A student-led mixed-use development scheme in London has secured funding of £125 million. The development, which will be offered exclusively to King’s College London (KCL) students, will feature 654 beds alongside 60,000 sq. ft of Grade-A office accommodation and an incubator space for entrepreneurial start-up businesses. Urbanest’s Aldgate scheme, to
The development of a new operating facility for Leeds Children’s Hospital has achieved a major milestone. The occasion was celebrated on site by young patients Ruby and Isabella together with BAM Construction last week as the ground works were completed. “It’s been a complex build but all the hard work
The aftermath of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire last year has had a far-reaching impact on countless individuals, authorities and businesses. The negative spotlight on cladding materials, which are reported to have aided the spread of the fire, has had a major knock-on effect for the construction industry, from builders
Focus Consultants has been appointed to deliver sustainability services for a new East Coast Hub for the global leader in offshore wind, Ørsted, which is currently building the biggest offshore wind farms in the world. Currently in construction on the Royal Docks at Grimsby, Lincolnshire, the building will represent a
Leading volumetric modular housing manufacturer Totally Modular has announced the launch of its new TM line of modular houses for 2018. The portfolio comprises 10 models with the domestic range starting at 18.2m2 single module buildings and stretching up to 93m2 three storey domestic houses. Commercial solutions include single-module micro-living
East Midlands demolition firm AR Demolition has marked another success in 2018 with the election of managing director Richard Dolman as vice president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE). Mr Dolman was voted into the position at the IDE’s annual general meeting, held in Drapers Hall in London earlier
A student-led mixed-use development scheme in London has secured funding of £125 million. The development, which will be offered exclusively to King’s College London (KCL) students, will feature 654 beds alongside 60,000 sq. ft of Grade-A office accommodation and an incubator space for entrepreneurial start-up businesses. Urbanest’s Aldgate scheme, to be known as UrbanestCity, is being completed by Balfour Beatty with a funding loan from M&G Investments. “This is Urbanest’s most ambitious student-led mixed-use development to date, providing a unique blend of student housing, heritage, entrepreneurial innovation, commerce and leisure space uses which will sit alongside and complement each other in the completed scheme. We are delighted to be working with M&G and KCL again and our aspiration with Urbanest City is to add another landmark location within our expanding PBSA portfolio,” said Vicky Skinner, CFO at Urbanest. The remains of a bastion tower and part of the 4th century wall that encircled the Roman City of Londinium are concealed beneath the Aldgate development. Urbanest is working with Museum of London to incorporate these archaeological remains into the project, which consolidates two former office buildings (Emperor House and Roman Wall House) acquired by Urbanest in early 2017. The Roman remains are set to be made readily accessible to the public for the first time within a three-storey gallery and museum. “Urbanest continues to provide fantastic facilities for students in London and we are delighted to expand our relationship and enable the construction of this exciting development. We continue to see increasing demand for student accommodation in the capital and this deal provides our institutional investors with access to attractive returns secured against high quality real estate in London’s city centre,” added Adam Willis, Associate Director in M&G’s Real Estate Finance team. The building is scheduled for completion in 2021.
The development of a new operating facility for Leeds Children’s Hospital has achieved a major milestone. The occasion was celebrated on site by young patients Ruby and Isabella together with BAM Construction last week as the ground works were completed. “It’s been a complex build but all the hard work is worthwhile when we see children like Ruby and Isabella, who have personally benefitted from the facilities here at Leeds Children’s Hospital. It’s an honour to be providing a state of the art facility to help improve the lives of children from across Yorkshire and Humber,” commented Daniel Marsh, Senior Site Manager at BAM Construction. The new facility is a purpose-built cardiac hybrid theatre for undertaking complex heart procedures on children and young people, as well as an intraoperative MRI facility for neurosurgery. It is linked directly to the existing theatres in Clarendon Wing and will enable cardiac surgeons and cardiologists to work together during the same procedure which means the skills of both specialists can be employed together, reducing treatment time for patients. “We are very excited to be one step closer to the completion of this build. The new facility is purpose built and designed specifically for the care of children and young people, which gives us a dedicated space to perform this very complex and specialist surgery,” said Carin van Doorn, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon and Clinical Lead for Congenital Cardiac Surgery. “This new facility wouldn’t be possible without the support of Leeds Cares and the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund who have campaigned tirelessly to raise vital funds and to support us in providing the best possible care,” Carin added. The development is being delivered with donations from patients, their families, and the public through the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund’s ‘Keeping the Beat’ campaign and Leeds Cares.
The aftermath of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire last year has had a far-reaching impact on countless individuals, authorities and businesses. The negative spotlight on cladding materials, which are reported to have aided the spread of the fire, has had a major knock-on effect for the construction industry, from builders and subcontractors to architecture firms. Days after the incident, cladding installed on buildings more than 18 metres in height was called into question by the Government, leading to significant increases in premiums for Professional Indemnity Insurance. Nottingham-based architecture firm Church Lukas experienced first-hand the difficulties of navigating the confusion circulating within the insurance world to keep their risk profile in true perspective. John Freeman, Director of Church Lukas, said: “The insurance market changed radically post-Grenfell. With the media focusing mainly on cladding, and a public enquiry underway, insurers perceived any tall building as an insurance risk. Prior to Grenfell, insurance was very straightforward – we would receive our policy renewal form, complete it and send it back. Premiums would fluctuate slightly, but post-Grenfell they have increased significantly. “When it came to renewing our policy, we faced an increase in premiums, but also a reluctance on the part of insurers to cover previously completed buildings above 18 metres without the inclusion of onerous caveats. As we work in sectors including student accommodation, residential, office and industrial this presented a particular problem.” With Church Lukas in the difficult position of needing to find a new policy at very short notice, independent insurance broker Russell Scanlan, also based in Nottingham, was able to find a solution. John said: “The Russell Scanlan team was very thorough in going back to the insurance market and explaining what we did differently to reassure them. It was a case of navigating the market at a time when there was significant upheaval across the construction sector, both in terms of contractors who deliver the work and architects who design the buildings.” He continued: “Russell Scanlan worked doubly hard to ensure that we had an insurer in place when we got to the point of renewing our insurance policy. Thankfully, we now have policy which covers buildings we’ve already completed and ones we are yet to start, which is not significantly different from our old policy. For us, that was a positive result, if we hadn’t been able to renew our policy on favourable terms we would have been left in a very difficult position.” Bryan Banbury, Managing Director of Russell Scanlan, said: “The insurance market for architecture firms has proved to be very challenging due to the implications of the Grenfell Tower fire. Professional Indemnity Insurance underpins the business of architects, but many have found insurers are reluctant to provide cover. “In the case of Church Lukas, we found the information necessary to obtain quotes on their behalf and approached the market. Through some long-winded negotiations, we managed to find a solution they were happy with in terms of both cover and additional services to assist with checking contract wordings. We’re pleased to say they now have a stable insurer and we’re delighted we could help.” Church Lukas, which is based in Nottingham city centre close to Russell Scanlan’s offices, is an award-winning architecture firm which operates across the construction industry, ranging from £50,000 minor refurbishments to £100 million regeneration schemes.
Focus Consultants has been appointed to deliver sustainability services for a new East Coast Hub for the global leader in offshore wind, Ørsted, which is currently building the biggest offshore wind farms in the world. Currently in construction on the Royal Docks at Grimsby, Lincolnshire, the building will represent a state-of-the-art operations and maintenance hub to support both the construction and operation of Ørsted’s offshore wind farms, from which they currently operate more than 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity with a further 2.6GW under construction. “The construction, operation and maintenance of such a large off-shore wind capacity necessarily requires a highly specialised and high-quality base from which to conduct activities,” said Focus partner Jason Redfearn. “The new O&M hub, being constructed by Hobson & Porter, will provide such a facility. As a part of this, Focus Consultants has been appointed to undertake a BREEAM sustainability assessment of the building’s design and construction. With a target of ‘Very Good’, this requires the implementation of sustainability standards that surpass those of UK Building Regulations.” Focus, which is based in Nottingham and has branches in Leicester, London, Newark and Boston in Lincolnshire, is a sustainability specialist and offers a range of energy and sustainability services including BREEAM assessment, with expert advice on sustainable building methods, building physics, Energy Compliance and Testing. Material selection within any development underpins the sustainable standards incorporated as part of the construction. The Ørsted O&M hub is targeting high scores within this section of BREEAM, which rewards those who procure materials with low environmental impact, including embodied carbon, over the life of the building. The scheme is also actively trying to manage the source of materials by selecting, where appropriate, suppliers that have EMS (Environmental Management Systems) in place. As part of the build, the development has set ambitious and high targets in relation to water consumption and conservation. Through the use of efficient fittings and flow restrictors, which decrease the water used and wasted, a 40% reduction in water use over the baseline amount calculated is achieved. In addition, water consumption through the construction process will be managed in accordance with BREEAM, with monitoring through all stages to incentivise efficiency. “Energy efficiency measures are also being incorporated into the design in order to reduce the overall building’s operational consumption,” added Jason Redfearn. “Photovoltaic panels will offset a proportion of the electrical energy requirements for the building, which otherwise would have been drawn from the grid. The development is targeting a performance which is the equivalent of an ‘Excellent’ rating under energy, even though the building is being developed to a ‘Very Good’ standard. This increased target exemplifies the desire of Ørsted to incorporate a sustainable approach into the design. “The Focus Consultants service for the project has, to date, entailed full consultation with the design team to create an environment within which each member of the team can feel engaged in the process and a close working relationship with the team to ensure the process is made as smooth and efficient as possible. Focus is delighted to have been appointed to work on such a high-profile scheme to support Ørsted’s sustainability aims.” Ørsted is creating the biggest offshore wind farms in the world off the Yorkshire Coast; Hornsea Projects One and Two’s 339 turbines will be able to provide enough electricity for well over 2.3 million homes, when the wind farms become operational in 2020, and 2022 respectively. For more information about Focus Consultants, visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk.
Leading volumetric modular housing manufacturer Totally Modular has announced the launch of its new TM line of modular houses for 2018. The portfolio comprises 10 models with the domestic range starting at 18.2m2 single module buildings and stretching up to 93m2 three storey domestic houses. Commercial solutions include single-module micro-living units up to temporary accommodation blocks designed using 17 modules. Two volumetric module sizes are used in various layouts to create flexible accommodation solutions. In this way, Totally Modular, is helping to address the housing crisis from different angles, providing both low-cost affordable housing in large numbers and high-quality exclusive options to take advantage of compact city opportunities. The design of the TM line is inspired by both modern and traditional elements of British architecture with different exterior cladding options available such as redwood or cedar, render, bricks or cladding panels. All of which provide quickly inhabitable modular living spaces for individuals, couples and families. The modular houses are 97% complete when they arrive on site, including fitted kitchens and bathrooms, external finishes and electrical cabling. The home is then delivered to the building site and craned into place, typically onto a slab-on-grade or concrete piled foundation, although units can be placed on traditional foundations steel frames or existing roofs with the necessary structural calculations and planning permission. The offsite engineered production-line building of houses from the TM line reduces waste by up to 80% and helps reduce CO2 by 50% when compared to traditional site construction. In addition, the materials used to manufacture the TM line are sourced from suppliers that use mostly recycled materials. Homes are extremely energy efficient and low-maintenance. Mick Pettitt, Operations Director at Totally Modular, commented: “The main goal of Totally Modular is to provide a great quality house for everyone. With our TM line, we can offer a range of solutions that fit different family sizes and needs. Thanks to our modular offsite manufacturing capabilities, the homes in the TM line are quick to build, reliable, affordable, sustainable and customisable.” “Modular construction satisfies a number of demands in addition to fast build times for developers; we have consistent quality approval processes so avoiding extended approvals and re-work onsite. We can also build exclusively affordable housing on any size of development plot, which is proving extremely attractive to housing associations with quotas to fill.”
East Midlands demolition firm AR Demolition has marked another success in 2018 with the election of managing director Richard Dolman as vice president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE). Mr Dolman was voted into the position at the IDE’s annual general meeting, held in Drapers Hall in London earlier this month. The honour caps an eventful year for AR Demolition in which the company, which is based near Nuneaton, achieved record turnover and was named in the London Stock Exchange Group’s prestigious ‘1000 Companies To Inspire Britain’ report. Mr Dolman said: “AR Demolition is becoming recognised as a truly innovative, cutting-edge company and we are doing our part to help create a demolition industry for the future. “I hope to use my position as vice president of the IDE to help address the skills shortage, inspire a new generation of demolition engineers, to promote ideals throughout our connected sectors and promote safer ways of working in our industry. “I look forward to working closely with the IDE’s new president Gary Bishop in working with industry and government bodies to promote innovative thinking to complex scenarios, sharing best practice and raising the positive professional profile of demolition within the construction industry.” Mr Dolman was made a Fellow of the Institute of Demolition Engineers in 2016 and already occupied a seat on the body’s council of management. Alongside other IDE members he has been instrumental in developing and promoting the industry’s first Foundation Degree and Masters Degree in Demolition Management, with the University of Wolverhampton. He said: “As owner of AR Demolition, I am a passionate advocate of innovative demolition techniques and health and safety best practice. Our company has invested heavily in cutting-edge plant over the past two years, bringing efficiency, safety and environmental benefits for our personnel, our customers and the communities in which we work. “The other major issue I want to tackle is the skills shortage in our industry and this is where our work with the University of Wolverhampton can be key. “Alongside the qualifications which I and two of my co-directors are currently studying for, we are also proud to be developing graduate schemes and apprenticeships which will help attract talent from the construction sector towards our industry. “The demolition industry has great potential to contribute practices and processes which can have enormous and widespread ramifications throughout construction and society in general. I am excited to be in a role at the IDE which can help facilitate that change.” AR Demolition recently reported its best ever start to a year in the first half of 2018, with the six month period to July seeing turnover rise by 54% compared to the same period in 2017 and with year-on-year gross profit increasing by 18%. The figures follow significant investment in new plant and machinery, including £1.5m spent on three new cutting-edge high reach Kiesel machines last year after previous investment of £1m in 2016.
