Low Carbon Materials (LCM), the science-led construction company, has announced it is one of the three international finalists in the world’s most prestigious environmental prize, The 2022 Earthshot Prize. The UK-based company is competing in the Fix Our Climate category, having been recognised by HRH Prince William as an accomplished
Homebuilder Keepmoat Homes is supporting its employee Kelly Clark, 57, from Rotherham, who will be representing England in the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in New Zealand in November, just eight years after she started powerlifting to improve her arthritis. Kelly was selected for the British team to compete in the World
Walters & Cogen Architects, an award-winning London-based practice with an innovative and contemporary portfolio, has been working on the new Wetherby Arts School, in collaboration with Alpha Plus Group. Part of a £1.3 billion redevelopment of Olympia, the new 60,000-square-foot performing arts school will open in partnership with the BRIT
Contractor G F Tomlinson has completed construction works on the AMP building at Arnold Town Centre in Gedling, Nottinghamshire. The flagship scheme benefited from an opening ceremony, attended by Deputy Leader, Councillor Michael Payne, Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of D2N2, Will Morlidge, tenants from three of the new units
Daylight systems manufacturer, Brett Martin will offer insight into sustainable rooflight features, material choice and optimising design with the launch of its latest CPD entitled Industrial Rooflights – How to Reduce Expense & Risk. Aimed at helping to educate main contractors, architects, building owners and developers, this new CPD explores the
Morgan Sindall has started construction work on Hertfordshire’s first full net-zero carbon school. The Buntingford First School, which is being funded by Hertfordshire County Council and built by Morgan Sindall Construction’s Northern Home Counties business, will open for September 2023 and will be operated by the Scholars Education Trust. This
Wates Living Space, social housing repairs and maintenance provider, has been awarded three projects, collectively valued at around £33 million, on behalf of Brent Council, St Mungo’s and mhs homes. The projects include the refurbishment of four high rise blocks on behalf of Brent Council, as part of a new
A public consultation has been launched on plans for a new housing scheme at Peel L&P’s Trafford Waters development. Trafford Housing Trust, part of L&Q, is bringing forward proposals for 83 apartments on the Trafford side of the Manchester Ship Canal within Trafford City, next to The Trafford and Trafford
Keepmoat Homes, one of the UK’s leading home builders, has announced plans for its first site in Wales, following the successful acquisition in Deeside. Situated along the River Dee, the land has been purchased from private landowners for an undisclosed sum and will be transformed into a new housing development.
Siddal and Hilton Products, the welded steel mesh manufacture, has announced its plans to completely redevelop its 4.5 acre sites in Brighouse. The £9 million investment follows the company’s goal to become a world-class manufacturer. Siddall has a number of manufacturing, storage and office buildings on both sides of Foundry
Low Carbon Materials (LCM), the science-led construction company, has announced it is one of the three international finalists in the world’s most prestigious environmental prize, The 2022 Earthshot Prize. The UK-based company is competing in the Fix Our Climate category, having been recognised by HRH Prince William as an accomplished group of entrepreneurs and innovators spearheading ground-breaking solutions to the biggest environmental challenges our planet faces. LCM was founded to shape the green construction sector with its science-based, lower carbon, new-age building material OSTO. OSTO is a carbon-negative lightweight aggregate for concrete produced out of waste and by-products. It is a game-changer for the construction industry, which works by making traditional carbon-intensive blocks carbon-zero, thereby reducing their environmental impact. “We are absolutely thrilled to be nominated and now to be through to the final stages in this competition. It is such an honour to be included alongside such pioneering organisations and individuals who are engaged in truly astounding environmental initiatives,” said CEO and Co-Founder Dr Natasha Boulding. “To have our low-carbon, waste-based building material recognised as a formidable solution that can be scaled to reverse environmental damage and to better protect the environment is truly game-changing. This is real independent verification from the highest authority that our product has the potential to help fix our planet,” she added. Finalists for the Earthshot Prize are eligible for the £1 million prize, as well as receiving tailored support and resources from The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Members, an unprecedented network of private sector businesses around the world committed to helping scale innovative climate and environmental solutions and multiplying their impact. The five Winners will be selected by The Earthshot Prize Council, a diverse team of influential individuals committed to using their platforms to champion inspiring leadership and elevate urgent efforts to repair and regenerate the planet. The Earthshot Prize Council Members include: HRH Prince William, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Cate Blanchett, Daniel Alves Da Silva, Sir David Attenborough, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Jack Ma, Shakira Mebarak, Yao Ming, Luisa Neubauer, Indra Nooyi, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Naoko Yamazaki. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Homebuilder Keepmoat Homes is supporting its employee Kelly Clark, 57, from Rotherham, who will be representing England in the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in New Zealand in November, just eight years after she started powerlifting to improve her arthritis. Kelly was selected for the British team to compete in the World Powerlifting Championships in 2019, where she came 4th, and earned both bronze and silver medals with Team GB at the World Bench Press Championships in 2021. She has also won the title of British Equipped Bench Press Champion in 2020 and All England Equipped Bench Press Champion in 2022. These extraordinary qualifications have earned Kelly the chance to represent England in December at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships, run by the International Powerlifting Federation in Auckland, New Zealand. “Lifting weights has done wonders for both my mental and physical health, and what started out as some fun and seeing what I could achieve has enabled me to really believe in myself and be placed amongst some of the best in the country. To now have the same opportunity at the Commonwealth Championships in New Zealand is amazing. If someone had told me I would be this mobile, let alone competing in international competitions ten years ago I would never have believed them, and meeting and competing with incredible people along the way has been a dream come true,” said Kelly. Kelly works as People Development and Engagement Manager for Keepmoat in Doncaster, supporting people through leadership and soft skills training. The business will be supporting Kelly with costs such as flights and accommodation, as well as added paid annual leave to enable her to take part in the competition. “Without the support from Keepmoat I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this dream. The sponsorship in itself is incredible, but the amazing backing from my team and the agile working has allowed me to train for this opportunity. The business is really focused on developing people and communities, with values that align with my own, and this support has proved that,” she added. Keepmoat is a leading UK home builder that provides high quality, affordable homes across the country, developing areas of brownfield land and regenerating local spaces to build communities and transform lives. Kelly Clark will be jetting off to New Zealand on the 24th November, to compete on the 29th November. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Walters & Cogen Architects, an award-winning London-based practice with an innovative and contemporary portfolio, has been working on the new Wetherby Arts School, in collaboration with Alpha Plus Group. Part of a £1.3 billion redevelopment of Olympia, the new 60,000-square-foot performing arts school will open in partnership with the BRIT School as soon as 2025. Walters & Cohen has developed the concept, look, and feel of the Wetherby Arts School, working alongside the developer’s architects, SPPARC and the contractors architects HLM Architects. “We are delighted to be working with Alpha Plus on their very exciting vision for a new Arts School in the new Olympia Development. We have enjoyed the challenge of designing a multi-level state of the art, urban school that will bring the community into the school through use of the theatre and also allow the school to use facilities in the new development when desired,” commented Michál Cohen, Founding Director, Walters & Cohen Architects. The building was originally a multi-storey car park, with a listed façade. The goal was to keep the charm of the original building, while getting the right amount of light into the deepest parts of the plan. A new atrium will cut through the middle of the school, linking all levels, while a three-floor extension on the roof provides a dining hall that opens onto an outdoor terrace. Taking over the school for children aged 11 to 18 is Alpha Plus Group in partnership with the BRIT School, which will provide community classes after school hours on weekends and holidays. They will also provide funding for some children to attend the BRIT Kids classes free of charge. Wetherby Arts School will specialise in drama, dance and music, including a theatre run by the BRIT School. “We are delighted to be expanding our portfolio into this vibrant West London quarter of transformational and exciting placemaking. It has been a privilege for our team to be working with Future Olympia (our landlord) and the verve and skill of W&C once again,” added Richard Jones, Director of Property, Alpha Plus Group. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractor G F Tomlinson has completed construction works on the AMP building at Arnold Town Centre in Gedling, Nottinghamshire. The flagship scheme benefited from an opening ceremony, attended by Deputy Leader, Councillor Michael Payne, Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of D2N2, Will Morlidge, tenants from three of the new units and representatives from G F Tomlinson. “We’re really pleased to have successfully completed The AMP building and play our part in contributing towards Gedling Borough Council’s pledge to decrease its CO2 emissions by 2030. The flagship building is a significant investment for the local region, which will revitalise the town centre and help to boost the local economy. We look forward to seeing residents enjoy the new shops and eateries and welcoming visitors to the community,” said Craig Stopper, Regional Construction Framework Manager at G F Tomlinson. Completed through Gedling Borough Council and procured via the SCAPE Regional Construction framework, the £4 million scheme will be creating spaces that will bring a sustainable legacy within the local community. As proof, the two-storey building will be home to new start-up businesses, including a wine tasting experience outlet, a cat and dog accessory and treats store, a cake shop and delicatessen, as well the Post Office. Funding for the project came from the council’s capital programme budget, which was boosted by a successful bid for the £1.25 million D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund to support town centre improvements. Overall, 40 new jobs have also been created, through business employment and construction of the new buildings. At the heart of the building’s design are sustainability and renewable energy, with 51 solar panels, natural ventilation points, high efficiency LED lighting and air source heat pumps having been installed. Rainwater retention tanks have also been installed to reduce flood risks and feed the semi-mature trees that have been planted around the public realm to offset carbon emissions. “We are incredibly pleased that the AMP building is officially complete, and our new tenants will begin moving into this wonderful new building in the heart of Arnold Town Centre,” commented Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke. “I would like to thank everyone involved in helping to get this ambitious project over the line, it has taken a colossal amount of work to get this done by Gedling Borough Council staff, G F Tomlinson and several other partners who all contributed to this project and made it a success. We made a manifesto pledge that we would revitalise the town centre and this will be the jewel in the crown for Arnold,” he concluded. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Daylight systems manufacturer, Brett Martin will offer insight into sustainable rooflight features, material choice and optimising design with the launch of its latest CPD entitled Industrial Rooflights – How to Reduce Expense & Risk. Aimed at helping to educate main contractors, architects, building owners and developers, this new CPD explores the factors that influence cost and risk when using industrial rooflights on logistics buildings, factories and other warehousing. It is the second in a series of CPD seminars relevant to the specification of rooflights and demonstrates the crucial role of natural light in ensuring buildings meet the stringent efficiency targets for today’s built environment. Presented by Brett Martin’s dedicated specification managers, this new 45-minute seminar includes discussions and Q & A. Topics covered include: This seminar is a follow-up to Brett Martin’s Industrial Rooflights & A Low Carbon Future CPD which examines the key performance criteria in terms of regulations and carbon reduction targets. Commenting, William McDowell – Business Development Manager at Brett Martin Daylight Systems said: “As a leading manufacturer of rooflight products, we are well placed to help educate architects and specifiers about the benefits of industrial rooflights. Our new CPD presentation will help these construction professionals gain an even better understanding of the factors that influence expense and risk when using industrial rooflights.” To register your interest in attending a Brett Martin CPD seminar, please click here For more information on Brett Martin, please visit www.brettmartin.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall has started construction work on Hertfordshire’s first full net-zero carbon school. The Buntingford First School, which is being funded by Hertfordshire County Council and built by Morgan Sindall Construction’s Northern Home Counties business, will open for September 2023 and will be operated by the Scholars Education Trust. This is the first school in the county to be built and operate at net zero carbon, in line with the Hertfordshire County Council’s sustainability strategy and ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030. It will utilise a Passivhaus design which will improve the school’s air quality, reduce carbon emissions and lower its energy running costs. “We are proud to commence work at the first net-zero school in Hertfordshire, which hopefully will be the first of many. At Morgan Sindall Construction, we understand that the spaces children learn in have a vital and lasting impact on their education. The Northern Home Counties team is well experienced in delivering state-of-the-art educational facilities that inspire pupils, and we look forward to providing a high-end environment for Buntingford’s growing community,” said David Rowsell, Morgan Sindall Construction’s Northern Home Counties Area Director. “By ensuring Buntingford School is carbon-neutral, we are not only futureproofing the site for generations of students, but we are also ensuring that our region plays an active role in combatting the climate crisis,” he added. As part of the highly sustainable project, over 300 solar panels, triple-glazing windows and air-source heat pumps will be installed. The new school will also include a rooftop outdoor classroom, play areas and a “forest school”. In addition, all the teaching spaces in the school will face north, avoiding south-facing windows that cause rooms to over-heat, while social areas such as the school dining halls and common rooms will face south. The new 330-pupil school, which has ten classrooms and incorporates a nursery, will be built on the former Sainsbury’s depot site, adjoining the Bury Football Club who will share the site with the new School. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wates Living Space, social housing repairs and maintenance provider, has been awarded three projects, collectively valued at around £33 million, on behalf of Brent Council, St Mungo’s and mhs homes. The projects include the refurbishment of four high rise blocks on behalf of Brent Council, as part of a new major works programme that includes external wall insulation, heating and lift refurbishments. Work for Brent also includes retrofit installations to increase home efficiency following Wates’ successful retrofit pilot on behalf of Brent Council, which reached completion at the end of 2021. The project saw the Wates Retrofit team install energy efficiency measures in void properties, taking them from an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E to B, exceeding the Government’s 2030 target for social housing. “We are very proud to be growing our portfolio in the south and look forward to working with our clients to provide safe, secure, comfortable and efficient homes. These contracts represent a combination of new partnerships with St Mungo’s and mhs to existing partners like Brent Council where our team can showcase their capabilities to deliver at scale. Our customers have to balance many different aspects to property management, and this balance is reliant on maintenance providers that have the capacity and expertise to deliver services efficiently and to a high quality,” commented James Gregg, Managing Director of South Planned Maintenance at Wates Living Space. Also included in Wates Living Space’s new contacts is a six-month programme to install new kitchens and bathrooms in properties across North London on behalf of St Mungo’s. The team is also preparing to mobilise a two-year contract to install new kitchens and bathrooms for mhs homes properties in North Kent. The new projects add to Wates Living Space’s current portfolio, which includes repairs and maintenance for 500,000 homes on behalf of 60 social landlords. “Retrofitting homes is becoming an increasingly pressured priority for social landlords with many making great headway in improving the efficiency of their housing stock. Nevertheless, traditional planned maintenance programmes remain important, and their concurrent delivery alongside retrofit work is absolutely vital to our clients and their customers. We are very proud to be growing our portfolio in the south and look forward to working with our clients to provide safe, secure, comfortable and efficient homes,” James concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A public consultation has been launched on plans for a new housing scheme at Peel L&P’s Trafford Waters development. Trafford Housing Trust, part of L&Q, is bringing forward proposals for 83 apartments on the Trafford side of the Manchester Ship Canal within Trafford City, next to The Trafford and Trafford Leisure Village. “This is a great opportunity for people to see and comment on our plans prior to a planning application later this year,” said Ben Townsend, new business director (NW) at Trafford Housing Trust. The scheme, in Redclyffe Road, intends to bring forward one and two-bedroom homes for shared ownership, subject to approval from Homes England for grant funding. The proposals are part of the wider Trafford Waters development, a scheme that will create 3,000 homes, more than 100,000 sq ft of amenity space and 850,000 sq ft of offices in the area. Moreover, the development is estimated to create more than 5,000 jobs and will include a primary school plus 20 acres of open spaces. Work has started on phase one infrastructure at Trafford Waters to make way for the first 350 new homes which includes THT’s affordable housing development. “Part of our vision to create a new sustainable community at Trafford Waters is to provide homes that suit a range of needs and we are pleased to be working with THT to help deliver much-needed affordable housing at this site,” said James Whittaker, Peel L&P’s Executive Director for Development. “We have started infrastructure works with new roads, pedestrian and cycle routes together with large areas of public realm assisted via a match-funded grant from Homes England to enable the delivery of over 350 homes from the first few phases of housing to be developed.” The public consultation will take place virtually online, and residents are being encouraged to email any questions they have to THT before the plans are finalised and submitted for planning permission later this year. The consultation will run until 6th November. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keepmoat Homes, one of the UK’s leading home builders, has announced plans for its first site in Wales, following the successful acquisition in Deeside. Situated along the River Dee, the land has been purchased from private landowners for an undisclosed sum and will be transformed into a new housing development. Part of a wider re-development programme in the area, planning approval has already been granted by the Flintshire County Council’s planning committee back in March 2020. The 129-home scheme will comprise of a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached homes available for private sale. In addition to housing, the site will also feature a children’s play area for residents to enjoy. “We are really excited to transform the site, which is in a prominent location by the River Dee, into a new neighbourhood,” said Gareth Roberts, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat. “Securing our first ever site in Wales marks a milestone for the business and furthers our goal to expand into new areas and deliver real value to the people who live there.” “Our vision is to create a place where people want to live and enjoy, and we’re driven to ensure the development is a major benefit to the local community. We’re looking forward to providing high quality housing that integrates well with the local community and are excited about turning our plans into reality,” added Gareth. The Keepmoat development in Wales will generate opportunities in training and employment through the use of sub-contractors, work placements and educational visits to the site, as part of its commitment to create a sustainable community, which will be delivered throughout the lifetime of the project. Beth Harrop, who lives in the area, has recently joined Keepmoat as a Construction Trainee and will be assisting the team to deliver the brand-new homes at Deeside. She spoke of her recent appointment: “I joined Keepmoat straight out of my studies, and I couldn’t feel prouder to have landed such a fulfilling role. Having grown up local to the site, it’s incredibly exciting to be working on such a landmark development which is helping to bring great opportunities to my local community. Whilst every day in my role is different to the last, our passion for building quality homes remains the same.” Work at the development is expected to commence this month and will take three years to complete. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Siddal and Hilton Products, the welded steel mesh manufacture, has announced its plans to completely redevelop its 4.5 acre sites in Brighouse. The £9 million investment follows the company’s goal to become a world-class manufacturer. Siddall has a number of manufacturing, storage and office buildings on both sides of Foundry Street, some of which are over 150 years old and are no longer fit for purpose. Having been granted planning permission to begin work on phase one of the three-year project, the company will see the creation of new amenities for staff. While the site is being redeveloped, the office-based team at Siddall have temporarily moved into portakabins. Initial works will provide new facilities including showers, locker-rooms and a canteen for employees, with a briefing room and a training space above, followed by several major demolition and construction phases. “Since the MBO three years ago, the business has gone from strength to strength. We have already embarked on a major investment programme, from commissioning a new state-of-the-art £2m welding machine last year, replacing a roof and refurbishing existing machines to expanding the team and implementing ongoing training programmes to upskill colleagues,” said Ian Thurley, Chief Executive. “This significant investment in redeveloping the entire site will bring all our facilities up to the latest standards as we continue to compete on the world stage. Not only will it see us expanding our operational site capacity, but also improving process flow and future proofing the buildings as well as creating a better working environment. One of our key strengths is our skilled workforce in Brighouse and the scale of this project is a further demonstration of our commitment to our people and continuing to invest in the town.” The first phase, which represents a £4 million investment, will see the demolition of a number of the older buildings, to be replaced by a new portal-framed building, HGV service yard and factory extension. With work due to start on site in 2023, the redevelopment has been carefully planned to ensure that the business remains fully operational throughout the work. Later phases will include the extensive refurbishment of the old Tower Works site and the conversion of one of the sheds to provide permanent office accommodation. Once this has been completed, the company plans to remove the portakabins and build two warehousing units adjacent to Birds Royd Lane. Other enhancements will focus on improving vehicle movements around the site to minimise vehicular obstructions on Foundry Street and to significantly improve safety for pedestrians and other road users close to the works. Overall, the project will enable Siddall to streamline its manufacturing processes by providing a much more efficient workflow, as well as creating a safer, greener and more modern environment for its employees and the local community. The scheme has been designed by Darren Till, partner at TJP Architects, based in Pontefract. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
