February 9, 2023
World’s first zero-emissions cement industrial trial launches in UK

World’s first zero-emissions cement industrial trial launches in UK

Scientists and industry unite to decarbonise construction supply chain and tackle global climate emergency   Cement 2 Zero (C2Z), a UK-based demonstrator project to trial the world’s first zero-emissions cement on an industrial scale, was officially launched this week having successfully conducted the first in a series of pilot-scale melts. The

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Temporary Works Challenge on Tideway’s South East London Site

Temporary Works Challenge on Tideway’s South East London Site

Vinci Construction Grands Projects and Bachy Soletanche JV, the Costain, demanded mining support to install an air treatment unit (ATU) at Tideway’s Deptford Church Street site in Lewisham. The ATU will control and treat air exhausted from London’s 25km long “super sewer” tunnel. The Costain has installed the ATU alongside

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HS2’s plans for Balsall Common Viaduct capture local feedback

HS2’s plans for the Balsall Common Viaduct in Warwickshire, recently submitted to Solihull Council, incorporate local feedback focussing on environmental sustainability, landscape integration, visual connectivity and public access. HS2’s main works contractor, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), supported by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra together with architects

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Johnson Controls and Willow to collaborate on digital solutions that create smarter, healthier, more sustainable buildings

Johnson Controls and Willow to collaborate on digital solutions that create smarter, healthier, more sustainable buildings

Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, and Willow, a leading provider of digital twin solutions for critical infrastructure and real estate today announced a global collaboration to digitally transform buildings and facilities into healthier, safer and more sustainable environments for their customers and occupants. Johnson Controls and

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GAP Group gets Gold for second year running

GAP Group gets Gold for second year running

GAP Hire Solutions, the UK’s largest independent equipment hire company, is delighted to confirm its continued FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) Gold Certification, operating in all depots south of, and including, Birmingham. This award is the pinnacle for fleet operators’ organisations. The scheme supports GAP’s drive to continually improve operator

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Chubb strengthens senior leadership team

Chubb strengthens senior leadership team

Chubb, one of the UK’s leading fire safety and security solutions provider, has strengthened its senior leadership team with a number of significant appointments. Following the recent senior executive hires and promotions for Chubb Group globally, the UK and Ireland team welcomes three new leaders. David Dunnagan was promoted to

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Buying a luxury home in the North East

Buying a luxury home in the North East

Lovers of luxury can now set up home at one of the most prestigious addresses in the North East. For 10 centuries Lambton Park – just 15 minutes from Durham City, on the banks of the River Wear – has been the ancestral seat of the Earls of Durham. Now

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

February 9, 2023

Planning Approval Granted for Ingram Street Development in Glasgow’s Merchant City 

Planning Approval Granted for Ingram Street Development in Glasgow’s Merchant City 

Artisan Real Estate to Deliver Sustainable Homes and Commercial Spaces, With Landscaped Roof Terraces and Courtyard  Proposals for a landscaped and carbon friendly mixed-use development at the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City have been given the go-ahead by Glasgow City Council, subject to agreement of a ‘Section 75’ legal agreement. Artisan Real Estate’s plans for the site at 65-97 Ingram Street, currently being used as a temporary car park, include 109 sustainable apartments and ground floor commercial space, housed in buildings varying in height from four to seven storeys.  Central to the development’s design is a publicly accessible landscaped garden courtyard filled with trees, flower boxes, raised beds for growing vegetables and seating areas. A series of landscaped private rooftop gardens and terraces will further help in creating a ‘green oasis’ for Glasgow’s city centre, significantly enhancing the local area’s biodiversity.   Designed by Scottish architects AMA Studio, the apartments will include a range of one, two and three bedroomed properties offering the latest in low carbon, fossil-fuel free living – including energy-efficient air source heat pump technology and high levels of insulation helping to keep energy costs down. The ground floor commercial space will accommodate up to four separate units ranging in size from 1750 to 2750 sq. ft. and suitable for a range of uses including leisure, office, retail or restaurants/cafés.  Welcoming the planning approval, David Westwater, Artisan’s Regional Director for Scotland, said: “We are now looking forward to our vision for this brownfield site in the heart of the city centre becoming a reality. We have set out an innovative design to attract people back into the Merchant City – creating an attractive and accessible space to live, visit, work and enjoy. As well as building sustainable and energy efficient new homes, we are also creating a variety of green, open spaces which will provide a rich, natural experience for both residents and visitors alike, with interlinked pathways and accessible seating areas.”  Mr Westwater said that more than 1200 people viewed the proposals during a three-month consultation programme held in 2022. He added: “We received some valuable feedback during the consultation. Incorporating the garden terraces and courtyard shows how natural landscaping can feature in even the most urban of settings, providing a genuinely different living experience to encourage people back in to the city centre. We look forward to working closely with the local community and other stakeholders to make the most of this accessible, public courtyard space.”   Supporting the city’s net zero ambitions, no car parking spaces are proposed although residents will be provided with secure bike spaces and access to the city car club.  For more information on Artisan Real Estate’s plans for 65-97 Ingram Street, visit the consultation website at: www.65-97ingramstreet.co.uk  For more information about Artisan Real Estate, visit: www.artisanrealestate.co.uk  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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World’s first zero-emissions cement industrial trial launches in UK

World’s first zero-emissions cement industrial trial launches in UK

Scientists and industry unite to decarbonise construction supply chain and tackle global climate emergency   Cement 2 Zero (C2Z), a UK-based demonstrator project to trial the world’s first zero-emissions cement on an industrial scale, was officially launched this week having successfully conducted the first in a series of pilot-scale melts. The innovative project, which secured £6.5million of Government funding from UKRI as part of the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge, aims to further advance the construction, cement and steel sectors’ decarbonisation journey to net zero industries of the future, to help meet the UK Government’s commitment of achieving Net Zero by 2050.  Led by the Materials Processing Institute, supported by the University of Cambridge (UoC), and in collaboration with key players in the supply chain, Cement 2 Zero is the first collaborative trial of its kind, to address the global construction industry’s biggest challenge of decarbonisation, in response to the climate emergency. Concrete is the most widely used material on earth, after water, and it is fundamental to our way of life, our economy and shaping our world. However, the chemical and thermal combustion processes involved in the production of cement are a significant source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – with more than four billion tonnes of cement produced each year, accounting for around seven per cent of global CO2 emissions, according to the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). In the UK, concrete and cement account for 1.5 per cent of UK carbon dioxide emissions* The Cement 2 Zero project will investigate both the technical and commercial aspects of upscaling Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC) production to produce 20 tonnes of the world’s first zero emissions cement.  The first phase of trial melts is being carried out by the Materials Processing Institute, initially in a 250kg induction furnace, before being scaled up to 6T in an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Once the process has been substantially trialled, developed and de-risked effectively, industrial scale melts will follow in CELSA’s EAF in Cardiff. The two-year industrial trial will test each stage of the production process and brings together the expertise of the Materials Processing Institute, the University of Cambridge and key supply chain partners – Atkins, Balfour Beatty, CELSA, Day Aggregates and Tarmac – before using the innovative product in a live UK construction project.  If successful, it could not only further advance the cement, steel and construction industries, but influence how we recycle, construct and maintain our built environment and transport infrastructure, shaping the future of towns and cities, whilst simultaneously boosting economic development, and most importantly, reducing CO2 emissions to help tackle global warming.  Chris McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of the Materials Processing Institute, said: “Cement 2 Zero has the potential to make a significant contribution to achieving a zero-carbon society, secure and increase jobs in the UK cement and steel sectors and challenge conventional production processes, creating high-value materials from demolition waste.” Dr Philippa Horton, University of Cambridge, who created the project consortium, said: “If Cambridge Electric Cement lives up to the promise it has shown in early laboratory trials, when combined with other innovative technologies, it could be a pivotal point in the journey to a zero-emissions society. The Cement 2 Zero project is an invaluable opportunity to collaborate across the entire construction supply chain, to expand CEC from the laboratory to its first commercial application.” This major break-through is a result of Dr Cyrille Dunant and his research team at the University of Cambridge. They invented a new process which brings together two critical industries and construction materials – cement and steel – by combining the production processes, transforming a by-product of steel recycling into a valuable material, in one zero emission process.  Dr Dunant, said: “We take the built environment around us for granted, new homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces, roads and railways, as well as infrastructure that provides us with clean water, sanitation and energy all require cement which is an essential building material. It’s estimated that annual production equates to more than 500kg of concrete per person on the planet per year, and it is not currently possible to produce the material without creating CO2 emissions. “This breakthrough offers a positive move in cement production and will support the industry response to the UK’s legally binding commitment to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. “ The science behind this breakthrough Known as Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC), three researchers at the University of Cambridge, Dr Cyrille Dunant, Professor Julian Allwood and Dr Philippa Horton, invented a process that converts construction and demolition waste to cement over molten steel, using an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), which is used to recycle scrap steel. The Cement 2 Zero project aims to demonstrate that concrete can be recycled to create a Slag Forming addition which could, when cooled rapidly, replace Portland cement.   Dr Dunant discovered that the chemical composition of used cement is virtually identical to that of the lime-flux used in the conventional EAF steel recycling process.  Traditional Portland clinker, one of the main ingredients in cement, is produced by firing limestone and other minerals in a kiln at extremely high temperatures (1,450 degrees Celsius), a process which accounts for more than 50 per cent of the cement sectors’ emissions. By contrast, Cement 2 Zero will use recycled cement as the flux in the electric steel recycling process (EAF powered by renewables), the by-product of which, when cooled and ground, produces Portland cement clinker, which is then blended to make ‘zero-emissions’ cement.  Therefore, this innovative cement product (CEC) could be made in a virtuous recycling loop, that not only eliminates the significant emissions of cement and steel production, but also saves raw materials, as illustrated in the infographic attached to this press release. Professor Julian Allwood, University of Cambridge and Cambridge Electric Cement, explained: “By combining steel and cement recycling in a single process powered by renewable electricity, we could supplement the global supply of the basic construction materials to support the infrastructure of a

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Temporary Works Challenge on Tideway’s South East London Site

Temporary Works Challenge on Tideway’s South East London Site

Vinci Construction Grands Projects and Bachy Soletanche JV, the Costain, demanded mining support to install an air treatment unit (ATU) at Tideway’s Deptford Church Street site in Lewisham. The ATU will control and treat air exhausted from London’s 25km long “super sewer” tunnel. The Costain has installed the ATU alongside a 60m deep, 16m diameter shaft that is said to move effluent from street level to the main sewer tunnel downward. In turn, Groundforce Shorco supplied a sheet piling and structural support solution for the ATU excavation. It is located in a confined area adjacent to the main shaft and includes three separate sections. The section engineer, Freddie Gorman, pointed out: “When the sewer is operating, air will build up inside and needs to be vented,” “We can’t just let it come straight out; it needs to be filtered. When the shaft is completed, it will be capped and any air trapped inside will be fed through the ATU, where it’s treated. It then goes into a ventilation chamber before being vented out into the atmosphere.” For supporting the excavation, Groundforce supplied KD6 sheets and Larssen sheet piles with its Mechshore, Maxi and Mega Bracing frames. Three levels of the frame with the larger capacity Mega Brace frames located at the bottom to support the higher loads were installed. Arpad Nagy, Groundforce area manager, illustrated that the temporary works design was complicated since the three sections of the excavation, each a distinct size and depth, were built back-to-back. Nagy expressed: “The frames work with and against each other and are interdependent. That means we couldn’t make any changes to one frame without affecting all of the others.” In addition, the steel sheets lining the excavation act as the outer skin of the formwork necessitates to pour the reinforced concrete walls of the ATU chamber. He continued: “The original plan was to use formwork to construct the ATU walls, but by pouring the concrete against the sheet piles the project cost has been reduced.” The excavation’s complexity, merged with varying ground levels and the proximity of the main shaft, meant the temporary works design process was tough. Nagy claimed: “The whole evolution of the temporary works design took around seven months and went through eight different versions.” The first design meeting was in April 2021, and the first delivery of equipment to the Tideway site was not until December 2021. Another obstacle for the site team was the ground conditions on the site, which were extremely hard and stony. This made it challenging to install the steel sheet piles just with the excavator-mounted vibrating hammer. Therefore, a pre-augering method had to be acquired. Also, several sheet piles still remain to be installed. However, the proximity of the current shaft resulted in additional problems. Ross Hope, a senior engineer, explained: “We were tasked with designing a system to allow the removal of the sheets which were blocking the connection, as well as providing enough clearance to allow the concrete walls to be fully cast. We came up with using a trapezoidal frame in order to transfer loads to the existing capping beam, followed by a secondary temporary frame propping off the top of the capping beam in order to allow the removal of the frames below.” The task has now advanced onto a second phase which was the excavation to obtain a long culvert that channels the filtered air from the ATU to the ventilation chamber. Nagy clarified: “This excavation will be just as complicated, but we’ve learned a few things in phase one, so I’m sure we can provide a suitable solution.” The ATU is located near the historic St Paul’s Church in Deptford and is an element of the £4.3bn Thames Tideway Tunnel project. It is said to create a combined sewer, running mainly beneath the tidal section of the River Thames across London, to capture, store and convey 95% of the raw sewage and rainwater which presently overflows into the Thames. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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HS2’s plans for Balsall Common Viaduct capture local feedback

HS2’s plans for the Balsall Common Viaduct in Warwickshire, recently submitted to Solihull Council, incorporate local feedback focussing on environmental sustainability, landscape integration, visual connectivity and public access. HS2’s main works contractor, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), supported by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra together with architects Weston Williamson + Partners, have engaged with people in the local area over the last year to gather feedback on the viaduct – a 425-metre-long section of the UK’s new zero-carbon high speed rail line. Understanding the landscape context was a key focus of the design, allowing the team to create a viaduct that ‘reflects and reveals’ itself within the landscape. Planting and species selection was another key focus, with the plans now including wet woodland planting using native species to the local area; mixed native woodland plants such as midland hawthorn and black poplar, two notable local species; woodland edge planting to provide screening; and hedgerow planting to improve wildlife connections. Reflecting the historic local growing of flax for weaving into linen, an alternative grass species mix will incorporate blue flowered plants including blue flax, cornflower and forget-me-nots. Bird boxes will be added in the trees in various locations to serve common bird species such as robin, blue tit and great tit. A realignment of Bayleys Brook will increase habitat for fish, aquatic invertebrates and potentially water vole. Design changes have also reduced the size of the railway embankment running parallel to Bayleys Brook by 75 metres, improving the resiliency of the area to flooding, and enhancing views through the viaduct to the wider landscape. To improve connections, the Kenilworth Greenway will be extended to Station Road on the south-eastern side of the existing railway line and a further extension towards Lavender Hall is currently under consideration. Options for cycling and bridleway extensions are also being considered. HS2 Ltd’s Senior Project Manager for Balsall Common, Alan Payne said: “Over the last couple of years, we’ve worked closely with the community and local councillors to incorporate their feedback on Balsall Common Viaduct as much as possible. We’re confident that our plans respect and enhance the local history and natural environment of the area, and will provide new green areas for people and wildlife to enjoy. “The HS2 project supports nearly 30,000 jobs – of which nearly 9,000 are employed in the West Midlands, with local businesses across the region benefitting from supply chain contracts. Once complete, HS2 will transform journeys across the UK, help boost the economy and provide extra capacity on the existing rail network.” Shaun Ruffles, Landscape Architecture Director from HS2’s Design Joint Venture said: “The team have worked hard over the past 4 years to significantly improve on the hybrid Bill design to ensure that the environment and people using the area are at the heart of the design. “The finalised design for the Balsall Common Viaduct has been driven by its context and responds directly to it. The concept of ‘reflect and reveal’ has been key to this, with views of the viaduct revealed and filtered by the mature oak trees in the wider historic landscape. The viaduct is further integrated through its reflection in local water features and in the polished acoustic parapets which will reflect the skyline, lightening the structure further.” BBV will construct a total of 16 piers to carry the viaduct 10m above ground, crossing over Station Road, Bayleys Brook, Heart of England Way Walk and the local floodplain. Construction refinements have reduced the size of each pier by as much as 17% for single piers and 28% for double piers, giving the structure a lighter appearance. Responding to feedback about the look of the viaduct, a section at Station Road will be finished with a bespoke pattern, referencing the local history of the area. People can register to attend an event on Thursday 16 February at Balsall Common Village Hall to view the latest plans and talk to the team: www.hs2.org.uk/balsall-common Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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UK Debut for Bobcat E19e Electric Excavator at Executive Hire Show

UK Debut for Bobcat E19e Electric Excavator at Executive Hire Show

Doosan Bobcat will be showing the company’s new E19e two-tonne electric mini-excavator for the first time in the UK on Stand I40 at the Executive Hire Show (EHS) from 8-9 February 2023 at the Coventry Building Society Arena in Coventry. Alongside the E19e, the company will also be presenting the popular 7/45 portable compressor from sister company, Doosan Portable Power.   The EHS is firmly established as the only annual national event aimed at tool, equipment and plant hirers and the suppliers serving this dynamic industry. The EHS enables hire professionals to not only see key suppliers they already do business with, in one place, but also to get in front of new companies from around the world who are looking to serve this important market. Clean and Quiet Operations Building on the success of Bobcat’s smaller E10e, the world’s first 1 tonne electric mini-excavator, the E19e adds to Bobcat’s expanding range of electrically powered machines. As a true pioneer in the field of battery-powered equipment, Bobcat is driving an industry-wide shift towards electric excavators and other construction equipment such as the company’s unique T7X model, the world’s first electric compact track loader. The Bobcat E19e features the same profile, external dimensions and comparable performance as the popular E19 mini-excavator, more than 10,000 of which have been sold worldwide. The E19e boasts the same stability, lift capacity and breakout forces as its conventional counterpart, while its constant torque curve (a feature of electric motors) ensures dependable and powerful operations. With a width of just 98 cm, the new electric model is easy to operate in even the most confined workspaces, making it ideal for tasks such as demolition as well as outside applications that require quiet, zero-emission operations. The E19e features a 3.5-hour battery capacity and can be recharged quickly using a super-fast charger. This means that by topping up the power during work breaks, the machine can be used all day for the majority of typical applications. Thanks to the model’s ergonomic design, its battery capacity and service codes are clearly displayed, making planning simple. The E19e is also immensely versatile, with a wide array of compatible attachments available. Bobcat’s hydraulic clamp attachment, for example, is unique in the market for this size category. Doosan 7/45 Stage V Compressor Continues Success in the Market Designed with a focus on simplicity, durability, reliability and transportability, the 7/45 Stage V portable compressor provides 4.0 m³/min (140 cfm) of compressed air at 7 bar nominal pressure. Like all Doosan portable compressors, there is a wide range of options and customizations available for the 7/45 to meet customer needs. The 7/45 Stage V compressor on the EHS stand will feature a Tough Top (polymer) canopy, which is a standard feature on all the latest small compressors from Doosan Portable Power. This easy-to-open canopy creates a fantastic line with the polymer mudguards and bumpers. Integrated LED lights are also offered as standard for all the machines as well as environmentally important bunded bases. The long-standing metal canopy versions are still available to customers as an option. There are three more 7 bar Stage V compressor models in the small compressor range including the 7/20, 7/25 and 7/55, with outputs of 2.0, 2.5 and 5.0 m³/min (70, 90 and 180 cfm), respectively. The small compressor range is completed by the 14/35 higher pressure model providing 3.0 m³/min (105 cfm) of compressed air at 13.8 bar. The E19e and E10e are part of a comprehensive selection of mini-excavators from Bobcat covering models from 0.8 to 8.5 tonne, alongside a full line-up of skid-steer, compact track and all-wheel steer loaders, telehandlers, compact wheel and small articulated loaders and attachments. Also aimed at the tool and plant hire industry and the markets it serves, Doosan Portable Power offers a comprehensive range of portable compressors, generators and lighting products for the construction and rental industry. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit www.bobcat.com For more information about Doosan Portable Power products, visit the website: www.doosanportablepower.eu Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Johnson Controls and Willow to collaborate on digital solutions that create smarter, healthier, more sustainable buildings

Johnson Controls and Willow to collaborate on digital solutions that create smarter, healthier, more sustainable buildings

Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, and Willow, a leading provider of digital twin solutions for critical infrastructure and real estate today announced a global collaboration to digitally transform buildings and facilities into healthier, safer and more sustainable environments for their customers and occupants. Johnson Controls and Willow have committed to jointly bring next-generation solutions to their customers. Digital twins are playing an increasingly important role in the design, construction, and ongoing operation of healthy buildings and facilities and can be particularly valuable when analysing large datasets and predicting patterns and trends. “When it comes to our OpenBlue suite of connected solutions, our customers see the return on their investment for creating smarter, healthier and more sustainable buildings – it’s a win for them and the environment,” said Rodney Clark, vice president and chief commercial officer, Johnson Controls. “We look forward to working with Willow to provide increasingly robust digital twin solutions to our mutual customers.” “Through this partnership we have an incredible opportunity to help customers reimagine what is possible when they digitise their buildings and facilities at scale,” said Joshua Ridley, chief executive officer, and co-founder of Willow. “By integrating the power of WillowTwin™ with Johnson Controls OpenBlue Digital Twin platform, customers can obtain operational efficiency and cost reductions, improve their sustainability management and improve IoT/Operational Technology security across their buildings and facilities portfolios globally.” In connection with this collaboration, Johnson Controls and Willow have entered into a go-to-market agreement and license agreement for the use of digital twin technology patents held by Johnson Controls. The companies also agreed to strengthen their technology and business collaboration in marketing, implementation and interoperability. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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GAP Group gets Gold for second year running

GAP Group gets Gold for second year running

GAP Hire Solutions, the UK’s largest independent equipment hire company, is delighted to confirm its continued FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) Gold Certification, operating in all depots south of, and including, Birmingham. This award is the pinnacle for fleet operators’ organisations. The scheme supports GAP’s drive to continually improve operator safety, fuel economy and vehicle emissions. It also helps embed the most efficient operations throughout the business. Put simply, the scheme demonstrates that GAP, as a national hire company, is achieving and maintaining industry leading best practice in efficient, sustainable and safe commercial vehicle fleet management. In maintaining Gold certification, GAP ensures compliance with all aspects of Road Transport Law. Being committed to ambitious sustainability and carbon reduction targets, GAP Hire Solutions only purchases vehicles fitted with the latest euro VI diesel engines, thereby limiting environmental impacts by achieving significant reductions in CO2, NOx, and Particulate Matter emissions. Additionally, the recent inclusion of electric vehicles into the fleet has enabled GAP to support customers with the implementation of ‘zero emission sites’. GAP also continues to invest in its fleet, fitting all HGVs with state-of-the-art safety equipment including cameras, nearside proximity aids and audible reversing alarms which support safe driving practices in congested urban areas. Furthermore, GAP has invested in an industry leading asset management, delivery and telematics system which supports the monitoring of driver behaviours and includes route planning capabilities and contributes towards a reduction in idling, ‘unnecessary miles’ and fuel usage. Allister Maxwell, Head of Safety, Risk & Compliance, at GAP commented: “GAP’s continued FORS certification demonstrates that our drivers and vehicles are maintaining exemplary levels of best practice in safety, efficiency and environmental protection.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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New management structure to drive housebuilder’s ambitious growth plans

New management structure to drive housebuilder’s ambitious growth plans

A RAPIDLY expanding housebuilder has restructured its management team to drive its ambitious plans for further growth. Since being founded in 2017, Genesis Homes has grown from a 10 unit per year company to one constructing in excess of 170 new homes during the latest financial year. To continue its rapid growth, with ambitions to build 300 properties each year by 2028, founder Nicky Gordon has promoted current Land Director John Blue to the position of Managing Director with the responsibility for overseeing the daily operations of the company. As a result, Nicky has moved into the newly created post of Chief Executive Officer and will be responsible for strategic planning, stakeholder relationships and expanding the business across the North West. Nicky said: “Genesis Homes has grown exponentially, even during the most difficult times of our generation, and we are absolutely thrilled with the progress the company has made and the positive impact it has had on local communities. “With Cumbria at our heart, we have ambitions to continue our expansion across the North West region and to realise this dream we need a new management structure in place to ensure we can concentrate fully on our growth plans, whilst maintaining the high standards of build quality we have earned a reputation for. “John has proven himself as an incredibly competent, reliable and integral member of the team, and his knowledge and understanding of the sector, and the company itself, has been instrumental to our growth to date. “I have the utmost faith in John’s ability to take control of the day-to-day business operations of Genesis Homes, and I look forward to seeing the company continue to progress under his direction.” John has worked at Genesis Homes since January 2018, having previously worked at Gleeson Homes, North Associates and PFK. He joined the company as Land and Planning Manager and was promoted to Land Director within two years. Throughout his time at Genesis Homes, he has been responsible for identifying and acquiring suitable land for development across Cumbria, and then working to ready the land for construction work. John said: “I was immediately excited about Nicky’s ambitions to grow Genesis Homes when he started the company in 2017, and the journey over the past five years has been one that we have all enjoyed sharing. “Despite the housing market being severely interrupted during Covid-19, we have grown well beyond our initial expectations and we’re all looking forward to the next five years, and beyond, as we target further growth. “I have enjoyed having such a hands-on role in helping Genesis Homes to become one of the largest homebuilders in Cumbria in terms of volume of units built per year, and I am honoured that Nicky has shown such faith in me by promoting me to the position of Managing Director. “The company has huge ambitions for the future, and I am excited to be leading the daily operations to make these goals a reality.” Genesis Homes is currently operational across nine developments throughout Cumbria and Lancashire, with its pioneering EcoGen carbon net zero emitting pilot development in Calthwaite commenced last year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Chubb strengthens senior leadership team

Chubb strengthens senior leadership team

Chubb, one of the UK’s leading fire safety and security solutions provider, has strengthened its senior leadership team with a number of significant appointments. Following the recent senior executive hires and promotions for Chubb Group globally, the UK and Ireland team welcomes three new leaders. David Dunnagan was promoted to Managing Director of Chubb UK&I, following Brendan McNulty’s promotion to the newly created role of Vice President – Europe last summer. David has enjoyed a successful career with Chubb, starting as an apprentice in 1993. He now drives the company’s ambition of becoming the employer of choice and the number one fire and security business in the UK and Ireland. Gary Moffatt has been promoted to Director for Fire and Security UK. Continuing his long and successful career with Chubb, Gary’s appointment is his latest milestone achievement, having secured several promotions since joining the organisation in 2001 as a university graduate.  A new addition to the Chubb senior leadership team is Terry Sallas. Terry joins as Managing Director of Major Projects and has a proven track record of helping organisations create a vision, discover new markets, and grow. He will lead projects incorporating specialist solutions through its technology-leading businesses, Chubb Systems, Frontline Security Solutions, Fire Systems, and the software brands, Sisys and Mentor.  David Dunnagan said about the new appointments, “I am delighted that we have significantly strengthened our senior leadership team. Gary and Terry bring an incredible amount of knowledge and experience to our team, and together with the wider team, we will lead Chubb into its next ambitious growth phase.  “We’re guiding our customers through the digital switchover and harnessing the power of new technology, so our fire and security solutions are even better connected and help customers lower their impact on their operations. By getting the basics right, we can be even more responsive and tailor our offering to provide a personal service to our customers. From there, we can evolve and be the number one provider for fire protection, life safety, and security.” The Chubb senior leadership team is made up of great leaders who each has decades of industry experience. From the core pillars of the business through to business functions such as Digital Technology, Communications & Marketing and Employee Experience & Development, these individuals are the driving force behind the organisation’s success.

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Buying a luxury home in the North East

Buying a luxury home in the North East

Lovers of luxury can now set up home at one of the most prestigious addresses in the North East. For 10 centuries Lambton Park – just 15 minutes from Durham City, on the banks of the River Wear – has been the ancestral seat of the Earls of Durham. Now buyers can snap up their own stately home on the estate, set in 1000 acres of historic Durham woodland, complete with a castle. The Lambton Park development by Miller Homes comprises properties of varying sizes with the Oak and the Aspen at the top of the range. Designed by the architect behind HM The King’s Poundbury estate at Dorset, the Oak and Aspen combine historically empathetic design with state-of-the art features expected by buyers at the upper end of the market. These include dual aspects to living rooms and bedrooms, along with walk-in wardrobes, studies or reading rooms, substantial utility or laundry rooms, open plan kitchen and dining rooms and spacious bathrooms and en-suites. Design features include Victorian-style sashed bay windows, bi-fold doors leading to private gardens and spacious hallways and landings with extra wide doors to all rooms. Owners can also enjoy exclusive access to private areas of Lambton Estate with around 11.5km of footpaths through some of the most unspoilt woodland in Britain and the Grade II listed Lambton Castle – the ancestral seat of the Lambton family – at its heart. Within just one week of first viewing an Aspen house Anne Parrott and husband Ed decided to buy and Anne, from County Durham, said: “It was love at first sight. There is just so much light in these houses – the windows are huge and the whole development is so light and airy. Everything about the house is fantastic and there is absolutely nothing that we would change. I can’t fault the care we received from Miller Homes. It has been a lovely experience.” As with Poundbury, the intention is that Lambton Park – which has excellent regional and national transport links – will become a self-sufficient community and plans are in place for the construction of Bowes Gate. This ‘community hub’ will consist of a Pavillion café bistro and a range of independent stores such as a delicatessen, butcher, florist and baker. Lindsey Oliver, Sales Manager at Miller Homes North East, said the Lambton Park development really represents the best of British design, architecture and vision, in the most historic and beautiful of settings – and the Oak and Aspen homes are the jewels in its crown.  “These houses beautifully combine period features with all the benefits of a new build, including the opportunity to save thousands on energy bills. So, whether you are from the North East or are looking to relocate here, you’ll find Lambton Park offers luxury living in superb quality homes, with all the attractions of the North East, from its coast to its castles, in this case quite literally, on the doorstep.” An Oak home completely ready to move into will be unveiled at a special open day event at Lambton Park on 4 March and along with the Miller Homes sales team, a financial advisor and solicitor will be on site between 11am and 4pm to answer any enquiries potential buyers may have. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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