DESCRIBED as one of the most transformational developments delivered in the East Midlands in more than a decade, Unity Square – the new UK Government Hub in Nottingham, which will be home to HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) and other government departments – has now completed construction. The Grade A
Leeds and Manchester-based contractor Castlehouse Construction has kicked off its new financial year with a £20M+ order book. The company successfully completed a £20M project pipeline in 2020, despite the challenging backdrop of the pandemic and has already secured the same value of projects for the year ahead in a
With a colourful history, surviving a huge fire and two world wars, today Shoreditch Town Hall is a destination arts, events and community space, having been rescued from the brink in the late 1990s. Its recent renaissance culminated in April 2021 with a complete façade clean by Thomann Hanry remarkably,
Construction and civil engineering specialist firm GRAHAM has commenced works on the construction of a new £16 million railway station in Exeter. The new two-platform station will be delivered in collaboration with Devon County Council, who provided the initial concept design, which GRAHAM then utilized in a Design and Build
With businesses reopening to the public and employees returning to the office, it’s paramount that facility managers know how to keep all premises safe and secure from any unlawful activity. Theft and business crimes make up 20% of all crime in the UK1. This causes great distress to business owners
The recent discovery that the smoke control system on Grenfell Tower had been inoperative for over a year before the refurbishment and that the tenant management organisation (TMO) had known about it and done nothing to mitigate the risk for the building occupants came as no surprise to those of
In order to provide best value and service for its clients and residents, residential managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been developing a range of innovative, market leading procurement practices. With energy being one of the biggest regular costs in property management, the company has created a dedicated in-house utilities
Research from national UK estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has found that the demise of the UK’s retail industry has left empty premises with enough space to provide nearly 25,000 homes to a market value of £7.4bn. Keller Williams analysed the potential square footage of thousands of high street stores
Leviat, world leader in connecting, fixing, lifting and anchoring technology for the construction industry, has launched a revolutionary new thermally efficient Ancon windpost designed to minimise thermal bridging in masonry cavity walls. Following extensive research and testing, the patented Thermal Windpost (TWP2), part of the Ancon range of steel construction
Bermondsey residents were invited to learn more about free construction training opportunities at an Open Day on the site of the former Thorowgoods department store on Southwark Park Road. Local people who may have recently been made redundant, are looking to retrain, return to work following furlough or just an
DESCRIBED as one of the most transformational developments delivered in the East Midlands in more than a decade, Unity Square – the new UK Government Hub in Nottingham, which will be home to HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) and other government departments – has now completed construction. The Grade A office scheme in Queensbridge Road, Nottingham has been eagerly anticipated since it was announced in late 2018 that HMRC, which is leading the delivery of Phase 1 Government hubs, had entered a 25-year pre-let on the development for the Government hub with Peveril Securities and its joint venture partner Sladen Estates. The provision of this ultra-modern, state-of-the-art, ten-storey office building will serve as a catalyst for regeneration in the Southside area of Nottingham and give the firms the momentum to bring forward their other office developments at Broadmarsh West and Unity Phase Two. Ralph Jones, managing director of Peveril Securities and main board director of Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “HMRC’s decision to award this Government Hub in the heart of Nottingham to Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates shows the confidence that HMRC had in our ability to fund and deliver this important scheme above other locations and developers that could have been in the running. It is hugely significant for the region, as well as for everyone who lives and works here, transforming the area around the city’s train station. With thousands of people set to work in the offices, businesses in the area will benefit from the increased footfall of workers in the area. “Those working in the building will benefit from Nottingham’s superb transport links, being right next to bus, train and tram services. The structure also serves as a remarkable landmark for commuters arriving at the train station, providing the sort of impressive development you would expect on arrival in one of the UK’s major cities.” The official handover of the regional hub took place today (Tuesday 11 May) via a virtual ceremony. Colin Casse, locations programme director at HMRC, said: “HMRC has a long-standing presence in Nottingham and the new Government Hub will be home to our Nottingham Regional Centre. A stunning building, right in the heart of the city, 1 Unity Square will provide a flexible modern working environment that can be adapted as our ways of working develop in the future. We are looking forward to the first colleagues moving into the building early in 2022.” The scheme has been constructed by Derbyshire based Bowmer + Kirkland, with the contractors having to contend with the coronavirus pandemic during the final stages of the build. Steve Chambers, regional director at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “We are very pleased to have completed this significant project on time in what has been a very challenging environment. Working closely with Peveril Securities, Sladen Estates, HMRC and L & G has allowed us to overcome the challenges we have encountered – particularly during the past year – and I would personally like to thank all of the staff, trades people and companies involved in the project who have worked extremely hard in very challenging circumstances to deliver the scheme.” Designed by Manchester-based award-winning architecture firm 5 Plus, the development is set to be one of HMRC’s largest regional offices, accommodating more than 4,000 colleagues. Nick Sladen, chief executive of Sladen Estates, said: “Every development has faced challenges over the past year, but we are really pleased that despite the coronavirus pandemic, Bowmer + Kirkland have been able to keep Unity Square construction on track. “Unity Square will have a positive impact on job creation and the economic growth of the area. It should prove to be a spark for significant regeneration in the Southside of Nottingham and provides a striking addition to the city skyline. We are really pleased that despite the coronavirus pandemic and all of the labour and material sourcing issues that caused that the scheme continued on track for its original target completion date.” Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates purchased the 1.14-hectare site in Queensbridge Road – opposite Nottingham train station – in 2015 and demolished the existing derelict car parks before embarking on the city’s largest and most eagerly anticipated scheme, with the government hub being forward funded by LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General).
Leeds and Manchester-based contractor Castlehouse Construction has kicked off its new financial year with a £20M+ order book. The company successfully completed a £20M project pipeline in 2020, despite the challenging backdrop of the pandemic and has already secured the same value of projects for the year ahead in a mix of sectors across Yorkshire, the North West and North East. Since opening its Manchester office in 2019 to service its growing North West client base, the company has continued its recruitment drive and now boasts a team of 33 across its Northern offices with a raft of projects secured spanning healthcare, hospital trust contracts, retail, industrial, offices and residential schemes. Castlehouse recently delivered circa 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space into the Leeds pipeline at the iconic One Embankment in the city centre following a £3.2M refurbishment programme. The company’s retail portfolio also continues to gain ground with its Pets @ Home £1.1M new build in Cheshire and a programme of Lidl new builds across Yorkshire, the North East and the North West as part of the company’s partnership framework with the retailer. The contractor also delivered the retail element of the £17M Treadmills regeneration development at the former Grade II listed prison building in Northallerton, which was driven by the Central Northallerton Development Company, a JV between Hambleton District Council and leading Yorkshire developer the Wykeland Group. Global ice cream brand Froneri also chose Castlehouse to deliver its Lancashire warehouse extension and charity Horticap commissioned Castlehouse to build its new two storey café and shop in Harrogate. The contractor has also successfully completed the acclaimed residential scheme at Southfield & Westfield House in Harrogate, transforming former office buildings into 20 luxury apartments with unrivalled views over The Stray. Castlehouse is one of the North’s fastest growing construction firms and works within all sectors of the market, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, education and residential on a design and build and traditional basis. The £20M order pipeline sees the firm’s projected turnover for 2021/22 at £25M+, demonstrating its resilience and growth since its £195,000 turnover back in 2011/12. The company was formed in 2009 by directors Richard Lumley and Frank Kofler who combined their extensive experience and expertise of working for and founding major companies in the Yorkshire region for more than 40 years. Richard Lumley, Chairman of Castlehouse Construction commented: “To secure £20M worth of orders as we start our new financial year, equal to that for the whole of 2020/21, is testament to the hard work and drive of the entire team in what has been testing times due to the pandemic. We are incredibly proud to be in this position and continue to benefit from the robust relationships we have built with our growing client base across the North of England.”
With a colourful history, surviving a huge fire and two world wars, today Shoreditch Town Hall is a destination arts, events and community space, having been rescued from the brink in the late 1990s. Its recent renaissance culminated in April 2021 with a complete façade clean by Thomann Hanry remarkably, the first exterior clean since it was built. In the process, this magnificent Grade II Listed building has been restored to its original splendour, turning the clock back some 155 years. Designed in Italianate style by Caesar Augustus Long and built in 1866, later to be extended in Edwardian baroque by William G Hunt at the turn of the 20th century, Shoreditch Town Hall is amongst London’s finest examples of grand civic architecture. Adorned with its iconic statue of Progress, the building exemplifies the purposeful optimism of the era, its “More light, more power” motto – carved beneath the Shoreditch crest – encapsulating this forward-looking ethos. From its opening in 1866, the Town Hall was the hub of local democracy and civic life for over a century. Its status as a political focal point was underlined by the arrest there of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst in 1913. The Town Hall was also a hugely popular Music Hall venue from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, in spite of a catastrophic fire in 1904. Hosting the first ever televised boxing match in 1955, it then became best known as a major boxing venue until 1975. Its subsequent decline into neglect during the 1980s was a sad fate for such a proud building with such a colourful history. In 1996 Shoreditch Town Hall was added to the English Heritage “Buildings at Risk” register, prompting a campaign to save this historic East London landmark. The Shoreditch Town Hall Trust took over the lease in 2002, marking a turning point in the building’s history. With £2.3 million of capital investment, it has since been transformed, realising a dynamic vision for one of London’s most important new arts, events and community spaces. In Spring of 2021, London building restoration specialists Thomann-Hanry® were commissioned to clean the Town Hall’s imposing Portland stone façade. With post-lockdown audiences due to return in June, it was important that the building should not be shrouded in scaffolding for months on end. For this reason façade gommage®, patented by Thomann-Hanry®, was the perfect solution. With all cleaning carried out from an agile hydraulic cabin, the entire 1500 square metre façade was cleaned by the four-man team in just eight days without a single pole of scaffolding to be seen. Projecting fine powders under low pressure across the contours of the façade, over a century and a half of accumulated dirt and grime were gently lifted away, revealing the face of the building as it first appeared in 1866. James Pidgeon, Director & Chief Executive of Shoreditch Town Hall, today said: “It has long been an ambition of ours to properly clean and give some attention to the façade of our much-loved landmark building, and so I’m delighted that we’re now able to start these works ahead of welcoming audiences back. The clean will no doubt have a transformative impact on the public’s perception of the Town Hall, and is a fitting and timely reminder of our presence and future ambition as we fully emerge from the horror of the last 12 months and continue to serve artistic and local communities in Shoreditch, Hackney and beyond.”
Construction and civil engineering specialist firm GRAHAM has commenced works on the construction of a new £16 million railway station in Exeter. The new two-platform station will be delivered in collaboration with Devon County Council, who provided the initial concept design, which GRAHAM then utilized in a Design and Build Contract, along with Network Rail, and train operating company GWR. The project will also involve the construction of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge that will supplement the new station, which GRAHAM will also deliver using its vast engineering expertise. The new bridge will provide step free access to the station and improve ‘active travel’ links (cycling and walking) between Alphington, Marsh Barton and the Riverside Valley Park. Once complete, the station will be located near the ‘Energy from Waste’ plant on the eastern edge of Marsh Barton industrial estate. The new station will accommodate services for more than 7,000 people employed at Marsh Barton, while there are also development plans for around 2,500 new homes across the estate, which is currently used for light industrial and office space, along with several car showrooms. From the end of May, there will be a road closure to vehicles at Clapperbrook Lane East for an estimated 14 months, however the route will remain open for access to pedestrians and cyclists throughout that period. Discussing the project, GRAHAM’s Civil Engineering Managing Director, Leo Martin, said: “We’re delighted to be working on this much-needed and anticipated railway station for residents living along the routes of Teignbridge, Exeter and East Devon. It will provide access to excellent job and leisure opportunities in the area while the new pedestrian and cycle bridge will encourage heathier travel choices. “GRAHAM is committed to providing projects that deliver lasting impact and our experience in the rail sector is vast and wide-ranging. This latest scheme adds to our impressive portfolio, which also includes several projects we are delivering this year for Crossrail alongside Network Rail.” A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: “The station is a core element of the Devon Metro rail strategy for Exeter and is central to supporting economic growth to the south west of Exeter and to the Marsh Barton employment area itself, as well as Dawlish and Newton Abbot.” The new station will serve passengers on the Exmouth to Paignton line, via Exeter Central and St. David’s, a route operated by GWR.
With businesses reopening to the public and employees returning to the office, it’s paramount that facility managers know how to keep all premises safe and secure from any unlawful activity. Theft and business crimes make up 20% of all crime in the UK1. This causes great distress to business owners and can lead to commercial failure. To help companies prepare for coming out of lockdown, safety and security specialists Reece Enterprise, have shared their top seven tips to preventing theft that all facility managers need to know. 1. Risk Assessment To mitigate the risk of being subject to theft crime, the first step businesses need to take is conducting a risk assessment. This will help to identify any potential hazards that may occur within the organisation so the board can identify what to prioritise safety wise. This can involve any security aspect from defective security cameras or blind spots to faulty locks or windows. Risk assessments should be undertaken regularly, at least once a year. A further review is recommended once any changes have been made to business equipment, materials, processes, or people. This is also advised after accidents occur, to ensure their validity. 2. Employee Training As stakeholders, employees are a critical part of any business and play a key role in keeping their workplaces safe and protected. Companies should always carry out full background and employment history checks before hiring people if possible. Once hired, security guidelines and theft policies should be clearly explained during employee inductions. Managers can help to mitigate the risk of internal theft by encouraging staff accountability. There are several actions that can be taken to enforce this, such as enacting policy that requires employees to keep laptops and equipment locked and password protected, encouraging employees to report suspicious activity, and by giving specific access, (for example to a cupboard of stationary) to named employees. 3. Keeping Everything Locked, Keys Included Managers can further minimise risk of theft by ensuring valuable items are locked up, making sure that doors, safes and storage spaces are locked, and by safely storing keys in one secure place, like a reliable key cabinet from Reece Enterprise. From fire-resistant to free-standing, key or wall mounted, with a key or padlock, there are multiple cabinets to choose from that are sure to suit your business needs. Adding additional locks to doors and shutters or grilles to windows can give further protection. 4. Surveillance Cameras Use of security cameras, such as CCTV, is one of the most common practices that businesses use to fight criminal activity in the UK. Although data protection rules apply for the use of cameras, they are an excellent tool for deterring burglars. They are particularly effective as they provide evidence and visibility. When operating with small budgets, consider installing a limited number of surveillance cameras in the most high-risk areas. Security mirrors in blind spots are also another good alternative. This will create a robust security system for the business. 5. Keeping Records Another key factor in dealing with theft is identifying the unusual activity in the first place. Being organised and staying on top of stock management within the organisation is essential. Track all your inventory, keep on top of your paperwork, and use tags and labels with serial numbers for all the important pieces of equipment to make sure nothing gets lost. 6. Installing Alarms Alarms are one of the most traditional and prevalent types of security system. Alarm systems and security lighting are a go-to measure for discouraging intruders and having them in place can also help to lower insurance premium costs. Consider setting up a BS 4737-4.3:1988 intruder alarm system, this is part of the general requirements that companies need to comply with in accordance with the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and therefore should be considered. Once set up, managers are advised to arrange for the alarms to be regularly tested and maintained.
The recent discovery that the smoke control system on Grenfell Tower had been inoperative for over a year before the refurbishment and that the tenant management organisation (TMO) had known about it and done nothing to mitigate the risk for the building occupants came as no surprise to those of us within the industry. In our experience, it is common for clients to leave reported defects for many months before authorising corrective action. In their March 2020 Fire Engineering Thematic Technical Report that audited buildings with mechanical smoke ventilation systems, the London Fire Brigade found that 20% of systems inspected failed to operate which would indicate that the problem of defective smoke control provision may be widespread. There are some common themes for high rise residential buildings that can contribute to a catastrophic system failure of the type experienced at Grenfell Tower and below we look at these and offer advice on avoiding the common pitfalls. The availability of people on-site to complete regular tests as recommended by the Regulatory (Fire Safety) Reform Order (RRO) 2005 and safety operating instructions, details the requirement for the smoke control maintenance of life-safety systems but these can often be overlooked or not fully understood. The weekly and monthly checks will typically be carried out by general maintenance personnel (RP), who have received basic hands-on training from the manufacturer/installer of the system. For systems maintained by a competent organisation, they will at best be tested at six-month intervals during service visits. The reality is weekly and monthly tests are problematic, particularly for high-rise residential buildings where there is no on-site maintenance presence and as a result, the checks are frequently overlooked. This means that if a fault occurs during the period between visits, it may go undetected, and the system would remain inoperable until the next scheduled maintenance visit. Even when smoke control systems are equipped with visual and audible fault alarms, these are often ignored in residential buildings without on-site security personnel. Under this regime, there is a very real risk of system failure in an emergency. The competence of the contractor undertaking the annual maintenance. Neither of the organisations who were responsible for the maintenance of the Grenfell project were smoke control specialists, however, this is not unusual. A fire alarm or mechanical and electrical contractor is unlikely to have an appreciation of the smoke control strategy and understanding of the products installed, but often the smoke control maintenance is bundled in with other services like fire alarm or building management. This can result in a deterioration of systems over time as minor faults go unattended. Or unnoticed. Failure of the client to sanction rectification of defects. This may be a result of a failure to appreciate the seriousness of the system being inoperable or simply down to a lack of budget; however, it is not uncommon for reported faults to remain unattended for months, as was the case at Grenfell Tower. The following actions are recommended to ensure compliance and safety of occupants of high-rise residential buildings. Use a competent smoke control specialist. Ensure the smoke control system provider is accredited and has third-party certification, Group SCS would advise you choose a member of the SCA (Smoke Control Association). Regularly carry out safety checks. In addition to the minimum annual service by the specialist provider, they must also actively encourage short-term tests of the smoke control system, offering training to site personnel and a logbook so all checks can be recorded and monitored. Consider remote monitoring of smoke control systems where there is no onsite facility staff. We also recommend when there is no one available on-site to regularly monitor your smoke control systems, then remote monitoring is a reliable solution. Make sure all defects are fixed. Alarmingly it is not unusual for defects in the systems not to be fixed which is often due to budget restraints. This is a false economy. If a fire breaks out in a building that is under your control and the smoke control system fails, lives are at serious risk and you could face prosecution.
In order to provide best value and service for its clients and residents, residential managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been developing a range of innovative, market leading procurement practices. With energy being one of the biggest regular costs in property management, the company has created a dedicated in-house utilities management team to work within the existing procurement division. Leading the new team, Chris Massingham has recently been appointed Utilities Procurement Manager. With ten years’ experience in the energy sector, Chris is an industry specialist who has previously worked for Anglian Water as well as in consultancies managing procurement for leading property management companies including Rendall & Rittner. In his new role, Chris will oversee the implementation of the latest energy management system, which will incorporate a billing platform, as well as managing the tariff procurement process. Both the electricity and gas bulk procurement contracts are currently with Ecotricity. Chris Massingham commented: “The principle of leveraging bulk spending for best value is of course one of the key reasons it makes sense for Rendall & Rittner to bring utilities management in house, but it also allows us to maintain the highest levels of service and respond more quickly to any issues that may arise. I’m looking forward to the exciting personal challenge of running a new function for the business and ushering in what is quite an innovative new approach from an industry perspective.” Richard Daver, Managing Director at Rendall & Rittner said: “As Rendall & Rittner has continued to grow, so too has the volume of energy we purchase as a group. This presents some challenges but also a great opportunity to leverage our buying power in order to obtain better value for our clients and residents in what is a fast moving and complex marketplace. We are pleased to welcome Chris Massingham to lead the new in-house team in line with our wider strategy of investing in talent and technical capabilities to ensure not only better value, but also more transparency, accountability and more efficient processes.” For more information on Rendall & Rittner please visit www.rendallandrittner.co.uk.
Research from national UK estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has found that the demise of the UK’s retail industry has left empty premises with enough space to provide nearly 25,000 homes to a market value of £7.4bn. Keller Williams analysed the potential square footage of thousands of high street stores used by 38 big retail brands to have ceased trading, or that are due to close this year. Based on the average square footage of A1 retail space (2,195 sq ft), Keller Williams estimates that these ongoing closures will leave some 19,735,230 square foot of unused retail space across the UK. With the average UK property coming in at just 790 square feet, this redundant retail bricks and mortar could pave the way for a potential 24,981 new homes. With the current average UK new build valued at £297,104, that’s a huge £7.4bn in new homes that could be developed and delivered to the market, providing a considerable boost to stock supply. Perhaps the biggest retail casualty has been Debenhams and their extensive high street presence would account for the vast majority of the new housing stock potential. The former giant of the UK high street has already liquidated 52 stores with the remaining 45 to close by 15th May this year. These 97 stores are thought to occupy 13,628,740 square feet of retail space, enough for 17,252 homes with a current market value of £5.1bn. CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylor, commented: “It’s been incredibly sad to see the demise of the high street hastened due to the pandemic, with many big names shutting their doors for good having been unable to survive months on end with no customer footfall. Hopefully, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease we will see a resurgence from the retail sector and some of these former premises can once again be used as intended. However, it’s becoming abundantly clear that we simply don’t shop in the same way we used to and so physical retail outlets are likely to remain largely redundant in many high streets up and down the nation. At the same time, we’re seeing a lack of housing stock failing to satisfy the appetites of UK homebuyers, while housebuilders and the government continue to fail year on year in meeting delivery targets. Developing unused retail space into housing could be a great way of repopulating our high streets, if only from a social standpoint, while also delivering some sorely needed housing stock to the market.” Brand Expected, potential & confirmed store closures Estimated available space for conversion to housing (sq ft) Potential number of homes if converted Potential value of new homes Debenhams 97 13,628,740 17,252 £5,125,513,931 Arcadia Group (Burton, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Evans) 440 965,800 1,223 £363,219,296 Peacocks 423 928,485 1,175 £349,185,824 Poundstretcher 250 548,750 695 £206,374,600 Brighthouse 240 526,800 667 £198,119,616 Bonmarche 226 496,070 628 £186,562,639 Age UK 133 291,935 370 £109,791,287 Paperchase 127 278,765 353 £104,838,297 Oak Furnitureland 105 230,475 292 £86,677,332 Oasis and Warehouse 92 201,940 256 £75,945,853 Jaeger 76 166,820 211 £62,737,878 DW Sports 75 164,625 208 £61,912,380 Laura Ashley 70 153,650 194 £57,784,888 TM Lewin 65 142,675 181 £53,657,396 Edinburgh Wollen Mill and Ponden Mill (EWM Group 64 140,480 178 £52,831,898 Kath Kidston 60 131,700 167 £49,529,904 Oddbins 56 122,920 156 £46,227,910 M&Co 47 103,165 131 £38,798,425 Hearing and Mobility (HHML) 27 59,265 75 £22,288,457 Victoria’s Secret (UK) 25 54,875 69 £20,637,460 Beales 22 48,290 61 £18,160,965 Harveys Furniture 20 43,900 56 £16,509,968 Hawkins Bazaar 20 43,900 56 £16,509,968 Antler 18 39,510 50 £14,858,971 Jessops 17 37,315 47 £14,033,473 Johnson’s Shoes 12 26,340 33 £9,905,981 Peter Jones (China) 10 21,950 28 £8,254,984 Le Pain Quotidien 10 21,950 28 £8,254,984 Norville Group 9 19,755 25 £7,429,486 Soletrader 8 17,560 22 £6,603,987 Oliver Sweeney Trading 7 15,365 19 £5,778,489 J Crew 6 13,170 17 £4,952,990 TJ Hughes outlet division 6 13,170 17 £4,952,990 Aldo (UK) 5 10,975 14 £4,127,492 Brooks Brothers (UK) 4 8,780 11 £3,301,994 The Hummingbird Bakery 3 6,585 8 £2,476,495 Autonomy Clothing 3 6,585 8 £2,476,495 DVF Studio 1 2,195 3 £825,498 All 2879 19,735,230 24,981 £7,422,050,482 Sources Based on store numbers multiplied by average size of A1 retail space at 2,195 sq ft Based on estimated available space divided by the average UK house size of 790 sq ft Based on the number of potential homes multiplied by the current average new build house price of £297,104 Note: Debenhams was the only value not based on the average size of retail due to available date on the total square footage of their stores
