Transport Scotland has appointed a joint venture of UK engineer Mott MacDonald and Swedish planning firm Sweco as consultant for dualling a 29-mile stretch of the A96. Above: A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness The Mott MacDonald Sweco joint venture (MMS JV) will explore options for dualling of the A96 between
Construction employers have awarded the sector a score of only 4.5 out of 10 for its overall performance in managing workplace stress, according to a recent CITB ‘stress test’ survey. Released to coincide with Mental Health Awareness week (16 -22 May), the telephone survey of over 100 construction employers found
Wheatcroft Land was initially established by Clinton Bourke in 1989 after he worked as a civil engineer and managing director at Wilson Bowden Plc. Unfortunately, recently ill health has meant that Clinton has been unable to continue running the development company. Coming forward to take over is his daughter Catherine
The man, who was working for one of the scheme’s subcontractors, was taken to hospital on Wednesday and was released over the weekend. This is the second worker to have been hospitalised, following an incident at the major commercial site near Victoria. In April, a subcontractor was taken to a major
Developed in Sweden over 15 years ago, SiOO is a patented, silicon based, two part wood surface treatment process with extensive use in the DIY market. The surface protector makes sure that the wood protector doesn’t leach out until it has cured. The wood protector undergoes a chemical reaction with
The £75 million Triple Road Decker Project in North Tyneside is approaching its final stages. The scheme, which aims to lower the A19 under the A1058 Coast Road and Coast Road roundabout, is being delivered by the Sisk Lagan joint venture (JV). Since the construction began in June 2016, there
Newcastle International Airport has launched its Masterplan 2035, a blueprint for competing in the global economy, while delivering economic benefits for the region. Ahead of its 100th anniversary since it has been in operation, the new Masterplan is expected to drive continued growth. The passenger numbers are forecast to continue
A former brewery building in South London underwent refurbishment work for which a leading member of the Steel Window Association has manufactured and installed bespoke double glazed W20 frames. West Leigh Ltd carried out the £130K contract on the Plough Brewery, Wandsworth Road, for Marston Properties working closely with specialist
QTS Group Limited has been acquired by Leeds-based engineering services group Renew Holdings plc in an £80 million deal. This acquisition will add complementary services to Renew’s existing rail offering and increase its market share, footprint and positioning in the rail market. “We are delighted to welcome the management and
Gary Singleton is an ex-student from Framwellgate School in County Durham, who was also part of the team at McCarrick Construction that worked on the new £2.5 million sports hall at the school. “When I left Framwellgate School in Durham in 1996 to start my journey apprenticeship with McCarrick Construction,
Transport Scotland has appointed a joint venture of UK engineer Mott MacDonald and Swedish planning firm Sweco as consultant for dualling a 29-mile stretch of the A96. Above: A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness The Mott MacDonald Sweco joint venture (MMS JV) will explore options for dualling of the A96 between Hardmuir and Fochabers and then take on detailed design work. Transport Scotland said that the value of the contract was up to £50m. The upgrade is expected to cut driving times between Inverness and Aberdeen. The entire 86 miles of the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen is planned for improvement by 2030. The Hardmuir to Fochabers section consists mainly of single lane carriageway which passes through or close to various towns and villages. Regular bottlenecks occur which leads to traffic congestion and disruption. MMS JV will begin design and assessment work this summer with the route options assessment process expected to take up to two years to complete. There will be a number of grade separated junctions along the length of the new road where bypasses are created for a number of communities, such as Forres and Elgin. There will also be crossings of the River Findhorn, the River Lossie and the River Spey as well as the Aberdeen to Inverness rail line. Details of the A96 dualling programme can be found at: http://www.transport.gov.scot/project/a96-dualling-inverness-aberdeen This article was published on 15 Jun 2016 (last updated on 15 Jun 2016). Source link
Construction employers have awarded the sector a score of only 4.5 out of 10 for its overall performance in managing workplace stress, according to a recent CITB ‘stress test’ survey. Released to coincide with Mental Health Awareness week (16 -22 May), the telephone survey of over 100 construction employers found that more than a third (36%) described their workplace as a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ stress environment. One in five (20%) however, were unsure how they would support an employee suffering from work-related stress. While most respondents (71%) were able to suggest a personal response that they would make to help a workmate, less than half (47%) were inclined to suggest formal solutions to tackle the problem. The top three likely reactions from employers were: to offer informal support or friendship (34%) suggesting counselling or where to find it (23%) paid time off work (20%). When asked how they would know an employee was suffering from stress, about half (53%) said that they would probably detect a problem by just chatting to an employee. However, about a third (33%) thought they would only hear about it when a problem on the job occurred. The HSE Stress Management Standards describe stress as an adverse reaction to excessive pressure. While pressure can create a “buzz” and be a motivating factor, stress can lead to depression, anxiety and an increased risk of suicide. Kevin Fear, Head of Environment and Health & Safety, CITB said: “While it’s good news that many construction employers recognise stress in the workplace, we need to do more to support individual colleagues. Mental health has been a taboo subject that’s been brushed under the carpet for far too long. “We need to put an end to the culture of ‘silently coping’, which can be damaging to both worker health and business performance. Encouragingly, some contractors are starting to develop policies and great initiatives to promote good mental health and wellbeing. We’d like to see the organisations that are making good inroads in this area share their experiences widely so that others across the industry can learn from them. We want others to pick this mantle, and Mental Health Awareness Week is a great time to start.” For more information on how to support employees visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards/ For stress management tools and templates go to: http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards/downloads.htm Source link
Wheatcroft Land was initially established by Clinton Bourke in 1989 after he worked as a civil engineer and managing director at Wilson Bowden Plc. Unfortunately, recently ill health has meant that Clinton has been unable to continue running the development company. Coming forward to take over is his daughter Catherine Haward, who will be following her father’s footsteps and ensuring that his legacy is maintained. Catherine is currently in her final year of a degree in real estate alongside running Wheatcroft Land by herself and being a mum to two teenage children. Catherine wanted to make sure that her father’s legacy continued but also wanted to take over the Leicester-based development company and ensure that it thrives going forward. Before making this decision, Catherine was working as a member of the Leicestershire Police force as an Inspector. Her diverse knowledge base will no doubt allow Catherine to drive the company forward, supported by her incredible work ethic which is demonstrated with her wide ranging responsibilities. While in charge of Wheatcroft Land, Catherine intends on building the company and expanding into new markets. At the moment people are finding themselves priced out of the housing market in and close to London, which means more people are looking to commute. Also on top of this the Midlands has a range of development opportunities as the north/south divide narrows. Catherine is looking to expand Wheatcroft’s commercial property portfolio while also entering new markets such as residential property. The company’s new projects have been progressing well and Catherine is sure that she will be able to re-establish and expand the business in order to meet her own ambitions as well as contribute to the development of the region and make sure that her father’s hard work and commitment to the company is continued.
The man, who was working for one of the scheme’s subcontractors, was taken to hospital on Wednesday and was released over the weekend. This is the second worker to have been hospitalised, following an incident at the major commercial site near Victoria. In April, a subcontractor was taken to a major trauma centre after a fall from height. Land Securities and Mace issued a joint statement today confirming there had been an incident. A spokeswoman said: “A subcontractor was involved in a fall at the site. We are fully cooperating with all the relevant authorities.” An HSE investigation is now underway. Mace started work on site in June 2013. The £380m project is due to complete in September. Project: Nova VictoriaClient: Land SecuritiesMain contractor: MaceArchitect (Nova North and Nova South): PLP ArchitectureArchitect (Nova Building): Flanagan LawrenceValue:£380mProject start date: 2012Mace start date: June 2013Completion date: September 2016 Source link
Developed in Sweden over 15 years ago, SiOO is a patented, silicon based, two part wood surface treatment process with extensive use in the DIY market. The surface protector makes sure that the wood protector doesn’t leach out until it has cured. The wood protector undergoes a chemical reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide to deposit insoluble silica particles in the wood, particles that give an even, silvery-grey appearance to the wood surface, looking just like weathered wood. The silica envelope that forms after is completely stable to ultraviolet light and its even, silvery-grey appearance to the wood surface is one of the most attractive features of the product. However, if not applied correctly the results will not reflect its performance. The best option is factory finishing as the product can be applied under controlled conditions. The product works best when there is good penetration of the wood material – rough sawn surfaces are always preferred. Where planed surfaces are specified it is important to sand the surface to break through the machining glaze that is often present in order to allow the product to penetrate the wood. Applying the product in direct sunlight should be avoided, since rapid drying of the water based product will limit diffusion into the wood. Application in damp, cold conditions is also to be avoided, since curing is slowed down and there is a risk that the wood protector will be leached out before curing has occurred. The best option is always using a factory-applied finish by a SiOO:X accredited treater, who can apply the treatment using brushing or spraying, offering the optimum performance of the product.
