Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, is set to Go Beyond Net Zero Carbon, Generate Zero Waste and Positively Impact More than 1 Million People by 2040 across its UK, US and Hong Kong operations through its refreshed Sustainability strategy, “Building New Futures”, which launches today. Balfour Beatty has long
Futureal Group’s logistics megaparks can contribute significantly to the country’s competitiveness In the eastern agglomeration of Budapest, next to the M0 ring road, HelloParks continues its expansion with a new development in Maglód. As a member of Futureal Group, the company has started preparations for the implementation of HelloParks Maglód’s
The idea is as ingenious as it is unique and has the potential to become a global role model: the Bunhill Heat and Power Network (BHPN) project in central London. By using waste heat from the London Underground network, 1,350 homes, a school and two leisure centers in Islington are
Those in the public sector working on procurement will need to radically adapt and change the way they work to support change in the construction industry and respond to the challenges faced by the country. So says LORD KERSLAKE, non-executive chairman of framework provider Pagabo. “Today’s government guidance on sourcing
Building works have started on ‘Forest Park’; an exclusive 45-home development in Nottinghamshire, by property developer Taggart Homes. Located in the sought-after village of Annesley, in the Ashfield district of Nottinghamshire, the development has a prime position on Derby Road in the heart of the village and only a five-minute
Leeds-based Sigmat have agreed a major new partnership with McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, to use Sigmat’s unique modern method of construction (MMC). Following a detailed selection process, Sigmat secured the framework as the Partner of Choice based on the merits of its
New SCAPE research finds just one in five people believe developers will deliver on their commitments to improving local communities Half of UK residents can’t think of a local construction project that has had a positive impact on their community Insight features in new report on the evolution of social value by the UK’s leading public sector procurement authority The property industry must do more
10-minute walk anyone? Picture an alternative reality where you can wake up and be at your workplace, school, supermarket, or sports centre within less than 10 minutes – walking. It’s a choice most people have to make, where there oughtn’t to be a choice at all – do I live
CEG’s 200,000 sq ft EQ development in the heart of Bristol City Centre broke ground on the main construction phase this week, becoming the largest speculative office development currently underway in the south of England. BAM Construction has been appointed to deliver the striking glass building at 111 Victoria Street,
Machine learning is helping construction companies the world over to replace monotonous human tasks. Machine learning also helps with the designing and planning of projects, and it enables teams and companies to make better-informed decisions for a more streamlined workflow. Indeed, there are countless useful applications of machine learning in
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, is set to Go Beyond Net Zero Carbon, Generate Zero Waste and Positively Impact More than 1 Million People by 2040 across its UK, US and Hong Kong operations through its refreshed Sustainability strategy, “Building New Futures”, which launches today. Balfour Beatty has long been at the forefront of sustainability, having launched its first Group-wide strategy in 2009. Building on the significant progress already made across the company, the new strategy recognises the importance of embracing and embedding more sustainable practices across the Group, setting clear global targets and ambitions. Available to read in full here, the strategy focuses on three core areas – the Environment, Materials and Communities – with each assigned a bold 2040 ambition. To guide the company in its journey to achieve these ambitions, Balfour Beatty will be reporting annually on its progress and against clearly defined 2030 targets to ensure the Group stays on track. Commenting on Balfour Beatty’s strategy today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said: “Fantastic to see yet another leading British business set out both an impressive Net Zero target and the necessary short-term action to meet it. Working with Government, it is our brilliant private sector that will create the new clean jobs that will help us build back greener from the pandemic.” Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, said: “As we emerge from 2020 and the impacts of COVID-19, we are presented with an opportunity to build back better – smarter, faster and greener. “Our new Sustainability Strategy, Building New Futures, recognises the widespread benefits that construction and infrastructure can generate; not just in sustainable lower carbon and greener infrastructure, but in a smarter supply chain, with a more diverse and inclusive workplace, in supporting communities and in stimulating national and local economic growth. “At Balfour Beatty, we’re committed to playing our part in this global challenge, moving our business forward, sustainably, and in doing so, helping to build a better future for everyone”.
Futureal Group’s logistics megaparks can contribute significantly to the country’s competitiveness In the eastern agglomeration of Budapest, next to the M0 ring road, HelloParks continues its expansion with a new development in Maglód. As a member of Futureal Group, the company has started preparations for the implementation of HelloParks Maglód’s first 46,000 sq m facility being built in the first phase, on a 46 ha site located in the vicinity of M4 and M5 highways and Liszt Ferenc International Airport. The industrial and logistics centre will include a range of facilities exceeding a total area of 193,000 sq that meet the requirements of the BREEAM sustainability standard. The announcement of the investment in Maglód follows the company’s recent purchase of its first 76 ha site, also situated next to the M0 highway in Fót, where HelloParks Fót logistics megapark is under development. HelloParks continue its development activities in Maglód, the fastest growing industrial area of the eastern agglomeration of Budapest, an ideal location for production companies and logistics service providers. Preparations for the implementation of a 46,000 sq m facility being realised in the first phase, have already begun on the 46 ha site that is close to the M0 ring road, near the M4 and M5 highways, and Liszt Ferenc International Airport. The first building is expected to be handed over by the end of 2021, the value of this investment exceeds 40 million euros (14.4 billion forints). Prior to its Maglód project, HelloParks recently announced the development of one of Hungary’s largest industrial and logistics centres called HelloParks Fót on an area of 76 ha in Fót providing a total of 330,000 sq m of warehouse and industrial space. “HelloParks aims to increase Hungary’s regional competitiveness with highly competitive and efficient megaparks that also focuses on sustainability. The developments can strongly support Hungary in becoming a real logistics centre, as these facilities can attract new customers with regional outreach to the domestic market,” said Rudolf Nemes, CEO of HelloParks. HelloParks intends to build a total of 193,000 sq m of warehouse, light industrial and office space on the Maglód site. Several hall buildings will be developed in the area with different sizes – depending on the needs of tenants – between 26 000 and 90 000 sq m. The minimum leasable area in the first facility is 3,200 sq m. For smaller tenants the second building can offer rental properties of 500, 1,000 or 2,000 sq m. Similar to HelloParks Fót, the HelloParks Maglód facilities will also meet the requirements of the BREEAM sustainability standard, due to smart solutions that ensure energy efficiency and environmentally friendly operation. As a sustainability feature, electric golf carts will be available for tenants within the park’s area. “The importance of the eastern agglomeration of Budapest has highly increased in recent years, as several international production and distribution companies had settled here that has significantly reduced the size of the available areas. We expect that a similar development will take place in this region as it has happened in the western and southern sectors of the M0 ring road. By the preparation of the development in Maglód, we have thus taken another important step towards HelloParks’ aim to become one of the key players in the dynamically growing industrial and logistics market, first in Hungary and later on in the region. The rapid development of e-commerce and the relocation of production capacities have started a new trend of establishing regional EU centers. In line with this trend HelloParks’ megaparks will serve regional and urban logistics needs. We are constantly exploring further expansion opportunities in the Budapest agglomeration as well as the catchment area of large rural cities,” added Rudolf Nemes. HelloParks can build on Futureal Group’s decade-long property development and investment experience. Futureal is one of the leading real estate developers and investors in Central and Eastern Europe and is among the top 10 largest real estate developers in Europe. Since its foundation Futureal Group’s portfolio has included more than 180 real estate projects with a total value of over EUR 5 billion and an area of 3 million square meters.
The idea is as ingenious as it is unique and has the potential to become a global role model: the Bunhill Heat and Power Network (BHPN) project in central London. By using waste heat from the London Underground network, 1,350 homes, a school and two leisure centers in Islington are now heated and supplied with hot water as part of the council’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve CO2 neutrality by 2030. In partnership with main contractors Colloide Engineering Systems, global technology specialist GEA supplied a purpose built heat pump solution for this flagship project, the first of its kind in the world. Bunhill 2 Energy Centre represents a real blueprint for the use of waste heat from public facilities, taking advantage of state-of-the-art technology on the site of the former City Road London Underground station which was decommissioned almost 100 years ago. The remains of the station have now been converted into a huge underground air extraction system that draws warm air from the tunnels underneath, still used by the London Underground’s Northern Line. In close cooperation with Islington Council, Transport for London (TfL) and Colloide, GEA installed a 1000 kW ammonia heat pump, housed within a container at street level. The heat pump extracts the energy from warm exhaust air from the underground tunnels. The slightly cooler air is vented to the ambient and energy is used to heat up water by the heat pump, which is pumped through a 1.5 km network of district heating pipes to the buildings in the neighborhood, where it is finally used to heat the buildings. The heat pump developed and manufactured by GEA for the system consists of a combined evaporator/separator, three compressors and four heat exchangers in the heating circuit. The heat exchangers optimize the heating circuit according to criteria based on the return of heating water at 55 degrees Celsius and the supply up to 80˚C. According to Kenneth Hoffmann, Product Manager for Heat Pumps at GEA Refrigeration Technologies, there were many challenges in the design of the system during the project. These included extensive testing to ensure that dust and dirt sucked into the ventilation air would not clog the heat exchanger coil. Kenneth Hoffmann explained: “Since the project was located next to a residential building, the installation also included a scrubber technology to filter the ventilation air from the plant room. In the very unlikely event of a small amount of the natural refrigerant ammonia escaping into the plant room, the local residents would not be exposed to the ammonia in the air, as it would be absorbed in the scrubber before being vented to ambient. The use of heat pumps is much more environmentally friendly than the use of gas boilers, especially in big cities, as they do not emit nitrogen oxides (NOx). Heat pumps therefore lead to cleaner air in cities and pay off financially. Moreover, ammonia is a natural refrigerant that does not contribute to global warming.” Paddy McGuinness, Managing Director of Colloide Engineering Systems, added: “Colloide have been involved in a large number of renewable energy projects. Colloide partnered with GEA Refrigeration UK Ltd on this project for their knowledge of ammonia refrigeration and heat pump technology. Based on GEA’s experience, 95% of the industrial refrigeration plants installed over the last 10 years have been ammonia based. With the increasing pressure on end users to reduce energy bills, this has brought about a big increase in the interest of ammonia heat pumps.” The Bunhill 2 Energy Centre adds a further 550 homes and a primary school to the existing Bunhill Heat and Power district heating network, originally launched by Islington Council in 2012. The heating costs for residents connected to the network will be cut by 10 percent when compared to other existing communal heating systems, which themselves cost around half as much as standalone systems heating individual homes. So, a real benefit to the environment, to residents and to Islington with the aim of ending fuel poverty. The heating system is particularly environmentally friendly as it reuses heat that would otherwise be wasted. Supplying the connected households and public facilities with the upgraded waste heat will help to reduce CO2 emissions in the Islington Borough by around 500 tons per year. Shaun Hannon, Contracts Manager at Colloide, commented: “Thanks to the cooperation of all involved, this is a ground-breaking district heating scheme. The main technology used is the ammonia heat pump and as a result, this project provides cheaper, greener energy for the local community.” Iain Eckett, Technical Sales Manager, Refrigeration Technologies, GEA UK, concluded: “This was a very ambitious task. But we have shown that GEA has the knowledge, the technology and the ability to successfully implement innovative projects to generate cleaner and cheaper heating. We offer the most efficient solution at an attractive price.” The principle of heat recovery using heat pumps can be applied in London and in underground networks all around the world. London alone has more than 150 ventilation shafts where waste heat could potentially be recovered. GEA heat pump technology, coupled with the experience gained from groundbreaking projects like the Bunhill 2 Energy Centre in Islington, has made GEA a trusted and preferred partner for waste heat projects globally. Further information is available at www.gea.com
Those in the public sector working on procurement will need to radically adapt and change the way they work to support change in the construction industry and respond to the challenges faced by the country. So says LORD KERSLAKE, non-executive chairman of framework provider Pagabo. “Today’s government guidance on sourcing and contracting public works projects and programmes has been published at a crucial time – when the UK is still reeling from the effects of COVID-19 and as it moves to a new relationship with the European Union. “The Construction Playbook is a positive and powerful document with great information on how we can together create a transformation of the construction sector. This document is really important and bigger than people realise – given the size of the construction sector in this country and that it makes up 10 per cent of our economy. “The report has some particularly positive things in it in terms of health and safety and its primacy in construction and the way it innovates. The report also acknowledges the huge importance of social value and the need to assess projects in terms of their whole life costs and procure for value. Thirdly, and crucially, the importance of digital in construction. “The report itself features an in-depth analysis on how we move forwards as an industry and how we will take on board these really important issues. “This is going to involve as much of a change on the procurement side in the public sector as it a change in the construction sector. “This means a radical change in the process of procurement within the public sector to encourage and support the sector itself changing. There will therefore be the huge task of investing in training and development of the public sector here. And if that doesn’t happen, there is a risk that the sector looks to change but then finds the procurement isn’t changing to keep pace with that. It is vitally important therefore, but both construction and procurement need to work together. “We need to ensure that the principles of the document are followed through in practice so when we talk about social value it is not a theoretical thing – but is real delivery of social value. Which means that you have to ensure that social benefits are maintained when the contract has started – not just calculated at the beginning. “Digital technology and digitally enabled procurement and delivery could be enormously helpful in ensuring that the rest of the principles are achieved in practice. I think that the things that Pagabo has done with its Future of Construction initiative anticipates many of these issues and it fits very well with the approach that Pagabo has taken to try and change its business. “One issue that I couldn’t see as much about creating a diverse industry. “The playbook talks about delivery but more work needs to be done and more thought needs to be given to how this is done across the public sector – a huge and diverse set of organisations. “The playbook is important post COVID. COVID has been the focus in the construction sector and within local organisations – and of course, the ‘here and now.’ This has almost certainly crowded out the longer term thinking by government. “But what I do see are welcome documents such as this playbook, as well as the government’s Fairer, Faster, Green document on infrastructure and the prime minister’s ten-point plan on zero carbon. It’s all part of the ‘building back better’ agenda and now is the right time to be thinking about all of these aspects. “The construction industry is vital to the UK’s economy and this playbook acknowledges that – and it encourages collaborative work across the public sector and private sector. It also notes that the principles and polices in the playbook aim to transform how we assess procure and manage public works projects and programmes. “The document is a good guide for how the UK can deliver beyond COVID. But now we need to deliver together – and procurement is at the core of that delivery.” For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/.
Building works have started on ‘Forest Park’; an exclusive 45-home development in Nottinghamshire, by property developer Taggart Homes. Located in the sought-after village of Annesley, in the Ashfield district of Nottinghamshire, the development has a prime position on Derby Road in the heart of the village and only a five-minute drive to junction 27 on the M1. Previously the site of a welfare club which has been vacant since 2009, the development will inject new life into the disused land and is due for completion by winter 2021. Forest Park will feature seven different property types including semi-detached and detached homes. The homes will have a sale value starting at £245,000, going up to £260,000 – all finished to the finest quality with high-spec fixtures and fittings and landscaped gardens, as expected from leading home builder, Taggart Homes. The much-needed homes will appeal to a varied demographic with all properties to fall within the Help to Buy Scheme. The development site is prominently situated towards the east of Derby Road which runs north to south through the village, giving easy access to both Mansfield, just four miles away, and Nottingham, 11 miles away. It is also within easy reach of Sherwood Park Enterprise Zone; home to over 70 established businesses. Annesley is a vibrant village with many amenities including primary schools, a supermarket, a library, sports fields and historic sites such as Annesley Hall. Chief executive officer of Taggart Homes, Michael Taggart, said: “Forest Park is an exciting new development that will bring forward sought-after homes in an excellent location. “We build beautifully designed and well-planned developments for the ultimate in modern living and go the extra mile to include high-quality features that home owners desire as standard. “We are pleased to be progressing with Forest Park which will reinvigorate and breathe new life into an unused area in Annesley, in a wonderful, central location in the village.” Sole marketing agent of Forest Park, Tim Downing, director at Pygott & Crone in Nottingham, said: “Our Nottingham office is really looking forward to marketing this fantastic new development of much needed houses in the area. The quality of Taggart Homes’ offering will set a new benchmark in the region of how new homes should be built. We already have a large number of interested parties looking to reserve. Taggart Homes is working alongside Core Architects and Ashfield District Council to deliver this scheme. Interested homebuyers can now register their interest with Pygott & Crone on 0115 896 5072 and the Forest Park brochure will be launched on the 2nd December, with reservations now being taken.
Leeds-based Sigmat have agreed a major new partnership with McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, to use Sigmat’s unique modern method of construction (MMC). Following a detailed selection process, Sigmat secured the framework as the Partner of Choice based on the merits of its industry-leading, eco-friendly and dynamic Light Gauge Steel Framing (LGSF) off-site structural solution. The landmark deal will see Sigmat roll out its LGSF solution across five of McCarthy & Stone’s sites in FY21, totalling more than 200 units. It is expected that this solution will become c.25% of McCarthy & Stone’s total output within five years, equating to c.400 units a year. The partnership will see McCarthy & Stone become one of the first national retirement community developers to back the Government’s agenda of increasing housing built off-site. McCarthy & Stone is also one of only a handful of volume developers to make a major commitment to this type of manufacturing. The plans have the potential to improve energy efficiency, compared with a traditional UK home and cut development times by up to half. The framework agreement will also help fast-track the delivery of housing for older people which, despite the rapidly ageing population, is currently undersupplied across the UK. McCarthy & Stone is looking to increase its proportion of off-site development by embracing other parts of Sigmat’s innovative design elements, including its pre-glazed window options. The key benefits of homes manufactured in the Sigmat Light Gauge Steel Frame system include: ● Reduced build times, risks, and increased project management control ● Construction times cut by up to 50% because work can be streamlined and employees can be more productive ● Eco-friendly with high proportion of recycled materials ● Dynamic and flexible application, ideal for the modern retirement market ● Increased levels of build quality thanks to the consistency and control achieved in factories compared with working on construction sites ● Ongoing research and development ● All homes backed by the same NHBC Build Mark warranty that traditional homes offer, ensuring they are fully mortgageable and insurable ● Vital investment in UK productivity, innovation and skills by creating new employment that can tackle skills shortages in construction and engineering John Tonkiss, CEO of McCarthy & Stone, said: “I am delighted that we are working with Sigmat who are one of the UK’s most innovative and quality driven manufacturers. Their team share our commitment to embracing MMC and can help us deliver high-quality retirement communities that push the boundaries of what consumers expect while cutting energy bills, waste and construction times. The Government has prioritised off-site manufacturing in recognition that we need different solutions to the housing crisis. We are responding to this with a serious, long-term commitment that will be a win-win for investors, policy makers and, above all our customers.” The move into off-site manufacturing is one of three key strands of McCarthy & Stone’s new strategy, announced in September 2018, to leverage the long-term opportunities in the retirement community sector. They include: ● Increasing customer choice by launching a range of multi-tenure options ● Increasing flexibility by launching new care and support services to better support its customers ● Increasing affordability by designing communities with new construction techniques such as off-site manufacturing. As part of this, new contemporary and open plan apartment types have also been developed to increase mass-market appeal. Work has already started on the team’s first collaborative scheme in Hexham, Northumberland. The 48 apartment development is expected to be completed in September 2021. Mark Eburne, CEO of Sigmat commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with McCarthy & Stone to help them embrace modern methods of construction by providing Sigmat light gauge steel panelised structural frames, including floors and walls. The Sigmat team have started on-site for our first project together in Hexham, and we anticipate more projects to commence within the following 12 months. By partnering with McCarthy & Stone we are committed to providing quality superstructures, manufactured off-site at our Leeds manufacturing facility for the UK retirement market.” Sigmat’s Chief Operating Officer Marcus Wood also commented: “This is a hugely exciting collaboration for both McCarthy & Stone and Sigmat. We have been working closely with the team at McCarthy & Stone over the last two years and we are delighted to be selected to help support their push in modern method of construction over the next five years. The retirement living sector is one of many ideal applications of the Sigmat system due to the eco-friendly, flexible and dynamic nature. This investment in both the McCarthy & Stone build expertise, Sigmat Modern Method of Construction and the partnering style will set new standards in delivering retirement living portfolios. Moving away from the more traditional ‘one off’ project construction methods and relationships into a more integrated and long-term solution across the portfolio making incremental improvements, lessons learnt and standardisation over time.”
New SCAPE research finds just one in five people believe developers will deliver on their commitments to improving local communities Half of UK residents can’t think of a local construction project that has had a positive impact on their community Insight features in new report on the evolution of social value by the UK’s leading public sector procurement authority The property industry must do more to demonstrate the positive impact of construction projects on communities across the UK, according to new research by the UK’s leading public sector procurement authority, SCAPE. In this latest nationwide research, SCAPE found that as few as one in five (20%) people in the UK believe that property developers will deliver against the commitments they make in relation to social value and improving local communities. The research indicates that there is a clear disconnect between the wide-ranging initiatives employed by contractors nationwide to create social value and the general public’s awareness or perception of them. Only half (50%) of the 2,000 UK residents surveyed recognised that a project had contributed positively to their local community. Respondents indicated that delivering long-term community benefit was the most important outcome for any project, ahead of other issues such as a building’s appearance or its green credentials. The research forms part of Social Value: More Than Metrics, a new report by SCAPE thatexplores the evolution of social value in the public sector and the impact that contractors and developers are having on local communities. Despite widespread initiatives across the construction industry in relation to employment, sustainability and social cohesion, many members of the public are still unaware of how projects are being delivered in a way that enriches their community. Only a third (35%) of all respondents had heard of the term ‘social value’ and felt confident that they understand what it means. With the public sector already acting as the cornerstone for the UK’s economic recovery – and set to play an increasingly important role in infrastructure investment as the nation builds back better in 2021 – the report calls for public sector organisations and contractors to aid the public’s understanding of social value. Key recommendations in the report include: Giving social value returns equal if not greater prominence than traditional procurement drivers, such as time, cost and quality Incorporating qualitative feedback procedures, such as interviews with community stakeholders and focus groups, into measurement processes Encouraging ongoing review of the metrics used to measure each project to avoid a ‘cookie cutter’ approach to social value Standardising sustainability measurement to demonstrate benefits with greater ease and consistency Implementing long-term community engagement processes to ensure positive legacies for every project. Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “In the seven years since the Social Value Act was passed, the new duties required in procurement have played a valuable role in guiding public bodies and contractors to consider the wider impact of public investment on society. However, as we await the imminent launch of the government’s Construction Playbook – which will increase the focus on socioeconomic improvement – our research shows that work still needs to be done to improve public perception regarding the benefits being created through construction projects. “Whilst the monetisation of social value is important, in many ways, the more important thing is the short and long-term value that one action can set in motion within a community, and how these actions are perceived and received. By shining a light on the public’s understanding and perception of social value, and demonstrating what best-in-class delivery looks like, it is our aim through this report to get to the heart of these issues and drive positive, sustainable change within communities.”
10-minute walk anyone? Picture an alternative reality where you can wake up and be at your workplace, school, supermarket, or sports centre within less than 10 minutes – walking. It’s a choice most people have to make, where there oughtn’t to be a choice at all – do I live nearer work, nearer the school, nearer the park? Bellharbour takes a look at the future of largescale developments, both in and out of the city environment. What is ‘mixed-use’? According to the MRSC of Washington, it’s a development that incorporates pedestrian friendliness and blends residential, commercial, cultural, or institutional uses. Others quote that mixed-use developments are “three-dimensional, pedestrian-oriented places that layer compatible land uses, public amenities and utilities together”. As you can see, the focus is on people and making the lives of the public much simpler. Developments such as this have been growing in popularity, especially with millennial buyers/renters. They allow people to work, live, play and shop in one place, whilst creating a destination for adjourning neighbourhoods. There are two main categories of mixed-use development: Vertical Different uses within the same building Public uses on lower floor i.e. shops, restaurants Private uses on upper floors i.e. offices, residences, hotels and Horizontal Single-use buildings within a mixed-use district Range of uses in one development Complementary and integrated uses that are walkable and within a given neighbourhood However, some developers like to combine the two. This still means 10 minutes of walking distance to core activities. Why mixed-use? It’s proven to work well. An old example is Soviet City Planning (USSR) during the cold war. Virtually identical city blocks were erected across many nations – it’s not going to be like this, don’t worry. But these blocks were built with a goal to get everyone to spend time outside in communal environments, working, eating, and socialising. This resulted in blocks within the cities, where people could travel easily on foot to food shops, places of work and education, and socially interact in parks and leisure spaces. More functionality, and less of a need for transport. This idea fits into the modern description of mixed-use developments and ties in with climate-friendly development design. Multi-purpose buildings/ areas take up less space on the ground, leaving more for green spaces and communal services. Today, examples of mixed-use can be found in a few UK town centre regeneration schemes, but according to Property Week “This approach, which is second nature in cities such as New York and Hong Kong, is only just starting to really pick up steam in London. This is surprising, given the huge benefits that well-thought-out mixed-use schemes can provide – especially from a planning and funding perspective.” We are seeing some areas of the UK pick up the model, such as a redesign in Keynsham (Somerset) to include shops, offices, public space, and the library has seen its popularity increase dramatically – breathing life into an otherwise tired town. A good design will combine social and private rental properties, private sale homes and health, education, community, retail and leisure facilities. Having a mix of tenants is a great way to secure the value and diversity of a development, too. One strikingly modern example of mixed-use on a larger scale is in Podil, Ukraine. This district of Kiev is known for its historical monuments which will be celebrated, and its relationship to the river Dnipro will be reconstructed with new connections. Podil’s new design incorporates promenade features along the Dnipro, with green islands for social interactions. Traffic infrastructure will be integrated, public space will be free to interpretation and the ecological network for nature is emphasised. Usually, mixed-use developments are incorporated outside city-centres but in recent city-centre regeneration projects, they are gaining popularity. This is a great source of profit injection to the local economy and is likely to improve its appeal to outsiders, bringing external economy. The McLaren Group Shoreditch scheme comes with residential apartments, school, commercial and gallery space, sports facilities, and community space. Combined with treatment rooms and landscaped gardens, this type of development really does provide a one-stop living environment to suit all. Is going up the way forward? Bidwells say that there’s a huge challenge for modern homes to hit the mark with offices and entertainment resources in the same space. As such, their redevelopment of Cambridge City station and space in central Oxford has also incorporated mixed-uses. Business Leader says that there is too much retail space in the UK, with high streets and shopping centres. The challenges of providing affordable housing that has minimal impact on the environment could be simultaneously solved by mixed-use developments – improving the local economy and repurposing abandoned/disused areas. The competition for luxury development spaces means mixed-use is the perfect alternative to purely retail or housing developments. Moreover, retail, work, and housing spaces are self-supporting, playing host to residential customers and visitors, who are more likely to return for convenience. Another priceless benefit is the potential for high-quality consumer-vendor relationships, building more of a rounded community. With a reduced need for transport and more focus on walking and cycling, mixed-use developments come with a reduced carbon footprint. There may also be greater availability of public transport services to those stationed further from amenities, workplaces and schools – not to mention reduced traffic around school areas!
CEG’s 200,000 sq ft EQ development in the heart of Bristol City Centre broke ground on the main construction phase this week, becoming the largest speculative office development currently underway in the south of England. BAM Construction has been appointed to deliver the striking glass building at 111 Victoria Street, close to Bristol Temple Meads Station. Raising the bar in terms of quality, occupant wellbeing and sustainability, EQ will provide 20,000 sq ft of occupier amenities such as a rooftop bar, restaurant and business lounge with communal terrace, ground floor café kitchen, 50 seat auditorium, as well as a fitness suite and break out space. The building will provide some of the largest open plan office floor plates in Bristol of up to 27,377 sq ft. CEG will also offer its ‘Let Ready Go’ studio concept, offering fully-equipped internet ready workstations enabling businesses immediate set up, easy expansion and contraction and access to high quality meeting and amenity space as part of a thriving and collaborative community. Over 500 construction jobs will be created per annum during the two-year build programme, as well as six local apprenticeship opportunities. Once complete, the building will accommodate over 2,000 people and will deliver £466 million GVA per annum from direct and indirect operational jobs*. Paul Richardson, investment manager at CEG, said: “We are making an immediate start on site in order to be in a position to offer 200,000 sq ft of the highest quality office space ready for occupation by the first quarter of 2023. “There is an acute shortage in supply of Grade A offices in Bristol and we’ve already seen a record number of pre let office deals in the city this year. We adopt an innovative approach to leasing, to deliver flexibility, as well as offering tenant fit outs, which reduces an occupier’s capital spend traditionally associated with a relocation.” Neil Dorrington, construction director for Bristol-based BAM Construction, said: “This must be one of the most ambitious schemes ever constructed in Bristol, which is a tremendous testament to CEG. “BAM’s early and close association with the development of it over a prolonged period means we can bring our expertise in digital construction and our sustainability credentials to bear even more so than on many other schemes. Our time on site means we can also achieve great social value for the city.” Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “As we face severe recession, contraction to Bristol’s economy and employment losses, news of such a major sustainable investment to bring job opportunities and social value to our city is hugely positive and welcome. “Working with city partners to achieve Bristol’s potential, our economic renewal should be focused on tackling inequality and building a fair, healthy and sustainable city. This type of sustainable development will help us build back better together.’’ Architect Aukett Swanke has designed the building with sustainability, amenity, health and well-being at its core. Targeting BREEAM Outstanding, the building provides photovoltaic units on the roof, rainwater harvesting, efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems, extensive cycling parking, showers, electric vehicle and e-bike charging points and will be connected to Bristol City Council’s District Heating Network. This will help occupiers trying to meet their carbon reduction targets. In a first for Bristol, a dedicated bicycle entrance and ramp from Temple Street to the basement provides easy access to more than 260 cycle spaces, which is in excess of industry standard. Health club quality changing and shower facilities are also provided. This gives cyclists priority on accessing the building, something which will prove even more important post Covid. Luke Schuberth, UK managing director of Aukett Swanke, said: “EQ will be a first class piece of architecture that we have enjoyed being involved in creating. It is testament to a client that has clear ambition and vision and a design team that has a strength in depth and a culture of pushing innovation. It has been a joy to design EQ, to stretch the boundaries of office design with health and well-being and a sustainable ethos that is at the core. The building will increase the energy of the people within it, whilst reducing the energy required to run it. We are delighted that it will now be realised and look forward to its completion.” Designed as a Smart Tech enabled building, there will also be fewer touch points, increased air changes and air quality sensors, benefitting occupiers in a post-Covid world. The scale, quality and flexibility offered by the building, as well as its strategic location close to Temple Meads, opens up significant opportunities for new inward investing companies keen to access the south west market. Jones Lang LaSalle and Cushman and Wakefield have been appointed by CEG to launch the building to market. Ian Wills of JLL explains: “Living costs have rocketed in London and skilled staff are finding it too expensive and over-crowded. Employers are looking elsewhere and Bristol has always appealed; just 80 minutes from the heart of London, it offers a large skilled workforce and great quality of life which help to attract and retain