Construction sites can be dangerous places, and one area often overlooked is the floor. This is not the only place that is overlooked though, as people often underestimate the importance of vibration management. Anti vibration parts in key machinery, and effective measures to reduce vibration, is in the best interest
Keepmoat Homes, one of the UK’s leading home builders, has announced plans for its first site in Wales, following the successful acquisition in Deeside. Situated along the River Dee, the land has been purchased from private landowners for an undisclosed sum and will be transformed into a new housing development.
Siddal and Hilton Products, the welded steel mesh manufacture, has announced its plans to completely redevelop its 4.5 acre sites in Brighouse. The £9 million investment follows the company’s goal to become a world-class manufacturer. Siddall has a number of manufacturing, storage and office buildings on both sides of Foundry
Major construction work is due to start on the Lyminster Bypass in West Sussex, which will help ease congestion. Jackson Civil Engineering were the ones who managed to win the £23.8 million contract, due to begin immediately. According to the existing plans, the new road will link up with the
Plans have been submitted for phase two of Queensgate Square, which will see the transformation of the block on Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham. The block will be turned into prestigious residences, set around a communal garden and square, which will be shared with residents of Queensgate House, representing phase one
Construction sites can be dangerous places, and one area often overlooked is the floor. This is not the only place that is overlooked though, as people often underestimate the importance of vibration management. Anti vibration parts in key machinery, and effective measures to reduce vibration, is in the best interest of site productivity and staff well-being. Follow this link for expert advice on industry leading anti vibration products. Fortunately, improving floor safety on construction sites just got easier, thanks to a new range of specially designed floor matting now available from First Mats. The range includes various PVC and Rubber type matting for walkways, workstations, stairs and cable protection. Unlike many other work environments, walkways are a particular area of concern for site safety managers. A construction site’s busy and hectic nature means there’s a significant risk of accidents between pedestrians and vehicles, while wet and uneven floors are also a slip hazard. That’s why walkway matting is at the forefront of the new range, with two high-visibility options gaining popularity. The most recent addition is a Spaghetti mat made from tightly woven PVC fibres that form a soft but durable matting. The open spaces between the fibres allow water to drain through, ensuring the mat provides a grippy surface in all weather. Traditional rubber mats are also available for workstations alongside PVC Duckboard, which is resistant to corrosion, oils and most chemicals. For the ultimate surface grip, GRP stair treads and nosing are also included in the new range, which features a coarse, sandpaper-like texture that provides traction underfoot, even in frosty weather. The tread and nosing products can be ordered in various colour and size options, ensuring they’re a good fit for any premises. Tacky mats with a sticky surface can be fitted in doorways for hygiene-sensitive areas to pick up dust and other fine particles from shoes. The mats are highly effective, and layers of numbered sheets can be peeled away whenever the surface becomes too dirty, revealing a fresh new tacky layer underneath. For more information or to see the Construction Site Matting range, visit the First Mats website. https://www.firstmats.co.uk Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keepmoat Homes, one of the UK’s leading home builders, has announced plans for its first site in Wales, following the successful acquisition in Deeside. Situated along the River Dee, the land has been purchased from private landowners for an undisclosed sum and will be transformed into a new housing development. Part of a wider re-development programme in the area, planning approval has already been granted by the Flintshire County Council’s planning committee back in March 2020. The 129-home scheme will comprise of a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached homes available for private sale. In addition to housing, the site will also feature a children’s play area for residents to enjoy. “We are really excited to transform the site, which is in a prominent location by the River Dee, into a new neighbourhood,” said Gareth Roberts, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat. “Securing our first ever site in Wales marks a milestone for the business and furthers our goal to expand into new areas and deliver real value to the people who live there.” “Our vision is to create a place where people want to live and enjoy, and we’re driven to ensure the development is a major benefit to the local community. We’re looking forward to providing high quality housing that integrates well with the local community and are excited about turning our plans into reality,” added Gareth. The Keepmoat development in Wales will generate opportunities in training and employment through the use of sub-contractors, work placements and educational visits to the site, as part of its commitment to create a sustainable community, which will be delivered throughout the lifetime of the project. Beth Harrop, who lives in the area, has recently joined Keepmoat as a Construction Trainee and will be assisting the team to deliver the brand-new homes at Deeside. She spoke of her recent appointment: “I joined Keepmoat straight out of my studies, and I couldn’t feel prouder to have landed such a fulfilling role. Having grown up local to the site, it’s incredibly exciting to be working on such a landmark development which is helping to bring great opportunities to my local community. Whilst every day in my role is different to the last, our passion for building quality homes remains the same.” Work at the development is expected to commence this month and will take three years to complete. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Siddal and Hilton Products, the welded steel mesh manufacture, has announced its plans to completely redevelop its 4.5 acre sites in Brighouse. The £9 million investment follows the company’s goal to become a world-class manufacturer. Siddall has a number of manufacturing, storage and office buildings on both sides of Foundry Street, some of which are over 150 years old and are no longer fit for purpose. Having been granted planning permission to begin work on phase one of the three-year project, the company will see the creation of new amenities for staff. While the site is being redeveloped, the office-based team at Siddall have temporarily moved into portakabins. Initial works will provide new facilities including showers, locker-rooms and a canteen for employees, with a briefing room and a training space above, followed by several major demolition and construction phases. “Since the MBO three years ago, the business has gone from strength to strength. We have already embarked on a major investment programme, from commissioning a new state-of-the-art £2m welding machine last year, replacing a roof and refurbishing existing machines to expanding the team and implementing ongoing training programmes to upskill colleagues,” said Ian Thurley, Chief Executive. “This significant investment in redeveloping the entire site will bring all our facilities up to the latest standards as we continue to compete on the world stage. Not only will it see us expanding our operational site capacity, but also improving process flow and future proofing the buildings as well as creating a better working environment. One of our key strengths is our skilled workforce in Brighouse and the scale of this project is a further demonstration of our commitment to our people and continuing to invest in the town.” The first phase, which represents a £4 million investment, will see the demolition of a number of the older buildings, to be replaced by a new portal-framed building, HGV service yard and factory extension. With work due to start on site in 2023, the redevelopment has been carefully planned to ensure that the business remains fully operational throughout the work. Later phases will include the extensive refurbishment of the old Tower Works site and the conversion of one of the sheds to provide permanent office accommodation. Once this has been completed, the company plans to remove the portakabins and build two warehousing units adjacent to Birds Royd Lane. Other enhancements will focus on improving vehicle movements around the site to minimise vehicular obstructions on Foundry Street and to significantly improve safety for pedestrians and other road users close to the works. Overall, the project will enable Siddall to streamline its manufacturing processes by providing a much more efficient workflow, as well as creating a safer, greener and more modern environment for its employees and the local community. The scheme has been designed by Darren Till, partner at TJP Architects, based in Pontefract. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Major construction work is due to start on the Lyminster Bypass in West Sussex, which will help ease congestion. Jackson Civil Engineering were the ones who managed to win the £23.8 million contract, due to begin immediately. According to the existing plans, the new road will link up with the recently-constructed southern section of the bypass to complete a new, 1.1-mile carriageway running to the east of Lyminster and Wick villages. As far as possible, the new carriageway will be constructed off-line from the existing highway network to minimise disruption for road users. “Initial, enabling works, such as vegetation clearance, had already been completed, but now the main construction phase started on Monday. This is very positive news. Helping to provide a sustainable and prosperous economy is one of the priorities in Our Council Plan and, by providing this new highway infrastructure, we will be supporting the provision of 1,260 new homes and 700 new jobs in the region,” said Joy Dennis, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport. “It’s also hoped that, by providing improved cyclist and pedestrian facilities, more people will be encouraged to make local trips on foot or by bike, helping lower our carbon footprint, another key priority in our Council Plan,” Joy Dennis added. The existing public bridleway will be maintained with a Pegasus Crossing, provided to ensure the safety of equestrians, cyclists and pedestrians. Moreover, a new viaduct will be constructed over Black Ditch with an associated flood plain to ensure that there is no increase in flood risk. The existing culvert will be extended at Brookfield Stream as well. The scheme is being funded by Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund, developer contributions (Section 106 funds), the Department for Transport and the County Council. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Plans have been submitted for phase two of Queensgate Square, which will see the transformation of the block on Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham. The block will be turned into prestigious residences, set around a communal garden and square, which will be shared with residents of Queensgate House, representing phase one of Queensgate Square. These new builds – two blocks, one of 15 storeys and another of 12 – will add 159 new luxury apartments to the Birmingham market. Over a third of the accommodation – 55 in number – will be affordable. Both luxury and affordable apartments will blend seamlessly with the only difference being the level of specification when you walk through the door. Construction on phase one is already underway and it will see an eight-storey 1950s office block transformed into 68 boutique apartments – studio, one, two and three-bedroom – apartments. The accommodation will be available for rent (PRS) by mid-2024. Designed by D5 Architects, the London-based developer behind the Queensgate Square scheme – The Riverlow Group – specialises in upmarket transformations. They recently acquired this, their first site in the Midlands, and submitted planning in early October. “Despite all the recent economic turbulence, the investors we speak with regularly, wherever they are in the world, all know that Birmingham remains rich with investment opportunities. Aspirational apartments are always in high demand, especially for rent. We know we get it right because we know we’d love to live in our developments. That level of comfort is important when your neighbour is the Bond Street of Birmingham,” commented Max Reisner, Spokesman for The Riverlow Group. The super-luxe apartments in the Queensgate development will feature high-spec, designer kitchens and bathrooms, all finessed with a natural pallet of mixed timbers, earthy tones and soft whites. The penthouses will have specifically-designed, live-work spaces. “Queensgate’s situation is particularly special. You’re right in the heart of the city centre, only a few minutes’ walk away from the high street, New Street and the under-construction HS2 rail station. The development will be car-free with ample secure bike storage. Why use a car when you have Michelin-starred restaurants on your doorstep and you can reach most places quicker by train?,” said Max Reisner. “At the forefront of our design thinking has been how we’re all going to live more sustainably in the future. So we will have thick walls with high levels of insulation, which will minimise running costs, as will the large windows which will flood living spaces with all the wellbeing and environmental benefits of natural light. All in all, Queensgate Square will be a place where residents will build many happy memories,” Max concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
