BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design and engineering company, have completed their part in the successful design and construction of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s (NHSGGC) new Clydebank Health and Care Centre. The new facility, situated in the health quarter of Queens Quay and in the shadow of the area’s famous
Plans have been submitted to regenerate a brownfield site in the centre of Hemel Hempstead with 56 new homes and a purpose-built headquarters for homeless charity, DENS. On behalf of Dacorum Borough Council, multi-disciplinary design practice, rg+p has designed and submitted plans for a complete redevelopment of the Paradise Depot
Breakthrough offers potential to power Britain’s new high speed railway stations An HS2 building site is the test bed for a revolutionary new building method that could ultimately provide carbon-free energy to stations on Britain’s new high speed rail network. The breakthrough, part of HS2’s Innovation programme, and soon to
City Plumbing, part of the newly formed Highbourne Group, is pleased to announce a continuation of its relationship with the UK’s largest energy and home services provider British Gas. The specialist heating and plumbing merchant has signed a multi-year contract to supply British Gas with boilers and parts to support
Natural slate experts SSQ are marking 30 years of collaboration with world-renowned Spanish slate quarry Del Carmen. It was in 1992 that SSQ founder Ahmed El-Helw first met with Del Carmen’s owners in his search for the finest quality slate Spain had to offer. It wasn’t long before he realised
Devon-based marine and civil engineering specialists, Teignmouth Maritime Services Ltd (TMS) has become a 50% shareholder of Kent-based hydraulic engineering specialists, Hesselberg Hydro UK Ltd, combining nearly 60 years’ experience and expertise in the maritime construction sector. Teignmouth Maritime Services Ltd (TMS) has been providing professional marine and land based
Schneider Electric and World Economic Forum work with dedicated community to launch framework to attract more investment for decarbonising buildings. Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation supports the World Economic Forum in launching the Net-Zero Carbon Cities Building Value Framework, an investment framework
Kier has just been awarded by Stanhope, Mitsui Fudosan and AIMCo the contract for the construction of 142 new affordable homes for Peabody in two new buildings called Macfarlane Place at Television Centre, London, W12. Construction of Macfarlane Place will commence in March 2022, with delivery expected in early 2024.
Gleeds, the property and construction consultancy, has founded an emerging talent group with the aim of bringing junior staff members from construction consultancy firms together to collaborate, learn and network. The group is the brainchild of Justin Moore, project director at Gleeds, who recognised the need to bring more of
Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson has completed construction works on the new Anker Valley Primary School in Tamworth, Staffordshire. The opening ceremony for the new school took place towards the end of 2021, with MP Christopher Pincher, County Councillor Jonathan Price from Staffordshire County Council, representatives from G F Tomlinson
BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design and engineering company, have completed their part in the successful design and construction of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s (NHSGGC) new Clydebank Health and Care Centre. The new facility, situated in the health quarter of Queens Quay and in the shadow of the area’s famous Titan crane, consolidates a number of local GP and social care practices, as well as podiatry and physiotherapy, within a sustainable and fully accessible three-storey building. Appointed by hub West Scotland, BakerHicks provided the civil and structural design for the new £19 million building, which was constructed by BAM Construction. The design incorporates a steel frame, long-span beams and the use of curtain walling and extensive glazing to create a light and open feel in the atrium and beyond. It also features an impressive cantilever above the main entrance. Working closely with architects, Anderson Bell Christie, and the landscape architects, Harrison Stevens, BakerHicks’ knowledge, and expertise were also used to help highlight the industrial past of the site, with the use of corten steel elements throughout. Queen’s Quay Clydebank is one of Scotland’s key waterfront regeneration projects. The once thriving industrial site was famous for building the QE2 and Queen Mary. The plan now is to transform the 24-hectare site into a vibrant, mixed-use community. With the new facility being located on a brownfield site, it posed a number of civil engineering challenges, including contaminated soil, buried tracks and foundations. To overcome this, BakerHicks’ civil engineers devised a thorough land remediation strategy. Thick layers of made ground due to the site’s industrial past also required ground improvement measures with the use of Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC) to accommodate foundation loads. The tidally influenced river Clyde, plus surface water flooding from surrounding areas, meant the site levels had to be carefully designed to mitigate the risk of flooding. BakerHicks set the building level so as to prevent flooding from the river and designed an overland flow path through the site to allow the surface water to dissipate. Laura James, Head of Scotland at BakerHicks, says the new facility in Clydebank is another example of the company’s expertise in delivering health and care design: “We have now been involved in the design of five separate facilities in the Greater Glasgow area that will genuinely deliver a step change in the provision of health and care in Scotland. Providing a central base for local health services, it will improve primary care services, giving the local community improved access to health services in the most up-to-date, high quality facilities. “Our teams worked closely with the architects and wider design team to ensure the building honours the culture and past of the area, as well as brining the modern values of the town to the new development.” Tom Steele, NHSGGC’s Director of Estates and Facilities said: “I am personally very proud of this development, which stands in this most historic location. “This stunning development is the sixth Health and Care Centre NHSGGC has built in recent years, delivering state-of-the-art facilities for their local communities. Very soon it will be home to six GP practices and community health and care services including Speech and Language Therapy, Mental Health Services, Physiotherapy, Antenatal Clinics, Community Paediatric Clinics, Podiatry and Sexual Health. “I have every confidence that the people of Clydebank will be equally pleased with the result when it opens in a few weeks.” Iain Marley, CEO of hub West Scotland, commented: “The completion of this landmark facility is a hugely significant milestone in the development of the Queen’s Quay Masterplan, and we are immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to achieve this brilliant outcome. “The design of the new facility benefits from the team’s experience gained from the delivery of multiple tremendously successful health and care centres for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.” BakerHicks also provided civil and structural engineering services on Eastwood, Gorbals, Greenock and Woodside Health and Care Centres, all of which follow the same design principles as Clydebank.
Plans have been submitted to regenerate a brownfield site in the centre of Hemel Hempstead with 56 new homes and a purpose-built headquarters for homeless charity, DENS. On behalf of Dacorum Borough Council, multi-disciplinary design practice, rg+p has designed and submitted plans for a complete redevelopment of the Paradise Depot site, which is located off St Albans Road, east of the town centre. Currently occupied by the DENS office and foodbank as well as other commercial/industrial premises, the intention is for the site to become an asset for the town. “Paradise Depot occupies a central location within Hemel Hempstead; there are plenty of amenities nearby, it’s easily accessible by public transport and is bordered by a public park so is entirely suited for a modern, mixed-use development,” explains Grant Giblett, the project’s lead and rg+p’s director. “Our design has sought to create a real sense of place, not just somewhere to live and work, but an attractive, sustainable environment that will wholly benefit the community.” rg+p’s design proposes a two-storey building to better serve DENS’ needs, comprising ground floor foodbank and bike workshop together with first floor community café, office space, kitchen and multi-functional meeting rooms. A shared surface unites this building with a new apartment block of 56 one and two bedroom homes. Cycle and scooter storage, car parking, residents’ garden and additional landscaping is also incorporated into the overall design. Each apartment has a private balcony and a proportion will be built to accessible standards. Hemel Hempstead’s distinctive local vernacular has heavily influenced the proposed material palette. The concept for the apartment building references the Old Townscape’s Tudor heritage and will feature a blend of red and dark brickwork with hit and miss detailing and a rusticated plinth. Contrastingly, the new DENS centre will have a predominantly darker appearance with black frame windows and rainscreen cladding. However, the foodbank entrance is designed as a focal point and will feature decorative tiling inspired by Hertfordshire Puddingstone. Unique to the area, Puddingstone traditionally has a subtle and muted exterior but when cut, it has vibrant orange, brown and blue hues, meaning this façade will look both striking and individual. Grant added: “The local architecture has offered plenty of inspiration and we’re confident these new buildings will complement the townscape. More importantly, they will deliver essential homes and services for some of the most vulnerable people in the community. Having worked with Dacorum Borough Council for several years, we fully understand their ambitions, especially regarding repurposing brownfield sites and avoiding greenbelt development. “We extensively modelled Paradise Depot to maximise the number of new homes, which I’m pleased to say delivers beyond the original expectation without compromising on space standards for residents. We understand a formal consultation process is due to begin shortly and are hopeful a positive outcome from this application will follow,” concluded Grant. Cllr. Margaret Griffiths, portfolio holder for housing at Dacorum Borough Council added: “We are delighted to be working with rg+p again, this time on the design of 56 new homes that will be available for social rent through our housing register. Having worked with them on other local developments, we are confident that the design will integrate well with the existing neighbouring architecture and provide apartments that our residents will be proud to call home. Alongside this, they have also developed plans for a new centre for DENS, which will provide the charity with a modern space to continue to deliver essential community services, such as the food bank. “The new homes, being developed on a brownfield site, will help us reach our target to build 350 new council homes by 2026. Being located close to the town, residents will also benefit from being within walking distance of amenities, open spaces and excellent transport links.” Paradise Depot is rg+p’s third affordable housing scheme for Dacorum Borough Council in Hemel Hempstead, following the award-winning Kylna Court and Magenta Court. Two further sites, also in the town, are currently in development.
Breakthrough offers potential to power Britain’s new high speed railway stations An HS2 building site is the test bed for a revolutionary new building method that could ultimately provide carbon-free energy to stations on Britain’s new high speed rail network. The breakthrough, part of HS2’s Innovation programme, and soon to be trialled by contractors Mace Dragados at the project’s Euston station site in London, will draw ground heat up through the foundations of a newly built construction site office. The innovation’s developer, civil engineering experts, Keltbray, estimates its technology will harness enough energy to supply 80% of the building’s heating and hot water. With such obvious potential benefits, engineers are already exploring how the new piling technology known as HIPER* pile could be incorporated into HS2’s stations at Euston and Curzon Street in Birmingham to supply zero-carbon renewable energy. The environmentally-friendly innovation takes advantage of a new piling technique that swaps solid concrete foundation piles for recyclable hollow ones made from a steel industry waste product that reduces the carbon-intensive cement content by up to 70%. How it works As part of the site office’s foundations, the hollow tube piles are bored up to 25 metres into the ground and filled with water, before pipes carrying cold flowing water to and from the building above are run through each pile cylinder. As the ground’s heat warms the standing water in the cylinders, heat is transferred to the pipes and carried to the surface to supply the building’s heating system and hot water. In a novel twist, the technology can be reversed in the summer to be used like air conditioning to cool the building by transferring heat back into the ground. HS2 Ltd innovation manager, Heather Donald said: “The potential benefits of this innovation are obvious. By harnessing ground heat this technology has the potential to provide both heating, cooling and hot water to HS2 stations – increasing sustainability by reducing their carbon footprint and running costs.” Mace Dragados Programme Director, Ben Wheeldon, said: “One of our ambitions at HS2 Euston Station is to be recognised as a leading project by the public, the industry and our neighbours, and so it’s incredibly exciting for us to have the opportunity to trial this innovative piling technology. It has the clear potential to reduce the use of materials, streamline the piling process, reduce costs and significantly shrink our carbon footprint.” Keltbray Technical Manager, Asha Panchal said: “The innovation combines a number of novel technological breakthroughs to deliver the first major change in the piling industry for over 70 years. HIPER Piles use zero-cement concrete, halving embedded carbon emissions compared with a traditional methods. The fact that HIPER piles are hollow also means that they are 60% more thermally conductive so they can harness the earth’s natural zero-carbon thermal energy more efficiently than conventional solid thermal piles.”
City Plumbing, part of the newly formed Highbourne Group, is pleased to announce a continuation of its relationship with the UK’s largest energy and home services provider British Gas. The specialist heating and plumbing merchant has signed a multi-year contract to supply British Gas with boilers and parts to support complete installations, annual services, repairs and maintenance for thousands of homes across the UK. Covering British Gas customers for boilers and central heating as well as plumbing, drainage and electrics too. The new contract will see City Plumbing and British Gas work together to use digital innovations to streamline processes, enhance customer experience and deliver products to British Gas’s customers when they need them. Dave Evans, CEO of Highbourne Group said: “I am delighted to announce the continuation of the long established relationship between City Plumbing / PTS and British Gas. Over the last 10 years, our business has evolved to deliver great customer service to British Gas customers, and I look forward to working with the British Gas team in the future as we develop digital solutions to enhance both their customer and their engineers experience” For more information about City Plumbing supplies and the services it offers, visit: www.cityplumbing.co.uk
Natural slate experts SSQ are marking 30 years of collaboration with world-renowned Spanish slate quarry Del Carmen. It was in 1992 that SSQ founder Ahmed El-Helw first met with Del Carmen’s owners in his search for the finest quality slate Spain had to offer. It wasn’t long before he realised he’d found what he’d been looking for. When it came to its aesthetics, durability and all-round performance, the slate produced by Del Carmen was among the best he’d ever seen, as Ahmed explains. “As quarries go, Del Carmen had it all – uncompromising quality standards, decades of expertise, and the most stunning blue-black slate with the longevity to last up to a century. “However, it wasn’t as simple as placing an order. Like any quarry, Del Carmen only had a limited amount of material they could supply, and any slate they gave to me was slate they couldn’t supply elsewhere. “I had to convince them to put their faith in me – a young businessman operating in a country they’d never supplied to before. But I’m delighted to say they did. “We trusted and respected each other from the very beginning – so much so that, when our agreement was finally made, it was with a handshake. Thirty years on, we’ve still never signed a formal contract.” In the decades since that first meeting in Spain, SSQ has used outstanding Del Carmen slate to roof thousands of buildings all around the world, with the material often handpicked by architects for its distinctive, faintly-rippled texture, deep blue-black colour and longitudinal grain. “I’ll always be hugely grateful to Del Carmen’s owners for all their support and friendship,” Ahmed continues. “Without them, SSQ wouldn’t be the business it is today. “Later in 2022, we’re hoping to travel out to Spain to celebrate properly with our friends at Del Carmen, and look forward to the next thirty years of cooperation.”www.ssqgroup.com/
Devon-based marine and civil engineering specialists, Teignmouth Maritime Services Ltd (TMS) has become a 50% shareholder of Kent-based hydraulic engineering specialists, Hesselberg Hydro UK Ltd, combining nearly 60 years’ experience and expertise in the maritime construction sector. Teignmouth Maritime Services Ltd (TMS) has been providing professional marine and land based civil engineering services since 1991. With over 30 years’ experience working as a leading marine contracting business, the company boasts an impressive portfolio providing services including marine and civil construction, commercial diving, marine plant hire, piling, emergency repairs and flood defence works. Peter Stenner, Managing Director of TMS says; “We’re very proud to have achieved and maintained significant growth over the last decade and this growth has enabled us to comfortably complete multi-million-pound schemes to the satisfaction of our clients. This partnership investment with Hesselberg Hydro is most certainly going to compliment and aid further growth for both companies in the years ahead.” Mr Stenner continues; “There are many synergies between the two companies, both working side by side in similar sectors, using different techniques. We are very pleased to have now combined both company’s expertise, expanding and maximising our service offering further within the industry.” Originally part of the Norwegian A/S Sigurd Hesselberg group, Hesselberg Hydro UK Ltd was established in 1986 to concentrate on dam building. Now the company, with over 36 years’ experience, works in many sectors of hydraulic engineering specialising in the application of asphalt and particularly systems for erosion protection, underwater scour protection and waterproofing. The company’s comprehensive service encompasses feasibility studies and inspections together with design, installation, and maintenance of asphaltic structures for dams, reservoirs and lagoons, rivers and irrigation channels, ports and coastal environments, and landfill sites. Roger Smith, Director of Hesselberg Hydro says; “This is an exciting chapter for both companies. Combining the knowledge and experience of the Hesselberg Hydro team with the resources of Teignmouth Maritime Services will provide a stronger project delivery team to service a growing demand for our services.” To find out more about Teignmouth Maritime Services Ltd and Hesselberg Hydro, visit: www.tmsmaritime.co.uk / Hesselberg Hydro – Asphalt Specialists In Hydraulic Engineering (hesselberg-hydro.com)
Schneider Electric and World Economic Forum work with dedicated community to launch framework to attract more investment for decarbonising buildings. Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation supports the World Economic Forum in launching the Net-Zero Carbon Cities Building Value Framework, an investment framework for decarbonizing buildings. Buildings generate approximately 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While numerous technologies exist to help decarbonize the sector, the biggest obstacles still relate to finance and investment, according to the World Green Building Council’s recent Beyond the Business Case report. According to research from the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures to help stakeholders make more informed decisions on climate related investments, new sustainable buildings will represent a $24.7 trillion investment opportunity in emerging markets alone by 2030, so tackling barriers to investment is essential. The purpose of the Building Value Framework is to shift perceptions on the value of decarbonization investments from purely financial to also consider social, environmental and system performance benefits. A community of more than 40 experts ─ from real estate, finance, technology, and city governments supported the creation of the framework, which can be used at any point in the construction life cycle for retrofit of existing buildings, as well as for the construction of new buildings. It is coupled with an operational checklist, which acts as a practical application of the framework and identifies the relevant technology investment options for all stages of the investment planning and decarbonization journey. “Decarbonizing buildings is a key step to achieving a net-zero future, however, today’s investment decisions often overlook this. The Building Value Framework was developed to highlight the broader benefits that result from integrating non-financial values into investment decisions, while also evaluating how digital technologies can enable the net-zero transition. The framework is designed for practical use, to better equip decision-makers with the relevant know-how to make faster, more inclusive and more sustainable investments,” said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Schneider Electric. The framework is part of the Forum’s wider Net Zero Carbon Cities initiative, co-chaired by Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman & CEO of Schneider Electric and Francesco Starace, CEO and General Manager of Enel Group, which aims to help national and city-level leaders meet their emission reduction targets by aligning and scaling their efforts to deliver solutions that will reduce or eliminate carbon emissions in buildings, energy and mobility. Read more about Net Zero Carbon Cities and Building Value Framework.
Kier has just been awarded by Stanhope, Mitsui Fudosan and AIMCo the contract for the construction of 142 new affordable homes for Peabody in two new buildings called Macfarlane Place at Television Centre, London, W12. Construction of Macfarlane Place will commence in March 2022, with delivery expected in early 2024. The buildings form part of the wider Television Centre development which will eventually have c 950 homes in total. Stanhope is the development manager for Television Centre and Cantillon was the demolition contractor for the multi-storey car park. Designed by Maccreanor Lavington Architects, the new buildings will replace the now demolished former BBC multi-storey car park on Wood Lane, W12, opposite Westfield. The new buildings will provide 71 London Affordable Rent, 34 London Living Rent and 37 homes for Shared Ownership. The buildings will provide 68 x 1 bed, 67 x 2 bed and 7 x 3 bed apartments, with new public realm and retail space retained by the JV fronting Wood Lane. Peabody will be responsible for managing the homes when completed. The JV is working closely with Transport for London, who own the adjacent arches below the elevated Hammersmith & City line, to help improve the wider area for the local community. “Construction of 142 affordable homes, and the ongoing construction of a new office building at 1 Wood Crescent, Television Centre, shows the healthy state of the property market in White City. We are looking forward to working with Kier and delivering much needed affordable homes for residents in Hammersmith & Fulham alongside Peabody who share our confidence and long-term commitment for the area,” commented Jonathan Trout, Property & Commercial Director at Stanhope. Stanhope, Mitsui and AIMCo are the developers of the 14 acre site at Television Centre, including 500,000 sq ft of offices, 950 new homes, Soho House, three state of the art BBC studios, the HQs of BBC Worldwide and Publicis Media. 432 homes have been completed in phase 1, the vast majority of which are now sold. Phase 2 comprises 500 homes, including 142 affordable.
Gleeds, the property and construction consultancy, has founded an emerging talent group with the aim of bringing junior staff members from construction consultancy firms together to collaborate, learn and network. The group is the brainchild of Justin Moore, project director at Gleeds, who recognised the need to bring more of the younger member of Gleeds’ own team together to nurture those future leaders, as well as collaborate with their peers and those in other disciplines within the construction consultancy sector. The group is aimed at anyone within the early stages of their career, for example Apprentices or Trainees, recent Graduates, Assistant Project managers, /Quantity surveyors or those at a similar level. “This industry is growing rapidly and here at Gleeds we felt we needed to invest more into our younger team members to ensure that they are getting all of the career development opportunities we can give them,” said Justin Moore. “Covid restrictions have hindered the networking and learning opportunities usually afforded to those new to the industry and so we thought it important to create a group where we can specifically give back to these new team members and allow them to learn from their peers, build their confidence, gain new ideas or perspectives, as well as gaining more knowledge at the same time.” Gleeds already has seven team members from its Cardiff office in the talent group and are looking for more to join them at the various events and seminars that will be held over the coming months. Gleeds’ project manager Ryan Lester is chair of the Emerging Talent Group (ETG) and has been helping to set it up: “Being a part of the group is a real privilege as it shows Gleeds’ belief in our abilities as future leaders. It also provides us with a platform to develop and enhance relationships with our peers across the region, with the aim of targeting fellow future leaders in other disciplines.” Graduate quantity surveyor Darcie Walbrook joined Gleeds during Covid so has really benefitted from the networking and collaboration that the ETG offers: “Since the group has been established, we have developed our internal relationships with one another, which will support us in building and maintaining our external relationships. “I feel the ETG has boosted my confidence and sets a good environment to develop and grow as a future leader at Gleeds. I look forward to the progression of the group and building connections with other disciplines across the industry.” Gleeds is also working in collaboration with the University of South Wales and the University of the West of England to encourage more talented graduates to join their ranks. Justin explained: “The skill shortage within the construction industry is well known and it is the same situation for us in construction consultancy, that’s why it’s important that we nurture the young team that we have here in Cardiff, and we hope to do the same across the rest of the Gleeds group to ensure that we attract the best of the best to our ranks. “I am proud to say that at our Cardiff office, out of 33 members of staff, seven are in this emerging talent group, which I think demonstrates how Gleeds is investing in bringing new talent into the industry and that we plan to do so for many years to come.”
Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson has completed construction works on the new Anker Valley Primary School in Tamworth, Staffordshire. The opening ceremony for the new school took place towards the end of 2021, with MP Christopher Pincher, County Councillor Jonathan Price from Staffordshire County Council, representatives from G F Tomlinson and Head of School Natalie Horlor in attendance, as well as 50 guests. “We are very pleased to see the newly-built Anker Valley Primary School now open, on behalf of our client Entrust for Staffordshire County Council, through their Construction Project framework,” said Chris Flint, managing director of G F Tomlinson. “We have strong experience in educational projects across the Midlands and are delighted to have delivered this brand-new primary school to the Staffordshire region, providing much-needed school places for young children in the local area.” “The school sits within a new residential development in a great location close to the centre of Tamworth, and will provide high quality educational facilities for the growing community here. The opening ceremony was a wonderful way to mark the special occasion, and it was great to see the smiles on the children’s’ faces as they sang for attendees and explored their new school.” The occasion was marked with speeches and a presentation of the school’s journey, as well as a special ceremony awarding 24 pupils with medals made especially for the occasion. The children also put on a singing performance for everyone attending the event, before the school was officially opened by MP Christopher Pincher and County Councillor Jonathan Price. Construction of the £5million, two-storey school was led by G F Tomlinson, on behalf of its client Entrust for Staffordshire County Council and offers 210 places, including 26 nursery spaces. It was built in response to Tamworth’s new housing developments creating an increased need for additional school places in the area. The school is being managed by Fiertè Multi Academy Trust – which currently has seven other schools in the Tamworth and Burton area. “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination and hard work and so many people have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for almost three years to create this dream. The incredible Anker Valley team, along with the fantastic builders, went above and beyond unpacking deliveries, assembling furniture and getting every room ready for the arrival of our first cohort of children in September 2021,” said Natalie Horlor, Head of School at Anker Valley Primary School. “Everyone has a dream but not everyone can make it happen. As Eleanor Roosevelt said: the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and at Anker Valley, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for helping us to achieve our dream.” This is one of a number of educational schemes that G F Tomlinson is involved with in the West Midlands alongside Entrust, as the Derby-headquartered firm is also constructing Bramshall Meadows First School in Lichfield and Fradley Park Primary School in Uttoxeter for Staffordshire County Council.
