Balfour Beatty today announces that it has been awarded a contract to construct the new £209 million HMP Highland in Inverness, Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Prison Service. Balfour Beatty was first appointed to deliver the pre-construction phase, including the design of HMP Highland, in 2022. This latest
The company has acquired 40,000 square meters of land in Lancashire to establish a new production plant, the second in the region. Carl Gardner has been appointed General Manager UK and Regional Director UK, Nordics and the Netherlands Kerakoll Group, an international leader in sustainable building with B Corp status,
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading fitout specialists, has delivered its first project in the tertiary education sector – providing fitted furniture for the Clarice Pears Building which houses the University of Glasgow’s School of Health and Wellbeing. Built by Multiplex and designed byAtkinsRéalis, the £50m facility on the University’s
London anchored and leading Design & Build contractors McAleer & Rushe, proudly announces the internal appointment of five new Contracts Directors to further strengthen their senior management team. As a family-owned business renowned for its commitment to excellence and partnering with their clients and valued consultants, these appointments underscore the
Yorkshire Water has awarded the BarhaleEnpure JV a £15m project to carry out major upgrade works at a key water treatment works on the edge of Huddersfield. The project will conduct a programme of improvements to the Fixby plant which lies adjacent to the M62 on the northern edge of
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has appointed a new ‘responsible body’. Ecological consultancy RSK Biocensus – and specifically its biodiversity net gain (BNG) team RSK Wilding – is one of the first organisations authorised to work with landowners and developers to secure areas of conservation and
Unite Students has secured planning permission to develop a 952-bed property in east London and a 500-bed scheme at a key Bristol location. The Stratford development, next to Meridian Steps near Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, is a 41-storey tower targeted to be completed in 2028. The construction of a
Last-minute amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill designed to appease some Tory backbenchers will make ‘little material difference’ to the majority of landlords or tenants, according to the managing director of client accounting and automated rental payment specialists, PayProp UK. Neil Cobbold, who has closely followed the progress of the
Base Structures are announcing a new offering from its tensile fabric experts, Temporary Weatherproof Screening, promising to speed up building programmes and mitigate against weather delays on site. Base Screens are a new product that provide a unique and efficient solution for weatherproofing requirements on construction sites. Quick to install
New Rush Hall School in Ilford is adding an additional space with its third modular building supplied by GCS Cabins. The building, which will provide a gym and music suite, will be installed in May to elevate learning and lead the way in addressing SEMH student needs. New Rush Hall School provides
Balfour Beatty today announces that it has been awarded a contract to construct the new £209 million HMP Highland in Inverness, Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Prison Service. Balfour Beatty was first appointed to deliver the pre-construction phase, including the design of HMP Highland, in 2022. This latest phase, valued at £119 million, will see the company progress with the construction of the new, modern 18,500m2 facility comprised of two new interconnected buildings and associated infrastructure. Scheduled for completion in 2026, HMP Highland will be the first net zero prison in Scotland with the facility designed to run off renewable energy sources such as ground source heat pumps, to align with the Scottish Government’s low carbon targets for the project. The company will utilise modular construction methods to preassemble the internal wall panels and perimeter walls offsite in a controlled factory environment, significantly reducing carbon emissions by minimizing the number of lorry movements and material deliveries to and from site. As part of its commitment to leaving a lasting, positive legacy in the communities in which it operates, Balfour Beatty has also committed to spending £60 million with local supply chain partners and businesses throughout the duration of the project. On completion, HMP Highland will replace Inverness Prison and will accommodate 200 prisoners, becoming the first new prison in the area – serving the Highlands, Islands and Moray – for more than a century. Hector MacAulay MBE, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland, said: “We are delighted to continue working alongside the Scottish Prison Service as we move into the construction phase of this significant and important project. “We will draw on our extensive expertise in modern methods of construction, and our unrivalled local knowledge, to deliver this groundbreaking, best-in-class facility which will become the first net zero prison in Scotland.” Linda Pollock, Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, said: “With the support of the Scottish Government, we are committed to investing in our estate to create better environments for people to live and work. “HMP Highland will not only increase the capacity previously available at HMP Inverness, but also provide space for quality rehabilitative work which we know gives people the greatest possible chance of a successful return to their communities on liberation. “This project has so far seen the creation of new jobs and apprenticeships for the local area, with more to come in future.” At construction peak, Balfour Beatty will employ 250 people with 5% of its workforce made up of apprentices, graduates, and trainees to support its commitment to The 5% Club. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The company has acquired 40,000 square meters of land in Lancashire to establish a new production plant, the second in the region. Carl Gardner has been appointed General Manager UK and Regional Director UK, Nordics and the Netherlands Kerakoll Group, an international leader in sustainable building with B Corp status, ramps up its growth plans in the United Kingdom and Northern Europe with the acquisition of 40,000 square meters of land in Lancashire for its new production plant – the second in the UK. Additionally, the company announces the appointment of Carl Gardner as General Manager UK and Director UK, Nordics, and the Netherlands, signalling its strategic focus on international expansion. With construction set to commence by late 2024 and completion expected by spring 2026, the facility in Preston, Lancashire, will add to the one already existing in Leyland, Lancashire, and will serve as a hub for manufacturing and distributing the Group’s products across the UK and Northern Europe. It will be Kerakoll Group’s twentieth production site globally. The investment will lead to an expansion by 30% of the Group’s workforce in the UK as well as a striking 100% increase in production capacity in the country by 2028. In 2023, Kerakoll Group achieved a turnover of £40 million in the UK, supported by a dedicated team of over 130 employees and a strong and loyal customer base. The new plant will leverage green technologies and sustainable practices, such as photovoltaic panels, which are expected to produce 245 kWh per day, and advanced rainwater recycling systems. In line with its B Corp status, Kerakoll Group is committed to achieving Very Good, or above, in the BREEAM rating, an internationally recognised assessment of environmental performance. Carl Gardner will lead the expansion of Kerakoll Group in the UK at a significant moment, with the Group in the process of integrating the brands Kerakoll and Tilemaster Adhesives, a company specialising in ceramic and flooring installation systems it acquired in 2017. Additionally, his appointment is a step toward the implementation of the new International Business Unit of the Group, which also sees Filippo Iacconi, hitherto UK General Manager, assume the role of International Marketing Manager. Carl Gardner brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles in renowned companies, including Saint-Gobain Artex, Travel Perkins and Jeld-Wen, positioning Kerakoll Group for continued success in its growth trajectory. Marco Zini, CEO of Kerakoll Group, commented: “I couldn’t be prouder of Kerakoll Group’s latest accomplishments. Both the launch of our second production site project in Lancashire and the appointment of a seasoned professional like Carl Gardner reflect Kerakoll Group’s unwavering dedication to accelerating expansion in strategically vital regions. I’m sure Carl will make a big impact in his new role, helping us sustain the momentum in our trajectory of international growth”. “I’m thrilled to be joining Kerakoll Group at a time of such great transformation and drive for growth. Leading a talented team in developing key markets for the Group, such as the UK and the Nordics, is an exciting challenge and one that I am thankful to have been entrusted with”, Carl Gardner said. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading fitout specialists, has delivered its first project in the tertiary education sector – providing fitted furniture for the Clarice Pears Building which houses the University of Glasgow’s School of Health and Wellbeing. Built by Multiplex and designed byAtkinsRéalis, the £50m facility on the University’s Gilmorehill Campus brings together five academic teams from different locations across Glasgow. This has created a single multi-disciplinary centre for world-class research into improving health and reducing health inequalities. The building is named after Clarice Pears, the mother of the founders and trustees of the Pears Foundation which donated £5m towards the building’s construction. Deanestor fitted out 42 rooms across five storeys, manufacturing more than 700 items of fitted furniture and joinery which included the main reception desk in the entrance atrium, purpose-designed tables and benching to level 1, informal booth seating to encourage social interaction and quiet study, storage solutions, kitchenettes, and worktops. The choice of natural materials for the interior included extensive use of wood finishes to help promote a sense of naturalness and calm in the building. Bespoke, full height meeting booths in a maple wood finish with brightly coloured seating according to the zone, add to the aesthetic impact and were also manufactured by Deanestor. The booths were provided in different sizes and configurations and incorporate acoustic treatment with padded upholstery above head height to create a canopy that promotes quiet working in the inclusive study spaces. Each was fitted with power, data and charging facilities. Other booth-style seating arrangements were designed to encourage collaborative working and study whilst incorporating good acoustic performance with the use of upholstered screens. Ramsay McDonald, Managing Director of Deanestor in Scotland, said, “This scheme, uniquely, utilises our experience of delivering fitout contracts for state-of-the-art hospital and laboratory projects and also multi-school campuses that promote a high level of collaborative learning and social integration.” “The School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow will help to address some of the greatest challenges facing society – in the UK and around the world – from tackling health inequality and disease to improving health and wellbeing. We are really proud to have contributed to this wonderful building that has created such an exciting global centre of research excellence.” The Clarice Pears Building is a prominent feature on a new central university square and accommodates over 8,000sqm of research, engagement and teaching space. It will be used to host workshops and knowledge exchange events, as well as to develop new multi-disciplinary postgraduate courses. The design of the building amplifies the spirit of the Institute and delivers a wellbeing and human-centric focused workspace in the city of Glasgow, which is also sustainable and uses natural strategies for light and ventilation. A welcoming and publicly accessible space has been created on the ground floor to promote knowledge sharing and public engagement. This is reflected in the informal booth seating provided by Deanestor. The project was a finalist at the recent Scottish Property Awards in the Development of the Year (Public Buildings) category. Deanestor specialises in high quality furniture and fitout solutions to construction clients and contractors for major healthcare, education, build-to-rent and student living schemes. Its teams offer both standardised and bespoke fitted furniture design, joinery, manufacturing and installation to meet specific project requirements. For further information, visit www.deanestor.co.uk, call 01623 420041 or email enquiries@deanestor.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
London anchored and leading Design & Build contractors McAleer & Rushe, proudly announces the internal appointment of five new Contracts Directors to further strengthen their senior management team. As a family-owned business renowned for its commitment to excellence and partnering with their clients and valued consultants, these appointments underscore the company’s dedication to investing and nurturing talent from within. Commenting on these senior promotions, Martin Magee, Managing Director of McAleer & Rushe said: “On behalf of our shareholders Seamus McAleer, Founder & Chairman and Eamonn Laverty, CEO, together with our main board, we are very pleased to announce these new appointments and we congratulate each one of them. “They will undoubtedly further bolster our senior management team’s professionalism, dedication andleadership capabilities to successfully deliver the exciting projects of our ever-expanding client base. Particularly so, with our early engagement in the development cycle through the negotiation of fixed price design & build contracts and collaborating with our clients through the challenges of the planning process and ultimately achieving commercial viability.” The new Contracts Directors together with the other department directors will work closely with the McAleer & Rushe Contracts UK main board in the active management of the Business Strategic Plan for the next 5-years, with turnover secured at £450m for 2024 and on target to exceed £500m in 2025. With immediate effect, the following staff members have been promoted to the Contracts Director position. As pictured, Left to Right: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yorkshire Water has awarded the BarhaleEnpure JV a £15m project to carry out major upgrade works at a key water treatment works on the edge of Huddersfield. The project will conduct a programme of improvements to the Fixby plant which lies adjacent to the M62 on the northern edge of the Pennine’s town. Upgrades to the raw water blending and inlet mixing arrangements will include replacement of both the inlet and mixer tanks and the replacement and refurbishment of the existing 600mm pipework. BarhaleEnpure JV will also upgrade the mixing arrangements of the raw water blend with the coagulation chemicals (ferric sulphate and lime); refurbish and improve the Dissolved Air Flotation plant (including changing DAF nozzles to Enpure’s Enflo-DAFTM system); upgrade and refurbish six Rapid Gravity Filters to improve both clarified and filtered water quality; install a new polyelectrolyte dosing system; carry out upgrade and replacement across the lime discharge and dosing system; and complete general upgrades to the built fabric of the site. BarhaleEnpure Project Delivery Leader, Chris Mathers, explained that the works are another important element in Yorkshire Water’s programme of investment to improve water quality. “The works at Fixby will deliver a step change in the treatment works’ performance and ensure it exceeds the expectations of the Drinking Water Inspectorate both now and in the future,” he said. Steve Milling, the JV Framework Manager, said “The award of this contract demonstrates the strength of the BarhaleEnpure JV, bringing together their Civil/ MEICA/Process capability and working closely with Yorkshire Water across the region. We look forward to delivering this important water treatment works upgrade successfully before the end of spring 2025.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has appointed a new ‘responsible body’. Ecological consultancy RSK Biocensus – and specifically its biodiversity net gain (BNG) team RSK Wilding – is one of the first organisations authorised to work with landowners and developers to secure areas of conservation and biodiversity. RSK Wilding Senior Legal Adviser Natalie Bryce said that a responsible body was a new position created by the Environment Act 2021 and allowed for contracts, known as conservation covenants, to be entered into. These are agreements on how an area of land can be used and can include positive obligations, as well as restrictive ones. They have to be for the public good and have a conservation purpose. Once the conservation covenant has been agreed, it is registered as a local land charge and becomes binding for all future owners of the land. Defra’s guidance during the consultation period described conservation covenants as a new legal tool to help landowners: “Leaving our environment in a better state than we found it for future generations to enjoy requires long-term investment and stability. Where landowners seek to secure positive environmental outcomes, they have no adequate mechanism to secure those benefits over the long term. We need a new legal tool – conservation covenants.” Natalie added: “The beauty of conservation covenants is that they offer a quicker, more flexible and more effective way of ringfencing land for a certain use as opposed to using a planning obligation (or section 106 agreement). “Our shared goal is for the landowner to be able to protect, conserve or enhance the land as they wish and get the planning permissions they need if BNG is needed for a development.” Natalie said that the role of the responsible body was to provide the legal solution by way of a conservation covenant, which will be drafted by RSK Biocensus’ legal team. “We will also monitor the landowner’s obligations under the covenant to ensure the land is being used as it should. RSK Wilding, part of RSK Biocensus, will review the land management plans and collaborate with the landowner to agree the most beneficial system of monitoring.” She said that the system would be particularly useful given the recent change in planning law. “From 12 February this year, most planning permissions, with some exceptions, will be granted only if the landowner or developer can show that they are not just offsetting their biodiversity loss but are replacing it with a minimum 10% BNG over a period of 30 years or more. “Landowners can create and/or enhance areas for habitats on their land and register the resulting uplift in biodiversity units (along with a legal agreement) on the government’s new biodiversity gain site register. These units can then be sold to developers that need to secure off-site BNG.” Some examples of how the new system could work include: Natalie added that conservation covenants can have a wide range of uses beyond BNG and can be used for any type of conservation, from protecting heritage assets and mitigating flooding to ensuring nutrient neutrality. They can be wide or very specific, for example, preventing the use of a specific pesticide on certain flora. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Unite Students has secured planning permission to develop a 952-bed property in east London and a 500-bed scheme at a key Bristol location. The Stratford development, next to Meridian Steps near Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, is a 41-storey tower targeted to be completed in 2028. The construction of a new entrance and exit to Stratford Underground Station is also part of the plans, providing a positive benefit to the local community by helping to alleviate passenger congestion and improve the area’s infrastructure. The Group’s Freestone Island development, in Bristol’s Temple Quarter, has total development costs of £73 million and is set to open in 2026. Unite Students is working in partnership with the University of Bristol through a nomination agreement on the property, which will guarantee rooms for the university’s students. This will assist the university in delivering high quality accommodation to support its growth in the Temple Quarter area of Bristol. Temple Quarter, in the heart of Bristol, is one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects – with 130 hectares of land being redeveloped to create a mixed-use community that includes office and commercial space, as well as pedestrianised green areas, alongside Unite Students’ student housing. The Quarter will be a key contributor to the West of England’s economy by creating new homes, jobs and generating income for the local area. Unite Students’ development, which has received full planning approval, will be close to its 600-bed Marsh Mills site, on Feeder Road, and the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, where up to 4,600 students will be based on completion. The new development will provide 4,500 sq ft of affordable workspace and will be BREEAM Excellent with EPC Ratings of A across the scheme. The Stratford project, which has approval with conditions and is yet to obtain full planning permission, will also deliver 1,151m2 of commercial space which will include workspace and a retail area. Part of the space is earmarked for Canning Town-based You Press, a social enterprise for young people and underrepresented communities. A total of 333 beds will be left at affordable rents; 30 beds will be in self-contained studio flats while the rest are in shared flats of 5 to 10 bedrooms. One in 10 bedrooms will be wheelchair accessible. The planning application was supported by University College London (UCL) and full planning permission is expected later this year. Unite Students is in the process of confirming a long-term agreement with the university for its students to let the majority of the beds. This will support the university’s recently completed UCL East campus in Stratford. Embodied carbon to practical completion is targeted at 730 kgCO2e/m2 (carbon emission equivalent per square metre), showing further progress towards the Group’s 2030 net zero development targets. Including this project, Unite Students’ total planned investment into Stratford is around £400m. This includes the delivery of 716 new beds and academic space for the London Academy of Excellence at its Hawthorne House property, which is replacing former office block Jubilee House on Farthingale Walk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Last-minute amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill designed to appease some Tory backbenchers will make ‘little material difference’ to the majority of landlords or tenants, according to the managing director of client accounting and automated rental payment specialists, PayProp UK. Neil Cobbold, who has closely followed the progress of the legislation since it was introduced 11 months ago, said: “When you take a step back and look at the details, these new changes amount to very little in real terms – in fact, the Bill is more or less intact. “The government has made some tweaks after speaking to the industry but in practical terms, nothing substantial in the Renters (Reform) Bill has changed for the majority of tenants and landlords.” Just before the Easter break, the government announced that it would table a series of amendments to the Bill in an effort to calm opposition from some of its own MPs. The proposed changes include: Tenant groups and charities reacted angrily to the proposed amendments claiming the government was betraying renters in favour of placating their own backbenchers. But Cobbold said: “Although these amendments were billed as a big announcement, there’s nothing here that is particularly groundbreaking. “Waiting for reform of the court process before the abolition of Section 21 is something we’ve known about since the Bill was introduced. What will be key is the details of this assessment, which we have been calling for since the legislation was introduced. The abolition of Section 21 has been a policy of every major party since the last election, so it has become a question of whether this government will abolish it or a future one. “Until Section 21 is abolished, landlords will have to think in a slightly more structured way about how they actually evict somebody. Having to wait four months before you can give two months’ notice is effectively a six month wait – well it’s at least a six month wait now if an eviction notice is contested and the matter has to be settled through the legal system. The only material difference here is that tenants won’t be able to treat the PRS like an Airbnb lite, giving notice as soon as the tenancy begins to secure cheaper rents for a few months in a new location. “Revising the legislation to protect student lets is something almost everybody is in favour of – students and landlords alike. If the Government didn’t take action there’d be a major problem for the new intake of students at the beginning of the academic year. “And as far as the property portal removing the need for local authority licensing schemes is concerned, what the government has announced is only a review. What the industry is keen to see is the abolition of selective licensing schemes and HMO licences so there is consistency across England – although the question of how enforcement will work is less clear. “I think these are quite balanced changes that the government is proposing to the Bill – nothing really contentious at all and certainly not a landlord’s charter, as some are claiming.” MPs return to work after their Spring break on Monday 15 April and the Bill will be scheduled for its Third Reading shortly afterwards before progressing to the House of Lords. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Base Structures are announcing a new offering from its tensile fabric experts, Temporary Weatherproof Screening, promising to speed up building programmes and mitigate against weather delays on site. Base Screens are a new product that provide a unique and efficient solution for weatherproofing requirements on construction sites. Quick to install and demount, they are customisable to meet specific site conditions, which presents contractors with the chance to remove conventional cladding from a programme’s critical path. This accelerates the construction schedule and allow teams to progress with fit out works, staying ahead of any delays that the changing climate may bring. Andy Traynor, Director at Base Structures and Head of Installations and Health & Safety, said: “Our in-house expertise and engineering capabilities mean that we can design, manufacture and erect temporary weatherproof screens very quickly and to fit an existing structure, safeguarding construction works from external elements. By installing screens early in a project, we can provide a bespoke solution to ease the installation, movement and removal of the screens at various points in the building programme at specific fixing points. This means that there’s no requirement for scaffolding, minimising any potential for damage to works that have already been completed. We’re delighted to have been able to offer this innovative solution to several happy clients across the country, and with an increase in this kind of work, Base Structures are well placed to help teams find solutions to keep building programmes on track despite the rainfall and weather challenges we’ve seen this springtime.” Base Screens are made of PVC fabric that can cover large areas. They’re durable, easy to clean, fire retardant and a low-risk option, offering a less labour-intensive and safer solution than other more traditional weatherproofing options. Base Structures have produced case studies of their work in this area, which can be found via the links below: Project Resilience – Base Structures Engineered Temporary Weather Screens Dublin Terminal 2 Temporary Works Screens They have also produced a blog post detailing some of the benefits of adding weatherproof temporary screens to your next building project. For more information, case studies, images or quotes, please contact mail@basestructures.com or visit the contact us page. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New Rush Hall School in Ilford is adding an additional space with its third modular building supplied by GCS Cabins. The building, which will provide a gym and music suite, will be installed in May to elevate learning and lead the way in addressing SEMH student needs. New Rush Hall School provides specialised support for pupils aged 5 to 16 who have social, emotional, or mental health (SEMH) difficulties. Staff take pride in providing a personalised, inclusive, and inspiring education to all 80 pupils. A quality learning environment plays a significant part in student education. Mr Walters, Executive Headteacher said: “We have used GCS Cabins for two modular buildings and are in the process of commissioning a third. We needed additional space to provide therapy rooms and break-out spaces for our pupils in order to enhance their wellbeing. The spaces created by GCS Cabins have enabled us to do that.” New Rush Hall School has been choosing modular classrooms from GCS Cabins for the past four years. The first building was a simple, open-plan, communal break area. The second building included a number of bespoke customisations, which allowed for the creation of a library, five individual 1-1 learning spaces and finally accessible toilets. The third building, which is currently being constructed off-site, will be 108m2 and house a gym and music suite. The gym will have various machines, a boxing ring, punch bags that are removable from ceiling hooks, a toilet and two showers. The recording studio with a microphone area will be fully soundproofed. Mr Walters added: “The third modular building, which is currently in progress, will provide us with a Creative and Fitness Hub, which will incorporate a gym, boxing facilities and a recording studio. This latest hub will provide additional opportunities for our pupils to access facilities that they would not normally have. These spaces will encourage creativity, develop talents, and have a positive impact on our pupils’ fitness and mental health, which will be of huge benefit.” The addition of a modular gym and music suite is designed to encourage more students to participate in extracurricular activities. A study by Public Health England found that participation in extracurricular activities has a positive effect on student attainment. Physical activity has also been linked to improved classroom behaviour across the whole school. Modular classrooms are a great option for schools as they are completely customisable and adaptable. Each school building can be refurbished to provide a dynamic, inclusive space that meets the specific needs of your students and teachers. Mr Walter continued: “GCS Cabins have been involved with the design and production from the start of this Hub and the previous hubs. Their expertise and knowledge has been of great value and has helped us to design spaces that are fit for purpose. They have been flexible and supportive and enabled us to fulfill our vision. Their communication is excellent, and they have gone above and beyond in terms of trying to meet our needs whilst remaining hugely competitive and cost-effective.” All projects are full turnkey packages, including all groundworks and connection of services. New Rush Hall School’s latest building will be completed in May with a turnaround of only 12 weeks from the point of order to completion. GCS Cabins is experienced in creating inspiring learning spaces that help schools support their students’ achievements Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
