Pura Facades, the architectural cladding specialist, has become the sole UK distributor of VetaBric, the latest entrant to the fact-growing brick slip panel market.Acting as a lightweight panel alternative to traditional bricks, VetaBric can accurately reproduce the aesthetic of the majority of brick brands. Available in a new, ultra-thin, pre-mortared
Three school projects worth over £33 million in Denbighshire have been given the green light and construction work is underway. A new £5 million school building is being developed for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Clocaenog, as well as a new £5.3 million building for Ysgol Llanfair. Elsewhere. In addition, a new
Work is underway on 82 units of affordable housing, part of a £10 million development in Chiltern Close, Llanishen, Cardiff, funded by Wales & West Housing and delivered by JG Hale Construction. Scheduled to be completed in autumn 2019, the scheme is unusual in that all five blocks involve large
Aberdeen Standard Investment’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial and Property Unit Trust) has commissioned a new report that highlights the scale of progress and future potential for the adoption of automated transport and logistics technology at the UK’s airports, including London’s Heathrow, where AIPUT holds 2 million sq ft of buildings
The £11.7 million contract to create a new learning hub for Coventry University has been won by Willmott Dixon, who will renovate the former 72,000 m2 BT building on Mile Lane into the standards required for education in the 21st century. The finished facility will feature teaching rooms, IT suites,
Arvill Plant and Tool Hire, an Airdrie-based family business, has shown its commitment to age diversity with the appointment of a 79 year old construction industry veteran on the sales executive position. Eddie McLean, who was born in the same year as the Battle of Britain, is the oldest salesperson
Canary Wharf’s new private rental apartment tower at its new district, Wood Wharf, has awarded Offsite Solutions a £4.5 million contract to manufacture high specification bathroom pods. The company will be supplying 443 pods for 327 private rental apartments at the iconic 35-storey tower and the adjacent six-storey building at
Graham Construction has been appointed by Cheshire East Council for the delivery of the Congleton Link Road scheme, which aims to start construction later this year. The 5.5 kilometre road will unlock key sites for housing and employment and provide an economic boost to Congleton, relieving traffic congestion in the
Gregory Property Group has announced the purchase of a one-acre site on Bingley Street in Leeds city centre, which is currently occupied by Maxi’s Chinese restaurant. WYG, on behalf of Gregory Property Group, has submitted a full planning application to demolish the existing restaurant and deliver a multi-storey purpose-built complex
PLACE (Pan-London Accommodation Collaborative Enterprise) Ltd, a not-for-profit company committed to tackling homelessness in the capital, has released an invitation aimed at modular homes specialists for a £75 million contract that involves the design and manufacture of houses that can be moved from site to site. What PLACE is looking
Pura Facades, the architectural cladding specialist, has become the sole UK distributor of VetaBric, the latest entrant to the fact-growing brick slip panel market.Acting as a lightweight panel alternative to traditional bricks, VetaBric can accurately reproduce the aesthetic of the majority of brick brands. Available in a new, ultra-thin, pre-mortared joint, VetaBric panels weight just 12.5kg per m2, offering a sleek and modern look to the facade. While architects love the creative possibilities of this product, contractors appreciate the speed at which the panels are hung – up to a third quicker than traditional bricklaying according to Pura’s commercial director James Butler. “Given the dearth of skilled labour and long lead times of bricks in the UK, solutions such as VetaBric are becoming much more popular with developers, architects and contractors. And despite being only 25mm thick, we’re finding the product to be dense and rigid; therefore very robust once installed on site,” commented James Butler. “A project we were recently involved with – a residential development in Thornton Heath, South London – shows how effective brick slip can be. The project was finished on time and within budget, thanks in some measure to the adoption of VetaBric,” he added. VetaBric is manufactured off-site in Lille, northern France, meaning it is supporting the UK’s move toward modular construction methods. It can be fixed onto a wide range of substrates including masonry, lightweight steel or timber frames – all using the extensive range of fixings provided by Pura. VetaBric also provides a joint free solution to facades, as any visible fixings are hidden by mortar applied once the panel is installed.
Three school projects worth over £33 million in Denbighshire have been given the green light and construction work is underway. A new £5 million school building is being developed for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Clocaenog, as well as a new £5.3 million building for Ysgol Llanfair. Elsewhere. In addition, a new £23 million 3-16 Catholic school is being built in Rhyl. These are the last three projects to be delivered as part of the first phase of a £90 million investment in Denbighshire’s schools under the 21st Century Schools programme. The contractors working on the projects are Willmott Dixon, Read Construction, Wynne Construction and Kier construction. The first phase of the programme included a new £24 million replacement school of 1,200 places for Rhyl High School and Ysgol Tir Morfa, a £16.5 million extension and refurbishment for Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph and a new £10.5 million joint site for Rhos Street School and Ysgol Pen Barras in Ruthin. “This investment has radically altered the learning environment for thousands of pupils. They are no longer being taught in outdated classrooms, they are now in state-of-the-art, bright and fit for purpose areas. The evidence is already showing this has changed pupils’ approach to learning and helping them achieve even more at school,” said Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts. Also included in the project was a £3.5 million seven-classroom extension and refurbishment with new reception area and hall at Bodnant Community School, Prestatyn, as well as a £1.4 million three-classroom extension and refurbishment at Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Cynwyd. “Making sure young people have the right skills is a key priority under our Corporate Plan and we will continue to invest in the county’s schools as we look towards the next phase of the 21st Century Schools programme with the Welsh Government,” added the Councillor. The second phase of the 21st Century Schools programme is due to start in April 2019.
Work is underway on 82 units of affordable housing, part of a £10 million development in Chiltern Close, Llanishen, Cardiff, funded by Wales & West Housing and delivered by JG Hale Construction. Scheduled to be completed in autumn 2019, the scheme is unusual in that all five blocks involve large sections of the homes, such as windows, floors and roof cassettes, all being manufactured offsite. By using this technique homes can be built in a much more cost effective way, often with a healthier carbon footprint than developments that employ traditional building methods. Moreover, the homes will use a revolutionary insulation product called TrisoWarm Hybrid Insulated Panel, whereby the whole panel is insulated within a factory environment. Developed by Hale, the product, which received approval from the BBA (British Board of Agrément) last year, has the potential to substantially reduce heating bills and construction periods. “The biggest problem in the UK is the weather. If it’s pouring down with rain, we cannot complete externals etc. However, by using the TrisoWarm system along with offsite manufacturing, we can design and complete a house very quickly. Another factor influencing our decision on using TrisoWarm is that within the British Construction Industry there is currently a lack of bricklayers so off-site manufacturing alleviates this problem,” explained Jonathan Hale, chairman of JG Hale Group. Other benefits of the project include the employment of three or four apprentices. Hale will also deliver a number of community initiatives during the project. “This is an important development for Wales & West Housing as it supports the much-needed demand in Cardiff for high-quality affordable housing for over 55s. We are looking forward to working with JG Hale to develop this scheme and seeing the benefits the ‘TrisoWarm’ system will bring to improve the overall build quality and keep heating bills down for our residents,” said Grant Prosser, Wales & West Housing Development manager. The Chiltern Close scheme has been funded by Wales & West Housing in partnership with the Welsh Government and City of Cardiff Council.
Aberdeen Standard Investment’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial and Property Unit Trust) has commissioned a new report that highlights the scale of progress and future potential for the adoption of automated transport and logistics technology at the UK’s airports, including London’s Heathrow, where AIPUT holds 2 million sq ft of buildings dedicated to supporting the airport’s freight and logistics service providers. The report has been jointly produced by specialist UK aviation real estate consultancy ChappellKing and Dornier Consulting International GmbH and it explores the potential efficiency gains from automation across a plethora of airport-related functions, such as cargo-handling and logistics operations, as well as passenger transportation to and within airports. “Autonomous technology promises enormous benefits to airports and the service companies that support them, transforming the way airports work and improving efficiency and safety, both for passengers and other airport users,” said Nick Smith, AIPUT Fund Manager. “At Gatwick, for example, 90% of the airport’s airside vehicles are stationary at any one time, which is both hugely inefficient and demands a vast amount of space. A much smaller pool of electric-powered autonomous vehicles would drastically cut costs, free up land, reduce emissions, and improve safety. In Düsseldorf, a newly-developed robotic car parking system has demonstrated a 60% reduction in required parking space compared to human drivers.” A number of UK airports have already welcomed trials of a variety of autonomous technological applications. Heathrow was the first to complete a number of trials of automated air-side vehicles, in collaboration with IAG Cargo and Oxbotica. Meanwhile, Gatwick became the first airport in the world to trials the use of autonomous vehicles to shuttle staff across the airfield, demonstrating that autonomous vehicles can operate safely in highly-complex airfield environments. “Airports and airport real estate providers need to be ready for the introduction of automated technology as soon as operational and safety regulations permit. AIPUT intends to stay ahead of the curve by embracing automation, working with our tenants and partners to build autonomous technology into our site masterplans; which we believe will adapt and future-proof our UK estate assets, ensuring that our clients’ buildings and facilities will be able to accommodate and benefit fully from the rapid development of autonomous technology,” added Nick. The UK Government has recently announced its support toward the industry by offering a £22.4 million funding under the Industrial Strategy for off-road self-driving, which is believed to revolutionise productivity in a range of sectors, including mining, ports and airports. AIPUT will be ensuring that it is at the forefront of planning for and providing the cutting edge facilities that greater automation will require.
The £11.7 million contract to create a new learning hub for Coventry University has been won by Willmott Dixon, who will renovate the former 72,000 m2 BT building on Mile Lane into the standards required for education in the 21st century. The finished facility will feature teaching rooms, IT suites, engineering and science labs, a moot court and a cafe, as well as extensive breakout areas for social learning to make teaching more flexible. Overall, the campus will be offering a range of academic qualifications, including honours degree courses, foundation years, access to higher education diplomas, higher national certificates and higher national diplomas. “We are very excited to announce the plans for our new state-of-the-art campus, which reflects the considerable investment, modern technology and innovation, and will enhance our student experience, propelling us forward for years to come,” said a spokesperson from Coventry University. “The new campus is ideally situated adjacent to Coventry University’s Technology Park, which is already host to a variety of Coventry University activity as well as a number of exciting start-up businesses. It is also close to the railway station and includes good parking facilities.” This project is part of a wider £33 million campus transformation by CU Coventry to accommodate up to 3,000 students. The work on site is expected to be completed in early 2019. “We are delighted to be working with Coventry University again to help create another state-of-the-art campus for generations of students to enjoy,” said Peter Owen, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon in Midlands. Willmott Dixon is a privately-owned contracting and interior fit-out group, dedicated to leaving a positive legacy in its communities and environment. In 2018 the company was one of only six other companies to receive a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the promoting opportunity through social mobility category. The team at Willmott Dixon creates value for customers, stakeholders and communities by working in a sustainable and responsible way to shape the built environment and make a positive impact to society’s well-being.
Arvill Plant and Tool Hire, an Airdrie-based family business, has shown its commitment to age diversity with the appointment of a 79 year old construction industry veteran on the sales executive position. Eddie McLean, who was born in the same year as the Battle of Britain, is the oldest salesperson in plant hire in Scotland, and possible the UK. He is working closely with Commercial Director Hayley Shevill and has already brought in a slew of new clients to the innovative business. “At my age and having worked in the sector for so long, I know most of the people in the business and am delighted to bring my connections to a firm which has long set the pace in plant hire across Scotland,” commented Eddie. Eddie was brought into the team by owner and managing director Arthur Shevill, who founded in company in 1985 and ran it in its early years from his home and garden shed. “The whole team is delighted that Eddie has agreed to come on board. He has an unrivalled track record, he keeps his word, he has an excellent reputation in the industry and he knows how everything works,” said Arthur. “To indicate how valuable his contribution will be, he has already secured deals with Fankerton Plant, RJ McLeod, Marshall Plant, CM Steel, Front Line Construction, Advance Construction and Dem-Master,” he continued. Eddie left school in 1955 and went straight into working in the oil shale mines that have been operating in Scotland for more than a century. As well as the shale mines, he worked in construction on motorway projects including the M8, the M73 and the M74. He also gained a heavy goods licence and travelled the country as a lorry driver. “It’s great to have a fount of knowledge like Eddie on the team. We have all ages, including a trainee fitter who is just 16. Eddie has certainly brought the average age up by a few years,” said Hayley Shevill.
Canary Wharf’s new private rental apartment tower at its new district, Wood Wharf, has awarded Offsite Solutions a £4.5 million contract to manufacture high specification bathroom pods. The company will be supplying 443 pods for 327 private rental apartments at the iconic 35-storey tower and the adjacent six-storey building at 10 George Street. This will be the first time Offsite Solutions uses its new steel and concrete pods, which provide a fully waterproofed solution for luxury wet rooms and bathrooms. The pod design features cold rolled steel-framed walls with a cast concrete base that removes the need for visible shower trays to create a clean and contemporary appearance. The pods have been fully fitted before arriving on site and will complete the underfloor heating, stone-effect porcelain tiling, bespoke cabinets with heated steam-free mirrored doors, handmade composite stone basins, LED lighting, all sanitary ware and Hansgrohe brassware, ceiling and wall-mounted rain shower heads, and a surface-heated wall to remove the need for heated towel rails. “Bathroom pods give us the benefit of better quality control and ease of installation. Our requirement was for high specification bathrooms. We have been impressed with Offsite Solutions’ factory, design team, logistics and pre-delivery testing. It is great to have the pods manufactured in the UK and the project is going very well. The service from Offsite Solutions has been faultless and second to none,” explained Leighton Aurelius, Project Manager at Canary Wharf Contractors. The glass and aluminium tower will have a stepped roofscape overlooking the Canary Wharf basin and a new waterside park. It is part of Canary Wharf’s new district, Wood Wharf, which is under construction by Canary Wharf Group and aims to become a vibrant new urban quarter. Phase one of the scheme is due to be completed in 2020. Offsite Solutions offers a comprehensive and expanding range of bathroom pods to suit different building types and applications. Options include steel-framed pods with traditional tiled finishes for high-end apartments, student residences and hotels; robust and low maintenance GRP composite pods for student accommodation, care homes, social housing and healthcare; hybrid pods for specialist projects, and award-winning demountable GRP pods for ease of installation in refurbishment schemes.
Graham Construction has been appointed by Cheshire East Council for the delivery of the Congleton Link Road scheme, which aims to start construction later this year. The 5.5 kilometre road will unlock key sites for housing and employment and provide an economic boost to Congleton, relieving traffic congestion in the town centre and improving east-west connectivity. The Jacobs designed single carriageway road will run to the north of Congleton between the A534 Sandbach Road in the west and the A536 Macclesfield Road in the north east. Construction challenges for the scheme include passing beneath Chelford Road in an area subject to a high water table. The plans will see the road being cut 8 m deep into mudstone in a 25 m high escarpment before crossing the River Dane on an 85 m long bridge and landing on a 12m high embankment founded on piled alluvium. There are also two other road bridge crossings and two underpasses. “This is a real coup for us and we are relishing the prospect of working with Cheshire East Council on this important project that will bring economic and social regeneration to the town and the Congleton area,” said Leo Martin, managing director of Graham Construction for civil engineering. Currently, the council is awaiting news on final funding approval from the Department for Transport in the hope the scheme can get the greenlight in November for a late 2020 finish. Half the cost of the project is being supported by the government and by a target of £24 million from developers, meaning that the council is left to meet a shortfall of up to £22 million. “This scheme will support the development of more than 2,400 homes and 50 acres of employment land to the north of Congleton with the potential to generate 3,000 jobs by 2035 and £13 million per year into the local economy,” said Philip Cox, chief executive of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.
Gregory Property Group has announced the purchase of a one-acre site on Bingley Street in Leeds city centre, which is currently occupied by Maxi’s Chinese restaurant. WYG, on behalf of Gregory Property Group, has submitted a full planning application to demolish the existing restaurant and deliver a multi-storey purpose-built complex to house around 400 bedrooms for a brand new student residential development. “We are pleased to have secured this site through competitive tender which recognises the credentials of our long-established business to deliver sustainable development,” said Barry Gregory of Gregory Property Group. “The appetite for high quality student accommodation continues to grow apace with Leeds being one of the top ten university destinations in the UK. With a growing student population of around 60,000 students in the city there remains sustainable demand,” he continued. In Leeds, more than half of the student population is made up of University of Leeds, which has seen a growing number of international students who want to stay in purpose built student accommodation (PBSA). Moreover, this particular site sits within a PBSA location, where accommodation is most needed. The University of Leeds is the city’s largest institution with over 30,000 students, more than half of the full-time student population. Leeds Beckett University attracts nearly 19,000 students, whilst the city’s three smaller, specialist institutions account for over 5,000 full-time students. Acting on behalf of Gregory Property Group in the acquisition of the site was Michael Leonard of Carisbrooke Estates. Subject to planning consent, Gregory Property Group aims to start construction work on site in February 2019.
PLACE (Pan-London Accommodation Collaborative Enterprise) Ltd, a not-for-profit company committed to tackling homelessness in the capital, has released an invitation aimed at modular homes specialists for a £75 million contract that involves the design and manufacture of houses that can be moved from site to site. What PLACE is looking for is precision-manufactured family homes that will have the quality of permanent housing, but can also be moved from one site to another as required. Those homes will be placed on vacant sites that would otherwise remain underused over the short to medium term. Modular building will be used in order to provide high quality, local and temporary accommodation for people who need a home. This is the first time UK local authorities have collaborated to acquire modular housing for this purpose, with PLACE being hosted by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. This project has an initial target of delivering 200 modular homes across the capital. “Our aim is to challenge and inspire the housing design and construction industry to create an innovative and high-quality product to meet London’s opportunities and needs head-on,” said Mark Baigent, PLACE Ltd’s Director. “We want to procure attractive and spacious factory-built homes that can be easily moved from site to site around London. We look forward to sharing our vision and seeing what the rapidly growing modular market can offer,” he continued. The launch event will be hosted by PLACE on Wednesday, the 25th of July at London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council Chambers, with the winning firm expected to be delivering a mixture of two and three bedroom family properties. The deadline for submissions of the Expression of Interest Selection Questionnaire is the 15th of August 2018.