July 25, 2023
'Focus must be on boosting delivery of affordable homes' - London Councils responds to government's housing announcements

‘Focus must be on boosting delivery of affordable homes’ – London Councils responds to government’s housing announcements

London Councils has responded to the government’s announcement on building new homes and the Secretary of State’s speech on reforming the planning system and regenerating urban areas. Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: “Boroughs are ready and willing to help deliver the homes

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HENRY BROTHERS COMPLETES £12M REFURB PROJECT AT UNI OF MANCHESTER

Henry Brothers completes £12m Refurb Project at Uni of Manchester

Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has delivered a £12m refurbishment scheme for The University of Manchester. The project involved the complete refurbishment of floors four and five of the Chemistry Building, along with work to the level eight plantroom, roof and external ductwork and services. It included reorganising the layout of

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Groundforce Shorco delivers support for second Tideway ATU

Groundforce Shorco delivers support for second Tideway ATU

A complex shoring solution supplied by Groundforce Shorco for another Tideway excavation. Groundforce Shorco has provided specialist equipment to support a second Air Treatment Unit (ATU) excavation on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, London’s Super Sewer project. The project requires a number of ATUs to be installed along the route of

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MC Construction begins work on Multi-Million Pound School Extension

MC Construction begins work on Multi-Million Pound School Extension

Work has begun on a multimillion-poundextension at a school in Cheshire to create additional places. The scheme being undertaken by Salford-based MC Construction at Springfield School in Crewe will help address an urgent need for extra provision in the area for children with complex needs. The project involves building a

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Barbican Art Centre starts £25 million upgrade

Barbican Art Centre starts £25 million upgrade

The first phase of the Barbican Renewal Programme is set to get underway with £25 million in funding announced by the City of London Corporation. The funding was approved by the City Corporation’s Policy and Resources Committee to develop elements of a long-term masterplan, undertake further consultation, and deliver early

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Construction begins on 76 Southbank development

Construction begins on 76 Southbank development

Stanhope has announced the launch of construction work on the transformation and extension of 76 Southbank, adjacent to the National Theatre, to create a premier, sustainable office space. Multiplex has been appointed as main contractor for the 18 month construction contract. The historic Grade II listed building is being sensitively

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Government approves staircase call in huge win for fire safety standards

Government approves staircase call in huge win for fire safety standards

Yesterday, Monday 24 July 2023, the Government confirmed that they will adopt an 18-metre height threshold for second staircases in all new residential buildings.   In a huge win for RIBA’s cross-sector campaign on this issue, the Government noted that the new fire safety measure comes in response to expert bodies’ united calls.   Since March, a RIBA-led coalition spanning the built environment, fire

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

July 25, 2023

'Focus must be on boosting delivery of affordable homes' - London Councils responds to government's housing announcements

‘Focus must be on boosting delivery of affordable homes’ – London Councils responds to government’s housing announcements

London Councils has responded to the government’s announcement on building new homes and the Secretary of State’s speech on reforming the planning system and regenerating urban areas. Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: “Boroughs are ready and willing to help deliver the homes our communities need, but this requires more local powers and resources for housebuilding. “Despite massive challenges, boroughs are working hard to accelerate housebuilding and have made solid progress in recent years. London saw more council-built homes started in 2022 than any year since the 1970s. “There are at least 143,000 potential new homes we could begin building immediately in London if the funding was in place, and we would welcome the prospect of enhanced government support for housing development and regeneration. We are calling for reform of Right to Buy receipts, increased grant allocations, and investment in new infrastructure so that we can truly turbocharge affordable housebuilding. “The chronic shortage of affordable housing is the critical factor behind London’s skyrocketing homelessness figures. The situation is utterly unsustainable. There are 166,000 homeless Londoners living in temporary accommodation, including on average at least one homeless child in every London classroom. “The focus must be on boosting delivery of affordable, high-quality homes. The government’s pledge to expand permitted development rights does not guarantee this will happen – in fact it brings serious risks. Boroughs must retain the ability to ensure housing is built to the right standards, in suitable locations, and with the necessary local infrastructure such as GP surgeries and transport connections.”   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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HENRY BROTHERS COMPLETES £12M REFURB PROJECT AT UNI OF MANCHESTER

Henry Brothers completes £12m Refurb Project at Uni of Manchester

Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has delivered a £12m refurbishment scheme for The University of Manchester. The project involved the complete refurbishment of floors four and five of the Chemistry Building, along with work to the level eight plantroom, roof and external ductwork and services. It included reorganising the layout of the two floors to create flexible lab space to feature new fume cupboards and fixed benching, dedicated write-up spaces with glazed screens for visibility throughout the lab, modern offices, and attractive break-out areas. One of the key features of the project was the external ventilation ducts running up the side of the building which feed into floors four and five (and the other floors in future refurbishment phases). These ducts were connected to the existing fans in the 1960s-built, seven-storey building, which houses one of the largest Chemistry departments in the UK. Managing Director of Henry Brothers Construction Ian Taylor said: “We were delighted to have been appointed on our first contract at The University of Manchester, which represented an expansion for Henry Brothers into the North West. “The result of this refurbishment scheme on floors four and five of the Chemistry Building, along with work to the level eight plantroom and services, is first class. Researchers will now be working in and enjoying modern laboratories, offices, and break-out areas. These upgraded new facilities give researchers access to some of the most up-to-date amenities, helping the University to retain its position as one of the best places to study Chemistry.” The project was the latest in a number of schemes that Henry Brothers has delivered at UK universities and followed a £30m refurbishment scheme at the W and S Buildings at Loughborough University. Procured through the Crown Commercial Services Framework, The University of Manchester contract marked Henry Brothers’ expansion into the North West last year following sustained growth across the Midlands.The design team for the refurb included Gardiner and Theobold as NEC project manager, RLB as quantity surveyor, Halliday Meecham Architects, structural engineers Curtins and EDPI for M&E services, with sub-contractors William Bailey and Electract providing mechanical and electrical services for Henry Brothers. Henry Brothers Construction is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit-out. In partnership with clients, it has a proven track record in education, defence, accommodation, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors. For more information, visit www.henrybrothers.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Yorkshire Water signs agreement to turn biogas into fuel for homes, industry and vehicles

Yorkshire Water signs agreement to turn biogas into fuel for homes, industry and vehicles

Yorkshire Water has signed 15-year agreements with SGN Commercial Services and Centrica Energy Trading that will see biomethane gas to grid plants introduced at its Knostrop and Blackburn Meadows wastewater treatment works. Biogas is produced as a by-product of Yorkshire Water’s sewage wastewater treatment processes and can be upgraded to separate methane from the other component gases. This upgraded biogas is called ‘biomethane’ or ‘renewable natural gas’. As part of the deal, biomethane gas to grid plants will be designed, developed and operated at the two sites. The biomethane will then be injected into the local gas network via underground pipelines and used as a renewable fuel, either in vehicles, homes or industry. Once operational, the plants shall produce roughly 125GWh of biomethane annually, enough to heat more than 10,000 homes. Tom Hall, head of bioresources at Yorkshire Water, said: “We’re excited to be working alongside SGN Commercial Services and Centrica Energy Trading to make best use of the biogas Yorkshire Water produces through sewage treatment. “We already benefit from biogas-fuelled renewable energy generation, but this project demonstrates our commitment to using markets to improve our operational efficiency, reduce customer bills and facilitate carbon emissions reductions in the wider economy.” It is hoped the biomethane gas to grid plants will be operational at Knostrop and Blackburn Meadows in early 2025. SGN’s business development director Marcus Hunt said: “SGN is committed to delivering a greener gas grid and continuing to be at the forefront of providing heat to UK homes and businesses. “We’re delighted to announce this partnership with Yorkshire Water – it adds to our ambition to increase biomethane injection into the gas network to provide local customers with green gas and support decarbonisation plans.” Kristian Gjerløv-Juel, director for renewable energy trading and optimisation at Centrica Energy Trading commented: “This agreement marks an important milestone for Centrica’s biomethane activities in the UK. Having recently expanded our capabilities to handle trading, nomination, and transportation of green gas in the UK market, we’re working to accelerate biomethane production across Europe and using our capabilities to help businesses deliver on their green procurement strategies and reduce emissions.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Groundforce Shorco delivers support for second Tideway ATU

Groundforce Shorco delivers support for second Tideway ATU

A complex shoring solution supplied by Groundforce Shorco for another Tideway excavation. Groundforce Shorco has provided specialist equipment to support a second Air Treatment Unit (ATU) excavation on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, London’s Super Sewer project. The project requires a number of ATUs to be installed along the route of the 25km tunnel, to treat exhausted air from the super-sewer. Last year, Groundforce provided Costain, Vinci Construction Grands Projects and Bachy Soletanche Joint Venture on the Eastern section with sheet piles and a range of medium and heavy-duty bracing frames for the ATU excavation in the Deptford Church Street site. Now, Groundforce Shorco is supporting another Tideway ATU excavation, this time at their Greenwich Pumping Station site. This ATU excavation is especially challenging as it is in a very confined location, bounded on one side by Greenwich Pumping Station, a listed building, and on an adjacent side by an acoustic enclosure used by the JV to receive precast concrete tunnel sections for the Greenwich connection tunnel. “Although the ATU is only about 8m x 8m in plan, a sheet piled structure of 13m x 15m was designed to enable adjacent ventilation pipework and ducting to be installed simultaneously,” says Civils Senior Engineer Andrew Bellamy. “Stringent limits on the deflection of the sheet were set due to the proximity of the excavation to the acoustic enclosure foundations, which includes a gantry crane, working continuously to supply the secondary lining works. The excavation was sheet piled on three sides, the fourth being the Grade 2 listed Thames Water pumping station.” Access to the acoustic enclosure needed to be maintained throughout the works, adding further restrictions to the already confined working area. The solution was to create a chamfer to one corner of the 14m x 13m x 5m deep excavation. This chamfer allowed articulated lorries to continue delivering materials. “Due to the orientation of the site access gate it was physically impossible to move the vehicle route away from the ATU and without the chamfered corner vehicle access would have been completely impossible for HGVs,” says Mr Bellamy. “There are two excavators on site, including one 45-tonner, and three lorry deliveries per shift bringing tunnel segments for the tunnel boring machine which meant that our design had to accommodate an increased surcharge of 15kN/m2,” explains Groundforce Shorco Area Manager Arpad Nagy. The excavation is lined with 6m-long GU13N steel sheet piles and braced with three levels of Groundforce’s hydraulic Mega Brace frames. Four MP150 modular hydraulic props were installed as knee-braces (ie spanning the corners of the excavation) at all three levels within the excavation – a total of 12 props. The MP150s are attached to brackets welded to the waling beams. “These act as shear-stoppers to prevent the props sliding along the beams,” explains Arpad. One side of the excavation runs along the top of the pumping station’s 10m-deep foundations. “The JV had to drill into the foundation of the Grade 2 listed Thames Water pumping station in order to facilitate the installation of gallows brackets required to support the temporary frames,” explains Arpad. The support structure is designed to limit deflections in the sheet piles to within 10mm. Designing the support system was complicated by the need to chamfer the corner of the excavation, says Arpad: “Once you lose that corner you need to recalculate the loadings and reposition the knee braces.” With the bracing installed, the 800mm-thick base slab was cast. When this had reached full strength, the two bottom levels of bracing could be removed to allow formwork to be assembled for the concrete wall lining. The top level of bracing is due to be removed when the lining walls have reached 1m below ground level. Despite the complexity of the job, design and installation of the support system has gone very smoothly. “Groundforce have served us well on the ATU package, engaging at the design stage, attending site to deliver toolbox talks on the EMV, and generally with how the works were progressing,” says Mr Bellamy. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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MC Construction begins work on Multi-Million Pound School Extension

MC Construction begins work on Multi-Million Pound School Extension

Work has begun on a multimillion-poundextension at a school in Cheshire to create additional places. The scheme being undertaken by Salford-based MC Construction at Springfield School in Crewe will help address an urgent need for extra provision in the area for children with complex needs. The project involves building a wrap-around extension to the school’s existing sports pavilion to create eight new classrooms, ancillary spaces including calm rooms, a sensory room and a therapy room, new hygiene suites and toilets, as well as extending and remodelling existing kitchen facilities. Springfield is rated as outstanding by Ofsted and was named 2022 School of the Year in the National Schools Awards. It caters for pupils aged from four to 19 with severe learning difficulties and complex needs, including autism. Cheshire East Council’s southern planning committee unanimously backed the extension scheme to alleviate the shortfall in places at the school. Demand for specialist school provision is at an all-time high in the area. The new block is scheduled to be ready for use in September 2024. Russ Forshaw, managing director of MC Construction, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Springfield School and to be once again partnering with Cheshire East Council. “We have a strong track record of delivering education projects across the region, and the construction of the new teaching block will be our largest to date. “This is a significant and important scheme which will greatly enhance provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities in the local authority area. “Our team has proven experience in delivering major projects in sensitive environments and we’re looking forward to delivering a new facility of the highest quality.” The contract was procured through the North West Construction Hub framework. The architect for the scheme is Halliday Meecham and the quantity surveyor is Currie & Brown. Other professionals involved in the project include construction design and management adviser David Trowler Associates, mechanical, electrical and plumbing consultancy Davies Partnership and structural engineer Sutcliffe. Lisa Hodgkison, headteacher at Springfield School, said: “We are delighted to have MC Construction working alongside us to build this much-needed expansion for Springfield. “They have made a fantastic start and are extremely keen to work with us to ensure our school day is unaffected. They will also be educating our young people on each stage of the build project, to keep them involved in the process. “The expansion will enable us to provide education and support for more children and families within our immediate locality, where we know there is such great demand for specialist places.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Wigan based commercial interior design & fit out company, Truline celebrates 35 years and a record increase in year-on-year sales

Truline Redesigns for a New Era Following Record Year Of Sales in 35 Years Of Business

Wigan based commercial interior design & fit out company, Truline celebrates 35 years and a record increase in year-on-year sales with a restructure to reposition within the market. Truline saw a sales increase of 35% year on year and so in its 35th year the team decided to update the business to branch out into new sectors and build on existing strong client relationships. Following an internal restructure of the business, Truline recruited an interior design team to provide a full design and build service. This team is headed up by Martha Lorains who was recruited to lead change within the team and secure more design-led schemes. Recent design-focussed projects include education & collaboration spaces at Hugh Baird College in Liverpool, redesign and fit out of AJ Barr’s head office. Truline has also provided a full solution with design and fit out at a large Blue Chip manufacturing plant. Truline has also recently completed multi-million-pound education projects which have seen a variety of refurbishments including spaces within Grade II listed buildings. The company as principal contractor has also seen a growth in the Healthcare sector, with projects delivered at Hospitals, Mental Health & Medical centres across the North-West region.   The business has also invested six figures in a rebrand which comprises a new website, logo, colourways, uniform & head office refurbishment  Mike Hyde, MD at Truline, added “Our business is at a pivotal point as we’re seeing the results of the last few years of hard work and relationship building start to truly deliver. It is the perfect time to refresh our look and internal structure to ensure that we’re in the best possible position correctly to drive further growth of the business. The enhanced services provided by our design team has a dual benefit as it offers added value service to support traditional contracts with consultants and also provide a full turn key solution for direct clients. “We are confident in the future of the business as the property industry in Manchester is now growing faster than London and with the fact we have our own interior design team, bespoke joinery workshop and multi skilled in-house operatives means we’re in a strong position to grow and expand into new & existing sectors.” Martha Lorains, head of design and business relationships, added: “It’s a hugely exciting time to join Truline. The team already has a reputation for delivering high quality construction and fit out services and we want this to extend into offering high quality, bespoke design. I directed the rebrand of the business to feel more design-led and move forward into a broader service offering for clients.” Truline is a leading commercial interior design and construction provider that employs over 50 people in Wigan and is a living wage employer. For more information, please visit https://truline-cis.co.uk/

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Production of HS2 tunnel segments begins at new STRABAG facility in Hartlepool

Production of HS2 tunnel segments begins at new STRABAG facility in Hartlepool

Yesterday the production of over 83,000 concrete tunnel segments for HS2 has begun at a new facility at Hartlepool docks. STRABAG were awarded the contract to manufacture the segments in October 2021 and chose Hartlepool as the location for their new production site. Located in a unit at Hartlepool Dock which was previously used for the fabrication of oil rigs, the new facility has been fitted out with a state of the art automated segment carousel and reinforcement hall. Robots controlled by telemetry have been installed to produce the high quality reinforcement cages required for each segment. The location boasts excellent transportation links, both by road and sea, and the STRABAG team have brought the rail head adjacent to the site back into use, reinstating rail connections. Over 100 jobs have been created at the Hartlepool facility, including six new apprenticeships and a number of formerly unemployed people recruited from the local area. STRABAG are also utilising the local supply chain, sourcing aggregate from local quarries and using UK recycled steel. Over 83,000 precast tunnel segments will be produced for HS2 in order to construct the  Northolt tunnel east and Euston tunnel.  They will be used to construct 3.4miles of twin bored tunnel for the Northolt tunnel East, and 5miles of twin bored tunnel for the Euston tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston. Each ring has an 8.8m outside diameter, is 35 centimetres thick and weighs seven tonnes. The Hartlepool facility will be used to produce HS2 tunnel segments for around three years but the investment from STRABAG in the site is part of a long term UK investment strategy. Ruth Todd CBE, HS2’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “HS2 is already bringing benefits to the UK economy, creating jobs around the country as part of the construction and manufacturing required for HS2. STRABAG’s choice of location in Hartlepool for its new facility demonstrates a commitment to bringing new job and training opportunities to the North East, and the HS2 project provides a great pipeline of work. “Over 3,000 UK based businesses are already working on the project, with over 28,500 jobs directly supported, with many more through the supply chain. As more phases of the HS2 programme begin, there will be many more opportunities for businesses across the UK to get involved in this once-in-a-generation mega-project.” Hartlepool MP, Jill Mortimer, said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic to be back at STRABAG and in two years seeing how much they have achieved. We were talking about jobs and investment then and now it is here. It’s £50million of investment and 100 jobs, not just for HS2 but beyond, for 50 or 60 years building tunnels across the nation. We should be really proud that Hartlepool is part of the HS2 project because that is something that is going to bring benefits across the country.” Robotics will be used by the STRABAG team at the facility and a state-of-the-art automated segment carousel will ensure shorter turnaround times and better quality in production. The automation used in creating the steel reinforcement cages reduces wastage to negligible volumes and operates with energy efficiency levels significantly better than traditional methods. Andy Dixon, MD for STRABAG UK, said: “This is an extremely exciting day for STRABAG’s UK operations. Our new factory in Hartlepool allows us to manufacture products for HS2 in the North East of England by giving new life to a vacant site and bringing over 100 new skilled jobs to the area. The increased use of automation enhances production efficiency, creates a safer environment for our staff as well as creating new technology related job opportunities. “In addition, having direct access to the rail network means that we can take a significant number of lorries off of UK roads. This creates a more sustainable solution in the way that we transport tunnel segment rings to the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) building the London tunnels for HS2, resulting in a reduction in our carbon footprint.” 96 concrete segments rings will be produced each day at the site, with teams of 30 working in shifts across 24 hours, seven days per week. HS2’s Main Works Civils Contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV), are constructing HS2’s London tunnels. The segments will be transported by rail to HS2’s London logistics hub, part of HS2’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions in construction.. Starting in the summer, a 20 carriage train will depart from the site each day over six days, increasing to 2 per day as production increases. From the Logistics Hub, the segments will be transported by an electric Multi-Service Vehicle (MSV) to the neighbouring construction sites and transferred on to the four giant Tunnel Boring Machines that will be constructing these tunnels. James Richardson, Managing Director of SCS JV, said: “We are proud to be able to support the development of this state-of-the-art industrial facility, ensuring jobs and economic growth are secured for the future in the Hartlepool area.“The tunnel segments manufactured here in Hartlepool will be transported by rail to our tunnel boring machines, forming the high-speed tunnels in the heart of London. By using rail instead of road to move over 83,000 segments, we avoid over 56,000 lorry journeys and reduce CO2 emissions by 76 percent. At all stages of the manufacturing, transportation and installation of these tunnel segments, we will ensure the building of a cleaner, greener railway and unlocking the social benefits HS2 can bring across the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Barbican Art Centre starts £25 million upgrade

Barbican Art Centre starts £25 million upgrade

The first phase of the Barbican Renewal Programme is set to get underway with £25 million in funding announced by the City of London Corporation. The funding was approved by the City Corporation’s Policy and Resources Committee to develop elements of a long-term masterplan, undertake further consultation, and deliver early systems and infrastructure work to boost the arts centre’s operational and environmental performance over the next two years. The Renewal Programme will transform underused spaces within the centre for new creative use, whilst also investing in its existing venues and public spaces, and improving the welcome, wayfinding and technical capabilities at the site. It comes after the City Corporation launched its Destination City programme to build a seven-day-a-week leisure destination for UK and international visitors, workers, and residents. Recognised globally as an icon of Brutalist style, the Barbican Centre is one of the UK’s greatest post-war buildings, attracting almost two million visitors annually. It showcases the most exciting performers and artists in music, theatre, dance, the visual arts, and cinema, as well as supporting emerging talent, shaping opportunities that will accelerate the next generation of creatives. The City Corporation is the Barbican Centre’s founder and principal funder. The overarching vision for the Barbican Renewal Programme is to care for and invest in the Barbican Centre building, celebrating its radical vision, and design heritage, while responding to the creative opportunities and challenges of the future. Major improvements will be made to the building’s environmental performance under the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, which commits it to achieving net zero carbon status in its own operations by 2027. The project will sensitively preserve the complex, respecting its Grade II listed status, and the original architectural vision of the arts centre, which is now more than 40 years old. Since the appointment of an award-winning design team in 2022 – led by Allies and Morrison, Asif Khan Studio and Buro Happold – the Barbican Renewal Programme team has been consulting widely to understand what audiences, artists, local communities, and the wider public want from the scheme. City Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said: “A world-renowned arts and learning organisation, the Barbican Centre showcases the most exciting performers and artists from around the world. “It is a cultural cornerstone of our Destination City programme, enhancing our already unrivalled arts and culture offer, and elevating our attractiveness as a global visitor destination.” Chair of the City Corporation’s Barbican Centre Board Tom Sleigh said: “The Barbican is creatively buzzing and enthralling audiences as it contributes to the cultural and economic life of the City, the capital and beyond. “This initial investment, as part of the larger Renewal project, will start to reshape the arts centre to enable it to continue to deliver unforgettable experiences to millions. “The Board recognises the need to care for this world-famous listed asset, and sympathetically intervene in the built environment, making it more open, inclusive and sustainable.” Claire Spencer, Chief Executive Officer at the Barbican Centre said: “We are delighted with this vote of confidence in the Barbican Renewal Programme from the City Corporation. Our role is to spark creative possibilities and transformation for artists, audiences, and communities – to inspire, connect and provoke debate. Fundamental to this is the renewal of our brilliant Barbican building. “We now have a great opportunity to conserve the extraordinary architectural heritage of the Barbican, while reconsidering what an arts centre can and should be in the twenty-first century, and making sure we are open and welcoming to all. I am looking forward to continuing to work with our accomplished design team, current and future users of our building, and the community to address the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future.” The Barbican Renewal Programme will ensure that the Barbican Centre maintains its status as London’s creative catalyst for arts, curiosity and enterprise – an internationally significant cultural and events venue rooted in its community. Following the £25 million funding from the City Corporation the Barbican Centre will be seeking a range of additional funding sources for subsequent phases of the programme. The City Corporation is the fourth largest funder of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £130m every year. The organisation manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Art Gallery, London Metropolitan Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of London. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Construction begins on 76 Southbank development

Construction begins on 76 Southbank development

Stanhope has announced the launch of construction work on the transformation and extension of 76 Southbank, adjacent to the National Theatre, to create a premier, sustainable office space. Multiplex has been appointed as main contractor for the 18 month construction contract. The historic Grade II listed building is being sensitively remodelled and refurbished, with 80% of the iconic building’s existing structure preserved. Designed by AHMM, 76 Southbank will become a noteworthy example of low carbon office design, with a commitment to achieving Net Zero Carbon in both construction and operation. The project’s sustainability credentials are made possible through energy innovation and a focus on retaining the building’s historical significance. The development is targeting BREEAM Outstanding certification and has a NABERS Design Reviewed Target Rating of 5 Stars. It encompasses a circular economy approach, including efforts to maximise off-site fabrication of key building elements such as façade and MEP systems to minimise waste on site, and the procurement of re-used steel. Recognising the importance of wellbeing, the refurbished 76 Southbank will offer flexible office spaces that promote productivity and comfort and help foster collaboration. The development will feature an impressive 50,000 sq. ft of outdoor terraces, providing occupants with panoramic river views, and will incorporate biophilic landscaping, enhancing the connection to nature. It has been designed with a double-height entrance lobby and a striking centrepiece staircase that will serve as a visual focal point. Embracing future-thinking concepts, the project incorporates touchless entry design, prioritising the health and safety of occupants. In addition to its sustainability and wellbeing credentials, 76 Southbank will also contribute significantly to the local economy. The development will provide 300,000 sq ft of much-needed office space, creating 1,200 additional jobs for the community and wider London. The well-connected building is just a short walk away from Waterloo station, while nearby Blackfriars and Charing Cross stations provide excellent transport links to Greater London and the Home Counties. Global alternative asset manager Cheyne Capital Real Estate provided the financing for the project. Leading real estate agencies CBRE and JLL have been appointed as the agents for 76 Southbank. The project is set to complete in Q4 2024. Nick Jarman, Project Director at Stanhope said: “This project represents a significant milestone in our commitment to transforming historic buildings into vibrant, sustainable spaces that promote innovation and wellbeing. With the expertise of Multiplex and our shared vision, we are confident that 76 Southbank will become a premier office destination, showcasing the perfect blend of heritage and contemporary design.” Matt Price, Project Director at Multiplex said: “We are extremely proud to be partnering with Stanhope to deliver the extension and refurbishment of this iconic project on London’s Southbank. Having worked closely with the development team throughout the pre-construction and demolition stages of the project, we’ve now taken over management of the site, marking a significant milestone in the construction journey, ahead of the existing structure going back up and superstructure works commencing.” Filippo Alessandria at Cheyne Capital Real Estate concluded: “This is a landmark project and a rare opportunity to redevelop such a historic building in Central London. We were impressed by the project team’s emphasis on sustainability and are proud to help deliver this high quality, BREEAM Outstanding office in the heart of Southbank.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Government approves staircase call in huge win for fire safety standards

Government approves staircase call in huge win for fire safety standards

Yesterday, Monday 24 July 2023, the Government confirmed that they will adopt an 18-metre height threshold for second staircases in all new residential buildings.   In a huge win for RIBA’s cross-sector campaign on this issue, the Government noted that the new fire safety measure comes in response to expert bodies’ united calls.   Since March, a RIBA-led coalition spanning the built environment, fire safety and disability rights groups have been strongly advocating an 18-metre threshold. RIBA and its Expert Advisory Group have been calling for second staircases in new residential buildings for a long time.  RIBA President Simon Allford said:  “This is a significant moment. Over six years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it is hugely positive and reassuring to see the Government listening to the united call of experts on fire safety, bringing greater coherence and certainty for industry.   Mandating second staircases in new homes over 18 metres is a vital step towards a safer built environment for all. We are pleased to have played our part in this.”   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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