Bristol City Council’s development control committee has finally given its approval for the £95m Bristol Arena and approved outline plans for the rest of Arena Island. Above: Bristol Arena has been designed by Populous Two applications were brought back to committee following a deferral last month to allow for additional
Global building energy management systems (BEMS) market size is projected to surpass USD 6 billion by 2023. Global building energy management systems (BEMS) market size is projected to surpass USD 6 billion by 2023. Increasing regulatory pressure due to increasing energy wastage in building is predicted to drive the industry
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) today announced the winners of the 2016/17 RIBA Part 2 bursary scheme, supporting students of architecture looking to embark on an RIBA-validated Part 2 course within the UK. The scheme is RIBA’s most generous award made to students in financial need. Five bursaries
26 September 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Incentive FM has been awarded a 12 month rolling contract to provide total facilities management services for the Innovation Group in a deal worth £730,000. It will provide cleaning, security, M&E, waste, utilities procurement and management services at the client’s head office
Just how cost effective is adjudication? Mark Clinton reports Above: Mark Clinton is a partner with Irwin Mitchell In July 2016 the judge in Ground Developments Ltd v FCC Construccion SA concluded his judgment saying: ‘Finally, excluding VAT, the parties collectively have spent a total sum by way of costs
Two contractors are in the running to construct a £33 million transport interchange in Tameside, Manchester. It is understood that Interserve and McLaughlin & Harvey have made bids for the project in Ashton, which will improve transport routes within the town. Eric Wright Group was also initially on the tender
Carlyle Group has beaten rival private equity groups to reach a $3.2 billion deal with Total for the French firm’s Atotech chemicals business. The sale will take the energy group closer to its target for $10 billion of disposals by the end of 2017. Total and its rivals are all
Changes are taking place at the top for Auction House in Cheshire as the firm’s managing director Peter Humphreys is set to step down from the role later in the month. Peter set up Humphreys of Chester in 1994 and joined Auction House in July 2008. Since then his work,
Construction and property company Kier has opened an office in Swansea to support growth in South Wales. Kier’s new base at Technium 2 will complement the group’s regional hub in Cardiff and create seven new jobs to be filled by people who live in the Swansea area. The firm is
Beard has been selected by The SS Great Britain Trust to construct the new national Brunel museum alongside Bristol’s Floating Harbour. The museum will be part of the £7.2 million Being Brunel scheme, which will explore the works of 19th century engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-59). Beard is working alongside
Bristol City Council’s development control committee has finally given its approval for the £95m Bristol Arena and approved outline plans for the rest of Arena Island. Above: Bristol Arena has been designed by Populous Two applications were brought back to committee following a deferral last month to allow for additional transport information to be provided. This time, both applications received unanimous support: a detailed planning application for the arena building with a public plaza and new access routes; and an outline application for the future development of housing, business and leisure uses close to the venue. Bouygues UK is lined up to build the new 12,000-capacity venue on the site of a derelict former diesel depot close to Temple Meads railway station. Work is already under way to create new access routes to Arena Island with work on the arena building due to start later in the year. The venue is due to open in 2018. This article was published on 8 Apr 2016 (last updated on 8 Apr 2016). Source link
Global building energy management systems (BEMS) market size is projected to surpass USD 6 billion by 2023. Global building energy management systems (BEMS) market size is projected to surpass USD 6 billion by 2023. Increasing regulatory pressure due to increasing energy wastage in building is predicted to drive the industry over the coming years. Asia Pacific building energy management systems market size is forecast to experience significant growth. The surging demand for these systems can be attributed to increasing popularity of green building technologies across the region. Latin America is predicted to witness high growth prospects owing to increasing awareness regarding energy conservation over the forecast period. Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/137 Rising awareness regarding efficient use of energy at corporate and government levels is anticipated to propel building energy management systems market demand in commercial, residential as well as industrial sectors. The building sector is primarily responsible for global greenhouse gas emission as well as energy consumption.High energy consuming areas in buildings are office equipment, HVAC systems, catering, pumps, etc. Energy consumption in building amenities that mainly includes the use of fossil fuels adds to air pollution, which is likely to have adverse impact on the environment and also likely affect residents’ health. In order to manage the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and total energy consumption, numerous other energy management systems are being employed such as Facility Energy Management (FEMS), Industrial Energy Management (IEMS), Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), and Cluster/Community Energy Management System (CEMS). Make an inquiry for buying this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/137 BMS and BEMS share numerous similarities apart from a unique distinction; BMS includes the energy management capabilities along with other functionalities that include alarm, fire, security, closed circuit television (CCTV), safety and mechanical building controls. The data gathered by BEMS is utilized by BMS and it is likely to become a vital component of BMS solution. This in turn is anticipated to positively impact building energy management systems market share over the forecast period. Key softwares include asset performance optimization, data management, application platform, lighting system, and HVAC system. Wireless and wired are the types of communication technologies involved in this model. Key industry verticals include telecom and IT, manufacturing, office and commercial buildings, government and MUSH (Municipal, University, School and Hospital) systems. U.S. BEMS market size is predicted to be the largest regional segment and is likely to maintain its dominance owing to rising interest in highly developed energy technologies as well as implementation of demand response programs over the coming years. These programs are likely to promote restricted energy usage and enable customers to tackle changing prices and handle the utility needs for saving peak loads. Browse complete summary of this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/building-energy-management-systems-bems-market Participants constituting global building energy management systems share include Azbil, ABB Group, BuildingIQ, Carma Industries, C3 Energy, Cylon Active Energy, Daintree Networks, Daikin Industries, Echelon Corp., Elster EnergyICT, Ecova, Inc., EnerNOC, Inc., and FirstFuel Software. Notable players also include GridPoint, eSight Energy, Honeywell International, Ingersoll-Rand PLC, IBM, Johnson Controls, Jones Lang LaSalle, Schneider Electric, Optimum Energy LLC, Siemens AG, Toshiba, Verisae, and SkyFoundry. About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology. Source link
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) today announced the winners of the 2016/17 RIBA Part 2 bursary scheme, supporting students of architecture looking to embark on an RIBA-validated Part 2 course within the UK. The scheme is RIBA’s most generous award made to students in financial need. Five bursaries of £6,000 are available to support five Part 2 students for the academic years 2016/17 and 2017/18. Successful students receive £1,000 a term throughout their Part 2 course (for up to a maximum of six terms). The winners are: Samuel Coulton (Part 1 completed at Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London) Hollie Muir (Part 1 completed at University of Central Lancashire) Oliver Riviere (Part 1 completed at University of Brighton) Jake Woods (Part 1 completed at Leeds Metropolitan University) Aleksandra Zenfa (Part 1 completed at Plymouth University) The bursaries aim to support students experiencing financial hardship who otherwise may not continue with their architectural studies. They have been made possible by the W J Parker Trust, funded by the bequest of Walter J Parker, who left a legacy to support students experiencing financial hardship to enter the architectural profession. RIBA President Jane Duncan said: “This scheme is so important to the diversity of the profession. Created as a response to students dropping out between Part 1 and Part 2 for financial reasons, I am proud that the RIBA Part 2 Bursaries go some way to assisting these five students continue their studies. The costs of studying architecture in the UK are high, and these bursaries will help to mitigate some of this expenditure.” Andy Beard, Chair of the RIBA Education Trust Funds Committee, said: “The judging panel were pleased to receive a large number of excellent applications from students who demonstrated that they would experience severe financial hardship during their Part 2 courses. The selection process was rigorous and challenging, but we are delighted to be able to provide bursaries to five students who we are confident will be very successful on their courses.” More information can be found at www.architecture.com/Part2Bursaries ENDS Notes to editors: 1. For further press information contact Callum Reilly in the RIBA press office: callum.reilly@riba.org 020 7307 3757 2. Images of the 2016/2017 winners and their work can be downloaded at: https://riba.box.com/s/usar0nexv0o0d1cernv82uogc70dzv7h 3. The judging panel consisted of three members of the RIBA Education Trust Funds Committee: Andy Beard Diana Leitch Katie Wilmot 4. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Architecture.com Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates www.twitter.com/RIBA Posted on Friday 5th February 2016 Source link
26 September 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Incentive FM has been awarded a 12 month rolling contract to provide total facilities management services for the Innovation Group in a deal worth £730,000. It will provide cleaning, security, M&E, waste, utilities procurement and management services at the client’s head office in Hampshire, as well as at eight other satellite buildings nationwide. The win follows recent awards with the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham, Kent, and a three-year FM contract with consumer financial services firm Dollar UK. Source link
Just how cost effective is adjudication? Mark Clinton reports Above: Mark Clinton is a partner with Irwin Mitchell In July 2016 the judge in Ground Developments Ltd v FCC Construccion SA concluded his judgment saying: ‘Finally, excluding VAT, the parties collectively have spent a total sum by way of costs in these proceedings in excess of £55,000, arguing about the enforceability of a sum of about £207,000 that is potentially repayable in any event, because of the temporarily binding nature of adjudication. That is over one quarter of the sum the subject of the Decision. It cannot pass without comment that this is contrary to the purpose of Parliament when it imposed this alternative, and temporary, process of dispute resolution upon parties who enter into construction contracts.’ When statutory adjudication was first proposed, there were some who predicted that the process would be ‘hijacked by the lawyers’. That was a rather emotive and unfair way of putting it, but there was a sensible point beneath it. It was inevitable that lawyers and other professionals would be enlisted to present cases and that a new body of law would grow up around the practice of adjudication and the enforcement of decisions which were not honoured. That was all the more so given that there is no limit to the value or nature of disputes that may be adjudicated, as long as they arise under the contract (the meaning of which phrase has itself been subject to argument in court) and the contract is a construction contract (as defined in the Act) or is a contract that expressly provides for adjudication. There has been a steady stream of cases going through the courts since statutory adjudication first started in 1998. In August, another case came before the court. The decision in that case, Paice and Springall v Mathew J Harding is the latest in series between the same parties in respect of the same project which involved the construction of two houses. There have been five adjudications, three trips to the High Court and one outing to the Court of Appeal, not to mention disciplinary proceedings in respect of an adjudicator. The fourth adjudication, which was the subject of a failed injunction application, resulted in an decision that Harding should pay Springall and Paice a little in excess of £325,000. When the amount awarded was not paid, enforcement proceedings were started. The failed because the court upheld a defence of apparent bias on the part of the adjudicator (the first adjudicator). A disciplinary process in respect of the first adjudicator followed. The claim in the fourth adjudication was then put in the fifth adjudication before a second adjudicator. He found that the sum due to Paice and Springall was slightly less at £296,000 odd. That award was also not paid and so it was that the parties found themselves back in court in August. It is not that common for a court to uphold a claim of apparent bias but in this case, Mr Harding claimed that he had the extraordinary misfortune of apparent bias in respect of two adjudicators. In the case of the second adjudicator, it was alleged that apparent bias existed because he had given a general reference for the first adjudicator in connection with the disciplinary proceedings. The court would have none of it. They reminded us that a claim of apparent bias does not involve an allegation that the adjudicator was actually biased. What has to be established is that a fair minded observer would conclude that there was a real possibility that the tribunal was biased. The task set for the second adjudicator was to decide the dispute. He was not called upon to review what the first adjudicator had done nor to have a view upon it. Whatever the second adjudicator might have thought of the first adjudicator could not therefore impact on the second adjudicator’s decision and the challenge therefore failed. That was not the end of the matter because Harding also said the decision in the fifth adjudication was out of time. That point turned on a rather convoluted argument about whether Harding had agreed to extend the time for the