Pagabo has announced the successful contractors for its new £10 billion Major Works Framework. The six-year framework is open to all public and private sector organisations and is split into three project value bands across seven UK regions and includes a core and reserve list of contractors. The framework’s first
A tenant has been found for a roadside site currently in development in Rushden. Godwin Developments reached a deal with British based retailer Euro Garages Limited as their tenant for the site. The companies have since worked together to amend the design to be sympathetic with the planners and councillors’
A modern electrification scheme to electrify the train line between Bristol and Cardiff has been completed. This project saw the electrification of 77 kilometres of the Great Western Railway (GWR) line, which forms part of Network Rail’s overall Greater West Electrification Programme to electrify 275 kilometres of train line between
Leading UK contractor GRAHAM has begun work on the €9.3 million revamp of Ireland’s largest retail development, Blanchardstown Centre. This project will see the centre welcome eight new stores and unveil a modern, reimagined space upon completion in November 2020. GRAHAM was appointed to take on the ambitious project by
Following on from a record-breaking company turnover in 2019, Yorkshire-based firm Caddick Group has set its sights on increasing its presence down south. The construction and property development company has welcomed two new senior additions to its ranks and introduced a new London office. The two new hires will join
Harrogate Borough Council has handed out a £10 million contract for a major expansion of one of the area’s existing leisure centres. This project will see national firm Willmott Dixon build a new 25m pool at Ripon’s leisure centre, along with associated changing and community areas. The company will also
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has launched a new three-year initiative targeting plant operatives and assessors. This training commission will boost the development of plant professionals to help address an industry shortage. According to Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) research, 39% of of employers find it difficult to fill plant
Plans to rejuvenate Stevenage town centre have taken a major step forward. Contractor Mace has submitted a planning application to regenerate 14.5 acres of the town centre, known as SG1. It will eventually provide more than 1,800 high-quality new homes, 3,500 sqm of retail and commercial floor space, a new
ISG has kicked off 2020 with the announcement of two new senior appointments. The firm has added two professionals to the Engineering Services Leadership Board, with Peter Millett joining as managing director for the Europe datacentre business and Jim McCarthy taking up the reins of a new division in his
A new housing development is set to launch near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, later this month, bringing 192 homes to the area. Crest Nicholson’s Alconbury Weald development comprises of a collection of one and two bedroom apartments and two, three and four bedroom houses. It also forms part of the 5,000 new
Pagabo has announced the successful contractors for its new £10 billion Major Works Framework. The six-year framework is open to all public and private sector organisations and is split into three project value bands across seven UK regions and includes a core and reserve list of contractors. The framework’s first four-year iteration saw the delivery of high-profile projects nationally, for clients including Liverpool John Moores University, St Albans District Council, Richmond upon Thames College, Merseyside Police, Birmingham Symphony Hall, National Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and Doncaster Council. The new version will see up to 28 contractors deliver projects starting at £5 million. Major firms ISG, Morgan Sindall Construction and Sir Robert McAlpine secured spots on up to six out of the seven regions on all three lots. Ashe Construction, Bowmer + Kirkland, Kier and Wates Construction were among the new appointments to the 2020 framework. “We were delighted by the number of contractors responding to the tender,” said Jason Stapley, managing director at Pagabo. “The first iteration of the Major Works Framework has seen double digit growth year on year, since its inception in 2016. In 2019 alone, we’ve delivered £833m worth of construction projects for the public sector up and down the country. “We believe its success is down to our customer-focused approach; we’ve made it our mission to simplify the commissioning process with technology and innovation, we place social value at the heart of everything we do and ensure full flexibility, OJEU compliance and greater choice for everyone wanting to use the framework. “Contractors have recognised this and clearly appreciate this forward-thinking approach. To date, we’ve delivered more than £2 billion of social value across the country and we are investing more than £1 million into technology.” Pagabo’s Major Works Framework will launch in April 2020.
