SOCOTEC UK’s Monitoring team were approached to provide a temporary/rental system to monitor the railway assets adjacent to the temporary works on a railway bridge, located on River Way, Harlow, Essex. The client, Essex Highways, and Network Rail required assurance that any structural movements were in-line with predicted ground movements
MTX has been awarded a new contract to deliver two more state of the art operating theatres at Royal Bolton Hospital using Modern Methods of Construction to ensure a faster, greener, safer and more cost effective delivery. The company is nearing completion of two operating theatres due to be in
The transformation of a landmark building in the heart of London’s Covent Garden reached a significant milestone this week 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
Nottingham-based architects and interior designers, Marchini Curran Associates, has been appointed to the pivotal redevelopment scheme of the Clarendon Centre in Oxford. Working alongside the Lothbury Property Trust, the major scheme in Oxford city centre will transform the shopping arcade into a new landmark 226,547 sq. ft mixed-use scheme, with
Research from eXp UK, the network of personal estate agents, has revealed that in no less than 22 UK cities, house prices are continuing to outperform the current rate of inflation, as the housing market stands strong despite fears of a property market dip during the closing stages of 2022. eXp
Five partners with over a century of combined experience in the international construction industry have decided to join forces to form Inframara, an advisory firm for the global construction sector. Inframara aims to help by sharing first-hand experience and best practice with clients to avoid the classic pitfalls of complex
Manchester City Council’s executive will be asked to approve the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the former retail site at a meeting today. The high-level development that sets out the principles for future planning applications for the site was originally agreed in 2020 and updated to inform a six-week consultation
Leading commercial property developer, Stoford, has begun the second and final phase of development at a multimillion pound logistics and manufacturing scheme in the West Midlands. Stoford has commenced construction of two new Grade A warehouse buildings that will deliver almost 450,000 sq ft of logistics accommodation at Redditch Gateway,
Leading contactor, GRAHAM, has invested in enhanced fire awareness training for more than 100 of its employees in partnership with Nullifire, a fire stopping solutions and intumescent coatings manufacturer, part of parent brand CPG UK Ltd. Designed and managed by Area Sales Manager for Fire Protection at CPG UK, Colin
The Regenda Group, a regeneration organisation which includes M&Y Maintenance and Construction, has acquired Ecogee Ltd. Ecogee, is an energy, retrofit and construction specialist, providing green solutions for Local Authorities, social housing providers, and private developers. Originally established in 2012 the company was set up in response to the Government’s
SOCOTEC UK’s Monitoring team were approached to provide a temporary/rental system to monitor the railway assets adjacent to the temporary works on a railway bridge, located on River Way, Harlow, Essex. The client, Essex Highways, and Network Rail required assurance that any structural movements were in-line with predicted ground movements and that any significant movement trends could be identified at an early stage. SOCOTEC UK’s Monitoring team proposed a monitoring system that included 75m of track tilts installed at 3m c/c spacing on each line, critical rail thermometers, both tilt and vibration monitoring on the bridge piers, and tilt monitoring on the surrounding OHLE supports. SOCOTEC’s scope also included baseline and close-out track geometry surveys, with additional surveys as required if any significant movement had been detected by the automated system. This provided further assurance to the client and Network Rail that all movements were being accurately reported. The installation works and initial track geometry survey were completed over a single possession lasting 5.5 hours. The data was hosted online, giving the client and Network Rail live access to the data and direct email alerts if any trigger values were exceeded throughout the duration of works. SOCOTEC UK’s temporary monitoring system provided assurance to the client and Network Rail that any structural movements were in-line with predicted ground movements and that any significant movement trends could be identified at an early stage. This allowed for quick response times and corrective action if needed, minimising potential downtime or disruptions to train services. SOCOTEC UK’s monitoring system provided effective and reliable monitoring of railway assets adjacent to a temporary worksite. The automated system allowed for a quick and accurate reporting of any significant movement trends, providing assurance to the client and Network Rail that their assets were being monitored and protected. If you have a monitoring project to discuss, please get in touch. Contact us. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MTX has been awarded a new contract to deliver two more state of the art operating theatres at Royal Bolton Hospital using Modern Methods of Construction to ensure a faster, greener, safer and more cost effective delivery. The company is nearing completion of two operating theatres due to be in service later this year, to help minimise the backlog of surgeries resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. The new contract will create a second storey extension to the current single storey development adding a further two theatres to the original development and creating a total of four new theatres with ward accommodation and dedicated plantrooms. By utilising Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) MTX ensures the fully compliant facilities minimise build times by up to 50% and waste by up to 60%, whilst delivering facilities of exceptional quality. David Hartley, Managing Director at MTX, explained: “We are delighted to be building two further operating theatres at Royal Bolton. The latest contract award continues a five-year relationship with the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and is testament to the hard work and expertise of the MTX team.” The theatres will provide enhanced capacity for both Bolton and Greater Manchester and help to drive down waiting lists in the region. Careful management of the project by the MTX site team combined with MMC principles limits disruption and enhances the speed of delivery, minimising the impact on patient care during the construction period. The four ultra-modern theatres are being built on what was a staff car park near the Princess Anne maternity unit. They have been designed to work flexibly and adapt for inpatient and day case adult patients. Day case surgeries include ear nose and throat, oral, urology and general specialities. 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 this week 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
Nottingham-based architects and interior designers, Marchini Curran Associates, has been appointed to the pivotal redevelopment scheme of the Clarendon Centre in Oxford. Working alongside the Lothbury Property Trust, the major scheme in Oxford city centre will transform the shopping arcade into a new landmark 226,547 sq. ft mixed-use scheme, with a high-specification research and development facility at its heart. The higher enterprise business facility, in partnership with Oxford Science Enterprises, will provide world-class laboratory and serviced incubator accommodation, acting as a steppingstone of support for the burgeoning university spin-out sector and business owners moving into markets in the early stages of inception. Alongside the enterprise building, which comprises 50,279 sq. ft, the scheme will include a phased building approach to the delivery of 153,406 sq. ft of student and Grade A office accommodation, alongside 22, 862 sq. ft of retail and leisure units – creating a pivotal professional and educational hub in the city centre. A new public square will also be open to all, creating a vibrant communal green oasis in the middle of the bustling city, with spill-out spaces for cafes and restaurants. Marchini Curran Associates has been facilitating with full design works for the scheme, and the first phase is expected to start in Q1 2023, with the aim of completion during Q2 2025. Justin Ziegler, director at Marchini Curran Associates, said: “We’re delighted to have been appointed to deliver fundamental design works for what will be a central landmark in Oxford. “The mixed-use scheme will take the current shopping centre and transform it into a professional, educational and social hub in the city, and we look forward to working closely with the Lothbury Property Trust and Oxford Science Enterprises as part of a long-standing partnership for this regeneration scheme.” Adam Smith, executive director of Lothbury Investment Management “This is a milestone investment for Lothbury, which has owned the Clarendon Centre since its inception in 1985 and brings Lothbury’s investors into the new and exciting life science and biomedical sectors for real estate. “The joint venture with Oxford Science Enterprises is the first letting within a comprehensive redevelopment project, which is planned to be implemented on a phased basis. The proposed development will comprise four highly sustainable buildings, bringing office, laboratory and student accommodation into the heart of Oxford city centre.” Since its formation in 2002, Marchini Curran Associates has designed a diverse portfolio of projects for local, national, and international clients, across commercial, retail, leisure, residential, education, industrial and master planning. To find out more about Marchini Curran Associates and Marchini Curran Interiors please visit: www.mc-a.co.uk and www.mc-i.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Research from eXp UK, the network of personal estate agents, has revealed that in no less than 22 UK cities, house prices are continuing to outperform the current rate of inflation, as the housing market stands strong despite fears of a property market dip during the closing stages of 2022. eXp analysed the city rate of inflation seen across 62 UK cities and how this compares to the strength of the housing market based on the annual rate of house price growth. The research shows that across the UK as a whole, house prices have continued to climb by a respectable 6.3% on an annual basis. However, despite inflation peaking in recent months, it remains at a rate of 10.4%, 4.1% above the average rate of house price growth. Despite topline house price growth trailing inflation, the research from eXp shows that a number of major UK cities are actually putting in a stronger performance, with no less than 22 of the 62 major cities analysed seeing strong rates of house price growth versus inflation. Peterborough tops the table where inflation currently sits at 10.2 %, while house prices have climbed by 14.4% in the last year, a 4.1% difference. In Wigan , inflation is currently at a rate of 10.7%, while house prices are up 13.9%, a difference of 3.2%. This difference also sits at 3.0% in Derby , where house prices are up 13.9% versus a city inflation rate of 10.9%. Other cities to make the top 10 include Norwich (2.5%), Nottingham (2.5%), Swindon (2.0%), Cambridge (1.7%), Blackburn (1.5%), Barnsley (1.3%) and Birmingham (1.2%). In contrast, the current rate of city inflation across Aberdeen is 10.2%, while house prices are down 4.4%, resulting in a balance of -14.6%. Head of eXp UK, Adam Day, commented: “Even in times of economic uncertainty and hardship, the UK property market provides a safe haven for many homeowners and it’s no wonder that so many of us aspire to own our own homes, as it’s one of the safest, long-term investments you can make. In fact, while there have been many predictions of a housing market crash, this simply hasn’t come to fruition and, in fact, property values have increased annually in all but one major UK city. What’s more, despite many households facing the toughest cost of living crisis in living memory, they can at least rest safe in the knowledge that their home is outpacing inflation when it comes to its increase in value over the last year.” Data tablesData tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Five partners with over a century of combined experience in the international construction industry have decided to join forces to form Inframara, an advisory firm for the global construction sector. Inframara aims to help by sharing first-hand experience and best practice with clients to avoid the classic pitfalls of complex infrastructure projects and instead deliver them with better results in terms of time, budget and beneficial outcomes. Their recipe is: experience, early involvement, a collaborative attitude in an appropriate contractual environment, risk management, value engineering and sustainability. Improving Outcomes in the Global Construction Sector The global construction sector has long been plagued by disputes, delays, and cost blowouts. The root cause of these problems invariably lies in the early stage of a project. With Inframara’s involvement at an early stage and by providing a single point of contact for clients and acting as their trusted partner, Inframara is able to help select and de-risk the best solution for each project through early collaboration with key parties and stakeholders. “We are excited to launch Inframara, a company that aims to fundamentally change the traditional approach to project procurement in the global construction sector. Our focus on greater collaboration and increased supply chain transparency will bring a fresh perspective to the industry and drive better outcomes for all parties involved” said Kenneth Willems, Managing Director at Vuentica and co-founder of Inframara. Experienced team with international practical know-how The Inframara team consists of five partners, each with extensive experience in the construction industry: Kenneth Willems and Lieven Durt, based in Belgium; David Kinlan, based in Australia; Lukas Goemaere, based in Panama and Jasper Verstreepen, based in Mexico. The team has a wealth of international expertise in project management, tendering, project finance, contract management, sustainability and operational excellence and is ready to share its knowledge with the industry. “At Inframara, our goal is to break the conventional transactional and adversarial approach to construction management, ensuring that all parties involved work collaboratively from the outset and are satisfied with the end result,” said Jasper Verstreepen, co-founder at Inframara. He added “We believe that our approach for project preparation and collaborative contract management in the sector will foster innovation and sustainable solutions. We are confident we will be able to make a real difference in the global sector.” Inframara is committed to bringing a fresh approach to the construction industry, and the company is poised to make a significant impact for its clients in the coming years. With a focus on collaboration and operational excellence, Inframara is ready to tackle the challenges facing the construction sector and deliver better outcomes for all stakeholders. Join Inframara on the journey to transform the construction industry. Contact us today or have a look at our website at www.inframara.com
Manchester City Council’s executive will be asked to approve the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the former retail site at a meeting today. The high-level development that sets out the principles for future planning applications for the site was originally agreed in 2020 and updated to inform a six-week consultation in January this year. The SRF reacts to a range of opportunities for the site – each playing their own part in improving the area. This includes supporting Manchester’s aim of becoming a zero carbon city by 2038, increasing the amount of greens space available to residents, creating sustainable economic growth and stimulating new employment opportunities. Responses to the consultation were largely focused on the need to have usable green space and biodiversity, creating a welcoming area that should feel like a park – rather than a harder landscaped city centre space. Comments included a welcoming of the increased amount of new space compared to the previous SRF and respondents also raised the hope that the new green space would be created as a continuation of Cotton Field Park. Following the consultation, the SRF has also been updated to include a new plan for how the development site will connect to wider walking and cycling routes. These will be well lit – reacting to responses in the consultation – along with accessible routes. The key principles for future development include: The Government Property Agency (GPA) is also exploring options for delivering office solutions in Manchester, to meet the needs of various civil servant departments, which supports the Government’s commitment to locate more civil servants outside of London and support levelling up. Therefore, the framework also responds to potential interest from the GPA to locate government offices on the site. The SRF proposes a phased approach to development, to allow the full potential of the site to be realised and to minimise disruption during construction. The exact timing of development will largely be driven by commercial office space and market requirements. The potential interest from the GPA to locate offices in the area gives a positive indication of current market demand. The green space at the former retail park complements wider green investment elsewhere in Ancoats and New Islington, as well as the nearby, recently opened, Mayfield Park. A planning application has now been submitted on a £30m public realm investment in Ancoats – including the new Ancoats Mobility Hub – which will create a new green heart to the city centre area. The Council’s executive has also endorsed the Manchester Active Travel Strategy (Feb 2023), which supports our residents to make walking and cycling the natural choice for shorter journeys and encourages active travel and public transport to be part of our residents’ daily life. Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The development of the former Central Retail Park presents a number of key opportunities to deliver a really impactful programme of regeneration – increasing access to quality public green space, creating a green route to open up and celebrate Cotton Field Park, creating a highly sustainable office space that will support thousands of new jobs in an ecosystem that encourages business growth, and all while bringing an eyesore of a brownfield site back into constructive use. “The feedback we received through the recent consultation has been a helpful guide in further developing the framework plan for bringing the former retail park back into use – and importantly the investment in a new public green space in our city centre, complementing Mayfield nearby, Electric Park, Cotton Field Park and the upcoming transformation of Ancoats Green.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading commercial property developer, Stoford, has begun the second and final phase of development at a multimillion pound logistics and manufacturing scheme in the West Midlands. Stoford has commenced construction of two new Grade A warehouse buildings that will deliver almost 450,000 sq ft of logistics accommodation at Redditch Gateway, near Junction 3 of the M42, south of Birmingham. The prime logistics assets have been forward funded by specialist European independent real estate investor, Blackbrook, which will acquire the freehold interest in both new developments upon their completion in Q4 2023. The new units will comprise 160,208 sq ft and 286,328 sq ft respectively and are being built on the southern parcel of the 78-acre Redditch Gateway site. They have been designed to meet the widest of occupier demands with 50 kN/m2 floor loading capacities and 15m clear heights, as well as access to high-power supplies of 9.5MVA, more than six times the institutional standard. Stoford is targeting net zero carbon in operation for both buildings, as well as BREEAM Excellent and an EPC ‘A’ rating. Winvic Construction has been appointed as contractor to deliver the works. Stoford Joint Managing Director, Dan Gallagher said: “We are developing two highly specified logistics assets with Blackbrook, that will offer significant benefits to occupiers in terms of connectivity, power supply and future-proof ESG credentials. “Redditch Gateway is an exciting logistics manufacturing development in a key distribution area that is serving demand in a supply constrained regional marketplace.” Jon Strang, Managing Director of Blackbrook, said: “We’re delighted with Stoford’s progress on this project and to be closer to bringing two new logistic facilities to the market. Both assets boast a high power supply and are being built to the highest sustainability standards, making them high in demand and perfectly aligned with Blackbrook’s strategy to develop future-proof supply chain infrastructure.” Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “It is brilliant news to see construction start on the new units at the Redditch Gateway site. Redditch Gateway is one of Worcestershire’s major commercial property developments, part of our 2040 Plan for Growth, to provide more commercial space for businesses. “This development is helping to attract businesses to the region, boosting local jobs and crucially the economy for Worcestershire.” Anita Bhalla, Interim Chair of GBSLEP, said: “This latest development demonstrates how our £1.8 million funding towards Redditch Gateway has unlocked a site which continues to deliver developments in the area. This latest scheme will generate jobs which will support the inclusive and sustainable economic growth of the local economy. This investment demonstrates how GBSLEP’s unique structure of bringing public, private and academic leaders together to make locally informed decisions creates opportunities for our businesses and communities.” Leader of Redditch Borough Council, Cllr Matt Dormer, said: “We have to look to the future and not only will these units attract highly specialised companies, creating jobs for our residents, they have zero carbon credentials which is important to this Council and the environment. This Council promised progress – and we are delivering.” Tim Davies, Senior Development Manager, Homes England, said: “Stoford have been working with us and partners to deliver this site for almost ten years. Having dealt with numerous challenges to be able to commence construction of these two units is testament to their capability and capacity.” Redditch Gateway is located on the eastern fringes of Redditch, just 18 miles from Birmingham Airport and with convenient access to the national motorway network via J2 and J3 of the M42. Phase one of the scheme saw the development of a new 534,000 sq ft warehouse building that was pre-let to Amazon and included a £6.5 million investment in infrastructure works and a signalised traffic junction. Stoford is development partner for Redditch Gateway South, working alongside landowners, The Gorcott Trust and Homes England. For more information, please contact retained marketing agents, DTRE and Savills. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading contactor, GRAHAM, has invested in enhanced fire awareness training for more than 100 of its employees in partnership with Nullifire, a fire stopping solutions and intumescent coatings manufacturer, part of parent brand CPG UK Ltd. Designed and managed by Area Sales Manager for Fire Protection at CPG UK, Colin Green, the in-depth training has been developed specifically for GRAHAM to upskill its team with fire prevention and protection information to use in day-to-day activity. Team members from all levels of the business, including directors, quantity surveyors, site managers and planners, have now completed the training which was facilitated both in an office and on-site environment for maximum value. Participants have been actively involved in sessions to help develop an understanding of each other’s priorities and experiences, improving everyone’s awareness of fire risks across different disciplines and on-site environments. Andrzej Suwik, who leads the Quality team at GRAHAM Building North division, said: “The devastating impact of fire has been brought to a head over the last five years following the tragic incident at Grenfell Tower and subsequent legislation changes. “We want to ensure that our employees are confident in understanding the preventative measures that can be put in place across the business at all levels to mitigate any serious issues caused by fire. GRAHAM has significantly invested in the roll-out of Nullifire training which was developed specifically for our team, and we are proud to be one of the first contractors to deliver such high-level support.” Colin Green, Area Sales Manager for Fire Protection at CPG UK, said: “Working with the GRAHAM team has been a valuable experience, both to help improve its team’s knowledge but also for me to learn more about specific risks within the construction sector. Nullifire developed a bespoke package that ensured we provided practical advice that was relatable to real-life situations. “Our training is centred around raising awareness and encouraging businesses to think of fire stopping earlier subsequently allowing better solutions, improving time and money efficiency, and saving lives.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Regenda Group, a regeneration organisation which includes M&Y Maintenance and Construction, has acquired Ecogee Ltd. Ecogee, is an energy, retrofit and construction specialist, providing green solutions for Local Authorities, social housing providers, and private developers. Originally established in 2012 the company was set up in response to the Government’s energy efficiency programme, to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. Ecogee provides both retrofit and new build solutions including; fabric insulation, ventilation systems, and renewable technologies such as air source heat pumps and solar panels. Ecogee is also an accredited provider of the government ECO grants scheme, which provides eligible households with energy-saving improvements in the home. With the National Housing Federation estimating that homes are responsible for about a fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, a lot of work is to be done if housing associations are to meet the government’s ambition of carbon neutral by 2050. Within that aim is a target to ensure all existing homes have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C or above and new build homes are EPC band A. The incorporation of Ecogee into the Regenda Group will be overseen by Gill Kelly, Managing Director of M&Y Construction and Maintenance, which will work in close partnership with Ecogee. Gill commented, “As a regeneration group which includes a Housing Association, we understand the pressure of fuel poverty and the shortage of great contractors in the market to service the growing demand for energy efficiency works. By bringing the expertise of Ecogee into the Regenda Group we are confident that we can increase the capacity within the supply chain to deliver energy-efficient improvement works to existing and new clients”. Ecogee Managing Director Brendan Helm said: “The Regenda Group is well known for its role in regeneration and making a positive impact in local communities and we share the same values at Ecogee. We recognise that the opportunity to join forces, will enhance the impact we are making towards the planet and in people’s pockets through our offer”. Find out more about Ecogee here: Eco Gee Ltd Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals