Wigan Council appoints St Helens based company to build 32 unit extra care scheme M&Y Maintenance and Construction has been awarded a £7.9m contract by Wigan Council to build a 32-unit extra care housing scheme. Built on the former site of Shevington Community Primary School on Miles Lane, the development
On the week the Bank of England announced that inflation is easing across the UK[1], Klober echoed a sense of positivity as it reports a cautiously optimistic start to 2023. However, Klober warns that navigating demand and volatility of raw material prices will remain a challenge for many across the
It is not very often that a company comes along and has a product offer that ‘ticks all the boxes’, but when it does, customers are usually savvy enough to take advantage. What is it that makes such an offer irresistible? Customers, in this instance are facade fabricators and installers,
Willmott Dixon has been selected as the preferred contractor by Thames Valley Police for a state-of-the-art forensics centre in Bicester as part of a wider improvement programme to transform forensic services across the force area. The purpose-built centre in Bicester will become the main forensics hub for the force, containing
Bed bug infestation can be a very difficult thing to deal with. This kind of infestation comes in many forms and may, therefore, require various methods of dealing with the menace. Whether you decide to use Hot air treatment or any other method, there are many reasons you need to
A retaining wall is easy to build if you are patient and adhere to safety standards. You just need to plan, study your landscape and determine the most suitable materials to construct your wall. You can use natural stones, timber, bricks, or even concrete, depending on your preference and your
Wigan Council appoints St Helens based company to build 32 unit extra care scheme M&Y Maintenance and Construction has been awarded a £7.9m contract by Wigan Council to build a 32-unit extra care housing scheme. Built on the former site of Shevington Community Primary School on Miles Lane, the development will include 1 Bedroom, 2 Person and 2 Bedroom, 3 Person apartments and bespoke communal areas that will provide plenty of space for socialising in a welcoming and friendly environment. The contract includes demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a new shared access road. Speaking about the appointment, Chris Mellor, Construction Director at M&Y, said: “This is a fantastic win for M&Y, and we’re absolutely delighted to be working with Wigan Council again. It speaks to the strength of our knowledgeable construction team, who bring experience from multiple sectors including healthcare and education, that we’ve been selected to deliver this exciting new extra care scheme. We are really looking forwards to the project and strengthening our relationship with Wigan council.” This will be M&Y’s second development with Wigan Council, having completed their Brackley House development in early 2022. The company stepped in to finish 17, two, three and four bedroom houses, following the collapse of Crudens in 2021. During completion of Brackley House, M&Y generated more than £37,000 of social value activity for the borough, supporting apprentices, businesses and local causes. When the development was complete, their support of the local community continued, with M&Y maintaining their support for local homelessness charity ‘The Brick,’ donating 10 bundles of warm clothing and 40 thermal blankets to their ‘Wrap up Wigan’ campaign. Councillor Susan Gambles, cabinet portfolio holder for housing and welfare said: “Extra care is about enabling residents to continue to live independently, with a bit of a helping hand; getting the right support, in the right place, at the right time. “Wigan Council, working in partnership, has built a number of extra care facilities in recent years, creating high-quality and sustainable developments across our borough. “I am really looking forward to seeing how these works progress, bringing this former school site back into use.” M&Y Maintenance and Construction has been awarded a £7.9m contract, following the completion of a competitive tender process by Wigan Council to build a 32-unit extra care housing scheme. The project will now commence detailed planning, design and procurement with a view to starting on site in March 2023 and completion expected mid-2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On the week the Bank of England announced that inflation is easing across the UK[1], Klober echoed a sense of positivity as it reports a cautiously optimistic start to 2023. However, Klober warns that navigating demand and volatility of raw material prices will remain a challenge for many across the roofing sector. In response to current economic landscape, Klober is ensuring the necessary measures are in place to help customers remain agile. Notably, it is continuing to expand its range of products with the planned introduction of 20 new SKUs in Q1 with good, better, and best options available in more categories. According to Klober, this will enable merchants and contractors to stay competitive in the potentially contracting new build and repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI) sectors. Control over the supply chain is another area that Klober is continuing to build upon as it aims to leverage the strength of its position in one of the largest construction manufacturing businesses in the world, BMI Group. Klober manufactures the majority of its products in four of its own factories, as well as being able to draw on the wider 116 manufacturing locations in the BMI Group. Klober has recently started making a number of verges, such as the new Ambi Verge and Thin Leading Edge, at its Mittelheim factory in Germany, with significant investment into moulds and machinery. The business has also made recent internal structural changes that mean the UK team will be working more closely with their overseas colleagues for product enhancement. Chris Nicholls, Commercial Director at Klober comments: “Of course we’re pleased to see such a strong start to the year, but we also realise the risk of being overly optimistic. What we can be certain about, however, is the fact we have invested significantly in having good control over our supply chain, as well as the wide breadth range of products on the market. “Being part of BMI not only means we can pass on that level of reassurance to customers that A, we will have high-performing product readily available at a price that suits, but B, that we are continuing to innovate based on our shared knowledge and learning throughout the group. Our membranes are a case in point whereby we have worked with our French and German colleagues to provide market leading products such as our Permo Air. We now have various similar workstreams ongoing which are linked to a number of pending product launches.” For more information on Klober, CLICK HERE Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
It is not very often that a company comes along and has a product offer that ‘ticks all the boxes’, but when it does, customers are usually savvy enough to take advantage. What is it that makes such an offer irresistible? Customers, in this instance are facade fabricators and installers, who seek a value proposition. To some ‘value’ may be seen as competitive prices for aluminium systems, but this is not the case for any serious facade company. As a supplier, ‘credibility’ and ‘partnering’ are two key elements high on the ‘tick list’ for a facade company. Credibility is the depth of aluminium system options and profiles which are only attainable from large systems companies. Typically, these systems companies have already designed and supplied a wide range of profiles to cater for many complex installations. Partnership comes in the form of systems company support, working side by side with a facade company. Pioneering throughout the construction cycle with the systems company recognising ‘value management’ which ensures both client quality and cost management for the facade company. These are just two of the pillars that Aluprof have built its business upon over the last sixteen years of systems supply in the UK and Ireland. Aluprof’s logistics provides weekly deliveries to Ireland from an extensive stock of aluminium systems and hardware located at their head office in Poland. Powder coating to a Qualicoat specification, including thermal break facilities, are all housed under the same roof in Poland allowing products to be finished to meet any specification. Aluprof also offers a fabrication service to support its network of fabricator installers across the region when required to meet programme expectations. Coupled with a physical ‘on the ground’ presence from Aluprof UK & Ireland’s team of support technicians, has quickly placed Aluprof UK in Ireland as a major systems supplier. Facade fabricators and installers nationwide quickly appreciated the benefits of well designed, robust Aluprof systems and dedicated technical and customer backup. This co-operation grew into many strong, long-term relationships, carried out through difficult times during the 2008 economic downturn and more recently Covid. Of many projects located in Ireland, here are a selection of several projects that have recently been completed in Dublin: Home to a wide range of global businesses Dublin Landings offers 100,000 sq.m of office, residential and retail accommodation set in over 5.8 acres on the banks of the River Liffey. E1 Dublin Landings is one of several buildings in the development overlooking the river where Aluprof systems have been specified. Designed jointly by RKD Architects and Arrow Architects the projects utilises both curtain wall and window systems from Aluprof’s extensive catalogue. To the North West of Dublin Landings and just a 15 minute walk away from Trinity College, Kavanagh Court offers student accommodation in modern high quality rooms in the city centre. The development boasts a rooftop terrace, a modern gym, cinema room, laundry room, secure cycle storage and fast 100Mb WiFi. Owned and maintained by Yugo, the development opened to students in September 2017 and is one of the largest purpose built student halls in Dublin. The development provides accommodation for 491 students with bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms that all sit within 88 self-contained ‘house units’ of varying sizes. Designed by John Fleming Architects the project was built by Bennett Construction. To the south of the River Liffey, Dublin’s Molesworth Street and Dawson Street have been the focal point of the city’s elegant quarter. The project ‘One Molesworth Street’ epitomises this status and can be viewed as one of the capital’s most distinguished addresses. The project was designed by leading architects, Henry J Lyons, offering sheer quality to maximise the occupier experience. The Dawson Street facade uses vertical glass fins together with bronze anodised brise soleil. The Aluprof systems facade finishes and proportions have been designed to complement the neighbouring buildings. Back on the south bank of the River Liffey, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay was one of the first projects to be supplied by Aluprof in Ireland. It is a six storey office building complete with basement which offers modern office accommodation. Adjoining the Ferryman and Tropical Fruit Store the glass facade of the building is designed to maximise the spectacular views from the development. Designed by HKR Architects, the completed development now offers 6,500 square metres of office space. Having a strong presence in the Irish construction scene, Aluprof UK is supporting the Irish Construction Excellence Awards 2023 for the second time. Located at the Convention Centre, Dublin, the 27th April event, organised by the Irish Building Magazine, is always a construction highlight of the year for the Green Isle. As Gold Sponsor at the Gala Event, Aluprof will offer awards in the best ‘Education Project’ and the best ’Healthcare Project‘ categories. The awards, founded by the Irish Building Magazine in 1993, are generally known as the ICE Awards and are the original and premier recognition of performance excellence for the contracting sector in Ireland. The Gala Night is always attended by Ireland’s elite construction professionals, where construction leaders, design and supply chain partners, and clients meet and celebrate construction excellence. Currently with overseas growth further extending across Europe, into the Middle East and with firm roots already in the East of the USA, Aluprof continues to grow into a global player in facade supply. Further information about systems and specification support is available through the company’s website at aluprof.co.uk or direct from their UK head office in Altrincham by phoning +44 (0) 161 941 4005. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has been selected as the preferred contractor by Thames Valley Police for a state-of-the-art forensics centre in Bicester as part of a wider improvement programme to transform forensic services across the force area. The purpose-built centre in Bicester will become the main forensics hub for the force, containing laboratories, new digital technologies and dedicated training facilities. The Forensic Improvement Programme will see significant investment over the next three years to transform Thames Valley Police’s forensic services, improving investigations and the outcomes for victims. “The programme is the result of a review of Thames Valley Police’s forensics services as a whole where we’ve identified the need to modernise facilities and increase capacity. In a world of rapidly advancing technology, ensuring the police stay on the cutting edge of forensics is crucial to keeping the public safe. Whether crimes such as burglaries, sexual offences or digital crimes, the police need to get ahead of the criminals,” said Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber. Cherwell District Council’s planning committee recently granted planning permission for the new forensic centre on force-owned land near Avonbury Business Park on Howes Lane, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement. This is the latest project for Willmott Dixon in the emergency services sector. Others include creating a new headquarters for Merseyside Police, a learning centre for South Wales Police, a new headquarters for Dorset Police and working with West Yorkshire Police to deliver a new headquarters for the Kirklees district. Construction of Thames Valley Police’s forensics centre is expected to begin in the summer 2023 and be completed in winter 2024/25, with Atkins also on the team as the appointed multi-disciplinary design consultants. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bed bug infestation can be a very difficult thing to deal with. This kind of infestation comes in many forms and may, therefore, require various methods of dealing with the menace. Whether you decide to use Hot air treatment or any other method, there are many reasons you need to engage professionals in this exercise. One of the advantages of using professionals in bed bug control is that these are people trained and experienced in spotting where bed bugs hide. With the various forms of bedbug infestations, one may require a customized control method that best suits their needs. However, to eliminate the bedbug menace in your home, you require hiring professionals. We shall discuss reasons one needs to hire professionals for bed bug extermination. Why you should invest in professional bed bug extermination 1. It is more effective This is probably one of the biggest reasons one should use professionals in bed bug control. Most of the DIY remedies for bed bug control are not effective. They could work for a short period after which the bed bugs become more active. With a professional service, you are assured their methods are effective and trustworthy. The professionals do their work more effectively and ensure that kids and pets are not exposed to any risks during the process. 2. Professionals do it quickly This is yet another advantage of using professional bed bug killers. They are well aware that the earlier an infestation is dealt with, the better. As such you need to know when you have an infestation and call the professionals at the earliest time possible. This is the best way to kill bed bugs and control them. 3. Professionals are experienced trained and certified Another important aspect of bedbug professionals is that they are well-trained and certified. These are people who are experienced in their work and therefore you can be sure they know their job. They have the right tools for the work. They are also well-versed in the techniques and equipment that are required to exterminate certain types of bedbugs. With their experience and know-how, they will exterminate all bed bugs permanently and effectively. 4. They save you time and money There are many websites and blogs designed to teach you how to kill bedbugs. With these, you will just waste your money and time. To avoid this, you can hire professionals who will exterminate the bedbugs promptly. 5. Professionals are efficient and strategic By the time you discover bed bugs in your home, it means they have already been around longer. As such, you can be sure the infestation has been around and will require a team with the right strategy and efficiency. This is only possible for professionals. The professionals know the right strategies to take to kill the bedbugs with efficiency and permanence. In conclusion, with the use of professionals in bed bug control, you are sure your problem will be sorted once and for all. The professionals are also courteous and know how to handle their clients with professionalism. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A retaining wall is easy to build if you are patient and adhere to safety standards. You just need to plan, study your landscape and determine the most suitable materials to construct your wall. You can use natural stones, timber, bricks, or even concrete, depending on your preference and your landscape’s topography and availability. In addition to materials, you need to be aware of the safety standards to ensure you get a strong wall that will not collapse after a short while. Here are four top types of retaining walls you can build to enhance your landscape. Gravity Retaining Walls Gravity retaining walls work towards holding back a mass of soil down a steep slope. The wall has to hold back the horizontal pressure applied by soil on the slope to keep it on top of the resulting plane. You will need to check with your local authorities to ensure that you do not interfere with the natural flow of water on such a slope, as your wall will alter the direction of the water due to its immense size. Officers from your local council can come to inspect your topography and advise you appropriately. They also inform you of buried lines and mark them so that you don’t interfere with them when digging the foundation. Counterfort Retaining Walls Counterfort retaining walls are strong walls that help push back sloping soil and stones using thin vertical concrete webs called counterforts. You include these counterforts at the back of the wall to add strength to keep it from bending or collapsing from the force the soil applies to the wall. They also increase the weight of the wall to ensure the soil remains in place. The entire wall comprises reinforced concrete that is pre-casted at a factory and then installed in whole at your site. The heel and the stem slab spread horizontally along the length of the wall reinforcing the counterforts that are placed at regular intervals along the wall. Semi-Gravity Retaining Walls Semi-gravity retaining walls contain tension-reinforcing steel that strengthens them without making them as thick as gravity retaining walls. These walls are a blend of cantilever and gravity-retaining structures. The entire mass of the wall resists the lateral pressure of the earth or soil. They are suitable for short slopes with limited lateral pressure. Like all the other walls, you must ensure the drainage is sufficient for the water to flow freely. Water retention could force the wall to bend and eventually collapse. Cantilever Retaining Walls Cantilever walls are similar in design to counterfort walls. The difference between the two is in their stem, which is thinner as compared to its counterpart. Due to their thin stems and slightly thin base slab, you use less concrete to build these types of walls. The base of this wall or the heel slab extends to the backfill providing extra pressure to the soil and keeping it in position. The step holds the soil vertically with extra support from the toe and heel slabs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
