The brainchild of forward-thinking housing association, Midland Heart, Project 80’s design and construction has been significantly influenced by the Future Homes Standard, set to be introduced in 2025. From the outset, Midland Heart was keen to meet all the requirements of the new regulations, which will see all new homes
By Dr Gareth Davies, Carbon Reduction Scientist, PhD & Dr Luan Ho, Carbon Reduction Scientist, PhD – Tunley Environmental Concrete, the most extensively used manmade material worldwide, carries a significant environmental burden, contributing to 8% of anthropogenic GHG emissions. With a staggering 30 Gt produced annually, the material consumption is
Leading heating and hot water solutions provider Baxi has this week hosted the first official visit to its €13 million commercial heat pump R&D and laboratory site in Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain. Baxi is part of the €2.2 billion-turnover BDR Thermea Group, one of the largest producers of heating appliances
West Yorkshire Colleges, including Leeds College of Building, have been successful in securing £6.9 million from the Department for Education to digitise teaching and learning in key sectors. The funding is part of the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) and will launch a West Yorkshire digital innovation project led by colleges.
National builders’ merchant Jewson has opened the doors to its upgraded branch in Devizes, Wiltshire, where a brand new site has been built to cater to tradespeople and the public. The previous building was demolished and the new one is situated on the grounds at Garden Trading Estate on London Road, Devizes.
When it comes to acquiring a vehicle for business purposes or personal use, you have two primary options in the form of leasing or buying. Leasing is like renting, where you only pay for the use of the car during a predefined period. On the other hand, buying involves either
Finning UK & Ireland is on track to double the number of regional dealers in its network by the end of 2024 with the recent addition of Oakley Machinery in Somerset Finning, the world’s largest dealer of Cat® equipment, parts and service, established a network of regional Cat distributors in
NATIONAL award-winning architecture and interior design practice CPMG Architects has been appointed to design Metsä’s planned new tissue paper mill in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire. Assuming the necessary approvals are achieved, the proposed advanced manufacturing facility will boast the largest tissue production capacity in the UK, the latest in sustainable production technology and world-class environmental
The success was in relation to the company’s expert delivery of a multiple-roof project at a residential complex in Westburn Gardens, Aberdeen. In explaining their decision-making process, NFRC judges praised BriggsAmasco for overcoming the challenging programme ‘with careful planning and expert tradespeople. Tony Lawther, Managing Director said: “This is a
Independent property company, Hortons’ Estate Ltd has pre-let the first of two new speculative developments at an established industrial location in the Black Country. Manufacturer NDB Engineering has signed a 15-year lease on Unit 6, a new 21,400 sq ft industrial/warehouse at Electrium Point in Willenhall. The firm will relocate
The brainchild of forward-thinking housing association, Midland Heart, Project 80’s design and construction has been significantly influenced by the Future Homes Standard, set to be introduced in 2025. From the outset, Midland Heart was keen to meet all the requirements of the new regulations, which will see all new homes expected to produce a 75 to 80% reduction in carbon emissions compared to currently accepted levels. The Future Homes Standard covers a wide range of criteria and the developer had to carefully plan every aspect of the build to ensure the lowest whole-life carbon performance. This ranged from the materials chosen and systems specified, through to the machinery used on-site and the fixtures, fittings and finishes in the property. A low-carbon home also needs to be structurally safe, built to last and comfortable for the occupier. This meant balancing achieving the Future Homes Standards requirements without compromising the essential elements which comprise a quality home. Fabric first housing The Future Homes Standard is set to usher in a new age of energy-efficient, low-emissions housing. Midland Heart was keen to ensure it met the stipulated low u-values on its upcoming developments, leading to the initial concept of Project 80 and the objective of delivering a fully ‘Fabric First’ development. As Tony Hopkin, Head of Construction & Quality at Midland Heart revealed: “Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, yet we’re also conscious of our environmental responsibility, so we wanted to build homes which not only protect people, but the planet too. So Project 80’s overarching aim became the elimination of any unintended consequences which would cause the properties to fall out of compliance with the Future Homes Standard, as this would have massive negative implications for potential occupiers, and Midland Heart. Particularly, we wanted to show that, with the right materials and systems, achieving ultra-low u-values was entirely possible. By trialling different solutions, particularly the latest concrete and aircrete blocks, we were able to achieve u-values of 0.13, putting our properties comfortably within the Standard’s requirements.” The West Midlands has a wealth of local block manufacturers and a rich heritage of block production. For this project, concrete blocks were manufactured by Shropshire-based Besblock and aircrete blocks were manufactured by H+H. This blended approach not only achieved the required thermal efficiency, but the use of high-performance aircrete blocks, which are lightweight and easy to install, supported the air-tight structures and reduced the chance of thermal bridging. It also significantly sped up the construction process. A material success To meet its aims of achieving Part L compliance, Midland Heart needed to specify materials that could deliver maximum efficiency, yet also deliver safe, secure, comfortable and affordable dwellings. Furthermore, they were keen to work with local businesses, ensuring a small supply chain with the minimum amount of energy and fuel consumption possible. Photo by Midland Heart Housing Ltd As the project took shape, in the form of Eco Drive, comprising 12 new homes built using fabric first principles, Midland Heart, an advocate of traditional construction methods, embraced tried and tested cavity wall construction. A traditional method, they understood that this system would deliver the desired thermal efficiency without reinventing the wheel. The 12 homes were delivered in 2022, and a report on resident evaluations of living and occupying the homes is due to publish in late 2023. The ongoing R&D programme will also include a detailed cost analysis, to identify areas for further gains in efficiency on later developments Cementing concrete’s low carbon credentials Project 80 is providing definitive proof that concrete can play a crucial role in contemporary, sustainable housebuilding. It’s also proving there’s more to meeting sustainability requirements than upfront, embodied carbon. That’s not all, the manufacturing process of the blocks used (Besblock’s Universal Star Performer in this case), helped Midland Heart achieve homes that met the design brief’s 80% carbon reduction target providing significant embodied carbon savings. Cured by energy from a nearby waste wood facility, using biomass boilers the products had significantly lower embodied carbon values than equivalent products. Besblock’s use of SustainaCem cement, a pre-blended sustainable binder, and blocks cured using energy from a nearby waste wood facility, kept embodied emissions low, further reinforced by a local supply chain. Tony Hopkin concluded, “Project 80’s vision has been to deliver high-performing but low-impact homes that are heavily tailored to resident needs. Technology and sustainability have been at the heart of this development to improve efficiency, but the fabric of the building was the starting point that needed to be addressed. “Blockwork, whether concrete or aircrete, has very impressive whole-life carbon qualities which are often overlooked, but they are truly circular products that embody the core principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle. In partnering with them (Besblock and H+H), we found sustainable products that could adapt and flex according to the other low-carbon components selected to achieve homes fit for the Future Homes Standard. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
By Dr Gareth Davies, Carbon Reduction Scientist, PhD & Dr Luan Ho, Carbon Reduction Scientist, PhD – Tunley Environmental Concrete, the most extensively used manmade material worldwide, carries a significant environmental burden, contributing to 8% of anthropogenic GHG emissions. With a staggering 30 Gt produced annually, the material consumption is over 3.5 tonnes of concrete per person annually. The majority of the emissions (88.5%) emanate from cement production, the essential ingredient in concrete. Carbon sequestration in concrete presents a promising avenue to offset these emissions. This process, often referred to as carbonation or mineralisation, essentially reverses the initial cement production steps, where carbon dioxide is detached from calcium carbonate (limestone). Controlled carbonation of cementitious material, although first proposed in the 1970s, is recently garnering increased attention due to its substantial potential to mitigate against the colossal emissions from concrete production. However, carbonation is not without its challenges. Uncontrolled, it can lead to the corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete and the formation of harmful compounds, jeopardising the structural integrity of buildings. Yet, advancements in controlled carbonation methodologies have demonstrated the potential to not only sequester carbon dioxide but also enhance the properties of concrete. One such method involves utilising accelerated carbonation chambers to carbonate pre-cast materials, offering control over essential parameters such as CO2 concentration, humidity, and temperature. This impacts the rate and depth of carbonation, with the formation of calcium carbonate in the exterior pores blocking further carbonation. Emerging techniques explore embedding CO2-rich materials within the concrete mixture. A notable investigation by MIT researchers examined incorporating sodium bicarbonate, which dissolves and releases CO2 during curing. This innovative method not only sequesters carbon but also addresses the detrimental impacts of late-stage carbonation, such as shrinkage and crack formation. Furthermore, the possibility of reusing carbonated Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) from construction and demolition waste, which amounts to around 3 billion tonnes annually, offers an additional layer of environmental benefits. Although using RCA poses challenges such as increased costs and micro-cracking, controlled carbonation mitigates these issues and allows for a decrease in both water absorption and leaching instability. These advances in carbonation technology could potentially sequester 2 Gt of CO2 annually if implemented at scale, significantly reducing the environmental footprint of concrete production. When combined with the predicted 50% reduction from electrification, emissions could be curtailed to just 32.7% of the current levels. However, the journey towards sustainable concrete production is multifaceted and complex. As researchers and engineers continue to explore the potential of carbon sequestration in concrete, the combination of controlled carbonation and the incorporation of CO2-releasing materials represents a leap forward in our quest to mitigate the environmental impact of this ubiquitous material. In conclusion, the path to mitigating the environmental challenges posed by concrete production lies in innovative solutions such as carbon sequestration. By acting as a carbon sink, concrete has the potential to offset a significant portion of the emissions generated during its manufacturing stage. The incorporation of carbonated end-of-life concrete as filler material further underscores the potential of this material to contribute to a more sustainable future. References [1] S. A. Miller and F. C. Moore, “Climate and health damages from global concrete production,” Nat Clim Chang, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 439–443, May 2020, doi: 10.1038/s41558-020-0733-0. [2] A. Petek Gursel, E. Masanet, A. Horvath, and A. Stadel, “Life-cycle inventory analysis of concrete production: A critical review,” Cem Concr Compos, vol. 51, pp. 38–48, 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.03.005. [3] P. C. Aïtcin, “Portland cement,” in Science and Technology of Concrete Admixtures, Elsevier Inc., 2016, pp. 27–51. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-08-100693-1.00003-5. [4] M. Stefanoni, U. Angst, and B. Elsener, “Corrosion rate of carbon steel in carbonated concrete – A critical review,” Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 103. Elsevier Ltd, pp. 35–48, Jan. 01, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.10.007. [5] L. Qin, X. Gao, and T. Chen, “Influence of mineral admixtures on carbonation curing of cement paste,” Constr Build Mater, vol. 212, pp. 653–662, Jul. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.04.033. [6] S. Hussain, D. Bhunia, and S. B. Singh, “Comparative study of accelerated carbonation of plain cement and fly-ash concrete,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 10, pp. 26–31, Mar. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2017.02.001. [7] B. Šavija and M. Luković, “Carbonation of cement paste: Understanding, challenges, and opportunities,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 117. Elsevier Ltd, pp. 285–301, Aug. 01, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.04.138. [8] N. Lippiatt, T. C. Ling, and S. Y. Pan, “Towards carbon-neutral construction materials: Carbonation of cement-based materials and the future perspective,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 28. Elsevier Ltd, Mar. 01, 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2019.101062. [9] Z. Xu et al., “Effects of temperature, humidity and CO2 concentration on carbonation of cement-based materials: A review,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 346. Elsevier Ltd, Sep. 05, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128399. [10] J. Liu et al., “Carbonated concrete brick capturing carbon dioxide from cement kiln exhaust gas,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 17, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01474. [11] Z. Li, Z. He, and X. Chen, “The performance of carbonation-cured concrete,” Materials, vol. 12, no. 22, Nov. 2019, doi: 10.3390/ma12223729. [12] D. Stefaniuk, M. Hajduczek, J. C. Weaver, F. J. Ulm, and A. Masic, “Cementing CO2 into C-S-H: A step toward concrete carbon neutrality,” PNAS Nexus, vol. 2, no. 3, Mar. 2023, doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad052. [13] Y. Pu et al., “Accelerated carbonation technology for enhanced treatment of recycled concrete aggregates: A state-of-the-art review,” Constr Build Mater, vol. 282, May 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122671. [14] D. Xuan, B. Zhan, and C. S. Poon, “Assessment of mechanical properties of concrete incorporating carbonated recycled concrete aggregates,” Cem Concr Compos, vol. 65, pp. 67–74, Jan. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2015.10.018. [15] T. Kikuchi and Y. Kuroda, “Carbon Dioxide Uptake in Demolished and Crushed Concrete,” 2011. [16] Z. Guo, A. Tu, C. Chen, and D. E. Lehman, “Mechanical properties, durability, and life-cycle assessment of concrete building blocks incorporating recycled concrete aggregates,” J Clean Prod, vol. 199, pp. 136–149, Oct. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.07.069. https://www.tunley-environmental.