Construction is the largest industry in the world making up more than 13 percent of GDP globally. Despite this, it has been slow to evolve and has only recently started implementing technological changes. On top of this, the industry fears a lack of talent, with over 38,000 vacancies recorded per
The typical annual household energy bill rose in January 2024 to a high of £1,928. However, for those on a standard energy tariff, innovative heating systems can help to bring energy costs back down. Annington is helping to tackle the rising costs of heating by undertaking a substantialretrofit project on
LED Flex strip lighting from Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wiring accessories and lighting – is ideal for creating ambient lighting in kitchens, bedrooms and other spaces deserving colourful and energy efficient accents. Flex’s low profile – from 1.5mm to 2mm – and 8mm width makes
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
Construction is the largest industry in the world making up more than 13 percent of GDP globally. Despite this, it has been slow to evolve and has only recently started implementing technological changes. On top of this, the industry fears a lack of talent, with over 38,000 vacancies recorded per quarter in construction in the UK alone. To tackle this challenge, Richard Clement, Deputy General Manager at Smart Construction, discusses how the construction industry can implement changes using smart technology to help alleviate the labour skills shortage. Why is there a labour skills shortage in the construction industry? Clement says: ‘’The construction industry is known to be behind the times in terms of digitalisation, however, companies such as Smart Construction are part of the 1 per cent of those capitalising on developments in technology. The lack of digital awareness, along with an ageing workforce, contributes to why many young workers don’t see an appeal to join the industry.’’ There has been a dramatic fall in 16-30-year-olds entering the construction industry meaning a less agile and a less digitally literate workforce at a time when the industry is trying to focus on digital revolution. How has this impacted the construction industry? As of January 2023, research found that 80 per cent of construction firms found it difficult to recruit qualified workers. This demographic trend poses a real challenge for maintaining the industry’s vitality and finding a future workforce. Governments recognise this impending shortfall and are prioritising the skills shortage in Europe with several national and European policies setting new environmental targets that require investment in construction. Estimations indicate that the green transition could lead to the creation of between 1 and 2.5 million additional jobs overall by 2030, a positive outlook for the industry. However, companies would therefore need to have access to a qualified workforce to handle this increasing demand. Clement says: “Smart technology is crucial for the future of construction, given a push on new government initiatives, the ageing workforce, and the industry’s move towards tech solutions to alleviate the shortage of lower-skilled workers and attract younger ones.’’ How can Smart Technology and digital solutions help alleviate the labour shortage? Over the next five years, 95 per cent of UK construction companies plan on investing in tech, with the hope of driving more talent into the industry. “There are multiple benefits to investing in smart technology and digital solutions. From upskilling the workforce, reducing the amount of time required at site or remotely to gather information and communicate changes, to providing tracking data to the customer,’’ Clement explains. Smart technology and digital solutions can upskill current workers, whilst alleviating pressures on personnel from all stages of the process. Even individuals who don’t consider themselves tech-savvy can benefit from digital solutions – teams across Europe have found the data easy to analyse and interpret. This means less pressure on workers as the load is shared at the job site. Chris Horn, Technology Manager at HB Golf, offers some insight on how digital solutions have benefited his team on one of his projects in the Czech Republic: ‘’Smart Construction’s Dashboard has allowed me to regain time which was previously lost to surveying and doing invoices. These are tasks my site managers can now pick up, upskilling the existing workforce, making them more versatile, especially at a time when it has been hard to find qualified managers.’’ Smart Construction in action: What is 3D Machine Guidance, how does it work, how does it benefit? Smart Construction’s 3D Machine Guidance system is an easy-to-use machine guidance solution that enables excavator operators to dig with centimetre precision. The system provides instant feedback on the screen, which helps operators to reduce over-digging and rework. It also eliminates the need for extra surveying work as operators can check the accuracy of their own work and visualise the finished product with the model on the screen. Adrian Binkert, owner of Binkert Baggerarbeiten in Switzerland says: “The 3D Machine Guidance system from Smart Construction has proven to be an incredibly cost-effective solution that competes with more expensive systems in terms of performance. Since we fitted the kit on our Volvo EC220, it has been working non-stop. Now the operator can work on-site alone, with no extra surveying work needed.’’ Besides being a standard machine guidance system, 3D Machine Guidance works as an IoT device automatically collecting terrain and payload data, which can be analysed using Smart Construction solutions and expert advice, enabling data-driven decision-making. What’s next? There are many ways smart technology can help alleviate the labour skills shortage. It’s essential that the industry and employers recognise what the future could look like for the industry and try to make a change, alongside the efforts to alleviate the pressure of an impending shortage of workers. Clement explains: ‘’As smart technology develops it can act as a buffer for the challenges the construction industry could face in the coming decades. It will also help to upskill workers in the future, which is essential, and allow less technically confident workers to enter the industry.’’ For more information visit smartconstruction.io. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The typical annual household energy bill rose in January 2024 to a high of £1,928. However, for those on a standard energy tariff, innovative heating systems can help to bring energy costs back down. Annington is helping to tackle the rising costs of heating by undertaking a substantialretrofit project on five former Officer’s houses on Marlborough Close in Devizes. The wider retrofit is designed to bring these substantial homes to EPC A rating, and each property will include an air source heat pump, solar panels and an innovative AI-powered Mixergy hot water cylinder. The Mixergy tank will provide heating and hot water, powered by free, clean energy harnessed by the solar panels. By monitoring how much energy the house uses compared how much is produced by the solar panels, the Mixergy tank can divert any excess energy to the immersion heater instead of sending it back to the grid. The Mixergy tank’s AI-powered system will track how much energy is used in the home and when, so that it can anticipate demand and supply heating and hot water exactly when it is needed. The tank monitors energy prices 24 hours a day, and when excess energy beyond what is provided by the solar panels is required, it will purchase energy at a cheaper rate (usually overnight) to heat up the hot water cylinder in preparation for heating the property. Jane Harsham, Sustainability Manager at Annington, comments: “The wider retrofit at Devizes has delivered homes refurbished to an EPC A rating, the highest energy performance possible, and one which many new builds fail to achieve. Incorporating smart energy designed to optimise the heating process, greatly improved internal and external insulation and a host of other energy efficiency improvements means that for purchasers, energy consumption is more efficient and has the potential to deliver overall lower utility bills, greater occupier comfort and a more sustainable lifestyle.” Annington’s newest sustainable development of just five four-bedroom homes is close to the historic market town of Devizes, described as the West Country’s “best kept secret” by The London Economic.* Just ten minutes’ walk from the Kennet and Avon Canal, the homes on Marlborough Close benefit from direct bus links to Swindon and Pewsey Station, providing access to London Paddington Station in just over a hour, is less than ten miles away. Annington’s newest sustainable development of just five four-bedroom homes is set to launch in Spring 2024, with prices starting from £565,000. To find out more and register your interest please visit www.marlboroughclose.co.uk To find out more about Annington, visit www.annington.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LED Flex strip lighting from Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wiring accessories and lighting – is ideal for creating ambient lighting in kitchens, bedrooms and other spaces deserving colourful and energy efficient accents. Flex’s low profile – from 1.5mm to 2mm – and 8mm width makes it ideal for hard to access, space-constrained locations, while its 3Mself-adhesive backing tape provides a robust and durable fixing. Waste is kept to a minimum because installers can cut the LED Flex to fit at 50mm intervals and use the excess elsewhere, re-connecting it to other strips of product where necessary. Both single and four colour (red, green, blue and white) versions are available, supported by dedicated drivers, controllers and profiles that offer a quick solution to most indoor installations. The colour-changing RGBW LED Flex are available with smart technology so they can be controlled through Knightsbridge’s proprietary SmartKnight app. The company has also introduced ‘COB’ single colour seamless strip lighting. COB stands for Chip on Board, meaning the LED diodes are built directly into the printed circuit board. The seamless strip lighting is ideal for illuminating indoor spaces since it offers a larger lighting area than traditional alternatives, resulting in no dark spots and perfect colour consistency and uniformity. The COB strip lighting is supplied with 150mm of cable and is dimmable with the appropriate control. Rated IP20 for indoor use, the 12V single colour range offers colour temperatures from 3000K to 6500K and light outputs from 510lm per metre upwards in white only. Its 24V equivalent is also for indoor use, but available in various colour temperatures of white as well as red, blue and green. The colour-changing models are rated at IP20 for indoor use and IP67 options are also available. The Flex collection encompasses 52 versions in 12V and 24V, in lengths from one metre up to 50 metres, depending on voltage and colour; all with a three-year warranty. A full range of accessories – from aluminium mounting profiles through to controllers, connectors and drivers – is also available. For further details of the Knightsbridge innovative wiring accessories and lighting products, please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
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