Social housing landlord London & Quadrant (L&Q) has bought out Bellway’s 51% stake in its Barking Riverside joint venture with the Greater London Authority. Above: The Barking Riverside plan L&Q has committed to invest £70m into a £263m project to deliver the extension of the London Overground rail service to
Government is “not being clear” on the benefits of smart meters, according to the Science and Technology Committee. The Committee said there are “too many objectives” for the rollout, which may hinder its implementation. “The government should be clearer about the primary purpose of smart metering and
Tuesday, 23 February 2016 from 19:00 to 20:40, RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London, W1 In partnership with the Japan Foundation, the RIBA is proud to host a lecture by the 2014 Pritzker Prize Laureate Shigeru Ban on Tuesday 23 February. Speaking for the first time in the UK for seven
Running a construction business normally means overseeing the operation of a range of different vehicles. From vans to construction equipment, there is a lot to keep track of, maintenance, insurance, logistics, there’s a lot of moving parts to keeping a construction fleet moving. In some instances, especially in smaller companies,
London is one of the busiest cities in the world. With a population of almost 9 million and an annual tourist influx of almost 32 million, it’s safe to say that the Big Smoke’s airports, which include Heathrow, Luton, Stansted and Gatwick, are a never ending hive of activity. And
When it comes to deciding on the best option for heating your home there are several different pieces of equipment that you can choose. Most of us will stick with whatever heating system is in our homes when we first move in and, unless we should choose to carry out
Leading public service provider Amey has partnered with the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI) in an effort to tackle the challenges facing disabled people in the workplace, a spokesperson announced today. The new partnership is the latest in a string of diversity and inclusion initiatives embarked on by Amey over
Hub South West, an infrastructure partnership, has delivered the new £44 million Largs Campus, one of the biggest projects it has undertaken. Built by Morrison Construction, the new facility aims to start a new era in education in the Ayrshire coastal town. Largs Primary and St Mary’s, the primary schools
The Institute of Chartered Foresters is pleased to announce the four recipients of the 2018 Prince of Wales Forest Leadership Award. The Institute’s Student members Tom Haynes and Michael Wilson from the University of Cumbria were selected among talented competition as the United Kingdom applicants, while Daniel Root from the
Whitemountain Quarries won a £15 million contract to build a 1 kilometre road with two bridges in the Somerset town of Bridgwater. The construction work will begin on the 4th of April and it will include an access road to serve the Colley Lane Industrial Estate in the town and
Social housing landlord London & Quadrant (L&Q) has bought out Bellway’s 51% stake in its Barking Riverside joint venture with the Greater London Authority. Above: The Barking Riverside plan L&Q has committed to invest £70m into a £263m project to deliver the extension of the London Overground rail service to a new station at Barking Riverside, which will be completed by 2021. The 179-hectare former Barking Power station site had lain dormant for more than 35 years, but will now become a significant source of housing provision in the capital following a joint venture agreement between the Greater London Authority (GLA) and L&Q. Bellway Homes, which was instrumental in setting the site up with planning permission and developing the early phases, will continue to be involved as a development partner, bringing forward plots for market sale. Some 10,800 new homes are planned for the Barking Riverside development eventually, along with 65,000 square metres of commercial, retail and community facilities, one secondary and up to four primary schools, as well as public squares, walkways and new highway infrastructure. The extension of the Gospel Oak rail line from Barking to Barking Riverside has now been fully funded through City Hall, Transport for London and L&Q. Work on the extension begins in 2017 and will put Barking Riverside within 25 minutes of central London. L&Q said that it plans to develop the site more quickly than Bellway had been willing or able. L&Q plans to quadruple the level of housebuilding on site from 150 to 600 homes a year. L&Q chief executive David Montague said: “We’re delighted to help lead one of the largest and most ambitious regeneration schemes in Europe. Barking Riverside will deliver almost 11,000 homes for Londoners and make an enormous contribution to support efforts to increase housing supply in the capital. The potential of the project is enormous and – as a leading housing association and developer – we have the vision and financial strength to make a long-term investment and commitment to help fulfil that potential. “We’re setting out to quadruple the speed of delivery of new homes and that starts with investing in the critical transport infrastructure to connect Barking Riverside with the rest of the capital. The scheme is a significant step in delivering L&Q’s promise to build a pipeline of 50,000 new homes in the next 10 years.” Bellway chief executive Ted Ayres said: “We’re pleased to continue our involvement in this landmark project for London. Having played a significant and instrumental role in taking Barking Riverside through planning and into its initial stages of delivery, we will now be focused on bringing forward a series of housing phases in partnership with the GLA, L&Q and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham.” Barking & Dagenham Council leader Darren Rodwell said: “Barking Riverside is a key regeneration scheme, not just for Barking and Dagenham but for London, and it’s fantastic that L&Q has become a part of it as I am sure that they will bring both ambition and long term commitment to the area. Their £70m investment to complete the funding needed to extend the London Overground – connecting Barking Riverside with the rest of London – is something which will be of considerable benefit to both the existing community and those thinking of moving here.” L&Q’s investment at Barking Riverside is part of its five-year plan to accelerate its output and deliver 50,000 new homes over the next decade. Last year, it issued £250m bond with a 34-year deal to support its growth plans. This article was published on 11 Mar 2016 (last updated on 11 Mar 2016). Source link
Government is “not being clear” on the benefits of smart meters, according to the Science and Technology Committee. The Committee said there are “too many objectives” for the rollout, which may hinder its implementation. “The government should be clearer about the primary purpose of smart metering and use this to drive evaluation of the project,” the report insisted. “Smart meters need to be clearly understood by the consumer and provide information in a format that the customer finds helpful. In order for consumers to benefit directly from smart metering there will need to be appropriate investment in customer engagement, given that this is being introduced in an era of low public trust in utility providers,” it added. The government lists 11 different objectives for the project, including saving customers’ money on energy bills, despite that the amount of money saved by individual consumers is expected to be small. The report says that the major benefits will be in paving the way for a smarter energy system where to enhance energy security and reduce pollution. However, the report supports the use of in-home displays as part of the rollout as they provide a “necessary feedback mechanism” on energy consumption, despite criticism from some stakeholders. Smart meter security was also discussed and members met with the government’s security experts from GCHQ which gave the Committee “confidence that security is being taken seriously”. Interim chair of the Committee Tania Mathias said: “It would be easy to dismiss the smart meter project as an inefficient way of saving a small amount of money on energy bills, but the evidence suggests there are major national benefits, including establishing a smarter, more energy secure grid. “The smart meter mass rollout has been delayed, but the government and suppliers must not skimp on engaging with customers in the rush to fit 50 million more meters by 2020. The evidence shows that homeowners and businesses need to receive tailored advice about how they can benefit from smart metering. The ‘smartness’ comes from what customers can do with them—fit and forget would be a wasted opportunity.” The report also expressed concern about the functionality of the current foundation meters, which prevents customers from switching supplier. Mathias adds: “Ministers merely have an ‘ambition’ to fix this by 2020. Taxpayers will be unimpressed with this situation, and timely action is needed.” Communication between departments and ministers raised concerns for the Committee when there were “regrettable” delays in the responses to evidence checks. The smart meter rollout is expected to begin its second phase at the end of September after several delays and aims to offer 53 million meters to homes and small businesses by 2020. Source link
Tuesday, 23 February 2016 from 19:00 to 20:40, RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London, W1 In partnership with the Japan Foundation, the RIBA is proud to host a lecture by the 2014 Pritzker Prize Laureate Shigeru Ban on Tuesday 23 February. Speaking for the first time in the UK for seven years, Shigeru Ban will discuss his work with disaster relief projects through the Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN), an NGO established by the architect in 1995. He will also talk about his other projects worldwide. Shigeru Ban’s 2015 Nepal Project is currently on display in the Creation from Catastrophe: How Architects Rebuild Communities exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery. The project demonstrates Ban’s unique approach to rebuilding after disasters, using sustainable and vernacular building techniques and materials such as paper tubes, bamboo and brick rubble. Born in Tokyo in 1957, Shigeru Ban graduated from the Cooper Union and started working for Arata Isozaki & Associates in 1982. He founded Shigeru Ban Architects in 1985 and became consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1995. Book tickets for Shigeru Ban’s talk at RIBA (£12 full price, £10 RIBA Members and students): Ends Notes to Editors: 1. For further information contact Beatrice Cooke in the RIBA press office: beatrice.cooke@riba.org; 020 7307 3813. Press images of Shigeru Ban and his projects in the Creation from Catastrophe exhibition can be downloaded here: https://riba.box.com/s/f54i1ja7hxfk7syticam08dy3e8yo9t3 2. For further information about the Creation from Catastrophe exhibition go to: https://www.architecture.com/Explore/ExhibitionsandEvents/CreationFromCatastrophe/CreationFromCatastrophe.aspx 3. The Architecture Gallery at RIBA is open from 10am – 5pm Monday to Sunday and until 8pm every Tuesday. Free entrance. RIBA is at 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD. Nearest tubes are Oxford Circus, Regent’s Park and Great Portland Street. The exhibition is part of a RIBA season of wide ranging events and workshops, designed for all ages and experience levels. For further information go to: www.architecture.com The Architecture Gallery opened in February 2014 in the RIBA’s Grade II* listed Art Deco HQ. Through regular, free exhibitions that explore the past, present and future of our built environment the gallery programme will help visitors discover and explore architecture. The gallery offers the opportunity for the RIBA to display its world class collections contained in the British Architectural Library. 4. The exhibition and talks season is supported by The Japan Foundation, London www.jpf.org.uk 5. Ruskin Air Management sponsors the Creation from Catastrophe exhibition. It is a market leading UK manufacturer within the building services industry providing natural ventilation equipment, clean air systems, air distribution and fire safety products. Formed of 6 brands; actionair, Air Diffusion, naco, Airolution, Trion and Envirco Ruskin offers a wealth of specialist knowledge. With their own testing laboratory built to BSRIA standards Ruskin are able to fully demonstrate the capabilities of their products and success of their systems. For further information go to http://www.ruskinuk.co.uk/ 6. RIBA champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. www.architecture.com @RIBA 7. The RIBA is a registered charity and it relies on the generosity of individuals, companies, trusts and foundations to preserve its world-class collections, to maintain free public access to its exhibitions and develop a diverse and exciting public events programme. Posted on Monday 15th February 2016 Source link
Running a construction business normally means overseeing the operation of a range of different vehicles. From vans to construction equipment, there is a lot to keep track of, maintenance, insurance, logistics, there’s a lot of moving parts to keeping a construction fleet moving. In some instances, especially in smaller companies, this might become overwhelming and eat in a large amount of time and budget that could be better spent elsewhere in the business. Fleet cards are a fantastic way to help monitor the fuel consumption of your business vehicles and also take a lot of the admin burden that comes with keeping a fleet moving. But what are the other benefits to construction companies? Savings on fuel Fuel cards, such as those provided through FSB, are designed to help businesses simplify the whole process of keeping their vehicles fuelled and running on the roads. In some cases, these cards also provide businesses with a discount on fuel purchases. The saving tends to be a few pence per litre of fuel. However, when you consider the size of construction vehicles or the mileage covered by vans for tradesmen the savings over time could be considerable. This could then give you more budget to reinvest into your business, potentially on new equipment or training to add a new service or skill. Simplified management Normally anyone buying fuel for a business vehicle would need to retain the receipts, hand them in and have the receipt be added to other receipts to work out your total fuel costs for the month. A fuel card essentially removes the needs to do this, as purchases using the cards can be tracked through an online system. This allows you to see how much is being spent on fuel, and which drivers are spending the most. This can help to identify if vehicles are being used for more that the needs of your business, and also track any vehicles that might be fuel inefficient and in need of servicing. This can help you to ensure you fleet of vehicles is operating at its most efficient, helping you to continue to make savings on your fuel usage by having vehicles which operate more effectively. Centralised admin As a business you can use the fuel of your vehicles as a deductible on your tax. Simplifying the process of invoicing your VAT can save you time and effort, giving you more opportunity to focus on your business instead of excessive admin. In a larger construction business with lots of moving logistical parts the time that simplified admin can save is huge. Managing accounts and tracking expenses and fuel invoices on a centralised system instead of carrying out much of the administrative work manually can help businesses to refocus on other areas. Potentially allowing them to streamline and improve other admin tasks such as payroll or invoicing due to the extra time they have. Taking the time as a business to find ways to simplify processes and reduce admin is crucial, regardless of what sector you’re in. You may find that simplified processes mean additional savings, as well as increased productivity from staff due to a decrease in the amount of processes and admin tasks that they need to carry out. This gives your business more time to focus on providing a quality service to your customers and delivering projects on time.
London is one of the busiest cities in the world. With a population of almost 9 million and an annual tourist influx of almost 32 million, it’s safe to say that the Big Smoke’s airports, which include Heathrow, Luton, Stansted and Gatwick, are a never ending hive of activity. And these record numbers show no signs of slowing down. In fact, they’re increasing. A swelling population as well as sharp increases in tourism mean that London will struggle to meet the transport demands in regards to the number of people it can fly in and out of the city. While this is great news for the economy, it’s put a massive strain on the airports, runways and airlines that struggle to keep up with the constant demand placed on their services. To solve the issue two solutions were proposed: the construction of a third runway at Heathrow, or a complete expansion at Gatwick. And while the contract was ultimately awarded to Heathrow, is this really the right choice? Gatwick – the argument Ferrying over 44 million passengers per year, Gatwick is the UK’s second busiest airport behind Heathrow. It lies 40 kilometres from the centre of London, making it ideal for commuting quickly while still being far enough away to avoid excessive air pollution within city limits. In addition to commercial flights, there are also a fair number of charter flights from Gatwick, particularly with the rising popularity of specialised booking services. The argument for expanding the terminal is that by doing so, due to the merit of its location, London would be spared excessive noise pollution and help to ease some of the pressures that currently weigh on Heathrow. They argue that by building an extra runway at Heathrow instead, an estimated 130,000 planes will be flown over London, resulting in a massive amount of noise pollution. Heathrow – the right move? The plan to build a third runway at Heathrow is estimated to cost just shy of £18 billion and expected to be operational by 2026. Although this seems like a lot of money, it’s been proposed as the most cost effective option for accommodating the large number of expected incoming passengers in the future. It’s a small price to pay for what will supposedly bring economic benefits of up to £61 billion. However, the plan to build at Heathrow has come under harsh criticism especially where air pollution is concerned. The primary concern is that the quality of air around Heathrow is below the EU’s current health standards and will only continue to get worse if a third runway is constructed. Heathrow maintains that it has taken steps to mitigate the pollution and that its third runway will be within the parameters that the EU has set. The government has also promised to adhere to strict noise targets by encouraging the use of quieter planes as well as stricter adherence to a flight timetable to allow residents to enjoy noise breaks. Nevertheless, the public will have to wait until the runway is completely operational to determine, once and for all, if choosing to build at Heathrow was indeed the smart choice.
When it comes to deciding on the best option for heating your home there are several different pieces of equipment that you can choose. Most of us will stick with whatever heating system is in our homes when we first move in and, unless we should choose to carry out some renovations or have trouble with the default system, we never feel the need to explore other options. However, regardless of whether you actually intend on replacing your existing heating system, it is worth understanding the different options available and what their respective advantages/disadvantages are. Some of you might be surprised to learn that boilers and furnaces are entirely different types of system, most of us never really give this any thought. The difference between the two is much more than just semantics though, as these two different approaches to heating are not only different mechanically, but the results that they produce are also often very different. The key difference between the two is that whereas a boiler uses hot water in order to heat your home, a furnace uses warm air. The way that the heat is generated and then circulated around your property is different. By understanding the differences between these two heating methods, you can then make an informed choice as to which is the best option for your home and individual circumstances. Here is a brief summary of the differences between using a furnace and a boiler as your primary heating source within your home. Modern advances in HVAC technology have meant that both options are viable for most setups. In fact, the difference in terms of performance between both methods is constantly shrinking as efficiency gaps are closed. Water vs Air You may well be wondering just how much difference generating heat via water and air can make to performance, if any at all? After all, heat is heat, regardless of its original source. A boiler will use either electricity, gas, or oil in order to generate heat. This heat is then transferred to the water inside the boiler and this warm water is circulated throughout the home. Meanwhile, a furnace makes use of a blower to push air over heated coils, The warm air is then circulated through the homes ductwork. Furnaces tend to be a little higher maintenance as they use filters in order to ensure that the air they pump around the home is clean and that dust and other debris isn’t being circulated. However, if a furnace system is properly maintained then it can easily last for a couple of decades. Boilers Vs Furnaces The water boilers that are used today are leaps and bounds ahead of their predecessors in terms of energy efficiency. The radiant heating systems which are in use today transfer warm water to either the radiators or the underfloor heaters that some homes now have. One of the biggest appeals of a boiler system is its simplicity, the pipes which will circulate water throughout a property are generally more reliable than ductwork. For those who are looking for a heating system to retrofit into an existing property, if ductworks are not already present in the property then having them put in can be very time consuming and expensive. Another reason that many people choose the boiler over the furnace is that the boiler gives them a finer degree of control over the temperature and humidity levels within their home. For others it is the simple pleasure of being able to walk barefoot over heated floorboards that appeals to them; the simple pleasures in life are often