Birmingham and the Midlands are to gain a major jobs boost following the start on site of one of the UK’s most significant new sustainable manufacturing and logistics schemes, delivering £355.5 million of economic value (GVA) when fully operational. The first phase of Peddimore near Minworth, is being delivered by
One of the UK’s leading specialist interior fit-out contractors has completed a milestone 16-storey contract at Edwardian Hotels’ new flagship super boutique hotel in London. EE Smith Contracts, which has been carrying out work for Edwardian Hotels Ltd for the last 35 years, opened its factories on the Clarendon Industrial
Data released today in the WhatHouse? New Homes Index reveals the hottest areas across Britain for new home buyer search with South East of England, West Midlands and East Midlands top of the list for August 2021. A sign that, post pandemic, home buyers are weighing up relocation to areas beyond the traditional Greater London commuter zone and considering a wider range of regions
SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities, has appointed Rachel Sudlow as its R&D Lead in a newly created role designed to increase digital innovation across public sector construction. Rachel joins SCAPE following more than 10 years at Balfour Beatty, where she started as a quantity surveyor
Main contractor Laing O’Rourke has awarded the £1.5m furniture and fitout contract for the first phase of the £485m 3Ts redevelopment of Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton to Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading hospital fitout specialists. Deanestor will manufacture around 17,000 items of furniture for the project and
Teachers know that many of the most important factors affecting children’s performance are invisible. Tiredness, stress, hunger: these all have a significant impact on pupils’ productivity and their ability to learn. But there’s another significant factor that most educators (and employers, for that matter) rarely consider. This is the most
A team of archaeologists have unearthed human skeletons during the excavation of a Bronze to early Iron Age settlement on This Land’s™ Burwell site, in advance of the development of 350 new homes. Following the removal of topsoil at the 6.5-hectare site on Newmarket Road, archaeologists have discovered two full
A casino is, first and foremost, a respectable pastime with a bit of gambling. Nowadays, the opportunity to play and feel the whole enchanting world of gambling is not only for people who come to land-based casinos but also for those who use such casino applications as tonybetapp.com and browser-based
Birmingham and the Midlands are to gain a major jobs boost following the start on site of one of the UK’s most significant new sustainable manufacturing and logistics schemes, delivering £355.5 million of economic value (GVA) when fully operational. The first phase of Peddimore near Minworth, is being delivered by IM Properties in partnership with Birmingham City Council and will see appointed contractor, Winvic Construction, begin strategic infrastructure works including a new roundabout on the A38, for a June 2022 completion. IM Properties is already in detailed discussions with an occupier who will create in excess of 1000 jobs, contributing to the thousands of direct and indirect jobs expected to be created through occupiers and related supply chains across the lifetime of the scheme. Designed to deliver a lasting economic and social benefit to the region, IM Properties has already started to deliver an extensive social value programme, supporting four social value charity partners and setting up a £270,000 Peddimore Community Fund. This has so far awarded grants totalling nearly £42,000 to 20 grassroots organisations in the surrounding area. The social value charity partners include St Basils, The Pioneer Group, JERRICHO & Witton Lodge. In addition to the main site infrastructure works and spine roads, a Green Travel District will be created promoting cycling and walking to work. Once the build phase begins, and subject to occupier specifications IM Properties will be targeting a minimum of Net Zero in Construction. These ambitions form part of IM Properties’ future sustainability strategy, with aims for BREEAM excellent ratings across buildings with a continued focus on health & wellbeing, alongside plans for climate change resilience, the use of low carbon renewable energy sources, smart grid technology and improved water efficiency across new developments. IM Properties has already committed over £30m of investment into the site infrastructure which will enable the scheme to play a vital role in Birmingham’s green recovery as its UK development director, Kevin Ashfield explains: “Peddimore represents a major milestone for IM Properties and will be a huge legacy site for all involved, creating an industry benchmark for future employment schemes from the delivery of important local social value to the sustainability ambitions for the buildings and wider site environment. ‘’From an early stage, we’ve been engaging with key stakeholders to ensure we deliver a lasting economic asset, which yields opportunities for the business community as well as those seeking employment, skills and training. “At a strategic level, this includes working alongside Birmingham City Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority, and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Complemented by local relationships and initiatives we’re developing a robust employment and skills plan that can endure through all stages of our delivery.” Andy Reynolds, project director for IM Properties added: “Winvic Construction is a trusted supply chain partner and equally committed to our social value and sustainability agenda. They will be working from day one to open up opportunities for local SME’s, social enterprises, young people and individuals looking to gain new skills, with on-site training facilities providing valuable experience towards achieving employment.” Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, added: “Peddimore is an exciting development for our city which will capitalise on our strategic location within the country, and create thousands of jobs in sustainable manufacturing and logistics schemes. “Birmingham’s green economic recovery from the pandemic can help to drive the economic recovery of the whole country, and Peddimore will be at the heart of this. I am proud that Birmingham City Council has partnered with IM Properties and Winvic to deliver this scheme which will provide high quality, sustainable jobs for Birmingham, and is already making a difference through the Peddimore Community Fund.” Rob Cook, Winvic’s director of civils and infrastructure, said: “Having worked with IM Properties on a number of its projects we have gained much experience of how they engage positively with local communities. We are delighted to already be working with a number of its partners to deliver our social value commitments, also donating time and money to the community and local charities.” “The programme of civils and strategic infrastructure works is significant across the 71-hectare site, however with our experience of undertaking similar projects, we are confident of delivering on budget and to schedule.”
One of the UK’s leading specialist interior fit-out contractors has completed a milestone 16-storey contract at Edwardian Hotels’ new flagship super boutique hotel in London. EE Smith Contracts, which has been carrying out work for Edwardian Hotels Ltd for the last 35 years, opened its factories on the Clarendon Industrial Estate in Leicester 24 hours a day during peak capacity to help create London’s largest new luxury hotel, The Londoner. The Londoner, which has been designed in collaboration with Toronto and New York based design studio Yabu Pushelberg, has been branded as the world’s first super boutique hotel and its highly-anticipated opening is due this month. (September) There are 350 guest suites with views over Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square over 16 storeys which also includes six food and beverage outlets. There is also a two-screen cinema, a 1,000 capacity pillarless ballroom and an event space for corporate hire or private parties with a bespoke half honed half polished green marble floor and unique, fabric clad wavey walls. The Londoner features an area called The Retreat which has a swimming pool, private cabanas, a detox juice bar, hair and nail salon, treatment rooms and a gym. There is also The Residence which features three exclusive bars and eateries which are open 24 hours a day for exclusive use to meet every hotel guest’s needs. The hotel is home to £5 million worth of art throughout the building to enhance the boutique style experience within the west end district of London. The work has involved finishes on the project from all over the world such as 350 lava stones from Italian volcanos. Neil Bottrill at EE Smith Contracts said it had been fantastic to work on helping to create The Londoner. He said: “We have continued our 35-year relationship with Edwardian Hotels by collaborating on their super boutique flagship, The Londoner. “When this first-of-its-kind ‘iceberg’ hotel opens, it will be the largest hospitality opening in London post-Covid. “This has been a very collaborative project that we were chosen for due to our in-depth understanding of Edwardians’ expectations, standards and their way of working. “There were 78 finishes schedules across the project whereas we usually have a maximum of three which highlights the scale of this project. “We have shown our innovation and adaptability in the manufacturing of bespoke joinery for each of the 350 suites which was made possible by operating 24/7 from our Leicester HQ. “Covid did interrupt completion but the finished result is absolutely stunning and the opening of The Londoner will definitely give a much-needed boost to the hospitality industry.” Krishma Singh Dear, of Edwardian Hotels London, added: “Edwardian has worked with EE Smith for 35 years on all of our refurbishments. “We therefore know that EE Smith is able to produce a high-quality fit-out that withstands the test of time. “The Londoner was a project that was extremely complicated in terms of its detailing and scale. We believe EE Smith has done a fantastic job and we are all proud of the finished product.”
Data released today in the WhatHouse? New Homes Index reveals the hottest areas across Britain for new home buyer search with South East of England, West Midlands and East Midlands top of the list for August 2021. A sign that, post pandemic, home buyers are weighing up relocation to areas beyond the traditional Greater London commuter zone and considering a wider range of regions in the hunt for greater space and value for money. In August the national average price of new home property coming to market stayed virtually static at £334,801 (£338,339 in July). Top three new home search areas during August: 1. South East of England has demonstrated the most buyer demand during August 2021, achieving 31,293 new home buyer searches. 2. West Midlands maintains second position for the second month in a row, achieving 19,921 new home buyer searches during August 2021. 3. East Midlands has secured a top three search position with 16,760 new home buyer searches during August 2021, representing a 46% increase on July’s figures. During the past six months (March – August 2021) three regions have demonstrated month on month growth in new home search. 1. East Midlands – 46% growth 2. Yorkshire & The Humber – 28% growth 3. South East England – 22% growth Daniel Hill, Managing Director, WhatHouse? comments: “Whilst buyer’s future new home needs remain uncertain – as many employers are yet to confirm if, or when, the daily commute will return – many continue to consider a move unhindered by the need to be close to traditional transport networks, and with the need for ample home working space in mind. This all points to buyer interest in new homes remaining strong across the UK, and WhatHouse? predicts higher than average Autumn search activity driven by continued buyer interest in relocation.” David O’Leary, Policy Director, Home Builders Federation said: “Buyer interest and appetite for new builds remains high with the clear focus of builders very much on finding a way through a number of thorny supply-side challenges. Materials availability continues to cause headaches and planning delays bring uncertainty and additional expense”.
SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities, has appointed Rachel Sudlow as its R&D Lead in a newly created role designed to increase digital innovation across public sector construction. Rachel joins SCAPE following more than 10 years at Balfour Beatty, where she started as a quantity surveyor but was most recently focused on innovation and research, working with bodies such as Innovate UK to drive improved digital standards in the construction industry. The new role will see Rachel work closely with SCAPE’s clients and delivery partners to develop, encourage and apply new technologies and building methods to create more innovative, sustainable buildings. Rachel will also collaborate with various private and public sector partners outside of the construction industry, including funding bodies, research institutions and academia, as it continues to help shape the public sector’s response to the climate emergency. This includes a significant focus on BIM modelling utilised by SCAPE projects across the UK, ensuring that data from partners and clients is collected and used effectively to enhance strategic decision-making, improve efficiency and environmental performance at every stage, from procurement through the full life cycle of the building. Her appointment follows the launches of SCAPE’s latest suite of net-zero-ready construction and consultancy frameworks – SCAPE Construction, SCAPE Scotland Construction, SCAPE Consultancy and SCAPE Scotland Consultancy – which incorporate dedicated tools to help public sector organisations procure projects in a way that meets their sustainability and climate ambitions. SCAPE’s suite of construction and consultancy frameworks is used by more than 1,200 public bodies across the UK. The framework provider currently operates with a buying power of £18bn. Rachel Sudlow, R&D Lead at SCAPE, said: “At a time of significant regeneration across the public estate, it’s critical that the next generation of public sector buildings and infrastructure sets new standards for construction. Innovation will play a critical role and ultimately be supported by continually striving for better outcomes through the application of R&D. “Working with our clients and partners, and the wealth of data their projects produce, we have an outstanding opportunity to stimulate truly impactful innovation and ensure that the UK continues to be seen as a centre of excellence for construction.” Rachel will report directly to Chris Clarke, Director of Performance and Improvement at SCAPE. He said: “There’s little doubt that a combination of ingenuity and resource is needed to help address the complex needs of the public sector, including the climate emergency that has been declared by organisations across the UK and the world. Rachel’s addition to the team signals our commitment to both and will further set our clients’ projects apart in terms of adopting market-leading R&D in addition to best-in-class procurement. Through digital innovation, we can ensure an even greater legacy for the wave of public sector regeneration that is currently driving the UK’s economic recovery.”
Main contractor Laing O’Rourke has awarded the £1.5m furniture and fitout contract for the first phase of the £485m 3Ts redevelopment of Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton to Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading hospital fitout specialists. Deanestor will manufacture around 17,000 items of furniture for the project and will be fitting out 2,000 rooms across the new, purpose-designed 11-storey building. Deanestor has a long-standing relationship with Laing O’Rourke and architects BDP, and this latest contract follows their successful completion of fitout projects at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Liverpool, The Grange University Hospital in Wales, Dumfries and Galloway Hospital in Scotland, and furniture provided for a number of Nightingale hospitals in the Covid-19 pandemic. Commenting on this latest project, Will Tonkinson, Managing Director of Deanestor, said, “We are delighted to be working once again with Laing O’Rourke and BDP, and on our 18th project for Laing O’Rourke. 3Ts is a major redevelopment project, which will modernise Royal Sussex County Hospital and provide state-of-the-art accommodation to improve the patient experience and support the Trust’s roles as a district general hospital, a specialist tertiary centre, a teaching hub, and a major trauma centre.” Stage one of the redevelopment, which is being fitted out by Deanestor, will house inpatient wards on the upper floors. The majority of patients will have single ensuite rooms with sea views. The lower floors accommodate outpatients and diagnostics services in spacious, modern surroundings. Public-facing services are located on the first and sixth floors and include main reception, waiting areas, retail units, café, and welfare and wellbeing facilities. The bespoke joinery package awarded to Deanestor includes a stunning 6m diameter main hospital reception desk for welcoming patients and visitors, and using natural walnut hardwood and veneers. 35 nurse stations and staff bases with solid surface finishes and wood grain fascias will be manufactured and installed across the building, together with 40 touchdown bases providing staff with convenient additional workspaces in the clinical areas. Deanestor is manufacturing hospital furniture for all consulting rooms, patient bedrooms, and utilities, including base and wall storage units with white Formica door fronts, adjustable shelving units – some with HTM71 tray inserts, and solid grade laminate worktops to patient bedrooms. The Deanestor team will be fitting over 10,000 individual products procured by the Trust such as rack storage systems, dispensers, clocks, noticeboards, benching, and white goods. Stainless steel furniture will also be provided for the catering areas on each floor as part of this contract, which is due for completion in Summer 2022. Originally established in 1948 to manufacture hospital furniture and fittings for the newly established NHS, Deanestor has the resources and expertise to manage 5,000-room hospital projects. It offers bespoke design services to meet specific project requirements and is responsible for installation to provide a seamless approach and a single point of contact for contractors, NHS trusts and other construction clients. For further information, visit www.deanestor.co.uk/healthcare, call 01623 420041 or email enquiries@deanestor.com
Teachers know that many of the most important factors affecting children’s performance are invisible. Tiredness, stress, hunger: these all have a significant impact on pupils’ productivity and their ability to learn. But there’s another significant factor that most educators (and employers, for that matter) rarely consider. This is the most invisible element of all: the air that we breathe. But since the beginning of the pandemic, air quality in schools has been under the microscope. Yet as important as it is to reduce infections through better ventilation, this crisis presents a golden opportunity to improve concentration and performance, not just for school pupils but for every worker. Breathing new life into classrooms The annual “back to school” in September is always a stressful time for teachers, children and parents, but this year will be like no other. Everyone knows that packing children into classrooms significantly increases the risk of Covid transmission, which is why school and government leaders are quite rightly prioritising ventilation. Clean air technology has a stunning effect on reducing transmission. One school was able to capture 99.97% of airborne pathogens by implementing our air disinfection, filtration, isolation and monitoring technology. But this is an opportunity to do much more than prevent children catching Covid, as crucial as that is. The link between air quality and long-term health complications has been known for many years. The reduction in air pollution has been one of the great public health successes of the last century. What’s far less appreciated is the effect that poor air quality has on students’ productivity and concentration. Recent research has found that creating and maintaining a standard for air quality can improve productivity by 11%, and can even have a measurable effect on pupils’ strategic thinking and exam scores. In fact, one study found that spending a few hundred pounds on air filtration systems has been shown to raise test scores by the same amount as cutting class sizes by a third. By improving air quality, we can literally breathe new life into classrooms, with huge advantages for pupils and, longer term, for the growth of the UK economy. Schools can teach business a lesson It’s not just children who benefit from breathing purer air; adults experience similar performance and productivity gains from improvements to air quality. There are certainly many industries that can take a lesson from schools and hospitals on improving air quality. Research among building decision-makers into what they are doing to ensure the health of occupants found that while healthcare organisations are, unsurprisingly, leading the way in implementing clean air technology, less than half of commercial real estate respondents have done so. This presents a major opportunity for the building and construction industry. The UK’s successful vaccination programme and general levels of Covid fatigue means that stressing the virus threat will only go so far. By moving the conversation on and stressing the measurable, bottom-line benefits to businesses, we can deliver a much more compelling message. Instead of fixing a problem, the industry will be positioning itself as partners in businesses’ future success. Setting new standards In truth, the building and construction sector needs a powerful message because existing regulations fall far short of what’s needed to improve workers’ wellbeing and productivity. Currently, the HSE Approved Code of Practice states fresh air should not fall below five to eight litres of air per second per occupant, while CIBSE’s guidance suggests that buildings should have a ventilation rate of ten litres. This is far too low: testing shows that even at the rate of 12 litres per person/second, CO2 levels can still remain high, leading to drowsiness and poor concentration. It’s also too low to remove particulate matter, which contributes to long-term health complications, while exacerbating allergies that can reduce productivity even further. Ideally, the minimum standard for ventilation should be doubled to 20 litres per second per person, and that really should be an absolute minimum. But these numbers are not absolute: ventilation requirements change according to how many people are in the building at any one time. This is another area where the construction industry can play an important educational role by setting improved standards based on occupancy and air quality metrics, rather than measuring ventilation alone. This has the additional benefit of ensuring that businesses are not over-ventilating their offices, which can be detrimental to their energy efficiency and heating costs. We constantly hear that the coronavirus crisis is an opportunity to “build back better”. On air quality we have a chance to make a measurable difference to millions of people’s health, happiness, and productivity. Let’s seize this opportunity to make workplaces fit for the future by tackling what’s been so easy to ignore for so long: the air on which all life depends.
A team of archaeologists have unearthed human skeletons during the excavation of a Bronze to early Iron Age settlement on This Land’s™ Burwell site, in advance of the development of 350 new homes. Following the removal of topsoil at the 6.5-hectare site on Newmarket Road, archaeologists have discovered two full human skeletons as well as a vast number of post holes, pits and pieces of pottery which date from 1200-350BC. The number of post holes indicate that there was a large community which used to live at the site, whilst the layout implies the timber structures would have been both round and rectangular in shape. The team also uncovered animal bones and broken pottery which may well have been used to throw away unwanted food remains and other goods. The excavation of the settlement is the first of two phases being carried by Oxford Archaeology East who are supported by Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) and appointed by specialist archaeological and heritage consultants Orion. An area identified as a cremation burial ground will be excavated and examined ahead of construction of Phase Two of the scheme. On completion of the fieldwork, there will be a programme of post-excavation assessment and analysis of the artefacts and environmental samples which will be recorded and followed by a full publication of the results. The information will be built into a story of the site and archived, and the artefacts will be donated to CCC and made available for public viewing. “These are exciting new discoveries and we are delighted with the team’s ongoing work at this historically significant site in Burwell. It’s been fascinating to learn about the history of the site, which will provide an archival legacy of artefacts for future generations to enjoy,” commented on the ongoing archaeological fieldwork, Brenda Kibblewhite, Head of Sales and Marketing of This Land™. On the conclusion of the archaeological dig, This Land™ will commence the main infrastructure for the development of a community of 350 new homes, including affordable housing. The scheme will include a mix of housing. The archaeological dig, which began in May, is expected to be finished in September depending on any further findings.
A casino is, first and foremost, a respectable pastime with a bit of gambling. Nowadays, the opportunity to play and feel the whole enchanting world of gambling is not only for people who come to land-based casinos but also for those who use such casino applications as tonybetapp.com and browser-based online casinos. In today’s article, we made a selection of the most interesting casinos in the world. And who knows, maybe some of the establishments will shock you so much that it will become a must-visit. Venetian Macao The famous Venetian Macao is a gigantic casino that is one of the top five largest casinos in the world. The casino is dedicated to the theme of Venice and the luxury associated with it. There are canals, gondolas, and all the entourage of Venetian luxury. The four halls of the casino are differently decorated. There are more than eight hundred tables for various table games, as well as more than 3,400 machines. Huge jackpots and high roller tables are ideal for big bets and big winnings. Circus Circus Casino The brightest building in Las Vegas is Circus Circus Casino. The casino is one of the top-rated casinos in the world. The casino is home to a veritable circus, and the place itself looks like a circus arena. Guests can watch acrobats, magicians, and jugglers perform, and large-scale shows are regularly held here. More than 5000 slot machines and 1200 gaming tables with classic games: roulette, dice, card tables. Curiously enough, this particular establishment was the site of the most high-profile robbery, when Heather Tolkiff managed to lighten the establishment by $3 million. After the robbery, she disguised herself as an old lady and left the establishment in a wheelchair. Casino di Venezia A Venetian landmark is the Casino di Venezia. In the early 16th century the building of this casino was built, and the famous architect Mauro Coducci worked on its architecture. Nowadays within the walls of the structure are held various kinds of gambling entertainment. The casino also has a museum dedicated to the famous composer Wagner, who spent his last hours here. Baden Baden Casino Germany’s most famous casino. The institution opened in 1821 and gained immense popularity, which has not lost its popularity to date. This place is loved by the most avid gamblers and with great pleasure. The reason is the mineral springs of Baden-Baden, which are very appropriate for the respectable public. European elite spends their leisure time in the daytime – in the springs, and the evening – at the casino. Marina Bay Sands Casino Singapore’s landmark. The most expensive casino in the world opened its doors in 2011. The project itself cost eight billion dollars. Three floors of gaming halls that hold more than 2,300 slot machines and 500 gaming tables for baccarat, crepes, roulette, and blackjack. Stadt Сasino Basel Casino on the site of the former theater in Basel, renovated by the renowned architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron. The building was formerly the Stehlin Musiksaal concert hall. Since 1876 it has been famous for its unusual acoustics. The main idea was to separate the main casino building from the Stehlin Musiksaal so each object is perceived as an independent entity. The project cost 77 million euros and took four years to complete. Tusk Rio Casino Resort Another amazing casino is located in South Africa. The largest casino in the southern hemisphere. Tusk Rio Casino Resort is located in the big resort town of Clerksdorp. Here come to rest whole families. For this reason, the same casino takes the leading position in the ranking of attendance. In the halls of the institution, there are more than 300 modern slot machines. There are also tables for other games: poker, blackjack.
