InstallerSHOW 2024 is the UK’s must attend event for those specifying in heat, water, air and energy technology, and will this year partner with CIAT as it continues to grow in relevance to Architectural Technologists. The InstallerSHOW has over 600 exhibitors, and takes place between 25-27 June at the NEC
WORKFORCE management and access control solutions provider, MSite has announced a major update to its purpose-built online induction platform to improve everyone’s journey ahead of stepping foot on construction sites. By adding automatic content translation into more than 30 languages, some of the industry’s greatest challenges – including safety, compliance
An award-winning construction company has been appointed to deliver a £31million building project at a school which was founded more than 157 years before the Great Fire of London in 1666. St Paul’s School, which is located on a 45-acre site adjacent to the River Thames in Barnes, West London,
Plans have been submitted by Allsee Technologies to build an 80,000 sq ft landmark office headquarters and digital technology centre at St. Modwen’s Longbridge Business Park. After a £20m investment, the new building will support the creation of over 150 skilled jobs. Allsee Technologies is a global leader in Digital
ScottishPower today marks reaching a special £40million fundraising milestone for its long-standing charity partner Cancer Research UK as employees share their stories and call for more to be done to help beat cancer. The green energy company, its customers and staff have supported Cancer Research UK since 2012 in its
Veriforce CHAS, the supply chain risk management and compliance specialist, has consolidated its position as the accreditation provider of choice after being awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for an impressive fifth consecutive year. The award is a testament to Veriforce CHAS’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to its
The last few years have seen significant changes in legislation and regulations within the FM space such as the Fire Safety Act 2021, The Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety Regulations (England) 2022, to name a few. These changes in the industry have forced a shift in priorities
Construction of the largest Passivhaus affordable housing scheme in the north west is nearing completion. The finishing touches are now being made at Greenhaus – a highly sustainable development of 96 homes, which is being built on Chapel Street in Salford, opposite Salford Cathedral. The first residents are expected to
Network Rail engineers will be carrying out an extensive programme of engineering work at Keadby sliding bridge, near Scunthorpe, which will result in changes to train services through the area. Teams will be working for nine days from Saturday 17 to early morning on Monday 26 February to strengthen one
Siemens Smart Infrastructure is launching a new version of ‘Fire Manager’, its dedicated web-based SaaS (Software as a Service) fire app that offers service providers and fire safety managers the capability to have all fire safety sites in one view. The status of buildings can be easily monitored, with more
InstallerSHOW 2024 is the UK’s must attend event for those specifying in heat, water, air and energy technology, and will this year partner with CIAT as it continues to grow in relevance to Architectural Technologists. The InstallerSHOW has over 600 exhibitors, and takes place between 25-27 June at the NEC Birmingham, making it the ultimate showcase in products and innovation required to create net zero buildings. It is also the best opportunity to connect with the key people in the supply chain, putting the architectural technologist at the heart of this industry and a chance to connect with the all-important installer. This year’s event comes at a critical time for our industry, with the latest changes in building regulations as a result of the Building Safety Act, as well as net zero legislation around phasing out fossil fuel heating in our new homes and buildings. These shifting regulations have changed the way we work and created an even greater need for clarity and collaboration between professions. As the InstallerSHOW has grown over recent years, it now offers Architectural Technologists an opportunity to learn what the issues are for installers on the ground, and how they can play a pivotal role as the sector comes together. The InstallerSHOW is jammed packed with insightful content, and this year will carry over 7 streams of content over 3 days. Topics covered include the Future Homes Standard, the Clean Heat Mechanism, The Building Safety Act, and the Golden Thread. Highlights from this content programme include stage hosts Samira Ahmed, BBC presenter, and Environmentalist Philippa Forrester. They will be hosting debates and keynotes from speakers including: New for InstallerSHOW 2024 is the introduction of Installer Kitchens & Bathrooms, which will showcase the role technology and innovation play in shaping the kitchens and bathrooms of the future, to an audience of 20,000 installers, specifiers, designers, developers, manufacturers and retailers. Organisers of the InstallerSHOW are excited to welcome CIAT as a contributing partner to this year’s programme. Nathan Garnett, Business Development Director said “We have always known how important the role of a Chartered Architectural Technologist is to the whole building process, so it is vital to have their voice on the InstallerSHOW programme to foster greater collaboration. This can only help us improved on sustainability, safety and productivity as we see technology changing the industry before our eyes.” Adam Endacott, Creative & Communications Director at CIAT commented: “We are pleased to be working with InstallerSHOW to bring high quality content and resources to our members and affiliates. This will not only assist with their core CPD but enable them to explore and discover new products and technologies as key specifiers in the sector.” InstallerSHOW is brimming with inspiration and innovation to help installers and specifiers create sustainable, safe buildings. As part of this new partnership, 2024 also sees the CIAT leadership contributing to these topics via the Housing Hub and Elemental Programmes. A visit to the show will allow you to explore over 600 exhibitors, with leading brands including Baxi, Worcester Bosch, Roca, Hansgrohe, VitrA, Vaillant, Schneider Electric, Aico, Rehau & Grohe. Content and Knowledge partners include Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, Chartered Institute of Building, National Home Improvement Council, The Federation of Master Builders, the Code for Construction Product Information, and many more. Register now to be kept up to speed as these sessions and speakers are announced. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
WORKFORCE management and access control solutions provider, MSite has announced a major update to its purpose-built online induction platform to improve everyone’s journey ahead of stepping foot on construction sites. By adding automatic content translation into more than 30 languages, some of the industry’s greatest challenges – including safety, compliance and efficiency – are being combatted. Already used by leading contractors including Morgan Sindall and Lendlease, the purpose of the online induction platform is to ensure individual compliance with the requirements set by each contractor, incorporating induction material based on construction site, job role and company specific information. The latest update rolled out by MSite makes the induction platform more user friendly for both site managers and workers by enabling the integration of existing onboarding content and automatic translation – catering to the linguistic diversity of the modern UK construction workforce. While hugely improving the off-site worker journey, platform users include anyone who wishes to gain access to a construction site – such as supervisors, administrative teams, corporate personnel and visitors. Simon Meyer, digital strategy director at MSite, said: “It’s in our DNA to develop technology solutions that are easy to implement and offer a multitude of benefits. Our inspiration is twofold; tackling the main pain points experienced by businesses across the industry and bridging the gap between management and workforce. “We have used the workforce data we have available and relationships with some of the construction industry’s biggest players to identify where inductions can be simplified and clearer for the multicultural UK labour force. The constant monitoring and reviewing of workforce diversity and journeys is a core part of our business, so this update is to improve understanding, efficiency and safety for all.” Providing comprehensive safety training and awareness programmes, online inductions can enhance the understanding of safety protocols – reducing the likelihood of accidents which are still commonplace within construction, based on reports from the Health and Safety Executive. The ability to regularly update training modules to reflect the latest safety regulations and best practices also ensures that all workers are always up to date with current standards and regulatory requirements. Automatically recording who has completed training, when it was completed and what the training entailed enables digital record-keeping to simplify compliance auditing and reporting processes. Online inductions are also more time-efficient and resource-friendly as workers can complete inductions at their own pace and convenience, reducing downtime and the need for physical training resources. Stuart Ware, senior customer success manager at MSite for Balfour Beatty and John Sisk & Son, said: “The induction platform is just one solution within our blended workforce management suite, which works seamlessly alongside pre-registration software and site access hardware, providing greater insight that will move the industry forward. As with all our solutions, the induction platform intends to offer greater consistency and heightened standards, benefitting both workers and management alike. We’re very excited by the latest update to an already popular platform and look forward to the feedback from customers.” Part of the Infobric Group, MSite has operated in the construction industry for more than 20 years with values based on embracing challenge, achieving together and doing the right thing. With an end-to-end workforce management solution ranging from pre-site registration and inductions through to access control, site briefings and workforce management, MSite is trusted by leading names such as Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall, Sisk and BAM across all construction levels and sectors including commercial, housebuilding, infrastructure, refit and utilities. For more information about MSite, visit www.msite.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An award-winning construction company has been appointed to deliver a £31million building project at a school which was founded more than 157 years before the Great Fire of London in 1666. St Paul’s School, which is located on a 45-acre site adjacent to the River Thames in Barnes, West London, has awarded Gilbert-Ash the contract to construct a new junior school along with playgrounds and associated landscaping works. The project will consist of two new buildings. Junior School West will be a three-storey building housing a teaching block and changing facilities while Junior School East will be a two-storey facility comprising a teaching block and double height hall. The Junior School West building forms the central ‘heart’ space of the school. It will provide generous multi-functional exhibition space, surrounded by teaching spaces to encourage high levels of social interaction between pupils and staff. The Junior School East building will be linked to the West building by a covered external play space named ‘The Barn’. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson, said the company is delighted to be taking on such a prestigious project and to be teaming up once again with Hawkins\Brown Architects. He said: “St Paul’s School is steeped in history and has been providing first class education for boys for hundreds of years. This project will ensure this legacy continues in Barnes for generations to come. “Gilbert-Ash has a growing reputation for delivering excellent projects in the education sector, with many of these in partnership with the team at Hawkins\Brown. “Together we have delivered stand-out projects at both City of London Freemen’s School, Central Foundation Boys’ School and The Bartlett School of Architecture. “We are looking forward to once again working in collaboration with Hawkins\Brown, St Paul’s School and of course the other teams on this exciting project.” Targeting a BREEAM rating of excellent, the new buildings will be heated with air source heat pumps with photovoltaic panels on the roof which will also house a green roof system. External drainage incorporates storm and foul water diversion, porous surface overflow pipework and a rain garden. Interior fit-out plans include acoustic wall panels and slatted timber acoustic panels and lining, while flooring will vary from engineered hard wood flooring, linoleum and carpeted areas. Soft landscaping will include shrub herbaceous planting, hedge planting and grassland meadow, in addition to a rain garden. Hard landscaping will include linear concrete block paving, permeable black and coloured tarmac, permeable resin bound aggregate, play bark and a hybrid turf system, in addition to insitu rubber safety surfaces. School life will continue during the construction period, which is due to complete in autumn 2025, with pupils and staff decanted to temporary accommodation. The school was founded in 1509 by John Colet, the Dean of St Paul’s. Its governance was entrusted to the fellowship of the Mercers of London, the Premier Guild of the City of London, to act as governors of the new school. Following the great fire of London in 1666, St Paul’s School moved location four times before settling in 1968 at the present site at Barnes where it provides education for around 1,000 boys from the ages of 4-18 years old. Its initial renewal campaign was successfully achieved with the redevelopment of on-site buildings between 2011-2019. In 2014, the construction of the new drama centre and Samuel Pepys Theatre was completed, in addition to a general teaching building, dining hall and library build completed in 2020. The majority of previous work has been focused on the senior school, with current works seeking to redevelop and provide new facilities for the junior school. Gilbert-Ash has a unique approach to construction, fit-out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. To find out more about Gilbert-Ash visit www.gilbert-ash.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been submitted by Allsee Technologies to build an 80,000 sq ft landmark office headquarters and digital technology centre at St. Modwen’s Longbridge Business Park. After a £20m investment, the new building will support the creation of over 150 skilled jobs. Allsee Technologies is a global leader in Digital Advertising Display Manufacturingwith an impressive Blue Chip client portfolio. They already have offices in the UK, Europe, China, the US and Africa and the move will bring another industry-leading manufacturer to the region, across 2.3 acres on Longbridge Business Park. As St. Modwen continues the £300m regeneration of the former West Works site, the area is rapidly gaining recognition for being a specialist centre for science, technology, medicine, precision engineering and R&D. The arrival of Allsee Technologies further enhances this burgeoning reputation. A growing number of businesses are helping to support and strengthen the local economy and enhance Longbridge’s reputation as a destination for market-leading companies. These leading companies include the recently completed IVC Evidensia veterinary hospital, Blaise Referrals, Waters Corporation’s precision manufacturing centre, plus new investment from Sterling Pharmaceuticals and more. Subject to the planning permission being granted, construction work is due to start in summer 2024 with an opening scheduled for late 2025. When complete, the new Allsee headquarters will provide a world-class centre developing high-value digital display technologies and offering its reseller partners industry-leading signage expertise. Speaking of the project, Baoli Zhao, Managing Director at Allsee, said: “We’re incredibly proud and excited to contribute to Longbridge Business Park’s growth story. With a deep appreciation for the area’s rich history in technology and manufacturing, we are thrilled to be part of Longbridge’s growing reputation as a hub for science, technology, precision engineering, and R&D. We also want to share a heartfelt commendation to St. Modwen for their dedication to the area’s regeneration. As we embark on this exciting journey, we look forward to fostering growth, collaboration, and creating more job opportunities within Birmingham and the wider West Midlands area. Here’s to the next chapter of prosperity and partnership!” Rob Flavell, Senior Director at St. Modwen, said: “Once again we are seeing that leading global companies want to have a base at Longbridge. This exciting new digital technology manufacturing facility for Allsee will bring yet more specialist expertise to the area. This is good news for the local and regional economies and will ensure that the work undertaken by St. Modwen in recent years will benefit the area for many years to come.” Longbridge Business Park has benefitted from infrastructure investment in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and will create up to 5,000 new jobs upon completion. Longbridge Business Park offers exceptional local, regional and national connectivity and is a sustainable addition to the wider £1bn Longbridge masterplan. In addition to the business park, the investment is delivering an attractive residential neighbourhood of 350 homes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ScottishPower today marks reaching a special £40million fundraising milestone for its long-standing charity partner Cancer Research UK as employees share their stories and call for more to be done to help beat cancer. The green energy company, its customers and staff have supported Cancer Research UK since 2012 in its mission to help create a world where people can live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer. Through a wide range of fundraising initiatives, it has been a key backer of the charity’s pioneering research and the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses in the UK. Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity, dedicated to saving lives through research. The charity’s work on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. Recent events have shown that cancer can affect anyone. Almost 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetimes, and Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen cancer survival in the UK double in the last 50 years. One of those people to benefit from research is ScottishPower employee Mark McDowell. Mark’s life changed forever in 2018 when he was diagnosed with stage four cancer in his tonsil and liver. Mark McDowell, Head of IT Architecture at ScottishPower, said: “I was only 41 years old and I had been living a healthy life, so my chances of recovery from tonsil cancer were good. That was until I went for a PET scan and it showed things weren’t as positive as we first thought. The specialist’s face fell when they realised cancer had spread to my liver, and I was told my chance of survival was nearer 20% than 95%.” Mark was quickly referred to specialists in London and the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. He was treated with a complex combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and keyhole surgery. He was in the Beatson for eight weeks supported by a brilliant team of specialist doctors, nurses and radiographers amongst other medical experts. Thanks to their care, in April Mark plans to celebrate his fifth year without cancer. “I felt lucky to be alive as I’ve seen so many people lose their lives to cancer – family, friends and colleagues. Cancer can affect anyone, with nearly one in two people in the UK diagnosed with it during their lifetime. “Cancer is a highly complex disease and in the past it was often a death sentence – that’s why fundraising for life-saving research is so important. The medical advances in radiotherapy, PET and keyhole surgery saved my life but they’re things you don’t think about until you need them. “We need charities like Cancer Research UK and their super star researchers to have the funding, investment and resources to find new treatments and cures.” Dr Claire Paterson is a clinical oncologist and radiotherapy researcher partly funded by Cancer Research UK. At the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow, she is working on ways to improve radiotherapy for patients with head and neck cancer like Mark’s. To date, Cancer Research UK has invested £42.3 million in RadNet – a network of seven research centres dedicated to radiotherapy research, including the RadNet Glasgow Centre which supports Claire’s research. She said: “We can target cancer far more precisely now, which makes treatment more effective and kinder for patients than it used to be decades ago. We hope that we can continue to make further improvements with more research. “Mark’s story shows how painstaking research, conducted over many years, and advances in treatment can save lives. Cancer Research UK can only support large scale research programmes with generous donations and ScottishPower have raised a huge amount of money to support the charity’s vital mission.” ScottishPower raises money through initiatives including its Help Beat Cancer energy tariff, employee and customer fundraising, as well as sponsorship of Race for Life events across the UK and Stand Up To Cancer campaigns. Every penny raised through these initiatives contributes towards Cancer Research UK’s vision for a better future. ScottishPower employee Ellie Cookhas joined hundreds of recent recruits to raise money for the charity. After losing her gran to lung cancer and supporting her dad through skin cancer, Ellie is getting a team together for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life fundraising event at Glasgow Green in May. Ellie Cook, a Marketing Graduate at ScottishPower, said: “Fundraising hits differently when it’s so close to home – that’s why I’m getting a 10K team together for Race for Life and challenging myself to train for it. This is something that affects us all. We’re raising money for lifesaving cancer research so family, friends and colleagues are really happy to sponsor us.” Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years. ScottishPower is helping Cancer Research UK achieve this ambition with its fundraising efforts. Andrew Ward, CEO of ScottishPower’s customer business, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved for Cancer Research UK through our long-standing partnership. We started this journey with them in 2012 with the aim of raising £5million in three years and to have our incredible employees, suppliers and customers go on since then to raise £40million for life-saving research is nothing short of phenomenal. It’s clear to us that everybody values the ability to support the charity, all who have been involved should also be proud of their efforts in raising such a fantastic amount of money. “Knowing the difference our partnership has made since it first began and how it has contributed to creating a world where people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer personally means so much to me. Both Mark and Ellie really bring the impact of the partnership alive through their own experiences and really show just how vital the funds being raised
Veriforce CHAS, the supply chain risk management and compliance specialist, has consolidated its position as the accreditation provider of choice after being awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for an impressive fifth consecutive year. The award is a testament to Veriforce CHAS’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to its contractors and clients. Each year, Feefo, the respected global buyer review platform, recognises businesses that consistently excel in providing outstanding customer experiences. The Platinum Trusted Service Award is a testament to the positive feedback received from numerous satisfied customers, independently validating the company’s dedication to quality. In an age where reliable customer service is not guaranteed, the Veriforce CHAS team consistently exceeds expectations, showcasing a commitment to excellence that sets them apart from competitors. Glowing testimonials from hundreds of customers, that are published online by Feefo for complete transparency, praise the CHAS customer service team for their helpful phone support and highlight their dedication to delivering an exceptional customer experience. There is also recognition for Veriforce CHAS’s streamlined and stress-free online submission process. Veriforce CHAS not only ensures excellent customer service for its contractors but also offers a range of additional benefits that set Veriforce CHAS membership apart. These perks include access to exclusive insurance offers, discounted e-learning resources, free legal advice, a 20% discount with Speedy Hire, free TradePoint cards, and discounted membership to Checkatrade.com. Expressing his pride in receiving the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award, Veriforce CHAS Managing Director Ian McKinnon comments: “At Veriforce CHAS, we continuously strive to offer unparalleled service to our contractors and clients. Receiving the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for the 5th year in a row is a tremendous honour and recognises the hard work and dedication of our entire team. “We believe that exceptional customer service is the cornerstone of our success,” Ian continues. “Our commitment goes beyond industry norms, and we are continuously investing in innovative ways to enhance our customer’s journey with us. While others may focus on different priorities, we remain steadfast in our dedication to our customers. We are proud to lead by example and set a standard that is the envy of our industry.” If you would like to learn more about the benefits of being a Veriforce CHAS member, please call 0345 521 9111. – the award-winning customer service team are waiting to talk to you. Or find out more by visiting: http://www.chas.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The last few years have seen significant changes in legislation and regulations within the FM space such as the Fire Safety Act 2021, The Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety Regulations (England) 2022, to name a few. These changes in the industry have forced a shift in priorities and duties for those working in facility management in 2024 and beyond. Paul Bullard, Product Director at SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance, has shared his insights regarding how the facilities management industry will continue to evolve throughout the next year and the changes they believe will be particularly impactful for those working in the industry. 1. Building compliance in the spotlight With the constant evolution of legislations and regulations within the FM industry, uncertainty of what tasks should be completed, how often and by whom is on the rise. 2024 will, therefore, continue to see a greater spotlight placed on proof of compliance. The industry has faced a barrage of new legislation and regulation in recent years, so it’s no surprise that compliance has risen to the top of many priority lists The government has also ensured it will increase the number of buildings that fall within the scope of the Building Safety Act. This will make providing a thorough, digital trail of maintenance tasks a requirement for many more. Many large developers will need to commit to remedying defects in facility constructions dating back 30 years. Building owners, property managers and contractors will need to ensure that statutory maintenance works are being carried out, that the information is up-to-date and that evidence can be provided. 2. Competence is crucial Ensuring that maintenance tasks are being undertaken not only at the right time but also by the right person for the job is a high priority for facility managers this year. This becomes a particular concern when a facility outsources a large proportion of its maintenance. Despite its cost-effective potential and collaboration with industry specialists, outsourcing maintenance tasks makes it more difficult for facility owners to have both visibility and control over the standard to which tasks are completed. Although outsourced maintenance lands in the hands of industry-leading specialists, greater monitoring will be required to ensure that the quality of work will be inline with the expectations of facility owners. 3. Enhanced connectivity Property managers are under the strain of collaborating with multiple stakeholders, from building owners to facility management consultants and engineers, who all play a crucial role in the safe and legal maintenance of a facility. Managing extensive workforces, with a mix of internal and external resources, tends to make streamlined collaboration much trickier. In particular, ensuring the right people receive the necessary information at the right time becomes a challenge. In a recent poll conducted by the experts at SFG20, 66% of asset owners and property managers revealed that keeping a golden thread of information about a facility up to date has been a main concern for their business. This shows that many current FM systems are not aligning in a way that helps facilitate efficient, collaborative working. Developing and providing software solutions that enable teams to share data and work efficiently will continue to characterise industry changes in the near future. 4. AI technology dominance AI in the FM industry offers the potential to enhance rather than replace human roles, unlocking new opportunities and insights. The new technologies available facilitate businesses to work with much larger datasets for predictive maintenance, providing a time-efficient and proactive approach to facility management. Businesses are still under pressure to develop the necessary skills and teams to successfully work alongside AI technology for predictive maintenance, data analysis and a cost-effective allocation of FM budgets. With the current focus on ensuring compliance, facility managers will be faced with the challenge of reducing costs, an obstacle that an effective use of AI could help eliminate. 2024 has already seen a huge push to overcome these challenges and take full advantage of AI assistance within the management of facilities. This will likely continue by the means of thorough training and development opportunities for all those involved in the facility management process, to best integrate new AI technologies into business strategies. 5. Sustainability interventions at the forefront The landscape of the UK’s built environment is on the brink of a profound transformation. The march toward carbon neutrality is poised to accelerate, propelled by technological strides, evolving governmental policies and heightened public climate awareness. The government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and Net Zero Strategy chart a course for this transition, setting out strategies for bolstering energy efficiency, championing low-carbon heating solutions and encouraging the construction of energy-efficient new homes. As we look towards the future, the need for sustainable facility maintenance practices will only grow. As the global urban population continues to expand rapidly, construction and, ultimately, carbon emissions will follow suit. To mitigate this, we must carefully consider and implement ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings through sustainable maintenance and ensuring that new buildings incorporate this into their initial design. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction of the largest Passivhaus affordable housing scheme in the north west is nearing completion. The finishing touches are now being made at Greenhaus – a highly sustainable development of 96 homes, which is being built on Chapel Street in Salford, opposite Salford Cathedral. The first residents are expected to start moving into Greenhaus this spring. The ground-breaking development is being delivered by The English Cities Fund (ECF) – a joint venture between nationwide placemaker, Muse, Legal & General and Homes England – alongside Salford housing association Salix Homes, and supported by Salford City Council. This week, delegates from the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) paid a visit to Greenhaus, including leaders from housing associations across the north, to find out more about how sustainable and affordable homes can be delivered on a large scale. NHC Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said: “This is a fantastic example of green homes delivering real change in the north. Projects like this cut carbon, deliver lower bills and warmer, healthier homes, as well as creating good green jobs. This benefits residents, the economy, and the environment. We need an ambitious programme of investment from the government to build on this progress.” The nine-storey development has been built to Passivhaus Classic certified standard, which is the leading low-energy design standard. Passivhaus homes offer high thermal comfort and improved air quality, providing a healthier living environment and homes that are cheaper to heat and run. The sustainable features at Greenhaus include triple glazed windows, the latest insulation technology, improved ventilation and airtightness, air source heat pumps and publicly accessible electric vehicle charging points. The one and two-bedroom homes will be available in a mix of tenures including social rent, affordable rent and rent-to-buy. Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “Greenhaus is the first and largest development of its kind in the region, setting the benchmark for new-build, affordable and sustainable homes that are fit-for-the-future and support our carbon neutral ambitions. “We were pleased to welcome NHC members to see the development as it nears completion and share with them our experience of how truly sustainable and affordable homes can be built at scale to help tackle the housing crisis – delivering high quality, healthier homes that are better for residents and the environment.” Passivhaus homes offer a range of health benefits for residents. The airtightness, thermal comfort and improved ventilation help protect against airborne pollutants, reduce the risk of illness associated with living in cold homes, and minimise the risk of damp, mould and condensation. Simon Hourihan, Project Director at Muse, said: “Greenhaus is a true partnership project, setting the standard for affordable, sustainable housing in the region. “We’re extremely proud of the whole team, who have been learning together and overcoming challenges to deliver high quality, Passivhaus-certified homes on a large scale. We’re looking forward to completing and residents moving in later this year, and learning more about the positive impact that low-energy homes can have on people’s lives.” Greenhaus is part of ECF’s £1bn, 50-acre Salford Central transformation being delivered in partnership with Salford City Council, and will take the overall percentage of affordable homes delivered by ECF to 25% across the Chapel Street area of the masterplan. The homes are being built by lead contractor Eric Wright Construction and were designed by architect Buttress. Andy Avery, Director at Buttress added: “This milestone is a testament to the team’s vision and skill in designing and delivering innovative and sustainable housing solutions. Buttress’ commitment to Passivhaus design illustrates our dedication to environmental responsibility, creating aesthetically pleasing yet, healthier and affordable places to live for the people of Salford.” Salix Homes secured funding from NatWest, along with grants from Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to help fund the multi-million-pound scheme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail engineers will be carrying out an extensive programme of engineering work at Keadby sliding bridge, near Scunthorpe, which will result in changes to train services through the area. Teams will be working for nine days from Saturday 17 to early morning on Monday 26 February to strengthen one of the walls of the Stainforth & Keadby canal which needs repair. During the work, new rails and other fresh track equipment will also be installed on the railway bridge. Engineers will be draining part of the canal before knocking down part of its north wall and installing a new, prefabricated concrete slab onto the wall, stabilising it and allowing train services to run over the bridge for years to come. The nine-day programme of work will result in passengers experiencing smoother and more reliable journeys as they travel by train. The original Keadby sliding bridge dates to the late 1800s and is the only bridge of its kind in the UK. The railway it carries is one of the busiest routes for freight services on Britain’s rail network and connects passengers between Doncaster and the Lincolnshire coast. Due to the improvements, there will be changes to passenger services between Doncaster and Scunthorpe. Rail replacement services will operate on all days between Doncaster and Scunthorpe. For TransPennine Express passengers, replacement bus services will operate each day between Doncaster and Scunthorpe non-stop in both directions. Train services will continue to run between Liverpool Lime Street and Doncaster and also Scunthorpe to Cleethorpes. Northern will operate a Monday to Saturday replacement coach service that will call at Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Stainforth, Thorne South, Crowle, Althorpe, and Scunthorpe. Passengers are encouraged to check their journeys before travelling via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator. Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail’s North & East route, said: “This extensive programme of upgrades to Keadby sliding bridge and the canal wall will be beneficial for our passengers as they experience smoother, more reliable journeys as they travel by train between Doncaster and Scunthorpe. “This is a large-scale piece of work, but we have deliberately planned to carry it out in a longer period so that our engineers can work to deliver all the vital maintenance and upgrades at once, rather than causing multiple periods of disruption. However, we know that this work will be disruptive to passengers, and we are sorry for any inconvenience caused. “We would encourage all passengers to check how their journey may be affected ahead of travelling via National Rail Enquiries or their train operator. I also want to thank passengers for their patience and understanding throughout this period.” Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern, said: “We welcome this investment in the region’s rail infrastructure and the benefits the works will bring to our passengers travelling between South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. Whilst there will be short term inconvenience, this is about long-term improvements to the network and we ask for customers’ patience and understanding during the period of disruption.” Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Service and Operations Director at TransPennine Express, said: “We want to thank our customers for their patience as Network Rail carries out an extensive programme of upgrades to Keadby sliding bridge which will provide long-term improvements to the network. “We are advising customers to check before they travel at www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates or National Rail Enquiries.” At the same time, engineers will be working to carry out comprehensive repairs to the platform structure along with a like for like renewal of the existing footbridge at Althorpe station. A temporary footbridge will be installed while work is carried out to construct the new station footbridge, maintaining connections for passengers to platform 2. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Siemens Smart Infrastructure is launching a new version of ‘Fire Manager’, its dedicated web-based SaaS (Software as a Service) fire app that offers service providers and fire safety managers the capability to have all fire safety sites in one view. The status of buildings can be easily monitored, with more information available by clicking on a site of interest via a fully encrypted connection that ensures the safety of the data. The move is part of the ongoing development of Siemens Building X, a digital building platform that supports customers in digitalising, managing, and optimising their building operations (Energy, HVAC, Security and Safety). It enables remote monitoring and intervention, real-time notification, and efficient and predictive maintenance. Fire Manager offers a range of benefits, including a status overview of a site/sites, both live and historical events, customisable notification via SMS and/or email, and data that assists with maintenance and planning. Included in the data that Fire Manager provides from a fire safety system is the potential for disturbance free testing (DFT), which allows detectors to be tested automatically, with the results recorded in the portal. Alongside Fire Manager, which automatically transmits notifications of the fire system status to service providers, notifications can also be sent to their customers by Fire Connect, a native iOS and Android app. Fire Manager and Fire Connect work easily with Siemens fire safety solutions such as Cerberus PRO, the company’s comprehensive EN54-13 approved fire alarm system. For those that want to maintain their own dashboards, Fire API provides the opportunity to integrate the data into their own dashboards. All three offerings – Fire Manager, Fire Connect and Fire API – are part of a new licensing model which paves the way for increased customer flexibility by offering choice regarding which data and app bundle best suits a specific need. The Fire Apps and API are designed to digitalise the customer workflow for fire safety operation and maintenance. This saves time and resources while improving safety and minimising the disturbance of building users. It enables service providers to monitor all sites at any time remotely and connect directly to the fire panel. This transparency allows for maintenance activities to be planned, carried out and documented efficiently. The enhanced solutions not only drive digital transformation, but also yield sustainability benefits. By offering maintenance options and a fire system status remotely, it is possible to save CO2 emissions related to yearly site visits. For further information on Siemens Fire Products www.siemens.co.uk/cerberus Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
