Construction National Spring 2013 by DMMonline

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COVER STORY

CONTENTS Effective security solutions paramount for protecting construction sites With large, often secluded sites and valuable supplies stored outdoors, construction sites can often face an increased risk of being targeted by intruders, vandals and thieves. James Kelly, Chief Executive of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), discusses how different security solutions can help prevent these threats. read more on p31

Front cover image: Image©istockphoto.com/JoeGough

NEWS 5 5 6 7 8 8

9 9

PLANT Budget – a qualified ‘thumbs-up’ from housing industry Size really doesn’t matter, RICS tells Chancellor Enforcement action taken at one in five construction sites Winners and top apprentice named in FMB Awards Roofing Awards 2013 - finalists announced Work begins on next phase of Channel Islands £20m hospital development Next phase of Doncaster’s Waterfront development to start Gleeds celebrate ME Hotel launch

GREEN ISSUES 10 10 10 11 13 16 16

Joint venture set to take education world by storm Course sets out environmental best practice in construction Eco technology show returns for 2013 Ensuring infrastructure delivers on its green obligations Renewables – building confidence The best deal around for going green – it’s a Green Deal Training leads to accreditation

ASBESTOS 19 23

Safe removal in the public sector – UKATA sum up latest position Parliament votes for EU-wide asbestos removal Prosecutions highlight failures to observe regulations

TRAINING 26 27 29 29

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Tales of corner-cutting are retold by those whose lives have been ruined ACoRP on the up with ladder training Demand for higher level apprentices is cemented with record take-up Skills shortage prompts action at PLANTWORX

New pictures show giant plant tunnelling away beneath London Stolen mini-diggers recovered using advanced plant tracking system

ISLE OF MAN FOCUS 39

Island’s regeneration focuses on local environments The south of the island has a plan Government department supports the local industry

41 41

HOUSING 42

Initiative helps understand homes’ energy use RICS investigation gets underway

New developments in England 42 Award recognises the virtues of building close to home 43 Ancient village looks to the future 45 Developer gives local people pride of place 45 New phase is heralded by FirstBuy return Wales 46 46 46 47 47

Welsh market heads for an upturn, figures show Local developer leads the way Seaside homes benefit from regeneration effort All aboard for a home with prospects Invaders turn the tables

Scotland 48 Scottish scheme extends to cover part-ex 48 Stirring things up among the links 49 Conversion finalist is a secret no more 49 Are these the Fair City’s fairest homes? 50 Reprise of popular designs adds to development’s attractions 50 “Too late!” was the cry

CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES 51

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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.

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Budget: a qualified ‘thumbs-up’ from housing industry DESPITE MANY IN THE building and home loan industries expressing the same caveats that were picked up on by the opposition – and Ed Balls in particular – the view from the development site was on the whole positive. Speaking for the NHBC, its chief executive Mike Quinton said: “The Chancellor has today given a welcome shot in the arm for the UK’s housebuilding industry. We warmly welcome the expansion of measures for people who want to buy their own homes. This will help boost the housing market and provide vital support for the construction industry. “Builders up and down the country have been working hard to build high-quality homes while operating in tough economic times. Housebuilding fell by 9% in 2012 compared

to the previous year. It is therefore great news that housing has been the centre piece of this Budget. This is a positive step for homebuilders and homeowners alike.” Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the HBF, focused on the affordability issue. “A lack of affordable mortgage availability remains the biggest constraint on housing supply,” he said. “This is something Government now clearly understands and is looking to address. Extending NewBuy to the second-hand market should create churn in the marketplace and drive up sales across the board – including for new homes. “We do, though, need to ensure a level playing field across the whole market. Extending FirstBuy is very welcome and will

Size really doesn’t matter, RICS tells Chancellor n WHILE MOST COMMENTATORS FOCUSED on Mr Osborne’s announcement of further help for homebuyers and shared equity, the RICS picked up on claims for infrastructure promotion and appeared distinctly underwhelmed In its Budget response statement, RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn declared: “Once again, the Chancellor has reeled off the two infrastructure projects that Government has actually started – Hinkley Point and Battersea Power Station – and vaguely referenced others that are in the pipeline and will one day receive private investment through previously announced guarantee schemes and the much trailed Pension Infrastructure Platform. “The £3bn a year announced by the Chancellor is welcome but will not come on stream until 2015-16 – far too late for many businesses that are struggling now. Our members have told us repeatedly that the success of infrastructure projects is about delivery on the ground. RICS believe Government should spend more time and resources in supporting business to gain access to these public sector projects. “The Government has largely failed to realise that infrastructure projects don’t need to be big to be effective in creating growth. In fact small might very well be beautiful. Across the regions and the nations it’s the smaller repair, maintenance and upgrade projects which can be picked up by medium and small construction businesses. Rail maintenance and school refurbishment are just two areas where a small amount of capital investment would quickly deliver great benefits.” q Hinkley Point C as it will look

provide a real option for people currently unable to buy – so providing a vital market for the new homes industry. Building the homes the country desperately needs can be a key driver of economic activity. Government must be praised for its attempts to stimulate activity, but must also be wary to get the details right.” Richard Lambert, chief executive officer at the National Landlords Association (NLA) commented: “Increasing the supply of new housing is imperative to getting the country’s finances moving. Encouraging a diverse housing stock is central to this and we hope that the Government’s Help-to-Buy scheme will stimulate the owner-occupied market. However, more targeted measures are needed to address the chronic shortage of housing across all tenures.” From the point of view of the lenders, the Council of Mortgage Lenders was naturally more cautious. It said in a statement: “To be successful the voluntary scheme will need to be robust, not overly complex, result in the delivery of products that are attractive to borrowers and be commercially viable for lenders. “However, a successful scheme could ultimately enable lenders to offer more lowdeposit loans than they would otherwise be able to do without incurring concerns from funding markets, prudential regulators or their own internal risk committees.” The chair of the Conveyancing Association, Eddie Goldsmith, was more effusive. “We welcome the Chancellor’s efforts to help reinvigorate the stagnant housing market through these measures,” he commented. “So far, all the government’s initiatives, whilst offered in the right spirit, have just not had much impact. These new proposals which combine more help for new homebuyers, with a significant underwriting of loans, may very well reach those parts which other previous schemes haven’t.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

Enforcement action taken at one in five construction sites NEARLY ONE IN FIVE construction sites visited across Britain have been subject to enforcement action after failing safety checks. In a month long initiative, inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited a total of 2,363 sites where refurbishment or repair work was taking place and saw 2,976 contractors. 631 enforcement notices were served across 433 sites for poor practices that could put workers at risk, with 451 notices ordering that work stop immediately until the situation was put right. Said Philip White, HSE’s Chief Inspector of Construction: “This initiative has once again shown us that the majority of construction employers do take their responsibilities to their workers seriously. “However, our inspectors also encountered numerous examples of poor practice, from lack of edge protection on stairwells and scaffolding to unsafe storage of flammable materials and inadequate personal protective equipment. None of these are acceptable on a modern construction site. “HSE will not hesitate to use its enforcement powers against reckless employers. It is they who continue to make construction one of the most

Notice served after workers found barrowing over makeshift bridge in ice and snow

dangerous industries in which to work.” Between 18 February and 15 March inspectors made unannounced visits to construction sites to ensure they were managing high-risk activity, such as working at height. Checks were also carried out on whether there

was general good order on site, whether personal protective equipment was being used effectively and if welfare facilities were adequate. During 2011/12 49 workers were killed while working in construction and 2,884 major injuries were reported. q

Company Profile

‘Based in Liverpool, George Roberts offer a 48 hour delivery service to anywhere in the UK from their extensive stock yard’. n THE SALES TEAM AT George Roberts is a highly motivated group of professionals with many years experience in the scaffolding and construction industry, obtained through a number of the leading international suppliers of scaffold and access equipment. The company is one of the largest independent scaffolding suppliers of its kind and is totally committed to its customers, providing quality products and services at the right price to meet the demands of a competitive market place. Over the last few years they have invested heavily in the business, facilitating growth through expansion and business change. Based in Liverpool, George Roberts offer a delivery service to anywhere in the UK, within 48 hours, from their extensive stock yard. Both existing and new clients provide repeat and new business to the company every year, emphasising their commitment to both quality and service. From a small parcel of scaffolding tools to a full load of scaffold equipment, the team at George Roberts give their industry-renowned personal attention to all their clients’ needs and expectations. The promise they make to their customers is to supply only the highest quality materials, which must pass strict quality control procedures before they can enter stock. q

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Winners and top apprentice named in FMB Awards

The award-winning project transformed a two-bedroom dormer bungalow into a spacious family home, built on three levels to maximise the outstanding views

ON 20 MARCH THE Federation of Master Builders announced the National Category Winners and its overall Master Builder of the Year for 2012. The award-winners were congratulated by TV personality and architect George Clarke at an awards ceremony in London. The Master Builder of the Year – the 11th to hold the title – was announced as 3W Developments Ltd of Worcester. They scooped the title for a complex project that transformed a two-bedroom dormer bungalow into a spacious family home, built on three levels to maximise the outstanding views for clients Carol and Grahame Taylor. “Despite the scale of the project, the build process was incredibly smooth,” said Carol Taylor, who has lived through five previous house renovations. “On a nine-month project it’s important to have a good relationship and as soon as we met 3W Developments we knew they were the builders we wanted to work with. “They are a family firm and Sam Whiting supervised on site every day, moving his office around as the build progressed. This gave him real insight into what living in the house would be like and meant he could offer advice on how things should be sited to appreciate the view.

“3W also drew in expert help, such as lighting designers and heating engineers, to help transform our ideas and concepts into reality. Working this way meant that we made our decisions early which helped keep the budget on track.” The FMB’s Master Builder of the Year Awards highlight the excellent work carried out by small and medium-sized building firms throughout the country. The awards also give satisfied clients an opportunity to show how much they appreciate their builder's role in transforming their home or workplace by nominating them for a coveted prize. It is this aspect of the competition which makes it unique. With many nominations coming from homeowners who have lived cheek-by-jowl with builders working in their home for many months, they are only going to nominate the very best. The awards also include recognition of projects in the 11 FMB regions covering the length and breadth of the UK. Winning a Regional Award is a significant achievement and from these winning projects the judging panel selects a National Award winner for each of the seven project categories, together with

Master Builder of the Year Award winners 3W Developments Ltd

the Apprentice of the Year, and the ultimate Master Builder of the Year. The Apprentice of the Year was announced as Philip Glasgow from Cookstown, Northern Ireland, who has a natural talent for carpentry. According to the citation: “Philip has made an impressive start to his career, winning medals in skills competitions in 2011 and 2012. In the future Philip hopes to be able to pass on his skills to other young apprentices hoping to follow in his footsteps to success.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

Roofing Awards 2013 - finalists announced THE ROOFING AWARDS HAVE announced the finalists of the annual awards that recognise and highlight the very best in all major roofing disciplines. The awards have now entered their eighth year. Formerly the NFRC Awards, they have become an industry-wide competition that recognise and reward outstanding standards of workmanship and safety within the roofing industry. The competition, covering the full spectrum of roofing disciplines, runs from September to January every year and thereafter a selection of projects are short-listed. In May, at the Roofing Awards Congress, the winners are announced along with other award winners. Ray Horwood, CEO of NFRC said: “Once again there are some real quality projects across the wide spectrum of roofing – from heritage, through domestic, commercial and industrial. The manner in which the industry has adapted to sustainability is clearly shown, not only in the green roofing, shingles and solar categories, but again across all the categories.” Each year the judges and experts are inundated by a large array of projects and this was the year of the extremes – from the largest, a 100,000m2 re-roof of the Metro Centre in Gateshead, all the way down to a small calf shed in the Snowdonia National Park. Nicky Rogers, Roofing Awards Adjudicator said: “It was my very great honour to be at the judging of this year’s Roofing Awards. I

The coveted Roofing Awards trophy

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have been involved with the Awards for four years now and I never fail to be impressed with the outstanding work carried out by UK roofing companies across all disciplines. “The quality of entries this year made the judges’ decisions extremely difficult, but we can be assured that despite difficult economic times, our industry continues to demonstrate incredibly high levels of professional workmanship. Here’s to 2014.” The awards will be presented to the winners on Friday 17th May 2013 at the Hilton Metropole in London. q

Work begins on next phase of Channel Islands £20m hospital development

n MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY, Edmond Shipway, has recently begun the latest phase of work on site at Princess Elizabeth Hospital, Guernsey. Appointed as Quantity Surveyor to the £20 million scheme, this is the latest project to get underway as part of an extensive programme of redevelopment for the hospital. Works, which include the integration of an existing Georgian building on a site overlooking protected landscape, will involve the construction of a new Mental Health Unit offering 24 hour living accommodation for adults. Once complete, the 5,350m2 development will consolidate adult and children’s Mental Health Services on one site incorporating an 18 bed adult acute ward, an 8 bed older adult ward, outpatient services including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and shared support offices for Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs). Edmond Shipway first became involved with the hospital almost ten years ago and has since provided quantity surveying services for £5.5 million worth of nurses accommodation, a £27 million three storey clinical block and a new car park with associated infrastructure. Commenting on the programme, David Stevenson, Managing Director for Edmond Shipway said; “Since first becoming involved with the Princess Elizabeth Hospital nearly a decade ago, our team has built a strong relationship and gained an excellent understanding of the client’s requirements. We are confident in our ability to once again deliver a built environment that represents excellent value for money”. q

Next phase of Doncaster’s Waterfront development to start WORK TO PROVIDE ACCESS into Doncaster’s Waterfront development and help redevelop this prime town centre location is back on track and set to start in April. The initial phase of works will see improvements made to the Holmes Market roundabout which will be followed by the construction of the proposed internal spine road into the 15 hectare site. The new look junction will also increase traffic capacity on the road network which is required to help develop one of the largest waterfront sites of its type in the UK. The works are expected to take about 20 weeks to complete. Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies, said: “It is wonderful news that the initial infrastructure work required to serve this Waterfront development is to start. “The vision for Waterfront is to create a world class mixed use development of residential, retail, commercial and leisure developments. The scheme will complement the already completed marina and Doncaster College’s Hub building, taking full advantage of this central waterfront setting.

