Solar assisted products have MCS approval reinstated Published: 15 March, 2016 The MCS administrator has today reinstated two solar assisted heat pumps (SAHP) manufactured by Energy Panel S.L. The products were removed from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) approved list in February as the methodologies employed to certify the products
The company behind the proposed Swansea Bay tidal lagoon power project is planning to build a new factory for making turbines. It envisages the new factory becoming ‘the beating heart’ of a Made in Britain tidal lagoon turbine industry’. Tidal Lagoon Power has launched a tender for the design and
Public sector procurement group Scape has appointed Perfect Circle, a consortium comprising Pick Everard, Gleeds and Aecom, to lead its new national built environment consultancy services (BECS) framework. According to Scape, its BECS framework, worth up to £350m over the next four years, offers “the broadest range of consultancy services
British Land has unveiled details of a proposed £300m expansion of the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield. The company, which is joint owner of Meadowhall, is beginning a public consultation on the proposals. The 30,660m2 Leisure Hall would add new restaurants and cafes, a replacement cinema, a gym and other
South East London practice Steer Davies Gleave has been appointed by Better Bankside to develop design proposals for the Bankside Boardwalk project, which is partly funded through Transport for London’s Future Streets Incubator. The scheme will trial a temporary reconfiguration of Lavington Street to a one-way street, and use the
The Scottish Environment Secretary says that the Scottish government has “no intention” of relaxing European environmental standards following the Brexit vote. Speaking at WWT’s Water Scotland conference in Glasgow, Roseanna Cunningham explained: “I want to clarify our position as regards compliance with European Union directives and the issue of Brexit.
Wandsworth Council has granted planning permission for a vibrant new, high quality office building overlooking the Grade II listed Wandsworth Park with views of the River Thames on the corner of Putney Bridge and Deodar Road. Designed by dn-a architects and developed by Landid, The Parklife Building will transform the
Contractor and developer McGoff Group is targeting a major expansion into the private rented sector. Executive Director Dave McGoff said that the firm wanted to expand its development of PRS schemes into Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham. The group launched its first PRS development this year through its development arm Villafont
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has revealed that it is shocked at the lack of precautions taken by retail giant Tesco before sending maintenance employees to work at height. Last week, the supermarket chain was prosecuted and fined £500,000 for breaches of health and safety that resulted in a
A Bolton night club owner has been sentenced after he admitted failing to carry out a survey for asbestos prior to starting on the refurbishment of a local night club. Manchester Magistrates’ court heard how UK Night Life Limited and its only director, Charles John McGrath, undertook the management of
Solar assisted products have MCS approval reinstated Published: 15 March, 2016 The MCS administrator has today reinstated two solar assisted heat pumps (SAHP) manufactured by Energy Panel S.L. The products were removed from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) approved list in February as the methodologies employed to certify the products were not compliant with the requirements of “MCS 007 Product Certification Scheme Requirements: Heat Pumps”. After several weeks of testing at SZU, an accredited UKAS/ independent third party testing laboratory, the Thermboil TB 200-E and Thermboil TB 300-E Litres have now regained approval. The Thermboil products offer savings of up to 80% on domestic hot water, 365 days a year, day and night under all weather conditions, says the company. Please check the MCS product listings for an update on the SAHPs or visit: www.microgenerationcertification.org/consumers/product-search?product_type_id=5151. “We have high expectations that our compact thermodynamic solar systems for domestic hot water approved now by MCS will completely change the renewable energy market place for both businesses that sell renewable energy, installers and reseller,” said a company spokesperson. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and confidence in our products.” Energy Panel is working closely with SZU and MCS in order to extend the range of products approved. Source link
The company behind the proposed Swansea Bay tidal lagoon power project is planning to build a new factory for making turbines. It envisages the new factory becoming ‘the beating heart’ of a Made in Britain tidal lagoon turbine industry’. Tidal Lagoon Power has launched a tender for the design and construction of a £22m turbine manufacturing & pre-assembly plant in Swansea Bay. The 100-metre long factory will be between the Kings and Queens Dock at Swansea Bay. It will receive major turbine components from manufacturers across the UK, with all machining and pre-assembly of the sixteen 7.2-metre runner diameter turbines required by the tidal lagoon taking place on site. It will also be a manufacturing base for further tidal lagoons that the company plans around the country. Tender details are available at www.sell2wales.gov.wales. According to a report published by Tidal Lagoon Power, the potential value of the tidal lagoon sector to UK industry is: Domestic market for tidal lagoon turbines and generators: £17bn Domestic market for Made in Britain tidal lagoon turbine housings: £24bn Exports to international tidal lagoon market: £30bn. The report is part of Tidal Lagoon Power’s lobbying efforts to secure government approval. The £1bn Swansea project is the subject of a government-commissioned review into the scheme. Although the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project has now been signed off, the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon remains among the major projects yet to be decided upon by the Maybies now running the country, along with the airport runway issues. The report, called Ours to Own, sets out how Britain’s first mover advantage in the production of major components for tidal lagoon turbines, generators and turbine housings at Swansea Bay can be sustained and grown as the tidal lagoon sector scales in the UK and worldwide. Tidal Lagoon Power chief executive Mark Shorrock summoned patriotic fervour for his project. “This report captures the hard work of today’s industrialists to ensure tidal lagoons are British-engineered, that the manufacturing supply chain is British, and that we seize and own what can be a £70bn sector for this nation,” he said. “It is an extraordinary opportunity.” This article was published on 3 Oct 2016 (last updated on 3 Oct 2016). Source link
