Work has commenced on the £74 million industrial warehouse scheme – Project Holst – located in Coventry’s renowned Prospero Ansty Park. A ground-breaking ceremony held on 12 July marked the start of the pivotal scheme at the landmark technology hub, attended by representatives of McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) and
MEMBERS of the newly formed National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) from all over the UK have gathered in person for the first time for the organisation’s inaugural meeting, with more than 50 people in attendance. The group’s members bring together Tier 1 contractors, specialist organisations and energy providers, sharing a collective mission to drive the delivery
HS2 has successfully carried out the UK’s heaviest drive to install an intersection bridge structure beneath the West Coast Main Line at Fulfen Wood near Lichfield. The 56 metre long and 19 metre wide structure will allow Britain’s new high-speed railway to pass beneath the busy existing railway line, on its
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today published new guidance to ensure that inclusion and accessibility are considered at every stage of the design and construction process. The result of a multidisciplinary collaboration – including input from people with lived experience and experts from 25 built environment professions
Scottish government-owned train operator leverages MRI Horizon to centralise data, automate processes and drive efficiencies across station rentals ScotRail, the publicly owned Scottish railway network operator, has selected MRI Software’s Horizon solution to manage its rental and lease portfolio, comprising 220 units across 356 stations. MRI Horizon is an innovative
Salboy, the nationwide property development and funding company, has agreed an initial one-year sponsorship agreement with Salford City Football Club, a League Two football club close to the developer’s heart. Under the terms of the deal, Salboy will be Salford City’s front of home shirt sponsor for the 2023-24 season.
Morgan Sindall has secured a contract to deliver a new £25 million state-of-the-art diagnostic centre near to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. The company was appointed by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH). Procured through the NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) framework, the new NNUH Diagnostic
Work has commenced on the £74 million industrial warehouse scheme – Project Holst – located in Coventry’s renowned Prospero Ansty Park. A ground-breaking ceremony held on 12 July marked the start of the pivotal scheme at the landmark technology hub, attended by representatives of McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) and Manse Opus. Consisting of four industrial warehouses with associated offices, construction works led by McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) on behalf of Manse Opus, started earlier this year and are due to complete in March 2024. Spanning a total of 1,739,598 sq. ft, the four commercial speculative units will predominantly comprise a cladded portal frame with a CAT A open plan layout and the site will feature an external logistics yard with a level and dock access area and dedicated car parking spaces with electric charging points, alongside landscaped communal areas. Designed to meet a BREEAM Excellent rating, units will be highly energy efficient in design with the application of roof top PVs and rainwater harvesting tanks. Offices have been designed as largely open plan to provide flexibility to prospective tenants, and the architecture has focused on the business culture and purpose of the technology park, reflecting the current variety of highly skilled professions already present within the surrounding developments. The scheme will also entail a large and complex earthworks operation prior to construction with extensive infrastructure works needed to access the plots and associated balancing ponds to accommodate storm water. All removed earth will also be reused back within the site to reduce waste and provide a greater circular approach. Prior to works commencing, great crested newts were identified and relocated, and protective fencing was erected to the perimeter of the site. As part of the wider landscaping scheme, new ecological areas will continue to be developed during the construction and population of the site. Giving back to the local community, voluntary works are due to be carried out at the Grace Academy during the summer, to create a sensory open space for the students to enjoy. Last year, McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) completed construction works for Manse Opus, on a new 94,000 sq. ft regional headquarters for Cadent Gas – the UK’s largest gas distribution network. Project Holst marks the second scheme at the park that McLaren Construction and Manse Opus have partnered together for, following more than three years of collaboration. Managing director, Gary Cramp, said: “It’s excellent to be partnering with Manse Opus again for the further expansion of Prospero Ansty Park and we have a strong relationship formed over many years successfully working together. “Prospero Ansty Park is a fast-growing business and industrial hub for the West Midlands, and we’re very pleased to be bringing our client’s vision to life with Project Holst, providing central high-specification commercial office space, ideally positioned to cater to clients in the industrial and logistics sector. “We have managed to overcome challenges with this site – including battling with the wettest March on record in 20 years. However, our dedicated team of skilled contractors managed to stay dedicated to the programme and timeline.” Richard Smith, director of Manse Opus, said: “I am delighted for the third time now to be working with McLaren in delivering this massively important logistics and industrial scheme comprising four buildings between 117,000 sq. ft and 300,000 sq. ft, to be completed between December 2023 and March 2024.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MEMBERS of the newly formed National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) from all over the UK have gathered in person for the first time for the organisation’s inaugural meeting, with more than 50 people in attendance. The group’s members bring together Tier 1 contractors, specialist organisations and energy providers, sharing a collective mission to drive the delivery of high-quality energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies at scale across the UK’s housing stock. The day focused on the NHDG’s three core pillars, around which working groups are now being developed – policy, green skills and training, and innovation. The magnitude of the NHDG and its already close collaboration with relevant government entities was marked by attendance from senior representatives of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The department’s director for net zero buildings, Selvin Brown, spoke to members about the progress made so far, the scale of the remaining challenge and upcoming government commitment for decarbonisation across the social and private housing sectors. Derek Horrocks, chair of the NHDG, said: “Since our initial launch just last month, momentum has been building with more Tier 1 contractors committing their membership and the ongoing development of our operations. “The inaugural meeting marked the first time all members gathered in one place, and we’ve got there very quickly from a standing start, bringing together big-name businesses that need no introduction. The meeting couldn’t have been more positive, and it’s been really heartening to see every single organisation represented and contributing. “Supply chain capabilities, funding, and developing the skills needed for the retrofit revolution were all key talking points throughout the day – as was how we can attract new talent into the industry too. The day has been full of passion from everyone involved to really sustain collaboration to meet key targets, such as the need for 200,000 more competent retrofitters by 2030. “With the majority of large-scale domestic retrofit work in the UK set to be carried out by NHDG members over the coming years, we have an important responsibility. Together we must lead the change and develop a robust supply chain capable of delivering government goals and more. Long-term commitments are in place for the decarbonisation of 26 million UK homes to meet net zero, backed by more than £12 billion pledged by this and the next parliament. “The time is now – and together we have the ambition, resource and drive to push forward, with the opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of people up and down the country currently facing some of the biggest energy and climate crises of our time.” The NHDG’s members are already delivering large-scale PAS:2035 compliant installations funded by various government schemes, including the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). Together, members will support retrofit installations for all housing tenures up and down the country, delivering the highest levels of quality and compliance. Expert professional services consultancy Gemserv acts as the group’s secretariat. To learn more about NHDG, its aims and its members, visit its website at: https://www.nhdg.org/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 has successfully carried out the UK’s heaviest drive to install an intersection bridge structure beneath the West Coast Main Line at Fulfen Wood near Lichfield. The 56 metre long and 19 metre wide structure will allow Britain’s new high-speed railway to pass beneath the busy existing railway line, on its route going north of Birmingham Curzon Street Station up to Crewe. The giant 6,200-tonne concrete structure, which was built adjacent to the WCML over the last six months, was slowly manoeuvred into place on self-propelled modular transporters. Specially designed for very heavy lifting, the 840-wheeled transporter with four carrier beams was controlled by a remote steering system. Over 61,000 cubic metres of earth have already been removed and the bridge structure has taken six months to build at the side of the existing railway. Over the two days before the move, the team removed the railway track and excavated over 15,000 cubic metres of material to create the space for the structure to be moved into. The operation follows other important milestones in the West Midlands including the completion of the one-mile twin-bore tunnel under Long Itchington Wood and the start of production of 3,000 viaduct segments at an outdoor factory in Warwickshire. Caroline Warrington, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd said: “This huge feat of engineering – the UK’s heaviest single span bridge drive – is our latest big milestone as we approach peak construction on Phase One of HS2. We’re making fantastic progress on this section of the route, with over 9,000 people working on the project in the Midlands and over 29,500 on the whole project, providing a vital boost for British businesses and jobs.” Around 300 people working for HS2’s civils contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI have delivered the work, and a team of 200 people are working 24/7 this week to move the bridge, backfill around it and put the railway back in place ready to re-open next week. Chloe Foster-Chambers, Section Engineer for Balfour Beatty VINCI has been working with a team of 200 people carrying out the operation. She said: “As an engineer, big feats of engineering like this bridge drive make HS2 such a fantastic project to work on. It’s been a real team effort over the last two years, and seeing the operation successfully completed felt like a great achievement for everyone involved.” The operation happened during a nine day closure of the railway between Stafford and Rugby while Network Rail carry out upgrades as part of a multimillion pound investment to improve future journeys on this important stretch of the West Coast main line through the West Midlands. Work is now taking place at Fulfen Wood to replace the tracks and railway systems over the new bridge which will allow the railway to reopen to passenger and freight services on Monday 24 July. John Emery, Senior Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience this week while we carry out major upgrades on the West Coast main line in Staffordshire which will help to make rail journeys more reliable. We’ve worked closely with our partners at HS2 to combine their work with track and signalling upgrades in Colwich, as well as platform upgrades at Lichfield Trent Valley station to minimise disruption.” One of over 3,000 supply chain companies working on the HS2 project, specialist construction company Byrne Bros led the bridge build over the last six months. Tom Lyons, Construction Director for Byrne Bros said: “Byrne Bros are delighted to have been involved in such an amazing project. The BBV team have been fantastic to work with, demonstrating great leadership, teamwork and management of a complex engineering project.” Specialist lifting company Mammoet – based in Stockton-on-Tees, undertook the bridge move with state-of-the-art transportation equipment. Peter Schoenmakers, Lead Engineer at Mammoet UK Ltd said: “The Fulfen Wood Overbridge installation does show that with a collaborative approach and early engagement with all involved parties during the design stage of the structure, a cost effective and a most efficient installation method can be developed early on in the project. “The early engagement allowed the designers of the structure to design the bridge that suited the available and existing equipment to be used and no special equipment had to be fabricated or purchased. This approach is very important from a sustainability perspective. All in all, this was a great project for Mammoet and we are proud to be part of its success.” After this operation, the same transporters will be utilised to install another huge bridge drive which will take place a little further up at Streethay, where a similar 2,600 tonne structure is being moved into place under the South Staffordshire line between Lichfield High Level station and Derby. Once complete, HS2 will link London Euston with Birmingham, Manchester and the East Midlands. It will act as a catalyst for growth by improving connections between major towns and cities, opening up new employment and leisure opportunities for millions of people. Network Rail advise people travelling between London Euston, the Midlands and the North West between now and Sunday 23 July, to please check at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator to see how their journey will be affected. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today published new guidance to ensure that inclusion and accessibility are considered at every stage of the design and construction process. The result of a multidisciplinary collaboration – including input from people with lived experience and experts from 25 built environment professions – the Inclusive Design Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work is an important step towards RIBA’s commitment to making the built environment accessible and welcoming for everyone. The guidance has been developed with the specialist inclusive design consultancy Motionspot, and with the support of Heathrow and Jane Simpson Access. Intended to be widely understood and used by anyone involved in the built environment sector, it assigns clear responsibilities and tasks to the different roles involved in a building project – including client, project management, design, construction, and asset management teams. What is inclusive design? Inclusive Design Overlay Project Lead and Lead Overlay Author, Pareisse Wilson,who is also Inclusive Design Strategy Lead at Motionspot, said: “The biggest positive for me regarding this project is the fact it has been created in collaboration with industry, from landscape architects and engineers to project and facilities mangers. Together these collaborators helped decide which roles to include and contributed to defining the inclusive design tasks they would undertake at each Work Stage. Throughout the journey over 100 built environment professionals have attended workshops or provided feedback on draft versions of the Overlay. This makes the Inclusive Design Overlay a truly inclusively designed framework.” Steering Group member and Motionspot CEO and Founder Ed Warner said: “By empowering built environment professionals to create and operate more inclusive and equitable buildings and spaces, the Inclusive Design Overlay will enable previously marginalised groups to access and feel welcome in all areas of the built environment. I am confident this guidance will inspire positive change, helping to improve inclusive design across the UK and inspiring action around the world.” RIBA President Simon Allford said: “RIBA serves our members and society to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities, and a sustainable environment – and inclusion is at the heart of this. The Inclusive Design Overlay will help not only our members but other design professionals to support wider communities, placemaking, and buildings, by designing for everyone.” RIBA Director of Practice and Individual Knowledge Alex Tait said: “Our industry needs a more rigorous and collaborative approach to inclusion throughout the full lifecycle of our projects and assets. This Overlay aims to embed an inclusive design framework within the RIBA Plan of Work. We are grateful to our project partners and industry colleagues for their commitment to deliver this.” Steering Group member and Heathrow Project Manager Jenny McLaughlin said: “Heathrow’s vision is to be ‘Open for All’. However, we can only achieve this with the right tools and commitment from the design and construction industry. The Inclusive Design Overlay is a massive step in the right direction as it allows us to work towards our goals of becoming systematically inclusive, equitably safe, and meeting our UN Sustainable Development Goals to leave no one behind.” Download the Inclusive Design Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/resources-landing-page/inclusive-design-overlay-to-riba-plan-of-work. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Scottish government-owned train operator leverages MRI Horizon to centralise data, automate processes and drive efficiencies across station rentals ScotRail, the publicly owned Scottish railway network operator, has selected MRI Software’s Horizon solution to manage its rental and lease portfolio, comprising 220 units across 356 stations. MRI Horizon is an innovative real estate cloud solution used by leading property owners and operators in the private and public sectors to manage complex lease portfolios, improve business performance, and reduce operational risk. The decision to deploy Horizon was part of ScotRail’s digital transformation strategy, implemented after the company came into public ownership in 2022. After reviewing its processes and deciding to bring previously outsourced activity in-house, ScotRail needed to find a property management solution to gather data into a new, easy-to-use centralised system. ScotRail chose Horizon after a competitive and regulated procurement process. “Everyone involved was immediately impressed by how user-friendly Horizon was and the functionality available,” says Kerry McKerron, Senior Product and Revenue Development Manager at ScotRail. “Our team could quickly and clearly see how Horizon would fit with our processes and benefit the business. After speaking with other MRI Horizon users in the same industry who successfully use the solution, it wasn’t hard for our team to make the decision.” ScotRail has already deployed Horizon, with a team of five successfully using it day-to-day after the company and MRI worked closely together to get the system up and running as quickly as possible. ScotRail is now using Horizon to manage lease agreements with tenants that are using station spaces to run cafes, shops, and other retail outlets. Since implementing MRI Horizon, ScotRail has experienced several benefits across the organisation: “ScotRail joins a growing number of UK public sector organisations that use Horizon in different ways to manage the complexities of their property portfolios – either as landlords or occupiers,” says Garreth Cosgrave, Business Development Manager, Strategic Accounts at MRI Software. “What makes Horizon so useful for companies like ScotRail is its scalability and flexibility. It is a cloud-based solution that can fit into any organisation’s existing processes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Salboy, the nationwide property development and funding company, has agreed an initial one-year sponsorship agreement with Salford City Football Club, a League Two football club close to the developer’s heart. Under the terms of the deal, Salboy will be Salford City’s front of home shirt sponsor for the 2023-24 season. Salboy’s logo will be seen on the front of the men’s team home shirts and the front of replica home shirts that will be available to supporters. Salford City FC is a professional football team competing in League Two. Steeped in more than 80 years of history, Salford City has enjoyed significant growth since 2014 when several members of Manchester United’s infamous ‘Class of ‘92’ announced a takeover of the club and subsequently took it professional in 2017. Nicky Butt, Salford City CEO, commented: “It’s brilliant that Salboy has agreed to become our front of home shirt sponsor for the season, and we’re delighted to partner up with another local business with deep Salford connections that has grown into a hugely successful international operation. “Salboy has invested a lot of money into the local area, providing jobs and housing, and we’re hugely grateful to have their support for the new season.” Simon Ismail, Managing Director at Salboy, added: “We are proud to put the Salboy name on the front of the shirts worn by Salford City’s players and supporters next season. Salboy might be a business whose operations now span the entire country, but our hearts are still very much in Salford. “Supporting Salford City isn’t just about a love of football, but about getting behind a team of people who, like us, have huge pride in their local area but whose ambitions extend far beyond. We’re backing Salford City now as they head confidently into the new season with a renewed commitment to earning Salford’s place on the national football stage.” Despite earning in recent years an international reputation for developing and funding first class developments without compromise throughout the UK, Salboy’s roots remain firmly in the Salford area. Salboy has developed a number of major residential schemes in Salford and its neighbouring twin city, Manchester. These include the re-development of the Castle Irwell site, a scheme that’s brought 370 new 2, 3 and 4-bedroom houses to a high density neighbourhood down the road from Salford City’s Peninsula Stadium. Salboy’s co-founders Simon Ismail and Fred Done were born and grew up in Salford, where Fred’s business empire started, and he joins brother Peter Done’s Peninsula Group in sponsoring his hometown football club. The new 2023-24 home shirt is manufactured by adidas. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall has secured a contract to deliver a new £25 million state-of-the-art diagnostic centre near to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. The company was appointed by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH). Procured through the NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) framework, the new NNUH Diagnostic Centre will include five MRI machines, four CT scanners, two Ultrasound rooms and two X-Ray machines, bringing essential health services closer to the local community. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is a large NHS academic teaching hospital in the Norwich Research Park on the western outskirts of Norwich. The Norwich Research Park brings together four independently renowned research institutes; John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute, Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory with the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH). The new 40,000 sq. ft structure will be situated next to the Quadram Institute on the Norwich Research Park, connecting the pre-existing infrastructure at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to the new services. A steel frame will be installed with brick façade in keeping with the rest of the University Hospital estate. As part of Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach to supporting its customers to decarbonise, the Eastern Counties business will implement carbon reduction measures throughout the design and construction process. The team will utilise Morgan Sindall’s carbon reduction tool CarboniCa, which will ensure that potential carbon outputs are managed and reduced across the entire building lifecycle. The new diagnostic centre will benefit from an air source heat pump system and is aiming for a BREEAM Excellent rating. The Eastern Counties business has a strong track record in delivering high-end healthcare facilities across the region, having recently celebrated a topping out ceremony at the charity-funded Priscilla Bacon Lodge Hospice and completing a number of vital upgrades at James Paget University Hospital during the last decade with live further works being delivered. Alister Broadberry, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Eastern Counties, said: “Bringing essential, specialist services closer to local communities is paramount in serving the area in which we operate, as new facilities such as Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s diagnostic centre will play a key role in supporting patients and healthcare staff in the rapid diagnosis of disease, relieving pressure on waiting times and hospital workloads. “Our open and collaborative approach means that we have been able to deliver sustainable healthcare facilities locally, regionally and nationally that are adapting to the changing needs of the community. The diagnostic centre is set to become a prime example of great design and the team’s forward-thinking approach, further enhancing Morgan Sindall’s reputation in the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
