August 5, 2024

Next phase of homes at Broadnook Garden Village gets Deputy Mayor stamp of approval as second developer Cora begins construction

Next phase of homes at Broadnook Garden Village gets Deputy Mayor stamp of approval as second developer Cora begins construction

The construction of more than 150 new homes on the upcoming Broadnook Garden Village development has begun following a groundbreaking ceremony attended by the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood Borough Council. Multi-award-winning Midlands developer, Cora Homes, is building its first collection of 154 homes at the garden village in

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Imperial War Museums Extends Hard Services Contract with OCS

Imperial War Museums Extends Hard Services Contract with OCS

Imperial War Museums (IWM) has renewed its hard services contract with OCS for an additional five years, with the potential for a further four-year extension, split into two separate two-year periods. This renewal follows an initial four-year contract that encompassed a wide range of hard services, including fabric and grounds

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Construction completes on circa £31m extra care housing scheme

Construction completes on circa £31m extra care housing scheme

A NEW high-quality residential care scheme designed to promote and maximise independent living has completed in London, providing 70 new homes and tackling the wider housing crisis in the area. Reardon Court in Enfield, located on the site of a former care home in Cosgrove Close, has been designed to

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Pagabo launches £90m DPS for professional services

NATIONAL framework provider Pagabo has announced the launch of its latest procurement offering expected to be worth £90m, the Professional Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).   There are two versions of the DPS, one covering 11 regions across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and another version covering Scotland. Now live, the

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Cardiff bus interchange officially opens

Cardiff bus interchange officially opens

A new £5.5 million bus interchange, designed by BDP and operated by Transport for Wales, has opened in Cardiff. The centralised bus facility located next to Cardiff Central Railway Station creates a sustainable travel gateway to Cardiff, providing improved connections to the area by integrating bus and rail services with

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The Crown Estate wins global Esri award for geospatial innovation

The Crown Estate wins global Esri award for geospatial innovation

Innovative ‘Whole of Seabed’ approach helps plan seabed use up to 2050 including offshore wind The Crown Estate has won an Esri ‘Special Achievement in GIS Award’ for its innovative programme that helps plan seabed use around England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Considered a world first, the spatial planning system

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GW Power-Safe will engineer £12million turnover this year

GW Power-Safe will engineer £12million turnover this year

A Yorkshire based building services engineering company has marked its tenth anniversary by setting its sights on hitting £12million turnover and creating new jobs this year. GW Power-Safe was established in Hull in 2014 by managing director, Daniel Haley after he was made redundant from his job as an electrician.

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Latest Issue

BDC 321 : Oct 2024

August 5, 2024

Glencar announces completion of new £28M port-side multi-user warehouse development for Peel Ports in Liverpool

Glencar announces completion of new £28M port-side multi-user warehouse development for Peel Ports in Liverpool

Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has completed construction of a new 240,000 sq. ft. multi-user warehouse for Peel Ports at their Alexandra Dock development at the Port of Liverpool. The development, which took 12 months to build and was designed by leading Architects Chetwoods is the equivalent in length to five full size football pitches (400 metres) and is designed to handle and store a variety of commodities including both unitised and non-unitised. Works included the installation of 6,500 piles, 729 PCC push wall panels weighing over 4800 tonnes together with over 40,000m³ of concrete poured. The building, referred to as the Alexandra Dock Multi-User Warehouse (MUW) also features 300 meters of dedicated quayside, state-of-the-art cranes for vessel discharge, fast HGV turnaround times, vehicle wash bay, separate office block and welfare facilities and weighbridges and marshalling cabin. Speaking about the impressive new development, Pete Goodman Glencar Managing Director Midlands and North said: “Ports serve as a critical part of the UK Supply Chain and multi-user facilities of this type contribute towards the continuation of the import and export of vital goods and enhance the ports warehousing and distribution capabilities. This development aims to optimise supply chains, reduce road miles, and provide substantial cost, carbon, and congestion benefits, solidifying Liverpool’s role in the UK’s logistics network. This serves as the second project we have completed to date for Peel Ports with further announcements set to be made in the not-too-distant future as Glencar continues to expand its port-side and critical transport infrastructure and civils offering. I would once again like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the work of the full professional team on this job who have produced a truly outstanding result that we can all be proud of. We have enjoyed working with the team from Peel Ports and look forward to working together again very soon” Also in comment: Phil Hall, Mersey Port Director, Peel Ports Group said: “We’re very pleased to see the successful completion and full occupancy of Alexandra Dock Warehouse at the Port of Liverpool. This facility enhances our logistics capabilities and demonstrates our commitment to developing sustainable, port-centric solutions for our customers. The strong uptake reflects the demand for high-quality warehousing space in this strategic location, and provides real cost, carbon and congestion benefits to supply chains, reinforcing Liverpool’s position as a key logistics hub.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Surge in London Office Retrofits: City Planners Approve Major Projects in the Square Mile

Surge in London Office Retrofits: City Planners Approve Major Projects in the Square Mile

London’s Square Mile is witnessing a significant surge in office retrofits, with City planners recently approving several key projects that reflect a growing demand for modern, sustainable workspaces. This movement towards upgrading existing buildings, rather than constructing new ones, is not only reshaping the City’s skyline but also contributing to the broader goals of reducing carbon emissions and enhancing public spaces. In July alone, the City of London Corporation granted approval for a series of major retrofit projects, signalling a strong commitment to sustainable development. Among these, the £250 million renovation of Winchester House at 75 London Wall, formerly the headquarters of Deutsche Bank, stands out as a flagship project. The renovation, which will add three additional floors to the existing structure, aims to create a total of 320,000 square feet of high-quality office space. The project team includes architect Orms, M&E consultant Hoare Lea, and structural engineers London Structures Lab, with Multiplex being a potential contender for the contract. Notably, the project aims to retain 90% of the existing building, significantly expanding its capacity while minimising environmental impact. Another key project is the retrofit of the former Standard Chartered Bank headquarters at 1 Basinghall Avenue, near Moorgate Tube station. This 10-storey building will undergo extensive upgrades, including a new rooftop terrace and significant mechanical and electrical refitting. The project, designed by Stiff & Trevillion Architects, is set to be managed by Overbury and will span 69 months. These developments are not only transforming the office landscape but are also likely to be central topics at upcoming property and construction networking events in London. The City of London Corporation’s “retrofit-first” policy is the driving force behind these initiatives, reflecting a broader strategy to meet the City’s net zero goals. Shravan Joshi, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, emphasised the City’s leadership in this area: “Attention is always drawn towards the latest large new office developments in the City, but when it comes to retrofitting, the City is leading the way on both policy and delivery, accounting for around half of all major retrofit applications across Greater London.” In addition to the projects at Winchester House and Basinghall Avenue, other notable retrofits approved include St Magnus House on Lower Thames Street and the refurbishment of 1 Old Jewry. The St Magnus House project, designed by Buckley Gray Yeoman for developer Pegasi, will enhance green terraces and improve the building’s energy performance, while also delivering a new riverside destination complete with public art, play spaces, and urban greening. This project will include a public lift to a fully accessible podium level, offering panoramic views across the Thames and new step-free access between the Thames Path and the Grade I Listed St Magnus the Martyr Church. The retrofit at 1 Old Jewry, undertaken by developer Deka Immobilien and designed by Sheppard Robson, will add a new top floor with outdoor terraces, providing 70,000 square feet of Grade A office space and 5,000 square feet of retail space. These developments underscore the City’s commitment to creating high-quality, sustainable office spaces that also enhance the public realm. These projects are part of the City Corporation’s broader objectives outlined in its local plan, City Plan 2040, which seeks to increase the availability of A-Grade office space while driving footfall into the Square Mile. The emphasis on retaining and reusing existing structures is expected to save thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions that would otherwise result from demolition and new construction. Furthermore, these retrofits include significant energy efficiency upgrades, such as LED lighting, heat pumps, and sustainable landscaping features like rain gardens and wildflower green roofs, all of which contribute to the City’s climate action strategy. As the Square Mile continues to evolve, these retrofit projects not only meet the demand for modern office spaces but also reinforce the City’s role as a leader in sustainable urban development. The successful delivery of these projects will not only attract future tenants but also enhance the experience of residents and visitors, further solidifying London’s status as a global financial hub committed to sustainability. Working in the UK is another key contractor, Vanguard. Offering office fit outs, commercial fit outs, refurbishments and design and build projects, they promise that their internal and external solutions are as innovative, buildable and cost-effective as possible within the brief. Take a look at Vanguard’s Office Fit outs to see more. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Next phase of homes at Broadnook Garden Village gets Deputy Mayor stamp of approval as second developer Cora begins construction

Next phase of homes at Broadnook Garden Village gets Deputy Mayor stamp of approval as second developer Cora begins construction

The construction of more than 150 new homes on the upcoming Broadnook Garden Village development has begun following a groundbreaking ceremony attended by the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood Borough Council. Multi-award-winning Midlands developer, Cora Homes, is building its first collection of 154 homes at the garden village in Charnwood. Cora Homes is the second developer to begin work on site of the county’s first garden village, which will (eventually) be made up of 1,950 homes as well as a host of facilities including a new community hub, Broadnook Court; a brand new Broadnook Park; retirement homes, care village and primary school. Members of the Cora Homes team met with representatives from partner firms and the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of Charnwood to mark the start of works on Wednesday, 31 July. Cllr David Northage, Deputy Mayor of Charnwood, said: “It’s a real privilege to be here today to witness another step forward in bringing this dream to life. “Charnwood Borough are immensely proud to be host to Leicestershire’s first Garden Village. This development is so exciting – a brand-new stand-alone community is being created. A community complete with every up-to-date facility to provide for modern day living. “Cora Homes are excited and proud to be part of this amazing project, and so they should be. We wish them well and thank them for being part of the Broadnook journey.” Steve Keenan, Construction Director at Cora Homes, said: “This is a momentous occasion for both our business and the county of Leicestershire as we commence works on this historic development. “At Cora, our mission is to create amazing places – something we are very confident of achieving at Broadnook through our highly energy efficient homes and the mix of green spaces and community amenities. “Broadnook is designed to meet the long-term needs of homeowners while creating much-needed infrastructure, community hubs and enterprise zones that will be a real benefit the wider area. “We anticipate interest in our homes to be very strong given the high desirability of this unique garden suburb.” Aside from an array of excellent quality, energy-efficient homes, Broadnook will also be home to extensive parkland, community and healthcare facilities and education centres including a 570-capacity primary school. Other additions include an early years facility, provision for a GP surgery, retirement village, shops and cafes. More than 50% of the entire garden village will be devoted to green spaces, with other sustainable additions including car-free zones. The first five hundred trees on the twelve hectares of designated woodland space have already been planted, with thousands more to come. Broadnook Garden Village has accessibility built into its core.  Its location on the edge of Charnwood closest to the city means it will have short, frequent bus routes, while its proximity to the M1 and A6 is anticipated to make it popular among commuters to Nottingham and Derby. The three developers Cora, Davidsons Homes and Bovis are collectively investing £750,000 into local bus services to optimise transport links – and reduce the need for unnecessary car travel. Bert Broadhead, Director at Cora Homes, added: “We’re hugely proud to be breaking ground at Broadnook. It’s a real privilege for Cora to be working in a wonderful part of the country and we’re very excited to be bringing the Broadnook vision a step closer to reality. “We’ve worked incredibly hard alongside our partners to bring forward a new garden village in the truest sense of the word. “We can’t wait to see the project advance and for people to see the Cora way; that Britain’s extraordinary lack of homes can be tackled without compromise and that we can deliver new communities with very high design quality, open spaces, playing fields, facilities, a sustainable ethos and a long-term stewardship structure that ensures it is residents, and not developers, who make the key decisions for the area moving forward.” More information on Broadnook and the developers creating the vision can be found at broadnook.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Imperial War Museums Extends Hard Services Contract with OCS

Imperial War Museums Extends Hard Services Contract with OCS

Imperial War Museums (IWM) has renewed its hard services contract with OCS for an additional five years, with the potential for a further four-year extension, split into two separate two-year periods. This renewal follows an initial four-year contract that encompassed a wide range of hard services, including fabric and grounds maintenance, mechanical and engineering work, and both reactive and planned preventative maintenance. These services cover all five of IWM’s branches: IWM London, Lambeth (including Parkside), Churchill War Rooms, Westminster (CWR), HMS Belfast (moored in the Pool of London), IWM Duxford (Cambridgeshire), and IWM North (Trafford, Manchester). The decision to extend the contract reflects the high level of expertise and consistent performance demonstrated by the OCS team, who have successfully met 95 per cent of their targets. Additionally, the partnership has been supported by a cost-effective pricing model. As part of the contract extension, OCS and IWM are also considering expanding the scope of services to cover a 20 per cent increase in assets. To meet these additional requirements, OCS plans to recruit locally at each site and increase the number of apprentices to bolster their teams. The contract will also see the introduction of a social value practitioner, who will lead career outreach initiatives and collaborate with local schools in Lambeth. Peter Wardle, OCS Account Manager, stated: “We are extremely proud of the relationship we have developed with IWM over the years. This extension is a testament to the success of our service delivery. We look forward to continuing our work with IWM over the next five years, ensuring that we play our part in preserving an important aspect of British heritage.”

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Construction completes on circa £31m extra care housing scheme

Construction completes on circa £31m extra care housing scheme

A NEW high-quality residential care scheme designed to promote and maximise independent living has completed in London, providing 70 new homes and tackling the wider housing crisis in the area. Reardon Court in Enfield, located on the site of a former care home in Cosgrove Close, has been designed to enhance individuals’ quality of life through access to a multi-purpose environment. Two communal courtyards, a central social space, and several auxiliary function rooms come together to deliver a community within itself, with hobby rooms, a library, and hairdressing area promoting a sense of independence and connectivity between residents. Encircling the internal courtyards, accessible corridors have been incorporated into the design to enhance communal living and promote social inclusion. Leading multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard is behind the scheme, collaborating closely with contractor GRAHAM and Enfield Council to deliver architecture, landscape architecture, project management, contract administration, clerk, technical advisory, M&E, sustainability and energy, and civil and structural engineering services. John Clarke, director at Pick Everard, said: “This has been a rewarding project, focusing on a specialist area of residential living that draws on our vast experience in delivering affordable and high-quality care environments. “The different elements of the scheme come together to create a mini community within Enfield where residents can enjoy a varied offering of active social and wellbeing opportunities, aided by an inclusive and disability conscious design. Each flat benefits from an outward facing balcony, with those on the ground floor having access to a garden space to really enhance a sense of independence that is present throughout the scheme. “We now look forward to seeing residents and staff make use of this fantastic new space, which will positively impact generations to come.” The Enfield scheme has been commended by local delegates for its wider impact on aiding housing shortages in the area, with older residents able to move into high quality housing, while increasing the availability of family homes in the borough. As well as maximising housing opportunities, the scheme has also incorporated a green design philosophy, with more than 100 solar photovoltaic panels installed on the roof, alongside sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help with rainwater management. Social value was a key part of the project, with careers talks held at nearby schools and material suppliers chosen in the local area. Pat O’Hare, regional director at GRAHAM, said: “Reardon Court will provide independence, safety, and comfort for residents for years to come. This project underscores the importance of meeting the evolving needs of an ageing population who require extra support and care. “With its thoughtful design, comprehensive care services, and commitment to fostering a sense of community, Reardon Court sets a new standard for independent living in later years.” Chris Witterick, key account manager at Procure Partnerships Framework, added: “We are delighted to have supported Enfield Council in the procurement of this project. Reardon Court will nurture independence and provide the residents with comfort, community, and expert care. “The considered design choices on this project, coupled with the expert construction delivery by GRAHAM has set a new precedent for extra care facilities across the UK.” For more information on Pick Everard and the services it provides, visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk/

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Pagabo launches £90m DPS for professional services

NATIONAL framework provider Pagabo has announced the launch of its latest procurement offering expected to be worth £90m, the Professional Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).   There are two versions of the DPS, one covering 11 regions across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and another version covering Scotland. Now live, the DPS will run for three and a half years before expiring in 2028, and has no set value bands in order to offer unlimited project value.  The fully PCR-compliant DPS will enable clients access to solutions covering the full spectrum of construction and premises consultancy services including project management, architecture, engineering, town and masterplanning, and strategy advice.   Jason Stapley, chief procurement officer at Pagabo, said: “Professional services are under significant demand from our public sector clients, so we’re pleased to be able to offer them a flexible and compliant procurement option.   “Through the DPS we can offer clients as little or as much help with their projects as they like, through a range of procurement support and resources available. Meanwhile they can also onboard the contractors and consultants with which they have existing relationships so that they can tender compliantly too.  “We’re expecting the DPS to be particularly popular with SMEs that will see the appeal of this procurement offering due to its ability to put them in front of clients for free.”   Organisations appointed to Pagabo’s latest Professional Services Framework will be invited to join the new DPS, but the onboarding process will be ongoing throughout the lifetime of the procurement option.   Jason continued: “Our DPS cuts timescales, streamlines the process and simplifies the tender process for clients and suppliers alike.   “As a DPS, this option provides an ‘open market’ solution designed to give clients access to a pool of pre-qualified suppliers – which can be constantly updated with new suppliers. This differs to the more traditional framework agreements, in which the list of suppliers is locked for the full term.  “The DPS provides any client with a wide range of options when it comes to suppliers, which will go through the further competition process to ensure the best supplier is appointed to the job.”  The Education Alliance Trust is the contracting authority for the two new agreements.   For more information, please visit www.pagabo.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Cardiff bus interchange officially opens

Cardiff bus interchange officially opens

A new £5.5 million bus interchange, designed by BDP and operated by Transport for Wales, has opened in Cardiff. The centralised bus facility located next to Cardiff Central Railway Station creates a sustainable travel gateway to Cardiff, providing improved connections to the area by integrating bus and rail services with local walking routes, cycle ways and taxis. Multidisciplinary design practice BDP provided architectural and interior design, branding and wayfinding consultancy for the project which is part of the Welsh Government’s broader initiative to develop an integrated travel network for the people of Wales making public transport the easiest choice for all. Within the 2,235sqm interchange, the central feature is the bus terminus which includes 14 bus bays along with ancillary space for retail, food and beverage outlets and public toilet facilities to enhance passenger comfort for onward travel. A mezzanine level houses Transport for Wales’s strategic operations centre for south Wales. Central to BDP’s design is a focus on accessibility and inclusivity. Enhanced links between the bus interchange and the railway station are supported by clear wayfinding for a seamless travel experience. A striking red wall in the concourse provides a key visual orientation and branded identity focal point. Features such as tactile flooring routes and a braille accessibility map assist blind and partially sighted customers and the interchange includes a changing places room and a fully equipped family room. BDP’s collaborative approach was at the heart of the project with the implementation of an extensive stakeholder engagement programme including consultations with the local authority, transport operators, service users, police, fire service, the local community and accessibility groups to ensure that the design meets the needs of all users. Working with project manager and lead consultant Mott Macdonald, BDP addressed specialist security and fire safety design requirements. In addition, BDP conducted a complementary study which explored how the wider public realm around central Cardiff could be adapted to further improve connectivity between transport modes including active travel, wayfinding, technology, branding and green infrastructure. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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The Crown Estate wins global Esri award for geospatial innovation

The Crown Estate wins global Esri award for geospatial innovation

Innovative ‘Whole of Seabed’ approach helps plan seabed use up to 2050 including offshore wind The Crown Estate has won an Esri ‘Special Achievement in GIS Award’ for its innovative programme that helps plan seabed use around England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Considered a world first, the spatial planning system was developed by The Crown Estate’s Marine and Digital teams and includes data from over 250 sources across ten sectors, allowing for scenario planning across a wide range of marine industries. The Whole of Seabed approach uses Esri’s GIS (Geographical Information System) software to create scenarios which simultaneously consider the demands upon the seabed up to 2050, including offshore wind, carbon capture, telecoms and minerals, whilst protecting the interests of nature. This method has enabled The Crown Estate to play a key role in supporting the UK’s position as a world leader in offshore wind development, a sector which generated enough energy to power 50% of UK homes last year. The award was made at the Esri annual User Conference in California, one of the world’s largest geospatial industry events with around 40,000 physical and virtual attendees. ‘Special Achievement in GIS Awards’recognise organisations which are demonstrating geospatial leadership and setting new precedents for the global GIS community. More than 100,000 entries were submitted with the winners selected by Esri’s Founder and President Jack Dangermond. “Users around the world are applying GIS in countless fields to take a geographic approach toward solving complex problems and global issues,” said Esri Founder and President Jack Dangermond. “It is my honour to recognise these organisations for their innovative work integrating geospatial technology across industries, helping to build a better world.” By prioritising different data, The Crown Estate programme ensures all environmental, industrial and social interests and constraints are fairly represented. This delivers the best evidence available to support marine spatial planning. Scenarios are then compared in a dashboard to understand the differences in cost, constraint, or displacement, among other criteria. “Geospatial innovation is helping The Crown Estate balance a green energy transition to net zero and nature recovery whilst creating a thriving marine economy”, said Gus Jaspert, Managing Director, Marine at The Crown Estate. “We are incredibly proud to win this award which is testament to our world-leading work in spatial analysis using Esri software, and a demonstration of our ongoing investment in digital technology and skills. It helps make sense of highly complex and competing demands on the seabed, driving better planning decisions for the benefit of the nation for years to come.” The Crown Estate is an independent company which manages a diverse £16bn portfolio, including the seabed and much of the coastline around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, urban centres and development opportunities. Through the management of its portfolio, company is helping to solve some of the nation’s major challenges, including delivering net zero and the energy transition, enhancing biodiversity and nature recovery, and creating thriving communities by stimulating regeneration and economic growth. “With an increasingly busy seabed, it is critical that development decisions are based on robust data and evidence”, commented Michelle Moore, Spatial Planning Director, The Crown Estate. “Advanced Esri spatial analysis tools allow us to tackle complex, multidimensional problems in an open and transparent way. Our unique ability to plan for the long-term and convene a wide range of stakeholders, helps us to balance all interests to achieve the best outcomes for net zero, nature and economic growth.” Pete Wilkinson, Managing Director, Esri UK said: “The Crown Estate’s approach is a best-in-class example of how geospatial expertise can deliver valuable outcomes. True innovators in marine spatial planning, the team’s work is of national importance making them a very worthy winner of the award.”

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More than £20m in funding agreed for key infrastructure projects in Greater Manchester

More than £20m in funding agreed for key infrastructure projects in Greater Manchester

Members of the Bee Network Committee have approved the release of more than £20m to progress with key transport infrastructure projects in Greater Manchester. The latest release of funds – including £10m from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and more than £10m from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund – will go towards a range of projects, each contributing towards the delivery of a high-quality, affordable and fully integrated public transport and walking, wheeling and cycling network. Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner, said: “We are moving quickly to bring about improvements that will make a real difference to how people get around Greater Manchester using public transport or when walking, wheeling or cycling.  “Over the next few years more than £1bn will be invested to make bus and active travel journeys better and to make paying more convenient through ‘tap and go’ ticketing. The scale of ambition is reflected in the drawdown of these funds that support continued delivery of the Bee Network across all ten districts of the city-region.” Integrated ticketing and travel information To ensure people can travel conveniently and seamlessly on Bee Network services, funding of £7.3m was approved to deliver contactless pay-as-you go across bus and Metrolink services. It means customers will be able to pay via a contactless card or device while using Bee Network bus and tram services throughout the day, with the best value fare automatically worked out and capped for them. The funds will also be used to help combat fare evasion, with new devices to check whether passengers have paid via contactless, along with a new feature that will enable passengers to see their journey history in the Bee Network app.     Middleton ‘Streets for All’ The ‘Streets for All’ scheme – that will ensure that high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling connections – is currently being developed for Middleton town centre by Rochdale Council. The scheme, which is still subject to further approvals, supporting the wider Masterplan and its ambition to unlock regeneration around the Market Place, creating new housing and establish of a new cultural quarter. A key feature of the scheme will involve reconfiguring the Market Place roundabout, to include a new public space, better segregated cycling provision around the roundabout and improvements to the underpass to allow sufficient width for shared use between pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists. The Bee Network Committee approved £0.7m to progress the scheme to a final business case and progress with awarding a contract for the Streets for All scheme. Improving journeys – Rochdale – Oldham – Ashton Improving bus routes around Greater Manchester is a Bee Network priority, and a long-term project is already underway to improve the reliability of bus services between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton, along with bettering connections to and from bus stops and the environment along key routes. The route between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton is currently the busiest on the franchised network. Funding for the project, known as Improving journeys – Rochdale – Oldham – Ashton is being released in phases, and the Bee Network Committee has now released £2.1m of CRSTS funding to develop the Rochdale element of the scheme to Full Business Case. Construction of the main scheme in Rochdale is anticipated to commence in Autumn 2025, subject to further approvals. Active travel schemes Walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure is a key component of the Bee Network, enabling people to opt for active modes of travel for shorter journeys through the provision of high-quality, safe and well-connected routes. Funding for four active travel schemes was approved by the Committee, with a total of £10.46m to be released from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund – a programme of work partly funded by CRSTS. The draw down will enable the delivery of almost 5km of Bee Network standard routes, crossings and junction improvements.    Almost £5m (£4.99m) was approved for cycling and walking infrastructure along Seymour Grove in Trafford, part of a wider programme of work that forms Trafford’s A56 North Active Travel Corridor between Stretford and Manchester city centre. The Seymour Grove scheme will provide a series of measures along a 0.5km section of Talbot Road, addressing a missing link in the existing active travel network. The wider scheme will link the cycle route to Trafford Bar Metrolink station, see the addition of Starling Bank Bike hire facilities and support the wider regeneration vision for Stretford. As well as a segregated cycle route, this scheme will provide two fully segregated protected junctions (Chester Road/Stretford Road/Talbot Road and Seymour Grove/Talbot Road) and will enable future development of an active travel route running south along Seymour Grove, connecting to the Chorlton Cycleway. The committee also approved £2.17m to build a new cycleway in Leigh, along on the A572 St Helens Road from the Bridgewater Canal to Bonnywell Road. This route will also improve the route from Leigh to Leigh Sports Village and Pennington Flash. In addition, £1.99m of MCF funding will be released to develop a traffic-free active travel route from Wigan town centre to Standish, bypassing the busy A49, and £1.31m to extend the Whelley Loop Line, and build an accessible ramp up to Hall Lane, improving access to Haigh Hall. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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GW Power-Safe will engineer £12million turnover this year

GW Power-Safe will engineer £12million turnover this year

A Yorkshire based building services engineering company has marked its tenth anniversary by setting its sights on hitting £12million turnover and creating new jobs this year. GW Power-Safe was established in Hull in 2014 by managing director, Daniel Haley after he was made redundant from his job as an electrician. Today it offers a full range of renewable energy, mechanical and electrical solutions to public sector clients and businesses across all industries. The company now employs a 37-strong team and is actively recruiting electricians, plumbers, gas and heating engineers, air conditioning engineers, renewables specialists and apprentices this year. In recent years, GW Power-Safe has diversified into decarbonisation and the renewables sector, and two years ago Daniel co-founded C3 Group which provides sustainability consulting services to businesses around the UK, focussing on sustainable energy solutions, carbon reduction plans, feasibility studies, funding and net zero strategies. C3 Group is headed up by Ash Wray and currently employs a team of four sustainability consultants and designers. In recognition of his work in decarbonising buildings, as well as the success of both GW Power-Safe and C3 Group, Daniel was recently presented with an Octopus Energy Springboard Entrepreneur Award by Octopus co-founder, Chris Hulatt. He was nominated for the award by Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice MP, Emma Hardy. This follows GW Power-Safe also being named as Hull College’s Apprentice Employer of the Year. GW Power-Safe celebrated its tenth anniversary with a celebration in Hull’s Victorian Paragon Shopping Arcade. During the event, awards were also presented to team members who go above and beyond. These were voted for by their colleagues and included Apprentice of the Year, Zuzanna Radzewicz, Engineer of the Year, Aiden Armstrong, Office Champion, Amy Mumby and Rising Star, Dion Wilkin. Daniel said: “After leaving school and becoming an electrical apprentice at Hull College, I qualified as an electrician but when I was suddenly made redundant in my mid-20s, I decided the time was right to start my own business and GW Power-Safe was born. We now provide a full range of mechanical and electrical trades to all types of clients, as well as becoming a renewables specialist. “As part of this we’re now working on solar, commercial battery and air source heat pump installations for public sector organisations such as NHS Trusts and education establishments across the north of England. We also recently secured a place on the Crown Commercial Services’ renewables framework, which provides the public sector with decarbonisation services to support their carbon net zero strategies. “This is already proving to be a big growth area for us which will result in double-digit revenue growth this year as our turnover reaches £12million. Our team is also growing in line with this and as well as recruiting up to 10 qualified and experienced engineers this year, we’re always committed to investing in apprentices. After I came into the industry as an apprentice, I know how important it is to invest in future talent. We already employ seven apprentices and will recruit another four in the coming months.” Finally, Daniel added: “Another area that’s driving growth has been the launch of C3 Group and its ability to collaborate with G3 Power-Safe to provide clients with an end-to-end solution, from design right through to delivery, for their decarbonisation needs. This also means that we’re increasingly securing work outside our East Yorkshire heartland and we’re now working on projects across the country, and this national focus will be key to our future growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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