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May 11, 2023
Lanes launches national highway drainage survey service

Lanes launches national highway drainage survey service

BDC News Team May 11, 2023

Wastewater and drainage specialist Lanes Group plc has launched a new national highways drainage surveying service backed by a dedicated data processing centre and advanced asset laser scanning technology. It means the company can provide clients with a safer, faster and more comprehensive highways drainage surveying service, integrated with its

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Wates starts refurb work at Ada's London Victoria Campus

Wates starts refurb work at Ada’s London Victoria Campus

Cristina Diaconu May 11, 2023

Wates has started refurbishment works at Ada’s new London Victoria campus, transforming a former secondary school into a National College for Digital Skills. Established in Tottenham in 2016 to address the talent shortage and lack of diversity in the digital industries by creating a diverse pipeline of talent, Ada is

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Holsworthy show home recently opened for new community

Holsworthy show home recently opened for new community

Cristina Diaconu May 11, 2023

A ribbon-cutting ceremony has marked the opening of a brand-new show home in the historic market town of Holsworthy. The Raglan show home is part of the final phase at Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes’ Market Place development of 19 three and four-bedroom family homes.  Paul Furner, Director of Sales and Marketing, performed the ribbon-cutting welcoming homebuyers

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Latest Issue
Issue 324 : Jan 2025

May 11, 2023

Supply Chain Sustainability School Continues to Positively Impact A Sustainable UK Built Environment

Supply Chain Sustainability School Continues to Positively Impact A Sustainable UK Built Environment

BDC News Team May 11, 2023

The Supply Chain Sustainability School, a multi-award-winning initiative which represents a common approach to addressing sustainability within supply chains, yesterday released its 2023 Impact Report.  The report surveyed over one thousand of its members across the country to get their thoughts on what is important to their organisation and supply chain, plus offered insights into how the School has continued to positively impact organisations and supply chains, through its free practical learning and support.   The past few years have been challenging for the built environment industry; the pandemic made for a very unsure time, closely followed by the global economic downturn putting pressures on the industry with material shortages and steep rises in costs. However, sustainability remains firmly at the top of the agenda worldwide, meaning more opportunities for the School to continue to grow and widen its impact.  Reflecting this, the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s engagement figures are up significantly, with 24,160 (+44%) individuals from 5,503 companies (+30%) actively learning through the School. This has driven a 35% increase in resource views compared to the previous year. At the same time, quality ratings for the training received by the members remain very high, with 95% rating the training as good or excellent.  Shaun McCarthy OBE, Chair of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, commented: “It’s been another brilliant year for the School and we are thrilled to have over 24,000 individuals training through our learning platform. However, we recognise that there is still a way to go to achieve our vision of an industry where everyone will have the skills and knowledge to deliver a sustainable future. To achieve mass impact, technology will be a key focus moving forward. It is our hope that this additional technological investment and expertise will not only support the School’s growth, but ensure it is armed for arising opportunities so we can continue to provide membership with accessible and credible learning.”  Organisations are becoming increasingly interested in understanding sustainability and embedding more sustainable practices. Many members have identified the School as a powerful tool to help them do this. Almost three-quarters of members (73%) reported that the School has helped them to better understand their organisation’s sustainability impacts. The School has also helped 65% of members improve their understanding of modern slavery, and 54% to increase their understanding of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect.   Members also shared how the School has helped them to improve their sustainability impacts. This includes reductions in carbon emissions (52% of members) and total waste (50%), as well as increased community engagement (57%) and apprentice numbers (50%).  Julia Barrett, Chief Sustainability Officer at Willmott Dixon, commented: “The School continues to drive massive change for the industry by providing free virtual learning across a huge range of subjects. This year once again, it’s proven that through collaboration the industry can thrive. To increase our sustainability impacts further, we would love more members to register and learn through School, and more Partners to work with us to identify key issues and share new ideas.”  The School is part-funded by CITB and industry Partners, with over 190 Partners leading the direction of the School. Working in collaboration, Partners share knowledge and free resources to inspire the UK built environment to drive positive change. Last year, the School was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in recognition of the significant environmental, social and economic benefits it has delivered to its Members and Partners.  Sign up as a FREE member this Spring to benefit from over 400 training sessions, tailored assessments with action plans and a library of over 3,300 online resources. https://www.supplychainschool.co.uk/  The full Impact Report can be found on the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s website here.   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Lanes launches national highway drainage survey service

Lanes launches national highway drainage survey service

BDC News Team May 11, 2023

Wastewater and drainage specialist Lanes Group plc has launched a new national highways drainage surveying service backed by a dedicated data processing centre and advanced asset laser scanning technology. It means the company can provide clients with a safer, faster and more comprehensive highways drainage surveying service, integrated with its unrivalled drainage unblocking, cleaning, repair and rehabilitation services. One of the first major projects Lanes has supported with the new service has been A66 Northern Trans-Pennine, a scheme to improve the A66 between the M6 in Penrith and the A1(M) at Scotch Corner. Lanes Head of Highways Ben Forsyth said: “Developing our own in-house highways data capture and processing capability allows Lanes to deliver a faster, more agile, and safer surveying service for clients. “This can be coordinated with our drainage cleaning, repair and rehabilitation teams to give highway contractors and National Highways the best possible integrated drainage service.” Lanes can now deliver a broad range of highway survey services with in-house teams, including CCTV, GPS, full HADDMS and asset conditions surveys. It has also invested in the latest chamber laser scanning technology, so assets can be surveyed more safety and faster than ever before, with no need for confined space entry. The CleverScan inspection system is highly portable, fast and accurate. It creates a flat scan and a dense point cloud image of chambers up to 10 metres deep that can be merged into CAD and 3D applications. Using CleverScan, Lanes teams can carry out more than 30 chamber surveys per shift, twice as many as conventional methods. The laser scanner is lightweight and can be operated away from a vehicle. Data is added directly to National Highways shape files which are then sent via the cloud to a new dedicated highways drainage survey processing centre in Manchester. Its qualified and experienced highways drainage data technicians then compile reports precisely in line with client needs. The service meets National Highways targets for updating HADDMS, while providing detailed interim survey reports for client engineers. Lanes has proved the value of its new in-house service while working on the A66 scheme which is being progressed by contractors in a National Highways regional delivery partnership. Between January and March 2023, drainage engineers from the Lanes Newcastle depot completed 40 night shifts, working on the eastern section of the planned upgrade route. A team of Lanes drainage engineers from Preston and Manchester were due to begin a similar programme of works on a stretch of the A66 in Cumbria. All Lanes personnel hold the National Highways Passport and receive thorough in-house training on the new surveying systems. Lanes Contract Manager Andrew Lindsay said: “Combining the latest data capture technology like, CleverScan, with cloud data transfer and centralised processing is a game-changer for our clients. “We can give them more tailored reports that are more accurate and delivered faster than ever before. Then, if remedial work is needed, we have all the assets and skills needed as well. “It’s an end-to-end service that maximises operational effectiveness, sustainability – through multitasking and use of digital technologies – and value, through efficiencies created by service integration.” Lanes Group: www.lanesfordrains.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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ACS Pioneers safe and sustainable construction with ‘Game Changing’ Intex™ product

ACS Pioneers safe and sustainable construction with ‘Game Changing’ Intex™ product

BDC News Team May 11, 2023

Leading Yorkshire manufacturer and designer of structural building components, ACS Stainless Steel Fixings (ACS) has today launched Intex™ Fire Protect – setting a new standard for masonry support. Intex™ is the first combined masonry support system combining four critical components in one easy-to-fit design – meaning it is over 40% faster to install, reducing congestion by to 60% and providing rock solid reliability. The product was launched at a packed industry event, attended by developers, contractors, architects and leaders from across the sector. It was centred around a Q&A on the Building Safety Act, with speakers from NHBC, Building Alliance and BBA all in attendance to discuss the role of the industry in creating safe and sustainable structures post-Grenfell. Speaking at the launch Paul Ruding, Strategic Specification Director at ACS, said: “It was a privilege to host so many of the industry’s leaders in one room, giving us the opportunity to debate and explore our role in creating safe high rise buildings that will stand the test of time. Our thanks to all who came along to engage, listen and find out about our new product – something we have invested heavily in in our pursuit of safer buildings.” Intex™ is a patented design combining wall tie, masonry support and cavity tray in one, with an added open state fire barrier mechanically fixed to the cavity tray for exceptional fire protection. The product has undertaken fire testing at Warrington Fire and achieved a test value of over 120 minutes integrity and over 90 minutes insulation. It is warrantied for an industry leading 12 years with a 60+ year design life. Paul continued: “Intex™ is a revolutionary and game changing system which brings peace of mind to everyone involved on a construction project – from installers to architects, main contractors to warranty providers. It helps to eliminate a host of problems that can lurk between masonry panels and the internal structure. “It has been created to overcome previous issues of overly complex design, cavity congestion, incompatible parts and incorrect installation, whilst Intex Fire Protect is also over 40% faster to install than traditional masonry support which means significant labour cost savings. It is ergonomically designed, making it easy for installers to handle and fit, with the added bonus of reducing deliveries and storage space onsite by up to 32%.  This doesn’t just dramatically speed up the installation process, it gives complete peace of mind that components are compatible and every one of them is doing its job.” ACS’ commercial director Gareth Twohey led the Q&A on the night, and was joined by Chris Hall, Innovations Services Manager at NHBC, Bill Hewlett, Technical Director at BBA, and Mike Leonard, Chief Executive at Building Alliance. Speaking on the night Mike Leonard said: “Among our key Building Alliance tenets is a commitment to articulating the benefits of the masonry building envelope, so I am delighted to see an organisation like ACS investing in R&D to give the industry a fantastic new masonry tool. Intex is a pioneering product that will help us build safer futures.” Made with 90% recycled steel, 100% recyclable, and with a 60-plus-year design life Intex™ Fire Protect is more reliable, effective, and efficient to install than anything that has come before. It sets a new standard for masonry support. Intex™ is also available as a 3in1 solution. In a further bid to pioneer safe and sustainable construction, ACS has also launched a free CPD programme for anyone in the sector, covering a range of masonry support topics. More than 400 delegates have already signed up for the courses. Renowned for its pioneering approach, award-winning ACS has developed its solid reputation in the market for providing patented innovative solutions, including masonry support and brick slip panel solutions – essential construction components used in construction of the largest modern-day projects in the UK. It reinvests its profits back into product research and development and creates A1 non-combustible, new products that can be used by developers looking to create high rise structures that meet changing Government legislation. Find out more at https://acsstainless.co.uk/landing_page/intex-4-in-1-masonry-support-system%20%20and%20%203-in1 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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SymTerra: real time scheduling tool - linking site to programme for the first time

SymTerra: real time scheduling tool – linking site to programme for the first time

Kenneth Booth May 11, 2023

SymTerra, the construction management software for real time updates and reporting from site, has today launched SymPlan – a scheduling and workflow feature that for the first time connects scheduling, BIM and construction management with the full supply chain on one platform.   Building on SymTerra’s record-right-first-time site reporting tool, which captures data at the point of work, the launch of SymPlan completes SymTerra’s end-to-end project reporting approach to eliminate risk and hidden costs that result from reporting inaccuracies, difficulty accessing historic data, and weak chain of evidence required for commercial defensibility.  SymPlan provides Project Managers with the bird’s eye view of all site data across the supply chain to feed into project reporting – scheduling and workflows – with a level of accuracy and timeliness never-before-seen in construction.  From technical queries through to snagging and commissioning, this brings a project’s real time data under one roof allowing project management teams the visibility and control to spot and mitigate risk, measure performance in terms of quality, schedule and safety across the entire supply chain, and ultimately, reduce time waste and eradicate errors from project reporting.   John Ryan, co-founder and Director said: “Scheduling and workflow management on projects have been top down since time began; the way information is sourced and reported on – from cost to resource loading – hasn’t changed much since Henry Gantt himself came up with a chart concept over 100 years ago. It is inconceivable that Project Managers today are still manually drawing from multiple static documents – with information sometimes two weeks old – to feed into Project Reviews that are meant to give control and visibility to drive progress and mitigate risk. The impact of inaccuracy and error in construction is a well-documented, multi-billion-dollar re-work and disputes risk that is paralysing both for the progress of projects and the profitability for construction firms in this economic and regulatory climate.”  Since launch of the SymTerra site management platform in 2022 – capturing bottom-up BIM data and live reporting from site and eliminating reliance on high-risk alternatives such as WhatsApp – the team has been working with users and customers to expand its application further upstream to complete the information management puzzle.  Scheduling and workflows that feeds into Project Reviews, is the next big ‘data’ gap on the information management journey of any project; and for Project Managers, planners, health & safety teams and quantity surveyors, reporting has never been an exact science.  Sarah Crawley, co-founder and Director said: “SymPlan is the first scheduling tool that links site to the programme, combined with the SymTerra app to put the right digital tool in the hands of site teams capturing accurate data at point of work – recording it right, first time. This is the final, missing piece in the data puzzle, giving Project Managers full control, access, and visibility; a never-before-seen level of detail they need to understand the impact of change on programmes, and the ability to review historic data to apply greater efficiencies on projects moving forward. It’s the bird’s eye view in one single source of truth, powering your projects.”  Tanja Kufner, Head of Startups & Venture Investments at the Nemetschek Group, an early investor in SymTerra said: “Driving innovation and digitisation throughout the entire value chain of construction is central to our strategy, and SymTerra is playing a role in pushing the industry closer to bridging the data gap. We’re excited to support the launch of the SymPlan feature, and to see how the SymTerra platform can provide the end-to-end, seamless reporting infrastructure missing in the sector today. This can only mean greater efficiency at scale across construction, and importantly will help eliminate critical risks associated with data inaccuracy and miscommunication, which are impacting productivity and profitability.”  SymTerra was created by John Ryan and Sarah Crawley, construction site experts turned innovators on a mission to fix construction’s information management legacy; a record-right-first-time approach that starts from the ground up – putting digital tools in the hands of those on site to capture data at point of work.  Eliminating the need for reliance on WhatsApp and multiple sources of information, SymTerra has taken on construction’s historically absent, incomplete, outdated & incorrect data gap.   SymTerra will be exhibiting – alongside major corporate investor Nemetschek – at Digital Construction Week (17 – 18 May 2023).   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Record year in southeast for Holmes Miller architects as turnover doubles

Record year in southeast for Holmes Miller architects as turnover doubles

BDC News Team May 11, 2023

UK architecture firm Holmes Miller has recorded a 100% growth in turnover in the southeast of England over the past 12 months, helped considerably by the firm’s decision to shift its main studio in the region from central London to St Albans. Recent business wins since the move have included designing the new £30m City Learning Quarter for City of Wolverhampton College, the decarbonisation and refit contract at Watford Town Hall, which is being converted into a new cultural venue, alongside several new schools for local authority clients. Callum Houston, managing director at Holmes Miller, said: “Despite concerns about the wider economic landscape – particularly public spending – continued investment into community, leisure and education facilities across the area offers some definite optimism for the year ahead.  “Architects and other construction sector professionals will play a vital role when it comes to meeting long-term societal goals, particularly around retrofitting and decarbonising our existing public buildings in our pursuit of becoming a net-zero society.” The Glasgow-headquartered firm – which also has an office in Guangzhou in China – has grown its headcount within the region by 200% since moving to St Albans in the summer, including appointing Mariyam Afnida as new technical lead in November. The company plans to further grow the new office based on a strong pipeline of work particularly in higher and further education, stadium design and public sector building. One of its flagship wins last year was to design Buntingford First School in Hertfordshire, the county’s first school to be rated fully net-zero carbon, which is due for completion this summer. The school is being built to ‘Passivhaus’ standards – an energy rating Holmes Miller specialises in – which results in improved air quality, reduced carbon emissions and lower energy running costs. Holmes Miller’s southern projects also include the £27m London South Bank Technical College – a 4,000-student facility teaching practical subjects including science, technology, and engineering – which was handed over to the college for occupation in April. Mark Ellson, director and head of the new St Albans studio, said: “Creating a solid new base in St Albans has delivered very positive results. “The dynamic with many clients has changed because we understand their local needs better, we can share a greater knowledge of the region, and better understand the impact of projects such as those being provided for the community. Our clients are finding that invaluable, including some of the leading councils in neighbouring areas.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Hear from Paul Morrell OBE on The Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime

BDC News Team May 11, 2023

We are pleased to announce that Paul Morrell OBE will be delivering an Executive Summary of the Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime at the FPA’s InfoZone Theatre at FIREX (Stand F11850) on Wednesday 17 May from 14:15 – 15:15. The Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime was announced by government in April 2021 and was led by Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day KC. In this talk for FIREX, hear from one of the co-authors for the first time since the much-anticipated report has been released. The purpose of the Review was to identify any potential weaknesses in the system and to make recommendations for improvement. It undertook a critical assessment of the system for testing and certifying construction products and how the system could be strengthened to provide confidence that construction products are safe and perform as labelled and marked.“This report marks a major step forward in mapping the complexity and opacity of the current construction product regime and also identifies ways in which significant improvements can and should be made” – Dame Judith Hackitt. REGISTER HERE….. About Paul Morrell OBE Paul is a chartered quantity surveyor and was formerly senior partner of Davis Langdon (now part of Aecom), where he had worked since graduating from university until retiring in 2007. He was awarded an OBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honour list for services to architecture and the built environment. He was subsequently appointed as the Government’s Fire Chief Construction Adviser, with a brief to champion a more coordinated approach to affordable, sustainable construction. Paul now practises as an independent consultant, principally concerned with governance and setting up major projects; and wider cross-industry issues. View the full InfoZone programme here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Wates starts refurb work at Ada's London Victoria Campus

Wates starts refurb work at Ada’s London Victoria Campus

Cristina Diaconu May 11, 2023

Wates has started refurbishment works at Ada’s new London Victoria campus, transforming a former secondary school into a National College for Digital Skills. Established in Tottenham in 2016 to address the talent shortage and lack of diversity in the digital industries by creating a diverse pipeline of talent, Ada is a pioneering college and charity for young people aged 16-24, with 97% of its alumni working in tech or studying advanced degrees. The project, carried out for the Department of Education (DfE), involves upgrading the building with the latest digital technology education facilities. The Wates project will ready for teaching to start at Ada’s new campus for the Autumn 2023 term. Workshops will be converted into IT suites for the college’s core computing qualifications and lecture theatres will replace traditional classrooms. Plans also include a cafe, sports hall, gym and roof terrace with views over London. Ada is working to remove the glass ceiling for women and encourage individuals from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds into the tech industry. Students benefit from a diverse curriculum, opening doors into a variety of careers in fields such as cybersecurity, animation and data analytics. Ada has reached its capacity due to the number of students wanting to enrol and take their first step towards an exciting career in the tech sector. The new Victoria location not only offers more in terms of facilities, it also provides a wider geographical reach for future learners and employer partners. The new building will also allow Ada to double their learner numbers in the coming years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Holsworthy show home recently opened for new community

Holsworthy show home recently opened for new community

Cristina Diaconu May 11, 2023

A ribbon-cutting ceremony has marked the opening of a brand-new show home in the historic market town of Holsworthy. The Raglan show home is part of the final phase at Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes’ Market Place development of 19 three and four-bedroom family homes.  Paul Furner, Director of Sales and Marketing, performed the ribbon-cutting welcoming homebuyers into the show home. He said: “Cavanna Homes is celebrating 100 years of ‘Building Brilliance’ across the Westcountry, and what better way to start the year than with a brand-new show home opening! “Market Place is a fantastic place to live with all our new homes enjoying stunning rural views across the valley, plus the town centre is within walking distance and a primary and secondary school is close by. “We’ve had a great response to our new homes, and we encourage anyone looking to move to the area to come and step inside our beautiful show home to get a taste of what it’s like to live in this fantastic North Devon town.” The energy-efficient homes are adjacent to Cavanna Homes’ Market Quarter community on the site of Holsworthy’s old cattle market. The design and building materials will complement the town’s traditional architecture. The four-bedroom Raglan, which has been expertly dressed by interior stylists, Abode, showcases Cavanna Homes’ high specification of fixtures and fittings. The show home has an open plan kitchen / dining area with modern, energy-efficient fitted appliances, a convenient utility room, and a master bedroom with an en-suite. There is a range of three and four-bedroom homes available at Market Place, all with a garage and driveway parking.  Sales Advisor, Teresa Arden said: “We’re excited to have officially opened the doors to our gorgeous show home at Market Place, which offers our new homeowners a delightful blend of town and country.” Market Place is close to rolling hills and wooded valleys, perfect for walking, cycling and horse riding. Residents also benefit from the town centre being within walking distance where there are shops, tea rooms, a library, post office, leisure centre and weekly farmers’ market. There is also a play area and open green space in the development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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