Planners have granted consent for a new scheme in Leicester that will deliver c.30,400 sq ft of light industrial accommodation. Commercial developer, Brackley Property Developments (BPD), will redevelop a brownfield site off Blackbird Road near Leicester city centre, on behalf of Leicester City Council. The redevelopment of the Ian Marlow
Contractors working for HS2 have removed a 4,000 tonne bridge over the M42 to make way for the construction of the new high speed line across the motorway near the Interchange Station construction site in Solihull. A team of 20 demolition experts from Solihull-based firm Armac, working on behalf of
Construction work has started on a new pioneering joint education campus, to be located in the Fairwater area of Cardiff. The £110 million project is the largest in scale and investment, of Cardiff’s education developments delivered under Cardiff Council and Welsh Governments Band B Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. The
Based on data reported through CDP’s 2023 Climate Change questionnaire, Johnson Controls is among less than 400 companies that achieved the leadership level of climate action with an ‘A’ rating. This year, a record-breaking 23,000 companies submitted responses through the CDP platform, a 24% increase in submissions from last year.
In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, Balfour Beatty has featured on TalkTV and in Construction News, outlining the multitude of benefits Apprenticeships bring to businesses and individuals, the importance of industry collaboration, and the rewarding career opportunities the construction and infrastructure sector offers. During the live TalkTV broadcast, Ryan
‘Safety, Quality, Value and Production’, were the watchwords of Jim McPhillips, founder of McPhillips Wellington, words that continue to underscore the work of the company today as it celebrates sixty years of trading in 2024. In the beginning it was all about digging footings and drainage for local house builders.
InstallerSHOW 2024 is the UK’s must attend event for those specifying in heat, water, air and energy technology, and will this year partner with CIAT as it continues to grow in relevance to Architectural Technologists. The InstallerSHOW has over 600 exhibitors, and takes place between 25-27 June at the NEC
WORKFORCE management and access control solutions provider, MSite has announced a major update to its purpose-built online induction platform to improve everyone’s journey ahead of stepping foot on construction sites. By adding automatic content translation into more than 30 languages, some of the industry’s greatest challenges – including safety, compliance
Planners have granted consent for a new scheme in Leicester that will deliver c.30,400 sq ft of light industrial accommodation. Commercial developer, Brackley Property Developments (BPD), will redevelop a brownfield site off Blackbird Road near Leicester city centre, on behalf of Leicester City Council. The redevelopment of the Ian Marlow Centre, a former council depot, aims to meet local demand for commercial employment workspace by delivering 21 small units for start-ups and growing businesses. BPD has completed the clearance of vacant office, workshop and storage buildings on site, with construction of the new units set to begin this month. The developer won the remit from Leicester City Council to deliver the project following a competitive tendering process. The project is being supported by funding from the government’s Levelling Up Fund. Stephen Pedrick-Moyle, managing director of BPD, said: “We are very pleased to have gained planning consent to redevelop the vacant former Ian Marlow Centre. We have cleared the site in readiness for construction of much-needed small business units for local occupiers. “The scheme will contribute to the Council’s efforts to attract and retain high-tech industries in Leicester, with the potential to support new jobs and business growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractors working for HS2 have removed a 4,000 tonne bridge over the M42 to make way for the construction of the new high speed line across the motorway near the Interchange Station construction site in Solihull. A team of 20 demolition experts from Solihull-based firm Armac, working on behalf of HS2’s main works contractor in the Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), carried out the demolition in a 52 hour operation. The operation was coordinated in conjunction with National Highways, who were able to open the motorway section between Junctions 6 and 7 on Monday at 1.30am, which was three and a half hours earlier than planned, reducing disruption to road users. The M42 was closed in both directions late Friday evening, 9 February, and the workforce worked throughout the night to prepare the area for the demolition activities. Starting at 7am on Saturday 10 February, the demolition team used a 100 tonne excavator and a further seven 50 tonne demolition excavators to complete the operation, supplemented by numerous breaker and cruncher attachments. Six articulated dumper trucks transported the excavated material to a local stockpile where it will be crushed and reused on HS2’s haul roads and work sites. Once the bridge was demolished at around 3pm on Saturday , the debris was removed, the matting taken away, carriageway cleaned, and central reservation and verge restraint systems reinstated, ready for the motorway to be re-opened at 1.30am on Monday 