Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “New data has revealed that the number of people employed in the UK construction industry jumped by 21,000 at the end of last year, which is the largest increase since 2009. This is brilliant news for the sector. “In December, the workforce rose to
Development is being built for leading UK confectionary manufacturer Swizzels at the new MA6NITUDE logistics/industrial development in Middlewich, Cheshire. GMI Construction Group PLC has today announced that it has been appointed by Magnitude Land LLP, a joint venture between Tritax Symmetry, the development arm of Tritax Big Box and NPLL
Offsite construction specialist Rollalong is using its expertise to provide accommodation for homeless families near Wokingham, Berkshire. The Dorset-based company is due to deliver 23 modular two-bedroom homes at Grovelands Park in Winnersh, replacing existing outdated temporary accommodation for homeless families. The homes were manufactured in controlled factory conditions at
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture and fitout specialists, has been awarded a £3.1m contract by Robertson Group to manufacture and install bespoke kitchens and wardrobes for a new £80m build-to-rent neighbourhood in Glasgow developed by Moda Living. Holland Park is Deanestor’s first build-to-rent contract in Scotland. It follows
A campaign emphasising the importance of working safely to avoid falls from the platform when using Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) to enable temporary work at height has been launched by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) at its annual Summit in London, UK, on 10 March 2022. IPAF’s Don’t
Knight Architects’ design for a new bridge has been granted planning permission as part of Urban&Civic’s extraordinary vision for Waterbeach Barracks in Cambridgeshire. The transport infrastructure throughout the 716-acre site will embody the wider development’s well-connected, sustainable and landscape-led design approach, with Knight Architects’ unique bridge across the A10 supporting
A £20m contract to deliver M&E design and build to the Siemens Gamesa blade factory in Hull, has been awarded to a Hull-based company. Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services delivered on the existing Siemens Gamesa site in 2015/16 and will once again be working with the main contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick
Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “New data has revealed that the number of people employed in the UK construction industry jumped by 21,000 at the end of last year, which is the largest increase since 2009. This is brilliant news for the sector. “In December, the workforce rose to 455,000 employees, which represented a rise of 5% from September, and the most significant increase since June 2009. “This trend looks set to continue, as there are still 50,000 vacancies for jobs in the industry (December to February 2022), which is the most since records began in 2001. “Furthermore, workers are also benefiting from record levels of income, with the average weekly earnings in construction reaching £691. This is up £3 from the previous data, and the highest on record. “Earnings in the electricity, gas and water supply sector also rose, from £749 in December to £753 in January. This is up £3 from the same period last year. “In terms of hours worked, the average weekly figure dropped slightly, from 35.3 (October to December) to 35.2 (November to January). However, this is still considerably higher than in 2021, when it stood at 32.2 hours. “Furthermore, for women in the construction industry, the typical number of hours worked actually rose. Between November and January, the average was 29.3 for female workers – up slightly from 29 between October to December. “This all suggests that UK construction is set for a positive spring and summer, and with the cost of living and inflation rate soaring, this will be welcome news for many.” For more information on IronmongeryDirect, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/ For more information on ElectricalDirect, visit: https://www.electricaldirect.co.uk/
Development is being built for leading UK confectionary manufacturer Swizzels at the new MA6NITUDE logistics/industrial development in Middlewich, Cheshire. GMI Construction Group PLC has today announced that it has been appointed by Magnitude Land LLP, a joint venture between Tritax Symmetry, the development arm of Tritax Big Box and NPLL to commence work on a new 158,000 sq ft facility for leading UK confectionary company Swizzels at the MA6NITUDE logistics/industrial development situated in Middlewich, Cheshire. To herald the announcement of the project a ground-breaking ceremony was held onsite involving dignitaries from GMI and Tritax together with members of the extended project team. Construction of the AEW designed new facility started at the beginning of 2022 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2022. The facility represents the first phase of Swizzels’ expanded manufacturing/distribution capacity, which could grow up to 458,000 sq ft as future phases are added. To the northern area of the site at MA6NITUDE, Tritax Symmetry and GMI are delivering two new build facilities which are being built on a speculative basis and will comprise 149,000 sq ft and 41,000 sq ft. and expected to be available in June 2022. Speaking about the announcement Marc Banks, Divisional Marketing Director GMI Construction Group said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been instructed by Tritax to construct this important new facility for famous UK Confectionery manufacturer Swizzels. This follows our successful appointment on the adjacent plot where GMI is well along presently with the construction of new two speculative warehouse units of 149,000 and 41,000 sq ft respectively. GMI enjoys a strong and expanding working relationship with Tritax and we look forward to delivering another high-quality outcome for them.” Also Speaking about the next phases of development at MA6NITUDE, David Nuttall, development director at Tritax Symmetry, commented: “MA6NITUDE continues to evolve and with the two new speculative buildings available in the summer, we are well placed to welcome new high-quality occupiers to the area. Swizzels’ new manufacturing building will be an exceptional facility for their business and also opens up a further plot to enable us to deliver a 230,000 sq ft building by early 2023.”. Matt Pochin, director at Legat Owen, joint agents for the scheme with Savills and B8 Real Estate continued: “MA6NITUDE is already a major business destination in its own right and the high-level of activity, coupled with the fact that the speculatively developed units are constructed to net zero carbon in construction, will certainly appeal to businesses looking for more sustainable accommodation in line with their own ESG values”. Magnitude Land is being advised by project team including RPS (PM/QS), AEW Architects, civils and infrastructure specialist SGI, and CMS Solicitors.
Offsite construction specialist Rollalong is using its expertise to provide accommodation for homeless families near Wokingham, Berkshire. The Dorset-based company is due to deliver 23 modular two-bedroom homes at Grovelands Park in Winnersh, replacing existing outdated temporary accommodation for homeless families. The homes were manufactured in controlled factory conditions at Rollalong’s headquarters near Bournemouth. Phase one has now been transported to the site and work to complete the installation of all 23 homes is expected to be completed by August 2022. The project will double the number of homes on the Wokingham Borough Council site, and they will be far more energy efficient than the old units. The modular homes will allow more families to be accommodated safely and comfortably while they wait for somewhere permanent to live, and they have their own toilet and bathroom as well as an open-plan lounge, dining room and kitchen. One will be specially adapted for households with people who have disabilities. Laurie Garside, Projects Manager at Rollalong, said: “We are delighted to be working with Wokingham Borough Council’s housing team. The accommodation we have installed for the initial phase of the project is of a very high standard and will provide the local area with a much needed boost for temporary housing.” Councillor John Kaiser, Executive Member for Finance and Housing at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “Homelessness is a fast-growing issue across the country and, sadly, Wokingham borough is no different. We’ve seen an increase during the coronavirus pandemic and coupled with the rising cost of living, this trend is likely to continue. “Improving and increasing the amount of temporary accommodation at Grovelands Park will ensure that we have a safe, suitable supply to meet future need while helping people to live in comfort and dignity at a distressing, uncertain and vulnerable period in their lives. “The new homes will also reduce our reliance on bed and breakfasts, which are expensive, generally have shared facilities and are always outside of the borough, which can increase the sense of isolation for those facing homelessness.” All councils are required to provide temporary emergency housing for homeless families with children or families and individuals who are vulnerable until they find a settled home. At Grovelands Park the old prefabricated units had to be replaced as they were originally built as holiday homes and not intended for long-term occupation. The new timber-clad homes have modern and reliable heating systems and are highly insulated which will prevent pipes from freezing in winter, reduce heating costs and limit their carbon footprint. They also feature the latest fire safety and sustainability measures such as sprinkler systems, double glazing and solar panels, and they are fully furnished with internet access. Some homes are also trialling the latest air source heat pump technologies, an environmentally friendly system that draws heat from outside into the home.
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture and fitout specialists, has been awarded a £3.1m contract by Robertson Group to manufacture and install bespoke kitchens and wardrobes for a new £80m build-to-rent neighbourhood in Glasgow developed by Moda Living. Holland Park is Deanestor’s first build-to-rent contract in Scotland. It follows its successful delivery of multiple fitout projects for private rental schemes in other parts of the UK, and the company’s long track record of providing furniture solutions for major new developments across Scotland. Deanestor will provide 433 contemporary kitchens and 599 wardrobe sets for the high-tech studios and apartments in Holland Park. Set around a new public courtyard, the development will provide 433 homes for rent in four buildings up to 22 storeys, creating a vibrant community of around 900 people. The scheme is designed by Haus Collective and delivered by Ryder Architecture. Deanestor is manufacturing L-shaped and linear kitchens in 18 different configurations for the 1, 2 and 3-bed apartments. These will have a dark grey woodgrain finish for the base cabinets and matt arctic grey wall units with contrasting white quartz worktops and splashbacks. According to Ramsay McDonald, Managing Director of Deanestor Scotland, “We engaged with Robertson at the early pre-construction planning stages of this project and so were able to develop the furniture solutions to meet Moda Living’s stringent design, cost, quality, and programme requirements. We look forward to starting on site, and to completing the furniture and fitout works by Spring 2023.” “Holland Park will help to address a significant under-supply of quality homes for rent in Glasgow whilst contributing to the cityscape. Demand for our kitchen and fitted bedroom furniture solutions continues to rise in the fast-growing UK build-to-rent sector. We are delighted to be involved in this exciting new city living scheme for Moda Living in Scotland.” The kitchen cabinets will have integral formed handles and integrated appliances including extractor fan, ceramic or induction hob, combi or dual fan oven, dishwasher, built-in fridge/freezer or under-counter fridge, microwave, and washer/dryer fitted in a specially designed utility cabinet. The bespoke, full height fitted wardrobes for Holland Park will have a woodgrain finish and will be installed with mirrors, shelving, and hanging rails. Deanestor’s sister company, Offsite Solutions, is also working on the Holland Park project, manufacturing bathroom pods in its third contract for Moda Living. Deanestor provides a complete furniture and fitout service for both bedrooms and kitchens, working on major residential schemes for some of the UK’s leading developers and contractors. Its high specification cabinets are built for longevity and crafted using robust glue and dowel constructions which provide a durable finish for build-to-rent developments. The units are all pre-assembled in the factory for consistently high quality and to reduce work on site. For further information, visit www.deanestor.co.uk/buildtorent call 01623 420041 or email enquiries@deanestor.com .
A campaign emphasising the importance of working safely to avoid falls from the platform when using Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) to enable temporary work at height has been launched by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) at its annual Summit in London, UK, on 10 March 2022. IPAF’s Don’t Fall For It! safety campaign outlines the possible underlying causes of falls from the platform when using MEWPs, which almost always lead to serious injury or death. It offers operators and managers key advice to mitigate the most common risks and avoid accidents of this type, as identified in IPAF’s ongoing incident reporting and analysis via the www.ipafaccidentreporting.org portal. Peter Douglas, CEO & MD of IPAF, comments: “MEWPs are designed to safely conduct temporary work at height in just about every environment, but every year the most common type of accident we see reported are falls from the platform, which as you can imagine nearly always lead to serious injury or death if they occur while using machines at height. “We are determined that our new Don’t Fall For It! targeted global safety campaign will help to instil safe working practices and remind operators and managers of some fairly basic positive steps they can take to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring. The messaging is really simple – select the correct machine for the job, don’t take risks, don’t cut corners, and wear the correct personal fall protection equipment in boom-type platforms.” Brian Parker, IPAF’s Head of Safety & Technical, says: “Operators can help avoid this type of accident by focusing on the principles we’ve set out as part of this campaign. If they are properly trained and familiarised on the MEWPs being used, then hopefully none of this guidance should be new, but we know that complacency breeds contempt, and that too often corners are being cut or fundamental principles of safe use ignored. “With this safety campaign, IPAF is saying that, if you find yourself tempted to do something different to what you know is the right and proper way to work, or if you are ever asked to do something that you think just isn’t safe by a work colleague or supervisor, then ‘don’t fall for it!’ Far better to think twice and save a life – whether it is a workmate’s or your own!” Key points of guidance in the IPAF Don’t Fall For It! global safety campaign include: Plan thoroughly – conduct a proper MEWP site survey/assessment, select the correct machine for the work and use professionally trained operator(s) and supervisor(s). Know your machine – operators should be trained on the machine type they are using and familiarised on the specific model. Operators should assess that the machine is suitable for the task and conditions, and adequate in terms of reach, articulation, and load-bearing capacity. Machine knowledge includes whether personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) should be used and, if so, what type to use, and how to attach it. Clip on – If personal PFPE is required, all occupants of the platform must attach their lanyard to the correct anchor point. Ensure movement within the platform is possible while attached, and do not move the machine or elevate the platform until and unless all occupants are attached. Set up and manoeuvre the machine/platform effectively – occupants should never need to over-reach, unfasten PFPE, step or climb on guardrails or otherwise extend the safe working envelope of the platform. Ensure vertical MEWPs are positioned and repositioned as necessary to allow easy access to the area of work to be undertaken; operators should not overreach or stand on guardrails to access a work area instead of taking the time and effort to correctly reposition the machine. Stay inside the platform/attached – the guardrails of the platform form the primary fall prevention and define the operational envelope of the machine being used. Always stay inside the platform. Where there is a requirement for PFPE, you must wear it. Do not exit the platform at height; unclip/exit only on completion of work when safely lowered to the ground. IPAF offers further guidance on using MEWPs that provides more detail on specific risks and advises on safe operating procedures. For more information on all of IPAF’s safety campaigns and links to relevant technical guidance visit www.ipaf.org/safe or see www.ipaf.org/contact to find your nearest IPAF office or representative. ● Please visit www.ipaf.org/training and www.ipaf.org/resources for the full range of IPAF training course and the latest safety and technical guidance materials from IPAF.
Knight Architects’ design for a new bridge has been granted planning permission as part of Urban&Civic’s extraordinary vision for Waterbeach Barracks in Cambridgeshire. The transport infrastructure throughout the 716-acre site will embody the wider development’s well-connected, sustainable and landscape-led design approach, with Knight Architects’ unique bridge across the A10 supporting active mobility along the Mere Way cycleway for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. The new bridge will provide a distinctive architectural landmark for the development. The simple, elegant form reaches down to ground level at the entrance to the Barracks in a graceful sweep. The structure is instantly recognisable from the A10, the main road which runs parallel to the western edge of the development. It connects seamlessly with the active mobility routes either side of the bridge which represent a multi-million pound investment to upgrade a historic Right of Way into a new active mobility connection to one of Cambridge’s largest employment centres – the Cambridge Science Park. The form of the bridge pays homage to both the aviation history at Waterbeach and the natural landscape in the area, while the contrasting use of white and dark grey in the sculpted edge beams and deck / parapet sections respectively help to accentuate the bridge’s silhouette. The bridge sits modestly in the low fen-edge landscape, minimising impacts on the environment and has been arranged to respect the ancient Roman drainage and canal system of Car Dyke and Old Tillage, which run parallel to the A10. The approaches to the bridge are designed as gently sloped and vegetated embankments, blending the structure with the immediate landscape and providing users with an accessible, comfortable and enjoyable experience as they cross the bridge. Knight Architects Associate and project architect, Laura Langridge comments: “Our contextual and place-making design will form a fitting and recognisable entrance to the new Waterbeach development whilst supporting the sustainable aims of improving active mobility for this exciting neighbourhood and the wider community. We are excited to see it progress to installation next Spring.’’ Caroline Foster, Project Director for Waterbeach at Urban&Civic, added: “The new A10 bridge highlights our vision, commitment to and investment in sustainable transport. Not only will it provide a robust connection for the new cycle connection to the Science Park for future commuters, but it will also support connections between Waterbeach and Landbeach to help local people access the new services and amenities coming forward within the development in a sustainable way. We’re delighted to have secured planning for this elegant structure and excited about making sure its delivery is a key part of the sustainable delivery of the new community.”
A £20m contract to deliver M&E design and build to the Siemens Gamesa blade factory in Hull, has been awarded to a Hull-based company. Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services delivered on the existing Siemens Gamesa site in 2015/16 and will once again be working with the main contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick who is overseeing the £82m extension. Similar in size to six football pitches, the new premises will house two wind turbine blade manufacturing facilities, where Siemens Gamesa will produce longer blades to improve the efficiency of offshore turbines. Mark Snape, Managing Director of Tucker M&E says: “Securing this local contract is fantastic for us as a company which secures jobs as well as investment into our business, the local community and region. Tucker M&E is committed, not only to people and development, but also to being a spoke in the wheel of the future energy generation for all. “It feels timely as we will complete this project during our 50th anniversary year. “We are forecasting to achieve a record turnover in the next 12 months due to multiple secured contracts due to commence in 2022. “At Siemens Gamesa, Tucker M&E has been commissioned to provide specialist trades for lighting, power, water, humidity control, ventilation, cooling and compressed air. “The finished steel superstructure will cover a massive area of almost forty-two thousand square meters. Phase one of the project is well underway with pilings, drainage and foundations. Also, the steel frame is now visibly taking shape. “Phase two will involve modifications to the existing blade factory, to repurpose it from a production facility to a finishing area. This will include internal reconfigurations, as well as upgrading, alterations to the exterior, steelwork and doors, allowing for the larger blades to be manoeuvred in and out. Our team will replace mechanical and electrical services. “The Siemens Gamesa factory is the largest offshore wind manufacturing facility in the UK. Since confirming its investment in Hull, the company continues to boost the local economy. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.” Jon Evans, Senior Project Manager at VolkerFitzpatrick says: “After successful delivery of the existing blade factory in 2016 we are delighted to once again work with Tucker M&E to deliver the M&E design and build to the new extension. “With advances in offshore wind technology, Siemens Gamesa continues to invest in local manufacturing, which is great news for Hull contractors that are winning tenders for the works, and the wind-giant will create a further 200 green jobs for local people within the factory.” Work is due to start imminently and complete by May 2023.
