UKC V17N02

Subsidence?

Shire Structures innovative piling system has saved the Insurance industry millions…… see page 5

V17 N02

Engineered Foundation System

If you think all foundations are the same – think again. Quickbase’s award winning pre-fabricated foundation system is going from strength to strength…… see page 4

Innova completes £2m college contract Faced with the challenge of modernising their science laboratories in a short time scale during term-time, Greater Manchester-based vocational college, Hopwood Hall, turned to the expertise and experience of Innova Design Solutions to deliver the project.

The work was carried out as part of a wider capital renewal programme with key buildings central to the delivery of life sciences at the College benefitting from a £2.2million refurbishment.

Innova provided the design and installation of furniture and flooring, as well as the M&E works, to provide four new-look labs and a preparation room.

The work was carried out in a sympathetic and empathetic manner, with the emphasis on construction, not disruption, to allow studies to carry on as normal at the college, which has campuses in Rochdale and Middleton.

After liaising closely with Hopwood Hall on all design features, Innova then worked on one room at a time to allow lessons to carry on in the other labs.

With the college looking for a technical, professional feel to reflect the age range of their students, Innova produced outstanding, inspirational labs, containing crisp, neat lines with a wide variety and range of storage options.

Using their unique ‘hot corners’ design, Innova created imaginative work spaces with benches ideally suited to collaborative work with ‘Trespa’ surfaces, seamless joints and tamper-proof MAE and concealed services.

Big functional sinks and multiple fume cupboards added to the desired technical look, further enhanced by the fully networked teacher wall. The high level of detail continued into the preparation room with extensive open-fronted storage allowing for quick inventory and multiple extraction hoods and sinks and a central island to cater for practical preparation.

Imaginative use of natural light and colours completed the look with all four labs given a distinctive feel to provide further inspiration and motivation to staff and students.

The work was carried out throughout the autumn term 2013 and successfully completed by Christmas, to the delight of Hopwood Hall’s Director for Corporate Services, Saf Arfan.

He said: “The science labs posed a number of design challenges from programme to space planning.

“Innova - at short notice - produced a creative design that transformed the look and optimised the space. This, together with a creative rolling programme and competitive tender, resulted in contract award.

“Both staff and students were overwhelmed by the design and functionality of the labs.

“Innova demonstrated exceptional customer service with their experience in the education sector enabling them to deliver the project in term-time, with minimal disruption to teaching and learning.”

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Design

1. Design

4. Ring Beam

Supply

2. Manufacture

5. Floor

Install

3. Piling

6. Superstructure

What our customers say “The work was completed in just over a day. A very good advertisement for Quickbase.”

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Quickbase. The Chapel, Barnsley Hall Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. B61 0SZ Tel: +44 (0)845 6440000 Fax: +44 (0)845 4003333 email: info@quickbaseuk.com www.quickbaseuk.com

Foundation Problems?

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Shire Stabilisers are today the most widely used remedial pile in domestic subsidence repairs, featuring in over 1000 jobs a year and saving the insurer an estimated average £3000 on the overall claim cost for each job.

Shire Structures. The Chapel, Barnsley Hall Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. B61 0SZ Tel: 01527 579933 Fax: 01527 579537 email: info@shire-uk.com www.shire-uk.com

PROFILE 36 38 40 42 62 72 76 85 86 87 88 91

CONSTRUCT NHS Property Services Flood Protection Association London Underground Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire East Sussex County Council Magnox Decke (Newcastle) Ltd BEC Construction Ltd Lancashire County Council Hauser & Wirth George Hurst & Sons

HOUSING 81 Rathbone Market 83 Blackdown Sheperd Huts Ltd 84 Normanton Road Housing

CIVIL 56 Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm

COMMUNITY 93 Newbridge Memorial Hall & Institute

EDUCATION 66 74 80 90 94 95 98

Ockendon Studio School Lancaster University Swansea University UCL Cruciform Library Invicta Grammar School Marlborough College Littlefield House City of Bradford Schools

HEALTH 71 Asher Loftus Way 92 Two Spires Medical Centre

LEISURE 94 Llandegfedd Water Sports & Visitor Centre 96 Newbury Racecourse

COMMENTS 20 22 24 25 26

NHBC Velux – Keith Riddle Sheridan Gold – Peter Sheridan Thomas Eggar – Kasia Dickson Human Recognition Systems – Simon Meyer 89 Maclay Murray & Spens LLP – Catriona Munro

CASE STUDY 28 Fifosys & Get Living London 30 AMP6

COMMERCIAL 82 Tennants Auctioneers

RETAIL 78 Central England Cooperative

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NEWS

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Editors Victoria Lee Gareth Trevor-Jones Staff Writer John Train Editorial Raimy Greenland Robert Atherton Copy Jody Ramsey

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Studio Manager SĂŠamus Norton Designer Richard Gill ISSN 1461-1279

Proof Reader Matthew Brown Approvals Sarah Smith

Validated by

Credit Control Carol Ryan

Circulation of 93,519

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UKC NEWS

BCU announces £58M plans to transform the University Having already committed over £180M in developing its estate and learning facilities, Birmingham City University has unveiled plans for a further £58M improvements to consolidate to two campus locations from 2017 – transforming the University’s environment.

Following approval by the Board of Governors, the University will move all teaching and learning, research and business engagement services, student support and professional services to its City South Campus in Edgbaston and the City Centre Campus within Eastside and near Millennium Point; with both sites benefiting from new purpose-built facilities.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan

said that the exciting longterm estates strategy will ensure that BCU is best paced to become a university of choice for Birmingham, the West Midlands, UK and internationally by providing facilities and a learning experience which are world class.

He said: “Positioning the university at the heart of the city will enable us to capitalise on connections and better engage with local and national business so we can continue our focus on professional and practice based courses and development to attract students to the city and retain highly skilled graduates in the region.”

Phase I of the University’s City Centre Campus expansion was completed in September 2013. The Parkside

Building, which brings together art, design and media provision, has since received the ‘Sustainability Award’ at the recent Insider West Midlands Property Awards and has also been shortlisted in the 2014 Civic Trust Awards and the Guardian University Awards 2014.

Phase II, which will open in September 2015, will house Birmingham City Business School, together with the Schools of English, Law and Social Sciences.

Phase III, scheduled for completion in September 2017, will see the School of Education move to join the Faculty of Health at City South, creating a hub for the provision of public service contracts and professional development.

Edmond Shipway to cost manage Woodland Burial Park Multi-disciplinary construction consultancy, Edmond Shipway, has recently begun work on site as quantity surveyor and CDM co-ordinator on the latest development for GreenAcres Woodland Burials. Once complete, the £1.5M venture in Rainford, Liverpool will become the fourth park to be managed by the GreenAcres Group.

Opening up a total area of approximately 71 acres of private woodland and meadowland, the site will incorporate two 19th and 20th Century plantations on the Knowsley Estate.

Emma Wood and Grace’s Wood will provide an enhanced burial facility for those seeking an alternative to a traditional funeral.

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The concept is designed to mirror the ‘cycleof-life’; offering the opportunity to contribute to the future quality of the environment and in doing so create a memorial to past lives. Specialist management techniques have been developed to incorporate the burial process within a longterm plan to restore and extend the native woodlands.

Edmond Shipway’s role will be to cost manage the construction of two new single-storey, sustainable, timber framed buildings which will form the reception area and maintenance barn, along with associated access roads, car parking, incoming mains services and drainage.

The role will also incorporate landscaping works which will extend to ground preparation, earth modelling and cultivation, woodland and amenity planting and seeding and the installation of semi-mature trees.

Commenting on the project, David Stevenson, Managing Director of Edmond Shipway said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to this innovative programme of works.

High quality sustainable buildings form an integral part of the GreenAcres Woodland Burial strategy and we are pleased to be associated with such a forward thinking and unique concept”.

Derby’s Castleward exceeds recycling targets Compendium Living, the developer behind Derby’s £100M Castleward redevelopment, is leading the way in sustainability by recycling 96% of the waste generated during the building process - well above the 90% target set for the project.

The firm is using recycled materials in the construction of Phase I, with crushed brick and concrete from a number of demolished buildings now being used to create car parking areas for the new residential development.

Since January, a total of 49.84 tons of waste have been collected of which 47.93 tons have already been recycled.

Compendium Living will also be teaming up with the National Builders Wood Waste Collection Scheme to ensure all of its wood off-cuts are recycled and reused.

Neil Walker, Project Manager for Compendium Living, comments: “We are proud to be exceeding our recycling targets on site at Castleward and will continue to make every effort possible to build on this great achievement.

“Prior to construction work beginning onsite, a number of buildings were demolished to make way for new homes and commercial premises.

“The material generated from this was crushed onsite and is now being reused to create hardstanding areas within the new development of homes in order to minimise the amount of waste that is sent to landfill.

“From its very beginning we have ensured that Castleward is a landmark development for Derby in every way, which is why we are delighted that we are able to deliver a large scale project with such a minimal impact on the environment.”

The first phase of Castleward will cover approximately five acres of land and feature 163 residential units, approximately 16,500sq ft of commercial space, a tree lined boulevard and a new urban park.

In total, Compendium Living will create 800 new homes and 34,500sqft of commercial space at Castleward.

EQUITONE opens up a bright future for inner city school An EQUITONE architectural fibre cement facade from Marley Eternit has been used to clad a new £17.6M, RIBA award-winning Academy in inner-city Birmingham.

EQUITONE [natura] and [textura] was specified by architects de Rijke Marsh Morgan for the new BREEAM ‘Very Good’ St Albans Academy, which has been awarded both a RIBA West Midlands Regional and a National Award.

Fibre cement [textura] was specified by the architects in vivid colours to emphasise the two axes within the school and the entrance area, which connect the two small “schools within a school” to the sixth form and specialist teaching areas with [natura] used as a darker finish to contrast the bright colours of [textura].

Michael Spooner of de Rijke Marsh Morgan said: “We selected EQUITONE because it is expressive, colourful, and

economic. We worked strictly with standard panel widths and half widths to avoid waste, and set the windows around this to maximise efficiency of the material. The window reveals and soffit panels were also in colour to give the building a sense of solidity.”

The vision for St Albans Academy was to create two small schools within a school, each with their own headteacher, to accommodate 800 pupils aged 1118. Two small schools on one side of the building are linked with specialist learning spaces, on the other by a spacious, dramatic central atrium.

The clients on this project were Lend Lease, Birmingham Local Education Partnership and Ark. The Main Contractor was Lend Lease and the specialist contractor responsible for installing the cladding was Horbury Building Systems.

Hanson’s Claughton bricks are back for 2014 Housing Minister Kris Hopkins visited Hanson’s re-opened Claughton Manor brick works near Lancaster to see bricks being produced for the first time in four years.

The works was closed in December 2009 as house building reached an alltime low but a dramatic upturn in new housing construction, fuelled by the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, has created a renewed and sustained demand for bricks, leading to the Claughton plant being re-opened. It is the first time a brick works has ever been “de-mothballed”.

The works is producing a range of traditional red and buff extruded bricks in dragface and rustic textures to meet the key aesthetic and technical requirements of planners in northern England.

The bricks are highly resistant to frost and their sustainability credentials are enhanced by their long life performance, low maintenance and high recycled content.

Paul Lacey, Head of Marketing and Sustainability at Hanson UK, said: “The growth in house building means orders are very strong which has led to this unprecedented move, which has created 34 new jobs. It is fantastic news for the local economy and increases our capacity and product offering to house builders.

“The Claughton Classics range contains many firm favourites to complement traditional housing stock as well as a number of exciting new bricks ideal for modern housing developments. They will add warmth and character to any property.”

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Drug detection by using exhaled breath SensAbues – Breath Air Drug Test A new, easy-to-use method for detecting drug abuse Until now, sampling for drug testing has been a complicated, lengthy or intrusive process: urine samples have to be collected under surveillance; blood tests that have to be taken by trained medical staff.

SensAbues offers: • Sampling device for easy and rapid sampling on site • A sampling procedure difficult to adulterate • Analysis by mass spectrometry for legally defensible results Blood, urine and saliva are the most popular methods for detecting illegal drugs and are already used by law enforcement agencies in a number of countries. However, exhaled breath is seen as a promising alternative as it’s easier to collect, non-invasive, less prone to adulteration and advantageous when location becomes an obstacle, such as at the roadside.

In fact, for roadside testing the conformation is a problem. Oral fluid is not yet standardised and numerous collecting devices are using various ways to get the couple of millimetres, which is necessary for an analysis.

Urine is time consuming and some substances might be impossible to detect after a long delay, potentially caused by transportations and waiting in a hospital or police station for a sample to be delivered. The donors also get the chance to drink water and dilute their urine or blame a shy bladder as giving a urine sample has to be supervised.

A breath test is easy to do on the spot within three minutes and the police officer gets the proof he needs.

A new technology for drug testing has been introduced in Sweden. This technology is based on a collecting device, DrugTrap®, with a filter which traps aerosols from breath. These aerosols mimic the blood in terms of the content of certain substances, such as the drugs reported in the publication by Professor Olof Beck et al.

SensAbues offers this new, easy-to-use sampling device

The product, DrugTrap®, comprises a filter holder, mouthpiece, plastic bag with volume indicators and seals for both ends. It is delivered in a box with easy to follow instructions. After the test has been taken, the filter holder is sealed and labelled. Place the DrugTrap® in an envelope and post it to the laboratory. The package can be sent at any mailbox.

It is the non-volatile organic compounds which are transported in the aerosols substances eg: drugs but also isoprostanes, cytokines and leukotrienes that can be identified. Approximately two litres of breath going through the filter is enough. Normally a few hundred aerosols are carried away from the lungs in every breath. These aerosols are in the order of a tenth of one micrometre (10-6m) but, on the other hand, contain a few orders of magnitude (four to five times) lower concentration of the substances than for blood. By comparison, the breath/air matrix is quite clean compared to blood.

After a sample is taken, the DrugTrap® is sealed and sent to a laboratory.

For legally defendable results, the lab has to be accredited.

The DrugTrap® is placed on top of a glass test tube and the filter is washed out with a methanol solution. This solution is condensed and once again diluted. It now contains the drug substances and they can be identified by a screening process in the high performance liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry. Today, around 20 drugs can be identified. When an illicit drug is identified, a more rigorous confirmation will be performed in the same type of equipment.

Exhaled breath contains very small particles that carry non-volatile substances from the airway lining fluid. Any compound that is present in the blood may contaminate this fluid and pass into the breath when the airways open. The compounds will then be exhaled and can subsequently be detected. In addition to drug testing, ExaBreath® can also collect biomarkers. This opens up new opportunities for research around the early detection of diseases, eg: colds, lung cancer and asthma.

Collection is simple and fast.

Other advantages are: • Non-invasive and non-intrusive • A + B test in the same sample • Mixed genders at the same collections • Sampling on the spot in two minutes • Adulteration is virtually impossible • More than one client at a time • The Drug Trap® can be sent by mail.

Web: www.sensabues.com E-mail: info@sensabues.com Visiting and mail address: SensAbues AB, Hälsovägen 7, Karolinska Institutet Science Park, SE-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden

UKC NEWS

Recruitment drive for Mersey bridge project The search has begun for hundreds of staff to help deliver one of Europe’s biggest civil engineering contracts - the £600M Mersey Gateway Project.

Merseylink, the consortium named as the preferred bidder by Halton Borough Council for the contract to build the new Mersey Gateway bridge, has started a drive to recruit a number of key positions within the early delivery team.

Preparatory work on the project has already begun, and construction starts in earnest this spring.

Steve Cardwell, Project Director of Merseylink, said: “Delivering a project

of such magnitude, which will bring clear benefits to local communities and the region as a whole, requires the strongest possible team.

“This will be one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe over the next three and a half years and I’m confident we will be able to bring together highly motivated staff to take the project to fruition. At our peak we will be employing more than 500 people to work on the project “We have a wide range of opportunities here, and we are expecting to see a great deal of interest in working on

this iconic bridge project, from people with experience in the delivery of major roadwork and structure programmes.”

Cllr Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Borough Council, said: “This is great news. We have said all along that Mersey Gateway can be a catalyst for job creation and will help encourage inward investment to the whole region. The scale of this project is huge and there will be high quality opportunities in lots of different areas.”

The cable stay bridge, which will provide a major new strategic transport route in the North West of England, will be completed in 2017.

ISG wins £8M Green Park project ISG has been awarded its fifth project at the 95 acre Green Park business community in Reading, taking a circa £8M scheme to refurbish and reconfigure a commercial office building for owners Oxford Properties.

This latest win sees the contractor carry out a comprehensive Cat A fit out and reconfiguration of the five-storey structure at 450 South Oak Way and will deliver 102,000sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, providing flexible options for single or multi-tenanted occupation.

This refurbishment follows the successful completion of similar building upgrades at the park and forms part of Oxford’s long term asset management strategy to address the supply demand gap of Grade

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A space in the Thames Valley market.

ISG will undertake major structural alterations as part of this project, forming a new entrance and improved open lobby area, and constructing a two-storey cantilevered extension at level three. Four link bridges will be installed across each of the upper levels within the main atrium and a stylish feature staircase will provide access from ground to first floor levels.

ISG is targeting a BREEAM Excellent environmental performance rating for the refurbished office building through the use of high specification building materials and the installation of highly efficient mechanical and electrical services. Externally, the project includes the provision of attractive hard and soft landscaping features,

resurfacing the adjacent car park and the construction of a new cycle store featuring roof mounted photovoltaic panels.

Paul Cossell, Managing Director of ISG’s Fit Out and Engineering Services, commented: “We are seeing continuing growth in the volume and scale of project opportunities within the region as businesses take advantage of reduced set up costs and the excellent transport and communications infrastructure. Our Reading office continues to service ISG’s longstanding international customer base, but is also making major inroads within the regional office market as owners, developers and occupiers recognise the significant benefit of working with a highly experienced and innovative sector specialist.”

Final designs unveiled for Northumberland’s £11.2M landscape discovery centre Representatives from the business and tourism community came together recently, for the official unveiling of the final designs for The Sill, Northumberland’s proposed £11.2M national Landscape Discovery Centre.

After months of informative public consultation and refinement led by partners Northumberland National Park Authority and YHA (England and Wales), the stunning photorealistic designs and animated flythrough footage featuring a tour of the new building, were launched at a special unveiling hosted at Bardon Mill Village Hall close to the current National Park centre at Once Brewed.

Marking a key milestone for the project, the designs will now be taken into the planning stages of the development, with an outcome predicted by summer 2014.

Designed by award winning architects Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall, the building is set to be at the forefront of sustainable design with local woodchip heating, photovoltaic canopies and solar thermal water heating.

Since the last consultation event in autumn 2013, an innovative form of interpretation design created by Edinburgh based design consultants Bright 3D, has also been progressed, with an overarching theme ‘hidden in plain view’ shaping plans for the exhibition design space and exploring different aspects of the environment. The centre will house state of the art education facilities, super fast broadband, five external activity areas, serviced office accommodation for outdoor activity businesses, areas for retail of local products and a local produce cafe.

Alison Thornton-Sykes, Principal Architect at Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall, said: “Iconic projects like The Sill don’t come around very often and we are so excited to be a part of this process. Revealing the final designs after so many months of hard work and an extensive consultation is a very special moment for the team at JDDK.” The development phase of the project has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) who attended the event.

Interserve makes Newcastle hotel home from home for university students Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has completed a £2.3M refurbishment of a historic locally listed city centre hotel in Newcastle upon Tyne to create extra student accommodation for Newcastle University. The Grand Hotel was built in 1902 and bought 56 years later by the university to accommodate students from across the globe.

The project saw the creation of 66 en-suite bedrooms, 11 kitchens, three lounges, office space and a new lift for disabled access. The building project has embraced the principles of inclusive design and provides accessible accommodation throughout. The majority of work was focused on the interior of the building, with its Victorian facade being carefully preserved, and the ‘Grand Hotel’ lettering – carved into stone between two ball-finial capped gables – will be retained for future generations.

Interserve has undertaken full repair and renovation of the building’s feature stonework facade to front and side

elevations, replacing over 100 stone balusters to the parapet in order to mirror the original installations of over 100 years ago. Approximately £100,000 worth of roofing repairs have been undertaken, including the replacement of Westmoreland slate tiles for the building’s pitched roof.

Additional work included the complete renewal of all mechanical boiler plant and the building’s heating system. Rerouting of pipework now means that each bedroom has its own separate riser. Full renewal of electrical wiring has also been completed.

Commenting on the Grand Hotel scheme, Robin Beattie, Building Surveyor at Newcastle University, said: “The refurbishment of The Grand Hotel has provided Newcastle University with a high quality accommodation facility for its students. Close working between the design team from Newcastle University and the project team from Interserve was made easier by a long standing relationship between the two parties. This allowed a regular flow of information to progress the project.”

Redrow makes a raft of savings with Insulslab Redrow has become the latest national housebuilder to benefit from significant time and cost savings by using Insulslab in place of traditional foundation techniques.

Piloted on the Eliot’s View development in Nuneaton, Redrow moved from a standard raft foundation to Insulslab part way through construction, after the potential cost savings became apparent.

Eliot’s View is a development of approximately 120 houses, with a mixture of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. Under pressure to deliver the site to programme and budget, Redrow adopted Insulslab as a super insulated and fully integrated alternative to traditional raft foundations.

Stuart Walker, Senior Quantity Surveyor for Redrow Homes (Midlands), comments: “Changing construction techniques part way through a project is not a decision we take lightly, but the financial case for moving to Insulslab from a traditional raft on this development was definitive.

“The best way to describe Insulslab is that it is like a raft – only quicker and more cost effective. Given a similar situation in the

future, where site conditions allow, we would definitely use the system again.”

Importantly for Redrow, the cost savings of using Insulslab did not come at the expense of performance, with the super insulated foundation system providing superior thermal insulation as compared with a standard raft.

Constructed of interlocking lightweight expanded polystyrene pods with steel fibre reinforced concrete poured on top to deliver the foundation up to ground floor level, Insulslab delivers many advantages over standard techniques – culminating in both time and cost savings. For example, the system requires no trenches, which means minimal excavation and a reduced amount of spoil to remove or manage on-site. The increased speed with which Insulslab takes the foundation up to ground floor level also translates into additional cost savings, as less labour time is required.

A suite of technical support materials are available to assist with the specification and installation of Insulslab, all of which can be accessed at www.insulslab.com.

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Preparing to Terminate There is nothing like a spat at the end of a property lease to raise temperatures and set metaphorical fists flying. It’s an all too common scenario. What was previously a great relationship between a good landlord and an equally as good tenant spirals quickly into a battle of wills when the time to discuss liabilities at the end of the lease arrives. Here’s a typical story.

A tenant decides it’s time to move on when the lease expires. The landlord wants to repair the property prior to marketing to prospective tenants. The tenant was unaware of the potential financial implications of the repairing, decoration and reinstatement clauses in the lease but the landlord is fully aware of the provisions.

We now have the perfect recipe and ingredients for a long drawn out battle between surveyors and lawyers as advisors to the various parties.

But all is not lost. Thanks in large part to the work of the Property Litigation Association the above story should no longer be typical. As of 1 January 2012 the excellently titled “Pre-Action Protocol for claims for damages in relation to the physical state of commercial property at the termination of a tenancy” (mercifully abbreviated to “The Dilapidations Protocol”) has been in force as a formal pre-action protocol under the Civil Procedure Rules (“CPR”).

The Dilapidations Protocol provides structure to dilapidations claims made under the terms of a lease and at the same time tries to bring an air of reality to the respective parties’ positions from an early stage.

The message from the courts is getting through to advisors, landlords and tenants alike, but very slowly.

The Dilapidations Protocol encourages speed and transparency in the event of a claim. Compliance with the Dilapidations Protocol is a must if a party wishes to avoid cost sanctions and we would argue that a party can both comply with the Protocol and achieve a better result in the argument ahead by acting pro-actively and following a few thought out steps.

The best way for a tenant to deal with its repairing obligations under the terms of its lease, is to understand them from the outset and to deal with the obligations proactively, well before expiration of the lease term.

Prior to the termination of the lease, a tenant can be in control of the process of quantifying its liability. Once the lease term expires, control shifts to the landlord.

By dealing with repairing obligations proactively, a tenant can return the property back to the landlord in good repair and, in doing so, retain control over costs, reduce exposure to consequential losses and retain a good relationship with the landlord.

The benefits of this approach should not to be ignored as consequential losses alone can stack up quickly in a well prepared and thought out dilapidations claim prepared by a landlord’s surveyor.

Indeed, perhaps the best way for a tenant to plan for dilapidations liabilities is to insist on the preparation of a schedule of condition during lease negotiations.

When properly integrated into a lease, a schedule of condition will draw a line in the sand at the start of the lease term and ensure that the tenant does not end up funding repairs that should have been carried out during previous tenancies.

From a landlord’s perspective, ensuring the tenant properly fulfils or compensates for breach of repairing obligations is paramount. A landlord should engage with a tenant in a pro-active way so that repairs can be executed in good time before lease expiry. Not only will a well maintained building be more appealing to other potential tenants, the landlord will also reduce costs in terms of engaging surveyors and lawyers – some of which may not be recoverable.

Sometimes a formal claim may not be possible to avoid. Should these circumstances arise, thorough and accurate preparation is of critical importance to both landlord and tenant alike. Good, early advice from skilled and experienced advisors will help the

tenant ensure that the claim is dealt with quickly and in the correct manner.

Similarly, a landlord should also seek timely advice following expiry of the lease term in advance of formulating and submitting a claim. Understanding the landlord’s future intentions for the property will largely dictate how any claim on a tenant should be presented.

It is entirely acceptable for a landlord to present part or all of its claim on a diminution in value basis. This is generally the case when the landlord’s intention is not to execute repair works which should have been done by the tenant. If the Landlord intends to execute the repair works, then generally the actual cost of the work is the correct way to present the claim. This is now formalised within the Dilapidations Protocol and compliance with the Protocol and Civil Procedure Rules generally is a must if abortive work and costs are to be avoided.

Peter Vinden is Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership, experts in resolving landlord and tenant differences. He can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk.

For similar articles visit www.vinden.co.uk.

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

When your reputation is on the line…

Hi-Way Services – A Company on the Move

By J Hunt The road marking industry usually finds that business slows down in the winter months as the weather affects what can be done on the roads and so I thought it would be easy to get hold of Andy O’Reilly MD of Hi-Way Services Ltd (www.hi-way.co.uk) to get his views on 2013 and his expectations for 2014.

How wrong could I be?

“We’ve been incredibly busy this winter,” explained Andy when I eventually got some time in his diary. “The weather was helpful early on and we’re definitely seeing an upturn in activity as the economy strengthens.”

It soon transpires that despite a challenging economic climate 2013 was a great year for Hi-Way Services.

“We’ve launched new services including in-house traffic management and asphalting. Our on-line shop is going from strength to strength. We’ve also invested heavily to increase capacity and efficiency this year including a new Multi Mark, new cats-eye drills, a small Borum RM300 ribber extruder for smaller roads and a Volvo 26 ton feeder truck.”

Your reputation is forged by the work you do. The care you take and the attention to detail you demonstrate.

To deliver for your clients you rely on contractors who can be trusted to live up to your promise.

Contractors who are professional, innovative and trustworthy. Contractors who can deliver great results, on time and on budget.

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But these characteristics are now just hygiene factors. You don’t even get to the negotiating table if you don’t do a good job, at least meet, and preferably exceed health and safety requirements and have good, well trained people. What clients are looking for these days are companies which provide more.

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“Our clients value our input into the design and development of the solution, our flexibility and the range of services we can offer. They know that they will get great support up front so that when the job is started they can rely on us to get it done – on time and on budget.”

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“Our on-going commitment to training and development has paid dividends with one of our lads, Jack Mitchell, winning apprentice of the year at the Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) awards dinner.” The same dinner at which Andy himself was elected to the executive committee of the RSMA, recognising his commitment to making the industry safer and more progressive.

“We’ve come a long way in a short space of time,” says Andy. “The industry didn’t have a great reputation but there are some good companies like ours that have taken issues such as quality of service, training and health and safety very seriously. And we are the companies that are setting the standard.”

I asked Andy about the jobs that stuck in his mind from 2013. “Obviously there are a lot to choose from. The large carriageway jobs always stand out because of their scale and the planning that goes into them. Jobs like the A2 and the A27 which were large projects. But we’ve had some smaller contracts this year that we are really proud of because they were different and allowed us to show our creative side.

“The Wayfinding Project at Bluewater was a case in point. It was a 12 week job undertaken at night when the centre was closed. We had to deliver a fabulous design without getting in the way of the daily operation of the centre.”

Another example was the car park at the Vega Building in Hove. “The designers had an aviation theme for the building and we were asked to continue this through to the car park lining where we used airplane outlines in place of arrows and runway markings to line the parking bays.

“We were even asked to help deliver a piece of art for the Brighton festival!”

What about the outlook for 2014? “We will keep doing what we know works. We will keep developing new services, investing for efficiency, training our staff well and delivering for our clients. I believe that we will see a great deal of investment not just from the government and not just in the road network. I think we’ll see more building and more investment in retail and manufacturing. We have solutions that will help developers in all these sectors and we want to be a part of their growth.”

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UKC NEWS

New £12M library given green light A brand new £12M library is set to be built in central London after council bosses gave the scheme the green light.

Westminster City Council’s Marylebone library will move from its temporary home on Beaumont Street into the brand new purpose built library building on Luxborough Street, when the scheme is completed next year.

The new £12M library will be significantly bigger than the previous library and will have a community cafe overlooking the park, an exhibition area, meeting rooms for hire and a state-of-the-art computer study area.

It will also have a large feature staircase that will connect the ground and lower

floor levels, drawing natural light downwards, and will provide residents with more books and more space for studying, events and activities.

Councillor Steve Summers, Westminster Council’s Cabinet Member for the Community said: “This is excellent news for Marylebone residents who in just over one year’s time will benefit from a brand new, top of the range library offering state of the art facilities, the like of which aren’t available in the rest of central London.

“Coming at a time when many councils across the capital have been closing their libraries, this £12M investment is particularly significant, and underlines

Westminster’s commitment to its library service for its residents.

“The new Marylebone library will be a fantastic new facility and will offer the local community more books, more computers and up to 75% usable library space. I’m delighted the plans have been approved.”

The new library has been designed by award winning architects Child Graddon Lewis (CGL), who have worked on schemes such as the refurbishment of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Town Hall.

CGL are also working with architects Bisset Adams who are specialists in library design and layout.

Crossrail completes unprecedented fortnight of milestones Crossrail has delivered an unprecedented fortnight of construction progress ranging from completion of new train tunnels to three spectacular tunnel boring machine breakthroughs.

Crossrail’s western tunnels are now structurally complete with tunnelling machine (TBM) Ada reaching the end of her journey at Farringdon on 24th January, having set out from Royal Oak near Paddington in August 2012. This follows the arrival of her sister machine Phyllis at Farringdon in October 2013.

Over in southeast London, TBM Sophia has completed Crossrail’s first tunnel beneath the Thames, arriving at the North Woolwich Portal on 29th January, having started south of the river in Plumstead last August.

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TBM Jessica has also completed her tunnelling journey from Pudding Mill Lane and broke through into one of Europe’s largest mined caverns beneath Stepney Green on 3rd February.

In addition, tunnelling machine Elizabeth made a spectacular entrance into the new Crossrail station at Whitechapel on 20th January on her journey from Limmo Peninsula to Farringdon. Her sister machine Victoria also broke through into Stepney Green on 30th January.

Crossrail has also finished civil construction of the first of two new Bond Street station ticket halls. The western ticket hall on Davies Street is five-storeys underground, with works starting earlier this month on a passenger tunnel to connect the Crossrail ticket hall

to the existing underground station.

The milestones continue Crossrail’s impressive construction progress, which recently passed the halfway mark on time and within budget. In 2014 the project will transition from major civil engineering work to station and tunnel fit-out. 30km out of 42km of bored tunnels are now complete.

Andrew Wolstenholme OBE, Crossrail Chief Executive said: “The tunnelling teams deserve tremendous credit for their safe and efficient progress in constructing this major new railway under London. The end is now in sight for Crossrail tunnelling with over 70% of the new rail tunnels now constructed.

The next major element of the Crossrail programme will now begin with the fit-out of our tunnels and stations.”

Leading names from the Travis Perkins Group - including merchants Travis Perkins, CCF, City Plumbing Supplies (CPS), and Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS), backed by the expertise of Sustainable Building Supplies (SBS) and Solfex - have announced they are ‘RHI ready’ thanks to a combination of services, knowledge, and product availability which have been developed to support installers and builders.

To help installers access the RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) opportunity, CCF, CPS, PTS, Solfex, and Travis Perkins have worked together to develop a range of assessment, training, accreditation and mentoring services to make it easy for installers to comply with regulations.

Backed by the purchasing strength of the Group, each company can provide product solutions that combine an extensive range of branded and ownbrand renewable products, in addition to associated insulation products.

Paul Joyner, Director of Sustainability for the Travis Perkins Group, said: “With £2.7Bn of funding available to inspire an anticipated 750,000 installations by 2020, we are expecting the RHI to do for the renewable heating sector what Feed In Tariffs did for solar photovoltaics.”

RHI, which launches in Spring with £2.7Bn of Government funding, aims to encourage an estimated 750,000 installations of new renewable heating products by 2020. The Government will pay households a tariff based on the heat generated through four technologies: air source heat pumps, solar thermal, biomass boilers, and ground source heat pumps. To qualify for RHI payments, each building has to undergo a Green Deal Assessment to ensure the fabric of the building is suitable - opening up the opportunity for installers to extend the value of each project by retrofitting loft insulation or arranging cavity wall insulation.

Official tourist board Visit Peak District & Derbyshire has cemented a solid working partnership with Britain’s leading independent producer of construction materials.

Hope Construction Materials is the latest company to pledge its backing as a tourist board Patron, to help promote the Peak District as a world class destination.

Hope operates two major manufacturing sites in the area – its cement plant in the Hope Valley and Dowlow Quarry, which processes limestone aggregates products, near Buxton.

The Company joins founding Patron Chatsworth House Trust, Elysian Hospitality, Losehill House Hotel & Spa at Hope, No 6 The Square Tea Rooms in Buxton and Thornbridge Brewery, Bakewell as the tourist’s board’s leading business supporters.

David James, the tourist board’s Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to welcome Hope Construction Materials on board as one of our key business ambassadors in our quest to promote the Peak District as the perfect place for a short break or holiday for visitors from both home and abroad.”

NEWS UKC

Travis Perkins Group ready to help installers looking to benefit from Peak tourist board cements new bond the RHI to boost future marketing success “We have had a long-standing partnership with the Hope cement plant, and it’s a pleasure to extend this relationship to Dowlow Quarry as well, now that they are both part of the Hope Construction Materials network.

“All our Patrons make a huge contribution to our efforts to put the area on the world tourism map, and we very much appreciate their commitment to helping us maintain and widen its expanding national and international profile.

“They also lead the way for smaller businesses and organisations, now numbering around 600, to join us as members in support of our work, and share in a range of marketing and PR campaigns designed to attract more staying visitors, create more jobs and boost the local and regional economy.”

Joining Visit Peak District & Derbyshire as a member starts at £90 per year. Benefits include support, promotion, discounts and exclusive offers and invitations.

For further details visit www.visitpeakdistrict.com/industry/ membership or contact Lindsay Rae, Membership Manager, on members@visitpeakdistrict.com.

New show homes unveiled at South Shields development Housing developer Keepmoat has officially unveiled two new show homes at its Trinity South development in South Shields.

Alongside representatives from Keepmoat Homes, the two three-bedroom homes were officially unveiled by Andy Rose, Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, and Councillor Ed Malcolm, Lead Member for Resources and Innovation at South Tyneside Council.

The £30M development will eventually see Keepmoat Homes creating over 200 family homes in a five to six year period as part of a major regeneration plan for the area. Located on a 5.3 hectare area including the former Circatex factory site and the southern half of Frederick Street, work is already well underway on the section close to Reed and Eldon Streets.

The homes, which are all being built to Lifetime Homes Standards, have been released for sale off plan and include a mix of two-, three- and fourbedroom homes in a range of styles and house types that are ideal for first time buyers, families and professionals.

Christine Harrison, Sales Director for Keepmoat Homes North East, said: “This is another significant milestone for all partners involved in this exciting new development. The opening of these new show homes demonstrates how quickly this development is progressing and we are very grateful to Andy Rose and Councillor Ed Malcolm for their continued support.”

Councillor Ed Malcolm, who represents the Simonside and Rekendyke ward, said: “It is great to see the development progressing so well, making another part of our vision for Riverside regeneration a reality. This area is changing fast, with the hi-tech One Trinity Green business development, Sinclair Meadows eco-homes and the stunning Harton Quays Park recently completed, as well as a renewal programme in the nearby Trinity Estate.

“Trinity South is another important step forward, bringing quality new homes, environmental improvements, and more footfall for local shops, and I am delighted that the scheme includes 20 homes for rent to local people.”

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UKC COMMENT

NHBC working with industry to reduce costly basement claims NHBC has been working across the sector with the aim of forming a crossindustry committee to focus on the key issues affecting basements in the UK and help shape a new set of standards.

NHBC, the leading insurance and warranty provider for new homes in the UK, last year reported that claims on basements since 2005 have cost the industry a total of nearly £21M – affecting nearly 890 homes.

Since the publication of the report NHBC has met with key figures and organisations from the sector, along with builders, manufacturers and suppliers to discuss issues such as improved design and installation standards, improved training and the formation of a new crossrepresentative committee. It is hoped that the new committee, once established, will be able to lobby parliament on planning and regulation issues relating to the industry.

The Basement Information Centre and Property Care Association are among the groups NHBC has already met with in an attempt to address key basement problems.

Following further cross-industry discussions and new surveys of live sites, NHBC will be issuing a new Standards chapter that will build on the current benchmark standards and offer practical guidance for structural waterproofing and the construction of basements, which will be included in the NHBC Standards 2015 edition to be published later this year.

Marc Separovic, NHBC’s Technical Projects Manager, said: “Meeting with so many organisations, companies and individuals within the industry has enabled us to gain a detailed understanding of good practice on numerous aspects of basement construction including waterproofing systems.

“The benefits of working together are established and ultimately with the introduction of the new basement chapter, will raise standards and begin to reduce the number of costly repairs as a result of defective basement construction.”

NHBC’s initial report into basement problems found that nearly all basement claims were a result of water ingress, not structurally related, and that the majority of large claims from 2012 were due to workmanship

20

and design failures associated with externally tanked Type A systems.

The report also highlighted the overarching issue relating to sufficient Ground Investigations being carried out to accurately establish the existing ground water conditions and enable the correct waterproofing system to be adopted.

Steve Hodgson, Chief Executive of the Property Care Association, (PCA) said: “The PCA is delighted to build upon its strong relationship with the NHBC. “We will continue to work closely with NHBC to enhance the quality and reliability of underground waterproofing that is delivered by house builders and developers. In so doing we can prevent problems and improve outcomes for homeowners across the UK.” Technical Extra, featuring a range of advice and guidance relating to basements, is available online at www.nhbc.co.uk/Builders/ ProductsandServices/TechnicalExtra

••Ensure proposals to use basements or semi-basements are identified on the NHBC SNIN when making an application.

••Ensure proposals comply with the requirements of BS 8102:2009 ‘Code of practice for protection of below ground structures against water from the ground’.

••Complete a desk study and ground investigation report, clearly indicating ground water table risks or design for the worst-case scenario.

••Ensure waterproofing junctions are adequately detailed, especially at ground level, penetrations and daywork joints, with due consideration for the practicality of construction and continuity.

••Ensure podium decks have a suitable drainage system with allowance for maintenance, especially when using decorative planters or within the vicinity of trees.

••Ensure adjacent surface water catchment areas and surrounding ground water flows are limited.

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21

UKC COMMENT

Architectural renaissance and renovation in the Valleys One of the most prevalent challenges facing architects today is how to tackle the changing needs in the home and, perhaps most crucially, ensure that design also meets required low energy standards.

Modern life has created a whole new set of demands from building projects, and as a result there is increasing pressure not only to meet these low-energy targets, but to do so in an affordable manner.

With an aging housing stock - one that is falling behind even our European peers and a shortage of new building projects, addressing this issue is by no means an easy feat. The challenge, however, is how can one step into the 21st century and address these concerns without losing sight of our heritage. The answer, in many ways, lies in retrofitting. One of the areas in the UK that is tackling this challenge head on, and should be applauded, is Wales.

A mainstay of the Welsh valleys, a region with a proud heritage and deep rooted history in industry and mining, is the terraced house. Across Wales around four in ten homes are of this variety, lining towns far and wide throughout the country.

But as societies and communities evolve and develop, so too have household requirements and needs. What was once a practical and pragmatic architectural solution to house Wales’ labour force is now at risk of becoming a costly and unsustainable environmental burden.

In fact, while the government set out targets to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emission by 80% by 2050, the 1.25 million dwellings in Wales currently account for 25% of all CO2 emissions.

It’s almost no surprise given that many Victorian terraced homes in the country date as far back as the 1870s, when building standards and regulations did not require any focus on energy efficiency. The traditional terrace has therefore been brought in for questioning and placed under the microscope.

22

This is a task and mantle taken up by the Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW), who last year appointed Hatcher Prichard Architects to lead the charge to renovate the Welsh Terrace for the modern era. At VELUX, developing homes that meet the needs of the modern family is of the utmost importance, which is not only why we’ve embarked on the CarbonLight homes project, but also why VELUX is on hand as a second pair of eyes to help renovate and reinvigorate the Welsh Terrace.

The sustainable redesign is in-keeping with the local vernacular but moves towards an open plan rather than a cellular layout. One of the key benefits of this is the positive impact it will have on lifestyle, family interaction, overall liveability and general well-being of occupants. Not only does this maximise space but it also allows for a greater spread of daylight with strategically placed windows, using both vertical as well as roof windows. Similarly throughout each floor of the terrace, daylight has been capitalised on to spread light even to the dimmest corners. This not only maximises incoming daylight, but improves the ventilation of the homes, both of which should have an exponential health impact.

The proposals also include a ground to air heat exchanger that uses underground pipe system to heat the house in winter and to cool it in summer. Not only will this improve overall airflow or circulation, but also has the added benefit of keeping the heating and cooling costs of the building down.

Situated on the roof will be solar collectors, placed to generate the greatest amount of solar energy available. Outside there will be a rainwater harvesting tank and a micro allotment. All of these features will encourage and develop an environmental and energy efficient lifestyle for those that live in these (almost) new terraces.

Work on the prototype is intended to begin later this year. The hope is that these

renovations and redesigns can help start an urban renaissance in towns across Wales, which in turn can help the UK dramatically reduce its energy emissions, thus reaching – if not exceeding - future goals.

Keith Riddle, Managing Director of VELUX

Keith Riddle

UKC COMMENT

Adjudication: Effect of Defence on Jurisdiction

By Peter Sheridan Introduction It is generally well-known that an adjudicator derives his jurisdiction from the notice of adjudication. It is the dispute described in the notice of adjudication that the adjudicator has jurisdiction to determine. The scope of the adjudicator’s jurisdiction cannot subsequently be widened by the referring party’s subsequent referral document or otherwise. These points generally apply unless the parties agree something else.

These well-known principles have been known to lead the referring party into difficulty. One area of potential danger is seeking to define the scope of the adjudication narrowly so as to attempt to limit the other party’s response.

Adjudicators have also been led into the error of taking too restrictive a view of their own jurisdiction, by reference to the terms of the adjudication notice and the relief sought in it. The effect where the responding party’s defence or an important part of it is not considered in the adjudication is often a jurisdictional error that also amounts to a breach of the rules of natural justice.

It is important for adjudicators to bear in mind that the adjudication notice will rarely, if ever, mention a defence but will put the referring party’s case only; but the terms of the adjudication notice cannot be used to restrict the other party’s ability to defend itself.

Any defence must normally be considered.

Akenhead J stated in Cantillon v Urvasco (2009) that “whatever dispute is referred to the adjudicator, it includes and allows for any ground open to the responding party which would amount in law or in fact to a defence of the claim with which it is dealing”, citing the KNS case (2001) as authority.

Cases where an adjudicator has taken an erroneously restrictive view of his jurisdiction, usually on the basis of the terms of the notice of adjudication,

24

including the relief sought, with the result that he decides not to consider an important element of the dispute that has been referred to him were reviewed in Pilon v Breyer Group (2010) by Coulson J, who made the following points.

••The adjudicator must attempt to answer the question referred to him; the question may consist of a number of separate sub-issues. If the adjudicator has endeavoured generally to address those issues in order to answer the question then, whether right or wrong, his decision is enforceable.

••If the adjudicator fails to address the question referred to him because he has taken an erroneously restricted view of his jurisdiction (and has, for example, failed even to consider the defence to the claim or some fundamental element of it), then that may make his decision unenforceable, either on grounds of jurisdiction or natural justice.

••However, for that result to obtain, the adjudicator’s failure must be deliberate.

If there has simply been an inadvertent failure to consider one of a number of issues embraced by the single dispute that the adjudicator has to decide, then such a failure will not ordinarily render the decision unenforceable.

••Any such failure must also be material; in other words, the error must be shown to have had a potentially significant effect on the overall result of the adjudication.

The position in Pilon v Breyer Group was that Pilon has undertaken work for Breyer, divided into batches 1-25 and 26-62. Pilon made interim application for payment in respect of batches 26-62, which was not paid, referred the dispute to adjudication and recovered over £200,000. In the adjudication, Breyer claimed to be entitled to set off over £147,000 because of earlier overpayment to Pilon in respect of batches 1-25. The adjudicator did not consider that defence, as he considered

the dispute in then notice of adjudication to be limited to batches 26-62.

Coulson J found that the adjudicator deliberately placed an erroneous restriction on his own jurisdiction, which amounted to a breach of natural justice. He noted that in the notice of adjudication Pilon was seeking not only an interim valuation of batches 26-62, but also an interim payment of any sums due to them.

While the interim valuation required the adjudicator to have regard to batches 26-62 only, the claim for payment meant that the adjudicator was obliged to consider whether Breyer were right to say that a much smaller net payment was due.

When a defence is raised in adjudication, but was not raised previously and did not feature in the crystallisation of the dispute, that does not put the dispute outside the jurisdiction of the adjudicator; he must still consider it: see eg: PC Harrington v Tyroddy (2011).

Peter Sheridan

COMMENT UKC

Professional duty of care and its extent When the façade of a shop in Putney collapsed onto the pavement injuring passers-by, questions arose as to which of several potential culprits was liable and how liability was to be divided between them.

This led to another in the Court of Appeal decision as to when a duty of care will be found to exist. The case of Harrison and others v Technical Sign Company Ltd and others [2013] EWCA Civ 1569 illustrates the legal complexities that can arise.

Background

In June 2007 the fascia of the shop became detached from the building and fell, causing serious injuries to the claimants. As a result, proceedings were brought against the proprietor of the shop, Maison Blanc Ltd, and others who allegedly owed duty of care. These include amongst others, a firm of surveyors that inspected the awning over the shop window in March 2007 (Cluttons) and Active Interiors Ltd (Active). which carried out the remodelling of the shop front.

The defendants made claims amongst themselves and the majority of the claims were compromised, except that of Maison Blanc and Active against Cluttons. This ended up at a trial and the judge at first instance decided that Active and Cluttons were liable to the claimants and had to indemnify Maison Blanc in respect of the financial loss it had suffered in compensating the claimants. The liability was apportioned 89% to Active and 11% to Cluttons.

Cluttons appealed against the judge’s order and denied that they owed a duty of care either to the claimants or to Maison Blanc. Active cross-appealed, challenging the apportionment of liability on the basis that it was too favourable to Cluttons. The following questions arose.

Did Cluttons owe a duty of care to Maison Blanc?

No, because the nature of the relationship between Maison Blanc and Cluttons was

quite inconsistent with an assumption of responsibility by Cluttons towards Maison Blanc to carry out an inspection with reasonable skill and care. Cluttons were only asked to look at the awning in very limited circumstances. Maison Blanc had complained to Cluttons in their capacity of agents for Maison Blanc’s landlord because they thought their awning had been damaged during the course of works carried out by the landlord. It was in response to that complaint that Cluttons had carried out their inspection. In the absence of an assumption of responsibility by Cluttons, no duty of care was found to exist.

Did Cluttons owe duty of care to the claimants?

No, because there was not a sufficient degree of legal proximity between the members of the public and Cluttons to justify imposing such duty. Cluttons’ were engaged in a limited capacity and not as surveyors acting for Maison Blanc.

Their role was simply to see whether the shop front had sustained damage.

Without the necessary legal proximity there could be no duty of care.

possibly been reached if Maison Blanc had asked Cluttons to inspect the awnings to ensure that it did not pose a danger to any passers-by, in which case a sufficient degree of proximity would have existed as the very purpose of inspection would have been to ensure safety to the public.

The lesson is that when engaging a professional one needs to be clear as to the basis on which the professional is acting.

Kasia Dickson, Legal Assistant, Thomas Eggar.

Kasia Dickson

Conclusion

In determining one party owes another a duty of care to avoid causing harm to that other, it is not sufficient to show that the harm was foreseeability. Foreseeability of harm is not enough in itself to establish the required level of legal proximity between the parties. Where the loss is purely financial, the court will also consider whether the alleged wrongdoer assumed responsibility to the party suffering the loss. In addressing these questions the courts will scrutinise the nature of the relationship between the parties. The case confirms that the courts will examine the specific circumstances in each case in order to establish whether a party owes a duty of care to any third party.

A different conclusion would have quite

25

UKC COMMENT

Recognising a change in construction: the evolution of identity management Simon Meyer, Operations Director at Human Recognition Systems, explores how on site biometric recognition systems are playing an enhanced role in supporting the construction industry.

The British construction industry is changing, with an increasingly mobile workforce making identity management more difficult and onerous on every site in the country. Influencing this increase has been the rise in the number of skilled construction migrant workers following recent changes to EU working restrictions, alongside the UK Commission for Employment and Skills’ recent report* that found inadequate skills, qualifications or experience in UK workers is hitting the industry hard.

Partly in response to this challenging landscape, biometric systems have evolved from providing effective site access control to playing an enhanced role in site operations. Offering more than identity verification at a turnstile, today’s worker management systems can provide the information necessary to help firms to manage sites with greater ease, combining the requirements of subcontractor management, security, health & safety and operations under one system and ensuring that the right workers, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time. Such systems also automate site required reporting including time and attendance, local labour, diversity and accreditation reporting – avoiding a huge manual overhead.

Best practice: combining identification and accreditation Various forms of systems are currently used in the industry, traditionally driven by access control requirements, with systems ranging in sophistication. A biometric approach, used in tandem with CSCS, CPCS, IPAF or PASMA accreditations, ensures workers and subcontractors can be better managed on site. Combining smartcard access with biometric verification also avoids the data duplication that can arise when multiple systems – recording access, health & safety and accreditation information – are running simultaneously. While identification and accreditation have historically been dealt with separately,

26

we are now seeing a move towards aligning the two, linked by the common, biometrically-assured identity in both.

Unquestionably there are challenges associated with implementing biometric systems; for example, misconceptions still abound regarding the storage of sensitive data and for some contractors the adoption of an IT system is not considered core to business operations. However, solutions are available to overcome the data obstacle in the form of secure storage in the cloud and good companies work closely with Prime Contractors at site and corporate level to support a simple, hassle-free implementation.

Moving towards a corporate solution

Increasing legislation around health & safety, migrant workers, passport to work and environmental reporting has demanded greater controls at the point of build: the construction site. As such, companies are moving toward a corporate solution, ensuring policies are implemented in a standardised manner across all sites and reported centrally.

With biometric technology widely accepted by the industry from a site-level access perspective, the next step is to move towards enterprise-focused solutions that can centrally manage all projects, security, credentials, training and environmental impact. Managed at an enterprise level, such systems have the capability to enforce quality standards and company policies across sites through reporting at a site or aggregated level without the manual overhead or time delay.

As the industry continues to adapt to shifting EU regulations and skills shortages, biometric systems are changing the way identity is managed: providing construction managers with absolute assurances that the right workers, with the right capabilities, are in the right place at the right time. With the issues of identity and skillset confidently managed, construction managers will be able to place greater focus on putting the skilled workforce to best use in the delivery of projects.

To find out more visit www.hrsid.com/markets/construction or call 0151 254 2888.

Biography: Simon Meyer, Operations Director at Human Recognition Systems Simon is responsible for the overall dayto-day operations of Human Recognition Systems including new product development, quality control and on-going customer maintenance and support.

Ensuring high quality processes exist across the organisation is key to Simon’s role.

During his time at HRS, Simon has also managed and delivered a variety of high profile identity projects and helped build the organisation to successfully deliver biometric projects of increasing complexity.

Making this possible from an operational point of view has been fundamental to the success of HRS in the marketplace.

Simon joined Human Recognition Systems in 2004 from Accenture, the global IT and management consulting company. During this time, Simon developed extensive project management, business process engineering and delivery experience over a number of large and challenging IT transformation projects for various UK and European companies including Tesco, BP and BHS. * www.bbc.co.uk/news/ education-25945413

Simon Meyer

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UKC CASE STUDY

Fifosys helps Get Living London deliver lasting legacy How Fifosys is helping Get Living London’s flagship new neighbourhood, East Village, deliver a lasting Olympic legacy – with complex, innovative technologies and processes raising the bar for standards in residential accommodation Delivering on the promise of a successful long-term Olympic legacy, and helping regenerate one of the poorest parts of the UK, was always going to be a major challenge.

A number of Olympic Villages have failed to deliver regeneration, sustainability and economic growth. With decaying sites such as at Moscow and Athens, a highly sceptical global audience has been waiting to assess Britain’s ability to deliver a sustainable residential legacy.

As a result, transforming the Athletes’ Village into London’s first ‘legacy neighbourhood’ has been a highly visible as well as highly complex project, with challenging deadlines, multiple stakeholders and intense political scrutiny and financial pressures. Technology too has a major part to play, with sophisticated and innovative IT and telecommunications solutions as critical success factors in achieving the vision of this leading-edge development.

Now, as the first residents start to move into London’s newest and most exciting new neighbourhood, the opening of East Village in Stratford marks the latest chapter in the regeneration of East London.

The first lap is complete. The next one begins. Legacy is, by definition, a long time – in Olympic terms a marathon, not a sprint. A reliable and sustainable IT infrastructure is critical to underpinning that legacy commitment. And delivering that level of gold standard performance

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requires gold standard business partners.

The story of the East Village development In late 2011, following a competitive tender process, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) signed contracts with Delancey and Qatari Diar – a joint partnership known collectively as Qatari Diar Delancey (QDD) – for the purchase and long-term management of the Athletes’ Village upon completion of the London Games, in a deal worth £557M. Under the terms of the agreement, QDD would work with Triathlon Homes, who would manage the development and delivery of a range of affordable housing.

In total, QDD and Triathlon committed to delivering 2,818 new homes, of which 1,379 would be run by Triathlon with the remaining 1,439 owned by QDD and developed for private rental housing. In addition, QDD took ownership of six adjacent development plots, with the potential for a further 2,000 new homes.

East Village, was designed to respond directly to London’s critical need for new housing, with the regeneration of Stratford as a core priority. The site, adjacent to the Olympic Park and Westfield Shopping Centre and well-connected to London’s transport network, also includes an Academy school, healthcare centre and retail units. The project also builds on a diverse range of core strategic pillars including Community Engagement, Retail & Enlivenment, Health

& Wellness, Business & Employment, Education, Mobile Communication, Transport and System Interoperability.

The IT and telecoms requirements across such a multi-faceted operation were therefore complex and wideranging and needed to support not just the project development but also the individual development work streams.

Revolutionising the rental pricing model “The plan was to operate a residential letting business called Get Living London, offering all our apartments as rental accommodation,” says Anandh Owen, Delancey COO. “As a result, almost overnight we will become one of London’s largest private residential landlords. But we also wanted to be its best by listening to what Londoners want and offering them a new way of renting. To differentiate, we knew innovation would be the key. So we designed an approach that would allow tenants to communicate directly with us as landlords, rather than through a third party agency. We would act as the triage for all maintenance requests, improving the quality and speed of service for tenants.

This would make us more transparent and more efficient than other landlords and would significantly enhance the residents’ experience. It would also enable us to offer residents rental properties with no fees or hidden costs. With no third party suppliers, our tenants’ only costs would be rent. This promises to

revolutionise the rental pricing model.

With so many stakeholders involved, Delancey recognised that the communication, integration and connectivity requirements for Get Living London made this a challenging objective.

They needed a specialist, experienced IT partner to make this plan a reality and to develop, implement and manage a robust, integrated and agile IT strategy.

Connectivity, integration and the longterm IT strategy and infrastructure for the ‘legacy neighbourhood’ In January 2013, Get Living London selected Fifosys as its IT partner, initially to set up the Management Office (MO) for the letting operations and to support them through implementation and roll-out. They quickly realised that the scale of East Village meant that the IT requirements were far greater. With 11 work streams across the project, each presenting complex IT demands, they needed their chosen IT partner to cover the full spectrum of services required, not just the MO but also management information systems, the residents’ offer and the comprehensive wireless network, with connectivity across the whole site and mobile and remote communication.

“The research, due diligence, experience and expertise that Fifosys demonstrated during the original competitive pitch indicated that they had the depth and breadth of skill-set to deliver the holistic solution we required,” says Anandh.

“Fifosys had already shown that they understood our business, our vision and our requirements, and they presented a compelling business case that identified the key challenges with proposed solutions.

Moreover, when it became clear that the project was growing in magnitude, they were proactive in assessing our future requirements, engaging with the key stakeholders from each work stream and then presenting a paper detailing a comprehensive long-term strategy. It was a no-brainer to work with them. They developed a plan and, more importantly,

they’ve gone on to deliver it.”

The IT delivery story – innovation and process improvement from Fifosys Designing, implementing and maintaining a complex IT infrastructure that integrates the needs of these multiple diverse stakeholders – and satisfies all the major political, economic, social and community imperatives – presented major challenges. The additional requirement for an innovative offering to drive efficiencies and improve the residents’ experience created further pressures.

“Innovation goes way beyond technology,” says Anandh. “Fifosys has introduced innovative ways of working that have helped improve processes, drive efficiencies and, impressively, improve our commercial offering. For project management, for example, they introduced an innovative dashboard system that has allowed us to monitor progress and measure performance against agreed objectives and milestones. It’s given us greater transparency and visibility within the project as well as improving communication, enhancing informationsharing and encouraging collaboration across all stakeholder groups.”

“The Fifosys solution not only recognised the likely challenges of this project and offered proactive solutions”, Anandh adds, “but it also emphasised ease of use, putting simple protocols in place that made processes more efficient, made staff more productive and helped accelerate the delivery of key project activities.

Moreover, Anandh says, “Fifosys has managed everything. They’ve been at the front line for us throughout, helping find solutions and ensuring nothing has failed. What’s more, the alignment of the deliverables with the original timetable has been unbelievably good. Within six months, they have delivered everything we’ve asked for.”

From a technology perspective, Fifosys has developed systems that have significantly enhanced the residents’ offer. Central to this proposition is providing residents with

a unique portal to manage direct interaction with the landlord and deliver services that improve the residents’ experience.

The portal is a management system, also accessible remotely, that allows residents to log requests, report maintenance issues and communicate with the owner/ operators in order to fix them. As Anandh explains: “Residents can manage their rental account securely and take advantage of other services and useful information.

This portal system also supports a key strategic objective to improve community engagement, through the dissemination of local information and social activities.

“I have never encountered an IT provider that has demonstrated such a commercial focus for and on behalf of a client,” says Anandh. “Right from the start of the relationship they showed a real drive to explore how IT could be leveraged to generate revenues and they’ve pushed that commercial focus right through the organisation. This commercial acumen has been a real value-add. Fifosys has really delivered ROI on our IT investment – and that’s one reason why I would not describe Fifosys as a consultancy, or even as an IT partner. They have been a true business partner. Throughout the process they have worked hard to get under the skin of our organisation, to understand our goals and to work with us to deliver them. They’ve engaged with every aspect of our business – as well as managing some complex and challenging relationships with third party suppliers and stakeholders. And they have continually delivered on their promises.”

With future property developments in the pipeline, Fifosys is well placed to continue its partnership with Delancey in the coming years. “They are highly innovative and a pleasure to work with,” says Anandh. “In a challenging economic environment where ROI is all-important, we have seen enormous value in our relationship with Fifosys. I’m delighted with the service we’ve received.”

As Olympic legacies go, this one is pretty impressive. In fact it’s a gold standard.

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UKC CASE STUDY

AMP6 Maximising performance to unlock efficiencies The end of 2013 saw the publication of South West Water’s draft AMP6 Business Plan to Ofwat, which represents a 19% increase on its AMP5 spend of £730M. This is approximately £138M more than in AMP5, reflecting increases in expenditure to address bathing and shellfish water improvements.

The increased level of investment will continue into the AMP7 period between 2020-2025 as a result of further envisaged legislation (adoption of customer supply pipes) and other investments the utility has chosen to defer to AMP7 including duplication of strategic water mains and investment to reduce leakage levels.

Early last summer, water regulator Ofwat published details of the methodology it intends to use to assess water companies’ business plans for the next AMP, which starts in 2015.

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The methodology relates to water supply and sewerage in England and Wales and makes it clear that the water industry’s emphasis is shifting from the ‘ticking regulatory boxes’ approach of previous AMPs to focusing on value for money for customers.

For the first four AMP periods, water companies’ business plans were dominated by the need to meet tough European Union legislation covering issues like wastewater quality and wildlife habitats.

This resulted in a focus on building new facilities, including treatment works, interceptor sewers and outfalls that would contribute to cleaning up wastewater discharge.

Although there is still a handful of large capital projects to be completed, such as the Thames Tideway, the current regulatory period, AMP5, has seen the start of a shift that is set to continue into AMP6 and beyond.

They will see water companies trying to get the most out of their existing assets and finding ways to minimise total costs of operation.

Ofwat’s methodology document made it clear that water companies should be focusing on what it called ‘long-term outcomes’, which it hopes will encourage innovative ways of working that will deliver services for less money, and with less impact on the environment.

As a result, the regulator expects to see substantial efficiency savings being delivered during the five-year AMP6 period.

At the same time, Ofwat wants to encourage companies to manage water supplies more sustainably. It believes this will happen because the companies will no longer have a bias toward capital intensive and resource intensive solutions, and because it is introducing incentives to encourage the water companies to trade water and to source it from areas that do not damage the natural environment.

This shift in emphasis is leading to water companies looking for different skill sets from their supply chains – expertise that will help them make more of existing assets.

The focus on long-term thinking is also being reflected in the way some water companies are looking to procure the firms that will deliver work during AMP6, with many opting for alliances, or for frameworks that run beyond the traditional five-year AMP period.

Although it doesn’t start until next year, many have already started appointing delivery teams for AMP6 so they can hit the ground running when Ofwat signs off the funding.

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South West Water’s £868M draft plan is split, consisting of: • Capital investment to maintain stable serviceability - £570M. • Bathing and shellfish waters - £73M. • North Plymouth Water Treatment Works - £54M. • Metering - £31M. • Advanced anaerobic digestion - £30M. • Transferred sewers and pumping stations - £29M. • Drinking water quality programme - £25M. • Upstream thinking - £14M. • Water mains rehabilitation and conditioning - £12M. • PUROS and iOps - £11M. • Resilience - £10M. • Downstream thinking - £9M. In this particular business plan, the key areas will focus on targeted innovative investment, such as the new water treatment works planned for North Plymouth.

It will focus on operational ways of working and an extension of the innovative Phased Utilisation of Remote Operating Systems (PUROS) initiative that is being implemented between 2010-2015.

Energy procurement and usage through targeted investment in energy efficiency is important, as are renewable energy generation schemes.

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The £54M North Plymouth Water Treatment Works will be a strategically important investment – a new drinking water treatment facility at Roborough has been evaluated many times historically.

The utility now has the go-ahead on the basis that the case has been transformed economically by following the assessment of a 21st century treatment process, characterised by lower whole life costs.

According to the plan, the solution will deliver an efficient treatment process with low energy requirements and very low chemical and waste production as well as a much reduced embedded and operational carbon cost.

The investment will also liberate a large area of developable land in a heavily constrained site in Plymouth.

With £73M spent on bathing and shellfish waters, this is the biggest area of increased investment compared with AMP5, resulting from the Statement of Obligations and National Environment Programme requirements that have been translated into a programme of improvement works and agreed with the Environment Agency and Natural England.

Other key elements include a customer tariff freeze in 2014/15 and ‘revenue smoothing’ into AMP6 (2015-2020) and average bills set to be below inflation up to 2020.

Many other water companies have already laid out their plans for the AMP6 framework.

Atkins, MWH and Jacobs have already started working on a ten-year engineering consultancy framework for Severn Trent Water that will span AMP6 and AMP7. The contract started last August, and is worth between £8M and £25M a year.

These three consultants are working alongside Severn Trent’s staff during the feasibility stages of the company’s investment programme.

Severn Trent Water’s Services Director, Andy Smith, said: “These new partnerships are about being an integrated team, delivering our objectives to achieve common goals.”

United Utilities (UU) currently spend approximately £600M a year maintaining and improving its water and wastewater networks. It has started the process of letting contracts and framework agreements for AMP6, some of which will be awarded for up to 12 years, taking them into AMP7.

Applications for the role of engineering services partner to help develop and implement its AMP6 capital programme closed in August, with a possibility that the role could be extended into AMP7.

While this process is under way, UU has short-listed 11 possible suppliers for the construction delivery partner framework and is in negotiations.

Southern Water opened up pre-qualification for delivery partners for the AMP6 programme, with successful firms likely to be sharing between £600M and £1.1Bn of work.

The company is looking for four delivery partners, who had until October to express an interest.

Southern Water is also looking for a strategic solutions partner to provide support during the definition, feasibility, preferred option identification and outline design stages of AMP6 projects.

This contract is valued at between £100M and £200M. Thames Water is the most advanced of the water companies in its procurement for AMP6, having announced in May the list of firms in its ‘super-alliance’.

Thames Water Asset Director Lawrence Gosden has described the decision to appoint an alliance for AMP6 as a ‘complete transformation’ of the way the company

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delivers capital investment. He said: “The tender process started with extensive consultation with our supply chain to form a delivery strategy with collaboration at its heart, and it ended with us joining forces with some of the leading names in the industry.

“We have a significant amount of work to do, upgrading our deteriorating infrastructure over the next 25 years and beyond, while keeping customers’ bills affordable. If we were to achieve this, a different approach is required.”

Thames Water’s AMP6 alliance is made up of two design and build consortiums, a programme manager and a technology and innovation provider.

Costain Veolia Water Atkins (CVA) and Skanska MWH Balfour Beatty (SMB) won the design and build bid, MWH is the programme manager and IBM the technology and innovation provider.

Anglian Water is in the middle of procuring contractors for its AMP6 framework, with the 2015-2020 investment likely to be worth approximately £2Bn, though the successful bidders could find their contracts extended into AMP7 and even AMP8 investment periods to 2030, which could take this figure to between £6Bn and £9Bn. Yorkshire Water has named eight contract partners and three framework consultants that will deliver the AMP6 programme.

The consultants are Arup, MWH and Turner and Townsend, while the contractors are Byzak Entec, Earthtech Morrison, Morgan Sindall Grontmij, Barhale WSP, Mott MacDonald Bentley, Balfour Beatty and Morrison.

As a chosen service partner for the Yorkshire Water AMP6 framework, Morrison will support the delivery of an investment programme designed to continue to guarantee a resilient and secure supply of safe drinking water to almost five million people and 140,000 businesses across the Yorkshire region.

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Morrison will continue to work on Yorkshire Water’s clean water infrastructure assets, carrying out investigation works to design and deliver appropriate totex solutions.

This contract will operate alongside Morrison Utility Services’ existing water services agreement contract undertaking repair, maintenance and meeting services on Yorkshire Water’s networks.

The partnership between Morrison Utility Services and Yorkshire Water has seen many projects already undertaken. Essential water quality improvement commenced in July on Adel Lane in Leeds.

It is part of Yorkshire Water’s capital investment in the pipe network to maintain high standards of drinking water and prevent discolouration of the water supply.

Work lasted seven weeks and involved excavations along a section of Adel Lane to enable access for the water pipe to be re-lined.

Essential water quality improvement work was also undertaken on King Lane, Alwoodley, in July, which is also part of the capital investment in the pipe network.

Morrison again worked on this, excavating along King Lane in order to enable access for the water pipe to be re-lined. As with the Adel Lane scheme, a road closure was required on King Lane between the junction with The Avenue and the junction with Alwoodley Lane.

A temporary and signed diversion was in place, but vehicular access was maintained for residents and the businesses along the section remained open as usual.

Work on this project is now complete.

Due to the success of this partnership, it has been extended into the AMP6 regulatory period.

Charles Morrison, Chief Executive of Morrison Utility Services, said: “We are delighted to have secured this extension to continue our long -term relationship with Yorkshire Water and we look forward to supporting the delivery of engineering services that will result in serviceability improvements in the supply of water to customers.

“We would anticipate that the value of work in AMP6, assuming a similar workload to AMP5, could be in the region of £50M to £75M. “Over recent years we have forged an excellent, collaborative relationship with Yorkshire Water and our focus is to continually drive improvements whilst keeping disruption to customers to a minimum.

“We will also look to continue to identify, invest in and deploy innovative processes and solutions that are safe,

cost effective and ensure the customer’s experience remains positive.”

Balfour Beatty has worked with Yorkshire Water through every AMP cycle since 1994 and Chief Executive Andrew McNaughton, said: “We are delighted that our long relationship with Yorkshire Water will continue into the next AMP cycle.

“This is an important time for our clients in the water sector as they face more challenging regulatory requirements and we are committed to supporting their objectives through continued investment in new technology and the delivery of exceptional service.”

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UKC PROFILE

CONSTRUCT

For the benefit of all its members Registered as a Company in 1994, CONSTRUCT is a trade association for subcontractors working in the concrete frame industry. It consists of 29 contractors, 45 supplier members and ten clients and engineers. The supplier members are drawn from the concrete industry, the formwork industry, the material supply industry and the fixing industry. With a very significant percentage of all major concrete frame contractors working among its members, suppliers have opportunities not just to network with, but to work closely with those contractors who are clients. Sitting alongside those contractor clients means all suppliers are at the forefront line in understanding the specific challenges and opportunities that exist for product and material development in line with changing regulations.

Operating from one office in Camberley, the four main areas on which the Association focuses are: to help members in health, safety and environmental performance; to look at training needs and the provision of competent training; to work at the promotion and further use of concrete and concrete processes, and by looking at fair trading conditions. Specialist concrete frame contractors have to be active in concrete frame construction; be able to demonstrate that concrete frame construction is a core activity; demonstrate that industry performance standards can be achieved; contractors also have to prove they are financially stable.

All prospective contractors must have a health and safety policy, conform to acceptable industry employment practices, provide relevant references relating to concrete frame construction, and be capable of providing labour, materials and plant as a minimum.

Wherever appropriate, CONSTRUCT acts as the face of its membership, positively representing the industry with a united voice to the benefit of all. As a respected and recognised voice in the industry, it is represented on the board and committees of the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) which assists the Association in lobbying both clients and government.

CONSTRUCT exists for the benefit of its members. As an organisation, it is positioned to directly and specifically improve the concrete frames and structures industry, to constantly evaluate and respond to industry needs, and to influence developments in speed and economy.

Initially the membership did not extend

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to suppliers or other stakeholders, but to be a true and representative voice to the industry, CONSTRUCT recognised that all players needed to collaborate.

CONSTRUCT is keen to involve all stakeholders by working in partnership with designers, architects and other consultants who have an interest in the specialist field of concrete structures. By getting involved with CONSTRUCT and its committees, consultants get direct access to all leading contractors, suppliers and problem solvers. Developing close relationships with contractors can only help to ensure construction and logistic issues are resolved as early as possible and the expectations of clients are realised as painlessly as possible. Since the supplier members represent every part of the concrete frame supply chain, they are invited onto the CONSTRUCT council and into every committee.

The health and wellbeing of the workforce is the Association’s number one priority.

The vision is one of workplaces that are incident and injury-free, where everyone returns home safely. CONSTRUCT works with designers, clients and other stakeholders to achieve that goal. CONSTRUCT’S health and safety committee meets quarterly to share best practice, to learn from incidents and to work together across the industry to produce publications and policies that are better for all. External organisations and other stakeholders within construction are also invited by the committee to present and share their views, and such an honest and open forum has resulted in substantial collaborative improvement.

During 2013, six interactive DVDs have been produced focussing on Behavioural Safety. These are available with training packs and credit card sized checklists.

In addition, CONSTRUCT has developed an extensive list of publications that are free of charge for all members, who are actively encouraged to share knowledge, experience and best practice. Environmental support is an important associated area in which the Association is actively working, and all members are assisted in remaining environmentally compliant.

The project to develop the EnviroWeb, which is now part of CONSTRUCT’s website, has been completed. CITB has recognised the development and accomplishment made by awarding CONSTRUCT a certificate of achievement.

The website provides a service enabling

members to gain valuable knowledge and insight concerning environmental issues.

As one of the four strategic areas, training provision and setting out of best practice is extremely important. As the central hub of knowledge for the whole concrete structures industry, CONSTRUCT and its members are committed to leading the way in the provision of world-class training in construction at all levels. This commitment continually expands, with new courses being added, to transfer the knowledge that is critical to the ongoing development of the industry and the individuals operating within it. The priorities are to discuss and pursue good practice; to identify shortfalls in training and the provision of training; to understand and communicate the availability of grants and funding, and to promote apprenticeships and qualifications.

Through combined buying power and broader data collection capability, CONSTRUCT is able to promise greater value and efficiency to its members.

The Association is active and respected within the construction industry as a whole. This includes working with all the main players in concrete including The Concrete Society and The Concrete Centre, as well as a number of research and academic institutions such as British Research Establishment (BRE) and the Construction Skills National College.

CONSTRUCT liaises directly with individual members and the membership to understand the needs of the whole industry so that their needs are communicated to influence research. Fair trade is another of the important areas in which CONSTRUCT is engaged. CONSTRUCT wants to actively engage with clients, designers and stakeholders to allow a better understanding of the value that its members can bring to the sector through early engagement and the establishment of a fairer trading environment.

Going forward, there are many issues still to tackle. These include shared apprentices; improved and relevant training; fair trading as payment terms and retentions drift away. The Association is also working with NSCC on the whole area of the competency card scheme, which has a number of shortcomings that will hopefully be changed. The increasing use of cement substitutes, the regular supply of high strength and self-compacting concrete are all topics which CONSTRUCT has to challenge.

T: 01276 38444 www.construct.org.uk

Be a leader, not a follower. Visit concrete.tekla.com

UKC PROFILE

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.

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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.

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 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.”

UKC PROFILE

Flood Protection Association Established in 2000 after particularly bad floods, the advice and expertise of the Flood Protection Association (FPA) is as crucial now as it has ever been.

With various parts of the country suffering from huge levels of rainfall that has seen rivers burst their banks, this is proving a very challenging time for many households and neighbourhoods who have suffered at the hands of these terrible conditions.

FPA promotes the advantages of flood protection for the benefit of those affected by it and the all too frequent blight on the lives of people and their businesses.

The Organisation is Chaired by Mary Dhonau OBE who, because of the all too familiar experience of being affected by flooding, can support and advise victims affectively during their recovery.

In addition, she mans a helpline to offer impartial support and advice for those affected.

The aims of the Association are to raise public and client awareness about the wider solutions available through the use of members’ products and services to minimise the effects of flooding, whilst encouraging uniform standards of education and training at all levels across the industry.

As with all its work, the FPA tries to influence legislation, regulations and policies that affect or might affect the technical or commercial interests of customers, the industry and FPA members in general.

FPA develops and encourages best

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practice through the promotion of recognised industry standards for manufacture and installation.

All companies are vetted before being accepted for membership, and some of these members can also provide individual property flood risk assessments, which enables the householder to know which protection products will be appropriate for their home or business.

Members benefit from consistently high exposure in the media of the FPA, which highlights the work people can do to protect their properties from being flooded.

There is also regular dialogue with Defra and the Environment Agency.

At present, there are 17 members, but applications are currently pending to add to this number.

One of these companies is Whitehouse Construction Ltd, who has worked on the installation phase of the Lower Thames Property Level Protection.

Part of the Environment Agency’s Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy, this covers the River Thames floodplain between Datchet and Teddington.

The main proposals of the strategy will significantly reduce flood risk to thousands of properties in the Lower Thames area, though there will be a large number still at high risk.

The aim of this project is to focus on properties with a residual flood risk of one in 40 years or greater.

All properties included will be protected

to a minimum of the one in 75 years flood level, although the majority of properties are anticipated to be protected to a one in 100 year flood level.

More than 1,000 Lower Thames properties were invited to register for the scheme. Up to now, 413 residents have indicated their interest.

Another member, Flood Control International, has just completed the installation and testing of flood doors and flood barriers at Thames Water’s Ashford Common, Kempton and Hampton Water Treatment works that provide more than 30% of London’s clean water.

The doors provide full flood protection when shut and can be used as emergency escapes and fire doors.

Given the severity of flooding at present, the FPA is certain that the way forward is to replace the use of sandbags and move to using far more robust, kitemarked temporary defences and property level protection.

In addition, future homes should not be built on the flood plain, and a move to the use of a portfolio of solutions would mitigate against flood risk.

It is hoped there will be far more use of property level defences, and all new developments using sustainable green approaches that reduce flood risk.

Flood Protection Association, Building 69, BRE, Bucknalls Lane, Watford, WD25 9XX.

Specialists in the design, supply and installation of flood protection and flow control products A leading worldwide supplier of demountable flood protection systems

www.ibsengineeredproducts.co.uk

Property protection for domestic, commercial and industrial premises Proud member of the Flood Protection Association Products · Penstocks · Stoplogs · Floodgates · Demountable Flood Barriers · Kitemarked Temporary Flood Barrier · Glass Wall Flood Defence System

Record rainfall levels for England, Scotland and Wales, a jet stream that has been 30 percent stronger than average (says the Met Office), the worst tidal surge for 60 years, countless COBRA meetings, several declarations of major incidents; these are just some of the things that have been written about during the winter of 2013/14.

Yet amongst all of this there must be some success stories.

One such story comes from IBS, a leading UK supplier of flood protection and flow control equipment, whose demountable and permanent flood protection barriers have featured heavily in the media of late.

The system with perhaps the most recognition has been the demountable defence at Bewdley, whose name derives from Beau Lieu (beautiful place), on the River Severn. This large system has been called into action almost every year since the scheme was fully opened in 2006 and which provides protection from a 1 in 100 year flood event. In total, approx. 650 linear metres of IBS demountable system up to a height of over 3m is utilised at Bewdley, making it the largest and most successful system of its kind in the UK.

IBS Engineered Products Limited, Unit 7, Longfields Court, Middlewoods Way, Wharncliffe Business Park, Carlton, Barnsley, S71 3GN

Phone: +44 1226 630015 Fax: +44 1226 630014 Email: info@ibsengineeredproducts.com

UKC PROFILE

London Underground After celebrating its 150th anniversary last year, there is no chance of anybody involved with the London Underground resting on their laurels, as they continue at pace to improve the services on offer for commuters.

The growth of London and its economy means the Tube carries ever more passengers and must seek continual improvements in reliability and volume of service to support them.

This in turn means that ongoing investment

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in London’s transport infrastructure is vital for the capital and the wider UK economy.

Much of the network is being transformed in preparation for the arrival of Crossrail – the new east-west rail link – in 2018, which will deliver 250 million additional visitors into Central London by 2026.

Transport for London (TfL), has implemented a business plan, which originated back in 2010 due to there being more than one billion journeys on the Underground – and this number

has increased every year since.

To support this growth, it is critical that life-expired systems are renewed. As a result, investment is coming in the form of upgrades to trains and stations to replace life-expired assets and increase capacity, and the improvement of condition of poor assets such as track, civil infrastructure, lifts, escalators and stations to increase reliability and allow the benefits from the upgrades to be realised.

In order to allow for this investment in

the face of what was reduced funding, substantial new programmes of operational cost savings were developed.

As the world’s oldest metro system, the Tube has had infrastructure that dates back to the 1860s and some signalling equipment that is approximately 90 years old.

Line upgrades are at the heart of the transformation. Already, the Jubilee Line and Victoria Line have been upgraded, and others will follow,

including the Northern and sub-surface lines (Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines).

Across the network, new trains and signalling systems will allow more frequent services and quicker, more comfortable journeys.

The next generation of low-energy, high capacity Tube trains for the Piccadilly, Bakerloo and Central lines, together with line upgrades, will provide the transformation of the Underground,

increasing capacity by 30%.

Completed in 2012, the Victoria line received its first major investment in 40 years, with original train and signalling equipment replaced by modern, reliable technology.

These trains are faster and have greater capacity, better ventilation and CCTV in every carriage.

By the end of 2011, all new trains were delivered and journey times continued page 46 >

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The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall travelled together on the tube to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

started to reduce, with enhancements to service introduced in stages.

The Victoria line has more trains running during peak hours, improved ventilation throughout the line and better accessibility with dedicated wheelchair spaces and level access at most stations.

As a result of this, journey times have been reduced by 16% and capacity increased by 21%.

The Northern line is the busiest and most complex on the network, carrying more than 800,000 passengers a day.

When TfL acquired Tube Lines, it decided to delay the Northern line upgrade. This partly reflected the delayed programme London Underground inherited from Tube Lines on the Jubilee line, but it also enabled TfL to build on experience gained from the Jubilee programme, and will result in substantially fewer closures and less disruption for passengers.

As part of the upgrade, a new control centre, computerised signalling and automatic train control system is being installed, using technology

46

similar to that on the Jubilee line.

These improvements will enable trains to run closer together at higher speeds, reducing journey times by 18% and increasing capacity by 20%.

A further scheme is under development to increase service frequency and line capacity through a simplified service pattern and use of additional trains.

This would provide greater congestion relief to the most crowded sections of the line.

Preparatory works to enable this improvement are due to begin in 2016.

The sub-surface upgrade is the largest part of the investment of the Underground.

It consists of 191 new trains, a new computer-controlled signalling system, a single-service control centre to replace the current multiple locations, power upgrades and extensive train depot improvements.

Serving all four lines, the trains have walkthrough carriages and, for the first time in the Tube, air conditioning in all carriages.

The new trains are initially being operated on the Metropolitan line, which had its existing fleet replaced at the end of 2012.

The Circle, Hammersmith & City and District lines will be completed by 2016.

One these lines, trains will be longer than they have previously been, increasing capacity by 17%. In addition, they will have CCTV and better customer information systems.

New signalling will allow trains to run more frequently and with reduced journey times, as well as enabling a more reliable service.

When upgrading the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines, a common design will be used for trains, reducing their cost and lessening passenger disruption.

Passengers will travel in more capacious trains that use less energy and emit less heat using technological developments now becoming standard in the industry.

Being more energy efficient, the trains will reduce the investment required in power upgrades and lower the quantity of CO2 emitted.

They will also be more accessible and, as with the new sub-surface line trains, passengers will be able to walk continued page 50 >

SES Contracting Limited Would like to congratulate everyone involved at London Underground on the 150th anniversary since its commencement.

SES Contracting Ltd are delighted to be involved in the Jubilee Line Tunnel Relining works between Baker Street and Bond Street Stations.

We are highly experienced in all aspects of Tunnel construction and pride ourselves on bespoke solutions to satisfy our clients’ requirements.

SES CONTRACTING LIMITED

SES Contracting Ltd, Harworth Park, Blyth Road, Harworth, Doncaster, DN118DB Tel: 01302 756811 Email: Info@ses-holdings.com Web Page: www.ses-holdings.com

SYDAC Ltd

Advancements in Train Driver Training Traditionally, boys were recruited onto the steam railway at the age of fourteen as engine cleaners with only a basic education. After a year or so of laborious engine cleaning combined with general shed duties, such as assisting the boiler-smiths and fitters, they would be examined and passed out by a locomotive inspector as being fit for firing duties. Now re-classified as Passed Cleaners, from this point on they could be used by the shed foremen as firemen on such workings as local goods trips or yard shunting. Incredible as it now seems, there was no paid, formal training at all. Cleaners taught themselves and attended unpaid Mutual Improvement Classes (MICs) run by experienced drivers and firemen in their own time, often between church and brass band practice on Sunday morning in a driver's front parlour! Eventually a cleaner would obtain a full time fireman's appointment, often posted to a depot far from home, beginning the slow progression through the rosters, called links. This would see them starting on shed, local and shunting work, gradually venturing further afield, then onto semi-fast passenger work and long-haul freights before finally getting onto express passenger trains. Promotion through the links and grades was on a rigid system based on length of service or seniority. To working class men with no formal qualifications their seniority was often the only thing they had to distinguish them from those around them and was jealously guarded. After ten years or so, and still studying in his own time, a fireman would be examined and passed for driving, becoming a Passed Fireman, thereafter being available for the most lowly driving duties, usually shunting or preparation & disposal of locomotives. Finally, perhaps in his late thirties or early forties he would obtain promotion to Driver and begin the long haul through the links all over again, perhaps not becoming a 'top link' express driver until just a few years before retirement.

Around the late '60s - early '70s, with the advent of diesel and electric traction, firemen became Secondmen, or Drivers Assistants as they were re-named once women began to be recruited into the footplate grades. The early '70s also saw BR introduce a formal training course called the MP12, which eventually led to the disappearance of the semi-official and unpaid MICs. Typically, one would join BR straight from school at sixteen and might be a DA for around five years before being sent on the six month long MP12 and being passed out as a Relief Driver. Shortly after, at the age of 21 or 22, promotion would be gained to Train Driver, usually at one of the lowly and unpopular suburban commuter train depots around the big cities with their rather boring and repetitive work. Most would simultaneously register a preference to transfer back to their home depot or to somewhere with a more interesting and varied workload once they had enough seniority behind them to get in.

It's strange that in the space of thirty years we went from a situation where new train drivers were highly experienced but had no formal training to one where we have formal training but the newbie can have almost no experience; the first time they have to deal with an out-of-course situation is as the driver in charge!

Over the last 20 years there has been a shortage of qualified competent drivers to satisfy the demand of the numerous Train Operating Companies (TOC’s) which operate the country’s train networks. This, together with the advancement and number of new

trains from a technological perspective being introduced in to the UK Rail network, has driven the TOC’s to review the processes and programmes of Train Driver Training. It is no longer cost effective to train drivers on mainline Rolling Stock, and the safety of passengers is paramount to every TOC. This has lead to the introduction by many TOC’s of Driver Training Simulators (along the same lines as the Aero Industry flight simulators) and provides the Train Operators a cost effective and safe method of both training new drivers and assessing existing experienced drivers in their competence to drive a train.

Train Simulators allow TOC’s to train their drivers in a safe and controlled environment with a simulator which looks, feels and performs exactly as the real vehicle the driver will ultimately drive.

It allows the training instructor to train and test the driver’s ability and competences to be a fully trained driver.

Overview Sydac Ltd - Driver Simulator Overview Sydac Ltd is a global leader in Train simulators and has supported the UK Train Operating Companies with training simulators. We are extremely proud to be the supplier of choice for London Under Ground for their training simulators and currently support LUL with 9 Full cab simulators.

Our family of simulators are intuitive, easy to use and focus on the ability of the trainer and the trainee to get the optimum results.

The simulators include a comprehensive range of features and capabilities that are designed to ensure that high quality; effective training is delivered in a flexible and intuitive environment.

The fidelity of the trainee environment is of the highest standard to ensure that the trainee can achieve the necessary procedural and behavioural elements of rail driver training with a strong sense of reality and acceptance.

The physical fidelity of the cab, combined with the visual and environmental fidelity, ensures the trainees are completely immersed and become totally absorbed in the training task at hand and accept that the simulator is their train. This high fidelity, together with highly accurate train models, makes our driving simulator easy to introduce into training operations.

The simulators are engineered to support advanced adult learning techniques including Collaborative Action Based Learning, Reflective Learning and Professional Driver Programs. We work with our customers and external educators and learning/behavioural advisors to design simulators incorporating features which deliver better learning outcomes.

Modular and Expandable The simulators are developed using a common underlying architecture that has been designed to support a highly modular and expandable system. The architecture provides a software backbone to the simulator with facilities to deliver varying capabilities for different simulators and to add or modify individual simulator capabilities over time.

The underlying software communications layer means that simulation facilities can be delivered with high levels of flexibility.

Issues such as interchangeable desks for different train types along with vision, audio, training systems and assessment tools can be delivered as configurable and expandable items.

This means that a simulator acquired today can be expanded and upgraded throughout its life. This is a critical element in minimising life cycle costs as it means that new features can be added to the simulator without the need to redesign the underlying system and operational environment.

The modular design enables a full spectrum of simulators to be used and managed in a consistent configuration. The underlying method of software communications and system design for a desktop is essentially the same as that for a full cab and reality theatre. The underlying train models, the training system and scenario set up methodologies is the same across the range of simulators. Modifications to items such as train models, instructor stations and reporting systems can be implemented across all your simulator products.

Family of Simulators We market a family of rail simulators that include: • Full Cab Driver Training Simulators • Console Train Driving Simulators • Computer based training system for interactive training of rules, safety critical functions, fault finding, start up and shut down procedures on complex equipment.

• Part Task computer based training simulators for specific applications such as braking procedures, particular driving strategies • Desktop Engineering Operations/ Train Driving Simulators • Desktop Train Driving Simulators – Hardware controls • Reality Theatre training centres for collaborative training 2. CAB SIMULATORS 2.1 Cab Simulator Overview The Drivers Cab Simulators include the following base modules and options: • High fidelity driver’s cab reproduction with real drivers controls and indicators • Replication of in cab computer screens for the Train Operating System (TOS) • Accurate models of traction and braking systems including: • Air and EP braking systems • Low adhesion simulation including wheel slip and slide • Wheel slide protection systems • Traction control systems • Traction motor dynamics • Transmission models • Train control systems • Train pneumatic systems including: • Compressors • Doors • Air suspension • Train dynamics including: • Curvature and gradient interaction • Rolling resistance • Windage • In train forces • Train accelerations • Coupling with other trains

• Track interaction with points etc.

• Collision detection with other trains and other objects • Train communications systems • Out of cab controls and indicators via graphical Virtual Train • High quality computer generated imagery (CGI) • Comprehensive collection of interactive models of signal types • Comprehensive database of models of infrastructure components including: • Simulation of environmental effects • High fidelity spatial audio simulation • Comprehensive train fault simulation • Start up and Shut down procedure simulation We provide each simulator with a tool set called RealityManager® which provides the flexibility to create, train, record, report, coach and understand the effectiveness of training. It consists of two components that allow the simulator to be operated with the highest degree of flexibility and supports the development of a diverse range of training modules.

The facilities provided by the RealityManager® toolset makes the delivery of training a simple and efficient process and include • Start-up and shutdown procedures • Fault detection analysis and corrective actions, including operation in normal, degraded and emergency scenarios • Driver’s techniques, including: • braking and acceleration • reaction to signals and traffic impediments • Signal training, routes, and collision avoidance • Communication procedures with the guard, Rail Management Centre, signaller, train controller, authorities, and passengers • Operation in varying weather conditions/reduced visibility (darkness, rain, fog etc.)

• Operation in varying track conditions including low adhesion etc.

• Optimum driver’s practice for safety, energy efficiency and passenger comfort • Operation under a range of safe working conditions: • Temporary block working • Failure of a level crossing • Passing Signals at Danger • Possession of track • Comprehensive instructors tools including: • Scenario building tools • Scenario control centre • Radio and intercom simulation • Advanced scenario scripting tools • Session replay facility • Expert system session analysis tools • Off line reports and analysis • Graphical object building tools • Track building and construction tools • Multiple simulator integration so they can operate in the same 3D world • Mobile simulators in container and trailer forms • Motion base • Single switch power up of the simulator • Trainee self-run operation • Observer station Trainee assessment The simulator has a suite of trainee assessment tools and facilities which enable rapid assessment of capabilities and highlights areas in which trainees may need further training. The Virtual Instructor allows scoring systems to be set up and be weighted towards particular items and for the results of a training session to be collated and reported.

A Post Run Analyser allows driving infractions and relative performance across a range of factors to be assessed and reviewed concurrently.

These tools together with the replay and coaching facilities of the simulator enable the instructor to gain an insight to the ability and performance of the trainee and to provide immediate feedback following the completion of the training session.

Training Reports The highly configurable reporting system has the inherent flexibility to adapt to the training methods, requirements and directions chosen by the instructor and the training organisation.

The reports provide a clear insight into trainee performance through the use of graphical and plain language.

Summary We strive to design, build, deliver and support the best of breed rail simulators for today’s dynamic rail environment. To achieve this aim, we listen closely to our customers and endeavour to develop solutions that bring together the best in: • Applied technology, system design and engineered quality • Rail operations knowledge • Learning methodology and training capability To develop simulators that incorporate • Ease of use by trainer and trainee • Training effectiveness • Flexible and modular design for future expansion pathway • Family design approach throughout the simulator range The ease with which our rail driving simulators can be introduced, together with the highly productive embedded systems, means that acceptance and full productivity can be rapidly achieved. The high fidelity of the engineered environment, together with intuitive and highly flexible training systems, makes our simulators the best of breed.

Syd a c R a i l w ay Tra i n i n g S i m u l a t o r s Applicat ion s High-Speed Trains Light Rail Vehicles Locomotives Metros Regional and Commuter Trains

Proud to supply and support Londo n Underground Limited with their Driv er Training Simulators

Sydac Ltd, Derwent Business Centre Clarke Street, Derby, DE1 2BU Tel: +44 1332 299 600 Fax: +44 1332 299 624 sales@sydac.co.uk www.sydac.co.uk

through them, extending capacity.

A prototype for the new train will be delivered next year and the first full fleet replaced by the end of the decade.

To ensure both lines continue to operate reliably until the introduction of new trains and signalling under the Deep Tube programme, small-scale life extension works are planned for the Bakerloo and Piccadilly line rolling stock fleets.

The Piccadilly line signalling control system, based at Earl’s Court, dates from the 1960s and it is increasingly expensive to maintain.

The system is gradually being replaced by a new control centre at Hammersmith – which will be completed this year – reducing the risk of disruption to services.

A new ticket hall is being built at Victoria Station beneath Bressenden Place and the existing ticket hall will also be rebuilt to provide greater capacity.

It will improve the interchange between the Victoria, District and Circle lines and allow step-free access from the street to all Tube platforms. Nine new escalators to the Victoria line will be installed.

The station will remain open throughout the works. Although some disruption is inevitable, TfL will provide information to ensure customers are updated about

50

the works and can make alternative plans when this is necessary.

The new ticket hall will open in 2016, with the full scheme following suit two years later.

At Paddington (Hammersmith & City), there will be a new ticket hall, extra staircase and lifts for step-free access from street to both platforms.

This trebling of capacity is due this year and will meet the increased demand for the Hammersmith & City line now that the service frequency has doubled between Paddington and Hammersmith.

This will also support the enhancements from the Network Rail station redevelopment, Crossrail and wider Paddington-region development.

Work to rebuild Tottenham Court Road station is well under way. Surrounding properties have been demolished and excavation and piling has been undertaken.

This is already an important interchange station and will become even busier once the Northern line upgrade is finished and Crossrail services commence.

Once completed, passengers per day using the station will increase from 150,000 to 200,000.

To supplement these developments,

significant improvements are needed, such as a ticket hall six times larger than the present one, with separate escalators to the Northern line, more space in congested areas and step-free access from street to all platforms.

The work also involves other escalator improvements and the public piazza at St Giles Circus.

The new ticket hall will be operational from 2016 and the full scheme will be completed by 2017.

A growth in traffic to the City as the economy recovers has resulted in Bank station becoming increasingly crowded, particularly at the Northern line platforms.

With space constrained, it is a challenge to provide new capacity while maintaining service.

A plan is in place to widen the platforms and concourse to provide extra capacity for the Northern line and relieve some severely congested areas. Additional step-free access and improvements to signage and customer information will also be completed by 2021.

Work is also under way at Bond Street to relieve congestion caused by increasing demand for the Jubilee and Central lines. continued page 52 >

The Technical Programme Delivery Group provides technical consulting services in systems engineering, assurance and the delivery & acceptance of 'cutting edge' technology.

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Our expertise covers: Strategic assessment • Management of business and safety critical signalling, communications, rolling stock and related technologies • Systems integration • Safety assessment Safety case production and expert witness services.

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iESM

During 2013, with the support of practitioners from London Underground, TPD launched new guidance for the international rail industry. This replaces out-dated UK guidance and introduces emerging international good practice, whilst being flexible enough to meet the needs of a range of project sizes and types. By using an integrated approach to hazard management, the iESM provides multifunctional projects with proven processes that outline the activities involved in making a system or product safe and also providing the evidence too. By encouraging and giving practical guidance on cross acceptance, iESM helps to re-use existing evidence rather than re-invent it.

RISK ANALYSIS Identifying hazards Estimating Risk

Applying standards

Comparing with a reference system

Estimating risk explicitly

To RISK EVALUATION AND CONTROL

Volumes 1 and 2 of iESM are NOW fully downloadable free of charge from www.intesm.org and to help supplement the handbook, we offer a range of different iESM training modules for iESM users.

2nd iESM User Group in Shenzhen, PR China on 2 April 2014 for information email: booking@intesm.org

This project also prepares the station for Crossrail, which, once opened, will further increase the demand for Tube services.

The scheme will provide capacity for an expected increase in passenger numbers, from 155,000 to 225,000 passengers a day, once Crossrail is running.

As with many of the improvements on the London Underground, the scheme includes new escalators, a new interchange passageway, new entrance and ticket hall, and step-free access to all platforms.

TfL has purchased the property that stands on the site for these works and demolition has taken place.

Throughout the works, there will be the minimal possible disruption to passengers and access to Oxford Road.

Work will be completed within three years.

January saw the start of work to transform Vauxhall Tube station with a £36M upgrade as part of a major investment designed to support the growth and regeneration of the surrounding area.

TfL is working to support a huge increase in jobs, businesses and homes in Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea, which is one of the Mayor’s key Opportunity Areas.

Key projects include extending the Northern line, transforming the gyratory system, making major improvements for walking and cycling, and enhancing bus services. The upgrade at Vauxhall Tube station is an essential first phase of this strategy.

The number of passengers using Vauxhall Underground station is set to increase by 40% over the next few years and in order to create extra space, the ticket hall will be reconfigured to allow an improvement

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and expansion of the ticket gates, reducing congestion within the station.

The station, its subways and stairways will be completely refurbished and a lift will be installed between the ticket hall and platforms.

Combined with the existing lift from the bus station to the Tube ticket hall, this will deliver step-free access to the Victoria line trains.

Network Rail is now also completing the National Rail station’s upgrade, which includes more lifts to improve accessibility, thus creating a fully accessible interchange between rail bus and Tube.

David Waboso, Capital Programmes Director, London Underground, said: “Vauxhall is a very busy Tube station, with about 21 million people using it annually, and it’s set to get busier.

“The station will be kept open for passengers during the work and we will keep any disturbance to the minimum, but this upgrade work is absolutely vital.

“It will make the station step-free, will give passengers more space and will make journeys through the station quicker and more pleasant.

“These works, along with other TfL investment in improving the local transport network, will play a key role in helping to support the regeneration of the area.”

The total cost of the Vauxhall Tube station improvements has been reduced by more than £9M from £45M through working closely with the contractor, Bechtel.

Bechtel’s Project Manager, Hani Rizkallah, added: “Using Six Sigma, best practices in supply chain management and sustainability, we have developed together

with London Underground a more cost effective construction method, which also reduces the environmental impact.

“We aim to be good neighbours and are committed to delivering these improvements safely and to the highest quality.”

This upgrade will be completed by the end of next year.

With Crossrail arriving in 2018, and the investment in modernising key London Underground stations in the West End, the area will become an even more desirable destination, boosting the retail offering, employment opportunities and visitors to the area.

Construction of Crossrail has now reached the half way point and in preparation for the higher visitor numbers it will bring, Westminster City Council, TfL and the New West End Company have commissioned consultants Arup and Publica to look at both the short and long-term improvements needed to enhance the West End’s public realm.

The West End is a vital piece of the London and UK economy, a world-class shopping destination that attracts flagship brands and visitors from around the globe.

The work sees all partners building on the recommendations of the Mayor’s Roads Task Force to create unrivalled public spaces that will improve how people move around and live, work and play in this iconic London destination.

The new study, set to be published in spring 2014, will focus on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, and the environs. continued page 54 >

Our queue management systems help keep queues to a minimum, with passenger flows running quickly and efficiently.

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It will respond to the revised pedestrian figures announced in Arup’s ‘Impact of Crossrail on Visitor Numbers in Central London’ report.

These show Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Farringdon stations could be serving as many as 250 million visitors into and out of Central London by 2026, 65 million more passengers than previous projections ten years ago suggested.

On an annual basis, this is equivalent to around 166 million additional passengers.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “As a result of the billions of pounds we are investing in Crossrail and the Tube improvements, thousands more people will come to the area, making it busier and even more vibrant than ever.

“To make the most of this immense opportunity, we will also need to invest in the environment above ground as well as below it.

“This study sees all key partners working together to agree on what the West End of the future will look like, and the practical solutions needed to achieve this, particularly for how people move around the area.

“It means that when the hugely modernised new Tube stations and Crossrail open, we will be prepared to give workers and visitors the world class welcome they’d expect from London’s West End.” Councillor Philippa Roe, Leader of Westminster City Council, said: “The West End makes an enormous contribution to the economic health of London and the City Council has already started work to ensure people coming here – whether by Crossrail, Tube, bus, car, taxi or bike – can complete their journeys easily and efficiently.

54

“This includes widening of some three organisations together means we pavements and generally improving the can continue to build on the practical public realm, but this study fits in with solutions already planned and go further what we are working to achieve through in order to meet this challenge.” our West End Partnership, to ensure the West End remains the vibrant and economically strong place it is now.”

Sir Peter Rogers, Chairman of the New West End Company, said: “It’s important the West End is prepared for Crossrail and the expected numbers of people who will use it.

“We are already working in Bond Street to deliver a multi-million pound plan to ensure the area continues to be among the top retail destinations in the world.

“We see the increased number of people who will use the stations as a massive opportunity especially in the East End of Oxford Street where there is huge interest from overseas We are delighted to be associated with the London Underground. retailers looking for a new market.

“Bringing the

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Stocksigns is proud to have been successfully meeting customers’ needs since 1955 and in 2004 Stocksigns acquired the long established vitreous enamelling company Burnham Signs Ltd (established 1877). Based in Redhill, Surrey they produce all their signs from a 3,250 square metre manufacturing facility, which encompasses the latest production processes and technologies with a combined 195 years of sign making expertise and know-how.

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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.”

An example of an E.ON Windfarm - Source E.ON

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An example of an E.ON Windfarm - Source E.ON UK

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.

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 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. continued page 60 >

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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.

Iemants N.V., located in Arendonk (Belgium), is part of the Smulders Group. Together with the sister companies Willems in Balen (Belgium) and Spomasz in Zary (Poland) Iemants disposes of a workshop surface of approx.

100.000 m². The annual production capacity of the three companies is approx. 55.000 tons.

The Group also has an Offshore Wind department. With a track record of more than 1,000 foundations for the

offshore wind industry (delivery started in 2002), Smulders Projects 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 650 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 and the Netherlands).

On 25 September 2013 the Smulders Group (Iemants, Willems, Smulders Projects, Spomasz) has been taken over by the French group Eiffage. This take-over will consolidate our position in the international market.

A few recent projects of Smulders Group: • Humber Gateway Topside, 670 tons • Humber Gateway, 57 Transition Pieces • Butendiek, Offshore Substation and Jacket, 2.700 tons • Amrumbank West, Offshore Substation and Jacket, 2.200 tons • Amrumbank West, 80 Transition Pieces • Gemini, 150 Transition Pieces • Global Tech One, Tripods, 9.500 tons • West of Duddon Sands, Offshore Substation and Jacket, 2.260 tons • Rowan Tension Deck, Aquaterra Energy, 1290 tons • Midsections Thorntonbank, 5.000 tons www.iemants.com www.smuldersgroup.com

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.

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This involved work on an area of the the completion of foundation installation beach to extend two pre-installed followed by cables to the wind turbine cable ducts further out into the shallow foundations and commencement water, as well as some dredging work of wind turbine installation. by a vessel in the shallow water.

The wind farm will be complete Visser Smit Marine Contracting (VSMC) and generating energy in 2015. 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 See how on www.ramboll.com/wind 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

MAKING OFFSHORE ENERGY OBTAINABLE (AND ONSHORE LIVING SUSTAINABLE)

Netherlands: Sif delivers monopiles and transition pieces for Humber Gateway Efficiency, on-time deliveries and first class quality made Sif Group, located in Roermond, the Netherlands, the partner of choice for the E.ON 219 MW Humber Gateway contract, powering up to 170,000 UK homes.

Sif Works for offshore foundations. Delivering a high quality product, on time and within a safety conscious environment, requires more than state-of-the-art facilities. Qualities like these make Sif the leading monopile company in Offshore Wind. And it is therefore that Sif Group was the right partner to supply the majority (57 out of 73) of the foundations for the Humber Gateway offshore wind farm.

“Our 200kt+ annual production capacity, four production lines, unique process know-how in the rolling of heavy steel plate material and bestin-class submerged arc welding techniques have put us in a position in which key players in the industry know exactly what we stand for”, says Michel Kurstjens, CCO, Sif. “Sif group stands for on-time deliveries, first class quality and large-scale projects”.

We have performed as can be expected from a high quality partner: producing 4 to 5 monopiles per week and delivering our products on time.

We are grateful to E.ON to be their partner in the Humber Gateway project. Sif Works is not only our corporate tagline, it is how we do business.”

The Foundations consist of monopiles produced

by Sif Group and transition pieces, which are manufactured by Smulders as a subcontractor for Sif Group.

“The Humber Gateway project is a project in which we are able to integrate everything that we stand for – experience, technology, solid client support and innovation.

To find out more about the value of Sif, our products and services: www.sif-group.com, email sales@sif-group.com or call +31 475 385 777.

Sif Works 7-Cs.nl SIF4011

... for offshore foundations

Sif Group bv

Mijnheerkensweg 33

6041 TA Roermond The Netherlands

T +31 475 385 777

E info@sif-group.com

sif-group.com

UKC PROFILE

Homes to Love

Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire

Taylor Wimpey plc was formed by the merger of George Wimpey and Taylor Woodrow in 2007, and have operations in the UK and Spain. The Company aims to be the developer of choice for customers, employees, communities and shareholders.

Taylor Wimpey is one of the largest homebuilders in the UK, operating from 24 regional offices across England, Scotland and Wales. Building a wide range of properties, from one- and two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom detached houses; the Company offers a broad price range including both private and affordable homes. The Company is truly national, covering most regions across the UK. The regional businesses are run as local homebuilders and have in depth knowledge and experience of the local market.

Taylor Wimpey understands that development is about more than creating homes and provides millions of pounds worth of infrastructure, for example roads, sewers, landscaping and community facilities, every year across the UK. The aim is to develop vibrant communities with a true sense of place that fit into their surrounding area and meet the needs of local people.

The Company makes a positive contribution to the wider communities in which it builds by developing infrastructure (everything that is needed to support the homes and their residents, to breathe life into a development and create a thriving

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community). This is either developed

by Taylor Wimpey itself or through planning agreement contributions to the local authority. In 2012 over £175M was contributed to local communities under the Section-106 and Section-75 planning obligations. These legal agreements with local authorities are attached to most planning permissions. They commit the developer to carrying out associated works or making financial contributions to the local authority, often to support infrastructure.

Infrastructure takes many forms, from sewers and utilities (for example gas and electricity) to improved public transport and providing community buildings, such as schools, nurseries, health centres and shops. Green open space provides an attractive setting for homes, habitats for local plants and wildlife, and leisure space for local people. Taylor Wimpey includes green space within most of its schemes it can range from children’s play areas to sports pitches and less formal green areas. Estate roads are built on its developments, and the Company often makes improvements outside the boundaries of its sites as well, for example upgrading junctions, adding pedestrian crossings or cycle routes and widening existing roads. This means people will be able to access new developments by car, bicycle and on foot while, wherever possible, the effect on the existing road network and surrounding

community is kept to a minimum.

Being a successful housebuilder means Taylor Wimpey does so much more than build homes, it provides highquality places to live with appropriate facilities, an attractive environment, and a sense of place. Somewhere that people want to move to and will enjoy living in, and somewhere the Company is proud to say it built.

Numerous developments are currently underway across the country, with Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire boosting its portfolio with some stunning developments.

The Banks offers an outstanding selection of stylish three-, four- and five-bedroom mews, semi detached and detached homes in an exciting new location.

Perfectly positioned between Rotherham and Sheffield, The Banks forms part of the new Waverley development – which will see an abundance of fantastic new amenities opening in the area, including shops, schools, restaurants, leisure facilities, community centres and parks – providing a wonderful community in which to enjoy your new home.

Homes on site include The Bradenham, a four-bedroom detached home boasting a fitted kitchen with breakfast area and featuring French doors leading to the rear garden. The spacious lounge also has French doors to the rear garden giving the whole floor a light and airy feel. continued page 64 >

FREEPHONE 0808 100 2454 Drainage 2000 is totally committed to full customer satisfaction.

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We have made major investment into the latest equipment to enable work to be carried out quickly and efficiently, thus saving time and, most importantly, money!!

All of our personnel are trained to the highest of standards, are fully aware of all Health & Safety requirements and all vehicles are fully equipped with the latest safety equipment to carry out all types of work safely

SERVICES OFFERED BY DRAINAGE 2000 LTD • 24 Hour Drainage Clearance • High Pressure Water Jetting, from 4” pipes to 5ft Sewers • Commercial & Domestic CCTV Surveys Using the Latest WINCAN Technology • Wet Well Cleansing • Vacuumation Works • Excavation Works • Waste Disposal • Relining Works Using Silicate Resin, Excellent Technology Resulting In No Dig Repairs • Manhole Surveys to Authority Standards • Patio & Driveway Cleaning • Waste Disposal • Cesspit & Septic Tank Emptying

Drainage 2000 Ltd, Unit 38, Station Lane Industrial Estate, Old Whittington, Chesterfield, S41 9QX Tel 01246 456300 Fax 01246 456400 www.drainage2000.co.uk info@drainage2000.co.uk

For family gatherings and entertaining guests there is a separate dining room.

The first floor features a large master bedroom complete with an ensuite shower room. Three further good sized bedrooms are off the central landing as is the stylish family bathroom making it perfect for everyone to share.

The Easton is a four-bedroom semi detached home, with an open plan living and dining area which spans the width of the home and benefits from French doors leading out to the rear garden. The fitted kitchen overlooks the front of the home and is well proportioned for those who like to show off their culinary skills.

Three well proportioned bedrooms are located on the first floor as is the stylish family bathroom, making it perfect for everyone to share. The private master bedroom occupies the entire second floor and has its own ensuite shower room for added luxury.

Three-bedroom detached homes are well represented by the Wentworth. The fitted kitchen and dining area is ideally proportioned for those who enjoy showing off their culinary skills. The spacious lounge spans the full depth of the home and benefits from French doors leading out into the garden.

The first floor features a generous master bedroom complete with its own ensuite shower room.

Two further good sized bedrooms are also found on this floor – with bedroom three also doubling up as a private study or guest bedroom.

The stylish family bathroom completes the accommodation.

In a superb rural location close to Rotherham and Barnsley, The Wickets is a new development of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes. So called as it nestles alongside Upper Haugh Cricket Club, The Wickets is ideally suited for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle and yet remain connected to the region through excellent road networks. The Wickets gives you the perfect choice of homes and the ideal location to enjoy a modern lifestyle.

A range of homes is on offer, from the two-bedroom Ashdale, a

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mews style home with spacious lounge and dining are and two well proportioned bedrooms; to the three-bedroom, threestorey townhouse Ingleton, which provides a fully fitted kitchen and dining area, good sized lounge with French doors to the rear garden. The master suite complete with dressing area and spacious ensuite is located on the top floor, with two further bedrooms and family bathroom on the first floor.

Pipers Green is a development of stylish homes in Durkar, Wakefield, offering a collection of some 252 plots of superb two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom new homes for sale, making it perfect for small and large families alike. Nestled in the sought after village of Durkar, Pipers Green offers a wide range of stylish new houses - including detached, townhouse, mews homes and apartments designed to suit any lifestyle. The combination of this outstanding location and the fabulous range of homes on offer makes Pipers Green the ideal destination for your next move.

The Whitmoore is a four-bedroom detached home with an open plan fitted kitchen and dining area featuring French doors which lead

out to the rear garden and is the perfect space for entertaining guests. The spacious lounge overlooks the front of the home.

The generous master bedroom includes a dressing area and an ensuite shower room. Two further good sized bedrooms and a family bathroom complete the first floor accommodation.

Bedroom two occupies the entire second floor and includes a dressing area and an ensuite shower room; making it perfect for teenagers or as a guest room.

The three-bedroom Gosford will appeal to both first-time buyers and families looking for a little extra space.

A large kitchen/dining room opens through French doors to the private rear garden, making it perfect for entertaining and al fresco dining. A good sized lounge, a guest cloakroom and a store cupboard complete the ground floor layout.

The first floor comprises the ensuite master bedroom, a main bathroom, a further double bedroom and a bedroom which could also provide a dedicated work space or play room.

KPH Plant Hire Ltd are proud to be a supplier to Taylor Wimpey (Yorkshire) Ltd. We wish them every success in the forthcoming year.

KPH Plant Hire Ltd run a large modern fleet of contractors plant covering the North of England

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UKC EDUCATION

Ockendon Studio School

A new purpose built studio school benefiting from the expertise of Cabinco and JTS Partnership LLP to provide pupils with a first class education space Ockendon Studio School has been built as part of The Ockendon Academy’s ambition of becoming a centre of ‘excellence’.

Studio schools are a fairly new concept in education and are designed for 14-19 year olds of all abilities.

These small schools designed for 300 students look and feel more like a workplace than a school, with a 9am-5pm working day and year-round opening.

Such a unique approach to learning and working combines the benefits of academic study with the

66

development of employability skills.

Having worked closely with local employers, the studio school offers a range of academic and vocational qualifications at GCSE including English, Maths, and Science as well as a wide range of other subjects. Ockendon Studio School also offers a wide range of A Level subjects.

The design was undertaken by JTS Partnership LLP who developed a conceptual design arranging the accommodation over a 1,300sq m GEA building extension to the rear of the site.

Despite the site being located within the Metropolitan Green Belt, full planning permission was secured for the scheme and granted in October 2012.

The partnership prepared tender documentation to define the Academy’s requirements managing the tender process to identify a specialist contractor to provide the detailed design and construction of the new Studio School.

The successful contractor was appointed in January 2013 and despite some difficult weather conditions, the Studio

School was handed over to the Academy ready for students in September 2013.

During the construction phase, the Partnership assisted the Academy acting as Employer’s Agent; providing technical advice and monitoring works through to practical completion.

Cabinco (Main Contractor) was invited to tender for the project having previously built The Ockendon Academy’s English block project two years ago, which established a sound working relationship with the Client and Design Partners.

Working alongside the Architect, the JTS Partnership LLP, Cabinco provided a build system that matched the design and blended with recent construction projects and sensitive to Client requirement.

A key factor for the Client was sensitivity to neighbouring properties and the impact of the project on the local community. Cabinco used a system of off-site manufacture which both minimised deliveries and use of site machinery to provide a quiet and rapid construction. This more predictable build process also ensure that the project ran on schedule so the new school could open in time and within budget.

Cabinco registered the site under the Considerate Constructors Scheme and were delighted they awarded the site ‘ Performance Beyond Compliance’ in

recognition of the high standards of health and safety and professionalism seen.

As a sustainable construction company, site waste is minimised through choice of materials and off-site manufacture, and with careful planning this was reduced to under half a ton of waste to landfill for the entire works.

Many other sustainability features were built into the design including the choice of timber as the structural shell. Timber is a natural product and as it grows it removes carbon from the environment and locks it into the wood - an estimated 106 tonnes of carbon locked into the timber used in the Studio School.

As timber was the main material on site, any timber waste was segregated and collected for re-use.

Cabinco arranged collection by a local community group who use the timber for teaching craft skills within Essex this further reduces waste to landfill.

Last May saw the roof structure positioned for the building as the 140mm x 540mm glulam rafters were lifted into place at the school.

By June, everything was in place for the underfloor heating system to be installed, and the curtain glazing had already been fitted, with doors and windows factory finished so they were fitted ready glazed.

Externally, the Siberian larch cladding

was completed in August and all fascia and windows were finished, giving a sleek modern look to the building.

To define the Studio School identity within the Academy site, the external appearance was treated to contrast with the surrounding buildings with larch cladding and dark grey window fascias.

Full height glazing to the principal elevation, coupled with ground mounted feature lighting further highlights this.

An inviting learning environment is provided internally by the exposed timber superstructure and natural daylight provided by the full height glazing and roof windows.

Internally, the layout comprises ten meeting rooms including a boardroom and theatre for business meetings and presentations.

The £1.9M development is fully accessible for the disabled and hard landscaping was incorporated. Once this was finished, carpets were fitted inside the building before the start of the school year.

The new school building has enabled the school to offer an innovative option to their sixth form students that combines vocational opportunities alongside academic learning.

When the scheme was announced two years ago, the Principal of the Academy, Barbara King, said: “I’m delighted that we have been approved to open a Studio continued page 70 >

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FST SERVICES LTD SPECIALIST FIRE PROTECTION Specialist in Timber Treatment Unit 7, Christchurch Business Park, Radar Way, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 4FL

Tel: 01425 628479 Fax: 01425 276095 Email: info@fstservices.co.uk www.fstservices.co.uk

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The JTS Partnership LLP provides exceptional, independent planning, property and surveying services. We are experts in party wall matters and we have a proven track record in this field.

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Screedflo Ltd Screedflo were proud to be involved in the manufacture, supply and installation of our high strength liquid screed at the Ockenden Academy in the summer of 2013 installing 1100m2 screed onto the timber floor.

Screedflo Extra screed is a CE certified product comprising anhydrite binder mixed with selected sharp sand and water.

It is particularly suited to those floors which are required to withstand heavier loads or where the floor will experience deflection. It has a higher compressive and flexural strength than standard liquid screed and is suitable for use on timber floors. It can be installed at a depth of 40mm, or 50mm with under floor heating.

In addition to using liquid screed on timber floors the Screedflo dB acoustic floor system, which comprises of a 24mm Screedflo dBoard, a 10mm dBfoam and an edge isolation system, provides a floor which performs like a solid concrete floor in a lightweight structure.

Screedflo dB is the product of an intensive industry wide development programme, jointly funded by the major joist manufacturers and Screedflo Ltd, to provide a high quality, cost effective, acoustic solution for party floors.

Screedflo dB can be used with both I beams and steel lattice joists in masonry, timber frame or steel frame, and with solid timber in renovation work.

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School , which will help transform the lives of many young people by giving them the skills and qualifications that they require to succeed.”

“Thurrock’s regeneration agenda will require more people who are able to take full advantage of future opportunities in apprenticeships, further and higher education, and leadership and management roles.

“We truly believe that Ockendon Studio School will play a vital role in making this a reality.”

David Nicoll, Chief Executive of the Studio Schools Trust, added: “We are delighted that Ockendon Studio School has been approved by the Department of Education and we very much look forward to working with them in the future.

“This new school is a groundbreaking way in which to deliver education, combining mainstream qualifications with real experience of the world of work, and the development of key employability skills.

“The Studio School will play an important role in shaping the future workforce across the region. Six studio schools are already open and over 50 are in the pipeline and we look forward to improving the employment prospects and life chances of young people across the London and Eastern region.”

Located in Thurrock, Essex, this school has been built on an existing site and is single-storey.

The school opened in time for the start of the academic year, giving pupils brand new facilities and a superb learning environment.

S.L.C.C.

SPECIALIST LOG CABIN CONSTRUCTIONS We are Main Sub-contractor for Cabinco and build anything from multi classroom school buildings, down to single room log cabins to simple shelters.

Tel: 01981 251527 Mob: 07817 617388 e-mail: laura.slcc@googlemail.com

Sustainable Buildings Bespoke Design Rapid Construction Tel: 01600 719218 Email: info@cabinco.co.uk Web: www.cabinco.co.uk

Why use us?

Elektra (Norwich) Limited can carry out the following works: Electrical Installation works on Domestic, Commercial & Industrial Installations 17th Edition Testing & Inspection - Lighting Design & Installation Emergency Lighting Testing & Installation - Fire Alarm Testing & Installation CCTV Systems - Home Cinema & Projector Systems Computer Networking for both Home & Business Preventative Maintenance & Repair of Equipment Installation work: Door Entry Systems - TV / Satellite IRS Installations Solar PV Installations - Energy / Lighting Surveys Electric Vehicle Car Chargers

Call for more info: 01603 418316 Email: enquiries@elektra-electrical.co.uk Web: www.elektra-electrical.co.uk

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You can be sure that our engineers are polite, friendly and are all fully CRB checked for added assurance. All engineers have all of the relevant Health & Safety training courses behind them to ensure that the work is carried out safely.

We directly employ every member of staff and no works are subcontracted to other individuals to carry out the work on our behalf. Our engineers travel across the country to provide a full electrical service for all of our clients.

All vehicles are fully equipped with the required materials for all types of installations to ensure all works are carried out quickly and efficiently.

We have grown by providing a complete and comprehensive range of electrical services to an ever-increasing list of satisfied clients. These clients require reports to meet the ever increasing Health and Safety legislation from fixed wiring to Solar PV Installations and expect works to be carried out efficiently, on-time and on-budget.

Finally, all of our work is backed with a year’s warranty, providing peace of mind to all of our clients.

HEALTH UKC

Asher Loftus Way Care without compromise Work is well underway in Friern Barnet, North London, as the construction of a state-of-the-art care home begins to take shape. The 48-bed Asher Loftus Way development represents an approximate £7M investment by the specialist care provider, Jewish Care, and will accommodate those with nursing and dementia care needs.

Once built, Asher Loftus Way will sit alongside two of Jewish Care’s existing care homes – Lady Sarah Cohen House and Rosetrees – with a view to developing the campus as an attractive communal hub.

Jewish Care was first established in 1990, through the merger of two like-minded charities, and has since become the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the south east of England. The organisation currently meets the needs of some 7,000 Jewish people each week. Here Jewish identity is recognised and respected and

shared traditions are preserved to ensure comfort for those at their most vulnerable.

Built to a BREEAM Excellent standard, the 3,638sq m structure is composed of a traditional concrete frame at groundfloor level with load bearing masonry above.

The varied topography of the site has made for some significant design challenges for the appointed architect MR Partnership.

Entrance to the three-storey building is at first floor level as the steep gradient of the site dictates that the groundfloor remain partially below ground. This will make for a visually unique building however which, like all good buildings, compliments the surrounding area.

Internally, Jewish Care has always exceeded national minimum care standards and in this regard Asher Loftus Way is no different. High specification materials will be present throughout with innovative facilities, such as temperature controlled lighting, included to provide residents

with a stimulating environment.

Jewish Care has also worked with contractors to ensure a schedule which takes into account days when work is not permitted – on the Sabbath and on various festival days throughout the year. This sensitive approach to construction is indicative of the organisations ongoing priority – the comfort and care of all residents.

Construction began in September 2013, with Durkan acting as the Design and Build Contractor. Overall completion of the Asher Loftus Way development is expected in December 2014.

Jewish Care is continuing to explore other care opportunities and appointed 21st Architecture Ltd to assess the site potential of the Redbridge Community Centre site.

The assessment was to review the alternative redevelopment strategies which were heavy refurbishment of the centre to allow modernisation of the facilities.

21ST ARCHITECTURE LTD 314 Goswell Road LONDON, EC1V 7AF

+44(0)20 7952 0252

www.21starchitecture.com

Architecture Ltd

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UKC PROFILE

East Sussex County Council Committed to education in the area

East Sussex County Council is the local authority for the nonmetropolitan county of East Sussex.

East Sussex is divided into five local government districts. Three are larger, rural, districts (from west to east) are: Lewes; Wealden; and Rother.

Eastbourne and Hastings are mainly urban areas. The rural districts are further subdivided into civil parishes.

East Sussex has a comprehensive education system with 27 state secondary schools (not including sixth form colleges) and 12 independent secondary schools.

Each of the larger towns also has a further education college. There are also a number of independent boarding schools in the county.

The Council is committed to providing first class learning facilities for all children in the area.

A replacement primary school in Etchingham is currently under construction.

The replacement school and pre-school, which is being funded by East Sussex County Council, is part of a wider development that will include new community facilities that replace the

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existing village hall, and new homes.

The project involves ECE Architecture collaborating with East Sussex County Council, the Diocese of Chichester, Etchingham Parish Council, Etchingham Trust for Sports and Recreation, the existing school, the landowner and their appointed developer to create the mixed development and land known locally as the Lambing Field.

ECE Project Director Stuart Eatock explained the approach taken for this project. He said: “The design has evolved from a simple portal frame with the accommodation provided in three linked ‘barns’ arranged down the sloping site.

“The project includes a new village square. We have always felt that the creation of a new community space was as important as the buildings themselves, even more so with the site location at the edge of the village.”

The school, with community facilities, is being constructed by Mansell and will open later this year.

The sponsor for two new primary schools in East Sussex has been announced. Lilac Sky has been

selected to manage the academies to be built in Hailsham and Newhaven.

As part of its planning for additional primary school places, East Sussex County Council successfully applied to the Government’s Education Funding Agency for extra funding for two new academies.

Potential sponsors were invited to enter bids to run the new schools, and the Department of Education confirmed Lilac Sky had been chosen.

Councillor Nick Bennett, the Council’s Lead Member for Schools and Learning Effectiveness, said: “We already commission Lilac Sky to provide support to help improve outcomes at some of our schools and we welcome the news that they will be the sponsor of the two new schools.

“Lilac Sky has a track record of offering outstanding provision, securing good outcomes for students and working closely with local communities. We look forward to working together as the new schools are established.”

The new schools are scheduled to open in September 2015 and each will create 210 primary places.

modular buildings At Lowrie Modular Buildings, we specialise in the refurbishment, hire, relocation, sales and installation of modular buildings throughout Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

Modular Buildings can provide a really cost effective solution when you need more flexible working space without the cost or disruption of a new brick built structure.

Hire

Our versatile range of modular building solutions are ideal for Schools, Nurseries, Local Authorities, MOD and a wide range of other commercial or industrial uses.

Refurbishment

We offer a full consultancy service as standard and jobs are tailored specifically to meet client requirements.

Established in 1986, we have a wealth of experience and have established a reputation for high quality work and exceptional levels of customer service.

New Buildings

Relocation

Repair Installation

If you require more information then please contact Jamie Lowrie on 01233 733833 or email info@lowriemodularbuildings.co.uk Lowrie Modular Buildings, The Yard, Woodchurch Road, Kenardington, Ashford, Kent TN26 2LX T 01233 733833 F 01233 733899 W www.lowriemodularbuildings.co.uk

UKC EDUCATION

Lancaster University

Bowland Tower refurbishment Lancaster University is an internationally highly-ranked leader in the provision of inspiring teaching and research.

Located on a beautiful campus in the North West of England, the University places great emphasis on a strong student experience and employability and gives students access to academics who are experts in their field.

One of Lancaster University’s most distinctive and original buildings has benefited from a complete makeover, worth approximately £4M. Bowland Tower is located at the heart of Lancaster University’s campus and is well recognised as part of the university’s architecture.

Standing 14-storeys high, the upper floors give spectacular views over both Morecambe Bay and the surrounding fells.

Opened in 1968, this striking feature has seen the refurbishment of accommodation within the tower and the south and east wings of the connected buildings, both of which are two-storeys.

Work comprised a full strip out of existing windows, fixtures, fittings and services, as well as removal of asbestos.

External work included a full repointing of the brickwork, recovering to the tower and wing roofs, tiling of balconies, new glazing and handrails, while internally all rooms are fitted out with flooring, furniture and decorated.

Whilst A floor will be maintained as entrance and stores, B and C floors will be converted from office to student accommodation, providing shared kitchen, toilet and shower facilities for the flats within Bowland East.

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Floors D to O within the tower will be adjusted to five bedroom flats, complete with ensuite bathrooms, on each floor and shared kitchen/lounge facilities.

Both floors of Bowland East contain an almost identical layout of one five-person flat and one seven-person flat arranged either side of the existing staircase.

Both floors of Bowland South contain and almost identical layout of two ten-person flats and one six-person flat, served by two existing staircases. The kitchen and washrooms for the six-person flat are within Bowland Tower footprint, although the existing connecting door is to be removed and the corridor opened up to form a complete self-contained flat.

New partition walls and doors will form new shared kitchen, toilet and shower rooms within the flats.

Each bedroom is to receive new built-in desks, wardrobes, and bookcases with maple effect veneer laminated furniture.

The new kitchens will be fitted out with new modern built in cupboards, counters and cooking appliances and sinks, as well as all new loose kitchen appliances and dining furniture.

The ensuite pods have been provided

by Taplanes, experienced manufacturer of shower cubicles and pods. The pods were designed bespoke for this project and are an integral part of the development to provide superior accommodation to students.

Taplanes was established in 1979 and supplies some of the most reputable organisations and establishments in the UK and is proud to be the oldest manufacturer of shower cubicles

and ensuite pods in the UK. The accommodation will be available from January 2014.

Lancaster based company, Askam Construction, was awarded the contract to refurbish Bowland Tower. Since its formation in 1986, Askam Construction has grown and changed considerably, now employing more than 100 full-time employees and managing major projects for various blue chip and private clients.

Having initially built an enviable reputation as a civil engineering contractor, the Company has grown and expanded its services to include industrial and commercial buildings, refurbishment works, design and build in the health, education and leisure sectors.

Managing Director of Askam Construction, John Lowery, commented: “This is great news because by employing a local company like Askam Construction, the University is ensuring that the cash from its projects stay in the area. Every £1,000 the University spends with Askam is used locally to pay staff, local suppliers and subcontractors. That in turn is used to employ local people and buy a high proportion of their supplies in the area. The trickle-down effect means that the same £1,000 (minus the government’s cut) can be spent five of six times in the Lancaster district.”

The Architect for the project was Wilson Mason. Work started in April 2013 and the scheme was completed at the end of the year.

“No leaks, no tiles, no fuss……”

Leading shower cubicle and bathroom pod manufacturer, Taplanes Ltd, provide pre-fabricated solutions to a variety of end users throughout the UK and Ireland.

With a strong client base including Universities, Schools, Hotels and Housing Associations, Taplanes modular showers overcome the inherent problems associated with conventional bathroom areas.

Both one-piece and sectional enclosures are provided by Taplanes. The sectional designs are aimed towards the refurbishment sector allowing the units to be maneuvered into the most restrictive of locations with speed and ease. Alternatively, and if the build process allows, the one-piece pods could be considered.

Durability and speed of installation, together with a guaranteed ‘leak proof’ construction ensures Taplanes are the preferred choice within their chosen sectors.

Additional information about the services and products provided by Taplanes can be found at www.taplanes.co.uk or call Taplanes direct on 01423 771645.

UKC PROFILE

Magnox Image courtesy of Magnox Limited

Owned by EnergySolutions, Magnox is the management and operations contractor responsible for ten nuclear sites and one hydroelectric plant in the UK. Under contract to the site owner, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the Company is responsible for electricity generation at Wylfa and Maentwrog, defueling at Chapelcross, Oldbury and Sizewell A, and the decommissioning of Hunterston A, Berkeley, Bradwell, Dungeness A, Hinkley Point A and Trawsfynydd.

Magnox is on a mission in the next five years to build on its excellent safety and environmental performance, while also maximising the value of the remaining generating sites and safely bring to an end over 50 years of Magnox electricity generation in the UK. The plan is to progressively transform Magnox into a world-class, high performing decommissioning organisation.

Wylfa, Magnox’s last remaining nuclear generation site, has been safely generating low carbon electricity since 1971.

Reactor one is currently licensed to generate until September 2014, while reactor two was shut down in April 2012, bringing to an end 41 years of safe and compliant operations.

Since Wylfa implemented the inter reactor transfer (IRX) programme in August 2012, they have generated 1.2Twh of electricity, or enough electricity to make 50 billion cups of coffee.

This has resulted in additional revenue for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in the region of £50M. Decommissioning a nuclear power station is a complex process that involves wide ranging and technically challenging work.

With such a large scope, Magnox has developed an approach known as Programmisation.

This approach means the scope of work that needs to be undertaken can be

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split into specific programmes, each with a clear focus and plan of work.

Under the Programmisation umbrella there are four programmes consisting of Intermediate level waste (ILW), ponds, Fuel element debris (FED), plant and structures.

There are two supporting groups such as waste management and project management.

Between 2012-13, the programmes accounted for over £300M of the planned Magnox decommissioning work.

By 2028, all ten Magnox sites will be in their care and maintenance phase. This is when all required decommissioning preparations are completed. The sites will then remain in a safe and secure state until they reach their final site clearance date.

Already this year, Magnox has announced important news – the signing of framework contracts over £200M for the supply of robust, transportable self-shielded waste containers to store various types of ILW, generated during operational and early decommissioning phases of the UK’s Magnox nuclear power stations.

The six year contract with three suppliers is in addition to the existing arrangements with GNS Ltd and will increase security of supply for the waste containers, which are central to Magnox’s Process Engineering strategy for decommissioning and delivering eight of the ten nuclear Petrochemical sites into care and maintenance.

The frameworks, which will be Rushington House Rushington available to other Southampton SO40 9LT site licence Tel: +44 (0) 2380 665544 Fax: +44 (0) 2380 665500 companies (SLCs) Email: engineering@trant.co.uk in the Nuclear

Decommissioning Authority’s estate, will help develop the supply chain in the UK and will provide a strong platform for SME’s to enter into the market.

It has been calculated that Magnox will require more than 2,000 of these packages which, once filed, will be stored in purpose built facilities at nuclear sites until the UK’s national repository becomes available.

Dr Peter Walken, Commercial Director of Magnox said: “Having the framework available for these ILW containers is a major step forward for Magnox and the whole of the UK’s nuclear decommissioning industry.

“This type of contract offers many real benefits, including increased value for money, improved security of supply and it opens up programmes of work and increased opportunities for the UK supply chain.”

The first orders will be for 50 containers from each supplier and are being placed, as part of the framework, early this year. www.magnoxsites.com

www.trant.co.uk

Water Engineering

Power

International Projects

Marine

LEEDS Limewood Industrial Estate Seacroft, Leeds, Yorkshire LS14 1NF

SOUTH ATLANTIC 2 Marmont Row, Victory Green Stanley, Falkland Islands CHANNEL ISLANDS

EXETER Glendower, 164 Exeter Road Exmouth, Devon, EX8 3DZ

Forest Road, St. Martins, Guernsey, GY4 6UG

PEMBROKE Unit 12A, Maritime Industrial Park Criterion Way, Pembroke Dock Pembrokeshire, SA72 6UL

ASCENSION Travellers Hill Ascension Island ASCN 1ZZ

AWARDS RECOGNISE WORLD CLASS SERVICE Magnox and Deborah Services Limited (DSL) have had an excellent working relationship for over a decade with DSL’s continued ability to offer value-adding industrial services including access, insulation, containment integrity, coatings and asbestos removal.

DSL’s divisional director, Chris Foulkes, explained: “The philosophy guiding all our activities is ‘safety + innovation + teamwork’ – the maths of good service coupled with the science and art of adding value. That engrained culture has repeatedly proved itself to be vital when working in a nuclear environment.

“Clients don’t need suppliers working for them.

They need partners working alongside them at the ‘speed of trust’ which means sharing tasks, addressing issues, taking the initiative and offering solutions.”

It was important to restore the weather integrity of the turbine hall and reactor building at Magnox’ Oldbury power station as part of its decommissioning.

As principal contractor, DSL provided all access including by cradle – extensive glazing repair and replacement, asbestos removal and demolished the cleaning rail in reactors one and two. DSL managed the onsite glazing, demolition and cradle sub-contractors.

The statistics for the project are impressive: 4000 glazed panels secured, 663 panels replaced,

3400 safety-mesh panels installed, 5000 tonnes of scaffold erected and all completed five months ahead of schedule.

Another project where Deborah Services Limited contributed to a successful outcome was the de-planting of four boiler houses at Bradwell power station. This project was recognised by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) with the NDA Estate Supply Chain Award 2013 for “Best example of supply chain collaboration led by a large company.”

Along with partners, Doosan Keltbray Consortium and Magnox, DSL contributed its skills and experience to ensure safe working, compliance with site rules and consistent high quality resulting in savings in time and cost over the 30 month project.

Over that time, DSL’s leadership and collaboration culture contributed to an innovation in safer working.

A multi-discipline team, working with equipment supplier Spanset, developed a double self-retracting lanyard to improve worker mobility and reduce the risk of injury when working at height. This has been recognised in 2013 by the Engineering Construction Industry Association (ECIA) with their ‘Recognising Initiative in Safety Excellence’ (RISE) award.

Deborah Services’ commitment to safety was also recognised by the National Access and Scaffold

The turbine hall and reactor building at Magnox' Oldbury power station, where DSL restored the building's weather integrity through the successful glazing project.

Confederation (NASC) in 2013 with its Health and Safety award for companies with over 101 employees.

Chris Foulkes summed it up: “Leadership in safety is crucial at personal, managerial and corporate levels. When allied with project leadership and a solution-driven approach to all tasks, the ability to add value for any client is almost limitless. Deborah Services is proud to support the vital work Magnox does and to have our capabilities and achievements recognised across the industry.”

SAFETY INNOVATION TEAMWORK

Safety, innovation and teamwork are behind everything that we do.

Whether decreasing the duration of a boiler outage; reducing the time taken and cost to remove redundant equipment in nuclear power stations; or, making work safer for everyone.

Deborah Services Limited – in 2013 winners of: ECIA ‘RISE’ Award 2013 4th Consecutive RoSPA Gold Medal

Contact us to explore how we may be able to reduce your budget or programme.

Deborah Services Limited, Unit C, Cedar Court Office Park, Denby Dale Road, Calder Grove, Wakefield WF4 3QZ. Tel: 01924 416000 • www.deborahservices.co.uk Email: enquiries@deborahservices.co.uk

NASC Health & Safety Award 2013 (for companies employing over 101 people)

NDA Collaboration Award 2013

UKC RETAIL

Central England Cooperative

New retail store in Derby A new retail unit for Central England Cooperative (CEC) is currently under construction after the application was approved last September.

The application sought consent for a 425sq m convenience store also comprising an ancillary warehouse, staff facilities, car parking and a service area on the site of a former petrol filling station.

The highly visible site on Ashbourne Road, Derby, has been designed so it is orientated for visibility and ease of access, and it has been developed to be sympathetic to the conservation area that is in close proximity to the site.

It is located approximately one kilometre to the west of Derby city centre shopping area and is bounded by Colvile Street to the west, Shaw Street to the east and fronts on to Ashbourne Road to the south.

The rear of the site is bounded by the houses and gardens of Colvile Street and Shaw Street, while across there is a primary school.

Surrounding the site is a mixture of residential, retail, educational, community, offices and light industrial areas.

There is a church directly to the west of the site, offices to the east, and terraced housing to the north.

The purpose built retail unit will comply with modern standards having level access, automatic motion sensor doors and wide aisles enabling people with wheelchairs, motability scooters and pushchairs to have easy access and manoeuvrability within the store.

Once completed, the store will provide local residents with a wide choice of everyday goods within walking distance from their homes, reducing the need to travel to major supermarkets.

Because it was a disused petrol station, the site didn’t look particularly good before work commenced. As well as bringing this site back into beneficial economic use, the new store will create approximately 23 new jobs for local people, and will promote social inclusion because of the services there for local people.

In addition, sustainability is encouraged by reducing the need for residents to travel away from their local centre for

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top up goods and other services that with providing CEC’s senior management have not previously been available. with assurance that H&S within their Key Property Solutions is the Main construction operations is being adequately Contractor for the project, with the managed and this can be demonstrated Architect for the project being Darnton EGS. to any interested parties if necessary.

Principal Safety was pleased to assist Because of the support given to the Central England Cooperative (CEC) with implementation of this system by all the Ashbourne Road development and within CEC’s construction team, and continue to provide them with ongoing the willingness of CEC’s Contractors to support for their development programme. engage with the process, implementation As part of its overall support service of this new H&S management system Principal Safety provides CEC with qualified has been very successful. Evidence construction safety professionals who are of this is the excellent standards of experienced in the retail construction sector. H&S management and practices which Supported by senior management within are being achieved by all involved.

CEC’s Construction team, the Company has provided them with a web portal for their construction H&S management. The portal provides CEC with the means to manage all types of construction projects giving Project Managers (PMs) the ability to track the progress of the H&S management for individual projects. It also provides them with evidence of Manufacture, install and servicing competence checks of all makes of automatic doors of companies appointed by CEC and gives Contractors, PMs and senior Unit 2 Faraday Drive, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV15 5BA management immediate access to information such as; H&S Plans, site Email: terry@htlwindowsanddoors.co.uk safety inspections, www.htlwindowsanddoors.co.uk management reports, asbestos reports and H&S Files. This 24/7 access and visibility assists

Tel: 01746 767463

bespoke safety solutions.

Whether you’re a client or contractor, we can provide you with a tailored service that cannot be matched. Call us to find out more.

CDM portals H&S documentation Property management E-learning Performance reports On-site safety reporting Competency Assessments CDM-C Services

01202 802001 www.principalsafety.co.uk

UKC EDUCATION

Swansea University

New campus, expanding the research and academic offering The 65-acre development of the Bay Campus for Swansea University is progressing well, providing key areas of strength once completed.

It has long since been in the pipeline, with a five-year planning period before work started last year.

The scheme will complement the university with investment in significant areas of strength, including an investment in engineering, life sciences, ICT and key areas of the knowledge economy where the university has had historic aspects.

Work was necessary because the university has outgrown its Singleton campus and this presents Swansea with the opportunity to double the size of engineering and provide the appropriate type of accommodation for the college of engineering to help develop further over the next ten years.

Breaking away from the current campus to the new will also enhance the student

experience, providing exemplary modern facilities. The development will also ensure that the university is the best place to engage in impact research, working with multinational enterprises and collocating university researchers as well as research scientists from industry.

As well as four large engineering buildings and one building for management science, there will be a library, and an information resources centre.

The new hall will be a cultural arts beacon for the campus, and then there are student residential buildings and other key facilities for students including a gym, crèche, bar facilities, dining hall facilities and cafes.

Because the university wanted to create an inspirational space that people identified with, all academic buildings will be no more than three-storeys high.

Within the architecture, there will be great emphasis on brick, glass and metal because that is the industrial

revolution story in the region.

The site was previously owned by BP as a tank storage facility and is located between the former BP Llandarcy site and the Swansea docks.

BP was extremely keen that the site should be transferred to allow there to be a legacy in the area, and have been helpful to the university in the support provided. This has occurred in terms of the site provided and also by supporting in the design and masterplanning of the whole development.

Due to the size and scale of the project, organising it has been challenging, but the end result will be very rewarding indeed.

The scheme has benefited from two Architects – Porphyrios and Hopkins. The Main Contractor for the development is Leadbitter.

Phase I will be completed next September and going forward, the next big phase for Swansea University will be in 2020.

Competent Engineering Solutions

RDM Electrical Services Limited is a long-established electrical and mechanical contracting company based in Swansea, South Wales. Operating throughout England and Wales, the company has over its 26-years trading, gained a well-earned reputation within the contracting industry for its willingness to provide its clients with a tailor-made, flexible, hands-on management approach, offering a fully professional, reliable, quality, value for money service.

ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL & REFRIGERATION

RDM Electrical & Mechanical Services is able to provide the following services:-

Electrical In-house design capabilities - Electrical installations covering all elements of electrical building services Fire alarms installation and maintenance to BAFE standards - Emergency lighting testing and certification Fixed wiring testing and certification - BMS installations and maintenance Energy monitoring , metering and on-going reporting - Energy surveys and rectification reporting Mechanical In-house design capabilities - Air conditioning/refrigeration installation and maintenance Duct work manufacture and installation - Metal work fabrication - Industrial pipework installations Domestic plumbing installations and maintenance - Domestic and commercial gas installations Rainwater harvesting - SBEM and EPC energy calculations - Solar hot water installations and associated services Air and ground source heat pumps RDM Electrical & Mechanical Services 6 Cambrian Court, Ferryboat Close, Enterprise Park, Swansea SA6 8PZ

Tel: 01792 701 256 Fax: 01792 781 705 Email: admin@rdmelectrical.com Website: www.rdmelectrical.com

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HOUSING UKC

Rathbone Market Creating a new community Phase II of Canning Town’s Rathbone Market redevelopment is underway, which will deliver even more benefits for the community, local businesses and wider Newham.

This phase will complete the market square and deliver new homes and shops, as well as a new library and community hub for Canning Town.

Much of this area was occupied by Thomas North Terrace, but it has been demolished to make way for Phase II, which will deliver 165 new homes, the creation of a new market square, dedicated storage for the market, a new library and community hub, which will enable access of community services, family events and more.

The area will also encompass attractive shops and cafes around the market square, improved and safer access to the A13 pedestrian subway, and high quality open spaces for the community to enjoy.

As part of these plans, residents have been helped to find new homes. All of the existing council tenants within Thomas North Terrace have been offered new homes in Vermilion, which is Phase I of the development.

Another aspect of the second phase is that access will be improved to the A13 underpass, improving the quality of the pedestrian route to Rathbone Street, the new town centre and Canning Town station.

For years, Rathbone Market was the thriving and vibrant heart of Canning Town, attracting not just locals, but many other visitors from across East London.

Work was required because the market had fallen on hard times and, although the traders continued to do their utmost to keep it alive, its fortunes suffered.

Newham Council and English Cities Fund (ECf) have been working with the community since 2007 to develop plans to revive Rathbone Market.

At the end of 2010, work started on new shops and cafes that wrap around the construction of Phase I, which the ground floors of the development. marked the first of three phases of An attractive garden courtyard and development at Rathbone Market. allotments for exclusive use by residents This saw the development of 271 new at the scheme will also be included. homes. Notting Hill own and manage 103 Total completion of the project homes in the new Vermilion building, which will be in early 2016. includes a 21-storey tower at the western end of the scheme.

There were 28 homes available for affordable home ownership, 40 homes for affordable rent and ‘Following the 35 for private rent. success of Rathbone When Vermilion Market Phase 1, was completed, a planning application Vermilion, we are was submitted delighted to be for Phase II. This working again with was approved and site clearance John Sisk & Son started in October to bring the second 2012, ready for construction to phase of Newham’s commence in regeneration April 2013. programme to The Main Contractor for fruition.’ this is John Sisk + Son, and the Nick Campbell Architect is CZWG Architects. Work CZWG Architects LLP will be completed on Phase II in April 2015.

In total, the 17 Bowling Green Lane Rathbone Market London EC1R 0QB regeneration scheme will +44 (0)20 7253 2523 deliver around 650 mail@czwgarchitects.co.uk homes. Phase www.czwg.com I also included approximately 35,000sq ft of

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UKC COMMERCIAL

Tennants Auctioneers

Extension to Leyburn centre Tennants Auctioneers is undertaking an £8M expansion of the centre in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, to create new facilities that will support further growth.

This project includes an extension to the existing auction house.

With over 100 fine art, country house, antiques & interiors, and specialist collectors’ sales a year, Tennants Auctioneers is well established as one of the leading regional auction houses in the country.

As a fourth generation family-run business, based in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, the Company is extremely proud of both the personal service offered and the highly skilled and knowledgeable team of specialists who head up 24 diverse departments.

The acclaimed, purpose-built auction house in Leyburn boasts three salerooms, viewing areas, a mezzanine gallery and conference rooms for specialist sales, exhibitions and events.

There is free parking for 600 cars, a restaurant serving throughout the day, facilities for the disabled and undercover loading and unloading areas for deliveries and collections.

Tennants started out as a small family-run business, set up by Edmund Slinger Tennant. The family business is now run by Rodney Tennant and his daughters, Alison, Jane and Caroline.

The auction business operates internationally from its premises and 35 full-time staff work there.

In addition, Tennants Auctioneers also has offices in Harrogate and Oakham, where regular valuation days and events are held. A network of regional agents ensures a Tennants’ representative is never far away.

The new extension will incorporate two multi-purpose sale and function rooms, display galleries and two new

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restaurants, and will be completed in time for the Tour De France on 5th July 2014.

It will also include a performance space for 500 people, banqueting, retail, bars, seminar rooms, a conference suite and new office space.

The building has been sensitively designed by Langtry Langton, who has worked closely with Richmondshire Planning department.

QS Services Yorkshire Ltd is the Quantity Surveyor for the development.

The Company procured the Architect, produced the tender documents which were tendered on plan and specification, and continue to monitor the costs and variations throughout the contract, producing monthly reports for the client.

Esh Build is the Main Contractor for the project at Leyburn. The Company showed significant growth last year, and now employs over 100 people,

boasting a turnover of £22M in 2012.

Last year, the Company secured contracts in the region of £40M in value, which represents almost double that of the year before.

Commenting on the scheme, Les Hunter, Contracts Manager for Esh Build, said: “As a Leyburn resident I know Tennants well and it is a renowned North Yorkshire business.

“I am sure this major extension will maintain Tennants as a leading Auction House in the UK and help boost the local economy.”

Alison Tennant, Director of Tennants Auctioneers, added: “Esh Build has an excellent reputation and their regional presence is a real advantage in delivering the project against a tight deadline.

“Our investment in expanding our current facility is key to our continued growth.”

As Quantity Surveyors for the client, we procured the architects, produced the tender documents which was tendered on Plan and Spec, JCT without quants and continue monitoring the costs and variations throughout the contract, producing monthly cost reports for the client.

e: info@qsservicesyorkshireltd.co.uk t: 01405 831021 www.qsservicesyorkshireltd.co.uk

HOUSING UKC

Blackdown® Shepherd Huts Ltd Crafting dreams into reality Founded less than three years ago, Blackdown ® Shepherd Huts has a reputation for scooping national and international orders, creating luxury living spaces including bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, offices and saunas.

Since its latest inception in 2011, the Company has won prestigious awards, developed innovative new techniques in the design and build of luxury, pre-built shepherd huts and self-build, flat-pack shepherd hut kits.

The Company provides a quality, artisan hut that each client can personalise and make their own mark on. This involves the use of Farrow & Ball colours as standard, but can instead include paints and colours chosen by the client.

Personalised interiors can be provided and the network of quality suppliers of furniture and lighting available means these interiors can be finished to the highest qualities.

At Blackdown® Shepherd Huts, every chance to create a dream hut is given, rather than limiting options.

To that end, the Company has devised a hut-build, which allows customers to construct their own artisan hut with the self-build system.

Having built quite a few huts, the Company has used its knowledge to pre-prepare the elements that needed specialised equipment or components, but apart from that it’s all down to each client’s skills.

The self-build option allows not only money savings but also the ability to add personal touches every step of the way.

Blackdown ® Shepherd Huts provide as much or as little as required – from individual components, right through to unprepared flat pack shepherd hut kits.

These kits can contain everything necessary in a delivered flat-pack form, which will enable customers to focus on construction rather than trying to source materials.

The incredible success of the Company has already been confirmed as it heads into 2014 with a 200% booking increase as global demand rockets for high quality, traditionally built Blackdown ®

huts and bespoke hut clusters. announced the exclusive US licence to ship Last year was a momentous one flat-pack, self-build DIY Shepherd Huts for the Company, with bookings across the entire United States. Blackdown flooding in from Australasia. are the first and only company to do this.

This sees huts created for Australian B&Bs and hotel chains, mining operations, More info about the firm can be seen via: healing retreats and vineyard wineries. www.blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk Closer to home, self-build hut kits have successfully shipped to Scandinavia, Portugal, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

Order requests and interest have not stopped there. A flurry of customers in the US, Canada, France and Spain are now making contact to request hut kits and the co-founders, two highly-skilled cousins in William Vickery and George Bannister, are in close talks with further franchisees to enter two Sawn Treated Graded Timber, Fencing Materials, Gates, new, international Cladding Materials, Flooring, Sheet Materials, Mouldings, etc. markets.

George Bannister Blamphayne Sawmill Ltd, based in Honiton, Devon, offers a said: “2013 has wide range of products ranging from Entrance Gates, Field and been a great year.

Garden Gates, Timber for the Building Trade, Sheet Materials, Flooring and all types of Fencing, Feather Edge Fencing, Panels We’ve seen a and Post and Rail. Across Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and the flood of orders entire South coast. come in from the Blamphayne is a well established sawmill using only quality UK, Australia and timber for our products, for example Scandinavian Redwood, Baltic red and whitewood and various hardwood species. around the world.

“Demand has been Our carpenters’ workshops manufacture a wide range of gates.

We have been building top quality gates for many years and so great, we’ve pride ourselves on a high quality of workmanship. All gates are increased our designed and manufactured by our highly skilled craftsmen. We also keep a large range of gate fittings which can be supplied range of self-build with the gates as required. and pre-built hut We have a quality timber grader who is always available for options and thanks advice on types and grades of timber including all sizes of timber for the building trade, whether sawn, stress graded, or to our growing pressure treated. staff base, are Blamphayne also has its own tanalising plant where we pressure creating a talented treat gates and timber as required. We are also able to offer employment hub special treatments when necessary. for traditional Somerset skills Blamphayne Sawmills Ltd. blended with Iron Bridge, Gittisham, Honiton, Devon, EX14 3AN Phone: 01404 851 357 Fax: 01404 851 145 cutting-edge Blackdown ® Email: info@blamphaynesawmills.co.uk innovation.” www.blamphaynesawmills.co.uk In March, Blackdown®

BLAMPHAYNE SAWMILLS LTD.

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UKC HOUSING

Normanton Road Housing

45 new dwellings on former pub site A site that previously housed the former village public house in Normanton is to become the place for a new £4.3M development that will provide brand new much needed housing for local families.

Located on the eastern edge of Normanton, the site is approximately four kilometres west of Castleford, seven kilometres east of Wakefield and 15 kilometres south east of Leeds.

When complete, the development will comprise 22 two-bedroom houses and 23 three-bedroom homes, totalling 45 new homes that will be made available for rent

by Wakefield and District Council (WDH).

Since 2005, WDH has spent £760M to improve its tenants’ homes and their communities, and in future, will provide even more investment to create confident communities.

As well as construction of these new dwellings, work will include infrastructure development such as electric, site drainage and adoption works.

There is total supervision and control of development process, which will meet all health and safety measures.

The Main Contractor for the project is Partner Construction, who is extremely proud of the extensive range of projects that it has delivered.

The Company gives its customers the complete package from the very beginning, supporting meeting local housing needs.

Leigh Cresswell, New Business Director at Partner Construction, said: “We are pleased to be working alongside Wakefield and District Housing again and now keenly anticipate the creation of sustainable family homes.

“There is a real need for good quality,

84

affordable local housing which meets the needs of young people and families in the Normanton area.

“The development has only been possible by working in partnership and I think the resulting scheme is really based around the future needs of residents and the wider local community.”

Designed by NPS NE Ltd, work started on the project in March 2013 and is due to complete in October 2014.

Proud to

FieldingJoineryLimited

be part of the Partner team Providing a managed Joinery Contracting Service to the industry for over 40 years

9a Longworth Road, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7BL T: 01204 667522 F: 01204 667523 M: 07802 470546 E: chris@fielding-joinery.co.uk

Based in Whitley Bay, Decke (Newcastle) Ltd has specialised for over 45 years in providing suspended ceilings, partitioning, glazed demountable partitioning, steel frame systems, fire protection, render and insulated render.

The Company was established in 1967 and now benefits from the expertise of three Directors – George Beeby, Glen Pascoe and Jason Frank.

Decke specialises in the quality installation of suspended ceilings and features, including mineral, acoustical, metal and decorative systems by Armstrong World Industries, Ecophon, SAS, USG, Rockfon, Knauf, AMF and British Gypsum.

By working closely with clients, architects, main contractors and suppliers, the Company is able to offer a design support service and help clients identify the most cost effective way to deliver the most creative interior solution.

The Company has many years of experience in the plastering and dry lining industry, in the commercial sector.

Using dry lining and metal systems from British Gypsum and Knauf, Decke ensures that the best possible materials are used.

With eight internal staff members and 35 operatives working outdoors, the Company understands important issues such as fire protection from the ground up, to the structural framing, and also to high end interior finishes and ensures these needs are met in its developments.

The Company’s vast experience is apparent when providing solutions overcoming issues with regard to internal and external heat loss. Decke can also provide services to greatly improve sound reduction problems.

PROFILE UKC

Decke (Newcastle) Ltd

Decke also specialises in providing fast track solutions constructing external infill walling, internal load bearing elements and high bay separating walls.

In addition, the Company can also provide all services and elements giving a complete ‘Through Wall’ system.

By combining the internal fabric works, steel framing system, external façade system and render, this is the way that Decke can provide the ‘Through Wall’ system in its completed form.

All staff offer the very best service, with operatives CSCS trained, along with PASMA and IPAF, and the Company has various accreditations including CHAS Achilles, CSCCS Gold, Armstrong OMEGA and Constructionline.

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UKC PROFILE

BEC Construction Ltd Established in 2003, BEC Construction Ltd has been trading successfully for more than ten years and in this time has completed and handed over more than 60 projects.

Located at a central office in Ramsgate, Kent, the Company undertakes planning, estimating and procurement roles and also provides support services to the on site team.

Planning is an integral part of the estimating process and great care is used when tendering for a project by producing a tender programme, which enables both planner and estimator to gain thorough understanding of each project and the processes and buildability of each scheme.

Estimating is a central resource and involves taking the project from initial tender enquiry through to handover to the construction team.

The estimator will undertake site visits, procure materials, sub-contract tenders and produce BEC’s tender document ready for submission to the client.

Once a project has been successfully secured, the project will then be passed on to the construction team.

This team includes BEC’s buyers, who procure all materials for the project, as well as procuring the services of subcontractors from the approved list.

All materials will be compliant with the requirements of the contract and sourced in accordance with the Company’s material and sub-contract procurement schedules.

Typically, BEC has four developments running on site, with other projects in the tendering or completion phase.

Clients include KCC, local authorities, parish councils, various self-governed schools, while the Company has worked with local Kent Architects including Clague, Lee Evans, Cattell Skinner, Mouchel Parkman, Random Greenway, CDP, Diocese Architects, Bailey Partnership, and OSG Architects.

BEC’s success has been built on strong commitment to teamwork and planning with all members of the construction team and client, together with the Company’s ability to complete its projects on time and within budget.

Partnerships are now ongoing with a number of preferred subcontractors, enabling BEC to provide the continuity and standard of workmanship that the end users expect.

Clients appreciate the Company’s support to communication and the personal approach adopted when attending meetings with the professional teams, and this happens on all projects, whether

they are new build, refurbishment or extension developments, ranging in value from £50,000 to £3M. One of BEC’s extension projects from last year was for Charing CE Primary School in Kent.

Work was necessary to create a new administration block and extend the classroom facilities. Internally, there is one administration block and two new classrooms.

At approximately 70sq m, a small amount of demolition was required to make way for this new block, though it was mostly an unused circulation area with pathways and basic landscaping.

Comprising a masonry construction, features on the building include a vertical cladding exterior and stained colour timbers behind it in the colour of the rainbow.

It has a flat roof with single ply membrane and aluminium double glazed windows and doors.

Security features have been upgraded and because there is a new main entrance, there is now secure access and a secure lobby area for the reception.

Costing £340,000, work started in January 2013 and was complete in August 2013, on time and within budget, just as expected from a BEC project.

Pure Specialist Contractor-Installer of Single Ply Membrane Roofing & Waterproofing Products & Systems.

Our senior, professional, most experienced and friendly staff have been involved in the Commercial & Industrial main stream UK Single Ply Roofing & Waterproofing Industry since 1976.

Our labour force of fully trained and certificated Single Ply Roofing Fitters are all highly experienced, long standing very good tradesmen producing the highest possible quality and standards of product installation.

Bec Construction Ltd are one of Kent’s leading professional construction companies and we are most proud to be associated with them Unit A, Brightside, Westfield Sole Road, Boxley, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EH

Tel: 01634 869800 Fax: 01634 682436 Email: info@southernmem.plus.com www.southernmembranes.co.uk

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Our Single Ply Roofing expertise covers most types of roof construction and specification on all Commercial, Industrial and also Domestic projects throughout the Southeast of England.

Most Single Ply Membrane Roofing & Waterproofing Brands are available from us for installation including insurance backed Manufacturers Guarantee’s and BBA Certificates confirming life expectancy “in excess” of 35 years.

We have been the preferred Single Ply Specialist Contractor – Installer for Bec Construction Ltd for many years and have worked very closely with them on many projects throughout Kent.

PROFILE UKC

Lancashire County Council Putting people first

Lancashire County Council has continued to undertake works on education, civil and healthcare projects in the region, and last December saw a new daytime support service for people with dementia celebrate its official opening.

The service, called Mere Brook, sits within the Brookside extra care housing scheme in Ormskirk, which opened in 2012.

It supports people aged over 50 who have complex mental health and physical care needs associated with their dementia, together with providing help, information and advice for their families and carers.

Mere Brook is run by a partnership that includes Lancashire County Council, West Lancashire Borough Council, West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group and the Your Housing Group.

Representatives from these organisations joined people who attended the centre, their families and staff at a special event to officially open the service.

County Councillor Nikki Hennessey (Ormskirk West) said: “The wide range of therapeutic and social activities offered at Mere Brook will help people with complex health needs to maintain their skills and interests and continue to get the most out of life.

“This is an immensely important service, not only for those who attend the centre, but for their families and carers too.

“During the opening event, I had the pleasure of hearing from the families of people who use the service and they spoke very emotionally about how the support they receive from Mere Brook has changed their lives.”

Activities on offer include arts and crafts, singing, drama and gentle exercise, together with practical daily living tasks such as making drinks and snacks.

They also include communication and conversation activities aimed at helping people to maintain friendships

and other social contacts.

Lancashire County Council’s input has also resulted in the development for Golden Hill School in Leyland.

The school provides a safe, secure and attractive environment enabling children to enjoy learning and reach their full potential.

Work on this project was undertaken

by J T Holding & Son Ltd, who has worked with the Council on various projects for more than 30 years.

Throughout the project, the Company covered the services of joinery work, plastering, electrical work, heating works, decoration and suspended ceilings.

Work created a new secure entrance area with partitions, new internal doors, external aluminium doors and curtain walls, a bespoke ash reception hatch, new flooring, heating, lights and decoration.

The project was completed in December 2013, giving the school improved facilities.

Stewart Fersina – One of the North West's leading commercial and domestic double glazing specialists.

Established in 1986, we have been providing high quality glazing to architects, designers, contractors, commercial businesses and homeowners from across Lancashire and the North West for over 25 years.

Specialists in Bespoke Commercial Glazing.

Work undertaken for clients including Lancashire County Council, Main Contractors throughout Lancashire and Private Individuals.

Installations including Schools, Hospitals, Prestigious Offices, and Private Dwellings.

Somec Works, Pratt Street, Burnley, Lancashire BB10 1SG

Telephone: 01282 412244 Fax: 01282 431854 Email: sales@stewartfersina.co.uk www.stewartfersina.co.uk

Based in Burnley, we offer our clients exceptional levels of service, quality and safety at highly competitive prices. From standard windows and doors to specialist, bespoke designs requiring our creative input and support, we enjoy excelling at commercial and domestic glazing.

Our comprehensive range of services and products includes: Survey, design drawings and planning Commercial aluminium windows and doors Commercial shop fronts, curtain wall screens, partitions and canopies Domestic PVC windows and doors -PVC and aluminium conservatories Specialist glazing - Building work - Repairs All of the above services utilise the very best materials and our highly skilled and experienced team install every product to the highest possible standard.

87

UKC PROFILE

Artist’s impression of Hauser & Wirth Somerset, image courtesy Hauser & Wirth

Hauser & Wirth

New art gallery in Somerset Set to open this summer, Hauser & Wirth Somerset will be a world-class gallery and art centre located in the historic site of Durslade farm in Bruton, Somerset.

Renovation of the existing historic buildings will mean they sit sensitively within the existing landscape.

This 17th century farm has a series of eight buildings, three of which are listed; the farm house, the stable barn and the threshing barn; as well as a cluster of outhouses. The stable barn is going to be where the personal office space is situated.

In addition there is a cowshed, an implement shed, workshop, and cart shed.

At the back of the threshing barn and cow shed will be a new steel frame structure to form the two main gallery spaces.

When complete, there will be five gallery spaces, two of which are the large spaces in the new building and then there are three others set in the existing farm buildings.

The cowshed building is a C-shaped structure with a reception wing in it. The other two sides will be a restaurant area.

Behind the new build gallery, there is a large paddock that is being landscaped for a meadow garden.

When the garden is finished, it will be a place for people to come and visit just as much as they would to visit the art. Lots of sculpture is involved in the project, and a lot will sit outside, constantly changing depending on when these are sold.

The new build will have a brick outer skin and a blockwork and drylining inner skin. There will also be concrete floors, plasterboard finishes with a zinc standing seam roof.

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It is a striking development and will combine the existing elements with new space. New buildings are clean, crisp white boxes but the old spaces have also got features that are being looked after.

The project has not been without its challenges. Before construction commenced, there were newts, bats and nesting birds on the site to contend with, which required a lot of involvement from the ecologist.

There was a slow start with the roofing and stripping because it was April and the birds were nesting, so the project had to be delayed until their chicks had fled.

Because of the potential amount of newts

on the site, the new build construction had to wait to start until late July 2013, along with the car park, and the newt licence was put in place by Natural England at the beginning of August.

The Concept Architect for the project is Laplace & Co from Paris, while local Practice, B2 Architects is the Technical Architect.

Emery Brothers Ltd is the Main Contractor on the project that started in April 2013 and will be complete in May 2014.

The inaugural exhibition, opening in summer 2014, will be a presentation of new work by the British artist Phyllida Barlow.

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More than ten years since price fixing and market sharing among competitors became a criminal offence, prosecutions have been few and far between. The root cause of this apparent failure has been the requirement to prove that individuals acted “dishonestly”. With only a handful of criminal cartel cases pursued by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and one success, which saw individuals plead guilty as part of a US Department of Justice plea bargain, it has been recognised for some time that the current framework is in need of reform. In response, changes to the criminal cartel offence are set to come into force from 1st April 2014, which will significantly increase the risks for individuals who infringe competition law.

The construction sector has long been in the spotlight of competition authorities and some of the OFT’s largest cases, including its cover bidding investigation in 2009 against over 100 construction firms, have been in this sector. The most recent case is an ongoing criminal investigation into the supply of products to the construction industry that has so far resulted in seven arrests. Although no charges have been brought, the offence investigated is likely to be dishonestly engaging in cartel activity.

Currently, the authorities must prove the individual acted in a dishonest manner according to the ordinary standards of reasonable and honest people and that the individual knew that others would consider what he or she had done to be dishonest. While it was always intended to set the bar higher for criminal liability, it turned out to be too high for the OFT to scale. As a result, the requirement to prove dishonesty will be removed from 1st April.

What does all this mean in practice?

Competition compliance will be even more important from April and businesses should take steps to put in place a competition compliance programme.

To avoid falling foul of the new regime, directors and senior managers in the construction industry should consider the following: ••Do you have a trained team that knows what to if faced by a dawn raid?

••In the event of an investigation, the company may need to engage, or at least offer, separate legal representation for accused or potentially accused individuals. Typically, once an individual has concerns that he/she is in the frame, the advice is often not to assist

COMMENT UKC

New competition legislation set to increase business and individual risk the company but rather to protect personal interests. If the individual concerned is the only person with direct knowledge of the events relating to the investigation, how would the company protect its interests?

••Do employment contracts contain sufficiently robust provisions dealing with these sorts of circumstances?

••Would your directors and officers liability insurance cover the costs of separate legal representation?

There are signs we could be in a for a step-change in the pursuit of individuals and companies that infringe competition law. With the CMA assuming its powers April, which also coincides with changes to the criminal cartel offence, the starting point is to ask how confident you are that relevant staff – especially purchasing and selling staff - know what competition law prohibits. Having a policy is seldom enough: tailored training that shows staff where risks lie and why compliance matters is needed to make sure behaviour is in line with the law.

Catriona Munro is a partner in the EU competition and regulatory team at Maclay Murray & Spens LLP

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UKC EDUCATION

UCL Cruciform Library

Part of a wider masterplan The Cruciform Library, Cluster and adjacent seminar rooms in Bloomsbury are undergoing refurbishment to transform them into a welcoming and vibrant space at the heart of Gower Street, fulfilling the aspirations of the UCL masterplan.

The Cruciform Hub will open in spring 2014 with a state-of-the-art library, the computer cluster, and a whole suite of seminar rooms.

Located at the heart of the UCL Medical School, in the lower ground floor of the Cruciform building, the hub will be easily accessible for UCL students and staff, as well as NHS staff working at UCLH. While work has been underway, the library has moved to the second floor, while the science library has remained open and extended its opening hours throughout last July, in order to meet the needs of the medical students who were revising.

To enable the Cruciform Library move to the science library, management books and periodicals are moving to the main library.

This project is for UCL – established in 1826 to open up education in England for the first time to students of any race, class or religion. UCL was also the first university to welcome female students on equal terms with men.

Academic excellence and conducting research that addresses real world problems inform UCL’s ethos to this day.

It was ranked fourth in the world’s

top ten universities by the QS World University Rankings in 2012, so is a very prestigious place to study, with more than 4,000 academic and research staff dedicated to research and teaching of the highest standards.

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), UCL was rated the best research university in London, and third in the UK overall, for the number of its submissions which were considered of ‘world leading quality’.

UCL has the highest number of professors of any university in the UK, with 824 established and personal chairs, as well as the joint highest number of female professors with 185, and the university is associated with several major teaching hospitals – such as the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, the Royal Free Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital – which provide Londoners with first-rate healthcare and contribute to major advances in medical research.

The academy community includes 53 Fellows of the Royal Society, 51 Fellows of the British Academy, 15 Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering and 117 Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Nobel prizes have been awarded to 21 former academics and graduates. The most recent addition in October 2009 was Professor Charles Kao, who was awarded

Image courtesy of UCL

a Nobel prize for Physics. Professor Kao undertook his PhD at UCL under the supervision of Professor Harold Barlow.

More than 40% of the almost 27,000-strong student community is engaged in graduate studies, with more than a third of these graduate students pursuing research degrees.

Students from 150 countries study at UCL, making up more than one third of the student body, and an ever-expanding worldwide network of more than 160,000 UCL alumni, helps to maintain the university’s international reputation for access, innovation and excellence.

The Bloomsbury masterplan was approved

by UCL Council in July 2011 to provide the strategic framework for the development and improvement of the UCL Bloomsbury Estate over the next ten to 15 years, to ensure the UCL’s fine buildings in the very heart of this great world city best support the university’s highest academic standards and global ambition.

It represents a coherent vision and a series of strategies, along with an indicative sequence of projects that together provide a long-term strategic framework and from which a programme of capital investment will emerge.

Being built by Cameron Black, the Cruciform Hub will be complete in the next few months.

Squiggle glass® is a lifetime solution for visual presentation and information, using a range of colours and sizes.

Squiggle glass® is a magnetic or non magnetic glass panel; which is easy to write on and easy to clean with our magnetic eraser.

Frameless construction allows any vertical surface to be used as a seamless presentation area. A smarter alternative to traditional writing boards.

Whether in use or not, our aesthetically pleasing magnetic glass panels are designed to suit any space within your building.

Telephone: 020 8133 3827 or 0161 408 3112 Email: info@squiggleglass.com Website: www.squiggleglass.com 90

PROFILE UKC

George Hurst & Sons Ltd Founded in 1860, George Hurst & Sons Ltd offers a range of services from build-only to design and build of new buildings, refurbishment and extension of existing buildings and external work.

It remained a family company until April 2008 when a management buyout was completed.

However, the same reputation for skilled craftsmanship, fair prices and reliability has remained.

Throughout its history, the trademark has always been delivery of excellence. This is achieved through focus on meeting all customer needs, highly experienced and skilled people, long-standing partnering relationships with key suppliers and subcontractors, and the adoption of the highest professional standards across all business transactions.

Projects range from small domestic plumbing and building jobs to projects of £5M in value, with work for local authorities, health services, social services, housing associations, private clients and education sectors.

The Company completed work at Herringthorpe Junior School in September, which saw an extension to provide teaching space for infant and junior pupils. All of these spaces have been fitted with sprinkler systems.

George Hurst & Sons is also working on a £1M scheme in East Yorkshire that will refurbish, remodel and extend customer services in Hessle.

The scheme, which forms part of East

Riding of Yorkshire Council’s capital the form of a five-classroom block. investment programme, will move the There were also two temporary customer service centre (CSC) into the classroom blocks on site but they have existing library building to be co-located been removed and the new autism with several other public services. unit is being built in that space.

It will allow the council to provide a It is a standalone building, but one-stop shop, consolidate and improve will be linked by a pathway to the a number of local services under one link building in the extension. roof, and at the same time upgrade the The unit is adjacent to the five-classroom quality of the building for customer use. block, sufficiently far to be separate, but Additional facilities that will be also close enough so the children can incorporated include self-service integrate with the rest of the school. machines and web access.

External materials being used are the Work commenced in spring 2013 same as those of the new extension and will be completed by George in order to match, and this is a great Hurst & Sons before this summer. example of another successful During development, the library and CSC George Hurst & Sons development have continued to provide a service within well on the way to completion. the town centre, which is close to the current location.

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UKC HEALTH

Two Spires Medical Centre

Four GP practices under one roof Construction is well under way in Leicestershire to create a medical centre at a brand new housing development.

Located off Station Road in Wigston, the Two Spires Medical Centre will be a 2,200sq m stateof-the-art health care facility.

The scheme will see four existing medical practices in the town located on one site.

Bushloe End Surgery, Central Surgery, Long Street Surgery and Station Road Surgery – which currently provide GP services to over 23,000 patients – will move on to the site of the former South Leicestershire College.

The college had already been demolished before construction on the level site began, and the new building consists of three-storeys and a roof space with mechanical and electrical plant on it.

Designed by the James Totty Partnership, the ground and first floors at the front of the building have a reception area, with the rest of the buildings consisting of consulting rooms with a few small operating areas.

The second floor will comprise offices and staff areas, and the building will have two lift shafts and two staircases located at either side.

As well as the four GP practices, this project will also provide a pharmacy,

community and therapy services from the Integrated Primary Care Centre.

The completed project will provide a base for core GP services, GP training, minor surgery, health promotion and pharmacy services.

GPI (Northern) is the client for the development and has worked closely with project stakeholders, including key members of practice staff and representatives from the former Primary Care Trust (PCT).

A project Board was established and as a result a Full Business Case was developed and consequently approved by the former PCT Board.

GPI was instrumental in facilitating this process which enabled regular meetings and encouraged effective communication.

The project team also enjoyed a field trip to Blackpool to visit another large scale GPI project and met GPs who had been through the development process for a similar scheme.

Commenting on behalf of NHS Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, Amanda Anderson said: “NHS England Area Team is delighted that the new GP surgery development in Wigston is finally under construction.

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“This has been a challenging project to bring all four practices under one roof, to successfully negotiate the governance processes to obtain approval and to overcome the logistical issues in delivering the building.

“This has been made possible through the commitment of the four practices, the former PCT, and GPI. The new surgery facility will bring substantial benefits and opportunities for patient care in an excellent environment.”

Being built by G F Tomlinson Building Ltd, the ground floor will comprise of brickwork, with first floor and above rendered blockwork.

Between ground and first floor levels, there will be a feature channel to separate the brickwork and render, and there will also be a large section of curtain walling surrounding the entrance lobby, providing light into ground and first floor reception areas.

The facility will have car parking spaces for about 90 cars, and there will also be disabled bays.

Work started on site in October 2013 and will be complete in September 2014.

COMMUNITY UKC

Newbridge Memorial Hall and Institute Historic building with restored grandeur A key project to restore the historic Newbridge Memorial Hall and Institute to its former glory is now into its final phase.

Originally constructed in 1924, the hall was built to commemorate the 75 men who gave their lives in World War One from the Newbridge area and in particular the two collieries called Celynen North and Celynen South.

There is a ballroom on the ground floor, and a small stage, bar area and main auditorium upstairs with the theatre stage.

During World War Two the Newbridge and Newport area was home to 6,000 American troops getting ready for the D-Day landings and many went out to entertainment halls such as Newbridge.

The auditorium was initially built as a theatre but was later converted to play silent movies. This was closed in 1974 and virtually forgotten. The ballroom was still used but the theatre slowly decayed.

In comparison, the ballroom actually became a venue for bands to play at, with such acts as Duran Duran and Marillion playing in the 1980s.

James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire, who went on to form the Manic Street Preachers, worked behind the bar during that time and are now honorary members.

But the place closed because of the total demise of industry in Wales, including mining, steelworks and engineering.

Despite this, the regard that the building is held in is clear. Ten years ago, a proposal was put forward to knock it down and build a car park.

But there were many people who remembered the great days when it was opened and when local MP Don Touhig called a public meeting, 400 people turned up and it was decided to save the building.

After saving the building, which still comprised the old art decoration, the community campaigned to raise awareness of the building.

As a result it was awarded Grade II listed status and independently verified as one of the finest interiors of its type in the UK.

Funding came from a variety of Alwyn Jones Architects, Phase II is being sources such as the Heritage built by Anthony Davies and RED Ltd Lottery Fund, Big Lottery, European has coordinated the project superbly.

Regional Development Fund, Welsh Once completed in September, the building Government, Coalfield Regeneration will house The Heritage Experience, telling Trust and the committee trustees. the story of before World War One up to Phase I saw the restoration of the modern times, reflecting on the history of institute and the new link block which the building – all shown in the cinema. contains all the new services.

Visitor numbers are expected to The memorial hall development is under be in excess of 80,000 a year. way, with a series of events planned once completed to commemorate World War One. These will run until 2018.

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UKC EDUCATION

Invicta Grammar School

UKC LEISURE

The project in Maidstone to develop the Invicta Grammar School is close to completion.

Designed by OSG Architecture Ltd, this new school block is a two-storey building comprising an office, toilets, storage, a plant room, dance drama room, a reading room and ten classrooms.

On a shared campus with Valley Park School the new building will be located adjacent to the gym and car park.

At approximately 1,200sq m, the Academy has piled foundations, a steel frame, beam and block ground floor, metal deck first floor, profiled sheet roof on steel purlins, and cavity masonry walls with an external facing block.

Sustainability has been a huge factor in the development, with lots of glass and maximised natural daylight including sliding folding doors to the main elevation.

The new building has been possible thanks to £1.8M of funding.

Funding on this scale has been crucial and will allow the Academy to

give its students the opportunity to outstanding results with 74% A*/B grades learn in an exciting environment. at A Level and 65% A*/A grades at GCSE, Work has provided challenges due to making it the best school in Maidstone. underlying rock in foundations, which Work started on the Academy in March meant piling and one of the drill bits 2013 and will be completed in March 2014. snapped and caused a delay of two weeks, but thanks to the work of the Main Contractor, Jenner Contractors Ltd, some of that time was clawed back.

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Llandegfedd Water Sports and Visitor Centre Two new buildings dedicated to the general public Thanks to Dwr Cymru, construction of a new water sports and visitor centres are well under way at Llandegfedd Reservoir to further improve facilities for recreational visitors and sports lovers in the area.

This area has been used for a number of years by water-based leisure purists and is home to a thriving sailing club, outdoor activity business specialising in windsurfing and canoeing, as well as a successful angling club.

Designed by Hall + Bednarczyk Architects, the visitors centre will boast a relaxing café and balcony area wrapping around the building with extending views of the reservoir. The ground floor will house offices providing a base for the key staff that manage and maintain the reservoir.

The water sports centre will benefit from shower and changing facilities, a multipurpose open plan training room, range of office accommodation to support the management of sporting associations, and there will be a convenience store.

It will provide a training/meeting facility, male and female shower and

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changing rooms, and an emergency vessel rescue boat store.

Both buildings are two-storeys, but the water sports centre also has loft space for storage.

It is a steel structure on mass concrete pads and clad with western red timber incorporating high-end glazing and a feature entrance canopy.

A more complicated development is the visitor centre. It will be made up of reinforced concrete base, walls and columns with intermediate steelwork and a curved steel lattice frame for the roof.

It also incorporates visually impressive celestial glazing panels within each elevation to provide a continuous line of sight through the building.

The unique roof is made from a series of intricate and individually sized plywood fins to provide the elegant water-like shape.

The Main Contractor for the development that commenced in October 2013 is Anthony A Davies Ltd. Both buildings will be complete in October 2014.

Image courtesy of Hall + Bednarczyk Architects

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EDUCATION UKC

Littlefield House Phase II of redevelopment for Marlborough College The final phase of work for a mixed, outcollege house for Marlborough Sixth Form College gets under way next month.

Littlefield House is a two-phase redevelopment, with work being carried out in the summer holidays.

Littlefield was built in 1871 at the same time as Cotton House but was extensively rebuilt in 1964 after a holiday-time fire destroyed one wing.

It stands back from the north side of Bath Road in its own grounds – with a tennis court and football pitch – and is five minutes’ walk from the centre of the college.

At the heart of the House is the dining room where the House gathers each morning for breakfast as well as supper four times a week.

Being a short walk from the main school helps create the homely atmosphere which Littlefieldians pride themselves on.

The dining room is at the Heart of the house and the tight knit community comprises 46 boys and 16 girls along with two families, three dogs, four chickens and four guinea fowl.

Marlborough College

The House holds many events throughout the year, including the annual LUFA (Littlefield Unofficial Football Association) tournament, which is a highlight of the year with press conferences and an awards ceremony to match the football.

Other events include concerts, BBQs, invitation suppers, pub quiz evenings, all of which brings the House together.

The boys start off together in the Shell Dormitory which helps form bonds that last their time in the House and beyond.

The boys move into their own rooms from the Remove onwards. Girls share for one term in their lower sixth year but otherwise have their own rooms.

Outside the House, the boys and girls enjoy having the outside space of the plateau, a large grassed area with a six-a-side football pitch and the hard tennis court.

The development in Swindon has already seen Phase I completed last August. This was carried out in the basement area while the building was in occupation.

It resulted in the formation of a new computer room, a couple of bedroom suites, and creation of

new circulation areas and communal toilets, as well as refurbishment of other existing basement areas.

Phase II will see work to all upper floors, at a cost of £1M. This includes major reconfiguration of dormitory rooms, communal bathrooms and circulation areas, all with new services.

Work will also include the formation of a new front entrance and Dame’s Room extension, while the development will see the adaption of existing and installation of new services, keeping habitable areas live in the process.

The Main Contractor for the project is Vale Builders Southern Ltd – a well established business with over 26 years experience that offers a reliable and professional service, working closely with the design team for any of its clients.

In this case, the Architect is GBS Architects, and with such close collaboration, Littlefield House’s refurbishment is sure to be a success.

Work on Phase II starts in April 2014 and will be complete in August.

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UKC LEISURE

Newbury Racecourse

£42M boost to racecourse Newbury Racecourse plc, the racing, entertainment and events business is working in alongside David Wilson Homes Ltd (DWH) to provide long-term redevelopment of the racecourse.

The agreement, made in 2012, marked an exciting new chapter in the racecourse’s history as it undergoes one of the biggest redevelopments ever to take place at a British leisure destination.

The agreement will see DWH purchase three areas of land at the racecourse known as the Western, Central and Eastern sites on which approximately 1,500 homes are to be constructed over the course of the anticipated tenyear development programme.

This will bring considerable benefits to the local community, which includes 30% of the new homes being affordable and shared equity housing, substantial investment in the local road network and bus and rail routes, and a contribution towards primary and secondary education, healthcare and adult social care.

Following the sale of the land to DWH, the Company commenced a racecourse development programme that will deliver new and refurbished trading facilities and infrastructure so that the racecourse retains its market leading position in the UK horse racing industry.

As well as the homes, the 106-year-old racecourse will benefit from a £42M investment in its infrastructure.

This will include a new road bridge

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at the eastern end providing better access, easing traffic flow and providing an impressive sense of arrival with sweeping views to the south, all of which will enhance customer experience.

There will be significant re-landscaping around the Grandstands to create a greener, more attractive environment for visitors, a new parade ring designed in a natural amphitheatre with better sightlines and a more picturesque setting for winning horses.

A new stable staff hotel will provide some of the best facilities of any racecourse in the country, and the Rocking Horse Nursery will be moved to a purpose-built facility with state-of-the-art facilities.

There will be a great choice of homes from contemporary trackside apartments and executive homes to townhouses in traditional crescents and squares, all set in the spectacular surroundings of the racecourse.

Residents at Newbury will be at the centre of a whole new way of life in a community offering exciting racing, concerts and events with local, national and international appeal.

Residents will also enjoy a host of exclusive benefits as well as being on the edge of Newbury town and all the attractions of the local community.

Sovereign Housing Association is to provide the affordable homes and signed a contract with DWH to deliver 127 homes in the Western area of the site, which

will be the first phase to be completed at this high profile development. These will consist of 87 social rental properties and 40 shared ownership homes.

Sovereign, which owns and manages over 7,300 homes in West Berkshire, anticipates providing 439 homes at the racecourse when it is completed.

Roger Keeling, Sovereign’s Regional Head of Development, said: “We are delighted to be involved with this exciting new development, the largest new build scheme for many years in West Berkshire, one of our main operating areas.

“We have been working with David Wilson Homes and The Racecourse Newbury for some time on pre-planning work and liaising with other partners to achieve the best outcome for our future residents.”

Nicole Sharp, Sovereign’s Regional Director, said: “As the largest provider of affordable homes in West Berkshire, we are uniquely placed to not only provide these homes but also to deliver quick and efficient local services to our residents at The Racecourse.”

The sustainable homes that Sovereign will provide in Phase I are a mixture of apartments, maisonettes and family houses for social rent and shared ownership.

They will all meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, as well as the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Design and Quality Standards and Secure by Design.

DWH is the Main Contractor and Glenn Howells Architects designed the scheme.

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UKC EDUCATION

City of Bradford Schools

Extension of primary schools in Bradford Education facilities in Bradford continue to improve thanks to the continued investment in school facilities.

Last September saw the completion of an extension of Margaret McMillan Primary School.

The £2.5M project, which was carried out on behalf of The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, is one in a number of projects undertaken by Strategic Team Group over the last three years to improve and extend existing facilities for the growing number of young children in the Bradford area.

Work included the demolition of the caretaker’s bungalow and the construction of a new extension to form seven new classrooms.

A community facility has been created to the rear of the car park and together with a playground area at the north eastern corner of the school, plus the reconfiguration of external areas including some car park remodelling.

The extension is 1,150sq m with a monopitch roof to the classroom block with clerestorey windows.

Externally, it comprises brick with colourful render panel areas of Trespa cladding panels and it is a steel frame composition with beam and block floor construction.

The project also incorporated extensive hard landscaping, re-laying of some rubber crumb playground surfaces, while the car parking area is also extended.

Work on the project started in June 2012 and was complete in September 2013. Farrell & Clark LLP was the Lead Consultant.

This month will also see the completion of a major primary school expansion that will see it grow by nearly 100 pupils.

Trinity All Saints Primary School, based in Bingley, will benefit from nine new 30-pupil classrooms, a school hall, staff car park, kitchen, playground and ‘wild garden’ built next to the existing school as part of a five-stage construction plan.

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More than 150 pupils at Trinity and All Saints Primary are taught in four temporary classrooms on the playground. There is no school car park, meaning staff and parents have to park in residential streets.

Because of Bingley’s rising population, Bradford Council estimates that the school will have to find even more space, taking on an extra 90 pupils over the next three years.

Headteacher Jane Glendinning spoke of how pupils deserved better facilities than have previously been on offer at the school, as pupils were getting wet and cold each time they moved between the portable classrooms.

This development will turn it into a 21st century school and once completed, All Saints will grow from its capacity of 330 primary school pupils to 420 – 270 of whom will be taught in new classrooms.

It will also lead to new jobs, with the number of staff increasing from 68 to 82 and there will be a new car park.

Once again, Farrell & Clark LLP played a major role, working with the Strategic Team Group on the £2.8M development.

The development

of Knowleswood Primary School was complete in November 2013.

This 1970s brick-built school saw the development of a four-classroom extension, including two reception classes and two year six classrooms.

Built on the former school playground, which was also previously a mining area, this development included an extensive new car park and cost £1.6M.

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