In more recent years, we’ve adapted to spending almost 90% of our time indoors and in the workplace. This lifestyle change means that we typically spend less time in natural light, so this has a huge impact on our circadian rhythms – our natural body clock that is responsible for
Citu has started on-site at ‘Stall’; a new community of 51 low carbon, high performance, low energy homes which will transform a forgotten brownfield land in the historic area of Kirkstall in Leeds, with a pioneering approach to placemaking that puts people and the climate first. Designed and manufactured locally
For 87% of those surveyed, reaching carbon neutrality with their building portfolios ranks high in importance among overall sustainability goals Greater energy efficiency, better indoor air quality (IAQ) and meeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) guidelines are three objectives currently prioritised by multinational organisations as they face increasing pressure to
Caddick Construction has completed the £8.2m Tawd Valley Centre retail outlet in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, as part of the wider regeneration plans for the town centre. Major retail brands Lidl, B&M Bargains and Poundstretcher are already trading on the scheme with the area adjacent to the retail park also enjoying
Environmentally driven architectural practice, Lungfish Architects has successfully partnered with Morgan Sindall Construction to deliver more than £30m-worth of educational infrastructure in Derby, helping to generate 1,440 additional school places. Lungfish has designed and delivered some of Derby City Council and Derby County Council’s most recent transformative school projects including
Prologis, one of the UK’s leading developers of logistics property, has agreed a 10-year lease for one of its units at Prologis Park Dawley Road in West London. Specialising in temperature-controlled haulage, Sophia Transport has moved into the 6,120 sq. ft. DC2 unit as it continues to expand its operations.
Two strikingly designed, high-quality student residences opened recently in Manchester and London on schedule and in time for the new University year. Developed by Alumno, each is unique in its appearance and architecture, yet makes a similarly active contribution to the community, heritage, regeneration and arts scene in their localities.
Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home in Southwark has been awarded a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ with an overall score of 73%. The rating is an internationally recognised measure of a building’s sustainability and reflects the performance achieved by a project and its stakeholders, as measured against the BREEAM standard.
Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has appointed experienced industry professional Peter Commins as director for the company’s Northern region. The move follows the opening of a Henry Brothers office in Manchester after a number of recent successful contract wins in the region including the refurbishment of The University of Manchester’s Chemistry
A nationwide insulation funding scheme aimed at middle income householders living in energy inefficient properties has been welcomed by insulation specialist Actis. The £1 billion ECO+ scheme, which launches in the spring and will run for up to three years, builds on the existing ECO (Energy Company Obligation) schemes, which
In more recent years, we’ve adapted to spending almost 90% of our time indoors and in the workplace. This lifestyle change means that we typically spend less time in natural light, so this has a huge impact on our circadian rhythms – our natural body clock that is responsible for our daily sleep-wake routine. This rhythm is heavily reliant on the amount of light reaching our eyes. Helvar is a leading provider of intelligent lighting control products and solutions and understands the impact light has on people’s wellbeing and functionality. The workplace’s human-centric lighting is the easiest way to support employees’ wellbeing, performance, and circadian rhythm, and thus prevent winter blues and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). As many studies show, light affects complex systems that govern the 24-hour circadian clock in the brain, which regulates not just our sleep-wake cycles, but also hormonal activity, digestion, and other important bodily functions. Lighting has a direct impact on our brain and our hormone balance via the retina in our eyes. The contrast, colour temperatures and effective spectrum in light are key to our circadian rhythm. If we don’t receive enough light, the happiness neurotransmitter serotonin isn’t released to the same extent. While this can be just a transitory case of the winter blues, for some it’s a sign of SAD with symptoms similar to depression. Studies suggest that 20% of us might experience a mild version of the winter blues, while 1-5% might be suffering from SAD due to the shortening in day length and lower light intensity. The winter’s shorter days and lack of sunshine and natural bright blue light affect people in the Northern latitudes. During the winter months, people leave their homes in the dark and then commute home again, in the dark. If they also spend all day in a workplace without enough bright light, it can affect most people’s dispositions. “Ideally, to keep or reset our circadian rhythm, we would receive lots of natural, bright, blue-enriched light at the right time of the morning. The open sky’s light intensities range between 10 000 and even greater than 100 000 lux with 4000-6500 Kelvin (pure white to bright blue colour temperatures). During the darker winter period in the Northern latitudes, this is not the case. Also, the lighting levels in an average working area can be a marginal 300-500 lux. This light intensity doesn’t provide enough bright light and contrasting lighting conditions during the working day. As people spend most of their time indoors e.g. at work, these places should support people’s wellbeing and body-clock needs – provide good quality light with variability to counter the effects causing winter blues or SAD during the darker periods”, describes Helvar’s Marketing Manager Tarja Jokiniemi in her blog about Winter Blues and Workplace Lighting. In the Helvar 100 – Discovering Brighter Spaces Event, Performance Scientist James Hewitt shared his findings on good lighting and circadian rhythm: “Inconsistent light-dark cycles related to our lifestyles mean that we are gradually falling more and more out of sync with our environment. In fact, in industrialised societies, our body clocks are becoming more delayed. We feel like it’s earlier relative to the earth’s day-night cycle, which means that it’s more challenging to wake up in the morning and harder to get to sleep at night. This delay might be explained by weaker Zeitgeber time cues related to a smaller contrast between light and dark in our environment.” Fixed, traditional lighting isn’t designed to support our wellbeing. It lacks the ability to tune lighting levels throughout the day as optimal lighting conditions would also require variation in hues and intensity. Helvar’s modern human-centric lighting controls, however, offer dynamic lighting features including brightness and colour temperature controls. By incorporating these dynamic features in a workplace, a human-centric lighting system more accurately emulates natural light, therefore supporting the circadian rhythms of everyone using the space. To read the whole story, click here. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Citu has started on-site at ‘Stall’; a new community of 51 low carbon, high performance, low energy homes which will transform a forgotten brownfield land in the historic area of Kirkstall in Leeds, with a pioneering approach to placemaking that puts people and the climate first. Designed and manufactured locally by Citu, the UK’s leading sustainable developer, ‘Stall’ is a further evolution of the company’s acclaimed methodology and expertise cultivated from almost 20 years of creating sustainable communities and enabling change in cities across the North of England. Located on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, ‘Stall’ will be a new sustainable place designed to support the fabric, urban grain and context of the site, encouraging nature to flourish within an urban setting. The canal-side location includes a precious green corridor that passes Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve and the famous Kirkstall Abbey, an easy route for cycling (13 minutes) and walking (40 minutes) straight into the heart of central Leeds. ‘Stall’ will feature 4-bed ‘Canal Houses’, 1 and 2-bed ‘Loft Apartments’ and 2-bed Gatehouse Apartments. Citu has established a strong reputation at the forefront of placemaking, anticipating people’s needs, identifying and accelerating changes in design and construction, for the benefit of the planet. ‘Stall’ will build on Citu’s multi-award-winning treatment of previously vacant or derelict brownfield land at the Climate Innovation District to the south of Leeds city centre and Sheffield’s Kelham Island. Jonathan Wilson, Managing Director of Citu, said: “We’re continuing to rip up the rule books which make outdated assumptions about how to design for the ways people enjoy living. It’s a bold statement but we want to change the world and with our design team, factory and community of residents located on one site in Leeds at the Climate Innovation District, we’re constantly observing, listening, learning and evolving our designs. ‘Stall’ is an exciting extension of the principles we’ve developed on our journey to challenge the norms, enabling residents to live more sustainably, in healthy and inspiring places that they can call home.” The name ‘Stall’ is a nod to the origins of Kirkstall which is formed from ‘stall’ meaning ‘place’ and ‘Kirk’ the historic word for ‘church’ – a reference to the area’s 800-year-old Kirkstall Abbey, one of the most complete examples of a medieval Cistercian abbey in Britain, now the stunning architectural centrepiece of a beautiful public park. The high-performance homes will be built using passive house standards, combining bold architecture with flexible designs, exceptional spaces and sustainable, low carbon materials. Customers are encouraged to see their homes in the design and manufacturing stages, to learn about the materials and processes involved at CITU’s offices, The Place, in Leeds. Citu’s timber-framed housing system is manufactured by the developer in its onsite factory in the city. This vastly reduces the carbon footprint in the construction process and provides the developer with certainty in quality and operational energy performance resulting in significantly lower operational costs. Post-pandemic, Citu’s approach to creating places that support health and wellbeing is attracting a new generation of homeowners unwilling to compromise on the need for ‘live/work balance.’ Adds Jonathan: “How people live changed hugely over the pandemic and the way we use our homes is changing too. We want room to work, study, play, create and relax, almost as much as we need space to sleep and cook. Citu homes make it easy for residents to choose low-carbon living and at ‘Stall’ residents can step out of the front door and be amongst the trees and beside the water.” “Set apart from – and at the heart of – city living, these homes are designed to capture the surrounding natural views, alongside striking architectural details such as decks cantilevering over the canal. I urge anyone looking for a home with purpose that gives equal priority to people, nature and modern, high-performance, to come and see what we’re creating with ‘Stall’, a sustainable place for long-term living in one of Leeds’s most significant heritage settings” Work on the scheme has now begun with the first homes ready to move into early 2023. Demand for Citu’s homes is already high and the 51 properties at ‘Stall’ will be limited to those who register for further details, on a first come first served basis. Prices and plans for the homes will soon be revealed and the first homes will be available to buy off plan in the winter. To register your interest go to https://citu.co.uk/citu-live/coming-soon-to-kirkstall Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
