SHOWCASING its commitment to educational development, multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard has revealed it will be helping deliver more than 2,500 school spaces across the Bedford region over the next two years. Having worked with Bedford Borough Council for the past decade, Pick Everard is on track to assist the needs
Following several regulatory changes across the different countries in the UK, the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) and the Council of Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring (CoGDEM) have launched a guide on carbon monoxide (CO) detector requirements across the UK. As variation in CO legalisation across the England, Wales,
With winter upon us, are you confident that your commercial boilers and heating systems are working safely, reliably and efficiently enough to deliver the hot water and heating your residents need? While the coldest weather is still ahead, it’s never too late to look at replacing older or less effective heating systems.
Legrand UK & Ireland has saved over a tonne of CO2 in a single month with the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel array on the roof of its West Bromwich site, near Birmingham. The panels were installed and commissioned in October 2023 and, before the end of November, had
In the ever-changing world of construction, staying informed is crucial. Quelfire’s campaign and white paper aim to shift the narrative and promote an open conversation about embracing responsibility. They also focus on the importance of early engagement, collaboration, and education in the construction industry. Because it’s your job to know.
Aston MBA students choosing cyber security as a pathway will gain critical, real-world insights by using BIT Group management as a working case study. Aston University has teamed up with a South West-based IT company through a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) to transform the business into a world-leading cyber security
Balfour Beatty has commenced construction of a new student accommodation project – the West Slope Residences – on behalf of The University of Sussex, having achieved Financial Close in December 2023. At Financial Close, Balfour Beatty Investments signed a 54 year contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new
Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the February 2024 edition of its Construction Review. The Review focuses on the three months to the end of January 2024, covering all major (>£100m) and underlying (<£100m) projects, with all underlying figures seasonally adjusted. It’s a
Proposals for the development of three new railway stations in the West Midlands are underway, with Castle Bromwich, Coventry East, and Tettenhall identified as prime locations for potential stations. The West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) has allocated £1 million to advance the proposals, marking a significant stride in enhancing public
John Burley joins Q-Bot from CMR Surgical to advance the use of robotics, digital and AI in the retrofit and construction sectors Q-Bot, the technology company that uses robotics and AI to insulate people’s homes, has appointed John Burley as Chief Technology Officer. John’s career spans surgical robotics, satellite control
SHOWCASING its commitment to educational development, multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard has revealed it will be helping deliver more than 2,500 school spaces across the Bedford region over the next two years. Having worked with Bedford Borough Council for the past decade, Pick Everard is on track to assist the needs of an ever-growing and diverse population. The programme has a projected construction cost of more than £100 million, and includes one of the largest SEN schools in the country, the Rivertree Free School, which is set to complete in August. Delivering 200 SEN spaces, the project runs concurrently with the construction of Willow Grove Primary School in Wixams, providing 840 new primary spaces when released. An extension to Wixams Academy secondary school will also be welcomed to the community in September, delivering 900 additional spaces. Sean Conneely, director at Pick Everard, said: “We’re immensely proud of the work undertaken with Bedford Borough Council to improve school facilities and increase the number of pupil places in the region. The programme’s success has been greatly influenced by a collaborative approach with the entire delivery team, combined with our shared dedication to delivering community value.” Two further projects are also on track for completion in 2025. These include Bedford Academy creating 300 additional places and Wootton Lower School, which is undergoing conversion into a primary school; with an extra form of entry creating 300 additional places. Moving into 2026, there will be further works on Wootton Upper School turning it into a secondary school with an additional 450 pupil places. Further school extensions are in the feasibility phase. Pick Everard’s work with Bedford Borough Council has included a package of services, consisting of project management, cost management, NEC supervisor and health and safety services. The work undertaken has been procured through the SCAPE Consultancy Framework, operating under the Perfect Circle banner. Along with contractor Willmott Dixon, Bedford Borough Council and Pick Everard will take part in the Build UK Open Doors event in March, in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board and the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. The programme of works undertaken by the trio has been imbued with social value, with pupils helping design a ‘Shedspace for your Headspace’ wellbeing area at Grange Academy in Kempston last September. Sustainability has also been key, aligning with the council’s declaration of a climate emergency, with all new school buildings now being designed as net zero carbon in operation. In addition to the educational work, the relationship between Pick Everard and Bedford Borough Council has also seen it undertake cross-sector operations in the region, with healthcare centres, heritage works, residential, and commercial projects amongst its portfolio, alongside the new railway station in Wixams. Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton, said: “We are making significant strides in addressing the need for school places in Bedford, thanks to a collaborative effort that includes the team from Pick Everard. We are focused on creating inclusive, innovative environments that will inspire learning and nurture talent. These schools are set to make an enormous difference to so many children and families for many years to come.” Matt Hall, national director at Pick Everard said: “We have a longstanding relationship with Bedford Borough Council, who have ably committed to developing and meeting community need in a number of areas. Local authorities are under immense pressure amidst cuts in spending power over the last decade, so to be able to provide our expertise and assistance, through quick-to-market and value for money procurement models, is of huge benefit. The future looks bright for the community in Bedford.” Stewart Brundell, managing director at Willmott Dixon said: “We are proud of our collaborative, ongoing relationship with both Pick Everard and Bedford Borough Council. This unified partnership has allowed us to utilise our individual expertise, knowledge and skills to deliver together a number of fantastic projects which will benefit the local community for many years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following several regulatory changes across the different countries in the UK, the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) and the Council of Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring (CoGDEM) have launched a guide on carbon monoxide (CO) detector requirements across the UK. As variation in CO legalisation across the England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland potentially opens the door to confusion among engineers, the guide has been launched to provide the best practice for each region. Property owners, including private and social landlords, must ensure that CO detectors are present in each property, in the appropriate locations and in accordance with legislation and related guidance. As a result, the role of heating engineers in maintaining CO safety throughout the industry is only growing in importance. To help prevent further confusion around a number of potential issues, the guide highlights the differing requirements including the number of CO detectors required in a property, the batteries that must be used and the position that detectors must be installed. Kevin Lowe, Technical Manager of the HHIC, said: “Following the changes to CO legislation made throughout the UK in the past year, it’s crucial that heating engineers are aware of the different obligations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It’s just as important that this information is easily accessible, which is why we have released a quick guide to help engineers, landlords and property owners easily understand the regulations they must adhere to.” The guide also features the standards placed upon social and private landlords that differ across the UK’s nations. This includes the level of responsibility placed upon landlords for the repair and replacement of CO detectors, in addition to the need to provide detectors and information regarding use and testing to their tenants. Andy Curtis, Director of CoGDEM, said “While every social and private landlord must make sure that CO detectors are installed and operating correctly at each of their properties, there may still be confusion around the extent of their responsibility of repairing, replacing and testing detectors. Our guide has been created to put this uncertainty to rest and ensure safety in properties across the UK.” To download the HHIC and CoGDEM’s guide on differing carbon monoxide detector requirements in the UK, visit the HHIC’s website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With winter upon us, are you confident that your commercial boilers and heating systems are working safely, reliably and efficiently enough to deliver the hot water and heating your residents need? While the coldest weather is still ahead, it’s never too late to look at replacing older or less effective heating systems. But even if your properties’ commercial boilers are in good working order, the current costs of energy could still make this a good moment to consider replacing older systems with newer, much more energy-efficient models. After all, these new units are not only designed to save energy and drive down costs, but are hydrogen-compatible and ready for the future. And with a lease solution such as JLA’s all-inclusive equipment and support package, Total Care, you could make significant upgrades across your estate, without having to spend anything upfront. The latest technology with manageable costs JLA’s Total Care package offers state-of-the-art boiler and commercial heating system upgrades – including full design, installation and comprehensive servicing and repairs – for a simple monthly payment. It’s a hassle-free way to modernise your housing association’s critical assets, without any capital outlay. It’s also worth knowing that any minor increase in monthly costs could be offset by the efficiency gains and utility savings that come from using newer commercial boilers. We’ve also seen many of our housing customers include these monthly payments in their residents’ monthly service charges – essentially splitting the cost and removing the hassle of trying to fund a replacement installation. Alongside consistent, predictable monthly payments, Total Care’s repair and breakdown cover delivers real peace of mind for you, your management company, and your residents. That’s because Total Care guarantees rapid response times through a 400-strong nationwide engineer network – particularly important if there are elderly or vulnerable residents in your properties. A wide range of future-proof boilers to choose from JLA has partnered with many of the world’s leading names in heating to offer a full range of energy-efficient commercial boilers, including hydrogen-ready boilers from leading manufacturers like Viessman. All of these boilers are designed to reduce energy bills while helping your estate meet its sustainability goals. Then there’s the added benefit of remote care. JLA Connect, for example, allows our specialists to spot faults or potential issues before they can cause disruption or downtime, and keep your heating and hot water flowing for residents. Considering alternative heating solutions? If your priority is to reduce your carbon footprint, but your property or the potential costs of a full alternative system are prohibitive, you could also take the opportunity to consider commercial hybrid heating as a viable alternative. Over recent months, we’ve seen a big uptick in interest for heating systems that combine air or ground source heat pumps with a traditional non-renewable heat source (an existing boiler, or a new boiler installed as part of a hybrid upgrade). This combined approach is ideal if upgrading radiators and pipework is either impractical or too expensive – but it’s always worth talking to a commercial heating expert for the fuller picture. For more information on our commercial HVAC solutions for housing associations, please feel free to contact JLA today.
Legrand UK & Ireland has saved over a tonne of CO2 in a single month with the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel array on the roof of its West Bromwich site, near Birmingham. The panels were installed and commissioned in October 2023 and, before the end of November, had saved 1,087kg of CO2 emissions. This emissions reduction represents a significant milestone on Legrand’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) roadmap with this installation’s annual CO2 savings projected to be in the region of 29 tonnes. The West Bromwich site serves as Legrand’s National Distribution Centre, housing a variety of Legrand products and components prior to shipping. The site is now home to 330 PV panels, each with the capacity to generate 500w as part of a 165kWP system. Legrand’s latest CSR roadmap is the fifth the company has put into practice. The environmental part of the roadmap focuses on reducing the carbon emissions generated by Legrand and its supply chain, phasing out single-use plastics and increasing the use of recycled materials. The PV installation is just one of many ways Legrand is cutting carbon. Others include procuring more sustainable components and materials for the products it manufactures and designing those products to be as energy efficient as possible in order to help lower the emissions of its customers. Pascal Stutz, CEO of Legrand UK & Ireland, said: “We are really happy with the carbon saving the PV panels have delivered for us. We’re always looking at ways to reduce our impact on the planet and a big part of that involves switching to renewable energy. As a major UK manufacturer, we understand that we have a responsibility to the environment and that means doing everything we can to lower our carbon footprint while making it easier for our customers to reduce their own Scope 3 emissions.” For the third year running, Legrand has been the recipient of the Platinum EcoVadis medal, meaning that its practices are in line with the most ambitious objective of the Paris Agreement – namely, limiting the global increase in temperatures to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and achieving carbon neutrality. Pascal continued: “The health of the planet is something we take very seriously and we are dedicated to our environmental commitments. The solar power system at West Bromwich is a significant step forward and we’re looking forward to continuing our progress by making further carbon reductions in the coming months and years.” For more on Legrand’s environmental commitments, see Legrand.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In the ever-changing world of construction, staying informed is crucial. Quelfire’s campaign and white paper aim to shift the narrative and promote an open conversation about embracing responsibility. They also focus on the importance of early engagement, collaboration, and education in the construction industry. Because it’s your job to know. Since the Grenfell Tower fire and subsequent changes to legislation, fire safety has become a significant industry focus, and the importance of passive fire protection has started to be acknowledged. The campaign emphasises the industry’s responsibility to recognise the significance of early engagement in firestopping and the selection of suitably tested details. It also highlights the imperative for manufacturers to operate transparently, providing key information to all parties involved in building projects. Following the campaign, Quelfire’s white paper delves into early engagement in more detail, exploring best practices that can save lives, reduce damage to a building and its contents in the event of a fire, and minimise construction delays and costs. Early engagement is about collaborating with the relevant key stakeholders as early as the design stage to retain fire ratings of walls and floors. This is achieved by appropriately sealing service penetrations with tested firestopping systems. It is also about cross-party communication, sharing of information and competencies, and understanding a project’s requirements before build commences. The white paper is a useful guide for anyone designing and managing the installation of service penetration seals, from main contractors to designers and firestopping contractors. It is an invaluable resource for professionals looking to enhance fire safety in their projects. Because it’s your job to know. Craig Wells, Sales Director at Quelfire, said, “The construction industry is starting to realise the responsibility it has when it comes to protecting people and property. Though it has taken a national tragedy and subsequent legislative changes to create the catalyst for change, change is happening. We at Quelfire will continue to test, share, and educate to support this change and, ultimately, create safer spaces. It is a pleasure to launch this campaign and white paper, which seeks to provide insight into best practices concerning the passive fire protection of service penetrations. Knowledge is power.” ——————– Quelfire is a leading manufacturer and supplier of tested firestopping solutions for service penetrations in buildings. What makes Quelfire stand out is the unwavering passion that everyone, from management to production, has for what we do: Protecting People & Property.Our mission is to support all parties involved in the design and installation of service penetration seals, including architects, designers, main contractors, firestopping contractors, and other specialist trades from dry-lining contractors to mechanical and electrical contractors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aston MBA students choosing cyber security as a pathway will gain critical, real-world insights by using BIT Group management as a working case study. Aston University has teamed up with a South West-based IT company through a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) to transform the business into a world-leading cyber security education, training and technology solutions provider, with a focus on managing outsourced cyber security services for its customers. BIT Group is a multi-award-winning information technology company offering high-quality IT, cyber and information security services and digital apprenticeships. A KTP is a three-way collaboration between a business, an academic partner and a highly qualified researcher, known as a KTP associate. The UK-wide programme helps businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills. Aston University is a sector leading KTP provider, with 80% of its completed projects being graded as very good or outstanding by Innovate UK, the national body. The KTP will develop new income streams by enhancing and growing the range of cyber security services, training and apprenticeships and technology platforms offered through its Security Operation Centre. This involves adapting and streamlining how BIT Group operates, and embedding skills so the company’s growth and future profitability can be sustained. The project is led by Professor Vladlena Benson, an industry-recognised expert in cybersecurity risk management and director of Aston University’s Cyber Security Innovation (CSI) Research Centre, who is a member of the UK’s Cyber Security Council. She is joined by Dr Anitha Chinnaswamy, deputy director of the CSI Centre and a senior lecturer in cyber security management, who has delivered multiple research and consultancy projects aimed at supporting the cybersecurity sector. For Aston University, the industry partnership will enhance academic knowledge of cyber security management by adding depth and applied learning. In addition, Aston University MBA students, who have selected cyber security as a pathway, will have access to the BIT Group management KTP as a working case study, gaining critical, real-world insights into cyber security that will enrich their learning experience and prepare them for their future careers. Michael Dieroff, CEO of BIT Group, said: “As CEO of BIT Group, I am immensely proud of our partnership with Aston University through the knowledge transfer partnership. “This collaboration not only enriches our company with cutting-edge business insights but also marks a significant milestone in our journey towards industry leadership. “By integrating Aston University’s advanced research capabilities and our innovative spirit, we are setting new standards in cyber security solutions and redefining our market approach. “This partnership is a testament to our commitment to excellence and our dedication to delivering unparalleled value to our clients and stakeholders.” Dr Anitha Chinnaswamy, deputy director of the Cyber Security Innovation Research Centre at Aston University, said: “This management KTP allows us to leverage Aston University’s critical mass of expertise in cyber security management from our industry-aligned research and consultancy to enhance BIT Group’s services, business delivery model and go-to-market strategies.” Kumara Swamy, KTP associate and Aston MBA alumnus, said: “Having worked across a range of large businesses, and recently completed an Aston University MBA, this management KTP gives me the freedom to apply my skills, industry knowledge and creativity to develop and deliver solutions that will drive transformation in a small business.” You can find out more about the KTP here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty has commenced construction of a new student accommodation project – the West Slope Residences – on behalf of The University of Sussex, having achieved Financial Close in December 2023. At Financial Close, Balfour Beatty Investments signed a 54 year contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new accommodation. Balfour Beatty Investments will invest equity of £32 million, 81% of the project equity, with the University of Sussex acting as a co-investor providing the remaining 19%. In addition, Balfour Beatty Investments has provided the funding strategy with £171 million of wrapped bond financing being raised through a private placement. The project will provide 1,899 bedrooms together with a new Health and Wellbeing Centre, as well as catering and retail facilities for students. Throughout construction, Balfour Beatty will use modular construction techniques, to build the modular steel frame and bedroom units offsite and in a controlled factory environment, significantly reducing carbon emissions by limiting the number of lorry movements and material deliveries to and from site. Following completion, Balfour Beatty Investments will maintain the accommodation for the duration of the contract. Ion Appuhamy, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Investments, said: “The West Slope Residences is the most ambitious development programme the University of Sussex has undertaken in recent years, and will significantly contribute to and enhance the student experience. “Building on the success of the East Slope Residences project which we completed back in 2020, we now look forward to providing an additional campus for students whilst simultaneously showcasing our extensive experience in the design, funding and construction of high-quality accommodation and amenities.” Lindsay McGibbon, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s regional buildings business said: “At Balfour Beatty, we have a long and proud history in the successful delivery of student accommodation schemes in the UK. “Through this latest contract award, we will leverage our unrivalled knowledge and expertise to safely deliver the West Slope Residences to the highest standard, ensuring that it is a campus that both the University of Sussex and students alike can be proud of, and thrive in.” Allan Spencer, Executive Director (Special Capital Projects), at the University of Sussex, said: “I am delighted that we are expanding our partnership with Balfour Beatty. This project is critical to the University’s future success, ensuring all new students can live on campus. Securing this significant investment in our campus is a major milestone for the University and will deliver a key element of our ambitious Capital Programme, enhancing the experience of our students and staff through new accommodation and facilities.” Balfour Beatty has already achieved considerable success in the student accommodation market and with the addition of the West Slope Residences now has a portfolio of nearly 7,000 beds in development or operation across the UK, testament to its end to end offering from development and design, through to financing, construction, and maintenance. Construction is already underway with the student accommodation due to be ready for the start of the 2026/27 academic year. At construction peak, Balfour Beatty will employ 450 people including c.50 apprentice and graduate roles as part of its commitment to The 5% Club. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the February 2024 edition of its Construction Review. The Review focuses on the three months to the end of January 2024, covering all major (>£100m) and underlying (<£100m) projects, with all underlying figures seasonally adjusted. It’s a report which provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals a unique insight into sector performance over the last 12 months. The central finding of the February Review is that construction-starts remained weak throughout the three months to January. Work commencing on-site slumped as the UK continues to weather persistent economic downturn and negotiate a turbulent socio-political landscape. Unsurprisingly, project-starts were down on both the preceding three-month period (-22%) and previous year (-31%). However, there are some signs of potential revival, with main contracts awards up 18% against the preceding period, despite finishing 21% lower than the same time last year. By contrast, detailed planning approvals registered an increase of 18% against 2023 figures, yet fell 17% against the preceding three months. Taking a closer look at these bright spots, standing out amidst the gloom, the value of major project contract awards increased 136% compared with the preceding three months (av. £3,589 million per month). Similarly, major planning approvals were up 66% on 2023 levels. This upturn was buoyed in part by the approval of the £1,268 million A12 Chelmsford to A120 junction improvement works in Essex. Commenting on the findings in the February Review, Glenigan’s Economic Director, Allan Wilen, said “Starts on-site have continued to soften in line with a hostile economic environment, exacerbating an already protracted activity downturn. However, an uplift in major contract awards should shine a light, hinting at brighter prospects in the not-too-distant future. Improving confidence and interest rate expectations should provide a boost to retail sales after a poor performance in December, helping to lift consumer-related construction sectors over the coming months. Indeed, housing market conditions have stabilised in recent months. The rise in prices has been accompanied by an increase in mortgage approvals and should help lift private housing starts as the year progresses.” The sector-specific and regional index, which measures underlying project performance, saw starts softening across the board. Sector Analysis – Residential Residential starts remained depressed, falling 16% during the index period to stand 34% lower than a year ago. Private housing was down 18% against the preceding three months, with starts 36% weaker than 2023 levels. It was an equally grim outlook for social housing, where project start levels dropped by 9% compared to the preceding three months and by 28% against 2023 figures. Sector Analysis – Non-Residential Non-residential performance was weak. Particularly, industrial project-starts which suffered an 11% fall during the three months to the end of January, with levels slashed almost in half (-45%) compared to last year. Offices fared poorly, with the value of project-starts falling back 19% against the preceding three months and 39% against the previous year. Education project-starts also declined 17% against the previous three months and 37% compared to last year. Retail followed a similar trajectory, with the value of starts on site 27% lower than 2023 figures and 18% down on the three months to January 2023. Health and community & amenity also decreased 10% and 14% against the preceding three months, to stand 33% and 11% down on the previous year, respectively. Hotel & leisure starts had a mixed period, dropping by 45% compared with last year but increased a modest 3% on the preceding three-month period. Civils work starting on site stumbled, falling back 4% against the preceding three months to stand 39% down on a year ago. Infrastructure starts dropped 38% on the previous year’s figures, despite increasing 3% on the preceding three months. The general decline in civils-starts was predominantly influenced by utilities activity, which declined 13% against the preceding three month-period, finishing 41% down on 2023. Regional Analysis Regional performance was poor, with project-starts weakening across most areas of the UK during the three months to January. The South East suffered the heaviest fall, declining 25% during the three months to the end of January to stand 54% down on a year ago. It was a similar story in the Scotland, with the value of project-starts decreasing 30% against the preceding three months and remaining significantly down (-38%) on the previous year. Project-starts in Wales experienced a sharp fall against both the preceding three months (-30%) and previous year (-50%). The North East was a mixed bag, with the value of starts increasing 1% against the preceding three months but falling back 18% on the year before. The East Midlands, on the other hand, experienced a 42% increase against the preceding three-month period, although starts in the region remained 30% behind last year’s figures. Northern Ireland and the West Midlands weakened against the preceding three months, falling back 9% and 12%, respectively. Both regions were down on the previous year, remaining 33% and 16% lower than a year ago. This was also the case in Yorkshire & the Humber and the North West, which both crashed compared to both the preceding three months and the previous year. To find out more about Glenigan and its construction intelligence services click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Proposals for the development of three new railway stations in the West Midlands are underway, with Castle Bromwich, Coventry East, and Tettenhall identified as prime locations for potential stations. The West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) has allocated £1 million to advance the proposals, marking a significant stride in enhancing public transport links across the region. These stations, selected following a feasibility study, aim to address areas with high potential for improved rail access. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMRE Chair, expressed commitment to delivering the transport infrastructure desired by local communities. “With five new railway stations under construction and a sixth on the way, we’re getting on with delivering the transport infrastructure local people want to see right across our region,” said Mayor Street. He highlighted that Castle Bromwich, Coventry East, and Tettenhall are poised to deliver substantial benefits to their respective communities. The proposed stations, situated on existing lines, target areas currently lacking efficient public transport options and experiencing high levels of deprivation. Castle Bromwich seeks to reinstate a station closed in 1968, while Coventry East and Tettenhall would provide entirely new connections. Collaborative efforts with local communities will determine the names of these stations. Funding for the development originates from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement granted by the Department for Transport. While some proposed stations did not make the immediate shortlist, Mayor Street underscored their potential inclusion as the £1.7 billion Midlands Rail Hub project progresses. He stated, “The £1.7 billion Midland Rail Hub scheme – now fully funded by the Government – may provide an avenue and will certainly be a game-changer enabling us to connect even more towns and communities to the rail network.” The Midlands Rail Hub project, endorsed by the government as part of its Network North plans, aims to significantly boost rail capacity between the East and West Midlands, serving as a pivotal factor in this additional investment. Mayor Street highlighted the transformative impact of new rail infrastructure on an area, offering residents sustainable and convenient access to rapid and reliable public transport. Once completed, these new stations will not only enhance connectivity but also contribute to reducing congestion. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
John Burley joins Q-Bot from CMR Surgical to advance the use of robotics, digital and AI in the retrofit and construction sectors Q-Bot, the technology company that uses robotics and AI to insulate people’s homes, has appointed John Burley as Chief Technology Officer. John’s career spans surgical robotics, satellite control and strategic consultancy. John brings to Q-Bot extensive technical and operational leadership experience. His career to date includes five years at CMR Surgical, one of the UK’s fastest growing medical device start-ups. At CMR, John helped the company to bring Versius, their robotic surgical system, into operating theatres around the world. He set up and developed their field service capabilities, technical support, service training, and robotic repair centres in UK and India. He also sits on WBR Field Service advisory board and speaks publicly about field service leveraging digital technology. John’s experience at CMR Surgical will be especially valuable to Q-Bot as it develops and expands the use of robotics within the retrofit and building sector. After CMR, John moved into the sustainability ‘cleantech’ space through a series of consultancy engagements, including work on the autonomous robotic assembly of a space-based solar power station with Space Solar in Harwell. He has also worked at Airbus and Inmarsat (ViaSat), managing spacecraft operations from launch to end-of-life, maintaining them and recovering them from emergencies. Professor Peter Childs FREng, Chair and co-founder of Q-Bot (and founding head of the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College, London) said: “We are delighted that John has joined Q-Bot. His extensive experience of robotics and technology transfer – both in the medical and space sectors – will be hugely valuable as we further develop our technology for home insulation and in time building inspections. By using our specialist robots, we are accelerating the insulation of people’s homes, helping households reduce their energy bills, improving a home’s air quality and reducing a property’s carbon emissions.” In London alone, there are around 500,000 homes – hard to treat homes with suspended floors – that would benefit from using Q-Bot’s floor insulation. It is estimated that roughly 80% of these homes have an energy performance of EPC D, or below. John Burley said: “It’s super-exciting to have joined Q-Bot. It’s a fast-growing robotics innovator with a track record of over 10-years in reducing carbon emissions, and crucially making homes warmer and cheaper to run. The opportunity to use my robotics experience with a company in the growing clean/climate tech sector and with an ambition to revolutionise the retrofit and construction industries with robotics, digital tools, and AI were two key reasons for my choosing to join Q-Bot.” Q-Bot’s floor insulation technology is quick, hassle-free and cheaper than other forms of insulation; it is verified by the Energy Saving Trust and the Residential Property Surveyors Association. Independent tests undertaken by Leeds Beckett University point to a 24% heat loss reduction in homes that have Q-Bot insulation, and in a separate study it has been shown that Q-Bot insulation reduces running costs for properties with heat pumps – by as much as 30%. As well as insulating people’s homes by using its robots, Q-Bot wants to provide new services for the inspection, maintenance and upgrade of buildings, without the cost and disruption of traditional methods. To do this, Q-Bot is growing its “robot-as-a-service” model (RAAS) and expanding placements of its technology via its partners in the UK and Europe. With John’s arrival at Q-Bot, Tom Lipinski, who co-founded Q-Bot with Professor Peter Childs and had been Chief Technology Officer, is now the company’s Chief Scientific Officer. For further information, visit www.q-bot.co Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
