NATIONAL real estate consultancy Naismiths has announced the appointment of new managing director, Ben Harwood. Having joined Naismiths in 2017, Ben facilitated the buyout of the business and has since led the restructuring and advisory team. As managing director, Ben is now leading the business as it enters its sixth
The NHBC Foundation’s latest report, Hazardous ground gas – an essential guide for housebuilders, is available to download now. Compiled by experts in the field this comprehensive report offers guidance and insight for housebuilders covering everything from what constitutes a hazardous ground gas, initial investigations and assessment of ground gas
When Designer Contracts was asked to develop two very different show home interiors for a new development within striking distance of Edinburgh airport, the team passed the challenge with flying colours. The Barratt Homes development at West Craigs in eastern Scotland involved creating two unique show house schemes marketed toward
OnSite Pipelines is proud to announce that it has won a place to assist the Anglian Water @one Alliance partnership. This consists of seven companies who each provide specialist knowledge allowing the @one Alliance to deliver complex projects totalling over 50% of Anglian Water’s capital delivery programme. This drives efficiency
SITECH® UK & Ireland, authorised dealer of Trimble® machine control systems, staged an open day for Tarmac staff to learn more about the efficiency savings that the latest technology offerings can bring to construction projects – including in-depth reporting on carbon emissions and fuel efficiency. To complement Tarmac’s ‘rock to
Higgins Partnerships has been appointed by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to deliver 134 new homes on the former site of Hartopp Point and Lannoy Point, Fulham. The high-quality homes will be built to Passivhaus Classic Standards, the most energy efficient standard of properties in the UK. With a commitment to
For the second time this year, midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, has been announced as a successful partner for a major national Pagabo framework. Running from 2023 to May 2027, the contractor has been reappointed to the National Framework Agreement for Refit and Refurbishment Solutions, which comprises of 93 high-quality
Bansco is onsite delivering Broadheath Networkcentre in Altrincham where a second pre let deal has just been agreed to freight forwarding specialist, XPand Logistics. Bansco is delivering the development on behalf of Network Space, with work at the 11.5 acre former Cartwright headquarters due to complete this autumn. XPand Logistics
Acting on behalf of the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Limited Partnership, national property consultancy, Carter Jonas has secured planning permission for a new vaccine research and manufacturing facility at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. The permission was granted by Vale of White Horse District Council on
The transformation of a landmark building in the heart of London’s Covent Garden reached a significant milestone recently as The Acre ‘topped out’. This hugely complex project will see a 1980s office building transformed into the district’s largest, healthiest and greenest workplace. The dramatic transformation of the building involves a
NATIONAL real estate consultancy Naismiths has announced the appointment of new managing director, Ben Harwood. Having joined Naismiths in 2017, Ben facilitated the buyout of the business and has since led the restructuring and advisory team. As managing director, Ben is now leading the business as it enters its sixth decade, armed with his extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions as a chartered accountant. Ben said: “The consultancy continues to grow from strength to strength and I see our bright future being intrinsically tied to our sixty years of experience, with the company celebrating this 60-year milestone in 2023. My ambition is to drive the company forward, focusing on evolving our data-led approach, while maintaining our reputation as trusted advisors across project monitoring, building consultancy and restructuring and advisory. “Data really is king when forecasting future projects, so as part of our continued growth, Naismiths is working on delivering greater access to our leading property development information. By fully understanding the key metrics and risk factors, we can use our data to assist property developers, lenders, and other stakeholders to appraise and monitor projects more effectively.” Marcus Higgins, national head of project monitoring at Naismiths said: “Naismiths is marking a significant 60-year milestone this year and with this includes the appointment of Ben as managing director. Ben’s energy, focus and ideas are having a positive impact on the direction of the business, with both the senior and wider teams benefiting from his leadership. We look forward to the next chapter of Naismiths and taking the business to new levels of success.” For more information visit www.naismiths.com and follow www.linkedin.com/company/naismiths-ltd/
The NHBC Foundation’s latest report, Hazardous ground gas – an essential guide for housebuilders, is available to download now. Compiled by experts in the field this comprehensive report offers guidance and insight for housebuilders covering everything from what constitutes a hazardous ground gas, initial investigations and assessment of ground gas to gas protective measures. Developed in partnership with Buro Happold and Environmental Protection Group Ltd (EPG), the advice detailed is applicable to all sites, whether large or small, and all development types. The guidance will help housebuilders to: The report guidance also addresses the current gap between the conclusions and recommendations of ground investigation reports and the structural design of buildings where gas protection measures are not always included. Hugh Mallett, Director, Ground Engineering, Buro Happold said, “This new NHBC guide on hazardous ground gas will help housebuilders and their advisors to better assess and manage gas risk and ensure the efficient building of new homes. Buro Happold, EPG and NHBC have worked hard to ensure the guide delivers current good practice and that the advice is practical and relevant to all housebuilders. Following the six-stage process and recognising the importance of competence at each stage will help housebuilders get it right first time and avoid potential pitfalls, saving time and money, whilst delivering homes safe from the potential risks of hazardous ground gas.” “Adoption of the good practice procedures described in this report will lead to better quality practice, cost savings and a greater understanding of specific issues around detailing, construction and verification,” commented Richard Smith, Head of Standards, Research & Technical Competency at NHBC Foundation. “Early consideration of the risks of hazardous ground gas is essential for all developments and we are pleased to be able to guide housebuilders through this potentially complex process.” Written specifically for housebuilders wanting to get up to date and widen their knowledge on this important subject, Hazardous ground gas – an essential guide for housebuilders is available to download here.
When Designer Contracts was asked to develop two very different show home interiors for a new development within striking distance of Edinburgh airport, the team passed the challenge with flying colours. The Barratt Homes development at West Craigs in eastern Scotland involved creating two unique show house schemes marketed toward first and second time ‘move up’ buyers, for its four bedroomed show homes – The Crombie and The Campbell. The Crombie house type is aimed at a second move up family with two older children (a teenage child and a child at university). They love the outdoors, have a dog and the father is a keen golfer. The Campbell is aimed at a first move up family with much younger children – toddler twins and another young child. Said Abbie Lockett, design sales manager for Designer Contracts: “The brief was both challenging but very exciting and gave us an opportunity to incorporate some local touches and develop a sustainability story. We did some real out-of-the-box thinking to come up with two very different stories for house types with a similar footprint.” For The Crombie, a four-bed home with separate study, the chosen colour scheme was ochre, tan and creams with darker woods and gold finishes. The lounge has a neutral base with pops of rich colour in the soft furnishings. The design team also worked alongside an artist to create abstracts of Edinburgh which are showcased above the cream sofa. The second bedroom was themed towards a young girl who plays football for the local team and so features a wraparound football net headboard on the four-poster bed. The oldest child is studying engineering at Edinburgh university which inspired the team to incorporate a nod to structural form and the environment within the design which includes a wallpaper mural of the Forth Bridge, a popular local attraction. Said Abbie: “We worked with our suppliers to source sustainable, recyclable fabrics and used these for the cushions on the bed. Barratt Homes installed a small monitor screen to the desk wall which streams a video showing their Zed House. This is the first Zero Carbon Home built by a major housebuilder that goes substantially beyond the future home’s standard.”
OnSite Pipelines is proud to announce that it has won a place to assist the Anglian Water @one Alliance partnership. This consists of seven companies who each provide specialist knowledge allowing the @one Alliance to deliver complex projects totalling over 50% of Anglian Water’s capital delivery programme. This drives efficiency and reduces cost to Anglian Water’s customers. OnSite Pipelines will be working with Anglian Water Asset Delivery, and the other 7 partner organisations to assist in the delivery of over 700 projects. These are all designed to improve and expand the Anglian Water network to better serve existing customers. OnSite Pipelines’ main role within the @one Alliance will consist of the Infra program area, with a remaining works budget of approximately £200m for Asset Management Period (AMP) 7 and a further prediction of approximately £350m for AMP8. The successful partners will undertake mains laying works across all the Anglian Water region, with a focus on butt/electro fusion welding pipe, traditional push fit pipe methods, installation of fittings, backfill, open-cut road crossing and commissioning. “We are excited to join the @one Alliance and their partners to assist in contributing to the delivery of these important projects for Anglian Water’s customers,” said Adrian Brown, Operations Director at OnSite Pipelines. “Our expertise in main laying works will enable us to work with the @one Alliance and Anglian Water to deliver these projects efficiently and effectively.” The @one Alliance is currently embarking on a £1.2 billion program of work and is almost halfway through its current five-year AMP7. The @one Alliance partners work together to deliver complex programs of work, bringing specialised knowledge and expertise to deliver projects in the most efficient way possible. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SITECH® UK & Ireland, authorised dealer of Trimble® machine control systems, staged an open day for Tarmac staff to learn more about the efficiency savings that the latest technology offerings can bring to construction projects – including in-depth reporting on carbon emissions and fuel efficiency. To complement Tarmac’s ‘rock to road’ ethos the event demonstrated to site-based staff, contract and project managers how software can be used to support a project from start to finish – from site survey, design and 3D model creation to machine control then final ‘as-built’ and reports detailing the work that has taken place, which also fulfils health and safety file requirements. This can yield significant benefits for productivity and accuracy, which are paramount for Tarmac, in particular on projects such as motorways and runways. For example, machine control software that is fed directly into the operators can be monitored remotely to avoid costly errors, which in a worst-case scenario could see a road have to be resurfaced. This is backed with expert SITECH support to offer technical help if there are any issues with the software being used. However, with the capabilities of site-based software solutions constantly moving forwards it is important that companies stay at the forefront of technology solutions in order to ensure they are making the most of what is available. Craig Topley, National Contracting Technology Manager at Tarmac, said: “The overarching aim of the open day was to raise awareness and increase our understanding of the Trimble machine automation technologies across all of our UK contracting teams. To better support us on the projects that require more precise placement of premium materials. “There are many providers offering similar construction options in the industry so we must keep on the front foot with innovation to ensure our solutions offering reflects our customer needs. Events like this allow time for the key staff to ask the experts all their questions in a more relaxed environment. Being able to see the software demonstrated provides better understanding of how it works on site in practice. “Utilising technology to increase productivity and reduce resources required to operate machinery whilst recording what is being done is a major factor to achieving material, fuel and carbon savings on our construction sites as well as improving safety through the way the workforce is deployed.” Tarmac already uses asphalt planning software on projects across its eleven UK branches as accuracy with paving machines provides smoother roads of higher quality for the benefit of the public. Machine control via specialist hardware and software is one of the many tools that Tarmac offers clients for enhanced scheme delivery. Danielle Barker, Strategic Accounts Manager at SITECH, who organised the event added that as well as built in efficiencies, early use of software can deliver added value that will result in real cost savings. She said: “The comprehensive nature of the software systems, and the in-depth information and analysis that can be provided at the very start of a project allow any issues to be identified at an early point, saving costs that could be incurred if a problem was identified down the line. “The key to efficient construction is reliable, usable data, at every stage. The more available knowledge you have up front and throughout the project, in real time, the more effective and efficient the project will be.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Higgins Partnerships has been appointed by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to deliver 134 new homes on the former site of Hartopp Point and Lannoy Point, Fulham. The high-quality homes will be built to Passivhaus Classic Standards, the most energy efficient standard of properties in the UK. With a commitment to provide homes for local people, 84 per cent of the new homes will be genuinely affordable. Of the new homes, 112 will be designated as affordable with 67 flats being at social or London affordable rent. 45 will be designated as affordable shared ownership. Local residents in housing need will get first priority for the new homes. The design of the new homes, which was co-produced with estate residents, draws inspiration from the historic mansion apartment buildings in the borough, incorporating an elegant brick-clad façade and reconstituted stone banding. A mixture of one, two and three bedroom apartments will be located within three buildings ranging in height from three to seven storeys. The designs also include landscaped gardens featuring a mix of soft and hard landscaped areas, trees, shrubs and play space for different age groups. The new trees have been chosen to include seasonal diversity and native species to support local wildlife and encourage biodiversity. There will also be a number of electric vehicle charging points for local residents and cycle storage for 250 bicycles. Declan Higgins, Partnerships Director for Higgins comments, “This development is a result of extensive consultation between residents, neighbours and the council to ensure the aims and objectives of residents are taken into consideration.” “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to deliver this high-profile development and will continue to work closely with the local community through our Community Engagement Strategy which will delivering training and employment opportunities, to ensure we leave a lasting legacy.” Designed by architects, BPTW, the new development, which replaces two, fourteen storey 1960s buildings, will be an opportunity for the Council to deliver new homes built to Passivhaus Classic standards, to maximise the reduction in operational net zero carbon to meet the Council’s target to be net zero carbon by 2030. Cllr Frances Umeh, H&F Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “I’m delighted that we can start to build these new energy-efficient homes on the Aintree Estate. “We understand the challenges faced by local residents in finding affordable homes locally, and we are addressing this issue head on. “By ensuring that 50% of these stunning new Fulham flats will be available at social or London affordable rent, we are making progress towards our ambitious goal of providing over 3,000 affordable homes to our local community over the next four years.” The use of state-of-the-art technologies such as air source heat pumps and solar panels, and green and blue roofs are included in the design, along with a Fabric First approach, which will reduce net carbon by 86 per cent and reduce energy bills for residents. The design of the development will make a positive contribution to the local area, through lower building heights, new accessible pedestrian routes and good neighbourhood visibility to promote community safety. For further information about Higgins Partnerships please visit www.higginspartnerships.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
For the second time this year, midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, has been announced as a successful partner for a major national Pagabo framework. Running from 2023 to May 2027, the contractor has been reappointed to the National Framework Agreement for Refit and Refurbishment Solutions, which comprises of 93 high-quality contractors covering a range of refurbishment and refit projects across five value bands and 44 regions. G F Tomlinson was also reappointed to Pagabo’s National Framework for Medium Works in January and since 2020, the contractor has partnered with Pagabo on several frameworks including the Major Works Framework, the previous Framework for Refit and Refurbishment Solutions, and the previous Medium Works Framework, which the new iteration now supersedes. As part of the partnership, G F Tomlinson has been appointed to deliver projects from £500,000 up to £15million throughout Yorkshire and the East and West Midlands. Focusing on public sector refit and refurbishment works, G F Tomlinson will deliver schemes across the education, healthcare, civic, leisure, housing, blue light, highways and infrastructure industries. G F Tomlinson demonstrated relevant experience, stability and a strong commitment to social value and the carbon reduction agenda in order to be successful in its framework bid. Alongside providing value for money for clients, it was important that the contractor provided evidence of delivering quality builds on time and to budget, as well as managing the supply chain to a high standard. G F Tomlinson have delivered several projects under the Pagabo suite of frameworks, including the £3.7m extension and remodelling of Cardinal Newman Catholic School and the £6.5m expansion and remodelling of Barr’s Hill School, both for Coventry City Council plus the £2.4m Urgent Treatment Centre for Lincoln Hospital. They are also currently on site constructing the £15.4m new Air and Space Institute (ASI) in Newark for Lincoln College Group. Looking to the future, the contractor has more projects in the pipeline being procured via Pagabo with a cumulative value of over £64.0m. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We’re extremely proud to have secured our place on yet another national high-value framework with Pagabo, which will be our second since January this year. “Our reappointment to the National Framework Agreement for Refit and Refurbishment Solutions is our sixth agreement with Pagabo which continues our success on public sector frameworks where we have delivered in excess of £500 million worth of projects via this procurement route. “We look forward to improving and restoring a range of public sector buildings through renovation and retrofitting techniques, incorporating new technologies wherever possible, and are delighted to be given the opportunity to continually support the regeneration of local communities. “With our expertise, commitment to delivering high-quality projects and our passion to enhance social value for local communities, we are best placed to serve public sector clients on all their project requirements.” Elliott Talbot, Framework Manager at Pagabo, said: “We’re delighted to see G F Tomlinson secure their place on our new Refit & Refurbishment Framework. Their position on our suite of construction frameworks has enabled them to deliver a range of public sector works in recent years. This appointment will allow us to continue to work closely together and we can’t wait to get started.” To find out more about G F Tomlinson, please visit: https://gftomlinson.co.uk To find out more about Pagabo’s Refit and Refurb framework, please visit: www.pagabo.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bansco is onsite delivering Broadheath Networkcentre in Altrincham where a second pre let deal has just been agreed to freight forwarding specialist, XPand Logistics. Bansco is delivering the development on behalf of Network Space, with work at the 11.5 acre former Cartwright headquarters due to complete this autumn. XPand Logistics is taking a 28,700 sq ft unit at the Atlantic Street site, where some 206,000 sq ft of high quality workspace is being delivered across 25 units. The letting swiftly follows a recent deal to Maersk for a 41,500 sq ft unit which means more than 35% of the site is now let in advance of practical completion. The regeneration of this brownfield site will see a mix of high-quality refurbished space, alongside new builds, creating a modern, multi-let industrial destination. With remaining units available from 2,100 sq ft to 21,500 sq ft, the development has the capacity to create upwards of 400 new jobs and provide much needed speculative workspace in the region. An environmentally friendly scheme, targeting EPC A ratings and BREEAM Very Good, there has also been a significant reduction in embodied carbon through the construction process as the steel and concrete structures on the site are being reused and recycled. In operation initiatives include renewable energy provision through solar panels and electric vehicle charging points across the entire scheme. Simon Eaton, Senior Development Manager at Network Space, said: “It’s fantastic to have already let over a third of the scheme to such exceptional occupiers so far in advance of completion. This is testament to the quality of the scheme, its sustainability credentials and its prime south Manchester location. “We continue to receive a very high level of enquiries from a broad range of potential tenants across multiple sectors and are now well on our way to delivering a best-in-class scheme offering high quality employment space, job opportunities, inward investment and economic growth.” David Osborn, Managing Director at XPand Logistics Limited said: “XPand are delighted to be significantly expanding our operations in the Manchester region with this brand new purpose built facility. We are growing at a rapid pace and continuing to evolve to meet the needs of our customers, which this exciting new development will allow us to do.” The scheme is being supported with a £23.25 million loan from Trafford Council and with over 95% of the project budget being invested in a supply chain within 45 miles of the site, a significant number of local training and employment opportunities have been created. Jonathan Williams at Savills and Will Kenyon at B8 have been appointed as letting agents for Broadheath Networkcentre by Network Space. The wider professional team includes Walker Sime, project management and quantity surveying and AEW architects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Acting on behalf of the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Limited Partnership, national property consultancy, Carter Jonas has secured planning permission for a new vaccine research and manufacturing facility at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. The permission was granted by Vale of White Horse District Council on 6 April. The permission is for a 16,000m2 research, development and manufacturing facility, providing the UK public with access to cutting-edge mRNA vaccines for a wide range of respiratory diseases, pending regulatory assessment and licensure. It will be occupied by Moderna, as the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) and will also include a clinical biomarker laboratory – a prefabricated modular laboratory constructed in Northumberland, which will then be installed on the campus. Construction work has already begun on site and the scheme is programmed for completion in 2025. The investment will create hundreds of jobs across Oxfordshire and the UK and will cement the Harwell Campus’s position as a national health tech hub for the pioneering research and development of mRNA and other nucleic acid therapeutics. Steven Sensecall, Partner at Carter Jonas in Oxford commented, ‘Carter Jonas is proud to have been instrumental in securing planning permission for this nationally important facility at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. Harwell is an extremely important, internationally recognised science cluster where many scientific breakthroughs have occurred in recent years. We very much value our relationship with the Campus Partnership and are proud to be part of the professional tram that is shaping its future. Delivery of the MITC will be of significant benefit to both Moderna and other companies based here and we are very pleased to have played an instrumental in obtaining this further planning consent.’ Stuart Grant, Chief Executive of Harwell Campus said, ‘MRNA technology has the capability to transform how we treat a variety of diseases and enhance UK resilience against future pandemics. I’m delighted that this planning consent enables us to welcome Moderna to Harwell Campus, and our thriving health tech cluster. We’re entering a new era of medicine so it’s important that we deliver and build cutting edge facilities to reflect this and spaces that promote innovation and encourage collaboration.’ Carter Jonas will continue to advise on town planning matters through to delivery of the project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The transformation of a landmark building in the heart of London’s Covent Garden reached a significant milestone recently as The Acre ‘topped out’. This hugely complex project will see a 1980s office building transformed into the district’s largest, healthiest and greenest workplace. The dramatic transformation of the building involves a series of interventions that retain over 80% of the existing structure while transforming its identity and performance. That work includes replacing the current building’s corner block with a taller structure, ‘infilling’ two existing forecourts where there was previously unused spaced with two 10-storey blocks and adding two extra storeys onto another block. The primary purpose of the building will continue to be to provide workspace, alongside new retail units at street level. The retention of structure will reduce the embodied carbon emissions by half compared with new-build proposals and save 4,250 tonnes of CO2. When construction is complete The Acre will boast 240,000 square feet of workspace and 20,000 square feet of amenity and retail space. It will be net-zero in operation with the fully-electric building being supplied from renewable energy sources. Rainwater will be collected on the rooftop and re-used, reducing water consumption by half compared to a typical building of this type. Designed with modern occupiers in mind, The Acre will also have fully openable windows to give tenants greater control of the environment, increasing natural light and ventilation. Over 350 cycling spaces will be available to take advantage of The Acre’s position on Quietway 1, the main cycle route north to south through central London. Eight large terraces will offer green spaces with spectacular views across the skyline of central London. Lendlease Construction is delivering The Acre project, which is being advanced by development manager Platform on behalf of Northwood Investors with Gensler as the architects. The project aligns with Lendlease setting itself stretching carbon targets, including a commitment to becoming a 1.5°C aligned company and achieving Absolute Zero Carbon, with no excuses and no offsets, by 2040. Quote attributable to Simon Gorski, Managing Director for Lendlease Construction: “The Acre promises to be a cutting-edge workplace, designed to the highest standards of sustainability and offering unparalleled levels of wellbeing for its future tenants. I’m proud that we’ve been able to work together collaboratively with our partners Platform, Northwood Investors and Gensler to retain so much of the existing structure and are helping rethink the future of workplace in central London.” Quote attributable to Richard Strachan, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Northwood Investors: “We’re proud to see The Acre reach this milestone. As Covent Garden’s largest workspace it will not only provide tenants with the highest quality office space in the heart of the city’s cultural quarter, but the retention of the existing structure contributes significantly to London’s Net Zero targets by reducing embodied carbon to that of half a new build development. The team is delivering a new healthy and green landmark for Covent Garden.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals