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 Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) is pleased to announce new comprehensive Europe-wide guidance, Embodied carbon in building services: logistics centres (TM65.3). This is a groundbreaking industry guidance that helps the logistics industry assess the embodied carbon of material handling equipment (MHE) and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP)
The UK’s leading social enterprise, Places for People has appointed Darren Dancey as the Development Managing Director for the South West. With over 30 years of experience within the property sector, Darren will prove instrumental in strengthening the region and delivering on key strategic business objectives. With extensive experience and
Announced during UKREiiF, Blackpool Council is seeking a development partner for 30,000 sqm of land at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. Work to build an £18m road to access the development plots has started and is expected to complete in late 2025, with the land released slightly earlier for construction. Once
A new aquifer-fed open loop heat pump-based energy centre has been designed to offer the University of Nottingham an effective route to decarbonising its campus with an initial focus on the Law and Social Sciences Building and the Hallward Library. Silcock Leedham Group, an RSK company, has worked on the
Construction has commenced on an 8-bed Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for Dorset HealthCare at their Alumhurst Road site in Bournemouth. Designed by Medical Architecture alongside the NHS Trust and being built by Kier Construction, the new building will take advantage of its
Comline Group, a global automotive parts supplier known for its Comline, Motaquip and Allied Nippon brands, is set to relocate its UK headquarters to Goodman’s Bedford Commercial Park. Following significant business growth, the company will occupy 70,000 sq ft of modern, high-bay warehousing and contemporary office space, supporting plans to
A night of glitz, glamour and safety excellence… The dazzling lights of the RoSPA Awards 2024, sponsored by Croner-i, illuminated a night to remember on May 14th, as over 1300 health and safety visionaries came together at the five-star JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London to celebrate their unwavering commitment to
Engineering, design, and advisory practice, Buro Happold, has been awarded a leading place on the National Heat Network Zoning Programme to provide National Zoning Methodology, Commercial, Technical and Project Management Support to the UK Government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). From 2025 national Heat Network Zoning policy
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
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) is pleased to announce new comprehensive Europe-wide guidance, Embodied carbon in building services: logistics centres (TM65.3). This is a groundbreaking industry guidance that helps the logistics industry assess the embodied carbon of material handling equipment (MHE) and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) equipment commonly used in logistics centres. The guidance was developed with the support of Introba and Amazon. This is the first industry-wide guidance and methodology that aims to foster informed data-based decision-making as the logistics industry works towards reducing its environmental footprint. The guidance enables the industry to gain a deeper understanding of its environmental impact and identify opportunities for decarbonisation. According to a Research and Markets report, the global market size of MHE was $128Bn, and is estimated to reach $193Bn in 2030*. Embodied carbon encompasses greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials and construction processes across different lifecycle stages. The guidance finds that MHE can represent an additional 17-53% of a typical logistics building’s embodied carbon. This shows that companies can reduce their environmental impact by making more informed decisions about the type of equipment used in their warehouses, and equipment manufacturers have the opportunity to differentiate and lead by developing equipment with lower carbon footprints. TM65.3 builds upon the methodology outlined in Embodied carbon in building services: A calculation methodology (TM65), a calculation method for embodied carbon emissions in building services design that provides a robust framework for understanding and mitigating environmental impact. TM65.3 will benefit a wide array of stakeholders, including logistics building owners, manufacturers, retailers, architects, engineers, policymakers, researchers and students. By providing comprehensive insights into the embodied carbon impact of MHE and MEP strategies, the document empowers those stakeholders to make informed decisions aligned with their organisation’s sustainability goals. CIBSE’s Technical Director, Dr Anastasia Mylona stated: “This launch marks a significant milestone in understanding the embodied carbon implications of logistics buildings and underscores our commitment to sustainability within the built environment. By pooling our expertise with Amazon and Introba, we will empower stakeholders across the logistics sector with actionable insights to drive positive change.” Frank Lindner, Director, Operations Engineering EMEA, Amazon: “Calculating and understanding embodied carbon is a challenge across many sectors, and we’re proud to have supported CIBSE in their efforts to create robust industry guidance that will help Amazon and all those in the industry better understand their footprints and make more informed design and buying decisions.” Introba’s Head of Sustainability for UK & Europe Andy Stanton said: “TM65.3 is our first step along the journey to quantifying the embodied carbon across various logistics building typologies, particularly material handling equipment. There is no sign of demand for goods and services decreasing any time soon, so the need to understand the embodied carbon of the fast-growing logistics sector is paramount.” As the logistics industry continues to evolve, TM65.3 will serve as a dynamic resource, with information continually updated as more manufacturers disclose data and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) become more prevalent. This ongoing collaboration between CIBSE, Amazon and Introba underscores a shared commitment to sustainability and innovation within the logistics sector. For more information on TM65.3 please visit CIBSE TM65.3 Embodied carbon in building services * Global Material Handling Equipment Markets Report 2023: Market to Reach $193 Billion by 2030 – 3PL, E-Commerce and F&B Manufacturing & Retail Driving Growth (yahoo.com) Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK’s leading social enterprise, Places for People has appointed Darren Dancey as the Development Managing Director for the South West. With over 30 years of experience within the property sector, Darren will prove instrumental in strengthening the region and delivering on key strategic business objectives. With extensive experience and excellent knowledge of the South West, Darren started his career at Crest Nicholson in an entry level position and progressed up the career ladder to Managing Director of the South West and Midlands regions, with six years working with the Exec Team and on the main board. He then joined Countryside for three years as Managing Director of the South West, where he successfully started and developed a new region. As one of the UK’s leading placemakers, Places for People is committed to investing in places, creating opportunities, and building thriving communities. In order to ensure that the Social Enterprise can continue to deliver new sustainable communities that address the needs of current and future customers, Places for People is committed to increasing the percentage of projects that it self-builds. In the South West, where only 20% of Places for People homes are currently built by the developer, an ambitious five-year plan is underway to transition to a point where around 70% of new homes will be self-built. In order to achieve this new strategic vision, Darren will be instrumental in growing the region. This expansion will see Places for People generate new jobs for local people across the South West, covering both office-based and on-site roles, including technical, commercial, build, sales, and marketing. Jon Cook, CEO Developments for Places for People comments:“As we seek to strengthen our offering for the communities we serve, our regions will be essential in ensuring we can achieve our target of delivering up to 5,000 homes per year within the next five years. Darren’s expertise operating at the highest level in this region will transform the operating of the region. Darren will prove to be a great asset and we are excited to see how the region continues to develop under his leadership.” Throughout 2024, Darren and his team will see work start on site at five new developments in Gillingham, Swindon, Exeter, Poundbury and Havant, providing a combined total of over 900 new homes for the region. The region is also continuing with its ongoing delivery of schemes in Bordon, Hampshire and at Poundbury in Dorset. Darren Dancey comments: “Having seen some of Places for People’s latest work through my network on LinkedIn, I was interested to discover more about the social enterprise. The group’s ethos and value is particularly inspiring and I am excited to help shape the next chapter of the South West region as we look to deliver more high-quality, affordable homes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Announced during UKREiiF, Blackpool Council is seeking a development partner for 30,000 sqm of land at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. Work to build an £18m road to access the development plots has started and is expected to complete in late 2025, with the land released slightly earlier for construction. Once the road is open, the site will be accessible by car and HGV just five minutes off the M55 motorway, while it also sits next to Blackpool Airport, which services chartered and business jets, and can operate aircraft up to B737 Max. The site already has been granted planning permission for employment purposes, with the preferred use a series of industrial units catered to the advanced manufacturing, energy, food and drink and digital sectors. The development plots, which could cater for units ranging from 15,000 sq ft to 75,000 sq ft, will be available from summer 2025 and will be targeted for industrial and warehouse use, specifically aimed at advanced manufacturing, energy, food and drink production and digital technology sectors. Plots on the Eastern Gateway will be provided with bell mouths off the highway, landscaping and access to individual secondary substations, while the wider site offers sustainable cycleways and transport routes, as well as green drainage and landscaping. Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone also hosts the ‘North Atlantic Loop’ subsea cable, carrying up to one-third of the world’s internet traffic. This means the site can access high capacity, ultra-low latency access to some of the world’s fastest, most reliable internet speeds. Equally, a data centre quarter – Silicon Sands – is being developed at a separate site on the Enterprise Zone in the coming years. Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Levelling Up (Place) at Blackpool Council, said: “The Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone is becoming a premier business destination for the North West, with a number of leading national and international manufacturing companies already located here. “For developers, we have made great progress on the infrastructure, with power, internet and water being delivered to the site, and a brand-new landscaped access road available next year. With a large element of the risk taken out of the site, this allows a developer to work with us to realise our ambitions of creating more high quality jobs in the local area over the next few years.” The full Expression of Interest (EOI) document can be found at www.blackpoolez.com or by emailing ez@blackpool.gov.uk and developers are asked to submit proposals by 1 July 2024. Support to build the new access road at the Enterprise Zone has been provided through a £7.5m grant from HM Government Town Fund, while architectural support has been provided by Cassidy and Ashton and Wildes Consulting. The highway is being constructed by George Cox & Sons Ltd. For more information on the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, visit www.blackpoolez.com.
A new aquifer-fed open loop heat pump-based energy centre has been designed to offer the University of Nottingham an effective route to decarbonising its campus with an initial focus on the Law and Social Sciences Building and the Hallward Library. Silcock Leedham Group, an RSK company, has worked on the project with WM Saunders, the project’s lead designers. The Law and Social Sciences Building and Hallward Library, which officially opened in 1960 and 1973, respectively, are currently connected to a gas-fired district heating system commissioned in 1954 to heat the campus. The buildings are to be removed from the network as part of the university’s decarbonisation strategy, and an alternative, sustainable heating and cooling system will be introduced. Work on-site is expected to begin in July 2024 and will include building the water source heat pump infrastructure on campus. Once complete, the new infrastructure is estimated to save around 500 tonnes of CO₂ per annum, according to engineers at Silcock Leedham Group. This is the equivalent of 250 return flights from London to New York or enough CO₂ to fill 500 hot air balloons. Silcock Leedham Group Associate Sean Kitchingman said: “Finding a substantive viable alternative to the current heating system that meets the university’s carbon management plan was a challenge. These are big buildings that were built to older building construction standards and regulations when energy preservation and reducing carbon emissions were not a priority – we needed to find a system that offered sufficient low-carbon heat to maintain internal building temperatures required for learning and comfort and to maximise energy efficiency at the same time. A conversation between the Silcock Leedham Group team and Carbon Zero Consulting led to the mixed open loop water source heat pump energy centre and air source heat pump type solution that the university has opted to install. “To make this possible, the systems will use the abundant groundwater and atmospheric air renewable energy sources to supply the heat pump-based systems. The groundwater will be sourced from the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer, which flows directly below the campus. Once installed, these systems will be low carbon, using the heat energy contained within the surrounding air and groundwater to provide heating and cooling to the buildings at scale.” University of Nottingham Director of Property, Space and Development Andy Nolan said: “The programme of investment in the Law and Social Sciences Building and Hallward Library to improve energy efficiency and connect to a low-carbon energy centre is a key part of the university’s decarbonisation plan. We’re committed to decarbonising how we heat buildings and lowering our use of natural gas – this project is a key part of that.” Alongside the specialist mechanical and electrical engineering and energy and sustainability services brought by the team at Silcock Leedham group, sister company Carbon Zero Consulting provided hydrogeology advice. Carbon Zero Consulting Associate Technical Director Dr Anna Hitchmough said: “The groundwater in the aquifer that sits beneath the university will provide a low-carbon energy source to deliver energy to the new heating system. In order to use this as a resource, an open loop ground source heat pump borehole feasibility study enabled borehole drilling and field testing to be planned. This work allowed detailed design works to establish the most efficient way to harness the energy contained within the water through correct borehole design and placement. As the project progresses, the Carbon Zero Consulting team will assist in detailed borehole testing and gaining full Environment Agency approval and licensing for the works.” Sean said: “Decarbonising these buildings came with numerous engineering, sustainability and energy challenges. The current approach makes the most of the stable and abundant renewable heat energy from the Sherwood aquifer running directly below the campus and the surrounding air. By using a number of abstraction and reinjection boreholes for the ground source heat pump system, we can gain a direct connection to this source. The installation of modern high temperature heat pumps and air source heat pumps serving the air handling units in the Hallward Library will meet the existing heating and cooling demand of the buildings.” The works are expected to take one year after beginning in July Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction has commenced on an 8-bed Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for Dorset HealthCare at their Alumhurst Road site in Bournemouth. Designed by Medical Architecture alongside the NHS Trust and being built by Kier Construction, the new building will take advantage of its elevated woodland site to create a safe and therapeutic space for the recovery of a vulnerable patient group. There is currently a shortage of facilities in the south of England for children and young people with an acute mental health illness who cannot be safely cared for on a General Adolescent Unit. This proposed facility will enable staff to effectively treat patients who display highly complex and challenging behaviours, in a secure and dignified setting. Suitable for patients between 12 and 18 years old, the building includes 8 inpatient beds, day spaces, a two-classroom school facility, treatment spaces, tribunal room, seclusion room, de-escalation room and an extra-care suite. Utilising a site of natural quality The site for the new unit is close to an existing Grade II* Listed hospital building and features attractive grounds that provide a secluded and therapeutic setting. The building design has been influenced by the challenges and opportunities presented by the site’s constraints, as well as the very specific requirements of the patient group. Taking advantage of the steeply sloping site and woodland setting, the new building is located on an existing plateau, elevating the patient accommodation so there is a direct connection to the surrounding tree canopies. Staff accommodation is located at a lower ground floor level, with access to an external landscaped area and attractive views from their working environment. Specialist facilities for a vulnerable patient group Considering the complex needs of the patient group, the building has been designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients and staff. Clear zoning of accommodation enables patients to co-exist in harmony with opportunities for separation to de-escalate tension. All patient accommodation and clinical space is located on a single level, linked by comfortably wide circulation, enabling an ease of movement between zones, and clear sight lines for staff to manage risk. A large central courtyard acts as a focal point to the patient accommodation, providing a secure and accessible outdoor area for activity. Day spaces, including a television room, games room, and lounge, are arranged around the courtyard offering a choice of engaging views to the surrounding woodland. Characterised by generous amounts of glazing, they offer bright, vibrant environments with opportunities for passive observation. Through a choreographed approach to placemaking, strategically located rooflights highlight a series of special spaces within the building, including a snug seating area within the central corridor. A calming environment with personal spaces The ensuite bedrooms form an important safe sanctuary for the young patients and have been designed to provide a comfortable and private space with good daylight. A large secure window, combined with the stepped nature of the landscape, provides a sense of being nestled among the treetops. A generous window seat provides a personal space that encourages calm contemplation, while looking out onto a biodiverse landscape. The bed and wardrobe have been designed as bespoke built-in joinery, subtly integrating the requirements for safety and robustness, whilst providing a display for personal items to create a familiar environment. Delivering quality and value on a sensitive site The new building is to be positioned at the rear of the existing hospital site at a lower elevation to the main access route and listed building. As a result, the roof forms a prominent visual feature which is key to the sensitive response to the building’s context. The design proposes a high-quality standing seam zinc roof finish and a buff brick base which complement the heritage buildings on the site, creating a simple and elegant form. One of the early cohort of the New Hospital Programme, the scheme has helped to define future New Hospital Programme projects in terms of forward-thinking buildability and room standardisation. Early work to rationalise the required volume of accommodation will deliver a quality environment against challenging budgetary constraints. The new facilities will enable Dorset HealthCare to provide a high-quality service for young people closer to home and their support network, resulting in reduced waiting times for admissions, faster recovery, and reduced cost to the NHS. This will all be delivered in a healing environment which exploits the quality of its therapeutic setting. Yvonne Ophaus, Associate at Medical Architecture, said: “It has been a pleasure to contribute to the development of a much-needed facility in such a unique location. The unit’s distinctive requirements, coupled with the complex topography of the site, presented challenges that we successfully navigated through close collaboration with the client, the design team, and the contractor. Set against a stunning backdrop, the unit will enhance the provision of care, and provide a therapeutic environment for a vulnerable patient group.” Matthew Bryant, Chief Executive at Dorset HealthCare, said:“This facility will represent a major step forward for children’s mental health services in Dorset. It will allow us to care for seriously ill young people close to family and friends in purpose-built, modern accommodation, greatly reducing the need for out-of-area placements and improving their chances of recovery. “We are very pleased with the design of the facility, developed in conjunction with our construction partner Kier, alongside patients, staff and peer specialists. It has taken into account the constraints and sensitivities of the site, and we are confident it will provide a first-class environment which meets both the clinical and educational needs of our patients.” Cheryl Parsons, Regional Director at Kier Construction Southern, said: “Using our extensive expertise in the healthcare sector, we are proud to be working with Dorset Healthcare to deliver these much-needed new facilities to support the needs of local residents.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Comline Group, a global automotive parts supplier known for its Comline, Motaquip and Allied Nippon brands, is set to relocate its UK headquarters to Goodman’s Bedford Commercial Park. Following significant business growth, the company will occupy 70,000 sq ft of modern, high-bay warehousing and contemporary office space, supporting plans to expand its operations and strengthen its service offering to customers across the world. Strategically located, just seven miles from Junction 13 of the M1, Bedford Commercial Park is ideally situated to provide a highly efficient distribution and logistics operation. Just 30 miles from Greater London it offers excellent connectivity, reducing delivery times and placing 90% of the country within a four-hour drive. The high-capacity and efficient building design will not only maximise internal storage volumes but will see Comline Group realise significant efficiency gains in picking and packing customer orders. This includes an extensive product range of almost 14,000 parts, spanning 46 different product categories. Delivered to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ specification and achieving an A+ energy performance rating, the new facility will support the business in reducing its energy use. It features a maximised rooftop system of solar PV, electric vehicle (EV) charging points and infrastructure for future EV fleets, all helping to reduce its operational carbon footprint. The move signifies an exciting new era for the company as it targets future growth across its network of UK motor factor customers, owned subsidiaries in Greece, Ireland and Spain, and distribution partners in more than 50 countries worldwide. Comline Group Managing Director, Ishan Kamdar, commented: “Our relocation is momentous for the Comline Group business and marks the beginning of an inspiring new chapter. New headquarters represent not only a physical expansion but the opportunity to take every aspect of our business to new heights.” As one of the most significant growth areas in the country, Bedford benefits from a large local labour pool and excellent transport links. With specialisation in the advanced engineering, food manufacturing and technology sectors, the area is home to global companies such as Unilever, Richardson International and Fujifilm, and continues to provide an attractive base for businesses across a range of industries. Nigel Dolan, Development Director at Goodman, said: “We’re excited to be working with Comline Group as it enters its next phase of growth. With fast access to more than 30 million consumers within a two-hour drive, Bedford Commercial Park’s strategic location will support the business to achieve greater supply chain efficiencies and continue to provide the high levels of customer service the brand has built itself upon.” Phase 2 at Bedford Commercial Park is now fully let, with Comline Group set to join global customers Amazon and Expeditors, as well as Bedford Borough Council’s innovative i-Worx Engineering Hub, which provides modern workshop space for start-ups and expanding local businesses. Mayor Tom Wootton of Bedford Borough Council added: “It’s fantastic that another growing organisation chose Bedford Borough as its home. The Council has played a part by utilising its assets and directly supporting the business to relocate to Bedford. Any opportunity for business growth is always a positive indicator of the Council’s open for business position, which I champion. “Our strategic location, excellent infrastructure and skilled workforce will continue to make it a desirable location for investors. The Council will continue to work relentlessly to attract high value businesses to the borough.” To find out more about the remaining opportunities at the next phases of Bedford Commercial Park, please visit the website for further details. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A night of glitz, glamour and safety excellence… The dazzling lights of the RoSPA Awards 2024, sponsored by Croner-i, illuminated a night to remember on May 14th, as over 1300 health and safety visionaries came together at the five-star JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London to celebrate their unwavering commitment to safety leadership. Under the charismatic hosting of comedian Zoe Lyons, the evening sparkled with energy and excitement. A poignant speech by Lord Jordan stirred emotions, championing UK and international businesses, celebrating their passion for making the world a safer place. In what is her first year as RoSPA’s Chief Executive, Rebecca Hickman honoured the profound impact of the awardees’ dedication to safety, acknowledging guests as ‘the best of the best, saving lives before they were ever known to be in danger.’ She also announced that His Majesty King Charles III is the charity’s new patron following a review of more 1,000 royal patronages since the King ascended to the throne in 2022. King Charles succeeds his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who served as RoSPA’s patron for over 70 years. Who was awarded what? Facilities management company, EMCOR UK, clinched the highest accolade in the RoSPA Awards, the prestigious Sir George Earle Trophy, a testament to their unyielding dedication to safety standards. Their triumph resonated throughout the hall, with Jonathan Gawthrop, Executive Director Risk & Sustainability collecting the organisation’s trophy on stage. In the construction sector, Morrison Energy Services was presented with the Construction (commercial) Award, Chevron Traffic Management cinched the Construction (engineering) Award, and Berkeley Capital was awarded the Housebuilding and Property Development Trophy, highlighting excellence across diverse segments of the industry. Cambridge Weight Plan scooped the top award for food and drink manufacturing, while L’Oreal North Little Rock were crowned winners of the Manufacturing Award. Nordex UK and Ireland scooped the Renewable Energy Sector Award, sponsored by Alba, while the Public Sector and Local Government Award was won by Trent & Dove Housing, with the Department for Work and Pensions and Orbit Housing commended. For a full list of winners, please email the press office: pressoffice@rospa.com The RoSPA Awards are considered a valuable method for gaining international acknowledgment, for organisations who want to lead the way in health and safety excellence and get top-level recognition for their hard work and initiatives. RoSPA Award judges include a wealth of highly experienced senior occupational health and safety professionals and consultants, and a main award judging panel chaired by Dee Arp, Chief Operations Officer at NEBOSH, and other in-house experts and selection panels. Matt Cryer, Head of Awards at RoSPA, said: “Last night’s celebration isn’t just about accolades; it’s a testament to the profound impact of dedication, innovation, and collaboration in health and safety. These awards honour not only achievements, but the tireless efforts of individuals and organisations dedicated to making our world safer for everyone.” Ben Chaplin, Managing Director at Croner-i, said: “As proud sponsors of the RoSPA Awards, we are thrilled to stand alongside these distinguished leaders in safety excellence. Their unwavering commitment to fostering safer environments aligns seamlessly with our own values, and we are delighted to support their outstanding achievements.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Engineering, design, and advisory practice, Buro Happold, has been awarded a leading place on the National Heat Network Zoning Programme to provide National Zoning Methodology, Commercial, Technical and Project Management Support to the UK Government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). From 2025 national Heat Network Zoning policy will come into force which will seek to decarbonise heat through zoning and scheme development across England and Wales. Government expects heat networks and heat pumps to be the preferred means of decarbonising heat from buildings. Almost 3% of the UK’s heat demand is currently met through heat networks. By 2050, this number is expected to reach 20%. Under heat network zoning, areas will be identified where heat networks are expected to provide the lowest-cost, low carbon heating. This should also provide developers and investors with more certainty about the number of likely connections to networks to help unlock the billions of pounds of investment needed to build them. Alasdair Young, Partner and Global Energy Lead said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Department with this important transformation of our energy infrastructure. Place based decarbonisation is key to reducing emissions and improving our energy security. Our energy specialists have been developing city and town-scale networks which capture waste heat recycling it to heat homes, schools, hospitals, and offices. Heat zoning can accelerate the deployment of these networks by de-risking the investment needed. In return the heat network sector needs to offer customers reliable and affordable heat as it becomes a regulated industry. Heat network zoning will help remove barriers to greener, cheaper heat that currently limit the scale and pace of developing heat networks and encourage investment. At the same time, this should allow for large-scale strategic heat networks to be built across the country. Under the plans: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
