Hull based construction firm, Hobson & Porter has achieved international certification through the British Standards Institute (BSI) for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), which underscores the company’s dedication to creating a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and stakeholders. The company has secured the ISO 45001
Leading contractor MJ Church is driving a machine technology revolution working closely with construction technology specialist SITECH® UK and Ireland over the last decade. The partnership between the two companies began when SITECH began fitting a widespread use of machine technology on the contractor’s machines with Trimble® machine control systems. As well
Skanska has signed a contract with Baola Properties Limited, c/o Old Park Lane Management, for construction and mechanical and electrical engineering services for the redevelopment of 7 Millbank in London, UK. The contract is worth GBP 105M, about SEK 1.4 billion, which will be included in the order bookings for
Liverpool City Council is set to receive a £55m investment boost from Homes England to accelerate the regeneration of Liverpool’s historic northern docklands. A report to the Council’s Cabinet today is recommending the council enters into an agreement with Homes England to accept Brownfield Infrastructure Land (BIL) grant funding.
Developer Chancerygate has been granted planning permission to speculatively build 103,000 sq ft of Grade A urban logistics space in Southwater, near Horsham. Called Audio Park, the development will comprise seven units ranging from 8,325 sq ft to 33,940 sq ft and the projected gross development value is approximately £27m.
Specialist property manager LB Navana has been appointed as the managing agent for two prestigious sites in London: The Arc and The Haydon. The Arc, situated at the heart of London, is a 340,000 square foot mixed use scheme with a mixture of retail and office space, and 100 residential
Brackley Property Developments (BPD) has completed construction of a new £16.5 million low carbon innovation hub in Leicester, on behalf of Leicester City Council. The Dock extension project has created three new buildings which deliver c.65,000 sq ft of purpose-built accommodation for hi-tech industries in an area of Space City
Regional sub-contractors are joining forces and providing all their time, labour, and costs for free to offer SENCO enhancement works for the Grace Academy in Coventry – as part of its vision for the future. Led by McLaren Construction’s Midlands and North division and Opus Land, ‘The Big Build’ charitable
British solar heat and power scale-up Naked Energy announced today that it has secured £17m ofnew equity as part of a Series B first close to supercharge its global expansion and the adoption of its cutting-edge solutions to decarbonise heat. The round was led by E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions (E.ON
ROCCIA’s annual Trade Event, which took place this month, was a knockout success, with the high-end tile specialist welcoming a record number of tradespeople from across the UK to its annual supplier showcase. The event, held at ROCCIA’s Preston showroom, provides anyone working in the kitchens, bathrooms and home building or
Hull based construction firm, Hobson & Porter has achieved international certification through the British Standards Institute (BSI) for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), which underscores the company’s dedication to creating a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and stakeholders. The company has secured the ISO 45001 standard, which is the world’s first international standard for managing OH&S risks and achieving the certification is a testament to Hobson & Porter’s unwavering commitment to health and safety. The accreditation process involved a comprehensive review of the company’s occupational health and safety policies, procedures and practices. This rigorous evaluation ensures that Hobson & Porter meets the highest standards of risk management, regulatory compliance and proactive health and safety measures. This is the third certification that Hobson & Porter has secured directly from BSI. In recent years the company has also achieved the world’s most recognised environmental management system, ISO 14001, as well as ISO 9001, which is the internationally recognised Quality Management System standard. David Blades, safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) director from Hobson & Porter, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the ISO 45001 accreditation. This achievement reflects our continuous efforts to prioritise the well-being of our employees, clients and partners. By adhering to the highest standards of occupational health and safety, we aim to foster a culture of safety that permeates every aspect of our business. “Our entire SHEQ team worked hard to secure this accreditation and our commitment to excellence, attention to detail and persistent pursuit of safety have been instrumental in this accomplishment. “Crucially, when we combine ISO 45001 with our existing ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 accreditations, which have all been achieved directly through BSI’s own very demanding and robust audit process, it gives us full and proper integration, to a common assessment standard, across all management systems within our SHEQ team. “All this brings significant benefits to clients and partners, demonstrating our commitment to minimising workplace risks and continuously improving our health and safety performance. Clients can therefore be confident that Hobson & Porter’s projects are executed with the utmost regard for safety, quality and efficiency. It also goes way above what the law requires in many areas, meaning it’s something that we are all take great pride in.” Hobson & Porter, which employs a 120-strong team and is headquartered in Hull, is currently working on a wide range of projects across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire spanning the education, healthcare, housing, industrial and renewable energy sectors. This latest accreditation follows Hobson & Porter being presented with The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) President’s Award, after the company scooped gold awards for 11 consecutive years for its health and safety performance. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading contractor MJ Church is driving a machine technology revolution working closely with construction technology specialist SITECH® UK and Ireland over the last decade. The partnership between the two companies began when SITECH began fitting a widespread use of machine technology on the contractor’s machines with Trimble® machine control systems. As well as providing the hardware/software, SITECH also provided access to Beta test new Trimble products. So mutually beneficial has the relationship been, that MJ Church’s investment in increasing their knowledge of machine technology has led to the development of an industry-leading 3D machine modelling approach. Sam Lemon, Construction Technology Lead for MJ Church said that the ‘old way of doing things’ with batter rails was a distant memory with technology enabling them to run ‘timberless sites’. He said: “Site technology has gone from a ‘nice to have’ to standard practice across all our projects – because we are utilising it to such a high standard with the support from the teams at SITECH and Trimble. “When I started at MJ Church five years ago our technology was relatively small scale, but now, GPS enabled machines are standard across our fleet. It includes Trimble Business Centre, Trimble WorksOS, Trimble Connect, Trimble Siteworks and Trimble Drawing. “What’s really changed in the business is we’ve seen the value of machine control. It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point, and thanks to our relationship with SITECH we’ve been able to get involved in Beta testing new Trimble products and feedback with improvements so we can really unlock the full potential of our fleet. “Having begun using machine control on a few excavators in 2015 it’s really ramped up and SITECH have been instrumental in that, supporting us with practical help in setting our machines up and keeping our machines running when core components need replacing.” SITECH technical sales consultant Carl Parsons, said: “MJ Church is really driving a revolution in machine technology because they’re constantly looking for different ways to use it and develop their knowledge of it. “We have continued to support MJ Church with frequent software training, hardware support and installation training, and we’re proud to act as a technology consultancy service for them. “We’re very proud to support them on their journey and in their achievements which are encouraging innovation within the industry.” To find out more about more about SITECH machine control systems support, training and software solutions go to www.sitechukandireland.com
Skanska has signed a contract with Baola Properties Limited, c/o Old Park Lane Management, for construction and mechanical and electrical engineering services for the redevelopment of 7 Millbank in London, UK. The contract is worth GBP 105M, about SEK 1.4 billion, which will be included in the order bookings for Europe for the third quarter of 2024. Skanska will lead the construction of a new nine-storey office building with two basement levels. The design and build of approximately 12,100 square meter flexible workspace will include reconstruction of the original historic façade, which has been carefully deconstructed and stored before being rebuilt into the new structure to maintain and enhance the building’s historic character. The building is targeting environmental standards to achieve BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum and Design for Performance to secure a Nabers 5* accreditation. Construction will begin in July 2024 and is expected to be completed in January 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Liverpool City Council is set to receive a £55m investment boost from Homes England to accelerate the regeneration of Liverpool’s historic northern docklands. A report to the Council’s Cabinet today is recommending the council enters into an agreement with Homes England to accept Brownfield Infrastructure Land (BIL) grant funding. The public funding relates to Central Docks, the largest neighbourhood within Liverpool Waters, and the city’s largest brownfield site. The site, owned by waterside regeneration specialists Peel Waters, is projected to unlock more than £500m in private investment. The Central Docks scheme includes the establishment of a public park and vital infrastructure to accommodate approximately 2,350 new homes. The funding for this site, which is subject to final approval from HM Treasury, comes just a week after Rachel Reeves MP, referenced the scheme in her first speech as Chancellor of the Exchequer in which she set out the new Government’s commitment to unlock stalled housing schemes. The Central Docks scheme was also identified by the Liverpool Strategic Futures Panel, chaired by Mayor Steve Rotheram, and forms part of Liverpool’s ambitious 20-year plan for the whole of its iconic waterfront. Liverpool City Council has also made a similar brownfield site commitment in its draft housing strategy, currently subject to a public consultation, which supports the delivery of 2,000 new homes every year to 2030 and to double the number of affordable homes across the city. Peel Waters has stated that the key infrastructure within the 10.5 hectare scheme, which would comprise of utilities, thoroughfares, green spaces, and public amenities, would lay the groundwork for future investments and the development of housing and commercial ventures would also support new community, retail and leisure facilities. With full planning approval for the site preparation work, the comprehensive plans for Central Docks include the creation of an interconnected network of public spaces. The proposed new landscape will be enriched with the planting of hundreds of trees, with the centrepiece being ‘Central Park,’ a sprawling 2.1-hectare oasis, set to become one of the city’s largest urban green spaces. Central Park’s design will celebrate the site’s industrial heritage and coastal location, blending coastal and woodland plantations, wetlands, community gardens, and open parkland. Embracing inclusivity and sustainability, the park will feature amenities such as shelters, recreational facilities, and wildlife habitats, to be enjoyed by both residents and visitors. The development will also significantly enhance connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, with the aim of creating seamless open access between the city centre, Princes Dock, Central Docks and Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer Chancerygate has been granted planning permission to speculatively build 103,000 sq ft of Grade A urban logistics space in Southwater, near Horsham. Called Audio Park, the development will comprise seven units ranging from 8,325 sq ft to 33,940 sq ft and the projected gross development value is approximately £27m. Units will be available on both a freehold and leasehold basis. The 4.59-acre site, which was formerly a logistics hub for global manufacturers Sony, is located in a country park setting at Southwater Business Park approximately four miles south of Horsham. Its strategic position close to the A24 between Crawley and Worthing provides excellent connectivity to the mid-Sussex and wider south coast markets. Neighbouring occupiers to the scheme include esteemed British audio technology developers Bowers & Wilkins. Local amenities within walking distance include retail convenience stores, a pharmacy and GP surgery. All units at Audio Park will benefit from electric vehicle charging points, low air permeability design and solar cells on their roofs which provide green energy on an affordable basis to occupiers. In addition, the units will have enhanced levels of roof lighting and will be constructed from high-performance building materials to reduce CO2 emissions. The scheme is targeting a BREEAM accreditation of Very Good and for all units to achieve an EPC B rating as a minimum. Chancerygate development director, Matthew Young said: “There is strong demand for sustainable, Grade A urban logistics units in Horsham and the wider Sussex region. “Audio Park will meet this demand and enable occupiers in the locality to access high-specification, strategically located industrial warehouse accommodation. “Much of the existing urban logistics stock in mid-Sussex is second hand with low sustainability credentials and is only available on a leasehold basis. We have already seen strong interest in the scheme and anticipate this will only further grow now planning has been granted.” Founded in 1995, Chancerygate is the UK’s largest urban logistics property developer and asset manager and the only one operating nationwide. The company has offices in London, Warrington, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Madrid and Lisbon. It currently has more than 1.16m sq ft of industrial space under construction or ready for development across 19 sites ranging from Edinburgh to Croydon. Agents for the development are Graves Jenkins and JLL. For more information, visit www.chancerygate.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Specialist property manager LB Navana has been appointed as the managing agent for two prestigious sites in London: The Arc and The Haydon. The Arc, situated at the heart of London, is a 340,000 square foot mixed use scheme with a mixture of retail and office space, and 100 residential apartments. With its iconic architecture and unparalleled amenities, the site is a short walk away from Old Street and Liverpool Street stations. LB Navana has been involved with the mobilisation of the site for a number of years and recently welcomed its first residents. Similarly, The Haydon, a flagship development by Regal London, epitomises contemporary living in the heart of the Square Mile. The Haydon represents modern urban living, comprising of 87 luxury homes, set in a landscaped courtyard. LB Navana will bring to life its vision for elevating the residential experience and will work to foster a sense of community within the development. LB Navana will be responsible for the day-to-day estate management, including the maintenance of the common areas and ensuring the compliance with all the latest health and safety legislation. With a focus on proactive maintenance, personalised service, and community engagement, LB Navana says it is dedicated to enhancing the living experience for residents while maximising the value for property owners. Ian Jones, Group Chief Operating Officer, LB Navana, said: “We are thrilled to be entrusted with the management of The Arc and The Haydon. Both developments represent the pinnacle of luxury and sophistication in London’s property landscape, and we are committed to delivering unparalleled service to residents and stakeholders alike.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Brackley Property Developments (BPD) has completed construction of a new £16.5 million low carbon innovation hub in Leicester, on behalf of Leicester City Council. The Dock extension project has created three new buildings which deliver c.65,000 sq ft of purpose-built accommodation for hi-tech industries in an area of Space City formerly known as Pioneer Park, within Leicester’s Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone. Known as Docks, 3, 4 and 5, the new buildings include two new offices that cater for up to 45 businesses across c.43,000 sq ft. A terrace of nine manufacturing units provides more than 21,500 sq ft for innovative start-ups and established businesses seeking grow-on space. New buildings are net carbon zero in operation and require no gas heating. They house a range of environmentally sustainable features, such as low energy LED lighting, roof-mounted photovoltaic panels on the offices, air source heat pumps, and super-thick insulation. Externally there is cycle storage and 12 electric vehicle charging points in a new parking area. The Dock extension has been designed to complement the look and feel of the original Dock workspace buildings and is part of Space City Leicester, one of the largest and most connected Enterprise Zones for space-related activities in the UK. Stephen Pedrick-Moyle, managing director of BPD, said: “We are very pleased to have delivered the expansion of the successful Dock managed workspace development for Leicester City Council. “These three new energy efficient units deliver purpose-built space for exciting new businesses in a range of sectors. Extending the Dock innovation hub will undoubtedly support the attraction and retention of local talent and hi-tech entrepreneurs, ensuring Leicester continues to be a hub for research, production and manufacture in the space industry.” Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “It’s fantastic to see the next chapter of our innovative workspace development for hi-tech businesses take shape. “Space City Leicester is helping to put our city firmly on the map for research, production and manufacture in the space industry. “We’re proud to contribute to that momentum by further expanding our Dock innovation hub with three new, low carbon buildings which will help meet demand from businesses keen to locate here from the UK and overseas. The new buildings will also provide valuable grow-on space and much-needed manufacturing facilities for our local talent and high-tech entrepreneurs. “The new buildings are looking fantastic and I’m particularly pleased that we have been able to work with locally-based Brackley Property Developments as our development partner on this ambitious project.” The development was supported by £12 million from the previous government’s Levelling Up Fund, with The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership providing £3.5 million from Enterprise Zone retained business rates. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Regional sub-contractors are joining forces and providing all their time, labour, and costs for free to offer SENCO enhancement works for the Grace Academy in Coventry – as part of its vision for the future. Led by McLaren Construction’s Midlands and North division and Opus Land, ‘The Big Build’ charitable programme of works will deliver brand-new classrooms and sensory facilities, enriching the lives of students at the Academy who are in desperate need of these spaces. McLaren Construction Midlands and North and Opus Land have been supported in this community project by our designers who helped provide the vision for this scheme; Architect – Webb Gray, Structural Engineer – SBK, Mechanical & Electrical Engineers – CPW and Landscaper – Whiting’s, who are also providing all the landscape and raised beds works. The works will include a complete refurbishment and remodelling of existing classrooms to form larger teaching spaces and a new sensory room with access to outside spaces. New walls, ceilings and floorings will also be installed, complemented by new LED lighting, heating, security, and fire alarm systems. The dedicated space will allow a new environment for student needs, offering room for small group intervention and 1-2-1 support with internal staff and external agencies. The school enhancements will ensure students with special educational and emotional needs can be as fully equipped as possible for success. Works will take place from 22 July until Friday 2 August, and the academy will be holding an opening ceremony to celebrate and view the new spaces on 2 September. Head of Grace Academy, Natasha Whiles, said: “We are so grateful that this space and build has allowed us to really take the time to consider the individual needs of some of our most vulnerable learners. We’ve really enjoyed working alongside McLaren Construction Midlands and North and all parties involved, to develop the space which otherwise would be completely unaffordable. We’re looking forward to the new facilities helping special educational and emotional needs students work towards their limitless potential through ‘The Grace Way’.” Operations Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, Shaun Colley, said: “The Big Build works at Grace Academy will provide state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities to improve the lives of the current and future intake of students and we are proud to be part of this fantastic project. “We commend all of the designers and contractors who have committed to supporting this project and it’s been an honour to be part of this process and driving it forwards for such a worthy school in the region. “I would like to thank the below contractors personally, without you none of this would have been possible, thank you.” Joint Managing Director of Opus Land, Richard Smith, said: “We are most grateful to McLaren Construction Midlands and North and all of the other companies involved in the BIG Build for their tremendous generosity here. “Opus originally got involved in The Grace Academy through their development of the nearby Prospero estate on the Ansty Business Park and soon came to realise the tremendous results that the school fulfils for the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
British solar heat and power scale-up Naked Energy announced today that it has secured £17m ofnew equity as part of a Series B first close to supercharge its global expansion and the adoption of its cutting-edge solutions to decarbonise heat. The round was led by E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions (E.ON EIS), a provider of integrated, sustainable energy solutions for cities and industries. E.ON EIS is part of the E.ON Group, one of Europe’s largest operators of energy networks and infrastructure, and a strategic partner to Naked Energy. The partnership was initiated by E.ON Group Innovation through the global accelerator programme Free Electrons, in which E.ON’s innovation team identified the advanced Naked Energy technology. The strategic partnership was founded in October 2023 and enables the partners to continuously expand the collaboration and scale the solution. The series was supported by co-investment from existing investor Barclays through its Sustainable Impact Capital. The investment is a strong endorsement of Naked Energy’s growth plans, enabling the company to accelerate the international distribution of its award-winning solar heat and power technology with the adoption of innovative new business models. Naked Energy’s Virtu solar collectors have a modular design and the world’s highest energy density solar technology, proven to be up to four times more impactful at offsetting CO2 emissions than conventional solar PV panels. E.ON EIS will benefit from access to the innovative Virtu product range for its commercial and industrial customers. The relationship between E.ON and Naked Energy will facilitate the provision of Naked Energy’s technology through a Heat-As-A-Service model to a global client base. The two companies are already working on a pipeline of projects across multiple territories. Naked Energy has sold its Virtu product range to more than 20 countries and is well-established in the UK and Europe, having signed deals with industrial and commercial clients, such as IHG Hotels & Resorts and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. The IEA Renewables Report 2023 projects that the share of heat from renewable energy will increase by more than 40% worldwide from 2023 to 2028. As a result of the deal, Naked Energy is well-positioned to capitalise on this growing opportunity for renewable heat technologies. The company has manufacturing bases in the UK and Europe, and is scheduled to start manufacturing in Dallas, Texas later this year in partnership with its US distribution partner ELM Solar. Christophe Williams, CEO of Naked Energy, said: “The first wave of investment of our Series B round is transformative for our journey and a great step in the wider movement to decarbonise heat. “It’s clear that both E.ON and Barclays share our sense of urgency to decarbonise heat. Heating takes up over half of all energy consumed globally, and as the demand for renewable heat continues to rise, we’re committed more than ever to supporting the commercial and industrial sectors in their transition away from natural gas. “Heat decarbonisation presents a huge economic opportunity. With investment from such major industry players, we’re confident we can capitalise on this global shift and look forward to other like-minded investors joining us on our journey to ‘change energy for good’.” Daniel Joisten, Head of Innovation Commercialization at E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions, added: “Investing in Naked Energy has been a great decision for E.ON. In just one year, we’ve progressed from scouting and assessing their capabilities through E.ON Group Innovation as part of the prestigious Free Electrons Program, to a test installation at E.ONs Silicon Valley Garage and now on to a strategic partnership with significant potential for E.ON´s Energy Infrastructure Business. “Naked Energy’s solutions have distinctive and convincing value propositions. We will utilise them to help our customers, in industries such as Food & Beverage and Hospitality, to decarbonize their businesses profitably. We are looking forward to scaling our joint business activities, both from an E.ON perspective and on Naked Energy’s board of directors.” Gavin Chapman, Co-Head of Principal Investments at Barclays, said: “To reach net zero, we need to rapidly scale new, innovative technologies to help reduce emissions in the sectors that are most difficult to decarbonise – particularly our homes and buildings. As we make our follow-on investment today, we’re excited to see and support Naked Energy’s continued growth and further deployment of their technology, supercharged by the partnership with E.ON.” Piper Sandler served as exclusive corporate finance advisor to Naked Energy on the transaction. The second close is expected to complete before the end of September 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ROCCIA’s annual Trade Event, which took place this month, was a knockout success, with the high-end tile specialist welcoming a record number of tradespeople from across the UK to its annual supplier showcase. The event, held at ROCCIA’s Preston showroom, provides anyone working in the kitchens, bathrooms and home building or renovating industry with the opportunity to speak first-hand with trade experts from ROCCIA and its key suppliers including Kelmore, RUBI, PCS, Genesis, CT1, Dural, Tile Rite, BAL, Schluter Systems, First Trace and BAL/Ardex. But there was another special guest that visitors to the show were keen to meet, former WBC World Champion (and I’m A Celebrity star) Tony Bellew. Tony has become a familiar face in the ROCCIA showroom, as a valued client, and was on hand to oversee the ROCCIA ‘punch machine challenge’ which saw individuals battle it out to demonstrate the strength of their punch. Attendees also got to find out more about the latest adhesives and tiling tools with live demonstrations throughout the day. The event also raised more than £1,140 for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation a local charity which supports world-class cancer treatment throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria, funding cutting edge equipment and supporting innovative ways to take the fear out of cancer for patients and their families. Anyone who donated £20 to the charity received a ROCCIA Gift Bucket full of goodies worth more than £55 and were entered into a prize raffle. Commenting on this year’s event, Jonathon Stopforth, Trade Account Manager at ROCCIA, said: “We’re committed to supporting our trade account members year-round with the best service, exclusive products, offers and expert advice, but it’s fantastic when trade customers as well as suppliers get together for our annual ROCCIA Trade Event to enjoy networking, learning and freebies. We were delighted to welcome back familiar faces to the event as well as meet some of our newest trade members. “The day was a great opportunity to celebrate our ever-growing trade community and for industry experts to showcase what’s new; sharing best-practice advice and tips on everything tiles, kitchen and bathroom fitting. Our ROCCIA trade team were on hand throughout the day to explain more about ways to save time and money when fitting tiles within client’s homes and commercial properties. “There was a real buzz around the business, and we were glad to welcome more visitors than ever before as the event goes from strength to strength. “Congratulations to all of the winners on the day – especially Gaz Fenton who got to take home the Tony Bellew signed gloves. And thank you to Tony for helping us to make it a great and fun event. His unique blend of sportsmanship and motivational insights left us in awe of what he’s achieved.” More information can be found at www.roccia.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals