Following a campaign led by JCB, there is an amendment in the regulations to allow engineering plant to tow trailers under specific circumstances. Originally, engineering plant including wheeled excavators and loaders were prohibited under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order (STGO) to the towing of trailers on
HS2 have just revealed stunning new timelapse footage showing engineers carefully sliding a 3,700-tonne viaduct deck almost half a kilometre uphill into position near the town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire. The deck of the Wendover Dean Viaduct – which stretches for 450m – was assembled in three stages, ranging from
Premier Technical Services Group Ltd (PTSG) has been contracted to deliver specialist electrical services at St Georges Hospital in Tooting. Located in South London and founded in 1733, it is one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals and one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It is run by the
Hampshire-headquartered Bargate Homes has submitted an Outline Planning application for a 19-hectare site in Overton, Hampshire, which could deliver 130 new homes, as well as a Country Park. The vast Country Park would take up more than half of this expansive site, delivering widespread social and environmental benefits. Located west
Housing association Salix Homes has unveiled its plans to invest more than £20million improving social housing across Salford over the next year. The landlord, which owns 8,000 homes in Salford, has announced its investment programme for 2024-2025, which will see 1,366 homes undergo improvement work. A £10million eco-transformation at neighbouring
In the past week later living operator and developer, Inspired Villages, achieved planning approval for further phases at two of its future communities. Arun Lea, Broadbridge Heath and Little Mount Lake, near Tunbridge Wells, were both approved in detail by their respective councils. Phase 1 of Inspired’s Little Mount Lake
Sunbelt Rentals has secured a multi-year agreement to become the preferred equipment rental supplier for Mitie, covering all areas of Mitie’s operations, including plant and hire equipment. This partnership aligns with Mitie’s Preferred Supplier Optimisation Strategy, with Sunbelt selected due to its streamlined ordering process and shared values. Both companies
The Nurture Group has completed its 48th acquisition with the purchase of Telford-based Spacecare Ltd. This strategic acquisition, completed earlier this month (August), will further bolster Nurture’s nationwide presence and service capabilities with Spacecare’s core grounds maintenance, winter maintenance and arboricultural services aligning seamlessly with Nurture’s offering. It is the
Lead contractor Bouygues UK has been appointed by the Department for Education to build Stanmore College, a further education college in Harrow, under the CF21 Framework. The college will be funded by the DfE’s Further Education Improvement Programme. Bouygues UK will be reconfiguring the college’s existing site by replacing four
The project involved the construction of one unit subdivided by a 1-hour firewall to create two lettable spaces of 42,000 and 58,000 sq. ft at Erdington Industrial Park in Birmingham. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that is
Following a campaign led by JCB, there is an amendment in the regulations to allow engineering plant to tow trailers under specific circumstances. Originally, engineering plant including wheeled excavators and loaders were prohibited under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order (STGO) to the towing of trailers on UK roads. However, the case was made by JCB in that advancements in towing safety and technology, coupled with the benefits of reducing carbon, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency meant that a Ministerial decision was made by the Department for Transport that allowed a derogation to The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 2003, so that the towing of a trailer can be permitted for the activities of road construction, maintenance, and repair. To tow trailers under this derogation requires a Vehicle Special Order (VSO) that allows wheeled earthmoving machinery (engineering plant) to tow a trailer on the UK roads to transport certain attachments and materials with the towing machine. They will be allowed to tow trailers on all types of roads, except motorways, and are limited to a maximum speed of 20mph. The towing machine must also be road-registered and comply with all relevant parts of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The overall length of the combined machine and trailer must not exceed 8m and the trailer must bear the same number plate as the towing machine. As they led the campaign, JCB have provided more detail on the changes restrictions and applications to this VSO concession at: https://www.jcb.com/en-gb/resources/blogs/2024/07/the-new-trailer-towing-legislation-explained?page=1 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2 have just revealed stunning new timelapse footage showing engineers carefully sliding a 3,700-tonne viaduct deck almost half a kilometre uphill into position near the town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire. The deck of the Wendover Dean Viaduct – which stretches for 450m – was assembled in three stages, ranging from 90m to 180m, with each one pushed out from the north abutment before the next section was attached behind it. This painstaking, eight-month long process meant that the weight of the deck increased with each push, up from an initial 590 tonnes at the start of work in January – to 3,700 tonnes by the time it reached the south abutment on Saturday. It is one of 50 major viaducts on the HS2 project – which is designed to improve connections between London, Birmingham and the North while freeing up space on the most congested southern end of the existing West Coast Main Line. During the slide, special pads covered in Teflon – a material usually found on the surface of a non-stick frying pan – were used to minimise friction between the deck and the temporary steel bearings on top of each of the concrete piers. To help maintain control, the deck – which weighs the same as 264 double-decker buses – was pushed slightly uphill, with the finish point approximately 1.8m higher than the start point. With the steelwork now in position, engineers can begin the challenging job of lowering the deck 60cm onto the permanent bearings which will support the full weight of the structure. The two-month long operation will see the steelwork above each pier carefully lowered by 20cm at a time, pier-by pier, until the whole 450m long deck settles into its final position. HS2 Ltd’s Head of Delivery, Nicola Henderson-Reid said: “The last eight months have been incredible, and I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting us to where we are today. It’s been fascinating to watch the deck slowly inch into position, and we now look forward to the next stage of the project – lowering the deck into final position and completing the complex concrete work that will support the new railway.” Once the deck is in its final position, work can begin on the concrete that will support the railway using a specially designed travelling formwork. Moving slowly from north to south, this stage is expected to take around a year and will be followed by the installation of the parapets along the edge of the viaduct. The Wendover Dean Viaduct is the first major railway bridge in the UK to be built with a ‘double composite’ structure, which uses significantly less carbon-intensive concrete and steel than a more traditional design. Instead of using solid pre-stressed concrete beams to form the spans between the viaduct piers, the hollow ‘double composite’ structure uses two steel beams sandwiched between two layers of reinforced concrete to create a more efficient super strong span. A similar approach is also being used at Small Dean, Westbury, Lower Thorpe and Turweston, which are all at an earlier stage of construction. All five viaducts are being built by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor, EKFB – a team made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall – with the manufacture and installation of the beams being led by specialists at Eiffage Metal. EKFB’s Senior Project Engineer, James Collings, said: “The final launch for Wendover Dean viaduct marks two years of teamwork from EKFB and our supply chain partners Eiffage Metal. I am very proud of our progress and would like to thank the team for their ongoing commitment to the safe delivery of the viaduct. Over the next three months, we will see the viaduct lowered onto its permanent bearings in preparation for its concrete deck.” The last few months has also seen significant progress at HS2’s other major viaducts, including the key structures that will form the Delta Junction in North Warwickshire and the viaducts taking the railway into Birmingham Curzon Street. In total, HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures – ranging from small road bridges to the record-breaking Colne Valley Viaduct which will become the longest railway bridge in the UK when the deck is finished later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Premier Technical Services Group Ltd (PTSG) has been contracted to deliver specialist electrical services at St Georges Hospital in Tooting. Located in South London and founded in 1733, it is one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals and one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It is run by the St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The new hospital at Tooting was built in stages. The first stage, which included 710 beds and the medical school, was completed in 1976, although the main hospital was not completed until 1980. In April 2010 St George’s Healthcare became part of the South West London and Surrey Trauma Network (SWLSTN). All Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments within the network continue to provide trauma services with St George’s designated as the major trauma centre. In this contract, engineers from PTSG Electrical Services Ltd will install a new lighting protection system, working at the hospital’s substation. This will provide protection for the buildings and their users in the event of an electrical storm. PTSG is the UK’s leading provider of lightning and surge protection services. Its network of engineers deliver a complete range of services including design and installation, testing and inspection and repairs and maintenance. Ultimately, the Group gives customers complete peace of mind that their assets and people are safe and protected at all times. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hampshire-headquartered Bargate Homes has submitted an Outline Planning application for a 19-hectare site in Overton, Hampshire, which could deliver 130 new homes, as well as a Country Park. The vast Country Park would take up more than half of this expansive site, delivering widespread social and environmental benefits. Located west of Sapley Lane, the proposed housing development would create 130 mixed-tenure new homes, providing opportunities for those looking to downsize, get onto the housing ladder, relocate, or live closer to friends and relatives. 40% will be allocated for affordable housing to be delivered by VIVID – the parent company of Bargate Homes. The 15-hectare Country Park is set to be a multifunctional public green space, which would support a range of activities, including natural play areas for young children, and seating areas for relaxing and enjoying views of Overton. New planting of native trees and shrubs is proposed, as well as the rewilding of areas to promote and enhance local biodiversity. The site will deliver a biodiversity net gain of over 109.74%. The homes are designed to be zero carbon ready, in line with the Building Regulation requirements from 2025, featuring air source heat pumps, Solar PV panels and electric vehicle charging points for each dwelling. Mark White, Managing Director of Bargate Homes, said: “We are pleased to have submitted an Outline Planning application for this site in Overton, which could become a very special new development. Located close to our now completed Seven Acres development, our proposals are designed to create a new neighbourhood and green space for the community of Overton. It will provide local residents with the opportunity to stay in the area and maintain all important friend and family networks. “The new Country Park would be a fantastic asset for the community of Overton, as it will offer ample space for physical outdoor activities, connections to nature, an uplifting meeting place for residents, as well as educational opportunities for school children.” The development site is sustainably located and has been designed in accordance with the ‘20 Minute Neighbourhood’ concept, with essential amenities all within a 20-minute walk, cycle or public transport ride. A local shop, allotments, doctor’s surgery, playing fields and primary school are all within a 20-minute walk of the site. Overton train station is a 10-minute cycle, and has frequent services running to Basingstoke, Salisbury, Exeter, and to London Waterloo in 55 minutes. The nearest bus stop is a mere four-minute walk providing services to nearby towns and villages. The site sits just south of Overton, and is equidistant between the larger towns of Basingstoke to the east, and Andover to the west. Easy access to the A303 and A34 leads to the wider motorway network. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housing association Salix Homes has unveiled its plans to invest more than £20million improving social housing across Salford over the next year. The landlord, which owns 8,000 homes in Salford, has announced its investment programme for 2024-2025, which will see 1,366 homes undergo improvement work. A £10million eco-transformation at neighbouring tower blocks Grey Friar Court and White Friar Court in Greengate forms a key part of the investment programme, aiming to make the buildings greener and more energy efficient. Salix Homes is also installing sprinkler systems in five more of its tower blocks, meaning 14 of its 20 tower blocks will have sprinklers, with the remaining blocks to follow. Other improvement work includes new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors, roofs, rewiring and heating systems to hundreds of homes. Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “As we continue to build new homes in Salford, we also remain dedicated to investing in our existing housing stock to ensure our customers have the high-quality, safe and sustainable homes they deserve. “This investment programme is one of our most ambitious yet, aimed at significantly enhancing our customers’ quality of life by creating safer, cleaner and greener homes and communities. “Sustainability is a key priority for Salix Homes – projects like the eco-transformation at Grey Friar Court and White Friar Court are pivotal in reducing our carbon footprint, tackling fuel poverty, and supporting Salford’s journey towards a greener future. “Additionally, the installation of sprinkler systems in five more of our tower blocks underpins our ongoing commitment to building safety, and we are very proud to continue making a positive impact on the lives of our customers and the broader Salford community.” Work is already well underway at Grey Friar Court and White Friar Court, with the scaffolding now erected. The work is being carried out by Salix Homes’ principal contractor Casey and includes external wall and roof insulation, new windows and ventilation; while the façade and balconies will be completely rendered and transformed. An eco-friendly ground source heating system will also be installed, which, combined with the external insulation will improve the thermal efficiency of the building and help reduce energy bills. The state-of-the-art heating system works by harnessing the natural heat from the ground, rather than burning fuel to generate heat. Salix Homes secured £4million from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) to help fund the tower block project, following a successful bid from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) on behalf of social housing providers across Greater Manchester. The SHDF scheme provides financial support to social housing providers and local authorities to undertake energy efficiency and decarbonisation measures. The Government has set a target that all social housing should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of a ‘C’ rating by 2030, as part of the net zero programme to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions, while Salix Homes has committed to becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2038. The five tower blocks to get sprinkler systems over the next year are Floral Court and Cheshill Court in Broughton and Black Friar Court, Newbank Tower and Riverbank Tower in Greengate. The improvement work will be carried out by Salix Homes’ partner contractors, including Casey, Connolly and Emanuel Whittaker. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In the past week later living operator and developer, Inspired Villages, achieved planning approval for further phases at two of its future communities. Arun Lea, Broadbridge Heath and Little Mount Lake, near Tunbridge Wells, were both approved in detail by their respective councils. Phase 1 of Inspired’s Little Mount Lake community in the District of Wealden, West Sussex, was approved in 2021. This latest decision on Phases 2 and 3, that was unanimously approved by Wealden District Council’s Planning Committee last week, will deliver a further 91 specialist homes for over 65s. This will support the significant need for age-appropriate housing options for older people across the District while freeing up existing family homes in the area. Speaking at the committee, Cllr Johanna Howell, Wealden District Councillor for Frant & Wadhurst, said: “I visited an Inspired Village unit up in Leeds, near Leeds Castle, and was very impressed by them.” She added: “I would like to thank Inspired Villages for listening, for being there and being receptive to ideas – they are model for other people as to how they should go forward.” Inspired Villages are currently in the process of appointing a primary contractor to deliver the first phase. In addition to the jobs and apprenticeships created during construction, the new retirement community is expected to create approximately 30 full-time equivalent jobs for local people once Little Mount Lake is complete. The second success was for its Arun Lea community located in Broadbridge Heath, West Sussex. Phase 1 was approved in November last year for the village centre with restaurant, café and shop, as well as a swimming pool and sauna, all open to the wider community, in addition to 47 homes. Plans for Phases 2 and 3 were submitted in February this year for an extra 94 homes and approved by Horsham District Council last week. Ellen Pearce, Head of Planning at Inspired Villages commented, said: “We’re really pleased with the outcomes for our Arun Lea and Little Mount Lake communities as a tremendous amount of effort goes into each planning application. In the case of Little Mount Lake, we were keen to demonstrate to Wealden District Council Planning Committee Members what life at Inspired Villages looks like so it was fantastic to be able to share that with a tour around Ledian Gardens in Leeds, Kent. “We are now working toward the submission of a further seven planning applications for the remainder of the year and remain optimistic that the positive views of the council members and officers at these two communities will be echoed in other Local Authorities.” Inspired Villages CEO, Jamie Bunce continued: “Getting the green light to grow these two net-zero communities is a great way to kick off the second half of 2024. The simple fact is the UK needs more housing of every kind, the new National Planning Policy Framework states 1.5m new homes and these outcomes help towards that goal with a further 185 age-appropriate homes for our rapidly ageing population. It’s a positive step in the right direction and I would like to extend a huge well done to the planning team for all their hard work and dedication in making this happen.” Inspired Villages is an operator and developer of integrated retirement communities across the UK. It currently operates nine villages, which are home to over 1,200 residents. For more information visit www.inspiredvillages.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sunbelt Rentals has secured a multi-year agreement to become the preferred equipment rental supplier for Mitie, covering all areas of Mitie’s operations, including plant and hire equipment. This partnership aligns with Mitie’s Preferred Supplier Optimisation Strategy, with Sunbelt selected due to its streamlined ordering process and shared values. Both companies place a strong emphasis on sustainability, exceptional customer service, and delivering social value within the communities they operate. Phil Parker, Chief Executive Officer of Sunbelt Rentals, who assumed the role on 1 May 2024, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are proud to support Mitie as their preferred equipment rental supplier. Over time, we have developed a trusted partnership based on our shared values. Our ongoing investment in sustainable equipment and innovative technologies will enable Mitie to enhance its operations and provide even better service to its customers. This agreement is an excellent way to mark the launch of Sunbelt 4.0, our new five-year growth strategy, as we focus on prioritising, elevating, and enhancing all aspects of our business to support our customers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Nurture Group has completed its 48th acquisition with the purchase of Telford-based Spacecare Ltd. This strategic acquisition, completed earlier this month (August), will further bolster Nurture’s nationwide presence and service capabilities with Spacecare’s core grounds maintenance, winter maintenance and arboricultural services aligning seamlessly with Nurture’s offering. It is the Group’s 48th acquisition since its inception in 2008, and the third in this year alone as the Group consolidates its national footprint and quest to be the UK’s premier and largest horticultural services business. With effect from 1 October 2024, Spacecare will be operating under the Nurture Landscapes brand, continuing its commitment to exceptional service delivery. Founded originally as Keann (UK) Ltd in September 1997, the company rebranded as Spacecare Ltd in 2007, growing steadily over the years, with today more than 700 client sites and more than 200 colleagues operating from seven locations nationwide. The £9 million turnover business has built an enviable reputation for its first-class service, reflecting its robust growth and dedication to quality. Peter Fane, executive chairman of the Nurture Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition stating: “We are thrilled to welcome Spacecare to the Nurture Group. Spacecare is a well-reputed national provider whose services align perfectly with and complement our existing offerings. This acquisition not only enhances our nationwide presence but also ensures that Spacecare’s established clients alongside the Nurture Group’s existing clientele will continue to benefit from exceptional service delivery.” Chris Hicks, Managing Director of Spacecare Ltd, said: “We are delighted to become part of the Nurture Group. Our shared values and commitment to service excellence make this a natural fit, ensuring that our clients continue to receive the premier standards of service they have come to expect. We look forward to integrating into and contributing towards the continued success.” As a Real Living Wage employer since 2023, Spacecare’s integration underscores a shared dedication to employee welfare and service excellence. This acquisition represents a significant milestone in the Nurture Group’s ongoing expansion and commitment to providing top-tier horticultural and green workplace services across the UK. In barely 16 years, the Nurture Group has grown through a combination of organic growth and carefully targeted acquisitions and now turns over £200 million. With a workforce of more than 2,800 colleagues, Nurture has a national footprint throughout the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lead contractor Bouygues UK has been appointed by the Department for Education to build Stanmore College, a further education college in Harrow, under the CF21 Framework. The college will be funded by the DfE’s Further Education Improvement Programme. Bouygues UK will be reconfiguring the college’s existing site by replacing four buildings with four new builds, to be completed in summer 2027 with work starting imminently. Education is a key sector for Bouygues UK and the contractor has a strong track record of delivering high-quality, sustainable and inspiring places to learn. Another recent education project completed by Bouygues UK in London is Leigh Academy in Blackheath that achieved a BREEAM score of ‘Excellent’ giving it the sustainability level equivalent to the top 10% of the UK’s non-domestic buildings, demonstrating the contractor’s dedication to sustainable construction. Bouygues UK will be using its education building standardised ‘kit of parts’ approach for the build, incorporating net zero principles. This will help ensure flexibility, affordability, sustainability, reduced ongoing maintenance and surety of price and programme. As construction of the college commences, the contractor will be inducting its first cohort of T Level students into Design Surveying and Planning internships, developed in collaboration with the social enterprise, Class Of Your Own, renowned for its award-winning “Design Engineer Construct!” learning programme which will place future professionals at the heart of its cutting-edge projects. Phillippa Prongué, MD for London and the South East at Bouygues UK said, “We are thrilled to have been chosen for this project, as the education sector is a significant focus area for us, and excited to welcome our T Level interns who will be able to gain an unparalleled understanding of contractor work. Our construction methods for schools have evolved in line with the DfE’s output specification and we are looking forward to using our kit-of-parts approach and incorporating more off-site construction. We know that the construction of high-quality education buildings plays a key role in producing better student outcomes.” Stanmore College Principal, Annette Cast said. “We are committed to delivering education with immeasurable benefits for our students, both now and for future generations. We are excited to offer them modern, sustainable, state-of-the-art facilities in brand-new buildings that will provide an enhanced learning environment. These new spaces will significantly enrich the student experience, leading to better educational outcomes and equipping our students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in their future careers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The project involved the construction of one unit subdivided by a 1-hour firewall to create two lettable spaces of 42,000 and 58,000 sq. ft at Erdington Industrial Park in Birmingham. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that is has completed the construction of two lettable spaces of 42,000 and 58,000 sq. ft for investment management and advisory firm Vengrove at Erdington Industrial Park in Birmingham. The units which were built speculatively were constructed to an extremely high specification with best in class ESG credentials achieving the score of BREEAM Excellent and EPC A rating. The specification includes 10M eaves height, 44M yard depth, roof mounted PV panels together with dock level and level access doors. Speaking about the project Glencar Managing Director Midlands, Pete Goodman said: “This development goes some way towards tackling the shortage of new, high specification mid-box warehousing in Birmingham with occupier demand outstripping supply. Logistics and Industrial is truly at the core of what we do and the best in class ESG specification that features in this development is now firmly established as an industry benchmark. In this aspect, Glencar is making significant strides and leading the way in terms of delivering sustainable development that features both reduced carbon in construction and eventual operation. I would like to thank the full professional team on this build who have delivered an exceptional end-product and we look forward to seeing the building in operation”. Also in comment Jennie Brown, Asset Manager at Vengrove said:“We’re thrilled to be launching this best-in-class speculative scheme to the market. The levels of occupier interest we have seen in the units to date, both combined and individually, is a testament to the quality of product that has been delivered by Glencar and the professional team.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