Leviat, world leader in connecting, fixing, lifting and anchoring technology for the construction industry, has launched a revolutionary new thermally efficient Ancon windpost designed to minimise thermal bridging in masonry cavity walls. Following extensive research and testing, the patented Thermal Windpost (TWP2), part of the Ancon range of steel construction fixings, offers up to an impressive 70% reduction in thermal transmission through the span of the windpost. This guarantees it meets the BRE level for thermal performance provided in BR 443 as a minimum and offers opportunities for more stringent thermal specifications to be met. The Thermal Windpost features integral mineral fibre insulation to ensure continuity of insulation in the cavity, and its innovative design means the windpost sits level with the outside face of partial-fill insulation so it can be taped to further reduce thermal heat loss. This provides the additional benefit of eliminating time-consuming cutting of insulation to fit behind/around the windpost, increasing the overall speed and consistency of installation. Manufactured from stainless steel with a teardrop fold for strength and engineered to minimise weight, the Ancon Thermal Windpost is up to 35% lighter than traditional windposts, making it easier to handle and install onsite. Again, this significantly improves speed of installation by reducing the requirement for complex manual handling procedures for longer lengths. With UK housebuilders facing the ‘zero carbon ready’ Future Homes Standard from 2025, building design for new residential developments must change. The Ancon Thermal Windpost addresses one of the many thermal heat loss issues across a building’s fabric which contribute to the ‘performance gap’ between designed and realised thermal performance, and is part of Leviat continual drive towards innovation with products that improve performance to help create better buildings.
Bermondsey residents were invited to learn more about free construction training opportunities at an Open Day on the site of the former Thorowgoods department store on Southwark Park Road. Local people who may have recently been made redundant, are looking to retrain, return to work following furlough or just an extended work break were invited to come along to find out about the training available. Up to 500 Bermondsey residents were offered free construction and digital skills training at the Southwark Construction Skills Centre for the coming months, thanks to a partnership between The Skills Centre, The Blue Bermondsey, Big Local Works and Southwark Council. Those taking part in the training will have direct access to job opportunities at the £500 million redevelopment of the former Peek Frean biscuit factory, as well as at ongoing works at Canada Water and Old Kent Road developments. “Here at SCSC, we have trained hundreds of people from all over London since opening in 2016, and have helped them start their new careers in construction,” said John White MBE, Director of Southwark Construction Skills Centre (SCSC). “With so many big construction projects going on in and around Southwark at the moment, we think it’s important that the local community benefits from these job opportunities as much as possible and so we are looking to help secure local training and jobs, for local people. The range of opportunities in construction may surprise some people – come along to find out. No previous experience is required as we have a programme of pre-employability training to get people started on their new career in construction.” The Southwark Construction Skills Centre also includes a community digital classroom at the site of former high street department store Thorowgoods on Southwark Park Road. This facility will be open to all Southwark residents and offer digital skills training, again to help those who might find themselves out of work because of the pandemic, or in need of digital refresher courses.
