Birmingham’s New Street Station and Grand Central development is in the running to become the most popular civil engineering project in the UK. The huge scheme, named the winner of this year’s Institution of Civil Engineers West Midlands’ 2016 Annual Awards, is one of the projects listed for the ICE
The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) has announced its next Chairman as Stephen Roots. Roots currently works at AA Projects as Divisional Director FM and Health & Safety and will start his new role at the institute on January 1 next year, succeeding current Chairman Julie Kortens. Meanwhile, Ashleigh
Contractor Bam Nuttall is facing a £36.5 million repairs claim over the defects on Cambridgeshire’s Guide Busway. A council committee will now examine the findings of the report carried out by Capita into defects on the Busway, which Bam Nuttall completed in August 2011. The Capita report said that the
Construction firm Ashcourt Group has acquired a minority stake in £7 million turnover waste business Wastewise after a director left the company. Aschcourt, based in Hull, has taken the stake of director Dan Ingram, who is leaving the company after 15 years of service. Ingram is moving on to concentrate
The government has announced that funding has been set aside for several more Northern Powerhouse projects. Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed that the government is to provide £556 million to Local Enterprise Partnerships throughout the north through a third round of Growth Deals. The government has also backed four more major
Brown and Mason paused removal of the debris so that specialists from Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue, and the South Central Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Recovery Team could enter the site. Thames Valley Police said the body had not yet been formally identified and that this would be
How to install the T80Z Thermo from Triton Showers Published: 05 August, 2016 In this video, Triton Showers shows how you can easily replace an existing shower with its T80Z Thermo. Providing the existing electric supply complies with the relevant safety regulations, and the water supply is adequate, you can
Plans to build the second tallest tower in the City of London are set to go ahead after planning officers approved the scheme. Now known as the Trellis, 1 Undershaft has been recommended for approval, with the decision to get a formal approval from the City of London Corporation’s planning
A planning application has been put forward to Leeds City Council to transform the former Yorkshire Post site in Leeds city centre into a new private rented sector (PRS) build-to-rent development. The project would provide 237 purpose built rental apartments for Grainger PLC, the largest specialist residential landlord in the
CBRE and Carter Towler have been appointed to manage Aireside House in Leeds city centre by Addington Capital. The office building, located at the heart of Leeds’ central office core on Aire Street within 200 metres of Leeds city centre train station, is a four storey brick built property which
Birmingham’s New Street Station and Grand Central development is in the running to become the most popular civil engineering project in the UK. The huge scheme, named the winner of this year’s Institution of Civil Engineers West Midlands’ 2016 Annual Awards, is one of the projects listed for the ICE People’s Choice Award. It will line up against 11 other schemes from throughout the UK, with the general public having until November 30 to vote for its favourite. The winning infrastructure project will be named in January next year. The Queen opened the new look station in November last year, and features an iconic new atrium over a big passenger concourse, which is five times the size of the atrium at London Euston. The site is characterised by brighter, more spacious platforms, improved entrances, a range of new facilities and an abundance of natural light over the new concourse. At concourse level, it is home to 43 shops with the new Grand Central shopping complex located above, including one of the biggest department stores in the UK – John Lewis. The 450,000 sq ft shopping facility is set to create over 1,000 jobs and will attract more than 50 million visitors each year. ICE said the project had created a dramatic space for rail passengers and redefined the way people use the station – providing them with an impressive new environment for doing business, shopping and socialising. The project has also boosted the city’s image and is acting as a major catalyst for job creation and regeneration. Stephen Ashton, engineering director, Transportation at Atkins said: “We are very proud to have worked in collaboration with our partner organisations to have delivered this iconic station, which has made such a positive impact in just one year to the city of Birmingham and its visitors.” Patrick Power, station manager at Birmingham New Street, said: “The transformation of the station is nothing short of stunning. It is now bigger, brighter and better able to meet the needs of the growing number of passengers who use it each day.”
