SEGRO V-Park Grand Union will deliver 134,500 sq ft of light industrial space over six storeys The development forms part of Grand Union, a vibrant new canalside neighbourhood of over 3,000 homes being delivered by St George located in Alperton, close to Park Royal St George, a leading mixed use
In line with the Paris Agreement, the organisation previously set a goal of cutting its carbon footprint by 34% by 2025, however – having exceeded that target already this year – Sodexo has today laid out its comprehensive roadmap to net zero and decarbonisation of its UK and Ireland business
Industrious, the highest-rated workplace provider in the industry, and Barings, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, today announce the opening of Hana by Industrious St. Peter’s Square. The 32,000 square foot flexible workplace is located across the ground, second and third floors of Landmark, Barings’ award-winning
Most people use the terms wicker and rattan interchangeably, but they aren’t really the same thing. Rattan is a material, and wicker is a type of furniture manufacture. The specific type of weave used to make this furniture is called wicker, and it is one of the oldest methods of
THE Confederation of British Industry has this week stated that the adoption of the principles for better contracting set out in the government’s Construction Playbook is too slow. This is a view echoed by Gerard Toplass, group CEO of The 55 Group, which is the parent company for national framework
A month-long campaign run by the Health and Safety Executive to raise awareness of lung diseases caused by workplace dust is being backed by insulation specialist Actis, whose products are famously irritant-free. The campaign, which runs throughout October, is aimed at protecting workers from the long -term effects of dust
The Shore Group are delighted to announce the appointment of Will Keenan as Regional Director of their new West & Wales region. Will has extensive experience in Construction Recruitment, Logistics and Site Services. After an extensive recruitment search the company have appointed Will to develop and grow their West country
Construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall Group plc will launch this week an innovative technology platform which uses machine learning software to provide social housing landlords and tenants with real-time, actionable insights to help them ensure their properties are healthy, legally compliant and more energy-efficient. Using discreet interconnected sensors positioned
SEGRO V-Park Grand Union will deliver 134,500 sq ft of light industrial space over six storeys The development forms part of Grand Union, a vibrant new canalside neighbourhood of over 3,000 homes being delivered by St George located in Alperton, close to Park Royal St George, a leading mixed use developer in London and member of the Berkeley Group, and SEGRO, the leading owner and developer of warehouse space, have formed a 50:50 joint venture to bring forward their first urban multi-storey industrial development in the UK as part of a major mixed use neighbourhood at Grand Union being delivered by St George in Brent, North West London. The pioneering development will provide 134,500 sq ft of flexible light industrial space over six storeys and support up to 500 jobs and apprenticeships. The industrial development, to be called SEGRO V-Park Grand Union, is an innovative new concept for delivering multi-storey light industrial property and is designed to maximise employment space and accessibility on the 1.7-acre plot. The concept fully supports the aspirations in the GLA’s new London Plan to intensify industrial land, delivering jobs and homes as part of the regeneration of a wider brownfield site. It forms part of Grand Union, a new canal-side destination which is being delivered by St George. The 22-acre former derelict Northfields Industrial Estate is being transformed into a vibrant new mixed-use neighbourhood in Alperton compromising 3,350 homes, 35% of which will be affordable with first residents being welcomed later this year, delivering much needed homes and jobs to the London Borough of Brent. Grand Union will provide 10.2 acres of publicly accessible landscaped gardens, a net biodiversity gain of 240%, community centre, health centre, local supermarket and a range of onsite amenities. The new neighbourhood will also open up previously inaccessible parts of the Grand Union Canal and River Brent to the local community, creating improved routes around Grand Union and to nearby Stonebridge Park Station. Within SEGRO V-Park Grand Union, the ground and first floors will be utilised to provide over 100 parking spaces, with electric vehicle charging points also being incorporated. The flexible industrial space is arranged over four upper levels which can be configured as up to 20 individual units offering a range of sizes, supported by shared meeting rooms, breakout areas and wellness spaces, including a green roof terrace. The development will incorporate sustainability features such as photovoltaic cells and an internal green wall. Construction is expected to begin in Summer 2022. SEGRO V-Park Grand Union expands SEGRO’s footprint in North West London. It is located close to Tudor Estate and Premier Park at Park Royal and will front onto the North Circular (A406), providing excellent connectivity to the M1 and M25. Piers Clanford, Managing Director, St George Plc, said: “Grand Union has been carefully designed with the local community to create an exciting new canalside neighbourhood, delivering high quality homes and vital jobs offering a wealth of amenities and uses within beautiful public spaces. SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a key part of the redevelopment of this complex brownfield regeneration site in bringing even further opportunity for job creation, aligning with the Borough of Brent and the GLA’s ambitions. We look forward to working with SEGRO on this exciting project.” Alan Holland, Managing Director, Greater London at SEGRO, said: “SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a new model for delivering much-needed light industrial space as part of mixed-use communities. “We are strong advocates for multi-storey warehousing in some urban settings given the pressure on land supply and the need to create space that supports different types of employment. We have successfully delivered multi-storey logistics at scale in Paris and now have the opportunity at Grand Union to adapt this format for a smaller urban site. “This regeneration project is a template for how to revitalise under-utilised industrial land to deliver much needed housing and jobs and we look forward to working with the GLA, London Borough of Brent and St George to bring forward these exciting plans.” Councillor Shama Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning at London Borough of Brent, said: “SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a welcome addition to the borough. Not only will it support hundreds of new jobs during its creation, but it will also provide high quality industrial floorspace suitable for operating in the light industrial industry. V-Park will attract a range of occupiers – from start-up to more established businesses. “Later this year we will be welcoming our first residents to Grand Union as part of our partnership with St George and we look forward to seeing them settle into their new homes as the development transforms into a thriving place to live, work and connect.” Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills at the Greater London Authority, said: “SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a very welcome, innovative approach to industrial intensification that will form part of an exciting new mixed-use development in London. The development will provide high quality homes, whilst creating much needed industrial workspace for a rich variety of small businesses that will create hundreds of jobs in the community. We are looking forward to SEGRO and St George delivering a new, vibrant, mixed-use scheme that will bring affordable homes and jobs to Brent”.
In line with the Paris Agreement, the organisation previously set a goal of cutting its carbon footprint by 34% by 2025, however – having exceeded that target already this year – Sodexo has today laid out its comprehensive roadmap to net zero and decarbonisation of its UK and Ireland business Sodexo has today announced a comprehensive roadmap to net zero and decarbonisation of the business in the UK and Ireland. The organisation, which provides a diverse range of services to large business and public sector clients, has been working with international experts, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), to ensure that its net zero strategy is thorough, impactful and transparent. Sodexo has been working with SBTi as one of 80 companies chosen to road test the target validation criteria and guidance for SBTi’s upcoming Net-Zero Standard. This road test was set up to ensure the criteria, guidance and net-zero target setting tools, that SBTi will give to companies once the Standard launches in October, are robust, clear and practical. The SBTi drives ambitious climate action by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets, in line with a 1.5-degree future. Sodexo’s original Group target – validated by SBTi – to reduce carbon emissions* by 34% by 2025 (against a 2017 baseline) formed part of Sodexo’s Better Tomorrow commitment. Having already exceeded this, the UK&I business – which employs in excess of 30,000 people – will now set its sights on becoming Carbon Neutral*** in its direct operations by 2025. The next step on Sodexo UK&I’s roadmap will be to reduce carbon emissions** across all three scopes by 55% by 2030. The inclusion of every single component of the business’ operations across scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions has enabled Sodexo UK&I to achieve SBTi validation once again for this near-term target. The final step announced today is a decarbonisation of the entire business, with 90% of all carbon emissions**** cut across all three scopes – accounting for suppliers and client sites, not just direct operations. This long-term target – to be achieved no later than 2045 – will be submitted for review by the SBTi with validation to be confirmed and announced in early 2022. Sean Haley, Chairman, Sodexo UK and Ireland said: “The commitments we make today are the culmination of an extraordinary amount of work from our world-class team of sustainability experts. Their unswerving dedication to developing, not just a set of targets, but a detailed action plan to achieve them, gives me absolute confidence in our future ability to not just meet but to exceed our net zero goals. This will enable us to continue to support and improve the communities in which we live, work and serve.” Claire Atkins-Morris Director of Corporate Responsibility, Sodexo UK & Ireland said: “Not all net zero commitments are created equal. This is a hugely complex topic, and it has been critically important to us throughout the process of creating this carbon reduction roadmap that we are committing to something that is truly meaningful, and that we are absolutely transparent in this. “It may seem cautious, but we want to be crystal clear in how we are tackling climate change, setting an achievable target that we can be confident we can monitor and measure. We would rather be conservative today and exceed our goals tomorrow – and this is what our roadmap ensures.” Alex Lankester, Director of Partnerships, WWF-UK said: “As a long-term partner to Sodexo, we are delighted to see them take this extremely thorough approach to their net zero goals. Given the scope and scale of the business, the magnitude of this commitment to decarbonisation across all components of all three scopes should not be underestimated. We would strongly urge more businesses to set a science-based target in line with a 1.5-degree future. This is exactly what’s needed to move the dial.” At the heart of Sodexo’s roadmap to net zero is the aim to reduce its own carbon footprint, leaving a maximum of 10% emissions, before neutralising the impact of any source of residual emissions that cannot be eliminated through permanent carbon dioxide removals. Sodexo’s carbon reduction plan, which will enable the organisation to achieve these goals, includes: The launch of a 100% hybrid and electric vehicle company car policy. Ongoing membership of the Climate Group’s RE100 initiative and procuring 100% renewable electricity by 2022. Switching to 100% reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging by 2025. Increasing the number of plant-based meals and recipes to 33% by 2025 Tackling food waste at all appropriate sites through our WasteWatch powered by LeanPath programme and reducing food waste by 50% by 2025. A thorough responsible sourcing strategy that facilities better working with suppliers Working with clients to achieve net zero collaboratively. As a corporate citizen, Sodexo has for over 50 years placed the responsibility to protect the planet at the forefront of our operational strategy; mindfully conducting our business to create a positive impact on the planet. Visit our website to learn more about our social impact pledge and the planet impact pathway.
Industrious, the highest-rated workplace provider in the industry, and Barings, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, today announce the opening of Hana by Industrious St. Peter’s Square. The 32,000 square foot flexible workplace is located across the ground, second and third floors of Landmark, Barings’ award-winning 180,000 square-foot development in the heart of Manchester City Centre. Hana by Industrious St. Peter’s Square marks Industrious’ second location in Manchester, growing the brand’s regional network to four locations across the U.K. The new flexible workplace is easily accessible via public transportation, and is just steps from Piccadilly Station and St. Peter’s Square. “As we continue to experience significant demand from global occupiers to incorporate greater flexibility into their workplace strategies, the opening of our St. Peter’s Square location couldn’t come at a more opportune moment,” said Ralph Dorey, Managing Director, UK at Industrious. “We’re thrilled to expand our reach in this thriving metro area, and provide an ideal flexible workplace solution for companies looking to either enter Manchester for the first time, or grow their current footprint, in an incredible destination building like Landmark.” Hana by Industrious St. Peter’s Square features 23 private offices accommodating one – 300+ people (Hana Team), multiple conference rooms with state-of-the-art technology to accommodate in-person and hybrid work (Hana Meet), and coworking spaces for individual workers (Hana Share). Private offices come with an array of branding options for occupiers, enterprise-grade technology and customisable layouts. The space also features a cafe, multiple lounge and seating areas perfectly suited for group meetings and collaboration. In a commitment to providing an engaging workplace experience, members can expect complimentary daily breakfast, coffee, tea and snacks, and a weekly calendar of virtual and in-person programming. Additional services include high-speed and secure Wi-Fi, mailing and printing capabilities, on-site support from a dedicated Community Manager, access to a global network of workspace and more. Hana by Industrious will also support Landmark tenants with overflow meeting and coworking space, and the ability for direct lease occupiers of the building to expand into flexible private offices as needed. Further information including additional amenities, how to book a tour and pricing can be found here. Ian Mayhew, Managing Director at Barings, said: “The Hana by Industrious centre is a key component of the inclusive offering we have at Landmark and is launching at a time when flex space plays an increasingly integral role in business strategy. Not only does the space provide opportunities for businesses and individuals to take advantage of the benefits of a world-class building, it also offers additional options to the global occupiers we have in the other floors of the building.” Completed in 2020, the 180,000 sq ft award-winning Landmark development offers 14 floors of BREEAM Excellent and Wired Score Platinum certified, office space in Manchester City Centre. Barings’ focus on well-being, customer experience, sustainability and technological infrastructure at Landmark has delivered a world-class office building with the capacity to support the implementation of Hana by Industrious’ high-quality and hospitality-driven operations. Landmark also provides all-important facilities for existing and future tenants, including the introduction of contactless technologies enabling touch-free movement within the building, access to secured bike spaces, an eleventh-floor terrace, a fully equipped locker room with showers, electric car charging stations and more. Landmark has received overwhelming support from Manchester City Council as the concluding project for the prime St Peter’s Square business district, where substantial private and public sector capital has transformed the area and attracted high-profile occupiers in recent years. Leasing agents on Landmark are CBRE, Colliers and JLL. For more information, please visit www.industriousoffice.com or www.landmarkmanchester.co.uk.
Most people use the terms wicker and rattan interchangeably, but they aren’t really the same thing. Rattan is a material, and wicker is a type of furniture manufacture. The specific type of weave used to make this furniture is called wicker, and it is one of the oldest methods of making furniture. Today you can get wicker furniture in a number of synthetic and natural textiles, but rattan is still the most popular. Wicker can also refer to a specific material used in the weave To make matters more confusing, wicker is often used to describe synthetic fibers used in weaving the furniture. You might also see these synthetic materials referred to as resin wicker or synthetic rattan. Rattan is a natural, sustainable product, but isn’t suitable for outdoor use. Synthetic wicker furniture can stand up to the elements when placed on a patio or covered porch. Even though this furniture might be rated for the outdoors, you should still consider where you might store your outdoor furniture during severe weather. Even the strongest furniture may not stand up against a tornado, hurricane, or tropical storm. You can see some examples of these outdoor wicker pieces at 1Stopbedrooms furniture: purchase online and save. How wicker furniture is made Wicker weaving is a traditional way of making furniture from natural fibers by weaving them into a rigid form. You might think that the wicker weave is only for decoration, but often this furniture utilizes the same material for the frame, legs, main support, and is still decorative. Wicker furniture is one of the rare types of furniture that is still made by hand. There is no way for a machine to equal the quality and durability of hand-woven wicker furniture. Rattan is the oldest, and still popular, material for wicker furniture. In fact, there were rattan wicker furnishings found in King Tut’s tomb, likely sealed over 3,000 years ago. Talk about durable furniture! Of course, today synthetic fibres are used to create wicker furniture, but it is still hand woven. How wicker furniture is maintained Wicker furniture can last seemingly forever, but that doesn’t mean it can’t fail with improper use and neglect. Even though some resin wicker furniture is designed to be used outdoors specifically, it is still a good idea to protect your furnishings to make them last as long as possible. Whether or wicker furniture is indoors or out, you should dust it regularly. Once dust begins to build up within the weave of the furniture, getting it truly clean and looking like new will be an incredible feat. Natural rattan furniture won’t hold up well against regular submersion in water, making it even more imperative that you keep up with dusting at least once a week. When your furniture is outdoors dust can build up on an almost daily basis. Dusty wicker furniture left out in the rain becomes muddy furniture that is difficult to clean. Even if your wicker furniture is safe for outdoor use, you should at least cover the furniture when not in use to cut down on dusting and protect the upholstery.
THE Confederation of British Industry has this week stated that the adoption of the principles for better contracting set out in the government’s Construction Playbook is too slow. This is a view echoed by Gerard Toplass, group CEO of The 55 Group, which is the parent company for national framework provider Pagabo, leading risk, management and compliance software company Sypro, and social value specialist Loop. He said: “We absolutely agree that the principles of the Construction Playbook setting out better contracting are not being adopted at a quick enough pace. We’d also say the same of all of the principles covering the procurement and project lifecycle. The Playbook should – and quite frankly must – be at the heart of everything we do. “At The 55 Group, we embrace the Construction Playbook and everything it stands for. Whether it is at the initial procurement stage, managing contracts and project processes, managing ongoing estate risks, or examining the social value benefits of schemes or activities, our businesses are right at the forefront. This is all wrapped up in a digital-first approach, both in our own operations and in driving technology adoption across the whole industry for processes and training alike. “We’re on a mission to help the industry gain a better understanding of the Playbook’s principles and the best way to implement those into all activity. This includes work Pagabo is currently doing with the Open University to create a series of podcasts that focus on the key elements of the Playbook. “This series aims to provide the public sector and any other clients with the building blocks to implement the Playbook’s core aims and will be launched later this year. “Most importantly, as built environment specialists we must support our clients, the public sector, and each other in understanding the key policies and how to implement them. This means that we need to not just talk about them but find ways of educating and driving the all-important change needed across the sector. “We need to work towards talent density within procurement, properly set up frameworks that have good coverage of suppliers, lots and geographies, and the use of digital technology – all wrapped up in compliant practice with social value at its heart.” For more information, please visit https://www.the55group.co.uk/
A month-long campaign run by the Health and Safety Executive to raise awareness of lung diseases caused by workplace dust is being backed by insulation specialist Actis, whose products are famously irritant-free. The campaign, which runs throughout October, is aimed at protecting workers from the long -term effects of dust inhalation and highlighting different ways of working. The campaign’s hard-hitting slogan is aimed at hammering the message home to employers. “Dust, it can kill. Not today, but years down the line.” The HSE’s chief inspector of construction, Sarah Jardine, says building workers are around a hundred times more likely to die from a disease caused or exacerbated by their workplace than through a construction accident. “We want businesses and their workers to think of the job from start to finish and avoid creating dust by working in different ways to keep dust down and wear the right protective equipment,” she said. Using power tools, sweeping and working with products such as gypsum and wood are among activities which can be extremely harmful, without protection, say HSE experts. Insulation specialist Actis says one change which could help is to switch from using traditional, solid insulation products which create dust when cut to those which generate no irritants or dust whatsoever. Users of Actis’ flexible honeycomb insulation Hybris and insulating vapour control and breather membranes H Control Hybrid, Boost R Hybrid and Boost R Hybrid Roof say their cleanliness and complete absence of dust is precisely one of the reasons they use them. A man whose coach house renovation was the subject of a George Clarke TV programme chose Actis in part because of its cleanliness. Adrian Neaves explained: “I chose Actis rather than any other form of insulation for a number of reasons. One is the U-value, which is excellent. And I wanted it to be quick, clean, and easy to install. I didn’t need to wear a mask as there was no dust, and it was easy to cut and fit.” And Northamptonshire builder Chris Brooks, who has been using Actis for the past 17 years says: “I love using Actis Hybrid. It’s so easy to use, incredibly clean and there’s no dust. I always love it when an architect specifies Actis. And in fact, if they specified PIR board instead I’d encourage them to look at the benefits of Actis. It’s so much nicer to use when you’re installing it.” The fact that there’s no need for specialist PPE or masks and it only requires a saw or a hand operated cutter to trim it are some of the reasons builders return to Actis again and again. The HSE campaign focuses on respiratory risks and occupational lung disease and looks at the measures businesses can take to protect their workers’ lungs from certain materials.
The Shore Group are delighted to announce the appointment of Will Keenan as Regional Director of their new West & Wales region. Will has extensive experience in Construction Recruitment, Logistics and Site Services. After an extensive recruitment search the company have appointed Will to develop and grow their West country presence, working with both new and existing clients. “On behalf of the whole company and the owners we are thrilled to have Will on board. With his obvious passion for the role, his experience, coupled with a focus on social value and excellent customer service, I am excited for our clients in Wales & the West Country,” commented on the appointment Shore Group managing director Richard Woodbridge. “Will has made a huge impression already in the short time he has been with us and we all look forward to working with him and seeing him, the team and our clients all benefit. This is an exciting moment for the Shore Group and being a West Country man myself I’m particularly excited to see us expand our reach and expertise further in this area.” Will Keenan also commented on his appointment: “I’m extremely excited to be on board, it’s going to be fantastic working with old and new clients and is an excellent opportunity to join an ever-expanding business that has a serious passion for outstanding client delivery, right across the United Kingdom. I’m really looking forward to not only developing our new West & Wales region, but to also help push the business nationally through all of our service offerings.”
Construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall Group plc will launch this week an innovative technology platform which uses machine learning software to provide social housing landlords and tenants with real-time, actionable insights to help them ensure their properties are healthy, legally compliant and more energy-efficient. Using discreet interconnected sensors positioned throughout a home, the platform collects data on the internal environmental conditions in a property, including temperature, air pressure, light levels, humidity and carbon dioxide. goldeni also monitors heating systems, detects for water leaks and monitors electricity and gas consumption. The goldeni platform has been developed by data scientists working for Morgan Sindall Property Services, the property maintenance division of the Morgan Sindall Group. Morgan Sindall Property Services currently looks after 200,000 homes on behalf of social landlords across the UK. “Morgan Sindall is committed to developing and implementing innovations for our customers. The launch of goldeni, our first technological innovation for the sector, represents an important milestone not just for Morgan Sindall but also for Social Housing as a whole. By giving clues to potential issues within homes even before they occur, it can help those living in social housing have healthier, safer, more energy efficient homes, as well as saving Social Housing providers costs,” said John Morgan, Chief Executive of the Morgan Sindall Group. “While we’re initially focusing on social housing, its ability to provide an instant overview of a building’s health in real time means that goldeni would just be as useful for commercial and private residential property owners as well, and that’s something we’ll be looking to roll out in the future.” Morgan Sindall Property Services is the first property maintenance provider to develop an inhouse platform that can consolidate and interpret information from a number of commercially available ‘Internet of Things’ sensors in real-time. It provides social housing landlords and tenants with clear, practical recommendations. For example, goldeni monitors ventilation and will recommend opening more windows to ensure homes are less susceptible to mould, can identify water leaks in real-time, and spots when a boiler needs to be serviced, so that preventative action can be taken before a problem escalates. By tracking which homes are using central heating too often or too little, goldeni can also help users identify properties that are in fuel poverty or requiring additional insulation. According to Inside Housing, in 2019 / 20 Housing Associations in England spent a combined £5.51bn on repairs and maintenance, with many Housing Associations experiencing double digit increases in their repair and maintenance costs year-on-year. By helping landlords and tenants identify potential maintenance issues before they occur and remediate leaks before they escalate, it is estimated goldeni could help social housing landlords save over £550m per year. This figure is likely to be even higher for providers who also follow goldeni’s recommendations about how to make properties more energy efficient. The platform also has a crucial role to play in the path to net zero. goldeni provides practical recommendations in real-time for how to make properties more energy efficient, from using heating more effectively throughout the day, to suggestions on the best time to run energy-hungry appliances or improve insulation. The sensors are sensitively designed and easy to install, and the platform can be accessed from any device. What’s more, landlords and tenants immediately benefit after installation, as the machine learning software platform makes preventative recommendations and identifies potential issues from day one.
