Manchester City Council has appointed a team led by LDA Design to develop plans to create a fantastic city area centred around Piccadilly Gardens. The LDA Design-led team was selected in an international competition based on initial concept designs. The other teams on the shortlist were led by West8, Planit-IE, and Studio
The Real Estate Data Foundation is a not-for-profit initiative bringing together the whole sector around the topic of data and to raise data ethics up the agenda and we are delighted that The Property Ombudsman is supporting this collaborative alliance. But what is ‘data ethics’, why should you care and
Millions of UK landlords will be adversely affected by proposed reforms designed to protect tenants against eviction from rental properties, a leading solicitor warns. The Renters Reform Bill will abolish the Section 21 notice which allows a landlord to evict tenants at the end of a fixed term without good
Siderise has launched the first in the series of its new Technical Deep Dives— short free e-learning modules designed to help construction professionals get to grips with key areas of passive fire protection and noise control in the built environment. Edition 1 explores the challenges imposed upon perimeter firestops
A memorable topping-out ceremony was held yesterday, Tuesday 1 August, to celebrate the £55 million Senior Living Village in Flitwick, as the independent living apartment blocks reached its highest point. The event brought together a cheerful crowd on the roof, including Executive Member Cllr. Mark Smith who inaugurated the planting
Barhale has been appointed by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to its framework agreement for the supply of diversionary utilities works. The civil engineering and infrastructure specialist secured its place on the framework under Lot 2, Water-clean and Waste Infrastructure, of the West Midlands Metro Framework agreement for the Provision
Faithful+Gould (member of the SNC-Lavalin Group), is working in partnership with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), to launch a first-of-its-kind national decarbonisation programme – to include organisations from across the emergency services sector. The world-leading project and programme management consultancy will become the key team to lead on the
Ecocem, Europe’s leading independent provider of low carbon cement technology solutions for the cement and construction industries, has partnered with the UK’s largest and busiest airport to trial the applicability of novel lower carbon concretes at the airport, aiming to reduce embodied carbon compared to conventional mixes. In 2019, Heathrow
NIBE Energy Systems is delighted to have contributed to the opening of a new mobile heat pump facility as part of a collaborative effort to unlock essential training opportunities in Scotland, with a particular focus on addressing training gaps in remote and rural areas where there isn’t college training provision.
Network Space has secured planning permission for a 128,000 sq. ft warehouse, incorporating headquarter style office space, at Estuary Commerce Park in Speke. Network Space submitted a planning application towards the end of last year for the development on a site that was formerly the home of the first Liverpool
Manchester City Council has appointed a team led by LDA Design to develop plans to create a fantastic city area centred around Piccadilly Gardens. The LDA Design-led team was selected in an international competition based on initial concept designs. The other teams on the shortlist were led by West8, Planit-IE, and Studio Egret West. Next steps include the production of detailed designs, which will be shaped by the team and the people of Manchester ahead of a full planning application to be submitted next year. Working alongside LDA Design will be Arup, United Creatives, artist Nayan Kulkarni, CPTED UK, The Liminal Space, Authentic Futures and Gardiner & Theobald. Piccadilly Gardens is a historic part of the city, and thousands pass through every day as they make their way to and from Manchester’s main public transport interchange. The competition brief sought ideas for making better use of this prominent city space, creating attractive, high-quality public realm and a place where families can enjoy spending time. Piccadilly Gardens is one of the city centre’s only green spaces and the brief recognised its importance to the people of Manchester. It called for planting to encourage biodiversity and improve air quality. The overall aim is to create a special, valued, flexible place with a strong sense of identity, and one that is fully accessible and designed to promote safety with well-lit and clear sightlines. The judging panel found that LDA Design’s submission embraced and met the brief and praised elements including improved children’s play facilities and links to London Road. Mark Graham, a director at LDA Design and Manchester studio lead, said: “We’re based in the city’s Northern Quarter, and our team uses Piccadilly Gardens every day, so we take great pride in having a role in creating a new future for the space. “The city deserves a beautiful public space that showcases all that is great about Manchester and brings the city together. We want the Gardens to feel strongly Mancunian, in a very special way that delivers a lasting legacy. We can’t wait to work with the community to shape our ideas and hear what people think.” The 10-acre site covered by the competition also includes Mosley Street, Parker Street, the section of Portland Street which runs alongside Piccadilly Gardens and the section of Piccadilly which borders the Gardens. The design will retain the existing listed monuments and statues, and tramlines and infrastructure as well as the existing Pavilion structure. Manchester City Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “People have strong views about Piccadilly Gardens and serious work is continuing to realise its potential as an outstanding, welcoming public space – somewhere people want to linger, not just pass through. Today is about appointing the experts who will help produce a plan that will take the views of Mancunians very much into account.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Real Estate Data Foundation is a not-for-profit initiative bringing together the whole sector around the topic of data and to raise data ethics up the agenda and we are delighted that The Property Ombudsman is supporting this collaborative alliance. But what is ‘data ethics’, why should you care and what should you do about it? What is data ethics Ethics is important in all corners of real estate, but as the volume of data that we collect and use grows, it is important to make sure that we apply ethical thinking to this. Having the technology to collect data and being allowed to under law is not enough – we need to consider whether we should be collecting and using the data. Ethics is all about asking ‘should we?’ If buildings of the future are about the user’s happiness, health or productivity we can collect huge amounts of data on all of this – but should we? Where does the risk outweigh the benefit? Before COVID, the idea of having your temperature taken to assess your health to be allowed to enter a building seemed inconceivable, yet for a while it became the norm. At what point should we stop collecting and using this data? A more extreme example may be the decision about placing cameras inside buildings. This can allow all sorts of data to be collected and used to improve the experience for the resident, but there is a high risk that residents will resist it – and complain about it, as happened recently when North Ayrshire Council used Facial Recognition Technology in its school canteens. But what if the cameras are used to assist the elderly to continue living on their own by providing an automatic alert system for any falls or health problems? As long as data was suitably anonymised and secure and residents were fully aware of what was being collected and why, then this may feel like a more acceptable use case. Whatever your views on the examples above, we can see that the ethical use of data is not black and white which is why the real estate sector needs to be on the front foot. Why it matters Data ethics in real estate matters for 3 reasons: What to do about it The ethical use of data is complex and subjective, but the good news is that it is easy to take significant steps towards making sure that you are using data in an ethical way. The RED Foundation has developed 6 data ethical principles that we ask both people and companies to sign up to. Sign up to these today and build them into any decisions you make relating to data and you are well on the road to addressing it. For those who wish to take a step further, we have published a Data Ethics Playbook which builds on these principles and provides practical guidance on how to build data ethics into your thinking. Written on behalf of the RED Foundation by: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Millions of UK landlords will be adversely affected by proposed reforms designed to protect tenants against eviction from rental properties, a leading solicitor warns. The Renters Reform Bill will abolish the Section 21 notice which allows a landlord to evict tenants at the end of a fixed term without good reason. The changes to the law – designed to protect the UK’s 11 million tenants and provide them with safer, fairer and higher quality homes – will bring in greater restrictions on landlords whose reasons for wanting to evict their tenants do not meet a certain criteria. The Bill is currently going through Parliament and is expected to become law next year. Kristy Ainge is Solicitor-Advocate in the Litigation Team at Coventry and Warwickshire based Brindley Twist Tafft & James (BTTJ). She said the new laws were designed to crack down on no-fault evictions. “The main change is that a landlord cannot ask a tenant to leave if, for example, they want to move a friend into their property, or if for any reason they just don’t like them,” Kristy said. “The only way they can evict their tenants who are “not at fault”, is if they want to live there themselves, or move an immediate family member in, or if they want to sell the property. Even then, it will not be a quick process, because, if a landlord wishes to move into the property themselves, they cannot serve notice within the first 6 months of the tenancy. The changes will also allow tenancies to roll month by month meaning landlords who previously were entitled to six or 12 months’ tenancies will now be periodic and determined by the frequency that rent is paid. This gives tenants much more flexibility and removes the security for landlords knowing they have a tenant in situ for 6/12 months. The reforms will give more rights to tenants who want to keep pets too. Under current legislation a blanket ban on all pets is allowed. Most landlords take advantage of the ban for fear of potential damage caused by the animals to the property. Under new proposals, still to be discussed, a tenant has the right to request to keep a pet and the landlord will have no right to refuse the request without good reason. However, they may ask their tenant to cover pet insurance and home insurance to cover any damage. Tenants who fall behind with the rent or who are causing anti-social behaviour are not protected by the laws and may still be evicted by their landlord in the usual way under the section 8 notice regime. Kristy said: “The new reforms will give tenants more protection but restricts what landlords can do with their own properties. “There are expected to be some exceptions such as private student lets, though this is yet to be confirmed.” For further advice contact BTTJ at https://www.bttj.com/contact-us/
Siderise has launched the first in the series of its new Technical Deep Dives— short free e-learning modules designed to help construction professionals get to grips with key areas of passive fire protection and noise control in the built environment. Edition 1 explores the challenges imposed upon perimeter firestops resulting from curtain wall façade and building movement, and the consequential performance requirements for providing effective compartmentation. This includes examining the test standards to look out for when specifying these products. With one set to be released bi-monthly, these Technical Deep Dives break down key application issues in an easy-to-understand and visual way. They have been created to share the knowledge, experience and insights of the manufacturer’s Technical Experts who have worked on all kinds of projects all over the world helping designers and contractors to understand how they can deliver best practice passive fire safety and noise control. Explore the first edition: https://knowledge.siderise.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A memorable topping-out ceremony was held yesterday, Tuesday 1 August, to celebrate the £55 million Senior Living Village in Flitwick, as the independent living apartment blocks reached its highest point. The event brought together a cheerful crowd on the roof, including Executive Member Cllr. Mark Smith who inaugurated the planting of the rooftop gardens. These gardens are not only expected to provide an oasis of peace for residents but also offer environmental benefits. This topping-out ceremony signifies a significant construction milestone for the low energy development, which includes a 72-bed care home, 88 independent living apartments, and an 8-bed short stay unit, all set to open in Summer 2024. Emphasising its commitment to sustainability and community welfare, our construction partner Farrans is also providing local social value support, including learning opportunities in schools and various employment opportunities for the local community. Designed to meet Passivhaus standards, the development aims to offer older people an opportunity to maintain an independent lifestyle while providing a ‘home-for-life’ with varying levels of care and support when needed. The Passivhaus design ensures optimal internal conditions, a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment, while significantly reducing energy, emissions and operational costs. After the ceremony, guests were joined by several residents from Ferndale Care Home and enjoyed a post-ceremony tea at the Rufus Centre. Cllr. Steven Watkins, Executive Member for Business, Housing, and Public Affairs said, “This was a fantastic day to reflect on everything that has been achieved so far and to celebrate the significant social impact this project is already having on the local community.” Cllr. Mark Smith, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, emphasised the health benefits of the rooftop gardens, stating, “Gardens bring significant health benefits, and the rooftop gardens will provide an oasis of peace and calm with space for people to come together and an opportunity for those who enjoy gardening to get involved.” “The Senior Living Village will not only offer first-class care and accommodation in the care home but also provide independent living apartments, allowing residents to enjoy an active and independent lifestyle with excellent facilities right on their doorstep.” Cathal Montague, Regional Director for Farrans Construction, said: “The topping out of Steppingley Road Senior Living Village marks another stage in the progress of this important project for Central Bedfordshire Council. This building is ahead of the curve in its drive for Passivhaus accreditation and it will be an example of what can be delivered in this new frontier in sustainable care homes. “We strive to have a positive lasting impact in the communities that we work and since starting on site we have had 13 apprentices join our team, we have had over 280 local people working on our site and we have created nine full time positions for previously long term unemployed. We have partnered with local schools to deliver workshops and site visits, participated in litter picks and volunteered at community events. “Our social value work will continue until the end of the project and coming up we have four community biodiversity workshops scheduled for August, several volunteering and litter picking sessions in the diary and teacher insight days to provide more information about career and work experience opportunities within the construction industry.” To visualise the care home, its community garden and the independent living accommodation with roof garden, you can view the CGI fly-through video showing a vision of the building. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barhale has been appointed by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to its framework agreement for the supply of diversionary utilities works. The civil engineering and infrastructure specialist secured its place on the framework under Lot 2, Water-clean and Waste Infrastructure, of the West Midlands Metro Framework agreement for the Provision of Diversionary Utilities Works for Metro Extensions and any Major Highways Schemes. Barhale will be one of four suppliers awarded to Lot 2 of the framework for advanced utility diversions across the WMCA. The others are J McCann, M&A Doocey Civil Engineering Ltd and IES Utilities Group. James Ingamells, regional director for Barhale, believes that the award reflects the strength of the business’s track-record and deep connections across the West Midlands. “We are very pleased to secure our place on the WMCA framework,” he said. “We are very proud of our roots in the region and our forty-plus years heritage operating from our headquarters in Walsall. “In that time, we have had the opportunity to work with many of the region’s statutory undertakers, key stakeholder groups, alliance project teams, suppliers, and sub-contractors. “We enjoy an ongoing relationship with the major water companies, Severn Trent and South Staffs, and have been involved with previous phases of the Midlands Metro Alliance, the team responsible for delivering the region transformative new transit system. “Having recently completed a mineshaft cap at Sandwell and the infilling of Wolverhampton’s Craddock Street Subway, we are also looking forward to working closely with more of the West Midlands’ local authorities. “Most importantly, the award will give us the opportunity to extend our engagement with the community both in terms of employment through Barhale and our construction supplies to fabrication business BCS and also in terms of our community outreach and engagement work.” The agreement runs for four years with an option to extend to a maximum of a further four years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Faithful+Gould (member of the SNC-Lavalin Group), is working in partnership with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), to launch a first-of-its-kind national decarbonisation programme – to include organisations from across the emergency services sector. The world-leading project and programme management consultancy will become the key team to lead on the decarbonisation of the blue-light estate, by reducing energy consumption, changing user behaviours and improving sustainability measures. The programme has already seen some major successes, with several organisations within the programme securing funding through Salix’s Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF); the majority of the funding applications led, authored and co-authored by Faithful+Gould. Daniel Jermin, Regional Director and programme lead for Faithful+Gould, said: “The world experienced its hottest day ever recorded in July 2023, breaking the global average temperature record previously set in 2016. It comes as a timely reminder, if one is needed, that the time for taking action on climate change is now. “As such, we are extremely proud to have supported the design of this decarbonisation programme’s operating model and to lead the project in collaboration with NFCC, Fire and Rescue Services and wider blue-light organisations. “We are able to deliver a programme of real change, based on our wide experience of working with clients to decarbonise buildings at estate level, in order to make carbon visible, change behaviours and accelerate the journey towards Net Zero targets.” Elli Nikolaou, NFCC National Category Lead for FM and Construction, said: “We are making a significant positive impact to decarbonisation by focussing on what is on our doorstep. With buildings responsible for 40% of global carbon emissions, our national decarbonisation programme demonstrates how we can tackle such a global challenge. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which our programme has already demonstrated by partnering with Faithful+Gould under our National Decarbonisation Consultancy Services Contract.” The aim of the appointment is to provide expert advice and guidance, as well as the structure and governance in the planning and delivery of professional consultancy services. The programme will see the provision of services that include Programme Advisory, Programme Management and Sustainability Advisory, structured across these three tiers: Tier 1. Energy data and carbon emissions analysis, decarbonisation planning, feasibility assessments, and modelling of decarbonisation and energy efficiency opportunities; Tier 2. End-to-end consultancy support in the preparation and submission of funding applications; and Tier 3. End-to-end consultancy support in the design and delivery of decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects. The programme sits squarely in what Faithful+Gould strive to do as an organisation, which is directly delivering against the NFCC Procurement Hub’s targets that are aligned to the joint NFCC and Home Office Strategy, as well as the Home Office Fire Priorities. The creation and the success of the programme’s roll-out to date has been built from its mechanical parts, to include: scoping collaborative commercial activities and opportunities, increased commercial capability across the sector and demand and spend aggregation. For more information visit NFCC Programme: NFCC Programme – Home Page (nfcc-procurementhub.org.uk) Read about F+G’s Sustainability Services here: Sustainability – Faithful Gould (fgould.com)
Ecocem, Europe’s leading independent provider of low carbon cement technology solutions for the cement and construction industries, has partnered with the UK’s largest and busiest airport to trial the applicability of novel lower carbon concretes at the airport, aiming to reduce embodied carbon compared to conventional mixes. In 2019, Heathrow commissioned the Building Research Establishment[1] to review construction materials to reduce emissions and as such Ecocem and global building materials supplier Cemex were selected as viable partners to supply a lower-carbon binder. Initially two low carbon solutions will be tested: a Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) equivalent mix containing 50% Ecocem GGBS, and Ecocem Ultra – a lower carbon binder. Following extensive laboratory testing of the resulting concrete, led by Cemex, this week the partners conducted the first on site trial pour under the watch tower. This is part of a phased process to test its strength and durability in the field. Ecocem Ultra will be assessed for use in main airport areas, groundworks and auxiliary purposes with a common goal of both companies to provide viability of low carbon products for everyday concrete applications. Combined, the cement industry (6%) and the aviation industry (2%) produce 8% of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions. With this project Ecocem, Heathrow and Cemex, aim to demonstrate the viability of low carbon products, and tangibly reduce carbon emissions from construction at airports. In order to reach its net zero aviation by targets by 2050, Heathrow is looking to cut at least 45% of on the ground carbon emissions by 2030. Working with Ecocem and Cemex on this project enables Heathrow to continue to lead the charge in advocacy and change on reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector. Demonstrating that its products and technologies can be applied to large scale infrastructure projects isn’t new to Ecocem. At present it is providing low carbon binder for use in concrete on the HS2 project in the UK and for the Metro extension project in Paris, connecting the city to its neighbouring areas. Mark Till, UK National Sales Manager at Ecocem said: “Our technical solutions have long helped large scale infrastructure projects to reduce carbon emissions across Europe. Having the opportunity to partner with Heathrow airport on a project with huge potential in the UK and for the aviation sector, is a testament to the innovation of our products and team. We look forward to working with Heathrow and our other partners on these important trials.” Nigel Milton, Chief of Staff and Carbon at Heathrow said: “Heathrow is once again serving as a testbed for ground-breaking technologies, demonstrating global leadership with regards to sustainable travel. We’re committed to cutting carbon emissions on the ground as well as in the air and we’re delighted to be hosting one of the first airport trials in the world to test lower carbon alternatives. I hope that this trial will help radically transform the built environment at Heathrow in the years to come.” Richard Kershaw, Technical Manager at Cemex said: “Cemex is renowned across the construction industry for its commitment to providing customers with more sustainable concrete solutions. We were the first supplier in the UK to launch a net-zero concrete product, making us ideally situated to support Heathrow with their low carbon concrete trial. We hope this trial will prove successful and demonstrate to the aviation sector the opportunities available to cut emissions during their development projects.”
NIBE Energy Systems is delighted to have contributed to the opening of a new mobile heat pump facility as part of a collaborative effort to unlock essential training opportunities in Scotland, with a particular focus on addressing training gaps in remote and rural areas where there isn’t college training provision. The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Energy Saving Trust, Energy Skills Partnership (ESP), South Lanarkshire College and NIBE Energy Systems, and has been fully funded by the Scottish Government. The facility was officially launched by Mr Graeme Dey, Minister for Higher Education, Further Education and Minister for Veterans at South Lanarkshire College on 2nd August. Hosted by South Lanarkshire College, the BPEC approved training and assessment centre will be a shared resource available to all Scottish colleges. Installers can visit the centre to undergo training and certification on heat pumps, as well as obtain their Water Byelaws/Regulations and Domestic Vented and Unvented Hot Water Storage qualifications. It is designed to provide flexible training opportunities across the country and encourage the industry to gain the skills needed to decarbonise homes and buildings in line with Scotland’s plans to become Net Zero by 2045. The Scottish Government has stated that the availability of an inclusive, diverse and capable supply chain will be key to delivering on their ambition for the decarbonisation of heat in buildings. They estimate that an additional 16,400 jobs will be supported across the economy in 2030 as a result of investment in the deployment of zero emissions heat in new and existing buildings. This initiative will play a key part in achieving these objectives. NIBE Energy Systems is proud to have assisted with the design of the centre and to have provided the facility with some of its latest air source and ground source heat pumps so that installers can gain hands-on-experience with innovative, low carbon heating technologies. Phil Hurley, Managing Director of NIBE Energy Systems said: “We’re so pleased to have been a part of this project. We have made it our mission at NIBE to do as much as we can to empower installers through removing barriers to training and unlocking opportunities. Heat pumps will play a key role in decarbonising homes and buildings in Scotland, and we can’t roll them out without installers. “The Climate Change Committee has outlined that net zero has the potential to create between 135,000 and 725,000 jobs by 2030, but that the availability of workers in the sector must increase to meet the demand for low carbon technology. Flexible training facilities like this will be fundamental in making sure they can access the skills and qualifications they need, and we’re honoured to have provided the facility with NIBE heat pumps so that they can get to grips with the technology as they learn.”
Network Space has secured planning permission for a 128,000 sq. ft warehouse, incorporating headquarter style office space, at Estuary Commerce Park in Speke. Network Space submitted a planning application towards the end of last year for the development on a site that was formerly the home of the first Liverpool Speke Airport which closed in the 80s, it now lies adjacent to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Low carbon energy, sustainability and wellbeing are integral to the design of the unit which will be delivered to BREEAM Excellent standard. To support this, the unit will feature solar panels, electric vehicle charging and staff welfare areas in a high quality landscaped environment (including a net increase of 98 trees on site). Simon Eaton, senior development manager at Network Space, said: “This proposal will make a positive contribution to economic growth and regeneration, attracting inward investment and job creation into Merseyside. It allows for a wide range of uses within contemporary and flexible space. “Just as importantly, we have pushed the sustainability credentials on this scheme, maximising tree planting on site and creating a highly attractive working environment.” The 6.7 acre site is located on the Estuary Commerce Park at Speke, which is approximately six miles to the south of Liverpool city centre and lies alongside Speke Road. The business park is accessed via Speke Boulevard (A561), providing excellent connectivity to the M62, M57 and M56. It is recognised as one of Liverpool City Region’s premier locations for a wide variety of business occupiers which enjoy a low density setting, superb infrastructure and a location at the hub of a new integrated road/rail network. This site is allocated for industrial and business use within the Council’s Local Plan and it is one of the final plots of the employment development at Estuary Business Park, which is already home to a wide range of international businesses. Network Space is the proactive industrial investment and development company behind a number of key North West projects including the Glass Futures development in St Helens and the £45million Broadheath Networkcentre in Altrincham where 206,000 sq ft of prime industrial development is currently being delivered across 25 units. Jon Thorne at B8RE and Darren Hill at CBRE are the appointed letting agents on the scheme. Darren Hill, Director at CBRE, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by Network Space to market this opportunity. Estuary Commerce Park is recognised as one of the most established and sought after locations in the region and with the supply of new build industrial space so constrained, this is really welcome news for the market.” The planning application has been prepared by Spawforths, on behalf of Network Space, and the project team included AEW Architects, RPS, Integra and Hannan Associates. Alan Lamb, director at AEW Architects, said: “We are delighted to see Estuary gain planning approval. Our proposals are an evolution of Network Space’s successful design approach, adapted to respond positively to the prestigious Estuary Business Park context. With a focus on reducing the environmental impact of the development, our in house sustainability team has worked with the client to embed BREEAM from the outset and carry out embodied carbon calculations.”
