UK Construction V16N09

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V16 N09

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NEWS, REPORTS, COMMENTS, PROFILES AND SITE PROJECTS EURO GARAGES Passion for quality, convenience and customer service p36

CROSSRAIL The new, high frequency, convenient and accessible railway p43

YORKSHIRE WATER Investing in the region p48

UKRHA Dealing with the ‘wrong sort of rain’ p88

Howick Place Within London’s sought-after area of Victoria is situated the architecturally cutting edge commercial and residential development, Howick Place.

This 143,000sq ft of Grade A office space and 23 luxury apartments is a flagship development by joint developers Doughty Hanson & Co and Terrace Hill Group PLC. The building is modern, stylish and full of light due to its impressive floor to ceiling windows, delivering a perfect working space for the luxury brands it has already attracted.

“Our clients are becoming increasingly concerned with the quality of their washroom facilities. More and more people are cycling to work in the city and so we needed washroom and changing areas that met our clients’ high standards” Amwell’s real wood veneer Sylan cubicles were specified for the washroom cubicles. With 44mm real wood veneer doors and totally invisible fixings, Sylan was the perfect choice for this project given that quality was such an important factor: “We were very impressed with the Sylan system. We needed a totally bespoke system and Sylan gave us just that. We needed flexibility from our cubicle choice so we could achieve the level of detail required for this project” Being offset against contemporary lime stone vanity units, also supplied by Amwell Systems, the cubicles gave the perfect contrast between the traditional and the modern, a consideration that was key for Rolfe Judd throughout the project;

Responsible for the impressive design were Rolfe Judd Architects.

Not only did they want to create an exterior that that was visually stunning but also an interior that show cased modern design at its best. This inspirational working environment had to make an immediate impact with potential occupants, right from the moment they step in to the expansive reception area to rinsing their hands in the washrooms. To help achieve this, Rolfe Judd appointed Amwell Systems to supply and install their modern and luxurious washroom products so the building represented the highest quality craftsmanship, no matter where you are in the building. When discussing the importance of a quality washroom fit out, project architect Andrew Wall said the following:

With Amwell’s products, we were able to achieve a design that was crisp, clean and understated whilst still maintaining a feeling of warmth” To further enhance this cutting edge design, glass duct panels were also installed in the washrooms. Being fully aware that accuracy and precision was critical to the build, Amwell Systems ensured due care and attention was paid when installing all products but particularly when dealing with this delicate and intricate design element.

Glass was also used in the shower and changing area.

Amwell’s Minima cubicles in Alpine glass were specified for the 12 shower cubicles and look stunning against Minima’s sleek stainless steel aluminium frame.

These modern, angular cubicles, coupled with the welcoming warmth of the real wood veneer lockers, certainly ensured that Rolfe Judd were able to meet their design brief set by the client to go “above and beyond”.

For further information on any of Amwell’s products visit their website www.amwell-systems.com or call their helpful team on 01763 276200

Meeting your great expectations‌ Stairways’ impressive portfolio of products encompasses door kits, doorsets, staircases and bespoke joinery, from entry-level to high-end, and for both residential and commercial projects.

Call 01926 818770 for assistance with specifications and technical advice.

www.stairways.co.uk Doorsets | Door Kits | Staircases | Bespoke Joinery

Some of our biggest fans are engineers.

For our customers it’s comforting to know that as an engineering company, we understand that working with air conditioning, heat pumps or chillers isn’t always a breeze. To ensure our products are adaptable to any environment and meet the grade, they are designed by engineers, for engineers.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air Conditioning Europe Ltd (MHIAE) is a new company created by MHI for all HVAC solutions across Europe. MHIAE offers high-efficiency systems for cooling and heating air and water in residential, commercial and industrial applications.

As a reputable engineering company with vast expertise and experience, we are fully equipped to meet all your HVAC needs. mhiae.com

PROFILE 31 34 36 38 40 43 52 62 67 79 84 86 88 90 94 99 102 106 114 123

UK Highways Secure IT Environments Ltd Eurogarages London 2012 Games Anniversary British Structural Waterproof Association Crossrail Combined Heat & Power Association PDR Construction Defence Doors NHS Property Services Ltd Buildfifty5 Ltd National Outdoor Events Association UK Rainwater Harvesting Association BUFCA Drax Power Station Brick Market Ltd Carter Construction Metnor Construction Ltd MPI Offshore Axiom Solar Ltd

EDUCATION 65 39 64 70 75 78 83 98 108

James Durrans & Sons Ltd Barrow & Cotham Street Trelleborg Factory Extension Bonhams Pioneer Park

RETAIL 55 Ellesmere Shopping Centre 68 Aldi 74 Leicester Market

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NHBC – Paul Cribbens Sheridan Gold – Jane Ryland Simieo – Ollie McGovern Velux – Keith Riddle Thomas Eggar – Kim Teichman Association of Brickwork Contractors Turley Associates – Angela Dunbar & Matt Spilsbury

CIVIL 32 48 56 72 99 104

London Array Yorkshire Water Morrisons Utilities London Underground 150th Anniversary Network Rail Operating Centre Tipner Interchange Yorkshire Water Mott McDonald & Enterprise 116 Humber Gateway Offshore Windfarm

COMMERCIAL 35 76 100 112 113

Notre Dame Catholic College Colchester Royal Grammar School Loughborough University Skinners Academy Lincoln College Blackpool & The Fylde College Leeds City College Calderdale College Rastrick High School

COMMENTS

HEALTH 65 66 96 127

Castle Hill Hospital Northern General Hospital Chester Integrated Care Centre Eardley House Care Home

HOUSING 83 85 98 110

Pine Trees Estate Birleyfields Sturdee Road, Leicester The Junction

27 COMMUNITY 63 Newbridge Memorial Hall

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UKC NEWS

LGP pushes the button on spec development at Lotus Park Legal & General Property (“LGP”) announces that it has commenced speculative construction of Building Three at Lotus Park, The Causeway, Staines, where Savills is the letting agent.

The circa 70,000sq ft, three-storey, Grade A office scheme is scheduled for completion in August 2014. Adding 25,000sq ft of office space through an extra floor and bringing about the comprehensive redevelopment of Building Three, the project includes a full height glazed atrium reception, external decking overlooking the River Thames and a landscaped garden. Targeting a BREEAM “Very Good” rating and EPC grade of B, it also incorporates a number of high quality sustainability initiatives.

Acquired by LGP’s Managed Property Fund at the end of 2009, Lotus Park is situated off The Causeway (A308), the principal office location in Staines, and within close proximity to the town centre and central railway station. Staines remains one of the key office centres in the western corridor, located within the M25, approximately 17 miles south-west of Central London.

The park comprises four office buildings and occupies a 3.8 acre site, with a generous parking ratio of 1:300sq ft.

Buildings One and Two were refurbished comprehensively to a high standard in 2007.

Mark Russell, Senior Fund Manager at Legal & General Property, said: “Lotus Park is a premier office scheme, situated in an excellent strategic

location. Taking a proactive approach to asset management, we believe that this comprehensive redevelopment will not only enhance and refresh the park’s overall offer, but bring new, Grade A office space to a market which is increasingly seeing strong occupier demand.”

Tom Mellows, Director of Business Space at Savills, added: “Lotus Park is an established business park where current occupiers such as Salesforce and Dow Chemical highlight the strength of the scheme and the advantages of Staines, which offers easy access to Heathrow and the national motorway network. LGP plans to deliver an extremely high quality product with great parking provision which we believe will attract strong occupier interest.”

Society award designed to boost awareness of façade design and engineering To celebrate its tenth anniversary The Society of Façade Engineering has announced the launch of FACADE2013, an international competition designed to recognise, promote and reward excellence in this key element of building design and construction.

The prize will be awarded on a project basis with entries welcome from individuals, projects teams and companies from around the world. The winner will be decided upon by a panel of experts who will make their choice based upon a clear demonstration of excellence in the technical design and/ or research that has made a significant contribution to the discipline of facade engineering. The contribution may be demonstrated in the form of technical advances, innovations or advanced engineering systems that result in practical design solutions for the completion of a project. The Society will announce the names of the judging panel shortly.

Chris Macey, CEO of Wintech Group, is the Competition Chairman of the Society of Facade Engineering and a major

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proponent of FACADE2013: “Many of the demands for ever higher building performance can only be met by proper consideration of the contribution of facades, whilst also satisfying the aesthetic vision of the client and design team.

“The discipline of facade engineering has therefore come of age and there is wider recognition of the technical, engineering and scientific underpinning that is required to push construction to new heights and levels of achievement.

This competition is intended to recognise and reward excellence in this key area of building design and execution and we welcome entries from anyone involved in this key niche.”

The winner will be announced at The Glass Supper, an annual event attended by architects, engineers and others involved with the discipline of high performance architectural facades, which takes place this year in London on 20th November.

Entries must be received by 1st November and the shortlisted finalists will be announced by 15th November.

British Gas partners with Solihull Community Housing on multi-million pound energy conservation project Solihull Community Housing has announced it will be working in partnership with British Gas, Britain’s largest energy provider, to bring further energy efficiency measures to almost 2,000 tenants of Solihull Council.

The energy conservation project, which totals £27M, includes £25M of Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding and £2M of Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) funding.

The ECO project, one of the first of its size to be announced by British Gas, will insulate 35 Solihull Community Housing high rises and install biomass district heating units in 26 buildings.

All work will be complete by March 31st 2015, with each individual high rise taking just over three months to finish. Phase One of the work has already begun on ten of the borough’s high rises, with the rest of the buildings following in succession. The project will see a number of local people employed, helping to generate new jobs in the local area in a range of roles from tenant liaison work to construction jobs.

The new insulation will make the buildings more thermally efficient, meaning that residents can enjoy warmer homes. They may also see a reduction in heating costs once the work has been completed. The installation of the biomass heating will also provide tenants with a much higher degree of control over their individual heating needs.

Karen Preece, Director of Finance & Investment at Solihull Community Housing, said: “We are delighted to be able to roll out this improvement programme.

“Clare and Pembroke Houses are enjoying a new lease of life following their facelift and we are thrilled to be able to extend this real improvement to all of our other tenants living in high rises, and they look fabulous!”

Ibstock in pole position for 2013 Brick Awards Ibstock, the UK’s largest brickmaker, is leading the way with shortlisted entries ahead of the Brick Development Association’s (BDA) 2013 Brick Awards.

A total of 33 Ibstock projects which highlight the aesthetic appeal, versatility and performance of Ibstock’s range went through a rigorous judging stage and have been selected for the final shortlist.

Ibstock’s successful shortlisted projects include housing schemes, public and commercial buildings and refurbishment projects. They contain a number of outstanding and unusual projects including a new bus station in Stoke city centre, a boathouse in Worcester and even a university campus in Kyoto, Japan. Ibstock received more than a third of all nominations, demonstrating it is first choice for architects and specifiers

when it comes to designing award winning buildings due to its extensive product range and unique technical support offering, which includes the skills of specialist Design Advisors.

Andrew Halstead-Smith, Group Marketing Manager at Ibstock, says: “We are delighted that so many of our entries have been shortlisted in the prestigious BDA Brick Awards. The variety of project types selected by the judges really shows the differing types of brick based solutions Ibstock’s extensive range can deliver for architects, merchants and end customers alike. We look forward to a successful evening in November.”

The 2013 award ceremony will be held in London at the Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel on 14th November.

Eco-friendly properties prove a sales hit for Waters Homes East Midlands housebuilder Waters Homes has announced that there is just one chance left to buy at its latest Nottingham development.

Since being unveiled earlier this year, the new eco-friendly properties that form the Carrington Gate development, just off Haydn Road in the Sherwood area of the city, have been snapped up by a mix of first time buyers and investors.

Each of the two-bedroom properties, priced at £125,000, include a range of features designed for sustainable living, including low energy lighting and photovoltaic panels on the roof to help dramatically reduce energy bills.

For Dominic Waters, Development Director at Waters Homes, it is the combination of these elements and location that have resulted in the success of Carrington Gate. He said: “Intelligent living is very much a priority for buyers at the moment. Not only do they want a fantastic place to live, but they also want their property to work harder for them and offer true value for money.

“There’s a lot of energy returning to the property market, but buyers, quite rightly, are demanding more, which is why we include eco-features as part of our basic specification.

“To have just one property remaining

after selling all of the others off-plan is quite unusual. However, it shows the new eagerness to buy and get onto the property ladder or to make an investment opportunity, as prices are once again on the up. Carrington Gate has also benefited from being in a desirable location, close to the city, as well as to a host of local amenities.

“Given the current sales rate, this opportunity will not be around for long.”

Waters Homes has built a number of new housing developments across the East Midlands, including sites at Aylestone and Birstall in Leicestershire.

The team also works with a number of housing associations across the region to build a range of affordable homes.

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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

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UKC NEWS

Carea Cladding chosen for new flexible format John Lewis store At the £8.5M refurbishment of an ageing multi-storey building into a new John Lewis department store, Carea Ardal cladding has been specified to create the building’s new eye catching, decorative facade.

Refurbished by Midas Interiors and with Glenn Howell Architects undertaking the role of shell and core architects, the project has seen the transformation of a 1960s retail store into one fit for the 21st century.

At less than half the size of an average full line John Lewis department store, the 65,000sq ft branch in Exeter is the first of a new range of ‘flexible format’ branches the company plans to open across the UK. Originally concrete clad and comprising two eight-storey towers, Glenn Howells Architects was appointed to create a stylish and contemporary exterior.

A connecting four-storey extension was created which was clad in glass and a permanent ceramic artwork. To complement the modern aesthetic,

high quality cladding was required for the existing towers – with Carea’s Ardal range offering the perfect solution.

For the building’s larger tower, Ardal rain screen cladding was specified in a speckled Névé finish to create an attractive appearance of stone and curtain walling. This was complemented by silver anodised aluminium vertical feature caps. The smaller tower was also transformed by Ardal cladding, specified in a ‘Basalte’ finish and framed

by a stack bonded brickwork surround.

Once installed, Carea’s panels will provide the client, staff and customers with a wide range of benefits including excellent thermal efficiency and the elimination of cold bridging. As well as outstanding thermal performance, the system offers exceptional acoustic and aesthetic performance, can be easily cleaned and requires minimal maintenance – offering an economical cladding solution that will look good for years.

Clugston highly commended in prestigious industry awards Clugston Construction, one of the UK’s leading privately owned building and civil engineering contractors, with offices in Leeds, has been highly commended in the Contractor of the Year category of the Construction News awards 2013.

The Construction News awards are recognised as being the ‘Oscars’ of the construction industry and are the only construction industry awards where all the finalists have to make a faceto-face presentation to the judges.

Judges commended on Clugston’s entry stating that when it comes to focusing on people and showing passion: “The Company sets the standard within our industry and has a spirit that the UK should

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be proud of. This, and a commitment to the supply chain, along with an outstanding performance in its 75th anniversary year, bowled over the judges.”

Steve Radcliffe, Clugston Construction’s Managing Director, commented, “We are extremely proud to have won the award. It is an honour to be recognised as a leading construction Company by our peers. It’s thanks to all our employees that we have come second only to one of the largest construction companies in the UK.” Clugston, together with its partner Constructions Industrielles de la Méditerranée (CINIM), was recently awarded a contract to build the new Leeds Energy Recovery facility for

Veolia Environmental Services, who are waste management partners with Leeds City Council.

Clugston has been established in Leeds for over 30 years and currently employs over 50 people out of its offices in Swillington.

With the award of this major project Clugston will be looking to enhance the number and is currently working with Veolia, and Leeds City Council to fill vacancies created by this major project with local people wherever possible.

The company has undertaken many schemes in the Leeds area including supermarket stores in Hunslet and Harehills, Business parks in Morley and factory units in South Leeds.

Stainless UK stops Blackpool’s Comedy Carpet from ‘cracking up’ When thousands of people headed to Blackpool to see the illuminations being switched on for the 101st time, many will have admired the ‘Comedy Carpet’ on the sea front which commemorates the great names of seaside entertainment.

Few, however, will have realised that its structural integrity relies on stainless steel mesh made by Stainless UK of Sheffield who have supplied 170 panels to reinforce the concrete slabs.

Tim Wells, Managing Director of Stainless UK Ltd, said: “The comedy carpet contains some of the best known catch phrases of the last century. It’s traditional seaside humour and we are proud to have had a small part in preserving it for the enjoyment of future holidaymakers.”

The £2.6M Comedy Carpet was commissioned by Blackpool Council as part of a project to regenerate Blackpool sea front. The 2,200m work of art was created by artist Gordon Young in collaboration with Why Not Associates. Situated in front of Blackpool Tower, the carpet leads from the tower entrance to the beach and connects the north and south ends of the promenade. The carpet celebrates the history of entertainment in Blackpool with the words of jokes, songs and catchphrases made famous by over 1000 comedians set into the concrete slabs.

Stainless UK manufactured the 4m by 2m welded mesh panels in their Sheffield factory. Each panel was set into an individual concrete slab to strengthen the concrete and control shrinkage cracking.

The use of stainless steel ribbed bars to make the panels has ensured that the mesh will not corrode despite being situated in an exposed marine location.

Stainless UK specialise in the supply of marine grade stainless steel for coastal applications. In recent months the Company has also supplied stainless steel mesh panels for coastal works at Whitley Bay, Tyneside and Whitehaven, Cumbria.

Interserve wins high profile £4.5M scheme for UK’s first standalone cystic fibrosis unit Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has won a high profile contract at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust for what will become the UK’s first standalone Cystic Fibrosis Unit.

Included in the £4.5M contract are both construction and mechanical, electrical and plumbing(MEP) elements. The project is the first major award for Interserve from the £100M, five year, Capital Investment Programme planned

by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust under the ProCure21+ framework.

The purpose of the new unit will be to provide modern high standard treatment, care and support facilities for patients and families, with the intention of management being to set a precedent as a centre of excellence for all future Cystic Fibrosis centres in the UK. Located next to the site’s Radiotherapy building and replacing an existing car park, the compact new building will form a physical link with the existing hospital.

The scheme, designed by P&HS

Architects, comprises a total of sixteen ensuite bedroom and living spaces, seven outpatient exam/consultant rooms, treatment rooms, a physiotherapy gym area, a training kitchen and external exercise areas, and open plan staff office areas. A large double height space upon entrance, with views out onto a private screened garden space, will also be provided. Much of the funding for the project has come from the support of the Nottingham Hospitals charity.

The Cystic Fibrosis scheme started on site in April 2013 with overall completion expected by March 2014. The new unit will serve more than 250 patients from across Nottinghamshire and the surrounding counties, giving them a space of their own and transforming their experience when staying in hospital. The centre has been named the ‘Wolfson Cystic Fibrosis Centre’ after a huge £700,000 donation by the well known philanthropic Wolfson Family Charitable Trust. In addition, more than £2.1M has been raised in total for the project by Nottingham Hospitals Charity.

Network Housing Group receives planning for prominent Willesden Green site Leading developer Network Housing Group has gained planning permission from Brent Council to deliver 25 residential units on the site of the former electric goods showroom, Electric House in Willesden Green, London. The redevelopment project has a gross development value of £8.2M and is receiving £1M funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA).

The development comprises 20 shared ownership and five affordable rent apartments, above 4,013sq ft of retail space on the ground floor. The scheme, which is a quarter of a mile from Willesden Green underground station, will be built to Code Level 4 for Sustainable Homes and provide much needed, high quality, affordable housing for local residents.

The award winning architects behind the scheme, Stephen Marshall, designed aspects of the development to allude to the Art Deco design of the former building including a clock feature and a curved edge to the front of the building. All of the flats also have balconies and access to the landscaped communal roof gardens.

Helen Evans, CEO of Network Housing Group, said: “This is a prime residential development, built using state-of-the-art sustainable technology and incorporating bespoke Art Deco inspired design features – affordable housing which we can be proud of.”

Stephen Marshall, Founder and CEO of Stephen Marshall Architects, said: “This project is about providing robust homes for local people which are nice places to live. High quality materials will be used throughout the project and residents will benefit from their own balcony and spacious landscaped terraced gardens. This is a prominent site in the heart of Willesden Green, so we have introduced attractive aesthetic designs features, such a replica Art Deco clock feature atop the new building and facades formed from banded brick so the building enhances the streetscape.”

Construction at the site will begin in autumn 2013 with the first homes available in January 2015.

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UKC NEWS

Lighting up the runway at Heathrow The £20M makeover of Heathrow’s southern runway is one step closer, after the completion of the replacement of the asphalt surface, and the start of the final installation of the new lights and cabling.

After a decade of continuous pounding by millions of aircraft taking off and landing, the runways at Heathrow are undergoing vital refurbishment to ensure they are safe and in good order. As the airport cannot close a runway during the working day, the logistically complex operation happens during the night and on one runway at a time. The work began on the southern runway in April; the northern runway will be resurfaced next year using the same process.

Over 150 construction workers using approximately 80 heavy items of plant and equipment have worked for almost four months to excavate and relay 22,000 tonnes of asphalt - the runway’s hard wearing surface.

With this part of the project completed the next phase to complete the installation of around 130,000 meters of lighting cable and over 1000 Aeronautical Ground Lights (AGLs) began at the beginning of August. These AGLs help guide the pilots during poor visibility and are fitted within the surface of the runway.

Andrew Mitchell, Senior Project Manager, said: “During the July heat wave, we had to reorganise our schedule as it was

too hot for the asphalt to be laid, but with careful contingency planning and well coordinated teamwork the pace of the project hasn’t been affected.

“We’ve successfully laid and grooved the new surface and now we’re cracking on with laying the thousands of metres of new cable and connecting hundreds of lights.”

Once the AGLs are complete, a flight check will be carried out (a small plane will conduct a series on landings on the runway) to make sure all the lights are operating correctly, and then the runway will be returned to its CAT3 status, indicating that the Runway can be used in all weather conditions.

ME Construction helps to boost Britain’s medal chances in the Rio Olympics ME Construction, the London based specialist refurbishment Contractor, has been helping to create a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games by building the recently opened Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health.

The Institute, based in London’s Tottenham Court Road and officially opened by Lord Coe, aims to treat elite athletes, NHS patients and fitness conscious Londoners.

Its work involves researching injury prevention and care. According to Lord Coe, the Institute will not only deliver excellence in injury prevention and management for elite athletes but it will also offer the same level of care to amateur sportsmen and women, many of whom will have been

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inspired by what they witnessed in last summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health is a partnership between University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the British Olympic Association, the English Institute of Sport and the HCA private hospital group.

The Institute’s Director, Professor Fares Haddad, has commented that inactivity rather than obesity - is the ‘biggest threat to wellbeing’. Building the Institute certainly kept ME Construction teams active.

Paul Driver, the Firm’s Business Development Director, explained: “It was a ‘fast track’ project, comprising a comprehensive fit-out refurbishing

of two floors of the address at Tottenham Court Road, and it was completed in just 24 weeks.

“Moreover, like any project, there were changes along the way, which meant that we had to be flexible as well as proactive in our approach to, and management of, the project.

“From both a professional and sport loving point of view, we’re delighted with the results. We trust that the Institute’s work will benefit all of the UK’s sportspeople but, especially, we’re hoping that it will help boost Britain’s medal tally in the forthcoming Rio Games and beyond.”

Balfour Beatty and Cementation Skanska commences piling at Nova Victoria Piling has started on site at Nova in London, in a joint venture between Cementation Skanska and Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering. The joint venture partners were appointed by Mace to carry out the ground engineering elements of this development for Land Securities.

Nova, Victoria is an 897,000sq ft mixed office, shopping, residential and public realm scheme is being developed in the West End, adjacent to London Victoria Station.

The project team is scheduled to be on site at the end of November to install a double basement with a 445m secant wall followed by the installation of 336 large diameter rotary bearing piles. The construction complexities include installing 251 of the bearing piles with plunge columns.

Ian Lovett, of Cementation Skanska and joint venture Project Director, said: “The team working on this project has built up a strong reputation with Mace, by delivering successful projects like London Bridge Place and the Shard.

By working together we will draw on our experience in London’s commercial sector and use our technical knowledge to deliver this important project.”

Tony Palgrave, Mace Project Director, said: “Appointing the Cementation Skanska and Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering joint venture to carry out the piling on Nova, Victoria was a natural decision considering the size and complexity of the project.

“The joint venture has a record of working well and we are seeing the benefits of this relationship already with their approach to overcoming some of the interesting challenges we are facing on the design and implementation of the project.”

Saint-Gobain PAM UK’s Ensign Soil system takes its place in history at Great Fire of London site The Ensign Soil drainage system from iron technology leader Saint-Gobain PAM UK, part of leading materials group Saint-Gobain, has been installed at the prestigious Monument Place 75,000sq ft new office development located in the City of London next to Pudding Lane, the site where the Great Fire of London started in 1666.

Offering a unique view of the Monument, Sir Christopher Wren’s memorial to the Great Fire of London, the highly specified Grade A office building also benefits from views of the River Thames and St Magnus Church to the south, together with its re-landscaped plaza to the north.

A key factor in the specification of Ensign Soil at this historical site was its versatility.

It combines all the proven material properties of cast iron, which is unmatched in terms of fire resistance, acoustic qualities, strength, longevity and ensuring minimal maintenance is required once installed. The system was specified for

the soil and vent pipes and rainwater pipes at Monument Place by M&E consultant MTT. The Main Contractor is MACE and DG Robinson is the MEP installer.

Gary Zumeris of Saint-Gobain PAM UK says: “This substantial contract further endorses Ensign as the leading above ground solution on the market and reinforces Saint-Gobain PAM UK as the iron technology leader. It is the only drainage system tested and kitemark approved to the product standard BS EN 877 in the UK.” Ensign comprises pipes and fittings from 50-600mm diameter for above ground applications and 100, 150-600mm diameter for below ground. The above ground soil and waste system is red and the below ground system is coated grey.

The system can be connected by cast iron mechanical joints or push-fit joints for both above and below ground applications, allowing total interchangeability.

Keepmoat appointed for final phase of Allerton Bywater development A major regeneration scheme in Yorkshire is one step closer to being completed after Keepmoat was announced as the preferred developer for the final three phases of the scheme.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has appointed Keepmoat as the preferred developer at its Allerton Bywater Millennium Community Development at Park Lane in Allerton Bywater.

The £30M scheme will see the development of 162 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes for sale and 29 two-bedroom apartments and threeand four-bedroom homes for affordable rent. In addition to the new homes, Keepmoat will also develop 30,000sq ft of commercial development, which will be located on Park Lane.

All properties will be developed to the Government’s Code for Sustainable

Homes level 3, making them energy efficient, and also meet both the Building for Life and Lifetime Homes standards.

The development of the last three phases is the final piece of the jigsaw for this major scheme, which has helped to transform a brownfield site and sustain the local community.

Naomi Beckett, Area Manager for the HCA, said: “This is the culmination of many years of hard work by the HCA, our partners and predecessors, these new homes, which Keepmoat will build around homezones will complete the scheme and ensure that the homes at Allerton Bywater have all been built to the original design code and meet same very high standards.”

Plans will be submitted to the council in October and if successful, work is expected to start on site in May 2014. The scheme will take five years to complete.

17

STRANGE TIMES FOR CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY What strange times we live in. The UK Health and Safety Executive recently announced that the number of workers killed in UK construction has fallen sharply, with 39 fatal injuries in the year to March 2013, compared with 48 in the previous year: a massive reduction which, in no small measure, must reflect the effectiveness of the UK’s current CDM regulatory framework that implements the European Directive.

Yet the UK is poised to have to grapple with yet another CDM regulatory package – which is likely to change responsibilities across the industry, possibly shifting responsibilities away from clients and onto designers – whether they are ready for that or not – and maybe reducing the checks and balances on competence of those

Chief Inspector of Construction, is also picking up the baton on this issue to use it to provide a new focus for CONIAC and HSE’s construction sector going forward.

So, we live in strange times with the HSE currently proposing changes that do not address substantive industry concerns whilst industry, clients and co-ordinators, are pushing on issues that should be the driving force for regulatory change. Is it too late to change the principal thrust of the new CDM Regulatory package? Can it now be modified to make sure that it will make a step change difference to construction health – with regulations that strengthen design and co-ordination, build upon current successes and encourage a holistic and effective approach to construction health as well as safety? We can only hope so.

The current set of CDM Regulations have been judged in all substantive reviews to be basically fit for purpose and years have been spent by the industry, and by the Association for Project Safety especially, in establishing solid and internationally respected guidance on how to coordinate construction health and safety risk management – much in response to challenges set out by successive HSE Chief Inspectors of Construction. The UK principles of CDM are now looked at and applied across projects throughout the world – so we should be building on those successes – not listening to unrepresentative industry moans about overblown bureaucracy and sterile role players – all evidence of lack of competence and lack of commitment. We need to learn from best practice successes

‘‘The focus that we need is on reducing the vast number of people who still suffer ill-health at the hands of the construction industry....” working in construction. And this in an industry where it can be argued that lack of knowledge, lack of competence and lack of commitment remain the biggest problem for effective implementation of construction health and safety risk management. This simply beggars belief.

Whilst important, focusing on reducing bureaucracy, or eliminating a function, are not the real issues. The focus that we really need is on reducing the vast number of people who still suffer ill-health at the hands of the construction industry across both the United Kingdom and Ireland – an issue that has flatlined for far too long.

This is an issue that the Association for Project Safety has been pushing for a long time now – but, until recently, with little sign that most others have yet to see the light. However, in response to the UK’s Chief Construction Adviser Peter Hansford’s recent challenge to tackle this issue, the Construction Clients Group has seen that light and has announced that it will spearhead a drive to focus on occupational health issues. We now also hear that Heather Bryant, the HSE’s new

Whatever new systems are brought into being in the UK, or the revisions to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, there will still be a need for competent health and safety co-ordination and there is only one organisation that can help extend and deliver that across existing construction health and safety obligations. Who else will help designers, project supervisors and contractors on the extended range of projects that are now being brought under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 and the likely new UK CDM Regulations? With all that is happening in procurement, in design & construction management (think BIM), integration and innovation, with new and challenging government led targets for reducing costs and consequent transformation of teams, processes and procedures this is not the time for the UK HSE to remove the watchful eyes of genuinely competent and committed co-ordinators and not the time to revert to a pattern of regulatory management that didn’t work the first time around (think lead designers and planning supervision).

and roll those out across the whole of the industry by making sure that all who profess to co-ordinate are capable of delivering it.

So when construction comes out of the doldrums and improved national economic figures seep confidence back into property companies and contractors, who will be brave enough to speculate on the construction fatality figures remaining low with new Regulations applying to all projects, including domestic, with more than one contractor on site, new statutory duties for professionals and an overall increase in volume of construction work?

PROMOTING BEST PRACTICE At the Association for Project Safety we believe that everyone involved in construction should have proven competence to undertake their work safely and healthily.

FIND OUT MORE AT

www.aps.org.uk

UKC COMMENT

NHBC issues new Standard and research guidance on MVHR

by Paul Cribbens, Standards Manager, NHBC The move towards higher levels of energy efficiency in new homes and improved airtightness has led to around a quarter of new homes built being fitted with Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems, according to NHBC analysis.

The changes to Building Regulations have introduced a practical and regulatory need to ensure that the indoor air quality and ventilation provision in new homes are appropriate, as well as designing the home in such a way that reduces the amount of energy used for space heating. MVHR systems work by providing fresh air ventilation, while at the same time recovering heat from exhaust air that would have otherwise been lost.

With most people in developed countries spending an estimated 80% of the time indoors, good indoor air quality is vital for the comfort, health and wellbeing of occupants. Poor indoor air quality can be connected to a wide range of serious health effects, including allergic and asthma symptoms, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease.

An increasing number of housebuilders are using MVHR as a practical and cost effective way of meeting ventilation and energy efficiency requirements. It appears likely that the trend to install MVHR will continue, and could well become the dominant form of ventilation for new homes.

Designed and installed correctly, MVHR can offer a number of benefits. But there is a growing body of evidence, based on academic study and practical observations that indicate MVHR systems are all too often designed, installed or commissioned in such a way that the design performance is greatly reduced.

Research from the NHBC Foundation in 2009 Indoor air quality in highly energy efficient new homes – a review, followed by the publication this year of the Zero Carbon hub-led VIAQ Task Group report Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery in new homes, both revealed a number of issues with MVHR systems.

However, with only limited evidence available that is based on monitoring the use of MVHR in practice, the NHBC Foundation has this month released primary research that studies ten homes in Slough, built to level 6 of the Code

20

for Sustainable Homes. As well as examining the design, commissioning, and installation of the systems, over the course of the 18-month monitoring, the occupants were also interviewed on three occasions to provide in-use feedback.

The earlier VIAQ Task Group final report did identify that when done correctly, MVHR systems can deliver good performance, but it is clear from this new research Assessment of MVHR systems and air quality in new homes that a number of lessons still need to be learned. Nine of the units had to be recommissioned and the remaining one completely replaced after approximately one year of occupation.

As a result of this body of research, and at the request of NHBC’s Standards Committee, it was agreed that new NHBC Standards for MVHR needed to be developed. Following the proven method of engaging with stakeholders, a group of experts from the ventilation and house-building industries was assembled, including representatives from several manufacturers of MVHR systems, a range of house-builders, and academic and industry bodies. This group assessed the use of MVHR in house building, identifying common problems and produced a set of technical standards to address them.

The outcome from this group is the new Chapter 3.2 Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, which will be included in the 2014 edition of the NHBC Standards.

It documents new technical guidance that will not only set the standard for MVHR, but significantly raise it, to the benefit of homeowners and the industry in general.

Key technical issues covered by the new Chapter include: System design Satisfactory performance is dependent on the design taking into account issues such as the location of the fan unit, the type and position of air valves and terminals, and the control of condensation, as even relatively minor variations from the design can result in underperformance.

Ductwork The type of duct and its airflow resistance needs to be integral to the design. The main types of duct used in domestic ventilation systems are; rigid duct, semi-

rigid duct with short, straight lengths of flexible duct acceptable only for final connections. Compatibility between the duct and other components such as bends, connectors and fixing brackets is essential. To achieve the correct ventilation rate, airflow has to be balanced against the resistance of the ductwork system and its constituent components.

Location of fan unit MVHR systems require regular interaction from the occupants, which will involve ensuring that the system is maintained, such as regular cleaning/replacement of the filters, around twice a year. Filters are usually incorporated into the fan unit, which can be fairly large and difficult to locate. Because of the need to optimise space within the home, the fan unit is often located outside of the insulated envelope, typically in the roof void. While this may represent a good use of space, it does mean that additional measures need to be taken to ensure that the system performs as intended Suitable access for maintenance should also be provided.

It is critical that when considering MVHR as a ventilation system for new homes, that these new benchmark standards are complied with. A well considered strategy during the design stage – before procurement and commissioning – is essential, as is ensuring that the design is followed through to the installation.

For more information on the NHBC Foundation research, please visit www. nhbcfoundation.org/MVHRsystems and for more information on NHBC Standards please visit www.nhbc. co.uk/Builders/ProductsandServices/ TechnicalStandards

COMMENT UKC

Collateral Warranties Jane Ryland, Sheridan Gold LLP 1. What is a Collateral Warranty?

A collateral warranty is a contract enabling the beneficiary to bring a claim for breach of contract. It is a side agreement addressed to a third party (Funder/Purchaser/Tenant) warranting that the obligations in the underlying appointment have been complied with.

It is necessary to refer to the underlying contract for its full scope of services and duties, as well as to the terms of the warranty when reviewing a warranty claim.

Warrantors need to carry PI insurance.

2. Why are they asked for?

Banks often ask for a collateral warranty from the contractor and design team as security, primarily while the work is being carried out. Typically these warranties contain “step-in rights”, so that the Bank has the option if the Developer defaults on its borrowing or becomes insolvent, to “step in” as the Employer under the building contract. By signing the warranty the contractor agrees to allow this, if the Bank serves notice to that effect. The contractor should ensure that the Bank has agreed to pay its outstanding costs, as a condition.

Purchasers/Tenants of commercial buildings want warranties as an additional layer of protection against Developer insolvency or where the Developer has negotiated a release from liability to the buyer, often after one year from practical completion. This leaves the contractor and design team solely on the hook for the development.

3. Typical clauses

Duty of care This typically covers such matters as ••To observe and perform all the obligations under the contract (not just the ones you are insured for); ••Reasonable skill, care and diligence; ••Not to use or specify for use hazardous materials.

PI insurance ••This is typically £5 to £10M for contractors and £1M to £2M for consultants. It is offered on a “any one claim arising out of any one occurrence” or an “aggregate” basis depending on the cover provided by the policy.

Beneficiaries are entitled to see evidence of cover/renewal but not the policy itself.

Assignment This enables the beneficiary to pass on the benefit of the warranty when it sells the property. It is usually twice without the consent of the warrantor.

Copyright This covers all drawings, models, plans, specifications etc. and is for all purposes connected with the project. Once given it is irrevocable but should be conditional on all sums having been paid.

Limitation period Whether the warranty is in the form of a Deed or simply under hand affects the period in which a claim can be made. This is either 12 years or six years. The period usually runs from practical completion.

4. Is it a “construction contract” under the HGCRA 1996 as amended?

The recent case of Parkwood Leisure v Laing O’Rourke (August 2013) raises the question of whether a beneficiary to a collateral warranty has the right to adjudicate. The case concerned a swimming pool in Cardiff where the Tenant wanted a declaration that the warranty was a construction contract. The judge considered that the particular warranty in question was a construction contract because the wording related, at the time the warranty was executed, to the future as well as the past. It recognised the fact that Works remained to be completed. As such it was a contract “for the carrying out of construction operations” as required by the HGCRA and not just a retrospective warranty. However the judge indicated that if the contractor is just warranting a past state of affairs (which would be the case if giving a warranty at or after practical completion) and where there is no further work to be done the collateral warranty could be outside the Act. Jane Ryland

Managing risk A warrantor should avoid include wording wider than that in the primary contract e.g. duty of care, limitation period, deleterious materials; and it should rely on the same defences as are available under the building contract and owe no greater duty, liability or obligation than under the building contract.

Cases such as Biffa Waste Services Ltd v Maschinenfabrik Ernst Hese GnbH (2008) and Safeway Homes v Interserve (2005) illustrate the benefit to the warrantor of not having to pay out twice for the same damage and of being able to rely on set-off under the primary contract.

Other clauses to consider in order to reduce risk are a net contribution clause, excluding liability for delay and consequential loss, and having a cap on liability.

21

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Damaging Reputations and Relationships A long-running case between the Museum of Liverpool and AEW Architects has ended with the award of more than two million pounds in damages against the Manchester-based practice. Further court orders in relation to the payment of costs are expected to be made later this year. The firm has been ordered to pay compensation to the museum after it was blamed for a series of design problems with steps, a seating area and ceilings, one of which collapsed. AEW had in turn sued contractor PIHL and Galliford Try (acting as a JV) and they have been ordered to pay a contribution of £205,080 towards the bill.

It is not for me to comment on the rights and wrongs of Mr Justice Akenhead's deliberations and subsequent judgement in this case. What I am surprised about is why this dispute was not settled in a mediation?

Maybe a mediation did take place and no common ground could be found? Maybe AEW’s insurers wouldn’t play ball? We will never know because, as we all know, mediation takes place in private and is “off the record”.

What I can say, with some confidence, is that none of the parties will be overjoyed about reading about this sorry story in the press.

Reputational damage is often difficult to put a value on but needs to be considered when claims start flying around and insurers become involved.

The requirement to notify insurers of a potential or actual claim will be an express term of the contract of insurance as will be the passing of the care and conduct of the claim to lawyers of your insurer’s choice. If you don't comply, cover will be void. You simply do not get to debate these matters.

The appointed lawyers will be acting for both you and your insurers, but it is your insurer that will be paying the bills and there can be an unspoken tension between an insured party and its insurer in such situations because you may want different things.

In practice any party on the receiving end of a claim may be only too happy to let someone else deal with the claim, at least at

the outset. The problems can come later when a legal strategy and tactics are being developed without any consideration of past, or future, client relationships which might have existed and might be preserved according to how the claim is managed.

There is no real definitive solution to this conundrum. In reality your insurer will be looking to successfully defend the claim in its entirety, or settle at minimum cost, whilst you may well be hoping that the matter can be settled quickly without destroying a client relationship. In these situations the interests of the insurer and the insured may well be considerably different. Balancing these opposing interests can be difficult but perhaps not impossible.

Here are some suggested guidelines for dealing with professional negligence claims made against you whilst attempting to preserve the client relationship.

Read and fully understand the terms of your policy wording. What are you required to do and when?

What are you not allowed to do?

Clear any communications with your client through your insurers before they are sent.

Attend any mediation and make suggestions inside your team to encourage settlement, even if you have to think about making a financial contribution outside the requirement of your insurance arrangements.

Attempt to place a value on the reputational damage that will be sustained if litigation follows.

Remember your insurers will not attach any financial value to your future client relationship or reputational damage if matters are not resolved.

Whilst it may be tempting to allow your insurers to take over the claim and for you to be a passive bystander in the proceedings, such an approach may have unanticipated consequences, including losing clients and suffering unwelcome reputational damage.

Not every client is good for you, but the ones that are, are worth fighting for.

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

Liaise with your broker and share any concerns you have that your insurers may not be thinking about your long term interests.

If you believe that your client relationship might survive after the claim has been dealt with, ensure that your insurers are aware of this from the outset.

Engage with your insurers and appointed legal team and be a part of developing the strategy for dealing with the claim from the outset. Do not be passive.

Insist that you see any documents being sent to your client and request amendments if you feel that your client may be antagonised.

Encourage your insurer and its legal team to propose mediation at the earliest opportunity.

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

UKC COMMENT

Better late than never: Biometrics and Cloud Computing drags onsite time and attendance tracking into the 21st Century

By Ollie McGovern, Simeio With margins continuing to be squeezed across the construction industry, firms looking to stay competitive are seeking means to drive efficiency.

This process is stalling however, due to a lack of transparency throughout the management chain.

Advances in technology are helping to overcome some of these challenges.

The latest biometric solutions and cloudbased platforms mean that, for the first time, users can gather large amounts of accurate time and attendance data across a multitude of sites and store it securely. Not only can this make site management easier, but when collected data is mined effectively, it can reveal patterns and anomalies that can impact future business decisions.

Biometrics basics Despite the futuristic feel of the concept, biometric technology is in reality simple to use and cost-effective, and when integrated with a cloud-based software solution it can deliver an excellent ROI. A fingerprint scanner or alternative biometric hardware can be used to collect the data and send it to a hub via a secure network for storage and analysis. In the context of a building site, the software needed to process and present this data can be integrated with existing hardware and installed at points of site entry and exit, or on handheld wireless devices. It can also be integrated with an organisation’s management business processes and software.

The data can then be accessed via a web interface at any time, with customised reports showing live, up-to-the minute data, including hours logged, absences, qualifications and lateness sorted by individual, team, contractor or site. It can also be secured and stored centrally in the cloud. Not only is the data secure, but it can be accessed by the user and stakeholders via a secure web interface.

Crucially, cloud-based software is extremely scalable; as the capital expenditure is minimal it is an extremely

24

attractive proposition to firms of all sizes as they only have to pay for what they need.

Seeing the onsite benefits The benefits of installing biometrics with time and attendance software can be felt not only in the office, but also onsite. Accurate time and attendance tracking can lead to better communication on the ground and provide real-time data on workers signing in and out of site – avoiding the possibility of unknown and unplanned absences.

Improved visibility of attendance also makes it much easier for site managers to prove the worth of the teams they employ. Those working onsite must keep to deadlines and work efficiently if projects are to be a success. A team of workers who show up on time and work the agreed times can be invaluable to contractors and subcontractors. With biometric data, it is possible to prove beyond doubt that your team is the right one for the job.

Biometrics as business intelligence Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the application of biometrics for time and attendance tracking is that the potential of the data goes far beyond the creation of reliable time sheets.

When a large quantity of employee data is mined and analysed it can reveal the story of your business over time. Trends and anomalies can signpost areas that need attention, or where money can be saved.

This can also be invaluable when it comes to pitching for new business. Proof of an effective reporting system and reliable data on the number of people you employ and the time they spend on site can significantly enhance your bidder profile because you can demonstrate efficient project controls.

The key to success For a construction firm to be successful today it needs to do more than undercut its rivals. Firms need to closely manage their projects to ensure employees are delivering on time and to budget. Key to achieving this is clear communication

of accurate data. Although time and attendance is only a small piece of the puzzle, it is undoubtedly a critical element and is currently an area where money is being lost due to inefficiency and the use of outmoded technology.

Biometric solutions present construction firms with an unprecedented opportunity to make these issues a thing of a past, while offering business owners a unique insight into the day-to-day running of their firm – and the business intelligence to improve the bottom line.

About Simeio Simeio’s cloud-based Site Roster Control Platform records biometric data in real time to give users a complete overview of human activity on construction projects in any industry whatever their size, duration or scope. The software collects accurate data autonomously on Time & Attendance, Health & Safety Compliance, Environmental Impact and Project Risk Management enabling firms to identify and review risks, make responsive, informed decisions and ensure costs, time and claims are kept to an absolute minimum. It can be integrated with existing hardware and software and installed on both mobile and fixed point devices. Simeio’s solutions are used by contractors, subcontractors, installers and Quantity Surveyors across the UK including Barratt Homes, Sir Robert McAlpine, KIER and ISG. For more information visit www.simeio.co.uk

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UKC COMMENT

Housing Standards & Building Regulations: Watering Down or Winding Down?

The Government’s proposal to abolish the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), as part of its shake up to remove red tape for housing developers, has been met with much debate and discussion from both sides of the fence.

While the consultation into the proposal will not be concluded until 22nd October the continued assessment or critique of this move in light of the Government’s overarching Green Agenda and Zero-Carbon Plan will no doubt carry on in the interim.

The main reasoning behind the Government’s plans to abolish the code is that it no longer sees a need for separate levels for carbon and energy targets – rather these should be clearly set out in the Building Regulations and therefore no interim standard is needed. Whilst indeed many of the arguments and logic behind this move are sound, removing the code could potentially diminish the progress achieved to date, particularly at a time when the whole zero carbon agenda is being scrutinised and criticised for its lack of direction towards the government’s promise to build a greener Britain.

Announcing plans to abolish the code so soon after DCLG confirmed that there would be fewer changes to Part L regulations than anticipated, may do little to placate or re-affirm the somewhat dissatisfied parts of the green building community. Their frustration is perhaps understandable, given the context of further delays to the Part L start date and continued shortcomings in Green Deal take up. However, these evident shortcomings should be attributable to a lack of overall direction, rather than a complete lack of intent in Westminster.

Many lay the blame for a lack of progress towards the EU 2020 emissions targets solely at the door of policymakers and perceive those in Westminster to have

26

an ambivalent approach to cutting energy emissions – but this is a unilateral perception that is somewhat unfair.

There is evident enthusiasm and passion in some parts of Whitehall, something that we witnessed first-hand when Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker visited the VELUX CarbonLight Homes in Kettering. Mr Barker met the test families and saw first-hand the impact a low carbon household can have on a family’s day-to-day life and how this could be replicated across the country. However, whether the commitment and support shown by individuals like Mr Barker can be passed on to policymakers on both a national and local level remains to be seen.

Likewise, it would be equally unfounded to say the Government is yet to take any action. Its various house-building incentives are seeking to address the vast under supply of new homes, and removing unnecessary red-tape is seen as a necessary approach to help drive supply forward.

The introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive, which has also been delayed until spring 2014, is designed to encourage households to adopt efficient and renewable technology, such as solar thermal panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps. If this is realised, then the amount of energy taken from the grid can be substantially reduced, marking a firm step forward in the government’s CO2 reduction strategy.

While these are both good signs, more still needs to be done if policymaking is to stay on par with the house building sector in developing new low energy solutions.

In terms of Government’s green agenda and flagship policies such as the Green Deal, ministers and officials have been quick to point to external factors to explain away its lack of

success thus far – everything from a lack of installers to delays in getting software systems and finance in place.

This misses the mark. What really needs to happen is for the government to accept it needs to canvas its green message and policies far more effectively and support this with a robust top down approach by senior officials. If this is done we might, perhaps, make some good headway towards the 2020 target.

Keith Riddle, Managing Director of VELUX Keith Riddle

COMMENT UKC

Collateral warranties, the risk just got bigger!

Contractors and construction professionals are expected to provide collateral warranties to owners, their tenants, purchasers and funders. Each warranty represents a new contract with a new party with its own set of potential losses. This potential exposure to claims just increased with the recent decision in Parkwood Leisure Ltd v Laing O’Rourke Wales and West Ltd [2013] EWHC 2665 (TCC).

In that case the contractor, Laing O’Rourke, designed and built a swimming pool and leisure facility in Cardiff. The contractor provided the sub-tenant (who had a ten year lease) with a standard collateral warranty. One of the points to be determined was whether this warranty was a construction contract under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (‘Construction Act’). This would give the parties the statutory right to adjudicate any claim under the warranty. The court found it was a construction contract.

Contractors and professionals in England and Wales will now have to consider that for each warranty they provide. There may be a quick and easy (and often not very satisfactory) dispute resolution procedure available to recipients of their warranties and this may increase the number of claims made under warranties.

The Construction Act and the adjudication procedure available under it is acknowledged by the courts as rough justice, but is it there to right the cash flow problems that providers of works and services suffer whilst carrying out the works. However claims under warranties will have nothing to do with cash flow and it is doubtful whether rough justice would be very fair when a third party is making a claim for damages flowing out of alleged defects. Exposing the very people the act was meant to assist is probably not what the drafters

of the Construction Act had in mind.

It is important to note that the court emphasised that not every collateral warranty would be a construction contract and whether or not it was would depend on whether it is a contract for the carrying out of construction operations. This is a case of how seemingly benign words in a contract can have a devastating effect.

In that warranty the contractor warranted, acknowledged and undertook that it had carried out and shall carry out and complete the works in accordance with the contract.

The use of the word “undertakes” was interpreted as a prospective obligation to execute and complete the remaining works. The warranty was also provided before the works were completed. The court said that a strong pointer that a warranty is a construction contract would be an undertaking to carry out the works, a prospective obligation. On the other hand the court noted that a pointer against a warranty being a construction contract would be a simple warranty warranting a past state of affairs i.e. that the works or services reached a certain level or standard.

On the basis of this test, there is a strong possibility that warranties to funders or employers with step in rights would be found to be a construction contract.

The tips for a person receiving a warranty would be to include prospective obligations in the warranty regarding the completion of the works and also to obtain the warranty before practical completion. This would increase their chances of being able to adjudicate the warranty claim.

A tip for any party providing a warranty would be to provide a retrospective warranty only and to provide it after practical completion of the works, thereby avoiding a quicker, cheaper and less predictable dispute resolution process being available to those third parties.

This case is also a reminder to parties giving warranties to ask for limitations on damages where possible thereby limiting their exposure to third parties with whom they did not originally contract.

Kim Teichmann, senior associate at Thomas Eggar LLP

Kim Teichmann

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Engineered subsea constructions

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UKC CASE STUDY

The Association of Brickwork Contractors Continually seeking to improve standards The Association of Brickwork Contractors (ABC) strives for the highest quality standards of materials and workmanship to ensure brickwork continues to make a positive and growing contribution to the urban landscape.

The objectives of the Association are, at all times, to promote the role of the bricklayer and brickwork contractor and to continually seek to improve standards through the focus of quality of work, employment, health & safety, and training and education.

ABC believes education and training should underpin all major advancements in quality, employment conditions and health & safety.

Located nationally, the Association’s members comprise of large brickwork subcontractors, with work undertaken including larger contracts such as renovation of historic structures.

All member companies have to demonstrate they have not just the will but also the expertise to deliver a quality product that enhances the use of brick and the associated materials that make up the total masonry package.

By demonstrating the quality of brick, members also strengthen the demand from architects, specifiers and the public to use brick in future projects.

The Association was founded in the 2003 and its Chairman is Geoff Irvine former MD of Irvine Whitlock. It has five members of staff and membership comprises 11 members and 14 associate members.

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The member companies are Flahive Brickwork, Irvine Whitlock, Keith Walton Brickwork, Lee Marley Brickworks, Lesterose Builders, Lyons & Annoot, Marlborough Brickwork, Midcliff Ltd, PLF Ltd, Roe Brickwork and Reussir Ltd. ABC knows that quality requires training and commitment. Member companies must have in place – or be willing to put in place – a quality plan and the necessary disciplines regarding training, including commitment to the CITB modern apprenticeship scheme.

Members can also produce job specific quality plans that incorporate all required checks and balances that deliver a quality product.

Underpinning the Association’s four key objectives is the continuing training and education of all users of brick.

The Association strives to promote, encourage and improve technical knowledge and education of people in, or training to be in, the brickwork contracting industry so as to improve the overall standards of work.

Supporting the aim of endorsing the CITB board’s apprenticeship initiative, the Association made its first priority the appointment of a CITBaccredited group training officer.

Annually, the Association produces a business and training plan that encompasses the requirement that each member company undertakes an

average of 15 training days per annum.

The Association sees training and education not just as a requirement for new employees but as an ongoing requirement to keep employees in touch with the latest developments and, by providing work experience placements for school pupils and teachers – encouraging new entrants into the industry.

At the moment, the Association is working on housing starts and liaising with the government on this. A Resource Energy Action Plan has been compiled by the construction industry and funded by WRAP. This had its parliamentary launch earlier this month.

ABC is part of the Brick Awards, which is an annual event and one of the best known architectural awards, which has increased the profile of brickwork and of the Association’s members.

The Association has been able to record stable economic conditions despite the current climate, and in the future, intends to forge links with the Guild of Bricklayers and Tylers, while also publishing an increasing number of technical publications.

ABC will also continue to benefit from its sister organisation, which publishes the Brick Bulletin. This goes to approximately 20,000 designers and is a great source of communication for the Company. www.brick.org.uk follow on twitter: @BricksUK

PROFILE UKC

Highways

Significant investment imminent As time has passed by, more and more people own cars and this puts further strain on the roads and motorways, which are Britain’s primary domestic transport routes, with some 225,000 miles of roads in Britain.

Travel by car, van or taxi is by far the most common means of transport, accounting for 85% of passenger mileage in Great Britain, according to London Transport.

Because of the increasing number of vehicles on UK roads, there is a need to improve the quality of the road network, reduce congestion, make sure that traffic signs give road users the information they need to use roads safely and efficiently, and ensure that local parking enforcement is fair and effective.

The United Kingdom benefits from the work of a number of authorities who manage the road networks throughout.

The Highways Agency is responsible for the operation and stewardship of the motorways and major trunk roads in England, Transport Northern Ireland is responsible for more than 25,000km of public roads together with 9,700km of footways, 5,800 bridges, 367 public car parks and 271,000 street lights.

Transport Scotland is the national transport agency for Scotland with a remit that incorporates rail and trunk road networks, major public transport projects, coordinating the National Transport Strategy for Scotland, sustainable transport, road safety, and local roads policy. In addition, the National Roads Authority aims to improve the quality of life and national competitiveness by developing, maintaining and operating the national road network in a safe, cost

effective and sustainable manner.

The road network has suffered from a lack of investment for too long, which has worsened the experience of motorists and damaged the UK’s ability to compete.

To address these problems, the Government announced in June 2013 plans to invest £28Bn to improve and maintain the national and local road networks to support jobs and growth, as well as transforming the Highways Agency into a publicly owned corporation to deliver a better service to road users more efficiently.

The Government published the Roads command paper in July this year to set out the plans in more detail. Traffic signals, road markings and road signs will continue to give road users the information they need.

To ensure this, local councils will get more freedom to design about signs, they will be encouraged to place traffic signs where needed and to remove those that are confusing or unnecessary, and an updated traffic sign system will help all road users.

To reduce road congestion, a new civil parking policy evaluator has been introduced to help local councils develop their civil parking enforcement and a Local Pinch Point Fund worth £170M will remove bottlenecks on the local highway network.

Street works involve utility companies and others using equipment and machinery on the road. They are necessary to provide and maintain utility and transport services but can be unnecessarily disruptive to road users. Street works are different from road works, which are works carried out to repair or improve the highway.

To make sure that street works and road works are carried out in accordance with

safety codes and as quickly and efficiently as possible, the Government is giving guidance to the street works sector and powers to local councils to coordinate and inspect street works in their local area.

Local councils will be helped to manage street works effectively by introducing new lane rental schemes that provide an incentive for utility companies to carry out road works faster with less traffic disruption. It should end the need for the Government to issue approval for local council permit.

Penalty charges will be increased when work takes longer than usual, and these proposals will ensure that utility companies and others who carry out road works return the roads to a good condition after they have carried out works, while also communicating clearly with local authorities.

Considerations will be made to changing the requirements for street works operatives and supervisors to hold specific qualifications, and practical guidance on how street works should be carried out will be provided.

One of the many companies that will help with the improvements of roads and highways for transport is Fogtec, who has provided work for prestigious and significant projects such as the Eurotunnel and Tyne Tunnel.

Fogtec provided a fire suppression system as well as the know-how, engineering and equipment to the fire suppression project in the Channel Tunnel, in which fires on trains can be fought quickly and effectively.

With such a commitment to managing the road network in the UK, future improvement is a certainty.

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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

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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 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 the 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.

33

UKC PROFILE

Secure IT Environments Ltd Specialising in modular data centres Secure IT Environments Ltd is a UK Company specialising in the design and build of energy efficient secure modular data centres and infrastructure.

With great experience working with both public sector and private companies on projects of a varied nature, the company prides itself on delivering an end-to-end service from design and build through to infrastructure upgrades, maintenance and cleaning.

Formed in 2003, the Bedfordshire-based Company has established an enviable relationship with its Clients based on trust, mutual respect, working as a team with the Client and proven performance.

Secure IT Environments has an in-house team of experienced professionals that have worked on internal and external modular data centre projects for decades,

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boasting an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of data centre design, build and infrastructure. The Company also benefits from a large team of trusted specialist contractors who work with Secure IT Environments offering specialist build services and expertise.

The Company has extensive experience with organisations such as the NHS, various local governments, and private sector companies in finance and communications and co-hosting.

A recent project for the NHS included the construction of a new external data centre at Musgrove Hospital for Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust. It was an external data centre holding 20 cabinets in an N+1 format, with energy efficient air conditioning and total power monitoring within the room. Located on an old car

park at the hospital, the site was very tight with little space to build, but work was still completed ahead of schedule.

Because of its proximity to a residential area, all external plantwork had to be kept to a minimum, construction noise managed and the visual impact of the data centre minimised.

“As a Company we are very used to working on bespoke data centre projects, but also as part of a bigger team delivering much larger construction projects,” says Chris Wellfair, projects director at Secure IT Environments. “We understand the importance of good communications, planning, schedules and working to deliver the bigger picture.”

For more information, please visit www.siteltd.co.uk

COMMERCIAL UKC

James Durrans & Sons Ltd New office development September has seen the completion of the design and construction of the new contemporary office headquarters for James Durrans & Sons Ltd in Penistone.

Consisting of three-storeys of contemporary office accommodation, there is a new integrated basement garage facility and this office development will replace the existing buildings that currently occupy the site.

The result will be a sustainably designed building that is energy efficient, highly functional and of strong architectural merit.

Celebrating its 150th anniversary later this year, the Company appointed leading design specialists HTC Architects in March last year to design a state-of-theart headquarters that can symbolise the growth and development of the Company.

When completed, the development will provide high quality office accommodation, staff facilities, meeting rooms and a feature full height entrance atrium and reception area.

HTC Architects has specifically designed the building according to the site constraints, ensuring it can be accessed from both the north elevation off Saville Lane at first floor level or from the south elevation at lower ground floor level and at basement level

throughout the integrated basement facility.

The existing site has also been redesigned to enhance its functionality, and includes a renovation of the existing parking area to create a safer and more secure staff car parking area, the creation of dedicated pedestrian routes to ensure continued permeability through the site, and implementation of feature landscaping areas to enhance the look of the site.

The east and west facing elevations feature full height glazing to maximise natural day lighting, providing a contemporary feel to the development.

Utilising more stone and feature ‘punched’ windows provides balance to the north facing elevations while the contemporary sloped roof and secondary entrance canopy provide architectural flair.

The south

elevation houses the main entrance into the office development and will boast high quality glazing and feature balconies.

Built by JF Finnegan, the building is on course to achieve a BREEAM ‘Good’ rating.

Work started in November 2012 and completed in September 2013.

Part of a £75M council investment plan Construction on the new £15M building for Notre Dame Catholic College in Liverpool completed this summer allowing the college to open to staff and students for the new term 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 are 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 boasts 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 is 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 Mayor’s Investment Plan for Secondary Schools, devised as a

rescue package following the scrapping work of Wave Six of Liverpool’s Building areas Schools for the Future (BSF) project. have Operations began following Cabinet been approval for the scheme, subject to the included in the design to allow students formal awarding of the £15M contract. to further their studies before and The college has been built on a site adjacent after school within their preferred to Everton Park Lifestyles Centre on the curriculum areas with specialist edge of the Project Jennifer regeneration support and materials close to hand. scheme, and the school will use the sports The Architect for the project is facilities at the site. The college is being Sheppard Robson, and the Main co-located with Everton Park Sports Centre, Contractor is Willmott Dixon. so students will have access to a lifestyles gym, INDEPENDENT GROUND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY LTD swimming pool, SUPPLYING ALL YOUR GROUND IMPROVEMENT NEEDS sports hall, exercise IGI (Independent Ground Improvement Company), as we are more commonly known as in the marketplace, are a relatively small scale company, who pride themselves as being fully independent, friendly and approachable. studios and newly IGI undertake all aspects of Ground Improvement, from large scale industrial units to small housing installed, external developments.

3G sports pitches.

On the Notre Dame project, IGI worked for Willmott Dixon from the initial consultation through to the installation of over 2000 columns in order to facilitate the loadings from the building into the ground, with columns being As would be taken down to the red sandstone bedrock to depth from 4.0m to 7.5m below existing ground level. The works expected, the progressed very well due to IGI’s and Willmott Dixons close working relationship, both on site and office to office basis, and due to the relationship and understanding, the works were carried out in only 14 days. performing arts IGI have historically provided innovative engineering solutions to problematic D&B contracts with great success, facilities will be and undertaken works throughout the UK. of a professional standard and INDEPENDENT GROUND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY LIMITED will include two OAKWOOD HOUSE, YEW TREE COURT, TAYLOR BUSINESS PARK, WARRINGTON ROAD, RISLEY WA3 6WP separate auditoria and two recording Tel: 01925 733 733 Fax: 01925 733 734 Email: info@igi-ltd.com studios. Bespoke staff and student

EDUCATION UKC

Notre Dame Catholic College

35

UKC PROFILE

Euro Garages

Passion for quality, convenience and customer service Euro Garages is one of the UK’s largest privately owned forecourt operators with an expanding portfolio of 120 freeholdowned sites predominantly located across the north of England and the Midlands.

The Company has more than 1,000 staff members and in 2012 it reported sales growth of three per cent to £314M (2011: £305M) in the 12 months to 31 July 2012.

Blackburn-based Euro Garages was founded in 2001 by Mohsin and Zuber Issa with the acquisition of a single petrol filling station in Bury, Greater Manchester. Since then it has established itself as one of the UK’s fastest growing forecourt operators and is well known for its innovative approach to forecourt trading. The Issa family buys underperforming sites in highdensity locations or unused Greenfield land and then redevelops the area so it becomes a useful amenity for passing commuters and the local community.

To ensure its forecourts remain at the forefront of design, Euro Garages has made a number of high profile partnerships, including ones with Subway, Starbucks and Burger King.

These carefully selected partners are guaranteed to provide customers with a unique and convenient forecourt experience as well as maximising both fuel and retail sales across the portfolio.

Each one of the forecourts features a convenience store and the Company currently operates more than 150,000sq ft of retail space with more than 80% of customers shopping at the convenience stores when topping up with fuel.

Euro Garages features products across several categories including car care, groceries (chilled and ambient), newspapers and magazines, sandwiches and tobacco. Since 2008, all convenience outlets have been SPAR-branded stores.

