80% of environmental professionals have concerns around the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offsetting schemes Businesses across the UK have expressed concern at the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offsetting schemes. In a report presenting the outcomes of the National Environmental Services Survey[1] – run in association with
Family-owned housebuilder City & Country is pleased to announce their recent acquisition of 177 acres of land in the Stansted area. The newly purchased site, currently used for farming, is to be promoted by City & Country’s planning team through the Council’s local plan review process. The land is situated
Planning permission has been granted by the City of London to Mactaggart Family & Partners for The Resident Farringdon. The 128-room hotel, which is due to open in 2027, will be the fifth London site for the brand, taking it to a total portfolio of seven properties across the UK.
UK ground engineering specialist Mainmark has been shortlisted for a major industry accolade. Mainmark has been shortlisted for the “UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of up to £500K’’ category which recognises leading projects with a focus on innovation, quality, sustainability, health and safety and value engineering. The annual Ground
Following the announcement of the General Election for July 2024, the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has launched their manifesto, A Blueprint for Better Construction. The document focuses on how policy can support better procurement and contracting, and help to improve investment in skills, innovation and net zero. Throughout the
Plans have been put forward to regenerate Teviot Estate in Poplar, East London. The £800 million redevelopment by The Hill Group and Poplar HARCA will provide around 1,900 new homes with 35% affordable, over four phases. This will be complemented by new open green and play spaces, shops, and community
Following an extensive and thorough tender process, Rutland County Council has awarded their Highways Term Maintenance Contract (HTMC) to the highest scoring bidder, Thomas Bow Ltd. Rutland County Council’s current HTMC ended on 31st May 2024. Thomas Bow Ltd then commenced with their contract on 1st June 2024 and this
Morgan Sindall has been appointed to Phase 2 of works at Southlands Hospital, in Shoreham, Sussex, to further add to the new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC). The project has been procured via SCAPE on behalf of the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Works at Southlands Hospital involves the strip-out
Muse, the nationwide placemaker, has grown its team in the North West with the addition of two regeneration experts, Alex Vogel and Sam Wilson. Alex has been appointed Senior Development Manager, bringing almost 10 years’ experience in residential and mixed-used regeneration. Joining from Greystar, Alex actively managed the delivery of
New data released today shows the number of people in work has dropped. The number of people unemployed in the UK rose by 138,000 in the three months to April amid growing signs of a weaker jobs market and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. Rosalind Gill, Head of Policy
80% of environmental professionals have concerns around the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offsetting schemes Businesses across the UK have expressed concern at the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offsetting schemes. In a report presenting the outcomes of the National Environmental Services Survey[1] – run in association with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), The Environmental Services Association (ESA), Groundwork, and ESS Expo (Environmental Services and Solutions Expo) – 80% of respondents stated that they had serious concerns around the integrity of carbon credit offsetting schemes. While almost a third of those questioned (33%) believed carbon offsetting is a viable strategy for achieving net-zero emissions, just 37% have employed it as a strategy to reduce their businesses’ environmental impact. The full report and survey findings can be downloaded here. Greenwashing also remains a major concern among industry insiders, with 94% of respondents believing it is prevalent in the UK. In 2023, a quarter (25%) of respondents to the same survey stated that greenwashing was the one thing they would change about the environmental sector as Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, explains: “It is alarming to hear that so many sustainability experts believe carbon offsetting schemes are actually failing the environment. While there are some businesses entering into highly certified programmes, there are concerns from many across the industry that these schemes are simply another form of greenwashing and can, in some instances, cause more harm to the environment than good.” Overall, perhaps unsurprisingly, climate change and global warming (32%) were cited as the biggest issues within the environment and sustainability today, followed by environmental policy and governance (15%) and waste management and the circular economy (13%). Crucially, as we head into a general election, 37% of those asked believe current government policies are unsupportive when it comes to achieving net zero goals, with just under a third (32%) stating that they are one of the biggest barriers to their organisation achieving net-zero, surpassed only by financial constraints (44%). Worryingly, only 3% of those interviewed said their organisation was currently at net zero. Achieving net zero When it comes to achieving net zero emissions across sectors, collaboration and partnerships are key, with 85% of respondents reporting that working together is either essential or very important. Further, nearly all respondents (99%) believe innovation and technology will play a role in accelerating the pathway to net zero emissions, with almost everyone (87%) agreeing it will play a significant part. The five biggest focusses will lie in the expansion of the circular economy (20%), advancements in clean energy technologies (16%), public awareness and engagement in sustainability (15%), followed by strengthening policy and regulation and green infrastructure at 14% and 9%, respectively. Lee Marshall, Director of Innovation and Technical Services at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), said: “It is always valuable to get insights from those who work in the sector. The concerns about off setting show that resources and waste professionals want to do the right thing and take meaningful steps to support climate mitigation. The UK has made good progress, but it is no surprise that people feel policies on net zero and circular economy are not strong enough. “We need policies that will accelerate the transition to a more resource resilient and circular economy capable of meeting future material demands and supporting the battle against climate change, and this is something CIWM is calling for in our ten policy recommendations for the new government.” Head of Climate and Energy Policy at The Environmental Services Association (ESA), Charlotte Rule, said: “Clearly, from these alarming survey results, there remains significant work to be done across the business community to demonstrate credibility and build trust in efforts to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change, and achieve net-zero targets. “Achieving net-zero must be a collaborative exercise, which is what the ESA has sought to achieve through its Net-Zero strategy – aligning organisations across our sector through a shared roadmap; speaking with a unified voice to Government to achieve a supportive policy environment and being mutually accountable to each other as a membership body.” The survey gathered data from 1,498 professionals from across the environmental services industry from April-May 2024. Download the full report for free on the ESS Expo website here. To register to attend ESS Expo 2024 from 11-12 September at the NEC, Birmingham, visit the website here. [1] The survey gathered data from over 1,498 professionals from across the environmental survey industry from April – May 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Family-owned housebuilder City & Country is pleased to announce their recent acquisition of 177 acres of land in the Stansted area. The newly purchased site, currently used for farming, is to be promoted by City & Country’s planning team through the Council’s local plan review process. The land is situated within a sustainable location with close access to existing transport links and has the potential to be suitable for residential, commercial, and leisure opportunities. Located in the Essex area, City & Country’s newly acquired Stansted site is part of the housebuilder’s commitment to its medium- and long-term development plans. On the new acquisition, City & Country’s Land and Property Director, Simon Marner commented: “The newly purchased Stansted land holds significant potential, and this acquisition aligns with our medium to long-term strategies to grow our residential and commercial development activities. We look forward to discussing our ideas for sensitive and sustainable development with the local community as we look towards the next steps for our plans for growth in Stansted and for the business more generally.” Wayne Douglas, MD at City & Country, adds: “Our specialist land and planning teams are constantly striving and seeking to invest in sustainable sites in desirable locations. This new land acquisition is a significant milestone for City & Country as we look to unlock a full range of planning and development opportunities in the Essex area.” For further information about City & Country, please visit https://www.cityandcountry.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning permission has been granted by the City of London to Mactaggart Family & Partners for The Resident Farringdon. The 128-room hotel, which is due to open in 2027, will be the fifth London site for the brand, taking it to a total portfolio of seven properties across the UK. The hotel has been designed by EPR Architects, with a focus on creating a highly sustainable building. Situated at 1-8 Long Lane, it will be at the heart of the Culture Mile, with easy access to the Barbican, Smithfield and Farringdon neighbourhoods. From 2026 the area will also be home to the London Museum, as part of the Smithfield General Market regeneration. William Laxton, CEO, Mactaggart Family & Partners, said: “We are thrilled with the consent for The Resident Farringdon and with the opportunity to contribute to this growing and thriving location. It is so important to us to be able to maximise this site’s potential with a modern, high-quality hotel, which is also as sustainable as possible and we are thrilled that the City of London planning committee has vindicated our approach to the scheme. “The Resident Farringdon will offer guests a home-from-home experience, from which they can explore this thriving neighbourhood, with bars, restaurants, galleries, museums and performance venues only steps away, all activated by some of the best infrastructure in Europe in the form of the Elizabeth Line at Farringdon East.” The Resident Farringdon will feature third party operated restaurant, cafe and retail spaces at ground level and a pocket garden for guests and the public to enjoy. In keeping with the rest of The Resident portfolio, the Brand purposely forgoes its own formal bar or restaurant, but has a library lounge. From here the knowledgeable team will encourage guests to enjoy the highlights and hidden gems that abound in the surrounding area. Adam Jones, director, EPR Architects, said: “Sustainability is at the core of the scheme and we and Mactaggart Family & Partners, advised by ARUP, have sought to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint through a series of thoughtful design solutions, including optimising the façade’s design to minimise energy consumption and solar gain, using a low embodied carbon ventilation system and improving on-site biodiversity.” Additional features of the build will include over 95% of demolition, excavation and construction waste being diverted from landfill. In addition to the pocket garden, enhanced greening at upper floor terrace levels will be introduced, along with a new green roof space helping to achieve a significant uplift in biodiversity. With vast experience that has involved defining some of the world’s leading hotels, EPR’s previous projects in London have included The Ned, The OWO and NoMad. David Orr, CEO of Resident Hotels Ltd as Operator of The Resident, said: “The Resident has established itself with guests as one of the best regarded hotel brands, particularly in London, the most global of cities. The Resident Farringdon opens up a prime destination within the ‘Culture Mile’ BID, where community, culinary and commercial innovation cohabit in abundance. The prospect of partnering with local, yet world-renowned Arts institutions, engaging with our culturally affluent guests, and leading local connectivity with our Resident Insiders teams is very exciting.” Resident Hotels is due to open its sixth location, in The Resident Edinburgh, in August under the leadership of GM Gillian Mylles. She is assembling a great team, ready to delight guests from the final weeks of the International Festival. Heartfelt hospitality fuels The Resident brand’s reputation with exceptional NPS scores, and review rankings. This ethos has ensured that this year saw The Resident Covent Garden confirmed by TripAdvisor Travelers’’Choice “Best of the Best” as the no. #1 Hotel in the UK 2024 and #15 in Europe 2024. Current The Resident Covent Garden is at #1, The Resident Soho is at #18 in London and The Resident Victoria is at #20, which means that we have three Top 20 hotels in the current Tripadvisor Traveler ranked places in London. The Resident Liverpool is consistently at #1 in that great cultural destination, host city to the exceptional Biennial. The brand has plans to add rooms of a total target of 1,500 to 2,000 rooms over the next five years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
UK ground engineering specialist Mainmark has been shortlisted for a major industry accolade. Mainmark has been shortlisted for the “UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of up to £500K’’ category which recognises leading projects with a focus on innovation, quality, sustainability, health and safety and value engineering. The annual Ground Engineering Awards brings together leaders in the industry to celebrate major achievements. This year’s awards will be held at a prestigious event on 19 June at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Mainmark’s shortlisted project highlights its work on the construction of the 43-storey tower, Arena Point in Leeds, set to be the world’s tallest purpose-built student accommodation. The £95m project on Merrion Way features over 700 bedrooms, with a mix of studio apartments and shared cluster flats, replacing a previously underutilised office block. The construction was halted due to unstable ground, and was only able to progress thanks to the expertise of Mainmark who successfully strengthened the ground prior to excavation using its innovative Teretek® geopolymer resin injection technology. Mainmark’s Teretek engineered resin injection technology solution was chosen to strengthen the ground in a controlled and timely manner. With the proximity of nearby buildings, infrastructure and the restricted site traditional piling and ground anchor techniques were unsuitable for the specific challenge. Teretek® technology, developed by Mainmark, was injected at high-density levels to fill any voids, compact the ground and bind together large cobbles and brick fragments. It was completed in just 10 days, without the need for heavy plant, allowing the construction to continue as scheduled. Tom Kavanagh, General Manager at Mainmark UK, comments: “We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award, it showcases the passion, skill and expertise that our team puts into developing new solutions, allowing the sector to better tackle site specific challenges. “We take great pride in not just meeting but exceeding our clients’ expectations and enabling the Arena Point construction to progress as planned is just one great example of where are dedication to formulating new solutions has been a success.” Mainmark has previously been recognised for its work with the post-earthquake resurrection of the Christchurch Art Gallery which won International Project of the Year. Chosen from seven high calibre of finalists, the re-levelling of the gallery was a landmark project for Mainmark and the industry, setting a new benchmark in the earthquake remediation for large scale buildings. Mainmark Ground Engineering (UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of the Mainmark group of companies established in 2016, with its headquarters located in Milton Keynes. For over three decades, Mainmark has established itself as a pioneering force in the industry, leading the way in developing and delivering cutting-edge ground improvement solutions. With an impressive track record of over 200,000 successful projects across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the UK, Mainmark has earned international recognition as an award-winning and leading ground engineer. https://mainmark.com/uk/ @mainmark(UnitedKingdom) Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following the announcement of the General Election for July 2024, the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has launched their manifesto, A Blueprint for Better Construction. The document focuses on how policy can support better procurement and contracting, and help to improve investment in skills, innovation and net zero. Throughout the manifesto’s development, FIS leaned heavily into research completed with Professor Stuart Green of Reading University and AMA Research in 2023. It has also consulted with its membership and externally to help further refine and ensure it does not cut across and is consistent with other construction lobby groups. FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee emphasised the manifesto’s goals, stating it presents “well-reasoned practical, targeted and specific” recommendations building on previous industry work. He added that the FIS has shared this document with other representative groups in construction to support their efforts, inviting further comments to refine and develop the proposals. “Beyond this we’ll be using our network and opportunities to ensure as FIS we carry forward the message that construction is a key enabling industry, but there are key policy levers that can be pulled to unleash the full potential of the sector,” he said. FIS will be taking this message forward with Ministers, MPs, Regulators and Civil Servants and at the same time is recommending its members use the document to target their candidates locally. “Consistency is key to change,” he added. “It is important to remember that the election deadline isn’t the critical one, it is being ready in the Autumn to deliver a consistent message from construction to the new Government (whatever colour) and give them a plan to ensure construction is well placed to support their vision for our future.” FIS is urging all members to contact their local candidates (you can find their details here) and challenge them on how their party will support a sector that enables growth, delivers sustainability and provides employment for one in 10 people in the UK. You can download a copy of the FIS Manifesto, A Blueprint for Better Construction here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been put forward to regenerate Teviot Estate in Poplar, East London. The £800 million redevelopment by The Hill Group and Poplar HARCA will provide around 1,900 new homes with 35% affordable, over four phases. This will be complemented by new open green and play spaces, shops, and community and faith facilities, alongside improved infrastructure. As one of the largest estate regenerations in London, the redevelopment of Teviot will transform the area with upgraded designs and enhanced community amenities, creating a safer and better place to live. Hill and Poplar HARCA have worked closely with Teviot residents at every stage to ensure the plans meet the community’s needs and aspirations. The partnership has submitted an outline planning application for all phases of the masterplan, including detailed proposals for the first phase of development. Phase 1 is set to deliver 475 homes, 45% of which will be affordable. Subject to approvals, the project is scheduled to start onsite at the end of 2025, with the first homes expected to be completed by 2028. The entire project is forecast to be completed by 2042. The proposals provide a wide range of benefits for local residents including provision for an improved mosque that will be at the heart of the development and delivered in the third phase. Green open spaces will be prioritised, with substantial improvements to Langdon Park brought forward in phase one and an informal play area for public use. Extensive landscaping is planned with green corridors which will boost biodiversity, greener streets and a new public square that will create a place to socialise and relax. The masterplan for the project, designed by leading architects BPTW, covers eight hectares and offers a wide range of homes from studios and apartments to family houses. The regeneration will feature new shops and commercial spaces, as well as a new multi-use community centre. New infrastructure and public realm design focuses on creating safer streets with better pedestrian routes to Langdon Park station and a new foot-tunnel under the A12, with enhanced lighting and CCTV to help reduce anti-social behaviour. The regeneration has already invested £427,500 to local projects through the Teviot Community Chest Fund. Over its 15-year duration, the initiative is set to generate over £278 million in social value, which covers a wide range of community projects. such as a new pontoon on the Limehouse Cut Canal, planned to open later this year that will increase community access to water sports. Andy Hill OBE, Group Chief Executive at The Hill Group commented: comments: “The regeneration of Teviot is going to change the lives of thousands of residents, bringing high-quality homes and improved wellbeing. The community has been at the heart of the plans since conception and we are committed to delivering on our promises to residents, collaborating to create an improved neighbourhood for all. We know that people not only want better quality, energy-efficient homes, but also improved access to jobs, more support for young people and less fear of crime, so we are pleased to reach this important milestone in rewriting the future for this community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following an extensive and thorough tender process, Rutland County Council has awarded their Highways Term Maintenance Contract (HTMC) to the highest scoring bidder, Thomas Bow Ltd. Rutland County Council’s current HTMC ended on 31st May 2024. Thomas Bow Ltd then commenced with their contract on 1st June 2024 and this will run for a period of ten years to 31st May 2034. There will be an option to further extend the contract by a further 2 x 5 year periods if a number of Key Performance Indicators are met. Rutland County Council’s Strategic Director for Places, said: ‘Thomas Bow Ltd have a breadth of industry experience and have a significant number of highway contracts around the country. ‘We are pleased to be able to shape the new contract to ensure it has an emphasis on social value and positive benefits to the local community, ranging from employment to community engagement. There is also a focus on carbon reduction, innovation, an opportunity for potential income generation and a cost reduction on the depot lease. ‘We are looking forward to working with Thomas Bow Ltd to deliver proactive maintenance measures, ensuring the highway network is kept safe and maintained in a sustainable manner for all residents and visitors to the County.’ Thomas Bow Ltd Managing Director Alistair Bow commented ‘This is an exciting contract for Thomas Bow and demonstrates our in-house capability to deliver multi discipline contracts for clients. We are extremely happy to secure this long term contract and we look forward to working with Rutland County Council to deliver improvements identified in the recent survey and also having a positive impact on the local community.’ In 2023 Rutland County Council scored well in The National Highways and Transport (NHT) Public satisfaction survey results. The survey was carried out in June 2023 and Rutland County Council was ranked joint 5th in the country along with Manchester and Solihull out of a total of 111 authorities that took part. The NHT Public Satisfaction Survey collects public perspectives on, and satisfaction with, Highway and Transport Services in Local Authority areas. It is a unique, standardised, collaboration between Highway Authorities across the UK enabling comparison, knowledge sharing, and the potential to improve efficiencies by the sharing of good practice. Over four million households have been sent a copy of the NHT Survey since it was first launched in 2008 and over a million members of the public have responded to date. For further information about the NHT Survey please visit www.nhtnetwork.co.uk/home Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall has been appointed to Phase 2 of works at Southlands Hospital, in Shoreham, Sussex, to further add to the new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC). The project has been procured via SCAPE on behalf of the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Works at Southlands Hospital involves the strip-out and demolition of the previous structure, with the new facility housing four state-of-the-art ultrasound rooms, two dedicated echo treatment rooms, two lung function testing rooms, and a specialised gynaecological treatment area. Additionally, the project includes the strategic reconfiguration of an existing X-ray section. Complementing these clinical spaces, the CDC will incorporate various ancillary facilities such as waiting areas, cleaning stations, restrooms, a welcoming reception area, office spaces, and medical storage facilities. Preliminary works began in January with extensive site setup, enabling works, underground drainage, foundations and all new internal block walls. Work is scheduled to complete later this year, in time for the Trust to start using the centre in full by Autumn 2024. As part of the governments scheme to deliver more community-based facilities, statistics show patients have already benefited from over 7 million tests, checks and scans via CDC funding across England. Since opening in October 2023, almost 30,000 patients have already been seen at Southlands CDC. As part of Morgan Sindall’s commitment to social value generation and upskilling the next generation of construction professionals, its team are supporting two local T-Level students during the construction activity. The team have also arranged several trips for students from nearby Northbrook College to visit the project at various times throughout the development. Additionally, Morgan Sindall supported a jobless individual from the local area by employing them as an operative on site who will be helping with site duties. To assist the team’s physical wellbeing, several health sessions have also been arranged which will check on cholesterol, prostate cancer, thyroid testing and blood pressure. Guy Hannell, Area Director for Morgan Sindall in the Southern Home Counties, said: “The new Community Diagnostic Centre is a brilliant community asset. It brings a high-quality diagnostic service to the heart of the local area, helping better assess those in critical need while also vastly reducing waiting times. We look forward to continuing our relationship with University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and SCAPE throughout this project, and to seeing the new centre in action once delivered. “At Morgan Sindall, we’ve worked on a number of similar projects across the country and so our team has been able to bring a lot of experience and insight to the project, ensuring that the completed facility will meet the needs of patients, clinicians and stakeholders. “The nature of such developments means they are often situated in the heart of local communities, and therefore we’ve applied our Intelligent Solutions approach to ensure that disruption is minimised while social value generation is simultaneously maximised.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Muse, the nationwide placemaker, has grown its team in the North West with the addition of two regeneration experts, Alex Vogel and Sam Wilson. Alex has been appointed Senior Development Manager, bringing almost 10 years’ experience in residential and mixed-used regeneration. Joining from Greystar, Alex actively managed the delivery of Greenford Quay, a regeneration masterplan which delivered 2,000 new homes, commercial space, and public realm as part of a new waterfront neighbourhood in London. Joining the Muse team in the North West, Alex will support the delivery of the Oldham Town Centre Regeneration Masterplan. A partnership between Oldham Council and Muse, the masterplan is set to deliver a new neighbourhood, complete with 2,000 new homes across a mix of tenures. Also joining the team is Sam Wilson as Project Manager. Sam joins from AtkinsRéalis, where he supported the delivery of the £240m arts venue ‘Factory International’, working in partnership with Manchester City Council. Sam has also supported the delivery of Tower Works, a 245-bed mixed-use build to rent scheme in Leeds, and the design of Nikal’s Blackpool Central regeneration. As part of the Muse team, Sam will help deliver a pipeline of new places in Blackpool, Wirral, and Warrington. Phil Marsden, Managing Director at Muse – North West, said: “Alex and Sam join Muse with extensive placemaking experience. Their knowledge and insight, gained from supporting significant and large-scale regeneration, will be invaluable to our team. “As we deliver on our exciting pipeline of new places across the North West, alongside our local partners, it’s our people who will unlock the opportunity, long-term benefit, and social value of regeneration. Alex and Sam will be critical to our ambition. “We have seen strong growth in our business over the last 12 months. Expanding our team allows us to create additional capacity and bolster our knowledge and skills. Alex and Sam will be critical to our long-term vision and achieving our targets.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New data released today shows the number of people in work has dropped. The number of people unemployed in the UK rose by 138,000 in the three months to April amid growing signs of a weaker jobs market and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. Rosalind Gill, Head of Policy and Engagement at the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), “Today’s newly released labour market statistics paints a very worrying picture and hammers home the uphill battle that the new Government will face. New data reveals that 3.2 million people are out of work but want a job, and that the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%.” Gill concluded: “As the new government takes office, it’s vital that they implement a cohesive plan that involves educational institutions, businesses, and policymakers to equip our workforce with the skills needed for today’s economy. As technology quickly advances, the labour market is transforming at pace and the skills gaps will only become more acute. Failure to address these issues now risks further economic stagnation and missed opportunities for growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
