Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, has started a public consultation process, in conjunction with DOMIS, its dedicated construction partner, for revised plans for the next phase of its Viadux scheme in central Manchester. Refreshed designs for Phase Two – images of which are available to download
Development will comprise of four brand new grade A speculative warehouse units ranging in size from 27,193 upto 84,557 sq ft. The warehouses will be highly energy efficient and targeting an EPC A-5 and BREEAM excellent rating. The units will include ESG credentials such as EV charging stations, LED lighting
The winners of the annual Association for Project Management (APM) Awards 2023 have been announced at a prestigious awards ceremony taking place in London on Monday 20 November. The awards, sponsored by RPC UK Ltd, celebrate excellence within the project profession – from project organisations, projects, programmes and individuals working
Prestwick North Educational Campus has come first place in the ‘Pupil/Student Experience’ category at the prestigious Learning Places Scotland Awards 2023. The South Ayrshire Council campus was up against tough opposition for the award with the likes of Glasgow and Edinburgh universities also in the running. The judging panel was
New research reveals a lack of land is blocking the growth of the small to mid-box (sub-100k sq. ft.) warehouse sector, holding back job creation and costing the economy £480 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) per year. With local planning focused on larger ‘Big Box’ (>100k sq. ft.) warehouse
With another disappointing Autumn Statement following a string of controversial U-turns on net zero, it’s becoming increasingly clear this government sees sustainability as a side issue. £2bn for low-carbon investment in the automotive sector and a £960m Green Industries Growth Accelerator to fund renewable energy are obviously moves in the
From electronics to home decor, aluminum has emerged as an indispensable material, seamlessly blending functionality with aesthetics. This lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal has infiltrated our daily lives, gracing everything from smartphones to kitchenware and garden furniture. In fact, you’re most likely reading this article from a gadget made of aluminum! However,
Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, has started a public consultation process, in conjunction with DOMIS, its dedicated construction partner, for revised plans for the next phase of its Viadux scheme in central Manchester. Refreshed designs for Phase Two – images of which are available to download below – would see the construction of two new towers: As part of the second phase of development, there will be around 780 apartments in a 76-storey building, delivering exclusive city-centre living space for domestic and international buyers. The architecturally ambitious building will be elevated above ground with its foundations built under a retained Victorian archway. A second building will stand at 23-storeys tall creating around 130 brand new affordable homes in a hugely well-connected and desirable part of Manchester. The properties are likely to be available to occupants on a range of tenure types that could include shared ownership and affordable rental. At the base of the towers, commercial and public realm space will be created to compliment a world-class, mixed-use neighbourhood that will help to meet growing demand for city centre living while bringing economic and environmental benefits to the area. In plans first drawn up in 2017, Phase Two of the Viadux scheme had been expected to comprise 240,000 sq ft of Grade A office space. The new plans, designed by the same architects, SimpsonHaugh, respond to updated market dynamics, including exceptionally strong demand for high quality living space to continue to support the growth of Manchester city centre’s residential population. If approved, these plans will see the final Viadux scheme create over 900 new homes across a very wide range of price points and tenure types in a development that will shape the Manchester skyline for years to come. Simon Ismail, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Salboy, comments: “City centres throughout the UK are facing the same falling demand for office space, but in Manchester that decline is being hugely outweighed by the ever-growing demand for high quality homes. When you are developing schemes like Viadux that will take years to come to fruition, being tenacious and adaptable is critical for success. “We are excited to reveal new plans that will complete the Viadux masterplan and deliver a neighbourhood of high quality, design-led homes that meet Manchester’s substantial need for accommodation at a range of price points and tenure types. Viadux Phase Two will deliver on that demand, while at the same time bringing to the Manchester cityscape a crowning feature that offers panoramic views of a city rich in heritage and sympathetic regeneration.” Construction of Phase One, which comprises a 40-storey tower of 364 apartments, began in 2020 and is well underway with practical completion on course for Q2 2024. By November 2023, more than 95% of Phase One properties had been sold or reserved. Proposals for the enlarged residential scheme are now out for consultation until Friday 22 December 2023. A public consultation event will be held at 53two on Watson Street M3 4LP on Monday 4 December 2023 between 4pm and 7pm. Further to feedback, submission of a planning application is expected to follow in early 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Development will comprise of four brand new grade A speculative warehouse units ranging in size from 27,193 upto 84,557 sq ft. The warehouses will be highly energy efficient and targeting an EPC A-5 and BREEAM excellent rating. The units will include ESG credentials such as EV charging stations, LED lighting and PV roof panels. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by long-term and valued client Valor Real Estate Partners LLP to design and build a new industrial/warehouse development with ancillary offices, car parking and service yard located at a strategic development site in Beckton, East London. The development comprises of four logistics/industrial units totalling 215,000 sq ft in a range of sizes from 27,223 upto 81,842 sq ft fitted out to category A specification. The works include the diversion of existing services, demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a new roundabout and S278 Highways works. River wall repairs, part replacement of the existing sheet piled wall and intertidal terracing to the adjacent River Roding is also included. Works have commenced on site already with demo and stats isolations / diversions. Completion is forecast for December 2024. Commenting on the announcement, Glencar Managing Director London and South Roy Jones said: “We are absolutely delighted to once again be working with much valued repeat customer Valor Real Estate Partners after having completed a number of other projects during the past 18 months at strategic development sites in Beckton and Croydon. The team is looking forward to once again be getting on site having previously completed two speculative warehouses on Gemini Business Park. The warehouses will be highly energy efficient and targeting an EPC A-5 or better and BREEAM Excellent rating. The units will include ESG credentials such as EV charging stations, LED lighting, Green Roofs and PV roof panels. Also commenting, Max Freeman at Valor Real Estate Partners said: “We are very excited to be on-site and delivering this outstanding project but to also be partnering again with Glencar Construction. This project brings to market four highly functional units, which benefit from Valor’s latest specification and enhanced sustainability credentials, in a prime last mile location just of the A13. We have no doubt Glencar will be able to deliver on this flagship project for us and we are very much looking forward to the next 12 months of construction ahead. The development, being marketed as Valor Park East Circular Phase 2, is situated just off the east side of Jenkins Lane, which leads south to the A13 trunk road and the intersection with the A406 North Circular. This provides access to the M11 and M25 (Junctions 30/31) and Central London. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The winners of the annual Association for Project Management (APM) Awards 2023 have been announced at a prestigious awards ceremony taking place in London on Monday 20 November. The awards, sponsored by RPC UK Ltd, celebrate excellence within the project profession – from project organisations, projects, programmes and individuals working across a broad range of industry sectors in the UK and internationally. Jacobs has been name winner of the APM Sustainability Award, a new award launched this year, to recognise organisations or individual projects that demonstrate environmental sustainability practices in the development and delivery of their projects. The award recognises the commitment of organisations, project managers and their teams to run more sustainable, ethical, and environmentally friendly projects. Jacobs which provides a range of engineering, technical, professional and construction services, was selected as the winner by awards judging panel for its approach to embedding sustainability into every project. Sustainability is a critically important priority for Jacobs, it’s embedded from the way the organisation operates its business to the sustainable solutions it co-creates with clients and partners. Jacobs continues to seek ways of making positive environmental, societal and economic differences for businesses, governments and communities around the world. To ensure every project is a climate response opportunity the company embeds sustainability through its global sustainability strategy, PlanBeyond 2.0. This is the foundation of what sustainability means to Jacob’s people, clients and the planet — integrating sustainability objectives throughout operations and client solutions in alignment with the UNSDGs. Will Masters, Sustainability Lead at Jacobs, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for me this is a shared award. This is not just about thousands of people delivering projects in Jacobs. When you look at the list of finalists, not only have we won the award but three of the projects listed as finalists are our projects. “For me, sustainability is something we need to be thinking about in the same terms as safety and quality, so it’s fantastic that APM is recognising sustainability as it is.” Professor Adam Boddison OBE, Chief Executive of APM, said: “I would like to congratulate Jacobs for its outstanding commitment to excellence in sustainability and project delivery. The company clearly showcases a commendable commitment to sustainability, integrating it into every aspect of operations, project management, and client solutions. “Our awards are all about celebrating the outstanding successes of the project profession, and I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners and finalists for their incredible achievements over the past year.” For a full list of the APM Award 2023 winners visit apm.org.uk/apm-awards/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Prestwick North Educational Campus has come first place in the ‘Pupil/Student Experience’ category at the prestigious Learning Places Scotland Awards 2023. The South Ayrshire Council campus was up against tough opposition for the award with the likes of Glasgow and Edinburgh universities also in the running. The judging panel was impressed with the agile nature of the learning spaces at the campus which support group, peer to peer and individual learning. The judges also appreciated the use of natural daylight throughout the campus which promotes a healthy learning environment. Councillor Stephen Ferry, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education said: “This is a great achievement. We want our young people to have the best possible experience in our schools, as it’s a huge contributing factor when it comes to life beyond the classroom. I am sure the young people and staff will continue to enjoy their campus for many years to come.” Councillor Martin Kilbride, Portfolio Holder for Buildings, Housing and Environment said: “This award is such an important accolade and highlights all the work undertaken at the design stage to ensure the entire campus was full of inspirational and interactive learning spaces. I would like to thank everyone involved, particularly our Special Property Projects Team who delivered the project. Gaynor Hartley, Head Teacher of Glenburn Primary, Jacqueline McPeake, Head Teacher of St Ninian’s and Susan Cole, Manager of Prestwick North Early Years Centre commented: “We’re delighted that the campus received the award for Pupil/Student Experience. We all agree that, as leaders of schools and an EYC, this is the best award for our campus to receive as everyone involved is trying to deliver the best possible education for our young learners! Michael Ross, Chief Executive of public sector development partner hub South West Scotland said: ” Winning such a prestigious award showcases the quality of projects hub South West Scotland, our design teams and construction partners are delivering in partnership with the team at South Ayrshire Council. Feedback from pupils and staff highlights the huge benefits they have already experienced from learning and interacting in this superb new community campus. This award recognises not only the hard work of the collective team that delivered this project but also South Ayrshire Council’s vision to invest in their learning estate.” Morgan Sindall Construction’s managing director for Scotland, Stuart Parker, said: “It’s been an honour to work with both South Ayrshire Council and hub South West on delivering the Prestwick North Education Campus, who shared our vision in creating a modern, engaging state-of-the-art learning facility for the local community. Winning the Pupil/Student Experience Award is a real testament to all the work that’s gone into every element of the project, and I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone involved. We hope it’ll be a real game changer for the community and future generations to come.” Lindsey Mitchell, Architect Director at BDP said: “It’s a remarkable achievement and a true testament to our team’s commitment to ensuring high quality, innovation and collaboration in all our projects. My congratulations go out to all those involved, and I thank our entire team and our partners for all their hard work and dedication in striving to improve the learning experience for thousands of young people across Scotland.” The Learning Places Scotland Awards provide recognition of excellence in the design of educational buildings. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New research reveals a lack of land is blocking the growth of the small to mid-box (sub-100k sq. ft.) warehouse sector, holding back job creation and costing the economy £480 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) per year. With local planning focused on larger ‘Big Box’ (>100k sq. ft.) warehouse schemes and residential developments, change is needed to make the best use of available space. The report, BIG things in SMALL boxes, is the second annual benchmarking report commissioned by industrial and logistics property company, Potter Space, conducted in collaboration with Savills. The report aims to uncover the challenges faced by the small to mid-box segment of the market and suggest potential solutions. The biggest challenge facing this sector is that of ‘suppressed demand’. This means that demand for space outstrips the available supply of land for development. The report reveals that demand is suppressed in England by 38 per cent, and in some areas, this figure climbs to over 100 per cent. The Midlands has been particularly affected, above other areas. Suppressed demand currently sits at 51 per cent in Nottingham and Derbyshire. This climbs to 57 per cent in Birmingham and reaches 101 per cent in Leicestershire, making the Midlands the hardest hit area outside of Stoke and Stafford (50 per cent) and Crawley in the South East which sits at 166 per cent. One proposed solution to combat suppressed demand is “co-location”. Larger logistics property companies are facing a decline in demand, leaving unused space that could be filled by smaller providers to create economies of scale by sharing costs of infrastructure, such as access, drainage and power. By co-locating on large sites, smaller providers could increase their footprint, create jobs and build more resilient local economies. Co-location is also growing in popularity within new developments, with a 16 per cent increase in new builds created with ancillary office space included since 2020, allowing businesses to conduct all operations from one site. According to the report, local authorities should take a positive approach to planning to unlock economic benefits. Local planners should consider land that is unsuited to bigger warehouses as opportunities for smaller facilities, including areas close to residential developments, beside motorway junctions or railway tracks. The small to mid-box warehouse sector currently provides 2.1 million jobs in England, with more waiting to be created. It is responsible for 31% of apprenticeship starts, with 13,000 apprenticeship roles per year beginning in small to medium enterprises (SMEs). If the undersupply of land is addressed, this figure could increase to a potential 18,000. Jason Rockett, managing director at Potter Space, said: “Whilst there have been some small steps forward in the industry, the main challenge of finding enough space to meet the demand of thesebusinesses that make up the backbone of the economy hasn’t gone away. Our report findings clearly show the need for logistics property companies to work together and collaborate with local authorities for a sustainable future in which the demand of all businesses can be met. If we can get this right now, we’ll not only support businesses, but also provide meaningful and long-term jobs in our local communities. “Co-location is one way that the sector can work together to make the best use of available land and resources. With suppressed demand sitting at 38 per cent and rising to above 100 per cent in areas such as Crawley and Leicestershire, it’s clear that steps need to be taken now to improve the situation, before it his major challenge that puts a stop to business growth and job creation.” Mark Powney, director of economics at Savills, said: “It’s clear from the research that the issue of suppressed demand in the small to mid-box warehousing sector isn’t going anywhere. If we want to solve this problem, it’s time to get in a room and find a solution – unlocking an array of benefits that will have a positive effect beyond the I&L sector.” Potter Space’s five business parks occupy a total of 1.6 million sq. ft. across a range of commercial properties, including industrial units and offices, and are located in Ely, Ripon, Droitwich, Selby and Knowsley. It is currently developing 250 acres of land to meet demand. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With another disappointing Autumn Statement following a string of controversial U-turns on net zero, it’s becoming increasingly clear this government sees sustainability as a side issue. £2bn for low-carbon investment in the automotive sector and a £960m Green Industries Growth Accelerator to fund renewable energy are obviously moves in the right direction. But given the scale of the challenge we face, it’s nowhere near enough. We urgently need massive investment to retrofit Britain’s homes – the draughtiest in Europe – and clarity on the Future Home Standard, which is still extremely thin on detail despite coming into force in 2025. Without an energy efficiency revolution in the built environment, which accounts for 39% of global emissions, net zero will remain a distant dream. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
From electronics to home decor, aluminum has emerged as an indispensable material, seamlessly blending functionality with aesthetics. This lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal has infiltrated our daily lives, gracing everything from smartphones to kitchenware and garden furniture. In fact, you’re most likely reading this article from a gadget made of aluminum! However, in this informative guide, we’ll be focusing on the utility of aluminum for home decor, shedding light on its durability, malleability, and ability to effortlessly embody modern design trends. So, without further ado, let’s get right into the deets… Aluminum In Interior Design Aluminum plays a pivotal role in shaping modern, high-tech interiors. When combined with glass, it creates an illusion of more space. Plus, adding aluminum to interior furniture reduces the weight of the object significantly, making them ideal for both residential and office spaces. The versatility of aluminum extends beyond industrial applications, boasting its presence in chairs, tables, air conditioning units, lamps, photo frames, and more. This is because designers prefer aluminum for its remarkable malleability and ease of production, allowing them to shape creations easily while maintaining aesthetic appeal. Aluminum Outdoors The importance of aluminum is unbeatable in the garden furniture market. Think stools, tables, folding chairs, and swings. All of these benefit from the lightweight nature of aluminum, making it the preferred choice for outdoor furniture. Interestingly, Indecasa, a Spanish flagship company, exemplifies this trend, emphasizing that if a piece doesn’t contain aluminum, it’s not their product. Aluminum In Modern Kitchens In modern kitchens, aluminum has become a must-have, not just in the construction of appliances but also in utensils. From pots and frying pans to meat mincers and baking molds, aluminum utensils have gained prominence for their ease of maintenance, even heat distribution, scratch resistance, and corrosion resilience. With a heat conductivity of double the amount of steel, aluminum utensils excel in efficiently absorbing and radiating heat. Professional chefs especially prefer aluminum-manganese alloy for thicker utensils like cooking pots and frying fans, as it offers exceptional heat-related qualities. The cost-effective production of aluminum utensils through extrusion and enameling for safety and durability further increases their appeal. Moreover, aluminum with Tri-Ply technology makes it an even stronger contender against non-aluminum kitchen products. This innovative design involves sandwiching a heat-accumulating aluminum plate between two layers of stainless steel, enhancing heating efficiency. Also, the robust coating on modern frying pans can resist damage from steel knives, making aluminum utensils a favorite among cooking enthusiasts. Notably, the iconic Bialetti geyser coffee maker, a creation by Italian engineer Alfonso Bialetti in 1933, stands as a testament to aluminum’s enduring role in culinary culture. Aluminum Beyond Decor The reflective properties of aluminum foils make them essential for constructing mirrors, ideal for both ultraviolet and infrared ranges. The historical role of aluminum in creating artificial Christmas trees further adds a touch of nostalgia to its versatile reputation. Conclusion Believe it or not – the utility of aluminum for home decor is just the tip of the iceberg, considering its vast usage in sports goods, clothing, electronics, and more. From its versatile application in furniture and interior elements to its aesthetic contributions in mirrors and artistic expressions, aluminum emerges as an essential and timeless material. Its adaptability, durability, and aesthetic appeal make it essential in contemporary homes. As we discover new design trends, aluminum remains a reliable material, transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary in our homes.