SPAR was recognised the brand as an ideal fit for the business as it offers a number of advantages such as product choice, sales improvement and stock and category management.

Peter Dodding, Retail Director from SPAR distributor James Hall & Co, said: “Forecourt retailing is an area of strong expansion for SPAR and a strong partner with ambitious development plans such as Euro Garages will help us develop even further in a sector where our profile continues to grow.

“We can offer central control for multi-sale retailers on range and pricing policies, which will help Euro Garages maximise profit.

“SPAR is a very strong symbol group and this partnership demonstrates how we can support retailers and help them grown their business in a very dynamic marketplace.”

To ensure customers can access both convenient and quality brands, Euro Garages has a partnership that includes many fast food outlets at its petrol stations.

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The first Subway franchise was launched at the Ashton Road site in Cheshire in 2005 and since then, the Company has opened a further 14 outlets across the portfolio in the north west and Midlands. Subway outlets in the Company’s portfolio include ones at Rylands, Beehive and at Heathrow Airport.

Euro Garages has worked closely with Subway over the last seven years and both have benefited from the relationship.

The Company obtain an income stream and increased footfall on forecourt and Subway has developed a profitable business model, which both are looking to continue to develop as the size of the network is expanded further.

Operating a fast food partnership with Burger King, the Company has six different outlets, including ones in Uttoxeter and at Rivington Services. The network of fast food outlets is sure to develop as the portfolio of forecourts is further expanded.

Since 2010, Euro Garages has had a licensing agreement with Starbucks when it opened one of the UK’s first drive-thru outlets in Deeside. The initial agreement was to open 20 drive-thru sites, which was later expanded to 50 following the success of the stores at Beehive and Blackford Bridge, as well as the Deeside outlet.

In December 2011, Euro Garages announced a new five-year agreement to open a further 100 Starbucks roadside outlets that will create up to 2,000 new jobs and it has already opened 25 new outlets to date.

Kris Engskov, Managing Director of Starbucks UK & Ireland, said: “Customers told us that they want great coffee when they’re on the go and the success of our first drive-thru stores shows that this is a huge opportunity.

“The north west of England is a region of high strategic importance for us as we believe it offers great potential for growth. We’re enormously excited about our partnership with Euro Garages.

“We’re looking forward to contributing to the job creation story here and across the UK.” Earlier this year, Euro Garages acquired 45 Esso-branded petrol stations in a deal thought to be worth approximately £50M, in what is a ‘transformational acquisition’. Funding for this was provided by Handelsbanken and Lloyds Commercial Banking in the North West.

The sites are located in the North West, North East, Yorkshire and north Wales.

They will retain the Esso brand and supply Esso fuels as part of this acquisition.

About half of the 9,500 forecourts in the UK are expected to change hands in the next few years as oil producers pull back.

Euro Garages will convert the shops to SPAR outlets and look to introduce other partner brands such as Starbucks, Subway, Burger King and Greggs as part of the ongoing investment plans.

Mohsin Issa, Managing Director, said: “This is a transformational acquisition for our business, which accelerates our consolidation strategy in the UK and increases our presence in a number of important regions.

“It also fits perfectly with our retail proposition, which is based on partnering with quality brands to offer our customers the very best experience and value across our forecourts.”

Euro Garages’ single biggest investment to date is the £12.3M development of Rivington Services on the M61 in Lancashire. Reopened in May 2011 following an 18-month investment programme, the location was previously known as Bolton West.

Work comprised the demolition of much of the old northbound and southbound sites, creating one of the UK’s leading motorway services facilities with brand new forecourts, amenity buildings and facilities.

Now, the forecourt houses Starbucks, Subway, SPAR and Burger King outlets in the glazed foodcourt areas, brand new convenience stores, a wide range of quality facilities and carefully landscaped grounds offering relaxing outdoor dining.

Spring 2013 saw Euro Garages open five new Starbucks stores in the space of a week. The first, located at Little Eaton in Derby and the second at Calder Park, Wakefield, began trading on 12th April.

Guy Bickerstaffe Regional Manager at Euro Garages, said: “Our aim is to create an inspiring environment where our customers can relax, enjoy their coffee and feel like coming back again.

“Our first Starbucks store opened in Deeside in 2012 and since then, our customers have really enjoyed the facilities we have provided. Our new stores have already begun to attract commuters, business people and local visitors who want to enjoy the Starbucks experience.

“We have had the busiest store opening trade ever to date and believe these sites will continue to deliver sustainable growth.”

Over the years, the success of Euro Garages has been recognised by numerous awards including the Sunday Times Fast Track, Real Business Hot 100, The Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards and the English Asian Business Awards among others.

UKC PROFILE

London 2012 Games Thriving one year on More than a year on from the successful London Olympics, its venues and infrastructure are already providing strong legacies.

This was one of the organising committee’s chief concerns, and it is clear that this is already being fulfilled.

The long-term legacy of all the permanent venues on the Olympic Park has been secured, with many Olympic venues – both in and out of the park already benefiting local communities.

Transformation of the Olympic Park into a year round multi-use venue to deliver a permanent sporting, cultural and community legacy in east London began in August.

In contracts worth more than £67M, London Legacy Development Corporation on behalf of the E20 Stadium LLP has started work through Carey’s PLC, who has commenced moving 25,000 seats and the grass field of play to prepare the ground for Balfour Beatty Group Ltd to start taking down the existing roof later in the autumn.

A new roof – twice the size of the original at approximately 45,000sq m – will be built and lifted into position by spring 2015. It will cover every seat in the ground and improve the acoustics and spectator experience for football matches, other sporting events and concerts.

Once the roof is completed, final

Supporting the development of sports surfaces across the world TURFGRASS RESEARCH – World-leading research centres in UK and Australia for developing innovative techniques and products to improve turfgrass and sports surfaces.

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preparations for the Rugby World Cup will take place, including installing concessions, toilets, turnstiles, hospitality areas and laying the pitch for the five World Cup matches that will take place at the stadium between September and October 2015.

Following the Rugby World Cup, final work will be carried out to prepare the stadium for its long-term tenants West Ham United FC and UK Athletics.

New retractable seating will be installed so the lower bowl can be protracted and retracted depending on the type of event taking place. This allows closer pitch side football views while retaining an international class running track.

These will be in place ahead of the start of the football season, domestic athletics championships and Diamond League events taking place in the summer of 2016.

Greenwich Park, which made a spectacular venue for Olympic and Paralympic events, has also been reinstated.

The sections of Greenwich Park that hosted the Equestrian Cross Country Course have been restored, which consisted of sowing grass seed.

Queen’s Field, the site that hosted the main Equestrian arena, the training area and stables were handed back to The Royal Parks at the end of November 2012 when all temporary event

structures were removed by LOCOG. Sections were returfed, and in areas rich in acid grassland, appropriate grass seed was sowed. Land recovery was complete by this summer.

Habitat enhancement to improve areas of acid grassland will continue, providing a lasting legacy for Greenwich Park.

EDUCATION UKC

Colchester Royal Grammar School Completed George Young Building Last month saw the opening of a new single-storey building that is now home to the performing arts centre of the Colchester Royal Grammar School.

Known as the George Young Building, it is built on a Greenfield area surrounded by trees that used to be home to school gardens.

It is located close to Colchester town centre, which is an area of archaeological interest due to the Roman history of Colchester. Another distinctive, challenging feature of the site was that the surrounding trees were all protected by tree preservation orders so construction techniques had to be adapted and monitored to prevent damage to trees.

At approximately 290sq m, the internal layout provides three teaching areas, storage, toilets and an entrance foyer.

Two of the teaching areas are separated with a removable wall providing a larger hall for performances.

Designed by Inkpen Downie Architecture & Design Ltd, tiered retractable seating has been installed in teaching area two to allow an audience to view a performance in teaching area one.

The internal space has been designed to manage an approach that provides spaces in a number of positions appropriate to the activity and depending on whether the teaching spaces are operating separately or as a single entity, whether the retractable seating is fully or partially extended or stored.

Built by TJ Evers Building Contractors Ltd, the building is constructed of steel frame with masonry and timber cladding, while the external façade of the building is finished with render, timber cladding and zinc cladding.

The roof is mono-pitched, covered with

zinc cladding and single ply membrane, and windows are aluminium-framed double-glazing. Secondary acoustic glazing was installed in the main wall, and sustainability is important at the school, and the new building has photovoltaic panels on the roof and an air source heat pump used for heating.

The building is accessible for the disabled via the ramp and has adequate clearways to allow movement of wheelchairs. There is a disabled toilet fitted to allow complete access, and the new performing arts centre has CCTV and alarm systems incorporated.

An access ramp and steps have been constructed and finished with block paving and tarmac, while soft landscaping includes small planting and top soiling. Paths adjacent to the building are no-dig construction and permeable paving. Existing car parking for Colchester Royal Grammar School is available for its new building too.

Due to the nature of the existing school, the project has been constructed on a very restricted site, with other buildings and large, existing trees in close proximity to the building.

Despite this, all work was completed Total Access Scaffolding work with clients across without any problems.

East Anglia and London The £833,000 project commenced We pride ourselves on our professionalism and good work ethic; and always in February 2013 work with our clients to find a solution and design that’s both effective; as well as achievable, on schedule and within budget. Our company is capable of and was completed constructing complex scaffolding structures and undertaking challenging jobs and opened in time and projects. Providing practical expertise, coupled with our depth of expert for the start of the knowledge in erecting and dismantling scaffolding. new school year We design and install access scaffolds, independent scaffolds, suspended in September.

PLESHEY FABRICATIONS Part of Pleshey Forge Ltd

For all your structural and architectural steel requirements Colchester Grammar School - Another structural steel frame supplied and installed for TJ Evers

Tel: 01245 237233 Email: info@plesheyfabrications.co.uk www.plesheyfabrications.co.uk

scaffolds, cantilever scaffolds, temporary roofs, heavy load bearing scaffolds, shoring up solutions and every kind of accessory from lifts, hoists and chutes to simple safety handrails. We understand that sometimes construction projects can change or require re-thinking, the expertise within our company means adjusting the scaffolding will never be a problem. No matter what you may encounter we will work closely with you to make sure we can quickly adapt to whatever you require us to do.

Total Access Scaffolding completed the scaffolding works for the new Music Hall in Lexden Road, Colchester, at the end of August 2013. The complexity of the project, on an extremely tight site, meant working closely with TJ Evers and collaborating with other the trades to make sure the programme ran smoothly.

We endeavoured to ensure all the changes and any adaption required was undertaken in a timely manner to minimise any hold ups to the project.

Despite the challenges of the job, we provided access to all areas of a complex building project, ensuring a solid and safe working environment.

Total Access Scaffolding are proud to have been part of an excellent team managed by TJ Evers.

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B ritish S tructural W aterproofing A ssociation

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UKC PROFILE

Waterproofing with confidence – look for the BSWA logo

The British Structural Waterproofing Association (BSWA) Established in 1992, The British Structural Waterproofing Association is the professional association dedicated to improving standards within the structural waterproofing industry.

Its members include international product manufacturers, independent consultants and specialist contractors.

The best method of waterproofing is to use a BSWA member, and these can be easily identified by the BSWA logo.

In these difficult times, value for money is especially important and using suitably qualified and experienced professionals is one way to ensure a job is done properly the first time round. Particularly where waterproofing is concerned, mistakes can be very costly, not just to rectify problems, but the consequential damage of unexpected water penetration or leaks can cause more than just financial headaches.

Whether sending out a tender for waterproofing as part of a large contract or looking for a company to work on a domestic basement, a BSWA member should be specified.

Whether it’s waterproofing a tunnel, creating a new basement, resin grouting a commercial lift pit or installing preventative measures against dampness or flooding, BSWA members share a common focus on structural waterproofing and a desire to achieve the highest possible standards.

Membership categories include manufacturers and distributors, contractors and consultants. To avoid dealing with inexperienced and untrained structural waterproofers, BSWA members can be identified by the BSWA logo, which can be used on their letterheads, literature, advertising, vans and websites. An up-todate list of members can also be found on the British Structural Waterproofing Association website at www.bswa.org.uk.

The Association liaises with professionals and government bodies in areas such as trading standards, the environment agency and local councils and has been approved as a qualifying body by a number of organisations, so that BSWA members are credited with the knowledge, training and experience criteria that form part of the Association’s accreditation process. Due to the Association’s good reputation, members therefore are exempted from certain criteria and can be immediately authorised.

In addition, architects, surveyors, engineers and main contractors frequently stipulate BSWA membership in their specification documents and this is good practice for

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specifiers of waterproofing work. As well as this, a number of Estate and Property Management companies are known to allow only BSWA members to carry out waterproofing works.

Flooding has been a topical concern in recent years and the BSWA has often come to the aid of victims. Whether they have suffered a major catastrophe or a small leak, access to reliable qualified professionals is the first step in rectifying a difficult situation.

It’s always advisable to check the BSWA website for current members, as one of the drawbacks of a good reputation is that Copyright BSWA

unscrupulous companies from time to time will try to pose as members when they are not. Extensive efforts are employed to protect the logo from misuse so that its value as an indicator of a good contractor is maintained. The Association deals promptly with false claims and has even come to the rescue of clients previously misled.

Structural waterproofing is a vitally important profession as significant parts of the UK’s infrastructure are reliant upon it. There are three major categories of use: waterproofing to create a dry environment, waterproofing continued page 42 >

Lainton Services Limited.

Lainton Services was established in 1993 and has been operating as a leading specialist supply and installation sub-contractor to the building and construction industry throughout the whole of the UK. Since our establishment, we have successfully increased our activities to include attenuation tank installations, concrete repair technologies, gas remediation and validation, green roof systems, as well as substructure structural waterproofing to the requirements of BS8102:2009 grades 1,2 and 3 with Type A and C solutions.

We are approved specialist applicators of Grace Construction Products, RIW, De Neef Technologies and Alderburgh.

From our central location we supply a highly motivated and trained team of operatives, backed by an experienced management team.

Our commitment to environmental protection and site safety is of paramount importance.

We are proud members of the British Structural Waterproofing Association, with all the benefits that this influential organisation offers and we are also able to provide a comprehensive insurance backed warranty for our work.

We are currently consultants to and installing on many prestigious projects throughout the UK, including those for Manchester City FC, University of Manchester and British Aerospace.

Lainton Services provides its customers with commercially competitive, innovative solutions and we are committed to offer and deliver the highest quality service.

Lainton Services Limited Squirrels Lodge, 15 St Johns Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire, SK7 5HG

T: 0161 483 7676 F: 0161 487 4115 E: laintonservices@btconnect.com

www.laintonservices.com

for protection against deterioration, and waterproofing for functionality.

Broadly speaking, the main types of structural waterproofing are cementitious coating (tanking), cavity drainage, sprayed membranes, bonded sheet membranes, sprayed concrete/gunite and resin injection. Each of these will be more appropriate in different circumstances, and some situations will require a combination of methods. It is important to engage a professional to specify the best system for each situation.

Extreme care should be taken in appointing the right professionals to specify and undertake the work, as any problems arising can have serious consequences.

Ninety nine percent accuracy in most skilled trades would be considered an excellent standard whereas in structural waterproofing it could constitute total failure! In this vital area of construction, technical products are all too often specified by people without the requisite knowledge and experience, and applied by untrained labourers with little knowledge of the exact requirements, resulting in failure.

A number of documents are available to assist practitioners. The British Standard BS 8102 is the Code of Practice for ‘protection of structures against water from the ground’. The BSWA’s publication, Waterproofing Existing Basements identifies the various options available

Waterproofing, damp-proofing, basement formation, cellar conversions, wine cellars and fit outs, tanking, timber resin repairs and associated general building.

for remedial basement waterproofing and helps readers to evaluate the relative merits and limitations of those options in relation to their own specific project. It has been written for designers, architects, engineers, surveyors, consultants and specifiers; specialist installers and contractors; property owners including commercial and residential home owners; and property managers and representatives of associations who are responsible for evaluating proposals for remedial basement waterproofing works.

The Basement Waterproofing Design Guide and Basement Waterproofing Site Guide are aimed at new construction and deal exclusively with waterproofing to create a dry environment. The principles laid down in these and other documents already published are drawn upon in the most recent guide and expanded with details of recent innovations and current trends in thinking based upon decades of collective experience of the members. It has been written for both the professional and the non-professional and as such is not a design or installation guide. A balance has been sought to include sufficient detail without making it too complicated to follow.

Designers, specifiers and contractors are reliant on these guides and the individual product manufacturers for information on waterproofing protection and water retaining structures.

MGA CONTRACTS LTD

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Further details of the publications Waterproofing Existing Basements, Basement Waterproofing Design Guide and Basement Waterproofing Site Guide are also given on the BSWA website, along with instructions for ordering the guides.

The website also hosts a technical library of documents which can be downloaded free of charge and a gallery of case studies covering both domestic and commercial implementations of structural waterproofing.

Potential members can also download an application form directly from the site at www.bswa.org.uk. For any further information contact the BSWA office on 020-8866-8339 or email enquiries@bswa.org.uk.

I just wanted to say thank you very much for all the work you have done in the basement. You really have done a great job

No shortage of daylight in this new basement

TRITON SY STEM S W A T ER P RO O F SH O W CA SE BA SEM ENT

N E X T ’ S O X F O R D ST R E E T ST O R A G E SP A C E TANKED BY TRITON

Unit 6, The Runway, South Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 6SE Telephone: 020 8839 9969 E-Mail: enquiries@mgacontracts.co.uk www.mgacontracts.co.uk

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PROFILE UKC

Crossrail

The new, high frequency, convenient and accessible railway Crossrail Ltd is a company, which was established in 2001 to promote and develop vital links to meet the needs of people and businesses throughout the South East and to ensure that London continues in its role as Europe’s leading financial and business centre.

It was a 50/50 joint venture company between Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT) until December 2008 when it became a fully owned subsidiary of TfL. Crossrail represents a real commitment to the development of new services to tackle the lack of capacity and congestion on the existing network.

By bringing forward a scheme, which is feasible, practical and likely to achieve private sector partner funding, Crossrail will help to support economic growth and boost the region’s regeneration areas.

To achieve this, Crossrail has consulted with a broad range of stakeholders and the public at large. In July 2008, the scheme gained parliamentary approval with the passing of the Crossrail Act. Crossrail has awarded a joint venture comprising BAM Nuttall Ltd, Ferrovial Agroman and Kier Construction Ltd, a total of three contracts valued at over £700M. This joint venture between three of the world’s leading tunnelling, civil engineering and construction companies, is known as Team BFK. The contracts comprise two 6.2km tunnel drives between Royal Oak and Farringdon,

a contract to construct early access shafts and sprayed concrete lining works for Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road station tunnels and a contract for the main construction works at Farringdon station.

Paul Glass, Team BFK’s Project Director, spoke of his pride at being awarded this contract.

He said: “We are very proud to be the first contractor to begin tunnelling on this historic infrastructure project, where we expect to be tunnelling at the rate of 100 metres per week and removing one million tonnes of excavated material during the contract.

“The scale and complexity of this challenge demands proven tunnelling expertise and BFK provides this, alongside a collaborative style of partnering where teamwork is fundamental and safety standards are never compromised.”

These are the most significant tunnel contracts to be awarded in the UK since the Jubilee Line extension and Channel Tunnel Rail Link and will provide a much needed boost to the UK construction industry, as well as creating major employment opportunities.

Crossrail will run 118km from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, through new twin-bore 21km tunnels under Central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. It will bring an additional one and a half million people within 45 minutes commuting distance of London’s key business districts.

When Crossrail opens, it will increase London’s rail-based transport network capacity by 10%, supporting regeneration across the capital, helping to secure London’s position as a world leading financial centre, and cutting journey times across the city.

In March, the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Transport revealed the giant 1,000 tonne tunnel boring machines that will carve Crossrail’s tunnels under the capital. Almost 40 years after the new railway was proposed, this marks a significant milestone in the delivery of this major transport infrastructure project set to add £42Bn to the economy and create thousands of jobs.

March saw the delivery of the first of eight enormous machines, each 150 metres long and weighing 1,000 tonnes, to the Royal Oak Portal in west London, where tunnelling has commenced 6.4km (four miles) east to Farringdon via Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road. The machines are equivalent to 14 London buses end-to-end, with enough force to lift over 2,900 London taxis.

When Crossrail opens in 2018, it will increase London’s rail-based transport network capacity by 10%, support regeneration across the capital and the South East, help to secure London’s position as a world leading financial centre, and dramatically cut journey times across the city. continued page 46 >

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Fuelling the Crossrail project Hall Fuels, the national fuel distributor based in both East and West London, is currently fuelling several sites on the Crossrail project. As the project moves into the peak of construction, UK Construction Magazine caught up with Lynn Devos, Commercial Manager and Andy Liddle, Operations Manager to get an insight into Hall Fuels’ work on Crossrail.

UKC: Tell us about how Hall Fuels is fuelling the Crossrail project.

LD: As the only oil distributor in the UK whose portfolio of customers is purely commercial, Hall Fuels has a long-established reputation for delivering consistent, high quality service to the British construction and civil engineering industry’s major players. Through our Key Accounts and our established supply chain we’ve been delivering a range of commercial fuels and lubricants at numerous worksites on the Crossrail project since 2010. To date, our vehicles have made some 3,000 deliveries, delivering approximately 4.5million litres of fuel to contractors. We’re currently making up to 10 deliveries a day to Crossrail sites across London.

UKC: Why have so many contractors selected Hall Fuels as their fuel supplier?

AL:. Hall Fuels have supply agreements in place with most of the companies working on Crossrail and for this project in particular, our FORS (Freight Operator Recognition Scheme) accreditation was certainly a major factor. TFL specify that FORS accreditation is required in order to deliver to Crossrail sites. However, our operations team weren’t satisfied with just achieving the minimum requirements, and instead set their target to achieve the highest accreditation. We are now the only FORS Gold-accredited oil distributor, which I think is testament to our commitment to innovation, and operational best practice.

We’re also proud to have been awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification for Internal Quality Management and ISO 14001:2004 for our Environmental Management Systems as well as OHAS 18001, which further emphasizes our reputation for excellence, and for supplying safe, secure and sustainable solutions, on time.

UKC: What major challenges has the Crossrail project presented to you from an operational aspect?

AL: We’ve certainly been challenged to develop our vehicle specifications to show our commitment to safety in London. We have fitted proximity sensors to detect cyclists near to our vehicles, audible warning alarms to alert vulnerable road users when our vehicles are turning and also lenses to detect these vulnerable road users in our vehicles’ blind spots. We’ve also advanced our drivers’ training, enrolling them all on a safe driving in urban areas course.

London’s hosting of the 2012 Olympics Games also provided challenges. The Games overlapped with a key construction period for Crossrail, meaning that lorry holding areas had to be changed and traffic plans revised to minimize disruption on the project. Our drivers had to be continually briefed on the new traffic plans and adhere to what were often very-specific times for deliveries during the Games.

For further information on Hall Fuels, please call 01784 248659 or visit www.hallfuels.co.uk

Fuelling British Industry Hall Fuels is the only oil distributor in the UK whose portfolio is purely commercial.

By servicing only customers in the industrial sector, we’re able to deliver consistent, high quality service throughout the year.

Safely. Sustainably. Securely. On time.

Call 01784 248659 or Visit www.hallfuels.co.uk

More than 3,000 people are currently working directly on Crossrail, which is Europe’s largest construction project, and thousands more across the UK are working to provide materials and services.

Over the next three years, eight tunnel boring machines will construct a total of 21km (13 miles) of twin-bore tunnel under the capital. The Crossrail route will pass through 37 stations and run 118km (73 miles) from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

More than 50 UK companies are supplying materials and services for the construction of Crossrail’s western tunnels between Royal Oak and Farringdon, 35 of which are based outside London.

Another 4,000 job opportunities are yet to be advertised, providing huge economic opportunities for London and UK businesses to get involved in CRL. The first tunnel-boring machine is named Phyllis after Phyllis Pearsall, who created the London A-Z. She walked 23,000 streets and a total of 3,000 miles to compile the map. The second tunnel-boring machine will be named Ada after Ada Lovelace who was one of the earliest computer scientists.

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She worked with Charles Babbage on his ‘analytical engine’, and is regarded as having written the first computer program.

They were among the three winning pairs of names as voted by the British public.

The other winners were Victoria, Elizabeth, Sophia and Mary – names that will be used to name the next four boring machines.

The first tunnel boring machine is now underway on its journey from Royal Oak to Farringdon via Paddington, Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road, arriving at Farringdon in autumn 2013.

Further machines will be launched later in 2012 and beyond. The extent of the tunnels to be built under London are on a scale not seen for many years.

By late 2014, over 21km of twin-bore tunnel will have been constructed.

Another milestone was achieved in March, with the news that Canary Wharf Group Plc has completed construction of Canary Wharf Crossrail stations’ platform level, five months ahead of schedule, making it ready to receive the two giant eastern tunnel boring machines next year.

Construction of the Crossrail project began at North Dock in Canary Wharf less than three years ago. Since then, the

construction team has driven over 1,000 piles and pumped nearly 100 million litres of dock water, which is the equivalent of 40 Olympic swimming pools.

Approximately 300,000 tonnes of material has been excavated from beneath the dock bed and almost 375,000 tonnes of concrete poured.

Canary Wharf Contractors Ltd, the construction arm of Canary Wharf Group, has created a station box that is more than 250m long and 30m wide, approximately the same size as One Canada Square, Britain’s tallest operational building, laid on its side. Twin 7.6m diameter rings are now in place 28m below the surface of the dock, at both ends of the station ready to receive the eastern tunnel boring machines.

Construction of the Canary Wharf Crossrail station box generated approximately 200,000 cubic metres of excavated material. About a quarter of this was reused on site and the rest was reused at regeneration areas including Pitsea and Hoo Island to create habitats for flora and fauna. The majority of the excavated material was removed by barges rather than lorries, saving more than 29,000 lorry trips and reducing

carbon dioxide emissions by 780 tonnes.

Canary Wharf Crossrail station will be one of the largest stations on the Crossrail route. Crossrail will dramatically increase the capacity and resilience of transport services to and from Canary Wharf and the surrounding area, helping underpin further development and investment in this key business and shopping district.

Journey times will be cut to many destinations across London. It will take

only six minutes to travel to Liverpool Street, eight minutes to Farringdon and 39 minutes to Heathrow. The Crossrail service at Canary Wharf will be 12 trains per hour in each direction during the peak times, and services will commence in 2018.

Canary Wharf Group has planning permission for four levels or 100,000sq ft of retail, topped up by a spectacular roof top garden, community facility and restaurant, semi-covered by

a spectacular timber lattice.

Bill Tucker, Crossrail Area Director Central said: “Construction of Crossrail’s first excavated platform level is now complete and has been delivered five months early by Canary Wharf Group.”

The Canary Wharf Group handed over the station box platform level to Crossrail Ltd on 26th March 2012.

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UKC CIVIL

Yorkshire Water

Investing in the region

In March 2010, Yorkshire Water awarded seven partners the largest ever group of contracts in its history bringing a much needed boost to the local economy as they help deliver £1.35Bn worth of investment across the region.

The seven partners - Mott MacDonald Bentley, BarhaleWSP, Earth Tech Morrison, Morgan Est Grontmij, Byzac/Entec, Balfour Beatty and Morrison Utility Services - are responsible for helping the Company deliver a programme of work that will see Yorkshire Water invest in infrastructure improvements over the next five years.

Over the next five years the appointed partners will join Yorkshire Water employees to form a 500-strong Asset Delivery Unit which will be based at the Company’s Leeds city centre offices Livingstone House - at Clarence Dock. They will help deliver major investment projects including guaranteeing customers high quality, secure supplies of drinking water, future-proof the Company’s treatment

works against extreme weather conditions and help to protect the local environment.

Director of Yorkshire Water’s asset delivery department, Charlie Haysom, said: “As a major investor in the region, we’re committed to ensuring we continue to offer our customers the very best level of service for the lowest possible price and this programme of work - the largest we’ve ever embarked on - should go a long way to achieving this.”

Yorkshire Water provides contracts and work to over 1,000 local businesses and supports many thousands of local jobs.

The Company’s continued investment programme plays a vital role in the economic well-being of the region.

Mark Cutler Managing Director for Morgan Est said: “This contract win is a fantastic result for all our Yorkshire Water team and for the wider Morgan Est business.

“It builds on a strong relationship with Yorkshire Water and Grontmij developed through the last two asset management

periods and will further reinforce our position as one of the country’s leading water and infrastructure specialists.”

Engineering specialist Morgan Sindall has recently begun trialling the £3.5M odour control unit which it began work on in March this year. It’s believed that the unit, which is the biggest in the region and twice the size of the current on-site facility, will help to significantly reduce odours from the site, which have plagued local residents for many years.

Early test results from the site support this belief, with no hydrogen sulphide - the gas that gives off ‘a rotten egg’ like odour - emanating from the new facility’s 28m high chimney.

The new unit, which will operate alongside the current facility, will take air from the sludge processing part of the site - typically the most odourous area - and treat it using Turkish pumice infused with natural ‘good’ bacteria in ten large black tanks. continued page 50 > Esholt Wastewater Treatment Works

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We are one of the largest and best known independent heritage consultancies in northern England, offering a full range of archaeological and historic environment services across the UK. Established in 1990, we have a proven track record in providing a reliable and cost effective service.

Excavating a Roman mosaic, Toft Green, York

We pride ourselves on our relationship with our clients, working with developers, local authorities, national heritage bodies and community groups. NAA's dedicated team of experienced heritage professionals will respond to your requirements quickly and efficiently, helping to ensure that your project achieves a successful outcome whatever its scope or scale. Our services include: planning advice; desk-based appraisals and assessments; environmental statements; archaeological evaluations, watching briefs and excavations; building and landscape survey; heritage statements; interpretation panels; heritage management.

Our work with Yorkshire Water As a sector, the utilities market is under constant pressure to install new services and replace or maintain existing networks. From the beginning, NAA have worked with Yorkshire Water and their framework partners on schemes ranging from small-scale pipeline refurbishment to major new mains and infrastructure projects. By highlighting historic environment issues and constraints at an early stage in a project, and by providing experienced professionals, NAA help to plan and deliver appropriate mitigation strategies which avoid costly delays during construction, when deadlines are tight.

NAA work with the following sectors: Utilities • Energy • Minerals • Land & Property Transport • Local Government • National Agencies

Northern Archaeological Associates Ltd, Marwood House, Harmire Enterprise Park, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, DL12 8BN

Recovering an ancient bog-oak at Tophill Low, East Yorkshire

Tel: 01833 690800 Fax: 01833 690801 Email: info@naa.gb.com www.naa.gb.com

Richard Sears, Community Engagement Manager at Yorkshire Water, comments: “We’re delighted to now be in a position where we’re testing the new odour control unit at the site ahead of schedule, with a view to having it up and running by the beginning of December.

“We recognise that for some years the local community has put up with intermittent odours from the site and this is clearly unacceptable.

“And whilst it’s likely there will always be some odour owing to the operational nature of the site, we’re confident that this £3.5M unit, which is the biggest in the region, will help to significantly reduce odours, ensuring they remain within guideline levels.”

The bespoke system has been designed

by Odour Control Systems, for Main Contractor Morgan Sindall and uses tanks manufactured by Northern Plastics in Bradford.

In addition to the new unit, the Company is closely monitoring day-to-day processes involved in the treatment process, with industry experts and leading scientists involved to ensure it’s doing everything it can to minimise odours.

The Company also continues to engage closely with the surrounding communities of Hedon and Paull, as well as East Riding of Yorkshire Council to ensure everyone is kept up-to-speed around the work and the progress that’s being made.

Hull Waste Water Treatment Works is one of the biggest plants of its kind anywhere in Europe treating 40M gallons of waste water everyday, including a complex mix of trade effluent.

In Bradford, a £2.5M project by Yorkshire Water, which aims to drastically reduce the number of bursts on water pipes and further improve the reliability of customers’ water supplies, is now underway.

The work, which is being carried out by

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www.aquaforcegroup.co.uk 50

Contractor Morrison Utility Services, will see almost 13km of underground cast iron water pipe, some of which is almost 100 years old, replaced with brand new plastic versions.

Beginning in Bierley, replacement work will be carried out in phases in more than a dozen areas, including Tyersal and Bingley, over the course of the next four months.

The work will predominantly focus on some of the smallest and oldest mains in these areas (three, four and six inch), as these are the ones that typically have the most bursts on them and therefore have the most impact on customer supply.

Not only will the project help to significantly reduce the average age of Bradford and Keighley’s water supply network, but it will also increase the robustness of underground pipes, ensuring fewer bursts and disruptions to water supplies.

Ian Johnson, Project Manager at Yorkshire Water, comments: “This project highlights our commitment to reducing bursts and leakage in Bradford and Keighley, where we know we have some of the oldest pipes in the region, and to improving the reliability of water supplies to our customers in the area.

“Of course, we recognise that any work on such a major level is always likely to cause some disruption to road users, and we want to reassure them that we’ll be doing everything possible to minimise any inconvenience to them and carry out the work as swiftly as possible.”

The £2.5M project is part of the Company’s ongoing £39M investment to improve the resilience of its 32,000km network of water pipes in order to reduce bursts and ensure its pipes are more robust to deal with temperature extremes.

Not only is the Company lowering the average age of the water pipe network in key areas such as Bradford, but it is also installing technology along its underground network which sends frequent information

to the control centre detailing what is happening inside the pipes, rapidly alerting the Company to any changes in pressure which might indicate a burst. It has also increased the number of employees out searching for and repairing bursts on its pipes and is speeding up the process through the introduction of GPS technology.

More than a dozen homes in Bridlington and Flamborough have received a huge boost with the news that Yorkshire Water has completed a project to help make sewer flooding in the area a thing of the past.

The £500,000 scheme, carried out by Engineering specialist Mott MacDonald Bentley, has seen the installation of a large underground waste water storage chamber, in the verge area next to a section of Scarborough Road, which is capable of holding more than 360,000 litres equivalent to the volume of 4,500 baths of water.

The new storage tank will collect storm water during wet weather and hold it until such a time that it is safe for it to be released back into the local sewer network.

It’s part of Yorkshire Water’s £120M investment across the region to upgrade its sewer network and treatment facilities to further reduce the risk of sewer flooding, which can occur when sewers become overloaded during times of heavy rainfall.

Charlie Haysom, Director of Yorkshire Water’s Asset Delivery Team: “This work was all about improving our sewerage system in the area to ensure its better placed to meet the growing demands it comes under, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. It also underlines our commitment to playing our part and helping to reducing the risk of flooding in susceptible areas.”

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UKC PROFILE

The Combined Heat and Power Association Dedicated to energy efficiency The Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA) is the leading advocate of an integrated approach to delivering energy services using combined heat and power district heating.

The Association has more than 100 members active across a range of technologies and markets, and is widely recognised as one of the leading industry bodies in the sustainable energy sector.

The CHPA works to promote a greater awareness and understanding of combined head and power (CHP) and district heating to create a strong, dynamic and sustainable environment for its members and the communities, businesses and households they serve.

Prior to the Government’s Heat Strategy being released, CHPA launched a report to set out a pathway

for the decarbonisation of heat.

‘The Heat Revolution: Meeting Consumers’ Needs in a Decarbonised Economy’, focuses on the needs of all heat users and lays out the CHPA’s vision for reducing heat’s contribution to UK carbon emissions securely, efficiently and competitively, while facilitating the decarbonisation of wider energy use.

Heat provision currently accounts for over half of the UK’s energy demand and without a robust plan for heat decarbonisation, abating the UK’s overall emissions is likely to prove more costly for energy users at all scales.

The Government’s Heat Strategy, published at the end of March, identified pathways for the transition of the UK’s heat supply to low- and zero-carbon energy sources.

The strategy points the way to a major

expansion of new district heating networks in the nation’s towns and cities, driving a multi-billion pound investment programme in green infrastructure and creating an additional 40,000 jobs in construction and engineering.

Former CHPA Director, Graham Meeks, said: “District heating is the key to decarbonising the nation’s urban heartland at a price that consumers can afford.

“It is already proving itself to be a practical and popular choice in new housing and property developments, but its greatest value will be in heating the ‘hard-to-treat’ buildings in our towns and city centres.

It is here where energy could spearhead a new era of urban regeneration.

“The Government now needs to throw its shoulder behind its vision, continued page 54 >

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52

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working with the industry to build capacity and attract investment into this vital infrastructure programme.”

Previous Government studies have suggested that eight million dwellings could be connected to district heating at reasonable cost, in combination with a major share of commercial and public buildings.

This level of connections could be achieved through a 25-year capital programme, investing £2Bn each year in new district heating infrastructure.

Through this programme, carbon emissions from heating would be halved and reduced to around nine million tonnes per annum.

The Heat Strategy announcement also highlighted the value of district heating networks in supporting the deployment and utilisation of a range of low-carbon energy sources.

Networks could adapt to obtain heat from gas-fired CHP plant, biomass and biogas, heat pumps, energy-from-waste, solar thermal, along with heat rejected from industrial processes and power stations.

This approach, which is commonplace in continental Europe and Scandinavia, delivers reliability and security to energy users and provides a credible and practical pathway to decarbonisation.

CHPA is heavily involved in calls for Government to incentivise CHP as well as drinking low-carbon growth, and

54

in March, Graham Meeks, along with other manufacturing industry leaders, signed an open letter to Chancellor George Osborne and Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Davey, to warn that cuts to support for CHP will hit jobs and growth, especially in the manufacturing sector.

Graham Meeks commented: “Cuts to CHP will hit jobs and growth and manufacturing the hardest.”

The coalition of Chemical Industries Association, Food and Drink Federation, Confederation of Paper Industries, UK Petroleum Industry Association and CHPA includes a number of the UK’s largest manufacturing sectors.

August saw a significant change at CHPA, with Dr Tim Rotheray taking over from Graham Meeks as Director of the Company.

Dr Rotheray joined CHPOA at the beginning of 2010 to lead on key areas of policy and in his role of Head of Policy and Communications, has been responsible for delivering the CHPA’s strategic vision of a more efficient and consumer-focused energy system throughout Whitehall and Parliament.

With his substantial experience in energy policy, Rotheray has played an integral part in the CHPA’s recent achievements, driving a new focus on the role of heat within the Department for Energy and Climate Change and securing a new commitment from Government

to create a bespoke policy to support gas fired combined heat and power.

The CHPA’s Chairman, Dr Julian Packer, said: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to say that we are delighted that Tim has accepted this position which comes at a time of both opportunity and challenge for the industry, especially so as heat is now firmly on the political agenda.

“Tim has an exceptional understanding of the issues faced by both our industry and the energy industry in general and has established an exemplary track record during his time at the Association.

“We are confident that Tim’s knowledge, enthusiasm and inspiring leadership will provide the continuity needed to realise the Association’s vision of an integrated approach to energy and the Board look forward to supporting and working with Tim and the team at the CHPA.” Dr Tim Rotheray added: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Director at the CHPA. This opportunity comes at a time of significant transition in how we meet our energy needs, and a growing recognition of the major role which combined heat and power and district heating will lay in delivering more local, less wasteful heat and electricity.”

For more information, please visit www.chpa.co.uk

RETAIL UKC

Ellesmere Shopping Centre

Superb shopping destination for Greater Manchester This autumn will see the completion of 12 new build retail units at Ellesmere Shopping Centre in Walkden.

Designed by AEW Architects, the project involves the creation of an additional 20,000sq ft of retail space.

Existing occupiers JD Sports and Costa Coffee have moved into the main part of the shopping centre to make way for the redevelopment of the retail park section.

The centre is already home to a 170,000sq ft Tesco Extra store, a Boots, Post Office, numerous banks and food outlets, and a market hall. When complete, the Ellesmere Centre will accommodate almost 2,000 car parking spaces.

The new development is being marketed

by GVA which is reporting interest from national brands. Sammy Jones, associate at GVA Manchester, said the start of Phase III was an important milestone in the redevelopment of the Ellesmere Centre.

She said: “Together with Phase II, these works will enhance the entire development.

Securing a range of national retailers to this phase will help drive footfall and improve the shopping experience for customers, providing them with more choice.

“We are already in discussion with a number of national operators who are interested in taking units and are close to agreeing terms with them.”

The shopping centre forms the focal point of the three-phase development within

Walkden Town Centre, comprising of from the main car park. The façade design both new and regenerated retail. Phase II on the high street combines the key retained an element of the existing centre, design principles while sympathetically while increasing the overall height and area acknowledging prevailing architecture. by introducing a new third floor of retail.

The Main Contractor is Russells Users can access the shopping Construction, and work on the £10M Phase centre facilities through internal III will be completed by the end of the year. malls over a number of levels, all The cost of the whole scheme is £60M. connected via a system of travelators The Ellesmere Centre is fast becoming accessed from the main atrium. This the hub of the local community, with over £20M scheme is completed.

140,000 people visiting each week to The final phase comprises of 150,000sq meet friends and family, to eat and drink, ft of new retail outlet accommodation to work and to enjoy their leisure time. supported by the surrounding regenerated amenity space, comprising of soft and hard landscaping.

AEW retained an element of the existing structure while maximising the overall height and area of the development by introducing a second floor of retail, directly accessed from the town centre high street.

JRS Fabrication Engineers was established in 1993 specialising in The scheme has a bespoke metal staircases including all aspects of Architectural metalwork range of unit sizes designed so each Works completed for Russells Construction on the Ellesmere entrance point has Shopping Centre include metal and glass walkway canopy, along with a large cantilevering external stairs and balustrade. glazed pod accessed

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55

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.

56

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 58 >

London Underground Sleeper Pads for Efficient Vibration Protection Getzner – the good vibrations company

Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH are specialists in the field of vibration isolation in railway, industrial and construction applications. The company has been manufacturing materials for vibration isolation and mitigation since 1975 and is one of the leading companies in this field. The high-tech materials Sylomer® and Sylodyn® were developed by Getzner's own research team and are used in the construction of permanent way for railways, for the elastic mounting of buildings, equipment and as building components in the construction industry.

Track renovation for London underground

The track of the London Underground District Line was completely renovated between Paddington and High Street Kensington stations in the city centre.

Between July and August 2011, this very busy section of track, which is also part of the Circle Line, was upgraded with new ballast, rails and brand new sleepers with pads supplied by Getzner Werkstoffe.

The elastic bearings on the underside of the sleepers protect the track superstructure and reduce the level of vibrations caused by the rail traffic. The latter also has a beneficial effect on the numerous dwellings alongside the track and noticeably improves the quality of life of local residents.

Padded railway sleepers as protection against vibrations

Providing elastic bearings for this stretch of the District Line was the first sleeper pad project for London Underground: the requirements called for the use of full-surface Sylodyn® sleeper pads.

Deliveries were made both to the CEMEX sleeper works in Birmingham and directly to the operator.

This renovated section of the District Line runs through very narrow tunnels.

A particular challenge in this case was to prevent this close proximity to tunnel walls from causing an increase in the level of sound transmission through the tunnel walls. Therefore the elastic Sylodyn® bearings were for the first time placed not just on the bottom of the sleepers, but also on the sides.

Cooperation during the pre-project phase facilitates new solution

Flexible Solutions application engineering departments were involved in the project; they provided the necessary level of professional support from delivery through to fitting and installation. Getzner, a specialist in vibration isolation materials, also acted as construction advisers, the company also assisted with a series of calculations and suggestions during the preproject phase. The close cooperation between customer and Getzner resulted in an innovative and efficient solution for the project. This project was realized in cooperation with the Getzner UK Agent Lesmac Flexible Solutions Ltd.

References (selected)

• Birmingham Arena Tunnel (GB) • Thameslink, Blackfriars Bridge/Station (GB) • Extension of the East London Line (GB) • Reading Station Redevelopment (GB) • Edinburgh Tram (GB) • Dublin Tram – LUAS (IE) • Extension of the Jubilee Line (GB) • Nottingham Tram (GB) Current • London Bridge Station Redevelopment (GB) • New Hotel - Holborn, London (GB) • Crossrail (GB)

Around 7,000 pads for concrete sleepers and close to 1,000 pads for timber sleepers were used on a stretch of track extending over approximately 2.5 kilometres. CEMEX fitted the elastic bearings to the concrete sleepers in their works. The timber sleeper pads were fitted on site by LUL staff trained by Getzner. Deliveries took place in four phases between March and July 2011. In addition to the project manager, four Getzner employees from the product management, system development and Concrete sleeper

Sylodyn® sidebearing with geo-textile protection layer Sylodyn® sleeper pad with geo-textile protection layer

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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

58

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 60 >

communication, information and detection technologies KeTech specialises in communication, information and detection technologies. KeTech designs and supplies a wide range of systems across a number of markets, including rail, bus, tram, public sector and airports.

KeTech has implemented a number of systems specifically for London Underground and they can be seen across the network both on and off train, including Passenger Information, Public Address,

KeTech specialises in communication, information and detection technologies.

We are innovators and integrators of engineered solutions in the rail market.

Our skills and expertise provide fully supported detection and security systems.

KeTech is a key player in the transportation and detection markets

Emergency help Points and Platform to Train Communications.

KeTech believes in forming long term relationships with its customers, providing systems that meet the exact requirements and specific needs of each.

KeTech offers the complete package of initial system definition through to design, implementation and onwards into maintenance and support.

Providers of innovative communications systems

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

60

London and to the UK economy.

“As we mark the anniversary 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 Their Royal Highnesses today having experienced one of the new airconditioned 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 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 transformation to its transport network in 50 years with the construction of Crossrail. Crossrail will increase London’s rail capacity by ten per cent, deliver new journey opportunities and bring an extra 1.5 million people within 45 minutes commute of the capital.

“Thousands of jobs have been created to deliver Crossrail with thousands more employed across the UK in regional based suppliers. Crossrail will move London forward for the next 150 years or more.”

Today’s visit highlighted the importance of apprenticeships and training in

engineering for young people.

TfL is an employer committed to developing and maintaining the skills and talents of its workforce and addressing the skills shortage within the transport industry for now and the future.

Within the last two financial years, 135 graduate roles have been created in TfL, with 86 graduates enrolling in September 2012. More than 400 apprenticeships are being created by Crossrail.

Many are being trained at the new Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy in east London where up to 3,500 people will receive training in the skills required to work below ground.

email: kenspragg@kriscoengineering.com

email: kenspragg@kriscoengineering.com

As the major supplier of Huck fasteners and tooling to London Underground, Permalok congratulate them on their 150th Anniversary, and look forward to continuing their long and successful trading partnership.

Fire engineering for the 21st century.....

Proud to be working with London Underground since 1995.

Photograph copyright Ruby Bryant 2013

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61

UKC PROFILE

PDR Construction

One of the largest independent construction companies in the north of England Since its establishment 21 years ago, PDR Construction has built an impressive reputation as a dedicated construction resource for many of today’s leading edge companies.

This reputation has been built on the fact that PDR shares the same innovative vision as the companies its serves. This vision, along with the Company’s industrywide capabilities, has helped to create more than just buildings for clients.

PDR remains dedicated to exceeding its customers’ expectations and aim to achieve this by continuously improving the quality, performance and care of all services.

The Company’s organisational structure and capacity enables PDR to undertake contracts across a wide range of industry sectors, including office, residential, education, industrial, retail and automotive.

PDR has a firm belief in developing long-term partnerships with customers, which brings added value in addition to excellent service, reliability, competitive pricing and timely completion of projects.

A wide variety of services are offered, such as budget cost plans, design and build, open book negotiation, refurbishment, and traditional tendering.

The Company has a large portfolio of on time and to everyone’s satisfaction, projects, which includes the development taking on a challenging site with extensive at Lime Square in Openshaw to construct remediation and clearance, not to a Morrison’s superstore of 79,250sq mention the Manchester weather. ft with 640 car parking spaces with “We would have no hesitation in extensive main road frontage and three working with or recommending PDR.” separate car park access points.

PDR Construction, Salisbury House, The demolition of a mixed-use site included Saxon Way, Hessle, HU13 9PB. the separation of a large factory complex during which the occupier continued to operate its business without interruption.

Project Director, Andrew Malley, spoke in glowing terms about PDR’s contribution.

He said: “From the tender submission to project completion, With over 40 years of experience in the steelwork industry, we offer we have found PDR competitive and precise products. From just fabrication to complete design to be an excellent and build projects, we pride ourselves in offering a full package. construction partner, they have delivered in Ellis Hill, Unit 6, Leeds Road, Huddersfield HD2 1UB all key areas of cost, quality and delivery.

Tel: 01924 665 012 Email: chfabrications@gmail.com “They have built www.chfabrications.co.uk our new Morrison’s store in Openshaw

Farrell & Partners Ltd. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION & TESTING ENGINEERS

We are pleased to be associated with PDR Ltd and wish them continued success for the future

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62

COMMUNITY UKC

Newbridge Memorial Hall and Institute Part of the Newbridge regeneration A key project to restore the historic Newbridge Memorial Hall and Institute to its former glory is now into its final phase.

Phase I of the £5.6M restoration saw the official reopening of the institute building in June.

Both the ‘Memo’ – as it is known locally – and the adjoining institute will benefit from the refurbishment.

Newbridge’s library is located on the ground floor of the institute and the opening marked a key milestone in what has been a ten-year fundraising battle. The new facility will also boast a computer learning centre, 17 free publicaccess computers and an event space for talks and community activities.

Restoration work follows a nine-year campaign by local people to raise the funds, which formed a major part of Caerphilly Council’s £12M regeneration of Newbridge.

Work on the Grade II listed buildings includes restoring the old dance hall, as well as creating multi-purpose community rooms, a function room, an information resource centre and a glass extension that links the two buildings.

The final phase of work will see restoration of the adjoining Memorial Hall, where the cinema and ballroom will get a facelift.

Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield was on hand to unveil a plaque at the grand reopening of the institute in July.

The Blackwood singer attended the packed ceremony to celebrate the completion of Phase I.

The building initially opened in 1908 with and the Coalfields Regeneration the institute having a billiards room, library, Trust, amongst others. committee room and reading room.

The Memo won national recognition The Memo was then opened in 1924 when it narrowly missed out on to commemorate those in the local winning the UK final of the BBC2 community who gave their lives in Restoration programme in 2010.

World War One, the building also has A Learning and Outreach Officer has been great personal significance to Bradfield, funded at the project to oversee a diverse who worked behind the bar there programme of heritage learning and train as a teenager in the late 1980s. up to25 additional local people to help run He spoke in glowing terms about the the centre as visitor numbers increase. venue’s cultural significance. “This building Designed by Alwyn Jones Penseiri represents a generation that will never be Architects, and built by Seddon, work topped, a generation which was forged started in January 2012 and will be by a really hard, dangerous industry but complete at the end of the year. also which had tremendous heart and imagination,” he said.

“And what they lost in the War was just as great. So to see it now going back to the community is very satisfying.”

The scheme is part-funded by the We are pleased to be associated with the European Regional Development Fund Newbridge Institute & Memorial Hall project through the Welsh and wish all involved continued success Government, Welsh Government’s Targeted Match Milkwood House, Graig Penllyn, Cowbridge, South Glamorgan, CF71 7RT Fund, the Heritage Tel: 01446 774219 Fax: 01446 771235 Lottery Fund, Big Email: iantaylor80@btinternet.com Lottery, CADW, Trustees of the Institute and Memo

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63

UKC EDUCATION

Loughborough University

New health and bioscience building A new project at Loughborough University combines the Department of Health Exercise & Biosciences (HEBS) with a consortium of six partners from hospitals and universities in the region into a new National Centre for Sport & Excellence Medicine (NCSEM).

HEBS 2 will be a hub of research into sports and exercise injuries and conditions associated with lack of exercise. Doctors and researchers from the Nottingham and Leicester University Hospital NHS Trusts and the Universities of Nottingham, Loughborough and Leicester, as well as the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust will collaborate on the purpose-built centre on the Loughborough University campus.

The facility will act as a focus for sport and exercise medicine research, encouraging the development of pathways and partnerships for the translation of research findings into practice helping people become more active and maintain these healthy life changes.

Additionally, the centre will provide medical services for those who become ill or injured through sport and physical activity, aiding a return to full fitness, work and sport.

The building will be arranged into two

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distinct elements - a deep-plan twostorey block, highly glazed with a colonnade, housing the NCESM and a narrow three-storey block of office accommodation in a contrasting mottled brick with feature metalwork.

The £15M development will provide 6,000sq m of teaching and research space.

It will contain clinical and physiological diagnostic equipment together with educational, training and research facilities for health professionals and patients, as well as a biomechanics gym for rehabilitation purposes. An external car park and access road will also be provided.

A retaining wall has already been erected, and groundworks included fitting pile caps and ring beam foundations in preparation for the concrete pour and erection of the steel frame.

Since the groundworks were completed, the steel frame is now in place and two flights of stairs have been formed. The construction team has also began to concrete pour the ground floor slabs, insert floor planks and fit a Metsac wall lining system.

Loughborough University students have benefited from several site tours

where it has been explained to them how each stage of the project has progressed. In addition, they have been provided with career advice.

Connection will be made to an existing combined heat and power unit and the university district heating system, helping to achieve the target BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’.

The roof area to the two-storey element, being highly visible, is utilised as a landscaped terrace with seating areas and a variety of planting species to contribute to the campus biodiversity.

This is seen as key to the development, taking advantage of the views to the north and providing a landscape link to the new square and sports pitches at ground level.

Car parking is to be provided as part of the scheme in the form of 35 parking spaces, with the necessary level of disabled provision.

The level of parking has been set to reflect the fact that the building is to be accessed by the public and for medical use.

The Main Contractor is Mansell, and work will be completed in December 2014.

HEALTH UKC

Castle Hill Hospital

New development as part of the Daisy Appeal The building of the PET/CT Scanner other types of scans which are crucial at Castle Hill Hospital commenced for developing research in the future.” in January 2013, which is Phase The centre is being built to help patients IIa of the Daisy Appeal. get benefits from scanning at a much The Daisy Appeal is a local charity earlier stage than ordinary scanners that are established to help improve treatment currently out there. An example being if a and research opportunities in a variety of patient has dementia, the PET/CT scanner common diseases, most notably cancer, will be able to diagnose the disease at a heart disease and neurological illness. much earlier stage. This means the patient Positron Emission Tomography with CT can be treated quicker and it will increase scanning (PET/CT) is a medical imaging the chances of successful treatment. technology that can be used to diagnose Research and treatment facilities for cancer and assess the best treatment for people in the Hull & East Yorkshire cancer patients. Recent developments region are now being greatly improved include the first licenced drug for the and with the addition of this equipment, staging and diagnosis of Parkinson’s Castle Hill will provide advanced imaging disease using PET/CT scanning. facilities directly linked to an ongoing Having successfully raised £8M to scientific research programme. enable the construction of a medical Demand for a PET/CT scan is expected research centre at Castle Hill Hospital to triple by 2017, which gives provision in 2008, the Daisy Appeal has now for a second scanner in a second moved onto the next phase, which room in the next five years. will see the creation of the permanent The Main Contractor is Hobson & Porter, patient scanning and research centre. a family owned contractor based in Hull The PET/CT scanner will complement the with a turnover of approximately £25M. current imaging devices while offering a It is committed to growing business new diagnostic technique. This will offer while also maintaining an excellent increased detection capabilities of cancers, record of customer satisfaction, which along with cardiac and neurological diseases. It will be a breakthrough for the Civils, Drainage, Heavyside, future of diagnostics Ground Engineering & Lintels and will aim to become a leading scanning modality.

Professor Stafford said: “The aim of the scanner is that once opened it will be available 24/7 which is different from what existing services offer at the moment.

Tel: 01904 436630 It will also allow www.civilsandlintels.co.uk patients to have

is currently higher than 90%.

Hobson & Porter is ISO9001 and ISO14001 quality assured and projects range from small scale refurbishments to £20M new builds.

The Company’s best team is on the job at Castle Hill, including Chris Thompson, who was awarded the inaugural Hobson & Porter Site Manager of the Year Awards in recognition of exemplary service and quality of work last year.

Chris has been a major works site manager for five years and has completed housing developments for Hull City Council and Sanctuary Housing. He is working on the scanner facility at Castle Hill.

Designed by EAS Architects, work will be completed in December 2013 and scanning should commence in February 2014.

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UKC HEALTH

Northern General Hospital Revamped A&E department Phased work at the Northern General Hospital to expand and refurbish its Accident & Emergency department has now been completed.

Situated in the north of Sheffield, the hospital is home to the city’s adult A&E department, with a separate one for children residing at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

The Northern General is the largest hospital campus within Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spanning 100 acres.

It is situated approximately three miles from the hospitals at the central campus and is easily accessed via the M1 motorway.

The hospital has more than 1,100 beds and employs over 6,000 members of staff. Together with the other hospitals managed by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, a wide range of specialist services are provided, including orthopaedics, renal, heart and lung services, and a state-ofthe-art purpose built spinal injuries unit.

Phase I was handed over in December 2012, which was the former Clinical

Sterile Services Department (CSSD) was completely remodelled to provide office and staff changing accommodation, allowing consultants and key nursing staff to move from their previous location in the A&E department prior to the remodelling of the Clinical Decisions Unit (CDU).

The Main Contractor was Henry Boot Construction (HBC), who started work in early August 2012 and completed at the end of November 2012, while there was a second strand to Phase I that remodelling in an area that was in occupation by the pharmacy store.

Work on the expansion programme included the demolition of existing rooms within A&E to create additional emergency bed spaces, a new resuscitation room, a relocated main nurse base station and other staff and support facilities.

On top of the external works, a new ambulance entrance, link corridor and canopy have been constructed to the front of A&E, as well as an internal link corridor

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providing access to the former CSSD area.

The project comes under the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust framework, under which HBC has already delivered a number of successful projects across the Northern General and Royal Hallamshire estates.

Richard Fletcher Associates was commissioned by the Trust to provide quantity surveying services. Work on the refurbishment was phased due to drainage and ductwork that all had to be removed from the existing area.

The Northern General Hospital’s A&E department unofficially became a registered trauma centre in April last year due to the rise in patient throughput.

Richard Fletcher Associates was delighted to have been chosen to provide the services, having had continued success in the past working with the Sheffield NHS Foundation Trust, who was the Architect for the project, which was completed in August 2013.

Cost Consultancy | Quantity Surveying | Project Management

A&E Expansion- Northern General Hospital “Richard Fletcher Associates were delighted and extremely proud to be appointed as Quantity Surveyor by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on the A&E Expansion project at Northern General Hospital, Sheffield.

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The project had a number of challenges including working around live operational areas and delicate phasing requirements. All aims of the project were successfully achieved working in collaboration with the whole project team.”

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PROFILE UKC

Defence Doors Safe and Sound

Defence Doors Ltd is a Yorkshire based, ISO 9001 accredited UK steel fabrication Company with over 20 years of experience manufacturing flood gates, blast doors and prison doors. The Company offers a diverse and unique nationwide design, build and installation service to the UK construction industry. Defence Doors also offers a world wide export service which already supplies Defence, Petrochemical and Custodial products to overseas Clients. The Company’s experience means that it is an expert in steel fabrication for flood gates, blast doors, steel stairs and platforms.

Within the Company’s core industries the range of steel products includes: •• Flood agents, bund gates and flood windows ••Storm gates and watertight doors ••Gas tight doors and gas tight blast resistant doors ••Blast doors and blast resistant fire doors (rated to four hours) ••Prison doors, cell doors, security doors, grilles and gates ••Bullet proof doors and windows Defence Doors Ltd offers a comprehensive design, manufacture and installation service supplying the construction industry and private sector with high quality steel blast doors manufactured in the UK. The Company’s blast doors are designed to the Client’s exact specifications, required loadings and supplied with independent design calculations to prove the blast doors design capabilities.

The door mechanisms, depending on the required loading, range from hydraulic multiple shoot bolt assemblies through to the lighter Surelock McGill multi point panic bar system with optional locking. All doors are provided with sealing options including dust seals, gas tight seals and even liquid viscous napalm seals and are supplied with a full epoxy paint system or a primer finish for site painting by others.

Defence Doors Ltd offers a nationwide Some more of Defence Doors most recent/ supply and fix range of high security ongoing projects and activities include: steelwork to cover security facilities along ••Exporting a seventh blast door with a worldwide export service supplying project to customers in Thailand UK manufactured cell doors, prison ••Attracting new customers and doors, detention doors and grille gates to orders from Nigeria and Pakistan overseas facilities, all prison steelwork and ••Picking up a second order for blast components are 100% UK manufactured doors and windows in Brunei to the highest UK HM Prison Standards.

••Several flood gates and windows for Defence Doors Ltd also supplies the a flood scheme in Cockermouth construction industry and private sector ••Stainless steel, glazed domestic with high quality floodgates and flood patio flood doors for a coastal defence systems, manufactured to an flood scheme in Teignmouth Environment Agency approved design.

••A drawbridge style floodgate for The standard frame assembly will regular creation of a temporary be reconfigured if required for each lagoon at a construction college. application, customising the design ••Glazed flood wall panels for and ensuring the flood gates meet Shaldon and Ringmore Client’s exact requirements.

Working for the Environment Agency The Company has enjoyed continued and its consulting engineers, Defence growth despite the economic down Doors also designed, developed and turn, and anticipates further growth installed several flood defence windows as flood defence schemes grow for use on domestic applications. increasingly cautious and necessary.

These flood windows are manufactured exclusively from non-ferrous material For enquiries or further information but designed to imitate UPVC domestic please contact: sales@defencedoors. windows and are completed in a powder com, or visit www.defencedoors.com coat finish to match existing. The success of the Company’s SUPPLIERS OF RUBBER PRODUCTS TO SERVICE & INDUSTRY SINCE 1978 window design is Portmere Rubber Ltd. supported by approval Victoria Street, Northam, from building control Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 5QZ for the installation Tel:+44 (0)23 8022 3628 of several units on Fax:+44 (0)23 8022 3250 listed buildings.

Portmere are pleased to be a supplier to Defence Doors Ltd. We have a long and Defence Doors successful trading relationship with mutual benefits and wish them success in the future. has also recently Portmere specialise in seals for ‘water control gates’ used in a variety of applications developed and tested including – Flood Defence, Hydroelectric, Marine Section Gates, & Lock Mitre Gates. a secure flood door, Prestigious projects include the Thames Barrier, Falkirk Wheel, Anderton Boat Lift, after receiving an Brazil Floating Caissons and many more. increasing number Catalogues and Brochures are available. of enquiries for a combined flood E-mail: sales@portmererubber.co.uk security solution for www.portmererubber.co.uk high value assets.

67

UKC RETAIL

Aldi

Being delivered by DSP Construction in Leicestershire A new, sustainably built Aldi store in Ashby De La Zouch is underway and will provide the people of Leicestershire with complementary services to the existing shops in the area.

Located on Dents Road Industrial Estate, the project includes the demolition of two existing smaller buildings and the creation of associated car parking.

Aldi is one of the world’s leading grocery retailers. From opening its first stores in Ruhr Valley over 50 years ago, Aldi has built up a network of more than 7,000 stores in Europe, the USA and Australia. It is a network that has been developing in the UK since 1990 and the Company now operates more than 400 stores throughout the UK. The Company has achieved and sustained this growth by its adherence to a single minded philosophy of offering its customers a carefully selected range of high quality, own label products at heavily discounted prices and by guaranteeing these discounted prices week in, week out. This unique retailing concept gives customer’s unrivalled value for money in grocery shopping.

The store will have 900sq m of retail area, and be easily accessible by all modes of transport with the close locality of public footpaths, bus stops and cycle ways.

The layout of the building means that the entrance to the store is closest to the front boundary providing direct access for pedestrians from Dents Road without having to walk through the car park.

Storage and loading activities are to the rear of the site. Goods will be delivered to the store through a reverse manoeuvre to the loading bay, positioned at the opposite corner from the store entrance. Deliveries will also be made at night to reduce concerns over vehicle movements.

Aldi has adopted its design philosophy in recent years to reflect the importance now given to good design in government planning policy and to consolidate the image of the Company as an innovative, high quality

68

retailer. Aldi’s building design is now more flexible in its approach, seeking to achieve an appropriate compromise between the retention of corporate identity and trading profile, the desire to create stimulating modern buildings and the need to recognise local architectural heritage, conservation and environmental design.

