A joint venture (JV) between a fund managed by Credit Suisse Asset Management Global Real Estate, Chancerygate and the international real estate firm Hines has acquired a six-acre site in Dagenham, East London. The JV intends to speculatively develop a new 165,000 sq ft industrial scheme on the site with
MENTAL health provision in the North East is set for a boost following the award of contracts to deliver an extension to the Sunniside Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. Procured through national framework provider Pagabo’s Professional Services Framework, national project and programme management consultancy Faithful+Gould and leading construction firm Morris & Spottiswood – who
Wildlife Trust unveils ambitious post-Covid wildscape to replace notoriously bleak shopping mall Today sees the launch of a bold vision to rewild the heart of Nottingham and green-up the historic city centre following the decision to demolish the much-derided Broadmarsh shopping centre. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has worked with landscape architects
NATIONAL specialists in the construction of food and drink manufacturing facilities Clegg Food Projects has completed a new state-of-the-art HQ for Wells & Co – an independent, family-owned business with a 190-strong portfolio of award-winning pubs. Clegg Food Projects, as the principal contractor, was responsible for delivering the multi-million-pound purpose-built headquarters
PLANS for an ambitious £300m onshore wind farm have been unveiled by Banks Renewables in a scoping report submitted to South Lanarkshire Council. At 300MW generating capacity, the wind farm would be the UK’s third largest by electricity generated. 300MW is enough to meet the electricity needs of a city
The winners of the FIDIC Contracts Awards 2020 have been unveiled at a virtual awards ceremony which took place as part of the online FIDIC annual International Contract Users’ Conference on 1 December 2020. The awards, now in their second year, recognise excellence in the use of FIDIC contract forms
Lee Marley Brickwork Limited (LMB) is the largest integrated brickwork, stonework and scaffolding sub-contractor in the UK. They are delighted to have won Subcontractor/Services Provider of the Year at this year’s Housebuilder Awards 2020. The Housebuilder Awards recognise innovation and excellence in the industry and are brought to you by Housebuilder magazine, the
How Finning can help the paving industry perform safe and clean operations In May 2020, the Government announced a £2 billion-pound investment package to establish cycling and walking lanes on the streets of our busy towns and cities, much like you would see in Amsterdam. This initiative opens many opportunities
Thrive Homes was highly commended in the Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year category as part of the Housebuilder Awards 2020. Held by Housebuilder magazine, the Home Builders Federation and in partnership with the National House Building Council, the Housebuilder Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in the development
From business and manufacturing industries to the new wave in home improvement, the growth in markets that are exploring interior decoration is at an all-time high. Interior design is a multi-faced sector that seeks to elevate an interior environment to the specifications of the clients. Trends in home decor are
A joint venture (JV) between a fund managed by Credit Suisse Asset Management Global Real Estate, Chancerygate and the international real estate firm Hines has acquired a six-acre site in Dagenham, East London. The JV intends to speculatively develop a new 165,000 sq ft industrial scheme on the site with a gross development value of £50m. Plans will be submitted to deliver up to 20 units ranging from 3,000 sq ft to 33,000 sq ft for warehousing and trade counter use. Units will be available freehold or leasehold. The Rainham Road site, which was previously owned by wholesale electrical distributor Rexel UK Ltd, currently comprises warehouse buildings with ancillary trade counters and offices. Situated between the A12 and A13, the scheme is located less than half a mile from Hackman Capital Partners and Dagenham Council’s proposed £300m film and TV studios. Commenting on the acquisition, Chancerygate development manager, Tom Faulkner, said: “We are very pleased to have secured this exciting development opportunity in such a prominent London location. Our proposals for the scheme will address a shortage of high quality, new build warehousing supply in the area.” The Dagenham scheme will be the second acquired by the JV between the three parties following the 350,000 sq ft Network West development in Bracknell, Berkshire, which is currently subject to planning approval. Greg Cooper, Hines UK director of industrial and logistics, continued: “In developing a range of units speculatively, we aim to attract a variety of different businesses to Dagenham that are either expanding or relocating. “Given the site’s proximity to what will be a world-class film studio, we also expect our development to be an attractive option for businesses serving the TV and film industry. This serves as yet another example of our creative transformation of urban environments with leading edge logistics developments.” CBRE advised the JV on the site’s acquisition whilst Colliers International acted on behalf of Rexel. Len Rosso, head of industrial & logistics at Colliers International, said: “This year has shown the need for good quality industrial space across the country as supply logistics have been tested like never before. We have a historic issue of low-supply of industrial stock, so the development of speculative, modern industrial space in this east London location will help to meet the growing needs of the industry.”
MENTAL health provision in the North East is set for a boost following the award of contracts to deliver an extension to the Sunniside Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. Procured through national framework provider Pagabo’s Professional Services Framework, national project and programme management consultancy Faithful+Gould and leading construction firm Morris & Spottiswood – who were appointed through Pagabo’s Medium Works Framework – will deliver an extension to the mental health facility, which is run by Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. The project – which has been valued at almost £1.8m – will see Faithful+Gould provide multidisciplinary services including initial design, and Morris & Spottiswood lead on the extension’s construction. Karen Carter, regional relationship manager for the North at Pagabo, said: “We’re delighted to have been involved in the administration of this vitally important development of the Sunniside Unit’s mental health facility – a service that will help to support members of the surrounding community for years to come. “We are incredibly pleased that Faithful+Gould and Morris & Spottiswood have both been appointed for this project via our frameworks and that they will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with us to further cement Pagabo as a viable route to market for healthcare organisations and NHS Trusts.” The Sunniside Unit provides inpatient admission, assessment, treatment and discharge planning to any patient within the Gateshead area who either has a diagnosis of a functional mental health illness (over the age of 65), are presenting symptoms of acute psychiatric distress and require assessment for diagnosis or are presenting acute psychiatric distress and are in crisis where there are risk indicators of danger to themselves or others. Lawrence Inkster, director of Faithful+Gould, said: “I am thrilled that we have been appointed to provide multidisciplinary services for this much-needed development in Gateshead. Time was very much the essence on the project and our position as Pagabo’s multidisciplinary framework provider has allowed us to assemble the team to hit the ground running. Our expertise within the healthcare sector and experienced team will help to bring to life the building’s extension and provide a space in which people feel happy, safe and supported.” Matthew Wall, frameworks manager at Morris & Spottiswood, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with NHS Gateshead to deliver this new and much-needed mental health facility within the local area. The turf cutting ceremony really is a milestone moment for not only the client but the full delivery team, all of whom have shown amazing commitment to getting the project up and running in record time. “This is our first direct award via the Pagabo framework, and it has demonstrated what a valuable and time saving mechanism this procurement route can be when the full team commit to working collaboratively.” Paul Swansbury, development and commercial works manager at QE Facilities Ltd, added: “This investment into local health services, such as what is provided by The Sunniside Unit, is a testament to our commitment to support surrounding communities as much as possible with both their physical and mental health. In what has been a turbulent year for so many, it’s never been more vital to support one another and so we hope that this brand-new extension will provide hope to so many for the foreseeable future and beyond.” Kelly Chequer, nurse consultant in older persons’ mental health at the Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust, said: This investment in older people’s mental health is extremely positive for the residents of Gateshead who need admission to hospital. We are pleased that our clinical staff and patients have been able to influence the design of this modern facility which will eradicate all dormitory accommodation and provide mental health modern facilities with single ensuite bedrooms.” Joann Crowder, ward manager at the Sunniside Unit, said: The patients and families have been closely involved in designing the new environment and I know the experience and safety of someone in hospital will be greatly improved with the high standards of the new environment. The design team have listened to every request from the patients and the nursing team and we are all looking forward to seeing the new ward.” Work is now underway on site, with the extension due to complete by Spring 2021. For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/.
