Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has begun developing a 644,000 sq ft net zero carbon logistics park in Sittingbourne. The development, called Panattoni Park Sittingbourne, comprises two units of 440,000 sq ft (S440) and 205,000 sq ft (S205). Panattoni acquired the 26-acre site
A white paper challenging the building sector to consider what is really impeding the move to greater carbon control has just been launched by Artus. The paper was launched at a live interactive panel event last Thursday, 21st March. The heating and cooling experts have produced “From carbon conundrum to carbon
Manchester Airport hosted its annual ‘Meet the Buyers’ event yesterday, with more than 300 attendees from over 200 local businesses taking the opportunity to connect directly with key prospective clients in the Greater Manchester area. Small and medium-sized businesses from a variety of sectors were represented, networking with 29 major
The demolition industry has stepped-up its efforts to combat work-related stress and promote good mental health by joining Great Britain’s workplace regulator campaign. The Working Minds campaign, set up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), welcomes a new partner in the demolition industry to help reach trades and offer
The second giant boring machine (TBM) building HS2 under the Chiltern Hills broke through at the tunnel’s northern portal late this afternoon, completing a journey that began in June 2021. Named Cecilia, the TBM has driven for 10 miles underground to join twin sister machine – Florence. She arrived at
Barhale is set to recommit to Anglian Water’s @one Alliance ahead of a new Asset Management Period (AMP8) for 2025 to 2030, in which the water company is proposing its largest ever package of investment. The existing partners – Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), MWH Treatment, SKANSKA and
The Government Property Agency (GPA) has submitted a planning application to Darlington Borough Council to build a four-storey government hub to support the ongoing success and growth of the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC). The government is investing around £118 million in the project, which is a significant indication of its
Deciding on a colour scheme for your bathroom has always been a tricky decision. There are a set of standard colours we never usually stray away from. And that’s with good reason really. We need calming tones and more natural shades for the space. After all, it’s one of the
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has begun developing a 644,000 sq ft net zero carbon logistics park in Sittingbourne. The development, called Panattoni Park Sittingbourne, comprises two units of 440,000 sq ft (S440) and 205,000 sq ft (S205). Panattoni acquired the 26-acre site in the fourth quarter of 2023 and completion is expected in the first quarter of 2025. Panattoni Park Sittingbourne is targeting net zero carbon development with an expected BREEAM sustainability rating of ‘Excellent’ and an EPC rating of ‘A’. Both units are to be developed with enhanced sustainability measures within the base specification, including the installation of roof-mounted photovoltaic panelling and electric vehicle charging points. The site has 5MVa of power available, with a further 1.35MVa of power generated from the use of the solar panelling totalling 6.35MVa of power across the park. Panattoni Park Sittingbourne is strategically positioned between London and Dover, four miles north of junction 5 of the M2. The development provides convenient access to major national and international transport routes, with the port of Dover less than an hour away and easy connectivity to the M2, M20 and M25 motorways. Alex Mitchell, Development Manager at Panattoni, said: “Panattoni Park Sittingbourne provides occupiers with high-quality, modern logistics space with significantly enhanced sustainability credentials. We are pleased to be under construction having purchased the site in September 2023 and look forward to delivering the units in the first quarter of 2025. “The development of the site highlights our continued strategy to speculatively develop within under supply markets , capturing the sustained level of occupier demand for logistics assets with seamless connectivity to local, national and international distribution routes”. Agents at Panattoni Park Sittingbourne are Avison Young, Savills and CBRE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A white paper challenging the building sector to consider what is really impeding the move to greater carbon control has just been launched by Artus. The paper was launched at a live interactive panel event last Thursday, 21st March. The heating and cooling experts have produced “From carbon conundrum to carbon control – how will the building sector get to net zero?” to amplify the debate on whole-life carbon, design and the industry’s ability to move forward together to find solutions. The paper was developed through contributions from leading sustainability experts across the UK, with a recognition that many issues facing the sector have never been more urgent. The Artus model has been founded on sustainability principles with an ambition to bring positive, realistic, disruption to the heating and cooling market as part of the overall design and operational mix in the built environment. Demands on the building sector have never been higher: legislation, regulation and environmental responsibility with increased urgency over net zero are creating unprecedented pressure. At the other end of the value chain investors and occupiers are demanding demonstrable results on whole-life carbon emissions, better environments in which to work and proven ESG credentials. This is all against a backdrop of constrained costs, need for improved solutions, and more comprehensive and clearer carbon measurement. Roger Olsen, Chief Technical Officer and Inventor of Artus comments: “Last year was the hottest since records began, only just below the target 1.5 degree rise. The time to act is now. A building services design typically lasts 20 to 25 years. We only have 26 years left till 2050. Everything we do right now, both new build and refurbishment, must target net zero. LETI and many others have set the strategy. Artus is undoubtedly part of the solution.” The panel at the event comprises leading voices from the built environment sector: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE WHITE PAPER Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Manchester Airport hosted its annual ‘Meet the Buyers’ event yesterday, with more than 300 attendees from over 200 local businesses taking the opportunity to connect directly with key prospective clients in the Greater Manchester area. Small and medium-sized businesses from a variety of sectors were represented, networking with 29 major buyers and taking part in almost 800 meetings across the day. Well-known names from the worlds of construction and aviation were in attendance, including Manchester Airports Group (MAG), BAM, Dalkia, and Manchester City Council. Manchester Airport hosted the event at its Runway Visitor Park, and the day opened with an address from the airport’s Managing Director, Chris Woodroofe. A range of workshops and presentations ran throughout the day, parallel to the event in the Runway Visitor Park’s main hangar. Manchester Airport’s Head of Procurement and Contracts, Construction and Works, Stuart D’Henin, and Head of Project Delivery, David Shaw, gave a talk on the airport’s upcoming investments into its facilities, including the £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2, and discussed the opportunities available to local businesses of all sizes. In the afternoon, Becca Heron, Strategic Director for Growth and Development at Manchester City Council, ran a workshop on the city’s vision for future growth. Marcella M’Rabety – Group Head of Education, Skills and Employment, Manchester Airport: “We were thrilled to see such a strong turnout at Meet The Buyers, and to be able to support local businesses with networking and making introductions to the right contacts that will help them secure new work and grow their operations. Manchester Airport is proud to connect the North and that’s not just through flying people to the places they want to go, it’s also about playing our part as a key economic enabler in the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The demolition industry has stepped-up its efforts to combat work-related stress and promote good mental health by joining Great Britain’s workplace regulator campaign. The Working Minds campaign, set up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), welcomes a new partner in the demolition industry to help reach trades and offer free support. The National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) is the latest organisation to join Working Minds. Earlier this month, the Contract Flooring Association (CFA), the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA), the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) all committed to the campaign. Working Minds helps employers prevent stress and support good mental health, providing free online learning to show how to make it part of routine working life and culture. The new bitesize tool typically takes no more than an hour to complete and covers what the law requires of employers and what’s needed to do to be compliant. Users will walk through Working Minds’ five simple steps based on risk assessment. They are to Reach out and have conversations, Recognise the signs and causes of stress, Respond to any risks you’ve identified, Reflect on actions you’ve agreed and taken, and make it Routine. It needs to become the norm to talk about stress and how people are feeling and coping on site. Duncan Rudall, CEO of the NFDC, said: “Mental Health is of paramount importance and is as impactful on an individual’s life as safety is on site. We applaud the HSE for recognising the need to bring mental health standards in line with physical safety and are proud to be partnering with them on the Working Minds campaign to ensure we raise the bar for everyone.” Liz Goodwill, head of work-related stress and mental health policy at HSE, said: “We know that running a business in construction can be stressful with long hours, juggling intense workloads. “We are delighted the Working Minds campaign is welcoming even more partners and they will no doubt help us in our efforts to raise awareness of ways employers across Britain’s construction trades can help prevent and reduce work-related stress. “The law requires all employers – whether you’re a demolition firm or scaffolding business – to carry out a stress risk assessment and act upon the findings. The online learning shares all the tools you need to get started in one place, and you can come back as many times as you like.” According to Deloitte , the total annual cost of poor mental health has increased by 25% since 2019, costing UK employers up to £56 billion a year. Help is available If you or someone you know needs help or support, reach out and ask how they are feeling and coping. The Working Minds campaign sign-posts employers to a wide range of tools and sources of support that can help on its construction sector webpage. Employers wishing to know more and complete the Working Minds online learning should register and get started today. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The second giant boring machine (TBM) building HS2 under the Chiltern Hills broke through at the tunnel’s northern portal late this afternoon, completing a journey that began in June 2021. Named Cecilia, the TBM has driven for 10 miles underground to join twin sister machine – Florence. She arrived at the site near the Buckinghamshire town of Wendover on 27 February, after completing her adjacent tunnel drive. Between them, the two 2,000 tonne machines have built the twin bore tunnel at depths of up to 80 metres and excavated three million cubic metres of chalk. Each machine operates like an underground factory, able to excavate the tunnels and line them with 56,000 pre-cast concrete tunnel segments, grouting them into place and moving forward at an average speed of 16 metres per day. When HS2 is operational trains will travel through the Chiltern tunnel – the line’s longest – at speeds of up to 200mph, helping to almost halve journey times between Britain’s two largest cities. The new high-speed line will relieve traffic the West Coast Mainline, freeing up space for more local services on the most crowded part of the important Victorian route. It will almost double rail capacity between London and the West Midlands, providing a more reliable service and driving economic growth. HS2 Ltd’s head of civil works for this section of the route, Mark Clapp, said: “Today is a remarkable achievement for all concerned. Cecelia’s arrival completes excavation of HS2’s 10-mile twin-bore tunnel, but it’s only the end of the first chapter in the story of building Britain’s high-speed railway under the Chiltern Hills. “Several years of intensive, world class engineering lie ahead of us to complete the tunnels’ four ventilation shafts plus headhouses; install the mechanical and electrical plant and machinery, slab track and overhead electrical wires before trains begin passing through at 200mph.” Both machines launched from the tunnel’s south portal, near the M25 motorway, were operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. The machines are made in Germany by TBM specialists Herrenknecht. Align’s Underground Construction Director, Didier Jacques said: “Ten miles is a long drive for a TBM, with a typical average being around three miles. The complexity and technically challenges of completing such a long drive for both our TBMs has been significant, however I am delighted that as a team, we have risen to the challenge. “Both TBMs were designed in partnership with Herrenknecht and incorporate innovations and technologies that have been introduced on TBMs in the UK for the first time, to enhance performance and safety. This includes ‘semi-continuous boring’, allowing our TBMs to build the rings that line the tunnels without pausing.” Each TBM is operated by a crew of around 17, working in shifts to keep the machines running when required 24/7. They are supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation. In total over 450 people have worked on the tunnels over the last three years, including a dedicated production team who made 112,000 precision-engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete tunnel wall segments on site at a purpose build temporary factory – and a team processing the spoil from the tunnels. Completion of tunnelling under the Chilterns follows recent publication of HS2 Ltd research showing how high-speed line’s arrival in the West Midlands will give a £10 billion economic boost over the next decade, with new development around its stations at Birmingham’s Curzon Street and near the city’s airport and the NEC. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barhale is set to recommit to Anglian Water’s @one Alliance ahead of a new Asset Management Period (AMP8) for 2025 to 2030, in which the water company is proposing its largest ever package of investment. The existing partners – Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), MWH Treatment, SKANSKA and SWECO – have already delivered £1.3 billion in work, half of Anglian Water’s overall enhancement portfolio, so far in AMP7 (2020-2025). For AMP8, Barhale will remain a full member in the @one Alliance from 1 April 2024, offering civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, complex infrastructure and tunnelling expertise alongside the Alliance’s other seven partners. The @one Alliance is set to deliver a record £2.6 billion of the water company’s overall investment in AMP8, with much of this work specifically targeted at protecting and enhancing the East of England’s natural environment and providing resilience to climate change. This investment portfolio forms part of Anglian Water’s wider, record £9 billion proposed plans for AMP8, which will see a huge programme of much-needed investment across the East of England between 2025 and 2030. James Haddon, Barhale’s Eastern Region Director said “Anglian Water is England and Wales’s largest water company by geographical area and has committed to an impressive programme to provide resilience, enable growth, improve ecological quality and become carbon neutral across the region. These are huge challenges and it is a testament to the @one Alliance’s success that it continues to set a benchmark for collaboration and innovation both within the water industry and beyond. “We are very proud to have been a part of the @one Alliance since its launch in 2005 and to be extending that relationship through the next AMP.” Jason Tucker, Director of Strategic Delivery and Commercial Assurance for Anglian Water, said: “The opportunity our next five-year regulatory period, AMP8, affords for Anglian Water and the @one Alliance to deliver on our purpose of bringing environmental and social prosperity to the region we serve is unprecedented. “The scale of investment to enhance our environment and secure water supplies for future generations is massive and I’m delighted that our long-standing and successful @one Alliance will continue to help us deliver our capital investment programme in support of our growing region.” Anglian Water was one of the first utilities to introduce an alliancing model to deliver its capital programmes across the East of England. Since the @one Alliance’s inauguration in 2005, the company’s approach has been held up as an exemplar as part of the Government’s Construction Playbook. A key aspect of this continued success has been the embedding of performance incentives around efficiency, carbon, innovation, ED&I and culture. A key aspect of this continued success has been the embedding of incentives around efficiency, innovation, culture and high performance into the @one Alliance’s structure, in order to enable delivery of Anglian Water’s incredibly ambitious investment programme. Ian Hutchinson, Managing Director of Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, said: “Alliancing in this way allows partners to reimagine traditional ways of working by encouraging innovative thinking, advancement of new technology, and collaborative working between partners. This flexibility means that the @one Alliance plays a crucial role in enabling Anglian Water to deliver large-scale investments to build its region’s resilience against climate change. “By combining the @one Alliance’s partners’ years of investing in innovation and efficient delivery, we’ve been able to decrease the total cost of our proposed AMP8 plans from £10bn to £9bn, a 10% reduction. We’ve already seen how successful and powerful a truly integrated and collaborative alliancing approach can be. That’s why we’re delighted to welcome back our much-valued partners, along with Binnies this AMP, to support us in delivering this much-needed investment for our region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Government Property Agency (GPA) has submitted a planning application to Darlington Borough Council to build a four-storey government hub to support the ongoing success and growth of the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC). The government is investing around £118 million in the project, which is a significant indication of its commitment to sparking economic growth in the town and wider region; according to research from the CBI, every £1 spent in the UK’s construction sector helps create £3 of value to the wider UK economy. When completed, Brunswick Street will form part of a government campus of three buildings, including Feethams House and Bishopsgate House, all located within Darlington town centre. Construction of the new government hub is set to begin later this year and be completed in early 2027. The new hub will increase the total number of Darlington-based civil servants working to over 2,300, 1,450 of whom will be located in the Brunswick Street hub. Since 2021, 762 civil service roles have been relocated to Darlington under Places for Growth. Over 800 civil servants are currently based in Darlington across eight departments, including His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT), the Department for Education, and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), for whom Darlington is their second headquarters. The DBT itself has more than 250 staff stationed there, over 200 of which have been locally recruited. Darlington has been a welcome addition to DBT’s Places for Growth network, which now boasts five other locations, including Belfast, Cardiff and Salford. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Deciding on a colour scheme for your bathroom has always been a tricky decision. There are a set of standard colours we never usually stray away from. And that’s with good reason really. We need calming tones and more natural shades for the space. After all, it’s one of the only areas of the house where you truly get time to yourself. That said, colour trends do change every year. In fact, bathroom trends as a whole do, from the types and styles of tiles you use to the shape of the baths and sinks you fit. However, in this article we are going to stick to colour. So, if you’re looking at redecorating your bathroom over the coming months, here are five colours you should potentially be considering… Tranquil Blues and Greens Tranquil blues and greens have always been a mainstay and that’s no different this year. Soft pastel shades all the way up to rich jewel tones, the hues of blues and greens can really evoke a sense of tranquility, promoting relaxation and wellbeing in the space we often need it most. Consider incorporating different shades, such as seafoam green, aqua blue or dusty teal which can feel really refreshing, and allow you to escape the stresses of daily life in true comfort. Warm and Earthy Neutrals Neutral colours are returning as popular choices in 2024, providing our bathrooms with a timeless feel that suits every design style. Shades such as taupe, beige and warm greys can provide a perfect backdrop and create cosy and warm atmosphere. Complementing those colours with bolder bathroom tiles is one option, while using materials like wood, rattan and stone can add a real organic and natural feel to your bathroom. Bold and Dramatic Blacks A little more out of the ordinary, we’re seeng more daring colours emerge in 2024, with black being a popular choice. While it may not promote relaxation as much as the colour schemes mentioned above, using dramatic blacks create a much more chic and sophisticated feel, adding luxury and elegance that can make a real statement. You can use black for walls, tiles or on the cabinets to create striking focal points and add a real depth to your bathroom, particularly when paired with metallic accents such as gold, brass or copper. Soft and Subtle Pinks Until a few years ago, pastel pinks were a big no-no in bathrooms, harking back to rather dated periods. However, soft and subtle pinks have made a comeback in a big way and create a soft and delicate space. Paired with neutral colours, pink can provide a sophisticated and relaxed look in a bathroom, while bolder shades like navy blue and green can help transform a bathroom into a place much more vibrant. Rich and Moody Greens Finally, moody and rich greens are adding real depth and drama to bathroom designs in 2024. From deep emerald tones to muted olive shades, the colours offer a sophisticated and luxurious palette that can be really inviting. Using greens in the tiles or on walls can create a retreat-like vibe where you can really escape in a hot, soapy bath. A good option for a green bathroom is to pair it with the likes of marble, brass or timber to create a really elegant aesthetic and a truly contemporary bathroom space.
