GLP, the leading global business builder in logistics, digital infrastructure, renewable energy and related technologies, is set to speculatively develop 1.4 million SQ FT across four units in Magna Park Lutterworth (MPL), reflecting the sustained expansion and success of Europe’s largest dedicated logistics park. GLP has received detailed planning permission
Multi-award-winning new homes developer Weston Homes is pleased to announce the launch of their highly anticipated Dylon Riverside development in Sydenham, London. As part of the second phase of the redevelopment of the former Dylon textiles factory site, the area is being transformed into a new £100 million (GDV) high-quality
Eye-opening new research from construction AR pioneer XYZ Reality reveals majority of UK and US construction projects are plagued by errors and rarely delivered on time. XYZ Reality[1], the world’s leading Engineering Grade Augmented Reality (AR)™ solutions provider for construction, publishes a landmark report on the major challenges facing UK
With construction work now well underway, progress is taking shape on-site at Leeds Valley Park, with three of the six steel unit frames now erected and fit-out due to commence imminently. This £26.2 million construction project is set to bring six high quality, modern industrial units ranging in size from
The new fibre-optic cable deployed along the Tunnel provides access to the highest number of data centres fibre-connected between the UK and mainland Europe Colt Technology Services (Colt), the digital infrastructure company, today announced the successful completion of the deployment of a new dark fibre (G.652D/G.657) cable along the Channel
Initiative launched to promote sustainable infrastructure, unlock value and transform communities Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is expanding the size and scope of its environmental services in response to the demand for more sustainable infrastructure and nature-based solutions. The move will see its Environment Practice expand by 50%
px Group’s Saltend Chemicals Park, in Hull, has been selected as the site for the build of a Green Hydrogen facility and an investment of between £180mn and £240mn by Meld Energy, the green hydrogen industrial developer. Meld Energy is an international hydrogen development company and is working with the
Developer Chancerygate has submitted plans to speculatively build 82,400 sq ft of Grade A urban logistics and warehousing space in Leatherhead. Called Victory Park, the proposed scheme will comprise 13 leasehold units ranging from 3,000 to 19,000 sq ft. The projected gross development value is around £32m. The 4.6-acre site,
GMI Construction Group has become a signatory of the Care Leaver Covenant after launching its unique Construction Cares Programme, which delivers employment opportunities and employability support. As part of its initiative, the independent construction firm launched a three-day DIY programme providing care leavers with hands-on experience and training in construction-related
A successful four-week Chatbot and Live Chat pilot has led housing association, Platform Housing to sign a new one-year contract with technology partners Futr AI Ltd. This new partnership will enable Platform to offer Chatbot and Live Chat services on their website so that customers can access services 24/7, at
GLP, the leading global business builder in logistics, digital infrastructure, renewable energy and related technologies, is set to speculatively develop 1.4 million SQ FT across four units in Magna Park Lutterworth (MPL), reflecting the sustained expansion and success of Europe’s largest dedicated logistics park. GLP has received detailed planning permission for four new warehouses, three in Magna Park South, MPS Unit 9 (388,000 SQ FT), MPS Unit 10 (119,000 SQ FT) and MPS Unit 11 (136,000 SQ FT) and one building in Magna Park North, MPN 5, measuring 761 000 SQ FT. All units are due for practical completion by the end of Spring 2024. MPN 5 will be a Breeam Outstanding building with all three other developments planned to achieve Breeam Excellent. Each unit will be net-zero in construction and independently certified by the Planet Mark. GLP will also be supporting customers to reduce energy and operational costs, by providing a complimentary Planet Mark program to help monitor, track and reduce their respective carbon footprint. The buildings will be designed to WELL principles with the occupiers in mind, with GLP aiming to provide a more productive and pleasant working environment for employees. In addition, GLP are currently building a 200-acre Country Park enhancing the park’s facilities and providing recreation areas for both customers and the wider community. Last year, GLP also partnered with North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, and Wincanton to house The Centre for Logistics, Education and Research (CLEAR) – a unique research, innovation, education, and training facility for both customers on the park and the wider logistics industry. Magna Park Lutterworth now has only one building available to lease, MPS 5 (187, 253 SQ FT), with a further two build to suit plots available for development, MPN 7 (411,000 SQ FT) and MPN 6 (840,000 SQ FT). In the last two phases of spec development, the park has welcomed customers such as Bleckmann, Iron Mountain, LX Pantos and Unipart. This underlines the sustained levels of new and repeat customer demand for the high-quality environment that Magna Park Lutterworth offers, which now consists of 47 buildings and is over 13m SQ FT. Joe Garwood, Senior Development Director at GLP, remarks: “We are extremely pleased to announce such a significant level of speculative build across our flagship UK logistics park. This is a testament to our confidence in the resilience of the UK logistics market and the strategic importance of the Midlands in particular. We have seen huge success with our speculative development programme at Lutterworth to date, attracting a wide range of top-tier customers, and we’re confident that we will see strong demand for this new space. Once finalised and occupied, the four units will generate hundreds of employment opportunities and contribute towards the economic growth and commercial upskilling of the Midlands region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Multi-award-winning new homes developer Weston Homes is pleased to announce the launch of their highly anticipated Dylon Riverside development in Sydenham, London. As part of the second phase of the redevelopment of the former Dylon textiles factory site, the area is being transformed into a new £100 million (GDV) high-quality residential development. Providing 254 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, the development will include undercroft basement parking, a new children’s play space, an outdoor gymnasium and extensive landscaped gardens. Designed by Ian Ritchie Architects, with detailed design by Weston Homes’ in-house architectural and design team, Dylon Riverside comprises two 4 to 11-storey buildings with a large communal garden extending down towards the Pool River, as well as a new lit river walk. The three-year construction programme began earlier this year, with the first apartments ready to move into in summer 2024. The Dylon (‘Dyes of London’) textiles dyeing factory which formerly stood on the site of this development was founded in 1946 by entrepreneurs Luca Purbeck and Peter Samuel. The factory provided colourful dyes for clothing, curtains and other household goods; the vibrant colours aimed at brightening up the spirits of families across post-war Britain.The stylish homes at Dylon Riverside feature Weston Homes’ premium, fully inclusive specification with contemporary open-plan living areas, superb bespoke designer kitchens equipped with an integrated microwave, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher and energy saving ceramic hob. Luxurious bathrooms and en suites have Smart technology and are finished to the highest standards with modern living in mind. Buyers will be able to simply move in and begin enjoying a new, enviable lifestyle without having to spend time and money renovating. This market-leading specification has been celebrated earning Weston Homes the ‘Gold’ Medium Housebuilder of the year and the ‘Gold’ for Best Interior Design at the WhatHouse? Awards 2022. Hyperoptic superfast broadband is installed in each home, so residents can remain fully connected for work and leisure. Weston Homes offer a wide range of designer options from kitchen units, luxurious flooring, bathroom cabinetry and tiling (subject to the stage of construction), enabling buyers to personalise their home and truly make it their own.The Weston Homes design team carefully considers every element of their homes from insulation to airtight junctions and glazing to heating specifications, all in a bid to optimise performance. The less heat energy that escapes, the less energy is required from the heating system, reducing both CO2 emissions and running costs. All residents have access to outdoor space, with a private balcony, terrace or winter garden to every apartment. Landscaping weaves its way through the development providing views from the majority of apartments. A short stroll from Dylon Riverside are tranquil green spaces to be enjoyed.Dylon Riverside is just a 15-minute stroll from Sydenham high street and within easy reach of vibrant Beckenham. Sydenham is a leafy suburb bordering Crystal Palace Park, with an eclectic range of shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs and gyms and a number of schools nearby rated either OFSTED Outstanding or Good, making it a great place to live for families. The new homes are just a two-minute walk to Lower Sydenham train station with direct trains to London Bridge in 14 minutes. There are a number of Discount Market Sale (DMS) properties available at the development offering a 30% discount to key workers or local buyers who live or work in the Borough of Bromley. The 30% discount is part of the Discount Market Sale (DMS) scheme where Weston Homes, working in partnership with Bromley Council has a collection of one- and two-bedroom new apartments that are available to buy at just 70% of their market value but still giving their buyer 100% of the ownership. To be eligible, buyers must earn less than £90,000 a year and not own another property in the UK or abroad (other criteria apply).First-time buyer Alessandro Sottilaro who purchased an apartment with Weston Homes using the DMS scheme says “I fell in love with the Weston Homes apartments, but I initially thought that we could not afford one until I found the Discount Market Sale scheme. By using the discount, we could afford a new apartment that is perfect for us. We went directly to the showroom, met the Sales Consultants and within five minutes we wanted one of the homes and bought immediately. I love the fact that it is so fresh, modern and finished to such a high standard.” Suzanne Aplin, Group Sales & Marketing Director at Weston Homes says: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of Dylon Riverside, a truly exceptional development in the heart of Sydenham which is part of the transformation of the former Dylon textiles factory site into a vibrant new community. With its outstanding design, luxurious features, and prime location, Dylon Riverside offers residents a remarkable living experience and provides the perfect homes for first-time buyers and young couples or families who want to live within close commuting distance to Central London without the inner-city price tag”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Eye-opening new research from construction AR pioneer XYZ Reality reveals majority of UK and US construction projects are plagued by errors and rarely delivered on time. XYZ Reality[1], the world’s leading Engineering Grade Augmented Reality (AR)™ solutions provider for construction, publishes a landmark report on the major challenges facing UK and US construction and the solutions that are being used today to combat them. Carried out in partnership with market research experts OnePoll[2], the report surveyed 541 decision makers from the leading contractors in the United States and the United Kingdom, revealing the true scale of the delays and defects currently squeezing the sector’s already tight margins. The causes we myriad, with ongoing supply chain disruptions (47%), rising construction costs (44%), and collaboration (39%) ranked by company executives as the top three greatest challenges for the coming year. Poor cooperation, coordination and skills were also flagged as major internal contributing factors. Britain’s Rework Migraine The research also gives crucial insights into the root causes of project delays and rework, as well as the implications on budgets and schedule, output and client satisfaction, going on to showcase technology’s role in improving productivity. Taking a deeper dive into the UK-specific results, the findings reveal an alarmingly high number of respondents regularly miss deadlines (56%), with almost all companies polled reporting a backlog of projects. Design changes (28%), poor communication (27%) and labour shortages (23%) were the top three primary causes cited. Quality remains an issue too. A significant minority, around a quarter of respondents, consider accuracy to be only “somewhat important”, which is surprising given the UK’s recent focus on building safety, regulations and compliance. Against this context, it’s easy to see why most respondents added they frequently encounter errors leading to rework, suggesting the need to prioritize timely completion may lead some to overlook the importance of maintaining high standards. Commenting on the findings, XYZ Reality’s Founder & CEO, David Mitchell, said, “It’s incredibly concerning to see companies reporting frequent errors and project delays and is a stark reminder that we desperately need a proactive strategy and a forward-thinking approach in construction. If the industry is going to meet critical production and sustainability targets in such a challenging market, embracing digital transformation is no longer optional – it’s the essential key to unlocking productivity in the industry and dissolving the significant project backlog.” The Human Factor Exploring the numbers further, four fifths attributed poor quality assurance, error and resulting rework to human factors. Poor communication (41%), inexperienced workers (39%), insufficient supervision (32%) and design changes (30%) were consistently identified as the main reasons. Interestingly, under one in ten respondents blame ineffective technology. Error and rework can quickly ramp up project costs, leading contractors to desperately seek ways to bring down elevated construction costs. The report revealed stockpiling (72%), the tendency to change project design (65%) and reduce overhead costs (54%) to be the key ways companies are balancing the scales. Technology is another popular option for cost control, pointed to by a majority 56% of firms, reflecting growing confidence in tech as a solution to many of the challenges facing construction today. A changing tide This shift in momentum was mirrored by three fifths of respondents highlighting technology as a leading solution for addressing rework and errors. AR was particularly popular, with its versatile technology, – including, but not limited to, onsite measuring, drawing and markup tools, and camera capture and model viewer applications – reportedly used by an impressive 73% of respondents. Similarly, Engineering Grade AR is predicted to have the biggest impact on onsite productivity, spotlighted by 71% of companies. David concludes, “The UK construction sector has evidently embraced digital adoption to address these persistent issues, turning to advanced technology like Engineering Grade AR to provide a level of unparalleled accuracy and mitigate errors and delays. It’s also encouraging to see that cost and availability no longer seem to be the barriers they once were. However, as our report indicates, as good as these tools are, they’re only as good as those operating them – communication and collaboration must improve to realise their full potential to eliminate human error on-site, once and for all.” To download the research report click here[3] Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With construction work now well underway, progress is taking shape on-site at Leeds Valley Park, with three of the six steel unit frames now erected and fit-out due to commence imminently. This £26.2 million construction project is set to bring six high quality, modern industrial units ranging in size from 25,000 sq ft to 70,000 sq ft. The units have heights ranging from 8 to 12 metres, dock level access to all except the smallest unit, office and welfare accommodation on the first floor, with LED lighting and Air Source Heat Pumps. They offer excellent space for a wide range of logistics, distribution and manufacturing uses. All six buildings have been designed with sustainability in mind and are set to achieve a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating upon completion, and target EPC A rating. An attractive proposition for occupiers looking to future-proof, by design, the development will be PV ready/installed, as well as including electric vehicle charging points and cycle provision. The units have a fantastic location in south east Leeds and the site benefits from being situated between Junction 44 of the M1 and Junction 7 of the M621, enabling great connectivity to Leeds, the local motorway network and beyond. Work so far completed includes the cladding and glazing on the first unit and the installation of mains services and primary drainage, with construction of the fourth steel frame nearing completion. The next phase of works will include further cladding and glazing, internal concrete slabs and substation installation. Fit-out works are also due to commence imminently, with overall completion scheduled for November this year. The flagship employment site has been brought forward by multi-sector property developer, Caddick Developments in conjunction with owners Greater Manchester Pension Fund, with Caddick Construction leading project delivery. Working in partnership across the Caddick Group, the two businesses have undertaken swift and efficient delivery, bringing much-needed Grade A industrial space to Leeds and providing a welcome economic boost to the local area, supporting >300 jobs during construction, with an additional 500 jobs created when the units are occupied. Avison Young, as retained advisor to the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), advised on the purchase, and is now actively marketing the site, alongside joint agents, Carter Towler. Paul Dodsworth, Managing Director at Caddick Construction commented: “It’s brilliant to see this flagship employment scheme really start to take shape at Leeds Valley Park. Once complete, this development will offer local businesses a great opportunity to map their operations only 15 minutes from central Leeds, just between Junction 44 of the M1 and Junction 7 of the M621. “Working alongside Caddick Developments means that we can ensure the very best service across the board, efficient processes are in use and all aspects of the development and operations married with the vision from Caddick Developments.” Jim Dyson, Director at Caddick Developments, also commented: “When it comes to urban logistics, connectivity is key, and Leeds Valley Park benefits from the unrivalled motorway connections of Leeds’ premier industrial and distribution location. “Our work with Caddick Construction to bring forward this 300,000 sq ft scheme is a great example of how the Caddick Group has the agility to collaborate across disciplines and create exemplar, market-leading developments that meet the needs of different locations and occupiers.” Rob Oliver, Principal at Avison Young, advised: “The units are attracting considerable interest from both companies already in the area, and are looking to establish a first Leeds facility. We are in active discussions with a number of parties, looking to take occupation of a new, high specification, sustainable, facility before the end of the year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The new fibre-optic cable deployed along the Tunnel provides access to the highest number of data centres fibre-connected between the UK and mainland Europe Colt Technology Services (Colt), the digital infrastructure company, today announced the successful completion of the deployment of a new dark fibre (G.652D/G.657) cable along the Channel Tunnel connecting London (UK) to Paris (France). Colt’s new fibre network will provide businesses and organisations with faster, more reliable, and uninterrupted data connectivity across borders. It will also support the growing demand for cloud computing and other digital services in both London and Paris, with a seamless end-to-end SLA. Responsible for the day-to-day operations of all new cables installed in the Channel Tunnel, Colt boasts a transfer rate of several Tbps per fibre pair with the new infrastructure. With this evolution of the infrastructure, customers will have access to their 100Gbps/400Gbps Colt IQ Network, supported by reliable low latency, high-bandwidth connectivity and service guarantees through the tunnel. The tunnel offers the best path to close a key network loop that runs between London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. In accordance with the Channel Tunnel’s safety and security regulations, all connectivity services will be highly secure. They will offer significantly more capacity than subsea cables and will be placed in a highly protected environment that is not vulnerable to piracy, ship anchors, commercial fishing, or shipping. The tunnel has had no accidents since its installation in 1994. “We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the next step in this important project,” said Herve Jost, Director of Eurotunnel/Getlink Connectivity Solutions, Colt Technology Services. “Approximately 80% of the internet traffic which runs between the UK and mainland Europetoday travels through the Channel Tunnel. It is crucial to increase the bandwidth, enhance performance, bolster reliability, and fortify the security of our network. This is vital to ensure a continuous and uninterrupted flow of data, specifically to address peak demand and new bandwidth needs within the Channel Tunnel, driven by new technologies such as AI and Metaverse. Our new fibre cable in the Tunnel will transform the subterranean rail link between the UK and mainland Europe into a major data route to support the anticipated growth in traffic over the coming years.” In September 2021, Colt and Getlink signed a 25-year exclusive ‘concession’ contract to install and operate a new fiber optic network spanning the Channel Tunnel, using the latest connectivity technology to establish seamless connectivity between the UK and mainland Europe. This 25-year agreement is bringing new dark fiber and data services to the Channel Tunnel for the first time in a generation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Initiative launched to promote sustainable infrastructure, unlock value and transform communities Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is expanding the size and scope of its environmental services in response to the demand for more sustainable infrastructure and nature-based solutions. The move will see its Environment Practice expand by 50% by 2025, and five new service lines introduced, to tackle the key challenges of climate change resilience and global pressures for demand on resources. As industry faces mounting pressure to develop critical infrastructure against a backdrop of rising costs and looming net zero targets, Atkins is set to make a fundamental shift in how it delivers its services. By putting the environment and communities at the heart of the development process it will unlock value in projects, helping to create sustainable infrastructure and thriving places as a result. Alongside the recruitment drive across a range of roles, five new service lines have also been launched to directly address the changing needs of its clients which will include: Nature-based solutions, Valuing a Sustainable Future, Carbon Advisory, Planning & Consenting and Sustainability and Climate Resilience. The renewed focus is in response to increased demand on resources such as water, energy and housing, at a time when there is a real need to restore nature and communities and protect them from the impact of climate change. The approach draws on Atkins’ wide breadth of expertise across the business globally, and will enable the environment team to work with clients from day one on a project. Dr Victoria Hutchinson, Atkins Environment Practice director, said: “By working with clients much earlier in the project process, we can put environment and communities at the heart of the decision making, which ensures better outcomes and improved circumstances for people. “This will help mitigate any project risks around time and budget and make sure clients get consentable solutions that are ready to go to site quickly. “It means meeting demand for new services, but also growing our existing consulting strategy and advisory services. “We are bringing our understanding of client objectives and regulatory requirements, as well as our ability to rapidly assemble and interpret data sets, so we can take complex client projects and bring them together behind a coherent presentation of data. This demonstrates real long-term value across physical, environmental and social drivers.” By engaging with clients and stakeholder groups before work starts on-site, potential problems can be identified and resolved early on. In addition opportunities for ensuring better social value outcomes can also be identified and realised early in the process – unlocking value in the project for the client as well as its end-user communities. Atkins has been bringing this new approach to some of the UK’s biggest infrastructure projects*, which has resulted in more efficient processes, more informed decision-making, improved design and more opportunities to transform communities and the environment. Dr Hutchinson adds: “By finding new ways of looking at value we can help rebalance communities, create more opportunity for under-represented groups to participate in the economy, and identify nature-positive ways of stimulating growth. This should mean that overall we invest in infrastructure that creates better outcomes for communities and the environment.” Mike McNicholas, managing director of Atkins’ Infrastructure division, said: “As a business we have undergone a process of ‘re-imagining’ the role of our environment services in order to meet the ongoing challenges faced by clients. “We have always been alive to the dynamics of the markets we operate in and the need to adapt to changing circumstances, and of course listening to our clients. “As a result we have created new service lines to specifically address those issues faced by our clients, and have been proactive about getting the best people in place to head them up. “The result is a holistic approach to projects that enables clients to make informed investment decisions and ensures all stakeholder groups fully understand the benefits of the approach, resulting in faster, better, greener project outcomes.” For more information about Atkins Environment Practice and services, please visit: Reimagining our environment to unlock investment – SNC-Lavalin (snclavalin.com) Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
px Group’s Saltend Chemicals Park, in Hull, has been selected as the site for the build of a Green Hydrogen facility and an investment of between £180mn and £240mn by Meld Energy, the green hydrogen industrial developer. Meld Energy is an international hydrogen development company and is working with the global energy management company, World Fuel Services Corporation, to develop green hydrogen supply chains. World Kinect Sustainability Ventures, a subsidiary of the publicly listed US Fortune 500 company, acquired a 50% stake in Meld in late 2022. Meld is currently bidding for development support from the UK’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. Should the bid win government backing, FEED (Front End Engineering Design) is expected to begin in November 2023 and would run concurrently with planning application processes. Building would commence less than a year later with a target operation in 2026. The facility would be the UK’s largest green hydrogen production facility (if built today), with an initial installed capacity of 100MW and the potential to increase its capacity to over 200MW in a second development stage. The green hydrogen would be produced at the facility using electrolysis, which involves using electricity to split water into its constituent elements: hydrogen and oxygen. Through using renewable electricity for this process, the hydrogen produced would be “green” hydrogen, as compared to grey and blue hydrogen, which is more carbon-intensive. Meld would utilise PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) with renewable energy suppliers. The hydrogen produced by Meld would be used to provide energy on-site at Saltend, helping to switch over from more carbon-intensive fuels and chemical feedstock to emissions-free green hydrogen. The Humber is the UK’s most carbon-intensive region. The UK Government considers hydrogen to be a vital component in the UK energy transition and its journey to Net Zero. Hydrogen has the potential for use in a variety of applications, from powering transport and industry to energy storage, with its only emission being water or steam when consumed. Geoff Holmes, CEO of px Group, says: “Meld Energy’s decision to invest at Saltend Chemicals Park proves once again that Saltend is the go-to location for industrial decarbonisation and the UK energy transition. Meld’s plans are on a scale that will make a significant impact on domestic decarbonisation – it is a project that the government should find impossible to ignore.”“We have a host of world-class industrial companies on site at Saltend and this potential major investment shows once again the strength of the Saltend offering.”Chris Smith, CEO & Founder of Meld Energy, says: “Saltend Chemicals Park is the perfect site for our green hydrogen facility. Saltend has a rich knowledge of decarbonisation projects and, importantly, has future users of the hydrogen to be produced already in place.” “This project can be online within three years and would deliver an immediate reduction in emissions once production commences. The facility will have the potential to double its production as demand for hydrogen increases in the future to meet Net Zero targets.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer Chancerygate has submitted plans to speculatively build 82,400 sq ft of Grade A urban logistics and warehousing space in Leatherhead. Called Victory Park, the proposed scheme will comprise 13 leasehold units ranging from 3,000 to 19,000 sq ft. The projected gross development value is around £32m. The 4.6-acre site, which was formerly office and warehouse accommodation, is located off Cleeve Road in Leatherhead Business Park approximately one mile north of the town centre and one mile east of junction 9 of the M25. Neighbouring occupiers to the proposed development include Unilever and engineering consultancies KBR and RINA Tech UK. All properties at Victory Park will benefit from electric vehicle charging points and solar cells on their roofs which provide green energy on an affordable basis to occupiers. In addition, the units will be constructed from high-performance building materials to reduce CO2 emissions. The scheme is targeting an EPC A and BREEAM Very Good rating. Commenting on the planning submission, Chancerygate development director Jonathan Lee, said: “Leatherhead’s proximity to key motorway infrastructure, skilled local workforce and strong business community means there is strong demand for Grade A urban logistics and warehousing space. “Our plans for Victory Park will aim to satisfy this demand and provided businesses with high-quality, sustainable accommodation so they are best placed to serve the town and the wider region.” Founded in 1995, Chancerygate is the UK’s largest urban logistics property developer and asset manager and the only one operating nationwide. The company has offices in London, Warrington, Birmingham, Bristol, and Milton Keynes. It currently has more than 3.2m sq ft of industrial space under construction or ready for development across 24 sites ranging from Bournemouth to Edinburgh Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group has become a signatory of the Care Leaver Covenant after launching its unique Construction Cares Programme, which delivers employment opportunities and employability support. As part of its initiative, the independent construction firm launched a three-day DIY programme providing care leavers with hands-on experience and training in construction-related jobs. It was piloted in Birmingham in partnership with Birmingham Children’s Trust, the BFriends charity and South & City College, Birmingham, before being rolled out in Manchester in August, followed by the North East and Leeds. The workshops teach valuable DIY skills, including painting and decorating, plumbing, carpentry, tiling, and plastering, and is aimed at those preparing to leave the care system or who have recently transitioned to independent living. Participants were provided with travel and food during the three days as well as a toolkit and an award for completing the course, while all those expressing an interest in one of the trades will be given the opportunity of work experience at a later date. GMI, which operates across the North of England and the Midlands, first became a partner of the Care Leaver Covenant last April and has since created practical ways of supporting care leavers. As part of its bespoke Construction Cares Programme, GMI is committed to advertising job roles to care leavers first and has established a guaranteed interview scheme. It will also offer work experience, work trials, employability sessions, and one-to-one mentoring to help participants develop their skills and gain valuable experience in the sector. The Care Leaver Covenant, the second Government Covenant, is a national inclusion programme launched in 2018 that supports care leavers aged 16-25 to live independently by creating meaningful opportunities. GMI’s Head of Responsible Business, Claire Preston, who was made Sector Based Champion in 2018 by the Government for her work with care leavers, said: “As a business with strong community links, we are extremely proud to become a Covenant signatory, something that reflects our commitment to offering additional and practical support for those transitioning from care to leading an independent life. “Our Construction Cares Programme is designed to help care leavers achieve social and economic experience by providing them with valuable life skills and opportunities for a rewarding career in construction.” Gareth Evans, Head of Delivery at Care Leaver Covenant, said: “We were delighted when GMI Construction signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant and we’ve enjoyed working with Claire and the team on their care leaver programme. We continue to collaborate closely to ensure as many of our young people as possible can put themselves forward for roles at, and receive support from, the company.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A successful four-week Chatbot and Live Chat pilot has led housing association, Platform Housing to sign a new one-year contract with technology partners Futr AI Ltd. This new partnership will enable Platform to offer Chatbot and Live Chat services on their website so that customers can access services 24/7, at a time that suits them. “Platform’s new Chatbot and Live Chat technology, along with further proposed innovations, will fit in seamlessly alongside our traditional contact methods, helping us to deliver against our promise to make it simpler for customers to use our services and offer them more choice.” explains Michael Bruce, Director of Platform Hub and Income Management. “We have chosen to partner with AI Ltd as they provided excellent support during the trial period to integrate the technology into our systems and ultimately, we share the same mission – to simplify access to services.” In the successful trial, Platform used Chatbot technology, alongside new Live Chat software, to enable them to explore and gather data on both their customers’ preferences and their customer advisors’ user experiences. During the four-week trial period, the automated Chatbot answered 5,028 customer interactions, with only 338 of these customers requesting to speak to an advisor, via Live Chat. This meant that 4,690 potential calls to Platform’s busy customer services centre were averted, enabling their advisors to deal with customers who choose to call us and deal with more urgent enquiries. Andy Wilkins, CEO from Futr AI Ltd said, “I am thrilled to announce our partnership with Platform Housing. At Futr AI, we’re committed to powering transformative customer experiences through advanced AI, and this collaboration marks an exciting continuation of our long track record in the social housing sector. “Platform Housing’s commitment to digital innovation and customer service aligns perfectly with our mission and we’re excited to be working to set new standards for personalised, accessible service.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