Public sector procurement group Scape has appointed Perfect Circle, a consortium comprising Pick Everard, Gleeds and Aecom, to lead its new national built environment consultancy services (BECS) framework. According to Scape, its BECS framework, worth up to £350m over the next four years, offers “the broadest range of consultancy services available to the public sector”. The appointment of Perfect Circle is the first time that a joint venture has been appointed by Scape. The three partners will work with a supply chain of approximately 150 SMEs in support. Perfect Circle has also specifically committed to creating opportunities for micro businesses. The new BECS framework unites and extends the services that are available under two of Scape’s existing frameworks: the national asset management, surveying & design services framework and the national project management and quantity surveying framework. The decision to create a single consultancy services framework is expected to improve procurement efficiency further. Scape Group chief executive Mark Robinson said: “In the current uncertain economic climate, rapid appointment, access to the right skills and advice to get the best from the public estate will be absolutely critical. This is why we have created this all-encompassing framework, uniquely designed to deliver exceptional results to our public sector colleagues. “The bid submissions received for the framework were of exceptional quality and it was a close competition, however the Perfect Circle partnership delivered the most economically advantageous tender, and supported by an extensive local supply chain, will provide the best level of service to our public sector clients.” Duncan Green, chairman of Perfect Circle and managing partner at Pick Everard, said: “Perfect Circle brings together three industry-leading organisations into a full service consortium that has the influence, scalability and expertise to make a significant and positive contribution to the challenges currently affecting the public sector. “The consolidation of consultancy services into one framework presented a unique opportunity for our respective businesses to join forces and create an offering of unrivalled added value and efficient solutions nationwide. Local delivery through SMEs and local supply chain providers sits at the heart of our service offering, and will play a significant role in future community engagement and increased innovation.” This article was published on 12 Aug 2016 (last updated on 12 Aug 2016). Source link
British Land has unveiled details of a proposed £300m expansion of the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield. The company, which is joint owner of Meadowhall, is beginning a public consultation on the proposals. The 30,660m2 Leisure Hall would add new restaurants and cafes, a replacement cinema, a gym and other leisure space. The plans will go on display at Meadowhall early next month. A detailed planning application for the will be submitted in late summer. If the proposals are approved, British Land hopes to start on site during 2018 and open the Leisure Hall to visitors in late 2020/early 2021. This article was published on 12 May 2016 (last updated on 12 May 2016). Source link
South East London practice Steer Davies Gleave has been appointed by Better Bankside to develop design proposals for the Bankside Boardwalk project, which is partly funded through Transport for London’s Future Streets Incubator. The scheme will trial a temporary reconfiguration of Lavington Street to a one-way street, and use the freed up road-space to extend the footpath at grade through the design of a new modular structure: Bankside Boardwalk, to help improve the quality of environment of Lavington Street for those on foot. The appointment of Steer Davies Gleave came following a design competition held earlier in the year. Ten high quality submissions were made representing a total of 28 organisations, which represent a very wide range of disciplines from highways engineering to urban landscape design and product design. A panel consisting of key partners Southwark Council and Transport for London were involved in the selection of the winning team. Originally situated on Lavington Street, it will help to test how streets and pavements can be reconfigured to respond to the changing pressures faced by streets in cities and towns, including accommodating rises in footfall and the need to navigate safely around building sites, temporary hoardings or roadworks. Streets account for 80% of London’s public realm, and as the number of residents, workers and visitors in Bankside goes up; the streets need to work harder to accommodate these changing needs. The Bankside Boardwalk will allow Better Bankside and its partners to test new ways of designing streets going forward. Bankside Boardwalk is commissioned as part of Bankside Urban Forest, the long term programme to improve the network of streets and spaces in Bankside. Bankside Boardwalk will be installed early next year following engagement with local companies and residents, and will be on site for a six month trial. The other shortlisted teams interviewed for the project were Cyclehoop with Witteveen+Bos, Carver Haggard Architects and Momentum/LDA.
The Scottish Environment Secretary says that the Scottish government has “no intention” of relaxing European environmental standards following the Brexit vote. Speaking at WWT’s Water Scotland conference in Glasgow, Roseanna Cunningham explained: “I want to clarify our position as regards compliance with European Union directives and the issue of Brexit. “This government has no intention of relaxing standards. Anybody out there that thinks that, from the perspective of that kind of compliance, that leaving the EU will mean a relaxation is dead wrong. “We do not believe that is the right way to go. Those standards are in Scotland’s best interest, providing safe, clean drinking water and protecting the environment, all of which we see as essential to Scotland’s prosperity.” She added that climate change will pose challenges to the resilience of Scottish Water’s infrastructure, and pointed out that the floods earlier this year were “a perfect example”. “We need to understand the likely impacts and plan accordingly,” she said, adding that Scottish Water “can’t plan or deliver improvements on its own”. The company will need the help of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, land managers and local authorities and local community groups, she said. She also told delegates that, although customer engagement has improved “markedly” over the years, they must “work even harder” to explain the water industry to customers, particularly given the challenges, such as climate change, that it faces. “To put it another way, the days of the silent service need to come to an end,” she said. “I know that Scottish Water is working with customers and has had considerable success from its advertising campaign – Keep the Cycle Working Smoothly. A 10 per cent reduction in sewer blockages, as a consequence of this campaign, is a pretty good result. “However, I do want to encourage you all to continue to work in partnership with Scottish Water to engage with customers on a range of issues, such as improvements at bathing waters and environmental compliance, for example.”
Wandsworth Council has granted planning permission for a vibrant new, high quality office building overlooking the Grade II listed Wandsworth Park with views of the River Thames on the corner of Putney Bridge and Deodar Road. Designed by dn-a architects and developed by Landid, The Parklife Building will transform the current site, a c. 40,000 sq ft vacant office building, into a 80,000 sq ft, design led and user focused urban workplace. It will provide the area with much needed commercial floor space, and will set new standards of character and quality for businesses in Putney. With a focus on creating a connected community, the building will offer 7,000 sq ft of flexible public retail space fronting onto the park, along with occupier amenities including: cycle and shower facilities, on-site yoga lessons and multiple cafes. The office building extends to five storeys and boasts terraces on every floor, making the most of the spectacular park setting. Claire Hammond (née Freeland), Development Director at Landid commented: “Landid is thrilled to be involved in this exciting development opportunity in Putney. Putney has lost a significant amount of commercial space as a result of permitted development rights, and there is a lack of Grade A floorspace. The Parklife Building will have everything we look for in a workspace – including excellent connectivity, amenity, and character within a very special setting. “We have already had a number of very positive discussions with national and local occupiers looking for good quality office space in Putney. We are confident The Parklife Building will draw a range of new occupiers to this attractive part of south-west London and provide the calibre of workspace that has a positive impact on business performance, including staff attraction and retention, productivity, wellness and more.” Nick Troullides, Director at dn-a added: “Our architectural approach is to deliver a high quality design which creates a much improved office building to attract occupiers and enhance the existing streetscape.”
Contractor and developer McGoff Group is targeting a major expansion into the private rented sector. Executive Director Dave McGoff said that the firm wanted to expand its development of PRS schemes into Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham. The group launched its first PRS development this year through its development arm Villafont Homes: the 368-apartment £75m Downtown scheme in Manchester city centre (pictured). McGoff explained: “The plan is to build a Downtown in each of the Northern Powerhouse cities.” He added that the group will “very quickly move on to contracting the other sites that we’re looking at” once the Downtown project gets underway early next year. McGoff Group will act as landowner, developer and main contractor on the Downtown project, and has already appointed Capita to provide structural engineering and Clancy to deliver service engineering on the scheme. The group will also fully manage the development once it has been finished, to provide services including a business centre, a gym, facilities management services and concierge. “Rather than building something to sell off, our interest is the business that runs the buildings,” Mr McGoff said. “It’s about having a business stream that feeds off something we’ve created.” The group has also launched a further development business, Applebarn Nurseries. The new development arm will acquire and develop sites for childcare projects following a similar model of the group’s New Care company, which will develop and operate extra care facilities throughout the country. Applebarn Nurseries has already gained planning consent for its first scheme in Broadheath, south Manchester, and is looking to expand the model to further sites. Meanwhile, Forrest has been selected to deliver a £20m PRS scheme in Greater Manchester for developer X1. Work will include the construction of a 19-storey tower, called X1 The Gateway, in Salford Quays.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has revealed that it is shocked at the lack of precautions taken by retail giant Tesco before sending maintenance employees to work at height. Last week, the supermarket chain was prosecuted and fined £500,000 for breaches of health and safety that resulted in a worker falling through a skylight. The employee of Tesco Maintenance Ltd was said to be fortunate to suffer just minor injuries after falling nine metres through a fragile skylight landing in the shopping aisles of the Tesco Liscard Express store in Liscard Village, Wallasey, on June 13, 2014. Liverpool Crown Court heard that the worker was part of a team that carried out repairs to the store’s roof and gutters when the incident took place. Tesco Maintenance Ltd and Tesco Stores Ltd were prosecuted by the HSE following an investigation that found no risk assessment or method statement had been produced before carrying out the work. The fragile skylights should have been identified and precautions taken, however Tesco Maintenance Ltd had received no information regarding the fragility of the roof from their client Tesco Stores Ltd. HSE inspector Chris Hatton said following the hearing: “I am shocked at a company the size of Tesco failing to take even basic precautions to prevent injury to its employees and further, to risk injury to the public” Tesco Stores Ltd of Tesco House, Shire Park, Kestrel Way, Welwyn Garden City, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 10 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £200,000 with £712.70 costs. Tesco Maintenance Ltd of Tesco House, Shire Park, Kestrel Way, Welwyn Garden City, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £300,000 with £624.60 costs.
A Bolton night club owner has been sentenced after he admitted failing to carry out a survey for asbestos prior to starting on the refurbishment of a local night club. Manchester Magistrates’ court heard how UK Night Life Limited and its only director, Charles John McGrath, undertook the management of a refurbishment project between August 1 and 12, 2015 on The Level nightclub, Mawdsley Street, Bolton without an experienced contractor in place to manage the site. Around 20 workers were potentially exposed to deadly asbestos fibres so that the club could open in time for Fresher’s week and an influx of students to the club. The site first came to the attention of the Health and Safety Executive in August 2015 after a complaint from Bolton Council regarding unsafe construction works throughout the site. The HSE inspector served a total of three Prohibition Notices and two Improvement Notices, as well as a Notification of Contravention for a foreseeable risk of asbestos exposure, a lack of competent site manager, risks of falls from height, unsuitable welfare facilities and inadequate fire safety precautions. Sole director of UK Night Life Limited, Charles McGrath, of Mawdsley Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Regulations 5(a) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and was fined £5,720.00 with costs of £3,535.86. In his summing up, District Judge Sanders said that Mr McGrath had chosen to rush through the works with unqualified and inexperienced people running the site on a daily basis. He added that it was clear that these offences amounted to a ‘degree of cost cutting at the expense of safety’. HSE inspector Matt Greenly commented after the case: “Mr McGrath totally failed in his duty to protect his workers, subcontractors and anyone else accessing this site from a foreseeable risk of serious harm. Asbestos related diseases are currently untreatable and claim the lives of an estimated 5,000 people per year in the UK.”
