Contractor Bouygues UK and temporary works specialist Mabey Hire have collaborated on the basement propping scheme on Swansea Council’s 71/72 Kingsway office development. The new £33M Swansea city centre office scheme is being developed on the site of the former Oceana nightclub, which closed in 2014. The five storey development,
TWO new build office buildings that will change the face of Sunderland city centre have ‘topped out’ with a traditional ceremony yesterday. Maker and Faber, two new offices on Riverside Sunderland backed by Legal & General, will create 150,000 sq ft of Grade A space for professional services firms, as
The John F Hunt Group is pleased to confirm that it has secured a majority shareholding in RKD Consultant Ltd. Specialists in geotechnical and structural engineering design, RKD has a reputation for being one of London’s leading designers of Temporary Works schemes. The award-winning company has worked on some of
Sodexo has been awarded a three-year contract with The Insolvency Service to provide strategic programme and advisory services to support the organisation’s ‘Transforming Workplaces Project’. Partnering with Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), global construction and property consultancy, Sodexo’s Property Professional Services business and RLB will support The Insolvency Service to rationalise
Later living provider Anchor is seeking development consultant partners to help realise ambitious plans to deliver 5700 new homes over the next ten years. Anchor, England’s largest provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life, will deliver the schemes across England, developing retirement communities that comprise 60
Supreme Court Decision Today: Fearn & Others v Trustees of Tate Gallery Ends Six-Year Battle With Wide-Ranging Implication For Developers and the Laws on Visual Nuisance In a milestone decision today the Supreme Court has allowed the appeal and found in favour of the flat owners overlooked by the Tate
Responding to the initial findings of the Regulator of Social Housing on damp and mould in social housing, Cllr Darren Rodwell, Housing spokesperson at the Local Government Association, said: “Councils continue to fully support efforts to inspect homes and drive up standards in both the social housing and private rented
Qualis Commercial has appointed Davis Construction as its contractor on the former Conder site in Epping Town Centre. The development will provide 45 high quality sustainable new homes consisting of 29 apartments across three buildings and 16 townhouses. These will be centred around the existing pond with extensive landscaping and
LSBUD, the UK’s leading online safe digging resource, finished 2022 with 3.75 million search enquiries for underground pipes and cables passing through its central system. This is a 12 percent increase on the previous year. The portal also registered 43,190 new Users in 2022. This represents a 14 percent increase
From acoustics to furniture to flooring and fabrics, Workspace Design Show is the perfect place to discover the workplace trends for 2023. The show, taking place between 27- 28 February 2023, brings you an extensive exhibitor line-up where the workplace interiors community can gather and celebrate the latest in office
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Contractor Bouygues UK and temporary works specialist Mabey Hire have collaborated on the basement propping scheme on Swansea Council’s 71/72 Kingsway office development. The new £33M Swansea city centre office scheme is being developed on the site of the former Oceana nightclub, which closed in 2014. The five storey development, with two underground levels, will include 10,590m2 of commercial floor space and 600 co-working spaces for the tech, digital and creative industries. Swansea Council appointed Bouygues UK to deliver the complex project. The main contractor has been involved in early stage collaboration with Mabey Hire on the temporary works on the scheme. Working closely with structural engineer Bingham Hall, Mabey Hire was responsible for supplying and installing the equipment required. The original proposed scheme design included the use of steel walers and bracing struts for the basement excavation. This approach, however, was not suitable for the 71/72 Kingsway project due to concerns that the groundworks shoring equipment would clash with the piling rigs. Instead, an alternative solution was put forward featuring Mabey Hire’s Mass 25 props, which were used to create portal frames in specific areas within the basement area. This enabled the extensive piling operations to be undertaken without disruption. Mabey Hire’s Enviroguard monitoring solution was also installed. It remained on site during the temporary works installation and throughout the piling works themselves. This provided real-time data and insight as to the site behaviours, so that any movement of the existing retaining wall was captured. Mabey Hire major projects manager Lee Matthews said: “Working closely and collaboratively with structural engineers Bingham Hall and the main contractor, Bouygues UK, we remained on hand throughout the works. On a project of this scale, it’s inevitable that there will be some changes required as construction progresses, and we were able to deliver those changes speedily on site too.” Bouygues UK site manager Chelbie Jones commented: “Mabey Hire has done a great job for us in terms of the design and delivery in facilitating our logistic constraints and programme requirements. Despite the challenges the site presents, the works carried out have been executed well and collaboratively by Mabey Hire and the Bouygues UK delivery team.” The 71/72 The Kingsway project is being part-funded by the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal and supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. The development is due for completion this summer. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
TWO new build office buildings that will change the face of Sunderland city centre have ‘topped out’ with a traditional ceremony yesterday. Maker and Faber, two new offices on Riverside Sunderland backed by Legal & General, will create 150,000 sq ft of Grade A space for professional services firms, as well as exciting retailers on the ground floor. With the steel frames now fully erected, the two new buildings are already making their mark on the city. Legal & General chief executive, Sir Nigel Wilson, made his way to the top of Maker for a traditional topping out ceremony this morning, alongside Sir Andrew McAlpine, partner at Sir Robert McAlpine, the building and engineering company delivering the scheme; Landid MD James Silver; as well as the chief executive of Sunderland City Council, Patrick Melia. Part of Riverside Sunderland – a mixed-use urban quarter that is extending the footprint of the city centre – Maker and Faber are two key new additions to the city’s property portfolio, that will attract businesses offering thousands of new jobs when they open their doors in 2024. They are part of Legal & General’s £100m commitment to the Riverside Sunderland site, alongside a further £60 million to transform the Hilthorn Park area for new economic development, delivering important infrastructure and regeneration which responds to the needs of the local area, and enables long term job creation. Sir Nigel Wilson said: “These are hugely significant developments that will not only change the face of Sunderland but will deliver a vital boost to the economy in a city that is fast becoming a poster child of urban regeneration. “This is Inclusive Capitalism at its best. With an injection of long-term capital, towns and cities can be completely transformed, and have a direct positive social impact, creating jobs and supporting real wage increases, whilst creating a virtuous circle by generating income to pay pensioners.” Maker stands six storeys high, providing 80,000 sq ft of office space, and Faber at five-storeys high, will deliver 70,000 sq ft of accommodation and has already confirmed that 400 staff from RSA will move into the building in spring 2024. Maker and Faber represent the only speculative city centre office spaces in development in the North of England this year. James Silver, managing director of Landid, said: “It was wonderful to see Maker and Faber top out in style this morning, a milestone moment as construction of these brilliant buildings gathers pace. “Seeing the shell of Maker and Faber in position – the realisation of many, many months of planning and hard work – is a proud moment for us at Landid and in just over a year, we’ll be ready to welcome businesses that will play a key part in regenerating Sunderland city centre.” Sir Andrew McAlpine, a partner at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “These are two hugely impressive buildings, and seeing them pierce the skyline in Sunderland is a proud day for us. We’re delighted to be playing a part in transforming the city centre with a development that will create jobs and opportunities for local people and businesses. During the construction, we are keen to generate social value for the community, recruiting local workforce and supply chain partners and supporting training opportunities in the region.” Maker and Faber are a key part of Riverside Sunderland, named Best Future Place at the prestigious Pineapple Awards, which will create a vibrant, mixed-use site, comprising 1,000 new homes for up to 2,500 new residents, as well as a range of new places to enjoy – including parkland both sides of the river, and ‘the UK’s best library’, Culture House – and 1m sq ft of office space. It will boost the number of people living and working in the heart of the city, creating a stronger daytime and evening economy by doubling the resident population of the city centre from 2,500 to 5,000 and increasing employment by 50% to 18,000. Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said: “Topping out is a key moment in the development of any new building, but the sense of tradition and occasion today made this extra special. “These are game-changing developments for Sunderland, and – as these two buildings top out – we move that step closer to realising the impact they will have, not only through the physical change they bring, but through the confidence they will give to our city centre traders who will reap the benefit of thousands more people on the doorstep by day and evening.” Both buildings are being actively marketed by commercial property agents Knight Frank and JLL with Faber already having attracted its first tenant, RSA, bringing 400 jobs to the city centre. To stay up to date with Maker and Faber’s development, visit www.makerfaber.co.uk or follow @makerandfaber on social media. To enquire about space within the buildings, contact Richard Thornton from JLL at Richard.Thornton@eu.jll.com or on 0113 235 5269 or contact Patrick Matheson at Knight Frank at Patrick.matheson@knightfrank.com or on 0191 594 5001. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The John F Hunt Group is pleased to confirm that it has secured a majority shareholding in RKD Consultant Ltd. Specialists in geotechnical and structural engineering design, RKD has a reputation for being one of London’s leading designers of Temporary Works schemes. The award-winning company has worked on some of the most iconic and complex projects in the capital, including Battersea Power Station, Chelsea Barracks, Kensington Odeon, and recently but very topically, the basement extension of Claridge’s. Mark Blackmore and Dr Adam Pellew’s management remains unchanged, together with their engineering team, who will continue to operate out of their existing offices in East London. John F Hunt Directors, Davinder Rehal CEng, and Dr Adam Fisher, who have over 25 years’ experience in the rail sector and ground engineering respectively, will ensure the adoption of a collaborative approach between the two Engineering Design disciplines and that RKD’s client interests are not conflicted. Mark Blackmore, RKD’s Managing Director, commented, “It will be ‘business as usual’ for us, as we will still work independently with our existing clients. We have combined forces and delivered many projects with John F Hunt in the past, and we appreciate their excellent reputation within the construction industry. The amalgamation of technical engineering minds and the support the Group can offer is an exciting prospect for all of us.” John Hall, John F Hunt Group Chairman, said, “The incorporation of the highly regarded RKD business within the Group will greatly strengthen John F Hunt’s geotechnical and structural capabilities. However, we recognise the importance of RKD retaining their autonomy and existing client base; this, I am sure they will achieve whilst being able to expand the business through our network of regional offices.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sodexo has been awarded a three-year contract with The Insolvency Service to provide strategic programme and advisory services to support the organisation’s ‘Transforming Workplaces Project’. Partnering with Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), global construction and property consultancy, Sodexo’s Property Professional Services business and RLB will support The Insolvency Service to rationalise and transform its existing estate and help deliver the five-year programme of major and minor fitouts, building closures and disposals. Together they will deliver a range of services including: Dan Weiss, managing director of Sodexo’s Property Professional Services said: “We are delighted to be appointed as a strategic partner to The Insolvency Service to help rationalise and transform their estate. We look forward to working together with The Insolvency Service and RLB to bring to life their vision which is aligned to the Government Property Strategy for a smaller, better and greener estate.” Sodexo’s services have been procured via the Crown Commercial Service Estate Management Framework (RM 6168) where Sodexo is a supplier on three lots: Lot 1 – Total Estate Management Lot 4 – Surveying and Strategic Advice Lot 7 – Integrator The framework has recently been extended by a year expiring in July 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Later living provider Anchor is seeking development consultant partners to help realise ambitious plans to deliver 5700 new homes over the next ten years. Anchor, England’s largest provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life, will deliver the schemes across England, developing retirement communities that comprise 60 or more homes for sale, shared ownership and rent. The not-for-profit provider, through its new developments consultancy framework, is tendering for four-year partnerships with architects, employers’ agents and cost consultants, structural and civil engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers, planning consultants and principal designers. The total estimated value for delivering projects over the life of the framework is £800m. Steve Hogben, head of technical and commercial services for Anchor, said: “We have ambitious plans to further our provision for older people across the country. As a result, we are looking to secure long term partnerships with various practices from architects and designers to engineers and we have invited tenders from selected providers, with the view to award these tenders in June 2023.” Oliver Boundy, Executive Director of Development at Anchor, said: “Helping people enjoy later life is our passion. With an ageing population and a lack of supply, our housing, care and support is needed more than ever. “Anchor is proudly not-for-profit, which means every penny we make is reinvested into our properties and services, building more and innovating for the future so that people can have a home where they love living in later life. Our mission is to create communities that bring people together, encourage neighbourliness and reduce isolation while providing support services that give residents peace of mind. “Anchor manages 54,000 homes for both rent and sale to those aged 55 and over, operating across almost 1,700 sites and serving more than 65,000 residents. Our 10-year plan is to build on that success and help address the gap in service provision for older people in England.” Companies wishing to be considered can access the submission information here. The initial SQ stage will close on the 12 February 2023. Submissions must be received by this date to be considered. To find out more about the company’s growth strategy and vision for the future, or if you are a landowner, developer or site agent with suitable land then visit: www.anchorhanover.org.uk/professionals/land-acquisition. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Supreme Court Decision Today: Fearn & Others v Trustees of Tate Gallery Ends Six-Year Battle With Wide-Ranging Implication For Developers and the Laws on Visual Nuisance In a milestone decision today the Supreme Court has allowed the appeal and found in favour of the flat owners overlooked by the Tate Modern’s public viewing gallery, putting an end to this long running case.. The claim concerns the Tate’s public viewing gallery on the top floor of the Blavatnik Building. The viewing gallery attracts between 500,000 – 600,000 visitors per year and can hold up to 300 people at once. The distance between the viewing gallery and the flats is some 34 metres and the flats have floor to ceiling glass windows. The viewing gallery is open all day, 7 days a week and provides a clear and uninterrupted view of the flats. The owners of the flats complained of being constantly viewed by visitors to the museum, of people taking photographs and videos on their smartphones and uploading them to social media. The flat owners seek an injunction to prevent the Tate from permitting people to view their flats from the viewing gallery. The claim was dismissed at first instance on the basis that the Tate’s use of the land was reasonable, the flats (with floor to ceiling glass windows) were exceptionally sensitive and the owners could install blinds or curtains if they chose. The claim was appealed but dismissed at the Court of Appeal where it was held that “mere overlooking” could not constitute a nuisance. In a majority decision today the Supreme Court allowed the appeal and found in favour of the flat owners. The essence of the decision is that the law of nuisance seeks to prevent substantial interference with the ordinary enjoyment of land. The ordinary use of land, done conveniently and with due regard for your neighbours, cannot constitute a nuisance. However, the Court found that the near constant visual intrusion went well beyond “overlooking” and would be regarded by ordinary homeowners as substantially interfering with their use and enjoyment of their property. The viewing gallery was a particular and exceptional use of the Tate’s land and not an ordinary incident of the use of the land as an art museum. As a result, the use of the viewing gallery in this way constituted a nuisance. Thomas Freeman Senior Associate Solicitor in the Real Estate Disputes Team at Irwin Mitchell said, “ In the short term, the case is likely to be misunderstood as having been decided on the grounds of “privacy”. There are likely to be many people concerned about the use of neighbouring land or its proposed development who will seek to rely on it. However, the case was concerned the law of nuisance and not privacy. The Judgment is clear that the ordinary use of land, including for ordinary instances of overlooking or development, will not constitute a nuisance.” “The case is important because the Supreme Court has re-stated the law of nuisance. In doing so, it has rejected the notion that there is a “reasonable user” test, or that the “reasonable use” of land in all the circumstances will provide a defence to claim in nuisance. Rather, the questions of whether the interference is substantial, and whether it emanates from an ordinary use of the land or not, are of paramount importance. In the longer term, it is the question of “ordinary use” which is likely to generate satellite litigation. It is difficult to assess ordinary use by reference to locality in highly developed mixed areas, or where new uses are to be introduced to an area or are developed incrementally over time.” “Finally, the Supreme Court avoided the question of whether the owners should be awarded damages or an injunction. This is a missed opportunity for the Court to provide guidance in an area which, as the Court itself acknowledged, has been uncertain since the issue was last examined by the Supreme Court in Coventry v Lawrence.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Responding to the initial findings of the Regulator of Social Housing on damp and mould in social housing, Cllr Darren Rodwell, Housing spokesperson at the Local Government Association, said: “Councils continue to fully support efforts to inspect homes and drive up standards in both the social housing and private rented sector. While this study shows that the vast majority of social housing is safe and decent, councils are determined to improve housing conditions for all social and private tenants. “The LGA continues to work with professional bodies, as well as the Government, to discuss possible solutions on improving housing standards – including those relating to damp and mould in tenanted properties.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Qualis Commercial has appointed Davis Construction as its contractor on the former Conder site in Epping Town Centre. The development will provide 45 high quality sustainable new homes consisting of 29 apartments across three buildings and 16 townhouses. These will be centred around the existing pond with extensive landscaping and tree planting. Simon Rutter, Managing Director for Qualis Commercial comments, “This is a significant milestone for Qualis Commercial and we are pleased to be working with Davis Construction on our first residential development in Epping Town Centre. Demolition has recently been completed and I am looking forward to seeing activity on site. “ The new homes have been designed with sustainability in mind, with air source heat pumps, increased insulation to prevent heat loss in the winter and keep them cooler in the summer months, photo voltaic panels, charging for electric vehicles and green and blue roof systems. Tom Davis, Managing Director of Davis Construction said, “Davis Construction (South-East) Ltd is delighted to be working with Qualis Commercial on what will be a significant development in Epping town centre to create 45 new homes. “We take the role of main contractor very seriously and will endeavour to listen and be sensitive to the needs of local community as construction progresses.” Work will be starting in February, and we are expecting to complete in phases from the Spring 2024. As part of its developments in Epping Town Centre, Qualis will be making contributions of over £3 million to improve healthcare, education, enhancements to green spaces and other community wide benefits. With this project it will take the total contributions so far to over £750,000. Funding has already been used for improvements to Lower Swaines Playground and Stonards Hill recreation ground. For further information about Qualis Commercial please visit www.qualiscommercial.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LSBUD, the UK’s leading online safe digging resource, finished 2022 with 3.75 million search enquiries for underground pipes and cables passing through its central system. This is a 12 percent increase on the previous year. The portal also registered 43,190 new Users in 2022. This represents a 14 percent increase compared to 2021, and is 35 percent up on 2020. Richard Broome, MD at LSBUD, comments: “In 2022, our portal received more search enquiries than we take breaths. It’s absolutely extraordinary. At the start of 2022, our aim was to break through the 3.5 million enquiries barrier, so to achieve 3.75 million is credit to those safe digging industries who are more committed to best practice than ever before. “People operating within the farming, construction, highways, telecoms, water, gas and electricity sectors need to be praised for their part in this substantial growth, as do UK consumers who are increasingly undertaking home projects with greater care than ever before.” Growth in coverage was also seen across all industries, in particular the gas sector, with Northern Gas Networks joining the collaborative portal in 2022. This means LSBUD now has complete coverage of the UK’s major gas distribution networks, with 100 percent of them collaboratively sharing their data on the free-to-use, central portal. Fibre networks also jumped on the safe digging momentum, with Voneus, Ogi, Wildanet and Toob joining the likes of broadband key players Gigaclear, Gamma, Neos Networks and Zayo, in recognising the importance of having their asset data shared on a central portal. Richard Broome concludes: “2022 was the best ever year for the safe digging community. Pipes and cables were better protected than ever before, and those working near them were safer. Of course, there is room for improvement, and that is what we push for, however we wanted to extend a thank you to every farmer, construction, highways, telecoms, water, gas and electricity worker, that searches before they dig. It is good practice, it is safe, and it is sensible. Remember, always search before you dig.” For more information about LSBUD, visit http://www.lsbud.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
From acoustics to furniture to flooring and fabrics, Workspace Design Show is the perfect place to discover the workplace trends for 2023. The show, taking place between 27- 28 February 2023, brings you an extensive exhibitor line-up where the workplace interiors community can gather and celebrate the latest in office innovation. With many new as well as returning exhibitors, London’s Business Design Centre will be the place to explore cutting-edge workspace solutions. Get your free ticket to attend here. Workspaces are increasingly requiring multifunctional products. Furniture designer Pedrali will be exhibiting the multifunctional BuddyHub Desk, a functional and efficient workstation where users can concentrate and isolate, to partition open spaces and create collaborative and meeting areas. Spacestor will be launching their newest product development, Arcadia, a space-making toolkit for designers which brings the New Landscape for Work. RS Barcelona will showcase other fully flexible products, among them its ‘you and me’ ping pong table which caters for the recent trend ‘microbreaks’ which are proven to increase productivity. With mental and physical well-being at the forefront of workplace design, Technogym will be showcasing elements of its product ecosystem: connected smart equipment for end-user access wellness. ‘Personal Line’, for example, was created using over three decades of biomechanical experience and feedback, combined with the design skills of iconic Italian designer Antonio Citterio. Workspace Design Show has every surface covered from flooring to fabrics, which are increasingly used to define different spaces within an office floorplate. Flooring specialists Tarkett and Strata Tiles will both be exhibiting, demonstrating their latest surface solutions. Exploring the importance of colour and texture through fabrics is Kvadrat, a well-renowned textiles company, which produces high-performance, design textiles, rugs, acoustic and window covering solutions for both commercial and residential uses. BIOHM will present the bio materials exhibition, with biological systems at the heart of its inspiration. Workspace Design Show is showcasing a vast range of products that aid privacy and sound control. Amongst these are award winning firm The Meeting Pod Company, known for their commercial and domestic, indoor and outdoor meeting pods. Mute, meanwhile, will be displaying various solutions to regain focus and allow conversations to flow. Making a return to the show are leaders in sustainable and acoustic finishes, Woven Image, who will be demonstrating the importance of ceilings in acoustic control. Fora Form, one of Scandinavia’s largest furniture manufacturers for social areas will also be exhibiting. The event will also host some of the industry’s leading architectural lighting specialists, demonstrating the move away from harsh office lighting towards more human-centric solutions. Collaborators include FUTURE Designs, sponsors of the bar area. This UK-based firm specialises in quality bespoke lighting solutions and has recently gained the Carbon Careful sustainable accreditation. Lighting exhibitors include Erco which has a whole portfolio based entirely on LED technology and Delta Light, recognised throughout the world for its subtle blend of ambiance, elegance, functionality, and design, both in interior and exterior lighting. The Indoor and Outdoor intelligent lighting specialist, iGuzzini will also be exhibiting their latest products. A wide array of leading architects and designers will also be showcasing their perspectives on the latest workplace trends. A series of stunning features will be presented, including The REVIVAL Bar by Moser Associates; The Entrance ‘Destination Workplace Rebirth’ by Gensler, The Lounge: Change by Design, by BDP; International furniture specialist, The Furniture Practice will curate this year’s Design Talks Lounge in collaboration with multidisciplinary studio Acrylicize. The main stage space will bring together key pieces from leading furniture manufacturers, including Moroso, Andreu World, Arper, Fredericia and Vitra, alongside an immersive installation celebrating material innovation within furniture and interiors. Workspace Design Show 2023 is bringing together the latest innovations and trends under one roof, with an extensive range of unmissable products. Get your free ticket to attend here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
