The Midlands Engine Partnership came together at this year’s UK Real Estate Infrastructure Investment Forum [21-23 May] to showcase to a global audience partner priority investment propositions worth in excess of £48bn and with the potential to create around 380,000 jobs – more than doubling current jobs in the region.
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Building Safety Act 2022 aimed to revolutionise the way buildings are designed and constructed. While this was a major shift in the regulatory framework, further significant changes were introduced on 1st October 2023. Although the initial transitional period was set to end on 6th
West Yorkshire is set to become “greener, quicker” thanks to a groundbreaking new partnership between the public and the private sector, Mayor Tracy Brabin will say today. The West Yorkshire Strategic Climate and Environment Partnership was announced today at the major international investor conference, UKREiiF. It will see the re-elected
Leading building services engineering practice, Tate Consulting, has promoted Aaron Stevenson to director of its Belfast office. The promotion is in line with the firm’s ongoing expansion programme and numerous high profile contract wins, which will create more jobs in the coming months. Aaron joined Tate Consulting at the end
A principal contractor has been appointed to develop a new retail and trade park within Wynyard Business Park, anchored by a Sainsbury’s superstore. Hebburn-based Castle will lead the scheme, developed by Northumberland Estates, which includes 52,000 sq ft of retail space and a 45,000 sq ft trade park at the
A £43m contract has been awarded to extend full fibre broadband access to thousands of rural homes and businesses in Cheshire. Freedom Fibre has secured the contract as part of the government’s Project Gigabit initiative. As a result, 15,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses will gain access to broadband capable of
Brookfield and Logistik Service, through their joint venture agreement to build high-quality logistics space, have initiated the development of a c.850,000 square foot logistics platform in central Spain. The agreement includes the option to further expand the warehouse space by c.300,000 square foot. The new site is located in the
The University of East London (UEL) has reduced its carbon emissions by 10 per cent from its 2020/21 baseline to 2022/23 in its new net zero strategy, putting the organisation on track to achieve its 2030 net-zero target. UEL partnered with technology company Siemens to develop the strategy, which included
Lovell Homes proudly announces the commencement of construction at their highly anticipated Garrett Grove, Skelmanthorpe development, with the local cabinet member for housing, Cllr Moses Crook, gracing the groundbreaking ceremony. The new development, which sits on the outskirts of Huddersfield, will comprise 46 three and four-bedroom new homes, with the first
Award-winning contractor Beard has started work on an extensive upgrade of listed buildings in Oxford’s historic city centre. The £4.6m project is set to significantly boost energy performance. Beard is working on 19-21 St Johns Street, three late Georgian Grade II listed buildings used for student accommodation for nearby St
The Midlands Engine Partnership came together at this year’s UK Real Estate Infrastructure Investment Forum [21-23 May] to showcase to a global audience partner priority investment propositions worth in excess of £48bn and with the potential to create around 380,000 jobs – more than doubling current jobs in the region. For the first time, the Midlands Engine Partnership hosted its own pavilion giving local authority, business and university representatives a platform to present investment opportunities from across the Midlands. Panel discussions covered diverse topics from how Lincolnshire is powering the low-carbon energy sector, and how multiple developments will rejuvenate Derby city centre, to how Worcester’s Shrub Hill Development will bring a boost to the city with 5000 new jobs. Panel sessions in the pavilion were followed by the Midlands Investment Reception on Tuesday evening. An established event at UKREiiF, the Reception featured a welcome from Sir John Peace and the newly elected combined authority mayors – Richard Parker for the West Midlands and Claire Ward for the East. An updated Midlands Investment Portfolio worth £48bn+ Midlands Engine partner priority propositions can be accessed through the Midlands Investment Portfolio, updated for 2024. Newly added propositions include: St George’s’ development site in Wolverhampton city centre; Nottingham Studios, home to the recently launched R&I hub; and Sandwell’s ‘Grove Lane Masterplan’, a key regeneration area delivering more than 800 new homes in Smethwick. Altogether, the updated portfolio showcases the 90 most significant capital investment opportunities in the Midlands across a range of sectors, with a Gross Development Value over £48bn. Presenting a clear, easy-to-use tool for investors, the sites within the Portfolio have the potential to create 380,000 jobs, driving economic and social prosperity across the Midlands region. Sir John Peace, Chairman of Midlands Engine, said: “The potential for the Midlands to lead the way in driving national economic growth is hugely significant. UKREiiF continues to provide the Midlands Engine Partnership with the platform it needs to demonstrate to global investors that investing in the Midlands and its exceptional development opportunities is a sound business decision.” Launch of ‘Invest in UK University R&D’ campaign with £3 million fund A campaign demonstrating how university research and development can be the catalyst for investment in the region was also officially launched at the Midlands Investment Reception at UKREiiF. The campaign, co-led by Midlands Innovation and Midlands Engine, presents five investment prospectuses – each with a focus on a sector where the Midlands leads the world in R&D: agri-tech, creative and digital, health and life sciences, transport technology and zero carbon energy. Speaking at UKREiiF, the Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Andrew Griffith MP, announced an award of £1.5 million from the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) to support the campaign over the next two years. This is being matched by regional partners to provide £3m. The Minister said: “‘UK universities have directly attracted nearly £5bn of international industry funding into their research since 2015. But they are also a significant part of the UK’s global reputation as one of the world’s most innovative economies – attracting global investment that grows our economy and improves lives for people across Britain. I am delighted to announce £1.5m of Government support from the International Science Partnership Fund for this pioneering Campaign – led by our world-class universities in the Midlands. With this support, and working in partnership with the Government’s Science Innovation Network, universities will leverage their extensive global connections to alumni, industry and research to help drive inward investment into the regional economy.’ Sir John Peace, Midlands Engine Chairman, commented: “Our universities continue to be drivers of innovation with huge potential to attract investment from across the world. This campaign – the first of its kind – puts Midlands universities at the forefront of driving growth in the regional and wider UK economy.” Read more about the campaign launchwww.midlandsinnovation.org.uk/midlands-universities-launch-3m-campaign Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Building Safety Act 2022 aimed to revolutionise the way buildings are designed and constructed. While this was a major shift in the regulatory framework, further significant changes were introduced on 1st October 2023. Although the initial transitional period was set to end on 6th April, this was extended until 6th July to avoid the industry grinding to a halt. So, what should we look out for now that built environment professionals have longer to prove their competence? Seen as a more stringent regime for the regulation of all controlled building work, including the statutory registration of all building control inspectors, the amendments will create a category of ‘higher risk buildings’ (HRBs) that will be overseen by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). In fact, the Act will create a more rigorous and demanding regime for the planning, design, construction and operation of prescribed classes of buildings, with new building control and planning gateways, safety cases, accountable persons, and a statutory golden thread of information, all linked to a formal certification of a building by the BSR. Additionally, the introduction of new regulations covering the competence of those who undertake building work and new statutory roles for designers and contractors on all projects will apply to not just HRBs but all building work, impacting any project that requires building regulations approval – with only limited exceptions. While the transitional period has been extended, it’s imperative that industry professionals understand exactly how these regulation changes could impact the industry after 6th July 2024. What has changed and how will this impact the industry? Under the new regulations, the BSR became the building control body for new HRBs, overseeing safety standards and implementing the new regulatory framework for high-rise buildings. These are classed as any buildings at least seven storeys tall and over 18 metres in height. Additionally, they must contain at least two residential units, including care homes, student accommodation and hospitals. These buildings must have been registered with BSR by 1st October 2023. In fact, any building work on an HRB will need to be submitted to the BSR for approval. Local authority building control departments and approved building inspectors will no longer be able to handle these applications. Any construction projects face three safety checkpoints, with Gateways Two and Three now impacted by the new Building Safety Act regulations. Indeed, Gateway Two requires applicants to submit building control applications to BSR before construction can commence. Gateway Three sees the BSR assessing whether work has been completed in line with building regulations before occupation. For higher-risk building projects to continue under the current framework, initial notices or full plans had to have been submitted and not rejected by 1st October 2023. Furthermore, the project must have ‘sufficiently progressed’ by the original deadline of April 6th 2024. Any projects that met these criteria won’t have been subject to Gateways Two and Three. All information submitted in support of an HRB application will also be stored in the ‘Golden Thread’ of information, a key recommendation of the Grenfell enquiry. This allows anyone involved in a project to understand the building and the steps needed to keep both the building and its occupants safe. Safety case reports, summarising major structural and fire hazards and risk management measures, are also mandatory. In fact, principal accountable persons must have identified and assessed safety risks, underlined how safety incidents can be prevented and revealed measures to mitigate their severity. Only registered building inspectors will be able to work in building control The amendments to the Act will also see the introduction of registered building control approvers and registered building inspectors, who will provide advice to those overseeing building work. Collaborating with the registered building control approvers, these inspectors will assess workmanship, materials and adherence to plans and issue completion certificates or notices of non-compliance. All building control approvers and inspectors now need to be registered, with a code of conduct and defined registration criteria established by BSR. These professionals will be required to complete their accreditation by the newly extended 6th July 2024 deadline. There are still many practicing professionals yet to start their applications to register According to the latest figures from the BSR, around 3,200 practicing professionals have started their applications to register. That means that as it stands, around 72% of all building control surveyors will likely be registered by the 6th July deadline. Any building control surveyors only registered at class one by the now 6th July deadline, will be unable to carry out building control functions unsupervised. While the deadline has been extended, there are fears in the industry that many professionals are going to be unable to get their credentials in order. This is partly down to the BSR’s schema of registration classes and sub-classes being so complex. Additionally, for higher levels, there are exams to be passed, not something therefore that can be done instantaneously. With the process being so important in establishing building control as a regulated profession, it’s imperative that action is taken without delay. This is especially pertinent given that the BSR has made it clear that there will be no further extensions to the 6th July deadline. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
West Yorkshire is set to become “greener, quicker” thanks to a groundbreaking new partnership between the public and the private sector, Mayor Tracy Brabin will say today. The West Yorkshire Strategic Climate and Environment Partnership was announced today at the major international investor conference, UKREiiF. It will see the re-elected West Yorkshire Mayor team up with four major private sector firms to accelerate delivery of the region’s net zero plans. The companies will work alongside the Mayor on targeted activity to deliver green skills, decarbonise homes and businesses, and put the region on the path to net zero carbon by 2038. In return, the firms will benefit from the Mayor and Combined Authority’s influence and leadership on climate and the environment, giving them the confidence to invest in West Yorkshire at scale. Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “During my first term, I was proud to invest over £200 million in green projects. Working with partners, we insulated social homes, match-funded businesses to green their processes, put electric buses on our roads, and provided direct grants to communities to lower their carbon footprint. “But we will not deliver net zero without bringing the private sector with us. This groundbreaking new partnership will help us become greener, quicker and deliver net zero at scale and at speed, cutting energy bills in a cost of living crisis, and building a brighter region for future generations.” The four firms which make up the new climate partnership with the Mayor are: Dan Rosenfield, Managing Director of Centrica Net Zero, said: “Helping people live smarter, greener lives requires strong collaboration and partnerships. We’re delighted to work with West Yorkshire Combined Authority to support their net zero journey. “Our purpose is to energise a greener, fairer future. We will work collaboratively with WYCA and other partners to help make net zero simple and affordable, utilising our Hive smart energy system and inhouse expertise.” Hiro Ishikawa, Managing Director of Daikin UK, said: “Daikin is delighted to be a strategic partner of the West Yorkshire Strategic Climate & Environment Partnership. “Switching to sustainable energy is critical to meeting net zero targets, and our heat pump solutions will help make homes greener, warmer, and more energy-efficient. This exciting new partnership means we will work together to support the region in its vital decarbonisation goals. “We look forward to working closely with communities and wider stakeholders to develop and upskill the West Yorkshire region, and support the low-carbon transition. Neil Kirkby, Managing Director of Enterprise at SSE Energy Solutions, said: “Our agreement to work closely with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is further evidence of SSE’s commitment to engaging with local communities to ensure a fair transition to a sustainable future. Our expertise in decarbonisation and renewable energy together with the WYCA’s ambition to play its part in tackling climate change has enormous potential to drive change and this collaboration is one that can be replicated with regions throughout the UK and Ireland. “At SSE we are investing in the communities where we operate, driving local economic growth, and working to unlock the potential of low-carbon technologies. If we can foster the development of a skilled green workforce, we will build a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.” Derek Horrocks, Owner of Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected by The West Yorkshire Strategic Climate and Environment Partnership as one of the four major private firms to come together with them to form this ground breaking Public/Private strategic partnership to create large scale green communities with a central ethos of ‘greener quicker for future generations’ across West Yorkshire. “We look forward to bringing our expertise to this collaboration in delivering building decarbonisation at scale and speed, alongside our wider group offering of blending private/public sector funding and vision to offer every household a financially viable solution to decarbonise their homes, alongside our extremely innovative Fintech and Proptech offerings to support the funding of solutions for all and to provide the ability to monitor and evaluate closely the outcomes of the decarbonisation interventions we install”. To turbocharge the road to net zero, the Combined Authority will also deepen its relationship with the Green Finance Institute, Leeds Building Society, and the Energy Saving Trust. The three organisations will advise and support the Mayor to deliver on her most recent election pledges. Mayor Brabin has promised to put in place a programme to retrofit every social home in West Yorkshire, and to set-up a retrofit “one-stop-shop” to help every household reduce their energy bills. Leeds Building Society’s Senior Strategy Manager, Nicola Glover, will be working closely with the Mayor over the next three months to explore the financial options for West Yorkshire residents to deliver retrofit work that improves the energy efficiency of their homes and reduces their energy bills. Andrew Greenwood, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Leeds Building Society, said: “We are proud to contribute Nicola’s time and expertise to simplify the finance options for greener home improvements within our heartland. We recently conducted some research* which shows that 8% people don’t know where to start when considering making green improvements to their home. We hope this partnership will help to simplify the process for those considering starting any retrofit work on their home. “Leeds Building Society is committed to an orderly transition to net zero. We were the first lender to reward buyers opting for greener homes by factoring in lower energy bill commitments into our lending decisions. Through this partnership, we hope to be able to help more people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.” Emma Harvey-Smith, Chief of Staff at the Green Finance Institute, said: “Local and Combined Authorities have a deep understanding of their residents’ needs and are increasingly acknowledging the potential of partnering with the private finance sector to ensure fair access to finance for their communities.“We are thrilled to engage in the collaboration with WYCA and Leeds Building Society to support the Better Homes Hub programme. Together, we will
Leading building services engineering practice, Tate Consulting, has promoted Aaron Stevenson to director of its Belfast office. The promotion is in line with the firm’s ongoing expansion programme and numerous high profile contract wins, which will create more jobs in the coming months. Aaron joined Tate Consulting at the end of 2021, which coincided with the Yorkshire headquartered company’s expansion into Belfast. Since then, Aaron has worked alongside fellow Tate Consulting director, Jim Lee, to grow the office organically and it now employs a 10-strong team close to Belfast City Airport in the Belmont Office Park on Belmont Road. Prior to joining Tate Consulting, Aaron spent 25 years working for several other well-known engineering firms in Northern Ireland. In his new role, as well as overseeing the delivery of projects and leading the team, Aaron is responsible for managing the office’s finances, policies and recruitment, with plans already in place to appoint several new people, including associates and senior associates. Tate Consulting provides a full range of commercial engineering solutions from mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) concept design to project handover and post-occupancy evaluation, as well as building physics, fire engineering services, sustainability and building performance assessments and master planning. In recent months, the company has won several major projects including large-scale residential schemes in central London, Brentford, Southampton, Manchester, Leeds and York, which combined will consist of more than 3000 homes. Aaron said: “Our growth to date in Belfast has outstripped all our expectations and we’ve already completed a wide range of significant projects throughout the UK and Ireland, as well as building a solid and professional team. In recent months we’ve been appointed on another tranche of projects, particularly in the residential market, where developers want our expertise of working on high-rise and very energy efficient schemes with high quality amenities. “As a result of these latest wins, we’re now ready to expand our team further with ambitious and experienced people who aspire to work on career defining projects. All this makes it a very exciting time to step up to director level and I’m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.” Shane Tate, managing director at Tate Consulting added: “Aaron has been instrumental in us quickly establishing a strong foothold in Belfast and he thoroughly deserves this promotion. In the past two and half years, the Belfast team have completed projects across the residential, retail, industrial and leisure sectors, and further enhanced Tate Consulting’s reputation for adding significant value to projects and we’re now ready to embark on our next phase of growth.” Projects that Tate Consulting’s Belfast team have recently completed work on several new stores for high street giant, The Range, and several projects in and around the Dublin area, including a substantial 450,000 sq ft. state of the art distribution centre for Primark. In London the Belfast team have worked on a stunning new 30-storey apartment development at West India Dock Road at Canary Wharf, known as Vetro, and provided full mechanical and electrical services in new fitness suites created at The Clubhouse, which is an exclusive gym within Royal Wharf. The company has also worked on the sensitive renovation of a Grade II-listed neo-classical United Reformed Church, which sits at the heart of Leamington Spa’s Creative Quarter masterplan. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A principal contractor has been appointed to develop a new retail and trade park within Wynyard Business Park, anchored by a Sainsbury’s superstore. Hebburn-based Castle will lead the scheme, developed by Northumberland Estates, which includes 52,000 sq ft of retail space and a 45,000 sq ft trade park at the Stockton site. The development will feature seven units, including the 46,000 sq ft superstore, alongside a Starbucks, Howdens, Screwfix, and Doves. Additional key retailers are anticipated to take space at the site. The broader Wynyard Business Park is home to over 60 businesses, employing around 5,000 people. The Sainsbury’s store alone is expected to create 124 jobs. Construction is set to begin this month, with the site fully operational by June 2025. Castle, headquartered in Hebburn, also has offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Teesside. The business has secured a turnover of £65m for 2024. Managing Director Andrew Dawson said: “After a successful tender process, we have been appointed as principal contractor to deliver the facilities at the new retail and trade park. “The project will involve our teams in everything from initial enabling works, statutory services, earthworks, groundworks, frame and envelope through to partial MEP services and external services, including associated roads and car parks.” Craig Muldoon, divisional director, build, at Castle, added that sustainability will play a significant role throughout the works. “There will be substantial renewable energy measures, including EV charging points and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to store energy from solar panels and release it when needed.” Peter Dalby, development manager at Northumberland Estates, said: “We are delighted to have obtained planning permission for the first phase of the Wynyard Retail and Trade Park. This is a key development for Northumberland Estates, which will provide consumer choice and promote economic growth in the region. As we move into the construction phase, we look forward to working with Castle to deliver the project to a high specification.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A £43m contract has been awarded to extend full fibre broadband access to thousands of rural homes and businesses in Cheshire. Freedom Fibre has secured the contract as part of the government’s Project Gigabit initiative. As a result, 15,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses will gain access to broadband capable of delivering the fastest speeds on the market. Project Gigabit is a £5bn nationwide rollout aimed at areas that would have been overlooked in the industry’s rollout of gigabit-capable broadband. Freedom Fibre will begin with a period of detailed design and survey work, with construction expected to start in early 2025. The project will cover remote villages such as Kingswood, Allostock, and Minshull Vernon. Neil McArthur, founder and chief executive of Freedom Fibre, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this contract, increasing full-fibre coverage across Cheshire and further strengthening our relationship with Building Digital UK and local authorities across the county. This investment in full-fibre will end over 100 years of copper-based services and unleash untold potential for homes and businesses across Cheshire.” Julia Lopez, minister for data and digital infrastructure, added: “Homes and businesses in rural Cheshire not covered by broadband suppliers’ plans will get access to the fastest internet speeds available, thanks to this latest contract under the government’s Project Gigabit. This government’s investment in lightning-fast upgrades will benefit hard-to-reach communities all over the county, boosting productivity in local industries and helping households to stream, work, and play without a hitch.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Brookfield and Logistik Service, through their joint venture agreement to build high-quality logistics space, have initiated the development of a c.850,000 square foot logistics platform in central Spain. The agreement includes the option to further expand the warehouse space by c.300,000 square foot. The new site is located in the municipality of Ontígola and is expected to be in full operation by the summer of 2025. The warehouse will consist of c.850,000 square foot of built area on a plot of c.1.4 million square feet in the Dehesa de la Plata industrial estate. The space will have 75 loading bays, a 35-metre manoeuvring area and a free height of 13.70 metres. The building also has state-of-the-art offices, ample parking spaces for vehicles and trailers, as well as LEED GOLD & WELL GOLD environmental certificates. The platform is well-located in the industrial estate of Ontígola, which is an important logistics hub due to its close proximity to Andalusia and Levante. In addition, it is located 45 minutes from Madrid and Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport and represents the consolidation of Ontígola as a major logistics centre in the south of Madrid. A number of leading multi-national companies are operating their logistics in the area. Proequity, a leading consultancy firm in real estate operations, also participated together with CBRE in the formation of the joint venture between Brookfield and Logistik Service, and has been the consultancy firm that has closed this operation with regard to the leasing of the logistics warehouse. According to Alberto Nin Garaizabal, Managing Director, Brookfield: “As one of the largest developments in Spain this year, the project highlights our commitment to building high-quality logistics assets in the country and delivering scaled solutions for our partner tenants. The Ontigola area is extremely well connected, and this new platform will support the economic growth of the area and create jobs for the local community.” Javier Muniesa de Caveda, Development Director of Logistik Service, added: “This project is an important milestone for our company in its aim to become the reference company in the Spanish logistics real estate market. This is the culmination of several years of logistics development and the construction of warehouses in this municipality, which reinforces its position as one of the key hubs for logistics activities in our country”. Daniel Galache, partner of Proequity, explains that “Beyond the obvious fact that this is a very important project, not only for all those involved but also on a national market level, we are very proud to have done our bit by demonstrating our capacity to respond to the increasingly demanding needs of our clients in the real estate market”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The University of East London (UEL) has reduced its carbon emissions by 10 per cent from its 2020/21 baseline to 2022/23 in its new net zero strategy, putting the organisation on track to achieve its 2030 net-zero target. UEL partnered with technology company Siemens to develop the strategy, which included a roadmap to reduce carbon emissions across the university’s campuses in the London Docklands and Stratford, which are home to 25,000 students. The first major step towards the reduction of energy consumption on campus was through the installation of LED lighting in all buildings and upgrades to all building management system controllers. As part of the second phase, Siemens is installing technologies across the University’s campuses which will help it to decarbonise its energy consumption. This includes the installation of approximately 2MW of solar photovoltaics (PV), which is estimated to generate 1.2 GWh of zero carbon electricity a year, and the installation of 27 electric charging points at the University’s Docklands Campus, which will go live in the next month. UEL estimates that 90 per cent of this zero carbon energy will be consumed across the University’s campuses, with the remainder exported to the National Grid. Siemens will also support UEL in creating a ‘Living Lab’ to embed sustainability across the University’s course curriculums and provide real-time data allowing students to develop the skills they need to succeed in a green economy. Simon Burgess, Head of Solutions, Energy Performance Services, at Siemens in the UK and Ireland, said: “Our partnership with UEL will support the University in meeting its net zero targets, providing a structured roadmap to cut carbon emissions across both campuses. “We’ve already made significant progress over the last 12 months and the next phase will focus on installing more new renewable energy assets on-site to support sustainable generation. “True partnership and collaboration are key to this success, and that goes beyond decarbonisation. Achieving a net zero economy also depends on developing the right talent for the future, and we’re making the data from our work available to students to inform their studies and equip them with the knowledge and skills they will need to thrive in the green economy.” Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice Chancellor and President, University of East London, added: “Our long-term partnership with Siemens is central to our commitment to becoming a national decarbonisation leader, and providing a global blueprint for urban sustainability. We have already delivered significant carbon reduction savings and reduced both our emissions and energy consumption more than any other modern university in London, thanks to state-of-the-art energy generation technology. “And, importantly, our ‘Living Lab’ will provide our students, researchers and local businesses an inclusive place to test, research and commercialise green technology in a real-world environment, with access to the latest developments in smart technology to empower our students to become sustainability leaders of the future.” Siemens will be showcasing how technology can accelerate organisations’ decarbonisation journeys at its free-to-attend Transform event on 17th and 18th of July. To register click: https://siemens.co.uk/transform Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lovell Homes proudly announces the commencement of construction at their highly anticipated Garrett Grove, Skelmanthorpe development, with the local cabinet member for housing, Cllr Moses Crook, gracing the groundbreaking ceremony. The new development, which sits on the outskirts of Huddersfield, will comprise 46 three and four-bedroom new homes, with the first new homeowners set to move in later this year. Drawing inspiration from Skelmanthorpe’s rich textile heritage, the Garrett Grove development pays homage to the iconic Garrett buildings that once stood majestically at the historic junction of Cumberworth Road and Huddersfield Road, affectionately known as The Triangle. This locale served as the birthplace of the village’s pioneering textile mill, a testament to the industrious spirit of its community. Robert Adams, Regional Managing Director at Lovell, said: “Skelmanthorpe is a lovely area with a rich history, thanks to the town’s long-standing links to the textile industry. The iconic Garrett buildings have become an important symbol of Skelmanthorpe’s heritage, and in naming the new development after them, we wanted to celebrate that. Garrett Grove is set to be a fantastic location, and we look forward to welcoming our first homeowners in due course.” Works on the new site will bring significant investment and jobs to the local community across various roles. Robert added: “Garrett Grove will be a wonderful new community, offering property seekers a wide choice of house types and purchasing options. We’re passionate about delivering quality homes that meet buyers’ growing and diverse housing needs in all the areas we build in, and Garrett Grove is no exception. In the heart of West Yorkshire, it offers buyers great countryside views and links into Huddersfield and Wakefield.” Skelmanthorpe’s local cabinet member for housing, Cllr Moses Crook, echoed Robert’s sentiment, explaining: “We are always keen to see developments that provide much-needed housing solutions for the people of Kirklees. As Skelmanthorpe continues to flourish, the introduction of Garrett Grove marks further progress in the community’s growth.” The launch of Garrett Grove marks the continued expansion across Lovell within the eastern region, with several other new developments currently in the pipeline. To learn more about the homes at Garrett Grove set to launch this Summer, visit here or call 01484 817 530. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning contractor Beard has started work on an extensive upgrade of listed buildings in Oxford’s historic city centre. The £4.6m project is set to significantly boost energy performance. Beard is working on 19-21 St Johns Street, three late Georgian Grade II listed buildings used for student accommodation for nearby St John’s College. To achieve high energy performance standards, Beard is upgrading the external fabric of the building to drastically reduce heat loss. It is also installing high performance woodfibre insulation to the internal face of the building. This will greatly increase energy performance at the same time as allowing traditional stonework to breathe. The works include replacing gas boiler systems with air source heat pumps to provide heating and hot water. To improve air tightness and soundproofing, Beard is also upgrading the windows with sensitively designed, secondary internal glazing. The design team has carefully pursued this approach to minimise the impact on the external appearance of the listed buildings. Beard is working to protect and retain the building’s special historic features, including existing floors and stonework. Dean Averies, Beard director for its Oxford office, said: “We are actively conserving these wonderful, listed buildings and using innovative techniques to bring them up to an extremely high energy performance standard. This important project will reduce carbon emissions and improve students’ standard of living. Our work is based on decades of experience in completing complex development and restoration projects, including St Johns College itself, and many other high-profile listed buildings across Oxford.” Ian Stokes, works bursar at St John’s College, Oxford, said: “We are very pleased to work with Beard again, drawing upon their wealth of knowledge and experience, not only in restoration but in high energy performance techniques.” Beard is a family-owned and run construction company based in Swindon, with more than 130-years of experience. Alongside its head office in Swindon, Beard has regional offices in Bristol, Oxford, and Guildford, and a new south coast office. The design team is: Project managers/contract Administrators: Fusion Project Management Architects: TSH Architects M,E & Sustainability Engineers: CPW Structural and Civil Engineers: HRW Landscape Architects: Adams Habermehl. For more information, please visit www.beardconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
