Although the deadline for the UKCA certification process has been pushed to 30 June 2025, manufacturers of structural timber fasteners and fixings are being told to start now with getting products tested amidst a shortage of approved testing facilities in the UK. The advice, from Warringtonfire, a leading testing, inspection
Barings Real Estate, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, and Industrious the highly regarded flexible workplace provider have announced that soaring demand for flex space in Manchester has resulted in the Industrious St Peter’s Square flex centre at Landmark Manchester being 86% occupied less than 18
As a long established and well-respected manufacturer of high-quality cast stone, Haddonstone has built strong relationship with the UK’s housebuilders; embracing both the large national and smaller regional developers, tailoring its operational structure over the years to ensure their needs are fully met. Already with over a quarter century of
VinylPlus® launched its Progress Report 2023 at the 11th VinylPlus Sustainability Forum (VSF2023). Under the theme ‘Making the EU Green Deal Happen’, more than 160 delegates from 21 countries gathered in Florence, Italy, to debate sustainable solutions towards carbon neutrality, circularity in the building and construction sector, developments in green
Mayor of Barnsley, Councillor Sarah Tattersall, attended the official ground-breaking ceremony for Harron Homes’ newest development in Barnsley, which is to be named Nevison’s Fold. The development will deliver 238 luxury homes on a brownfield site on Bleachcroft Way, with two showhomes anticipated by December, and the first residents expected
Independent housebuilder Dandara has officially launched its first national partnership with Lighthouse Club, a charity which provides mental health and wellbeing support to people working in the construction industry. Dandara was established in 1988, but for the last three years has achieved a period of unprecedented growth. With the creation
A giant piece of artwork made up of 687 high-vis vests has been displayed on a construction site in the West End of London to represent the annual number of trade suicides in the UK. The mural has been created for Mental Health Awareness Week (15th-21st May) by IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect to visualise the scale of the issue within the industry, and ‘give mental health higher visibility’. Throughout
Balustrade manufacturer, Neaco, is urging construction companies to be wary of compromising safety in managing the extra cost of new regulations requiring a second staircase on tall buildings. The government has been consulting on a plan to force developers to include two staircases in their designs for all new residential
The project will include the fit-out of an existing 280,000 sq ft warehouse unit, together with their new office space and associated civil engineering works. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by leading
A brand new affordable housing development on the site of the former Lairdsland Primary School, Kirkintilloch, has welcomed its first tenants. The 38 affordable homes are situated in a mixture of three and four-storey buildings which contain one and two-bedroomed flats and will be used as council housing. The
Although the deadline for the UKCA certification process has been pushed to 30 June 2025, manufacturers of structural timber fasteners and fixings are being told to start now with getting products tested amidst a shortage of approved testing facilities in the UK. The advice, from Warringtonfire, a leading testing, inspection and certification company, warns that manufacturers who opt to wait run the risk of finding themselves with nowhere to test their products, as there are only a handful of UKAS-accredited testing facilities in the UK. Accredited testing to enable UKCA marking can only be issued by an approved body listed on the UK government’s database. Under the UK Construction Products Regulation, from 30 June 2025, manufacturers of structural timber fasteners and fixings within the scope of the UK Designated Standard BS EN 14592 must successfully complete the testing process by a UK based laboratory for any product to be placed on the UK market. This also applies to any products undergoing a chance in specification. Ben Sharples, Commercial Lead at BM TRADA and sister company to Warringtonfire, said: “UKCA marking is very important for the construction industry, as it symbolises that the product being used conforms to the relevant standard and is a mark of integrity. It is very important that fasteners and fixings manufacturers do not get lulled into a false sense of security with this extended deadline on UKCA marking. “There are only a few UKAS-accredited bodies in the UK that are able to test fasteners and fixings, of which Warringtonfire is one of them, that will then allow you to go on and achieve UKCA certification. Manufacturers need to be aware that any products on the UK market after the June 2025 will need to have this testing completed. This goes for products undergoing a change in their specification too. For instance, fasteners and fixings that have a change in design or coatings, will also need to be re-tested to gain the UKCA marking and confirm their stated performance.” To help accommodate the rush for testing, Warringtonfire has launched its state-of-the-art Fastener Testing Laboratory, which is located in High Wycombe. The laboratory can undertake assessments of performance for structural timber fastener and fixing products, so that manufacturers can UKCA mark them to BS EN 14592. Accreditation for the laboratory was achieved thanks to the expertise of its technicians as well significant investment into high-calibre testing equipment. The facility includes a universal testing machine for compression and tensile testing, a series of bespoke testing rigs, and conditioning rooms for structural timber samples. The organisation will offer a range of geometric and mechanical testing procedures for dowel type fasteners from a particular group of structural timber fixings, comprising of nails, screws, staples, dowels and bolts. The laboratory can also test steel fixings used to create joints between timber components or to attach other materials to timber. UKCA certification became mandatory for all new construction products placed on the market in Great Britain as of 1 January 2021, as the UK transitions away from the EU-recognised CE Marking. The original cut-off date for UKCA marking for all applicable construction products placed on the GB market was 1 January 2023, before being pushed to the new date in 2025. “Although many manufacturers have successfully achieved UKCA certification, a sizeable number have not,” said Ben. “Lead times for testing are long, and laboratory availability is in short supply. The longer the delay in getting the process started, the more likely manufacturers are to be caught out, and this then affects them being able to sell or launch their new products. Our advice is to get in touch as soon as possible, to ensure a smooth transition and prevent any disappointment down the line.” To find out more about UKCA testing for structural timber fasteners and fixings, please visit: https://www.warringtonfire.com/testing-services/non-fire-testing/fastener-testing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barings Real Estate, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, and Industrious the highly regarded flexible workplace provider have announced that soaring demand for flex space in Manchester has resulted in the Industrious St Peter’s Square flex centre at Landmark Manchester being 86% occupied less than 18 months after its launch. The 32,000 sq ft premium flexible workplace which is operated by Industrious is located across the ground, second and third floors of Barings’ award-winning 180,000 sq ft Landmark development at St Peter’s Square in Manchester City Centre. Since its launch, the space has attracted high profile occupiers including JPMorgan Chase & Co, HSBC, Nordcloud (part of IBM) and CMC to name a few, resulting in high occupancy levels. Ralph Dorey, Managing Director, UK at Industrious comments; “Flex space continues to be in strong demand and we’re finding that businesses have much clearer requirements for space and will come to us with exact desk needs and hours of meeting room space per month which is in contrast to previous years when there was more uncertainty. Many have a two year commitment with internal reviews after 12 months and we’re seeing demand polarised with most requirements for either 50-200 desks or at the smaller end of 2-10 desks. Regardless of the size though, it’s the perks that all the companies want in terms of the catering and hospitality offering, the events, the wellness programme and exercise facilities without having to compromise on a central location.” The benefits offered by the centre have proven so popular that the team has now launched a Community Membership scheme for occupiers on traditional leases in Landmark, which include; Vanguard, Starling Bank, Santander, Xero, RSM, Allianz Insurance, Grant Thornton and JLL, to benefit from the hospitality and wellbeing programme on offer as well as discounts on meeting rooms and conference facilities. Ian Mayhew, Managing Director, UK Asset management at Barings, said: “The flex centre has always supported Landmark’s traditional occupiers with overflow meeting and coworking space, and the ability to expand into flexible private offices as needed. However, the new community membership initiative allows them to benefit from daily breakfast, coffee, tea and snacks, and a weekly calendar of virtual and in-person programming and events, which can be invaluable in the attraction and retention of staff. One of our new occupiers, Santander who have signed a lease for 11 years, is moving to Landmark from another Industrious centre and we know that the community membership offered by Industrious was an important factor in their decision making. It’s also a good example of how the partnership between Barings and Industrious is operating for the benefit of the building as a whole.” The flex market hasn’t reached saturation according to Dorey. “We’re actively looking for new locations for our flex centres. If you have the right building with the ability to deliver the best set up then the demand will be there. As a premium provider of space, one of the key factors for us has always been the detail on aspects such as sound attenuation. This has been critical for organisations such as HSBC UK who require that level of privacy. We have a formula that works and are looking into more partnership agreements to continue to roll out the centres.” Industrious operates four locations across the U.K. The centre at Landmark offers 23 private offices accommodating one – 300+ people (Industrious Team), multiple conference rooms with state-of-the-art technology to accommodate in-person and hybrid work (Industrious Meet), and coworking spaces for individual workers (Industrious Share). Private offices come with an array of branding options for occupiers, enterprise-grade technology and customisable layouts. The space also features a cafe, multiple lounge and seating areas perfectly suited for group meetings and collaboration. In a commitment to providing an engaging workplace experience, in addition to the hospitality and wellbeing programme, members can expect high-speed and secure Wi-Fi, mailing and printing capabilities, on-site support from a dedicated Community Manager, access to a global network of workspace and more. Completed in 2020, the 180,000 sq ft award-winning Landmark development offers 14 floors of BREEAM Excellent and Wired Score Platinum certified, office space in Manchester City Centre. Barings’ focus on well-being, customer experience, sustainability and technological infrastructure at Landmark has delivered a world-class office building with the capacity to support the implementation of Hana by Industrious’ high-quality and hospitality-driven operations. Landmark also provides all-important facilities for existing and future tenants, including the introduction of contactless technologies enabling touch-free movement within the building, access to secured bike spaces, an eleventh-floor terrace, a fully equipped locker room with showers, electric car charging stations and more. Leasing agents on Landmark are CBRE, Colliers and JLL. For more information, please visit www.industriousoffice.com or www.landmarkmanchester.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As a long established and well-respected manufacturer of high-quality cast stone, Haddonstone has built strong relationship with the UK’s housebuilders; embracing both the large national and smaller regional developers, tailoring its operational structure over the years to ensure their needs are fully met. Already with over a quarter century of experience at the family run firm, Toby Marlow is the Director leading Haddonstone’s Building and Construction team. He is engaged on a day-to-day basis with ensuring client architectural projects are run and completed to achieve best possible outcomes. Callum Jensen fills the complementary role of Export and Business Development Manager, overseeing all the company’s sales and other activities outside the UK. Also, over the past decade at Haddonstone, Callum has further worked in business development, technical support and as a key accounts manager: affording the pair a full understanding of sales, production and client services. As a founding member of the UK Cast Stone Association, Haddonstone has always invested to ensure its diverse range of standard products, as well as its continuous output of bespoke items, are manufactured to exceed industry standards, whilst also respecting the environment. In fact, over 80% of the Building and Construction team’s components are produced to meet their clients’ precise requirements: involving the unique skillset of the craftsmen in Haddonstone’s moulds workshop, constant monitoring of the mixes which fill them, and rigorous testing of the finished products. The latter includes water absorption rate, compressive strength and pull-out strength, as well as visual inspections and regular independent testing. Toby Marlow commented: “Here at Haddonstone we are fully committed to meeting our customers’ needs, whether they relate to a major new housing development, a one-off Georgian style property, or the repair and restoration of a listed period property. We can offer site surveys where required, supply of very detailed CAD drawings or building elevations, guidance on installation and after sales service – to ensure quality and durability are achieved every time. We have our own transport fleet, can recommend experienced installation specialists local to projects and will always work with our clients to resolve their issues.” For more information on Haddonstone’s products and services, including from the Building and Construction team, please visit https://www.haddonstone.com/en-gb/building-and-construction/ For further information, call 01604 770711 or visit www.haddonstone.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
VinylPlus® launched its Progress Report 2023 at the 11th VinylPlus Sustainability Forum (VSF2023). Under the theme ‘Making the EU Green Deal Happen’, more than 160 delegates from 21 countries gathered in Florence, Italy, to debate sustainable solutions towards carbon neutrality, circularity in the building and construction sector, developments in green procurement and sustainable product certifications. Two years after the launch of its VinylPlus 2030 Commitment, the European PVC industry convened in Florence, Italy, on 11 May 2023. Stakeholders debated progress in sustainability and the circular economy and how to put in place concrete actions to make the EU Green Deal happen. Opening the VSF2023, Karl-Martin Schellerer, Chairman of VinylPlus, highlighted the main progress and achievements of the European PVC industry in 2022, which are summarised in the VinylPlus Progress Report 2023. 2022 – A year with major milestones towards the 2030 sustainability commitment In terms of circularity, 813,266 tonnes of PVC waste were recycled within the VinylPlus framework in 2022, representing around 27% of the total PVC waste generated during the year in the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. Since 2000, 8.1 million tonnes of PVC have been recycled and reused in new products, preventing the release of 16.2 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. Heavy investments have been made in research and development projects aimed at removing legacy additives from waste and increasing chemical recycling of PVC waste that cannot be mechanically recycled in an eco-efficient manner. As we tackle legacy additives, the industry is also looking to future-proof additives used today: a key tool to achieve this is the Additive Sustainability Footprint® methodology, which enables companies to proactively assess and promote the sustainable production and use of PVC additives throughout the entire product lifecycles. The methodology was shared with European PVC converters and presented at several events in Europe and abroad. VinylPlus’ vision is to broaden the use of the Additive Sustainability Footprint®. Throughout 2022, VinylPlus also launched a series of initiatives aimed at supporting member companies’ efforts in reducing water and energy consumption, increasing the use of renewable energy and raw material, and minimising any accidental spillage of PVC into water and the environment. The VinylPlus® Product Label, the sustainability certification for PVC products for the Building and Construction sector, was updated and included in the Italian GPP CAM (minimum environmental criteria). The Label’s criteria are currently under assessment by the Swiss organisation Ecobau. In addition, the first five companies have obtained the VinylPlus® Supplier Certificates, the sustainability certifications for additives suppliers and compounders. Regulator and industry representatives exchange on state-of-play and future of PVC Moderated by EurActiv’s Senior Editor Frédéric Simon, the first session of the VSF2023 focused on the upcoming European policy initiatives on plastics and PVC and the regulatory challenges of the EU legislative framework. Significant contributions to the debate, and inspiring perspectives, were provided by Francesco Virtuani, Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Division of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy; Paola Migliorini, Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission DG ENV; and Simone Doyle, Head of Risk Management Unit at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). “The European Chemicals Agency’s objective – observed Simone Doyle – is to implement legislation to ensure the protection of human health and the environment and we look at chemicals more holistically, across lifecycles in a less fragmented way, also considering sustainability. The current investigation work on PVC and PVC additives, requested of ECHA by the EU Commission, gives us the opportunity to develop a framework to compare circular economy aspects of PVC and alternatives and their wider environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle. We hope this approach for PVC can be used in other impact assessments in the future.” “VinylPlus is fully committed to supporting a rigorous, comprehensive, and science-based investigation process – commented Brigitte Dero, Managing Director of VinylPlus – to ensure the European PVC value chain a fair transition to a sustainable future. Our Forum 2023 shows that the European PVC industry can work jointly with policymakers and industry partners to address sustainability challenges. The recent publication of the REACH restriction on lead in PVC, for example, is the result of fruitful discussions between regulators, industry, and other stakeholders and builds upon the industry’s efforts to reduce the use of hazardous substances in PVC products and further enhance the circularity of the PVC industry. This regulatory measure will restrict the import of lead-containing PVC products from third countries where lead is still used as a stabiliser and will enable the PVC industry to meet its ambitious recycling targets in a way that is safe for human health and the environment.” The event’s second session focused on accelerating circularity in building and construction. Discussions revolved around the Construction Product Regulation, currently under revision, and to the implementation of the Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation, as well as architects’ and industry’s perspectives on how circularity in construction can be achieved. In the last session of the Forum, speakers analysed the path towards sustainable development through certified and traceable products and the future of Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Europe. The contribution to more sustainable products for GPP provided by the VinylPlus® Product Label for PVC converters and the VinylPlus® Supplier Certificates for PVC additives suppliers and compounders is increasingly recognised by stakeholders. An award ceremony was dedicated to the companies that were certified in 2022: Akdeniz Chemson, Baerlocher, IKA, Polymer-Chemie, Reagens, Salamander and Sattler. Closing the Forum, Karl-Martin Schellerer remarked: “I am very proud to announce that the PVC industry is on track to deliver the first targets of VinylPlus 2030. We are continuously working to improve our sustainability performance. Still, a clear and supportive regulatory framework is essential to set even more ambitious targets and continue to play a significant role in enabling the EU Green Deal. To this end, we are ready to work collaboratively and constructively with regulators in line with a science- and evidence-based approach. I am sure that the enthusiasm and the engagement of our partners seen during the VSF2023 will
Mayor of Barnsley, Councillor Sarah Tattersall, attended the official ground-breaking ceremony for Harron Homes’ newest development in Barnsley, which is to be named Nevison’s Fold. The development will deliver 238 luxury homes on a brownfield site on Bleachcroft Way, with two showhomes anticipated by December, and the first residents expected to have moved in to their homes by the year’s end. This new development will offer something for everyone, whether they are first-time buyers, downsizers, families or couples. A mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, all equipped with electric car charging points, will occupy the 23-acre Harron Homes site, which will feature green open spaces with a pocket park, footpaths, wildlife habitats, woodland and the enhanced Dob Sike waterway. As well as developing the site, Harron will be contributing over £2 million to the local area, including £1.3 million for education and over £180,000 on sustainable transport. This development will not only regenerate the site, which has stood vacant for many years, but it will also bring significant enhancements to the existing ecological features of the site, including Dob Sike. The Dob Sike waterway is a historic area of high ecological value which is home to ancient trees, water voles and other wildlife. It will be restored and maintained by Harron and incorporated into the new development. Tony Lee, Managing Director of Harron Homes Yorkshire, said: “We are thrilled to have recently started regenerating this area and we were pleased Councillor Tattersall could join us for this significant milestone. Our investment of over £2 million will not only revitalise this part of Barnsley but also create numerous job opportunities in the wider local area.” Councillor Tattersall added, “It was fantastic to see the potential in what has been an abandoned site for so long and I look forward to seeing the houses develop into a lovely Barnsley community.” A variety of buying schemes will be available for buyers to take advantage of, including Part Exchange, which minimises the inconvenience of the property chain through Harron purchasing your existing home at market value. Interested buyers are welcome to attend a Harron event at The Fairway, S75 4LS, 5-7pm on 16th May for more information on the development. For those wishing to attend, please RSVP to Harron Homes’ sales office at The Hawthornes on 01757 641080. For more information on Nevison’s Fold, please visit https://www.harronhomes.com/find-a-home/south-yorkshire/nevisons-fold/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Independent housebuilder Dandara has officially launched its first national partnership with Lighthouse Club, a charity which provides mental health and wellbeing support to people working in the construction industry. Dandara was established in 1988, but for the last three years has achieved a period of unprecedented growth. With the creation of two new divisions the housebuilder’s operations now span across the South of England, Wales, Scotland, Jersey and Isle of Man, as it is set to become a national player in the housebuilding market. Trevor Dempsey, CEO of Dandara, said: “Following our recent expansion and looking to the future of the company, it is our priority to ensure our ethos is upheld; our first national partnership with Lighthouse is a vital part of this. “The construction industry has a tragically high suicide rate, which has been increasing in recent years, so it was incredibly important to us to work with a charity like Lighthouse Club that provides practical support to not only our employees, but our subcontractors and any other workers on our sites – alongside their family members. We want to help break the stigma of mental health in the industry, and the grassroots support this partnership offers across our sites is a meaningful first step.” Lighthouse Club provides a range of support services for all construction workers, including subcontractors, agency workers and people in allied trades. It operates a confidential helpline and has over 350 volunteer drop-in centres that provide a safe, supportive environment for people to talk about the problems they face or have faced. It also offers a 24/7 text-back counselling service, a support app with information about medical conditions and coping strategies, and masterclasses to help people deal with a range of issues including stress, bullying and financial management, as well as alcohol and drug problems. Bill Hill, CEO of Lighthouse Club, said: “We are excited to welcome Dandara as one of our company supporters. We receive no public funding, so it is only through the generosity of people in the industry that we can provide much-needed support to people working in construction and their families.” Suicides in the construction industry throughout England and Wales hit their highest level last year since analysis began. * On average, two construction workers take their own life every working day in the UK and Ireland, and over 20% of recorded work-related absence is caused by stress, anxiety or depression.* Trevor Dempsey, CEO of Dandara, added: “I’m incredibly proud that we selected Lighthouse Club to work with and I’m looking forward to seeing the positive and meaningful impact of this partnership as we work to change attitudes across the industry.” For more information, please visit www.dandara.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A giant piece of artwork made up of 687 high-vis vests has been displayed on a construction site in the West End of London to represent the annual number of trade suicides in the UK. The mural has been created for Mental Health Awareness Week (15th-21st May) by IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect to visualise the scale of the issue within the industry, and ‘give mental health higher visibility’. Throughout the week, the banner is being displayed at the Galliford Try construction site on Goslett Yard, just off Charing Cross London, in the heart of the West End. Tragically, an average of 687 skilled trade workers died by suicide each year between 2019-2021, according to the latest government data. This equates to 13 a week, or almost two a day, on average. In 2021, tradespeople accounted for 15% of suicides across all industries, which is more than any other occupation. In fact, construction workers are nearly four times as likely to die by suicide than some other sectors. The 687 high-vis vests, symbolising each of these individuals, have been stitched together into one 12-metre-tall garment by J&C Joel, one of the world’s leading fabric manufacturers. The display was unveiled alongside IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect’s annual Mental Health in the Trades report, which found that more than four in five (84%) UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work-related issues. As part of the campaign, the Essex-based companies have once again partnered with the mental health charity, Basildon Mind, and are donating over £5,000 to support its crucial services. Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal. “We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.” After finding that 84% of tradespeople don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health, IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect spoke to tradespeople who were willing to share their stories, with the aim of encouraging others to do the same. Rebecca Bishop, co-founder at Elite Building, talked about her experiences, and shared a positive message for those who can relate. “I experience burnout regularly, but it started getting serious in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. I remember asking my husband if it was possible to die from stress as I was genuinely concerned. “I have often tried to survive it and make it to the other side. Sometimes I share vulnerably on social media about mental health, but I also put pressure on myself to always keep it together – which is ridiculous, because I am human and this is not possible. “Tradespeople need to understand that they are never alone. Things don’t have to stay the way they are. We just need some brave people to step up and be vulnerable and share, which then might encourage others to share as well.” Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “We hope that this artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of mental health issues within the trades industry. “By bringing this issue to the forefront of people’s minds, we hope to encourage more open conversations around mental health and continue our efforts to support those who may be struggling.” For more information about the stunt, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog/putting-mental-health-in-high-visibility To read IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect’s Mental Health in the Trades: 2023 Report, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balustrade manufacturer, Neaco, is urging construction companies to be wary of compromising safety in managing the extra cost of new regulations requiring a second staircase on tall buildings. The government has been consulting on a plan to force developers to include two staircases in their designs for all new residential blocks above 30m in height, a proposed step which has already been adopted by London mayor, Sadiq Khan, for planning applications in the capital. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the extra fire safety measure could cost developers around £1.6bn over a decade, prompting concerns that some companies will use cut-price solutions that are not reliably tested to meet fire safety compliance. With the government consultation envisaging a very short transition period, new developments are being encouraged to prepare for the change now. Having worked on balustrade specifications for high-rise buildings throughout the UK, Neaco believes that time and cost pressures could lead to flawed decisions in the design of staircases. Ryan Bainbridge, Technical Lead at Neaco, said: “The direction of travel appears to be heading towards a mandatory two staircases and a coalition of industry professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Building, have joined fire chiefs in calling to extend the rule to residential buildings above 18m in height. Many developers will be busy revising their designs and assessing the cost of the change. In some cases, there could be an incentive to reduce cost with economy solutions, but that carries a risk as many of these solutions are not rigorously tested with third-party data and supporting documents. “For example, balustrade and other staircase elements must achieve the required fire classification to BS EN13501.Those credentials must be certified by a credible third party – in other words, an independent and authorised testing body. If a balustrade manufacturer has not invested in third party certification and instead tests its products in-house, it cannot be relied upon to supply a genuinely compliant solution.” The introduction of more robust oversight under the Building Safety Act will throw a spotlight on decisions made at the design stage whenever safety issues arise. In that context, a lack of diligence in specification could expose developers to costly remediation measures. Alan Green, Managing Director at Neaco, said: “Under the terms of the Building Safety Act, the new Building Safety Regulator will apply evidence-based regulation of high-rise buildings, so everyone in the supply chain should be mindful of the importance of data which is independently sourced and documented. We all have a responsibility to maintain standards and compliance, particularly in relation to fire safety. Credible and reliable product testing is vital to that collective cause.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The project will include the fit-out of an existing 280,000 sq ft warehouse unit, together with their new office space and associated civil engineering works. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by leading British logistics provider Wincanton, to fit out a 280,000 sq ft IKEA warehouse at a site in Dublin, Ireland. The project also incorporates the fit-out of their new office space, sprinklers, racking, the installation of a new security hut and all associated civil engineering works. The works commenced in April and overall is expected to take 22 weeks, with practical completion expected towards the end of September 2023. Commenting on the appointment Rory McGillycuddy, Country Director of Glencar’s Ireland division said: “Our offering in Ireland and the UK continues to advance rapidly with Glencar recently being appointed to several fit-out projects, in addition to entering new markets such as the Data Centre and Ports sectors to supplement our core market of Industrial and Logistics delivery. For this scheme in Dublin, we are working closely with our special projects division that specialises in fit-out works across Great Britain. This project underpins our continued growth in Ireland, collaborating with existing major partners that we work with in the UK, as well as new customers in the Irish market.” As specialists in the Industrial and Logistics sector, the knowledge and expertise we have developed in the past seven years in the UK, transfers itself perfectly to support the needs of a growing number of occupiers in Ireland requiring complex construction, fit-out and commissioning works. We look forward to working with Wincanton in Dublin and will deliver this facility to their exacting standards. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A brand new affordable housing development on the site of the former Lairdsland Primary School, Kirkintilloch, has welcomed its first tenants. The 38 affordable homes are situated in a mixture of three and four-storey buildings which contain one and two-bedroomed flats and will be used as council housing. The new development, part of the Kirkintilloch Town Centre Masterplan, includes four wheelchair accessible flats and eight amenity flats on the ground floor for tenants with specific health needs. The remaining flats are general needs housing. The Council worked in partnership with Cruden Building and Coltart Earley Architects to ensure that the homes were designed and built to complement surrounding buildings on Kerr Street and Queen Street, which sit within Kirkintilloch Town Centre Conservation Area. The development, which included the demolition of the old school, was complete within two years and the final flats were handed over to the Council in April. Councillor Paul Ferretti, Convener of Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets, said, “I am delighted to see the completion of this smart and sympathetic development in the heart of Kirkintilloch. “This site forms just one part of the Council’s affordable housing investment programme, which is helping to meet the needs of local people who are finding it increasingly difficult to get on the housing ladder.” Site works included the creation of new parking spaces and soft and hard landscaping. Artefacts from the original school have been incorporated into the new building including the school’s date stone, now displayed in the new landscaped courtyard, and original stonework, which has been used to create boundary walls, bin stores and bicycle sheds. In addition, two cast iron columns from the world-famous Lion Foundry are now being used as streetlighting in the courtyard. Colin Kennedy, Construction Director at Cruden Building, said, “In addition to creating spacious, energy efficient homes, the projects have also delivered community benefits including the employment of local people, including labourers and cleaners, site visits for young people, mentoring by Cruden staff, Q&A sessions with apprentices and work placements.” Megan Cassidy, partner Mikey Hanlon and dog Lily have moved into one of the new wheelchair accessible flats. Megan said, “We are really happy with the flat. You can tell it has been specially designed and adapted for a wheelchair user, which is amazing. “It is a lovely area and all our neighbours seem really nice. I think we will be here for a long time.” Works have been carried out at nearby Holy Family and Lairdsland Schools as part of the Community Benefits Programme. Community projects included the construction of “Mud Kitchens” and the refurbishment of planters at local schools, the combined total of which was over £5,000. Artefacts from the original Lairdsland building, including coat hooks and a section of banister, are now part of a dedicated display at the town’s Auld Kirk Museum. The display, which runs until September 2023, gives an overview of the history of the school and includes objects from the museum collection and images from EDLC Archives. A mural from the original building, which dates from the 1930s and was hidden under new decor, and original wall tiles were removed and conserved by specialist conservators are also part of the Museums Collection. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals