Proposals for a new environmentally-focused community bringing up to 555 new homes to Bristol have taken a step forward as a planning application has been submitted. Proposals for a new environmentally-focused community bringing up to 555 new homes to Bristol have taken a step forward as a planning application has
The intersection of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) holds immense potential. By integrating Forge’s intelligent models with Microsoft Azure IoT Hub, we open the door to vast possibilities, including advanced machine learning insights. In this article, we’ll explore how data collected using BIM 360 software
Bouygues UK has been appointed as lead contractor to build a new secondary school for the Department of Education in Grove, Oxfordshire. St John’s Academy, a £28.2 million project for Vale Academy Trust, will be built alongside the already completed primary school in Grove on the Wellington Gate Development, and
The Government Property Agency (GPA) has achieved a key milestone in its approach to environmental preservation and enhancement. Following an external audit, the agency’s Environmental Management System (EMS) has been accredited to the international standard for EMS ISO14001. This is used by organisations around the world to demonstrate a systematic
THE REGENERATION project to transform four dilapidated railway arches on America Street, Southwark has completed, delivering vibrant new spaces for restaurants, cafés, bars, and other leisure businesses to thrive in a Central London location. The arches, situated under a 19th century railway viaduct between Southwark Bridge Road and Great Guildford
Plymouth City Council is leading a new housing project on the outskirts of the city, where 500 modern, energy-efficient homes will be built on land off Stoggy Lane in Plympton, including 150 affordable units. Also in the plans is new wetland greenspace, up to 2,000 new trees and a financial
Duraproducts, a leading provider of innovative, sustainable construction solutions, has been chosen by ABM Contractors to supply its pioneering Durakerb HB2 range of recycled kerbing units, for the refurbishment of the company’s headquarters car park in Swords, Co Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1994, ABM Contractors is a well-respected contractor with
Housebuilder Keepmoat plans to transform nearly seven acres of unused land in Milton Keynes, building 115 new homes, with 50 meeting the upcoming Future Homes Standard. With a planned total build budget of £21.5 million, the project is due to be completed in March 2026, and will provide a range
Perfect Workwear – for less than perfect days. Snickers Workwear’s new range of lightweight Mid-layers are a Fusion of style and performance – built for active work in the Autumn. Crafted for full flexibility on site and optimal comfort and built for active work, they’re fully flexible and can be
Newlands Property Group Limited (NPGL) has successfully completed the acquisition of Equites Property Fund’s interests in the Equites Newlands Group Limited development platform. This strategic move includes the acquisition of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) linked to key logistics projects in Cambridge, Rushden, Northampton, and additional sites in Egham, Peterborough, and
Proposals for a new environmentally-focused community bringing up to 555 new homes to Bristol have taken a step forward as a planning application has been submitted. Proposals for a new environmentally-focused community bringing up to 555 new homes to Bristol have taken a step forward as a planning application has been submitted. Bellway Strategic Land, working closely with Bellway’s South West division, has unveiled its vision for a sustainable and eco-friendly neighbourhood on a 40-acre site next to Brislington Park and Ride in its outline application to Bristol City Council. The land has a draft allocation for housing in the emerging Bristol Local Plan and has featured in previous plans for development in the city. The planning application follows extensive consultation with the local community. This prompted some revisions to the initial proposals, with the designs evolving to lower the height of homes that are close to existing residential areas. New visuals have been released, showing how the development south of the A4 Bath Road could look. The plans feature a mix of apartments and houses, a local centre with shops and community space, ecological habitats, children’s play areas and public open spaces. The new neighbourhood would feature one and two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom houses, with 35 per cent of the properties allocated as affordable housing and a further five per cent set aside for custom and self-build housing. Fergus Thomas, Bellway Strategic Land Director for the Central region, said: “This submission marks a significant step forward in our plans to create a sustainable new community in Bath Road. This is a major project for the area and we have liaised with the city council and the local community to seek people’s views on how we should approach the scheme. “More than 40 per cent of the site area would be green open space, providing new habitats and wetlands for wildlife. There would be recreational routes and play areas for new and existing residents, including the wider community at Hungerford.” The design for the site would see the creation of a new community hub and mixed-use square at the heart of the development. Details of the homes to be built would be determined at a later stage. Fergus said: “Bristol’s housing crisis needs to be addressed, with the waiting list for affordable homes continuing to grow. “Bristol City Council has identified this land as being suitable for housing in its draft Local Plan and we feel this is an ideal scheme to play a part in helping address the huge demand for private and affordable homes in the city.” The purpose of the outline planning application is to establish whether the development can progress and to determine how many homes could be accommodated. The next step would be to apply for reserved matters planning consent to agree detailed matters, such as home designs and layout. Bellway Strategic Land oversees early-stage developments for Bellway. To find out more visit https://www.bellwaystrategicland.co.uk/. For more information about the new homes Bellway is currently building in the South West, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/south-west. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The intersection of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) holds immense potential. By integrating Forge’s intelligent models with Microsoft Azure IoT Hub, we open the door to vast possibilities, including advanced machine learning insights. In this article, we’ll explore how data collected using BIM 360 software can be linked with building equipment to monitor operations and perform predictive analyses, ultimately reducing maintenance costs. A New Era in the AEC Industry It’s no secret that the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is in dire need of digital transformation. For too long, manual processes and rework have led to significant financial losses. A graphic from Box.com research illustrates the typical collaboration challenges within the construction sector: This graph highlights the fragmented nature of information within construction organisations. But how can we drive digital transformation in the AEC market? One promising avenue is leveraging available technologies. Autodesk’s cloud solutions, particularly BIM 360 products and Autodesk Forge, integrated with platforms like Microsoft Azure, have the potential to revolutionise the industry. These tools could eliminate the need for paper-based processes entirely. Have you heard of the concept of a digital twin? This idea, featured in Gartner’s Top Trends for 2017, continues to influence how we operate today. According to Gartner: “Within three to five years, billions of things will be represented by digital twins, a dynamic software model of a physical thing or system… Digital twins function as proxies for skilled individuals and traditional monitoring devices… They will enable a more detailed digital representation of the real world for simulation, analysis, and control.” To implement this technology, we need a digital model of a physical entity—whether it’s a machine, engine, or building. But how do we create a digital twin, and what do we do once it’s established? Let’s explore the technologies that deliver the digital twin concept. BIM 360 and Autodesk technology provide the 3D digital model, which can be created using tools like Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Revit, and Autodesk InfraWorks. BIM 360 allows cloud-based access to these models anytime, anywhere. Microsoft Azure acts as the bridge, collecting data from sensors and linking them to the digital world. A comprehensive vision of digital construction is depicted below: To better understand the integration of Autodesk BIM 360 with Microsoft Azure, think of Spider-Man. Initially, Spider-Man crafted a homemade suit. But after meeting Iron Man, Tony Stark developed a powerful new suit for him. This analogy is similar to how Autodesk BIM 360 becomes significantly more powerful when integrated with Microsoft Azure, as shown here: So, how can this integration be accomplished? That’s the focus of this article. BIM 360 as an IoT Hub To begin integrating Autodesk BIM 360 with Microsoft Azure, we must decide what information to store in each product. In 2016, I delivered a lecture at AU titled “Useless or Priceless? How to Prepare and Use a BIM Model for FM and Building Ops,” which served as the foundation for this discussion. For a digital twin, after preparing the model for facilities, BIM 360 Docs can host the 3D model, accessible via an external web application. I recommend visiting the Getting Started page of Autodesk Forge, the open API for Autodesk BIM 360, which provides all the necessary tools for developing integrations between Autodesk products and the Microsoft Azure cloud. The architecture of this new web application is illustrated in the following diagram: The web app will visualise the model integrated with data collected by sensors. What sensors are available on the market? Have a look: Which sensors can we use in this architecture? Virtually any sensor that meets these criteria: Security is paramount, so ensure that your cloud connectivity covers all these requirements. Additionally, since IoT sensors are exposed and connected to your network, implementing robust security measures is essential. Consider the following architecture for board security: Remote and mobile users from various locations can connect to the Web Security Service, which offers universal connectivity. The core service provides strong access governance, threat protection, information security, and data loss prevention, ensuring consistent enforcement of security policies across devices and locations. WSS acts as a unifying gateway to the web and cloud, bringing control to potential chaos. BIM 360 Build for Data Collection Even though my 2016 lecture focused on BIM 360 Field rather than BIM 360 Build, the principles still apply. At some point, a new equipment workflow will likely emerge in BIM 360 Build, similar to that in BIM 360 Field. To collect data using BIM 360 Build, create a checklist with fields such as: Field workers can complete the checklist using a mobile device, consulting the BIM model stored in BIM 360 Docs to identify the relevant codes. To link the component in the BIM model with the component in Azure, use the parameter name. For example, a sink might be identified as “BRSP430_403.01_ZN01_02F_04837_BS05_SINK01.” In the future, Forge API could be used to recreate the equipment feature in BIM 360 Build, streamlining the integration process and reducing manual effort, particularly for field workers. Alternatively, continue using the BIM 360 Field equipment workflow until BIM 360 Build matures. Follow the 2016 lecture’s example to collect data using Field and integrate it with the model. Linking Building Equipment with the BIM Model To link the equipment in BIM 360 Docs (digital model) with the equipment in the building (physical model), develop a new web application that integrates data from both realms. The new application will call BIM 360 using the following code: This will enable the web application to display the 3D model, complete with BIM 360 Docs’ features for model control (e.g., sectioning, zooming, model properties). Next, collect data from the sensors in the building by consuming data from Microsoft Azure IoT Hub. Here’s the coding logic: You’ll need to specify the URL where data is stored in Microsoft Azure. This will result in a web application that can consume both the 3D model and the sensor data from Microsoft Azure. To link the
Bouygues UK has been appointed as lead contractor to build a new secondary school for the Department of Education in Grove, Oxfordshire. St John’s Academy, a £28.2 million project for Vale Academy Trust, will be built alongside the already completed primary school in Grove on the Wellington Gate Development, and will be the first all-through school (Nursery to Year 11) in the local area, teaching around 600 pupils. As part of its commitment to both education and sustainability, Bouygues UK will use sustainable, low carbon materials as part of the build, including a cross-laminated timber frame. It will use an enhanced quality construction approach through consistent off-site manufacturing, to reduce waste and defects. The two-storey building will feature a green roof with photovoltaic panels. The grass playing fields and MUGA will also have extensive SUDs (sustainable draining systems) featuring attenuation, swales and porous parking areas. The buildings will also be clad in brickwork and timber panelling with feature aluminium framed entrances. John Boughton, Bouygues UK’s Managing Director for Wales and the South West, said the project is a significant one for the Bouygues UK team, which is committed to building sustainable, low carbon schools. John said: “Bouygues UK is dedicated to building low carbon, energy-efficient structures with sustainability at the centre and we’re so pleased to be building St John’s Academy CE. Local communities are also at the heart of construction projects like these, and our St John’s Academy CE project will also use locally sourced labour and materials to build a fantastic school for children in Grove.” Rick Holroyd, Executive Headteacher at St John’s academy said: “‘We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bouygues UK on the design and build of this amazing school building. Our vision for the new academy is that this wonderful new school will sit at the heart of the emerging Wellington Gate community and, will not only offer outstanding educational provision for local secondary students, but will also offer opportunities and services to meet the needs of all family members within the new community. We are confident that Bouygues UK will deliver a state-of-the-art building which will meet the educational, social and recreational needs of community members of all ages for many years to come.” Other Bouygues UK projects within Wales and the South West region include the exciting new Cotswolds Designer Outlet, the landmark Pentre Awel development in Llanelli and the regeneration of 71/72 Kingsway in Swansea. Bouygues UK is also a supplier of both Southern Construction Framework’s (SCF) 5th generation SCF Construct Framework for the South West, on contracts of £4m+, and the DfE CF21 Framework in the South and West Midlands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Government Property Agency (GPA) has achieved a key milestone in its approach to environmental preservation and enhancement. Following an external audit, the agency’s Environmental Management System (EMS) has been accredited to the international standard for EMS ISO14001. This is used by organisations around the world to demonstrate a systematic approach to continual improvement. The standard requires an organisation to demonstrate it understands its environmental impacts, its stakeholders’ needs and an organisation-wide approach to managing environmental performance. Mel Weaver, Sustainability Manager of the GPA’s Workplace Services team and chair of the EMS Working Group, said: “We are really pleased and proud as a team that we’ve achieved ISO14001. This is proof of our continued commitment to consider sustainability across the GPA’s activities and will provide extra assurance to our clients.” As the strategic leader of sustainability across the government’s office portfolio, the GPA is committed to reducing environmental impact across the entire estate it manages through introducing a range of innovative programmes and best-practice. The agency has achieved significant results, saving 3,646 tonnes of carbon dioxide (tCO2e) since 2021, and is targeting even more as its sustainability programmes mature. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
THE REGENERATION project to transform four dilapidated railway arches on America Street, Southwark has completed, delivering vibrant new spaces for restaurants, cafés, bars, and other leisure businesses to thrive in a Central London location. The arches, situated under a 19th century railway viaduct between Southwark Bridge Road and Great Guildford Street, have undergone extensive renovation and revitalisation works, including the re-lining of all arch spaces, new insulated floor slabs suitable for restaurant use, energy efficiency upgrades, and glazed front infills. As design architect for the scheme, Stephen George + Partners (SGP) drew on both its technical expertise and strong track record working with historic buildings to create the contemporary spaces, which nod to the industrial heritage of the arches. Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard is also behind the scheme, delivering structural and civil engineering building services in close collaboration with project partners, including property portfolio holder, The Arch Company. Santosh Patel, strategic account director at Pick Everard, said: “It’s been a pleasure to be part of another revitalisation project with The Arch Company and SGP. Having initially performed investigation works to assess the structural integrity of the arches and provide drainage solutions, our collaborative efforts to revitalise the railway arches into thriving social spaces have proved instrumental in its success. “We look forward to seeing the historic spaces reach their full potential with a new array of restaurants, cafes and bars that have allowed more businesses to thrive and new communities to form.” SGP’s proposals for the alteration of the America Street arches were carefully considered in a site-specific response, providing contemporary and adaptable arch spaces for prospective tenants. High-quality façade materials were utilised within the elevation design, while the design and style of the infills helped create an on-brand aesthetic to enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area. The completed work also forms part of attracting investment under the Low Line regeneration initiative, created to breathe new life into the Victorian railway viaduct that connects diverse neighbourhoods through Bankside, London Bridge, and Bermondsey. Josh White, SGP principal architectural technologist, said: “The ultimate aim was for the street to be pedestrianised and so our design incorporates active frontages to increase the connection with the street. We have large glazed frontages along America Street, and to firmly anchor the scheme within the local milieu and further enhance the streetscape, bifold doors can open up onto the street, while a space to the front of two of the units can be adapted for outside seating and planting to create an appealing aesthetic to the Low Line.” Roger King, operations director at The Arch Company, said: “We’re pleased to see the transformation of these railway arches complete. We sought to invest here in order to create spaces for businesses to thrive within. Given their excellent location, we encourage anyone interested in renting these arches to get in touch directly.” The America Street project is just one of ten+ projects SGP has been commissioned on. Two schemes have recently achieved planning consent in Manchester and are due to start on site soon. Elsewhere in London, SGP, Pick Everard and The Arch Company have concluded work on Witan Street, an initiative comprising the refurbishment of six arches into high-specification commercial premises for light industrial use, located just 16 minutes away from the City of London. For more information on Pick Everard and the services it provides, visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plymouth City Council is leading a new housing project on the outskirts of the city, where 500 modern, energy-efficient homes will be built on land off Stoggy Lane in Plympton, including 150 affordable units. Also in the plans is new wetland greenspace, up to 2,000 new trees and a financial contribution towards a new sports hub at Boringdon. Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, will present the plans to his cabinet colleagues when they meet on Monday 9 September. In advance of the meeting, Chris said: “I’m pleased to be able to talk about this venture, which has been long in the planning. “Plymouth, like so many other cities in the UK, is in the midst of a national housing crisis and one of the obvious solutions to this is to build more houses. That’s exactly what we’re doing here. “The Stoggy Lane development is certainly ambitious, but we owe it to the hundreds of households on the housing waiting list to make big decisions like this and provide answers to the problems.” The land at Stoggy Lane, which is designated for housing in the Joint Local Plan, is currently unutilised farmland with no formal public access. It is owned by Plymouth City Council but falls within the boundary of South Hams District Council. Working with South Hams, Plymouth City Council has produced a master plan for the homes ready to apply for planning permission. Before that, though, a thorough public consultation on the scheme is expected to begin in September, featuring information sessions to allow residents to learn more and feedback on the plans. That data will then be fed into a final design before a final planning application is submitted in Spring 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Duraproducts, a leading provider of innovative, sustainable construction solutions, has been chosen by ABM Contractors to supply its pioneering Durakerb HB2 range of recycled kerbing units, for the refurbishment of the company’s headquarters car park in Swords, Co Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1994, ABM Contractors is a well-respected contractor with a reputation for delivering high-quality building solutions across Ireland. Following a period of growth, it became clear that an upgrade of its car park was necessary to meet the demands of its expanding business. The refurbishment project utilised over 150 linear meters of Durakerb HB2 units. This innovative kerbing alternative consists of 88% recycled polymer, offering both traditional functionality and significant environmental and safety benefits. By eliminating the need for pouring and cutting traditional kerbing stones, Durakerb reduces manual handling and exposure to hazardous silica dust. Its lightweight design and efficient installation process also removes the requirement for heavy machinery, promoting a more sustainable construction approach.” Furthermore, Durakerb’s declared Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) highlight a nearly 50% embodied carbon reduction compared to traditional precast concrete products for kerbing projects. This demonstrates Duraproducts’ commitment to providing environmentally friendly solutions for the construction industry. By choosing Durakerb for its car park refurbishment, ABM Contractors has not only improved the functionality and longevity of its employee facility, but also made a significant contribution to environmental sustainability throughout the installation process. In 2017, ABM Contractors installed a combination of Durakerb and Duradrain units at Midleton College in Country Cork, Ireland, delivering a complete recycled and recyclable surface water management system for the surrounding hard landscapes and infrastructure. Philip Weinmann, General Manager at ABM Contractors said, “At ABM we seek smart solutions at all points of the construction process. For our site refurbishment we wanted to exploit our knowledge of products that are efficient, technologically advanced and sustainable. We had previously used Durakerb on a school construction project and were impressed with the health and safety benefits coupled with the environmental credentials it offers. We were therefore delighted to showcase its performance and demonstrate that it reduces the impact on the environment at our company headquarters.” Andy Leah, General Manager at Duraproducts, added, “Construction companies need to lead by example when it comes to projects for their own businesses. We’re delighted to have supplied Durakerb for ABM Contractors’ recent car park refurbishment; it really is a true example of the company’s dedication to sustainability. This project is testament to our commitment to providing innovative, sustainable, and safe products for the construction industry.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder Keepmoat plans to transform nearly seven acres of unused land in Milton Keynes, building 115 new homes, with 50 meeting the upcoming Future Homes Standard. With a planned total build budget of £21.5 million, the project is due to be completed in March 2026, and will provide a range of high-quality, multi-tenure homes to add to the thriving community already in the area. The housebuilder will also create multiple types of housing for residents at the site to be named Haworth Place, including much-needed affordable housing stock through a local housing association. The development is located on the edge of Milton Keynes and is close to a variety of amenities such as shops, parks and transport links. The Future Homes Standard legislation update, which is due in 2025, requires all new homes to reduce 75 percent of the carbon emissions and is set out to replace traditional Building Regulations for new dwellings. Keepmoat has invested in new research and development to create an advanced delivery programme of new builds called ‘Echo’ homes, equipped with air source heat pumps, solar PV panels, increased levels of insulation and EV charging points to reduce carbon emissions from the homes. These new technologies will be rolled out across key selected developments in the house builders’ portfolio to begin the advanced delivery project, including within 50 homes at the development in Milton Keynes. Ian McFaul, Interim Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, South Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to be regenerating this underdeveloped piece of land in Milton Keynes to deliver 115 high-quality, multi-tenure homes for the local area, including much-needed affordable housing options. The project is also creating a raft of new local jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities, further boosting the local economy and the industry’s future workforce. “As the project continues into the next phase, it’s extremely rewarding to see the excitement about the plans to deliver these homes in this fantastic new town. We’re also proud to be delivering homes featuring anticipated Future Homes Standard technology ahead of the Government-enforced delivery model set to come in next year – a further step in our mission to create sustainable communities for the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Perfect Workwear – for less than perfect days. Snickers Workwear’s new range of lightweight Mid-layers are a Fusion of style and performance – built for active work in the Autumn. Crafted for full flexibility on site and optimal comfort and built for active work, they’re fully flexible and can be worn as an outer layer when it’s warmer or a mid-layer when it’s a bit cooler. They’re full of handy technical features and innovative fabrics to tame the wind, plus brand new energising colours to brighten your spring-time workday. Choose from new street-smart styles such as the Windblocker Half-zip Hoodie or the Lightweight Flexiwork Mid-layer Jacket – creative workwear solutions designed to make your job easier. Whatever Snickers Workwear Mid-layer you choose, you can be sure that they all have body-mapping designs for a great fit, outstanding functionality and long-lasting comfort – all day, every day. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Newlands Property Group Limited (NPGL) has successfully completed the acquisition of Equites Property Fund’s interests in the Equites Newlands Group Limited development platform. This strategic move includes the acquisition of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) linked to key logistics projects in Cambridge, Rushden, Northampton, and additional sites in Egham, Peterborough, and Goldthorpe, with certain conditions applied. Notably, joint control will be maintained between NPGL and Equites for projects near Newport Pagnell, Basingstoke, and Coton Park. Russell Platt, CEO of Forum Partners, highlighted the significance of this acquisition, underscoring the strategic value it adds to their portfolio. He commented, “This acquisition deepens our relationship with the Newlands team, allowing them to secure key assets from their previous partner, Equites. Additionally, it establishes favourable terms for the three projects where Newlands and Equites will continue to co-invest. With one of the largest land banks of strategic logistics sites in the UK, Newlands is well-placed to take advantage of current market conditions.” Graham Pardoe, CEO of Newlands Developments, shared this optimism, pointing out the imminent market availability of these logistics sites. “Our skilled team is poised to bring vital logistics sites to market. With our expansive land bank, we are ideally positioned to meet increasing demand and stimulate further investment in the logistics sector.” NPGL, established in March 2024 through a collaboration between Newlands Developments and Forum Partners, aims to focus on the acquisition, development, and management of logistics and industrial projects throughout the UK, particularly in the Midlands and South East regions. Since its founding in 2002, Forum Partners has deployed approximately $7.7 billion across 24 countries, with Newlands’ management delivering over 37 million square feet of space for major clients such as DHL and Amazon. Their current development pipeline includes 15 million square feet across 10 projects in the UK.
