UK Construction v16n7 by BIP Solutions

REAL ENERGY COMES FROM ENERGYST COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE PERFECT RENTAL SOLUTIONS FOR POWER GENERATION AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL WHATEVER THE MARKET SECTOR

V16 N07

Employee Tracking timecard GPS

is a mobile tracking and time sheet solution that works from a wireless device. Data is transferred from a field worker’s handset to Econz web-based software for real-time backend management capabilities. Construction Companies that use Econz timecard can expect to Benefit in the following ways: Increased worker productivity Decrease in Time-Theft by Employees Manage workforce more efficiently Reduced paperwork and time spent doing it Streamline Mobile Time and Attendance into preferred Accounting and Payroll Systems Increase Profits by saving on everyday costs (fuel, administration, overtime, etc.)

timecard GPS consists of:

Easy to use cell-phone software that allows your workers to be tracked through a business day. Mobile workers are able to clock-in, take a break, change tasks and clock-out; all directly on their standard cell phone, smart phone or tablet.** Employee Tracking (GPS Location, Movement, Speed and Direction, with over 12 Triggers) Over 20 Reports (Time, Attendance, Tasks, Sub Tasks, and many more) Custom and Editable Fields on Handsets (Mileage, Weather, Anyone Hurt on Job?, etc.) View locations of multiple employees on Google Mapping Clock in and out multiple field workers from a single device (Team Clock In/Out) Office Employees Web log in/out- Administrator log in/out

ABOUT:

Econz Wireless (est. 1971) - Econz Wireless is a Leader in Mobile Data Collection, providing Employer Solutions for Time & Attendance, Employee Tracking and Wage-Hour Compliance Laws. Econz Wireless products are available on a Global basis and have helped thousands of companies streamlined their businesses to become more efficient, more productive and more profitable.

View individual worker details including The ‘Breadcrumb’ trail view shows Mutiple rules can be setup based on Smart fences can be setup around activity and current position. speed, direction, location, and status triggers such as entering or exiting any mapped location. of workers. area, speed and movement.

For more information please contact Econz Wireless: CALL NOW!

P. (44) 203-3184539 E. sales@econz.co.uk W. www.econz.co.uk

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Gilgen Launches ‘Most Powerful Swing Door Operator’ Gilgen Door Systems has launched its most powerful and silent running swing door operator yet. The technologically advanced FD20 swing drive is designed for the automation of new or existing doors up to 250kg in weight and can also automate external doors facing wind loads up to 50MPH. Due to its strength and Swiss build quality, Gilgen’s new swing drive is ideally suited to tough applications such as hospitals, schools, garden centres and transport hubs. The versatile FD20 is 50% more powerful than its predecessor and enables easy, contactless and hygienic access for a wide variety of commercial and public sector buildings. Lightweight doors, external doors up to 1600mm in width (EN7) and even fire rated doors can be automated with ease. A range of lintel and door leaf installations is available featuring Gilgen’s optional sliding rod mechanism which offers improved aesthetics over conventional push rod systems. David Cerquella, Managing Director of Gilgen Door Systems in the UK, explains “We have improved the functionality, power and versatility of our swing drive unit to ensure fit for purpose operation, low running costs and effortless performance. The FD20 is quieter, more controllable and more attractive than its predecessor and can be tailored to the needs of a greater range of applications”. The FD20 features a powerful new electro-mechanical drive which is extremely quiet and smooth in operation. The master switch and illuminated program selector buttons are integrated into the side cover of the operator housing for

intuitive operation. Additional control options include radar, motion sensor, contactless detection sensor, foot or hand operated switch or remote control through Gilgen’s F9000 hand-held unit. Adjustable functions include push & go operation, safety monitoring and wind-load regulation for external doors. An extensive range of configurations is possible for single and bi-parting doors, emergency exit, fire safety operation and bespoke solutions. Safety features are built in as standard and the drive is tested to EN16005 and BIN 18650. Optional safety sensors with ‘reverse’ and ‘stop’ functions offer additional protection for pinch points. The FD20 unit is also characterised by its fast installation and start-up capability. Once the unit has been mounted, the user-friendly joystick and integrated LCD display inside the housing can be used to programme the operating parameters such as the opening and closing speed, safety monitoring and reinforced closure. The engineer can also adjust the power of the return spring to the corresponding weight and size of door. The Gilgen FD20 is a swing drive operator for virtually any application providing effortless trouble-free access, safety and security. Its attractive appearance makes it compatible with any architectural design thereby enhancing the overall aesthetic approach. For further information on Gilgen’s automatic door range call 0800 316 6994 or visit www.gilgendoorsystems.co.uk

THE MOST POWERFUL SWING DRIVE EVER!

Opening Your World

The exceptional new Gilgen FD20 swing door drive unit is our most powerful and silent ever: • Low-noise electro-mechanical drive unit (oil-free) • Automate doors up to 1600mm or 250kg • Also suitable for exterior doors • Adjustable push-and-go function • Illuminated buttons in the side cover oﬀer maximum control • Optional remote control • Easy commissioning by means of an integrated display • Attractive optional sliding rod mechanism

The Gilgen FD20 combines swiss precision , power and aesthetics making it the smart choice for a wide variety of application needs.

0800 316 6994 info@gilgendoorsystems.co.uk www.gilgendoorsystems.co.uk

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UKC NEWS

Cedral Weatherboard helps satisfy planning on coastal development Marley Eternit’s fibre cement Cedral Weatherboard has helped a developer satisfy planning requirements on a stylish collection of apartments and houses in Camber, on the East Sussex coast. Specifically, Cedral Weatherboard was chosen by Ward Homes because it complemented the style of nearby properties and recreated the traditional weatherboard look found in this picturesque region of East Sussex. Both of these factors were taken into consideration at planning stage. Over 400 properties at ‘White Sand’ in East Sussex have been clad in

weatherboard to create a contemporary development of one- to three-bedroom homes in a peaceful coastal getaway. Each property on the development is clad in a subtly varied shade of weatherboard, using a combination of White and Blue Grey, from a palette of 23 colours and four woodstain finishes. Fibre cement Cedral Weatherboard was specified in preference to other materials because it has an installed life expectancy of at least 50 years and will not warp or shrink. Cedral Weatherboard has a textured surface that echoes the aesthetic characteristics of timber and again this

was important at White Sand to retain links with the local architectural style. Simon Witchell, Senior Buyer at Ward Homes said: “Cedral Weatherboard was ideal for the White Sand development as it helped us to meet strict planning requirements whilst offering a lower maintenance solution to timber weatherboard. “We have used the range across a number of our developments now as it really helps us to appeal to potential homeowners by providing the stylish aesthetic of weatherboard without the drawbacks of other materials.”

Artistically inspired external wall insulation set to transform British homes Making homes more colourful, inspiring and comfortable places to live is the aim of a new external wall insulation system (REDArt) launched by Rockwool, the leading stone wool insulation provider. REDArt is unique in that Rockwool makes and supplies the renders which cover the stone wool insulation to provide the design and colour. By owning key elements of the product as an end-to-end solution, Rockwool is able to maintain high standards and ensure the insulation system is delivered to site promptly. In addition to high level thermal efficiency, REDArt delivers a range of additional

benefits, including improving acoustic insulation and providing fire protection. The external panels are made from Rockwool’s stone wool insulation which uses naturally occurring diabase rock which is smelted and then spun into a highly durable insulation. REDArt is available under the government’s flagship energy efficiency schemes ECO (Energy Company Obligation) and Green Deal, enabling local authorities and homeowners to install the product using these funding mechanisms. To celebrate the launch of REDArt, Rockwool commissioned award winning photographic artist Christopher Bradbury

to reimagine British homes with a facade inspired by great artworks. Rockwool UK Managing Director Thomas Heldgaard stated: “For too long our homes have been grey concrete or uninspiring homogenous brick. With REDArt we are bringing colour back into people’s lives by allowing developers, designers and home owners to customise their properties as never before. “Insulating our homes no longer involves a sweaty Sunday clearing out the loft. It’s about transforming our homes into beautiful, inspiring and warmer places to live.”

BREEAM becomes outstanding in the Czech Republic The first commercial building outside the UK to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ has been awarded to The Tower at Spielberk in Brno. BRE Director Martin Townsend awarded the BREEAM outstanding certificate to Stefan de Goeij, Head of Property Management at CTP, for the office building which is located in the centre of the Czech Republic’s emerging high-tech city of Brno. The building was designed by award winning team of Dutch and Czech architects Studio Acht and is a true demonstration of good design, reducing the CO2 emissions by over 50% compared to a typical building, built to Czech regulations. The building also used district heating, a heat exchanger and a heat recovery system and local renewable energy sources are used to power the building, with the facade of the concrete frame comprised of 50% reused materials. Seven innovation credits have been achieved for minimising construction site impacts, high levels of daylighting, avoidance of VOCs, use of renewable technologies, provision of alternative modes of transport, water sub-metering and management of construction site waste. The building also achieved 100% of available credits for Management, Health & Wellbeing and Waste sections. Stefan de Goeij said: “We are delighted with the results of the BREEAM assessment for Spielberk Tower. That CTP has successfully delivered the first BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ building in continental Europe is a testament to our longterm commitment to developing premium class properties at the highest standards.” BREEAM Director Martin Townsend said: “The benefits that BREEAM brings are triple fold – not only reduced environmental impact buildings that are higher value assets with reduced running costs but ultimately well designed buildings that are great to work which inspire increased productivity. The Tower at Spielberk is a great example of this. Congratulations to all partners involved with this project.”

Prime Minister announces initiative to create 100,000 Engineering Technicians The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon David Cameron MP, has announced a new initiative which will help create 100,000 registered Engineering Technicians by 2018. Working through new and established apprentice schemes, the initiative aims to create 100,000 Engineering Technicians by giving them structured on-the-job experience built upon a recognised academic qualification. On successful completion of their apprenticeships, and by ensuring the appropriate skills and competencies are reached, each apprentice will be able to attain the globally recognised professional registration designation of Engineering Technician (EngTech). The initiative has been created by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Gatsby Foundation in response to the emerging skills gap in the engineering and construction sectors. The announcement of the new apprenticeship initiative was made alongside the full size replica of the British

Bloodhound Super Sonic Car on its first visit to Downing Street. The 13m jet and rocket propelled car aims not only to beat the current land speed record of 763mph in 2014, but also to be the first land vehicle to exceed 1,000mph by 2015. Current estimates suggest that the UK needs to double the pipeline of new recruits into engineering, construction and manufacturing professions by 2020 to avoid a severe skills shortage, which could inhibit the growth of these vital UK sectors. Mr Cameron said: “British engineering and innovation are a part of our history that we are rightly very proud of and our engineering excellence continues to change the world that we live in for the better. Bloodhound is a fantastic example of what our engineers can achieve. “Apprenticeships are at the heart of our mission to rebuild the economy, giving young people the chance to learn a trade and to build their careers, creating a truly world class, high skilled workforce that can compete and thrive in the global race”

University of Reading builds good prospects for women in construction The University of Reading’s School of Construction Management and Engineering has been recognised once again for supporting and advancing the careers of women, winning an Athena SWAN silver award. The Athena SWAN charter is aimed at advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education. This year there were nearly one hundred applications from universities across the UK, the highest number to date. In 2009, the School was the first construction management academic institution to be awarded a Silver Award by Athena SWAN. Professor Stuart Green, Head of the School of Construction Management and Engineering, said: “The construction industry is historically a male dominated environment and there are always considerable challenges

facing female students and staff in this discipline. I am delighted that the School’s work in ensuring equal opportunities practices and procedures for women has been recognised by these national awards once again.” Sarah Dickinson oversees the Athena SWAN Charter, run by Equality Challenge Unit, reflected on the University’s achievement: “A Silver award recognises the School’s significant record of activity and success in supporting and providing opportunities for women within a traditionally male dominated sector. As an employer, this has meant the School reflecting on and improving working practice in how it supports its female staff. As a teaching institution, the School has worked hard to deliver better employment prospects for their female students and continues to prepare them for the reality of their future working environment.”

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Fair Play and Killer Clauses The British sense of fair play is famous throughout the world. We are rightfully proud of our reputation for allowing free speech and, within the criminal legal framework crafted by the State, freedom of choice to do what we want as long as we comply with the law and third persons are not harmed by our actions. These principles extend into contract law and, as a starting point, contracting parties are free to agree to whatever they wish, subject to very few safeguards that politicians have sought to introduce through statute in order to provide a degree of protection for the commercially naïve. Those of you that read this column will know that rights to interest, to suspend work due to non-payment and the right to have construction disputes dealt with by adjudication are examples of the statutory rights that Parliament has seen fit to introduce into our common law in order to prevent weak and vulnerable entities being exploited by the bigger boys in the construction playground. Keeping in mind the freedom parties have to contract on whatever terms they so wish, there are two clauses which are now being regularly introduced into Sub-Contracts which, if you are a Sub-Contractor, could be seriously bad for your wealth and possibly a corporate killer. The first of these clauses is what I would call a “termination for convenience” clause. Under this provision, a Contractor has the right to terminate the employment of a Sub-Contractor as it sees fit and when it sees fit, even if there has been no default or failure on the part of the Sub-Contractor. You might be excused for assuming that in such an eventuality the Sub-Contractor would be entitled to recover its lost profit and even its lost overheads on the element of the work that has yet to be undertaken BUT unless the

Sub-Contract confers such right on you, think again. The second killer clause which is now regularly appearing in Sub-Contracts is what I would call a “no payment on insolvency” clause. Under this provision, the Sub-Contractor agrees to forfeit payment for all work done and not paid for, if it enters administration, a company voluntary arrangement or goes into liquidation. Now call me cynical if you wish, but just how tempting might it be for a Contractor to starve a Sub-Contractor of cash in order to trigger the subsequent insolvency of the Sub-Contractor in order to take advantage of this provision? Now, yes, I know that a party who is in breach of contract is not entitled to take advantage of its own breach and you might be able to have such a clause declared unenforceable if you can prove that the Contractor has deliberately underpaid a Sub-Contractor, BUT who will fund the Insolvency Practitioner’s attempts to prove this in court or arbitration in order to defeat the effect of the clause? Now for all of you, just like me, who believed that the Courts should imply a duty to act in good faith in construction contracts in order to assist a Sub-Contractor being abused by a Contractor in either of the above situations, think again. The decision of the court in TSG Building Services v South Anglia Housing Ltd [2013] EWHC 1151 (TCC) now makes crystal clear that absent a clearly worded express provision in the contract, no implied duty to act fairly exists. I am sure the Court did not intend to give a green light to the sort of corporate abuse which can be the effect of such a clause, and I can’t help but wonder if the TSG judgement really is consistent with the “British concept of fair play”, but we are where we are.

So, unless you want to see your company disappear down a black hole, it might be a good idea to start thinking about what you are signing up to. Termination for convenience and no payment on insolvency clauses are just some of the examples of the sort of killer clauses which might lead to the untimely demise of your life’s work. I know it is very boring but you really do need to think about what you are signing up to. Peter Vinden is Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership. He can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk. For similar articles on construction, corporate protection and dispute resolution generally, visit www.vinden.co.uk

Regent House, Folds Point, Folds Road, Bolton BL1 2RZ t. 01204 362888 f. 01204 362808 tvp@vinden.co.uk www.vinden.co.uk

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UKC NEWS

Enthusiasts flock to eco technology show Nearly 4,500 people flocked to Brighton for the annual Eco Technology Show. Attendance was up sharply compared to last year’s event with the number of trade visitors alone increasing by more than 40%, indicating strong growth and firmly establishing the show as a hub for the public and private sector, suppliers, distributors, builders and installers. Combining leading industry speakers with over 120 exhibitors, the two day event attracted both business visitors and members of the general public, all keen to learn how the latest eco technologies can

save money and protect the environment. Visitors were crawling all over the stands, which featured innovative eco products such as a rucksack that protects its wearer from skin cancer, environmentally friendly porous paving for footpaths, driveways and car parks and eco infrared heating systems that help prevent mould growth and slash energy bills. Nicola Gunstone, Commercial Director at The Eco Technology Show, is delighted: “This year’s event was a big success with speakers and exhibitors from leading industries clamouring to

participate. The diversity of innovations exhibited and eco issues tackled in the conference and seminars opened the show up to a far broader audience than ever before, as evidenced by the increase in footfall this year. “For businesses seeking to lower their carbon footprint to families looking to save money and make their homes energy efficient, we brought together the latest innovations and experts in a truly unique, interactive event.”

Center Parcs reveals Woburn Forest Subtropical Swimming Paradise designs Center Parcs has revealed the designs for the new Subtropical Swimming Paradise, which will be housed in the new Woburn Forest village when it opens in spring 2014. The Subtropical Swimming Paradise is an iconic part of the Center Parcs villages, where families can enjoy a variety of pools and water experiences. They are one of the most popular elements of a Center Parcs break with over 90% of guests visiting the Subtropical Swimming Paradise during their stay. Woburn Forest will have the largest Subtropical Swimming Paradise in the UK with lots of exciting new features. The new shape has been revealed as a clam rather than the classic dome, pyramid or butterfly shapes at other UK Center Parcs. The clam will be nestled within the forest landscape with stunning views through the enormous glazed fascia. As with all the Center Parcs villages, the environment inside the Subtropical Swimming Paradise will be heated to 29.5°C all year round with a wide variety of tropical plants rescued from around the world creating a

truly tropical sensation for guests. Charles Neuman, Woburn Forest Pool Designer, WTI says: “The designs of the new Subtropical Swimming Paradise are the result of a culmination of 25 years of experience and lots of research into what modern families want. We have taken the best from the existing four villages and added new exciting elements to give guests at Woburn Forest a unique

and special water experience.” The build of the Subtropical Swimming Paradise is on track, with all the Glulam wooden beams that support the roof in place and basement works almost complete. The construction of the roof will begin in July with a completion date for the entire structure of January 2014 ready for the delicate process of bringing in the tropical plants.

EQUITONE adds ‘sense of innovation’ to design centre EQUITONE [natura] has created a striking and visionary aesthetic on the new £9.9M Northern Design Centre at Gateshead Quayside. EQUITONE is the new international brand for Marley Eternit’s architectural facade materials and brings together the ranges [natura], [tectiva], [pictura] and [textura]. Red Box Design Group specified a fibre cement facade from Marley because its tactile, smooth, semi-translucent surface, which allows the natural variegation of the fibre cement to show through, helped deliver their vision of creating a building that ‘exudes a sense of innovation’. Fixing the facade panels to an aluminium support frame using a structurally bonded adhesive as part of a secret fix system helped maintain the sheer smooth aesthetic of the facade. Along with aesthetics, low maintenance was an essential requirement and EQUITONE [natura] was used because, being made from fibre cement, it has an installed life expectancy of at least 50 years with minimal maintenance. The four-storey BREEAM Very Good rated building was constructed using a structural steel frame system and blockwork walls. The aluminium rainscreen cladding support system and 85mm of high performance insulation were then fixed to the exterior of the block walls. The rear ventilated cavity was created by structurally bonding the EQUITONE [natura] panels to the aluminium frame to provide the building with enhanced performance benefits. Main Contractor on the project was Tolent Construction Ltd and the cladding was installed by Alderclad Ltd of County Durham. The Northern Design Centre project was led by Gateshead Council and private sector developer Terrace Hill, with the funding secured through regional development agency One North East. It offers exhibition space, conferencing facilities, training areas, workshops and incubator space for start-up design based firms.

Interserve project is first building on Exeter Science Park June 2013 saw the topping out of the first building to be constructed on the 26 hectare Exeter Science Park development. The BREEAM Excellent rated project, built by Interserve, the international support services and construction group, will be completed in October 2013. Developer Eagle One and sister Company Blue Cedar Homes Ltd will occupy the development’s first floor. The new building will set the tone for the rest of Phase One of the development of the Science Park and is therefore a high profile project. Located next to Junction 29 of the M5 motorway, Exeter Science Park is set to be one of the most significant investments in the South West’s rapidly expanding knowledge economy. The three-storey, 1,100sq m building was designed by Exeter-based Architect, Lacey Hickie Caley and features rainscreen cladding, metal, glass and red brick, set in landscaped surroundings.

The development will provide up to 500sq m accommodation for small and medium sized businesses on the ground floor, with a focus being on attracting science based users. The lower ground floor of the reinforced concrete framed building will include archiving and storage facilities. The building is being constructed from a reinforced concrete frame with a combination of face brickwork infill walling at lower level and fibre cement rainscreen cladding panels at higher level. Roof located photovoltaic panels will reduce the carbon footprint of the building. Paul Goodes, Managing Director of Eagle One said: “This is an exciting and significant investment to meet our future growth needs and reinforce our confidence in the region. The design and strategic location of the building were key to our decision to make this investment. We are looking forward to taking occupation in the autumn.”

Work starts on site of £10M redevelopment of Rotherham Shopping Centre Rotherham Borough Council has finalised an agreement with Caddick Developments Ltd for the redevelopment of the Bellows Road Shopping Centre in Rawmarsh. The existing 1960s supermarket will be demolished to pave the way for five new shops in an 8,500sq ft new high quality parade. Caddicks has already pre let space to Tesco, Heron Foods, Staniforth’s Bakers and Vantage Chemist. The centre will be completed in autumn to ensure that retailers can fit-out ready for a pre-Christmas opening. Caddick Construction has been appointed to deliver the development on a design and build contract. The existing Post Office, Vantage Chemist, Staniforth’s Bakers and butchers Eric Ellis will continue to operate from the existing shopping centre until the new parade of shops is completed. When business tenants have relocated, Rotherham Borough Council will then close and demolish the current Bellows Road centre in preparation

for a residential development. Rawmarsh Ward Councillor, Neil Hamilton, who is Chair of the Bellows Road Project Group, said: “For many years the current centre has been a real eyesore, which has devalued the local area. It has taken a long time, but the new agreement represents a vital step to realising our ambition of bringing new and more sustainable retail shopping to Rawmarsh for which we can be proud.” Myles Hartley, Director of Caddick Developments Ltd said: “We have worked hard in partnership with Rotherham Borough Council to bring forward these proposals that will bring a new exciting shopping experience to the people of Rawmarsh. We are delighted to have now started on site and the new parade will include both well known national retailers such as Tesco Express and Heron Foods as well as local retailers such as Staniforths Bakers and Vantage Chemist.”

UKC NEWS

JPG appointed to Leeds waterfront project Leeds based civil and structural engineering consultancy JPG has been appointed to advise on the proposed redevelopment of Warehouse Hill at 20-24 The Calls in Leeds city centre. Warehouse Hill is the last significant site left for development along the River Aire in Leeds city centre and as such is allocated strategic status. Owner and developer Commercial Development Projects (CDP) of Elland is proposing to deliver 77 high quality living apartments alongside retail and office provisions. The development will be centred around an attractive public piazza adjacent to the river.

JPG has advised on the structural elements for the refurbishment of an existing building and the construction of two new reinforced concrete framed buildings. Gary Howarth at JPG said: “The sites’ proximity of the River Aire, the need for demolition and refurbishment of existing buildings, and construction within a confined city centre site location present a number of challenges. A reinforced concrete frame has been selected for the structure of the two new build apartment blocks due to their irregular layout to minimize structural zones within the apartments, and to meet the required

acoustic specification for this high quality development. Utilising a concrete frame has also assisted in the design and location of structural columns within the basement car park to maximize parking spaces. Our expertise of similar developments and use of BIM has greatly assisted the team with the flow and production of information.” The plans remain within the existing massing and heights of the existing detailed planning consent for offices. 2B Architecture are also appointed to design the scheme with ID Planning advising on the planning application.

Mechan ensures supersized traverser is shipshape Sheffield manufacturer, Mechan, has side stepped its way into the transport industry’s record books, after installing the largest capacity rail traverser in the UK. The heavy lifting specialist has designed and built the traverser to move freight locomotives between lines at the Port of Felixstowe’s new North Rail Terminal. With a capacity of 170 tonnes, the structure is one of a kind in the UK and the most advanced traverser ever produced by Mechan. Weighing 90 tonnes and measuring 30 metres in length, the behemoth is equipped specifically to handle future locomotives, which are expected to be larger than today’s trains. Mechan was asked to undertake the project by Main Contractor, Volker Fitzpatrick, who is handling all civil works at the new terminal, including installation of the pit and track for the traverser. It has taken almost 12 months to design and build in Sheffield and was delivered complete to site by Leicester Heavy Haulage. Martin Berry, Mechan’s Engineering Director, said: “Installation of this traverser was a real landmark occasion for us. It has been such a huge undertaking,

not only because of its size, but also in terms of the technological developments within its design. We were very pleased to secure the contract with Felixstowe in the face of stiff competition from a Dutch supplier and look forward to seeing the new terminal in operation very soon.” The e37M North Rail Terminal is set to

boost capability at the Port of Felixstowe by 100%, reinforcing its position as the busiest intermodal rail hub in the UK. The project has included the installation of ten kilometres of new track, terminating at the Mechan traverser, increasing the external rail network’s capacity by 25%.

www.sikaproofmembrane.co.uk

UKC NEWS

Keepmoat appointed for refurbishment of Byker Wall Community regeneration and housing specialist Keepmoat has been awarded a £7M contract to undertake exterior renovation work on the Byker Wall – a Grade II listed building on the Byker Estate in Newcastle upon Tyne. After a competitive procurement process, Byker Community Trust (BCT) awarded the contract to the developer to carry out extensive refurbishment work on approximately 400 flats and maisonettes, including the replacement of windows, doors and roofs. Keepmoat will also be working with local contractors on the two year project to provide training and employment opportunities, including offering up to

nine apprenticeships during the works and ensuring any site vacancies are advertised locally before applications are considered from outside the area. Jill Haley, Chief Executive of the BCT, said: “The refurbishment of the wall was one of our key promises to the people of Byker when we asked them to vote on how the estate should be owned and managed. It will be the most significant investment made to the Byker Wall in its history. “The refurbishment is an enormously important element of our planned investment programme for the next five years and will make a real difference to the people living within the wall – as well as the many who like to admire

its fantastic design from a distance! “We are delighted to have appointed Keepmoat to fulfil this contract and are thrilled with the dedication they have demonstrated to working with us, Newcastle City Council and English Heritage to properly restore the Byker Wall’s Listed features in line with Ralph Erskine’s original plans. “The improvements we are making to the wall will mean increased energy efficiency for residents with minimal disruption; we are looking forward to the end result adding to the legacy of the Byker Estate.” Work on the refurbishment for the Byker Wall is expected to start in late summer 2013.

Midas expands with talented new recruits across the board The Midas Group, one of the UK’s largest independent construction and property services providers, has welcomed 31 new members of staff to its dedicated and dynamic workforce. The new employees have joined the organisation across all of its operating

businesses and in a wide range of roles – from an apprentice carpenter to director level positions – and are based from its local offices stretching from Cornwall to Hampshire, and across to South Wales. A recently held welcome day, opened by Midas Group’s Chief Executive Alan

Hope, provided a great opportunity for the new starters to meet others joining Midas, have lunch with directors from across the business and identify how they can deliver industry leading performance and customer service within their roles. Ian Bassett, Head of People at Midas, said: “This influx of talented new recruits spreads a feeling of optimism and progress throughout the entire Midas Group. We have attracted some great people who really identify with our vision and business philosophy. Many of them have come from our larger competitors and have indicated that they wanted to move away from a more corporate culture to instead join a business with the customer’s experience at its heart - working in communities that they know, employing local contractors and using the local supply chain. “Our success is down to the talent, hard work and commitment of our people and it is fantastic to be in a position to welcome these newest recruits on board.” Midas has employed 31 new staff members since January this year, at a time when many other construction companies are not recruiting, or downsizing.

Redland roof tiles a natural choice for Barratt development Barratt Homes selected Heathland tiles from Redland for The Limes development in West Sussex both to meet the aesthetic requirements stipulated by the planning authorities and to contribute to the stringent environmental considerations of the build project. Mid Sussex District Council was keen for the development to blend sympathetically with the vernacular architectural style of the area which has traditionally used handmade clay tile for both the pitched roofs and for the ornamental hanging tile features on the house facades. For this project Barratt put forward the Heathland concrete tiles from Redland, specified in Autumn, Ember and Manor House Mix colours. The Heathland range of Plain Tiles is designed to be a cost effective alternative that is indistinguishable from handmade clay tiles with a range of colours that mimic the traditional artisan product they emulate. The Limes, a development of some 120 homes, is also designed with a focus on environmental performance and Heathland, proven to have a significantly lower level of embodied carbon than alternative clay products, fitted well with this agenda. Hanging tiles were also specified as an aesthetic feature on the facades of the

houses and Heathland Plain Tiles Manor House Mix Sanded and Plain Tiles in Farmhouse Red were used here together with ornamental tiles in Club design. Redland is now the only Company to offer a handcrafted appearance plain tile in concrete which proves to be very

popular with developers in the South East region of Kent and Sussex. Kevin Hibbs, Contract Manager from Beacon Roofing said: “The roofs look great; it’s a really good mix of colours. The Manor House Mix is a particularly popular colour.”

GILGEN DOOR SYSTEMS SWINGS IN TO ACTION Gilgen Door Systems is gearing up for growth with a newly centralised production centre and the launch of a powerful new automatic swing door operator designed for intensive operations.

The Gilgen FD 20 swing door drive automates new or existing doors leafs up to 250kg or 1600mm in width and can also automate external doors facing wind loads up to 50MPH. The unit is ideally suited to tough applications such as hospitals, schools, garden centres and transport hubs. An extensive range of configurations is possible for single and bi-parting doors, emergency exit, fire safety and bespoke solutions. In addition, an optional sliding rod mechanism offers improved aesthetics over conventional push rod systems. David Cerquella, Managing Director of Gilgen Door Systems in the UK, said “We have improved the functionality, power and versatility of our swing door operator to ensure fit-for-purpose operation, lower running costs and effortless performance for a wide range of applications”.

Gilgen Door Systems has recently completed the centralisation of its new doors production facility in Alfreton, Derbyshire and has invested heavily in greater capacity designed to address customer demand for both Automatic Doors and Industrial Doors. The upgrade of its Alfreton facility also offers improved order management and quality control. The company’s national service operation, meanwhile, provides repair and maintenance solutions for all-makes and types of automatic and industrial door. Its Safeguard Maintenance Plans enable customers to have complete control over their service levels and budget.

www.gilgendoorsystems.co.uk

UKC COMMENT

Don’t ignore partnering provisions or they may come back to haunt you The English and Welsh courts value freedom to contract and have rejected the European concept of an implied term of good faith, which influences the contract and how it is interpreted. As far as English and Welsh courts are concerned, an implied term of good faith would impinge on our beloved principle of freedom to contract. However, the recent trend of partnering in construction means that parties are choosing to include good faith clauses in their agreements. Construction contracts often say that the parties should work together in a spirit of trust, fairness and mutual co-operation or that the parties should act in good faith when dealing with each other. These clauses appear harmless and they express a noble sentiment, but beware as they may have an effect which was not intended. The Technology and Construction Court case published on 8 May 2013 – TSG Building Services PLC v South Anglia Housing Limited [2013] EWHC 1151 (TCC) is an example of how a good faith clause caused a lot of trouble for an employer. The parties exercising their freedom to contract had agreed on what is called a “termination at will” clause. It allowed the parties to terminate on three months notice without a reason. This type of clause can be harsh and unforgiving for the contractor, but the parties agreed it and normally the courts would enforce it. The client terminated, giving the three months notice and the contractor brought an adjudication claim against the client

based on wrongful termination. Normally a termination at will clause will allow the client to terminate for any reason. So how did the contractor manage to bring such a claim? The contractor argued that this termination clause was influenced by an earlier clause which required the parties to work together in a spirit of trust, fairness and mutual co-operation. The contractor said that the obligation of fairness and mutual co-operation applied to the exercise of the termination clause. Terminating without good reason breached this obligation so the contractor was entitled to claim consequential damages for wrongful termination. The adjudicator agreed. The court found that the adjudicator was wrong. The court found that this particular good faith clause was limited in its application and did not extend to the termination at will clause. However, this outcome was specifically tied to the actual wording of the contract clauses. Although the client was successful at court, it would not have been so pleased about having to participate in adjudication, lose and then determine the matter in court. This would have been costly and stressful and all because of one good faith provision. The lesson to be learnt is not to underestimate the noble good faith clause. If you are going to agree clauses which can have quite harsh and unfair consequences on a party, this is not compatible with a partnering ethos and good faith principles. This incompatibility is not advisable. If you

agree to partner, then it is advisable to look at all of the clauses in your contract and ask whether they support this ethos. If they do not, then you should either amend them so that they reflect the partnering ethos or you should expressly state that these particular clauses are not subject to your general good faith clause. The lasting message is not to underestimate an agreement to act in good faith. Kim Teichmann, Senior Associate at Thomas Eggar LLP Kim Teichmann

COMMENT UKC

Set-off and Adjudication by Jonathan Marvin, Sheridan Gold LLP A thorny issue in adjudication has been whether the losing party may set-off against a sum an adjudicator has decided is due. The general position is that valid adjudication decisions should be enforced without set-off or cross-claims. Any setoffs should be raised in the adjudication and not in enforcement proceedings (Rok Building v Celtic Composting Systems [2009]). However, in Balfour Beatty Construction v Serco [2004] Jackson J (as he then was) considered that where it follows logically from an adjudicator’s decision that one party is entitled to recover a specific sum, that party may set-off that sum against monies payable to the other party pursuant to the adjudicator’s decision. Secondly, where such entitlement has not been determined expressly or impliedly by the adjudicator’s decision then the question of set-off will depend upon the terms of the contract and the circumstances of the case. It should be noted that the decision itself is the actual award and any other finding in relation to the rights of the parties that forms an essential component or basis for that award (Hyder Consulting (UK) v Carillion Construction [2011]). In Squibb Group v Vertase FLI [2012] Coulson J considered there were two possible exceptions to the general rule. Firstly and rarely, there may be clear words permitting set-off, provided these do not offend the requirement for immediate enforcement of the decision. Secondly, if the adjudicator’s decision is in the nature of a declaration as to the proper operation of the contract payment machinery and the adjudicator identifies a sum that should be the subject of that machinery then, if a withholding notice can legitimately be served in accordance with those contractual payment provisions, the set-off may give rise to an arguable defence. Akenhead J has helpfully summarised the position in the recent case of

Thameside Construction Company v Stevens & Anor [2013]: “(a) The first exercise should be to interpret or construe what the adjudicator has decided. In that context, one can look at the dispute as it was referred to him or her. That can involve looking at the Notice of Adjudication, the Referral Notice, the Response and other “pleading” type documents. One can have regard to the underlying construction contract. Primarily, one needs to look at the decision itself. (b) In looking at what the adjudicator decided, one can distinguish between the decisive and directive parts of the decision on the one hand and the reasoning on the other, although the decisive and directive parts need to be construed to include other findings which form an essential component of or basis for the decision (see Hyder). (c) The general position is that adjudicators’ decisions which direct that one or other party is to pay money are to be honoured and that no set-off or withholding against payment of that amount should be permitted. (d) There are limited exceptions. If there is a specified contractual right to setoff which does not offend against the statutory requirement for immediate enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision, that is an exception albeit that it will be a relatively rare one. Where an adjudicator is simply declaring that an overall amount is due or is due for certification, rather than directing that a balance should actually be paid, it may well be that a legitimate set-off or withholding may be justified when that amount falls due for payment or certification in the future. (See Squibb). (e) Where otherwise it can be determined from the adjudicator’s decision that the adjudicator is permitting a further set-off to be made against the sum

otherwise decided as payable, that may well be sufficient to allow the set-off to be made (see Balfour Beatty).” In Thameside, Akenhead J decided that it would be wrong to interpret the adjudication decision to mean that the adjudicator expected the losing party to be able to set-off an undisputed claim for liquidated damages. This was not a case that fell into any of the main exceptions. It was of course open to the losing party to adjudicate or go to final dispute resolution in respect of the liquidated damages claim.

Jonathan Marvin

UKC COMMENT

PVC Flooring: A tried and tested veteran still ahead of the game Vinyl flooring using plasticised flexible PVC has evolved a great deal since its first commercial production in the 1930s. Designers and contractors of buildings that endure high visitor traffic often choose this kind of flooring due to its combination of affordability and toughness lasting for up to 20 years. In addition, thanks to its flexibility, vinyl flooring can be welded and seamlessly shaped. The absence of joints makes for a smooth continuous surface without any gaps where harmful bacteria, fungi or other pathogens could thrive. This is a life-saving property in high-risk buildings such as hospitals and clinics, schools or sports centres where people are frequently exposed to potential infections. Beyond its hygienic properties, modern production techniques have boosted the aesthetic possibilities of PVC flooring which is being used by style leaders like architects Renzo Piano or Jean Nouvel, as well as by luxury brands for clothing, luggage and accessories.

Economical and sustainable

A recent study conducted by the Italian strategic business consultancy Althesys (available on www.pvcconstruct.org) shows that high quality vinyl is the most price-competitive solution when compared to linoleum or rubber by taking into account the price of purchase, installation, cleaning, maintenance, removal and disposal. Regarding sustainability, it is worth mentioning the VinylPlus programme which was originally launched in 2000 under the name of Vinyl 2010. Its members represent the entire European PVC industry working on improving the sustainable production and use of this material including collection at its end of life and recycling. Results are encouraging: in 2012, a total of 3,644 tonnes of post-consumer flooring waste were recycled, a 20% increase compared to the previous year.

Flexible and safe

Vinyl flooring is manufactured by using plasticisers being ‘phthalates’ the most

common ones. They represent a large family of chemicals employed not only in flooring but also in other flexible applications such as cables, wall coverings and roofing membranes. Phthalates are divided into high and low according to their molecular weight. In the case of low phthalates (known under acronyms such as DEHP, DBP, DIBP, BBP) they are classified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). Under REACH, SVHC substances that will not be granted an authorisation for specific applications will be banned; in the case of the LMW substances, as of February 2015. On the other hand, high phthalates (ie DINP, DIDP, DPHP) can be safely used in all current applications. EU authorities and independent studies have shown that they pose no risk to human health and hence do not require any classification nor are they on the candidate list for authorisation.

which today represent around 85% of the European phthalate market; PVC’s strong sustainability credentials; the initiatives to demonstrate its social responsibility; and continuing investment in attractive and practical new applications and designs, are all good signs that vinyl flooring is a constantly developing product with a bright future ahead of it. Maggie Saykali is Manager of The European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI), a Brussels-based association representing the eight major European manufacturers of plasticisers, alcohols and acids (www. plasticisers.org and @ECPlasticisers)

No dusty surprises

Concerns related to phthalates have mistakenly been extended to the entire family, mostly due to oversimplification presenting phthalates as one single group of chemicals ‘leaching out’ of dust particles and migrating into the surrounding environment. However, it is actually quite difficult for phthalates to separate from the plastic they are bound together because these ingredients form a paste which cannot be separated into the original individual components. Reports of these plasticisers causing asthma and allergies have since been shown to be unfounded and scientific studies have concluded that household dust does not correlate to human exposure levels for phthalates, and is not an indicator of indoor air quality.

A bright future ahead

Appreciation of PVC’s unquestionable strengths have shown vinyl flooring to be resilient to criticism over recent years. The swift market and industry transition in favour of high phthalates,

Maggie Saykali

COMMENT UKC

A ‘green summer’? Not quite! Despite numerous assurances earlier in the year, it appears that summer 2013 is going to fall significantly short of its ‘green’ potential. The six month results of the Government’s flagship ‘Green Deal’ initiative were evidently disappointing as it showed only four households have actually gone through with it. Thus far, delays in finance, a lack of consumer campaigning and a shortage of appetite among politicians have restricted its success and clearly acted as a hindrance to uptake. Nearly 40,000 assessments, which involve experts visiting properties to make recommendations on what measures should be undertaken, have been carried out. Yet despite installation works being financed as part of the scheme, only four households are registered in the system as finalising green deal plans. A further 241 households have confirmed they would like to proceed with financing, but not a single household has what is known as a “live” green deal plan - where work has been undertaken and details of the repayments on electricity bills have been passed to its energy supplier. However the side-lining of sustainability issues by the Government, and ultimately its removal from the agenda entirely at the G8 summit at Fermanagh, Northern Ireland is a situation which is unsatisfactory at best and catastrophic at worst if climate change is not taken seriously on the world stage. This was an ideal opportunity for global leaders to discuss climate policies in a bid to reach a practical agreement by 2015, which seems somewhat unlikely as climate change appears to slide down the global agenda. Despite the clear setback at the G8, it is crucial that European leaders continue to address climate issues and move forward towards Europe’s 2020 carbon emission target. For this to be achieved it is fundamental to look at practical and scalable solutions to halve the energy use in existing buildings, as these as these account for 40% of Europe’s energy consumption.

Climate Renovation of Europe’s building stock at the current pace can employ on average 200,000 people per year from 2011 to 2050, while an accelerated renovation scenario could generate in excess of one million jobs annually. In addition to the obvious economic benefits in terms of jobs and output, such renovations would also improve the conditions of the people living, working and playing inside the buildings as people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Back home, a lack of ambition in the proposed Part L Building regulation changes, particularly for dwellings, and a delay in the publication of 2013 revisions risks undermining the zero-carbon home agenda and in itself is detrimental to the Government’s own ambitions for economic growth through construction. The uncertainty in implementing even a small step towards the Fabric Energy Efficiency (FEE) standard this year means that the already “watered down”

2016 zero carbon proposals look even further from coming to fruition. However, despite the lack of progress on the legislative front, at VELUX, we are continuing with our quest to bring a sustainable, zero carbon lifestyle to the forefront of future building industry with the CarbonLight Homes model. The experiences of the test families and our findings so far underline and validate our belief that our zero carbon home is the way forward not only in terms of reducing energy consumption but for improving our everyday quality of health and well-being. Keith Riddle, Managing Director of VELUX

Keith Riddle

Renewable Technology Specialists for Commercial, Industrial and large-scale Domestic markets

Solar PV Solar Thermal Heat Pumps Biomass Wind Turbines Rainwater Harvesting

Unit 3 Broom Road Business Park Broom Road,Poole Dorset, BH12 4PA

01202 717060

www.rentec.ltd.uk 23

UKC COMMENT

Well insulated homes can achieve improved Market Values By Leonie Onslow, Executive Director, British Urethane Foam Contractors Association Housebuilders can attain increased market values for their properties when building to higher energy efficiency specifications. As much as 14% can be added to the price by raising the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating by one or two bands. According to research published by the Department of Energy & Climate Change entitled, ‘An investigation of the effect of EPC ratings on house prices’, a house in the North East can achieve an additional £19,000. This assumes an EPC rating of B has been attained in comparison with a D-rated property. There appears to have been a shift in buyer purchase behaviour tending to opt for properties with lower running costs. This pattern is set to strengthen with the threat of further energy price rises. Housebuilders and developers are already building to ever increasing standards of energy efficiency with the latest update to the Building Regulations Part L in April 2013 which reduces the allowable level of carbon dioxide emissions in a move towards zero nett output of carbon in 2016 for new housing. New properties must also comply with The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) whereby a star rating from one to six is awarded, with five and six star ratings being a zero carbon home. To achieve high levels of fabric insulation housebuilders and developers may consider

the use of spray or injected polyurethane foam. This is a versatile medium used within many applications, for instance under roof tiles and within cavity walls, and can be applied to most other building substrates, including areas which may be hard to reach, for instance within voids. Spray applied or injected polyurethane may also be used for retrofit applications to bring existing housing up to higher levels of thermal performance. It can be installed as part of a package of insulation and renewable measures to achieve lower energy usage with minimal carbon output. Sprayed or injected polyurethane foam is a chemically-modified polyurethane foam which is able to reach superior U-value and air permeability requirements. Once applied as a seamless coat of insulation this prevents cold bridging which is common via building substrate and insulation joints. Thermal bridging is also being taken into consideration within the Building Regulations. The British Urethane Foam Contractors Association (BUFCA) is the national trade association representing the spray-applied and injected polyurethane foam industry. It aims to promote high standards amongst its membership with installers operating under the Code of Professional Practice. The association has a network of contractors skilled in the installation of sprayed or injected polyurethane

foam. When choosing a member specifiers can be assured of the highest standards of quality and service. BUFCA installers can offer reassurance to customers with a 25-year insurancebacked guarantee scheme. The warranty covers major defects arising from the design, workmanship and material used, in the unlikely event of a failure and can be transferred to subsequent property owners at no charge. A legislative framework to radically increase the UK’s energy efficiency is starting to roll out this year. The Government recognises the urgency to decrease the nation’s dependency on the importation of fossil fuels, and reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The Green Deal aims to achieve an energy efficient nation. This will provide funding upfront for building occupiers to upgrade their homes or businesses with insulation and renewable measures in order to conserve energy. The loan will be repaid out of subsequent savings via energy bills attached to the property. Literature on the use of sprayed/ injected polyurethane for walls, lofts and other applications is available from the British Urethane Foam Contractors Association, tel: 01483 209666; e-mail: info@bufca.co.uk, or visit the web at www.bufca.co.uk.

COMMENT UKC

Task Group says ventilation practice in new homes must improve The Zero Carbon Hub–led Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality (VIAQ) Task Group, which has been reviewing evidence from the UK and other countries since 2010, published its final report last week. The report concludes that concerted effort is needed to ensure satisfactory performance of Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems in new homes. Reinforcing the findings of the Interim Report published in January 2012 and drawing on additional evidence, it recommends that concerted Government– led action should be taken to develop and promote good practice. It believes this is essential to ensure public health and safety, with new research informing future Building Regulation requirements. Over the past few years, the trend towards higher levels of energy efficiency of new homes has led to improved building fabric airtightness and to the increased use of MVHR. In 2012 in the UK, 24,000 MVHR fan units were installed and it appears likely that this increasing trend will continue. Despite the number of MVHR units installed, only a limited sample of those incorporated into recently built homes have been monitored to see how they are actually performing in practice. The vast majority of the available evidence, whether from the UK or abroad, points to issues that need to be addressed – issues with design, installation, commissioning, operation and use, all of which affect system performance and could compromise air quality inside people’s homes. A lack of good practice across industry in dealing with ventilation systems serves to highlight competence as a key issue. Regrettably, existing training schemes have made limited progress and Task Group members are calling on DCLG to consider mandatory competency requirements for MVHR installations so that standards can be driven up. Based on the evidence reviewed by the VIAQ Task Group, there is little doubt that poor indoor air quality is connected with a wide range of undesirable health effects including allergic and asthma symptoms, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease. Regardless of the type of ventilation systems chosen, the Task

Group’s findings reinforce the need for the design, construction and commissioning of buildings to be undertaken with internal air quality and the provision of adequate ventilation firmly in mind. The report does however identify one housing development which is beginning to demonstrate that when done correctly, MVHR systems can deliver good performance. It is a development of 14 houses built in Wimbish, Essex, to the Passivhaus standard, where increased attention to detail has paid off and one from which some useful lessons can be drawn. Author of the report, Neil Smith, Head of Innovation and Research at NHBC commented: “As homes become ever-more energy efficient and airtight, with the zero carbon standards clearly in sight, the single issue that causes us greatest concern is indoor air quality in new homes. Work carried out by the NHBC Foundation in 2009 demonstrated a link between poor indoor air quality and health concerns and highlighted specific concerns in relation to design and installation standards for MVHR. “Working since 2010, considering all of the issues and reviewing feedback from the 2009 research and many

other studies, the VIAQ Task Group considers that there are serious issues to address to ensure that homes provide a comfortable, healthy and safe internal environment for occupants. “We are aware that MVHR has been growing in popularity as an energyefficient ventilation system and that the number of units being installed in new homes annually stands at around 24,000. With MVHR already being installed in around one quarter of new homes, and set to increase further, it is clearly essential that the concerns identified are dealt with as a matter of priority. “At NHBC we are responding by completing the development of a new NHBC Standards chapter on MVHR. Due for publication towards the end of the year, the chapter documents good practice guidance, which should help drive up design and installation standards. We believe that this, alongside the concerted action between industry and government as called for by this Task Group, will significantly improve UK ventilation practice and avert potential risks to health and safety.” Neil Smith

UKC COMMENT

UK Energy Crunch in the next five years Part One – The problem the UK has to deal with Written by: Shamir Jiwa, Managing Director of MAXIM Eyes energy consultants A looming energy crisis will hit the UK within the next five years, warns energy regulator Ofgem, and businesses and households can expect a series of price hikes as demand out strips local resources. With the demand for gas soaring, supplies are dwindling and the UKs dependency on imported energy products will affect the consumer across the country, unless action is taken soon. The looming energy crunch is fuelled by the need for many of our polluting coal fired power stations to close, due to their inability to meet stringent energy and environmental targets, with the only real alternative, nuclear, being far from in favour. With four Power Stations due to be shut and disconnected from the grid, demand is still flat out, showing no signs of slowing down. With fewer Power Stations to rely upon in severe winters when demand spikes, the capacity safety margins are feared to shrink from 15% now, to four per cent within three years. It is further feared that the UK may miss out in the race to secure imported stocks, struggling against the growing demands from countries like China. Ofgem also warn of the continued threat of price rises and by 2015/2016 one in twelve businesses will potentially be affected by blackouts, with the larger manufacturing companies being affected first. Electricity in the UK will cost twice as much as in Germany by May 2015, as Britain lags behind in building solar and wind plants, with UK power being 85% more expensive than in Europe’s energy market by that date. Whilst Germany is the largest European producer of wind and solar power, boosting its share of renewably sourced energy to 35% in 2015, from 22% last year, the UK is failing to keep up, showing only an increase from

11% to 15% over the same period. It is anticipated that power in the UK will cost as much as £53 ($83) a megawatt-hour by early 2015, whilst in Germany a mega-watt hour will cost £33 ($44) by comparison. With the UK building less renewable methods of producing power than that of our European neighbours, what does the future hold? Has the government’s u-turn on the Feed In Tariff (FIT) on Solar caused a widening of this energy gap? Is the UK able to close that gap in the coming years? Many of the larger energy companies are energy producers and sustainable power from sun, wind and wave is very much part of their future plans. Solar without doubt is the cleanest and purest form of generated power, however the cut back in the FIT means it is less attractive as a way of generating revenue, but it is still a sound alternative for producing power for own use. Creating power for own consumption it is still a strong alternative to being dependent upon the grid and with payback on investment coming in 6 to 10 years, solar can form an integral part of any future-proof energy strategy. Entrepreneurs and business leaders are the types of visionaries the UK needs to lead the charge to close the energy gap between the UK and Europe. Green power and new technology projects will work and can make a difference. Energy projects such as wind farms, tidal farms and solar farms can create the increase in power generation that the UK needs. The technology is available and is very efficient, the skills and the contacts in the energy sector are second to none. What is missing is funding and entrepreneurs to make a leap of faith and see that these are the next options for British business. With major concerns over rising costs what measures can be taken to reduce costs

whilst being less dependent upon the grid. In Part Two of Looming Energy Crunch in the Next Five Years, Shamir Jiwa looks at ‘Cutting Costs & New Technology’. Shamir Jiwa is founder and Managing Director of MAXIM Eyes (UK) Ltd - Energy Consultants & Connections Specialists. An entrepreneur and philanthropist with a keen interest in the well being of global society, the Maxim Eyes concept is to take a 360 degree view of any company’s energy strategy, identify where the gaps may be and create solutions to collectively fill the gaps. MAXIM Eyes works with corporate clients in over 4,000 locations across the UK. Web: www.maximeyes.net Email: info@maximeyes.net Tel: 0844 871 7711 Shamir Jiwa

COMMENT UKC

Unlocking the full potential of the Industrial Waste Container Emma Elston, founder of UK Container Maintenance (UKCM) and 2012 UK Businesswoman of the Year Like any mum of two, I regularly find myself telling my kids to tidy up after themselves and take pride in their belongings, now, 15 years after we founded UKCM, it seems that, as a result of my daily dealings, with the UK’s construction and demolition companies, my professional life is increasingly mirroring my home life. As I travel up and down the UK motorway network to and from our base in Northwich, Cheshire, I’m always on the lookout for the variety of waste containers, in use by these types of company and have become acutely aware of their shortfall in fulfilling their potential as key marketing tools. I believe that the industry is “missing a trick” in terms of the impact that a well maintained and signed container could present regarding brand image and advertising potential. Certain haulage companies have become synonymous with the messages that their iconic and colour coordinated vehicles travelling throughout the UK deliver. The construction industry has a similar, huge, potential opportunity for marketing and, I believe, it is now up to them to embrace the same ideals. Whilst being of the view that such marketing opportunities to attract investment are currently underused, I also have grave concerns, particularly in these times of financial restraint, about the huge volumes of capital and resources potentially going to waste, being tied up in rapidly deteriorating waste and recycling containers, by construction firms, waste companies and local authorities. This cannot make effective business sense. In addition to the opportunity for brand image and advertising potential being overlooked, the forlorn and neglected state of some containers I have seen may be viewed as a sign that essential maintenance is being neglected, potentially putting lives at risk. This is a worry to me because it is not long ago that the construction injury had a very poor accident record which it has now successfully addressed in its core business. I am, however, concerned that it may have overlooked the potential for injury that some containers I have seen could present through lack of regular maintenance. My company UKCM is dedicated solely to the refurbishment of waste and recycling containers we are not involved in their manufacture. Our main objective is to

restore these valuable assets back to our customers in “as new” condition, free from defect and risk to safety, in addition to offering realistic advice on maintenance programmes designed to keep them in this condition. Capital tied up in containers can be fully utilised by such maintenance, whether it be a full factory refurbishment or a simple repair and modification to a locking mechanism, at about one a third of the cost of a new container and, in addition to mitigating safety risk, can also play a large role in reducing a company’s carbon footprint by re- use of existing resource. I am aware that there is a lack of agreed standard practice across the UK construction and waste management industry on the subject of container maintenance leading, worryingly, to health and safety concerns regarding their ongoing integrity and their loading onto, and offloading from, collection vehicles. Nevertheless, we continue to contribute to work by the HSE and its WISH (Waste Industry Safety Health) forum on its safe practice guidelines regarding such issues as the operation and maintenance of lifting mechanisms and, more recently, the installation of deflector plates on roll on/off containers. This is a technical, and potentially lifesaving, requirement, relating to the majority of the types of containers traditionally used by the construction industry, which is not publicised widely enough. To give a word of explanation, correct

engagement of the vehicle lifting hook with the container hook bar is essential if the lifting operation onto the vehicle is to be achieved safely. Incomplete engagement of the hook, or its accidental engagement with the container front cross member will, if not corrected, cause the container to disengage during its lifting and roll downwards and backwards with, potentially, extremely serious consequences for anyone in the vicinity, in addition to causing significant damage to the vehicle and container. There have been recorded fatalities due to this happening. Realising the fundamental importance of promoting this message, UKCM recently published a safety bulletin relating to the fitting of a fully welded deflector plate to the underside of the front cross member above the hook bar outlining, in simple terms, the guidance contained in Technical Standard 8 of the Container Handling Equipment Manufacturers (CHEM) guide, the acknowledged industry standards for manufacture and refurbishment of waste containers. That’s just one example of the key legislative requirements which we continue to interpret and promote across industry to raise awareness and help it to unlock the value and maintain the integrity of these valuable and often underappreciated assets. For more information on UK Container Maintenance visit www.ukcontainers.co.uk

Emma Elston

UKC PROFILE

Severn Trent Water

Dedicated to improving sewerage services

Formed in 1974, Severn Trent started out as a regional, state-owned water authority based in Birmingham responsible for water management and supply, and wastewater treatment and disposal in the catchment areas of two of Britain’s largest rivers – the Severn and the Trent. In 1989, Severn Trent Plc was formed, the parent company for Severn Trent Water. As a private company, Severn Trent Water invested heavily in replacing and repairing its assets and infrastructure. As well as complying with government legislation, it set its own internal standards on issues such as public health, leakage reduction and the cleanliness of rivers and other water sources in its catchment region. The Group also began to build a products and services business in the United States beginning with the acquisition of Capital Controls Company in 1990. Since that time, Severn Trent Plc has built a portfolio of companies, known as Severn Trent Services, which provides water and wastewater treatment and operating services to utilities, municipalities and commercial customers. The Company is continuing to invest in sewerage services, and in April spent £500,000 to improve sewer pipes and a pumping station, which will prevent sewer flooding for residents of King’s Bromley. Severn Trent Water’s project manager Emma Grimsey, said: “The sewer system in the village has served the community for many years but it is now in need of repair and improvement. “If left unattended this could cause sewer flooding locally and that’s why we have to act now to protect homes and businesses.” The Company has worked with Staffordshire County Council and King’s Bromley Parish Council to organise the work that began on 4th April. Undertaken in six phases, work to renew the sewerage system to help alleviate past leakages and bursts in and around the area was completed in July 2013. Completed in March, Severn Trent Water installed a new, larger water main on Soulton Road, Wem. This will improve the stability of the water mains in the area and further

improve the network, which will prevent and prevent leakages and bursts on the leaks and bursts on the water mains. water mains in the area. It will ensure There were four phases to this work. that customers can continue to enjoy a Phase I was between the Wem Industrial reliable supply of high quality water. Park and Church Lane off Soulton It is being undertaken in phases; a section Road, using temporary traffic lights. of this main laying work is to renew the Phase II took place a week after the main through an ancient monument. first phase between Churchill Drive To ensure this is carried out safely and and Cordwell Park, and consisted of effectively, temporary traffic lights are a complete closure for all vehicles necessary to control the safe passing of for approximately ten days. vehicles through the works where possible. Phase III was between Church Lane Work will be completed in September and Churchill Drive as a continuation at the latest, and all three projects of the first stage using the traffic have benefited from the expertise of management method of temporary lights/ Enterprise, who will ensure that Severn convoy system for light vehicles only. Trent Water will continue to improve The final phase saw the transfer of sewerage services for years to come. individual supplies onto the new water main between Churchil Drive and Church Lane, connection of Churchill Drive onto the new water main on Soulton Road as well as the connection of Church Lane and Wem Industrial Estate onto this new water main. One project that is currently ongoing is the £1M development to install ten Soft and Hard Landscaping kilometres of new water pipes in the Fencing High Peak area. As part of this investment, Severn Hydro-Seeding Trent Water is upgrading and Sportsgrounds renewing parts of the current clean water Enabling Works mains system at Stretfield Road that has been serving Re-instatement the community for many years. There are places on the system that need improving, and this scheme will help with Supply chain partner to Amey the improvement

01952 614100

www.earthworkservices.co.uk

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For pump sales call 0115 940 0111 or email sales@flygt.co.uk ﬂygt.com/FlygtExperior Flygt is a brand of Xylem, whose 12,000 employees are dedicated to addressing the most complex issues in the global water market. Let’s solve water.

UKC CIVIL

Gatwick Airport

Pier 5 redevelopment

Gatwick Airport is nearing completion on the first phase of a £75M project to make significant improvements at its North Terminal. Pier 5, one of three piers at the terminal, provides departures and arrivals access for passengers in North Terminal. The overall business objective of this project is to provide support delivery of the pier service level target of 95% for North Terminal and to meet future growth in passenger numbers. This will be achieved by reconfiguring the aircraft stands, providing independent access to each aircraft parking position, dedicated passenger departure gates for each stand, and removing passenger cross-flows within the pier. For departing passengers, a new route will be created from the departure lounge to the refurbished departure gates via a new single-storey corridor built over the roof of the existing pier. The development also includes a series of vertical circulation buildings providing access from the new corridor to each departure gate via lifts, escalators and stairs. Designed by Jacobs, the development required demolition of an existing baggage transfers building and coaching station. A new coaching station for arriving passengers will be provided on the site of the old baggage transfers building. The project also includes the refurbishment

to a number of departure gates to improve the overall environment and layout, as well as to introduce areas specifically tailored to passenger needs such as business travellers and families. New facilities provided by the refurbishment will include a new corridor for departing passengers, improved layout of departure gates with areas for families, business travellers and passengers with reduced mobility. Lifts and escalators will be built to each departure gate, and interior design features will include lighting, seating and facilities specific to an aircraft departure gate such as boarding desks for boarding card checks. Built by Carillion, the project also involves the reconfiguration of the aircraft stands to improve flexibility and capacity to serve the required aircraft fleet mix. This work on Pier 5 follows a distinctive pattern over the past few years of significant redevelopment of the North Terminal, which is unrecognisable from just a year ago. In 2010, the old transit was replaced with bright, modern shuttle cars and better access and on-board information was introduced. Combined with a new operating system and new stations, passengers can now enjoy a quick, convenient and reliable connection between terminals. Work on the terminal interchange has transformed passengers’ first experience

of North Terminal. A new large entrance has been built along with clear routes into the terminal with moving walkways, lifts and escalators, as well as direct walkways to the Sofitel and short stay car parks. A terminal extension was completed in November 2011, which provided a fantastic new space for departing and arriving passengers, including new check-in zones and a new baggage reclaim area. A new departures baggage system was built that is more flexible, reliable and efficient than the previous one. It has helped to support the future growth of North Terminal and was completed in December 2012. With more passengers travelling through North Terminal, there is always a need to maintain high standards of security while improving service. Since 2011, six new security lanes have been reopened, including dedicated family and assistance lanes. The Airbus A380 is the world’s largest passenger plane. In March 2013 the airport unveiled its first pier served A380 Stand on Pier 6. This allows passengers to disembark from the double deck aircraft using a jetty. Looking longer term, the airport is also planning to include facilities for A380 passengers in proposals to extend Pier 6, which is contained in Gatwick’s initial business plan document 2014-2020, and continued page 32 >

Carlton Ceilings and Partitions Ltd are proud to be associated with GAL and the prestigious Pier 5 project. We are a Suspended Ceiling and Partitioning Contractor specialising in the design and installation of metal ceilings and partitions throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. 885 Plymouth Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 4LP Tel: 01753 568568 www.ccp-slough.co.uk

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is currently the subject of consultation with all Gatwickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s airlines and the CAA. To give airlines more flexibility and passengers a better service, work is being undertaken at Pier 5. Once completed, passengers will be able to walk from the departure lounge along a new corridor without having to change

levels, and use the new escalators and lifts to reach their boarding gate. Disabled facilities will be incorporated at Pier 5, so passengers with reduced mobility can get around the airport. In this project, there are toilets, lifts and seating areas. Work is being undertaken in two phases in order to keep disruption to a minimum,

which is challenging when working on a site like this, which is live all day, every day. The project commenced in January 2012. Phase I will be complete in September 2013 and Phase II will be finished in August 2014.

Design, manufacture and installation of architectural metalwork in the UK High-quality architectural metalwork Southdown Construction has been designing, manufacturing and installing high quality architectural metalwork for prestigious building developments in Southern England and the Home Counties for over 70 years. We specialise in major residential, commercial, airport and railway projects providing structural feature staircases, balustrades, balconies, cladding, glazed screens and canopies. Our accumulated in-house skills are both deep and wide ranging. We can economically tackle projects varying from visually-critical finished stainless, brass and powder-coated work to mass-produced, low cost, galvanised steelwork.

Detailed design, manufacturing and project management At the core of our business is our design philosophy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to fully detail all aspects of the job in partnership with our customers, to accommodate the architects concept, the client's budget, the engineering constraints and the relevant British Standards. In addition to all the normal estimating and detail design services, we can project manage diverse metalwork packages, manufacturing to dependable timescales and installing our work using trained and experience fitters in a co-operative and professional contracting style. Our brochure, available to download on our website, illustrates a range of the recent contracts we have undertaken and indicate the diversity and volume of work that we do. If you would like to use us to price, design or undertake your architectural metalwork or offer our advice on detailing and finishes, please contact us. We look forward to working with you.

Mill Road, Fishersgate, Sussex, BN41 1PD

Tel: 01273 429200 Fax: 01273 429222 Email: info@southdownconstruction.com

www.southdownconstruction.com 32

Fire-Resistant Doorset Development and Installation

Ahmarra, Unit 20, Fitzherbert Road, Farlington, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 1SD

Telephone: 02392 389 076 Email: sales@ahmarra.co.uk Website: www.ahmarra.co.uk

Ahmarra to supply and install fire-rated timber doorsets for Pier 5 Ahmarra has successfully secured a contract with Carillion Construction to supply and install 217 doorsets for Pier 5 at Gatwick Airport. A selection of laminate faced, fire-rated doorsets and metal fire-rated doorsets were chosen from Ahmarra’s standard airport range.

Tim Doran, managing director Ahmarra said “Our company has a strong track record in the delivery of successful airport related projects and we are delighted to be working with Carillion on this prestigious project”. “We have supplied & fitted over 3,000 fire-rated doorsets at UK Airports” added Tim. “ We specialise in developing customer specific standard doorsets and our clients have recognised that significant

cost savings can be made by offering a uniform ﬁnish throughout and eliminating the need to re-deﬁne doorsets & ironmongery for every project.”

As well as being one of the UK’s leading ﬁre door manufacturers, Ahmarra have a team of trusted Q-Mark registered ﬁre door installer’s onsite at the airport to offer specialist installation. Ahmarra is one of the UK’s leading architectural doorset manufacturers and installers across all sectors. For more information, call 02392 389 076 or visit www.ahmarra.co.uk

Making Ideas Reality Gatwick Airport Architects and Multi-disciplinary Designers

Working in partnership with Gatwick Airport to transform the North and South Terminals. We design spaces that are responsive to our customer’s needs and that deliver a fantastic passenger experience. Services: • Architecture • Airport Planning • Project Management • Design Management • Interior Design • Wayﬁnding Design • Building Information Management (BIM)

Contact Pascall+Watson directly to ﬁnd out more about our current projects and how we could help you to deliver world class aviation projects. 5 Carlson Court , 116 Putney Bridge Road , London SW15 2NQ T +44 (0)20 8874 1311 E info@pascalls.co.uk www.pascalls.co.uk

UKC PROFILE

4 Crosses Construction Ltd Building and civil engineering

UKC PROFILE

From its base on Anglesey, 4 Crosses Construction Ltd undertakes general building and civil engineering projects throughout the region. With over 15 years of industry experience, the Company is headed by Mr DL Titchiner and employs a workforce of 20, ensuring that it is well prepared to undertake a broad range of contracts. 4 Crosses Construction has an impressive client list, having developed close working relationships with a number of local authorities and the Ministry of Defence, for whom they have carried out specialist works. This has seen the Company expand at a sustainable rate whilst retaining such rigorously high standards. Working flexibly in North Wales and West England, the Company is capable of taking contracts worth up to £2M, with all schemes comparatively priced. Services offered by 4 Crosses include work on new steel framed industrial building, group repair schemes for local councils, new speculative dwellings, refurbishment and renovation works, educational buildings, and civil engineering and groundworks.

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0800 074 8831

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Skyline Property Solutions Great future opportunities thanks to increasing client base Formed in 2005, Skyline Property Solutions specialises in a whole range of services including the refurbishment, fit out and construction of buildings in the commercial, educational, healthcare, industrial and student accommodation markets. Based in Liverpool, the Company can boast the experience of Directors Ellis Hill and David Castell. Ellis has previously worked for an office fit out company and also spent ten years in the mechanical services industry. He oversees estimating for Skyline Property Solutions. David is a building surveyor who was a client of Ellis, which is how they got together in business. He oversees all projects at the Company. There are 15 employees at the Company, including a quantity surveyor and estimator who price projects and offer support to contract teams on site, project managers responsible for day-to-day running of projects and managing on site supervisors who manage trades on site, while the office manager takes care of ISO documentation. The Company has recently completed work at Ursuline Catholic Primary School in Liverpool to provide an

Free estimates are offered, as is quality help to prevent heat loss and roof lights workmanship, competitive prices, maximise the natural light available. and the Company has an excellent Security was also a key consideration at reputation with current customers. the design stage, so high security locking Previous projects include work at systems are in place on all of the doors Nant-Y-Mynydd, where a luxury and windows, and provision was made for detached development was CCTV and anti-intruder external lighting. constructed three years ago. When work was completed, the property Designed by AP Thomas Partnership, was extensively landscaped, with the structure boasts impressive green block paving featuring the entrance credentials, incorporating the latest and four vehicle parking areas. fuel-efficient air-to-water heating systems, WINDOWS, DOORS & CONSERVATORIES complimented by underfloor h eating, www.mgwindows.com and thermally efficient blockwork with self-coloured render. Windows, Doors, Conservatories, Fascias, Soffits The site has excellent views over the Menai Straits, so large Suppliers & installers to trade. amounts of glazing feature to the front unit1, gaerwen industrial estate, elevation. Specially gaerwen, anglesey, ll60 6hr designed large facebook.com/mgwindows pane windows

energy to incoming fresh air. The £320,000 project was completed in July 2013. The Company is constantly striving to better its performance, giving clients the best possible service. This has been enhanced with the implementation of ISO9001 and ISO14001, demonstrating Skyline Property Solutions’ commitment to procedural and environmental issues. For more information, see www.skylinepsl.com

extension so that the school has space for present and future growth. This has resulted in three floors of new teaching resource areas that comprise of steel frame, brick cladding and a flat roof with concrete foundations, beam and block floors, upper floors of permanent metal deck formwork with reinforced concrete deck, and a full internal fit out including heat recovery ventilation systems. Work was carried out during term time which resulted in a very strategic and sympathetic approach while on site, such as JOINERY MANUFACTURERS & CONTRACTORS segregation from the school and timed deliveries avoiding peak RYTON GRANGE - MARSH ROAD - BANKS times. SOUTHPORT - PR9 8DX Sustainability measures include TEL: 01704 224033 FAX: 01704 509711 heat recovery ventilation that transfers outgoing

Houghton & Hignett Ltd

HOUSING UKC

Thomas Street Residential Development 100% affordable housing

Being developed thanks to Wigan Council through its housing arm Wigan and Leigh Housing, Thomas Street is in the process of seeing the construction of 34 affordable houses and flats. This project will help to meet identified housing needs and priorities as part of Wigan Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Housing Strategy and will be a mixture of 12 two-bedroom homes, ten three-bedroom homes and two two-bedroom apartments. The site was previously used for a primary school but this was demolished last year, following construction of a new school on the adjacent site. Properties will comprise facing brickwork because that matches not only Wigan, which has fantastic Victorian brickwork throughout the whole district, but also Hindley Green. The Architect, NPS North West, worked on the detailing and the colours of the brickwork to include decorative features that relate to the Hindley Green area. Foundations at the site are traditional and the structure will be timber frame rather than traditional blockwork. Some areas of the site also required specialist grouting in the ground to safeguard against the possible effects of shallow coal workings from the past that are nearby. The development, which receives some funding through the Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), has adopted the Lifetime Homes standard. This

requires incorporation of features that make without its challenges. It was necessary a home adaptable for anybody throughout to provide a pumping station to deal the life of any resident there who could with drainage at the bottom of the site, temporarily or permanently lose mobility. as well as ensuring the design of the These facilities are as much for a site provides access to an area of land mother with a pushchair and pram as that is not part of the development. it is for a wheelchair. All homes will Due to the adjacent primary school, traffic be accessible, with a level access wet and safety issues have had to be carefully room and door entry systems being monitored. All this has been overcome provided to the first floor flats. thanks to close liaison with the Council, One of the main requirements of the the school and the local community. development is to make sure it meets The Main Contractor is Seddon the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, Construction, and work will be completed which covers energy and water resources, in February 2014, costing almost ÂŁ2.7M. health issues such as natural light, as well as noise and the wider landscape and construction practice on site. To achieve the required 25% improvement above Building Regulation levels of carbon emission, a fabric first approach is being used to Arboricultural Consultants specialising in provide high levels of insulation, and good Trees & Development quality sustainable components Arboricultural Impact Assessments will be used. The project is not to BS5837: 2012

Working in partnership with Wigan & Leigh Housing

TWC Consulting is a multi-disciplined Practice of Sustainable-Building Designers, Energy Advisors, Chartered Surveyors and Project Managers delivering a wide range of specialised services to the built environment. Services include, sustainable building-design consultancy, project management, planning and building control applications, contract administration, life cycle costing, environmental assessments, BREEAM Assessments, Code for Sustainable Homes, SAP, SBEM, Dynamic Simulation Modelling, renewable energy studies, carbon management programmes, and many other services.

Tree Solutions Ltd T: 01244 389114 M: 07766 774508 Email: enquiries@tree-solutions.co.uk

Free Environmental Assessments on Selected Services. Tel: 0844 272 8871 Email: info@twcconsulting.com www.twcconsulting.com

www.tree-solutions.co.uk 35

UKC PROFILE

Carvers

Rising from the ashes with a brand new warehouse facility Based in Wolverhampton, Carvers was established in 1896 in Willenhall by Harry Carver. Trading a successful builders’ merchant, Carvers operate from two ten-acre sites. The one on Littles Lane has the Company’s full stock range and is conveniently situated next to Wolverhampton’s ring road, while the Neachells Lane site is a specialist timber production unit and not open to the public.

It is the Littles Lane site that is undergoing work because the original building was the victim of a fire, which destroyed the whole structure of what was a very high specification development. Following the fire, Henry Carver, who is the fifth generation of the Carver family to run the Company, vowed to ‘regroup and rebuild’ the family business, and worked around the clock along with his executives around the clock

to help the Company recover from the devastating fire in February 2012. The fire resulted in 90% of stock being destroyed and 80% of trade lost, and it took approximately 90 firefighters to extinguish the inferno. Immediately afterwards, Henry transferred operations to the timber engineering premises in Neachells Lane. Two months after the fire, a temporary trade counter opened at the site and continued page 38 >

Unlocking potential: the changing role of plasterboard Steve Dougan, product manager for Siniat, writes on the benefits of working with new, innovative products New product development is key for finding innovative and more efficient ways of working. Often, companies that embrace new products and working methods can find themselves with an increased competitive advantage in the market. While plasterboard was originally a simple alternative to traditional plastering, gypsum products are now modern, specialist materials that can deliver technical benefits for some of the most challenging aspects of a building. Advanced gypsum products for thermal insulation, acoustic performance, fire and water resistance are unlocking new, more efficient ways of working, making it quicker and easier to deliver technical performance without adding additional processes or elements to a build. Siniat has been at the forefront of this creative, ambitious approach to building materials. The company’s close partnership working with installers and specifiers is delivering faster builds and greater technical performance.

Modern innovations Innovations in plasterboard technology mean boards can now be used for more demanding applications not thought possible before. For example, advanced thermal laminate plasterboards, which are composed of standard plasterboard bonded to high-performance insulation, are delivering greatly improved thermal performance, to meet stringent building regulations. These boards are ideal for homes with solid exterior walls, of which there are 7-8 million in the UK that have not yet been insulated. This type of installation would typically need to use multiple frame, insulation and board products, but thermal laminate plasterboards can be installed in just one application. The board is simply fixed straight onto a shallow metal frame, making the job twice as fast as a normal installation, and taking up less space in the room. Products such as Siniat’s GTEC Thermal XP board, which delivers a 10% improvement in thermal insulation over traditional Thermal EPS plasterboard, is a case in point. The board is part of a comprehensive range that Siniat has developed to ensure that there are specialist solutions for a wide range of projects.

Technical performance Elsewhere, gypsum boards are opening up new ways of delivering enhanced performance for sound insulation, water resistance and fire protection. For example, our GTEC Moisture Board includes moisture-resistant additives that enable it to be used in areas of higher humidity such as kitchens that might otherwise be unsuitable for gypsum-based products. When it comes to projects that require careful management of acoustics, such as schools or homes, gypsum innovations also have an important role to play. Boards have been developed to deliver impressive levels of acoustic insulation, including Siniat’s GTEC dB Board, which can be supplied in a range of thicknesses and performance levels to match the demands of a project. In extreme cases, GTEC dB Board system configurations can reduce airborne sound between two rooms by 69dB, roughly equivalent to the noise you would hear from a vacuum cleaner from one metre away. Equally for fire resistance, GTEC Fire Board can provide up to 120 minutes of fire resistance, making it ideal for public sector buildings, or areas that require specialist provisions.

Unlocking potential Close partnership working is fundamental to unlocking the potential of new, innovative projects and Siniat is dedicated to providing comprehensive project support. Siniat’s Technical Enquiryline and technical representatives are both available to provide advice, create systems specific to your projects and bring wider specialist knowledge for drylining no matter what project you are working on.

For further information on the GTEC range, please visit www.siniat.co.uk or for assistance on your next project please contact our Technical Enquiryline on 01275 377789.

Images courtesy of PJ Barnett Associates

other temporary buildings were put in place to replace the warehouse, offices and shop lost in the blaze and 85% of sales were recovered. Plans for the new 6,000sq m warehouses were unveiled in January. The Company wants to create a builders’ village following the devastating fire. Henry Carver said the majority of the expense of rebuilding the Head Quarters would be covered by insurers, though he also put in more of the Company’s money to improve Carvers’ offering to customers. He said: “Our overall budget is in the region of £4M. When the fire happened it provided an opportunity, desperate as it was, to think about how we could do things differently. Our new building will have different franchises on offer. “We certainly hope however that having to rebuild after something like that is a once in a lifetime experience.” Carvers is bouncing back in fine style with a new drive-through warehouse for all products that builders go to the likes of Wickes and B&Q for. When in those places, people have to use trolleys and push them around in a selfselection. These are awkward and the not all large products can be kept easily inside, such as plain timbers, mouldings, the MDF boards, sheet materials, ply woods, chipboards, hardboards, all the plasterboard range, all the bagged plasters, all cements and the insulation slabs. The drive-through warehouse means that the customers can drive right up to what they need, put them in their vehicle and drive off. It will speed up the efficiency of collection for the builder, which will in turn save them money, and result in the creation of an efficient level that wasn’t evident before and with

most other merchants in the country. The previous building was very well built but such a disaster has allowed Carvers to look at ways to change. With that in mind, the Company has looked at the logistics and efficiency of the whole operation, which has resulted in the new development having a different shape to the old, and less steel, as the previous building had four times the amount of any modern building. A huge amount of demolition was required before the new building could be constructed. It comprises a steel frame structure with steel sheets on the side and wooden slats on the wooden side, and its location has been moved slightly in relation to the original structure. The single-storey structure will be eight metres high with all the racks designed so that pallets can be placed up to seven metres high. The new building isn’t joined in the middle because it makes work considerably cheaper while also meaning air extraction is not required. The Main Contractor is Niken Construction Ltd – a well-established Walsall-based contractor carrying out all aspects of construction work. The Company is run by the shareholding Directors, ensuring a hands-on professional service to all its Clients. Niken Construction has an extensive range of clients ranging from private developers, individual clients requiring a one-off bespoke building, local authorities, county councils, industrial and commercial clients and housing associations. The Company produces award-winning quality buildings using traditional and design and build routes. Such a high quality of work is assured with the Company being a registered member of the National House Building Council,

Constructionline and also the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme. With experience in sectors such as health, education, social and private housing developments, refurbishment, maintenance, design and build, as well as industrial, Carvers can be sure of the highest specification of warehouse. PJ Barnett Associates is the Architect for the project, and the Practice has a great deal of experience having celebrated 40 years in business just last year. The construction industry has changed a great deal since the Company was established by Peter Barnett in 1972 and it has had to adapt with the industry as technology evolved from the use of drawing boards, slide rules and ink pens to computer-aided design. PJ Barnett Associates work from award-winning freehold offices in Wolverhampton, undertaking roles including all consulting aspects of civil and structural engineering, CDM co-ordinator, project management, party wall surveying, building surveying, and expert witness. The Client list includes public and private companies, insurance companies, local authorities, public utilities, housing associations, schools, private individuals, development companies and contractors. Because of the circumstances behind the need for the new warehouse for Carvers, it was always going to be a challenge. Putting together everybody’s ideas and coming up with a practical solution is an example of this. Care has had to be taken to work out the distances that cars and forklifts need, the length of this for the products that will be stocked, and the height of it. This is a very practical logistical process. continued page 40 >

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In the end, for every single product, Carvers will put in a specifically worked out area down to the pack to give space for as big an amount of stock possible. It has to be this specific because otherwise it would cause major logistical problems in the future so Carvers has planned for every rack and every product on every rack. Carvers has worked with many different companies, including Greenhous, who is a DAF truck main dealer for the west Midlands and Shropshire. The Company supplies new and used trucks and has a 24-hour service and parts departments to provide back up for the truck sales in the area. It also operates an MOT line four days a week. This offers MOT tests to truck operators in the area. The Company has a long-standing relationship with Carvers, who use the parts department a lot because of Carvers running its own workshop to look after trucks. Greenhous supplies Carvers with parts as well as selling trucks to them, and undertaking MOTs, so there is a lasting relationship between the two companies. Robert Binnion, Retail Sales Manager of Greenhous, spoke in glowing terms about Carvers and the work being undertaken. He said: “It’s great that they (Carvers) took the option to restart again and rebuild. It’s obviously good for the local economy and obviously good for the local businesses that deal with them as well. It’s fantastic news that they chose to do that.” The contract was placed for January 2013 but began a month after. It is scheduled to complete this summer, at a cost of £1.5M. It will be finished right on time.

This will ensure the Company continues to be successful, since it has been from 1896 when Harry Carver set up the firm, with the help of his brother Horace, and the backing from their father, John, and they rented premises from the railway at the Dale in Willenhall, which is now known as Bilston Street. Originally they set up a partnership, but in 1900 Horace left the Company and the business continued to prosper with Harry and the reins, and he soon bought the land he occupied, as well as some additional land. In 1914 the business opened a branch in Queens Street Good Station in Wolverhampton and four years later, Harry’s son, Roland, joined the Company. Six years later, Carvers became a limited company, continuing its steady progression. The Wolverhampton branch flourished and new premises were erected in Horseley Fields in place of the original depot, and a slate and tile roofing department was then set up. In the 1920s a further branch of Carvers was opened in Heath Town in Wolverhampton. Here, Carvers not only sold building materials but also manufactured breezeblocks. Prior to World War Two, the Company moved to 11-16 Stafford Street in Wolverhampton, which is now occupied by Wolverhampton University. During the Second World War, new building stopped completely and the branch in Heath Town was closed. During these years, the Company’s founder, Harry, died and his son Geoffrey, who

had joined the Company just before the War, was tragically killed in active service. This left Roland to run Carvers with both staff and materials in short supply. In 1947 John Carver, Roland’s elder son, joined the Company after completing his military service and Carvers expanded once more, taking advantage of the requirement for new housing in the post-war years. In 1953, the Company’s turnover was £127,000 and Carvers moved to 54-60 Stafford Street, leaving Wolverhampton Technical College, which is now Wolverhampton University, to acquire the previous premises. By 1964 the turnover had reached £500,000 per annum and John and Roy Carver started Oils Ltd, which specialised in the distribution of oil to domestic and commercial customers. Originally Carvers Oils was based at the Stafford Street premises but in the late 1960s, new premises were acquired on a trading estate in Willenhall and the Company was relocated to the Long Acres Estate. In the early 1970s, Carvers was requested to move once more for the expansion of the Wolverhampton Polytechnic, which is now Wolverhampton University, and new premises were acquired at Littles Lane in Wolverhampton. Initially, five acres were bought and over the years Carvers has bought further land as it has become available. Growth continued in the 1970s with the creation of Carvers Gases and in the 1980s, more personal changes took continued page 42 >

Images courtesy of PJ Barnett Associates

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place with Roy’s son Henry and John’s son David both joining the Company. The turnover in 1985 was approaching £2.2M. In 1983, Roy Carver was approached by the Man Power Services Commission with a view to setting up an employee based Youth Training Scheme. This soon established itself as a very successful scheme, training staff not only for Carvers but also for some 450 local companies, which has supplied 60 trainees each year. Three years later, Carvers entered the timber business by acquiring the stock, staff and machinery of the Maiden Timber Branch in Featherstone and moving them onto the Littles Lane site. The success of this venture meant that not long after entering the timber market that investment in a tanalising plant and vac-vac timber treatment plant was required for the preservation of timber. In 1992 Hickson Plc approached Carvers to enter a joint venture to operate the timber treatment plants. Despite the harsh economy of the time, Carvers had grown to £7.6M turnover – boosted by setting up the CashBuild Sales department specialising in serving jobbing builders. The timber division has continued to grow and accounts for almost 40% of the Company’s turnover, of particular importance to its growth has been the establishment of its importing facilities with a dedicated dock at Keadby, near Scunthorpe and a dedicated dock in Riga in Latvia. In 1993 the Company successfully achieved BS5750 quality management and

is currently certified to ISO9001-2008 – its successor. It was a busy year for Carvers, which saw the acquisition of S Jackson & Company Ltd, who specialised in the sale of timber to major house builders. The same year also saw Bryan Purslow join Carvers as Operations Manager. Over the years, his responsibilities have increased to managing all self-service and warehouse staff, the transport operation, health and safety, hire centre and cooker centre. His hard work was rewarded in 2000 when he was promoted to Operations Director. In 1998 Carvers established a hire centre facility for customers at Littles Lane and this together with associated power tools sales has been another successful diversification within the building industry. The board at Carvers was also strengthened in 1996 with the recruitment of Neil Kendrick as Finance Director. Six years later, the Company established Engineered Timber Solutions Ltd with Phil Sankey as a 50/50 joint venture to design, manufacture and sell timber roof trusses. Based in Roddington, the business has developed steadily and is well respected for its technical ability and short lead times. Much of the business now comes from customers placing repeat orders. This is the ultimate accolade for a company specialising in technical design and production one-offs. In 2008, with sales up to £34M and more than 220 sales staff, Ivan Savage retired as Sales Director and Andrell Dinham was appointed Construction

Materials Director, Steve Moore Timber Operations and Sales Director, and Richard Boult appointed Purchasing Manager. Steve Moore and Richard Boult had both started their working careers with Carvers in the early 1980s on the Youth Training Scheme and Andrell Dinham had also started in the 1980s with Carvers as a trainee, which shows the care and attention the Company pays to trainees. Today, Carvers in common with most builders merchants, have to deal with the severe recession that has affected the building industry. However, the Company’s strong financial position enables them to continue to invest in business. In late 2008, Timber Kit Solutions was established – a specialist timber frame manufacturing business in which Carvers has a 50% share with three other shareholders who all have extensive technical knowledge of timber frame construction. Despite the difficult trading circumstances, Carvers continues to look for opportunities to develop in the wider building supplies industry. As when dealing with the recession and the changes that had to be made to stay competitive, Carvers and its staff also took the same tenacious approach when the Littles Lane warehouse burnt down, and this will result in a state-ofthe-art facility and continued success for all associated with Carvers.

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UKC COMMUNITY

Breathing life into a Welsh dragon Rescue of Cardigan Castle

Decades of neglect had left Cadigan Castle in ruins, with over 900 years of history left to decay. After years of campaigning the castle is now in public hands, brought back to life, and on course to be one of Wales’ major tourist attractions. When completed, the redevelopment will restore the castle to its former glory and rightful place as one of Wales’ foremost cultural and historical landmarks The Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust was formed in 1999 by four committed local volunteers. The Trust has now grown to include 11 trustees and over 150 members, and has worked tirelessly over the last 14 years to secure the birthplace of the Eisteddfod. They have managed to secure funding to realise their vision of unveiling to the world the 12th-century castle’s cultural and historical relevance and importance. In 2011, the £11M scheme to rescue Cardigan Castle was awarded £4.7M from the Heritage Lottery Fund followed by £4.3M by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Welsh Government. In 2012, a Communities Asset Transfer grant of nearly £800,000 was awarded with financial support from the Welsh Government, CADW, Big Lottery Fund, The UK Association of Preservation Trusts, The Architectural Heritage Fund, Ceredigion County Council, Cardigan Town Council and The Prince’s Regeneration Trust. The project is now set to bring far-reaching cultural and economic benefits to West Wales. The ramparts of the castle, a scheduled ancient monument and Grade I Listed building with a 13th century mediaeval tower, hosted the first Eisteddfod in 1176 but for years it stood crumbling at the riverside gateway to the town

centre. In July, work began on the site that also includes a Grade II Listed Georgian mansion attached in 1827 and historic gardens. Cardigan Castle is among a handful of remaining stone castles built by Welsh princes and has strong links to well known figures in Welsh mediaeval history. Dating back to the 11th century, the castle was the location of a festival hosted by Prince of Deheubarth Lord Rhys ap Gruffydd in 1176, an event that has become known as the first Eisteddfod in Wales. The gardens were laid out in the early 19th century and are on Cadw’s Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. They include a number of rare specimen trees and endangered species of bat. The Trust currently employs eight members of staff and will employ 19.5 full-time-equivalent staff by the opening in the spring of 2014. The Andrew Scott Construction Company was awarded the £6M contract to develop the site of Cardigan Castle and work started on the main site in February 2013. Purcell UK is acting as Architect for the project. Mark Davies, Andrew Scott’s Site Project Manager says: “We are very pleased to have been awarded this contract, we are very close to the project and look forward to deliver over the next year. We understand that the community is very important to the project and to us and will be looking to hire local companies and individuals to help in our works.” Over the next year, the site will be developed into a multi-functional facility for community and recreational use as well as for learning; including Welsh language, cultural, crafts, environmental and horticulture studies. There will be luxury accommodation for hire; a heritage centre

with education facilities; a restaurant; an Eisteddfod garden; an open-air concert area, as well as rooms for hire for classes. Andrew Scott Construction was also awarded the contract to repair the walls of the Castle which started in July 2012 and includes stabilising the Castle wall using a number of measures including rock anchors and the construction of a new retaining wall within the Castle grounds. The first segment of Cardigan Castle’s racking shores was removed with a firework fanfare on Friday 8th March. A celebratory atmosphere surrounded the Strand as town mayor Councillor, Catrin Miles, fired the first blowtorch to cut through the metal framework which has surrounded the castle since 1975. With the crowd giving the countdown, a giant crane lifted away the metal strut accompanied by cheers form onlookers. A choir form Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi provided the music. Afterwards, Councillor Miles said: “It really is a significant day for the town and signals that things are really moving.” Cardigan Castle has also relaunched its new website, which includes a detailed history of the 900 year old castle plus a look forward to the £11M restored site being opened next year. It also includes information on getting involved and updates on news and events. A special attraction is a time-lapse video showing construction work. The site will be continually updated and will eventually include booking facilities for the self catering accommodation, bed and breakfast accommodation, events and room hire. www.cardigancastle.com / www.castellaberteifi.com The site is due to open in the Spring of 2014, and event that the whole of Cardigan, Wales and beyond look forward to.

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We, at Total Timber Solutions Ltd, have been constantly delivering quality projects in the commercial, residential, and conservation sectors for many years. The company has been built upon solid foundations based on integrity, with top levels of excellence and professionalism. We are currently working on the prestigious landmark Cardigan Castle and in the process of achieving CHAS accreditation, to be nationally recognised to a threshold standard in health and safety.

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New affordable shared ownership in Wythenshawe A show home for the Hollyview development that will provide affordable homes in Wythenshawe, was officially launched by local MP Paul Goggins in March 2013. Located on Hollyhedge Road and Rotherby Road, the project includes 15 two-bedroom houses for shared ownership. The homes have been developed by Willow Park Housing Trust, with financial support from the Homes and Communities Agency. Paul Goggins said: “Hollyview provides much needed new homes for local people. In Wythenshawe we simply do not have enough houses to rent and it has become virtually impossible for first time buyers to get a mortgage. “This imaginative development will provide young families in particular with an important and affordable new option.” Hollyview has excellent transport links with Wythenshawe Hospital and Manchester Airport, and it is ideally located for hospital and airport workers, as well as anyone who wants to get onto the property ladder. Hollyview will create more opportunities for local people to live in high quality, sustainable and affordable housing, which

HOUSING UKC

Hollyview is a priority for Willow Park Housing Trust. Design Group, the homes boast The £2.14M scheme will feature masonry walls and metal ratings, and beautifully designed kitchens, bathrooms all are designed to Lifetime Homes and many eco-friendly features. It standards to provide accessible, will also boast Secured by Design adaptable and sustainable homes. accreditation, which is a Police initiative The Main Contractor for the project supporting the principles of ‘designing is Wiggett Construction, who has out crime’ for new developments. worked on a variety of previous As an added bonus, Willow Park worked schemes for Willow Park Housing. with The Manchester College to provide Work was completed in spring. real work experience for local students. Built to a high standard, each property will include an excellent choice of design features. Each home has an individual secure driveway providing private off road car parking, there is fencing to rear gardens and 1 Birch Street, Guide Bridge, Ashton-under-Lyne OL7 0NX turfed fronts. Telephone: 0161 339 0831 Fax: 0161 285 3393 Designed Email: taylorpgcon@aol.com www.pgcontractors.co.uk by Pozzoni

UKC PROFILE

The National Trust

Caring for the past, present and future

The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three Victorian philanthropists: Miss Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley. Concerned about the impact of uncontrolled development and industrialisation, they set up the Trust to act as a guardian for the nation in the acquisition and protection of threatened coastline, countryside and buildings. For more than 100 years, the Trust has looked after places that connect the present and future with the past. From ancient stone circles and Victorian cotton mills, to gardens, village streets and castles, these places are alive with history. The Trust is responsible for protecting and opening to the public more than 300 historic houses and gardens, and 49 industrial monuments and mills. But it doesn’t stop there. The Trust also looks after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorlands, islands, archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves and villages – for ever, for everyone. One of the most recent projects to finish is the Baroque garden at Canons Ashby, which now looks as originally intended by its long standing owners, the Dryden family. Canons Ashby, a manor house built in 1550, was built by and home to various descendants of the Dryden family until the mid-20th century. The garden was commissioned by Edward Dryden in 1710 and is a rare survival of the early style favoured by Queen Anne’s gardeners, George London and Henry Wise. With its formal terraces, gravel paths, complex bedding schemes, topiary and statues, the gardens contrast delightfully with the surrounding rural countryside and rolling hills. It was acquired in 1981, and the house renovation also took place during

the first 25 years of ownership. Recent work has improved the conditions Since 1981, a total of £1M has been of the farm buildings that house a spent on the restoration of the gardens number of small local businesses. and parkland, with a final additional Repairs have involved pointing £250,000 coming from a specially issues on the stone and general designated garden endowment fund. repairs that you would expect from The gardens formally opened a building close to 100 years old. on 6th June 2013. The workshops are housed in a concrete Work at on Durham Massey Visitors’ structure that has brought about challenges Centre is currently ongoing near Altrincham. in bringing up the levels of insulation It is one of the most popular National to building control requirements. Trust properties, with a high number Re-roofing works were also of regular and repeat visitors. undertaken to improve structural The building will include a new café roof conditions to the farm buildings facility, kitchens, shop and welcome and house the small businesses. area and is set within new landscaped Electrical works helped to update the walks and access to the main house. workshops and new windows were The Trust has developed the new building installed to the rear Cow Shed building which takes its form from other simple and new external door screens to agricultural buildings around the estate, the refurbished workshop G1. and the design consists of a number of Completed in June, the Main Contractor timber or brick buildings linked by a glazed for Barrington Court was W Coombes & colonnade arranged around a central south Sons (Contractors) Ltd – a long-established facing seating terrace linked to the café. and local family company that has Work on the development is scheduled successfully carried out a varied portfolio to complete in November this year. of contracts since its formation in 1871. June saw the completion of work at Barrington Court for the Trust. Built in the 16th century, Barrington Court changed hands many times and was derelict before it was acquired by the Tree Surgery Consultancy Training National Trust in 1907. The Trust carried out repairs and then let it t 01392 811338 (24hrs) to Colonel Arthur Lyle, f 01392 811843 whose masterplan e info@hi-line.co.uk transformed the estate and included Brookfield Yard, Tedburn Road constructing a model Whitestone, EXETER EX4 2HF farm, built to the west of the main estate gardens.

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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 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 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 continued page 50 >

Stone surfaces for Italian lifestyle

Granite Granite have been Importers and Distributors to the Stone Industry for more than 10 years, supplying Granite, Marble and Engineered Quartz Stone throughout the UK. Accredited supplier of Natural Stone Tiles to TFL London Underground. Our growing status and reputation in the Industry, both UK and Internationally, has led us to become UK Distributor for Quarella, where we offer the Living, Evo and Flair Ranges.

Importers & Distributors of Granite, Marble & The Stoneyard, Russell Gardens, Wickford, Essex SS11 8QG Tel: +44 (0) 1268 761214/761219 Fax: +44 (0) 1268 560088 www.granitegraniteltd.com email: office@granitegraniteltd.co.uk

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 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. At the end of January, HRH Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall joined passengers to travel by Tube as part of a visit to mark the 150th anniversary of London Underground and celebrate the important role that engineering and infrastructure plays in the UK. The visit celebrated the importance of engineering and transport infrastructure projects in London. Their Royal Highnesses visited Farringdon station, which was part of the original underground network built in 1863, and can be seen as the “birthplace of the Tube”, before taking in some of the other important infrastructure projects in the capital. Farringdon is currently being transformed in preparation for the arrival of Crossrail - the new east-west rail link - in 2018. New ticket halls, lifts and other facilities have already been added, and now work is underway to prepare for the arrival of the Crossrail tunnels being dug from Royal Oak in the west and Limmo Peninsula near Canning Town in the east, with new shafts sunk to enable two new ticket halls to be constructed for Crossrail at Farringdon and Barbican. Farringdon station will become a major hub - one of the busiest rail stations in Britain. It will be the only station to be served continued page 52 >

HEL and High Water Forty years ago, London Underground needed water level sensors that would operate in a high humidity environment with the likelihood of flooding and yet remain reliable and function faultlessly. Hawker Electronics were able to supply such equipment.

Hawker Electronics level control systems

Over these years, London Underground and Hawker Electronics have worked closely to create other bespoke products for demands within Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busy underground system. During the years, engineers from London Underground and Hawker Electronics worked closely to create bespoke products that met the demands and standards fit for Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busy underground system, ensuring that the millions of customers were able to use the network without getting their feet wet. Apart from general ingress of Groundwater, the depth of the underground network encourages water infiltration from the Thames and numerous underground rivers that flow above the tunnels. This ingress can total 8 million gallons on a dry day rising to 14 million gallons on wet days. Reliable operation of Pumps and Alarm Systems is crucial. Every day, the moving escalators must be hosed down and the debris pumped away. Drainage sumps need to be degritted and cleaned. Pumps need to be switched on and off seamlessly. Hawker Electronics is proud to fly the British flag and contribute to success story of London Underground ensuring that millions of Londoners get to work on time and tourists enjoy their stay in one of the best loved capitals in the world.

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by London Underground, Crossrail and Thameslink services and will enable passengers to travel in any direction around London and beyond. Their Royal highnesses were given a brief overview of the history of London Underground and then visited the Crossrail site. They met some of the apprentices and other young people engaged in building Crossrail and in upgrading and running the Tube network, before meeting London Underground staff and taking a ride with them between Farringdon and King’s Cross St. Pancras, part of the original 1863 route. The journey enabled them to try out one of London Underground’s new S-Stock trains, which are being introduced to 40 per cent of the Tube network. The spacious, walk-through, airconditioned trains are built at the Bombardier facility in Derby, which The Prince of Wales also recently visited. At Network Rail’s King’s Cross station, The Prince and The Duchess were welcomed onto the construction site of London’s newest open space, King’s Cross Square, due to open in autumn 2013. They saw the final pieces of the much unloved green canopy being torn down to reveal for the first time in over 150 years the magnificent Grade I listed Victorian station façade - a structure designed by Lewis Cubitt, the brother of Thomas Cubitt who is an ancestor of The Duchess of Cornwall. After a walk down the newly restored train shed, they visited the spacious new western concourse. Opened in March 2012, it is the largest single-span structure in Europe and features iconic design by John McAslan. They also visited one of the most popular parts of the station made famous by Harry Potter, Platform 9 ¾, and took a look into the Parcel Yard public house, the largest pub on the railway network. Mike Brown, Managing Director of London Underground & London Rail, said: “It was an honour to have The Prince and The Duchess visit us today and help us mark the 150th anniversary of London Underground and the enduring

importance that the network has to of apprenticeships and training in London and to the UK economy. engineering for young people. “As we mark the anniversary we are TfL is an employer committed to also building for the future - transforming developing and maintaining the skills and stations and replacing trains, signals and talents of its workforce and addressing track. Our passengers are already seeing the skills shortage within the transport the benefits, with more frequent and industry for now and the future. reliable services on the Jubilee and Victoria Within the last two financial years, 135 lines among many other improvements. graduate roles have been created in TfL, “This year will see even more - with with 86 graduates enrolling in September Their Royal Highnesses today having 2012. More than 400 apprenticeships experienced one of the new airare being created by Crossrail. conditioned trains, which will soon Many are being trained at the new serve 40% of the Tube network. Tunnelling and Underground Construction ‘It is this sustained investment that will Academy in east London where up to enable us to create a network able to 3,500 people will receive training in the support London’s growing population and skills required to work below ground. maintain our city’s vital role for the next 150 years.” Terry Morgan, Crossrail Chairman said: “150 years on from the birth of the Tube and London is experiencing the biggest Great Yarmouth Printing Services Ltd transformation to its transport network Lithographic and Digital Printers in 50 years with the construction of Great Yarmouth Printing Services Limited was Crossrail. Crossrail established in 1978, and offers a complete print solution will increase London’s rail capacity by ten for clients across the UK. With extensive lithographic per cent, deliver new printing expertise, the latest in digital printing journey opportunities technology and a mail fulfilment service, we are able to and bring an extra 1.5 meet almost any requirement. million people within 45 minutes commute GYPS offers a complete stock and supply service for of the capital. everyone, from small businesses to large corporate “Thousands of jobs have been created clients on a contractual basis. Stock can be picked to deliver Crossrail and packed from our warehouse for next day delivery. with thousands more This is ideal for items such as business forms and employed across the stationery where storage space is a problem or there is UK in regional based a requirement to supply more than one location. suppliers. Crossrail will move London forward for the next Gapton Hall Road, Great Yarmouth, NR31 0NL 150 years or more.” Today’s visit Tel: 01493 650541 Email: office@gyps.co.uk highlighted the www: gyps.co.uk importance

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EDUCATION UKC

Bluecoat Academy Open to students of all cultures, backgrounds and abilities Work is well underway on the project that will transform Bluecoat Academy’s Wollaton Park campus. Commencing in April last year, it is being funded through the former government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Once completed, the entire campus will be completely remodelled and will feature flexible teaching, social and dining spaces with ICT access. Existing temporary accommodation will be removed and replaced with new buildings, and the school grounds will also be landscaped. Councillor David Mellen, Nottingham City Council’s portfolio holder for children’s services, said: “Bluecoat Academy is one of the final two schemes in Nottingham’s BSF programme which has transformed a significant number of Nottingham’s schools. “This project is about more than just giving the existing site a makeover – it is about transforming the teaching and learning environment to ensure that pupils get the most out of their school experience and can reach their full potential.” Built by Carillion, deliveries to site are planned to avoid school start and finish times, residential refuge collection, school deliveries and known managed resident’s service provision such as weekly ambulance provisions. Concrete and stone, and muck away wagons have been in force throughout May last year, while road sweep services will be provided as the need arises. The Nottingham Bluecoat School was founded as a co-educational charity school in 1706 ‘to train poor children in the knowledge of God and religion, as taught in the Church of England’. Situated in the middle of Nottingham for many years and closely associated with the three ancient parishes of central Nottingham, it transferred to new buildings on its present site in 1967.

At the same time, it changed its status from that of a one-form entry Independent Grammar School to a two-form entry Voluntary Aided Grammar School. In 1978 it became a five-form entry co-educational comprehensive school and in 1996 Bluecoat became a DCSF designated Technology College. Today, the school has grown further, and has approximately 1,500 students in years 7-11. There is also a flourishing and developing sixth form with about 250 students in years 12 and 13. There are approximately 145 members of teaching staff and 80 non-teaching staff. In the past ten years, the school has enjoyed increasing success. Achievement levels have risen consistently over the last few years to the point where about 75% of students achieve five A*-C grades in GCSE courses in year 11. Levels of achievement are well above local and national averages. The school’s admission policy reserves about 75% of places for young people from Christian and other world faith backgrounds, with the other 25% of places offered without reference to

faith to young people from catchment areas in the inner city. This reflects the school’s historic mission as a charity school. As a result of this entry policy, the school is uniquely comprehensive; serving its own neighbourhood and the whole of the Nottingham area, and as a result is genuinely open to students of all cultures, backgrounds and abilities. Designed by Capita Symonds, work will be completed on the project in January 2014.

UKC CIVIL

Lincolnshire Energy from Waste Project Treating 150,000 tonnes of waste each year Construction of Lincolnshire’s first Energy from Waste (EfW) facility to treat household waste is well underway. The landmark project, which will dramatically reduce the amount of waste Lincolnshire sends to landfill, has been led by the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership (LWP), which appointed Waste Recycling Group (WRG) to design, build and operate the EfW facility for the county. The facility – on 3.1 hectares of land at north Hykeham, will be operational by autumn 2013 and will create 33 new jobs, with a significant number of other jobs created throughout construction. It will supply 11 MegaWatts of electricity to the National Grid. It also has the potential to supply heat to the local community – as existing EfW facilities do in Sheffield and Nottingham. The facility will provide a sustainable, safe and affordable waste treatment solution and allows energy to be recovered from waste that isn’t recycled or composted in the form of electricity. The contract between Lincolnshire County Council and WRG, now FCC, was signed in March 2011 after being appointed by the Executive Committee to design, build and operate a new EfW facility at the end of 2010. It forms part of Lincolnshire County Council’s solution to meet environmental targets set by the Landfill Directive, which aims to recover 67% of waste by 2015.

As a key member of WRG’s bid team for the project, CNIM Clugston Lincolnshire Ltd was selected to design and construct the facility. Working in joint venture with process partner CNIM, Clugston is working to provide the £40M civil engineering works package incorporating structural work, associated offices, control rooms and a visitor centre to cater for the 150,000 tonnes per annum plant. The project is designed by Studio E Architects. The EfW project will be fed from a series of new waste transfer stations strategically situated throughout the region. Household waste will be collected, sorted and then sent to the EfW facility for processing. Waste transported to the facility is to be stored within a large underground bunker before being used as a fuel to power a hot water boiler. This in tern drives an 11 MegaWatt turbine. Electricity, which is generated, is then exported to the National Grid thus reducing the need to burn fossil fuels to create electricity. As a by-product of the process, IBA or Incinerator Bottom Ash is produced. This material is then used in different applications including as an aggregate replacement in road construction. This complex project involves heavy civil engineering works, undertaken in testing conditions. The waste storage bunker was constructed using secant

piles in order to obviate ground water ingress into the underground structure. Founding seven metres below ground level in an old gravel extraction quarry, the bunker made for an interesting start to the project. Heavily reinforced concrete walls surround the bunker and continue from the level to terminate at a height of 20m above ground level. These were formed on site using a proprietary metal framework system, lifted and positioned using the site’s tower crane. The structure’s huge primary steelwork frame measures 190m long, 30m wide and at its peak, reaches 45m high. Supported by piled foundations, the steelwork has provided phasing challenges to meet the delivery dates. Phasing the different facets of the construction is key in order to hand over different areas to allow the installation of the process equipment. Managing these key interfaces has been challenging, but has been managed by the site team to the commendation of the client. Opportunities are being explored to make use of the heat produced by the facility in local homes and businesses in the future. Not only will this facility reduce the nation’s overall carbon footprint, but it will dramatically reduce the need for landfill.

Fast Track EfW Plant Delivery Successful delivery of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities in the UK is a major challenge often affected by public opposition during the planning process and difficulties in funding. Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) adopted an alternative approach to address these challenges. Recognising the challenges faced by EfW projects in the UK, LCC secured full planning permission for the facility prior to completion of the procurement rather than leaving it to the bidders/contractor to deal with later. LCC also elected to fund the capital cost of the project with the support of prudential borrowing, rather than looking to the private sector to provide the funding. Ramboll was appointed by LCC to support the development of an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the treatment of “residual” waste. The preferred solution was a CHP enabled EfW plant. Using its extensive EfW experience, Ramboll prepared a plant design to support the planning application. The plant layout and building envelope was developed to accommodate a range of modern high efficiency EfW technologies. It also provided space for additional equipment to enhance future performance. The planning application was submitted in the autumn of 2008 and approved by LCC’s Planning Committee in July 2009. LCC’s approach was well received by the market and bidders were comfortable adopting the design defined in the planning permission. The project attracted strong interest from waste management companies and good support from the technology suppliers in a heated market. The bidders were particularly Andrew Woolcock, Director, Waste-to-Energy andrew.woolcock@ramboll.com

enthused about the prospect of an early contract award and construction start. This resulted in strong competition. The procurement commenced in late 2008 using a competitive dialogue procedure to select a Design Build and Operate contractor. Ramboll provided LCC with technical support including a robust technical specification to ensure good quality and a competitive price. The preferred bidder was appointed in late 2010. Construction commenced in 2011 and has kept to programme for operations commencement in 2013. The project has benefitted from a clear definition, a short procurement and fast track construction launch, which will save the Council significant landfill tax charges. Ramboll has supported LCC throughout the lifecycle of the project and will be there during the commencement of operations. This attention to detail and focused approach has resulted in a notably quick delivery at a very competitive contract price. Supporting local authorities, waste management companies, private developers and funders in the planning, development, procurement, due diligence and delivery of waste management infrastructure, Ramboll welcomes enquiries for technical advisory and engineering consultancy support for UK based and international projects.

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UKC EDUCATION

Gloucester House Upgraded boarding house for St John’s School Next month will see the completion of a new girls’ boarding house that will provide facilities of equal status to the boys. Gloucester House, formerly known as Churchill House, was identified for an upgrade so it meets the requirements set out in the National Minimum Standards Boarding School Regulations. In addition, the twin requirements for a girls’ boarding house and the need to refurbish this particular one were combined in the proposal to make the alterations. Gloucester House provides the base for pupils during the school day, each having a place in their house where they can keep their belongings, while Upper Sixth can use their studies during private study lessons. Refurbishment will include alterations to create protected lobbies to the single staircase that serves the building. These alterations will make the building safe and compliant with statutory requirements and is fundamental to the continued use of the building by the new school. In addition, there will be services to provide new sanitary facilities. Other works include the removal of the 1980s single-storey brick extension to the rear of Gloucester House and its pair, Montgomery and North House, which were detrimental to the rear elevations and setting of these buildings. The boarding house is for St John’s School, which was founded in 1851 by a clergyman, Ashby Haslewood, who was vicar of St Mark’s, Hamilton Terrace in St John’s Wood, north London. The school expanded throughout the 20th century despite the problems faced by all independent schools due to the Depression. After the Second World War, the school attracted the interest of Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, who promoted the school, raised money for it, and gave his own time and wealth generously.

The school has continued to expand and will be divided on these lines. in 1989 the first sixth form girls were Designed by Architect Design admitted. In 2010, girls joined the school Partnership, the Main Contractor is in the fourth form for the first time and Beard Construction, and work will last year, it became fully co-educational. be complete in September 2013. St John’s is a community of more than 600 pupils and it continues to remain loyal to the principles of its foundations, while also offering subsidised education to the sons and daughters of clergymen as well as children from lowincome backgrounds. Large spaces on the second floor are We are a Banbury based family run roofing Contractors subdivided which Company that has been established and trading since 1987. allows the building We employ approximately 40 people. We cover a seventy to accommodate up mile radius from Banbury carrying out roof slating and lead to 40 boarders and works and give national coverage to structural liners and continue its original lightweight metal roof systems. designed use as a boarding house. The ability to add All our work is guaranteed and carried out in a partitions and professional manor by our highly trained and skilled sub-divide space operatives. We are members of the NFRC, The Lead illustrates the Contractor Association, Constructionline and accredited inherent flexibility by Chas and Safecontractors. of these historic buildings. Partitions are lightweight with We operate from a large yard premises and stock all kinds of appropriate acoustic new and second hand slates with associated fittings. separation and can be removed at a later date should the SPITAL FARM, THORPE MEAD, BANBURY, OXON OX16 4RZ needs of pupils and the school change. Space is divided Tel: (01295) 258747 Fax: (01295) 271068 into three bays by Email: AttleysRoofing@hotmail.com the roof trusses and the rooms

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ROOFING CONTRACTORS

EDUCATION UKC

Notre Dame Catholic College Part of a £75M council investment plan Construction on the new £15M building for Notre Dame Catholic College in Liverpool is progressing rapidly and is getting ever closer to its completion date of this summer. This will enable the college to open to staff and students in September 2013. The new design incorporates the best of the traditions and heritage of Notre Dame Everton Valley such as beautiful legacy items including the chapel’s stained glass windows, and combines them with 21st century teaching and learning spaces. These spaces will be equipped to ensure flexibility and the highest standards of teaching can take place, whether that is one-to-one tuition in English or maths, small group work, class work or whole year activities. The new site will boast state-of-the-art science, computer and design spaces fitted with high specification equipment and hardware. In addition to this, the college’s existing strengths in humanities subjects will be enhanced by a purpose

built geology laboratory and multi-wall projection and immersion facilities in history, allowing students to access these subject areas in greater depth. This project is part of a £75M plan to construct 12 new schools. The scheme is part of the newly elected Mayor’s Investment Plan for Secondary Schools, devised as a rescue package following the scrapping of Wave Six of Liverpool’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project. Operations began following Cabinet approval for the scheme, subject to the formal awarding of the £15M contract. The college is being built on a site adjacent to Everton Park Lifestyles Centre on the edge of the Project Jennifer regeneration scheme, and the school will use the sports facilities at the site. The college is being co-located with Everton Park Sports Centre, so students will have access to a lifestyles gym, swimming pool, sports hall, exercise studios and newly

installed, external 3G sports pitches. As would be expected, the performing arts facilities will be of a professional standard and will include two separate auditoria and two recording studios. The college will also host the Resonate Music hub that facilitates the music tuition and programmes across Liverpool. Bespoke staff and student work areas have been included in the design to allow students to further their studies before and after school within their preferred curriculum areas with specialist support and materials close to hand. All students already have their own personal electronic device/notebook or iPad and these will integrate fully with an environmentally friendly ‘follow me’ printing system – allowing students tot print from any terminal and avoiding the waste created by traditional printers. The Architect for the project is Sheppard Robson, and the Main Contractor is Willmott Dixon.

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Turning ideas into reality 57

UKC CIVIL

World’s largest wind farm blows into action London Array Full capacity has now been reached at the 630MW first phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the London Array. The commissioning of the 175th and final turbine took place just after 4pm on Saturday 6th April. With all turbines now exporting power to the national grid, London Array is expected to produce enough green electricity to power nearly half a million homes a year. Project Director Richard Rigg said: “This is the final major milestone of the construction phase and the culmination of more than two years’ offshore construction work which began in March 2011 with the installation of the first foundation. “It has been a complex operation but I am delighted that the commissioning of the wind farm has now been completed on schedule, despite the worst of the winter weather.” Turbine installation began in January 2012 and has been completed by MPI Discovery, A2SEA’s Sea Worker and Sea Jack. Turbine installation was completed in

December 2012, and since then the project has focused on fully commissioning and putting into operation all 175 of the 3.6MW Siemens turbines by this spring. 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. “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. “Building London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, is a great achievement. “As we now look to our pipeline of future projects, DONG Energy is determined to drive down the costs of our offshore wind farms to e100 per megawatt hour for projects we’ll be sanctioning in 2020. “What we have learnt at London Array, together with our continuing focus on innovation in technologies and techniques, will help us achieve that.” DONG Energy is one of the leading offshore wind farm developers in the world, with more than 20 years’ experience in the wind power industry and has continued page 60 >

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built every third wind farm in Europe. 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. Mr Cocker continued: “London Array is a significant achievement in renewable energy. The world’s largest operational offshore wind farm will be capable of generating enough energy to power nearly half a million homes and reduce harmful CO2 emissions by over 900,000 tonnes a year. “It’s been a tough time for the team working on site. The recent b ad weather and north easterly winds have whipped up the waves preventing access to the site so this milestone is true reward for their hard work.” E.ON is one of the world’s leading power and gas companies. With annual sales of more than e82Bn and around 79,000 employees, it is one of the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON is active in onshore and offshore wind, concentrating solar power (CSP), solar PV and biomass and currently has over 4.2GW of renewable capacity in operation, which makes it a leading global renewable player. 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. “Just over two years ago, we celebrated the first of 177 foundation installations in this massive undertaking. Today, after overcoming challenges on both land and at sea, we celebrate the commissioning of the final turbine. “As a partner in some of the world’s most sophisticated and large-scale renewable energy projects, Masdar recognises the value of robust collaborative efforts as exemplified by the London Array. “Masdar is proud to be contributing to the United Kingdom’s clean energy mix and remains committed to growing offshore wind capacity in the UK and worldwide.” Masdar is Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions. The Company serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future. Backed by the Mubadala Development Company, the strategic investment company of the government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the Emirate’s long-term vision for the future of energy. 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. The project has started handing over to the Operations and Maintenance Team. This will be completed in the summer when the last shallow array cable has been buried. The EEW Special Pipe Constructions GmbH (EEW SPC) has been vital to the scheme at London Array, which is one of the largest the Company has had in its history. Since 2008, its mill in Rostock has been engaged in the production of heavy steel pipes as well as the appropriate pipe components. The Company’s customers are mainly from the offshore wind industry sector. Thick-walled, longitudinally welded large pipes, with diameters of up to seven metres, lengths of up to 120 metres and up to 1,000 tonnepiece weights can be fabricated. The annual capacity is 144,000 tonnes per year. Considering the current order intake, EEW SPC has participated in the installation of almost 1,000 WTGs as manufacturer of foundations. After a two-year production time, EEW SPC finished the manufacturing of 177 monopiles for the offshore wind farm in April 2012, using a total of 70,000 tonnes of steel. With the construction of a new fabrication hall, which will be completed in 2014, EEW SPC is equipped for the production of XL monopiles with a diameter of up to ten metres and with unit weights up to 1,500 tonnes in the future.

UKC HOUSING

Lymington Shores

A great community to live in In one of the UK’s finest waterfront locations, Lymington Shores is a prestigious development of one-, two-, and three-bedroom properties, as well as four- and five-bedroom detached homes, sympathetically set into the heart of the world-renowned sailing resort of Lymington. The development looks out onto the river and the New Forest National Park and is being created to ensure it identifies with Lymington and the New Forest. With public space, facilities and shops, Lymington Shores is a destination for the whole town to enjoy and a great community to live in. At one end is a new boat club and restaurant as well as an art gallery, which is currently situated in the forest and will be relocated to here. These new facilities help create activity down by the waterside. Expertly designed by Avery Associates Architects, the properties have been designed to portray three quite different characters. On the western side, the housing units are terraced, with a brick aesthetic and roof pitch to visually connect with the nearby Victorian part of Lymington,

particularly the railway station and its associated cottages which abut the site. The central area echoes the elegance of the town’s high street, a medieval street modernised in the 18th century with Georgian façades added to most of the buildings. Either side of Lymington Shores’ public lawns and the Hard, Georgian terraces open out towards the sea so each one gets a view of the river or forest, even deep into the site. On the eastern side, the third area is a more private development, comprising individual houses. There are 12 villas here in total, adding to the site’s total count of 39 townhouses, 117 flats and six shops, as well as the boat club, gallery and restaurant. Demolition was required before work began on the brownfield site as

it had various factory units on site, one of which had large industrial sheds. All homes have sustainable features and are designed to the Homes for the Future standard. The Main Contractor for the project is Redrow Homes. Work started on site in Summer 2012, and the phased work is currently ongoing.

Mark Hinsley Arboricultural Consultants Ltd.

proud to be part of the

Lymington Shores Project

Drylining, Screeding, External Rendering and Metsec Approved Subcontractor. Mobile – 07768 601446 Email – paul@bourntex.co.uk Website – www.bourntex.co.uk

EDUCATION UKC

Lakes College

The location of West Cumbria’s new Britain’s Energy Coast Construction Skills Centre The £7M Construction Skills Centre at Lakes College is now opened and will equip hundreds of young people in West Cumbria with the latest construction skills. Based at Lillyhall, the centre was opened by Rt Hon Brian Wilson, Chairman of economic development organisation Britain’s Energy Coast; Tom Zarges, Chairman of Nuclear Management Partners and Stephen Henwood, Chairman of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority at an event attended by stakeholders and students. This was part of a Future of Construction event that celebrated the opening, and also included former Olympic swimmer Mark Foster, who was the keynote speaker at the event. The celebration of this major investment included a tour of the facility involving teachers and students. It boasts teaching spaces and workshops for up to 600 students who can learn everything from electrical Installation, plumbing, brickwork, carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, to more advanced skills in high specification and exotic welding and fabrication, and the installation

and maintenance of renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaic and solar thermal hot water systems. Current students put on displays that incorporated the new technology available so the students that will be starting in September will know what to expect. Mark Foster spoke to the guests about his inspirational journey and the importance of dedication and commitment to a chosen career as part of this celebratory event. The centre has been made possible thanks to the involvement of a number of organisations and companies. Britain’s Energy Coast has, through its funders Nuclear Management Partners, invested £4M in the centre while Britain’s Energy Coast Campus, through its funders the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, provided a further £2M. Lakes College invested a further £1M in new equipment and facilities for the centre and was supported by Broadway Malyan through the feasibility stage of the Project. Principal Cath Richardson said: “This centre will provide state-of-the-art facilities to develop local skills in traditional and renewable energy construction techniques,

ensuring that the skills required for a nuclear new build are available locally, maximising the economic benefits of the Britain’s Energy Coast regeneration plans. “It has been exceptionally well received by local employers who all want to be involved or benefit in some way, which will in turn benefit the students. We invited in prospective students and their parents so they can see what this amazing facility has to offer and hopefully be excited about next September as we all are!” The project for Britain’s Energy Coast Construction Skills Centre was managed by Cumbria County Council and built by Esh Construction as a Design & Build Project. Esh’s team of contractors comprised of Cockermouth Architects, Day Cummins; Kendal-based Civil and Structural Engineers, Curtins Consulting; and Mechanical & Electrical Engineers, Pettit Singleton of Preston. The Esh Construction Team worked closely with Lakes College and the Project Stakeholders to build a bespoke facility from its initial concept stage to completion on site, ahead of programme and within budget.

Storage Equipment, Partitioning Systems, Mezzanine Floors Unit 9J, New Yard, Clay Flatts Trading Estate, Workington, Cumbria CA14 3YE

Tel: 01900 65139 www.tjservices.co.uk

TOTAL WELDING & ENGINEERING SUPPLY SOLUTIONS TO LAKES COLLEGE 12a Kingstown Broadway, Kingstown Ind. Est.,CARLISLE CA3 0HA

Tel: 01228 598944 / 598945 Fax: 01228 596505 Mobile: 07885 444644 Email: info@hunterltd.co.uk 63

UKC LEISURE

Les Ormes

New facilities for Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier self-catering resort Part of the overall masterplan for the Les Ormes Complex, work on the development that opened in May 2013 consisted of constructing six two-bedroom self-catering units, bringing the total to 45 units. In addition to this, staff members were relocated with improved accommodation in seven two-bedroom staff flats. Accommodation in Jersey is a valuable resource so by offering high quality accommodation to employees, it keeps the best staff and locates them on site. A new house keeping area has been built to service the self-catering units too. By building on land that belongs to Les Ormes, the capital assets are being increased, but more importantly, a long-term cash stream is being created to fund those in need in Jersey. The extra facilities creates more selfcatering with economise of scale making better use of existing facilities on site from sport to ancillary such as catering. The six two-bedroom granite clad self-catering units offer two double/ twin bedrooms suitable for up to four adults and a child, and is ideal for a young family of five. The downstairs has entry via the decked area into the lounge kitchen fully fitted out to the Les Ormes five-star standard with dishwasher, washer/dryer, full oven and hob, microwave and digital large screen TV. Behind this is a double bedroom with ensuite shower room, while upstairs there is another double/triple bedroom and a house bathroom with bath and overhead shower. One large bedroom in this arrangement has a glass Juliette balcony. Located near the lodges on the eastern side of the complex, which face south westerly to get the evening sun, the units are a short walk to reception, where people can make use of the gym, pool, bar, tennis courts, football pitches and golf course. The interiors follow the winning formula at the complex of a simple, clean contemporary layout. Downstairs there is decking and sliding doors leading to the open plan kitchen/diner/lounge.

Next to this living area is the master shower, ensuite with wall mounted TV. The Terrace self-catering units are backed up by various sports facilities. This summer, Les Ormes has increased its activity programme from walking to paddleboarding so that guests can be as active and adventurous as they like. Planting has also been put in place to add the final touches to the fabulous development. The whole complex has much more to offer than just self-catering. As well as the sporting facilities, there is bike hire and a high ropes adventure centre. From June, in conjunction with the on site partner Absolute Adventures, Les Ormes is offering supervised kids activities as well as coastal activities including kayaking, coasteering, and blokarting on the beach. Les Ormes has a restaurant and bar, allowing guests to choose their own meal plans including breakfast and dinner. The

restaurant also offers takeaways and BBQ packs to use in the BBQ area. The complex has a range of lodges already available for guests. Les Ormes Lodges have one large bedroom with the option of a large double or twin arrangement. The lounge has a pull out settee with two separate single beds close to each other, and includes a private hot tub. Les Ormes Farm seven and eight consists of two large one-bedroom, two-storey units hidden away in the old Les Ormes Farm area bordering the golf course. A double sofa bed is available for children. La Pulente Villas one and two are ground floor units with great views of the sea at La Pulente, two kilometres from Les Ormes. Bunk beds or a sofa bed are options for children. The two-bedroom homes sleep four people. This includes The Boathouse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; continued page 66 >

Panaget

Stone

Wall & Floor Tiles

Amtico

ANY FLOORING AND TILING FOR YOUR HOME! Come and see our showroom for a fantastic range of:

• Panaget • Wooden Floor • Amtico • Ceramic Wall and Floor Tiles • Natural Stone • Vinyl • Laminate • Wood Floor Restoration •Wide Range of Carpet

All at affordable prices • 20 years experience • Supply only or supply & fit Free estimates at a time that suits you! Find us on Facebook!

Tel: 01534 519595 Mobile: 07797 812009 Email: ollivier@davyflooring.com La Motte Street, St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 4SY

www.davyflooring.com

its architecturally eye-catching building is close to the sea with panoramic views of the bay and tower. This is the best self-catering unit in Jersey. There are two bedrooms, both ensuite, one of which is downstairs with the kitchen dining area and terrace, and the other is upstairs with the lounge and balcony. Les Ormes Le Tir is an old historic building that has been converted into a large five-bedroom unit, ideal for larger groups or even two families sharing, split over two floors. On the top level, the decking has stunning views west to St Ouen’s Bay. Like all Les Ormes units they are furnished to the highest specification with everything required for a great holiday. The range of three-bedroom properties has four different types of self-catering units. The Range Lodge is the most popular unit on site next to the lodges on one floor. This boasts a large open plan living area that includes a private hot tub. Les Ormes Villas were newly built in 2010 and have it all in an upstairs downstairs set up. Three bedrooms downstairs sleep six comfortably with a steam shower and sauna next to the master bedroom. Upstairs, a large open plan layout with large veranda with south facing views of the golf course are available. This also includes a private hot tub. La Pulente cottages are ideal for the

beach at La Pulente, which is nearby. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms are upstairs, and a bunk bed room downstairs with a house toilet. There’s also an open plan living area. Finally, Les Ormes Farm nine is located in the original Les Ormes Farm site. This unit is hidden in a peaceful pretty setting. This contemporary terraced unit sleeps up to six adults in two double/twin bedrooms and a bunk room. There is a separate lounge and kitchen and a house bathroom. There is a south facing garden and at the front, a small garden area and parking. Work to build the six two-bedroom units, staff accommodation and a house keeping

We were entrusted with the new windows and balustrading at this development.

area started in September 2012 and was completed in May 2013, costing £2M. The Main Contractor was Camerons and the Architect was Riva Architects. Not content with this, the whole complex is continuing to grow and this September will see the start of work to build 21 three-bedroom self-catering units.

M.C.FLOORS. C.I. LTD (EST 1979) M.C. Floors C.I. Ltd. is a locally established Jersey flooring company with over 40 years of experience in floor laying and supplying for projects both commercial and domestic. Over our many years as a Jersey flooring company, we have maintained M.C. Floors C.I. Ltd. as an individual firm of professional local experts with qualified fitters and an emphasis on attention to detail. Striving for personal and communicative customer service whilst maintaining competitive pricing, our working processes ensure that we meet the highest of standards at all times. Our Jersey floor installation portfolio reflects our wealth of knowledge and experience pertaining to all aspects of flooring. We supply, fit and maintain all types including Amtico, Gradus, Gerflor Vinyl, Linoleum, Flotex carpet, Kahrs Wood, Tarkett, Carpet tiles, Resins and many more. We also specialize in the renovation, sanding and refinishing of wooden floors, making our services the most comprehensive of any Jersey flooring company.

11 L`Avenue le Bas, Rue des Près Trading Estate, St Saviour, JERSEY JE2 7QN UK

Tel: (0044) 01534 760500 Fax: (0044) 01534 760501 Emergency Call-out: 07797 713494 Email: info@pallotglass.com www.pallotglass.com

M.C. Floors C.I. Ltd. Le Grange, Rue De Piece Maujer, Trinity, JE3 5HW Tel: 01534 862442 Fax: 01534 864829 Mobile: 07797 715618 www.mcfloorsci.co.uk

PROFILE UKC

Garcia & Sykes

100 years of combined engineering experience Having been born from a liquidated company in one of the worst recessions in history, its been a long, hard slog for Garcia & Sykes Bespoke Fabricators but one which the family Company has been happy it took. The Managing Director, Gareth Sykes, started the Company from nothing with the help of his trusted works manager and his family after being made redundant from a previous fabrication company. With the bank’s assistance and the promise of some work, he went about getting the Company set up whilst working from a garage unit with five employees until bigger premises were found. Not only did the premises grow, but so did the Company which now employs 14 staff at its base in Stalybridge, north east Manchester. Over time the Company’s reputation also grew thanks to the quality of the steel and the high levels of customer service that are instilled in everyone from the fitters on site through to the office staff and management team. This was due partly to the ISO accreditation the Company gained and its membership of the local Council Buy With Confidence scheme, which gave the Company a trusted trader status among the local community. Having built up a wide customer base for its domestic work, including gates, fencing and decorative ironwork, the Company set about extending its commercial portfolio. Karen Sykes joined the Company in 2011

from her previous role as a lawyer and tasked with making new park gates in set about promoting the Company and keeping with the existing look and in time seeking new work through networking, for the park’s centenary celebrations. advertising, completing tenders and Caseys Construction went on to add Garcia simply getting the name out there. & Sykes as approved contractors and This even included having Channel 5 work together on a number of contracts. news visit their workshop on three Garcia & Sykes offer a wide range of separate occasions to interview and services which includes everything from a film Garcia & Sykes for stories including simple weld repair through to management views on the budget and GDP figures as of environmental sites for housing trusts. well as taking shots of the workshop. But no matter what the job, all customers Having had help from New Charter can be assured of great service. Housing Trust in starting out, the Company looked to extend its work and is now an T: 0161 303 7383 approved contractor for Stockport Homes, www.garciaandsykes.co.uk Carillion, New Charter Building, Caseys and Seddons Construction amongst others. After an introduction from a friend the Company was asked to speak to Caseys about some remodelling work at a local park, partly funded by the lottery. Dunwood Park in Shaw, Oldham, was being brought up to Suppliers of Wrought Iron Components for the Gate and Railing Industry. We also Supply Cantilever & Sliding Gate Accessories along with date and refurbished complete Gate Automation Equipments. to become a local attraction. After Multiabbey Trading Ltd, Gould Street, Oldham, OL1 3LL meeting with the Tel: 0161 652 1222 Fax: 0161 652 0666 Architect, Contractors Email: multiabbey@btconnect.com and the Friends of the Park group web: www.multiabbey.com Garcia & Sykes was

UKC PROFILE

Enterprise Plc Enterprise is the UK’s largest dedicated maintenance and frontline service provider to the public sector and utility industry. 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. With acquisition completed in April this year, Enterprise has been integrated into Amey to create one of the most diverse companies in its sector, with a more comprehensive offering. 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 relationship with SSE and adds to its considerable portfolio of substation projects. This success has been followed by the securing of a contract with Scottish Hydro Electric, which will ultimately lead to growth in the capacity of wind farm generation in Scotland. 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 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 six-month 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 demonstrates the broad scope of services EnterpriseLiverpool is capable of delivering, alongside routine maintenance service provision across the City as a whole. “It further maintains our presence within the social housing market with the ability to expand our service offering within the sector.” Another joint venture, EnterpriseMouchel, works in South London maintaining the 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 Mercedes-Benz to develop an innovative cleaning method using one specialist vehicle called a Unimog Mulag washing unit. This only needs to pass through the tunnel once to complete thorough cleaning. The purpose-designed machine uses flexible, long reach arms, has a ‘rotating wrist’ brush mechanism to reach the most difficult areas, has interchangeable heads allowing for different operations to be undertaken, uses brushes to ensure a better finish than the previous jetting system and requires a minimum amount of water, enabling the 3,000 litre tank to last for a full shift. For more information, please visit www.enterprise.plc.uk

Fast and Effective Low Loaders Our low loaders are very effective and can carry up to 65 tonnes. This means that we can be totally self-sufficient and are able to transport large and heavy machinery back and forth between sites; without any hassle whatsoever. Our low loaders are used in conjunction with agricultural tractors and are designed for the economical transport of plant and equipment. Low loaders are a vital part in transporting plant and equipment, and should be driven by only highly trained professionals. Because of this we ensure that all of our drivers are fully qualified in CPCS and undergo regular health and safety checks. Grab Hire for the Removal of Site Clearance

Plant Hire

We are now able to offer a grab hire service, if you are in need of fast and effective grab hire, then you needn't look any further. As a fully licensed grab hire carrier, we offer a cost effective disposal of private or commercial waste service.

Plant hire is our expertise here at 'G & J Steele Ltd'. Having been established since 2002, we have grown from just one Komatsu PC 210-6 excavator to a larger variety of 360 machines; that are readily available for hire. When it comes to plant hire, our machines come second to none.

Civil Engineering

Plant hire has never been more simple than it is with us. We offer a wide range of excavators and attachments. So whether you need self-drive plant hire or operated plant hire, we can help!

Plant Hire for all your Civil Engineering Requirements

Over the past 10 years, we have built up a strong reputation as a reliable plant hire company. We pride ourselves on this reputation and aim to keep it by offering nothing but the best in quality and service to all of our clients. If you need plant hire, then you needn't look any further than us.

Offering civil engineering to both domestic and industrial clients, our civil engineering equipment has been carefully selected to meet the demands of the construction industry.

If you are in need of civil engineering then you needn't look any further. We have over 10 years experience within the construction industry, as well as a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the importance of working with a reliable and trustworthy civil engineering company. Our number one aim is to provide our clients with first class service every time.

As members of the CPA (Construction Plant Hire Association), we understand the importance of plant hire. Because of this, we ensure that all of our drivers are fully qualified in CPCS and have regular up to date health and safety checks. Plant Repairs Plant repairs are made simple with the experts here at 'G & J Steele Ltd'. Offering full plant repairs to customers with their own plant and equipment, we ensure to deliver an unrivalled service. Our plant repairs service can be carried out on site or in our own fully equipped workshop. No job is too big or too small. So regardless of the type of repair, we can help! If you are in need of plant repairs then you needn't look anywhere else. We have over 10 years experience with dealing with plant repairs and will ensure to put our care and attention into every job.

Contact Us Today We look forward to assisting you with your Plant Hire enquiries. If you have any questions please call us today on:

01622 710 363

Not only that, but our plant repairs are undertaken by highly trained professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry. So you can rest safe in the knowledge that your plant repairs are in good hands.

www.planthirekent.net

Offering highly competitive rates for all plant repairs, we aim to ensure all of our customers not only get excellent value for money, but a fantastic service too.

236 Pratling Street, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7DG

or visit our website at: to find out more.

UKC PROFILE

Miller Homes South East For 75 years Miller Homes has been at the forefront of the private house building industry, building not just houses but communities and providing their customers with a home that they can love. In the South East region Miller Homes provide a range of developments, with houses or apartments designed to be the first step on the property ladder to large family homes. Many of these are found within good commuting distance of the large towns and cities in the area. Aspect in High Wycombe provides a range of good family sized homes overlooking the town set within a beautifully landscaped development. Two-, three- and fourbedroom houses with private gardens,

a local green play area and community facilities are situated just a half hour train journey from central London. The houses come in a variety of styles including The Thursley which makes use of a curve in the road of the development by providing a stylish three-bedroom townhouse set over three floors. The house features a garage, covered bin store, downstairs WC, under stairs storage and open plan dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. The lounge, third bedroom, study and a shower room are located on the first floor and the master bedroom with ensuite, second bedroom and family bathroom can be found on the second floor. External areas include

back garden, accessed from the ground floor dining room and a terrace located to the rear of the lounge on the first floor, the lounge also features a Juliet balcony to the front of the property. For larger families The Conway home will provide ample space to live, learn and play. The home offers a driveway, garage with workshop and an inside refuse store to the front, within the main home space there is a large lounge, downstairs WC, dining room, kitchen, family room and utility room. On the first floor there is a family bathroom and four large bedrooms, the second and third bedrooms have access to a Jack-andJill shower room and the master bedroom comes with ensuite and fitted wardrobes.

SLIDING DOOR WARDROBES

VAT FREE SLIDING DOOR WARDROBES

We are proud to be associated with Miller Homes Ltd (Yorkshire) since 2004. We supply the highest quality bespoke sliding door wardrobes to property developers throughout Yorkshire.

Sliderobes Yorkshire Franchise has perfected a fast track design, manufacture and installation process for the domestic construction industry. We specialise in VAT Free bespoke designs where the interiors provide plenty of hanging space and the variety of door styles, from single colour glass or wood effect panels to an exotic mix of multi-panel door designs, are typically available at two week lead times.

Factory & showrooms at Batley and Sheffield

Batley 01924 440 009 Sheffield 0114 3210 727 www.sliderobes.com

We use only the world renowned Raumplus door frames, tracks and sliding gear, to ensure the smoothest, quietest operation possible. Our pricing structure particularly suits the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Client Optionsâ&#x20AC;? market where property buyers now insist on having at least one fitted wardrobe in their house and are delighted by our wide range of possible designs. We are an SMAS certified business and all of our team have CSCS cards. We cover a radius of up to 75 miles from Batley, West Yorkshire. Call 01924 440009 to discuss your requirements.

EDUCATION UKC

Weston Sixth Form College The Hub completed and others will follow Weston College is committed to the very best facilities for its pupils and has already completed the Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) and the Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence (CECE) at the campus, all known as The Hub. The BEC’s new home is complete with classrooms, office space, training facilities and hi-tech bespoke space for the college’s business partners. The ground floor has a new reception area, bistro-style canteen, ‘LibraryPlus’ facility, student support and IT facilities. This complex demolition and new build scheme involved new piling, steel frame and a number of different approaches to forming the building envelope. It was a 30-week project managed by Kalvin Smith with commercial support from Owen Beckett and John Ramsay. Internally, the building is finished to an extremely high standard and includes modern toilet facilities, an accessible lift and a bespoke reception counter. There is a composite roofing system, thorough coloured render finishes and curtain walling. The build was completed to a BREEAM Excellent standard and has left Weston

College very happy with the result. Work was carried out by construction firm Bray & Slaughter, and the project was designed by Arturus Architects LLP. The development was completed at a cost of £3.3M, a third of which was provided by the Skills Funding Agency. Work was completed in March 2013. In addition, work is underway at the college on a new phase of £11M major building works at the South West Skills Campus (SWSC) on Locking Road. The investment will see the SWSC transformed into a hi-tech learning environment. The front of the SWSC will create classrooms, open teaching space, a café and reception area, with more classrooms on the

first floor, to be ready for September 2014. Other developments around Weston College include plans to create an ecohouse at the rear of the SWSC, which will be used to demonstrate practical examples of green technology in action to students on related courses.

HOUSING UKC

Essex Way Part of the Old Trafford Masterplan The skyline of Old Trafford will be changed forever thanks to a multi-million pound urban regeneration scheme that will improve residents’ lives in the process. The project’s starting point is Essex Way, where work is almost complete on all 29 two-bedroom homes and 33 two-bedroom flats. The properties will be social rented and will be managed by Trafford Housing Trust. These properties are being advertised and let through HOST, the organisation that manages the waiting list. In Essex Way, Trafford Council provided the land and the Trust financed the scheme with support from the Homes & Communities Agency. The Old Trafford Masterplan will create a new project of social housing, affordable private accommodation, community regeneration and environmental improvements. However, the project is not just focusing on bricks and mortar – it also offers local people apprenticeships. Two of these apprentices joined Matthew Gardiner, Chief Executive of Trafford Housing Trust and Michael Hyman,

Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economic Growth and Prosperity when the ceremony was unveiled at Essex Way. Mr Gardiner said: “The Old Trafford Masterplan will breathe new life into an idea that in the past has experienced under investment. After years of planning, we ware delighted to be working with the Council to bring our joint vision to full fruition. “Not only will the regeneration of Old Trafford create a modern urban community with new homes and an improved environment, it will also link neighbourhoods and community cohesion – something local people have told us they are keen to see.” Designed by PRP Architects and

built by Cruden Construction, work at Essex Way will be completed this month. By 2014, the masterplan will have built around 100 new homes. The Trust now has planning permission to build 36 apartments over three-storeys, which will include 27 one-bedroom flats and nine two-bedroom flats.

Wirral Glazing Contractors Ltd 307 Pensby Road, Pensby, Wirral, CH61 9ND Tel: 0151 648 4589 Fax: 0151 648 4006 Email: info@wirralglazing.co.uk www.wirralglazing.co.uk The company has forged relationships with key clients over the years through maintenance contracts and repeat business with both commercial and domestic clients. We are proud of the fact that most of our work is based on repeat business and recommendations.

UKC PROFILE

Canal & River Trust

Keeping people, nature and history connected Created in July 2012 as the successor to British Waterways, the Canal & River Trust is one of the UK’s newest charities. On a practical level, the Trust is responsible for canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs, as well as historic buildings, archives and three waterways museums, including the National Waterways Museum. As one of the largest charities in the UK, the Trust is the guardian of 2,000 miles of historic inland waterways in England and Wales. The Canal & River Trust also look after the third largest collection of listed buildings and structures along with 65 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, over a thousand wildlife conservation sites and a floating community of approximately 35,000 boats. Income comes from a wide range of sources, ranging from individual donors and boat licence sales through to corporate sponsors and tenants of the Trust’s properties to significant business partnerships and the vital contract with the government. Research shows that waterways provide more than £500M of public benefit every year by making them available for recreation and leisure, managing them as an important drainage and flood control system, improving the waterside through regeneration, and much more. To ensure all canals and rivers are open and

accessible to everyone, the Trust keeps them safe thanks to a rigorous regime of inspection, maintenance and repair using specialist staff and contractors. The Trust’s specialist waterway teams carry out numerous lock gate replacements, bridge works and a whole variety of day-to-day maintenance. The Canal & River Trust began a major overhaul of its waterways during November 2012 as part of a five-month, £50M restoration programme of canals and rivers across the country. It is an annual work programme that is undertaken each winter between November and March. The programme of essential maintenance included the replacement of wornout gates, brick work repairs, relining of channels and repair of aqueducts, reservoirs and other important structures. Keeping them open and safe requires a huge amount of planning, investment and craftsmanship and involves a wide range of experts, from civil engineers and hydrologists to heritage experts and ecologists. As part of its Winter Stoppage Programme, the Trust worked on approximately 100 locks across the country, replacing 174 lock gates. The new lock gates were made in the Trust’s specialist workshops at Bradley in the west Midlands and Stanley Ferry in Yorkshire.

Each lock gate is hand crafted by a skilled team of carpenters and made from sustainably sourced British oak. A single lock gate weighs, on average, more than three tonnes and can take up to 20 days to make, and has a working life of 25-30 years. When the Trust was launched last year, four of the replacement lock gates featured lines of poetry carved into them by artist Peter Coates. The initiative, which is supported by the Arts Council England, was part of a programme to encourage people to take a fresh look at their local canal or river. Lock gate making and fitting is an extremely skilled and traditional trade and one that remains essential to the waterways. Lock gates are constructed with tremendous strength as they have to control huge water pressures, take the hard usage they get from the thousands of boats that use them each year, and survive for a long time underwater and at the mercy of the elements. In order to be waterproof, they also need to be built very precisely, fitting tightly to the masonry of the lock walls and to each other. The Trust finished work at the end of May at Trent & Mersey Canal at Preston Brook. Work was necessary because the materials comprising the valley slope below the Trent & Mersey canal at

Dutton Hollow had become completely saturated with groundwater following a three-day period of heavy rain in the local area at the end of September 2012. The inherent strength of the slope was lost and it began to fail, while the glacial sand within the slope liquefied and started to slip. The failure migrated up the valley slope toward the canal, and the ground below, and surrounding the canal including the towpath then failed and consequently, the canal breached. Following this breach, a large hole was left in the canal whereby the canal bed had been scoured away to a depth of five metres in the worst location. The effects of water scour eroded lengths of canal back from the breach over distances of 55m to the north and 35m to the south. It was estimated at the time that approximately 4,000cu m of material were lost from the canal, embankment and valley slope. Effectively, a 100m length of canal had been removed. The design of the canal reinstatement was undertaken in-house by the Technical Solutions team of the Canal & River Trust. Work to reinstate the valley side and canal was designed to control groundwater and reduce its levels in the soils around and below the canal in order to increase the factor of safety of the valley slope. This was achieved by collecting issues of natural groundwater from the surrounding soils into an extensive drainage medium over the base of the area affected by the breach. Groundwater was fed into a sub drainage layer that runs down the side of the valley from under the canal to the base of the

slope, and from the sub drainage layer, the groundwater was fed into a toe drain running along the base of the valley slope. The groundwater was then passed into the existing drainage systems in the fields at the bottom of the valley and down into the River Weaver, and the Trust reconstructed the valley side with free draining granular material. Finally, fin drains were installed up the valley slope to pick up major issues of groundwater and to feed this into the toe drain. The sub drainage layer was split into two parts; the first is one metre, comprising large diameter, angular, well graded stone that is 100mm to 250mm in diameter, while the second part comprises of well graded, angular stone that is between ten to 100mm in diameter, acting as drainage and bulk fill to reinstate levels to the valley side and the canal. Each drainage layer is wrapped in a filter geotextile to prevent loss of materials from the surrounding soils. The canal channel is designed as water retaining with a vertical towpath wall and sloping offside bank. The system chosen for the canal relining is based on a bentonitegeomembrane. This is a standard technique that has been used successfully over many years on the canal system and in civil engineering generally. The geomembrane consists of prehydrated sodium bentonite contained between two layers of geotextile. The towpath wall of the canal comprises a mass gravity, water retaining, concrete wall, which is designed with watertight joints. The bentonite lining is sealed and

fixed to the base of the wall, and the offside of the canal was formed into a slope with the bentonite lining keyed into a trench above the canal level, which renders the new channel completely watertight. The bed and slopes of the canal are covered in a protective stone rip rap layer. Vertical cut-offs at each end of the relined section are formed from trenches filled with puddle clay with the bentonite lining keyed down into the clay. This prevents water percolating under the new lining. Where necessary, the disturbed slope above the offside edge of the relined canal channel has been reinstated to a stable profile using graded stone bulk fill covered in geotextile and topsoil with erosion matting as a cover layer. After the failure of the canal, investigations and assessments commenced immediately. Site work started in November 2012, with slope reconstruction starting a month later, and canal reconstruction, which commenced in January. The canal was reopened in May 2013, and the project cost ÂŁ1.5M. One of the companies affiliated with the Trust is Land and Water Services Ltd (LAWS), which was formed in 1994 as an amalgamation of MHJ Ltd and Inland Dredging Ltd. In 2001, MHJ Ltd became the holding company of the Land and Water Group, and LAWS is one of five wholly owned subsidiaries of the MHJ Group. MHJ remains a privately owned business with the two principal shareholders James Maclean and Richard Melhuish actively involved in the retaining businesses. The continued page 76 >

Sole engineering framework consultant for Canal & River Trust developing sympathetic solutions for heritage structures.

Applying our multi-sector engineering expertise to deliver safe, sustainable solutions, in a costeffective way for the Environment Agency.

Award winning Norton Fitzwarren Flood Attenuation Dam, designed by Hyder Consulting, built by Jackson Civil Engineering.

THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP WORKING IN COLLABORATION At Hyder we recognise that collaborative working is not a procedure; it is a state of mind. From promoting integrated water management solutions for flood risk management authorities to developing sympathetic engineering schemes with the Canal & River Trust, our business philosophy is focussed on working in partnership with our clients. Hyder has a proven track record in collaboration, and is delivering major infrastructure investment with the H50 Alliance and the Laing Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke Imtech Joint Venture. Hyder, in joint venture with Jackson Civil Engineering, successfully secured a position on the Environment Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Water & Environment Management Framework. Together we provide seamless support at all stages of the design and build project cycle. Tailored services to deliver your needs. Follow us on : www.hyderconsulting.com

Board of Directors of LAWS consists of the two MHJ Ltd shareholders and two further construction industry professionals, Adrian Gascoyne is the Group’s Commercial Director and Bill Gush is the Regional Director. Having held framework contracts for some years with the Environment Agency, Severn Trent Water and the Canal & River Trust, LAWS’ strength is in ‘thinking outside of the box’ and positively encouraging a ‘can do’ culture to provide the best possible service to clients, while maintaining the highest standards of health, safety, welfare and environmental awareness. The Trust is LAWS’ main client, holding its National Dredging Contract, carrying out all the dredging and waste disposal and recycling for the trust, recycling more than 100,000tonnes of dredging per year for agricultural improvement. This contract has been held since 2003, and the relationship has developed over the years to the extent that LAWS was awarded the renewed 2011-2015 contract as single source contractor, with the scope being increased to include X19 or minor civil engineering works. Contracts with the Environment Agency and utility companies are confirmation of the attention and sensitivity to the environment and waterways that is always displayed by LAWS. LAWS also undertakes specialist sub-contract works for larger tier one contractors. An example of this is the creation of wetlands on the Olympic site in London for Bam Nuttall along with many other projects on the park for Bam Nuttall and the Canal & River Trust. LAWS has also recently provided support to the Trust by way of producing supplies for a project on the Ashby Canal in the Midlands and installation of floating reedbeds to improve water quality on the River Lea in London. Earlier this year, the Trust completed a four-month project to carry out essential maintenance within the

historic Netherton Tunnel. It is an important link between the Birmingham Canal Navigation and the southern canal network providing an important route from the Main Line Canal in the north to the Dudley Canals in the south through the heart of the west Midlands. Netherton Tunnel was constructed between 1856 and 1858 and has a total length of 2,776m. The tunnel was constructed using 17 construction shafts, seven of which were retained for ventilation. Although the tunnel was generally in good condition, intermittent problems have occurred, with invert distortion present throughout its history. The tunnel was in the early stages of failure at ch 1,474 – 1,500m, which is located in the centre of the tunnel between shafts seven and eight. The failure was located within the Etruria Marl and had many similarities to the 1895 failure that was located in the next section of the tunnel, approximately 150m to the north. Some invert heave around ch 1,500m was known since 1998. In November 2005, systematic probing identified uplift of up to 900mm at ch 1,474 – 1,500m. The towpaths had also risen and had longitudinal cracks behind their copings. The movement was greater on the west side of the tunnel than on the east. As a precaution, the towpath on the west side was shut. Built wide enough to allow boats to pass in both directions, the tunnel was the last to be built in Britain during the canal age. Its construction relieved the bottleneck of the adjacent Dudley tunnel, which had waiting times of eight hours or more, and sometimes several days. Due to the nature of the design, and in part because of the local ground conditions, cracks started to appear in the Victorian brickwork with many ‘bunching up’ and breaking off. This caused serious concerns for the Trust’s

engineers, so work was undertaken. Costing £1.5M, the project involved carrying out repairs to a 50-metre centre section of tunnel – almost a mile into the tunnel. Engineers drilled holes within the tunnel wall and filled them with steel tubes that were then filled with concrete. Once set, this section of the tunnel was reinforced with a new arch to create a stable centre section. Just after work commenced, George Ballinger, Head of Engineering at the Trust, said: “We have been keeping a close eye on Netherton Tunnel for some time and have carried out various repairs over the years, the last being in the early 1980s. “The centre section of the tunnel that will be repaired over the weeks ahead has really got us concerned and, ultimately, if we did nothing the tunnel could collapse. “The works being carried out will help prevent any further movement of the centre section, giving it strength and support for generations to come.” Work started at the end of 2012 and was completed in early March. During the works, the tunnel and towpath were closed to members of the public but they’ve now been reopened. Almost 50% of the country’s population lives within five miles of the Trust’s extraordinary network of canals, rivers and towpaths. The Canal & River Trust believe that the true potential of its canals and rivers and their long-term survival will only be secured if the Trust fully engages with visitors, neighbours and business partners. By harnessing their goodwill, energy and expertise, enjoyment of the waterways can be widened, while also protecting them for future generations. The Canal & River Trust, Head Office, First Floor North, Station House, 500 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 1BB www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Understanding our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs

The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest independent commercial property consultants GVA are pleased to be working alongside the Canal and River Trust, looking after 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales.

rebecca.millard@gva.co.uk

UKC HOUSING

Jubilee Gardens

Development in Leicester adding to the Jelson portfolio Founded in Leicester in 1889, Jelson Ltd has been building quality homes for more than 120 years. As one of the country’s leading privately owned construction companies, Jelson has established and enhanced a reputation based on traditional building techniques, thoughtful modern designs and quality construction, carried out by a well-trained and well-managed team. Jelson can boast exceptional locations for new homes at the heart of communities, and close to schools, shops and transport links. All homes, apartments, bungalows and flats are built to traditional methods, combining high quality materials with modern cost-saving features. There are many reasons that make Jelson homes a better buy than others. This includes: ••Roof, wall and floor insulation to the latest standards and combined with high specification heating systems for lower fuel bills. ••Energy efficient, double-glazed windows and patio doors made in Jelson’s workshop. ••Kitchens, fitted wardrobes and often staircases are built by Jelson craftsmen – individually measured and tailor made for every home.

••Skimmed and emulsioned plasterboard ceilings for a superior, attractive finish. ••Carpets and floor coverings fitted as standard in many of Jelson’s homes. Work for Jelson is underway at Narborough Road in Huncote, Leicester. It was named last year in honour of the diamond jubilee. Jubilee Gardens is a development of three-bedroom semi-detached and detached homes, with many featuring a garage, and will give buyers the opportunity to choose from six house styles – the Balmoral, Buckingham, Elizabeth, Kensington, Sandringham, and Windsor – named after the Queen and her residences and designed to suit individual tastes and preferences. The Elizabeth is one of the development’s semi-detached homes. The threebedroom property features a welldesigned kitchen, convenient cloakroom and lounge on the ground floor. Upstairs is the family bathroom and three bedrooms, with the master bedroom benefiting from ensuite facilities. It will comprise a fitted kitchen with single AEG oven, four burner AEG hob and extractor hood, one illuminated glazed wall cupboard, and space for fridge freezer, as well as plumbing and electrics for future dishwasher. There is ceramic flooring to the kitchen,

full gas central heating, solid internal walls to ground and first floor, and the construction comprises traditional brick with a good standard of insulation. Carpets will be available from Jelson’s selected range, while smoke detectors, wiring for future intruder alarm, and a fenced rear garden will ensure security. Leicester city centre and the Fosse Park shopping centre are both nearby, for a wider selection of shops. For a range of scenery, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors in the surrounding countryside, including the local nature reserve. Travel links are good, thanks to the nearby M1. Travel to Birmingham, Leicester and Nuneaton is also straightforward, by car or public transport. This quiet cul-de-sac development combines village living with convenient transport links with a thriving local community. Huncote’s shops, pubs, churches, schools and restaurants are all within easy walking distance and a wide choice of clubs and sporting facilities for both adults and children are nearby. Jelson Homes is the Main Contractor for the development, which is designed by BRP Architects. Work began earlier this year and is ongoing.

The objective of Harlow Timber Systems Limited is to satisfy the customers’ needs for a personal and professional service in the design and supply of roof truss components for the construction industry. This is at a competitive price, on time, every time and to promote our Company and its products through its assistance and service to customers.

Specialists in the design and manufacture of Timber Roof Trusses Our friendly staff are on hand to offer free advice, design and planning services to help guarantee the success of your project

Walker Road, Forest Business Park, Bardon Hill, Coalville, LE67 1TU

t: 01530 516990 harlowts.co.uk harlow.co.uk 78

Harlow Timber Systems Limited are accredited to BS EN ISO9001:2008 standards ensuring a quality product and service Harlow Timber Systems Limited have been granted certification by BM Trada the leading body in timber and accredited by UKAS. We are certified to supply PEFC certified products under our certificate BMT-PEFC-0154 and FSC® certified products under our certificate TT-COC-002029. Harlow Timber Systems are proud to be associated with Jelsons as the leading regional developer.

PROFILE UKC

Making Vision a reality SFD SFD has become a concept to completion (end to end) solution by having expertise in retail design, visual merchandising, mannequins and shop fit interiors. With a high level of creativity, technical expertise, innovation and an in depth knowledge and understanding of retail trends SFD is leading the field in experiential retail environments. SFD works with Clients to ensure their customers resonate with individual brands by providing the solutions to take those customers on a retail journey that drives brand loyalty, recognition and keeps them coming back. Through creation, realisation and implementation SFD has the capability and expertise to provide a bespoke endto-end service to realise a brand’s vision. SFD take that vision and make it a reality. With the growth of internet shopping, retailers have come under more pressure to ensure that their store experience is a great one. By ensuring Client’s retail design has a focus on increasing the time customers spend in a store Client’s can maximise the opportunity with those customers. SFD can provide a complete visual merchandising solution ranging from consultancy and design to shop fitting and fixtures. This includes mannequins and window displays. Shop-fit is a fundamental part of SFD’s services and over the past few years the Company has seen this grow and expand, bringing new and exciting retail environments to fruition. At the end of 2010 SFD Shop-fit embarked on a ground breaking and remarkable journey. SFD has always had a great interest in the shop fit and interiors marketplace, in the main this was restricted to fixture offerings on the side of larger core visual merchandise offerings or window schemes. A number of projects had been delivered from the Far East for metalwork, which had resulted in the initiative to really build a strong team to lead and break new ground in the retail fixtures market. A team was quickly mobilised to build the Market offering and target some of the key UK retailers. Chris Jacques joined SFD to

build new retail business, working closely £2.4M rollout to 350 M&S stores. with Simon Guy from the technical team Latterly in 2012 and into 2013, SFD of SFD, whom had previously worked as Shop-fit has enjoyed and continued the Operations and Technical Director to deliver key projects with Arcadia, for various shop-fitting suppliers. Harrods and Austin Reed. The ShopThroughout 2010 and the early part of fit team at SFD now consists of nine 2011, detailed implementation planning members of staff who work on technical was completed to deliver an offer that solutions, commercial and production would exceed expectations and inspire management, key account management, discerning and innovative clients in site installation and new business. the market to buy into the SFD ShopThe team is looking forward to an exciting fit philosophy of creativity, superb future with its growing Client base. delivery and technical know-how. Early projects delivered the Stratford City Event Zone for M&S into their Stratford city store, this was an SFD designed product in close collaboration with M&S’s design team that allowed promotion and flexible merchandising in high traffic areas within stores. Banana Republic and Gap commissioned refurbishment and swap out works in their key locations of Regent St and Champs Elysees. Proudly Supply and Support SFD & their These early projects demonstrated that wonderful clients with dedicated specialist there was a great appetite for the inspiration, energy transport & warehousing solutions. and technical ingenuity, which the SFD Shop-fit team brought to their customers. Throughout 2012 the For Express Transport-Distribution Shop-fit business grew and grew, with Services & Secure Storage Facilities Next Plc being one of the larger customers call:- 01923 693 753 to turn to SFD. M&S again returned www.ashlogistics.co.uk to they team with the successful delivery of a

UKC PROFILE

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise Recognising innovation, enterprise and sustainability Small and large companies from across the UK celebrated being named as winners of The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in April – the UK’s highest accolade for business success. A total of 151 Queen’s Awards have been announced this year for business achievement. Overall, 116 companies have won awards for International Trade, 27 for Innovation and nine for Sustainable Development. Winning firms cover a vast range of business sectors including architecture and design, building and construction, motoring and transport, electronics and technology, manufacturing and engineering, law and finance, tourism and leisure, medical and pharmaceuticals, food and drink, oil and gas, media and marketing, metals, plastics and packaging, safety and surveillance, printing, recycling, logistics, and utilities. As well as these prestigious awards for Enterprise, there are also awards to eight individuals for Enterprise Promotion. Richard Gallafent is one recipient of the award for Enterprise Promotion. His work in this field includes being co-founder of ideas21, an organisation that provides information and resources to innovators, and a regular advisor at their workshops, seminars and free one-to-one advice sessions in London, Birmingham and Bristol. Professionally he is a Patent and Trade Mark Attorney, senior partner in Gallafents LLP, which is a private practice in London. His Clients range form individuals to multi nationals and his Practice covers the full spectrum of Intellectual Property Rights and their

commercialisation. On receiving the award, Richard said: “without the creativity and inventiveness of many individuals, there would be no enterprise to promote - I am honoured to have assisted them.” Chris Mercer, President of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, congratulated Richard Gallafent on his award. He said: “Richard has always been a great a supporter of the profession’s involvement in encouraging start-up enterprises to use their intellectual property effectively. “His own work in this area has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and we warmly congratulate him on winning this high profile award.” Other winners of an award include Auger Torque, who won for Enterprise in International Trade. The internationally recognised award is given to a small number of companies each year. Winners must demonstrate outstanding achievements in international trade over a sustained period, so with Auger Torque’s export sales growing b y 135% over the last three years, the Company was in a strong position to be recognised. Company owners, Alister and Wendy Rayner admitted that the UK business model, which has seen phenomenal growth even in times of a world recession, has been so successful it is now being replicated in the five other facilities around the globe. Auger Torque products are built using the highest quality materials and their reliability is renowned around the globe. By nature, they are often used in the

most extreme environments from the hottest of deserts to the frozen Antarctic and can expect an arduous life. Throughout 2012, the British Antarctic Survey used their Auger Torque Earth Drill, with a 100% success rate, in what is considered to be the most important geological survey of the subcontinent in decades, often operating in temperatures below -40 degrees Celsius. Wessex Water retained The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development because of its commitment towards sustainability. The water firm – the only one to have won the award twice – was given after embedding sustainability throughout management and operations was demonstrated. A number of the Company’s activities have been recognised, such as the catchment management initiative to protect the environment. This involves working with farmers to help them manage their use of nitrates and pesticides to prevent contamination of drinking water sources, to avoid building additional energyintensive water treatment facilities. Dan Green, head of sustainability and innovation, said: “We are delighted to have retained the award which recognises our commitment to sustainability and is the UK’s highest accolade for business success.” Winners can use The Queen’s Award Emblem in advertising, marketing and on packaging for a period of five years as a symbol of their quality and success.

Helping you to build your future with a firm IP foundation A general practice intellectual property firm, based in London and with offices also in Llandeilo in Wales. With a clientele ranging from individuals to multinational corporations.

Richard Gallafent, BSc CPA EPA RTMA ETMA MITMA CPhys

Richard is a Patent and Trade Mark Attorney, senior

“Richard is the best example I know of someone working to

partner in Gallafents LLP, a private practice in London.

help innovators and inventors to bring ideas to business

His clients range from individuals to multi-nationals and

fruition, and I have personal knowledge of countless

his practice covers the full spectrum of Intellectual

voluntary hours spent over the last fourteen years” said

Property Rights and their commercialisation. He joined

Roland Hill, inventor of the widely used one way window

his father’s company Gallafent & Co in 1966.

graphics, Contra Vision ®. That Richard’s advice has been in continuous demand

In 2000, Richard co-founded an innovation support

speaks for itself and he sits on Government working

network called ideas21, which for over 8 years held

groups representing the lone inventor and has been at

monthly meetings for inventors in London at the UK

the forefront of the UK IP profession as President of the

Intellectual Property Office (formerly the Patent Office).

Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

The first of their kind in London, these meetings provided numerous inventors and others with information,

“Richard works tirelessly on a pro bono basis through his

encouragement and confidence to proceed with

work with ideas21 and spends a good deal of time and

commercialising their inventions. High profile speakers

effort to help communicate often complex issues

such as Lord Sugar, Sebastian Conran and successful

concerning IP law to lay audiences, as well as policy

inventors such as Dr William Johnson, Mandy Haberman

makers here in the UK and internationally.” said Dr Paul A

and Trevor Baylis, OBE, all gave up their time freely to

Leonard, Business Director & Partner, Billings Jackson

address these meetings. This successful format has now

Design LLP and former Director of the Intellectual

been copied by many inventor clubs throughout the UK .

Property Institute.

Ideas21 still arranges free surgeries for inventors and others in the creative sectors at locations throughout the UK and provides on-line assistance free of charge. Richard has worked voluntarily and unstintingly in support of lone inventors and others within the creative industries and it is for this Richard received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion. His freely-given and high quality advice has benefited many who could not otherwise afford such professional support. He has also mentored and trained students studying intellectual property law, helping to maintain a flow of talent into the field for the future.

ideas21, now in its 13th year, provides information and resources to innovators, both corporate and individual. Supported by government and industry, we specialise in the field of intellectual property and the successful commercialisation of innovator’s ideas. We offer workshops, seminars and free "one-to-one"

27 Britton Street, London, EC1M 5UD

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TEL +44 (0)20 7490 7090

Our advisors are industry professionals with

FAX +44 (0)20 7566 5859

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www.ideas21.co.uk

UKC CIVIL

Westcott Park Anaerobic Digestion Facility wins ICE Award The recently completed Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility at Westcott Park won an ICE Engineering Excellence Award for Sustainability and Community Benefit. Westcott AD facility is a 50,000 tonnes per annum waste plant generating 2MW of power. The site is built on a former RAF and MOD facility within an area of historical waste disposal associated with previous military site use. Remediation of the site

was required to facilitate construction and to protect the environment, due to presence of various forms of asbestos and hydrocarbon compounds. An on site containment cell for asbestos waste was constructed using in situ clays for the liner and reengineered clay for the capping. MLM provided multidisciplinary services for the design and construction of this

facility, this also included performing building control approved inspector duties. Key features of the ÂŁ4.5M scheme which is now in full operation included, detailing asbestos tip, design of a bunded tank farm including three 4.5 million litre digester tanks, a 40m clear span high bay warehouse and tipping hall, 3800sq m of external paving and on site foul water treatment.

MLM

MLM is a multidisciplinary engineering and environmental consultancy and corporate approved inspector We provide professional services in all aspects of Environment Planning and Development, Buildings and Infrastructure, Compliance and Sustainability to the UK and International markets.

MLM provides a wide range of planning, permitting, design and consultancy services to the energy sector. Our teams work on gas and electricity distribution, windfarms, prototype wave energy systems, anaerobic digestion and energy from waste projects as well as more traditional fossil fuel schemes.

For further information please contact: Mark Brenton | Managing Director of Environmental T: 01223 815560 Building 7200, Cambridge Research Park, Cambridge, CB25 9TL

www.mlm.uk.com

CIVIL UKC

Four Ashes Industrial Estate Development Award winning energy recovery facility A new Energy Recovery Facility in South Staffordshire has been instrumental in winning Veolia Environmental Services (UK) Plc and Staffordshire County Council, the Best Example of Community Engagement in Energy from Waste at an awards event in Birmingham for The Environment and Energy Awards. Back in May 2007, the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent was published, and it demonstrated the need for the development of a municipal waste treatment facility in the South of the County to achieve the objective of zero waste to landfill by 2020. To achieve this, Staffordshire County Council implemented Project W2R (Waste to Resources) comprising the development of the treatment solution that will substantially contribute to the delivery of sustainable waste in the County, and help further the same objectives in the neighbouring authorities

of Warwickshire, Sandwell and Walsall. Project W2R constituted the design, construction and operation of a 300,000 tpa Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) to convert residual waste from the authorities of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Sandwell and Walsall, primarily into electricity. The site is located at Four Ashes Industrial Estate in South Staffordshire, and has the benefit of excellent transport links. The site is a brownfield development with industrial neighbours in an area known for its industrial land use. The energy from the waste plant means that the Council will be able to move away from unsightly landfill sites, and the plant will save tax payers a whopping £250M over the next 25 years. The project, one of the biggest the Council has ever signed up to, has created 40 new jobs, and the plant will generate enough power for over 32,000 homes. The Energy Recovery Facility (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, the ERF 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. One of Europe’s leaders in the environmental field, Veolia was selected after a rigorous and demanding process. The Company undertook pre-planning work on revised proposals for the ERF at Four Ashes, which will reduce the building’s overall footprint, size and height. The Main Contractor for this project is Clugston Construction and the Architect is Veolia Environmental Services. Work has now started, with a view to being completed at the end of 2013.

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UKC HOUSING

Well Court

Luxury conversion

The conversion of Well Court, an existing five-storey office building located in the City of London, into eight luxury residential apartments designed by Khoury Architects is well underway. Work began on the prestigious development in May last year following the granting of planning permission by City of London Planning Department. Khoury Architects’ plans also include the addition of three new build floors the top two of which will house duplex apartments with fully glazed living areas, maximising views of the surrounding conservation area and City, and boasting roof top terraces. The existing building was a 1960s office unit that was built on a war damaged site. The project has seen the demolition of the top floor mansard roof and the entire south facing façade of the building was removed. The new façade comprises flush glazed and full height sliding glass panels that give the outside appearance of the

building a seamless glass sheen. As the building is only open to the south elevation, the full height nature of the new glazing enables the penetration of natural light into the deeper plan spaces at the rear of the building. Possible solar gain through a south facing façade has been overcome by the incorporation of hidden automated blinds to the exterior of the building. As a result, the façade of the building will form a dynamic composition throughout the day with blinds cover varying throughout differing times. The singular aspect of the building is addressed by locating bathrooms and kitchens in the deeper plan areas. These are separated from adjacent spaces by frameless glass screens to facilitate the benefit of borrowed light from areas facing adjacent the open façade. The fronts of kitchens in open plan living spaces are back painted glass to enable light reflection back into the space. The

kitchens feature hidden LED lighting and motorised opening cupboards, activated by a tap to cupboard undersides. To further enable natural daylight penetration, the deep plan spaces of the penthouses feature glass staircases with automated glass roof lights above. The roof lights afford access to the roof terraces that feature in built barbeques, sinks and worktops for entertaining. The project team has had a number of challenges to overcome throughout the development of the project, with issues such as Right of Light, covenants, party wall matters, working in a conservation area and access issues. This has all been overcome by close team working and the introduction of highly skilled design team members. Harmonix Construction has worked in close conjunction with Khoury Architects as Main Contractor.

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PROFILE UKC

Ap Thomas Partnership Meeting the needs of all clients Based in Bangor, North Wales, Ap Thomas Partnership is an established architectural partnership with experience in a wide range of building types. Offering a personal and efficient service, the Practice has developed particular lines of expertise throughout the years due to ongoing involvement in specialist types of work such as restoration and refurbishment of historic buildings, construction of factory premises for the food industry, and the design of sports and leisure facilities. The more specialised areas of work have been developed alongside the Practice’s continuing involvement in residential, commercial and environmental projects. Ap Thomas Partnership has a network of professional contacts throughout North Wales and prides itself on providing an efficient and economical service to all clients. The Practice has worked on projects in various sectors including community and was awarded a contract to design the Community Fire Station in Rhyl for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The £1.75M project involved the refurbishment and upgrade of the operational fire fighting and rescue provisions and the introduction of new communal rooms and facilities within the site. The design allowed for careful segregation of the activities while allowing some facilities to be shared. During the construction phases, the fire station was operational and the sequence of the building operations and phasing of the works was a critical aspect of the project. Work was successfully completed and the busy fire station is now also a centre for communal and commercial activities, which are accommodated in five new activity rooms, each with multimedia installations.

The Practice has also worked on many premises remained operational. commercial projects and was employed to It is another example of the high provide architectural services in connection quality design provided by the Practice with major refurbishment works at and the work is now approaching Aberdunant Hall Country Hotel to adapt the successful completion. old building to allow for the installation of new dining facilities and new bedrooms with ensuite facilities. Quality The works included major structural Price adaptations and the project management and construction ltd Service installation of new services throughout, while many of the original features were retained and form the intrinsic character of the new hotel. The building is situated within a beautiful and dramatic landscape and it is now an established four-star hotel, and • Design and Build, Project Management a valuable asset to • New Homes, Extensions & Refurbishment the local economy • Loft, Barn and Garage Constructions thanks to the work • Kitchens and Bathrooms provided by the Ap Thomas Partnership. • Roofing, Joinery and Windows Also in the • Landscaping, Patios and Decking commercial sector, • Full Portfolio on www.glasprojects.co.uk the Black Boy Inn is a 16th century inn Family Business, Trustworthy & Reliable within the old town walls of Caernarfon. The Practice Bangor: 01248 360132 was employed to Llandudno: 01492 871663 provide professional guidance on Mob: 07815 754941 refurbishment works Email: info@glasprojects.co.uk and adaptations that had to be carried out while the

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UKC HEALTH

Morrill Street Health Centre Gelder and Kitchen delighted to support Citycare on major scheme Healthcare architecture specialist Gelder and Kitchen is delighted to be working with Citycare on its latest multi million pound project – the £3.4M Morrill Street health centre. Recently completed, the scheme saw the creation of a new building next to an existing centre that was comprehensively refurbished. Sewell Group started construction in November last year and the project was delivered on behalf of NHS Hull. The £3.4M scheme was created to ensure health facilities are readily accessible to the local community and will cater for more than 18,000 people, with the capacity to cater for at least another 3,000 in the coming years. Alessandro Caruso, a Partner with Gelder and Kitchen said: “Key to the success of any project of this nature is engagement with all parties, with everyone who has an interest in the final outcome and the build process as well. “We were given the brief that the design of the building should provide an identity that is attractive, versatile, functional, flexible and value for money. The building provides optimum patient comfort in a pleasant environment for visitors and staff while fully meeting the clinical requirements and maximising operational efficient operational efficiencies.” The programme of works included a

new build annex on the land adjacent to the existing health centre, alongside a programme of refurbishment. The project was part of a wider scheme to develop, over time, a number of centres across the city, which will accommodate a range of health and social services as appropriate to their location. Another key design consideration was relation to scale and the impact on neighbouring properties, with final design developed to ensure that the visual impact was minimised. The project has been developed in three phases, with the new build designed to reflect the style of the existing building yet being distinguished by its own design. Jo Barnes, Chief Executive of Citycare, outlined the approach: “Citycare has worked closely with our Client NHS Property Services Ltd, our advisors and the users of Morrill Street Health Centre to develop a creative solution that will deliver a welcoming and functional environment in a phased was that minimises disruption to services. “With the colour schemes and designs we are using, we will ‘knit’ the two buildings together, making a nice environment that is really welcoming and somewhere patients will feel comfortable. The colours will abstractly reflect the park, the outdoors and greenery. We want the nature of East Park to be shown inside the

two buildings, brining the outside in and connecting the centre to the park and that feeling of relaxation. There will also be art pieces such as ceiling-mounted sculptures.” “The old building is getting a considerable revamp. There is a quad in the middle of it, but most patients didn’t realise it was there as it is overgrown and messy, so staff covered the windows with blinds. That will be sorted out so the blinds can come down and bring light into the rooms.” The centre remained operational and continued to serve patients throughout the building works. The internal refurbishment, which has been designed to reflect the interior of the new build, was designed in conjunction with a local artist for inspiration to achieve an environment that is inviting while clearly identifying the clinical needs of staff. The building has been designed with sustainability inherent throughout and is ultimately aiming for a BREEAM Very Good rating. The project is the latest in a long list of health care developments across the UK. As well as the Alfred Bean facility, the Company designed and acted as technical advisors on the East Riding Community Hospital in Beverley, undertaken under the P21 procurement method and the Hornsea Cottage Hospital.

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UKC PROFILE

Going South of the River

South Bank Employers’ Group

Jubilee Gardens (image courtesy of Sarah Byrne

South Bank Employers’ Group (SBEG) is a unique partnership of 18 of the major organisations in South Bank, Waterloo and Blackfriars with a longterm commitment to improving the everyday experience of the area for employees, visitors and residents alike. Over the past 20 years, its creative partnerships and effective delivery have helped transform a bleak and hostile area into one of the most exciting destinations in the UK, which contributes over £2Bn per annum to London’s economy and is worth an estimated £60bn in net present value. Once mocked as ‘the wrong side of the river’, today’s South Bank is by definition the cultural heart of London. The area is home to an estimated 18 to 25M visitors each year, who contribute £240M each year to the local economy. The South Bank neighbourhood is also home to a number of leading multinational organisations such as Shell and Ernst & Young, world-class universities (King’s College) and the UK’s busiest railway station, London Waterloo, with over 100 million passenger entries and exits each year. South Bank also has a fast-growing residential population of over 11,000. South Bank Employers’ Group has been at the centre of the area’s regeneration and continues to play a leading role in its transformation. The association brings together the major organisations in South Bank, Waterloo and Blackfriars to improve and promote the local neighbourhood for the benefit of employees, residents and visitors. By creating new jobs and opportunities for the residents of Lambeth and Southwark, the Group also ensures that the benefit of South Bank’s success is

shared with the broader neighbourhood. South Bank Employers’ Group has dedicated teams which are focused on public realm (capital projects, neighbourhood management and maintenance, security, environmental sustainability), destination marketing, and employment and skills. The Group is focused on physically improving the urban and social environment and the facilities available for the local community; an enormous range of initiatives allow residents to contribute to the local agenda and to secure jobs.

Working for a better South Bank

••Promoting, developing and delivering public realm improvements, for example 500sq m of graffiti and 500 bags of rubbish is removed every month by South Bank Clean Team and Graffiti Removal Service ••Helping to coordinate the area’s security strategy through the Community Safety accredited South Bank Patrol, ••Reducing carbon emissions from the area’s major businesses and aiding them to adopt more green policies ••Finding long-term solutions to reduce the impact of antisocial street drinking, rough sleeping and entrenchment ••Placing over 300 residents each year into Jobs, Work Experience Placements, Apprenticeships through the Waterloo Job Shop, which provides a local job brokerage service to unemployed residents of Lambeth, Southwark & Wandsworth. ••Maintaining and growing South Bank’s

profile as one of the capital’s top destinations for leisure and business tourism and increasing visitor dwell time and spend throughout the year. Ensuring residents have their say on local developments and projects through the South Bank Forum and community outreach Encouraging high quality development in the area Regenerating the South Bank and keeping it clean and safe is the job of SBEG’s Public Realm Team. The South Bank is a complex balance between public and private, international and local, business and leisure. South Bank Employers’ Group is tasked with creating a world-class place in partnership with a variety of stakeholders. With partners SBEG aims to promote, develop and deliver capital improvements to the public realm, including Jubilee Gardens, Waterloo Square, Lower Marsh Regeneration, Blackfriars Boulevard, Waterloo Station Environs and the Spine route and seeks to promote any other opportunities which may arise for incremental improvements to the public realm in the neighbourhood, ensuring the coordination of work by all relevant parties on capital projects and the best use of available funds.

Capital schemes

Jubilee Gardens SBEG has spearheaded the redevelopment of Jubilee Gardens, following a £5M investment that has dramatically changed the face of what used to be a flat, featureless patch of land into one of London’s most cutting-edge public

of graffiti and fly posting, which have now decreased allowing the South Bank Graffiti Removal team to diversify its services to include pavement jet washing, the removal of abandoned bikes (which are donated to local young people) and gritting.

Clean Team

green spaces. Officially re-opened by HM The Queen in October 2012, the Gardens were designed by awardwinning Dutch architects West8 and now feature trees, evergreen shrubs and year-round blossoming plants, which create solid spine of colour throughout the landscape. SBEG has project-managed the relandscaping of the Gardens and brought together local business, statutory authorities and community interests, which are governed by a Charitable Trust.

Neighbourhood Services

Graffiti Removal Services The South Bank Graffiti Removal Service has been operating since January 2007. The team operates five days a week, during working hours, patrolling the neighbourhood and responding to direct calls from local businesses and residents. Graffiti is removed within 24 hours of it being reported or within 4 hours should it be offensive. Operating on both public and private estates, the service has been extremely successful in controlling levels

South Bank Clean Team SBEG launched the South Bank Clean Team in October 2009. The service operates seven days a week, to ensure the pavements of South Bank and Waterloo are kept clean and tidy. The Clean Team undertake a variety of other jobs in the area, including polishing street furniture, weeding and clearing landscaped borders, putting up destination promotion posters and maintaining signage. Carbon Reduction The South Bank Decentralised Energy project aims to be a beacon project for inner city carbon savings. The scheme encourages proactive energy efficiency and promotes CHP innovations throughout the South Bank neighbourhood through cooperative business partnerships, the legacy of which will pave the way for a more efficient solution to the supply of energy to South Bank and lower the carbon footprint of major local businesses.

Frosts Landscape Construction Ltd is proud to be the Principal Contractor for the ambitious Jubilee Gardens regeneration project. Frosts is one of the leading landscape construction companies working on many prestigious projects in London and across the UK, including the Olympic Park. Frosts continue to lead the way in green roof development and are at the forefront of design for living walls using our FVM green wall module.

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UKC COMMERCIAL

Cartrefi Conwy

New headquarters bringing new jobs to the area Cartrefi Conwy will mark the beginning of a new era for social housing this month in Abergele when the newly formed Housing Association moves into its new Head Quarters. The move to Bryn Eirias on North Wales Business Park will allow Cartrefi Conwy to improve services and provide a modern and efficient housing service to customers. At approximately 15,000sq ft, the new Head Quarters will be the administrative hub of the business. Cartrefi Conwy was created in November 2007 following a positive ballot of tenants to transfer Conwy Council’s 3,800 homes to the new, not-for-profit Housing Association. The Association will deliver a £58M improvement programme to bring all its homes up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard and maintain them for future generations. The business park already has a number of companies occupying buildings, and it has fantastic views of Gwrych Castle from the southern elevation and the sea from northern elevations. The two-storey building is a steel frame comprising brise soleil to the front elevations and large areas of decking. Externally, there is cladding, and a steel effect limestone finish to the gable end. It has a flat roof and double glazed, solar reflective windows. In terms of sustainability, there are solar photovoltaic panels, and the development has been constructed to BREEAM Excellent standards. BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognised measures of a building’s environmental performance. A BREEAM assessment uses recognised measures of performance, which are set against established benchmarks, to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. The measures used represent a broad range of categories and criteria, from

energy to ecology. They include aspects related to energy and water use, the internal environment, pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes. The project has adopted several approaches to achieving the score of Excellent and to construct a very energy efficient building. As well as the photovoltaic panels, sustainable drainage systems have been incorporated. The building is open plan with glass walls for meeting areas giving a very spacious layout effect, with a commissioned interior design giving a very modern and decorative finish. There are lifts, air conditioning, telecom and CCTV. Facilities for the disabled include a level access shower, disabled toilets, and level access for ground and first floor. Sprinklers are incorporated and soft landscaping to the front and rear encompasses trees and orchard. There will also be 38 spaces for staff and visitors, which includes disabled parking. Cartrefi Conwy harnesses solar power to generate 75% of its own electricity, and the Association will bring more than

100 jobs to the eco-friendly site that has been hailed as a major boost for the local economy once it’s up and running. The Main Contractor for the development is Wynne Construction, who beat off stiff competition from across the UK. Chris Wynne, Managing Director of Wynne Construction, said: “The new Cartrefi Conwy headquarters will be one of the greenest buildings in North Wales. It will have insulated panelling and solar panels which will generate 75% of the energy and hot water. “We believe it is fitting this prestigious project to provide a new headquarters, from where Cartrefi Conwy will serve their communities across Conwy.” Andrew Bowden, Chief Executive of Cartrefi Conwy, said: “It will be a community hub that will allow organisations from around the county to use this facility for mini conferences or meetings.” The Architect for the project is Owen Ellis. Work started on the £2.4M development in November 2012 and will be completed on 9th August, with the building opened a week later.

Cartrefi Conwy is a 'Registered Social Landlord' with over 3700 properties throughout the county of Conwy in North Wales. We are one of North Walesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; foremost providers of affordable and high quality homes. We are committed to providing employment and training opportunities for the local workforce and creating sustainable communities to be proud of. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our contractors, suppliers and consultants who have worked with us since stock transfer in 2008 and helping us achieve Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).

Freephone 0800 012 1431 (Calls from a mobile phone may cost considerably more) Local rate calls can also be made to 01492 805580

www.cartreficonwy.org

UKC COMMUNITY

King’s Church Amersham Soon to benefit from new place of worship The King’s Church Amersham is in the process of building a new church and community building as part of the Maple Lawns development off Raans Road. Due to be completed later this year, it will provide a new home for King’s Church Amersham at the heart of the local community. On Sunday 27th March 2011, plans for moving into the brand new building moved on when members of the church “walked the land”. About 120 adults and 30 children met at the new site in Raans Road to hold a prayer and thanksgiving walk around the land. As part of the celebrations, the church members unveiled their new site signboard, showing the design of the new building at what will eventually be the new entrance to the site. Senior Pastor Reverend Paul Lynch spoke of his delight of walking the site. He said: “After 27 years of searching for new land in top Amersham on the Hill we have finally placed our feet

on this land that we now own. “It is a truly momentous day in the history of the church and one that we are really grateful to God for. “We can’t express high enough thanks to our friends at Cala Homes who have helped so much in our endeavours to acquire and get planning permission for this land and who even today funded the new sign and facilitated the refreshments that were provided by one of our new neighbours, Chalfont Quality Cuisine, who also have premises on Raans Road. We thank God for the dry, warm day that blessed our arrival on site.” The new building will accommodate a 375-seat, fully equipped modern auditorium and various ancillary spaces for café, crèche, children’s and youth rooms, plus additional business/social meeting rooms and the church offices. Since then, the church members again walked on the site in May 2011 in order to focus on eight key prayer

points, which included the disposal of the existing church building, being effective and good neighbours in the Raans Road area and in making a sound selection for the building contractor. Seven companies were initially interviewed and a top five invited to submit a full tender late in 2011. Designed by Byrom Clark Roberts Ltd, work on the £3M project commenced in October 2012 and will be completed by Jarvis Contracting Ltd of Harpenden in the autumn.

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A fantastic new extension doubling the size of the hospice Francis House children’s hospice in Didsbury has been a homely, caring environment for poorly young people since 1991. Soon it will benefit from a multi-million pound development to extend its services. The hospice provides respite and medical services, and gives unswerving care and support for the sick children and young people as well as their families. Costing £3.5M, the extension is twostoreys and comprises seven bedrooms and an administration block. Each bedroom will be fitted with specially adapted PS3s, self-lowering wash basins and their own balconies overlooking a garden area. The new facilities also include a cinema room and communal lounge, which will provide a place of relaxation for teenagers and young adults with life threatening and life limiting conditions. The extension will double the size of the hospice, which makes it possible to increase the amount of day and night respite care it can offer to each child and family. The extension will add to the many state-

of-the-art facilities and medical equipment now costs approximately £4.6M a purposely hidden away to make residents year to run, so the many donations are feel more at home than at a hospital. key to the success of the hospice. There is a parents flat and visitors room The Architect for the project is Hulme that can be used by the young people and Upright Manning and the Main Contractor their families as well as a snoezelen multiis J Greenwood (Builders) Limited. Work sensory room. Music therapy sessions are will be completed in November 2013. also held with the young people and the dozens of photographs and smiling faces on the wall in this room prove how effective this is. The new building will allow staff to give young people and their families a number of nights Painting & Decorating respite they need Limited and deserve. Francis House also FREE ESTIMATES GIVEN exists because of the generosity of the many people who donate. It 14 Emerald Drive, Moorside, Oldham OL1 4TL costs £9,000 a day Tel: 0161 678 6806 Mob: 07885 769855 to run, and with www.maspaintinganddecorating.co.uk email: maspaintinganddecorating@sky.com the new extension, the hospice

New hotel almost complete club forms part of the Leadership group and the clubhouse, which is located in the heart of Watership Down and is also used as a venue for weddings. The club has a 27-hole golf course comprising three different nine holes: The Lakes, The Park and The Wood. The hotel will create approximately 20 jobs, bringing extra employment opportunities for the local community at the club. Facilities for members at the club have still been able to use the facilities throughout the construction of the hotel. Development was delayed by a year because technicalities in the hotel’s design had to be ironed out following the approval of a planning application in October 2011. The Architect is HFP Architects and the Main Contractor is Leadbitter for the hotel, which when SPITAL FARM, THORPE MEAD, BANBURY, OXON OX16 4RZ completed, will be Tel: (01295) 258747 Fax: (01295) 271068 available for the use of both members Email: AttleysRoofing@hotmail.com and non-members.

LEISURE UKC

Sandford Springs Golf Club Construction is well underway at Sandford Springs for a brand new hotel, which is on target to open in September. With 40 spacious rooms including one suite, nine superior rooms and 30 standard rooms all providing ensuite facilities, a fantastic breakfast buffet area and a relaxation zone, this four-star hotel will be a sophisticated addition to the Hampshire hotel scene. The hotel is overlooking the 11th green and 12th tee on The Wood course and will be less than 200 yards away from the main clubhouse. Clubhouse refurbishments are well underway, which include new changing rooms and a full refurbishment of the clubhouse. Andrew Wild, General Manager of Sandford Springs, spoke of the excitement and anticipation for the new hotel and said it would be a valuable addition to the club as well as the local community. He also added: “Throughout the building process we strive to incorporate environmentally responsible practices and have chosen an architectural design in keeping with the landscape in this most beautiful part of England.” Situated in Wolverton, near to the A339, the

HEALTH UKC

Francis House Hospice

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ROOFING CONTRACTORS

UKC CIVIL

The Highways Agency

Improving the country’s busiest roads

Created in 1994, the Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT). Its role is to help support the sustainability of the UK’s economy by operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. The strategic road network in England is some 4,300 miles long and is made up of motorways and trunk roads – the most significant ‘A’ roads. While the network represents only two per cent of all roads in England by length, it carries a third of all traffic by mileage. Significantly, two thirds of all heavy goods vehicle mileage in England is undertaken on the strategic road network, making it the economic backbone of the country. The strategic road network is operated through a National Traffic Information Service which supports the National Traffic Operations Centre and seven regional control centres. The Agency has a uniformed Traffic Officer Service who serves in control centres and patrol the key areas of the network, helping to manage and clear incidents as quickly and safely as possible. Maintaining and improving the network is delivered through a large and complex supply chain through a number and variety of contracts. The Highways Agency also set and maintains technical standards for roads and structures, which contractors have to adhere to and are referred to by many local and other national authorities for the roads that they manage. The Agency is overseen by a Board,

which includes a non-executive chairman, three non-executive directors, the chief executive and five executive directors. Work to improve the network of roads is constant, and the Pavement and Concrete Category Management Framework is an example of this. Awarded in March 2012 for a duration of four years, the framework is valued at up to £538M, is accessible to other government departments, local authorities, Transport for Scotland, Welsh Assembly Government, and includes design support and collaboration. The four suppliers for the framework are Aggregate Industries, Hanson, and Lafarge and Tarmac, though the latter two have now merged so Lafarge will not tender a submission for future work packages. The framework is split into three lots to cover unbound materials, bound materials and concrete materials, and is split into four regions, covering North & Scotland, Midlands & Wales, East and South. A collaborative approach will be used throughout the framework, with suppliers, first-tier suppliers, supply chain and the client all working together. Innovation will be encouraged and lean techniques applied to achieve efficiencies through lean projects. There are many other projects being undertaken, so as The Dartford – Thurrock River Crossing, which will cost £3M. Work started on replacing the expansion joints on the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Bridge in April 2013. It forms part of the river crossing, which is a major

crossing of the River Thames just outside Greater London. The crossing links Dartford, Kent in the south, with Thurrock and Essex in the north. Work will see the replacement of six expansion joints on the bridge while keeping it open to traffic. In order to replace the joints, the existing ones need to be removed and changes made to the joint’s structure connections to accommodate the latest joint design. A temporary ramp will be installed over each joint while work is taking place. It may result in a change in the look of the carriageway but the changes will have minimal effect on the ride quality and safety will not be compromised. The ramps will be removed once work has been completed in each section. The durability of the structure will be improved once the works are complete, with the new joints expected to last 45 years. By completing the work now, the Agency will eliminate the need to undertake this work under short notice emergency closures in the future, which would cause more disruption to motorists using the crossing. Work on the scheme will be complete in spring 2015. Another project well underway in Dartford is the free-flow charging project. This is necessary to reduce the current levels of congestion at Dartford Crossing by introducing newer technology and road layout changes to support a free-flow charging arrangement. continued page 96 >

Specialists in highways maintenance, road construction and associated civil engineering services

Aggregate Industries UK Ltd Aggregate Industries are a leading national producer & supplier of construction materials. Our range includes; aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete, pre-cast concrete, natural stone amongst other innovative construction products. Combining contracting services with our internal supply network; we are able to offer an integrated contracting service dedicated to successfully delivering schemes to our customer’s requirements. Pioneering developments in safety, sustainability, whole life quality, we are able to assist our customers in finding the best value solution.

We continually invest in innovation; currently holding a number of awards for our Bar-Tec Paver Data Quality Management System assisting our Client’s with asset management. Our Integrated Spray Jet Pavers deliver guaranteed tack coat coverage, with reduced waste, fewer operations and allow the use of stronger tack coat emulsions. To view the full range of our construction solutions visit our website www.aggregate.com

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Free-flow charging means that the collection and payment of the charge will be done remotely. Such an arrangement will improve traffic flow, reduce delays and mean that users will not have to stop and pay the road user charge at the barriers. There will be the opportunity to pay the charge in advance through a variety of methods such as online, over the phone and at a number of retail outlets, including the provision to set up a prepaid account for using the crossing. The Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing (Dartford Crossing) spans the River Thames between Dartford and Thurrock, approximately 16 miles east of central London, and forms a trunk road link (the A282) in the M25 London orbital motorway. Public commitments have been made to tackle congestion at Dartford Crossing. This project is part of a package of measures to improve traffic flow in the short, medium and longer term at the crossing. The crossing sees more than 50 million vehicle crossings made each year. It is a vital part of the network which often exceeds its design capacity, leading to congestion. Costing at least £68M, the introduction of free-flow charging requires significant

changes to the current arrangement while continuing to maintain the existing road user charging regime to manage demand at the crossing. The scheme involves provision of open traffic lanes in both directions, safe removal of plazas and barriers, introduction of new traffic control measures, and continuing to ensure safety performance for road users, including the operational safety and integrity of the northbound restricted road tunnels. Installation of roadside technology and communication links will include automated number plate recognition (ANPR) and beacon equipment to capture vehicle registrations and tags, as well as the delivery of a service provider contract to administer the vehicle detection, charging and enforcement management services of the scheme. Up to now, work has comprised progressing two new pieces of legislation to support a free-flow charging arrangement at the crossing, and preparing the engineering and road infrastructure design. Overall, the introduction of a free-flow charging will improve traffic flow and reduce delays, as well as improving

the road user experience by removing the need for drivers to stop and pay the road user charge at the barriers. Once the new arrangements are in place, the barriers will be removed and drivers will no longer need to stop at the booths to pay. This can be done in advance, with an account set up so that payment can be taken automatically. One of the companies working on this project is FOGTEC, a leading fire protection specialist in several market sectors such as tunnels and rolling stock. FOGTEC was contracted by the Highways Agency to protect the river crossing. Work will be finished in spring 2015. The Highways Agency will soon complete work at the A49/A465 Belmont Road junction to improve congestion. It is part of the national Pinch Point Programme, which forms part of the government’s growth initiative. The layout of the junction will be altered to provide a new link to cater for the A49 southbound movement into the nearby ASDA supermarket and ‘U’ turning vehicles onto the A49 northbound. Costing just over £250,000, the project will be complete in August 2013.

FOGTEC

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

The Smarter Way of Fire Fighting FOGTEC is a leading fire protection specialist in several market sectors such as tunnels and rolling stock. The core knowledge is based on high pressure water mist fire fighting systems. The German company employs a team of specialist engineers from the areas of fire protection, mechanical engineering, chemistry, hydraulics, electronics, software, and shipbuilding. FOGTEC’s tunnel department focuses on the protection of underground facilities such as tunnels and stations. Specially trained engineers provide services from consultancy to turnkey projects, including feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis, design, prefabrication, turnkey installations and maintenance of FFFS (fixed fire fighting systems) including related controls and detection systems. The FOGTEC tunnel department offers a full product portfolio for modern water based FFFS including their turnkey installation. FOGTEC technology has been tested in independent full scale tests as well as in actual installations. All FOGTEC components are designed for the use in tunnels and have undergone long term tests to ensure their safe operation in a harsh tunnel environment. These efforts have been rewarded by the tunnel community and FOGTEC has participated in

well-known research projects such as FIT, UPTUN and SOLIT/SOLIT2 as the leading specialized fire protection company. FOGTEC’s tunnel department is represented in the steering board of ITA COSUF and the technical committee of NFPA502. FOGTEC has cooperated with tunnel safety researchers, safety consultants, tunnel owners / operators as well as manufacturers of complementary products. As of today, three FFFS projects have been contracted in the UK and FOGTEC has been awarded with all the contracts:

New Tyne Crossing (NTC) The investment decision was based on a quantitative risk assessment and a cost-benefit analysis, concluding that the installation of the FFFS will return the investment costs over the design lifetime period. The full scale tests from previous research projects had proven the effectiveness of the FOGTEC water mist technology to fight tunnel fires with small droplets by rapidly absorbing heat, particularly through evaporation, and providing a very effective cooling effect. Thanks to the FFFS and the other state-of-the-art safety measures, the Tyne Tunnels are claimed to be the safest tunnels in the UK.

FOGTEC was contracted by the Highways Agency to protect the Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing. The contract covers a turnkey supply of an FFFS. The project scope covers the protection of the two tunnels and the construction of two pump station buildings. Prior the detailed design of the FFFS, FOGTEC carried out full scale fire tests to prove the required performance specified for the FFFS. The tests were conducted by the IFAB, specialised company for tunnel fire tests. Many new innovations for tunnels have been applied to the FFFS, including a SIL2 certified pump and section valve control system according to DIN EN 61508 standard.

Eurotunnel (Channel tunnel) FOGTEC was awarded the design and build contract for developing a new safety concept (SAFE), including full scale fire tests, a high-pressure water mist FFFS, a fire detection/localisation system, a control system (incl. SCADA) and a video surveillance system. The full scale fire tests of over 200MW were executed by IFAB to prove the system performance. Very detailed RAMS studies have been carried out in order to maximize the design availability up to 99,98%. The potential savings from the fire fighting system, for example through reduced insurance premiums, will significantly exceed the investment costs.

FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH & Co. KG Schanzenstraße 19A, 51063 Köln (Cologne), Germany Tel.: +49 221 96223-0 Fax: +49 221 96223-30 E-mail: contact@fogtec.com Internet: www.fogtec.com

Advantages of FOGTEC water mist systems in tunnels: • Improvement of life safety • Very good fire control and easy access for fire fighters • Prevention of fire spread to other vehicles • Limitation of structural damage • Full scale fire tested • Very low life cycle costs • Very short recovery time after activation • Very high availability – SIL2 certification Compensatory measures when installing a FOGTEC FFFS: • Less passive protection needed • Ventilation capacity can be reduced significantly • Design fire for existing ventilation can be raised • Positive impact on other safety measurements

UKC COMMERCIAL

Chesil Mews

Ideally located apartments and commercial unit A brand new selection of one- and twobedroom apartments has been completed in a prominent position at the entrance to Winchester on the Bar End Road. Work saw the demolition of the Heart in Hand pub and the construction of a three-storey apartment block to include a selection of nine apartments. The ground floor is a commercial unit. The building is modern, but elegant. Attractive flint wall fronting Bar End Road has been retained, providing some welcome privacy to a cosy garden area to the south of the new building. Known as Chesil Mews, the development is built to a high specification to meet the demands of modern city living on the entrance to one of the oldest cities in England. Chesil Mews encapsulates the features and expectations of modern living in this historic and very convenient setting. The apartments are designed and built to a high standard with thermally efficient construction techniques and easy to maintain materials and finishes. Each apartment has been thoughtfully planned and specified and comes with a ten-year Premier Guarantee New Build Warranty. The development is ideally situated in Winchester – a vibrant, heritage destination just one hour south west of London. The historic cathedral city

and ancient capital of England is also links to other towns and cities have led the county town of Hampshire. Winchester to become one of the most This culturally rich medieval city is desirable areas in the country to live. surrounded by idyllic villages and Kitchens are fully fitted at Chesil Mews the fabulous rolling countryside of and benefit from sleek laminated the South Downs National Park. worktops and coordinating upstands. Winchester’s major landmark is the Bathrooms are fully tiled to all walls and magnificent Cathedral. A place of have ceramic floor tiles, while security worship for over 900 years, it is also is guaranteed with voice door entry one of the largest in Europe. The system for communal entrance doors. city is also home to the University of Work was completed in June 2013, Winchester and Winchester College. designed by Sherlock Boswell With an enticing collection of shops lining Architecture and built by FE Chase. the pedestrianfriendly streets, Winchester is a shopper’s paradise. The city boasts a tempting array of independent shops, award winning Wessex Demolition & Salvage Ltd, based in Southampton, Hampshire provides pubs, restaurants safe, professional and reliable demolition and dismantling services throughout and art galleries. the UK. The Theatre Royal provides a Wessex Demolition takes great care and consideration on every project, which means you get the service you expect, coupled with the confidence that the programme of plays, task will be carried out safely and efficiently. theatre, music, dance and comedy We always ensure that the working environment is clean and safe and you can while the Tower be assured when we have finished that the site will be ready for the next stage Arts Centre hosts an of your project. eclectic mix of acts. Our range of services include: The city’s rich heritage and its fast Demolition & Dismantling Strip Out Façade Retention Emergency Demolition Asbestos Removal Crushing and Screening Plant Hire Recycled Aggregates Proud to be working with F E Chase

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PROFILE UKC

KCC Architectural Moving into new markets KCC Architectural is a specifier and supplier of a wide range of architectural products and services, bringing together leading manufacturers of door-sets, automatic doors, door hardware, access control, glazing systems and related products from all areas of the construction industry. Providing a total package solution from design through to installation, KCC was established in 1998 after the successful management buy-out of the Ingersoll Rand Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Irish operation. Since that time, the Company has become a leading provider of architectural specification products in Ireland and the UK. Products are supplied under four distinct divisions: Automatics & Access Control, FacadesPartitions and Doors, Door Hardware, and Services & Maintenance. The Company has grown steadily since inception. In 2005, KCC acquired Skelly Doors, changing the name to Skelly Opening Solutions in 2007. With more than 35 years in the door market, Skelly Opening Solutions is a forerunner in the supply of opening solutions for fire, security and environmental requirements. In 2008, KCC continued its expansion with the takeover of MMF Architectural. Although widely acknowledged as specialists in stainless steel fabrication, MMF has extensive knowledge in design and fabrication in aluminium, mild steel and brass. One year later, KCC Door Hardware & Security Solutions, Skelly Operating Solutions and MMF Architectural were rebranded under the one name of KCC Architectural, offering the total solutions package. As a company, KCC is proud to offer a

total service for the supply, installation and maintenance of inter-related products that satisfy the particular requirements for industry, commercial, educational, pharmaceutical, health and housing sectors of the construction industry. KCC continuously works with its manufacturing partners to ensure that consistent quality and performance is achieved on its products where specified and supplied, and that these products are in full compliance with all current relevant standards, including CE marking. KCC has offices in Dublin, Belfast, London, Scotland, Cork and Qatar. The Company provides services to the public and private sectors and has been involved in a number of transport, education, hotel & leisure, hospitals, pharmaceutical and residential projects. The Company has been involved in a number of projects in the UK and recently completed the prestigious SLaM (South London and Maudsley) project, a new state-of-theart learning centre. Externally the building is articulated through a regular pattern of brick panelling and full height windows, framed by an external expression of the concrete frame, with vertical and horizontal fins fo pre-cast concrete. KCC manufactured and supplied approximately 120

structurally bonded, stepped edge, double glazed steel frame windows manufactured with the Schuco Jansen System. Edging the brick panels in concrete banding and panelling is intended to communicate the structural strategy of the building, whilst the concrete will have a stone-like appearance and colour selected to draw upon the surrounding Georgian sympbolism of window reveals and stucco bands. Another prestigious project was at the IBC Media Centre at the Olympic Park in London for the 2012 Games where the Company was awarded the contract of supplying and installing 1,600 timber and steel door sets complete with hardware. KCC is always looking at expansion opportunities and has expanded overseas where it hopes to achieve major growth in the Middle East and UK markets over the next two years, as well as introducing new products and services.

Mark Hinsley Arboricultural Consultants Ltd.

No 1 supplier of quality hinges to KCC

delivering quality architectural hardware Frelan Hardware Ltd Unit 10, Mitcham Industrial Estate, Streatham Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 2AP

Tel: 020 8648 1500 Fax: 020 8648 1626 Email: sales@frelan.co.uk Web: www.frelan.co.uk

UKC EDUCATION

Queen Mary’s College

New music building

Building work is well underway to make way for a new state-of-the-art music building at Queen Mary’s College (QMC). The building, which will stand on the site of the old science block, will be acoustically engineered to minimise transfer of sound. It is designed to be environmentally efficient and will comply with the BREEAM Very Good standard. QMC is an incorporated, co-educational, sixth form college for students over 16 years old. Situated in Basingstoke, Hampshire, the college is open to everyone who wants to be there – young people of all levels of ability, with all kinds of talents, backgrounds, interests and ambitions. The College is committed to and values equalities, diversity and inclusion, and has a fantastic reputation both locally and nationally, proven by Ofsted’s report following their last inspection in May 2010. The publication of the National School and College Performance not only identifies QMC as one of the best in the region but also it places the college in the top five per cent of all A-level providers across the country. QMC also provides adult education to the wider community across Basingstoke, providing an extensive programme of courses and training. The college has fantastic facilities including the brand new Spectrum building, a state-of-the-arts sports centre, and central studio theatre, which are open to members of the public.

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QMC is only a short walk from Basingstoke town centre, situated on a green and leafy 20-acre site. In the last three years, the college has invested more than £20M in the buildings and infrastructure, which has resulted in a modern, spacious and engaging environment for students to study in. The 1,000sq m music building will be fully equipped with the latest sound and recording technology, meeting the needs of the music industry and enabling students to learn the correct use of technical equipment, specific to their chosen career. The impressive new addition to QMC will also boast a 90sq m performance space. The building will be complete with an adjacent plaza area. Steve Gallagher, Head of Performing Arts, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the plans. The new facilities will enable our Music and Performing Arts students to have access to high quality facilities as well as utilising the expertise of our fantastic Music and Performing Arts staff. “It will enrich our curriculum provision and enable us to continue to be a centre for Performing Arts excellence in the county.” The campus is already incorporated into a parkland setting that contains a large number of trees and green areas. This project will enhance this and make

more use of it. This will include areas of significant improving to the parking, access from the north and the spaces around the building and the surrounding environment that is generated by the removal of the old science centre and the Yorkon building that was to the north of the campus. The Main Contractor for the project is Strongbond Construction Ltd, which was established in 1998 and has since demonstrated its ability to undertake a diverse range of building, painting and decorating projects, all requiring a high level of management expertise. The Company works closely with architects on projects such as this, which has benefited from the expertise of MacAllan Penfold Chartered Architects. Based in Church Crookham, it is an award-winning architectural practice that has a sustained track record of work on a diverse variety of building design projects across Hampshire, Surrey and the surrounding areas. Founded in 1989, the Practice has worked on more than 1,500 projects and continues to provide design and architectural services for a broad range of clients across a variety of sectors. In addition to larger projects, the Practice undertakes smaller works and one-off houses. With this level of expertise, the new music building at QMC is sure to be a success when it opens in autumn, at a cost of £2.3M.

Wessex Demolition & Salvage Ltd, based in Southampton, Hampshire provides safe, professional and reliable demolition and dismantling services throughout the UK.

publishing limited

Wessex Demolition takes great care and consideration on every project, which means you get the service you expect, coupled with the confidence that the task will be carried out safely and efficiently. We always ensure that the working environment is clean and safe and you can be assured when we have finished that the site will be ready for the next stage of your project. Our range of services include:

to advertise in this magazine please call

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Demolition & Dismantling Strip Out Façade Retention Emergency Demolition Asbestos Removal Crushing and Screening Plant Hire Recycled Aggregates Proud to be working with Strongbond Construction Wessex Demolition & Salvage Ltd Unit 5, Bury Farm, Curbridge, Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2HB

Tel: 01489 788083 Fax: 01489 780162 www.wessexdemolition.co.uk

www.pro-mark.org.uk

Taking its customer commitment, business ethics and team development to new heights September of this year sees Blencowe Scaffolding celebrating its 50th Anniversary supporting the construction industry from its two depots in Salisbury and Basingstoke. Over the years, Blencowe Scaffolding has built its reputation with the simple principle that by employing a good team and ensuring that they are properly trained, fully equipped with excellent products, they can deliver a very high standard of courteous service to the construction industry. Head Office: Units 1&2 The Centurian Centre, Castlegate Business Park, Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 6QX

T: 01722 329010 E: enquiries@blencowescaffolding.co.uk www.blencowescaffolding.co.uk

'Like us' on Facebook at Blencowe Scaffolding and follow us on twitter @BScaffolding

Operating 16 teams from two depots, Blencowe’s is able to service customers of all sizes across a very large geography. ‘Our clients demand a very high level of service, from design through estimating the job, right through to delivery. Our highly trained team is able to and delighted to meet that challenge’ says, Pat Blencowe, Managing Director and founder. Pat is now supported in the day-to-day running of the business by two of his sons, David and Roy.

No job is too big or too small for Blencowe Scaffolding. Their aim is to achieve steady growth into the future by continuing to invest in staff training, ensuring that their highly trained and motivated teams can provide scaffold structures of a high standard, in an efficient manner, and in compliance with all Health & Safety and Statutory requirements. Blencowe’s highly trained team, is considered to be a major asset and sets the standard to which other companies follow. Blencowe’s believe that setting a high-standard of customer satisfaction from ensuring that clients receive knowledgeable pre-tender advice and detailed competitive quotes, through to completing jobs on time, within budget and to a high standard, enables them to both keep and grow their customer base. Blencowe Scaffolding has been working with the Stongbond Group for many years and is delighted to be one of their valued partners.

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UKC PROFILE

National Outdoor Events Association Educating and enhancing professionalism The National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) is the UK’s leading outdoor events trade association covering the whole of the UK. There is also a Scottish division, NOEA Scotland active north of the border. It is dedicated to enhancing professionalism in the outdoor events industry through education, networking, lobbying, advice and creating business opportunities. The NOEA membership comprises event suppliers, event production professionals, event and festival organisers, entertainment agencies, local authority events departments, venues, universities and freelancers. Established in 1979, NOEA is the only trade association specialising in the outdoor events industry and has more than 500 member organisations. NOEA’s policy to educate, advise and enhance professionalism and business opportunities clearly works. The regional workshops, conferences and annual convention & tribute celebration evenings offer opportunities to find out about the latest developments – to learn about topical issues such as the Licensing Act, Disability Discrimination Act, and the Security Industry Authority. NOEA is involved in training event managers and working on the British Standard for the sustainability of event management. NOEA is represented on the business visits & events partnership, The Genesis Initiative, The Event Industry Forum and the International Festivals & Events Association – Europe. The purpose is to debate issues, share information, network, meet new business contacts, renew old friendships and have fun. By becoming a member of NOEA, a company becomes part of a specialist ‘club’ of outdoor event professionals. The ethos of the Association is to bring together likeminded people for business-to-business networking, education, the sharing of

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problems and to enhance professionalism. Benefits of NOEA membership include: ••Entry in NOEA’s annual yearbook. ••Entry on NOEA’s website. ••Attend/exhibit at the annual conference. ••Receive electronic newsletters. ••Network with all other members. ••Free legal advice relating to outdoor events. ••Discounts with the Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Crowne Plaza hotels. ••Discounts with Arnold Clark Van Hire. ••Access to All Parliamentary Group for events. ••Special rates for exhibiting at selected shows. ••Advice helpline. ••Use of logo for promotional purposes. Last year was a successful one for most people working in events, with the Olympics showing how people excel when it comes to staging events.

Richard Limb, NOEA President, said it showcased creativity, attention to detail, and created valuable networking opportunities. He is also looking forward to the rest of this year with excitement. He said: “2013 is looking good with more events being planned and promises to be a busy year for us all. The Purple guide will be completed and the National Stewarding council launched.” Tom Clements, NOEA Scotland Chairman is pleased that the NOEA AGM will be held in Scotland in the autumn. He said: “This will give our NOEA Scotland members a chance to network with a wide range of industry professionals and to showcase the vibrant outdoor events industry in Scotland.” www.noea.org.uk

Continental Drifts - Brilliance with a twist. Specialists in Production, Performance and Music. Business Barge Judith, Hale Wharf, Ferry Lane, London N17 9NF Tel: +44 (0)20 8365 9555 Email: info@continentaldrifts.co.uk www.continentaldrifts.co.uk

The company has been trading for approximately 10 years and provides professional public safety services for the Film/TV, Events, Entertainment and Sporting industries. The Company also provides related training services to clients. EVENT COMMAND & CONTROL OPERATIONS ● EVENT FIRE-RESCUE SERVICES EVENT MEDICAL SERVICES ● EVENT SECURITY & STEWARDING EVENT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

www.alliance-pioneer.co.uk

Scotland’s Crew Company • Event Staff • Production Staff • Security Get a quote today 0131 554 6261

diamondeventservices.com

Adralava Ltd., Hopton Court, Cleobury Mortimer, Kidderminster, Worcs DY14 0EF T. 01299 270734 F. 01299 271132 M. 07711 731896 e-mail: info@holeinthewallfestival.co.uk Website: www.holeinthewallfestival.co.uk

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UKC EDUCATION

National Construction College

Phase III on schedule for September completion The National Construction College (NCC) in Bircham Newton, has secured more than £2M to begin Phase III of its campus redevelopment to provide 45 new ensuite accommodation facilities for the college’s students. Now in the third phase of this £27M upgrade, an estimated £10M has already been spent to develop two new accommodation blocks, a conference venue, campus restaurant, coffee shop and convenience store as part of the phased development. The NCC is Europe’s largest construction facility delivering high quality specialist training together with consolidating and developing the skills and achievements of people already in the industry. As the largest provider of construction training in Europe, working with up to 30,000 learners and 700 apprentices each year, the NCC works with employers to

provide both bespoke and specialist training as well as a wide selection of first class learning materials to complement courses. Other facilities will include a sports centre comprising of squash courts and possibly a swimming pool, as well as offices and training support services. Separate funding is needed for the renovation of the sports hall, but plans are underway to secure this. Director of the NCC, Andy Walder, welcomed the new funding. He said: “We’re delighted to have been granted this funding and are very excited about the opportunities that it offers in terms of improving life on the college campus for students. “We’re keen to attract the best possible talent into the industry, and to give them training in a learning environment with facilities that befit these aspirations. This funding will be part of the wider objective to deliver improvements to both our staff

and students on the Bircham Newton site.” Mansell Construction Services started work on the latest phase at the end of March 2013, and the buildings comprise of steel frame with concrete floors founded on conventional pad, beam and strip foundations. A key part to this project is MLM, who sets the standard for delivery of multidisciplinary consultancy in both the public and private sectors and is totally committed to helping protect the environment by the way design work is undertaken and by how the business is run. MLM has been involved in the design of all phases of this development, providing civil and structural engineer work, site investigations, and building control. The Architect for the project is Feilden and Mawson, and the new accommodation facilities are due to open in September.

MLM

The breadth of our services allows us to provide comprehensive support throughout all projects, from initial design support at concept stage, through planning and tender processes, detailed design and throughout construction right up to completion.

For further information please contact: Rob Seller | Managing Director of Structures T: 020 7422 7800 2 Eldon Street, London, EC2M 7LS

www.mlm.uk.com

CIVIL UKC

Kent Highways Contract £45M per year of highways maintenance Kent Highways team is continuing to provide core services throughout the county to make the roads safer and more usable. In the space of four weeks earlier this year, Kent Highways removed more than 2,000 potholes, and an extra £1.15M investment in the County’s roads will help to improve the situation further. The Highways crews carried out six times more work with the launch of ‘Find and Fix 2013’ in February, and crews have almost halved the time taken to fix a pothole from an average of 25 days in 2011 to 14 days last year. The Main Contractor for this highways maintenance contract is Enterprise, now owned by Amey. Enterprise was awarded the contract to provide £45M per annum worth of highways maintenance services to Kent County Council in June 2011. The range of services includes routine maintenance, winter services, emergency and out-of-hours response, drainage repairs, signs, liners, barrier and streetlighting maintenance, and highways surface treatment work. It will also include a range of highways improvement schemes, and began in September 2011 for five years, with the possibility of a five-year extension.

From the very beginning start with us…

PDS are supplying critical Infrastructure Systems to: Kent County Council +44 (0)1332 280195 www.pdslimited.co.uk

Kent has one of the largest and busiest road networks in the country with over 5,000 miles of roads and the Council wanted a strong supply chain partner to work closely with its in-house teams to deliver value for money and efficient services. The award was made following a robust procurement process. When the contract was awarded, Kent County Council Cabinet Minister for Environment, Highways and Waste, Bryan Sweetland, said: “We are committed to maintaining the network, improving road safety for all users and managing traffic flow to ease congestion. “We believe it is possible to provide an excellent service through challenging economic times and we have chosen a supply chain partner which sees this challenge as an opportunity to improve services for residents.” Kent’s dedication to carrying out high quality road repairs has been highly praised by Paul Watters, Head of Roads Policy at the Automobile Association, who said: “It is vital that Kent residents get value for money from the multi-million pound investment in road repairs and renewal, making council tax payers’ money go further whilst also improving road

resilience and the driving experience. Kent’s roads maintenance programme is aimed at doing just this.” As well as Enterprise winning the contract for highways maintenance, Amey signed a contract in January to cover all civil engineering design services for highways, transportation and the environment, which will deliver a better deal for Kent residents. Under the new Technical and Environmental Services Contract, a percentage of each month’s payment will be set against meeting key performance targets, including working to time, to cost and to expectation. The contract was awarded following a year long procurement process that considered quality and value for money. Bryan Sweetland said: “We have run an exhaustive tendering process and selected a very capable supplier that will deliver important services for residents, such as the design of new highway and transportation schemes. “This is the second major contract Kent has awarded where the suppliers performance in meeting its obligations will be measured against targets. The performance against these measures will be used to assess the payments due on a monthly basis.”

P Ducker Systems (PDS) supplies Infrastructure Control Systems. PDS maintains the Southwick and Roundhill Tunnel control and safety systems. PDS provides 24/7 call out as well as obsolescence management and system upgrade options. Contact P Ducker Systems at: Olympus House, Stephensons Way, Wyvern Business Park, Derby DE21 6LY E-mail: info@pdslimited.co.uk. Web: www.pdslimited.co.uk 105

UKC HOUSING

Fiona Gardens

Extra Care Facility for Trafford Housing Trust

Work is well underway on a site in central Sale, Trafford, Manchester, which will see the development of a 71 room ‘Extra Care’ facility for Trafford Housing Trust. The scheme, known as Fiona Gardens in memory of PC Fiona Bone, is on the site of Palace Court sheltered housing and the former Centre of Independent Living Atkins Court. Main Contractor, Wates Living Space, began on site in April this year and construction is due to complete in March 2014. The development will comprise 71 one- and two-bedroom homes, internal and external communal areas, a hair and nail bar, resident lounges, activity room and internet café. The project was approved by Trafford Council in November 2011, with the Council agreeing to contribute an area of land to Trafford Housing Trust (THT) for the £9M development. The majority of funding will come form Trafford Housing Trust, with grant funding of £1.4M from the Home and Communities Agency. The development reinforces the Council’s

commitment to work with partners to ensure local residents continue to receive the best possible support and care to help them remain independent and living in their own homes. Executive Councillor Michael Young said: “The Council is committed to providing the best possible care, support and opportunities for all local residents. This has seen adult social care services transformed to provide better choice and flexibility for people, helping them continue living independently within their local community. “Both ourselves and Trafford Housing Trust recognise the importance of having sufficient, appropriate, affordable properties available. This proposal provides a unique opportunity to continue to work in partnership to develop a third Extra Care facility, offering appropriate support to its residents as well as social, care and leisure facilities for the wider community.” Graeme Scott, Head of Investment and Regeneration at Trafford Housing Trust said:

Gas or electricity – we’ll make it easy to get you connected

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“We are pleased to be building our largest and most prestigious development in partnership with Wates Living Space. The scheme will consist of 71 contained apartments – 49 for rent and 22 for shared ownership. The building will have a restaurant, hairdressers, well being suites, hobby and activity rooms and lounge and these communal spaces will be open to the local community to come and visit and enjoy. “The scheme will also have off road parking and will be surrounded by landscaped gardens. We are hoping to officially open the scheme in 2014.” Lee Sale, Regional Business Manager for Wates Living Space, added: “We’re really pleased to be involved in this important project for Trafford. “We will be working closely with Trafford Housing Trust to ensure our presence not only results in quality extra care facilities for local residents, but also creates long lasting community benefits through tangible training and employment opportunities.”

Find out how our project team can help you to connect your new energy supply or meter using our efficient, hassle-free service. Speak to us on 0845 671 3075

LEISURE UKC

Highgrove Pool and Fitness Centre reopens following £5.7M refurbishment Residents in Ruislip and beyond are benefiting from outstanding new leisure facilities thanks to a multi-million pound upgrade of Highgrove Pool and Leisure Centre by Hillingdon Council. A complete overhaul of the changing rooms, fully refurbished swimming pools and diving platforms, a new reception area and the installation of a state-ofthe-art filtration pool system are all part of the Council’s £5.7M makeover. The transformed centre, which reopened its doors at the beginning of April, is now accessible to all with a new lift to the changing rooms from the front entrance. An outstanding Changes Places facility has been added, featuring a height adjustable changing bed and hoist system for customers with profound and multiple learning disabilities, and the refurbished spectator area offers viewing platforms for the disabled. The extensive gym upgrade includes an impressive 92 stations, an aero biking

studio, top-of-the-range Techno equipment, new sound system and studio flooring and refurbished female changing rooms. The re-opening of the centre in Eastcote Road brings the Council’s investment in sports and leisure to £50M and with it flagship facilities right across the borough. Leader of the Council Councillor Ray Puddifoot, who along with the Mayor of Hillingdon Councillor Michael Markham officially opened the cutting edge facilities on April 25th, said: “We are committed to making Hillingdon a borough where opportunities are open to all. We firmly believe that the facilities we offer here, together with others across the borough, are amongst the best in London and that we will be providing the opportunity for the participation in sport and exercise for all and delivering a strong sporting legacy for future generations.” Cabinet Member for Community, Commerce and Regeneration Councillor Douglas Mills,

who also attended the formal opening, said: “The new facilities at Highgrove add to the impressive sports facilities we already have in Hillingdon. Any resident who wishes to be active can do so whether they live north, south or in the centre of our Borough and with the Hillingdon First card they also get discounted prices”. The Hillingdon First card gives residents reduced prices at a number of council- owned facilities, including the borough’s leisure centres. Highgrove Pool and Leisure Centre is run on behalf of the council by charitable trust Better (formerly GLL). Work at the centre has been undertaken by Main Contractor. Volker Fitzpatrick Contractors Ltd. There is excellent car parking with space for 40 extra cars as part of the refurbishment as well as disabled parking bays and an electric car charging point.

Trading successfully for over 10 years, TC Carpentry Contractors have built a wealth of experience within the construction industry, undertaking all aspects of carpentry work in London , The Home Counties and the South East. We pride ourselves on providing an excellent service and gaining repeat business through surpassing our clients’ expectations and their confidence in our ability to deliver the highest standards in terms of skilled carpenters, material procurement and project management.

ALL ASPECTS OF CARPENTRY AND BUILDING WORKS UNDERTAKEN

We have a wide range of experience working for various main contractors and have met the needs of the end users such as NHS Trust, BUPA, Talkback Thames Productions, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire County Councils.

T.C Carpentry Contractors LTD. 186 London Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 1PL

We are experienced in all types of carpentry from roof construction through to second fix internals including specialist kitchen and bathroom installation. A number of our recent projects have included the fixing of external decking, hard landscaping and rainscreen cladding.

Tel 07909 995 130 Tel / Fax 01727 800 285 Email: t.cooper@tcccontractors.co.uk www.tcccontractors.co.uk

Our labour force consists of qualified and experienced carpenters with the relevant CSCS certification, who have been directly employed for a number of years and are skilled and concientious in the work they undertake. Our support staff are fully qualified with up to date health and safety qualifications.

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UKC CIVIL

Harrow Highways Alliance Long-term maintenance contract for Harrow Council Harrow Council is currently one year into a long-term contract that will see many locations in the borough upgraded to give people the very best surroundings. January 2012 saw May Gurney awarded the Council’s highways maintenance contract, which is valued at up to £50M. It started in April 2012 and is schedule to end in 2017, though there is an option to extend for a further two years. The contract was awarded in three ‘bundled services’ lots and includes maintenance of the Council’s key infrastructure assets – highways, carriageways, footways, streetlights, gullies, and watercourses. As part of the contract, May Gurney will also undertake maintenance of highways infrastructure assets belonging to London Underground and Overground, as well as watercourses belonging to the Environment Agency. Working under the contract, Cartledge, the specialist street lighting business, maintains 15,600 street lighting columns and 3,900 traffic signs and bollards. By August last year, May Gurney had completed more than 3,200 reactive repairs and delivered seven footway schemes. May Gurney also received instructions to carry out 11 surfacing schemes that started in October 2012. The London Borough of Harrow is predominantly urban with a population of approximately 270,000. It has 72 schools and 5,000 businesses and covers 52sq km. The highways’ infrastructure is the Council’s largest asset, currently valued at £485M. Martin Thurnell, Operations Manager at May Gurney, spoke last August about the progress made. He said: “From the start of the contract we have delivered 1,188 ‘P4’ defects, which we have to start within two days and complete within five days;

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1,621 ‘P5’ defects which have to be complete within 15 days; and 471 ‘P6’ defects which we have to complete over a longer period, usually one or two months. “We have also delivered seven footway schemes and have received positive feedback from the Council’s engineering services’ team as well as local residents.” Cartledge also made a successful start, completing 27 street lighting defects within two hours, 22 defects within 24 hours and delivering one scheme. Martin Thurnell added: “The Harrow Alliance has delivered strong performance from day one. We have developed very good working relationships with our client and these continue to strengthen. “The new May Gurney team has shown great commitment and professionalism and adopted our values of ‘Safe’, ‘Innovative’, ‘Honest’ and ‘Collaborative’ while carrying out their daily duties.” May Gurney also managed to keep roads safe and open on behalf of the Council during the poor winter weather. The team’s success at keeping roads and pavements free from ice and snow was praised by residents and Council representatives. Michael Lockwood, Chief Executive of Harrow Council, wrote to all May Gurney team members involved, thanking them for their commitment and dedication. Maureen Leonard from Harrow Council’s Meals on Wheels service said: “Just wanted to thank you for keeping the roads clear and making it easier to gain access to meals on wheels clients around the borough.” James Birch, May Gurney General Manager in Harrow, said: “It’s great when we get recognised

for the effort that we put in. The team pulled out all the stops which made a real difference.” May Gurney is the market leader in highways maintenance services to local authorities, maintaining over 37,000km of roads and more than 500,000 streetlights and illuminated signs across the country. The Company delivers highway services to eight councils and ten London boroughs, all under long-term contracts. Core services include highways maintenance, street lighting and surface dressing. The customer relationships developed with all partners are crucial to the Company’s success. May Gurney develops and understanding of customer needs, aspirations and expectations and – through its six monthly best practice forums for customers – continuously improves and innovates to reduce costs and risks. These initiatives have saved the Company’s customers in excess of 15%, enabling increased investment in their lighting asset. Long-term relationships enable May Gurney to assess areas of service improvements and take a holistic approach to street lighting maintenance – taking account of energy usage in product selection and methods of working. Working with its customers, the Company has been able to introduce innovations that are 30% more efficient than conventional solutions and substantially reduce CO2 emissions. May Gurney train its people to ensure they achieve their full potential. The award winning training programme has resulted in a number of employees being recognised at the annual HEA Awards. Similarly, the in-house NVQ Training Centre offers a range of courses leading to industry-recognised qualifications. In addition to long-term maintenance contracts, Cartledge also provides

new installations for local authorities and civil contractors. May Gurney provides other value adding services to internal and external clients, such as Civil and Structural (C&S) Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control, Automation (MEICA), and renewables. Services include, but are not limited to, the supply of feasibility studies, surveys/ site investigations, outline design, detailed design and professional advice services for rail, utilities, waterways, environmental, facilities and highways clients. The Company has also secured contracts with other councils, one of which was signed with Surrey County Council in April 2011 to maintain Surrey’s 3,000-mile road network. Under the six-year, £60M contract, more than 440 stretches of the road were resurfaced in the first year and the contract means May Gurney is also responsible for cycle paths, pavements, drainage, street signs, winter maintenance and looking after the county’s bridges. Surrey County Council is also making a £4.1M annual saving, in comparison with the previous arrangement.

Under the contract, it is estimated that the Company will repair around 30,000 potholes each year. Potholes are priorities for permanent repair based on the size, depth and potential hazard. Dependent on this, they are repaired from within 24 hours to 28 days. The process for identifying potholes and other defects has been simplified through innovative scheduling and coordinating technology and processes, allowing the Company to cut administration and use a common sense approach to minor repairs. These systems also enable tracking of work progress, providing transparency and accountability for Surrey County Council and local residents and businesses. Over the last winter, May Gurney delivered 1,774 hours of service over the weekend of January 19-20th alone. This included an average of six deployments a day for the gritting fleet as well as 14 hand gritting crews deployed as requested by the Surrey Highways’ snow desk. Jim Harker, May Gurney General Manager for Surrey Highways said: “Despite the severity of the weather, we delivered all of the above within response times and

without a single driver no show. “This is a significant deployment involving numerous challenges and important decisions, which were successfully taken. I had numerous calls and emails from various stakeholders who are clearly very impressed with our service delivery.” Peter Martin, Deputy Leader for Surrey County Council, said: “Excellent and well done. The state of the roads is the best that I have ever seen after a winter snowfall.” John Furey, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member and Highways Portfolio holder, added: “Please tell all people involved in the snow event that they are magnificent.” The Company has worked diligently over the winter period on its Northamptonshire Highways project, which kept routes clear of snow and ice, with every trip seeing 27 gritting vehicles cover nearly half of Northamptonshire’s entire road network – more than 1,200 miles.

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Groundworks Facilities Limited

DELIVERING QUALITY ON TIME, EVERY TIME Specialising in construction and reinstatement projects for transport network systems

Groundwork Facilities Ltd is a highly experienced business that provides support for medium-to-large commercial and publicly funded civil engineering projects. Covering the whole of Greater London and all surrounding areas including Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Kent and Surrey, the Company specialises in construction and reinstatement projects for transport network systems, while increasingly undertaking a wide array of other civil engineering activities. The Company is staffed with specialists throughout, meaning full service delivery is offered, from initial design concepts through to preparation of ground, construction and ongoing maintenance. Groundwork Facilities is equally experienced working on a subcontracting basis to help a project team at any stage of the delivery process. Underpinning everything the Company does is a focus on quality, safety and value for each customer's money. If contracted directly by the client, the customer-centric approach and process flow management will take the stress out of delivering a multi-faceted, multi-supplier project. If working on a subcontracting basis, the Company will fit in with timelines and working processes to ensure a smooth transition. In any circumstance, the Company's involvement will ensure that any project is completed on time, on budget and to the correct specifications. If anything goes wrong, Groundwork Facilities has a highly reactive emergency call-out service that is just a phone call away, minimising delay and therefore unforeseen costs. If any

issue is less time sensitive, the Company's repair and maintenance teams will fix, replace, or upgrade. Groundwork Facilities has considerable experience in providing numerous bulk earthwork solutions to ensure quick and inexpensive site clearance and land reclamation. Typical projects include surface removal, topsoil stripping, cut and fill, drainage installation, topsoil importation, sand importation and amelioration, laser levelling and surface installation. These can be offered in isolation, or increasingly as part of a full land regeneration service, which includes site assessment, demolition, remediation and storage, haulage and disposal. All teams at the Company are comfortable working with a range of surface materials including stone mastic asphalt, hot rolled asphalt, cold lay tarmac, block paving, concrete and bituminous surface treatment. Customers can benefit from advice on the best materials to use for a project, and these can be sourced at a below-market price. The Company's qualified civil engineering teams can help each customer realise its ambition, be it a new road, bridge, car park or any outdoor space that has to be adapted for a new purpose. Clients value the creativity and ability to look at plans from a different angle, often resulting in a much reduced completion time at a lower cost. By asking the right questions from the start, Groundwork Facilities ensures it remains true to every customer's vision, while also bringing new ideas to the table. Whether a client needs to inject a little beauty and inspiration into existing grounds, or is building new premises on brand new land,

Groundwork Facilities can help at every step of the way - from initial creative consultation and drawing up designs, through to site strip and earth modelling, and onto final completion. These are just a few of the many services offered by the Company, who has worked with clients in the past such as May Gurney, Ryebridge Construction, Rockfield UK Ltd and Alperton Community School.

Councillor Bob Currie spoke of highways work carried out in Stuart Road. He said: "I like to pass on my appreciation for the excellent work done to the footpaths and crossover in Stuart Avenue. The Contractor took great care to assist the resident in this narrow road."

Many of the customers who have benefited from the work of Groundwork Facilities have had very complimentary things to say.

Our services Bulk earthworks and site reclamation • Construction and reinstatement Design and consultancy • Emergency response and repair Hard landscaping • Risk assessment and site inspection Site remediation • Traffic management schemes Brendan Callan: 07832912486 Rob Bilson: 07741489647 email:enquiries@gfltd.org www.groundworkfacilities.co.uk

UKC EDUCATION

Building for a better future The South West Energy Centre The South West Energy Centre is a specialist training venue for the development of skills in the renewable energy and sustainable construction sectors. The Centre has a mission to provide guidance to businesses and householders on how they can save money and benefit from the Government initiatives which are available to make green technology installation more affordable. The South Devon Energy Centre project is part financed by the South West European Regional Development Fund Competitiveness and Employment Programme 2007 to 2013. The Energy Saving Trust is supporting this project, which they have described as exciting, ambitious, innovative and very necessary response to the market need. They have identified that subject to appropriate investment in the South West alone it is estimated that over £2.5Bn of sales and 15,000 jobs will be generated by the Feed in Tariffs, the Renewable Heat Incentive and the

Green Deal for energy efficiency. The current phase of South West Energy Centre is a £5M investment which will provide a leading edge, state-of-the-art, training facility and interactive centre. It will be a regional hub providing training, advice and information about green and sustainable energy for Torbay and beyond. The College has been awarded £1.2M from the BIS Regional Growth Fund, £2M from Skills Funding Agency (Enhanced Renewal Grant) to support the development of the Energy Centre. Further support of £2.5M from the Competitiveness ERDF programme has enabled the full potential of this development to be realised and provide a long-term sustainable investment for the area. The Centre’s launch is scheduled for Saturday 31st August, when the Centre will be open to all to explore the up-tothe-minute facilities and see what the Centre can do for businesses, individuals and communities. The first students to experience the Energy Centre will

be based there from September. The development is being constructed by Kier, with whom the College has worked with over a number of years. Kier Operations Director, David Snell, said: “The new Energy Centre, with its bold design and prominent location, will establish Torbay at the heart of the renewables industry in the south west. The Passivhaus, which we are building as part of the centre, will be an additional real-life exemplar of robust and sustainable technology, which I believe will prove invaluable to students.” The Centre has many low carbon and energy saving features including: thermal cooling through night vents; computermanaged energy systems; biomass boiler, plus optimum daylight to reduce lighting requirements The building will achieve an Excellent BREEAM rating, sitting well with the College’s Outstanding Ofsted rating and prestigious Beacon Status, as well as its Fairtrade status, which is recognised by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Supportive Services for Self-builders Frame Wise believe in innovation, quality and most importantly, sustainability. Building your own home can be a daunting prospect that is why we offer a full range of bespoke products and supportive services for self-builders. Better homes create better lives and making the decision to build your own home takes a lot of serious thought but Frame Wise can help at every stage of the journey to turn your vision into a reality. With energy bills being a ‘hot topic’ - creating an energy efficient, sustainable new home, is a key priority for most. The innovative ‘Wise Wall’ has been in big demand - a truly pioneering closed panel solution incorporating a 'breathable wall' which negates condensation build-up, offering an assured performance – from conception to completion. Frame Wise has become the foremost one stop shop for timber frame, glulam and engineered timber technology together with a range of complementary products and services including stylish windows which can be factory fitted, as well as doors, stairs, and stylish kitchens - for more information visit www.framewiseltd.co.uk

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PROFILE UKC

Cleaner water with major reinvestment United Utilities United Utilities holds a licence to provide water and sewage services to around seven million in North West England. These services are carefully regulated – with the water regulator, Ofwat, reviewing its price limits every five years. Between 2010-2015, United Utilities will be investing more than £3Bn to improve the water and wastewater infrastructure and the environment across the North West, covering: ••Over 42,000km of water pipes, form Cumbria to Cheshire ••Over 76,000km of sewers ••569 wastewater treatment works ••94 water treatment works ••Over 56,000ha of catchment land Since 1990, United Utilities have made major improvements right across the business, and by investing more than £4,000 for every household in the North West it has: ••Halved the amount of leakage from networks, supported by ongoing investment to replace worn out pipes ••Helped improve compliance with bathing water standards across the North West which has risen from

just over 30% to more than 90% ••Improved water quality form 99.6% to over 99.9% - the best it’s ever been. In May this year, United Utilities announced that some £200M is being reinvested across the North West to benefit customers and the environment. The money, saved through efficiencies in the Company’s capital programme, is being reinvested in improving the region’s water and wastewater services. Steve Mogford CEO, said: “We know customer satisfaction with our service is improving, underpinned by strong operational and environmental performance. We are improving the quality and reliability of our infrastructure and, by 2015, not only will we have delivered what we agreed, customers will get even more for their money. This reinvestment also brings forward a number of our improvement plans meaning customers will get the benefits from them earlier; in other words a better services, sooner. “We accelerated our capital investment programme and invested £787M in the year, taking the total investment

Allied Pipefreezing Services Ltd is a nationwide specialist provider of onsite pipeline isolation and intervention services. From Pipe Freezing, Under Pressure Drilling (Hot Tapping), Wall Tapping, Line Stopping and Tank Tapping, we are sure that our services can provide a solution for almost any challenge. Covering both public and private sectors and supplying our services across a vast range of industries, Allied Pipefreezing has established itself as one of the leading companies in our sector.

in our network, since the start of the regulatory period in 2010, to just over £2Bn, providing an important contribution to the north west economy. We are delivering a smoother and more effective programme and we expect to invest around a further £800M in 2013/4.” Enterprise, the infrastructure maintenance support services company, was awarded the contract to maintain and renew United Utilities’ clean and waste water assets. The programme is expected to have revenue of around £400M in the period 2010-2020 based on the five year contract and the potential for further five year extension. The scope of the works comprises a wide range of maintenance activities across the entire North West of England region served by United Utilities. The programme will support United Utilities provision of clean and waste water services to the seven million people in the region and will deliver further improvements in cost and efficiency.

Operating from our offices in the North West of England, we offer our experience and expertise throughout the United Kingdom. Founded in 1994, Allied Pipefreezing Services has, over the years, established an impressive reputation for the provision of an on-site Pipefreezing, Under Pressure Drilling and line stopping service within a wide range of industrial and commercial environments. Our focus on customer service, Health and Safety and training all contribute to Allied Pipefreezing Services’ commitment to high levels of service and delivery of efficient and cost effective solutions on projects of all sizes. Our success originates from the very high levels of technical expertise and professionalism that we employ to great effect in every commission we undertake. No two projects are the same of course, which is why our skilled engineers have to be resourceful, often using their experience of wider pipefitting issues to find the best solution to the challenge in hand. On-site workmanship is of the highest calibre, and our operational flexibility enables us to work within clients' tight - and often shifting - schedules. This approach has helped to ensure the continual growth of the company.

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UKC CIVIL

Anaerobic Digestion

Rosaline Hulse, R&D Liaison & PR Manager, ADBA In the context of slow growth across the economy, the demand for sustainable development and green built environments is notable. Those of us working in sustainability and renewable energy believe that the UK’s appetite for sustainable development will go beyond one house, or one housing development, to whole towns and cities and ultimately the whole country, since growing sustainably is the only way to achieve our climate change commitments. One of the key components of sustainable development is the underlying infrastructure for energy, transport, water and waste disposal and collection systems all of which have to be considered and integrated into the way we live.

What is ADBA?

The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2009 to represent the anaerobic digestion sector, to help remove the barriers to growth currently faced by the industry and to promote the benefits of AD to the UK. Supported by our 350 members we are working to realise the potential of the AD industry, and allow this sector to deliver energy security and economic growth – in waste management, farming, transport, food processing and construction, among others – while also combating climate change.

What is anaerobic digestion?

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective solution to dealing with much of what we think of as waste – food, sewage sludge, slurries, waste water – which is actually a resource. We can make the most of it through the simple, natural breakdown of organic matter, by microorganisms, into carbon dioxide, methane and water, in the absence of oxygen. Instead of burning it, or sending it to landfill, AD plants are able to turn that

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organic waste, along with other organic material such as crops, into 10% of the UK’s domestic gas, which means less landfill, stable energy prices, fewer carbon dioxide emissions, and even a financial saving for homes, businesses, farms and councils across the country.

What is the opportunity?

There are now 110 AD plants outside of the water sector and in the past year we have so far seen an increase of 46% in the size of the market, and a strong pipeline of plants in the planning system, with 73 plants having received planning permission and awaiting construction, 15 already under construction and a further 41 awaiting planning approval. With each planned AD plant requiring ground works, tank construction and structural engineers, the opportunity for the UK construction industry is clearly significant. In addition, since the sector is diverse with projects ranging from small-scale plants treating farm waste and slurries to bigger municipal plants accepting commercial and municipal food waste, growth in the AD sector will result in projects – and therefore opportunities – right across the development scale.

the relocation of a farm office. Designed by SRC Limited and constructed by L Harrison & Company (Eastoft) Limited for Rockscape Energy Limited, the plant will provide power and heat to North Moor Farm for the extensive grain drying process and surplus energy to the National Grid. There is an existing solar installation on the grain store but the solar energy is only effective during daytime hours. Grain drying is a 24 hour process and the plant will supply the needs of the farm and provide green energy for the National Grid.

Lochhead Anaerobic Digestion Plant

Working with Fife Council, SLR Consulting is currently working on a new facility to improve the provision of waste treatment in the area. The Lochhead facility, which will be commissioned late this year at a cost of £15.5M, will take about 40,000 tonnes a year of co-collected household food and garden wastes and 3,000 tonnes of commercial food waste. Once commissioned the centre will generate 5.4Mcu m of biogas annually, which will generate 1.5MW of electricity. The plant will provide surplus process heat to a local district heating scheme.

Examples of Anaerobic Digestion Facilities: North Moor Farm

Work is currently underway at North Moor Farm in Belton, Scunthorpe, to create a new agricultural anaerobic digestion plant with associated storage and ancillary equipment including

Proud to have been awarded the enabling works contract at the North Moor Farm Anaerobic Digestion Plant development

Verandah House, Eastoft, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN17 4PN T: 01724 798 245 | F: 01724 798 671 | W: www.harrisoneastoft.co.uk

www.basestructures.com

e: mail@basestructures.com

BOCK UK - Silage Clamp Systems

Silage Clamp Systems

BOCK UK Ltd. is a joint venture between BÖCK in Germany, Europe’s leading specialist in complete silage clamp systems, and Milbank, one of the UK’s largest precast concrete companies.

We are the only UK specialist offering design, manufacture, installation and all the on-going service requirements of a complete silage clamp solution including covers, sealants, silage films and handrails.

BOCK offer a one-stop-shop service providing design advice and installation. As well as supplying all the components you need to construct your clamp including walls, sealants, silage films and covers, we will also be there for you once the clamp is completed, providing the on-going support you need.

Our dedicated sales team are waiting for your call on:

With more than 30 years of experience, BOCK successfully delivers throughout Europe, ranging from smaller on farm clamps to large complex Biogas projects.

01787 220 560

Contact BOCK today, on 01787 220 560, to see if we can improve the performance of your silage.

England Unit B2, Beckerings Business Park, Lidlington, Bedfordshire, MK43 0RD Tel: (+44) 01525 288015

Murform Limited is a family run company, specialising in formwork, rebar and concrete, with offices located in Scotland and England. We are pleased to be subcontractors for Luddon Construction, most recently working on the Lochhead Biowaste Processing Plant in Dunfermline, where we constructed the formwork concrete and rebar for fermenter tanks, percolation area, slab work and tunnel heating building, all within a very tight overall programme. The fermenters were probably the most complicated aspect of this project, being gas tight structures with 5m high walls and concrete roof slabs that required ventilation and heating pipes to be cast in during construction.

www.bock-uk.com

Scotland 5b Firth Road, Houstoun Industrial Estate, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 5DJ Tel: (+44) 01506 536363

Murform is currently working on various projects throughout the United Kingdom. With the experience and resources necessary to undertake FRC projects of any size or nature, our scope of work includes: • Bridge structures • Waste treatment plants • Waste transfer stations • Water treatment plants • Water towers and reservoirs • Wind Farm FRC works • Pharmaceutical plants • Coastal protection and marine works • RC frames • Hybrid frames • Basements

Email: info@murform.com www.murform.com

Murform has been awarded OHSAS 18001:2007 certification and ensures health and safety is a priority on every project. We operate under an ISO 9001:2008 certified quality management system with all contracts audited in line with the standards’ requirements. We are committed to improving our environmental impact and our environmental management system is certified under ISO 14001:2004. Murform’s directors take an active role in the delivery of every project. Our flexible, agile management structure, professional approach, and conscientious staff ensure a positive working relationship with all our clients, leading to repeat business. At Murform, we strive to exceed our clients’ expectations and become a value adding asset to their business.

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UKC LEISURE

Mary Rose Museum

Allowing visitors to experience the 16th century The new Mary Rose Museum opened to the public in May at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard – the very same dockyard where the warship was built more than 500 years ago. Its historic opening was marked by a symbolic event of following the journey of the ship’s bell – the last artefact to be installed – in to the new museum. A host of museum ambassadors were featured at the day-long opening including historians Dan Snow, David Starkey and presenter Sandi Toksvig. A wreath-laying ceremony took place at the wreck site, a flaming arrow volley by period costumed Tudor archers from Southsea Castle – where Henry VIII watched the sinking of the Mary Rose – and a Tudor festival, and the day culminated in a revealing of the new museum from behind a great Tudor Standard flag, set to a fanfare from the Royal Marines Band. Located just metres from Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, and the ships of the modern Royal Navy, the new museum provides one of the most significant insights into Tudor life in the world and from the new centrepiece to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The Mary Rose is the only 16th century warship on display anywhere in the world. The £35M heritage project to build the museum and complete the current conservation programme on the ship and her contents has received £23M

from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). In addition to its £23M investment, the HLF has awarded a number of other grants totalling £9.5M over the past 18 years. The ship that captured the world’s imagination was raised from the seabed in 1982, where it lay since its sinking in 1545 while leading the attack on a French invasion fleet during the Battle of The Solent. The new museum finally reunites the ship with many thousands of the 19,000 artefacts raised from the wreck. The excavation of the Mary Rose created a milestone in the field of maritime archaeology and remains the largest underwater excavation and recovery ever undertaken in the world. Each object in the new museum – from human fleas to giant guns – was raised from the seabed and carefully conserved through a groundbreaking process that is still ongoing. For the first time, visitors are able to see the facial reconstructions of seven members of the ship’s crew based on forensic science and osto-archaeology on their skulls and skeletons found at the wreck site. Faces are displayed beside the crew members’ personal belongings, providing an insight into their status, health and appearance. Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and Pringle Brandon Perkins+Will for the interior, the museum was built around the

hull of the ship. The building takes the form of a finely crafted wooden ‘jewellery box’ with the hull at its centre and galleries running the length of the ship, each corresponding to a deck level on the ship. Artefacts are displayed in such a way to provide visitors with an insight into what these decks would have looked like moments before the ships sank. All artefacts, such as the skeleton of Hatch – the ship’s dog - are arranged in galleries by theme to help reveal some of the personal stories of life on board. Visitors can see the fine pewterware of the officers, musical instruments, books, accessories and clothing through to simple leather sandals, nit combs and even rat bones as hundreds of objects are laid out to be explored. Through DNA research, precise reconstructions and through the careful use of human remains, the harsh reality of Tudor life is revealed – including the skeleton of an archer with the repetitive strain of pulling huge longbows still etched on his bones. The groundbreaking building design has created a special environment to protect the unique and priceless artefacts and hull, and also displays them in a manner that enables visitors to experience the ship in the best possible way. The Main Contractor is Warings for the museum, which opened officially on 31st May, and 8 Build fit out the museum. Credit Gareth Gardner

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SSC Structural Steel Craft Ltd

It was a great privilege for SSC to be involved with such a historic and iconic project. When we were offered the project, we jumped at the opportunity even though we were fully aware of its challenging nature. The steel frame design was quite complicated and ensuring accurate and safe installation presented us with some unique challenges. We had to consider different techniques and alter our normal working systems to suit. In the end, we managed to complete the project without major hick ups. It is definitely one of the projects that we will always have a “soft spot“ for. Unit 2 Leydene Farm, Droxford Road, East Meon, Petersfield GU32 1HG Tel: 01730 823501 E: info@structuralsteelcraft.co.uk www.structuralsteelcraft.co.uk

Spiral INTERACTIVE MEDIA · MOVING IMAGE · WEB

Spiral produced all of the digital media for the Mary Rose Museum which included 3D animation, film, audio and interactives.

www.spiral.co.uk

info@spiral.co.uk

0207 428 9948 117

UKC PROFILE

Skin Health Spa

Looking forward to a year of expansion Skin Health Spa has been at the forefront of skin treatment since 1999 and has expertise in the field of non-invasive laser treatments that has made it one of the UK’s leading centres for advanced skin care. Since its formation in 1999, Skin Health Spa has grown and has five spas in total. The Company is located in Central Manchester, Dorridge (Solihull) London, Marylebone High Street, London Bishopsgate and Nantwich in Cheshire. Skin Health Spa specialises in permanent hair removal and hair reduction with state-of-the-art lasers for acne and acne scarring treatments, skin rejuvenation, muscle relaxing injections and dermal fillers along with derma rollers, amongst many other treatments. All clinics provide a safe and professional environment, as well as experienced doctors, nurses and aestheticians who are trained to provide each client with professional and trusted advice. Skin Health Spa previously operated a clinic in The Corn Exchange in Manchester, which has been in use since 2004. When the lease was coming to an end, it was decided to look for a location that provided something new and exciting. St James’s Square offers the best of health and beauty, restaurants and bars

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plus a significant immediate business/ employer opportunity with KPMG and Pannone a couple of examples. In addition, it is just minutes from great transportation and attractions such as Spinningfields, Harvey Nichols, and Selfridges. Following the move, Skin Health Spa has also taken the opportunity to introduce extras to its mainstay of medical and clinical treatments, including a wide and varied range of indulgent treatments such as HD brows, nail treatments, waxing, aromatherapy massage and facial, and a wider range of retail and take home products. Adam Flint, Skin Health Spa’s Operations Director, said: “The opening of the flagship clinic right in the heart of the city represents a considerable investment for the group. “It demonstrates our intention to develop further both our presence and the customer offer. “In designing the new clinic we worked in conjunction with a number of local firms including Den Interiors, a north west based bespoke furniture company who we commissioned to produce tailor-made individual pieces.” The building was constructed in 2004 and purchased by the current landlord

soon after this. The upper floors are occupied by the landlord but the ground floor, which used to be an estate agents, became free a year ago. Work on the 1,490sq ft project was agreed with the landlord in October 2012, with planning approval arriving two months afterwards. Work commenced in January 2013 and was completed in February, costing £350,000. Skin Health Spa hasn’t stopped there though. Since this project was completed, the Dorridge property has benefited from a refit, which was finished in July 2013. Following on from this will be a refit of the Bishopsgate clinic, and some slight alterations to the Marylebone and Nantwich clinics before the end of the year, which will effectively bring all properties up to the high standard of the Manchester clinic, resulting in a consistent estate of properties. Next year will be an exciting one for Skin Health Spa, when plans will begin that will see the Company expand and eventually open a new outlet every three months. Skin Health Spa, 63 Welsh Road, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5EW.

Mark Hinsley Arboricultural Consultants Ltd.

Active Building Control is a private building control and fire risk assessment service provider for all types of projects (from small residential, through to large commercial new build and conversion projects) operating predominantly throughout the north west since 2008. We are pleased to have been involved with Skin Health Spaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent successful flagship project in Manchester, from a very early stage through to inspection and approval of works on site. We work hard to build positive and long lasting relationships with our clients, making compliance less of a burden, by offering a constructive approach from dedicated, experienced and up to date surveyors who are personable and easy to deal with. If you would appreciate early input to the design process and a consistent and competitive building regulations approval and fire risk assessment service, then please get in touch for an initial appraisal of your projects. Contact Tom Raftery BSc (Hons) MRICS 0161 233 0525 Mob. 07977274168 or Mike Wood BSc (Hons) MBEng on 0161 233 0525 Mob. 07977274172Â Email: enquiries@activeai.co.uk Or visit our website www.activeai.co.uk for more information about our company.

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UKC PROFILE

Secured by Design

Creating minimum security standards Owned by the Association of Chief Police Officers, Secured by Design (SBD) blends criminology, design against crime and security technology into a police standard that has been proven to reduce burglary by more than 75% and car crime and criminal damage by more than 25%. With independent research constantly reviewing the scheme, SBD keeps up to date with trends in crime and burglary. SBD was started in 1989 against a backdrop of a rising tide of burglary and a lack of consistency in crime prevention advice. According to the British Crime Survey, burglary peaked in the UK in 1995 at 1,770,000 with people living in rented accommodation two times more likely to become a victim. The initiative was originally formed by Police forces in the south east before its adoption by all the UK Police services by 1992. At the same time, SBD started working with the glass, glazing and hardware industries on product standards that reflected current crime trends. By combining minimum-security standards, building design and layout crime, burglary has been reduced to current numbers of 633,000 (ONS 2012). ACPO SBD creates national minimum standards for security products and urban design. Those recommendations seek to be reasonable, realistic and risk commensurate. With independent research constantly reviewing the scheme, SBD keeps up-to-date with

trends in crime and burglary. The local Crime Prevention Design Advisor or Architectural Liaison Officer works with the developer and architect from the planning stages to interpret the minimum standards to the development in question. Not all sites need the same level of security so it is not a one size fits all approach. The correct windows, doors and locks can make a difference between someone gaining access to a property. With 30% of all burglaries still being through the front door, it is evident that there is need to specify products that are Police Preferred Specification and are more resilient. The principles of SBD have been proven by university research over many years that it will reduce crime by 75%, by combing minimum standards of physical security and well-tested principles of natural surveillance and defensible space. With approximately 450 member companies, they all benefit from the SBD logo, which is trademarked and shows that products have reached a high level of security that meet Police Preferred Specification. The logo shows that products have been tested and certified to a higher standard and will reduce the opportunity for crime. SBD controls the use of its logo so that only members and those reselling their SBD products can use the logo. Standards are often complex and for some unique products where standards do not exist, evaluation processes have been developed. The SBD accreditation

enables specifiers and the public to have confidence in the effectiveness of the product without having to understand the technical standards. Due to the success of events such as the London 2012 Olympics, where SBD provided the benchmark for developing the security principles for buildings, the Company is aware that there is a demand for people outside of the UK Police Service to offer all, or part of, SBD. It is important that all individuals delivering these principles and guidance are registered, experienced and skilled consultants. As a result, a licensed consultants scheme has been introduced to create a legitimate community of security consultants throughout the UK and centralise a secure way for those in the construction and design industries to search and ensure they only employ the skills of a true SBD licensed consultant. SBD was a requirement for all legacy buildings for the Olympics and as a result, the principles of addressing security and testing products and designs prior to the build stage were adopted. It now forms part of the government drive to export excellence in security overseas. SBD was also incorporated in the Cardiff City Stadium in 2009, as well as Westfield City Stratford Shopping Centre last year, and has now been adopted in many other countries.

Redrow, Davenport

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LEISURE UKC

Lee Valley White Water Centre Enduring legacy of the London 2012 Olympics A £6.3M development project at Lee Valley White Water Centre is underway, and will build on the success that the London 2012 Olympic venue has enjoyed since opening to the public. The arena where team GB won gold and silver medals in the canoe slalom event will remain open for canoeing, kayaking and rafting throughout the duration of the development. Amenities will be improved and expanded to cater for more participants and spectators, and world-class athlete facilities installed – providing a permanent base for the British Canoe Union and the medal winning Canoe Slalom team. The development project will see the development of first-class facilities for athletes with a state-of-the-art gym and physiotherapy suite housed in an extension to the existing centre. This extension will also include meeting rooms and offices for the British Canoe Union (BCU), the sport’s national governing body. A new outdoor classroom will be incorporated, along with more catering provision and extra space to find shade, shelter and seating in a stylish new pavilion overlooking the Olympic Standard Competition Course. More changing rooms will increase the capacity for rafting and paddling at peak

times and additional car parking and toilets will help to accommodate a very busy and popular sports venue/visitor attraction. The existing main building is a two-storey concrete frame structure built on a piled foundation. Cladding to the ground floors is mainly facing brickwork with some glazed curtain walling to the main entrance area. The first floor areas have cedar cladding and glazed curtain walling, while the building extensions to the north side and courtyard area are being constructed to replicate the existing details. The new pavilion located at the southern end of the Olympic course is a single-storey steel framed structure built on a piled foundation with a single ply membrane flat roof. Hard and soft landscaping works include the formation of viewing moulds located to the west side of the Olympic course and additional car parking areas to the west and south east boundaries of the site. Shaun Dawson, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Chief Executive, said: “Lee Valley White Water Centre has already proved hugely popular; it was the only brand new venue to be opened to the public before the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the first to reopen afterwards. “We have listened to feedback from customers and the improvement work will enhance the experience for

visitors to this world class venue. “Many people have been inspired by Team GB’s success at Lee Valley White Water Centre to get involved in paddle sports and this development work will give even more people the chance to participate, cementing the Olympic legacy of this venue. “The expansion of facilities and the addition of an outdoor classroom will increase the accessibility of the venue for local communities, participants and sports clubs and provide even more opportunities for the next generation of athletes.” Funding for the development work is coming from a variety of organisations including Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and BCU. Andy Maddock, Canoe Slalom Programme Manager at GB Canoeing, said: “This development starting is the final stage of a long held ambition for a white water centre in the south east. This will allow the legacy of the Games to have a long-term impact and inspire the next generation of athletes.” Water sports enthusiasts still have the opportunity to use the facilities because the centre reopened to the public in March. The Architect is B3 Architects and the Main Contractor is SDC. Work on the improvements is scheduled to complete early next year.

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UKC COMMENT

Completion notices

Conor Hughes, Turley Associates Planning powers little used in Northern Ireland are being invoked to ensure that unfinished sites do not have a blighting effect on the streetscapes of our main cities and towns and on the setting of important landscapes, says Conor Hughes. Earlier this year Environment Minister Alex Attwood directed his officials in DoE Planning to issue a Completion Order under Article 37 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 requiring a developer who had commenced the redevelopment of the former Strand Hotel in Portstewart for 46 apartments to finish the building works. Completion Orders can be issued by DoE Planning where it is of the opinion that the development will not be completed within a reasonable period. Planning permission will cease to have effect at the expiration period specified in the order, which is not normally less than 12 months after the order takes effect. The buildings at this site had been constructed to first floor level 14 years ago and the Minister was concerned that the unfinished structure had a blighting effect on Portstewart’s majestic beach. He commented: “The Completion Notice was served because the developer had ignored requests to clear and clean the site when £400,000 was spent on

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dereliction this time last year, in the run down to the Irish Open in Portrush and Portstewart. The developer did not budge. That is why I acted.” Clearly in this case a judgment was made that bearing the cost of the works required to clear and clean the site represented better value for money than losing the planning permission and having to renegotiate the development potential of the land through the application process again. The Minister has committed to using these powers more widely. He has stated: “I will now look to see whether the same approach (of serving Completion Notices) can be deployed on other problem sites.” If DoE Planning is to seek to use this part of the legislation more widely to force developers to make good sites that are partly completed and have a blighting effect on a local neighbourhood, developers must think about strategies for securing and maintaining the land in good environmental condition. For other sites, the costs of completing development in an uncertain economic climate needs to weighed up against the importance of protecting the long term potential of development land where a planning permission has been commenced.

Financial institutions and those tasked with managing distressed sites should factor this into their risk register and set aside contingencies for dealing with the outfall from this drive by the Minister to, as he describes, “deploy substantive enforcement powers against eyesore sites”. The Minister added: “Good enforcement is the flip side of good planning.” Developers also have a right of appeal to the Planning Appeals Commission against the serving of a Completion Order. This option should not be discounted, as the reason for issuing the notice and remedy proposed by DoE Planning may not always sit squarely with the content of the Order. At Turley Associates we have been advising clients on devising planning strategies for delivering projects, supporting design teams in unlocking difficult and protracted planning issues, negotiating with key stakeholders in the planning process and planning appeals. 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.

HI WAY

SERVICES LIMITED When your reputation is on the line… Your reputation is forged by the work you do. The care you take and the attention to detail you demonstrate. To deliver for your clients you rely on contractors who can be trusted to live up to your promise. Contractors who are professional, innovative and trustworthy. Contractors who can deliver great results, on time and on budget.

Call Hi-Way Services now on 01227 714 380 Or visit our website www.hi-way.co.uk for more information

The sky’s the limit for Hi-Way Services Ltd, of Canterbury, which has completed an aeronautic-themed project for a distinctive social housing scheme in Sussex. The company has created a charming plane motif and directional dotted signs in the car park of the spectacular art deco-style Vega Building in Hove, which has been built by Southern Housing Group, to provide 40 apartments for selected tenants. The building’s architect Andy Parsons, 39, and graphic artist Richard Wolfstrome, 49, who run Yelo Wolf branding consultancy, praised the work by Hi-Way Services staff Paul Edy and Peter Beminster, in recreating their simple designs in the underground car park in Kingsway, Hove. Contracts assistant with Hi-Way Services Danny O’Reilly was thrilled to be asked to do the work. He said: “This project immediately caught our eye. It’s not every day we see an enquiry like this and with it being so different, we were eager to win this contract and take on the challenge. “Once we secured the contract with the principal contractor, we were introduced to the architects, who highlighted the level of detail required on this project. Everything on this project was bespoke, from the colours, font style and size, bay line and the one-of-a-kind aeroplane. We created one-off stencils for every aspect of this project.

Road Marking

Extrusion • Rib Line • Screed • Spray • Paint MMA • Removal

High Friction

High Friction surfacing • Decorative Surfacing

“Our crew were excited and up to the challenge. They took great pride in this project and after three long days, it was complete. We are extremely pleased with the finished result and proud of our crew’s level of skill and professionalism throughout this complex project.

Cats Eyes

Cats Eyes: Halifax, Solar, Glass, Stick On, Temporary, Pedestrian Crossing

“It gives us great satisfaction that the client and architects are as pleased as us with the finished result.”

Car Parks

Car Park Bays • Disabled Bays • Parent and Toddler Walk ways • Crossing Points

The apartment block was designed to mimic a much-loved art deco garage which used to stand on the site, but was demolished in 2001. Its name comes from the Lockheed Vega, the monoplane flown singlehandedly across the Atlantic by Amelia Earhart in 1932.

Interior Marking

Warehouses • Factories • Underground car Parks Multi Storey Car Parks • Bespoke

Specialist

Schools • Sports Courts • Runways Bespoke and Designer

Traffic Management

Lane Closures • Road Closures • Stop/Go Temporary Traffic Lights • IPV • Events

Road Surfacing

Tarmac • Speed Bumps • Resin Bound • Imprint Pothole Repair

Richard said he and Andy were impressed at Southern Housing’s commitment to providing quality, aesthetically pleasing homes for tenants and said the scheme chimed with Yelo Wolf’s belief in giving “meaning to place” and encouraging residents to feel “ownership” of the building.

Road Furniture

Bollards • Safety Fencing • Signage

The Vega Building was handed over to Southern Housing by contractors Denne in May.

Richard explained: “Our brief for the building was to hint at the clean line of the art deco style, in a contemporary way. We researched the lettering style from the period and developed the design strategy.” Silhouettes of the Vega plane appear throughout the development, including Perspex and steel signs and the painted lines to indicate parking spaces on the ground floor.