Rapid erection of steel frame represents a key milestone in terms of the transformation of 10-acre brownfield site into a state of the art 210,000 sq ft logistics hub GMI Construction Group PLC has today provided an update in terms of progress on the construction of the new 210,000 sq
Travis Perkins plc is investing in a new fleet of 26-tonne trucks, designed to support the Group’s ambitious carbon reduction target and maximise the safety and efficiency of its transport operations. They will operate in a mix of Travis Perkins and Keyline Civils Specialist liveries, providing building materials to construction
Independent West Country housebuilder Devonshire Homes has exchanged contracts for the acquisition of land for contemporary new build homes in West Yelland, North Devon. This latest acquisition is testament to how the housebuilder is accelerating its five-year growth plan. The announcement comes just three weeks after Devonshire Homes revealed it
Network Space Developments (NSD) has been granted detailed planning approval by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council for the final phase at the successful Ashroyd Business Park, Barnsley close to M1 Junction 36. The detailed Reserved Matters approval is for a detached 94,500 sq ft unit comprising 90,000 sq ft at ground
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture specialists in the healthcare sector, has delivered a second hospital fitout project in the Scottish Highlands. The new Broadford Community Hospital on the Isle of Skye is part of a £40m development by NHS Highland. This investment included the award-winning Badenoch & Strathspey
The conversion of an iconic cottage hospital into a community hub and nine affordable homes was officially marked by the community of Southwold and Reydon on Friday 17 June 2022. Southwold and Reydon is the first community in England and Wales to buy back its community hospital to provide much
Modern Methods of Construction have been a hot topic for a number of years now. However, one of the areas often over-looked is the humble container; a ready-made structure that, with the right modifications, can create the ideal workshop, office, retail unit, plant room, datacentre, or classroom. Here, conversion expert
Rapid erection of steel frame represents a key milestone in terms of the transformation of 10-acre brownfield site into a state of the art 210,000 sq ft logistics hub GMI Construction Group PLC has today provided an update in terms of progress on the construction of the new 210,000 sq ft single site logistics hub for Graftongate on behalf of leading aerospace engineering company Leonardo at its site in Yeovil, Somerset. Progress on the new £28M facility has reached a key milestone with the steel frame practically complete and cladding installation set to start shortly. The state of the art development which spans an area the equivalent of 2.7 football pitches, is scheduled to be completed in Q4 2022. The project sees the consolidation of eight existing warehouses into one all-encompassing logistics hub. This high-tech facility means a reduction in operating costs by having all logistics under one roof, and it maximises the potential of helicopter component logistics. Speaking about the progress being made GMI Divisional Director Andy Bruce said: “The team onsite has made significant progress since starting on site with the steel-frame all but complete and cladding looking to commence very shortly. The scale of remediation and site transformation that has to date been completed is nothing short of remarkable with a considerable amount of material recycled onsite and put back into positive use. The team have invested a considerable number of man hours working across a broad range of skilled trades. This includes the employment of a number of local apprentices on the project which will really intensify during the internal fit out work. This provides an opportunity to learn and develop skills in construction and represents a positive investment in the surrounding community”. Jamie Hockaday, Director at Graftongate also said: “This key milestone, with the erection of the steel frame, signifies a transformation of this 10-acre brownfield site. So far we have removed 490T of asbestos and recycled 2000T of hardcore as part of our commitment to delivering a sustainable facility. We are on programme to complete the erection of the steel frame and cladding in August prior to commencement of a £10M internal fit out and look forward to handing over the completed facility later this year. Adam Clarke, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters (UK), also commented: This project serves toillustrate Leonardo’sfirm and continued commitment to Yeovil and the airfield, which has been here since 1915. Our efforts to minimise our environmental footprint are constant and increasing. Here in Yeovil, the construction of this new single-site logistics hub will focus on supporting ergonomic working. Through the streamlining of processes, we will maximise efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Consolidating all of the logistics under one roof will enable us to increase efficiencies, complete tasks quicker, and achieve a reduction in operating costs. We are proud to be the UK’s only onshore helicopter manufacturer, the “Home of British Helicopters”, and this development further illustrates our commitment to British engineering and manufacturing” To watch a LIVE feed from the site click : https://gmi.reachtimelapse.co.uk/leonardo/helicopterhub/
Travis Perkins plc is investing in a new fleet of 26-tonne trucks, designed to support the Group’s ambitious carbon reduction target and maximise the safety and efficiency of its transport operations. They will operate in a mix of Travis Perkins and Keyline Civils Specialist liveries, providing building materials to construction customers nationwide. The multi-million-pound investment will see approximately 170 Volvo FM 330 6×2 rear-steer rigids delivered into service over two years – with 85 new FMs confirmed for this year; to be followed by around 85 more in 2023. It follows a strategic fleet review by the business led by Technical Fleet Director Karl Wilshaw, which saw the evaluation of multiple options from several major truck manufacturers. The new vehicles form an integrated part of the Group’s fleet decarbonisation roadmap, with each one benefitting from the latest Euro VI Step E diesel engine technology – engineered to reduce emissions and help save fuel without compromising performance – and with the capability to run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). This will provide the opportunity for Travis Perkins plc to deploy the trucks into a number of locations that have had HVO enabled through a trial using certified HVO, which began in 2021 and includes 30 branches and 200 trucks nationwide. Key to winning the order was the latest generation FM’s ability to support a ‘technology detox’ within the cab, with the latest Volvos able to integrate multiple vehicle safety systems to optimise safety by decluttering the driver’s environment. This sees the FM’s nine-inch side display integrate feeds from Travis Perkins’ five-camera set-up and on-board weighing system, helping to reduce the need for additional monitors. The FM’s modern architecture also offers the perfect interface with the body and crane. The Group’s detailed review saw feedback collated from the company’s national driver engagement days, safety events and a series of driver focus groups, which were held to explore the future fleet requirements of the business, customers, and drivers. This directly led to the selection of the FM day cab which combines excellent vision with plenty of storage space, plus easy access and egress with a two-step entry and wide opening doors. At the drivers’ request, the new fleet also features extra lighting and additional load securing points. The internal team at Travis Perkins worked closely with Abdi Ali, National Key Account Manager at Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, to tailor the specification to ensure sufficient ground clearance for safely navigating construction sites, whilst still ensuring the cab was three-star Direct Vision Standard compliant. Key to this was the selection of 385/55 R22.5 steer and 315/70 R22.5 drive and tag axle tyres. The trucks also benefit from a nine-tonne front axle, a 12-speed automated I-Shift transmission and an improved turning circle versus the 18-tonners they replace, thanks to Volvo’s hydraulically steered tag axle. Wilshaw says: “It’s so rewarding for all those involved to see this project coming to fruition; a huge amount of work went into consulting with our drivers, researching the latest available technologies and developing the build with Volvo Trucks, bodybuilder Massey Truck Engineering and crane supplier HIAB. We are really pleased with the result. We have FORS Gold accreditation, and these trucks play right into our continuous improvement efforts. They look fantastic, and they’re enabling our teams to operate more efficiently and safely.” The new fleet will be predominantly serviced and maintained within the Volvo Trucks dealer network, with the order including a mix of 5,200mm and 5,600mm wheelbases, to suit the varying needs of the business’ different branches. They will join a 1,600-strong commercial vehicle fleet and be in operation up to six days per week, covering around 30,000 miles per year. All new trucks feature a smart cab interior benefitting from Volvo’s Drive package, which adds remote central locking, twin armrests, electrically controlled air-conditioning and a tinted glass roof hatch. Travis Perkins has also chosen robust textile seats with a smart vinyl interior. Plus, for maximum safety, the cab has roof beacons, a passenger-side lower door window to improve direct vision, near-side proximity sensors, turn left audible warning, five camera view system and a white noise reversing alarm. Bodywork has been manufactured by Massey Truck Engineering.
Independent West Country housebuilder Devonshire Homes has exchanged contracts for the acquisition of land for contemporary new build homes in West Yelland, North Devon. This latest acquisition is testament to how the housebuilder is accelerating its five-year growth plan. The announcement comes just three weeks after Devonshire Homes revealed it had exchanged conditional contracts on 36 acres of land in Penzance. The West Yelland site strengthens the award-winning housebuilder’s presence in North Devon, where construction has recently started on its East-the-Water site, The Grange. This development, known as the ‘Sun Houses’, is located in the desirable village of Yelland which is between the coastal village of Instow and Fremington, off Yelland Road. Within a short distance the popular beaches of Westward Ho! and Saunton Sands can be found and Yelland has easy access to the A39 and A361. This architecturally exciting scheme designed by Guy Greenfield Architects will complete the development and deliver 27 open market and 22 affordable homes in North Devon. The three, five and six bedroom detached homes are in an elevated position and make the most of their southerly aspect with estuary views and are surrounded by green, wooded hillside. Designed to maximise the use of natural light with large expanses of glazing, the open plan living makes the most of the desirable outlook benefiting from living areas and at least one bedroom South facing into a walled garden. The stylish contemporary homes take on a modern interpretation of the traditional bungalow. Devonshire Homes will invest more than £430,000 in the local community under the S106 contributions, including: £294,225 towards education, £127,291 towards recreation and £10,000 towards play equipment. Benefitting the existing occupied homes on the centre of the site, Devonshire Homes will also resurface the neighbouring roads which adjoin the site. Angus Cook, Managing Director at Devonshire Homes, commented: “We’re delighted to announce that we have exchanged contracts on land in West Yelland just three weeks after securing land in Cornwall. We are focused on securing excellent development sites and I am pleased we’ve been able to do exactly that here. As an independent and West Country housebuilder, we are able to react rapidly and progress quickly when this type of land opportunity arises, and we look forward to bringing more of our high-quality, new build homes to North Devon house hunters who need them. “These new homes will be truly spectacular. Each property has been carefully designed to make the most of their elevated position on the North Devon coastline so that homeowners can truly embrace the beautiful views. “Construction will start later this year and we will ensure to communicate with the existing homeowners already on site throughout the project. “If you are landowner or agent looking for a developer capable of delivering on their promises, Devonshire Homes should be your first call. This deal has set a new record for the business, going from nothing to an unconditional exchange in 4 days!” The acquisition of land in West Yelland is another important strategic milestone for Southwest based Devonshire Homes. The 30-year-old residential home developer is aiming to double turnover and build 400 homes per annum by 2026. The Devonshire Homes team has decades of experience in building new communities across the West Country with current developments including: The Grange, Bideford; Tarka View, Crediton; Longston Cross, Bovey Tracey; Applegate Park, Kingsbridge and Gwallon Keas, St. Austell. To find out more about Devonshire Homes, visit www.devonshirehomes.co.uk.
Network Space Developments (NSD) has been granted detailed planning approval by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council for the final phase at the successful Ashroyd Business Park, Barnsley close to M1 Junction 36. The detailed Reserved Matters approval is for a detached 94,500 sq ft unit comprising 90,000 sq ft at ground level and 4,500 sq ft of first floor office. The building offers 110 car parking spaces, a clear height of 12 metres internally, 8 dock levellers, 2 level access doors, and a large secure 49m depth yard. The building will be delivered to a highly sustainable specification targeting BREEAM rating of Very Good and an EPC ‘A’ Rating. Features will include electric air source heating and cooling to the offices, EV charging points, provision for roof mounted solar PV panels and enhanced landscaping. Simon Peters, Development Director at Network Space, said: “Ashroyd Business Park is a prime industrial and logistics location on the M1 corridor close to junction 36 within easy reach of Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham. “Demand for ‘A’ grade units of this size is high and there is a very short supply in South Yorkshire. This development will further support local economic growth and offer new job opportunities in the Barnsley area”. Network Space recently completed 5 units at Ashroyd which are now fully let. Ashroyd Business Park is a well-established prime industrial and logistics development just off the Dearne Valley Parkway. Existing occupiers include Universal Components, Euromax, Storefirst and SMS plc.
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture specialists in the healthcare sector, has delivered a second hospital fitout project in the Scottish Highlands. The new Broadford Community Hospital on the Isle of Skye is part of a £40m development by NHS Highland. This investment included the award-winning Badenoch & Strathspey Community Hospital in Aviemore, which opened towards the end 2021, and was also fitted out by Deanestor. Delivered by hub North Scotland and designed by Oberlanders Architects with Rural Design, the new 24-bed hospital on Skye provides a range of services. There are consultation and treatment rooms on the ground floor, emergency department, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, chemotherapy, x-ray and ultrasound, and a midwife-led maternity facility. A renal dialysis unit – a new service for Skye established last year – ensures patients can access treatment closer to home. Deanestor provided both loose and bespoke fitted furniture for 142 rooms throughout the new hospital. This included storage units, medicine cabinets, height-adjustable changing benches, bedroom wardrobes, foldaway beds in some inpatient rooms, nurse stations, and a main reception desk with a walnut wood-effect finish and contrasting glacier white solid surface countertops. Bespoke joinery was also manufactured and installed by Deanestor for a new six-bay suite for chemotherapy and renal patients to help create a more welcoming patient environment. This suite has large picture windows with stunning sea views. The white low-level counters are designed to house medical gases and vacuum outlets, and incorporate lighting, solid surface worktops, oak privacy screens, coat and bag storage, and IPS panels. Commenting on the opening of the new hospital, Tracy Ligema, Project Director at NHS Highland, said, “This is a significant milestone in the history of Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross. There has been a considerable amount of work involved in this process and we want to thank everyone who has contributed.” “The new hospital will serve the community for many years to come and highlights the health board’s commitment to developing remote and rural health and social care services.” Peter Ramsay, Project Director for hub North Scotland, said, “Broadford Hospital is a fantastic health facility which will bring huge benefits for the communities of Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross. We faced major challenges progressing construction during the Covid pandemic but the support of all the partners and the local community ensured we have delivered a hospital that everyone can be proud of.” A durable laminate finish was used for the storage solutions in two shades of blue to reflect the sky and the sea in the surrounding landscape. Darker blue was specified for the inpatient bedrooms and utility areas, with calming aqua for the treatment areas. As part of the infection control strategy, infill panels were designed to fully integrate the wall cupboards up to the ceiling. This feature is an efficient and highly effective alternative to sloping cabinet tops to avoid dust gathering on top of the units in the clinical areas. Deanestor also fitted out the pharmacy with tall cabinets, worktops, dispensing cabinets with integrated trays and metal drugs cabinets. A wide range of specialist equipment was also installed across the hospital – from physiotherapy bars to white boards, dispensers, sanitisers, and appliances. Originally established in 1948 to manufacture hospital furniture and fittings for the newly established NHS, Deanestor now has the resources and expertise to manage 5,000-room hospital projects. It offers bespoke design services to meet specific healthcare 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.
The conversion of an iconic cottage hospital into a community hub and nine affordable homes was officially marked by the community of Southwold and Reydon on Friday 17 June 2022. Southwold and Reydon is the first community in England and Wales to buy back its community hospital to provide much needed affordable housing and community facilities in the area. Four of the homes are for affordable rent and five are for shared ownership with all homes prioritised for people with a local connection to the area. The community hub has breathed new life into Southwold by providing a new home for the town’s library, a nursery, farm-to-fork café and co-working space for local entrepreneurs, freelancers and remote workers. Originally funded and built by local people 125 years ago, Southwold’s cottage hospital was closed by the NHS in 2015. Fearing the locally-listed building would be demolished and redeveloped into second homes and holiday lets, the local community developed an ambitious plan that led to the formation of a social enterprise, the Southwold and Waveney Valley Regeneration Society Ltd, known as SouthGen. SouthGen campaigned to save the building and worked with rural affordable housing specialist, Hastoe Housing Association, to buy the site. It was an innovative transaction in which both partners’ involvement was crucial. In March 2018, SouthGen bought the freehold and sold it to Hastoe, which then provided SouthGen with a 999-year leasehold for a pepper corn rent. Work on the conversion began on site in summer 2019 and the homes and community hub were developed in partnership with architects Wellington and Modece Architects, building contractor Wellington Construction, and employer’s agent Potter Raper. All partners, as well as the local MP and councillors, attended the official completion of works. The occasion was commemorated with the planting of a Victoria Plum tree. The tree was chosen because work to build the original hospital had started 125 years ago on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee on 22 June 1897. The refurbished hospital was completed in June 2022, coinciding with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Jessica DeGrazia Jeans, Chair of SouthGen, said: “This project has inspired a truly amazing community spirit. Hundreds of volunteers have participated in all aspects of the project from campaigning, doing the feasibility study, putting in the initial bid and buying the site, right through to funding the project, and maintaining the building’s integrity, design and community use. “We have been fortunate to receive generous grant support from the Community Business Fund, the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Reaching Communities Fund, the Denby Charitable Fund, the Ben and Phillipa Johnson Family Foundation, the Reach Fund, as well as a matching community share investment from Co-operatives UK through the Community Share Booster Programme. “We are also indebted to all our partners. We could not have achieved this without them. Special thanks go to Hastoe for their help and unique approach. There are few organisations out there with such vision and commitment. Hastoe has been the very best of partners, and we are fortunate to have found them.” The Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey, MP for Suffolk Coastal and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “This project has taken a lot of guts, courage and determination. There wouldn’t have been many communities prepared to take on a project like this. Its success lies completely in the strength, tenacity and creativity of all those involved.” Councillor Michael Ladd of Suffolk County Council said: “I agree completely. This could never have happened without a ‘can do’ attitude. We are lucky to have so many people with the diversity of skills and strength of will to have made this happen. The site has returned to being a real asset to the town and local community.” Lindy Morgan, Chair of the Board of Hastoe Housing Association, said: “Hastoe is honoured and privileged to have worked alongside everyone involved in helping to deliver the community’s vision. However, we are in no doubt this is a community driven and led success that would not have been possible without SouthGen’s leadership. “We will now continue to work with SouthGen and other key stakeholders to ensure the future sustainability and success of the project. Hastoe’s commitment to this project is to care for the homes and provide excellent services to the residents long into the future and, not to put too fine a point on it, beyond the lifetime of many of us standing here today. “This year is Hastoe’s 60th anniversary and, similar to the way we look back with pride at what we’ve achieved, we want the future community of Southwold and Reydon to look back and say what a fantastic thing my community did all those years ago.”
Modern Methods of Construction have been a hot topic for a number of years now. However, one of the areas often over-looked is the humble container; a ready-made structure that, with the right modifications, can create the ideal workshop, office, retail unit, plant room, datacentre, or classroom. Here, conversion expert Andy Capella from S Jones Containers discusses the benefits of using containers, modular buildings, and some of their most popular applications. Used correctly, containers can be one of the most versatile, durable, low impact and easily transportable building materials known to man. While high-end home designs tend to hit the headlines thanks to programmes like Grand Designs, there are a number of lesser-known practical applications that can help stimulate economic growth, expand classroom sizes and drive R&D. Offices, workshops, and retail units Self-contained, adaptable, low impact and zero maintenance are just a few of the reasons Staffordshire County Council recently specified 12 containers for a start-up development at Silverdale Enterprise Centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The county council operates a number of enterprise centres and workshop units across Staffordshire. Its earliest units date back to the early 1980s and have been a fundamental part of economic regeneration. With high numbers of people furloughed, facing redundancy, or simply reassessing their options due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the council encountered unprecedented demand for new start up spaces. With all of the units at Silverdale Enterprise Centre at full occupancy, the county council opted to expand their available workshop units by installing specially modified containers in an unused part of the site’s car park. Finished to a high standard complete with insulation, electrical ports, and French doors, the units were modified offsite and delivered ready for use, minimising disruption caused by construction work for the local community. Built to last as long as 25 years, the new units are set to provide a secure space for more than 1000 start-up businesses over the coming decades, with the county council able to transport the units to meet demand across its estate. It’s not just offices and workshops containers are increasingly being specified for though. Flexibility and ease of transport is also making them a popular choice for retail. One of the most recent requests we’ve received is the development of a new unit for a business hiring out electric bikes. With containers requiring little to no groundwork, the unit can be transported into central London and moved in-line with consumer demand and footfall. Containers are often being specified for start up businesses as they represent a lower investment than bricks and mortar or a long-term lease and provide the business owners or investors with an asset that can be resold or redeployed as needed. Schools, colleges, and universities Modular buildings are another flexible space solution being used increasingly for commercial purposes. Unlike containers, modular buildings are configured to spec by combining individual cabin modules that can be extended and adapted at any time to meet customers’ needs, whether temporary or permanent. For example, one of the major obstacles facing schools, colleges and universities right now is a lack of available teaching space. With major expansions costing millions of pounds and often taking months or even years to complete, the minimal on-site disruption, lower cost and rapid turnaround of modular buildings makes them an understandably popular choice for solving this problem. As the name suggests, one of the key benefits of modular buildings is how versatile and extendable they are. Depending on the customer’s needs, the individual units can be connected seamlessly via wall panels and partitions to create large open plan spaces that are ideal for classrooms, offices and countless other applications. In fact, this modular style of building has proved so popular that there is now an off the shelf option that includes high-level insulation and fire safety ratings as standard. Through modular construction we can create spaces as large as 640 square foot and up to three stories high. Industry and R&D There are, however, some applications where a regular shipping container is a more suitable foundation to work from. One such area is high-level manufacturing, engineering and R&D which often require self-contained, off-site spaces within which plant processes and equipment testing can safely and compliantly occur. For instance, there’s been a huge surge in demand for lithium-ion battery manufacture and storage sites, in line with advancements in technology. Secure, transportable and endlessly customisable, shipping containers are increasingly being used as the spaces within which ground-breaking new technologies, processes are being created, tested and refined, and where high-value labs and machinery are being housed. Using 3D CAD, we’ve helped develop high-tech units that can be shipped to wherever they’re needed most all over the world. One of the advantages for industry is that containers are often a lot more robust that conventional temporary structure building materials. They’re built to transport 20 to 50 tonnes, so to put heavy plant machinery in there is no problem at all. Also ideal for site expansions, a container can quickly and effectively be modified to become boiler or compressor housing and where needed, attached to the existing building. Ultimately, using a container ensures that the machinery is safe, secure, and protected from the elements with little to no need for maintenance. From sophisticated container conversions with complete with state-of-the-art fire suppression through to almost limitless flexibility of modular buildings, MMC are undoubtedly here to stay and are only going to grow in importance as emphasis increases on sustainability, reduced costs and low impact design. It’s perhaps ironic that an invention of the 1950s continues to act as the basis for many solutions to the issues created by our rapid rate of technological and cultural change in the 21st century, whether that be in advancements in renewable technologies and processes, increasing populations or changes to working and shopping habits. The original design principals of safety, security and durability remain the same, the only difference is that we can now apply them in many more ways than was originally intended. Andy
