex care needs.

Following their appointment, the Wilson Mason and Identity Consult team set themselves some challenging targets in terms of achieving a planning submission and contractor appointment. From the outset they promoted the development of the two sites as one contract, to allow cost and learning benefit from one site be transferred to the next, along with subcontractors’ commitment to the projects.

Identity Consult successfully made use of a two-stage tender process in order to allow the early appointment of a main contractor. That allowed the pre-contract programme to be condensed to meet the council’s aspiration for functioning facilities early this year. Eric Wright Construction, with their designers Gilling Dod Architects, were selected

following an OJEU tender process, to further develop the RIBA Stage 2 design produced by Wilson Mason.

Both schemes completed on or ahead of programme, which stands as a testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved. Identity Consult facilitated the delivery through the use of initial packages of enabling works, beginning in mid-September 2017, in order to ‘de-risk’ the sites while the detailed design was being completed, with an exchange of contracts and formal start on site prior to Christmas 2017.

That approach was a key factor in ensuring that the programme targets were maintained and meant that the contractors were able to hit the ground running.

A spokesperson for Identity Consult explained: “With the design and construction of the two care homes being carried out as a single project, it not only meant we were able to benefit from economies of scale, but also to promote Cumbria County Council in supporting the local economy. Numerous subcontract packages were let to Cumbrian organisations who were able, with the 12-week stagger between the two construction programmes, to follow from one site to the next.

“The scheme has received widespread support in the respective areas, with key stakeholders including local council members, members of the public and the staff who will work in the completed facilities having been able to visit the two sites as they progressed.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Latest in established stable promises to turn heads

[ A NEW CARE HOME in

Oswaldtwistle is the latest addition to the ever-growing portfolio of Lancashirebased Rochcare.

On Thursday 18th July Pendle Brook Care Home will open its doors to welcome new residents into a purposebuilt, luxurious new care home.

Not only is the new facility a massive asset to the older generation in the area – those in need of residential care and those living with dementia – it will also be music to the ears of many locals from the immediate and surrounding areas looking for employment.

Rochcare already employs over 200 staff across their existing homes; and with further staff needed for their new home, they have really proved themselves to be one of the leading care groups in Lancashire and the surrounding area.

The home is perfectly situated within the local Oswaldtwistle community – just a short walk from local pubs, the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre, Rhyddings Park, the famous Oswaldtwistle Mills shopping village and garden centre...and a rather tempting fish and chip shop! There is also a bus stop just outside the home for trips further afield.

The 2,900m 2 island site is next to a listed building and borders a conservation area. The challenge was to ‘knit’ a stunning contemporary building into a prominent local site while being respectful of its context.

The 50 en-suite bedrooms are housed on three floors – Applegarth,

Barleydale and Calverdale – with lift and stair access to each floor.

The ‘deluxe’ rooms on the first and second floors are beautifully decorated and furnished with everything you would expect, including stylish furniture, quality flooring, flat screen TV, and co-ordinating curtains, walls and bedding.

On the ground floor, the ‘premium deluxe’ rooms go that little bit further – with larger beds, bespoke furniture and beautiful feature wallpaper.

With its en-suite rooms and wet rooms, quiet areas, hair salon and café (which will be open to the public), what more could you need? A roof terrace overlooking the beautifully landscaped gardens, perhaps?

Well, get your wish list out and start ticking away: Pendle Brook has even incorporated that into its design.

With easy access to the terrace and glass panels and balustrades that provide safe enjoyment of the stunning views, there’s nothing to restrict anyone from nipping out for a Pimm’s or two on a warm, sunny day!

Each floor has its own lounge for group activity and meeting up with friends and relaxing. Barleydale and Caldervale have two other quieter lounges, whilst Applegarth has access to the landscaped gardens.

The enclosed garden is really rather special, too. Landscaped, with a lovely terrace and gazebo, it’s the perfect place to take afternoon tea or entertain visitors.

Rochcare director Athar Mahmood summed up the overall experience: “I’m not going to give too much away as I would like to wait for the opening, however I am very pleased with how well the home has turned out.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Flood Expo helps make sense of recent events

[TELEVISION IMAGES of the flood waters in Wainfleet,

Lincolnshire, have focused attention once more on the vulnerability of many areas of the country to flooding – particularly as climate change makes extreme weather more likely. Despite the outpourings of anger and frustration from those affected, with many claiming that little is done to defend against flooding, the flood prevention and relief sector is not only extensive, but also at the cutting edge of technology.

All that expertise and research is brought to the fore at Birmingham’s NEC in September at Flood Expo: the world’s largest exhibition and conference for flood professionals and property owners.

The show is designed to help them discover the latest innovative products, services and strategies that transform the way flooding is predicted, prevented and managed.

Taking place on 11-12 September, the expo will combine an extensive exhibition of equipment, technology and plant with a full programme of seminars from experts in flood prediction, defence and remediation.

There will also be presentations on the measures that need to be taken to tackle the threat of increasing numbers of extreme events. In all, 100 seminars will run alongside 200 exhibitors to provide the most comprehensive low-down on the flood industry available.

The seminar programme will be headed up by keynote addresses from some of the most prominent figures in the sector, both nationally and internationally. Among them will be Livia Hollins of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat and Alastair Moseley of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. Dr Fai Fung from the Met Office will speak on Future climate projections for the UK, while Mary Dhonau OBE, CEO of the Know Your Flood Risk campaign, will offer some Case studies of homes and businesses who have made flood resilient adaptations to their properties.

Notable players from the commercial side of the industry will include representatives from BAM Nuttall, Gravitas International, Mott MacDonald, Previsico and Thames Water.

The keynote speakers will be accompanied by a stellar array of seminar presenters, including a full programme in the Environment Agency Theatre.

Flood Expo is renowned for providing unparalleled networking opportunities to flood industry innovators, leaders and professionals, and this year’s event offers visitors the greatest opportunity yet to make new connections throughout the industry. This year’s expo has more space dedicated to networking than ever before: areas that are specifically designed for all professionals and business owners working in flood defence, prevention and prediction to interact and build relationships in the most comfortable environments possible.

The show’s networking area provides a unique opportunity for visitors to interact and learn with members and experts from the most prominent and active organisations in the UK’s flood defence operation.

That whole exchange of expertise and experience will be accompanied by an unparalleled exhibition of products and services featuring over 200 stands.

What’s more, the show will run alongside four other industryleading events for the first time. Every Flood Expo visitor will have full access to the RWM Exhibition, Contamination Expo Series and Future Resource Expo – attracting a combined audience of 20,000 environmental professionals.

Construction National will be acting as a media partner for Flood Expo and in the next issue we will be carrying a comprehensive review of the show. q

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Boningale help university students learn how to make our cities greener [

BONINGALE NURSERIES, part of the Boningale Ltd group, has been sharing its green roof expertise with student landscape architects and construction project managers at Birmingham City University, to illustrate how sustainable growth can improve the future of urban environments for both people and wildlife.

In May the university invited Maggie Fennell, a recognised green roof expert from Boningale Nurseries, to deliver a series of guest seminars on sustainable construction to Landscape Architecture and Construction Project Management students. The aim was to give students a greater understanding of the importance of sustainable design and how it can help us meet future environmental targets in our cities.

Maggie explained: “As Birmingham is currently at the heart of largescale national infrastructure projects like HS2, and acting as a stage for international spectator events like the 2022 Commonwealth Games, there is a pressing need for our local construction project managers and landscape architects to be leading the way with advanced, environmentally sound building techniques. These techniques should, in turn, nurture growth in facilities, infrastructure and jobs, whilst still meeting challenging environmental goals.

“Therefore, it is important for Boningale to share its expertise with local university students, because they will be the next generation designing and shaping the future of our cities and towns here in the Midlands and across the UK – and creating world class green roofs and sustainable landscapes is a fundamental part of this.”

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For the last few years Maggie, product development manager at Boningale Nurseries, has played a pivotal role in organising PHD research into green roof innovations with the University of Sheffield, and more recently has developed industry guidelines with the Green Roof Organisation.

Through the seminars, students have learnt about the benefits of green roofs in urban design, including providing an excellent and cost-effective way of improving city air quality targets, regulating building temperatures and encouraging wildlife. Maggie also talked about how green roofs play a vital role in aiding a city’s resilience to flooding by capturing and slowing down excess rainwater, and how they extend the lifespan of a building’s waterproofing, saving future replacement costs.

The Birmingham City University students who have benefited from this series of seminars are studying for BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture and MSc Construction Project Management.

Roger Wall, senior lecturer in environmental sustainability, said: “It’s very important to us that our students get to meet expert practitioners like Maggie, to ensure they can relate theory to practice.” q • Albrighton-based Boningale Nurseries is an award-winning national plant supplier to commercial landscaping projects, and is at the forefront of green roofing innovations and other pioneering environmental landscaping systems. For further information contact Maggie Fennell on 01902 376500, or visit www.boningale.co.uk

NASC publishes annual Safety Report [

NASC MEMBERS RECORDED 113 accidents and injuries on site during 2018 – equating to one incident for every 150 operatives.

The figure was revealed in the NASC 2019 Safety Report, which documents and analyses accident and injury statistics for its full contracting members in the previous calendar year.

The 113 injuries recorded means that more than 99% of all NASC member operatives – a total of 16,645 employees – went through 2018 accident and injury-free. There were also no operative fatalities last year, for the sixth consecutive year.

The NASC report shows that the most common cause of accident and injury was ‘slips, trips and falls on the same level’ – representing more than 43% of all accidents reported. There were 22 falls from height, up from 14 in 2017, and four falls of materials, down from 12 in 2017.

Des Moore, CEO of TRAD Group and NASC president, said: “The report shows that NASC members and their operatives continue to work incredibly safely at height.

“While it is slightly disappointing to see a slight year-on-year rise in the number of reported incidents, it is important to view this figure in context – taking into account the 16,000 plus operatives who completed millions of working hours in 2018 without injury.

“Indeed, the annual incidence and frequency rates remain incredibly low, demonstrating how much value NASC full contracting members place

on implementing and enforcing safe working standards on every project they undertake.

“However, there is always room for improvement. This is why the NASC will use the data collected to drive positive change – looking for ways to lead safety in our industry and help our members continually improve H&S standards on sites and in yards across the UK. “We’re particularly keen to reduce slips and trips and will be working closely with clients and contractors to achieve this aim.”

Robin James, NASC managing director, added: “The NASC believes wholeheartedly in safety leadership, accountability and transparency, which is why it goes to such great lengths every year to collate, analyse and publish a detailed safety report to enable the NASC to focus on strategies and guidance to improve the scaffolding industry.

“It is only through this process that we are able to lead on safety through our ongoing collaboration with the Health & Safety Executive and other leading construction bodies, and the continued support and determination of NASC members, that our trade body can improve on its already excellent safety standards.” q

New NASC vice president selected [THE NASC HAS SELECTED its Contracts Committee chairman to

serve as its next vice president. David Brown (pictured) of IBN Scaffold Access Ltd, based in Barnsley and Manchester, was chosen by his fellow NASC Council members to succeed current NASC vice president, Lynn Way. Mr Brown has been a member of the NASC Contracts Committee since February 2012 and became chair of this committee, and as a result a member of NASC Council, in 2016.

He also represented the NASC on the Contractors Legal Group (CLG) for several years and now sits on the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) Council on behalf of the NASC. Mr Brown will take up his twoyear tenure as vice president on the same date that Mrs Way begins her presidency, November 22 – the date of the NASC’s AGM, ball and awards ceremony. He will duly become NASC president himself from November 2021 to November 2023.

