Wales & West Utilities commissions study on hydrogen infrastructure to determine the viability of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles to UK consumers. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been selected by Wales & West Utilities (“WWU”) to lead a study exploring how hydrogen refuelling stations can be integrated into the UK’s
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture and fitout specialists, has released its latest financial results for the year ending December 2023 which show a £3m increase in turnover to £22.4m and a record order intake of over £30m. Forward orders have increased by more than £3m to over £30m
Contractor Clegg Construction has completed, on behalf of CBRE Investment Management, a new Premier Inn hotel in York. The highly sustainable, four-storey development has been built in the shadow of York’s ancient city walls. It brings 188 new bedrooms to the historic city centre, on a corner plot fronting Foss Islands
Refurbishment works have begun to transform the Central Building at the University of Nottingham’s new Castle Meadow Campus. Delivered by Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, the refurbishment works will breathe new life into the Central Building, which sits on the site of the former HMRC offices, helping to establish the campus
A planning application has been submitted for the regeneration of the 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 five phases. This will be complemented by new open green and play
A SIGNIFICANT four-year programme to improve pupil accessibility and retention has completed in Essex, delivering upgraded facilities in line with modern teaching standards. The restoration of Brentwood County High School, undertaken by two of construction’s leading industry names, has seen the introduction of two new specialist teaching blocks, a refurbished sports hall,
The industrial real estate manager and developer BENO Holding AG has opted for dTwin from Nemetschek. dTwin is the innovative platform for networked and visual intelligence and visual analytics for buildings. The solution bridges the gap between planning, construction and operation and enables building managers to make better, data-driven decisions. The aim of BENO
A TRIO of new starters has joined leading carbon and biodiversity offsetting solutions provider CSX. The appointments expand the firm’s capacity, helping deliver strategic growth in its role as providers of biodiversity net gain (BNG) and carbon offset units. The company uses earth observation technologies and data analysis systems to collect
East Midlands civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting has made internal promotions to create two new associate directors. Civil engineer Carol Ell, who has a leadership role in BSP’s Leicester office, has been with the company 20 years next month. Finance manager James Payne, who is based in the
Developer HBD, part of Henry Boot, has selected Sheppard Robson to lead on the design of its second phase of the landmark Golden Valley scheme in Cheltenham. The architecture practice will be responsible for the design of the next two buildings to come forward, with partner David Taylor leading a
Wales & West Utilities commissions study on hydrogen infrastructure to determine the viability of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles to UK consumers. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been selected by Wales & West Utilities (“WWU”) to lead a study exploring how hydrogen refuelling stations can be integrated into the UK’s existing gas network. The research, funded by Ofgem, will explore the potential of using the UK’s natural gas network – which provides energy to homes, businesses, and large industry – as hydrogen fuelling infrastructure in anticipation of increased demand for zero emissions vehicles. Specifically, the research will consider infrastructure solutions which increase the viability of hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). These low emission vehicles could be a sustainable alternative to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles, thanks to hydrogen having a similar refuelling process. The technology offers advantages for heavy-duty vehicles which typically have high daily mileage and limited refuelling windows. The study is part of a WWU initiative called HyDrive, which seeks to address the lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure across Wales and the south west of England. Costain’s researchers will consult key regional stakeholders to understand current road transport demands, model and forecast future demands on the network, and recommend potential locations where existing petrol stations could be converted to hydrogen refuellers. The report’s insights into the economics of implementing the technology, and how it will impact consumers in a future transition, will point the way for gas distribution networks to work with hydrogen producers and refuelling infrastructure providers to help deliver demonstrable long-term savings for consumers as part of the energy transition. Laura Hughes, energy sector director at Costain, commented: “Hydrogen will play an important role in the UK’s decarbonisation and energy transition ambitions. Through its HyDrive initiative, Wales & West Utilities is leading the way and our research will help improve understanding of the hurdles which need to be overcome to make hydrogen-powered vehicles a reality. “Costain has a rich catalogue of expertise in this field and a deep understanding of how to handle hydrogen safely. This will ensure the report is grounded in practical implementation and ultimately delivers robust, actionable findings”. Matthew Hindle, head of net zero and sustainability at Wales and West Utilities added: “HyDrive is a hugely important initiative for us as we seek to reduce carbon emissions across Wales and the south west of England. Having successfully trialled a hydrogen van earlier this year, one of the challenges was the lack of hydrogen refuelling in the area. The trial required us to set up a bespoke hydrogen refuelling eco-system and clearly highlighted the need for permanent infrastructure if FCEVs are to become a reality. HyDrive will help identify the ways in which our extensive gas network could support hydrogen refuelling in the future. “For this project we were seeking a partner who could demonstrate an immediate, detailed understanding of our requirements, complete with a relevant portfolio of experience. Costain ticked all boxes. The lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is not confined to our region and we’re optimistic the project will produce a model which can be used by the broader industry and accelerate the sector’s complicated but pressing road to net zero.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture and fitout specialists, has released its latest financial results for the year ending December 2023 which show a £3m increase in turnover to £22.4m and a record order intake of over £30m. Forward orders have increased by more than £3m to over £30m compared to the same period last year for projects to be delivered through to the end of 2025. Turnover rose by £3m in 2023, up from £19.2m in the previous year and again with a healthy operating profit. Net assets in the same period increased by £1.5m. Projects have been delivered and awarded across diverse market sectors – healthcare, education, student living and build-to-rent – for the manufacture and installation of fitted furniture, bespoke kitchens and specialist joinery, and with a high level of repeat business from tier one contractors and major residential property developers. In Scotland, Deanestor continues to perform well from its regional headquarters in Fife, particularly in the education sector. Current projects include Deanestor’s 13th school FF&E project for Robertson Construction – a £3.8m contract for the new East End Community Campus in Dundee. William Tonkinson, CEO of Deanestor, said, “This latest set of figures demonstrates strong and sustainable growth for the business across multiple sectors. We have an exceptionally healthy project pipeline and are anticipating an increase in turnover to £24m by the end of 2024.” “Our financial performance is testament to the hard work of our teams in the East Midlands and in Fife – from design and estimating to manufacturing and work on site – who help our clients achieve the balance between first class FF&E services, finishes of the highest quality and project delivery to the required budget and programme. Quality and longevity are vitally important for fitting out retained assets – from hospitals that are operational 24/7 to co-living apartments that require strong tenant appeal, long-term.” Projects nearing completion in the PRS sector include a contract worth around £2.5m to provide 399 bespoke, high specification kitchens for Winvic Construction at New Garden Square in Birmingham – Deanestor’s third built-to-rent neighbourhood for Moda. Also in the co-living sector, Deanestor has just been awarded a contract for more than 100 kitchens for a multi-tenure project in the EdCity development in London’s White City, working once again with Bowmer + Kirkland. Hospital fitout contracts totalling £4m have also been secured, the largest of which is a project worth more than £1m for Integrated Health Projects (IHP) – a joint venture between VINCI and Sir Robert McAlpine, to fit out two 54-bed adult mental health facilities at Kingsway Hospital in Derby and in the grounds of Chesterfield Royal Hospital. Deanestor’s latest major project in the student living sector is a £2m contract to fit out the bedrooms, studio and communal kitchens for a 550-bed scheme. Established in 1948, Deanestor now has manufacturing and distribution facilities in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, which span 250,000 sqft across six sites. It employs 150 staff and has a division in Fife to service Scottish clients and projects. Its fitted furniture and kitchen solutions give contractors and developers the benefit of shorter lead times, high levels of customer service and long-term durability for major build-to-rent schemes, student living, schools and hospitals. 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
Contractor Clegg Construction has completed, on behalf of CBRE Investment Management, a new Premier Inn hotel in York. The highly sustainable, four-storey development has been built in the shadow of York’s ancient city walls. It brings 188 new bedrooms to the historic city centre, on a corner plot fronting Foss Islands Road and Layerthorpe at a junction of the city’s inner ring road, and will create approximately 55 new jobs. Built for CBRE Investment Management and Whitbread PLC, the Premier Inn hotel features some of the latest energy-saving and carbon-reduction technologies, such as air source heat pumps, heat recovery ventilation systems, LED lighting, photovoltaic panels and electric car charging points, and has achieved an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A. The building has been designed to achieve a carbon reduction of 44% compared with traditional construction methods – far surpassing City of York Council’s 28% carbon reduction requirements. Clegg Construction Managing Director Michael Sims said: “We are tremendously proud to have delivered such a sustainable Premier Inn hotel for CBRE Investment Management and Whitbread PLC. “The site is a historically sensitive city centre location in York and I am delighted with how the Clegg Construction team conducted themselves with minimal disruption to local businesses and residents. The scheme consistently achieved high Considerate Constructors Scheme scores in audits taken throughout the duration of the contract. “More than 80% of the workforce travelled 30 miles or less per day to reach the site – demonstrating our commitment to supporting the local community and to sustainability. “This marks the latest in a long line of hotels that we have delivered across the country, and the fourth Premier Inn scheme that we have been involved in. As a company, Clegg Construction is very happy to have now handed over this new development which I am sure will be an asset to York and its tourism and business communities, along with the local economy.” During the build, Clegg Construction worked with Community Wood Recycling who collected wood waste from the site. It is estimated that saved 20 tonnes of CO2. Some 44% of the waste wood was reused by the community for DIY, building or made into a range of products from bird boxes to dining tables, and the remainder was sent for recycling to be made into woodchip, animal bedding or as carbon neutral fuel in power stations. Other members of the construction team included project manager Reach Project Management, quantity surveyor Create.iF, architect The Harris Partnership, structural engineer Simpson Associates, and M&E consultant Thornley and Lumb. Fund Manager for UK Property PAIF at CBRE Investment Management, Jamie Philips, said: “We expect growth in the hotels and catering sector to outpace the wider economy during the next five years. “Tourism supports a significant number of jobs in York and given the strength of the city as a destination for tourists, combined with its current undersupply of hotel beds, the addition of a new modern and sustainable hotel will help to bolster York’s businesses and economy. This project sits firmly within the Fund’s strategy, providing a great opportunity to thoughtfully invest in and repurpose an existing asset, in order to create a long and sustainable cash flow for our investors.” The development marks the fourth Premier Inn scheme delivered by Clegg Construction and follows the construction of a Derby city centre hotel, the full conversion of a former office building in Headingley in Leeds into a 96-bedroom hotel, plus the complete re-cladding of the Leeds City Centre hotel (also known as the Leeds Arena hotel). Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialities across a range of different sectors. For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Refurbishment works have begun to transform the Central Building at the University of Nottingham’s new Castle Meadow Campus. Delivered by Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, the refurbishment works will breathe new life into the Central Building, which sits on the site of the former HMRC offices, helping to establish the campus as a social and commercial hub for the university. The Castle Meadow Campus is a zone for entrepreneurship and innovation in the city centre, with a sustainability strategy implemented by the university that assesses each development to ensure carbon neutral targets are being met. Encompassing seven buildings, it features state-of-the-art facilities for its community of students, academics, and industry partners. The Grade II listed Central Building is undergoing extensive renovation works including the complex replacement of the tensile fabric roof to ensure a future proof building, and the addition of a new mezzanine at first floor level offering views of the roof through a large, glazed roof light at its centre. A new welcome reception area will provide unobstructed views from the entrance into the heart of the building. Alongside this, a new bistro café with kitchen facilities, study spaces and external seating will provide a social space accommodating over 200 visitors. The new HV power sub stations are now under construction, with trench ducting between the neighbouring buildings being created and new power supplies being installed. Restoration works to the listed concrete slabs are underway, with specialist contractors carefully removing years of paint and debris, bringing the structure back to its original state. The replacement of the roof is an extensively technical process due to its intricate design. As the build is a predominantly steel framed structure supported by tensile fabric and tensioned steel cables, it’s fundamental that each fabric panel is dismantled in sequence, to preserve the building and protect the fragile and vulnerable elements. Structural temporary works will be implemented to support this process taking place over a 20-week period. G F Tomlinson have a long-standing relationship with the University of Nottingham. Previous schemes delivered by the contractor include the Advanced Manufacturing Building at the Jubilee Campus, along with the Biodiscovery Institute and the East Midlands Conference Centre refurbishment at the University Park Campus. With extensive experience of refurbishing Listed buildings, G F Tomlinson also delivered the multi-million redevelopment of the Nottingham Castle. As part of their commitment to provide added social value throughout the project, G F Tomlinson have already donated 10 dual side benches from the former changing rooms of the building to local football club, Pelican Colts. Year 10 students from Lees Brook Academy, Bemrose School and Minster School have been provided with work experience placements, working alongside the project team to gain valuable on-site skills and experience, helping them to scope out careers in construction. Tanaka, Lees Brook Academy Student, commented: “My time with G F Tomlinson has been beneficial, not just in giving me an insight to the construction business but in showing me the trust and respect between colleagues in a working environment. Furthermore, I have gained fundamental skills such as independence and confidence, which will be valuable aspects for me in the future.” Managing Director, Adrian Grocock, said: “We’re pleased to be building on our long-standing working relationship with the University of Nottingham to bring this landmark Central Building at Castle Meadow Campus to fruition. The team has worked extensively to plan intricate works for the unique building and roof design, drawing upon our specialisms and expertise. “The city centre campus is a shining example of how the city can retrofit existing buildings to create sustainable modern facilities, and the Central Building works will maximise the current building’s potential to become a landmark social and commercial city hub.” Director of Estates and Facilities at the University of Nottingham, Gary Moss, said: “Creating inclusive, sustainable environments is at the heart of our campus development programme. This great work with G F Tomlinson, who share these values, will enable the reimagined Central Building to become a welcoming, vibrant landmark at the heart of our new Castle Meadow Campus. With work well underway, including the complex roof replacement, we’re thrilled to be on track for a Spring 2025 opening of our new city centre campus hub.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A planning application has been submitted for the regeneration of the 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 five phases. This will be complemented by new open green and play spaces, shops, 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 in April 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 comments: 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.” Paul Dooley, Director of Regeneration and Development at Poplar HARCA, added: “I am really pleased to reach this significant milestone for this important regeneration scheme. It is one step closer to delivering more affordable homes and community facilities for Tower Hamlets residents. “In partnership with The Hill Group, the project has already made a real impact in terms of social value. Local residents have been instrumental in shaping these plans and we are committed to making sure this exciting programme of regeneration reflects the things that matter most to them.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A SIGNIFICANT four-year programme to improve pupil accessibility and retention has completed in Essex, delivering upgraded facilities in line with modern teaching standards. The restoration of Brentwood County High School, undertaken by two of construction’s leading industry names, has seen the introduction of two new specialist teaching blocks, a refurbished sports hall, landscaping and a multi-use games area, greatly benefitting student learning and teaching experiences. The project was carried out in phases in a live working environment, also seeing careful restoration of the school’s spectacular main building, which is considered a heritage asset under its original 1930s design. Demolition work was also undertaken of existing teaching facilities to make way for the new blocks, which focus on art and design technology, science and general teaching. Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard is behind the programme, operating via formal appointment to deliver architectural services, with contractor Bowmer + Kirkland appointed through the DfE Construction Framework. Lizzy Bennett, director at Pick Everard, said: “This was a huge scope of work which ties into key objectives for the educational sector. The school had a clear vision to bring its services in line with modern standards and create something industry-leading to attract and retain students in the area. “It was a project that also had defined challenges, which our teams catered for in the initial planning and design stages. Given its long-term nature, we knew there had to be minimal interference to the teaching and the student experience. This meant splitting the required accommodation between two individual buildings, while the refurbishment of the sports hall took place early on in the project to ensure exams could continue without disruption. “Heritage was also a key consideration for the building design, with our teams developing a bespoke and sympathetic heritage colour palette in line with the school’s identity, which was then carried through all facilities across the school, creating cohesion across the campus. “We’re proud to have helped deliver this remarkable school alongside Bowmer + Kirkland, creating a standard of excellence in design for the region.” The new facilities at Brentwood include photovoltaic (PV) solutions as well as a ‘fabric-first’ approach to the school’s thermal design, delivering improvements to the building envelope. The work also forms part of Bowmer + Kirkland’s ‘configure system’ – a standardised construction approach for schools that meets the requirements of the Department for Education (DfE) and school planning systems for educational design. The system is then tailored according to the needs of each school. Under this regulatory approach, extra high glazing on staircases was ‘back designed’ into the project, in line with standards that evolved during the construction programme. The project also had to navigate circumstances brought about by the COVID pandemic, with team and client engagement taking place online for RIBA Stages 1, 2 and 3. For more information on Pick Everard and the services it provides, visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk/
The industrial real estate manager and developer BENO Holding AG has opted for dTwin from Nemetschek. dTwin is the innovative platform for networked and visual intelligence and visual analytics for buildings. The solution bridges the gap between planning, construction and operation and enables building managers to make better, data-driven decisions. The aim of BENO is to create digital twins of all existing buildings in the portfolio and thus to take their management to a new level. BENO Holding AG, based in Munich, owns, manages and rents out light industrial real estate throughout Germany. These are warehouse and logistics properties that contain additional space for production or offices. BENO’s aim is to maintain existing buildings and transform them to meet the needs of their tenants. Most of the buildings in BENO’s portfolio were built before the year 2000, so the data situation is correspondingly very analog. “Due to the age of our buildings, it is often difficult to determine certain parameters. However, these are absolutely essential for conversions or new lettings,” says Michael Bussmann, CEO of BENO Holding AG. The use of dTwin enables BENO Holding to create complete digital twins. In addition to the digitalisation of all building information, this brings a wide range of economic and ecological benefits such as virtual tours, more efficient planning and execution of conversions, improved data analysis, for example in fire protection, optimised resource management and simpler maintenance and servicing. “We see ourselves as a pioneer in the digitalisation of operational real estate and are constantly working to improve collaborative processes. This saves us time and, in particular, reduces CO2 emissions. This is where dTwin fits perfectly into our corporate philosophy. We are convinced that dTwin will help us to further drive forward the transformation of our buildings and take building management to a new level. This will benefit everyone involved, especially our tenants,” says Michael Bussmann. In dTwin, all existing models of a building can be collected and visualised on a single platform and supplemented with laser scans and panoramic photos. This creates walk-through models in which the condition of a building can be called up at any time using real-time data from IoT sensors. The digital twin can thus be used for virtual inspections or the optimisation of energy management, for example. “We are delighted that BENO has decided to use dTwin. Michael Bussmann and his team have a clear idea of what they expect from a Digital Twin and have worked with us to create the best possible setup. Since every building is different and every operator has different needs, it was important for us to define dTwin optimally for the requirements of the BENO Group and to set it up in such a way that it can be easily adapted to different scenarios,” says César Flores Rodríguez, Chief Division Officer Planning & Design and Digital Twin at the Nemetschek Group. “The cooperation with BENO shows that we have succeeded in this. We are also gaining valuable insights into the further development of dTwin in order to increase its benefits even further. We are convinced that everyone involved will benefit from this close cooperation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A TRIO of new starters has joined leading carbon and biodiversity offsetting solutions provider CSX. The appointments expand the firm’s capacity, helping deliver strategic growth in its role as providers of biodiversity net gain (BNG) and carbon offset units. The company uses earth observation technologies and data analysis systems to collect and accurately analyse carbon storage and biodiversity data. This process has quickly become crucial for land developers and owners with the government’s introduction of BNG in February 2024. This new approach requires any new development to have a positive impact, or ‘net gain’, on the land biodiversity of at least ten per cent. This ensures that wildlife habitats are left in a measurably better state than they were before. Joining CSX’s expert team as BNG project officers are Kennedy Young and Heather Scollick, while Steven Crosby has been appointed a business development executive at the company’s North Yorkshire office. Kennedy and Heather are tasked with helping landowners develop their BNG projects, overseeing them from start to finish as well as advising, finalising and communicating plans with local authorities. Steven will be responsible for supporting developers, planning consultants and stakeholders in the construction sector to navigate the successful delivery of BNG on their projects. He will also secure any shortfall in units from the land managers who CSX has supported in the creation of off-site units for sale. Previously Kennedy worked at ecology and design practice FPCR as a seasonal assistant ecologist and has studied animal science and welfare. Kennedy said: “CSX has an important mission which I am more than happy to be part of. BNG is a significant change for the sector and people are understandably wary about what is now expected of developments. It’s my job to make sure that the benefits of BNG are known, but also the processes are as simple and accessible as possible. Heather said: “CSX is leading in this field, so it’s an honour to be part of the team. It’s not just about progressing these important BNG projects, but also progressing the wider knowledge of the environment, species identification, trees and general habitats. It’s important that we utilise all resources at our disposal, especially technology, to tackle this problem head on.” Steven, tasked with making sure key stakeholders are engaging in the BNG process and helping to relieve the pressure on them, said: “I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the role. Being able to talk to these different groups of people and assist them in something this significant is rewarding. It’s about having clarifying conversations about BNG – there’s a lot of information and it can be intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be.” Andy Howard, CSX’s co-founder and chief executive officer, said: “It’s a pleasure having Kennedy, Heather and Steven bolster our team across these two key departments. “At CSX we are focused on strategic growth and the awareness of what we can do and how we can help both landowners and developers. “We want to make sure we are at the forefront of the discussions around biodiversity net gain in the sector and we do that by having a dedicated team from varied backgrounds with a similar passion for the environment. I look forward to seeing the great work they accomplish with our projects and clients.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
East Midlands civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting has made internal promotions to create two new associate directors. Civil engineer Carol Ell, who has a leadership role in BSP’s Leicester office, has been with the company 20 years next month. Finance manager James Payne, who is based in the Nottingham office, working across the company, joined BSP from school in August 2001 and has held a variety of roles within the business. BSP MD Carl Hilton said: “Both Carol and James have proven themselves to be very committed to BSP Consulting, with almost 43 years of service between them. They bring an energy and enthusiasm to the company which very much contributes to our success. “I am pleased to announce that they have both earned a well-deserved promotion to associate director and congratulate them on their new appointments.” BSP Consulting, with its head office in Oxford Street, Nottingham, and branches in Pride Point Drive, Derby, and De Montfort Street, Leicester, was founded 25 years ago and has grown to become one of the largest independent civil and structural engineering companies in the East Midlands. An award-winning firm that operates across the UK, BSP offers civil engineering, structural engineering, transport engineering, geotechnical and environmental engineering. The company works across all sectors including housing, student accommodation, commercial, industrial, health, education, senior living, retail and heritage. For more information about BSP Consulting visit www.bsp-consulting.co.uk
Developer HBD, part of Henry Boot, has selected Sheppard Robson to lead on the design of its second phase of the landmark Golden Valley scheme in Cheltenham. The architecture practice will be responsible for the design of the next two buildings to come forward, with partner David Taylor leading a team of six. The firm joins the Golden Valley team alongside architect BDP, which is already well progressed with designs for the Innovation Centre and mobility hub, which will form the first development phase. Golden Valley is one of the country’s most high-profile schemes; a once-in-a-lifetime project at the heart of the UK’s National Cyber Strategy. Once complete, it will deliver 1million sq ft of commercial space and is expected to create 12,000 new jobs. The masterplan also includes the development of 1,067 low carbon homes nestled within green space and with various community services and amenities. HBD is delivering the development alongside Cheltenham Borough Council and key local partners. Planning permission for Golden Valley was submitted in October 2023 and a second application specifically for the National Cyber Innovation Centre will follow this summer. Sheppard Robson will play a key role in meeting HBD’s sustainability goals for Golden Valley, targeting BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings for office buildings. The practice will carefully consider the building’s fabric from the outside in, maximising energy efficiency and ensuring the space achieves best-in-class sustainability credentials. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
