THE FIRST of four new residential developments – part of a plan to build 1,000 new homes on Riverside Sunderland – topped out on Friday the 4th of August. Considered one of the UK’s most ambitious residential developments, Vaux’s new neighbourhood, which will comprise 135 new super-sustainable properties built using
Market leader Ideal Heating has launched its first UK heat pump production line as part of a huge investment in low carbon technologies. Ideal Heating has been manufacturing many of the country’s best-selling boilers for over a century at its headquarters in Hull. Now the business is undergoing a major
Projects will enhance facilities available for further education students across three city centre campuses Leicester College is undertaking several new building projects to refurbish and create new facilities across its three campuses in Leicester, set for completion this summer and later in 2023. The combined multi-million-pound projects have been funded
Public sector firm procure industry leaders to speak at crucial event A LEADING firm in Scotland’s procurement sector is urging public sector organisations to attend its AGM next month to hear insights from net zero housing experts. The Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) will discuss major challenges the housing sector is
As the construction industry is responsible for 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, national practice GSSArchitecture is continually striving to help reduce these statistics and as part of a wider sustainability strategy, have appointed an in-house SKA Assessor. Eleanor Lee has been appointed as the SKA assessor for the
Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints, decision makers can’t afford to neglect fire safety. Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use the summer break to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings. By the time August arrives, it’s official – school
Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council have revealed the first steel structure for the landmark Pentre Awel project. This is the first of five buildings and will house education and business development. Leaders from Carmarthenshire County Council joined representatives from Bouygues UK and local contractors Shufflebottom and Dyfed Steels to
The bell that floated up as water filled the historic gasholder in Granton Waterfront has been taken apart to make way for work to begin to restore the original 76 x 46 metre frame to look like new again. The City of Edinburgh Council plan to open up the area
Alderbrook School in Solihull, West Midlands has celebrated the completion of a major stage in the construction of its new teaching block, which is being delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson. The two-storey building’s structure and roof are now complete, giving an idea of what the new teaching facility
Registration has opened for the energy industry’s second Energy Innovation Summit – the UK’s flagship event for electricity and gas network operators and the wider energy industry, taking place this year at the Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, between 31st October and 1st November 2023. The event has been developed between Energy
THE FIRST of four new residential developments – part of a plan to build 1,000 new homes on Riverside Sunderland – topped out on Friday the 4th of August. Considered one of the UK’s most ambitious residential developments, Vaux’s new neighbourhood, which will comprise 135 new super-sustainable properties built using modern methods of construction, has reached its peak, with the tallest of the buildings – a seven-storey apartment building – now built to full height. The structural frames, floor slabs, and external walls have been assembled by UK leader in light gauge steel framing, Remagin, who are due to complete this element of the works, which is helping to define the new city skyline, in September 2023. The scheme represents the latest development on a fast-changing brownfield development site on the edge of the city centre. Vaux Housing is being delivered by Sunderland City Council and development-managed by igloo Regeneration, with the ambition that Riverside Sunderland will eventually provide city centre housing for up to 2,500 residents. The development will comprise apartments, townhouses, and maisonettes, using modern methods of construction, renewable energy systems and smart technology to reduce the carbon footprint of the development, while producing high quality, energy efficient properties in the beating heart of the city. Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said: “Topping out on any scheme is significant, but it really is brilliant to see our first housing scheme on Riverside Sunderland progress. This – and the other new homes that we build in this part of the city – will bring more people into the heart of the city, spending money to support our retailers in the process, and of course, many of them will work in the offices that are currently under construction and those that already play host to a vibrant business community.” Peter Connolly, chief executive of igloo Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for Riverside Sunderland – a project which is a best practice example of how new homes across the country should be constructed and delivered in the future. “Working closely with all of the partners involved to create these high-quality homes, I’m proud of our collective unwavering commitment to delivering a people and planet positive scheme that will transform this part of the city.” The majority of the homes will be built to 2025 Future Homes Standard with 21 built to PASSIVHAUS standard, delivering high levels of energy efficiency. Included in the scheme will be a cluster of award-winning homes, that were selected as the best in the national Homes of 2030 Design Competition – which explored how homes will look and function in the future. The competition, managed by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, encouraged the design of environmentally friendly homes that support people in leading independent, fulfilling lives as society ages. +Home, designed by igloo Regeneration with Useful Projects, Expedition Engineers and Mawson Kerr and Connector Housing designed by Openstudio with Hoare Lea, LDA Design and Gardiner & Theobald were the joint winners of the competition, and it is their designs that will stand proudly on the site, shining a spotlight on future living and showcasing the ambitious plans the council has to make Sunderland a world-class place to live, work and play. All homes at Riverside Sunderland will provide a future living offer that will attract new and existing Sunderland residents to live in the vibrant city centre, with the properties sitting alongside the orchards and allotments of Kingsley Gardens and nearby Riverside Park, which is continuing its journey towards becoming an accessible, attractive, and ecologically diverse parkland. The Vaux neighbourhood will be the site of the Expo Sunderland in 2025, an event that will showcase homes of the future and the vibrant, aspirational lifestyle that Sunderland provides. The first tranche of homes will be completed in early 2025. “As a local business with manufacturing operations in Newton Aycliffe, the Vaux development, and Riverside Sunderland, is something which is obviously very close to our hearts at Remagin,” said Scott Bibby, Country Manager for Remagin in the UK and Ireland. “We believe it provides an excellent showcase for what future living could offer, and the role modern methods of construction have to play in that – providing high quality, comfortable accommodation at an affordable cost in a way which can address both the chronic housing shortage in the country, and wider environmental challenges.” Vaux housing is part of an ambitious and exciting new community at Riverside Sunderland that will include residential, commercial and leisure developments. It is part of a programme of development projects in the Riverside Sunderland area that, taken together, aim to double the residential population in the city centre and increase employment by 50 per cent and fits with the city’s housing strategy, which will see 7,000 new homes built by 2030. Vaux housing is being delivered with £6.1m of grant support from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, and £2.1m from the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities to support the delivery of the Homes of 2030. To stay up to date with Riverside Sunderland developments, visit www.riversidesunderland.com or follow @RiversideSund on social media. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Market leader Ideal Heating has launched its first UK heat pump production line as part of a huge investment in low carbon technologies. Ideal Heating has been manufacturing many of the country’s best-selling boilers for over a century at its headquarters in Hull. Now the business is undergoing a major transformation as it engineers the green heating solutions to support the UK’s drive to net zero. Ideal Heating’s transition to renewable heating solutions will play a key role in the UK’s green industrial revolution. A huge decarbonisation of housing stock must take place for the UK to achieve net zero status by 2050, as homes account for more than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, visited Ideal Heating’s Hull factory to mark the start of heat pump production by the company in the UK. The new heat pump production line forms part of a £60m investment programme at the Hull site, which includes a heat pump manufacturing facility, an expanded distribution hub, and a research and development centre to pioneer the heating technologies of the future. Ideal Heating has also invested more than £2m in its flagship training centre – one of the heating industry’s largest and best-equipped training facilities and whereup to 5,000 installers every year can gain the skills to install and service heat pumps. As the UK market leader in both the domestic and commercial heating sectors, Ideal Heating is now leading the industry towards a greener future, supported by its parent company, Groupe Atlantic, a global heating industry leader. Shaun Edwards, CEO of Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America, said: “The transition to low carbon heating solutions including heat pumps is the biggest transformation in the business since we moved from coal to gas-fired boilers in the 1930s. “The major investments we’re making at our Hull site send out a very clear signal about our commitment to the net zero transition and to re-modelling our business to meet the needs of our customers today and into the future.” Lord Callanan’s visit to the Hull site marked the start of heat pump production. He also officially opened Ideal Heating’s £2.2m National Training and Technology Centre in Hessle, on the outskirts of Hull. On his arrival at the training facility, Lord Callanan addressed Ideal Heating staff and said: “Ideal Heating is by far the most advanced of the traditional gas boiler manufacturers and it’s great to see all the developments that are taking place in terms of manufacturing, production and training. “Everyone at Ideal Heating is doing a fantastic job, so I’d like to say well done and keep it up.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Projects will enhance facilities available for further education students across three city centre campuses Leicester College is undertaking several new building projects to refurbish and create new facilities across its three campuses in Leicester, set for completion this summer and later in 2023. The combined multi-million-pound projects have been funded by Leicester College and the Department for Education, The Savoy Educational Trust, and the Office for Students (OfS). The projects include: Principal and CEO of Leicester College, Verity Hancock said: “The summer holidays provide an ideal opportunity to drive forwards with our ambitious infrastructure programme with some works completing during this time and some new work starting that will be completed in 2023/24. This will rebuild, refurbish and create new, state of the art facilities for our existing and new student cohorts at the College.” Talking about the T level Capital Buildings and Facilities Improvement Grants nationally, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeship and Higher Education Robert Halfon said: “This boost of over £100 million is our latest investment in T levels. These are robust, high-quality technical qualifications providing a unique ladder of opportunity for students to gain both classroom knowledge and on-the-job experience. “From robotics suites that support digital T levels to simulated health wards where students can get a real sense of what it means to work in Healthcare Science, T levels will support young people into rewarding careers and back businesses with the skills of the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Public sector firm procure industry leaders to speak at crucial event A LEADING firm in Scotland’s procurement sector is urging public sector organisations to attend its AGM next month to hear insights from net zero housing experts. The Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) will discuss major challenges the housing sector is facing in meeting Scotland’s net zero targets at its AGM on 31 August at its Livingston office. The event will see presentations from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (formerly Construction Scotland Innovation Centre) and the Scottish Government, covering topics such as the energy efficiency in social housing, fuel poverty and supporting the public sector on its transition to net zero. As Scotland’s largest free-to-join procurement organisation, SPA will be sharing insight on its achievements and performance over the past year – as well as an overview of the projects delivered through its frameworks and the community benefit projects achieved as a result. Lesley Anderson, Regional Director at the Scottish Procurement Alliance said: “We’ve been working very hard to ensure that this AGM event provides value to those in the public sector who attend. “To be able to welcome leading members in the sector to share their expertise is also important to ensure key players in the sector are on the same page and pushing in the right direction to overcome the public sector challenges we’re all facing at the moment. “We’re urging public sector organisations across the board to attend on the day to have valuable discussions and share expertise on what is a crucial time in the sector.” A series of presentations will be held by the Scottish Government, SFHA and BE-ST on key topics relating to energy efficiency. The presentations will cover the heat in buildings strategy, energy efficiency standards, investment planning, social landlord initiatives, EPC targets, regulation, and funding streams. Lesley added: “It’s no surprise that net zero is going to be a major discussion point of the day – and rightly so. “As part of this discussion we will be sharing proposals for our energy efficiency framework which will be opening to tender in autumn. Getting feedback from this event will be key in helping us to further shape and cater our frameworks to the current industry needs. “There is a lot of work to do across public sector projects to ensure we reach these crucial targets and events like this are vital in ensuring stakeholders are on the same page. “We’re proud of the excellent work the team at SPA have put in over the past 12 months and the day will also provide a brilliant opportunity for us to share some of our own results from the last year. “We will discuss our plans going forward to continue to support public sector projects and community initiatives, as well as discussing the upcoming rotation of our Executive Committee Partners and the benefits of participating in this.” Following the AGM, guests will get the opportunity to attend a pre-tender engagement session for SPA’s Energy Efficiency Framework due to launch in early 2024. It will offer crucial insight into the structure and proposed plans for its upcoming framework with an opportunity for key stakeholders to ask questions and provide valuable feedback that will help shape the framework. SPA works with 120 public sector organisations and its frameworks offer an efficient and compliant route to market for the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of social housing and public buildings. Partners include councils, housing associations, blue light services, the NHS, further and higher education providers and many other public bodies. Currently, SPA has 600 live projects totalling £1.1bn in contracts covered by its 17 frameworks – from new build housing, modular construction, to asbestos services, energy efficiency and construction consultancy services. As a proud not-for-profit, SPA reinvests its surpluses into Scottish communities through its Community Benefit Fund (CBF) by working with its dedicated charity, Lintel Trust. Since 2017, the CBF has allocated over £1.7 million in grants and match funding to support 102 community groups, charities, and causes. Projects have included Holiday Hunger programmes, community gardens, digital and social inclusion, employability initiatives, apprenticeship support funds and specialist mental health services. They have helped improve the lives of at least 19,000 people, while delivering social value of more than £3.9million. Link to register https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spa-annual-general-meeting-tickets-671468990827 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As the construction industry is responsible for 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, national practice GSSArchitecture is continually striving to help reduce these statistics and as part of a wider sustainability strategy, have appointed an in-house SKA Assessor. Eleanor Lee has been appointed as the SKA assessor for the Practice, having successfully completed her SKA training and assessment modules earlier this month. SKA assessments are a sustainable initiative focused on the refurbishment and remodelling of existing buildings, which is a crucial part of the sustainability strategy that GSS promote with their clients. The assessments themselves help building owners, landlords and tenants assess remodelling and refurbishment projects against a series of sustainability best practice criteria. As an organisation, GSS is committed to promoting the efficiencies and sustainable outcomes that can be achieved by reusing or repurposing existing built assets. The practice would like to see an increase the current 11% of UK construction spending on fitouts and refurbishments, rather than building new. GSS are involved in numerous fit-out and refurbishment projects across the country, and, because of the appointment of an in-house SKA Assessor, they can enhance their client offer by supporting sustainable assessments whilst also delivering effective designs. The SKA assessment has a strong focus on realistic steps to improve environmental impact, as well as health and wellbeing measures, and is a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors initiative. Eleanor has already led the client and design team at Durham University through two schemes, successfully achieving a bronze and silver certification respectively. Jonathan Hunter, Partner at GSS, said, “We are proud to have Eleanor as part of our team and our clients are already benefitting from the skills she has gained from the SKA Assessment training. At GSS, we are proud to encourage and empower the next generation of designers to lead a more sustainable future and we are looking forward to seeing where else we can drive improvements in the sustainability of the construction industry.” Eleanor Lee said,“When 80% of buildings which will be occupied in 2050 already exist, it’s becoming increasingly important that we review and improve existing buildings. Having interacted with the SKA Assessment from the designer’s perspective, it’s inspiring to see an assessment methodology encourage realistic steps towards sustainability, in a way that works with designers, clients, and contractors alike. I’m really pleased to have had this opportunity and I’m excited to take this forward in future projects.” To find out more about GSSArchitecture, and their research and stance on sustainability and net zero, or to view their extensive range of projects in a variety of projects across the UK, please visit www.gssarchitecture.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints, decision makers can’t afford to neglect fire safety. Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use the summer break to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings. By the time August arrives, it’s official – school is out for summer. For students and staff alike, the summer holiday is a precious period of recreation and recuperation, but for most education facilities, the annual break presents an opportune time to complete much needed refurbishment and remedial work. Fire safety is a core area for concern in particular, where according to the Fire Industry Association (FIA), one in 20 schools experience fire in their buildings. Fires can cause school buildings immeasurable damage, and in response – and as stated under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – designated responsible persons must conduct ongoing risk assessments to help identify potential hazards within their premises. Yet, in 2022, research conducted by Allegion UK into the impact of fire doors in education facilities found that almost half of decision makers had encountered issues with fire doors in their buildings, with over half of respondents also revealing they were not aware of fire door maintenance procedures. As such, responsible persons are urged to make the most of their allotted time and budgets this summer, extending the service life of fire door hardware to help ensure students, staff and visitors are safe and secure when doors once again open for the new term. School Life School buildings are inherently diverse environments. While no two facilities may be the same, it is a legal requirement under British and European law for all academic settings to possess operational fire door sets. New regulation continues to draw focus on fire safety in school buildings too, with guidance from the Building Safety Act shining the light on higher-risk buildings of 18 metres in height (or at least 7 storeys tall), with certain education facilities meeting the criteria and thus required to register as high-risk by 1st October 2023. Naturally, school classrooms and corridors are often bustling with movement and during term time, in high traffic areas, fire doors can be used anywhere between 100’s to 1000’s of times each day. Over time, daily use inevitably leads to wear and tear on fittings and in some cases, fire doors may even experience levels of misuse and abuse. Take the end of each school day for example, where fire doors and their hardware are frequently put to the test as students (and staff) aim to leave the premises quickly. When doors are opened and closed with force, hardware elements can become tired, with poorer quality or incorrectly specified door hardware more prone to damage. To help prevent excessive wear and damage in busier areas, schools may benefit from electromagnetic hold-open devices, which combine wall magnets with existing door closers to aid ease of access and reduce any unnecessary roughness. Similarly, door closers with backcheck control will slow the motion of a door, preventing or minimising contact damage. In the circumstance of a fire, it’s critical that a fire door closes independently and to completion. Damaged door hardware compromises the performance of a fire door, and as such, designated responsible persons, as part of their responsibilities, must ensure escape routes are clear and fire door sets are operating as intended, making note of and replacing any damaged door hardware in the process Protection on a budget While school buildings are closed, decision makers are gifted a period of low foot traffic and a sufficient amount of time to undertake compulsory maintenance periods without interruption. Whereas maintenance is key, research from the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) has previously revealed education buildings to have the highest average maintenance spend attributed to door hardware. Furthermore, after reviewing school spending as a whole, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) estimated that school costs would increase by 6% across 2022/23. To support schools, the government continues to invest in projects for new and refurbished buildings through its School Rebuilding Programme. Retrofit projects for example, when approached professionally, can make a considerable difference to a building’s operation – improving its efficiency and fire protection and all without needing to replace the existing fire safety infrastructure. Although, when completing retrofit projects, decision makers must consider high quality, like for like alternatives as using sub-standard components may have the adverse effect – further raising replacement costs later down the line and potentially breaching fire safety regulations in the process. With many academic groups already fearing budget cuts may affect their ability to run facilities as planned, responsible persons are also urged to review their maintenance programmes. Primarily, decision makers can look to decrease their total maintenance spend by choosing more durable products at the product selection stage. The use of higher quality, correctly specified and installed door hardware products will help to lower the rate of sustained wear and damage and thus reduce the costs associated with repair and replacements. The Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) is an accredited programme designed to present clear, accurate and up-to-date product information, and can assist decision makers in education by helping them to select trusted hardware that conforms to UKCA and CE certifications. Above all, responsible persons must ensure fire doors and their hardware are routinely checked throughout the entirety of the school year, adjusting components where necessary to preserve the operation of fire doors. But while schools are closed, there’s truly no better time to get a head start on preparations and updated regulations – responsible persons must only seek professional advice where unsure. How Allegion UK can Help Allegion UK has a wealth of resources to help responsible persons undertake product selection, installation and maintenance checks on fire doors and hardware. For information on product selection and installation, please speak to our experts or head to our download centre for technical fitting instructions. For post-installation support, Allegion’s simple toolkit provides information and tips on detecting
Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council have revealed the first steel structure for the landmark Pentre Awel project. This is the first of five buildings and will house education and business development. Leaders from Carmarthenshire County Council joined representatives from Bouygues UK and local contractors Shufflebottom and Dyfed Steels to view the steel structure, which marks a significant milestone in the project. The multi-million pound development is being delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council and is the largest regeneration scheme in south west Wales. It will bring together life science and business innovation, community healthcare and modern leisure facilities at the 83-acre Delta Lakes site on the Llanelli coastline. It is part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal (£40million) and is the largest regeneration scheme in south west Wales. Lead contractor Bouygues UK is committed to using local subcontractors as part of its commitment to provide employment, training and skills opportunities to local people and underrepresented groups. Dyfed Steels is providing the reinforcement bar for the project’s foundations which has 98% recycled content, and Shufflebottom is providing the structural steel for the building, which has 80% recycled content. With a commitment to the heritage of the area, the steel frame also provides the historical link to the previous industrial buildings that were located on the site. These including South Wales Tinplate Works and the Richard Thomas (Tinplate) Mills. Peter Sharpe, Bouygues UK’s Pentre Awel Project Director, said the steel structure marks a significant part of the project. He said: “This is a major construction milestone at Pentre Awel and an exciting one as we can really start to see the structure taking shape providing the scale of the project. Steel framing has a proven track record of providing sustainable benefits and it also offers significant cost benefits compared to alternative materials. For us it’s very important that we have as many local sub-contractors as possible working with us on this project and it’s great to welcome our guests from local companies Shufflebottom and Dyfed Steels to see the progress that is being made here.” Cllr. Darren Price, Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council: “Whilst works have been progressing at pace for many months, this milestone represents the start of aboveground works. We are delighted that Carmarthenshire businesses, Shufflebottom of Cross Hands and Dyfed Steels of Dafen, are playing such a significant part in the construction of Zone 1. Their skill and expertise as two local businesses helping us deliver what will be a fantastic facility at Pentre Awel is a significant boost to the local economy. This alongside the project’s complementary programme of apprenticeships, recruitment and training, reflects the County Council’s and Bouygues UKs joint ambition to maximise opportunities for local people and businesses.” As well as Shufflebottom and Dyfed Steels, other companies contracted to work on Pentre Awel include: Green4Wales, Redsix Partnership, Gavin Griffiths Group, Davies Crane hire, Dyfed Recycling Services and Owen Haulage. Bouygues UK has opportunities for numerous trades over the next few years of the project, from those in external works to companies who specialise in internal fixings. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The bell that floated up as water filled the historic gasholder in Granton Waterfront has been taken apart to make way for work to begin to restore the original 76 x 46 metre frame to look like new again. The City of Edinburgh Council plan to open up the area to create a new and exciting multifunctional public space as part of their wider £1.3bn regeneration project to create a new sustainable coastal town at Granton Waterfront. McLaughlin & Harvey began work on the site in January of this year on behalf of the Council using £16.4m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The Scottish Government has also provided an additional £1.2m to provide a high quality public park within the gasholder frame. The space within the restored gasholder is to have multi-sensory play zones, a dedicated space for permanent and temporary public art, a relaxation area, outdoor trails and tracks for exercise as well as a large outdoor space for sports, markets, seasonal events, community use, festivals, performance arts, exhibitions and play. Work will also be carried out to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers improving biodiversity and local habitat in the area. Council Leader Cammy Day said: It was really dramatic to see the bell being ripped apart by the machinery. It marked a historic moment as this iconic structure will be transformed now to move on with the times to serve a completely different purpose for the local community to enjoy arts, sports and culture for future generations to come. Now the bell has gone the contractor can get on with the exciting work to transform the frame back to its original glory which will be seen for miles around. The scale and ambition of the gasholder nicely mirrors that of this £1.3bn regeneration project where we are using brownfield land to build a new sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood which is well linked to surrounding communities and is somewhere residents will be proud to live. We’ve already started building some of the thousands of environmentally friendly affordable homes planned and active travel routes, along with recently completing the restoration of the former Granton Station building to become a modern workplace and cultural hub, with public square. UK Government Minister for Levelling Up, Dehenna Davison, said: The Granton gasholder has been part of Edinburgh’s skyline for over 120 years, and will soon be brought back to life as a real community asset. The bell’s removal will ensure the structure can be restored to its former glory, whilst the space will be brought into the 21st Century by becoming a destination for families, residents, and future generations to enjoy. We’re delighted to have supported this project through £16.4 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund which will ensure this iconic structure will serve as a beacon to people in the area for many years to come. Seamus Devlin, McLaughlin & Harvey Civil Engineering Director, said: McLaughlin & Harvey is delighted to be main contractor for the restoration works at Granton gasholder. We bring with us a wealth of experience in the civil engineering sector, and look forward to completing the deconstruction of the bell this week and the removal of the walls in the upcoming weeks. Fascinating gasholder facts The Granton Gas Holder is unique as the umbrella which supports the tank roof when the system is not pressurised, was made from timber as opposed to cast iron. These timbers were in remarkably great condition when demolition began. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Alderbrook School in Solihull, West Midlands has celebrated the completion of a major stage in the construction of its new teaching block, which is being delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson. The two-storey building’s structure and roof are now complete, giving an idea of what the new teaching facility will look like as it moves into the next phase of construction. To celebrate this stage in the programme a topping out ceremony was attended by members of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, representatives from G F Tomlinson and school staff, including Tom Beveridge, Headteacher. Due for completion late summer 2023, the works will provide the school with an additional seven classrooms, ancillary spaces, toilets, reception area, along with school bus parking and increased car parking for staff and visitors. As part of the scheme, G F Tomlinson has planted a number of trees on the school grounds – with the help of Alderbrook School pupils – which will enhance the existing ecology of the site and attract insects and animals to thrive within the grounds. Through its work with the school and the client, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, G F Tomlinson pledged to deliver £958,371 worth of social value added and has exceeded this target by delivering over £1.5million’s worth ahead of its completion later this summer. During the project, G F Tomlinson have supplied local labour and spend opportunities through its ‘Meet the Buyer’ events, engaging with local businesses to work on the scheme, alongside apprenticeship placements for young people and mental health awareness campaigns for all site personnel. The contractor also volunteered at the school’s ‘Life Ready Day’ on 3 July, to support students with their mock interviews, providing ‘career in construction’ workshops. Ian Dalby, operations manager at G F Tomlinson, said: “It’s brilliant to see progress being made on Alderbrook School, which will allow for an influx of more students and provide state-of-the-art facilities that will enhance learning. “Our commitment to social value continues to be at the forefront of all the projects that we deliver, and we’re delighted to have exceeded our target for the school. We look forward to seeing the doors of the new teaching block open to students.” Councillor Michael Gough, Solihull Council Cabinet Member for Children and Education, said: “Ensuring that the children of Solihull have great spaces in which to learn is incredibly important to us. Having seen what’s gone up already and looked over the plans I’m really excited to see the finished building and what a difference it will make to the teachers and pupils of Alderbrook School. I’d like to thank G F Tomlinson for the excellent work they’ve done so far, and I look forward to the completion of the work and seeing the new classrooms being put to great use.” To find out more about Alderbrook School, please visit: www.alderbrookschool.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Registration has opened for the energy industry’s second Energy Innovation Summit – the UK’s flagship event for electricity and gas network operators and the wider energy industry, taking place this year at the Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, between 31st October and 1st November 2023. The event has been developed between Energy Networks Association (ENA), Ofgem, Innovate UK (part of UK Research and Innovation) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. It will include high profile speakers across two days of innovation-focused discussions and debates. The Summit is focused on achieving net zero networks by 2035, and what the sector needs to change to get us there. The Summit is the sector’s opportunity to come together, learn the latest ideas and get updates on the key issues in energy innovation. This year’s event will examine how innovation can accelerate progress in vital areas such as technology supporting decarbonisation and how the industry can best help consumers in vulnerable situations. It will look at how the energy industry can make the most of innovations from around the world to solve challenges here in the UK. The Summit is a forum for collaboration between key stakeholders across the industry and leading innovators, building on over ten years of low carbon technology conferences organised by ENA. The event brings together lessons from a wide range of energy innovation projects to show how they can drive future innovation across the energy sector to meet the net zero targets. Visit our registration page to join delegates from across the UK and beyond and hear from energy experts, innovators and leading industry voices – learn more and Register now Dan Clarke, Head of Innovation at Energy Networks Association which represents the UK energy networks said: “This is a vital time for the transition of our energy network, with the marathon to get us net zero turning into a sprint to deliver the technology and systems we need to make it happen. The Energy Innovation Summit is the UK’s biggest and best forum for the innovators, experts, policy makers and decision takers to get together and push forward with the plans to get us to net zero.” Marzia Zafar, the Deputy Director of Digitalization and Innovation, Ofgem said: “A sustainable, affordable net zero world requires groundbreaking innovation in technology, infrastructure and business. The Energy Innovation Summit is critical to bringing together the brightest and best in the UK’s energy industry and sector to create the roadmap to 2050 and beyond.” Matt Hastings, Deputy Director of the Ofgem SIF programme at Innovate UK:“The Energy Innovation Summit brings together a very diverse mix of individuals and organisations from both inside and outside the energy sector. This whole systems approach is how we work together to urgently solve problems and tackle the challenges facing the energy networks in the climb toward a net zero future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals