The Royal Bournemouth Hospital marked a major milestone on Friday 19th May with a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony for its new BEACH Building. Lord Markham, Under Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care, and Jacqueline Smith, Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset, attended the event alongside a number
Independent housebuilder Dandara has had a record five developments shortlisted for the highly esteemed Excellence Awards 2023 by Premier Guarantee, one of the UK’s most prestigious building warranty providers, which recognises the highest quality developments across the country. Dandara has received more nominations than any other housebuilder for its developments
Public sector development partner hub South West Scotland (hub SW) has announced new partnership agreements with their Tier 1 construction partners following a recent refresh process. The refresh is part of a commitment to reviewing the organisation’s construction partnerships every three years to ensure the highest quality projects are delivered
In today’s increasingly interconnected world, the secure management of sensitive spaces is of paramount importance. A crucial tool at the heart of high-security management is an access control system, which provides robust security solutions while ensuring smooth operations. This article will explore how Advanced Access Control Systems contribute significantly to
Hortons’ Estate Ltd has completed its third and largest investment deal so far this year, with the acquisition of a multi-let industrial estate in Staffordshire. The independent property company has purchased Hixon Airfield Industrial Estate, a former RAF base in Hixon, near Stafford. The site comprises almost 500,000 sq ft
Leading commercial property developer Morris Property has announced a substantial acquisition of 13.8 acres at Hortonwood 45 in Telford. This represents the 23rd commercial development undertaken by the Shropshire-based family-run property group in the Telford and Wrekin borough, including the two Morris-owned and built developments, Access442 and Paragon Point. It
Queensberry was a shortlisted entrant for the prestigious Developer of the Year Award at this year’s UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF). Never has its corporate mission to make the world a better place to live in, been more relevant. Founder, Paul Sargent shares his insights from the
7 June 2023 announced as date for first passenger service between Picardy Place and Newhaven as Pilrig Wheels installed. Passenger services on the new tram route to Newhaven are scheduled start at 12pm on 7 June 2023, it was announced today (Thursday, 25 May). The route, which has been under
Deepki, the world-leading ESG platform for real estate, today announced its acquisition of Nooco, the French SaaS company created by VINCI Energies that measures and optimizes the carbon footprint of building construction and renovation projects. This strategic acquisition will allow Deepki, the leading ESG data intelligence platform for real estate
A NEW organisation has been created with a core mission to collectively deliver high-quality energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies at scale across the UK’s housing stock. Backed by the country’s leading contractors and residential retrofit specialists and with widescale delivery in mind, the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) will support
The Royal Bournemouth Hospital marked a major milestone on Friday 19th May with a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony for its new BEACH Building. Lord Markham, Under Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care, and Jacqueline Smith, Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset, attended the event alongside a number of staff from University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD), including Chief Executive, Siobhan Harrington, and Dr Isabel Smith, UHD’s Medical Director for transformation. The event was hosted by Integrated Health Projects (IHP), an alliance between VINCI Building UK and Sir Robert McAlpine, as represented by executive partner and IHP board member, Hector McAlpine. As part of the ceremony, dating back to the Roman era, the guests were led to the top of the BEACH Building by a bagpiper where a symbolic tightening of bolts took place, and an evergreen bough was nailed to the structure. This was followed by an exchange of tankards to symbolise a job well done. The BEACH Building is a 23,000m2 complex standing six storeys tall – equivalent to 115 tennis courts. It contains a new maternity unit and children’s unit, as well as an enhanced emergency department, larger than the existing facilities at the Royal Bournemouth and Poole Hospital combined, and a critical care unit with capacity for 30 beds. When it opens in Spring 2025, it will enable the Royal Bournemouth Hospital to become the major emergency hospital for Dorset. Lord Markham, Under Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care, said: “It was an honour to attend the topping out ceremony of Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s new BEACH Building, backed by over £168m of government investment. “This building will improve birth, emergency and critical care services, and children’s health services, making a significant difference in helping cut waiting times for patients in Dorset by serving nearly 145,000 patients a year. “We continue to work closely with the NHS to improve services and this new building is part of over 70 hospital upgrades we’re delivering across the country, on top of 40 new hospitals.” John Roberts, Managing Director at IHP and VINCI Building, said: “IHP are proud to be part of today and achieving this major milestone in the construction of the new facility here at Bournemouth Hospital. The project represents significant investment in the UHBP site to provide a brand-new state of art A&E department. This scheme will serve local people in the city, Poole and wider Dorset community providing improved patient journeys and outcomes for years to come.” Hector McAlpine, Executive Partner at Sir Robert McAlpine and IHP Board member, said: “This topping out ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate the exemplary collaboration and the technical excellence displayed throughout by the project team and hospital staff. IHP are proud to work with UHD on the BEACH Building and we look forward to delivering this state-of-the-art facility for Dorset’s communities.” The construction work has been designed to minimise disruptions to the Royal Bournemouth site for the duration of the project, with the BEACH Building itself set to open in Autumn 2024. The project is part of a wider £250m investment to transform UHD’s hospitals. Siobhan Harrington, UHD’s Chief Executive, said: “The BEACH Building, when it welcomes patients in 2025, will help create a hospital specialising in emergency care at the Royal Bournemouth, while at Poole, we are putting the finishing touches to our new operating theatres complex – creating the major planned hospital for Dorset. “As we plan for the future services, we remain focused on the present, and the responsibility to continue to deliver high-class care for all our patients.”
Independent housebuilder Dandara has had a record five developments shortlisted for the highly esteemed Excellence Awards 2023 by Premier Guarantee, one of the UK’s most prestigious building warranty providers, which recognises the highest quality developments across the country. Dandara has received more nominations than any other housebuilder for its developments across the UK, including: The Excellence Awards recognise developers that consistently deliver high-quality workmanship and excellent site management. It is only given to developments that consistently achieve a high score during independent visits by Premier Guarantee inspectors. A number of criteria are assessed during the inspection, including: Trevor Dempsey, CEO of Dandara, commented: “We are incredibly excited to have had almost twice as many sites shortlisted in these highly esteemed awards than any other housebuilder; it indicates the outstanding quality of site management and the standard of workmanship that my brilliant colleagues consistently deliver. This recognition is a true testament to the excellence of our site teams and the quality of the homes we build.” The Premier Guarantee Annual Excellence Awards will be held on 23rd October 2023. For more information about Dandara, please visit www.dandara.com/ or call 01903 337 439.
Public sector development partner hub South West Scotland (hub SW) has announced new partnership agreements with their Tier 1 construction partners following a recent refresh process. The refresh is part of a commitment to reviewing the organisation’s construction partnerships every three years to ensure the highest quality projects are delivered for the people and communities across the south west of Scotland. This year’s extensive open market procurement process sees new companies partnering with hub SW, while it continues to strengthen long-lasting relationships with existing partners. Balfour Beatty, BAM Construction, Kier, Morgan Sindall and Morrison Construction have been appointed as the Tier 1A Construction Partners. Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd, CCG (Scotland) Ltd, Cruden Building Scotland, Linear Design & Construct, McTaggart Construction, Ogilvie Group and Robertson Group have also been appointed as Tier 1B Construction Partners. Discussing the contractor refresh announcement, Michael Ross, Chief Executive of hub South West said: “We are delighted to announce our refreshed construction partner line up with experienced partners who all share our dedication to serving our public sector participants and local communities with a firm focus on ensuring our projects recirculate money locally, create local jobs and enable local apprenticeship and education opportunities. “These relationships strengthen our firm focus on achieving high quality, sustainable projects that demonstrate value for money whilst investing in a continuous improvement model to ensure the best possible output for our participants. “Our participants are shareholders invested in hub SW and hub SW as a company was set up over a decade ago by the Scottish Government’s Scottish Futures Trust to ensure more effective public sector procurement with a local economic development focus – a partnership model that is needed now more than ever to help our public sector participants achieve value for money in the current economic landscape, assist in how they are achieving their sustainability agendas, and provide an established tried and tested platform to answer their Community Wealth Building agendas. “This refresh process has enabled us to ensure the culture, ability and experience of our partners align with what we know our participant base require. “After a thorough tender process our contractor partners were selected due to their track record of delivering high quality social infrastructure projects, expertise in cost management, ability to deliver our participants net zero ambitions and alignment to our unique hub SW Community Wealth Building model that focuses on skills, economic development, and community investment. “Our Tier 1 partners will play a key role in helping us to deliver maximum community impact through our projects by supporting our existing partnerships with local education establishments as to address our skills agenda and helping to run our engagement ‘Build’ programmes to help develop local businesses win work.” Dr Willie Mackie, Chair of hub South West added: “It is fantastic to see such a robust and effective line up of construction partners on board. Our business is much more than bricks and mortar. We are committed to adding economic value, enhancing people’s lives within our communities, and using our networks and supply chain to provide opportunities for local businesses to participate in our delivery programme. The hub model remains an ideal strategic fit within public sector infrastructure, and we look forward to continuing to serve our participant base.” To date hub SW has delivered over 90 local community-changing projects to the value of £754m across the education, social housing, healthcare, leisure, office and economic regeneration sectors. A further £450m of projects are currently in the construction and development stages along with a healthy pipeline of projects.
In today’s increasingly interconnected world, the secure management of sensitive spaces is of paramount importance. A crucial tool at the heart of high-security management is an access control system, which provides robust security solutions while ensuring smooth operations. This article will explore how Advanced Access Control Systems contribute significantly to navigating secure environments effectively. Protecting important facilities and assets from unauthorized access and potential threats is part of high-security management. High-security management’s responsibility, whether in a corporate office, a government facility, or a scientific research lab, is to protect both physical and intellectual property. This sector necessitates a thorough understanding of risk assessment, robust security processes, and the use of cutting-edge technology. Advanced Access Control Systems are an important component of this technological arsenal. These systems control and monitor access to a physical or digital environment, ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to a facility. They range from simple lock-and-key systems to cutting-edge biometric systems and sophisticated networked access solutions. These systems are critical in high-security management. Multi-factor authentication, biometric recognition, real-time monitoring, and extensive audit trails are just a few of the features available in advanced access control systems. These features ensure that access to sensitive areas is strictly controlled and logged, hence improving overall security management. Consider a high-security government institution. To give access to highly sensitive places, an Advanced Access Control System could use multi-factor authentication (key card and biometric identity). A system like this adds an extra degree of security, ensuring that unauthorized individuals cannot get access even if a key card is misplaced or stolen. Using Advanced Access Control Systems to navigate secure settings necessitates some best practices. Before deploying these systems, one of the essential tactics is to undertake a thorough risk assessment. This procedure aids in the understanding of potential weaknesses and the customization of the security system. Regular system audits are also necessary to ensure that the system is operating properly and to uncover any possible flaws before they become major concerns. Furthermore, these systems must be maintained. Regular software upgrades, hardware inspections, and system redundancy planning all contribute to the system’s smooth running. Another critical factor is employee training. Users should be aware of how the system works, including how to respond in the event of any abnormalities or emergencies. Looking ahead, the field of Advanced Access Control Systems is ripe for advancement. On the horizon are technological developments such as the use of artificial intelligence for predictive analysis. Furthermore, combining access control systems with additional security systems such as surveillance cameras and alarm systems would provide a more comprehensive security solution. Consider the customizing choices offered with Advanced Access Control Systems as well. Every firm has different security demands, and these solutions may be customized to fit those needs. They may be programmed to grant access privileges based on role, time, and location, providing high flexibility while retaining strong security. Additionally, the significance of compatibility cannot be emphasized. Integrating the access control system with other security infrastructure, such as video surveillance or intrusion detection systems, gives a comprehensive perspective of security incidents. When these systems work together, they provide better situational awareness, allowing for a faster, more informed response to possible threats. Another important feature of Advanced Access Control Systems is their scalability. Organizational security requirements change as they grow. Modern access control systems are built with scalability in mind, allowing for simple expansion or modification of the system as the needs of the organization change. This adaptability is critical in ensuring the long-term efficacy of security management. Furthermore, the importance of Advanced Access Control Systems in regulatory compliance cannot be overstated. Many industries, particularly those that handle sensitive data, such as healthcare or banking, are subject to severe security rules. Access control systems can assist firms in adhering to these requirements by keeping track of who has accessed specified places and when resulting in an auditable trial. Finally, because these devices use low power and have a long-life cycle, their environmental impact is limited. Using Advanced Access Control Systems is not only a wise security decision but is also an environmentally sensible one. This component is consistent with the growing emphasis on environmentally responsible business practices across industries. With these considerations in mind, it is evident that Advanced Access Control Systems provide a cost-effective, configurable, and long-term solution for high-security management. They are essential in secure systems and will become much more important as security concerns progress.
Hortons’ Estate Ltd has completed its third and largest investment deal so far this year, with the acquisition of a multi-let industrial estate in Staffordshire. The independent property company has purchased Hixon Airfield Industrial Estate, a former RAF base in Hixon, near Stafford. The site comprises almost 500,000 sq ft of existing industrial space, storage compounds and over 36 acres of land. It is the latest in a trio of acquisitions completed by Hortons in 2023, which combined total £35.65 million. They include deals for Sinfin Commercial Park in Derby and Joules’ Corby distribution centre, which further expand the company’s footprint of more than six million sq ft of office, industrial, retail and leisure properties located throughout the Midlands. Steve Tommy of Hortons, said: “We are very pleased to have completed our third significant investment deal in quick succession. “Hixon Airfield Industrial Estate is a well-established industrial estate with an impressive mix of international, national and local occupiers and complements our growing industrial property portfolio. We are looking forward to working with occupiers and attracting new business to the estate through existing units, storage facilities and potential future development.” Hortons was advised by Ben Roberts of Roberts Real Estate.
Leading commercial property developer Morris Property has announced a substantial acquisition of 13.8 acres at Hortonwood 45 in Telford. This represents the 23rd commercial development undertaken by the Shropshire-based family-run property group in the Telford and Wrekin borough, including the two Morris-owned and built developments, Access442 and Paragon Point. It also marks the company’s 13th development at Hortonwood. The Hortonwood 45 site, acquired through agents, Andrew Dixon, situated to the north of the estate, already has planning consent for a single 140,000 sq ft Distribution Warehouse unit and, with funding secured, construction will start mid-August 2023 with completion targeted for September 2024. The unit will be constructed to a Breeam ‘Very Good’ Rating and will benefit from 11m eaves (to underside of haunch), 50kn/m² floor loadings, single storey integral offices totalling 4,995 ft² and will feature 4 Dock Levellers and 3 Level Access loading doors. Head of Development at Morris Property, Liz Lowe commented: “Sustainability sits at the forefront of our design for the unit ensuring occupiers operational costs are kept to a minimum, fulfilling many of the ESG ratings used in measuring the sustainability and social impact of the building. “We have incorporated an upgraded roof structure to accommodate PV panels and a 1MVA power supply if required. In addition, there will be parking for 193 cars including 20 EV charging points.” The acquisition represents Morris Property’s clear commitment to continued investment in Telford and its appetite to acquire oven-ready sites. Morris’s agility and resources ensure that the project will complete in 13 months, helping meet business requirement for a unit of this size in one of Telford’s principal warehouse employment areas. “Working with the vendor’s agent, we are delighted to secure this site and ensure that we have the funding in place for our construction team to be on site in mid-August 2023. We are confident that this new build opportunity will appeal to many occupiers with its excellent road links to the M54 just 4 miles away.” Liz concluded. Andrew Dixon, from Andrew Dixon & Company said: ““It was a pleasure to work with a substantial local company, and we are pleased to be involved in such an exciting project that will provide further local investment and prosperity.” Morris Property has been acquiring, building, restoring and leasing commercial property in the region for more than 100 years.
Queensberry was a shortlisted entrant for the prestigious Developer of the Year Award at this year’s UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF). Never has its corporate mission to make the world a better place to live in, been more relevant. Founder, Paul Sargent shares his insights from the week’s events and reflects on how UKREiiF has renewed his commitment to excellence, sustainability, and community transformation. Paul commented: “Our core philosophy revolves around the belief that intelligent design has enormous impact on community well-being. “We are deeply passionate about improving the quality of life in the towns and cities we work in by driving their physical and economic transformation. Our mission is driven by a genuine love for what we do and a vision for a brighter future. “I knew that UKREiiF was always going to be thought-provoking, and it proved just that. There were three key themes of the role of tech to achieve net zero; social value and equality, diversity, and inclusion; and the future of real estate. “At Queensberry, we are dedicated to incorporating environmentally friendly practices into our projects, ensuring a more sustainable future for the communities we serve. Take the recent development of Elshaw House in Sheffield as an example. We have delivered one of the first NABORS 5 standard, net-zero-ready office buildings outside of London. “The future of real estate does not have to focus purely on new buildings either. We strongly promote the restoration and rejuvenation of historic buildings. Our expertise in repurposing heritage assets at Heart of the City, Sheffield; George Hotel, Huddersfield; and Borough Yards, London has been the catalyst for significant neighbourhood regeneration and has involved meticulously preserving original buildings during the redevelopment process. “We have adopted forward-thinking approaches towards projects like Borough Yards in London. We transformed disused railway arches into retail, restaurant, and leisure spaces to meet the needs of the local community and visitors. “As developers, it is important to measure and evaluate the social value of our work and we must ensure that the social impact of development or investment proposals is proactively accounted for at every stage in the lifecycle of a regeneration scheme. “Our industry must adapt and thrive amidst the ever-changing urban landscape and UKREiiF has served as a powerful reminder that the best development partners anticipate and embrace emerging trends, technological advancements, and societal shifts. As such a partner, Queensberry remains committed to staying at the forefront of these changes to create spaces that are resilient, relevant, and valuable in the long term.”
7 June 2023 announced as date for first passenger service between Picardy Place and Newhaven as Pilrig Wheels installed. Passenger services on the new tram route to Newhaven are scheduled start at 12pm on 7 June 2023, it was announced today (Thursday, 25 May). The route, which has been under construction since November 2019, has been delivered within the £207.3m budget meeting the scheduled completion date of spring 2023. Council Leader Cammy Day welcomed the news from Iona Street, where two historic cable wheels dating back to Victorian Edinburgh’s original tram system were lowered into place on Thursday. The wheels, which are 2.6m in diameter, were rediscovered at the Pilrig Street junction with Leith Walk in August 2021 during Trams to Newhaven excavations and will now be put on permanent display as part of public realm improvements to Iona Street. Over recent months rigorous testing to ensure the newly constructed line, software and signals work effectively and safely has included running trams at half and full speed and eventually to timetable, work to integrate signalling and interface with Edinburgh Trams’ control centre and driver familiarisation. Standard timetable testing will continue on the route in the run-up to the launch of services on 7 June 2023. Council Leader Cammy Day said: “As we welcome back a piece of tram history to Leith Walk, it’s fitting that we’re also able to look forward to the future of Edinburgh’s tram network, and the start of passenger services on the brand-new line to Newhaven. “While this is a moment for celebration, it’s also a chance to reflect on the last few years, and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank residents and businesses for their patience during this major, complex project. “The completion of this line, delivering high capacity, clean transport to the densely populated north of the Capital, signifies our aspirations to become a sustainable, net zero city. And by improving connectivity to the waterfront, it won’t only promote further economic development in Leith, but will bring jobs and more affordable housing too. “We’re now counting down the days to passenger services, and I’m pleased to say this project will be delivered within budget and on time. This is thanks to lessons learned from the previous project along with a great deal of hard work and dedication from the project team and contractors involved in the construction process.” Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams, said: “The setting of a launch date for the new line is fantastic news for city residents and visitors, but particularly communities between the city centre and Newhaven. “In recent years, thanks to the efforts of the entire Edinburgh Trams team, our multi award-winning tramway has become one of the most popular transport systems of its type thanks to a single-minded commitment to service excellence that will continue into an exciting new era. “As we approach this major milestone in the history of Edinburgh Trams and the city, we can’t wait to welcome even more customers on board as we introduce swift and reliable services to the vibrant communities along the route, helping to unlock their full potential and providing a real boost for local businesses.” Maria Ortega, Project Director on SFN JV, said: “This is a proud day for the Sacyr Farrans Neopul (SFN) JV team as we celebrate the new line coming into operation. We started work on Edinburgh Trams York Place to Newhaven four years ago, tasked with the delivery of one of the most important and complex light rail projects in the UK. Today we can say that we have achieved that vision successfully. “I would like to thank the relentless efforts of our team throughout unprecedented times and recognise the power of the ongoing collaboration we have had with our client, our partners and our supply chain. “It has been a privilege to operate within the communities of Leith and Newhaven and we extend our thanks to the local community. “We hope that the City of Edinburgh will now begin to benefit from the wide-ranging social and economic benefits that a project of this significance will bring.” UK Managing Director of Infrastructure at Turner & Townsend, James Corrigan said: “Following our long-standing relationship with City of Edinburgh Council and successfully supporting the original project post mediation which led to the work for the project between York Place and Newhaven, we are delighted to see the new, improved line approach it’s final stages of construction and ready for full service. “The project is an example of how significant investment in infrastructure can not only improve connectivity across a popular city centre but also contribute to the city’s green agenda. Collaboration with the full supply chain and client is something we pride ourselves on and this has certainly been key to driving performance during the construction of this major project. Working closely with all partners has helped to mitigate the challenges of supply chain issues and general volatility in the market post COVID-19, and enabled the project to remain on time and on budget. As local authorities look to provide more sustainable and efficient transport and meet their net-zero aspirations, tram networks are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. Edinburgh has led the way in this revolution and is a superb exemplar for others to follow.” While the project will open for revenue services on 7 June 2023, outstanding public realm works will continue in some sections. Find out more about Trams to Newhaven.
Deepki, the world-leading ESG platform for real estate, today announced its acquisition of Nooco, the French SaaS company created by VINCI Energies that measures and optimizes the carbon footprint of building construction and renovation projects. This strategic acquisition will allow Deepki, the leading ESG data intelligence platform for real estate companies transitioning to zero carbon, to strengthen its offer by addressing the entire building life-cycle, including the initial stages. Founded in 2014, Deepki’s SaaS platform helps commercial real estate investors, owners and managers improve the ESG performance of their real estate assets, and in the process enhance their value. In March 2022, Deepki announced fundraising of €150 million, further consolidating its position as a global leader, and allowing it to make strategic acquisitions of both direct competitors and companies developing complementary solutions to Deepki’s own Deepki Ready, as is the case with Nooco. Nooco is a French SaaS company, which specializes in measuring the carbon footprint of construction projects (new projects, rehabilitation, renovation, operations, maintenance, and end-of-life). Created with an intrapreneurial approach, Nooco benefited from the support of Leonard, the VINCI foresight and innovation platform, during its three years of incubation. During this time, Nooco has become an established industry standard. Nooco’s platform quickly and reliably calculates carbon emissions, which is essential in the context of the French RE2020 regulation, which aims to reduce the contribution of buildings to climate change. Currently, Nooco assimilates the carbon impact data of 3650 types of technical equipment and materials, allowing its users to compare their respective impact and calculate the overall carbon footprint of their construction or renovation projects. Thanks to Nooco, fast access to reliable data allows companies to actively choose low-carbon products, evaluate alternative designs, and measure the impact of a reuse solution. Nooco’s 100-strong customer base is made up of manufacturers, design engineers and architecture firms, prime contractors, and building services, including Nexity, VINCI Energies, Elan, AIA Life Designers, Setec Bâtiment, Léon Grosse, Bouygues Energies et Services, and Eiffage Energies. This strategic acquisition enables Deepki, historically focused on the use phase of existing buildings, to broaden the scope of its impact to include new buildings and to increase the breadth of its offer, covering the entire life-cycle of the building (scopes 1, 2 and 3, and in particular “embodied carbon”). It will also accelerate the development of Nooco, which is committed to increasing the recognition of CO₂ as an industry KPI, taking into account all potential sources of carbon emissions. Vincent Bryant and Emmanuel Blanchet, co-founders of Deepki, state: “Nooco is a highly advanced technology company that has become a true benchmark in the construction and renovation industry. Its offer is complementary to ours, and will enable us to expand our expertise to include the measurement of scope 3 emissions within the real estate industry – which is responsible for 36% of energy consumption and 37% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.” Guillaume Jarlot, founder of Nooco, comments: “The Nooco team is delighted to join Deepki to further develop our offer as a leading platform for the decarbonization of the entire industry. As part of the Deepki group, Nooco aims to strengthen its position as a trusted partner to the French and, in 2024, European markets. Our sole objective: to support the industry’s organic transition by equipping decision-makers and end-users with the means to autonomously tackle the CO₂ challenges they face in their construction and renovation projects.” Olivier Genelot, managing director of the Île-de-France Building Solutions Division at VINCI Energies, adds: “We created Nooco to quickly calculate the carbon footprint of different projects. By handing it over to Deepki, we are allowing it to continue its development. We trust them to efficiently evaluate the impact of our decarbonization initiatives through the use of construction alternatives, low carbon products and reuse solutions.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A NEW organisation has been created with a core mission to collectively deliver high-quality energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies at scale across the UK’s housing stock. Backed by the country’s leading contractors and residential retrofit specialists and with widescale delivery in mind, the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) will support retrofit installations for all housing tenure types, including social, owner-occupied and private rental homes. It will operate on a membership basis and represent Tier 1 contractors and energy suppliers that specialise in retrofit residential decarbonisation at scale. The group’s objective will be to create a collaborative platform for its members to focus on three core areas critical to achieving the government’s ambitious targets for the sector; growing the retrofit supply chain, advising on policy and stimulating innovation. All of which will underpin support for households during the on-going energy, cost of living, health, and climate crises. Derek Horrocks, chair of the National Home Decarbonisation Group, said: “The formation of the group and the commitment already seen from founding members is a defining moment for the residential decarbonisation retrofit industry. “The industry has seen commitment to retrofit projects diluted or under-delivered in the past and we believe that central and devolved governments need to hear a strong, positive message from experienced industry contractors and stakeholders, confidently confirming the ability of the supply chain to deliver on current and ambitious future targets. “The continued long-term government commitment for the decarbonisation of 26 million UK homes to meet net zero targets by 2050 is critical, and we have already seen this ramp up significantly with £6.6 billion of Government investment over the current parliament and a further £6 billion pledged between 2025 and 2028 for the sector. As an industry we must ensure we are able to grow and facilitate the long-term far-reaching ambition to achieve net zero. “NHDG will be spearheading the charge for improvements, especially in skills and innovation, including the digitalisation of retrofit, increased off-site solutions, and the development of finance solutions to support the decarbonisation of the UK’s housing stock. “This will help create a strong, more efficient industry with robust solutions for the fast-growing demand in the sector. Our links across government and industry are already robust, and the creation of the group will ensure our combined membership will put us in a prime position to move forward as one voice on one mission. “We’re aware of our own targets, such as the need for 200,000 more competent retrofitters by 2030, which is why powerful collaboration is needed to create the necessary infrastructure. We’re ready to invest and increase our wider resources collectively to ensure scaling the industry is a success.” NHDG has been founded through the National Insulation Association (NIA), a long-standing trade association with its members already delivering large-scale, PAS:2035 compliant installations funded by various government schemes – such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). Member experience is also vast in the area of home energy efficiency improvements available to the private rental and owner-occupier market, under schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Meanwhile, close collaboration and relationships with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), as well as devolved nation governments and key sector stakeholders, supports the group’s focus on three core streams – policy, skills and training, and innovation. Derek continued: “The stature of our founding members cannot be ignored, and we’re all excited about embracing what the future holds.” NHDG predicts that the majority of the large-scale domestic retrofit work in the UK will be carried out by members in the coming years. The full list of founding members includes: Expert professional services consultancy Gemserv will act as the group’s secretariat. To learn more about NHDG, visit its website at: www.nhdg.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals