MANCHESTER City Council has granted planning permission for the redevelopment of ten derelict railway arches on Corporation Street in Manchester. Located on one of the key links between the city centre and the Victoria North regeneration area, the Corporation Street arches will be transformed by The Arch Company, following multi-disciplinary
Retrofit for Purpose – a new insight study from Siemens Financial Services (SFS) – assesses the volume of carbon emissions buildings owners could save through energy-efficiency-as-a-service schemes. Specifically, the paper estimates emissions for the world’s four highest-volume emitter geographies – USA (71.35 MtCO2e), China (71.45), Europe (52.86), and India (14.91).
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has urged the UK government to focus on ways to accelerate growth in the number of whole building retrofit projects carried out during 2024. The Association believes only “a holistic approach to building performance” will unlock the full potential of the building services industry
East of England construction firm R G Carter is celebrating after completing a state-of-the-art commercial building at Parkside on the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus – the largest new office complex of its kind in the eastern region. Located on the Knowledge Gateway Research and Technology Park, the 41,571 sq.
HS2’s first giant tunnelling machine – which launched almost 3 years ago – broke through today at the end of her 10-mile (16km) journey under the Chilterns, excavating the longest tunnel on the ambitious new rail project. The enormous 2,000 tonne Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), named ‘Florence’, is one of
SymTerra, the digital communication tool built for on-site project teams, has announced its partnership with Google Cloud at this year’s Interchange Annual Conference in Manchester Central. The new integration on Google Cloud Marketplace offers the SymTerra tool to Google Cloud’s construction, utility and transport customers, enabling project data flow across
McLaren Construction Midlands and North has delivered phase one of Konect 62 – a speculative industrial and logistics development located in Knottingley, West Yorkshire. Comprising three sustainable units across the 60-acre first phase which are now available to let, the contractor worked together with C4 architects to complete the first
Amelie and Holly, Year 11 students from Vandyke Upper School have been selected as the winners of David Wilson Homes’ photography competition, to mark the launch of its new show homes at Clipstone Park. Partnering with Vandyke Upper School, David Wilson North Thames challenged Year 11 photography pupils with capturing
Former service personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are receiving support to transition into new careers on HS2, Britain’s biggest build. 83 former service men and women have already moved into full-time roles on the project, with over 60 more taking up industry
The multi-billion pound opportunity for the construction sector in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin is the focus for a major event for contractors and the supply chain next month. Project Pipeline, being held on March 22 in Shrewsbury, is expected to attract companies operating across the industry spectrum – from
MANCHESTER City Council has granted planning permission for the redevelopment of ten derelict railway arches on Corporation Street in Manchester. Located on one of the key links between the city centre and the Victoria North regeneration area, the Corporation Street arches will be transformed by The Arch Company, following multi-disciplinary services provided on-site by property, infrastructure and construction consultancy Pick Everard. The railway arches are to become new destinations for food and drink, leisure and retail businesses to occupy. This will include new glazed frontages, new services and drainage and internal lining to make the accommodation dry and ready for new businesses to occupy. The design incorporates high-quality materials that will restore an attractive appearance to the elevations on Corporation Street, creating a ‘street’ of arches that will appeal to potential tenants in the current marketplace. Pick Everard provided structural, civil, mechanical and electrical services on the site, working in close collaboration with partners such as Stephen George + Partners. Santosh Patel, strategic account director at Pick Everard, said:“Manchester is famously proud of its industrial heritage, and this project not only maintains and celebrates that history, but rejuvenates it in an exciting and innovative way to bring added social value to the city’s modern landscape and its residents. “Seeing this project to completion will bring a new offering to Manchester, further regenerating its town centre in a way that makes sense within its larger community. The new spaces present a great opportunity for independent retail, restaurant, and other leisure businesses to develop in an area that will grow and thrive with them.” The design of the new arches has sought to overcome a number of technical, environmental and planning constraints that are inherent within existing urban infrastructure of this type. There are, for example, substantial level differences from the front to the rear of many of the units, which have required both the creation of new slab levels and ramps to ensure full accessibility. As the rear of the units back onto the River Irk, their layout has required clever design to orient them to the front, with elevations to include fire door escape and flexibility for mechanical system and ventilation provision via louvred or knock-out panels in the frame. Alan Soper, studio director at SGP, said: “By any standards, arches are not a ‘normal’ building type and each can differ considerably in height, depth and shape; realising the potential of these previously overlooked spaces takes experience and good technical know-how if we are to refurbish them to modern occupancy standards. “Our previous experience with old, historic or Listed properties, and the ability to work within the existing building fabric, has proved invaluable in realising some of these schemes, as too has our technical knowledge of building regulations, particularly in relation to ventilation and fire security.” Corporation Street is the latest arch scheme in Greater Manchester on which SGP has been working with The Arch Company. It joins previously approved plans to turn ten neglected railway arches in Norton Street, Salford, into a thriving hub of bars, restaurants and cafes. The arches are located in Greengate, an area of the city currently experiencing a period of intensive development activity and growth. Both the Manchester and the Salford projects form part of Project 1000, The Arch Company’s £200m plan to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030. Corporation Street and Norton Street are just two of over ten such projects for which SGP has been commissioned to develop designs. In London, four of SGP’s schemes have already received consent – Witan Street, America Street, Salamanca Street and Crucifix Lane. Alan added: “We are delighted to be working with The Arch Company on their ambitious programme, bringing these derelict arches back to life so that they can be appreciated and used by a new generation. “If refurbished correctly, they present a long-term, sustainable solution to the economic vitality of our towns and cities, where a diverse mix of businesses can thrive, local employment is boosted and communities are transformed.” For more information on Pick Everard, visit https://www.pickeverard.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Retrofit for Purpose – a new insight study from Siemens Financial Services (SFS) – assesses the volume of carbon emissions buildings owners could save through energy-efficiency-as-a-service schemes. Specifically, the paper estimates emissions for the world’s four highest-volume emitter geographies – USA (71.35 MtCO2e), China (71.45), Europe (52.86), and India (14.91). Given these four areas are responsible for the majority of global CO2 emissions,[i] this equates to more than 8% of global annual CO2 emissions reduction targets, as defined by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Renovating existing building stock to a zero-carbon-ready level is a key priority for achieving the sector’s decarbonization targets. However, rising inflation, hardening interest rates, increased fuel costs, and supply chain disruption are all factors negatively impacting adoption rates. The report therefore evidences the enabling role of flexible private sector financing arrangements to maintain crucial investment momentum, drawing on many real-world examples of implementation from around the globe. Comprehensive retrofits of commercial buildings – including offices, hospitals, factories, warehouses, and educational establishments – can reduce their energy use by up to 40 percent but are not happening anywhere near the scale needed to meet climate goals, notes the report. This is likely due to the considerable investment required to retrofit new technologies. That’s where arrangements known as energy-efficiency-as-a-service are helping private and public sector organizations to retrofit the existing non-residential building stock in an affordable and cash-flow friendly way. These innovative financing schemes can secure operational cost reductions without putting pressure on capital resources, avoid putting capital at risk, and ensure expected savings are realized. At the technology component level, financing tools are available to help vendors and distributors add value with cash flow capabilities for their buyers. For larger installations or systems, smart financing arrangements can be flexed and tailored to align costs with the rate of benefit gained from the energy-efficient technology. “With climate targets looming large, it’s important we continue support and enable the decarbonization of buildings. Not only are they a serious contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, if left unchecked these emissions are projected to double by 2050,” says Toby Horne, Siemens Infrastructure Financing Partner, Siemens Financial Services, UK. “Specialist finance solutions are intelligently designed to factor in savings, making them budget-friendly enablers of the green transition.” Methodology Data from national/regional statistical institutes on annual energy consumption by non-residential buildings built prior to 2010 was used to model CO2 emissions of buildings likely to benefit from deep retrofit for energy-efficiency. This was then reduced by highest likely implementation levels of such deep retrofit. Likely energy savings from deep retrofit were calculated using the lowest end of official average ranges. The resulting figures provide a highly conservative annual estimate of the energy savings achievable through deep retrofit, which can be financed through energy-efficiency-as-a-service financing techniques. Download a copy of the Whitepaper: www.siemens.com/smart-buildings-retrofit Visit for further information about SFS: www.siemens.com/finance Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/siemens-financial-services [i] https://www.visualcapitalist.com/carbon-emissions-by-country-2022/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has urged the UK government to focus on ways to accelerate growth in the number of whole building retrofit projects carried out during 2024. The Association believes only “a holistic approach to building performance” will unlock the full potential of the building services industry to cut carbon emissions, improve energy security, and reduce consumers’ bills. BESA welcomed the allocation of an extra £1.5bn to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), as part of a wider £6bn push to improve building energy efficiency but said the Future Homes and Buildings Standards, due to come into force next year, should be more focused on whole building solutions. The Association also sought to downplay the potential of hydrogen for heating buildings saying it only had “limited feasibility” due to a range of financial and technical difficulties. “There is a danger that hydrogen becomes a damaging distraction because of vested interests trying to keep it in the decarbonisation picture, but it will only play a very minor role in buildings long-term,” said BESA technical director Graeme Fox. “It certainly could play some part in industrial and transport sectors, but not home heating – the infrastructure issues are too complex and the costs too high,” he added. “We need to keep focused on full building retrofits that make best use of energy efficient design and existing low carbon heating and cooling solutions.” Uplift There was a surge of applications for heat pump installation grants in late 2023 following the uplift in the BUS scheme to £7,500 per installation. The Association also welcomed the addition of a £400m energy efficiency grant, set to launch in 2025, which is intended to help households in England make wider improvements to their homes including installing larger radiators and insulation. A total of £1.545bn was added to the BUS fund to run from 2025-2028, but BESA said this could be bolstered with some additional funding for 2024 to keep up the momentum in the heat pump market. Over 4,000 contractors are now certified to install heat pumps and manufacturers’ efforts to improve the effectiveness of the technology are bearing fruit with more high temperature models coming onto the market, the Association added. The government is also consulting until March 6th on proposals for the upcoming Future Homes and Buildings Standards, which would, in effect, outlaw the use of gas boilers in new homes from 2025 onwards. It is also inviting feedback on proposed changes to the Building Regulations and calculation methods. “The government consultation pretty much rules out hydrogen-ready boilers too, but there are a number of exciting developments with heat pumps, including new high temperature models that could unlock further potential in that market,” said Fox. “The new funding and standards are a great opportunity to cement whole building retrofit as the way forward. The debate needs to move beyond individual technologies to the holistic approaches that make the best of the practical solutions we already have.” BESA also believes that ESG (environmental, social and governance) reporting will have an impact on building energy efficiency this year as clients come under pressure to be fully transparent about their net zero strategies to bolster their corporate reputations. In addition, all newly leased commercial buildings will need to achieve EPC ratings of C or higher from 2025 – with existing leases required to meet the same target by 2028 – and the Association said this could unlock greater investment this year as landlords seek to meet the deadlines. “2024 could be a big year for accelerating whole building retrofits to drive better energy performance, and the consultation is another opportunity for the government to send positive and supportive signals to the market,” said Fox. “Let’s turn the Boiler Upgrade Scheme into the Building Upgrade Scheme.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
East of England construction firm R G Carter is celebrating after completing a state-of-the-art commercial building at Parkside on the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus – the largest new office complex of its kind in the eastern region. Located on the Knowledge Gateway Research and Technology Park, the 41,571 sq. ft. office complex, which is already 25% let, offers a host of new possibilities for businesses seeking top quality workspace and advanced facilities. Ewan Dodds of Whybrow, joint agent for Parkside with Carter Jonas, commented that the development was the largest speculative office building in the eastern region and features many unique qualities. “Parkside represents the pinnacle of modern architecture and business innovation, offering a range of flexible spaces to suit diverse business needs, from single suites from 2,000sq. ft to single floors of just under 11,0000sq. ft.” Ben Le Coq of Carter Jonas added: “The strategic location near major transport links like London Stansted Airport and major regional cities positions Parkside as an ideal hub for businesses targeting regional expansion from a high quality and energy efficient building.” James Wilson, Director and General Manager at R G Carter, the main contractor for the new building, said: “We are delighted to have worked in partnership with the University of Essex to deliver this exciting flexible office development on its ever-growing campus. We look forward to seeing the positive impact the completed project will now have in supporting future business and wider economic growth in the county.” University Registrar Bryn Morris said: “This is a stunning landmark building which will provide a fantastic base for companies keen to move onto our Knowledge Gateway research and technology park and join our thriving business community. “The completion of the building also marks an exciting new era for the Knowledge Gateway. From this spring the ground floor will be home to our Public Health and Wellbeing Hub, which will deliver new services for the public in partnership with the NHS, drive forward our research agenda and offer fantastic new training opportunities.” The new office complex is not only equipped with premium amenities, including 24-hour CCTV, advanced air conditioning systems, passenger lifts, and showers, but it also proudly boasts a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A. BREEAM, which stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, is a leading global sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure, and buildings. While an EPC is a document that rates the energy efficiency of a building on a scale of A to G, with A being the highest possible score. These ratings underscores Parkside’s commitment to environmental performance, making it an ideal choice for businesses invested in sustainability. In addition, Parkside offers an optional concierge service, on-site parking, and access to an outstanding-rated children’s nursery. It is also on the doorstep of the 18th century Wivenhoe House Hotel, which offers an ideal environment for business dining or accommodation. For further information about Parkside and the Knowledge Gateway, visit www.knowledge-gateway.co.uk For more on R G Carter, visit www.rgcarter-construction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2’s first giant tunnelling machine – which launched almost 3 years ago – broke through today at the end of her 10-mile (16km) journey under the Chilterns, excavating the longest tunnel on the ambitious new rail project. The enormous 2,000 tonne Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), named ‘Florence’, is one of 10 machines excavating the 32 miles of tunnel on the new railway linking London Euston with Birmingham and was the first to launch, in May 2021. The breakthrough is a major milestone for the HS2 project, which will almost halve journey times between Britain’s two largest cities, while freeing up space for more local services on the most crowded part of the existing West Coast Main Line. Two identical TBMs were used to create the twin-bore Chiltern tunnel, which stretches from the South Portal near the M25 to South Heath in Buckinghamshire. Parallel tunnels will carry north and south bound trains with a second TBM, named ‘Cecilia’, due to breakthrough in the coming weeks. Rail Minister Huw Merriman said: “This ground-breaking moment for HS2 demonstrates significant progress on the country’s largest infrastructure project, with ‘Florence’ paving the way for faster, greener journeys between London and Birmingham while supporting hundreds of jobs and apprenticeships along the way. “Today’s breakthrough of HS2’s longest tunnel highlights the momentum behind the project and the achievement is testament to the hard work and dedication of the 450-strong team helping deliver the line that will transform rail travel for generations to come.” Designed specifically for the geology under the Chilterns, each TBM is an underground factory – excavating the tunnel, lining it with 56,000 pre-cast concrete segments and grouting them into place as it moves forward at an average speed of 16m per day. Four similar TBMs are being used for the London approach tunnels, while another two will work on Birmingham’s Bromford tunnel. Preparations are also underway for the launch of two more machines to excavate the Euston tunnels. The breakthrough comes a week after HS2 published new research which shows how the impending arrival of high speed rail will drive a £10 billion economic boost for the West Midlands during the next 10 years, with a huge increase in new development around the two station sites. HS2 Ltd Executive Chairman, Sir Jon Thompson, said: “Today is an incredible day of HS2 and I’d like to thank the hundreds of people who’ve worked so hard over many years to make it happen. Once complete, HS2 will dramatically improve journeys between our two largest cities and also free up space on the existing mainline for more local trains. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but historic moments like today really underline the huge amount of progress that’s been made and the fantastic engineering skills we have on the project.” Both machines launched from the South Portal and are 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 by TBM specialists Herrenknecht, in Germany. Each TBM is operated by a crew of around 17 people, working in shifts to keep the machines running 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, more than 450 people have worked on the tunnels and in support teams on the surface over the last 3 years. This includes a dedicated team which produced 112,000 precision-engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete tunnel wall segments at a purpose build temporary factory at the South Portal who completed their work just before Christmas – and a team processing the spoil from the tunnels. Align’s Project Director, Daniel Altier said: “The typical drive for a TBM is 5-6km and therefore the challenges in completing at 16km drive should not be underestimated. “Florence and her sister TBM Cecilia were designed in partnership with Herrenknecht. They incorporate a number of 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. “The mining of the tunnel is a fantastic achievement for not only the Align tunnelling team but also the earthworks team who have managed chalk excavated from the tunnels and placed on site, along with many other supporting functions. I would also like to acknowledge our supply chain partners, including TGT that provided the teams to operate the TBMs and MS with whom we designed and operated the slurry treatment plant, with 24 filter presses it is the largest in the world.’” The 3 million cubic metres of chalk and other material removed during the tunnelling is being used to create an ambitious grassland restoration project at the south portal, which will include 127 hectares of new landscaping, wildlife habitat and biodiverse chalk grassland. The chalk, which is pumped back through the tunnel in a slurry mixed with water, is processed at a slurry treatment plant at the south portal site where the flint is removed and water extracted before it can be reused in landscaping. Chalk grassland – a type of calcareous grassland – is habitat of international conservation importance mainly found on limestone and chalk valleys of south-east England and the Isle of Wight. Lime-rich, but low in nutrients, the thin soil holds little water and heats up quickly. These conditions encourage a huge variety of smaller herbs and wildflowers and over 40 species can be found in one square metre of grassland, including some of the UK’s rarest orchids and invertebrates. Only 700 hectares of chalk grassland exist across the whole of the Chilterns AONB. At its deepest point, the tunnel is 80m beneath the Chilterns and passes under the M25, local railway lines and twice under the River Misbourne. Extensive water quality, groundwater level and surface water flow monitoring was put in place prior to the start of construction, and
SymTerra, the digital communication tool built for on-site project teams, has announced its partnership with Google Cloud at this year’s Interchange Annual Conference in Manchester Central. The new integration on Google Cloud Marketplace offers the SymTerra tool to Google Cloud’s construction, utility and transport customers, enabling project data flow across supply and labour chains for more effective site and project reporting. SymTerra’s record-right-first-time site reporting tool captures data at the point of work, to eliminate risk and hidden costs that result from reporting inaccuracies, difficulty accessing historical data, and weak chain of evidence required for commercial defensibility. By putting digital tools in the hands of those on site to capture data at point of work, SymTerra eliminates the industry’s over-reliance on consumer communication tools, to make absent, incomplete, outdated & incorrect data a thing of the past. In the construction, rail and water industry, effective communication is paramount to enabling data flows across supply and labour chains. The foundation of every project, and fundamental to every business, is robust data; and yet many project teams are forced to rely on consumer messaging tools for site reporting and asset updates because other options are simply not fit for purpose. SymTerra co-founder Sarah Crawley commented; “Data is critical to the commercial resilience and viability of the transport and infrastructure sector, with access to open data standards empowering the entire supply chain; democratising data is one of the foundations on which the future of multi-modal transport will be built. None of this can happen without site teams having direct access to digital tools that capture real time data, updates and reporting from site, which is why this strategic partnership with Google Cloud is such an important catalyst for the integration and digitisation of transport infrastructure. “We’re looking forward to meeting Google Cloud partners at this year’s Interchange Conference, and helping more Google Cloud customers deliver projects with better reporting for future resilience.” “Bringing Symterra to Google Cloud Marketplace will help customers quickly deploy, manage, and grow its digital communications platform on Google Cloud’s trusted, global infrastructure,” said Anne-Marie Lamb, Director, Manufacturing & Industrial, UKI, Google Cloud. “SymTerra can now securely scale and support customers on their digital transformation journeys.” As a Google Cloud partner, SymTerraoffers customers the ability to: The new integration with Google Cloud launched on Wednesday 28 February 2024 at Google Prism, the interactive immersion zone focused on data and AI in transport, where SymTerra is speaking, alongside infrastructure specialist D2 Global, on ‘building the data pipeline for lost assets’. Catch SymTerra on the Google Prism stage on Wednesday 28 February at 10.20am. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren Construction Midlands and North has delivered phase one of Konect 62 – a speculative industrial and logistics development located in Knottingley, West Yorkshire. Comprising three sustainable units across the 60-acre first phase which are now available to let, the contractor worked together with C4 architects to complete the first phase for joint venture partners, Henderson Park and Cole Waterhouse. With a capability of providing over 1,500 jobs, phase one units include 161,000, 151,000 and 61,000 sq. ft options alongside a 30-acre service plot, which was delivered with utilities and access to accommodate several Build-to-Suit options. The entire Konect 62 development, which will include multiple phases, will be adopting low carbon building design and technology to target a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. McLaren Construction Midlands and North inducted 1,350 people during the delivery of the first phase, and a combined total of 138,200 work hours were required for the build. The Konect 62 site is located on the previous site of Kellingley Colliery, the last deep mine in the UK which opened in 1959 and closed in 2015. Gary Cramp, Managing Director of McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “We’re pleased to have delivered phase one of this landmark industrial and logistics hub, for joint venture partners Henderson Park and Cole Waterhouse, of which we’ve received excellent feedback. “Our dedicated team and subcontractors worked exceptionally hard to ensure the quality, sustainability and timeliness of the phase, which was completed in 12 months, using predominantly local labour from the surrounding community. The scheme will provide essential jobs and opportunities for the sector in a prime location.” David Nuttall, Managing Director of Industrial & Logistics at Cole Waterhouse, said: “McLaren has delivered an excellent first phase at Konect 62, exactly 12 months from signing the build contract. The three units and 30-acre plot set the tone for the remainder of the site and firmly establish Konect 62 as a genuine business location. A year ago, the site was featureless, and all traces of the former mine had been cleared. The change today is dramatic, and it is now a first-rate logistics park offering a variety of existing units and Build-to-Suit opportunities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Amelie and Holly, Year 11 students from Vandyke Upper School have been selected as the winners of David Wilson Homes’ photography competition, to mark the launch of its new show homes at Clipstone Park. Partnering with Vandyke Upper School, David Wilson North Thames challenged Year 11 photography pupils with capturing photos that demonstrate what Leighton Buzzard means to them. The winning photographs, featuring a sunset along Stanbridge Road and a heron on the Grand Union Canal, are set to take pride of place in the new Earlswood and Bradgate show homes at Clipstone Park. Marc Woolfe, Sales and Marketing Director at David Wilson Homes North Thames, commented: “This competition was a fantastic opportunity to work with local students and to highlight the remarkable talent within Leighton Buzzard. The winning photographs has added a wonderful personal touch to our latest show homes and helps to demonstrate the strong connection we have with Vandyke Upper School and the wider community. Well done to both Amelie and Holly!” Jacqueline Lewis, Teacher at Vandyke Upper School added: “It’s wonderful to see our students engage with their surroundings through this creative initiative proposed by David Wilson North Thames. As we gear up for their last few terms ahead of their GCSE’s, this challenge helped our students to explore their talent beyond the classroom and to celebrate our community. We are so proud of Amelia and Holly and all of our Year 11 pupils who took part in this challenge.” Amelie, student at Vandyke Upper School added: “I thoroughly enjoyed seeing my design come to life. When we first received the brief in our photography lesson, I didn’t think that it would turn into something for hundreds of people to see in a show home! We often get amazing sunsets here in Leighton Buzzard so my photo encompassed just that.” Holly, student at Vandyke Upper School concludes: “It makes me really happy to know that my design was chosen and that I was given a fantastic opportunity by David Wilson North Thames. My photography showcases the Grand Union Canal which flows through Leighton Buzzard and is a place I love!” The show homes, which launched in January, include: ‘The Bradgate’, a four-bedroom detached house, with a single attached garage, utility, ensuite, study, family dining room, and cloakroom. The Earlswood, is a five-bedroom detached house, with a double detached garage, utility, two ensuites, family breakfast room and cloakroom. Clipstone Park homes are built with both sustainability and energy efficiency at the forefront of the design. They achieve an EPC A or B rating, saving homeowners an average of £3,100 per year on bills1. The homes incorporate a range of the highest efficiency technology, such as: A-rated condensing boilers with low heat-loss hot water cylinders (ensuring that water stays hotter for longer) and water savings features and fittings (helping to save up to 25 litres of water a day per person). For more information about David Wilson North Thames call 0333 355 8500 or visit https://www.dwh.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Former service personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are receiving support to transition into new careers on HS2, Britain’s biggest build. 83 former service men and women have already moved into full-time roles on the project, with over 60 more taking up industry placements and hundreds benefiting from mentoring to support their adjustment to life outside of military service. The scale and complexity of HS2’s construction requires a diverse workforce with a broad range of skills and talents. By teaming up with community interest company BuildForce, HS2 has opened the doors to its 350 worksites and given ex-forces personnel an opportunity to apply their transitional skills in a completely different setting. HS2’s civils construction partners have all embraced the partnership with BuildForce, going the extra mile to provide mentors, coaching and wrap around support services to promote mental health and wellbeing. The transitional nature of HS2’s work placement programme, as a stepping stone into employment, has to date seen candidates progress into logistics, engineering, health and safety and project management roles, with some candidates progressing into senior management positions. HS2’s Head of Legacy, Natalie Penrose explains: “We’re committed to supporting our ex-service men and women and value the huge contribution they are already making to the delivery of Britain’s new railway. “As we begin the transition from civils to rail, more new jobs will be created at HS2 and within our supply chain, and we’re confident the ex-forces community will continue to play an important role.” Andrew Mackinnon served in the Royal Air Force as an IT security specialist but on leaving military service, he struggled to find employment that matched his skillset. Andrew approached BuildForce for support and they referred him directly to Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands. Recognising Andrew’s valuable skills, the BBV team offered Andrew a paid work placement, which he began in November 2023. Now three months into his role, Andrew is a valued member of the BBV Innovation team, where he focuses on implementing new work processes and driving efficiencies across the project. Andrew commented: “Joining Balfour Beatty VINCI marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in my career, after leaving the Royal Air Force last year. I’m really enjoying working on this iconic infrastructure project, which I feel is the perfect platform to relaunch my career from. The transition has been made much easier thanks to the support I’ve received from Buildforce and BBV throughout this entire process.” Speaking about the HS2 partnership, Caroline Logan, Programme Director at BuildForce said: “The depth of the skillsets within our military community is constantly responding to the changing needs of HS2 and we look forward to the future, supporting more ex-military candidates onto the project.” With three new world-class stations to be built, there are hundreds more career and work placement opportunities to come on HS2. Ex-forces personnel interested in finding out more are invited to attend an exclusive project day at HS2’s giant superhub station in Old Oak Common, West London. HS2’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA is hosting the event, in partnership with BuildForce, to provide a behind the scenes tour and greater understanding of the breadth of careers available. For further information and to register for the event, which takes place on 24 April, visit https://www.buildforce.org.uk/events/buildforce-armed-forces-project-day-with-hs2-joint-venture-balfour-beatty-vinci-systra-bbvs/For information about careers and opportunities on HS2, visit hs2.org.uk/careers Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The multi-billion pound opportunity for the construction sector in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin is the focus for a major event for contractors and the supply chain next month. Project Pipeline, being held on March 22 in Shrewsbury, is expected to attract companies operating across the industry spectrum – from housing developers to sub-contractors and civil engineers to main contractors. Hosted by Shropshire Constructing Excellence, the Constructing Excellence Midlands Shropshire club, the event at Theatre Severn will hear about opportunities to be involved in a range of projects, such as the regeneration of Shrewsbury’s Riverside area and the flagship Station Quarter development in Telford. Mark Barrow, chair of Shropshire Constructing Excellence and executive director of place at Shropshire Council, said: “This is an exciting time for the construction industry across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, and we want our local businesses to get their share of the contracts that will be available over the next decade. “Sometimes, just knowing what’s in the pipeline and when we expect the opportunities to become live, can be the key to getting involved in these major infrastructure projects. We also want to make sure that Shropshire and Telford companies are aware of construction projects being delivered currently and how they and their supply chain can benefit. “There will also be a chance to network with other construction professionals, meet other organisations which can support construction sector companies to grow, and pick up information on business growth, training and skills.” Amy Bould, managing director of Be Bold Media and committee member of SCE, is hosting the event which will hear keynotes from both councils about infrastructure projects which aim to develop the economy and prosperity of the region. Harpreet Rayet, of Cornovii Developments, will give an overview on STAR Housing’s successful retrofit project near Oswestry, sustainability plans and SAP calculations, and Matt Laws from event sponsor Shrewsbury Colleges Group will give a brief update on the latest funded skills and training opportunities available to employers. Andrew Carpenter, from Constructing Excellence Midlands, will also explain how the organisation works together with SCE for the benefit of construction businesses, and the event will wrap up with a networking lunch. The Project Pipeline event is aimed at any business involved in construction (main contractors/sub-contractors), residential and commercial property development, retrofit, supply chain, built environment and masterplanning, low carbon and sustainability, construction skills and training, civil engineering and infrastructure, building and facilities management, material and building design and sector support specialists. Telford is the fastest-growing town in the West Midlands, and the Station Quarter is just one of the major infrastructure projects planned for the next decade. Made up of commercial, residential and education space – including a new campus for Harper Adams University – there is plenty of scope for businesses to get involved. Shropshire Council has bid for a share of the government’s £4.8 billion Levelling Up fund to support three major schemes – the clearance of the Riverside area of Shrewsbury, a new roundabout and railway bridge on the A49 at Craven Arms, and town centre improvements and a new skate park for Oswestry. To register for the Project Pipeline event visit https://www.cemidlands.org/event/project-pipelinethe-multi-billion-pound-opportunity-for-construction-in-shropshire-telford-wreki/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