12 February. It is the second of two 4,000 tonne bridges in close proximity over the M42 which needed to be demolished so HS2 can build a new twin box structure, which will carry the high speed line over the motorway in the future. The operation by Armac to demolish the first bridge took place in August last year. The original plan was to demolish the second bridge next year. However, due to two drivers on the motorway below recently striking the bridge, National Highways asked HS2 to demolish the bridge sooner because it had become unsafe. Alan Payne, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd said: “This operation, delivered by local specialist firm Armac, is another step forward in the construction of HS2 in the Midlands. I’d like to thank the whole team for delivering the bridge demolition ahead of schedule, reducing disruption to roads users.” Oliver Shore, Construction Director at Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “The safe and successful demolition of this 4,000-tonne bridge is another huge achievement for Balfour Beatty VINCI. This was a complex operation, made even more challenging because of the limited time we had to plan and deliver this critical work. I’m really proud of how the team responded, showcasing their skill and experience in these demanding circumstances. “It’s the second bridge removal we’ve delivered along the same stretch of motorway in just six months. Like the previous demolition last summer, every effort was made to minimise the impact on road users through careful planning and close collaboration between HS2 and National Highways.” Noel McLean, Technical Director of Armac said: “We were delighted to work with our partners HS2 and BBV again, for the demolition of the M42 North Bridge. Our primary aim is always to complete the project safely and in a controlled operation. Thankfully, the project was completed well ahead of schedule. Another successful project from the Armac ‘Bridge Busters’ and all of the BBV team.” Frank Bird, National Highways Senior Network Planner said: “We are delighted to have been able to reopen the motorway for the benefit of road users some three and a half hours earlier than planned and thank people for their ongoing patience since the bridge was hit last month. “This has been a challenging task as normally a demolition such as this would be planned over many months. Instead, everyone involved was able to mobilise resources to get it down in a matter of weeks. It has been a terrific collaborative effort with HS2 Ltd and all others involved and one I am sure road users will appreciate with all lanes now open.” This year, the BBV team will start to construct the huge twin box structure, which will carry HS2 trains over the M42. Enabling works commence in March and piling is due to commence in August. This new structure, measuring 300 metres length by 25 metres width will cover around 130 metres of the M42 and will be built in position whilst maintaining three lanes of traffic flowing on the M42. This section of HS2 railway lies between Interchange Station in Solihull and the Delta Junction, a triangular section of the line which enables trains to either travel into Birmingham’s Curzon Street Station or carry on north where trains will join the West Coast Main Line to Manchester. HS2 has already built a new, improved road structure and roundabout in this area, to improve the circulation of traffic around the HS2 railway line and connect the existing road network to the new Interchange Station. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work has started on a new pioneering joint education campus, to be located in the Fairwater area of Cardiff. The £110 million project is the largest in scale and investment, of Cardiff’s education developments delivered under Cardiff Council and Welsh Governments Band B Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. The development will include the construction of three new build schools for Cantonian High School, Riverbank School and Woodlands High School, all situated on a single site. The ground was cut at the site by Wales’s First Minister Mark Drakeford, Cardiff Council’s Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas and Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry. They were joined by Head of School at Cantonian High School, Geraint Jones and Chair of Governors Barbara Connell together with Executive Headteacher, Wayne Murphy and Chair of Governors Bianca Rees from the Western Learning Federation, of which Riverbank School and Woodlands High School are both a part of. Also in attendance were representatives from HLM Architects and ISG the contractors chosen to undertake the detailed design and build for the scheme. The development will be Net Zero Carbon in line with Welsh Government standards and will set the standard for future Cardiff school projects. Each of the three schools will be highly energy efficient buildings that are powered from renewable energy sources, enabling Cardiff to deliver on its One Planet Strategy, which outlines the city’s ambition to mitigate climate change. In March 2023, Cardiff Council announced that ISG was selected as the preferred bidder for the design and build of the new joint education campus, to be located in the Fairwater area of the city. ISG has now undertaken the detailed design process for the scheme and delivered the temporary accommodation associated with the works, ahead of the build. It will now build the remainder of the Net Zero Carbon campus, which will target significant reduction in operational and embodied carbon. This means the three schools will be highly energy efficient buildings that are powered from renewable energy sources, enabling Cardiff to deliver on its One Planet Strategy which outlines the city’s ambition to mitigate climate change. The new campus will include the replacement of the Cantonian High School buildings with new build accommodation on the same site expanding the school from six forms of entry (6FE) to eight forms of entry (8FE) with sixth form provision for up to 250 pupils, the expansion of the Specialist Resource Base (SRB) for learners with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), hosted at Cantonian High School to 30 places in purpose built accommodation in the new school building, the relocation of Woodlands High School and Riverbank School to the Fairwater Campus site from its current site adjacent to Trelai Park, with an increased capacity to 240 places for Woodlands and 112 for Riverbank in new build accommodation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Based on data reported through CDP’s 2023 Climate Change questionnaire, Johnson Controls is among less than 400 companies that achieved the leadership level of climate action with an ‘A’ rating. This year, a record-breaking 23,000 companies submitted responses through the CDP platform, a 24% increase in submissions from last year. Johnson Controls is again recognised for transparency and performance on climate change and named by global environmental non-profit CDP to its annual ‘A List.’ CDP holds the largest environmental database in the world and inclusion on the list underscores Johnson Controls’ unwavering focus on sustainability. Based on data reported through CDP’s 2023 Climate Change questionnaire, Johnson Controls is among less than 400 companies that achieved the leadership level of climate action with an ‘A’ rating. This year, a record-breaking 23,000 companies submitted responses through the CDP platform, a 24% increase in submissions from last year. “We are at a critical inflection point when it comes to climate change. While buildings account for nearly 40% of global emissions, the technology exists today to get to net zero through energy efficient technology, electrification, and digital optimisation,” said Johnson Controls Chief Sustainability Officer Katie McGinty. “Our ‘A’ score is a testament to the success we’ve realised in putting the technology trifecta to work in our business operations—cutting emissions and costs—and that we are delivering for our customers who are leading on both climate and business performance. We are honoured by CDP’s recognition and aim to turn the spotlight on the great opportunity there is to be seized in climate action.” Johnson Controls is recognised at the leadership level for its environmental best practices and the company received an ‘A’ in multiple scoring categories including: scope 1 & 2 emissions; scope 3 emissions; risk disclosure; opportunity disclosure and business strategy, financial planning and scenario analysis. Sherry Madera, CEO of CDP, said, “Congratulations to all the companies on CDP’s A List, and those companies that started or accelerated their journey towards environmental transparency in 2023 – we saw a 24% increase of disclosures last year and that trajectory is to be applauded. It is only by laying the groundwork of disclosure that companies can show they are serious about the vital part they play in securing a net-zero, nature-positive future. Earning a place on the A List is about more than the score. It’s an indication of high quality, complete data that equips companies with a holistic view of their environmental impact, serves as a baseline for transition plans and – crucially – enables them to follow through on their ambitions. As we move deeper into the Decade of Action, and as CDP continually raises the bar for what represents environmental leadership, the work of A List companies is never complete. We look forward to seeing all companies turn their commitments into further and more meaningful and effective action.” CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. CDP pioneered using capital markets and corporate procurement to motivate companies to disclose their environmental impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. Scores are widely used to drive investment and procurement decisions towards a zero carbon, sustainable and resilient economy. CDP is a founding member of the Science Based Targets initiative, We Mean Business Coalition, The Investor Agenda and the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. Recent Johnson Controls Commitments and Recognition to Sustainability: To read more about Johnson Controls commitment to sustainability, please visit: https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/corporate-sustainability/environment. The full list of companies that made this year’s CDP A List is available here: https://www.cdp.net/en/companies/companies-scores. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, Balfour Beatty has featured on TalkTV and in Construction News, outlining the multitude of benefits Apprenticeships bring to businesses and individuals, the importance of industry collaboration, and the rewarding career opportunities the construction and infrastructure sector offers. During the live TalkTV broadcast, Ryan Mayor, Early Careers Development Manager and Jalilah Chesshire, former Balfour Beatty Apprentice and current Assistant Quantity Surveyor, sat down with Presenter Ian Collins. Ryan explained: “It’s been transformational for Balfour Beatty. We’ve brought Apprentices into our business for many decades now and it’s absolutely critical. We are developing that skilled workforce for the future and without the Apprentices, we wouldn’t be able to have the presence on some of the projects we do have.” Ryan Mayor was also featured in Construction News discussing why collaboration is so crucial in addressing the skills gap in the infrastructure and construction industry. Commenting, Ryan said: “As we navigate the successes and challenges, we must collectively commit to improving our Apprenticeship programmes. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and engaging with students early, we can create an Apprenticeship environment that not only meets current industry demands but also sets the stage for the future.” Balfour Beatty is committed to attracting the next generation of talent, with 6.5% of the company’s UK workforce made up of Apprentices, Graduates, Trainees and Sponsored Students as part of its membership of The 5% Club – a dynamic movement of employers committed to providing ‘Earn & Learn’ positions. To watch the Talk TV interview, click here. Balfour Beatty is live from 44:50. Or read the Construction News article in full, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
‘Safety, Quality, Value and Production’, were the watchwords of Jim McPhillips, founder of McPhillips Wellington, words that continue to underscore the work of the company today as it celebrates sixty years of trading in 2024. In the beginning it was all about digging footings and drainage for local house builders. This was followed by expansion during the 1980’s into larger industrial buildings for businesses moving into Telford. Further expansion saw complex civil engineering projects bearing the name of McPhillips on site banners. Today McPhillips provides industry leading design, construction and development to the residential infrastructure, public civil engineering and building sectors throughout the Midlands, North West England and Wales. This diverse experience of civil engineering and building contracts provides a unique ‘single source’ solution. McPhillips have always been based in Shropshire, the firm moved to its current purpose built headquarters at Hortonwood, Telford in 1989. Over the decades McPhillips has recognised the value to the business of directly employing its workforce. In contrast to a growing industry trend for subcontracting on a project by project basis, McPhillips employs over 240 personnel including a 170 strong in-house workforce for on-site labour, eighty percent of whom live within 20 miles of Head Office in Telford. Over 20% of McPhillips’s direct workforce began life as apprentices. Every year a fresh intake of apprentices are placed into suitable teams, each fulfilling genuine roles within the company, they receive a competitive wage whilst also studying towards an NVQ Level 2 in Construction Operations at Telford college. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
InstallerSHOW 2024 is the UK’s must attend event for those specifying in heat, water, air and energy technology, and will this year partner with CIAT as it continues to grow in relevance to Architectural Technologists. The InstallerSHOW has over 600 exhibitors, and takes place between 25-27 June at the NEC Birmingham, making it the ultimate showcase in products and innovation required to create net zero buildings. It is also the best opportunity to connect with the key people in the supply chain, putting the architectural technologist at the heart of this industry and a chance to connect with the all-important installer. This year’s event comes at a critical time for our industry, with the latest changes in building regulations as a result of the Building Safety Act, as well as net zero legislation around phasing out fossil fuel heating in our new homes and buildings. These shifting regulations have changed the way we work and created an even greater need for clarity and collaboration between professions. As the InstallerSHOW has grown over recent years, it now offers Architectural Technologists an opportunity to learn what the issues are for installers on the ground, and how they can play a pivotal role as the sector comes together. The InstallerSHOW is jammed packed with insightful content, and this year will carry over 7 streams of content over 3 days. Topics covered include the Future Homes Standard, the Clean Heat Mechanism, The Building Safety Act, and the Golden Thread. Highlights from this content programme include stage hosts Samira Ahmed, BBC presenter, and Environmentalist Philippa Forrester. They will be hosting debates and keynotes from speakers including: New for InstallerSHOW 2024 is the introduction of Installer Kitchens & Bathrooms, which will showcase the role technology and innovation play in shaping the kitchens and bathrooms of the future, to an audience of 20,000 installers, specifiers, designers, developers, manufacturers and retailers. Organisers of the InstallerSHOW are excited to welcome CIAT as a contributing partner to this year’s programme. Nathan Garnett, Business Development Director said “We have always known how important the role of a Chartered Architectural Technologist is to the whole building process, so it is vital to have their voice on the