The entrance will have a large canopy that provides focus to the main elevation. The canopy will also provide an area for the trolley store and cycle stands, which are all under cover.

To ensure a high quality appearance over the long-term and to minimise maintenance costs, Aldi use good quality materials on external and internal components of its buildings. The design also takes into account security requirements under the ‘Secured by Design’ initiative and meets high standards of energy efficiency.

Through the introduction of ‘Secured

by Design’, Aldi has found the concept to be a cost effective way of ensuring security is maintained in the development as well as providing public reassurance

and significantly reduces the chances of a person becoming a victim of crime.

There will be a number of different surfaces consisting of conservation paviors, which will be used at the entrance of the store and around the front. They have a smooth ground surface and a quality appearance.

The main car park and pavements will benefit from tarmac, with flush transitions from road to footpath for disabled people and a hardwearing brushed concrete surface is being used for the loading area.

The site will also contain stainless steel bollards around the entrance, and a selection of boundary fence materials and pedestrian footways.

A planting stage will be included in the development, comprising of a variety of different plants to create interest and diversity. All landscaped areas receive a layer of bark chippings, and the car park will have tree and shrub planting to all boundaries.

The Architect and Main Contractor for the project is DSP Construction and it will be completed in April 2014.

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69

UKC EDUCATION

Skinners Academy

Learning facility in Kent

Pupils and staff at Skinners’ Kent Academy in Tunbridge Wells moved into their new £21M home back in April and are now settled in for the new school year.

Boasting seven science laboratories, a 3D lecture theatre, room for 1,150 students and even its own radio studio, the state-of-the-art Blackhurst Lane facility towers over where the old buildings were located before being demolished.

Funded by Government money, the design for the new school, which will admit 180 children a year, is inspired by the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Equipped with a drama studio and more than £1M worth of IT equipment, youngsters have been adjusting to life in the 10,000sq m building and its circular design.

An all weather pitch, gym and outside tennis and netball courts are all available for the local community as well as students.

Not everything inside the building is entirely new, a piano in the canteen as students eat lunch has survived the move, while equipment and furniture from the old school is being reused or given away to charities and primary schools.

The Skinners’ Voluntary Aided Grammar School, in partnership with co-sponsors K College and Kent County Council, used their considerable skills to establish the Academy that will be at the heart of its local community, offering a hub for family and lifelong learning and a centre for the delivery of a wide range

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of essential services for families and local residents, within the context of Children’s Trust arrangements in Kent.

The Academy continues to build social capital and bring about a culture change that will raise aspirations within the community and provide educational, social and economic benefits for all.

The Academy is founded on the following key features: ••A culture of high standards and high aspirations.

••It is an exciting place of learning, offering an outstanding education tailored to meet individual needs.

A spirit of entrepreneurship is encouraged, in order that students gain an understanding of the benefits that business and social enterprise activities can offer to themselves and the local and wider community.

••A culture of active participation.

••Good citizenship and community engagement are encouraged, recognised and celebrated. Students develop confidence in their problem solving abilities. They also develop a sense of initiative, leadership skills and the determination to see ideas through to completion. The Academy encourages students to take risks, accept failures and try different approaches in order to help prepare them for a rapidly changing world and meet the expectations required for work in the 21st century.

••An emotionally rich learning environment.

••The foundations of a happy and fulfilled life is developed and nurtured by strong supportive relationships between students, staff and peers.

Students are balanced, articulate people who have a strong sense of self-worth and compassion for others.

••An inclusive environment where every child is known and every learner supported All who study, work or visit the Academy feel safe, welcome and valued, irrespective of ability, belief, gender or ethnicity. All students and their families have a sense of worth, identity, aspiration and belonging.

Building work at the site started in summer 2011 and final touches, including landscaping and rendering, delayed by poor weather, were completed during the summer. In that time, the disused classrooms were also demolished.

The landscape setting is inspiring but challenging because it was protected by planning designations including Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, pronounced changes in ground levels and many important mature trees. Despite this, everybody involved in the development worked diligently to ensure construction was completed without any problems.

The Main Contractor for the project was Willmott Dixon and the Architect was Studio E.

Based in Kent, Tochra predominantly work within Kent, Essex, Sussex and London, benefiting from local trustworthy and qualified employees and also having a reliable network of subcontractors.

Tochra are committed to excellence. The company takes pride in their ability to develop a good working relationship with their clients.

Tochra Contractors are conscientious in their approach for proactive project management, their objective to reduce defects, contract periods and improve the quality of finish achievable by their operatives.

Through vigilant project management, working procedures and quality control it is possible to identify, minimise and overcome problems quicker and rectify snags and defects sooner. Tochra are both competitive and reliable as they have the ability to achieve a high quality finish first time, and excel at meeting programme constraints.

The flexible and innovative approach means clients can expect a high quality finish.

All tradesmen have at least ten years experience or are City and Guilds or NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) qualified.

Tochra are dedicated to achieving high quality finishes, ongoing training and taking pride in work are key influencers to success.

All tradesmen work with a flexible manner and are able to work in any environment.

managed to overcome. The quality of the finished scheme is excellent and provides a unique, hi-tech and very modern teaching environment for both teachers and pupils alike.

What clients say! "We have found Tochra to be competitive, with an ability to achieve a very high quality product at first attempt with minimal need for rectification works. We have also found them to be very co-operative and obliging in meeting desired programme constraints, considering the co-ordination of trades required when commencing their works."

"On every occasion, they have completed the works to a high standard as expected in today’s marketplace. Tochra are always willing to advise on potential problems and offer solutions, has proven to be co-operative and strives to ensure that completion dates are met.”

"Over the past three years, Tochra have been engaged in the provision of painting and decoration services and has proved to be a reliable and conscientious contractor.

Works have been successful and completed to the high standards required. With the co-operation and flexibility necessary to achieve programmed completion dates and in co-ordination with other contractors."

Specialists in:

Tochra are fully complying with CSCS Certification, and currently all Management, Contract Supervisors, Foreman and currently all decorators are holders of their relevant cards, along with PASMA, IPAF, SSSTS and SMSTS Certification.

As a Company, Tochra hold ISO9001 certification and CHAS Accreditation.

• • • • •

The company regards Health & Safety as a business priority and requires the co-operation of all employees to establish and maintain high standards. To achieve this, they utilise the service of SHE Management (UK) Ltd, their consultants, on a regular basis.

Tochra is one of Kent’s leading Painting & Decorating Contractors working predominately in the commercial sector.

Tochra Contractors are pleased to be a category “A” Contractor and happy to be associated with, and supporting Willmott Dixon.

Project managing the entire process, they offer an approach that makes their clients’ life easier.

The Skinners Academy differed in design from schools and academies, which brought about new challenges that Tochra

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UKC CIVIL

Network Rail Operating Centre

New centre in Gorton part of Network Rail’s five-year strategy Network Rail’s latest operating centre will be up and running by the end of the year.

Based in Gorton, Manchester, the operating centre will provide a base from which all of Network Rail’s operations in the region will be run and will accommodate its personnel and control equipment.

The three-storey steel-framed building is designed to achieve a BREEAM Very Good rating and is a composite structure, including a variety of specialist design and construction methods and techniques. These include the use of laminated, strengthened glass panels and curtain wall cladding.

The development will see approximately 110 people working on site at the busiest period of construction, including a number of specialist contractors.

A key feature of the building will be its ‘green roof’, which will be planted with sedum vegetation to absorb rainwater and provide insulation. The building is also highly insulated to avoid energy wastage.

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It is part of Network Rail’s huge investment plans to develop the UK’s railway infrastructure between 2014 and 2019, involving the centralisation of its signalling operations to save millions of pounds and drastically reduce its frontline workforce over the next 15 years.

Network Rail took over the running of Britain’s rail infrastructure in October 2002 with a mandate from the Government to improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of the railway.

When this happened, the immediate priorities were restoring public confidence in the safety of the railway, reducing the number of late trains, which at the time, almost a quarter were late, and bringing the costs under control was a huge priority.

Despite the money being spent, the railway was still suffering from lack of investment. Therefore, Network Rail set about a massive and sustained programme of renewing track, signals, power and telecoms equipment.

Other pressing issues included the need to create a single way of working across the Company, rather than having the same task done differently in different parts of the country. When maintenance was brought in-house in 2004, it was the biggest single change of the first five years, almost doubling the number of employees.

It brought many benefits, including new standardised ways of working and economies of scale. The underlying approach also changed from ‘find and fix’ to ‘predict and prevent’, for example predicting where problems were likely to happen before they happened and preventing them before they caused delays to passengers. It was supported by the introduction of new technology.

Equal importance and effort was attached to investing in Network Rail’s people.

The Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme was established, which is now the largest of such schemes in the country, and a partnership was also set up with

Warwick Business School to develop future leaders, run from Network Rail’s leadership centre at Westwood.

From 2005, the Company also took on responsibility for planning for the future, principally through the Route Utilisation Strategies which, in partnership with the rest of the industry, set out strategies for the network over coming decades.

This strategy delivered and by March 2009, punctuality had reached 90.6%, and rail was unquestionably the safest form of transport.

Today, rail is a success story. There area more journeys than at any time, with the exception of the two World Wars – 3.25M every day and 1.3Bn a year. Though the network is half the size it was before the 1960s, more trains run every day than ever before.

Network Rail runs, operates and invests in Britain’s rail network – 20,000 miles of track, 32,000 bridges and tunnels, 17 major stations, 2,500 other stations and 8,200 commercial properties.

The mammoth Strategic Business Plan for England and Wales places heavy emphasis on the role of technology in improving the railways for customers and stakeholders, as well as driving down costs and efficiency for Network Rail.

One of the core technology changes that the document highlights is

Network Rail’s plans to centralise its control of the network.

Currently, the railway is operated from over 800 disparate locations using a range of technologies from computer workstations to mechanical lever frame signal boxes.

Network Rail plans to bring these all together under 14 operating centres that use common technology platforms, which will save the Company £250M a year once complete.

The strategy document also outlines that Company’s overall IT expenditure for the period between 2014 and 2019, where previous estimates, which were detailed in September 2011, were significantly below the average levels experienced by other organisations.

It has therefore set aside £237M over this period and Network Rail states that: “continued investment in IT will be essential if we are to continue improving the service that we deliver to our customers as well as reducing costs.”

During 2014/15 it will invest £66M, £94M in 2015/16, £67M in 2016/17, £54M in 2017/18, and £55M in 2018/19.

The five year strategy also recognises that consumers will need to interact with the railway network differently to how they do currently, with the increasing rise of smartphones, and finally, the document states £100M will be invested in new

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technology to provide remote alert of approaching trains in order to improve the safety of employees working on the tracks.

The new operating centre in Manchester is being built by Morgan Sindall and when the Company was awarded the contract, Area Director, James Morgan, said: “We are delighted to have won this significant contract, which is a testament to the combined expertise of our rail and construction teams.

“Our collaborative and full BIM level two approach will deliver a bespoke solution to Network Rail and provide them with a state-of-the-art home for many years to come.”

Car parking for 137 cars will be provided at the western end of the site, including nine parking spaces for disabled users.

There are also provisions for motorcycle parking and covered bicycle stands providing shelter for 72 bikes.

Work on the Ashbury Rail Operations Centre will be complete in December 2013.

QG offers clients a full service approach that enables us to ensure that quality and integrity is maintained throughout design, manufacture and installation. Achievement of BS EN ISO 9001 confirms our commitment to quality and service.

Our business has been built on client reference and repeat business giving you the reassurance of our ability to deliver the level of service required every time.

With experience in a wide range of sectors, including education and health associations and commercial, retail and local government buildings, QG is Constructionline approved.

Quality Glass (Stoke-on-Trent) Ltd, Leek New Road, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 2JY

Tel: 01782 289700 - Fax: 01782 262656 - enquiries@qualityglass.co.uk 73

UKC RETAIL

Leicester Market

New food hall and reinstated public square One of Britain’s favourite markets is undergoing a two-phase redevelopment.

Leicester Market will have a fresh look, which will see the removal of the existing market hall building.

Phase I will see the construction of a new food hall for meat, fish and cheese traders. The new food hall will complement the Corn Exchange and feature an attractive timber roof that will create a warm sustainable environment.

It will create a flexible space for hot food stalls as well as temporary trading.

Suspended lamps and natural daylight would ensure the space is well lit, insulated floors and ceilings would keep working conditions comfortable and new layouts would create an authentic market atmosphere.

The market’s connection with the city centre will be strengthened via Cheapside, The Lanes, and the new public square.

There will be a new recycling facility accommodated in a section of the retained basement, allowing the market to improve the recycling of waste materials that now go to landfill.

New, attended public toilets will be provided to allow for the relocation of the dry goods traders from the current Market Hall, and for which the initial provision has been increased through early consultation.

Demolition of the 40-year-old indoor market hall, which is no longer fit for purpose, will allow an attractive public space to be created at the back of the Corn Exchange, framed by trees and opening up views of the surrounding heritage buildings.

The square will be available for a range of activities, helping to trigger new investment in areas suffering from a lack of footfall and creating potential for new development at the rear of the

74

Corn Exchange and Molly O’Grady’s.

The sensitive form of the roof will connect the scale of the outdoor market while maintaining a vista to the Corn Exchange.

The roof will then guide the eye to the new public square, presenting a route to discover new views of the Corn Exchange, public square, and currently obstructed historical monuments.

The new timber roof for the food hall offers a lightness of touch while creating a warm sustainable environment, contemplating and enhancing the formal materiality and detailing of the Corn Exchange.

At the food hall, the building height will be similar to the existing outdoor market, public square and Corn Exchange, offering maximum flexibility through minimum structural supports within the trading area.

Traders will have a much stronger

relationship with the outdoor market. The new development will connect trade and build footfall between the two. This will encourage more activity and investment in the shops and areas surrounding Market Corner and towards Hotel Street.

The aim is to maximise active frontages and create a unique and lively food hall with high visibility into the trading space, while promoting a strong relationship with the architecture of the Corn Exchange.

Phase II will help to reinstate the public realm in the space vacated by the demolished building, providing well orientated bar and restaurant space with views over the new square and reinstated listed buildings.

Being built by Kier Construction, work on the overall scheme will end next year.

EDUCATION UKC

Lincoln College New arts centre development A new arts centre will be opened at Lincoln College next year when the extension and refurbishment of the existing Garden Building is completed.

This will vastly improve facilities for both students and the public, developing a scheme that is fully accessible, sustainable, re-energising and gives a new purpose and meaning to the existing Grade II listed building.

The proportions of the new two-storey stone and glass pavilion are informed by the geometry and rhythm of the existing Garden Building and act as a quiet foil to the 1905-06 Read and MacDonald symmetrical façade, while also respecting the setting of the adjacent chapel.

The scheme will create a sequence of fully accessible light filled interior rooms that provide breakout spaces adjacent to the Oakeshott Room and a new graduate common room. The interconnectability of the surrounding gardens and internal spaces will heighten both the quality and versatility of the Garden Building as an arts venue.

The object of the current design is to restore both the ground floor and Oakeshott Room to something approaching their original form. The introduction of

a new basement will provide toilets, storage and practice room facilities.

The close proximity to the college’s kitchens means that events held in the new spaces will be adequately catered for.

The renovation includes a new basement, with toilet and practice room facilities.

It is designed by Stanton Williams – an award winning international architectural practice based in London. The firm has developed its portfolio from an initial focus on museums and galleries towards a wide variety of projects, all of which demonstrate the Practice’s over-arching objective of putting the user’s experience of space, light and materials at the forefront of the agenda.

Tim Knowles, Bursar of Lincoln College, said: “Stanton Williams’ design succeeds in fulfilling the requirements of a demanding brief in a restricted and constrained space. Members of the college, and the donors who have generously made this project possible, are excited at the prospect of achieving a significant enhancement to Lincoln’s facilities.”

Stanton Williams was named Education Architect of the Year 2011 and received the overall Practice of the Year Award 2011. Its completed projects include the Sainsbury Laboratory in the University of

Cambridge’s botanical gardens, Compton Verney Art Gallery, Whitby Abbey Visitor Centre, the new campus for the University of the Arts London at Kings Cross and the Hackney Marshes Centre.

The Main Contractor for the project is Kingerlee Ltd, whose range of experience includes extensions and refurbishment of civic and educational establishments, new corporate headquarters for local businesses and renovation of ancient and historic buildings.

Within the Group, Kingerlee has a very active residential and commercial development company and bespoke joinery works that excels in producing high quality joinery.

With 130 directly employed staff, Kingerlee nurtures and values the good interpersonal skills of its workforce, fostered by an open door and inclusive style of management.

A fifth generation, family owned company established in 1868, Kingerlee has a long and successful history of building in and around Oxford.

Work on the Lincoln College development started in March 2013 and will be completed in June 2014.

Buckle & Davies Construction have been established since 1992 in Oxfordshire. We have a wealth of experience with Groundworks, from Basements to Steel Edged Roadways.

GROUNDWORKS & HARD LANDSCAPING CONTRACTORS BASEMENTS, ROADS, CAR PARKS, FOUNDATIONS, DRAINAGE & SUBSTRUCTURES, YORKSTONE PAVINGS, PAVINGS, STEEL & TIMBER EDGINGS, BREEDON/COTSWOLD GRAVEL PATHS/ROADWAYS We are pleased to be associated with Kingerlee Ltd on the Garden Building at the prestigious Lincoln College, Oxford Tel: 01235 817897

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Our team of Groundworkers have completed projects at: • Botanical Gardens, Oxford • St Annes College, Oxford • Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Oxfordshire • Oxford University Estates Management Sites • Diamond Light Admin Building, Oxfordshire • Headington Girls School, Oxford We offer a high standard of service, working from drawings or a bespoke sketch and aim to work as a team with the Main Contractors and Clients, ensuring projects meet programme as projected with a satisfied client.

75

UKC COMMERCIAL

Barrow and Cotham Street

Two apartment conversions by TJ Thomas Estates Group The conversion of a former court building and offices has resulted in two separate housing developments in St Helens.

Formerly the home of St Helens County Court, the building on Cotham Street now comprises a mixture of one- and twobedroom apartments and the offices on Barrow Street now features a combination of one- and two-bedroom apartments.

In total, there are 36 new dwellings and 14 parking spaces, all located in upper floors above shops that line both Barrow Street and Cotham Street.

These two sites were bought by TJ Thomas Estates Group, which is an established and active developer that has been for many years, holding a substantial portfolio of property in the north west of England.

The Group invests and holds properties in all sectors including hotels, industrial properties, office accommodation, licensed premises, student accommodation, executive apartments and general housing.

Development and construction work is undertaken in all sectors. Based on Wavertree Road in Liverpool, this family owned business is progressive and continues to acquire and develop quality properties both to let and for sale.

TJ Thomas Estates Group bought the Barrow Street property when it was a parade of shops with the vacant office above. Planning permission was subsequently sought and granted to convert the upper floors into 15 apartments that are being offered for rent.

It was an ideal opportunity for the Group,

76

which has undertaken many mixed developments of residential above retail and therefore fitting with the ethos of the Group.

The two shops that were vacant in the retail part have been let out and the offices have been vacant for a couple of years before the work started. They were in need of considerable refurbishment in order to meet current standards.

Comprising three-storeys, the Barrow Street project has a steel frame with a flat roof and included an internal strip out to make way for the apartments.

Some of the windows were opened up to make Juliet balconies and enhance the accommodation. There are 13 two-bedroom and two one-bedroom apartments in the Barrow Street scheme.

Like the Cotham Street project, the Main Contractor on the Barrow Street development was TJ Thomas Estates Group.

The biggest challenge during development came due to the logistics of working in a town centre, which made it difficult to coordinate deliveries, scaffolds and waste removal from the site. Everything had to be delivered very early in the morning prior to the town centre waking up.

Designed by Larrosa Marshall and Associates, work on the ÂŁ400,000 scheme started in April 2013 and has just completed.

TJ Thomas Estates Group has only just started letting the apartments out but the reaction has been very positive and they have been very well received.

Currently, one third of the apartments have

been filled and there has been a lot of further interest as well as positive feedback from those living in the apartments.

Rexmore House in Cotham Street is a prominent building occupying the corner plot at the junction of Cotham Street and Claughton Street. It is of reinforced concrete frame construction, flat roofed with masonry external walls to the gable and rear.

The façade to Cotham Street contains a substantial area of lightweight curtain walling containing glazing and coloured infill panels. The retail area at ground floor level runs continuously below a canopy roof.

The exterior of the five-storey Rexmore House required a significant facelift due to the cladding breaking down and leaking. Many of the panels have been replaced but in differing colours as authentic replacements no longer exist.

The overall appearance was slab sided with little interest by virtue of detailing, materials or articulation. Consequently its impact on Cotham Street was a negative one, which has also led to the exterior being changed.

Contrasting materials and textures of render and terracotta blocks were used with detailed balustrades and balconettes.

A wet cast coping was also incorporated to more firmly define the roofline.

With this project also completed, it has given TJ Thomas Estates Group two high quality residential developments.

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UKC EDUCATION

Blackpool & the Flyde College

Cladding at Bispham Campus Following on from the successful delivery of the Cleveleys Building overcladding project, the Elswick, Thornton, Garstang and Poulton buildings are currently undergoing the same treatment.

Forming more than 38% of the total floor area of the Bispham Campus, the buildings were constructed in the early 19070s and despite minor repairs in the past, are in need of a major overhaul to address the poor quality of windows and doors, and leaky roof.

A major part of the work will see the energy performance of the buildings improved in order to reduce rising heating bills, which will effectively keep the heat in and the water out.

The project also incorporates a new three-storey link between the Elswick and Thornton buildings and a second floor link between the Thornton and Garstang buildings to improve accessibility and horizontal escape. The external footpaths will also be improved.

The buildings are of similar basic construction to the seven-storey Cleveleys Building and a common cladding vocabulary is appropriate because of this.

It consists of a powder coated aluminium rainscreen cladding for all floors above ground floor exactly matching the crispness of the Cleveleys cladding without any need for cover plates, gaskets or visible mastic.

The system also allows individual panels to be removed for damage replacement or installation of alternative slotted panels to allow retrofit of forced ventilation or cooling if required.

Powder coated aluminium faced timber windows complete the crisp metallic appearance with vertical aluminium fins fitted between them to express the existing mullion spacing.

The fins are omitted on Poulton since there is no column rhythm to match.

Cladding is designed with horizontal joints that channel water run off from driving rain away from the surface of

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the panel and into the vertical joints. mass. The darker grey to link blocks is Ground floor level treatments also repeated in the powder-coated aluminium generally match Cleveleys with fully of the new glazed screens and doors at glazed powder coated aluminium ground level. The colour is continued into curtain walling, horizontal glazing bars new masonry paint finish to the existing and opaque glass below sill level. concrete columns at ground level.

This curtain walling is continued into glazed The Main Contractor is D&B Facades, stair enclosures, lobbies and entrances. and the development is designed by It is also used in the new link between BPA Architecture. Work is scheduled the Thornton and Elswick Buildings. to complete in February 2014.

The ground floor treatment of Poulton reflects its different construction with an insulated render painted the same dark grey used on all the other ground floors to form a visual plinth to the silver aluminium upper floor.

MSP (Scotland) Ltd is a private limited company based in Cumbernauld that The colours being supplies the construction industry with high specification rain screen cladding used for the Elswick, solutions. We are capable of producing the full cladding envelope from a single source thanks to our state of the art facility and approved retailer status with a Garstang, Thornton number of high performance, high quality panel and fixing system and Poulton Buildings manufacturers. are a continuation of those used in We provide a specialist service in the design and manufacture of aluminium the overcladding of cassette panel systems, as well as a variety of flat and aggregate panel systems (inclusive of window pods, louvres, facias & flashing components).

Cleveleys, where a limited range of Recognising the need for coordination of design and manufacture, we have relatively muted panel developed our own in-house architectural powder coating plant which has colours was chosen achieved Qualicoat, Syntha Pulvin, Interpon D and DuPont approvals. Our state of the art powder coating plant allows us to adopt an environmentally friendly, to create a strong and chrome free approach with our pre treatment process whilst delivering a elegant minimalism. higher quality standard of product to our customers. As one of the few The general pallet is applicators in Scotland to hold both Qualicoat and Syntha Pulvin approval silver spandrel panels, status, MSP are qualified to offer our customers the full architectural package dark grey windows with a quality guarantee. and infill panels within continuous 1/9 Telford Road, East Lenziemill Ind. Estate, matching heads and Cumbernauld, Glasgow, G67 2AX sills, and darker grey Tel: (01236) 729591 / 734242 ‘bookends’ to the stairs and gables.

Fax: (01236) 721859 / 720619 The variation in tone is intended to Email: mspinfo@mspscot.co.uk articulate the separate Website: www.mspscot.co.uk elements and break up the overall building

PROFILE UKC

NHS Property Services Ltd Responsible for 4,000 buildings NHS Property Services Ltd has been set up by the Department of Health to manage all the ex-Primary Care Trust estate not transferred to providers.

It is a new company that launched in April 2013 and is an important part of the NHS family. It is 100% owned by the Secretary of State and in turn owns the legal title to 4,000 assets, valued at approximately £3Bn. The organisation owns sites across England but retains a local focus providing strategic and operational management of NHS estates, property and facilities.

The quality of the healthcare environment has a direct impact on how the NHS delivers care, and its patients’ experience of it. The work environment is also important for staff: the better it is, the more efficient they can be.

NHS Property Services manages, maintains and improves NHS properties and facilities, working in partnership with NHS organisations to create safe, efficient, sustainable and modern healthcare and working environments.

It is a national Company with a local structure, focusing its strategic and operational property management skills on supporting better health outcomes and experience for patients.

NHS Property Services has two main roles: ••Strategic estate management – acting as a landlord, modernising facilities, buying new facilities and selling facilities the NHS no longer needs.

••Dedicated provider of support services such as cleaning and catering.

The Company has a clear mandate to provide a quality service to its tenants and minimise the cost of the NHS estate to those organisations using it. Any savings made will be passed back to the NHS. The main objectives are to maintain continuity of service and keep buildings

safe, warm and clean; place patients and the taxpayer at the heart of business by supporting the NHS and the broader public sector to transform services; use the Company’s scale and effective management of its portfolio to keep costs to a minimum and pass back savings to the NHS; establish as a truly national entity with a single corporate identity and consistent approach; ensure the estate is managed sustainably and that wider government initiatives in this area are supported; and to be recognised as an employer of choice.

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing NHS Property Services is to make this huge estate fit for the future. In partnership with its stakeholders, the Company intends to sustain the evolving NHS in buildings which are able to withstand the results of climate change and which have a positive impact on the environment as well as patient care.

NHS Property Services has teams that are dedicated to efficiently running the estate, buildings and facilities used by NHS patients across the south of England, recognising that the quality of environment in which people are treated plays a key part in their recovery from illness.

NHS Property Services has a small headquarters and regional office in London, as well as regional offices in the North (Manchester), Midlands and East (Cambridge) and the South (Taunton).

Each region has its own Local Area Teams, which mirror the arrangements set up by other new NHS organisations – to advise and liaise on local issues and developments in each area.

The South is led by Regional Director James Wakeham, who is based in the regional office in Taunton, Somerset.

He leads a very experienced team of property, estates, facilities management and finance specialists, who are based at a variety of offices across the region.

The region services more than 13 million

people, covering 15 counties and 31 former PCT catchment areas. It stretches from Cornwall in the West to Kent in the East, from Oxfordshire in the North to the Isle of Wight in the South.

The South excludes London, which is a self-contained region in NHS Property Services. It has 678 employees divided between seven area teams, and works with 50 clinical commissioning groups, more than 1,800 GP practices and 34 local authorities.

Costing £190M a year to run them all, the South manages 884 NHS assets, supporting healthcare delivery to the population.

Facilities are constantly being improved in the area, and work at Bicester Community Hospital started in June 2013.

It will be the first new community hospital to be built in Oxfordshire in the last 40 years. Kajima, working with construction partner Mansell, share NHS Property Services’ vision in delivering a value for money, sustainable, high quality facility that is fit for purpose and meets the future needs of Bicester residents.

Development of the design has been carefully managed in conjunction with Nightingale Associates to ensure NHS Oxfordshire are provided with a highly functional building meeting the current and future needs of patients and staff.

The cost effective solution is easy to build, maintain, adapt and manage, and meets all statutory requirements, building regulations and NHS design guidance and policies.

The proactive Kajima Mansell design team have engaged with the NHS at every opportunity, resulting in a unique, functional design consisting of ambulance base, first-aid unit, out of hours care and out-patient areas on the ground floor along with 12 in-patient rooms arranged around a central landscaped zone with all areas having direct access to a therapy garden. continued page 82 >

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RMD Power and Cooling is an independent specialist in integrated power and cooling solutions. From cutting-edge data centres to small server rooms, RMD is one of the few UK companies that can design, supply, install and maintain tailored power and cooling solutions to match their customers’ exact needs and budget.

With two decades’ experience in power and cooling, RMD continues to innovate in the public and private sector, for major public service providers, global brands and SMEs. RMD’s customer list includes NHS Lothian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police, HM Prison Service, Network Rail, GlaxoSmithKline and Amazon.

A trusted partner to these and many others, RMD provides UPS (single and three phase), rack and cooling solutions, generators, power distribution, security, environmental and power monitoring, fire protection and facility management.

A particular project that was completed for a healthcare provider involved refurbishing a data centre holding critical patient data, meaning the structural integrity of the room was paramount. APC Netbotz security and environmental monitoring equipment was installed to warn of any threats. RMD liaised with the incumbent fire suppression maintainer to ensure the work did not interfere with the existing system and that complete coverage was maintained throughout the life of the project. RMD was since appointed to deliver ongoing maintenance of the facility for five years.

Energy efficiency is essential to an effective modern data centre. RMD can help reduce existing data centre energy costs by installing more efficient cooling systems, implementing better airflow management and improving power distribution.

In one project, due to space constraints, a slimline Cannon in-row cooling system was installed. With a footprint of just 200mm, compared with the standard 300mm system from APC, it provided highly effective precision cooling of servers and UPS equipment at rack level.

Two chillers installed in a N+1 redundant configuration provided the cooling for the data centre. The energy efficiency of this project was also improved by the installation of free cooling dry air fans which, in cooler weather, took over from the chillers to provide free cooling.

As experts in delivering tailored data centre solutions, RMD has completed a vast number of projects for public sector organisations, and has drawn on its huge experience to create bespoke solutions to meet each customer’s specific requirements. Full data centre refurbishment while maintaining a live site, maximising the use of limited space, redesigning layout to enhance the effectiveness of the cooling system, improving energy efficiency, cutting power consumption, reducing carbon footprint and associated energy costs, and setting up remote monitoring of PDUs (to track energy consumption and cost) are some of the challenges RMD regularly overcomes.

But it is the level of service delivered that really sets RMD apart from its competitors.

Demonstrating strong project management skills and building relationships with other providers on site is key to RMD’s strategy for rolling out successful implementation, no matter the size of the project.

RMD aims to deliver the fastest service possible, and has developed a reputation for speed and efficiency. As one of the only UK companies to keep stock on site, RMD can offer power and cooling solutions direct from stock, making the process of order, dispatch, installation as efficient as possible and giving customers the rapid response they want.

Following installation, customer service personnel are on hand to provide aftercare, maintenance advice and an expert ear. Outstanding customer service and rigorous attention to detail ensure that customers return to RMD time after time because, from initial consultation through to product installation, maintenance and aftercare, RMD works with its customers every step of the way.

The first floor houses clinical accommodation, imaging and physiotherapy suites as well as offices and the community base.

Opening in 2014, the hospital will be built

by Mansell Construction and maintained

by FES FM, with Kajima Partnerships holding a 100% investment interest.

Once construction is complete, the surplus land, site of the existing hospital buildings, will be developed by County & Metropolitan Homes to accommodate a sensitive, low

82

density residential scheme, built in a style and at a scale appropriate to the location.

Dr Stephen Attwood, North East Oxfordshire Clinical Director, Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “I am absolutely delighted. This is a great opportunity to provide care closer to patient’s homes.”

Richard Coe, Senior Development Manager at Kajima Partnerships added: “The new Bicester Community Hospital will provide a much-needed and

essential service for the local area.

“We are delighted to be working in close partnership with the NHS in Oxfordshire to deliver state-of-the-art facilities that will provide a hospital that is fit for purpose, a pleasure to use, visit and look at, a hospital building that is easy and cost effective to build, maintain, adapt and manage, a hospital designed for sustainability that compliments the local environment.”

HOUSING UKC

Pine Trees Estate New and refurbished business units As one of London’s most well connected urban business parks, Pine Trees Estate offers the ultimate convenience for commuting staff and visiting clients.

It offers direct access to major transport routes with local roads feeding the nearby M25, putting Heathrow Airport and the UK’s major north, south and western trunk roads within easy reach.

Situated beside the picturesque River Thames walkway, the units are just a short walk from two major retail and entertainment hubs and a traditional town centre, with direct local access to top retail and restaurant facilities, and an attractive riverfront.

A single ownership estate, Pine Trees offers a level of facilities rarely found in such an urban location.

The five self-contained units, two of which are occupied by BUPA, meet exacting standards and combine fresh and modern externals with high specification interiors.

A good ratio of car parking provides convenience for commuters and visitors, while gentle landscaping provides a smart modern exterior environment.

The secure site offers 24 hour CCTV and

is in a key location for both macro and microenvironments, with easy local, regional and international access.

Following refurbishment, unit two has been refreshed to create a smart, flexible office space that matches its attractive, sleek glass exterior.

Work has provided a double height, newly refurbished reception area, air conditioning, metal-tiled suspended ceilings, raised floors, a passenger lift and 55 car parking spaces.

Equipped to the highest standards and positioned perfectly for access to the UK’s biggest transport hubs, Pine Trees Five is a brand new landmark for west London.

The grand atrium entrance, flooded with light and towering four-storeys high, offers an impressive welcome.

At 57,178sq ft, it is a sizeable office space incorporating the latest technology in air conditioning, raised floors, metal suspended ceilings, LG7 compliant lighting and two passenger lifts.

The development has been designed by TP Bennett.

New Printworks campus Last month saw the opening of Leeds City College’s brand new Printworks campus on Hunslet Road on the site of the former Alf Cooke Printworks, one of the most recognisable industrial landmarks in Leeds.

The £25M, state-of-the-art campus now houses specialist vocational and general facilities within a unique setting of restored historical buildings alongside new, 21st century architecture.

The campus has been developed in phases with Phase I works involving demolition, enabling works and envelope refurbishment on the Grade II listed building that dates back to the 1860s.

The scheme prepared the building for the exciting new fit out and extension that has allowed the college’s Thomas Danby Campus to relocate to this city-centre site.

Phase II involved the alterations and fit out works to buildings three, four and five. These works have provided a range of building types and spaces designed for the specialised curricular of the catering & hospitality and hair & beauty departments to be based there, including a food science laboratory, butchery, restaurant and hair salons, and there will be a landmark glassfronted reception and administration facility.

The existing courtyard has been transformed into an area of landscaping

and car parking following the demolition work undertaken in Phase I. Phase III works will see the fit out of the listed printing halls to form a number of impressive teaching and support spaces and will cover 14,500sq m on completion.

When the facility was opened at the beginning of September, Peter Roberts, Principal at the college, said: “This is another momentous day for Leeds City College, staff and students, and we are delighted to be starting a new academic year with the offer of high quality facilities which are modern, fit for purpose and to industry standard.”

The college will further develop the estate over the next ten years, with additional Leeds City College provision moving to the site in later phases.

It was designed by Seven Architecture, and built by the GB Group.

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83

UKC PROFILE

buildfifty5 Ltd

Providing a comprehensive scope of services Formed in 1995, buildfifty5 Ltd is a dynamic company set up by Garry Whiting to provide an innovative range of services and support not previously found in the development and construction market, offering an alternative approach to traditional construction methods.

With the number of staff ranging from six to ten people, buildfifty5 can provide a unique service specifically tailored to the needs and objectives of any development company, private owner, funding institution, end user or consultant.

Assignments are addressed from a forward planning, proactive rather than reactive view. The Company focuses on opportunity, innovation, experience and support at whatever stage or condition a project may be. buildfifty5 can add value from project planning to project rescue, and provides construction services such as preconstruction services, construction, project management, construction management and corporate services.

Each member of staff is responsible for each key account and operates from

Direct Dial: 0845 218 3163 www.loricainsurance.com

84

within the customers’ offices. The team has had project leading roles on schemes in sectors including leisure, retail, industrial, commercial, health, residential, mixed use, with services aimed at construction development, facilities management and bank recovery sectors.

One of the Company’s significant projects is the development at Palazzo Dorottya, located in the heart of Budapest, 100m from the banks of the Danube.

Palazzo Dorottya is a mixed-use development in a historic 19th century building, offering 85 premium quality apartments arranged over five levels together with 3,700sq m of luxury office and retail space within a period retained façade.

Construction for the building required the complete restoration of the historical details for the façade and all internal areas including the existing staircases.

Restoration has, in many places, involved removal of the architectural features, reconstruction of the features off site and replacement into the rebuilt building shell.

This approach to restoration has been

Mobile: 07957 861192

Email: sonions@loricainsurance.com

necessary whilst the building was structurally restored. Extensive structural façade retention and internal building support frame work was provided to allow the complete removal of the existing floors in order to construct six levels of underground car parking together with new floors and service cores incorporating new staircases and lifts. buildfifty5 has been involved from project conception, and has provided management and professional construction services in every stage of the project and continues to provide support to the Facility Management services.

Work was completed in September 2009, at which stage occupation of office areas and apartments were facilitated and retail areas open for trading.

The Company has also completed ongoing projects at The Eclipse, Point North, Essex County Cricket Ground and Worcestershire County Cricket Ground, and will continue to expand by developing key account partners and customers as well as continuing with its overseas opportunities.

T: 01746 789 556

HOUSING UKC

Birley Fields

At the heart of the community

Plans for the superb new student accommodation at Birley Fields are on the way to becoming a reality.

The majority of the 967 new bedrooms will be arranged in eco townhouses with large communal living and kitchen areas and private gardens.

The four- and six-storey townhouses are being built around the edges of the new £139M Birley Fields campus and will blend in with existing local buildings.

Over July and August works moved forward in leaps and bounds, with formation of the remaining foundations and slabs, followed by the erection of the timber frame and the lifting in of bathroom pods.

The use of pre-made, one-size bathroom units is one of a number of sustainable choices that will help the Main Contractor, GB Building Solutions achieve the BREEAM Outstanding rating on this scheme.

Pods need only to be delivered to site and dropped in place in the timber frame, meaning a quick turnaround and less site waste, since units do not need to be cut to size. Steel erection on one of the plots began in August.

The move to Birley Fields places the students of Manchester Metropolitan University right at the heart of the local community.

A key element of the new accommodation is its environmental credentials, which are an essential part of MMU’s overall commitment to making Birley Fields a zero energy, waste and water campus.

Accommodation will utilise the benefits of a district heating system provided by a new energy centre installed as part of the wider campus development.

All bedrooms will have a grey water system and GB Building Solutions plans to recycle 98% of waste generated during construction.

This development is benefiting from a first-class development team.

GB Building Solutions, part of the GB Group, is an award-winning innovative solutions provider.

Uniquely, the Company offers its clients new academic heart of the campus. complete property and construction Accommodation is organised into solutions in construction, development, five distinct ‘collegiate’ groups in energy, IT, asset management courtyard form and these are used to and management services. define the external space and principal Building on over 100 years of history, GB pedestrian routes into the campus.

Building Solutions operates in a number Birley Fields is the largest construction of key areas such as care, student project in the university’s ten-year plan to accommodation, residential, hotels and consolidate from seven campus locations to leisure, education and commercial. two, in Manchester and Cheshire, by 2014.

The Birley Fields scheme has been Work at Birley Fields will be designed by GWP Architects, founded in completed next year.

1980 with offices in the UK and the Czech Republic.

GWP has experience across a wide range of building types, working in both the public and private sectors including offices, residential, Leeds Metropolitan University healthcare, commercial, leisure, racecourses, universities, museums, industrial and warehouse/ distribution.

Birley Fields is a major urban regeneration Sutton Lane, Wakefield scheme located on a brownfield site previously occupied by a 1960s high school and housing that www.gwp-arch.com was subsequently architecture@gwp-arch.com demolished in the 1990s.

The student University of Bradford 0113 266 6044 (t) residential elements 0113 268 1859 (f) are located at the periphery of the site and provide a transition from the existing mixed Chartered Practice residential use surrounding the development to the Ebor & Knavesmire Grandstands York Racecourse

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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

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UKC PROFILE

UKRHA

Dealing with the ‘wrong sort of rain’ The author

Anton Bolton is the General Manager of Anua, a member company of the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association.

It’s not all about carbon

There have been plenty of examples over recent years when the UK cycle of regular light rainfall has given way to extended dry periods which eventually give way to downpours of tropical proportions.

From a national water supply point of view, this is the “wrong sort of rain”, as it fails to penetrate the parched ground to replenish aquifers; it also poses an immediate flash-flood risk which needs to be averted by ushering the excess water out to sea, rather than being able to collect and use it.

According to Environment Agency reports, this changing pattern of rain results from climate change impacts that, whilst not altering the overall quantity of rain falling on the UK, does diminish water availability and exacerbate flood risks.

Allied to predicted population growth, this means that existing stresses on water supplies will reach a future crisis point.

Taking the long view

Inevitably, long-term strategic issues are unlikely to be resolved by shortterm measures, meaning that there is a need to start to take waterrelated action now to avoid future excesses and shortages of water.

Given that first priority must be given to economising on water use and avoiding waste of water, one of the most obvious - and sensible – ways of doing this is to substitute harvested rainwater for mainswater for the non-potable uses, such as toilet flushing, clothes washing machines, and outside tap, that account for around 50% of domestic water consumption.

In the workplace, this percentage can easily rise to more than 80%.

The key to achieving these levels of mains-water savings is the ratio between collection area (normally restricted to the roof for domestic systems but can include surface areas on commercial projects), and the building occupancy. In the relatively dry south east of England, for example, around 30sq m of roof will

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meet nearly all the non-potable water use of one occupant; this comes down to only 10sq m in the workplace.

Keeping down costs

This means that on large commercial projects the inclusion of rainwater harvesting systems can often be justified on wholly financial grounds with the commissioning client aiming to achieve a three-year payback period; on housing and smaller commercial projects, more lateral thinking is required.

Quite apart from helping to reduce stresses on mains water supplies, rainwater harvesting systems take water out of the surface water management equation, and thus help to reduce flood risks.

The storage tank for a system on a single dwelling, for example, may well serve to retain all the normal surface water falling on the property at source, when allied to features such as permeable paving and a water garden.

To cater for the extreme weather events forecast, however, the storage tank would need to be able to overflow when necessary; this overflow in turn provides an additional source of water for communal rainwater harvesting systems serving higher density properties on the development.

An important key to achieving these benefits is to find ways of incorporating rainwater harvesting without significantly increasing the existing cost of meeting legislative requirements.

Caught in the Act

An important cost-driver on new developments is the need to meet the requirements of the 2010 Flood & Water Management Act. Still yet to take full effect, the Act adds to Developer’s existing commitments a raft of new obligations; alongside avoiding adding to flood risks, these include requirements to meet water quality criteria, and to make use of water features as an amenity on new developments.

Of particular significance, many new developments will in future need their surface water management infrastructure (ie SuDS) to be adopted by new

local Boards, in a similar way to road infrastructure. This could be a potentially costly requirement which places a premium on minimising the ongoing inspection and maintenance regime which the Boards will inherit, but for which the Developer will inevitably pay.

Taking an integrated approach Government-funded studies designed to identify future best practice have highlighted the need for Developers to take an integrated approach to the twin challenges of enduring pressures on water supplies, interspersed with occasional high risk of floods.

Inclusion of rainwater harvesting in the surface water management train helps with the water-quality aspects of the 2010 Act, and helps to alleviate flood risk.

Systems also have their own independent inspection and maintenance schedule, and collectively will make a significant contribution to national water supplies if consistently installed on all new projects.

The final piece of the water management jigsaw should ideally be visible, such as attenuation ponds, swales or streetscapes, to meet the joint requirements of adding amenity value whilst being easy to inspect and maintain. If calculated to be necessary, additional attenuation can also be designed into the rainwater harvesting storage tanks when needed.

You know it makes sense

National water supplies are already under severe stress, a situation predicted to deteriorate further under the twin pressures of population growth and climate change effects. At the same time, more intense rainfall patterns are exacerbating flood risks.

The need to avoid adding to flood risks has long been understood by developers, and the associated costs factored-in on new projects. Making use of this excess water to address water shortages at the same time must make perfect sense – the trick being to take an integrated approach aimed at minimising the cost of both.

For further information visit www.ukrha.org

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UKC PROFILE

Superior insulant for a wide range of applications

By Leonie Onslow, Executive Director, British Urethane Foam Contractors Association With Building Regulation standards rising in April 2014 builders, developers and specifiers need to find new ways to ensure that new buildings not only meet relevant standards but also outperform similar projects when it comes to saving energy and carbon dioxide.

The revision to Building Regulations Part L is estimated to cut ÂŁ200 from the fuel bill of a typical new home and over ÂŁ60,000 from the fuel bills of large businesses, when compared to pre-2010 standards.

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To meet the increased standards increased energy saving measures will be necessary including better fabric insulation, coupled with energy efficient heating and lighting.

The Part L revisions will result in a 6% cut in carbon emissions for new build homes with a 9% cut for non-domestic buildings.

The use of a high performance spray applied or injected polyurethane foam can help achieve these targets. One of the major benefits of spray-applied polyurethane foam is its ability to produce

a seamless blanket of insulation, which is joint free, bonding strongly to most building materials. Jointed systems give rise to a potentially weak point, leading to a significant loss of insulation value.

The two-component liquid system produces a highly-efficient blanket of insulation with a thermal conductivity approximately twice as efficient as fibreglass. It is particularly cost-effective and easy to apply to a wide variety of substrates. Its closed-cell nature renders

it very resistant to moisture ingress and grades are available which achieve both Class 1 and Class 0 fire ratings when tested to BS 476 Part 7 and 6 respectively. The urethane foam can be applied in any thickness to suit the insulation requirements of the building.

Polyurethane foam systems provide the ideal solution for industrial and commercial buildings as large areas can be insulated quickly for insulation and condensation control. Factories, warehouses, exhibition halls, football stadiums and offices can all be insulated.

Where buildings have been subject to a change of use spray-applied and injected polyurethane can achieve high U-values outperforming many other insulants. The insulant can be applied to most building substrates and will fill voids which might otherwise be difficult to reach with other materials.

The British Urethane Foam Contractors Association (BUFCA) is the national trade association representing the spray applied and injected polyurethane foam industry. The association has specialist installers who are expert in the installation of PU foam in a wide variety of applications. Material and equipment suppliers are also part of BUFCA. The objectives of BUFCA are to ensure that high standards are set and maintained within the industry, that installers coming into the industry are properly trained and monitored and that installers adhere to the association’s Code of Professional Practice. Installers are expected to maintain high standards of quality and service to protect the industry’s credibility.

There is a twenty-five year insurance warranty which BUFCA installer members can offer for domestic and commercial projects to offer reassurance to prospective customers. The warranty becomes effective if there is a fault with the

installation and the installer has ceased to trade or cannot honour the guarantee.

Many differing applications can benefit from sprayed, or injected polyurethane foam. Domestic roofs can be treated for insulation and stabilisation purposes where nail fatigue exists. This is subject to site survey as the roof needs to be structurally sound prior to installation.

The underside of commercial roofs can be treated for insulation, stabilisation, or for condensation control. This prevents surface and interstitial condensation on building surfaces.

The application of PU foam can help seal a building providing a barrier to the ingress of airborne sound. It can also prevent the sound from plumbing stacks to reduce the sound of water rush.

For wall insulation injected polyurethane foam can be used in the cavity for a superior performing insulation which also helps to bond the inner and outer leaves providing strength to the building. This is particularly useful where wall ties are failing in existing houses. Polyurethane foams are resistant to flooding and are therefore normally preferable over other materials which may have decreased insulation values once they are wet.

These systems are approved under BBA certification for masonry cavity wall constructions in all exposure zones.

In barn conversions spray-applied polyurethane foam can provide the most cost effective method of converting loft and barn roofs and walls meeting the demand for increasingly energy efficient buildings.

Root crop stores and livestock buildings in the agriculture industry can easily be insulated to provide good U-values and completely seal the building, which is important for gassing and fogging.

Other applications include the marine industry where all shapes and sizes of boats can be seamlessly

insulated with no voids or joints for condensation or cold bridging.

The Green Deal scheme is the Government’s funding mechanism for boosting the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock, as it provides upfront funding for insulation and renewable measures with the loan being repaid out of the ongoing savings made. This will form part of the Government’s plans to reduce energy consumption and take a step towards self-sufficiency by producing a proportion of energy domestically. This will also achieve reduced carbon emissions and a more secure energy infrastructure, as importation can be reduced.

Householders who are classed as being in fuel poverty, whereby a large proportion of their income is required for heating their homes may take advantage of the Energy Company Obligation scheme.

This is a parallel scheme to the Green Deal which will operate to assist those fuel poor households. An estimated £1.3Bn of funding will be supplied by the energy companies for these occupiers.

The Green Deal scheme may not be applicable to these householders as fuel bill savings may not be feasible if the housing is poorly heated beforehand.

Instead the benefit lies in the subsequent ability to better afford the heating of the home, ie: following the installation of insulation and/or renewable measures.

A series of technical datasheets are available at www.bufca. co.uk to help specifiers meet current Building Regulations.

Further information, or a brochure and list of installers, is available from the British Urethane Foam Contractors Association, Tel: 01483 209666; e-mail: info@bufca.co.uk.

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UKC PROFILE

Drax Power Station

Investing in new biomass storage Drax Power is the UK’s largest independent power generation company and supplies approximately seven per cent of the country’s electrical needs.

Drax is a subsidiary of Drax Group Plc – a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Drax Ltd operates Drax Power Station in Selby – the largest, cleanest and most efficient coal-fired power station in the UK. Powered by 4,000MW, the power station underwent a retrofit in 2008 to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

Integrated into the community, the plant has a 750-strong workforce and installed technology at the site removes at least 90% of sulphur emissions.

Drax power Station has been burning a proportion of renewable biomass fuel alongside coal for a number of years and the capacity for cofiring is currently 500MW. Drax is also operating on the largest stream turbine modernisation project in UK history, which will increase energy efficiency and save a further one million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Biomass is an incredibly important material formed from wood from forestry or timber processing, crops grown specifically for energy generation, agricultural residues from harvesting or processing, and recycled timber and paper.

Biomass absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while it is growing,

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offsetting emissions when converted to energy. The release of carbon happens naturally – the energy conversion merely speeds up the process.

As a result of this process, the use of biomass avoids a net increase in carbon dioxide levels.

The UK government is encouraging the use of biomass to reduce emissions, as well as the need for more than 30% of electricity from renewables by 2020.

Drax is hoping to be at the forefront of establishing effective supply chains and sustainability standards for biomass fuels.

Three of Drax Power Station’s intermediate pressure (IP) turbines are to be upgraded under a new contract with Siemens Energy Service Fossil in Newcastle. The new modules will be supplied by Siemens and installed by a joint Drax-Siemens team. They will contribute to Drax’s efficiency improvement programme.

The new contract was awarded following the successful completion of the £100M turbine upgrade project which, over a period of five years, saw the replacement of the high pressure and low pressure turbine modules of all six generating units at Drax Power Station.

The turbine modernisation project has increased the overall efficiency of the power station to almost 40% and reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by one million tonnes per year. Drax’s turbines are now among the most efficient in the world.

Peter Emery, Production Director at Drax, said: “We have taken the decision to upgrade the intermediate pressure turbines of the three generating units that are to be converted to burn sustainable biomass in place of coal. This will optimise the efficiency of those units by helping to offset any loss in efficiency experienced as a result of the change in fuel diet.”

The new design means that each IP turbine will be installed as a module, which will support the ease of installation and reduce the duration of the outage required to install it.

Each IP module weighs over 63 tonnes and has 26 rows of blades. The first module is scheduled to be installed in 2014 with project completion in 2015.

This April also saw Drax announce that it had agreed a £75M amortising loan facility maturing in June 2018 with Friends Life, underpinned by a guarantee from HM Treasury issued under the Infrastructure UK Guarantee Scheme.

As anticipated, this loan replaces £50M of the £100M amortising loan facility agreed with the UK Green Investment Bank, which was signed in December 2012.

This facility enhances the financing structure executed last year by providing additional liquidity to the Group, securing HM Treasury support for plans to convert the three generating units from coal to biomass and ensuring a smooth profile of debt maturities across the structure.

UKC HEALTH

Integrated Care Centre

Services on one site

Located in Chester, the Integrated Care Centre, which was granted planning permission almost two years ago, will combine four doctors’ practices and a social care centre containing the councilled health services all on one site.

The development on the former bus and coach station at Chester’s Gorse Stacks will also include a broad spectrum of health and social care facilities under one roof as well as 42 apartments, ground floor commercial use and a threestorey car park at basement level.

Being built in three blocks, the first will include the doctors’ surgeries of the Elms Medical Centre, Hoole Road Surgery, Northgate Medical Centre and Northgate Village Surgery, a community dental surgery as well as a number of related services.

Block two will comprise Council office accommodation that will offer a range of health facing and social care services alongside the health services on site.

The final block, which will contain 42 private residential apartments, has been altered in height and design to reflect the change of use from the previous plan, which was for a 149bed student accommodation block.

West Cheshire Health Consortium worked closely with its colleagues in Cheshire West and Chester Council in developing the proposal for an Integrated Care Centre in Northgate to provide

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health and social care services from a purpose-built building to local people.

The proposals were discussed by the local NHS, after which many more people were involved in deciding what services and facilities the new development should have.

The Company in charge of designing and building the Integrated Care Centre is the Watkin Jones Group, which is one of the most successful, forward thinking and dynamic construction and development companies in the UK. It is a multi-faceted and highly successful operation, creating cutting edge contemporary and classically stylish spaces for work, home and leisure at prestigious locations nationwide.

In 2006, the Company was named in the Sunday Times Profit Track 100, a listing of Britain’s fastest profit-growth firms.

Watkin Jones brings a wealth of energy, experience and expertise to every project – ensuring a standard of excellence that’s renowned and respected throughout the industry. Highly acclaimed for its quality of build and design innovation, the success of the Group has been recognised over the years by a variety of prestigious industry awards.

Although the Company is forward looking, it is proud of its traditional values and has a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, while being highly committed to its employees who are the key to the continued growth and success of Watkins Jones.

Established in 1791, Watkin Jones has grown steadily over two centuries to become one of the most successful and respected names in the building, property development and construction industries.

Carpenter Huw Jones began it all with a journey across the mountains from Penmachno to Bangor – where his son, the first Watkin Jones, expanded the family business from carpentry into building, joinery and undertaking.

The business has remained in the family from that day onwards. Under the guidance of Mark Watkin Jones, the current group Managing Director, the Company continues to be committed to its traditional values, which underpin the progressive and forward thinking approach of the Company in the 21st century.

Today, the Watkin Jones Group employs more than 250 staff directly, and significantly more through subcontractors, working on a wide variety of projects nationwide – ranging from homes and student accommodation to commercial, industrial and mixed-use developments.

Watkin Jones has been fulfilling the desires and dreams of current and future generations, as the Company has done for over 200 years.

Work on the centre in Chester started in the first three months of this year and will take approximately one year to complete.

Continental Installations Limited, established in 2003 are specialist manufacturers and installers of aluminium curtain wall, windows, entrance systems and aluminium/timber hybrid systems for the commercial construction market.

We specialise in the Hotel, Student

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Development sectors both on a new build or

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service, we look forward to many years of mutual benefit.

Continental Installations hold accreditations to ISO 9001 - Quality, ISO 14001 - Environment, CHAS, Constructionline and Secured by Design.

The Company places great emphasis on Health and Safety and a significant investment has been made to ensure that the site management and operatives have the formal training in place to meet the requirements of the modern construction industry.

We have an experienced in house design team, fully trained fabricators and we have the latest computer based manufacturing facility to ensure consistent quality, service and competitive prices.

We have been involved with Watkin Jones Construction on several projects including Manfred Street Student Accommodation Liverpool, Travelodge - Chester, The Town House - Ealing, London and we are currently contracted to supply and install our products on

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UKC RETAIL

Sturdee Road Leicester New retail units transforming the site

UKC EDUCATION

Work is close to completion to transform the centre of an estate in Leicester.

The £800,000 project will see the redevelopment of the Invincible pub and the Exchange shopping precinct in Eyres Monsell.

Located on Sturdee Road, work is being undertaken on behalf of MF Strawson and will provide six retail units.

This comprises an anchor tenant, which is Co-op, who has a 5,000sq ft unit, and then attached to that will be five individual retail units, all at 1,000sq ft each.

The former pub on site was demolished three years ago to make way for the single-storey units that will all be terraced next to each other.

Designed by Siddle Grimley Hage, the units will be steel structures with brickwork external walls, and sloping was incorporated into the design to allow it to make maximum use of the contours. Roofs will be pitched, with metal insulated roof cladding, and windows will be double glazed on shop fronts.

Throughout the project, there has been a commitment to use renewable energy

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sources as heating so that means air landscaping at the front, and approximately source heat pumps heat all the units, which 25 car parking spaces will be available. will improve efficiency, and lower CO2.

The Main Contractor is Maher Millard In addition, the surface water run-off in Construction. Work started in April the site has been reduced by 20%, which 2013 and will be completed at the is something the Environment Agency is end of this month, with opening keen to do so attenuation has been added, scheduled for late November. which holds back the surface water on site and discharges it into the sewerage systems at a lower rate.

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Calderdale College Nearing the end of a three-phase masterplan The campus redevelopment of Calderdale College in Yorkshire is nearing completion, ready for its official opening this month.

Located in Halifax, the major element of the project is the construction of a Sustainable and Environmental Technologies Centre, which will include plumbing, electrical and sustainability workshops, teaching rooms, an SME meeting space, disability learning accommodation and ancillary areas.

Additional works forming part of the contract include a new brick workshop and external brickwork yard, a catering training facility, as a major remodelling of existing accommodation and the remodelling of part of the existing creative and conservation skills centre building so it can house painting and decorating workshops as well as staff accommodation.

At three-storeys, the new build is 2,200sq m while the refurbished element is 900sq m. The new building comprises a steel frame, composite floors and a lightweight roof. It has a single ply flat roof and metal cladding panels, while the façade has PPC aluminium cassettes, reconstituted stone and kingspan cladding.

The windows are PPC aluminium with performance glazing, and curtain walling has also been incorporated.

Sustainability is a big feature of the

project, which will include a wind turbine, rainwater harvesting, solar hot water, photovoltaic panels, permeable paving, natural ventilation and demonstration rigs for other technologies. contribution of Jefferson Sheard The refurbishment on the Percival Architects, who designed the scheme.

Whitley Centre and the CCSC is Costing £5M, the Main Contractor is required in order to reconfigure the Wildgoose Construction. Work started in exiting spaces for alternative use.

2012 and will be completed in November The new building contains disability living 2013, though there is an official opening accommodation for life skills training, and of the Sustainable and Environmental security is guaranteed thanks to CCTV and Technologies Centre this month. access control.

In addition, the college has a new sports pitch and car parking facilities are provided. your partner for the building envelope This project is the culmination of a masterplanning For over twenty years, Cover Structure has been at the exercise that forefront of the roofing and cladding industry, providing commenced in 2010 and it roofing and cladding solutions for the total building envelope. represents the final phase of a three-phase New Market Approach, Cross Green Industrial Park, Leeds LS9 0RJ development.

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PROFILE UKC

Brick Market Ltd Large range of bricks from all leading manufacturers Brick Market Ltd is an independent, family-run builders merchant that provides a full range of products to builders, developers, landscapers and home improvers in the south of Manchester area.

Operating from its premises in Woodford, Stockport, the Company started trading in 1999, from beginnings as a road transport company that delivered building materials for customers throughout the country.

The business has grown rapidly in the 14 years since, and can offer customers a free brick matching service and a reliable next day delivery service.

Headed up by Directors Harry Jenkins and Liz Green, services are aimed at small/ medium building contractors, landscapers and gardeners, and home improvers. Brick Market specialise in providing materials for refurbishing older properties.

There are seven employees, one of which is office based, while there are two delivery drivers, two who work on shop and direct sales, and two on yard sales.

The Company provides on site training for materials handling equipment and off site training provided by the Builders

Merchants Federation (BMF) on a wide and new storage racking installed. range of subjects. There have also The future is bright for Brick Market, who is been two apprentices trained at the consolidating after a major expansion, and Company with the help of the BMF. continues to increase the range of materials There have been a number of large projects stocked, which now includes renders. recently undertaken by Brick Market.

These include extensions in Wilmslow, Brick Market Ltd, Moor Lane, apartments in Bramhall, an extension in Woodford, Stockport, SK7 1PL Cheadle Hulme for GB Builders and extension and landscaping work in Woodford on behalf of Buildmarks.

Over the last two years, the Company has invited a plumbers’ merchant to share its new shop and Private, Light and Commercial repairs warehouse, and has also opened 90 Dickens Lane, Poynton, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 1NT a café to serve customers, staff and public. The stockyard area has been resurfaced

S.M.H Commercial ltd.

Tel: 07917 044403

A high profile project is currently underway on the M275 Tipner main access corridor to Portsea Island.

A Colas and VolkerFitzpatrick Joint Venture is undertaking the main contract and works are well ahead of the official completion date in February 2014.

The multi million pound motorway interchange project will kick start a comprehensive regeneration programme of the Tipner area in Portsmouth. The improvements will include the construction of a Park & Ride comprising 1,800 parking spaces next to the new junction; a housing development of 770 new dwellings; 25,000sq m of employment space providing 1,500 new jobs; a 150 bed hotel; new retail units; and a waterside public open space.

After a two year tender process the Colas and VolkerFitzpatrick Joint Venture saw off competition from four other tenders, and both companies are delighted with the win, which followed other recent successful collaborations of the two businesses.

The work itself is not only key for the regeneration of the Tipner area, but will also benefit Portsmouth as a whole by helping to reduce congestion on the roads and encourage visitors to the city.

The works involve the construction of a new

CIVIL UKC

Key improvements for Tipner interchange roundabout located at Tipner Lane, with Colas Associate Director, Graham Martin, associated verging and di-verge slip roads, said of the project solutions: “There is a new bus lane, the removal of the existing a high voltage cable running alongside single-span gantry and the installation of a the motorway and we did not want to new replacement full-span gantry and the divert it. Our suggested solution was to installation of new advanced warning signs replace the traditional central reservation to replace the existing ones to the southern with a concrete barrier which needs gantry near to Rudmore Interchange; plus less set back. This gained us the extra the development of the Park & Ride facility. one metre that is allowing us to expand The well-managed project is ahead of the carriageway to the south and fit the schedule due to the true partnership bus lane onto the hard shoulder.” between the Client, Stakeholders and supply chain.

Constant value engineering on drainage, cross carriageway ducting and earthworks retaining structures has ensured the A comprehensive market leading service offer for clients project will come in in the engineering and infrastructure sectors… on budget. While further benefits have come from Customer Service Centre combined utility E2, Boundary Court, Willow Farm Business Park, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, DE74 2NN diversion works T 0843 2272362 E enquiries@cet-uk.com and an efficient www.cet-uk.com traffic management programme.

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UKC COMMERCIAL

Trelleborg Factory Extension

Well placed for future growth in the offshore sector

Copyright Trelleborg AB

Leading global manufacturer of polymer and syntactic foam-based solutions for the offshore oil and gas industry, Trelleborg, has further enhanced its manufacturing capabilities with the expansion of its factory in the UK. The multi-million pound, 3,750sq m development of the Company’s stateof-the-art manufacturing facility has helped Trelleborg consolidate its two Skelmersdale-based facilities onto one site.

Trelleborg Offshore provides high integrity solutions for the harshest and most demanding offshore environments.

As part of the Trelleborg Engineered Systems Business Area of Trelleborg Group, Trelleborg Offshore specialises in the development and production of polymer and syntactic foam based seismic, marine, buoyancy, cable protection and thermal insulation products, as well as rubberbased passive and active fire protection solutions for the offshore industry.

Within its portfolio are some long established and respected brands including CRP, OCP, Viking and Emerson & Cuming.

Trelleborg Offshore has been providing innovative solutions to the industry for over 30 years and has the largest and most advanced syntactic foam manufacturing facility in the world.

Operations Director at Trelleborg Offshore UK, Ray Cann, said: “The investment into our growing site in the UK demonstrates

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our long-standing commitment to servicing the growing offshore oil and gas industry.

“As the industry continues to move towards ever-more demanding subsea applications, it becomes even more essential that we are best placed to meet their growing demands, not only in terms of capacity but in terms of developing innovative, cost effective solutions that provide the upmost quality and performance.

“Not only will this investment provide a further boost to our ability to develop the next generation of new groundbreaking products for the offshore industry, it will help ensure we have the most advanced global manufacturing network possible, in order to service our increasingly multi-national customer base.”

The expansion and renovation of Trelleborg’s Skelmersdale manufacturing facility has been carried out by Globe Construction, who secured the project through a tender process and worked with Structural Engineers, Clancy Consulting, and Architects, Charter Design on this design and build contract.

Globe began trading in 1994 as Construction Management company, working largely on Sainsbury’s retail stores and for the Highways Agency.

Since 2001, the Company has been owned and operated by its three directors Kevin Hargreaves, David

Billington and Ian Threadgold.

From the outset the Company’s main objective was to build long-term relationships with clients and their teams.

This has resulted in more than half of Globe’s work coming from repeat business.

Ian Threadgold spoke about the Trelleborg development when the contract was awarded.

He said: “Trelleborg really wanted to enhance its facility in order to ensure it was well equipped to increase output and meet future order levels as the offshore industry becomes even more demanding.

“As such, we worked closely with the team at Trelleborg to ensure that the new facility design was everything they needed to make this happen.”

Work comprised the steel frame extension to an existing factory building, above and below ground drainage systems, external and internal doors, installation of all electrical requirements, internal finishes, heating and compressed air systems and extensive external works.

Work was needed because the existing factory could no longer keep up with demand. Delivery of the new extension has provided Trelleborg with a first class engineering facility that will increase output as well as meet future order levels.

The project started in November 2012 and was completed in August 2013.

HOW CAN ONE ROPE SUPPORT YOUR ENTIRE BUSINESS? WE REALLY LIKE CRANES – EVEN THOSE MADE

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Read more at www.konecranes.co.uk or call us on 0808 168 3832.

Konecranes UK Ltd Unit 1B. Sills Road, Willow Farm Business Park, Castle Donington, Leicestershire, DE74 2US Tel: 01332 697 756 www.konecranes.co.uk @KonecranesUK sales.uk@konecranes.com

UKC PROFILE

Carter Construction

Celebrating completion of new industrial unit Carter Construction is a well-managed and well established construction company with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry.

As a privately owned family business, Carter Construction operates from its uniquely situated office in the heart of Derby where a long heritage of construction has been founded The Company has a wide range of experience in working within both the public and private sectors across a multitude of varied projects. No matter what size the project is, everything is considered, with projects undertaken ranging from £50,000 to £5M. Carter Construction was awarded the design and build contract to erect an industrial unit with an office building together with associated external paving and landscaped areas for Loton Ltd in Beaumont Leys, Leicester.

Work involved the construction of a two-storey industrial unit with associated parking and landscaping.

The 31,000sq ft building is located to the western side of the site and has a ground floor comprising of a workshop, office and ancillary facilities.

The first floor contains a mezzanine floor with an office and storage area, and the development at Beaumont Leys has external cladding, though some windows to the office areas and the entrance are surrounded by a small projection to enclose and define them.

There is also a design feature surrounding the main entrance, both of which are green. There are 20 parking spaces to the east of the building that can be

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accessed via a new entrance on Ashton Close, and HGV parking for two HGVs. There is also landscaping to the Hoods Close and Ashton Close boundaries.

Work also brought about two metre palisade fencing to the boundary and there is a section to the north of the building that has not been built on but can be used in the future for any expansion that is necessary.

Carter Construction’s Senior Site Manager for this development was Andy Newton and he displayed outstanding site management leadership. His combined experience, dedication and enthusiasm have consistently been driving the project forward.

When the main building was complete, work on the interior fit out and external yard was undertaken.

Designed by Stephen George & Partners, the deadline for completion was October 2013 and this deadline was easily achieved.

During work, Carter Construction was careful to make sure that there was no noise impact or air pollution on any of the neighbouring properties.

Having worked on this project in collaboration with such award-winning architects, and structural engineers BPS Consulting, this project has been spoilt with the finest innovation and design that money can buy.

Not only has the effort of the consultant team been outstanding but subcontractors that include MJ Robinson’s, Arc M&E and Nationwide Diamond Concrete to name a few, have also excelled in delivering sterling professional packages with supreme product quality, craftsmanship and execution.

Whilst Carter Construction respects and maintains a professional attitude towards traditional contracting procurement strategies, as a Company, the experience has shown that continued working relationships with its clients, subcontractors and suppliers is paramount to the success of the business and on a larger scale, the construction industry as a whole.

With this in mind, the Company prides itself on operating an open and honest ethos to construction. This benchmark has enabled Carter Construction to establish some very successful relationships with respective clients, suppliers and subcontractors which, in essence, has enabled the Company to be more efficient in completing a project on time and within budget.

It is without doubt an exciting time for the construction industry as the recent global economic downturn is gradually being replaced with the emergence of new and exciting construction opportunities.

With the continuing growth of its order books, Carter Construction is constantly looking to expand and prides itself on its commitment to the continued training, development and investment of its staff and resources.

The Company’s work was recognised this year as Carter Construction’s Site Manager, Phil Bates won the NHBC Pride in the Job Award for the construction of a single dwelling located on Allen Lane in Fritchley, Derbyshire.

This prestigious award is the highest industry accolade a site manager can receive.

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Industrial & Agricultural Steel Building Specialists Design Fabrication Erection Profiling MJ Robinson Structures Ltd Unit 14 Empire Business Park Parcel Terrace, Derby DE1 1LY tel: 01332 384472 email: sales@mjrobinson.com

Request a free quote today

www.mjrobinson.com

Concrete Flooring and Concrete Repair Specialists Nationwide Concrete Flooring are extremely proud to be working for Carter Construction on the prestigious new warehouse for Lotan in Leicester.

Nationwide House, Howdenshire Way, Knedlington Road Industrial Estate, Howden, nr Goole East Yorkshire DN14 7HZ

Tel: 01430 436596 Fax: 01430 436594 Email:claire@nd-group.com www.nationwidediamondgroup.co.uk 103

UKC CIVIL

Yorkshire Water

Working successfully with Mott MacDonald and Enterprise Yorkshire Water is continuing to work in partnership with the likes of Enterprise and Mott MacDonald to complete projects in the area.

In a hydropower project completed for Yorkshire Water, Mott MacDonald Bentley has installed a hydro-turbine power generation station to generate renewable energy from the wastewater treatment works process at Esholt in West Yorkshire.

This included installation of two new Archimedean Screw-type hydroturbine generators in series between the Inlet Works Detritors and the new Primary Settlement Tanks.

A flow of up to 3,240 litres per second now passes through a 1,800mm diameter pipe to the hydro-turbine power generation station to generate 180kW of renewable energy in the first installation in the UK to use untreated sewage for hydro-power generation.

The electricity generated from the hydroturbines is used to reduce the imported power demand of the treatment works.

The quality of the work undertaken by Mott MacDonald Bentley has seen the Company awarded a five-year framework extension with Yorkshire Water.

It will run throughout the AMP6 regulatory period from 2015 to 2020.

The appointment will lengthen Mott MacDonald’s collaborative working relationship with Yorkshire Water to more than 20 years following the formation of the joint venture subsidiary between JN Bentley and Mott MacDonald in 1999.

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Enterprise and its companies are also involved in projects with Yorkshire Water.

The Group bought Byzak in 2011 to broaden its range of services in the water industry.

Byzak specialises in infrastructure maintenance for UK water and sewerage companies, predominantly on its above ground operations including reservoirs, water and sewerage treatment plants and pumping stations.

Byzak has been appointed by Yorkshire Water as one of seven contracting partners to assist with the water company’s £1.35Bn asset delivery programme for the AMP5 period of 2010 to 2015. This contract was signed in March 2010 during a launch event timed to coincide with the opening of Yorkshire Water’s new offices in Leeds by the then Secretary of State Ed Balls MP. Byzak and two other contractors have responsibility for the medium above ground treatment workstream (water and sewage treatment) and the value of Byzak’s work is approximately £100M. The Company has joined the other contractor partners and Yorkshire Water staff in a new 500 strong Asset Delivery Unit based in the state-of-theart Livingstone House, Yorkshire Water’s offices in Clarence Dock, Leeds.

Work comprises both sewage treatment works and water treatment works, as well as other related above ground assets, the delivery of complex schemes and more straightforward direct delivery schemes, as well as investigation, design and construction.

Individual projects are valued between £100,000 to £5M, although these are grouped together into batches for the AMP5 period.

Byzak is one of the eight utilities contractors and three consultants that have just had their agreements with Yorkshire Water extended for a further five years, as the water company invests an extra £1Bn in improvements in the network across the region. This is the same scheme that Mott MacDonald Bentley has had its contract extended for.

Drinking water supplies in Sheffield have received a boost as Yorkshire Water has splashed £15M on the upgrade of the Rivelin Water Treatment works near Sheffield.

This huge investment involved major improvements to the site’s water treatment process and supports the Company’s three year, £16.7M revamp of Sheffield’s water mains.

Work was undertaken in two phases

by Mott MacDonald Bentley. Phase I saw initial work within the existing buildings to replace much of the chemical dosing systems, together with the associated control systems.

Phase II involved the construction of the new filter building for manganese removal, which was constructed to fit in with the surroundings and Yorkshire Water worked with local interest groups on the final design.

This project was completed in April 2013.

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Enviroflow Management Ltd Unit 7 Fairways Industrial Estate Birtstall, WF17 9QA FREEPHONE: 0800 158 8300 Email: louise@enviroflowmanagement.co.uk www.enviroflowmanagement.co.uk Unit 8, The Poplars Industrial Estate, Wetherby Road, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire YO51 9HS

UKC PROFILE

Metnor Construction Ltd

Committed to meeting the expectations of all clients

Turner Court, Portland Green

Metnor Construction Ltd was established in 2002 as the construction division of Metnor Group Plc. From the head office in Newcastle upon Tyne, the support of the regional office in the south east and strategically placed national offices allow the Company to deliver projects across the country.

Metnor Construction offers a wide array of procurement methods including design and build, traditional, negotiated, two-stage management contracting and partnering to provide a full range of construction services including new build, refurbishment, extensions and alterations not only utilising traditional forms of construction but also the Company’s own in-house timber frame division.

This has enabled Metnor Construction to gain vast experience in all sectors of the industry, with primary areas of operation being healthcare, hotel, commercial, retail, housing, leisure, stadia and education.

The Company’s approach has always been to get close to clients and put them first, working as an extension of each client’s team, understand and identify their problems, be responsive, flexible and at all times aware of their objectives.

By working in a team environment and listening to a client’s wants and needs, the Company strives to develop, carefully plan and ultimately execute the right solution to any problem.

Everybody connected with Metnor Construction believes this approach has never been more relevant than in the present climate. Therefore the Company continues to be firmly committed to a proactive professional

approach to problem solving.

This involves concentrating more on effective management and site productivity rather than contractual ‘posturing’. In other words, the all employees at the Company get on with their jobs so that clients can also get on with theirs.

Metnor Construction has completed work to provide award-winning care and facilities for up to 80 elderly people in the Poole area.

The Potteries Care Home has 80 bedrooms over three floors, many with different outlooks and layouts so there are many options for a loved one.

The ground floor rooms will be close to the communal areas with the coffee shop and cinema, so may be popular with residents who like to be the centre of things, while the rooms on the upper floors have lovely views.

Outside, the landscaped gardens offer safe, secure and accessible spaces to sit and relax in the warmer months.

A number of raised flower beds make it easier for residents to enjoy the plants and they can also help with some gardening at the home.

Metnor Construction has provided high specification ensuite rooms, well-designed lounges and dining rooms, and a hair salon.

A specialist wing delivers the awardwinning dementia care that Care UK, who manages the home, is so well known for.

It has created 80 jobs in the area and some of the suites and the coffee shop were given names by children at Broadstone Middle School.

The coffee shop has been named Quayside because the original site was next to the quay while Delphis and

Dolphin are the names of the suites.

The children drew inspiration from Poole Pottery when researching names for areas of the care home that was completed in September 2013 and will open this month.

Metnor Construction completed work in July on 275-bed student accommodation and retail units based in the centre of Newcastle.

Portland Green is an eight-storey building and is Newcastle’s newest student accommodation featuring the fastest broadband speeds and the cheapest rent.

It has a range of four-, five-, six- and seven-bed student apartments in the heart of a popular student area within walking distance of the city centre, Northumbria University and public transport. There is also one luxury double studio.

All bedrooms are ensuite and are in clusters with students having access to a communal lounge and kitchen.

The development comprises tonal rainscreen cladding, a sedum roof, double-storey height window units, and a steel frame with metal concrete deck.

Externally there is facing brickwork and the courtyard benefits from insulated render.

It has been constructed with communal facilities such as a laundrette, games room with 60-inch plasma TV, fully stocked vending machines and a table tennis table.

There is a door entry system to the landscaped courtyard and CCTV will give students peace of mind.

Metnor Construction started work on the £13M project in February 2012 and completed work in July 2012. It was opened last month in time for the new intake of university students.

The company was established in 1988 to supply high quality flooring and fitting services to the commercial sector in the North East of England.

The company quickly expanded, based on the quality of service and standards of customer care. Sian Flooring has always prided itself on its friendly and professional service and, above all, its commitment to the highest standards of craftsmanship.

Industrial and Commercial Flooring Specialists With over 40 years combined experience in commercial flooring, Sian Flooring offers the very best in professional services and product expertise. Offering the very highest standards in all aspects of flooring at extremely competitive rates.

The company has recently moved offices and is now based on the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate, North Shields. The location is idealy situated to service the Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, Middlesbrough and Teeside regions, however the company also operates on a regular basis across the UK. The company employs staff with experience and expertise in customer service, project management, technical expertise and an experienced fitting team.

Unit C20, Tromso Close, Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate, North Shields NE29 7XH

Tel: +44 (0)191 2728248 Fax: +44 (0)191 2575697 Email: info@sianflooring.com Web: www.sianflooring.com

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Whatever the size or scope of project, Sian Flooring has all the necessary skill and expertise to meet the most demanding requirements.

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structural glazing | curtain walling | entrance canopies roof lights | balustrades | design and build manufacturing internal glass concepts external glazing systems | bespoke glazing

Visual Concept Ltd was established early 2005 and is now a customer focused, reputable, thriving business in such a short time through many years of knowledge and experience within the construction industry.

Visual Concept Ltd manufacture and install the latest aluminium systems in curtain walling, windows and doors. The systems we use meet all building regulation requirements and the aesthetic needs of architects.

We are pleased to be associated with Ltd Suppliers to Metnor Construction Robert McAlpine over the yearsin onSirthe student accommodation and wish them continued Shieldfield, Newcastle upon Tyne

t. 0191 221 2727 f. 0191 221 2728 e. info@visualconceptltd.co.uk www.visualconceptltd.co.uk

success in the future.

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DRY WALL PARTITIONS & INTERIOR FIT OUT SPECIALISTS

www.oakleafcontracts.com

Oakleaf Contracts (Europe) Ltd Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG Telephone: 01707 291562 Email: pricing@oakleafcontracts.com

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UKC EDUCATION

Rastrick High School

New maths block and physical impairment suite A specialist technology college in Calderdale has seen replacement of an existing block to make way for new facilities.

Rastrick High School & Sixth Form College is a large mixed gender school with Academy status, neighboured by the towns of Brighouse and Elland in the heart of West Yorkshire.

The latest project involved constructing a new mathematics centre. Work included replacing the old block as well as providing much-needed toilet and physical impairment (PI) facilities.

The relocation of the maths teaching facilities had been considered within the school’s development plans to rationalise the site and address the changing needs of the school.

Linking the main school and a satellite teaching block, the maths centre building has a glazed atrium and a glass floor that allows light deep into the plan. Swift boxes located on the side elevation provide a home for several birds.

At 1,600sq m, the building comprises of traditionally masonry to complement the existing structure with a steel frame, and the toilets are now open plan designed to anti bullying guidelines.

The school was awarded funding from the Education Funding Agency to build this fabulous new teaching block for maths.

The new accommodation provides much needed and welcome care facilities for students with physical disabilities. Rastrick High School is the Calderdale Resource Provision for physically impaired students.

Helen Lennie, Headteacher at the school, spoke of her delight when the funding was awarded. She said: “This new building will have a massive impact on the learning experience of every student at Rastrick High School, enabling us to deliver the core subject of maths in a bright, modern, professional learning environment.

“It will also improve facilities for students, link two existing teaching blocks and

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improve access in every way. Our ambition is not just to improve facilities on site for students and staff but also to improve the experience of our community.”

The Architect for the scheme was Langtry Langton, an award-winning company who designs sustainable buildings and spaces to comfort, education, unite and help people live, work and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

Established in 1935, the Practice has enjoyed a very good working relationship with Rastrick High School and has helped deliver several successful building projects over the last ten years.

Disruption to the school was avoided thanks to constant discussion and dialogue with the school to ensure that site work didn’t affect exams and other important times. The Practice has been able to draw on many years of experience of working with schools.

The school has a passion for learning and at the heart of the school is an unyielding determination in achieving excellence in everything it does. Rastrick High School will challenge and support

all children in equal measure, with the goal of teaching them the skills and values they need to be truly successful.

The school teaches a curriculum that is broad and enriching; encompassing subjects and qualifications that meet the needs of all students. This high quality curriculum is combined with inclusive, bespoke student support that is focused on students growing into independent, happy and successful young people.

Triton Construction Ltd was the Main Contractor for the project, which involved excavating under part of the existing building to form new foundation columns, as well as the construction of a new lift shaft.

The Company is a general contractor that provides construction services across Yorkshire and Lancashire, with experience that spans all sectors, with projects ranging in value up to £5M. Work at Rastrick High School started in October 2012 and was completed in August 2013 on time and within the budget of £2.1M.

Energy Unique Ltd Energy Unique Ltd is a multi-disciplinary Design and Consulting Engineering Practice working within the field of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Services within Buildings.

Energy Unique offers a refreshing and enthusiastic approach to the design of Mechanical & Electrical systems. We are a forward thinking company, always looking to embrace new technologies, legislation and working practices. Our emphasis is to provide a high quality personalised service to our Clients, providing practical yet creative and innovative design solutions, delivered within their financial and programme parameters.

We are seeing steady growth through repeat business from our existing Clients as well as receiving new enquiries through recommendations and referrals.

Our core activities are the design of Mechanical and Electrical Services within buildings which are produced taking due account of environmental issues whilst maintaining a practical cost effective approach. The Practice has a keen interest in renewable and low carbon technologies and has a detailed knowledge of complying with BREEAM. We also offer Low Carbon Consultant advice.

We work within all work sectors including domestic, commercial and industrial on both new build and refurbishment projects. Our key personnel are vastly experienced, well respected and highly qualified Engineers.

The practice utilises a comprehensive range of computer aided design software including AutoCAD & Cymap. Virtually all information is produced electronically to allow data to be exchanged between other members of the design team promptly and efficiently.

Energy Unique Ltd were appointed as the M&E Consulting Engineers for the new 3-storey Maths Block at Rastrick High School.

The brief for the new 3-storey Maths Block at Rastrick High School was to create a ‘state of the art’ teaching facility with IT classrooms.

One of the key requirements was to create a good quality environment for the students and staff and to construct a building that complies with all current Building Bulletins and Regulations, whilst be efficient in operation and easy to maintain.

A ‘mixed-mode’ ventilation system was chosen for with tempered fresh air being delivered into each classroom from a central air-handling unit fitted with heat recovery. The central plant provides background ventilation into the perimeter classrooms with extract air being drawn from the central atrium via high level acoustic transfer grilles. A transfer duct discretely built into the central ‘pod’ offices allows the extract air to be collected at the top of the building before being recovered through the air-handling unit.

The classrooms have CO2 control in line with BB101 requirements.

In the event of excessive CO2 levels. The central plant automatically boosts to increase the extract ventilation rate in conjunction with the teacher opening the window.

All rooms are heated via radiators served from a gas condensing boiler system. All teaching and office spaces are fitted with comfort cooling to provide ‘peak’ temperature control only when the internal room temperatures rise above a pre-determined upper limit.

The building is controlled via a Building Management System with simple local user interface controls. The controls system is linked onto the school’s intranet to allow remote adjustment and interrogation.

The lighting design was largely focused on the ability to enhance the learning and teaching environment, improve safety and comfort for the students and staff and maximise energy efficiency through daylight and occupancy control.

Each classroom is provided with an interactive whiteboard and substantial data and power provision to allow complete flexibility within the space.

Energy Unique Ltd Clifton House • Bradford Road • Bailiff Bridge • Brighouse • West Yorkshire • HD6 4JJ t: +44 (0)1484 722733 email: enquiries@energyunique.co.uk www.energyunique.co.uk

UKC HOUSING

The Junction A world-class location for a Taylor Wimpey property A fantastic new range of apartments have been completed in London and are all already sold out.

The Junction, located at 243 Junction Road in London comprises 25 contemporary one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

The £4M bespoke development is situated only 70m from Tufnell Park tube station on the Northern line so is in a fabulous location for residents.

The hub of Tufnell Park is a dynamic meeting point of five roads and within the immediate vicinity of The Junction is a diverse collection of cafes, gastro pubs and restaurants serving a varied choice of cuisines.

Picking up the daily essentials is easy thanks to the wide range of excellent shops and amenities within Tufnell Park, including a Sainsbury’s Local, chemist, doctor’s surgery, dry cleaner and fitness centre.

An Odeon cinema, the Pleasance Theatre and Nag’s Head Shopping Centre are all within walking distance.

With an innovative and contemporary design, The Junction is an exciting landmark building which perfectly complements its natural surroundings.

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The external façade is a fusion of for this Taylor Wimpey project was glass, metal and timber with a varied McAleer and Rushe, and the Architect was palette of colours. This striking design White Ink. Work commenced in March creates a stimulating visual experience 2012 and was completed in June 2013. that exudes confidence and quality.

Meticulously designed interiors with flexible open plan living areas maximise floor space whilst the contemporary kitchens and designer bathrooms provide a luxurious finish.

Many apartments are dual aspect or face the communal courtyard and have been designed to maximise the natural daylight.

In addition to the communal courtyard, each apartment benefits from its own outside private 669 Woolwich Road, Charlton, London, SE7 8LH space. The desirable gardens, terraces and Tel: 0845 408 4922 Fax: 0845 408 4933 balconies are perfect Email: info@ritelift.co.uk for entertaining www.ritelift.co.uk or just to relax.

The Main Contractor

HOUSING UKC

New Lodge Park Part of regeneration in Barnsley Part of the Keepmoat Ltd portfolio, New Lodge Park in Barnsley offers a range of two- and three-bedroom properties, making it the ideal location for first time buyers aiming to get a foot on the property ladder or families in need of a bigger home.

The area has undergone major regeneration in recent years with millions of pounds invested, making it a much sought after location for potential homebuyers.

With all of the 83 homes featuring parking and gardens, New Lodge Park is a safe, family-friendly community.

There are five different home types, including the Ashby, a twostorey, three-bedroom property.

It is a highly appealing, modern family home. The ground floor features a kitchen/dining room that leads through to the rear living room, as well as access to the rear garden. A downstairs toilet completes the ground floor layout.

Upstairs boasts two double bedrooms and a single bedroom. A family bathroom with porcelanosa tiles completes this floor.

The Ashby boasts a light and airy lounge, fully fitted kitchen/dining room, spacious bedrooms, useful storage space, rear French doors and a good-sized garden.

The Normandy house type is a stylish and

comprises two bedrooms. The ground floor features a kitchen/dining room that is a great space for entertaining, a light and airy living room with French doors opening onto a rear garden and a convenient downstairs toilet.

The first floor has two good sized bedrooms and a family bathroom.

As with the Ashby, the Normandy has a fully fitted kitchen.

Keepmoat has boasted the area by securing £1.4M of First Buy funding that will enable homebuyers to purchase a new home at the Company’s sites in and around Yorkshire.

The development at New Lodge Park was awarded Full Carpentry and Joinery Services a national Bronze with a Reputation for Quality Service award from the Considerate 3 Brookfield, Oxspring, Sheffield S36 8WG Constructors Scheme.

Brookfield Joinery Ltd

Tel: 07967 715 512 Email: pacrossfield@googlemail.com

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UKC COMMERCIAL

Bonhams

New Head Quarters

The new international Head Quarters for auction house Bonhams will transform the Company’s existing home in the heart of London into the most modern auction experience in the world.

The scheme retains the historic facades on New Bond Street and Blenheim Street, and will see refurbishment of Blenstock House to provide high quality modern offices for Bonhams’ specialist staff.

Bonhams is a privately owned British auction house and one of the world’s oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The Bonhams name is recognised worldwide throughout all sectors of the fine art, antiques and collectors market, with several of its departments established world leaders within their specialist category.

The present Company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams &

Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale, which brought together two of the four surviving Georgian auction houses in London.

A new building, accessed from the existing Bond Street entrance, creates three large double-height sales rooms (one of which has a stunning skybox), preview galleries, a café and space benefiting from natural daylight throughout.

The new premises, with its accent on new technology and customer service, is a key part of the Company’s plans to build on the growth which has transformed it over the past ten years from solid, traditional British auctioneer to one of the fastest growing international houses in the world.

The new public space will provide a focus for the reinvigoration of Haunch of Venison Yard, while the use of materials such as brick, stone and faience provide a contextual

response to the surrounding historic fabric.

The Architect for the project is Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, who is renowned for its innovative and high profile designs, ranging from bridges to buildings of all types.

Bonhams’ vision to create a landmark building in the West End is being built by Knight Harwood, who had to demolish parts of the existing structure to create a new lift shaft as well as install a new lift. Work has involved moving large elements of mechanical and electrical, and IT infrastructure.

Phase I was completed in 2011 and Phase II will be completed in time for the development to open at the end of October 2013.

SIMPLICITY MOULDINGS & INTERIORS Simplicity Mouldings has just finished the supply and installation of the GRG and drylining works at the prestigious Bonhams auction house project on Bond Street. Simplicity offers a fully bespoke service in the supply and installation of all types of plastering to include fibrous plaster mouldings, GRG mouldings, run in situ mouldings, external stucco work lath and plaster lime rendering and the more off the shelf items such as suspended ceilings and partitioning.

TEL 01322 333863 FAX 01322 333191 Email: info@simplicitymouldings.co.uk Simplicity Mouldings and Interiors Limited Bridgeview House, Darent Ind.Park, Ness Road, Erith, Kent. DA8 2LD

www.simplicitymouldings.co.uk 112

COMMERCIAL UKC

Pioneer Park

Set to inspire Leicester businesses A much anticipated science park is taking shape in Leicester, and is part of a multi million pound retail scheme.

Contractors are preparing the 7,000sq m site in Exploration Drive, off Abbey Lane, Leicester, ahead of the development that will be known as Pioneer Park.

It will include an Asda store, the construction of which has been on site since March this year.

It will kick-start the Council’s proposed science park in Abbey Meadows, by the National Space Centre, which will eventually boast a separate £5M design and research workspace as its centrepiece.

The project has seen Asda and the developers work closely with Leicester City Council and the National Space Centre.

The food store will create more than 320 jobs, with a further 150 people – including entrepreneurs, scientific researchers and technicians – expected to be employed in the new innovation and technology building.

The first business to sign up for space at the £5.9M innovation workspace was welcomed to the site

by Leicester’s City Mayor in July.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby met with Michael Cotterill of Ellipse Energy at the innovation and technology park in Abbey Meadows.

Following a tour of the former brownfield site, Peter Soulsby and centre manager Luke Pulford announced a new name for the workspace – which will now be branded as ‘Dock’.

Dock will provide high quality offices and workspaces for up to 55 new businesses, as well as conferencing and exhibition facilities. It is expected to help create 150 jobs by 2015.

Due for completion this month, the Ellipse Energy office was described by the Mayor as “An exemplar low energy building that sits comfortably in its environment and provides top-class facilities for businesses.”

He added: “I am delighted to welcome Ellipse Energy to the city

and to the newly-named Dock.

“Our experience from other city “This facility will help to play a key workspaces such as the LCB Depot role in repositioning Leicester’s is that new businesses benefit greatly economy by accelerating growth in from being able to share ideas and the emerging knowledge sectors. experiences, and working within a like“It will provide top-class facilities minded business community brings great for new local businesses along with benefits to small and growing companies.” targeted business support to help Designed by Franklin Ellis Architects, businesses grow in a sustainable way.” the Main Contractor is GF Tomlinson.

The innovation centre particularly looks to attract businesses from the knowledge economy, greentech, innovation, technology and science sectors.

As one of the first pioneer businesses in the country to roofing | cladding | water containment be accredited as a Green Deal Advice We are a multi-disciplined contractor and a total Organisation, Ellipse Energy is delighted envelope specialist. We specialise in all types of roofing that its credentials and cladding systems including composite roofing and met the acceptance criteria for the walling, rainscreen systems, single ply roofing and SFS innovation centre and framing and carry out projects up to a value of £1 that the Company Million. will be based on Pioneer Park.

Dock’s manager Luke We believe in strong customer focus, and work closely Pulford said: “We with clients to help provide value engineering solutions, are already getting lots of interest from develop design details and programmes to ensure local and regional projects run as smoothly and as cost effectively as companies who like the idea of working possible. alongside companies from similar sectors.

Windmill Farm, Biggin Lane, “Since Ellipse signed Nr Hulland Ward, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 3FN up we have now sold more than ten per cent of space within Tel: 01335 372133 Fax: 01335 372199 the building with www.ukwaterproofingsolutions.co.uk more offices being let every week.

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UKC PROFILE

MPI Offshore

Navigating fair winds and high seas MPI Offshore is a leader in offshore wind turbine installation, operating the windturbine installation vessels, MPI Adventure, MPI Discovery and MPI Resolution.

MPI provides a single-vessel solution for one or all of the following wind installation operations and services including: ••Monopile and transition pieces ••Foundations ••Array Cabling ••Transformer platforms ••Met masts ••Transportation ••Project management Other projects in which the combination of the MPI fleet of installation vessels and MPI’s specialist expertise may be able to provide a more efficient and cost effective service than conventional technology and methods include: ••Heavy lifts – including bridge deck lifts a bridge installation support ••Transportation ••General marine construction – including harbour piling ••Marine salvage.

MPI Offshore’s focus is the management and operation of marine plant and equipment to effect the construction and installation of offshore projects.

By the millennium it was recognised that if renewable targets were to be met globally, then the offshore wind industry would have to make a significant

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contribution to these targets.

As far back as late 1999/early 2000 concepts were being evaluated to find the best solution for installing offshore wind projects on a large scale. The original team who worked on this project still today have the same opinion today, that a transport and installation solution is the way forward.

The MPI Resolution was designed and constructed as a TIV, starting February 2001, leaving the Chinese shipyard in October 2003 and being ready for service in European waters in early 2004.

MPI Resolution has performed so well that the decision to order two further vessels was made in 2008, with deliveries made in 2010 and 2011.

In June 2011, E.ON and MPI entered into a long-term partnership for a sixyear charter of MPI Discovery. Nearly two years later, 28th March 2013, marks the first day of the charter period.

Over this time, both sides have put a lot of work into the planning and preparation for safely using the vessel on E.ON’s offshore wind projects. For the coming two years, MPI Discovery, at times running in parallel with MPI Adventure, will be working across three projects in three different countries: Karehamn (Sweden/Baltic Sea), Humber Gateway (UK, North Sea, see page 116 for more information) and Amrumbank West (Germany, North Sea).

In total, 325 components, each consisting of several sub-components, will be handled and installed: 160 wind turbines, 153 monopile foundations, one substation

jacket and two substation topsides.

To enable this, the teams of E.ON, MPI and Vroon have established a great collaboration and on top of this are pioneering a new set up in offshore wind. For the first time, the transport and installation of foundations will be directly managed between the employer and the installer, without a principle foundation contractor in the middle. This has led to very close integration and brought colleagues from the companies together to jointly overcome challenges and develop solutions. E.ON is pleased to have an experienced, competent and reliable partner in MPI to face the challenges of offshore construction.

“We believe that the charter of this well-run, highly efficient installation vessel will play a vital role in reducing the cost of offshore wind, which is our key goal”, said Sven Utermohlen, Director Offshore Wind at E.ON. “Now the ‘real’ work begins, and we look forward to continuing the journey together with MPI and Vroon, always focusing on safely and efficiently delivering our work. We wish the teams and crews the best of luck, safe journeys and always fair winds!”

In April this year, MPI Offshore was awarded a contract by GeoSea NV, where MPI Resolution commenced work on a series of GeoSea projects situated in the North Sea and Baltic Sea area as from the middle of June 2013 for a period of approximately six months.

WORLDWIDE SUPPLIER OF QUALITY HYDRAULIC HOSE - INDUSTRIAL HOSE STEEL TUBE PRODUCTS www.ferschl.co.uk

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Northern Hose & Hydraulics – Giving a Lift to MPI Northern Hose and Hydraulics are extremely proud to have supplied high performance hydraulic hoses and associated fittings to MPI Offshore’s fleet of wind turbine installation vessels ever since the first vessel, MPI Resolution, took to the seas.

“Our high performance hoses are being used to provide hydraulic power to the on-board cranes that are used to install the wind turbine columns and to the cylinders that drive the ‘legs’ that lift the craft out of the water during the installation process,” said Northern Hose & Hydraulics’ Jim Robinson.

“Over the years our high performance hoses supplied have proven to be up to the task to operate in pretty aggressive and hostile environments” added Jim. “We are very proud to be closely associated with MPI Offshore’s considerable achievements in the installation of off-shore wind farms around the world.”

Northern Hose & Hydraulics, based in Middlesbrough, is part of the Ferschl Group of Companies (www.ferschl.co.uk). For over 30 years, it has been supplying hydraulic, thermoplastic and industrial hoses and associated fittings and components to the mining, steel, chemical processing, plant hire, marine and sub-sea, food manufacturing and agricultural equipment sectors. Northern Hose & Hydraulics also operates a mobile facility which enables it to provide a fast-response on-site support service.

As a distributor of premium quality hoses and fittings manufactured

by Alfagomma (www.alfagomma.com), Northern Hose & Hydraulics can supply complete made-to-length hose assemblies to handle a wide range of mediums, both aggressive and non-aggressive, and operating pressures.

Sister company Cleveland Flexible Engineering, which shares the same premises in Middlesbrough, supplies a wide range of metallic hose assemblies that are proven in a wide variety of demanding industries including nuclear, gas, electricity, petrochemical and automotive. Whether the requirements are for exceptional flexibility, the protection of sensitive cables, an insulated hose, colour coded hose or multi-layer hoses encapsulated in an outer hose, Cleveland Flexible Engineering can provide a solution that meets those needs exactly. Special anti-scuff protection, hand protectors and spring guards are also available.

Other companies in the Ferschl Group include Ferschl Tubeform (www.ferschltubeform.co.uk), which specialises in precision tube and pipe manipulation, associated fabrication and exhaust system assembly, and Ferschl Hose & Hydraulics, which offers a similar range of products and services to that of Northern Hose & Hydraulics.

For further information, contact: Northern Hose & Hydraulics

Ferschl Hose & Hydraulics

Cleveland Flexible Engineering

Ferschl Tubeform

Unit 12 Newport Way, Cannon Park, Middlesbrough, TS1 5JW Tel: +44 (0)1642 226926 Fax: +44 (0)1642 226928 Mobile Callout: +44 (0)7771 533228/9 Email: enquiry@ferschl.co.uk

Unit 12 Newport Way, Cannon Park, Middlesbrough, TS1 5JW Tel: +44 (0)845 612 3984 Fax: +44 (0)845 612 3985 Email: enquiry@ferschl.co.uk

Dukesway, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE11 0PZ Tel: +44 (0)191 482 2511 Fax: +44 (0)191 491 0604 Email: enquiry@ferschl.co.uk

1-2 Doxford Drive, South West Industrial Estate, Peterlee, Co Durham, SR8 2RL Tel: +44 (0)191 518 0878 Fax: +44 (0)191 518 5879 Email: tubeform@ferschl.co.uk

UKC CIVIL

Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm A clean and efficient means of energy generation Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm will be located approximately eight kilometres from Easington, off East Yorkshire’s Holderness Coast and will consist of 73 wind turbines and an offshore substation.

Together, the turbines will have an installed capacity of up to 219MW. E.ON and TAG Energy Solutions announced in February that TAG had been awarded the contract to manufacture 16 monopiles and transition pieces for E.ON’s Humber Gateway wind farm.

The contract will see the Teesside based manufacturing firm become the first UK manufacturer to secure a substantial monopile and transition piece project for a wind farm in British Waters.

An additional 60 people are being employed to deliver the contract.

Preparation work for the manufacturing of the 16, 60m long, 650 tonne monopiles and associated transition pieces began immediately at TAG Energy Solutions’ state-of-the-art production facility on the banks of the River Tees.

The first steel arrived on site in March and the contract for the transition piece project will be completed by the end of the year.

E.ON’s £736M Humber Gateway wind farm, situated close to the mouth of the Humber Estuary, will generate enough energy to power up to 170,000

homes – more than one and a half times the number of homes in Hull.

Edward Davey, UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “Securing investment in clean energy that supports growth and jobs is an absolute priority. I want to congratulate TAG Energy Solutions on becoming the first UK manufacturer to secure a contract of this kind for a wind farm in British Waters. I hope they are the first of many.

“The development of a thriving UK supply chain is vital to support our rapidly-growing offshore wind industry. The Government is working with industry so it can source at least half of the content for offshore wind projects from within the UK. This will help build the lasting legacy of a strong domestic offshore wind manufacturing capability.”

Tony Cocker, CEO of E.ON UK, said: “We’re extremely pleased to be able to work with TAG on this very important next step in the construction of our Humber Gateway wind farm and to support local businesses in this way. I welcome TAG on board and hope that this is just the beginning of our organisations working together.”

Alex Dawson, Chief Executive of TAG Energy Solutions, added: “This high profile contract represents a significant achievement in TAG Energy Solutions development and the important role it

plays in the manufacturing of components for the offshore renewables sector. We are very pleased to be working with E.ON and this award demonstrates we have the skills, products and capabilities to serve the offshore wind industry.

“We are in the unique position of being the first, fully prepared British manufacturer to provide volume monopiles and transition pieces for UK wind farm developments. E.ON has demonstrated its confidence in TAG Energy Solutions and British manufacturing and we are very proud to be part of one of the country’s flagship wind farm developments.”

During development, two marine export cables will connect the offshore wind farm to a cable landfall site – the point where the generated electricity comes to shore – just south of Easington.

From there, the electricity generated by the wind farm will travel 30km through underground cables to an onshore substation at Saltend, east of Hull. The electricity produced by the offshore wind farm will then be supplied to the National Grid for distribution around the UK. A key part of the project will be the connection of the offshore wind farm to the national grid onshore. The onshore cables will come ashore near Easington. continued page 120 >

An example of an E.ON Windfarm - Source E.ON

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Iemants N.V. is an international steel construction company with over 50 years of experience in the construction, fabrication, supply and assembly of steel constructions.

Together with the sister companies Willems in Balen (B) and Spomasz in Zary (Poland) we dispose of a workshop surface of approx. 100.000 m². The annual production capacity of the three companies is approx. 55.000 tons.

We also dispose of a department Offshore Wind.

With a track record of more than 850 foundations for the offshore wind industry (delivery started in 2002), Smulders Projects Belgium can be seen as one of the most important suppliers worldwide.

All locations are supplied with a modern machine park with its own shot-blasting cabins and paint shops. The machine park of each division is completely computer controlled and linked to the different engineering departments. This causes the data to be streamlined and exchangeable.

The well-equipped factories are furnished in such a manner that internal logistics run as smoothly as possible. Large and heavy pieces are the standard rather than the exception, as there is sufficient space and a hoisting capacity of up to 120

tons. All handlings are controlled and executed by employees with a decent and qualified training, both in their area of skilled expertise and in safety. Meeting the required standards and having the necessary certificates are fundamental to Iemants.

In 2008 Iemants also created “Angus” in India, an Engineering Office with approximately 15 engineers (on top of the 55 engineers in Belgium).

On June 28th the four companies have been taken over by the French Group Eiffage.

This taking over will consolidate our position in the international market.

A few recent projects of Iemants NV: • Global Tech 1, Tripods • Amrumbank Offshore Substation • Butendiek Offshore Substation • West of Duddon Sands topside & jacket • EON Humber Gateway

An example of an E.ON Windfarm - Source E.ON UK The easterly and southerly boundaries to the site are bounded by the shipping channels leaving the Humber estuary. The northern boundary runs parallel to existing pipelines running into Easington. The total area of the site is approximately 24.8sq km.

This site was selected after a lengthy consideration of a number of alternatives, but E.ON believe this is an ideal location for the generation of offshore wind energy for a number of reasons including high winds and good connections into the National Grid.

Work this year has continued with the installation of the onshore cables. For local people, this has resulted in a small increase in noise and traffic in the area.

E.ON has employed best practices, such as carrying out work during normal working hours and working with the drivers of construction vehicles to ensure they are aware of local danger zones on the roads and are driving safely at all times.

In recent years there has been growing awareness of the need to reduce carbon emissions to slow down the pace of climate change resulting from human activity.

The electricity generating industry is one of the sources of carbon emissions, as traditionally fossil fuels have been burned to generate electricity.

The contribution of renewable energy is critical to progressing towards lower carbon emissions. E.ON believes that the Humber Gateway project will provide a clean and efficient means of energy generation.

The scheme will also help to tackle climate change and make a significant contribution to the UK’s renewable generation targets.

The substation and cable spur are essential components of the project and are required to feed the electricity generated by the wind farm into the National Grid.

Plans for the Humber Gateway project originated in 2002 when the Government identified three strategic areas suitable for offshore wind farm development. This was part of a national strategy under a process called the Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA). One of the areas selected was called the ‘Greater Wash’ and includes the Holderness coast.

The year after saw the assessment of Greater Wash and a bid was submitted to the Crown Estate – guardian of the seabed – for an offshore wind farm. The bid was

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accepted, enabling E.ON to develop an option for the Humber Gateway site.

In 2004, a consultation was carried out to understand the views of key statutory bodies on Humber Gateway. This formed the basis of an initial Scoping Report and contained all the responses received.

More detailed investigations and extensive surveys were undertaken in 2005 to understand the local environment. This also helped E.ON to determine that the offshore wind farm was feasible and the consultation continued into 2006 with key statutory bodies so E.ON could better understand their concerns and address them as part of the proposed design.

E.ON prepared the environmental report in 2007 to accompany the planning application. Five public exhibitions were also held to give the local community an opportunity to learn more about the plans – at Skettling, Partington and Hedon as well as Withernsea on the Holderness coast and at Cleethorpes.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a systematic process where by the significant impacts that the project is likely to have on the environment, both positive and negative, are identified and assessed.

An early stage of the process, which is scoping, is carried out to identify the topics that need to be included in the EIA process.

This involves consultation with a wide range of organisations to gather information and views on potential impacts that the project may have. These topics were then assessed in detail.

Where significant impacts are identified, consideration is given to measures that could be put into place to minimise them – known as mitigation measures.

Any significant residual impacts that will remain even after the adoption of mitigation measures, are then described.

E.ON held three public exhibitions at Easington, Withernsea and Hedon in 2008 and submitted planning applications for the offshore wind farm and onshore underground cable in April that year.

A year later the planning application for the onshore substation and cable spur were submitted, which was approved in 2010.

Planning consents for the offshore works were received in 2011 and a year later onshore cable installation and substation

connection to the National Grid started and the site was confirmed for the operations and maintenance base at Grimsby dock.

Significant progress has been made this year, with near completion of construction of the onshore substation at Saltend, more than halfway through construction of two underground onshore cables and completion of pre-construction offshore activities, which paved the way for offshore construction to commence in August 2013.

The point where the generated electricity comes to shore is called the landfall site and materials were delivered to site for this work in July, and the temporary site office was also set up.

Due to the area’s ecological interests, E.ON was asked by the Government’s Marine Management Organisation to work within certain time restrictions, meaning pipes had to be installed to receive export cables at the landfall site from August.

This involved work on an area of the beach to extend two pre-installed cable ducts further out into the shallow water, as well as some dredging work by a vessel in the shallow water.

Visser Smit Marine Contracting (VSMC) prepared the cable ducts in the field situated behind the fishermen’s compound, near to Seaside Road and Firtholme Road.

Deliveries of materials and equipment were made to this field for a few weeks.

Works on the beach were constrained to one small section and the access slipway, and was undertaken during August in two stages that each comprised of two days.

Health and safety has been a huge priority so signs were put up to show when work was due to start and the area where work took place was a restricted work site.

Work on the beach was limited to four days in total, and was undertaken in August, while the work in the field behind the fishermen’s compound took ten weeks and was completed at the end of September.

Next year will see the installation of the offshore substation and the completion of foundation installation followed by cables to the wind turbine foundations and commencement of wind turbine installation.

The wind farm will be complete and generating energy in 2015.

publishing limited

to advertise in this magazine please call

01257 2 3 1 9 0 0

w w w.pro -m a rk .org .uk Precision Marine Survey Ltd (PMSL) is an independent environmental consultancy established to provide integrated data acquisition, analysis and assessment with regard to estuarine, coastal & offshore marine development, marine conservation and commercial and recreational fisheries (including fisheries liaison, vessel management and provision of guard vessels).

Marine Survey, Monitoring Research & Assessment

PMSL has in house capabilities to undertake a variety of intertidal and subtidal marine environmental survey including benthic and fisheries surveys, drop down video, habitat / biotope mapping, geophysical survey and water quality sampling and modelling. PMSL also provide full statistical analysis, GIS and reporting of marine data and through its fully equipped laboratory, PMSL can facilitate the analysis of biological and chemical samples for a range of analyses including taxonomic analysis and particle size analysis (PSA).

Church Farm, Main Road, Thorngumbald, Hull, East Yorkshire HU12 9NE

Tel 01964 624423 Fax 01964 623352 info@precisionmarine.co.uk www.precisionmarine.co.uk

PMSL also operate two purpose built and fully coded survey vessels which can operate up to 60 miles offshore (category 2). PMSL is a member of the NMBAQC scheme (The National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme).

Connecting power from offshore to onshore grids Export, array, onshore cables & interconnectors • • • •

Installation & trenching Landfalls & HDD Terminations Inspection, repair & maintenance

www.vsmc.nl 121

UKC COMMENT

What’s in it for you?

Community benefits and planning Angela Dunbar and Matt Spilsbury, Turley Associates We all want benefits and in a time of economic prudence the spotlight has turned onto major planning applications as a vehicle to deliver community benefits. So what are community benefits? There is no legal definition, but it has been taken to be a benefit that would be provided as a result of the delivery of a new development.

The spectrum of benefits is broad, and the onus is on the developer to clearly articulate what benefits will be derived from a development. In practice this means quantifying the number of jobs, level of financial investment into a local area and explaining how the trickle-down expenditure effects of the development will impact on a local area.

Physical benefits that can be derived include upgraded road infrastructure and the creation of new public spaces.

Social benefits can include the creation of training programmes to assist the longterm unemployed gain access to new job opportunities created as a result of the proposal. The list goes on, but it is important to remember that it’s up to the applicant to clearly present this information as part of the planning package. The socio-economic benefits of a proposal will form a material consideration in the overall determination of the planning application, so it is vital that they are robustly quantified and clearly articulated.

Extracting benefits from major development proposals is a hot topic in planning at present. DoE Planning is currently reviewing the legal toolkit at their disposal, as well as evaluating the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) used in England and Wales, in order to establish the most effective mechanisms to maximise the generation of benefits from development.

To date, the main vehicle for delivering benefits has been the use of Article 40 agreements. However, such agreements can only be used where the benefit proposed is directly required in order to deliver the new development, for example roads improvements. We understand that DoE Planning is currently investigating whether it would be possible to widen the scope of Article 40 agreements to include other non-tangible benefits associated with new developments. This could incorporate

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funding from energy companies for community programmes and projects.

As we move closer to the Reform of Public Administration (RPA) in 2015 and the transfer of planning powers to local councils, the idea of adopting the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a measure that is currently under close scrutiny. The CIL is a pound per square metre levy on new developments that local authorities are encouraged to charge in their area. The money raised can be used to support development by funding strategic infrastructure that the local authority, local community and neighbourhoods want, for example new schools, road improvements, open space, cultural and leisure facilities.

However, CIL in England and Wales has been a long time in its gestation, which has caused uncertainty and confusion in the property industry.

Moreover, the introduction of an additional ‘tax’ on development has been, and continues to be, strongly resisted at what is perceived to be an inappropriate

juncture in the economic cycle.

The opportunity exists for Northern Ireland to benefit from a position of hindsight, once the new council structure is in place. In the short term, it’s clear that developers need to consider two issues. Firstly, how they are articulating the socio-economic impact arising from their proposal. If developers want to be sure that DoE Planning fully appreciates the value of their development proposal, the benefits need to be set out. Secondly, how are they going to deliver the benefits proposed – Article 40 agreement or voluntary undertaking?

These issues need to be resolved before submitting development proposals.

Angela Dunbar

Matt Spilsbury

Angela Dunbar is an Associate Director and Matt Spilsbury an economic planner at planning consultancy Turley Associates.

Visit www.turleyassociates. co.uk for further information.

PROFILE UKC

Axiom Solar Ltd

Specialists in providing solar plants Established in 2011 by Peter Davies, Axiom Solar Ltd is a proven provider of large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) energy plants.

It is a leading and successful project originator, developer, financier, project manager, bankable constructor (EPC) and long-term operator and maintainer of large-scale solar parks.

The service carried out by the Company is wide reaching; sites are identified and optimised before initial design, development and planning procedures are carried out as well as engineering, procurement, and construction and commissioning.

Every potential piece of land seen is different. Each has its own unique geographic, topographic, environmental and/or operational characteristics that affect its capacity and suitability in regard to the optimisation of a solar PV generating plant technically, operationally and commercially for all of the constituents, including landowners, neighbours, operators, owners, investors and funders.

From orientation, slope, shadow, land quality, public or private access routes, and maintenance issues, and importantly the

context and provision for diverse existing and future potential commercial operations - all of these are examined and investigated by the Company before a decision is made about whether or not, how and on what basis a site might be suitable.

As well as being experts in solar PV developments and grid connectivity, Axiom is knowledgeable of and sensitive to agricultural land and property owner issues and therefore can quickly and realistically identify and professionally advise on site suitability and the solar and investment potential of any site. Thereafter Axiom manages the technical design, planning and permits, development and entire process through construction and commissioning to deliver bankable, institutional quality, industrial scale solar park projects.

Initially the EPC contractor, as its projects have become larger and greater in number, Axiom works with larger strategic partners in the construction of projects; being very much involved and responsible from a technical, design, project management and quality assurance perspective during the physical delivery of the projects.

The Company has a proven and impressive

track record of success in the field and has the financial and human resources, the technical and financial expertise, relationships and credibility expected and demanded by landowners, suppliers, banks and investors in the sector.

Axiom funds all of its own development activities and procures the appropriate and necessary construction and long term project financing as required; Axiom creates genuinely shovel-ready projects and then takes them forward through the construction phase to commissioning and into long term operations, having arranged the requisite finance in preparation for the long term owner of the solar pv generating investment.

Based just off Junction 12 on the A14 at Islip, near Kettering, Axiom undertakes much of its work in-house but also works closely with a small, experienced network of experts to supplement its in-house expertise, experience and resources, including financial, legal, tax and technical where any of this is required.

The team that makes up Axiom is extremely important and brings many years continued page 126 >

Five Oaks Solar Park

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Established track record of financing, building and selling solar park projects

Axiom Solar Limited is genuinely a proven and credible ‘one-stop-shop’ for large scale solar photovoltaic (PV) energy plants – We are a leading and successful project originator, developer, financier, project manager, bankable constructor (EPC) and long term operator and maintainer (O&M) of large scale solar parks and commercial rooftop energy plants.

Bank and Institution approved solar PV EPC Contractor Bank and Institution approved solar PV O&M Contractor

Proven leading UK based large-scale solar park developer SITE SUITABILITY For land owners and commercial property owners, a solar park or rooftop solar PV energy plant can deliver substantial added value to existing property, a secure and predictable income stream and an underwriting and or enhancement of existing commercial operations.

Every potential piece land, every roof top we have seen is different. Each has its own unique geographic, topographic, structural and or operational characteristics that affect its suitability for optimising a solar PV installation.

From orientation, slope, footpaths, shadow to land quality, access and maintenance issues and importantly the context of existing commercial operations.

We are expert in solar PV developments and grid connectivity. Equally, we are knowledgeable of and sensitive to agricultural land and property owner issues. As such, we can quickly and realistically identify and professionally advise on site suitability and the solar potential of your site

For a free consultation or advice regarding any aspect of industrial scale solar park or rooftop installation, please call us on 01832–737470 to speak to one of our highly experienced and professional management team.

Axiom Solar Limited Colpmans Farm Offices, Islip, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN14 3LT T 01832–737470 F 01832–730738

www.axiomenergygroup.com

Springhill Solar Park

of development, construction, project management, electrical and financial experience with it. As well as Founder and Managing Director Peter Davies, the Board consists of Technical Director Malcolm Evans, Commercial Director Nigel Street and Operations Director Gordon Calder – a team with substantial and relevant business and engineering experience and complementary skills sets that are a great asset to the Company.

Ahead of commissioning, in parallel with the construction program, Axiom drives the marketing and administration of the disposal/ sales process in close collaboration with its external advisory teams.

Managing the presentation and process of the significant and detailed due diligence that is technical, commercial and legal to banks and or the institutional investors and their advisors is a process that is critical – it requires the highest levels of attention to detail, administrative coordination and communication if the process is to be smooth, effective, economic and completed in a timely manner. After three years of creating, financing, constructing, delivering and selling projects, it is a process that Axiom understands well and strives to perfect.

With his team and partners, Peter Davies originated, developed, procured the funding for and delivered 28% of FiT Accredited ground mounted solar parks in the first round of the UK’s solar parks initiative; four solar parks built simultaneously in four counties over just weeks – all successfully commissioned, accredited and operational before being long term refinanced and or sold to experienced renewable energy institutional investors.

With its expanded and enhanced Board and project management teams, Axiom’s knowledge and expertise in solar PV along with the resources of founders and partners allows the Company to promote, develop and deliver the highest quality technical and commercial solar PV solutions to landowners, commercial property

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owners, industry and long-term investors.

Axiom’s solar parks are constructed for the large-scale generation of clean renewable electrical energy, all harnessed from the energy of sun. The inverters convert the electrical direct current (DC) generated by the solar PV panels into standard alternating current (AC) which is transformed to the point of connection voltage, and then fed back into the National Grid.

As well as receiving payments for generating the clean solar power, the exported electricity is sold, either to utilities, energy traders or private highenergy users. Industrial scale solar parks are considered relatively low risk, quality return investments that are guaranteed to deliver a predictable, consistent inflation resistant yield over their operational life span.

Having already successfully completed large scale solar park projects in Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, West Sussex and Hampshire, Axiom continues to specialise in new industrial scale solar park development projects and has many more parks currently being developed and under construction for operation in the near and medium term future.

Another project was just recently commissioned in July 2013 – known as the Five Mile Drive Solar Park it is a 3.949 MW FiT project in the Cotswolds using Power Electronics inverters, immediately adjacent to the Spring Hill Solar Park, which is a 5MW, and also employs ReneSolar PV panels.

In relation to commercial and industrial property, ground mount and rooftop solar PV systems can significantly reduce business operational costs and provide a dedicated and secure electricity, lowering reliance on increasingly expensive grid supplied electricity by using the daytime electricity generated by the system on site.

Axiom’s experienced management team can design, project manage and deliver the construction of appropriate, cost effective and value adding PV systems to meet customer and investors

specific requirements. Axiom team members were responsible for the delivery of the commercial rooftop projects installed at Jaguar Coventry, Perkins Engines Peterborough, Witham Garage Melton Mowbray and Sharnbrook School Bedfordshire.

With such a successful few years in business, Axiom is hoping to continue this momentum and build upon all of the experience that all staff members and Directors in the business have accrued over decades, and most specifically and recently as innovators and leaders in the UK large scale solar sector – notably in delivering investment grade solar PV plants – and to maintain the position as a high quality, credible and respected player in what is effectively a niche market.

Between the Directors, managers and staff, Axiom has the highest levels of experience at identifying and creating quality projects, taking them through development, planning and construction to commissioning, accreditation and into long term operations and ongoing maintenance for and on behalf of long term institutional investor owners.

Axiom is pleased to have established such strong and genuine partnerships with supply chain and physical project delivery partners, specialist advisory clients, financial and other strategic business relationships.

All involved with Axiom are internationally aware and are looking at some overseas projects, but in the short term the focus remains on delivering many MW of high quality projects in the UK for existing and new investment partners, which may eventually result in expansion of contracts further afield in the future.

Axiom Solar Ltd, Colpmans Farm Offices, Islip, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN14 3LT.

HEALTH UKC

Eardley House

New care home in Bradeley Village Safe Harbor is providing its expertise in the residential and nursing care to provide a new care home in an ideal location.

Eardley House, based in the Bradeley Village area, which has a retirement community, will initially consist of 40 bedrooms but there is provision to increase this to 52 bedrooms.

This centre of excellence is situated close to local amenities, a bus stop, community centre and a church next door.

Work was necessary on the house because when it was purchased, it was run down and the bedrooms were not fit for purpose, and needed to be expanded by a quarter.

In addition, internal configuration was required and a number of pods have been incorporated. All of this work has led to the interior being completely changed, which will make it a high specification care establishment in the future.

Many of the windows were single glazed and when the pods were incorporated, so were other insulation techniques such as double-glazing windows.

Designed by DEP Architects, the twostorey has a light, airy and very welcoming entrance, and the previous entrance has been turned into bedrooms, while the laundry has also been relocated.

The previous laundry space, like the kitchen, was old and out of date. Safe Harbor has replaced this with brand new equipment that is more efficient and functional.

Eardley House will also have wireless networking throughout with standard network points, and eventually, Skype

will be available for every room. All residents will have a smart TV, which have webcams and wireless access too.

Speaker cables are being incorporated so that throughout the corridors, there will be music playing and can include the requests of residents, which will bring a great atmosphere to Eardley House.

Renewable and sustainable energy is important to the project, and along with double-glazing, insulation in the walls and pods, Eardley House will also benefit from biomass boilers if the roll out at Cloverfields Care Home is successful.

Safe Harbor is wholly committed to sustainability and is also purchasing wood free paper, with its stationary supplier being one of the only companies in the UK that supply it.

This push towards a more sustainable

business model will continue, as will Safe Harbor’s support of local suppliers, which in turn will support the local economy.

One of the many satisfying aspects of the project is being able to reinstate something that everyone is proud of. When Eardley House was closed down, people were upset.

But the new care home will benefit those in need within the area, while also employing staff from the area, which boosts the local economy.

The building is developed to all the latest building standards and is fully accessible for the disabled, and security is guaranteed with alarm detection, and emergency lighting systems are also incorporated.

The Main Contractor for the Eardley House development is Project Newbuild continued page 130 >

An example of how the bedrooms will look once complete

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Based in the north west of England, Doyle Energy Solutions offers renewable energy solutions to its customers including low energy lighting, biomass boilers, solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and any technology that can benefit a company looking to save energy.

The Company works with carefully chosen partners who can provide installation and maintenance throughout the UK. All products are a premium band that are recognised as market leaders.

Bob Baker is the Director of a Company and can call upon 25 years of experience, which includes work as an Operations Director for a group of care homes.

Doyle Energy Solutions has services aimed at commercial companies from care homes to hotels, factories, and any sector or business with a large energy usage.

One of the products provided by the Company that is of great benefit to energy saving clients is the biomass boilers.

The wood-fired furnace of the Lignumat range is well known for great attention to detail. This boiler is based on the underfeed stoking system where the fuel is pushed into the combustion chamber from underneath the flame and can burn pellets and wood chip up to 50% of moisture content.

Options for fuel handing and storage are varied and include a rotating arm with rising screw, rotating arm with

horizontal screw and double-rotating arm for larger fuel stores.

This boiler has up to eight different heating groups that can be controlled with individual control modules connected to the main panel and a two-core bus connection, which can be expanded to control further groups.

A legionella programme is available to guarantee the water system cannot harbour legionalla bacteria and there is control for an unlimited number of water heaters.

Each boiler has buffer storage management for integration of

alternative energies and the entire system can be remote-controlled from the living room or via a modem.

These boilers have a clear display system, full use of residual heat which maximises efficiency, let customers know if there is a problem thanks to the fault indicator, and has a mode of operation changeable at the touch of a button.

Users will benefit greatly from this particular boiler because it has a maximum efficiency of more than 93% thanks to low exhaust temperature and clean combustion.

There is an automatic ignition controlled by outside temperature sensor and, if necessary, the boiler can burn logs without the need for any modification.

The boiler uses firebricks with low thermal storage to ensure the

rapid reaction time of the boiler and it has a long life expectancy thanks to excellent reliability and product quality.

The Company has provided two 99kwh biomass boilers at Cloverfield House Care Home.

Cloverfield House was looking to reduce its increasing energy costs because care homes use a lot of hot water and heating all year round.

Biomass is a perfect fit for them as the RHI payments from the Government will give a fantastic ROI.

costs of £493,000, which signifies a substantial return.

The project will be completed in November 2013, marking the end of yet another successful contract for Doyle Energy Solutions.

The future is certainly bright for the Company, which is developing well with growth on many markets. The business plan is resulting in new products and suppliers added to the Company all the time.

A container was built to hold the plant equipment and a 40-foot clad container is in place to hold the biomass boilers.

Doyle Energy Solutions 9 Pheasant Drive Wincham Cheshire CW9 6PX

The benefits to the home are obvious.

Over the 20-year RHI period, Cloverfield House will make a net gain from the RHI payments and the fuel

1. Spring arm (to move fuel into the conveyor screw)

8. Rotating grate burner with automatic de-ashing

2. Mitre gear for spring arm

9. Firebricks

3. Conveyor screw

10. Post-combustion zone

4. Drive for conveyor screw

11. Visual combustion chamber monitoring

5. Burnback flap with emergency operation

12. Ash drawer

M ++44(0) 07771 560340 bob@doyleenergysolutions.co.uk www.doyleenergysolutions.co.uk

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13. De-ashing mechanism

6. Drive unit for stocker screw

14. Insulated boiler housing

7. Stocker screw

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15. Controller 4 1

5 3

10 11

2 9

8 6

7

12

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Ltd, who has built a fine facility for the people of Bradeley Village, and made the vision of Safe Harbor reality.

Safe Harbor is committed to being at the forefront of providing quality personalised residential and nursing care – to create a homely environment that respects each individual’s independence,

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protects their status and enables them to achieve as full a life as possible.

With more than 20 years of experience, the management of Safe Harbor is proud of being able to offer a highly professional care service for the elderly, with a personal touch.

Safe Harbor is steadfast in the belief that

when people have worked hard throughout their life and been committed to helping others, they deserve to be cared for, and at Eardley House, this will be guaranteed.

For more information, please visit www.safeharbor.co.uk

The Smarter Way of Fire Fighting

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