For 87% of those surveyed, reaching carbon neutrality with their building portfolios ranks high in importance among overall sustainability goals Greater energy efficiency, better indoor air quality (IAQ) and meeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) guidelines are three objectives currently prioritised by multinational organisations as they face increasing pressure to incorporate their building operations into their sustainability plans. These are among the key findings of a report released today by Honeywell and Reuters. Nearly nine in 10 respondents (87%) say that achieving carbon neutrality in their building portfolio is either extremely (58%) or somewhat (29%) important in relation to their overall ESG goals, with only 4% of respondents calling it unimportant. The sense of urgency is understandable: Commercial building operations currently account for 37% of global energy-related CO2 emissions.[i] Manish Sharma, vice president and general manager of Sustainable Buildings at Honeywell, echoed this sentiment based on his ongoing conversations with current and prospective customers. “If we fast-forward to 2025, I believe carbon neutrality will be one of the top priorities for organisations, driven partly by new carbon taxation plans and decarbonising incentives,” he said. While the surveyed organisations are feeling pressure to act, respondents seem generally optimistic in forecasting progress toward their goals. More than 90% of those surveyed expect to achieve carbon neutrality across their portfolios by 2050, while 62% expect to reach that goal by 2035. Notably, only 8% of respondents say they don’t foresee carbon neutrality ever becoming a reality for their portfolios. Benefits noted by respondents: Respondents also noted the business benefits of ramping up sustainability efforts across building portfolios. When asked which three of these benefits they valued most, they cited the following: Barriers creating concern: Despite their optimism, those surveyed noted several significant barriers that impede their efforts. When asked which three obstacles most hinder progress, respondents reported the following: The survey also revealed that companies are investing strategically to accelerate decarbonisation and improve overall building performance. While respondents note a wide range of specific efforts, a substantial majority (80%) mention an on-site energy management system as one investment they’ve made to enhance the sustainability of their building operations. The Honeywell Building Sustainability Manager powered by Honeywell Forge, is a suite of ready now solutions that help building owners and operators meet two pressing, yet often conflicting, objectives – optimising a building’s IAQ while still reducing its environmental impact – with the aim of helping them to meet carbon neutral goals. “Incorporating the way buildings operate into sustainability plans is an ongoing process with no fixed endpoint,” said Liam Dowd, Industry Lead – Sustainable Business, Reuters Professional. “While the organisations surveyed differ in how far they’ve progressed toward developing strategies and solutions to support this process, the first step is to benchmark the carbon output of buildings and define the current state of the portfolio.” The importance of improving building operations reinforces the emphasis organisations are placing on sustainability as detailed in the recently launched Honeywell Environmental Sustainability Index,[ii] a quarterly global survey that captures key trends in corporate sustainability initiatives and other efforts to mitigate climate change. Sixty-five percent of organisations surveyed in the Honeywell Environmental Sustainability index are prioritising sustainability above other initiatives and 48% of surveyed organisations likely to increase sustainability budgets up to 20% in the next 12 months. To view the full Honeywell-Reuters report and survey results, click here. Methodology Reuters interviewed senior executives at 187 large, multinational corporations in Q3 2022. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction has completed the £8.2m Tawd Valley Centre retail outlet in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, as part of the wider regeneration plans for the town centre. Major retail brands Lidl, B&M Bargains and Poundstretcher are already trading on the scheme with the area adjacent to the retail park also enjoying an upgrade to include a new play area in Tawd Valley Park. A new high street has been provided to link West Lancashire College with the rest of the town centre. Improvements are also being made to the public areas outside Skelmersdale Library to make them more attractive spaces for residents to enjoy. Ian Threadgold, North West Managing Director of Caddick Construction said: “Caddick is delighted to have completed on this important scheme that is already having a transformative effect on Skelmersdale town centre and the local communities. “Investment and vision are important if we want to see local town centres revitalised and attract new retailers in with the right location and premises. It’s great to see Tawd Valley Centre is already delivering for Skelmersdale.” Councillor Yvonne Gagen, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, added: “The new town centre development will bring economic and social benefits for the Borough’s communities long into the future and will greatly enhance the Borough’s appeal as a great place to live, work and invest, providing increased opportunities for many. “This development is a significant step towards a future where everyone in West Lancashire will be able to take advantage of a positive economic outlook and vastly improved health and wellbeing outcomes. The people of West Lancashire deserve this and I’m delighted we have delivered it.” The town centre redevelopment scheme is a partnership between the Borough Council and developer St. Modwen and is supported by the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership and Growth Deal Funding. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Environmentally driven architectural practice, Lungfish Architects has successfully partnered with Morgan Sindall Construction to deliver more than £30m-worth of educational infrastructure in Derby, helping to generate 1,440 additional school places. Lungfish has designed and delivered some of Derby City Council and Derby County Council’s most recent transformative school projects including Hackwood Primary Academy, Castleward Primary School, Highfields Spencer Academy, Ravensdale Infant & Nursery and, most recently, Snelsmoor Grange Primary School which is due to open in September 2023. Procured through SCAPE’s frameworks over the past three years, the completed projects have all been delivered on time, on budget and with an average client satisfaction of score of 9.5/10. The milestone reaffirms Lungfish’s commitment to creating sustainable and purposeful learning environments that support sustainable community regeneration. Working closely with each council, Lungfish undertook an extensive research and development study outlining exemplar school design and developing a standardised kit of parts. This standardised approach could be applied to any school site, whilst delivering the council’s educational requirements. Utilising simplicity and design-led methods, Lungfish Architects has also sought to maximise space. The layout and shape of each school building was carefully designed to suit the day-to-day management, needs, and user flow through the schools to deliver greater efficiency. Each classroom maximises natural day light and encapsulates external views, while unique educational facilities and environments encourages positive and engaging learning environments. For Castleward Primary School, a constrained inner-city site, the addition of a rooftop play area helped the school achieve more outdoor space than the site would have traditionally allowed, while at Ravensdale Infant & Nursery, every classroom had their own outdoor access for play and lessons outside. New trees and a wild meadow were also installed to create biodiverse learning areas. Simon Reid, managing director at Lungfish Architects, said: “The five school projects mark another important milestone for Lungfish and our commitment to pushing the boundaries of educational design. Creating buildings that improve the lives of communities continues to inspire us and we approach every project with the same mantra. “Utilising offsite construction methods has resulted in a reduction of time spent on site, allowing the delivery timescales for each project to be shortened and school places to be opened up sooner. Modular design and construction also drives down the amount of embodied carbon within each school. “Working closely with the delivery team at Morgan Sindall has allowed our design concepts and visions for these schools to become a reality. They are true assets to the local area and will play a vital role in educating generations to come.” Rob Cant, SCAPE Framework Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We first partnered with Lungfish Architects on Hackwood Primary Academy. Not only was this project the largest to be delivered through the SCAPE Venture framework at the time, but it was also the first modular build project we had delivered in the Midlands. Working closely with the Lungfish team we have since gone on to develop an industry leading approach to modular construction that uses the very latest advances and technologies in modern methods of construction. Coupled with our proven ability to deliver traditional builds, we feel we are now perfectly placed to quickly respond to our clients’ needs with a number of solutions.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Prologis, one of the UK’s leading developers of logistics property, has agreed a 10-year lease for one of its units at Prologis Park Dawley Road in West London. Specialising in temperature-controlled haulage, Sophia Transport has moved into the 6,120 sq. ft. DC2 unit as it continues to expand its operations. They provide a comprehensive range of services within logistics, transport and shipping across the UK. DC2 is a modern, sustainable facility, designed with the operational needs of logistics in mind. The unit, in-line with Prologis’ continued commitment to lowering its carbon footprint, has sustainability built into the fabric of the building. Having achieved net zero carbon in construction, DC2 is rated BREEAM ‘Very Good’. Another unit at the park, DC7, is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment and will be ready for occupation in Spring 2023. The 26,081 sq. ft unit will benefit from a large secure yard with a maximum depth of 69m. Prologis Park Dawley Road, on Vinyl Place, has a rich history having previously been the home of EMI Records. The Park is part of a growing and vibrant business community with excellent links to air, road and rail transport, and close access to West London, Heathrow airport and the M25 making it perfect for use as an urban logistics hub. James Straw, Associate, Capital Deployment and Leasing, Prologis UK, said: “Welcoming Sophia Transport to Prologis Park Dawley Road is a reminder that there is still much demand for prime logistics space, in strong logistics locations such as Hayes. Prologis Park Dawley Road provides a range of unit sizes and is home to a broad range of customers in a variety of sectors. We’re always proud to be a part of our customers’ business growth journeys and look forward to welcoming Sophia Transport to the park.” Nabil Amin, Sales & Operations Director at Sophia Transport, said: “Our move to Prologis Park Dawley Road is an exciting step and representative of our continued growth. We look forward to working with the Prologis UK team as we venture into our next phase.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Two strikingly designed, high-quality student residences opened recently in Manchester and London on schedule and in time for the new University year. Developed by Alumno, each is unique in its appearance and architecture, yet makes a similarly active contribution to the community, heritage, regeneration and arts scene in their localities. Each also provides much-needed accommodation for students in both areas, freeing up housing for local residents. Bermondsey Spa The London development, Bermondsey Spa, was designed by Greenaway Architects, whose work was singled out for particular praise by Southward Council, and built by HG construction. It provides fully integrated facilities for 143 students, featuring high-quality rooms with shared amenities, including a basement cinema lounge, study room and community area. The building lies on the edge of the beautiful Bermondsey Spa Gardens, with rooms offering stunning views over London. Exposed concrete slabs, thermally broken, give Bermondsey Spa a strong horizontal emphasis. These slabs are divided beautifully with different tones of grey brick – lighter on the fifth and sixth floors, slightly darker on the middle floors – with all details in black. The facade has a subtle concertina form, sheading a pleasing shadow across the building. On entering the residence, students are greeted with a minimal reception area incorporating circular features reminiscent of the design of the New York subway in a monochrome palette. Meanwhile, the stairs to the basement communal area are adorned with artworks by finalists in the Photo North Student photography competition, as well as images shot by renowned Scottish photographer and curator Martin Gray. Commenting on Bermondsey Spa, resident and engineering student Unmer Sivad said: “The building looks great and functions very well. It’s all very state of the art and very environmentally sound. A big effort has been made to capture natural light, which is great in the daytime, while the artwork about the surrounding area make people feel connected to it.” Church Inn Named after the disused public house that previously occupied the site, the nine-storey Church Inn building in Manchester was designed by Carson & Partners and built by GMI Construction Group. Located close to major arterial road The Mancunian Way, it features 62 studio apartments, along with a communal area, rooftop terrace, office and storage space for 16 bikes. External landscaping highlights the history of the site, with the reclaimed facade bricks used to create a bespoke seating area. Architect Iain Carson has created an iconic building, instantly recognisable with its name carved into the balustrade surrounding the rooftop. Ben Kelly, the legendary Hacienda designer, has added his own touch with the wooden slats on the ground floor, where there is also a nod to the Manchester’s musical history, with an oval window reminiscent of a speaker in an old-school sound system. This is also reflected in the artwork in the communal areas on each floor, with portraits by Chris Floyd, including Sean Ryder (Happy Mondays), New Order and Oasis. Again, the work of finalists from the Photo North competition are on display. Meanwhile, signage from the old Church Inn pub is displayed at the entrance, and there’s even a model of the original pub building in the foyer. Quality and fuctionality Bespoke furniture in both developments has been provided by David Tatham of Tatham Studio. Attention to detail picks out the green at Bermondsey and the orange in Manchester on the furniture, which is followed through on the wayfinding and interior design. Commenting on the completed developments, Alumno Managing Director David Campbell said: “We are delighted with these latest examples of our design-led PBSA philosophy of delivering exceptional quality and functionality for our student residents. It’s all part of our mission to change the perception of student accommodation by creating unique buildings that reflect the heritage of the local areas and make a valuable contribution to the communities within which they are built.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home in Southwark has been awarded a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ with an overall score of 73%. The rating is an internationally recognised measure of a building’s sustainability and reflects the performance achieved by a project and its stakeholders, as measured against the BREEAM standard. The rating enables comparability between projects and provides assurance in ten areas, including management, health and wellbeing, energy, transport, water, materials, waste, land use and ecology, pollution and innovation. Camberwell Lodge Care and Nursing Home in the heart of the London Borough of Southwark offers a mix of residential, nursing and dementia care. The 98-bed new build care and nursing home opened in May 2022 on the site of Burgess Park Care Home. The innovative project was developed in partnership with WGP Architects and Horizon Building Contractors. It features a bold contemporary design and focuses on creating a sense of community for residents. “We are delighted to receive an Excellent BREEAM rating for Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home,” said David Hicks, Estates Director at Country Court. “The rating is in line with Southwark council’s requirements for the development of the care home, and means it is considered as the best in practice for sustainable building design”. Green measures are central to the building’s design. Its energy strategy will help lower water and energy use, cut carbon emissions which contribute to the greenhouse effect and keep running costs down compared to a standard design. Where energy and heat are needed, the building uses low-carbon technologies like solar panels, a combined heat and power boiler, and an air source heat pump. These will keep residents warm and safe, while also saving carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere and reducing reliance on gas. Key environmental considerations at Camberwell Lodge include biodiverse rooves to provide the maximum possible provision towards the creation of habitats and valuation areas for biodiversity (in accordance with local and city-wide policies). Good cyclist facilities are provided to encourage sustainable transport methods for staff and visitors. Limited car parking is available on site to discourage transport by car, the site itself is served by excellent public transport links. For more information about Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home or to make an appointment to view the home please contact, Nina Rogers, Senior Customer Relations Manager on 07549 035 654 or email nina.rogers@countrycourtcare.com Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has appointed experienced industry professional Peter Commins as director for the company’s Northern region. The move follows the opening of a Henry Brothers office in Manchester after a number of recent successful contract wins in the region including the refurbishment of The University of Manchester’s Chemistry Building, Glossopdale School and work for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). Peter has a wealth of experience in both construction and civil engineering and has previously worked for a number of leading tier one contractors including Mansell, Balfour Beatty and Kier. He has been a director or regional managing director for some 30 years, predominantly working in the North, and is a past chairman of the Construction Confederation. Managing Director of Henry Brothers Construction, Ian Taylor, said: “Peter is very well known and hugely respected in the industry. We are delighted to have appointed him to spearhead the growth of Henry Brothers in the North of England. “Peter has worked with numerous high-profile clients over many years. He knows the industry inside out, is extremely familiar with the region, and is perfectly placed to help us to continue to deliver the excellent service to clients that Henry Brothers is known for. We are pleased to welcome him to the team.” Peter, who began his industry career almost 50 years ago, and has been responsible for the delivery of numerous high-profile industry award-winning projects, said: “I am delighted to be joining Henry Brothers at this exciting time. The company is on an impressive sustainable growth trajectory, and I am looking forward to supporting the business with its continued expansion. I’ve been impressed with the number of frameworks that Henry Brothers has been appointed to, including Crown Commercial Services, Pagabo, YORbuild and Procure 23 and their approach to Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG).” Henry Brothers Construction is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit out. In partnership with its valued clients, it has a proven track record in education, defence, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors. For more information, visit henrybrothers.co.uk/ Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A nationwide insulation funding scheme aimed at middle income householders living in energy inefficient properties has been welcomed by insulation specialist Actis. The £1 billion ECO+ scheme, which launches in the spring and will run for up to three years, builds on the existing ECO (Energy Company Obligation) schemes, which have been running since 2013. Actis UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper welcomed the move, which covers home owners not eligible for the existing funding, whose target audience is people on benefits or in fuel poverty. “More than 25% of the UK’s traditional housing stock is more than a century old, much of it very leaky when it comes to keeping heat in,” he said. “Research shows that more than 12 million homes had EPCs of D or worse in 2020. In fact, we have some of the least energy efficient housing stock in Europe. Installing insulation is the most cost-effective way of stemming the flow of heat escaping from these homes. “With energy prices affecting everyone, not to mention the impact on the environment, it makes sense to ensure that the existing building fabric is as energy efficient as possible. Hopefully this new scheme will encourage people who have been considering improving the energy efficiency of their homes to go for it.” The original ECO schemes have so far seen energy efficiency measures installed in 2.4 million homes nationwide. The new initiative is aimed at those whose homes are in council tax bands A to D in England, A to E in Scotland and A to C in Wales – and which have EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) ratings of D or lower. Eligible households will be able to receive grants of up to £1,500 for insulation, which the government estimates will save them around £310 a year on their heating bills. Details are yet to be announced, and householders are being advised to contact their local council or energy supplier to find out whether they are participating. The news follows an announcement in the autumn statement that the government is to invest an additional £6bn between 2025 and 2028 to support its ‘energy demand reduction target’ to reduce demand by 15% by 2030. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals