An exciting new stage of a ground-breaking solar generation system at Portsmouth International Port has been reached, with 888 solar panels now been switched on. The scheme has been managed by Portsmouth City Council’s in-house energy services team, supported by Portsmouth International Port‘s engineering department. Installation began in February 2022 by specialist
New concrete tile manufacturing facility unlocks significant, additional capacity enabling organic growth, whilst reducing resource consumption and CO2 emissions Investment in electric kilns at an existing facility, reduces reliance on natural gas. Wienerberger is pleased to announce a significant investment in the construction of a brand-new concrete roof tile manufacturing
Henderson Park and Cole Waterhouse have appointed the McLaren Construction Group as main contractor to deliver the first phase of Konect 62, a major tri-modal logistics and industrial scheme in Yorkshire. The announcement follows the joint venture’s formal completion of the 136-acre site’s acquisition for £54 million. It has also
Following the announcement that Rishi Sunak will take over as Leader of the Conservative Party, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) calls for clarity on planning reforms and adequate resources for the planning system. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI said: “Rishi Sunak has pledged to fix our economy and
You’ve got the business skill, the marketing techniques, and the staff to have your own small brewery. However, the problem that you will be dealing with is exactly how to build it! A small brewery is a specialized building that needs to follow its own special set of rules, and
Offsite manufacturing specialist, McAvoy Group Limited has marked its 50th year in business with a continued return to sustainable profitability, according to its latest set of consolidated group accounts. The Lisburn-based company has reported a rise in turnover to £71.5m for the 13-month period to 31 May 2022, compared to
When deciding to put up a garden shed, you must first decide what type of base to put it on. There are many factors you need to consider when making this choice. The most crucial factor is the type of soil your garden is in. If your soil is soft
Addison Hunt, chartered quantity surveyor and project management experts, has officially commenced work on a new homes and office development in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. The mixed-use site will bring nine properties and two commercial offices to the area, which will be marketed by Newtown Living. Working alongside property development and construction
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
An exciting new stage of a ground-breaking solar generation system at Portsmouth International Port has been reached, with 888 solar panels now been switched on. The scheme has been managed by Portsmouth City Council’s in-house energy services team, supported by Portsmouth International Port‘s engineering department. Installation began in February 2022 by specialist contractors Custom Solar, and incorporates roof-mounted solar panels across a number of buildings, a large battery and solar canopies. The solar panels mounted on rooftops around the port have now been switched on. They are now generating 400kWp of renewable energy that can be used to reduce consumption at the port, or can be exported back to the grid. This is just a third of the total number of solar panels installed at the port over the past year. Once they are all switched on, the power produced by all 2,660 panels will contribute around 35% of the port’s energy needs. This will be a big step forward for Portsmouth International Port’s ambition to reach net-zero by 2030. From L-R: Tony Denney, Custom Solar, Owen Hughes; Portsmouth City Council’s energy services team; Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet member for Climate Change and Environment at Portsmouth City Council and Elly Howe, Portsmouth International Port, stood in front of the equipment that turns solar energy into power the port can use When fully commissioned in January 2023, the 1.2 megawatt peak system will be the council’s largest solar and battery installation to date. The project has broken new ground for the council and in the national context. The port is the first in the UK to have solar canopies, and also recently won the ‘Commercial Solar and/or Storage Project of the Year’ award at Solar & Storage Live 2022 Awards. The system will also include a 1.5 megawatt hour battery, which is enough power to run a typical home for 4 months. It will capture green power that can then be used at the port at another time, such as to power lights at night. When complete, it is estimated that in peak conditions that 98% of the electricity consumed by the port could come from the combined solar and battery installation. Owen Hughes from Portsmouth City Council’s energy services team showing Cllr Kimberly Barrett the technology that turns the power from the sun into usable energy Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet member for Climate Change and Environment at Portsmouth City Council said: “It is the council’s priority to support clean growth. I’m delighted that we’ve met our target to begin generating clean energy at the port by the end of 2022. “I’d like to personally thank the energy services team at the council and the engineers at Portsmouth International Port for all their efforts. It shows that by working across the council, we can achieve our important ambitions. “When fully operational, the scheme will reduce annual emissions by 239 tonnes at this busy site. We’re committed to take positive action to tackle climate change, and this cut in emissions will boost our efforts to reduce carbon emissions across the city to net-zero by 2030”. James Hill, director of housing, neighbourhoods and building services at Portsmouth City Council added: “I am really pleased that our energy services team have been able to support the port with this exciting initiative. The team have gone from strength to strength with a range of services to support residents, businesses and our own local authority services to increase our use of renewable energy. “I would encourage anyone interested in their work to contact utilities@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. If you need further guidance in resident energy support, please contact energysaving@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.” This project is all part of an integrated approach at the port, that will eventually allow them to offer shore power for smaller ships, without having to take extra power from the local electricity grid. Councillors from Portsmouth City Council alongside staff from the Energy Services Team, Portsmouth International Port and Custom Solar, who all worked together to make the project a success Jerry Clarke, pilot and senior project manager at Portsmouth International Port added: “The port is owned by the people of Portsmouth, so we have an obligation to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment, whilst reaching the ambitions set out in our 20 year Masterplan. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to help enable this project to happen, and I’d also like to thank Brittany Ferries and their passengers for their patience over the busy summer months whilst the installation took place. “Combined with other sustainability initiatives, it will help us achieve our ambition of reaching net-zero carbon by 2030, and becoming one of the UK’s first zero emission ports by 2050. With government support, we really can make a clean maritime industry a reality”. The work is the latest in a series of solar and battery projects being managed by the council’s in-house energy services team. The team procured Custom Solar after a competitive tender exercise through the council’s recently established PV and Storage framework. Gary Sucharewycz, CEO of Custom Solar, said: “We are delighted to have won the award for Commercial Solar and Storage project of the year. To have been recognised at the main industry awards for such a prestige project that the team have developed from concept, is a great reward for everyone involved. “We have worked with a fantastic client in Portsmouth City Council to have successfully delivered the project through many challenges. We see this as a great case study for how solar and storage can be deployed in major operational environments, with solar car port canopy’s set to play a big role in clients generating their own power and assisting their net zero ambitions to be realised.”
New concrete tile manufacturing facility unlocks significant, additional capacity enabling organic growth, whilst reducing resource consumption and CO2 emissions Investment in electric kilns at an existing facility, reduces reliance on natural gas. Wienerberger is pleased to announce a significant investment in the construction of a brand-new concrete roof tile manufacturing facility in Kent, South East England along with the significant energy transformation of its Broomfleet factory near Hull in the North East. These exciting new plans, designed to deliver organic growth from an increasingly efficient cost base, will bring a welcomed increase in production capacity, whilst also pressing ahead with decarbonisation plans as part of its ambitious Sustainability Roadmap. The new, state-of-the-art concrete roof tile production facility will be sited next to its Smeed Dean brick factory, reinforcing Wienerberger’s commitment to UK operations and the South East in particular, where brick manufacture at Smeed Dean dates back to 1875. The business will simultaneously complete the ambitious renovation of two of its Broomfleet factory lines, making it Europe’s first-ever clay roof-tile plant to completely eliminate the use of natural gas and the associated CO2 emissions from the drying and firing process, thus reducing the carbon emissions of these lines by an impressive 75%. This announcement is representative of the company’s confidence in the market and is testament to its commitment to decarbonisation via innovation of products, services, and new methods of production. In 2021, Wienerberger UK & Ireland set out its Sustainability Roadmap ‘Let’s Build Beyond’, which outlined the vital actions the business would take to create enduring value for its stakeholders as it transitioned to a net-zero emission, nature-positive business. Keith Barker, Chief Operating Officer, Wienerberger UK & Ireland commented, “We are aware of and want to tackle the issues of climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity head-on by making sustainability the main driver of our company growth strategy. This investment demonstrates our commitment to expansion in the UK and Ireland market and, is fully aligned with our ambitions for the sustainable growth which will secure the future of our business.” The new concrete tile-making facility will significantly increase the company’s production capacity enabling it to better serve the needs of its customers, with new and existing tile formats, providing additional capacity with lower CO2 emissions per square metre of installed roof. The significant, transformational investment at its Broomfleet clay roof tile manufacturing site near Hull is driven by the desire to reduce resource consumption and CO2 output. Wienerberger has chosen the UK for the first commercial-scale implementation of electric kilns using 100% renewable energy within the clay roof-tile manufacturing sector. This is a key step towards realising its ambitious carbon reduction commitment and demonstrates consistent implementation of the Group’s ESG strategy. Simon Nevitt, Operations Director and Board member at Wienerberger UK & Ireland commented “We recognise the importance of rapidly reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and we are achieving this through both product innovation, and manufacturing methods. This particular investment in two of our existing Broomfleet production lines eliminates our use of fossil fuels from the firing and drying processes, reducing the. carbon emissions (Scope 1 tCO2e) from this production line by 75%.” The phased transition process is due to begin later this year. Going forward, customers will benefit from a range of products with reduced embodied carbon content, supporting the construction industry’s transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
Henderson Park and Cole Waterhouse have appointed the McLaren Construction Group as main contractor to deliver the first phase of Konect 62, a major tri-modal logistics and industrial scheme in Yorkshire. The announcement follows the joint venture’s formal completion of the 136-acre site’s acquisition for £54 million. It has also newly signed a development debt facility with BentallGreenOak enabling the initial phase to get underway. Phase One will see the speculative development of 1.1 million sq ft of state-of-the-art, energy efficient warehouse space across four units, all built to BREEAM Excellent sustainability standards. This will include ‘Big K’ a 735,000 sq ft unit, one of the largest ever delivered in the North of the UK, as well as three further units of 161,000, 151,000 and 55,000 sq ft, catering to a variety of potential occupiers. Konect 62 holds full planning consent for 1.4 million sq ft of prime logistics accommodation, however plans are under review to enlarge the scheme to c. 1.8 million sq ft, enabling it to better fulfil the strong occupier demand, with a further planning application for the additional area due to be submitted in the new year. David Nuttall, Managing Director of Cole Waterhouse industrial and logistics, commented: “Appointing McClaren to deliver these sustainable and high-quality units so quickly after we acquired the land and completed the construction funding is a major step forward for Konect and a statement of intent from the partners involved. We plan to be on site within four weeks with completion from Q3 2023. The range of units we are developing will appeal to a diverse range of occupiers who will bring high quality jobs and investment to the area and cement Konect as a significant employment destination in anticipation of our future phases in the coming years.” Commenting on the investment, Christophe Kuhbier, Managing Director at Henderson Park, said: “This strategically located site is optimally placed to deliver much needed capacity into the critically undersupplied Yorkshire industrial market, with local vacancy rates of 2.2%. We are confident that the sustainability and technical specifications of the scheme we are developing will appeal to the highest quality logistics operators as well as traditional industrial occupiers, who are increasingly energy conscious. We are excited to get the project underway and deliver what we believe will be an exemplary regeneration of a major brownfield site.” Gary Cramp, Managing Director of McLaren Construction (Midlands and North), said: “We are delighted to have secured the project which represents a great investment for the Yorkshire region, including plans for one of the largest units ever to be delivered here. The scale and scope of the scheme will bring abundant investment and employment opportunities to the county’s industrial and logistics market, and we are looking forward to continuing relationships with Henderson Park, Cole Waterhouse and their stakeholders.” Jim Blakemore, Global Head of Debt at BentallGreenOak, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Henderson Park and Cole Waterhouse on this project in a key logistics location in the UK. The business plan reflects our debt investment thesis which is to finance best-in-class sponsors who are creating high-quality assets in strong and sustainable locations. This investment builds on 4 million sq ft of logistics assets which BentallGreenOak have lent on in the UK and European logistics markets over the last two years.” The development represents the country’s only inland distribution park ready enabled to offer tri-modal connectivity to the UK and continental Europe via road, water or rail. The site will have a high level of power capacity for energy intensive operations allowing it to appeal to both traditional industrial and logistics occupiers. Located at the crucial axis of the M62 and the A1(M) it is positioned to address local, regional and national markets as well as international markets with a number of sea ports and main UK air freight hubs within 4.5 hours. The project team includes: C4 Projects acting as architect, project manager and cost consultant; planning consultant Barton Wilmore; XOsquare as structural engineer; Novo Integration (M&E); Terra 97 (Geo-environmental) and Axis PED (transport). DTRE and Sixteen Real Estate are acting as joint letting agents for the scheme.
Following the announcement that Rishi Sunak will take over as Leader of the Conservative Party, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) calls for clarity on planning reforms and adequate resources for the planning system. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI said: “Rishi Sunak has pledged to fix our economy and deliver on promises made in the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto. But he will need an effective and robust planning system to achieve these goals. “Our members have shown resilience, and consistent dedication to their profession, but they are concerned that continued uncertainty will delay plans and projects their communities need. “I have today written to the new Leader of the Conservative Party urging him to provide certainty on planning reforms, adequate funding for planning, and to give local communities a say on what happens in their area. We are actively working to engage government throughout this period of transition, to demonstrate that an effective and robust planning system can be an enabler of economic growth, delivering the affordable homes, public services and critical infrastructure that this country needs.”
You’ve got the business skill, the marketing techniques, and the staff to have your own small brewery. However, the problem that you will be dealing with is exactly how to build it! A small brewery is a specialized building that needs to follow its own special set of rules, and there are a lot of construction principles that you need to follow in order to make your brewery a success! Key Features Of Your Building Before we get into the features that will go into building the building, let’s look at the structure itself. First, you want a good location that will allow customers and delivery trucks to be able to reach you in equal measure. Additionally, you need enough square feet to accommodate all the equipment and everything else you need to build a brewery. As a general guide, for a 3 to 5-barrel brewing system, you need 300 to 500 square feet of space for everything. For a 7, 10, or 15-barrel brewing system, you need anywhere from 550 to 1,200 square feet and that is just for the brewing system! Plus, you need a building that has tall ceilings, proper venting, proper drainage systems, and also access to high-pressure water as well. A small brewery is going to need specific utilities to work. For example, you need high-pressure water and a uniform flow that doesn’t impact water in the other areas of the building. Additionally, you might need a system to filter the water as well. Electrical services are also going to be important. Depending on your brewing equipment, you will need different levels of electrical requirements, as well as a system that can handle that strain. Proper drainage in several areas that flow well in various areas of the brewery is also needed, as well as proper venting. As you are building, make sure that your space can meet all these needs or your microbrewery will fall flat. Just like a restaurant, your surfaces need to be clean and also need to be very easy to clean as well. The finishes that you pick for your surfaces will make it easier to clean them, and it is worth factoring them into your construction. You should be able to wash all floors and walls, and the floor finish also needs to be durable enough to resist the brewing process and resist stains and damage as well. Steel buildings are the best for this because they can be washed and cleaned, and you can easily design a durable floor system around them as well. Look for a steel building for your brewery if possible, because it holds a lot of advantages that can mitigate the other problems that a brewery can face. Other Key Brewery Considerations: What Hops Will You Use? Finally, even as you build the building to make it perfect, you also need to consider what goes on inside your brewery! The hops that you use are going to be just as important as the materials that they go in, and you need to consider this choice carefully. Lots of different hops are going to be available, and all of them will have different beer profiles. For example, Cascade hops are used for bitterness, aromas, and also for light beers. Meanwhile, Southern Hemisphere hops are also used for their unique flavors as they are grown south of the equator and are focused on flavor. Picking the hops that you are going to brew for your beer is a tough choice for any small brewmaster, and that is going to be very important for your brewery as things go. So don’t be afraid to take some time before making the choice. Build Your Brewery, But Do It Right As you have seen from this article, building even a small brewery can be something that takes a lot of thought and requires some hard decisions to be made. So don’t be afraid to pump the brakes and think about all the tiny details that will make your brewery perfect. The more thought you put into the brewery, the better it will be whenever you get it up and running! So get the right hops, the correct specifications, and the space you need to build your brewery. The better that you do at building your brewery at the start, the more you can focus on expanding your operation once everything gets up and running!
Offsite manufacturing specialist, McAvoy Group Limited has marked its 50th year in business with a continued return to sustainable profitability, according to its latest set of consolidated group accounts. The Lisburn-based company has reported a rise in turnover to £71.5m for the 13-month period to 31 May 2022, compared to £23.8m for the six-month period ending April 2021. Meanwhile, the company generated an EBITDA of £6.2m for the same period, compared to £2.4m for the period ending April 2021. The company strengthened its balance sheet on 31 May 2022 with net debt of 0.8 x EBITDA and equity of £4.9m. McAvoy Group’s continued return to sustainable profitability and underlying business growth has included several key project successes including the world’s first International Baccalaureate special free school for children with autism at Cavendish, a Low Carbon Pathfinder School for the Department for Education at Redhill and the securing of a significant ten-year rental contract at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. During the most recent financial period, McAvoy Group announced a significant multi-million expansion programme that included the launch of a new SmartSpace semi-permanent modular fleet that will ensure McAvoy has one of the newest modular fleets in the UK and Ireland. The investment will more than double the capacity of the company’s semi-permanent fleet for rental and will include the creation of approximately 50 new jobs over the next three years. CEO, Ron Clarke said: “The group is experiencing robust and continued interest in its proposition, supported by favourable structural tailwinds and the Board, with the continued support of our shareholders, has embarked upon a strategic growth plan which includes the creation of a modern and highly flexible rental fleet. Designed and built to enhance energy and fire protection standards, SmartSpace provides our customers with sustainable space solutions which will allow significant scope for future value creation.” He continued: “Whilst recognising that the trading environment will remain challenged by ongoing geopolitical tensions and inflationary cost pressures, we continue to see strong underlying demand for the company’s sustainable building solutions.” McAvoy is one of the UK and Ireland’s market leaders in the precision manufacture and delivery of high-quality permanent and semi-permanent modular buildings. Its adaptable and sustainable space solutions are sought after in sectors including health, education, commercial and infrastructure. Innovation continues to be a central part of the company’s activities with several ongoing R&D projects following its involvement in Seismic I and Seismic II which developed a new componentised, platform-based approach to manufacturing and construction, which can be adopted by multiple manufacturers.
When deciding to put up a garden shed, you must first decide what type of base to put it on. There are many factors you need to consider when making this choice. The most crucial factor is the type of soil your garden is in. If your soil is soft and wet, you will need to choose a different base than if your soil is dry and sandy. Here are some of the most popular choices for garden shed bases. 1) Concrete Shed Base Concrete is one of the most popular choices for garden shed bases. It is strong and durable, so it can support a lot of weight. It is also easy to clean and maintain. Consider a few things before choosing concrete as your garden shed base. The first thing you need to consider is the size of your shed. Concrete is an excellent choice for large sheds, but it may be too heavy for small sheds. You also need to consider the weight of your shed. If it is too heavy, the concrete may crack. The next thing you need to consider is the climate. Concrete may not be the best choice if you live in an area with a lot of snow and ice. Alternatively, it can also crack in extreme heat. 2) Plastic Shed Base Plastic is another popular choice for garden shed bases. It is lightweight and easy to install. Plastic is also a good choice for areas with a lot of snow and ice. However, it can crack in extreme heat. The most significant advantage of plastic is the cost. A Plastic Shed Base is one of the cheapest materials you can use for your garden shed. 3) Wood Shed Base Wood is a classic choice for garden shed bases. It is strong and durable. It can also be used to build the shed walls and roof. The only downside is that it is susceptible to rot and insect damage. If you choose to use wood for your garden shed base, make sure to treat it with a waterproofing sealant. This will help extend its life. You should also consider using pressure-treated lumber, which is treated with chemicals to resist rot and insects. 4) Gravel Shed Base Gravel is a good choice for areas with dry, sandy soil. It is easy to install and maintain. Gravel is also one of the cheapest materials you can use for your garden shed base. The downside of gravel is that it can be challenging to level. If you have a lot of uneven ground in your garden, gravel may not be the best choice. Another downside is that gravel can be a bit messy. Gravel may be tracked into your house if you have small children or pets. There are a lot of different materials you can use for your garden shed base. The best choice for you will depend on the type of soil, the size of your shed, the weight of your shed, and the climate. Plastic or gravel may be the best choice if you are on a budget. Otherwise, wood or concrete are good choices.
Addison Hunt, chartered quantity surveyor and project management experts, has officially commenced work on a new homes and office development in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. The mixed-use site will bring nine properties and two commercial offices to the area, which will be marketed by Newtown Living. Working alongside property development and construction company GS Developments, and architects rg+p, Addison Hunt will be providing project management and quantity surveying services for the project. The development, located in Granite Way, will comprise two and 2.5-storey homes with traditional Georgian-style features, such as warm red multi-brick with a detailed light stone appearance and sash windows. “We’re delighted to have been appointed to work on this project. The development of the site will provide a much more positive outlook and sense of arrival as passers-by travel through Mountsorrel. We look forward to work progressing and bringing a new mixed-use development to the area, which has been designed to fit in with the current surroundings,” said Simon Collin, Director of Addison Hunt. The commercial unit has been designed to form a bridge between existing commercial use and residential development nearby. Similar materials to the properties will be used, but with a contemporary look and feel in order to be recognised as an office building. “It’s great to be working alongside Addison Hunt to deliver another fantastic project in the Leicestershire area,” added Mandeep Singh, director of GS Developments. “After a number of years of planning and design work we’re delighted to finally see the build get underway, which will enhance and bring more people to the site to live and work.” Granite Way continues the relationship between the firms, with recent Leicestershire project completions on warehouse development at Parker Drive and affordable housing scheme at Abbey Meadows which won ‘Residential Regeneration Project of the Year’ award at the Insider Media East Midlands Property Awards. “We’re looking forward to the homes being complete and providing residents with new rental properties, given the current demand for high-quality homes in Leicestershire,” concluded Neeley Turrell, Estates Manager at Newtown Living. Since its inception in 2016 Addison Hunt, which is led by company directors Chris Hunt and Simon Collin, has grown to a team of nine professionals delivering multi-million-pound projects across the Midlands. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
