Durham-headquartered Banks Renewables has secured a £210m investment package to support the construction of its next three onshore wind farm projects. The company, which is the renewable energy division of North East property and energy business The Banks Group, will build wind farms at Moor House near Darlington in County Durham and at
A Commercial Introduction To LED Lighting Systems Traditional lighting systems range from incandescent, low pressure and high pressure sodium lighting solutions to metal halide or mercury vapour lighting systems. All of these kinds of lighting are good and some more (cost effective than others depending on the specific requirements of
Buying a home is usually the largest investment of any family. The prices can be high, sometimes higher than than the home and property is truly worth. We spoke with from Richard from strawhomes.com, who are first time buying experts, gave us some invaluable advice. Richard told us that when
Year after year the heating and cooling of various residential and commercial buildings has been known to consume vast amounts of energy, therefore finding better alternatives to produce resilient, high-performance buildings that are more energy efficient is now key in construction. This is the reason why the popularity of district
A highly-complex floor refurbishment has transformed a derelict warehouse into highly-marketable business premises, thanks to global product supplier, Sika. Concrete flooring at the former Matalan distribution centre in Skelmersdale, west Lancashire, had fallen into disrepair and required urgent attention to enable the building’s owner to re-let the site. Flooring which
Over three in four (78 per cent) engineering services firms say turnover increased or remained steady during the final quarter of 2016, according to findings within the sector-wide ‘Building Engineering Business Survey’, sponsored by Scolmore. Over the same period, almost four in 10 survey respondents (39 per cent) said that
Balvraid Properties Limited, advised jointly by Savills and Newman Commercial, has let Unit 7, Brunel Court on Severells Industrial Park in Colchester to YESSS Electrical. The national electrical wholesaler has agreed to a new 10-year lease for the property, which totals 8,635 sq ft (802 sq m) and comprises office
15 April 2016 | Jamie Harris Facilities services at the Olympic Stadium, which will become the new home of West Ham United Football Club this summer, will not be paid for by the club. The concession agreement between E20 Stadium LLP, WH Holding Limited and West Ham United Football Club
An NHS body has opened bidding for a four-year public sector contract valued at £50m. Types of work to be delivered under the NHS London Procurement Partnership deal include building surveying services, civil engineering services and project management services. Interested parties have until 30 March to submit expressions of interest.
The parliamentary Bill to build the line from London to Birmingham received royal assent on Thursday morning, opening the way for construction work to begin. Local MP David Lidington said: “This result is clearly disappointing but not altogether unsurprising. The scale of the majority in the Lords was bigger than
Durham-headquartered Banks Renewables has secured a £210m investment package to support the construction of its next three onshore wind farm projects. The company, which is the renewable energy division of North East property and energy business The Banks Group, will build wind farms at Moor House near Darlington in County Durham and at the Middle Muir and Kype Muir schemes in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Around 250 jobs will be created during construction which, when complete, will see Banks Renewables’ generation capacity from onshore wind rise from 74MW today to 224MW. The business has worked with lenders Macquarie Infrastructure Debt Investment Solutions (MIDIS), Santander, ING, National Australia Bank and Rabobank to secure the funding. The three wind farms were all successful in the UK government’s first competitive Contracts for Difference (CfD) programme for onshore and offshore projects in 2015, since when Banks Renewables has been working towards putting the commercial structures in place to take them forward. Manufacturer Senvion has been contracted to supply and install the turbines for all three projects, with Kype Muir, Middle Muir and Moor House each comprising 26, 15 and six turbines respectively. Richard Dunkley, managing director at Banks Renewables, said: “This investment package is a real expression of confidence in both Banks Renewables and the wider UK onshore wind sector, and it’s exciting to now be accelerating the process of taking these three wind farms forward. “The Kype Muir, Middle Muir and Moor House wind farms have all taken many years of challenging development to get to this stage, and being successful in the government’s first ever CfD auction against stiff competition was critical to the projects’ success. “Onshore wind in general and these projects in particular represent the best value for money to consumers as the government seeks to deliver on its climate change obligations. We believe onshore wind will continue to play a key role in delivering lowest cost carbon free energy for the UK.“ Read more at https://bdaily.co.uk/environment/02-03-2017/210m-investment-to-help-durham-energy-firm-create-3-onshore-wind-farms-and-250-jobs/
