An important milestone has been celebrated in the construction of Kingsley Healthcare’s flagship luxury King’s Court Nursing Home in Holt, north Norfolk. Directors of Kingsley and Norfolk contractor R G Carter were joined by staff from both companies for a traditional topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the
The construction of the 420-pupil primary school development at Graven Hill has completed and is being handed over to the Warriner Multi Academy Trust to welcome children from the 11th September 2023. Delivered on a three-acre site and funded by the Graven Hill development, the school was constructed by Kier
Following the completion of groundworks, construction is now underway at Beauchamp Business Park, a new commercial development in Kibworth, Leicestershire. Clowes Developments and its team including IMA Architects, TanRo, Millward Consulting Engineers, Gateley’s Legal and Postins Project Services are now bringing forward the scheme that, when complete, will feature a
Global leaders in life safety manufacturing and design have achieved BOSEC approval for their ESP and Latitude products. BOSEC is the quality benchmark for fire protection in Belgium and is one of Europe’s highest quality marks requiring brands to undergo stringent and lengthy approval process to carry the accreditation. It
NBS launches new early-stage specification library incorporating cost, carbon, and lifecycle indicators provided by BCIS NBS, a leading specification and product information platform for the construction industry, and BCIS, the leading UK provider of building cost information, have announced a new partnership that will help support the industry in its
Factory No. 1, the prestigious redevelopment of the former Imperial Tobacco Company headquarters in Bristol’s vibrant Bedminster district by City & Country, has won the ‘Best Large Development’ category at the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards on Friday 1st September. Now in its 13th year, the First Time Buyer Readers’
Aquarian Cladding Systems, a leading distributor in the UK cladding industry, has announced a significant leadership transition that will mark an exciting new chapter for the company. On September 1, Jazz Rigden, was promoted to the position of Managing Director of the company from her role as Sales Director. Jazz
Developer Regal London have submitted plans for a Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) scheme on ‘Wembley Greenaway’, in the London Borough of Brent. The proposed scheme will open up the railway lands parallel to High Road, Wembley for the first time, and will provide safe and inclusive green space. The proposals
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has published new evidence that shows planners are struggling to prepare for new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements expected to begin later this year. The measures, introduced under the Environment Act, will require local planning authorities to assess and seek mitigation of the
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is reminding passengers traveling along the railway line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York to plan their journeys ahead of time, as they upgrade tracks over weekends in September and October. Over these two months, engineers working on the multi-billion-pound project will excavate ballast (railway stone)
An important milestone has been celebrated in the construction of Kingsley Healthcare’s flagship luxury King’s Court Nursing Home in Holt, north Norfolk. Directors of Kingsley and Norfolk contractor R G Carter were joined by staff from both companies for a traditional topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the roof. Welcoming everyone to the rooftop of the building, in Hempstead Road, R G Carter Joint Managing Director James Carter said: “The provenance of any building is about the people who designed it and the people who built it and that’s why it’s fitting to get everyone together today to mark the building’s watertightness in a traditional beer pouring ceremony.” Praising the collaboration with Kingsley’s design team, he said they were now “well along the journey” to completing the project in time for the care home to open in January. Kingsley’s Chief Investment Officer Muj Malik said: “We are delighted to be working on our first project with R G Carter who bring the same values as a trusted family business in the region. We hope this will be just the beginning of a long and successful relationship with them.” He said King’s Court was Kingsley’s flagship project, realising their vision of developing truly next-generation care homes. The home will provide 66 luxury bedrooms, including larger premium rooms, some with terraces or garden access. Facilities will include a hairdressing and therapy salon, a cinema, a library, a community café and a private dining room. A top team of interior designers will ensure the décor and furnishings of the home match the quality of the building. Two acres of landscaped gardens will include a delightful woodland walk with wheelchair access. As well as providing a much-needed facility for quality nursing, dementia, residential and respite care, King’s Court will also create more than 80 well-paid jobs giving a considerable boost to the local economy. The care home was designed by Kingsley’s Group Design Director Rob Patkai who said: “We are proud to be delivering our vision of a truly next-generation home, built with resident wellbeing in mind. “Its convenient location on the edge of town provides easy access to all parts of north Norfolk.” King’s Court is the 35th care home in the UK opened by Kingsley Healthcare and is one of an exciting pipeline of next generation nursing homes the company is rolling out across the country. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The construction of the 420-pupil primary school development at Graven Hill has completed and is being handed over to the Warriner Multi Academy Trust to welcome children from the 11th September 2023. Delivered on a three-acre site and funded by the Graven Hill development, the school was constructed by Kier on behalf of Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) and Oxfordshire County Council. The building has been designed with enhanced thermal values and high performance materials to the principles of Net Zero Carbon and achieved a BREEAM* Very Good rating. The photovoltaic panels will also provide power to the local grid when the school is not in use. As well as reducing the amount of heat and energy the school will use, the design also maximises natural ventilation in order to deliver a healthy place to learn. Andy Bolas, regional director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: “We are delighted to have delivered a state-of-the-art new primary school for Graven Hill. The school has been designed and built to provide students and teachers with sustainable learning facilities which will serve the community well for decades to come.” Adrian Unitt Operations Director at GHVDC said: “We have overcome huge challenges in the UK construction industry, from significant inflation of costs to access to materials, so it is fantastic that we have succeeded in delivering the primary school prior to the occupation of the 550th home at Graven Hill. “Designed to promote collaboration and flexible learning, the new school will enhance the great sense of community spirit here. With a focus on great architecture, the building has been designed to reduce energy and water consumption, enhance ecology, protect biodiversity and maximise natural ventilation.” The two-form entry school is being run by the Warriner Academy Trust. It provides 12 classrooms, specialist facilities for art, design and technology and more than 13,000 sq. m of pitches, play and multi-use games areas. The early years facility will accommodate a further 90 pupils aged between 2-4 years in three classrooms, with dedicated facilities and play areas. The capacity of the site also enables the school to expand to three-forms of entry in future. Annabel Kay, CEO of the Warriner Multi Academy Trust said: “We are so excited by the opportunity to work closely with members of the Graven Hill community to ensure that the primary school is one that we are all proud of and, most importantly, one where our children can thrive. Being able to develop and establish a culture happens very rarely and we are all determined to make our school the very best that it can be. Both Keir and the GHVDC have worked so hard to deliver the most wonderful school for all of our children and we look forward to welcoming the community through our doors”. Cllr Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property at Oxfordshire County Council said: “I know how much residents in Graven Hill have been looking forward to the opening of their primary school. A school stands at the heart of its community so this marks an important point in the development of Graven Hill. Thank you to the team who have worked so well together to deliver the school at the start of the new academic year. I hope it will be the home of many happy memories for pupils – this year and for many years to come.” Graven Hill remains a hugely popular development. Unique and diverse, it offers a wide range of housing options from self-build and custom build, which can be tailored to your needs, to apartments and affordable homes. Significant amenities planned include a sports pavilion, pitches and allotments. A community centre is also set to be delivered by the local council. GHVDC is also seeking local contractors to tender for its next phase of new homes and apartments. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following the completion of groundworks, construction is now underway at Beauchamp Business Park, a new commercial development in Kibworth, Leicestershire. Clowes Developments and its team including IMA Architects, TanRo, Millward Consulting Engineers, Gateley’s Legal and Postins Project Services are now bringing forward the scheme that, when complete, will feature a series of freehold and leasehold industrial units ranging from 1,270 sq.ft to 10,085 sq.ft. Beauchamp Business Park is situated on an 11-acre site located on the outskirts of Kibworth between Leicester and Market Harborough on the A6. Groundworks began at the site in September 2022 following planning permission being granted by Harborough District Council and construction is now underway, with completion expected in the summer of 2024. Clowes have instructed main contractor TanRo to develop the site along with IMA Architects who are providing all architectural services and acting as Principal Designer on the scheme. Agents Phillips Sutton and TDBRE have been working closely with interested parties during the planning process which has seen Beauchamp Business Park receive unprecedented interest from day one. James Richards, Director at Clowes Developments comments: “The demand for these units has been exceptional which shows the importance of putting the infrastructure in place to support growing local businesses. The majority of interested parties are all local businesses which is fantastic to see, and we are sure that Beauchamp Business Park will develop into a thriving commercial hub, creating employment opportunities for Kibworth and the surrounding areas.” Ben Hall, Director at IMA Architects said: “It is great to see works re-commence on site and to see our plans come into reality. We are proud to again be working with Clowes Developments to deliver a scheme that will benefit the local economy and I am sure that the units will facilitate the further growth of those companies that will call them their home.” Clowes Developments is one of the UK’s largest and strongest privately-owned property investment and development organisations. Headquartered in Ednaston, Derbyshire, the company are experts in land acquisition and promotion, property development and asset management, with 18,000 consented residential plots and 3,000 acres of development pipeline across the UK. IMA Architects are an award-winning firm of architects based in Blaby, Leicestershire. The firm has completed more than 200 projects nationally and is actively working on 75 large-scale projects across the UK, Ireland and further afield. IMA works across all sectors and with a range of FTSE 100 companies – such as Marks & Spencer – as well as global brands including an international discount supermarket retailer. The company is a proud Community Partner of Leicester City Football Club and a sponsorship partner of both Leicester Tigers RFC and Leicestershire County Cricket Club. Interested parties are invited to contact the developments’ agents, Brodie Faint at Phillips Sutton via bfaint@phillipssutton.co.uk and Jack Brown at TDBRE via Jack@tdbre.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Global leaders in life safety manufacturing and design have achieved BOSEC approval for their ESP and Latitude products. BOSEC is the quality benchmark for fire protection in Belgium and is one of Europe’s highest quality marks requiring brands to undergo stringent and lengthy approval process to carry the accreditation. It covers products for passive prevention and active prevention, as well as organisations who work within the fire industry, such as installers and system designers. Hochiki’s Enhanced System Protocol Range (ESP) and Latitude system are already EN54 pt13 certified, however with this additional certification in place it provides greater choice of fire detection products and systems to choose from for customers based in the Belgium region as well as bordering countries Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Germany. The Hochiki ESP range is one of the most robust platforms on the market, offering a wide selection of features and benefits for some of the most complex scenarios and are Marine approved, SIL Capable and have built in short-circuit isolators. The EN 54 approved range includes a suite of sensors, including a multi-sensor with CO detection, particularly useful for customers who are looking to reduce false alarms, several I/O units for interfacing to other equipment and a selection of audio/visual alarm devices. Hochiki’s networkable Latitude fire control panel, which the ESP range is compatible with, is also BOSEC approved and combines the very latest hardware and software to produce an approved control and indication system. The flexibility of the Latitude platform is such that it can be re-configured to realise many other control and indication applications, with direct integration into intelligent buildings. Previously, Hochiki products achieved BOSEC approval through a regional third-party but with this brand new certification, Hochiki Europe can now offer its own complete fire detection system as BOSEC approved. Installers within Belgium can rest assured that they can now specify Hochiki in new projects as well as update any existing fire detection systems and know that Hochiki is now one of the best within their market. Max De Vries, regional manager commented on the BOSEC accreditation “We are very proud to have receive this certification. It recognises the quality and thorough processes we go through to ensure our fire detection devices and systems are of the highest standard. We only work with BOSEC approved installers, so customers in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg and Germany can rest assured that their building is ‘end-to-end safe’”. To find out more about Hochiki’s BOSEC approved ESP Range and Latitude fire safety system please visit: https://web.hochikieurope.com/hochiki-bosec-en Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NBS launches new early-stage specification library incorporating cost, carbon, and lifecycle indicators provided by BCIS NBS, a leading specification and product information platform for the construction industry, and BCIS, the leading UK provider of building cost information, have announced a new partnership that will help support the industry in its drive to net-zero buildings. The partnership will incorporate robust data sets from BCIS into NBS’ specification writing platform, Chorus, providing specifiers with a powerful set of insights, helping them to make design decisions that reflect budget and sustainability aspirations. NBS and BCIS are collaborating to offer a new early-stage specification library, allowing industry professionals to start preparing their specifications at the concept design stage, pre-written clauses, drop-down values, and technical guidance. It will provide a smooth user experience and facilitate consistent sustainability discussions and decisions within project design teams. Commenting on the collaboration, Russell Haworth, NBS’s CEO, says “Our recent research at NBS has shown that specifiers are asking for better, more joined-up building information to help them make informed sustainability decisions at the project outset. “At the moment, there isn’t one company in the industry that can provide designers and specifiers with the comprehensive information they need to build sustainably – that’s why this partnership marks an important milestone, giving specifiers an additional level of insight that previously was just not available.” The partnership will also provide users with relative cost indicators from BCIS, which will allow specifiers to understand the relative financial cost in addition to the environmental cost impact of building elements. Haworth continues, “Architects and other specifiers have also made it clear that they want indicators to help with decision-making on cost and the potential future upkeep of buildings.” “Providing cost and sustainability data will allow for better decisions and enhanced collaboration across the design team, ultimately providing the built environment with the tools to build more sustainability.” James Fiske, BCIS’ CEO, adds “We know how critical decisions are at the start of a project in influencing lifetime cost and carbon emissions. We want to partner with an organisation that could help deliver our data to designers and specifiers and NBS was the perfect fit. “The data we are going to provide through NBS will link with the more detailed data sets available to users of BCIS, allowing all members of the design team to discuss design and specification options on a consistent basis. Together, we can provide a solution to help design teams make informed specification decisions earlier in the design process that support the industry drive to net zero.” NBS, along with sister company Glenigan – both part of Byggfakta Group – is also set to join the Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD) initiative, managed by BCIS. BECD aims to become the official UK repository of lifecycle carbon data for the built environment, providing a reliable and free-to-access platform for carbon estimating, reporting, and benchmarking. Committed to sharing knowledge and data for the good of the industry, the blend of NBS’ detailed product information and Glenigan’s extensive project information, will help BECD in its goal to reduce the UK construction industry’s impact on the environment. 2023 sees NBS celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first specification publication, commemorating half a century of delivering connected construction information. To find out more about its services and expertise click here. To find out more about BCIS, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Factory No. 1, the prestigious redevelopment of the former Imperial Tobacco Company headquarters in Bristol’s vibrant Bedminster district by City & Country, has won the ‘Best Large Development’ category at the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards on Friday 1st September. Now in its 13th year, the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards was created to recognise the efforts made to help aspirational buyers onto the housing ladder. After examining the largest field of entries that the FTB Readers’ Awards has ever seen, the judges and readers felt that the sympathetic factory restoration and conversion by heritage specialist City & Country was the overall winner of the Best Large Development category. Choosing Factory No.1 from among entries by some of Britain’s largest housebuilders, judges were impressed by the scheme’s superb location, high specification and attention to detail. The award was decided by votes from first time buyers themselves – and Factory No. 1 has consistently proved to be extremely popular with that demographic, with 60 per cent of sales so far made by those purchasing their first home. Lynda Clark, CEO of First Time Buyer, said of City & Country’s award win: “Factory No.1 is a fantastic development, and both our judges and readers were in agreement that it was the winner in the Best Development category. Clearly a lot of care and detail has gone into creating a really unique development for first time buyers in Bristol, offering both high quality and value for money. Despite market challenges, homeownership has never been so important to so many, so it is essential that we recognise the hard work undertaken by the industry to help make it possible.” Jennifer Rhodes-Finch, Head of Marketing at City & Country, says: “It is wonderful for the whole team at Factory No.1 to win this national award. Factory No.1 is a very special development of apartments which combines old and new, open space and security. Whether converted or new, the unique apartments here not only have a convenient central location, but also feature high-specification interiors, beautifully landscaped gardens and a range of price points that make it easy for first time buyers to tick all the boxes on their wish list.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aquarian Cladding Systems, a leading distributor in the UK cladding industry, has announced a significant leadership transition that will mark an exciting new chapter for the company. On September 1, Jazz Rigden, was promoted to the position of Managing Director of the company from her role as Sales Director. Jazz joined Aquarian Cladding Systems in 2015 and throughout has played a pivotal role in driving sales growth, fostering customer relationships, and advancing the company’s strategic goals. Her extensive experience, leadership skills, and deep understanding of the cladding industry make her the perfect candidate to lead the company into the future. “I am honoured to take on the role of Managing Director at Aquarian Cladding Systems and eager to build upon the strong foundation laid by my co-directors Paul Richards and Julian Venus, along with the entire team,” said Jazz. “Our commitment to innovation, quality, sustainability and teamwork will remain unwavering as we continue to deliver exceptional products and services to our entire supply chain.” Paul Richards, the founder and current Managing Director of Aquarian Cladding Systems, will transition to the position of CEO of Aquarian Holdings. In his new role, Paul will focus on the broader strategic vision of the company, exploring new opportunities for growth, and overseeing the operations of Aquarian Holdings as a whole. “I am proud of the remarkable journey we’ve embarked on at Aquarian Cladding Systems,” said Paul. “With Jazz’s leadership, I’m confident that the company will continue to thrive and innovate. As CEO of Aquarian Holdings, I look forward to steering the group toward even greater success.” The transition in leadership roles is a testament to Aquarian Cladding Systems’ commitment to nurturing talent from within the organisation and ensuring a seamless progression of leadership. This change positions the company to build on its strengths, drive innovation, and continue to provide the highest quality cladding solutions to clients across the UK. For more information about Aquarian Cladding Systems and its cladding solutions, please visit www.aquariancladding.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer Regal London have submitted plans for a Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) scheme on ‘Wembley Greenaway’, in the London Borough of Brent. The proposed scheme will open up the railway lands parallel to High Road, Wembley for the first time, and will provide safe and inclusive green space. The proposals for Wembley Greenaway comprise 639 student beds across a range of bedroom typologies, including 10% accessible rooms. The development is proposed to be car free, and will include new public realm with greenery, seating and play for use by all and a community studio rentable space. Providing easy access to significant numbers of higher education campuses in London, Wembley Central Underground Station is less than a 10 minute walk from the site, with access to the Overground, Bakerloo and London Northwestern Lines, while the equally close Wembley Stadium Station offers access to the Chiltern Main Line, with regular fast trains to London Marylebone. This is Regal London’s second PBSA development in the borough, and it’s fifth in London following The Society – also on High Road Wembley, Devonshire Place in Southwark (currently in planning) and the proposed new developments on Chalk Farm Road in the London Borough of Camden next to the Roundhouse, and Orchard Wharf opposite the 02 Arena. Subject to successful planning approvals, this takes Regal London’s PBSA portfolio to nearly 3,500 beds across the capital. Paul Eden, co-founder of Regal London commented: “There is clear demand for high quality purpose-built student accommodation in London – well located, with good sustainability credentials and a thoughtful approach to design and wellbeing. We hope to be able to deliver this for High Road, Wembley and to continue working closely with our local neighbours in the area.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has published new evidence that shows planners are struggling to prepare for new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements expected to begin later this year. The measures, introduced under the Environment Act, will require local planning authorities to assess and seek mitigation of the expected biodiversity net gain impact of planning proposals. They are expected to apply to new major applications from November 2023 and all minor applications from April 2024. However, an ongoing survey of our RTPI members found that: We also found public and private sector planners report having extremely low levels of confidence in the practical requirements of BNG, including core aspects of the scheme like ‘identifying BNG receptor sites’, ‘interpreting the robustness of ecological reports and BNG proposals’, ‘using the biodiversity metric’ and ‘negotiating with landowners over site provision’. Commenting on the results, RTPI Chief Executive, Victoria Hills has said: “These new findings show that government is running out of time to prepare local planning authorities to assess biodiversity net gain on major planning applications as expected in November. The RTPI fully support the scheme’s intention to improve our natural environment and we’ll continue to engage with Ministers and officials behind the scenes to urgently clarify the details of new BNG regulations, funding and training. Our research found that 25% of local authority planners have left over the last seven years. Immediate clarity and support will be crucial to the successful implementation of biodiversity net gain and to avoid adding to England’s planning backlog.” In response to government consultations, we’ve previously said that “legislation, guidance and metric can help to achieve [BNG] but must be complemented with proper resourcing for planners, including access to ecological expertise.” The RTPI’s latest survey results, collected between May and August 2023, add to a growing body of evidence that shows planners are concerned about the implementation of this new addition to their workload. Earlier this year, The Planner’s Careers Survey reported that 38% planners expected the ‘introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain requirements’ to be one of the biggest challenges they’ll face this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is reminding passengers traveling along the railway line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York to plan their journeys ahead of time, as they upgrade tracks over weekends in September and October. Over these two months, engineers working on the multi-billion-pound project will excavate ballast (railway stone) to create a new track beds, replace approximately 650 meters of railway tracks and install new drainage systems. This essential work will enable trains to achieve higher speeds and enhance the overall reliability of services passing through the area in the future, as the number of railway tracks will increase from two to four. While the railway line is temporarily closed to facilitate these upgrades, passengers will continue their journeys through a combination of diversionary routes and rail replacement buses. Gareth Hope, Sponsor for the Transpennine Route Upgrade said “Between September and October, engineers will be working each weekend to upgrade the railway tracks. This work is a crucial component of our broader upgrades, not only allowing for faster train travel but also improving service reliability in the future. We are committed to ensuring a seamless transition during the upgrades, with diversionary routes and rail replacement buses in place to keep customer moving.” “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while the work takes place and remind customers to check www.nationalrailenquiries.co.uk or their respective train operators if traveling during this period.” Chris Nutton, Major Projects Director for TransPennine Express, said: “These improvement works are key to the overall modernisation of the railway that will be taking place as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which will help deliver a faster and more sustainable service for our customers who travel between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. “We’d like to thank our customers in advance for their patience while this work take place. To keep customers on the move, there will be some changes to our services, including diversions on some routes and rail replacement buses on others, and we advise customers to check carefully before travelling. We’ll have extra staff on hand at stations to help customers who are travelling on days affected by this work.” The track upgrades take TRU one step closer to their vision of creating a cleaner, greener, and more reliable railway system. This will bring improved connectivity and travel experiences to passengers traveling across the Pennines. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
