The development of Bristol’s tallest residential building marks a major project milestone. A 102m high crane has been erected at the Castle Park View site over Saturday and Sunday, 21-22 September. This will be the largest tower crane to be erected against the city skyline and remain a fixture for
A new 65-home development is set to be built in Ashby by national contractor Willmott Dixon. The project, for emh care & support, will see a collection of one- and two-bed homes constructed along with communal areas, such as a hairdressers and bistro. “We have been working closely with emh
The development of a modern retirement village in the Havering area of London has taken a major leap forward. Demolition has begun on the former Solar, Serena and Sunrise Courts site to make way for the sheltered accommodation. Local supplier Downwell Demolition is delivering the work. When complete, the site
The Larner Road estate area of London has been successfully transformed into the new mixed-tenure community of Erith Park with the help of Orbit, Wates Residential and Bexley Council. Seven dated tower blocks have been replaced with 587 new homes, as a mix of houses and mid-rise apartments. The tenure-blind scheme,
Developers behind a complex self-build housing project in Cambridgeshire have called on Aggregate Industries for its roofing product solution. Helen and Rob Facer, former owners of Barnack Estates UK Ltd used their expertise to build their own dream home on the rural landscape of Sutton. As with many historic English
Solent University’s new sports complex has been successfully connected to Southampton Geothermal Heating Company’s (SGHC) pioneering district energy scheme after signing a £2.8 million deal with energy and services specialist, ENGIE, over the next 20 years. The SGHC is a working partnership between ENGIE and Southampton City Council, launching more
A new sea defences project in Southsea, worth £100 million, has appointed a joint venture as the main contractor. The Southsea Coastal Scheme will provide flood protection to more than 8,000 properties and 704 businesses at risk, due to ageing existing coastal defences along 4.5km of Solent coastline. VSBW is
Two well-known North East property companies are joining forces in a deal that will create one of the region’s largest independent operations of its kind. The two property companies are Naylors and Gavin Black & Partners, which have decided to come together to form Naylors Gavin Black LLP. The new
The revised plans to demolish the Copperas Hill Police Station and build a huge student accommodation instead look set to be approved. The vacant property – which has been dubbed a “wasteful economic resource” – was constructed in the 1970s and occupies a frontage along Copperas Hill and Moor Place.
The government is to invest some £20 million to improve the National Cycle Network, including new routes, better surfacing, and improved links to other transport modes. The 22 schemes announced today follow 10 other projects announced earlier this year, to upgrade the National Cycle Network, which spans more than 16,000
The development of Bristol’s tallest residential building marks a major project milestone. A 102m high crane has been erected at the Castle Park View site over Saturday and Sunday, 21-22 September. This will be the largest tower crane to be erected against the city skyline and remain a fixture for 18 months. Developer Linkcity and construction partner Bouygues UK are building the landmark building on the site of a former ambulance station next to the Finzels Reach development at Castle Park. When complete, it will provide 375 homes across 26 storeys, comprising 75 affordable properties, as well as 300 private one and two-bedroom apartments. “We are incredibly excited to have reached this important milestone in the construction of Castle Park View. At 26 storeys, this will be Bristol’s tallest residential building and so naturally requires a tower crane that is equally as monumental – we’re very much looking forward to this historic moment in the city’s development,” said Tony Rides, Castle Park View project manager from Bouygues UK. “We have also arranged for the crane to be erected over the weekend to limit disruption to the commute of thousands of people into the city and so have avoided the need for road closures.” The Castle View Park development is set to be complete by 2022.
A new 65-home development is set to be built in Ashby by national contractor Willmott Dixon. The project, for emh care & support, will see a collection of one- and two-bed homes constructed along with communal areas, such as a hairdressers and bistro. “We have been working closely with emh care & support to make sure we are creating a scheme that is going to make the local community proud. Every step of the way we have been working collaboratively with all project partners through workshops, ensuring we plan effectively. The customer previously had challenges with overheating on similar schemes, so we have worked with them to ensure the same issues won’t occur when working with us. We are also embracing technology during this project, for example we are using offsite manufacturing to reduce programme time and maintain high levels of quality, while also minimising waste and costs,” said Michelle Cotterill, director at Willmott Dixon. “During all of our projects we aim to engage our customers and project partners. We recently invited emh care & support into our digital design room to review the design and gain a real feel for the building. Further into the build process this technology can be used to show prospective buyers what their potential home will be like too. Alongside our enrichment programme, we will also be working with Stephenson College on a work experience scheme, accommodating apprentices currently working for emh care & support, to give them experience in working on a new build project.” This £12.5 million scheme is designed by architects BRP and is scheduled for completion in early 2021. Plans are also in place to build a new school adjacent to the development. “A development like this requires strong and trusted relationships, and we are delighted to be working with Willmott Dixon, North West Leicestershire DC, and our other partners to deliver our most ambitious project to date. With Springfields we are creating a modern community in the heart of the national forest, a vibrant place supporting and promoting health and wellbeing. That is something we can all be proud of,” added Joanna Grainger, Executive Director at emh care & support.
The development of a modern retirement village in the Havering area of London has taken a major leap forward. Demolition has begun on the former Solar, Serena and Sunrise Courts site to make way for the sheltered accommodation. Local supplier Downwell Demolition is delivering the work. When complete, the site will become home to 172 new high quality apartments designed for local people who are approaching, or who have reached, retirement age. The building will feature communal facilities, which could include a residents’ lounge, treatment studio for health and wellness, and flexible village hall, which could be open to the wider community to use. There will also be flexible storage space for either bicycles or mobility scooters. Proposed designs for the site show that a large proportion of the apartments will be designed as Wheelchair Adaptable, which includes a larger floor area than average. Hallways and bathrooms will be particularly large to enable accessibility. The plans extend to the garden area, which will have distinct zones to encourage a range of activities, such as relaxation, lawn games, and a community growing area for accessible gardening. A social area will also enable residents to socialise in a safe, welcome and attractive space. This modern project also forms part of the first phase of Havering Council’s 12 Estates joint venture project with national developer Wates Residential. The £1bn programme is set to deliver around 5,000 high quality homes over the next 12 to 15 years, doubling the amount of council rented accommodation and more than doubling the number of affordable homes. Phase one of the 12 Estates project began in July with the demolition of Napier and New Plymouth House in Rainham. In addition to the retirement village, phase one will continue with the Waterloo Estate in Romford in the coming months. “It is great that we have been able to celebrate demolition starting on the second site of our joint venture with Havering Council. The Solar, Serena and Sunrise Court site will deliver new high quality apartments, meeting the needs and aspirations of local people around retirement age,” said Kate Ives, Development Director for Wates Residential. “We are looking forward to continuing our work with Havering Council over the coming months as work progresses across the wider programme, which will deliver thousands of new homes as well as new skills and training opportunities for residents in Havering and the wider area.”
The Larner Road estate area of London has been successfully transformed into the new mixed-tenure community of Erith Park with the help of Orbit, Wates Residential and Bexley Council. Seven dated tower blocks have been replaced with 587 new homes, as a mix of houses and mid-rise apartments. The tenure-blind scheme, supported by grant funding from the GLA, comprises 80% affordable homes, a mix of affordable rent and shared ownership. In this area of low sales value, there is no subsidy to the scheme from the 20% homes for sale and they are included to ensure a mixed, aspirational and sustainable community. Maggie McCann, Orbit’s director of regeneration and partnerships thanked partners and residents for their contributions to the new community. Building on the success of Erith Park, Orbit and Wates are now embarking on the regeneration of the neighbouring Arthur Street. “The event marked a momentous achievement for both the project team and community. We were able to celebrate the official completion of Erith Park after years of hard work, and also showcase our next venture, Park East,” said Maggie McCann, director of regeneration and partnerships, Orbit. “Many of the Erith Park team will be bringing their experience to Park East and we are confident we can deliver yet another thriving community and leave a lasting impact in Erith.” Maggie invited Councillor Teresa O’Neill OBE, leader of the London Borough of Bexley, to join residents in unveiling the name of the new development. The 3.5m brick sculpture reflects the site’s history of Victorian brickmaking and incorporates decorative bricks made by residents. Hidden inside is the shape of a Stone Age tool, a reminder of the important Palaeolithic archaeology of the site. “Our vision for Erith Park was to create delightful contemporary homes in a beautiful new neighbourhood. This event was where it finally all came together and we can confirm that, together, we’ve created a brilliant new community we can all be proud of,” added Paul Nicholls, managing director, Wates Residential.
Developers behind a complex self-build housing project in Cambridgeshire have called on Aggregate Industries for its roofing product solution. Helen and Rob Facer, former owners of Barnack Estates UK Ltd used their expertise to build their own dream home on the rural landscape of Sutton. As with many historic English locations, the build was governed by a set of strict planning requirements rendering it vital that the choice of construction materials kept in with the overall surroundings. This meant the roofing specification had to complement the traditional stone houses within the area while, of course, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the build. The couple therefore called on the recommendation of their appointed building contractors – who suggested Aggregate Industries’ flagship roof slate, Bradstone Cotswold. “The choice of roofing tile was incredibly important to us – as we wanted to make sure the chosen product suited our style without detracting from the other local homes. However, the other stone houses in the area used roofing slates that are no longer available, so it was difficult for us to find a match,” said Helen Facer, owner of the self-build home. “We were therefore thrilled to have come across Bradstone Cotswold roofing slates. The product is stunning and offers the look of natural stone while offering all the durability of a more modern product. What’s more, the Aggregate Industries team were a huge help throughout – from assisting us in calculating the exact quantity of product needed to providing it within just two-weeks.” Bradstone Cotswold Tiles are moulded from hand-dressed natural stone slates via a unique manufacturing technique specifically designed to recreate the natural beauty of Cotswold natural stone. In total, 374m2 of tiles were specified on the project and installed during October/November 2018. The tiles were readily available in a wide range of sizes and are exceptionally easy and quick to lay, thereby vastly reducing time on the job for workmen – and therefore reducing labour costs for the couple. As recommended by the Aggregate Industries team, the specification for the self-build project also included 13 of Bradstone Cotswold Slate Vents in order to ensure adequate airflow to certain rooms in the home. “As the project needed to conform to specific local planning requirements, it was vital to use products that was in keeping with the area. The Bradstone Cotswold Slates from our range of building products provided the ideal solution, offering an easy-application process, long-lasting performance, combined with a beautiful finish,” added Jamie Stratford, Regional Sales Manager for the South West at Aggregate Industries.
Solent University’s new sports complex has been successfully connected to Southampton Geothermal Heating Company’s (SGHC) pioneering district energy scheme after signing a £2.8 million deal with energy and services specialist, ENGIE, over the next 20 years. The SGHC is a working partnership between ENGIE and Southampton City Council, launching more than 30 years ago. The scheme supplies heat, chilled water and electricity to commercial and residential energy users across Southampton – currently serving a 2km radius of the energy centre. Users already included TV studios, a hospital, shopping centre, student accommodation, residential buildings and hotels; with Solent University tasking ENGIE with the implementation of a new heating connection which would link up existing assets, as well as a new state-of-the-art sports centre. The SGHC currently saves around 10,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum, using heat from a large-scale combined heat and power (CHP) plant, supplemented by geothermal energy and conventional boilers. The University required a new District Heating connection with a substation, to provide heating and domestic hot water for the new facilities with predicted annual heating consumption of 620MWh/annum and a contractual peak load of 875 kW; which ENGIE is poised to deliver through the connection to SGHC. Approximately 150 m of Pre-insulated District Heating Steel Pipework were installed, adjacent to the Southampton Solent University building on East Park Terrace, Southampton. Andrew Hart, Managing Director for ENGIE’s Urban Energy business, said: “Southampton is an exemplar of district energy solutions that stand the test of time. We have successfully operated in the city for more than three decades – delivering low carbon and cost-effective energy – so the addition of Solent University to the scheme is a welcome one. “We have adopted an incredibly flexible approach to our service delivery, to ensure we can continue making connections to the scheme and extend this unique solution. We look forward to working with our partners in the council, as well as the University over the next 20 years to deliver a first-rate service for people and businesses in the region.” Paul Colbran, Chief Info & Infrastructure Officer at Solent University, said: “Solent is undergoing a £100 million estate redevelopment programme to provide new and improve current campus facilities, and the new sports complex is just one element of that programme. “With such a large infrastructure project and our desire to be cleaner, greener and more environmentally sustainable, the geothermal system helps us keep our emissions down and makes sense connecting with the current infrastructure already in place.” ENGIE has confirmed the new system is now operational – delivering heating and cooling for the sports centre and beyond.
A new sea defences project in Southsea, worth £100 million, has appointed a joint venture as the main contractor. The Southsea Coastal Scheme will provide flood protection to more than 8,000 properties and 704 businesses at risk, due to ageing existing coastal defences along 4.5km of Solent coastline. VSBW is a joint venture between VolkerStevin and Boskalis Westminster, with both businesses having been formed in the UK in the 1930s and previously joined forces for the likes of the £115 million Dover Western Docks Revival scheme. “We have been impressed with the quality of work put into the Scheme already and are looking forward to getting on site and delivering new defences for Southsea,” said Rob Coupe, on behalf of VSBW. The tender for construction works was issued to a shortlist of three contractors, all of whom were selected following an open-market supplier selection process, which evaluated the experience and capacity of each company to deliver this large-scale complex project. Following the initial process, Bam Nuttall, Van Oord/Mackley and VSBW were identified as the shortlisted companies to compete in a further multi-stage selection process to identify the successful bidder. VSBW will promptly join the project team, providing assistance to the council and newly-appointed design consultant, Royal HaskoningDHV, with input into the detailed engineering design, pre-construction site surveys and enabling works ahead of construction on the first phase which will begin in early 2020 should planning and funding approvals be gained. Councillor Dave Ashmore, cabinet member for environment and climate change at Portsmouth City Council, also added: “This intensive procurement process has allowed us to identify a very capable, proven contractor who will now be at the helm of delivering this very important piece of work for Portsmouth. “The integrated project team will continue to engage with the public throughout what will be an exciting project.”
Two well-known North East property companies are joining forces in a deal that will create one of the region’s largest independent operations of its kind. The two property companies are Naylors and Gavin Black & Partners, which have decided to come together to form Naylors Gavin Black LLP. The new entity will commence trading with immediate effect and comprise a combined team of 38. Established in 1990, Naylors is appointed on the likes of the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), VAUX, Integra 61 and The Biosphere. Gavin Black and Partners is retained by a number of property occupiers such as Vertu Motors, Leeds Building Society, Network Rail, Sumo Digital and British Engines. The new company is looking to build on the success of the pair’s high profile agency teams. Gavin Black, Chris Pearson and Martyn Collins of Gavin Black & Partners will be joining Angus White, Fergus Laird, Keith Stewart and Chris Donabie of Naylors as equity partners. “The new business is driven by the mutual desire of both firms to be a market leader by reputation, underpinned by our shared values and clear focus on client service,” said Gavin Black. “Both offer complementary service lines and expertise making this a logical and attractive partnership. Coming together allows us to combine areas of strength to provide a broader range of services and greater depth of knowledge to our clients,” Gavin added. Angus White, who will be taking on the role of managing partner, also added: “Our strategic priority is the creation of one regional market-leading organisation, offering the highest standards in client service across all sectors. Together, we will have an unrivalled presence in the North East business space market, taking a leading role in the region’s flagship schemes.” The integration of the two businesses will commence imminently, with Gavin Black & Partners relocating to Naylors’ head office in Newcastle.
The revised plans to demolish the Copperas Hill Police Station and build a huge student accommodation instead look set to be approved. The vacant property – which has been dubbed a “wasteful economic resource” – was constructed in the 1970s and occupies a frontage along Copperas Hill and Moor Place. An application to redevelop the site for a similar purpose – as well as two other such developments – has been approved but not implemented. The most recent is considered to be unviable, with Liverpool Edge Ltd having drawn together a scheme which it believes would work in its place. Submitted in February, the plans consisted of a nine-storey building, of which eight would be presented to the Copperas Hill, Moor Place and Marquis Street frontages, and the top two storeys would be set-back from the frontage of the six storeys below. The plans would comprise 34 cluster apartments providing 280 bed-spaces, revised from 35 and 294 respectively. Each would have a dedicated access door leading to a shared lounge and kitchen facilities. Also put forward are plans for a public realm courtyard space, which would be centred on the area extending from Marquis Street. A planning statement submitted to Liverpool City Council noted that there is a “clear demand for the student bedspaces within Liverpool”. It added that the proposed development would provide a “much-needed multimillion-pound investment into the city” and help create more than 100 construction jobs. The application is now set to go before the authority’s planning committee on 17 September. A report drawn up ahead of the meeting said: “It is considered that the proposed student residential use of the site is acceptable in this location and will not result in an undue loss of amenity for neighbouring occupiers. “The proposed building will bring a vacant site back into beneficial use ensuring it contributes positively to the area. In addition, it is considered that the proposals are satisfactory from a traffic and highway safety viewpoint.” Approval has been recommended.
The government is to invest some £20 million to improve the National Cycle Network, including new routes, better surfacing, and improved links to other transport modes. The 22 schemes announced today follow 10 other projects announced earlier this year, to upgrade the National Cycle Network, which spans more than 16,000 miles of on-road and off-road cycling and walking paths. Making the announcement, Cycling and Walking Minister Chris Heaton-Harris, said: “Cycling and walking are sustainable forms of transport, which help to keep people active and clean up the quality of our air. “This funding will put the right infrastructure in place, so people can enjoy new routes on foot or by bike, supporting the government’s ambition for cycling and walking to become the natural choice for shorter journeys by 2040.” The funding focuses on fixing dangerous junctions, reducing traffic levels, building better surfaces, creating more accessible paths, and improving route signage. The projects include: • re-routing the Fylde coastal path to become traffic-free, between Blackpool and St. Anne’s • creating a new pedestrian and cycleway, the Gooseholme Bridge in Kendal • improving accessibility and safety of the Liverpool Loopline • a community-led re-design to improve the quality of the existing Bristol and Bath railway path • improving signage and building a new crossing for the Wolverhampton Wayfinding • building a traffic-free and accessible corridor from Sheffield to Doncaster • constructing a new traffic-free path alongside in Buckinghamshire While the government funding will be used to improve the quality of existing sections of the network, the projects will also improve integration with existing infrastructure. For example, cycle routes around areas including Sheffield, Doncaster and Buckinghamshire will benefit from improved connectivity and safer off-road routes. Anita Konrad, National Director, England at Sustrans, the walking and cycling charity and the custodian of the National Cycle Network, said: “The National Cycle Network is a -wide asset which helps nearly 4.4 million people make car-free journeys each year, benefitting local economies, public health and the environment. “This investment will help build on the network’s success and we look forward to working with local authorities and partner organisations around England to achieve a network of walking and cycling paths that are safer and more accessible for everyone, regardless of their age and abilities.” The cycling and walking investment strategy, published in 2017, sets out the government’s ambitious plan for active travel. Almost £2 billion is projected to be invested over this Spending Review period in cycling and walking between 2016/17 and 2020/21 and investment per head has increased three-fold since 2010. The government long-term vision is for cycling and walking to become the natural choice for all shorter journeys, or as part of longer journeys, by 2040.