Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has acquired a prime 65-acre site on the Nottinghamshire/Yorkshire border with planning consent for over 1.2 million sq ft. The two phase development, called Panattoni Central A1(M), by junction 34 of the A1(M), has been acquired from Mulberry
Southern Construction Framework (SCF), leading construction procurement framework delivered by the public sector for the public sector in the South of England, has launched its second generation Consult framework. Global programme and project delivery consultant and construction expert Mace and AJ 100 Top 15 architectural practice Corstorphine & Wright have secured
An industry expert is urging the new government to ensure it includes the development and prioritisation of retrofit training and knowledge as part of its focus on skills. The call follows the King’s announcement earlier this month of the Skills Bill designed to bring together local and national government, business,
Leading infrastructure supplier, FOR EV, has officially launched a major EV charging hub in Edinburgh. Located in Seafield Retail and Trade Park, just a five-minute drive from the popular Leith neighbourhood, the new hub provides a prime charging destination for EV drivers and shoppers travelling to and from the north
Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has unveiled its new 180,000 sq.ft hire facility in West London, Victory Park North, Wembley. Strategically located less than 11 miles from Central London, it offers convenient connectivity for customers across London and the South East. This one-stop facility brings together Sunbelt Rentals’ Film and
In a major construction operation, Balfour Beatty VINCI on behalf of HS2 has moved a 1,600 tonne steel and concrete bridge into place in Saltley, Birmingham in just five hours. The new Aston Church Road bridge, which is 84 metres long and 21 metres wide, was moved over the existing
A NEW report from the RAC has revealed that pothole related damage is the leading concern for UK drivers, costing them an average of £460 per year in repairs. Six out of ten drivers cite it is their top issue as a regular road user. However, while funding has been
Altrad RMD Kwikform (Altrad RMDK) has supplied a large-scale bespoke temporary works solution to Balfour Beatty VINCI Joint Venture (BBV JV) to support the construction of the new ‘Curzon No. 3 Viaduct’, as part of the new HS2 Curzon Street railway station in Birmingham City Centre. The formwork and falsework
Baxi has launched a complete end-to-end range of products and services, including new AquaHeat heat interface units (HIUs), to provide a single point of contact for customers involved in heat network projects. From carrying out initial feasibility and design studies to supplying prefabricated centralised energy centres and HIUs to driving efficient
A sustainability champion has been announced as the Chartered Institute of Building’s vice president for the 2024/25 term. Professor Saul Humphrey, who teaches sustainable construction management at Anglia Ruskin University and picked up the Sustainability Award at the prestigious CIOB Awards this year, starts his journey towards becoming CIOB president
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has acquired a prime 65-acre site on the Nottinghamshire/Yorkshire border with planning consent for over 1.2 million sq ft. The two phase development, called Panattoni Central A1(M), by junction 34 of the A1(M), has been acquired from Mulberry Developments in an off-market deal. Panattoni will commence construction of what will be the largest-ever speculative logistics unit in the North of England, a building of 770,000 sqft, in the autumn. Practical completion is expected in September 2025. Panattoni is targeting net zero carbon development, an EPC rating of ‘A’ and BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ sustainability rating – its second development in the UK with an ‘Outstanding’ rating this year. The cross-docked unit will benefit from 18m eaves, 55m service yards, EV van and car charging and 15% rooflights. Winvic Construction has been appointed as the contractor. The remaining 27-acre plot, which already benefits from reserved matters planning consent for a 461,000 sq ft building will initially be marketed on a build-to-suit basis. Panattoni 770 Central A1(M) is in a strategic location with easy access to local and national distribution routes, including the A1(M), M1 and M62 as well as the east coast ports. Major distribution occupiers in the immediate vicinity include Culina, B&Q, Butternut Box and Daher Aerospace. Panattoni remains focused on the big box market, where there is a scarcity of supply and strong demand for units of 400,000 sq ft and above. Dan Burn, Head of Development North West & Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to acquire a prime logistics site in an established location by the A1(M). The development provides us with the opportunity to capitalise on the dearth of supply of XXL units across the country. Panattoni was advised by Cushman & Wakefield and Mulberry Developments was advised by M1 Agency. For more information please visit https://panattoni.co.uk/our-properties/central-a1m/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Southern Construction Framework (SCF), leading construction procurement framework delivered by the public sector for the public sector in the South of England, has launched its second generation Consult framework. Global programme and project delivery consultant and construction expert Mace and AJ 100 Top 15 architectural practice Corstorphine & Wright have secured positions on the latest generation SCF Consult framework. The suppliers can be appointed by any public sector body to deliver all project, property and asset consultancy services. The new generation SCF Consult expands on the success of the previous generation of the consultancy framework, complementing the SCF integrated team approach to two-stage open book procurement, offering clients greater flexibility in contracting and pricing models. This will enable public sector organisations across London, the South East and South West of England to procure Mace and Corstorphine & Wright services in the delivery of key projects. The two firms combine to offer public sector clients a broad range of construction, property, estate and asset management services, including Design, Engineering, Surveying and Cost, Project & Programme Management. The scope of services supports projects from inception through to completion, including but not limited to: planning, urban design and master planning, development consultancy advice, strategic advisory services, multi-disciplinary design and decarbonation and sustainability advice. Mace has secured a position as lead supplier for Cost, Project and Programme Management while Corstorphine & Wright leads for Design, Engineering, Surveying and Strategy. Both suppliers can also be accessed for full multi-disciplinary project delivery commissions. Adam Sanford, Operations Lead South East and London, at SCF commented: “We are committed to offering public sector bodies great value through SCF. Through this time of policy review with the new parliament in session, the SCF Consult team can help public sector bodies across health, education, leisure and local authority to navigate the changing landscape.” Kingsley Clarke, Head of SCF, South West, said: “SCF Consult provides dependable expertise to clients across the South West, enabling the delivery of essential projects that matter to local communities. Together with Mace and Corstorphine & Wright, we are excited about development across the South of England.” Mace has delivered a range of projects and services through SCF Consult to date, including the Alexandra Theatre Rejuvenation for Arun District Council, Bransbury Community Leisure Centre for Portsmouth County Council and the Schools for the Future Programme on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council. Corstorphine & Wright has delivered multiple projects under SCF Construct such as the New Exeter Police Station for Devon and Cornwall Police and the stunning regeneration project, The Northgate Yard delivering new leisure facilities in Bridgwater for Somerset Council. Daniel Easthope, Managing Director for Property UK & Europe at Mace Consult, said: “Our teams have delivered fantastic work through the SCF frameworks, ranging from theatres, research and police facilities, schools and hospitals that have helped communities to thrive. Together with the framework owners, we have created exceptional value for clients across the South East and South West of the UK. We are delighted to be reappointed to SCF Consult and look forward to working with Corstorphine & Wright to drive delivery across the region.” Simon Crosby, Group Director and Head of Public Sector at Corstorphine & Wright, added: “We are thrilled to be part of the SCF Consult team, where we will continue to form trusted partnerships with contractors to drive positive change and work towards fulfilling the levelling up targets of the communities we work in. “We have delivered some exceptional projects through SCF frameworks, and its simplicity and ease of use have helped to streamline our processes, allowing us to focus on delivering exceptional value for money for the public sector at a time when budgets are squeezed. We are looking forward to continuing to develop our relationship with Mace, a partnership that has already delivered award winning public buildings such as the Derby Council Headquarters building.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An industry expert is urging the new government to ensure it includes the development and prioritisation of retrofit training and knowledge as part of its focus on skills. The call follows the King’s announcement earlier this month of the Skills Bill designed to bring together local and national government, business, skills providers and unions to develop a highly trained workforce. As the government has also announced plans to build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years and reinstate housebuilding targets for local councils, concern is also being raised around ensuring the decarbonisation of existing housing stock remains a priority. As such, David Pierpoint, CEO of The Retrofit Academy is urging the government to ensure there is focus on developing the skills for the high-quality retrofitting of 27 million existing homes to make them healthier, warmer and more sustainable. Without this focus, the organisation is concerned that work to improve homes across the UK will lose momentum and the risk of poor quality retrofit will grow. Speaking on this challenge, David Pierpoint, CEO of The Retrofit Academy, said: “It is fantastic to see the government prioritising the development of a highly skilled workforce in the UK by bringing together businesses, providers, unions, Mayoral Combined Authorities and the national government. For many years we have been working closely with such organisations to make this a reality for retrofit skills and we have been making great strides in doing so, but there remains a significant challenge ahead. “It is vital that the incoming government continues to fund quality retrofit at scale, including the training required to create the retrofit workforce this requires. We understand the importance of building new homes in providing more people in the UK with a warm and comfortable place to live. However, there are millions of homes that are already available that need upgrading to provide the same, and to help us progress to net zero. As the government have said, collaboration is key to developing the skills to make this a success and we urge them to continue to drive the policy and funding that will make this possible.” In order to ensure that quality is built into retrofit from the outset, The Retrofit Academy has been developing and delivering leading accredited courses to equip people with the tools that they need to take on roles laid out in the PAS 2035 Standard – the official framework for whole-house retrofit in the UK. By embedding quality into the training process and resources, The Retrofit Academy is hoping to instil the responsibility of getting retrofit carried out to the correct high standard first time and at scale. David said: “Quality is everything when it comes to retrofit. It has to be carried out to the highest standard first time, with no exceptions or excuses. This means quality should be built in at every level, from the training courses to the continuous development, accreditation processes and work afterwards. This also means that policy and funding should actively promote the best quality retrofit, which is why we are urging the government to make this a priority within its Skills Bill and wider housing policy.” For more information about The Retrofit Academy, click here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading infrastructure supplier, FOR EV, has officially launched a major EV charging hub in Edinburgh. Located in Seafield Retail and Trade Park, just a five-minute drive from the popular Leith neighbourhood, the new hub provides a prime charging destination for EV drivers and shoppers travelling to and from the north of the city. FOR EV delivered the project with the site’s landowners and Scottish real estate asset managers, Rankeilour Properties. Providing a reliable location where local customers and passing travellers can ‘charge-and-go’, the new rapid chargers can deliver up to 200kW and provide the typical EV with 150 miles of range in 20-30mins. The hub has space to charge eight EVs simultaneously, with optimised load-balancing capabilities to minimise waiting times and maximise the charging speed for all drivers. With easy access via Seafield Road, the new EV charging hub is well-positioned amongst a variety of popular shops and food places, including Halfords, Greggs and McDonald’s. It includes a modern ‘tap and go’ contactless payment system, to provide users with quick and hassle-free payment while on the move, without having to sign up to an app. Seafield is the largest site FOR EV has installed in Edinburgh, where it has six others already in operation. Calum Wallace, Senior Business Development Manager at FOR EV, said: “The successful delivery of our new charging destination at Seafield Retail and Trade Park marks a significant milestone for FOR EV. This is our 30th site in Scotland, adding to our growing portfolio of locations across the country. The new hub will provide major benefits to the local community, with an accessible site adjacent to a busy thoroughfare where EV drivers can access fast and easy charging as they shop, or en route to their destination. With the local LEZ having launched just last month, we expect to see a growth in EV use around the city, and accessible, safe and reliable charging sites such as these are essential to support the transition. “As more drivers begin to make the transition to EV, our ambition is to support their journey by making the experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. We’re looking forward to furthering this support with the delivery of more reliable charging sites in the near future.” Jamie Fergusson, Co-owner of Rankeilour Properties, said: “Our new, reliable on-site charge points will be a great asset to not only our own business, but Seafield Retail and Trade Park as a whole. In addition to ensuring our team and customers benefit from accessible EV chargers, the hub will also support our neighbouring businesses by attracting EV drivers to the area and encouraging more engagement amongst the local community. “For EV have been excellent to work with from the initial planning stages, through to delivery. They have communicated with us every step of the way and successfully installed the chargers with minimal upheaval to the existing car park.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has unveiled its new 180,000 sq.ft hire facility in West London, Victory Park North, Wembley. Strategically located less than 11 miles from Central London, it offers convenient connectivity for customers across London and the South East. This one-stop facility brings together Sunbelt Rentals’ Film and TV business with the company’s wider offerings, such as Power, HVAC, and external training, ensuring an exceptional customer experience. This new facility is set to be the epicentre for Sunbelt Rentals’ sustainable net-zero and low-carbon equipment solutions, featuring their clean energy and sustainable location services. “The scale of the new location means we can offer an exceptional customer experience,” explained Mike Pollard, Managing Director of Film & TV at Sunbelt Rentals. “Along with the expansive warehouse and range of specialist equipment available equipment, customers can also use our test rooms, viewing theatre, creative hub and meeting rooms for enhanced creative collaboration.” With significant investment in both equipment and infrastructure, this new Film and TV facility will ensure customers receive everything they need with unmatched efficiency and sustainability at the core of their offering. They also aim to support the industry through partnerships, training and addressing skills shortages in Film and TV industry. The new location marks the first Sunbelt Rentals lighting team to be located in London, creating local employment and further opportunities for business growth and development across the region. For their grip services, they’ve expanded their fleet to include more crane services and telescopics than ever before, making it one of the largest fleets in the UK. Furthermore, the investment in the Camera and Lenses department ensures that customers have access to the latest and most innovative equipment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In a major construction operation, Balfour Beatty VINCI on behalf of HS2 has moved a 1,600 tonne steel and concrete bridge into place in Saltley, Birmingham in just five hours. The new Aston Church Road bridge, which is 84 metres long and 21 metres wide, was moved over the existing Birmingham to Derby railway line. It will also sit above the new HS2 tracks as high speed trains travel in and out of Birmingham. The bridge provides an upgraded, safer section of Aston Church Road including cycleways, which connects Saltley, Washwood Heath and Nechells in north-east Birmingham. Starting at 10pm on Saturday 10 August, it took five hours for the team to move the bridge into place, reaching its final position at 3am on Sunday morning. The operation was delivered by Balfour Beatty VINCI and their specialist bridge move contractor Mammoet, during a Network Rail blockade. The railway was handed back to Network Rail five hours earlier than planned. The technique of building the structure on land next to the existing railway and moving it into position in one operation over one weekend, significantly minimises disruption to rail passengers. Heavy lifting engineering experts Mammoet moved the bridge into place using two 128-wheeled self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) across a matting bed put down over the tracks by Pod-Trak to provide a level surface. The new bridge was designed by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra working for Balfour Beatty VINCI. The design incorporates local feedback, with a wide pedestrian walkway creating enough space for cyclists, an LED lighting strategy to enhance safety, and new woodland planting around the bridge. Public feedback resulted in the stainless steel finish being replaced with weathered steel panels incorporating a perforated pattern to maximise light and views, making the bridge feel warmer and improving the pedestrian experience. Dan Binns, Project Manager – Saltley Area for Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “There’s an enormous feeling of pride within the team after safely manoeuvering an 84 metre, 1,600 tonne bridge into place last weekend. “This was a complex operation, made even more challenging because the bridge needed to be driven over four existing network rail lines, requiring years of precise planning and preparation. “We purposely chose to move the bridge on wheels, so it could be built offline first, then moved across in just five hours, greatly reducing the impact on rail passengers.” Steve Powell, HS2’s Head of Delivery said: “This is another great construction milestone for HS2 in the West Midlands, with our teams using the most innovative techniques to deliver feats of engineering safely and efficiently. “It’s also a great example of how the new infrastructure we’re building for HS2 also upgrades the local road network, providing big improvements for local communities.” The composite bridge is made of a concrete deck cast over steel girders with glass reinforced plastic panels used as permanent formwork. One of the UK’s leading concrete frame specialists, MPB delivered the reinforced concrete works. To prepare for the bridge move, a 9,000m2 platform was made and 62 piles constructed to support concrete structures. Around 4,000m3 concrete and 490 tonnes of reinforced steel has been used in the construction operation. The bridge now sits on three structures – an abutment to the West of the existing rail tracks, a pier consisting of two columns on the East of the existing tracks, and an abutment to the East of the pier. In the coming weeks, all the other structures around the bridge, along with the steel assembly of the parapet panels, will be completed. Over the next 14 months, the original Aston Church Road bridge will be demolished to create the extra space for the HS2 line to pass through, and works will get underway to connect the new bridge to the existing road network Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A NEW report from the RAC has revealed that pothole related damage is the leading concern for UK drivers, costing them an average of £460 per year in repairs. Six out of ten drivers cite it is their top issue as a regular road user. However, while funding has been allocated to address our road issues, civil engineering expert, Dave Sanders, from leading specialist supplier Wrekin Products has warned that there is no quick fix solution. Earlier this year it was reported that 2023 saw 630,000 potholes being reported across England, Scotland, and Wales between January and November, with estimates suggesting it is costing UK drivers as much as £500 million in repairs – a five year high. Dave said: “Unless there is a real push for long term pothole repair solutions instead of quick fixes, we will not be able to solve the pothole crisis – regardless of the budget allocated. We are seeing a growing number of local authorities unhappy with the approach of patch repairing already subpar pothole repair works, but this is happening far too often. “More guidance on how potholes are formed and the innovative solutions available to combat this issue will allow more local authorities to address the root causes effectively. “Other underlying causes of potholes include road ironwork failures, which also needs to be addressed. Potholes form when weaknesses exist in the road surface, potentially due to surfacing joints, remedial works, or the use of poor-quality materials. Installing a piece of ironwork in a road can create a potential weakness, as well as the cuts in the road needed to remove ironwork, therefore, replacement or repair of ironwork also poses an increased risk. “Selecting alternative robust systems with the correct, appropriate materials can reduce the potential for surface weakness. Durable ironwork that is sympathetic to its bedding materials and surrounding environment is key to preventing potholes.” To find out more about Wrekin’s pothole insights and read its recent industry report on the nationwide issue, visit: www.wrek.in/potholes Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Altrad RMD Kwikform (Altrad RMDK) has supplied a large-scale bespoke temporary works solution to Balfour Beatty VINCI Joint Venture (BBV JV) to support the construction of the new ‘Curzon No. 3 Viaduct’, as part of the new HS2 Curzon Street railway station in Birmingham City Centre. The formwork and falsework aids the construction of four viaduct decks which will be coming out of the station and merging into one single bridge deck featuring three high-speed tracks. The falsework configuration needed to be designed in a particular way to allow the transfer of the loads from the concrete deck and wind forces down into the foundations without overloading the structure, ensuring it could support itself at all stages of erection, in-situ concrete pouring and dismantling. Altrad RMDK’s engineers also made the provision to ensure that after the pour of concrete, the site team could easily and safely move the falsework and formwork deck units to be re-used elsewhere on the site. Versatile and connected equipment To help support the construction of a structure of this size, Altrad RMDK had to specify several interconnected products, combining their Rapidshor falsework system with Alform aluminium beams and Superslim Soldier formwork beams to create the formwork cradles. Slimshor propping with clear span steel beams and further Alform decking beams were used to support the deck soffit over the “V” shaped void in the piers, with Megashor wailings to stabilise the side shutters. A fully braced falsework system was the chosen method of support, with supports at 1.2-metre centres down the length of the viaduct. A fully braced method was required so that the structure would not move in any direction and was entirely restrained by its internal bracing. Altrad RMDK achieved the deck profile with a system of aluminium wailings & Superslim primary beams – which sat on the top of the falsework and incorporated a cantilevered support to the wings of the deck. Again, this ensured the structure was then all internally supported – mitigating the need for use of external props to the ground. Due to the tight radius curves on the underside of the decks, a special formwork solution was designed to ensure the desired form and finish was met. Altrad RMDK worked closely with Cordek Ltd for this part of the project to precisely achieve the right shape and finish, devising a complete solution for the rounded corners, which proved to be rather complicated. Maximum efficiency and safety To ensure the project was a success, the formwork solution had to be as efficient as possible. The safe working load for the Rapidshor legs is 8 tonnes; and the engineering team took the design close to the limit at 7.85 tonnes. Doing this allowed the project to be completed efficiently and safely without compromising the foundations and preventing overloading. To minimise the dangers that arise when working at height, the falsework solution was designed so that it could largely be constructed horizontally and connected before being craned into a vertical position. By erecting horizontally as opposed to vertically, it meant that the time working at height was greatly reduced, improving safety conditions on site. Despite the large scale of the project, the innovative design of Altrad RMDK’s solution improved the sustainability of the project as it allowed the whole temporary works structure to be lifted away and then be used elsewhere on site, saving the customer time and money as the falsework and formwork did not need to be taken down and re-built. Cliff Shepherd, Senior Project Engineer at Altrad RMDK, said: “This has been one of the largest projects that I have worked on in my career of over 33 years, and the entire Altrad RMDK team are extremely proud to be a part of this historic scheme. This is a brilliant example showcasing not only Altrad RMD Kwikform’s engineering excellence, but also demonstrates how inter-compatible and versatile our equipment is when working together to form very complex shapes.” Lenka Vošvrdová, Senior Agent at Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Curzon Street site, said: “We recently completed the first sections of our Curzon 3 Viaduct – a significant moment for everyone connected with this iconic structure in the middle of Birmingham city centre. “This achievement was only possible thanks to the hard work, skill and expertise demonstrated on a daily basis by the Balfour Beatty VINCI site team and our supply chain partners.” For more on ALTRAD RMD Kwikform, please visit www.rmdkwikform.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Baxi has launched a complete end-to-end range of products and services, including new AquaHeat heat interface units (HIUs), to provide a single point of contact for customers involved in heat network projects. From carrying out initial feasibility and design studies to supplying prefabricated centralised energy centres and HIUs to driving efficient system maintenance and system optimisation, Baxi offers total customer support at every stage. Heat networks are an important part of the drive to decarbonise heat and hot water services in residential and commercial buildings. The government has a target to supply 20% of heat in buildings from heat networks by 2050, up from 2-3% today. Through the Heat Network Transformation Programme, which includes initiatives such as Heat Network Zoning and tighter industry regulations, it is ensuring that high-performance, low-carbon heat networks can contribute towards reaching net zero. With heat networks set to be implemented across a growing number of UK new build and renovation projects, Baxi is offering a raft of services to support customers with correct implementation. Perfect for use in new build or retrofit multiple occupancy buildings, campus heating systems and district heat networks, Baxi’s comprehensive heat network solutions and services will support residential, public sector and commercial property developers and building owners in delivering low carbon buildings. At the heart of Baxi’s heat network proposition is Baxi Packaged Solutions. Established prefabrication specialists, the business excels in designing and manufacturing pre-packaged plant rooms for centralised energy centres, as well as prefabricated utility cupboards for use in individual dwellings within the property. These typically use heating and hot water solutions from Baxi’s respected brands including Remeha and Heatrae Sadia as well as heat pumps from the wider BDR Thermea Group manufacturing facilities in Europe. As part of its heat network range, which includes thermal substations, Baxi is also launching AquaHeat, a new heat interface unit (HIU) for use in multiple occupancy projects such as apartments. The twin-plate HIUs are available in two outputs and can deliver indirect space heating and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) for new build and older homes. An indirect heat-only model is also available for use in commercial premises. Baxi’s heat network service is further enhanced by the UK launch of Mercurius Connected – a digital innovation developed and already available in Europe – that will be able to remotely monitor, troubleshoot and optimise the HIUs. Baxi is also drawing on expertise and experience from its parent company BDR Thermea, which acquired heat network specialist, Fortes Energy Systems, the market leader in manufacturing and supplying HIUs and thermal substations in northern Europe, last year. Baxi’s Integrated Thermal Solutions unit – headed up by Sales Director and heat networks advocate Stephen Hart – provides customers with feasibility studies and system design before installation, in addition to training, remote and onsite commissioning and ongoing service support. Stephen Hart said: “It is clear that heat networks will be one of the key routes to decarbonisation. Listening to our customers, it is equally evident that having a single point of contact will help them with the challenge of decarbonising heat and delivering low-carbon buildings. By offering an end-to-end heat network solutions service backed with expert advice – from design to after-sales support – we can make the process simple, straightforward and successful for our customers.” For more information on Baxi’s AquaHeat, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A sustainability champion has been announced as the Chartered Institute of Building’s vice president for the 2024/25 term. Professor Saul Humphrey, who teaches sustainable construction management at Anglia Ruskin University and picked up the Sustainability Award at the prestigious CIOB Awards this year, starts his journey towards becoming CIOB president this month. He will follow in the footsteps of current President Mike Kagioglou FCIOB and President elect for 2025/26 Paul Gandy FCIOB by becoming president of the world’s leading professional body for construction management in 2026. “I’m very proud to have been asked to become the next vice president of CIOB,” said Humphrey. “CIOB is an institution I am privileged to have been a fellow of for many years and I look forward to working closely with the senior leadership team over the coming years. “I am also humbled at the opportunity to put sustainability at the heart of the construction agenda.” Humphrey left school without A-level qualifications and joined the industry as an apprentice. He has hands-on experience in several roles within construction, rising to become a managing director, and later returning to academic studies. He gained a bachelor’s degree at Heriot-Watt University before going on to do a PhD at Loughborough University. “During my career, I started to become more aware of the construction industry’s footprint,” continued Humphrey. “The industry accounts for around 40 per cent of global carbon emissions, so we’re a big part of pollution and a huge part of biodiversity loss. “I soon realised the importance of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which are of course a big focus for CIOB this next year. “I hope to use my platform to work closely with CIOB and the construction industry to showcase how construction can become part of the solution rather than the problem.” Outside of work, Humphrey prioritises spending time with his wife and two grown-up children, is involved in various charitable organisations and enjoys skiing holidays when he finds the time. Caroline Gumble, CEO at CIOB, added: “I was fortunate to spend time with Saul and some of his Anglia Ruskin University colleagues earlier this year, learning about the links between industry and academia in the region. “While there, I heard him issue an impressive call to students to live their values and prioritise sustainability in construction. In addition, he is a long-standing member and a CIOB Award winner and I am in no doubt that his knowledge, experience and commitment will be of huge value to the CIOB community. “I am looking forward to working with Saul as CIOB vice president and then as the 123rd CIOB president, taking on that role in 2026.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
