Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has reached a significant milestone with its completion of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) scheme Crown Place Nottingham – over 10,000 multi-room beds have now been
Plans to transform a derelict hospital in Birmingham into a 42-storey skyscraper with 300 apartments have been submitted by planning, design and development consultancy Marrons on behalf of HJB Investments. Dating back to the early 19th century, the Grade II-listed former Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, in 80 Broad Street, was last
In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important focus for any building development, whether a refurbishment or a new build. The introduction of BREEAM quality standards has only enhanced this even further. Having worked on a myriad of construction sites, Pexhurst’s Contracts/Commercial Manager Dan Beadle identifies the importance of
Local housebuilder Crest Nicholson has launched two new phases at their Brooklands Park development in Stoke Gifford, Bristol. The stylish collection of three and four bedroom homes is ideal for homebuyers looking for a semi-rural property with easy walking distance of Bristol Parkway train station with great links to London
3ti®, the UK’s leading designer, installer, funder and operator of Solar Car Parks (SCPs) is installing the first large-scale SCP in Europe to be constructed from sustainable Glulam timber beams and Glass-Glass solar panels. Opening to the public in April, the new SCP at Wiltshire Council’s Five Rivers Health &
Balfour Beatty VINCI has launched its last tunnel boring machine (TBM) to dig tunnels for HS2, the new high speed railway in the West Midlands. The 125 metres long TBM has started on its journey to dig the second bore of HS2’s Bromford Tunnel, between the east portal at Water
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has responded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s 2024 Spring Budget. RIBA President Muyiwa Oki said: “With a General Election on the horizon, it’s no surprise that announcements aim to boost household budgets. But the Government has lost sight of the bigger picture
Tamworth-based trade association, the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), has urged extreme caution following an incident involving an elderly woman whose clothes became caught in a moving roller door shutter resulting in her being lifted several feet into the air. 71-year-old store cleaner, Anne Hughes’s coat became lodged in the
Solihull Council approved the design for the HS2 green tunnel in Burton Green to cover it with plants and new footpaths to increase biodiversity. The designs respond to community feedback, focusing on bigger and better green spaces around the railway, following public engagement events in October 2019 and March 2022.
Barratt David Wilson North Thames contributed £34.6 million to benefit communities across the Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex last year, according to its Socio-Economic Footprint report. This includes £28.4m expenditure on physical works included highway and environmental improvements, affordable homes and community facilities in the region. The housebuilder made a further
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has reached a significant milestone with its completion of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) scheme Crown Place Nottingham – over 10,000 multi-room beds have now been successfully handed over to clients. Images: Crown Place Nottingham, exterior The total spans 29 projects and Winvic’s Director of Multi-room, Mark Jones, has taken the company’s sector turnover from £30 million in 2017 to £230 million. Winvic’s residential sector team has also expanded from 10 individuals to 130 during this time. Mindful of adapting to ever-changing market conditions, Winvic harnessed the strength found within its core values – The Winvic Way – and focused initial delivery on PBSA projects. Winvic capitalised on the Build-to-Rent (BTR) market boom and now 70 per cent of its Multi-room strategic focus is on BTR schemes. Winvic delivered the first 235 rooms to Crown Student Living in time for the start of the 2023/4 academic year, another 109 in October and now all 426 student residences have been completed. A hybrid reinforced concrete frame approach has been used, meaning large portions of the frame have been pre-cast off site. Inside the six-storey building Winvic has constructed and fitted out 230 studios and 196 cluster flats, 300 sq ft of dining rooms and a 4,300 sq ft shared social spaces, including a gym and cinema, karaoke, games and ping pong rooms. BIM Level 2 was utilised by Winvic to quickly identify and resolve package clashes and meet a tight two-year programme on a compact site, with main roads and a mosque to three boundaries. A brick slip cladding system has been utilised on the façade, with aged red bricks; the design complements the surrounding architecture, and the bricks closely match those used in the neighbouring former Nottingham tram depot. Winvic’s site and social value teams collaborated throughout the project and S106 employment and skills conditions set out by the local authority were exceeded. Employment, training and on-site work experience placements were given to local people and Winvic team members volunteered at Stonebridge City Farm, which delivers skill learning opportunities to over 150 local residents each week, many of whom have mental health challenges or learning disabilities. Mark Jones, Winvic’s Director of Multi-room, said: “This significant milestone of 10,000 beds completed by Winvic across 29 Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Build-to-Rent and hotel projects, plus our extraordinary growth in the sector over the last six years stands as a clear testament to our unwavering dedication to residential excellence and innovation. “Crown Place Nottingham, which has just been handed over and takes us 280 beds over the momentous figure, is an excellent example of this. We have not only used digital design but also taken a hybrid approach to the concrete frame construction, whereby off-site casting has provided factory-controlled quality and enabled a faster programme. This is our first project for Crown Student Living and our second – Crown Place Birmingham – will be complete towards the end of 2025; our relationship has grown from strength to strength so I hope we can deliver more vibrant PBSA schemes in partnership in the coming years.” Also contributing to Winvic’s total of 10,280 completed multi-room beds with handovers in October and November 2023 are the PLATFORM_ Build-to-Rent development in Sheffield and Corkfield in Edgbaston for client Patrizia. More information about the three projects can be found on page 16 of Winvic’s recently published Winvic Word online newsletter. The six, seven and fourteen-storey steel-framed PLATFORM_ development contains 179 one-bedroom, 50 studios, 89 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom smart-tech enabled apartments, which all achieve EPC B. Winvic has also constructed and fitted out a 1,800 sq ft residents’ lounge, a 1,400 sq ft private dining room, a 1,250 sq ft gym and landscaped roof terraces on three levels as part of the BTR project. Two commercial spaces totalling 7,650 sq ft can also be found on the ground floor. Alongside the creation of a new entrance plaza and improvements to the adjacent Edgbaston Stadium – home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club – and highways improvements to Edgbaston Road and Pershore Road, Winvic was appointed by Patrizia to deliver 189 one-bedroom, 169 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom apartments. Corkfield’s concrete-framed blocks reach five, seven, eight, 13 and 18 storeys. The BTR scheme also comprises 6,100 sq ft shared amenity spaces, an undercroft car park for 111 vehicles and 214 cycles, a 3,000 sq ft rooftop terrace, a 21,700 sq ft landscaped podium deck and five commercial units totalling 15,000 sq ft. A timelapse video of Corkfield’s construction can be found here. Local authority S106 employment and skills requirements were also exceeded by Winvic on Sylvester Street and Corkfield. Jones, who has also recently written a blog on the Winvic website about their achievement, continued: “Each of our projects are more than just buildings, they tell stories of precision, dedication, our commitment to safe and timely delivery and consideration to communities. The Winvic team members of course play the leading roles in these stories and we’re proud to have grown and nurtured a team that truly shares our vision and understands collaboration is crucial to success; from programme and operations to achieving sustainability goals to delivering social value activity that makes a difference to local people’s lives. I’d like to thank our team for their ongoing hard work and all our clients for putting their trust in Winvic to bring their residential visions to life. “As we reflect on these achievements, we’re not just looking back; we’re looking forward with anticipation and excitement because with our drive, the best is yet to come.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (formerly Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to transform a derelict hospital in Birmingham into a 42-storey skyscraper with 300 apartments have been submitted by planning, design and development consultancy Marrons on behalf of HJB Investments. Dating back to the early 19th century, the Grade II-listed former Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, in 80 Broad Street, was last in use as a bar, restaurant and nightclub, which closed in 2020. The building, known as Islington Villa, has remained vacant ever since and fallen into a state of disrepair. HJB Investments is now looking to restore the historic building and bring the site back into use by constructing a 133.5m tower with 300 build-to-rent homes, 20% of which will be affordable. The plans – designed by architects at Marrons – also include the creation of a: 12,000 sq ft flexible community facility; 6,000 sq ft viewing platform with café and exhibition area; residential rooftop terrace; and cycle hub with 300 parking spaces. Charlotte El Hakiem, planning director at Marrons, who led the application, said: “Broad Street is undergoing a period of intense regeneration, with the overriding vision of creating a vibrant residential neighbourhood, so we are extremely pleased to unveil plans to transform a beautiful Georgian-style building on under-utilised brownfield land. “The proposal takes a distinctive and innovative approach that allows for the retention and careful repurposing of a Grade II-listed building to bring it back into public use, while simultaneously creating a striking 42-storey landmark tower that contains much-needed housing to accommodate the city’s ever-growing population. “Beyond the tangible housing benefits, the proposal promises to significantly enhance the city’s public realm, improve connectivity, and invigorate the local economy through the creation of flexible community spaces and onsite amenities – delivering extensive community and public benefits to the area.” The mixed-use residential-led scheme is set to create 299 full-time equivalent jobs during the construction phase. Once complete, the neighbourhood is expected to contribute £12.2 million and £8.8 million to the UK and West Midlands economy each year, respectively. By 1815, Islington Villa was owned by Rice Harris who, along with Owen Johnson and John Berry, established the Islington Glassworks in 1816. From 1842, 80 Broad Street became the new premises of the Birmingham Lying-in Hospital and Dispensary for the Diseases of Women and Children for Birmingham and the West Midlands Counties. By 1955, the building had been renamed the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital. To supplement the planning application, Marrons also completed a heritage impact assessment and a socio economic affordable housing statement. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important focus for any building development, whether a refurbishment or a new build. The introduction of BREEAM quality standards has only enhanced this even further. Having worked on a myriad of construction sites, Pexhurst’s Contracts/Commercial Manager Dan Beadle identifies the importance of early collaboration between architects, the client and our supply chain of sub-contractors. Additionally, he reveals the environmental, social, and economic impacts that retrofitting with BREEAM in mind can have. Although incredibly important during retrofitting projects, where new energy efficient systems are fitted in buildings previously built without them, BREEAM sustainability targets are difficult to achieve, but no doubt a worthwhile endeavour. BREEAM assessments use recognised measures of performance that are set against established benchmarks to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. These measures represent a comprehensive range of categories and criteria, including ecology and energy. Each of these categories focus on the most influential factors, including low impact design, ecological value, reduced carbon emissions, biodiversity protection and adaptation to climate change. Indeed, studies by Holmes and Hudson in 2002 revealed that the objective of achieving an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating can significantly influence the original design of a building and the changes made to the design, including ventilation design, water services, materials and the design of the building itself. With that in mind, working closely with designers, architects and sub-contractors at a very early stage in the retrofitting project is absolutely crucial. Doing so and integrating sustainability measures at this early stage can help to enable increases in asset value, building user experience, risk mitigation, and reduced life cycle costs. Setting objectives and thinking ahead makes a huge difference With BREEAM relatively new to the retrofitting sector, identifying and researching material that will be specifically helpful in meeting and exceeding sustainability targets is crucial. Furthermore, as Mark Farmer[1] once explained, “collaboration prevents itself scaling up, sharing risk more appropriately and creating better business plan certainty.” When it comes to building design and sustainability, two heads are definitely better than one. Indeed, more considerate planning and collaboration is likely to help future building projects deliver holistically sustainable BREEAM buildings. With this in mind, it’s important the industry shifts its mind-set towards incorporating the framework into new projects from the very beginning of the design process. Additionally, collaborative working at the start can also prevent projects incurring further costs, which can often happen when BREEAM is incorporated much later into the project. Similarly, by not commencing any BREEAM requirements at an early stage of the project, there is an increasing likelihood the project won’t finish on time. Increasing the longevity of the building As well as having an improved environmental impact, the successful implementation of BREEAM on a retrofitting project can also enhance the longevity of a building. Often, implementing BREEAM targets can enhance the project quality by reducing defects and enforcing the need for strict commissioning procedures. Compared to the same refurbishment without a similar scheme in place, this provides a better and more valuable property for the client. It also highlights the importance of making collaborative decisions during the design and construction phases and how doing so can have far-reaching impacts on the building’s overall lifespan. This can include anything from resultant emissions through to resource consumption. While studies have revealed that build costs are typically increased by 1% if BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ grades are to be achieved, long-term retrofitting of a building can actually decrease the building’s operating cost. So, while in the short-term it is a more expensive construction process, the longer-term financial benefits typically outweigh this. Additionally, BREEAM does not currently provide a holistic approach to sustainability, nor a full life-cycle assessment, so consideration must be paid to this when working on the design of any building that has sustainability in mind. Operating with the environment in mind The Government’s Carbon Net Zero Guidance Note reveals that around 40% of UK carbon emissions are linked to the built environment. Furthermore, the construction industry generates 32% of all waste sent to landfill. As a result, the environmental assessment of buildings has increasingly become a major focus of the sustainable built environment. BREEAM evaluates environmental performance across a myriad of different categories, including health and well-being, land use and ecology, energy, management, and pollution. Additionally, BREEAM standards help to provide a meaningful and evolving pathway towards ecological protection, recovery and mitigation. There is also a strong incentivisation to reduce carbon emission, with flexible and achievable benchmarks relating to operational and embodied performance. This is especially important given the fact that embodied carbon, emissions created during the manufacture of building materials and construction practices, accounts for approximately 22% of all emissions in a new development. With these targets in mind, retrofitting projects can typically incorporate measures and focus on building fabric improvements and upgrading services with modern technologies and materials. For example, insulation can be enhanced, carbon-burning appliances can be replaced with air-source heat pumps and energy efficient features such as rainwater harvesting systems, photovoltaic panels, zonal heating and lighting controls and LED lighting can be integrated. Better occupant health and wellbeing Buildings with BREEAM certification are designed and constructed to high environmental performance standards, meaning they’re likely to have better air quality, use safer materials for human health, and have other features that can boost occupants’ wellbeing. This is supported by a BREEAM survey, which revealed that 59% of respondents reported an ‘improved occupant satisfaction’ as a benefit of having completed a BREEAM assessment during their project. Additionally, BREEAM certified buildings are designed to use less energy for lighting, heating, and cooling, resulting in lower energy bills for the occupants and significant savings over the long term. In summary Overall, with sustainability demands constantly changing and evolving, the need to outline the plans and methods for meeting the desired BREEAM score into retrofitting projects, ideally before works start, is becoming increasingly more important, as is close collaboration with the project team. As a sustainability-focused company, Pexhurst
Local housebuilder Crest Nicholson has launched two new phases at their Brooklands Park development in Stoke Gifford, Bristol. The stylish collection of three and four bedroom homes is ideal for homebuyers looking for a semi-rural property with easy walking distance of Bristol Parkway train station with great links to London Paddington in just over an hour. Crest Nicholson is welcoming prospective homebuyers to come and have a look at the development and get a feel for the great community. The friendly sales executives and experts are on hand to help provide potential buyers with the best information to help them make an informed decision before embarking on the purchasing journey. Buyers looking to either increase their portfolio or purchase their dream home can reap the benefits of buying off plan, allowing them to secure the plot that fits their preferences and lifestyle as well as being able to personalise their property with top amenities to make the move even more comfortable. Neil Robinson, Head of Sales and Marketing at Crest Nicholson South West, comments: “We are very excited to have launched the next phases at our Brooklands Park development, giving buyers another chance to take advantage of everything the development has to offer. “At Brooklands Park homeowners can enjoy energy efficient homes amid peaceful surroundings and a thriving community while still being able to conveniently commute into Bristol, Gloucester, Swindon Reading, London and the surrounding areas. It really is the best of both worlds! I would encourage anyone interested to visit us or get in touch with our knowledgeable sales team to see what schemes we have on offer to help make the move.” Spread out across a 65-acre site yet just six miles from the centre of Bristol, Brooklands Park offers a restful, semi-rural environment with plenty of open green space, including a wildlife corridor to encourage and care for local wildlife. There are a range of local amenities nearby including retail parks, restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets, as well the Cabot Circus shopping centre and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway for all retail needs. For those looking to enjoy indoor leisure activities, Nuffield Health, DW Fitness gyms and Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre are all close by, whilst local golf, bowling and cricket clubs are available to join for those keen on getting involved in outdoor sports. For residents with children, Bradley Stoke Secondary School and Abbeywood Community School, Baileys Court, Little Stoke and St Michaels primary schools, plus St Michael’s nursery are all also a short drive away. For commuters, the development is a 12 minute walk to Bristol Parkway railway station, which provides regular services to London Paddington in just over an hour. For those with a car, the M32, M4 and M5 can all be found nearby, linking residents to the wider South West region, while Bristol Airport is just a 40 minute drive away, flying to a range of countries including Malta, Copenhagen and Vienna. Prices for a three bedroom home at Brooklands Park start at £410,000, whilst a four bedroom starts at £550,000. At Brooklands Park there are a range of schemes available on select properties to help homebuyers secure their dream home including the Deposit Unlock scheme, Family Cashback and Mortgage Contributor. For more information call 01174546897 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/brooklands-park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
3ti®, the UK’s leading designer, installer, funder and operator of Solar Car Parks (SCPs) is installing the first large-scale SCP in Europe to be constructed from sustainable Glulam timber beams and Glass-Glass solar panels. Opening to the public in April, the new SCP at Wiltshire Council’s Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre is a significant leap in maximising the lifetime sustainability of solar installations and showcases several advanced technologies that revolutionise the construction, efficiency and visual appeal of SCPs. The new SCP structure is made from Glulam, renewable, recyclable wood laminations bonded together to offer a natural alternative to steel or concrete. The engineered timber affords significant advantages over structural steel; it is three times stronger and a third lighter, and uses only a tenth of the energy it would take to produce an equivalent steel beam, contributing to a more sustainable building process. The material has minimal environmental impact from its production, is highly repairable, and is an excellent biofuel at the end of its life, further minimising waste. As part of the construction, 3ti has used special Spirafix™ ground anchors to secure the SCP structure, without using conventional concrete bases or steel piles. This achieves significant carbon savings, speeds up the installation process, is more durable and can be recycled or properly disposed of once the anchors reach the end of their lifecycle. The solar installation at Five Rivers comprises three gullwing solar canopies covering 70 car park spaces, with a combined total capacity of c.220 kWp. The leisure centre will use 100% of the solar generation on-site, which will contribute approximately 10% of overall electricity demand at the site, saving around £50,000 a year on electricity bills. In its first year, the Five Rivers SCP is expected to generate 186MWh of electricity, enough to drive 679,856 miles in a modern EV, saving 36 tonnes of carbon emissions – the equivalent of planting nearly 600 trees and powering 50 homes. The canopies are fitted with transparent Glass-Glass solar panels from German manufacturer, Solarwatt®. The panels offer high efficiency and long-term yields thanks to their bifacial technology, which means solar energy is captured on both sides of the panel increasing total energy generation. The solar cells are embedded in a highly durable Glass-Glass composite protecting them from challenging environmental and mechanical stress, including snow and hailstorms, and are ammonia and salt mist resistant. In addition to its large scale SCP, Five Rivers recently became the first leisure facility in the UK to install 3ti’s award-winning Papilio3® pop-up solar car park and EV charging hub. Papilio3 is built around a recycled shipping container, and can be installed in under eight hours. It can fast charge 12 EVs at 7, 11 or 22kW simultaneously, ideal for a range of destinations with longer dwell times, removing the reliance on carbon-intense and costly ultra-rapid charge points. Pre-fitted with a range of innovations and safety features, including motion lighting, CCTV, advertising screens and full accessibility for wheelchair users, Papilio3 can be rented on a monthly basis from 3ti. Philip McMullan, Senior Technical Lead on Major Energy Projectsat Wiltshire Council, said: “We have invested heavily in sustainability to achieve our 2030 carbon neutral goals. The new solar installations at Five Rivers will help reduce our carbon footprint and support the local community with the transition to zero emission motoring by strengthening the county’s EV charging infrastructure.” Tim Evans, Founder & CEO at 3ti, adds: “Our job is to champion workplace and destination EV charging to promote a ‘charge where you stop’ mentality across the UK, while supporting customers to achieve their sustainability goals. Better EV charging infrastructure at destinations with long dwell times – offices, hospitals and leisure facilities like Five Rivers – will encourage greater EV adoption rates; it’s refreshing to see Wiltshire Council adopting such a forward-thinking approach, and we are honoured to play a part in their sustainability vision. “We are constantly evolving our SCP products and are proud to feature these innovative new designs, construction materials and techniques at Five Rivers. Introducing these features means we can offer better durability and versatility than conventional materials and significantly reduce carbon emissions generated across the entire product lifecycle. This installation marks a major milestone on our journey to supporting customers and society as a whole; we will continue to work with facilities around the UK to roll out installations to support future generations and ‘leave something better behind®’.” For more information on 3ti’s SCPs and Papilio3, please visit: 3ti.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty VINCI has launched its last tunnel boring machine (TBM) to dig tunnels for HS2, the new high speed railway in the West Midlands. The 125 metres long TBM has started on its journey to dig the second bore of HS2’s Bromford Tunnel, between the east portal at Water Orton in North Warwickshire and the west portal at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. The 3.5 mile twin bore tunnel will take high speed trains in and out of Birmingham, with a series of viaducts between Washwood Heath and Curzon Street Station taking trains to the city centre. The first TBM, which launched in June 2023 and was named ‘Mary Ann’ – the real name of Warwickshire-born author George Eliot, has completed around one third of her journey digging towards Birmingham. So far, the machine has tunnelled under the Park Hall Nature Reserve, is currently near the River Tame, and will continue adjacent to the M6 at a depth of 27 metres before breaking through at Washwood Heath later this year. The second TBM is due to finish its journey in Autumn 2025. The full Bromford Tunnel programme is being delivered by around 450 people working for Balfour Beatty VINCI. A specialist tunnelling team working for Balfour Beatty VINCI’s sub-contractors Tunnelcraft and Solihull-based Rorcon, are operating both TBMs 24/7, with each bore taking around 16 months. Following the tradition of naming HS2 TBMs after famous women from the local area, pupils from Paget Primary School in Birmingham chose to call the machine ‘Elizabeth’ after Dame Elizabeth Cadbury, who spent her life campaigning for the education and welfare of women in Birmingham. The name was unveiled on site by Lucy Holmes – Forest School Lead at Paget Primary School, and Diane Donaldson – Birmingham City Councillor for Bromford & Hodge Hill Ward. Jules Arlaud, Tunnelling Director for Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “Today marks Balfour Beatty VINCI’s fourth and final TBM launch – an incredible moment for our tunnelling team who have worked tirelessly to achieve this milestone. “As ‘Mary Ann’ continues her journey towards Washwood Heath in Birmingham, we’re now looking forward to having two machines underground, as this fascinating and complex stretch of the HS2 route inches another step closer to completion.” Catherine Loveridge, HS2’s Senior Project Manager said: “It’s fantastic to see this last West Midlands TBM get underway, marking another key moment for HS2 in the region. We’re now at peak construction on the project, delivering these massive feats of engineering using many local companies and local skills. “Over a third of our total HS2 workforce are based at worksites across the West Midlands, and thousands more jobs are still to be created locally as work to build Curzon Street Station, Interchange Station and the Washwood Heath Depot gathers momentum.” Tunnelcraft have recruited nine tunnelling apprentices, including formerly unemployed people from the local area, providing a unique opportunity to learn new skills and start a new career. Cormac Hicks, Managing Director at Tunnelcraft Ltd said: “This massive feat of engineering is providing a unique opportunity for people from the local area to come and work with us, learning new skills and qualifications in the process. “At Tunnelcraft, we have a range of entry role positions still available and would encourage local people to get in contact. There has never been a more promising time to start a career in UK tunnelling.” Elliot Stanley, Tunnelcraft Tunnelling Apprentice said: “Looking back on what we have learnt in such a short space of time is incredible. HS2 is a massive project and when it’s finished I can say that I played a big part in making that.” Solihull-based company Rorcon were awarded a subcontract by Balfour Beatty VINCI in 2023 to provide specialist tunnel labour for the Bromford tunnels. Around 60 people including one apprentice from the company are working on the Bromford Tunnel programme. Terry Grogan, Managing Director of Rorcon Limited said: “As a family-owned SME based in Solihull, we’re delighted to be involved in a project so close to home. It’s a privilege to be part of the Balfour Beatty VINCI and HS2 supply chain on a project that will have such a positive impact on the local community for the coming generations, whether that be providing jobs to the local area or by those who utilise the rail network once complete – a real bonus for the West Midlands.” As part of Balfour Beatty VINCI’s school engagement programme, pupils at Paget School in Birmingham have named the second TBM ‘Elizabeth’ after learning about famous women from Birmingham. They chose the name after Dame Elizabeth Cadbury DBE, who founded the Birmingham Union of Girls’ Clubs, was Vice President of the Electrical Association for Women, and President of the United Hospital in Birmingham. Together with her husband – George Cadbury, the chocolate manufacturer – she participated in the reform of industrial working and living conditions through supporting the welfare, health and education of women and children in Bournville. For her public service Elizabeth Cadbury was made an OBE in 1918 and a DBE in 1934. Lucy Holmes, Forest School Lead at Paget Primary School said: “Our pupils have been learning about the importance of the Cadbury family in Birmingham, and we’re thrilled that we could name the TBM after Dame Elizabeth Cadbury. We’d like to thank HS2 and Balfour Beatty VINCI for their continuing involvement with our school.” Both TBMs will remove a total of 1.87 million tonnes of excavated material, which is sifted at the on-site slurry treatment plant and reused on HS2’s nearby sites at Delta Junction, where a complex network of 13 viaducts is being built. HS2 has built dedicated roads between these construction sites, including an access off the M6/M42 link roads, in order to take lorries off public roads. Working as an ‘underground factory’, both TBMs will put a total of 41,594 concrete segments in place, creating 5,942 rings to make the twin bore tunnel, with each ring weighing 49 tonnes. The segments are being
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has responded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s 2024 Spring Budget. RIBA President Muyiwa Oki said: “With a General Election on the horizon, it’s no surprise that announcements aim to boost household budgets. But the Government has lost sight of the bigger picture and missed a key moment to improve our buildings – especially our homes. A weak economy, housing crisis and climate emergency demand urgent attention. Millions of substandard, ageing homes are leaking energy and money. The government must bring forward a National Retrofit Strategy – a well-funded programme to boost the green economy, cut emissions and lower people’s energy bills. Today’s investment in new housing is welcome, but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed. Without more support, we will fail to deliver the number of high-quality, sustainable homes and places the country needs. A simplified, well-resourced planning system will not only address housing challenges, but boost sustainable development, grow the economy, and make people healthier and happier. It’s essential and long overdue. We will continue to work with the Government to create a better built environment for everyone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Tamworth-based trade association, the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), has urged extreme caution following an incident involving an elderly woman whose clothes became caught in a moving roller door shutter resulting in her being lifted several feet into the air. 71-year-old store cleaner, Anne Hughes’s coat became lodged in the rising shutter outside the Best One off-licence in Pontypridd, South Wales, on Monday. And despite being quickly rescued by store manager, Amed Akram, 44, Ms Hughes was left dangling upside down in an incident that DHF has described as a shocking and unacceptable ‘near-miss-fatality’. In addition, a video of the incident, currently being circulated on several social media platforms, has resulted in a reaction of laughter as opposed to concern. In an article in yesterday’s Mirror, New Reporter Susie Beever states: “A woman’s embarrassing faux pas with some window shutters has left people in hysterics after the hilarious moment was caught on CCTV.” “This incident is far from amusing and could very easily have resulted in tragedy had Anne’s coat fabric failed and she fell onto her head ,” explains DHF’s Training and Compliance Officer, Nick Perkins. “The two glaring issues are that there is a hooking hazard on the door on which Ms Hughes became caught. Additionally, the door was opening automatically and according to the now 24-year-old standard for roller shutter doors, either the hooking hazard should have been removed, or the door should have been operated from a ‘hold-to-run control’ that would only function within sight of the door, or the door should have been torque limited so that it could not lift more than 20kg. “There should not have been any hooking hazards on a shutter that would act in this way and questions should be raised as to why the shutter drive (motor) was so overpowered to be able to lift a person as well as the weight of the shutter? We cannot emphasise enough the seriousness of this situation, and we urge owners and managers, who have a responsibility to all users particularly when on property that is used, accessed or open to the public, to ensure that they are adhering to the legal requirements for these products.”The law relating to placing roller shutter doors on the market in the UK can be referenced here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1597/contents/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1387/introduction/made Similarly, the law affecting the operation of, the owning and/or managing of roller shutter doors in the UK can be refenced here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/contents/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents “EN 12453 has been published by BSI in the UK since 2001 and describes in detail the safety measures that must be implemented when a roller shutter door is placed on the market and hence should be in place for a door in service,” concludes Nick. “Further DHF guidance for owners and managers can be found in publication, DHF TS 013-3.” DHF publication DHF TS 013-3 can be downloaded free of charge from the DHF website https://bit.ly/DHFTechnicalSpecifications Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Solihull Council approved the design for the HS2 green tunnel in Burton Green to cover it with plants and new footpaths to increase biodiversity. The designs respond to community feedback, focusing on bigger and better green spaces around the railway, following public engagement events in October 2019 and March 2022. The plans for the southern end of the structure have already been approved by Warwickshire District Council, where the railway will travel in a 400-metre green tunnel. The railway will be hidden, and the roof will be covered with landscape planting and new footpaths to sensitively integrate the railway into the surrounding landscape and enhance local biodiversity. Solihull Council’s approval of the northern section of the structure, where the railway exits the tunnel north portal in a 1.4-kilometre cutting with retained walls, completes the planning approvals for this stretch of HS2. A key feature for this area is the realignment of the Kenilworth Greenway, which provides a link from Balsall Common to Kenilworth via Burton Green for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. The new Greenway will cross under Cromwell Lane and then cross the roof of the green tunnel and run alongside the railway cutting, with noise barriers further minimising impacts on the local community. Large-scale planting of native trees and shrubs will provide biodiverse habitats for wildlife, shield the Greenway visibly from the new railway, and re-establish vegetated connections to Black Waste Wood and Little Poors Wood, both areas of ancient woodland. Alan Payne, HS2’s Senior Project Manager said: “We’re delighted to receive Schedule 17 planning consent for the northern section of the green tunnel from Solihull Council. We’re committed to maximising green space around the new high-speed railway and have worked with residents and authorities to ensure our tunnel design conserves, enhances and transforms the landscape in this area. “The design for the permanent realignment for the Kenilworth Greenway and the landscape infrastructure created over the green tunnel is central to how we deliver this, linking the local community and railway with the wider landscape.” The green tunnel in Burton Green was designed by the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture working for HS2’s main works contractor for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), who are constructing 90km of HS2 between Long Itchington in Warwickshire to the centre of Birmingham and on to Staffordshire. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barratt David Wilson North Thames contributed £34.6 million to benefit communities across the Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex last year, according to its Socio-Economic Footprint report. This includes £28.4m expenditure on physical works included highway and environmental improvements, affordable homes and community facilities in the region. The housebuilder made a further £6.2m contribution in support of community and social infrastructure through planning and Government schemes, with the launch of new parks, playgrounds and schools. The annual report highlights the social and economic impact of Barratt David Wilson North Thames on people, places and nature in the areas surrounding its housing developments. Some £79,500 was donated directly to local charities, including foodbanks, community groups and hospitals, with employees contributing over 250 hours volunteering throughout the year. With a commitment to enhancing biodiversity across its developments, Barratt David Wilson North Thames also opened 16.2 hectares of public open space and private gardens – equivalent to 23 football pitches of green space. Over 99% of timber used in construction was certified sustainability sourced and construction waste has been reduced by 37% since its 2015 benchmark. The housebuilder unveiled 710 new homes in the region last year, including 149 affordable homes, with a range of new properties set to be launched in 2024. Marc Woolfe, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson North Thames said: “We are committed to having a significant positive impact on the communities surrounding our homes. Our contribution to local infrastructure, charitable causes and nature in the area underpins all that we do, and we are proud to announce the scale of that contribution in this report. “We look forward to working closely with local councils and worthy causes this year to build on this fantastic work as well as unveiling our latest developments and homes in the region.” Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes are building a range of new homes across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire, in locations such as Leighton Buzzard, Aylesbury, Houghton Regis, Sawbridgeworth and Buckingham. To find out more about Barratt David Wilson North Thames visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or call 0330 057 6000. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
