King & Co has jointly instructed Savills and Carter Towler as the letting agents at 1 Canal Place in Leeds, following a comprehensive refurbishment. The three-storey historic warehouse has been converted to provide creative office and studio space totalling 9,046 sq ft (840 sq m), featuring exposed brick walls and
5 September 2016 | Marino Donati Ampersand has won a five-year contract to be the catering partner for the British Medical Association (BMA). Under the contract Ampersand will provide catering services to 29 individual event spaces, including courtyard and garden, at BMA House, the association’s conference and events venue
Londoners opting to improve not move With house prices predicted to fall and the high cost of moving, more Londoners could opt for improving the space they have rather than move. Robert Wood from London-based loft, extension and basement specialist Simply Construction Group says: “To date, the impact of Brexit
Aircrete block supplier H+H UK has named from Wavin boss Calum Forsyth as its new managing director. He will take over on 1st May from Mark Oliver who leaves the company after eight years in the job. Above: Calum Forsyth Calum Forsyth was managing director of IAC Acoustics for two
A carpenter’s daughter has developed a new type of kneepad for construction workers after witnessing her father suffering with osteoarthritis. Above: Vicky Hamilton and her Recoil Kneepads Recoil Kneepads have springs sandwiched between two layers acting as a shock absorbing and pressure reduction system. Pressure is reduced across the entire
Following a pre-let to Care UK, Savills, on behalf of AK Property Investment Ltd, has agreed the off market sale of a new purpose built 59-bed care home, Sherwood Grange, in Kingston Vale, London to LaSalle Investment Management. The developers of the 0.55 acres (0.22 hectare) site, secured planning permission
Drone technology is enhancing every stage of the construction process from tasks, such as; bid submissions, stakeholder engagement and surveying, to site surveillance and maintenance. The implementation of drone technology enables Waldeck to deliver benefits, like never before, to Contractors delivering large-scale construction projects throughout the UK. THE BENEFITS Health
Flats to be demolished by Rhodar after standing empty for over 10 years. Rhodar, a leading specialist enabling works provider, has won a high-profile, competitive tender process, which will see it demolish three 18 storey tower blocks that have stood empty for over 10 years. As part of plans to
The skills shortage in the construction industry is set to increase as the Brexit deadline inches closer. 78% of contractors already admit to skills shortages in their teams and this is said to increase as a large percentage of the workforce is made up of migrant workers. For construction companies, the need
Bradford city centre could see the building of a new hub railway station that has the potential to boost the region’s economy by £1.5 billion, said new research from consultancy and construction business Mace. Conducted by senior ex-Treasury economist Christ Walker, the research has examined the impact of building a
King & Co has jointly instructed Savills and Carter Towler as the letting agents at 1 Canal Place in Leeds, following a comprehensive refurbishment. The three-storey historic warehouse has been converted to provide creative office and studio space totalling 9,046 sq ft (840 sq m), featuring exposed brick walls and LED lighting throughout. The landmark building is located adjacent to the A58 motorway and less than a 10 minute walk from Leeds railway station and the city’s retail core. Paddy Carter, associate director in the office agency team at Savills, comments: “Following a major refurbishment, 1 Canal Place combines the character of its previous life as a canal side warehouse with high quality office accommodation. The building would be well-suited to occupiers seeking creative space close to Leeds city centre.” Quoting rents at 1 Canal Place are £14.50 per sq ft (£156 per sq m). Source link
5 September 2016 | Marino Donati Ampersand has won a five-year contract to be the catering partner for the British Medical Association (BMA). Under the contract Ampersand will provide catering services to 29 individual event spaces, including courtyard and garden, at BMA House, the association’s conference and events venue and headquarters in Tavistock Square, London. Ampersand will also provide catering for the newly refurbished 1832 Café and Restaurant. Sarah Bright, head of events for BMA House, said the association was impressed by Ampersand’s versatile approach, which would accommodate the BMA’s wide range of needs. “We believe Ampersand’s strong connections with healthy eating, led by award-winning nutritionist Amanda Ursell, provide the perfect fit with the BMA’s vision for a healthy nation, we are excited to be working with them,” she said. Bright added that services from Ampersand’s sister company ITA, a venue booking service, would open up new market opportunities. Ampersand is the specialist venue and visitor attraction catering division of CH&Co. Source link
Londoners opting to improve not move With house prices predicted to fall and the high cost of moving, more Londoners could opt for improving the space they have rather than move. Robert Wood from London-based loft, extension and basement specialist Simply Construction Group says: “To date, the impact of Brexit on our business has been minimal. We’ve had quite a few clients delay decisions by a couple of weeks since the referendum result, but are now deciding to move forward as there doesn’t appear to be any short-term financial risk.” Opting to renovate your home with a basement, loft or extension can give you the space you crave and can add value to your house. London has experienced a boom in renovations with basements generating the most headlines. As the nation comes to terms with the result of the EU referendum, which saw 52% vote for Brexit, and a new government in place, people are starting to get their confidence back despite the backdrop of uncertainty. Wood said: “We don’t know what will happen in the long term. That all depends on the deal we get and how the market reacts to it.” Wood is no stranger to economic headwinds. He began his business in 2008, the start of the Great Recession, with his wife Helen Wood. However, this did not stop them winning work. “It was the fall in house prices in 2008 and 2009 that saw the trend for improving not moving,” said Wood. “In unstable times people look for certainty and offering fixed prices helps clients to feel reassured. What homeowners don’t want is any surprises. “ Source link
Aircrete block supplier H+H UK has named from Wavin boss Calum Forsyth as its new managing director. He will take over on 1st May from Mark Oliver who leaves the company after eight years in the job. Above: Calum Forsyth Calum Forsyth was managing director of IAC Acoustics for two year until August 2014. Before that he was with Waving for more than 10 years, latterly as UK and Ireland managing director. “I am excited to be joining H+H to build on the strong legacy that the H+H Management team have created under Mark’s leadership,” Mr Forsyth said. “The business has been through a major turnaround to become the clear market leader and a very successful business. Through my experience I believe I can bring further value to H+H UK and build on its success.” Group chief executive Michael Andersen said “We welcome Calum to the H+H Group to lead our UK business into its next phase of development which will include upgrading our Borough Green plant to make it the most advanced aircrete facility in the UK.” This article was published on 12 Apr 2016 (last updated on 12 Apr 2016). Source link
A carpenter’s daughter has developed a new type of kneepad for construction workers after witnessing her father suffering with osteoarthritis. Above: Vicky Hamilton and her Recoil Kneepads Recoil Kneepads have springs sandwiched between two layers acting as a shock absorbing and pressure reduction system. Pressure is reduced across the entire knee joint rather than focusing on one small area. The double layer system pivots so the user can kneel from side to side without the kneepad slipping away and the strap rests on the shin rather than the back of the knee, improving comfort. Vicky Hamilton, aged 25 and from Glasgow, originally developed Recoil Kneepads as part of her final year project while studying product design engineering at the University of Strathclyde. She was inspired to help her dad, Gordon Hamilton, 48, who suffers from osteoarthritis, which he believes has been caused by his lifelong career as a joiner. After graduating, Vicky had a safe job offer waiting for her but instead, with the support of entrepreneurial organisations including the Scottish Institute for Enterprise, she decided to turn Recoil into a business. Vicky said: “The idea for Recoil came about one evening when I was listening to my dad complain about his sore knees at the dinner table. None of the kneepads he had tried were helping and it suddenly clicked that I could create something that would improve life for him and other tradespeople. “A huge amount of research has gone into the development of Recoil Kneepads over the last four years to create a product that outperforms those already available on the market.” The kneepads have been put through their paces at the University of Strathclyde laboratories, with tests finding they decrease pressure by 76%, making them more effective at reducing pain than the major competitor brands. The nearest competitor reduces pressure by 60.7%. Her father, Gordon Hamilton (pictured with Vicky below), said: “I am extremely proud of what Vicky has achieved. She has certainly found a solution to a problem myself and many others in the trade suffer from. I find Recoil Kneepads extremely comfortable and they make prolonged kneeling a lot more bearable. I never thought my complaining would have resulted in such a fantastic product!” Vicky added: “I want Recoil to have a positive impact within the UK business community. We manufacture the kneepads in the UK in Edinburgh, and I plan to invest in job creation over the next year. I’m also very interested in connecting with potential stockists over the next few months.” Recoil Kneepads weigh 445g and measure 26cm x 14cm x 13cm. They are available for £39.99 including at: www.recoilkneepads.com. Further Images This article was published on 21 Jun 2016 (last updated on 21 Jun 2016). Source link
Following a pre-let to Care UK, Savills, on behalf of AK Property Investment Ltd, has agreed the off market sale of a new purpose built 59-bed care home, Sherwood Grange, in Kingston Vale, London to LaSalle Investment Management. The developers of the 0.55 acres (0.22 hectare) site, secured planning permission and the support of the local residents association, who welcomed the idea of a care home to the area. Care UK has agreed to a new 25-year lease upon completion. Shaun Reed, National Director at LaSalle, comments: “There is a strong need for care homes in London and good quality, future-proofed assets constructed well above minimum standards are in high demand. As with build to rent or student housing, care homes let to leading operators offer our clients attractive long term, index-linked returns.” Colin Rees Smith, director of healthcare at Savills, says: “At a time when there is some adverse publicity in the sector, this deal reflects the strong appetite to invest in the healthcare market. This was a complicated site to develop, given its size and former petrol station use and we are very pleased to have sold the completed investment to LaSalle having secured the pre-let to Care UK and to coincide with the site’s practical completion in mid April.” LaSalle Investment Management was advised by Gerald Eve LLP. Source link
Drone technology is enhancing every stage of the construction process from tasks, such as; bid submissions, stakeholder engagement and surveying, to site surveillance and maintenance. The implementation of drone technology enables Waldeck to deliver benefits, like never before, to Contractors delivering large-scale construction projects throughout the UK. THE BENEFITS Health & Safety Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved Need for working at height is eliminated Our drones include fail-safe systems We use flight stabilisation technology management systems Efficiencies Large areas covered in a fraction of the time Quick turnaround of data captured and processed Reduced time on site minimising operation downtime Collaboration Shareable digital data Data which is instantly available in 3D Project risks are reduced WHAT DRONES CAN DO FOR YOU… Getting a Head Start Capturing data through drones enables a contextual review of the site and its environment, as well as facilitating earthworks and volume based analysis, and terrain topography. Once the project moves forward into detailed design, this survey data can inform the basis of the 3D project models. Stakeholder Engagement Visualisations enhance stakeholder engagement and enable a true understanding of a site before work commences. Waldeck’s use of drones enables our team to create visualisations and montages which are becoming continually important for the bid and tender process. Data Capture to Model Waldeck’s drones gather data which is far richer and much more detailed than traditional methods. We utilise our in-house expertise to enable the quick translation of the data captured into detailed 3D models for use on anything from; analysis of existing structures to project monitoring and verification. Estimate and Measure Waldeck’s drones capture high quality images which are then processed and interrogated to measure distances, heights and volumes from a site. As well as measuring the area of a site, we can provide an accurate estimate of materials required, managing costs from the outset. Progressive Surveillance Waldeck’s team use drones to progressively capture live sites and construction activities, which mitigates project risks by enabling a direct comparison between the design model and current programme at key milestones, ensuring projects are delivered on time. We are also able to create impressive completed project profile captures. Facilities Management Waldeck’s remote drones provide our clients with a cost-effective, high quality alternative to traditional surveys. They are equipped with high definition cameras which can capture picture perfect images of existing sites allowing us to prepare bespoke reporting maintenance schedules. The application of drone technology on projects and programmes enables Waldeck to enhance all aspects of the design and build process. To find out more about our drone offering, please see our Digital Surveying offering here or speak to one of the team on 08450 990285.
Flats to be demolished by Rhodar after standing empty for over 10 years. Rhodar, a leading specialist enabling works provider, has won a high-profile, competitive tender process, which will see it demolish three 18 storey tower blocks that have stood empty for over 10 years. As part of plans to regenerate a key area of Halifax in Calderdale, Rhodar has been appointed by Together Housing Group, one of the country’s largest social landlords, to clear the Beech Hill estate site, which is currently occupied by Cobden Court, Blenheim Court and Westbrook Court. Up to 80 Rhodar operatives are scheduled to work on the internal strip out and subsequent top down deconstruction of the tower blocks, along with a 65-metre super high reach excavator, of which only a handful exist in the UK. The excavator will remove approximately 10 storeys from each block, allowing further high reach kit to demolish the remaining structures. Four excavators ranging from 21 to 40 tonnes will be on hand to process site materials and the existing concrete and rubble will be recycled on site into a specific engineered fill material that will then be used to create a development platform for the next level of regeneration. This will contribute to a significantly reduced carbon footprint for the project by minimising vehicle movements in and around the project area. Rhodar will also utilise special water jets attached directly to the demolition equipment in addition to state-of-the-art mist cannons to mitigate dust migration generated from the demolition works. The £6m+ project win coincided with the company’s recent rebrand in June of this year. Rhodar’s new brand formally showcases its ability to provide an end-to-end specialist enabling works solution for the construction industry, offering asbestos removal, demolition and remediation services. The regeneration of Beech Hill is part of the Calderdale Together Investment Partnership, a partnership between Together Housing and Calderdale Council, which aims to deliver 500 affordable homes over the next five years, including new homes at the Beech Hill site, as well at other sites across Calderdale. Jason Davy, managing director at Rhodar, said: “This is an important milestone for our business as it will be the first major enabling works package we have undertaken since our corporate rebrand last month, and it’s extremely rewarding for our teams to be working on such a prestigious and high-profile regeneration scheme.” George Paterson, group director of Property Services at Together Housing Group, said: “I, like many people in Halifax, will be delighted to see new, affordable homes replace these outdated tower blocks. This is part of our commitment to address the housing crisis in West Yorkshire where the average home is now seven times the average salary.” The site clearance is expected to take 64 weeks with main demolition works commencing in January 2019.
The skills shortage in the construction industry is set to increase as the Brexit deadline inches closer. 78% of contractors already admit to skills shortages in their teams and this is said to increase as a large percentage of the workforce is made up of migrant workers. For construction companies, the need to make use of sub-contractors is on the increase, which means risk management is essential to ensure site security. For contractors, a back-to-basics approach is necessary, coupled with innovative tech, to keep safety standards high during this critical phase just before the March 29, 2019 deadline. Ongoing training and updates on safety drills Construction companies that have a healthy approach to construction safety and those who embrace it, also enjoy a better retention of staff. At the heart of construction site safety, is the Construction Safety Officer. This person is responsible for ensuring that the construction site follows the laid-down policies and guidelines in construction site safety and also to remain abreast of new trends in construction safety. This then needs to be relayed to the workers in order to ensure they’re fully aware of the requirements, and regular safety drills are essential. Regular maintenance and upgrade of equipment Old, rickety and rusty scaffolding and equipment can be detrimental to a construction site. If repairs and maintenance are done in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, this will extend the life of the equipment which means replacement might not be necessary. However, as the incident in Qatar recently revealed proper maintenance of equipment is essential in ensuring the equipment is capable of performing the task at hand. If both corrective and preventative maintenance had been performed on the hoists used during the construction of the 2022 World Cup soccer stadium, the outcome for Mr. Cox might have been different. Steps the owner of the hoists would have followed during maintenance include: Regularly scheduled maintenance Maintenance after faults were discovered Condition-based maintenance, and more. Safety before deadlines Although meeting construction targets are important to keep projects going and shareholders happy, it should never be at the risk of the safety of the workers. Time schedules should work in accordance with regulations to ensure workers are not overworked and fatigued. Companies who do not comply with this face serious implications that could shut their doors, never mind halt the progress on their projects. Recent fatalities on constructions sites managed by a Chinese developer, resulted in over 2,200 projects halted as inquiries continue. Not only do officials at the company face serious charges, but they’ve also potentially lost millions in projects. This also means thousands of workers had to down tools and be without income to sustain their families. The safety on construction sites is not only crucial to meet the satisfaction of the regulatory bodies, but also improve the work life of staff. Regular maintenance also plays a big role in ensuring site safety.
Bradford city centre could see the building of a new hub railway station that has the potential to boost the region’s economy by £1.5 billion, said new research from consultancy and construction business Mace. Conducted by senior ex-Treasury economist Christ Walker, the research has examined the impact of building a new railway hub in Bradford city centre as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail line to improve east-west connectivity from Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds and Hull. Using data on growth in Birmingham following the construction of the new Birmingham New Street Station, the report has explored how securing a Northern Powerhouse Rail hub in the centre of Bradford could transform the local economy, create jobs and unlock housing and business growth. Moreover, the estimated result of having a new railway station in Bradford as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail could add a £1.1 billion to £1.5 billion a year economic uplift to the local and Northern economy and support the creation of more than 1,000 jobs. “For Bradford, direct connections across the North will mean more investment coming into the city and residents will greatly benefit from the regeneration this will kick-start across the district whilst also supporting the wider economic contributions to the North’s economy,” said Lisa Bowden, head of infrastructure in the North at Mace. “Mace is backing Bradford’s campaign for Northern Powerhouse Rail as we believe this is a truly once in a generation opportunity to change the city for the better, boosting economic growth, supporting the regeneration in the city and supporting the young and dynamic residents and businesses that call the city home, both now and in the future,” she added. Launched at a workshop hosted by Mace Group in partnership with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, the ‘Bradford Bonus’ report was seen by key transport leaders from both organisations, as well as by Transport for the North, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.