Manchester Airport hosted its annual ‘Meet the Buyers’ event yesterday, with more than 300 attendees from over 200 local businesses taking the opportunity to connect directly with key prospective clients in the Greater Manchester area. Small and medium-sized businesses from a variety of sectors were represented, networking with 29 major
The demolition industry has stepped-up its efforts to combat work-related stress and promote good mental health by joining Great Britain’s workplace regulator campaign. The Working Minds campaign, set up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), welcomes a new partner in the demolition industry to help reach trades and offer
The second giant boring machine (TBM) building HS2 under the Chiltern Hills broke through at the tunnel’s northern portal late this afternoon, completing a journey that began in June 2021. Named Cecilia, the TBM has driven for 10 miles underground to join twin sister machine – Florence. She arrived at
Barhale is set to recommit to Anglian Water’s @one Alliance ahead of a new Asset Management Period (AMP8) for 2025 to 2030, in which the water company is proposing its largest ever package of investment. The existing partners – Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), MWH Treatment, SKANSKA and
Deciding on a colour scheme for your bathroom has always been a tricky decision. There are a set of standard colours we never usually stray away from. And that’s with good reason really. We need calming tones and more natural shades for the space. After all, it’s one of the
Momentum is building behind the regeneration of Bolton town centre, as the council partners with leading real estate advisors CBRE to deliver two transformative development projects. Work on both the redevelopment of Crompton Place, and the regeneration of Church Wharf, could start as early as this year thanks to key
INTEGRA Biosciences has completed construction of its new campus and pipette tip manufacturing plant at its headquarters in Zizers, Switzerland. The manufacturing facility will help the company to drastically reduce its transport emissions in line with its long-term sustainability goals. The transport of raw materials and products accounted for 44
MOMENTOUS plans to transform part of the East Lincolnshire coast have taken an important step forward, following unilateral approval of the 336-acre sustainable urban extension scheme in Skegness. The news, delivered Wednesday 20 March at an executive meeting of East Lindsey District Council in Horncastle, means the town is on
An official opening event was held on 20th March to celebrate the completion of the new sixth form building at King Ecgbert School in Dore, south-west of Sheffield. Almost a year after R G Carter first started construction on site the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Cllr Colin Ross marked the
Thanet District Council’s plans to buy or build at least 400 new affordable rented homes by 2027 are on track. Less than 12 months into the programme, over 200 properties have now been secured. When completed, these homes will be rented to local residents through the council’s housing register. Under
Manchester Airport hosted its annual ‘Meet the Buyers’ event yesterday, with more than 300 attendees from over 200 local businesses taking the opportunity to connect directly with key prospective clients in the Greater Manchester area. Small and medium-sized businesses from a variety of sectors were represented, networking with 29 major buyers and taking part in almost 800 meetings across the day. Well-known names from the worlds of construction and aviation were in attendance, including Manchester Airports Group (MAG), BAM, Dalkia, and Manchester City Council. Manchester Airport hosted the event at its Runway Visitor Park, and the day opened with an address from the airport’s Managing Director, Chris Woodroofe. A range of workshops and presentations ran throughout the day, parallel to the event in the Runway Visitor Park’s main hangar. Manchester Airport’s Head of Procurement and Contracts, Construction and Works, Stuart D’Henin, and Head of Project Delivery, David Shaw, gave a talk on the airport’s upcoming investments into its facilities, including the £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2, and discussed the opportunities available to local businesses of all sizes. In the afternoon, Becca Heron, Strategic Director for Growth and Development at Manchester City Council, ran a workshop on the city’s vision for future growth. Marcella M’Rabety – Group Head of Education, Skills and Employment, Manchester Airport: “We were thrilled to see such a strong turnout at Meet The Buyers, and to be able to support local businesses with networking and making introductions to the right contacts that will help them secure new work and grow their operations. Manchester Airport is proud to connect the North and that’s not just through flying people to the places they want to go, it’s also about playing our part as a key economic enabler in the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The demolition industry has stepped-up its efforts to combat work-related stress and promote good mental health by joining Great Britain’s workplace regulator campaign. The Working Minds campaign, set up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), welcomes a new partner in the demolition industry to help reach trades and offer free support. The National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) is the latest organisation to join Working Minds. Earlier this month, the Contract Flooring Association (CFA), the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA), the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) all committed to the campaign. Working Minds helps employers prevent stress and support good mental health, providing free online learning to show how to make it part of routine working life and culture. The new bitesize tool typically takes no more than an hour to complete and covers what the law requires of employers and what’s needed to do to be compliant. Users will walk through Working Minds’ five simple steps based on risk assessment. They are to Reach out and have conversations, Recognise the signs and causes of stress, Respond to any risks you’ve identified, Reflect on actions you’ve agreed and taken, and make it Routine. It needs to become the norm to talk about stress and how people are feeling and coping on site. Duncan Rudall, CEO of the NFDC, said: “Mental Health is of paramount importance and is as impactful on an individual’s life as safety is on site. We applaud the HSE for recognising the need to bring mental health standards in line with physical safety and are proud to be partnering with them on the Working Minds campaign to ensure we raise the bar for everyone.” Liz Goodwill, head of work-related stress and mental health policy at HSE, said: “We know that running a business in construction can be stressful with long hours, juggling intense workloads. “We are delighted the Working Minds campaign is welcoming even more partners and they will no doubt help us in our efforts to raise awareness of ways employers across Britain’s construction trades can help prevent and reduce work-related stress. “The law requires all employers – whether you’re a demolition firm or scaffolding business – to carry out a stress risk assessment and act upon the findings. The online learning shares all the tools you need to get started in one place, and you can come back as many times as you like.” According to Deloitte , the total annual cost of poor mental health has increased by 25% since 2019, costing UK employers up to £56 billion a year. Help is available If you or someone you know needs help or support, reach out and ask how they are feeling and coping. The Working Minds campaign sign-posts employers to a wide range of tools and sources of support that can help on its construction sector webpage. Employers wishing to know more and complete the Working Minds online learning should register and get started today. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The second giant boring machine (TBM) building HS2 under the Chiltern Hills broke through at the tunnel’s northern portal late this afternoon, completing a journey that began in June 2021. Named Cecilia, the TBM has driven for 10 miles underground to join twin sister machine – Florence. She arrived at the site near the Buckinghamshire town of Wendover on 27 February, after completing her adjacent tunnel drive. Between them, the two 2,000 tonne machines have built the twin bore tunnel at depths of up to 80 metres and excavated three million cubic metres of chalk. Each machine operates like an underground factory, able to excavate the tunnels and line them with 56,000 pre-cast concrete tunnel segments, grouting them into place and moving forward at an average speed of 16 metres per day. When HS2 is operational trains will travel through the Chiltern tunnel – the line’s longest – at speeds of up to 200mph, helping to almost halve journey times between Britain’s two largest cities. The new high-speed line will relieve traffic the West Coast Mainline, freeing up space for more local services on the most crowded part of the important Victorian route. It will almost double rail capacity between London and the West Midlands, providing a more reliable service and driving economic growth. HS2 Ltd’s head of civil works for this section of the route, Mark Clapp, said: “Today is a remarkable achievement for all concerned. Cecelia’s arrival completes excavation of HS2’s 10-mile twin-bore tunnel, but it’s only the end of the first chapter in the story of building Britain’s high-speed railway under the Chiltern Hills. “Several years of intensive, world class engineering lie ahead of us to complete the tunnels’ four ventilation shafts plus headhouses; install the mechanical and electrical plant and machinery, slab track and overhead electrical wires before trains begin passing through at 200mph.” Both machines launched from the tunnel’s south portal, near the M25 motorway, were operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of three international infrastructure companies: Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. The machines are made in Germany by TBM specialists Herrenknecht. Align’s Underground Construction Director, Didier Jacques said: “Ten miles is a long drive for a TBM, with a typical average being around three miles. The complexity and technically challenges of completing such a long drive for both our TBMs has been significant, however I am delighted that as a team, we have risen to the challenge. “Both TBMs were designed in partnership with Herrenknecht and incorporate innovations and technologies that have been introduced on TBMs in the UK for the first time, to enhance performance and safety. This includes ‘semi-continuous boring’, allowing our TBMs to build the rings that line the tunnels without pausing.” Each TBM is operated by a crew of around 17, working in shifts to keep the machines running when required 24/7. They are supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation. In total over 450 people have worked on the tunnels over the last three years, including a dedicated production team who made 112,000 precision-engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete tunnel wall segments on site at a purpose build temporary factory – and a team processing the spoil from the tunnels. Completion of tunnelling under the Chilterns follows recent publication of HS2 Ltd research showing how high-speed line’s arrival in the West Midlands will give a £10 billion economic boost over the next decade, with new development around its stations at Birmingham’s Curzon Street and near the city’s airport and the NEC. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barhale is set to recommit to Anglian Water’s @one Alliance ahead of a new Asset Management Period (AMP8) for 2025 to 2030, in which the water company is proposing its largest ever package of investment. The existing partners – Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), MWH Treatment, SKANSKA and SWECO – have already delivered £1.3 billion in work, half of Anglian Water’s overall enhancement portfolio, so far in AMP7 (2020-2025). For AMP8, Barhale will remain a full member in the @one Alliance from 1 April 2024, offering civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, complex infrastructure and tunnelling expertise alongside the Alliance’s other seven partners. The @one Alliance is set to deliver a record £2.6 billion of the water company’s overall investment in AMP8, with much of this work specifically targeted at protecting and enhancing the East of England’s natural environment and providing resilience to climate change. This investment portfolio forms part of Anglian Water’s wider, record £9 billion proposed plans for AMP8, which will see a huge programme of much-needed investment across the East of England between 2025 and 2030. James Haddon, Barhale’s Eastern Region Director said “Anglian Water is England and Wales’s largest water company by geographical area and has committed to an impressive programme to provide resilience, enable growth, improve ecological quality and become carbon neutral across the region. These are huge challenges and it is a testament to the @one Alliance’s success that it continues to set a benchmark for collaboration and innovation both within the water industry and beyond. “We are very proud to have been a part of the @one Alliance since its launch in 2005 and to be extending that relationship through the next AMP.” Jason Tucker, Director of Strategic Delivery and Commercial Assurance for Anglian Water, said: “The opportunity our next five-year regulatory period, AMP8, affords for Anglian Water and the @one Alliance to deliver on our purpose of bringing environmental and social prosperity to the region we serve is unprecedented. “The scale of investment to enhance our environment and secure water supplies for future generations is massive and I’m delighted that our long-standing and successful @one Alliance will continue to help us deliver our capital investment programme in support of our growing region.” Anglian Water was one of the first utilities to introduce an alliancing model to deliver its capital programmes across the East of England. Since the @one Alliance’s inauguration in 2005, the company’s approach has been held up as an exemplar as part of the Government’s Construction Playbook. A key aspect of this continued success has been the embedding of performance incentives around efficiency, carbon, innovation, ED&I and culture. A key aspect of this continued success has been the embedding of incentives around efficiency, innovation, culture and high performance into the @one Alliance’s structure, in order to enable delivery of Anglian Water’s incredibly ambitious investment programme. Ian Hutchinson, Managing Director of Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, said: “Alliancing in this way allows partners to reimagine traditional ways of working by encouraging innovative thinking, advancement of new technology, and collaborative working between partners. This flexibility means that the @one Alliance plays a crucial role in enabling Anglian Water to deliver large-scale investments to build its region’s resilience against climate change. “By combining the @one Alliance’s partners’ years of investing in innovation and efficient delivery, we’ve been able to decrease the total cost of our proposed AMP8 plans from £10bn to £9bn, a 10% reduction. We’ve already seen how successful and powerful a truly integrated and collaborative alliancing approach can be. That’s why we’re delighted to welcome back our much-valued partners, along with Binnies this AMP, to support us in delivering this much-needed investment for our region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Deciding on a colour scheme for your bathroom has always been a tricky decision. There are a set of standard colours we never usually stray away from. And that’s with good reason really. We need calming tones and more natural shades for the space. After all, it’s one of the only areas of the house where you truly get time to yourself. That said, colour trends do change every year. In fact, bathroom trends as a whole do, from the types and styles of tiles you use to the shape of the baths and sinks you fit. However, in this article we are going to stick to colour. So, if you’re looking at redecorating your bathroom over the coming months, here are five colours you should potentially be considering… Tranquil Blues and Greens Tranquil blues and greens have always been a mainstay and that’s no different this year. Soft pastel shades all the way up to rich jewel tones, the hues of blues and greens can really evoke a sense of tranquility, promoting relaxation and wellbeing in the space we often need it most. Consider incorporating different shades, such as seafoam green, aqua blue or dusty teal which can feel really refreshing, and allow you to escape the stresses of daily life in true comfort. Warm and Earthy Neutrals Neutral colours are returning as popular choices in 2024, providing our bathrooms with a timeless feel that suits every design style. Shades such as taupe, beige and warm greys can provide a perfect backdrop and create cosy and warm atmosphere. Complementing those colours with bolder bathroom tiles is one option, while using materials like wood, rattan and stone can add a real organic and natural feel to your bathroom. Bold and Dramatic Blacks A little more out of the ordinary, we’re seeng more daring colours emerge in 2024, with black being a popular choice. While it may not promote relaxation as much as the colour schemes mentioned above, using dramatic blacks create a much more chic and sophisticated feel, adding luxury and elegance that can make a real statement. You can use black for walls, tiles or on the cabinets to create striking focal points and add a real depth to your bathroom, particularly when paired with metallic accents such as gold, brass or copper. Soft and Subtle Pinks Until a few years ago, pastel pinks were a big no-no in bathrooms, harking back to rather dated periods. However, soft and subtle pinks have made a comeback in a big way and create a soft and delicate space. Paired with neutral colours, pink can provide a sophisticated and relaxed look in a bathroom, while bolder shades like navy blue and green can help transform a bathroom into a place much more vibrant. Rich and Moody Greens Finally, moody and rich greens are adding real depth and drama to bathroom designs in 2024. From deep emerald tones to muted olive shades, the colours offer a sophisticated and luxurious palette that can be really inviting. Using greens in the tiles or on walls can create a retreat-like vibe where you can really escape in a hot, soapy bath. A good option for a green bathroom is to pair it with the likes of marble, brass or timber to create a really elegant aesthetic and a truly contemporary bathroom space.
Momentum is building behind the regeneration of Bolton town centre, as the council partners with leading real estate advisors CBRE to deliver two transformative development projects. Work on both the redevelopment of Crompton Place, and the regeneration of Church Wharf, could start as early as this year thanks to key council decisions taken this month. On Monday, the cabinet agreed to the provisional sale of land at Church Wharf to local developers Watson Homes to build 417 residential units and a 120-bed hotel. This came just two weeks after a lease surrender agreement on the former M&S building, paving the way for the flagship Crompton Place redevelopment scheme. Progress on both sites had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but strategic advice and support from CBRE has been pivotal in driving the projects forward. Previously an underused brownfield site, direct intervention from the council has turned Church Wharf into a site with real potential as a desirable riverside location at one of the centre’s main gateways. The provisional agreement reached this week will now see CBRE assess the viability and suitability of future plans before the final sale goes through. Nearby, the Crompton Place Shopping Centre is set to be demolished and replaced by what will be the central development project in Bolton’s wider regeneration masterplan. Promoting the opportunity at MIPIM 2024, Bolton set out its vision for a mixture of leisure, commercial and residential units on the site, with new public spaces and enhanced links between Victoria Square and the main thoroughfare of Bradshawgate. In addition to providing advice on demolition, placemaking and asset management at Crompton Place, CBRE is also taking the lead on identifying a developer to take on the site. Adam White, Senior Director, CBRE’s Development Advisory team said; “We are delighted to lead on identifying a development partner with the relevant experience, skills and resources to deliver Bolton Council’s vision for Crompton Place via a public-private partnership. “This is a significant mixed-use, multi-phase regeneration scheme on an important gateway site for the town to transform the area into a distinctive, vibrant place for people to work, visit and live. “We have been instructed to provide multi-discipline advice to the Council to consider the scheme’s optimal route to market, review and manage the demolition scope of works, as well as develop a placemaking strategy for the development. “The Council will undertake a pre-marketing engagement process to elicit initial feedback from potential developers, investors and funders on the appeal of the opportunity, initial thoughts on use mix, massing and programme and views on the delivery structure.” Both Church Wharf and Crompton Place are part of a wider regeneration masterplan developed by Bolton Council which is already delivering a number of schemes in the town centre and beyond. The renovation of Bolton Central Library, the upcoming Bolton Market Food Hall, Elizabeth Park, and the Wellsprings Innovation Centre have been backed by the government’s Towns Fund. Residential developments at Moor Lane and Deansgate Gardens will contribute to a growing town centre population which Deloitte projects will reach 5,000 over the next 15 years. Success stories elsewhere in the borough include the Bolton Institute of Medical Sciences and CAPITAL&CENTRIC’s Farnworth Green urban neighbourhood development. Bolton Council Leader, Cllr Nick Peel, said: “As consumer habits change, we have developed a masterplan which consolidates Bolton’s retail offer and creates space for residential, leisure, hospitality, and commercial space. “Several projects are already underway, and the next phase will see the delivery of two major developments that will act as a catalyst for even more private sector investment. “These are large and highly complex projects and the support of CBRE has been invaluable to our work to make Bolton an even better place to live, work and visit.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
INTEGRA Biosciences has completed construction of its new campus and pipette tip manufacturing plant at its headquarters in Zizers, Switzerland. The manufacturing facility will help the company to drastically reduce its transport emissions in line with its long-term sustainability goals. The transport of raw materials and products accounted for 44 percent of INTEGRA’s CO2 emissions in 2022. Around 75 percent of this was attributed to the transport of GRIPTIPS® pipette tips from the USA manufacturing facility to subsidiaries and distributors worldwide. Construction of a second pipette tip production facility in Zizers was completed in December 2023, and will help to eliminate the need to ship pipette tips from the USA to European customers, reducing transport emissions by an estimated 26 percent. All of the additional buildings at the expanded Zizers campus have been designed with sustainability in mind. The new buildings have a range of eco-friendly features, with low energy consumption and a 3000 m2 rooftop photovoltaic system to generate electricity. Heat generated by the pipette tip molding facility and fossil fuel-free heat pumps will also be used to heat the campus. In addition, 1625 m2 of roof space will be seeded with 50 species of native wildflowers to support local biodiversity. Ursula Leuthold, Sustainability Coordinator for INTEGRA Biosciences, said: “We are dedicated to a proactive and company-wide approach to sustainability. Manufacturing GRIPTIPS in Europe is a huge step in reducing our carbon footprint and achieving our corporate emissions reduction targets.” Visit the INTEGRA Biosciences website to learn more Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MOMENTOUS plans to transform part of the East Lincolnshire coast have taken an important step forward, following unilateral approval of the 336-acre sustainable urban extension scheme in Skegness. The news, delivered Wednesday 20 March at an executive meeting of East Lindsey District Council in Horncastle, means the town is on the cusp of receiving more than £300 million in economic benefits, delivering hundreds of local jobs. Projections undertaken by the Gateway team showcase the scheme will deliver employment benefits of £289.7 million, £20.5 million and £16 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) measurability for commercial, industrial and retail sector jobs. The proposed Local Development Order is seeking to expedite the delivery of up to 1000 new homes and more than 49 acres of combined business, industrial and community space. Situated to the west of the town, on land principally owned by Croftmarsh, with additional areas owned by the Scarbrough family, the Skegness Gateway scheme is set to breathe new life into an area of the Lincolnshire coast that drastically needs change in order to secure its future, boosting the local economy and providing the education and jobs for local people that will encourage them to stay in the area. Sue Bowser of Croftmarsh, said: “This is a milestone moment for the people of Skegness and an important step in revitalising our town and community. It is a pathway for people to carve a real future in the town, with employment, skills and learning opportunities all situated within one site, connected by an ambition to restore Skegness at the heart of East Midlands economic investment. “Having farmed the land at Croftmarsh for 30 years, it was always hoped that it could eventually be used for development. Now, it’s a chance for prospective consultants, developers and investors to look more closely at our plans and be a part of transforming Skegness’ future. It will become a new home for thousands of families, a place of ambition and prosperity, with a lasting legacy for generations to come.” As part of the proposals, the Skegness Gateway site also includes provision for a new crematorium, 78 acres of green open space, supported living options and a new local centre. The scheme has garnered wide stakeholder and public support since its launch three years ago, following a series of engagement sessions and appearances at local community events. Last November, it was described by Matt Warman, MP for Boston and Skegness as a catalyst to ‘allow people to gain the skills and knowledge they need to get the jobs they want.’ The scheme was also mentioned in the House of Commons as offering a ‘significant boon to local NHS services.’ Enabling works on the new Skegness TEC college, which is situated on the Skegness Gateway site, is already underway, following planning permission being granted in February last year. Adrian Clarke, group vice principal for corporate services at TEC Partnership, said: “The new campus will provide fantastic opportunities for the local community to undertake courses in further and higher education and develop the skills the area needs for its future.” Chris Baron, chair at Connected Coast, said: “We are seeing unprecedented investment in Skegness which is supporting the delivery of aspirational and transformational projects. “The Skegness Gateway represents a further and significant opportunity to create much-needed facilities for the area and enhance Skegness for people who live and visit here. “Together the opportunities, interventions, and investment – which includes the Towns Fund and the recently announced Long Term Plan for Towns – will bring long-term, sustainable benefits for Skegness which will be felt for generations to come.” Councillor Steve Kirk, East Lindsey District Council portfolio holder for coastal economy, said: “I am delighted to see another positive step taken towards delivering this transformational piece of investment to Skegness and East Lindsey as a whole. “By supporting these plans, we are helping to create new jobs, new education and skills development options, new homes and new opportunities for businesses and the local economy. This is yet another example that shows Skegness is a great place to live, work, play and invest. “Alongside our ongoing Towns Fund and Levelling Up projects, the positive impact of these developments will be felt for generations to come, and I look forward to continuing to see them become a reality in the months and years ahead.” For more information on the Skegness Gateway, visit https://skegnessgateway.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An official opening event was held on 20th March to celebrate the completion of the new sixth form building at King Ecgbert School in Dore, south-west of Sheffield. Almost a year after R G Carter first started construction on site the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Cllr Colin Ross marked the occasion with a special ribbon cutting ceremony surrounded by staff and students from the school eager and excited to start gaining the benefit of this new state-of-the-art facility. “It is with great pride that we open the new sixth form building today. It took only a year to build but the project was many years in the making, so this marks the end of a long journey. I want to pay tribute to our Director of Sixth form, Rebecca McCairns who deserves the credit, along with students, for the detailed and thoughtful interior design specifically to meet the needs of sixth form students.” says Head teacher Paul Haigh “It is exciting to consider all the future opportunities the facility will help provide for our students, inspiring them on their future journey to become the graduate professionals of the future.” Representatives from the school’s governance, Mercia Learning Trust, Sheffield City Council and members of the build and design team and R G Carter and HLM attended the official celebrations. Further to speeches, guests had the opportunity for a tour of the new sixth form and find out how the students are getting on in the early days of moving into the space. Rebecca McCairns, Director of Sixth Form at King Ecgbert School said, “This building is all about the future. It has been built for the future with its eco-friendly design and University feel. It will be a place where students genuinely want to come to study; a home away from home. It will house our future medics, lawyers, athletes, artists and hopefully teachers. It will support our current students’ futures and that of the next generation including those in our community.” Chris French, CEO of Mercia Learning Trust, said: “This new Sixth Form building embodies our commitment to providing cutting-edge educational facilities that inspire and empower our students to reach their full potential. I want to commend King Ecgbert School for their unwavering dedication and vision in bringing this project to fruition, working closely with the Local Authority, Architects, and the construction firm. The journey from concept to completion is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the school’s leadership, staff, students, and the wider community.” The new 1294 m2, one-storey building provides King Ecgbert School with a stunning, dedicated modern space for sixth form lessons, with 15 new state of the art classrooms for specialist teaching. Featuring a giant wall-to-floor glass study room, the facility was designed around the feeling of university study spaces enabling students to learn in a relaxed, adult environment with stunning views out over the south Yorkshire countryside. Students from the school worked closely with HLM Architects and the interior designers in the early stages of the building’s development to ensure the building reflected their needs and tastes. Ideas incorporated into the scheme included soft colour pallets for the classrooms, wooden flooring and the addition of quiet spaces needed by some of its students with learning difficulties. This ethos was continued throughout the construction process with Core Architects and R G Carter. Tim Owen, Senior Project Manager for R G Carter Lincoln Ltd, said: “We’re extremely proud to have been part of the successful partnership with King Ecgbert School, its Multi Academy Trust Leadership team and Sheffield City Council in delivering this outstanding new sixth form building. It has been wonderful today to see people using and enjoying the new space we have built and for the students to see how their ideas have come to life. We hope it provides both students and staff with the very best learning environment for many years to come.” Cllr Maroof Raouf, Deputy Chair of the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “It is great to see the opening of the new King Ecgbert School Sixth Form facilities in Dore.” “Having worked at a number of Sixth Form schools in the city, I know there is more pressure on school provision places than ever before. I know the opening of this new building will be a source of pride for Sheffield, symbolising the commitment we are making to rapid progress and investment in education in this city. “We have worked alongside our partners to provide the right setting for students to prepare for further and higher education, apprenticeships, or employment. We hope pupils, staff, and parents alike enjoy using these new facilities.” The Lord Mayor of Sheffield Cllr Colin Ross, who officially opened the building said, “I am very pleased to welcome this new sixth form block to King Ecgbert’s School. This is a very popular and successful school and the new facility will enable the school to increase its overall capacity and meet the demand for places. It is important that as far as possible that students can attend their local school and an increase in student numbers across the South West of the city has made this difficult to achieve without this new building.” King Ecgbert School is a large 11-18 secondary school of around 1,450 students. The sixth form currently accommodates around 380 students; with A Level and BTEC students moving into this new bespoke sixth form facility, it will enable the school to free up space within the main building, creating room for the increasing level of Year 7 intake of pupils. The facility will also enable the school to meet the demand in catchment for school places. R G Carter Lincoln Ltd secured this project under the YORBuild3 Medium Works Framework. The project is funded by Sheffield City Council. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Thanet District Council’s plans to buy or build at least 400 new affordable rented homes by 2027 are on track. Less than 12 months into the programme, over 200 properties have now been secured. When completed, these homes will be rented to local residents through the council’s housing register. Under the ambitious plans first unveiled in July 2023, two new projects were identified that would provide the first 51 properties. This includes 41 homes at the Spitfire Green development at New Haine Road in Ramsgate. This week the council reached a new milestone when it took ownership of 23 new homes for affordable rent at the Spitfire Green site. The new properties are a mix of houses and flats and have been built by Barratt David Wilson Kent. The council is buying a further 18 homes at Spitfire Green, and expects the purchase to be completed within the next eighteen months. Cllr Helen Whitehead, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “This handover, and this milestone, marks an important step forward in our programme to deliver the new council homes desperately needed for our residents. “We are tracking far ahead of our projected timeline for this programme and I’m delighted that we’re delivering faster than our initial plans indicated we would. Every home we bring onto the council’s books means that another family moves into secure and well-maintained housing. “Housing is the very foundation of our community; when we provide the genuinely affordable housing residents need we know that we are providing far more than a roof and shelter; we are providing certain safety, security, and a solid base for residents and families to grow from in an often uncertain world. Our continual commitment to increasing the number of council homes available will relieve many of the pressures that residents currently face. “To fully address our environmental commitments and the cost of living pressures on residents, only are these homes affordable, but they have also been built to stringent environmental standards. They all have energy performance certificates rated B, which minimises the ongoing cost to households of heating them, and very importantly, reduces their environmental impact. We have worked in close partnership with Barratt David Wilson Kent to both design and produce these homes, and I am extremely proud of everyone who has worked on our new housing strategy to deliver what our residents need.” William Walsh, Managing Director for Barratt David Wilson Kent, comments: “We are committed to building high quality housing for a mix of tenures in Kent, and are particularly proud to expand our partnership with Thanet District Council. The agreement will deliver much needed housing for affordable rent in Ramsgate, meeting key local targets, and crucially providing much needed affordable housing to the community. “Spitfire Green is our flagship scheme in Ramsgate, and we are continuing to invest in the local community through our ongoing commitments, including through our Section 106 commitment to support key local amenities, alongside creating much needed housing available to buy or rent affordably.” Residents who need affordable housing should register on Kent Home Choice, the council’s lettings system. Once registered, they can bid on suitable homes as they become available. Find out more on the council’s website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
