WORK is well underway at the innovative Jesse’s House project in West London, with the leisure offering of the new family club venture being delivered by international modular pool provider Myrtha Pools this month. Partnering with distributor Barr + Wray, the firm is set to deliver its signature outdoor and indoor pools for
Leading housebuilder Redrow has developed and launched its innovative new mobile app, helping homeowners find their dream new home in just a few taps. Building on its reputation for digital innovation and customer experience, the app is the first and only one of its type on iOS and Android. Built
Pure Vista has been accredited as a member of Made in Britain. Pure Vista’s adoption of the official, protected mark (above right) will help buyers recognise its products as good quality, great value and British-made. The mark also lets customers know that Pure Vista is a trusted company that values
Deepki, the global leader in ESG for real estate, is bolstering its leadership team to support its continued international expansion, with the announcement of three new hires as well as four internal promotions. Deepki is the only company in the world offering a fully populated ESG data intelligence platform to
Dorset-headquartered housebuilder and developer AJC Group has completed its £10m Sonnet development, located on the iconic West Cliff in Bournemouth. Boasting uninterrupted views of the sea, the five-storey scheme comprises 14 two and three-bedroom luxury apartments, with over half already sold. Construction started on the site in December 2021 and
Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC
Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC
Network Rail and Homes England have chosen McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate as the strategic developer for their major brownfield scheme, York Central. York Central is being brought forward by a partnership between Network Rail, Homes England, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum. The scheme
Improvement work to the external façade of the Health Hydro leisure centre in Swindon has commenced. Owned by Swindon Borough council the centre closed earlier this year, extensive surveys have been carried out, which could not be done while the building was in use. Now, scaffolding has been put up
The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) has welcomed the highest number of women to join its latest cohort of apprentices – following a successful East Midlands pilot programme. Of the 71 apprentices joining its latest quarterly intake at its national training centre in Darlington, six are female with a further
WORK is well underway at the innovative Jesse’s House project in West London, with the leisure offering of the new family club venture being delivered by international modular pool provider Myrtha Pools this month. Partnering with distributor Barr + Wray, the firm is set to deliver its signature outdoor and indoor pools for the Jesse’s House concept – a combined offering for remote working parents and their young children that promotes education, relaxation, and wellbeing under one roof. The stainless steel pools, which are manufactured offsite to minimise installation time and boost project efficiency, will be the first under the Jesse’s House banner in Parsons Green. The new facilities will include a nursery, fully equipped gym and exercise studio – closely mirroring Little Houses Group’s (LHG) first site, Jaego’s House, in Kensal Rise. Kate McKnight, country manager UK & Ireland at Myrtha Pools, said: “This project is all about grassroots development, giving parents and children the opportunity to learn, relax and unwind all within one central space. It is a fairly unique concept and an exciting venture to partner on, especially with this being the first pool to be used under the Jesse’s House banner. “We’re looking forward to working together closely to bring this brand new offering to the public in West London, which provides something for absolutely everybody.” Craig Steele, sales + estimating manager at Barr + Wray, said: “What Jesse’s House is getting is really modern pool technology. Myrtha Pools offer unrivalled benefits in energy efficiency, as well as corrosion and leak prevention that futureproofs pools for decades to come. “We’re excited to begin this new chapter for Jesse’s House, combining all the offsite benefits that come with modern methods of construction (MMC), with sustainable and integrated pool solutions that allow families to enjoy water and swimming from an early age.” Set for late spring 2024 opening, the newest offering from Jesse’s House will follow the LHG’s formula of providing spaces that are ‘unpretentious, fun and practical, providing families with a place to play, hang out, eat, work, and exercise.’ Rosie Moss, head of property at LHG, said: “The new pools installed by the team at Myrtha and Barr + Wray are the next step in facilitating environments that offer numerous health, wellbeing and relaxation benefits in one central space. “Myrtha Pools is a market leader in the leisure industry, so it was a natural decision to partner with them and begin this fantastic new indoor and outdoor space for the community of Parsons Green. “We now look forward to welcoming the general public in 2024 with a facility that will make a difference in people’s lives through education, support and enjoyment.” Myrtha Pools offer a 45% smaller carbon footprint than traditional methods of construction – which use tile and concrete – and cost savings of up to 20%. For more information, visit https://www.myrthapools.com/en/dealers/myrtha-pools-uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading housebuilder Redrow has developed and launched its innovative new mobile app, helping homeowners find their dream new home in just a few taps. Building on its reputation for digital innovation and customer experience, the app is the first and only one of its type on iOS and Android. Built to support market demand and customer needs, the latest research from Redrow shows that almost 40% of prospective homebuyers will use a property app to search for their new home. Redrow’s new app caters to homebuyers’ behaviour while offering the quickest and easiest way to find their new home. The research shows the top five ‘must have’ home features when searching online, which includes: having a garden (52%), a high energy efficiency rating (34%), natural light (32%), off road parking (31%), and space to work from home (26%)*. The Redrow app builds on this with customers able to create personalised searches of their own ‘must have’ features, offering a quick and convenient way to find a home that suits their needs and preferences. Key benefits and features include: Matt Grayson, Group Customer & Marketing Director at Redrow, said: “We are excited to launch our first-ever app, thanks to the dedicated hard work and expertise of our in-house IT & digital marketing teams, to help homebuyers looking for a beautiful new energy-efficient Redrow home. The app is the next step in Redrow’s ongoing investment to help customers find eco-friendly homes and builds on our industry-first online technology experience. Using the personalised search, customers can get instant notifications whenever new homes that meet their criteria become available and book and manage appointments all within the app – making it the quickest and easiest way to find your new home.”Making further strides in digital innovation, Redrow offers a unique digital customer journey. The launch of the app follows the premium homebuilder’s recent award win for the Best Application of Technology at the UK Customer Satisfaction Awards 2023, and Best Customer Satisfaction Initiative at Housebuilder awards, highlighting how the business has successfully deployed technology to improve its customer service and satisfaction offering. Download the Redrow app today on Apple and Android here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pure Vista has been accredited as a member of Made in Britain. Pure Vista’s adoption of the official, protected mark (above right) will help buyers recognise its products as good quality, great value and British-made. The mark also lets customers know that Pure Vista is a trusted company that values transparency, sustainability and ethical business practices. Consumers are increasingly recognising the Made in Britain mark as a mark of confidence. “We wanted to join Made in Britain because we are a British specialist in designing and manufacturing architectural glass systems. Britian is renowned globally for its design and engineering and MiB allows us to show that we are at the forefront of this. This certification will help us as we expand our products globally and we can clearly show our customers that we target a very high standard for the products we supply.” – Mark Oakes John Pearce, chief executive of Made in Britain said: “We’re delighted that Pure Vista has joined the community of more than 2000 British manufacturers. The more the mark is used and seen, the more it is recognised as a mark of quality. In addition to getting access to the official protected mark, Pure Vista will also start to enjoy the many other benefits membership to Made in Britain brings, including support in sales, marketing, PR/comms and export. We look forward to watching them grow with our help and support.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Deepki, the global leader in ESG for real estate, is bolstering its leadership team to support its continued international expansion, with the announcement of three new hires as well as four internal promotions. Deepki is the only company in the world offering a fully populated ESG data intelligence platform to help commercial real estate investors, owners and managers improve the ESG performance of their real estate assets, and in the process enhance their value. Following a successful €150 million fundraising round in March 2022, Deepki has enjoyed substantial growth, expanding its workforce from 150 to 400 employees, and extending its operations both organically and through strategic acquisitions. These acquisitions include British competitor Fabriq, and Nooco, a firm boasting a complementary platform that analyzes the carbon footprint of buildings, from construction, through renovation, to end-of-life. To support the rapid expansion of its business and teams, maintain its innovative momentum, and support its entry into new markets, Deepki has appointed three new leaders to its senior management team. They are: Emmanuelle Nello, Chief People Officer Emmanuelle’s focus is on change management, reinforcing talent acquisition and development, and establishing the tools and processes necessary to fuel the growth of Deepki’s workforce. Emmanuelle also oversees the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Diversity department, engaging all team members in significant projects that create positive impact, reflecting the company’s core values. Olivier Pin, Chief Product Officer Olivier is responsible for defining and organizing the entire product strategy, R&D, and management of Nooco’s teams, a company recently acquired by Deepki. His mission is to continue helping real estate professionals accelerate their transition to net zero through the Deepki and Nooco product range, by best anticipating their needs, while ensuring and developing Deepki’s technological leadership. Colin Brown, VP UK & Ireland, Head of Global Sales Leveraging his customer-centric and strategic vision, Colin leads Deepki’s UK, Ireland and Global sales teams from Deepki’s London office. He and his team are dedicated to bringing maximum value to real estate players and their clients by empowering them to improve their sustainability through robust, data-driven ESG strategies. Additionally, he will drive Deepki’s entry into new markets, including the Nordics and the Netherlands, which represent significant growth potential for the company. Vincent Bryant, CEO and co-founder of Deepki, comments: “We are incredibly proud to announce the appointments of Colin, Emmanuelle and Olivier. As the company continues its expansion, we remain committed to strengthening our senior management with top-tier professionals. Their extensive experience in senior leadership roles and international environments will be invaluable in Deepki’s continued growth. I am thrilled to welcome them to our team.” Along with these three key appointments, the company has also made four internal promotions: Philippe Parlange, as Chief Client Officer Philippe joined Deepki in 2020 as Head of Consulting Services before being appointed Head of Client Delivery. He has recently been promoted to Chief Client Officer, overseeing the entire team managing client relations. Philippe’s role is pivotal in guiding clients in the definition of their ESG strategies, ensuring outstanding client experiences that align with Deepki’s mission of accelerating the real estate sector’s decarbonization. He is actively involved in recruiting, structuring, and developing Deepki’s Consulting, Customer Success Management, and Energy Management teams to ensure high levels of satisfaction. Clémentine Hardy as Partner Operations & Transverse Delivery Functions Leader After five years as Deepki’s Head of Customer Operations, Clémentine takes on the role of Partner Operations & Transverse Delivery Functions Leader, establishing and expanding a new practice within Deepki. In her new role, she leads the team in managing and deploying complex platform configurations and functionalities, ensuring both the solution’s quality and its seamless integration into the software ecosystem. Additionally, she organizes and conducts partner training, fostering satisfaction and loyalty through a relationship built on trust and expertise. Elise Jacques as Sr. VP Strategy and Transformation Elise has been promoted to the position of Sr. VP Strategy & Transformation after just one year at Deepki. Working closely with the CEO, she is responsible for M&A operations, exploring new business opportunities, and contributing to the structuration of new teams, projects, and processes, taking on interim management roles as required. She develops and structures a strategic approach to business intelligence, facilitating decision-making based on market and performance data across various regions to ensure the company’s growth and performance. Xana Muñiz as Vice President Southern Europe & LATAM Having joined Deepki in 2019 as Country Manager for Spain, Xana Muñiz has since expanded her role to cover the Iberia and LATAM regions. With a proven track record in these territories, Xana now takes on the role of Vice President Southern Europe & LATAM, continuing to support Deepki’s development in the Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Latin American markets. Spain and Italy were the first two subsidiaries to open after Deepki’s founding in Paris, and today represent key markets for the company. About Deepki Founded in 2014, Deepki has developed a SaaS solution that uses data intelligence to guide real estate players in their net zero transition. The solution leverages customer data to improve assets’ ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) performance and maximize asset value. Deepki operates in 52 countries, with over 400 team members across offices in Paris, London, Berlin, Milan and Madrid. The company serves clients including Generali Real Estate, SwissLife Asset Managers and the French government, helping to make their real estate assets more sustainable at scale. In March 2022 Deepki raised €150 million in a Series C funding round which was jointly led by Highland Europe and One Peak Partners. Other investors include Bpifrance, through their Large Venture fund and Revaia. Since then, Deepki has carried out strategic acquisitions including that of its principal UK-based competitor, Fabriq, and complementary SaaS solution, Nooco. For further information about Deepki’s end-to-end solutions, visit: deepki.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Dorset-headquartered housebuilder and developer AJC Group has completed its £10m Sonnet development, located on the iconic West Cliff in Bournemouth. Boasting uninterrupted views of the sea, the five-storey scheme comprises 14 two and three-bedroom luxury apartments, with over half already sold. Construction started on the site in December 2021 and was finished this November. The completion event for the development was marked by a ribbon cutting and a speech from managing director of AJC Group, Sebastian Janes. The event was attended by residents, estate agents Winkworth Westbourne and Frost & Co. Bournemouth, and solicitors Trethowans. The £10m development is in one of the town’s most sought-after locations, with expansive coastal views and easy access to Bournemouth’s award-winning beaches. 50% of the apartments have now been sold, with only seven apartments still available. Prices for the remaining apartments range from £555,000 to £825,000, with the largest apartment being over 1000 sq ft. Seb Janes, managing director of AJC Group, said: “It was a fantastic event to celebrate the completion of this scheme and an opportunity to recognise all the teams that were involved in the construction and delivery of this development. This luxury apartment building has been sensitively designed to be in keeping with the historic local surroundings, and is one of the first new developments on the West Cliff, with easy access to seven miles of white sandy beaches as well as the newly refurbished The Nici Hotel. “In a year that has proved extremely challenging for many housebuilders and developers, we’re proud to have delivered this outstanding beachfront development on time and within budget. As a business, we are committed to supporting the local economy and this project enabled us to work with 26 contractors and created 150 jobs.” All the apartments have been constructed to a high EPC-C or B rated specification, including air source heat pumps for each dwelling, enabling purchasers and residents to lower their carbon footprint and ultimately reduce their energy bills. Designed by ARC Architects, the striking traditional building with contemporary interiors has professionally landscaped communal gardens, secure underground parking and bike storage, as well as private outdoor space in the form of either a terrace or balcony. Each apartment is fitted with herringbone LVT flooring, quartz worktops, shaker style matt kitchen units, with premium appliances throughout. The hotel style bathrooms feature luxury sanitaryware. All homes have access to a communal lift from the basement parking level to the top floor. AJC Group will provide all new purchasers with a £1,500 voucher for custom-fitted wardrobes by Haroys. Several popular bars and restaurants are walkable from the development, while many popular south coast landmarks are also within easy reach including Durdle Door and The New Forest National Park. The Nici Hotel, which is just along from the Sonnet apartments, recently had a £27m refurbishment and offers an array of leisure facilities to local residents via a membership. Poole-headquartered AJC Group was crowned Fast Rising Property Business of the Year and Housebuilder of the Year at the 2022 South Coast Property Awards, and was shortlisted in 2023 for a record five categories. The developer also recently scooped Affordable Housing Development of the Year for its Herbert Avenue scheme in Bournemouth at the 2023 Insider South West Property Awards. AJC Group currently has three sites under construction including Lindsay Road and The Sloop, which are located in Poole. In Dorchester a partnership project with Aster to deliver 57 affordable homes is well underway. AJC Group is on track to deliver over 200 mixed-tenure homes by Spring 2024, reflecting a total construction value in excess of £100m. The firm has become one of the most active residential development specialists across the Wessex region and has made a commitment to build 500 affordable homes by 2028. To make an appointment to view the Sonnet apartments, or for further details, contact: Winkworth Westbourne, tel: 01202 76763, or visit: https://www.winkworth.co.uk/properties/sales/west-cliff-gardens-bournemouth-dorset-bh2/WBN220250 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade – took part in the event aimed at empowering learners to discover careers in construction and design, a culmination of a 12-week learning and mentoring programme based around the world of building and construction. When the scheme was launched in May 2023, each school was given a brief to design a collaborative workspace, that aligned with the ethos of Pentre Awel; innovation, positive health and well-being and environmentally-sustainable design. During that time, they were mentored by Bouygues UK staff and had visits to site several times to develop their designs briefs and help them prepare for their final pitch to a panel of judges. The judging panel was made up of a diverse group of professionals from Bouygues UK, Carmarthenshire County Council and Gleeds Project Consultancy. The pupils had just 10-minutes to put their best foot forward and showcase their final designs, including the development journey they had been on and examples of how their mentors helped them along the way. Each school was responsible for their pitch and how they wanted to present to the panel, with some writing additional bid documents to support their presentation, some presenting 3D scale models, and others demonstrating digital fly-throughs of their designs. One group brought along a collection of plants to demonstrate their biophilic wall design. The designs on the day were so impressive that the judges found it difficult to single out one school as an overall winner; St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade were crowned joint winners while primary school Ysgol Pen Rhos won the innovation/sustainability award for their biophilic design and carbon capture ideas. Nina Williams, Bouygues UK’s social value advisor for Pentre Awel, said: “The input from all the schools was outstanding with some amazing designs and concepts based around the four themes. The most rewarding part has been the way in which the learners have developed in confidence. “At the beginning of the experience they were all very nervous to ask questions, the mentors being unfamiliar to them, but by the time they were preparing for their final pitch, they were working round the table, firing off ideas, listening to the mentor’s advice and having conversations about how to change and improve their designs. The project has helped the schools to build future relationships with industries, utilising the knowledge and experience of professionals to enhance and develop their knowledge base which can be applied in their future curriculum design.” Project Director Peter Sharpe said: “It’s been really refreshing to take time out of my normal day-to-day activities to listen to the five presentations. The information and depth of knowledge and understanding of the brief were absolutely fantastic. I’m sure there will be some aspects of the learner’s designs that we could incorporate into the building. A project like this is of great value to the world of construction.” Aeron Rees, Head of Strategy and Learner Support at Carmarthenshire County Council, added: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of the judging panel. The youngsters equipped themselves very well and they were inspiring in what they had to say and what they delivered. This project shows a superb example of the synergy between the business community and education, and we are really indebted to Bouygues UK and our colleagues in the council for facilitating this for our learners.” As part of Bouygues UK’s commitment to provide significant social value and engagement to surrounding schools, colleges and universities, there is also a school ambassadors scheme. Bouygues UK is keen for the children to share their ideas and help shape the project, which in turn will enable them to see first-hand the work that goes into the construction process. The children will make regular visits to the site to see the progress being made and will work on school projects centred around construction and building. The 21st Century Skills initiative is part of a broader programme of community benefits to be delivered during the development of Zone 1 of Pentre Awel to realise social, economic, cultural, and environmental benefits. This includes targeted recruitment and training, community engagement, STEM activities and supply chain engagement. Pentre Awel is a truly collaborative scheme being delivered for the local community by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Universities and colleges and is part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal (£40million). It aims to create around 1,800 jobs over 15 years and boost the local economy by more than £450m. The development will include a new state-of-the-art leisure centre and hydrotherapy pool together with education, research and business development space; a clinical research and delivery centre; and a well-being skills centre. Externally, Pentre Awel will enjoy landscaped outdoor public spaces for recreation, walking and cycling. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Carmarthenshire County Council and Bouygues UK, who are currently delivering the new prestigious, multi-million pound development Pentre Awel, held a Dragon’s Den style event to celebrate their 21st Century skills work experience scheme. Five local schools in Llanelli – Bryngwyn School, Coedcae School, Ysgol Pen Rhos, St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade – took part in the event aimed at empowering learners to discover careers in construction and design, a culmination of a 12-week learning and mentoring programme based around the world of building and construction. When the scheme was launched in May 2023, each school was given a brief to design a collaborative workspace, that aligned with the ethos of Pentre Awel; innovation, positive health and well-being and environmentally-sustainable design. During that time, they were mentored by Bouygues UK staff and had visits to site several times to develop their designs briefs and help them prepare for their final pitch to a panel of judges. The judging panel was made up of a diverse group of professionals from Bouygues UK, Carmarthenshire County Council and Gleeds Project Consultancy. The pupils had just 10-minutes to put their best foot forward and showcase their final designs, including the development journey they had been on and examples of how their mentors helped them along the way. Each school was responsible for their pitch and how they wanted to present to the panel, with some writing additional bid documents to support their presentation, some presenting 3D scale models, and others demonstrating digital fly-throughs of their designs. One group brought along a collection of plants to demonstrate their biophilic wall design. The designs on the day were so impressive that the judges found it difficult to single out one school as an overall winner; St John Lloyd RC Comprehensive and Ysgol Y Strade were crowned joint winners while primary school Ysgol Pen Rhos won the innovation/sustainability award for their biophilic design and carbon capture ideas. Nina Williams, Bouygues UK’s social value advisor for Pentre Awel, said: “The input from all the schools was outstanding with some amazing designs and concepts based around the four themes. The most rewarding part has been the way in which the learners have developed in confidence. “At the beginning of the experience they were all very nervous to ask questions, the mentors being unfamiliar to them, but by the time they were preparing for their final pitch, they were working round the table, firing off ideas, listening to the mentor’s advice and having conversations about how to change and improve their designs. The project has helped the schools to build future relationships with industries, utilising the knowledge and experience of professionals to enhance and develop their knowledge base which can be applied in their future curriculum design.” Project Director Peter Sharpe said: “It’s been really refreshing to take time out of my normal day-to-day activities to listen to the five presentations. The information and depth of knowledge and understanding of the brief were absolutely fantastic. I’m sure there will be some aspects of the learner’s designs that we could incorporate into the building. A project like this is of great value to the world of construction.” Aeron Rees, Head of Strategy and Learner Support at Carmarthenshire County Council, added: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of the judging panel. The youngsters equipped themselves very well and they were inspiring in what they had to say and what they delivered. This project shows a superb example of the synergy between the business community and education, and we are really indebted to Bouygues UK and our colleagues in the council for facilitating this for our learners.” As part of Bouygues UK’s commitment to provide significant social value and engagement to surrounding schools, colleges and universities, there is also a school ambassadors scheme. Bouygues UK is keen for the children to share their ideas and help shape the project, which in turn will enable them to see first-hand the work that goes into the construction process. The children will make regular visits to the site to see the progress being made and will work on school projects centred around construction and building. The 21st Century Skills initiative is part of a broader programme of community benefits to be delivered during the development of Zone 1 of Pentre Awel to realise social, economic, cultural, and environmental benefits. This includes targeted recruitment and training, community engagement, STEM activities and supply chain engagement. Pentre Awel is a truly collaborative scheme being delivered for the local community by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Universities and colleges and is part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal (£40million). It aims to create around 1,800 jobs over 15 years and boost the local economy by more than £450m. The development will include a new state-of-the-art leisure centre and hydrotherapy pool together with education, research and business development space; a clinical research and delivery centre; and a well-being skills centre. Externally, Pentre Awel will enjoy landscaped outdoor public spaces for recreation, walking and cycling. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail and Homes England have chosen McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate as the strategic developer for their major brownfield scheme, York Central. York Central is being brought forward by a partnership between Network Rail, Homes England, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum. The scheme has the potential to significantly boost the local economy by creating up to 6,500 jobs and delivering over £1.1 billion of Gross Value Added to the economy of York per annum. There are already £135 million of infrastructure works underway to enable this major regional scheme to progress. These include over 3km of new roads, footpaths, cycleways and also include two new bridges over the East Coast Main Line. The appointment of McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate as a development partner is the latest milestone in delivering York Central, which will see a key piece of York city centre brought to life by transforming under-utilised railway land into vibrant and distinctive residential neighbourhoods, cultural spaces, high quality public realm and a high-quality commercial quarter. McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate partnership have significant experience in delivering major mixed use regeneration schemes and neighbourhoods including Durhamgate, Newton Aycliffe and Upper Brook Street, Manchester. Peter Denton, Chief Executive at Homes England said: “This is a major milestone in the important regeneration of York Central. Over the last few years, Homes England and Network Rail have worked closely with City of York Council to create a vision and masterplan, and have invested in the critical infrastructure to make this a reality. It will now be delivered at pace through our chosen development partner for long term delivery and stewardship.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Improvement work to the external façade of the Health Hydro leisure centre in Swindon has commenced. Owned by Swindon Borough council the centre closed earlier this year, extensive surveys have been carried out, which could not be done while the building was in use. Now, scaffolding has been put up in order to repair failing roofs and sections of the stonework and windows. This work is part of a £6.9 million refurbishment programme which is being funded using money from the Council, the Government’s Towns Fund and Historic England. When complete, users will experience substantial improvements with enhanced changing facilities, a new entrance and fitness suite in the former washing baths hall and a new mechanical, electrical and plumbing plant system to service the main pool and improve the building’s environmental performance. As this is only the first phase of works, further funding is needed for the £5.7m second phase. Last month a £4.6m grant bid was submitted to the National Heritage Lottery Fund, which will aim to fund the completion of the restoration and enhancement of the main pool hall. Overall, the Health Hydro project will repair and insulate the main pool hall roof, deliver substantial improvements to the building’s environmental performance and undertake conservation works to the exterior and interior including the spectator gallery and stained-glass window. The project will also focus on how to showcase the building’s remarkable history and its role in informing the blueprint for the NHS. The success of the first stage of this bid will be revealed in March 2024. If successful, a second application will then need to be prepared and submitted. Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Heritage, Art and Culture, said: “This bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund signals a new era and wave of optimism for Swindon’s heritage and marks an important milestone for the restoration and regeneration of this building. “The Hydro is an important landmark for the town and it’s one we want to see restored to its former glory and available for future generations to enjoy. “We have recently embarked on developing a new Heritage Plan, which will chart our next priorities for unlocking the value and opportunities from Swindon’s rich heritage, not only including the Hydro but also in the rest of the Railway Village and the Borough as a whole.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) has welcomed the highest number of women to join its latest cohort of apprentices – following a successful East Midlands pilot programme. Of the 71 apprentices joining its latest quarterly intake at its national training centre in Darlington, six are female with a further two women already having inducted earlier this year – compared with just one during the whole of 2022. Four were recruited as a result of TICA’s pilot initiative in Nottingham, which was designed to encourage more women to consider a career within the male-dominated industry. The national training provider attended several career fairs and colleges across the city and staged two recruitment days to raise awareness of the available opportunities and to match applicants with local employers. The female apprentices range in age from 16 to 50 and are from a variety of backgrounds and careers, including a special educational needs teacher, shop worker, and school leaver. In all, 12 female candidates attended the two recruitment days, and it is hoped the remainder may apply at a later date. The remaining four female apprentices at TICA were directly recruited by employers Altrad UK and Powertherm Contract Services. Marion Marsland, chief executive of TICA, said: “Prior to 2023, we welcomed on average just one female apprentice every three years. While the numbers may still be low, it represents a significant leap forward. It’s also encouraging to see that employers also recognise the benefits of having a more diverse workforce. “Women haven’t always seen construction as a career option due to a perception that it involves heavy manual work. This isn’t the case and TICA will continue to encourage and inspire more women to break down those invisible barriers that have prevented them from gaining well-qualified and well-paid jobs.” The thermal insulation industry is currently facing a recruitment shortage caused by an ageing workforce nearing retirement and a reduction in numbers of EU workers. Helen Anderson, head of learning at TICA, added: “We are experiencing a big demand for apprentices to bridge the resulting skills shortage, a gap that we are starting to bridge. “TICA is working with its employers to help them recruit directly, offering tailored support with everything from attending careers fairs, linking up with colleges, and organising recruitment campaigns and interviews.” It has also provided its members with free magnetic van stickers which is aimed at female recruits that features a QR code that provide further information on a career in thermal insulation. TICA’s apprenticeships combines practical on-site experience with employers with developing skills and best practice at TICA’s national training centre as apprentices work towards nationally recognised qualifications. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
