UK Construction v16n3

Fire detection and life safety system solutions made simple

v16 n03

Also inside this issue...

News, reports, comments, profiles and site projects Bidston Moss Viaduct Strengthening work leads to award-winning success p38

The Rail Alliance The UK’s fastest growing rail networking organisation p40

St George’s Park Creating the FA dream to transform grassroots football p65

New Capital Quay The finest new riverside development in London p70

Open to ideas‌ With in-house design, specification and a huge range of bespoke doorset and door kit options to choose from (including fire-resistant, sound-insulated and Secure by Design endorsed products), Stairways will become your only door supplier.

Call 01926 818770 to discuss your perfect doors.

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WACSUK FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEM SOLUTIONS

installation…integration…innovation.

Design, Commissioning & Inspection Services for Fire Detection & Alarm Systems to BS 5839-1:2002+A2:2008 Fire Protection for Electronic Equipment Installations to BS 6266:2011 Voice Alarm Systems to BS 5839 Pt 8 2008 Emergency Voice Alarm Systems to BS 5839-9-2011 Aspirating, Gas Detection & Environmental Systems

Cause & Effect Construction - Programme and Commissioning Services System and Network Upgrade & Integration Specialists Multi-discipline, Multi-protocol Engineering Teams Specialist Fault Finding Works Technical Support Services Bespoke Solutions

ADVANCED WARNING AND COMMUNICATED SYSTEMS UK LTD

Tel: 020 7060 3530 Fax: 020 7060 3532 Web: www.awacsuk.com Email: info@awacsuk.com Registered Company No: 7160974

APPOINTED SERVICE PROVIDER TO THE HAC BARRACKS LONDON - 2013

FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEM COMMISSIONING OF LSE LONDON - 2012

FIRE DETECTION & REFUGE/DISABLED ALARM COMMISSIONING OF RICKSTONES ACADEMY – 2011

FIRE DETECTION, WATER MIST AND DELUGE SYSTEM COMMISSIONING OF TELECITY 2 - 2012

Our goals: To service our clients to their site specific requirements and to offer a complete, professional and competent service at all levels.

Advanced Warning And Communicated Systems UK Ltd was borne from what was felt to be a real absence of experienced engineers within the fire industry and, as such, many companies were lacking experience and technical knowledge, especially in large or more complex installations. We carry out a range of works but are increasingly called upon to provide senior engineering services for programming, commissioning, inspection services and on-site training for smaller to medium sized companies that do not have that facility in-house, along with system upgrade, integration and monitoring solutions for the larger contracts. We provide site training and supervision to assist contractors with the standards and

The UK Fire Association

Here to help

regulations required within the industry and show how to achieve best practice methodology throughout. Regular training for all levels of staff ensures professionalism and competence throughout. Our aim is to offer a simple and educated solution to fire detection and alarm systems.

Our up and coming training courses will give engineers hands on experience with most open protocol systems and a chance to try out fault finding techniques, and understand problems that can arise on systems, what causes them, and how to locate and remedy them. The classroom will also allow them some interaction on panels they don’t normally use, or see. Learning the basics of a system and how to interoperate with it gives the engineers a chance to build confidence with the systems, and a confident engineer in front of your client gives them an assurance that

they’re in good hands. We also carry out site based visits, more and more for facility and fire management companies as they take over new contracts. We carry out surveys and inspections and train their staff in the basic operation and interpretation of their system, and offer programmable solutions to known site issues such as false alarm management, third party system integration and fuller system utilization.

Our methods: We aim to utilise the latest technology and equipment to ensure compliance and correct operation. Our clients decide which manufacturer or protocol they wish to utilise, however, we will offer impartial advice when sought.

Our Philosophy: Knowledge is there to be passed on.

WACSUK

FIRE DETECTION & ALARM SYSTEM SOLUTIONS

FPA

Fire Protection Association

Oneway TM offers a 24/7, nationwide, bespoke traffic management service using the latest in highway safety technology. Approved by CHAS and EXOR for safety, quality and competence, you can be assured of a professional and cost effective service.

From the simplest pedestrian management layout through to high speed traffic management schemes, Oneway TM will utilise the most cost effective and flexible solution to carry out the works.

We will ensure that from your initial enquiry through to completion of works, Oneway TM will provide high quality, personal and reliable methods to satisfy all of your requirements, and we pride ourselves on detail, safety and a 1st Class image.

Temporary Traffic Signals / Control Two Way diesel powered systems - Two Way battery powered wireless systems Multi Phase battery powered wireless systems - Plant Crossings Convoy / Shuttle systems - Manual Stop / Go - Remote Robo Stop / Go Using the latest in wireless temporary traffic signals, Oneway TM are able to configure traffic control at junctions with the most complex of layouts and can mimic existing multi headed permanent systems so as to maximize traffic flows.

Temporary Pedestrian Crossings Basic two way Pedestrian Crossing - Pedestrian Crossing configured into any temporary signal layout Oneway TM can supply approved temporary pedestrian crossing systems that will ensure the safety of the public whilst keeping traffic flows at their maximum. These systems are extremely flexible and can be installed and removed speedily to minimise disruption.

Telephone: 01977 663384 Email: sales@onewaytm.co.uk Web: www.onewaytm.co.uk

3D STEELWORK DETAILING WITH TEKLA STRUCTURES TECHNOLOGY. DMR Structural Ltd. Neaton Business Park (South) Norwich Road, Watton, Thetford, Norfolk IP25 6JB

Tel: 01953 885502 Fax: 01953 884604 E-mail: info@dmr-structural.co.uk

www.dmr-structural.co.uk Consultancy 6

Understanding The Human Psyche and The Need to Fight Human beings are incredibly complex. Now there is an understatement if ever I heard one! We have evolved considerably from our “cave man” past but the traits needed for survival are still ingrained in our DNA, whether we like it or not. Depressing as it is, we also have tribal instincts embedded in our psyche. Just look at the various religions, football teams, associations, companies, clubs, etc, etc. I try to be a good Catholic – but fail regularly! However, I like being part of the Catholic community. It makes me feel safe and gives me an identity. We all want to belong.

Humans like to compete. We have evolved, but the “hunter gatherer” mentality is part of who we are. We want to win and these traits are embedded in us. You simply cannot escape from who you are. The need for us to compete can manifest itself in our personal lives, in tribal pursuits and at work.

We all like to think that we are incredibly civilised, good and reasonable. I am no different but I know that if anybody ever harmed my wife or daughters the veils of respectability, normality and conformity would slip, leaving behind a raw and damaged being intent on retribution, revenge and destruction. It makes me feel uncomfortable thinking about such things but we all need to know who we are and what makes us tick. It can also be extremely helpful in allowing us to get to know and understand our opponent.

Now you might be wondering “What has all this got to do with the usual subjects of adjudication, arbitration and mediation that this column is dedicated to?” Well, if you allow me to change direction, I will now explain.

I remember being involved in a very difficult mediation. The parties’ identities and the details of their particular dispute will remain secret for all time but what I can tell you is that the dispute was over a fairly modest claim of around £250,000. The parties had embarked on a long and very expensive arbitration. In fact, the parties managed to spend around £5 million in legal costs between them before the award was due to be published and it was decided to try to

mediate. Common sense had evaporated and the dispute had turned into a fight to the death.

The mediation was scheduled for two days.

Both teams were well prepared. The tension in the rooms was incredible. I have never seen so many experts and lever arch files of evidence assembled for a mediation. Day One was spent fact-finding and understanding the parties’ positions. At the end of a very long and tiring Day One, I was sure that the mediation was doomed to failure. I was looking at a large cross on my mediation log! I remember sleeping very badly that first night. How had things got to such a low point? How would I move the parties from their embedded positions? Did anybody have the telephone number for Paul Daniels the magician?

Sometime during that first night, I realised that any further discussions on the merits of the parties’ cases in the dispute would not be helpful. How could I get the parties to engage? A change of direction was clearly needed!

Day Two started with a joint session attended by both parties’ lead negotiators and myself.

I put a number of questions to the lead negotiators which I asked them to take back to their private rooms for a private discussion later in the day.

Did both parties recognise that there could be no winner in the arbitration? Why had the parties taken the decision to arbitrate? What would their clients think of them if their conduct ever became public knowledge? Did they know how they had got into such a mess? What was driving them to continue with the arbitration? Why had they agreed to mediate? What did a ‘win’ in the arbitration look like? What did a ‘lose’ in the arbitration look like? Did they really want to settle? Had anybody any ideas to move the mediation forward?

the main proponents. It was painful but it was finally admitted, somewhat reluctantly, that a serious clash in competing personalities at site level was the root cause of a dispute that now had the capacity to destroy one or both parties.

The dispute did finally settle at the end of Day Two of the mediation. I am still not quite sure how it happened but at some time during Day Two a certain amount of introspection took place in both rooms. Once both parties realised that human traits had driven them to a place that threatened their very prospects for survival, a way out had to be discovered. Gambling on the Arbitrator’s award was not an option for either party.

Now I can hear you say that you would never allow this to happen to you - and just maybe you would avoid such a disaster. All I can offer by way of advice is to analyse yourself and the personalities in your team. It is a truly frightening thing to analyse your own personality traits and, whilst I don’t suggest you apologise for your caveman past, if you are to avoid a replication of this sobering story, perhaps it is worth the discomfort after all.

Peter Vinden is a practising adjudicator, arbitrator, expert and mediator. He is Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership and can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk.

What followed was a series of private sessions with the parties. We went through the questions I had put to them. Those discussions have to remain private but it is fair to say that the tone of the discussions changed to an analysis of the personalities of Regent House, Folds Point, Folds Road, Bolton BL1 2RZ t. 01204 362888 f. 01204 362808 tvp@vinden.co.uk www.vinden.co.uk

PROFILE 35 40 51 53 54 59 66 76 77 78 90 94 98 108 116 118 119 120 128 134 136 144 144

Geotek Heating Ltd The rail Alliance mhs Homes CB Precast Ltd Enterprise Plc Partner Construction m3 Ltd FeRFA Stainforth Construction Buckinghamshire County Council Ecobuild 2013 KFC Bouyges Energies and Services Pickstock Group Barwin Duco Ltd Lend Lease The Peel Group Woodford Heating and Energy Mclaren Construction J Greenwood Builders B&A Construction Novus Leisure

EDUCATION 36 37 37 52 58 65 66 95 96 99 99 110 113 116 117 130 131 143

Aylesbury High School Derek Crothall Building Owler Brook School Richmond Hill School Tollbar Academy St George’s Park Bodmin College MH wills Physics Laboratory Westminster Kingsway College Wade Deacon High School Telford College of Arts and Technology Birkenhead Sixth Form College West Minster School St Laurence School South Craven School Willoughby Road Primary School Liverpool John Moores Chester Blue Coat School

COMMERCIAL 39 62 70 91 107 125 126 135

Turbine Business Park Cavalry Square New Capital Quay Queen Mother Square Four Ashes Industrial Estate Citroen UK, Small Heath Oiline Ltd Bombay Sapphire Distillery

COMMENTS 24 25 26 27 28 30 32 162

Sheridan Gold - Jonathan Marvin RLF - Sean Clemons NHBC - Neil Smith CITB-ConstructionSkills - Mark Farrar Autodesk - Will Nicol Velux - Keith Riddle Thomas Eggar - Kim Teichman Turley Associates - Conor Hughes

CIVIL 38 46 68 87 100 106 109

Bidston Moss Viaduct London Underground 150th Anniversary Kings Cross Square A470 Maes Yr Helmau to Cross Foxes London Array Wind Farm Whittington Barracks White Rose Way

LEISURE 67 102 112 145

Foreshore Leisure Centre Kia Oval London Dungeon Chichester Festival Theatre

HOUSING 39 72 86 91 119 121 130

Chestnut Homes David Wilson Homes Newton Thorpe North Town, Aldershot Chartford Homes Gannex Mill Site Development Upper Pulrose

26 COMMUNITY 88 114 124 142

Heart of East Greenwich St John’s Church Open Treasure, Durham Cathedral Methley Working Men’s Club

HEALTH 92 New Hub Laboratory 122 Waverley Grange Nursing Home

NEWS

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Editors Victoria Lee Gareth Trevor-Jones Staff Writer John Train Editorial Raimy Greenland Robert Atherton Copy Laura Anderson Christie Newport

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Fugro Seacore’s Ports and Harbour’s Expertise The key to the successful installation, extension and repair of port and harbour facilities is teamwork, effective planning and having a main contractor or experienced subcontractor who is a specialist in this area of construction work. Fugro Seacore, the world’s leading overwater drilling company based in Falmouth in the UK, is a prime example - offering complete construction packages for port, harbour and jetty installation and regeneration.

With a fleet of its own jack up barges and cranes, and the largest range of specialist pile top drills in the world, Fugro Seacore comes well equipped to carry out the full construction role required for port and harbour installations. And it has the tools and ability to address the inevitable challenges which arise in a marine environment.

Fugro Seacore has provided its construction services to ports and quaysides all over the world from Newlyn in Cornwall and Holyhead on Anglesey to Gothenburg in Sweden and Cape Lambert in Western Australia, and has worked on contracts for clients including Irish Ferries, Stena Line and BP in various market sectors.

With the company’s extensive experience it can provide all aspects of installation works required in the port environment from navigation marks, berthing

& mooring dolphins, walk-ways, platforms, fenders and jetties to moorings, bollards and winches, in addition to the electrics for flood lighting.

When it comes to drilling, Fugro Seacore specialises in drilling foundations to depth by offering basic ‘relief drilling’ or large diameter ‘rock socketing‘ and achieving very accurate and fast drill rates. Larger diameter piles are increasingly required to cope with the loads associated with today’s bigger, heavier container ships, ferries and liners.

When creating sockets for piles, the task of drilling through broken rock (frequently encountered following blasting for dredging) can prove a challenge, as experienced during the installation of a new quay at Peterhead in Scotland. In this instance, casings were successfully drilled down by Fugro Seacore - to ensure that the sockets remained open to install the piles - and then extracted as the piles were grouted with high strength grout into the sockets.

Fugro Seacore manages every aspect of each project and works closely with the client to plan a bespoke and flexible programme of work that accommodates the exacting requirements of the job and vessel movements in the port. This ensures that ferry and boat schedules can continue as normal with minimal disruption or lost revenue during the works.

Fugro Seacore: Bickland Industrial Park, Falmouth,Cornwall TR11 4TA

Fugro Seacore has over 34 years of experience developing pioneering equipment for drilling and construction in the sea. The company’s success can be attributed to the fact that it designs, develops and operates its own in-house equipment, ensuring each contract, large or small, is carried out with tools that are tailor-made to suit the requirements of the job at hand.

Fugro Seacore’s equipment is backed by a highly trained, experienced team with an extensive track record, technical expertise and knowledge of different ground conditions and marine environments in various parts of the world. The company’s pool of directly employed, experienced field operatives are trained in health and safety, and drilling and construction techniques beyond industry standards.

The dedicated in-house engineering team based in Falmouth, UK continually develops new equipment and operational techniques which are then deployed by the Fugro Seacore team on projects worldwide, often in quick turnaround after contracts are signed.

"We offer a full construction package for port and harbour needs, backed by our highly skilled drilling expertise and equipment. We tackle all tasks in all marine conditions and guarantee a professional and efficient service every time." said Sam Whitaker, Marine Installation Services Manager for Fugro Seacore.

E: Info@fugroseacore.com www.fugroseacore.com

UKC NEWS

Pinewood Studios’ script for 15 year expansion plan Pinewood Studios, advised by planning and urban design consultancy Turley Associates, has submitted a planning application to almost double the size of the Studios at Iver Heath, South Bucks, in response to growing international demand.

The £200M scheme will support around 8,000 UK wide jobs and has been prepared in support of Government policy to grow the UK film, TV and screen based industries.

Pinewood is an iconic brand in the film industry and a world leading studio facility.

It is at the centre of the West London media

cluster and home to recent productions such as Skyfall, Les Misérables and Jack Ryan.

The scheme will provide circa 100,000sq m of new build features including stages, studios, workshops, offices and external film set space together with improvements to access, car parking and circulation.

The scheme includes innovative proposals for fixed ‘streetscapes’ of typical European and US locations, which could, for example, include Paris and New York.

The Pinewood Studios Development Framework (PSDF) is a longterm plan

founded upon the existing Pinewood screen media hub, which includes a multitude of skills and facilities and hundreds of millions of pounds of investment.

Rob Lucas, CEO of Turley Associates, said: “We have worked over the last nine months with Pinewood and the advisory team to develop a sustainable scheme that responds to market demand and which is fully supported by Government policy.

The development will bring exceptional economic and cultural benefits which justify a grant of planning permission.”

Marley Eternit Natura specified for super school Marley Eternit fibre cement Natura has been used to clad the new £35M BREEAM ‘Very Good’ St Catherine’s Academy and Firwood High School in Bolton.

Sheppard Robson specified fibre cement Natura in three different shades of grey to create a contemporary and durable emulation of traditional stone work on the new ‘super school’ building. This appearance was further enhanced by fixing the Natura panels in a vertical configuration to add a contemporary twist.

Jonathan Davis of Sheppard Robson Architects said: “We specified a Marley

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Eternit fibre cement facade to represent externally the interconnected blocks of the building. By using three different Grey colours of Natura, with a random arrangement, we were able to emulate the appearance of stone or slate bands and create the degree of articulation that we required.”

The building has been designed as a ‘super school’ to accommodate the amalgamation of an all age academy with 1,160 students and a collocated Special Educational Needs (SEN) facility. The aim of the build was to produce a ‘single learning community’

under one roof, with flexible space which can be adapted to the changing needs of the school population.

The Natura panels are secret fixed to Marley Eternit’s aluminium frame system using structural adhesive to create a sheer, smooth facade. The rear ventilated cavity created between the Natura panels and block wall provides the building with enhanced weather performance benefits.

The client on this project was Cross Land Academies and The Church of England Diocese of Manchester. The Main Contractor was Kier Northern.

NEWS UKC

Constructing a future for Castle Vale pupils Walsall Integrated Services has donated £1,000 worth of materials to provide hands on construction experience to pupils at Castle Vale College. The annual donation by the heating, plumbing and building products supplier will be used in the college’s MITIE Skills Centre which provides 14-16 year olds with the opportunity to gain a BTEC in Construction.

Each year, Castle Vale College prepares 140 teenagers for work in the construction industry with a mix of classroom and workshop teaching at its Skills Centre, one of only five in the country to be set up by facilities management Company MITIE. Practical workshops include painting and decorating, carpentry and joinery, electrical and plumbing and bricklaying.

Chris Durrant, who runs the Construction BTEC at Castle Vale College, explains: “Each year Integrated Services provides £1,000 worth of materials to help us offer a much more practical course than other school in the West Midlands. Very few schools are able to run this kind of vocational qualification for year 10 and 11 pupils and if they do, it usually isn’t as hands on as our course. The Integrated Services branch in Walsall provides us with the materials we need to give pupils a broad skills base, from screwdrivers and masking tape to doors, wire strippers and copper pipe.”

The construction BTEC has been running at Castle Vale College for six years and 140 pupils a year from the college and surrounding schools undertake the course, which is equivalent to between two and four GCSEs. Malcolm Bruton, Branch Manager at Walsall Integrated Services, comments: “Pupils at Castle Vale College are very lucky to be able to benefit from such an interesting vocational qualification at a young age and we’re delighted to help them get as much hands on construction experience as possible.”

Lafarge Tarmac and the Environment Agency deliver Commonwealth Fellowship Lafarge Tarmac was recently selected by the UK government’s regulator for England and Wales, the Environment Agency, to take part in its prestigious Commonwealth Fellowship scheme to promote best practice and improve compliance across its network.

Held over four weeks, six fellows from Commonwealth countries Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, representing their respective country’s environmental regulator and cement industry, were invited by the Environment Agency to spend time with them learning about how it works with the cement industry in the UK. The fellows then spent time with Lafarge Tarmac, the UK’s leading building materials manufacturer, learning about its pioneering environmental and sustainability initiatives as well as its operational management processes.

Fellows were split into groups of two and hosted at different sites within the Lafarge Tarmac network by a specialist to discuss the business’s stakeholder tools and policies, management systems, community engagement activities and biodiversity

restoration projects.

The programme culminated in a tour of the Imperial College carbon capture pilot plant in central London. The only facility of its kind in any academic institution in the world, the pilot plant contains the latest in process control and instrumentation technology, provided by world leading engineering Company ABB. The pilot plant aims both to equip students with the practical skills needed for a career in industry and demonstrates best practice of capturing and storing harmful carbon dioxide before it can be released into the atmosphere.

David Shenton, National Environmental Manager, Lafarge Cement UK said: “The Commonwealth Fellowship Programme has given us a fantastic opportunity to share our experience in managing our environmental impact whilst bringing together regulators and industry which we hope will deliver tangible business and environmental benefits to the countries where these fellows live, while also enhancing our relationships here in the UK between all parties.”

Extraordinary stories about ordinary things The Design Museum has the UK’s only collection devoted exclusively to contemporary design and architecture.

This new permanent collection display reveals intriguing insights in the most exceptional of everyday objects.

The opening of the museum’s permanent collection marks an essential milestone in the journey towards the future of the Design Museum at its new home in Kensington, where the entire top floor will display the museum’s collection of 20th century design.

The exhibition presents six key stories through hundreds of items, offering a diverse investigation into the impact of design on our everyday lives. The exhibition will show the surprising origins of famous and lesser known designs, alongside contextual images and documents.

National identity is explored through objects that define a nation such as the phone box, road signage, the post box, the London 2012 logo and the Euro. The story of the development of the London 2012 logo tells how for the first time in history of the Games, the Olympics and Paralympics embraced the same logo. The logo was created to be a ‘design for everybody’ and the exhibition will reveal the design

process and thinking behind this symbol of Britain as a world stage and allow audiences to interact with it.

A section on Modernism provides a snapshot of a remarkable and dynamic period of design in Britain, shown through iconic pieces of furniture, products, textiles and architecture.

Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum says: “Design matters at every level. It is what makes daily life a little better; it is about the big economic changes that the world is going through. It is about the designers and the manufacturers, but it is also about the users. It is a unique way of making sense of the world around us.”

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UKC NEWS

Heathrow announces £3Bn of new private sector investment in UK infrastructure Heathrow has announced £3Bn of investment in Heathrow airport in addition to the £11Bn that has been invested since 2003.

The announcement forms part of the airport’s business plan for ‘Q6’, the regulatory period which covers 2014-2019, and it represents one of the largest private sector investments in UK infrastructure.

The plans include the completion of Terminal 2 and the early works on extending the building; the development of a new integrated baggage system; and the construction of new taxiways and stands which will allow Heathrow to accommodate more of the most modern aircraft.

Heathrow is the UK’s only hub airport,

accounting for 78% of all long haul flights from the UK. Like much UK infrastructure Heathrow historically suffered from outdated facilities and decades of under investment.

Since 2003, Heathrow has invested £11Bn in the airport, one of the UK’s largest private sector investments. Investment includes the construction of Terminal 5, a new Terminal 2 due to open in 2014, new baggage tunnels, and the refurbishment of Terminals 3 & 4.

Colin Matthews, Chief Executive of Heathrow said: “Heathrow is the UK’s only hub airport and a strategically important national infrastructure asset. Heathrow

faces stiff competition from other European hubs and we must continue to improve the service we offers passengers and airlines.

We have invested billions of pounds in new facilities such as Terminal 5 in recent years and passengers say they have noticed the difference. Our plan for a further £3Bn of private sector investment will further improve the airport for passengers. The plan represents good value for money for airlines and passengers and comes at no cost to taxpayers.”

The Civil Aviation Authority will now develop and consult on its own proposals for Q6 before coming to a final decision on airport charges in January 2014.

ISG completes £38.8M Wood Lane Studios project ISG has successfully completed the £38.8M Wood Lane Studios scheme. Developed by Voreda and Imperial College London, the building provides high quality and highly sustainable accommodation for students and key workers in the Capital.

Wood Lane Studios was constructed on the site of the BBC’s former worldwide HQ site near White City. The BREEAM Excellent rated development comprises studio accommodation for 606 postgraduate students in four ten-storey blocks, which are linked at ground floor level, alongside three timber framed, three-storey residential buildings providing key worker accommodation.

The concrete frame student accommodation blocks feature a range of attractive facade elements, including high quality stone, aluminium and copper rainscreen cladding, with brick facing at ground level and glazed lift lobbies. The development has a spacious reception and common areas, with every studio apartment incorporating a private bathroom and kitchenette, along with communal and study areas.

The aesthetically attractive key worker accommodation combines brickwork with cedar and copper rainscreen cladding, in addition to green and brown roofs, reinforcing the sustainable credentials of the development.

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Engaged on the project at an early stage in the design process, ISG worked collaboratively with Voreda and Imperial College London to add value to the scheme from both a commercial and environmental perspective. ISG also worked closely with the supply chain to drive value engineering, quality and the aesthetic imperative of

the scheme. An example of this approach saw collaboration with the bathroom supplier on the research and development of a combined bathroom and kitchen pod, maximising installation efficiencies and representing one of the first applications of combined pod usage in a student accommodation scheme in the UK.

NEWS UKC

Legal & General secures planning for St George’s House in Croydon Legal & General Property has announced, on behalf of its UK Property Income Fund, that it has received a resolution to grant planning permission from the London Borough of Croydon’s planning committee for St George’s House, Park Lane in East Croydon.

The refurbishment of St George’s House will create a unique, high quality residential address and an enhanced public realm in Croydon town centre. The use of the building will be changed from office space to residential use, providing approximately 288 new homes, including 23 affordable housing units, with community and retail uses at ground level and roof top garden space for residents.

The scheme will deliver a new iconic feature for Croydon’s skyline by introducing a ‘stepping’ effect to vary the height of the tower blocks, whilst different architectural treatments will be used to soften the aesthetic appearance of the building. Ranging in size, all the apartments will have a balcony and access to the rooftop garden space, and will provide sophisticated living space in a key location for commuters, families and young professionals.

Charlie Walker, Director at Legal & General Property, commented: “Last night’s decision marks an important step forward for Croydon and is a strong testament to the hard work we have put in over the past year to ensuring that our proposals not only complement the existing qualities of the borough, but contribute to its wider regeneration, enhancing its position as a desirable residential location. We believe that not only will this scheme deliver much needed high quality residential accommodation to the very centre of town, but should bring a new lease of life to the area by significantly improving the public realm, creating a more accessible and attractive civic space for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

2013: A year for positive growth Housebuilder Elan Homes is looking to grow its portfolio in 2013 with the expansion of its Southern division.

In a positive step, the privately owned business has moved its regional head office from St Mellons, Cardiff, to brand new headquarters in Clevedon, Somerset.

The strategic relocation will ensure that the division’s base is more central for current and future developments across the South West and South Wales.

Managing Director for Elan South, Rob Flood, said: “Our office move represents a natural progression for us as we continue to expand the number of locations we are building in. The past year has seen us make steady progress but we are now actively looking to grow throughout 2013.

We have several new and exciting projects already in the pipeline and are also seeking to increase our land bank.”

The housebuilder rounded off 2012 with a number of current developments nearing sell outs. One such success

story is the prestigious The Orchard venture in the picturesque village of Welland, near Malvern, which has just one home remaining.

Rob added: “We are looking forward to the next 12 months and building in new locations throughout South Wales and the South West, which will continue to provide our customers with homes and environments designed to stand the test of time.”

The housebuilder is now looking towards developing new sites in prime locations throughout 2013. These include the imminent launch of Blenheim Grange, off Hayslan Road, Malvern, with two-, threeand four-bedroom detached homes and bungalows, plus another new site on Lyde Road, Yeovil, which will eventually feature three- and four-bedroom family homes.

Elan is also pursuing interest in a number of further sites, near Bath, Swansea and North Devon and is actively seeking more land with development potential.

Transport Minister visits London Gateway’s state-of-the-art port technology State-of-the-art fully automated stacking cranes (ASCs) currently being installed at the UK’s new national hub port will increase reliability and ensure smoother, more efficient operations 24 hours a day, even in weather conditions that would force non-automated systems to close.

One of the first to view the new equipment being erected was UK Transport Minister Stephen Hammond, who witnessed the first of 40 ASCs being constructed at London Gateway, which opens later this year.

Stephen Hammond MP, commenting on the ‘immense scale’ of the new London Gateway port and Europe’s largest logistics park, said: “It really is quite an astonishing example of how UK plc can bring together the best of the best to plan, design, finance, construct and operate world leading port infrastructure.”

The reliability offered by fully automated ASCs that are able to operate in adverse weather conditions comes as welcome news to hauliers who are often required to deliver containers to warehouse or distribution centres within a 15 minute window. A port operations stoppage can cause immense disruption, as time slots can be lost, adding

unnecessary cost, delays and frustration across supply chains.

Independent studies predict that more than 65 million road miles and 148,000 tons of CO2 emissions will be eliminated from the UK’s supply chains when London Gateway is fully built.

The London Gateway construction site spreads over an astonishing three square miles. The Minister was able to see for himself the extraordinary pace of activity as 2,000 construction workers build the new port and what will be Europe’s largest logistics park.

London Gateway is one of the UK’s largest privately funded infrastructure projects and is expected to create 36,000 jobs when fully developed.

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www.shorts-lifts.co.uk

Follow @Shortslifts on

A reminder that workplace pensions law has changed and you should act now.

The date the law applies to you depends on the size of your company, but to give yourself time to prepare, visit The Pensions Regulator at tpr.gov.uk/actnow where you’ll find out all you need to know.

Workplace pensions. We’re all in.

UKC NEWS

i3 launch of renewable energies and environmental technologies

Over site development application submitted for Bond Street station Crossrail and development partner Grosvenor have submitted a planning application to Westminster City Council for a major over site development (OSD) at 65 Davies Street in Mayfair.

The 65,000sq ft development will be located above the western ticket hall for Crossrail’s Bond Street station. The proposed scheme comprises six floors of office accommodation above the station, served by an entrance lobby on Davies Street.

The contemporary office scheme has been carefully designed by PLP Architecture to be sensitive to the traditional architecture of the neighbouring Mayfair buildings, incorporating high quality natural materials with a richly detailed facade. The design also incorporates a ventilation shaft that will be constructed as part of the works to build the Crossrail station western ticket hall.

Grosvenor will be responsible for

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delivering the OSD aspect of the scheme once Crossrail station and ticket hall construction works are completed in 2017.

Ian Lindsay, Crossrail’s Land and Property Director said: “Crossrail will boost the West End’s position as a thriving cultural and retail destination and the new commercial space at Davies Street will further enhance the wider Oxford Street area. Sites above Crossrail stations, including Bond Street, are being developed with public spaces around stations improved to ensure we take full advantage of the huge redevelopment opportunities Crossrail is bringing to London.”

Over 155,000 passengers use Bond Street Tube station daily and with the arrival of Crossrail services in 2018, passenger numbers are expected to increase to 225,000.

Over 20 major construction firms attended a special Waste and Resource Efficiency seminar event in Southern Regional College (SRC) Greenbank campus as part of a week long series of events to launch i3, a new initiative to support businesses in a number of sectors including Renewable Energies and Environmental Technologies.

Brian Doran, CEO of SRC said: “i3, industry, innovation and incubation, represents an investment of £500k from SRC and is designed to foster innovation and support growth in local companies through the support of a dedicated, highly skilled team of 15 research lecturers.“ Hosted by Michelle Daly, i3 Renewable Energies and Environmental Technologies Research Lecturer, attendees were provided with best practice examples from Dr Ian Garner, Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Liam McEvoy, Henry Brothers, Richard Robinson from the award winning firm McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd and Consultant Mark Browne.

Miss Daly said: “We are delighted to have these speakers share their expertise, knowledge and innovative ideas with the businesses here today, in order to highlight areas where resource efficiency and waste management can improve company performance, green credentials and save money. It’s been a very valuable event and through the new i3 initiative I look forward to continuing to work with local companies on developing and researching renewable energies and environmental technologies to benefit their business and support their growth.”

All i3 lecturers work exclusively with businesses offering knowledge transfer and support through research and development, one-to-one mentoring and specialist training. In most cases the support is funded so businesses can access the expertise with little or no costs.

Painting - Decorating - Joinery Kitchens - Bathrooms - Decking Tiling - Laminate Floors Many other Good Quality Services Competitive Quotes 07775 605 175 or 07943 179 058 or 01772 379246 kevin.pritchard14@btinternet.com

National ● International ● Container Storage Complete Office Moving Services ● Project Move Management Crate and Equipment Hire

Outside play, learning and meeting areas T: 01925 811311 www.twinfix.co.uk/canopies

Offices nationwide Tel: 0800 279 2505 Fax: 0845 075 3695 www.johnsons.uk.com

Head Office Unit 13 Imperial Park, Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 9RS Cambridge Office Rosewood Offices, Freckenham Road, Chippenham, Cambridge CB7 5QH

T. 01268 655037 F. 01268 655038 E. info@professionalbuildingsolutions.co.uk www.professionalbuildingsolutions.co.uk

Professional Building Solutions Ltd (PBS) is a building contractor working in both public and private sectors throughout London and the Home Counties with offices in both Essex and Cambridge.

Professional Building Solutions Ltd

What We Do We deliver on time, within budget with a delivery mechanism which is second to none. Only the best quality and management is acceptable, which is a culture strongly imposed throughout the business by the management team.

Our Objectives To perform for our clients the highest level of quality construction services at fair and market competitive prices. To ensure the longevity of our company through repeat and referral business achieved by customer satisfaction in all areas including timeliness, attention to detail and service-minded attitudes. To maintain the highest levels of professionalism, integrity, honesty and fairness in our relationships with our suppliers, subcontractors, professional associates and customers.

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Widestripe Engineering (UK) Services Ltd. Unit 5 & 8 Gordic Square, Maxwell Road, Woodston Industrial Estate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE2 7JH. Tel: 01733 239 020 Fax: 01733 311 972

V.P. Fabrication Ltd. Unit 5, VP Square, Storeys Bar Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE1 5YS. Tel: 01733 552 888 Fax: 01733 311 972

Services include: • Design • Electrical Installation & PAT Testing • Electrical Supplies • Fabrication • Filler Weights • General Material Supplies • Lift Installation • Lift Removals • Lift Shaft Installation & Testing • Machine Shop • Sheet Metal & Architraves • Shot Blasting • Site Surveys • Steel Structures & Shaft Division Screening • Welding

www.widestripe.co.uk

YOUNGS DOORS

Over 30 Years in the industry for this Door Specialist

Youngs Doors manufacture and supply bespoke & standard flush doors and door sets with either laminated, paint grade or timber veneered facings. They also supply timber panelled doors & door sets, all of which meet the BS476 Pt22 fire requirements.

Based in Norwich, Youngs Doors, who are part of the Drayton Building Services Group and a division of R.G. Carter Holdings Ltd, have been manufacturing bespoke & standard flush and panelled doors for over 30 years, distributing them across the UK and abroad.

In 1989, the company achieved registration to BS EN ISO 9001, and in 2006 to ISO 14001,with OHSAS 18001 being added in January 2009. A Commitment to Achieving Investors in People has been registered. The Quality Management Systems in place are regularly audited to give assurance to all of their customers that their high standards are maintained throughout all of their management and manufacturing processes.

The company first exhibited at Interbuild in the 1970s. All products are manufactured to the highest design and specification standards and are fully compliant to all current fire and acoustic test evidence. All Fire rated doors and doors sets are third party accredited through the BM TRADA Q MARK fire certification scheme.

Youngs Doors product range features bespoke & standard flush doors and door sets to meet both 30 and 60 minute fire performance levels, door

and door sets to meet 120 minute fire performance levels are also available. Specialist areas of manufacture include high acoustic sound-reducing doors, lead lined doors for x-ray protection, security doors and ballistic doors.

Panelled doors as either single or double leaf sets are also available to meet both 30 and 60 minute fire performance levels. A wide range of finishes can be applied to all Youngs Doors products.

The company offer their comprehensive range of services to the commercial and industrial sectors including healthcare, education, retail and local authority. Youngs Doors provide sound knowledge and in-depth advice on products and services without any obligation to the client. Their flexible work ethic and vast knowledge incorporating products, design, material selection, manufacture and testing allows clients the peace of mind to know Youngs Doors will find the best possible solution that suits their customer requirements and specification details.

Additionally, Youngs Doors also incorporate mechanical and stability testing in accordance with the Timber research and Development Association.

Youngs Doors stress their stringent environmental policy whereby they regularly source wood from suppliers who ensure that all materials are from documented sustainable sources. The company recognizes a responsibility to its customers, suppliers and staff to base its commercial activities on well-managed forests. The company

supports the designation and continuing existence of forests for environmental, social, timber and non-timber needs.

Over the last year, Youngs Doors has been building on the success of previous years with continued improvement of technology and investment in new equipment. Recently the company completed several high profile contracts. For Norwich Union Data Centre, the company supplied Acrovyn clad doors and door sets. For Kingston Hospital in London, they supplied bespoke doors with sail-shaped glass apertures. For North Kent Police headquarters in Gravesend, they supplied veneered doors, and for Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in North Mimms, they supplied plastic coated doors sets with engineered frames.

In the past, Youngs Doors has been a regular supplier to the Tesco’s stores with flush doors that have been used for new, extension, and refurbishment projects with all products delivered on schedule according to the main contractor’s programme requirements. Overseas, the New Benghazi Central Hospital in Libya benefitted from specialised doors with X-Ray shielding and high acoustic tolerance values.

Coming up, Youngs Doors have new contracts with several prestigious clients including the University of East Anglia, Cornerstone City Developments in London, and Hertford Regional College.

UKC COMMENT

Litigation Privilege Jonathan Marvin, Sheridan Gold LLP Sheridan Gold have written previously in these pages on the topic of “privilege”.

In the English legal system, parties are obliged to disclose not only the documents on which they rely but also those that adversely affect their case. Privileged documents are documents that are protected from disclosure. The two main types of privilege are legal professional privilege and litigation privilege. Legal professional privilege is regarded as a fundamental right and protects communications between a lawyer and their client, if they are confidential and for the purpose of legal advice. Litigation privilege relates only to communications between a client and their lawyer or with a third party at the stage when litigation is pending or in contemplation and only communications made for the sole or dominant purpose of obtaining legal advice or conducting litigation. If litigation is merely one of several intended purposes of equal or similar importance of the material, that is not enough.

How to assess whether a document is covered by litigation privilege was recently considered by the Technology and Construction Court in Transport for Greater Manchester v Thales Transport & Security Limited [2013]. An issue remained following the main judgment over the litigation privilege claimed in respect of several documents produced for the Defendant by a consultant. The consultant was engaged by the Defendant and prepared reports on an ad hoc and regular weekly basis.

The Defendant had argued that after a certain date, the reports produced by the consultant were for prepared for the dominant purpose of gathering evidence and information for use in relation to contemplated proceedings.

The judge noted that it was clear the onus

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of proof that documents are subject to litigation privilege is on the party asserting such privilege. The exercise of determining whether that onus has been discharged should be based on all the available information and the judge must be able to have regard to all such evidence as well as appropriate inferences to be drawn from the evidence. In respect of the certain of the documents produced by the consultant under his consideration, he noted that commercial and claim related matters had been dealt with together. It was not clear that one or the other was the dominant purpose. There was also no evidence of a written instruction that might reasonably be expected if there was a departure from the previous retainer. The title of one document, “Project Management & Forensic Support” did not suggest that the latter (which might have related to the contemplated litigation) had greater weight than the former.

The court was asked to look at a particular report itself but the judge declined to do so. This was because the onus was on the Defendant to establish that the dominant purpose of the report was in connection with contemplated litigation and it had not discharged that burden. Furthermore, the Defendant had been given the opportunity to put in further evidence to demonstrate that the document was subject to litigation privilege and it had done so. Inspection of a document by the court is generally to be adopted where the court feels unable to reach a decision based on the evidence alone, which the judge did not consider to be the case.

Consequently, the claim for litigation privilege was unsuccessful. This case highlights the importance of a careful attitude towards documents that are being prepared when litigation is contemplated.

The particular observations made by the judge are useful and underline the significance of relatively simple steps, such as ensuring there are written instructions where there is a change in the purpose of any advice being provided by a third party and the distinction of documents dealing with litigation and non-litigation related issues.

Sheridan Gold LLP Tel: 01737 735088 Fax: 01737 735001 Email: info@sheridangold.co.uk Jonathan Marvin

COMMENT UKC

Funding Further Education projects proves a challenge, but it pushes colleges to think long-term about regeneration and development Sean Clemons, Associate Partner, Robinson Low Francis The bleak economic climate the UK has suffered over the past five years has had a major impact on a number of industries and sectors across the country. The era of austerity ushered in under the Coalition Government has seen budgets slashed and major infrastructure projects halted in a bid to reduce the deficit and put the financial system on some kind of even footing. One sector in particular that continues to feel the severity of these cuts is, of course, education.

One of Michael Gove’s first actions as the Secretary of State for Education back in 2010 was to announce the scrapping of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Following a review of the previous Labour Government’s ambitious school building scheme, the call was made for it to be cancelled, citing enormous wastage in the procurement process which required both construction companies and cost consultants to devote large amounts of time and money in a lengthy and often very bureaucratic bidding process.

Earlier this year, the replacement Priority School Building (PSBP) programme was launched, which aimed to focus on those schools that desperately required investment rather than the blanket upgrade of existing infrastructure within secondary schools across the UK – dubbed the biggest school building programme since Victorian times. Just by taking a look at the budgets set aside for each programme, one can get a sense of the incredible differences in the funds committed by each Government; For BSF, Labour estimated the cost at staggering £55bn compared with the Coalition that initially set aside just £2bn for PSBP. The review set up by Mr Gove aimed to identify the most dilapidated schools across the country and distribute funds accordingly. Of the 587 schools that applied, only 261 were successful leaving many governing bodies that had planned for major upgrades or even rebuilds left disappointed.

Further Education (FE) colleges have suffered similar funding difficulties over the same period and have arguably been hit harder by the introduction of tuition fees that have dissuaded a number of students from studying beyond the GCSE/NVQ level.

The restrictive and limiting funding models available to FE colleges at present are increasingly challenging education bodies to think long and hard about how they can improve existing facilities as opposed to building wholly new ones. As opposed to being given a lump sum at the beginning of a project to develop straight away as colleges used to receive, the recently formed Skill

Funding Agency (SFA) and the Education Funding Agency (EFA) – which have already completed their initial funding rounds – offered some upfront funding but this was only guaranteed if matched by another two thirds of the college’s own funding.

The SFA, which deals specifically with the further education sector, is the latest funding stream to come online (as of July 2012). Colleges in its first funding round could apply for up to £3 million in funding under the enhanced renewal grant which had an overall pot of £81 million and also via an upgrade renewal grant for improving existing facilities where colleges could apply for up to £120,000 of funding. The EFA deals specifically with sixth form colleges, and had similar levels of funding available under the ’16-19 Demographic Growth Capital Fund’ in its first round. But the match-funding system still poses a huge challenge to FE bodies looking to upgrade their facilities; in many cases, where £3 million is available to a college, they will then have to supplement that with an additional £6 million of their own funds. This situation is further compounded by the fact that on average, UK college’s are receiving less funding per pupil on a revenue basis than they were four years ago.

The challenge for colleges is to compete to attract new pupils but in order to do that they need to upgrade their existing facilities – with the same colleges competing for a limited funding pot that is proving less and less feasible. The issue is compounded for some colleges that were in the process of realising development during the last days of the Learning and Skills Council, which has since been replaced by the SFA and Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) organisations. Colleges that had approval in principle for new large-scale redevelopment were advised to not spend money on maintaining existing facilities which were soon to be replaced. In some instances, colleges had made the decision to decant into temporary facilities on the assurance that new projects would proceed. When the funding fell through some colleges were left with a maintenance legacy that they didn’t have the finances to resolve. The result has meant that more money is being spent on trying to maintain an ageing estate rather than being allocated to building up reserves for new capital projects. Such colleges find they are in a situation where they can’t afford to begin work on/complete the new-build development due to the need for contributing the additional two-thirds of funding and equally have no money to

upgrade their now ageing facilities.

That said, the current fiscal restraints mean colleges are increasingly being forced to think about long-term master planning rather than rushing to build in the shortterm in order to secure external funding, which is a good thing. By rationalising their estate, colleges with multiple sites might choose to consolidate and sell off portions of their existing facilities, or move to a cheaper location altogether.

Worthing Sixth Form College in Sussex for example, struggled to get the funds up to develop new facilities so entered into an agreement with a major UK developer to redevelop the nearby Aviva headquarters in the town enabling the college to relocate there. The developer in this case took ownership of the old college site with a view to redeveloping it into a housing estate.

Northbrook College, also in Worthing and a current Robinson Low Francis client is in the process of disposing of part of its site to enable the achievement of the second phase in the redevelopment of their estate.

There are risks associated with this strategy that must be considered, as the more space sold off means there is less to work with if expansion was a future option but with careful planning, this risk can be minimised.

Back to the funding issues. While the value of capital funding available is now lower than in previous years, there does seem to be a more regular stream of funding available annually. Certainly the Chancellor’s recent Autumn Statement, which as part of a wider £5 billion capital projects programme made provisions for up to £270 million of additional funding for use in match funding schemes. This regular access to funding can help colleges to develop plans at an appropriate pace, rather than rushing to grab the latest packages available from Government. If they feel confident that there will be reasonable levels of funding appearing over the long term they can focus on a gradual redevelopment of their sites, incorporating both new-build and focused refurbishment. This has to offer the chance for a more sustainable way forward than has gone before.

Sean Clemons T: 01273 325781 E: brighton@rlf.co.uk

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UKC COMMENT

Overheating: An issue on the rise in housebuilding Neil Smith, Group Research and Innovation Manager, NHBC Until now, the majority of UK homes have not given cause for concern with regards to overheating, with temperatures inside remaining acceptable for homeowners even when outdoor temperatures peak.

However today, with a new generation of highly-insulated homes and greater weather extremes, the phenomenon of overheating in new homes is of increasing concern.

Alongside the practical guidance issued last year – Understanding overheating: where to start - NHBC Foundation’s latest report Overheating in New Homes: a review of the evidence addresses this issue further and concludes that, as the Government’s 2016 zero carbon target nears, overheating in residential property needs to be better understood by the industry.

Overheating occurs when homes struggle to expel built-up heat from external and internal heat gains and is not an issue only confined to the summer months. As new homes are built to constantly higher levels of insulation and airtightness for ever greater energy efficiency overheating is on the rise.

At present, the number of reported cases of overheating in existing homes is still relatively low when considered in the context of the size of the UK housing stock. However, there is no denying that enhanced specifications, higher standards of airtightness and increased thermal insulation in new homes are in some instances causing indoor temperatures to reach uncomfortable levels.

Our research has found that some energy efficiency measures can actually contribute to the risk. For example, there is evidence of increased overheating in dwellings served by communal heating systems, indicating that the design and installation of systems require special attention. In some instances the levels of pipework insulation required to adhere with Building Regulations is insufficient to effectively

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minimise heat gain and this coupled with a lack of effective ventilation of communal areas and service voids is causing some areas to overheat.

Previous assessments of, and existing research into, overheating in homes often make the assumption that opening windows is enough to counter this build up of heat. The Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) – applied uniformly across the housing stock and throughout the UK – also makes equally simplistic assumptions about ventilation and its effect on reducing overheating.

Unfortunately, in practice this may not be the case, with window opening simply not an available option to homeowners in some urban locations due to security and noise concerns. As such more needs to be done to consider ways to counter the problem and, given the complexity of the issue, the whole industry will need to take action.

Steps to mitigate overheating will need to be introduced at both the planning and the building stages of development to avoid occupants taking measures into their own hands like installing air conditioning units into their homes; which would undermine the zero carbon homes objective.

One of the most pressing issues at the moment for tackling problem however is the lack of a universal definition of overheating and clear national thresholds.

More also needs to be done in researching the impact and health concerns of the issue. By setting accurate thresholds and parameters planners, designers and authorities will be enabled to tackle overheating more effectively whilst continuing in the drive for more energy efficient homes. Left unaddressed however and the potential risk to occupant health could escalate.

There is also an education exercise required to ensure occupants understand and participate in reducing heat build-up in their own homes. Educating occupants

about appropriate ventilation and cooling methods, for example using curtains or shutters during the warmest part of the day to keep out the sun while windows remain open is one example of the behaviour change required.

In summary, overheating is a growing concern that needs to be better understood.

Having guidelines and universally accepted parameters for the industry to follow would help to move the industry in the right direction but without aligning this to greater education on the ground, new homes risk growing ever warmer. www.nhbc.co.uk E: nsmith@nhbc.co.uk

COMMENT UKC

Cut the Carbon: Two years on Mark Farrar, Chief Executive CITB-ConstructionSkills Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITBConstructionSkills looks back over the two years since the launch of the Cut the Carbon Campaign. He explains the progress that has been made to bridge the low carbon skills gap, and the action that is still needed.

October 2010 marked the launch of CITB-ConstructionSkills’ Cut the Carbon campaign aimed at helping small and medium sized construction businesses (SMEs) prepare for low carbon work opportunities by getting the right skills and training.

The need for the campaign was highlighted by a survey of Clients in 2010 which revealed that almost half of SMEs had a poor understanding of low carbon.

Since then, the industry in general and SMEs in particular have made significant progress towards bridging the skills gap that had threatened the industry’s move towards low carbon excellence.

Nonetheless, like the rest of the construction industry, smaller firms are finding it difficult to survive in the current economic climate. A report by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in October 2012 found that just 18% of firms expected an increase in workloads in the coming quarter. The availability of low carbon work through the Government’s Green Deal from early 2013 could provide an important lifeline.

The first objective of the Cut the Carbon campaign was to raise awareness of the need for low carbon skills amongst SMEs - and highlight the opportunities that low carbon has to offer. Various initiatives have the potential for creating future work for SMEs - including Green Deal, Renewable Heat Incentives and the Government’s pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 – the trick will now be to make the most of these opportunities.

Through training schemes and funding, more SMEs than ever before are looking to gain the necessary low carbon qualifications and experience. But while progress so far has been good, there is still some way to go before the UK has the strength and depth it needs to underpin an established low carbon construction industry.

While SMEs are starting to see the importance of low carbon to the future of construction – and a number of industry

events, such as iNet, have specifically targeted SMEs on the topic of sustainability, it is important that they learn from the experience of those firms which have already taken action to gain the right skills and training.

Abergavenny-based Red Builders, for example, provide all aspects of the construction trades from the foundations of a building through to secondary fixings and have realised the importance of low carbon skills to taking advantage of work opportunities. Red Builders’ employees have undertaken the External Wall Insulation and Sustainable Construction courses as part of the Delivering Low Carbon Skills project.

The Delivering Low Carbon Skills project is just one of a number of schemes that have become available in the last few years, and the support for SMEs from Government and industry is much more advanced than at the beginning of our campaign in 2010.

Earlier this month, Energy Secretary Ed Davey reiterated the importance of low carbon skills and training at the opening of The Power Assessment and Training Centre in Carshalton.

Also, following a contribution of £500,000 to low carbon qualification from CITBConstructionSkills, the government has pledged a further £2M, further proving the Government’s continued support for the low carbon agenda.

While this all represents positive progress towards narrowing the low carbon skills gap, there is still work to be done. As SMEs awareness of low carbon has increased, the Cut the Carbon campaign has also evolved to support SMEs through specific courses and training. The response from SMEs to CITB-ConstructionSkills’ low carbon seminars has been strong.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that all SMEs have easy access to training and qualifications and together with the National Construction College (NCC) and other institutions we are working to ensure that training and development can be provided without massive disruption to businesses.

Information on what is available is available at www.cskills.org/cutcarbon Looking forward, the opportunities for SMEs are crystal clear. The work will be there and there will be money to be made

for the best prepared firms. A skilled workforce able to carry out quality work will boost customer confidence and drive up demand. My message to SME’s is to invest in developing new skills to reap the rewards low carbon has to offer.

The Cut the Carbon campaign was launched in October 2010 by a partnership between CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC).

The Cut the Carbon portal -www.cskills. org/cutcarbon- gives information on the Green Deal as well as advice and guidance on taking advantage of low carbon opportunities, details of training and qualifications and the latest information on policy and legislative changes. www.cskills.org T: 0344 994 4400 www.cskills.org/cutcarbon

Mark Farrar

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UKC COMMENT

BIM: How construction businesses can drive advantage?

Will Nicol, Head of Sales, AEC, Autodesk With asset owners seeing increasingly tangible benefits and the government’s impending requirements for public sector projects, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is now emerging into the spotlight of mainstream acceptance.

The early adopters have certainly gained an advantage over the rest of the market – if for no other reason than the pure efficiency benefits that a BIM-enabled approach proffers over traditional project delivery.

But in an AEC marketplace where the use of BIM becomes the norm, how might an individual company change its use of BIM to always ensure it has a competitive edge?

The increasing ubiquity of BIM lies at the heart of the problem. Once a technologyenabled process achieves mass adoption, it’s unlikely to give an individual company a sustained competitive advantage if it’s being used in the same manner as the majority of the market. Whilst efficiency is lasting, advantage is fleeting.

So what’s to be done? Well, by looking at similar, IT-enabled processes, we can make a good guess about how to counter this erosion of advantage. How? Through a more strategic approach to BIM, centred on three practices: ••Standardised Delivery: using BIM in a consistent, commoditised and controlled manner across your company ••Business Alignment: leveraging the extensibility of BIM as a potential ••source of new services, value-add and business agility ••Business Intelligence: capitalising on the large pools of highly structured information that are associated with BIM-enabled projects by ‘looking into the I of BIM’ Standardised Delivery: the cookie-cutter Standardised delivery means that you’ve made BIM part of your operating philosophy. You’re getting a repeatable, known outcome each time you implement BIM, with known benefits and known costs. BIM is now a known controlled OPEX on a project, backed up by a solid policy, procedural and standards-based infrastructure across your organisation.

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You have a small group of experts at corporate HQ whose job it is to improve your usage and capture the best ideas, qualify them, quantify them and take the right ones forward. The end result; you have the most efficient use of BIM (maximum benefits, minimum overhead).

Business Alignment: into the boardroom Efficiency will get you so far. But we all know that if you’re competing for the efficiency prize, the end-point is commoditisation and if you’re not careful you can get dragged into a price-point war. There is of course the value path that can be followed and following that path is more likely to sustain your advantage in the market. Business alignment poses just such a question. How can you leverage BIM’s extensibility to compete from a value perspective?

What new BIM-based services might you be able to offer to customers or the wider market? As a platform for new services, it could be argued BIM is only limited by the imagination of the user. Equally, can using BIM help you extend your reach, whether geographically or into new sectors? Each new service or new region gives you another string to your bow when competing for work.

Business Intelligence: advantage from information And so to perhaps the most interesting potential source of advantage. For years now many other sectors of the economy have practiced the notion of business intelligence. By searching vast amounts of information they’re able to spot patterns that offer them an edge.

Now, for the first time in history, BIM, almost as a by-product, is creating large pools of highly structured, trustworthy project information. Could you look across the information contained within multiple concurrent projects, look back through history into old projects, perhaps also blending in external data, to spot patterns?

This practice of applying Business Intelligence to the world of BIM based information could well be the ultimate

source of competitive advantage for AEC companies.

Advantage: grab it before your competitor does That BIM is here to stay is of no doubt.

That more AEC sector companies will adopt it and gain the significant benefits it espouses is also beyond question.

With this growing adoption though will come an increased level of competition.

What will be interesting to see is how the market reacts to this realisation and how individual companies begin to successfully differentiate themselves – before their competitors do.

Will Nicol

Wye Cylinder Engineering Ltd design & manufacture hydraulic cylinders.

The company’s objective is to supply a quality product at a competitive price complete with a high level of product knowledge, service and back up support.

Wye Cylinder Engineering Manufacturers of hydraulic cylinders, sub contract C.N.C. machining, cylinder tube honing Wye Cylinder Engineering Ltd 403 Netherwood Road, Rotherwas Industrial Estate, Hereford HR2 6JU T: 01432 355454 F: 01432 358727 E: sales@wye-cylinder.co.uk www.wye-cylinder.co.uk

WCE manufacture a standard range of cylinders that can be supplied from stock. They also supply a wide range of hydraulic cylinders for a large number of different applications some of which are supplied to some very well known OEMs within a variety of industry sectors.

Product Types within the Range Single acting Double acting Displacement type Piston type multi stage (single acting) Displacement type multi (single acting) Double acting multi stage Brake cylinders (displacement) Additional Features Available Check & Overcentres valves Hose burst protection Linear Transducers Steel pipe work for port positioning A range of plain bearing relative to application Spherical bearings (weld on - male & female threads) A variety of mounting designs i.e. clevis & rod eyes, trunnions, threads etc.

Zinc plating finish Painted finish

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UKC COMMENT

Green Deal or no deal?

Keith Riddle, Managing Director of VELUX Like many others I’ve devoted a lot of time to talking about the Government’s flagship energy efficiency policy, the Green Deal, and since last writing the scheme has finally launched. But, to applause or criticism?

Early take-up has been far from convincing with just a handful of households said to have seized the opportunity to make energy efficiency improvements to their home for free.

Demand is set to pick up, however, as homeowners familiarise themselves with the scheme and it has received resounding support from some corners. The National Landlords Association (NLA) has called for all residential landlords to familiarise themselves with the Green Deal and begin making energy efficiency improvements to their property.

While we are in support of homeowners and landlords ‘greening’ their homes – reducing its carbon emissions and energy bills - it is imperative that homeowners and landlords, with the help of a Green Deal assessor, properly consider the impact any new energy efficiency measures will have on the occupants.

For example, adequate ventilation should always be considered alongside cavity, solid wall and loft insulation to ensure a comfortable and healthy indoor

environment. Compelling landlords to make changes, we fear, could result in some hasty decisions which may in the long run damage, not improve, the sustainability of our homes.

Another sticking point is the 7% interest rate charged on Green Deal loans. This is less than the predicted rate of 8% but still not competitive enough to encourage homeowners to consider and scheme provider Npower has already sounded a warning that it could lessen interest.

Instead, homeowners might be tempted by some of the innovative new products coming onto the market from lenders which offer competitive rates to cover the costs of energy efficiency improvements.

One bank is currently offering an interest rate of just 1.54% for a maximum £20,000 loan which can be spent on a long list of 15 different improvements including double glazing, ground and air source heat pumps and solar water heating. It is schemes like this that the Green Deal will be up against.

Of course, buyers of new homes will benefit from immediate carbon and cost savings, thanks to them being built to higher standards and incorporating a range of new energy saving features.

This includes the Glazebrook family who recently moved into the four bedroom house at our CarbonLight Homes project

Having moved to their new premises in Blackrod at the end of last year, OTL, the major Building Products Distributor, have now launched their garage door division. They have teamed up with Garador to offer a Supply Only or Supply and fit service to their customers.

Pickford Concrete, part of the OTL Group, have now added a bespoke technical service which has been developed by Pickford manager, Mike Moore, to give its customers technical support on Semi-Dry Artstone, Wetcast and Grey Concrete products.

OTL are now a major distributor for the range of Roof Windows.

Stock, Service, Supply = OTL Don’t forget OTL do more than Catnic, Birtley and Naylors. We also have massive stocks of: Wall Ties & Builders’ Metalwork, DPCs & DPMs, Redbank Clay & Concrete Products, Cavity Trays, Cavity Closers, Loft Access Traps T 01204 690090 F 01204 696062 E sales@owentatton.co.uk

www.owentatton.co.uk 30

Keith Riddle

for a 15-month period and will test the property’s carbon neutral credentials.

Project architects HTA will manage the study which will test to see if the homes perform as expected at the design stage once occupied. The findings will be released to the industry on a quarterly basis with the first results will be made available to the industry in April.

Data collected during the course of the study will include a DomEarm study, thermal imagery surveys and energy report snapshots and will be supplemented by the findings from a quarterly, qualitative survey with the test family.

We have high hopes for the homes with early findings suggesting that they have achieved an average 7.5% daylight factor (DF), significantly more than the average 5% DF they were designed to achieve. Our warts and all approach to the findings, we hope, will help usher in a new chapter for UK housebuilding which judges a homes’ sustainability credentials on how it performs in real life conditions and which takes into account occupant feedback.

Offering professional Asphalt Surfacing services to large or small contractors as well as Local Authorities, Government, Educational and Leisure facilities.

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Garcia & Sykes Fencing & Gate Contractors

Garcia & Sykes are a family run business who have over 100 years engineering experience. Based just North East of Manchester, we cover the whole North West region with our teams of experienced fitters. Our portfolio of commercial work spans everything from on site weld repairs to management of large environmental fencing projects and includes structural steelwork, bespoke fabrications and groundworks Everything is manufactured in our workshop by our skilled team and made to a quality standard as evidenced by our ISO accreditation and our membership of ConstructionLine.

We are approved contractors for New Charter Housing Trust, Stockport Homes, Seddons, New Charter Building, Emanuel Whittaker, Stockport MBC and have worked with many organisations including Johnson Construction, Caseys, Carefoot plc, Tameside MBC and local schools and churches.

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We strive to provide quality customer service, as well as great products and invite you to contact us to discuss your fabrication needs. We would be only to happy to help. Please give us a call or visit our website.

31

UKC COMMENT

A bond or a guarantee?

There have been several high profile cases in the Court of Appeal recently which have looked at the legal nature of guarantees and bonds. The use of performance bonds and advance payment bonds are common place in the construction industry and the recent economic challenges have seen an increase in their use.

In the recent case of Wuhan Guoyu Logistic Group Co Ltd and others v Emporiki Bank of Greece SA [2012] EWCA Civ 1629 the Court of Appeal tried to provide a clear set of rules so that the business community would know whether they were dealing with a demand bond or a guarantee. The problem is that drafters often get the labels wrong and even if a document is called a guarantee, it may be a bond and vice versa.

What is the difference you may ask? It is fundamental. If you want to be guaranteed payment of a sum of money on the happening of a certain event, even if the parties are in dispute at the time, then you need a bond. The bondsman has to pay up on demand usually upon the presentation of a few documents, irrespective of the underlying merits of the claim. The debtor cannot say that he doesn’t owe the money.

Provided the documents are presented to the bondsman, you get your money. These type of bonds are often used for advance payments for expensive plant, machinery or pre-fabricated items, especially when large sums of money are being sent to uncertain jurisdictions where pursuing the debtor would be futile.

In contrast to a bond, a guarantee only guarantees due performance of the contract. In the construction context, most performance bonds are in fact guarantees. The bondsman will only pay the damages suffered by the employer due to the contractor’s non performance of the construction contract. The employer has to prove that there has been non performance

32

and prove the damages are due before the bondsman will pay.

There are many technicalities related to a guarantee which could result in the issuer of the guarantee being let off the hook. For example, to name but one, if the employer decides to make advance payments under the contract to the contractor who is struggling, this will be deemed to prejudice the issuer of the performance bond. Unless there is a clause which allows such an act (called an indulgence clause) in the bond, the bondsman could refuse to pay under the bond.

There are many standard forms of bonds and one would think that if you used a standard form you would be in good hands.

This is a dangerous assumption to make.

If one looks at some standard form of bonds, they look very much like on demand bonds because they say that they will pay on demand with the production of a piece of paper and they say that the demand is conclusive evidence that the sum demanded is due.

These are all characteristics of an on demand bond. However the same document then goes on to exclude certain defenses available to the bondsman - a characteristic of a guarantee.

The only answer is to always have an advance payment bond, a performance bond or a guarantee checked by a lawyer.

You need to be clear about whether you want your money without an argument or whether you are prepared to prove the underlying claim before you get your money. It is then advisable to make it your solicitor’s responsibility to achieve this. At least you will be sure that you get what it says on the tin.

Kim Teichmann, Senior Associate, Thomas Eggar.

Kim Teichmann

Foresight Safety Ltd Affordable Health & Safety services for specialist contractors in construction and maintenance.

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Site inspections, in house and on site training courses, CDM Services, help with PQQs, CHAS and other accreditation bodies, risk assessments, PAT testing, safety policies, fire safety and more. All in one place.

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Parthos movable and folding sliding wall systems are based on the creation of space and freedom of design. They enable large internal spaces to be divided into smaller spaces quickly and easily while maintaining a high degree of acoustic privacy.

President sliding glass walls The President wall system comprise a series of individual glazed panels held in aluminium top and bottom frames that can be easily moved to create partitions, giving complete space management, maintaining light and giving the appearance of space within any room. Besides flat glass, curved segmented panels are available, all with a max. height of 3.5 m. The glazed panels are offered in a wide range of manifestations and finishes.

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Sorba UK is an independent designer, manufacturer and installer of aluminium, stainless-steel, powdercoated, steel-facade and glass systems. in design solutions, to achieve aesthetic, structural and specialised project requirements.

Sorba excellence in façade design.

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33

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PROFILE UKC

Geotek Heating Ltd High specification heating systems and heat pumps Geotek Heating Ltd specialises in the design, supply and installation of ground and air source heat pump units, underfloor heating systems and floor screeds.

All installations can be designed to accommodate all commercial, industrial, agricultural and domestic applications.

The Company’s personnel have all been active in the renewable heat source and underfloor heating industries for a decade – designing, supplying and installing heating systems and screeds.

Geotek is also recognised as an Authorised Partner by some of the major systems manufacturers and market-leading system suppliers in the country, because of its design and installation expertise.

With such a wealth of practical experience, Geotek will always offer the most competitive supply and install price for the heat pump assembly, and underfloor heating system, as well as full screeding and commissioning services if required.

Geotek offers complete system designs and colour CAD layout drawings. These demonstrate that a customer’s system has been designed for optimum energy usage and output performance, and it is included at no extra charge. The Company also offers a full after-installation

commissioning service to fine-tune the system and controls to achieve maximum efficiency for all customers.

From initial query through to final commissioning of a system, Geotek will be there for each customer all the way to guarantee complete satisfaction.

Geotek installs only the best materials available, and the Company also sources all system components and zone controls only from the market-leading quality assured system manufacturers.

Geotek warm water underfloor heating utilises extremely robust temperature resistant PEX pipes, which feed low temperature hot water through a circuit network within the heated floor areas.

These circuits can be installed into screeds and solid floor slabs or into heat spreader plates for suspended timber floors and produce a zone of radiant heat within the floor structure, which is transmitted through into the heated space above.

Operating at reduced water flow temperatures allows wet underfloor heating systems to be linked very successfully to energy saving heat sources such as ground and air source heat pumps, creating much enhanced energy efficiency.

Geotek also offer supply and installation

ISOWARM - underfloor heating

of these systems as mentioned, either in tandem with the underfloor heating systems, or as separate installations to serve new or existing heating and/or hot water generation requirements.

The Company is also happy to discuss specific requirements with customers, while also offering expert guidance on the design and installation in order to create the best system for their needs.

Geotek will specify, design, install and commission ground source and air source heat pump systems tailored to the specific energy requirements of each customer.

The heat pumps can reduce energy bills substantially when run efficiently. At about 45°C, they can produce four or even five times as much power as they use.

This Co-efficient of Performance (COP) means that the heat pump can produce up to five kilowatts of energy for each kilowatt of energy to power it.

The very best machines and components available are supplied and installed to ensure complete customer satisfaction.

Geotek Heating Ltd, Maxron House, Green Lane, Romiley, Stockport, SK6 3JQ

Suppliers of specialist tapes for underfloor heating installation

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35

UKC EDUCATION

Ambiflex takes control at Aylesbury High School In October 2012, Aylesbury High School completed the construction of a new sixth form centre which has meant an expansion of its Ambiflex BMS control system with the addition of a third controller.

The original BMS system at Aylesbury High School dates back to 1993. However, in 2008 when new legislation was coming into force regarding energy monitoring, it was decided to upgrade the system to one of Ambiflex’s latest controllers – the MF828.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Ambiflex is a UK BMS manufacturer based in Bowdon and Cheshire. The Company covers the whole country and has sites nationwide – from Scotland, down to Cornwall.

The new streamlined system was designed to utilise the existing network throughout the school. Ambiflex worked closely with Sara Taylor, Facilities Manager at Aylesbury High School, to take into account any specific requirements and the new system was customised to suit.

She said: “Ambiflex spent a lot of time listening to our needs when the system was upgraded in 2008. Additional sensors were put in so we could record hot water flow and return temperatures for our Legionella monitoring and extra time channels were added for us to control our heating more easily when the building is hired out during term time and school holidays.”

The key to this is the supervisory software, and Sara has the dedicated AGL Ambilink software, through which she can interrogate all parts of the building to check what is happening.

This involves the ability to remotely adjust

36

temperature set points and invoke overrides.

She also receives automatic emails in the event of any alarms and exception incidents and can investigate immediately. This means that Sara knows about any problems or issues around the building before staff can tell her.

With custom-built graphical pages, the software provides an easy to use and easy to understand interface to the school’s BMS. Ambiflex’s range of products is ideally suited to all sizes of building, from small, standalone systems to much larger buildings where several controllers are networked together. All systems are supported by AGL supervisory software via modem or Ethernet connections.

The new sixth form building provides a sixth form study area, four full-sized classrooms, a meeting and study room, new student and staff toilets, which include facilities for the disabled, offices and a lift.

Refurbishment of the new block comprised the new library, four classrooms where the previously existing library was located, two larger

sixth form teaching rooms have been created where four smaller rooms were so they are now more useable.

The Architect for the project was AT4 Architects. Work started in October 2011, with internal work commencing in May 2012. All work was completed in time for the start of the academic year in September 2012.

Eminent historian and broadcaster, Dominic Sandbrook spoke to A-Level students on the subject of post-War Britain before meeting guests, staff, governors and students in the brand new library. He officially opened the building in October 2012.

EDUCATION UKC

Derek Crothall Building Great future for Hull Trinity House Academy This £10M project at Hull Trinity House Academy, sees the school move from its historic site in Prince’s Dock Street, city centre, to the Derek Crothall Building in George Street.

The building is being remodelled internally to accommodate 600 pupils, which will double the current numbers as part of a phased expansion of the school.

Hull Trinity House has a rich history, and an excellent track record, but it was decided that the existing buildings were not to the standards required.

Despite the limitations of the dilapidated buildings, their results have still been amongst the best, both regionally and nationally. In 2011, 98% of pupils achieved five or more A* to Cs. After careful deliberation, it was decided that the school should move to the Derek Crothall Building in Hull city centre.

Previously in use by the University of Lincoln, the building was acquired by Hull City Council ready for the redevelopment.

Foundations have been formed and the work to improve the building started with removal of the lecture theatre floor on the

September 2012 and will be completed in first level, and an assessment and removal March 2013. of any asbestos. The new mezzanine has been put into place in the music department and extra floors constructed to cater for the increase of students.

Hull-based Main Contractor, Houlton, has been on site since September 2012.

Foundations of the new sports hall have already been laid, creating a facility the school doesn’t have at its current site, and the new eco-friendly external cladding of the building is being formed around the eight-storey building. The interior of the building has been stripped out ready for a complete re-fit, including We are proud to be associated with Geo. Houlton & Sons Ltd and the state-of-the-art Derek Crowthall Project and wish all involved continued success engineering facilities and ICT suites.

Designed by ESA, work started in

EDUCATION UKC

Owler Brook School New facilities for nursery and reception Work has recently completed on a new £3M standalone nursery and reception building for pupils at Owler Brook School, Sheffield.

The new 800sq m building consists of two large teaching spaces, one for each of the age groups which feature interactive white boards and dedicated spaces for teaching and play. There are also six offices for staff, circulation spaces and toilet facilities, located on a single storey.

Due to the sloping nature of the land a plant room was created in the basement area and an external timber decking area wraps around the building to provide an outdoor play deck for the children.

Construction of the steel frame building was carried out by leading construction firm, Interserve, with beam and block floors, the external facade is made up of render and architectural blockwork. The single ply flat roof features some clerestory rooflights along the corridor space and the windows are double glazed aluminium, with a small aspect of curtain walling.

The school building is fully accessible and has disabled access toilets, internal and external CCTV has been installed and there is key fob access to the external doors.

External works included adding a suitable casting layer of ground above the existing contaminated land and once complete a small element of soft landscaping linked the area, which was previously unused space, to the existing school playgrounds.

An overflow car park was constructed at the rear of the site.

Work started on site in September 2011 and the new building was ready for use in time for the 2012/2013 academic year.

Designed by GHM Rock Townsend, the school is expected to achieve BREEAM Very Good.

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37

UKC CIVIL

Bidston Moss Viaduct strengthening work award winning success Costain completed the strengthening and refurbishment of the 730m long Bidston Moss Viaduct on time and under budget in April last year.

The project, which entailed strengthening three kilometres of box girder structure dating back to 1969, required 1.25M man hours and was achieved without a single lost time accident.

Located on the Wirral in North West England, the Bidston Moss Viaduct carries the M53 over local roads and a railway line towards the Kingsway Tunnel and Liverpool. Weight restrictions were imposed on the viaduct in 2005 as a safety precaution. In order for it to remain open and viable, the structure’s weaknesses had to be addressed by 31 December 2011 or it risked being closed to HGVs. The scheme was funded by the Highways Agency, the Department for Transport, Wirral Council and Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority (Mersey Travel).

Strengthening work started in April 2010 and was completed in September 2011,

three months earlier than planned. The refurbished bridge was formally handed back to its three owners defect free on Wednesday 28th March 2012.

Welcoming the completed project, Roads Minister, Mike Penning said: “The Bidston Moss Viaduct is on a major route for the Wirral and into Liverpool, so we’re delighted that the strengthening work was completed three months earlier than planned – providing additional lanes for heavy goods vehicles. This early completion also helped the Government save £1.5M.” As well as the strengthening works, the £88.5M scheme included concrete repairs to the underside of the viaduct and repainting of all the steelwork. The road has also been resurfaced, lighting has been upgraded and drainage has been improved.

Commenting, Graham Dakin, Project Manager at the Highways Agency, said: “The strengthening was vital to the future safety of the viaduct and the refurbishments will allow the thousands of people who travel over it every day to

continue to use it in the decades to come.

Lean ways of working, such as factory style production control and process improvements helped to reduce the programme and save over £1.5M on the total spend.”

The scheme received numerous awards and recognition for its industry leading key performance indicators. The team achieved record scores in its Project Performance Assessment (PPA), which covers safety, leadership and stakeholder management, and the project’s excellent health and safety record was rewarded with three Gold RoSPA Awards during the life of the contract.

Simon Ellison, the Costain Project Director for the scheme, attributed its success to excellent levels of engagement and communication across the project.

“Genuine collaboration and a ‘one team’ approach have underpinned everything we’ve undertaken. Everyone involved is rightly proud of what has been achieved.” said Simon.

Denholm Industrial Services are committed to providing a highly experienced, committed and well trained workforce who operate under quality systems.

Denholm Industrial Services Limited provides support services to companies undertaking engineering, construction and maintenance work. With a skilled and experienced workforce, a broad range of services, at conveniently located offices, the support of the Denholm Group and, most importantly, a firm commitment to meeting our customers’ requirements, Denholm Industrial Services deliver a first class service.

Denholm Industrial Services provides various services such as scaffolding and containment, surface preparation, application of protective coatings (NHSS19A approved), industrial cleaning services and the provision of emergency rescue services.

Scaffolding & Access • Surface Preparation • Painting • Containment • Cleaning • Plant Hire 21 Boden Street, Glasgow G40 3PU Email: enquiries@denholm-industrial.com Telephone: +44 (0)141 445 3939 Fax: +44 (0)141 445 3020

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offices at: Glasgow • Yeovil • Devonport • Portsmouth • Scunthorpe 38

HOUSING UKC

Chestnut Homes Adds Kings Manor to its portfolio Established in 1988, Chestnut Homes enjoys a reputation for building high quality new homes in Lincolnshire, comprising a range of homes from houses and apartments suitable for first time buyers, through to five-bedroom executive homes. A great emphasis is placed on structural integrity and finishing properties to a high standard.

One of its high quality developments is Kings Manor, offering 48 homes, an excellent variety of two-, three- and fourbedroom houses on the outskirts of the popular village of Coningsby.

Coningsby is a charming village lying between the Lincolnshire Wolds on one side, and the Fens on the other, approximately eight miles south of Horncastle on the A153 Horncastle to Sleaford road.

The village has a wide selection of facilities including a Co-op supermarket, newsagents, butcher, fruit and vegetable shop, post office, florist, bookshop, pet store and various take-away food outlets.

There are eight different house types, including the Holly, a two-bedroom, twostorey property. The ground floor has a

large lounge and dining area, adjoining Commuting from Coningsby couldn’t be a kitchen and cloakroom, with the first easier, as the village lies on the A153, giving easy access to the neighbouring towns of floor comprising two spacious bedrooms, bathroom and an airing cupboard.

Boston, Sleaford and Horncastle.

With such delightful rural surroundings The Blankney is a three-bedroom house, with two-storeys. The lounge takes up and impressive houses, Kings Manor is an most of the ground floor, with a combined ideal location to call home. kitchen and dining area in the next room.

The first floor also has three bedrooms, the bathroom, and two separate storage spaces.

Within the village, there are a variety of leisure activities to enjoy, including a nine-hole golf course, the Pingle Nature Reserve, children’s play park, public houses such as the black Swan and The White Bull. At nearby UNIT B7, PAVING WAY, WHISBY ROAD, LINCOLN, LINCOLNSHIRE, LN6 3QW Tattershall, there is the famous Telephone/Fax: 01522 244599 Tattershall Castle, Mobile: 07966 360452 which attracts Email: kn.lewis@hotmail.co.uk thousands of visitors every year.

COMMERCIAL UKC

£22.5M investment in Sunderland’s Turbine Business Park Turbine Business Park, a development by Barmston Developments (a 50/50 Joint Venture between Clugston Estates Limited and Wilton Developments) is a 55 acre high quality Business Park location with an end value in the region of £70M. The site is strategically located between Sunderland and Washington, on land fronting the A1231 and adjacent to the junction with the A19.

The Park will ultimately provide 715,000sq ft of commercial accommodation, including office, industrial and distribution space, hotel, restaurant and ancillary retail.

Total job creation is expected to be in the region of 4,000. As part of Barmston’s commitment to the site, the first phase of Turbine Way was constructed in 2009.

This opened up the site for immediate development and provides a 0.75km spine road and new traffic lit junction with Nissan Way. Turbine Business Park is also located within the North East’s Low Carbon Economic Area, the national hub for new green collar jobs specialising in Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Research and Development.

Part of the North East’s commitment to took a proactive approach with the team to ensure the scheme progressed quickly Low Carbon Vehicle Technology includes through the various stages of design, the creation of a new £9M national low planning, procurement and delivery. Work carbon vehicle training facility.

This January saw the opening of a new was undertaken via a zoned construction warehouse at Turbine Park. The official method to facilitate the speed of delivery. opening of the 421,000sq ft warehouse was carried out by senior members of Vantec and Hitachi as well as members of Sunderland City Council.

The new warehouse plays a key role in Vantec’s expansion COMMERCIAL FLOOR LAYERS within the UK and will create around BASED IN WEST YORKSHIRE 230 new posts We are pleased to be associated with the by 2015.

Turbine Business Park project and wish all BITC member, GMI Construction was involved continued success appointed as the Main Contractor

by Barmston Developments for the new facility. GMI

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39

UKC PROFILE

The Rail Alliance Fastest growing rail networking organisation Spanning all aspects of the railway sector and its supporting, The Rail Alliance embraces both current and aspirational involvement and provides opportunities to network, collaborate and innovate with both suppliers and customers, in order to maintain and grow the prosperity and sustainability of each member’s business.

At a time when the major customers in the railway industry are looking to reduce their supplier base, it is absolutely vital that companies look to new and innovative ways

40

of ensuring that the goods and services that they are offering are not neglected.

This is core Rail Alliance territory, who is a railway business network unlike any other and has been created specifically to help the rail industry capitalise on the multi-billion pound pool of existing and future opportunities that will be essential elements in the delivery to UK Plc of the railway of the 21st century.

With an ever-expanding membership base that spans all aspects of the railway and

supporting industries, the Rail Alliance provides a forum where members can network, collaborate, innovative and thrive, and is the natural place to do business.

The Alliance is also engaged with a number of other education providers on a unique training and education package that is focused on keeping companies in touch with market opportunities at home and abroad, new legislation and compliance requirements and the maximisation of training and development opportunities – >

The World’s Leading Expert in Network Video Crystal Clear Video Surveillance Axis is an innovative network video company focused only on professional IP cameras and encoders. With more than 1,400 employees based in 42 countries, Axis’ R&D department comprises over 500 staff. This is why, ever since the company developed the world’s first network video camera 15 years ago, Axis has always had the world’s largest installed base of network cameras, currently with over 30% of the global market.

Fewer Cameras Today, the capabilities of IP cameras are very impressive. Crystal clear surveillance video in real-time HDTV quality. The higher resolution offered by IP cameras also offers the option of greatly reducing the number of cameras required to cover a particular scene.

Together with Power-over-Ethernet (PoE),

which enables the power to the camera to be fed in the same cable as the video and data, this offers tremendous saving on installation and ongoing power supply costs by precluding the requirement for installing mains sockets adjacent to the camera.

More than Security As network video cameras can be viewed from any authorized location anywhere, the same cameras can be used by various organisations for their own specific needs. As well as for security purposes, the same cameras can be utilized for business intelligence: people counting, passenger flows, heat maps etc.

Any Light Conditions Bright light, even blinding light has always been problematic for cameras – until now!

Axis’ Wide Dynamic Range – Dynamic

Capture (WDR-DC) cameras enable perfectly exposed images in scenes with extreme contrast in light levels.

Axis has also developed a new and revolutionary technology called Lightfinder, which enables the camera to give clear colour images in near complete darkness conditions without using any additional white or IR lighting, allowing effective security when the lights are switched off.

But what about complete darkness?

Perimeter detection is a fast growing area of video surveillance. 24/7 detection means detection in extreme conditions such as smoke, haze, dust, fog and shadows – not just complete darkness. Axis’ thermal cameras are a perfect complement to any network video system that needs to secure an area 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Amazingly, using thermal imaging, a person can be detected up to 750 metres away.

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onboard cameras and recorders • Vandal-resistant indoor and outdoor cameras • Thermal and low-

all with a real commitment to making sure the sector retains its people and attracts the next generation of engineers and rail professionals.

Creating dynamic and collaborative networks will also enable the many ton continue to trade with the few, but to be effective in this new procurement era, companies will have to concentrate on ensuring their compliance with a wide range of accreditation requirements, simultaneously learning from the best practice of others and other industries, and above all concentrate on adding value to both their own and others’ products, while continuously seeking to drive down costs and waste.

The Rail Alliance is the natural place to do business, with a blend of suppliers and customers from the public and private sector, who are all united in the common goal of trading and working with each other.

It provides information and advice, and signposts members to the wide range of assistance that is available, providing them with an extra advantage.

The main aim for the Alliance is to build a strong and sustainable organisation. The Rail Alliance is owned by its membership and governed by them, reacting to the changing nature of the marketplace.

In particular, the Alliance will: ••Provide regular networking opportunities for its members ••Advertise and promote members’ services and capabilities through the website, newsletter and events program ••Promote the region internationally and support its members’ attendance at international events and missions

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••Develop an education and training program to assist the development of its people and to encourage the participation of new entrants ••Develop relationships between the research and technology community and industry to promote best practice and innovation ••Be a world-class organisation in all respects The Rail Alliance is working closely with UK Trade and Investment to provide the best possible package of assistance to companies who are exporting products, materials or services.

In the West Midlands in particular, the Alliance is in partnership to deliver the international program on behalf of the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands. For companies in this region there is a well-developed service available to them. All members can benefit from these programs and similar activities in their own regions.

Initially set up in the West Midlands with assistance and support from the West Midlands Manufacturing Advisory Service, the Alliance has rapidly outgrown these boundaries, and is a national company.

Success within the West Midlands has seen the Alliance become the UK’s first IRISaccredited company, and also a number of very successful technology transfer projects and significant export contracts were won by Midlands-based companies through their involvement with UK Trade and Investment.

Building on these successes, it is clear that the Rail Alliance offers a fresh approach to business networking and development. It is

looking to complement the activities of the more established trade associations rather than to cover the same ground. At its heart are SMEs and companies that are new to the sector alongside the existing providers.

The Alliance has a Value Added Services division (RAVAS), which has seven different services, including Rail Index, Rail Helpline, Rail Review, Rail Outlook, Rail Market, Rail Consult and Rail Advocate.

Rail Index is a database of consultants and skills maintained by the Rail Alliance.

Consultants wishing to offer their services via the RAVAS portal can register with the Rail Alliance.

The Rail Review is a front end exploratory and diagnostic service for those looking to increase their presence and sales in the rail sector or those requiring help to select the right RAVAS packages.

A specialist will either provide a proposal for RAVAS services based on telephone advice, or will visit to fully appreciate all requirements and provide initial advice on the services offered and how they can benefit individual companies.

Rail Outlook is a half day workshop delivered at the premises of an individual member. Several members can club together to meet cost if they want to, and content varies, though it will contain learning about the UK T&RS sector, what is happening in terms of big projects, maintainers and the support industry, e-marketing to increase sales, and key information such as who owns rolling stock, franchisees and franchise length.

The Rail Consult service is for companies that have a consultancy need but would like assistance to define what they would want >

TAX CLAIMS R&D Tax Claims Ltd, based in Wolverhampton and Manchester, was founded in January 2012 by managing director Mark Evans. Mark, a chartered accountant for 27 years, has specialised in R&D tax credits for four years.

R&D Tax Claims Ltd assists companies who invest in R&D by helping them claim back extra tax relief on every pound the business spends in developing new products or introducing new or improved processes. The scheme is an HMRC initiative backed by the Government.

Since 2009 Mark has helped SMEs across the UK in the manufacturing, engineering and software sectors to reclaim an incredible £10 million by identifying if the company qualifies for a tax credit. To date, Mark has netted 120 clients an average tax refund of £83,000, the largest being a £125,000 refund for a software company involved in geographical exploration.

“Many SMEs are put off investigating this scheme because they think it’s time consuming”, says Mark. “But we have an excellent reputation with HMRC and a 100 per cent success rate. We complete all of the investigative work and operate on a no win, no fee basis, so our clients have nothing to lose. We will also work with a company’s existing accountants.

“Around 150,000 eligible UK SMEs could benefit from this scheme but less than 10,000 make a claim”, says Mark.

“So, over 93 per cent are missing out because they’re not aware that they qualify. Manufacturing can encompass engineering, electronics, bio-tech and communication systems, and even environmental improvements could be eligible. Furthermore, if a prototype or

explorative project doesn’t come to fruition, it could still be considered for a tax credit. Our clients and their share of £10 million reclaimed from HMRC are testimony to the fact that there are no catches.”

www.rdtaxclaims.co.uk contains further details and case studies of successful claimants.

Could you be one of thousands of Midlands based manufacturers overpaying corporation tax?

As the R&D tax experts, based in Wolverhampton, our team members have secured corporation tax refunds of £10 million for companies in the UK. If you spend on R&D, even if it’s not successful, there’s a good chance you are entitled to claim a significant tax refund under the Government’s R&D Tax Relief Scheme.

3 Reasons to Choose R&D Tax Claims

1. 100% success track record 2. £82,500 average tax refund 3. No need to change your accountant 4. £10 million in total claimed to date 5. We secure, speed and maximise your refund

Recent refunds we’ve secured include:

£95,016 for a precision EDM machining company in Smethwick £96,400 for a precision gears manufacturer in Stockport £125,000 for a technology company in Wolverhampton

No win, No fee, call us now!

to get from it, or help to select the right consultant for their needs. The consultancy may provide strategic planning, marketing, design of new products, commercial resolution of engineering issues, specifying and selecting the right open market services, and the path to solution of engineering problems.

Also part of RAVAS is Rail Advocate. The Alliance is represented at trade shows on its own, in partnership with UKTI and/or with members at exhibitions and conferences around the world. The RailAdvocate system provides otherwise unobtainable market reach to companies that cannot justify a full costs budget to attend major events utilising their own staff.

Members can hire an Advocate for a small fee, and the Rail Alliance briefs the allocated member of the management team, before supplying many sets of sales information, as well as business cards.

The Advocate would visit at least 15 target stands, with the aim of engaging with the people that the member wishes. Within three working days of the event, the Advocate then provides a simple report of the contacts made and any opportunities arising from this.

The Alliance’s Capability Database is a central tool in procurement, connecting buyers with sellers as well as enabling

44

individual member companies to find synergistic businesses to create a consortium for large tender opportunities.

It is a centrally maintained current searchable database of rail sector related businesses and will include thousands of specialised manufacturing, service, consultancy and product specific companies.

This provides an innovation gateway where rail buyers and procurement professionals can quickly find suppliers with the relevant skills. Members also get increased visibility of their company to government and private sector procurement professionals, increasing their chance of further business.

Special features of this new system also will enable buyers to find not only individual firms but consortia capable of delivering entire systems.

The database features a number of highly powerful and advanced search facilities to allow information to be delivered in a number of views to provide the most flexibility and the most accurate results. It is a secure area where buyers, sellers and members connect.

The Alliance is also part of the Rail Cluster that is providing the European Railway Cluster Initiative (ERCI) – working towards world-class status.

Since 2009, five European research and

innovation driven clusters, focusing on railways and mobility, have worked together as an extension of the clustering process, seeking to optimise the opportunities for collaborative research under, for example, the auspices of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Framework Programme 7 (FP7).

The additional benefit to come from this informal ‘group of groups’ was the networking opportunities and technical updates that became a natural by-product of the meetings and it was decided in 2009 to formalise the process, which led to the formation of the ERCI. To build up this new level of cooperation and to seek national and regional excellence, the ERCI was established officially in September 2010 during Innotrans 2010 in Berlin.

In 2011, two more clusters joined the ERCI and last year, even more joined the initiative, where the main aim is to identify and develop synergies, share experiences and extend the network, and to cooperate as much as possible, respecting competitive issues as well as intellectual property rights.

publishing limited

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0 1 2 5 7 23190 0 www.pro-mark.org.uk

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UKC CIVIL

London Underground Celebrating 150 years On 9th January 1863, the world’s first underground train pulled out of Paddington station to make its 3.5 mile maiden journey to Farringdon.

This previous January marked the 150th anniversary since that first Tube journey took place, and a huge range of activities will be held this year to explore London Underground’s fascinating history and the vital role it continues to play – both in the lives of Londoners and to the economic life of London and the UK. The Tube has always played an important role in the success of London – from growth of the early network, which led to the expansion of the suburbs in the last century, to the development of Canary Wharf’s financial powerhouse in the 1980s, and on to today’s system that successfully moved record numbers of people during the Queen’s Jubilee and London 2012 Games.

Over the next 20 years, London’s population is expected to grow by well over a million people, underlining the crucial importance of continuing to improve and upgrade the Tube network.

A massive Tube upgrade programme, one of the largest and most complex

46

engineering projects in the world, is now delivering huge tangible benefits for passengers. Journeys on the Jubilee and Victoria lines have been improved through massively boosted capacity and faster journeys.

Stations like King’s Cross, Green park and Blackfriars have been rebuilt. A fleet of new air-conditioned trains has been introduced on the Metropolitan line, and over the next few years will be introduced to some two fifths of the Tube network.

Reliability on the Tube is now 40% improved on 2007/08 levels and this is the best in the network’s history. Further improvements to come this year include higher frequency services on the Victoria and Central lines.

By the end of next year, the Northern line will be completed, with higher frequency services and shortly afterwards key stations in central London such as Victoria and Tottenham Court Road will have been rebuilt.

The number of step-free stations is being expanded, alongside the use of ramps, platform humps and other accessibility improvements, an extension to the Northern line to Battersea is being planned, and Crossrail will be delivered –

transforming travel across London.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “The arrival of the Tube was truly revolutionary and today it is still admired around the world. It annihilates distance, liquidates traffic and is the throbbing cardiovascular system of the greatest city on earth.

“Our massive upgrade programme builds on the engineering ingenuity of our Victorian forefathers and through new signalling, trains and track, millions of Londoners and visitors will continue to benefit from what is arguably the best and most iconic, underground transport system in the world.”

Mike Brown, Managing Director of London Underground, said: “As we mark the 150th anniversary of the world’s first underground railway we are also building for the future – transforming stations and replacing trains, signals and track.

“Our passengers are already seeing the benefits, with more frequent and reliable services on the Jubilee and Victoria lines among many other improvements.

“This year will see even more – with a greater frequency of services on the Continued page 50 >

Foxdale Engineering Services are suppliers of sheet metalwork and fabrications in stainless steel, aluminium and carbon steel and also precision machining of large or small batch quantities in stainless steel, aluminium and carbon steel.

FOXDALE ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD Unit 3 Fletchers Way, Crownfarm Industrial Park, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG19 0FN

PHONE 01623 635558 FAX 01623 662221 E:mail: mick.bird@foxdale-engineering.co.uk

Cleveland Bridge UK Limited, PO Box 27,Yarm Road, Darlington, Co.Durham, DL1 4DE T: 01325 381188 E: graham.hutchinson@clevelandbridge.com W: www.clevelandbridge.com

Kingsbeech Limited www.railwaysupport.co.uk Proud to support London Underground during its 150 year anniversary

Established in 1877, Cleveland Bridge UK Limited has been undertaking steel fabrication projects within the engineering and construction industry for over 136 years.

Specialising in the design, engineering, fabrication, painting and erection of bridges, box girder bridge strengthening works and medium to heavy commercial and industrial steel framed structures.

For more than 30 years Ballykine Structural Engineers Ltd has grown in both size and reputation with some of our most prestigious contracts to date being The New West Stand at Galway Racecourse, Beckton Control Centre, London and Ravenhill Rugby Stadium, Belfast.

We are a Quality Assured company based in Ballynahinch, Co. Down with substantial experience in the structural steelwork industry since 1979. We provide a complete service package for our clients from design, fabrication and erection down to the application of specialist paint systems, including intumescent paint, either in the workshop or on site. Our modern CAD/CAM systems coupled with our automated machinery have allowed us to increase our capabilities and explore new opportunities throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom. These factors along with our highly skilled team have enabled Ballykine to become one of the leading and most innovative companies in the construction industry.

51 Lisburn Rd, Ballynahinch, County Down BT24 8TT

Tel: 028 9756 2560 Fax: 028 9756 2751 Emails: info@ballykine.com www.ballykine.com 47

Blackfriars South Station, London

Denham Station Stairs Bridge, Greater London

New Docklands Light Rail Station, Langdon Park, London

The McGrath Group is recognised as a market leader in the supply of Structural and Architectural steel metalwork projects for over 30 years.

We have a reputation for delivering complex and technically challenging projects on time and on budget.

We work with market leaders in the Rail, Construction, Housing and Infrastructure sectors delivering and installing a wide range of products and bespoke commissions such as Glazing, Facades, Balconies, Cladding & Roofing, Balustrades, Bridge Structures, Lift Shafts, Stairs & Walkways, Platforms, and Canopies and our work can be seen on many award winning and iconic schemes.

Blackfriars South Station, London

Langdon Park Station, London

Our business is managed from our Group Head Office comprising of a 107,000 sq. /ft. purpose built facility set on a11.5 acre site located in Lisburn, Northern Ireland with our London based facility at Rangemore in Tottenham.

To ensure we meet the challenge of ever changing competitive and demanding markets, we are ISO 9001:2008 accredited, Building Confidence / Link-up (Achilles) accredited, CompeteFor compliant, Builders Profile accredited and are currently in the process of introducing the BIM (Business Information Modelling) system into our design office.

We place the highest priority on Health and Safety while always aiming to protect the environment and contribute to its enhancement in all we do.

Northern Ticket Hall, Kings Cross Underground, London

Brixton Station, London

East Platform Glass Walling, St Pancras, London

Modular Balconies, East London

WesternTicket TicketHall, Hall Kings 2C, Cross Western Kings Cross Station, Underground Underground London

Dorking Station, Surrey

A406 Footbridge, Bounds Green, London

Northern Ticket Hall, Kings Cross Underground Station, London

Knightsbridge Underground Station, London

Head Office: Lisnagarvagh House, Lissue Industrial Estate, Lissue Road, Lisburn BT28 2SU Tel: 028 9262 1186 Fax: 028 9262 1955 London Office: Rangemoor Industrial Estate, 1 Bernard Road, Tottenham, N15 4NE Tel: 0208 808 3558 Fax: 0208 808 4824 Email: info@mcgrath-group.com

www.mcgrath-group.com

McGrath Bros Engineering Group Limited

Central and Victoria lines and more of the new air-conditioned trains, which will soon serve 40% of the Tube network.

“It is this sustained investment that will enable us to create a network able to support London’s growing population and maintain our city’s vital role in the UK economy for the next 150 years.”

As part of the events to mark the enduring role of London Underground, the first Tube passenger journey was recreated on Sunday 13th January, with a series of specially restored trains including the Metropolitan Steam Locomotive No 1 and the Metropolitan Railway Jubilee Carriage No 353 – the oldest operational underground carriage in existence, which was restored with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A series of additional heritage rail trips, including use of steam trains will be available, which will enable many members of the public to experience the Tube’s rich heritage, and a comprehensive new history of the Tube underground, How the Tube shaped London, co-authored by Sam Mullins, Director of the London Transport System, has been published.

There will be new two pound coins issued by the Royal Mint that will go into circulation this year to celebrate the anniversary, and from February, Poster Art 150: London’s greatest designs, will be unveiled at London Transport Museum.

This exhibition will focus on the iconic poster art that has been a feature of London Underground for much of its history.

One of Britain’s great transport stories is the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which

50

carries more than 80 million passengers a year with consistently high levels of reliability and passenger satisfaction.

Since opening in 1987, it has extended to Bank, Beckton, Lewisham, London City Airport, Woolwich Arsenal, and Stratford International.

DLR Ltd owns the railway’s assets apart from the Lewisham extension. Part of Transport for London, its role is to oversee the operation of the railway and plan development that meets the needs of east and south east London.

DLR Ltd works with franchise operator Serco Docklands, a concessionaire responsible for building and maintaining the Lewisham extension and contractors for maintaining the Woolwich Arsenal, London City Airport and Stratford International network. Their aim is to deliver a safe, reliable and cost effective service for east and south east London residents, commuters and visitors.

During the Olympic Games, the DLR carried over seven million passengers – an increase of over 100% compared to the same period last year – and ran services with an average of 99% of trains running on time.

This was only possible after a programme of investment since 2007 ranging from new line extensions and additional rail cars to crucial projects including lift upgrades and improvements to real-time passenger information.

The DLR’s £850M project – ‘INVESTING IN…a better railway’ – has been the biggest package of work and is now complete. It is thanks to this and other behind the scenes work that the railway now has 45 stations,

40km of track and 149 rail cars and expects to carry an estimated 100M passengers by 2015.

The long-term benefits of investment in the DLR for 2012 will be felt for years to come.

These improvements include 55 new rail cars providing increased capacity, which also provided more comfort during and after the Games, three car trains, extended platforms and upgraded stations that allowed the DLR to handle more passengers than previously, the new station at Woolwich Arsenal that provided access to the Royal Artillery Barracks for London 2012, which created a new river crossing and interchange with the national rail network.

Additional new stations like Langdon Park and Smith Quay help more passengers make the most of the improved DLR, and a new staircase and improved platform and concourse at Shadwell has increased comfort for passengers.

There is also an additional entrance at Bank, speeding up connections and improving platform crowding, two new escalators for Custom House for ExCeL that delivers a better, faster experience and more frequent services, a second entrance at Royal Victoria reduces passenger congestion and shortens the walk from the new Emirates Airline, and increased platform space at Canning Town helped to reduce overcrowding during the Olympics.

New stations and extensions, station enhancements, additional trains and improved passenger information have left a lasting legacy for everyone to enjoy now and into the future.

PROFILE UKC

mhs homes mhs homes is the largest independent landlord in Kent, formed in 1990 after acquiring the entire housing stock of the then Rochester-upon-Medway City Council and now own and manage 8,000 homes in Medway.

The core business is the provision of high quality affordable homes to the people of Medway, and the group aims to make a crucial contribution to the wider regeneration of the Thames Gateway and promote social enterprise.

In 2008, mhs homes became an investment partner to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to build new homes through the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP).

Following a successful application to the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) to set up a Registered Provider subsidiary of mhs homes, Heart of Medway Housing Association was established with charitable status. The homes built for Medway Housing Association are managed by mhs homes.

The HCA invested just under £20M in mhs homes and Heart of Medway Housing Association through the NAHP 2008-11 programme to part-fund over 370 units. mhs homes will be investing a further £50M over the next four years to build approximately 300 new homes in the Medway community.

Working closely with Medway Council and the HCA to meet the group’s objective of creating vibrant neighbourhoods where people want to live, mhs homes is proud to be involved in making a positive contribution to Medway’s regeneration and enhancement.

The group aims to put its customers and their quality of life before everything else.

The new homes feature contemporary and spacious interiors for the ultimate in modern living.

A project currently underway for mhs homes is a development in Strood, Kent, to build 21 homes for general needs and shared ownership. Through such a scheme,

mhs homes is able to give people, who in living, into a brand new development of the current economic climate would not attractive homes. be able to afford a home, the opportunity Work on the £2.1M project started in March to buy a share of a property to help them and will be completed in February 2013, get on to the property ladder with a view to continuing mhs homes’ commitment to buying a larger share at a later date. delivering new homes for rent and shared Located on Pottery Road in the village of ownership, with over 100 created last year.

Hoo, the land was previously made up of bedsits that were built on several different mhs homes group, Broadside, Leviathan levels, but the style of the 26 small units Way, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4LL were no longer in demand.

Tel: 01634 565333 When the scheme closed at the end of 2010, Email: contactus@mhs.org.uk the residents were moved to alternative accommodation, with many remaining in the village and Integrated Environmental Services re-housed at a 10 Fairlawn Close, Teston newly built sheltered scheme.

Maidstone, Kent ME18 5AX The new homes will be timber frame Tel: 01622 817100 construction, built to Code Level Three of Email: cliff.ies@btinternet.com Sustainable Homes Standard so they will be well insulated, very energy efficient and cost effective to run for the new occupants. The new homes will comprise of a brickwork outer skin and tiled roof.

Elements of render are used as a feature where appropriate.

The foundations of the 21 new homes were recently laid and the first brick laying ceremony marked Heating - Solar - Underfloor Heating a vital stage in the transformation of Plumbing - Heat Pumps what was previously a sheltered scheme, Mechanical Services which was no longer suitable for modern

Here at IES we believe that working with our clients is key to delivering a quality service and can provide full design for plumbing, heating and mechanical services.

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UKC EDUCATION

Learning together Richmond Hill School Richmond Hill School is an established learning facility for primary aged pupils with severe learning difficulties and complex needs. Dedicated to providing a dynamic learning environment, the Luton based school has recently undergone a significant extension to accommodate a growing student population.

While Richmond Hill School currently caters to an approximate 85 pupils, a 19% rise in the number of local primary school aged children with special educational needs is expected by 2014. In light of these statistics a substantial extension has been undertaken which will enable the School to accommodate an additional 24 pupils while also providing further ancillary facilities.

The single-storey extension comprises

52

two new classrooms alongside a multipurpose staff room, which also doubles as an additional teaching space. Spanning an approximate 245sq m, the extension is situated adjacent to the western elevation of the building and replaces an existing play area.

Construction began in March 2012 with Dawkins Construction acting as Main Contractor.

Traditional materials such as the buff coloured facing brickwork - a design theme present throughout the existing school - have been shirked in favour of a contemporary aesthetic befitting the more modern western elevation. Composed of grey metal cladding panels together with a cream coloured render and rainscreen

cladding, the extension makes for a striking addition to the school campus. Above, a dark grey single ply membrane apes the form of the existing building which is predominantly flat roofed.

Parking provision has also been bolstered with an additional ten spaces provided.

To facilitate this greater commitment a disused bomb shelter has been demolished while an existing garden area has been partially cleared.

Designed and built with the future in mind, the extension marks a considerable investment in Richmond Hill School’s infrastructure. With its completion, the School has assured a successful learning environment for students across the borough.

PROFILE UKC

CB Precast Ltd Design, supply and install all types of precast concrete solutions Specialists in the construction industry, CB Precast Ltd has been providing flooring, staircases and agricultural units for all types of projects.

From major extensions to colleges and universities, sports stadia and hotel complexes, to single dwelling extensions and minor walkway repairs, CB Precast’s reputation for quality has always ensured customer satisfaction and value for money.

All building sites are different and have their own challenges. CB Precast is proud of the professionalism and attention to detail displayed when installing all products. Its contract department visits all sites prior to installation before issuing a site-specific method statement, lifting plan and risk assessment.

The Company’s installation team holds CSCS cards and are fully trained, certified and experienced in the installation of products. With more than 20 years of experience, CB Precast is confident that all issues arising during installation can be overcome.

Employing a team of specialist design professionals, CB Precast can provide comprehensive advice for the structural design of any type of project in accordance with BS8110.

Whilst assuring customers of the closest attention and fullest cooperation at all times, the dedicated sales and estimating department help select from a wide range of products on offer, and the most

suitable precast concrete solution for each is designed for community use as well as particular project and its requirements. for the authority.

CB Precast has worked on the Newland CB Precast has played an integral role, School for Girls development that is seeing installing the staircases and flooring in the existing building undergo remodelling all these rooms, as well as the ‘Podsolve’ and refurbishment work to provide places teaching areas – a series of steel framed for 750 girls. rooms and classrooms with toughened Scheduled to complete in September glass to create light, bright and modern 2013, the work from CB Precast has seen teaching areas. This flexible solution the flooring and staircases provided and allows pods to be fitted as stand-alone installed in preparation for the opening at modular units or slotted together to create the beginning of the next academic year. integrated departments.

The Company is undertaken similar work Thanks to CB Precast’s work, this project is at the new Leeds East Academy, which scheduled to complete on time next month. will provide an innovative, modern and exciting new building that will benefit the whole area, offering students access to much improved facilities.

Facilities include an R .M. Hare assembly hall with Trading as retractable seating and adjacent drama studio that can be used as a stage area to convert Hauliers to the Construction Industry the space into an Pleased to be Associated with operational theatre.

C B Precast Flooring Solutions Ltd There are seven fully serviced science rooms, fully equipped four sports hall adjacent to a dance/ activity studio, which

We are pleased to be associated with GB Precast and wish them continued success for the future Stocks Bros Ltd 5 Ninelands Lane, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1NT T: 0113 232 0022 F: 0113 287 6018 (Accounts) F: 0113 287 0839 (Sales) W: www.thomasarmstrong.co.uk

SANRAY FREIGHT

Mainline Freight Centre Coopies Lane Ind.Est. Morpeth Northumberland NE61 6JN Tel: (01670) 511799 Fax: (01670) 511991 Email: ray@sanrayfreight.com Haulage & Storage Services

53

UKC PROFILE

Enterprise Plc Enterprise is the UK’s largest dedicated maintenance and frontline service provider to the public sector and utility industry.

More than 15M people use the Company’s services, which is 25% of the UK population.

A major development occurred in February with acquisition of Enterprise by Ferrovial, whose footprint in the UK services sector is strengthened.

Ferrovial Services will double its presence in the country, where it operates through Amey. Enterprise will be integrated into Amey to create one of the most diverse companies in its sector, with a more comprehensive offering.

It will have over 21,000 employees, revenues in excess of £2.3Bn and a combined order book of £8.2Bn. Closure of the acquisition is subject to approval by the European Commission, with the agreement being in the region of £385M. Inigo Meiras, CEO of Ferrovial, said: “This acquisition fits with our strategic objective of profitable growth through selective acquisitions and it enables us to expand our services business.”

Enterprise had £1.1Bn in revenues last year, including the joint venture with Mouchel, which is not included in this acquisition.

It has 9,600 employees and provides environmental, property and utilises services as well as road maintenance for public and regulated sector clients.

Recent success for Enterprise includes the announcement in January 2013 that its Utilities and Defence Division has been awarded a three-year Framework Agreement from Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).

This framework further strengthens the Company’s existing close working

54

relationship with SSE and adds to its considerable portfolio of substation projects.

This framework agreement will involve responsibility for the supply, installation, modifications to and commissioning of 132/33kV switchgear, transformers and associated plant, equipment, control and protection systems for SSE Power Distribution.

It forms part of Enterprise’s customer’s replacement and refurbishment of 132kV substations in the south.

Enterprise is proud to announce the opening of the newly constructed Aber Alaw footbridge, which completes the Anglesey Coastal path, a 25mile long recreational route that circumnavigates the island, passing through the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in Wales.

The construction required extensive preparation works to reduce the disruption to the Anglesey tourism trade and to the surrounding privately owned farm land.

Due to the location being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), access was only available during certain times for the construction of the abutments (the point where two structures meet) and the placement of the footbridge.

Throughout the project, Enterprise engaged with a number of organisations including the Environment Agency and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for various consents, to facilitate the project within the specified months due to the spawning of fish and nesting of birds that occurs in this location.

Enterprise liaised with local residents throughout the project to ensure awareness of the works being completed and also to address any queries throughout

the scheme. The completion of the Aber Alaw footbridge will allow full access to the Alaw Estuary, ensuring the continuation and possible increase in tourism on the Isle of Anglesey.

Dewi Williams, Head of Service, Highways and Waste Management at Isle of Anglesey County Council, said: “The bridge looks very impressive, fits in extremely well with the surrounding landscape and has succeeded in closing one of the major missing links within the Ynys Mon Coastal Path.”

November 2012 saw Enterprise launch its new business improvement initiative – EUREKA. Enterprise understand the value of capturing employees’ ideas and feedback, and incorporating these within work. The Company recognises that the person on the ground delivering a service is often best placed to recognise where improvements and innovation can be introduced to develop the services delivered.

EUREKA promotes this and encourages employees to voice their ideas in order to improve the business for all stakeholders, both internal and external. It brings a new approach to rewarding and recognising employees for submitting improvement suggestions within the business across six categories: health and safety, people and customer service, saving money, working practices, systems and processes, and a good idea.

Employees are invited to submit suggestions for consideration using branded postcards or through the dedicated interactive intranet page. Once a month, EUREKA reps who are made up of people from across the business will review all suggestions and select three >

● Tree

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69 Park Road, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 1QZ Tel: 01257 231590 Mob: 07872 619903 Email: toby@cornthwaitetreecare.co.uk www.cornwaitetreecare.co.uk

Services provided: Gas work covering insertion, open cut and abandonment Working with 32mm through to 630mm Pipe Large Diameter mains and service renewal schemes Diversion work Deep excavation Live and dead insertion Repex work Gas escapes Network Extensions Fuel Poverty Schemes Experts in all no dig techniques:Directional Drilling Moling Vacuum excavation techniques Reinstatement Specialists 44 Falstone Drive, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham DH2 3ST Tel: 0191 388 7979 Fax: 0191 388 7979 Mobile: 07950 914 093 Email. ahus@btconnect.com

WM & RW Bacon Ltd. Suite 3a, Courtyard Offices, Braxted Park, Great Braxted, Essex CM8 3EN Tel: 01621 890240 Email: sales@wmbacon.co.uk www.wmbacon.co.uk Wm & RW Bacon Ltd is a lightning protection, specialist earthing and electronic systems protection company, with over 120 years of history we have a long and proud record of delivering a wide variety of installations of all sizes throughout the UK and Europe.

Whether a new project, existing building or a historical property, our approach is to pass on the benefits of our experience in areas such as access, materials choice, programming and health and safety as we work with clients’ teams to deliver competitively costed, BSEN 62305, BS7430 or IEEE 80 compliant designs.

Our in-house archive, technical services and design capabilities mean projects also benefit from our expertise to provide a lightning protection installation that is as non–intrusive as is practically possible, particularly when dealing with Historic and Listed Buildings.

As a family owned company, our core values are reflected in our business practices and principles which help maintain and develop the effective relationships that are fundamental to our collaborative approach to business.

We review our objectives annually and set realistic, deliverable long-term targets that are fundamental to our operations and future: * environment * staff * health and safety * clients * supply chain Our approach to measuring and reporting enables us to effectively evaluate our systems and the success of schemes undertaken to improve performance. In this way we are able to identify, adapt and implement measures which improve our operations and the services we provide clients.

Our ISO 9001 and 18001 certified company management systems ensure our commitment to continuous improvement and quality is part of all aspects of our operations. As a founder member of the trade association known today as ATLAS (Association of Technical Lightning & Access Specialists) and our continued involvement ensures best practice and compliance.

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demonstrates the broad scope of services most difficult areas, has interchangeable EnterpriseLiverpool is capable of delivering, heads allowing for different operations to alongside routine maintenance service be undertaken, uses brushes to ensure provision across the City as a whole. a better finish than the previous jetting “It further maintains our presence within system and requires a minimum amount of the social housing market with the ability water, enabling the 3,000 litre tank to last to expand our service offering within for a full shift. the sector.”

Another joint venture, EnterpriseMouchel, For more information, please visit works in South London maintaining the www.enterprise.plc.uk Transport for London (TfL) Road Network.

London’s Blackwall Tunnel runs under the River Thames and at the time of its opening was the world’s longest underwater tunnel.

The large amount of traffic going through the tunnel on a daily basis makes it difficult to maintain high levels of cleaning without causing major disruptions.

EnterpriseMouchel identified some new, improved equipment that would enhance the efficiency of the cleaning process.

The joint venture worked closely with MercedesBenz to develop an innovative cleaning method Civil Engineering Including using one Pressure Pipelines specialist vehicle Drainage - waste water treatment and infrastructure called a Unimog Electrical Power Infrastructure Mulag washing Chamber/Shaft Construction unit.

This only needs Environmental Solutions to pass through Land Reclamation & Improvement the tunnel once Structural Concrete Works to complete Hard and Soft Landscaping Works thorough cleaning. The Road Building purposedesigned Email: info@waitings.co.uk machine uses Tel: 01931 714270 flexible, long Moss Rd, reach arms, Cliburn, Penrith has a ‘rotating Cumbria, CA10 3AL wrist’ brush mechanism to reach the

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ideas from each of the Company’s divisions; Government, Utilities and Defence, and Central.

Any ideas that are considered to be suitable for possible implementation will be distributed to the most appropriate stakeholder for review and consideration.

Throughout the EUREKA business improvement process, employees will be recognised in various forms including publication of their ideas in company-wide emails, on the intranet and in relevant internal publications.

Enterprise focuses on developing partnering agreements with mutual goals, a high level of transparency and open communication. The Company believe this mutually supportive framework creates better relationships and effective working solutions.

The many successful long-term partnerships are testament to this approach. Enterprise has partnership arrangements with customers and complementary organisations alike.

The flexible, proactive nature of these arrangements allows contracts to evolve with the changing needs of the customer and the industry.

People drive and shape Enterprise’s organisation. The collaborative culture of the Company encourages its people to work at their best in partnership arrangements.

Enterprise also appreciate that everyone needs to fulfil their potential, participate and engage fully in the Company and work in a fair and ethical environment – which is Enterprise’s commitment to its people.

The Company has a number of successful partnerships, one of which includes working with the National Grid since 2005.

Three years after this, Enterprise deployed 50 gas engineers to restore gas supply in Rawtenstall, Lancashire after an incident had left 18,000 local residents without gas.

Enterprise also enjoys an innovative service delivery partnership with Liverpool City Council. Together they form the joint venture partnership EnterpriseLiverpool.

The first of its kind, this joint venture has produced exceptional results including reducing highways budget by 28% while improving the level of service, reducing the number of annual tripping claims from 6,000 to 500, and improving the frequency of highways inspections from less than 50% to 100%.

In October 2012, it was announced that EnterpriseLiverpool was awarded a sixmonth contract with Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH).

LMH manages over 15,000 homes in the City and EnterpriseLiverpool has been part of their framework since 2008.

Subsequently, EnterpriseLiverpool has successfully delivered a number of environmental schemes.

The new external refurbishment will consist of roof line and roof covering replacements, window replacements and other maintenance work for approximately 800 properties across Liverpool.

Joe Kennedy, General Manager of EnterpriseLiverpool, said: “This award

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of all Skip waste is recycled 57

UKC EDUCATION

Tollbar Academy Sixth form facilities continuing to grow Last year saw Tollbar Academy’s sixth form intake year increase to 200 pupils; attracted by the Academy’s excellent academic results. This resulted in a total of 276 sixth form students which meant that teaching space for this cohort was becoming stretched. In reaction, and in consideration of further increases in sixth form numbers, the Academy commissioned a new two-storey sixth form teaching block which means they now have the capacity to accommodate existing and future students comfortably.

Constructed over the footprint of the previous single-storey timber frame sixth form recreation and private study areas, the new two-storey block comprises ten classrooms for the sixth form. This expansion of sixth form classroom facilities has the knock-on effect of allowing existing sixth form classrooms in adjacent buildings to be converted into chemistry and physics labs and business studies classrooms.

In July 2012, the original modular building was craned from the site in sections and transported to a new owner on trailers, which left the area clear for construction.

The site represented a restricted space within a protected sixth form area in the Academy but the design of the building makes the most of the location and sits well with adjacent buildings.

Designed by CR Parrott Consultants Ltd Scunthorpe, the interior layout of the new sixth form block is organised around a double-height atrium containing a staircase with timber and glass handrails and balustrades and a platform lift. The atrium and adjacent circulation space lead to five classrooms on each floor and a secondary escape stair to the north elevation provides the necessary emergency exit routes. Plant equipment is located under the secondary escape stair and a cleaner’s cupboard is located under the main staircase, utilising every inch of space.

Built by Gelder Group, based in Sturton on Stow near Lincoln, the sixth form block is of traditional cavity wall construction.

The exterior finish at ground level is of red brick with charcoal brick detailing. Pale grey insulated cladding wraps around the building at first floor level, helping to break up the visual mass of the building.

The roof is of timber truss construction and a low pitch was achieved by cladding the roof in lightweight metal tiles. This reduces the overall height of the building so that it is not overly dominant in relation to adjacent buildings.

Due to the restricted site and proximity of adjacent buildings, CR Parrott adapted the building design to maximise available light

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into the entrance area, lobby and first floor construction was restricted on three sides, landing. The entrance therefore benefits two of which were bounded by two-storey from glazed curtain walling and a large buildings. This presented a challenge for roof-light pours light into the atrium. the designers in terms of bringing light The energy efficient building benefits from into the building and ensuring that the new underfloor heating which is both more building did not dominate those adjacent. It economical than conventional radiators also required forethought and organisation and also frees up wall space within the from the Main Contractor, Gelder Group, classrooms: particularly important in who successfully managed phased access providing flexible classroom space. Energy for students and other visitors around the performance of many of the building perimeter of the site, both for access to components exceed the current building other areas of the Academy and for fire regulation requirements, such as the escape purposes from adjacent buildings, white uPVC windows which match the during the building process. surrounding buildings.

Work started on site on 9th July 2012 and The site is lower than the surrounding was completed on 11th January 2013. buildings, so the new sixth form Students moved into the new building on foundations were raised slightly and the 21st January. The overall cost was just over surrounding area built up with paths and £440,000. ramps, removing the need for steps, to This new building is sure to be popular, as ease accessibility for all. All of the access 500 people attended the academy’s annual paths have been re-laid in block paving opening evening for prospective sixth form which the Academy finds works very well students in October 2012 – the highest in terms of durability and maintenance. number in its history.

When access is required to below ground services, they are also easy to re-instate as a particularly level project management | architectural & structural engineering consultants surface. Previous car parking spaces • Consulting civil/structural engineers has also been reestablished and • Architectural services re-surfaced with • 3D Visualisation block paving.

• Building consultants All work has been undertaken with • Project appraisal studies disabled students • Project and construction management in mind, meaning that doors and • Design & build consultancy access routes are • Post-construction surveys sufficiently wide • CDM planning co-ordination / party wall and there is a lift for wheelchair users survey services or less mobile • Preparation of structural reports for all domestic, students. The wheelchair refuges commercial and retail sectors located at the top of • Full planning and building regulation services the staircases have direct telephone communication with We are pleased to continue to support Tollbar the fire warden.

Staff and pupils can Academy with our full professional services, in the feel secure with the ongoing development of their site into a state of the full detection fire art educational establishment. alarm system that is installed, and CCTV covers all external Prince House, Arkwright Way, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN16 1AD areas.

T: 01724 278155 F: 01724 278166 Construction was not without its issues, as E: info@crparrott.co.uk www.crparrott.co.uk the area available for

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PROFILE UKC

Partner Construction Formed in April 2011, Partner Construction is coming up to its second anniversary, yet already has an extensive portfolio that includes the construction and aftercare of more than 30 developments with a total contract value of £40M. Working out of offices in Spennymoor and Leicester, the Company was born out of the demise of McInerney homes and was purchased from KPMG. Despite only being up and running since April 2011, Partner Construction has vast experience it can call upon, and with five Directors, there are more than 100 years of experience in the industry.

The Company is a land-led affordable housing provider that specialises in finding land, packaging up affordable housing schemes, and taking these to housing associations to see if they’re interested in a particular scheme and if so, the Company take this forward.

One of the ways that Partner Construction saw as a way to improve was on developing customer care within the industry. It was seen as a way the Company could demonstrate its attitude to work. This has resulted in investing in clixifix, which is now a registered trademark.

A customer care solution is a great administrative tool that cuts out many problems encountered in customer care.

Around this, the Company is developing a best practice customer care guide that will be worked on in the future. It is hoped this will set Partner Construction apart from others in the future.

It is hoped that Clixifix itself will be launched within two months. Partner Construction is currently trialling it and it will hopefully be available to the market in the near future.

Partner Construction has been involved in a number of prestigious projects. One of which was the award-winning development on Hazel Lane, North Hykeham, for the ACIS Group.

The project was brought to the Company’s

attention by its major land finder as an opportunity to purchase the JCT Contract & Planning Approval from a developer unsure about how to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4.

After several weeks of negotiation, the project was purchased along with the assignment of all reports in full support of the end-user client ACIS and their Development Agent NHCA. Previously, the site was a scrap-yard, which had been remediated prior to Partner Construction’s involvement and all issues relating to contamination were remedied to ensure the residential development could be developed.

Work saw the construction of 32 affordable homes, which were a mixture of two-, three-, and four-bedroom properties. Work commenced in February 2011 and was completed in May 2012, with the contract costing just under £3M. Partner Construction’s development in this project received a commendation as the ‘Social Housing Development of the Year’ at the Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards 2012.

The development was entered into ‘The Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards’, taking an opportunity to compete against the very best developments in the UK. Gary Devaney, Group Chairman of Premier Guarantee, said: “The Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards are an invaluable opportunity to recognise the very best developments in the UK housing market and to raise the profile of the country’s best house builders.

“The quality of the sites entered was outstanding and with over 152 shortlisted the competition was stronger than ever.

Out of the 152 shortlisted, 56 sites were selected for our National, Regional and Commended Winners over a three-month judging process, culminating from a round of site visits from our judging panel.

“Developments were judged entirely on the quality of workmanship and build,

elevating winners as the highest quality developments in the UK.” There were over 1,500 developments, making the 2012 Excellence Awards the most competitive year.

Barry Smith, Managing Director of Partner, said: “This commendation reflects Partner’s objective of delivering outstanding quality on all of our schemes.

“Partner would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those people involved with the scheme at Hazel Lane and to congratulate them for their part on delivering such an exceptional project.”

In October 2012, Partner Construction announced the achievement of OHSAS 18001 accreditation for its health and safety management system. Following on from the success with Constructionline and CHAS, this new accreditation shows clients that the Company is committed to continual improvement.

By demonstrating commitment to excellence, employees have seen that health and safety is kept at the forefront of the Company’s decision making process.

Involvement and support of employees has been a key factor in the OHSAS 18001 accreditation, and combined with the Senior Management support through their commitment to improvement, Partner Construction intends to maintain and improve its management of health and safety.

OHSAS 18001 addresses a number of key health and safety issues, which include planning for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control, structure and responsibility, training awareness and competence, operational control and performance measuring, monitoring and improvement.

It is a British Standard for occupational health and safety management systems, and exists to help all kinds of organisations put in place demonstrably sound occupational health and safety performance.

Terry Harrison, Construction Director

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at Partner Construction, said: “We implemented BS OHSAS 18001 as we wanted to reinforce our commitment to our health and safety management system and further promote the requirement for a safe and healthy working environment for all parties affected by Partner’s work.

“We are delighted that our Safety Management System is now accredited to the BS OHSAS 18001 standard. For clients, this represents reassurance that they’re in safe hands and for our team, that our safety management along with our quality is recognised as the best in the industry.

“BS OHSAS 18001 provides a framework that can be applied alongside our existing SHE management system, allowing our business to consistently identify and control health and safety risks, reduce the potential for accidents, aid legislative compliance and improve overall safety.”

The Company started work in January 2013 on the construction of nine new affordable homes at Cottam Street, Chorley on behalf of New Progress Housing Association.

Located off Lichfield Road, the scheme will provide much needed affordable homes in the area.

It involves the construction of nine new housing for the people of Chorley.

The scheme is due to be completed by the residential properties, comprising seven end of the year. two-bedroom, four person homes, and two This year has also seen the Company win two-bedroom, three person bungalows. at the Building Excellence Awards 2013 All new homes will be fully compliant with for Best Partnership with Sunderland City HCA requirements, HQI standards and Council, and with plans to expand into the Code for Sustainable Level 3. south east area, Partner Construction will Leigh Cresswell, Business Development Director at Partner Construction, said: continue to grow.

“Partner is delighted to commence work at Cottam Street.

There has been a tremendous effort from all the team to ensure that this ROOFING CONTRACTORS development will meet and exceed the Are pleased to be associated with Partner Construction on expectations of the their projects. Established for over 36 years working with local stakeholders.

“We are working very contractors and private developers closely with the local Council and New Tel: 0113 277 1184 Fax: 0113 277 0988 Progress Association to construct outstanding properties that will provide much needed

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UKC COMMERCIAL

Cavalry Square New home for Venturethree delivered by Honeybun Construction Offering a one-touch solution to design and build, Honeybun Construction delivers quality projects all over the UK, all of which are safe and well managed, and undertaken by the very best professionals.

The Company has recently completed work to turn an office area in side Chelsea Barracks into a modern, light and spacious work environment for Venturethree (V3), which is a big graphic design company in London.

Previously, it was an office area with brickwork walls and concrete floors but it didn’t have provision for IT, and was limited for other modern services, such as boilers and heating.

The office area upstairs was used for a small period of time but has been empty for a while. V3 saw the potential and employed AB Rogers to design an innovative use of space and light practical for a fast moving, IT-led design company. Honeybun was the Main Contractor for the project, having been awarded the contract from Cole Management.

As the building belongs to V3, the IT and services needed to accommodate the Company are immense.

For the 50 employees, V3 needed 50 IT and

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work stations.

There are two floors with desks that are fixed to the floors and can be removed to open up the space should they need it for a conference. It was quite an innovative design, because the desks can be lifted out and the area opened up by pulling the legs out of the floor and covering the holes.

A huge server room has been installed because V3 works closely with Sky and Penguin. These servers produce 79dB each when running and the server room is incorporated in the upstairs office to the rear.

It is encased in a red high gloss IT room that is highly insulated for sound, so that once the doors are closed, the server cannot be heard running at all. This has taken a high amount of soundproofing so that people can work in and around it without being affected by any noise.

Because Chelsea Barracks is a listed building, all the brickwork could not be altered. Inside the building, there weren’t many major works in regards to construction. A lot of steel was incorporated in the upstairs area to accommodate three electronic rooflights that are all controlled by ambient

temperatures in the building. These rise and fall according to internal temperature.

In addition, Honeybun had to erect a lot of steelwork in to incorporate this so the roof structure has been considerably changed.

Externally, an acoustic screen has been built because there are condensers on the roof that feed Cavalry Square’s apartments and others. When these are running, they generate noise so Honeybun put an acoustic screen up adjacent to the rooflights.

The fact that the building is listed has provided challenges in the arcade because all the walls are protected and the brickwork is protected.

Three quarters of the way down as the floor was being excavated, a plant room was discovered that was covered by concrete planks. This meant that the floor couldn’t be lowered, which created some problems.

There was the IT and underfloor heating to go on top but needed a certain depth to get it to work with the equipment. Everything had to be diminished down, and this meant that Honeybun had to work together with everybody else to ensure that everything works. Electrical contractors have the opportunity to do a first fix, >

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after which Honeybun incorporate the floors and do a second fix, but on this occasion, everybody worked together to successfully incorporate the floor.

When people are putting in fire alarms, smoke detectors and new lighting, it is imperative they do not damage the listed parts of the building because it is protected. This required constant supervision by Honeybun staff.

Toilets, showers and disabled toilets have been incorporated in what is a standout design by AB Rogers. It was very well designed, and the bespoke nature of the work has made it a challenge. Honeybun

has been extremely successful in dealing with any problems while on site.

This was made possible because of the experienced team that worked on the project. Site Managers Mark Osbourne and Steve Erickson, Contracts Manager Mark Williams, and Kim Smith, who was the Senior Contracts Manager, all worked diligently to make sure work was completed on time and to the highest standards.

V3 also had huge involvement in the project. Design meetings were arranged once every two weeks throughout development, to keep everyone informed.

V3 were scheduled to move in early

in January, and while the project was virtually completed before Christmas 2012, Honeybun felt more needed to be done to reach the high standards set, so the Company worked all through the Christmas period, with the exception of Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and along with a team of painters, got the development to a stage that the Client was very happy with.

Work started on the £1.5M development in August 2012 and was completed in January 2013, with the end result being a modern, well-lit work area that is tailor-made for a design company with the standing of V3.

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EDUCATION UKC

St George’s Park Creating the FA dream to transform grassroots facilities in England The FA’s vision to create a new home for coach education in England has been realised, with the construction of the National Football Centre.

St George’s Park, in Burton-on-Trent boasts world class facilities on the 330acre site to completely change the way potential footballers are trained and developed in England.

Aside from being a venue of significant national pride, St George’s Park provides an accessible grassroots facility that features community-use pitches and multisport facilities, while also substantially enhancing what is currently available for local people.

It is estimated that 80% of all participants benefiting from St George’s Park will be from the grassroots game.

The venue will also play host at various times to the 24 representative England teams, from the senior men’s and women’s squads to development teams, disability and Futsal teams.

It is now the headquarters for the League Managers Association and a centre for the training of referees, administrators and for all-round career pathways in the game.

The extensive sports facilities include an indoor hall that accommodates a full size artificial football pitch, and an indoor running track is situated around it.

There is also be a multi-sport indoor sports hall with sprung floor allowing Futsal, badminton and netball to be played on it, and there are football pitches for the partially sighted.

In addition, 11 external pitches with floodlights and undersoil heating have been created, accommodating full size and seven-a-side elite football and coaching for all age groups.

Bespoke head tennis courts, sand pits,

sand rehabilitation lanes, sweat boxes and bleep test zones are included, along with strength and conditioning gyms, a hydrotherapy suite, goalkeeping areas, seminar rooms, individual consulting rooms, biomechanics and screening area, and perimeter trim trail.

Football is understandably the focus of the centre, but St George’s Park is also an elite sports medicine, treatment and performance research centre, the plan being that the 25,000sq ft sports medicine complex will become the first FIFA Centre of Medical Excellence in England.

There are currently just 22 of these centres in the world.

In addition, a centre for athletic performance research will be established to serve English sport, in conjunction with several university partners.

Backed by cutting edge facilities and staffed by specialist clinicians, the medical facilities will include screening, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of football and sports injuries, fitness screening for domestic and international football teams and players, a football medicine and science audit and monitoring service for domestic and international clubs, specialist sporting injury treatment, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and rehabilitation.

Other facilities include performance research, development of best

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practice in sports medicine and science, an advisory service for optimisation of training techniques, education programmes and career paths for sports medicine and science disciplines, and a comprehensive sports science offering, which will include sports psychology, nutrition, power and conditioning, and rehabilitation.

A new destination venue in the heart of the country, St George’s Park will also house a 142-bed Hilton Hotel and an 86-bed Hampton by Hilton Hotel. These hotels were topped out last November.

Building work commenced in January 2011, and opened in summer 2012.

The Architect for the development was Redbox Design Group Ltd, and the Main Contractor is Bowmer & Kirkland.

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UKC EDUCATION

Bodmin College New salon facilities Bodmin College was able to begin the academic year with new state-of-theart facilities for its range of hair & beauty courses. Whilst the faciltities were already of high quality the investment has pemitted futher development to the structure and range of courses on offer in what has become a very popular area of the curriculum at both KS4 and KS5.

The facility now boasts a dedicated pre-16 room to develop their understanding and skills in a range of techniques in both hair and beauty. In addition the facility caters for students aged 16 -19 who develop specialisms in either the hair or the beauty sector in both level 2 and 3 qualifications. The integral and purpose built ICT suite enables students to have access to a number of computers, printers and research materials to ensure that they have every opportunity to reach their potential and develop their skill level to industry standards.

With approximately 200 students estimated to be undertaking courses in hair and/or beauty this wonderful facility meets exceptionally high industry standards. The students were both very

excited and somewhat surprised to see builds upon ambitious plans to develop the the very high quality of the new facilities curriculum and provide students with even richer opportunities for learning through with one noting that: “I’m so lucky to be attending and coming to Bodmin College, the creation of a purpose built environment; other recent projects include the this is wonderful and I can’t wait to get started”. development of new science laboratories, Designed by Kendall Kingscott Partnership an extension to the Sixth Form Centre and the addition of The Studio and built by AD Williams, the construction timetable was very tight, with work starting a 260 seat amphitheatre. in July 2012 and concluding in September 2012. Despite the pressure on meeting the completion date, flooring and ceramics specialist the works were well managed 26 Stonehouse Street with dedicated Plymouth, Devon PL1 3PE professional craftsmen on Telephone: 01752 220909 site working in Fax 01752 201054 partnership with website: www.renziflooring.co.uk College staff and the Architect.

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UKC PROFILE

m3 Ltd Delivering efficient management services m3 is an award winning Principal Contractor established in 2004 with offices based in Sheffield but carrying out work nationwide.

The business has enjoyed steady growth carrying out a significant workload in the food retail and maintenance sectors and currently diversifying in education, commercial and industrial areas. m3’s expert resources work in partnerships with Client’s serious about innovative solutions, safe working practices and a measurable return on investment.

The Company does this by understanding the Client’s core business, delivering buildable projects and minimising impact on the ability to trade. m3’s innovative customer focus approach has been recognised throughout the industry, culminating in a prestigious award when Asda named m3 as its Projects Delivery Contractor of 2011, demonstrating

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m3’s continuing endeavours to deliver great schemes for its Clients every time.

2012 was a busy year completing 170 separate contracts that ranged in value from £10,000 to £5.5M and the Company is looking forward to 2013 and beyond developing yet further the m3 team and great working relationships with its customers. m3, The Iron Works, 153 Effingham Road, Sheffield, S4 7XU. Tel: 0114 272 8484

TRAD Safety Systems are delighted to be working throughout the country with M3 supplying them with Fall prevention products and Fabricated Access Solutions For further information anywhere in the UK

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LEISURE UKC

Foreshore Leisure Centre All going swimmingly The £16M swimming pool and leisure complex under construction at Pier Parade in South Shields, South Tyneside, is a major part of the Council’s regeneration plans, vision and commitments for the borough.

It has been designed by LA Architects and is being built by Graham Construction.

The construction team started to clad the building in November 2012 with more than 21,600 specially imported tiles, weighing a total of 103 tonnes. The Architect chose a naturally based material for the tiles, with a low energy and long life solution in mind during the design procedure.

The terracotta tiles have been created

by German manufacturers, NBK. This is the first time they have been used in this volume and manner, anywhere in the world.

A subcontractor, Pioneer, has been working closely with the Architect from the tile development stages and are currently responsible for delivering the intricate cladding process.

The swimming pool and leisure complex will feature an eight-lane, 25m competition pool, an 18m learner pool with adjustable floors for added flexibility, and leisure areas with flumes, sprays, bubble pools and water play. It will be used for school swimming during the day and also with the opportunity to host competition swimming events.

Other facilities include a sauna and steam room, an 80-station gym, two dance studios, fitness testing and consultation rooms.

There will also be a great range of features for non-swimmers such as a coffee lounge and café, a library express, an outdoor terrace and amphitheatre, two multipurpose rooms and a roof top viewing gallery for people to enjoy the stunning seafront views.

Alison Burden, Headteacher at Marine Park Primary School said: “The children are really excited especially because the pool is so c lose to where they live. They all say they can’t wait for it to open and how lucky

they are living right beside such an and leisure complex is one in a series amazing pool.” of major Council-led investments in the Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South borough’s future that includes a £2.3M Tyneside Council and Chairman of the waterpark in South Shields, £4M school Foreshore Working Group, said: “The and community pool at Jarrow, £5M new swimming pool and leisure complex Littlehaven scheme, and a major new symbolises our passion and commitment to community hub in Hebburn. providing the Borough with the very best in community facilities.

“The building’s unique progressive look and design, sets a benchmark for our vision of South Tyneside, as we strive to achieve high standards across various facets of the borough.

“The complex is an important part of the Council’s regeneration portfolio that covers housing, business and leisure, and represents South Tyneside as an outstanding place to Cost Consultant on the Pools on the Foreshore live, invest and bring Leisure Centre up families.”

Work on the project Leading providers of : is expected to be Cost Management and Quantity Surveying completed in Spring 2013.

Project Management Mike Lawless, Design Development Monitoring Director of Professional Building Surveying LA Architects, said: “After the spring Digital Mapping and Scanning completion, we Heritage and Conservation Consultancy hope to leave behind a building that can Health and Safety Consultancy benefit everyone, whether they are Founded in 1920, Summers-Inman provides high quality, specialist professional services to all sectors of the property and construction involved in leisure industry, underpinned by investment in the latest technology. activities or just taking a cup of Email: Tel: 0191 2841121 eric.tully@summers-inman.co.uk coffee out onto the Web Site: www.summers-inman.co.uk Fax: 0191 3760708 roof terrace.”

The swimming pool

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UKC CIVIL

King’s Cross Square One of London’s most exciting developments Since 2005, King’s Cross station has undergone a major programme of restoration and improvement, collectively known as the King’s Cross Station Redevelopment Programme (KXRP).

The overall objective of this programme has been to create a world class space that serves the needs of a modern major transport interchange, local residents, local business and Greater London as a whole.

The seven year project has already seen significant changes to King’s Cross station and the surrounding infrastructure with the addition of a new concourse, major refurbishment of a Grade I listed structure, significant improvements to services and adoption of new technologies.

Network Rail considers the successful delivery of this project as their most important and high profile works, and the unveiling of King’s Cross Square will represent the culmination of the upgrade programme at King’s Cross station, covering almost a decade and will reveal the station’s façade for the first time since its inception in 1851.

Since work started in 2007, a new platform has been added, there’s a new concourse, the Eastern Range has been restored and the historic Handyside bridge has been replaced with an accessible footbridge. To date, not a single train has been cancelled due to the work.

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The bright and spacious concourse, incorporating food and retail outlets, was included within the project after London won the Olympic Games in 2005. It was opened in March 2012 – four months ahead of the Games.

Since then, work to remove the green canopy that has overshadowed the historic frontage of King’s Cross station since the 1970s has been undertaken.

The demolition of one of the capital’s longest surviving temporary buildings marked the start of the final phase of the biggest transformation in the station’s 160-year history, with the new square – designed by London-based Architect Stanton Williams – due to open in autumn 2013.

At more than 7,000sq m, King’s Cross Square could accommodate more than 300 routemaster buses parked nose-to-tail and will open up stunning views, not only of the historic frontage of the station, but also across to St Pancras International.

Matt Tolan, Network Rail’s programme manager at King’s Cross, said: “We’re finally removing a building that’s almost universally unloved, restoring the station to its full architectural glory and creating a modern station fit for the future that gives passengers and the local community a huge new space to enjoy.

“With the completion of the final phase of King’s Cross station’s redevelopment, we

aim to bring a bit of the grandness and old-world charm of Europe’s city centre railway stations right to the heart of 21st century London.”

The final phase of works follows the opening of the spectacular glass and steel western concourse last March, providing three times more space for passengers than the old concourse, with improved links to both the London Underground network and St Pancras International Station.

More than 45 million passengers a year – travelling through London and to and from destinations including Cambridge, Peterborough, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh – now have improved facilities including better lighting, larger destination boards, clearer station announcements and more shops and restaurants.

While construction of the new King’s Cross Square takes place, passengers arriving by train into King’s Cross station will need to exit the station either left onto York Way, right into the Underground or right through the new western concourse.

When construction is complete, passengers will enter the station via the new western concourse and exit from the front of the station onto King’s Cross Square.

The project is being constructed by J Murphy Group.

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UKC COMMERCIAL

New Capital Quay The finest new riverside development in London Commanding one of the most dramatic riverside locations in London, New Capital Quay will be a striking new landmark in the overall regeneration of historical Greenwich – already a highly desirable residential borough and one of only four world heritage sites in the capital.

With river frontage to three sides, New Capital Quay is widely anticipated to gain the status of ‘the most exclusive new waterside village’ anywhere along the Thames.

It will comprise more than 636 private residential apartments and is in a unique position, providing excellent views towards The City, Canary Wharf and the Millennium Dome.

The site benefits from close proximity to Greenwich town centre, the open space of Greenwich Park and the connectivity afforded by mainline rail services into London and Kent, as well as the Docklands Light Railways to Canary Wharf and The City.

The scheme combines contemporary living within a diverse new community that embraces cultural and historical uses, creating a sense of place that is in harmony with the existing character of Greenwich.

It will deliver a vibrant mix of uses including residential, convenience retail, a supermarket, ancillary bars and restaurants, and community and visitor attractions to create an active and sustainable environment. Attractions will include art galleries and antique

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workshops, while there will also be a crèche with a medical facility.

There will be high quality public realm space and there is a clear spacial strategy, enhancing active frontages that define the public and protected private space.

The residential element of New Capital Quay provides a diverse mix of luxury lifestyle apartments comprising a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.

A large proportion offer select family styled accommodation, including the arrangement of duplex apartments at ground and first floor levels creating residential courtyards/home zones with independent front door access.

The cutting edge development is ecoenviromental, safe and secure with 24-hour porterage service. A wide range of planned amenities and facilities are on the doorstep and are cleverly incorporated along the waterfront providing activity and vibrancy to the ground floor within the main public spaces.

There is also potential for Dreadnought Wharf to provide a focal venue for maritime heritage uses enhancing the Thames frontage with active waterborne installation supported by a new heritage museum.

The mix of uses is accommodated within a total of 11 blocks. The scale of the blocks vary in height from four-storeys (pavilion blocks) to 15 floors (the landmark peninsula building).

Build elements are arranged around a

series of home zone entrance courtyards.

A substantial portion of the residential accommodation benefits from favourable orientation in terms of sunlight and waterside aspect. The arrangement also enables strong visual and physical permeability across and within the site.

Oak wood floors compliment the natural black granite finishes to sleek open plan kitchens and all appliances are carefully selected to ensure they meet the most stringent energy rating standards.

Add to this the chrome, glass, fine ceramics or natural stone finishes of luxurious bathrooms, and the result is an apartment delivering a sense of luxury and style that meets the demands of even the most discerning buyer.

The site is bordered along the northern edge by the River Thames, to the east by Norway Street/Thames Street, the south by Creek Road and the west by Deptford Creek.

Cutty Sark DLR station is located within three minutes walk of the development, providing access to Canary Wharf in 11 minutes, Bank in 22 minutes, Stratford in 23 minutes and London City Airport in 27 minutes.

Designed by DP9 Planning Consultants, the Main Contractor is CJ O’Shea Group Ltd, and work on the project will be complete in September 2014.

OUR AIM: To provide our clients with an exceptional level of quality workmanship, and a proactive approach to delivery of our products, within the time parameters required by their clients.

These goals will be achieved without compromise to the Health & Safety of our workforce and the other trades which we interact with on site.

Harlequin Brickwork Ltd is the realisation of two highly respected Directors in the Construction and Masonry Industries.

Former founder & Managing Director of Landmark Brickwork Ltd, Billy Sutcliffe, and Paul Parkhouse, the former Commercial Director of Linden Homes, have joined forces in an exciting

partnership to create something unique.

Harlequin is rapidly becoming one of the leading brands and working towards being the first name on everyone’s supply chain.

Harlequin Brickwork Ltd offers individual packages for Brickwork and Stonework, and associated trades on a supply and fix and labour only basis.

Having secured steady growth over the past two years, Harlequin has emerged from our infancy with a commanding aria of diverse contracts and order values.

Current Contracts We are currently carrying out the works at Greenwich Reach for our client Galliard Homes which is the construction of 1000 apartments. 10 blocks of concrete frame construction clad in Ibstock Leicester

yellow multi bricks. An exciting and large scale volume masonry package which has been a logistical challenge which we have overcome with our client Galliard.

An order value approaching £1 million.

Royal Air Force Bentley Priory is a once in a lifetime site of residential apartments and crescent houses constructed in an English Bond with an unpresented design.

Truly a flagship contract in design and execution for our client Barratt North London.

With an order value in excess of £1.7 million, a true masonry gem, and one we are proud to be associated with as a brickwork and stonework contractor.

Finally, the largest social housing scheme in London for our client Higgins Construction.

Myatt’s Estate is the redevelopment and regeneration of the whole area of Lambeth and is another logistically testing project. The sites are spread over a large area with construction taking place on several sites at the same time.

A four year programme of works with a local labour initiative which we, as a company, have bought into to offer work to local individuals from the community.

Harlequin, in essence, has a wealth of experience which we share with our clients, with a pain and gain approach to supply chain management, and the delivery of our product.

Runcton Cottage, Oddley Lane, Saunderton, Bucks HP27 9NQ Email: Paul Parkhouse: paul@harlequinbrickwork.co.uk or Billy Sutcliffe: billy@harlequinbrickwork.co.uk Tel: 01844 347916 www.harlequinbrickwork.co.uk

UKC HOUSING

David Wilson Homes Where quality lives David Wilson Homes is not just a housing developer, it is a company that builds homes. At every stage of the process; from designing and planning to the final finishing touches, the Company keeps in mind the emotional and practical priorities of the people who will be living in its properties.

This customer-centric approach has been at the root of David Wilson’s success for over 40 years. The Company began in a small village in Leicester and today is recognised as one of the country’s leading housebuilders, operating in 13 regions, from Scotland to Wales and down to the South East of England. All of its regions are supported by an extensive customer service team to guide buyers through what,

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in most cases, is the biggest financial commitment they will ever make.

As part of the Wilson Bowden Group, David WIlson Homes established its reputation through the building of large executive properties but today its uncompromising pursuit of excellence extends into a wider portfolio of homes including apartments and townhouses.

At the heart of the Company lies the Wilson Way, an attitude which demands all its people, whether they be land buyers, site managers or marketing staff, deliver their very best at all stages of the business.

David Wilson believes detail is everything and consequently the team takes time to source materials of the highest standard to

fashion homes of unparalleled quality.

The Company has received many awards over the years. Some of the recent awards that recognise the Company’s efforts in customer care, home and garden design and health and safety initiatives are: Housing Design Awards 2006 – Upton Site C; Building Health & Safety Awards 2006 – Gold Award for Best Health & Safety Initiative; Daily Express Housebuilder Awards 2006 – Silver Award for Developments of over 500 units, David Wilson Homes Eastern Region; Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Awards 2006 – Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards.

One of David Wilson Homes’ many stylish >

JPD Contracts (UK) Ltd Kitchen Appliance Supply and Installation Specialists “Celebrating 10 years of successful service to the construction Industry”

JPD Contracts (UK) Ltd supply and install domestic appliances to National House Builders, Regional Developers, Universities, Housing Associations & the Leisure Industry.

We work in both the private and public sector and supply some of the top twenty house builders in the UK. We offer a complete supply only service throughout the UK and supply and fit service in England and Wales. Our comprehensive skills are all in house and our engineers are Gas Safe Registered and have CSCS cards. Our dedicated Business Development Managers will also act as Project Managers from the start to the finish of the development, giving you peace of mind that your site is being run in the most efficient way. With a dedicated customer care team based at our head office, we ensure that any defects in installation are acted on in a timely manner, giving you confidence that the occupier will be given a 1st class service.

This year, JPD Contracts celebrate 10 years in this industry supplying and installing kitchen appliances. Starting in January 2003 from a small warehouse in Coalville, Leicestershire we have progressed to purpose built premises on the Bardon 22 Industrial Estate with the ability and size to stock all major appliance manufacturers. Over the years, we have formed a dedicated and loyal team, some of which have been with us from the beginning. John Evans, Managing Director of JPD Contracts, is delighted to have reached this milestone and commented that our success has come from the ability to diversify into other markets.

www.jpdcontracts.co.uk

Email: enquiries@jpdcontracts.co.uk

properties is based at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale.

Located on Sir Isaac Newton Way, Kingsway has 168 new properties, a mixture of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes.

There are 11 different house types in the development that created approximately 200 jobs during construction.

The Winton is a superb two-bedroom traditional home. The ground floor accommodation comprises a downstairs cloakroom, fitted kitchen with feature double doors leading out onto the hall into a spacious living room, dining area, and French doors leading out to the garden.

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms and a family bathroom.

A stylish three-bedroom home ideal for every lifestyle, the Archford has a ground floor with a bright and airy kitchen/dining room with French doors to the garden.

There is also a spacious separate living room with a bay window and a downstairs cloakroom. The first floor benefits from a master bedroom with its own private ensuite, while there are two further bedrooms and a family bathroom.

One of the two four-bedroom properties is the Irving, which has a master bedroom complete with a fitted wardrobe and luxury ensuite.

This attractive detached home also features a large kitchen/family/dining room with separate utility and the choice of a fourth bedroom or study, making it perfect for flexible family living with style.

The housing at Kingsway is part of a new and emerging community with a development of green open spaces and a range of quality home designs. It is close to Rochdale’s many local shops and a short distance from Manchester.

Buckshaw Village in Chorley is one of the fastest growing communities in the country, with a growing number of residential properties, along with schools, shops and leisure facilities.

It includes the Aspire development – a mixture of four- and five-bedroom properties. There are seven house types, with two being four-bedroom and five being five-bedroom.

One of the five-bedroom homes is the Litchfield, which is a commanding executive home.

It has a balanced and striking façade with a spacious internal layout. From a large but welcoming hallway to a kitchen family room worthy of any dinner party, the Litchfield’s ground floor is nothing short of stunning.

Five bedrooms are above over two floors.

A master bedroom complete with dressing room and ensuite make this a luxurious and indulgent space. Four further double bedrooms and two further bathrooms make the Litchfield one of David Wilson’s largest and most sought after quality homes.

The Winstone is a large four-bedroom detached family home with plenty of living space. It includes a breakfast/ kitchen/family room and utility, plus separate dining room and study. Ensuite

to bedrooms one and two and a dressing area to the master bedroom help to maximise comfort in the home.

David Wilson Homes has also completed work at St Oswald’s Court to provide 21 properties that are in a beautiful setting and take advantage of all that Malpas and Cheshire have to offer.

Malpas is a fully functional village and includes schools, a village hall, a surgery, pubs, gift shops, country clothing shops, a bakery, bowling clubs, golf clubs and even a dog grooming parlour.

Dominating it all is stunning St Oswald’s Church, a Grade I listed building, which is situated on the highest point of Malpas and can be seen on all approaches to the village.

Providing an idyllic village location overlooking open countryside, St Oswald’s Court is a short walk away from Malpas village centre, which provides for all day-to-day requirements such as shops, medical and dental practices, a primary school and nursery. A short drive leads to many of Cheshire’s wonderful country pubs and restaurants.

The market town of Whitchurch and the city centre of Chester are easily accessible via the A41 and offer a wider range of amenities while also providing excellent links by both motorway and rail. Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham are all within commuting distance with main line railway stations at Crewe and Wrexham.

R. HEATON SCAFFOLDING LTD

We are pleased to be associated with David Wilson Homes UNIT 4, 67 CANTERBURY ST, BLACKBURN, LANCASHIRE, BB2 2HT. TEL: 01254 662237 FAX: 01254 54666 MOBILE: 07785 308743 Email: rheatonscaffold@aol.com 74

We are pleased to be associated with David Wilson Homes and wish them continued success for the future ASTRASEAL MASTICS LTD Unit 8 Chorley Central Business Park Off Stump Lane Chorley Lancs ●

●

●

Tel: 01257 261477 Mob: 07905 603052 Fax: 01257 220392 Email: andrewalmond@astrasealmastics.co.uk

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BRICKWORK SUB-CONTRACTORS

Proud to be associated with David Wilson Homes Elton Fold Works, Harvey Street, BURY, Lancashire, BL8 1FZ

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UKC PROFILE

FeRFA Offering the best services to members FeRFA, the Resin Flooring Association, represents the major product manufactures, specialist contractors and surface preparation companies, raw material suppliers and specialist service providers within the UK Resin Flooring Industry.

As the Association dedicated to seamless resin flooring for over 40 years, FeRFA leads the way in providing advice, guidance and training support.

FeRFA endorses and actively promotes the qualification of the specialist workforce through the provision of NVQs, apprenticeships schemes and upskilling courses.

As the training provider for the resin flooring and surface preparation industry sectors, FeRFA runs a range of accredited training schemes to address the needs of apprenticeship training, CPD and career development.

FeRFA operates through a Council, which is elected annually, comprising representation from a manufacturer and contractor members and a maximum of four associates members.

The Council meets four times a year and elects a Chairman and Vice Chairman from the Council members to serve a two-year period in office. These posts alternate between a manufacturer and contractor member, ensuring that both sectors of the industry are always represented.

The day-to-day administration and management of FeRFA is undertaken by the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary.

There is also an active Technical Committee that is responsible for the production of FeRFA’s extensive portfolio of technical documents as well as ensuring the views of the resin flooring industry are well represented through various bodies and government departments.

Membership of FeRFA is available to manufacturers, contractors and companies or consultants who are involved indirectly with the manufacture, application and maintenance of resin flooring.

The five categories of membership

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are: resin flooring contractors, surface preparation contractors, screed flooring contractors, resin flooring manufacturers and associates and consultant associates.

Group seven apprentices on the FeRFA In Situ Resin Flooring course recently completed their last off site training session at Flowcrete’s excellent training facility in Sandbach.

The modules covered screeds and coving as well as a review of the course as a whole and guidance on the next steps in their progress towards achieving their NVQ level 2 Diplomas.

The apprentices will now continue to gain onsite experience under supervision with their employers on a variety of project.

Working in pairs, the apprentices gained invaluable hands on trowelling experience using Flowcrete materials.

FeRFA trainer, Terry Foxley, has watched the apprentices grow in confidence over the past 18 months and is looking forward to presenting them with their completion certificates and NVQ level 2 Diplomas this year.

The assistance that FeRFA receives from its manufacturing and associate member companies enables the schemes to be run at a cost equal to the grants members receive from ConstructionSkills.

Previous groups were honoured at an

awards dinner in November 2012, receiving their Diplomas, FeRFA certificates and ID badges from Terry Foxley.

Guest presenters Ray Stubbs and Mark Lawrenson welcomed the apprentice graduates from Resin Groups five and six, and Surface Preparation Groups three and four.

Training is an excellent way to share best practice, knowledge and skills, which in turn raises quality standards within an industry sector.

PROFILE UKC

Stainforth Construction Successfully working in a wide range of sectors Stainforth Construction has a track record of working well with design teams on each project, providing the expertise, knowledge and experience that ensure the highest quality.

The efficient, high calibre team combine the right mix of attitude and ability required for each job and provide an effective vehicle for delivering projects that require a guaranteed cost and single point of responsibility.

Stainforth works in a number of sectors and in August last year, completed work on the ÂŁ1.3M South Craven School in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

Built on very good ground conditions, the two-storey building is a portal frame construction, with an external comprising of brick, render and cladding. The roof is a profiled metal sheeting and sustainability is ensured with a passive ventilation system.

The new development has provided a classroom and drama block, and has

replaced a series of temporary classrooms.

The resource area has banks of computers, comfortable chairs for relaxing in and a library. Downstairs, the three classrooms have been given to the PE department and there are two mathematics rooms.

Retractable tiered seats provide space for more than 300 people, allowing the area to be used for stage theatre productions, lectures, training events and other performances.

Stainforth has helped revitalise Tweedbank Retail Park in Northumberland. Work has been undertaken on a terrace of six units to improve them, and two are being extended at the rear.

Phase I in this three-phase project was completed in March 2011. Situated in Berwick, the line up of tenants includes Homebase, Argos, Marks & Spencer, Storey Carpets, Halfords and Currys, and a Carpet Right store has been extended. In addition, leading clothing, footwear, accessories and

home products retailer, Next, is also on the park, and is benefiting from a mezzanine floor and new shop front.

Improvement works on the terrace include new signage, entrance features, façade improvements and pavement works.

Phase I and II are now complete and with Phase III to come, the result promises to be significant improvement in the visual appearance of the retail park.

Stainforth has worked on the now completed Inspire Bradford Business Park, which was opened in October 2012, providing training, education and social activities for a wide range of businesses and start-up enterprises.

The site includes Europe’s largest straw bale constructed buildings, built on a brownfield site close to Eccleshill Community Hospital and comprises two buildings totalling 2,787sq m housing, 14 serviced offices and 14 managed workspaces.

Unit 6A, Bontoft Avenue, Hull HU5 4HF

t: 01482 329229 f: 01482 226293 www.alliancesteel.co.uk alliancesteel@email.com 77

UKC PROFILE

Buckinghamshire County Council Like most local authorities, Buckinghamshire County Council is working in some of the most testing circumstances in the history of local government, with the acute financial pressures.

There is also the pressure on services as a result of demographic changes, high public expectations and transformations to other parts of the public sector such as welfare benefit reforms and cuts to budgets.

However, the Council has a great track record of planning for future change and making savings while also protecting frontline services and is building on experience, taking every opportunity to

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work more effectively through partnerships with others including residents, businesses and the voluntary and community sector.

Buckinghamshire is well placed and has traditionally benefited from a strong economy, due in part to its position in the south east of England, close to London and its airports, and sitting at the centre of the most entrepreneurial part of the UK. Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), together with neighbouring LEPs in London, Thames Valley, Hertfordshire and Enterprise M3, Buckinghamshire Thames Valley LEP form the five LEPs with the highest new firm

formation rates in the country. Business survival rates are higher than the country as a whole.

Currently the County has nearly 29,500 businesses and although this is increasing, the total number is still below prerecession level. The County has the highest proportion of very small companies in Great Britain with almost 76% employing fewer than five people.

As well as these micro businesses, Buckinghamshire has several specialist business clusters including motorsport around Silverstone, medical technologies around Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and >

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media around Pinewood Studios.

Unemployment is lower in Buckinghamshire than nationally and evidence shows that Buckinghamshire has fared better during the recession than both the south east and the country as a whole.

The Council is committed to ensuring Buckinghamshire has as much potential for larger employers as it has for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

As they grow, businesses should see Buckinghamshire as a long-term base and making it as an attractive proposition for larger organisations seeking to relocate.

The Council is currently replacing all windows at County Hall in Aylesbury. This is necessary because the current single glazed windows, of which there are 1,437, were fitted when the offices were built in the 1960s and have now deteriorated.

This comes at the time when the Council has had to make cutbacks to services due to the budgetary restraints, but Bucks

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County Council finance and resources cabinet member Peter Cartwright said: “Of course we’re in tough times but as a responsible owner of public buildings we need to ensure they’re properly maintained.

“We also have a duty as a responsible employer to maintain good working conditions and we have listened to feedback from our staff about the windows.”

The work, which began in February 2013 and will last for nine months, will introduce new windows with better thermal efficiency and reduced solar gain. It is calculated that it will reduce energy costs by 15%.

Work is being undertaken by Hazlemere Commercial, with the existing aluminium vertically sliding windows being replaced with Sapa Building Systems, Dualslide Vertically Sliding Windows, all of which includes high performance solar glass.

A special feature was designed into the window in conjunction with the system supplier, Sapa Building Systems, in order

to prevent the tilt in facility for internal cleaning when being accessed by the ordinary user.

Hazlemere also has to be sensitive with the work because there is a peregrine falcon that uses the building for nesting.

Costing £2.1M, work will be completed in September 2013.

Other work in the County includes the following school projects currently being undertaken by Planning Design Development Ltd from its Milton Keynes office. Located on the outskirts of Prestwood Village, some 1.5 miles west of Great Missenden and lying within the Green Belt and the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Chiltern Way Federation (Prestwood Lodge School) currently provides 65 places for pupils aged between 11 and 16 with special educational needs.

Work will be split into two phases. Phase I involves rebuilding and extending an >

Hazlemere Commercial manufactured and installed all the SAPA Dualslide Vertical Sliding Windows for the County Hall in Aylesbury

The replacement fenestration project involved system suppliers Sapa Building Systems and specialist commercial window manufacturers Hazlemere Commercial collaborating to design unique double glazed windows to fit into the high rise building Independent aluminium commercial windows & doors manufacturers Hazlemere Commercial have over three decades of experience and expertise in designing, fabricating and installing high quality architectural aluminium products for the commercial market sector, working with architects, surveyors, main contractors, building owners and property managers.

• Commercial Windows • Commercial Doors • Sloped/Roof Glazing

Hazlemere’s Commercial Division is the pivotal part of the Hazlemere Group, having steadily built an ever growing reputation for supplying high quality architectural aluminium products for the commercial sector.

One of the largest users of aluminium Sapa Building Systems products in the South of England, they also specialise in thermally efficient double glazed roof glazing, curtain walling, commercial entrance doors and ground floor treatment systems.

Hazlemere Commercial’s wide product range is mostly fabricated to specific client requirements in their own unencumbered factory. This, together with their specialised in-house CAD software, enables them to offer a highly competitive solution to everything from basic window refurbishment to highly complex design projects.

In particular, they are proud of their in-house expertise that enables them to meet client specifications involving complex performance requirements covering wind loading, thermal efficiency, ventilation and solar gain.

• Curtain Walling • Design • Manufacture • Installation

Hazlemere Commercial Wellington Road Cressex Business Park High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP12 3PR Tel: 01494 897600 Fax: 01494 897630 info@hazlemerecommercial.co.uk www.hazlemerecommercial.co.uk

existing partially derelict garage block to provide 242sq m of space to teach vocational subjects including building construction, vehicle maintenance and horticulture.

The rebuilding work will replicate the original brick and flint construction and will include a pitched slated roof with the new flat roofed extension utilising similar facing brickwork but with the introduction of some rendered panels.

Phase II of the project will remodel part of the existing teaching block to provide boarding accommodation in the form of 13 ensuite rooms on two floors, including staff accommodation, a common room, a kitchen facility and a new access stair.

Both phases of the project have been designed to be naturally lit and ventilated with some additional mechanical air handling to the vocational teaching areas.

Some external landscaping works are to be carried out as well, including the provision of the new horticultural area incorporating raised planting beds and a poly-tunnel.

One school that will be occupied this month is Halton Combined Community School, located in Halton Village, south

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east of Aylesbury, which provides for the educational needs of pupils between the ages of four and 11 years.

By linking together the existing lower school teaching block and the main school hall, space has been created for a new kitchen facility and dining area, which, with the introduction of a moveable partition and enhanced acoustic performance, provides space for the whole school assemblies and performances.

Further remodelling of the existing buildings has provided a new main entrance, an improved reception area and administration offices.

A small extension to the existing car park is included within the project together with some further soft landscaped areas.

The new extension, which links the two existing buildings, has a floor area of 374sq m and is constructed using a mixture of glazed coloured facing brickwork, render and glazing with a traditional tiled pitched roof to the rear section of the building to match the existing adjacent roofs.

With the exception of kitchen and toilet areas, the new building and remodelled areas are naturally ventilated and external

glazing, rooflights and sunpipes combine to provide good levels of natural daylight.

The existing heat source has been extended to serve a new underfloor heating installation. Work commenced on site in April 2012 and will be completed this month.

Also in Aylesbury, Pebble Brook School, located just south of the town centre, will also be completed this month.

It provides approximately 80 places for students between the ages of 11 and 16 with special educational needs.

The project involves the refurbishment and remodelling of an existing two-storey concrete framed teaching block to provide improved teaching, administration and staff facilities together with a new reception room and the construction of a new, singlestorey teaching building incorporating classrooms, an art room, music room, science lab, food technology room and ancillary resource and therapy areas.

Improvements have also been made to external play and sports areas. Vehicular and pedestrian access to the site has been rationalised, and the existing car park has been extended. >

JET Construction (Milton Keynes) Ltd. provides construction and interior refurbishment services in and around the Milton Keynes, north Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire areas of Southern England since 1985.

Every aspect of the company's work is governed by a commitment to delivering quality, value and service to our many commercial and public sector customers on contracts ranging from ÂŁ5,000 to ÂŁ1m.

All building projects are subject to a rigorous policy of pricing, project & contract management and cost control. This is achieved through being a direct employer of skilled labour covering all the major trades.

A full range of skilled professionals, ranging from our Estimating & Surveying departments, through to our Contracts Managers, Site Supervisors and Tradesmen, offer a complete construction solution.

construction - interior refurbishment - contracts management - surveying

Burnham Upper School Toilets Design and Build contract incorporating alteration and refurbishment works to Reception Area, Library and Boys and Girls Toilet Facilities.

Chesham Park Community College Refurbishment and Alteration to 6th Form Common Room, formation of new entrance road and parking facilities and external canopy to facilitate courtyard for open air eating.

Long Crendon School Alterations, refurbishment and extension to form new pre-school.

JET Construction (Milton Keynes) Ltd. 1 Mount Avenue, Mount Farm, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK1 1LS UK

Tel: 01908 646081

Fax: 01908 646181

Email: jetconstruction@jetcons-mk.co.uk www.jetcons-mk.co.uk

The new building has a floor area of 525sq m and is constructed using facing brickwork to match as closely as possible the existing teaching block, and with contrasting metal rainscreen cladding incorporated into the principal entrance elevation. A metal standing seam, monopith roof surrounds a lower level flat roof to the central resource and circulation areas.

The building has been designed to utilise as much natural daylight as possible and is naturally ventilated throughout with mechanical enhancement only at critical locations. Underfloor heating via an air source heat pump has been installed throughout and a range of roof mounted solar collectors all contribute to the energy efficiency of the building.

Chiltern Way Federation’s (Wendover Campus) Sports Hall will see the start of work this year. It is located on the outskirts of Wendover Village, approximately five miles south east of Aylesbury, and lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt and the Wendover Conservation Area.

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The campus comprises a range of existing buildings, some of which are listed, and currently provides a mix of weekly boarding and day school places for 65 pupils with special educational needs together with some on site accommodation for a small number of staff.

The sports hall, which will replace an existing inadequate facility, is part of a wider range of proposed new buildings designed to cater for an increase in pupil numbers from the current 65 to an anticipated 130 and which have responded to the specific requirements of various conservation and listed building authorities.

The new sports facility will provide a sports hall designed to Sport England recommendations for a two-court badminton hall and suitable for basketball, five-a-side football and the usual range of P.E activities, together with separate fitness suite and associated office and stores.

The sports hall is to be located centrally on the site to satisfy the particular access and operational needs of the school

and also to take advantage of existing showering and changing facilities within the adjacent building.

The main hall will be brick clad at low level to reflect the facing brickwork of the surrounding buildings, with light coloured cladding and a flat roof at high level to lessen the inevitable impact of a building of this size. The single-storey, brick and timber clad fitness suite, will have a pitched roof and a low level flat roof provides a covered link between the new facility and the existing adjacent building.

As part of the wider development proposals, an existing outdoor games area will be sacrificed to make way for a new teaching block and this will be replaced by a multi-use games area suitable for five-a-side football and basketball located adjacent to the sports hall.

The total floor area of the new building will be approximately 465sq m. Planning permission has been granted and it is expected work will commenced during this year.

publishing limited

DESIGNERS, INSTALLERS & MAINTAINERS OF HVAC CONTROL SYSTEM

to advertise in this magazine please call

01 257 231900 www.pro-mark.org.uk

Building Contractors

The Office, Green Alley, Templewood Lane, Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire SL2 3HA

We are a family run business and have been carrying out work on behalf of BCC for over 50 years.

50 Howard Crescent, Seer Green, Bucks, HP9 2XP

Tel. 01494 675976 Fax 01494 680475 E Mail. turneybrothers@btconnect.com Web. www.turneybrothers.co.uk

T - 01753 642359

F - 01753 644278 M - 07770 680961 E - aztec@slais.co.uk

Planning Design Development Ltd PDD Ltd is an award winning multi-disciplinary building design consultancy operating from modern offices in Central Milton Keynes from where we carry out projects throughout the UK. As one of Buckinghamshire County Council’s preferred partners, we are pleased to provide the Council with a complete and comprehensive consultancy service on a number of their projects and we look forward to continuing with this association in the future.

We have extensive experience and proven expertise in the design, cost control and implementation of a wide range of buildings across all sectors of the construction industry, including: • Education • Manufacturing and Processing • Storage and Distribution • Offices and Retail • Housing and Community Projects • Hotels and Leisure

PDD

Our team of highly motivated and experienced professionals work closely with clients ensuring their projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality. We offer a full range of services including: • Architectural Design and Contract Administration • Quantity Surveying and Cost Advice • Project Management and Employer’s Agent services • Master Planning • CDM Coordinator services • Site Inspection Services In addition to these in-house services, we are able, through sub-consultancy agreements, to extend the range of services we offer to include engineers, environmental, ecological and landscape consultants together with other professionals that may be required to suit a particular project, whilst still maintaining a single point of contact for the client.

Web:

www.pddarchitects.com www.pddsurveyors.com

Email: info@pddlimited.com Tel:

01908 690 630

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UKC HOUSING

Newton Thorpe On track with a new housing development

Railway Housing Association has started work on an eco-friendly, affordable housing scheme at Swanland Village near Hull.

The development will see Railway’s developing partner Yuill Homes deliver 26 new sustainable homes for local residents to rent, including 16 new twobedroom apartments, as well as ten twobedroom bungalows.

Part-funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the scheme will include an innovative sedum roof, which will be planted on top of the new apartment complex – transforming a typically unused space into a microclimate for birds and insects.

Set to be planted with an array of herbs and flowers, the roof will help to improve the insulation of the building as well as reducing the surface run off of rainfall.

Situated at the Newton Thorpe Cottages site on Mill Rise, homes on the development will be built to the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 standard. The bungalows will be installed with solar panels to provide up to 60% free hot water for the occupants to help further reduce the cost of heating bills.

Established in 1919, Railway Housing Association owns more than 1,340 affordable rented homes located within 24 local authority areas, mainly in the North East and Yorkshire/Humberside areas of England.

This wide geographic spread means one of the biggest challenges is to ensure the Association provides an equitable and fair service to all, and establish a presence within each local community.

In addition, the Association manages 73 units of leasehold accommodation for older people. The areas in which Railway Housing Association has a significant presence are Doncaster, York, Hull, Leeds, Newcastle, Durham County and Tees Valley. The core business is the provision of affordable accommodation and a management and maintenance service to residents.

Anne Rowlands, Chief Executive of Railway Housing Association said: “Our core business is to provide affordable housing for the over-55s and we have done this successfully for over 90 years.

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“We already own social rented homes in the completed and residents are being moved East Riding of Yorkshire and with this new into these, which will allow demolition of development we are looking forward the old apartment block. This will then to making a further contribution to be replaced with the ten two- providing much-needed affordable homes bedroom bungalows. in the area.

The Main Contractor is Yuill Homes and “We are also delighted that our current the Architect is Gammond Evans Crichton. residents will benefit from moving into new, The apartments were completed in October high quality, energy efficient properties.”

2012 and the bungalows will be finished in Alexandra Ross, Partnership Manager at December 2013.

Yuill Homes said: “We’re delighted that The total cost of the development is £3.9M, construction work has started on our with £1.1M of this coming from HCA. first affordable housing scheme in East Yorkshire. Yuill Homes has a reputation for delivering sustainable communities across the North East and we’re committed to repeating this success here in Swanland Village.

“We’re particularly looking forward to working alongside Railway Housing and their residents on such an exciting eco-friendly scheme that will integrate new sustainable techniques with traditional building ROOFING CONTRACTORS methods to provide new high quality (SHEFFIELD) LTD homes for residents.”

Malden Roofing Contractors is a medium- sized company established Peter Page, a for over 30 years, which has gained a solid reputation during the years resident who will of trading. be moving into the Malden specialises in many different aspects of the roofing industry, new apartments including: said: “Everyone is Green roofs - Built-up bituminous felt roofing systems very excited about - Mastic asphalt - Single ply membranes - Liquid Systems moving into the new Malden prides itself on our workmanship and complement it by using homes when they only skilled tradesmen and competently trained workers. All our jobs are built. From what are created and carried out to the highest specification possible and we have seen from always comply with the client's requirements. the plans they are Malden Roofing Contractors are proud to have been associated with going to be first class Yuill Homes for Newton Thorpe Cottage project. apartments, giving 2 Platt Street, Sheffield S3 8BQ us more room Tel: 0114 272 5399 or 0114 275 3399 Fax: 0114 276 0221 and being very www.malden-roofing.co.uk environmentally friendly. We can’t wait.”

The 16 two-bedroom apartments are now

MALDEN

CIVIL UKC

A470 Maes Yr Helmau to Cross Foxes Major transport infrastructure improvements across Wales Good progress is being made on the road improvement works located approximately two miles east of the town of Dolgellau in North West Wales, on the main A470 trunk road running between Llandudno and Cardiff.

The existing carriageway is a winding section of single carriageway, in parts climbing through a section of ancient woodland, and it consists of two junctions off the main trunk road, as well as access to three individual properties.

Work was required mainly to improve the traffic safety on this section of trunk road, while also improving access onto it from the existing side roads. Additional improvements will also be undertaken to access from private properties onto the new alignment.

The existing carriageway is very narrow in areas, which causes difficulties when large HGVs want to pass each other, so the improvements will help to minimise this issue. The site has also been the scene of a number of accidents in previous years and these works will enhance the local road network, improving the current link between North and South Wales.

Prior to commencing the road construction works, a particularly critical fibre optic cable was installed over land as a temporary diversion for the existing trunk network, and it is to be diverted into underground ducting, installed as part of the works, upon completion.

The whole of the site is located within the Snowdonia National Park and is further bounded in significant areas, on both sides of the new alignment, by sites of specific interest and special areas of conservation, which has limited the working room available during construction in order to minimise disruption outside the footprint of the new road.

The construction works involve the movement of approximately 78,000cu m of material in a cut to fill operation within the site. The new embankments being constructed off site incorporate excavated material to the underside of the capping layer.

This operation required the processing of unacceptable material from cut areas into acceptable Class 1A and Class 2C material for consolidation into the embankment areas under strict testing and quality control procedures in situ.

The three principal oversize culverts attendance by the Welsh Government’s were segmental corrugated buried steel environmental and ecological teams structures manufactured and designed supervised all defined tree works in

by Asset International Ltd. Significant accordance with prescribed measures attenuation measures for surface water identified in the licence obtained to permit and carriageway drainage were achieved these works to progress. by installing twin lengths of buried The Main Contractor for this 900mm diameter concrete pipes beneath groundbreaking scheme is Alun Griffiths carriageway verges.

Contractors Ltd, and the Designer, To maintain the character of the site, who is also the Project Manager, is and again to reduce the requirement for Gwynedd Consultancy. materials, all walling stone, comprising Work on the £4.9M project commenced approximately 700m of containment walls, on site at the end of February 2012 and is site won from existing boundary walls, completion of the whole development is ‘clawdd’ type hedgerows and from the scheduled for January 2014, though it is earthworks operation itself. anticipated that the road will be opened to Where embankment construction traffic in phases as the construction encroaches into tree protection areas work progresses. and root protection zones, embankment construction has been steepened and specialised lightweight aggregate, called Leca Maxit, has been used to reduce the burden on tree roots.

Work on the new road alignment necessitated extensive site clearance works to be undertaken in advance of construction.

Specialist subcontractor UPM Tilhil Ltd was appointed to undertake the tree clearance works with all arisings generated, inclusive of brash, bulk timbers and tree stumps being taken off site either to the Main Contractor, Alun Griffiths Contractors, as structural timber or for generation purposes at a biomass plant within travelling distance from the site.

With confirmed and potential dormice Newhouse, Aberhafesp, Newtown, Powys SY16 3HH habitation areas identified, specialist

Alun Pryce Transport

“We’ll Tip Anywhere”

Recycled Stone / Top Soil / Lime

Site Clearances / Tipper Hire & General Haulage Tel: 01686 688 425 Mob: 07802 846487 Fax: 01686 688 736

email: prycetransport@aol.com

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UKC COMMUNITY

Heart of East Greenwich New community on the way The Heart of East Greenwich development will create a new destination and identity for the local community with a public square and community facilities at its heart.

Hadley Mace, a joint venture between Mace and Hadley Property Group, became the preferred development partner in 2011, working with the Home and Communities Agency (HCA), Greenwich Council and NHS Greenwich, the primary care trust, on the project.

HCA is a single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England.

Its vision is to create opportunities for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas.

The main goals for the project are to provide: ••Regeneration of Woolwich Road, and the re-introduction of active retail frontage there ••A new public square ••The integration of the site with the surrounding urban grain ••Provision of a substantial number of new homes with a high proportion of affordable, key-worker and family units ••A carbon-neutral, sustainable development ••A community resource including the new Greenwich Centre providing leisure, library and health services The 645-home scheme will transform the former Greenwich District Hospital site into a modern complex, offering a range of high quality homes and brand new community facilities.

The focal point of the development is the Greenwich Centre, which will house a library, leisure facilities, an NHS health centre and new Greenwich Council service centre.

Residents will benefit from the provision of these first class amenities alongside

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the new homes, almost a third of which will have three- or four-bedrooms to accommodate families.

The Greenwich District Hospital was demolished in 2006. It was built in the 1960s upon the site of the previous St Alfege’s Hospital, which was built in 1931 and replaced in 1963, but the district hospital was closed in 2001.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “News that the Heart of East Greenwich project is now pressing on full steam ahead is fantastic to hear. It is a landmark regeneration scheme, as part of a determined effort we are making across London to bring forward public land for development. As well as bringing some vital new facilities such as a library and leisure centre to the community, it will deliver quality housing that will make a real difference to families in the area.”

Of the 645 dwellings, 50% will be provided as affordable homes. Of these, around half will be social rented homes, and the remainder intermediate homes delivered through the London Wide Initiatives.

All the residential layouts comply with the essential standards of the Scheme Development Standards and the main principles of the Lifetime Home Standards.

Social rent units will be designed to meet Parker Morris space standards. Across the masterplan 40% of the residential accommodation areas are allocated to three- and four-bedroom family units.

Each of the residential blocks has a different character and aspect. Block one will be a range of private and affordable one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments characterised by proximity to the public square.

Block two will have a private communal garden at first floor level, which provides the focus for a range of private and affordable, predominantly two- and threebedroom apartments.

Block three will be a range of private and

affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments organised around a large, private communal garden. Some ground floor units have their own front doors opening out onto the street. Upper level apartments are organised in clusters around small cores oriented towards the shared garden.

Block four will be a row of stacked three-bedroom duplexes, with ground floor accessed units providing family accommodation and private rear gardens, while upper units have east facing terraces, and block five will be a row of fourbedroom family townhouses providing an up to date version of the Victorian terraced housing bordering the site.

The design approach for the facades is to unify the five buildings so they can be seen as being part of the same family, while at the same time ensuring the five separate blocks have their own unique identity and appearance.

The project aims to demonstrate exemplary performance in energy, water use, material use, waste, construction practice, planning and biodiversity to achieve net zero carbon.

This zero carbon initiative is a requirement for new developments, as stated on the London Authority website.

It requires the following in planning permission: ••Be lean: use less energy ••Be clean: supply energy efficiently ••Be green: use renewable energy Mace is behind the design of the new east Greenwich hub and the idea was to minimise environmental impact and reduce water and energy consumption.

Planning permission was granted in 2008, with work starting on-site this year, and it is split into phases.

Completion of Phase I is expected late next year, with the entire development finishing in 2016.

HEALTH

Greenwich Square exploded axonometric view

A cure for mixed-use developments

Including healthcare within a mixed-use development is mutually beneficial to the Developer, the Resident and Local Health Providers.

Developers benefit through a favourable rent from a robust tenant, and planning gain/ s106 advantages.

Residents benefit through having a high-quality healthcare service on their doorstep.

03-06

Residential

GPs benefit through leasing a Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliant premises at an affordable cost.

Despite the benefits, a complicated business case approval method and complex health planning can frustrate the process.

Greenwich Square (left) has demonstrated how Fleet’s extensive health sector knowledge and in-house tool-kit helps to inform proposals at an early stage, maximising tenant opportunity and minimising developer risk.

FLEET TOOLKIT

02

Health Centre/ Residential

Coordination of floor-to-floor heights, fenestration and passive services Compliance with statutory guidance

Clinical planning

Vertical circulation

Master planning

Accessibility

01 00 0B

Library/ Office/ Residential Basement Gym and swimming pool Commercial Units/ Residential Entry

Fleet Architects Ltd Unit 7, Robert Eliot Centre, 1 Old Nichol Street, London, E2 7HR.

+44 (0) 20 7729 0882 mail@fleetarchitects.co.uk www.fleetarchitects.co.uk

Structural mediation

UKC PROFILE

Ecobuild Ecobuild is back at London’s ExCeL on Tuesday 5th March – Thursday 7th March with a blitz of new speakers, features and attractions hosting thousands of visitors and servicing the needs of hundreds of companies exhibiting their products and services at the world’s largest sustainability event.

2013 sees the return of the Ecobuild Arena to the show floor hosting over 1100 industry experts, ministers and VIPs from across the sustainable built environment. Top attractions include the new Green Deal Terrace, Future Materials Gallery, Working with Nature Zone and the Evolution of Light, as well as perennial favourites like Practical Installer and the Solar Hub. Brand new conference streams covering property and international best practice will also feature as Ecobuild strives to connect the thinking behind the ever changing dynamics of the global sustainability agenda.

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New in 2013 – Ecobuild Arena - The Ecobuild Arena returns to the show floor with a cutting edge programme of high level discussion, debate, new thinking and challenging ideas Global Clients - major new initiative facilitated by Building magazine, which brings together construction clients operating in different sectors and countries to understand, unite and showcase common challenges and opportunities.

Evolution of Light - Take a journey through the history of light with Ecobuild’s ‘Evolution of Light’ feature in association with Photonstar Green Deal Terrace - understand ramifications and hear public/private sector plans for successful delivery of the government’s policy.

Future Materials Gallery - Think scientists in lab coats and beakers bubbling away - a futuristic showcase of the world’s

latest building technologies to educate and inspire Sustainable Property in association with Property Week - this specialist programme for property and international sustainability professionals will feature major corporates such as Marks and Spencer, Waitrose and major developers and contractors up and down the supply chain.

Sustainability Overseas - bringing together a wealth of top sustainability experts to debate and share their unique perspectives on the global sustainability agenda For more information, please visit www.ecobuild.co.uk

COMMERCIAL UKC

Queen Mother Square The bustling new centre for Poundbury Poundbury is an urban extension to the Dorset county town of Dorchester, built on Duchy of Cornwall land, according to timeless principles of architecture and urban planning as advocated by HRH The Prince of Wales.

The second phase of the development was granted outline planning permission in October 1999. The focus of phase two will be Queen Mother Square providing further retail and commercial facilities. Queen Mother Square will form the district centre of Poundbury and will commemorate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and will incorporate a statue of her.

The sculptor is Philip Jackson. The square itself will be an open area in the European model flanked by buildings on all sides and include a significant tower structure.

The Square was always part of the Masterplan, which was first drawn up in 1988, so it has always been designated as the centre of Poundbury. Construction work on Queen Mother Square began in April 2010 and completed in March 2012.

The Southern section of the development includes building one, two, and three, all constructed by Morris builders and designed by Quinlin Terry Architects. They

are a mix of commercial and residential units including some affordable housing for the Guinness Trust. On the Western section there are buildings six and seven.

They consist of 28 affordable homes with commercial units at ground floor level.

Building five is 30,000sq ft of commercial office space with an additional 20,000sq ft at ground floor level which can be used for either commercial office or retail space.

10,000sq ft of this space has been taken by Waitrose, and some 5,000sq ft is being used for a local produce market.

The rest will be let. Structurally the composition of the buildings is mixed. Building five is a steel frame, buildings five six and seven have an underground car park with 120 spaces with a traditional concrete underground car park with steel

frame on top. Externally these buildings have a traditional nine inch external wall of brickwork cavity and inner insulation block and on the front with over £1M worth of stonework. The tower features a lead coupler with a weather vane on top. Other windows around the square are sash windows and the shop fronts are quite traditional. Landscaping will include tree planting and paving with space for car parking and seating areas.

HOUSING UKC

The Town Environmentally sustainable homes A six-phase regeneration of housing in Aldershot continues to make progress, with more homes being handed over.

North Town is a landmark scheme that involves the demolition of 471 properties, to be replaced with 697 new, high quality homes.

Phase Ia and Ic have recently been completed, comprising 92 new homes, including apartments at Alma House, an old persons’ care scheme.

Alma House has been designed specifically for residents over 55 years of age, and consists of 25 two-bedroom apartments with private facilities, together with communal hairdressing salon, lounge and garden. Each apartment is fitted with a care line system so residents have 24/7 contact, should they need assistance.

The regeneration area is bordered by North Lane, Pegasus Avenue, Deadbrook Lane and Eastern Road in Aldershot. The North Town estate was built in the 1950s and, while the previously existing flats are structurally sound, they didn’t meet current standards in terms of heat loss and insulation. The aim of this scheme is to provide residents with modern homes that are economical to heat and have good

the project is to provide training and sound insulation.

It will see a number of environmentally employment for local people. To date, sustainable houses, flats, maisonettes and Leadbitter has employed 52 people from Aldershot and an extra 32 people from the bungalows built. The Main Contractor is surrounding area, making up 32% of staff Leadbitter, who finished the third tranche working on site. of homes being built in Phase I in January this year.

Designed by Ken Scaddan Associates, work Leadbitter began delivering this phase on the £100M, seven-year project will be completed this year. under a £13M contract that commenced last year. The scheme sees First Wessex in Planning Applications and partnership with Appeals Rushmoor Borough Strategic Planning Advice Council and Phase Urban and Rural Regeneration I has a total of 159 Projects homes, offered on a Local Government Consultants mixed tenure basis Local Plans and Development Frameworks with most available Urban Design at affordable Leisure and Recreation Projects rent. A number of properties will be available for shared ownership with CHARTERED TOWN PLANNING CONSULTANTS First Wessex, with Victoria House, 18-22, Albert Street, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 3RJ six offered for open Telephone: 01252 624004 Email: info@ggassociates.co.uk Web: www.ggassociates.co.uk market sale.

A major aim of

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UKC HEALTH

New Hub Laboratory Pathology Services SPS is a Joint Venture between Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and private sector partners – Integrated Pathology Partnerships (iPP).

Established in 2011/12, SPS took responsibility for delivering the full range of laboratory services to Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on 1 June 2012, serving a population of 500,000 and over 100 GP Practices.

SPS provides innovative, clinically led, responsive pathology services, delivering diagnostic tests to support the clinical management of patients.

The SPS service model is based on a Hub and Spoke configuration.

The Hub is a new multi million pound, state-of-the-art laboratory which has recently been constructed in Taunton, and completed in February 2013. The Spokes are laboratories retained on each hospital site that is serviced to provide a highly responsive 24/7 service.

The SPS hub laboratory will service the NHS and other organisations in the south west and further afield, undertaking the high quality, efficient processing of

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routine and non-urgent testing, reporting results according to clinical need in a timey manner.

SPS operate essential Service Laboratories (ESLs) to perform the urgent, and other required testing, on site at each hospital serviced.

The Hub has been purpose-designed and is situated in Taunton, close to the M5 and major A roads to support effective logistics.

The Hub has been configured to provide highly automated laboratory services, in addition to the provision of specialised, centralised services (such as molecular pathology).

The building is a traditional concrete block and structural steel portal frame with insitu cast concrete floors. The work itself is essentially a conversion of an existing office building originally built in the 1980s and now complies with HBN15 and HTM63. An entire strip out programme was undertaken with removal of the whole interior including all partitions, finishings, services and ceilings.

Work has covered some 2,550sq m over two floors and has been carried out over a fast track programme to meticulous detail. Contractors have worked closely

with the Client in order to provide detailed coordination of the design and implementation of the works and the contract has had a successful outcome for all parties.

Acheson Construction Ltd was appointed as Main Contractor by Ashley House plc, the third party developer of the project.

Acheson Construction Ltd began in 1974 specialising in restoration and renovation.

Now, almost 40 years later, the Company is a Design & Build specialist with the ability to provide initiative and viable solutions to all construction projects. Acheson Construction Ltd has tried and tested local project teams who are committed and enthusiastic, backed by the financial strength of this established Company.

Robert Rice Carpentry Contractors Ltd

publishing limited

All Domestic, Commercial & Industrial Carpentry Work Carried Out to a High Standard in the South West of England.

Office number 01458 274477 Email: robrice.carpentry@yahoo.com

to advertise in this magazine please call

0 1 2 57 231900 www.pro-mark.org.uk

Westford Mechanical Ltd is an independent company with over 20 years experience designing and installing heating, plumbing, air conditioning and ventilation systems.

Environment House, Unit 2 Venture Way, Priorswood Industrial Estate, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8DG Phone: 01823 323000 Fax: 01823 323202 Email: info@westfordmechanical.co.uk www. westfordmechanical.co.uk

HTM02-01 Specialists in design, install, testing and maintenance Medical and Laboratory Gas Pipeline Systems

HAC Technical Gas Services offer an experienced PPM maintenance service and also compliment the increasing number of Medical Piped Gases installation contracts.

Already a well-established company, HAC Technical Gas Services can also offer full design capability, conforming to HTM 02-01 standards and BCGA guidelines.

HAC Technical Gas Services have gone on to firmly establish themselves as a key competitor in the Medical Gas and Laboratory Gas Pipeline installation market, giving an independent service, not allied to any singular manufacturer of Medical or Laboratory Gas Pipeline equipment.

Supporting customers nationwide, we have completed Medical and Laboratory installations for clients such as NHS Trusts, Private Sector Healthcare, and Universities amongst many others.

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UKC PROFILE

KFC Expanding in the Staffordshire area The last six months has seen KFC expand its portfolio in the UK, and particularly in the Staffordshire area, with a couple of projects completed.

Built by Trojan Construction, work on the KFC at Old Hednesford Road in Cannock was completed two weeks ahead of schedule, comprising a new build drive thru restaurant.

Based on the former porcelain enamel works, the site was disused for a number of years, and now the KFC restaurant has revitalised the site, it is ideally placed with it being just one mile north of the town centre.

The footprint of the restaurant and yard is 328sq m, with a public floor area of 123sq m. It includes two disabled and 31 general parking spaces, as well as a large order waiting bay.

This KFC is served by a single access point, shared between the restaurant and the employment site. The pedestrian entrance is at the north elevation, which is the main active frontage that reflects the primary status of Old Hednesford Road.

External materials used include highly energy efficient insulating panels faced in steel polyester, coated in grey white. The main elevation has full height glazing below a plain quarter height fascia.

There is a slight eaves overhang incorporating LED down lights to provide a lively and vital appearance from Old Hednesford Road and the shared access and safe pedestrian environment near the entrance.

Designed by Frank Belshaw, work commenced in July 2012 and was completed in November 2012.

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Also completed in November was the KFC east of the building, but screens Uttoxeter restaurant and drive thru at Meir Park, Road from residential properties to the Pickford Place, in Stoke. south, therefore limiting the impact of It is located on a former car park noise and activity. in Pickford Place and has created Its overall height and finished floor level approximately 40 new jobs in the area. This allows the bright and glazed main elevation comprises of 20 full-time and 20 part-time of the building to be seen from the vicinity jobs to cover the opening hours of between of the junction, ensuring the successful 7am and 11pm, seven days a week, and creation of an attractive and bright corner there are 26 car parking spaces on this site, visible from pedestrian areas around it. which is close to the A50.

The main elevation incorporates fullThe location is part of a wider site, which height glazing and the customer entrance, was originally occupied by the Broadway while the building is clad in a simple panel Cinema, built in the 1930s. After the system to create clean, architectural lines. cinema was demolished in 1973, the site Also designed by Frank Belshaw, the Main was used as a car park until 2006, when Contractor for this project was Esh Build, access to it was blocked. It has since and has added to the growing number of been considered an eyesore in Meir with KFC restaurants. concrete pillars across the entrance and the land left empty.

Because of this, council planners approved the KFC development in April 2012.

The development consists of a single restaurant and take away building of 250sq m gross floor area, of which QUANTITY SURVEYORS | ESTIMATORS 90sq m will be PROJECT MANAGERS | CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS public dining area. working with There is also the drive thru lane, car Commercial & Private Clients - Architects park and relocated Main Contractors - Subcontractors - Developers access.

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EDUCATION UKC

HH Wills Physics Laboratory As part of an ongoing refurbishment programme at the University of Bristol, the 1960s extension of the HH Wills physics laboratory has recently undergone a significant overhaul, with Oxford Architects acting as Lead Designer and Contract Administrator.

The works include upgrading the existing heating and water system and updating the appearance of the facades; extending the main entrance to relieve congestion; and refurbishment of selected laboratories.

The facade concept was to emphasise the stone work on the building - the feature considered to have the greatest architectural merit - which is primarily expressed through a uniform grid of transoms and pilasters that frame each of the 200-odd windows. This has been achieved by homogenising the infill with contrasting grey window frames and render to the spandrel panels, as well as cleaning and re-pointing the stonework throughout.

Injecting insulation into the cavities, replacing the original single glazed steel framed windows with double glazed aluminium units and installing brise soleil to the south elevation, combined with the

its scale and juxtaposition of modern heating system upgrade, have significantly improved the thermal performance of the materials with the existing stonework. building.

The project has been carried out whilst the building has still been occupied, which Two metal framed external risers have has presented a number of challenges. been installed on the south elevation The Main Contractor is Bray & Slaughter. to compliment the brise soleil and enclose laboratory ductwork to the roof.

Work on site started in June 2012 and was This designed-in solution sensitively completed at the end of February 2013. expresses the mechanical requirements of the building but prevents it form looking industrial.

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UKC EDUCATION

Westminster Kingsway College Work on the Grade II listed Westminster Kingsway College is now underway, providing refurbishment to the exterior of the building as well as replacement and relocation of the ventilation system to teaching areas and kitchens.

Work was necessary because both the exterior and ventilation equipment require attention. The ventilation system is almost 40 years old and therefore an upgrade is needed to make sure it is as environmentally friendly as possible.

Westminster Kingsway College is a large educational facility in central London with centres in Camden and Westminster.

Offering courses for learners of all ages including vocational and academic pathways for 14-19 year olds, the College is a major step in creating an exciting future for all pupils.

Courses offered and student life at the College reflect its position in the heart of London and are tailored to each students’ needs, and those of employers.

The College recognises the challenges that young people face and supports and encourages students to thrive in a friendly and resource-rich environment, offering tutors to support pupils through studies, first class facilities and resources, a student support room, a chance to take

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part in national competitions and learner consultants in every centre.

The original solution for the project was to spend approximately £4M building temporary kitchens at another site which, when the main contract was over, would have been closed.

However, funding was withdrawn in the last year of Gordon Brown’s reign, which saw many similar schemes disappear. It meant that any possible project had to be well thought-out, as the budget is restrained so the scheme had to be tackled sensibly.

The scheme that was eventually decided on means that the teaching kitchens can only be closed this June, but it isn’t too late, therefore all teaching can be completed before students go out to start work experience.

Organising the access to the kitchens in a manner that will allow completion of the practical course this year, but still making sure they are ready for the start of the next academic year has been particularly challenging, but it is a challenge that the college is on course to meet.

The Goodhart Rendel part of the building is undergoing refurbishment at the front as part of the next stage. Because is listed, it is being developed over three periods.

One part of the building was constructed

in the early 1900s and the second part was built in the 1930s. Windows on the Victorian part are iron, while the windows in the middle are steel but not galvanised, so they are in poor condition and need replacing.

Work on the last extension, which is the Goodhart Rendel building, started in 1939 but was only completed in 1960 because the War meant work was delayed.

Work restarted on this in 1948 with the erection of the steel frame. Due to this work finishing in 1960, the windows are galvanised steel so are in excellent condition.

Designed by Molyneux Kerr, work will see the existing external ducting required before work is undertaken on the structural steel, four-level development.

In order to remove the existing ducting and install the new in time for the start of the 2013/14 academic year, it has been agreed that from April onwards, the kitchens will be closed in a phased manner.

The listed nature of the building means close monitoring has been required, as consent has been necessary for every step of the way.

The Main Contractor is Bam Construction on the project that commenced in February 2013 and will be complete in September 2013, costing £5.1M.

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UKC PROFILE

Bouygues Energies & Services Rebranding after 40 successful years of ETDE After recently celebrating its 40th anniversary, ETDE Contracting Ltd has just reached another significant milestone in its history by way of a rebranding in accordance with its parent company, Bouygues Construction.

Known as Bouygues Energies & Services since 1st March, the new brand enhances the Company’s position as a global player in energies and services solutions and supports the sustainable construction strategy of Bouygues Construction, providing easier access to integrated consulting/contracting services and energies solutions, delivered from a lifecycle project partner with single point accountability from conception, design and construction through facility management within specialist, high tech market sectors, education and government.

Initially set up in Scotland, Bouygues Energies & Services has local and regional offices networks throughout the UK, Company’s philosophy is to provide robust, best value, sustainable solutions tailored to each Client’s specific needs.

In addition, there are two off-site prefabrication facilities based in Knowsley and Maidstone providing a competitive advantage to the Company. In the workshops the Company pre-fabric stainless steel piping, gantries, process skids in order to increase delivery quality and security, pre-site validation and reduction in project delivery timescale and hence project cost.

As well as the contracting business, all ETDE entities within UK will be rebranded as Bouygues Energies & Services, providing world class capabilities to infrastructure which involved in utilities services and electrical, civil engineering solutions and Facility Management providing sustainable services.

With more than 200 in-house multidisciplinary workforce the Company provides a tailored service from feasibility concept, front end detailed design, project management, cost control through to

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installation, commissioning and training.

Other data centres completed by the All projects are supported by a high level Company in the UK include projects for project sponsor, a member of board Cable and Wireless and O2. director, and other stakeholders to ensure The main reason for the Company’s efficient resource mobilisation, key continued success is its commitment to decisions, budget and programme are constantly innovating, and coming up with realised and improve from day one. different ideas that all customers will All smaller offices across the country work appreciate, resulting in schemes that work, in partnership with the community as much are cost effective, that keep life cycle costs as possible. This includes local apprentices to a minimum. and the Edinburgh office was commended by a Scottish government initiative that the Company took part in. It allowed young apprentices Major applicators of Ucrete, the opportunity to Altro Resin Systems and gain experience in the Resdev’s Puma Systems.

Resin Flooring Applicators work environment, where they saw a large engineering organisation at work.

Bouygues Energies • Specialists in the Food Industry & Services recently completed Virtus • Data Centre project.

The outstanding • performance has • Steam cleanable been achieved four weeks ahead • Fast cure times of schedule in compliance with the • Full nationwide service highest safety and quality standards. The project encompasses design & build turnkey solutions construction, fit-out and M&E services.

It displayed the Company’s ability to tailor services to work with a Client’s team.

Based in London, work was completed in February 2013, with a happy Client and Telephone 01482-229119 Fax 01482-223077 a project that was Website: www.lasercroft.com Email: info@lasercroft.com completed on time Lasercroft Ltd, 9 Hedon Road, Kingston Upon Hull. HU9 1LL. and within budget.

EDUCATION UKC

Wade Deacon High School Helping to achieve world class educational outcomes The school redevelopment at Wade Deacon High School is taking shape, and the traditional topping out ceremony was held on-site back in May. The ceremony marked the highest point of the building being completed and was attended by the Main Contractor, VINCI Construction, and the site team, Halton Borough Council, Hochitef, pupils, staff and governors. The celebration of the topping out ceremony included the bedding of the last block of masonry.

Once the £25.3M project is completed, the redevelopment will create a school for 1,500 pupils.

The contract involves partial demolition and refurbishment to the façade on the existing 1930s two-storey building and the adaptation to a new three-storey building, which will house the majority of the School.

The post-tension frame of the new building, which sits directly behind the existing School, has been completed and a waterproof membrane has been erected to the new sports facility. This will contour and construct the roof.

its drive to improve standards.

The frame of the new sports hall has been Wade Deacon is currently held in high constructed, with cladding to three sides and all internal block work completed, regard in the community. The aspiration for this scheme is not only to improve on the while external brickwork is being attainment of young people, but to build on constructed. The project also includes the community role the School has. upgraded sports pitches.

Building work is continuing on the lower wing of the Birchfield Road Campus, with much of the structure of the new building now in place.

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Telford College of Arts & Technology

EDUCATION UKC

New specialist facilities A college in Telford has invested in a new development for young adults with learning difficulties and for teaching science, maths, technology and engineering.

Telford College of Arts & Technology in Wellington has benefited from the construction of a new single-storey discovery centre thanks to grants from the Skills Funding Agency and Education Funding Agency.

The centre is located on the site between the back gardens of properties on Bennetts Bank and two large sports halls. It has two distinct halves, with one end containing science, technology, engineering and maths facilities and the smaller part providing facilities for 16 to 24-year-old students with lifelong learning difficulties.

The building has been designed with a monopitch roof to minimise visual impact towards the adjacent site boundary, and the floor level is approximately 500mm lower than the existing levels at the West End of the building, providing sensitivity from the neighbouring back gardens.

All materials used are a mixture of those used on the main campus development over the past ten years, ensuring the extension matches the existing buildings.

Achieving the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, the building is insulated thermally, which

also insulates acoustically. It was also pressure tested upon completion to ensure it provides a high air tightness.

Where possible, the internal layout of the building has been designed so that activities requiring extract are positioned on the north side. The external louvres serving these extracts are fitted with acoustic baffles and are all located on the north side of the building below the eaves, which is the opposite side to the local residents in the adjacent properties on Bennetts Bank.

Full disabled access facilities are provided, with level threshold entrances and landscaping has included reinstating grass that was disturbed during construction of the footpath.

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UKC CIVIL

World’s largest wind farm blows into action London Array The end of last year saw the landmark announcement that the 175th and final turbine at the first 630MW phase of the London Offshore Wind Farm has been installed, marking the end of major construction activities.

Turbine installation began in January 2012 and has been completed by MPI Discovery, A2SEA’s Sea Worker and Sea Jack.

With all turbines in place and 55 connected and supplying power to the national grid, the wind farm is on track to be fully operational in spring this year. The wind farm itself has been generating energy since October 2012 when the first turbine began producing power.

The installation of the last turbine at London Array is the culmination of a huge amount of effort and coordination by everyone involved in the project. Last year saw 84 foundations, 175 wind turbines, 178 array cables and three export cables were installed at the project. London Array is now focusing on the commissioning and testing of the remaining turbines before the project is handed over to the Operations and Maintenance team this year.

Benj Sykes, Head of DONG Energy’s UK Wind business, said: “Having the final turbine installed is another landmark in this flagship project for the UK and for DONG Energy.

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“The London Array will soon be the largest operational offshore wind farm in the world – building offshore wind farms of this size and larger in the future allows us to harvest the advantages of scale and is an important element of our strategy to drive down the cost of energy.”

On the day it was announced that the final turbine had been installed, Tony Cocker, Chief Executive Officer of E.ON UK, said: “Today is another significant milestone for London Array and the UK as t he installation of the final turbine brings us one step closer to the completion of the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

“We are proud to mark this achievement and I pay tribute to all involved in the construction to date. I look forward to seeing London Array’s contribution to the UK’s low carbon energy mix for many years to come.”

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, commented: “This milestone brings us a step closer to showcasing the economic, social and environmental benefits of clean energy.

“London Array is a testament to how collaboration, the right policies and a commitment to sustainability can advance the new energy industry. Masdar is a proud partner, and we look forward to the completion of the world’s largest offshore wind farm.”

London Array is being built around 20km off the coasts of Kent and Essex. The wind farm is being installed on a 245sq km site in two phases. Phase I covers an area of 90sq km and includes 175 turbines with a combined capacity of 630MW. If approved, Phase II will add enough capacity to bring the total to 870MW. Of the project consortium partners, DONG Energy owns 50%, E.ON has 30% and Masdar has a 20% stake.

Once completed, there will be annual maintenance on each turbine, and if there are any breakdowns of turbines, preventative work and regular checks will also be undertaken.

London Array is the largest offshore wind farm in the world. On top of the sheer size and difficult marine environment, some of the turbine locations dry out at low tide, making access harder than normal.

Fortunately, quality contractors and experienced owners are involved, so these challenges will be met.

There will be approximately 90 people working at London Array on an ongoing basis, with the majority of these being local, and some local people are being trained on apprenticeships, ready to work on the site later this year.

First diver-less export cable repair for London Array Pharos Offshore Group successfully completed the cable repair and re-burial for London Array Offshore Wind Farm on a section of damaged subsea export cable. Pharos delivered a work package including the rapid mobilisation of engineering, fabrication and operational teams to locate, recover, re-lay and re-bury the power cable off the Kent coast.

This is the first diver-less operation to de-bury, retrieve and repair a cable of this size and weight. The 800mm² high voltage export cable has a 218mm diameter and weighs over 50kg/m in water and 86 kg/m in air. Tools for properly handling the large, stiff cable did not exist in the market and standard grapnel operations were not possible due to nearby cable routes. The Pharos team developed multiple operational plans that not only met the client’s tight schedule but allowed for the infield flexibility to deal with as found conditions.

Drawing on years of subsea cable operations experience, the engineering, design and fabrication team designed, built, tested, modified and mobilised subsea equipment controlled by skilled operators from the surface. Once on site, these tools were able to locate, de-bury, cut, grab and recover the vital export cable in a few days.

In addition to the complexities of cable retrieval, the team also converted a conventional DP-2 telecoms cable ship to accommodate the loading, storage, lay, splicing and safe handling of the product. Pharos has a strong track record of adapting commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) technology from other markets to meet challenging subsea requirements.

Considering the potential operation and maintenance issues due to a nearby foundation, the team was able to reroute the cable away from the original path but still within the planned cable corridors. The equipment and procedures developed for this repair will work for other repair situations; especially those where increasingly congested cable corridors preclude anchoring and grapnel runs and/or are beyond diver limits.

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UKC LEISURE

Kia Oval Birthplace of the Ashes One of England’s premier cricket grounds is undergoing redevelopment to refurbish and extend the historic Members’ Pavilion.

Work at the Kia Oval, home to Surrey County Cricket Club and the venue for the final Test of the English cricketing summer will give the cricket ground a new front of house façade, facing the Oval underground station.

Previously the façade was dominated by an old tavern that was demolished a few years ago and has remained unfinished since.

The façade will have flights of steps up to a podium level with pretty ornate colonnade, which will upgrade the outside of the cricket ground nicely.

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The building, originally erected in 1892, will retain its unique character and have an additional entrance created to face directly down Harleyford Street.

A new façade will be framed by a series of Doric columns, echoing the nearby St Mark’s Church, with a number of ornamental Ashes urns used to decorate the building to emphasise the ground’s status as the place where the Ashes were born. Column caps in the shape of the Prince of Wales plume of feathers will recognise the ground’s special connection with the Duchy of Cornwall (The Duchy of Cornwall owns The Oval Cricket Ground and has done since 1337. The Oval Cricket

Ground was established in 1845).

In front of this will be a new public square for Kennington, which will be fully accessible to anyone on non-match days and give the ground invaluable extra space on sold out international days.

A south facing sun terrace will be built and connected to the pavilion restaurant.

Internally, the Ali Brown 268 Bar is being remodelled to open out onto the entrance stairways and the grand terrace.

Designed by Adam Architecture, the development required some minor demolition to break through door oaks, while internal layout altering has taken place. >

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It is a three-storey project, with piled foundations to support the structure. It comprises structural steel, with stairs and slabs made of precast concrete, and the finish is brickwork and stone, with some ornate Bath stone capping it off and four stone columns topping it off as a feature, with two half columns and two full.

January 2013 saw Prince Charles pay a visit to look at the progress of the new pavilion building.

Paul McGee, Joint Managing Director, accompanied the Prince around the site and particular attention was paid to the stone detailing and the brickwork detailing, with a keen interest being shown in the craftsmanship evident in the work on site.

With its hand made brick and limestone Bathstone, the extension matches the existing façade, and there are some aluminium screens, doors and windows on the extension, as well as replacement of timber sash windows in the existing façade.

The members bar has been refurbished, and a new entrance is being created into this bar from the first floor podium deck.

The President’s room is also getting a new servery to make it into a tea room, while the pavilion restaurant will also benefit from a new servery, with a new entrance coming off the third floor terrace.

The development will feature two flights of stairs externally, one on the right and one on the left, both of which will lead up to the podium deck, which will in turn lead onto the new entrance to the members bar.

The third floor terrace is approached from inside, an inside corridor leading from the members restaurant.

Hardwood timber is being used in the servery counters, while there are brass handrails. It’s all being decorated to incorporate a gentleman’s club feel to the development, in keeping with the rest of the club.

The designs were drafted a number of years ago with support from the Duchy of Cornwall – which owns the free hold of the Kia Oval – as part of a major redevelopment project. The demolition of the old Surrey Tavern took place in 2008 but the project stalled due to planning issues and the

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beginning of the economic recession.

The redevelopment is being sponsored, in part, by the generous assistance of Mr M A R Galadari, a long-term supporter of Surrey and England cricket.

Speaking after permission was granted, Surrey CCC Chairman Richard Thompson said: “The club is delighted to be able to start work on this project, which will provide outstanding new facilities to rival any sporting members club in the world.

“It will also provide us with the opportunity to properly showcase the deep history of the Kia Oval, which covers cricket, rugby and football. Indeed, the magnificent decoration of the façade includes stone urns reminding us that it was here that the Ashes were created in 1882, as well as column caps shaped into the princes of Wales’ Plume and Feathers.

“The club is grateful to Mr Galadari for his generous support of the project, which will provide such a significant visual improvement to this part of London. We have been hidden behind temporary hoardings for the past six years and hope that it will provide a catalyst for further development projects in the area.”

Lifts at the development will facilitate the disabled, and there are also automatic doors at the reception as well as a DDA compliant reception desk. The approach to the building also has a new ramp up to the

entrance so it is accessible to all.

Externally, there is a courtyard that has been newly paved with Yorkshire paving and baggerbridge brick. The perimeter is getting a new three-metre fence, and there will be new access for the public through a new wireless card reader turnstile entrance.

The Main Contractor on the project is Bennett Construction. Costing almost £2M, work commenced on site in October 2012 and will be completed at the end of April 2013, meaning the development is finished on time for the start of Surrey’s County Championship campaign.

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UKC CIVIL

Whittington Barracks Midlands army barracks is undergoing a £138M renovation The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is relocating its Midlands medical services at the site of Whittington Barracks near Lichfield, making the West Midlands region the central focus for the Defence Medical Services (DMS).

The DMS Head Quarters building was completed in 2010 and houses the staff who control the DMS activities worldwide, including the management of around 10,000 people. The Whittington site is close to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which specialise in care for the service operational casualties.

This office building now houses the Surgeon General’s (SC) strategic headquarters and those of the Joint Medical Command (JMC).

More than 1,400 service personnel will be based at the new site, delivering high quality medical support to the Armed Forces.

A turf-cutting ceremony took place in September 2011, which marked the start of Phase II of construction work to provide new state-of-the-art training facilities, including a learning centre, lecture theatre and junior ranks dining and welfare facilities. In addition, a separate contract undertaken at the same time will provide living accommodation for 859 personnel.

Undertaking such a major construction project in the middle of a live military base calls for close cooperation and effective management of all the contracting workforce, and also the need to liaise closely with military personnel to ensure the smooth running of the base and the health and safety of all the people on site.

The new community hub will be housed in two buildings. The main dining facility will replace the hub as the main dining for all onsite users such as permanent staff, trainees, and the Army Development Selection Centre (ADSC). This is in addition to the dining facilities being provided in the

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new officer’s and SNCO’s mess.

(DMST) will then relocate from Aldershot, The café will be a great feature where all transforming the facility into a fully can sit away form their desk. It will be WiFI functional training building. capable and an external area with extra The retention of the Garrison Church of St seating is planned.

George and the adjacent Marabout Hall will Within the hub, there are three bars to create a town square that will be utilised meet the need of staffs and trainees, while during events at the church. two games rooms will be available within the facility. One is planned to be part of an internet suite with electronic games, and the other is planned to be an electronic games-free zone, with more traditional gaming facilities provided. Five TV rooms will also be provided, with Sky+ Specialists in Bulk Excavations, capabilities.

A music room will Demolition, Crushing & Site Remediation be included to cater for all budding musicians, replicating the facility already at Keogh Barracks.

Space is being provided for welfare staff in support of the large and transient military population that will be on site and a number of faith rooms will be available, catering for a wide range of religious The Plant Yard, Claycliffe Road, Barugh Green, backgrounds.

Barnsley, South Yorkshire S75 1HS Carillion is the Main Contractor on the project, which Tel: 01226 779527 Fax: 01226 203080 is expected to be Email: braithwaite@btconnect.com completed in early www.braithwaiteexcavations.co.uk 2014. The Defence Medical Services Training Group

COMMERCIAL UKC

Four Ashes Industrial Estate Development Providing an energy recovery facility A new waste treatment facility is now well underway following research from Staffordshire County Council, which determined such a facility was necessary.

Project W2R constitutes the design, construction and operation of a 300,000tpa Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) to convert residual waste from these local authorities, primarily into electricity.

The Council undertook extensive work to identify a site suitable for the development of an ERF facility. The facility is located at Four Ashes Industrial Estate in South Staffordshire, and has the benefit of excellent transport links. The location is a brownfield development with industrial neighbours in an area known for its industrial land use.

The Energy from the Waste facility means that the Council will be able to move away from the use of landfill sites, and the plant will save tax payers a whopping ÂŁ250M over the next 25 years.

The project, one of the biggest the Council has ever signed up to, will create around 40 new jobs, and the plant will generate enough power for over 32,000 homes.

The ERF will handle residual waste from Staffordshire as well as assisting Sandwell, Walsall and Warwickshire. Designed to handle 300,000 tonnes per year of residual waste it will export in excess of 23MW to the National Grid.

The site will contribute substantially to the local economy both during the construction process, and beyond.

Veolia Environmental Services was confirmed in March 2011 as the Council’s preferred bidder to run the plant.

The ERF will consist of two streams with a capacity of 20 tonnes of residual municipal waste per hour per stream. Waste is combusted, and the heat from this process is used to heat water to steam in the boiler.

The steam from the boiler is then routed to a turbine to generate electricity.

The output steam from the turbine is then cooled, and converted back into water to be recycled back into the boiler. The ERF is designed to produce approximately 26MW of electricity, of which 23 MW will be exported to the local electricity network.

The activities carried out at the ERF will comply with the Waste Incineration Directive (WID).

The WID aims to prevent or limit, as far as practicable, negative effects on the environment and the resulting risks to human health by requiring the setting and maintenance of stringent operational conditions, technical requirements and emission limit values for plants incinerating waste. The ERF will meet the requirements of the WID by meeting

emission limits, recovering the heat preparation, fuels for the auxiliary burner generated as far as practical, minimising and fuelling site vehicles, as well and recycling residues where appropriate, as effluent treatment chemicals. and defining any proposed monitoring Water is a significant raw material for the techniques in WID. ERF, which will use approximately 75,000cu The ERF will use a dry Flue Gas Treatment m of the mains per year. No additional (FGT) system to reduce emissions to the surface or ground water abstraction will be atmosphere. The acid gases generated by required. the combustion of waste will be neutralised The facility is designed with a wastewater and the resulting particulate matter pit to store used process water. This water separated out in a bag filter. is then reused within the process for Emissions of nitrogen oxides will also be bottom ash quenching. reduced, through the use of a Selective In the unlikely event that these liquids Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) de-NOx cannot be reused within the process, treatment. In addition to Programmable they can either be pumped out for final logic controllers, the facility will also disposal by tankers or neutralised prior to utilise various control and monitoring discharge to sewer. This discharge would mechanisms to minimise emissions to air. be in accordance with the trade effluent The furnace temperature is continuously discharge content. monitored to ensure optimal combustion Water consumption will be closely and reduce the formation of dioxins and monitored to ensure that it is being used nitrous oxide in the flue gas. effectively in the process.

Those who do work at the ERF will undergo The Main Contractor for this project is a comprehensive apprenticeship and Cnim-Clugston Construction and the training programme to prepare them Architect is URS Scott Wilson. Work is due for their positions. All staff will be given to be completed at the end of 2013. hands-on training, work experience at similar facilities operated by Veolia, and health and safety training.

The main raw material to be used by the ERF will be residual municipal Specialist Tiling Contractors waste from the four local for the Construction Industry authorities and this will be stored in the We are a professional ceramic tiling contractor with over 35 waste reception years of experience. We can accommodate contracts of all bunker. sizes throughout the UK. Segregation of waste is effectively carried out off site We offer supply and fix, or fix only, of wall and floor tiling at householder level including Ceramics, Mosaics, Porcelain, Limestone, Travertine, through collection Glass, Marble and Granite. of recyclables and green and food waste, We supply all of the materials and labour as required and also as well as through offer floor levelling and screeding services for tiing contracts source segregation large and small. at household waste recycling centres. It Our projects encompass the whole of the construction is therefore residual industry, including the retail, industrial, leisure, residential, waste that will be and public sectors. delivered to the ERF. Additionally, the ERF will use a Carter Ceramics Ltd. 627 Kingsbury Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9PP variety of other raw materials for 0121 350 8086 Fax: 0121 350 8175 auxiliary operations enquiries@carterceramics.co.uk such as treatment of flue gases and demineralisation of water for boiler water

www.carterceramics.co.uk

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UKC PROFILE

Pickstock Group Collaborative, innovative, committed The Pickstock Group is an international property and food processing group of companies with a sales revenue in excess of £130M. The Company has interests in construction, manufacturing, property development, investment and food production. Based in the West Midlands, the group has delivered services to both the public and private sectors since its inception in the early 1980s. The Company is in private ownership which has helped shape its attitude to business; from concept to completion, The Pickstock Group adopts a collaborative approach that helps to build long term relationships with customers.

Over the years the group has delivered numerous projects ranging from fully modular hotels to residential housing.

A major project for the Group was the construction and redevelopment of one of Europe’s largest livestock markets, which saw JRoss Developments a specialist Developer in the food and non-food retail sectors with extensive experience in mixed use schemes work alongside its sister Company JR Pickstock Ltd, both part of The Pickstock Group.

The multi million pound livestock market which is located in Welshpool represents a significant investment in the rural economy of Mid Wales, boosting both Welshpool’s and the UK’s livestock trade.

The Pickstock Group worked closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, Welshpool Town Council and Powys County Council to re-locate the existing town centre Livestock Market to a new purpose built facility.

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The state-of-the-art facility which is fully compliant with the new bio security and DEFRA legislation was delivered as a turnkey package for Welshpool Livestock Sales Ltd in just 40 weeks.

The existing market in the town centre has been redeveloped into a new Tesco supermarket, petrol station, shops and houses, revitalising the heart of the town.

After several years of hard work by both The Pickstock Group and Welshpool Livestock Sales to design and construct the new market, it was a very proud moment to watch the Queen officially open the site.

The Pickstock Group of companies are adaptable and use many types of construction methods ranging from the more traditional concrete and timber solutions to light steel frame and fully volumetric alternatives. One of the group’s companies Elements Europe was formed in 2005 as a response to the government’s agenda to promote Modern Methods of Construction that would improve construction efficiency and affordability.

Elements Europe manufacture and deliver a wide range of products including fully modular room pods, bathroom pods and a wide range of light steel frame solutions.

The modular manufacturer has gained experience in a variety of sectors including education, hotels, health care, residential, and defence.

One recent project was the delivery of two flagship residential care homes for European Care both located in Chelmsford, Essex. The homes were built using their Light Steel Frame solutions which were

integrated with structural bathroom pods.

Both care homes were opened on schedule and were officially opened by the Mayor of Essex and are now held within the Pickstock Group’s investment arm.

The hotel sector too has started to incorporate modular solutions. Bloc hotel in Birmingham which just featured in Britain’s cheap yet chic list is a fully modular hotel. Elements Europe manufactured and delivered the 73 bedroom pods which all feature minimalist design with a contemporary architectural style. Traditional construction methods integrated seamlessly with modern methods of construction and ensured a speedy build programme of just 24 weeks.

In recent years Elements Europe has added temporary structures to their capabilities manufacturing and delivering 375 bespoke temporary accommodation units for the Ministry of Defence. More than 3,000 troops were housed in Elements Europe’s volumetric housing solution on a site which provided no infrastructure. The 375 units were manufactured and installed in a space of six weeks between May and July 2012 for the Ministry of Defence. The light steel frame units are thermally efficient and do not leave a footprint. They can easily be connected to mains water and electricity and in cases where neither of these are available the units can instead hooked up to generators and mobile water and waste water units.

M D Prior electrical ltd ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

SPECIALIST MANUFACTURERS OF LIVESTOCK HANDLING EQUIPMENT FENCING AND SHELTERS

Domestic • Commercial • Industrial • Agricultural Presquile, Bryndu Road, Llanidloes, Powys SY18 6JH Telephone/Fax: 01686 412557 Mobile: 07791 581923 / 07974 787115 enquiries@mdpriorelectrical.co.uk

www.mdpriorelectrical.co.uk

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TEL: +44(0)1782 339320 CIVIL UKC

White Rose Way Doncaster southern gateway improvement scheme Extending from Junction 3 of the M18 south of Doncaster to Ladybank roundabout, the A6182 White Rose Way is nearing the end of its final phase of work.

Phase I commenced in June 2011 and involved construction of a new bridge across the East Coast Mainline (ECML), along with construction of new dual carriageway between Potteric Carr and Ladybank roundabouts.

The new bridge has a span of 180m across 17 railway lines, consisting of bridge beams, which weight in excess of 250 tonnes and are up to 84m long. These beams were successfully lifted into place over Christmas 2011 and New Year using Britain’s largest mobile crane 1,200 tonne capacity Gottwald AK680.

October 2012 saw the opening of the new bridge to road users, which enabled the Main Contractor, Balfour Beatty, to upgrade the existing section of carriageway between Potteric Carr and Lady Bank junctions.

Phase II commenced in April 2012 and includes the construction of a new dual carriageway from the M18 at Junction 2 through to Potteric Carr junction and replacing roundabouts at Potteric Carr

place during the weekend of work to allow and Lady Bank junctions with high capacity traffic signal control. it all to take place safely.

It was also awarded to Balfour Beatty Civil Once complete, the scheme will have delivered a new dual carriageway along Engineering, and two major milestones the whole length of White Rose Way, easing were reached at the end of last year. congestion and speeding up journey times.

November saw traffic switched to the new section of carriageway between the M18 Junction 3 and Potteric Carr junction, which enabled the carriageway to be upgraded.

December saw the level of the junction raised by one metre, which also resulted in completion of L i m i t e d the carriageway Civil Engineering & Building Contractors Specialists in FRC Structures pavement construction works at this location.

Carriageway surfacing works Highways | Energy | Environmental | Commercial & Residential | Rail took place at Lady Bridges | Concrete Frames | Groundworks | Labour Supply | Building Works Bank junction last month and E: karen@brenbuild.co.uk temporary traffic management www.brenbuild.co.uk diversions were in

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UKC EDUCATION

Birkenhead Sixth Form College Wirral students soon to benefit from new £3.5M project Building work is nearing completion on state-of-the-art science, arts and learning support facilities at Birkenhead Sixth Form College.

The soon to be handed over art block will provide five new art classrooms, a dedicated teachers room and a DDA compliant lift to take students and visitors to the upper floor if required.

Soon after this project is completed, a new science block extension will be handed over to the College. Here the College will gain three new teaching laboratories, a preparation room, and enhanced facilities for students with additional learning support needs.

The design and building work has been overseen by former student Rachel Clegg, a qualified architect at a leading Wirral firm, Ainsley Gommon Architects.

Oxford Brookes University graduate Rachel is from Birkenhead and has managed the project for Ainsley Gommon, from design conception through to site work, at the College she attended from 1999 to 2001.

The 29-year-old, who achieved A-levels in science, maths and art, said she was delighted to be back at the College and working on such a prestigious project.

She said: “Birkenhead Sixth Form College played a key part in my education and development into a career in architecture, so it’s great to be back and working on these facilities.

“The College has a strong ethos of supporting students to fulfil their ambitions – my teachers helped me to secure work experience at Ainsley Gommon whilst I was studying. I was always keen on architecture and gained the A-level results I needed to attend Oxford Brookes, which has one of the best architecture departments in the

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UK. I worked closely with Steve Geary, a director at Ainsley Gommon Architects, on the design work and we were both pleased with how the design developed to what can be seen on site.”

“Steve Geary said: “When the first project was awarded to us, I asked Rachel if she would like to be Project Architect, not only for her excellent design skills, but also to show the College how one of their former students has succeeded in her chosen career, and to allow Rachel to give something back for their commitment to her. The College is an excellent place to study and the students have access to some of the best facilities in the region.”

Principal Kathryn Podmore said: “The new buildings will give existing and prospective students even better learning facilities and opportunities across our science and arts departments. The new facilities and increased space are now allowing us to expand our course provision and we are launching a new Arts Foundation Diploma to start in September.

“It has been a pleasure to welcome Rachel back and we are delighted that another of our students has progressed into such a prestigious profession. The work undertaken by Rachel and Ainsley Gommon Architects has been excellent and we look forward to opening the facilities to our students.

“This project continues a trend of construction work at the College, with last year seeing the completion of a new block of classrooms and other refurbishment works, with £1M invested following a successful bid for additional funding.

From September 2012, humanities courses have been taught in the modern classrooms and support facilities, all designed by Ainsley Gommon Architects – specialists in education spaces and

urban design.

The refurbishment of the College included redecorating current classrooms, corridors and improved common areas.

The Refectory, fondly known by students as ‘the fec’, is now 8SQ; a versatile space and café offering new menus, barista coffee and a wide range of healthy snacks and treats. The addition of a large conservatory fitted out with sofas, tables and benches expands social areas for students considerably. Freshly decorated with bright colours, matching furniture, new fixtures and a projector screen, 8SQ offers a flexible space for events and functions.

As the latest project nears to completion the College has committed to continue enhancing the facilities for its students to ensure that they can access a learning environment of the highest quality.

Birkenhead Sixth Form College has received strong praise from Ofsted for its teaching and learning and work in supporting learners into university and employment, with the widest range of A-level courses on the Wirral and an A-level pass rate of 99%. More than 300 college students progress to university each year.

Built by Melwood Construction, the science and arts facilities will be completed this month.

D.R. Electrical Ltd. Electrical Installation and Repairs, Security Systems, C.C.T.V. 24 Hour Service All Electrical Works Catered For DR Electrical Ltd are pleased to be associated with Birkenhead 6th Form College and Mellwood Construction Ltd 54 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WALLASEY, MERSEYSIDE CH45 3JT Fax: 0151 - 647 3599 Mobile: 07836 799911 Email: roughleyd@aol.com

Suspended ceilings and partitions, plastering and dry-lining 168 Poulton Road, Wallasey, Merseyside CH44 4BZ Telephone 0151 630 6000 Fax 0151 691 0087 Email: info@poultonceilings.co.uk www.poultonceilings.co.uk

Eldon Brickwork Ltd Met-Excel offers a full range of services, from maintenance and repairs to private or government properties up to full fit out of major construction projects. We have been involved in some of the largest and most prestigious contracts in the North West in recent years completing over 1000 apartments, Hospitals, Schools, Offices and Retail outlets.

Met-Excel Ltd Unit 5, Southgate Industrial Estate, Heywood, Lancashire OL10 1ND T 0845 680 9541 F 0845 680 9542 enquiries@met-excel.co.uk www.met-excel.co.uk

We are pleased to be associated with Mellwood Construction on the Birkenhead Sixth Form College project and wish all involved continued success

Ken Moon Mobile: 07773 776412 Bob Hill Mobile: 07940 914194 Fax: 0151 345 0741 Email: eldonbrickworkltd@yahoo.co.uk

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UKC LEISURE

London Dungeon Bigger and bolder at County Hall One of the UK’s most iconic attractions, the London Dungeon has reinvented itself by opening a bigger and better attraction in the vast underground vaults of County Hall on the South Bank, next to the EDF Energy London Eye. The new all attraction represents a multi-million pound investment by owners Merlin Entertainment and will bring 1,000 years of authentic London history to life with a unique mix of talented live actors performing in scarily funny shows, stunning special effects, edge of your seat surprises and two exciting thrill rides.

In preparation for opening at a new location, the London Dungeon updated its website with characters from the new Dungeon. Sweeney Todd first opened at the London Dungeon in 2006, in preparation for the Sweeney Todd Blockbuster film. The attraction used the Binaural effect to give guests the sensation they were having their hair cut by the Barber.

The Sweeney Todd scene will be relocated to the Dungeon’s new premises at County Hall, and in a video, it can be seen that the attraction chairs have been removed and reinstalled in County Hall. The Sweeney Todd space was used for a special Christmas attraction after the chairs were removed.

As well as 18 core shows and a number of unexpected surprises, the attraction boasts two state-of-the-art thrill rides with high-tech surprises guaranteed to get adrenaline pumping. A fast downing boat ride sees guests condemned by Henry VIII to a turbulent journey along the dank River Thames towards execution.

Whilst on a deadly dark drop ride, they will literally be sentenced to ‘take the drop’ as they plunge three stories in the pitch dark. A chilling, screams-guaranteed, Whitechapel labyrinth will baffle guests as they try to escape ‘Jack’ and find their way out of the East End, and a strange but

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fun journey through Balzelgette’s Victorian fans will love the new Dungeon and those Sewer system will leave guests in a who haven’t been before will soon become disorientated spin. fans too.”

Dedicated fans of the London Dungeon Designed by Kay Elliott Architects, and built will recognise its unique style of gripping

by Collins Construction, London Dungeon storytelling, plus some of the attraction’s moved into the new premises on 1st favourite characters are returning, such March 2013. as Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper with one of his unfortunate victims Mary Jane Kelly.

They will be joined by Henry VIII ‘virtually’ played by boisterous British acting giant Brian Blessed, while gunpowder plotter Guy Fawkes and a supporting cast of torturers, plague victims and dark jesters are all part of the experience.

A mighty feast of the ● Design & Build of Themed Attractions mad, bad, eccentric and downright strange ● Museum fit out characters that lived in yesterday London ● Stand Build are on display. Guests ● Feature Work can also expect close encounters with ● Audio Visual equipment non-human ‘talent’ including ● PA giant cockroaches ● Floral and Landscaping and the Dungeon’s resident family of scurrying rats.

360 Creative Event Services Ltd General Manager Unit 20 Wellesbourne Park Wellesbourne Ben Sweet said: “For Warwickshire CV35 9JY almost 40 years, the London Dungeon Phone 08451 360 360 has established itself as an iconic Email hello@360ces.com and phenomenally www.360ces.com successful attraction.

“We know existing

EDUCATION UKC

West Minster School Located in St George’s Avenue, Sheerness, West Minster Primary School has benefited from an extension to the school that already comprised of 14 classrooms for its 379 pupils, as well as a morning and afternoon nursery and a dedicated care suite for physically impaired pupils.

Designed by Guy Hollaway Architects, the main school building has been extended in order to accommodate four classrooms, a multi-function space and associated facilities. The hard play areas have been resurfaced and extended, while these changes have not altered any facilities offered by the school to the community outside of the school day.

West Minster Primary School has served the local community since 1957 and situated within ten minutes walk of Isle of Sheppy clock tower. Following the Island’s schools change in 2008 to a two-tier system, 2009/10 was its first year as a full primary school.

Also included within the extension are toilets, class storage area, and a disabled toilet.

The extension links to the main school

corridor via the 1990s extension building. incorporated sustainable principles and technologies from the outset as part of the It is positioned perpendicular to the main client requirement to aspire to achieve a school building and extends out from the BREEAM achievement of ‘Very Good’.

1990s existing extension corridor. This provides a fluid circulation route that Built by King + Johnston Building enables users to navigate easily through Contractors Ltd, work on the project completed in December 2012. the building.

It is a single-storey structure that is lower than the previous extension. The multi-function room is slightly Visqueen preferred gas membrane installers taller but is impact Members of the BGA British geomembrane association is minimal due to the curved roof.

The school has been designed to be energy efficient, Protecting our environment for our children’s future incorporates high levels of insulation, makes good use of daylight and 195 Witham Road, Braintree, Essex CM77 8ND natural ventilation, together with a high Tel No: 01376 551022 Fax: 01376 551022 thermal mass and www.gbliningservicesltd.co.uk good temperature controls. Work

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UKC COMMUNITY

St John’s Church New community centre A major building project is underway at St John’s Church in Hampshire, which commenced in May 2012.

Based in Hartley Wintney, the church has outgrown its current facilities and there is a lot more that the church wants to do in the local community.

Its church hall is always a hive of activity, with a number of activities for children and youth, many of which can no longer be accommodated at the hall. The very popular ‘Bumps and Babies’ group, Alpha and marriage and parenting courses are all activity groups that will benefit from the new building, which will provide a proper home for these groups that will be able to accommodate them all.

With a growing congregation and more staff, work is necessary and will replace the church hall and temporary building with a major annexe to the existing church.

A wide consultation exercise brought together views from the church and local community and helped to shape what is needed in the new building.

Hall space, a youth club, meeting rooms, offices, a crèche, a kitchen, and much more. The demands were substantial, reflecting the vibrant community of Hartley Wintney and the needs of young and old alike.

A dedicated space for the youth will be available, as well as a community drop-in for the elderly, refreshment facilities, a base for Radio Hartley Wintney, and it will allow the church to offer more pastoral care.

The ageing infrastructure will be replaced with better lighting, safer and more accessible entrances, state-of-

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the-art audio visual equipment, and better storage.

As plans progressed, the scheme gained substantial local support, including from the Preservation Society and Parish Council. An emphasis on environmental excellence has been paramount, in keeping with the church’s ethos and location within a conservation area amidst the oak trees.

Meanwhile, funds have been raised from generous donations from church members, as well as the sale of a redundant church building, and more than 25 fundraising events since 2007.

Fundraising efforts have included 43

cyclists raising more than £40,000 on their ride to Paris, and an elegant Grande Soiree at The Elvetham Hotel, which raised thousands through an auction. Dinners, jazz nights, concerts, cake sales and many more enterprising events have engaged lots of people in the quest for funds.

The church has appointed HA & DB Kitchin Ltd as the Main Contractor for the scheme, which has included demolishing the existing church hall to make way for the new building.

Established in 1973, Kitchin has successfully traded from its Alton base for over 30 years.

In 2005, the Company moved to its splendid

new offices in the refurbished medieval barn has been disrupted, at Will Hall Farm. though this has been A family owned Company, Kitchin has kept to a minimum. grown into a substantial and well respected The Architect is CPL contractor, with a deservedly high Chartered Architects. reputation for producing high quality work, Work is expected to and for its non-adversarial and proactive complete in June 2013 approach to contracting, resulting in a high volume of repeat business.

Kitchin carries out new build, refurbishment, conservation and SPITAL FARM, THORPE MEAD, BANBURY, OXON OX16 4RZ restoration projects in the leisure, Tel: (01295) 258747 Fax: (01295) 271068 educational, commercial, community, ecclesiastical, and residential sectors.

Email: AttleysRoofing@hotmail.com Originally set up by Hugh Kitchin and his brother David, Kitchin has gained considerable experience over the years, working on historic and listed buildings, and particularly works to Multibeton Ltd. are extremely pleased to have been involved in the extension works to St. Johns Church Hartley Witney, working alongside H.A and D.B Kitchin Ltd. We wish H.A and D.B Kitchin Ltd. every success for the future occupied buildings such as country homes, schools and colleges, all with a minimum of disruption.

The success of Kitchin’s nonconfrontational approach to contracting is evidenced by the high volume of repeat business that the Company enjoys, having worked successfully with a number of key clients and consultants over many years.

The total cost of the work is just over ÂŁ2.3M, with money gathered thanks to a phenomenal fundraising effort. During development there has been some disruption. While church services have gone ahead as usual, car parking and access around the church

Parthos movable and folding sliding wall systems are based on the creation of space and freedom of design. They enable large internal spaces to be divided into smaller spaces quickly and easily while maintaining a high degree of acoustic privacy.

Palace movable walls Palace walls are acoustic, durable, easy to operate, have a choice of function and fire-resistance options and are adaptable to individual design requirements. Stacking configurations are virtually unlimited. The walls run very smoothly along a track system by means of ball-bearing trolleys and are designed to eliminate the need for obstructive floor guides. A manually operated or semi-electrically powered spindle mechanism, in combination with acoustic pressure sleeves, ensures the greatest possible stability and highest levels of sound-proofing.

There are 4 models available. Palace 80 has slim walls of lightweight construction with a thickness of 80 mm. Palace 90 walls have inlayed aluminium border profiles for an especially stylish look. The use of EPDM pressure sleeve end pieces ensures a high level of acoustic properties. Palace 110 has a panel thickness of 110 mm with a high insulation value. A range of different panels with a variety of styles including curved walls and tracks is offered. Its self-supporting metal frame enables panel heights of 15 m. Walls with fire resistance ratings of 30 and 60 minutes are available.

Transpalace panels have an aluminium/steel frame and are finished with double glazed safety glass or fire-resistant glass. Frames can be supplied in a wide range of RAL colours.

Parthos UK Ltd 1 The Quadrant Howarth Road Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 1AP T: +44 (0)1628 773353 F: +44 (0)1628 773363 E: info@parthos.co.uk www.parthos.co.uk

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UKC EDUCATION

St Lawrence School Theatre and boarding accommodation Two new buildings have been constructed at St Lawrence College in Kent, providing a state-of-the-art theatre and a girls’ boarding school, and both opened in September 2012.

Work on both buildings started at the same time, and the projects were needed to improve the general quality of the boarding accommodation. It was decided that the shell of the original theatre could be used, and so this was cleared which has created the boarding accommodation. However, now the school didn’t have a theatre, so a new theatre building was required and constructed.

The theatre, while primarily being used for productions, will also be used for other purposes. Rather than being set up as a theatre all the time, it has a section of floor that can be removed and become either a level floor for exam purposes or the floor can be taken out and tiered seating put in for a theatrical production.

The boarding house has space for 57 girls and is a three-storey building that benefits from natural light due to its stunning

times that would have the least effect atrium. The space is open and airy but with on teaching. warm, welcoming relaxation spaces for each year group.

Designed by Graham Carter Associates, the Main Contractor on the project was Paine It is located on the main site of the school, Construction. Work started in September where the classroom block and boys’ 2011 and completed a year later, accommodation can be found, making it much more convenient and generally closer costing £3.6M. to the rest of the facilities that the school has.

Disruption was minimised by fencing off this Paine Construction - The Main Contractor for constructing the new Sports Hall, Function Hall and Bellerby Accommodation Block. distinct area of the campus, which did We have been established for some 40 years and have been involved with variety of construction developments, including: not need to have shared access. A ● Roads ● Housing ● Milking Parlours ● Farm Handling Systems - vegetable and crop separate access ● TV and Phone Masts ● Large Packing Factories route was also ● Cold Stores for Foreign Imports ● River and Sea Defence ● Sewage Works created for builders ● Aircraft Hangers ● and much more. so they didn’t have We would like to wish St Lawrence College to deal with school every success in the future. traffic, and noise disruption was Tel/Fax: 01227 276446 minimised by work Email: phil@paineconstruction.co.uk being undertaken at

Paine Construction

UKC PROFILE

Barwin Building refurbishment, restoration & cleaning specialists Specialising in stone restoration, structural building refurbishment, and specialist cleaning, Barwin has deservedly gained a reputation for the superb quality of work in the fields of stone restoration, stone fixing, stucco repair, rendering and restoration, historic pointing, brickwork re-facing, replacement, rebuilding and concrete repairs. The Company also has vast specialist experience in brick and stone cleaning and coatings.

The Company was founded by Danny and William Barrett and Wayne Sampson joined them a few years later.

Barwin has 50 members of staff, all of whom get the very best health and safety, site management and project specific training to provide high quality services for a wide variety of public and private sector clients.

Prestigious projects undertaken include Grade I and Grade II listed historic buildings, working alongside English Heritage. Barwin maintains and cleans 96 London monuments, more than eight miles of railings and 23 miles of Grade II boundary walls every year, this is based on a five year term contract with Royal Parks, which they renewed four times, Barwin is

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Gilston Park

the refurbishment of this building with the now in its 18th year of this contract.

As well as restoring and maintaining aid and support of the Madame Tussauds in-house maintenance team, which included period buildings, using the finest traditional craftsmen, Barwin helps venerable buildings specialist decoration and cleaning, paint stripping and brick/stone repair, roofing and look to the future, finding new uses for redundant structures and implementing the internal repairs. appropriate methods and materials.

Barwin’s reputation and range of services being widened means turnover will One example where Barwin’s management, knowledge and skill were used in continue to increase, as it has done by more than 70% in the last five years. conjunction with the conservation officers’ ideas and instructions was the award Tel: 0208 345 7800 winning Gilston Park project in Essex. The scope of the works involved: external stone restoration, Affordable Health & Safety services for specialist nebulous stone cleaning, rebuilding contractors in construction and maintenance. and pointing.

Site inspections, in house and on site training courses, CDM The Company has also worked with Services, help with PQQs, CHAS and other accreditation Merlin Attractions bodies, risk assessments, PAT testing, safety policies, Operations Ltd fire safety and more. All in one place. on the Madame Tussuads building Call us on: 01483 824262 in London, where Web: www.foresight-safety.co.uk the Victorian facade email: info@foresight-safety.co.uk has been restored.

P.O Box 917, Woking, Surrey. GU21 8YA Barwin undertook

Foresight Safety Ltd

EDUCATION UKC

South Craven School Celebrating the completion of a new building The new building at South Craven School is proving a huge success with students and staff.

Located in Cross Hills near Skipton in North Yorkshire, the new development on the Fells Building has provided a classroom and drama block. It has replaced a series of temporary classrooms and is the product of Government funding, helped by the school’s successful application for Academy status.

Built on very good ground conditions, the two-storey building is a portal frame construction, with an external comprising of brick, render and cladding. The roof is a profiled metal sheeting, and sustainability is assured with a passive ventilation system.

The resource area has banks of computers, comfortable chairs for relaxing in and a library. Downstairs, the three classrooms have been given to the PE department, and there are two mathematics rooms.

This modern design has enhanced the campus, while providing much needed teaching space.

South Craven School Deputy Head Jo Daly said: “We’ve had a positive response to the building. The major event there was our sports presentation evening on 10th October and people were very impressed.

“It works well for us and it’s a great facility with state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment. Thanks to the tiered seating it’s nice to be able to look up at the students you’re talking to rather than look across a sea of heads.”

The retractable tiered seats provide space for more than 300 people, allowing the area to be used to stage theatre productions, lectures, training events and other performances.

Mrs Daly said the building was being used for school assemblies and would later host exams, which previously had to be held in the sports hall. This will free up the sports hall for PE staff during exam time.

She said the development also incorporated three new classrooms downstairs, while upstairs there was a learning resource centre equipped with computers to support the independent studies of South Craven’s 324 sixth formers.

The property was in demand as soon as it was completed. It hosted a sixth form open evening at the beginning of November 2012 and hosted the school presentation evening and school show, all in the same month.

The school incorporates all the necessary disabled facilities, to make the building compliant with the latest regulations, and there are fire and security alarms, as well as a CCTV system to guarantee safety for the pupils, staff, an

the school. Some minimal landscaping has taken place, but the development hasn’t included any parking because the existing facilities are sufficient.

The Main Contractor for the project was Stainforth Construction and the Architect was Rance, Booth & Smith.

Work commenced in January 2012 and was completed in August 2012. Costing £1.3M, it opened in September 2012 in time for the new school year.

An official opening took place in November, with Skipton MP Julian Smith doing the honours. A plaque was unveiled at the ceremony.

We are pleased to be associated with South Craven School and Stainforth Construction and wish them continued success for the future UNIT 5, COLT BUSINESS PARK, WITTY STREET, HULL, EAST YORKS, HU3 4TU Telephone: 01482 329229 Facsimile: 01482 226293 Email: alliancesteel@email.com 117

UKC PROFILE

DUCO Ltd Developing a new manufacturing plant in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, DUCO Ltd, part of the Technip Group, specialise in the engineering, design and manufacture of Subsea umbilical systems used for the transfer of power, chemicals, communication services and data transmission.

Technip’s business activities serve many sectors of the energy industry worldwide, but in particular the oil and gas sector, where Technip are active in three activities[t1]: Subsea, Offshore and Onshore. The oil and gas market represents 97% of the Group’s revenues.

Technip[t2][e3], through its Technip Umbilical Systems (TUS) group of companies, operates four manufacturing sites.

DUCO Ltd is expanding its existing operations with the development of a new manufacturing plant. The expansion of the current site will assist in Newcastle-upon-Tyne becoming one of the world’s leading cities in the manufacture of umbilical systems.

The new manufacturing plant will be a 58m high steel frame structure to house a piece of equipment that is 55m in height, and there is an associated steel lean-tostructure of 14m in height to house the extrusion line.

Based at Walker Riverside, historically the site has been used by the Tyne River Police and over recent years as an industrial yard. There were many other buildings previously occupying the site that were removed before DUCO took possession of the site.

The site, located on the banks of the River Tyne, was slightly sloping before construction began, but this was levelled out prior to building work starting.

It is a state-of-the-art modern [t4] factory with all up-to-date features and facilities that is single storey at the plant

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area of the building, but there is also a two storey office block to the south west corner.

This new plant will be the first of its kind in the UK and will improve the efficiency of DUCO Ltd to manufacture steel tube umbilicals.

It represents a sustainable form of development that will contribute significantly to the local economy with the creation of up to 140 jobs.

The Main Contractor is Mansell Construction Services, and the Company has constructed a steel frame composite clad structure sat on CFA piled foundations. The external has composite cladding panels to meet both Newcastle Council guidelines in terms of the colour, and also DUCO branding.

The roof is also formed of composite

panels with a pitch for water run-off and is surrounded by a 1.2m parapet, removing the need for any man-safe harness systems. There is a ten-metre deep reinforced concrete tunnel beneath the building and the roof also has a number of roof lights.

The facility meets all the necessary building regulations for disabled access and facilities and it will include fire alarms and CCTV for security.

There are a number of hard standing areas and also a soft landscaped area to meet planning application requirements and parking provision will also be made around the plant.

The Architect for the development is KF Shadbolt & Partners. Work started in May 2012 and will be completed in June 2013.

The Shadbolt Group provides a multi-disciplinary consultancy service for the built and natural environment throughout the UK, Europe and the Americas.

We provide a co-ordinated and integrated service that is innovative and cost effective which assists our clients in meeting their objectives from planning through to construction, completion and implementation.

Our long standing capabilities in Civil, Structural, Drainage, Infrastructure, Transport, Architectural Services, CDM-C and Project Management are complemented by the more recent implementation of Environmental, Geotechnical, Health & Safety and Site Investigation capabilities and enable the Shadbolt Group to provide a “one stop shop” service for development.

The seamless integration of these skills has provided us with the flexibility to assemble project teams suited to meet the total needs of each individual client and their project.

The Shadbolt Group provides our clients with a proactive, high quality and value for money service that sets us apart from our competitors.

The practice has experience in most aspects of design and development, including Commercial, Retail, Housing, Residential, Care & High Needs Facilities, Education, Manufacturing and Industrial. This latter experience encompasses Offshore related Industries, both in the UK and abroad.

We are very proud to have been selected by Duco Ltd to form part of their Design Team for the exciting and innovative Vham Project currently under construction, and wish Duco Ltd every success in this specialist worldwide market.

HOUSING UKC

Chartford Homes The homes you’ve been waiting for Chartford Homes is a Company established for over 20 years with a wealth of experience in producing beautiful, well designed, skilfully constructed homes to suit the modern purchaser.

The pride in the track record of completed developments extends throughout the company, from the combined experience and knowledge of Chartford’s directors and skilled tradesmen, site managers and friendly sales team.

Chartford firmly believes that bringing together good design with sought-after locations to produce modern affordable living makes the Company one of the frontrunners within the residential sector in Yorkshire.

The Company was established 20 years ago, with a strong background in architectural design, which forms its backbone, because high standards of design and construction are a priority for every Chartford home.

Using the very latest technology, Chartford Homes designers are able to incorporate modern structural and heating specifications to create homes that are well built, comfortable and economic to run. The result is beautiful homes prepared to the highest standards.

Chartford has a development in Bingley.

Located on Micklethwaite Lane, the to the hard work by Simon Grayshon, Site Waterfront is a collection of two-, three-, Manager, and his team by ensuring that and four-bedroom mews houses specially high standards were achieved throughout designed to bring contemporary luxury in a the building process. delightfully traditional canal side setting.

“We are always proud of our attention to This quiet development overlooking the detail and ensuring that purchasers are Leeds-Liverpool Canal is a gentle stroll or satisfied with their home is our priority, short car ride from Bingley’s many amenities. so to have this award at this flagship All materials, fixtures and fittings are development is the icing on the cake to this chosen for their quality, strength, reliability year’s sales.” and value, making desirable contemporary living within reach.

Chartford’s work was rewarded EST 1986 in October 2012 when the Park at Cookridge was awarded Northern winner of Large Building Joiners and Drylining Specialists Development of Contracts undertaken throughout Yorkshire. Complete joinery and the Year 2012 by drylining packages, including any form of partitioning required.

Premier Guarantee for its outstanding 12 LYNDHURST GROVE workmanship ALLERTON, BRADFORD, and customer WEST YORKSHIRE BD15 7AS satisfaction.

TEL/FAX: 01274 488778 Chris Thompson, www.claywood-sbs.co.uk Managing Director of Chartford, said: We are pleased to be associated with Chartford Homes “This is testament PROFILE UKC

Lend Lease Creating the best places Since its formation in 1958, Lend Lease has led the way in outstanding performance in the construction industry.

Over 50 years of experience has taken the Company across the globe from Australia to Asia, Europe and the Americas. Lend Lease employs more than 18,000 people around the world and manage an extensive portfolio of assets.

Clients, partners and investors can choose to leverage Lend Lease’s strengths and local expertise at any stage of the property and infrastructure spectrum – from development, investment management, project management & construction, and asset & property management – or partner with the Company right through the

demolition of the upper teaching block, complete journey. new teaching accommodation for English, There is a flexible and creative capital languages, humanities, learning support approach to projects, resulting in superior and library. The main school hall will investment performance. Using a truly be refreshed, along with the swimming collaborative approach, Lend Lease guides clients and investors beyond just maximising pool and gyms, and a state-of-the-art performing arts block is being created, value to innovative, sustainable outcomes. with specialist facilities for drama, dance Lend Lease has provided work at and music.

Burntwood School, and completed Phase I of the project in September 2012, following The final phase will see the demolition of the opening of the new four-court sports the lower teaching block and refectory, and the project will be finished with hall earlier in 2012. landscaping, giving Lend Lease another The new buildings provide a streamlined significant project in its portfolio, as and professional working environment that both staff and students are enjoying. well as Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, The first building has a sixth form centre the Architect of the project. Work will be completed this year with a designated computer suite, common room and a games room. It also has an impressive business and IT area and the school’s reception.

Specialist teaching accommodation was also created, with science Briggs & Forrester has established itself as a leading player in the building laboratories, services market providing a range of engineering design, installation and mathematics maintenance services to the construction industry. rooms, as well as art & design, and a library.

Bembridge House, Bembridge Drive, Kingsthorpe, Northampton NN2 6LZ Phase II is currently Tel: 01604 720072 underway. This www.briggsandforrester.co.uk comprises of

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UKC PROFILE

The Peel Group Creating sustainable environments for businesses to flourish in The Peel Group is one of the leading infrastructure real estate and investment enterprises in the UK. Its diverse network of businesses ranges from ports to airports, land to leisure, media to hotels, wind farms to biomass, and a portfolio of investments and major public companies.

Drawing experience from some of the great north west of England entrepreneurs of the past, Peel invests for the longterm. Under the chairmanship of John Whittaker, the Company has been investing in communities and making strategic business acquisitions for more than 40 years – creating employment and promoting wealth, creation, and often taking an innovative approach.

In November, Peel launched Pemberton Business Park in Wigan, adding to the Peel Business Parks portfolio. It is part of a major new mixed-use development to the west of Wigan town centre, and is accessible off the A49 from Junction 25 of the M6.

The site adjoins and is adjacent to Phase I of Pemberton Business Park, an office village that comprises of 93,000sq ft of new build accommodation.

Peel’s 32-acre Pemberton Business Park has planning consent for approximately 650,000sq ft of office and industrial/ distribution accommodation. Design and build solutions are available from 10,000sq ft for office uses and 20,000sq ft for industrial/distribution uses. The site is also capable of accommodating a single warehouse of 250,000sq ft.

In addition, there is planning consent in place for a new hotel, public house and up to 13,778sq ft of retail space. The site has been planned by utilising the best design principles to create a sustainable business community.

Matt Fitton, Development Manager at Peel, said: “The launch of such a significant strategic employment site with the potential to create significant job numbers over the coming years is obviously very encouraging

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for Peel, we are very confident that government priority objectives to grow the Pemberton Business Park will be a success UK’s creative industries, promote growth and are committed to delivering this vision.” and create new jobs.

One of Peel’s most prestigious properties The proposals will enable Peel to capture is Pinewood Shepperton Studios – the increasing international demand for global film and television studio operation. studio facilities and respond to rising A controlling interest of 71% was acquired competition from outside the UK. They in 2011. will also cement Pinewood Studios’ February saw the announcement that position as a world leading hub for the Pinewood is submitting a planning global creative industries. application to South Bucks District Council for the expansion of the studios, called the Pinewood ennis construction limited Studios Development Framework (PSDF). civil engineering contractors This follows extensive consultation with a wide range of local and national The teams at Ennis Construction Limited (ECL) and Ennis stakeholders, as well Construction Airports Limited (ECAL) have well over forty years’ as with producers and developers of creative knowledge and experience in Building Excellence. content.

The PSDF is a scheme of national importance This knowledge and experience covers a diverse range of designed to address construction activities within the private sector and open market increasing global demand for capacity tendering for the North West of England. in the UK and deliver growth for the next 1520 years. It comprises As a construction and civil engineering contractors we are substantial expansion unparalleled in terms of the skill and dedication of our workforce. of the existing studios by adding a total of 100,000sq m of new facilities, ENNIS HOUSE, Sorby Road, Northbank Industrial Park, including studios and stages, workshops, Irlam, Manchester M44 5BA production offices T: +44 (0)161 777 9977 F: +44 (0)161 777 9205 and streetscapes for filming. info@ennisconstruction.co.uk Once complete, www.ennisconstruction.co.uk this would make a major contribution to achieving

HOUSING UKC

Gannex Mill site redevelopment Affordable Homes and commercial development for Calderdale 2010 saw the demolition of Gannex Mill, one of Calderdale’s most iconic textile landmarks, to make space for 65 low cost homes and create more than 20 new jobs.

The mill itself had been empty for around ten years and previous development applications had been refused, including one by Asda for a new supermarket, bus station and 42 houses.

Pennine Housing 2000 bought the massive mill and an adjoining plot, and put forward the plans for a combined residential and commercial development of the site.

Pennine’s development partner, John Radcliffe said the mill would cost too much to convert for modern commercial use and there was no need for any more flats, but that: “There is a massive demand for threebedroom houses and modern industrial space, and we are talking to Clients about relocating to create comfortably in excess of 200 jobs.”

The adjoining plot was zoned for employment and the mill site was zoned for mixed use development. However, the employment land is steeply sloping; so is unsuitable and inefficient for industrial uses. This was also this site that Pennine wished to develop for 67 Affordable homes.

Radcliffe’s and Pennine worked together to demonstrate to Calderdale Council that the industrial uses were better suited on the mill site, and the Affordable Housing better suited for the Huddersfield Road site, this meant that both uses were contrary to the adopted policy.

Radcliffe’s and Pennine held a joint public consultation exercise and presented the case to the Elland public for their comments and criticism. This was overwhelmingly supportive, and reinforced the benefits of the proposal.

Radcliffe’s brought a commercial solution to Pennine’s dilemma for this site. An application was submitted in joint names to demonstrate to the Council that a local developer with a proven track record would ensure these benefits would be delivered.

Demolition of the mill took 16 weeks and construction and development work began in earnest at the beginning of 2011.

Ainley Rise is the name of the housing

development on site. The development Quarter units ranging form 6,000sq ft to of ten family shared ownership homes is 43,000sq ft. The first unit was available for being marketed by Rosa Homes. occupation in Christmas 2011, with space Rosa Homes prides itself on building taken by KT Hydraulics. and developing quality, high specification John Radcliffe & Sons worked closely with affordable homes, in the Yorkshire area, KT Hydraulics to design the new custom in a variety of locations and a variety of built Head Quarters building which now purchase options. accommodates its current manufacturing Its portfolio of properties range from tworequirements in high quality, modern and three-bedroom houses, apartments space, and allow for a ny expansion and bungalows for the over 55s. requirements in the future.

Rosa Homes is part of the Together Housing Further units are available to be Group which manage in the region of 7,000 customised to suit individual occupiers. rented homes and 1,650 leasehold homes across Yorkshire and The Humber, North Nottinghamshire and the North West. Rosa Homes provides good quality low cost housing for outright sale, Shared Ownership, Leasehold for sale and Intermediate Rent.

The homes at Huddersfield Road, Elland, are eco efficient and boast upvc double glazing, Pennine Housing 2000, in conjunction with John Radcliffe and Sons, electricity generating appointed Watson Batty Architects to prepare a scheme designed to photovoltaic solar transform a vacant and largely derelict site in the heart of Elland with a panels and central proposal for a new development of family homes and commercial units, heating with together with a large area of open space. efficient condensing combination boiler.

The site runs from Gannex Mill on Dewsbury Road, and extends through to Other features Huddersfield Road. The development is split into two distinct areas with the include stylish housing development occupying the Huddersfield Road end of the site while the commercial scheme will be located off Dewsbury Road. fitted kitchens with There was a recognised and urgent need for affordable housing in Elland and integral appliances, Pennine Housing 2000 acquired the site to meet that need, successfully winning white bathroom with grants from the Homes and Communities Agency to deliver around 65 new bath and over bath affordable homes - 55 for rent and 10 shared ownership - in a mix of 2,3,and 4 bed shower, low flush wc houses, some of which will be wheelchair compliant. and hand basin. Wile Wates Living Space were the successful Design and Build contractor, who externally gardens retained Watson Batty to undertake the detailed design work and construction details.The site was not without its challenges, however through working well as are landscaped and a team the project has now been completed to a very high standard. in curtilage parking is provided.

Watson Batty Architects Ltd Gannex Park provides Shires House, Shires Road, Guiseley, Leeds LS20 8EU 82,500sq ft of B1, B2 t. 01943 876 665 f. 01943 882 300 and B8 commercial e. enquiries@watsonbatty.com space, consisting of www.watsonbatty.com four industrial Head

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UKC HEALTH

Waverley Grange New Nursing Home for Bupa in Farnham July 2012 saw a ground breaking ceremony for a new Bupa care home in Farnham, Surrey. The purpose built facility will provide specialist nursing and residential care for up to 52 older people.

The new home is located on Waverley Lane, the site of the former Crispins and Loadhams Nursing Home and has been carefully designed to create a modern, stimulating environment for people living at the home replacing the outdated nursing home.

The redevelopment plans were agreed with Waverley Borough Council and local residents and planning permission was granted in March 2012.

Some £5.5M is being invested by Bupa in the home, which will accommodate 20 residential and 32 nursing care residents in high specification ensuite rooms. The care home will also incorporate leisure facilities including a coffee shop, cinema and hair salon, along with accessible landscaped gardens and an allotment area.

Bupa Care Services Deputy Regional Director, Elaine Farrer, said: “The redevelopment of this care home will create a modern, state-of-the-art home that is not only essential in catering for increased demand in the area, but which will enable Bupa to continue providing first class, high quality care.

“We expect the home to be completed by May 2013.”

The home will be opened in June 2013 and will provide a peaceful residential setting for residents.

Shared areas of the home will include cosy lounges and a bright, modern café bar. Dining rooms will offer a choice of table options so that residents can dine individually, or in the company of friends.

A widescreen cinema room will also be available, with comfy seating and a refreshment area. Free WiFi access will be available throughout the home.

Bedrooms, all with ensuite facilities, will be fully furnished to a high standard, with flat screen digital televisions. Waverley Grange will offer a limited number of premium bedrooms. Enjoying a prime, ground floor location, these luxury rooms will be

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elegantly decorated and furnished.

The home will also have an onsite hair salon, perfect for residents who would prefer to take their hair appointments in the comfort of the home.

The grounds of Waverley Grange will have discreetly secure landscaped gardens – perfect for outdoor relaxation.

The gardens will be decorated with an attractive water feature and sculptures, sun dials and bird baths. Green fingered residents will be able to lend a hand with the allotment and raised flower beds, whilst others can sit back, relax and enjoy the garden’s sensory delights.

A play area will be available for children to enjoy during visits, giving loved ones the opportunity to relax and watch the younger

members of the family at play.

Waverley Grange will be fitted with the latest in modern technology, to create a home that is both comfortable and kind to the environment. Sustainability features will include under floor heating, solar panels and a rainwater recovery system.

Bupa Care Services operates over 300 nursing and residential care homes across the UK with over 70% of residents receiving state funding; and with no shareholders, Bupa is able to reinvest its profits to improve the services and amenities offered to its residents.

Designs for the project were provided by DWA Architects, with Metnor Construction Ltd acting as Main Contractor.

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UKC COMMUNITY

Open Treasure – Durham Cathedral Easter 2012 saw the beginning of an exciting and extensive project at Durham Cathedral. Open Treasure involves significant works in the buildings first built to meet the needs of the Monks who lived there before the Reformation. It is being designed to transform the way visitors can enjoy the Cathedral and gain inspiration from it.

These include a new shop in the South West Undercroft – opened in Autumn 2012; new vestries for the Choir – completed in September 2012; development of the Monks’ Dormitories; a new link between the Dormitory and Great Kitchen; new displays and interpretations throughout the Cathedral, plus three new lifts to ensure access for all.

The new shop, together with the foyer and the lift is the most public part of the Open Treasure project, the choir has also benefitted from new vestries.

The second part of the first phase of work, Phase 1b will be the transformation of the Monks’ Dormitory and the Great Kitchen, where the former shop was housed. These areas will become more accessible to visitors to explore the heritage of the buildings themselves and understand the hidden treasure of the Cathedral more than ever before. The dormitory and kitchen will be connected by a new glazed gallery, replacing the 1950s infill, where there will be display cases for the more vulnerable items and or items that are occasionally borrowed from other

Cathedrals and museums.

The Great Kitchen itself is the place where the most ancient and sacred of the Cathedral’s amazing collection of items will be displayed, such as Cuthbert’s coffin, cross, portable altar and funerary silks.

The history of the area as a kitchen will also be much more obvious than it ever has been as a shop and the architecture will itself be shown off so that the visitor can have an even sense of appreciation of the powerful elegance of this kitchen.

Following Phase 1b, Phase 2 comprises a scheme to transform the west end of the nave of the Cathedral The porches and visitor desk will be replaced with something better that allows for the flow of many more visitors.

Better signage will be placed around the Cathedral to assist visitors, with further interpretive signs which will contain written information and the ability to access further information digitally, planned for later.

The Cloister too will be developed, and its potential as a place which can help tell the story of the

Cathedral and its social and spiritual meaning.

The new shop and Accessible Foyer were designed by Purcell, with Chris Cotton as Lead Architects and Simpson of York as the Main Contractor. The Cathedral’s own works staff, comprising specialists that carry out ongoing conservation and maintenance work around the Cathedral, did enabling work ahead of Simpsons coming on site and have created components of the shop fittings.

Completion of the entire project is anticipated for early 2015.

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COMMERCIAL UKC

Citroen dealership refurbished Small Heath, Birmingham Work has recently completed on a project at Citroen’s showroom in Small Heath, Birmingham.

The development has involved external alterations to include a two-storey high extension, with new fencing, gates, bollards, flagpoles, signage, reconfigured car park lighting and new glazing.

The existing dealership has been located at this site on the A45 for some 20 years. The façade of the building was approaching the end of its recommended life expectancy and with Citroen adopting a new international corporate identity, the opportunity was taken to refurbish and extend the dealership with new glazing, cladding and signs.

The main external works have consisted of the reconfiguration and rationalisation of the car parking area, alleviating congestion on site and relocating the car wash/valet facility into a new building on site. While the façade has been replaced with new glass infill and existing cladding and shutters have been repainted.

A new pedestrian access route has also been developed.

Internally, the building’s configuration has been redeveloped creating a more effective sales and works area.

The development has been undertaken by Main Contractor mcs, who has previously

worked with Citroen on similar projects.

October 2012 saw mcs complete a further extension at Citroen’s dealership in Coventry. The Dealership remained open whilst works were carried out. mcs was formed in August 2003, with Directors Keir Edmonds, Jason Kendrick and Tim Perkins. This young and dynamic construction company, comprises individuals with a proven track record of delivering fast track and complex projects

on time and under budget. mcs endeavours to deliver optimum project delivery; working with Clients to provide projects on time and under budget in a non confrontational manner. mcs offers a full range of construction procurement methods and carries out a range of projects from small works, refurbishments and building maintenance solutions to full design and build developments.

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UKC COMMERCIAL

Oiline Ltd new premises Oiline Ltd is one of the UK’s leading specialists in high performance lubricant manufacture and distribution.

With a complete range of specialist products, the Company prides itself on being able to supply industrial lubricants for even the harshest environment whilst maintaining an exceeding level of excellence in both quality and performance.

Based in the Black Country near West Bromwich, Oiline’s thriving manufacturing plant and offices carry a wide range of stock available onsite and a dynamic sales team who will deal with any further requests to ensure that clients receive optimum customer service.

Technical support and information is readily available and knowledgeable staff will always help with any advice or queries, The Company is proud to have built and developed the quality and standard that makes Oiline one of the leading manufacturers and distributors in the UK oil industry.

As part of Oiline’s environmental policy the organisation is committed to responsible energy management.

Wherever practical, the Company

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practices energy efficiency throughout all its buildings, plant and equipment.

Located on the northeastern side of Whitehall Road, Tipton, Oiline’s premises has recently been upgraded.

The existing industrial buildings on site have been demolished and replaced with a single new L-shaped building, measuring 33m by 27.4m and rising to a maximum of 6.4m from ground level to the top of the sloping roof.

The new building itself comprises a steel frame clad with profiled steel sheeting.

Main Contractor for the project was Instant Space Construct Ltd, a company that can boast being among the leading suppliers of permanent steel buildings and multi-purpose temporary buildings.

Instant Space Construct use the finest grade of galvanised steel and provide a co-ordinated and integrated service that is innovative and cost effective. Their long-standing experience means that they are able to design, supply and install any steel building required anywhere in the UK. Instant Space Contruct’s professional and personal approach gives their clients a proactive, high quality

and value for money service that sets them apart from their competitors.

Instant Space also offer a wide variety of temporary structures, ranging from temporary warehousing and storage to building solutions all available to hire or buy throughout the UK. The low cost structures can be installed on almost any ground surface and require no foundations.

They are available in a large variety of span widths with wall heights of up to six metres, Instant Space’s structures are also designed to withstand the most severe weather conditions, so all buildings are tough, durable and designed for all year round use. The Company provides these buildings for a variety of sectors, including for commercial use such as the work Oiline has benefited from. Instant Space can deliver these fully functional units within weeks, and also with the ability to connect to existing buildings.

Instant Space Construct and Instant Space are able to offer a fast and economical alternative to every customers’ storage needs and are looking forward to continuing their much valued relationship with Oiline.

UKC PROFILE

Woodford Heating and Energy Doing things the Woodford way Aylesbury Estate

Woodford Heating and Energy specialises in heating, energy and plumbing systems for public and private sector projects.

With over 19 years of experience and an impressive heritage working with leading developers such as Barratt Homes, Telford Homes and Galliford Try, Woodford brings real value to large scale residential, commercial and mixed-use developments.

This year will see Woodford business improved even further with the introduction of a continuous improvement programme, helping to provide areas of service and guaranteeing that Woodford continue to meet and exceed client expectations.

It will also provide a cohesive, collaborative approach to identifying opportunities for work, winning work and being the best trade represented on site.

Woodford have particular expertise in installing sophisticated Energy Centres in partnership with developers. They have developed a body of expertise, to improve and enhance the integration of existing technologies.

The key benefits of Energy Centres are: ••Lowered cost of energy generation ••Increasing fuel efficiency through use of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) ••Reduction of CO2 emissions through optimisation of heat supply ••Using renewable heat efficiently; providing opportunities for the deployment of technologies that would not otherwise be viable.

The quality of work is apparent on all Woodford developments, including Aylesbury Estate, which is the largest

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housing estate in Europe with a population of over 10,000.

The estate has often been a focal point in British politics as one of the most deprived areas in the country and so in 2005, it was decided that it would be demolished and replaced with modern homes, including private sale units and apartments.

Woodford provided full installation of domestic plumbing and heating systems and speaking after the successful delivery of this project, Eric Brown, Durkan’s Site Manager, said: “Woodford’s team were superb throughout.

“There was a great working relationship across the team and their knowledge of this type of build was key to delivering on time and in line with other trades. I would be delighted to work with them again.”

It now has 237 residential flats, providing private and affordable housing, delivering contemporary and sophisticated architecture and features in Greenwich, London.

Woodford also worked on the multi-phased scheme at Innova Park, which comprises design and build of 270 mixed tenure homes within a trio of three-storey blocks and a four-storey block including 60 houses and a community centre.

Originally earmarked for the private sector, the site was redesigned to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, with some units achieving Level 4. The homes utilise a high level of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics, solar water heating and rainwater harvesting.

In addition, the development achieved

Secured by Design accreditation.

Woodford was contracted to supply full mechanical and engineering services to 330 plots. In addition, this project included fitting solar panels to five of the residences.

At Delta Creek Road, Woodford has provided full installation of domestic plumbing and heating systems. It is a development comprising 38 one and twobedroom apartments built over five floors.

Woodford were commended by Gary Cheek, Site Manager at Barratt Homes, who said: “I was happy with the work from Woodford Heating and Energy. They are an experienced team, well managed and delivered the job on time and to our agreed plan.”

Woodford Heating and Energy, Unit 17, Forest Trading Estate, Priestley Way, Walthamstow, London E17 6AL Tel: 020 8531 0004

R&M Fixings & Supports Ltd publishing limited

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TGLynes are pleased to be associated with Woodford Heating & Energy

www.tglynes.co.uk 129

UKC EDUCATION

Willoughby Road Primary School October 2011 saw the merger of Riddings Infant School and Riddings Junior School in Scunthorpe, with the new primary school renamed Willoughby Road Primary School.

Merging the two schools has helped them to build on their strengths and allowed them to become totally integrated, creating an excellent learning environment for all Riddings pupils.

The merger has led to the need for additional accommodation, which has been developed on the Junior School site and made the Infant school redundant to requirements.

The school hall roof at the Infant School site collapsed in December 2010 because of snow and, rather than rebuild it, the decision was taken to build additional accommodation on the Junior School site.

Plans were approved in April 2012 for substantial alterations and extensions to the layout of the site with additional car parking thus facilitating the merger of the two schools.

Work is currently underway with Main Contractor GS Kelsey Ltd starting on site in June last year. Completion is due

by September.

Construction comprises a traditional brick and block, single-storey structure with steel frame and is being carried out whilst the building is in use, which has led to a careful programme and project management structure to allow the school to continue to be operational whilst the has built long-term professional working work is underway. relationships with many clients.

GS Kelsey Ltd has been established in North Lincolnshire for over 100 years.

The Company has an annual turnover of £8M and operates throughout Humberside, Lincolnshire, We are pleased to be associated with GS Kelsey Ltd on the South Yorkshire Willoughby Road Primary School project and wish all and North involved continued success.

Nottinghamshire.

The Company has been awarded 1C Gainsthorpe Road East, Gainsthorpe, numerous Kirton Lindsey, Nr. Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire DN21 4JH contracts through North Lincolnshire and North East Councils, and

Tel/Fax: 01652 648575

UKC HOUSING

Pulrose development continues on track

A commitment to high quality, public sector housing Phase VIII in the £17.6M redevelopment of Upper Pulrose has made great strides in the past year.

The £6M development of this three-phase project has completed, providing 44 properties. Located in Heather Crescent, Heather Close and Hazel Close, these new public sector housing units comprise 28 two-bedroom apartments, three twobedroom, 11 three-bedroom, and two four-bedroom homes, with one of these converted for disabled use. Pulrose Police Station has also been relocated and incorporated into the development, which was completed in October 2012.

In June last year, 22 apartments in Hazel Grove were handed over to Douglas Borough Council, which has now taken possession of the remaining units, comprising six two-bedroom apartments, three two-bedroom, ten three-bedroom and three four-bedroom houses.

Work on 42 properties in the next phase has also commenced, and will be completed by the construction of 38 sheltered housing units, with the total scheme providing an additional 124 homes by 2015.

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opportunities for criminal activities, increasing the likelihood of detection and reducing the fear of crime. In 2007 Douglas Borough Council gained the Island’s first Secured by Design Developers Award for its Lower Pulrose scheme.

October 2012 also saw the handover of 36 new public sector properties in Oak Avenue and Oak Close that marked the completion of the Lower Pulrose redevelopment.

The development will unify Upper and Lower Pulrose with a central parkland open space to create pleasant hard landscape areas and much improved car parking facilities.

In addition, the design will achieve Secured

by Design accreditation, with properties being modern, low maintenance materials used and each three- and fourbedroom unit equipped with solar panels for hot water heating.

Secured by Design is a range of crime prevention and reduction principles Specialist Plumbers' Merchants: for architects A huge range of top quality plumbing and heating products and developers, from leading manufacturers and suppliers. with particular emphasis The Milestone, Peel Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 5ED on natural Tel: 01624 674643 Fax: 01624 622202 surveillance, Mobile: 07624 430265 Email: simon.armstrong@cityplumbing.co.uk aimed at deterring antisocial www.cityplumbing.co.uk behaviour, reducing

EDUCATION UKC

Liverpool John Moores University Social space at Byrom Street This month will see the completion of the new coffee pavilion at the University, in the heart of the Byrom Street campus within an existing courtyard area.

Within the pavilion, there will be a Starbucks Licensed Store and general social space. It will provide social seating for 250 people. In addition to this, the surrounding area will be fully landscaped.

Work was necessary because the courtyard had a lack of student social learning zones on the campus, so enhancing this area provides an area for students, and given that there are a number of buildings surrounding the courtyard with approximately 10,000 students operating this particular campus, such space is needed.

The courtyard had become disused and overgrown with a few old trees in the middle so the idea was always for this development to provide better use of the area, making it more aesthetically pleasing in the process.

It is hoped that the pavilion will create a new style of learning, a social learning zone that also caters for students in terms of drinks and refreshments so they can come and work, eat and drink at the same time.

Originally founded as a small mechanics institution in 1825, the institution grew over the centuries by converging and amalgamating with different colleges and eventually became the Liverpool Polytechnic.

In 1992, the Polytechnic became one of the UK’s new generation universities and assumed the name Liverpool John Moores University.

The University took its name from Sir John Moores, the founder of the Littlewoods empire, which has been synonymous with

Liverpool since it began in 1923. Sir John was a great believer in the creation of opportunity for all, which embodies the ethos of LJMU in providing educational routes for all people of all ages and from all backgrounds.

LJMU has continued to go from strength to strength, with over 24,000 students attending from all over the world. The University has played a vital role in the cultural renaissance of Liverpool and has taken an active part in the regeneration of the city. New advances in digital technology and science have placed LJMU at the forefront of exciting developments in areas such as multimedia, sports science and space exploration.

The University’s ethos is Dream, Plan, Achieve, and the aim is to provide every student with the tools they need to achieve their dreams. The globally unique World of Work programme is backed by business leaders because it gives students an educational experience that is intellectually challenging and industry-relevant, with professional skills that help them to stand out in the job market.

The University is organised into five faculties spanning arts, professional and social studies; education, community and leisure; health and applied social sciences; science; technology and environment.

The site is well served by public transport, with Byrom Street on bus routes into and out of the surrounding areas. With the site being located within the city centre, links to Liverpool Lime Street railway station and the main city centre bus terminals are each within approximately ten minutes walking distance.

The building is one-and-a-half-storeys,

split over two levels but with an atrium running down the middle to give light and ventilation. There are some louvres in there and high level windows to give as much light and ventilation as possible.

Comprising of approximately 400sq m, the building utilises a timber glulam frame, which is a sustainably sourced timber.

Some minor demolition work was required before the construction commenced. The infill in the timber frame is structurally insulated panels (SIPs) with a kalzip roof and cedar cladding on the outside, as well as curtain walling.

Because of the lack of social space on this campus, the University has endeavoured to get the pavilion completed as soon as possible. With a construction programme of just 19 weeks, it has included a lot of off site fabrication with all the SIPs and other panels.

Due to the fact it is a live campus and there are thousands of students walking past a construction site that is very tight to the existing footpath, as much work as possible was done off site to minimise disruption.

During construction, the University put a temporary measure in place to provide catering services within the foyer, and directed staff and students to other catering outlets.

The Main Contractor is Aspect Construction, specialising in delivering maximising value for customers. The Company is used to working on live campuses so the pavilion development is in good hands. Using forklift trucks and other machinery means there is a possibility of noise disruption, and with a ten-storey building next to the site, it would mean losing many teaching hours. This has been

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avoided, and off site fabrication in this respect is a massive plus.

All the building is naturally ventilated, which will keep the running costs down.

The Architect is Weightman and Bullen, who provided a design to give the University a sustainable development, with a lot of timber, no steel, and all materials from a sustainable source.

All entrance doors are DDA compliant with a level threshold and external canopies.

Internally, the building has DDA compliant stairs and a platform lift that will allow people to move from one level to another.

Externally, new paths, steps, and an external platform lift will guide students through and across the campus, efficiently taking into account the level changes and service road users. External seating areas are dotted around the building, close to several areas of soft landscaping.

Work on the £1.5M project started in

Specialists in: o Height Safety and Access Equipment o Lightning Protection Systems o Height Safety & Rescue Equipment o Height Safety Training Tel: 0161 777 4230 Web: www.harconservices.co.uk email: sales@harconservices.co.uk

October 2012 and will complete this month.

It is one of two developments taking place at Byrom Street as part of the continuous programme to develop the estate.

A project that also commenced in October 2012 was the Max Perutz development, with work seeing the building benefit from cladding and general refurbishment to create new research laboratories for the faculty of science. This project will be completed in summer 2013.

Tel: 01270 522851 surfacing plant hire ● groundworks ● civil engineering ● bank retention & reinforcement ● ●

www. phardingconstruction.co.uk

Sweett Group is a global business with expertise in property and infrastructure professional services. Our services include cost management, programme and project management, strategic advisory and PPP/PFI investment and consultancy services.

Clients tell us that we are experienced, professional and collaborative in our approach. We aim to forge long term, successful relationships with all stakeholders in the property and infrastructure industry.

“Global knowhow, local delivery” is the essence of our business and our reach enables us to put global best practice to use in the local markets we serve.

Sweett Group has worked closely alongside Liverpool John Moores University to successfully deliver a wide range of projects, including research, teaching and support spaces.

Sweett Group understands that clients select a company with a reputation for delivering quality advice, open communication, sector knowledge and value for money.

When you work with Sweett Group you can expect: credibility We have a history and reputation for service delivery. expertise We have people experienced in applying expert knowledge. We use our 'global knowhow' to deliver local, sustainable solutions. assurance We deliver every time, accurately and in a professional, independent way. value We optimise our clients' ideas, budget and time.

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4 Castle Street Castlefield Manchester M3 4LZ t: +44 161 832 9497

www.sweettgroup.com

A R C H I T E C T U R A L

A L U M I N I U M

0161 343 8773 At Crystal, we specialise in the fabrication and installation of aluminium windows, doors, curtain wall and shop fronts. We have an abundance of experience in this field and will try to assist on any project whatever the size, location or budget. We work closely with numerous authorities, schools and contractors and deliver on time, within budget and to the highest quality without exception. We are CHAS and Construction Line approved and all our staff are trained and competent within the fenestration industry to minimum NVQ level 2 and all carry CSCS cards and are CRB checked.

Curtain wall

Bespoke projects

Automatic doors

Glass assembly shop fronts

Security screens

Shop fronts

Unit 2 Bentinck Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire OL7 0PT Fax: 0844 556 0677 Email: a.taylor@crystalarch.co.uk

EPI Ashdale Engineering Services RMC Industrial Roofing offers the highest quality service to our customers. We make it our responsibility to know your business; we are committed to your success. Our highest priority is the satisfied customer.

Electrical-Data-Voice-Fibre Optic Specialists Unit 24 Farriers Way Industrial Estate, Netherton L30 4XL

Unit 6 | Burslem Business Park Reginald Street | Burslem Stoke-on-Trent | ST6 1DU Tel Office: 01782 825558 Fax: 01782 728002 Email: rmcroofing@btconnect.com Web: www.rmc-industrial-roofing.co.uk

Tel: 0151 521 6010 - Fax: 0151 530 1251 email: epi.ashdale@ycdsl.com www.epiashdale.co.uk REGISTERED MEMBER

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UKC PROFILE

McLaren Construction Extensive design and construction expertise McLaren Construction is an award-winning contractor operating at the forefront of the construction industry. It is unique among its competitors for its agility in decision making and results focused approach.

The division has established an enviable reputation for the consistent delivery of cutting edge facilities in all major sectors in the UK, and is a leader in delivering new build, refurbishment and fit out projects for major UK landowners, developers and end users.

The McLaren goal is to maintain and improve upon its excellent business performance and to ensure that policies are robust, effective and deliver results that makes the Company stand out from the crowd. This includes sustainability, an area in which the Company excels.

Its comprehensive sustainability strategy includes the alignment of McLaren values with those of all clients, workforce, supply chain and the wider communities that are worked in.

Through collaborative workshops that are an intrinsic element of the partnering approach, McLaren identifies the way in which it can contribute to successful outcomes in three key areas of delivery.

Within the environment, the Company aims to reduce waste through excellent design strategy, supported with robust procedures to reduce waste in all of its forms during the construction phase.

The Company offers cost effective, attractive solutions to its customers and as a consequence, increasing McLaren’s own market share and profitability.

Socially, McLaren contributes to the

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local economy by supporting local SMEs, Crawley Borough Council.” generating employment and delivering Work started in October 2012 and will be training and skills improvement activities completed in November 2013. across the portfolio of work.

The Company was rewarded last year when The Company has just started work on the 2012 Green Apple Environmental Best a state-of-the-art contract with Land Practice Award was jointly presented to Securities to deliver a 740,000sq ft mixedMcLaren Construction and the London use development at the former Sussex Borough of Barking and Dagenham for the House site in Crawley. construction of the Barking Business Centre.

This development will include a 75,000sq One of the winning factors for the design ft Morrisons superstore, a 110-bed and construction of this project was Travelodge and three additional retail units sustainability, with key features such as the totalling 6,000sq ft. roof with PV panels to capture renewable To facilitate the main construction work, energy and bio diverse brown roof to some demolition has been undertaken, encourage natural species of flora, fauna as well as enabling works and asbestos and insect life. removal. The main construction works The project, completed in November 2011, consist of piled foundations, RC frame, achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. post-tension slabs, a structural steel frame and cladding to the Morrisons store, and a McLaren Construction, Curzon House, lightweight frame and rain screen cladding 7 Curzon Street, W1J 5HG to the Travelodge. The project also includes extensive service diversion works.

CampbellReith is a leading Mark Bird of Land firm of consulting engineers Securities said: “We providing: are delighted to be working with McLaren • Structural • Civil on this exciting • Environmental • Geotechnical project, working • Transportation in partnership will enable delivery of We are proud of our longstanding our key corporate relationship with Big Yellow Self Storage responsibility and to date have successfully delivered designs for over 15 stores in collaboration objectives and with McLaren Construction. initiatives, which forms a key part of www.campbellreith.com our commitment to

jwa-architects.co.uk 01858 525 343

of

Pickfords Wharf, Clink Street, London SE1 9DG t: +44 207 928 7888 f: +44 333 344 4501 www.watermangroup.com

TM

Waterman Group is a multi-disciplinary consultancy providing sustainable solutions to meet the planning, engineering design and project delivery needs of the property, infrastructure, environment and energy markets worldwide.

@smartspace

sm A ar rch t s ite pa ct ce s

Civil and Structural Engineering

We are pleased to be associated with McLaren Construction on the Lakeside Retail Park, Thurrock and wish them continued success CRM Architects has acquired a wealth of experience in retail, commercial, shopping centre and residential architectural design over many years.

We understand that each project is as unique as our Client.

CRM Architects 88 Kingsway, Holborn, London WC2B 6AA tel : 020-7841-2770 Email: info@crm-arch.co.uk Web: www.crm-arch.co.uk

Architecture Urban Design Interior Design Graphic Design www.sidellgibson.co.uk

Birmingham

London

COMMERCIAL UKC

Bombay Sapphire® Distillery Work is currently underway for Bombay Sapphire® gin, the world’s number one premium gin by value, to create a new distillery at Laverstoke Mill, Hampshire.

The project is a multi-million pound restoration of the historic buildings that housed one of England’s most significant bank note paper making facilities. The design imagined for the site is headed by acclaimed London Designer, Thomas Heatherwick, recently noted for his acclaimed design of the London 2012 Olympic Cauldron. The site is being completely renovated from a derelict mill into a state-of-the-art premium gin distillery and visitor centre encompassing he highest standards in design, functionality and sustainability.

The Distillery is being constructed on a two hectare brownfield site, near the grounds of Laverstoke Park. The newly renovated site will be the first opportunity the public has to discover the home of this iconic spirits brand.

The ambition for the project restores the buildings and grounds and its heritage while introducing a new structure that will complement the existing buildings as a showcase of the brand’s intrinsic quality

that reflects the aspirations of the Bombay chance to take this historic site, Sapphire® brand. As a major feature of and turn it from its current derelict Laverstoke Mill, the glass house is a state into a new industrial facility with national significance.” symbol of the brand’s careful, skilful and Planning permission for the project was imaginative approach to gin making, granted in February 2012 and the build Heatherwick comments on the design: “As the particular flavours of Bombay is now underway, managed by Main Sapphire® gin are derived from ten Contractor Meller Ltd together with Architect GWP Architecture, with a goal to botanicals, the centrepiece of the site open the distillery in autumn 2013. is a glass house, within which visitors will experience the specific horticultural specimens infused in the spirit. The glass house, influenced

by Britain’s rich heritage of glass house structures, will be two We are pleased to be associated with the Distillery (Project Manta) and wish separate structures all involved continued success for the future providing both a humid environment for spices that Jewitts Joinery Rotherham Ltd, originate from the 19 Wentworth Road, Kilnhurst, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S64 5TN tropics, as well as a Tel: 01709 571774 Fax: 01709 577807 dry temperate zone Mobile: 07970 186349 for Mediterranean Email: gary.jewitt@btinternet.com plants. We are thrilled to have the

135

UKC PROFILE

J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd Offering excellent services to all customers For almost four decades, J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd has successfully delivered professional, creative solutions to the building needs of a diverse client base.

Founded by John and Pamela Greenwood, the Company has a reputation for performance, construction services and quality, from primary schools to further education colleges and universities to swimming pools, churches and industrial premises.

The Company undertakes maintenance work, major new build projects, cutting edge contemporary design to skilled restoration of listed features, in addition to which J Greenwood has a highly skilled, bespoke joinery service. The experience of the Company is wide ranging, with well established expertise and a flexible

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approach that allows challenging logistics to be undertaken.

With a head office based at Zebra Court in Chadderton, the Company also has a workshop in Oldham to produce bespoke joinery products. J Greenwood prides itself on being an efficient and effective building company offering excellent service to all customers.

The result of this has been long and sustained relationships with numerous clients in both the public and private sectors, striving to deliver high standards of service and consistently improve value to clients. While quantity of work is important, quality always comes first.

With 51 staff members, including groundworkers, joiners and bricklayers, J Greenwood can call upon a highly skilled

workforce to undertake any project. The Company recognises the importance of training, and within its quality management system, has established procedures for the control and management of training staff and employees to ensure they have valid certification and sufficient training to undertake the role that they have been designated on site.

Senior management ensure all personnel whose work has a direct or indirect effect on any aspect of quality, health and safety or the environment, are competent to perform their tasks. Competency in this respect may be based on education, experience, training and skills.

As part of the quality management system, every quarter sees the Company hold a management review, which includes the >

Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd has had for a considerable number of years an excellent business relationship with J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd. It is our intention to continue to develop this relationship and support them whenever and wherever the need arises.

The relationship is based on sound business principles. Our company and our employees are fully aware of the specific needs of each project that Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd and J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd become involved in. Each project has its own specific requirements Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd staff from management, through sales and

logistics strive to deliver the right materials to site when required to meet the project schedule.

Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd is a long established independent timber and builder’s merchant company, based in Royton in Oldham. The company employs 24 staff and operate five vehicles with a carrying capacity of some 50 tonnes. All vehicles are fitted with crane offload and vary in size to enable the company to meet a number of customer requirements.

Being part of the Joseph Parr Group enables us to deliver to sites

Joseph Parr (Alco) Limited Higginshaw Lane, Royton, Oldham, OLT 6JD

Tel 0161 633 1264 Fax 0161 620 0866 e-mail sales.oldham@josephparr.co.uk

www.josephparr.co.uk

throughout the Northwest, including parts of Merseyside, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Teeside and Newcastle upon Tyne. Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd is also a member of the H&B Group which has almost 80 members nationwide including companies in Scotland and Wales, thus enabling the company to serve its customers in most locations in the UK. The company wish J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd continued success and look forward to many more years of mutually beneficial business with each other and to strengthening our trading relationship even more.

Managing Director, Contracts Managers and Health and Safety Consultant, as well as a representative from the site agents.

Within this review, J Greenwood assesses procedures while also discussing staff training, competence and certificates for specific plant being used by designated personnel.

Senior management are made aware of and react to the training requirements of all personnel whose work has a direct or indirect effect on any aspect of quality, health and safety, and the environment.

All staff training undertaken undergoes a process of evaluation and is recorded.

All new members of staff receive appropriate induction training during their probationary period, in accordance with an induction checklist. This includes an introduction to all policies on the environment, quality and health and safety, and the individual roles of staff members in the operation of the quality management system.

Staff training and competence is assessed by taking into account each individual’s education, skills and experience. Requirements for further training are identified as part of dayto-day management and as part of the management review process.

Training and competence requirements can be identified as a result of performance reviews, new personnel, new equipment and technology, revised legal and regulatory requirements, revised industry standards and employee requests.

Appropriate training methods and aides

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used include internal training by suitably trained staff, external training by an approved training provider, site induction checklists, ‘toolbox talks’, seminars and presentations, and the use of staff handbooks which cover employee and site safety.

A record of staff training and competence is kept, including details like level of competence attained, recording the date of training or events, training and activities undertaken, qualifications and certificates achieved, as well as ongoing and future training, and re-certification requirements.

An annual training plan for contracts personnel is maintained in accordance with the CITB Construction Skills Scheme and is updated as required. Additionally, a current copy of the contracts training matrix is maintained on each site in order to ensure that any additional site requirements are only fulfilled by suitably trained personnel. Qualified staff are responsible for undertaking and recording all continuing professional development training as required by their particular professional body.

Because of such a thorough and wide range of training options, the Company has the necessary skills and experience to undertake a whole host of different projects, from minor refurbishment to major new build and extensions. This is helped with an excellent supply chain, which supplements the works on site.

J Greenwood doesn’t specialise in one particular sector, due to the fact that the skills and experience of all staff means

projects can be, and have been undertaken covering a broad spectrum of sectors for both public and private sector clients.

A number of projects are carried out in live environments, delivering traditional and new build projects. The maximum value of projects undertaken to date is £2.75M, which was the Francis House Hospice development, while the minimum value is £23,000, which saw the refurbishment of existing toilet blocks at the University of Manchester.

Every project undertaken is evaluated on an individual basis as regards to the exact requirements, and the Company ensures that the necessary resources are provided to deliver the works on time, to budget, and in accordance with the requirements of the client.

Clients of the Company included Xaverian College, Loreto Sixth Form, Manchester Settlement, Oldham Sixth Form College, Manchester High School for Girls, Manchester University, Staffordshire University, Salford University, Liverpool University, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Chester Church of England Diocese, Salford Roman Catholic Diocese and Shrewsbury Roman Catholic Diocese, all of whom have benefited from a high quality of service over the years.

Work at Xaverian Sixth Form College was completed in three phases. Initial work comprised of a £400,000 contract to refurbish the canteen, convert the caretaker’s room into a café and construction of a new caretaker’s building.

It was delivered to a challenging eight >

Senate (mech) Ltd Building Services Engineers

Proud to be working in association with J Greenwood (Builders) Limited 13 Love Lane Liverpool, L3 7DD Tel: 0151 222 3411 Fax: 0151 236 6090 E-mail: senate.mech@btopenworld.com

week programme in the summer holidays as the College had to be operational when the students returned. As these works progressed successfully and the client was satisfied with the work provided, a further two phases of work were negotiated, for a value of £2M. The whole project cost £2.4M. The Company is currently on site delivering a third job for Staffordshire University.

Work has been completed on the refurbishment of the Mellor Building, which involved internal alterations of the second floor to provide new IT facilities for the university as part of their rationalisation of the campus.

J Greenwood has also delivered a new exhibition area for the art department, comprising internal alterations and an extension to the existing Henrion Building to deliver a high profile entrance and exhibition space.

As well as a strong presence in the education sector, the Company has completed a number of prestigious projects on community buildings. This includes a £756,000 development of Oldham Baptist Church, undertaken on behalf of the Trustees of Oldham Baptist Church. Work saw the construction of a new church for the local community.

Another new build was completed for Trinity Church, Audenshaw, located on a restricted site on behalf of Audenshaw Uniting Churches, at a cost of £870,000.

Work is also now complete at Waterloo Sure Start in Ashton-under-Lyne. Constructed for Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, the £448,000 project saw the development of a new Sure Start nursery.

Cheadle Pool was completed on behalf of Stockport Sports Trust, costing £446,000.

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The project comprised of a changing room successfully on time and within budget, refurbishment including new lockers and with a workforce that are trained to the and tiling works. In addition to which, the very highest standards, it’s no surprise that Company is on site again working on the J Greenwood has won awards for its work. next stage of work. This occurred because The project at Manchester Settlement won of how satisfied the client was with the one of the RIBA 2010 North West Awards refurbishment and J Greenwood’s ability and in addition, the Company has received and reputation of providing a quality project. nine annual ROSPA awards.

Many projects have also been undertaken The future is certainly looking bright for the on office developments, including the Company, which will continue to service Roundhouse, Manchester Settlement. It its clients in a highly professional manner, saw construction of a new three-storey delivering projects to a high standard in office for a charity, housing association accordance with their requirements. and Manchester College. Costing £1.7M, the quality of the sustainable aspects of J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd, Unit 4B, Zebra the work saw the project obtain a BREEAM Court, White Moss View, Greenside Way, ‘Very Good’ rating.

Chadderton, M24 1UN. Tel: 0161 654 8435.

Located at Redvers Close in Leeds, building work at Lawnswood Business Park saw the successful delivery of two schemes on behalf of Prudential Portfolio Managers.

The first part involved installation of a CCTV system throughout the business park, while the second section involved refurbishment and upgrade of several offices, including suspended ceilings, electrics, flooring, joinery and redecoration. Other Heating systems ● Ventilation ● Air conditioning work for this client Renewable energies ● Plumbing ● Electrical installations has included several projects at the Royal Design and build capabilities Exchange and the Arndale Centre in Unit 4, Broadway Industrial Estate, Outram Road, Manchester.

Dukinfield, Cheshire, SK16 4XE With such a Tel: 0161 339 9910 Fax: 0161 343 2015 reputation for E-mail: info@rmdcontracts.com www.rmdcontracts.com delivering projects

Interiors Limited The Old Post House, 392 Manchester Road, Astley, Manchester M29 7DY Tel: 01942 875520 Fax: 01942 870228

QUALITY CEILINGS LTD

www.jmsinteriorslimited.co.uk

We are pleased to be associated with J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd and wish them continued success for the future Units 14/15 Marshall Hall Mills, Elland Lane, Elland, West Yorkshire HX5 9DU

Plastering / Dry Lining ● All types of Partitioning MF & Suspended Ceilings ● Rendering ● Screeding

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The complete composite flooring specialist ARCHITECTURAL ALUMINIUM FABRICATION & INSTALLATION. COMMERCIAL - CURTAIN WALLING, WINDOWS, DOORS, SHOPFRONTS, HYBRID TIMBER/ALUMINIUM AUTOMATIC DOORS – SWING, BI-PARTING SLIDING, FOLDING, TELESCOPIC DOMESTIC – WINDOWS, FOLDING SLIDING, PATIO & FRENCH DOORS, Tel: 01422 384 000 Fax: 01422 381 600 E-mail: info@jakali-systems.co.uk Website: www.jakali-systems.co.uk

Draughting ● Steel Decking ● Reinforcement ● Insulation ● Concrete ● Under Floor Heating ● Screeds Tel: 01204 694983 (Office) - Fax: 01204 468222 Email: enquiries@sidlowbrothers.co.uk Sidlow Brothers Construction Ltd The Adlington Suite, Paragon Business Park, Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6HG

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Our company has been established for over 30 years.

As major flooring contractors who have been established for over 30 years, we have been involved in numerous prestigious developments of all sizes, working directly for private clients as well as national contractors.

Wallshaw House, Wallshaw Street, Oldham,Lancashire OL1 3XD Telephone: 0161 624 8246 Fax: 0161 627 1779 Email: sales@johnabbottflooring.co.uk www.johnabbottflooring.co.uk

With a workforce of approximately 30 people, including office staff and production workers we manufacture windows, doors and conservatories, supplying the trade, commercial and domestic market throughout the north of England. A new range of bi-folding and composite doors are also available.

Unit K1 Westwood Industrial Estate, Arkwright Street, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 9LZ Telephone: 0161 626 6366 Fax: 0161 627 3604 www.geminiupvc.co.uk Members of Network Veka and Fensa registered

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UKC COMMUNITY

Methley Working Men’s Club Development Housing and community facilities The old working men’s club in Leeds is being transformed into community facilities and residential dwellings.

Methley Working Men’s Club on Pinfold Lane has been demolished to make way for the new community centre, and six detached family homes complete with gardens, landscaping and parking.

Previously the working men’s club, the old building was a Victorian brick structure which was originally a rectory. Various flatroofed extensions had been added since it became a club.

There was a small detached building towards the northern boundary of the site, which was originally a coach house for the rectory. There was vehicular access into the site with parking areas, while a number of mature trees are along the site frontage.

Surrounding properties are largely residential and there is a large doctor’s surgery adjacent to the site at the south, and a school opposite the site to the west.

Agricultural fields lie to the east.

The new buildings will have a character and scale similar to the ones already present within Pinfold Lane and in the locality.

The community centre will be detailed in a vernacular form to add value and reinforce local distinctiveness. Both the community centre and family homes are being built with red brick.

Landscaping will be similar to the approved schemes for the site, including to its boundaries. Acoustic fencing is to be provided between the community centre and housing to prevent noise disturbance.

A small area of informal recreational green space is provided within the homes area with a couple of benches for relaxation; the area being safe and overlooked from the new homes.

The existing mature trees are being retained on the site. The new homes will have good quality private gardens and there will be a five metre-wide landscaped buffer zone between the new houses and the agricultural field beyond, which will provide

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an appropriate transition between the built Additionally, the Practice also works with up area and the green belt. historic buildings, including churches.

Level access will be available to all Work includes a variety of community new buildings, including facilities for projects too, and with the residential wheelchair users. experience as well, SBP Architects is The Main Contractor is AJ Roberts ideally placed to successfully design a Construction. Established in 1958, it is a scheme such as the one at Pinfold Lane. family-run business with over 25 directly The project will be completed this year. employed staff, a 10,000sq ft warehouse and a highly experienced management team.

AJ Roberts Construction’s wide range of expertise in a variety of sectors including residential, industrial, commercial and public, combined with the Company’s strong commitment to delivering the highest quality projects for clients, heritage and family values makes AJ Roberts the first SBP Architects is a small, friendly practice, specialising in choice for building residential conversions and one-off houses, from feasibility to and construction completion. in Yorkshire.

The project is designed by SBP Stephen Beatson, owner, established the practice in 1987, Architects, which is and has built up a wide ranging portfolio of experience from based in Wakefield medium scale projects, including healthcare, historic and covers the entire West buidlings, and church work. SPB Architects are proud of their Yorkshire area, friendly, personal and professional service. providing a range of architectural services.

SBP Architects are happy to be associated with SBP Architects AJ Roberts Construction on the new Methley Working Men’s Club specialises in residential house conversions and 46 Jenkin Road, Horbury, Wakefield WF4 6DT one-off buildings, overseeing from the first feasibility www.sbp-architects.co.uk assessment to completion.

Call Us On | 01924 277356

EDUCATION UKC

Chester Blue Coat CE Primary School

Pupils and teachers alike are enjoying their brand new facilities after moving into their brand new, eco-friendly school.

Built on the playgrounds and car park of the existing school, the new school for Chester Blue Coat CE Primary School has amalgamated the infant and junior schools, which were previously in separate buildings.

Internally, the two-storey development has three staircases, pre-fabricated timber panels, and a platform lift. On each floor, there is a separate corridor with classrooms on either side and an assembly/sports hall and new kitchen area off the main corridors.

There is ramped access to all doorways and various height worktops in each classroom, while there are also disabled toilets and shower facilities. At the main reception desk, there is a wheelchair level space and there are call points for an emergency on the landing.

The building is air conditioned, and it has a fire system that is a mixture of a fire alarm

and a water mist system. Security is also guaranteed through the use of an intruder alarm and CCTV. Designed by Tweed Nuttall Warburton, the main feature is the CLT panels - cross laminated timber panels, which are on the first floor and roof, pre-fabricated and installed with a tower crane. The external walls and inner skin is a vertical CLT panel. Above the first floor CLT panels, there is insulation, then sand/cement floor screed with underfloor heating. The CLT super structure provides a warm, calming environment.

In the wall there is a vertical CLT panel, along with an insulated cavity, and the outside is facing brick, curtain walling and trespa, as well as some larchboard cladding.

The whole hall is wood because of these panels and from the feedback, all parents and children enjoy the warm, welcoming feel that it provides the School.

Soft and hard landscaping has been added to the School. Tarmac play areas

and paths are incorporated, formed in different colours. There’s a blue ‘river’ path and another colour to make up an area of beach, and the School also boasts an eco deck, hedge and tree planting, and wild flower paths. During Phase II, which is currently ongoing, there will be two grass pitches and a multi-use games area pitch with retaining walls. This will be built on the site of the former school once it is demolished.

There is a large area for car parking in front of the new school, with areas of tarmac for emergency vehicles down the side of the School, as well as disabled bays with ramped access.

The Main Contractor for the development is Bardsley Construction. Work on Phase I started in April 2012 and was completed in February 2013. This was followed by moving from the old schools to the new, which was completed on 19 February.

Phase II started a week later and will be completed with handover in July 2013. The total cost is £5.8M.

algerfabrications

specialist in structural steelwork SUPPLIER OF STEEL SECTIONS, MANUFACTURE AND ERECTION OF STRUCTURAL STEEL BUILDINGS, FIRE ESC APES AND BALUSTRADING

TEL: 01663 734139 • FAX: 01663 732983 Bingswood Tr ading Estate , Whaley Br idge , High Peak SK23 9TT

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UKC PROFILE

B & A Construction (Leicester) Ltd B & A Construction (Leicester) was established in 1982 by the Company’s founder and Managing Director, Shane Sutton. The Company provides for clients in all aspects of construction, ranging from minor repair and refurbishment works worth £2,000 to individual projects in excess of £2.5M. In an increasingly impersonal industry, B & A Construction strive to provide a personal and professional service, bolstered by a ‘hands on’ single point of contact managerial approach. Client satisfaction is paramount and in this regard the Company excels.

Shane, himself a skilled craftsman with over 35 years experience in the construction industry, is responsible for the day-to-day contract management. He relies upon the support and dedication of a directly employed workforce some 35 members strong.

Fellow Director and Quantity Surveyor, Tony Price MRICS, MCIOB is responsible for estimating and post contract surveying to ensure a competitive service at all times.

Despite difficult market conditions, a professional and highly skilled service, equal to that of a larger contractor, is guaranteed. The Company is keen to capitalise on an impressive client base, which includes both private and public

sector, health authorities, local authorities and education authorities.

In recent years B & A Construction has undertaken a number of distinguished projects including Forest Edge in Quorn, a from the National Federation of Builders luxury housing development courtesy and a Pro Con ‘Small Development of the of Cadeby Homes. The £1.4M Year’ nomination (2003). In 2008 a second development consists of 12 three- and Merit Award was presented for exemplary four-bedroom homes, each bespoke and work at the Wallis Court Apartments. individually detailed.

Elsewhere, the Company has completed For further information please contact a £500,000 office conversion and B & A Construction on 0116 276 5665 or refurbishment to create a drug and info@bandaconstruction.co.uk alcohol abuse centre on behalf of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which was carried out to a very fast track schedule and completed within budget.

B & A Construction has also received a Electrical Contracting Engineers significant amount Commercial & Industrial Installations of critical acclaim.

The Leicester 62 Station Road, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire LE9 7GA Cathedral Visitor T 01455 850663 F 01455 850664 Centre garnered a www.sissons-allen.com Merit Award (2002)

UKC PROFILE

Novus Leisure

Premium operator of 52 bars and restaurants With its 44 sites dominating London’s West End and City districts, as well as operating eight Tiger Tiger brands in nine towns up and down the country, Novus Leisure is the UK’s largest private bar and club operator.

The business was founded in 1999 and is continuing to develop sales through its existing sites and new joint venture opportunities, while also seeking to expand the number of sites it operates.

The Novus focus on customer service and pre-booked events means it is in a unique position within the UK’s bar scene and will continue to grow from the excellent operating platform that is in place.

Novus is looking to open premium, hybrid ‘restaurant bars’ in suitable buildings. The Company has the capacity to operate very large venues to small, more intimate sites and currently works with a wide range of landlords.

Other brands of Novus Leisure include Jewel in Covent Garden and Piccadilly, fast becoming the destination bar of choice for those looking to enjoy sumptuous cocktails in chic surroundings. Both venues encompass superb design, excellent service and an air of exclusivity without the

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air of intimidation.

The White Room is the ultimate VIP experience. With plush leather white booths, VIP champagne packages, table service and a personal host, it offers the premium experience to exceed all expectations.

Groovy Wonderland offers the ultimate 70s and 80s disco experience, with the best disco floor fillers and party tunes playing all night long.

Novus Leisure continues to focus on driving sales throughout the trading day.

Novus Leisure’s joint ventures with well known entrepreneurs is also key in creating new ideas for the business, as well as being crucial to the drive of innovation.

Staff are trained to the highest standards so they represent the Company’s reputation in the best possible light.

A sales academy for all sales staff is also being opened in 2013, and a raft of central training days for all employees depending upon the business needs throughout the year, coupled with a calendar of business specific courses are available for all venue management and staff.

Part of the expansion drive has seen the

Company secure joint owners LGV Capital and Hutton Collins.

LGV and Hutton Collins have backed the existing management team, led by CEO Steve Richards, in a deal worth £100M. John Kelly is non-executive Chairman. The transaction has provided a value exit for the incumbent majority shareholders Barclays Ventures and RBS Strategic Investment Group.

LGV and Hutton Collins will support the Group’s future strategy to double its central London portfolio over the next three years.

The Group will have access to tens of millions of pounds of growth funding to strengthen its existing footprint and double profitability.

This will consolidate and enhance Novus’ market leading position in the premium bar London market. Looking further forward, Novus also has the potential to expand outside its London core to cities such as Manchester.

Novus Leisure, Ciareville House, 26-27 Oxendon Street, London, SW1Y 4EL. Tel: 0207 968 2400.

LEISURE UKC

Chichester Festival Theatre Renewed excitement Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, Chichester Festival Theatre’s RENEW redevelopment programme will ensure that this Grade II Listed theatre is refurbished and upgraded, making it fit for purpose for the next 50 years.

The theatre is a robust building, but one that is showing the effects of wear and tear. The original layout of the building was suited to its initial purpose as a short summer festival venue.

Many of the back of house areas were rudimentary, but there was an exhilarating ‘make do and mend’ attitude. For example, the wardrobe department was housed in a local disused pub and additional dressing rooms were literally provided in the form of tents in the park.

As Chichester Festival Theatre has moved successfully from its original role as a summer festival to one staging work all year round, and due to the intermittent nature of available funding, extensions were added in a somewhat piecemeal fashion.

This latest upgrade will not only renew the physical structure, outdated services and access facilities, but it will also explore and challenge the way the theatre utilises space, which has been at a premium, with the building being used way beyond the capacities envisaged during the 1960s.

Back in July 2012, Alan Finch, Executive Director of Chichester Festival Theatre announced that Arts Council England (ACE)

has confirmed a commitment of £12M towards the theatre’s RENEW campaign.

This endorsement of the organisation’s ongoing artistic and commercial success, and the aim to restore and upgrade the theatre, also unlocks an additional £8M in pledged local support from the businesses, trusts and individuals, and, most notably, from West Sussex County Council and Chichester District Council who have pledged £1.5M and £550,000 respectively.

As well as incorporating the repairs to the theatre, redevelopment will include a new extension, increased seating capacity, improved access and public facilities, improved backstage facilities and changes to make the building more energy efficient.

Demolition of the administration building began at the end of October 2012, with a digger on site that carried out demolition work over a period of a few weeks, which saw areas such as the green room, foyer terrace bar, and box office removed from the rear of the theatre.

Alan Finch, Executive Director at Chichester Festival Theatre said: “Although it’s sad in some respects to see the demise of the buildings that hold so many special memories, it’s very exciting to mark the latest phase of the theatre’s redevelopment.

“We remain extremely grateful to all of the organisations and individuals who have made it possible for us to reach this stage.”

December 2012 saw the theatre benefit

from another funding boost to support the RENEW project, thanks to a £1.2M grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

This funding will support the restoration and the introduction of a new three-year community participation programme that started in January 2013. HLF’s grant will help deliver important restoration works to the roof, concrete, glazing and timber fasciae, and re-instate 100 seats in the balconies.

Alan Finch said: “This announcement is a real boost to our plans. We greatly value the support that the Heritage Lottery Fund is providing for our theatre at this stage in our redevelopment.”

An exciting and extensive activity programme will be rolled out as part of the project and will include providing public access to the theatre’s records for the first time through archiving and digitalisation, a touring exhibition, open days and youth theatre productions.

As part of the training programme, three heritage traineeships, extensive volunteer opportunities and partnership working with community organisations, schools and universities will also be key to ensuring the local community are involved with the life of the project and theatre.

Designed by Drivers Jonas Deloitte, the Main Contractor is W Stirland Ltd. Work started in autumn 2012 and will be completed this year.

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UKC COMMENT

Social housing to drive NI housing market Conor Hughes, Turley Associates The social housing sector remains the largest and most tangible expression of new build activity in the Northern Ireland housing market and housing associations have made a significant contribution in sustaining our local construction industry.

There continues to be a significant demand in Northern Ireland for social housing, which translates into a new build programme of 4,600 residential units over a three-year period from 2012 to 2015.

These units will be built in areas of high housing need where the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has a significant waiting list. The target for new build starts for the 2013-2014 financial year is 1,275 residential units.

Housing associations compete on the open market for land. Developing brownfield and other complex sites with challenging physical constraints creates risks in terms of balancing the purchase and development lands costs against local housing need requirements. Housing associations are now acutely aware of the hidden impacts of developing such sites.

Below ground contamination, ecological constraints, the retention of trees protected by tree preservation orders and the need to provide off site infrastructure improvements are being factored into development appraisals at an earlier stage. The need to understand physical constraints and how they impact on housing density is key to delivering new build housing schemes on target and in budget.

The planning process has been, and still remains, a significant hurdle in the cycle of securing on site starts before the close of the financial year. Early engagement and intervention is critical to a successful planning outcome. Delays in the consultation process, third party objections, and over ambitious layouts

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and inefficient design are all contributing factors to increasing the risk of missing the 31 March deadline for funding applications.

Pending welfare reforms in April 2013 will also impact on how housing associations develop sites in the future. Housing benefit will no longer be fixed and tenants will have to make up a shortfall in rent where the accommodation is not matched to the size of the household.

Provision is now being made by associations for the impacts of welfare reform as it is envisaged that the demand for one-bedroom apartments and twobedroom houses will increase with an aging population structure and a trend to smaller household sizes.

This is an interesting development as this is likely to increase densities on sites in the future and make apartments a common feature of social housing schemes.

This throws up a new set of challenges for project teams tasked by housing associations to deliver new build schemes.

Innovative design will be required to strike a balance between the desire for social housing to be delivered to the highest standards of code and to meet the demands by government to cut the housing benefit bill.

DoE Planning will have to become more acutely aware of its place in the development cycle and there is a question of whether the deign guidance contained in the Creating Places document is still fit for purpose. It does not take account of the latest thinking on sustainable development and the recommended space standards are too rigid for modern design requirements.

Turley Associates has been advising clients in the social housing sector on devising planning strategies for delivering projects, supporting design teams in unlocking difficult and protracted planning applications, negotiating with key

stakeholders in the planning process and managing objections. We also discharge planning conditions and provide post application planning advice.

Conor Hughes is a Director in the Belfast office of Turley Associates.

He can be reached be email chughes@turleyassociates.co.uk.

For further information visit www.turleyassociates.co.uk.

Conor Hughes

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