Night-time operation in Warwickshire takes the giant ‘Dorothy’ Tunnel Boring Machine’s cutterhead back to Long Itchington Wood Tunnel north portal Impressive sight as the 160 tonne cutterhead was moved upright on a 12 metre-long, 48-wheel Self Propelled Trailer (SPT) on its 2.5 mile journey Once reassembled, ‘Dorothy’ will start her
Beard Construction has completed a meticulous £6.2m restoration of Cleveland Pools in Bath, the UK’s oldest lido. As well as calling on Beard’s expertise in heritage restoration, the 15-month project to restore the decaying, 207-year-old Georgian site to its former glory had significant logistical challenges – as all plant and
A new apprenticeship for Commercial Gas Engineering Operatives has officially launched at Leeds College of Building. The apprenticeship is the first of its kind in Yorkshire, and the first time the College has offered a commercial rather than domestic pathway for gas engineers. The training is aimed at individuals employed
Significant recent project wins at sites across the Northwest and Yorkshire now brings the Glencar order book in the region to over £100M. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today revealed it has reached a key milestone with its order
Warringtonfire, a global leader in fire testing, inspection and certification, has welcomed four new engineers as part of its inaugural graduate recruitment scheme. The company, which is part of Element Materials Technology, launched the scheme to help future-proof the fire safety industry and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the
Date: 18 October 2022 Location: St Helen’s, London and online Book now Speaker Dame Judith Hackitt, former Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, and author of Building a Safer Future, the independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety in High Rise Buildings conducted for UK Government in the wake of
The UN has declared 2022 the “International Year of Glass”. This puts even more focus on production conditions in the energy-intensive glass industry, and efficient technologies along the entire value chain are particularly in demand. Vacuum technology also has a major influence on sustainability in glass production – because stable
HeidelbergCement, the parent company of Hanson UK, a leading supplier of low carbon heavy building materials to the construction industry, has just announced its global rebranding. From now on, the company will be known as Heidelberg Materials, to reflect its strong position in the aggregates, cement, and concrete markets. “This
The Crown Estate and The British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) have published their 24th annual Area Involved report, detailing changes in the area of seabed licensed and dredged for marine aggregates during 2021. Key information from the report includes: A total of 21 million tonnes of sand and gravel
Amid rising energy costs, Rippon Homes, a Midlands-based housebuilder, has urged people to buy new. The house itself can be a potential factor in the rising energy bills, with studies showing that new homes have significantly lower bills on average than their older counterparts. Dedicated to reducing fuel usage in
Night-time operation in Warwickshire takes the giant ‘Dorothy’ Tunnel Boring Machine’s cutterhead back to Long Itchington Wood Tunnel north portal Impressive sight as the 160 tonne cutterhead was moved upright on a 12 metre-long, 48-wheel Self Propelled Trailer (SPT) on its 2.5 mile journey Once reassembled, ‘Dorothy’ will start her second tunnel bore later this year Dramatic photos and video capture the night-time transportation of HS2’s Long Itchington Wood Tunnel TBM’s giant cutterhead back to the tunnel’s north portal site in Warwickshire. After HS2’s first tunnel breakthrough by Tunnel Boring Machine ‘Dorothy’ at the south portal site in July this year, the front part of the TBM has been dismantled and transported back to the tunnel’s north portal in a 24/7 intricate operation, managed by the plant and logistics team at HS2’s contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV). The cutterhead, weighing 160 tonnes and with a 10-metre diameter, was moved during the night of Wednesday 21 September. Standing upright on a 12 metre-long, 48-wheel Self Propelled Trailer (SPT), it was transported from the south portal site, along the A425, through the village of Ufton and onto HS2’s north portal site. The TBM’s 120 tonne tail skin, also 10 metres in diameter, was also moved in the same operation. The 2.5-mile journey took 180 minutes, with the loads arriving at their destination at 03.00 hours on Thursday 22 September. Eight other large pieces from the TBM’s front shield and middle shield, have already been transported by specialist equipment, which was used specifically to avoid any temporary alterations to the road layout through Ufton. The rest of the 120-metre long TBM will be pulled back through the one-mile tunnel by a special ‘caterpillar’ system, at a pace of 150 metres per day. Once all the parts are back at the north portal, the TBM will be reassembled before starting the second bore later this year. Tom Comer, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Logistics Manager said: “This has been an intricately planned operation, using specialist equipment to transport these large, heavy pieces of machinery safely and carefully, over a 2.5-mile route, and onto our north portal site. The whole team was proud to see the operation culminate in such an impressive sight, as the huge TBM cutterhead completed its short journey. “We worked closely with the local authority, Warwickshire Police and British Transport Police, and would like to thank them for helping us ensure a safe operation, carried out at night to minimise disruption to the local community as much as possible.” Alan Payne, HS2’s Senior Project Manager said: “The BBV logistics and site teams have done a great job to make this a safe and successful operation. We’re now looking forward to the reassembly of the TBM over the coming weeks, and the start of the second bore of the tunnel later this year. When we celebrate the breakthrough next summer, this will be the first fully completed twin bore tunnel on the HS2 project.”
Beard Construction has completed a meticulous £6.2m restoration of Cleveland Pools in Bath, the UK’s oldest lido. As well as calling on Beard’s expertise in heritage restoration, the 15-month project to restore the decaying, 207-year-old Georgian site to its former glory had significant logistical challenges – as all plant and materials could only be brought to the site by boat on the adjacent River Avon. Machinery, building materials, equipment and everything else required to carry out the major refurbishment work on the Grade II* listed site was loaded up at the nearby Avon Rugby Club, which was used as a base, and carried up-river by barge. The barge was limited to carrying five tonnes of material per trip and made about six trips a day -navigating around everything from pleasure craft to the canoeists and kayakers who shared the river. The work saw the creation of a new crescent-shaped waterproof concrete main pool within the footprint of the original, listed red-brick pool, which was preserved beneath it. Work began with the draining of the existing pool, followed by the installation of a system of drainage crates to allow natural spring water to continue to flow into the listed pool and around the shell of the new one. The existing children’s pool walls were temporarily held in place while the team excavated out the base to construct the waterproof, below-ground plantroom which is now home to the pool filtration equipment, along with hi-spec water source heat pumps which will be used to heat the pool water. A refreshment kiosk and seating area is now housed above the plantroom. Curving around one length, the original Georgian changing rooms and a central cottage with archway were made structurally safe, restored, stripped of centuries of paint back to their original Bath stone and re-roofed in Welsh slate – some of which was reclaimed from the original roofs. New terrace seating was also added, as well as a new toilet and shower block. Outdoor chrome showers also flank both pools. As well as allowing for access, water from the river will feed the water source heat pumps, providing the Pools with a sustainable heating solution when the pool fully re-opens to the public in spring next year and heating the pool to 28 degrees centigrade. The pool is now ready to welcome its first swimmers. Hundreds entered a competition to be the first to swim and the winning 100 will do so on Saturday, September 10 – from when the pool will be open to the public for a preview, cold-water season. The restoration is the culmination of an extraordinary 18-year community campaign by the Cleveland Pools Trust, supported by thousands of Bathonians. The trust’s tireless campaign has taken the 207-year-old, Grade II* listed site from the lows of its closure in 1984 and a threat of demolition in 2003, to the highs of its stunning, present-day restoration. The overall cost of the project is £9.3m, £6.47m of which came from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project has also had significant support from the DCMS Capital Kickstart Fund, Historic England and Bath and North East Somerset Council. Bath-based architectural practice Donald Insall Associates were lead designers on the project with Hydrock carrying out the structural design. The restoration has been led by project director Anna Baker, a chartered architect who specialises in historic buildings. Anna said: “I am proud to have played a part in a restoration that many didn’t believe was possible. It’s been complex and very challenging. But it’s also been unique, the project of a lifetime. “We are a small project team and could not have done it without the help of our hundreds of volunteers. It’s been a real privilege to work on such a community-driven undertaking. “I’ve especially enjoyed taking this from a community heritage scheme to a project which engages with wellbeing, culture, sustainable energy and the natural environment.” Beard’s project manager Mark Tregelles added: “This has been a rare opportunity to restore a heritage building to its original use. Although logistically challenging, the overriding theme of this project has been collaboration. Working together with Anna, her team, volunteers and local residents has meant that no problem has been insurmountable. “Having access only by river has really tested our initiative, not only getting materials in and out of the project but also in the method of construction, given the limited plant and equipment that we could get to the site. Overall, it has been an honour to breathe new life into an historic landmark which can now be enjoyed for generations to come.” David Barnes, associate director at Donald Insall Associates, said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to lead the design team for the restoration of this precious historic outdoor public pool. The restored and updated facilities at Cleveland Pools present a new and exciting chapter for continued enjoyment of this much-loved site that is inescapably part of Bath’s rich bathing heritage”.
A new apprenticeship for Commercial Gas Engineering Operatives has officially launched at Leeds College of Building. The apprenticeship is the first of its kind in Yorkshire, and the first time the College has offered a commercial rather than domestic pathway for gas engineers. The training is aimed at individuals employed by gas, heating, and ventilation firms who specialise in business services. Jim Branney, Curriculum Manager for Gas and Short Courses at Leeds College of Building, explained: “Since changes were made to the entry requirements to allow people work in the gas industry, employers have been unable to easily tap into this kind of commercial gas engineering training. We have therefore been responsive to employer feedback and adopted a BPEC curriculum framework, endpoint assessment, and accredited certification specifically for these apprentices working in commercial organisations. “The training is a little different to the domestic route as it’s not a qualification – it’s a managed learning programme leading to Gateway. The outcome is still an End Point Assessment and ultimately an apprenticeship certificate. Training is designed for those who need to know theories and safety procedures involved in the commercial installation, commissioning, decommissioning, or service and repair of gas appliances and associated equipment.” Jim continued: “This is probably one of only a handful of apprenticeship routes regionally into the commercial gas industry, yet there is a huge demand for trained professionals needed for thousands of opportunities nationally. This apprenticeship is an ideal route for individuals looking to specialise as commercial gas engineers.” The new apprenticeship will cover statutory requirements such as health, safety and environmental legislation and regulation, along with maintenance of gas installations and appliances in accordance with industry standards. Apprentices also learn about electrical and mechanical principles, energy efficiency, products, company rules, policies and procedures, risk assessments, tool maintenance, personal protective equipment (PPE), working on customer premises, effective communication, working with different trades, flue testing, pipework installation, ambient air testing, and identifying faults. In the final three months of the apprenticeship, trainees submit a portfolio consisting of a Gas Safe® registration certificate, competency test, and work-log review which includes an interview with a Technical Expert. On achieving a pass or distinction, apprentices will be eligible for membership with the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) professional registration as an Engineering Technician (EngTech). Applicants should be aged 16 or over and ideally already be employed or have secured a work placement. Those unable to find an apprenticeship can apply for a study programme at Leeds College of Building and switch over to an apprenticeship at any point when a vacancy becomes available. Visit the Leeds College of Building website for more details about how to apply or to enquire about training your employees.
Significant recent project wins at sites across the Northwest and Yorkshire now brings the Glencar order book in the region to over £100M. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today revealed it has reached a key milestone with its order book in the Northern region now topping £100M. To celebrate this growth the business has expanded to its new Manchester office headquarters which it moved into in August following a move from its previous location in the Neo building which it opened in May 2021. The office located within the One St. James building, right in the heart of Manchester’s central business district is testament to the expansion of the region following a number of successful contract wins. The office is currently working on projects in Crewe, Wigan, Rochdale, Sheffield and Stafford for clients including PLP, RULA, Trammell Crow Company, Firethorn and Wilson Bowden Developments where Glencar are onsite building in excess of 1.4 million sq ft. Talking about the opening of the new office, Pete Goodman Glencar Managing Director Midlands and North said: “Since we established our office in Manchester in May 2021, the region has gone from strength to strength and is now home to over 40 Glencar colleagues. As part of our strong customer first ethos, the office has enabled us to be closer to our customers and continue our strong growth in this fast-growing area. In addition to our notably strong industrial/logistics project order book across the North we are also seeing strong growth in the retail/leisure, commercial, storage and manufacturing sectors and will look to continue expanding our offering during the coming months”.
Warringtonfire, a global leader in fire testing, inspection and certification, has welcomed four new engineers as part of its inaugural graduate recruitment scheme. The company, which is part of Element Materials Technology, launched the scheme to help future-proof the fire safety industry and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first commercial fire test at its fire testing laboratory in High Wycombe. The extensive history and experience of Warringtonfire’s multiple laboratories enable the company to provide graduates with the support and knowledge needed to make valuable contributions to the fire safety industry going forward. Amman Ahmed, Evandro Valente, Shannon Muir and Susie Hall joined Warringtonfire as graduate engineers in September 2022. The two-year structured training programme will see the four new recruits join Element’s team of over 7,000 scientists, engineers, and technologists working across a network of over 200 laboratories worldwide. It is the first time Warringtonfire has formalised its approach to graduate recruitment, with the scheme receiving over 200 applications for just four places from recent graduates with a minimum of a 2:1 degree classification in a STEM subject. The scheme comprises four rotations through key areas of the business: Reaction to Fire Testing, Fire Resistance Testing, Technical Assessments and Quality. An additional three-week ‘flexible placement’ to focus on a selected topic will complete the programme. As well as a thorough schedule of internal training, the new graduate engineers will also undertake external IFE Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications throughout the two-year cycle. As a testament to the company’s commitment, each graduate engineer is guaranteed a full-time role within Warringtonfire following their completion of the scheme. Mark Cummings, Technical Director – Built Environment at Warringtonfire comments: “Talent identification and retention are fundamental to the success of any organisation and Warringtonfire is very proud of its record of developing world class fire safety professionals. Many leaders and senior stakeholders within the business have spent the majority of their careers within the organisation. However, given the pace and scale of product development within the construction industry, fostering the next generation of engineering talent is more important than ever. “After a highly competitive application process, which saw over 200 graduates apply for just four places, we are delighted to have welcomed Amman, Evandro, Shannon and Susie into Warringtonfire. We hope the 2022 cohort are the first of many to undertake this programme, all of whom will be playing their part in helping us make tomorrow safer than today.” Amman Ahmed, Graduate in Aerospace Engineering, added: “I’m over the moon to have been selected for the Warringtonfire Graduate Scheme. It really stood out to me how much help and guidance we will be given, and the opportunity to get exposure to different areas of the business, whilst gaining new qualifications, is invaluable. I can’t wait to get stuck in.” To find out more information on Warringtonfire, please visit: www.warringtonfire.com.
Date: 18 October 2022 Location: St Helen’s, London and online Book now Speaker Dame Judith Hackitt, former Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, and author of Building a Safer Future, the independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety in High Rise Buildings conducted for UK Government in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Under a month to go until FIRE Conference 2022! The day’s highlights include a Ministerial Plenary; a journalist-led session reflecting on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry; a panel debate on sustainability in the fire sector; and workshops covering future fuels, the fire and rescue service reform, curtain wall fires, and professional indemnity insurance. We are delighted to be joined by Dame Judith Hackitt who will provide a conference wrap up of the day’s proceedings, interspersed with her personal thoughts on the fire safety sector and its progression since her critical report. Dame Judith will also reflect on her desire to ensure an appropriate rate of culture change within the construction and fire safety industries.“This is an opportunity for everyone involved in fire safety to think differently about how we design and maintain fire safety in buildings. We’re moving away from an era of compliance with prescriptive rules, and to a new regime that requires people to take responsibility and demonstrate safety both to the regulators and to the people who live in the buildings. That is a big shift in culture…a challenging one. And I very much look forward to the discussions that will take place in London on 18 October about how we are going to make that happen.” About Dame Judith Hackitt Dame Judith Hackitt is the former Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, and author of Building a Safer Future, the independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety in High Rise Buildings conducted for UK Government in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The UN has declared 2022 the “International Year of Glass”. This puts even more focus on production conditions in the energy-intensive glass industry, and efficient technologies along the entire value chain are particularly in demand. Vacuum technology also has a major influence on sustainability in glass production – because stable vacuum is needed in many processes. Atlas Copco specializes in providing energy-efficient, intelligent, and sustainable vacuum solutions to manufacturers worldwide. They have supplied the German glass producer Noelle + von Campe with three GHS 4600 VSD+ screw vacuum pumps. The Atlas Copco GHS VSD+ series of vacuum pumps are a range of highly efficient, intelligent vacuum pumps with Variable Speed Drive (VSD) technology. Individual glass packaging for bottling companiesNoelle + von Campe produces individual glass packaging for bottling companies. The individualized bottles and jars are given their shape and the final touch using vacuum technology. The final touch includes adding a customer’s logo or name. When shaping the glass, better embossing of the logo or any lettering is achieved if the trapped air between the glass mold and the actual glass has been removed as best as possible. With an output of 650 million jars per year, the right vacuum system is an important element for the efficiency of the entire plant for Noelle + von Campe. Atlas Copco, with its application expertise and experience in supplying vacuum pumps to the glass industry, knows the exact requirements of the market. They have a long history in partnering with glass manufacturers. Their solutions and installations are made to measure for each individual customer. This was one of the reasons Noelle + von Campe chose Atlas Copco’s GHS VSD+ oil-injected screw vacuum pumps for their production facility. Energy savings with Variable Speed Drive (VSD) technologyThe use of vacuum technology alone saves a lot of energy: the same production result could also be achieved with compressed air but would consume more energy. With its innovative motor concept for glass production, the Atlas Copco GHS VSD+ series is one of the most energy-efficient oil-lubricated vacuum pumps on the market: with the VSD variable speed control, the screw pumps can be adapted precisely and quickly to the respective vacuum requirement. Variable speed and the set point control offers optimum vacuum levels. The GHS VSD+ vacuum pumps installed at Noelle + von Campe have saved around 27% in energy costs. Increased stability in the vacuum supplyThe reduced energy consumption isn’t the only advantage of the GHS VSD+ vacuum solution. The entire vacuum supply at Noelle + von Campe is now more stable than before. „When we change tools or adapt our processes, for example, the new central vacuum system continues to reliably supply our entire production“ reports Timo Scherf, the Head of Maintenance Plant 1 at Noelle + von Campe. „This was an important factor for us, because the reliable, uninterrupted vacuum supply in turn has a direct effect on the quality of our end products. And when it comes to the quality of our jars and bottles, neither we nor our customers make any compromises“, Timo Scherf emphasizes. Significantly faster amortizationAccording to Atlas Copco sales engineer Oliver Heitjohann, further cost reductions are generated by the ES central control: „The intelligent system coordinates the use of the vacuum pumps with each other – this saves even more costs, also for maintenance and electricity. A big advantage: the customers also achieve significantly faster amortization“. The ES16 central controller can monitor and control multiple GHS VSD+ vacuum pumps simultaneously. The smart control system balances and optimizes the performance of all machines, reducing the overall energy consumption. Compared to competitor products, the intervals between maintenance are also longer. Other note-worthy features of the GHS 4600 VSD+ vacuum pump is its low noise level, space-saving design and the fact that the pumps are supplied in a single, compact housing. The installation is plug & play and is correspondingly uncomplicated. More for lessThe Atlas Copco GHS VSD+ oil-sealed screw vacuum pump series thus put the finishing touches not only to the products but also to the production process. This is where Atlas Copco’s extensive experience in working with glass manufacturers pays off. That is why Atlas Copco also customized the piping of the vacuum pumps. Atlas Copco is thus, as it were, a one-stop shop for glass manufacturers – from the pump to the connection systems. And so, on balance, Noelle + von Campe gets more for less: more vacuum, more control and more stability for less energy consumption and less effort.
HeidelbergCement, the parent company of Hanson UK, a leading supplier of low carbon heavy building materials to the construction industry, has just announced its global rebranding. From now on, the company will be known as Heidelberg Materials, to reflect its strong position in the aggregates, cement, and concrete markets. “This is an exciting announcement and one which will allow us to take advantage of our strengths as a global company. For the time being it is business as usual for us and we remain Hanson UK but, in the future, our business – along with other international subsidiaries – will be rebranded and we are excited about the opportunities this will bring,” said Simon Willis, the CEO of Hanson UK. “While our name may be changing, everything else stays the same. Our commitment to our customers and delivering excellence remains and, as we head to the future, we’ll continue to strengthen innovation and deepen partnerships with our customers and other stakeholders.” The new brand identity, which includes a subtle ‘h’ design, underscores Heidelberg Materials’ leading role in achieving carbon neutrality and digitalisation in the building materials industry. Hanson UK is a leading supplier of heavy building materials to the construction industry. It is split into four business lines – aggregates (crushed rock, sand and gravel), concrete, asphalt and contracting and cement – which together operate around 280 manufacturing sites and employ more than 3,500 people. Hanson UK is part of Heidelberg Materials (formerly the HeidelbergCement Group), one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions, with leading market positions in aggregates, cement and ready-mixed concrete. It has more than 51,000 employees at almost 3,000 locations in over 50 countries. At the centre of its actions lies responsibility for the environment. As the forerunner on the path to carbon neutrality and circular economy in the building materials industry, it is working on sustainable building materials and solutions for the future. We enable new opportunities for customers through digitalisation. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
The Crown Estate and The British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) have published their 24th annual Area Involved report, detailing changes in the area of seabed licensed and dredged for marine aggregates during 2021. Key information from the report includes: A total of 21 million tonnes of sand and gravel were dredged under Crown Estate licence in England and Wales during 2021 (compared to 18 million tonnes in 2020) The total area of seabed licensed in 2021 was 1,068km2 (1,055km2 in 2020) Dredging took place within 106 km2(10 per cent of the licensed area) compared with 101km2 (also 10 per cent) in 2020 The area of seabed dredged for more than 1 hour 15 minutes per year (high intensity – red on charts) was 6km2 (5km2 in 2020) 90 per cent of dredging activity carried out under Crown Estate licence took place from an area of 43km2 (42 km2 in 2020). Nick Everington, Marine Minerals Portfolio Manager for The Crown Estate, said: “As manager of the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we work in partnership with industry to help support the sustainable use of sand and gravel resources. The annual ‘Area Involved’ report is an integral part of this, providing insight and data to improve our understanding and management of the marine environment over the long term. Our 24th annual report reflects the ongoing commitment from both The Crown Estate and industry to this important initiative.” Mark Russell, BMAPA Director, said: “UK Government has recognised that it is essential there is a sufficient supply of minerals to provide the infrastructure, buildings, energy and goods that our nations need, and marine aggregate supplies play an important role in meeting these needs in England and Wales. The area of seabed licensed and dredged remain key indicators of the UK marine aggregate sector’s performance and its potential to interact with both the environment and other marine users. The significant reductions in both of these over the last two decades reflect an industry committed to continual improvement.” The Area Involved initiative commenced in March 1999, when BMAPA and The Crown Estate made a public commitment to review all dredging licences on a rolling five-year basis, to publish an annual report detailing the extent of dredging activities within licensed areas, and to surrender areas no longer containing economically viable resources of marine sand and gravel. Alongside the Area Involved report, The Crown Estate has also published its 2022 Annual Review of the marine aggregates industry, containing data for the calendar year 2021. This provides a national and regional view of consented marine aggregate reserves and licensed output capacity, alongside details of the quantity of aggregates dredged, in terms of both their extraction and delivery location. It also provides case studies outlining major construction and coastal defence projects in which marine aggregates have been used, and updates on items of wider interest. Key points from the 2022 report include: There is an estimated national consented reserve of 338 million tonnes of aggregates, enough to meet current average demand levels for the next 21 years Marine aggregates provide over 20 per cent of the sand and gravel demand in England and Wales, with the majority of supply (nearly 90 per cent) used in high-value ready-mixed concrete and concrete products One-third of all primary aggregate demand in London and the South East of England is met from marine resources, whilst in South Wales over 90 per cent of the market demand for natural sand also comes from the sea A total of 4.3 million tonnes of aggregate materials were exported in 2021, primarily to Belgium and The Netherlands. Marine aggregates constitute a crucial component in the supply of building materials to support the development of the UK’s built environment. They currently supply around 25% of the sand and gravel used across England and Wales. In London, they meet around 50% of primary aggregate demand. They are also critical in developing climate change resilience for our coastal communities. Read the full reports on the Crown Estate website: The Crown Estate and BMAPA: The Area Involved 24th annual report (marine aggregate extraction 2021) The Crown Estate: Marine Aggregates Annual Review 2022
Amid rising energy costs, Rippon Homes, a Midlands-based housebuilder, has urged people to buy new. The house itself can be a potential factor in the rising energy bills, with studies showing that new homes have significantly lower bills on average than their older counterparts. Dedicated to reducing fuel usage in its properties, Rippon Homes has partnered with technology company Etopia Group to deliver energy-efficient homes with the aim of Net Zero carbon. In fact, if homeowners opt to install solar panels, the property will be energy positive with a potential EPC rating of 104. Moreover, the housebuilder is implementing the Powered by Etopia (PBE) system at its Marquis Gardens development in Old Dalby, Leicestershire and involves the Etopia Group providing pre-manufactured panels to site that will form a home’s structure. While this particular system is so far being used on one site, Rippon Homes work hard to ensure all their properties are energy efficient, not only saving money for their homeowners, but also reducing their impact on the planet. “We realise the concerns a lot of our customers have right now. Rising energy costs are hitting many people hard. That’s why Rippon Homes is committed to making our homes as energy efficient as possible. Not only are we conscious of our environmental impact, but we also want our customers to live as comfortably as possible. Our energy efficient homes are designed to reduce carbon emissions and our customers’ energy bills. We always go above and beyond at Rippon Homes and we’re proud to say we are constantly adapting to bring our customers the best possible experience,” said Ian Dyke, Managing Director at Rippon Homes. On average, people living in existing homes are paying £1,457 a year for their energy since the 54% energy price increase. As comparison, those living in new homes have seen half as much of an increase and are paying only £713 a year. Even with the energy price cap coming into place in October, those living in an existing home will still see much higher energy bills than those in new homes. This happens because older homes usually feature outdated insulation and technology, preventing them from retaining heat and increasing fuel usage. New homes, such as those built by Rippon Homes, feature double-glazed windows, improved air tightness, high quality insulation, highly efficient boilers, and water saving systems. While older buildings inevitably suffer from wear and tear, the technology and materials in new-builds are up-to-date, making them more energy efficient. On average, it costs £38,000 – £74,000 to renovate a three-bedroom house. A new home requires no renovation and will help the buyer to save on energy bills from day one. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
