Local housebuilder Crest Nicholson’s Chiltern division recently hosted a charity ball in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer, raising an amazing £16,000 over the evening to help those fighting cancer, and their families. Hundreds of people from across the housebuilding industry gathered at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marlow on
SR Timber has moved its timber import terminal base from Goole Docks, fifty miles up the Humber estuary to Immingham Docks. The move and new location provide more space for SR Timber’s increasing sales of timber construction products. The Port of Immingham, also known as Immingham Dock is a major
Employees from Finning recently spent the day volunteering at specialist rehabilitation centre, Willowdene as part of its commitment to support community initiatives. The volunteers, who chose to support the Social Enterprise in recognition of the work it does to help both men and women in getting their lives back on
Hilton today announced the signing of Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre, signalling the market-leading brand’s debut in Western Europe, as part of a franchise agreement with JMK Group. Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre will be located only 100m from the vibrant O’Connell Street, home to the
THE ISLAND Quarter could eventually be home to more than 1,000 students following the submission of proposals for a second phase of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) on site. Plans submitted to Nottingham City Council today (16 February) will see a further 383-space student block built on the Manvers Road side
National property consultancy Carter Jonas has secured planning consent on behalf of UK’s national synchrotron light source, Diamond Light Source (Diamond), to extend its presence at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire. Diamond works like a giant microscope, harnessing the power of electrons to produce bright light that is used to
HS2 has moved the first huge viaduct section into place over the motorway network in North Warwickshire, marking a milestone for the project’s Delta Junction as HS2 reaches peak construction in the region. Contractors working for HS2 have used a specialist push-pull technique to move the 84 metre, 300 tonne
CBRE has announced its new headquarters in Glasgow has achieved one of the UK’s highest sustainability ratings. The global real estate advisor’s offices at 177 Bothwell Street have been awarded a coveted BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating from the Building Research Establishment (BRE), placing it in the top 10% of fit-out projects
NATIONAL engineering consultancy Rodgers Leask has been awarded a place on a procurement framework with the University of Cumbria, achieving the highest score of any of the bidders in the chosen lot. The opportunity was secured by the team at the firm’s Liverpool office – which specialises in civil and
The plan for new homes, jobs and sustainable growth in Greater Manchester has reached its final stage, following a report by planning inspectors. In their report, published last Thursday, the inspectors have concluded that the Places for Everyone plan, with the modifications recommended as part of their rigorous, extensive and
Local housebuilder Crest Nicholson’s Chiltern division recently hosted a charity ball in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer, raising an amazing £16,000 over the evening to help those fighting cancer, and their families. Hundreds of people from across the housebuilding industry gathered at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marlow on the 26th January for a gorgeous black tie event in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer. The event was hosted by comedian Paul Sinha. Throughout the night, money was donated through raffles and a guest speaker, Patience, took to the stage to share her story about her son Jeremy, his cancer journey, and how Young Lives vs Cancer supported them throughout his treatment, so he could battle through. As a business, Crest Nicholson has now raised over £100,000 for its charity partner, in addition to volunteering its time and expertise to support with hands-on projects, such as repair work to Young Lives’ Homes away from Home. Charlie Joseph, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, comments: “Thank you to everyone who attended our charity ball and who contributed to the money raised via purchasing entry tickets, raffle tickets or making additional donations. The event was a huge success not only in the money raised but was a great way to raise awareness and for everyone to find out more about the impact the charity has on young people and their families. “Looking ahead, we hope to build on our partnership with Young Lives through more sponsorships, events, challenges, and hands-on projects, in the hope that the charity can support even more young people and their families at what is an incredibly difficult time in their lives.” Young Lives Vs Cancer helps children and young people, and their families, find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. The charity has Homes from Home, located close to hospitals and principal treatment centres where children have treatment, so at a time when families should only have to focus on their child or young person’s treatment, they can stay close to them, keeping families together at a difficult time. The charity has 11 Homes across the UK including Paul’s House and Ciaran’s house, helping families to avoid the extra financial burden of travel, accommodation, and food whilst their child is completing their treatment. The Homes, and the charity more broadly, works to ensure families are as comfortable as possible and can experience at least a bit of normalcy whilst they are away for cancer treatment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SR Timber has moved its timber import terminal base from Goole Docks, fifty miles up the Humber estuary to Immingham Docks. The move and new location provide more space for SR Timber’s increasing sales of timber construction products. The Port of Immingham, also known as Immingham Dock is a major port on the east coast of England, located on the south bank of the Humber Estuary, just north of Grimsby, and is the UK’s largest port by tonnage, handling a wide range of cargoes. The port is the perfect location allowing S R Timber greater flexibility and quicker shipments from their main sawmill supply partner based in Riga – Latvia. As they regularly hold stocks in excess of 20,000m3, the move also gives the business far more undercover and outside storage space. The investment in this new facility comes as the business further extends its product portfolio, holding a wider and increased stock range of all constructional timber products. Timber product lines range from specialised roofing timber dimensions, cedar shingles, structurally graded carcassing, and sheet materials to increasing volumes of their flagship product ‘Premium Gold’ a leading UK brand of fully graded roofing batten. Shaun Revill, (pictured left on main photo) Trading Director and original co-founder of SR Timber, almost 20 years ago, said of this recent investment: “We now have a new home for our timber products and sheet materials, and we’re excited and looking forward to many years of trading from our new base at Immingham. We distribute the UK’s leading brands, specifically our trademarked Premium Gold graded roofing batten which is fully compliant with British Standards 5534. We have been delivering our Premium Gold batten for over 16 years and it has become a brand known for quality within the UK’s roofing sector, it is sustainably sourced and produced from slow-grown spruce and comes ‘Chain-of-Custody’ certified. We have invested vast amounts of money, time and energy over our 20 years of trading and 16 years of delivering our Premium Gold graded batten, to become skilled and certified experts in our field. Our nationwide customers value that expertise and can rest assured and have complete confidence and peace of mind that in trading with S R Timber, you are dealing with professionals, individuals and a company you can trust and depend upon.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Employees from Finning recently spent the day volunteering at specialist rehabilitation centre, Willowdene as part of its commitment to support community initiatives. The volunteers, who chose to support the Social Enterprise in recognition of the work it does to help both men and women in getting their lives back on track, helped out with day-to-day tasks on the working farm and training centre, as well as learning more about the initiatives run by the trust. Set up in 1988, Willowdene, in Bridgnorth, puts in place innovative training and rehabilitation schemes to help people who have faced difficulties in their lives – and to work to identify and address issues that can be a contributing factor in offending. Together with their support, they can pave the way towards a brighter future. In addition, Willowdene has been commissioned by the Ministry of Justice to help women gain the specialist support they need to overcome challenges in their life that can play a factor in offending, such as abuse, exploitation, housing issues and mental health issues. The Prison Reform Trust states that more than half of the women in prison in the UK report having suffered domestic abuse, and 53 per cent suffered abuse in their childhood, while half of women leaving prison have no settled accommodation. Willowdene aims to work with women to address past trauma and put in place steps to help them make a fresh start. Finning, the world’s largest dealer of Cat® equipment, parts and services, provides time for its employees to support charities. The company’s marketing team, based at the headquarters in Cannock, Staffordshire, chose Willowdene as their charity of choice, particularly in recognition of its work to help women. Marketing Manager Tracey Earp said: “As we approached the end of last year, we all decided that we would like to join forces to show our support for a local charity and get involved if we could. “It’s so insightful to see from the inside the amazing work that Willowdene does to pick people up when they need it most and to help them see that they can make a positive change in their lives. “Their work to support women is something that really resonated with us, and we wanted to raise awareness of that within the company as well as take time out to support Willowdene.” Matthew Home, CEO at Willowdene said: “We were extremely grateful for the support that Finning staff provided during their day with us. They helped further our social enterprise activities which generates income to directly support women on our programmes to tackle the trauma of their past. “Their generous donations to our clothing bank were also gratefully received. It was a pleasure to work alongside Finning staff who put 100% into their time with us to make a tangible and direct difference to those most in need.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hilton today announced the signing of Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre, signalling the market-leading brand’s debut in Western Europe, as part of a franchise agreement with JMK Group. Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre will be located only 100m from the vibrant O’Connell Street, home to the world-famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Offering easy access to Dublin’s main attractions, including Trinity College, Temple Bar and the harbour, as well as being close to the headquarters for major companies like Google and Facebook, the hotel is the ideal base for those wanting to immerse themselves in the capital’s rich heritage or thriving business scene. The property will feature 290 rooms, including 214 king studio suites and 76 one-bedroom suites. Guests will enjoy signature Home2 Suites features and amenities, which are ideal for extended stays, including complimentary hot breakfast, flexible suite configurations with a full kitchen, multi-functional community spaces and combined fitness and laundry facility. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton, said: “We are excited to announce the debut of Home2 Suites by Hilton in Western Europe, marking a significant milestone for the brand as it gains momentum in the region. As we explore opportunities for further expansion, the growing demand for extended stays presents an exciting opportunity to cater for the evolving needs of travellers in the region. We look forward to welcoming guests to this new property and redefining the extended stay experience.” Zain Kajani, director at JMK Group added: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Hilton once again to introduce the first Home2 Suites property to Western Europe. The signing marks a significant milestone in JMK Group and Hilton’s close partnership. The decision to open a hotel under the Home2 Suites brand aligns with JMK’s vision to provide exceptional accommodation which caters to both short stay and long stay travellers. We have full confidence that the property will deliver a unique and comfortable experience for domestic and international visitors, whether travelling for leisure or business.” With over 650 open hotels worldwide, the brand has emerged as one of the fastest growing in Hilton’s prestigious portfolio. Offering stylish and customisable accommodations designed to make travellers and their pets feel at home regardless of their length of stay, Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre will also feature the brand’s trademark amenities, including: Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre will participate in Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty programme for Hilton’s distinct hotel brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors app, where Honors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. For more information, visit stories.hilton.com/home2suites. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
THE ISLAND Quarter could eventually be home to more than 1,000 students following the submission of proposals for a second phase of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) on site. Plans submitted to Nottingham City Council today (16 February) will see a further 383-space student block built on the Manvers Road side of the 36-acre site. Combined with the 693 beds at the adjacent Winfield Court – which will open to students for the 2024/25 academic year – The Island Quarter will boast a significant student population once both phases are complete. The proposals – designed by DAY Architectural – cover a range of accommodation types including cluster accommodation, studios and premium options, along with student community amenity facilities such as a gym, laundry room, various lounges and informal breakout areas. Following a similar material palette to Winfield Court, the designs include a combination of grey, buff and red bricks on the building’s facade alongside ribbed metal cladding. Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “The demand for student housing has never been greater, and PBSA plays a vital role in ensuring that students have access to high-quality accommodation without the need to restrict housing supply that is better suited for Nottingham residents.” The new student block is the latest planning submission by developer The Conygar Investment Company, following last May’s approval for a new 250,000 sq ft biosciences campus on the northern side of the site. Ware said: “Intergenerational living has been a core principle for our plans for The Island Quarter, and a healthy population of students is a crucial part of this mix. In a competitive marketplace, these well-designed plans put student experience at their heart, and we’re looking forward to seeing this phase move forward. “This latest proposal is one of a series of planning submissions that are currently in the pipeline, building on the success of the first phases of the development at 1 The Island Quarter and Winfield Court.” The scheme has been designed by DAY Architectural with planning, transport and environmental advice being provided by Axis. David Jones, technical director at Axis, said: “As part of the evolving masterplan for The Island Quarter, this next phase of accommodation has been designed so that the proposed build can complement Winfield Court in design and function while diversifying the student living environments on offer.” For more information about the plans for The Island Quarter, including the overall masterplan, visit theislandquarter.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National property consultancy Carter Jonas has secured planning consent on behalf of UK’s national synchrotron light source, Diamond Light Source (Diamond), to extend its presence at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire. Diamond works like a giant microscope, harnessing the power of electrons to produce bright light that is used to study anything from fossils to jet engines to viruses and vaccines. The company required a new facility in preparation for its upgrade called Diamond-II, which is a project that will deliver a new machine and new beamlines with a comprehensive series of upgrades to optics, detectors, sample environments, sample delivery capabilities and computing. This new building will create space for assembly process and storage facilities which will enable the 48 section machine at the heart of the facility to be assembled. It will also provide office and laboratory space for around 100 staff. The new space will be located on the southern side of its iconic circular building. The 0.97ha site will accommodate assembly rooms, accessed off a central service spine, with all plant accessed from the perimeter road. It will also include offices and a variety of spaces for different staff preferences, working styles and team events. A sunny, south facing staff rest area will provide a balcony and a respite from work, as well as an informal touchdown and collaboration space Nicky Brock, Partner at Carter Jonas in Oxford commented, “We are extremely pleased to have achieved this planning consent on behalf of Diamond Light Source. This is an extremely important development, which will enable the research carried out at the Synchrotron to remain at the forefront of technology and stay competitive with comparable facilities around the world.” Dr Richard Walker, Interim Project Director and Technical Director at Diamond Light Source commented, “Diamond Light Source has established itself as a world-class synchrotron facility enabling research by leading academic and industrial groups in physical and life sciences. Diamond has pioneered a model of highly efficient and uncompromised infrastructure offered as a user-focussed service driven by technical and engineering innovation. To continue delivering the world-changing science that Diamond leads and enables, Diamond-II is a project that will deliver a new machine, new flagship beamlines, critical upgrades to several beamlines, and an extensive series of enhancements to optics, detectors, sample environments, and computing to support the capacity of the new machine. This will enable new applications at Diamond, including time-resolved experiments for several disciplines. The user experience will be further enhanced through access to integrated and correlative methods as well as broad application of automation in both instrumentation and analysis. Diamond-II will be transformative in both spatial resolution and throughput and will offer users streamlined access to enhanced instruments for life and physical sciences.” In achieving planning success, Carter Jonas worked alongside architects and engineers Ridge and Partners LLP. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 has moved the first huge viaduct section into place over the motorway network in North Warwickshire, marking a milestone for the project’s Delta Junction as HS2 reaches peak construction in the region. Contractors working for HS2 have used a specialist push-pull technique to move the 84 metre, 300 tonne steel viaduct section into place over the westbound link road between the M6 and M42 near Coleshill. This is the first of two moves to install the deck for HS2’s ‘East Link Viaduct’, which is part of the triangular Delta Junction. The second operation in April will create the full 158 metre long composite deck over both westbound and eastbound motorway link roads. Further work, including in-situ concrete deck works and parapets installation will be undertaken to complete the structure. It was delivered by specialist steelwork company Victor Buyck Steel Construction (VBSC), working on behalf of HS2’s main works contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV). Using a push-pull jacking system which gives greater flexibility during the launch operation, it was the first time VBSC have used their specially designed technique in the UK. The team completed the move ahead of schedule in a total of 11.5 hours during a weekend closure of the motorway link roads. Working in close collaboration with National Highways, the roads were re-opened at 2.35am on Sunday morning. Before the end of this year, a similar two-stage operation will move the identical ‘West Link Viaduct’ which runs parallel to the East Link Viaduct. This section of the triangular Delta Junction enables high speed trains to travel between London, Interchange Station in Solihull and Birmingham Curzon Street Station. Stephen Powell, Head of Delivery – Area North at HS2 Ltd said: “Building the East Link Viaduct in the Delta Junction is not only a key milestone for the HS2 project in the Midlands but is also critical to our earthworks mass haul strategy to keep construction traffic off the local roads. “While we continue to construct HS2 in this area, it will provide a crossing route over the highway for construction vehicles to move excavated material from the Bromford Tunnel to other work sites in the Delta Junction, removing thousands of lorry movements from the local road network.” Alex Staines, Sub Agent – Composite Structures at Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “Delivering this milestone is a really proud moment for me and the team. We’ve worked very closely with our partners National Highways to make sure that this activity was delivered safely and efficiently. “By using an innovative launching technique, we were able to build the viaduct deck offline and move it into position over a weekend closure of the highway, greatly reducing the impact on road users.” Tibo Suvée, Project Manager at Victor Buyck Steel Construction said: “Our team were pleased to deliver this successful operation, which was the first time our push-pull jacking system has been used in the UK. The technique provides greater flexibility during the launching operation by allowing the bridge to be moved backwards or both ways if needed. “This is really the first milestone of four, and over the next eight months we look forward to delivering the second launch of the East Link Viaduct and the same two-stage operation for the West Link Viaduct, which will complete these first viaducts on Delta Junction.” National Highways Senior Network Planner, Frank Bird, said: “This has been a complex and collaborative effort to both minimise disruption for people using our roads but also enabling this engineering feat to take place. “We are pleased with how smoothly the operation went and are grateful to road users for their patience while this ambitious work took place.” The first launch takes the viaduct section to its halfway position over the westbound link road. Following completion of the first launch, three further steel girders will be welded to the back of the first structure, and 40 precast slabs will be installed on top of the girders. In April, this entire structure, weighing 1,100 tonnes will then be moved to its final position over both westbound and eastbound motorway link roads. The Delta Junction is made up of embankments, cuttings and a total of 13 viaducts taking high speed tracks over motorways, local roads, existing rail lines, rivers and floodplains. The viaducts include 6 precast segmental viaducts, 4 composite viaducts and 3 low viaducts. The layout of the Delta Junction triangle means the railway from London curves west on a spur towards Birmingham Curzon Street Station. As trains come out of Birmingham, the line heads north to meet the main HS2 line, which will then connect to the West Coast Main Line to Manchester. The third side of the triangle allows trains to run between London and Manchester without stopping at Birmingham. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CBRE has announced its new headquarters in Glasgow has achieved one of the UK’s highest sustainability ratings. The global real estate advisor’s offices at 177 Bothwell Street have been awarded a coveted BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating from the Building Research Establishment (BRE), placing it in the top 10% of fit-out projects in the UK. CBRE relocated more than 400 employees to the landmark development in January last year as part of a consolidation plan to merge three offices into one and enhance collaboration. The agency occupies the building’s ground floor extending to 18,000 sq ft. 177 Bothwell Street’s existing green credentials were a key factor in CBRE selecting it for its West of Scotland hub. It utilises 100% green power from a local source, supporting the advisor’s commitments to reduce carbon emissions. The building also features impressive wellness amenities such as a rooftop running track, seating areas and spa-quality changing facilities. David Smith, Managing Director of CBRE Scotland, said: “This fantastic excellent rating was achieved thanks to the collaboration of an in-house CBRE team which included Designers, MEP, Project Management and BREEAM Assessors. “Unusually, no comments or suggested actions for improvement were raised by BRE on the BREEAM documentation, which is a real testament to the hard work our team put into this.” Smith added: “It is important that we are able to demonstrate to our clients that a commitment to reducing the impact office buildings have on the environment should always be at the core of any real estate decision-making process.” The BREEAM excellent rating for 177 Bothwell Street falls within CBRE’s ESG commitments, with over half the buildings occupied in the UK now holding a green certification. Giulia Mori, Health and Wellbeing Lead, ESG Consultancy, CBRE UK added: “The achievement of the BREEAM standard for 177 Bothwell Street is another major milestone towards CBRE’s ESG commitments, and it demonstrates best practice since this office is only one of seven projects achieving BREEAM Excellent in Scotland. “The smooth achievement of the certification for this project is testament to the amazing team who participated in the process and the accuracy of the evidence provided.” BREEAM is the most widely used sustainability certification in the UK. Its requirements measure the environmental performance of a building under construction or undergoing refurbishment by assessing factors such as materials, waste, energy and water. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NATIONAL engineering consultancy Rodgers Leask has been awarded a place on a procurement framework with the University of Cumbria, achieving the highest score of any of the bidders in the chosen lot. The opportunity was secured by the team at the firm’s Liverpool office – which specialises in civil and structural engineering – led by director Chris Pollett. The ‘Estates Multi Lot Consultancy Framework’ seeks to support a range of projects with the university including upgrades and refurbishments across students’ residences, academic buildings, public realm, sports facilities and commercial units. The four-year framework is divided into seven lots, with Rodgers Leask successful on Lot 5; structural and civil engineering. Chris Pollett, regional director at Rodgers Leask, said: “This framework brings together a bespoke list of high-level suppliers within the built environment that we are proud to be a part of. We are keen to support the university in building towards their goals for the future, and driving forward our own portfolio of public sector work especially in the north west. “The team worked hard to produce this bid in what was a rigorous tender process. We expect a good mixture of smaller and larger projects across a range of the university’s diverse estate, which will be great experience for the team. We are looking forward to bringing our expertise on board for the next four years.” The University of Cumbria is a multi-campus university, offering high quality, research-informed academic studies to around 10,000 students. The university recently outlined its ambitious 2030 strategy which includes new campus developments in Carlisle and Barrow, as well as improvements to its Lancaster campus. The university’s vision is to transform lives and livelihoods through learning, applied research and practice – for now and for our future generations. For more information on civil, structural, geo-environmental and transport engineering consultancy Rodgers Leask, visit rodgersleask.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The plan for new homes, jobs and sustainable growth in Greater Manchester has reached its final stage, following a report by planning inspectors. In their report, published last Thursday, the inspectors have concluded that the Places for Everyone plan, with the modifications recommended as part of their rigorous, extensive and robust independent examination process, is sound and legally compliant. The publication of the report marks the end of the examination process, which included public hearings and consultations between November 2022 and December 2023. Places for Everyone will now be presented to each of the nine councils to consider the recommendations and whether to adopt the plan in line with Government’s expectations for a plan-led approach to development, which is in line with theNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Full details of the council meetings will be published in due course. Places for Everyone is a long-term plan of nine districts in the city-region: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan. It is a comprehensive joint development plan of the districts that will determine the kind of development that takes place in their boroughs, maximising the use of brownfield land and urban spaces while protecting Green Belt land from the risk of unplanned development. It will also ensure all new developments are sustainably integrated into Greater Manchester’s transport network or supported by new infrastructure. For further information please contact the Communications and Engagement team on: news@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk. Find us on social media @greatermcr. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