The £75 million Triple Road Decker Project in North Tyneside is approaching its final stages. The scheme, which aims to lower the A19 under the A1058 Coast Road and Coast Road roundabout, is being delivered by the Sisk Lagan joint venture (JV). Since the construction began in June 2016, there have been three bridges built – one to support the A1058 Coast Road over the Coast Road roundabout and two to carry the Coast Road roundabout over the newly lowered A19. More than 580 piles have been installed, covering seven miles from end to end, in order to support the new structure. In addition, around 80,000 m3 of soil is being removed and being used to help form the embankments on the nearby A19 Testos scheme. “This is a busy junction used by more than 80,000 drivers every day and we have produced a video to show the incredible transformation that has already taken place. We are nearly three quarters complete now with the main bulk of the work digging out the 80,000 cubic meters of soil as the last major milestone,” said Highways England assistant project manager Steven Cox. Over the following 10 months, improvements will be carried out to the 1,175 metres of cycleway and an extra 247 metres will be created. The gantries for improved signage will also be installed and the roundabout completely resurfaced. “Drivers who use this junction regularly will already be able to see progress as the earth is removed to create the third layer of the junction which will mean drivers will be able to continue straight along the A19 underneath the roundabout,” said Steven Cox. “The final supports for the A1058 westbound bridge were lifted into place a few days ago and we have started the foundation work on the pedestrian and cycle bridges.”
Newcastle International Airport has launched its Masterplan 2035, a blueprint for competing in the global economy, while delivering economic benefits for the region. Ahead of its 100th anniversary since it has been in operation, the new Masterplan is expected to drive continued growth. The passenger numbers are forecast to continue growing during that time, reaching up to 9.4 million passengers by 2035. It is hoped that the Masterplan will also help deliver a framework to allow for improved connectivity, ensuring people don’t have to use airports outside the North East. Remaining in draft form until the public consultation is complete, the blueprint outlines aims of supporting an increase in inbound tourism. As one of the biggest job providers and economic generators in the North East, Newcastle International employs 3,500 people on site and supports an estimated 18,900 roles throughout the region. The airport currently makes a GVA contribution of £1.16 billion for the economy, but the number could rise to £2.03 billion by 2035, while the jobs supported could reach 27,800. “Newcastle International has gone from strength to strength in recent years and we’ve set out a clear plan of action to continue to grow our airport to ensure it can compete in the global economy,” said Nick Jones, CEO at Newcastle International. “In the years to come, the connectivity provided by the airport will be even more important, and that’s why this plan seeks to safeguard for the future of not just the Airport but the whole region,” he continued. The Masterplan includes a possible extension of the runway, which will improve aircraft performance, as well as allow future destinations to be served from the existing runway. Other points raised include ways of minimising the airport’s impact on surrounding communities and the environment, and a Surface Access Strategy for continued improvement of the region’s road and public transport infrastructure. The consultation period to find out the public’s views on the Masterplan consists of drop-in sessions and meetings hosted at the airport and running from the 10th of May until the 13th of September.
A former brewery building in South London underwent refurbishment work for which a leading member of the Steel Window Association has manufactured and installed bespoke double glazed W20 frames. West Leigh Ltd carried out the £130K contract on the Plough Brewery, Wandsworth Road, for Marston Properties working closely with specialist restoration architect, McDaniel Woolf in order to satisfy the concerns of local conservation officers. The new windows were customised to respect the property’s heritage, as well as to offer much more improved thermal and acoustic performance. In addition, West Leigh’s fitting of the windows had to be completed without disruption to the work of the Plough Brewery’s tenants, who are mainly involved in the fashion and creative industries. “We worked with conservation and with West Leigh, to create a suite of windows for this renovation which would be harmonious – and being in steel would work with the authentic cast windows. West Leigh is a wonderful company to work with – they did a terrific job, including the installation which had to be carried out with the building fully occupied; requiring coordination and the erection of temporary screens within the rooms,” commented Richard Woolf, the architect for Marston Properties. The 88 made to measure windows produced by West Leigh are believed to mimic the appearance of the original ones that were installed back in 1868. “It is always difficult with a property of this age to be absolutely certain, but from some of the 19th century photographs available, and a couple of frames we found on the lower parts of stairways, they were probably a hybrid of sand-cast iron and timber,” explained Richard. West Leigh is well known in London for its involvement in detailed refurbishment work, including historic listen building projects, and it is now increasingly branching put into new built work. Its ability to produce windows matching the performance of many PVC-U systems by employing the recently developed W50 section frames has seen the company working on schools, colleges and other public buildings, as well as high end residential apartments and other domestic properties.
QTS Group Limited has been acquired by Leeds-based engineering services group Renew Holdings plc in an £80 million deal. This acquisition will add complementary services to Renew’s existing rail offering and increase its market share, footprint and positioning in the rail market. “We are delighted to welcome the management and staff of QTS to the Renew group. This is a very complementary and earnings enhancing acquisition that aligns with our established and proven strategy, strengthening our position in the UK infrastructure market,” said Paul Scott, CEO of Renew. “QTS has grown to become a leading and well respected brand in the Rail sector and we very much look forward to supporting its ambition for continued growth including opportunities via collaboration across our expanded range of services in this sector,” he continued. On behalf of Renew, Numis has placed 12,676,056 new ordinary shares of 10 pence each at a price of 355 pence per share with new and existing investors, raising £45 million and representing approximately 20% of the company’s existing issued share capital. The net will be then used to fund part of the deal, along with a £35 million four year term loan, £20 million revolving capital facility and £10 million overdraft facility provided by Renew’s existing lending bank HSBC. “QTS is delighted to be joining the Renew Group and we very much look forward to the future as part of a larger group. The transaction will provide opportunities to expand our market share and benefit from the synergies with their existing successful brands working in highly regulated sectors,” said Alan McLeish, managing director of QTS. Walker Morris advised Renew on the proposed acquisition of QTS and the placing. The law firm’s team of multidisciplinary specialist lawyers included Debbie Jackson, Richard Naish, Laura Cavell and Sonia Lonsdale (Corporate), Peter Considine and Laura Lister (Banking & Finance), Andrew Rayment and Charlotte Smith (Employment) and Sarah Bruce (Tax). The deal is expected to be completed on the 10th of May 2018, following the completion of the placing.
Gary Singleton is an ex-student from Framwellgate School in County Durham, who was also part of the team at McCarrick Construction that worked on the new £2.5 million sports hall at the school. “When I left Framwellgate School in Durham in 1996 to start my journey apprenticeship with McCarrick Construction, I didn’t think I would be returning to the school decades later to coordinate a project like this,” explained Gary Singleton. The project aimed to create a modern building equipped with all the necessities that a varied sporting curriculum requires. The biggest challenge for Gary and the team was that the building was scheduled to be completed within the grounds of the academy, within a live school environment, which presented both safety concerns and logistical challenges. Moreover, the old sports hall was being used daily by the school throughout the construction work. The new sports hall was set to be four times larger than the previous facility and it spans now 1,000 sq. m. of space. It features an 8 metre high climbing wall, basketball, netball, volleyball, badminton, indoor football, hockey and archery facilities, as well as a gym and two teaching suites for the new PE courses. Gary mentioned that these types of projects are rarely straightforward. “Once we were established on site, we discovered a pumped foul main drain from the school running right through the proposed new build, which was not identified on any drawings. Our task was to divert it without closing the school and to allow construction to begin.” Due to a few changes in design, notable the addition of a huge MUGA (multi-use games area), the programme changed; therefore the team found themselves in the middle of the exam period trying to keep the noise at a minimum. Furthermore, the team had to work alongside ecologists throughout the project, as the school campus had been discovered to be a hibernation ground for great crested newts. “I found myself back to school in more ways than one – I have grown professionally as a result. I am using my experience as part of my professional review in the hope of being recognised as MCIOB by the end of the year,” concluded Gary.