Wildlife Trust unveils ambitious post-Covid wildscape to replace notoriously bleak shopping mall Today sees the launch of a bold vision to rewild the heart of Nottingham and green-up the historic city centre following the decision to demolish the much-derided Broadmarsh shopping centre. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has worked with landscape architects to reimagine the imposing grey urban jungle and replace the concrete with 100% natural greenspace – the start of a big idea to reconnect the city to Sherwood Forest and invoke the spirit of Robin Hood – bringing wildlife to nature-poor city dwellers and the millions of visitors it attracts every year. Paul Wilkinson, CEO of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts says: “Transforming the Broadmarsh into a natural greenspace would bring people together and start putting the city’s nature into recovery at a time when natural greenspace has never been more valued or needed. It could also act as a springboard to securing investment in green growth and green infrastructure and deliver the long term aspiration of reconnect our city to the ancient Sherwood Forest landscape and we’re calling on people to back our vision.” Since the site was handed back to the Council in the summer, there has been much talk locally over the site’s future. A change.org petition1 calling for the area to be transformed into public greenspace secured almost 11,000 signatures and other polls have also supported calls for a new greenspace. As Nottingham seeks to recover from the human and economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust believes that everyone should have the opportunity to live in a healthy, wildlife rich natural world, and that we all depend on contact with nature for our wellbeing. Paul Wilkinson, continues: “By putting people and nature at the heart of plans for the Broadmarsh site Nottingham City Council could grasp a once in a generation opportunity to carve out a green future for the city centre. As well as signalling the City’s commitment to helping secure 30% of land across the UK for nature by 2030, this new vision would support Nottingham’s ambition to be the UK’s first carbon neutral city, boost tourism and ensure that Nottingham stands out from the crowd as city’s across the UK compete for investment to rebuild their economies after the impact of Covid-19.” The charity has worked with Influence Landscape Architects to reimagine the space transformed with wildlife habitats reflecting the site’s history as a wetland alongside the ancient course of the River Leen and long lost gardens. The inspiring vision for the site includes accessible walkways based on a centuries-old city street plan to reconnect key parts of the city. Despite the City’s stated ambition to be the UK’s first carbon neutral city it was recently ranked at number 18 in a list of the UK’s green cities2 following an assessment taking into account measures including emission, transport, waste and nature. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust believes that a statement natural greenspace in the heart of the city would build climate change resilience, improve connectivity for people and provide an attractive backdrop for existing businesses as well as drawing in new investors – and is calling on people living and working in the City to back its vision The charity is calling on people to back its vision here: wtru.st/wilder-broadmarsh As new development has replaced old, fragments of remaining greenspace and areas of ephemeral habitat, close to the former Broadmarsh Centre have disappeared and opportunities to recreate vital new green areas have been lost. The Trust believes the location of Broadmarsh is the ideal site for the City to demonstrate its commitment to its flagship Wellbeing Design Guide published by the Council in January – taking a truly ‘nature first’ approach which would be viewed as a statement of intent that it wishes to take a lead on the environment and build a greener future. Speaking on behalf of Influence Landscape Architects, Managing Director Sara Boland said: “It has become critically important for people, especially city centre dwellers to have positive, well designed, and diverse easily accessible public open spaces to visit. It became apparent in the first lockdown that as more people sought enjoyment from outdoor spaces to provide regular exercise, our role in the provision of such spaces, and our understanding of the social and spatial implications of COVID-19 were only just being realised. Open space in cities is often formal, structured and in pockets and this presented the opportunity for a completely unfettered and wild approach to a substantial space. A chance to make a fundamental difference and influence the landscape of our closest city Nottingham. “Combine that with the fact that rewilding of urban spaces is now an identified and real opportunity in landscape design and that money is in short supply for extensive aftercare strategies of heavily designed landscapes, the opportunities to think outside the box presented itself in a unique way with this partnership approach to the unique space of Broadmarsh.” Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust also believes the vison presents exciting opportunities to explore the potential for sustainable urban farming in the remaining structures of the former shopping centre beneath the ground level – replicating the productive use of the city’s famous cave system. Following the announcement of the Government’s new ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution backed by a package of at least £12bn of funding for green growth, the Wildlife Trust believes that the vision for the Broadmarsh should be seen as one of a range of opportunities for Nottingham to secure its fair share of funds earmarked for green recovery and green growth. Further details of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s vision for the Broadmarsh site as natural greenspace can be found at www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/Broadmarsh-reimagined.
NATIONAL specialists in the construction of food and drink manufacturing facilities Clegg Food Projects has completed a new state-of-the-art HQ for Wells & Co – an independent, family-owned business with a 190-strong portfolio of award-winning pubs. Clegg Food Projects, as the principal contractor, was responsible for delivering the multi-million-pound purpose-built headquarters – named Brewpoint – for Wells & Co. The project started on site in summer 2019 and continued to progress throughout lockdown. The 20,000 sq ft Bedfordshire-based facility brings Wells & Co’s new home together under one roof, focusing on the creation of exceptional beer together with a pub-restaurant, retail shop, coffee roastery, offices, and a visitor centre that will offer guided tours. While trading restrictions imposed on the hospitality sector mean Brewpoint’s full launch must wait until Spring 2021, Wells & Co. opened ‘A Taste of Brewpoint’ on 8 November to the public, a pop-up outside bar that ensures customers can get a flavour of its offering. The construction of the site and installation of its brewing facilities has meant that the business has been able to launch its online shop, allowing beer lovers the chance to order and collect Brewpoint’s brand-new beer and merchandise offering. “Being involved in all aspects of project– from the site’s electric through to the fitting of specialist brewing equipment – has been something that the whole team has been proud to be a part of and we couldn’t be more pleased to now see the project come to life.” The main brewing plant has been designed with solar cells on the roof, solar shading, air source heating and cooling, will be capable of producing 30,000 hectolitres of beer each year equivalent to five million pints. Brewpoint also hosts a smaller 100 litre brewing facility, which will provide a continual stream of new beers to try at the site’s bar every week. Peter Wells, managing director at Wells & Co., commented: “After 143 years and five generations of family involvement, we didn’t embark on this lightly, but Brewpoint embodies the change of direction we have taken as a business and we couldn’t be happier with the businesses’ new home. It’s expertly designed and allows us to produce a range of beer styles that we would not have dreamed of ten years ago.” Clegg Food Projects – part of the Clegg Group – has more than 40 years’ experience in the food and drink sector. Headquartered in Nottingham, the firm works nationally and internationally with household brands to deliver top quality manufacturing facilities. For further information visit www.cleggfoodprojects.co.uk or follow @CleggFoodP on Twitter.
PLANS for an ambitious £300m onshore wind farm have been unveiled by Banks Renewables in a scoping report submitted to South Lanarkshire Council. At 300MW generating capacity, the wind farm would be the UK’s third largest by electricity generated. 300MW is enough to meet the electricity needs of a city the equivalent size of Dundee. This wind farm, at Bodinglee, will consist of up to 60 of the latest, most efficient turbines available. The proposed wind farm, at Bodinglee, will be situated in South Lanarkshire, either side of the M74 between Douglas and Abington – not far from Banks’ wind farms at Kype and Middle Muir. The site is situated on farmland owned by the Douglas and Angus Estates. Bodinglee is the latest, and largest, project from the Hamilton-based employer and has the potential to deliver £80m worth of contracts to local firms, directly support around 500 jobs and displace over 150,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. This is the equivalent of taking over 58,000 petrol cars off the road. Banks is keen to reproduce its successful Connect2Renewables South Lanarkshire initiative which is currently creating employment opportunities for those living close to its Kype and Middle Muir wind farms. Banks are starting this process by letting people know as early as possible – with the publication of a scoping report – with a view to hosting initial consultations in the first half of 2021. Gordon Thomson, head of projects with Banks Renewables, said: “This is a big project and will make a significant contribution to Scotland reaching #netzero by 2045. Onshore wind is a proven technology and the lowest cost renewable energy, helping keep consumers’ bills low.” “As part of development with care approach we strongly believe that the local communities that host our projects should benefit the most from them. We want the local community involved right from the beginning and so have launched an online consultation so that we can hear their views from now on.” “The size of this project means that there could be investment through a community fund of up to £45m over the life of the project, and we want to work with local people to ensure we deliver a long-lasting positive legacy for those living in the area.” Over the next few years Banks will be commissioning surveys of the local area as they look to design the layout of the wind farm. Banks will use their experience and knowledge of the onshore wind sector industry to deliver a wind farm that is sympathetic to the local landscape and as efficient as possible. To join in the online consultation and to find out more about the project, please visit: https://www.banksgroup.co.uk/projects/renewables/bodinglee-wind-farm/
The winners of the FIDIC Contracts Awards 2020 have been unveiled at a virtual awards ceremony which took place as part of the online FIDIC annual International Contract Users’ Conference on 1 December 2020. The awards, now in their second year, recognise excellence in the use of FIDIC contract forms for project delivery and showcase examples of good practice through collaboration from across the world. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was more challenging than usual to attract entries for the awards but despite this, winners were announced across three categories. The Project of the Year Award was won by the British Normandy Memorial for a special project to build a worthy British national memorial to the men and women who died on D-Day and during the subsequent Normandy campaign in the Summer of 1944. The memorial stands on rising ground in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, overlooking Gold Beach and although a British Memorial, it commemorates combatants from 38 different countries worldwide, who fought and died during the campaign. Over 3700 tonnes of stone were used during construction. The main Memorial Court features eight-metre-high stone walls, hand-carved with quotes from the King, Churchill, de Gaulle and others. The engineer on the project was Michael Coombs of Alan Baxter Ltd and the contractor was Eiffage. The structure and flexibility of the FIDIC Red Book Contract was perfect for this project especially as the team needed to work in France under British law, because of the terms and conditions imposed by the British government. A Highly Recommended citation was also awarded in this category to the Çerkezköy-Kapıkule Section of Halkalı-Kapıkule Railway project in Turkey. International law firm White & Case won the Legal or Professional Services of the Year Award in recognition of their highly regarded work which includes the development and expansion of FIDIC contract forms on a global scale. The firm is widely seen as a leading adviser globally on all aspects of project procurement and delivery under the FIDIC contracts, regularly advising employers and contractors on the negotiation of FIDIC contracts, the administration of their terms and the avoidance and resolution of claims and disputes arising. A Highly Recommended citation was also awarded in this category to HKA Global Limited Ellis Baker, global head of construction at White & Case is an authority on the FIDIC forms, with the legal directory Chambers UK 2021 stating that Baker “is the leading lawyer for the FIDIC suite of contracts”. Ellis is also the lead author of FIDIC Contracts: Law and Practice, which was recently cited with approval by the Supreme Court of England and Wales which described it as a “leading text on the widely used standard forms of international construction contract issued by FIDIC”. The winner of this year’s Trainer of the Year Award was Taner Dedezade, who has been providing FIDIC training worldwide for the last decade. He has delivered training in Europe, USA, Africa and the Middle East, mainly delivering FIDIC training for contracts, claims and dispute adjudication boards. Dedezade has been repeatedly invited back to deliver further trainings for previous clients and has spoken at public seminars as well as many in-house training events for large multinational contractors and government departments. A Highly Recommended citation was also awarded in this category to Husni Madi. Commenting on the awards, FIDIC chief executive Dr Nelson Ogunshakin said: “This second year of our FIDIC Contracts Awards was a great success in raising the profile of FIDIC contracts and those who use them. I am sure that this exciting initiative will further unite the global contract user community and will be an annual feature for years to come.” The full shortlist for the 2020 FIDIC Contracts Awards was as follows: – Project of the Year Award British Normandy Memorial (France) International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (France) Çerkezköy-Kapıkule Section of Halkalı-Kapıkule Railway (Turkey) New Houses of Parliament (Jamaica) Tawfik Qeran (Yemen) Toktogul Hydro Power Refurbishment Project (Kyrgyzstan) Legal or Professional Services of the Year Award Artyushenko & Partners boutique law firm (Kazakhstan) Coz Jofré & Blavi (Chile) Damian James Delay and Quantum Experts (South Africa) Denis Rizaov (Republic of North Macedonia) DWF LLP (Qatar) HKA Global Limited (United Arab Emirates) thinkproject UK (France) White & Case (France) Trainer of the Year Award Hiromi Hoshi (Japan) Husni Madi (Jordan) Kevin Spence (South Africa) Taner Dedezade (United Kingdom)
Lee Marley Brickwork Limited (LMB) is the largest integrated brickwork, stonework and scaffolding sub-contractor in the UK. They are delighted to have won Subcontractor/Services Provider of the Year at this year’s Housebuilder Awards 2020. The Housebuilder Awards recognise innovation and excellence in the industry and are brought to you by Housebuilder magazine, the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and in partnership with NHBC. LMB Director Dan Clarkson comments: “We are delighted to have won this category, this was a real team effort and we are extremely proud of everyone involved. The core driver of our business is to build good working relationships with clients and working with them to deliver projects on time and under budget.” James O’Connell, Project Director, Ballymore says: “Lee Marley have worked on five consecutive phases at our Embassy Gardens development providing a joint brick work and scaffolding packages totalling £21m. The company has become an integral part of the team, imparting valuable knowledge on the procurement of masonry support and off-site fabricated elements. The combined brickwork and scaffolding team works cohesively to meet demanding deadlines and their high level of managerial skill and quality enables us to focus our efforts else- where. As a business Ballymore would whole heartedly recommend Lee Marley for both brickwork and scaffolding projects and will continue to use them in the future.” At Embassy Gardens for Ballymore LMB started brickwork at multiple levels on the façade to shave 5 weeks from the programme too make up for a delay caused in another package. Mark Kay, Project Director, Lend Lease comments: “Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd worked on the MP3 H4 and H5 projects at Elephant Park, the construction of over 830 residential units. The work they undertook was carried out to a high level of quality, has received several positive compliments from a number of third parties, and is of a demonstrably high standard of workmanship. Furthermore, the works were undertaken in strict adherence to the programme and with several innovative approaches presented to offer programme betterment. All aspects of the works were carried out safely and with diligence, and they fully embraced our safety culture, along with all of our safety campaigns and processes. Their site team worked well with our management staff, and with the other trade contractors, and we hope to continue our good working relationship on future projects. I would endorse the use of this contractor on other schemes and look forward to working with them again in the near future” At Elephant and Castle LMB were able to save Lend Lease £634,000 in direct material costs by advising on design of stone, masonry support, and off-site manufactured brick clad units. A list of all the winners and highly commended companies can be found at https://www.house-builder.co.uk/events/housebuilder-awards-2020/ For more information about Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd, please visit: www.leemarley.com
How Finning can help the paving industry perform safe and clean operations In May 2020, the Government announced a £2 billion-pound investment package to establish cycling and walking lanes on the streets of our busy towns and cities, much like you would see in Amsterdam. This initiative opens many opportunities for the paving industry who may be struggling at the hands of the pandemic. Here Jonathan Davies, industry manager of paving at Finning UK and Ireland, exclusive distributor of Cat® products, explores how better-equipped machines can help maximise productivity, while maintaining safe and sustainable operations. Local authorities typically employ pavers to alter road layouts to encourage commuters to walk or cycle to work, to reduce urban traffic and to streamline motorway journeys. As well as the investments in cycle and pedestrian lanes, the Government has announced grants of up to £27 billion to upgrade the UK’s busiest roads by 2025. With the potential to create 64,000 construction jobs, the paving industry will look to new technology to advance its concrete paving systems. Paving systems have already evolved to accommodate more sustainable practice. Micro-surfacing now involves laying high quality aggregates combined with polymer-modified asphalt emulsion to repair roads. Although this improved recipe reduces the amount of hazardous fumes released into the atmosphere, it does not eliminate them altogether. Technology is in place to reduce environmental impact further. It is optimistic to say that encouraging cycling and walking in cities will counteract the environmental impact of the paving sector. Companies must equip themselves with sustainable machinery to carry out clean operations. The latest asphalt pavers have an advanced eco-mode setting that modifies engine speed based on load conditions. This cuts fuel burn by five per cent and maximises the performance of the machine. With ten per cent of global carbon emissions stemming from the construction industry, the environmental impact of the paving sector is one area that represents a significant opportunity for improvement. In fact, it is estimated that one standard asphalt paver produces 170.3 kilograms of CO2 per full tank of diesel. To tackle this head-on, electric Cat® vehicles — notably tractors in the agricultural sector — are being trialled to see whether performance can match the ecological benefits. To this end, the paving industry may soon be benefiting from electric vehicle operations, rather than diesel-fuelled engines. Much of the Cat Stage V range is used by paving companies because the equipment reduces emissions by 25 per cent, while maintaining productivity. A fleet of CatPM620s were used on a paving project in northern England in 2018 and were praised for their consistency in approach. The manoeuvrability and precision in extraction and planing gave way to productive operations, and all work was completed quickly and efficiently. A big consideration for the paving sector is finding adaptable, low-intervention solutions that will be completed quickly to avoid unnecessary disruption to the public. Ultimately this is achieved by having a good product support infrastructure from suppliers — one that will extend the life of their machinery and reduce resource input. There is also the option of buying used machines. Used pavers, planers and compactors are serviced and maintained so that the benefits of the ecological Caterpillar technology can be experienced by the next user. Purchasing used equipment, therefore, should not be a concern for the paving sector. Certified and warrantied machines allow for repairs to be done efficiently so that paving may continue at no time cost to the construction workers. Cat cutter bits from a used cold planar, still last 80 per cent longer than conventional carbide cutter bits to provide greater production, at 15 per cent decreased fuel consumption. Although using a cold planer would still have some negative environmental considerations, reducing your impact to the minimum should be a priority. Pavement milling requires a substantial amount of control and precision to leave behind a clean milled surface for pedestrians and cyclists. This is achieved through reliable rotor drive systems that optimise engine speed to peak torque function all through the cutting process. When cutting gets difficult, a reliable rotor drive system gives consistency across a project as well as maximised performance capabilities. Considering current health pressures, government investment will hopefully increase the fitness of the population following coronavirus. Cyclists and walkers should feel safer travelling in designated lanes, and reduced congestion will make built-up areas more accessible for the emergency services. What’s more, by encouraging energy-efficient travel, we can help reduce the country’s carbon emissions.
Thrive Homes was highly commended in the Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year category as part of the Housebuilder Awards 2020. Held by Housebuilder magazine, the Home Builders Federation and in partnership with the National House Building Council, the Housebuilder Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in the development industry. Commenting on the achievement, Jack Burnham, Thrive’s Development Director said: “We are thrilled to have been highly commended in the Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year category. Thrive has worked hard to become an industry leader in sustainability, and we will continue to innovate and build on our green commitments to ensure we are creating quality homes and communities that residents are proud of.” As part of its commitment to creating quality homes where people enjoy living, Thrive Homes continues to develop ambitious plans to put sustainability at its core, with progressive strategies such as tree planting, carbon offsetting and all-electric developments being brought forward. In 2019 Thrive was the first UK Housebuilder or Housing Association to be awarded The Planet Mark certification and in 2019/20 worked with a certified carbon offsetting provider to become carbon neutral. Thrive also committed to a tree planting programme alongside its development plans with hundreds of trees planted in 2020. The developer and professional landlord will continue to lead the sector by increasing its green initiative year on year to ensure its carbon footprint is as low as possible. Thrive Homes was also a finalist in the Small Housebuilder of the Year category. The Housebuilder Awards 2020 winners were announced on 3 December.
From business and manufacturing industries to the new wave in home improvement, the growth in markets that are exploring interior decoration is at an all-time high. Interior design is a multi-faced sector that seeks to elevate an interior environment to the specifications of the clients. Trends in home decor are constantly changing and 2020 is no different. Whether it’s for residential or commercial use, the changes in design call for experts to be more innovative, personal and dynamic than ever before. Home decor is the most effective way of expressing the lifestyle that a consumer believes in. Europe plays a paramount role in the global design and decor industry which include various items such as furniture, home textiles, lighting fixtures,artifacts, floor coverings just to name a few. The furniture sector has undergone significant changes with more focus on quality and design. This has made the industry grow exponentially, evident not only in terms of production but also in the market and international trade values. The market is projected to continue growing due to increased expenditure for furniture goods among the millennials in 2020. Below are some opportunities that lie ahead of the furniture industry; ACCESS TO NEW MARKETS The European furniture market is without a doubt recognised worldwide for its high-quality products and spectacular designs. This has created an opportunity for this sector to further seize other market niches, in particular the luxurious high-end markets. An interior designer looking to instal a modern and functional kitchen can simply source for these merchandise from a variety of European furniture brands. FURTHER RESEARCH Technology has allowed the furniture industry to attract expertise from the younger generations who have helped rejuvenate this sector while keeping it highly competitive. Development in the real estate sector is expected to supplement the growth of the home decor market. Consumer preferences have fueled the demand for fancy products to decorate homes. Additionally, the consumer is more aware of the impact of his or her choice on the environment. Homes are inclined to adopt Biophilic designs to feel more connected with nature. Others opt for more eco-friendly products that are sustainably sourced and put less stress on the environment. INVESTMENT The Europe furniture industry continues to increase investment to enhance creativity, innovation and skills which result in the production of new products to suit the ever-changing population and lifestyles. The growth of the home decor industry has paved the way to premium products that provide superb experience to the users. Growing this preference for finer things after a certain time boosts the availability of different products. Technology has greatly revolutionized the furniture industry making it easier for any type of furniture to be available in all corners of the globe. Key furniture brands have come up with interesting trends to offer their products such as affordable DIY furniture that has greatly influenced sales. This sector, however, has been hit severally with challenges and crisis that are briefly highlighted below; CLIMATE CHANGES Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing modern society. Global warming due to the depletion of the ozone layer is a serious environmental concern. The consequences of this warming trend are dire. Furniture companies are increasingly focussing on the environmental impact of their operations and have adopted eco-friendly manufacturing and design principles to preserve the earth for future generations. INNOVATION The 21st century called for heavy reliance on technology that consequently caused an increase in global trade and digitalisation. The penetration of e-commerce and smart devices such as mobile phones and computers has provided for easy distribution and payment options of products. This has tremendously progressed the market growth with different home decor products. Manufacturers are integrating the latest technologies to assist consumers to choose the best home decor products for their homes. For example, consumers now have easy access to Apps that allow them to enter the dimensions of their rooms and have add ons to their space and have a feel of how it would be before purchase. The challenge when it comes to technology is the infringement of intellectual property rights exposed to companies. Moreover, boosting research requires finance that is often a huge challenge to medium and small furniture businesses. COMPETITION The home decor market is quite fragmented due to the presence of multiple manufacturers both regional and internationally. Globalization has opened up more markets for consumers which have made it easier for accessibility of a variety of products from different corners of the world. The Europe furniture sector has witnessed significant growth over the years and is expected to grow at a steady pace even after 2020 although it’s often in constant competition with other countries across the globe that offer low production costs. China, for instance, is rapidly growing and is reported to be now the largest exporter of furniture to the European region.