The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) has announced its next Chairman as Stephen Roots. Roots currently works at AA Projects as Divisional Director FM and Health & Safety and will start his new role at the institute on January 1 next year, succeeding current Chairman Julie Kortens. Meanwhile, Ashleigh Brown will continue in her post as Deputy Chairman. One of the major developments during Kortens’ tenure has been the opening up of routes to the Board, part of the wider governance changes that were ratified at the 2016 AGM. Over the coming weeks there will be more information on this new nomination and selection process for non-Executive Director positions to the Board. Speaking on his election as the next Chairman at the October Board meeting, Stephen Roots, commented: “It was a huge honour to be voted as Chairman-Elect of BIFM and I look forward to taking up the post from January. Throughout my career in FM I have passionately supported and endorsed the role that the Institute has to play in representing the interests of the profession, raising standards and providing the educational framework and services for FM professionals to develop. “I have been actively involved with the BIFM for 12 years as a volunteer first within my region, and with the BIFM Board for 4 years and most recently as Deputy Chairman. Having worked closely with Julie and the Board, I am excited to be taking the helm to continue to build on these foundations and the strategy set by the Board, which is already starting to yield results and which I believe is the key to the future success of the Institute. “I also want to take this moment on behalf of the Board to thank Julie Kortens for all she has done for BIFM over her tenure. I have worked closely with Julie during this time and seen the hard work put in to direct, change and evolve the Institute to build its resilience and ability to grow into the future. Her continued support, guidance and counsel is invaluable, and I personally thank Julie for the support she has lent me in this transition.”
Contractor Bam Nuttall is facing a £36.5 million repairs claim over the defects on Cambridgeshire’s Guide Busway. A council committee will now examine the findings of the report carried out by Capita into defects on the Busway, which Bam Nuttall completed in August 2011. The Capita report said that the defects represented a breach of contract by Bam Nuttall. The report recommended that the contractor should repair the defects at an initial cost of £36.5 million, along with paying for the legal fees. Among the main defects found by Capita in its latest report were: steps developing at the joints of the guideway’s ladders, concrete breaking along the guideway and moving guideway foundations. Next week, the council will decide whether it will support a joint approach to the issue, which may see the council negotiate with Bam Nuttall at the same time as beginning legal proceedings. Repair works to the Busway would be carried out in sections to keep the route open. The claims have come as part of a long running disagreement between the council and the contractor regarding the Busway, which started five years ago when the contractor handed the Busway over to the council. The council launched an initial claim for £55 million as they said that Bam Nuttall had handed the project over two years behind schedule. In 2012, Bam Nuttall issued a counterclaim for £43 million but agreed to pay a £33 million settlement the following year. The original contract for the work to be carried out by Bam Nuttall was valued at £83.9m. Around £126 million had been budgeted to pay for the whole Busway project including construction and other costs such as land acquisitions. After Bam Nuttall agreed to pay the settlement, the council said the cost of the scheme had risen to almost £152m, largely because of legal fees incurred fighting the case.
Construction firm Ashcourt Group has acquired a minority stake in £7 million turnover waste business Wastewise after a director left the company. Aschcourt, based in Hull, has taken the stake of director Dan Ingram, who is leaving the company after 15 years of service. Ingram is moving on to concentrate on property development interests and farming. Wastewise has started operating from Ashcroft’s site in the centre of Hull, and the construction firm will provide financial backing for waste-processing infrastructure including materials recycling, biomass and alternative fuel production facilities. Last year, Wastewise invested in a new composting facility, with Ashcourt now helping with civil works for the £1 million improvement plan. Each year, Wastewise collects, recycles and composts around 100,000 tonnes of waste for private and public sector clients. It grew from a £3 million turnover business three years ago to a forecast of £7 million for this year. Ashcourt is involved in property development, plant hire, civil engineering, construction, haulage, concrete, quarrying and recycled aggregates. Wastewise’s managing director, James Landau, commented: “This new partnership with the Ashcourt Group will have an unprecedented effect on the future of Wastewise and the business we are in. “There are many areas of common interest between the two companies and like us, Ashcourt is adding to its portfolio offering and growing its business. Ashcourt’s future involvement in Wastewise will bring a number of exciting opportunities that the new Board will look to capitalise on.” Finance director at Ashcourt, Leigh Churchill, said: “We have been greatly impressed with Wastewise and the developments it has made in a relatively short time. This new shareholder deal will strengthen both parties allowing us to offer an even better, all-encompassing service to our customers. We are looking forward to getting more involved with Wastewise and to the new horizons this brings.”
The government has announced that funding has been set aside for several more Northern Powerhouse projects. Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed that the government is to provide £556 million to Local Enterprise Partnerships throughout the north through a third round of Growth Deals. The government has also backed four more major schemes through its Local Majors Fund: the Warrington Waterfront Western Link, the Sheffield Supertram renewal, the Tees Valley east-west connection project and the A1079/A164 Jocks Lodge Junction in East Riding. All four of these projects have successfully bid for business case development funding. Along with these, the M6 North West quadrant of Manchester and the Pennines A66 improvement works will also be included as part of the government’s latest Roads Investment Strategy, while two junctions of the A69 will be improved using pinch-point funding. The government is also set to carry on developing options for Northern Powerhouse Rail along with Transport for the North, with the next steps for the scheme set to be revealed in 2017. Plans were also confirmed for the £400 million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, which will invest in SMEs throughout the north and will make its first investments at the beginning of next year. Away from the transport sector, the chancellor backed the restoration of the Grade I listed Wentworth Woodhouse country house near Rotherham with £7.6 million of funding, subject to business case approval. Yorkshire and the North East are being “left behind” their Northern Powerhouse neighbours in the race to fund major projects, council leaders have warned. More than £41bn of infrastructure spending is planned in the North West over the next five years, compared to £15bn in Yorkshire and the North East. Council leaders want the Autumn Statement to tackle the imbalance. The Treasury said the figures are “not a fair reflection of the investment”. A spokesman said 550 infrastructure projects have been created in the North since 2010.
Brown and Mason paused removal of the debris so that specialists from Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue, and the South Central Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Recovery Team could enter the site. Thames Valley Police said the body had not yet been formally identified and that this would be a matter for the coroner. In a statement, police said: “The families of the three men missing since the collapse have been informed and are being supported by specially trained Thames Valley Police officers. “The safe recovery of the body will take place and the Disaster Victim Identification process will commence.” RWE declined to comment when contacted by Construction News. The bodies of three Coleman & Co employees – Ken Cresswell, John Shaw and Chris Huxtable – have been trapped under the collapsed portion of the boiler house since its partial collapse more than six months ago, on 23 February. Another worker, Michael Collings, was found dead shortly after the collapse. Mark Coleman, managing director of Coleman & Company, said in a statement: “It’s been more than six months since the terrible accident at Didcot. I know these have been the most dreadful days for the families of our three missing friends and colleagues. “We continue and will continue to offer our full support to their families as the recovery operation continues. “It has been a painstaking and difficult operation on-site at Didcot and I would like to pay tribute to the dedication of the teams on the ground, who are working so closely with RWE Npower, the Health and Safety Executive and the police. I can’t thank you enough for all you are doing.” Brown and Mason is overseeing the removal and processing of the debris pile as principal contractor after taking over the recovery operation from Coleman & Co on 16 May. The demolition specialist had to previously pause work after reaching a 50 m exclusion zone around the debris pile. The remaining structure of the boiler house was brought down remotely using explosives on 17 July by Alford Technologies, allowing Brown and Mason to resume work soon after. Didcot: Timeline 23 February: Boiler house at Didcot A Power Station partially collapses. 26 February: First victim named as Michael Collings, 53. 2 March: Coleman & Co MD Mark Coleman speaks exclusively to CN about the incident. 16 May: Brown and Mason takes over recovery operation from Coleman & Company, before being halted shortly after due to safety fears. 17 July: Alford Technologies demolished remaining boiler house structure remotely using explosives, allowing Brown and Mason to resume shortly afterwards. 31 August: Body of one of the three missing men located. Source link
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Plans to build the second tallest tower in the City of London are set to go ahead after planning officers approved the scheme. Now known as the Trellis, 1 Undershaft has been recommended for approval, with the decision to get a formal approval from the City of London Corporation’s planning and transport next week. In February, Eric Parry Architects submitted plans for the 73-storey tower skyscraper. Measured from the ground, the office block will stand at 294.6 metres in height, which is just a few metres shorter than Renzo Piano’s 306 metre Shard across the river. When calculated from sea level, the buildings are even closer in height, with the new towers standing at 309.6 metres in height and the Shard at 312.7 metres. Situated next to Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners’ recently completed Cheesegrater building, the scheme will replace the so-called Aviva Tower, which was formerly the Commercial Union Building – a 118 metre-tall Miesian block by GMW dating from 1969. Eric Parry Architects’ 90,000 sq m proposal is backed by Singapore based Aroland Holdings and will feature external cross-bracing fins to reduce solar glare and an elevated reception lobby ‘allowing the public to walk freely beneath the skyscraper’. The proposals, which went out to consultation in December, include a free public viewing gallery ’served by dedicated lifts’ and London’s highest public restaurant. The original designs for a new public square were revised in response to feedback from the public. Last month it emerged that Parry’s 1 Undershaft plans had been lowered by 5m to comply with airspace concerns flaggged by aviation authorities, giving the new building a height of 304.94m. The new height will make the tower just over 70m taller than the Leadenhall Building, and 10m taller than PLP’s tower at 22 Bishopsgate which got the green light from its backers last month.
A planning application has been put forward to Leeds City Council to transform the former Yorkshire Post site in Leeds city centre into a new private rented sector (PRS) build-to-rent development. The project would provide 237 purpose built rental apartments for Grainger PLC, the largest specialist residential landlord in the UK, and is one of the first PRS schemes to be brought forward in the city. Architects practice The Harris Partnership designed the scheme on behalf of Sterling Investments. It will feature a residential tower stepping from 18 to 11 storeys as it approaches the River Aire. The development will provide 121 two-bedroom and 116 one-bedroom apartments beneath a bronze-clad, rooftop residents lounge, with restaurant and bar provided at the ground floor and basement parking for 72 vehicle and 140 cycle spaces. Chairman of The Harris Partnership, Paul Mitchell commented: “This is one of the most significant redevelopment schemes in the city centre and a truly exciting opportunity to create a unique and visually arresting residential building on a key gateway location into Leeds. “Our proposals for the Yorkshire Post site are designed to maximise its land potential whilst delivering a transformational impact at the top of Wellington Street. The Harris Partnership is already involved in some of the largest commercial, leisure and retail developments in the Leeds City region, including Thorpe Park and White Rose, and we are delighted to extend our presence in the private rented sector on a scheme that will go some way to help meet demand for premium accommodation in the city.” Quod advised the planning application, while Fox Lloyd Jones acted as development managers on the project. Meanwhile, the transformation of a historic Leeds building from a fire-ravaged shell to a gleaming new office block will help create a world class new gateway to the city, it is hoped.
CBRE and Carter Towler have been appointed to manage Aireside House in Leeds city centre by Addington Capital. The office building, located at the heart of Leeds’ central office core on Aire Street within 200 metres of Leeds city centre train station, is a four storey brick built property which is currently undergoing a refurbishment. This is set to be completed in the first quarter of next year. Included in the work will be a refurbishment of common areas, air conditioning, LED lighting and brand new shower facilities. The office space will provide media/tech style accommodation featuring exposed original brick and beams. Prospective tenants will benefit from office studio space with suites available from 667 sq ft to 2,336 sq ft. The building will benefit from being within short walking distance of the retail quarter and the Trinity Shopping centre, along with being in close proximity to a number of restaurants and bars. Associate director at CBRE Leeds, Clair McGowan, commented: “We are delighted to be appointed to market Aireside House which holds an attractive position within Leeds’ traditional office area. “The property will appeal to tenants seeking creative and diverse office accommodation within a highly sought after area of Leeds.” Philip Shopland-Reed, senior surveyor at Carter Towler, added: “We are very excited to be marketing Aireside House which we think offers something unique in Leeds city centre. “The combination of quality, character and proximity to the train station make this a great option for any organization.” Earlier in the year, Leeds based chartered surveyor Carter Towler made several appointments and promotions across its business. The company has promoted two long-serving members of staff, and has added a further three new property professionals to its team of 48. Following a record number of instructions, the 67-year-old business is expanding its office and retail agency departments.