UK Construction Journal V17N04 by BIP Solutions

V17 N04

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

When is a floorcovering not just a floorcovering? When it’s from the UK’s largest flooring contractor. We’ve many years’ EXPERIENCE supplying and installing a huge range of floorcoverings for a variety of different market sectors. We promise EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE delivered with EXCEPTIONAL PRICES and with a stockholding value of more than £2m we have CONSISTENT AVAILABILITY across our key ranges. At each of our 12 REGIONAL DEPOTS we can accommodate every request from price point driven schemes to high profile projects. A dedicated team will be in place from enquiry through to installation to give you the BEST ADVICE AND SERVICE. We offer free on-site surveys and guidance on health and safety compliance; our staff and fitters are CSCS REGISTERED and CRB CHECKED as appropriate. What’s more, we are committed to keeping everything simple and HASSLE FREE. With our own cutting machine and our OWN TRANSPORT fleet, we are always in control. We work with organisations of all sizes, forging a close relationship with each one to ensure that CUSTOMER SATISFACTION is of the highest order on every contract we undertake. From ideas to installation WE DO IT ALL.

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Scotland 01324 676100 North East 0191 286 1797 North West 01772 705557 Central & Yorkshire 01246 853463 North & West Midlands 0121 359 6083 South & East Midlands 01536 407357 Wales & West of England 01633 279310 London & South East 01277 263450 Thames Valley & West London 01753 577935 Thames Medway & South East London 01959 572313 Southern 02380 275123 South West 01392 823051 National & General Enquiries 01246 854577 Email Enquiries@DesignerContracts.com

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CARPET. CARPET TILES. VINYL TILES. VINYL & SAFETY FLOORING. WOOD. LAMINATE.

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POWER SOLUTIONS

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HEATING SOLUTIONS

LOCAL DEPOTS OFFER FULL TURNKEY POWER RENTAL SOLUTIONS ENERGYST UNDERSTANDS THAT NO MATTER WHAT INDUSTRY YOU ARE IN, YOU NEED NOTHING LESS THAN INFINITE, COMPLETELY SAFE AND RELIABLE POWER RESOURCES OR TEMPERATURE CONTROL TO ACHIEVE YOUR BUSINESS GOALS. WHEN YOU NEED TO RENT TEMPORARY POWER FOR A SMALL-SCALE PROJECT, A SUDDEN POWER FAILURE, PLANNED SHUTDOWN OR EVEN A MEGA PLANT, ENERGYST PROVIDES YOU WITH EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE YOU NEED TO HELP YOU PERFORM... ALL AROUND THE WORLD. 24/7. 365 DAYS. Modern, efficient and reliable fleet Our modern, efﬁcient and reliable ﬂeet includes CAT power generators (100 - 2000 kVA), load banks, transformers and temperature control equipment for all heating and cooling applications. Needless to say, all of our equipment is supplied complete with all the required ancillaries, such as electric cables, fuel tanks, etc. To provide clients with the optimum service, Energyst operates through a vast network of depots making a local service on a global scale, genuinely possible. In the UK, main depots include Wolverhampton covering the Midlands & South of the UK, Leeds covering the North of England and the newest depot in Aberdeen powering the onshore and offshore industry in and around its locality. In Ireland we are served by the depot in Portlaoise.

Passionate professionals Energyst is the trusted partner that understands the scale of your business and knows your local market. Passionate professionals deliver custom-designed solutions to ﬁt your speciﬁc requirements. Your Energyst Cat Rental Power contact person will be fully aware of the enormous challenges your business faces on a daily basis and will be fully engaged at all times.

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Wolverhampton - UK (HO) Energyst Rental Solutions LP Four Ashes Industrial Estate Station Road Four Ashes Wolverhampton WV10 7DB

Leeds - UK Energyst Rental Solutions LP Bell Hill Wood Lane Rothwell Leeds LS26 0RS

Aberdeen - UK Energyst Rental Solutions LP Denmore Road Denmore Industrial Estate Bridge of Don Aberdeen

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TEL. +44 (0) 8457 697 450 INFO.UK@ENERGYST.COM

TEL. +44 (0) 8457 697 450 INFO.IE@ENERGYST.COM

36 40 42 44 48 56 58 61 66 68 72 74 75 77 79 81 82 83 85 86 87 88

London Underground Canal & River Trust J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd Chorley Council John Sisk & Son Hitachi Zosen Inova CDS Group Services Ltd LA Architects ISS Facility Services Landscaping Countryside Properties Solarcentury Winvic Construction Harris Construction Management Eric Wright Construction Shropshire Towns & Rural Housing Ltd McAleer & Rushe Green Shoots Architecture PGR Construction Petersfield Housing Association Thomas Johnstone North Yorkshire County Council TJ Evers

EDUCATION 46 Bournemouth University 65 Licensed Trade Charity

LEISURE 70 Piran Meadows 76 Cardigan Castle 89 Marlow Watersports Hub

CIVIL 30 London Array 73 Bosworth Marina

NEWS - 10

12 16 24 26 28 29 34

DuPont, Tyvek, FireCurb UK Container Maintenance – Emma Elston NHBC – Paul Cribbens Turley Associates – Michael Gordon Thomas Eggar – Kasia Dixon Sheridan Gold – Peter Sheridan OKI – Rob Brown

COMMERCIAL 80 Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council 90 Wellington Place

RETAIL 84 Chunky Chicken

HOUSING 86 Cawston Grange

COMMUNITY 38 Gaskell House

Exhibition 78 Greenbuild Expo 2014

COMMENTS

PROFILE

Editors Gareth Trevor-Jones Victoria Lee

Staff Writer John Train Editorial Raimy Greenland Robert Atherton Copy Jody Ramsey Studio Manager SĂŠamus Norton Designer Richard Gill Proof Reader Matthew Brown Data Administrator Ryan Irwin Approvals Sarah Smith

Credit Control Carol Ryan

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ÂŠ Copyright Pro-Mark Media Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior permission of Pro-Mark Media. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Training LMS develops leaders, managers and supervisors in all industry sectors. Evidence of competency is now a standard requirement of winning work and satisfying both private and public sector clients. Training LMS aims to facilitate the pursuit of competence of organisations and individuals through the provision of advice, guidance, mentoring and the necessary training to achieve professional qualifications at all levels of management and supervision. With several different routes to gaining professional recognition, contact us for a free training needs analysis to identify how this can be achieved. We understand that there is no single solution to the training and development needs of individuals and organisations so an important element of our approach is tailoring provision to suit specific circumstances and requirements.

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Training LMS was established to promote professionalism and excellence in leadership, management and supervision in modern day industry. Directors Allan McMullen and Roger Gillespie have both been involved in business and training in Northern Ireland for many years. Both are from family firms and have developed their careers in education and training, particularly through their involvement with the Chartered Institute of Building, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, the Chartered Management Institute and the Institute of Directors. Allan was Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Training Board from 1994 until 2009 and was the international president of the CIOB in 2005/2006. Roger was Manager of WYG Training and now runs Gillespie Consulting, specialists in training, health & safety and the environment.Training LMS now offers training programmes leading to professional qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Building, Engineers Ireland, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health and also CPD Events.

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UKC NEWS

Developer submits plans for third phase of regeneration scheme The final phase of a regeneration scheme in Canning Town has been submitted to planning chiefs. The 650-home Rathbone Market development is being delivered by English Cities Fund (ECf), in partnership with Newham Council, as part of the Council’s £3.7Bn Canning Town and Custom House regeneration programme. ECf, which is a joint venture between Muse Developments, Legal and General Property and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), have now put forward plans for a further 216 dwellings within the £180M Rathbone Market scheme. The third phase plans comprise 162 privately owned properties and 54 affordable properties.

The third phase has been designed by Shoreditch based Architect, Project Orange who has made extensive use of contrasting dark grey and off-white bricks in their design. Phase III will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom properties within three blocks, ranging in height from six to 14-storeys, arranged in a horse shoe configuration around a verdant communal garden. The garden is approached through a secure double-height entrance and leads to the access cores serving all apartments. All ground floor properties will be twostorey, in the style of a town house, with double-height ceilings and rear amenity space onto the courtyard garden. Apartments on the upper levels will all

have a generous balcony, and the great majority will have a double aspect. Christopher Ash, Director of Project Orange said: “The intention is to create a building of visual richness where golden balconies and embossed panels create a studied patchwork effect of cascading informal links and connections across the weighty brick facades.” The award-winning Phase I, Vermillion, is now complete and Aurelia, Phase II of the regeneration, has been launched to the public and is due to complete before the end of 2014. It is planned that Phase III will be on site before the end of the year.

Interserve begins work on Sandwell College’s new £5.9M Central Sixth Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has started work on a new sixth form centre, known as Central Sixth at Sandwell College in the West Midlands. The contract follows the successful handover by Interserve in 2012 of the £77M new Sandwell College. The new Central Sixth facility will open for students in September 2014. Following detailed design and planning work carried out by Sandwell Council and Sandwell College, the new Central Sixth will be created inside a remodelled building, well known in the area as The Public, formerly home to a variety

of arts and business enterprises. The new Central Sixth will not only represent a major investment in education; it will also support a variety of arts based activities, which will be open to the public from 2015. Once the estimated £5.9M remodelling work is completed, a newly renovated cafe and exhibition space will be opened. The new Central Sixth will form an A Level hub for Sandwell College that will bring hundreds of new students to the area, supporting numerous new jobs, both at the college and in surrounding businesses. A business support centre will be based on

the campus to assist start-up companies. Commenting on the project, Sandwell College Vice-Principal, Scott Upton said: “Since we opened our new college in 2012, we have seen a huge demand for places, proving that if you build an inspirational learning environment, students from miles around will want to benefit from it. “We believe our sympathetic remodelling of The Public will amaze, appeal to and attract students and parents, giving us the opportunity to expand and our learners a fantastic and inspiring environment, where they can achieve their full potential.”

Former pool site to be transformed into £6M affordable homes scheme Work is underway to breathe new life into the site of a former Grange-overSands swimming pool, delivering more than 40 affordable homes to ease the town’s growing housing need. With more than 3,000 people currently looking for an affordable home to rent in South Lakeland, the £6M scheme by Two Castles Housing Association and Esh Property Services will deliver 43 new homes at the former Berners Indoor Pool site, off Berners Close. Working together under the Hadrian Development Solutions Partnership, the energy efficient scheme is due for completion in spring 2015 and is available for people with a connection to the town and surrounding area. Each new home will be built to reflect the character of the wider Grange-overSands conservation area and will be constructed using traditional building materials such as natural slate, stone elevations and a timber frame. Built to Code Sustainable Level Three Standards, each property on-site will also include a range of energy

efficient features to help make homes even more affordable. The vision for the scheme was developed by the Berners Grange Project Group with support from South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) and Grange Town Council. Part-funded with an investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the scheme was also made possible thanks to SLDC agreeing to sell the land for £1 and making available a grant of £230,000 towards the project.

Councillor Graham Vincent, SLDC’s Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, said: “It is wonderful to see the work starting on this development. It’s a great scheme for that site and developing affordable homes is very important for South Lakeland, including in Grange-over-Sands. “Delivery of this scheme will be a fantastic start towards our ambitious target of ensuring 1,000 new affordable homes to rent are built from 2015-2025.”

UKC COMMENT

FireCurb DuPont develops breakthrough technology enabling the production of advanced flame retardant breather membranes for buildings With a new, patented technology offering a significant increase in building safety, potentially saving lives and reducing costly damage, DuPont has combined its world class knowhow in both materials science and chemistry, to develop an eco-friendly breakthrough solution. Suitable for roofs and walls, and offering extremely high levels of flame retardancy (up to Class B),

new DuPont™ Tyvek® FireCurb™ also enables delivery at a competitive cost. This flame retardant performance adds to the multiple and renowned properties of DuPont™ Tyvek® breather membranes for buildings, such as long-term protection, effective vapour diffusion and a significant contribution to energy efficiency and interior comfort. The initial types of

DuPont™ Tyvek® FireCurb™ featuring a higher flame retardant performance were released to the market in autumn 2012 and are suitable for applications in high rise buildings for ventilated façades and for wall membranes in timber frame constructions. Additional membrane types for roofs and walls have been introduced in a second phase. Photo courtesy of DuPont™ Tyvek®

Photo courtesy of DuPont™ Tyvek®

“Large scale fires have increased pressure on authorities and as a result, the construction industry has had to adapt to ever-tougher restrictions. Accordingly DuPont has now added a new dimension to the protection performance of DuPont™ Tyvek®. Having led the way in high performance protection from wind and water, we are committed now to also improving the reaction of wall and roofing membranes to fire. When flames meet Tyvek® FireCurb™, they stop, die down and go out. Tyvek® FireCurb™ limits flame propagation between floors through the external envelope. While crucially offering higher safety to occupants and fire fighters, this product line also potentially reduces the damage and cost caused by fires,” says Karel Smolders, DuPont Building Innovations, EMEA Marketing Manager for Building Envelopes. “Typically installed onto the external side of the insulation material or integrated into the wall structure system, DuPont™ Tyvek® FireCurb™ membranes represent an excellent solution to protection for such important and long-term investments as buildings. Extremely versatile, they will be available in variations for ventilated façades,

open rain screen cladding, timber frame and roofing constructions. In addition, DuPont™ Tyvek® FireCurb™ membranes will provide protection during the installation phase: sparks at building sites have frequently been the cause of fires and now this risk can be considerably reduced,“ adds Patrick Mousel, DuPont Building Innovations, EMEA and AP Product Manager for Building Envelopes. “The DuPont™ Tyvek® FireCurb™ range of flexible building membranes uses a novel flame retardant technology to reduce the flammability of polymer based substrates. This technique does not involve the use of any halogens. Instead, it employs a phosphorous containing agent, to promote the formation of a ‘char’ layer at the surface when it is in contact with an ignition source. This thin layer of carbonised polymer is very resistant to burning and forms a barrier, slowing the release of flammable materials from the membrane into the flame. Starved of fuel, the flame spreads over the membrane more slowly or not at all. DuPont flame retardant flexible building membranes also produce less smoke when the membrane does burn; another advantage for people attempting to flee a burning building,”

explains Carlo Weber, DuPont Building Innovations, EMEA Technical Marketing Specialist for Building Envelopes. In this product range, DuPont has combined a number of its proprietary technologies to produce a family of building membranes with a superior combination of advanced properties to meet the needs of the construction industry. To learn more about DuPont™ Tyvek® FireCurb™ please visit www.FlameRetardant.tyvek.com

UKC NEWS

BriggsAmasco keeps £600M gateway project on track At the £600M Birmingham Gateway project, the 1960s New Street railway station is being transformed into a 21st century transport hub. Appointed by Network Rail in 2008, Management Contractor Mace turned to BriggsAmasco for the design, supply and installation of approximately 15,000sq m of waterproofing and roofing systems across the site. With all roofing works completed with the station in live operation – welcoming up to 140,000 passengers every day – BriggsAmasco used years of practical experience and technical expertise to complete the highest quality application with minimal

disruption on-site and meeting strict health and safety regulations. As well as working 38,700 man hours on-site, the Company provided 24/7 call out cover even during Christmas to manage and resolve issues associated with such a complex rebuild. Despite the challenges of working to extremely tight deadlines, health and safety was absolutely paramount to the 40+ team. With visits to site every week from a company Director and a dedicated Safety Manager, standards remained extremely high throughout with no RIDDOR incidents in two years. Due to the project’s sensitive location, BriggsAmasco also had to incorporate

a number of initiatives into everyday operations to meet tight deadlines and accommodate other trades on site. Utilising all products sourced and manufactured in the UK, the Company guaranteed a regular and reliable supply to ensure no delays in the strict timeframe. The hard work, support and early integration of the supply chain was crucial in the continued successful delivery of this challenging and extremely difficult project. With determination, creative planning and a customer centric approach – BriggsAmasco rose to the challenge and successfully met and exceeded client expectations to keep the prestigious project on course for its 2015 deadline.

Keepmoat and their apprentices give community building a facelift Keepmoat Property Services, a division of national housing and regeneration specialist Keepmoat, and its apprentices have revamped a community building in Leeds. Keepmoat has been working with its client Leeds Federated Housing Association to offer residents the chance to nominate a community building in need of a facelift. Beckett Park Community Centre was nominated and Keepmoat stepped in to help with their KickStart apprentices. KickStart is an apprenticeship programme offering 12 candidates an eight week training and mentoring course, at the end of which Keepmoat expects to take on two of the trainees as full time apprentices. Improvements made to the building included repairs and painting to the external brickwork, ironmongery, window grills and fencing. Keepmoat Property Services also improved security for the building and provided easier access with a keypad lock and completed and annual electrical test. All the works completed need to be done every three years to ensure this building complies with its lease.

Jonathan Rogers, Leeds Federated’s Employer and Partnerships Liaison Officer said: “Kickstart has been a great way for those on the course to gain useful practical skills and on the job experience. The apprentices have also given a boost to the local community by using their new skills to give Beckett Park Community Centre a fantastic makeover.” The work was completed within four days and the Beckett Park Community Association will use the

newly refurbished facility for dance lessons, bingo and other activities. Joan Midwinter, Secretary from Beckett Park Community Association, said: “On behalf of the Association, I would like to say a big thank you to Keepmoat Property Services for the external refurbishment of the building. “The trainees and supervisors who were involved in the project worked very hard and the transformation is amazing, thank you.”

Innovative new technology set to improve the thermal efficiency of windows Windows have long been identified as a key weak point in building design and energy efficiency. With energy efficiency targets becoming increasingly ambitious, a consortium of European businesses has set out to develop a solution to excessive heat loss and gain through windows. While there are some solutions currently available on the market which have proved to be effective, the consortium wanted to address some key limitations. These included the tendency for filaments to radiate heat and the high cost of some of the technologies. The project partners – which included Eurofilms Extrusions, Wells Plastics, Hanita Coatings, Hermaos Del Pino Espinosa and the UK Materials Technology Research Institute (UK-MatRI), a Pera Technology company – undertook two and a half years of scientific research and technological development in polymer compounding and multi layer extrusion techniques in a bid to solve these issues. The solution they identified is a low cost, organically based, readily available multi layer polymeric switchable reflective SHGC film coating. The multi layer film operates in the infrared region giving control to the amount of heat radiated whilst retaining a constant level of visible light transmission. The number of films in the multi layer stack are minimised to ensure that the SolarGain technology is cost competitive and large areas of film can be controlled from one source. The technology requires a small voltage to ‘switch’ the film and can be supplied as part of a window unit or retrofitted onto existing windows. Tim Beaver, Project Manager for the UK Materials Technology Research Institute, said: “SolarGain technology represents a step change in the energy efficiency capabilities of windows. This was only made possible by the unique combination of skills and technologies represented within the consortium. “We believe that this technology is likely to generate significant demand once launched and will go a long way in helping home owners and businesses reduce energy consumption.” The SolarGain technology is now undergoing optimisation ahead of being released to the market.

Turner & Townsend completes historic ‘Cathedral at Height’ The global programme management and construction consultancy Turner & Townsend, has a national team specialising in work in the heritage sector and has successfully delivered Chester Cathedral’s ‘Cathedral at Height’ project – the £1.3M development of the historic building to allow public access to Cathedral Tower for the first time. Working closely with Dean and Chapter, Cheshire West and Chester Council (the funder), Turner & Townsend has worked as Project and Cost Managers as well as bringing a highly experienced and specialist broader team since January 2013 in readiness for the public opening. Extensive and highly sensitive works have been undertaken to make safe and accessible the cathedral tower, tower roof, bell-ringing chamber and bell-frame chamber. The bell-ringing chamber has been transformed into an interactive exhibition space. The

top of the tower now features a new visitor walkway and interpretative panels. The medieval staircases have been repaired and stonemasons have worked in the elevated galleries. Senior Project Manager at Turner & Townsend, Emma Birkett, said: “We are proud to have been part of this major scheme to assist the Cathedral with its new business model and to help reinvigorate Chester city centre as part of the “One City Plan”. A challenging project of real heritage significance, which had to be delivered to a tight programme and budget within a fully operational building. “We understood how important the right team approach was to the Dean and Chapter and chose individuals specifically suited to the project. We worked closely alongside the Cathedral staff in their offices so we could develop a much needed relationship based on trust and understanding.”

UKC COMMENT

A Rag and Bone Economy: What the modern Waste Industry can learn from the original community recyclers Emma Elston, founder of UK Container Maintenance (UKCM) and 2012 UK Businesswoman of the Year ‘Any old iron? Any old iron?’ – For those that remember those evocative words, usually delivered at ear-piercing volume, I’m sure they recall nostalgic memories of the approaching clunk of an old trolley or if you’re a little more mature, the clip-clop of horse’s hooves. Although the days of the Rag and Bone Man have long-gone, pressure mounts on the waste industry to transform its Corporate Social Responsibility policy to meet growing Government targets and decreasing budgets, I believe it is time to look back at the original community recyclers for cost-effective inspiration. As the co-founder of a company dedicated to the refurbishment, reuse and component recycling of waste containers, I truly believe that the quest for the ‘circular economy’ is an ambitious target, but not one to be met with so many raised eyebrows from company bosses. With control and reduction of waste being the fundamental aspect of our industry, I believe its decision makers are perfectly placed to lead the way towards meeting tough Government targets. The solution is a circular economy – one which captures materials so that today’s stock is remanufactured or reused to become tomorrow’s stock, rather than landfill waste. The key to this in the waste industry is to understand how circular business models can be developed in a way that retains companies’ profitability. When applied to waste containers, the answer is to unlock the capital tied up in damaged units by Emma Elston

restoring them and reselling them. A great example of the vast array of uses for old containers is at global giant Google, where off-shore server ‘data centres’ were built out of reused and refurbished shipping containers. Closer to home, skincare brand Nivea converted a formerly derelict container into, of all things, a swimming pool as part of its summer ‘Skip Dip’ product campaign earlier this year. Possibilities, such as these, which echo the old ‘Rag and Bone Man’ logic of sustainable communities recycling are endless. UK Container Maintenance is extremely passionate about continually tracking and examining new ways to reduce its carbon footprint and, as part of our continuous review of systems to support this we use a highly reputable environmental consultancy to monitor our own outputs and also those of our supply chain. After all, there is a little point in championing the benefits of being an economically astute and aware business if the channel of distribution and support do not echo the same business aims and aspirations. All UK organisations should be looking to check the sustainability of its supply chains in this way. By demonstrating your business’ economic credibility and commitment to further sustainability whilst enhancing your reputation, makes you a much more attractive option for potential customers and stakeholders. In support of UKCM’s Corporate Social Responsibility Policy, we have worked with a number of Local Authorities across the

UK to convert redundant 40 year old bottle banks into community recycling units. These innovative ideas were the result of finding yards full of disused containers that were falling into serious disrepair. Restored to full working order, we’re proud to say that these containers are now being used as public recycling units for unwanted electrical goods up and down the country, reducing local authorities’ carbon footprint and diverting more waste from landfill, including the bin itself. Due to the ever-growing demand for recycling and refurbishment of containers, we have helped Local Authorities make a significant change to their wastage and we now refurbish over 80,000 waste containers per annum, saving LAs over £50M in the last five years. I believe the key to success comes in changing attitudes across the industry and in spreading the realisation that restoration is far cheaper than buying new in addition to being far simpler and rewarding; not only in terms of your Corporate Social Responsibility but on a personal pride level. There is much more work to do but, as an industry, responsible for handling what others throw away, it is our prerogative and, I believe, responsibility to that ensure waste goes to the most costeffective place, which in this modern age, is either a new home or reuse. For more information on UK Container Maintenance visit www.ukcontainers.co.uk.

velux.co.uk/modularskylights

UKC NEWS

Burlington Stone carves new market in affordable landscaping solutions Burlington Stone, a family owned company operating for more than 170 years, is carving out a new market for its prehistoric stone quarried in the Lake District. The Cumbria based company, which traditionally produces natural stone for bespoke projects, is now channelling its centuries of craftsmanship to appeal to a broader market by selecting a range of materials to be made available as pre-packaged landscaping products. Nick Williams, the Company’s Commercial Director, said: “Burlington Stone is synonymous with British heritage, with all of our traditional prehistoric stone having been extracted from Lake District quarries

since 1843, and the quality is assured. “For almost two centuries, Burlington has been the stone of choice for bespoke and distinctive landscapes, crafted using a mix of time honoured techniques and cutting edge technology. We are extremely excited to be extending our offer into landscaping products and introducing the traditional Burlington standard of natural stone to a new audience.” Formed deep within the Cumbrian Fells, Burlington Stone is a British material, shaped by the British landscape and by British specialists. With the new pre-produced range, customers can access short lead times

along with the service levels expected from an established and quality accredited British company, making them an accessible option for customers selecting landscaping materials for their projects. The dimensional paving and decorative aggregates are available in a range of textures and finishes, including Cumbrian Black, Westmorland Green and Baycliff Limestone. In addition to the pre-packaged range, Burlington Stone continues to provide a bespoke landscaping solution that is available on request for customers interested in a unique finish to their outdoor aesthetics.

Saint-Gobain celebrates new charity partnership Saint-Gobain has recently marked its new charity partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and the Irish Cancer Society. The world leader in the habitat and construction markets held a Charity Partnership Celebration Week to officially launch the fundraising collaboration. Saint-Gobain employees in the UK and Ireland came together to take part in the Celebration Week after fundraising for their new charity partners, Macmillan Cancer Support and the Irish Cancer Society. A whole host of fundraising activities were held at Saint-Gobain’s sites around the UK and Ireland to help support people affected by cancer. Auctions, bake sales, raffles, competitions, fancy dress days and much more took place throughout the week in a bid to raise as much money for the charities as possible. Saint-Gobain Building Distribution businesses in the UK and Ireland developed the ‘together’ partnership in 2002. It has since raised £2.3M for a number of charities including The British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research and Barnardos. Richard Halderthay, Director of Communications for the UK, Ireland & South Africa, said: “This is exactly why the ‘together’ programme was established – to bring people together for a good cause. The Celebration Week has been a great opportunity to work together in a fun and exciting way in order to raise money for our charities – so much so that we are still counting up the money raised during the week! We’re excited to continue our work with Macmillan Cancer Support and the Irish Cancer Society to bring awareness to our suppliers, customers and staff about the vital work they do.” Macmillan nurses offer much-needed advice, information and support to people with cancer. The Irish Cancer Society; fund research; advocate for cancer patients; and provide information, support and care for those with, and affected by, cancer. Macmillan Cancer Support, The Irish Cancer Society and Saint-Gobain are working together over the next two years following an employee vote for their chosen charity partner.

New e14M metro station completed in Amsterdam London and Rotterdam based architecture firm, Maccreanor Lavington has completed a major new metro station in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The new 550sq m station and 1,880sq m platform in the neighbourhood of Bijlmermeer started on site in 2010 and sits on the site of the original station, built in 1970. The metro station features a ground level entrance with new escalators to take passengers up to the platforms; a major improvement for citizens as the old station only had stairs. The ground level entrance provides the main focal point of the station with an elegant stainless steel facade with a floral design. The laser cut design allows plenty of natural light to flow through the entrance, helping the passenger journey to seamlessly flow from the external surroundings into the station.

At night time the design allows the station to be a lantern for the local neighbourhood, creating a sense of warmth on street level and creating an instantly recognisable feature for the station. The Architects’ chose stainless steel for the external facade due to its durability and low maintenance enabling the station not to need constant upkeep. Since the beginning of the late 1990s the area has seen massive investment transforming it from its previous negative public opinion and now making it a thriving suburb of Amsterdam. Now completed, the station will be in use by over 100,000 residents in Bijlmermeer – a vast increase on the number of users from when the station first opened – and completes one of the biggest urban regeneration projects in Europe in recent history.

Hot and bothered about your data centre cooling? RMD Power & Cooling is a leading specialist in integrated data centre solutions. With over two decades of experience, RMD can manage every step of the data centre design and build process – from initial survey to handover and ongoing maintenance. Data centre cooling has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and the latest technologies can make a significant difference to the energy efficiency of your facility. If your business is struggling to meet its green targets and reduce its running costs, reviewing your cooling approach is one area of improvement guaranteed to deliver a fast return on investment. Computer room air conditioning (CRAC) systems are no longer the ‘one size fits all’ answer to keeping your IT equipment at a safe temperature. The unsustainably high energy usage of traditional CRAC units has led to innovation in cooling technology and alternative approaches are becoming more and more popular. So, what are the options? “Cooling all of the air in an entire data centre in order to maintain the temperature of a small volume of IT equipment is

wasteful,” says Gavin Maxwell, managing director of RMD Power and Cooling, a data centre specialist. “So the first option for data centre managers to consider is to introduce precision cooling. This approach will provide cooling where cooling is needed and can cut back on the cost of cooling immediately.” Alternatively, those who are assessing their overall infrastructure could consider moving to a containerised data centre solution. “Prefabricated data centres with integral cooling can be an incredibly cost effective option, particularly for businesses where there is limited office or floor space. The units can be housed externally, in a car park for example, and are fully portable, removing the issues of rebuilding IT infrastructure when a business changes premises.”

Free air cooling is another option in countries like the UK with a cooler climate. Since the outside temperature will rarely go above the temperature needed to cool IT equipment, external air can be used to cool your data centre with limited energy costs. “Demand is growing for free cooling systems because they use 90% less energy than a standard chiller systems,” explained Maxwell. “Server cooling accounts for 1% of the world’s energy usage but technologies like these can go a long way to improving efficiency and cutting the environmental impact of IT.” To find out more about how RMD can help your business to cut the cost of cooling, email sales@rmduk.com, call on 01259 219362 or visit www.rmduk.com

Online bathroom retailer BathandShower.com have introduced a new TRADE ACCOUNT scheme to attract trade professionals to their website. The company brings a complete range of bathroom product solutions at very competitive prices. With over 30 years of bathroom industry experience, their in-house team carefully selects each product range ensuring its suitability to meet the requirements of home owners, installers and specifiers. As buying trends have moved online, it is crucial that Trade professionals are given the necessary assurance and support needed. BathandShower.com have their own in-house after sales and spare parts service whereby customers have access to problem solving staff who are on hand to provide technical answers or assist with queries should they arise. The retailer takes customer support very seriously with an ethos of being a company easy to do business with and, as a result, has gained excellent customer reviews and ratings via independent review site Trustpilot. If you are a trade professional who regularly installs bathroom products in any application, why not sign up for a TRADE ACCOUNT. There are numerous benefits which include VAT FREE SHOPPING at point of purchase as well as an Exclusive EXTRA 10% DISCOUNT along with many other benefits. To apply for a Trade Account go to www.bathandshower.com/trade or contact the company on 0845 805 5048

UKC NEWS

Styles&Wood completes £710,000 Manchester office refurbishment Integrated property services and project delivery specialist Styles&Wood has completed a £710,000 office refurbishment for energy distribution company, Electricity North West in Manchester city centre. The redesign and upgrade programme was carried out across two floors at Linley House on Dickinson Street, totalling 1,550sq m of office space. Styles&Wood created an open plan, contemporary area and improved the Company’s energy efficiency with the installation of an

upgraded heating and ventilation system. In order to minimise disruption to staff working in the offices, Styles&Wood refurbished each floor in sequence and out-of-office hours. This included working closely with Electricity North West staff to coordinate access and construction schedules and ensure around the clock safety access when required. Paul Lonsdale, Operations Director at Styles&Wood, said: “Delivered over two months, this project was completed to a

high quality finish, while overcoming tight timescales and on-site challenges, including the identification and removal of asbestos. “Our specialist team’s expertise in delivering projects around live working environments ensured the new decor, flooring and lighting were all installed to the best possible standard for the client, and the design and build of new meeting rooms and a staff kitchenette was completed on time and to budget.”

Portakabin delivers interim sixth form centre in just six weeks Portakabin, the UK’s leading modular building specialist, has delivered an interim sixth form centre in just six weeks at a school in Cheshire after structural defects to an existing building meant alternative accommodation was urgently required. Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School needed high quality facilities to be fitted out over the school holidays and ready to use for 220 students by the start of the new term. The sixth form centre had to be completed in less than two months and this meant that the speed of the Portakabin hire solution was critical to ensure there was no disruption to teaching. Portakabin configured 15 steel-framed modules to meet the school’s exact requirements, which were installed to form three single-storey buildings. A spacious, open-plan sixth form study centre was constructed featuring a full height glazed wall across the front elevation creating a bright and inspirational education environment. Two large double classroom buildings were sited adjacent to the study centre and the facilities include two multipurpose classrooms and toilets, an art room, and cafe. A climate control system was also installed in each

building to ensure a comfortable working environment for the staff and students. Portakabin provided a dedicated project manager for the scheme, and undertook all planning permissions, services and fitting out for the school. Site constraints meant that careful preparation was required in order to protect a shallow soak-away drain when the buildings were delivered. Despite the challenges, the project was delivered on time, on budget and to a tight timescale, providing the school with teaching and study facilities

of the highest standard for use until the permanent building is repaired. Commenting on the project, Tony Halsall, Director of Business Services at the school, said: “This project was a genuine collaborative effort. Portakabin pulled out all the stops to get the buildings delivered and installed on schedule – they handled all planning and building control applications, ensuring everything was approved quickly. The teachers and students absolutely love the accommodation and would be happy to keep the buildings permanently!”

Endless Stair becomes Scale Infinite Endless Stair, an intriguing structure of Escher-like interlocking staircases made from American tulipwood cross-laminated timber has been reconfigured and is a feature at Interni Magazine’s ‘Feeding New Ideas for the City’ exhibition at the Università degli Studi in Milan. Designed by de Rijke Marsh Morgan Architects, engineered by Arup, and built by Imola Legno and Nüssli, Endless Stair was conceived as a three-dimensional exercise in modular timber construction, offering the potential for reconfiguration and adaptation to different contexts. The Ca’ Granda building, one of the main venues in the FuoriSalone event, is the new setting for Scale Infinite – the latest iteration in the life of Endless Stair. The structure was originally designed for and facilitated in partnership with the London Design Festival. As their Landmark Project for 2013, Endless Stair was installed in front of one of the UK’s most popular cultural destinations, Tate Modern, during last September’s Festival. Maintaining the initial influence of Escher, Scale Infinite is a further play on perspective. Six interlocking flights of steps have been joined together to create a visually arresting form offering a compositional contrast to the classical uniformity of the surrounding Renaissance building. Scale Infinite is not just an exciting wood sculpture however; it is also part of a unique research project that is advancing the knowledge of timber construction and sustainability. This project is the first ever use of hardwood for crosslaminated timber, which is usually made from softwood. American tulipwood is an abundant and relatively inexpensive American hardwood. Crucially for this project, it is incredibly strong and stiff for its weight. Testing carried out in Italy has shown that tulipwood is up to three times stronger in rolling shear than typical construction softwood, such as spruce. Working from first principles, through testing, research and analysis to design this prototype, the project team envisage Endless Stair will bring many lasting benefits. The ultimate aspiration is that this cross-laminated hardwood is eventually brought into mainstream building construction.

Crossrail tunnelling marathon three quarters complete Crossrail’s train tunnels are three quarters complete following the breakthrough of Victoria, one of the project’s huge boring machines, into Whitechapel station. The 150m long machine is named after Queen Victoria and began her journey at Limmo Peninsula in east London at the end of 2012. She broke into the huge underground space at Whitechapel where work is taking place 35m below the surface to create over a kilometre of new platform and passenger tunnels for the new Crossrail station. During the second half of 2014, whilst tunnelling will continue, the project’s focus will begin to shift to the substantial job of fitting out the stations and tunnels. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “With three quarters of tunnelling complete, we’re tantalisingly close to finishing what is without doubt a monumental feat of engineering. It’s quite remarkable what the Crossrail team has achieved so far and we now look forward to the next exciting stage of the project - the fitting out of the

Crossrail stations of the future.” Rail Minister Stephen Hammond said: “Crossrail is set to transform rail travel across the South East when it opens in 2018, improving journeys for thousands of passengers and securing long-term economic benefits across the region and beyond. This is a major milestone in the Crossrail project, and I am delighted with the progress that is being made.” Crossrail Chief Executive Andrew Wolstenholme said: “Our tunnelling marathon deep beneath the streets of the capital is continuing apace with the construction of the new rail tunnels now three quarters complete. Over the past two years, our huge machines have built more than 19 miles of tunnels and removed more than two million tonnes of earth.” When Crossrail opens in 2018, it will increase London’s rail-based transport network capacity by ten per cent and dramatically cut journey times across the city, bringing an extra 1.5 million people to within 45 minutes of central London.

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UKC COMMENT

NHBC Technical Helpline Paul Cribbens, NHBC’s Standards Manager, explains the role of the organisation’s Technical Helpline as the house-building sector continues its recovery. NHBC’s Technical Helpline was established many years ago with a view to providing expert technical advice to all parts of the house building industry. Receiving a vast amount of varied technical enquiries every day from builders, inspectors, surveyors, architects, engineers, manufacturers and homeowners, the Technical Helpline has a crucial role in providing consistent technical advice in supporting NHBC’s technical Standards, which is becoming extremely important as new home production ramps up following a number of difficult years for the industry. With NHBC registration levels for new homes in the UK the highest since before the economic downturn, builders now face the challenge of meeting the demand to build the increasing number of new houses required. As a result, one of the trending queries over recent months has been from builders enquiring about the substitution of materials from those originally intended, often due to material shortages within

the supply chain. It is vitally important that we provide accurate consistent information on the appropriate use of materials based on the latest NHBC Technical Standards and a raft of other authoritative technical guidance. The surge in registrations, followed by starts, during 2013 saw many builders pressing ahead with building work by sourcing alternative materials, products and systems. Contact with the Technical Helpline, usually by phone or e-mail, can confirm that such alternatives are acceptable, or if not at the very least offer constructive guidance on the next steps. Another common query has been in relation to NHBC’s requirements for windows, particularly in respect of what manufacturing standards they should be assessed against. Again, in these instances we are able to reinforce and expand on the details set out in the appropriate Chapter in the NHBC Standards, where appropriate information can be found. In many cases, where particular issues

have been highlighted on a recurring basis, we have been able to focus in on this – whether it’s pitched roofs or external masonry walls – and produce guidance on specific problem areas that have been identified. In this sense it acts as a good sounding board for the industry where we can identify any trending potentially problematic issues and subsequently highlight these and provide the most suitable advice. It also allows us to have direct communication with the industry on a range of issues, which has helped us to identify a number of key areas over recent years and act before problems occur. If you have any technical queries in respect of house building construction please call NHBC on 01908 747388 or e-mail technical@nhbc.co.uk

Paul Cribbens

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UKC COMMENT

Time to cut the cord

Michael Gordon, Turley

The Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland was published in draft on 4th February for 12 weeks of consultation. Trailed as the most significant development in planning policy for a generation, and a cornerstone of the post RPA planning system after 1st April 2015, reaction has been mixed and the Minister is sure to have a significant inbox on foot of the Department’s first ever digital consultation. We have been listening and thinking.

What we’ve heard

Councillors and senior Council officers observed that there isn’t much time after the elections in May to get ready for this and were interested in the 40 months target to prepare a plan at the first attempt. Housebuilders and housing associations wanted to know when the developer contributions policy is coming out and wanted more recognition of the wider role of housing in economic and community development. Renewable energy companies noticed that the support for windfarms seems to be less emphatic than before. Retailers and agents could see the town centre first policy but asked about existing out of centre centres. Does the policy allow them to renew and regenerate themselves? Bankers and asset managers wondered whether the changes will really speed things up and what checks and balances there will be in the new system? Businesses thought there wasn’t enough priority attached to the economic importance of their projects.

Conference feedback

The conference scene has also been interesting. Worldly planning professionals have observed that the SPPS over promises and under delivers - it promised to replace all the existing PPSs but in draft it replaces none, and in final form it replaces only two. The PPS series will still exist in maybe five or six years until all the Council plans are finalised. There was a view expressed that if it just summarises

existing policy why do we need it at all? So a few interesting points of view which go well beyond the scope of the draft SPPS and into the wider Planning Reform agenda. What is clear is that the publication of the draft, and maybe the fact that it is just over a year now to D-Day, is starting to focus minds. Last year there was a sense that no one had any time for this. Now it feels like it’s just around the corner. Things are picking up again economically so maybe some people who engage with the planning world have a little bit more space and time to lift their heads.

Turley perspective

I was also keen to get a view from the wider Turley family. Big themes coming back were that the draft SPPS is less assertive than its English, Scottish and Welsh equivalents in setting out a positive presumption that sustainable developments should be approved unless there are good reasons to the contrary. This is an interesting perspective given the priority attached to economic growth in the PfG and the need to create the best possible conditions to attract mobile investment on the global stage. Setting out a clear, positive purpose for planning is a step in the right direction but let’s build on it by weaving the presumption in favour of sustainable development through the document as a golden thread. I mentioned the suggestion that it isn’t strategic enough and doesn’t add anything so we might as well retain the status quo. I don’t agree with that view. I think we need to make a virtue out of what others consider to be a vice. If the criticism is that it mainly restates existing policy, we should use that logic to its advantage and simplify the transition arrangements which are currently quite messy. If the vision for the future planning system is clarity, let’s cancel the PPS series when the SPPS is published in final form so the policy framework for the new planning authorities is straightforward. Yes, there are aspects of tone and transposition that might

be improved upon, but as far as I can see there hasn’t been a groundswell of opposition to the content. Anyway, there is no time to spare ahead of 1st April 2015 so there is no way we can go back to the drawing board and get much more strategic. So let’s accept the draft SPPS for what it is – a consolidation of existing policy - have another look to make sure it covers everything we need it to, take a deep breath and cut the cord with the old regime. Michael Gordon is a Director in the Belfast office of Turley Associates. He can be reached be email mgordon@turleyassociates.co.uk. For further information visit www.turleyassociates.co.uk.

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Putting the EU Cat amongst the UK Pigeons From time to time, there is a public outcry when our friends in Brussels pass laws which we as a member state are forced to follow, requiring us to change our existing domestic legislation. I am not interested in debating the rights or wrongs of this principle. That is a matter for our bright people in Westminster and Brussels - human beings far more intelligent than I. I would, however like to look at one piece of EU-sponsored change to UK legislation which is threatening to send shock waves through our business community as people become aware of its ramifications. What I am referring to is the recovery of statutory interest and fixed sums by way of “compensation” where businesses (including public authorities) fail to pay their debts on time. On 16 March 2013 The Late Payment of Commercial Debt Regulations 2013 came into force for contracts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Equivalent legislation was also enacted by our brothers in Scotland. The new legislation introduced changes to our domestic laws in order to comply with “European Directive 2011/7/EU on combatting late payment in commercial transactions”. I am not going to attempt to cure the condition of insomnia by giving you a line-by-line analysis of the new legislation but I do want to start with a principle of law which states that, unless a statute (act of parliament) says that you may opt out of its provisions, it is not possible for you to exclude the impact of a statute from any contract you are minded to enter. This Act is not one of the type where you can opt out of its provisions. You have to comply with the legislation and that is that. Here is some more basic law. Prior to 16 March 2013, if a commercial contract failed to provide an adequate remedy in the case of late payment, a creditor was entitled to charge interest at a rate of 8% per annum above the base rate of the Bank of England. In addition to charging interest, a fixed sum was also chargeable by a creditor as compensation as follows: For debts up £1,000 - fixed compensation of £40

For debts of more than £1,000 but less than £10,000 fixed compensation of £70 For debts in excess of £10,000 - fixed compensation of £100. It is in the area of compensation that we have now had a sea change. Under the new legislation for contracts entered into after 16 March 2013, the fixed sums of compensation are still payable but crucially the following new provision appears in the new legislation: “If the reasonable costs of the supplier in recovering the debt are not met by the fixed sum, the supplier shall also be entitled to a sum equivalent to the difference between the fixed sum and those costs” It does not take a rocket scientist to work out that the original fixed sums were woefully inadequate to cover the legal costs, court fees and so on that would be incurred by a creditor in pursuing a reluctant payer. So we now have statutory confirmation that the costs incurred in pursuing and collecting an unpaid debt, even if the debt is disputed, are payable by the debtor. So how is that going to affect business? Well the impact on different businesses in different sectors is going to vary but take construction as an example. Until now, it was settled law that a party to a construction contract, who had to adjudicate in order to obtain a decision that payment of a disputed debt was due and payable, would have to meet its own costs in the adjudication unless both parties conferred power on the adjudicator to deal with the recovery of inter-party costs. A referring party to an adjudication could have claimed statutory interest and the fixed compensation limits set out above and, if the adjudicator was so minded, decide that interest and one of the fixed sums was payable by the responding party. That was the limit of the adjudicator’s powers. This has now all changed. Referring parties claiming an entitlement to statutory interest under The Late Payment of Commercial Debt Regulations 2013 or The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Scotland) Regulations

2013 are now routinely requesting adjudicators to decide that responding parties should pay the referring party’s costs in the adjudication. But does this mean that a responding party defending action in an adjudication can also recover its costs from the referring party if it is successful in its defence? Well, unless there has been agreement to this effect under the contract, the answer under the statute is still ‘no’. But I promise you that this conundrum has adjudicators scratching their heads up and down the country because, at first glance, it appears to be one-sided and unfair. I am sure that when the drafters of the above legislation set out to comply with the European Directive they did so without seeing the consequences we are now having to live with. The cat has now been set amongst the pigeons and we will have to wait and see how the courts of England and Wales and Scotland will deal with the consequences in due course. Peter Vinden is Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership. He can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk. For similar articles on construction, corporate protection and dispute resolution generally, visit www.vinden.co.uk

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

UKC COMMENT

Thomas Eggar The long arm of the law – how far does the Construction Act reach We are all now familiar with the idea that the Construction Act applies to construction contracts. Occasionally cases come along which make us think about what constitutes a construction contract. The Act has some detailed provisions to guide us. First, the contract must be for construction operations. Section 105(1) tells us what they are. There are then a number of exceptions which are taken outside the scope of the Act. The exceptions are identified in section 105(2). The exceptions are a hotch-potch of areas where, for one reason or another, Parliament was persuaded the Act was not needed. How all this works and the difficulties it creates were explored in the recent case of Laker Vent Engineering Ltd in which the court considered whether the exception relating to sites where the primary activity is (or will be) power generation applied.

Background

Under a sub-contract Laker agreed to supply, fabricate and install pipe-work at a combined heat and power plant in Fife. They were engaged by Jacobs who, in turn, were engaged under a main contract by RWE Npower Renewables (Markinch) Limited. The works were to be carried out on land leased to RWE by a firm called Tullis Russell. That land formed part of a larger site owned by Tullis Russell. The remainder of the land was home to Tullis Russell’s paper mill. RWE’s power plant was to generate power and steam. Some of the output would be used by the paper mill but the majority of the steam would be used for power generation and the majority of the power would be supplied to the grid. There were three simultaneous adjudications which resulted in awards in favour of Laker. Jacobs objected to the adjudicator’s jurisdiction and, when Laker sought enforcement of the decisions, those objections were raised. Because the sub-contract did not contain any provision for adjudication and the only

way adjudication would apply would be if the sub-contract was a construction contract and the Construction Act applied. One of the exceptions in section 105(2) of the act is assembly, installation or demolition of plant or machinery, or erection or demolition of steelwork for the purposes of supporting or providing access to plant or machinery, on a site where the primary activity is power generation. This begged the question ‘what is the site?’ If it was the land leased to RWE, both parties agreed that the primary activity on that site was power generation. If it was the wider site including the paper mill, the parties were agreed that the primary activity was production of paper. Jacobs contended that the site was limited to the land leased to RWE to construct and operate the plant and the primary activity was power generation. Laker claimed that it was the whole area including land leased to RWE and the whole paper mill complex and the primary activity was paper production.

Decision

For the following reasons the judge decided that the site was the whole of the wider area: although the power plant was constructed on a part leased to RWE, the freehold of the whole area was owned by Tullis Russell and at the end of the lease the land would revert to Tullis Russell; the purpose of the plant was to replace an old one and to provide electricity and steam to serve the whole site (albeit that it would generate excess power for supply to the grid); the leased area occupied ten per cent of the whole site and it was described as a part of Tullis Russell paper mill; the definition of “site” depends on the location of the plant and although selling electricity to the national grid was an important consequence of constructing the plant, it was not the main reason for locating it where it was; the plant was located where it was because it was to provide power

and steam for the Tullis Russell mill; on examination the lease showed that the plant had a limited life and it was not an independent power station.

Conclusion

The exceptions in section 105(2) of the Act continue to present difficulty when they rear their head. The cases show that the courts will not be too ready to find that the exceptions apply and, as in this case, will carry out a broad review of all relevant circumstances. These issues pose particular problems for contract draftsmen when considering whether their contracts must be made Act compliant. Although not addressed in detail in this case, it is suggested that contractual definition of the site is unlikely to carry much weight for these purposes. Kasia Dickson, Legal Assistant, Thomas Eggar LLP Kasia Dickson

COMMENT UKC

Set-Off Against Adjudicators’ Decisions By Peter Sheridan

Where the parties’ contract is not a construction contract (as defined in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (the HGCR Act)), normal rules of law on set-off apply. Sums may normally be set off against an amount due pursuant to an adjudicator’s decision in the same way and to the same extent as sums may be set off against any other amount due pursuant to a contractual term: see Parsons Plastics (Research and Development) Ltd v Purac Ltd (2002) (CA). Of course, this principle depends on the terms of the contract; there may be express terms which expand or limit the equitable and common law rights of set-off which, other things being equal, will apply. In addition, it will not normally be possible to set off a sum against an adjudicator’s decision where the set-off claim was one of the issues decided by the adjudicator. In the more usual situation where the parties’ contract is one to which the HGCR Act does apply, the general rule is that an adjudicator’s decision is to be enforced without set-off. The statutory backing of the HGCR Act gives primacy to the adjudicator’s decision even where there are other contractual provisions which might otherwise indicate the contrary. For example, a provision such as the standard JCT provision for no further payment on determination of the employment of the contractor is “trumped” by a claim by a contractor for an amount pursuant to an adjudicator’s decision: see the Court of Appeal decision in Levolux. An exception to the general rule, established in cases concerning contractors’ claims for extension of time, applies where it follows logically from an adjudicator’s decision that a sum is also due to the party who is required by the adjudicator’s decision to make payment to the claimant. If the claimant in an adjudication has succeeded in a claim for an extension of time, but not for the full period of the actual delay, it may follow logically

from the adjudicator’s decision that the defendant is entitled to liquidated damages in respect of the balance of the delay. In that event, the defendant is entitled to set off the liquidated damages against the sum due pursuant to the adjudicator’s decision: see eg: David McLean Housing Contractors Ltd v Swansea Housing Association Ltd [2002] B.L.R. 1251. This situation will arise where the adjudicator has considered all the claimant’s claims for extension of time and all matters that could give rise to extension of time for the full period of the delay, and there are no other reasons preventing liquidated damages from being due. That will not always be the case and it will not always follow logically, from an adjudicator’s decision that a claimant is entitled to an extension of time for part only of an overall period of delay, that the other party is entitled to liquidated damages. For example, in Balfour Beatty v Serco (2004), Jackson J (as he then was) held that the adjudicator had granted an interim extension of time, leaving open the question what further extension of time might be due. As further extension of time, beyond that which the adjudicator was asked to decide on might be due, it did not follow from his decision that liquidated damages were applicable to the balance of delay. See also the R J Knapman case and Avoncroft v Sharba Homes for other examples where it did not follow logically from the adjudicator’s decision that liquidated damages were due. Shimizu Europe Ltd v LBJ Fabrications Ltd (2003) provides an example of a second narrow exception to the general rule. An adjudicator decided that Shimizu was to pay a sum of money to its sub-contractor, LBJ, without set-off. The adjudicator assessed the sum due to LBJ and also decided on Shimizu’s set-off that was put before him. The adjudicator further decided that Shimizu was to pay LBJ not later than 28 days after the provision by LBJ of a VAT invoice (ie. the sum was

due in the future). Judge Kirkham held that the adjudicator’s decision as to the correct amount of interim payment was “plugged into” the contractual payment mechanism. Shimizu was entitled to give a pay less notice (as it would now be known) and withhold sums it had become entitled to after the adjudication (and which were not the set-off matters considered by the adjudicator), just as it could in respect of any other sum due under the contractual payment mechanism. For more information, contact Peter Sheridan Partner at Sheridan Gold LLP T: 01737 735088 E: psheridan@sheridangold.co.uk www.sheridangold.co.uk

Peter Sheridan

UKC CIVIL

World’s largest wind farm blows into action London Array London Array’s first full winter of generation saw the offshore wind farm making a valuable contribution to Kent and the UK’s renewable electricity needs. In the six months from October 2013 to the end of March 2014, the wind farm’s 175 turbines produced 1.5 Twh of clean power – equivalent to the annual consumption of around 325,000 British households. The good performance was helped by December and January’s unusually windy weather with high availability meaning the turbines were able to capitalise on the near perfect conditions. On 6th January alone, some 15 GWh was produced, and the strong performance looks set to continue with London Array reaching peak output of 630.9MW – exceeding installed capacity – on 7th April.

London Array’s General Manager Mike O’Hare said: “This excellent performance is a testament to the quality of installed components, the well managed construction project, the smooth handover to operations, the support we’ve had from local stakeholders and our service providers who work to keep the turbines turning. “As well as excellent production figures, I am delighted the safety culture we developed during construction has been maintained and that there were no major injuries to our people working on site. “Our priority now is to build upon this promising start to safely and efficiently complete our routine maintenance and balance of construction work over summer, while further improving reliability and repair times.”

This has been the result of great commitment to produce the wind farm. Full capacity was reached on the 630MW wind farm last year, with commissioning of the 175th and final turbine taking place in April 2013. With all turbines now exporting power to the national grid, London Array is expected to produce enough green electricity to power nearly half a million homes a year. When the commissioning of the final turbine was announced, Project Director Richard Rigg said: “This is the final major milestone of the construction phase and the culmination of more than two years’ offshore construction work which began in March 2011 with the installation of the first foundation.” Turbine installation began in January

2012 and has been completed by MPI Discovery, A2SEA’s Sea Worker and Sea Jack. Turbine installation was completed in December 2012, and since then the project focused on fully commissioning and putting into operation all 175 of the 3.6MW Siemens turbines. With all turbines in place and 55 connected and supplying power to the national grid, the wind farm became fully operational last year. The wind farm itself has been generating energy since October 2012 when the first turbine began producing power. The installation of the last turbine at London Array was the culmination of a huge amount of effort and coordination by everyone involved in the project. 2012 saw 84 foundations, 175 wind turbines, 178 array cables and three export cables installed at the project. London Array then focused on commissioning and testing the turbines, before the project was handed over to the Operations and Maintenance team. Benj Sykes, Head of DONG Energy’s UK Wind business, said: “Building London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, is a great achievement. “As we now look to our pipeline of future projects, DONG Energy is determined to drive down the costs of our offshore wind farms to e100 per megawatt hour for projects we’ll be sanctioning in 2020. “What we have learnt at London Array, together with our continuing focus on innovation in technologies and techniques, will help us achieve that.” DONG Energy is one of the leading offshore wind farm developers in the world, with more than 20 years’ experience in the wind power industry and has built every third wind farm in Europe. On the day it was announced that the final turbine had been installed, Tony Cocker, Chief Executive Officer of E.ON UK, said: “Today is another significant milestone for London Array and the UK as the installation of the final turbine brings us one step closer to the completion of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. “We are proud to mark this achievement and I pay tribute to all involved in the construction to date. I look forward to seeing London Array’s contribution to the UK’s low carbon energy mix for many years to come.” Mr Cocker continued: “London Array is a significant achievement in renewable energy. The world’s largest operational offshore wind farm will be capable of generating enough energy to power nearly half a million homes and reduce harmful CO2 emissions by over 900,000 tonnes a year. “It’s been a tough time for the team working on site. The recent bad weather and north easterly winds have whipped up the waves preventing access to the site so this milestone

is true reward for their hard work.” E.ON is one of the world’s leading power and gas companies. With annual sales of more than e82Bn and around 79,000 employees, it is one of the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON is active in onshore and offshore wind, concentrating solar power (CSP), solar PV and biomass and currently has over 4.2GW of renewable capacity in operation, which makes it a leading global renewable player. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, commented: “London Array is a testament to how collaboration, the right policies and a commitment to sustainability can advance the new energy industry. Masdar is a proud partner.” Masdar is Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions. The Company serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future. Backed by the Mubadala Development Company, the strategic investment company of the government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the Emirate’s long-term vision for the future of energy. London Array was built 20km off the coasts of Kent and Essex. The wind farm was installed on a 245sq km site, covering an area of 90sq km. Now completed, there will be annual maintenance on each turbine, and if there are any breakdowns of turbines, preventative work and regular checks will also be undertaken. London Array is the largest offshore wind farm in the world. On top of the sheer size and difficult marine environment, some of the turbine locations dry out at low tide, making access harder than normal. Fortunately, quality contractors and experienced owners are involved, so these challenges will be met. The EEW Special Pipe Constructions GmbH (EEW-SPC) has been vital to the scheme at London Array, which is one of the largest the Company has had in its history. Since 2008, its mill in Rostock has been engaged in the production of heavy steel pipes as well as the appropriate pipe components. The Company’s customers are mainly from the offshore wind industry sector. Thick-walled, longitudinally welded large pipes, with diameters of up to seven metres, lengths of up to 120 metres and up to 1,000 tonnepiece weights can be fabricated. The annual capacity is 144,000 tonnes per year. Considering the current order intake, EEW-SPC has participated in the installation of almost 1,000 WTGs as manufacturer of foundations. After a two-year production time, EEW-SPC finished the manufacturing of 177 monopiles for the offshore

wind farm in April 2012, using a total of 70,000 tonnes of steel. The wind farm was officially opened in July 2013 at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, alongside other dignitaries. Speaking at the launch event, David Cameron said: “This is a great day for Kent and a great day for Britain. London Array has been built by some of the bravest seamen, the most talented engineers and hardest workers. “It will bring benefits to Kent for years to come.” Construction began in July 2009 when work started to build a new onshore substation on the north Kent coast to flow the energy generated by London Array straight into the national grid. Offshore, the foundation was installed in March 2011, with the 175th and final Siemens 3.6MW turbine was installed on time in December 2012. More than 75 organisations have helped to build London Array, with over 6,700 individuals installed. A further phase was initially planned but the consortium behind London Array has announced it will not proceed. The decision follows a review by the consortium members of their respective portfolios, the technical challenges and the environmental uncertainties surrounding the site, which require a wait of at least three years until Phase II’s potential impact on birds could be completely assessed. London Array therefore formally requested The Crown Estate to terminate the agreement for lease of the Phase II area and has cancelled the remaining grid capacity it had reserved at the National Grid substation at Cleve Hill, Graveney, Kent. Mike O’Hare said: “Phase II has always been subject to a Grampian condition requiring London Array to demonstrate that any change caused by the additional turbines to the habitat of the Red Throated Divers that overwinter this part of the Thames Estuary would not compromise its status as a designated environmental Special Protection Area. “We believe it will take until at least January 2017 for that data to be collected and although initial findings from the existing Phase I still look positive, there is no guarantee at the end of three years that we will be able to satisfy the authorities that any impact on the birds would be acceptable.” The original consent for London Array was for a wind farm of up to 1,000MW, with 630MW in Phase I. Phase II had the potential to provide capacity for a further 370MW although known constraints on site resulted in plans for just 240MW being drawn up with an exception that the final capacity would be closer to 200MW.

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 utilises 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

UKC COMMENT

Smarter Printing for Construction

By Rob Brown, OKI business manager for managed document services The construction industry was one of the hardest hit by the economic recession as housing activity slumped and building projects were cancelled to save money. Recent months have seen a strong recovery but as construction businesses from architects to contractors and design and engineering firms begin to emerge from the downturn, many are uncertain what approach to take to printing. Construction companies have a consistent requirement for easy and accessible printing that is at the same time both dependable and, in line with the nature of their work of high graphical quality. Yet, with memories of the slump still fresh, many such firms remain reluctant to make large capital investments in new printing solutions. The issue is that instead they often just struggle on, wasting money through inefficient processes and diverse and ageing printers. Many construction companies would benefit from a third approach, which involves buying printing in a completely different way - as a service which grows and develops with their business. Managed print services is often the ideal solution in this kind of scenario. That is because instead of requiring them to make a large upfront investment in the latest technology, it enables them to buy printers, supplies, maintenance and support in one all-inclusive ongoing contract as operational rather than capital expenditure. And these are exactly the kinds of benefits that OKI is able to

deliver to construction sector businesses through its managed print services and associated managed page solutions An OKI managed print services implementation typically begins with audit of existing practices including output volumes and printing types. By gaining a transparent view across the print landscape, a construction sector business can see where budget is spent and where it is potentially being wasted. The results will be used to design a long-term print solution tailored to the needs of that individual organisation, helping ensure that the right printers are being used for the right job. This approach also establishes best practices such as setting double-sided and mono printing as default options to save costs and drive energy efficiencies. In addition, it means just one contract for all printing and documents needs, including printers, supplies, technical support and maintenance. This makes it easier to monitor on-going costs, reduce capital investment and control budgets. For hard-pressed construction businesses that need a more granular level of control, OKI offers a comprehensive managed page services approach. This involves OKI working with its customer to establish their print and document requirements; recommend the right printing device and delivering a tailored all-inclusive printing plan that covers all consumables and servicing, thereby improving productivity in the workplace. The right device

together with the right printing plan and the implementation of print policies will ensure the company concerned pays a flat monthly fee for what it prints, so it can control its costs with no hidden surprises. Of course, in implementing such an approach, it is also vital that vendors provide the right printing solutions that drive real added value for their clients across the construction sector. The new OKI C931 A3 colour printer is one such solution delivering the outstanding print quality that architects, design companies and other construction sector businesses need to print maps, plans and diagrams while pushing the boundaries of media flexibility. What makes the C931 such a good choice for design purposes is that it offers best in class, high definition print quality, achieved through OKI’s Multi-Level ProQ technology. This coupled with OKI’s unique single-pass LED technology delivers consistent high quality colour, with no compromise on speed and performance. What many businesses across the construction sector are looking for today is an approach that enables them to carefully manage and control their spending on printing while at the same time enabling them to unleash their creativity with outstanding print quality and superior media flexibility. And that is exactly what OKI’s services and solutions for the sector enable them to do. For further information about OKI’s products and services, please visit the OKI website, www.oki.co.uk. Rob Brown

ITS ALL IN THE

DETAILS Optional

www.cleverprinters.co.uk

OKI UK @OKIUK

/OKIUK

Print Smart. Print OKI

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. 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) implemented a business plan back in 2010, due to there being more than one billion journeys on the Underground – an ever increasing number. 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. In order to allow for this investment in the face of what was reduced funding, substantial new programmes of operational cost savings were developed. 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 lowenergy, 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%. The Northern line is the busiest and most complex on the network. As part of the upgrade project, a new control centre, computerised signalling and automatic train control system is being installed, using technology 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. On 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. 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. They will also be more accessible and, as with the new sub-surface line trains, passengers will be able to walk through them, extending capacity. 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 also be installed. A 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 with

a predicted increase from 150,000 to 200,000 passengers per day. 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 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. This project also prepares the station for Crossrail. 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. 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. 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 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. This upgrade will be completed by the end of next year.

CONGRATULATIONS To the London Underground on your 150th Anniversary

WF Senate is a UK leader in the distribution of electrical supplies and services; serving three main end markets: industrial, commercial and residential. WF Senate is part of the Rexel Group that operates in 38 countries, has a network of 2,400 branches and employs over 30,000 people. With over 135 logistics centres around the world, a powerful and reliable information system, supply chain solutions and over 50,000 product references Rexel strives to deliver the best customer experience. WF Senate is known as a specialist in electrical products, serving the electrical wholesale markets with over 100 branches throughout the UK, WF Senate distributes electrical products from leading manufacturers in all electrical areas including lighting, lamps, cables, wiring accessories, safety & security and ventilation. Our strong supplier relationships combined with a massive purchasing strength enable us to provide competitive prices and a comprehensive range of products, tailored to our customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s individual requirements. Furthermore, we are proud of our Own Brand ranges which include Sector- electrical products for the professional, Stratus - our exclusive range of lighting products and Citadel- the installerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first choice for fire, safety and security. We see every customer as an individual with different business needs; therefore we have developed a balanced strategy that aims to meet each customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s individual requirements.

UKC COMMUNITY

Gaskell House

Restoration of historic Manchester building The Manchester home of Elizabeth Gaskell, the Victorian novelist and short story writer, has been restored thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of ÂŁ1.85M. The house, which dates back to the 1830s, had stood empty for several years and was on English Heritageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s register of buildings at risk. It has been restored as a cultural space and museum, as well as a centre for the community after being in poor condition for a number of years. Work was required after the theft of lead, from the roof of the villa at 84 Plymouth Grove, made restoration urgent. Located close to the city centre in a largely residential/commercial area, work required some demolition, especially to the service wing in order to accommodate a new staircase and lift. On the upper ground floor, the house has an impressive entrance hall and staircase, lit by a central light surrounded by four large reception rooms. On the first floor, there are four former bedrooms and two former dressing rooms that will be used for temporary exhibitions and learning activities and in the basement there will be a tea room and associated kitchen, a space for community events and further public exhibition areas. Work on Phase I resulted in most of the external work getting completed

and it made the building water tight. Although little original furniture belonging to the Gaskells remained, the Gaskell society carried out extensive research into what the family owned, and filled the house with appropriate Victorian pieces and authentic wallpaper, as well as decorations. As well as being open to the public, the building will also be used for concerts, and will be available for corporate hospitality to pay for the running costs. The restoration has recreated the house to how it would have looked during the time when the Gaskells lived there. The period rooms have been preserved, with the exhibitions and interpretations detailing the society of the time. Learning spaces and education rooms have been recreated as part of the project, opening up Gaskell House to visitors of all ages to explore and enjoy. It was the home of Elizabeth Gaskell from 1860-65 and it was there that many of her most famous novels were written. Elizabeth lived at the house with her four daughters and husband, William, a Unitarian and important Manchester figure in his own right, who actively engaged in social and industrial working reform. Amongst the Gaskellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s circle who visited the house were Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte, whilst the conductor Charles Halle lived close by and taught

piano to one of the Gaskell daughters. The building is also of high significance for its architecture because it is a relatively rare surviving early Victorian suburban villa in Manchester and is symbolic of early 19th century social and urban development, reflecting the migration of middle class families from the city centre. Designed by Bernard Taylor Partnership, notable features of the project include ornate plasterwork, original joinery, mantelpieces and reused historic light fittings. Refurbishment has incorporated a lift and public toilets, including disabled toilets and there is also an access ramp to the exterior. The latest security features are part of the house, and landscaping involved the provision of a car park, new drive and the recreation of the 19th century plan and planting. Because it is a Grade II listed building, ensuring it provides the necessary facilities for the public to enjoy without compromising the original architecture is key, but is something that everybody involved with the project have succeeded with. The Main Contractor is Armitage Construction. Work started in April 2013 and was completed in April 2014.

Consulting Civil & Structural Engineers Michael Pooler Associates has over forty years’ experience in civil and structural engineering, working in partnership with individuals, local authorities, small businesses and multi-national companies, providing civil and structural engineering solutions across a wide range of building, construction and repair projects for domestic jobs to large industrial and commercial developments.

GASKELL HOUSE

Michael Pooler Associates oversaw the structural repair to the fabric of Gaskell House, a Grade II Listed Building owned by the Manchester Historic Buildings Trust. Our core activities include:Civil & Structural Engineering & Design • Building & Structural Surveying 24 Hour Structural Monitoring • Arbitration & Expert Witness Commercial, Industrial & Residential Conversions Our experienced engineers are skilled in dealing with projects in the following sectors:Residential - Commercial - Heritage & Conservation - Industrial - Retail - Leisure

Head Office: 310 Newchurch Road, Bacup, Lancs. OL13 0UJ Tel. (01706) 876195 Email. enquiries@m-p-a.co.uk www.m-p-a.co.uk

UKC PROFILE

Canal & River Trust

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

using specialist staff and contractors. The Trust’s specialist waterway teams carry out numerous lock gate replacements, bridge works and a whole variety of day-to-day maintenance. One of the latest investments has centred around four giant safety gates on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. The work, which was completed in April, saw new 12-tonne structures installed to replace the existing gates that were decades old. Two of the super-sized gates at Parkend were replaced right at the beginning of April, with another two replaced the week after at Purton. They form a series of gates along the canal that form a safety barrier in the event of a breach. In an emergency, the gates will close automatically to ensure any flood risk is controlled for Gloucester and the communities along the length of the canal to Sharpness. Unlike the large majority of the nation’s canals, the Gloucester & Sharpness does not have any locks, which typically provide this essential safety feature. At Parkend, divers helped secure the old gates to a crane so they could be winched out, before helping to fit each of the bespoke new gates as they are safely lowered into position in the canal. Nick Worthington, Canal & River Trust waterway manager, said: “These giant gates are really important to

make sure we can control the water in the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal in the event of an emergency.” Work started in March on an 18-month project to improve access to and from Birmingham’s waterways for thousands of cyclists, walkers and wheelchair users who visit the canal every day. Funded by the Department of Transport, Birmingham City Council and the Canal & River Trust, this £6M towpath upgrade forms part of the city-wide Birmingham Cycle Revolution project aimed at improving cycle ways and pathways across the city. The money will be used to improve approximately 15 miles of the canal towpaths in and around Britain’s ‘canal capital’, creating easy access to and from some of the nation’s most historic waterways. Work will take place along the Birmingham Main Line, Birmingham & Fazeley, and Grand Union canals. Councillor James McKay, Cabinet Member for a Green, Safe and Smart City at Birmingham City Council, said: “I am delighted work is getting underway on a cornerstone of our Birmingham Cycle Revolution plan. “The canals are a great place to go for an enjoyable ride – and once this work is complete, it will be easier than ever for people to use their bikes on towpaths in the city.”

Adsyst Automation Ltd Yateley Lodge 1 Reading Road Yateley, Hampshire GU46 7AA T: 01252 860 600 | sales@adsyst.co.uk

Adsyst Automation Ltd have been providing complex control system solutions to customers worldwide since 1988. We operate within a rapidly changing technical environment; offering competitive, innovative solutions involving industrial IT - hardware, networking, software and electrical control panels. Our key experience includes MEICA works for new installations and refurbishments, and also extends to include the support and maintenance of complex automated control systems and associated instrumentation. With expert engineers dedicated to telemetry RTU's, programmable logic controllers, local HMIs and SCADA we are able to assist in all aspects of process control from initial consultancy through detailed design to delivery, commissioning and training whilst taking the lead role as Principal Contractor when required. Our fully certified team also offer competent advice and delivery of wireless networks, fibre optic cabling, and configuration of new remote connectivity using broadband, ADSL and 3G technologies.

Adsyst Automation Ltd are proud to be a Framework partner of Canal & River Trust (the Trust). Since 2013 Adsyst have been contracted by the Trust to maintain the vast amount of electronic instrumentation and electrical control apparatus used to monitor and control water around the networks. The Trust rely on data provided by these installations via mobile telephone networks to a bespoke central SCADA system. Adsyst Automation operate in partnership with the Trust and provide routine maintenance of all outstations on the Kennet & Avon, Midlands, South Wales & Severn, Central London and South East Navigations. We also provide a rapid response breakdown and repair service in addition to any panel or installation work required, and in a contractual role, assist the Trust in being their ‘eyes and ears’ of the partnership in alerting them of additional works required or items that need attention. We are proud to have been recognised for our strong performance during 2013 by being awarded a “Canal & River Trust Contractors Award – Demonstrating excellence in customer care, safety heritage, innovation or environmental performance”. Our continued dedication to providing our services to the highest standard was recognised again in 2013 when we were announced Inspire 13 Award Winner for Service Excellence of the year for businesses in North Hampshire.

If you would like to enquire about our services and how we may be able to add innovation and value to your business, then please visit www.adsyst.co.uk or contact our sales team on (01252) 860 600

UKC PROFILE

J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd

Offering excellent services to all customers For almost four decades, J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd has successfully delivered professional, creative solutions to the building needs of a diverse client base. Founded by John and Pamela Greenwood, and managed recently by John Greenwood, the Company has a reputation for performance, construction services and quality, from primary schools to further education colleges and universities to swimming pools, churches and industrial premises. The Company undertakes maintenance work, major new build projects, cutting edge contemporary design to skilled restoration of listed features, in addition to which J Greenwood has a highly skilled, bespoke joinery service. The experience of the Company is wide ranging, with well established expertise and a flexible approach that allows challenging logistics to be undertaken. With a head office based in Chadderton, the Company also has a workshop in Oldham to produce bespoke joinery products. J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd prides itself on being an efficient and effective building company offering excellent service to all customers. The result of this has been long and sustained relationships with numerous clients in both the public and private sectors, striving to deliver high standards of service and consistently improve value to clients. While quantity of work is important, quality always comes first. With 51 staff members, including groundworkers, joiners and bricklayers, J Greenwood 9Builders) Ltd can call upon a highly skilled workforce to undertake any project. J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd doesn’t specialise in one particular sector, due to the fact that the skills and experience of all staff means projects can be, and have been undertaken covering a broad spectrum of sectors for both public and private sector clients. A number of projects are carried out in live environments, delivering traditional and new build projects. The maximum value of projects undertaken to date is £2.75M, which was the Francis House Hospice development, while the minimum value is £23,000, which saw the refurbishment of existing toilet blocks at the University of Manchester. Every project undertaken is evaluated on an individual basis as regards to the exact requirements, and the Company ensures that the necessary resources are provided to deliver the works on time, to budget, and in accordance with the requirements of the client. Work at Xaverian Sixth Form College was completed in three phases. Initial work comprised of a £400,000 contract

to refurbish the canteen, convert the caretaker’s room into a café and construction of a new caretaker’s building. It was delivered to a challenging eight week programme in the summer holidays as the College had to be operational when the students returned. As these works progressed successfully and the client was satisfied with the work provided, a further two phases of work were negotiated, for a value of £2M. The whole project cost £2.4M. The Company has also successfully delivered seven refurbishment projects for Staffordshire University. These include the refurbishment of the Mellor Building, which involved internal alterations of the second floor to provide new IT facilities for the university as part of their rationalisation of the campus. A new exhibition area for the art department, comprising internal alterations and an extension to the existing Henrion Building to deliver a high profile entrance and exhibition space. Refurbishment of the first floor of the Cadman Building which had to be completed during the summer holidays, refurbishment of two sports centres upgrading facilities and providing contemporary stylish changing facilities, and Brindley Building which was a £1.6M refurbishment completed in nine phases within a live environment. As well as a strong presence in the education sector, the Company has completed a number of prestigious projects on community buildings. This includes a £756,000 development of Oldham Baptist Church, undertaken on behalf of the Trustees of Oldham Baptist Church. Work saw the construction of a new church for the local community. Another new build was completed for Trinity Church, Audenshaw, located on a restricted site on behalf of Audenshaw Uniting Churches, at a cost of £870,000. Work is also now complete at Waterloo Sure Start in Ashton-under-Lyne. Constructed for Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, the £448,000 project saw the development of a new Sure Start nursery.

Cheadle Pool was completed on behalf of Stockport Sports Trust, costing £446,000. The project comprised of a changing room refurbishment including new lockers and tiling works, after which another stage has been completed recently. This occurred because of how satisfied the client was with the refurbishment and J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd ability and reputation of providing a quality project. Many projects have also been undertaken on office developments, including the Roundhouse, Manchester Settlement. It saw construction of a new three-storey office for a charity, housing association and Manchester College. Costing £1.7M, the quality of the sustainable aspects of the work saw the project obtain a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating. Located at Redvers Close in Leeds, building work at Lawnswood Business Park saw the successful delivery of two schemes on behalf of Prudential Portfolio Managers. The first part involved installation of a CCTV system throughout the business park, while the second section involved refurbishment and upgrade of several offices, including suspended ceilings, electrics, flooring, joinery and redecoration. Other work for this client has included several projects at the Royal Exchange and the Arndale Centre in Manchester. With such a reputation for delivering projects successfully on time and within budget, and with a workforce that are trained to the very highest standards, it is no surprise that J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd has won awards for its work. The project at Manchester Settlement won one of the RIBA North West Awards and in addition, the Company has received nine annual ROSPA awards. The future is certainly looking bright for the Company, which will continue to service its clients in a highly professional manner, delivering projects to a high standard in accordance with their requirements. J Greenwood (Builders) Ltd, Unit 4B, Zebra Court, White Moss View, Greenside Way, Chadderton, M24 1UN. Tel: 0161 654 8435.

PARR GROUP OF COMPANIES

Joseph Parr Group of Companies The Joseph Parr Group is a long established

Stocking over 20,000 products of heavy side, light

builders merchant company. Founded in 1883, the

side and timber, we can satisfy most of our

company has grown to be in the top 20

customers' requirements. With crane off-load

independent builders' merchants with an annual

facilities at all our companies, delivering the

turnover in excess of ÂŁ28 million.

products to customer sites is no problem.

Specialising in dealing with the small to medium

Any non-stocked items can be ordered from our

size builders, we offer a service to be proud of. Our

large range of suppliers to cater for those jobs

highly trained and experienced staff are on hand

requiring special products.

to help customers get the products they require.

A selection of the range of products available at our branches: Building

Bricks, Blocks, Aggregates, Cement, Plaster, Plasterboard, Lintels.

Timber

Sawn Carcassing, Planed, Decking, Sheets, Trusses, Plywood, MDF,Mouldings.

Tools

Hand Tools, Power Tools.

Drainage

Clay Drainage, uPVC Drainage.

Fencing

Metaposts.

Paving

Decorative Paving & Edgings, B.S. Flag & Kerb, Paviors.

Doors/Windows

Frames, Garage, Interior & Exterior Doors, Roof Windows.

Misc.

Paint, Insulation, Nails, Screws, Fixings, DPC, Lead, Civil & Chemical Products.

Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd, Higginshaw Lane, Royton, Oldham, OL2 6JD (t) 0161 633 1264 (f ) 0161 620 0866 www.josephparr.co.uk

UKC PROFILE

Chorley Council Overseeing big changes in the town Chorley Council’s commitment to improving the town and its facilities is continuing, with a major investment in the town under way. Market Walk – purchased by the Council in November 2013 – is a 35-unit mall that houses 26 national retailers as well as independent shops. Purchased from Orchard Street Investments for £23M, the Council have high hopes that it will provide an income stream for years to come. This purchase will allow Chorley Council to maintain and manage Market Walk, ensure it remains a major asset for the town, and it will allow the Council to develop Chorley as a whole, simultaneously attracting new retailers. The Council made the decision to buy Market Walk following detailed investigations by an all-party steering group set up in September 2013 when it was put on the market by its owners. Once the opportunity to buy this arose, Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of the Council, said the opportunity to purchase was too good to turn down. “When we were made aware of this (the end of Orchard Street Investments’ fixed term), we couldn’t miss the opportunity to bring such a key part of our town centre under local control,” he said. This key strategic town centre site will play a vital role in the Council’s vision for a thriving and vibrant town centre, as well as a strong local economy. Most of the 35 units have tenants, many of which are national retailers.

But the Council is looking to extend Market Walk and looking to attract a flagship retailer. Councillor Bradley added: “What I would say is that we are very ambitious for Market Walk and we think there is a real potential to improve the offer in the town centre and do something that benefits the whole town.” Market Walk is just one of a number of developments that the Council has been involved in over the past year. Another is to convert the derelict former McDonald’s site on Market Street. The Council bought the site in 2012 with a view to redeveloping it, and following a £350,000 revamp, there are now three modern retail units and a kiosk. The Council will be supporting new businesses with incentive packages along with help from experienced business advisors who will offer advice on business planning and the grants available. Deputy Leader of Chorley Council, Councillor Peter Wilson, said: “The former McDonald’s site is ideally placed to benefit from all the improvements in that area of town and we hope people will enjoy shopping there in the coming months.” Work also started in March to improve accessibility in the town, in preparation for the opening of the new ASDA superstore that will create 400 new jobs. Market Street will be revamped with a programme of improvements planned for the southern end of town to spruce up the area and make it

more appealing to shoppers. The roundabout near the ASDA development on the end of Market Street will be taken out and replaced with a more pedestrian-friendly traffic light junction, allowing crossing points for pedestrians and bicycles. Once the highway work is complete, Market Street will work as a shared surface, meaning that pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles will travel on the same level which is much more attractive to the eye and pedestrian-friendly, encouraging a reduced speed in traffic. More than £1M of investment is being put into the work on Market Street, funded largely by ASDA as a requirement of their planning application and supported by funding from Chorley Council and Lancashire County Council. Philip Bartram, ASDA Senior Property Communications Manager, spoke of the benefits this work will bring to the town. He said: “As well as increasing choice and competition for local shoppers, this multi-million pound investment will deliver major regeneration to the Market Street area, along with the huge economic benefits of hundreds of salaries newly circulating in the area. “Over 90% of feedback from the local community has been supportive and we now very much look forward to finally bringing the scheme to fruition, and bringing ASDA to Chorley later this year.”

Specialist Abseiling Services

HiLine is an established building cleaning, painting and maintenance company based in Bedfordshire, just 60 miles from London, operating throughout the UK and into Europe. With many years of practical experience behind us, diversifying our skills to suit challenging situations and environments, HiLine has become a leading force in commercial, industrial building refurbishment and maintenance. Rope access is deployed as required and our trained abseiling teams are qualified and safe, whether undertaking an external or internal building clean or repair. Contracts undertaken by HiLine Abseiling Ltd are comprehensively covered under the company's Employee and Public liability insurance.

Operating throughout the UK HiLine Abseiling ltd 110 Station Road, Oakley, Bedfordshire MK43 7RE Telephone 01234 826222 or 07860 683776 www.hilineabseiling.co.uk

UKC EDUCATION

Bournemouth University to invest £140M Bournemouth University’s origins can be traced back to the early part of the 20th century with the foundation of the former Bournemouth Municipal College. Throughout its life, Bournemouth University has developed a strong reputation for offering a wide range of high quality undergraduate and postgraduate education programmes geared to the professions, informed by research and consultancy. The number of students at BU has risen to over 17,000 and the University is amongst the leaders in the UK for graduate employment. The University is currently investing a significant amount, some £140M, into its facilities and academics. The programme will run until 2018, with the majority of the money spent on new buildings, including some £110M on new buildings. One of the major investments will be seen at Cranbourne House a 500-bedroom student accommodation block in the town centre. The contract has been won by ISG Plc, with the 37 week programme involving a complete refurbishment of all the study bedrooms, 75 kitchens, common areas, ground floor reception and exterior landscaping. The accommodation is arranged in 78 clusters across ten-storeys and ISG will complete the project in a single phase, as the building will be unoccupied throughout the duration of the scheme. Existing kitchens will be stripped out and replaced and ISG will refurbish all communal and bedroom areas, upgrading bathroom pods and installing new furniture in the study bedrooms. Minor demolition works will be undertaken to relocate a new reception at ground floor level and six existing lifts will be refurbished as part of the project. A significant programme of mechanical and electrical infrastructure will be carried out, with ISG replacing the existing electric storage heating provision with a modern, highly efficient gas fired system. Externally, the bicycle storage facilities will be relocated and improved as will the refuse disposal area. New walkways will be created together with seating areas and feature landscaping elements as part of a general exterior enhancement scheme. Brand new for the 2012/13 university year is Dorchester House; a purpose built block ideally located in Bournemouth’s town centre. There are 540 rooms available to BU students, 68 of which are studio flats for postgraduate and nursing studies that

come with a private kitchen area, a full sized double bed and a leather chair. The flats are clustered into groups of between three and seven with all occupants sharing a common living and kitchen area. Further facilities include launderette, bike storage, ensuite showers in each room, and 24 hour security/on site management. The provision of a new student centre on the Talbot campus will commence in June this year. The new building is a decisive step towards improving the student experience at Bournemouth University. It responds to the need for high quality spaces where students can engage collaboratively in social learning and study activities with full access to a range of integrated services. The six-storey student centre will include social learning spaces, SUBU offices, a student advice centre, a café, radio and media studios, bookable meeting rooms and access points for student services. At the third floor, a glazed walkway will provide direct access to the library. Due to be open to students in April 2015, the building will be designed and constructed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, with elements such as

natural ventilation, photovoltaic panels, sedum roofs, brise soleil, increased thermal insulation and energy efficient lighting and boilers to reduce energy consumption. The planning consultant for the Student Centre was Savills, who has also been involved with a series of Bournemouth University building projects. The Student Centre is a key component of the wider Bournemouth University vision, which seeks to create the most stimulating, challenging and rewarding experience in a world-class learning community by sharing a unique fusion of excellent education, research and professional practice. Savills has been working closely with Bournemouth University to help it realise this vision. Further to these developments, the fitness facilities on the Talbot Campus, sportBU, have been revamped. The refurbishment has seen the gym doubling in size and a redesign of the fitness studios and treatment rooms. The new 3,880sq ft gym houses 65 pieces of equipment, plus a fully refurbished sports hall, dance activity studio, Health Zone treatment rooms and a new IT management membership system.

nrowley@savills.com

savills.com

prouse@savills.com

plamb@savills.com

UKC PROFILE

John Sisk & Son

150 years of success

Members of the SISK Group, John Sisk & Son is an international construction Company who place strong emphasis on performance, quality, teamwork and a hands-on management approach to ensure Client satisfaction. Family ownership for five generations has set the cultural tone for the Company, who has been building excellence for more than 150 years by building trust, certainty and value for clients. John Sisk & Son can be relied upon to keep delivering, and takes a long-term view of business, investment and relationships. The knowledge and skills are augmented by the financial strength and expertise of the SISK Group. The overriding focus is on performance, with the Company taking safety, quality and environmental responsibilities extremely seriously. These standards and records are something to be proud of. Teamwork lies in the heart of the Company’s culture, which sees work with customers, professional teams and the supply chain to develop innovative and value adding solutions for Clients.

Relationships have been key to past successes and will be more important than ever in the future. The team is committed to working closely with its customers to deliver total satisfaction on all projects. Protecting the welfare of future generations is also reflected in the approach to sustainability and bringing environmental, social and economic benefits to the Company’s Clients and the wider community. John Sisk & Son operate a relationship based approach to business and therefore work in close collaboration with customers in a wide range of public and private sectors. Clients can benefit from a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the design, planning, construction, delivery and ongoing maintenance of buildings and infrastructural assets. The Company can offer a spectrum of services to assist with this, delivered by long-term staff who bring a unique dynamic to every project. A multi-million project that is currently under way is the Ferrybridge power station in West Yorkshire. John Sisk & Son is the

civil engineering supplier for the project SSE Plc and Wheelabrator Technologies Inc (WTI) have entered into a 50:50 joint venture to develop the new £300M multifuel generation facility. The joint venture – Multifuel Energy Ltd (MEL) – began full construction of a 68MW multifuel facility in late 2012 and will be completed early in 2015. Hundreds of jobs will be created during the three year construction period and more than 50 new full-time jobs will be required once the plant is fully operational. SSE – formerly Scottish and Southern Energy – is one of the UK’s leading energy companies and the largest non-nuclear electricity generator, operating a diverse generation portfolio across the UK and Ireland. WTI is a leading developer, owner and operator of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities and has been established for more than 37 years. WTI currently owns and/or operates 22 energy facilities in the US, 17 of which are EfW facilities. It has also recently acquired part of a business in China, which has three operational plants and

a further five under development. Every year in the US, WTTI processes more than 6.9M tonnes of waste (over twice the EfW capacity in the UK), which generates more than 4.5Bn kilowatts of energy. WTI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management Inc, the largest provider of integrated waste management services in North America, with 22M customers. Consent to develop the facility, which will use a range of waste derived fuels to generate electricity and heat, was received from the Department of Energy and Climate Change in October 2011. When operational, the electricity generated by the plant will be sold to SSE. MFE has entered into a long-term fuel procurement contract with 3SE – SSE’s joint venture with Shanks Plc – which will provide processed waste derived fuels using waste taken from nearby Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster councils. To support this contract, 3SE intends to develop a new Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility at Bolton Road, Manvers. The multifuel power station produces low carbon electricity and heat by burning waste derived fuel from various sources and processed municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste and waste wood. These are first processed at an off site facility to remove recyclable materials. The remaining materials are then delivered to the power station by road or rail to be used as low carbon fuel. Much of the fuel for Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 (FM1) is coming from the local areas and it is hoped that future fuel supplies will come from local, regional and national suppliers. This will be assessed and evolve as the project is developed. Fuel will come to site in sealed

containers, which will be opened in the indoor fuel reception area. All fuel handling will be in a self contained building. The fuel store is an integral part of the main boiler structure and air is drawn from the fuel reception building into the boilers, thereby maintaining a negative pressure, which will reduce the possibility of odours and dust escaping from the fuel reception area. Multifuel power stations generate electricity and heat from a range of low carbon fuel sources including fuels produced from waste known as waste derived fuels. High levels of interest from potential fuel suppliers has demonstrated that there is demand in the market for further waste derived generating facilities so this year, MFE began looking into the possibility of constructing a second multifuel power station at the site, known as Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 (FM2). FM2 would have a capacity of up to 90MW. Much like FM1, it will be capable of producing approximately 68MW of low carbon electricity, enough to supply in the region of 160,000 homes. The electricity will be supplied to the electricity grid and to achieve this, a new connection will need to be made. As was undertaken for FM1, an evaluation of the potential for exporting heat to available off site users is being undertaken. The energy will be produced by burning waste derived fuels from various sources that will be processed off site to remove recyclable materials and create the fuel, which will then be delivered to FM2. During the last two months of the year, MEL has consulted the local community, local organisations and statutory bodies on its plans and has encouraged comments and feedback from local people.

There has been significant interest from suppliers in providing fuel to the FM1 power station, providing evidence of sufficient demand and fuel availability for a second facility. This has led to the decision to pursue the development of a second multifuel facility at the Ferrybridge site. The UK needs to develop new facilities to generate electricity in order to provide secure, clean, affordable energy and reduce carbon emissions from energy generation. The new multifuel power station will contribute towards preventing a shortfall in electricity in the future as an increasing number of the UK’s aging oil, coal and nuclear power stations close. As well as generating low carbon energy, the construction of a second multifuel power station at Ferrybridge will also further reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill. This will help the UK meet the landfill diversion targets set out in the European Landfill Directive. The facility has not been designed to take hazardous waste and would not be permitted to do so. It would only be able to accept the wastes specified under the Environmental Permit granted by the Environment Agency. Fuel will need to be delivered to the site and ash taken away, so alternative options to road are being examined. However, as these options are still under consideration, as a precaution, MEL will be assessing the impacts on the local area should all the transport movements be made by road. It is envisaged that the construction of Dish Hill Roundabout as part of FM1, which will be completed by the end of the year, will take HGV traffic away from the centre of Ferrybridge and Brotherton, continued page 52 >

Concrete Solutions, Safely Delivered.

One of the UK’s premier independent Reinforced Concrete Frame specialists. A market leader with over 30 year’s experience specialising in earthworks, drainage, substructure reinforced concrete works, civil engineering and railway infrastructure. We have built our reputation by focusing on Customer relations through effective delivery of projects safely, on‐time and within budget. Our continual commitment to health & safety, training and sustainability is a passion shared throughout MPB Structures. For more information on MPB Structures Ltd and how we can cement future relationships, then please contact us on 01536 264100 or build@mpb.co.uk www.mpb.co.uk

Why were O’Briens chosen by Nestle as a Strategic Partner? -

Why? Because we offer total design and build services to our clients and work together with our partners to deliver innovative thinking and outstanding results. O’Brien Contractors offer civil engineering and groundwork across an impressive range of sectors from health and education, to leisure and industrial. With our unique approach to management, we have partnered with the construction industry’s most prestigious organisations to deliver successful projects for almost 60 years.

Outstanding health and safety record • Wide range of sector experience • Cutting-edge technologies Value engineering • Collaborative approach • Turnkey sports pitch solutions • Earthworks Specialist plant hire • Pre-Construction Services O’Brien have established themselves as a key member of the team for what is an exceptionally challenging and changing project and their organisation and experience has seen them successfully overcome all construction, design, Health and Safety and Environmental issues. Norman Skea, Project Manager, Nestle

If you’re planning a construction project, make O’Brien your first choice. Contact us on 01926 423 918 or email info@obriencontractors.co.uk Proud winners of:

www.obriencontractors.co.uk.

removing the traffic from the residential areas and improving road safety. SSE has not yet made a decision on the future main use of Ferrybridge Power Station, which is currently also home to the UK’s largest carbon capture trial, CCPilot100+, in conjunction with Doosan Power Systems and Vattenfall. Paul Smith, SSE’s Managing Director of Generation, said: “Multifuel technology is a tried and tested way of generating clean, base-load power. “This new multifuel plant will provide additional diversity to SSE’s generation portfolio and make a useful contribution to ensuring we have reliable energy supplies for the future. “The transactions that make up this project represent a strong partnership between four major players in the multifuel sector, who are committed to making a serious level of investment in this technology. “Between them, the companies involved have extensive experience in sourcing and processing waste, constructing and commissioning multifuel technologies, and operating generation plant. “This partnership creates a great platform to develop multifuel technology in future.” The combined heat and power-enabled facility of FM1 will take fuels from across Yorkshire and the wider region. It will work in a similar manner to the existing power station, where fuel is burned under controlled conditions to raise high temperature steam that is then used to generate electricity. Some of the steam will be used for heating purposes within the multifuel facility itself. There will be approximately 50 full-time jobs and around 300 temporary roles during the three-year construction phase, and the facility will be fully operational in 2015. It is expected to create approximately

£10M of additional business for local hotels, restaurants and other service providers. FM1 alone underlines MEL’s commitment to working in partnership with the local community and follows on from a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event held in Castleford last summer by MEL and the project’s Main Contractor, Hitachi Zosen Inova. Some of the regional companies who have been confirmed as subcontractors to the project include Slipform Structures Ltd, based in Leeds, Cidon Construction Ltd of Barnsley, Jakto, based in Barnsley, TW Catering of Pontefract and CBR Engineering Ltd, who is based in Castleford. Formal public consultation began earlier at the beginning of November 2013 and residents were given the opportunity to provide further feedback on the proposals until 20th December 2013. MEL will then continue to engage with various stakeholders before expecting to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate in summer 2014. The Planning Inspectorate will then examine the application and make a recommendation for the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and a decision is expected in the third quarter of 2015. FM2 is expected to create approximately 350 jobs during the three-year construction period, provide up to 50 full-time jobs once the power station is operational and create secondary jobs associated with fuel deliveries and the wider supply chain. Many of these are much like the benefits of FM1. In addition, FM2 will provide further financial benefits to the local economy via contract opportunities for local businesses and a positive knock-on effect for local hotels, shops and petrol stations for example.

FM1 has already created hundreds of construction jobs, involved approximately 30 local companies and the local economy will benefit from £10M of additional business for local hotels, restaurants and other service providers. If plans for it are approved, it is expected that FM2 would create similar benefits. The next step would see construction begin in 2015 and the power station could then be operational by 2018. Another large project that John Sisk & Son is currently involved in is at Nestle’s manufacturing centre in Tutbury. Nestle UK is investing £200M to enhance its soluble coffee manufacturing centre at Tutbury, bringing together for the first time, all forms of coffee production on one site, including freeze dried, spray dried and pod technology – an investment that will create around 140 new jobs in the region. This is in addition to recent investments in Dolce Gusto manufacturing which has already created an additional 700 jobs over the last few years. The new factory development will comprise a series of interlinked blocks of varying height and scale. These include the reception building for coffee beans, roasting extraction and drier buildings, as well as buildings for packing, storage, utilites and workshops. Buildings will range in scale from singlestorey engineering workshops to the extraction building, which is a concrete framed tower of over 30m in height. The appearance of the new factory development will be defined by a carefully selected approach to the cladding finish of the buildings. The profile and colour of the cladding will be selected to add interest and break up the apparent mass of the individual building blocks. continued page 54 >

Visit us at www.errigalcontracts.co.uk

The development will appear as a substantial group of new buildings in the local landscape. From many viewpoints, the new buildings will be seen against the backdrop of the existing factory. However, they will have an edge to open countryside and there is a recognition that there needs to be landscape treatment around the development to act as a transition from the new factory to open agricultural land. After one year of the construction the buildings were substantially in place. Site clearing started in January 2013 and over the summer the building frames were constructed with cladding commencing in late 2013. Some of the large processing equipment was installed in late 2013 with the majority due for installation in 2014. New electricity, gas and water supplies are being brought to site to support the increased scale of the factory however the new installation is the most energy efficient factory of it’s type to have been built by Nestlé. As the factory is seen as a long term investment in a manufacturing centre, the size and durability of the factory have been designed accordingly. The concrete frames provide significant fire protection compared to steel frames and the cladding is designed to diminish noise emission as well as insulate the building. Over 300 hundred people are active on the site each day and in 2013 there were no lost time accidents. The project team have strong safety management procedures in place and contractors are selected with a strong emphasis being given to their safety track record. The new Nescafe building will be fully operational late 2014 and already the first new starters have joined, spending their first fortnight working through the factory induction process and then moving onto the general overview of coffee manufacture before specialising. John Sisk & Son has recently completed work on a vibrant area of London. One Commercial Street is poised between the City, the financial heart of London and the culturally diverse Fringe of Aldgate and Spitalfields. This 22-storey landmark project will firmly establish Redrow’s penetration

into the London luxury residential market with high quality tower apartments, offices and retail space. Constructed directly above Aldgate Underground Station, an unusual aspect of this scheme is that Redrow is developing a distressed asset where construction was suspended in 2008. Redrow has purchased the site and directly engaged the frame contractor and envelope specialist. Redrow is one of the UK’s leading residential property developers, established more than 35 years ago and continually driven b y an entrepreneurial spirit and a ‘can do’ attitude. The Company has a committed and enthusiastic team, taking pride in the homes built and developments created, delivering distinctive quality homes for all customers. In addition to 207 homes, 110,000sq ft of office accommodation over six floors has been provided, as has ground floor retail space and basement car parking. This is in a key location and as the City grows, its boundaries are expanding eastwards. The area around Aldgate is a key regeneration zone and One Commercial Street takes a prime location within this new business and residential neighbourhood, looking to the Square Mile, looking to the future.

One Commercial Street is a dramatic landmark tower with an outstanding collection of studios, apartments and penthouses. The Tower Apartments, The City Collection and The Penthouses range from the 11th to the 21st floors, and the views are astonishing. The building has a bespoke entrance lobby with the ambience of a stylish hotel reception area, where the concierge is on duty 24 hours a day to attend to residents’ needs. John Sisk + Son completed work in April 2014.

architecture masterplanning planning landscape ecology

Monk Bridge Construction Co Limited manufacture and fabricate structural steelwork which is undertaken

We provide planning and design services in an integrated way to create real value for our clients. We have provided these services to Nestle UK for a number of strategic projects, including Project Dove in Derbyshire, showing how complex developments can be effectively delivered in challenging circumstances.

within our bespoke purpose built workshop. Our services include the Design and Build of Steel Structures, Shot Blasting, Surface Protection and Erection, including the Erection of Pre-cast Concrete Floor Units.

The Monk Bridge Construction Co Ltd Elvington Industrial Estate, Elvington, York YO41 4AR

STUDIO 104, THE TEA FACTORY 82 WOOD STREET, LIVERPOOL, L1 4DQ TEL: 0151 707 0110 EMAIL: graham.trewhella@cassassociates.co.uk

www.cassassociates.co.uk

Established for over 35 years

Established since 1978, we have over 35 years experience in both commercial and domestic contracts. We have an excellent reputation for high quality work using reliable and experienced electricians. Our knowledgeable and proficient team will be pleased to offer you any help or advice.

Barrie Beard Ltd

T: 01904 608416 F: 01904 608759 E: general@monbridgeconstruction.co.uk W: www.monkbridgeconstruction.co.uk

structuralsteelengineers

Since the mid 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barrie Beard Ltd have worked in partnership with John Sisk & Son Ltd on numerous prestigious projects. Having most recently worked in collaboration at Birmingham International Airport on the new Monarch Aircraft Hangar. The shooting ranges at The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich presented us with a proud association to the London 2012 Olympic Games and the new Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare proved a challenging project being positioned at the end of a 250m long jetty in the Bristol Channel. We would like to oďŹ&#x20AC;er our congratulations to John Sisk & Son Ltd on their 150th anniversary.

Worcester Road, Upton Warren, Bromsgrove, Worcs. B61 7ET Tel:01527 875172 - Fax:01527 873168 Email - enquiries@barriebeard.co.uk www.barriebeard.co.uk 55

UKC PROFILE

Hitachi Zosen Inova Formerly known as Von Roll Inova, Hitachi Zosen Inova has been expired for more than 80 years by a global vision to treat waste thermally and to utilise the energy it contains. The competence, broad know-how and international experience has enabled the Company to become the leading supplier in the field of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities. It is among the trendsetters of this cutting edge technology, and the important innovations of Hitachi Zosen Inova has significantly contributed to the development of the original thermal waste treatment process into the advanced technology of today. It offers customised plant sections and turnkey plants, covering planning, design and engineering, construction and operation, as well as maintenance and overhaul of EfW plants. With crucial innovations to its credit, Hitachi is among the pioneers that have defined the state-of-the-art in waste management, furthering progress with advanced technologies. Founded in 1933, the Company was initially a department of ‘Gesellschaft der kommunale Anlagen,’ a steel mill and foundry that dates back to 1823. The purpose of the new department was to focus on thermal waste treatment. Four years later, it built the first turnkey plant for the Dutch city of Dordrecht. In its first few years, the Company relied on several licenses such as with Hitachi Zosen Corporation, to construct plants with technologies that were then state-of-the-art. But from the very beginning, it also developed proprietary and improved technologies. Subsequently, it repeatedly established milestones with its own designs, in the domain of thermal waste treatment, including the reciprocating grate, advanced methods for flue gas purification and processes for the treatment of residues. In 1960, Von Roll opened its first offices in Germany and Japan, core markets at the time. Six years later, subsidiaries were founded in France and Sweden, and in 1975, the Company established a presence in the USA where it built some of the world’s largest plants.

This Group, consisting of Von Roll Environmental Ltd in Zurich and its affiliated companies, was always at the forefront of the industry known as the Von Roll Inova Group. In 2003, the Von Roll Inova Group was acquired by the AE&E Group, a member of the A-Tec Industries AG. AE&E was an industrial group with a global reach in thermal energy generation and environmental technologies. By the end of 2010, AE&E Inova AG together with its subsidiary AE&E KRB AG, were sold to Hitachi Zosen Corporation, which brought the Company a new name and new partnerships. Hitachi Zosen Corporation has been a licensing associate of Hitachi Zosen Inova AG for more than 50 years and using the former Von Roll Technology. During this time, Hitachi Zosen Corp has implemented its partner’s core technology in more than 200 EfW plants in Japan, China and other countries throughout East Asia. Hitachi Zosen Inova AG and Hitachi Zosen Corporation combine the competencies of two strong partners in the EfW sector. The Company began construction at the end of 2013 on a new 34MW energy recovery facility in South Gloucestershire, as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract between the West London Waste Authority and a consortium led by SITA UK. Severnside Energy Recovery Centre (SERC), at Severnside, will be the Company’s seventh turnkey plant contract in the UK over the last seven years. A consortium of SITA UK, Scottish Widows Investment Partners (SWIP) and Itochu Capital signed the corresponding 25-year contract with the West London Waste Authority on 27th November 2013 to convert up to 300,000 tonnes of municipal waste material to energy each year. Under the contract, waste material that all those living in the London boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond-upon-Thames have not been able to separate for recycling will be transported by rail to the Severnside Energy Recovery Centre. The facility will produce 34MW of electricity, which is enough to power the equivalent of 50,000 homes and could also provide heat to local businesses – further increasing its environmental performance.

This solution will enable the West London Waste Authority to divert 96% of its waste from landfill and is expected to save two million tonnes of CO2 equivalents over the duration of the contract. SERC, which will also include an on-site facility for the recycling of bottom ash, is expected to be completed and under the operation of SITA UK by mid-2016. The plant will feature cutting-edge thermal waste treatment technologies in DyNOR and LEAP, the new Low Excess Air Process, two of the latest in a series of further developments from Hitachi Zosen Inova. As the answer to tightened emission requirements, the DyNOR system is able to reduce the nitrogen dioxide emissions to 150 mg/cuNM at minimal ammonia slip and well below current EU limits. With LEAP the high efficiency of combustion is further increased while the CO and NOx emissions are still reduced. Chief Executive Officer of Hitachi Zosen Inova, Franz-Josef Mengede, said: “We are glad that our steady efforts to advance our technologies contribute to our customer’s success and the increased sustainability of energy from waste.” Hitachi Zosen Inova has also been given the EPC contractor role in the construction of the Greatmoor EfW facility in the UK. The CHF 210 million project will see the Company provide support to the Buckinghamshire area both in terms of sustainable thermal waste treatment and the creation of a large number of jobs. The signing of the contract at the end of April was the result of the successful and exclusive cooperation between Hitachi Zosen Inova and FCC Environment for the project, which was put out to public tender by Buckinghamshire County Council in 2009. This turnkey order is the Company’s third contract for leading waste and resource management company FCC Environment. It marks a further chapter in Hitchen Zosen Inova’s success story in the UK, which began in the UK with the construction of an extension line in Cleveland. Paul Taylor, Chief Executive of FCC Environment, said: “We are very pleased to be working exclusively with Hitachi Zosen Inova on the Greatmoor EfW project. This facility is of immense importance to our customer, Buckinghamshire County Council

and represents huge sustainability benefits for the country over the next 30 years. “It is important therefore that our technology partner shares our commitment to extracting maximum energy value from the thermal treatment of residual waste.” The single-line EfW facility with a thermal capacity of 102MW will play a leading role in sustainable waste management in Buckinghamshire. Construction began last year, with the handover to operators FCC Environment and Buckinghamshire County Council planned for 2016. As well as massively reducing the volume of landfill waste, the state-ofthe-art thermal waste plant will also meet the UK government’s climate protection requirements in full. The facility will have the capacity to treat 300,000 tonnes of waste per year, generating 22 MW of electricity for some 36,000 homes. As well as being sustainable from the environmental perspective, the Greatmoor EfW plant will also contribute to the long-term economic development of Buckinghamshire. Some 300 temporary jobs will be created in the construction phase of the project. After commissioning, there will be 64 new jobs at the plant and a further 31 in the supply chain. The facility will also generate around GBP 2.3 million per year for the local economy. Buckinghamshire currently has a recycling

rate of nearly 48% - a rate which is well above the national average. However, the County still paid around £11M in 2012 to dispose of waste to landfill. The Council, working with the four district councils, aims to increate its recycling rate to 60%, a rate which could be achieved by around 2015/16 with the roll out of new district council recycling services. However, the increase in landfill tax means that even after this increase and corresponding reduction in waste sent to landfill, if alternative ways to manage the waste were not found, the Council would still be paying around the same amount to dispose of its residual waste at landfill. This is a significant amount of money that could be better used to protect some of the services provided to the community and therefore, the new facility is absolutely crucial to Buckinghamshire. The Company is also the Main Contractor for the new Ferrybridge Multifuel power station – Multifuel Energy Ltd (MEL) - a joint venture project company between SSE (owners of the Ferrybridge C Power Station) and Wheelabrator Technologies. Hitachi Zosen Inova originally awarded the electrical contract to Natus, a longestablished medium-sized German company that specialises in providing integrated electro-technical solutions. Among worldwide reference projects of the Company, there are also many projects for waste-to-energy power plants, where NATUS took over the

role of general contractor for the complete electro-technical part. During construction of the Ferrybridge Multifuel power station, Hitachi Zosen Inova aims to subcontract work to local and UK companies wherever possible, integrating local services and suppliers into the project’s construction. The Ferrybridge project in Yorkshire will generate electricity by thermal waste treatment and is worth a total of CHF 330 million. This new plant, which received Section 36 consent by the Department of Energy & Climate Change following intensive environmental impact assessments, is being built on the site of the existing coal-fired power station in Ferrybridge. It will be primarily supplied with fuel from the Yorkshire region, and in particular from the local councils in Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster. Due to pioneering technology, socalled multifuel firing combustion plants can process various types of fuel simultaneously and in Ferrybridge the design allows for up to 42 tonnes per hour to be processed in each of the two process lines. Energy generated by the 68MW plant will be fed into the grid in the form of electricity, with an option to export the heat if there is a local demand. The contract to build the modern multifuel plant marks Hitachi Zosen Inova’s fifth project in the UK.

Concepts Products Service

We grow with your requirements. Lindner Insulation Engineering and Industrial Services. Whether you require an efficient sound insulation solution or whether you are looking for suitable heat, cold or fire protection as part of a complex special project, we offer innovative systems for all your needs. Your sophisticated ideas are a welcome challenge for us – we can develop the perfect solution for your project; just talk to us. iso.ind@Lindner-Group.com

Building New Solutions

UKC PROFILE

CDS Group Services Ltd CDS Group Services Ltd was formed in 2005 specifically to specialise in shop fitting projects across the UK and over the last seven years, CDS Group has grown into a thriving company with a turnover in excess of £26M. CDS Group’s Chief Executive, Bradley Hurter has achieved this by consciously expanding the business into all aspects of commercial interiors to include comprehensive electrical and mechanical divisions, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in addition to offering a full ongoing maintenance division for both existing commercial interior customers together with customers looking for a fast, reliable and proactive service covering the whole of the UK. High profile retail clients include The Range, Levi, Tie Rack, Burberry, Lego and Lush. The full scope of the offering has put CDS Group in a position to manage a full turnkey project from start through to completion. CDS Group has been able to actively bring together all areas of a project to provide more control and flexibility for the client, through the creative design and consultation process, to design and manufacture of fixtures and day to day project management. With in-house design teams and special relationships with Architects around Europe; CDS Group are always working towards uncovering innovative and sustainable solutions, providing clients with energy and cost savings together with incorporating new technology to provide well-planned, innovative and customer focused interiors. One of the key benefits of the approach that CDS has taken by incorporating all the elements of the design, build and manufacturing process is the project management process can take information from all areas and in turn keep the communication channels open for all interested parties. By retaining control of all key areas project management within CDS is seamless across all the aspects of the development. By employing their own trades within key areas; including carpentry, plumbing, electrical and skilled mechanical engineers, CDS is in a position to guarantee quality, ensure costs are kept within budget and most importantly keep the job on target to agreed timescales.

CDS Group Project Managers have a proven track record for turning around key projects for high profile clients such as the Levi Strauss flagship store on Regent Street, meeting tight time objectives and co-ordinating complex mechanical installations including escalators and custom lift set ups. CDS Group Services has partnered with Levi Strauss & Co. to create the first Levi’s brand store in the UK, to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification. Located on Birmingham’s High Street, the two-storey, 1,200sq m retail space was designed by Architects Design Time. The store has been refurbished with UK sourced, reclaimed timber and furniture, in the form of flooring, doors and other fixtures, and boasts a number of energy efficient measures, including low-wattage ambient lighting, LED window spotlights and electricity from renewable resources. Hampshire based firm, CDS Group Services Ltd, was the Main Contractor on the project, and combined the Company’s electrical and mechanical expertise along with all other facets of the turnkey project. Under the leadership of Contracts Manager, Jason Lindsey, the entire project was turned around in six weeks. CDS knows the importance of protecting assets, employees and customers, while at the same time providing an enjoyable, positive and satisfying sales environment. The team guides clients through the maze of building regulation processes and assists them in finding the correct balance of safety and style - ultimately delivering a future proof solution to cover any eventuality and to respect the ever more demanding regulations imposed on landlords; including fire protection systems, which can encompass emergency lighting, sprinklers and intruder controls. CCTV is a highly powerful deterrent for businesses and can provide vital evidence when crimes are committed such as fly tipping, burglary, theft, vandalism and assaults, increasing the rate of conviction through the provision of a crystal clear image of the event. The team at CDS can design, install and monitor a range of surveillance systems ranging from conventional CCTV to IP Cameras and audio devices. The interface between system and user can in turn

be customised, modified and adapted to suit specific client needs and budgets. CDS specialises in the design and installation of structured cabling solutions utilising Category 5e, Category 6 and fibre optic cabling for data and voice networks, offering recommendations on the most suitable solution to ensure a reliable and cost-effective network infrastructure. Designed by VF International Sagi, the new 7 4 All Mankind store project was fully managed by CDS Group and all the lighting was undertaken by their talented electrical division. The new 7 4 All Mankind store at King Street, London was presented to CDS Group stripped back to brick/ block work by the landlord and it was then down to the team to create a quality interior including managing all the trades on site installing fire alarms, music system, security and of course managing and installing all the lighting. The lighting was designed by Ansorg and was installed by CDS. CDS Group has been successful in securing a number of new contracts over the last few months working with some high profile High Street clients. The projects currently under construction include providing High Street Sushi pioneer Wasabi with a stylish new restaurant outlet on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue. The work will include all elements of a major project including partitioning and floors together with the installation of major mechanical and electrical elements including lighting and a state-of-the-art kitchen facility. A further key new Client for CDS is the two turnkey projects for performance sportswear company Asics, which includes a new store at McArthur Glen Retail Park in Cheshire Oaks as well as a new store located in Braintree, Essex. Commenting on the new partnerships Mr Hurter said: “It is a very exciting opportunity to be working with wellknown brands such as Asics, Wasabi and 7 For All Mankind and we look forward to working in partnership with a company which embraces technology and its different applications. We also anticipate that these projects could be the first of many for both ourselves and Asics.” Mr Hurter continued: “This is the beginning of what we hope will develop into a longer continued page 60 >

2 Stockdale Close, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 8EA

Tel: 01423 868062 www.geomeg.co.uk Based in Knaresborough near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, we can undertake any form of electrical installation including: domestic, industrial, photovoltaic systems, intruder alarms, data and structured cabling, fire alarms and CCTV. We will provide first-class electrical installations and associated services to a standard that is well beyond the average. With highly qualified installation specialists and dedicated office personnel, we hope your experience when dealing with GEOMEG will be anxiety free and overall pleasurable.

We can undertake any form of electrical installation. We are highly experienced in shop-fitting, industrial and domestic. Geomeg is always aiming at improving the range of services and new technologies such as photovoltaic and heat recovery. A more comprehensible list of our services we can provide are:Electrical Installations Testing and Certification Fire Alarms Emergency Lighting PA Systems CCTV Intruder Alarms DATA and Structured Cabling Installs PAT Testing Testing and Certification Intercomms and Door Entry Systems Telephony

Commercial Flooring Contractors All types of commercial flooring uplifted, supplied & installed P&M Flooring Ltd is an established flooring company since 1997. Situated in the north west of Kent, we cover Nationwide to install all types of floor coverings and offer expertise to all clients, regardless of the size of area or floor covering required.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Malvernâ&#x20AC;?, Valley Road, Fawkham Green, Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NL

Tel:01474 879 384 Mob: 07789 272724 / 07973 155401 Email: info@pandmflooring.co.uk www.pandmflooring.co.uk

term relationship with Wasabi. This will hopefully see our direct involvement with their annual roll out plans over the next few years, together with ongoing maintenance for the chain, which could include anything from PAT testing to emergency systems servicingâ&#x20AC;? Last but certainly not least, premium denim lifestyle brand 7 For All Mankind has selected CDS Group as the Main Contractor for the fit out of their new store at King Street, London. The store opened on 14th March 2012. CDS Group created a distinctive space, full of all the features that their customers have come to associate with 7 for All Mankind boutiques. The mechanical division, headed up by Wayne Palmer, has all the capabilities, from design to completion, to lead the way in all aspects of mechanical engineering installations, providing air conditioning and ventilation systems from Dalkin, LG, Mitsubishi Electric and Hitachi. Creating a comfortable environment within any commercial or retail space is vitally important to keep both staff and customers relaxed and happy, keeping cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Sometimes working in the most challenging of environments, fitting complex systems in tight and complex spaces, or working to very short deadlines, the team have faced it all. It is another example of how the inclusive and comprehensive planning and project management of the various aspects and

divisions of the build can be integrated to make complex sites work in synergy and deliver projects on time, within budget and to a consistently high standard. CDS has been chosen by Mitsubishi Electric as a Business Solutions Partner, which allows the Company to offer clients the highest standards of installation, while at the same time placing corporate social responsibility of particularly high importance. Environmental impact of the work, services and lifespan of the systems designed and implemented by the mechanical division at CDS is increasingly important and has been successful in providing Levi Strauss with their first UK Green store in Birmingham High Street. Utilising the Mr Slim split systems; these provide efficient systems with low running costs and a practical alternative to the older fixed speed systems. When employing all members of the fit-out team, it is ensured that the correct affiliations are always in place, and this is no different with the plumbing team, a small but important portion of the mechanical division. In 2010 significant investment of a multi-million pound factory installation at the Romsey site was undertaken. CDS Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing capabilities include: joinery, metal work, powder coating, spray painting, product prototyping, and assembly and warehousing. Mixing the latest technology with

traditional cabinet making techniques gives the clients reassurance that they have complete control over the consultation and design and they can get actively involved in the details of the finished product. The manufacturing team and factory are currently working with the Arcadia Group manufacturing fixtures and fittings for brands such as Topshop & Topman and Miss Selfridge. Initially set up to provide on-going maintenance to existing commercial interiors companies, the CDS Group maintenance division has been working with retailers to reduce their workload and offer a professional, reliable service, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Utilising a customised computer system with built-in email and workflow notifications, the Company creates an efficient platform for both retailers and other businesses to keep track of all the on-going routine and reactive maintenance jobs. CDS Group tailor its software to each client and the open system shows status, reports and feedback from each job. This allows a trained staff member to manage up to 50+ sites from one location while maintaining great accuracy. The maintenance division at CDS Group works with clients such as The Range, Lush, Levi, Wasabi and Lego. For more information, please visit www.cdsgroup.uk.com

UK Coatings South West LTD is an industrial painting company that undertakes various contracts on a variety of buildings such as offices, superstores, factories, flats, shops, hotels and domestic properties. All materials and plant are provided by ourselves, we only use the best materials from a vast range of coatings available to ensure durability and quality, extra services are available such as airless spraying, hanging wide vinylâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, paper hanging, taping and jointing, we have a full health and safety package and all of our work is fully insured. UK Coatings South West LTD specialises in all aspects of spray painting and decorating, including Industrial Coatings to factories, superstores and industrial units. We also undertake work to offices, hotels, schools, shops, local authorities, property managements etc. All our work is carried out with full maintenance back up service. If you would like to discuss potential contracts, we will be happy to arrange a visit to your location, at your convenience.

Unit 2E, Tudhoe Industrial Estate, County Durham DL16 6TL

Tel: 07976 917012 Email: ukcoatingsltd@gmail.com www.ukcoatings.co.uk

PROFILE UKC

LA Architects Established in 1992 LA architects has built a strong reputation in the design and construction of many prestigious projects and some alluring simple buildings. Ninety percent of the Practice’s work has been based in the sports and leisure industry, a market they understand well. The Practice’s portfolio also includes theatres, innovation centres, art galleries and health projects. LA architects’ studio, near Brighton, is ideally situated to undertake commissions throughout the UK though our work has taken us to China, Bosnia, Greece, France and Hungary. They also now have associate practices in Gothenberg, Belfast and Italy. As a Royal Institute of British Architects Chartered Practice all LA’s architectural staff are members of the Architects Registration Board, the Royal Institute of British Architects and have membership to the Society of British Interior Designers. Creativity can be aligned with

commerciality and bringing all aspects of good performance together is essential for this Studio. •• We create buildings for human happiness. •• We listen. •• We consider the design in detail. •• We question the given norms and understand the rules of our field. •• We constantly strive to improve. •• We deliver on time and on budget and never let our clients down. •• We understand commercial values — design can make money. •• Sustainability and the delivery of low energy buildings are fundamental to our approach. •• BIM and the future is embedded in our work. One of the core strengths of the Practice lies in the collaborative approach to the

whole design and construction process. Acting as Lead Consultant in architecture and interior design LA brings together a fully respected and committed team of Project Managers, Specialist Engineering Consultants and Cost Consultants. Recently completed projects are Haven Point in South Shields, and The Glass Mill in Lewisham, London. Haven Point was opened in November 2013 by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. Council Leader, Councillor Iain Malcolm, said “Haven Point is a world-class facility and demonstrates our continued commitment to investing in the future of our residents and attracting more visitors to the borough” This new leisure complex is part of South Tyneside Council’s commitment to regenerate South Shields and the seafront to make it an all year round premier continued page 64 >

Armour Construction Consultants remain one of the largest indigenous consultancy firms in Scotland and, after 65 successful years, we continue to provide a professional and reliable service to our extensive and progressively expanding Client base. The Practice remains absolutely focused on maintaining and building upon the services we provide to existing Clients whilst expanding our services through establishing and building relationships with new contacts and new Clients. 65 King Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 1PT t: 01563 522223 e: kilmarnock@armour.co.uk Also at Glasgow and Edinburgh

www.armour.co.uk

FT Leisure have worked closely with LA Architects on numerous prestigious aquatic facilities around the UK. 1 Clapham Leisure Centre 2 Glass Mill Leisure Centre 3 Pier Parade | 4 Clapham Leisure Centre

Product Portfolio: Water Treatment and Filtration Systems Luxury Spa and Wellness Moveable Floors and Booms Disabled Access Platforms Wave Machines Water Features and Rides Diving Pool Bubbler Systems

T // 0161 494 5785 E // info@ftleisure.co.uk W // ftleisure.co.uk

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info@nbk.de www.nbk.de

coastal resort. At the feasibility stage is became clear that a comprehensive range of facilities would be required to meet the needs of the stakeholders and local community. Thus the centre includes a 25m swimming pool with moveable floor, teaching pool and leisure water with two water slides play-rig and other water features. This is complimented with dry facilities that include a fitness suite, healthy living suite with treatment rooms two multipurpose rooms with dedicated services and kitchens a visitor centre, education rooms and an external park/amphitheatre. The Glass Mill was opened in April 2013 and has recently received the ‘Best Built Project – Community Scale Scheme’ award at the London Planning Awards in February 2014. Judges commended the Glass Mill, for its ‘transformational impact on the wider area, benefits to the local community, design and ingenuity.’ Councillor Alan Smith, Lewisham’s Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “We’re delighted that The Glass Mill has triumphed at this year’s London Planning Awards.” This brightly coloured building was undertaken through collaboration between Barrett London and Lewisham

Council, and involved considerable public, stakeholder and generative consultation. The facilities include a 25m competition swimming and 20m teaching pool, both with moveable floors, spectator seating and a judge’s platform. On the first floor there is a gym and two dance studios along with a wellness area and treatment rooms, sauna and steam room. Further areas include a club room, climbing wall, crèche, reception/café area and meeting rooms. The front elevation comprises 1,400 coloured glass panels that are back illuminated and respond to the sounds of the city outside the building. This was undertaken by artist Phil Coy and LA architects. Both projects, as with all their schemes, are breaking through client’s commercial expectations and are proving to be exciting, popular and financially successful. Mike Lawless, Director of LA, told UK Construction that

it is the collaborative approach, such as is demonstrated in these projects, that the Company thrives on. “The buildings I love the most are the ones where people have worked together with a main aim of producing something great and that the people themselves have enjoyed the process,” he said.

EDUCATION UKC

Licensed Trade Charity New school at Begbroke Priory Refurbishment is close to completion on an Oxfordshire building on behalf of The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC). The Grade II Begbroke Priory – now known as LVS Oxford - is set in a conservation area, eight miles from the University City and is easily accessible to London in less than an hour. Part of the building dates back to the 17th century and nearby facilities include the 12th century St Michaels Church. Phase I of the refurbishment consisted of external repair and redecoration work, which was carried out between June and September 2013 by the Main Contractor, Cooper Construction Ltd. This cost approximately £135,000. LTC is an organisation that was founded over 200 years ago by people running pubs w ho wanted to take care of others who were less fortunate within their industry. There are many occupationally based charities like this, set up around the same time, who continue to provide

support and services to those working in a particular industry. The Charity employs more than 360 staff members and also receives help from a number of volunteers. LTC has three independent schools – Ascot, which is a day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 4-18 years. It provides education for over 900 pupils. Hassocks is a specialist school offering day and residential education for girls and boys aged 8-19 with learning difficulties such as autism and Asperger’s syndrome. It opened in 2009. These are both in addition to the newest building in Oxford which is for young people statemented on the autistic spectrum. It will provide education and weekly residential places for children aged 11-19 years old. It is based on the Hassocks model and the experience from that shows that students, parents and supporting local authorities value such specialist care and innovative approach to helping

young people reach their full potential. This is done through combined learning methods, a focus on real work and employability skills, promoting self awareness, health and wellbeing. Working alongside consultants, LTC met with local authority planners and conservation officer to ensure any repairs and internal alterations remained as sympathetic as possible to the original establishment, therefore ensuring it doesn’t detract from the special nature of the building and site generally. External works commenced in December 2013 and will be completed by the end of May. The end product is a project that everybody involved is proud of, and with its tranquil and calming effect on the site and property, it will make the school at LVS Oxford a unique environment for the school and its pupils. The school will open its doors in September 2014.

Excellence in Education projects Proud to have worked with the Licensed Trade Charity for nearly 15 years.

• Project Managers • Building Surveyors

• Cost Consultancy • Health & Safety

For more information visit: www.synergyLLP.com

UKC PROFILE

ISS Facility Services Landscaping

Providing the highest standards of landscaping for over 30 years ISS Facility Services Landscaping is passionate about the care and maintenance of beautiful and functional landscapes. For more than 30 years, ISS has been providing this trusted service to some of the most prestigious, successful organisations throughout the UK. As one of the few companies whose capabilities cover all services from grass cutting to floristry, the Company has built a reputation for providing excellence in every aspect of work. The Company can boast 1,500 employees with 400 vehicles, 35 depots and more than £4M of equipment. Many of the larger projects benefit from a dedicated, experienced and skilled management team and workforce to provide their expertise on a full-time basis. That doesn’t mean that small contracts are not taken seriously. Indeed, these projects get the same level of attention from the fully equipped mobile teams.

Regardless of budget or requirements, every project is approached with enthusiasm, fresh thinking and the skill to build long-term relationships with customers and those who use the facilities. Because the Company cares for many large and complex sites, a high level of horticultural knowledge and skill is required. It means a specialist foreman is deployed among with an appropriate number of full-time staff members to carry out grounds maintenance. Over the last 20 years, close bonds have been formed with leading businesses such as BBC, Centrica, De Vere, Exxon, Football Association, Hewlett Packard and Sport England. ISS work with a number of local authority clients, who in turn get maximum return on investments. Quality of service is rooted in strong and honest relationships, as well as open book partnerships so that everybody

shares the same goals from the outset. This type of openness saw ISS win ‘Best Partnership Award’ within the first two years of a local authority contract at Allerdale. ISS carries out grounds maintenance operations at a number of different MOD sites across England, Scotland and Wales. Specialist teams operate from 70 regional depots to deliver grass cutting, border, play area and open space maintenance as well as weed killing and sports field operations on a range of military establishments such as air bases, barracks, married quarters and administrative and training bases. One such development will give members of the Armed Forces staying at the famous Union Jack Club in London the benefit of the therapeutic power of plants thanks to a joint project by ISS, veterans’ charity Gardening Leave and Scotts Miracle-Gro. This will see the urban garden roof terrace and courtyard transformed into productive,

colourful horticultural spaces that can be enjoyed by guests staying at the wellknown building near Waterloo Station. Kitchen staff will also be able to use herbs grown in the garden in the meals they prepare for diners. The Union Jack Club is a service charity established more than 100 years ago as a haven for servicemen and women. Since then, 20 million guests have passed through the doors. Phil Jones, Managing Director at ISS said: “The Union Jack Club has a prominent role in providing non-commissioned members of the Armed Forces with a sense of place and belonging when they visit the capital and we are delighted to be able to

work with Gardening Leave and Scotts Miracle-Grow in bringing both colour and practicality to this important issue.” Work includes replacing the old soil and refilling the existing raised brick beds and pots with Levington compost. Old shrubs have been replaced with perfumed herbs and flowers donated by ISS, using the patriotic summer theme of red, white and blue. Containers by the front door have also been changed, making the entrance more welcoming. ISS continues to win awards for the projects undertaken and February saw the Company receive the Community Investment Team award

at the Outstanding Community Achievement Awards for the continuing partnership with Gardening Leave. Since 2010, ISS has continued to support the charity with its many walled garden projects throughout the UK. As well as the work ongoing at the Union Jack Club, projects have included Royal Chelsea Hospital, Ayr Flower Show, Scottish Veterans Residences’, and East Acton Outreach Garden. ISS Facility Services Landscaping, ISS House, Genesis Business Park, Albert Drive, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5RW.

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Groundcare Sales Department: Tel: +44 (0) 1522 507500 Freefax: +44 (0) 800 3894979 Email: gcsales@spaldings.co.uk www.spaldings.co.uk

your professional landscaping service provider

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UKC PROFILE

Countryside Properties

Places people love

Countryside Properties has a vision of creating outstanding new homes in excellent locations for people to enjoy, now and in the future. All new homes are well designed, carefully planned and delivered in accordance with the Customer Charter and the Consumer Code of Home Builders. With a proven track record in creating high quality homes and places that customers can enjoy, the Company holds more CABE Building for Life Standards than any other privately owned developer. Indeed, it was the first housing developer to receive the most highly prized architectural award of the RIBA Stirling Prize. The individual design solutions integrate with and enhance the surrounding natural and built environment to create places of distinctive character. Countryside works with leading architects and urban designers, as well as its own experienced in-house planning and design teams, to deliver imaginative design solutions for every new home and development built. Such good design helps to create a community, improve safety and security, and enhance a customer’s quality of life. The aim is always to create new homes that are as individual as each customer. The type and style of development varies enormously from family homes to townhouses, cottages and apartments. Whether they are located in new communities, urban, suburban or rural locations, every one of the homes reflects Countryside’s core brand values of individual character and lasting quality, with strong emphasis on light, flexibility and space within the home. Such adaptability means all new homes can evolve with a customer as their life inevitably changes. Countryside is proud of its record of creating great places to live and

building new homes that have a library, cafes, shops and a health centre. lower environmental impact. There will be a new town centre The new homes therefore offer opposite Canning Town station, customers reduced running costs through including a new Morrisons supermarket, greater energy and water efficiency, which will significantly expand as well as reduced maintenance. shopping and leisure activities. The Company currently has East City Countryside also unveiled the Point in development at Canning Town, second phase of Acton Gardens, an which offers a terrific selection of stylish ambitious regeneration of the South one- and two-bedroom apartments, Acton Estate in West London. two- and three-bedroom uberhaus, Liberty Quarter features luxury one-, one- and two-bedroom penthouses, and two- and three-bedroom apartments, and three- and four-bedroom penthouses. three- and four-bedroom duplex uberhaus These brand new homes offer an apartments in an impressive building. amazing specification as standard, Apartments and uberhaus developments including stylish kitchens, bathrooms have superb specification with spacious, and flooring fitted throughout. fluid living spaces complemented The brand new homes that Countryside by timeless chic décor. is creating will make up just part of the Sleek contemporary kitchens have the development. East City Point will also finest quality integrated appliances have a brand new, state-of-the-art primary and bathrooms have sparkling white school located at the heart of the project. sanitaryware with chrome finishes. The school is replacing the existing Balconies and terraces have external Keir Hardie School and will feature lighting and flooring is included throughout. a traditional London Square with a Acton Gardens will evolve over the contemporary style and character, coming years into a vibrant new urban roof garden, hall and dance studio. village, and Phase III has been given the There will also be full-time day care and go-ahead, which will deliver 240 homes, family support services. These fantastic 45% of which will be affordable. facilities will be shared with local residents for a wide range of community uses and events, and is opening this year. Established in 2003, London East City Point is Tower Crane Hire & Sales at the forefront Limited (LTC) offers craneage of the £3.7Bn solutions to meet a wide range regeneration and of demands, including sites redevelopment of with restricted access. Canning Town and Custom House. The redevelopment 4 Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, London WD6 1RN of the nearby t: +44 (0) 208 327 4060 Rathbone Market e: info@londontowercranes.co.uk w: www.londontowercranes.co.uk will include a new

Whole House Solutions from Essex Insulation For almost 50 years, Essex Insulation has been a leading distributor and installer of thermal and acoustic insulation products. In recent years, the company has grown and diversified to become a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;One Stopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Energy Solutions Provider offering innovative whole house solutions. In addition to our traditional services, we provide External Wall Insulation, External Render, Wall Tie Replacement, Heating & Plumbing and Insulating Concrete Formwork.

Essex House, Josselin Road, Basildon, Essex SS13 1EL Email: info@essexinsulation.co.uk Please contact Rob Bache, Head of Sales, or one of his team for advice and quotations.

01268 723727 www.essexinsulation.co.uk

NEW - Insulating Concrete Formwork Essex Insulation is now installing Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF). This is an in-situ concrete system of building that is quick to construct and offers high performance levels. ICF is based on hollow lightweight block components that lock together and allow complete flexibility of design with the use of curves, arches, intricate patterns and a wide variety of finishes. Our highly trained Estimating Team offers impartial advice and technical support on a number of energy efficiency, acoustic, fire protection and heating solutions. We can also assist with advice on Building Regulations, SAP and U-Value calculations.

UKC LEISURE

Piran Meadows

Holiday homes coming soon to Newquay An exciting new holiday home park is coming to North Cornwall in autumn. Set in the picturesque countryside, Piran Meadows is just a short drive from the golden beaches of Newquay. The whole park is being redesigned and re-landscaped to offer a stunning holiday destination where people can relax and experience unforgettable family members with friends and family. Piran Meadows is the newest park to be launched by Darwin Holiday & Leisure Parks, who are transforming a former caravanning, tenting and touring park to provide a top of the range holiday location, which will be open all year round for luxury lodge and caravan holidays. The Darwin team have worked in close partnership with some of the finest lodge and caravan manufacturers in the UK, which have been carefully selected for their expertise in building holiday homes of distinction. Each plot offers private parking, beautifully paved entrances and generous landscaped gardens, which are being sympathetically laid amongst established groups of trees. The state-of-the-art park will boast an indoor heated pool, bistro-style restaurant, contemporary bar, spa facilities and a fun GO ACTIVE programme. Cornwall is best known for its 300 plus golden sandy beaches and outdoor lifestyle, there are so many things to do in Cornwall that people are spoilt for choice. From sandcastles and surfing, swimming and seaside fun to top attractions such as the Eden Project, The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Crealy Adventure Park, there’s so much to do on the doorstep of Piran along the coastal pathways, or visitors can make their way along the coast by car or bike and marvel at the wealth of dramatic views. Cornwall is an adventure playground for visitors of any age and no matter whether individual interest is in maritime history, activity parks, water parks, educational outings, the culinary delights of the region, discovering quaint villages, a round of golf in one of the hundreds of pristinely managed courses, the majesty of Mother Nature, or simply somewhere to relax and get away from it all, Cornwall has everything to ensure that every family has the holiday of a lifetime.

The name of the holiday home gives people the chance to choose the park has come from Cornwall’s holiday home of their dreams, from a Patron Saint – Saint Piran, who is wide range of luxurious, prestigious represented in the development. designs; plus owners benefit from use October saw the removal of the of all facilities 12 months a year. old buildings to give a blank canvas The Main Contractor for the ready for brand new facilities, and development is Phelan Construction. plans for the luxury interior were put The Company prides itself on the calibre of in place at the end of last year. staff, its knowledge and delivery expertise. Construction of the main complex hasn’t This will certainly be key at Piran Meadows been slowed up by the poor weather at as the scheduled completion date draws the beginning of the year and a beautiful closer, but along with the expertise of park reception will greet holidaymakers NBDA Architects – who focus on achieving at the site when it is complete. design quality that provides benefits from Piran Meadows will be one of five locations project inception to completion and beyond in the country to be part of Hoseasons’ – the team is well on track to complete GO ACTIVE Breaks + Collection, offering a work at Piran Meadows this autumn. huge range of indoor and outdoor activities for holidaymakers and holiday home owners alike. There are plenty of accommodation types such as Wadebridge 3 – a luxurious and spacious 13ft-wide caravan with one double and ensuite For more than 20 years, shower, as well SSP has pioneered as two twin room innovative solutions for and shower. the water play market, Piran Meadows providing inspired learning will be able to environments for Local Authorities, Theme Parks, boast seven other Farms, Holiday Parks and different types of extensively within the accommodation, Education Sector. With a including Truro portfolio of over 9,000 Premier Lodge products, we pride ourselves on creating which will be a unique, cost-effective play state-of-the-art spaces for any client contemporary and project. spacious lodge with one master double Call us now on room with ensuite 01276 489999 for information on how shower and two we can reinvent play twin rooms. These times in your area! will have a family bathroom too. These holiday SSP Water & Play homes are available Unit 24, Space Business Centre, Molly Millars Lane, Wokingham RG41 2PQ to book for holiday Email: sales@sspwaterandplay.co.uk breaks and also to buy. Purchasing a www.sunsafe.co.uk caravan or lodge at Piran Meadows

New facilities for experts in private healthcare An extensive refurbishment and new build project that will see state-of-theart facilities installed at Spire Tunbridge Wells is edging to completion. Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital is getting an internal refurbishment and a new building will provide an MRI and CT scanning suite and first floor offices. A brand new outpatient facility is being incorporated too, boasting various clinical facilities including: dedicated plaster rooms, a specialised consulting room and enlarged construction room for gait analysis. Built in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the original hospital was constructed many years ago and is mainly singlestorey, but will now have a two-storey element that the Architect, Beaumont & Cowling was able to link with the MRI CT Lifescan building as part of the proposal. The Practice has a long-standing working relationship with Spire and, through detailed discussions and proactive reports, were able to come up with a solution that allowed redevelopment on a site with various courtyards where only limited development is permitted. Beaumont & Cowling’s influence on the project is wide reaching. Another example of this is the hospital requested that extensive landscape proposals were added, which the Practice undertook with the help of Landscape Architect David Huskisson Associates. Externally, the new build comprises brickwork, timber windows, and tiled pitched roofs to match the existing hospital, but because the courtyard is quadrangle, there is a raised monopitch roof and flat roof with large glazed rooflights to facilitate maximum delivery of natural light. The scheme has seen the replacement of doors, new decoration, hard finishes, walls, floors, carpets and lighting. The reception area is being brought in line with the Spire Healthcare’s corporate identity. New wall and floor finishes, hard and soft floor finishes, new furniture, reception desk, tables and chairs will be added to lift the ambience of the main waiting area. In order to comply with the latest building regulations, sustainable features have been incorporated to the development. Voltage optimisation units are included to assist on electricity and there is a high

thermal content to the walls and windows, while there are also low energy LED lights. System controls will monitor electrical usage and where possible, the development team have made the most out of natural light. As with any live site, this one has not been without challenges. The hospital has remained open throughout development so work has been phased, while poor weather has also been overcome. Noise pollution has been kept to an absolute minimum to ensure patients are not disturbed. Thanks to the work of the Main Contractor, DD Porter Construction, work on the site completed in April. Adrian Connolly, Hospital Director at Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital said: “We’re pleased how this development has progressed and look forward to completing the work in April. We are always keen to expand and increase the range of services we can offer and are looking forward to welcoming patients into our new facilities.”

Working in partnership...

HEALTH UKC

Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital

...to create innovative sustainable healthcare architecture Experienced

Delivering exceptional projects including: MRI & CT Installations, Daycare Facilities, Theatres, X-Ray, Endoscopy, Oncology & Pathology Suites

Inspired

Space-saving, high-impact intelligent designs

Innovative

Combining expertise with state-of-the-art design and medical technologies

Adding Value

Increasing space, versatility, productivity, & through-put

Sustainable

Creating ergonomic, adaptable environments with accessibility for all

Beaumont & Cowling Chartered Architects 15 Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield. S10 2BA To discuss your project call: 0114 266 3001

www.beaumontandcowling.co.uk

UKC PROFILE

Solarcentury

Respected solar company Founded in 1998, Solarcentury is one of the world’s most trusted and long-standing solar companies. Around since the early days of the solar industry, the Company is part of the evolution that has made photovoltaic (PV) panels the attractive investment they are. Its reputation is such that Solarcentury is an accredited member of The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and all products are certified by them. This tells customers that the Company is able to manufacture and install to the very highest standards every time. An award winning range of C21e solar tiles and slates are manufactured by the Company, and all customers benefit from the experience in terms of engineering quality, superior yields and sheer breadth of deployment. The business is global and growing, with offices in the UK, Italy and The Netherlands as well as a growing presence in Africa and Latin America.

In December 2013, the Company announced it had gained planning consent for the 13.4 MWp solar park near Eynsham, Oxfordshire – the constituency of Prime Minister David Cameron. The solar park will generate enough clean solar electricity to power the equivalent of around 4,000 homes once connected to the grid. In selecting the site, careful consideration was given to minimising the impact on local residents and maximising the benefit for wildlife. As with all Solarcentury’s sites, Eynsham benefits from a wildflower meadow planted around it, designed to stimulate biodiversity by creating conditions that are attractive to a wide variety of birds, butterflies and bumblebees. During the formal planning application process, the site received significant local endorsement with members of the local community writing letters of support. Construction of the solar park began in mid-December.

Working with Solarcentury on several projects including the one at Eynsham, Alistair McAuley, Caip’s Operations Director said: “We are delighted to have played a major role in the management and commissioning of this system and others like it for Solarcentury in time for the March tariff changes. We fought with the weather and incredibly tight timescales to deliver nearly 23MW of generation in only a three month period and we are very proud of this achievement. We would like to thank all of our staff and suppliers who worked tirelessly to complete all our projects before the tariff deadlines and we are looking forward to Solarcentury’s next challenge of even larger sites as economies of scale play a significant part in the viability of projects when considering reducing tariffs”. To find out more: 020 7549 1000 www.solarcentury.com

Communications Energy and Renewables Professional Services Site Management Facilities Management Nationwide Coverage

T +44(0)1925 741810 F +44(0)1925 740621 E enquiries@caip.co.uk

www.caip.co.uk

CIVIL UKC

Bosworth Marina Opening in summer in Nuneaton, on the picturesque rural Ashby Canal, Bosworth Marina will be home to upwards of 150 narrowboats, with 74 jetties of 21m and 76 jetties of 18m divided into four areas of the basin. These areas are Carlton Jetty, Shenton Jetty, Bosworth Jetty and Sheepy Jetty, and electricity and water will be available on each pontoon. Approved by Leicestershire City Council in 2011, this impressive five-star, twostorey facilities building will include a reception area, lounge area for boaters, showers, toilets and laundry facilities. There will be Elsan disposal, pump out facility and fuel as well. The L-shaped Bosworth Marina basin is set in 20 acres of grounds, which include an Environment Agency designed water ditch flowing through the site and it is intended to become a quiet haven for the rich wildlife within the Leicestershire rural area. Large landscaped areas surround the soft edged marina basin and these include a shallow lake of 4,700sq m and a water compensation of 3,500sq m, which is adjacent to the canal. Bosworth Marina is close to the home of a site of special scientific interest, which nestles just outside of the marina and is rich in wildlife. The marina protects this and is replicating the canal habitat within the marina site. Support will come with Bosworth Marina supplying and erecting signage and supplying information to boaters and the public to help them understand the importance of this very special area, along with suggestions about how to protect it. January marked the end of the earth moving to form the basin and the embankments along with the base of the building area and part of the main spine road.

Some of the big earth moving kit wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be required until there is more imported material to build up the levels to form the wildlife area and pond which adjoins the canal. Decking is still being installed and some of the landscaping along the Wellesborough Road has been carried out. The coir rolls with the aquatic plants are being planted around the edge of the basin. The new towpath is being constructed so that towpath users will be walking over the bridge as part of their route and will have a superb view of the marina. Car parking will be close and convenient to the berths, with roads and footpaths surrounding the basin. Cars will enter via a secure entrance and the jetties also have gated security for peace of mind. In addition, the basin will have CCTV and webcam. Main Contractor for the project is GJP Marina Developments, who specialise in all aspects of marina development and operation from assessment and initial site appraisal, through planning, securing finance, detailed design and finally construction. The Company has a new head office in Warwick, which is centrally located

and enables services to be delivered to all clients, nationally and internationally. Designed by Noah Heek & Partners, the facilities building now has roof and floors and is on target and is on target to be finished in September.

UKC PROFILE

Winvic Construction Winvic Construction is an industry leader in the construction of distribution, industrial, office and commercial buildings. The construction business also excels in the delivery of civil engineering, major earthworks and infrastructure, as well as being at the forefront of technical excellence in complex project solutions, full scale fit outs and refurbishments are frequently delivered. Comprehensive project delivery has allowed Winvic’s Clients to meet tight deadlines and rigorous specifications with confidence. The Company is at the cutting edge of building technology and environmental intelligence, building quicker, smarter and cost effectively. Winvic has delivered in excess of 15 million sq ft of industrial space and more than one-and-a-half million sq ft of commercial space. The experience extends to steel and concrete frame solutions and traditional masonry. Varied envelope solutions and exacting internal specifications all meet and exceed current regulations. Completed contracts include both standalone office blocks and multiple building office parks, comprising shell construction, fit out and enhanced works. Demanding refurbishments have been successfully managed within clients’ live environments. Further commercial experience includes high specification car showrooms and leisure facilities. The Company’s portfolio continues to increase, and work on site commenced in March 2014 to develop a new manufacturing facility at Centro, Wymbush for French family baker Brioche Pasquier. At a cost of £70M, the bakery is Brioche Pasquiers’ first manufacturing site in the UK. The French family business currently only has an office in Milton Keynes and imports its range from France. The development is a joint venture partnership between Hampton

Brook and Roxhill, and is being electric panel radiators. developed in two phases. Based on the performance in delivering Phase I will provide an initial 160,000sq Western Road, on time and below ft with a further phase of 70,000sq budget, Winvic has negotiated a second ft undertaken within five years. scheme, on Upperton Road in Leicester. Completion is due in December 2014, after Again, this is for Jamie Lewis Residential. which Brioche Pasquier will commence This project is for 220 ensuite studio fit out of its production lines. The facility apartments, as well as the core and will be operational in December 2015. shell works for a food retail store. Following a short respite between Work on this project started in completing the major student December 2013 and is on course accommodation project at Western Road, to complete in August 2014. Leicester, for Jamie Lewis Residential Ltd, the Winvic team has moved across the city to start on another scheme for the same client. The Western Road scheme consists of 413 ensuite studio apartments, delivered for the start of the academic year in The Midlands Leading Façade and Anti Crack Render Specialists September 2013. The nine-storey Modern render systems deliver architecturally pleasing results through colour and contemporary texture. They can be used on both new build and renovation projects, residential and design and commercial properties and can deliver high levels of insulation. traditional Victorian We also specialise in Met Sec Steel Framing projects of any size. façade five-storey Allen Atlas Render Solutions have an enviable reputation for quality workmanship blocks were the delivered on high profile projects throughout the UK. final phase of a We specialise in undertaking projects on behalf of main contractors, our experience, comprehensive skills and resources make us the first choice for Midlands based rendering projects of redevelopment any size, we are happy to provide competitive quotations for any size of project, so of a redundant whether you are a main contractor, architect or property developer please contact us. factory site that now consists of Congratulations! “Winvic Construction Ltd” a 651-bedroom For yet another high quality well managed project in Leicester. student campus. Internally, the Allen Atlas Render Solutions are BBA & Green Deal Approved EWI Installers rooms are defined using metal stud and plasterboard partitions and Allen Atlas Render Solutions LTD 14a Chestnut Drive, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4QX contain an ensuite Office Telephone: 0116 3260301 bathroom and Email: info@midlandrendering.co.uk kitchen/study WWW.midland-rendering.co.uk area. Heating is provided via

PROFILE UKC

Harris Construction Management Creative vision for all clients Harris Construction Management (hcm) is a multi-discipline construction company with a focus on construction projects, interiors and building services. The strength of the business has always been people and the strong relationships that are created. The Company does its best to work in synergy with the project needs and collaboratively with the client and team. Everything is delivered with commitment and passion, as hcm enjoys doing a job well. Creative in its vision, the Company has worked with some of the UK’s biggest blue chip companies, while the interiors side of the business derives its strength from the integrity of its team and quality of customers. One of the recent projects that hcm has been involved with is a Waitrose development in Milngavie, north of Glasgow. The Company completed the first stage of this development for Town Centre Securities. It comprised the clearance of over one acre of landlocked woodland across a wayleave, containing four 36-inch diameter pipes providing the water supply to Glasgow. With bird nesting season fast approaching and the design of the bridge still waiting for Scottish Water’s approval, hcm chose to crane lift the clearance plant across the wayleave with a 220-tonne mobile crane to ensure that the clearance commenced before the birds began to roost. Within one week, the tree clearance works were completed and the specialist plant safely returned back to pitch side – right between the sticks. This month will see the installation of the permanent bridge, allowing the West of Scotland (Rugby) Football Club to develop the reclaimed land with the installation of a 3G pitch. This project demonstrated the diversity of projects that hcm can deliver and its ability to overcome challenges with a flexible and creative approach. The Company secured a retail project back

in August last year when it won the design Work saw the installation of false ceilings, and build contract to refurbish a former retail raised access floors, air conditioning, space in Stevenage for new tenants H&M. LG7 compliant luminaries, demountable Now completed, this 20-week programme partitions and access control. consisted of dilapidation works, structural A new 50-space car parking area repairs, new floors and specialist demolition using Euroweb permeable hard to create a double height retail unit for H&M. standing and associated drainage and Hcm successfully won the project due to external lighting was also installed. its previous track record of working within a live environment as the project involved working within a busy shopping centre. When the contract was awarded, LONDON | SYDNEY | ROME Danny Mulqueen, Managing Director of Projects, said: “We pride ourselves on our ability to successfully deliver projects within live environments with minimum disruption. “Retail is a key sector for our business and we are always conscious of the requirements of the end user and sympathetic to the needs of an establishment which has to WOOD THAT WORKS continue to function whilst building work TWICE AS HARD continues on site.” The Company has vast experience Globally renowned with an and one previous ever evolving portfolio of project was at around 1000 products, Paragon Business Havwoods are continually Park in Wakefield. researching products which are It saw the fit-out innovative, both technically and aesthetically. More of a 20,000sq information is available at ft area over two www.havwoods.co.uk or email storeys for Yorkshire info@havwoods.co.uk Tel.+44 (0) 1524 737000 Properties.

UKC LEISURE

Cardigan Castle

Restoration to create community hub

A historically significant site in Wales is being developed to restore it to its former glory. Work is being undertaken at Cardigan Castle because the old redundant castle grounds and old Georgian House were falling into disarray. Purchased in 2003, there was a desire to turn it into a community outfit and visitor attraction, and this was made possible thanks to a fundraising campaign by Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust. Major European and HLF funds were secured in 2011 and renovation commenced on the site which dates back to 1176. It is costing in the region of £11M and the local community, as part of the grant mix, helped to raise £150,000 of this thanks to the hard work and dedication of all involved. Nowadays, much of the castle is now longer there, with only the north tower that was attached to a Georgian house, but the medieval walls are still prominent and have been renovated. On the site, there are seven buildings, the biggest of which is Castle Green House. Built in 1808, this Georgian house hand fallen into disrepair with collapsing roofs. Now, they have been completely renovated and reinstated, while the house itself will have conferencing rooms, interpretation rooms for visitors and meeting rooms for training and courses. The east wing of the house will boast luxury five-star self-catering and the rear courtyard has a gardens cottage that has also been reinstated to provide a one-bedroom, selfcatering five-star accommodation. This site will also have three bed and breakfast rooms above a 70-seat restaurant and bar, retail shop and education block in the old stables, refurbished as two classrooms. In addition, a housekeeper’s house is also being renovated tot house staff

for when the two-acre site opens. the equivalent wood had to be imported to Thanks to the input of the Community ensure the roof could hold the large slate Building Preservation Trust, this site will tiles. But this was done successfully. be completely sustainable. For this to The Main Contractor for the happen, income streams are important and project is Andrew Scott Ltd – a therefore there is a stage within the lawn local firm based in Port Talbot. area where up to 1,000 people will be able Work on the site is destined to finish to enjoy performances within the grounds. in autumn 2014 and a minimum of There will also be the Old Wall Garden – 19 jobs will be created as a result. with a permanent marquee to seat 200 guests for theatrical events or 144 for parties and weddings. Any construction on a site of such history like this is always likely to prove challenging and it was no different at Cardigan Castle. MOBILE CRANES, LORRY HIAB HIRE, Just ensuring CONTRACT LIFTING, MACHINERY MOVEMENTS, etc. the building SPECIALISTS work continues was difficult in DIAMOND DRILLING / SAWING itself because of WELDING FABRICATION the amount of (MOBILE UNIT, ALUMINIUM, STAINLESS, etc.) archaeological MACHINERY MOVEMENTS & INSTALLATION discoveries on the FOR HIRE site, which included STEEL CONTAINERS an underground SCISSORS LIFT & BOOM LIFTS chamber that TELEHANDLERS 8-14m was refilled in PLANT - DUMPERS, DIGGERS and recorded. TOOL - VIB PLATES, BREAKERS Due to the nature of the site, a constant We are proud to be associated with Cardigan Castle archaeological presence has been Boncath, Pembs maintained in order to record any CRANE, PLANT & TOOL HIRE further findings. TEL: 01239 841888 Replacing the roof at the main house MOB: 07966 841888 was also a difficult process because

PROFILE UKC

Eric Wright Construction Putting client satisfaction at the heart of business Formed in 1979, Eric Wright Construction has grown steadily and established a unique reputation for quality, value and above all, dedication to understanding and delivering each client’s needs. Although the focus is on contracts in the Company’s home region of Lancashire and North West England, work is carried out nationwide for partner-clients. Extensive resources are offered as one of the largest and most experienced construction contractor organisations in the North West. Eric Wright Construction places Client satisfaction at the very heart of its business, with meeting and exceeding clients’ expectations driven by strong leadership and an organisational culture of continual improvement. The project teams apply their expertise to contracts ranging from £500,000 to £50M in value, across a spectrum of procurement routes, which include design and build, traditional method, partnering, public sector frameworks and PFI procurement. The Eric Wright Construction team is highly experienced and enjoys the challenge of demanding projects in all areas of construction. Working for both public and private sector clients, the Company has successfully delivered a wide range of projects of varying complexity including industrial warehouses, starter business units, education facilities and secure buildings through to highly specialised, technical healthcare buildings. The Company is currently on site to build the new education facility at Lillyhall in West Cumbria. The Energy Coast UTC is a new concept in education for 14-19 year olds, combining traditional academic classroombased learning with practical skills. Its curriculum has a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering and maths, sustainability, clean technologies and construction. It is due to open this September with a first cohort of around 140 students, and up to 500 students will be studying there in 2018. The Company is also working on behalf of St Catherine’s Hospice to develop their new community palliative care centre

and café within the hospice grounds. St Catherine’s Hospice cares for people across Chorley, Longridge, Preston and South Ribble who are affected by life-limiting conditions. Eric Wright Construction is remodelling an old barn to rejuvenate it into a fresh, modern, new facility. Work required the demolition and strip-out of existing stone walls, floors, roof and doors. Walls will be reconfigured with the construction of blockwork walls and stud partitions, M&E installations, new doors and casings, plastering, suspended and mf ceilings, floor finishes and decoration. As well as serving t hose affected by serious illnesses on an informal basis through ‘drop-in’ therapy and information services and social activities, the welcoming café will be open for everyone to enjoy. The development is due for completion this autumn. Eric Wright Construction has also started work on a brand new state-of-the-art engineering building at Lancaster University. It will provide a world class environment with specially designed workshops, teaching laboratories and office areas. The two-winged development with a central atrium will house mechanical workshops and laboratories on the ground floor,

electronics and chemical engineering on the first floor with levels three and four providing academic office space, study areas and meeting zones. It will also comprise extensive chemical engineering facilities, hydropower rigs and nuclear laboratories, and high quality research facilities for marine renewable energy, chemical engineering, manufacturing, micro/ nano systems and terahertz. The centre will be open for business at the end of the year. www.ericwright.co.uk

UKC EXHIBITION

Greenbuild Expo 2014 Greenbuild Expo took place in Manchester on the 7th and 8th May 2014 and featured a packed conference programme and innovative exhibitors covering all aspects of sustainable buildings. Now in its sixth year Greenbuild Expo is one of the key events in the calendar of the sustainability sector. Once again in early May the doors of Manchester Central were thrown open to visitors from industry, academia and the public sector seeking ways to increase energy efficiency, reduce resource usage and improve the built environment. The event was completely free to attend and offered an exciting schedule of debates, workshops and seminars, as well as exhibitors showcasing the latest green products and solutions. The seminar highlights included Terry Nash from the UK Rain Water Harvesting Association giving practical advice on avoiding future floods and droughts, while Gavin Summerson from the BRE introduced the new BREEAM Non-Domestic Refurbishment and Fit-Out 2014 scheme. This new version of BREEAM is dedicated to the refurbishment and fit-out of offices, retail and other buildings, and has been developed following a piloting process including a range of building refurbishments around the UK. Andrew Hopton from HETAS talked about MCS accreditation and Paul Barker, Energy Manager at Bristol City Council described how the City Council were one of the early adopters of biomass for heating a range of buildings within the city. He then revealed the lessons learned and explained how it has developed its own fuel supply chain to make biomass a real success story. With retrofit still firmly on the agenda, the Green Deal and ECO debate area was once again at the heart of the show, giving visitors the chance to hear from key organisations and government departments on what Green Deal means for the built environment and how we can all make the most of this flagship green policy. In addition, the themed seminar rooms offered something for everyone, with sessions on everything from green materials and sustainable methods of construction, to low-carbon design and energy-saving refurbishment. Ignition 2014 Another feature that returned in 2014 was Ignition, the UK’s only woodfuel event, which runs as part of Greenbuild Expo. With a dedicated seminar programme and exhibition area, Ignition14 included advice on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), the various fuel types available and much more. Other highlights of Greenbuild Expo 2014: ••Sustainable Cities – green solutions

for commercial buildings from schools ••Technology Limited to hospitals, as well as high-density ••EDF Energy housing, focusing on smart buildings ••Energenie ••Greenbuild Awards – all the finalists of ••EON the second awards were on display, ••Go Geothermal Ltd and many presented their shortlisted ••Husky Heat Pumps projects, explaining how they have ••John Davidson (Pipes) Ltd achieved impressive energy savings ••Kingspan Environmental ••The Greenbuild Challenge – ••Manchester City Council highlighting the success stories from ••Marley Eternit Ltd our campaign for better buildings ••Marmox (UK) Ltd ••A wide mix of exhibitors including ••Mitsubishi Electric Manchester City Council, UK Green ••National Energy Action Charity Building Council and Zero Carbon Hub. ••NHBC Foundation ••Greenbuild Expo was free to attend ••One Electrical and took place on 7th and 8th May at ••Pegasus Planning Group Manchester Central. For further detail ••Profile 22 visit www.greenbuildexpo.co.uk and ••Public Sector Sustainability Association follow @greenbuildexpo on Twitter. ••Rainwater Harvesting Ltd ••Throughout Greenbuild numerous ••Saint-Gobain Weber Ltd seminar areas covered a broad ••Schneider range of topics including: ••Solar Focus ••Meeting the changing design and ••Taylor & Francis energy performance requirements ••The Concrete Centre of new educational buildings ••The UK District Energy Association ••Smart buildings need smart people: ••Timoleon How to ensure organisations can ••Treco make the most of technology ••TWHC Biomass through good practice? ••University of Salford ••Best Practice in specifying and ••Wagner (GB) LTD procuring Biomass heating systems ••Wetherby Building Systems Ltd ••Tackling Fuel Poverty under the revised ••Zero Carbon Hub ECO funding regime ••Affordable and efficient district heating ••Heating controls can cut energy bills by 40%. So why aren’t they in every home? Kiwa is an energy consultancy, Notiﬁed Body, UKAS-accredited testing ••A tale of two labs and training centre with expertise in construction materials, gas, cities: Elephant oil, solid fuel, renewable technologies, water and electrical product & Castle testing. regeneration Our work is especially valuable to builders and developers. ••BREEAM non-domestic Renewable energy projects often suﬀer from commercial pressures – refurb: the key we only sell you advice. If you really want to know the truth about changes in the design of heating systems (including hybrid or co-valent systems), the 2014 version of suitability of potentially contaminated land, what sort of foundations BREEAM New you actually need, or why your mortar mixes fail, then we can help. Construction Some of the companies that exhibited at Greenbuild 2014: ••ABBE ••ABG ••Ashwell Biomass Ltd ••Assets Skills ••Big Green Book ••BRE Global ••Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists

We provide RHI independent reports on metering arrangements (IRMAs), we advise on heat meters, carry out site surveys and issue RHI emissions certiﬁcates for approved biomass boilers. If you need MCS approval on a product, we are the leading centre of expertise for biomass products in the country and a fully accredited Certiﬁcation Body for MCS Products (pending)! The Orchard Business Centre, Stoke Orchard Cheltenham, GL52 7RZ, UK

T +44 (0)1242 677877 F +44 (0)1242 676506 www.kiwa.co.uk

PROFILE UKC

Shropshire Towns & Rural Housing Ltd 68 New affordable homes One of England’s newest arm’s-length management organisations (ALMO) is driving forward the development of much needed affordable homes in Shropshire. Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing (ST&R) is working in partnership with the HCA to build 68 high quality affordable homes over 15 sites throughout the county. The exciting new development, led by ST&R Housing on behalf of Shropshire Council, is part of Shropshire’s Affordable Housing Programme to regenerate communities and help tackle the shortage of affordable homes in the county. Following extensive consultation with local communities and further to achieving planning approval for a number of sites, ST&R Housing are re-developing poorly utilised areas within their housing portfolio. The majority of properties will comprise mainly two-storey houses and three two-bedroom bungalows and will be a mixture of tenures with 27 low cost homes for sale (shared ownership) and 41 for affordable rent. Each home is being built to a very high standard and will conform to the HCA’s Housing Quality Indicators and Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. ST&R Housing has contracted Speller Metcalfe to undertake the design and building work for all 15 sites.

Building work has now started on the first of several sites in the north of the county in and around the town of Oswestry. The new development off Swan Lane in Oswestry comprises 15 threebedroom, and four two-bedroom, high quality homes and replaces an estate that had historically suffered from high levels of anti-social behaviour. The development will offer a mix of houses for rent and low cost home ownership. As part of its commitment to meet Shropshire’s housing need, ST&R Housing will be planning to increase the number of new

builds with plans to develop a minimum of 10 new homes over the next few years. The first sites are scheduled for completion in Autumn 2014 with all 15 sites schedules to be completed by Spring 2015. For more information visit the website at www.starhousing.org.uk. You can also follow on Facebook or on twitter @star_housing

UKC COMMERCIAL

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Regenerating the area Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has embarked on a multi million pound regeneration thanks to the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places Programme. It was announced in April that Merthyr Tydfil is to receive £12.87M following an application that the Council’s Regeneration Team submitted last year. This money will create jobs, increase housing supply and upgrade buildings primarily in the Pontmorlais area but will also include housing development sites in the northern area of the County Borough. The programme aims are to deliver strategic, regionally important projects of significant scale, encourage wider investment in housing, tackle poverty by creating jobs, encouraging skills development and helping people into work, build sustainable and vibrant communities that are more prosperous, better educated and healthier. It will revitalise and promote the sustainable development of the town centre and surrounding Communities First clusters, making the most of the green infrastructure, heritage and historic character. Councillor Brendan Toomey, Leader of the Council, said: “This funding will now enable the delivery of key projects such as the revitalisation and refurbishment of key buildings in the town centre for new uses, bringing forward key sites for new housing opportunities, development of the Cyfarthfa Heritage area and an Enterprise and entrepreneurship facilitation programme.” In other developments within the town, work has now completed on the new Contact Centre/One-Stop Shop at the Council that has included changes that affect the access and use of the existing civic centre. The work is part of improving the

way the Council provides services to The cashiers/benefits area was converted its customers and aims to provide a into a predominantly telephone call centre more practical environment in which and the development is DDA compliant, visitors to the civic centre can access with access ramps incorporated. information and council services. Work completed at the end of March. Work took part in two phases, the first of which was between August 2013 and December 2013. This saw development of the main Contact Centre in the area where reception used to be. A temporary reception was set up while the customer reception for cashiers/ PLUMBING, HEATING benefits counters continued to be DESIGN AND INSTALLATIONS in use until the end of Phase I. The front of the building was used by the Main Contractor, PJ Saunders, The Coach Yard, High Street, and external Brynsadler, Pontyclun CF72 9BX scaffolding was erected around the building as cavity TEL: (01443) 228743 wall insulation Fax: (01443) 228791 was installed. Mobile: 07836 575322 Phase II started Email: info@geofftremblettplumbingheating.co.uk in January 2014 and included the transfer of the arrangement of the temporary reception to the new Contact Centre reception.

We are a friendly, professional organisation providing electrical services for Commercial, Domestic and Industrial customers throughout South Wales & The West.

G & C Electrical has many years experience in the electrical contracting and installation industry. We currently have a dedicated team of qualified electricians and apprentices carrying out work in all aspects of the industry including commercial, domestic and industrial sites.

Unit 12 The Beeches, Coedcae Lane, Pontyclun, RCT, CF72 9DY

Mobiles: 07970 870126 / 07843 051460 Tel: 01443 239942 Fax: 01443 606060 Email: info@gandcelectrical.com www.gandcelectrical.com

We offer confirmed pricing to all customers with rates quoted before all work commences. Our work is fully guaranteed and carried out to the highest standards, using only the best available components and parts. With recognizable uniformed staff, no job is too small and all work is considered. All our electricians are certified, 17th edition and Part P qualified. We are an NICEIC approved contractor. Based in Pontyclun, we have built up a solid reputation with repeat customers and word of mouth recommendations and strive to become the number one electrical services company within the area.

PROFILE UKC

McAleer & Rushe Award winning development company McAleer & Rushe’s project portfolio is continuing to blossom, with many more projects in the pipeline. A project that is almost finished is Motel One at Minories, London. This comprises a design and build at 24-26 Minories, which included the demolition of an existing building that was replaced by a 291-bedroom, 17-storey hotel. This development is utilising a number of intelligent building systems to help achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. These include the design of highly thermally efficient facades with just 35% glazing, heat recovery systems, and green roofs to help thermal efficiency. Work on this project will be complete in July 2014. Another project currently under way is in Bournemouth town centre for the town’s first five-star hotel. Located at Terrace Mount, the scheme will cost £60M. The start of excavation work for two Hilton hotels in September marked a major milestone for the prime town centre site, which had been subject to lengthy negotiations and planning wrangles. With planning permission in place, builders started unearthing tonnes of rubble so work could get under way. Town centre Councillor David Smith: “It’s fantastic for Bournemouth that such a high profile company wants to open in the town. “It’s a crucial boost for the town.

“We will be very proud to have the Hilton hotel brand in town. It will also create new jobs and hopefully kick-start other developments in the town centre.” The car park was originally sold off to developers to fund the refurbishment of the Winter Gardens concert hall. Planning permission for more than 200 flats was initially secured but these plans were cancelled due to the economic downturn. The site changed hands and is now being developed by London-based THAT Group, who will develop an iconic five-star hotel topped with a sky bar and a three-star hotel. McAleer & Rushe is the Main Contractor, for the development that is worth £56M. The five-star hotel will consist of 167 bedrooms, 59 apartments, a leisure club, swimming pool, conferencing facilities and a café, while the threestar hotel will be 114 bedrooms. The Company is also working on a visually striking new hotel and office complex that is

replacing buildings opposite Kidwells Park. Demolition work removed Park House and Kidwells Park House in order to make way for the multi-million pound development containing a Premier Inn. It will provide a 124-bedroom hotel with restaurant and bar facilities, car parking and an adjoining commercial building to provide 50,000sq ft of office space. The Company has a very strong relationship with Premier Inn, so it is only natural that when another development came along, they would be first on the list to develop one, having previously worked on Premier Inn developments Heathrow Terminal Five, and Aberdeen Airport.

UKC PROFILE

Green Shoots Architecture

Forward thinking approach Established in August 2011, Green Shoots Architecture specialise in architectural work on listed buildings with character in the West Yorkshire area. The Company also undertake work in the retail offices and the commercial sectors and will work nationally. Headed up by Director, Nick Mortimer – whose experience ranges in working on projects ranging between £1M up to £200M in his past, the Practice has a current project range in value from £100,000 to £5M. The Practice is in safe hands with such experience. Nick started out at 17, and gained all the relevant training and qualifications needed. His experiences at working at larger architects practices enable him to deliver effectively under the Green Shoots Architecture banner. Previous experience incorporates housing and key city centre projects which are well known such as The Light in Leeds and Belle Vue Mills in Skipton.

This level of experience is furthered because of the differing sectors that work has been undertaken in and Nick’s diversity and ability to deal with a range of interesting and unique projects. Green Shoots has a very diverse list of current projects which are in the residential, retail, and commercial sector as well as unique projects working for the local community to deliver their future requirements. The Practice has an enviable Client list, which allows Nick to bring his experience to the projects. Unlike many companies, the Practice does not need to advertise, nor does it have a website. The way it gets new work and projects is the best way of all – through recommendations and word of mouth. Green Shoots is very well connected in the local area and projects range from Bradford to Bath and Huddersfield to Hull. Because of the projects undertaken in Bradford on listed mill buildings, the

Practice profile has gained more recognition and they were recommended to a National company called PEC who are based in Bradford but work across the country. Through the new contact, there have been recommendations to several PEC clients, which is another strand of the diverse portfolio. Green Shoots strive to deliver for its Clients. That first project in Bradford for Green Shoots was the development of 13 apartments to a listed building, on behalf of Jewish investors. This is part of a huge project that will see the development of 1,000 apartments in the city. Currently works on site or in the planning stages are for a total of 520 Units with feasibility studies for a further 200. The vision is for these to be completed within the next five years, and because Bradford has recently become an exciting opportunity with the Westfield Shopping Centre commencing, there is strong

interest from other developers in many of the buildings, which in turn could provide many more opportunities for Green Shoots. It is a forward thinking company and more than happy to discuss existing buildings opportunities. One of the Practice’s more prestigious future schemes is on the Palace Theatre development in Huddersfield. Green Shoots will deliver the architecture for this development, which is located in Huddersfield and is for a key client within the Sikh business community. A project such as this has helped to broaden the horizons of Green Shoots, with work also going ahead on a teaching facility for the Sikh temple in Bradford. This shows the adaptability and ability the Practice has in ensuring each new project gets the personnel touch required. Costing £1M, this comprises classrooms and new banqueting space and is the first phase the long-term vision for the temple and it is another example of how broad the project experience is at the Practice. It helps that Green Shoots has an enviable contact list to call upon, should the assistance of any local agents or professionals be required for any such project. Nick would welcome the opportunity to discuss any future projects. The project at Canal Road is a significant one for the Practice with what initially started out as a vision to construct and fit-out 73 apartments has changed since Green Shoots got involved with this Client.

Now, there are extra units that are way relationships are built with clients being worked on in order to maximise is key to the success of Green Shoots, space and in turn, give the Client and Director Nick Mortimer told UK better value for money and a more Construction about how important building commercially viable scheme. these bonds and connections with clients What was a project for 73 apartments will continue to be at the heart beat of will now provide 83 upon completion the practices vision for future work. on this six-storey building. “A lot of this business, I believe – Comprising the use of timber construction and architecture – is framed extensions, work will be about relationships and getting on completed in September. well with your client” he said. The use of timber framed extensions has “If you’ve got a good relationship with ensured the project does not impact on your client, they’ll work with you and the adjoining Victorian Bradford Beck or together you can deliver the project.” adjoining building owners. The Practice has worked closely with the local planning and building control departments to deliver the project in the midst of the recession. The project team and especially Construction Project Manager John Bowen have been key to the delivery of the project. The working relationship between Nick and John and their links to the sub contractor team have enabled all We are pleased to be associated with aspects of the build to run smoothly. Greenshoots Architects and wish them Ultimately, the

structural surveys ● feasibility ● detailed design domestic ● residential ● commercial

Iain Russell BEng CEng MICE

continued success for the future

51 Shaftsbury Avenue Woodlands, Doncaster DN6 7TH 07525 394254 jedi.electrical@gmail.com

Wilsden, Bingley, West Yorkshire

m: 07766 404469 e: iain.russell@talk21.com

MASEFIELD BUILDING SERVICES LIMITED Design, supply, install and commission building services

With ever increasing levels of regulations being imposed on the construction industry with regards to energy efficiency, Masefield Building Services are able to put more than twenty years of experience to good use. With energy efficiency being at the heart of our design and installation processes. From initial feasibility and client consulation through the design process, installation and final commissioning, standards are kept at their highest. Apart from preparing designs including the latest standards, we offer as part of our project management value engineering, making sure at every stage that our client is getting best value for money.

2 Pinfold Lane, Misterton, Doncaster DN10 4FE amalson@maseﬁeldservices.co.uk www.maseﬁeldservices.co.uk

Our experience lies within the commercial sector including leisure centres, hotels, schools (including BSF), hospitals, supermarkets, etc.

UKC RETAIL

Chunky Chicken

Top franchise opportunity expands across North West When it comes to fast food outlets then Chunky Chicken is top of the pecking order. It is a leader in its field having pioneered the Peri-Peri burger and wrap. The business was founded in 2005 and is managed by Fareed Nasir and Mohammed Tayub who have 18 years experience between them. Fareed spent eight years working in the chemical engineering business and Mohammed is a food technologist. Together they provide the ideal blend of management and technical expertise. The Chunky Chicken menu has grown over the years beyond just chicken. It now includes chicken wraps, burgers, chicken sandwiches and fresh salads. A key ingredient to Chunky Chicken’s success is unchanged – its fantastic signature sauces. The motto of Chunky Chicken is, “only give to your customers what you would give to yourself”, and this is something they would expect all franchisees to adhere to. Chunky Chicken is focused on the future and is currently seeking franchise partners to help make Chunky Chicken the leading chicken franchise opportunity with opportunities available in many areas both nationally and internationally. The business facts speak for themselves. With the opening of the first Chunky Chicken the business set a high standard of quality and have maintained it successfully in every one of their outlets to date. Because of tightly controlled internal cost structures, the Company has proven that a Chunky Chicken franchise can be successful anywhere. The business is looking for people who have a passion for innovation and customer service Chunky Chicken. The Company has a variety of franchise opportunities right now in several locations. Chunky Chicken serves high-quality, cooked to order food, available for takeout, delivery and dine-in. Today, this simple idea has become one of the hottest franchise opportunities around! Chunky Chicken aims to become a world leading brand in fast food, offering great food and excellent value food to chicken lovers from all communities. Along with

providing a world class service and quality to customers the Company aims: ••To be known for our quality and profitability ••To establish a world class brand ••The fastest growing fast food Chicken Chain in Europe and Asia ••With fantastic innovating products ••A respected Franchise ••Ethical Business practices

all franchisees, and make Chunky Chicken name synonymous with excellence. Chunky Chicken’s figures are some of the best in the industry. But it’s what is behind them that truly makes Chunky Chicken such a terrific opportunity. It’s the number of loyal customers, it’s the unique, made-from-scratch menu items, first and foremost, it’s flat-out, fantastic food. All food is made on the premises, and customers enjoy it in a comfortable, sit-down environment.

Everyone working for Chunky Chicken is an important player on the team. The Company believes in building personal professional relationships with customers and being polite and helpful at all times, making it easy for people to do business with them. Franchisees have the right to develop each business in a defined geographical area, with a guarantee from Chunky Chicken of no Chunky Chicken competitor in that area. Franchisees can offer the full breadth of Chunky Chicken expertise, all supported by the full span of our capabilities. The Company’s 33 Garner Close, Barwell, Leicester LE9 8NG aim is to provide a quality service with an emphasis on personal service and professionalism, to email: impulse.electrical.uk@gmail.com build up a strong two way working relationship with

IMPULSE

ELECTRICAL LTD We are pleased to be associated

with Chunky Chicken and wish them continued success for the future

Tel: 07736 049176

PROFILE UKC

Petersfield Housing Association Celebrating its 40th anniversary Set up in 1974, Petersfield Housing Association (PHA) is a traditional housing association that is committed to meeting the housing needs of local people. With stock largely consisting of general needs housing, PHA also has shared ownership properties, leasehold properties for the over 55s and some supported housing for people with learning difficulties. For the first decade after being established, the Association was run and managed by a group of volunteers, with staff employed for specific tasks or to deal with the amount of paper work as the stock grew from two properties to almost 40. The first office base was a small room rented from the Voluntary Centre at the back of Winton House in the High Street, but by 1988, the Winton House Trust agreed to build an extension to the back of the house with two rooms for the use of PHA. In 1994 the office was moved to larger rented accommodation at 28 The Spain and five years later, the current premises – a three-storey building plus basement – was purchased. By November of that year the ground floor had been converted to provide four rooms as offices and five months later, five flats for rent, one in the basement and four on the floors above the offices, were completed. By 1993, the Association managed approximately 100 dwellings, and today that number has increased to over 285 properties with 97 shareholders. It is a member of the Wayfarer Consortium, a progressive group of housing associations. Wayferer’s mission is to work together with national and local government to deliver a common goal to increase the supply of necessary affordable housing in southern England.

By working together, members are able to achieve more than they would by operating alone. Residents are served by a dedicated team of seven staff members from the office at Lavant Street in Petersfield. In all of its operations, PHA aims to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction and meaningful resident engagement, enhance the housing stock to meet present and future customer needs, develop quality affordable homes for those in need and be a strong, viable and outward-looking organisation that has an excellent local reputation. The Association currently has four sites in development, one of which is due for completion in August 2014. This will see the development of seven houses and five flats at Old Acre Road – a brownfield site in Alton. Due to some unique features of this site, East Hampshire District Council awarded PHA a grant to support this development. The Architect for this project is ReFormat LLP, and the quality of the design won a National Housing Design Award (2005) for a precursor of the current scheme. This scheme will finish in the summer. One of PHA’s schemes that has now completed is at Paddock Way in Petersfield. This has provided two two-bedroom homes, which was complete in April. June will see work finish at Rushes

Farm too. Also based in Petersfield, this project comprises the conversion of three listed garages into a one-bedroom bungalow for the ambient disabled. And the other site in development is at Mill Lane in Alton, which will see the development of nine two-bedroom flats. They will be finished early in 2015. The Architect for this site is also Re-Format LLP. The future is certainly bright for PHA, who will continue to develop new homes and meet housing needs, which will benefit local residents. Petersfield Housing Association, 32 Lavant Street, Petersfield, GU32 3EF.

UKC HOUSING

Cawston Grange New offering from Redrow Homes

UKC PROFILE

The new Heritage Collection at Cawston Grange offers a fabulous selection of three-, four- and five-bedroom detached homes, positioned two miles to the south west of Rugby on the edge of the open countryside. Cawston Grange is the epitome of the new collection of homes, delivering a traditional quality of home building, designed for modern life. The homes at Cawston Grange are carefully considered to care for the whole family, from lively open plan living areas to a separate lounge to escape to for a little peace and quiet, from generous bedrooms for everyone at the end of the day to luxurious finishing touches like ensuite bedrooms and walk-in wardrobes. Cawston Grange is well serviced in terms of amenities with a co-op convenience store and chemist within one mile and a Sainsbury’s supermarket just over one and a half miles away. Rugby Town Centre has a wide variety of shops and stores including many well known High Street names and a range of smaller, independent stores. Excellent schools are on the doorstep of this development, making it an even more attractive proposition with Cawston Grange

Thomas Johnstone Providing tailored solutions to a range of clients Thomas Johnstone is a specialist fit out contractor working with premium brands across the leisure, retail, commercial and public sectors throughout the UK. The in-house capability includes manufacturing, building, M&E services, FM support and decorating providing customers with a single source for all their project requirements, and the confidence that a high level of service will be provided. In seeking best value, Clients are aware of the benefits of placing their trust in Thomas Johnstone’s team of professionals, who have a common set of core values and an unsurpassed attitude to meeting and exceeding their expectations. The Company is working on what is the largest hotel investment programme in the North of England – the stylish threephase refurbishment of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Manchester Airport. Phase I, which was by far the largest within the development, is now complete. It resulted in a complete transformation of the hotel’s level three, which saw the opening out of lobby space, and additional check-in desks incorporated. There was also a complete restyle of the bar and a redesign of the restaurant concept, creating a contemporary space that works

school only 0.3 miles away, achieving well items such as the vacuum cleaner. in excess of the national average results. On the first floor there’s the family In addition, Bilton and Rugby bathroom plus three of the five bedrooms, High School also perform well including master bedroom complete with and are both within one mile. the modern day essential ensuite and The Redrow development is ideal for those the added glamour of a dressing room. who want to climb the property ladder. Up on the top floor there are two more Homes include the five-bedroom bedrooms with a shared shower room. Hampstead, set over three floors and Designed by Neil Boddison Associates designed with modern living in mind. Ltd, this is a long-term project that At the heart of the home is the expansive will be complete in May 2015. open plan kitchen, dining area and family room. It’s an inviting space SHEEN BRICKLAYERS LTD offering a place for families to eat, Bricklaying Contractors meet, relax or generally socialise, while the separate We are pleased to be associated with Redrow Homes lounge is ideal and wish them continued success for the future for more formal entertaining. The handy utility Fairford House, Prospect Gardens, Elm Road, keeps the washer Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 3PX and dryer out of the kitchen and Mobile: 07973 775393 Office / Fax: 01386 422377 provides additional Email: keith.sheen@sky.com storage space for household

for a variety of different guests needs. In addition, 120 Business Class rooms were completely remodelled, and a dedicated Business Class lounge was added which provides stunning runway views and a dedicated check-in for business room guests. The 27-room meeting and events also received a soft refurbishment. Comprising nine-storeys, the hotel boasts these satisfied clients and with a portfolio a strong design element and guest containing projects like the Radisson bedrooms have been designed to create Blu Hotel, this trend will continue. an uncluttered and calming mood. At a total cost of £10M, this development pays homage to iconic Mancunians, past and present, with many subtle upholstery and curtain specialists references in and We are an established specialist in upholstery and curtains. around the hotel. Whether commercial or private, every project we undertake is With a strong completed to our uncompromising high standards. We are also track record in the known for our expertise in the manufacture of fixed seating, delivery of quality along with refurbishment and restoration of loose furniture and the supply of quality curtains and blinds. projects, Thomas Johnstone has Unit 1, Lochlands Business Park, Larbert, Stirlingshire FK5 3NS grown through Phone: 01324 563903 Fax: 01324 558363 Email: info@lecsupholstery.org.uk Web: www.lecsupholstery.org.uk referrals and repeat orders from

PROFILE UKC

North Yorkshire County Council Delivering the successful Civil Engineering Contractor’s Framework North Yorkshire County Council’s (NYCC) framework to deliver engineering projects and schemes not awarded to the Term Maintenance Contractor is almost two years old. The Civil Engineering Contractor’s Framework (CECF), which went live in the summer of 2012, covers a number of areas of activity. These include infrastructure, passenger transport works, household waste recycling centres, public rights of way, and the Framework also covers footbridges, bridges, masonry and painting steelwork. A total of 18 contractors have a place on the CECF, of which 60% have an operating base in North Yorkshire or the City of York. The CECF is divided into 22 lots – with a maximum of eight providers per lot – covering two geographical areas of the county, for a variety of civil engineering activities split into different range values. Since the first scheme commenced in

October 2012, a total of 12 projects with an estimated value of £9M have been procured and completed or are currently under construction through the CECF. One of these is the multi-million pound scheme to build the park and ride site at Whitby. At a cost of £2.8M, this development, which will cut congestion in the seaside town and was opened in April 2014. Located on the A171 near Cross Butts Farm, the site has space for 230 cars but will also provide parking for up to 450 once building work is completed. Buses run every 15 minutes and stop at West Cliff North Terrace, St Hilda’s Terrace and the town’s bus station. Based on NYCC’s Forward Procurement Plan, a number of projects are expected to be procured through the CECF by the end of the next financial year. This includes Boroughbridge concrete repairs, Catterick Great Bridge, and B6265

Marton-le-Moor culvert replacement, all with an estimated cost of £100,000 each. In terms of civil engineering and highways work, the scheme will include construction of a household waste recycling centre at Brompton-on-Swale, at an estimated cost of £750,000. The success of the Framework has seen the City of York Council become the first Partner Organisation to utilise the CECF. A further competition is under way and this will result in one of the contractors from Lot 18 being chosen to deliver a footbridge and cycleway project at Haxby. The CECF scheme is subject to formal reviews, the last of which took place during last autumn/winter. It is anticipated the next review will happen this autumn and all contractors are monitored over the course of the Framework, based on their tender returns and schemes delivered.

Building and Refurbishment We are one of only two Chartered Building Companies in the Hull area. PBS Construction (N.E) Ltd has undertaken a variety of Commercial and Industrial projects including warehouses, shops and refurbishment. Bridges PBS Construction (N.E) Ltd have completed 114 contracts since 1990 involving bridge construction and refurbishment, ranging from the reconstruction of Serpentine Bridge at Hardwick Hall Country park near Sedgefield, completely rebuilding a single span elliptical masonry bridge on an ornamental lake, a bridge which was originally built in 1754 designed by James Paine.

Many civil engineering contracts in the Yorkshire and North East are evidence of PBS Construction (N.E) Ltd's professional quality and expertise since its formation in 1988. Stadium View, 361 Anlaby Road, Hull, HU3 6AB

Tel: (01482) 211132 Fax: (01482) 211133 E-mail: info@pbsconstruction.co.uk

Civil Engineering PBS Construction (N.E) Ltd are recognised for their Civil Engineering work as many roads, bridges and other contracts, particularly in Humberside, Yorkshire and the North East, will testify. We have recently completed a four year Term Contract for Highway Maintenance and Improvement Schemes for Hull City Council on which we carried out 110 schemes with an approximate contract value of £10 million. Concrete Repair & Specialist Services We have a thorough and professional knowledge of a wide range of specialist materials and systems. We are therefore in a unique position to provide specifically engineered remedies tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of concrete repair projects. By employing a professional team, we are able to provide the simplest and most cost effective solutions to damaged or woe concrete structures. Paving PBS Construction (N.E) Ltd have a vast amount of experience from the construction of small paths and drives to public realm sites using the following paving materials:- Pre-cast concrete pavings and blocks, In-situ concrete, imprinted concrete and exposed aggregate, Clay block paving, Yorkstone paving and setts, Granite paving and setts.

UKC PROFILE

TJ Evers Innovative extension of John Warner School

UKC PROFILE

TJ Evers has completed work on a new extension at John Warner School, which has provided top class arts facilities thanks to a new classroom, built using innovative products that deliver the required thermal performance with a reduced thickness. The John Warner School gained academy status in 2011 but for the school to maintain high quality provision for growing pupil numbers, additional teaching space and facilities were required. The Company has overseen the construction of the new two-storey extension, including two specialist arts rooms on the ground floor and a further six general teaching classroom split between the ground and upper floor. This scheme benefited from the Kingspan TEK® building System, and Kingspan Unidek Aero®, as part of the p itched roof and wall build-ups. The components are structural insulated panels (SIPS), which were pre-cut off site to the project’s requirements, ensuring a smooth, predictable erection program with minimal site waste. Work on this project is now complete,

PGR Construction Rapidly developing construction business Based in Oundle, PGR Construction is one of the fastest growing businesses in Peterborough. The business was established 27 years ago and initially specialised in groundwork’s but in the last ten years, the Company has expanded to incorporate various interests in groundwork’s, construction, recycling and demolition services. All customers benefit from a team of highly skilled and qualified tradesmen with a core of subcontractors to ensure that all jobs, from small project builds to large scale industrial sites, are completed to the highest standards, on time and within budget. The important ethos of quality work and high levels of customer care are applied to every project and the Company has vast experience in all areas of the construction industry. Whether it’s a one-off domestic project or a long-term industrial or commercial development, PGR Construction has the skills, experience, enthusiasm and expertise to make it happen. Experience is wide ranging, with the Company also working within the healthcare, regeneration, highways &

and is another example of the high quality work provided by TJ Evers - a privately partnering or framework agreements. owned family building company working For many years, the Company has throughout East Anglia and outer London. worked consistently for many years in Operating as a principal contractor with schools and colleges in Essex, Suffolk, an annual turnover in excess of £17M, the Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and outer Company undertakes major works together London, with considerable experience with smaller projects using its specialist in all aspects of the education sector. works division. This highly respected, multi-disciplined NCC Mechanical Services Limited professional Unit 9 Redhills Road, South Woodham Ferrers Essex CM3 5UL organisation provides attention T: 01245 426667 F: 01245 426668 to detail and prides itself on quality enquiries@ncclimited.co.uk buildings that are www.nccmechanicalservices.co.uk tailored to individual client requirements. Procurement routes can be through NCC has been established for 20 years undertaking commercial heating, competitive plumbing, ventilation, air conditioning and renewable energy tendering or installations. The company trades in Essex and the surrounding counties negotiations on all and undertakes mechanical services work for main building contractors and direct clients such as the NHS and Essex County Council. types of building contracts, including

civils and leisure & community sectors. PGR Construction is currently involved in the construction of a new cricket pavilion. Located on the Kilburn Road side of Doncaster Close, it will be completed in time for Oakham’s hosting of the Bunbury Cricket Festival in summer 2014. The Company is also working on the construction of a new classroom block – the Merton Extension. Phase I will house the geography, philosophy and religious studies departments, and the building will be integrated into the current Merton classroom block, which will be a central hub for languages and humanities. Phase II will create a new business school for business studies, economics and politics. Pupils should be able to enjoy

lessons in the new facility early next year. The significant growth, in terms of turnover and business activities led to the decision to become a Limited company in April 2012, under the name PGR Group Ltd, and future growth is guaranteed with this successful business. PGR Construction, 6 The Old Quarry, Nene Valley Business Park, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4HN.

Retirement housing refurbishment for Eastlands Homes A retirement housing development in Manchester is nearing completion. The work at Patrick Roddy Court in Gorton is on behalf of Eastlands Homes, a not-for-profit housing association operating across the Beswick, Clayton, Openshaw, Ardwick, Gorton, Levenshulme, Longsight and Rusholme areas of east and south east Manchester. Set up in 2003, the organisation has grown to around 8,000 properties as a result of two stock transfers from Manchester City Council, other acquisitions and some new build. Since Eastlands Homes was established, £160M has been spent on improving homes and so far approximately 40,000 improvements have been completed. The Association is particularly committed to retirement housing, giving people the chance to enjoy safe, secure and independent lives with a choice of support services to suit all needs. Many people in Manchester choose to rent homes where support is on-hand if required. People are free to live their own lives, have visitors when they choose,

PROFILE UKC

Patrick Roddy Court come and go when they please, and quickly if there is an emergency, giving also join in and meet new people. the right help and support, calling how The retirement flats have communal residents are, finding people to help solve lounges and gardens where people problems and arranging repairs to homes. regularly meet to chat, play a The work at Patrick Roddy Court – game of bingo and socialise. designed by TADW Architects and built All sheltered housing officers recognise by Mitie Property Services - has provided and respect privacy, but if residents refurbishment to 30 flats and will be have problems, they are there to help. completed by the end of the month. They are on site during the day but if these wardens are needed at any other time, they will get to the flats as soon as possible – a 24 hour service thanks to the intercom system or pull-cord to notify Supply, Installation and Maintenance the Association’s New & Existing Systems control room. Lease Terms Available 24 / 7 Service Residents can decide how much AGS Tech Ltd are proud to work in partnership with MITIE support they want ● Emergency Call Systems ● Warden Call Systems from a sheltered ● Door Entry Intercom ● Access Control housing officer, which can include 300a Glenfield Park 1 ● Philips Road ● Blackburn ● BB1 5PF being seen

TEL: 01254 699905 www.ags-tech.co.uk

LEISURE UKC

Marlow Watersports Hub Multi-use facility for various sports clubs Work is progressing in Buckinghamshire that will see the creation of a fine new sporting hub. The Marlow Watersports Hub will consist of a large two-and-a-half-storey building with a boat storage area, training area, a gym and changing rooms. Formerly the base for Marlow Rowing Club, the previous building suffered a devastating fire of the old boathouse in 2011. This had two sections – one built in the 19th century and the other in the 1970s – and the oldest part was completely gutted. Despite the second part of the building only suffering partial damage, the decision was made to demolish the whole structure and replace with something much more adequate and fit for purpose. Financing this has been challenging. Of the £2.5M, only £400,000 was secured initially. As a result, Marlow Rowing Club campaigned successfully for a Sport England Grant from the Iconic Facilities Fund. A key condition of this is that the facility should include more than one sport within it so this new hub is

now home to Longridge Canoe Club, Marlow Canoe Club, an open water swimming club and a triathlon club. Some of these clubs were on the lookout The Main Contractor for this project, for a new social facility and training facility which will replace a building that and that is provided at the new building, was too small, is Beard Ltd. which will have space for a social meeting Work started in October 2013 and will room, a dedicated social facility with a be completed in October 2014. club room and bar, separated from the training facility. Part of the money spent on the project was to build the site, which again was another At JMJ Fabrications, we provide an excellent steelwork requirement in and metalwork service to various industries. We are an securing the Sport extremely experienced & versatile fabrication company England grant. offering a complete service from design & manufacture Designed by Lewis to full installation. Patten Chartered Architects, the Unit 10 The Old Bakery, Lower Tuffley Lane, building will be Gloucester GL2 5DP steel frame with Tel / Fax 01452 305 231 concrete blockwork E-Mail - info@jmjfabrications.co.uk with facing brick www.jmjfabrications.co.uk to first floor level.

UKC COMMERCIAL

The ‘Place’ to be

Wellington Place, Leeds

Located in the centre of Leeds, the region’s business, financial and social capital, Wellington Place will be one of the biggest and most prestigious new city centre business quarters in Europe. Wellington Place offers a perfect location for business, with flexible office space; the development can accommodate every kind of business in the most flexible terms. Wellington Place will be more than a centre of culture, leisure and commerce. It is full of energy and optimism and a powerful statement about life in the city. Combining 2.6M sq ft of commercial, retail, leisure and residential space, the vision is for Wellington Place to be an exciting place to work, live and visit. A community built on the traditions of the city, but with the future in mind. When fully realised, Wellington Place will offer a dynamic and state-of-theart business environment coupled with vibrant and inviting public spaces as well as leisure and social amenities. April 2013 saw MEPC award the £5.5M contract for the development of Number 10 Wellington Place to Shepherd Construction. The 35,000sq ft office development spans five-storeys and has a BREEAM Excellent rating. Number 10 is the third phase of a 14-phase development. Designed by CJCT, together with landscaping and a new public square, the development will create what is thought to be the first Grade A office development in Leeds city centre for five years – and launches the next phase of growth at Wellington Place. A spokesperson for MEPC said:

“Construction of 10 Wellington Place marks aligns itself with today’s businesses. the start of the next phase of development, The office space offers efficient and flexible with planning permission granted for floor plates appropriate for numerous a further 300,000sq ft of office space organisational requirements including here in the heart of Leeds’ West End. open plan and cellular arrangements. “Like MEPC, Shepherd is a long Number 10 will also see the opening of a established company which has become new café, Sociable Folk, on 2nd June 2014, an industry leader by delivering the which will be spread over 1,334sq ft on the highest levels of quality and by working ground floor. Taking coffee shop concept closely with its Clients at all stages.” to a new level, Sociable Folk will provide “This building is just the first step in our a large range of barista served coffees plans to create a five star destination in and chef prepared light, healthy dishes. the heart of the city centre and contribute Practical completion of the building was to the excitement and buzz around Leeds achieved in April, with leading companies at the moment. We are looking forward such as Brown Shipley and Shulmans to transforming the rest of Wellington LLP set to take their occupied space this Place and bringing even more premium month. Leaving the building two thirds let. companies like Shulmans to the area by offering exemplary new workplaces.” Located at the heart of Leeds’ business hub, Number 10 Wellington Place boasts impressive floor to ceiling Savills provides a wide range of property services to glazing which will meet the needs of business and the public sector and provide occupiers the Leeds office is no exception. and visitors with an We are focussed on providing specialist advice through teams who are experts unrivalled platform in their field and are committed to providing a personal service to all our clients. to overlook the new Retail & Leisure Agency Development Consultancy Property Management Tower Square and Investment Agency Valuation Building Consultancy city skyline. The Office & Industrial Agency Leasehold Acquisition Planning Consultancy building delivers a & Disposal Residential Agency Housing Consultancy Asset Management clean architectural statement Savills Leeds of elegance, Ground ﬂoor, City Point, substance and 29 King Street Leeds, LS1 2HL +44 (0) 113 244 0100 longevity; a savills.co.uk design approach which perfectly

Tel: 01487 841400