decision. The court found that he had. Finally, there was an argument that the adjudicator had gone beyond his jurisdiction. Here Harding was on firmer ground. The adjudicator had dealt with an item of claim that arose (if at all) under a separate agreement and was not subject to the adjudication provision in the building contract. It was therefore outside his jurisdiction. Here, the court reminded us that there are cases where the item which is subject to a successful jurisdiction challenge can be isolated (severed, as lawyers say) and the remainder of the decision can be enforced. The amounts changing hands in this epic saga were at times a bit larger than those in the Ground Developments case and one can only guess the amount spent on legal and adjudicator’s fees. It would perhaps be unfair to use hindsight to apply to the Springall case, the judge’s words in the Ground Developments case. Those words do however highlight the need to keep an eye on the big picture when fighting the individual battles in serial adjudications. They also remind us that adjudication is a useful part of the range of dispute resolution processes available but it is by no means the only one and may not always be the right one for a given dispute. About the author: Mark Clinton is a partner with Irwin Mitchell This article was published on 8 Sep 2016 (last updated on 8 Sep 2016). Source link
Two contractors are in the running to construct a £33 million transport interchange in Tameside, Manchester. It is understood that Interserve and McLaughlin & Harvey have made bids for the project in Ashton, which will improve transport routes within the town. Eric Wright Group was also initially on the tender list but the company has since declined to bid for the scheme. Plans for the project were approved in February this year, before prequalification documents were sent out in May. The new interchange will be constructed on the site of an existing bus station in Ashton and will link with existing Metrolink tram services. Currently, plans are at the detailed design stage, after five separate public consultations. Transport for Greater Manchester said that the new interchange design will free up a “large area of land” that had formerly been restricted. Work on the interchange is due to get under way next year and will be fully operational within 18 months. Funding for the scheme is supported by TfGM and central government through Greater Manchester’s local growth deal scheme. It is the latest project in TfGM’s interchanges programme, with previous overhauls taking place at Bolton, Altrincham and Wythenshawe. Kier was selected as the primary contractor for the £24.3 million project in Bolton, which is set for completion in December this year, while Laing O’Rourke was chosen as the main contractor for Altrincham’s £19 million interchange, which was finished in December 2014. The works do not fall within Greater Manchester’s new £200 million civil engineering framework, which was released last week. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) bosses want to make it easier for people to change between bus, tram, bicycle and taxi in the heart of Tameside. Outline designs for the new facility were shared with the public, councillors and businesses during a four-week consultation between August and September.
Carlyle Group has beaten rival private equity groups to reach a $3.2 billion deal with Total for the French firm’s Atotech chemicals business. The sale will take the energy group closer to its target for $10 billion of disposals by the end of 2017. Total and its rivals are all looking to shed non-core assets in response to continued weakness in the prices of oil and gas. Carlyle faced competition from CVC Capital Partners and a consortium of BC Partners and Cinven, according to those who were played a part in the process. Asset disposals have become a key part of efforts by Total and other major oil firms to shore up their balance sheets and defend their dividends since crude prices fell two years ago. Last week’s deal raised Total’s proceeds from disposals since the start of last year to $8.6 billion — which is more than 80% of the $10 billion target set for the end of next year. Analysts have speculated that this figure may be revised upward. Among the other Total assets up for sale are parts of its North Sea oil and gas portfolio. A queue of major energy firms are trying to reduce exposure to one of the oldest and highest-cost offshore basins in the world. However, weak oil prices have made upstream exploration and production companies difficult to offload as potential buyers are seeking fire-sale prices while sellers are holding out for a so-far elusive recovery. Recent deal activity has been heavily concentrated in mid and downstream assets such as pipelines, refineries and marketing businesses, along with chemicals units such as Atotech. Analysts said the $3.2 billion sale price for Atotech — 11.9 times 2015 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation — was in line with expectations. The Berlin-based business makes chemicals for circuit boards and semiconductors used in electronics.
Changes are taking place at the top for Auction House in Cheshire as the firm’s managing director Peter Humphreys is set to step down from the role later in the month. Peter set up Humphreys of Chester in 1994 and joined Auction House in July 2008. Since then his work, selling property at auctions, has gone from strength to strength. His private treaty estate agency is being taken over by SDL. However, Auction House in Cheshire, North Wales and The Wirral will carry on its regular sales with the next property auction set to take place later this month. Roger Lake, Auction House founding Director, commented: “Peter has led a strong team and we wish him well with his future plans and interests which he is pursuing. He has really brought life to property auctions across this region and successfully established the brand, helping to make Auction House the number one residential property auctioneer, selling more lots than any other in the UK.” A highlight of the upcoming auction on Wednesday October 26, 2016, is an end of terrace house in the popular area of Newton in Chester. The three bedroom Edwardian property in Brook Lane is near to the city centre and is in need of a full renovation. Buyers are sure to be attracted by the keen guide price of £150,000. Lake added: “Auction House Cheshire & North Wales has an 81% success rate so far this year. It is the most successful auctioneer in the county and also sells numerous residential and commercial lots along the North Wales coast. As a brand, we put our success down to our regional approach where local branches sell auction lots at higher prices to local buyers in nearby auction rooms. We have been the market leading auctioneer in the North West for several years operating from five salerooms across the region and thank our clients and customers for the support that continues to deliver that success.”
Construction and property company Kier has opened an office in Swansea to support growth in South Wales. Kier’s new base at Technium 2 will complement the group’s regional hub in Cardiff and create seven new jobs to be filled by people who live in the Swansea area. The firm is working with Beyond Bricks and Mortar – a Swansea Council-led initiative that aims to make sure young people and those economically inactive are given chances for sustainable employment and training – during the recruitment process. The group has also taken on two recruits from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), who will work in job placements that complement their degrees. Kier has completed a series of high-profile schemes in the area, including the first phase of the new, multimillion-pound Swansea Innovation Quarter for UWTSD. Other schemes include the Neath car park regeneration project for Neath Port Talbot Council, and construction projects with Coastal Housing, Swansea University and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. Operations Director for Kier Construction Wales, Jason Taylor, commented: “It’s an exciting time for Swansea, with key developments in and around the city changing the urban environment and perception of the city. As Swansea becomes a vibrant hub of commerce and culture, it’s an ideal location for our new office. “The wider West Wales market presents a significant growth opportunity for us, and our new office underlines our commitment to our clients, our suppliers and subcontractors and the wider business community in the area.” Kier has also submitted plans on behalf of the Mersey Care NHS Trust for a new medium secure hospital to the north west of Liverpool. The new hospital, on Villas Road, will be constructed on land in between Ashworth hospital and HMP Kennnet in Maghull. It will replace the existing Scott Clinic in St Helens, which has been deemed no longer fit for purpose.
Beard has been selected by The SS Great Britain Trust to construct the new national Brunel museum alongside Bristol’s Floating Harbour. The museum will be part of the £7.2 million Being Brunel scheme, which will explore the works of 19th century engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-59). Beard is working alongside Alec French Architects on the new two storey site which will lie next to Brunel’s historic ship SS Great Britain, one of Britain’s top-rated museums. The project is due to get underway in terms of construction this November with a completion date of February 2018. The new Brunel museum has been designed to reflect the façade of original buildings that would have flanked the SS Great Britain as she was built in her dry dock in 1840. Beard will build a harbour side building that will connect to the historic Dock Office and Brunel’s Drawing Office via a walkway on the first floor. Working within a historic dockyard, Beard will construct a steel-frame exhibition hall with a number of gallery spaces and a mezzanine level, along with a cafe. Beard Bristol construction director Mike Hedges commented: “It’s a tremendous honour to be involved in the preservation of Brunel’s great legacy through this fantastic interactive new museum which, when completed, will bring Brunel’s genius and extraordinary mind to life. “This is a complex project where our construction team will be working within a historic dockyard alongside the iconic SS Great Britain, which will remain open to visitors during the building works.” The contract award for Being Brunel, the national Brunel museum, comes after Beard recently completed a new visitor centre at Clevedon Pier in Somerset, the only operating Grade I-listed seaside pier in the UK. Meanwhile, Sean Franks has been appointed as contracts manager for the Bristol operations of Beard, becoming responsible for managing the group’s building contracts throughout the city and surrounding areas.