Speaking of his appointment, Mr Brown said: “I am delighted and humbled to have been selected as the next NASC vice president. I look forward to working alongside the other NASC officers and directors to ensure the NASC continues to achieves its objectives.

“On a personal level, I am keen to support the NASC in encouraging more young people into scaffolding, giving the industry the skilled professionals it needs to continue to grow.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Scaffold fall highlights need for unauthorised access prevention [

A SIX-FIGURE FINE handed down to a developer after a boy fell from a scaffold ladder has highlighted the need for contractors to ensure they take steps to prevent unauthorised access to their sites.

Westdale Services Limited received a £160,000 fine at Cardiff Magistrates Court after the 12-year-old suffered life-changing injuries in the fall. The court heard how two boys climbed the rungs of a ladder within scaffolding erected by the company at Southville Flats, Cwmbran, by placing their feet either side of a ladder guard that did not fully cover the rungs of the ladder.

One boy climbed to the top platform of the scaffold and climbed the uppermost ladder to a height of approximately 10 metres. The ladder slipped, causing the boy to lose his balance and fall to the ground.

The boy now has no bladder or bowel control and is only able to walk short distances due to being unstable on his feet. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found the security arrangements for preventing access to the scaffolding, especially by children from a

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nearby school, were inadequate.

Westdale Services Limited of Askern, Doncaster pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and were subsequently fined £160,000 and ordered to pay £22,310 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Michael Batt said: “The death or injury of a child is particularly tragic and a lot of thought must go into securing construction sites. Children do not perceive danger as adults do. The potential for unauthorised access to construction sites must be carefully risk assessed and effective controls put in place.

“This incident could have been prevented by removal of the ladder completely or installing an appropriately sized ladder guard to cover the full width of the rungs.”

It is Mr Batt’s prevention advice that the NASC is keen for all principal contractors and scaffolding contractors to take from this incident.

The NASC has guidance on the use and storage of ladders on scaffolding: SG25:14 Access and Egress from Scaffolds via Ladders & Stair Towers. This document was revised in June 2018 to incorporate a new image showing a ladder guard that fully covers the rungs of a ladder left in situ, preventing anyone from scaling it. q

CISRS OSTS continues to thrive in UAE [

THE CISRS training scheme is growing in the UAE in terms of both availability and demand.

CISRS representatives flew to Abu Dhabi earlier this year to carry out a pre accreditation visit at Safety & Access and Aecor’s new training centre.

This facility will deliver Level 1, 2 and 3 scaffolding training, basic scaffold inspection, supervisor training and CPD courses.

Whilst in the region, CISRS also held meetings with two major construction companies to promote the CISRS Overseas Scaffolder Training Scheme (OSTS) and the new centre.

CISRS officials met with Consolidated Contractors Company, the largest engineering and construction company in the Middle East with more than 110,000 employees, and Target Engineering Construction Company, which is involved in projects in civil, mechanical, marine construction, electrical, power and

instrumentation / control works and MEP works for both onshore and offshore-based oil and gas sectors and the commercial sector.

In Dubai, Simian Skill passed the CISRS OSTS annual accreditation visit with flying colours.

Training numbers are up year-on-year at the facility, which delivers Level 1 and 2 scaffolder training, basic and advanced scaffold inspection, scaffold supervisor training and even a CPD course for UK ex-pats.

David Mosley, CISRS managing director, said: “It’s great to see increased interest in CISRS OSTS both in the UAE and further afield.

It’s a real positive step that major clients are becoming more aware of CISRS OSTS and looking to implement it for their workforce.”

Safety & Access and Aecor currently operate training centres in Nepal and Qatar. As well as Dubai, Simian Skill instructors are delivering training around the globe, including in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Nigeria. q

Pictured with David Mosley are Rick Statham, Safety & Access (l) and Uttar Man Lama, Aecor (r)

NASC to help members bring 400 operatives into industry [ THE NASC HAS created a £50,000 funding pot to help its

members bring new recruits into the scaffolding industry.

The training fund will enable NASC full contracting members to apply for £125 funding for each new employee that completes the CISRS Operatives Training Scheme (COTS).

This initiative, which will help bring 400 operatives into the industry, complements a similar CISRS CPD funding scheme launched by the NASC in 2017. To date, NASC members have claimed more than 500 payments of £125 to help cover the costs of their operatives undertaking mandatory CPD training – a total of £64K. The new COTS funding initiative is the first scheme to be launched from a dedicated £500k training fund set up by the NASC in 2018 to assist its members with recruitment and training. A range of training initiatives are due to follow in the coming months.

David Mosley, NASC training director, said: “Through the £500k training fund, the NASC is giving tangible, bottom-line benefits to its members. This starts with the COTS funding scheme, which bookends existing NASC funding for CISRS CPD training.

“It means members will be able to apply for funding to help bring new people into the industry as well as defraying the costs of mandatory CPD training for their experienced operatives.

“This is just the beginning. It is envisaged that the £500k training fund will also provide members with the opportunity to apply for funding for a range of wider training, such as first aid and mental health training.

“It will also support ongoing NASC efforts to improve recruitment and careers opportunities in the

scaffolding industry by producing a scaffolding careers website, and working regionally with pre-employment training programmes, linking potential trainees with local approved providers and employers offering work experience placements and employment.

“The NASC has ringfenced a substantial sum of money in order to fund incoming NASC president Lynn Way’s initiative to work with the armed forces and provide career pathways for those coming out of the services.”

The COTS funding scheme goes live on 1 July 2019. Members may also claim retrospectively for employees that have completed the COTS course and gained either the CISRS Labourer or Initial Trainee card since 1 January 2019. Members may claim funding for up to 10 operatives. q

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Westminster Hall debate discusses APPG report [ WORKING AT HEIGHT was the subject

under discussion at Westminster Hall in May, at a debate chaired by Alison Thewliss MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height.

The Working at Height APPG – which is championed by PASMA, the body representing the prefabricated access industry – is a group of MPs and Lords who recognise that industry and government can help reduce the number of falls from height.

Falling from height was the most common type of fatal workplace accident in 2018 and causes thousands of non-fatal injuries each year. At the debate, Alison Thewliss MP called for: • The introduction of enhanced reporting without an additional burden, through the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), which at a minimum records the scale of a fall, the method used and the circumstances of the fall

• The appointment of an independent body that allows confidential, enhanced and digital reporting of all near misses and accidents that do not qualify for RIDDOR reporting. The data collected by the independent body will be shared with government and industry to inform health and safety policy • The extension of the Working Well Together – Working Well at Height safety campaigns to industries outside of the construction sector • An equivalent system to Scotland’s Fatal Accident Inquiry process to be extended to the rest of the UK The Government’s response was delivered

by Guy Opperman MP, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Work and Pensions. He welcomed the report and called it ‘worthy and important’. He confirmed that the HSE intends to respond in full within 60 working days.

Gillian Rutter, chair of PASMA and MD of Skyward Access Training, commented: “PASMA has been a big supporter of the Working at

Height APPG since it formed in 2018. Many of our members contributed evidence during the consultation phase, which helped inform and shape the report. I know they join me in eagerly awaiting the HSE response and hoping that it moves us another step closer to the APPG’s recommendations becoming reality.” q

Wales to get new scaffolding training centre [

WORK HAS BEGUN on South Wales’ only comprehensive scaffolding training facility. Led by the Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) in partnership with CITB Wales, the new centre will be located at a specially-developed facility on Fabian Way in Swansea Bay. It will mean that students based in Wales wishing to gain extensive scaffolding training will no longer have to travel to England or beyond to acquire a full set of skills.

The building is currently undergoing a £1.5m refurbishment programme to create an Access Hall that will include classroom and IT facilities. The aim is for the Access Hall to become a CISRSapproved facility: the only one in South Wales to deliver the full range of working-at-height training to new entrants, apprentices, upskillers, supervisors and inspectors.

CWIC director Gerald Naylor, who is based at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s IQ building in SA1 Swansea Waterfront, said: “Currently, anyone in Wales wanting to access the full range of training that CWIC and CITB will be delivering within the Access Hall has to travel outside of Wales to do so.

“There is a huge demand for these programmes and we’re delighted that work is underway on this new centre, which will be open at the end of the summer. We have worked with a range of partners to realise our ambition for this facility which enhances CWIC’s offer to the construction industry in Wales and ensures that employers in the sector can access professional qualifications and accreditation closer to home.”

Under the guidance of a leading UK scaffolding training company, the existing building is currently being refurbished to CISRS

requirements. It has an internal floor area of around 2,000m2, comprising nine training bays and three dedicated classrooms – one with IT facilities.

In addition, CWIC is seeking to work with National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) members to provide further guidance and direction in meeting the training and development needs of the scaffolding industry in Wales.

Mark Bodger, CITB Wales strategic partnership director, added: “The new scaffolding facility is a great example of how CITB’s investment in CWIC is making a difference to learners and employers. For too long our students have had to travel beyond Wales to find comprehensive scaffolding training.

“CWIC and CITB have listened to industry and invested in these critical skills needs. The new facility will increase the number of scaffolding learners in Wales and provide a platform of opportunity from which students can launch fulfilling, rewarding construction careers.”

The addition of the scaffolding training centre to the CWIC offer will allow it to build upon the delivery of their immensely successful training courses and programmes which have spanned the past three years.

This period has seen the delivery of nearly 400 activities across Wales, supporting 674 Welsh employers and upskilling over 3,000 construction industry staff. CWIC will build upon this initial programme by continuing to support the industry through the provision of innovative and industry leading courses, led from its Swansea Hub and delivered across Wales through its extensive bespoke and partner network. q • Information on future courses and programmes is available on the CWIC website at www.cwic.wales www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Zoos are doing it for themselves [

OVER THE PAST couple of years we have been highlighting some of the specialist skills and products involved in keeping our zoos up to date with developments in our knowledge of animal husbandry and conservation.

Companies have developed and thrived to offer particular expertise in areas that the visiting public rarely appreciate – monitoring the well-being of animals or recreating the natural environment of particular species.

In other cases we have seen how companies have adapted their general construction roles to meet the demands of the sector, whether that be to meet the needs of the animals or ensure the safety of staff.

In many cases, however, the zoos carry out the work of updating their facilities in-house, utilising the skills of their own maintenance teams.

That is the side of the industry we have highlighted in this issue.

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In the case of some of the developments, the teams at the zoos created inspired habitats for diverse species. In others, however, the driving force has been to make the zoo as attractive and efficient as possible for both staff and visitors.

We have seen in previous issues that the practicalities of running a zoo as a going concern underlie its role as a centre for education and conservation. Such has been the case in the establishments featured here. In one case the catering facilities – which themselves have an environmentalist agenda – have been revamped, while in the other the administrative function has been revamped, including modernisation of the entrance to the zoo itself.

While the work itself was carried out in-house, the materials used were supplied in some cases by specialist suppliers and in others by local companies – friends of the zoos in question. q

Fairtrade extension helps celebrate two decades of development

NOAH’S ARK ZOO FARM

[

THIS YEAR IS the 20th anniversary of Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol – and the zoo is celebrating by undertaking yet another improvement to its offering. This time it is the catering facilities that are being extended by the zoo’s own in-house building team.

The current Food Barn is being extended to accommodate more people.

It will also make the café more accessible and create more kitchen space.

The new space has been named The Buttery. It is an extension built from studwork comprising RockWall panels and Triso insulation, with an insulated Kingspan roof – supplied by the zoo’s long-standing supplier Wyatts Construction.

A buttery was originally a large cellar room under a monastery, in which food and drink were stored for entertaining visitors and passing guests. With Noah´s Ark having been begun as a dairy farm, the name was adopted.

The new space will allow 92 more people to enjoy their lunch indoors at the award-winning eatery. In March it was presented with a silver award in the South West Fairtrade Business Awards, in the Best Fair Trade Café or Restaurant category. It was the first time Noah's Ark Zoo Farm had entered the awards, held at Arnos Vale cemetery in Bristol and hosted by Nick Hewer.

Since 2016 Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm has stocked solely Fairtrade hot drinks and serves over 200,000 a year. All takeaway hot drinks are served in compostable cups and visitors can receive a discount if they bring their own.

The anniversary celebrations follow on from a year of achievements last year. A highlight was the opening of its Viva South America exhibit.

The massive enclosure comes complete with indoor and outdoor pools for its two lowland tapirs, five capybaras, two maras and four agouti – new arrivals last year. The inhabitants are delighted with their new living arrangements, which also include a central heating system and distinct areas for each species to cohabit peacefully side by side.

The flushable indoor pools are used by the animals as toilets, encouraging their natural behaviour of going to the toilet in water. The enclosure has a number of cameras installed to allow keepers to monitor their animals 24/7 without disturbing them. The zoo is also hoping to make the cameras into live webcams in the near future.

The exhibit was opened on 18 July last year by female explorer Jacki Hill-Murphy MA FRGS. Jacki has ventured to some of the most inhospitable parts of the globe, recreating the perilous journeys of female explorers. She previously re-enacted the expedition of Isabel Godin,

the sole survivor from a group of 42, trekking 4,000 miles along the Amazon River.

Jacki said: “I travel to gain a better understanding of the planet and the people who populate it and South America, more than anywhere else, has shown me the diversity, fragility and beauty of our world.”

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm has built up a reputation for building purposemade, state-of-the-art animal enclosures. As far back as 2013 the zoo built Elephant Eden, the largest elephant enclosure in the UK, which has now become the flagship facility for housing bull elephants for the European Endangered Species Programme. More recently the zoo has won an award from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its Giant Tortoise Terrain, built to house seven giant Aldabra tortoises. q

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Colchester Zoo’s in-house team uses local suppliers to carry out developments COLCHESTER ZOO

The construction department at Colchester Zoo is made up of a number of key trades – including plumbers, electricians, carpenters and general maintenance staff – all employed directly by the zoo. The team is tasked with general maintenance jobs and upkeep around the zoo; but it has also been involved in the continued development at the zoo, adding to

the facilities available to both the animals and visitors.

Some of the more recent redevelopments have included the main entrance to the park and gift shop, as well as changes to a number of animal enclosures including the home of the zoo’s pride of African lions. All projects make use of local suppliers to deliver the improvements.

[

IN SEPTEMBER 2017 Colchester Zoo’s in-house construction team began the task of building an extension to an area of the zoo known as Lion Rock – home to the zoo’s three African lions. The new build included a behind-thescenes area for the animal care team to improve animal husbandry, as well as additional space for the lions to roam and more viewing areas for visitors. That included an interactive activity for visitors to engage with.

Before the in-house construction team could begin work, the animal care team had to relocate some of the neighbouring animals to alternative homes in the zoo grounds. Work then began to expand the enclosure and provide a heated cave for the lions.

Colchester Zoo works hard to provide the animals in its care with naturalistic surroundings; therefore the in-house construction team sculpted concrete rockwork to give the entrance to the cave a realistic look. Large glass panels were also installed so that visitors could see the magnificent big cats closer than they had been able to before. The security glass panels were supplied by leading glass supplier ESG. Lion Rock is covered by a wide mesh, supplied by Danish specialist company HMJ Designs. The reason Colchester Zoo chooses to use mesh is that it allows the area to be open to the elements, giving it a more natural environment.

All the other supplies used during the build were supplied by local companies.

Another redevelopment – which coincided with that of Lion Rock – was Colchester Zoo’s Out of Africa exhibit. After the old exhibit was demolished, part of the area was used for the Lion Rock extension and the remaining space was used to build a new mixed exhibit for the Patas and Colobus monkeys to live.

Instead of the new home being extended widthways it was extended upwards to give the monkeys space to climb as they would in the wild.

The height inside the enclosure is provided by 9m-high climbing poles.

They were supplied by HMJ Designs and are a fantastic addition for the primates who love to climb! The large open area also offers superb visibility for visitors, provided by large panels of glass – again supplied by ESG. Colchester Zoo’s in-house construction team did a great job creating a space for the monkeys who can be seen enjoying aerial views over the zoo and surrounding countryside.

Unfortunately the zoo’s Colobus monkeys sadly passed away a number of months after they had moved into their new area. They were both quite elderly and had various problems that come with age. They were under veterinary care which they were no longer responding to so the hardest but kindest decision had to be made to put them to sleep. The Out of Africa exhibit is now home to the Patas monkeys but the zoo is looking to introduce another monkey species in the near future.

The old home of the Patas monkeys is now vacant, but work has taken place here too to incorporate it into the redevelopment of the zoo’s Pygmy hippo enclosure. Phase one of this redevelopment has now been completed and has introduced a new indoor and outdoor area for the hippos as well as additional space for the animal care team for husbandry.

Large glass panels have also been installed here to create brilliant viewing opportunities for visitors. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Admissions hall enters a new phase COLCHESTER ZOO

[

AS WELL AS working around the zoo to constantly update, revamp and expand the animal enclosures, the maintenance team at Colchester Zoo also regularly undertake construction projects that include work to improve the visitor facilities that will enhance their experience.

Last September work began on the zoo’s main entrance, to create a brand new admissions building as part of phase one of the new ticketing, admissions and gift shop – the first of three phases. The work included excavating the land and the demolition of an old toilet block to make way for the new admissions building.

Steven Toone and his team from Fordingbridge designed, supplied and installed the main glue-laminated timber frame for the building which is more eco-friendly than using a steel structure. This was then added to with treated wooden cladding and pre-weathered steel panels, to give the building a more natural feel, supplied by local steel fabricator Great Tey Metal Ltd who were responsible for the design, fabrication and installation.

The interior beams have been used to mount visitor information screens, which were installed and fitted by South East Communications, who also carried out an extensive data management installation for the project.

Inside the building the floor was laid with porcelain tiles, supplied

by Solus Cermaics, which were specifically chosen due to their high recycled content of 30%. The gardening team created some sunken beds built directly into the floor of the building. Network and power points were also installed by the team to allow the new admission gates from Gunnebo to work with the admissions and business operations system.

The zoo also designed the admissions building to have large windows to maximise light, and electrically-operated doors were installed by Assa Abloy. Above the doors, heaters were designed, supplied and installed

by Advanced Automated Access to aid heat loss prevention. Fire Point UK supplied the necessary alarms and fire points for the new building.

Curved glass flat roof lights, supplied by VELUX, feature throughout the building and facilitate natural ventilation.

LED lighting was used throughout to reduce the building’s energy use and was supplied by Ansell Lighting. A new biomass boiler was supplied and fitted by LC Energy as renewable energy generation for the buildings’ heating demands – including the underfloor heating system designed by Myson.

Phase one of the redevelopment was completed in March and phase two has already begun. That phase involves a second building, which will serve as the new ticket office and guest services area, as well as further development of the zoo exit and gift shop. The zoo looks forward to the completion of the build in the near future as the transformation will improve their visitors’ experience. q

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Ground source integral to net zero target, says trade body [

WHEN THE Prime Minister announced on 12 June that the Climate Change Act 2008 was to be amended to include the aim of eradicating the UK’s net contribution to climate change by 2050, it drew a cautious welcome from the green building industry.

The legislation means that the UK is on track to become the first G7 country to legislate for net zero emissions, with other major economies expected to follow suit.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “As the first country to legislate for long-term climate targets, we can be truly proud of our record in tackling climate change. We have made huge progress in growing our economy and the jobs market while slashing emissions.

“Now is the time to go further and faster to safeguard the environment for our children. This country led the world in innovation during the Industrial Revolution, and now we must lead the world to a cleaner, greener form of growth.

“Standing by is not an option. Reaching net zero by 2050 is an ambitious target, but it is crucial that we achieve it to ensure we protect our planet for future generations.”

The chairman of the Ground Source Heat Pumps Association (GSHPA), Bean Beanland, welcomed the new target. He said: “The government’s commitment is welcome, but undoubtedly challenging.

Decarbonisation of heat will be essential to deliver the 2050 target, as nearly 70% of heat for homes and businesses is currently produced from natural gas.

“The government’s Clean Growth Strategy says that meeting the 2050 emissions target implies decarbonising nearly all heat in buildings and most industrial processes. Reducing the demand for heat through improved energy efficiency will have an important role to play, but will not by itself be sufficient to meet the 2050 target.

“Reducing emissions from buildings has stalled and the deployment of low-carbon heat is still extremely limited. We need a credible new Balanced energy network

strategy and a much stronger policy framework for decarbonising heat over the next three decades starting very soon.”

His sentiments were echoed by the chief executive of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), Julie Hirigoyen, who stressed that the move would give Theresa May’s time in office ‘a legacy beyond Brexit’.

“UKGBC knows that the built environment contains some of the biggest opportunities to slash emissions,” said Ms Hirigoyen. “We must accelerate action in all areas, including improving the efficiency of our aging building stock and overcoming the challenge of decarbonising heat. To do this, we need to see both policy and industry leadership to ensure the built environment is at the vanguard of emissions reductions.

There is no time to lose; now is the time to act.”

Ground source heat pumps have a major part to play, the GSHPA pointed out. They are a proven, efficient and low-carbon technology that can deliver heating to households and businesses at the lowest operating cost. A heat pump deployed today is progressively lower in carbon emissions over its lifecycle as the electricity grid is decarbonised further.

Ben Beanland continued: “Existing policies to encourage the take-up of low-carbon heating are not delivering change at the required pace and need to change if the 2050 target is to be achieved. The GSHPA urges government to bring in a new support framework for low-carbon heating beyond 2021, including a capital grant for the installation of heat pumps, with a target of one million installations a year by 2035, and make the energy efficiency retrofit of existing homes a national infrastructure priority.”

But the GSHPA also counselled vigilance, arguing that it is imperative other major economies follow suit.

“For that reason, the UK will conduct a further assessment within five years to confirm that other countries are taking similarly ambitious action, multiplying the effect of the UK’s lead and ensuring that our industries do not face unfair competition.” q

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The hospital ‘cabin’ comes of age CHRIS STOKES looks at the growth of modular in the NHS

[HOSPITAL BUILDINGS are rarely far

away from the headlines. In the past year or so it has been the legacy of the Carillion collapse that has topped the bill – whether that be the shambles that persists in Liverpool or the phoenix set to rise from the ashes in Sandwell, the thrust of stories has been less than positive.

Away from the headlines, however, there has been a steady and inexorable tide of new facilities coming on stream at NHS sites up and down the country, with a build system at their core that, while not visible to the casual observer, is part of a revolution in building technology.

Modular offsite construction is driving the capability of the NHS to deliver, against the odds and in the face of swingeing funding cuts, a health service that is still broadly fit for purpose in the 21st century.

Offsite construction is, of course, the way forward for sustainable building as far as the government is concerned, and the Crown Commercial Service Modular Buildings Framework is set to be worth over £1.2bn.

The equivalent organisation in the NHS – NHS Shared Business Services – has its own framework to help commissioning organisations access modular services. Its director of procurement, Phil Davies, is a confirmed advocate of modular methods.

Writing in National Health Executive magazine, he said: “This building method has the potential to rapidly expedite the construction process. A completely new ward can be up and running in six months, around half the time of a typical construction project – and quality is not compromised.”

That realisation that modular buildings are real and permanent parts of a hospital site is crucial. Gone are the days when portable buildings were a stop-gap measure that seemed to gain permanence by default. Modern methods of construction allow the fabrication of a finished building – a

ward, operating theatre or complete department – while the groundwork is going on at the site.

The professional body representing modular and offsite construction is the Modular and Portable Buildings Association (MPBA). A recent case study by MPBA member MTX at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth illustrates the advantages of modular processes.

MTX completed a refurbishment, remodelling and extension of the existing Resuscitation Department at the hospital, creating a new unit incorporating additional beds and state-of-the-art equipment while adjacent clinical activity continued uninterrupted.

Ann James, chief executive of the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, explained: “We’ve been waiting for this development for a long time and our MTX colleagues have been superb in working with our clinical team to achieve such a transformation ahead of schedule. In just 10 days, we’ve been able to really change a whole department.”

MTX is just one of a number of MPBA member companies carrying out complex projects for NHS trusts. Another, Premier Modular, pointed out: “In a market where shortages exist, building standards for comfort and infection control are extremely high, sustainability is of growing importance and budgets are tight – offsite construction has to be a big part of the solution.”

It’s not just the modular companies that are keen to exploit the benefits of the method: NHS procurers are just as savvy.

Phil Davies summed up the attraction: “Appetite for the solutions offered by the framework has been considerable. In the space of just over a year, we estimate that it has already saved the public sector around £1m through its seamless procurement solutions and easy access to the best possible suppliers for the job.” q

Canopies provide real healthcare cover

[FOR MANY the iconic view of a hospital building is the canopy

outside the main entrance, and a major supplier of canopies and shelters across the healthcare industry is Twinfix: a family owned and managed company with nearly 30 years experience.

Based in Warrington, Cheshire, Twinfix are well placed to service the whole of the UK. And while they offer a full design, manufacture and installation package, they can also operate on a supply-only basis.

A spokesperson for the company explained: “Our design team enjoy creating attractive and useful outdoor shelters to suit our clients’ varying needs. They understand the importance of protecting individuals who are ill or elderly from the elements and provide structures which benefit healthcare facilities in several ways – including entrance canopies, walkways and ambulance or patient drop-off shelters.”

Allowing patients and residents access to natural daylight by providing rooflights or shelters within gardens can also bring health and well-being benefits. A recent study suggests that, in a healthcare setting, access to daylight provides a reduction in the average length of a hospital stay, quicker post-operative recovery, reduced requirements for pain relief, quicker recovery from depressive illness and certain disinfectant qualities. There is also a growing body of evidence that daylight plays a critically important role in the prevention and treatment of obesity, heart disease and other illnesses exacerbated by stress.

Twinfix have a particular focus on safety – supplying and installing non-fragile rooflight glazing systems. Most of their products conform to HSE recommendations for roofing and their canopies are CE marked.

For those who are looking for an elegant, useful and functional outside glazed cover, the Twinfix design team await the challenge! q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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NHBC announces PiJ Quality Award winners [THE National House Building Council (NHBC) has announced the

first-round winners in this year’s Pride in the Job awards – its flagship competition dedicated to recognising site managers who achieve the highest standards in housebuilding.

Nearly 450 site managers across the UK have won a Quality Award this year, representing the top 3% of the 16,000 site managers entered.

Being selected as one of the UK’s top site managers is testament to their commitment to delivering quality homes for residents.

Now in its 39th year, Pride in the Job is the only award scheme in the UK to recognise the contribution a site manager makes to a development. It is one of the most intense and celebrated awards in the industry, marking out recipients as exceptional performers in UK housebuilding. It has helped drive up the standard of new UK homes, producing a better end product for homeowners.

Judging is rigorous, beginning in the previous July, with each site manager assessed across six key areas: consistency, attention to detail, leadership, interpretation of drawings and specifications, technical expertise and health and safety.

The awards are given in four specific categories: • Large builder – for site managers employed by a company or group that • builds 1,001 or more new homes with NHBC warranty cover each year • Medium builder – for site managers employed by a company or group • that builds between 51 and 1,000 new homes with NHBC warranty • cover each year • Small builder – for site managers employed by a company or group • that builds between 1 and 50 new homes with NHBC warranty cover • each year • Multi-storey - for site managers working on multi-storey projects (structures • of five storeys or more for multiple occupancy) with NHBC warranty cover.

• The category recognises the different skill set required to manage that type • of site.

Winners of the first-round Quality Awards will go on to compete for Seal of Excellence and Regional Awards, to be announced at events across the UK in the autumn, with the Supreme Award winners unveiled at a gala ceremony in London next January.

Last year’s Supreme Award winners were Kevin Gosney of Lendlease Construction (Europe) Ltd (Multi-storey category), Paul Mclachlan of Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire (Large Builder), Steve Walker of C G Fry & Son Ltd (Medium Builder) and Nigel Smith of Darren Smith Homes (Small Builder) NHBC chief executive Steve Wood said: “Launched nearly 40 years ago, Pride in the Job has been instrumental in driving up the quality of new homes. Despite the challenges the industry has faced in recent times, this year’s winners have kept their focus on delivering high-quality new homes for their customers.

“A site manager’s role is undoubtedly one of the toughest in housebuilding and their drive for excellence is very much at the heart of the competition. Receiving a Quality Award is a great achievement for any site manager. It’s no surprise that Pride in the Job winning sites have higher levels of customer satisfaction as these homes are without doubt among the best the UK has to offer.”

Construction National will be following the journey of the award winners as they progress towards the finals in London. q

Glasgow announces record affordable homes budget [

GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL has a budget of over £104m for its 2019/20 Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP), it has been revealed. The funding will help deliver over 3,500 affordable homes in Glasgow over the next two years.

The figure of £104.44m for the AHSP covers funding not only for the continuation of on-going projects and the beginning of new projects, but also for medical adaptation to existing homes in the city, allowing tenants to remain in their own homes.

In terms of numbers, there are 1,325 homes in on-going projects – with some of the biggest developments in Govan, Dalmarnock and Govanhill – and 2,094 homes in new projects, with the biggest developments in Calton, Hamiltonhill and the former Victoria Infirmary site (right).

A further 106 affordable homes are being built in East Balornock through the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer programme for housing

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CGI courtesy of Collective Architecture associations which acquired former Scottish Homes’ estates.

The increase in investment is reflected in a number of ways, including a 79% increase

in new and improved homes compared to the previous year.

Cllr Kenny McLean, city convener for neighbourhoods, housing and public realm at Glasgow City Council, said: “The record levels of funding that we are allocating allows thousands of new affordable homes to be built all over Glasgow. This is fantastic for the city as the key to everyone's quality of life and health is a good standard of housing. There is, of course, an additional economic boost to the city with jobs created through this level of housebuilding, and we look forward to working with our partners to bring these high-quality, energy-efficient homes for people and families in the future.”

The increase in funding for affordable homes in Glasgow will allow the city to contribute to the Scottish Government's More Homes target of 50,000 new affordable homes (35,000 for social rent) by 2021. The Scottish Government has indicated the AHSP budget for 2020/21 in Glasgow will increase further, to over £110m. q

Planners give go-ahead for two new villages in Ebbsfleet [

PLANS HAVE BEEN approved that will define one of the largest areas of Ebbsfleet Garden City in Kent.

The planning committee of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation has approved masterplans and design codes for the villages of Ashmere and Alkerden.

Up to 4,600 homes will be created across the two new villages, in an area known historically as Eastern Quarry – which is now being named Whitecliffe.

They are in addition to the 1,600 in Castle Hill to the east, which are already underway.

The plans set out how Whitecliffe will develop in the future – on street design, public realm and street planting – as well as giving clear guidance on how two new village centres will be shaped.

Mark Pullin, chief planning officer at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, said: “These are two very important decisions which define how the biggest part of Ebbsfleet Garden City will be shaped over the years to come.”

The 667-acre site lies 19 miles to the South East of Central London, in a key location bounded to the west by the Bluewater Shopping Centre and to the east by Ebbsfleet International rail station. It is owned by joint venture company Henley Camland, which will provide the roads and services to land parcels that will be developed by a

range of housebuilders and commercial and community investors.

Michael Cassidy, chairman of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation’s board, who sat on the planning committee, commented: “The process of giving planning permission for the ‘look and feel’ of the main next phase of housing at Ebbsfleet Garden City marks an historic turning point in the ambitions for this flagship enterprise.

“It shows how intelligent use of planning powers and co-operation from landowners and developers can bring matters to a speedy conclusion and a quality outcome that befits a Garden City.”

At the heart of Alkerden is a new ‘market centre’ with commercial, retail and community facilities as well as approximately 1,500 new homes. It will be defined by a primary and secondary education campus, as well as a library, sports facilities and a mixed-use centre with shops and cafes, business space, a doctor’s surgery and gym.

Last year, social housing provider Clarion and developer Countryside entered into a joint venture to deliver up to 2,600 new homes on the site in nearby Ashmere.

The approval also provides a clear vision for how a major urban park which will run through the centre of Whitecliffe will look. q

FMB attacks planning delays highlighted by MPs [

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS to do more to remove the barriers for SME housebuilders if its housing targets are to be met, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The statement came in response to the House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee report, Planning and the broken housing market, published on 26 June.

FMB chief executive Brian Berry explained: “SME housebuilders are continuing to face numerous barriers to increasing their capacity to build the homes that are needed. The recommendations in the Public Accounts Committee’s report highlight that the planning system is delaying progress.

“It is completely unacceptable that sites are being stalled because planning departments are not dealing with applications quickly enough.

Our members aren’t seeing any improvements in service since fees were increased in January last year – a policy the FMB supported.”

Commenting on the Select Committee report, he said: “The report finds that, as of December last year, only 42% of local authorities had an up-to-date local plan, which is truly disappointing.

By allocating small sites for housing delivery in their local plan, local authorities will be reducing the burden of uncertainty for the nation’s small housebuilders, and therefore speeding up housing supply through better diversifying the sector.

“Furthermore, we must not forget the highly positive impact that these local businesses have on their areas, offering employment and training opportunities to local people.”

He concluded: “Access to finance for SME housebuilders has undoubtedly improved over the

past few years, but the loan-to-cost ratio from most lenders is simply unviable for SMEs – especially the micro firms building fewer than five units a year.

“The FMB House Builders’ Survey 2018 found respondents estimated that they could increase their output by 38% if they could achieve a loan-

to-value/cost ratio of 80%. Government must work with the finance sector to understand how lending to small housebuilders can be increased and improved. The time is now for the Government to heed to warnings of the Public Accounts Committee.” q

Infrastructure fund will lead to extra homes [THOUSANDS OF HOMES will be built in two growing communities as a result of

a £142m investment in infrastructure, the Housing Minister Kit Malthouse MP has announced. The Government will spend £95m in Woking and £47m in Truro to deliver up to 8,500 extra properties.

The money will be spent on widening bridges, building roads and connecting utilities. The spending is part of the Government’s drive to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.

The funding comes from the Government’s £5.5bn Housing Infrastructure Fund, allocated to authorities after a competitive funding allocation process.

Kit Malthouse said: “For decades, governments of all stripes and types have not built enough new homes, but we are turning that around, brick by brick.

“We are driving to create homes, opportunities and thriving communities – and this £142m investment will mean we can build more of the properties our country so badly needs. We need to keep upping our game and build more, better, faster, if we are to meet our ambition to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.”

Woking will see £95m invested to unlock land to build up to 4,500 homes in the town. The money will pay to widen the Victoria Arch Bridge, to pay for road improvements, buying land and connecting utilities.

In Truro an extra 4,000 homes will be built as a result of a £47m investment in new road links. The funding will be spent on a new northern access road, connecting sites from the A390 in the west to the Royal Cornwall Hospital and employment hub in the east. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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