Commercial property developer Stoford has begun work on a new high specification regional fulfilment centre (RFC) in East Devon on behalf of a leading UK retailer. The 42,500 sq ft building is being developed on a 2.98-acre plot at Exeter Logistics Park, Clyst Honiton, just two miles from Jct 29
Building work is underway on a new £20m development of affordable housing with low-carbon heating systems in Cheltenham. Housing association Bromford has started construction of 71 new homes on a brownfield site on Village Road in the town. The four-acre site is the former home of the Douglas Equipment factory
Leading construction materials supplier, Aggregate Industries, welcomes the newly revised British standard for concrete, BS 8500, signifying a substantial leap forward for the construction industry in the UK. The upcoming changes are set to transform the industry, broadening the spectrum of available low-carbon mixes for designers, contractors and manufacturers. By
Leading Net Zero Consultancy, The Consultus International Group, has announced bringing utility infrastructure management division back to the fore, as a standalone business unit. Formerly lacking a striking identity, Consultus’ Utility Infrastructure Management area of the businesses has rebranded as ‘Connectus’, arming the division with its own individuality and place
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build
The winners of the prestigious Considerate Constructors Scheme’s (CCS) national Leading Lights Awards have been announced. 51 construction sites and organisations and 12 individuals received a national Leading Lights Award for their outstanding efforts in demonstrating the very highest levels of consideration in respect of the CCS’s Code of Considerate
Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, proudly announces its achievement at the ‘FIS Training Awards’, taking home the accolade for the ‘FIS Member Training Programme’ category, after receiving commendation for its one-of-a-kind installation school. The Zentia Installation School has been recognised as an industry benchmark and forms
A new £500,000 green energy centre in Merseyside has received the backing of Ideal Heating, as part of the company’s commitment to attract fresh talent into the heating industry. The Green Energy Skills Centre, at St Helens College, will enable heating engineers to learn the skills needed to install, commission
Dynamic scheduling software specialist FLS – FAST LEAN SMART has won a field service planning and scheduling contract for E.ON, one of the UK’s leading energy providers. E.ON is a leading installer of energy efficiency solutions including smart meters, solar panels, air source heat pumps, batteries and electric vehicle chargers.
Unilin Technologies is excited to announce that Novalis, a renowned manufacturer of high-quality resilient flooring products, adopts the FlinTile technology on their new resilient flooring ranges. Starting in July, Novalis integrated this groundbreaking innovation into these new collections, revolutionizing the looks, installation and performance of these resilient flooring products. FlinTile
Commercial property developer Stoford has begun work on a new high specification regional fulfilment centre (RFC) in East Devon on behalf of a leading UK retailer. The 42,500 sq ft building is being developed on a 2.98-acre plot at Exeter Logistics Park, Clyst Honiton, just two miles from Jct 29 of the M5 motorway. Stoford is lead developer for Exeter Logistics Park and has a long-term site wide agreement with the Church Commissioners for England to deliver c.500,000 sq ft of high quality industrial/logistics accommodation on the site. It has secured planning consent and private funding for the new RFC, which will contain several industry-leading sustainability features. They include water and daylight saving controls, PV panels, EV charging provision and a sustainable urban drainage system. Stoford will target BREEAM ‘very good’ and an EPC ‘A’ rating for the new building, as well as net zero carbon in operation. Glencar has been appointed as contractor and the unit is expected to be available for occupation from Q2 2024. Edward Peel, Director at Stoford said: “Exeter Logistics Park continues to attract high-calibre occupiers and we’re very pleased to commence construction of this new development. This is a well designed building, offering a combination of high-quality internal and external spaces in an easily accessible location that is perfect for distribution. “We have outline planning consent in place and the on-site infrastructure to immediately deliver new, high-quality accommodation that is flexible to meet individual needs.” Joanna Loxton, Head of Strategic Land at the Church Commissioners for England, said: “Today’s announcement marks the latest milestone in our development partnership with Stoford to deliver high-quality, sustainable industrial and logistics accommodation across Exeter Logistics Park, supporting employment opportunities and economic growth in the region. The fulfilment centre’s strong sustainability credentials – including net zero operational carbon – closely align with the Church Commissioners’ own environmental objectives and support for a low carbon economy.” Cllr Sam Hawkins, Vice Chair of East Devon District Council and Ward Councillor for Cranbrook, said: “It’s good to see this new regional distribution centre coming forward with a focus on sustainability and operationally net zero carbon, which is vital and supports the area’s vision for clean growth. “Exeter Logistics Park is a key employment site in East Devon, strategically located and complements our four sites in the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone.” Cllr Matt Hall, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Economy, added: “As a distribution centre based in East Devon, Exeter Logistics Park is bringing new job opportunities for local people. This highly anticipated building is expected to achieve excellent sustainability credentials which is important in helping us reach our net zero carbon goal.” Exeter Logistics Park is ideally located for distribution, with access to the national motorway network via the A30 and direct bus links. It is sited near Exeter Airport, with Exeter city centre lying just six miles to the west of the site. Stoford has already delivered four new developments at Exeter Logistics Park, which include a new DHL parcel distribution service centre, and a 90,000 sq ft distribution unit and EV charging park for Amazon. More recently, adhesive manufacturer Forgeway signed a 15-year lease on a 28,500 sq ft building that was speculatively developed by Stoford and Urban Logistics REIT. Stoford has also installed high quality fitness and wellbeing facilities on site, including a trim trail and outdoor gym areas with bodyweight exercise equipment. For more information on availability at Exeter Logistics Park, contact the scheme’s retained agents, JLL and Cushman & Wakefield. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building work is underway on a new £20m development of affordable housing with low-carbon heating systems in Cheltenham. Housing association Bromford has started construction of 71 new homes on a brownfield site on Village Road in the town. The four-acre site is the former home of the Douglas Equipment factory which had been empty since the site closed in 2020. The former factory buildings were demolished in April in preparation for work getting underway to build the new homes. The development, called The Fairway, will be a mix of 1-bedroom maisonettes and two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. Thirty-two homes will be available to rent, with the other 39 available to part-buy, part-rent through Bromford’s shared ownership scheme. All 71 homes at The Fairway will be heated by air source heat pumps, which are a low-carbon alternative to gas boilers. They are more efficient than a standard boiler, allowing households to use less energy to keep their homes warm. The homes will all have EV charging points, and most of them will also have solar panels. The £20m development is being part-funded by Bromford’s strategic partnership with Homes England. Project manager Stuart Hay said: “I’m delighted that work is underway on our new development to provide new affordable, sustainable homes here in Cheltenham. Installing air source heat pumps in all these homes will reduce our customers’ reliance on fossil fuels and helps us on our journey to becoming a net-zero carbon organisation. “House prices in Cheltenham are ten times average incomes*, which means buying a home in the town is out of reach for many people, so there is a clear need for more affordable housing in the town. With a mix of rented and shared ownership homes, the variation of housing we are providing at The Fairways means there’s something for everyone. I’m looking forward to seeing the site progress over the coming months and welcoming the first customers into their new homes.” The homes are being built by Bromford’s in-house construction team, which last year completed 232 of the 1,265 homes built by the Gloucestershire-based housing association. The entire development is due to be completed in spring 2025. The first shared ownership homes will be available shortly – find out more at www.findahome.bromford.co.uk *According to National Housing Federation data Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading construction materials supplier, Aggregate Industries, welcomes the newly revised British standard for concrete, BS 8500, signifying a substantial leap forward for the construction industry in the UK. The upcoming changes are set to transform the industry, broadening the spectrum of available low-carbon mixes for designers, contractors and manufacturers. By increasing the cementitious options available, the introduction of additional multi-component blends opens the door for scalable, low-carbon options that have the potential to become the default solution, as the standard will now allow additional Portland-composite cements (CEM II/C-M) as well as other composite cements (CEM VI). It will also address aspects such as properties of fresh and hardened concrete, composition limitations, delivery procedures and conformity criteria – ushering in a new era of sustainable concrete production practices. Forefront of sustainability As an industry leader, Aggregate Industries will be hosting a webinar series, focusing on the recent changes to the BS 8500 standard, specifically delving into the impacts on concrete specification. The first session is scheduled for 1st December 2023, at 11:00 AM. Those interested in attending can register for here for free. Mark Hickingbottom, Commercial Director at Aggregate Industries, said: “We applaud the newly revised BS 8500 as a significant advancement for the construction industry and we’re ready to assist customers in capitalising on these new changes. It not only broadens the array of available low-carbon concrete mixes, but also positions Aggregate Industries at the forefront of this sustainable shift. “Leveraging our industry partnerships, we collaborate closely with key associations to drive innovation, coupled with initiatives such as the sector’s first customisable carbon reporting tool and our low-carbon portfolio. We strive to empower informed choices and look forward to hosting a series of educational webinars for the industry.” Register here for the BS 8500 webinar. For further information, please visit aggregate.com
Leading Net Zero Consultancy, The Consultus International Group, has announced bringing utility infrastructure management division back to the fore, as a standalone business unit. Formerly lacking a striking identity, Consultus’ Utility Infrastructure Management area of the businesses has rebranded as ‘Connectus’, arming the division with its own individuality and place in the utility infrastructure landscape, spanning across many sectors, and bringing with it time-served experience, delivery by a highly knowledgeable team. Although the Connectus name is new, the team come with a wealth of experience in multi-utility connections across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, leisure and hospitality, to name but a few. Connectus focus on delivering all aspects of connection, disconnection and relocation when it comes to industrial, commercial and residential developments that can take the pressure off any development and multi-site scheme. Their goal is to become a project manager’s first port of call when considering business utilities, by offering ‘turn-key’ solutions, through strategic decision-making. Whether it’s electricity, gas, water, telecoms/ICT, sewerage or other utilities, Connectus make themselves accountable, for the service, and speed up the process. Connectus have carried out work for property developers Patrick Properties, who commented – “Consultus (now rebranded to Connectus Utilities) has saved us a lot of time and hassle. They perform procurement contract negotiations for us, resulting in major savings; and by heeding their advice we have also avoided large penalty payments. We know that they are doing a fantastic job and therefore trust them implicitly”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build 300,000 new homes in England[1], while 90% of student accommodation rooms for the 2023/24 academic year had already been sold by April 2023[2]. With a 17% increase in hotel construction projects also reported over 2024[3], pressure is on the construction sector to build faster as confidence in city centre building continues to rise.[4] REHAU’s new report, Offsite Trends in Building Services explores how modern methods of construction (MMC) can help tackle this issue. Underlining a skills shortage of 937,000 construction industry vacancies by 2032, it looks specifically at how to implement mechanical service installation into offsite projects to make builds easier and faster.[5] Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical, REHAU Building Solutions, said: “Building at pace within tight footprints and using traditional methods is undoubtedly difficult, necessitating new approaches such as MMC. This new report details what is possible and how different offsite methods suit specific projects and help provide simpler, faster and high-quality builds for contractors, all within a factory-controlled environment.” With high-rise construction increasingly necessary in high-density urban areas, REHAU’s guide highlights how the company can help with the challenge of building at height in smaller spaces. At the same time, it uncovers obstacles that contractors, specifiers and developers must overcome when using offsite construction methods to ensure quality work. The guide includes information on key components that can be assembled at the factory and transported and assembled onsite for a high-quality build. This includes modular shafts, pre-wall constructions, bathroom pods and polymer risers, as well as relatively new technologies such as thermally activated building structures (TABS), which can provide both heating and cooling. “There have already been many exciting innovations across the globe to further improve offsite construction methods that we have included within this new guide,” Steve concludes. “Like all fields, MMC is continually developing, and the hope is that through this whitepaper, readers can find out more about these innovative methods and solutions, and best put MMC techniques into practice to meet market demand.” To download REHAU’s report, ‘Offsite Trends for Building Services’, CLICK HERE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The winners of the prestigious Considerate Constructors Scheme’s (CCS) national Leading Lights Awards have been announced. 51 construction sites and organisations and 12 individuals received a national Leading Lights Award for their outstanding efforts in demonstrating the very highest levels of consideration in respect of the CCS’s Code of Considerate Practice. Over 350 guests attended the glittering event held on 27 November at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. The awards recognise projects, people and initiatives that have achieved outstanding performance in being a Considerate Constructor. Each award category reflects the three areas of the CCS’s Code of Considerate Practice: Respecting the Community, Caring for the Environment and Valuing the Workforce. The award categories were: Community: Community Enrichment Award; Local Sourcing Award; Community Engagement Award. Environment: Plastic Reduction Award; Natural Environment Award; Enhancement and Energy Efficiency Award. Workforce: Physical Wellbeing Award; Mental Health Award; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award. 11 award winners received the highest accolades by being crowned as the ‘Overall Winners’ and “Individual Champions”, they are: Overall Winners: Community Overall Winners: Environment Overall Winners: Workforce Congratulating all award winners, Executive Chairman of the CCS, Amit Oberoi said: “On behalf of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, huge congratulations to all this year’s award winners. These construction sites, organisations and individuals should be immensely proud of their success. The enthusiasm and considerate practice they have shown in being a Considerate Constructor is highly commendable; achieving great standards through initiatives across communities, the environment and the industry’s workforce.” Click here to see all award winners. The ceremony also celebrated the 25+ years the Considerate Constructors Scheme has been in place since it was established in 1997. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, proudly announces its achievement at the ‘FIS Training Awards’, taking home the accolade for the ‘FIS Member Training Programme’ category, after receiving commendation for its one-of-a-kind installation school. The Zentia Installation School has been recognised as an industry benchmark and forms the cornerstone of Zentia’s dedication to fostering expertise and innovation within the industry. Since its inception in the 90s, the Zentia Installation School has trained over 10,000 individuals in installing ceiling systems safely and securely. The Installation School not only provides insightful training for external contractors, but it also forms a key part of the training programme for every Zentia employee. New starters complete the course to gain a deeper understanding of Zentia’s products and the interiors industry and can book refresher courses throughout their Zentia career as new products and techniques become available. Graham Taylor, Sales & Marketing Director at Zentia celebrated the win, saying: “At Zentia we firmly believe that persistent learning and development is crucial to building a strong foundation for our industry to continue growing and collaborating. We are proud of the knowledge we have been able to share as a result of our Installation School, and even more pleased that it has been recognised by the FIS in their Training Awards.” To find out more about Zentia click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new £500,000 green energy centre in Merseyside has received the backing of Ideal Heating, as part of the company’s commitment to attract fresh talent into the heating industry. The Green Energy Skills Centre, at St Helens College, will enable heating engineers to learn the skills needed to install, commission and service air source heat pumps. It will also provide a showpiece learning environment for students at the college, supporting a broader focus on green skills and energy. As an Employer Partner, Ideal Heating has equipped the facility with a range of its market-leading products, including its Logic Air heat pump and hot water cylinder, helping installers gain experience and confidence at working with these heating solutions. It forms part of commitment from Ideal Heating to support installers in the transition to low carbon heating solutions, such as heat pumps, as well as to help to attract young people into the industry. Lewis Litherland, a Renewable Energy Lecturer at St Helens College, worked as an engineer for British Gas before making the switch into education. He said: “I’m very passionate about creating a centre like this in St Helens, as I’ve come from a similar economic background to many of our students, and I’ve been fortunate to have fallen into an industry that has provided me with great opportunities. “So, if I can play a part in providing this for more young people in a similar position, it would be a great personal achievement for me.” The Green Energy Skills Centre has been launched to meet a growing demand for skilled and qualified workers for renewable energy industries to support the drive to a net zero economy. Decarbonising homes is crucial to meet the UK Government’s 2050 net zero target but, despite this, there remains a major shortage of skilled low carbon heating engineers. Working with partners such as St Helens College, Ideal Heating is helping re-train thousands of installers to fit and maintain heat pumps. Andrew Johnson, Training Director for Ideal Heating’s parent company Groupe Atlantic, said: “To tackle the skills gap which exists in the heating industry effectively, we need a two-pronged approach. “The way we heat our homes is changing and it’s so important that existing installers learn the skills required to work with heat pumps and other low carbon solutions. “We also need to focus on attracting more young talent into the industry. They are our installers of the future and, without them, we simply won’t succeed in this low carbon transition.” The Green Energy Skills Centre is now up and running, offering a range of BPEC-accredited training courses for heat pumps. Ideal Heating’s own Expert Academy training arm is re-skilling thousands of installers to become low carbon engineers. Ideal Heating opened its National Training and Technology Centre in East Yorkshire earlier this year, as the centrepiece of the company’s UK-wide training operations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Dynamic scheduling software specialist FLS – FAST LEAN SMART has won a field service planning and scheduling contract for E.ON, one of the UK’s leading energy providers. E.ON is a leading installer of energy efficiency solutions including smart meters, solar panels, air source heat pumps, batteries and electric vehicle chargers. The FLS VISITOUR scheduling solution will improve efficiency and service for more than 1,000 engineers in E.ON’s Smart Field Connections team, tasked with completing 600,000 installations a year in addition to service appointments. With more than 5.5m customers, E.ON is a long-term user of scheduling software and benefited from this experience when selecting a next generation solution. Key to selection was also compatibility with its Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service solution. Lee Durham, Head of Technology, UK Solutions at E.ON, said: “Delivering net zero and creating a future energy system that is smart, personalised and sustainable demands engagement with customers on a level never seen before. E.ON is one of the leading installers of smart devices and low carbon solutions in the UK, meaning we need a system to schedule appointments in the most efficient and convenient way for our field agents and, obviously, for our customers.” “We wanted a mature solution with proven capability and integration with Dynamics 365 in order to achieve maximum value and to meet our timescale to be live within a few months.” Selection of FLS VISITOUR FLS VISITOUR will add critical value to E.ON by delivering enhanced real-time planning and scheduling capabilities. Twenty years of development and hundreds of customers across multiple industries has led to exceptional performance and flexibility that will enable E.ON to deploy automation and processes desired, and self-manage future configuration changes. Features of FLS VISITOUR that enable the most accurate routing include AI predictive traffic based driving speeds and appointment booking with the unique FLS PowerOpt algorithm to calculate the relative cost of each possible timeslot through real-time optimisation, not just white space filling in the diary. The result is more efficient routes that cut driving time and mileage and significantly reduce carbon footprints. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Unilin Technologies is excited to announce that Novalis, a renowned manufacturer of high-quality resilient flooring products, adopts the FlinTile technology on their new resilient flooring ranges. Starting in July, Novalis integrated this groundbreaking innovation into these new collections, revolutionizing the looks, installation and performance of these resilient flooring products. FlinTile is a grouted locking system that offers a solution for ceramic tile lovers that want an easy to install floor. FlinTile is DIY-friendly and walkable in less than 24 hours after installation. With this technology, Novalis provides a 100% waterproof flooring option that enables users to enjoy the authentic look of grouted tiles in just three simple steps: Click, grout, clean. The FlinTile technology provides flawless grouting lines without the need for spacers, and enables the possibility to have different panel formats, including square tiles arranged in checkerboard patterns. “We are thrilled to implement Unilin Technologies’ FlinTile groutable locking technology into our flooring production,” states John Wu, CEO of Novalis. “This innovative solution enhances our ability to deliver exceptional resilient flooring options that are not only visually appealing but also offer hassle-free installation and superior performance to our customers.” Novalis’ decision to implement FlinTile exemplifies their commitment to providing customers with flooring solutions that combine convenience, style, and durability. They will be showcasing this groutable locking technology at The International Surfaces Event in Las Vegas in January 2024, booth 1025. Unilin will exhibit FlinTile at Domotex Hannover in hall 19-20 booth C22 and The International Surfaces Event in Las Vegas in January 2024 at booth 2361. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
