Travis Perkins is the first builders’ merchants to make shopping online and through its app frictionless with the launch of its Online Trade Counter and new shared access feature. The launch of Travis Perkins Online Trade Counter allows trade account holders to shop quickly and seamlessly for products they buy
Parliamentarians and experts from across the heating industry gathered in the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords on 24 April, to explore the findings of Vaillant’s installer survey report looking into attitudes towards heat pump training, and for the launch of Vaillant Aspire, the new learning pathway designed to
BUSINESSES have a significant impact on the economy, society and the environment, meaning that focusing on to ensure this impact is positive is central to many business strategies. Here, Jason Stapley, chief procurement officer at national framework provider Pagabo, discusses the unique position framework providers have when ‘giving back’ to society,
By Simon Blackham, Senior Technical Manager at Recticel Here at Recticel, we know what it takes to deliver products to a consistently high standard. We are also aware of our responsibility in terms of industry standards, particularly in relation to health, safety and the environment. It’s why, with each of
McLaughlin & Harvey is delighted to announce trainee engineer Christy Dickson has picked up the coveted CECA Scotland’s Most Promising Apprentice 2023 award. Developing the engineering stars of tomorrow is part of the ethos at McLaughlin & Harvey, with the company committed to ensuring 5% of the workforce is made
Poole based Wyatt Homes has appointed Shaun Pettitt as its first ever external Managing Director, whilst founder, David Wyatt, transitions to Chief Executive. Shaun, 40, from Purbeck, Dorset joined the regional housebuilder last month (May) as it enters into a new phase of growth, marked also by the construction of
Market leader in the construction of solar plants expands its range of services. This year’s Intersolar Europe marks a new chapter for SUNOTEC: The company will present itself for the first time as Your General Contractor showcasing its full scope of services. From 14 to 16 June 2023, SUNOTEC invites
This development located in the popular Dublin docklands features 216 one and two bedroom apartments over six floors. Designed in a u-shape block with central courtyard and internal atrium where the FIRETITE was installed. FIRETITE was installed along the main masonry wall between the basement and ground floor. The cavity
Countryside Properties (Bicester) Limited has commenced work on new facilities for St Edburg’s CE Primary School on the Kingsmere development in Bicester. The company is working in partnership with the Oxfordshire County Council and the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education to complete the project by September 2024. The new facilities
A new development by real estate company Dominus, which will help solve the student housing crisis in Manchester, has been given the green light by Manchester City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee. The One Medlock Street scheme will provide more than 1,000 beds for the city’s university students, who would
Travis Perkins is the first builders’ merchants to make shopping online and through its app frictionless with the launch of its Online Trade Counter and new shared access feature. The launch of Travis Perkins Online Trade Counter allows trade account holders to shop quickly and seamlessly for products they buy most at their trade prices without having to navigate through product information and payment screens, reducing the time it takes to order. The Online Trade Counter means customers only need a couple of clicks to complete their order, selecting from their regularly purchased products, and it stores billing and delivery information. This means that customers can order products straight to site more quickly than ever before. Kyle Leivers, Head of Digital at Travis Perkins says: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to create a better experience for our customers. We know many builders and tradespeople often purchase from a regular pool of products and want a hassle-free and frictionless route to ordering and delivering to site. They want to find the products they regularly buy quickly, be reassured it is at the same price they normally buy it at and delivered to a site of their choosing. The Online Trade Counter offers customers value, convenience and consistency above everything else.” Travis Perkins has also enabled shared access on its platform, giving firms a new way to offer access to their Trade Account for their employees. Users can choose to give their team access and set permissions based on the tasks they want them to perform. By opening their profile, customers can share their Travis Perkins account with whoever needs it. After choosing their access type, those contacts will be emailed with access details.
Parliamentarians and experts from across the heating industry gathered in the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords on 24 April, to explore the findings of Vaillant’s installer survey report looking into attitudes towards heat pump training, and for the launch of Vaillant Aspire, the new learning pathway designed to upskill heating engineers to fit heat pumps. The event – Aspiring to a Green Future – was hosted by Baroness Parminter, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, who was joined by key speakers Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Lord Callanan and Vaillant’s Director of Technologies and Training, Mark Wilkins. In her opening remarks, Baroness Parminter highlighted the House of Lords recent review of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) which found that a lack of heat pump installers remains a key barrier to the uptake of low carbon technology in the UK. Referring to the launch of Aspire as a ‘positive step forward’ in tackling this issue, the Baroness also voiced that she was ‘delighted’ to support Vaillant’s work in this area, including Vaillant’s recent survey of installers to better understand their attitudes on upskilling to fit heat pumps. Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Net Zero, Dr Alan Whitehead, also welcomed the launch of Aspire as a robust response to the challenges in rolling out heat pumps in the UK. Making it clear that the UK needs to be committed to supporting the deployment of heat pumps in the short and medium term, he stated that heat pumps are ‘crucial’ to the decarbonisation of domestic heating. Dr Whitehead also outlined Labour’s position on heat pumps, commenting that supporting homeowners with insulation and fabric efficiencies was a top priority through its comprehensive Home Retrofit Programme. With an aim of making 19 million UK homes more energy efficient, the programme would provide support for ‘whole home treatment’ to prepare domestic housing for low carbon heating systems. He said: “Making heat pumps core to the net zero agenda was an important first step, however we now need to look at what the key blockers to progress are. This includes the lack of qualified installers available to install them; the cost of heat pumps which is something we can look to address through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme; and finally, availability of the product itself. The scaling-up of heat pump production here in the UK is vital to ensuring security of supply and meeting domestic demand. “I’m therefore delighted to be here today, as Vaillant is helping to address all these challenges through its new heat pump production line in Belper, to the launch of this bespoke learning pathway to support the upskilling and reskilling of traditional gas boiler installers. What innovative businesses, such as Vaillant, need now is clear direction and a partnership-based approach from Government. The low carbon heating sector presents enormous opportunities for the future, and we must ensure this potential is fulfilled.” Mark Wilkins, Vaillant’s Technologies, and Training Director presented the key findings of Vaillant’s recent installer survey, which helped to develop the Aspire learning pathway. Vaillant surveyed more than 1,100 installers to get a deeper understanding of their barriers and motivators behind reskilling to install heat pumps. Encouragingly, the majority of those who took part in the survey recognised a need to train, with 87% of installers answering ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ when asked if they were interested in undertaking air source heat pump training in the next 12 months. The top three motivators of these installers looking to undertake heat pump training were future-proofing their business or career development, the benefits for the environment by supporting the net zero agenda, and personal financial benefits from installing a diverse range of heating technologies. Mark commented: “It’s clear that the target of installing 600K heat pumps by 2028 will be a significant challenge, and part of that challenge is building a community of expert installers. Vaillant estimates that to achieve this target we would need 40,000 installers working full-time on heat pumps only. However, as most installers will also still be servicing and maintaining gas boilers at least in the short to medium term, Vaillant estimates up to 100K installers will need to be trained to meet the 600K heat pump target. The launch of Aspire will be a significant step in achieving this goal, to ensure that consumers can find appropriately skilled installers for heat pump installations, as well as traditional heating systems. “Vaillant’s Installer Survey: Aspiring to a Green Future revealed one of the biggest barriers to undertaking heat pump training was a lack of support from Government. This was prior to the launch of the Heat Training Grant, which Vaillant is delighted to be supporting in order to provide our installers with £500 towards heat pump training. I’m also incredibly pleased that we were able to hold this event in Parliament with messages of support from Government Ministers, and positive feedback about our new Aspire training offer.” Out of the 994 installers surveyed by Vaillant who expressed an interest in upskilling, 55% felt that they would prefer ‘entirely in-person training’ when it came to air source heat pumps, whilst ‘a combination of in-person and online’ was preferred by 40% of those surveyed. Mark added: “Aspire is a pioneering learning pathway that is bespoke to each individual and their current skill set, with a mix of online and face-to-face modules held in one of our six Centres of Excellence. We are also working with higher-learning facilities across the UK to upskill college lecturers, as this ensures that the next generation of heating engineers receive relevant training reflective of this new, low carbon landscape. It’s important that we recognise NAPIT and MCS too, for supporting this Aspire pathway with accreditation – fundamental for installers when they are putting their heat pump training into practice.” Guests were treated to a House of Lords afternoon tea, whilst Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance) gave the closing remarks. He said: “We want to see
BUSINESSES have a significant impact on the economy, society and the environment, meaning that focusing on to ensure this impact is positive is central to many business strategies. Here, Jason Stapley, chief procurement officer at national framework provider Pagabo, discusses the unique position framework providers have when ‘giving back’ to society, driven by an outward-facing attitude and meaningful connections across the industry. ‘Giving back’ is a common phrase, but what does it mean in relation to businesses? In essence, it means demonstrating impact; however, ‘giving back’ also means evaluating and measuring that impact to truly demonstrate it in real terms. Every business can demonstrate its positive impact, but truly integrating social value into business culture must be the priority, with the tools and methods available to make this process slicker. Procurement providers, on the other hand, have a unique opportunity to contribute to broader society by addressing significant social and environmental challenges through extensive supplier networks and the onward supply chain. While some money that goes back into the public sector is swallowed up by other services and priorities, our approach is one that is based on going above and beyond to make a tangible impact. Generating social value Construction has advanced its understanding of social value beyond the simple checkbox exercise of the past. And it still has a growing role in the procurement process, especially following the publication of the Construction Playbook. Demonstrable value is crucial, and already plays a prominent role in the procurement function. Indeed, tender submissions for appointment to our frameworks are weighted to place a greater emphasis on the social value that potential suppliers generate – and the same is true for project tenders. That is why, at Pagabo, we work with all 700+ organisations in our ecosystem to ensure social value is at the heart of their business culture and decision-making. We take pride in our ability to add and demonstrate real social value to the projects we work on. It’s at the heart of what we do, and we understand that it must be felt in the community where any project is taking place too. In comparison to regional framework providers, our significant national reach and influence is something that makes us unique. We take this responsibility very seriously and are constantly reviewing ways to make positive impact more accessible and sophisticated. We provide free access to social value software to our ecosystem members through our partner Loop, embedding targeted forecasting, measurement, and evaluation at every stage – for every project. And it’s also why we report on the social value enabled through our frameworks. To date, the works procured through our frameworks have tangible and measurable social impact for communities, including safeguarding 25,114 jobs, creating 6,278 new jobs, 1,974 work placements and 1,652 apprenticeships. As the industry and wider economy continues to deal with the long-term consequences of numerous global events in recent years, understanding the real-world impact of actions will be more important than ever. Every penny invested must have a tangible purpose. Returning the value and seeing what good it does Part of social value is what is returned to the local area in terms of monetary spend. Many businesses will do this through local supply chain spend or what has traditionally been called CSR, but procurement providers can set up agreements to funnel their profits back into good causes – and be able to ringfence these funds for specific use. Pagabo has ongoing agreements for framework hosting and management under which a percentage of usage income is returned directly to the framework’s contracting authority. We expect to return more than £884,000 to our contracting authorities this fiscal year, increasing to more than £1 million next year. This helps to fund these organisations, which support good causes, activities, and interventions in their local or national areas, allowing us to see the real-life tangible changes that this ‘giving back’ action has. For example, The Education Alliance’s Be Well programme has been able to fund specialised support in primary and secondary schools, along with mental health support for nurses, thanks to rebate payments in the most recent full fiscal year (21/22). Additionally, it has been able to provide energy efficiency upgrades across its estates, incorporate more sustainability into its curriculum, provide £20,000 to supplement free school meal vouchers, and fund a travel hardship fund to assist those on low income. We know we haven’t just ‘given back’ with this rebate model. We have ensured that students from low-income families can get to school and eat, allowing them to focus on their studies and passions. We know that their parents will be less financially stressed as well, and that the larger school ecosystem will have the necessary support mechanisms for modern life, resulting in improved wellbeing for all. Promoting better health and wellbeing in the industry The well-known mental health problem in the construction industry is only getting worse. The most recent ONS data, there were 507 suicides in the industry in 2021, up 24 from the previous year and equating to two people per working day. We used to say that male suicides in the industry were three times higher than the national average, but this new data shows that those working in the industry are now nearly four times more likely to take their own lives. These statistics show the gender split too, with four females among the 507 total – which is worryingly more than in previous year This is a collective issue that requires a collective effort – both in construction and beyond. However, the extensive network of organisations that procurement providers work with allows them to amplify any impact they can have. For example, last year we committed to incorporating mental health safeguards into our procurement processes, so that the entire supply chain demonstrates how people will be cared for during projects. Especially with different pressures and stresses affecting different parts of the supply chain at different points, incorporating mental health considerations into documentation and contracts will move mental health consideration beyond words
By Simon Blackham, Senior Technical Manager at Recticel Here at Recticel, we know what it takes to deliver products to a consistently high standard. We are also aware of our responsibility in terms of industry standards, particularly in relation to health, safety and the environment. It’s why, with each of our high-performance PIR solutions, we assure their ability to enhance levels of comfort and sustainability in buildings of all types. We are also committed to securing the highest grade of certification as an industry-approved hallmark of their quality. To achieve this, we subject each of our products to rigorous, regular testing and evaluation to uphold their quality and safety. In this respect, it’s not enough for our products’ performance to meet the approval of our expert internal auditors. Hence, we enlist the service of external parties for their guidance whilst working alongside industry-renowned certification bodies. These include: BBA – expert-led assessment The British Board of Agrément (BBA) is a UKAS-accredited certification body. BBA certification is recognised throughout the construction industry as a symbol of quality and reassurance that the associated product has passed a series of rigorous, comprehensive assessments. To gain this prestigious hallmark of approval laboratory tests, on-site evaluations, quality management checks and inspections of production are among methods carried out during the expert-led assessment process. Recticel products that carry BBA certification include, but are not restricted to, Eurothane® Eurodeck, Eurothane® PL, Eurowall®+, Eurowall® Cavity, Powerdeck® F, Eurothane® GP, and Powerdeck® U. PEFC – promoting environmentally-friendly forest management Three products from our high-performance thermal insulation range have been awarded the revered PEFC (the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) label. Based in Switzerland, PEFC is a leading alliance of national forest certification systems. The non-profit organisation is committed to promoting environmentally-friendly forest management that is socially beneficial and economically viable through independent third-party certification. Its award of the PEFC label to the three Recticel products – Recticel Eurothane® GP, Eurothane® Eurodeck and Eurowall® Cavity – signifies that each product’s multilayer paper facings are made from wood fibres sourced from PEFC-certified and sustainably-managed forests. We are the first PIR manufacturer authorised to use this environmental label. Transparent and reliable through ISO certificate International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is an international organisation that develops standards. For example, the ISO 9001 standard is an international quality management system and evaluates the company-wide quality system, such as the vision, staff training and procedures. Our production facilities are all ISO 9001 certified. In addition, many production facilities have ISO 14001 certification. The ISO 14001 standard looks at environmental aspects and the related objectives, and is therefore an environmental management system. Recticel has implemented an environmental management system for this purpose, and we regularly undergo audits to revalidate the ISO certificates. Environmental impact with EPD label Recticel communicate transparently about sustainability aspects, opting for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDS) on some of our insulation products. Containing information about the ecological impact of construction products, these voluntary declarations take the form of a report. The content of an EPD is based on the results of a lifecycle assessment (LCA). An LCA calculates the impact of the raw materials, the production process and the transport during the different life phases of the product – production, installation, use phase and end of life. A third party verifies the declarations to ensure they are correct. No compromise on performance The various industry accreditations afforded to Recticel products are proof of their all-round quality – there is no compromise with any aspect of their performance. With our PIR solutions, the highest levels of safety, usability and thermal capability are assured. This dedication to innovating solutions that are built with the installer and end-user in mind will be crucial to delivering energy-smart homes and a healthier environment for future generations to enjoy.
McLaughlin & Harvey is delighted to announce trainee engineer Christy Dickson has picked up the coveted CECA Scotland’s Most Promising Apprentice 2023 award. Developing the engineering stars of tomorrow is part of the ethos at McLaughlin & Harvey, with the company committed to ensuring 5% of the workforce is made up of apprentices, students and graduates on formalised training schemes. Christy Dickson is clearly making his mark in that 5% having joined McLaughlin & Harvey in 2019. Initially gaining experience with the team at the Bushmills Distillery Offsite Maturation Facility site followed by a brief spell with the estimating department, he then joined the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme which has been a focal point of his work since September 2020. Despite balancing working away from home on challenging projects and the impacts of Covid, Christy sailed through his Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) Foundation course and moved straight onto the HLA in Civil Engineering. He is currently in his second year and attends university every Thursday during term time. Always willing to help encourage more people into the industry, Christy has frequently put himself forward to take on the additional responsibilities of mentoring and supervising young people or work-returners brought on-site for work experience, site visits or work placements. In 2022, Christy helped guide eight S3 girl pupils from Hawick High School on-site as part of the CECA Scotland endorsed What-IF programme. Upon completion, the S3 girls were keen to explore opportunities in construction, with each offering compliments to and of Christy. Robin Erskine, Senior Contracts Manager at McLaughlin & Harvey, said “I have had the opportunity to work with Christy at the Hawick FPS for the past two and a half years and I’m very proud of how he has developed into a very competent young engineer. From day one, he has shown a real willingness and eagerness to learn and advance his knowledge in civil engineering. His attitude, dedication and work ethic are exemplary. He works every other weekend on-site in Hawick due to his mid-week college day commitments back in Belfast. He has an excellent relationship with his peers, colleagues, subcontractors and client team, and I am delighted that he has picked up CECA Scotland’s Most Promising Apprentice award – thoroughly deserved.” Commenting on his award win, Christy Dickson said: “I am very honoured to have won this year’s CECA Scotland award for Most Promising Apprentice. I cannot thank Seamus Devlin and the team at McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd enough for all the training, support and opportunities they have given me. As well as my family and friends who have helped guide me throughout these early stages in my career as a Civil Engineer.” Christy received the award at the annual CECA Awards Dinner, held at the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow at the end of March.
Poole based Wyatt Homes has appointed Shaun Pettitt as its first ever external Managing Director, whilst founder, David Wyatt, transitions to Chief Executive. Shaun, 40, from Purbeck, Dorset joined the regional housebuilder last month (May) as it enters into a new phase of growth, marked also by the construction of its own, purpose built office at its prestigious Rivers Edge development in nearby Wimborne Minster. With a background in town planning, immediate and strategic land acquisition, and more latterly as Managing Director for a national developer, Shaun is ideally placed to see operations through to the next chapter. He said, “I see it as a huge privilege to have been appointed as Wyatt’s first external Managing Director. “This is a key moment for the business as we look to further invest in scaling up our output over the next few years, whilst still maintaining the quality and high standards that the Wyatt brand is known for and that David has worked so hard to cultivate over the years. “With a shared ambition to build high quality new homes, I’m looking forward to being part of the next exciting chapter in our journey.” David Wyatt added, “This change in management reflects our plans to significantly grow the business and raise our profile. I’m confident that Shaun will be integral to helping us deliver our goals with the support of our exceptional team here at Wyatt Homes.” Wyatt Homes currently has new homes developments in Wimborne, Puddletown and Charminster in Dorset, Yeovil in Somerset and North Baddesley in Hampshire. The company has three new schemes to bring to market this year and is looking to expand its operational area further across the south coast. Its new head office will be ready by the summer of 2024 when the business will move from its current head office in Poole town centre to Wimborne. Shaun is married with four children and enjoys making the most of the Dorset coastline with his family whilst also coaching two junior football teams. For more information visit www.wyatthomes.co.uk.
Market leader in the construction of solar plants expands its range of services. This year’s Intersolar Europe marks a new chapter for SUNOTEC: The company will present itself for the first time as Your General Contractor showcasing its full scope of services. From 14 to 16 June 2023, SUNOTEC invites visitors to take a look behind the scenes of the company as Europe’s market leader in the construction of utility solar PV parks. Visitors can find SUNOTEC’s booth in hall A5.260. “The Intersolar Europe is an excellent platform to showcase our latest developments and the new positioning as Your General Contractor,” said Kaloyan Velichkov, Founder and CEO of SUNOTEC. YOUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR: FULL SPECTRUM OF SERVICES FROM A SINGLE SOURCE As general contractor, SUNOTEC is proud to be able to offer the full spectrum of services to its customers: From the preliminary drawing to engineering, procurement, construction and final handover, including operations and maintenance – everything comes from a single source. Through the expansion into turnkey operations, the company is now able to cover the entire value chain. Numerous additional services complement the new portfolio, such as the expertise of an acclaimed geologist. “Our development to grow into a general contractor has been a team effort,” says Bernhard Suchland, CEO of SUNOTEC. “We work and think like a family,” adds Kaloyan Velichkov, Founder & CEO of SUNOTEC. EMPOWERING TEAMS: LARGE PROJECTS BROUGHT TO LIFE BY SUNOTEC “It has long been said that the photovoltaic sector is an industry characterized by change and growth. We want to shine the spotlight on those whose everyday work revolves around achieving the PV expansion goals within the green energy revolution,” says Bernhard Suchland. This year, SUNOTEC therefore focuses on the expertise and experience of its employees. The booth takes its guests to construction sites across Europe as well as to its headquarters. Numerous episodes tell the story of SUNOTEC from the eyes of its over 1,400 employees. “It is thanks to their efforts that we have established ourselves as the European market leader in the construction of utility photovoltaic plants,” says Kaloyan Velichkov. With its new magazine “COMPANION”, SUNOTEC pays homage to its employees, highlights the room for creativity and personal development, and invites the next generation of experts.
This development located in the popular Dublin docklands features 216 one and two bedroom apartments over six floors. Designed in a u-shape block with central courtyard and internal atrium where the FIRETITE was installed. FIRETITE was installed along the main masonry wall between the basement and ground floor. The cavity varied in thickness between 50 to 70mm, making it ideal for the installation of our innovative FIRETITE cavity wall insulation. FIRETITE is the world’s first three-component mineral based insulation developed by BASF. It is fire classification of A2-s1, d0, a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mK, contains no harmful pollutants, has no internal propellants and has achieved the best EMICODE emissions classification of EC1 plus. FIRETITE was installed at this development by our registered contractor, Adrian McGirr and his team from Fior Insulation & Fire Protection. Fior are experienced passive fire protection specialists and are involved with FIRETITE because they recognised the benefits and potential for this unique product. “It’s exciting to be involved with FIRETITE as a new innovative solution for fire rated cavity wall insulation. This product can help rectify many of the cavity wall fire challenges we have faced over the last few years”, said Adrian McGirr, Fior Insulation. Project: A residential scheme featuring 216 apartments with private balconies or terraces situated in the heart of the Dublin docks.Developer: Marlet Property GroupMain Contractor: BAM IrelandArchitect: Henry J. LyonsFIRETITE Installer: Fior Insulation & Fire protection LtdScope of Project: Install FIRETITE in specific brick cavity along the atrium wall at ground floor and basementProducts used: FIRETITE Class A2, S1, d0 mineral based cavity wall insulation
Countryside Properties (Bicester) Limited has commenced work on new facilities for St Edburg’s CE Primary School on the Kingsmere development in Bicester. The company is working in partnership with the Oxfordshire County Council and the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education to complete the project by September 2024. The new facilities will allow St Edburg’s CE Primary School in Bicester to expand from a two-form entry to a three-form entry school operating across two sites within the Kingsmere development. Commenting on the work Councillor Liz Brighouse, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Youth Services, said: “This extra capacity will have huge educational benefits for pupils at St Edburg’s CE Primary School. It is yet another exciting project from the county council, working with communities and partners on our commitment to provide first class education for Oxfordshire’s children and young people.” Martin Leach, Director, Countryside Properties (Bicester) Limited, said: “We are delighted to have reached another key milestone at Kingsmere. The provision of new facilities for St Edburg’s CE Primary School will provide an enhanced educational offering for residents and the local community right on their doorstep.” Speaking about the features of the project Tony Wilson, Director of Education at the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education (ODBE), said: “The new facilities will be served by air source heat pumps utilising the very latest in green energy technology. With our commitment to confronting the climate emergency, ODBE is delighted that this expansion is designed and built with sustainability as a key consideration. ODBE believes that the pupils of St Edburg’s CE Primary School will thrive and flourish in their new learning environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new development by real estate company Dominus, which will help solve the student housing crisis in Manchester, has been given the green light by Manchester City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee. The One Medlock Street scheme will provide more than 1,000 beds for the city’s university students, who would otherwise be forced to live in privately rented houses. The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University attract around 45,000 and 36,000 students a year respectively, while only 26,830 professionally managed student beds in Manchester remain available. If current demand levels from students continue to grow at a predicted rate of 3.2% each year, then up to 14,772 additional students will be forced into privately-owned accommodation, taking vital supply away from the broader rental market. Manchester City Council’s recently-published PBSA Study identifies Dominus’ One Medlock Street development as one of the key named sites committed to meeting the city’s needs for student beds over the coming years. The development, which includes two new buildings with 13 and 37 storeys respectively, replaces an existing Premier Inn hotel and is expected to support 475 jobs and provide a £198 million productivity boost to the local area during construction. Jay Ahluwalia, Principal Director at Dominus Real Estate, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Whitbread to create a mixed-use scheme that will provide an attractive, sustainable and well-connected hub for work, study and living. Our aim is to provide a huge boost to Manchester’s Southern Gateway, contributing to the continued regeneration of the First Street area. “Our One Medlock Street scheme will bring high-quality and flexible Grade A offices, much-needed student housing at a location supported by the City Council and a better street-level experience for all. “Dominus Real Estate’s portfolio ranges from hotels to residential and office spaces, and we are constantly expanding our £2.4 billion pipeline by working with universities, local councils and other local stakeholders to meet the most pressing demands of those communities. “We are delighted that Manchester City Council have resolved to grant planning permission at Planning Committee. We look forward to starting on-site and delivering this exciting project.” As well as student accommodation, the development – being delivered alongside partners Whitbread – also includes office space with room for 2,200 jobs, a landscaped pocket park and rain garden, and “green streets” connecting the site to the wider First Street Regeneration Area. There will also be a nine-story piece of public art to enhance the site. Once completed, the scheme is expected to contribute £1.6 million in business rates each year. The plans have been designed by award-winning architects Jon Matthews Architects, who have delivered a number of transformative regeneration projects in Manchester including Axis, Oxygen and Brazennose House, and Planit-IE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
