Redrow West Country, the award-winning housing development company has recently celebrated their topping out of their Plymouth development, Vision. The new development has been valued at £70 million and has been seen as a major investment by Redrow to in order to regenerate a historic part of the city. The
Particles of very small dimensions that produce cell death in malignant tumors are tested and can be very useful in combating the more aggressive forms of the disease. Nanotechnology has been used for a few years now in the field of medicine, mainly in medicinal labs with electrospinning equipment or
North East civil engineering firm, Seymour Civil Engineering, has taken further steps towards securing its future success, with the appointment of four new company directors. All hailing from existing roles within the company, Adam Harker has been named as Contracts Director, Simon Rodgers as Commercial Director, Stuart Dickens as Construction
Government data reveals despite rise in successful planning applications, some areas are lagging behind. If you’re looking for your next property development project, stop and read this post before spending any money. Commercial finance brokers Pure Commercial Finance has uncovered government data which reveals the areas in England where you’re
Plans have been developed by Leeds City Council for £270 million worth of transport improvements, which included a new parkway rail station to connect to the local airport. After scrapping plans for a trolleybus project earlier in the year, the council has funds to spend. The new transport strategy in
If Her Majesty the Queen ever finds her summer residence at Balmoral too roomy, she could always downsize to Craig Castle (or ‘The Craig’ as it is more often known), a magnificent house dating back to the 13th century which is positively dripping in history and royal connections. Tradition claims
VIP Polymers Ltd has been awarded a UK patent for a cast-in rubber gasket corner joint system which has been specifically designed to reduce the risk of tunnel segment cracking taking place whilst being installed. The new compliant and compressible corner that has been awarded a UK patent makes sure
EDF Energy are building the first nuclear power station in the UK for a generation at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The new plant is expected to cost £18 billion to build and it is thought that most of this investment will be financed by EDF, the French utility company. Hinkley
Freyssinet has recently been registered by Highways England for modular highway expansion joints. The Freyssimod LW modular (multi-element) expansion joint developed by the company is described as easy to install, durable and excellent for use in heavy traffic. The product has been approved for use on projects by Highways England.
National Flooring Equipment, the leading surface preparation specialist has revealed that they will be exhibiting at Batimat, an event that will take place in Paris, France. The Batimat exhibition will be taking place between the 6th and the 10th of November 2017. The surface preparation company will be on stand
Redrow West Country, the award-winning housing development company has recently celebrated their topping out of their Plymouth development, Vision. The new development has been valued at £70 million and has been seen as a major investment by Redrow to in order to regenerate a historic part of the city. The Exeter based house builder, Redrow has built hundreds of homes in this region hand has created more than 10 communities. In order to celebrate the topping out of their latest development, Redrow welcomed guests from across the housing and construction industry in order to mark the end of the largest city regeneration schemes to take place in the South West of England. Construction on this development first started in 2007, with the intention of delivering a range of stylish one and two bedroom apartments as well as 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses to Devonport. It has also been shown that Vision has strengthened the economy of the area by providing new shops and offices as well as a new market hall. The Plymouth project has been seen as a major investment by Redrow in order to reinvigorate the historic part of the city. The site where the development took place was former and run down Ministry of Defence land. This site has now been completely transformed into a thriving new city centre community. It is thought that the newly completed Vision project is now home to 1,000 residents, including a 464 homes and a 42-flat Extra Care housing block catering for older people. Vision has delivered a collection of new and much needed stylish homes in Plymouth as well as contributed to the economy in the South West by employing 50 different contractors to work on the project at any one time. It is thought that this project led to the daily sustaining of 80 jobs by Redrow. On top of this, Redrow’s Section 106 contributions have generated £3.7 million to be invested in education, transport and roads. These improvements include new buses for route 34 as well as additional support for public areas such as Granby Green.
Particles of very small dimensions that produce cell death in malignant tumors are tested and can be very useful in combating the more aggressive forms of the disease. Nanotechnology has been used for a few years now in the field of medicine, mainly in medicinal labs with electrospinning equipment or nanofiber fabrication, to implement certain techniques useful to medicine. Worldwide the most usual malignant tumors are those of breast, prostate, cervical, colorectal, lung and stomach. In some countries alone, 20,444 new cases are diagnosed each year, and it is usually the third leading cause of death after heart disease and diabetes mellitus, according to expert Dr. Abelardo Meneses García, director general of the National Institute of Cancerology of Mexico. The diagnoses are not yet done in a timely manner because “unfortunately the size of mammary gland tumors that reach our institutions vary between five and six centimeters in diameter, which remains a problem,” lamented Dr. Meneses. Nanotechnology applied to medicine emerged from diverse fields of research, so it is a product of interdiscipline and has increased the quality of research to make better diagnostics, treatments, monitoring and control of biomedical systems. The dimensions in which nanotechnology moves are very small, as a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. However, in various areas of health it has allowed better results in medical treatments. “When we talk about nanotechnological materials, we are referring to those who can conventionally change their chemical and physical properties, which makes them more resistant, light and soluble,” said Horacio Astudillo, a researcher at the Translational Research Laboratory. “Since 2008 we started to test molecules such as resveratrol and we began to test it with nanotechnology in tumor cells in the United States,” he said. Dr. Raquel Gerson, an oncology specialist at ABC Medical Center, explained that triple negative breast cancer is the most aggressive of breast tumors (20 percent belong to this subgroup), making them more resistant to chemotherapy. Nanotechnology has contributed greatly to cancer treatment because it can provide us with vehicles for the transportation and arrival of drugs into those tumors, Gerson explained.
North East civil engineering firm, Seymour Civil Engineering, has taken further steps towards securing its future success, with the appointment of four new company directors. All hailing from existing roles within the company, Adam Harker has been named as Contracts Director, Simon Rodgers as Commercial Director, Stuart Dickens as Construction Director and Karl Brennan as Pre-construction Director. Karl, who has been with Seymour Civil Engineering for 13 years, previously as the company’s bid coordinator, said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed in this new position. It’s fantastic to have been rewarded for my commitment to the business. It’s also testament to one of Seymour’s key values, ‘A People Business’. Seymour is excellent at fostering an environment that provides opportunity. “A major part of my new position as pre-construction director will be looking at how Seymour engages with clients and stakeholders and how those relationships develop throughout the lifecycle of a project. “Seymour has always been a client focused contractor, and as a result will have been successfully trading for 40 years next year, but placing a continued importance on maintaining strong relationships, and promoting sustainable outcomes above short term gains, significantly contributes to a positive and robust future for the company.” Adam added: “I feel honoured and privileged to be promoted to director. It’s coming up to 10 years that I have been with the company and throughout that time the firm has assisted me to develop and grow. It’s now my turn to help take the business forward. “I see the appointment of a board of directors as a real statement of intent by our Managing Director Kevin Byrne. It shows his drive and determination to see Seymour grow and continue to establish itself as the leading multi-discipline civil engineering company in the North East. With the new directors in place I can only see the business going from strength to strength in the coming years.” Speaking about the latest appointments, Managing Director Kevin Byrne, said: “As Seymour approaches its 40th anniversary I felt this was the perfect time to undertake the re-structure and introduce the board of directors to assist with making the vision we have for the company a reality. “I will be working closely with the new directors to identify both strengths and challenges within the business, allowing us to prioritise time and focus attention on the key areas. “As a team I am confident we will be able to lay the foundations for Seymour’s sustainable and structured growth going forward.” Based at Seymour House on Hartlepool Marina, Seymour Civil Engineering has enjoyed a successful year, securing and completing a number of major projects across the region. Most recently the firm celebrated a landmark contract win securing civil and infrastructure work for the £18 million exhibition development at Beamish Museum. The firm has recently started work on the £3.4 million regeneration of Church Street and Church Square in Hartlepool, working in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council, The Tees Valley Combined Authority, The Heritage Lottery Fund, and Re-form Landscape.
Government data reveals despite rise in successful planning applications, some areas are lagging behind. If you’re looking for your next property development project, stop and read this post before spending any money. Commercial finance brokers Pure Commercial Finance has uncovered government data which reveals the areas in England where you’re least likely to get your planning permission application accepted. In the year ending 31st March 2017, the least likely place to get a major planning application granted was in Epsom and Ewell where just 38.46% were approved. This was closely followed by Spelthorne and Bournemouth which had 50% and 52.08% success rates respectively. In terms of small-scale, minor developments, Harrow, Enfield and Newham all saw less than two thirds of applications approved by local planning departments. On a whole, government statistics reveal planning applications have fallen by a quarter over the last decade, but success rates have risen from 82% to 88%. Therefore, on average, it appears easier to get planning permission than 10 years ago, which raises questions over the low success rates seen in the Surrey district of Epsom and Ewell. During the same period, there were 18 places in England where 100% of major development planning applications were granted, including the City of London, Wigan and Copeland. Pure Commercial Finance specialises in financing commercial development projects and has drawn attention to this data as part of its campaign to help investors learn more about the development process. Ben Lloyd, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Pure Commercial Finance, said: “Commercial property finance is our bread and butter and we help arrange funding for development projects across the country on a daily basis, so we were intrigued to see where these were most likely to get permission and at what rate. “We are pleased to see a number of planning bodies across the country are keen for the redevelopment and expansion of property on offer in their areas, and are delighted to provide our current and future clients with an insight into this data. For further insights into the data analysed and to read the full report click here.
Plans have been developed by Leeds City Council for £270 million worth of transport improvements, which included a new parkway rail station to connect to the local airport. After scrapping plans for a trolleybus project earlier in the year, the council has funds to spend. The new transport strategy in Leeds comes after a major consultation process that highlighted a need for better bus and rail services. The new parkway station would be built on the existing railway line between Leeds and Harrogate, while two further stations are also proposed to be built at Office Park and the White Rose Shopping Centre. The new stations are set to be funded partly by the £173.5 million of Department of Transport funding secured after the decision not to proceed with the New Generation Transport (NGT) trolleybus in May, with the funds needing to be invested in public transport before the end of 2021. Support from private sector stakeholders and from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has increased the funding available for Leeds to more than £270 million. Judith Blake, City Council leader, commented: “Through the transport conversation we have been given a clear message that people want improvements to be made to benefit all areas of the city as soon as possible, not in another 10 or 15 years’ time but now. I am very pleased to say that everything we are putting forward in this plan is deliverable in the short to medium term. “Providing a connection by rail to the airport has long been an ambition for the city and this plan will deliver it in a cost-effective way, along with two other new stations at the White Rose Shopping Centre and Thorpe Park to help drive forward job creation, productivity and economic growth.”
If Her Majesty the Queen ever finds her summer residence at Balmoral too roomy, she could always downsize to Craig Castle (or ‘The Craig’ as it is more often known), a magnificent house dating back to the 13th century which is positively dripping in history and royal connections. Tradition claims that Sir James Douglas spent his final night in Scotland here, protecting the heart of Robert Bruce before transporting it faithfully to the Holy Land in battle against the Saracens. Visits by King James V are noted in 1535 and 1539, and Mary Queen of Scots is said to have stayed twice overnight. The Old Pretender, James Edward Stuart, is thought to have passed his final night at the castle before leaving for exile in France in 1688. Set high above the Montrose basin in the Angus countryside, The Craig is regarded as one of Scotland’s oldest properties. The approach is dramatic and wildly romantic, as a tree lined avenue sweeps past ivy covered drum towers and through an arch in the 15th century curtain wall. Corbelled parapets, a carved loggia, tunnel vaulted rooms, stone flag floors, Georgian staircases, Adam fireplaces and intricate painted friezes all combine to create an atmospheric aura of centuries past. Layers of history continue to be uncovered: fragments of a 16th century Renaissance painted ceiling bearing the date of 1529 were discovered in 1921 during restorative work and these fragments are presently on display in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. More recently, the well-known American architectural and decorative artist, Richard Jordan, was commissioned to design and paint the drawing room ceiling at The Craig; he included the historical fragments in the design which includes birds and beasts, human figures and initials from the period. Records for the castle begin as far back as the 1200s and unusually, The Craig has been occupied continuously ever since. Set in the centre of beautiful formal gardens, every single window offers a lovely view. All seven reception rooms display a treasure trove of original features, from the morning room with its fine stone fireplace to the drawing room standing out with its recreated painted ceiling, 18th century Palladian windows and Adam fireplace; and an exquisite dining room with another remarkable frieze painting – this one depicting extinct Scottish wildlife. And yet this extraordinary house is not simply a showcase for Scottish history. It has steadfastly kept up with the times, and the castle kitchen is a good example of how modernisation has taken place but with great sensitivity. There are marble topped cabinets, Delft tiles, a hand painted floor and not one, but two, midnight blue Agas, all contributing to a farmhouse kitchen that sits perfectly in its historic setting yet is also a warm and welcoming hub for the home. A much more ancient former kitchen with vaulted ceiling has become a sauna room / gym; demonstrating how the current owners have breathed new life into this ever evolving building. The six bedrooms at The Craig display wonderful period details, especially the master which boasts Tudor style panelling, an 18th century mantel, timber lined dressing room and even a window seat hiding an original ‘convenience’. The linked walled gardens at The Craig originate from the 17th century with box hedging, paved terraces, herbaceous borders, an enchanting summerhouse with latticed windows and an alpine garden. There are woodlands and paddocks, and included in the sale is Gardener’s Cottage, a pretty two bedroom house with a woodburning stove and its own garden. There may also be a further two bedroom cottage available. Ruaraidh Ogilvie for Savills comments: “Over the centuries, The Craig has mercifully been spared neglect and in fact has undergone significant restoration, improvements and modernization of the best kind. And so it is that this utterly unique castle, one of the oldest in the country, is now fit for 21st century living.” Source link
VIP Polymers Ltd has been awarded a UK patent for a cast-in rubber gasket corner joint system which has been specifically designed to reduce the risk of tunnel segment cracking taking place whilst being installed. The new compliant and compressible corner that has been awarded a UK patent makes sure that there is a consistent load performance along the entire perimeter of the tunnel segment gasket. This new rubber gasket removes the risk of a buildup of pressure created on one or more of the gasket’s corners during the installation which could then lead to the segment cracking. VIP is a company that is based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and is known for being a global leader in the manufacture of rubber seals and gaskets that are used for tunneling and the water industries. It is great news for the well-known company that the innovative design of this new cast-in rubber gasket corner joint has been awarded with a UK patent. VIP Polymers Ltd uses this innovative corner joint across their extensive range of cast-in gaskets. It is though that there is also an international patent pending for the product. Segments cracking during tunneling operations is known to be a significant cause for concern for tunnel designers and tunneling contractors. This challenge has been addressed directly with the development of this new corner joint which has been received favourably by the tunneling industry. The project has already been used on a number of tunneling projects and has so far achieved excellent results. The design by VIP has already been specified for use on a number of future developments. The traditional cast-in TSGs are made with conventional shot-joint corners. During the moulding process, the rubber in these corners fill the compression cavities in the extruded corner of the gasket sections, which then leads to the creation of a solid rubber corner.
EDF Energy are building the first nuclear power station in the UK for a generation at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The new plant is expected to cost £18 billion to build and it is thought that most of this investment will be financed by EDF, the French utility company. Hinkley Point C will be constructed next to the two existing facilities in the areas, Hinkley Point A and B. It is thought that this new nuclear plant location will be the largest construction site in Europe. Hinkley A was decommissioned in 2000, and it is thought that Hinkley B will be decommissioned in 2023. Once the construction work is complete and the site is up and running, Hinkley Point C will have the capabilities to deliver 7% of the UK’s electricity. The construction of this new plant is thought to create 25,000 jobs, with the completed plant itself employing around 900 people. This jobs creation is great news for workers as many nuclear power stations have closed down. It is thought that nuclear energy will play a vital role in the security of Britain’s energy supply while also working towards tackling climate change. Vincent de Rivaz, the CEO of EDF Energy has expressed his confidence in the development at Hinkley point, saying that Hinkley Point C will provide the necessary first step to an increased adoption of nuclear power. It has been calculated that since 2010, a quarter of the UK’s electricity generation capacity has closed. It is thought that by 20130, a further 40% of that older 2010 capacity will close, this will include all but one of the UK’s nuclear power stations. Hinkley Point C will start to provide electricity by 2025, and consumers will not pay anything until the electricity is produced, with the investors taking on the risk of ensuring that the construction of the power station occurs on time and on budget.
Freyssinet has recently been registered by Highways England for modular highway expansion joints. The Freyssimod LW modular (multi-element) expansion joint developed by the company is described as easy to install, durable and excellent for use in heavy traffic. The product has been approved for use on projects by Highways England. These expansion joints are an essential part any reinforced concrete, pre-stressed or steel structure. The joints are particularly important for bridge decks as they absorb the movements while also accommodating for any shrinkage, creep effects and changes in temperature that can be experienced by the structure. Highways England works to operate, maintain and improve England’s motorways and Major A roads. With the recent registration of their modular expansion joint, Freyssinet has further improved their reputation as the civil engineering company’s position as a leading expansion joint specialist that offers the widest range of approved expansion joints in the UK. The Highways England approval that has been granted covers the traditional expansion joints that are developed by the company as well as the use of galvanisation used to help extend the life of the joint. The team at Freyssinet has said that they are incredibly pleased to have managed to achieve the Highways England registration, especially during a crucial period in the lifespan of a large number of modular joints in different structures across the UK. Most of these types of joints have now been in place for nearly 40 years and are now in need of replacement, which Freyssinet’s newly registered joints could be used for. The range of Freyssinet’s expansion joints incorporates a wide range of different requirements such as traffic frequency and movement range in order to improve driver comfort and resistance to aggressive elements such as gravel, salt, sand etc. and selecting the right type of joint is vital.
National Flooring Equipment, the leading surface preparation specialist has revealed that they will be exhibiting at Batimat, an event that will take place in Paris, France. The Batimat exhibition will be taking place between the 6th and the 10th of November 2017. The surface preparation company will be on stand 5B-W74 and will have on show their cutting-edge surface preparation machines as well as their international distributors in order to help expand the company’s European clientele. The architecture trade show is an international exhibition that will take place in France’s capital city and will offer an opportunity for improve their client base in Europe. Batimat is one of the leading international trade shows for the building and construction industry that will offer National Flooring Equipment an opportunity to improve their relationships with European clients and expand. National Flooring Equipment will be displaying an innovative surface preparation machines that have proved popular in Europe. These machines include the 5700 which is a ride on battery powered floor stripper as well as two walk behind strippers, the 5280 which is a self-propelled floor stripper, and the 6280 Commander which is a hydraulic floor stripper. At the exhibition, the company will also be showcasing one of their latest products, the Helix grinder which has been specifically designed for use on harder to reach areas. This is the first time that National Flooring Equipment will be showcasing at Batimat and the company will be using the trade show as a chance to cement their place in the European market in 2017. The company will also be showcasing their products at another six European trade shows in the coming months, this includes the Word of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas and Intermat, which is also being held in France. National Flooring Equipment will also be exhibiting at the Executive Hire Show in the UK.