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November 18, 2020

MAJOR CITY CENTRE REGENERATION PLANS SUBMITTED TO WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2020

One of the UK’s leading build-to-rent developers has submitted a planning application for 370 new homes in the heart of Wolverhampton’s historic Canalside Quarter.  The £65M proposal directed by North West-based Placefirst is for a transformational residential scheme, to be located close to Wolverhampton’s new £150m transport Interchange on land off Lower Horseley Fields in the city centre.   The ambitious scheme, which will include the sensitive restoration of heritage canal side properties, is designed

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Asbestos Professionals issue urgent reminder that cancer-causing asbestos still can and should be managed during lockdown

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2020

Asbestos professional and trade bodies have issued a joint statement to anyone who has responsibility for locations and materials. The statement reminds all duty-holders that asbestos must continue to be managed through the latest lockdown. This comes as there are reports of increasing confusion about the permitted activity in relation

Read More »

Buildings engineered for the future

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2020

Conservation engineering is about repairing and preserving what is there. However it can also be about developing the future use and purpose of a building to ensure it remains viable. When the iconic Usher Hall opened its doors recently, after being closed for six months, it was not for a

Read More »
AVT Reliability Expands Training Offering

AVT Reliability Expands Training Offering

Cristina Diaconu November 18, 2020

Plant reliability and asset management specialist AVT Reliability has expanded its training offering in a new partnership with internationally renowned skills provider Mobius Institute. The partnership will enable the AVT Reliability group of companies to deliver on-site, accredited courses in Europe, United States of America and Canada, as well as remote learning

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Five Ways To Get Into Property Development

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2020

For many people, property development is a goal in their future. There are over 25 million property developers alone in the UK, and it’s a sector that is growing while delivering reliable returns at the same time. People always want to buy houses to live in, and there are always

Read More »
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November 18, 2020

MAJOR CITY CENTRE REGENERATION PLANS SUBMITTED TO WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2020

One of the UK’s leading build-to-rent developers has submitted a planning application for 370 new homes in the heart of Wolverhampton’s historic Canalside Quarter.  The £65M proposal directed by North West-based Placefirst is for a transformational residential scheme, to be located close to Wolverhampton’s new £150m transport Interchange on land off Lower Horseley Fields in the city centre.   The ambitious scheme, which will include the sensitive restoration of heritage canal side properties, is designed by award-winning architecture practice jmarchitects.    The development will deliver the first phase of a canal side community as part of a major regeneration project in the area, providing a mix of townhouses and new build apartments across five acres of brownfield land.  Placefirst has worked collaboratively with the City of Wolverhampton Council and undertook an online public consultation ahead of submission.  Discussions have also taken place with the Canal and River Trust and West Midlands Combined Authority. WSP is acting as planning consultant.    The proposed development will regenerate this historic canalside location, creating a new promenade, public open spaces, landscaping and the restoration of listed buildings. New pedestrian access to the canal towpath will be provided.  David Mawson, chief executive for Placefirst commented: “With having delivered major regeneration schemes in the north of England, we’re really excited that our first proposed development in the Midlands will be transformational for such a prominent heritage location.    “The vision for this Canalside development is more than new build homes, as our focus is on opening up the canal for public use and creating a thriving community in the heart of the city centre.  “We’ve worked closely with the local council and engaged the local community to propose what we feel will be a stunning waterside residential scheme that will unearth the true potential of this historic brownfield site, close to Wolverhampton’s newly opened transport interchange.”  Councillor Stephen Simkins, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “These plans are aimed at delivering a major residential waterside scheme in our city centre.  “Regeneration of Canalside is a large and exciting opportunity that will require determined and skilful leadership by the council and partners to realise the opportunity.  “This planning application for a nationally significant development at this wonderful heritage location shows investment in Wolverhampton remains strong and that is critical to our recovery from Covid-19 and relighting our city.”  For further information on Wolverhampton’s Canalside Quarter, please visit https://placefirst.co.uk/.  

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Asbestos Professionals issue urgent reminder that cancer-causing asbestos still can and should be managed during lockdown

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2020

Asbestos professional and trade bodies have issued a joint statement to anyone who has responsibility for locations and materials. The statement reminds all duty-holders that asbestos must continue to be managed through the latest lockdown. This comes as there are reports of increasing confusion about the permitted activity in relation to asbestos during the latest lockdown in England and restrictions across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The reminder emphasizes that the legal duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 remain fully in force. They require all duty-holders to manage asbestos risks, such that exposure to asbestos is either prevented or reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable. HSE remains active in seeking regulatory compliance during lockdown and all concerned must continue to adhere to the requirements including the Control of Asbestos Regulations, the Health and Safety at Work etc Act and the Construction Design and Management Regulations in order to continue to minimise all exposure to asbestos fibre from any source. “Asbestos professionals, such as surveyors and analysts, alongside HSE Licensed Contractors, are proficient in the use of control measures, should have undertaken the statutory COVID-19 risk assessments and should work with site-specific measures,” says Graham Warren of industry body ACAD. Government guidance makes it clear that it is lawful to enter premises (including other people’s homes) in order to deliver services and do work. [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november]: “It is important that you enable the asbestos specialists who can keep you safe and legal to do their job, even where your site is closed for employees, as part of ongoing asbestos management,” adds Steve Sadley of asbestos industry body ARCA. The bodies have underlined that where sites are totally shut, annual re-inspections can be postponed, but it is essential these are undertaken prior to employees returning to site to guard against deterioration of Asbestos Containing Materials. Across all of those concerned with the protection of people from asbestos, there is a real worry that the important controls to prevent COVID-19 transmission may be misunderstood as protecting people from other potentially lethal exposures,” says Jonathan Grant, Deputy Registrar of the Faculty of Asbestos Analysis and Management. “The professional and trade bodies want to make it clear that the hazards of asbestos have not gone away and that we are all here to help. Graham Warren ACAD, Steve Sadley ARCA, Kevin Bampton BOHS, Jonathan Grant FAAM, Colette Willoughby NORAC For further information on asbestos management: ACAD -Asbestos Removal and general advice ARCA -Asbestos Removal and general advice) ATaC -Surveys, inspections and analytical services, general advice, qualifications BOHS -General Advice, qualifications FAAM -Professional standards HSE -General advice and regulatory matter NORAC -Surveys, reinspection’s and analytical services Keeping everyone safe through the COVID crisis includes, preventing other hazardous workplace exposures. We are all here to help.

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Buildings engineered for the future

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2020

Conservation engineering is about repairing and preserving what is there. However it can also be about developing the future use and purpose of a building to ensure it remains viable. When the iconic Usher Hall opened its doors recently, after being closed for six months, it was not for a socially distanced concert, but as a walk through Covid-19 testing centre.   Edinburgh City Council recognised that the venue’s new extension, with accessible level access,  would provide a good, practical venue for the local community to use in these challenging times.  Re-purposing one of Edinburgh’s best-known venues in this way is great to see.   I was the structural engineer working with the architect from LDN and Edinburgh City Council on the ambitious plans to renovate the building back in 2010.  Our aim was to create an inclusive space that would encourage new audiences to come to concerts.  In time there will be music again, but for now this beautiful building in the heart of the city is relevant and has a new lease of life. The Usher Hall Extension was an incredibly complex project. The design intention of the architect was a stunning centre piece staircase that would offer access to every level of the hall.   As the lead engineer, my role was to back up the architect’s vision with calculations and work out how the structure could be built and the interventions made within the historic fabric.   It was also about finding a solution: a sympathetic approach to the alteration of a historic Grade A listed building.  For the staircase we took inspiration from a style found in the tenements in the city.  The approach is called a  pencheck stair, which traditionally was built in stone.  In this instance we replicated it in steel to give it the clean edges and modern feel the architect wanted.   This allowed for a structure that was creative, practical and appropriate to the original Beaux Arts interior of the building. The staircase was the gateway to all levels, a necessity for opening up the building to all users. The decision about how and where to cut spaces for the new access points was the next challenge.   We needed to be practical; the building is a well-attended venue and the need to get to your seat quickly is important.  There was also a need for careful consideration to balance the requirements of the audience against any disruption to the original fabric of the building.   Collaboration is always a key element to my work at Will Rudd on this and every other project.  Although we are known for are technical skills and understanding of buildings, engineers are at heart problem solvers.  With a refurbishment project there will always be something unforeseen and it’s important to approach it with the attitude of “how we can get this right?” A more recent project involving the same principals was working with Page\Park architects to realise their design to re-purpose  an old, derelict factory –  a part of Edinburgh’s industrial heritage –  into a creative hub for printmakers. The original factory was where Wellington boots were made for the troops in the First World War.   The Edinburgh Printmakers is now a multi-use art complex open to the community.  The welly boot factory is now an art gallery, shop, café, education centre and a studio for print production.   The structural challenges brought about were huge and at the outset the whole of the top floor was unable to bear any weight.  Our first role on the project posed the question:  how are we going to make sure this building is safe? This was before we could be involved in its creative and sympathetic transformation.  Our re-purposing respects the fabric, character and heritage of the original building which is now delivering creative, economic and social improvements to the community of Fountainbridge.  My work is often hidden from plain sight.  The story and complications of excavating tonnes of rubble is not one that gets much notice.  But I do remember standing in a large space in the ground, to eventually be the Usher Hall basement level,  with the whole of the original building above me thinking:  this is why I am a structural engineer.  

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AVT Reliability Expands Training Offering

AVT Reliability Expands Training Offering

Cristina Diaconu November 18, 2020

Plant reliability and asset management specialist AVT Reliability has expanded its training offering in a new partnership with internationally renowned skills provider Mobius Institute. The partnership will enable the AVT Reliability group of companies to deliver on-site, accredited courses in Europe, United States of America and Canada, as well as remote learning courses across the globe, in addition to its long-established UK and Ireland offering. The company has a 40-year track record of providing a wide range of ISO18436 and non-certified training to give plant managers, reliability engineers and condition monitoring staff the sound knowledge-base required to implement a successful reliability improvement programme. In conjunction with Mobius, AVT Reliability will offer Category I to III Vibration Analysis, Certified Level I and II Ultrasound, as well as Asset Reliability Practitioner (ARP) training, with certification through public, on-site and online courses, as well as iLearn self-study programmes. “Our goal is to help people achieve their reliability, performance, and personal goals. We are proud to have our material taught by the practical, skilled, and professional team at AVT Reliability,” said Jason Tranter, CEO and Founder of Mobius Institute. Specialists from across the group, including AVT Sealing Solutions Inc. in the USA, and Netherlands-based asset management specialist Van Geffen, will support the international training provision. “The world-class Mobius Institute materials and certification are a highly valuable addition to the 2021 AVT Reliability training offer and will enable us to share our expertise with our growing international client base. Our comprehensive range of courses in condition based maintenance, engineering best practice and asset management is vital at a time when industry skill sets are declining and it is even more critical to give clients the internal knowledge to tackle and implement reliability focused programmes. The importance of being able to gain knowledge and qualifications remotely can also not be overstated in light of the Covid-19 pandemic,” added AVT Reliability Technical Director, Lee McFarlane.

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Abtec BT prepares for shift to Industry 4.0 with appointment Head of Industrial IoT

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2020

As Abtec Building Technologies seeks to enhance its service offering to industrial and commercial customers, the award-winning smart buildings provider has announced the appointment of Kieron O’Toole as Head of Industrial IoT. In his new role, Kieron will lead the business unit responsible for the design, implementation and management of IoT and data infrastructure for Industrial and commercial customers – from edge to core to cloud. This will allow Abtec BT to deliver even greater expertise and value in smart buildings and the new wave of smart factories being implemented globally. The Industrial IoT service brings together Abtec’s range of digital services including IT/OT converged data networks; high availability data centres and WAN; cyber security; intelligent lighting, heating and access control; CCTV; presence tracking; and 24/7 infrastructure and energy management. These digital foundations reduce operational cost and risk for customers, but they also form the bedrock of wider Industry 4.0 programmes such as digital twins, supply chain integration, machine learning and AI optimisation, whilst enabling a world of new Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensors and applications to be deployed. Prior to joining Abtec at the beginning of October, Kieron has worked extensively across the industrial and enterprise ICT environments in systems engineering and businesses improvement roles for organisations such as Polestar Interactive and BT Global Services. He is also a member of Aston University’s Industrial Advisory Board and the Institute of Consulting. Of his appointment, Kieron comments: “It is an exciting time to be joining Abtec Building Technologies. Industrial IoT will play a transformative role in customer experience and production efficiency and will enable new ways of working across the entire supply chain. Using my knowledge and experience, I am looking forward to being part of Abtec leveraging its unique expertise, assets and service wrap in the industrial market to provide our customers a reliable data infrastructure partner.” Dave Watkins, Director of Abtec Building Technologies, commented: “We are delighted that Kieron has joined Abtec in this new role. He has a proven track record in delivering results, and his expertise will add value to our business as we grow our Industrial IoT service offering.” www.abtecbt.com

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Five Ways To Get Into Property Development

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2020

For many people, property development is a goal in their future. There are over 25 million property developers alone in the UK, and it’s a sector that is growing while delivering reliable returns at the same time. People always want to buy houses to live in, and there are always investors looking for property to buy and rent out to tenants. The value of property raises over time, which means that if you step into the shoes of a property developer and decide to develop property yourself, you’re going to be gaining some considerable benefits. You may have thought of everything from the architectural company you use to map out blueprints, to the construction company and whether they use laser cutting machines to be more efficient. So, you should consider all of the ways that you can get into property development and we’ve got five of them for you below: You can start with buying residential property to renovate or sell. It’s a good way to get a foot on the ladder in property development, and it’s the quickest way into the business. Run-down, outdated homes need some money injected to fix it up and then sell it on. The makeover that you are giving to the house is what raises the value and helps you to get it on the market again. You could also choose to buy commercial property and convert it to residential properties. You can change an office space into studio flats and turn stores into open homes. The lighting is often better with such huge windows, but there has to be some changes made to make it work as a residential property. Conversions of residential property are becoming more and more popular. Some developers choose to commission construction teams to build a second home on the same land that they already have a property. Those who go this way often start with their own personal land and grow their business from there. You can save a lot of money on a purchase of land when you do it this way. You can also choose to do a ground-up development, where you buy the land in a vacant block and build executive homes in their place. First timer developers will know that this is a challenging first project, but it’s got such exciting profit potential that it’s worth it! Buying up land to sell it on is the last way to get into the property development business. It’s a bold strategy as it comes with risk to spend a lot of money on land, but you risk not having a developer to buy it from you. Usually, if you are smart about the land that you buy, though, this is not a problem. Land is a lucrative way to develop your business, and it’s a good place to start – if a little riskier than the other options.  Property development takes time to build – why not get started with researching where you want to begin.

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