The Government has undertaken a consultation on proposals to lower the threshold on the ban on using combustible construction materials from buildings of 18m to 11m. This would reduce the maximum height of timber-framed buildings from six storeys to four. However, the recent spate of timber-framed fires means that even
Costain, the smart infrastructure solutions company, has won a £2m consultancy programme management contract to deliver Bradford Council’s Smart Street Lighting project, which will involve the replacement of 59,000 lights and 17,000 lampposts across the city over a period of four years. The new, energy-efficient, LED lights will be controlled
The first phase of the £11 million Beehive Business Park development in Ulverston, South Cumbria has been handed over to developer Rawdon Property Group by Caddick Construction, with the first store an 18,600 sq. ft. Aldi opening on May 28th, 2020. The prestigious development represents a major uplift in retail
The Government has undertaken a consultation on proposals to lower the threshold on the ban on using combustible construction materials from buildings of 18m to 11m. This would reduce the maximum height of timber-framed buildings from six storeys to four. However, the recent spate of timber-framed fires means that even that reduced height may be questionable. The consultation findings are due to be reported later this year. The ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation proposed reforms to England’s current building safety regulations following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Initially, it was to examine the prohibition of using combustible cladding systems. However, a series of timber building fires has resulted in calls to ban the use of combustible materials for muti-storey building structures. These fires include low-rise multi-storey buildings. Last September, a major fire reduced a four-storey timber-framed block of flats at Worcester Park in South-West London to ashes. In August, a three-storey timber-framed retirement development collapsed after a devastating fire. Meanwhile last November following a fire at a student accommodation block in Bolton, the Fire Protection Association called for a complete ban of the use combustible materials for all buildings regardless of their height. “Timber is not a suitable construction material for either high-rise or low-rise multi-storey buildings. Unlike reinforced concrete which provides up to 6 hours of inherent fire resistance and structural integrity, timber frame offers just 30 minutes,” said Steve Elliott, Chairman of the British Association of Reinforcement. Elliott also questioned the use of cross laminated timber which is being forwarded as a structural frame option because it chars rather burns and has higher strength than timber frame. He said: “Cross laminated timber is being touted as a structural option for multi-storey construction as a layer of charring is thought to prevent the structural component from burning. However, charring is burning and will have a significant impact on structural integrity. To say that charring is not burning is being disingenuous.” He concluded: “There is too much real-time evidence of the unsuitability of timber for multi-storey construction. Building for a safer future must recognise the simple fact: timber burns.”
Costain, the smart infrastructure solutions company, has won a £2m consultancy programme management contract to deliver Bradford Council’s Smart Street Lighting project, which will involve the replacement of 59,000 lights and 17,000 lampposts across the city over a period of four years. The new, energy-efficient, LED lights will be controlled by a CMS (Central Management System) which will allow remote control of illumination levels (switch on/off times only) which will deliver significant environmental and safety benefits. The CMS also provides the backbone for the inclusion of additional Internet of things (IoT) solutions. The project will reduce the Council’s street lighting power consumption by 65% and its carbon emissions by over 6000 tonnes per year, helping the Council to meet its climate change strategy targets and saving taxpayers an estimated £189m over 50 years. The ability to support a wide range of emerging IoT technologies will potentially assist the Council in making further cost savings in other areas in the future. In the spirit of true partnership, Costain will work with the Council to ensure additional IoT capabilities can be easily enabled to measure things like road temperatures, air pollution, road gully condition or river levels to even more effectively target maintenance and capital programmes. This latest consultancy contract win builds on Costain’s three year relationship with Bradford, which has culminated in current status as strategic delivery partner and the development of a high level plan to give an overall picture of £500m worth of capital delivery programmes within the city. The planensures effective integration and governance of the programmes associated with the Transforming Cities Fund, which seeks to improve productivity and prosperity through sustainable transport development, as well as other road, rail and multi-modal programmes. Costain brings significant experience in working with the Department for Transport and Highways England, a broader understanding of the UK infrastructure landscape and decades of delivery heritage, into the partnership. Sue Kershaw, Transportation managing director, Costain, said: “In these unprecedented times, where Covid-19 has brought much of the economy to a standstill, local authorities are under huge pressure to continue delivery of critical programmes of work for their communities. Our relationship with Bradford Council, which focuses on partnership and outcomes, has allowed us to reach back into our organisation to deliver additional capacity, capability, resilience and flexibility in a range of areas to support our client and keep the transport infrastructure services working.” Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Bradford’s Smart Street Lighting programme represents a major investment in one of the biggest assets of the Council – our 59,000 street lighting columns. The ability to ensure effective delivery of the contract was paramount in Bradford’s approach to seeking a delivery partner with the skills, knowledge and ability to drive both the financial savings and the associated positive contribution to our CO2 emissions which are key outputs over the next five years. The appointment of Costain to the strategic delivery partner role has given Bradford the confidence that we have the right people helping us achieve these outcomes based on our experience of their involvement in our programmes of transport investment in the district.“ This work supporting Bradford Council also demonstrates Costain’s commitment to helping clients accelerate the transition to a net zero carbon economy, made as part of its Climate Change Action plan launched in February 2020, and is another step in fulfilling its ambition to lead UK infrastructure into a zero carbon future by 2035 at the latest, supporting the UK Government in meeting their 2050 target.
The first phase of the £11 million Beehive Business Park development in Ulverston, South Cumbria has been handed over to developer Rawdon Property Group by Caddick Construction, with the first store an 18,600 sq. ft. Aldi opening on May 28th, 2020. The prestigious development represents a major uplift in retail and business space in Ulverston. Three other buildings in the first phase are an M&S Food store of almost 12,000 sq. ft., a Screwfix Warehouse occupying 6000 sq. ft. and a purpose-designed 14,500 sq. ft. facility to house processing of top quality Cumbrian meat by Lake District Farmers. Discussions are taking place with interested parties on the smaller, second phase of the business park. A spokesman for the developers Rawdon Property Group explained: “It is hugely satisfying to achieve handover just over a year after starting construction on the site. As the main contractor, Caddick Construction has done a splendid job in driving progress on the site despite some very challenging weather conditions in the early stages, and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their hard work and careful management of the project has been a vital factor in our success. He added: “There is a great deal of excitement surrounding the opening of two new major retailers in the town. We are confident that opening the Beehive will encourage more local people to do their main shopping in Ulverston rather than travelling to Barrow, and will attract people from the surrounding communities such as Dalton, Coniston and Grange.” Ian Threadgold, North West Managing Director for award-winning contractor Caddick Construction commented: “Caddick Construction has been delighted to work on such an important and high profile project for Ulverston that is going to bring an economic boost and much-needed jobs to the area. The Beehive Business Park’s prime location and generous parking will also mean easy access for visitors who will undoubtedly enjoy having well-known high street names such as Aldi and M&S on their doorstep.” Construction journey video:
