UK Construction Journal V17N07

V17 N07

Sika Watertight Concrete specified for Library of Birmingham Read more on page 13

Callsafe Services Ltd

Over 25 years providing health & safety advice and training Find out more about upcoming courses on pages 6-7

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of our work is via existing clients or referrals Does that mean we’re resting on our laurels?

No; quite the opposite, in fact. We enjoy what we do and are always looking for new challenges. It was our founding philosophy in 2004: to attain the highest standards in building engineering services – and exceed them. Since that time, we’ve developed business relationships based on trust and integrity with a prestigious, blue-chip client base. These have given us an excellent reputation in the marketplace.

It’s our mission to achieve ever-higher standards for both new and existing customers in every business sector: from mission-critical IT installations to commercial, financial, retail, leisure and premium residential.

As a leading provider of mechanical and electrical maintenance solutions, we’ll support your business from day one. With electrical systems at the heart of every building, JCA can also help you design, install and maintain the optimum levels of electrical performance, economy, functionality and safety.

Moreover, JCA provides a range of professional support services including facilities management systems, bespoke software development, reporting, regulatory compliance, CDM-C and HSQE consultancy.

To find out how JCA could benefit your business, call us anytime to discuss your requirements on 01438 847020, or email us at info@jcagroup.co.uk

www.jcagroup.co.uk

NEWS - 8

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COMMENTS 20 24 25 28 29

Thomas Eggar - Kasia Dickson Select - David Wright NHBC KR Moeller Associates Ltd - Niklas Moeller Sheridan Gold - Peter Sheridan

PROFILE 32 34 38 50 53 56 58

Chief Fire Officers Association McMullen & Sons Ealing Council Drew Construction Group Rykneld Homes Greenheart Sustainable Construction Pier Street

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EDUCATION 48 The Racecourse Newbury 52 Dulwich College

Managing Editor Victoria Lee Editor Gareth Trevor-Jones Staff Writer John Train Editorial Robert Atherton Charlotte Barton Web Editor Raimy Greenland Copy Jody Ramsey Studio Manager Séamus Norton Designer Richard Gill Proof Reader Matthew Brown Data Administrator Ryan Irwin Approvals Sarah Smith Credit Control Carol Ryan

HOUSING 55 The Homesteads 58 Churchill Retirement Living

EVENTS

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22 NHBC Health & Safety North 42 RWM Expo

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LEISURE 44 Imperial War Museum

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ISSN 1461-1279 Pro-Mark Media Stirling House Ackhurst Business Park Chorley PR7 1NY T: 01257 231900 E: administration@pro-mark.org.uk www.ukconstructionmedia.co.uk

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Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

The course is highly interactive and includes presentations, notes, syndicated exercises, delegate discussions; and an examination to ensure learning outcomes.

Shaping and sharing best practice in construction health and safety risk management

Association for Project Safety CDM2007 DESIGN RISK MANAGEMENT 2 DAY COURSE The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM2007) require a cultural change in the management of health and safety by the construction project team, but particular emphasis is placed on the requirements for competence of designers, design co-ordination and communication of design information.

The designer is a fundamental member of the project team and has a significant input throughout the lifecycle of the project, from feasibility design through to construction. CDM2007 makes specific demands on the designer to consider health and safety risks associated with the construction, commissioning, use, maintenance, repair, testing, cleaning, de-commissioning and demolition of their designs and attempt to eliminate or reduce those risks by their design decisions.

The Association for Project Safety (APS) and Callsafe Services Limited (Callsafe) believe that the full benefit of CDM2007 can only be achieved by meeting the philosophy implied within CDM2007 that requires that Designers are proactive and fully integrated members of the project team.

This two-day course is designed to provide Designers and Design Risk Managers with the necessary knowledge and confidence in the performance of the task to ensure compliance with the designers’ duties under CDM2007.

An individual who successfully completes the accredited course in CDM2007 Design Risk Management may claim 3 points (as detailed in the Qualifications and Experience table on the APS website) towards meeting Full Membership of APS. An individual who meets the above criteria will also be exempt from sitting the Examination for admission to the APS Register of Designers for a period of three months from the date on which APS issues a certificate confirming successful completion of an accredited course.

This course is also recognised by RIBA as CPD for architects.

Intended For

This course is aimed at design team members and managers who wish to ensure effective design risk management and compliance with the CDM2007 designers’ duties to a professional and benchmarked standard as set by APS. The course will also benefit other construction and health and safety professionals with an interest in the values and philosophies of risk reduction by design.

Entry Requirements

Delegates should have a basic understanding of CDM2007, associated construction related legislation and the ways in which construction projects are procured and managed.

The Tutors

The Callsafe tutors are widely experienced in the understanding and practical application of the regulations and are practicing CDM Co-ordinators. All of the tutors are Registered CDM Co-ordinator Members or Fellows of the APS, RFaPS or RMaPS.

Course Objectives:

On completion of the course, delegates should: • understand the designers’ duties under the CDM regulations 2007; • know how to effectively reduce risk by design; and • be familiar and confident in the supply of information and production of evidence.

Course Content:

• Design Risk Management and Project Risk Management • Construction Related Health and Safety Legislation • Personal Safety & Professional Responsibility • Role of the Designer in Construction • Design Risk Management Services & Systems • Advising the Client • Demonstrating and Assessing Competence and Resources • Hazard Identification and Working within the Team • Contractor Related Issues and Design During Construction • Designer Input into Information (PCI, CPP & HSF) • Examination

Maximum number of course delegates: 16

Public Courses

This course is offered as a public course, for individuals to book and attend.

Course Cost: £600.00 per delegate, plus VAT (Discounts for multiple bookings) Currently programmed public courses are: • Wednesday & Thursday, 8 & 9 October 2014 (Staffordshire)

In-house Courses

This course is also offered as an in-house course, where an organisation can book the tutor for the 2 days and the course is presented within the organisation’s own premises.

A lump sum price can be provided for in-house courses.

Further details of this, and other, courses can be found at: www.callsafe-services.co.uk, or by contacting Gemma Esprey at: gemma.esprey@callsafeservices.co.uk or by phone on: 01889 577701

Course Content:

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health MANAGING SAFELY IN CONSTRUCTION 5 DAY COURSE This is the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Managing Safely course, amended to make the subjects and content more specific to the construction industry, and separately accredited by IOSH. It is highly interactive and is presented by qualified and experienced construction health and safety professionals, who also are appointed to projects as CDM coordinator.

Intended for:

Anyone who supervises or manages designers or contractors in the construction and allied industries. Also relevant for client representatives and CDM coordinators.

Course Aims:

To ensure that managers/ supervisors: • Understand their responsibilities for health and safety as an integral part of their construction and other management/ supervision roles; • Are able to recognise a sound health and safety management system, including effective construction risk management; • Are able to recognise the key risks in the construction industry and understand the precautions to be taken.

Day 1 • Introduction and Setting Course Objectives • Principles of Good Safety Management • Legal Foundation for Health and Safety • Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide • Safety Management on Construction Projects Day 2 • Understanding the Legal Framework for Safety and Health at Work • Accident Causation and Accident Prevention • Applying Management Principles to Health and Safety Day 3 Key Legislation, Commonly Occurring Hazards and Their Controls: • The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 • Working time • First aid • Reporting of accidents • Fire • Safety signs and signals • Electricity • Display screen equipment • Manual handling • Chemicals/Hazardous substances • Personal protective equipment • Work equipment and Machinery • Traffic management Day 4 Construction Related Legislation, Commonly Occurring Hazards and Their Controls: • Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, Part 4 • Lifting operations and equipment • Noise • Vibration • Lead • Asbestos • Confined spaces • Pressure systems • Radiation • Elevated working places • Safety in earthworks • Flammable liquids and gases • The construction working environment Day 5 • Human Behaviour in Accident and Ill-Health Prevention • Effective Communication • Control of Contractors • Training

• Course Assessment (A 30 minute test paper, similar in format to mock assessments performed during the course) • Course Discussion and Completion (Including the introduction to the Course Project, which is an inspection and risk assessment performed by the delegates of their workplace. This is performed subsequent to the course and submitted to the course tutor for marking)

Maximum number of course delegates: 16

Public Courses

This course is offered as a public course, for individuals to book and attend.

Course Cost: £800.00 per delegate, plus VAT (Discounts for multiple bookings) Currently programmed public courses are: • 23, 24, 25 September and 1 & 2 October 2014 (Staffordshire)

In-house Courses

This course is also offered as an in-house course, where an organisation can book the tutor for the 5 days and the course is presented within the organisation’s own premises.

This option can reduce the course cost and the travel/accommodation costs where the organisation has a number of their staff requiring this training.

A lump sum price can be provided for in-house courses.

Further details of this, and other, courses can be found at: www.callsafe-services.co.uk, or by contacting Gemma Esprey at: gemma.esprey@callsafeservices.co.uk or by phone on: 01889 577701

UKC NEWS

New Tottenham Hotspur stadium scheme gets the green light Plans for a new Tottenham Hotspur Football Club stadium have jumped ahead after permission was given to use a site earmarked for the stadium scheme.

Ministers have agreed with a compulsory purchase order made by the London Borough of Haringey, which will enable the Northumberland Development Project to continue to proceed.

More than 95% of the three hectare

site has been acquired by agreement and work has already begun on the first of three phases of the redevelopment plan. The order was requested to allow the final two phases to proceed and follows a public inquiry.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “This scheme is supported by the locally determined development plan for the area and has received strong local support.”

The redevelopment proposals have had far reaching support from local MPs, the London Mayor’s Champion for Tottenham and the Chairman of the Independent Tottenham Taskforce.

They all consider the project important for bringing much needed private investment into one of the most disadvantaged areas of London.

Osborne wins prestigious project at University of Roehampton Brand new halls of residence and a landmark library building are to be constructed within the next three years by the University of Roehampton as part of an overall £80M investment programme across its 54 acre Wandsworth campus.

Osborne will carry out the £38M construction work for the library and accommodation buildings, at the University’s Digby Stuart College. This is the central focus of a masterplan to modernise facilities, confirming Roehampton as one of the most attractive, up-to-date and user-friendly campuses in London.

The new student accommodation will see 388 rooms built around two courtyards in

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the centre of the University’s parkland site.

All will be ensuite and are based on sets of seven to nine room flats with shared dining and social space. A conference centre will be included to further enhance the academic excellence of the University.

The purpose-built library will house the University’s extensive book, audio visual, and journal collections. The completed building will provide state-of-the-art facilities inside a visually impressive home which will make clear Roehampton’s commitment to world leading research and learning.

John Craig, Director of Education for Osborne said: “This is an opportunity to create a lasting legacy, not just for

the University but also for the local community. Osborne is thrilled to have won these projects and we look forward to working with the University.”

The University’s grounds and the new library will be available to the public to visit and use for research and reading.

Subject to planning consent from Wandsworth Council, work is due to start on the four- and five-storey accommodation buildings in January 2015, with completion in July 2016. Work on the library will start 12 months later with a similar timespan. Initial enabling work will be carried out this winter for both projects, which are within sight of each other.

Shepherd Construction appointed to £1Bn regional framework National contractor, Shepherd Construction, has been selected as a preferred tenderer for the North West Construction Hub (NWCH) High Value Framework for use by local authorities and other public sector organisations in the North West region.

One of only seven contractors appointed to the NWCH, Shepherd Construction was selected for its collaborative working ethos and ability to positively influence the Constructing Excellence agenda.

Centred around public sector construction procurement in the North West, the hub will deliver key projects with a total value of up to £1Bn over the next four years.

The hub will be used on individual schemes worth more than £9M for public sector clients including Local Authorities, further education establishments, and the health sector across the North West of England.

Shepherd Construction’s appointment to the framework recognises the Company’s ability to deliver a range of efficient and cost effective solutions, for example, through its use of BIM. In addition, credentials including offering apprenticeships, maximising local supply chain involvement and carbon and waste to landfill reductions, all combined to ensure Shepherd Construction met the strict criteria for entry to the NWCH. This announcement follows the firm’s recent appointment to the nationwide £5Bn Education Funding Agency Framework which will deliver free schools, university technical colleges and other school buildings.

Mark Pettit, Pre Construction Director at Shepherd Construction, commented: “Being appointed to the North West Construction Hub reflects our ability to design and deliver world class construction projects through innovation and collaboration.

“The Framework will ensure that partnering forms a key factor in the region’s strategic procurement policy, and by appointment, will enable Shepherd Construction to enhance the delivery of the hub’s construction activity across the North West. We look forward to working in partnership with public sector organisations across the region to design and deliver a shared vision of excellence in North West public sector construction.”

Interserve completes new A43 Corby Link Road Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has completed the building of the new A43 Corby Link Road for Northamptonshire County Council, which should see traffic accidents cut as a result.

The £24M contract was completed on schedule within two years, despite an extremely wet summer in 2012, and one of the wettest winters on record last year. The road has now been officially opened by Transport Minister and MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Robert Goodwill.

The scheme involved the construction of around 6.5km of dual carriageway, three new bridges and even the accommodation of a watercourse, Harper’s Brook, beneath the road. The project has involved major earthworks and piling, with cuttings and embankments of up to 10m deep and 8m high.

Interserve Director, Simon Ohlenschlager said: “This project has showcased our expertise in major projects, and we’re

pleased that by working with the council and its design partner, MGWSP, Interserve has been able to contribute to boosting the local economy and employment prospects. Wherever possible, we have used local resources for the project, which is a core requirement of every major project Interserve embarks on.

“We would like to thank the local community for being patient with the day to day challenges that such a major construction brings.”

One of the challenges of the project was the requirement to accommodate the needs of protected wildlife along the route of the new road, and when work began, one of Interserve’s first tasks was to relocate bluebells and ancient hedgerows.

The new road will improve transport links between Corby and the A14, support the growth of Corby and relieve the A43 at Geddington of through-traffic. The project also has the aim of reducing the number and severity of road accidents.

Work begins on £1.38M renovation at the Malt Cross Work has begun at Nottingham’s historic Malt Cross following the award of a £1.38M Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

With keys exchanged and builders moving in, the renovation will help transform one of the city’s best loved venues into a multipurpose heritage and creative arts centre for public use.

Two previously unused floors of the building on St James’s Street will be renovated alongside an 11th century cave directly underneath the public house area of the Malt Cross.

Once complete, the rooms will host an array of learning and heritage activities, complete with a new space for music practice and an exhibition gallery.

Jo Cox-Brown, Chief Executive of the Malt Cross, said the start of the building works signals an exciting time for the venue: “We are absolutely thrilled that work has begun as we move into a new era at The Malt Cross. The renovation will be of benefit to people of all ages, with the new heritage and learning

space allowing people to express themselves in a unique environment.

“We are also hoping to add another dimension to tourism in the city and we are sure our original cave will prove to be a big draw. This is an extremely exciting time not only for us, but also for the city of Nottingham. We can’t wait to see the how The Malt Cross looks when work is completed.”

The renovation is expected to take roughly four months with The Malt Cross reopening its doors in October 2014.

The Malt Cross Trust has called upon help from William Saunders, multi-disciplinary design consultants and Taylor Pearson Construction Ltd for the project.

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British Gypsum off-site solutions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Andy Higson, Off-Site Market Development Manager at British Gypsum said: “With the UK construction market coming into recovery and issues emerging around on-site labour, any method of project delivery — such as modular or panellised — that can accelerate project completion and therefore ROI, whilst meeting the highest levels of build quality and performance levels, has to be taken seriously. It is for these reasons that we are seeing so many of our existing supply chain partners develop their own off-site strategies for building project delivery. We have recognised this trend and have worked extensively with customers to ensure our products, systems and services remain relevant and without exception.

The growth in off-site — as with any shift in building technology — brings new challenges and performance requirements for products and systems alike. British Gypsum offers a range of innovative off-site solutions and services whilst maintaining focus on the next generation of intuitive innovations to meet our off-site customers’ evolving needs.

Alongside our off-site solutions range sits a suite of associated services to provide a comprehensive package to our growing customer base. From technical and specification assistance with bespoke detailing through to joint product development; system mock-ups; testing at our UKAS accredited Building Test Centre; and our plasterboard recycling service, we work with our customers from start to finish, through every delivery stage of the building or project.”

 H

 H                                                      H                       ACTIVair 

ACTIVair

ACTIVair                                                         ACTIVair    H              

  TILEBACKER

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UKC NEWS

Hope invests £3.6M in new Mercedes-Benz truck fleet Hope Construction Materials, Britain’s leading independent supplier of construction materials, is bolstering its 300-strong concrete mixer fleet with 36 new Mercedes-Benz trucks.

Industry leading in every respect - from safety and operational performance, to technical specification and sustainability - the trucks surpass any other readymix vehicles on the road. They are Euro VI compliant, built to the latest diesel engine emission legislation from the European Commission.

The state-of-the-art Arocs 3236 8x4 B11 4-axle mixer trucks, each equipped with a McPhee mixer system, represents a huge investment by the firm and demonstrates its confidence in UK construction.

Hope’s continued focus on maximising

safety was paramount in the purchase of the vehicles. They feature a string of active safety measures, including a vulnerable road user package, as well as a lane control system, collision avoidance and smart system which warns the driver if pedestrians or cyclists are too close to the vehicle.

Mike Cowell, Chief Operating Officer at Hope Construction Materials, said: “The purchase represents a significant commitment by Hope to providing our drivers with the best possible vehicles.

They are the most advanced trucks on British roads and will benefit our drivers, customers and other road users.

“The purchase represents a significant investment by the firm and reaffirms our desire to set new standards in

the UK construction industry.”

James Colbourne, Head of Strategic Accounts - Trucks, Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd, said: “Partnering Hope Construction Materials with their latest fleet of Euro VI vehicles has been an extremely positive experience. Hope requires vehicles that are safe, environmentally friendly, economical and robust and the new Arocs delivers all of this and more.

“This is the first fleet of 8x4 Euro VI Arocs mixers to enter service in the UK and Hope has demonstrated how both safety and sustainability work hand in hand. With a full five year contract hire and maintenance package the vehicles will be maintained through the 24hour nationwide dealer network.”

Atkins reveals design for Asia Aerospace City in Malaysia Atkins has completed the concept design and masterplan for the Asia Aerospace City (AAC) in Subang, Malaysia – a world class development which aims to attract global engineering services business worth US $1.1Bn to Malaysia by 2020.

The contract to act as Lead Consultant and Masterplanner for the facility was awarded by MARA, the Malaysian government agency responsible for education and entrepreneurship.

The AAC has been designed as a smart city with cutting edge research and development facilities, integrated office suites, academic campuses, a convention centre and residential areas.

Chris Birdsong, Atkins’ CEO for Asia Pacific, said: “This is an important project for Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Plan and Atkins is honoured to be working with MARA to deliver an outstanding academic and industry facility for the aerospace sector.

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We believe that it will play an important role in achieving the national vision of a selfsufficient industrialised Malaysia by 2020.”

Rural and Regional Development Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, added that the development will draw interest and commitment from international aerospace industry players to enable Malaysia to become the aerospace hub in Asia.

Inspiration for the 328,000sq m AAC design came from the wings of an aeroplane.

With interaction between students and engineers identified by MARA as a key objective, the buildings are arranged to create nodes for various types of activities: ••An academic cluster which includes the Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology and a professional development centre for about 2,000 students.

••A research and training centre supporting aerospace testing and validation activities.

••A central cluster which caters for

professional event functions and contains a convention centre and a business hotel.

••Restaurant, cafe and sports facilities which will extend social interaction for resident engineers and students and visitors.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis was used by Atkins to align buildings and allow natural breezes through the outdoor areas. A set of canopies covering 36,000sq m will shade outdoor areas and contribute to on-site energy generation through in-built photovoltaic panels.

A light railway station is being built within walking distance of the AAC connecting it to the centre of Kuala Lumpur and to nearby Subang Airport, which caters for regional and domestic flights. In addition electric buses will serve the AAC and adjacent commercial and light industrial facilities. The campus itself will be a completely pedestrianised.

Her Majesty The Queen opens redeveloped Reading station Reading’s redeveloped railway station was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen.

Used by nearly 20 million passengers a year, Reading station is one of the busiest rail hubs in Britain. It has been transformed by Network Rail in the last five years as part of a £895M project to rebuild the railway around Reading which will remove one of the worst remaining bottlenecks on the network, improving reliability and increasing capacity so more trains can run in the future.

The bigger, better station – completed a year ahead of schedule and within budget – now has two entrances, 15 platforms including five new platforms, new retail facilities and a new passenger bridge three times the size of the original footbridge.

All platforms have new lifts, escalators and canopies making the station more accessible, lighter and brighter and better able to accommodate the growing number of passengers, with 30 million people forecast to use the station by 2030.

The Queen met key members of the engineering team behind the project and unveiled a plaque marking the official opening of the new and improved station. Her Majesty was also joined by more than 100 railway workers involved in the construction for a special group photograph to mark the occasion.

Network Rail chairman, Richard Parry-Jones, said: “We are extremely honoured that Her Majesty has officially opened the new Reading station. Thousands of men and women have worked on this project over the last five years and this is a proud moment for them and for the entire rail industry.

“The scale of the new station here at Reading reflects the huge and growing demand for rail travel in Britain and it has already started to deliver a better experience for passengers.”

The official opening of Reading station is a significant milestone in the Reading Station Area Redevelopment Programme, with the overall set of enhancement works – including a new viaduct to the west of the station which will cut delays and increase capacity so more trains can run in future – set to complete in spring 2015, also a year earlier than originally planned.

The Reading Station Area Redevelopment Programme is part of the government’s £7.2Bn investment to upgrade and modernise the Great Western route, which includes electrification of the line from London to Bristol (including Newbury and Oxford) by 2016 and to Cardiff by 2017.

Sika Watertight Concrete specified for Library of Birmingham The BBA certified Sika Watertight Concrete system, one of many concrete solutions from Sika Limited, has been specified for the basement shell and the terrace decks on the £188M Library of Birmingham, the largest public library in the UK and one of the largest public cultural spaces in Europe.

The 35,000sq m project has seen the creation of a major new cultural destination that looks set to become a model for the future. Situated on Centenary Square it was designed by Delft based architects Mecanoo for Birmingham City Council, and delivered by a team including main contractor Carillion and multi-discipline engineers Buro Happold. It is spread over ten levels and comprises four box shaped structures that are staggered to create various canopies and terraces. Strikingly, the exterior is clad with a filigree pattern of concentric metal rings over glass, silver and gold facades.

The Sika Watertight Concrete system complies with BS 8103:2009 Grade 3 for habitable areas where no water penetration is acceptable, an essential consideration

for the basement area. On the terraces, Sika Watertight Concrete was chosen as a secondary defence should the waterproof decking above become damaged and allow water to penetrate. Bardon Concrete supplied 1,000cu m of Sika Watertight Concrete to the project.

The guaranteed Sika Watertight Concrete System offers a comprehensive solution in the waterproofing of concrete structures. State-of-the-art Sika admixtures are added to the concrete to prevent water penetration. The system is completed with carefully selected waterstops for construction and movement joints to produce a waterproof structure.

The library, which has a BREEAM Excellent rating, houses over one million books in both an adult and children’s library, has more than 200 public access computers, a music room, theatres, cafe and an exhibition gallery. Its most valuable books are copies of Shakespeare’s First Folio and John James Audubon’s Birds of America - worth between £6M and £7M each.

South Wales steel firm to reach Olympic-sized ambitions A South Wales-based steel specialist has secured a £1M loan from Finance Wales to complete a high profile project at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Pro Steel Engineering, which specialises in professional project management and construction services, has secured the finance from the Welsh Government’s Wales Capital Growth Fund, managed

by Finance Wales. The loan will provide working capital to deliver part of the £200M Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park strengthening and remodelling project.

The firm is the first to benefit from investment from the Wales Capital Growth Fund, which was created in response to demand from Welsh SMEs for short-term working capital and performance bond requirements.

With West Ham United having taken a 99-year tenancy of the Olympic Park stadium, the redevelopment - which will create nearly 100 sub-contractor jobs for Pro Steel’s team - will see the stadium transformed into a UEFA Category 4 venue, seating over 54,000 spectators.

Finance Wales has also provided

additional capital for Pro Steel to expand its operations with a move to a new Caldicot site where it has purchased a new 3,000 sq ft steel industrial unit on Severnbridge Industrial Estate.

The move means the firm now has the capability to fabricate steel inhouse without having to outsource the manufacturing process, enabling clients to benefit from a faster, more flexible service.

The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart, said: “This is a very exciting project at a key international venue and also an excellent example of how Welsh businesses like Pro Steel Engineering can take on the competition and win significant new contracts with the right financial backing.

“Finance Wales’ first investment from the new Wales Capital Growth Fund is providing the Company with the working capital it needs to undertake the project. Winning larger contracts can not only boost growth prospects for businesses but can also increase their contribution to the Welsh economy.”

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UKC NEWS

Nominees announced for World Interior of the Year 2014 INSIDE World Festival of Interiors (with Headline Partner Dulux), the leading global interior design awards programme, has announced the nominees that will go head-to-head to be crowned World Interior of the Year 2014, in a ceremony at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore in October. Comprising the most original and exciting interiors from the last 12 months, this year’s awards consist of 60 nominations from 21 countries across nine diverse categories.

This year’s contest includes a wide range of different types of interiors, from schools to offices, airports to tents, all nominated for the premier design award. London based MAKE Architects are nominated in the Retail category for their art deco

redesign of the famous Harrods escalator hall and their delicate restoration of its 1920s staircase. In the same category OpenAir Studio has submitted their Just Cavalli concept store which sees walls, shelving and installations crafted from rusted metal, inspired by the brand identity.

Other nominations include the redevelopment of the former USSR Writers Union that has been transformed into a new restaurant in Moscow and features a grand chandelier rumoured to be a gift from Stalin during the 1930s; a pink neon Willy Wonka-style patisserie designed by junior architects from Elenberg Fraser’s trainee programme for the famous chef Adriano Zumbo; and the regional terminal for Christchurch Airport

in New Zealand, with a structure derived from the form of the Southern Alps.

Shortlisted designers – including CRAB Studio, Woods Bagot, mk27, Clive Wilkinson Architects and Joyce Wang Studio – will be pitched against one another in front of a distinguished panel of judges in this unique awards competition. Winner of World Interior of the Year 2013, David Kohn, has joined the judging panel alongside the likes of Joey Ho and Pernilla Ohrstedt. Nigel Coates, Associate Director of the Festival, will act as compare for the super-jury.

All nominees will compete in the form of live presentations and debates during the INSIDE World Festival of Interiors from 1-3 October 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Skanska wins Phase I Battersea Power Station contract Over the next two years, Skanska will fit out 866 new homes as part of Phase I of the Battersea Power Station redevelopment in London that lies to the west of the iconic building.

Integrated support services company, Carillion, which is responsible for the overall Phase I project, has awarded Skanska a two-year agreement to deliver the mechanical and electrical shell, core and fit-out works.

The contract is worth £88.6M to Skanska and will provide employment for approximately 250 people across its duration.

The prime residential apartments will be contained within two buildings and include a large communal basement and podium areas.

Martin Neeson, Managing Director, said:

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“This contract is great news, not just for Skanska, but also for our client and eventually for those people who will be living in the newly-built homes. Residential schemes are a strategic priority for our engineering business and this development offers an opportunity to build on our successful work at One Tower Bridge.”

The iconic site has been a feature of

the London skyline since the 1950s. It appears on the cover of Pink Floyd’s album Animals, as well as in numerous films and TV shows. The 83-hectare (200-acre) Battersea Park is also close to the site.

Work on the mechanical and electrical elements is set to commence in September 2014 and scheduled to conclude in October 2016.

School and community groups’ art designs scoop national award Colourful artwork designed by the local community to brighten up a construction site in Chester-leStreet has won a national award.

Local residents and school children from Nettlesworth Primary School worked with local housing provider, Cestria Community Housing and national housing and regeneration specialist, Keepmoat to design hoardings for their new development at The Elms.

The designs impressed company bosses so much that Keepmoat entered them into the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s Ivor Goodsite Community Hoarding Competition.

Now their designs, which are based on an environmental theme, have been announced as one of only five UK winners of the national awards.

Local community groups which worked with the children to help create the designs for the hoardings included the Crazy for Art group, the Brockwell Centre and the Society of Disabled Artists (SODA).

Nationally, there were 50 entries and over 2,500 children who took part in the competition.

Edward Hardy, Chief Executive of the CCS, comments: “The standard was extremely high this year and we were delighted that so many schools, children and organisations participated so enthusiastically. As well as being a great opportunity to promote site safety, it’s also about encouraging the next generation to become interested in construction. Contractors are taking the time to promote site safety to local children while showing them the benefits of working in construction.”

The £6.5M Elms development is expected to be completed in spring 2015 and will provide 57 new homes for the over 55s.

The scheme lies south west of the town centre on the Garden Farm Estate and includes 47 two-bedroom apartments, four one-bedroom apartments, two two-bedroom detached bungalows and four two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows available for rent, or sale on a leasehold or shared ownership basis.

When complete, the scheme will also include a range of communal residential and support spaces within the main block and facilities that can be used by residents and the wider community including a beauty/treatment room, IT suite, internet cafe, laundry, community allotment and office/community exhibition space.

Innov8 to oversee design and construction of Wirral Waters construction project A Wirral firm will provide the Construction, Design and Management coordination services on a new £8M training campus which marks the start of the £4.5Bn Wirral Waters regeneration scheme.

Construction safety specialists Innov8 will oversee the cleanup of an area Birkenhead’s industrial docklands and the construction of a vocational training centre to help local unemployed workers acquire construction skills and trades.

The development, near Twelve Quays, is a joint venture between Wirral Metropolitan College and Peel Holdings. Wirral Met has secured a grant of £7.2M from the Skills Funding Agency, while Peel has secured a £2.5M loan from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) through the Local Infrastructure Fund (LIF).

The funds will allow them to create a purposebuilt training centre with Peel which will help give workers the skills they need to compete for jobs on the many future developments to be delivered through the Wirral Waters scheme.

Innov8 Operations Director Jeremy Meredith said: “It is a milestone project in the transformation of the Mersey region. We are really proud to be playing a key role on the first project of Wirral Waters – kick-starting years of regeneration in the area.

“We have developed a close

relationship with Peel Holdings since 2008, working with them on a number of major investment projects including the £138M Port Salford Project. We have also recently completed a refurbishment project at one of Wirral Met’s existing sites.”

John Whittaker, Chairman of The Peel Group, said: “Investing in our young, talented people and giving them the opportunity to develop the skills that businesses actually need is vital in helping us to grow and diversify the economy. That’s why we’re delighted to be developing a new college campus for Wirral Met, which sits right at the heart of Wirral Waters”.

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UKC NEWS

UK concern over construction industry skills gap It is anticipated that over the next decade the UK will see an increase in investments in major civil engineering infrastructure development. With the construction sector enjoying a more positive outlook than it has in recent years and with the amount of major projects undertaken set to increase in the coming months, the rate of job opportunities is invariably going to rise. A recent report by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) suggests that more than 182,000 additional construction jobs will be needed across the UK between 2014 and 2018.

However a research study by Thales Learning and Development (TLD) which focused on Learning and Development (L&D) trends in the construction sector showed that an overwhelming 82% of respondents (HR decision makers in the UK) believe the construction industry is experiencing a skills gap. Another study by the CITB revealed that approximately 18% of employers said that a skills gap has damaged their growth over the last two years, with around 42% of construction companies struggling to recruit workers with the right skills. There is evident concern across the UK construction sector that the industry will suffer deterioration due to a lack of training and skills developmentas more trainees complete qualifications that aren’t providing them with the full range of abilities that employers require.

The government’s plan to help stimulate and grow the economy was announced at

the third annual Government Construction Summit in London on 2nd July 2014. Vince Cable MP talked about the importance of creating apprenticeships as a way to invest in the skills shortage. According to the House of Commons research, construction apprenticeship starts are down by 3.3% – 14,070 to 13,610 – since 2009/10 and completions have fallen by 68% from 11,790 to 3,760. Demos, a cross-party thinktank, will be hosting a new Commission to strengthen the business case for increasing both the quality and quantity of apprenticeships. The commission, funded by CITB, will investigate methods to increase the appetite for apprenticeships among both young people and employers.

Apprenticeship schemes are not the only solution to resolve the skills shortage that some firms are considering. Other suggestions include combining internal schemes with tailored programmes by external training providers; spending more money on training their workforce and giving staff members the chance to learn from external bodies. Severn Partnership is a firm of Chartered Land Surveyors that produce high quality plans including 3D and Building Information Models. Managing Director, Mark Combes believes the solution to resolving the ongoing skills shortage is external training: “We really benefited from external training and have helped our team to develop their existing skills as well as learn new ones. This has really helped

us to grow as a firm without having to embark on a big recruitment drive and has ensured that we both retain and develop the existing talent within our company.”

According to a study by TLD, 94% of respondents agree that L&D is a significant factor in retaining talent in order to help overcome the skills gap. “A particularly interesting finding from the research is the expected increase in online learning. Our research found that the biggest barrier when delivering learning in the construction industry is actually getting access to employees (34%) as they often work on site or across various locations,” said Lyndon Wingrove, Director of Capability and Consulting, TLD. E-learning is anticipated to increase from 13% to 17% and webinars from 7% to 9% which suggests that the use of technology in training delivery is gaining popularity. Wingrove continued: “By having a structured L&D programme in place and understanding the benefits it can bring in terms of retaining and attracting talent, construction organisations can future-proof their businesses.”

Unfair Omissions - Penny Wise, Pound Foolish?

There is nothing worse than believing that you have contracted to pay a price for something which you subsequently discover, or are advised, is too high. Contractors are faced with this dilemma on a regular basis. They may look at Sub-Contractor A's rates for a particular item of work and think "I know that I can get that work done cheaper by Sub-Contractor B". An idea then forms. "Why not omit the work from Sub-Contractor A and place an order with the cheaper, Sub-Contractor B?" This sort of thing happens every day up and down the country, often without challenge, but is it allowed?

The short answer is no. It is illegal to do this unless Sub-Contractor A has requested the Contractor to give the work to somebody else because, for example, Sub-Contractor A has a labour or material resources issue or where the Sub-Contract terms expressly allow this action. So let's be crystal clear about this...

A Contractor cannot unilaterally take work off one Sub-Contractor and pass this to another Sub-Contractor purely for economic reasons.

Under English law, parties are generally free to contract on whatever basis they choose and a party that then finds it has made a bad bargain is stuck with the consequences, regardless of how financially painful that might prove to be.

So, if this is the case, why do the standard forms of Sub-Contract have provisions for valuing omissions if they are not allowed? The answer to this question is that omissions are allowed and the rules apply to allow a party to cancel work that will not be carried out by anybody. Such rules have to be present because in the absence of such provisions, the omission of the work, for whatever reason, would then amount to a breach of contract. But let's be clear about this....

The rules in standard forms of Sub-Contract which relate to the procedure for valuing omissions cannot be used as a "back door" method to switch work from one Sub-Contractor to another for economic benefit.

else unless it suits you and please, please, please don't be tempted to sign a Contract that expressly permits a Contractor to do what common law would prevent!

And, if you are a Contractor, resist the urge to swap work from one Sub-Contractor to another in order to save a few quid as to do so will be, as my Granny used to say, penny wise and pound foolish!

Peter Vinden is a practising Arbitrator, Adjudicator and Mediator. He is also Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership and can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk

A Contractor who attempts to omit work from Sub-Contractor A in order to pass the same work to Sub-Contractor B for financial gain is committing a fundamental or, in legal-speak, a repudiatory breach of contract which Sub-Contractor A may choose to accept, bringing the Sub-Contract to an end and leaving the Contractor liable to pay damages to Sub-Contractor A arising from the Contractor's wrongful omission.

So, if your are a Sub-Contractor, don't put up with a Contractor transferring your work to somebody

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

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Our classic Quartz system creates a high quality look with a smooth satin finish giving any area a modern and fresh feel. Like all of our Resin Floors, the surface is extremely durable and completely seamless; this makes the whole floor more hygienic and easy to clean and avoids the build up of dirt in seams and joints that you find in tiles and vinyl.

For a more stylish finish, our flake systems can add that extra sparkle with added metallic flakes, helping to give a wow factor while still providing the same durability and quality that you can expect from our floors.

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email

UKC COMMENT

Sun, sea and adjudication With the holiday season upon us, it is well worth considering this: how would your firm cope with an adjudication on one of your projects while you or other key members of your team are away?

One of the great attributes of adjudication is its relative speed. Once the adjudicator is in place and has the referral notice, the whole thing is to be concluded within 28 days. In ordinary times, that confers an advantage on the referring party. He or she can take as long as they need preparing their case knowing that the other party will only be allowed a week or perhaps a few days longer to respond. In the adjudication world that is known as an ‘ambush’. However unfair it may seem, this is the reality for the responding party.

Some referring parties take the opportunity to visit even more discomfort on responding parties by starting their adjudications when they know the preparation of the response is likely to be hampered by staff absences.

Although the time for completion of the adjudication can be extended, this can only be done with the referring party’s agreement. Accordingly, before you or those key staff go on leave, you should proceed on the assumption that no extension would be granted. There are therefore a few things to add to your ‘to do’ list before you exit the office.

First, make sure that all staff have given a proper briefing to those who will stand in for them while they are away. That briefing should include all issues that could constitute a dispute that may become the subject of an adjudication.

Bear in mind that the other party may have given no indication of its intention to take the matter to adjudication at this stage. Also remember that the courts have set a very low test for

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what constitutes a dispute. A claim that has gone unanswered or an exchange of opposing views will be enough.

Secondly, make sure that those holding the fort know where all the relevant papers are and can access them – particularly those that are in electronic form. Make sure that they are not stored on someone’s laptop which they have taken home and are not inaccessible because passwords are unknown. Good record keeping and filing systems are always key to success in disputes and they are even more important when you do not have access to key people.

Finally, make sure that those remaining in the office have access to the post.

Emails addressed to absentees must be checked and read and those reading them should look out for anything that might be a notice of adjudication.

Although the adjudicator may not be able to extend time, consider letting him or her know of the difficulties you face – remembering that whatever you tell him you must tell the other side too. As a last resort, you may also be able to find opportunities to bring to his or her attention later in the process matters that you were unable to find out before absentees are back in the office – but don’t bank on it.

With everything under control, have a restful and enjoyable holiday.

Kasia Dickson, Legal Assistance, Thomas Eggar LLP.

Kasia Dickson

Business continues to climb for the Stairways Group The Stairways Group (SWG) has been experiencing an

This creates an increase in demand for products. The Stairways

increase in demand for their products in the past 18 months

Group has embraced this ever-increasing demand for their

and business looks set to increase in the future.

products. With manufacturing hours increasing to allow

This continuing business success is due to the unique products that SWG provides to the industry. The Stairways Group has

products to be delivered on time, SWG has deployed a night shift arrangement at all sites to ensure timely delivery to clients.

increased their product portfolio and certification for internal

Karen Wood, Managing Director for the Stairways Group says

door sets (Fire and Sound) and has become involved in larger

of these business challenges: “We try to work with clients to

build projects. This has meant a demand for more of their

gain their build programme requirements as early as possible.

products but on a bigger scale.

This ensures that we don’t slow on the deliveries to the projects

The market is buoyant and booming for SWG with an acquisition of new clients, but with all this new business brings new challenges.

One of the biggest challenges is placement of orders. Clients cannot place orders quick enough to keep in line with the

and allows us the maximum time to procure the raw materials needed. Although sometimes time consuming, this strategy ensures we deliver on-time and on-budget. The Stairways Group is successfully overcoming all challenges that are thrown at us and are looking forward to even more success in the future.”

build programme. Clients also have to accelerate the build programme, due to market demand for finished units.

Safe as houses Choose Stairways and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you will not only receive an attractive, quality, durable and performing doorset, but also one that meets PAS 24:2012 regulations.

Call 01926 818770 for assistance with specifications and technical advice.

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UKC EVENTS

Get to grips with the latest health and safety legislations at this year’s Health & Safety North event If you are looking for assistance in getting to grips with the latest health and safety legislations, wish to find out more from the trade bodies about training needs or want to talk to a technical expert about a particular application at your work then Health and Safety North in Bolton will meet those and other needs. Taking place at The Bolton Arena, on 8th-9th October, Health & Safety North provides visitors with a mix of free education via a conference programme authored by the British Safety Council, the opportunity to meet respected organisations and product manufacturers and distributors as well as the chance to network with other professionals.

An all-inclusive conference programme The events’ comprehensive conference programme, which is free to attend, is put together by the British Safety Council, and will this year take place at the specially built Conference Theatre located within the exhibition hall. The conference programme will deliver the latest news and insights on legislative updates, common problem areas and training. For example, opening the two-day conference is the seminar entitled ‘Corporate Governance - Getting to Grips with Significant Safety Risks’ which will be delivered by Ian Travers, Deputy Director of Chemicals Regulation at Health and Safety Executive.

Something different for the conference programme this year is the drama based presentation called ‘Safety Leadership and Culture’ delivered by Shaun Curry and Harry Gallagher of Macnaughton McGregor.

Additionally, for those wanting to keep up to date with recent landmark health and safety cases, the presentation entitled ‘Health and Safety – Looking Back at some Landmark Judgments’ will be essential.

Delivered by Kevin Bridges, Partner and Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner, Pinsent Masons LLP, the presentation will showcase some of the most significant court cases in the last 12 months looking at both safety and fire. In particular, Kevin will look at the impact of the sentencing council guidelines on the level of fines in health and safety cases and provide an update on ‘Corporate Manslaughter’.

On day two of the event, demonstrating how using lessons from marketing and public relations can help get the safety message across in a cost-effective manner is Ann Goodwin, Managing Director at Win Marketing, with her

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seminar entitled ‘Communicating Safety – Getting Your Message Noticed’.

Practical seminars

As well as the British Safety Council conference stream there are other, more practice based, seminars taking place across the event. Over the two days visitors will have the chance to listen to specialist manufacturers such as 3M deliver a presentation entitled ‘PPE: Critical to Construction’. This presentation will look at some of the specific PPE requirements for construction site safety and discuss the following: the noise, breathing and eye hazards found during various activities on construction sites, the challenges for health and safety professionals and how PPE is selected and used.

Also, what has proved to be a hugely valuable part of the practical education stream is NQA’s seminar on ‘Managing Changes to 18001’. This session will guide health and safety professionals responsible for legal compliance, policy implementation, incident reductions and behavioural culture in the workplace, through the adoption and implementation of effective and globally recognised health and safety system OHSAS 18001. The session will also feature an update from the Chair of the OHSAS 18001 standard committee regarding how further changes to the standard can be managed in advance of its conversion from an occupational health and safety assessment series to the international standard ISO 45001.

Join the debate

Something exciting for this year’s Health & Safety North event is the Safety Dialogue Live Panel. The Live Panel offers visitors the opportunity to engage, share their experience and network with a panel of recognised experts on some of the most significant issues affecting the UK today. This year the panel will include representatives from the Health & Safety Laboratory, 3M Technical Service and Casella. The Live Panel will focus on the following issues: ‘Noise Induced Hearing Loss – Protect at Work, Educate for Life’.

Another topic for discussion by the live panel will be termed ‘Behavioural Safety Techniques – Winning Hearts and Minds to Improve PPE Compliance’. Here, delegates will have the chance to join the panel to discuss how organisations move

beyond safety management systems to engage and improve compliance through key behavioural drivers.

Champions Workshop

Furthermore, ‘Health Risks at Work’ Champions Workshop will also be running throughout the two day event and will give visitors the chance to expand their knowledge, network with their local Safety Groups and also give them the opportunity to volunteer to become a ‘Health Risks at Work Champion’.

Exhibition space

The Health & Safety North event features an exhibition which includes the most well recognised trade bodies, manufacturers and distributors, training providers and consultants in the health and safety sector, 40% of which are completely new compared to last year giving the repeat visitor access to new information.

Along with event partners, Arco, DuPont and NQA and title sponsor 3M, Health & Safety North is supported by the British Safety Council and officially endorsed by the International Institute of Risk & Safety Management (IIRSM).

The event is free to enter and the car parking now includes a free shuttle bus to the venue. Also it is highly recommend that visitors register in advance for entry tickets, especially for seminar places as these are extremely popular. With the outstanding combination of the seminar programme and easy to access exhibitors, Health & Safety North event can help you discover how best practice can save your company money, making it an event you don’t want to miss!

To register online visit www.healthandsafetyevents.co.uk or call the event hotline on: 0870 4866816.

NEWS UKC

South West Water invests in cleaner seas With the rush for sunnier climes in full swing, Britain is currently celebrating a record 73% of beaches boasting ‘excellent’ water quality*.

Published in April, the Good Beach Guide showed that 538 of 734 UK beaches tested between May and September 2013 are rated at the top standard for water quality.

With some 88% of its beaches hitting the top standard, south west England boasts some of the best beaches in the country.

This is in no small part due to the investment being employed by South West Water, who is currently spending some £20M on a range of schemes to further improve bathing water quality at a number of its beaches.

Over the past 20 years, South West Water has invested some £2Bn on improving its beaches and water quality and this latest investment builds on that. There are 146 designated bathing waters in the South West Water region, covering Devon, Cornwall and Lyme Regis, Dorset. This is 30% of the bathing waters in England and Wales.

In preparation for the European Union’s revised bathing water directive, which comes into effect in 2015, South West Water is currently carrying out work at Lyme Regis, Teignmouth, Torbay, Mothecombe, Seaton (Cornwall), Looe and Combe Martin.

The new EU Regulation states that beaches which do not meet the ‘sufficient’

standard will have to display warning signs against bathing in the sea. This standard will also be nearly twice as stringent as the current minimum.

The Environment Agency has identified a range of factors that adversely affect bathing water quality in the area including, urban drainage, agricultural run-off, dogs and birds and storm water discharges.

South West Water is investing in a number of improvements across the region, mainly focusing on the storm water storage options.

Work is in its final phases to construct two underground storage tanks of 1,040cu m and 300cu m in Liskeard, whilst improvements are being made to the Menheniot Sewerage Treatment Works, which will provide additional storm water capacity together with the installation of UV disinfection. This additional storm water storage will reduce the number of storm discharges during extremely wet weather and thus improve the bathing water quality at East Looe and Seaton.

Preparatory work is underway in Torquay to enable some £5M worth of improvements to the area. Surveys will map ground levels and underground utility apparatus, while boreholes will establish ground conditions. The data will then be analysed to determine detailed plans, including the provision of further storm water storage and improving combined sewer overflows, which will lead to fewer

discharges during extremely wet weather.

At Uplyme Sewage Treatment Works, storm water storage is being increased with an additional 75cu m, representing a £413,000 investment. While a further 500cu m underground tank is currently being constructed at Teignmouth.

A £5M investment is being centred around Torbay, where the tourist industry is dependent on top quality bathing water. A number of possible engineering solutions are being developed; with increased storm water capacity in the sewerage network and improved combined sewer overflows at key locations.

Of equal benefit to the tourism industry, are the developments across south west Devon, where some £7.2M of improvements are being made to the sewerage network in Ivybridge, Ermington, Modbury and Holbeton, reducing the number of discharges to the River Erme during extremely wet weather.

Finally an investment of £2M in the village of Combe Martin will see two new underground storage tanks constructed.

All work is due to be completed by spring 2015.

South West Water is currently the only water company committed to this early investment, which will be financed by its own resources and will not impact on the average household bill. *According to the Marine Conservation Society.

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UKC COMMENT

Sensible suggestions pass efficiently and amicably into law with the Procurement Reform Bill, but more needs to be done

By David Wright, SELECT It is a relatively rare event for a campaigning organisation to declare that the passing of a piece of government legislation deserves to be regarded as a major milestone on the road to where we want to be.

But that is the case with the Procurement Reform Bill, which MSPs approved last month and which now only awaits Royal Assent before it passes into law. It aims to improve the way the public sector buys £10Bn of goods, works and services each year.

SELECT, which has been campaigning vigorously for several years on this vitally important issue, can be quietly pleased that many of the measures which it advocated have been incorporated into the Bill.

It can agree with Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that the legislation creates many of the necessary conditions to improve how the business community interacts with the public sector - but it has to caution that there are still significant hurdles to be overcome.

First, the good news, of which there is an unusual abundance. The Bill is of particular relevance to the legions of Scottish SMEs, which are acknowledged as the backbone of the economy but which often previously have struggled to obtain access to the public sector tendering process.

They will benefit hugely from the scrapping of onerous multiple pre-qualification. Now there will only be one pre-qualification requirement for companies, removing the need for repetitive pre-qualification submissions to different authorities, an expensive and time-consuming process involving complex paperwork.

Another positive step is the scrapping of public sector tender charges. No longer will councils be allowed to charge for providing the forms companies need to fill in.

Perhaps best of all is that the Bill lists the specific organisations which will be covered by it. At a stroke, this removes the argument by some authorities that its provisions do not apply to them. It also means that they are covered by the same

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procurement procedures, meaning that companies do not have to deal differently with 32 different local authorities.

Of course, there are some disappointments. The first, and most important, is that the threshold for the awarding of tenders is still too high.

It remains at £2M - £50,000 would be much more realistic. There are few companies in our industry which can respond to a £2M tender.

It would also have been encouraging to see the establishment of an Ombudsman or a regulator for the public procurement system. If our member companies have an issue with a big company, they are unlikely to take them to court because it is a risky and potentially ruinously expensive business.

The establishment of a regulatory office would be a great step forward since it could take the heat out of situations and allow them to much more easily and amicably resolved..

There has been sympathy for these proposals during the passage of the Bill and the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee under Maureen Watt MSP has listened intelligently and supportively to the arguments.

The committee argues that many outstanding issues can be picked up in subsequent regulations, but the counter-argument is that, if it can happen then, why can’t it happen now?

The Bill as it stands is essentially enabling legislation and what needs to follow as soon as possible is regulations that will govern the operation of the Bill.

Until now there has been a huge amount of money spent by the Scottish government and the rest of the Scottish public sector which has gone right over the heads of the Scottish economy and Scottish SMEs. The Procurement Reform Bill unleashes the potential of the multiplier effect, whereby each £1 spent by government or the public sector can create - at the most pessimistic estimate - £3

of value in the wider economy.

Putting the above reservations aside, it has to be recognised that what has been achieved with this Bill is remarkable and it is a tribute to the politicians, parliamentary committees, organisations and companies who contributed to its realisation.

Without a devolved Parliament, it would never have happened and I believe Wales and Northern Ireland are studying it closely.

Altogether, a good day for Scotland.

For more information please contact David Wright, Head of External Affairs at SELECT, the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland, T: 0131 445 5577

David Wright

COMMENT UKC

Safety first It is vital, especially as the house-building industry continues to recover, that health and safety remains a top priority.

Experience tells us that accident rates increase after a recession, as build volumes pick up and workforces become stretched.

It makes good business sense to make sure health and safety is addressed.

A workforce that feels protected and valued is more motivated, productive and professional in its work. This in turn influences product quality, saleability and, ultimately, customer satisfaction.

Highlighting and sharing best practice is therefore important, as is rewarding those who lead the way in this field. With this in mind, the national winners of NHBC’s fifth annual Health and Safety Awards were announced at a ceremony held at the ICC in Birmingham in July, hosted by renowned sportsman Sir Clive Woodward OBE. Recognising on-site health and safety best practice across four builder-size categories, only those site managers who demonstrate exceptional standards of care for the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff and the public succeed in winning an award. This year’s winners offer clear examples of how best practice can be replicated across the industry.

Special awards for teams or individuals leading the way in health and safety were also given, for the categories of ‘Health and Safety Strategic Leadership’ (Stewart Milne Group) and ‘Health and Safety Specialist Leadership’ (Clare Walker, Bellway Homes), as well as for ‘Best Occupational Health Initiative’ (Lend Lease).

For the first time at the NHBC Health and Safety Awards, the judges also chose to give a Special Recognition Award to the HBF Health and Safety Committee, which was formed to bring housebuilders of all shapes and sizes together in an open forum to share and discuss best practice in health and safety, and is marking its 20th anniversary this year.

Over the years, it has had an enormous positive impact and been instrumental in bringing health and safety up the agenda. Among its achievements it has created a Health and Safety Charter, laying out a vision for health and safety management in house-building and it continues to engage with home builders of all sizes, publishing advice and guidance to help them continually improve.

Currently under the Chairmanship of Vince Coyle from Barratt, the Committee is a prominent and expert voice during consultations on health and safety regulation, and maintains close links to HSE and other partnership organisations.

All the winners were chosen by an

independent panel of experts, assessed against stringent benchmarks. The judging panel included Michelle Aldous, Chief Executive of Constructing Better Health, Gordon Crick, Inspector for the Construction Division of the HSE, and Kevin Fear, Head of Health, Safety and Environment at CITB. Sir Clive Woodward presented the awards and gave an after-dinner speech on what makes a winner – a particularly resonant address given the audience. He is renowned in the world of sport for establishing a winning culture with the England Rugby Union side, on the way to winning the Rugby World Cup in Sydney in 2003.

The window for entry to the 2015 NHBC Health and Safety Awards opens in the autumn. For further information about the awards, and about health and safety best practice, including a full list of winners, visit www.nhbc.co.uk/hsawards.

National Winners Organisation

Site

Site Manager

Small Builder

Dawn Homes Ltd

Barwood Quarry

Craig Shankley

Medium Builder

Kier Homes Ltd

Connect 21

Max Perrin

Large builder

David Wilson Mercia

Webbs Meadow

Kirk Raine

Multi–Storey Builder

Crest Nicholson South West

Block Q Dock & Dockside

Darren Eyles

25

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UKC COMMENT

The prescription for workplace peace and privacy

By Niklas Moeller, K R Moeller Associates Ltd The increased use of open plan, movable walls and sustainable design practices make sound masking systems an indispensible part of today’s interiors.

This technology consists of a series of loudspeakers typically installed in a gridlike pattern above the ceiling, as well as a method of controlling their output. The sound the loudspeakers distribute raises the ambient – or background – sound level in the facility to a comfortable 40 to 48 dBA, covering up noises and conversations that would otherwise disrupt occupants and compromise speech privacy.

While any masking system can introduce a sound into the client’s space, the manner in which the system is implemented and the types of adjustments it offers dramatically impact its ability to provide speech privacy and control noise. These factors also affect how readily the sound is accepted by occupants, as well as the ease of making changes in the future.

In order to ensure the system works as expected, a clear set of performance standards should be established prior to procurement. A specification that focuses on the following qualities allows competitive bids and, if its terms are upheld, ensures a high level of performance from the system ultimately chosen.

Small adjustment zones

The most important factor is to place an upper limit on zone size. Small zones of one to three loudspeakers (covering 225 to 675 ft2) provide a high degree of flexibility. If the system uses larger zones, numerous loudspeakers are set to the same volume and frequency, and compromises must be made. For example, if the volume needs to be increased to improve the system’s effectiveness in one area, it might be too loud in another, affecting comfort.

Effective masking sound generation

To avoid phasing (uncontrollable variations in masking levels), each small zone should have a dedicated masking generator. In addition, each generator should provide a

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truly random sound (ie: no repeat cycle).

The sound must cover the entire masking spectrum – typically specified as 100 to 5,000 Hz (and as high as 10,000 Hz) – providing both comfort and effectiveness, and covering a wide range of noises.

Fine volume and frequency control

Fine volume control (in 0.5 decibel steps) should be provided for each small zone, enabling the user to make adjustments for local conditions. If not, they will be forced to set the volume to a level that is best on average, compromising effectiveness and comfort at various unpredictable points across the space.

The system should also provide fine frequency control within each small zone. The range should cover the entire masking spectrum and control should be via third-octave adjustment, which is the industry standard and basis for masking targets set by acousticians.

Suitable loudspeaker driver Loudspeaker drivers should be 4 to 8 inches in diameter and rated from 10 to 25 watts in order to ensure they can generate the low frequencies that are vital to occupant comfort.

Measured results

The process should not end as soon as the system is selected. The true gauge of whether it is performing as expected is gained from measurements done after installation and initial tuning.

Masking volume is typically set to between 40 and 48 dBA in commercial interiors, and the results should be consistent within an overall range of 1 to 1.5 dBA or less. Plus or minus 2 dB in each thirdoctave frequency band is a reasonable expectation. Users can typically expect a 10 percent reduction in performance for each decibel below the target volume.

Depending on their significance to the project at hand, the specification also may need to include secondary

characteristics such as timer functions, zoning and control methods, security features, paging functions and aesthetics.

Lastly, appoint a guardian to ensure that bids meet the criteria outlined in the specification. It is also important that they determine what services are offered in conjunction with each of the proposals under consideration. The sound masking system should be supported by professionals who can properly implement it and provide ongoing support.

For a sample performance-based sound masking specification, see www.soundmaskingspecs.com.

Niklas Moeller

COMMENT UKC

Court guidance on Extension of Time

By Peter Sheridan, Partner, Sheridan Gold LLP Extension of time (EoT) refers to a contractual mechanism whereby relief from delay damages may be granted by adjustment of a contractual completion date. It is necessary if the employer is to maintain the right to liquidated damages for delay after the (adjusted) completion date, as well as a means of reducing contractors’ exposure to delay damages.

Contractors’ recovery of delay-related costs is another matter (see the writer’s recent article on loss and expense).

Where a dispute concerns delay damages and EoT, it is normal to consider obtaining expert evidence. What type of delay analysis will be suitable for the case in question is a matter on which experts can advise, but it is also useful to consider guidance the courts have given.

How much delay was caused and by what are questions of fact, so it is always necessary to adduce evidence of fact on these matters. Delay analysis is merely an additional tool which may assist in marshalling the factual evidence: see for example Mirant and Walter Lilly. It is accordingly not always necessary to adduce expert evidence at all, but it is common where significant sums are in issue. Great care is needed with this expert evidence; well-known experts in this field have been subjected to severe judicial criticism for over-long, over-complex reports concerned with computer-generated analysis, for theoretical material, or for uncritically accepting their client’s account and lacking independence: see for example Skanska v Egger and Great Eastern Hotel v Laing.

The court normally addresses delay long after the event. The court has an advantage over the parties at the time of the delaying events (at which time the contract administrator often has to assess as best he can the future effect of these events) of retrospective knowledge; the court will make use of this knowledge: see for example Walter Lilly and Leighton Contractors (Asia) v Stelux Holdings.

Where a contract administrator is assessing the effect of delaying events, he is not normally required to adopt a

particular delay analysis method, but he is required to undertake a logical analysis in a methodical way, rather than forming a general impression: see John Barker Construction v London Portman (concerning an architect granting EoT).

The judge in Walter Lilly suggested that it does not matter whether a delay analysis is prospective or retrospective, as they will, if properly done, yield the same result.

Although this point had been agreed by the experts for both parties in Walter Lilly, it is doubted if it holds good generally. A retrospective analysis is informed by what actually happened, so will normally be more accurate than and may well differ from a prediction (albeit properly made) or an analysis which disregards this information.

Critical path analysis is often important, as it is normally only critical delay (delay which has the effect of delaying the date for completion) which matters in relation to extension of time. Delay to an activity which is non-critical is neutral so far as EoT is concerned (although it is likely to be relevant to loss and expense). The courts have referred to the importance of critical path analysis: see for example Mirant, Motherwell Bridge v Micafil, Great Eastern Hotel, Walter Lilly and Costain v Haswell, although it is not always essential or feasible: see City Inn. Analysing the critical path is probably a matter for expert evidence or at least requires a skill the court does not possess (see Royal Brompton).

A retrospective delay analysis must include the time to the end of the project: see for example Mirant. It is not enough to consider a period of time (or “window”) during which the delaying events or the key ones occurred. Other events may have occurred after that window to delay or bring forward the completion date, so a partial analysis will be inconclusive on EoT. See also Costain v Haswell, which illustrates that the same principle applies to a loss and expense claim based on delay. However, a comprehensive analysis which is broken down into convenient windows (often monthly) is likely to be well received by the court: see eg. Mirant and Walter Lilly.

The SCL Protocol has been referred to by several experts in court cases but significantly has not been endorsed by the courts. The courts have expressed doubts and disapproval of computergenerated or theoretical analysis: see eg. Skanska v Egger, Costain v Haswell.

The SCL Protocol recommends a type of delay analysis (a prospective time impact analysis) that is to an extent at odds with the common sense, factually-based approach of the courts: see for example Mirant. The SCL Protocol is considered in fairly dismissive terms in the Adyard case.

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

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UKC PROFILE

Chief Fire Officers Association

Promoting efficiency of the UK’s fire and rescue service Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) was established in 1941 and has become an important professional voice of the UK fire and rescue service (UK FRS).

In all of its operations, the Association works to achieve four aims to shape its direction.

These are: ••To lead and influence the direction of the UK FRS on professional, managerial and leadership issues.

••Be the focal point for professional advice that drives and contributes to the development of policy, which will in turn impact on the UK FRS. ••Effectively communicate views and priorities.

••Support members to achieve both individual and collective improvement.

Members are supported to fulfil their leadership role in protecting local communities and making life safer through improved service delivery.

CFOA provides professional advice to inform government policy and is committed to developing strategic and technical guidance with services all over the UK. The membership of CFOA is wide and varied, encompassing senior management, subject experts and those involved in service delivery at fire and rescue services across the UK. There are eight Directors at CFOA and below board level, business is under the umbrella of Strategic Directorates, with each of these headed by a Director.

Each directorate encompasses a number of standing committees or working groups, lead officers for particular references and a number of task and finish groups.

Portfolios cover operations response, prevention and protection, people and

32

organisational development, and corporate services and sector improvement.

Each member of the Association belongs to one of 11 regions that follow the boundaries of the regional development agencies.

As with many associations, CFOA’s work is wide and varied, from initiatives on furniture fire safety, to work with children and young people.

At the moment, the Association is involved in waste management and recycling files, unwanted fire signals and flooding.

In November last year, CFOA organised a Fire Futures Forum on Waste Management.

Attended by stakeholders from waste management and insurance sectors, alongside other various strategic leaders, the aim was to achieve consensus on key issues, understand the perspective of others, and identify potential solutions that would result in a reduced number of fires at waste management and recycling centres.

CFOA, along with other partner organisations, including the waste sector, insurers and Environment Agency, recognised that in order to effect positive change, it was important to work collaboratively, through the production of appropriate and manageable solutions that are proportionate to the risk, as well as being cost effective and achievable for the industry and enforcing authorities.

Thanks to this work, a national Code of Practice will be launched in the autumn, with a parliamentary seminar scheduled for November.

Fire and rescue services from all over the country have been at the forefront of the push that has tried to reduce the devastating impact of flooding on local communities that many experienced during the 2013/14 winter floods.

This was supported by the Fire and Rescue Service National Coordination and Advisory Framework (NCAF) which enabled the necessary deployment of assets across geographical and political boundaries, to directly assist fire and rescue services dealing with flooding.

These floods were the greatest test since the inception of the NCAF arrangements, where for prolonged periods of time, the vast majority of National Resilience flood response assets were assigned to an incident somewhere in the south or south west of England.

Due to this level of service, the FRS is in the process of reviewing NCAF and there response capabilities to ensure they are and remain fit for purpose.

Part of this process included the National Flood Event Debrief.

Held in April 2014, it brought together representatives from the FRS, Environment Agency, Met Office and other partner agencies to present individual case studies and identify learning points for the future.

All of these initiatives perfectly underline a key aspect of the Association as it continues to move forward; greater collaboration.

As the pace of change quickens, CFOA will support its membership and the service in making transformational change while continuing to be a repository for good practice, research commissioning and information exchange.

Members will continue to be provided with personal development opportunities that give them the skills to manage change, and enhance its cross-sector leadership programme to enable CFOA to learn more from others involved in transitional change. www.cfoa.org.uk

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UKC LEISURE

McMullen & Sons

New pub added to growing portfolio Hertfordshire-based McMullen & Sons has added another property to its list of businesses.

The Prince George pub opened earlier this year after an extensive construction programme.

It now stands spectacularly proud in the Milton Keynes suburb of Tattenhoe, and also comprises of a restaurant.

Consisting of two-storeys, there is a trade area on the ground floor along with kitchen areas, cold rooms and a cooled beer cellar.

McMullen’s mantra is respect – for customers who spend their money, for staff who entrust their working life and career, for tenants and pub operators who commit to business relationships, and shareholders who invest through good times and bad.

McMullen was founded in 1827 by Peter McMullen and since then has continued brewing in Hertford, without a break.

The brewing history has been protected throughout that time by acquiring and investing in the public houses.

All pubs are run by managers or business partners and provide an exclusive market for McMullen’s beers.

To this day, the McMullen family remains firmly committed to all beers because they act as the ‘flag’ for the business.

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The Company has continued to grow, and just ten years ago, the Whole Bop Brewery – the most recent in a continuous line of six breweries on the site in Hertford – was opened.

This brewery symbolises the shareholders’ resolute commitment to continue the brewing trade and growth has continued, as last year saw new territories opened, such as Sevenoaks, Fleet and Mytchett.

This is McMullen’s latest pub/restaurant in its Chicken & Grill concept, which provides freshly spit-roasted chicken and delicious, healthy grilled meats as a speciality, along with impeccably efficient, personally driven service.

Prince George Pub also provides external parking facilities, landscaped areas, external terraces and garden areas.

Public toilets are on the first floor, as well as the staff accommodation – staff toilets, showers and locker rooms.

There is a two-bedroom manager’s flat and there are four one-bedsit rooms for live-in staff.

As part of the planning permission, a survey had to be carried out for great crested newts that were on site.

It involved a trapping period to try and catch as many newts as possible before

it became a construction site, and plastic fencing was erected to contain them.

Each morning, the newts were gathered up and put back into a nearby pond in this agricultural area. The fencing remained up throughout construction to prevent the newts getting back onto the site while work was going on.

Afterwards, three high vernaculars had to be built as part of the landscaping scheme, which gave the newts a place to live. This comprises a mound that is a mixture of brick, rubble and timber, covered with topsoil and then turfed so that there are voids and crevices that the newts can get into to hibernate in the winter.

Designed by Harrison Company Ltd, the building is a traditional structure with concrete strip foundations, steel frame, pre-cast plank ground floors and first floors, load bearing brick external walls, block and metal stud partitions internally and a timber truss rafter roof with tiles and slates.

Both floors are approximately 800sq m each and the building has taken efficiency seriously, with energy efficient dimming systems installed to control lighting so that the manager can dim them if it isn’t particularly busy. continued on page 36 >

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LED lamps have been used extensively throughout the project to provide reduced energy consumption and motion sensors are incorporated to control back of house and toilet areas that are not in use.

There is a huge heat recovery unit on the roof as well, showing McMullen’s desire to take certain measures on board.

Since its opening in February, the feedback of the building has praised how attractive it is, and its trading is very healthy indeed.

This is thanks, in no small part, to the Main Contractor, Stenball Construction.

Originally formed as a traditional building company, Stenball Construction started as a pub/bar/restaurant/hotel/nightclub/ office refurbishment contractor but has since evolved into a leading national high quality refurbishment and fit-out company for the retail, hospitality, commercial and residential sectors.

The Company, with more than 40 years of experience, specialises in interior refurbishment from the inception of a project through to its completion.

Friendly, highly skilled and competent personnel are employed, whose aim is to ensure customers are completely satisfied with the service provided.

Stenball Construction’s team of dedicated electricians, plumbers, carpenters and shopfitters are committed to providing clients with a first-class service, and

36

the Company is widely proven and trusted by clients and professionals to deliver stunning residential, working and retail trading environments.

Through its clients, the Company has built strong working relationships and a good reputation with a number of top architectural, structural engineering, health and safety and quantity surveying practices.

Health and safety is also important to Stenball Construction, who has a health and safety adviser to keep the Company up to date with all government legislation.

The dedication to meeting the highest standards shines through at the Prince George pub, where the brief was to make it look like a traditional farmhouse building that had been extended over the years.

Externally, it is a mixture of faced brickwork, colour render, and cedar boarding to some elevations so it gives off the look that it has been extended two or three times throughout the years.

Similar facing bricks have been chosen for use on the residential part of the building, as well as pure facing bricks, render and boarding, while on the roof, there are slates, some of which are tiled to match the adjacent residential accommodation.

The project hasn’t been without its challenges, as work had to be undertaken during the winter when conditions were poor. The wet winter delayed the

project and caused problems with the groundwork’s because lots of earth had to be moved in order to strip topsoil.

This had to be stockpiled on site for use in the landscaping works but some areas became akin to quagmire, which caused a considerable issue.

A shortage of blockwork was also a problem because the demand for it was huge around September last year when the industry as a whole began to recover.

This was remedied by using a thinner block while beefing up the insulation by installing a thicker layer in the cavity to overcome this while also maintaining the U-values.

All of these challenges were overcome because of a committed construction team, which comprised of WW Green & Partners Ltd, who coordinated the whole project.

Work started in May 2013 and was complete in February 2014.

The work cost £1.7M. McMullen & Sons Ltd The Hertford Brewery 26 Old Cross Hertfordshire SG14 1RD

W. W. GREEN AND PARTNERS LTD Chartered Quantity Surveyors Building Cost Consultants Project Managers CDM Co-ordinators

W. W. Green and Partners Ltd are proud to have been working with McMullen & Sons Ltd for over 45 years and to have provided Quantity Surveying, Project Management and CDM Co-ordination services on their latest development The Prince George Public House in Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes and wish them every success for the future.

Established in 1948 and with over 65 years experience in providing full quantity surveying and cost consultancy services on leisure, commercial, industrial, residential and refurbishment projects.

Working extensively across London and the South East as well as across the whole of the UK. For further information please contact:A J Hill FRICS – e-mail: jhill@wwgreen.co.uk J A Henley BSc – e-mail: johnhenley@wwgreen.co.uk

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UKC PROFILE

Ealing Council

Committed to housing regeneration

Ealing Council serves the residents and businesses of London’s third largest borough, in the heart of west London.

There is a constant commitment to improving services, performance, and guaranteeing value for money.

The five priorities are; making the borough safer, securing public services, securing jobs and homes, making the borough cleaner, and delivering value for money.

Housing regeneration is also high on the Council’s list of priorities, with an exciting investment and regeneration programme under way to transform many of the homes, estates, town centres and neighbourhoods in the borough.

The aim is to provide residents with the best possible homes and housing services that will match the standards they request.

These plans are ambitious and seek to transform parts of the borough that need significant investment, care and attention as well as boost the economic, social prosperity and quality of life for residents.

The Council have a number of long-term residential regeneration schemes under way, such as at Copley Close, which will see 205 new homes built over the next five years as well as refurbishment of more than 550 existing homes.

It is part of the vision to radically transform the estate by raising the standard of council rented homes as well as providing new homes for purchase and private rent.

Work is necessary because the

38

estate suffers from poor design and structural issues and the Council has already made improvements in the form of window replacement and the landscaping of open areas that has brought about a positive relationship between Ealing Council and residents.

These residents have been at the heart of the redevelopment process and have worked in partnership with council officers to find the best solution to regenerate the estate.

Design proposals were developed with the resident design steering group and residents will continue to play a key role through construction period.

Play areas and new CCTV cameras have also been installed at the estate, which will see some demolition work to remove a community centre and shops that will be replaced, and three residential blocks will be removed to make way for 76 new homes.

Split into two phases, the work will see residents moved to temporary accommodation while the refurbishment is ongoing. All disturbance and removal costs are being paid for by the Council.

Costing £90M, the project won the 2014 Best Conceptual project at the London Planning Awards and upon completion in 2019, will revitalise the area.

The Council has also entered into a partnership with Acton Gardens LLP (a partnership between L&Q and Countryside

Properties plc) at South Acton Estate, which is providing over 2,750 new homes, half of which will be affordable.

Consisting of multiple phases, the first was completed at the end of last year which saw 160 homes built for social rent, shared ownership, shared equity and outright sale.

The latest phase, due to complete from the end of this year, will provide 106 new homes, half of which will be affordable, and after that, Phase III will result in a further 240 homes.

Phase IV is subject to development of detailed planning.

The development has sought to improve an estate that suffered from failed social housing archetypes along with design and maintenance issues.

It has been a long-term development, which saw 70 units constructed in 2006, and two further phases followed in 2009 as part of an earlier masterplan. This resulted in another 254 new affordable homes.

When completed in 2026, the £560M will also have a new community hub, increased public open space, new parks, a bus route, and talks are ongoing to create a potential health facility.

Thee projects demonstrates the Council’s continued commitment to improving living standards in the borough, and along with Green Man Lane Estate, which will provide 714 new homes by 2022, it promises a bright future thanks to Ealing Council.

Desig n & B u i ld Project Management

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The New Construction Health and Safety Manual The cornerstone to your compliance. Helping you comply with health and safety legislation and promoting good practice.

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“The Construction Health and Safety Manual has been written by Construction Industry Publications Ltd to help people working in the construction industry to make health and safety improvements in the construction industry. It is recognised that this guidance contains some advice that may go further than the minimum needed to comply with health and safety law.”

HSE – Construction Inspectorate – 2014 The NEW Manual contains • Six new colour coded sections grouping like topics together.

• New sections entitled Health and Safety Management, Managing Project Health, Safety and Welfare and Site Set Up, and Work Related Road Safety.

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• New comprehensive legal section, including interpretation of key construction legislation, register of legislation and summary of all relevant construction related legislation.

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• All the existing content, reviewed and updated.

Its text is strictly monitored by an editorial panel of Health & Safety Experts who check its content for accuracy and topicality.

“We always suggest to our course delegates that the manual is an ideal way of having a single source of construction H&S, providing accurate and practical information for effective H&S management and standards.”

Dave Carr Callsafe Services Limited The manual is designed in a loose leaf format so that it can easily be updated, and amendments and new sections are normally published twice a year and are available to manual owners who pay a subscription. By signing up to the automatic subscription service, you will receive each update twice yearly automatically.

The Manual is also available on CDROM and online at www.cip-bluebook.com, free one month’s trial available click here.

Construction Industry Publication Tel: 0870 078 4400 enquiries@cip-books.com www.cip-books.com

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ew sections on health

端 Nand safety management and site set-up pdated guidance

端 Uon Training, Lifting Equipment, Demolition, the Environment, and Electricity omprehensive

端 Clegal section

UKC EVENTS

RWM Expo

Introducing companies, services and experts to inspire business This September sees the return to the UK of the Resources and Waste Management (RWM) Expo.

The biggest of its kind in the UK, it is aimed at big businesses who want to improve their resource efficiency and to avoid waste.

Based in Birmingham, it will see creative ideas generated to avoid waste altogether, like recycling waste and making money from waste.

With 750 exhibitors attracting over 13,000 visitors, RWM is Europe’s premier resource efficiency and waste management event and an essential date in the calendar for anyone in the industry.

Bringing together providers of key products and service solutions with local authorities, waste managers and waste producers, the show is the foundation of many business partnerships.

In a change from last year, RWM is moving to NEC halls four and five, the largest exhibition halls in the country, to showcase the industry on the scale it demands. This means more choice of stand size and configuration.

The move will mean there will be six distinct sections, making the show easier to navigate, improved build up and breakdown, and more space for enhanced features.

There will also be a dedicated area for waste and resource managers to network with waste producers.

Furthermore, the layout of the halls will make co-located events, the Energy Event, Renewables Event and Water Event more accessible, attracting visitors from those shows into RWM. RWM has more than 45 years of

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experience of serving the industry and can boast numbers of 78% which represents the proportion of exhibitors who attend for the quality of visitors as well as due to the reputation of the show.

The waste producer audience is growing year on year, in response to the pressure to deal with waste in a responsible way. the audience is looking to make informed business decisions and there will be a dedicated area to facilitate networking between waste managers and waste producers.

For those who provide equipment, buy or export materials, RWM is the place to meet the local authorities looking for services. The local authority reach spans the whole of the UK, which means RWM provides an unmissable opportunity to share best practice.

The conference programme, running across various theatres and featuring more than 70 seminars, has been developed through intensive peer reviewed research with industry bodies such as CIWM. Topics to be discussed in the conference include the latest legislation, the circular economy, financing infrastructure and waste prevention.

RWM is continuously developing in line with the needs of the industry, and therefore a brand new show sector will be in place.

Circular Economy Connect will be complete with a dedicated seminar theatre and networking areas, created to facilitate decision making at the highest level between waste management companies, sustainability managers, producers of waste and product designers

looking to develop a circular plan.

Businesses are quickly realising the value of waste as a commodity and are changing their way of thinking in terms of waste management strategies in response to supply chain pressure and issues of resource continuity.

A product’s lifecycle must be considered at the design stage if it is to provide continuous resource and it’s vital that the waste management industry influences this process.

Currently, only 40% of waste is recycled and utilised in England, compared to 50% in the rest of the UK. For all those with solutions to help increase this percentage and turn waste into an asset, Circular Economy Connect is the place to debate, discuss and showcase them.

It will address key issues and barriers to creating a more circular economy and investigate those who can best benefit from the closed-loop model.

Day one will also feature a dedicated session on construction, aiding companies to move towards zero waste, featuring speakers from BAM Construct, Argent and Balfour Beatty.

Local authority waste needs, including best practice case studies, TEEP guidelines and targeting recycling engagement, will be addressed in the Local Authority Theatre.

RWM, which already has a number of confirmed exhibitors, is free to attend and takes place from 16th - 18th September 2014 in the larger halls of four to five at the NEC, Birmingham.

Register at www.rwmexhibition.com

Bid Academy is launching an exciting new training offer for those involved in bidding and tendering. The ‘three-step approach’ to training consists of: n A pre-course assessment of individual experience and training needs n Attendance at a Bid Academy workshop n Individual, post-event mentoring to ensure training is relevant and properly embedded

Out of this work, the company’s strapline was born: “Because every bid is unique”. This recognises that no two bids are ever the same – even for the same company, bidding in the same market to the same customer. It has also driven Bid Academy’s desire to shape their training around customer needs. In order to: n Improve their win rates, profitability and market presence. n Help find their bidding and tendering ‘sweet spot’ n Agree a contract of improvement with each ‘collaborator’ based on their goals and targets

It is geared to strengthen each individual’s key bidding and tendering competencies. This in turn helps their companies to gain competitive advantage through implementing best practice bidding and tendering techniques.

“This is the first time that bid and tender training has been done in this way, and the initial feedback from our soft launch has been tremendous. People like the fact that the training is centred on their own individual needs and we’re not simply teaching them by rote,” Julian Cope, the Managing Director explained. “At Bid Academy we’re a bit different, our customers like it and we’re very proud of it”, he added.

Bid Academy is devoted to improving bid and tender responses through its unique approach to training and consultancy.

The company has distilled this into the “3P’s of bidding: project, process and people” which focuses on finding their client’s ‘bidding sweet spot’.

Bid Academy will be at the RWM Exhibition (stand 4J100) at the NEC in Birmingham, from Tuesday 16th to Thursday 18th September. The company will have a number of special deals for customers attending the show: n A competition with two prizes, each for £1,000 worth of free training n Limited number of low-cost, pilot course places in December 2014 n Register for one of our masterclass evenings with guest speakers and networking n An opportunity to take advantage of special show discounts for courses run in 2015

To be a successful bidder, please get in touch

+44 (0) 1793 230 276

bid-academy.com

You can also catch up with us here

UKC LEISURE

Imperial War Museums

Commemorating First World War Centenary The transformation of the flagship Imperial War Museums (IWM) in London has recently completed.

Opened to the public on 19th July, the result is the new First World War Galleries, almost twice the size of the previous ones, which will allow IWM London to display much more from its exceptional collections.

IWM is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day. It seeks to provide for and to encourage the study and understanding of the history of modern war and wartime experience.

Its origins go way back to 1917 when the Cabinet decided that a National War Museum should be set up to collect and display material relating to the Great War, which was still being fought.

The interest taken by the Dominion governments led to the museum being given the title of Imperial War Museum and it was formally established by Act of Parliament in 1920 and a governing Board of Trustees were appointed.

The museum was opened in the Crystal Palace by King George V on 9th June 1920. From 1924 to 1935 it was housed in two galleries adjoining the former Imperial Institute, South Kensington.

On 7th July 1936 the Duke of York, shortly

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to become King George VI, reopened the museum in its present home, formerly the central portion of Bethlem Royal Hospital, thanks to the generosity of Lord Rothermere.

From September 1940 to November 1946, the museum was closed and vulnerable collections were evacuated to stores outside London.

Most of the exhibits survived the Second World War, but a short seaplane, which had flown at the Battle of Jutland, was shattered when a German bomb fell on the Naval Gallery on 31st January 1941 and some of the naval models were damaged by the blast.

At the outset of the Second World War, IWM’s remit was expanded to cover both world wars and they were again extended in 1953 to include all military operations in which Britain or the Commonwealth have been involved since August 1914.

Today, IWM’s five branches are IWM London, with six levels of exhibitions and displays; IWM North, housed in an iconic building designed by Daniel Libeskind; IWM Duxford, a world renowned aviation museum and Britain’s best preserved wartime airfield; Churchill War Rooms, Churchill’s secret headquarters below Whitehall, and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.

The previous First World War Galleries at IWM London were designed in the

late 1980s and opened to the public in 1990. Now, with a wide range of digital technologies, IWM can offer new ways of presenting content for the visitor and put the objects into context.

In the new galleries, a wealth of objects, letters, photograph, film and interactive displays can be explored to tell the stories of the First World War, through the eyes of those who experienced it.

The digital teams have worked closely with historians, designers and developers to ensure that the most appropriate digital technology is used to tell the stories of the First World War in new and thought provoking ways.

Split into fourteen key story areas, the galleries draw upon the latest historical analysis of the causes, course and consequences of this landmark conflict that claimed the lives of more than 16 million people across the globe and affected the lives of millions more.

A section of the exhibition called Life at the Front includes a recreated trench experience and is designed to evoke what it could have been like for troops living in the open. A Sopwith Camel plane and Mark V tank rising above the trench provide a dramatic sense of scale. The Sopwith Camel plane and Mark V tank were placed in position in March continued on page 45 >

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this year and now form the centrepiece of the new First World War Galleries.

Both objects had undergone conservation at IWM Duxford before going on display.

The Sopwith Camel, a lightweight aircraft, had a new suspension system installed so that it could be suspended from the ceiling in the Galleries.

While conserving the Mark V, IWM’s team of experts discovered several structural cracks, corrosion damage on the bottom of the body of the tank and the tracks needed repair work. It took a team of four conservators a year to fully conserve this object, so it was ready to be displayed in IWM London.

In the new galleries, Mark V is displayed at an angle, as if it is cresting the edge of a trench. Because of the age of the tank, IWM engaged with three structural engineering companies to design and build the frame that would safely display the object for a long time.

The frame, which was also used to allow the tank to be lifted into position, spreads the 23-tonne weight of the tank safely.

The size and weight of the tank meant that it had to be lifted and craned into the building. The remaining movement and positioning of the tank was done by manual jacks and winches over a three-day period.

On reopening IWM London now boasts a transformed atrium, which was designed by Foster + Partners.

Entering the dramatic new atrium, visitors are greeted by iconic objects including a Harrier, Spitfire and a V2 rocket and making their way up each level in the atrium, more collections are revealed on the new terraces.

On Level 1 - Turning Points: 1934 to 1945 focuses on key moments from the Second World War. While Peace and Security: 1939 to 2014 on Level 2 tells the stories behind

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how Britain and Europe re-built itself after for visitors to view until March 2015. The 1945 and also reveals how conflicts have exhibition is the largest grouping of British been fought and communities divided in First World War art for almost 100 years places such as Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. and displays paintings by artists Paul Nash, Finally Level 3 presents - Curiosities of War CRW Nevinson as well as sketches and – which includes some of the more obscure objects from the collections, from the bar where the Dambusters bomber crew used to drink, through to a sofa made from security fences by troops in Afghanistan.

Grouped into thematic clusters, visitors will be able to discover 45 years experience in the photographic the extraordinary Industry - service support for darkroom stories of the objects themselves equipment - camera repairs film/digital. and the history Sales of photographic consumables. of key events.

Collections are Service & repairs of film processors & dryers. being reinterpreted in a more dynamic, engaging and We are pleased to be associated with the imaginative way, drawing on the Imperial War Museum project and wish all depth and breadth involved continued success for the future of IWM’s extensive collections to strengthen each story.

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drawings from soldiers on the western front.

This major retrospective will showcase some of the most compelling works of art produced during World War One and reveal how artists strived

to represent the unprecedented events of the First World War. The museum now also boasts a new cafĂŠ opening onto the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park and shops.

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UKC HOUSING

The Racecourse Newbury

New homes at one of the UK’s premier horse racing venues A new 1,500-home housing development is being built on three areas of land at Newbury Racecourse.

It marks an exciting new chapter in the racecourse’s history as it undergoes one of the biggest redevelopments ever to take place at a British leisure destination.

The development is being undertaken on three areas of land known as the Western, Central and Eastern sites over an anticipated ten-year timespan, with approximately 420 homes on the Western site being built in the initial phase.

This scheme’s origins can be traced back to 2012 when an agreement was made between The Racecourse Newbury and David Wilson Homes to develop the homes.

Phase I, comprising luxurious apartments, has now launched at the site. These stunning properties include two- and three-bedroom apartments and prestigious penthouses with views across the racecourse to the landscapes beyond.

The Racecourse Newbury will boast a range of contemporary homes that have been created to suit each customer’s needs, such as townhouses, executive

new way of life and will enjoy a host of homes and trackside apartments. convenient on site facilities, while the The racecourse will also benefit with a re-landscaping will create a greener £42M investment in its infrastructure, with environment for residents and the new highlights including a new road bridge at road, bridge and footpath network will link the eastern end to provide better access; the racecourse to Newbury town centre. significant re-landscaping around the The Main Contractor is grandstands; a parade ring designed in a David Wilson Homes. natural amphitheatre; a new stable staff hostel, and the rocking horse nursery.

Living at the racecourse will offer luxury homes in a unique setting, as Newbury is one of the UK’s premier horse racing venues.

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UKC PROFILE

Drew Construction Group

Delivering construction excellence Founded in 1908, Drew Construction Group has gained a glowing reputation for building quality new homes.

A reputation initially confined to the New Forest area, it grew as the Company expanded in the 1960s and contracting work became the main activity, which has continued to the present day.

Growth continued with the acquisition of a small private development company over 30 years ago, which gave Drew Construction a base for Devon and Cornwall activities.

Despite its expansion over the last century, the Drew family still support the business, which works across Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Surrey, West Sussex and Berkshire.

The Group comprises two different companies; Herbert H Drew & Son Ltd and Drew Properties (New Milton) Ltd. Herbert H Drew & Son Ltd manages projects up to £8M including design and build, across a diverse range of sectors including education, housing and community projects.

They have also carried out a number of high

50

specification, one-off private residences, together with several major commercial schemes for the Ministry of Defence.

Herbert H Drew & Son Ltd also benefits from a general works department, who deliver a comprehensive service on a range of smaller value projects including refurbishment, extension and alteration work, as well as some new build projects.

Generally ranging between £50,000 and £600,000, and in the southern Hampshire and south-east Dorset region, these projects are managed by highly experienced team to ensure the highest quality is achieved.

Across the Company the team has developed a strong emphasis towards customer service. This ethos of delivering construction excellence has been enhanced through extensive experience of working in occupied premises such as schools, hospitals and public buildings.

From the development arm of the Drew Group, Drew Properties (New Milton) Ltd has most recently undertaken a development of 58 dwellings in a gated community named Rydon Village, located

in Holsworthy, North Devon. Further details can be viewed at www.rydonvillage.co.uk.

One of the Drew Group’s projects, which is due for imminent completion is to provide more space for Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington.

Phase III of the project comprised a wellness centre that will incorporate the fundraising offices to the first floor and the downstairs which will be part of a day centre for patients with terminal health problems visiting the hospice.

The extra space has allowed the hospice to accommodate two multi function rooms, two therapy rooms, a kitchen, office spaces, and there is now direct access from the new building into the memorial garden.

Comprising two-storeys, the development is traditional brick and block to one area, with traditional brick and block with oak cladding, glazed screened area and roof light providing a very light room facing south with views over the memorial garden.

Drews had to deal with adverse weather conditions during the winter, which flooded

the site. After this, it had to be certain that the building was safe for purpose and all storm water was sufficiently drained to remove the risk of flooding.

The build was completed successfully at the end of August 2014, costing approximately £630,000.

A project that is still ongoing will provide 38 new flats for private rent in Portsmouth.

Based on London Road, this will comprise 32 one-bedroom and six twobedroom apartments on a site where the previous building had fallen into disrepair and had to be demolished.

The site sat empty for a few years but will now house high quality properties.

At approximately 2,300sq m, the fivestorey development will have Webber render, along with some curtain walling and is being built to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3.

The development has brought challenges, with tight access to and from the site and despite initial concerns, nearby residents are pleased with the impact that the new development is having on enhancing the road.

Work started in October 2013 and is scheduled to finish ahead of the completion date specified by the client.

A project within the education sector that is currently ongoing is for St Lawrence Primary School to provide a new threeform entry comprising a new two-storey extension, refurbishment of existing school buildings and associated external works within an occupied primary school.

There will be six new classrooms, a library, group and specialist rooms, which will be ready in September.

This isn’t the only aspect of the project that will be ready for the new school year, as the enlargement of year three classrooms and a new toilet block will also be completed.

During the autumn term, the hall will be made bigger and refurbished, and a

linked dance studio will be constructed. the project was completed in July 2013 Offices and the entrance and the quality of it resulted in Herbert will also be enlarged.

H Drew & Son Ltd receiving a National Built by Drew Construction Group, Award for Heritage Project of the Year. the whole development will be completed in December 2014.

Drew Construction Group, 11-15 Station Drew’s experience in the education Road, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 6HN sector, amongst others, has been gained www.drewconstruction.co.uk over many years, with work also completed last year on a refurbishment and extension of an existing barn to create an ecofriendly visitor and education centre.

Located at the landmark Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve, the existing barn was refurbished to form education We are pleased to be associated with space with a dedicated area Drew Construction and wish them for learning and community use and the new extension continued success for the future comprised a straw bale construction to form a reception area and retail outlet.

The result of this project, which included The Chantry, Wickham, re-thatching the existing barn, is Hampshire, PO17 5ES increased space for the facility, which Tel: 01329 834747 receives more Mobile: 07931 594681 than one million visitors each year.

Email: vincentbanks@btinternet.com Costing more than £900,000,

VB CONTRACT SERVICES

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UKC EDUCATION

Dulwich College

New science building to celebrate the 400th anniversary Dulwich College is undergoing a multiphase development that will provide a new building with a range of new facilities.

Located on the 70-hectare campus, the building will be next door to the Barry buildings that were erected in 1869 and are a landmark of Dulwich.

One of the key parts of the design has ensured that it will look like a thoroughly modern building that is both deferential to, but also reflects in its own character, the Barry buildings. The external design is also quite clever and interesting in terms of how it will be presented.

When finished, the science building will provide Dulwich College with 21 teaching laboratories, five IT suites, communal spaces where art and science meet, an exhibition space with connecting walkways that will house the James Caird lifeboat - an historical piece that is the original lifeboat that Ernest Shackleton used when he went to the Antarctic in 1916 on his famous voyage.

The boat will be in the atrium, and a 240seat auditorium will also be included.

Work is being undertaken in two phases.

Phase I, which is currently under way, is a three-storey development, while the second phase is two-storeys.

Phase I comprises 18 laboratories, staff accommodation space and the James Caird hall with the main atrium, while Phase II will provide the five IT suites, the auditorium and three more lower school laboratories.

Designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners Ltd, this is a very large science establishment that educates more than 200 boys. The building’s design is based around a large central court corridor which runs at all three, and then two levels.

The circulation runs around this James Caird hall which is a three-storey atrium.

The circulation flows around the building through the James Caird hall and down the central corridors, and then through in to the auditorium, which is an ’S’ shape.

In terms of sustainability, the development

52

is targeting an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating. It will be a mixed-mode ventilation system with an open loop ground source cooling, known as thermally activated building systems (TABS).

Therefore, essentially borehole water will be used from 100m down that will be running through the soffits and that will keep it down.

This has been chosen as a method for sustainability to remove the need for mechanical cooling. The estimated emissions are 42% lower than building regulations 2010 target emissions rate.

Approximately 20% of this comes down at the ground source cooling and photovoltaic panels, and the thermal structure of the building is designed to minimise energy loss.

Structurally, the frame will be concrete and cladding will have concrete panels with terracotta on the outside. There is a glazed curtain walling that is being undertaken by Schuco, a bronze anodised frame with German glass.

The terracotta is being taken care of by NBK in Germany and Decomo is doing the precast concrete, which is the cladding.

The roof is concrete, and a good portion of this will benefit from solar photovoltaic panels on the top, while the exterior will have the concrete cladding and has small visors to help shade the sunlight.

Being on a level site is a benefit, as are the ground conditions, which comprised London clay. Demolition work has been required on site. The previous building was erected in the 1950s because the one that stood before that was destroyed during the Second World War bombings.

The problem was that a wing of this building had started to heave and slip, which led to it being condemned. The College wanted to retain the old building as well as building the new but it was decided that the foundations couldn’t withstand this so the whole building was demolished.

All of the building will be fully accessible

with a lift and level access for wheelchair users. From the central lobby, there will be a wide flight of stairs, with a lift shaft at one end and the fire exit stairs on the outside of the building.

In terms of the project, the brief given to the construction team was quality that reflects the ethos of the college that delivers an educational experience that is second to none and matches the aspirations of the boys.

It is a meeting place for science and art because this encompasses everything Dulwich College wanted within the building, which will also be for community use.

The building will reflect the standards of the Barry building and also modern standards of accessibility, security, and low maintenance, and this development has been designed with all of this in mind.

As part of the master plan put in place at the college, part of the plan was to, as much as possible, pedestrianise the centre of the campus and push traffic to its periphery.

One of the first projects that the master plan pin-pointed was the science building, which is now being delivered. In terms of car parking, the construction of this building will help to create a pedestrianised piazza in its surrounding areas and therefore cars will be moved further away from the main buildings on this site, which is mostly grass but also has a substantial amount of hard standing.

The Main Contractor for the project is McLaren Construction, who has put together an expert team to undertake the work, including Alan Baxter Associates. Work started last summer and Phase I is due to complete in March 2015, and the Easter holidays will be used to populate the building.

After this, Phase II will start four weeks later, which is due for completion in May 2016.

It is a fitting way to celebrate the College’s 400th anniversary.

PROFILE UKC

Rykneld Homes

Regenerating and building communities Rykneld Homes is responsible for the management, maintenance and improvement of more than 8,100 properties and the neighbourhoods in which they are located, on behalf of North East Derbyshire District Council.

Managing the Capital Programme on behalf of the Council, the focus is on delivering Decent Homes in the short term, which is aligned to the 30 year Business Planning process; ensuring the optimum use of all resources.

The properties are mostly bungalows and houses, with some small blocks of flats, while a sheltered housing scheme is also managed by the Company.

Some 33% of the property mix is of non-traditional construction, involving 15 different basic types from the immediate post-war period and up to the 1960s.

Homes are spread right across the District and can be found ranging from large estates of social housing, to very small settlements, from ex-coalfield towns to attractive rural villages.

Set up seven years ago as a nonprofit company, it is managed by a Board of Directors that consists of a Chair, three tenants, three councillors and three independent members.

Rykneld Homes is committed to providing first class housing services to all its customers.

For the first time in many years, new Council homes are being built in North East Derbyshire with Rykneld Homes being chosen as North East Derbyshire District Council’s strategic partner to deliver its long-term regeneration and new build programmes.

Regeneration is taking place alongside work to improve the thermal efficiency of many homes, which are difficult to heat and keep warm because of their non-traditional construction type.

The demolition of the Tarran bungalows

By guaranteeing homes are thermally efficient thanks to fitting external insulation and energy efficient gas heating, Rykneld Homes is addressing issues of fuel poverty for some of the most vulnerable tenants.

Regeneration has included the replacement of 99 defective ‘Tarran’ bungalows in Eckington and Killamarsh with 129 new homes.

Costing £11M, this new build scheme is due to complete next year and will include a mixture of bungalows and family homes.

At the Tarran bungalow estate in Eckington, there will be 65 new bungalows and 12 family homes. The previous bungalows were classified as a defective construction type and suffered from having no wall cavity, which made it difficult to heat and keep the buildings warm.

Therefore, a decision was taken to replace the bungalows with a new build scheme, made up of bungalows, family-sized homes and a bungalow to accommodate a disabled family.

At the Killamarsh site, there will be 52 new bungalows to replace those that were built after World War Two to ease the national housing shortage.

Great progress has been made during this project, with 20 homes completed on each site by the end of 2014, and tenants moved into these first properties in April and May. Peter and Beryl Barraclough moved into their new bungalow in May and Beryl said:

“All the bungalows are different because we have been able to choose our kitchen units, tiles and flooring. When we moved in everywhere had been decorated.”

The success of this project was recognised in the Community Relations Category of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Pride Awards last year.

Rykneld Homes and North East Derbyshire District Council were named Gold Winners for their work with tenants and residents on this multi-million pound scheme.

Lorraine Shaw, Managing Director of Rykneld Homes, said: “We are delighted to receive such a prestigious award for our project to improve housing provision in North East Derbyshire.

“It is also a real pat on the back for the great work of our staff who have supported tenants in Eckington and Killamarsh through a very sensitive time.”

Galliford Try is the Main Contractor for the scheme, which continues the superb regeneration work Rykneld Homes is proud to be involved in.

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53

UKC RETAIL

Boots

Increasing its pharmacy offering and other collaborations A member of Alliance Boots, Boots is an international pharmacy-led health and beauty group, with the purpose of helping its customers look and feel better than ever.

Customers are at the heart of the Boots ethos and business, with the commitment to providing exceptional customer and patient care being paramount.

This is the case whether it be the first choice pharmacy and healthcare, offering innovative products, all with great value customers love.

There are approximately 2,500 health and beauty stores throughout the UK, meaning that approximately 90% of the population is estimated to be within a ten minute drive of a Boots store.

The two retail businesses have been combined in the UK - Alliance Pharmacy and Boots - and developed a multi-format strategy focused on giving customers more of what they want and need in the right place, cared for by friendly, professional people who work at Boots.

The larger Boots health and beauty stores offer destination shopping with a wide range of products including all Boots leading brands and the flagship stores offer beauty halls with beauty consultants and premium cosmetics.

Boots travel stores have targeted

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ranges to meet the needs of customers when they’re travelling.

With new pharmacies being acquired, Boots will be able to reach even more customers, with pharmacy at the heart of many communities.

The aim of Boots is to become the first choice for healthcare, reaching customers and patients in new ways and with real convenience.

From local pharmacies to large flagship stores, from care homes through to prison services, Boots aim to give a great pharmacy experience.

Healthcare in Boots is not just about dispensing prescriptions, but also about offering expert advice to all patients and customers, ensuring they get top quality patient care in a location that is convenient to them.

Working closely with the NHS, Boots is about providing easy access to quality healthcare services across the UK, ensuring patients get what they need.

The Company has a key partnership with the NHS. Pharmacy leaders and the Government have agreed new ways for pharmacists to work more closely with the NHS to design new services that meet specific needs of any given community.

Many of Boots’ pharmacy teams work closely with primary care organisations,

meeting local healthcare needs, and with the Company’s national voice, it is helping to shape government thinking about the health of the nation.

Boots is committed to extending the role of pharmacy professionals in line with the Government priorities.

The team of pharmacy professionals at Boots are passionate about providing expert advice and healthcare services and is proud of having great teams to deliver all its customers’ healthcare needs.

April saw the fit out in Nottingham for MediCity, which can be found on the Boots site in Beseston in Nottingham, within the Nottingham Enterprise Zone.

MediCity is a collaboration between Alliance Boots and BioCity, which provides a stimulating supportive business development environment for innovators in consumer healthcare, medical technology and beauty products.

The facilities provide suitable office and laboratory space and business support stunning surrounding for individuals or small teams at the very early stages of developing a business idea.

It is a sign of the progression of Boots, who is working in different partnerships to ensure its services continue to grow and MediCity has already welcomed two waves of tenants onto the site.

HOUSING UKC

The Homesteads New homes built by Keepmoat Home buyers in County Durham will be able to choose from more brand new homes as work on a new development continues in the village of Shotton Colliery.

The Homesteads is the latest development from Keepmoat Homes and will consist of 86 new two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes, with a mix of house types that are ideal for first time buyers, professionals and families.

It is in an excellent location with Peterlee town centre located less than ten minutes away, and Durham City 20 minutes away.

The village itself is also well served with a number of primary, secondary and further education establishments.

It is hoped the £9M scheme will regenerate the area and as part of the plans, Keepmoat has agreed to pay £43,000 for recreation space and £5,000 for off site ecological works.

All homes will be energy efficient, with ten per cent of the overall energy demands of the scheme being supplied from special panels on the roofs of the properties.

Less than ten of these homes will be for a housing association called the Thirteen

Group - which was set up in April when Vela Group and Fabrick Group joined forces.

The rest of the homes will be private.

The Architect is Queensberry Design for the project, which will benefit from a traditional build, and homes will comprise block brick cavity insulation, timber roofs and roof tiles.

The new homes will be laid out in a circular road network, which will include pedestrian links to the neighbouring surroundings.

Ian Prescott, Land and Partnership Director at Keepmoat, said: “We are delighted that work has commenced on the development of these high quality, new and affordable homes.

“This is the 11th new housing project that Keepmoat Homes has started in the north east in 2013.

“Collectively, these schemes will see the construction of over 2,100 new homes, representing an investment in the region

by Keepmoat in excess of £250M.” Keepmoat has just unveiled three new house types for buyers to consider with prices ranging from £107,995 to £143,995 and with financial assistance available

from the Government-backed Help to Buy scheme, making it easier for people to get a foot onto the property ladder.

The three-bedroom Clarendon home is available through this scheme. The home comprises an entrance hallway, spacious lounge, separate kitchen/dining area and downstairs toilet. The first floor includes a master bedroom with ensuite, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Also available through Help to Buy is the two-and-a-half-storey Oakhurst townhouse - one of Keepmoat’s most popular properties.

It includes a spacious kitchen/diner, lounge and toilet on the ground floor, two bedrooms and a family bathroom on the first floor, and a large master bedroom and ensuite bathroom on the second floor.

Christine Harrison, Sales Director for Keepmoat North Wast, said: “We are pleased to unveil these brand new homes for buyers to reserve off plan and with the Help to Buy scheme, it is helping people to realise just how affordable a new family home can be.”

Ceramic Tiling Refurbishment and New Build as a direct Contractor and Sub Contractor.

Although Tony Ross Ceramic Tiling is a small company they can deliver a bespoke service that is specific to individual needs.

They research the guidelines that are used by larger companies such as Keepmoat Homes and make sure that they are delivering at the same level as these bigger corporate companies.

11 Newlands Avenue, Hartlepool, Cleveland TS26 9NU

Tel: 07813 333418 Email: anthony.ross5@btinternet.com

Lowther Decorators are interior and exterior decorating experts specialising in painting and wallpapering, sign writing and all forms of commercial and home decorating.

Beech House, High Hesleden, Hartlepool TS27 4QF

Tel: 01429 839 300 Email: info@lowtherdecorators.com www.lowtherdecorators.com 55

UKC PROFILE

Greenheart Sustainable Construction

Building energy efficient houses Established for 15 years, Greenheart Sustainable Construction specialises in the development of new homes that are low energy and highly energy efficient.

Focused mostly in the south west of England, the Company also specialises in Warmcel insulation and installation of mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems (MVR).

The Company employs ten members of staff and has a trusted network of subcontractors that can be reliably called upon for any particular project.

Most services are aimed at those who

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want to build new homes, but this can also include extension projects and renovations.

It is particularly important to Greenheart that its clients are interested in building or improving their homes in a sustainable and green way, which will in turn bring long-term energy savings.

High levels of insulation can be key to this, and the Company has worked on many homes that provide this in an environment with very modern finishes that leave the property looking great too.

At Greenheart, they subscribe to the Swiss philosophy of “do it right and

do it once�. Good planning, training and project management combine to an efficient build where the work is done correctly and in the right order.

As insulation levels have increased, it has become even more important to improve air tightness too.

It is something that Greenheart has been doing for years, training staff along the way who can expertly deal with customer requests to improve air tightness on a property. Because of this, the Company is experienced in this aspect.

Some of these aspects have been

Rose Cottage - Modest inner city family house. Passive house level of air tightness

The Warren - Large new family home.

Very energy efficient and high tech

incorporated into the Company’s Rose Cottage project in Bristol.

This is a new house built on a very awkward site, which was completed towards the end of 2013, allowing the client to move in on time.

An air tightness rating of 0.35cu m/ sq m/hr was achieved, which is well below the Passivhaus standard and it was obtained without the use of certified windows and doors. This indicates an extreme level of air tightness.

Once again, Greenheart’s expertise is really important because such a level can only be achieved when all members of the workforce understand the concept and have the ability to put it into place.

The owner of Rose Cottage, Tom Russell, was delighted with the end result. He said: “The building has exceeded expectations in terms of comfort and energy use.

“Whilst we often use the wood burner for a few hours in the evening during winter, the house has needed no other heating.”

Another family home undertaken by the Company - and one of its largest projects - was completed two years ago.

The Warren is a large new family home that is very low energy, airtight and benefits from high specification, which gives a huge amount of renewable energy.

The project comprises underfloor heating and striking glazing, as well as electric sliding doors.

It demanded very high levels of detail but once again, Greenheart left the project with the client extremely happy.

Greenheart completed an extension and refurbishment at Pitchcombe Gardens in Bristol for a client who is an energy consultant, so there was pressure to make the home energy efficient.

Pitchcombe Gardens - Extension and radical energy efficient refurbishment of 1960’s house

The result is complete external insulation and extension on the side of the existing building, which is air tight, insulated and the whole building is aesthetically pleasing.

The Company is currently working on a development at Colston Yard, which has seen demolition of an existing building to be replaced by one that provides gallery and conferencing space on the ground floor, with two floors above for living.

It’s quite a tight site, so Greenheart has been mindful to liaise with neighbours all the way through the process, which should see completion by the end of the year.

This approach can lead to further work and it goes to the heart of what the Company tries to achieve with every project; build lasting relationships.

It means that Greenheart encourages regular discussions with the client and architect to make sure everybody is working as a team and there is understanding

about the direction of a project.

Such an approach is a contributing factor to the success of Greenheart, and it will undoubtedly result in more in the future.

We are pleased to be associated with Greenheart Sustainable Construction and wish them continuing success

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UKC PROFILE

Pier Street Housing regeneration in London

UKC HOUSING

A major regeneration and development scheme for the Isle of Dogs is making great progress. Being built on behalf of Gateway Housing, the new scheme will provide additional accommodation for private sale, affordable rent and shared ownership.

The project will see the complete regeneration of the Betty May Gray estate, including the refurbishment of existing homes at Betty May Gray House with re-cladding improving its appearance and thermal performance; demolition of a building, and the construction of a block of wheelchair accessible flats.

The project forms part of Gateway’s overall funding allocation from the Greater London Authority (GLA) as part of the 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme.

GLA is investing £4.5Bn in affordable housing through the programme and existing commitments from the previous programme.

The majority of the new programme will be made available

The Oast House, Unit 3 West Yoke Farm Michaels Lane, Ash, Kent TN15 7EP Tel: 01474 871 871 Fax: 01474 871 870 E-mail: info@jdgeerings.co.uk www.jdgeerings.co.uk

the Architect, Rivington Street Studio.

Work is progressing and is on track to be completed by the end of next year.

Superior Tiling Ltd

Ceramic Tiling & Flooring Contractors Superior Tiling Ltd have a wealth of experience and knowledge to offer for all types of floor finishes such as Ceramic, Porcelain, Natural stone wall and floor tiling, Amtico and Altro floorings. We also offer soft floorings, for example carpets and vinyl.

Unit 3D, Whitesbridge Industrial Estate, London Road, Crays Hill, Nr. Billericay, Essex, CM11 2UL

Tel: 01268 530985 Fax: 01268 530984 E-mail: sales@superiortiling.co.uk www.superiortiling.co.uk

Churchill Retirement Living Independence and peace of mind in retirement Churchill Retirement Living is a privately owned, family-run business specialising exclusively in developing attractive, purpose built one- and two-bedroom retirement apartments in the UK. They are designed to provide the best lifestyle choice for an independent, safe, secure and fulfilled retirement.

Established in 1994, the Company originally started out building stone and thatched cottages in and around Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire under the name of Emlor Homes.

After six years, the Company decided to change direction to focus on the development of purpose built retirement homes and after the fantastic success of the first project, decided to sell existing open market sites to concentrate solely on the retirement market.

Churchill now has retirement apartments across the UK, works out of a head office in Hampshire, as well as regional offices in Surrey, Hertfordshire and West Midlands.

Safety and security in the developments is a priority for the Company. Features include a camera entry system, intruder alarm, detection system, and a care and support system.

A new retirement home opened

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for affordable rent.

Whilst also improving the living standards for 55 existing homes, the intention is to create a community of mixed tenure and mixed occupancy housing with integrated infrastructure, which will transform the existing estate and create a strong identify as a ‘place’ on the Isle of Dogs.

Work on the Pier Street site is being carried out by Allenbuild.

The Company follows the principles of working in partnership with its clients and supply chain partners, and provides a professional and enthusiastic service.

This is apparent on the Pier Street regeneration, which sees the Company working in partnership with Gateway Housing, local residents, GLA and London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and

in August, providing 29 one- and two-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom cottages.

Abbey Lodge is located in the exquisite market town of Romsey, and has a winning combination of design and safety ensure they were handed over to in both the kitchen and bathroom. Tiled the standard of finish and quality and colour co-ordinated, it is specifically expected by all customers. designed to give convenience.

It is another high quality project for Kitchens are modern and pleasing to Churchill, allowing residents to enjoy the eye, and the oven is located at peace of mind in retirement. the right height so residents can avoid bending down.

Selected apartments with ensuite facilities have baths with a shower over, while other apartments have a shower room, all tastefully designed with the Company’s customers’ needs in mind.

All apartments Bentham Lane, Witcombe, Gloucester GL3 4UD were inspected

by Churchill’s Tel: 01452 864435 Customer Services Email: galtecholdings@virgin.net Department to

GALTEC Ltd. CIVIL ENGINEERING

Lainton Services Limited.

For over two decades, Lainton Services Limited, based in Cheshire, have been instrumental in protecting prestigious developments for the UK's most discerning and demanding Clients, Architects, Engineers and Contractors.

Lainton Services Limited ensures Clients enjoy the rewards of a total quality assured package. This "get it right first time" mentality eliminates the risk of divided responsibility and the exorbitantly prohibitive costs of post construction remedial applications and treatments!

Since the implementation of BS8102: 2009, structural waterproofing below ground has fundamentally altered the design criteria required to comply to the robust performance requirements of Clients and Insurers. Lainton Services Limited offer design advice and insurance backed warranties for the supply and installation for all applications. These include: • Below ground structural waterproofing systems to grade 1, 2, and 3 BS8102: 2009 environments with solutions to A, B and C system options • Gas membranes and venting systems to prevent ingress of carbon dioxide, methane and radon gasses, VOCs including independent validation • Resin injection and concrete repair • Stormwater attenuation tanks and soakaway systems • Green roofs, balcony systems and elevated decks • Existing basement upgrading including waterproof renders and cavity formers Lainton Services Limited are members of the British Structural Waterproofing Association and are approved and preferred partners with the industry’s leading manufacturers including Grace Construction Products, RIW, Fosroc, SIKA, Alderburgh and De Neef.

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

T: 0161 483 7676 E: laintonservices@btconnect.com

www.laintonservices.com

Call: 01889 577701

CALLSAFE SERVICES LIMITED Q.

Are you sure that you understand the duties and requirements of Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and other health and safety requirements?

Q.

Do your policies and procedures reflect the current legislation and practices?

Q.

Are your employees competent to perform their duties?

Q.

Do you select competent organisations to work with you?

Q.

Do you manage your organisation and projects without copious amounts of paper?

If the answer to any of the above questions is no, you need to consider training and advice to achieve legal compliance and develop best practices.

Contact the experts David Carr PgD, FIIRSM, DipSM, RFaPS, Managing Director Callsafe Services Limited. Yardley House, 11 Horsefair, Rugeley, Staffordshire. WS15 2EJ Email: enquiries@callsafe-services.co.uk Web: www.callsafe-services.co.uk