Spetisbury Construction has started building work on six new industrial units at Dorset Innovation Park in Winfrith Newburgh, near Wool. Dorset Council recently appointed local Dorset firm Spetisbury Construction to build six industrial units, ranging from 200m2 to 600m2, funded by £4.4m from the Council’s capital budget. The Dorset Innovation
Blues teenage football sensation Layla Banaras yesterday spoke of her pride after netting the role of youth ambassador at Birmingham Housing Week which also started yesterday. The Birmingham football star, who at the age of 16, became the first woman from a South Asian background to play for the Birmingham
Have you ever tried to grow grass and maintain it? It can be a very long and stressful process that sometimes is not even successful. If you are now thinking of alternative ways that don’t involve much effort, then artificial grass could be perfect. In this guide, we explore the
Spetisbury Construction has started building work on six new industrial units at Dorset Innovation Park in Winfrith Newburgh, near Wool. Dorset Council recently appointed local Dorset firm Spetisbury Construction to build six industrial units, ranging from 200m2 to 600m2, funded by £4.4m from the Council’s capital budget. The Dorset Innovation Park is Dorset’s only economic development site with Enterprise Zone status. The Park is developing as an advanced engineering cluster of excellence for the Southwest, building on its strengths in marine, defence, energy, and cyber-security. It offers office space, workshop facilities and fully serviced commercial employment land with benefits such as simplified planning, and full fibre accessibility. The park is home to a range of innovative businesses, including Qinetiq, Atlas, and Norco, plus the Ministry of Defence who have a presence at the Defence Battlelab situated on site. The new units provide an opportunity for further business to relocate to the park. Dorset Council has seen the number of businesses and employees on site grow over the last few years and has now invested in these units to support local business development. The units are due to completed in December 2024. Justin Ives, Managing Director of Spetisbury Construction, said: “Spetisbury Construction have worked alongside Dorset Council on numerous projects over the last 20 years and has been great to be involved in this most recent and exciting project. Our close work with the project team starting over a year ago has resulted in the development of the initial concept to a fully considered design. “The project has evolved and changed shape on several occasions to meet the needs of the target market however it is now great to be on site and into the construction phase. We look forward to delivering this project later in the year and on to future projects with the council’s team. Spetisbury Construction are a regional Chartered Building Company and are proud to be part of the Dorset Council Framework.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Blues teenage football sensation Layla Banaras yesterday spoke of her pride after netting the role of youth ambassador at Birmingham Housing Week which also started yesterday. The Birmingham football star, who at the age of 16, became the first woman from a South Asian background to play for the Birmingham City Football Club, will share her experiences and encourage young people to get involved in the conversation around housing during Next Generation workshops being held at Birmingham Housing Week. Running from February 5th-9th Birmingham Housing Week will inform young people and communities on the scale of public and private investment in existing housing stock and large-scale housing regeneration schemes happening across the City and the vast amount of opportunities on offer to them; invite them to get involved in the conversation and have a voice and inspire them to join the movement. The week is a private sector initiative, powered by national housebuilder Lovell Partnerships, with support from Birmingham City Council, STEAMhouse, Howells, Platform Housing Group, Shakespeare Martineau, Marrons and Birmingham Social Housing Partnership, with more set to be announced in due course. Today Birmingham Housing Week organisers were thrilled for Layla to be appointed as its youth ambassador to help inspire the next generation to get involved in the week-long event. One of the main focuses of the week is to promote inclusivity and collaboration with the younger generation around their expectations of the housing sector and inform them about the job opportunities available to bring their ideas to life. Delighted to accept the ambassador role, Layla, now 17, said “I think it’s really important to create opportunities for young people as it gives them a voice and allows them to feel heard.” Thanks to sponsors Platform, STEAMhouse and Howells, the Next Generation Workshops are taking place on February 6th and 8th respectively, to bring together local pupils from the following schools: Eden Boys, Lyndon Academy, Cockshut Hill and Nine Styles. STEAMhouse has invited Year 9 pupils to its interactive activities focused on raising awareness around the housing sector and the variety of career opportunities they can choose to be more involved. The workshop will also feature a Q&A session with both the council and industry professionals, to encourage an open discussion around the future of Birmingham for current and next generations. Patrick Bek, Head of Service Innovation and Experimentation at STEAMhouse, added: “A people-centred approach is definitely needed to innovate towards the best future for Birmingham’s housing sector. Listening to and co-creating with the younger generation is a great way to encourage a more collaborative approach and unlock a new regenerative era of the city.” Architecture and planning body, Howells, will host its programme of activities aimed at Year 10 & 11 students on the Tuesday and Thursday of housing week, to inform them of the ‘Our Future City’ project, an initiative led by the Birmingham Housing Council setting a strategic 2040 framework to achieve inclusive, sustainable and equal spaces for the city’s communities. This will also involve the pupils sharing their thoughts on what the framework should include and incorporate them into a design project accordingly. The students will also have the opportunity to talk to key professionals in the Modelmaking and VR technology sectors and see how the respective tools work and support the variety of job roles in the housing sector. The innovative side of the sector is a key component in involving the younger generation and showcasing its potential to achieve more sustainable infrastructure. Dav Bansal, Partner from Howells, commented: “Birmingham Housing Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness on the current initiatives of the council and how students can actively participate in this exchange of opinions thanks to the workshops and the wide array of career opportunities the sector offers. Howells is based in the industrial heart of the city, and we’re excited to meet local young people to get their input into the future of Birmingham.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Have you ever tried to grow grass and maintain it? It can be a very long and stressful process that sometimes is not even successful. If you are now thinking of alternative ways that don’t involve much effort, then artificial grass could be perfect. In this guide, we explore the benefits of artificial grass. Durability Artificial turf is very durable and can last 15-25 years with proper care and maintenance. Since it is made from synthetic materials like polyethylene that can withstand heavy use, it can stand in any area you are in, and you don’t have to worry about the grass. The artificial grass can withstand all types of weather and seasons due to the materials used to make it. The grass looks good year-round, even in harsh weather which can be perfect if you live in an area prone to bad weather. Low Maintenance Artificial grass requires very little maintenance compared to a real grass lawn. When you think about all the work that is needed with real grass compared to artificial grass. No mowing, watering, fertilizing, or pesticides are needed. All you need to do is buy it and put it in your garden and you are sorted. You can buy builder supplies here to make a great foundation for your grass. If you are a busy person and don’t have much time for maintenance, then this saves time and effort for homeowners. It is quick and easy to care for, just occasional brushing to fluff it up and hosing it down to clean. Environmentally Friendly Chemicals like fertilisers or pesticides are not needed for artificial grass to maintain its vibrant appearance. Artificial grass doesn’t have bugs or pests as the grass doesn’t have the nourishment that they need so you won’t have to deal with them. The lack of chemicals benefits both the environment and you as the money can be spent on other things. Strong chemicals can be a risk to the ecosystem in your area. Additionally, artificial turf doesn’t require watering, unlike grass. So, you are using less water and saving time while having grass that doesn’t impact the environment. Safety If you are a pet owner or have kids, then you will have to think about them too. With artificial grass, kids won’t be exposed to any poisonous or harmful compounds, such as pesticides or weed killers. We can all agree that dirt in the house is very frustrating to clean up. There is no chance of dirt or grass stains is another great advantage of artificial turf. The grass ensures that your children won’t bring any mess inside the house. It is also a great option if your pets enjoy playing outside. Your grass won’t be able to be chewed up or dug up by them, and cleanup is a breeze. All that needs to be done to clean up any problem is water and soap. Additionally, you won’t have to stress about giving your pet a bath after they’ve been outside. Cost Savings Over time, artificial grass can be less expensive to maintain, this is due to the high cost of maintaining natural grass when considering the need for fertilisers, insecticides, lawn shears, hoses, strimmers, rakes, weed killers, lawnmowers, water, and grass feed. Over its whole life, this makes it significantly more affordable than real grass. Artificial grass typically has a long lifespan which is a lot cheaper to maintain than real grass and you are less likely to continue to spend more money on it.