“Doncaster is making great strides and this is another major town centre regeneration scheme set to benefit the town and our local economy.” The intention is to maintain two running lanes whenever possible during the works with reduced lane widths and temporary road makings in place to provide the required working space. There will, however, be times when lane closures are required to carry out operations such as road crossings and surfacing the existing carriageway. Doncaster Council secured new external funding to ensure this important regeneration scheme could progress after the original funding from Yorkshire Forward ceased in April 2010. The European Regional Development Fund Priority 4 Programme, managed by the Department of Communities and Local Government, is providing for funding for the scheme. R • For further information on Waterfront go to www.doncaster.gov.uk/ waterfront.

Gleeds celebrate ME Hotel launch O International management and construction consultancy, Gleeds, has recently completed their role as project manager on the new ME London Hotel, The Strand. The multi-million pound scheme is the fifth ME development from Melia Hotels International, the Spanish hotel and resort operator, and the first UK venture from the brand. The project involved the construction of a new, flagship 157-bed hotel alongside the restoration of the adjacent 1904 Marconi House. The Foster + Partners designed building occupies a landmark site which completes the Aldwych crescent, formally the Gaiety Theatre and subsequently the first home of the BBC. The newly luxury hotel boasts ‘the Suite ME’ which spans two floors in the turret of the building with access to the roof terrace. There is also a Radio Rooftop terrace bar which offers 270 degree panoramic views of London as well as a guest reception champagne bar on the first floor. The ground floor features the distinctive Marconi hotel lobby bar, as well as the STK and Cucina Asellina restaurants, plus extensive conference and banqueting and space at basement level. The project management of the scheme drew on the Gleeds team’s deep well of experience with a key objective being to marry the glorious architectural design of Marconi House with the installation of a brand

new state of the art modern London hotel. The large number of distinctive bespoke features, some of which were specified as the project progressed, added to the challenge. Not least of these was the inclusion of a pyramid design for the first lobby area encased in white marble. Commenting on the scheme, Ian Gibson of Gleeds Management Services said: “We are delighted to see this exceptional hotel open to the public after a complex programme of construction which saw us utilise all of our experience in the leisure sector. Gleeds are proud to have been involved with this landmark project which will offer guests a truly luxurious experience in superbly designed surroundings”. R www.constructionnational.co.uk

Joint venture set to take education world by storm A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN two north-east construction companies has resulted in a range of cost-effective, quick to construct, eco-friendly permanent school buildings that are taking the education world by storm. Gateshead-based Koru Property Services and Clearspace Buildings formed a strategic partnership earlier this year, bringing together the innovative designs of Clearspace Buildings and the in-house production and construction facilities of Koru. The companies’ combined in-house capabilities have resulted in significant cost savings of up to 10% on big build projects, bringing them to the attention of schools across the UK. The timber-clad buildings are suitable for a range of commercial applications and have proved popular due to their good looks, low cost and minimal time taken to construct. The bespoke-designed buildings range in size from single classrooms to entire schools and can be fully constructed in as little as two weeks. The buildings are appearing at schools throughout the UK including the north east – Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay and the new Music for Schools building at The Sage Gateshead being two key sites. Mark Taylor, managing director of Koru Property Services explained: “We are delighted and excited by our venture with Clearspace Buildings. As a company we are constantly looking to evolve and increase our service and product offering and the partnership has enabled us to do just that. “The forward-thinking, cost-effective designs and construction techniques of Clearspace Buildings are a natural fit with Koru’s industry

reputation for consistently delivering projects in significantly less time and more cost effectively than our competitors.” The classrooms are the brainchild of Clearspace Buildings’ managing director Scott Horner. He explained: “There is huge demand for costeffective, flexible learning space that looks good and isn’t a grey, lifeless temporary building. The strategic partnership with Koru will now enable us to meet demand and vastly expand Clearspace Buildings’ service offering.” Based in Team Valley, Koru Property Services was established in 2002 and provides a range of services for minor and major projects related to design and construction. Koru directly employees its own 44-strong team of architects, planners and construction experts, enabling it to minimise construction costs and project timeframes. q

Course sets out environmental best practice in construction n THE FIRST NATIONALLY ACCREDITED environmental training programme for those working on construction sites, the Site Environmental Awareness Training Scheme (SEATS), has been officially launched. Developed by leading construction and engineering solution providers Costain, Skanska and Wates Group with support from CITBConstructionSkills, the new course is fully endorsed by the UK Contractors Group (UKCG) and the Environment Agency (EA). SEATS will provide those working on site with the knowledge required to drive environmental best practice – as well as a common, transferable training programme for the UK construction industry – reducing the costs and duplication of large contractors having to develop their own in-house training schemes and providing a programme that can be embedded across the supply chain. Andy Walder, Director of the National Construction College (NCC), said: “As the first nationally accredited environmental training programme to be developed for the sector, this is an important step in raising the benchmark for environmental best practice across the wider industry. We have a responsibility to help employers manage the impact their activities have on the wider environment – equipping the industry with the skills and training it needs to deliver long-term beneficial change.” Head of Policy at UKCG, Simon Nathan, said:

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“UKCG members recognise their responsibility to take a leadership role in promoting environmental best practice. The SEATS course will provide a common benchmark for those working on site that can be utilised by firms large and small.”

The one day SEATS course provides knowledge in managing typical site environmental issues, including site environmental sustainability, water management, resource efficiency, contamination and hazard awareness. q

Eco technology show returns for 2013 n THE ECO TECHNOLOGY SHOW, the London and South East event for trade, building owners, occupiers and the general public covering sustainable build, energy, transport and technology, returns this June with an even bigger and better event for 2013. Held on the 14th - 15th June, this year’s venue is the newlyrefurbished Brighton Centre, right on the seafront. A must attend show for anyone interested in how energy efficiency and saving money will drive their business forward, The Eco Technology Show 2013 will unveil the latest in eco technology innovations from across Europe. The two day show will feature over 100 exhibitors. With three clearly laid-out exploration zones, it will be easy to plan your visit and navigate your way round the Show to find out

about new technologies and ideas that are ready for you to take advantage of now. These include Eco Build, Design, Renewable Energy, Office, and Home, Transport, Education, Technology and Innovation zones. Nicola Gunstone, commercial director at The Eco Technology Show comments: “The Eco Technology Show focusses on what is available here and now and offers real business opportunities to tradespeople. “We know your time is valuable and will make sure the Show is easy to navigate.” q • For more information please contact Jim or Karoline at the Eco Technology Show press office on 01273 666200 or via eco@midnight. co.uk.

Ensuring infrastructure delivers on its green obligations n THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY RESEARCH and Information Association (CIRIA) has announced the launch of a new ‘community’ in the field of green infrastructure (GI). Known as Green Infrastructure for the Built Environment (GI4BE), the new forum will provide an engaging and dynamic platform for sharing experiences, guidance, best practice, regulatory updates, case studies, photos and discussions for those involved in the delivery of green infrastructure, which CIRIA describes as a strategically planned and delivered network of natural and man-made green (land) and blue (water) spaces that sustain natural processes and deliver a wide variety of benefits for biodiversity, amenity, health and wellbeing and climate change adaptation. Announcing the initiative, CIRIA’s project manager said: “Despite the cross discipline and sector interest, or perhaps because of it, there are no resources that provide a holistic community of support, signposting and pulling together policy documents, evidence, initiatives and best practice for those delivering GI in the built environment sector. “CIRIA, together with its partners, has delivered a number of projects and initiatives supporting the delivery of green infrastructure. We have

developed guidance, training and dissemination initiatives on green roofs, enhancing biodiversity through green infrastructure, delivering and managing open green space and the planting of large species urban trees and we’re one of the leading UK organisations supporting delivery of sustainable drainage.” q • CIRIA is currently looking for partners and supporters to encourage the delivery of GI in our spaces, places and buildings. For further information, contact Louise Clarke at www.ciria.org.

Company Profile

Trademark yellow vans signify industry specialists GWYNEDD SAFEFLUE SPECIALISTS WAS formed by Dafydd Roberts as a sole trader in 1986, following the dissolution of a partnership with two other engineers that had existed since 1980. In the ensuing 25 plus years the company has grown in both reputation and customer base by providing a complete service with excellent customer care and aftersales. In 1988 John Bryn Roberts joined as an apprentice to his father and has worked to the same aim, becoming junior partner in 1993. Both partners and their loyal staff of chimney lining engineers – all gleaned from the locality – have attained, or are working towards, registration with the industry governing bodies of NACE, HETAS & GASSAFE. Safeflue is a family business working together with industry leaders, local authorities, the National Trust, various estates companies and for the individual home owner to provide a safe and efficient heating source. The company’s expansion in 2013 into a retail space in Penygroes is coming along nicely and the doors of ‘Flue & Flame’ will be open in mid-March. According to Dafydd: “This will enable us to meet customer demand for a wider choice of appliances, fireplaces and accessories.” This expansion has materialised with help from extended family, friends, other local businesses and Annog Cyf – operating under contract to Gwynedd Council on behalf of the Gwynedd Economic Partnership to implement the projects of the Rural Development Plan for Wales in Gwynedd. Says Dafydd: “We welcome existing and new customers to call in for a chat over a cup of coffee, in what we hope will be a warm inviting environment. In the meantime look out for our trademark yellow vans throughout Gwynedd, surrounding counties north, south, east and west, as well as the Chester area. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

Company Profile

ELITE SYSTEMS GB LTD provides a range of made to order permenant and temporary modular buildings for various industry sectors across the UK from their base in west Yorkshire. The company supports environmental directives and works hard to create a sustainable future. Says Technical Director Marcus Sutcliffe: “Our policy is to design products and select materials that minimise maintenance and facilitate energy efficient decommissioning and recycling. Our goal is to use the minimum amount of non recyclable components and to recycle whatever we can to reduce carbon output. Our employees are environmentally aware and have taken great strides to reduce non recyclable materials in the work place. Our management team take environmental sustainability very seriously and also work to reduce the consumption of energy and materials whenever possible. “We support companies and countries that also share our commitment to the environment and have an established replanting programme for timber resources.” Elite Systems encourages their employees and suppliers to apply their full commitment in carrying out the company’s environmental policy through continuous awareness, policy updates and by monitoring their use of energy consumption. Marcus adds: “This is our commitment to our clients, our planet and to ourselves.” q

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Building confidence Mike Landy, senior policy analyst at the Renewable Energy Association, explains current concerns in the sector, and explores what the future might hold. THE DETAILS OF THE Energy Bill, described by Energy Secretary Ed Davey as “the biggest reforms to the power sector since privatisation”, are currently being hammered out by MPs as it makes its way through Parliament. The Bill is at the heart of the Government’s attempts to ensure that the UK’s future energy mix is secure, low carbon and affordable. The options on the table for power generation are often presented as ‘renewables, CCS and nuclear’. But the word ‘renewables’ actually encompasses a very broad spectrum of technologies, from those which are already approaching competitiveness with fossil fuels today (onshore wind, solar PV, biomass, hydro and various waste to energy technologies) to those which offer great prospects for the future (offshore wind, deep geothermal and wave and tidal power) – and that’s before we get to renewable heat and transport. The beauty of renewables is that they meet all three of the Government’s aforementioned energy objectives. They don’t have the risks, liabilities and spiralling costs of nuclear, and they don’t have the carbon intensity of fossil fuels. Renewables are ready to go today, they are getting cheaper as industry learns and markets mature, they will never run out of fuel, and they offer exciting jobs and growth

opportunities in British manufacturing and engineering. However, there is a long way to go before these benefits are fully realised, as the first edition of our Renewables Industry Confidence Survey, published last month, reveals. It is intended to serve as a useful tool for stakeholders across the public, private and third sectors to gauge how policies are being received by the businesses who will actually deliver the investment, expertise and man hours required to secure our energy future. This is why we will repeat the survey every six months until 2020 – when we should be sourcing 15% of our energy from renewables to meet our EU renewable energy targets. While turnover and employment were largely stagnant in 2012, our members are more optimistic about their prospects for 2013, with healthy increases to new business and turnover expected, as well as modest increases in employment. However, the rate of growth is some way off that required to meet our renewable energy target – 16% year-on-year from a 2010 baseline, the second highest growth rate required of all 27 EU Member States. While clearly confident of their own business strength, our members are much more

sceptical of Government policy. Only 4% of respondents think we will achieve our 2020 renewable energy targets. Around 65% of respondents in renewable heat and power had poor or very poor confidence in their regulatory framework, and while confidence appeared higher in transport, still only 23% had good or excellent confidence in the regime. 51% of respondents expressed doubt that Contract for Difference – the support mechanism which is the cornerstone of the Energy Bill – would be

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effective at bringing forward new renewable capacity. This matters for construction, because renewable energy presents a real opportunity for growth in the sector. Large-scale renewables developments were specifically identified by Lord Heseltine as serious infrastructure projects with great growth potential in his recent No Stone Unturned report. At the smaller scale, the integration of on-site renewables in buildings (my particular area of expertise), such as solar PV and thermal, biomass boilers, heat pumps and micro wind turbines, is also a huge potential growth area. The Feed-in Tariff is already driving retrofit deployment for electricity, the Renewable Heat Incentive likewise for heat, and the Zero Carbon Homes policy – ambitious but troubled – is expected to drive new build integration later in the decade. Equally, construction firms are as likely as any other to be concerned with corporate social responsibility and sustainable procurement. If green is important to your brand, then it is well worth looking to renewable energy sources to power your computers, heat your offices and run your vehicles. Process wastes might also be appropriate for use as renewable energy feedstocks, enabling firms to harness the economic value therein. • To learn more about the REA’s work, visit www.r-e-a.net.

The overall confidence score for the sector, taking into account short term business prospects and expectations for long term policy efficacy, is 47%

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Company Profile

AD operators see performance benefits with micronutrient technology Omex Environmental’s micronutrient technology can boost productivity - and profits - for food waste anaerobic digester (AD) operators. LICENSED OPERATORS ARE NOW increasingly treating food waste through ADs for the production of constantly generated renewable energy in the form of biogas. This can either be used on-site to reduce reliance on costly fossil fuels or sold as electricity under Government incentive initiatives like the Feed-In Tariff scheme. However, it is rare for an AD to have the complete range of nutritional elements present for optimal bacterial growth. Shortages of specific micronutrients, which are critical components of enzyme systems in the bacteria, often occur. This can mean that the digester plant and connected system do not run at full efficiency with a consequential loss of performance and output. Omex Environmental have formulated

Nutromex TEAs, bioavailable trace element additives used in the anaerobic process, to boost the availability of essential trace elements and help to improve bacterial performance and increase the methane content of biogas production. This helps commercial operators to run plants at optimum levels, maximising revenue streams and return on investment through increased profits. The amount of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) produced by the AD also decreases with the introduction of micronutrient technology like Nutromex TEA – it improves the way that food waste is ‘digested’ and helps to stabilise VFA levels, contributing greater methanogenesis for added biogas production. Omex also provides customised

micronutrient solutions, to meet the individual needs of specific anaerobic systems and operational requirements. Omex will assess a plant’s individual requirements through analysis of its influent, biomass and effluent before producing a tailor made micronutrient solution in a form that is fully bioavailable in anaerobic conditions. As well as specialising in trace element additives, Omex Environmental also manufacture and supply flocculants, antibulking agents, acid neutralisers, de-icers and concrete ad-mixtures, a new addition to their product range. q • Visit the website for further information www.omex.co.uk, email environmental@ omex.com or call 01553 770092.

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The best deal around for going green

it’s a Green Deal ON 15 MARCH THE Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published its first monthly statistics for take-up of its flagship Green Deal initiative. The figures show that from its launch on 28 January to the end of February just over 1,800 assessments had been lodged. The figure was described by Energy Secretary Ed Davey as “an excellent start”. “We're seeing clear signs of a promising new market gathering momentum,” he said. “We have created the Green Deal to overhaul our inefficient housing stock and help people keep

their homes warm, while also reducing their energy bills. And as the market builds and awareness of the Green Deal increases, I am confident that consumer interest will grow and grow.” The Green Deal aims to help householders to finance energy-efficiency measures in their homes by the savings made on their energy bills. According to the DECC: “With buildings in Britain among the least efficient in the world, the Green Deal gives homes and businesses a new way of paying for energy efficient

improvements such as insulation and new heating systems.” There are 45 different types of improvements currently available. It is estimated that eight million households could benefit from solid wall insulation and four million from cavity insulation. Up to £270 a year could be saved if a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house installed just solid wall insulation. Launching the scheme on 28 January, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “The Green Deal will help thousands of homes stay warm for less. Those people will benefit

Training leads to accreditation n IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT around 60,000 jobs could be supported by the Green Deal initiative in the insulation sector alone by 2015 – up from 26,000 in 2011. In total around £3.5m of funding will be pumped into training in key Green Deal skills. Vocational courses at Levels 3 and 4 are available in a range of new skills, allowing businesses to be authorised to operate as: • An assessor: visiting Green Deal customers to assess their properties and make recommendations for improvements • An installer: installing improvements for Green Deal customers • A provider: providing customers with finance and arranging installation through an authorised installer. Those who manufacture and sell energy-saving products do not need to be authorised, but products must meet certain standards. The scheme is overseen on behalf of the Secretary of State by the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body (GD ORB), which manages the authorisation scheme for participants in the Green Deal and is responsible for a number of functions aimed at providing effective administration and oversight of the scheme. GD ORB maintains a register of all authorised Green Deal providers, certification bodies, advisors and installers. It maintains the Green

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Deal Code of Practice and controls the use of the Quality Mark. It is also tasked with gathering evidence of non-compliance and referring participants to the Ombudsman or the Secretary of State where appropriate and imposing sanctions when directed. The success of the scheme will depend on there being sufficient highly-qualified assessors to undertake surveys on behalf of Green Deal providers. Training is accredited by a number of bodies, including City and Guilds, and provided by a plethora of accredited colleges and other bodies. They include National Energy Action, the national fuel poverty and energy efficiency charity, which is providing training leading to a Level 3 Diploma in Green Deal Domestic Advice. Its training and development manager Denise Howell commented: “We are delighted to be able to offer Green Deal advisor training as part of our training portfolio and look forward to working with a range of candidates to help them become fully-qualified Green Deal assessors.” Annmarie Blomfield, managing director of 1 Green Place was equally enthusiastic: “We have already done over 200 assessments and are very excited about the future with Green Deal as we’ve already got 1,800 assessments waiting in the wings,” she said. q

from energy saving improvements – and their energy bills will fall. The UK green sector is a success story – it is the sixth largest in the world and has a crucial part to play in building a strong economy. The Green Deal will support thousands of jobs – not just over the next few years, but in the long-term.” The process starts with the visit to the home of an accredited Green Deal assessor, who discusses with the householder if they could benefit from making energy-efficiency improvements. The assessor recommends improvements that are appropriate to the property, indicating whether they are expected to pay for themselves through reduced energy bills. Next, ‘Green Deal Providers’ quote for the recommended improvements, with the chosen

provider drawing up a ‘Green Deal Plan’ – a contract that sets out the work to be done and the repayments, including the fixed interest rate. The provider arranges for the improvements to be made by a Green Deal installer. The repayments are automatically added to the electricity bill for the home. A statement for the RICS said: “We have

worked closely with stakeholders in the property industry to develop guidance on the Green Deal. RICS welcomes this as an effective way for property professionals, landlords, tenants, buyers and sellers to understand how a Green Deal on a property interacts with various types of property transactions.” q

Company Profile

Specialists in laminated timber engineered structures TECHNICAL TIMBER SERVICES LTD has over 40 years experience in the design and supply of laminated timber structures (‘glulam’) engineered to a high specification and is recognised as one of the UK’s leading companies in this field. The company is a founder member of the Glued Laminated Timber Association – GLTA. In collaboration with its associate glulam manufacturing company, Late-Rakenteet Oy based in Finland, Technical Timber Services has been responsible for supplying the laminated timber structures of some of the UK’s largest and most prestigious building projects. Their staff, and those of associated companies, have expertise in the disciplines of design and engineering, wood technology and project management. The company has successfully supplied and/or completed projects in conjunction with many principal contractors as well as numerous local authorities in the UK. In addition, overseas projects have included locations in the Falklands, Ascension Islands, Gibraltar, Moscow and Saudi Arabia. Projects have included laminated timber structures for schools, churches, community centres, domestic buildings, libraries, sports & leisure complexes, swimming pools and supermarkets. Examples of their work may be seen on their web site at www.technicaltimber.co.uk. As regards quality control, all laminated timber structures supplied by Technical Timber Services are manufactured under strict quality controlled supervision in accordance with BSEN 385, 386 & 390 – Manufacturing Standards for Glued Laminated Timber. All European Whitewood and Redwood glulam constructions are supplied in accordance with PEFC Certification. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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UK Asbestos Training Association Ltd (UKATA) CEO Terry Barker sums up the latest position on safe asbestos removal for the public sector environment. Despite being one of the biggest single causes of fatalities in the UK today – and clearly the largest occupational killer with over 4,500 deaths reported every year due to exposure – asbestos still remains a hidden killer with the wider public and indeed some contractors are ignorant of its risks and dangers.

UKATA Chief Executive Officer Terry Barker

Asbestos removal in the public sector environment THOSE WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR public sector building maintenance should be well aware of the risks and history of asbestos, but with the legal requirements recently changing, it is important to remain abreast of the latest thinking and legislation pertaining to so serious an issue. Traditionally used in buildings for its properties of thermal and electrical insulation coupled with high tensile strength, the fears over the health risks associated with asbestos led to its use being banned – although this occurred much later than many realise. While people tend to think asbestos was outlawed decades ago, incredibly it was only banned outright in the UK in all its forms in late 1999. Increasing health fears surrounding asbestos led to a steep decline in the use of asbestos products from the mid 1980s, but the damage was already done. Materials containing asbestos were widely used from 1930

to 1980, and so many buildings, houses and flats constructed and/or refurbished at this time may well contain asbestos materials, particularly where it was used as a fire retardant. Estimates suggest over 1.5 million buildings in the UK may still contain asbestos, including schools, flats and many other public buildings. A real headache for those charged with managing and maintaining the buildings saddled with this unwanted 100 year legacy – the majority of which are still in regular use by everyone from the general public to tenants and employees alike. Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause a variety of fatal illnesses, from mesothelioma to asbestosis. Those diagnosed with mesothelioma have a life expectancy of just 9-12 months and there is no cure. When you understand that it is not always easy to tell whether a product contains asbestos, it is not hard to see why it remains at the root of www.constructionnational.co.uk

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so many deaths, over a decade after its use was of such tenders will need to have the confidence discontinued. It is predominantly older products that that this is the case. If 2012 tells us anything, it contain asbestos fibres, but if in any doubt, fully is that strict compliance with the new regulations trained experts must be consulted. is vital. Failing to abide by the current regulations The most common high risk products to watch out runs the risk of potentially large fines and criminal for are insulating board (AIB), lagging and sprayed convictions. Managers have a duty to ensure any coatings. Of these, lagging has been used for the work and surveys involving asbestos are done safely thermal insulation of pipes and boilers and was and in full compliance with the law. widely used in public buildings and flats throughout Looking to the future, the 2012 regulations are the 60s and 70s. Cement products were the most unlikely to be the end of the matter. If tenders have common, being used in many building applications, been approved for companies without the necessary from room partitions to walls and ceilings. However, training and ability to adapt to what remains a fluid AIB was also heavily used in similar applications, legislative environment, this could be storing problems particularly during the 60s and 70s. In both cases for the future of an effective collaborative/partnership the danger is of people unwittingly drilling into it or approach to UK asbestos removal and management. otherwise causing the fibres to be released in the Members of the European Parliament are already form of dust. pushing for further asbestos regulation, and if this Public sector managers will be aware that contact happens, it will inevitably impact on future asbestos with asbestos and its removal is heavily regulated regulation in the UK. Draft concepts are already under by law. If you own, occupy, manage or have investigation and with reports filtering through of over responsibilities for premises which may contain 125 possible amendments, everyone needs to be asbestos, you have a legal duty to manage the risk ready to tighten up yet further on asbestos regulation from the material. The key legislation known as in the near future. the ‘Duty to Manage’ Asbestos, or Regulation 4, UKATA exists to set and verify standards and to Image courtesy of UKATA member Asbestos Safety Training was originally enshrined in the Control of Asbestos emphasise the importance of best practice in training at Work Regulations 2002 and later the Control when it comes to the safe handling, removal and of Asbestos Regulations 2006. The legislation disposal of asbestos. Public sector managers should applies to all non-domestic buildings and includes commercial, public and ensure asbestos is only handled by UKATA trained professionals. q industrial premises as well as the common parts of domestic locations such as lift shafts, stairwells and corridors in blocks of flats. • Tasked by the HSE in 2008 for taking-on, managing and developing the These asbestos regulations were significantly updated again only last list of training providers for licensed asbestos work in the UK, UKATA is now year and are currently provided for by the Control of Asbestos Regulations the leading authority in all levels of asbestos training in the UK. For further 2012 which modified the 2006 regulations in several ways in response to information on UKATA visit www.ukata.org.uk. European Commission reasoned opinion. The Commission felt the 2006 regulations omitted certain key terms from the European Directive for the protection of workers from the risk of being exposed to asbestos and demanded the UK fully implement the Directive, which led to the update. Managers should make themselves fully conversant with the full regulations, but the most significant changes affected non-licensable work on asbestos, which entails the majority of work carried out on asbestos within the UK. This is where UKATA has a significant input in ensuring that our members provide the training necessary to ensure the safe removal of asbestos in line with UK regulation and laws. From the 6 April 2012, some ‘non-licensed work’ does now need to be notified to the relevant enforcing authority (see the HSE website) but the requirements in respect of licensable work are ostensibly unchanged. These changes come at a time when the pressure on the public sector and local authorities to work collaboratively is greater than ever as a means to cut costs. The coalition government has been pushing for such partnerships almost since taking office and asbestos control and removal is an obvious place this can be achieved. With pressure on budgets greater than for a generation, the collective procurement of asbestos management services can be a tempting carrot for the sector to avoid the stick of not doing enough to cut costs, particularly in an area requiring a high level of training and specialisation. While UKATA fully supports the concept of collaboration of this type in principle, profit must never be put before safety. While tenders that have reached the public domain are often being assessed on quality first and price second (at a rate of 70%-30%, we are told) those in public sector procurement need to ensure that tenders submitted are compliant with the 2012 regulations and indeed that those awarded them are able to meet the challenges faced, not only now but by future amendments to regulations that look increasingly likely given the mood and views of the European Parliament (and certain MEPs) when it comes to greater asbestos regulation. For procurement managers, bid writers and specialist asbestos companies alike, compliance will need to be fully demonstrated when completing a PQQ or when writing a tender for a contract. Those in receipt www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Parliament votes for EU-wide

asbestos removal ON 13 MARCH THE European Parliament voted for measures to be put in place that would see the removal of asbestos from Europe. The vote followed the adoption in January by the Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of a report drawn up by Stephen Hughes MEP. According to the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the report “…recommends establishing a registry for buildings containing asbestos, to ensure the qualification and training of workers responsible for asbestos removal, to ensure better compensation for occupational diseases caused by asbestos, to put an end to exemptions that allow chrysotile asbestos to be imported into the European Union and to ban exports containing asbestos to developing countries.” Ironically, in the week preceding the March vote, one of the Parliament’s own buildings in Strasbourg was partially closed when workers uncovered the material during maintenance work. In an article for the online newsletter Public Service Europe, the report’s author Stephen Hughes, who is the Labour MEP for Durham

and Blaydon, wrote: “The problem is not yet solved and blocking asbestos up behind walls is not enough. Accidents will continue to happen as long as the asbestos remains. “The European institutions should create a good example and publish a register with all sites and buildings of EU bodies. This could be the start of publically available registers for everybody in the construction and restructuring sector as well as those removing asbestos. “Since the European Union-wide asbestos ban was brought in back in 1999, it would be natural to assume that asbestos is no longer a problem. But in Europe and around the world there are still millions of buildings, offices, ships and pipes which contain asbestos. And as time goes by, fewer and fewer people are being trained in how to work with and remove asbestos from contaminated areas.” The adoption of the report was also welcomed by campaigning groups. Iain Shoolbred, an asbestos lawyer based at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office, said: “This is a very welcome report which outlines many important points which need to be considered if safety around asbestos is to be improved.

“Through our work, we see numerous occasions when people have gone on to develop the cancer mesothelioma, simply as a result of employers failing to take steps to protect their workers from the potential risks of exposure to asbestos. “This needs to become a thing of the past and a solid policy on making improvements is a vital aspect of this. We hope that this is a significant step towards authorities at a European level ensuring the dangers of asbestos can be tackled.” Stephen Hughes continued: “According to the World Health Organisation, there are between 20,000 and 30,000 cases of asbestos-related disease recorded every year in the EU alone. My own region is a hotspot for asbestos, where the number of cases of mesothelioma is on the rise. “In certain industrial regions, such as Wales, there are more deaths from asbestos-related disease than from road accidents. That is a truly shocking statistic, especially given that this is not an insurmountable problem - MEPs have laid out how we believe that all asbestos can be removed from the EU by 2028.” q

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Tragedy leads to training pledge n ASBESTOS SAFETY TRAINING IS a Lancashire-based training company specialising in professional training in asbestos awareness and associated issues. Training is delivered by a competent, qualified health and safety consultant who has over 40 years experience in the construction industry. He holds qualifications in health and safety, management and law and has been working as an individual health and safety consultant for the past 10 years. He is also a UKATA approved and registered trainer. He is a longstanding member of the IIRSM (International Institute of Risk and Safety Management) and is at present applying for Fellowship status. He has also been audited and approved by Safety Management Advisory Services Ltd, which is part of the SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) forum. He also holds the BOHS P402 and BOHS P405 qualifications in asbestos surveys and asbestos management respectively and has 10 years experience of working in the asbestos sector. He began his career in the 1970s working for his uncle – a site manager – on the construction of an industrial estate in Haydock in the north west of England. Years later, in the summer of 2005, asbestosis took hold. He visited his uncle regularly at the local hospital and watched him deteriorate, suffer and die from the killer disease. This tragedy led him to make a pledge to offer quality and affordable health and safety and asbestos awareness safety training on a nationwide basis to employees and construction workers as well as refurbishment specialists who are legally obliged to implement this type of training for their own employees, sub-contractors and others. He is committed and passionate about urging businesses and their employees to take the dangers from asbestos exposure seriously and to stamp out negligence, recklessness and complacency. q

Company Profile

‘Health & Safety does not happen by accident’ n NORFOLK BASED UKATA MEMBERS 1-2 Call Worksafe Ltd are fully aware of this fact and want to pass the message on to the tradesmen of today and tomorrow. They want them to be aware of where asbestos can be found and how to reduce the risk of asbestos fibre exposure and the horrendous legacy asbestos has left in this country. Every week an average of, 4 plumbers, 8 joiners and 6 electricians – in total 20 various tradesmen – die from this hidden killer. Asbestos can found in over three thousand documented building materials and was not completely banned for use in this country until August 1999. Says director Martin Langford: “As employers, or self employed individuals, there are legal reasons for having training about asbestos but in my opinion the moral reasons outweigh them. Having the training and implementing best practice when it comes to asbestos will help save the future lives of our families, friends, employees and the people who are affected by our unknowing actions. “1-2 Call Worksafe are involved in health and safety systems and training to help companies to make the right decisions, not just to create a paper work trail, and we invite them to contact us to see how we make a difference to our customers.” q

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Prosecutions highlight failures to observe regulations AN INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OWNER has been prosecuted for exposing untrained workers to dangerous asbestos fibres following a series of failings at a building in Newport, South Wales. In a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on 21 February, Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court heard that Mr Nasimul Karbani employed two workers and then helped them to remove rubbish and debris from a site that he part owned. The debris included a large amount of asbestos insulation board (AIB), which was cleaned up in an unsafe manner. Newport City Council notified HSE following concerns about the work. A subsequent HSE investigation found that Mr Karbani did not hold a licence to deal with asbestos in the building, and that he failed to manage the risks to those employed in the clean-up. The men he hired were also not properly trained or equipped, and weren’t decontaminated following the work. Magistrates were told that the defendant was in possession of information that indicated where the asbestos was located in the building and was warned on two occasions that the work should not be carried out. Despite that, he continued the work. The HSE investigation also found that he had failed to appoint a competent co-contractor to plan and manage the clean-up work, and did not carry out a proper assessment of the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres and its condition in the building before work started. Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Steve Richardson said: “Any work that involves asbestos must be planned and managed by competent personnel with the right training and experience. In this case, Mr Karbani demonstrated significant failings throughout the management of the project, which put the lives of other workers at risk.” Commenting on the seeming frequency of such stories, a spokesperson for the asbestos survey division of RJS Waste Management said: “This is just the latest in what seems like monthly legal proceedings against property owners for breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012). The Control of

Asbestos Regulations were written into UK law in 2006 and updated last year, but companies are still failing to comply with them.” A previous case was highlighted by the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA), and again it led to a prosecution by HSE. On 4 February a Birmingham builder was fined after causing young children and their parents to be potentially exposed to asbestos on the street where he lives, as well as risking exposure himself. The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Nicholas Sharpe, trading as Sharpe Builders, after he illegally removed and broke up asbestos panels from a home in Castle Bromwich. A HSE investigation found that, during work to convert a garage into a living room, Mr Sharpe had been wearing only a dust mask for protection as he removed a number of asbestos insulating boards from the ceiling. He broke these into pieces and put the uncovered panels on the householder’s driveway. He had no plan for the work and had not acquired a survey of the building, so did not know that the material was asbestos. He also did not provide any information to the householders. The court was told Mr Sharpe did not hold the necessary licence to remove the asbestos boards, and failed to take adequate steps to prevent both the exposure to, and spread of, asbestos fibres generated by his work. On the same date a firm of architects was prosecuted for failing to advise builders of the presence and extent of asbestos insulating board soffits that were being removed from a rugby clubhouse in Aberystwyth. q

Company Profile

‘At the heart of AEC is a vision of providing quality compliance services with an ethical customer focused approach’. n FORMED IN OCTOBER 1997 and proud to have celebrated its 15th anniversary in October of last year, AEC is one of the UK’s leading independent health, safety and environmental consultants. With a head office in Manchester and satellite offices in Cheshire and Liverpool, AEC were proud to see the grand opening and continued development of its London offices at CEME in Rainham, Essex headed by Alan Procter. With more than 100 multi-skilled staff and a turnover in excess of £4million, AEC’s consultants advise on all aspects of health and safety in the built environment, specifically in the areas of asbestos, Legionella, fire, occupational hygiene and high level health and safety support. AEC are also one of the largest training providers for BOHS asbestos proficiency modules in the UK, and provide regular UKATA Asbestos Awareness courses, training more than 3,000 delegates per year. The company has also established business relationships for the provision of occupational hygiene services in Dubai, Azerbaijana and Saudi Arabia. In addition, they hold a vast amount of experience in the following market sectors: social housing, universities, NHS Trusts, hospitals and airports. AEC will continue to train their technical teams to the highest levels, in order to provide new and improved ways of working, and in accordance with current legislation. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

The true impact of accidents on construction sites Time is Money – The Flip Side by Morgan Sindall Group plc Construction Industry Publications £50+VAT

O Construction Industry Publications (CIP) publishes a range

of construction, health and safety and environmental titles. It was formerly owned by the Construction Confederation, but following the demise of that body is now in private ownership. As well as its own publications, including the recently published Construction Environmental Manual, CIP supplies a range of contracts from JCT and NEC, a range of ICE titles and a comprehensive range of price books and other publications for construction companies, sub-contractors, architects, surveyors, civil engineers and health and safety professionals. All can be purchased from the CIP website at www.cipbooks.com, or ordered by phone on 0870 078 4400. R

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WHEN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WROTE in his Advice to a Young Tradesman, Written by an Old One that ‘Time is Money’, he could scarcely imagine the impact the phrase would have or the way it settled into everyday language. However, as this DVD from Morgan Sindall Group plc demonstrates, there is a ‘Flip Side’ to the argument, and attempts to save time by cutting corners with safety can be very costly in terms of both money and people’s lives. The argument is stated baldly in the title: Time is Money – The Flip Side. The message is promoted by a series of short case studies connected by staged scenarios of instances on site where a little time spent preparing can save time off work and the subsequent loss of earnings for both the worker and the company. The figures are added up on screen, with the worst-case scenario – a death on site – resulting in the loss of a life, devastation of a family and the closing down of the site for investigation and re-induction. The main video covers four basic areas of work: work at height, manual handling, trips and slips and the checking of equipment and the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Each of those topics is then the main subject of a shorter video which can be used on its own. A number of other messages are interwoven into the main thrust. Among them is a reiteration of the principal that workmates must look out for each other. “Whatever happened to See it; say it; sort it?”, asks the presenter. There is, however, an underlying message that is chillingly expressed by Mick, whose hand was permanently disabled in a cement mixer. “The whole accident was caused by my complacency,” he explained, adding that people never think it will happen to them. Although the video refers specifically to accidents on site, the videos all have application in many other industries – process, chemical, manufacturing and even distribution – as they deal not with the technical aspects of health and safety, but the thought processes and actions needed to appreciate that trying to save a few moments can have far-reaching consequences. The entire series of scenarios is presented by a hard-talking former construction worker. The camera pans down to reveal his prosthetic leg, the result of contracting the flesh-eating bug necrotitis fasciitis while working in contaminated water without adequate PPE. Those reliving their experiences lived to tell the tale; many do not and leave behind broken families. To help those families and those disabled by accidents, £25 from the sale of every DVD will go to the construction charity The Lighthouse Club. R *Please note that all the people like Mick (with the lost hand), the presenter and all the other accident scenarios highlighted in this DVD did not take place on a Morgan Sindall site.

ACoRP on the up with ladder training TWO KEY MEMBERS OF staff from ACoRP, a federation of 50 community rail partnerships and rail promotion groups, are now fully competent in the use of fall protection systems, following specialist bespoke training from Eurosafe Solutions. Training manager Andy Jennings delivered a bespoke fall protection course to events organiser Hazel Bonner and operations manager Brian Barnsley to ensure they were fully competent in the use of their new ladder system. Eurosafe Solutions installed the 9m ladder at the organisation’s new headquarters, which is a renovated water tower on Huddersfield Railway Station, known as ‘The Old Water Tower’. The not-for-profit organisation moved into their new office in November, after obtaining European funding to renovate the building as a demonstration of the environmentally sound conversion of historic structures. As part of this, the roof of the Old Water Tower was installed with solar photovoltaic panels, which generate electricity for the building during daylight hours to reduce its carbon footprint. Hazel and Brian will periodically need to access the roof to check the solar panels are functioning correctly. The day’s training involved both theoretical and practical elements, with Andy Jennings demonstrating to Hazel and Brian the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment, including harnesses and lanyards. Hazel Bonner, events organiser for ACoRP, said: “The training was excellent and I now feel much more confident about using the ladder safely to access the roof space. The training was very thorough and Andy explained everything fully, including how to fit the harness, which means I now have much greater peace of mind when using the ladder for carrying out routine checks.” Andy Jennings, training manager at Eurosafe Solutions, explains: “Training is essential to ensure that anyone who is required to use ladder equipment is fully competent and confident, as part of maximizing their safety and reducing their risks. Hazel and Brian reached the right level of competence and as a result of this, were successful in passing the course.” Eurosafe Solutions provides a range of fall protection safety courses, as part of ensuring the duty holder is taking the appropriate level of care in protecting workers and resulting in far fewer accidents. q

Hazel Bonner from ACoRP undertaking her ladder safety training

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Demand for higher level apprentices is cemented with record take-up ALMOST 40 COMPANIES OPERATING in the construction industry have signed up to provide their apprentices with university level work based training. Just six months ago Leeds College of Building became one of the first in the UK to offer the innovative new Higher Level Apprenticeship in Construction and Built Environment (Sustainability) course which has been welcomed by the Government. Further partnerships have also been developed, with 17 colleges now offering the course and new partnerships built with sector skills councils, awarding bodies and professional institutions. Sarah Carter, Project Manager for Higher Apprenticeships at Leeds College of Building says: “Construction firms, house builders, architects, NHS Trusts, local councils and transport companies are just a few industries that have apprentices signed up to the course which is helping to shape the future of the construction industry.” The course has been specifically designed for A level students with 80 or more UCAS points, Level 3 Advanced Apprentices, those with BTECs, a relevant HNC or people already working in the industry. The first students to enrol on the course started in September but places are available for September 2013 enrolment. Lee Firth, Technical Programme Manager at NG Bailey, which enrolled several students on the first course says: “This course offers all the sustainability competencies that are key to the

future of the industry whilst maintaining Bethany Wilson, one of the core requirements that are essential in the apprentices on the construction management which makes course it a highly relevant framework. There’s no doubt it will encourage talented new people into the industry and help to produce quality employees who meet the standard academically and can deliver in the workplace.” The students will study towards an NVQ Level 5 in Construction Management (Sustainability) and a Higher National Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment as well as selecting Construction Management, Civil Engineering or Building demonstrates all the latest methods of design, Services as a specialist subject. Successful construction and maintenance.” participants will then be able to pursue a career in Throughout the course apprentices have to apply a wide range of disciplines including architecture, critical reasoning and analysis techniques to solve building services, civil engineering, construction built environment and engineering problems using management, maintenance, planning and industry standards, appropriate codes of practice surveying. and work based evidence. In addition they will Sarah adds: “It’s extremely encouraging that the have to consider the environmental impact of all construction industry has embraced the Higher their activities which could include evidencing the Apprenticeships which such enthusiasm. A lot need to recycle, reclaiming or re-using material of thought went into the development of this resources, waste management planning and qualification which was developed with employers, reducing carbon emissions on projects. q colleges, universities and all the leading sector skills councils in order to add real value to the • For further information on The Higher Level industry by creating a skilled workforce that is Apprenticeship in Sustainable Built Environment productive and can help businesses to grow. At a course at Leeds College of Building visit www. time when university fees have spiralled, the course hasbe.co.uk or www.lcb.ac.uk or call Sarah Carter provides an extremely dynamic alternative which 0113 222 6000.

Skills shortage prompts action at PLANTWORX n THE CONSTRUCTION PLANT-HIRE Association (CPA) will be organising a brand new skills initiative at the PLANTWORX 2013 show at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, the new biennial exhibition which takes place on 14-16 May. The Training and Education Zone is aimed at raising the awareness of the skills shortage across the construction equipment sector and promoting the colleges across the UK which offer various construction plant courses. The show will also see the CPA hosting the presentation ceremony for the winners of the Stars of the Future plant mechanic apprenticeship competition, in conjunction with 16 colleges nationwide. The Training and Education Zone was an idea borne out of a lack of apprentices in the construction sector and aims to encourage new blood into the industry as well as educating companies as to what courses are available across the UK and what grants are available to help fund the employment of apprentices. “The colleges we have approached have all been very positive about the Training and Education Zone,” said Haydn Steele, safety and training manager at the CPA. “Every college offering plant maintenance courses has committed to exhibit and support the zone and also our ‘Stars of the Future’ scheme.” According to the CPA, many construction companies are under the impression that the only college offering construction courses and qualifications is the National Construction College at Bircham Newton, but there are, in fact, more than 15 colleges nationwide offering courses and qualifications, not just in plant maintenance but also management courses.

They include the Hire Desk Operative Apprenticeship Scheme, which colleges will be offering as standard to the industry. “If apprentices were able to commute to their college, rather than move hundreds of miles away in order to attend a course it would encourage more apprentices into our industry and indeed companies to take on these trainees,” said Haydn Steele. Rob Oliver is CEO of the Construction Equipment Association, which organises PLANTWORX. He said: “It is a sad paradox that we have so many people unemployed, yet a shortage of the right match of skills to the jobs that need to be done. From a manufacturer’s point of view our members have had challenges in attracting good engineering personnel into their companies – and right through the supply chain it’s important we up-skill to improve efficiency and output. That is why we are pleased to be partnering with the Construction Plant-hire Association on this PLANTWORX education and training project.” q • To find out more, and register for free tickets, visit www.plantworx.co.uk. www.constructionnational.co.uk

New pictures show giant plant tunnelling away beneath London IF PLANT AND MACHINERY constitutes the ‘big boys’ toys’ of the construction industry, then among the most impressive of those are the huge tunnelling machines employed to construct major infrastructure projects. They are rarely seen, but now Crossrail has released pictures of what it describes as the ‘London tunnelling marathon’ underway beneath the capital. Five tunnelling machines are now operational and platform tunnelling work is underway at several London stations as Crossrail moves into its peak tunnelling period. Over 7,000 people are now employed on Crossrail, with work going on beneath the streets of London 24 hours a day. The new route from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east includes 26 miles (42km) of tunnels – equivalent to a marathon. The five machines now in operation have been affectionately named Phyllis and Ada in west London, Elizabeth and Victoria in east London and Sophia in Plumstead, south-east London. Together they have created more than 5km, or 3 miles of tunnels already, with nearly 500 metres built in the single biggest week of tunnelling to date. In the western tunnels alone tunnelling machine Phyllis (pictured) has put over 1,500 tunnel rings in place between Royal Oak and Park Lane at the edge of Hyde Park. Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail’s chief executive, said: “With 26 miles of new tunnels to be built for Crossrail we are delivering our own London marathon beneath the streets of the capital. This is a huge and complex task with work underway 24 hours a day below London’s streets, but our first few miles of tunnel are now completed. These new underground images show the scale of transformation taking place beneath London and the essential new transport links being created with every metre of new tunnel built.” When Crossrail opens in 2018, it will increase London’s rail-based transport network capacity by 10 per cent and dramatically cut journey times across the city. q

Stolen mini-diggers recovered using advanced plant tracking system n The recovery of twelve stolen brand new mini-diggers, valued at around £200,000, has highlighted the importance of companies taking steps to safeguard the security of their vehicles and plant. The newly-delivered diggers were stolen from an industrial estate in Maidstone, Kent before Christmas. The owners immediately reported the theft to the police, who were able to investigate the crime utilising realtime location data provided by the Skyline tracking system, produced by Essex-based Enigma Vehicle Systems. The Skyline tracking system had been fitted to all of the diggers by Versatile Equipment Ltd, prior to their sale to the end user, allowing Versatile and Enigma to work together to provide vital intelligence to the police. Utilising the location data provided by the Skyline tracking system, the police were able to pinpoint the location of the stolen diggers to a trailer on the A229, north of Staplehurst, Kent. The diggers were recovered and four people were subsequently arrested. Versatile Equipment Ltd, based in Borough Green, Kent has been offering Enigma’s Skyline tracking system to its customers for the past 18 months. Speaking of the successful recovery of the mini-diggers, Lee Chater, sales director at Versatile Equipment, said: “The fact that Skyline was able to pinpoint the location of the stolen plant obviously played a vital part in the successful recovery of the mini-diggers and demonstrated exactly why we feel that fitting the system can be so beneficial.”

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Shot of the diggers before the theft and being recovered (right) Ian Keam-George, chief executive of Enigma Vehicle Systems, said: “This recovery was a terrific outcome for our customer. It illustrates the need for continued vigilance when it comes to plant security and the value of the Skyline system in particular. I must also acknowledge the effort of the Kent Police who pulled all the stops out to assist with this recovery.” Enigma is currently preparing for the release of the eighth upgrade of the Skyline system. Scheduled for June 2013, it will include new functionality including fuel monitoring, equipment efficiency and enhanced CO2 reporting. q • For further details visit www.enigmavehicle.co.uk.

Effective security solutions paramount for protecting construction sites With large, often secluded sites and valuable supplies stored outdoors, construction sites can often face an increased risk of being targeted by intruders, vandals and thieves. Here, JAMES KELLY, Chief Executive of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), discusses how different security solutions can help prevent these threats. SUCH SITES ARE PARTICULARLY difficult to secure due to a number of factors. These extensive sites are often left unattended overnight and this, combined with a transient population of contractors, suppliers and customers – along with the presence of valuable equipment and materials – make these sites particularly vulnerable, putting additional responsibility on the already demanding role of site manager. Security breaches or poorly implemented security measures can have a number of negative effects on construction sites or depots, including financial losses and unplanned downtime, as well as health and safety issues caused by unauthorised tampering with equipment or procedures. Site security is therefore crucial to the successful and timely completion of a project or the continued success of a business. As such, security should be addressed at the earliest opportunity, for example by implementing measures such as temporary CCTV or physical security from the outset.

James Kelly, Chief Executive of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA)

Company Profile

‘Security to meet your needs’. PLYMOUTH BASED DOGWATCH SECURITY are a highly professional NASDU EDI qualified company operating throughout Devon and Cornwall. All of the company’s officers are fully vetted, licensed, uniformed and experienced in carrying out security services. Fully compliant with Health and Safety regulations and fully insured, they can provide references and testimonials upon request and are fully committed to providing customers with an excellent service throughout the contract. They can provide a whole range of security services to suit client requirements – with low prices guaranteed for any type of premises, both domestic and commercial. The overall aim is to ensure that premises are safe and secure at all times. R • For further information call on 01752 768899 or 07982 310658, email dogpatrol@dogwatchsecurity.co.uk or visit www.dogwatchsecurity.co.uk. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Making your mark One particularly cost-effective method of protecting valuable construction materials is by marking them with a forensic marking solution. This includes the use of microdots and ‘DNA’ solutions, which are invisible to the naked eye and applied to the intricate areas of machinery, which thieves would have to entirely remove to be confident of disguising the machine’s true identity. Working in a similar way to our own DNA, property-marking solutions use unique codes to link an item directly to its owner. Just a small amount of ‘taggant’ or dye can be applied to machinery and used to prove ownership should a theft occur.

Securing the perimeter Perimeter security is another aspect of site protection that should be considered from the start. It is the first line of defence against intruders and often comprises physical security measures, including fences, gates, barriers and doors. Significantly, many of the

Company Profile

‘a complete integrated security solution’ HERONGRANGE ARE SPECIALISTS IN providing an integrated range of security solutions for the building and construction industry throughout the UK. They are dedicated to providing a complete integrated solution specifically adapted to meet all challenges on site. They manage all aspects – from initial consultation and site survey through all the stages of system design, manufacturing and installing to system monitoring, on-site response, call-out aftercare and re-commissioning on subsequent sites. All Herongrange systems are designed, manufactured and monitored in-house at the company’s Northampton facility, providing a constant level of service throughout the UK. They work nationally with SIA registered security companies, appointed and managed by them, to ensure that a site has a rapid and accountable response in the event of alarm activation. Clients have the benefit of a single contact point for all site security requirements and Herongrange’s in-house management team can supply information for costs at tender stage, coverage of a new project or even advice on additional security for special events. q locations in question cover large geographical areas and, as a direct consequence, have extensive perimeters which need to be monitored around the clock, as part of an effective security strategy which seamlessly combines various systems and technologies so potential threats can be addressed in a timely manner. A so-called ‘onion ring’ approach is often recommended for such sites, whereby the most at-risk area lies at the core of a layered defence system, which integrates physical security measures with electronic systems to provide an early warning and speedy response to potential breaches. However, construction sites do not always have the resources and manpower to ensure that the site is being monitored 24 hours a day. Remotely monitored alarm systems can help with this issue. If an alarm is set off at a site, personnel at a Remote Video Response Centre (RVRC) can be notified of the breach and will be able to respond accordingly, allowing for around the clock protection and giving site managers peace of mind when they are not in the area. www.constructionnational.co.uk

Company Profile

‘Securing the construction industry’. BOLTON BASED LEISURE GUARD (UK) Limited has been providing uniformed security staff to the construction industry for over 9 years – whether it has been securing public utility ground works, civils works, luxury residential developments or new build retail stores and centres, you would have seen one of their employees patrolling the site in his bright yellow jacket and white hard hat. The role of a security officer on many construction sites has now grown from being a necessary evil just to secure the site at night and comply with a client’s insurance requirements, to someone who is now working alongside intelligent monitoring systems and responsible for ensuring that contractors and visitors alike are complying with all Health and Safety regulations. Saj Kadva, the company’s operations director, who together with his brother Sal formed the company in 1997, says: “Since venturing into protecting construction and development companies, Leisure Guard (UK) Limited was one of the first SMEs to achieve SIA ACS approval for security guarding and door supervision. “We have seen our core activity expand by providing a service that is built upon trust and reliability, with sound management support and offering a true value for money service. All our security staff have undertaken extensive vocational training, which has been an added benefit to the company.” Leisure Guard (UK) Limited have won a host of awards, including in 2008 the prestigious Tiger award and the Bolton and Bury business award. Other acheivements include the Investors in People Bronze Award, SIA Approved Contractor Scheme, NSI Gold, Contractor Plus, Safe Contractor Scheme. The company is going from strength to strength and recognises that its achievements have been won by the hard work of its staff and management team. q • For further information regarding Leisure Guard (UK) Limited visit www.leisureguardsecurity. co.uk or call 01204 535539.

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Site protection in action One BSIA member has reported that its remotely monitored, detector activated CCTV service, which provides vital out-of-hours protection for a builders merchant, has reduced theft at the site by an impressive 80 per cent since going live. The Ossett, West Yorkshire branch of James Burrell Limited opted for the CCTV service after it experienced trouble during its first six months of business. Thefts were taking place, primarily at night or on Sunday mornings, which caused growing concerns. The solution saw cameras and detectors placed strategically around the site, which link to the BSIA member’s BS8418 compliant RVRC. This means operators can view the site and on-screen plans as well as issue verbal warnings via on-site speakers to intruders and alert the police. It has been reported that this solution is a sufficient deterrent in over 90 per cent of incidents. This success is fuelling demand for event-driven CCTV amongst landscape architects, fencing and building suppliers, and builders

merchants, whose large and often secluded sites with valuable, readily visible stock make them particularly attractive targets for criminal gangs and opportunists.

Sourcing a supplier The most important aspect of choosing any security solution is that you choose from a trusted supplier who meets the relevant British and European standards for their products. BSIA members are inspected to these high quality standards and can offer a reputable service. q • For more information about the BSIA and its members, or to locate a dependable security supplier near you, visit www.bsia.co.uk.

Fencing with creative spark CHESHIRE BASED STRIKE FENCING has gained a reputation for reliability and the high quality of their work and for this reason many of their commissions are by recommendation. The company’s management and skilled workforce put great emphasis on providing clients with the best products installed to the highest standards with the least amount of fuss. They give free estimates following a site visit where they measure up and discuss a client’s needs and ideas. If a client would like something a little different, they will use their creative spark and knowledge to meet those requirements. A reputable family business with over 20 years experience, private, commercial and industrial contracts are undertaken and completed to a very high standard by a skilled team. All staff have achieved their level 2 Diploma in fencing, are CSCS accredited and hold EUSR cards. Strike currently have contracts with a number of major developers covering exclusive areas of south Manchester and surrounding districts plus the whole of Cheshire and adjoining counties. q

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ISLE OF MAN FOCUS

Company Profile ‘DPA has completed work across a wide range of construction projects including new builds, renovations and civil engineering projects.’ BASED IN THE ISLE of Man, Design Point Architectural Limited (DPA) is currently celebrating its tenth year of trading and has enjoyed steady year on year growth, despite the recent tough economic climate. Prior to setting up DPA in 2003, the company’s managing director, Malcolm Simcock, spent a number of years working within the construction industry as a site manager. This gave him a wealth of experience supervising a wide range of projects including apartment blocks, local education authority schools and large scale civil engineering projects. Nowadays, Malcolm uses this experience to incorporate ‘buildability’ into his design work and this is carried through to the construction side of the business – Design Point Developments (part of the DPA umbrella). Specialising in design, project management and general contracting work, the current DPA client base spans both the Isle of Man and the UK and, in recent years, DPA has completed outsourced structural design work for a number of architectural practices. Additionally, DPA has completed work across a wide range of construction projects including new builds, renovations and civil engineering projects. In addition to positive customer feedback, recognition by a professional body is important to DPA and they achieved membership of the CIOB as a Chartered Building Consultancy in 2008. Malcolm himself has been MCIOB since 2005. More recently, DPA has become a member of the Manx accredited contractors scheme (MACCS) and the Isle of Man employer’s federation. q • If you wish to contact Malcolm and his team, e-mail design@ architecturalservices.im or telephone 07624 452674.

Company Profile

The full steelwork package

BASED AT FOXDALE ON the island, St Johns Steel Services Ltd are a specialist structural steelwork contractor, steel erectors and steel fabricators offering the full package – from pricing the initial enquiry right through to putting the last bolt in on site. In between these steps comes the in house CAD detailing, fabrication, coating to specification, delivery to site and erection. The company stock a large selection of steel – mainly heavy section beams, channels, flats, angles and hollow sections. They also carry out various types of roof and wall cladding and are specialists in the supply and fixing of metal decking and free standing edge protection systems. In the gallery on their website at www.stjohnssteel.com you can see some samples of steelwork projects they have carried out over recent years and also some fascinating older pictures showing how steel erecting was done in the days prior to the introduction of current Health and Safety Laws. q

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ISLE OF MAN FOCUS

Island’s regeneration focuses on local environments

An artist’s impression of how the next phase of regeneration work will look in Duke Street (main picture) and Regent Street IN EARLY MARCH THE main phase of a major regeneration scheme began in the capital of the Isle of Man, Douglas. The redevelopment of the town centre will involve the laying of large areas of high-quality stone paving and the installation of new lighting, seating and planting, which it claims will deliver a ‘public environment befitting the island’s capital’. In a statement announcing the commencement of the latest phase, the island’s Chief Secretary’s Office said: “Douglas is already enjoying the benefits of the first phases of regeneration work in Nelson Street and Wellington Street, where the finishing touches will soon be added. “This transformation will serve to revitalise the retail area of Douglas and in doing so will help to support economic investment in the town, encourage increased visitor numbers, enhance civic pride, improve public accessibility and reflect the island’s reputation as a world class business centre.” The work is more extensive than would otherwise be the case because the ‘slab’ below the surface is in very poor condition and requires replacement before any resurfacing can take place. Service providers are taking the opportunity to either upgrade existing service or make provision for the future with new facilities. Hon David Cretney MHK, chairman of the Douglas Regeneration Committee, said: “I am pleased that the main section of the works for Douglas is about to start. These works are vital in ensuring the long-term vitality of Douglas town centre.

“The main shopping streets haven’t been updated in more than 25 years and it shows. If we do nothing, there will be further decline which will serve to undermine the hard work of our retailers, for whom the current economic climate is proving very difficult. It is essential that the public continues to support our businesses throughout the regeneration works. Businesses will be open as usual and once completed the transformation of the shopping area will make for a much improved public realm.” The island’s government has recognised that the regeneration of town and village centres across the Isle of Man plays a vital role in supporting economic growth. According to Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK, in order to strengthen its position as an international business centre it must have the infrastructure to match. Government is actively leading and funding a programme of regeneration as part of its drive to breathe fresh life into the island’s commercial areas. The aim is to deliver tangible benefits to residents and businesses, create new employment and investment opportunities, and attract more visitors. As well as the scheme in Douglas, work is underway in Ramsey, Peel, Castletown, Laxey, Port Erin and Port St Mary. Mr Bell said: “I have been critical in the past of the rundown appearance of some of our retail areas as they create a poor impression of the island as a whole. A good quality environment can give the local community a lift and stimulate fresh investment and jobs.

That’s why Government is leading from the front and providing the funding to help local economies to achieve their full potential.” More than 150 projects have already been supported by the Isle of Man Town and Village Regeneration Scheme, which was established in April 2009 with funding of up to £8m. Awards have been approved for a wide range of activities, from minor improvements to individual properties and parades of shops to larger scale schemes to create more vibrant commercial centres. Work has included the painting and repair of shop facades, the installation of windows and canopies and the provision of new street furniture, paving, public art and lighting. Projects are co-ordinated by Regional Regeneration Committees – partnerships between government, local authorities and private enterprise – and influenced by public feedback. The Chief Minister added: “Growing the economy is one of our national priorities and investment in the physical appearance of our towns and villages is just one of a wide range of activities aimed at supporting existing businesses and encouraging new investment. Douglas is our main business hub and gateway to the Isle of Man, and I’m pleased that work has started on a scheme to rejuvenate part of the main retail zone. However, activity is not just focused on Douglas, regeneration funding is being spread throughout the island, so communities should start to see signs of improvement in the months ahead.” R www.constructionnational.co.uk

ISLE OF MAN FOCUS

Company Profile

Mann Crane Hire – mobile crane hire specialists

MANN CRANE HIRE IS a local family run business which has operated from the Balthane Industrial Estate for over 25 years. Specialising in the hiring of mobile cranes, ranging from 25 tons upwards in capacity, has been the focal point for this thriving Manx business, although it is certainly not the whole story. The company also hires out portacabins and storage containers with over 100 currently on the island. At the helm of the business is managing director Barry Barnes who has over 55 years’ experience in the crane hire business. His son, Chris, has notched up 24 years, having been with the family firm for the whole of his working life. Both Barry and Chris can regularly be seen out and about on sites around the island. Nine years ago Barry handed over the day-to-day management of the business to Chris, which means he has to spend the majority of

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his time in the office. The Balthane firm employs a total of 5 people, including qualified operators, banksman/slingers and appointed persons to oversee any lifting operations, either under CPA or a contract lift. As Chris explained: “Mann Crane Hire provides a committed service and we are determined to provide the best possible customer service at the most competitive rates. Our dedication and experience have taught us not to become complacent within the marketplace, and we are constantly encouraging feedback from our customers on ways in which we can improve our service.” q • For more information on the range of services offered by Mann Crane Hire Limited or for a free quotation, please call Chris directly on 01624 824423 or 07624 494804.

ISLE OF MAN FOCUS

The south of the island has a plan ON 1 MARCH THE Isle of Man’s Department of Infrastructure published the Area Plan for the south, following approval by the island’s parliament, Tynwald, in February. The comprehensive plan is now effectively ‘in operation’ and replaces the current set of development plans in the south, which were produced between 1982 and 1999. Its production meets the Government’s Agenda for Change by ensuring that economic development is supported through an up-to-date planning policy framework for the south of the island. The plan balances the need to develop new sites and cater for population and economic growth against the need to both protect the countryside and stimulate renewal and confidence within existing urban areas. Minister for Infrastructure, David Cretney MHK, said: “The plan sets out the best opportunities for development, but does so while protecting all that is special about the environment in the south. There have been difficult issues to overcome, but all of the opportunities for additional land release are focused in, or on the edge of, existing settlements and employment centres. The approach is for managed and sustainable growth and is one which I fully support for the existing and future communities who live, work and have business interests in the south.” Howard Quayle MHK, Departmental Member for Planning, commented: “The new Area Plan is a positive step towards securing homes, economic development and environmental protection in the south. It reduces the number of development plans applicable in the south from five to one and, together with the Strategic Plan, provides a clear and concise planning framework for the south. The department can now move on to bringing up to date the planning policies and proposals for the rest of the island.” q

A housing estate in Castletown

Government department supports the local industry n THE ISLE OF MAN has a well-established, highly-skilled and versatile construction sector which is capable of undertaking most building or civil engineering projects. A full range of professions and trades are available to address clients’ design and construction needs, along with supporting businesses such as quarries, hauliers and supplier merchants. The Department of Economic Development is responsible for the island’s government policy in relation to the local construction sector. Its responsibilities include the government’s own List of Approved Contractors (administered by the IOM Employers’ Federation) and the Scheme for the Certification of Craftsmen. The department is also represented on the Isle of Man Construction Forum, which is a multi-disciplinary organisation established to discuss a wide range of construction issues and promote training and good practice within the local industry. It is also committed to developing the skills of individuals and organisations involved in the construction industry. q

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HOUSING

Award recognises the virtues of building close to home

n IN YORKSHIRE ONE OF the most celebrated names in housebuilding is York-based Shepherd Homes. Part of the Shepherd Building Group, which was founded in the city in 1890 and also includes the famous Portakabin brand, it is still a family-owned private business. Although Shepherd developments are to be found from Tyneside to Lincolnshire, they are perhaps best-known in the company’s heartland of North Yorkshire. Typical is the Willow Bridge development in Dalton, which in October was awarded a ‘highly commended’ in the Large Development of the Year category at the Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards. The Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards are an invaluable opportunity to recognise the very best developments in the UK housing market. Developments are judged on the quality of workmanship and build, meaning Willow Bridge is amongst the highest-quality developments in the UK. Premier Guarantee said of the award: “Willow Bridge at Dalton is a prestigious development of four and five-bedroom properties, together with a number of smaller, affordable homes sprinkled throughout the site.

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Initiative helps homes’ energy A NEW PROJECT TO examine the energy performance of new homes was unveiled on 6 March by the Zero Carbon Hub, the joint industry/ government body set up to deliver a zero carbon strategy for housing. The project, known as DvAB (Designed v As-Built), brings together leading housebuilders and industry experts to investigate the actual performance of homes and better understand how this compares to that expected by the original design. It will consider the construction process as a whole, from design and planning to testing and verification, gathering evidence of areas where an energy use 'performance gap' could occur. Speaking at Ecobuild, Communities and Local Government Minister Rt Hon Don Foster MP announced a new £380,000 grant for the project. The funding is matched by contributions from industry organisations. Mr Foster said: “Home energy bills are one of the biggest costs that people and families face, especially during a really cold winter such as this one. I want to do everything to cut bills by making homes in this country the most energy efficient possible. From today government and industry will be working hand in hand to ensure new-build homes live up to expectations and drive energy bills down for consumers. “The alternative would be further regulation of industry, but I do not want to add red tape and financial burdens that would just be passed on to already struggling homebuyers. Instead, I want to work with industry to improve standards and performance in practice.”

“The development was particularly tidy and safe considering the current level of occupancy. The consistent quality and attention to detail throughout all properties is testament to the commitment of the site management staff and their workforce. They are to be commended for their efforts.” Mark Connors, managing director of Shepherd Homes, was delighted by the award. “Willow Bridge is an exquisite development, and the quality of the build and the outstanding specification included in every house here really does exceed all of our customers’ expectations,” he commented. “Winning the highly commended award from Premier Guarantee really does highlight the outstanding quality of our staff and the materials we use, not only at Willow Bridge but at all of our developments across Yorkshire and the North East.” q

HOUSING

understand use Rt. Hon Don Foster and Neil Jefferson, chief executive of Zero Carbon Hub, at the launch of ‘DvAB’

Neil Jefferson, the chief executive of Zero Carbon Hub (pictured with the minister), added: “This work is fundamental to everything that the housebuilding industry is trying to achieve. I’m extremely encouraged that even amidst the awaited decisions on Part L of the Building Regulations and the zero carbon policy, there are so many organisations and individuals that recognise the need for this work to take place and that want to be involved.” q

RICS investigation gets underway n ON 4 MARCH THE RICS ‘commission’ into the UK housing crisis began hearing oral evidence from members and non-members on recommendations for action to be taken by Government to improve the housing supply. Launching the commission in February, the RICS said: “One year on from the UK government’s housing strategy, housebuilding is still well behind required levels and the UK needs new homes to buy and rent more than ever. Against this backdrop, RICS has established a commission to recommend ways of delivering the right homes, in the right tenure, in the right places.” Michael Newey, RICS President-elect and the chair of the commission declared: “Since the recession first began there has been a great deal of discussion as to what should and shouldn’t be done to get housing supply moving again. With the country well and truly in the grips of an economic downturn it is vital that the market is kept as buoyant and active as possible. This begins with boosting housing supply across the country in areas where it’s needed. “We are looking for input from our members and those in the wider property sector to contribute and offer their thoughts and advice on initiatives and proposals that can help boost housing supply across the UK. We’re also interested in hearing from those in the not-for-profit housing sector, investors, developers, stakeholders and public interest bodies.” q

Ancient village looks to the future n JUST SIX MILES SOUTH of Norwich is a small settlement that is a world away from the bustle of Norfolk’s major city. Mulbarton appears in the Domesday Book as Molkebertuna – meaning ‘dairy farm on the hill’, according to the village’s community website – and has been very much its own community ever since. Its picturesque village sign shows its Norman overlord the Baron de St Omer, together with its parish church (built as a penance for an erroneous hanging in 1285) and an 18th-century Lord of the Manor celebrated for his support of the poor of the parish. In 2011, however, Mulbarton took its place in modern Norfolk with the start of a development of new homes – part of South Norfolk’s Joint Core Strategy. Mulberry Gardens is being developed by one of East Anglia’s best known regional housebuilders, Hopkins Homes, who have designed the development as a community rather than merely a housing estate. The company says of its new development: “The community has been designed to respect the architectural make-up of present-day Mulbarton and South Norfolk, and to offer the latest in building technology and interior design thinking. Not for nothing does Hopkins Homes have a reputation for building homes that are a joy to live in.” Mulbarton retains its village feel, with footpaths and bridleways in every direction, and access to the common at the heart of the village is guaranteed by a century-old local by-law. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

HOUSING

Maintaining standards reaps rewards for expanding contractor IN 2004 DRY LINING installer Michael Eagan parted company with one of the leading players in the industry to set up his own business, Drycore Ltd. His former employer is now a direct competitor to Michael’s company. Michael could see that the industry needed a keen new eye, to raise standards and quality to the levels they had been when he started his training. After founding Drycore he strove to improve his own skills as an operative to cover all aspects of dry-lining. In that way he could train others around him to provide a service both he and his workforce can be proud of. Drycore now offers a comprehensive service in plastering, dry-lining, suspended ceilings and partitions.

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Michael’s first contracts as a new enterprise were prestigious projects in his native North East: a bespoke barn conversion, a dentist’s surgery, conversion of a Grade Two-listed building into apartments and a new apartment block. His success in those early contracts attracted the attention of two major housebuilders: Persimmon and Haslam Homes (now Keepmoat). While the first jobs involved a few units to prove their worth, within two years Drycore was carrying out installations on developments ranging from 75-325 units. More developers joined the growing list of satisfied clients – first Bett Homes (the

housebuilding division of the Gladedale group in the North East) and then, last year, Gleeson Homes. The latest addition to the Drycore portfolio is Gleeson’s Marley Park in Sunderland. Drycore is still very much the hands-on project of Michael Eagan, who in turn values greatly the faith shown by his clients. Says Michael: “We very much appreciate the support of our current clients and remain focused on quality and service. We give 100% in all areas of our business and believe that, when some of our competition is cutting back in areas of quality and service, we are still offering that extra special service at no extra cost. We look forward to whatever 2013 has in store for us.” q

HOUSING

Developer gives local people pride of place

THE FORMER SHIPBUILDING CITY of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear is known for its fierce local pride. And despite the decline of its traditional industries it retains that local identity – taking as much pride in the manufacture of modern Nissan cars as it once did in its ships. That feeling is reciprocated by housebuilder Gleeson, which is currently developing two sites in the city. Gleeson sees itself as being very much involved in the local communities where it builds, taking pride in seeking to employ local workers and refusing to sell homes to private landlords. The result is that local people are predominantly the purchasers of their newbuild homes. A typical example is local couple Michael and Sarah, who were helped onto the property ladder by Gleeson at their Marley Park development. At Marley Park Gleeson is regenerating an area of cleared land into brand new homes priced to suit local people. Michael explained: “As a young couple we were keen to get on the property ladder but still wanted to have spare cash to enjoy ourselves. Gleeson’s sales negotiator Jackie explained that they had a number of schemes that could help us buy, including a deposit match scheme. “Once we looked around the show homes we were hooked, we were amazed at the quality and prices of the new homes at Marley Park and couldn’t believe that our budget stretched to a three-bedroom detached home with garage and garden.” Sarah added: “Marley Park is a lovely development – really peaceful yet close to local shops and the A19. The neighbours are lovely and there is a great community feel. It’s wonderful to finally have a place we can call our own”. The show homes that Michael referred to were officially opened last November by the Mayor of Sunderland, Cllr Iain Kay. After viewing the show homes the Mayor said: “It is wonderful to see new homes being built in this area and I am pleased to hear it’s mostly local people that are buying at Marley Park.” The three show homes at Marley Park have been beautifully designed using the latest fabrics and colours to demonstrate to buyers how space and style comes at an affordable price. All homes on the development feature a driveway or garage with the generously sized gardens enhancing the local environment. q

New phase is heralded by FirstBuy return n WITH A NEW PHASE of homes to be released soon, The Brambles in Chesterfield is proving to be an enduring hit with Gleeson homebuyers. Launched in early 2010, the development of three and four-bedroom homes sits on the border where the town meets the countryside and where the Peak District meets Robin Hood country. “While many people dream of retreating to the countryside, local amenities and a sense of community are also important when deciding where to settle down,” said Gleeson Homes sales manager Sarah Humphries. “Chesterfield has a thriving community, and with two high achieving primary schools nearby The Brambles is the perfect place for families to put down roots.” To coincide with news of its impending new phase launch, Gleeson has announced the re-introduction of the FirstBuy scheme on the development, backed up by a roadshow in March in conjunction with the East Midlands HomeBuy team. q

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HOUSING

Welsh market heads for an upturn, figures show THE NEW BUILD HOUSING market in Wales has been going through a troubled time. However, figures from July to September last year – the latest for which official figures are currently available – show a cause for cautious optimism, with starts up 5% and completions up 9% from 2011, following a fall in 2010-2011. One of the drivers may have been the number of both public and privatesector initiatives to increase access to mortgages. In February Wales’s biggest lender, The Principality, launched a new mortgage indemnity scheme, allowing it to offer 95% mortgages to borrowers who take out an insurance policy to protect their loan. That follows the launch by the Welsh Government of its NewBuy Cymru scheme, which offers the same indemnity to first-time buyers, backed by the government and housebuilders. Huw Lewis, the Welsh Government’s housing and regeneration minister, said: “If we achieve 3,000 sales at the average price of a new home, this could mean sales of up to a value of half a billion across Wales, and with estimates that for every £1 spent on house-building, £1.40 in gross output will be generated across the economy as a whole, this is quite a contribution to the Welsh economy.” q The Welsh Government’s housing and regeneration minister, Huw Lewis

Local developer leads the way n ONE COMPANY BETTER PLACED than most to take advantage of the predicted upturn in housebuilding in Wales is Anwyl Homes. From its base in Rhyl, the company has been building ‘Homes of Distinction’ in North Wales and Cheshire for over six decades and has recently expanded its portfolio into that other traditional Marches county, Shropshire. The company is justly proud of its reputation: “All our homes are constructed by local people employed by Anwyl Homes for their proven expertise and experience in house building,” the company’s publicity states. “Their skills are self-evident in the quality and range of houses we build, from compact and economical starter homes through to spacious family houses and bungalows, designed to make life easier and more comfortable.” q

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Seaside homes benefit from regeneration effort n ANWYL HOMES IS CONTINUING to enjoy success at its new site in Benllech on Anglesey – Awel Y Mor. With its comprehensive mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes the development has ample choice for all buyers – from couples to families and even those looking for a coastal pied à terre. Benllech itself has all the charm of a pretty Welsh seaside town, but with the added attraction for new home buyers of easy access to the main road across the island to the mainland via the Menai Bridge. Anglesey is at the heart of a major regeneration programme by the Welsh Government. In February it announced a series of new grants in both Anglesey and the mainland around Menai, known as the Môn â Menai Regeneration Area Programme. According to the announcement: “The main priorities of the three-year programme include a low carbon focus improving infrastructure, building on key heritage and natural assets, developing sustainable communities and promoting innovation and skills.” q

HOUSING

All aboard for a home with prospects

Invaders turn the tables

THE SMALL SETTLEMENT OF Llandudno Junction in Gwynedd has for a long time enjoyed a special position on the North Wales tourist routes. Once known as Tremarl, it acquired its new name and elevated status when the railways brought mass tourism to the coast in the Victorian era. It is indeed the ‘Junction’ on the line to Llandudno, the turn-off from the coastal line to Bangor and Holyhead which ran to the new holiday playground of Llandudno some three miles away. Nowadays the town is a main residential area for those wanting a quiet place to live away from the bustle. It is also the site of a new North Wales headquarters of the Welsh Government, opened in 2010. Across the estuary in Conwy are the twin architectural jewels of Henry II’s castle and Sir Thomas Telford’s quaintly Gothic suspension bridge – which carries the railway on its more prosaic way. It is a fitting setting, then, for one of Anwyl Homes’ prestigious developments: Parc Marl. Now in its second phase, the development of around 70 properties includes no fewer than 14 house styles. In terms of its location, Llandudno Junction again lives up to its name. A short drive brings access to the facilities of Llandudno itself, with its traditional seaside attractions linking with the brand new Venue Cymru, itself built on the site of a Victorian theatre, while a hop across the bridge brings you to Conwy itself. Here the historic ruins sit cheek-by-jowl with the charm of the harbour and the smallest house in Great Britain. Needless to say, the spacious interiors of Parc Marl are a world away from that quirky The Beaumaris at Parc Marl property. q

n THIS THREE-STOREY, four-bedroom town house is just one of the range of properties currently on offer at Anwyl Homes’ Boundary Way development in Saltney, Flintshire. The collection of styles also includes large detached properties, semi-detached and mews houses and a row of apartment buildings fronting onto Boundary Lane, which gives the development its name. Boundary Lane also forms the border between Wales and England – being only a couple of miles from the centre of Chester – so that residents of the Boundary Way development could well find themselves in the novel situation of colonising a major English city from their Welsh base. Nevertheless, the development benefits from being within the administrative area of Flintshire, which carries with it the ability to access the development efforts of the Welsh devolved administration. A quick hop over the border will bring all the facilities Chester has to offer, from its iconic Roodee racecourse – which claims to be the oldest in England – to its historic Roman walls and its upmarket shopping. q

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HOUSING

Scottish scheme extends to cover part-ex FROM 28 JANUARY, THE MI New Home scheme in Scotland has been extended to allow homebuyers to trade-in their existing property in part exchange for a new build up to the value of £250,000, with the benefit of a 95% mortgage. The Scottish Government, which is backing the scheme, says the incentive offers another solution to creditworthy home owners by removing the problem of finding a buyer in the current market. When coupled with high deposit requirements averaging 25%, that can often result in a frustrating wait to purchase a new property. The impediment was highlighted in a Bank of Scotland Home Movers Review, which showed that ‘second steppers’ are “bearing the brunt of the stagnant housing market” as they struggle to fund deposits averaging £47,000. Philip Hogg, chief executive of homebuilding industry body Homes for Scotland, said: “This latest announcement is a welcome addition to the wide-ranging number of benefits associated with the MI New Home scheme. “As well as providing confidence and reassurance through a guaranteed sale at a guaranteed price, part exchange also removes the stress and hassle which can be associated with putting your home on the open market. It also means there are no home report, estate agency or advertising costs.” The MI New Home scheme is also available to first time buyers and aims to assist those locked out of the housing market to achieve their home ownership aspirations at the same time as supporting the sale of desperately needed new homes and safeguarding vital jobs and apprenticeships. q

Stirring things up among the links n DUNDAS ESTATES’ FAIRWAYS VIEW development in Irvine, on the Ayrshire coast, is causing a bit of a stir among househunters in the area. Visitors have been particularly impressed by the Drum show home and the Alexander ‘view’ home – both three-bedroom terraced villas. Dundas recently announced that groundwork has commenced on the second phase of the development, which features two and three-bedroom bungalows and three, four and five-bedroom detached villas, provoking a flurry of visitors to the development all eager for more information. The first phase offered a choice of three-bedroom terraced villas, including the Drum and the Alexander. The Ayrshire coast is known for its links golf courses, and Fairways View – as its name suggests – is located between two of the best-known, offering views over greens, bunkers and fairways. The development is located just minutes from Irvine town centre, a bustling town with a real sense of community. Fairways View is also close to the Irvine Beach Park where residents can relax with a stroll by the Firth of Clyde. For a day trip or a longer break the beautiful Isle of Arran is a short ferry ride away from the nearby port of Ardrossan. Although new to Irvine, Dundas Estates have been building homes across the central belt of Scotland for many years. They have a long and distinguished track record of providing outstanding quality and service and are part of the James Walker Leith Group, a highly-reputable construction company that was established in 1863. q

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HOUSING

Conversion finalist is a secret no more n THE GLAMIS GARDENS DEVELOPMENT by Dundas Estates – the conversion of former hospital medical residences in Dundee – has been described as “…something of a well-kept secret in a quiet corner of Dundee’s prestigious West End”. That is, however, no longer the case, following the development’s nomination as a finalist in the Conversion category in last year’s Scottish Homes Awards. A statement issued following the nomination said: “After careful scrutiny by the judges of its imaginative design, appealing location, special features and energy efficiency, the Glamis Gardens development has received industry acclaim and recognition, earning a well-deserved place as a finalist in the Scottish Homes Awards’ Conversion category.” The development has certainly been bucking the downward trend in new home sales in the rest of the UK. Interest has been growing in recent months as more and more people become aware of the exciting, new development. Tucked away in a quiet, residential part of the city, Glamis Gardens is an open, campusstyle development. The tree-lined site boasts a range of 28 three-bedroom, linked villas. In this peaceful, small community there is a real sense of being at one with nature

in a truly green environment surrounded by mature planting. Dundee itself is also fast becoming the place to live in Scotland, with one official website claiming you get “twice as much house for your money” there. The city is pursuing a bid for UK City of Culture in 2017 and the brand new V&A Dundee is scheduled to open in 2015. q

Are these the Fair City’s fairest homes? n A FEW MILES FROM the city of Perth, known both as the Gateway to the Highlands and the Fair City (after the eponymous heroine of Sir Walter Scott’s novel), is the small town of Bridge of Earn. Sited close by the M90, which links Perth into the main motorway system at Edinburgh, Bridge of Earn is set among some of the most stunning scenery in Scotland and is also close to a number of medieval castles and even Roman ruins. The four-bedroomed Esk It is also the site of Strathearn View: a collection of two and three-bed terrace, three-bed bungalows and four-bed detached villas by Ogilvie Homes. Stirling-based Ogilvie Homes is better placed to know the market in Scotland than many of the larger developers from south of the border, and that is reflected in the popularity of its developments, which feature house designs named after the rivers, firths and lochs of the Scottish countryside. Most are also conveniently sited to access the major cities. q

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Reprise of popular designs adds to development’s attractions WHEN CALA HOMES ANNOUNCED in November that it was adding new house types to its portfolio at Woodilee Village in Lenzie, near Kirkintilloch, it marked the re-introduction of designs not seen in over a year. The new homes are sure to be a welcome addition to the development as the range includes previously sell-out designs, including the four bedroom Colville, Crichton and Dewar. Liana Canavan, sales and marketing director at CALA Homes (West), said: “The collection of new homes offers a wide variety of choice to families searching for their dream home and I am thrilled to unveil some The Ranald at Woodilee

of our most popular house-types. Homebuyers have been waiting for quite some time for these houses to once again become available so I am confident they will be snapped up quickly. “With a range of house-types available, each offering a flexible layout, Woodilee Village is the perfect place for your family to grow. We look forward to welcoming potential home-buyers to our showhome at Woodilee so they can get a glimpse of how moving to a CALA home could be the best move they ever make.” Woodilee Village is being built on the site of the former Woodilee Hospital in the village, which was founded in 1875 as the Barony Parochial Pauper Lunatic Asylum. The hospital was closed in 2001 and fell into decay. Now, Woodilee Village is a development of 56 four and five-bedroom homes set in woodland, with the Bothlin Burn running along the south eastern edge. Phase one of Woodilee Village earned for its site manager Michael Carrigan a prestigious Pride in the Job award from the NHBC. The professional approach of Michael and his team has no doubt contributed to its popularity. Said Michael: “I’m on site to deliver a quality product and I take incredible pride in my work. I’m very consistent with my approach to building CALA homes, and ensure each and every home is of the highest standard.” Michael has worked in the building industry for 20 years, having started out as an apprentice joiner. He continued: “Woodilee Village has been a fantastic challenge for the team and I am sure phase two will continue to generate a lot of interest from the industry and potential homebuyers.” q

“Too late!” was the cry ANYONE WHO IGNORED THE advice from CALA Homes in December regarding the last couple of available plots at their Thorntonhall development near Glasgow will now find themselves disappointed if they had designs on a new home there – for the last remaining detached home on the site has now been reserved! With just 12 homes being built on the prestigious site, which has been described as one of Scotland’s most sought after postcodes, it is little surprise that the collection of five and six-bedroom detached properties has been snapped up quickly. A further two showhomes were added only in November. q

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