The companies have signed a project development agreement to develop the facility at Rookery South Pit near Stewartby, Bedfordshire, reports Construction News’ sister title Materials Recycling World. The plant will process municipal, commercial and industrial residual waste from the surrounding area. When completed, the facility is expected to generate more
The masterplan for the 3,000-home Bertha Park development on the edge of Perth has been approved by the council. Springfield Properties submitted the masterplan for the £1bn, 333ha project to Perth & Kinross Council last summer and it was approved on Wednesday. A detailed plan of the first phase is
Slate has been used as a roofing material throughout the UK since the middle ages. There’s no doubt that it’s one of the most stunning finishes whether your property is historic or modern. If you’re thinking about going slate, or replacing your existing roof, here’s everything you need to know
Rider Levett Bucknall, or RLB, the leading independent construction, property and management consultancy company has announced that they will be launching a new dedicated Contract Advisory service. This service will work to deliver specialist advice to RLB’s customers, and covers all aspects of procurement and contract drafting and negotiations as
J Tomlinson has announced that they have won a £7.25 million contract that will see the company provide the mechanical and engineering services for a new student accommodation scheme. J Tomlinson is an established and privately owned company that has a vast amount of experience in the provision of construction
The HomeOwners Alliance have collaborated with King’s College London in order to launch a guide for homebuyers who are looking to purchase a new build property. The new guide is 28 pages long and is called ‘Buying you new home: your rights explained’. This publication is the first of its
Hampshire-based R Collard Ltd has taken delivery of the first demolition specified Volvo EC750E to be sold in Great Britain. Managing director Robert Collard said that the choice of Volvo was mainly down to its availability for the start of the contract, but it has worked out well. “We were
The use of drones to carry out building inspections is saving the taxpayer an estimated £100,000 at the Dounreay nuclear site in Caithness. A recent survey suggests more and more construction-related organisations are catching on to the benefits of these camera-equipped remotely operated aircraft. Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL), the
The Maple Grove development, a collection of contemporary two, three and four bedroom houses situated along the tree-lined River Wandle near to Hackbridge in the London Borough of Sutton, is now available for purchase off-plan. SiteSales Property Group, the residential development agency, are managing the sales and marketing for the
The building industry is booming in London now that Sadiq Khan has relaxed rules surrounding housing. As reported by the Guardian, the Mayor of London, plans to build over quarter of a million new homes in the bustling capital’s outer suburbs, which fits in with recent housing movements. In the
The companies have signed a project development agreement to develop the facility at Rookery South Pit near Stewartby, Bedfordshire, reports Construction News’ sister title Materials Recycling World. The plant will process municipal, commercial and industrial residual waste from the surrounding area. When completed, the facility is expected to generate more than 50 MWe of electricity and will create around 300 jobs during construction, with 40-50 permanent roles including apprenticeships. The project was originally backed by the then Infrastructure Planning Commission nearly five years ago, but two councils and the Waste Recycling Group (now FCC Environment) opposed the scheme. Petitions alleging negative effects on the environment, transport networks and the local community were dismissed in a rare legal move by a special joint committee of the two houses of parliament. In May 2013, Covanta warned it could pull out of the UK unless it found a buyer or a partner for its three sites that had planning consents or permits for EfW facilities, including Rookery South. It blamed the move on a failure to win preferred bidder status on a 30-year municipal contract on Merseyside. The company no longer has any offices in the UK and liaises with Veolia from its US base. A company spokesman said further partnerships were possible for European projects. Veolia and Covanta said their project team will now seek final approvals, complete project financing and engage with key stakeholders and consultees. It is anticipated that construction will start in 2017, with the facility becoming operational in 2020. Covanta senior vice-president and head of corporate development Matthew Mulcahy said: “We are pleased to have found a partner in Veolia that will help us to develop this important growth project. The facility will provide a vital outlet for the sustainable disposal of residual waste and deliver clean, renewable power to the grid.” Veolia UK and Ireland senior executive vice-president Estelle Brachlianoff said: “This project will contribute to increased landfill diversion and will help the UK to meet its carbon reduction commitments. The scheme will also create direct employment and boost the local supply chain.” Source link
The masterplan for the 3,000-home Bertha Park development on the edge of Perth has been approved by the council. Springfield Properties submitted the masterplan for the £1bn, 333ha project to Perth & Kinross Council last summer and it was approved on Wednesday. A detailed plan of the first phase is expected to be assessed by committee next month. The first phase, which is likely to begin construction in 2017, covers 1,100 new homes including private, affordable and retirement accommodation ranging from apartments to 4-bedroom houses. Springfield has opted for a traditional look and feel for Bertha Park. Each home will have easy access to green space and all are being designed to be highly energy efficient. The new community will include 25ha of employment land, a new primary and secondary school as well as shops, restaurants, medical, leisure and community facilities. The development will be built over 30 years. This article was published on 13 May 2016 (last updated on 13 May 2016). Source link
Slate has been used as a roofing material throughout the UK since the middle ages. There’s no doubt that it’s one of the most stunning finishes whether your property is historic or modern. If you’re thinking about going slate, or replacing your existing roof, here’s everything you need to know about slate roofing. The upsides, the downsides, and the best products on the market. Slate roof tiles – Upsides Aesthetics – There’s no doubt about it, slate is a beautiful, natural product that gives properties a classy and authentic feel. Adding slate roof tiles to the right property can instantly add curb appeal and value. Durability – The reason slate roofs look beautiful and traditional is because they last so long. You can expect slate tiles to last for 150 years. It’s no wonder we associate them with chocolate box villages and sturdy buildings made to last. Slate is also fire resistant, which makes it a sensible alternative to some other traditional roofing finishes. Low impact – Although slate is quarried, the finishing process is relatively simple. However, the real measure of the material is that it rarely makes its way to landfill. Normally, the preparation of natural slate comprises exclusively mechanical processes. This means that no chemical waste whatsoever is generated. The waste disposed of at the dump is totally natural. The majority of other roofing types contain asphalt shingle, which needs replacement every 20 to 30 years. Something that lasts 150 years, and can be found reselling at reclamation yards all over the country, speaks for itself. Slate roof tiles – Downsides Cost – Cost is often the biggest barrier to slate tile installation. However, as the material lasts so long, the lifetime price is actually quite low. Installation – Slate roofs can be quite heavy, so ensure your roof is structurally sound and able to handle the weight beforehand. There are also some cowboy roofing contractors who have no experience working with slate. Ensure you use a contractor who knows how to work with the material. A poorly installed slate roof will not last 150 years! Slate Roof Tiles – Products Slates come in various different sizes and grades. CUPA R12 Excellence is the best roofing slate we’ve come across and happens to be the best selling roof slate in the UK. The slates have a higher grading selection process compared to some other natural slate tiles. They are also easier to install, so you can ensure a perfect finish. CUPA PIZARRAS, who produce the roof tiles, offer a 100 years warranty on CUPA R12 Excellence slates. This underlines the longevity of slate tiles and the warranty ensures that you’ll not end up with an inferior low-grade product. The company is the world leader in natural slate and has been producing it since 1892.
Rider Levett Bucknall, or RLB, the leading independent construction, property and management consultancy company has announced that they will be launching a new dedicated Contract Advisory service. This service will work to deliver specialist advice to RLB’s customers, and covers all aspects of procurement and contract drafting and negotiations as well as dispute avoidance and dispute resolution. The Contract Advisory service will be headed up by Aziz Mehtajee. Aziz joined RLB from Arcadis and has been involved in the launch of this new service. Aziz is known for being an authority on procurement as well as contract advice. He also has more than 25 years of experience from a wide variety of construction projects that have taken place within the public, utilities, infrastructure and private sectors. The Head of Advisory services at RLB, Mark Schumann has said that the independent construction, property and management consultants are delighted to launch this new Contract Advisory Service and that the company’s new offering builds on the work that has been put into this area already, and another example of how the company is able to respond to and assist their customers. Aziz Mehtajee the new Contract Advisory head has said that the changes are a part of a very exciting time for the company and that RLB are already at work on a number of commissions in the UK. One of these commissions is helping the Centre for Environmental Fisheries & Aquaculture Science and Mulbury City with their procurements. RLB has also be instructed on a quantum expert commission that is connected to a dispute on an infrastructure contract. The independent consultants have also been joined by Karolina Grzegorek, who has joined the company as a senior Consultant. Karolina will be an asset to the company and has experience in advising and implementing strategic procurement solutions as well as contracting strategies for the public and private sectors.
J Tomlinson has announced that they have won a £7.25 million contract that will see the company provide the mechanical and engineering services for a new student accommodation scheme. J Tomlinson is an established and privately owned company that has a vast amount of experience in the provision of construction refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical engineering and facilities management. The work being completed as a part of this new contract will see J Tomlinson working on the creation of the 922-bed student accommodation scheme. The company was appointed by the project’s main contractor Galliford Try in order to carry out the mechanical and electrical work on the £52.2 million development that is taking place on Paradise Street in Coventry. The new halls of residence will be spread across three blocks of three 12 and 14 storeys. The development is taking place on the site of a former garage which is close to the city centre. As a part of this development there will also be an additional two low-rise housing blocks. As a finishing touch to this site there will also be landscaping and a recreational area that will be created for students to enjoy as well as office and maintenance facilities that will be used by the proposed management company AXO Student Living. J Tomlinson’s extensive portfolio of work and experience providing integrated building services and standalone mechanical, electrical and plumbing services for clients across a range of different sectors made them the perfect candidates for this project. The company have been appointed to design, supply, install and commission the mechanical, electrical and plumbing services for the project. The main contractor for this project, Galliford Try Building East Midlands was appointed to this construction work by The Elite Group. The project is expected to start soon with the project expected to be complete in August 2019.
The HomeOwners Alliance have collaborated with King’s College London in order to launch a guide for homebuyers who are looking to purchase a new build property. The new guide is 28 pages long and is called ‘Buying you new home: your rights explained’. This publication is the first of its kind and will explain to the reader in clear and concise language the process of buying a new home and the rights that the buyer has. Included in the booklet is how a buyer can complain when things go wrong and how to resolve disputes with developers and how to make a claim under the warranty. The launch of this information has taken place following the Chancellor Philip Hammond’s commitment to building 300,000 new homes each year in the Autumn Budget. Speaking about the creation of the new guide, Philip Britton from The Centre for Construction Law at The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London, has said that the information will help new homebuyers know and understand their rights. People who buy new homes often find that they have less protection that they previously thought. Buying a new home is a bit of a minefield and it is often difficult for homebuyers to know where to turn. As an extension of the service offered with the release of this booklet, the School also offers the King’s Legal Clinic, which is a free service that will offer legal advice to the public. The new build sector has a range of challenge, from complicated contracts to bad quality of work amongst other contractual restrictions. Because of this, buyers need to be better informed of their rights, with the publication of the ‘Buying your new home’ guide answering a large number of questions, taking some of the complexities out of the process.
Hampshire-based R Collard Ltd has taken delivery of the first demolition specified Volvo EC750E to be sold in Great Britain. Managing director Robert Collard said that the choice of Volvo was mainly down to its availability for the start of the contract, but it has worked out well. “We were impressed with the specification and build quality of the EC750E when we went to Rotterdam to inspect the machine at Volvo’s European machine receiving centre,” he said. “And watching it go to work on its first day on site, I’m equally impressed with the machine’s performance and very satisfied with our purchasing decision.” Collard’s new machine is the prime demolition tool on a project in west London, dismantling four-storey buildings and multi-storey car parks on a 20-acre site. The machine has been specified with 7.7-metre boom, a 3.55-metre dipper arm and a Hills hydraulic hitch for fitting of a 4m³ heavy duty bucket and a range of demolition tools including a 7.5-tonne Verachtert shear. In order to operate a range of hydraulically powered attachments, the EC750E has been equipped with both hammer/shear lines and an X3 rotation circuit. The machine can be programmed with pre-set flows and pressures for the different attachments being used. The 7.5-tonne shear operates at 800 litres per minute and a working pressure of 350bar.
The use of drones to carry out building inspections is saving the taxpayer an estimated £100,000 at the Dounreay nuclear site in Caithness. A recent survey suggests more and more construction-related organisations are catching on to the benefits of these camera-equipped remotely operated aircraft. Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL), the company in charge of decommissioning the nuclear site, carries out around 50 building inspections each year – helping maintain buildings that play an key role in nuclear decommissioning, clean-up and waste management operations. It was the idea of John Moar, a senior electrical engineer at the site, to look into using drones. Dounreay falls within a strictly enforced air exclusion zone and is protected by armed officers from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. Mr Moar had to do a Civil Aviation Authority course to secure an exemption from the no-fly zone. The first £6,000 drone paid for itself on its first outing to inspect two 20-metre high ventilation stacks. Previously, this work would have needed scaffolding and a hired mobile platform, costing thousands of pounds a week. Mr Moar said: “The team were delighted at the quality and detail of the images and how easy and safe it was to get them. Clearly, there are very strict rules in place to protect the safety and security of nuclear sites, so we had to follow a stringent and detailed process to get all required agreements for using drones at Dounreay. The potential for using drones doesn’t stop here. I can see how we’d use similar technology for things like 3D modelling and environmental surveys.” According to a survey by ProDroneWorx, a mapping, inspection and surveying company, drones are already quite widely used in the construction but are about to become commonplace. Its survey, Drone Technology within the Construction Industry, found that out of 161 companies that responded, 33% are currently using drone technology and of those that are not, more than two-thirds are planning to do so in future. Of the 33% that are using drones, more than half (60%) have only started doing so in the past year. ProDroneWorx managing director Ian Tansey said: “In a world of tight margins and an increasingly competitive landscape, the use of drone technology gives construction firms a significant competitive advantage over their peers through reduced costs, increased productivity gains and the mitigation of risk.”
The Maple Grove development, a collection of contemporary two, three and four bedroom houses situated along the tree-lined River Wandle near to Hackbridge in the London Borough of Sutton, is now available for purchase off-plan. SiteSales Property Group, the residential development agency, are managing the sales and marketing for the properties on behalf of Rydon. All the properties at the secluded Maple Grove development have private gardens and are located along an attractive riverside close to the greenery of Beddington Park. Access by train to central London (London Victoria 25 minutes) is available from Hackbridge station only 6-7 minutes’ walk away, making Maple Grove not only an attractive location, but also a quiet, well connected retreat. SiteSales Property Group has already secured eight reservations off-plan, with strong interest continuing from first time buyers as well as those looking to downsize. All of the houses include fully integrated appliances with fitted carpets and flooring throughout, comprising ceramic floor tiles in the wet rooms and mirrored cabinets in both bathrooms and shower rooms. The development has already attracted a lot of interest and is open to all, with Help to Buy available for selected properties. In total there will be 54 properties for sale at Maple Grove, 25 being constructed and sold in the first phase, between spring and summer 2018, with the remainder following in the second phase. The first phase is comprised of three and four bedroom houses, with three bedroom houses priced at £525,000 and four bedroom properties at £575,000. Murray Smith, Managing Director of SiteSales Property Group, said: ‘‘Maple Grove is a development with an excellent location, combining natural surroundings with strong transport links. Our sale of the properties is proceeding well, and our customers have been very impressed with our level of care, attention and our ability to keep their purchasing journey smooth and trouble free. This further extends our close working partnership with Rydon who deliver an excellent product for our buyers.”
The building industry is booming in London now that Sadiq Khan has relaxed rules surrounding housing. As reported by the Guardian, the Mayor of London, plans to build over quarter of a million new homes in the bustling capital’s outer suburbs, which fits in with recent housing movements. In the last year the residential market in London has seen a surprising upturn during the second quarter of the year, and there has also been an increase in the sale of luxury properties. Of course, the new housing won’t be for the rich and affluent; instead the homes are being built with young professionals and families in mind, helping to deal with the housing crisis in the UK. Sadiq Khan said, “I am using all of the powers at my disposal to tackle the housing crisis head on.” Over 250,000 New Homes In London The suburbs are now preparing for a large amount of construction after the Major lifted rules surrounding local character in London. This may be a cause for alarm for some people, but Khan is still prioritizing the environment; the housing plan goes hand in hand with a plan to protect the London Green Belt. The plan is certainly ambitious, but it looks like it will be achieved within the next few years. The new houses will be placed in 13 of the outer suburbs of London, avoiding the city centre which is already heavily crowded. One third of the houses will be built on surprisingly small sites, including in areas where there are unused apartments and shops. Some of the sites are even in used back gardens. Khan created the detailed plan in 2016, and although many critics were initially concerned about the idea many people have now warmed to it. The Need For Building Services Once the houses are built it is extremely important to maintain the properties. Houses can last for hundreds of years if they are properly maintained by professional building services, but if not they can quickly decay and age – and this means that even more money will need to be spent further down the line. For this reason it is important to hire a quality cleaning team who have experience maintaining residential properties. This housing plan is set to be one of the biggest residential builds in the UK in 2017, and it will transform the lives of thousands people who are living in London. It will also create more work for the construction industry and building services, benefiting the community in various ways.
