January 14, 2020
Rushden Development Finds Tenant

Rushden Development Finds Tenant

A tenant has been found for a roadside site currently in development in Rushden. Godwin Developments reached a deal with British based retailer Euro Garages Limited as their tenant for the site. The companies have since worked together to amend the design to be sympathetic with the planners and councillors’

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Electrification Project on Welsh Rail Network Complete

Electrification Project on Welsh Rail Network Complete

A modern electrification scheme to electrify the train line between Bristol and Cardiff has been completed. This project saw the electrification of 77 kilometres of the Great Western Railway (GWR) line, which forms part of Network Rail’s overall Greater West Electrification Programme to electrify 275 kilometres of train line between

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GRAHAM Wins Revamp Project

GRAHAM Wins Revamp Project

Leading UK contractor GRAHAM has begun work on the €9.3 million revamp of Ireland’s largest retail development, Blanchardstown Centre. This project will see the centre welcome eight new stores and unveil a modern, reimagined space upon completion in November 2020. GRAHAM was appointed to take on the ambitious project by

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

January 14, 2020

Study provides sun safety recommendations to better protect at-risk workers

Actively managing sun exposure and providing nudging messages via text message are a few ways in which organisations can better protect outdoor workers from harmful UV radiation, a new study led by Heriot-Watt University has suggested. In Britain each year there are almost 1,500 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer caused by exposure at work to UV radiation from the sun and around 250 cases of malignant melanoma. During winter, workers get insufficient sun exposure to make enough vitamin D to maintain good health. A new paper, published in the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH) journal, Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, has outlined some of the key recommendations for workplaces to consider in order to better protect outdoor workers, including: – Workplace health promotion initiatives to ‘nudge’ workers towards healthier dietary choices, including dietary supplements over winter, to boost serum vitamin D levels in their workers. – Sun-safety remains a low priority on construction sites and awareness of current sun-safe measures is low. Employers should adopt a risk-based approach to manage exposure to solar UV proactively, in which risk management measures should be prescribed and the use of these measures enforced. – Provide health surveillance to detect skin cancers among outdoor workers because of the likely high UV exposure and the consequent increased risk of skin cancer. Nudging messages can be easily delivered via text messages or location-driven phone apps to help a workforce stay safe in the sun. The recommendations follow on from an IOSH-funded study published last year led by Heriot-Watt University, which found almost half of outdoor workers on the construction sites they investigated had insufficient vitamin D during the winter. However, the team found during the summer the desire to get a sun tan remained high among workers, with many being exposed to high UV radiation, increasing their risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer. Professor John Cherrie, Principal Investigator on the research from Heriot-Watt University and the Institute of Occupational Medicine, said: “In Britain we love the sun and having a sun tan, but unprotected exposure to the summer sun can cause irreversible damage to our skin and ultimately may lead to a diagnosis of skin cancer. “Employers must take the lead in managing sun exposure for outdoor workers and make sure their employees have regular skin checks to look for the early signs of cancer.” Mary Ogungbeje, Research Manager at IOSH, said: “The findings highlight that there’s still work to do in promoting good sun safety behaviour in the workplace. Both workers and employers have a part to play in reducing the risks of excessive UV exposure. “We encourage workers and employers to be more aware of occupational cancer and take positive steps to reduce the risks.” The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has produced a range of resources and guidance on the risks of solar radiation and how to reduce exposure as part of its No Time to Lose campaign to tackle occupational cancer. More information is available here: https://www.notimetolose.org.uk/free-resources/solar-pack-taster/ The paper, ‘Nudging construction workers towards better sun-safety behaviour: summary of the evidence for practitioners’, published in the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s journal, Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, is available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14773996.2019.1708614 The study team included researchers from Heriot-Watt University, the University of Edinburgh and the Institute of Occupational Medicine and was funded by IOSH.

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Rushden Development Finds Tenant

Rushden Development Finds Tenant

A tenant has been found for a roadside site currently in development in Rushden. Godwin Developments reached a deal with British based retailer Euro Garages Limited as their tenant for the site. The companies have since worked together to amend the design to be sympathetic with the planners and councillors’ aspirations. The updated reserved matters application was submitted to the council in mid-December 2019. These plans will see a new Euro Garages petrol filling station and complimentary coffee operator drive-thru constructed on the site located adjacent to the A6 roundabout on John Clark Way. Matt Chandler, associate director at Godwin Group said: “We are pleased to have secured Euro Garages Limited as our end occupier for our site in Rushden. “Godwin Developments, in conjunction with Euro Garages Limited have worked closely with the council to create a scheme which will complement the surrounding area, whilst also delivering a quality commercial offering. This project is an exciting expansion to Godwin Developments’ growing portfolio in the roadside sector.” Tom Jeremiah, group planning director at Euro Garages Limited added: “We are excited to be working alongside Godwin Developments for the development of this site. Given the deficiency of roadside facilities in this location, we know there is strong demand for such in this area and our proposals will act to fill this gap in the market. Our scheme provides for a bespoke designed petrol filling station and drive-thru coffee shop, which will give motorists a place to rest and relax before continuing their onward journey. “In addition, the development will create employment opportunities to which Euro Garages Limited are committed to resourcing from the local area. Most of our customers are taken from passing traffic but the facilities will also be available to residents, who may like to use our services to purchase small top-up shops or enjoy a coffee.”

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Electrification Project on Welsh Rail Network Complete

Electrification Project on Welsh Rail Network Complete

A modern electrification scheme to electrify the train line between Bristol and Cardiff has been completed. This project saw the electrification of 77 kilometres of the Great Western Railway (GWR) line, which forms part of Network Rail’s overall Greater West Electrification Programme to electrify 275 kilometres of train line between Cardiff and London. Contractor Balfour Beatty completed the Bristol-Cardiff works, deploying over 750 operatives to undertake complex works over the festive period. This included the final installation of the overhead cables at Cardiff Central Station, marking the completion of over 4,200 masts and booms, responsible for holding the 643 kilometres of electric cabling associated with the 77 kilometres section of route.  Following completion, the first electrified train set off from Cardiff Central Station on Monday 06 January.  Mick Rayner, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Rail business, said: “We are proud to have successfully delivered part of the largest modernization project on the Great Western Railway which we been working on for the past three years. Delivering this important upgrade to the Welsh rail network will provide a more sustainable way of travelling for tens of thousands of commuters.” Mark Langman, Network Rail’s Managing Director for Wales and Western added: “I am delighted that services can now run on electricity between Bristol and Cardiff, linking the two capital cities for the very first time via an electric railway. This is the culmination of the largest modernisation project on the Great Western railway since it was built in Victorian times, which we have been working on over the last 10 years.”

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GRAHAM Wins Revamp Project

GRAHAM Wins Revamp Project

Leading UK contractor GRAHAM has begun work on the €9.3 million revamp of Ireland’s largest retail development, Blanchardstown Centre. This project will see the centre welcome eight new stores and unveil a modern, reimagined space upon completion in November 2020. GRAHAM was appointed to take on the ambitious project by Multi Ireland Ltd, which manages the centre for Blackstone who acquired the Dublin outlet in 2016. Over 65 GRAHAM employees and subcontractors will be working on the project. It will help elevate the layout of the centre, which welcomes 16 million shoppers annually, by replacing and upgrading floor finishes, improving accessibility and utilising formerly unused space. The scheme aims to enhance the internal appearance and functioning of the existing mall areas which cover some 1,100,000 sq ft or retail space with a further 200,000 sq ft of leisure space occupied by cinemas, a theatre and arts centre as well as Ireland’s largest public library. Blanchardstown, which sits on the outskirts of Dublin, will continue trading as normal while works are ongoing. GRAHAM Contracts Director Neill Gillespie said: “The GRAHAM team are pleased that Multi Ireland has trusted us to be their delivery partner for this project. Given our recent experience in shopping centre refurbishments of this scale we are confident we have the right team to overcome the challenges this type of project bring and successfully deliver a project everyone will be proud of, handing over a modernised shopping and leisure environment that will benefit both the tenants and visitors of Blanchardstown Centre.” The contract for Blanchardstown follows on from GRAHAM’s newest retail agreement with Primark to revamp four of its UK stores in a £25m deal. Mr Gillespie continued: “We will be bringing Blanchardstown into the new generation of retail and conclude with a space that provides a more streamlined, modern shopping experience. “This will include new floors at level one and two, replacement of bulkheads and shopfronts and revised signage as well as the replacement of internal suspended ceilings at level one. There will also be alterations made to the central mall area with travellators replaced with escalators and two lifts, the removal of a water feature and the addition of a children’s play area. “To deliver this project over 52 weeks we will work alongside Lafferty architects and project managers, KSN surveyors, ARUP and Ethos Engineering to ensure work is delivered on time and with the expertise needed to reimagine a retail environment as we know it.” When complete Blanchardstown, which counts Dunnes Stores, M&S, Debenhams and Penny’s among its anchor tenants will welcome JD Sports, ALDI and other top name retailers to the centre.

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