United Trust Bank (UTB) is supporting Westcombe Group’s £34m Kingston Bridge House apartment conversion in Hampton Wick, South-West London. The scheme will see the conversion of a two-block building, which was formerly offices and later a 218-room student accommodation facility, into 70 contemporary apartments. The layout of the building will enable
A contemporary workspace in the heart of Bristol’s bustling commercial district will officially launch this week following a £12m major refurbishment. Set in Bristol’s city centre, BLOK can boast an unrivalled location with excellent transport networks via road, rail, and an international airport. Temple Meads Train Station is just an
Midlothian-based electrical contractor rebrands as LIME and welcomes new joint managing director alongside a six-strong team of M&E professionals to launch mechanical division Midlothian-based contractor Lime Electrical has re-branded as Lime and has appointed David Houston as joint managing director, together with a six strong team of M&E professionals, to launch the company’s new mechanical division
Baily Garner is thrilled to announce its successful attainment of B Corp status as of 1st May 2024. This remarkable milestone underscores the firm’s dedication to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and aligns with their core purpose: to positively impact people’s lives. The journey towards
A junior football club which is linked to a Southwark charity designed to improve the lives of local youngsters has hit the back of the net. The Bosco FC under 12 team has received a £3,000 donation from leading builders merchant Selco Builders Warehouse towards running costs for the team,
Bennetts Cranes, a leading specialist tower crane hire company, has erected the first Potain MR 309 crane in the world – the manufacturer’s latest luffing jib model. The Potain MR 309 crane has been erected at a landmark site in Westminster, in the heart of London, where two eight-storey office
The economic slowdown in China and rise in nearshoring activities worldwide are opening up new construction opportunities for key emerging markets in Asia with Malaysia, Indonesia and India all benefitting. The international trend of nearshoring, friend-shoring and reshoring is stimulating construction demand for local manufacturing bases in Asia to reduce
A £28.7 million apartment scheme developed by Clegg Construction in Sheffield has been named as a finalist in the Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Awards. The Ironworks, featuring 229 one and two-bedroom apartments, has been shortlisted in the Regional New Build Project of the Year category. Completed by Clegg Construction last year
United Trust Bank (UTB) is supporting Westcombe Group’s £34m Kingston Bridge House apartment conversion in Hampton Wick, South-West London. The scheme will see the conversion of a two-block building, which was formerly offices and later a 218-room student accommodation facility, into 70 contemporary apartments. The layout of the building will enable Westcombe Group to deliver 22 units in phase 1 with the delivery of the 48 remaining units in phase 2 having minimal impact on the residents of the completed homes. Westcombe Group is a successful and multi-award winning family owned property development, investment, and hospitality company established since 1974 with a 50 year track record. In 2003 founder, Vraj Pankhania, handed the day-to-day management of the business to his sons, Kamal and Sunil Pankhania as Group Chief Executive and Group Operations Director and together the family have built one of the most successful and philanthropic Top 25 privately owned property development companies in the UK. United Trust Bank is providing £24.4m of development funding towards the scheme which is being delivered in two phases and expected to take just over two years to complete. Once finished, the development will provide a range of apartments from studios to 3 bedroom units and have a combined GDV of £34m. Kamal Pankhania, CEO and Managing Director of Westcombe Group, commented: “I have known Paul Flannery and Mark Stokes of United Trust Bank for over eight years. We’re pleased to secure this financing, growing our relationship with the Bank and helping us in our journey to become one of the leading specialist property developers in the UK. We’re committed to continuing to preserve historic buildings across the country, creating housing and other developments for local communities.” Paul Flannery, Senior Director – Property Development – United Trust Bank said: “UTB are delighted to support another of Westcombe Group’s exciting projects and to once again work with Kamal, Sunil and the team in creating high quality new homes from buildings which have fallen out of use. We are committed to supporting housebuilders and developers like Westcombe Group which shares our passion for creating outstanding homes and building thriving communities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A contemporary workspace in the heart of Bristol’s bustling commercial district will officially launch this week following a £12m major refurbishment. Set in Bristol’s city centre, BLOK can boast an unrivalled location with excellent transport networks via road, rail, and an international airport. Temple Meads Train Station is just an eight-minute walk away. Already 60% let prior to practical completion and boasting a series of new tenants, including Coreus Projects, 5 Values Consulting, RWK Goodman and Nathaniel Lichfield Partners, the completed BLOK building will serve as a welcome addition to the city’s thriving business sector. Offering 70,000 sq ft of modern workspace and a further 11,000 sq ft of occupier welfare and amenity space including communal lounge, meeting rooms, presentation spaces, independent coffee shop, courtyard garden, roof terrace and private gym. Having purchased the tired 1980s-built property in 2021, real estate transformation specialists Boultbee Brooks decided against demolition and instead employed Mutiny Architecture & Design to come up with plans which could breathe new life into the existing structure. The process of ‘reimagining instead of rebuilding’ prioritises sustainability and occupier experience reflected in the extensive building certification including high BREEAM, EPC, Fitwell, Activescore, and Wiredscore ratings. Boultbee Brooks Managing Director, James Whitcher, comments “In line with our core ethos of ‘Repurpose, not Rebuild’, we’re passionate about reviving older buildings and giving them a new lease of life, with the aim of keeping our carbon footprint as low as possible. “From the outset we committed to retaining the existing façade, instead prioritising expenditure in areas of the scheme that would deliver the highest level of day-to-day benefit for the occupiers using it, resulting in one of the most amenity rich workspaces in Bristol at a very competitive price point. “We look forward to announcing and welcoming new businesses to Blok over the summer!” Further space is available on flexible terms and layouts from 1,000 sq ft up to 12,000 sq ft. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Midlothian-based electrical contractor rebrands as LIME and welcomes new joint managing director alongside a six-strong team of M&E professionals to launch mechanical division Midlothian-based contractor Lime Electrical has re-branded as Lime and has appointed David Houston as joint managing director, together with a six strong team of M&E professionals, to launch the company’s new mechanical division and develop it as an all-encompassing M&E contractor. The fifty-person business, which was founded in 2015, operates throughout the United Kingdom and has delivered successful projects for major brands including Bacardi, Virgin Money and The Warner Brothers Studio, undertaking electrical installation work, including fire detection, emergency lighting and data systems. Joint managing director, Derek Fyfe said: “David joins us with extensive experience in mechanical building services for design and build projects providing air conditioning, ventilation, plumbing and heating services for clients in a broad range of sectors. “We believe his experience and insight, together with the team of M&E specialists we have attracted to the business, will provide a significant boost to the number and range of contracts for which we will now be qualified to tender, so we are looking forward to a period of sustained growth over the next year.” David Houston said: “I am hugely excited to join Lime and, as with our re-branding, hope to bring a breath of fresh air to an accomplished business by helping, alongside our new M&E colleagues, to launch Lime’s mechanical division and thereby expand its range of potential work thought Scotland and the rest of the UK.” Lime is a member of The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) and Construction Online and as such regulated and monitored to ensure the quality, safety and reliability of its work. The business is also accredited to ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO18001 standards for management, health and safety and environmental care. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Baily Garner is thrilled to announce its successful attainment of B Corp status as of 1st May 2024. This remarkable milestone underscores the firm’s dedication to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and aligns with their core purpose: to positively impact people’s lives. The journey towards B Corp certification began at an annual quality summit in September 2021, where employees expressed their desire for Baily Garner to pursue this prestigious accreditation. Embracing this initiative, the Baily Garner Futures Group—a team of dynamic young professionals— drove the operation forward. In March 2022, they assembled a team who’s dedication and hard work culminated in the submission of Baily Garner’s B Corp application in March 2023, with certification granted just over two years later. Andy Tookey, Managing Partner, expressed his happiness when he was notified of the good news: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce that Baily Garner was awarded B Corp status. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our staff and perfectly supports our purpose to positively impact people’s lives. Special thanks goes to the team: Laura Day, Matt Allcock, Lucy Mullineux, Lisa Coleman, and Tim Bush. Their tenacity and dedication have been instrumental in this success. This was no small feat, and their perseverance through the lengthy application process is truly commendable.” The B Corp certification process is rigorous and comprehensive, requiring substantial effort and meticulous documentation. Baily Garner achieved an impressive score of 98.9, well above the required threshold of 80, reflecting the firm’s alignment with B Corp’s values and its commitment to positively impacting people’s lives. Tim Bush, Senior Partner, highlighted the thorough and demanding nature of the B Corp certification: “The process involves the B Impact Assessment, multiple rounds of reviews, scoring and accreditation. We are proud of our score of 98.9, which not only underscores our operational excellence but also how driven we are to fulfil our purpose. In particular, the assessment process gave strong validation to our work with underserved populations and our focus on public projects.” The certification covers five key pillars: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers. Baily Garner’s focus on sustainability and social responsibility, especially in relation to public sector projects benefiting communities with high levels of deprivation, significantly boosted their score and exemplified their ethos. Laura Day, Project Team Leader, shared her pride: “I am proud to work at Baily Garner, a newly certified B Corp, receiving recognition for our commitment to Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers. We challenge the norms of the construction industry to make our business and our planet better for all. This certification shows our dedication to continuous improvement and positive impact.” Achieving B Corp status is not just a badge of honour but a commitment to ongoing improvement and adherence to the highest standards. Baily Garner achieved this status solely using their own resources, without the assistance of management consultants or external companies. They will need to recertify every three years, reaffirming their commitment to the principles that earned them this prestigious status. As B Corp continues to grow in recognition, Baily Garner stands proudly among the 2000 certified B Corps in the UK, committed to making a positive impact on people, communities, and the planet. Credit: https://www.bailygarner.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A junior football club which is linked to a Southwark charity designed to improve the lives of local youngsters has hit the back of the net. The Bosco FC under 12 team has received a £3,000 donation from leading builders merchant Selco Builders Warehouse towards running costs for the team, as well as a new strip. Bosco is a small charity-based college which also has a nursery on-site and offers a youth club open for extra-curricular activities after school. In addition, it runs a football academy for children aged from two to 14 and has nine teams operating from under sevens through to an adult team. Robert Rosier, club secretary for Bosco FC, said Selco’s donation is making a huge difference to the club. He said: “What sets us apart from other football clubs in the area is our charitable aspect. “We rely on support from the local community to create opportunities for young players who demonstrate commitment and talent to fulfil their potential. “We understand that the rising costs of recent times is posing huge challenges for families so Selco’s donation is having an incredibly positive impact on the local community. “The donation is covering the cost of our under 12s for a whole season, ranging from training sessions, kit and the funding of league matches, so everyone involved with the club is hugely grateful for Selco’s support.” Bosco’s junior teams play in the South East London and Kent Youth Football League. Alison Wong, head of communications and sustainability for Selco Builders Warehouse which has branches on Old Kent Road and in Canning Town and Charlton, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Bosco Football Club and the wider charitable aspects of the organisation. “It’s a unique offering which brings opportunities on and off the football field to hundreds of youngsters in the deprived area. “We are following the progress of the club with great interest.” With hundreds of trade brands always in stock, Selco’s 75 UK branches are firmly focused on helping tradespeople complete their jobs as quickly and effectively as possible. As well as offering trade services, Selco also has a strong digital presence including Click & Deliver and Click & Collect services and a new app – as well as a ‘Dial & Deliver’ telephone service – to make life as convenient as possible for tradespeople. For more information on Selco visit www.selcobw.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bennetts Cranes, a leading specialist tower crane hire company, has erected the first Potain MR 309 crane in the world – the manufacturer’s latest luffing jib model. The Potain MR 309 crane has been erected at a landmark site in Westminster, in the heart of London, where two eight-storey office buildings are being redeveloped. This new model from Potain has many new, improved features that will benefit the construction of this site, including, a simpler tower crane erection, upgraded load charts, a short out-of-service radius (9.5m on a 55/60m jib), and less collars and ties for taller heights and to increase lift capacity. The crane is equipped with a Potain Crane Control System (CCS) which helps with faster set-up and unparalleled control, as well as Potain’s CONNECT telematic to optimise fleet management and uptime. The new features make this crane model ideal for high-rise buildings and congested urban sites. To further avoid any collisions or oversailing on this site, Bennetts also installed the crane with AMCS zoning technology. Edward Seager, Managing Director at Bennetts Cranes, said: “We’re pleased to have supplied the first Potain MR 309 in the world. The MR 309 was best the crane for this site in London as it has a 25-tonne maximum capacity that met the site lifting requirements. “The crane needed to have exceptionally low base loads so it could be bolted to the core of the building and the limited power supply on-site meant that adjustable power supply was essential. This requirement was fulfilled by the Potain Power Control function which enables the crane to reduce its power up to 50%. Plus, the short out-of-service radius ensures the crane remains within the site boundaries at all times.” The redevelopment of the two eight-storey office buildings will provide approximately 115,000 sq ft of new high-quality accommodation. As well as a restaurant and a retail unit. The scheme was designed by Allies and Morrison to replace dated buildings with attractive accommodations that will enhance the historic character and streetscape. This crane is estimated to be on site for 50 weeks. Watch how the Bennetts Cranes team erected the Potain MR 309 here – https://www.tower-crane.co.uk/bennetts-cranes-erects-world-first-potain-mr-309-in-london/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The economic slowdown in China and rise in nearshoring activities worldwide are opening up new construction opportunities for key emerging markets in Asia with Malaysia, Indonesia and India all benefitting. The international trend of nearshoring, friend-shoring and reshoring is stimulating construction demand for local manufacturing bases in Asia to reduce reliance on cross-border trade. Meanwhile, as developed markets in the region adjust to both macroeconomic and domestic challenges, Hong Kong re-enters the top 10 list of most expensive markets to build in globally, in ninth place, with an average cost of US$4,500 per m2, followed closely by Macau in 12th with an average cost of US$4,269 per m2. The International construction market survey (ICMS) 2024 report, from global professional services company Turner & Townsend, shows that while construction still faces challenges, inflationary pressure is softening, and stabilising costs are allowing investment flow in key global growth sectors such as data centres, healthcare and manufacturing. From a survey of 91 global cities, with the exception of Hong Kong and Macau, all Chinese markets languish near the bottom of the overall cost table. China’s GDP growth is forecast to slow to 4.6 percent in 2024 from 5.2 percent last year1 as the country’s abundant labour force continues to keep costs low across its mainland markets. Japanese cities, stalwarts in the top ten most expensive cities to build in globally for the past two years, have slipped out of the top rankings this year. Tokyo, ranked fifth, and Osaka, sixth, in 2023 are now the 13th and 17th most expensive markets to build in worldwide at US$ 4,127 per m2 and US$3,985 per m2, respectively. Strong global inflation, moderate post-pandemic economic growth, and a significant devaluation of the Yen to a 34-year low, are key factors behind Japan’s lower overall construction costs this year. The weakened Yen, however, has spurred foreign investment into sectors such as data centres, advanced manufacturing and urban developments, all of which are experiencing high growth. Osaka, in particular, is seeing a major development boon as it prepares for World Expo 2025. India has seen strong industrial investment as it strengthens its economic drivers – particularly in advanced manufacturing – as it looks to overtake China. This is seen in Bangalore, where advanced manufacturing construction costs are now US$1,861 per m2, compared with US$568 per m2 in Shenzhen. Malaysia and Indonesia are also seeing high growth in manufacturing as part of this shift, and in Jakarta, the cost of advanced manufacturing construction has sharply risen. A significant factor driving inflation worldwide is a scarcity of skilled labour. A staggering 79.1 percent of markets, representing 72 individual markets, reported skill shortages. This stands in stark contrast to just 9.9 percent, or 9 markets, with a labour surplus. The remaining 11 percent, or 10 markets, indicated a balanced labour market. This imbalance between supply and demand for skilled workers is putting continued upward pressure on construction costs globally. Overall, the data points to lowering construction price inflationary pressure globally. Turner & Townsend has modestly reduced its 2024 construction cost inflation forecasts compared to last year. Construction cost inflation in most markets is driven by a backlog of projects, which are gradually moving forward as construction costs stabilise. Sumit Mukherjee, head of real estate, Asia, at Turner & Townsend, comments: “In 2024 we’re seeing consistent trends across Asia in response to the impact of China’s economic slowdown. The shift to nearshore more manufacturing, to neutralise the impact of China’s slowdown, is creating significant growth and opportunities as other Asian markets invest in sectors like advanced manufacturing. Other growth areas are being fuelled by Asia’s increasing population and wealth – with much greater demand for leisure and hospitality construction as well as investment in new education and healthcare facilities. “In the context of this growth and opportunity – clients need to keep an eye on labour. Traditionally Asian labour markets are known for high availability and low wages – but as demand grows for specialist construction such as advanced manufacture and data centres, there may be bottlenecks of high-skilled workers in these sectors. Keeping close to supply chains and regularly assessing local development pipelines is essential to avoid potential issues.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A £28.7 million apartment scheme developed by Clegg Construction in Sheffield has been named as a finalist in the Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Awards. The Ironworks, featuring 229 one and two-bedroom apartments, has been shortlisted in the Regional New Build Project of the Year category. Completed by Clegg Construction last year for Rise Homes, it includes a range of sustainability features such as a biomass energy centre providing hot water and heating throughout the building, with the intention to connect to the city’s district heating system in due course and use hot water generated from the city’s waste plant. Each apartment has a central thermostat that is linked to an app on the resident’s phone, allowing the heating to be carefully and remotely controlled. The flow rates and temperature of water going into and leaving every apartment are monitored daily and a monthly report provides data on areas where the efficiency of the system can be improved. Other environmental measures include flow rate restrictors, electric vehicle charging, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), bat boxes, and automatic light movement sensors. Rise Homes is now seeking BREEAM in use and FITWEL accreditations and the consultants submitting these believe the development should achieve ‘Excellent’ ratings. Michael Sims, Managing Director at Clegg Construction, said: “We are thrilled to hear that The Ironworks has been shortlisted in the Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Awards in the Regional New Build Project of the Year category. “It’s a stunning development, with a wide range of sustainability features, and Clegg Construction is very proud to have delivered the apartment scheme on behalf of Rise Homes.” The project has also been shortlisted for an Insider Property Dinner South Yorkshire award, having been named a finalist in the Sustainable Development of the Year Award. The Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Awards finals ceremony takes place at Leeds Marriott Hotel on Thursday 27 June 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
