February saw construction contract awards reaching £7.1bn, their highest level in seven months, according to Barbour ABI’s latest data. An 11% increase in contract awards in February appeared to confirm the increased spending trend reported by Barbour in January, as industry spenders continued to flex their muscles. Infrastructure was the
Caddick Construction has completed building work for a new £14.4m warehouse facility in Doncaster on behalf of Waystone Hargreaves Land, meeting the growing demand for new state-of-the-art industrial facilities across Yorkshire. Caddick’s build comprised the initial groundworks, including stabilisation, vibro piling and lifting of the site level by 1.5m. The
Refreshed collaboration between leading organisations will improve educational offering Today, NBS, the UK’s leading specification platform, and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have announced the signing of a renewed collaboration agreement, delivering free, high-quality specification-related Continuous Professional Development (CPDs) to the construction industry, for a further five years.
In the years that have followed on from Grenfell, a tragic event that still lives on in our memory, there have been major discussions around the cladding and insulation materials used in the construction of high-rise buildings. As a result, a series of changes have been made to fire safety
Designed to be a welcoming, social and stylish space, Travelodge’s 85 Bar Café is a vibrant place where you can enjoy a drink or a bite to eat. Eighteen Bar Cafés have already been upgraded to the brand’s contemporary design including its flagship hotel nestled in the heart of London’s
Tungsten Training Centre’s recent ‘Good’ Ofsted report goes beyond institutional acclaim; it reflects a deep commitment to fostering excellence and student success in vocational education across three apprenticeship standards: Installation and Maintenace Electrician, Plumbing and Heating and Gas Engineering. This achievement is a testament to the institution’s core mission of
‘Landscape and Carbon’ is a vital new report on carbon reduction in the UK landscape sector by the Landscape Institute (LI) and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). A direct response to the UK’s target to reach net zero by 2050, the report sets out the climate action the
The West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has established plans for a tram system between Leeds and Bradford to revolutionise the region’s transport network. It is hoped that spades will be in the ground in 2028 when construction of the early stage of the project will begin. Phase one would include
ISO Chemie’s thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system and sealing tapes have been specified for a new development project at Leicester Cathedral. The move sees WINFRAMER type 1 units, BLOCO ONE foam sealant tapes and VARIO SD window connection foils installed to support and insulate large Internorm HF410
Plans to develop a 60-acre site in East Leeds have moved closer following its confirmed allocation into the Leeds Site Allocation Plan (SAP) for major employment use. The site, known locally as Brown Moor, is adjacent to the hugely successful Thorpe Park Leeds business destination and The Springs retail and
February saw construction contract awards reaching £7.1bn, their highest level in seven months, according to Barbour ABI’s latest data. An 11% increase in contract awards in February appeared to confirm the increased spending trend reported by Barbour in January, as industry spenders continued to flex their muscles. Infrastructure was the star performer with spending increasing by 108% on January. Contracts for two road tunnels under the Thames for the Lower Thames Crossing in Kent were agreed with a value of £1.3bn. Better prospects are also in store for the commercial sector as the significant headwinds faced since the onset of the global pandemic begin to ease. A 152% increase in spending included the £330m refurbishment of Citi Group’s iconic 42-storey tower at Canary Wharf finally got into contract in February, adding to the already sizeable pipeline of extensive refurbishments in the commercial sector. Redevelopment of ITV’s former recording studio on London’s Southbank gained planning consent after a lengthy delay and Stanhope submitted revised plans for what will become the City of London’s tallest tower – 1 Undershaft – in January. Barbour ABI consultant economist, Kelly Forrest commented: “Generally, commercial project viability remains tight, but progress on these mega projects is nevertheless great news for the industry. Along with infrastructure, these sectors are providing an antidote to continued malaise in residential construction, which is still being weighed on by higher mortgage rates and weak consumer confidence.” First look at planning applications March provided a first look at planning applications in 2024. At £7.1bn in January, applications were 22% lower than a year ago with residential, Industrial and infrastructure all seeing sharp drop offs. Forrest continued: “Notably, we are seeing clear divergence emerging between spending and new planning applications. Decision makers are eager to get existing and approved projects off the ground, but they don’t yet have the confidence to look ahead to new work. Viability is a big factor constraining developers’ appetite to present schemes to planners, but this should improve when financing costs start to reduce.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction has completed building work for a new £14.4m warehouse facility in Doncaster on behalf of Waystone Hargreaves Land, meeting the growing demand for new state-of-the-art industrial facilities across Yorkshire. Caddick’s build comprised the initial groundworks, including stabilisation, vibro piling and lifting of the site level by 1.5m. The project itself saw the construction of a steel portal framed and clad industrial warehouse building. Totalling 191,000 sq. ft, the build also included 9,300 sq. ft office space over ground and first floors, together with associated service yard, car parking, landscaping and drainage infrastructure. Forming part of a wider regeneration plan, Unit B sits within the dedicated employment area of the Unity Connect scheme, strategically located adjacent to junction 5 of the M18 motorway. Achieving BREEAM Very Good, the scheme represents a huge investment by Waystone Hargreaves Land to regenerate the area, contributing to Doncaster’s growing business community. Paul Dodsworth, Managing Director at Caddick Construction Group, comments: “This has been a brilliant development working with Waystone Hargreaves Land to transform this unused site into what will become a widely connected industrial corner of Doncaster. “Delivering Unit B at Unity Connect is a great privilege for the Caddick team, and has provided us the opportunity to utilise our extensive expertise in building high quality and modern warehouses. We look forward to seeing how this project will help to shape the local community as it attracts new and growing businesses hoping to strengthen their operations at Unity Connect.” Elsewhere in Yorkshire, Caddick is delivering six modern industrial units at Leeds Valley Park on behalf of sister company, Caddick Developments. At Bradford’s One City Park scheme, Caddick is bringing to life Muse’s vision for the first office facility in the city for over two decades. Chris Metcalfe, Project Director at Hargreaves Land, comments: “We are very happy with the excellent quality of build and performance from Caddick Construction. Throughout the scheme, the contractor worked collaboratively with our stakeholders to deliver this successful project.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Refreshed collaboration between leading organisations will improve educational offering Today, NBS, the UK’s leading specification platform, and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have announced the signing of a renewed collaboration agreement, delivering free, high-quality specification-related Continuous Professional Development (CPDs) to the construction industry, for a further five years. The continued partnership marks the 30th anniversary of the RIBA CPD Providers Network. Established in 1994 to support and promote CPD, it connects those working in the construction and design industry with partner construction product manufacturers and suppliers. The agreement underscores the commitment to provide architects and other built environment professionals with highly relevant training and information, helping their ongoing competency and supporting quality throughout the built environment. Each year, RIBA Chartered Members are required to achieve 35 hours’ worth of CPD, as part of their continual development. All manner of experts, from manufacturers to advisory bodies, make up the members of the RIBA CPD Providers Network, helping architects deliver the highest quality services to clients. For RIBA members and other construction specifiers, the renewed collaboration means continued access to high-quality, RIBA-assessed CPD content, available in various formats, including in-house, online, or at RIBA CPD Expo’s and online events. All content undergoes a thorough assessment by RIBA and is designed to be trusted, helping to support safe and informed project specifications. Part of the agreement includes investing in a new and improved website showcasing CPD materials. Launching later in 2024, it will be an intuitive, easy-to-use platform to connect specifiers with CPD material from RIBA CPD Providers Network members. Commenting on the renewed partnership, Russell Haworth, CEO (UK & Ireland) at Byggfakta Group (NBS’ parent company) said: “In today’s climate, RIBA-assessed CPDs have never been more relevant. The RIBA seal of approval is a symbol of trust, so built environment professionals can be sure that the information they receive is accurate and informed. “We’re proud to support RIBA for another five years in our joint mission to encourage specification brilliance and confidence when designing. CPDs make a huge contribution to ongoing learning and are needed more than ever to meet new regulations and standards.” RIBA Chief Executive Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick MBE said: “Over the past 30 years, the RIBA CPD Providers Network has helped architects and many other built environment professionals to improve and maintain their competence through free, RIBA assessed specification CPD that they know they can trust. I am delighted to commit to five more years of this valuable partnership between RIBA and NBS. I look forward to harnessing our combined expertise to ensure the built environment sector maintains the highest standards of professional competence for the next five years and beyond.” To find out more about RIBA CPD Providers Network, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In the years that have followed on from Grenfell, a tragic event that still lives on in our memory, there have been major discussions around the cladding and insulation materials used in the construction of high-rise buildings. As a result, a series of changes have been made to fire safety regulations in England and Wales – culminating in the Building Safety Act 2022. The landmark piece of legislation, heralded by former housing minister Robert Jendrick as the “biggest change in building safety for a generation”, has sought to rapidly raise the standards for building fire safety. Now, almost one year after the Building Safety Act 2022 came into effect and six months after secondary legislation was implemented, what impact has this had on the construction industry? How fast is progress really being made? Oliver Lawton, co-founder of the Copper Sustainability Partnership (CuSP) and Managing Director at Lawton Tubes, explores what more needs to be done to make the built environment as safe as possible. What are the latest changes to fire safety legislation? One of the key pieces of legislation to come out of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry was the banning of the flammable cladding and insulation materials that were deemed responsible for spreading the blaze. The inquiry concluded that aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding “acted as source of fuel”, causing the fire to spread quickly around the building. The material was soon banned from external wall systems of certain high-rise buildings over 18m in height. This was then extended to buildings over 11 metres in 2020, after another fire stoked by combustible cladding in Bolton in a building that was only 17.84m tall. In 2022, further revisions were made to bring hotels, hostels and boarding houses within the scope of the ban and to prohibit the use of metal composite materials with a PE core from the external wall systems of all new buildings – regardless of size or use. Beyond the flashpoint of combustible materials, the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Building Safety Act 2022 have sought to implement more robust processes for evaluating building fire safety – something we wholly welcome. The changes aim to “go faster and further to promote fire safety” and include introducing a new Building Safety Regulator with powers to impose harsher penalties for malpractice. So, what are the benefits? Following the implementation of the Building Safety Act 2022, work is now underway to remove flammable cladding and update fire safety processes in line with new standards. We know that one of the Government’s main priorities has been to identify and start works on the buildings that share the same flammable ACM cladding that was responsible for spreading the fire at Grenfell. As of December 2023, 96% of the 496 high-rise buildings with ACM cladding have either started or completed remediation work. However, this data does not account for the buildings over 11m that have recently come into the scope of the ban. The gravity of the Grenfell tragedy and subsequent scrutiny of the UK’s cladding crisis has raised awareness of the dangers of plastics in construction, spotlighting an issue that urgently needed to be addressed. Not only have plastics like PE been shown to pose a major risk to fire safety, but as the case of the Grenfell firefighters diagnosed with terminal cancer sadly shows, they also contain dangerous chemicals that seriously threaten human health. Recent legislative changes call for a more proactive approach to fire safety across the design, construction, and operational phases of a building – setting out the responsibilities of different parties more clearly and holding those that fail to meet these obligations to account. Regulatory framework has also seen huge improvements in recent years – most recently with the new Building Safety Regulator being granted increased powers to impose unlimited fines and prison terms of up to two years on property owners and developers that fail to comply with regulations. What are the shortcomings of the new fire safety regulations? There is no doubt that new fire safety legislation is already having a positive impact, with the removal of dangerous cladding helping to protect thousands of residents. What is concerning, however, is the number of buildings that are still at risk. To date, remedial works have been largely confined to buildings with Grenfell-style ACM cladding. Efforts to remove other types of dangerous cladding such as high-pressure laminate and other plastics like PVC, have made considerably slower progress. As of December 2023, only 24% of the 950 high-rise buildings identified as having dangerous non-ACM cladding have completed remediation, leaving 719 buildings susceptible to cladding-related fire risks. Progress has been even slower on buildings between 11m and 18m, with only 21% of mid-rise blocks with flammable cladding of any kind completing remediation. Another aspect of the legislation that has raised concern is that many buildings still aren’t considered. While the scope of the ban has been extended and now includes high-rise residential buildings, hospitals, care homes, student accommodation, hotels, hostels and boarding houses, combustible materials can still be used in the external walls of other types of buildings – such as places of worship, sports stadiums and low-rise blocks of flats that don’t meet the height threshold of 11m. The ban on combustible materials has so far also only been limited to the external walls of buildings. While this is understandable, it also overshadows the many fire risks that exist in other parts of a building. Flammable plastic materials like PE, PVC and HDPE are still routinely used in a variety of products, including pipework, window frames, coverings, guttering and roofing, posing serious risks to fire safety. What more needs to be done to protect residents? In recent years, more evidence has come to light regarding the safety of plastics, laying bare the risks that these materials pose and substantiating the arguments that more extensive bans need to be put in place. As a material with a naturally low melting point, plastic has no part to play in the
Designed to be a welcoming, social and stylish space, Travelodge’s 85 Bar Café is a vibrant place where you can enjoy a drink or a bite to eat. Eighteen Bar Cafés have already been upgraded to the brand’s contemporary design including its flagship hotel nestled in the heart of London’s Covent Garden. Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, with nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain announces the rollout, to selected hotels, of its new concept; 85 Bar Café. In a multi-million pound investment, and in conjunction with the company’s most significant brand transformation to date, which includes a new style reception area and next-generation rooms; the introduction of 85 Bar Café is in response to consumer research, carried out by Travelodge, to gain further insight into the needs of the modern traveller. 85 Bar Café, a nod to the iconic British hoteliers heritage of when it opened its first hotel in 1985, is an overhaul of the pre-existing Bar Café and offers a welcoming, stylish and comfy space for eating, drinking and unwinding (or a quiet spot for working) whilst also maintaining Travelodge’s quality offering at great value prices. The upgraded Bar Café, with an all day dining service, welcomes both hotel guests and passers-by, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner menus as well as light bites and an extensively stocked bar. The £14 Meal Deal** which consists of two courses of either a main and side or dessert can be enjoyed as well as the mix-and-match offer of three light bites***. For those looking for healthier options, a range of food under 600 kcal is offered alongside plenty of vegan and gluten-free dishes for those with dietary requirements. All of this is at great value, including the Unlimited breakfast* offer, where two kids under the age of fifteen eat for free. Eighteen Bar Cafés have already been upgraded to the new distinct and modern design with the roll out set to continue into additional selected Bar Cafés, as well as several new Travelodge hotels, up and down the country. Upgraded locations to date include hotels in popular London destinations: London Central Covent Garden Travelodge, London Central Euston Travelodge, London Finchley Travelodge, London Finsbury Park Travelodge, London Kings Cross Royal Scot Travelodge and London Waterloo Travelodge. Hotels in key cities include Bath Waterside Travelodge, Birmingham Airport Travelodge, Cambridge Orchard Park Travelodge, Canterbury Chaucer Central Travelodge, Cardiff Queen Street Travelodge, Edinburgh Cameron Toll Travelodge, Guildford Travelodge and Manchester Upper Brook Street Travelodge while Blackpool South Shore Travelodge, Brighton Seafront Travelodge and Poole Travelodge are the first coastal hotels to be upgraded to 85 Bar Café. The stylish decor creates an inviting and vibrant space. With distinct zones embedded into the design for flexibility in dining, socialising and working, a statement bar acts as the focal point to draw in guests, showcasing the great quality barista coffee, alongside the wide selection of craft beers, premium world wines, spirits and sodas as well as a fantastic selection of cocktails including Picante Margarita and Espresso Martinis. The distinctive zones have been designed to suit the needs of business and leisure travellers as well as everyday diners and are identified with floor to ceiling bookcase divisions. The use of botanicals oozes charm and the vibrant neon 85 Bar Café signage adds a retro 1980’s touch. Every 85 Bar Café features a mural, with the numbers 8 and 5 as discoverable elements within. The piece conveys Travelodge’s ethos of bringing people together and putting customers and colleagues at the heart of everything it does. Additionally, SAINT illustrates poster art for the brand, with each piece telling a discoverable music or film reference from 1985 whilst being completely unique to Travelodge. Travelodge’s investment in 85 Bar Café doesn’t stop there, most importantly it also includes its people. Team members are multi-skilled via a four day training programme to give them expert product knowledge and premium customer service skills with the option of undertaking Aspire, Travelodge’s bespoke in-house management training scheme. Karen Broughton, Travelodge Chief Sales and Marketing Officer said: “We’re excited to announce the roll out of our new look Bar Café design, 85 Bar Café as we evolve our quality offering to deliver a better experience for our diverse mix of business and leisure guests. “Our new Bar Café concept offers a modern atmosphere for all-day dining with a diverse menu to appeal to a variety of tastes. This inviting space is available for both guests and passers-by to enjoy a drink or bite to eat or to connect with friends, family or colleagues. All of this is at great value, including our Unlimited breakfast* offer, with the added benefit of children eating for free. “The expansion of 85 Bar Café forms part of a strategic hotel investment programme which will see us upgrade half of our rooms by 2024”. Sustainability runs through everything that the business does, Travelodge has further implemented measures to reduce its impact on the environment which includes steps being taken at all of its 210 Bar Cafés. This includes the use of energy efficient lighting with motion sensor controls, conserving water usage, reducing food waste and recycling anything from plastics, e-waste and leftover food. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Tungsten Training Centre’s recent ‘Good’ Ofsted report goes beyond institutional acclaim; it reflects a deep commitment to fostering excellence and student success in vocational education across three apprenticeship standards: Installation and Maintenace Electrician, Plumbing and Heating and Gas Engineering. This achievement is a testament to the institution’s core mission of nurturing highly skilled professionals within the building services sector. Ofsted reported, “apprentices value their learning and recognise how their training is critical for their chosen careers.” At Tungsten, the care of their apprentices is paramount, and their progression within the chosen sector has incurred “an industrious attitude to learning”. Tungsten has successfully built “an ambitious curriculum” that surrounds education quality, student behaviour, personal development, leadership, and management. Learners at Tungsten Training Centre benefit from a conducive learning environment marked by respect, professionalism, and safety consciousness, with a syllabus designed to meet the demands of local employers and equip apprentices with industry-relevant skills. “Employers value the interactions with the provider,” conveying the institution’s commitment to continuous communication and improvement. The quality of learning experiences is actively enhanced by the support and knowledge provided by tutors who strive to “adapt learning to meet individual needs…to overcome barriers and challenges.” Pedagogical approaches are utilised to ensure that all apprentices are presented with the most refined training. “What sets Tungsten Training Centre apart is its industry-focused training approach, prioritisation of holistic student development, and strong partnerships with local employers,” says Managing Director Dayna Barlow. “The centre prepares learners for successful careers through apprenticeships in highly regulated sectors like installation and maintenance electricians, plumbing and heating technicians, and gas engineering operations.” The apprenticeships offered by the centre are bespoke and provide learners with fantastic opportunities that can escalate their careers within the construction industry. Whether apprentices are learning the skills for the electrical, plumbing, or gas engineering provision, apprentices are safely taught how to apply their knowledge and skills appropriately within the workplace. For example, “apprentices studying electrical installations learn the fundamental principles of working safely and the use of hand tools to wire basic circuits before completing more challenging tasks such as fault finding and testing and inspecting their work prior to making it live. Apprentices develop the specialist skills required within the building services sectors.” Ofsted has recognised how the centre’s operations are most suitable and adequate for apprentices who are committed to the progression of their careers. As Tungsten Training Centre celebrates its ‘Good’ Ofsted report, they also look ahead with purpose and determination. The institution remains steadfast in empowering apprentices with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive in dynamic work environments. In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving industry landscapes, the role of vocational education providers like Tungsten Training Centre cannot be overstated. As they adapt to changing needs and embrace innovation, they pave the way for a new generation of skilled professionals poised to make meaningful contributions to society. “Receiving a ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted underscores our commitment to excellence and student success,” says Dayna Barlow. “We are dedicated to providing high-quality vocational education and preparing our learners for rewarding careers in the building services sector.” For more information, please visit: https://www.tungsten-training-centre.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
‘Landscape and Carbon’ is a vital new report on carbon reduction in the UK landscape sector by the Landscape Institute (LI) and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). A direct response to the UK’s target to reach net zero by 2050, the report sets out the climate action the sector is taking, and how landscape can provide solutions for reducing and sequestering carbon in development. The report is a call to action for the landscape sector, and wider industry, to work together and use its combined skill and expertise to reduce carbon in landscape schemes and works. Landscape professionals can help other industries to deal with, capture and store carbon, whilst simultaneously delivering a range of integrated solutions in climate resilience, biodiversity, and public health. Now, ‘Landscape and Carbon’ sets out how the landscape sector is also taking the urgent action required to reduce the amount of carbon generated by development. Working together, the LI and BALI will build on work already being done by colleagues across the landscape sector to agree a carbon methodology, put standard data and practical tools in place, and help the sector to improve the level of awareness and skills needed. Inviting stakeholders from across the landscape sector, and wider industry, to engage and collaborate in a series of working groups, the report sets out eight key recommendations for future action: 1. Agree a carbon assessment process Agree a carbon assessment and management process for the UK landscape sector, and refine the process as new techniques develop. 2. Use standard data and tools Agree a standard for the collection and assessment of data to enable the creation of a set of tools to calculate carbon outcomes. 3. Work with suppliers Call on manufacturers, suppliers and assessors to provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all landscape products with fully specified data. 4. Support landscape practitioners Consider the needs of BALI and LI members, and all landscape practitioners, particularly SMEs, and support their work to deliver net zero projects. 5. Build understanding Work closely with other UK built environment professionals and ensure that the role and importance of the landscape sector in carbon reduction is recognised. 6. Improve education and training Work with HR, training and development professionals to identify all necessary educational materials and build carbon into wider CPD programmes. 7. Promote landscape solutions Promote the carbon storage potential of landscapes to policy makers and the wider public, and highlight the contribution which landscapes play in addressing the climate emergency. 8. Create a cross-sector action plan Create a sector-wide action plan to achieve net zero projects, with timescales for delivery. Assign tasks to organisations. The LI and BALI invite stakeholders from across the landscape sector, and wider industry, to actively participate and engage. The two organisations are setting up a steering committee to receive feedback and agree an action plan. A series of task and finish working groups are also being convened to develop the specific recommendations. To get involved, respondents should visit landscapeinstitute.org/policy/landscape-and-carbon. A copy of the report, along with additional visual assets, can be found in the press pack here. Robert Hughes, CEO, Landscape Institute, said: “Landscape has a vital role to play in capturing and storing carbon, so we are immensely pleased to present the Landscape and Carbon report. It builds on years of dedication that colleagues across the sector have already put into reducing the carbon impact of development, and also marks the start of lots of important work ahead. Collaboration and openness will be vital to take these recommendations forward, and we look forward to building on the foundations the report sets out to build the partnerships required, and take collective action on carbon.” Wayne Grills, CEO, British Association of Landscape Industries, said: “This is an important report, highlighting the challenges ahead, but also the key role the landscaping industry needs to play in order for us to achieve our carbon net zero ambitions. The recommendations laid out provide a strong call to action for the industry to unite and work together to successfully support both our own, and other industries, in reducing carbon.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has established plans for a tram system between Leeds and Bradford to revolutionise the region’s transport network. It is hoped that spades will be in the ground in 2028 when construction of the early stage of the project will begin. Phase one would include two lines serving Leeds and Bradford, The Leeds Line and the Bradford Line. The Leeds Line would take people between St James’ Hospital, through Leeds city centre, Elland Road and the White Rose Shopping Centre. The Bradford Line would run from Leeds city centre to Bradford city centre – also linking Bradford Forster Square station with the new Bradford rail station. This line supports Bradford’s plans to regenerate the city’s southern gateway, which includes the new Bradford rail station. The Combined Authority would also work with Kirklees Council to look into how to include a Dewsbury Line in future. Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “This is a key milestone in our plan to create a better-connected region that works for all. By setting out our plans to submit to the government, we are taking a major step forward towards the biggest infrastructure project West Yorkshire has seen since the development of the motorways six decades ago. “This will be transformational for the North, helping our communities to thrive and our economy to flourish – benefitting generations to come with greater opportunity and prosperity. “We know that mass transit systems have successfully helped to regenerate areas right across the country by boosting connectivity, opportunity and prosperity – and we will work tirelessly to make sure that happens here in West Yorkshire.” The Combined Authority will continue to work with local authorities to ensure that future phases of a mass transit network reach Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale, ensuring no part of West Yorkshire is left behind. The submission of the Combined Authority’s “strategic outline case” document to the Department for Transport is set to be approved by members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on March 14. The document will then be sent by the Mayor to the government for approval to continue with the development of the scheme. The project will be subject to a full business case and approval process. The Combined Authority will ask the public to have their say in the summer on the possible routes, with the two “phase one” Leeds and Bradford lines expected to be joined later by potential further schemes covering the rest of the region. It will also work on a £1 million Mass Transit development fund to be set aside to support the Dewsbury Line Development Project, which will look into how to get Mass Transit to connect Kirklees with Leeds. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ISO Chemie’s thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system and sealing tapes have been specified for a new development project at Leicester Cathedral. The move sees WINFRAMER type 1 units, BLOCO ONE foam sealant tapes and VARIO SD window connection foils installed to support and insulate large Internorm HF410 triple glazed composite windows being fitted in the cathedral’s eye-catching new heritage and learning centre. Set to open in late summer 2024, the extension will provide an exhibition gallery with immersive interpretation, a flexible learning space for school children and community groups, and washrooms. It’s also part of the cathedral’s ambition to carry out a wide-ranging £11 million revamp of the Grade II listed historic building and improve facilities for the increasing number of visitors drawn to the tomb of Richard III. Passivhaus certified and fire rated to up to 30 minutes, WINFRAMER is a prefabricated installation frame, manufactured to accommodate cavities up to 250mm that allows windows to be supported independently from the face of the wall regardless of any external cladding being in place. Quick and easy to install, the product’s application at Leicester Cathedral has been integrated alongside ISO BLOCO One sealing tapes to achieve Passivhaus certified window perimeter sealing performance. The flexible humidity variable sealing foil ISO-CONNECT VARIO SD tape has also been chosen to deliver greater internal air tightness around wall, floor and ceiling joints. Andy Swift, country director at ISO-Chemie, said: “Designers and developers of buildings like the cathedral extension want new ways to deliver low carbon structures, which use sustainable technologies. Our products support this, delivering measurable airtight, acoustic and thermal sealing properties.” Up to 70% cost savings can be achieved using ISO-CHEMIE’s tapes, which enable installers to seal windows from inside the building and avoid the need to use time consuming and costly scaffolding and ladders among other external access systems. The tapes offer a single product ‘fit and forget’ solution for fast and effective sealing based around the European RAL principles of three level sealing – the inside seal area is more airtight than the external one, allowing any trapped moisture inside the joint, or within the wall, to escape outwards rather than into the building. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to develop a 60-acre site in East Leeds have moved closer following its confirmed allocation into the Leeds Site Allocation Plan (SAP) for major employment use. The site, known locally as Brown Moor, is adjacent to the hugely successful Thorpe Park Leeds business destination and The Springs retail and leisure centre. Bounded by the M1 motorway and TransPennine railway line, the site already benefits from connectivity to key infrastructure such as the East Leeds Orbital Route (ELOR) and established bus routes through Thorpe Park Leeds. Last year, leading property regeneration and placemaking experts, Scarborough Group International (SGI) tabled proposals to develop the site for a major new employment park, submitting an outline planning application for up to 55,417 sq m (596,500sq ft) of purpose-built accommodation. ‘Integral’, as the proposed development has been named, aims to deliver a range of high-quality buildings suitable for companies of different sizes within the advanced manufacturing, logistics and industrial sectors, with the potential to support around 1,700 new jobs. In a welcome departure from traditional industrial estates, the scheme will retain the vast majority of the established woodland and hedgerows across the site, while adding to these with new green spaces and landscaping corridors to seamlessly connect into the existing amenities and public rights of way within the adjacent Thorpe Park Leeds, The Springs, and local conurbations to the East and West of the site. Adam Varley, Development Director at SGI, said: “We are delighted that Brown Moor has been allocated with the Local Plan following recommendations from the Planning Inspectorate. We see that site as a key strategic site to allow the expansion of Thorpe Park Leeds and our development proposals support the continued growth of the park and future diversifying the mix of employment opportunities generating major economic benefits for the region. “The logistics sector is one of the fastest growing areas of employment in the UK and our plans and proposals for the scheme will deliver against a tight supply of prime space within West Yorkshire designed to cater for sustainable business practice and to attract exceptional talent.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