A Commercial Introduction To LED Lighting Systems Traditional lighting systems range from incandescent, low pressure and high pressure sodium lighting solutions to metal halide or mercury vapour lighting systems. All of these kinds of lighting are good and some more (cost effective than others depending on the specific requirements of the company) but at the end of the day they all (at the end of the day) are less efficient compared to the running costs of LED (Light Emitting Diode) technologies in the modern day scenario, especially in commercial applications. Why It Is Important to Look At LED Lighting Systems As The way Ahead Both the cost efficiency, effectiveness and implementation of LED systems is the key here in order to reduce both the energy footprint of the the company and at the same time saving the company (and shareholders money.) The energy footprint is one thing but the overall goal is to implement the best system providing the lighting solution required for the specific application you need. LED lighting systems are the best way ahead and they rapidly are replacing all other forms of the lighting systems previously used due to the facts detailed above. Modern Day Efficiency of Lighting From An LED Standpoint With companies all over the world racing ahead at a staggering pace with the improvements of all kinds of technologies some of the most rapidly advancing is the LED systems available today. The luminous output from these systems far out reach all of the other lighting possibilities for both cost effectiveness and “on site” applications today. While companies in China (for one example) are pushing the speed of production, performance, efficiency, and mass manufacturing capabilities currently available, the rest of the world is racing to keep up due to the mass demand for these systems especially in commercial application as detailed. My LED Lighting Guide LED lighting systems and retro fitting specialists are at the forefront of the technological implementation of this most up to date and revolutionary stage of this current situation. These systems are indeed the best modern day solutions to many aspects of the field, while being increasingly recognised to be the market leaders. LED is the way Ahead With the above being detailed it is increasingly obvious to most that the best lighting systems of the modern day era are LED as detailed but they are also some of the easiest ways to transition from the older systems mentioned for the simple fact of retrofitting existing lighting with new fittings. Simply but using the existing wiring, mounting systems in place it is easy to understand how (just like changing a lightbulb or mounting) the transition can be quickly, cheaply, efficiently and what is more cost effectively improved with regard to the older technologies. This being said it is quite obvious to commerce and the reader the “LED solution” is the most modern and cost effective way to bring your company, corporation, organisation’s lighting solutions right up to date with all of the benefits detailed, at the most cost effective rate available today.
Buying a home is usually the largest investment of any family. The prices can be high, sometimes higher than than the home and property is truly worth. We spoke with from Richard from strawhomes.com, who are first time buying experts, gave us some invaluable advice. Richard told us that when considering the purchase of any one home, the following are steps that should be followed before you sign for the mortgage. 1. Consider whether you should be buying a house at all. There is an attitude that a Canadian family should by all means own their own home. Home ownership means stability and pride. However, make sure you can afford the mortgage with your current salary. 2. Research the Neighbourhood. When you find you are interested in a particular home, it’s time to play detective. Walk through the neighbourhood, visiting pubs, parks, school yards and homes at different times of day. Check that homes are well-maintained, that cars are kept up and there aren’t any derelicts lining the streets. 3. Check Out the Area with the Neighbours. Many neighbours can give you valuable information on the particular home or the neighbourhood. Check with those who are not next door, but some distance away. They are likely to be more honest about the area and won’t be either friends or enemies with the sellers. You will also have the advantage of meeting the people you will be living with. 4. What Is the Potential for Resale? It is possible you wish to live in your new home until you die and then leave the property to children. If this is not the case, then you must take measure of the resale value of the property. You may need to put some work in on the house. If the home has been on the market for quite a while, you had better figure out why, because it will affect your ability to sell the home in the future. 5. Bump Up Your Credit Scores. Make very sure that your credit scores are as error-free and up to the demands of your preferred lender. Little mistakes that are easily overlooked can take your out of the running. Check the free websites that can give you the current credit rating. 6. Arrange with Your Lender a Mortgage in Principle. You probably won’t be able to arrange a mortgage unless you have a particular property in place. Instead, lenders offer what is called a “mortgage in principle (MIP).” This is very helpful in that it lets you know how much the lender is willing to allow you to borrow, as long as you find a suitable property within a specified time. However, the MIP is not a guarantee. 7. What Is the Actual Cost of Buying the Home? Owning a home costs more than just the monthly mortgage payment. Remember fees can add up to thousands of pounds. From the Mortgage Arrangement Fee to the cost of removal and new furnishings, the cost of the home will likely be thousands more than the “sticker price.” 8. Typical Home Buying Timeline. The time it takes to find your new home and arrange for its purchase will likely be longer than you think. It will take you time to find a property you want. It will be wise to narrow your search to two or three neighbourhoods, but don’t be too certain you must be located in only one particular place. Once you have found your desired home, put in an offer. This lets the seller know how much you are willing to pay, plus any other conditions. Once your final offer has been accepted, you will need to arrange for a survey of the property and your solicitor should research any legal issues. At the time of the exchange of your money for the deeds and keys, it will take just a few weeks until the sale is complete. Then, congratulations — you will be a real homeowner!
Year after year the heating and cooling of various residential and commercial buildings has been known to consume vast amounts of energy, therefore finding better alternatives to produce resilient, high-performance buildings that are more energy efficient is now key in construction. This is the reason why the popularity of district heating networks is growing rapidly, and Swedish business SWEP International has created the perfect solution with its brazed plate heat exchanger (BPHE). The installation of district heating and cooling networks such as the BPHE means that there is the potential to significantly reduce both costs and your carbon footprint, and thanks to recent technological improvements the building of these networks has been made much easier. The BPHE is now the most common heat exchanger technology in Europe’s district energy network, with this innovative technology being used mainly for heating substations and tap water stations. The BPHE is assembled using brazing technology, and 95% of its material is used for heat transfer which makes this the most energy efficient method, with the advantages quite clear for all to see in comparison to the traditional gasket-plate heat exchanger (PHE). Over the period of 15-20 years, the life cycle cost of the BHPE can be as much as half the cost of the traditional solutions; therefore it really is a win win for companies using this technology. The high-capacity B649 heat exchanger has also been specifically designed by SWEP to work well with applications that demand close temperature approaches at high operating pressures, and this is available in three different pressure classes, with the same capacity of PHEs but at half the weight and with the same reduced carbon footprint of the alternative technologies. SWEP will be exhibiting these innovations at the Ecobuild Exhibition at the Excel in London from 7th to 9th March, so if you want to see more about the high-capacity B649 unit and the BPHE technology then the company is welcoming visitors to the stand next month!
A highly-complex floor refurbishment has transformed a derelict warehouse into highly-marketable business premises, thanks to global product supplier, Sika. Concrete flooring at the former Matalan distribution centre in Skelmersdale, west Lancashire, had fallen into disrepair and required urgent attention to enable the building’s owner to re-let the site. Flooring which offered durability, a seamless, aesthetically-pleasing finish and a five-year warranty was a prerequisite of the refurbishment. Sikafloor®-264, was the only system to offer such guarantees. A high-performance, two-part, economic epoxy resin, Sikafloor®-264, provides a roller and seal coat for concrete and cement screeds which need to withstand heavy wear in environments such as car parks, garages and production plants. In total, 30,000m2 of product was applied to two units at the distribution centre. Before the Sika system could be applied, contractors IRL Group Ltd had to repair sections of the original concrete substrate where racking had been removed. Temporary heating was also installed. The ideal substrate temperature for the application of Sikafloor®-264 is between 10°C and 30°C. With the distribution centre having remained empty for a considerable time, warmer internal conditions were required to maximise the new flooring’s performance. Members of Sika’s technical team were on site during the project to assist contractors and ensure manufacturing methods were properly applied as a condition of the warranty. Once the surface had been smoothed, a coat of Sikafloor®-264 was installed. This was followed by Sikafloor®-264 Thixo, a two-part, epoxy resin. The coloured roller coat is textured, an ideal constituent for the provision of a hard-wearing, non-slip, easy-apply, high-gloss finish. Mark Ollerenshaw, Managing Director at IRL Group Ltd, said: “The client was over the moon with the new floor. Installation standards and the finish itself had to be of the highest quality as the owners were essentially showcasing the distribution centre to new tenants. It was a highly-complex project, made all the easier by using a flooring system we knew and trusted – and performed precisely as we’d hoped.” The distribution centre refurbishment was carried out in two phases over a five-month period. The second phase is due to be completed in March 2017. The badly-damaged, unsafe flooring has been replaced by a smooth, uniform, light-grey surface which will stand the test of time – whatever the nature of the business of the site’s new occupants. Read more at http://specificationonline.co.uk/articles/2017-03-01/sikafloor-creates-high-performance-base-for-new-look-warehouse
Over three in four (78 per cent) engineering services firms say turnover increased or remained steady during the final quarter of 2016, according to findings within the sector-wide ‘Building Engineering Business Survey’, sponsored by Scolmore. Over the same period, almost four in 10 survey respondents (39 per cent) said that labour costs had increased. Furthermore, almost six in 10 businesses (57 per cent) said that they were not being paid within 30 days for public sector work, in breach of legislation. ECA CEO Steve Bratt and BESA chief executive Paul McLaughlin commented: “These new survey findings show that the engineering services sector is powering forward, despite challenges from rising material and labour costs. Our sector is extremely resilient and technological advances are continually opening up new business opportunities.” SELECT managing director Newell McGuiness added: “This is the first time that SELECT members have participated in the business survey and we are encouraged at the confidence in future workload opportunities. However, this is tempered a little by the increase in material costs, which are beginning to be felt and the on-going issue of extended payment periods, particularly in the private commercial sector”. Businesses of all sizes had a strong final quarter, with over three-quarters of micro, small, medium and large businesses all seeing turnover rise or remain constant. Very large businesses (turnover over £20m) had the strongest quarter, with over half (54 per cent) seeing turnover increase. Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2017, the business outlook is very positive, with almost nine in 10 businesses (86 per cent) expecting their turnover to increase or stay the same. The engineering services sector covers a broad range of work including electrical, mechanical, renewables, heating and ventilating, datacomms, and fire and security systems. The survey is now being run in partnership by the ECA, the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), and Scottish electrical trade body SELECT. It had 529 responses from across the building engineering services sector in January. However, over six in 10 (61 per cent) engineering services firms say their material costs increased during the final quarter of 2016.
Balvraid Properties Limited, advised jointly by Savills and Newman Commercial, has let Unit 7, Brunel Court on Severells Industrial Park in Colchester to YESSS Electrical. The national electrical wholesaler has agreed to a new 10-year lease for the property, which totals 8,635 sq ft (802 sq m) and comprises office and trade counter space. Phil Dennis, director of business space at Savills Chelmsford, comments: “Brunel Court offers high quality trade counter space with excellent access to the A12 and the regional road network.” Jeff Cowup, area director from YESSS Electrical, adds: “We are delighted to have found suitable premises within Colchester and very much look forward to opening in early December to serve our growing customer base within the area.” Balvraid are in the process of refurbishing Unit 6, which will provide 6,461 sq ft (600 sq m) of industrial/trade counter space and will be available for occupation by the end of November. Source link
15 April 2016 | Jamie Harris Facilities services at the Olympic Stadium, which will become the new home of West Ham United Football Club this summer, will not be paid for by the club. The concession agreement between E20 Stadium LLP, WH Holding Limited and West Ham United Football Club was released earlier this month, following an appeal from the ground’s owners, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), that was rejected. As well as revealing that West Ham is to pay £2.5 million a year to rent the stadium, after contributing just £15 million towards conversion costs, the agreement shows that the grantor, E20 Stadium LLP – a joint venture set up between the LLDC and London Newham Council – will cover the cost of a number of facilities services on stadium dates for each event. Services to be provided include security, cleaning, pest control, all facilities and services required by a regulatory body, such as FM and maintenance services. E20 Stadium LLP is to also provide stadium heating, power, lighting, water and other utilities. In February 2015, FM World reported that Vinci Stadium, a subsidiary of Vinci Facilities, was appointed to manage all aspects of the former Olympic Stadium. The 25-year contract, which was initially valued at £100 million, includes catering and stadium operation throughout events. Delaware North is also providing some catering provisions at the stadium, while OCS is contracted to provide crowd management services on site. Source link
An NHS body has opened bidding for a four-year public sector contract valued at £50m. Types of work to be delivered under the NHS London Procurement Partnership deal include building surveying services, civil engineering services and project management services. Interested parties have until 30 March to submit expressions of interest. The official notice in OJEU did not specify how many firms would be appointed, but said new firms could join the contract at any point during its lifetime. NHS trusts, bodies providing NHS services and other public sector bodies will be able to use the contract. The NHS LPP opened a £750m framework for construction works across the public sector in January. That 10-lot framework will be broken into regional areas and will focus on different types and values of work, including modular projects. Read more at https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/projects/contracts/bidding-opens-for-50m-nhs-deal/10017763.article
The parliamentary Bill to build the line from London to Birmingham received royal assent on Thursday morning, opening the way for construction work to begin. Local MP David Lidington said: “This result is clearly disappointing but not altogether unsurprising. The scale of the majority in the Lords was bigger than in the House of Commons. It’s not a day most people locally will want to cheer and look back on fondly but we can’t say it was unexpected. “In terms of where we go now, there are two key elements. The first is that we need to continue to push for environmental mitigation. I will be taking a small Wendover delegation to see the minister responsible for HS2 and to have another push for the mined tunnel to reduce the environmental and noise impacts. “Secondly, it’s important to ensure that as the works start to prepare for the construction, we get a much better quality of public engagement from HS2 limited than they have previously shown. “There are several important issues that must be worked out, for example the management of additional traffic, and how that will impact on local roads. I’m currently having a dialogue with HS2 limited and South Central Ambulance Service, and the potential impact the works will have on ambulance routes. “A code of conduct for construction companies and workers needs to be established, with clear rules and limits on noise, dust and disturbance. Residents also need a complaints mechanism so they have a means of quick redress. “There is a lot of detail that needs to be ironed out but I think the prime responsibility must lie with the senior managers at HS2 limited. They have to raise their game.” Read more at http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/transport/local-mp-david-lidington-hs2-managers-must-raise-their-game-after-hs2-is-granted-royal-assent-1-7843205