April 13, 2023
Regeneration milestone for Perry Barr as new homes completed

Regeneration milestone for Perry Barr as new homes completed

The regeneration of Perry Barr in Birmingham took another step forwards today as it was confirmed that construction is now complete on the first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme. Almost 1,000 much-needed new homes are now available for rent or sale on a former university campus in the

Read More »
Double Promotion at IMA Architects

Double Promotion at IMA Architects

Leicester architectural firm promotes both Joe Travers and Jack Mellor. IMA Architects (IMA), an award-winning architectural firm based on Lutterworth Road in Blaby, Leicester, is pleased to announce two promotions.  Joe Travers has been promoted to Associate Director and Jack Mellor has been promoted to Associate. Joe and Jack have

Read More »
“Quantity must not Outpace Service Quality” says Wise Living in Response to new BTR report

“Quantity must not Outpace Service Quality” says Wise Living in Response to new BTR report 

STATISTICS from the HomeViews 2023 Build-to-Rent (BTR) Report reveal that the biggest drop in tenant satisfaction ratings year-on-year are management and customer service related. According to Wise Living, this needs to be addressed or risks damaging the reputation of the booming BTR sector, especially for Single Family Housing (SFH), which has felt the brunt of dissatisfaction.  Anne Malone, head of customer experience at Wise Living said: “We

Read More »
Lismore review forecasts growing interest in prime city centre offices, as pricing begins to find its level

Lismore review forecasts growing interest in prime city centre offices, as pricing begins to find its level

Leading independent property advisory firm, Lismore Real Estate Advisors, released its review of the Scottish investment market for the first quarter of 2023, which focuses on the office sector. With prime yields stabilizing, Lismore forecasts growing interest in prime city centre offices, particularly well-let regional offices in cities with limited

Read More »
Baxi Combi Ranges Prove a Hit with Installers

Baxi Combi Ranges Prove a Hit with Installers

Baxi’s latest 200 and 400 combi 2 boiler ranges are proving to be a popular choice with installers, thanks to the introduction of a series of new and improved features making installation as seamless as possible. Lightweight and compact, the cupboard fit boilers include an upgraded and simpler wiring experience,

Read More »
Neinor Homes raises €140 million green loan and redeems its notes

Neinor Homes raises €140 million green loan and redeems its notes

Neinor Homes today announces that it has raised a green loan of 140 million euros with a three-year maturity (2026), demonstrating the company’s creditworthiness and its ability to raise both project and corporate financing. A joint deal has been structured for this financing transaction, backed by Banco Santander, BBVA and

Read More »
Work completed at the Perry Barr Residential Scheme

Work completed at the Perry Barr Residential Scheme

Construction work on first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme in Birmingham is now complete. Almost 1,000 new homes are now available for rent or sale on a former university campus in the north of the city. Completion of the new homes was announced at the same time that

Read More »
Wates starts phase two of Derby Market Hall

Wates starts phase two of Derby Market Hall

Wates Group has started refurbishment work on the second phase of the Derby Market Hall. The Victorian Market Hall on Tennant Street is set to become a vibrant retail and leisure destination, linking the Derbion shopping centre and St Peter’s Quarter to the Cathedral Quarter and the Becketwell regeneration scheme.

Read More »
Galliford Try to design and build Carlisle Southern Link Road

Galliford Try to design and build Carlisle Southern Link Road

Galliford Try’s Highways business has been selected to design and to build the new multimillion pound Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR). The new road will connect junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 at Newby West, providing additional crossings of the River Caldew and River Petteril, and includes the

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

April 13, 2023

Harwell appoints Glencar to deliver new Moderna vaccine manufacturing hub in Oxfordshire

Harwell appoints Glencar to deliver new Moderna vaccine manufacturing hub in Oxfordshire

Significant project will be built at the Harwell Science and Innovation campus and encompass a new research, development and manufacturing facility Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by Harwell Campus, the world-renowned science and innovation campus to build a new £150M Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire. The MITC development will encompass a research, development and manufacturing facility, providing the UK public with access to cutting-edge mRNA vaccines for a wide range of respiratory diseases, pending regulatory assessment and license.   The new facility will also include a clinical biomarker laboratory, a prefabricated modular laboratory constructed in Northumberland which will then be installed on the campus. Construction will begin this year, with the facility expected to become operational in 2025, subject to planning and regulatory approvals. The investment will create hundreds of jobs across Oxfordshire and the UK and it will cement Harwell Campus as a national health tech hub for the pioneering research and development of mRNA and other nucleic acid therapeutics. Commenting on the project Eddie McGillycuddy, CEO said: “Having successfully delivered a large pharmaceutical project in the region and established an office within the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, we are absolutely delighted to now be delivering this pioneering research and development facility. Life science and pharmaceutical projects are complex, controlled environments that require significant design and engineering ability to ensure they are delivered correctly.   We have expanded our specialist team to push forward and make these facilities a cornerstone of our continued growth in the coming years. We very much look forward to working with the team at Harwell, Moderna and Merit to develop this important new facility and further expand the thriving health tech cluster at Harwell”. Also Commenting on the announcement Darius Hughes, UK General Manager at Moderna, said: “We are delighted to reach this important milestone with Harwell and our lab build partners, Merit and building contractors Glencar. We look forward to joining the Harwell Campus health tech cluster and contributing to the UK’s science and innovation community through investments in R&D. When constructed, our facility at Harwell will harness mRNA science to develop and deliver tailored, innovative vaccines to the UK public that address particular threats from respiratory viruses facing our population.” Stuart Grant, Chief Executive of Harwell Campus said: “mRNA technology has the capability to transform how we treat a variety of diseases and enhance UK resilience against future pandemics. I’m delighted to welcome Moderna to Harwell Campus, and our thriving health tech cluster. We’re entering a new era of medicine so it’s important that we deliver and build cutting edge facilities to reflect this and spaces that promote innovation and encourage collaboration.” Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director of Innovation Clusters and Harwell Campus at UKRI-STFC, said: “The Harwell Health Tech cluster’s multidisciplinary ecosystem allows researchers and industry professionals to easily share expertise and skills, creating impactful innovation across the entire life sciences sector. From accelerating the discovery and development of new vaccines and advanced medicines, to leading the way with next generation imaging technologies and diagnostics, the cluster is enabling ground-breaking progress against global health challenges.” Moderna is the latest organisation to join Harwell’s thriving Health Tech cluster which has grown to over 70 life science organisations since it launched in 2016.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Regeneration milestone for Perry Barr as new homes completed

Regeneration milestone for Perry Barr as new homes completed

The regeneration of Perry Barr in Birmingham took another step forwards today as it was confirmed that construction is now complete on the first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme. Almost 1,000 much-needed new homes are now available for rent or sale on a former university campus in the north of the city. Completion of the new homes was announced at the same time that Lendlease, the principal contractor for the scheme on behalf of Birmingham City Council, revealed the project has beaten a number of targets it was set in order to help support the local economy and bring wider community benefits. More than 650 new jobs have been created for local people throughout the construction, including almost 100 apprenticeships, and more than 1,350 people have been upskilled on the site. Highlights included a Women in Construction course, which promotes opportunities for women in the construction industry across the UK, funded through the Home Builders Federation. Participants received advice and guidance, as well as training in various areas of construction, and two weeks’ work experience. Lendlease also worked with Solihull College to deliver English for Construction courses for people who have English as a second language, a key tool for increasing safety through better communication on a site which at its peak had 26 different nationalities of workers on the project. Participants who completed the course were rewarded with a Level 1 Health and Safety in Construction qualification. Over the course of the £326m contract, £267m has been spent by Lendlease with local businesses, and workers have devoted 2,679 hours to volunteering in the local area – the equivalent of four months of continuous work, and nearly three times the target they were set. This included working with Eden Boys School and Welford Primary School to build and maintain outdoor learning areas, as well as collecting for local food banks.   Designs created by students from Birmingham Metropolitan College were exhibited on site hoardings visible near the site to raise awareness of Single Use Plastics (SUP). This was inspired by the SUP Ambassadors programme, a project developed with students from Eden Boys’ School, that aimed to raise awareness of SUP and its impact on the environment, people and wildlife. Lendlease, together with construction partners, also sponsored the production of a new book aimed at educating primary school children on avoiding single use plastics, which was launched at Calshot Primary School, and was distributed to primary schools across Birmingham.  The new homes at Perry Barr consist of a mix of homes for rent and sale, surrounded by accessible green space. The tallest building on the scheme tops out at fifteen storeys and the first residents are expected to move in later this year. The scheme is part of a wider £700million-plus regeneration of Perry Barr in the north-west of the city, including improved leisure and community facilities along with upgraded transport infrastructure, all of which is underpinned by the Perry Barr 2040 Masterplan, developed by the Council in partnership with local residents and stakeholders. Lendlease are the Management Contractor for this first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, working with Kier, Willmott Dixon, PJ Careys and Vinci UK to deliver the project. Quote attributable to Anna Evans, Project director for the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, Lendlease: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved at the end of this project. Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the team responded quickly to adapt to new ways of working and tirelessly devoted themselves to completing the project. Not only that, everybody went above and beyond to truly create a lasting legacy for Perry Barr, with new jobs, skills and sustainability initiatives. I want to thank everybody involved for their hard work and I look forward to seeing the first residents moving in and enjoying this vibrant new neighbourhood.” Quote attributable to Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council: “Perry Barr is being transformed and the completion of these much-needed homes is another major milestone in the ongoing regeneration of an area that has long been deserving of investment. “We’re determined that neighbourhoods across the city will reap the rewards of this golden decade of opportunity, and with major improvements to transport infrastructure, the redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium into a world-class sporting facility and the Perry Barr 2040 Masterplan, it’s clear that north west Birmingham is already benefitting. “Success for Birmingham must mean success for the people and communities of Birmingham, so it is especially pleasing that we have partnered with contractors who have a clear commitment to ensuring that existing residents and communities benefit from their work.” Find out more about the Perry Parr regeneration scheme at https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50253/perry_barr_regeneration Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Double Promotion at IMA Architects

Double Promotion at IMA Architects

Leicester architectural firm promotes both Joe Travers and Jack Mellor. IMA Architects (IMA), an award-winning architectural firm based on Lutterworth Road in Blaby, Leicester, is pleased to announce two promotions.  Joe Travers has been promoted to Associate Director and Jack Mellor has been promoted to Associate. Joe and Jack have both been with IMA since 2011 and have amassed considerable experience across a range of UK wide construction projects during this time. Joe has increasingly specialised within the commercial and industrial sectors and has worked on a number of high-profile projects including the Marks and Spencer Distribution Centre in Castle Donnington, the Co-op Distribution centre in Sutton and Ashfield and the Redrow Homes East Midlands Office, also in Castle Donnington. In 2015, he achieved Chartered Membership status with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and was promoted to Associate in 2017. Working on projects for companies including Clowes Developments, Jessup Partnerships, Vaillant UK, Modus Partnerships, Avant Homes and Venture Properties amongst others, Jack has worked on schemes across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors in the Midlands. He achieved associate status with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists in 2016. Commenting on the promotions Anthony Day, IMA Managing Director said: “Both Jack and Joe have demonstrated continued excellence across our client projects in the 12 years they have been with IMA. They have both more than earned their promotions. They have built excellent working relationships with our clients which leads to the successful delivery of schemes, and this had led to the continued growth of our business over recent years.” Joe Travers comments: “It is an exciting time for IMA and I am looking forward to working with Jack and us both playing an important role in the future development of the company.” Jack Mellor comments: “I am delighted to have been promoted and that both Joe and I have the continued support of the IMA directors who have all been instrumental in our career development over the past 12 years. I am looking forward to getting started in my new role.” IMA is an award-winning firm of architects based in Blaby, Leicestershire. The firm has grown from a two-person team to now employ 20 members of staff and work with a range of FTSE 100 companies, such as Marks and Spencer, and global brands including an international discount retailer. The company is a proud Community Partner of Leicester City Football Club and a sponsorship partner of both Leicester Tigers RFC and Leicestershire County Cricket Club. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
“Quantity must not Outpace Service Quality” says Wise Living in Response to new BTR report

“Quantity must not Outpace Service Quality” says Wise Living in Response to new BTR report 

STATISTICS from the HomeViews 2023 Build-to-Rent (BTR) Report reveal that the biggest drop in tenant satisfaction ratings year-on-year are management and customer service related. According to Wise Living, this needs to be addressed or risks damaging the reputation of the booming BTR sector, especially for Single Family Housing (SFH), which has felt the brunt of dissatisfaction.  Anne Malone, head of customer experience at Wise Living said: “We are at a point of exponential growth for the BTR sector, with BTR SFH especially growing at pace. So, it is disheartening to see findings from HomeViews, that point to customer experience issues, especially in the SFH category – with BTR apartments, for example, achieving higher ratings across the board than SFH.  “As an industry we absolutely must be prioritising quality of customer service, as well as the quantity of BTR SFH developments.   “Earlier this year, we reported that our tenant satisfaction scores are on the increase, due to our ongoing efforts to prioritise customer experience. An example of this is Wise Living achieving a record Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +81 in response to the following question: ‘How likely are you to recommend Wise Living to family, a friend, or colleague?’. NPS can be anywhere between -100 and +100, and according to the creators of the NPS metric, Bain & Company, a score above 80 is world class.”  Showing the rapid growth of BTR SFH, the HomeViews report revealed that 31 new SFH schemes became operational in 2022 until September, with 15,000 SFH units in the planning pipeline during that time – double the number of the previous year.  Paul Staley, managing director at Wise Living said: “Growth figures for BTR SFH are strong, and will continue to grow in the future as more families choose to raise a family in rental accommodation due to the increasing cost of home ownership, which includes the need for larger deposits with tougher underwriting criteria.   “Existing tenants are also looking for more energy efficient homes that are cheaper to run, while offering a flexible living space. With this, we understand that looking outside of cities is proving attractive – with a significant minority willing to move greater distances to be closer to green spaces, work opportunities, schools or family.  “In fact, in the past year 16.24% of Wise Living tenant applications have moved an impressive 50+ miles to their new BTR SFH home. While this figure is less than applicants who have chosen to stay within one-three miles of their previous home (34.78%), it showcases how relocations, often from urban city centre areas to more suburban developments, are catching up.”   The typical Wise Living tenant across its current nine developments still fits a profile recognised by Savills, with applicants more likely to be child-free. However, when an applicant does have children, this is usually two (14.1%) followed by one child (8.1%) and then less commonly three (1.1%).  Anne Malone added: “Our developments are well suited for working people and families. So, while the majority of our applicants do not have a child, it is important for us to cater for both. However, no matter what type of applicant, the fact remains that fantastic customer service throughout the whole experience must be prioritised and should never slip. With a growing BTR SFH market, the challenge will be to ensure pace doesn’t overtake a quality customer experience.”  To find out more about Wise Living, visit www.wiselivinghomes.co.uk/   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Lismore review forecasts growing interest in prime city centre offices, as pricing begins to find its level

Lismore review forecasts growing interest in prime city centre offices, as pricing begins to find its level

Leading independent property advisory firm, Lismore Real Estate Advisors, released its review of the Scottish investment market for the first quarter of 2023, which focuses on the office sector. With prime yields stabilizing, Lismore forecasts growing interest in prime city centre offices, particularly well-let regional offices in cities with limited supply, such as Edinburgh and Bristol. Colin Finlayson, director of Lismore said: “Despite limited supply and challenging conditions for new development, strong demand exists for high-quality office space, which creates opportunities for investors to underwrite rental growth. Yield levels are currently comparable to their long-term averages, making them attractive to long-term investors. Across Scotland, city centre offices show the greatest occupier demand, with potential for refurbishment/repositioning. To stay relevant in the market, retain existing tenants and achieve rental growth, owners of existing assets must invest in improving their ESG credentials and amenities. These improvements are also necessary to maintain liquidity in the investment market.” With an expert view on the market, Andy McKinlay Chair of Ediston Real Estate added: “In the city office markets, supply and demand dynamics are key, in order to achieve investor expectations and development success. The market will become more polarised, leading to a more pronounced pricing differential. “Prime, well-let, new builds with modern occupier-led space and strong sustainability credentials will continue to attract occupiers and trade well. Peripheral buildings can work, but only if repurposed to meet the necessary ESG and wellness credentials, whilst secondary office values need to fall further to reflect post-pandemic demand and capex. Buildings delivered over five years ago are overpriced and lack the necessary ESG credentials.” According to recent research conducted by Lismore, 56% of investors do not anticipate an increase in transaction volumes in the prime office sector during 2023. However, investment managers are more positive, with 56% expecting volumes to increase. However, there are concerns about the quantity and quality of stock being brought to market and the gap between vendor and buyer pricing aspirations. Regarding values, the overwhelming majority of respondents (83%) do not believe that values have fallen sufficiently for added value office space, and they need to see further reductions before revising the sector. An improving debt environment may lead to leveraged investors considering the sector, and those willing to be bold are likely to benefit from discounted deals. The consensus from respondents is that hybrid working is a structural change in working habits, with 56% of respondents expecting it to remain, while 37% expect an increase in the move to work from home, at least for part of the week, over the next year. Businesses are reacting by consolidating their office footprints while providing substantially improved office environments. Looking across Scotland, in office markets in each of the three major Scottish cities is very distinct in terms of occupational demand drivers, and investor sentiment. Edinburgh is benefitting from a broad base of occupier demand, with financial and professional services particularly active currently. This is against a background of low supply, resulting in rental growth. Vacancy rates are low across all grades (particularly in the city centre). This may defer the refurbishment of some buildings which are becoming obsolete, as owners are able to maintain income in a market with low supply. Investor sentiment has settled for prime and investors are actively looking for refurbishment opportunities, though there is a mismatch between sellers and buyers pricing. In the west, Glasgow has traditionally been more reliant on the public sector and corporate occupiers, and both sectors are currently quite inactive on new acquisitions while they work out longer-term space needs. One area of the market that is letting quickly though, is where landlords are offering more flexible and Cat B-fitted options. We expect to see more landlords adopting that strategy as a drive to fill vacant space. With investor sentiment currently being closely tied to occupational trends, the yield gap between Edinburgh and Glasgow has widened and the investor pool is shallower. At an occupational level, Aberdeen is showing genuine signs of improvement. Headline supply levels remain stubbornly high, however, a reasonable proportion of the total supply is effectively obsolete and requires re-positioning or demolition. Good quality stock is gathering letting momentum, both in and out of town and, with the backdrop of little planned new development, dynamics could continue to improve. At an investment level, the city remains low on buyers shopping lists, however, recent transactions such as the sales of Kings Close and Johnstone House provide considerable yield compensation for the more opportunistic and income-focused buyer. The full LISMORE QUARTERLY REVIEW including Research Findings & Expert Views is available to download from: HERE                  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Baxi Combi Ranges Prove a Hit with Installers

Baxi Combi Ranges Prove a Hit with Installers

Baxi’s latest 200 and 400 combi 2 boiler ranges are proving to be a popular choice with installers, thanks to the introduction of a series of new and improved features making installation as seamless as possible. Lightweight and compact, the cupboard fit boilers include an upgraded and simpler wiring experience, brass hydraulics on the Baxi 400, increased LPG options across the range, stainless steel heat exchanger and both ranges have easy-to-replace components. Providing installers with greater flexibility to meet the requirements of a variety of domestic properties – large and small – outputs range from 24kW for both natural gas and LPG in the Baxi 200 Combi 2, up to 30kW in the new, higher-output addition to the Baxi 400 Combi 2 range. Manufactured with emissions reductions and efficiency goals in mind, both models are 80/20 hydrogen certified to run on a 20% hydrogen blend. Covered by two and five-year parts and labour warranties respectively, the Baxi 200 Combi 2 and Baxi 400 Combi 2 boilers also feature Certified Opentherm technology for connecting smart controls, such as Baxi’s uSense 2, to further optimise energy usage, reduce consumption in domestic properties and helping meet mandatory Boiler Plus compliance requirements. Discussing the Baxi 400 Combi 2, Brett Tuffs of Plumbing and Heating in Pontefract, said: “I’m very impressed with the electronics; the PCB display holding fault codes and the two-button commissioning process. The PRV connection is easier too.” Rueben Webster from River Tay Heating said: “I like the Baxi 400 Combi 2 and find it easy to install. I particularly like the push fit PRV which is simple to fit and saves me time.” Nick Platt, Commercial & Marketing Director at Baxi, said: “The Baxi 200 & 400 models include some much-loved features that heating engineers will recognise and some that are brand new. Using high-quality, robust components from our group, BDR Thermea, the new boilers provide installers with two affordable heating solutions that don’t compromise on build quality or durability.” For more information on the Baxi 200 and 400 Combi 2 models, visit the Baxi website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Neinor Homes raises €140 million green loan and redeems its notes

Neinor Homes raises €140 million green loan and redeems its notes

Neinor Homes today announces that it has raised a green loan of 140 million euros with a three-year maturity (2026), demonstrating the company’s creditworthiness and its ability to raise both project and corporate financing. A joint deal has been structured for this financing transaction, backed by Banco Santander, BBVA and JP Morgan, reflecting the financial support and appetite from both Spanish and international banks to invest in the Spanish market. The cost of the loan, including the interest rate swap and savings from the various bond repurchases, is 4.17%, which is lower than the interest cost of the bond issued in 2021 before the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and the rise of inflation and interest rates. The loan allows the company to exercise its right to redeem the outstanding balance of its green bond, the principal amount of which amounts to approximately €143 million following the tender offer launched at the end of February 2023. The redemption is expected to be executed on 27 April 2023. The refinancing marks the first milestone in the company’s new strategic plan, of which one of the main pillars is to focus on shareholder returns with the aim of distributing approximately 600 million euros by 2027. Over the same period, the company plans to allocate more than one billion euros to new direct and indirect investments in order to manage its growth in a capital-efficient manner. Jordi Argemí, Neinor Homes’ Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, commented that “The notes’ redemption was key to meeting one of the main drivers of our new strategic plan disclosed to the market at the end of March: delivering shareholder returns of up to €600m between 2023 and 2027. In addition, we are proud to have been able to reduce the company’s net financing cost (from 4.5% to 4%), in the context of ongoing high interest rates.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Read More »
Work completed at the Perry Barr Residential Scheme

Work completed at the Perry Barr Residential Scheme

Construction work on first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme in Birmingham is now complete. Almost 1,000 new homes are now available for rent or sale on a former university campus in the north of the city. Completion of the new homes was announced at the same time that Lendlease, the principal contractor for the scheme on behalf of Birmingham City Council, revealed the project has beaten a number of targets it was set in order to help support the local economy and bring wider community benefits. More than 650 new jobs have been created for local people throughout the construction, including almost 100 apprenticeships, and more than 1,350 people have been upskilled on the site. Highlights included a Women in Construction course, which promotes opportunities for women in the construction industry across the UK, funded through the Home Builders Federation. Participants received advice and guidance, as well as training in various areas of construction, and two weeks’ work experience. Lendlease also worked with Solihull College to deliver English for Construction courses for people who have English as a second language, a key tool for increasing safety through better communication on a site which at its peak had 26 different nationalities of workers on the project. Participants who completed the course were rewarded with a Level 1 Health and Safety in Construction qualification. Over the course of the £326m contract, £267m has been spent by Lendlease with local businesses, and workers have devoted 2,679 hours to volunteering in the local area – the equivalent of four months of continuous work, and nearly three times the target they were set. This included working with Eden Boys School and Welford Primary School to build and maintain outdoor learning areas, as well as collecting for local food banks. Designs created by students from Birmingham Metropolitan College were exhibited on site hoardings visible near the site to raise awareness of Single Use Plastics (SUP). This was inspired by the SUP Ambassadors programme, a project developed with students from Eden Boys’ School, that aimed to raise awareness of SUP and its impact on the environment, people and wildlife. Lendlease, together with construction partners, also sponsored the production of a new book aimed at educating primary school children on avoiding single use plastics, which was launched at Calshot Primary School, and was distributed to primary schools across Birmingham. The new homes at Perry Barr consist of a mix of homes for rent and sale, surrounded by accessible green space. The tallest building on the scheme tops out at fifteen storeys and the first residents are expected to move in later this year. The scheme is part of a wider £700million-plus regeneration of Perry Barr in the north-west of the city, including improved leisure and community facilities along with upgraded transport infrastructure, all of which is underpinned by the Perry Barr 2040 Masterplan, developed by the Council in partnership with local residents and stakeholders. Lendlease are the Management Contractor for this first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, working with Kier, Willmott Dixon, PJ Careys and Vinci UK to deliver the project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
Wates starts phase two of Derby Market Hall

Wates starts phase two of Derby Market Hall

Wates Group has started refurbishment work on the second phase of the Derby Market Hall. The Victorian Market Hall on Tennant Street is set to become a vibrant retail and leisure destination, linking the Derbion shopping centre and St Peter’s Quarter to the Cathedral Quarter and the Becketwell regeneration scheme. When complete, the refurbished Market Hall will pay homage to its heritage while evolving to meet modern needs and consumer demand. A vital part of this next phase is to develop the public space at Osnabruck Square, a key entrance to the Grade II listed building, as well as reinstating the north entrance. The refurbishment is being led by Wates Group, which is working in collaboration with Derby City Council. The project team is made up of specialists operating within the region, including Lathams Architects, structural engineers Rodgers Leask, and M&E consultants Clancy. The Guildhall Yard will also be enhanced to resurface the existing tarmac and the entire courtyard will be re-paved following the demolition of the existing 1980s stair and lift tower. Internal works will focus on the new flexible market hall space featuring free-standing mobile stalls to create an accessible space for events and activities such as food and music festivals. To accommodate a high-quality food and drink offer, the balcony will have a bottle bar and an emphasis will be placed on street food but with the flexibility to adapt to future trends. Further work in this phase includes refurbishments made to the first-floor shops, new durable flooring, improved back-of-house storage, improvements to fire safety, and new WC facilities. A new, grand central staircase is also proposed to the north of the Market Hall, replacing an existing stairwell and removing any potential for anti-social behaviour. The grand staircase will reflect the position and form of the original 1864 stair, connecting to the balcony in a contemporary, light and inviting route. It will feature a glass balustrade designed to contrast with, yet complement, the historic metal balustrade across the balcony. Wates was appointed via SCAPE’s Major Works framework. The second phase of development is set to complete at the end of 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
Galliford Try to design and build Carlisle Southern Link Road

Galliford Try to design and build Carlisle Southern Link Road

Galliford Try’s Highways business has been selected to design and to build the new multimillion pound Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR). The new road will connect junction 42 of the M6 with the A595 at Newby West, providing additional crossings of the River Caldew and River Petteril, and includes the construction of four roundabouts, five cycle bridges and four road bridges along an 8km stretch. The new road is vital for the economic growth of Carlisle and will provide supporting infrastructure for the new community at Cuthbert’s Garden Village, bringing significant benefits to the city and the wider county. Commenting on Galliford Try’s appointment to the project, David Lowery, Managing for Galliford Try’s Highways business, said: “We are delighted with this appointment to deliver the new CSLR which strategically aligns to our Sustainable Growth Strategy and builds on our portfolio of high-quality major infrastructure work. “The project will deliver a lasting social impact for the Cumbria community and we look forward to applying our capabilities in innovation, modern methods of construction and, importantly, carbon reduction, working with closely selected local supply chain partners on this much anticipated scheme.” Welcoming the award of contract to Galliford Try, Councillor Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s outgoing Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “I’m delighted that we have reached this significant milestone in the Carlisle Southern Link Road project. “What once felt like a pipe dream to build this new strategic road, now really feels like it is happening and gathering pace with the appointment of Galliford Try. The benefits the road will bring in connecting East and West Cumbria and unlocking both housing for the new garden village and stimulating economic growth and investment cannot be underestimated.” Work on site is expected to begin in June 2023. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »