Dudleys Consulting Engineers is working with Greenfingers Charity to create a unique shelter that will form part of a ‘Together Garden’ showcase at RHS Wentworth Woodhouse before becoming a permanent home at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in Rotherham. The Together Garden is a thoughtful, deeply moving space created by designers
Skanska has been appointed by National Highways to deliver a long-awaited upgrade to the A47 Thickthorn junction near Norwich, under a contract valued at £153 million. The junction, which links the A47 with the A11 south of the city, is a critical gateway to the region, serving routes towards Norfolk
Craig Thow has been appointed Operations Director of Robertson Construction Northern, following nine successful years with Robertson Construction Tayside. Craig joined Robertson in 2016 as Operations Manager and has since played a pivotal role in delivering high-quality projects for public and private sector customers across Dundee, Angus, Fife, and Perthshire.
More than 100 keen golfers swung into action at Worsley Park for the annual Algeco Manchester Golf Day – raising more than £72,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK. A total of 28 teams teed off yesterday (July 15), with the money raised enough to fund 2,057 nights of ‘home
Dudleys Consulting Engineers is working with Greenfingers Charity to create a unique shelter that will form part of a ‘Together Garden’ showcase at RHS Wentworth Woodhouse before becoming a permanent home at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in Rotherham. The Together Garden is a thoughtful, deeply moving space created by designers Phil Hirst and Joanne Charlton. Designed to offer moments of reflection, connection and peace, the Together Garden features curved timber benches, inviting visitors to sit together with a bespoke canopy providing shelter alongside two sculptural elements representing hands held together to symbolise comfort and unity. After a debut at RHS Wentworth Woodhouse Flower Show, the garden will be reimagined as a permanent, tranquil space outside one of the hospice’s bereavement suites. It will offer bereaved families a peaceful place to make memories and find comfort during the most difficult times. Leeds based Dudleys Consulting Engineers were asked to support the project through its specialist structures team providing expert advice around the design and creation of the bespoke canopy. Rob Thomson, Associate at Dudleys Consulting Engineers, said: “We are honoured to have been asked to help in delivering the Together Garden that will provide a lasting legacy as a peaceful retreat and some comfort for those who most need it. “The canopy is a unique structure with curved columns and elliptical roof. Our challenge has been to minimise the size of the structural elements whilst making sure it remains stable and safe. We delivered multiple design iterations of a complex geometry using our state-of-the-art analysis tools, alongside our deep understanding of structural engineering within a tight timescale so that it is ready in time for the show later this month.” Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers Charity which funds the design, build and care of children’s hospices nationally, said: “We are incredibly excited to be part of RHS Wentworth Woodhouse for the very first time. It’s a fantastic platform to raise awareness of the work we do, and to introduce even more people to the power of gardens in creating comfort and connection during life’s most challenging moments. “Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice is already known for its beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces, which play a vital role in its work with families. The addition of the Together Garden will further enhance this environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Skanska has been appointed by National Highways to deliver a long-awaited upgrade to the A47 Thickthorn junction near Norwich, under a contract valued at £153 million. The junction, which links the A47 with the A11 south of the city, is a critical gateway to the region, serving routes towards Norfolk and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Long plagued by congestion, the site is now set for major redevelopment to support future residential and commercial growth. The scheme has faced a series of delays and rising costs. Initially estimated at between £50 million and £100 million, the price tag later surged to £161 million, leading to the termination of the previous contract with Galliford Try—also the contractor for two other A47 upgrades at Blofield to North Burlingham and North Tuddenham to Easton. All three projects were delayed by ultimately unsuccessful legal challenges. Now back on track, enabling works are under way, with full construction expected to commence in early 2026. The new junction is not expected to open to traffic until 2029. Once complete, it will include a 1.6km free-flow link road connecting the A11 northbound to the A47 eastbound via two new underpasses, alongside a 1km local link road joining Cantley Lane South with the B1172 Norwich Road. This local route will feature a modular bridge spanning the A11 and the new link road. The project also involves the creation of two new junctions on the local road network, the widening of the A47 westbound slip road, and the removal and replacement of an existing footbridge with a structure suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders. Skanska is partnering with consulting engineer Sweco to deliver the project, which will include five new structures and over 3km of utility diversions. At its peak, the scheme will employ more than 300 people. Andrew English, executive vice president at Skanska UK, said:“We have worked collaboratively with National Highways to develop the design and scheme budget to ensure it meets the overall cost envelope for the project. Our focus on cost, while ensuring we can deliver the full benefits of the scheme safely and on programme, has been key to our approach. It’s a great outcome that has been achieved as a result of our trusted working relationship with National Highways, developed over more than two decades. We’re now looking forward to moving into main construction, delivering these much-needed improvements that will generate long-lasting benefits for the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Craig Thow has been appointed Operations Director of Robertson Construction Northern, following nine successful years with Robertson Construction Tayside. Craig joined Robertson in 2016 as Operations Manager and has since played a pivotal role in delivering high-quality projects for public and private sector customers across Dundee, Angus, Fife, and Perthshire. His leadership spans a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, hospitality and commercial. Notably, he was involved in the delivery of a number of prestigious projects across the Tayside region including Scotland’s first accredited Passivhaus primary school, Riverside Primary School, and the £26m office development in Dundee. With almost 30 years of industry experience, Craig will now oversee all operational aspects of project delivery in the Northern region. His responsibilities include ensuring projects are completed to the highest quality, delivered efficiently, on programme and within budget, alongside identifying and securing new opportunities. One of his first major projects will be the construction of a new business park at Oban Airport, which recently received planning approval. Craig studied civil engineering at Heriot-Watt University and has worked for several construction companies, starting as a Site Engineer and progressing to Project Manager before joining Robertson. Speaking on his appointment, Craig said: “With strong opportunities on the horizon and a solid pipeline of ongoing projects, it’s a great time to be joining the Northern business. I look forward to sharing my experiences with the team and supporting the business’ continued success.” Craig also acted as a Young People Champion for four years, responsible for delivering operational support to embed and enhance the Robertson NextGen Strategy. This is geared towards providing meaningful career development and engagement opportunities for employees aged 16 to 24 years. Craig added: “Ensuring there is enough development and support given to the younger generation is important to me and is fundamental for the industry. Through our dedicated team delivering small works, we are creating real opportunities for young people to gain hands-on experience, earn qualifications and learn a trade on live projects. It’s a model that not only supports skills development but offers a clear career path for life.” Regional Managing Director Ian Phillips commented: “Craig is a strong and welcome addition to our high-performing team. He brings valuable operational leadership experience along with a deep understanding of the Robertson way of working. His expertise will further strengthen the business as we continue to grow across the region.” With offices in Elgin, Inverness and Fort William, Robertson Construction Northern is a trusted partner of choice for an array of customers covering Moray, Highlands & Islands, Lochaber and Aberdeenshire. It is part of Robertson Group, one of the largest family-owned construction, infrastructure, property and support services businesses in the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
More than 100 keen golfers swung into action at Worsley Park for the annual Algeco Manchester Golf Day – raising more than £72,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK. A total of 28 teams teed off yesterday (July 15), with the money raised enough to fund 2,057 nights of ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with children in hospital. Algeco UK is a leading modular buildings, temporary accommodation and storage container provider, delivering construction expertise to diverse sectors including schools, hospitals, office locations and many more. The company is a longstanding partner of McDonald’s. Paul Beard, Senior Design Manager at Algeco, explained: “We are immensely proud to be the headline sponsor once again for this fantastic annual event. The impact of the work carried out by the charity for children and their families is incredible, and we are pleased to play our small part in supporting this.” Algeco UK has provided McDonald’s with offsite build solutions since 2010 and has constructed more than 220 new stores using its modular retail construction process. This includes McDonald’s Market Drayton, which was notably the UK’s first carbon net zero restaurant (using the UKGBC’s net zero carbon buildings framework) and the two-storey Drive-Thru restaurant in North Acton, London, also the first of its kind in the UK. As a key partner to McDonald’s, Algeco UK is a long-standing supporter of its house charity. Over the years, the marketing team from Algeco UK has attended Ronald McDonald House Birmingham, donating their time to help keep the 65 bedrooms, communal kitchens and living room spaces clean for people with children in hospital. Tony Morton, Director of Partnerships at Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Algeco UK, for their continued support of our Manchester Golf Day. They’ve contributed significantly to another hugely successful event, with a fantastic day of golf and most importantly, an incredible amount raised to help keep families close to their sick children in hospital. “Algeco UK’s support for our cause extends beyond the Manchester Golf Day, with staff giving up their time to volunteer in our Houses. We thank them for their amazing efforts, which make such a difference to families going through unimaginably difficult times.” This year, Algeco UK entered four teams, featuring Algeco OSS staff, a further team with staff from Algeco Hire, and five more teams on behalf of partners and suppliers. Other entrants consisted of key McDonald’s partners, suppliers and sub-contractors. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola, Scania and McCain were among the other sponsors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