employees. “CEG with a long term investment and management approach is also able to offer a unique Core and Flex model which allows a business to expand and contract within the space. This will help to manage company growth and additional projects, as well as seasonal demand and the effects that social distancing will have on their office requirements.” Andy Heath of Cushman and Wakefield states: “We are confident we will secure a pre-let, not just due to the high market demand in Bristol, but because this offers a workspace that is sustainable, efficient, flexible, healthy, digitally resilient and future-proofed – it will set a new benchmark for regional offices.” CEG has one of the largest office development pipelines in Bristol, offering some 400,000 sq ft in its local portfolio at The Quorum, The Crescent Centre, 1000 Aztec West and EQ. The Quorum has been recently refurbished, and a planning consent has
Machine learning is helping construction companies the world over to replace monotonous human tasks. Machine learning also helps with the designing and planning of projects, and it enables teams and companies to make better-informed decisions for a more streamlined workflow. Indeed, there are countless useful applications of machine learning in the construction industry. Let’s take a closer look at some of the primary applications. What is machine learning? Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that involves machines learning and predicting outcomes by themselves. The machines do not require a person to program them. Instead, the machines use software and algorithms to enable them to make predictions based on the analysis of data. For instance, a machine could inform you that it requires preventative servicing. There are traditionally three primary machine learning approaches. They are: · Supervised learning, in which a computer is presented with input examples and desired outputs. The computer then learns a general rule to map those inputs and outputs. · Unsupervised learning, in which the learning algorithm does not receive any labels and is instead left by itself to discover structure in its input. · Reinforcement learning, in which a program interacts with a dynamic environment to perform a specific goal. What industries use machine learning? Today, many different industries use machine learning. For example: · In marketing, machine learning helps marketers to create better customer segmentations, deliver more relevant campaigns, and measure performance more effectively. · Online casinos use machine learning to analyse players’ betting data and protect players by promoting responsible gambling. Machine learning also enables the online casino industry to have greater stability and improved planning. · The healthcare industry is increasingly using machine learning in various ways, such as with wearable devices and sensors that give healthcare professionals access to patient health in real-time. Now, let’s take a look at the useful applications of machine learning in the construction industry. Machine Learning Can Enhance Design Quality When machine learning is utilised during the design phase of a construction project, it can improve the quality of designs. For instance, if you are building meeting rooms for a company, machine learning can tell you how the space can match the people using it by predicting things like how frequently the rooms will be used. Machine learning can also help to highlight mistakes and omissions in designs before going ahead with construction. You can also test various environmental conditions and scenarios in the model. Machine Learning Can Increase a Project’s Lifecycle Generally, there are gaps in facility management’s information, making it challenging to manage repairs and renovations on-site cost-effectively. Machine learning can be instrumental in facility management and extending an asset’s total lifecycle. It can streamline processes via collecting and utilising data better. For instance, machine learning can classify documents and data such as work orders and assess conditions in real-time with extreme accuracy. That helps to speed up processes no end. And when machine learning is integrated with a BIM model in maintenance and operations, it can determine the best way to conduct maintenance and repairs by visualising where and when issues will occur. Machine Learning Can Create a Safer Construction Site Safety is, of course, paramount to any construction site, and machine learning provides ways to ensure job sites are as safe as possible. For example, machine learning tools can identify when a person is not wearing a hard hat much more quickly and accurately than humans can. Because machine learning learns and adapts over time, it helps humans to find problems and solve them efficiently. Furthermore, machine learning can determine risks before they even happen. It can identify risks, measure the impact of those risks and use predictive analytics to reduce the risks. And with the assistance of artificial intelligence algorithms, risks can be comprehended better, and problems can be prioritised automatically. With such tools available, construction managers can not only prevent problems. They can also streamline workflows for a more efficient process.
