GMI Construction Group has completed a 27,802 sq. ft Premier Inn in the Lake District tourist hotspot of Keswick. Operated by Premier Inn’s parent company, Whitbread, the 71-bedroom hotel is at High Hill, on the site of the former Ravensfield Residential Care Home. The latest addition brings Premier Inn’s presence
Scheme known as Parallel 113 is immediately available to let and has been built to a high quality, Grade A specification. St Francis Group, a leading UK-based property development and investment group and an expert in brownfield development has today announced the completion of a new 113,641 sq. ft Grade
ThermoPrint, a new one-of-a-kind innovation designed to save lives and revolutionise the road marking sector, has been launched by WJ, with plans already in place to trial the installation of road markings on the strategic road network following successful trials on local authority roads. WJ’s innovative ThermoPrint eliminates the need
A social housing provider has granted funding to help a local Parish Council purchase and install two new local, life-saving defibrillators. Platform Housing Group’s – one of the largest housing associations in the UK – awarded Community Chest Funding to Broughton Astley Parish Council in Leicester, to help ensure that
Award-winning housebuilder, Crest Nicholson, has announced the internal appointment of Bradley Stone as Head of Land and Planning for the South West division, as it prepares for further growth across the region in 2023. Bradley, who has worked for Crest Nicholson for over 18 months, was previously Associate Development &
Utilising their 250 Tonne girder bridge, Collett & Sons Ltd deliver two 215 Tonne super grid transformers from GE Stafford to Leylodge, Kintore. Located at GE’s Stafford engineering facility, the two 5 metre high, 215 Tonne transformers measured 8 metres long by 4 metres wide and required a transport solution
Contractor BAM has been appointed Principal Supply Chain Partner by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver a new Women and Children’s Hospital for Cornwall. The proposed new building has been designed to bring together the hospital’s maternity services, neo-natal and paediatric care, obstetrics and gynaecology services within one,
The new 116,000 sq. ft sustainable scheme which was developed speculatively is the third development to date to be recently delivered by Glencar for St. Modwen Logistics, with one unit of 17,000 sq. ft already pre-let. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing
British Steel has confirmed its sections will be deployed in the £34 million revamp of Middlesbrough Station. Teams are currently working on the second part of the transport scheme, which will revitalise the station undercroft, create new walkways and spaces for businesses and boost capacity for more rail services. “We’re
Specialty chemicals are compounds with exclusive properties and functions utilized across industries like agriculture, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Due to the high demand for these substances in various industries, the market has undoubtedly expanded. Consequently, the number of suppliers offering them has considerably doubled. With the abundance of suppliers in
GMI Construction Group has completed a 27,802 sq. ft Premier Inn in the Lake District tourist hotspot of Keswick. Operated by Premier Inn’s parent company, Whitbread, the 71-bedroom hotel is at High Hill, on the site of the former Ravensfield Residential Care Home. The latest addition brings Premier Inn’s presence to six hotels the in the Cumbria/ Lake District region, the others being in Cockermouth, Kendal, Penrith, Whitehaven, and Ulverston. Premier Inn estimates the Keswick hotel – which opened its doors on Monday 13th February – will host 30,000 overnight stays per year, with guests expected to generate around £1.8m per year in additional visitor expenditure. GMI Construction Group was appointed principal contractor by Whitbread’s development partner, Premcor. As part of its commitment to supporting the Cumbrian supply chain, GMI engaged local contractors whenever possible and used locally sourced products and materials. Designed to be in keeping with the area, the hotel features locally quarried natural slate roofing and Lakeland stone walling, which wraps around the corners of the facade. Facilities include a ground floor reception area, an in-house restaurant and bar, on-site car parking spaces, including EV charging points, and cycle lockers. As well as the very latest ‘standard’ bedroom, the hotel also offers 12 ‘enhanced’ Premier Plus rooms. Premier Inn has created 24 permanent jobs at the hotel, which is within walking distance of Keswick, and is currently recruiting a further two roles. Karl Hetherington, the manager of Premier Inn Keswick, said: “Opening a new hotel is always a big moment. It is even more special when you have a connection to the local area like I do in Keswick. “I am very proud of the team we have recruited to run the hotel with me, many of whom are from Keswick and the local area, and I know they will do an excellent job of welcoming our guests and giving them the warm Premier Inn welcome we are known for.” Marc Banks, GMI’s Divisional Managing Director North West, said: “This is a quality development that has been delivered to Premcor and Whitbread’s exacting standards and is designed to be very much in keeping with the local area. It’s certainly one of the most scenic locations that we’ve ever built a hotel and we trust it will make a significant contribution to the local economy over the coming years.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Scheme known as Parallel 113 is immediately available to let and has been built to a high quality, Grade A specification. St Francis Group, a leading UK-based property development and investment group and an expert in brownfield development has today announced the completion of a new 113,641 sq. ft Grade A specification warehouse logistics unit in Walsall, West Midlands. The development being marketed as Parallel 113 is a brand new industrial/warehouse unit located between junctions 9 and 10 of the M6. It is situated off the A4038, Darlaston Road, Walsall which provides good road links to the wider Black Country area and easy access onto the M5, M54 and M42 motorways. The unit was built to a high specification to meet a BREEAM excellent accreditation with a wide variety of sustainable features to help the modern occupier satisfy its ESG credentials. It features 10 dock level doors and 2 level access doors, together with 12.5M clear internal height, 50kn/m2 floor loading, 106 car parking and 14 trailer parking spaces, 50M yard depth, a secure fenced yard, high quality landscaping, EV charging provision and an abundance of power with 1225 KVA incoming. Speaking about the completion and newly available unit Gareth Williams, Development Director at St Francis Group, said: “We have reached practical completion by the target date and the unit is now immediately available for occupation. Given the prevailing levels of occupier demand in the area and the lack of supply, we are confident of announcing a letting very soon”. Parallel 113 sits in a very prominent location by virtue of its fantastic connections to junctions 9 and 10 of the M6, providing occupiers with superb accessibility. Christian Smith, Director Savills one of the two joint agents on the scheme said: “This brings much needed high-quality stock to the Black Country, sitting less than 5 minutes off J9 M6 it should appeal to logistics businesses and local occupiers looking to upgrade to a more efficient building.” For further information on the development visit: www.parallel113.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ThermoPrint, a new one-of-a-kind innovation designed to save lives and revolutionise the road marking sector, has been launched by WJ, with plans already in place to trial the installation of road markings on the strategic road network following successful trials on local authority roads. WJ’s innovative ThermoPrint eliminates the need to undertake the century-old practice of applying thermoplastic road markings by hand. This is achieved through an automated machine, which utilises advanced application equipment. Currently, for thermoplastic road markings such as letters, numbers, arrows and other symbols, the process is completed via hand moulds. However, the new technology has all road symbols used on the UK network programmed into the operating system, reducing the need for operatives to lay the markings by hand. ThermoPrint also has the potential to scan existing road markings and automatically match them to programmed designs. Upon completion of the scanning, the machine will continue forward to immediately re-lay thermoplastic to rejuvenate the markings and bring them up to standard. The new innovation will allow operatives, who can often be applying the road markings next to live carriageways, to run the machine in the safety of the cab. As well as providing much-needed protection, ThermoPrint will also deliver efficiency benefits. This is achieved through a combination of an increased speed of application and potential reduction of the required traffic management in appropriate situations. The machine is perfect for car park line marking applications. Martin Webb, Chief Operations Officer at WJ Group, said: “Safety is one of our core values and we are always looking for ways to improve working conditions for our operatives. A key concern for us is working on live carriageways where we are exposed to live traffic and potentially dangerous driving and incursions into our working space, and so we wanted to find a way to remove our teams from harm’s way. ThermoPrint has been designed to eliminate this risk of operatives being hit by any traffic, as well as reducing the manual handling risks they face. We believe we have a machine that delivers on these ambitions. “WJ has a rich history of leading the way in innovative thinking, and our latest machine shows this in practice. We have worked with Norwegian road marking machine manufacturer Trysil Maskin to deliver ThermoPrint, which has been a fantastic experience. The result is a UK-first machine which we are proud to present to the industry.” For more information, please visit www.wj.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A social housing provider has granted funding to help a local Parish Council purchase and install two new local, life-saving defibrillators. Platform Housing Group’s – one of the largest housing associations in the UK – awarded Community Chest Funding to Broughton Astley Parish Council in Leicester, to help ensure that people in their parish have access to this vital, potentially life-saving equipment. Marion Duffy, Platform Housing Group’s Chief Operations Officer said “Our Community Chest Fund was set up to directly support customers in our local communities, so it’s great to have been able to help Broughton Astley Parish Council provide these defibrillators, particularly as research shows that accessing these devices within 3-5 minutes of a cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival by over 40%. “It’s also lovely to hear that an old telephone box has been repurposed to provide a home for one of the defibrillators, which is a really innovative way to recycle something no longer used.” Platform customers and local charities, clubs and other not-for-profit organisations can apply for Community Chest Funding if their work or project directly benefits local Platform customers. All applications are assessed against specific eligibility criteria by customers who sit on their Customer Experience Panel. “We are delighted that the two new defibrillators have now been installed in a decommissioned telephone kiosk on Coventry Road and at Frolesworth Road Recreation Ground. Both are now working fully and registered with the ambulance service, said Anita Percy, Grants Administrator from Broughton Astley Parish Council. “The funding provided by Platform Housing Group, along with the other kind donations, has made the provision and installation of these vitally important defibrillators, for the local people of Broughton Astley, possible.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning housebuilder, Crest Nicholson, has announced the internal appointment of Bradley Stone as Head of Land and Planning for the South West division, as it prepares for further growth across the region in 2023. Bradley, who has worked for Crest Nicholson for over 18 months, was previously Associate Development & Investment Director. With over 10 years’ experience working in the property industry, he brings a wealth of experience to the role. Bradley will be responsible for overseeing the growth of Crest Nicholson’s portfolio of developments in the region, coordinating planning applications and site acquisitions to deliver much needed, high-quality homes in the South West. Bradley Stone, Head of Land and Planning for South West, said: “After a successful 18 months, I am pleased to be progressing my career with Crest Nicholson by taking on a new role as the Head of Land and Planning for the South West region. It’s an exciting time of growth for the region, and it will be great to continue to work with such a brilliant team to unlock more opportunities and deliver further growth in 2023 and beyond.” Mark Foyle, Managing Director of Crest Nicholson South West, said:“Bradley has been instrumental in strengthening the South West region since he joined Crest Nicholson, thanks to his vast expertise and knowledge within the region. The expansion of the existing divisions and acquisition of new sites plays an important role within the company’s overall growth strategy and Bradley will play a pivotal role in this as Head of Land and Planning.” For more information, please visit www.crestnicholson.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Utilising their 250 Tonne girder bridge, Collett & Sons Ltd deliver two 215 Tonne super grid transformers from GE Stafford to Leylodge, Kintore. Located at GE’s Stafford engineering facility, the two 5 metre high, 215 Tonne transformers measured 8 metres long by 4 metres wide and required a transport solution to Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Delivering each of the transformers on separate occasions, Collett mobilised their 250 Tonne capacity Goldhofer girder bridge in modular form, arriving in Stafford to configure the trailer and load the first of the cargoes. Once loaded, the transformer and girder bridge combination featured a 65.8 metre overall length, with a rigid length of 41.6 metres. This required extensive surveying and route planning ahead of the first leg of the project, transporting the cargo from Stafford to Ellesmere Port. Having undertaken route access surveys, visual route inspections and numerous swept path analysis reports, the Collett Team identified several modifications and traffic management procedures to allow the cargo to safely navigate the route from the point of origin to the port. This included extensive street furniture removal (including electrical elements), tree trimming, parking restrictions and designated hold points to allow the continual flow of traffic. With all this in place the Collett Team began the project. Departing from the Stafford facility, Collett travelled 70 miles over two days, with a total of 11 hours travelling time. Undertaking contraflow manoeuvres at several highlighted pinch points along the way, the Collett Team travelled from Stafford, via Stoke-on-Trent and Congleton, before heading west towards Chester and final onward arrival at Ellesmere Port. At the port Collett were welcomed by an awaiting Leibherr LG1550 mobile crane. Here, working under CPA Contract Lift Conditions, the Collett Heavy Lift Team unloaded the 215 Tonne super grid transformer from the girder bridge. Having undertaken all ship’s chartering operations, the transformer was loaded directly to a coaster vessel for onward shipment to the Port of Aberdeen. With the cargo safely lashed and secured on board the vessel, the coaster set sail for Aberdeen whilst Collett dismantled the girder bridge trailer. Then, travelling once again in modular form, the Collett Team transported the trailer via road to greet the incoming vessel and transformer at the Port of Aberdeen. Arriving three days later in Scotland, the 215 Tonne transformer was discharged from the vessel by a 600 Tonne strut crane directly to the girder bridge trailer for the final leg of the journey. With the final 14 miles having also been extensively surveyed in the planning stages of the project, all street furniture and route modifications had already been completed. This also included the relocation of a post box and the widening of site access roads to allow the 4.2 metre loaded combination to access the site. With all this in place, the 65m long loaded girder bridge arrived on site at the 400kV substation extension site at Leylodge, Kintore. Once unloaded on site, and having undertaken detailed ground bearing and pressure calculations, the Collett Team began jacking and skidding operations to position the cargo. Utilising their specialist hydraulic equipment, Collett were able to jack and skid the super grid transformer, accurately monitoring force and pressure during the operation, including forces on the jacks, on each skid shoe and maximum ground pressures throughout. All this combined allowed Collett to safely and successfully deliver the first of the two 215 Tonne super grid transformers, returning to GE Stafford’s facility in the coming weeks to begin the operation to deliver the second. Following the same procedure, the Collett Team loaded, transported, shipped and positioned the second of the transformers, completing the Kintore substation extension project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractor BAM has been appointed Principal Supply Chain Partner by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver a new Women and Children’s Hospital for Cornwall. The proposed new building has been designed to bring together the hospital’s maternity services, neo-natal and paediatric care, obstetrics and gynaecology services within one, state-of-the-art facility. It would also become the location for the hospital’s new main entrance, transforming the layout of the current site in Truro. The programme, which has expanded in scope since its inception, is starting with the demolition of six derelict houses to create the space for a works compound for BAM whilst major enabling and building works for the new hospital are carried out over the next six years. Work is also underway to relocate car parking for patients and visitors, another key enabling project in progressing the wider programme. Roberta Fuller, Programme Director for the Women and Children’s Hospital, and Head of Hospital Reconfiguration at Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, said of the appointment: “We are delighted to have appointed BAM as our Principal Supply Chain Partner. This is a really important partnership for the Royal Cornwall Hospital, and we are pleased to be moving forward with the enabling works projects with support from the New Hospital Programme. Our designs for the new Women and Children’s Hospital are based on meeting the needs of our local community in Cornwall and will transform the hospital site. Bringing services together, along with bigger rooms and better facilities, will improve patient flow and create spaces in which to provide outstanding care long into the future.” The Women and Children’s Hospital is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme, which is focused on delivering 48 new hospitals across England by 2030. These hospitals are being built to national standards using modern methods of construction, with environmental features throughout to support the NHS’s carbon net zero ambitions. Smart digital innovations and enhancements are also planned for the scheme for example, creating sensory and interactive play areas, systems to connect families and carers remotely in the delivery of care, and enhancements to the management of patient call systems to provide a quieter, calmer environment on the wards. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The new 116,000 sq. ft sustainable scheme which was developed speculatively is the third development to date to be recently delivered by Glencar for St. Modwen Logistics, with one unit of 17,000 sq. ft already pre-let. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced the completion of four new high quality, sustainable warehouses totalling 116,000 sq. ft for leading logistics developer and manager St. Modwen Logistics at its St Modwen Park multi-unit logistics and industrial development in Newport. Developed in response to growing demand in the region to support business growth, one building totalling 17,000 sq. ft has been pre-let to adhesive manufacturer Ureka Global. The units are all EPC A-rated and hold a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ accreditation, helping potential occupiers to meet their own ESG targets and reduce energy usage through the inclusion of a range of energy-efficient features. Built in line with St. Modwen’s ‘Swan Standard’ approach to sustainable construction, the buildings feature intelligent and sustainable LED lighting, smart metering and rainwater harvesting. Air source heat pumps are used for heating the office elements of the warehouses and solar (PV) panels on the roofs provide a proportion of the power for each unit, as well as encouraging greener ways of commuting through the inclusion on EV charging points and dedicated cycling routes. Commenting on the project Pete Goodman, Glencar Managing Director Midlands and North said: “St. Modwen Park Newport is the third development we have delivered to date for St. Modwen Logistics recently and a sign of our expanding relationship. Whether it is for a speculative development or built to suit requirement our teams and expertise is unrivalled in the Logistics & Industrial space and we are delighted to have delivered again to a high standard. Over the past 12 months Glencar has built and delivered over 400,000 sq. ft of Grade A industrial and logistics space for St. Modwen Logistics and its clients as it continues its rapid expansion in the South West demonstrating its commitment to helping customers to scale into big box warehouse space and supporting job creation and economic growth across the region”. Mark Snow, Senior Development Director, at St. Modwen Logistics, commented: “St. Modwen Park Newport is located in Wales’ fastest-growing city, with nearly half a million economically active people within 30 minutes’ drive time, which underpinned our decision to bring these units forward speculatively. The park is already home to a number of leading business and a range of warehouse uses, and the addition of over 100,000 sq. ft of modern logistics space will provide opportunities for companies to expand and grow, and support a diverse mix of employment. We are delighted to have partnered once again with Glencar to construct these units and they have done an incredible job. The units look immaculate with the rich array of sustainable features impressive to see in action. We look forward to working with them on the next project and continuing to expand our relationship”. St. Modwen Park Newport is strategically located to provide excellent connectivity to South Wales and South West England, with Junction 23A of the M4 motorway within two miles of the park via Queen’s Way, and Cardiff and Bristol reachable within 12 miles and 30 miles respectively. The estate and surrounding area benefit from the de-tolling of the Severn Bridges, further enhancing its accessibility by road. The delivery of these warehouses takes St. Modwen Park Newport to c.345,000 sq. ft of warehouse space and is already home to the likes of Amazon, Genpower, CAF and Mitel. Phase 4, which comprises an additional 263,000 sq. ft of best-in-class logistics space, is due to complete in Summer 2023. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
British Steel has confirmed its sections will be deployed in the £34 million revamp of Middlesbrough Station. Teams are currently working on the second part of the transport scheme, which will revitalise the station undercroft, create new walkways and spaces for businesses and boost capacity for more rail services. “We’re extremely proud our steel will be used in this exciting project. It is a huge vote of confidence in British Steel, our people and our products, which demonstrates the importance of a vibrant UK steel industry to this country. We look forward to working with the project partners and seeing this magnificent new building take shape with home-made steel,” said David Hogg, Plant Manager – Northern Mills. Story Contracting is carrying out work now with diggers busy on site and our sections are set to arrive at the station site next month after being fabricated on Teesside at Middlesbrough-based CB Construction (Cleveland) Ltd. “As we’re making great progress on the redevelopment of Middlesbrough Station, I am immensely proud to say that we’ve worked tirelessly over recent months to make sure that all structural steel used on the station redevelopment will come from British Steel,” added Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen. The Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority have contributed £22.5 million to the Middlesbrough Station project, which is being delivered by Network Rail. Phase one of the station works were completed in December 2021 – with a 75-metre platform extension to accommodate the new LNER Azuma direct service to London, the town’s first service to the capital in more than 30 years. This second part of the scheme will see the current ticket hall stairs removed, a new staircase built off the central thoroughfare, open public space at the east end of the former car park and a new pedestrian walkway created between Zetland Road at the south of the station and the existing subway. The Combined Authority has worked closely with the rail industry, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Middlesbrough Council on the package of improvements – with a third platform to be created and efforts to make the station a modern and vibrant gateway to the town. The station project is set to be complete in 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Specialty chemicals are compounds with exclusive properties and functions utilized across industries like agriculture, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Due to the high demand for these substances in various industries, the market has undoubtedly expanded. Consequently, the number of suppliers offering them has considerably doubled. With the abundance of suppliers in the specialty chemical market, it may be challenging to choose a reliable one. Hence, companies must consider different factors to ensure the quality of the chemicals used in their industrial and manufacturing processes. A good supplier offers high-quality products at a competitive price, prompt delivery, and top-notch customer service. Conversely, working with an unreliable supplier can lead to delays, low-quality products, and financial losses. Therefore, you should take the time to find the right supplier to ensure that you receive the best possible products and services. Keep reading to know the several factors to consider when looking for a reliable specialty chemicals supplier. High-quality specialty chemicals are vital for safe and efficient use across industries. They also minimize the risk of health and safety issues and lower costs associated with using inferior products. Product certifications are a great indicator of the quality of a supplier’s products. These certifications show that the specialty chemicals have been tested and verified to meet specific quality standards, such as ISO 9001, a widely acknowledged quality management system that guarantees the company complies with customer and regulatory requirements. Additionally, it’d be best to inquire about their quality control processes. A trustworthy supplier should have procedures to ensure consistent and high-quality products. It may include frequent testing, inspections, and audits of their production protocols and final products. Having a supplier who can provide you with the products you need is crucial to ensure the smooth operation of your business or research. A reliable supplier should have a well-stocked inventory and be able to fulfill your orders quickly so you don’t have to worry about unexpected delays or shortages. The timeliness of delivery is also an essential factor to consider when choosing a specialty chemicals supplier. Remember that late deliveries can cause significant disruptions to your business or research, leading to decreased productivity and increased costs. Price is essential when choosing a specialty chemicals supplier, but it shouldn’t be the only consideration. Find a supplier that offers good value for your money, meaning high-quality products at a fair and competitive price. Beware of suppliers offering prices significantly lower than the market average. These prices may be too good to be true and may indicate that the products they provide are of low quality or are failing to meet the industry standards and regulations. Using low-quality or non-compliant products can lead to negative consequences and increased costs in the long run. When comparing prices, consider the total cost of the products, including shipping and any additional fees. Moreover, look for a supplier with flexible payment options and an efficient process for easy ordering and delivery tracking. It’s crucial to assess the quality of a supplier’s customer service. A good supplier should be easy to work with, provide responsive customer service, and resolve issues/inquiries efficiently. When evaluating a supplier’s customer service, assess the ordering process, customer service responsiveness, and the support offered. A reliable supplier should have a streamlined ordering system and a readily available customer service team. Additionally, trustworthy suppliers should offer technical support, such as product information, data sheets, and assistance in using specialty chemicals. This is crucial as these products often require specialized knowledge. Choosing a supplier that prioritizes sustainability and has responsible practices can help reduce the environmental impact of using specialty chemicals. When evaluating a supplier’s sustainability and responsible practices, you should consider their efforts to reduce waste and use renewable resources. They should have a well-established recycling program and should take steps to minimize waste. They should also use renewable resources, such as recycled materials or renewable energy sources. Another critical factor to consider is the supplier’s compliance with environmental regulations. These regulations can include the EU’s regulations on the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals (REACH) and the United States’ Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Compliance with these regulations helps ensure that the products are safe for human health and the environment. Conclusion To sum up, choosing the right specialty chemicals supplier is an important decision that requires careful research and consideration. Make sure to thoroughly evaluate each of the factors mentioned above to make an informed choice that’ll support the success of your research or business operations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