the most important after all! Radiant heating systems are able to retain and release heat in a more sustained fashion, meaning that they don’t have to be turned on and off so often. Water tanks usually operate silently these days, and for some situations this is a deal breaker, although modern furnaces allow the user to adjust the speed of the blowers and therefore giving more control over the amount of noise generated. Because of the difference in how these two pieces of equipment operate, the boiler is a better choice for those who have allergies or who are sensitive to allergens and irritants in the air. A furnace will circulate air around your home which, even when using filters on the system, can cause a deterioration in air quality within your home. However, if this isn’t a concern for you then you might prefer that the air in your home is circulated more often. A big factor in making these decisions is always going to be the cost. No matter how much you might love the look of a particular heating system, if it’s beyond your price range then you will have to learn to accept it. Boilers are much more expensive than furnaces, and so for situations where the cost is the overriding consideration, an air furnace is nearly always going to be the best option. Boilers are generally cheaper to run once they are installed, but how long it will take for your operating savings to outweigh your initial investment will vary between setups. Which One is Right for Me? There is no simple, blanket answer to this question. The best heating system for you will depend on your specific circumstances and what you are trying to achieve. Lets first consider the boiler. Boilers tend to be more energy efficient, they require less fuel to heat a home of any given size, therefore if you want to reduce your energy bills a boiler is the way to go. Boilers are also more consistent as they allow the user a finer degree of control over things like temperature and humidity. Boilers run silently and require little maintenance or intervention from the user. However, boilers take longer to reflect adjustments made to the thermostat, they are more difficult to install and nigh on impossible to convert further down the line. If you choose a boiler then you need to
Leading public service provider Amey has partnered with the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI) in an effort to tackle the challenges facing disabled people in the workplace, a spokesperson announced today. The new partnership is the latest in a string of diversity and inclusion initiatives embarked on by Amey over the last 12 months, including achieving Leaders in Diversity accreditation and kickstarting a partnership with the disability charity Scope. Elsewhere, Amey has been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation and signed the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transport Charter for Diversity & Inclusion. Since 2011, RIDI has focused on breaking down the barriers disabled people face in the recruitment process through its work with recruiters and employers across the UK. Its annual awards celebrate progress and recognise the success of organisations that are making headway in increasing the inclusion of disabled professionals. Commenting on why Amey has chosen to be a ‘Silver Partner’ of RIDI, James Haluch, MD for Amey’s Highways business and Chair of the company’s inclusion steering group, said: “Our mission is to help to create better places for people to live, work and travel and we are constantly striving to ensure that our workforce truly reflects the diverse communities that we serve. “We believe that by bringing together different people with different perspectives, work experiences, backgrounds and abilities, we are able to become more connected, innovative and more effective. Ultimately, we can provide greater value to our customers through greater inclusion and diversity in our workforce and disabled talent is an area which must not be overlooked.” Kate Headley, spokeperson for RIDI, added: “There is a distinct appetite from companies and recruiters alike to become more inclusive and improve the prospects of disabled jobseekers. Amey is clearly one of the growing number of organisations that is leading the way in diversity inclusion, and it is a pleasure to work with the team as we approach the 2018 RIDI Awards.” This year’s RIDI Awards will be held on the 15th of March in central London. Further sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information contact: info@ridiawards.com
Hub South West, an infrastructure partnership, has delivered the new £44 million Largs Campus, one of the biggest projects it has undertaken. Built by Morrison Construction, the new facility aims to start a new era in education in the Ayrshire coastal town. Largs Primary and St Mary’s, the primary schools incorporated into the new campus, moved in yesterday together with Early Years nurseries. The relocated Largs Academy will also join them on the 18th of April. The new campus will accommodate more than 2,000 pupils and is part of North Ayrshire Council’s biggest ever investment that includes two theatres, a gym hall believed to be the biggest in the UK, and art classrooms with balconies that enable outdoor working with vires of the stunning Largs Coastline. “The facilities at Largs Campus are going to be the best in Scotland. We will have the best sport facilities in Scotland, if not the UK,” said Councillor John Bell, cabinet member for education and youth employment. “We have invested heavily in the nursery and have state-of-the-art facilities that incorporate parent rooms, family rooms and imaginative play and learning areas for our young people. I am so proud of this facility and know that the young people have a fantastic environment to attain and achieve.” Moreover, this project supported 25 work placements, 13 apprenticeships and created 73 jobs. “Students have been given exposure to the construction industry, small businesses have expanded and there has been a positive impact on the local economy,” added Allan Cunningham, operations director of Morrison Construction. “hub South West is delighted to handover this wonderful new learning environment to North Ayrshire Council,” said Michael McBrearty, chief executive of hub South West. “Largs Campus is an impressive and contemporary educational facility set in a fantastic location. It will provide an inspirational environment in which pupils can learn and thrive. It will be a real asset to the local community.”
The Institute of Chartered Foresters is pleased to announce the four recipients of the 2018 Prince of Wales Forest Leadership Award. The Institute’s Student members Tom Haynes and Michael Wilson from the University of Cumbria were selected among talented competition as the United Kingdom applicants, while Daniel Root from the University of Toronto and Erin Pearson from College of the North Atlantic were selected among top Canadian recipients. Now in its fourth year, the Award program is fully endorsed by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The Award program is a UK-Canada partnership between The Prince of Wales’ Duchy of Cornwall, the Institute of Chartered Foresters in the UK, and CIF-IFC in Canada, sponsored by the The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation. “This unique and prestigious Award helps foster future forest leaders by recognising young professionals with a passion for forestry and natural resources management,” explains Dana Collins, Executive Director at CIF-IFC. “We’ve received an overwhelmingly positive response from previous Award recipients and employers, and are very excited to continue building on the success of this program again this year.” The UK and Canadian recipients will participate in an international work exchange in their respective partner countries during the summer of 2018. They will be placed in roles at some of the top forestry and natural resources management employers in Canada and the UK, in addition to receiving a bursary of £7,500 GBP to cover expenses. This year’s employers will be announced shortly. “I am delighted by the continued interest in this Award,” says Geraint Richards MVO MICFor, the Duchy of Cornwall’s Head Forester. “The Award will further strengthen our relationship with the Canadian Institute of Forestry. I wish Daniel, Erin, Tom and Michael, every success and I look forward to hearing about their experiences abroad.” “The Institute of Chartered Foresters congratulates all recipients of The Prince of Wales Forest Leadership Award. This is a fantastic opportunity for future forest leaders. We are looking forward to welcoming the Canadian winners to the UK, and hope that it is an invaluable learning experience in both countries,” added Andy Lederer, Development Director at the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
Whitemountain Quarries won a £15 million contract to build a 1 kilometre road with two bridges in the Somerset town of Bridgwater. The construction work will begin on the 4th of April and it will include an access road to serve the Colley Lane Industrial Estate in the town and two bridges: one an in-situ concrete arch structure over the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal and the second a 52m long single span steel composite bridge over the tidal River Parrett. “We are delighted to deliver the much anticipated Colley Lane Southern Access Road Project on behalf of Somerset County Council and fully understand the importance of the project to the local community. Whitemountain are committed to delivering a quality project that exceeds client expectations on time and within budget,” said Mark Kelly, MD of Whitemountain. “We look forward to engaging with and supporting Somerset County Council and are committed to providing social value and community welfare in the delivery of the project, fully aligned with Somerset County Council’s Sustainability Plan,” he added. The new link road will be crossing the site of a former brickworks, where the clay extraction pit has been filled with cellophane waste. The embankment of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal Bridge will need to be built over it. The new carriageway will give motorists the opportunity to access the Colley Lane Industrial Estate from the South, avoiding travelling on Taunton Road during rush hour traffic. It will also open up brownfield development sites between the River Parrett and the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal to support the delivery of planned housing and employment land. One of the contributors to the development is Hinkley Point nuclear power station who invested £2 million as part of a £100 million commitment to support community projects.