InstallerSHOW programme to foster greater collaboration. This can only help us improved on sustainability, safety and productivity as we see technology changing the industry before our eyes.” Adam Endacott, Creative & Communications Director at CIAT commented: “We are pleased to be working with InstallerSHOW to bring high quality content and resources to our members and affiliates. This will not only assist with their core CPD but enable them to explore and discover new products and technologies as key specifiers in the sector.” InstallerSHOW is brimming with inspiration and innovation to help installers and specifiers create sustainable, safe buildings. As part of this new partnership, 2024 also sees the CIAT leadership contributing to these topics via the Housing Hub and Elemental Programmes. A visit to the show will allow you to explore over 600 exhibitors, with leading brands including Baxi, Worcester Bosch, Roca, Hansgrohe, VitrA, Vaillant, Schneider Electric, Aico, Rehau & Grohe. Content and Knowledge partners include Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Chartered Institute of Building, National Home Improvement Council, The Federation of Master Builders, the Code for Construction Product Information, and many more. Register now to be kept up to speed as these sessions and speakers are announced. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
WORKFORCE management and access control solutions provider, MSite has announced a major update to its purpose-built online induction platform to improve everyone’s journey ahead of stepping foot on construction sites. By adding automatic content translation into more than 30 languages, some of the industry’s greatest challenges – including safety, compliance and efficiency – are being combatted. Already used by leading contractors including Morgan Sindall and Lendlease, the purpose of the online induction platform is to ensure individual compliance with the requirements set by each contractor, incorporating induction material based on construction site, job role and company specific information. The latest update rolled out by MSite makes the induction platform more user friendly for both site managers and workers by enabling the integration of existing onboarding content and automatic translation – catering to the linguistic diversity of the modern UK construction workforce. While hugely improving the off-site worker journey, platform users include anyone who wishes to gain access to a construction site – such as supervisors, administrative teams, corporate personnel and visitors. Simon Meyer, digital strategy director at MSite, said: “It’s in our DNA to develop technology solutions that are easy to implement and offer a multitude of benefits. Our inspiration is twofold; tackling the main pain points experienced by businesses across the industry and bridging the gap between management and workforce. “We have used the workforce data we have available and relationships with some of the construction industry’s biggest players to identify where inductions can be simplified and clearer for the multicultural UK labour force. The constant monitoring and reviewing of workforce diversity and journeys is a core part of our business, so this update is to improve understanding, efficiency and safety for all.” Providing comprehensive safety training and awareness programmes, online inductions can enhance the understanding of safety protocols – reducing the likelihood of accidents which are still commonplace within construction, based on reports from the Health and Safety Executive. The ability to regularly update training modules to reflect the latest safety regulations and best practices also ensures that all workers are always up to date with current standards and regulatory requirements. Automatically recording who has completed training, when it was completed and what the training entailed enables digital record-keeping to simplify compliance auditing and reporting processes. Online inductions are also more time-efficient and resource-friendly as workers can complete inductions at their own pace and convenience, reducing downtime and the need for physical training resources. Stuart Ware, senior customer success manager at MSite for Balfour Beatty and John Sisk & Son, said: “The induction platform is just one solution within our blended workforce management suite, which works seamlessly alongside pre-registration software and site access hardware, providing greater insight that will move the industry forward. As with all our solutions, the induction platform intends to offer greater consistency and heightened standards, benefitting both workers and management alike. We’re very excited by the latest update to an already popular platform and look forward to the feedback from customers.” Part of the Infobric Group, MSite has operated in the construction industry for more than 20 years with values based on embracing challenge, achieving together and doing the right thing. With an end-to-end workforce management solution ranging from pre-site registration and inductions through to access control, site briefings and workforce management, MSite is trusted by leading names such as Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall, Sisk and BAM across all construction levels and sectors including commercial, housebuilding, infrastructure, refit and utilities. For more information about MSite, visit www.msite.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
