LNT Care Developments has purchased Sewardstone House and Chapelfield Nursery, a 5.1-acre freehold site in Chingford, North East London, from Lochinvar Care Limited. The site, which includes planning approval for a modern, two-storey care facility with 66 bedrooms, marks the first new care home development in the area in over
MWH Treatment has completed the detailed design for Severn Trent Water’s state-of-the-art Witches Oak Water Treatment Works in Derbyshire, with civil construction substantially complete and mechanical and electrical installation well advanced for the plant, which will deliver crucial water security for approximately 224,000 households. The new plant will provide an
Ideal Heating Commercial has released a new CIBSE approved CPD: Understanding refrigerants & how they affect the choice of commercial heat pumps. It addresses both synthetic and natural refrigerants, and provides valuable advice for customers seeking the most energy efficient commercial heat pump. A concise CPD, ideal for a lunchtime session,
Don’t miss out on your chance to watch the country’s top construction talent go head-to-head at the SkillBuild National Final 2024, the largest and longest-running multi-trade skills competition in the UK. The free event, delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), is taking place at the Marshall Arena, Milton
XPO, a leading provider of innovative and sustainable end-to-end logistics solutions across Europe, has opened a new warehouse site in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, with its long-term partner Saint-Gobain UK. The Wakefield Northern Distribution Centre is a dedicated operation for Saint-Gobain UK (SGUK) in the north of England and designed to
A five-figure donation from the Highlands’ leading roofing company has provided a welcome boost for a charity supporting children and young people with severe, profound and multiple learning disabilities. Macleod Roofing has donated £10,000 to the Elsie Normington Foundation’s upcoming Dragons’ Den fundraiser, set to take place on April 25,
Popular holiday operator Center Parcs has revealed ambitious plans to establish its first holiday village in Scotland, marking a significant expansion into the country and a major boost for Scottish tourism. The new resort, planned for a picturesque location three miles north of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, represents an
Pharmacy Plus Health (PPH) has unveiled the first of a proposed 40 new pharmacy stores in West Yorkshire as part of its aim to re-invent the community pharmacy world. Devised in conjunction with the Interior Design team at AJ100 architectural practice, Stephen George + Partners (SGP), the ‘pharmacy of the
Leading global non-combustible insulation manufacturer ROCKWOOL today announced it has signed an agreement to buy 114 acres (or 46 hectares) of land at the Peddimore site, north east of Birmingham, with the intention to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility featuring proprietary electric melting technology for its stone wool insulation products.
Architecture firm Holmes Miller has submitted a planning application to Midlothian Council for the redevelopment of Penicuik High School. Holmes Miller’s plans include the re-use and retrofit of the original 1930s school building, the infilling of existing external courtyard spaces and a new three storey extension to the north of
LNT Care Developments has purchased Sewardstone House and Chapelfield Nursery, a 5.1-acre freehold site in Chingford, North East London, from Lochinvar Care Limited. The site, which includes planning approval for a modern, two-storey care facility with 66 bedrooms, marks the first new care home development in the area in over a decade. The planned care home will feature premium amenities such as a café, bar, dining rooms, quiet lounges and family rooms, a library, garden room, cinema room, and an on-site hairdresser. Staff facilities will include fully equipped catering areas along with showers and changing rooms. Designed with accessibility in mind, the care home will have spacious corridors and levelled pathways throughout, as well as ample parking, with 30 spaces in total, including six electric vehicle charging points and two accessible bays. Set in Chingford, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, the site is conveniently located with access to Sewardstone Road, the M25, and central Chingford. Public transport is also available with the 215 TFL bus service offering direct connections to Chingford Station, Chingford Mount, and Walthamstow Central tube station. Surrounded by residential areas and peaceful parks, the site promises an attractive setting for future residents. Mandip Bhogal, Partner for Healthcare at Knight Frank, commented, “With no new care homes recently constructed in Chingford and an ageing population, there’s an undersupply of modern care facilities in the area. This transaction will deliver a much-needed, purpose-built care home that will benefit the local community.” Richard Hardy, Managing Director at Lansdown (parent company to Lochinvar Care Limited), added, “It’s been a pleasure working with Knight Frank on the sale of Sewardstone Road, which will soon provide a sustainable, high-quality care home to meet the increasing demand in this area. This is the first of several key care developments we’ll be advancing across London in the coming years.” Keeley Sharp, Strategic Land Director at LNT Care Developments, shared, “We’re thrilled to bring 66 essential care beds to Chingford. Site work has already started, and we’re excited to welcome the community to this new facility by early 2026.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MWH Treatment has completed the detailed design for Severn Trent Water’s state-of-the-art Witches Oak Water Treatment Works in Derbyshire, with civil construction substantially complete and mechanical and electrical installation well advanced for the plant, which will deliver crucial water security for approximately 224,000 households. The new plant will provide an additional average flow of 65 million litres per day and increase resilience of the Derwent Valley aqueduct (DVA) network, which supplies the East Midlands grid. The project is part of Severn Trent Water’s £566 million Green Recovery Programme, with MWH Treatment, an RSK Group company, appointed as principal contractor and designer, drawing on the company’s specific skills across design, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. MWH Treatment was also able to incorporate its recent design and construction experience with Severn Trent Water’s Church Wilne granular activated carbon plant. MWH Treatment Project Director Richard Thomson said the project team had installed the innovative ceramic membrane pressure vessels, pipework, pumps and ancillary equipment. All the other process plant has been manufactured and installed during the summer months to make the most of the dry weather. The complex electrical control panels have been factory tested, installed and are now being connected for commissioning. The HV network was energised in October which is a major milestone achievement and has allowed commissioning to commence. He said: “The ceramic membrane technology offers advantages, such as effective removal of pathogens, suspended solids and organic compounds to produce high-quality water. Ceramic membranes provide efficient microfiltration with superior fouling resistance, easier cleaning, higher flux rates and lower maintenance requirements. Ceramics have stronger mechanical strength, enabling them to handle higher solids loading and ensuring a longer asset life of 25 years.” MWH Treatment has utilised digital delivery tools, including digital surveying, interactive visualisations, intelligent 3D models, 4D rehearsals and digital inspection and test plan field management. Richard said: “In the hands of experienced engineers, these tools enable much greater project efficiency, with 3D elevating the design process and allowing construction sequencing and overlapping of site activities to optimise the schedule and reduce build time. “The ability to view the project in such intricate detail, effectively being able to see inside the 3D model for the treatment works, offers real game-changing opportunities for project management. It becomes a truly interactive experience and one in which we can engage all our supply chain partners. Also, with multiple teams carrying out work across the site, being able to visualise who is working where and the challenges and opportunities this can create is a considerable step up from the 2D drawings of the past. This enhances the health and safety of the site team by improving communication and reducing risks.” Richard said project highlights included a £7.4 million saving achieved by identifying the opportunity to use existing capacity for sludge management at Derby Sewage Works rather than providing sludge dewatering at Witches Oak. A further £1.6 million saving was generated through a whole life cost appraisal of an OSEC system versus sodium hypochlorite. This value engineering has funded additional scope that has improved process resilience on the new plant and been used to mitigate project risks. Owing to the water quality challenges in treating the River Trent, and the new technologies being implemented, Severn Trent Water conducted a comprehensive series of pilot trials, which provided invaluable data to confirm the basis of design and operating parameters. A second pilot plant is now treating the Derwent raw water so that the commissioning parameters can be confirmed based on seasonal variations throughout 2024. As a result, the process designers have introduced two raw water balance tanks to the project. This will allow blending, storage and control of the flow from the abstractions at Witches Oak lakes and River Derwent upstream of the in-line coagulation and adsorption (ILCA). Richard said: “Next steps for this project include collaborative planning and implementing complex commissioning processes to allow all the new assets to be brought into service safely. MWH Treatment’s experienced commissioning engineers will train the Severn Trent Water operators to give them confidence to run the plant. This will ensure compliance with the stringent water quality standards set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.” He said that a new high-voltage power supply has been provided by National Grid and this would improve water supply resilience to customers. The team aims to have water into supply by the end of May next year, with project completion following in December 2025 after process optimisation and performance testing. In addition to MWH Treatment, other RSK companies are carrying out work as part of the project. These include Stephenson Halliday (landscape appraisal), ADAS (soil surveys), Hollywood Civil Engineering (high voltage substation and backwash buried pipework), LDE (specialist surveys), CR Civil Engineering (ILCA coffer dam and excavation) and Cognica (operations and maintenance manuals). Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ideal Heating Commercial has released a new CIBSE approved CPD: Understanding refrigerants & how they affect the choice of commercial heat pumps. It addresses both synthetic and natural refrigerants, and provides valuable advice for customers seeking the most energy efficient commercial heat pump. A concise CPD, ideal for a lunchtime session, it opens with a brief introduction to heat pumps and how they operate, including the refrigerant cycle and key principles such as co-efficient of performance (COP) and global warming potential (GWP). It then proceeds to explain the different refrigerant types (synthetic and natural) and their key features, and the factors to take into account when designing an efficient heating system using the different refrigerants. The CPD also addresses decarbonisation in the heating sector and refrigerant phase-down, and closes by touching on the future of refrigerants. The new ‘Understanding refrigerants & how they affect the choice of commercial heat pumps’ CPD was officially launched at the BESA Annual Conference on 17th October, where it was presented by Ideal Heating Commercial Head of Specification Richard Brown. The new CPD has been introduced to raise awareness of refrigerant types, following the recent expansion of Ideal Heating Commercial’s ECOMOD range of commercial heat pumps to include natural refrigerant models for the first time. ECOMOD heat pumps are now available with R32 refrigerant, and with natural refrigerants R290 (ECOMOD 290HT) and R744 (ECOMOD CO2) which are capable of delivering high temperatures while providing ultra-low GWPs. This latest CPD joins Ideal Heating Commercial’s expanding collection, which covers the latest industry developments and provide advice of new ways to add value, performance and efficiency to customer projects. Further CPDs address low carbon systems, heat networks and heat interface units, plant room surveys, and boiler heat exchanger materials. For more information on any of Ideal Heating Commercial’s CPD, and to book a place, go to https://idealcommercialboilers.com/cpd-courses. CPDs are delivered by Ideal Heating Commercial’s specification team managers either online or in person nationwide. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Don’t miss out on your chance to watch the country’s top construction talent go head-to-head at the SkillBuild National Final 2024, the largest and longest-running multi-trade skills competition in the UK. The free event, delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), is taking place at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, from 20 – 21 November and brings to life the excitement and variety that a career in construction provides. A total of 78 students will demonstrate their skills in ten different construction trades, including bricklaying, carpentry, and roof slating and tiling. The competitors will be expected to construct a project within an 18-hour period. An expert panel of judges will assess them on several aspects – including technical ability, time management, problem solving, skills working under pressure, and compliance with health and safety requirements. A winner will be crowned from each of the ten construction trades on display at the SkillBuild National Final. Alongside the competition is the Construction Showcase, an experience hub filled with activities and demonstrations for children and young people. Brands such as Crown Paints, British Gypsum and STEMPOINT will also be delivering sessions. Previous winners of SkillBuild and construction influencers will deliver a series of TED talks to visitors sharing their journeys and inspiring others to join construction. Attendees include Luke Mabbott, a former Love Island contestant and owner of Brotherhood Properties, a construction company which buys and renovates houses, and Charlie Collison, two-time winner of Super Trowel, a speed skimming and bricklaying competition, and construction business owner. Richard Bullock, Head of Careers Products at CITB, said: “We’re really looking forward to the upcoming SkillBuild final. With CITB’s forecast indicating a need for over 250,000 new construction workers by 2028, SkillBuild is more important than ever in spotlighting the sector and the wide array of roles available within it. “This is a critical time for skills development in construction. SkillBuild motivates newcomers, showing the immense value that trainees and apprentices bring to the industry. It’s a unique opportunity for young people to see first-hand skills in the construction industry and discover how exceptional a career in construction is. It’s also a great opportunity for those with an interest in any of the featured trades to come along, support, and learn from some of the best in the industry. I also hope the quality of work on show inspires employers to invest in apprenticeships and trainees within their own teams. “To all our National Final competitors, we wish you the best of luck, and we look forward to celebrating your success in two weeks’ time!” CITB would like to thank all the fantastic sponsors and supporters of this year’s SkillBuild competition: Albion Stone, BAL Adhesives, Band of Builders, Brick Development Association, British Gypsum, Careers Wales, CITB NI, Clivedon Conservation, Crown Paints, Felder Group, Festool, FIS, Hambleside Danelaw Building Products, Institute of Carpenters, Marley, N&C Nicobond, NFRC, NSITG, Saint Gobain, Schluter, SIG Roofing, SPAX, Stone Restoration Services, TARMAC, The Tile Association, Tilgear, Weber, Wienerberger, The Worshipful Company of Masons, and The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers. The SkillBuild National Finalists for 2024 are available here. Tickets for the SkillBuild National Final 2024 (20-21 November 2024) are available here. The competition will be open to visitors on Wednesday 20 November 2024 and Thursday 21 November 2024 from 9am. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
XPO, a leading provider of innovative and sustainable end-to-end logistics solutions across Europe, has opened a new warehouse site in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, with its long-term partner Saint-Gobain UK. The Wakefield Northern Distribution Centre is a dedicated operation for Saint-Gobain UK (SGUK) in the north of England and designed to operate as a multi-functional site with the customer at its heart. The centre supports multiple manufacturing operations in the North and the Midlands, providing new distribution capability for Saint-Gobain UK brands and enabling Saint-Gobain to accelerate its plans for multi-brand site deliveries for customers. Dual-branded with XPO Logistics and Saint-Gobain livery, the site operates as a multi-brand one-stop shop for warehousing, backhaul and distribution to end customers. In addition, by focusing on backhaul activity, both partners can significantly reduce carbon emissions from their logistics operations and benefit from a positive Health and Safety impact. Anika Sharma, Customer Service & Supply Chain Director, Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions UK, said: “This new site is strategically vital for us, and we are delighted to have created it in collaboration with one of our key partners, XPO Logistics. The centre strengthens our existing logistics offering and allows us to expand and explore exciting new opportunities to benefit our customers.” The site has been leased long-term and provides a strategic stock-holding location for Saint-Gobain’s manufacturing facilities, including where XPO Logistics will offer several value-added services such as accelerating consolidated product delivery across multiple Saint-Gobain brands. This will result in multiple Saint-Gobain brand products being delivered to the customer on one vehicle, as opposed to orders being received on multiple delivery vehicles, which was the case in the past. The warehouse can store 2.5m square metres of plasterboard and has 1,500 racking locations for palletised goods. The forklift trucks on site are all electric, further reducing CO2e emissions. Other warehouse innovations in the pipeline include use of ATVs, robot sweepers, a proprietary warehouse management system, and stock–taking drones. The latter development significantly impacts health and safety, thanks to the reduced need for colleagues to work at height. Dan Myers, managing director—UK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said: “It’s great to see what our teams collectively have achieved with this new distribution centre. Working together, this facility is a significant step for Saint-Gobain’s supply chain, helping to support our partner’s sustainability agenda whilst enhancing its customer service. I want to thank the team for the seamless delivery of this project against ambitious timelines.” The eventual aim is for the site to become a fulfilment centre stocking products from across the Saint-Gobain UK brand family that can be dispatched directly to the consumer. XPO Logistics is a leading innovative supply chain company in Europe, offering end-to-end logistics solutions that combine full-truckload, less-than-truckload, pallet distribution, last-mile delivery, global freight forwarding, and warehousing services. The company tailors its solutions to the specific needs of its customers in a wide range of industrial and consumer sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A five-figure donation from the Highlands’ leading roofing company has provided a welcome boost for a charity supporting children and young people with severe, profound and multiple learning disabilities. Macleod Roofing has donated £10,000 to the Elsie Normington Foundation’s upcoming Dragons’ Den fundraiser, set to take place on April 25, 2025. Following this commitment, the company is now calling on other local businesses to join them in supporting this impactful event, which aims to empower Highland charities and foster community development. Elizabeth Mackintosh, who has been patron of the Foundation for three years, explained: “Next year we are holding a Dragon’s Den dinner, raising money not just for the Elsie Normington Foundation but also five local charities that might not otherwise have access to funding. “Charities will have the opportunity to put their case forward to our panel of ‘Dragons’ who will decide how the money will be divided up. “Macleod Roofing has kindly started this off with a very generous £10,000 donation. We are so grateful for their support, and hope that other businesses in the area will follow their example and support great local causes.” Sandy Macleod, managing director of Macleod Roofing, echoed Elizabeth’s sentiments, saying, “The work that the Elsie Normington Foundation does for people and families in the north of Scotland is extraordinary, so we are proud to support them in their mission to provide vital facilities in Inverness. Both Elizabeth and Elsie are true inspirations, dedicating their time and efforts to make a difference in our community. “At Macleod Roofing, we believe that supporting local charities not only strengthens the fabric of our community but also fosters a sense of connection and belonging. By investing in our neighbours, we can tackle the unique challenges we face together and create sustainable solutions that benefit everyone. “For this reason, I’m calling on other local businesses to join the Elsie Normington Foundation in this important mission. When we come together to support local causes, we can amplify our efforts and drive meaningful change in the Highlands.” The Elsie Normington Foundation was founded 11 years ago by disability campaigner and author Elsie Normington, whose son Andrew was diagnosed with a severe and intractable form of epilepsy when he was just four years old. Realising the need for specialist services and facilities for children and young people in similar situations, and their families, she spearheaded the construction of the Haven Centre in Smithton, just outside Inverness. Over the past ten years, Elsie and a team of dedicated trustees, staff and volunteers have raised over £4 million to turn this into a reality. The Haven Centre is Scotland’s first multi-purpose centre for children and young people with severe learning disabilities, comprising a specialist play centre which is run by partners, SNAP, and includes sensory and art spaces. The Haven Centre includes 3 respite suites for short breaks, overnight stays and emergency respite. The Haven Café, which is also situated on site, is open to all and provides teas, coffees, breakfast, lunches and delicious home baking. Elsie Normington, Chair and Visionary of the Elsie Normington Foundation said: “We decided to think out of the box to deliver a new fundraising event and came up with the Dragon’s Den format. “This event will not only benefit the Elsie Normington Foundation but also other local charities, who will pitch to the dragons for a share of the prize pot. Each charity taking part will receive a share of the prize pot. “We are very excited to be launching this event and look forward to working with our sponsors and partners in the coming months to orchestrate an unforgettable event, which will not only provide a funding boost to the charities involved but also greater awareness of these fantastic local charities who do so much good in our local community.” Macleod Roofing has provided exceptional roofing services in the Highlands and the north of Scotland for over 30 years. Founded by Sandy Macleod, the firm provides a one-stop roofing service – bringing roofers, slaters, joiners, builders, plumbers and painters under the same umbrella. For more information, visit www.macleodroofing.co.uk. For more information about the Elsie Normington Foundation’s Dragons’ Charity Den, visit www.havencentre.org/dragons-charity-den-inverness and for information about the Haven Centre, visit www.havecentre.org. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Popular holiday operator Center Parcs has revealed ambitious plans to establish its first holiday village in Scotland, marking a significant expansion into the country and a major boost for Scottish tourism. The new resort, planned for a picturesque location three miles north of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, represents an investment of £350–400 million and promises to bring long-lasting economic benefits to the region. The proposed resort will feature around 700 premium lodges, offering a luxury, nature-oriented holiday experience. Guests will enjoy a wide range of facilities, including an Aqua Sana Forest Spa, the Subtropical Swimming Paradise water park, shops, restaurants, and bars—all seamlessly integrated with the area’s stunning natural landscapes. In addition to its long-term economic contributions, the resort is expected to generate approximately 1,200 permanent jobs locally. During the construction phase, it will create between 750 and 800 temporary jobs, providing immediate employment opportunities for skilled workers in the region. The project is in its early planning stages, with a formal application slated for 2025. Center Parcs’ expansion into Scotland is in response to high demand from Scottish families, many of whom currently travel to the operator’s sites in England. Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, shared his enthusiasm for the project: “This is a tremendously exciting opportunity to transform leisure and tourism in the Scottish Borders. Center Parcs is a beloved destination for families across the UK and Ireland, and there is strong demand to support a seventh village in Scotland.” He added, “Throughout our history, we have demonstrated the local, regional, and national economic benefits that a Center Parcs village can bring. Many Scottish families already visit our villages in England, so this new location will enable them to enjoy their holidays closer to home while positively impacting the local economy.” A focus on sustainability is central to Center Parcs’ vision for the project. McKinlay explained, “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do. For over three decades in the UK and Ireland, we have transformed commercial woodlands into rich ecosystems, significantly boosting biodiversity. This site gives us an opportunity to go further, creating new woodlands with a commitment to biodiversity net gain and planting thousands of new trees.” In the lead-up to the formal planning submission, Center Parcs will continue site surveys, design development, and consultations with local communities, ensuring the project aligns with local needs and environmental priorities. Benny Higgins, Executive Chairman of the Buccleuch Group, voiced support for the project, saying: “This development promises outstanding benefits for tourism and leisure in the Scottish Borders, and we’re thrilled to have signed an agreement enabling Center Parcs to take its next steps.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pharmacy Plus Health (PPH) has unveiled the first of a proposed 40 new pharmacy stores in West Yorkshire as part of its aim to re-invent the community pharmacy world. Devised in conjunction with the Interior Design team at AJ100 architectural practice, Stephen George + Partners (SGP), the ‘pharmacy of the future’ pilot store in Alwoodley, Leeds, showcases a patient-focused layout, a modern, high-end aesthetic and dedicated consultation rooms for in-pharmacy non-invasive treatments that will both alleviate pressure from local doctors’ surgeries and provide a more efficient service to the patient. The rebrand of the PPH stores, comes following the innovative partnership with HubRx, who are the UK’s first large-scale automated dispensing facility designed specifically to benefit independent pharmacy. The integration of the HubRX automated dispensing system will streamline prescriptions from facility to store, and not only reduce the amount of time pharmacists spend managing prescriptions, but also reduce the need for on-site storage capacity, freeing up floorspace and placing an increased emphasis on seamless face-to-face interactions between patient and pharmacist. SGP Interiors was appointed to develop the brief for the new pilot store, with a view to rolling out the design across a number of pharmacy and retail units that PPH had recently acquired throughout West Yorkshire. Working closely with the client and shopfitting contractor PEC, SGP’s design underwent constant evolution, moving towards a modular approach, fit for all shapes and sizes with minimal changes, keeping time and therefore costs down, while also establishing a cohesive brand identity. Amy Fulford, SGP’s Principal Interior Designer, explains: “There was a clear requirement from the client to keep both costs and the install period to an absolute minimum as any down time or closure of stores could prove extremely costly. By cleverly designing the display units and reception desk to standardised key components, we created a kit of parts that could be mass produced to combat waste and cost. This off-site production method enabled the install team to achieve the tight time scales with minimal shutdown.” Having engaged with key stakeholders through various initial design reviews, it was evident the design should focus on the patient and streamline their experience. A minimalistic appearance evolved as a result, with clean lines, hidden joints, concealed fixing details and futuristic white canvas. Whilst still incorporating display islands, the intention was to keep the floor space as clean and distinct as possible, creating clear sight lines to the reception counter and reinforcing the physical relationship between patient and pharmacist. Daniel Lee, Chief Executive Officer at HubRX, in partnership with PPH, said: “As a brand we are working with innovative technologies to revolutionise the prescription process. With our automated HubRX system in successful operation, we approached SGP, with a clear vision to design the ‘pharmacy of the future’ and provide our customers with a 5-star experience. Amy & the SGP Interiors team rose to every challenge we set out and meticulously worked through the design development, working with us to extract what we really needed. This has resulted in a Design concept that truly embraces our brand identity and has transformed our customer experience”. To achieve the desired aesthetic, the concept of capsules progressed to creating an illusion of floating displays, raised off the floor on a post. The number of products on the shelves were stripped back to echo the kind of high-end experience you might encounter at a perfume counter. Although products displayed were reduced, stock replenishment was still a high priority for the daily operations of the stores. To keep the minimalist look at the forefront, hidden storage was integrated into the base of the display units, including the perimeter wall units and island capsules. Due to the success of the ‘pharmacy of the future’ pilot store, rollout has now commenced on the interior scheme and kit of parts across further stores, with a second completed and another on site. Alan Soper, SGP Studio Director, concludes: “There is a growing recognition that community pharmacies can play an important role in the delivery of primary care, as well as reinvigorating our high streets and town centres. However, many pharmacies have not been set up or designed to realise this potential. We are therefore delighted to be working with PPH on the delivery of a transformational model of modern, patient-focused pharmacies. Drawing on our strong track record of successful interior design delivery and cross-sector experience in retail, leisure and healthcare sectors, the design of these stores will transform the patient experience, creating an important healthcare hub within the local community and, in the long-term, go some way to relieving pressure on other parts of the health service.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading global non-combustible insulation manufacturer ROCKWOOL today announced it has signed an agreement to buy 114 acres (or 46 hectares) of land at the Peddimore site, north east of Birmingham, with the intention to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility featuring proprietary electric melting technology for its stone wool insulation products. The new facility would boost supply capacity for UK and Republic of Ireland customers, whilst also supporting ROCKWOOL’s ambitious global sustainability plans. This significant investment would also create skilled long-term jobs and local supply chain opportunities as well as help in achieving the UK’s net zero targets and in creating a safer and more sustainable built environment through ROCKWOOL’s portfolio of non-combustible and recyclable stone wool insulation products. Local community consultation plans The Peddimore site, which is designated specifically for manufacturing use, is included in Birmingham City Council’s Development Plan and has outline planning permission for a manufacturing facility. Key infrastructure including a new access road and roundabout into the site is already in place, servicing an adjacent facility built in 2023. In the coming weeks, ROCKWOOL will begin consulting with the community about its plans, including open house events where community members can meet ROCKWOOL leaders and learn about the business as well as its commitment to delivering social and environmental value in the communities in which it operates. ROCKWOOL will subsequently submit applications to Birmingham City Council to adapt the existing planning permissions to its specific proposal. Information about the plans will also be made available at www.rockwool.com/uk/peddimore as the proposal develops. Building on long-term success Nick Wilson, Managing Director of ROCKWOOL UK & Ireland, said: “We’re very excited at the opportunity to expand the business into the West Midlands that would enable us to boost our production capacity in the UK and to create quality jobs and business opportunities in the local community. During the past 45 years, we have built a strong foundation at our site in South Wales where we will continue to manufacture and invest for the long-term, and are now looking to build on that success with a second manufacturing plant at the Peddimore site. “The West Midlands has a skilled, local workforce, a strong manufacturing tradition, and excellent transport links, so it is an ideal location for us to expand our business in the UK and bolster our service to customers in the Midlands and across the north of England and Scotland. We’re looking forward to sharing our plans with the local community and are fully committed to being a good neighbour and partner for the Minworth and wider West Midlands community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Architecture firm Holmes Miller has submitted a planning application to Midlothian Council for the redevelopment of Penicuik High School. Holmes Miller’s plans include the re-use and retrofit of the original 1930s school building, the infilling of existing external courtyard spaces and a new three storey extension to the north of the site. The ‘heart’ of the school will be centred around the original assembly hall and courtyard spaces, creating a hub for indoor sport, dining and social interaction, and a unified core between old and new. The proposed plans for the school include core accommodation to facilitate teaching, sports, dining, catering, pupil breakout and community use. The building will accommodate more than 900 pupils, including up to 24 with Additional Support Needs (ASN), which is more than double the number of ASN places currently available. Access will be improved across the site, with the introduction of a new accessible entrance to the north, fully accessible floor plates with improved lift and WC provision, clear circulation routes, and an inclusive wayfinding and interior design strategy. As well as improvements to the building, the application sets out how active travel will be encouraged using bike and pedestrian paths, along with adequate bike parking. There will be significant enhancement to the site’s biodiversity and greenery, as well as the introduction of new outdoor learning settings and a hard landscaped entrance plaza. The retrofit works to the original school building are designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce whole life carbon and provide a more comfortable learning setting. Retrofit measures include new triple glazed windows, the insulating of existing walls, floors and roof spaces, and implementing low energy services, including high-efficiency MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery) units in classrooms. If approved, the project will be part funded by the Scottish Futures Trust LEIP (Learning Estates Investment Programme) and will meet its metrics required for operational energy, digital, and space standards. Joanne Hemmings, associate at Holmes Miller, said: “Our plans illustrate how a historic building at the heart of a community can be sensitively modernised, retrofitted and made more accessible for its pupils, staff, and the wider community to enjoy. “Our proposals aim to optimise the site with new and improved playground, green space and outdoor learning environments. The internal upgrades will provide a comfortable and inspiring setting for pupils to learn and grow in. We look forward to Midlothian Council’s consideration of our application.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