A tenant has been found for a roadside site currently in development in Rushden. Godwin Developments reached a deal with British based retailer Euro Garages Limited as their tenant for the site. The companies have since worked together to amend the design to be sympathetic with the planners and councillors’ aspirations. The updated reserved matters application was submitted to the council in mid-December 2019. These plans will see a new Euro Garages petrol filling station and complimentary coffee operator drive-thru constructed on the site located adjacent to the A6 roundabout on John Clark Way. Matt Chandler, associate director at Godwin Group said: “We are pleased to have secured Euro Garages Limited as our end occupier for our site in Rushden. “Godwin Developments, in conjunction with Euro Garages Limited have worked closely with the council to create a scheme which will complement the surrounding area, whilst also delivering a quality commercial offering. This project is an exciting expansion to Godwin Developments’ growing portfolio in the roadside sector.” Tom Jeremiah, group planning director at Euro Garages Limited added: “We are excited to be working alongside Godwin Developments for the development of this site. Given the deficiency of roadside facilities in this location, we know there is strong demand for such in this area and our proposals will act to fill this gap in the market. Our scheme provides for a bespoke designed petrol filling station and drive-thru coffee shop, which will give motorists a place to rest and relax before continuing their onward journey. “In addition, the development will create employment opportunities to which Euro Garages Limited are committed to resourcing from the local area. Most of our customers are taken from passing traffic but the facilities will also be available to residents, who may like to use our services to purchase small top-up shops or enjoy a coffee.”
A modern electrification scheme to electrify the train line between Bristol and Cardiff has been completed. This project saw the electrification of 77 kilometres of the Great Western Railway (GWR) line, which forms part of Network Rail’s overall Greater West Electrification Programme to electrify 275 kilometres of train line between Cardiff and London. Contractor Balfour Beatty completed the Bristol-Cardiff works, deploying over 750 operatives to undertake complex works over the festive period. This included the final installation of the overhead cables at Cardiff Central Station, marking the completion of over 4,200 masts and booms, responsible for holding the 643 kilometres of electric cabling associated with the 77 kilometres section of route. Following completion, the first electrified train set off from Cardiff Central Station on Monday 06 January. Mick Rayner, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Rail business, said: “We are proud to have successfully delivered part of the largest modernization project on the Great Western Railway which we been working on for the past three years. Delivering this important upgrade to the Welsh rail network will provide a more sustainable way of travelling for tens of thousands of commuters.” Mark Langman, Network Rail’s Managing Director for Wales and Western added: “I am delighted that services can now run on electricity between Bristol and Cardiff, linking the two capital cities for the very first time via an electric railway. This is the culmination of the largest modernisation project on the Great Western railway since it was built in Victorian times, which we have been working on over the last 10 years.”
Leading UK contractor GRAHAM has begun work on the €9.3 million revamp of Ireland’s largest retail development, Blanchardstown Centre. This project will see the centre welcome eight new stores and unveil a modern, reimagined space upon completion in November 2020. GRAHAM was appointed to take on the ambitious project by Multi Ireland Ltd, which manages the centre for Blackstone who acquired the Dublin outlet in 2016. Over 65 GRAHAM employees and subcontractors will be working on the project. It will help elevate the layout of the centre, which welcomes 16 million shoppers annually, by replacing and upgrading floor finishes, improving accessibility and utilising formerly unused space. The scheme aims to enhance the internal appearance and functioning of the existing mall areas which cover some 1,100,000 sq ft or retail space with a further 200,000 sq ft of leisure space occupied by cinemas, a theatre and arts centre as well as Ireland’s largest public library. Blanchardstown, which sits on the outskirts of Dublin, will continue trading as normal while works are ongoing. GRAHAM Contracts Director Neill Gillespie said: “The GRAHAM team are pleased that Multi Ireland has trusted us to be their delivery partner for this project. Given our recent experience in shopping centre refurbishments of this scale we are confident we have the right team to overcome the challenges this type of project bring and successfully deliver a project everyone will be proud of, handing over a modernised shopping and leisure environment that will benefit both the tenants and visitors of Blanchardstown Centre.” The contract for Blanchardstown follows on from GRAHAM’s newest retail agreement with Primark to revamp four of its UK stores in a £25m deal. Mr Gillespie continued: “We will be bringing Blanchardstown into the new generation of retail and conclude with a space that provides a more streamlined, modern shopping experience. “This will include new floors at level one and two, replacement of bulkheads and shopfronts and revised signage as well as the replacement of internal suspended ceilings at level one. There will also be alterations made to the central mall area with travellators replaced with escalators and two lifts, the removal of a water feature and the addition of a children’s play area. “To deliver this project over 52 weeks we will work alongside Lafferty architects and project managers, KSN surveyors, ARUP and Ethos Engineering to ensure work is delivered on time and with the expertise needed to reimagine a retail environment as we know it.” When complete Blanchardstown, which counts Dunnes Stores, M&S, Debenhams and Penny’s among its anchor tenants will welcome JD Sports, ALDI and other top name retailers to the centre.
Following on from a record-breaking company turnover in 2019, Yorkshire-based firm Caddick Group has set its sights on increasing its presence down south. The construction and property development company has welcomed two new senior additions to its ranks and introduced a new London office. The two new hires will join the Group’s development arms: Caddick Developments, which specialises in city centre regeneration projects as well as big box and mid-box industrial/logistics schemes, and Moda Living, a leading build-to-rent developer and operator. Alistair Smith joins Caddick Developments as Associate Director from Town Centre Securities PLC, where he was responsible for a diverse investment and development portfolio across Yorkshire and the North West. Alistair will be working with the existing team on a variety of projects including the delivery of SOYO, a new neighbourhood in central Leeds within the city’s burgeoning cultural quarter, as well as City One, which will offer a mix of offices, retail, leisure and residential and help expand the city centre. Charlie Adcock, previously of Summix Capital, a UK and Ireland fund focused on delivering housing, build-to-rent and student accommodation, joins Moda Living as acquisitions manager and will be responsible for sourcing new opportunities in London and the South of England. Charlie will be joining the existing London team in Caddick Group’s newly acquired office space at 1 Heddon Street W1. This historic building was recently renovated by the Crown Estate into co-working space and is a certified WELL building, an accreditation that was specifically sought by Caddick Group to reflect the company’s focus on wellbeing. These company changes form part of Caddick’s effort to grow and deliver its £5bn development pipeline and expand its presence in London and the South East. Johnny Caddick of Caddick Group said: “Having recorded a successful 2019, we look forward to entering the new year with a growing team and with a new headquarters in London that will help drive our growth in the capital and South East. “As a Group our focus remains on areas of the market that are structurally supported with long-term growth potential. We see a huge opportunity to redefine what city centre living means through both our Moda Living brand and major regeneration projects like SOYO and City One, and there remains strong demand for high quality logistics facilities to service Britain’s e-commerce boom.”
Harrogate Borough Council has handed out a £10 million contract for a major expansion of one of the area’s existing leisure centres. This project will see national firm Willmott Dixon build a new 25m pool at Ripon’s leisure centre, along with associated changing and community areas. The company will also add a new main entrance and lobby to the current centre as well as upgrade the dry leisure facilities with new changing rooms and health suite, two dance studios, a ‘spin’ studio and a meeting room. Further developments include new play areas and a bridge linking the existing facility and the new-build pool element. Councillor Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for sport, said: “After what seems like many months of planning and discussion, the work to build the new pool is finally underway. “This represents a significant investment and will provide the people of Ripon with state-of-the-art swimming facilities. Combined with the refurbishment of the leisure centre, we are transforming the sport and leisure offer in this part of the district.” Willmott Dixon is working with Pick Everard as architect and Gleeds as QS and project manager to deliver the extension. The project has been procured via Major Works England and Northern Ireland, a part of the Scape National Construction framework. Anthony Dillon, Willmott Dixon’s managing director in the North, added: “We have one of the biggest track records in the UK for delivering projects that provide excellent leisure facilities. The creation of top-quality facilities to encourage health and wellbeing are vital to help our communities thrive and what we’ll deliver at Ripon will leave a lasting legacy for many years to come for people in the town and across the region.” The extension at Ripon’s leisure centre is expected to be completed in 2021.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has launched a new three-year initiative targeting plant operatives and assessors. This training commission will boost the development of plant professionals to help address an industry shortage. According to Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) research, 39% of of employers find it difficult to fill plant vacancies. Construction employers, trade bodies and training providers are all being asked to submit proposals to help address a gap between industry demand and supply. The CPA; Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA); Hire Association Europe (HAE); Build UK; Highways England; HS2; West Midlands Combined Authority; Balfour Beatty; BAM Nuttall; Willmott Dixon; Flannery Plant Hire; Lynch Plant; Hire A-Plant; and Plantforce are among industry stakeholders that shaped CITB’s plant operators training commission. Training in plant specialisms is currently low, with only 149 N/SVQ Level 2 qualifications in plant specialisms gained in 2016, while a CPA survey showed that more than 80% of respondents didn’t employ any plant apprentices and a further nine out of 10 employers didn’t expect to take any on in the next 12 months. With plant training necessarily using expensive equipment, projects that make use of innovative methods such as simulators are also sought. Other sectors such as health, aviation and the armed forces have seen learners with simulators spending 40% more time at the controls – instead of standing around watching others practice on real machines. Steve Radley, CITB Policy Director, said: “Employers have been clear that more plant operatives and trainers are needed to tackle the skills shortage. This commission will help support training provision to the sector both now and in the future.” The deadline for applications is 28 February 2020.
Plans to rejuvenate Stevenage town centre have taken a major step forward. Contractor Mace has submitted a planning application to regenerate 14.5 acres of the town centre, known as SG1. It will eventually provide more than 1,800 high-quality new homes, 3,500 sqm of retail and commercial floor space, a new public square and a new park, as well as a Public Services Hub and a new primary school. Inspired by the original building blocks and the unique heritage of the New Town, SG1 will also complement the new developments across the town that are already underway at the north end of Queensway and on the Town Square. Kevin Cowin, Director at Mace, said: “This is an ambitious and carefully crafted proposal that expresses our confidence in Stevenage town centre. We aim to revitalise the town centre by introducing new homes, vibrant activities, community facilities and inviting public spaces. Our vision is to deliver a thriving, successful and attractive heart to Stevenage which will serve the needs of local people and businesses for decades to come.” The planning submission provides an outline proposal for the 14.5 acre masterplan which is divided into 10 development plots. It also contains a detailed application for the first two plots in the first phase which includes the area of Swingate South Car Park and Swingate House, as well as the former police building on Southgate. The first phase proposes 760 new homes in the town centre. Future phases will add new retail and commercial floor space in addition to further new homes. At the centre of the masterplan fronting onto the Town Square will be a new Public Services Hub for the people of Stevenage. The Hub will be the focal point for a wide range of public services, including NHS health facilities, a new public library, the voluntary sector and Council services. The creation of new green spaces and tree planting is a central theme for the masterplan proposals. There will be increased biodiversity and new planting in an attractive new Garden Square adjacent to The Hub and the historic Town Square, a new public tree-lined boulevard, and a new park and pond at the new Southgate Park to the south of Queensway. A new mini square which will be known as ‘Arrival Square’ is also planned to greet visitors at the bottom of the access ramp to the railway station and welcome people to the town centre. Kevin Cowin added: “During our consultation on the SG1 masterplan over the summer, one of the key things residents and town centre businesses told us was the importance of creating attractive welcoming public spaces where people can meet and relax. Our planning application responds to what local people have told us.”
ISG has kicked off 2020 with the announcement of two new senior appointments. The firm has added two professionals to the Engineering Services Leadership Board, with Peter Millett joining as managing director for the Europe datacentre business and Jim McCarthy taking up the reins of a new division in his role as managing director for customer operations. Commenting on the appointments, Bart Korink, Chief Operating Officer for ISG’s Engineering Services business, said: “I’m delighted to announce the addition of Peter to our leadership team and Jim’s new role in our new customer operations division. “Peter joins from Jaguar Land Rover, bringing with him over 30 years’ experience, expertise and insight in construction. “His client knowledge will prove invaluable in helping us continue to build our data centre contractor experience in Europe and provide the best customer service in the industry.” In his role within the latest ISG division, Jim will also lead the deployment of a new, dedicated customer operations team alongside business development director, Richard Irwin. “Our global datacentre, science and health sectors continue to show good growth,” Mr Korink added. “Moving forward, we want to continue to be contractor of choice for datacentre delivery across Europe and expand our customer base across Europe and Asia. “Key to this function will be building our scalability and capability in new geographies, implementing successful win work strategies and managing key client account relationships to inform future tendering opportunities. “Jim has a wealth of experience working with our key datacentre clients after delivering a number of key projects for our datacentre business in Europe. “Under his leadership, we will be able to create a stable, resilient platform that enables us to achieve our ambitions and support the growth of the wider business.”
A new housing development is set to launch near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, later this month, bringing 192 homes to the area. Crest Nicholson’s Alconbury Weald development comprises of a collection of one and two bedroom apartments and two, three and four bedroom houses. It also forms part of the 5,000 new homes being delivered in the wider redevelopment of RAF Alconbury. The contemporary homes have been thoughtfully designed to reflect the character of the natural surrounds, with many overlooking the newly launched cricket pitch and linked to nearby cycle and walking pathways. Residents will also have access to a range of existing amenities, including a brand new primary school, café, gym and cricket pavilion. Building work for a secondary school is also currently underway, with an anticipated opening date of September 2022. Alongside various shops and services, there will also be new health and community centres, with 1 million sq ft of business space already completed. David Hnyda, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, commented: “We are delighted to announce that Alconbury Weald will be launching in the new year, along with the unveiling of the marketing suite and brand new show home. The development will offer purchasers the opportunity to be part of a thriving, tight-knit community, with a range of amenities on their doorstep. The scheme involves the regeneration of a former WWII RAF base, making this is a particularly exciting project for Crest Nicholson; we look forward to welcoming residents to their new homes from March 2020.” A preview event for Alconbury Weald will take place on Saturday 11 January between 11am – 3pm, held from Crest Nicholson’s other nearby development, Mandeville Place in Brampton. The event will give purchasers the opportunity to secure their home of choice before the development is fully launched and take advantage of exclusive preview pricing.