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading heating and hot water solutions provider Baxi has this week hosted the first official visit to its €13 million commercial heat pump R&D and laboratory site in Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain. Baxi is part of the €2.2 billion-turnover BDR Thermea Group, one of the largest producers of heating appliances worldwide. The 7,000m² Baxi factory, located near Barcelona and opened just last year, is focused on developing and producing commercial heat pump technology. The site boasts complete in-house capabilities spanning R&D, logistics, manufacturing and assembly, and including climatic testing chambers and a controls desk. During the visit, guests were provided with an exclusive preview of the new Remeha Effenca commercial heat pump series that was designed and produced at Vilafranca and is currently undergoing final testing. The new range, which includes high temperature R290 refrigerant air source heat pumps (ASHPs), will launch imminently in the UK with full Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Harriet Evans, Renewables Director at Baxi said: “The focus on low carbon design is now critical in line with ambitious government decarbonisation targets. Heat pumps, which decarbonise heating at the point of use, are a big part of how we as a company are supporting our commercial and residential customers through the energy transition. We are proud to demonstrate our full in-house capabilities and competencies at Vilafranca, and of the wide expertise and support we have within Group in this technology. We are excited to be expanding our Remeha ASHP range in the very near future with both medium and high temperature ASHPs – watch this space!” BDR Thermea’s acquisition in 2021 of Barcelona-based Hitecsa, an important manufacturer in the Spanish market for commercial and industrial climate control systems, has enabled the Group to offer the entire range of heat pump solutions to suit all customer needs, from residential to large commercial applications. In the UK, Baxi launched its first Remeha commercial heat pump in 2022. The company recently announced its latest commercial ASHP project, a collaboration with Oakes Energy Services to decarbonise a series of school swimming pool buildings for the Priory Federation of Academies Trust. Heat pump production capacity at Vilafranca has scaled up by 50% in the last twelve months, with plans to triple in the next five years via new commercial heat pump solutions in development. For more information, www.baxi.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
West Yorkshire Colleges, including Leeds College of Building, have been successful in securing £6.9 million from the Department for Education to digitise teaching and learning in key sectors. The funding is part of the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) and will launch a West Yorkshire digital innovation project led by colleges. The project will support colleges and partners to build capacity to meet local skills priorities that were identified in the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), launched by the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce in August. Working through the consortium, colleges and partners will collaborate for maximum impact. They will develop current and new digitised training provision and curriculum for key industries. The colleges will open specialist hubs and academies offering high level curriculum using immersive and digital technology and Artificial Intelligence. The capital investment will include equipment and resources needed to use virtual reality, augmented reality, Artificial Intelligence and robotics to equip colleges with the means to develop relevant and in-demand skills. The funding has been split into six key areas with investment for digital innovation in: · construction, · creative industries, · health and social care, · advanced manufacturing, · Financial technology (Fintech), · the wider digital development of teaching and learning. Each area will be led by a West Yorkshire college that will lead the innovation, host the digital hub and share experience and knowledge and develop teaching and learning across all colleges. Project Director of the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges, Joanne Patrickson said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for the region to advance the skills needed in technology to keep up with industry changes. Not only will the funding of new equipment help to improve the learning experience in colleges, the collaboration between our partners will grow the skills and knowledge of the teaching staff who can deliver relevant training to the current and future workforce.” The West Yorkshire colleges benefiting from the funding include Leeds College of Building, Bradford College, Calderdale College, Kirklees College, Luminate Education Group (Leeds City College and Keighley College), Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, and Shipley College. Leeds College of Building has been awarded funding for the development of new specialist hubs for digital skills within the construction industry to meet the demands in the area for diverse skilled workers. This will also include funding for mobile digital hubs across the region with AI technology and VR/AR equipment. Nikki Davis, Principal and CEO of Leeds College of Building said: “We are delighted to be awarded this funding to help support local people to access high quality provision, with industry leading facilities. The focus on digital construction will provide opportunities for employers and future employees to develop vital skills.” Over the course of the project approximately 5,000 learners will benefit from around 100 new courses, with over 7,000 learners using the new equipment purchased with LSIF capital funds. Over 700 college staff will benefit from CPD activities. The project runs until March 2025 and is part of the Government’s drive to transform skills training so that more people can secure good jobs close to home. Read the Department for Education’s announcement press release. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National builders’ merchant Jewson has opened the doors to its upgraded branch in Devizes, Wiltshire, where a brand new site has been built to cater to tradespeople and the public. The previous building was demolished and the new one is situated on the grounds at Garden Trading Estate on London Road, Devizes. The branch has a full tool hire offering, allowing customers to hire tools, plant and specialist equipment, and an extended range of building products offering everything customers need for a project from start to finish, all under one roof. In-branch specialists are onsite to help, together with an unrivalled stock availability, trade pricing and excellent customer service. It will bring to life everything that Jewson has to offer its customers and partners, including a timber centre and a new yard, as well as access to Jewson’s Build Aviator service, which allows tradespeople and builders to plan and estimate projects of all sizes, calculate margins, order stock and create professional quotes for clients. Designed with sustainability in mind, solar panels have been installed on the roof of the building to boost energy efficiency, while an air source heating and heat recovery system power the branch. LED lighting, electric car charging facilities and electric fork lift trucks are also planned for the site. Andy Ruiz, branch manager, said: “Our address might be the same, but the new branch is a total transformation compared with the old site. It is the result of a huge investment, so we’re excited to show existing and new customers around and share some of the impressive features, products and expertise available to help them with construction projects of all types and sizes.” Jewson will be hosting a launch event at the branch from 30th October to 3rd November, where tradespeople and members of the public are invited to explore the new branch and meet the team. The branch is located at Garden Trading Estate, London Rd, Devizes, SN10 2HL and is open 7:30am – 5pm Monday-Friday and 8am-12 noon Saturday. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
When it comes to acquiring a vehicle for business purposes or personal use, you have two primary options in the form of leasing or buying. Leasing is like renting, where you only pay for the use of the car during a predefined period. On the other hand, buying involves either paying in full upfront or financing over time becoming eventually the owner of the vehicle. Both options come with their set of advantages and potential drawbacks. Understanding these will help determine which path best suits your needs and financial situation, so let’s unpick and unpack the main points to consider, and hopefully leave you in a position to make the right decision. An In-Depth Look at Leasing: The Pros and Cons Choosing to lease a vehicle can be an attractive prospect for many. Here are some noteworthy benefits: However, leasing isn’t without its drawbacks: Leasing presents unique advantages but also carries certain disadvantages. It’s crucial to weigh these factors before opting for this path. Decoding Vehicle Ownership: Advantages and Drawbacks Opting to buy a vehicle outright has several plus points: Just like leasing though, buying has its cons too: Purchasing a vehicle assures ownership but also brings responsibilities and longer-term financial commitment. Each person’s circumstances vary widely, so your decision should match personal needs and preferences. Unraveling the Costs Associated with Leasing vs Buying Cars Let’s delve into the financial implications and associated costs to better understand the two options: Leasing a car generally involves: Buying a vehicle may include: In short, leasing can prove financially attractive in the short-term owing to lower upfront fees and monthly payments. Conversely, buying could lead to overall cost savings in the long run despite higher initial expenses. Trucks: To Lease or To Buy? If you’re in a business involving the routine use of trucks, the decision to lease or buy becomes significant. Leasing could offer new models at potentially lower costs, translating into improved efficiency and maintenance savings. Meanwhile, buying with the right trucking loans gives you the same ownership perks we’ve discussed before, including no mileage restrictions and the freedom to make any necessary modifications related to your industry. It’s crucial to consider factors like frequency of usage and your operation’s reliance on the latest technology in contrast to the long-term cost-effectiveness of each route before reaching this pivotal decision. Final Thoughts Whether to lease or buy your next vehicle isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Consideration between these two major options hinges upon various factors, including your budget, your needs, and even future goals. Making an educated decision requires weighing the pros and cons of both methods according to your circumstances. By identifying what’s most important, be it ownership or the opportunity for upgrading models frequently, you can determine a cost-effective choice that suits you best.
Finning UK & Ireland is on track to double the number of regional dealers in its network by the end of 2024 with the recent addition of Oakley Machinery in Somerset Finning, the world’s largest dealer of Cat® equipment, parts and service, established a network of regional Cat distributors in 2022 setting local company’s up as Authorised Sales and Service Centres (ASSCs). As the network continues to expand at pace, Finning has brought in construction industry expert Nadine Craddock, as Regional Dealer Manager. Nadine, who’s worked for Finning for 13 years in various roles including Parts Supply Chain Supervisor and Supply Chain & Inventory Manager said: “I am excited to have the opportunity to continue to develop relationships with our existing regional dealers and look forward to helping with the company’s ambitious plans to continue to grow the network. “Having a dealer who’s local to them is something our customers really value. We’ve also found customers like to deal with someone with industry knowledge and an understanding of the operational capabilities of the Cat machines so they can provide the most appropriate guidance on which machine is the best fit. “As we look beyond 2023 the aim is to continue to grow the network to include other regional areas to cover the whole of the UK by the end of 2024. This will mean we can provide customers with a fast, reliable and localised service that is tailored to their needs.” “Our most recent addition, Oakley Machinery, is positioned well to cover the South West of England – one of the area’s which we don’t currently cover. This sets us on target for our wider aim to cover the whole of the UK.” With an increase in demand for smaller Cat machines across the construction, landscaping, and agricultural sectors, each of the established dealers are strategically located to serve customers across the country. England is covered by four dealers – Norris Plant Hire from Nottinghamshire, Bennie Plant in Northamptonshire and East Anglia, Howard Plant in the North West and Cooks Midlands covers the Midlands territory. Scotland is covered by four dealers – Mark Garrick for northern Scotland, R C Dalgliesh takes responsibility for the south, DM Forklifts covers the east, while LCF Engineering serves customers in the central belt. Wales is covered by three dealers – DJS Hydraulics Agri covers north Wales whilst South Wales Forklift Trucks and Frank Sutton Ltd cover the South. Nadine continues: “Looking forward, as we start to plan for our dealer conference in the new year, I hope to be able to cover the whole of the UK to ensure accessibility for all customers. We hope to see our current dealers succeed and grow as we continue to support them by providing the best tools and training.” For dealers who sign up to become ASSC’s, Finning offers extensive support and training throughout the year including an annual dealer conference and training event. To find out more, or to express an interest in becoming an ASSC dealer click here: https://www.finning.com/en_GB/company/Become-an-ASSC.html Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NATIONAL award-winning architecture and interior design practice CPMG Architects has been appointed to design Metsä’s planned new tissue paper mill in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire. Assuming the necessary approvals are achieved, the proposed advanced manufacturing facility will boast the largest tissue production capacity in the UK, the latest in sustainable production technology and world-class environmental performance standards, acting as an exemplar for the industry. Anil Parmar, director, and industrial lead at CPMG, said: “This is a hugely exciting scheme for not only for us, but also for Metsä, East Yorkshire and the manufacturing industry. Designing the facility to meet Metsä UK’s ambitions to be fossil fuel free by 2030 and using cutting-edge sustainable production technologies is a challenge we are delighted to accept. “The site itself is more than 200 acres and, once complete, will have the capacity to produce 240,000 tonnes of tissue paper, so the scale of the project is self-evident. CPMG’s role is to make Metsa’s vision a reality, something which will bring us great pride when the wider positive impacts of job creation, manufacturing capability and economic growth are realised.” The leading Finnish tissue paper manufacturer’s first venture into the UK is set to create more than 400 direct local jobs over the next decade, and many more indirectly generated across the supply chain, through planned investment totaling several hundreds of millions of pounds. The result will be the UK’s self-sufficiency increasing by more than 30 per cent in the production of essential tissue products. Esa Kaikkonen, CEO at Metsä Tissue, said: “We are delighted to announce our plan to invest in a world-class production site in Goole. This exciting investment would bring the UK and Finland together through combining the sustainable raw material of fresh wood fibres grown in the Nordics with world-class local production of quality tissues in the UK. “We are thrilled about how these plans can contribute to more sustainable local tissue production in the UK, offering alternatives to the currently imported tissue products. The project will significantly enhance Metsä Tissue’s presence in this country and underscores the importance of the UK market to our business in the years ahead. “Goole is the perfect location for this proposed investment. The Humber region provides a crucial gateway to the whole of the United Kingdom and the region’s ambitions to bring cutting-edge green technology and jobs to the UK matches our ambitions in clean, sustainable manufacturing.” Speaking recently, following his speech on the UK’s net zero ambition, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Metsa Tissue’s investment is good for Yorkshire, good for our economy and good for sustainability. This announcement is another example of the UK being the first choice for European investment and delivers on my commitment to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.” Up to 45% of tissue products are currently imported into the UK and Ireland. Metsä Tissue aims to replace almost half of the imported products with local British production. For more information on CPMG, please visit https://www.cpmg-architects.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The success was in relation to the company’s expert delivery of a multiple-roof project at a residential complex in Westburn Gardens, Aberdeen. In explaining their decision-making process, NFRC judges praised BriggsAmasco for overcoming the challenging programme ‘with careful planning and expert tradespeople. Tony Lawther, Managing Director said: “This is a wonderful achievement and congratulations to everyone involved in the Westburn Gardens project. Awards such as these are verification of our ability to make smart work of roofing projects varying in complexity and profile. We thank the judges for their kind comments and overall input with these superb awards.” BriggsAmasco representatives received their NFRC award at a presentation luncheon held at the Central Hotel, Glasgow on Friday October 27th. Tony continued: “The presentation event was indictive of the hard work teams across the company have put in throughout the year. Thanks to each and every one of you for your dedication to upholding BriggsAmasco’s reputation for the highest quality service delivery.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Independent property company, Hortons’ Estate Ltd has pre-let the first of two new speculative developments at an established industrial location in the Black Country. Manufacturer NDB Engineering has signed a 15-year lease on Unit 6, a new 21,400 sq ft industrial/warehouse at Electrium Point in Willenhall. The firm will relocate from existing premises on John Harper Street in Wolverhampton to facilitate its continued growth and expansion. Both new industrial/warehouse developments at Electrium Point are expected to be complete in December 2023. NDB Engineering manufactures safety critical parts and precision machined components for applications including nuclear, defence, oil and gas, and many other industrial uses. The firm’s owning partner, Rebecca James said that the manufacturer had experienced a rising demand for its products and expects the move to larger premises will create several new jobs. She said: “We’re really excited for the move. The specification of the unit provided by Hortons is exceptional. It has given us the perfect blank canvas to lay out a modern production facility that both benefits our loyal workforce and allows us to continue to invest in equipment and importantly, continue with our growth.” Her business partner, Andy Williams is excited for the social and environmental benefits of the move. He said: “The unit is very local to our current facility, meaning 100% of our workforce has been retained. This is so important to us, given our staff are key to our success. Hortons has considered many environmental benefits too, including solar panels and electric vehicle chargers, meaning we will continue to improve our environmental impact.” Unit 6 is one of two new buildings that Hortons is delivering on a vacant plot at Electrium Point that will deliver a combined 41,900 sq ft of new high spec, energy efficient industrial/warehouse accommodation. The sustainable scheme contains photovoltaic roof panels and EV charging stations, and is targeting an EPC ‘A’ rating. Other features include 50 kN/m2 floor loading capacities, 8m clear heights and level access doors, with the remaining Unit 7 also benefiting from a large enclosed service yard. Jeremy Boothroyd of Hortons said: “NDB Engineering is a successful local manufacturer and we are very pleased it has chosen to relocate to Electrium Point. There is a shortage of high-quality industrial space like this in the Black Country and pre-letting Unit 6 supports our decision to speculatively develop the scheme.” Electrium Point is located approximately one mile from Willenhall town centre and less than two miles from Jct 10 of the M6 via Clarke’s Lane (A462) and Wolverhampton Road West (B4464). Wolverhampton city centre lies c.3 miles to the west and Walsall town centre is c.3 miles to the east. For more information regarding Unit 7 at Electrium Point, please contact retained agents, KWB and Bulleys. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals