External wall insulation specialist Alsecco has introduced technical packs to support early, accurate specification and ensure that information required for the golden thread is in place from the start of a project. Providing brick slip systems, render and external wall insulation, the manufacturer has taken steps to give stakeholders, especially
On 26 September 2024, over 700 project professionals will come together to network, interact and learn about the topics that really matter to women in the project profession. Hosted by the Association for Project Management (APM), the Women in Project Management Conference 2024 is one of the biggest dates in
Seventy Ninth Group, a prominent asset management firm, has introduced a new £500m real estate bond aimed at revitalising leisure and holiday parks across the UK. The Seventy Ninth Luxury Living Six (LL6) bond is specifically designed for professional private and institutional investors, targeting the acquisition and redevelopment of UK
MODULAR pool provider Myrtha Pools is set to deliver a new state-of-the-art hydrotherapy swim offering at Surrey specialist school, Philip Southcote School, as part of wider expansion works on the school’s main campus, on behalf of Surrey County Council. Procured through the fifth generation of the Southern Construction Framework, Morgan
Work on the fifth and final phase of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme is set to start in the first week of September along Ports Creek, the northern shore of Portsea Island. The work will include 1.3 km of flood defences with a design consisting of a sloped earth embankment,
Helvar, a leading innovator in intelligent lighting solutions, is excited to announce the official commercial launch of Helvar Senses, an advanced environmental sensing solution integrated into lighting controls. Building on insights gained from pilot projects across various industries, including a successful trial with Rejlers in Sweden, Helvar Senses is now available to the
6,000t capacity giant enables faster construction methodologies across the energy sector Mammoet, the largest global engineered heavy lifting and transport company, has today launched the world’s strongest land-based crane, the SK6000. As populations grow, so do our energy needs. The SK6000 re-defines the scale of human construction, allowing large energy
Balfour Beatty has featured in The Energyst discussing how its Asset Technology Solutions (ATS) business is supporting the decarbonisation of the company. The article explores how Balfour Beatty is reinventing ways of working and introducing new technologies and solutions including EcoNet, a power management tool, and EcoSense site cabins that
McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) has announced the start of works on a significant new project, ‘B4’, at one of the UK’s largest and busiest airports. Valued at £12,844,105.00, the development on the World Freight Terminal at Manchester Airport marks a crucial addition to its infrastructure. Delivered on behalf of
A breaking-ground ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction work at a new village on the edge of Swindon up to 2,500 homes. Senior figures from housebuilder Vistry Group, Sovereign Network Group (SNG) and Swindon Borough Council gathered to formally place the first spade in the ground
External wall insulation specialist Alsecco has introduced technical packs to support early, accurate specification and ensure that information required for the golden thread is in place from the start of a project. Providing brick slip systems, render and external wall insulation, the manufacturer has taken steps to give stakeholders, especially on high rise projects, the information needed to successfully specify projects at the initial engagement stage. Pulling together essential information including a U-value calculation for the project, condensation risk analysis, certification, technical and safety data, the packs contain all the information required to demonstrate that Alsecco’s systems meet the design specification – and are compliant with the relevant regulations. In addition, the technical team at Alsecco create a suite of drawings for the packs to support the application and installation of the systems, with the option to update and change this on site at a later stage within the design process. While providing the level of detail needed to demonstrate how the products would perform within the project specification, including thermal efficiency and weather performance, the packs also ensure that the level of detail required to support the golden thread is in place from the start. Ben Robinson, Technical Manager at Alsecco, said: “The introduction of the Building Safety Act has understandably seen the demand for comprehensive information around all building systems increase rapidly. “In meeting this need from the outset we aim to take a forward-looking approach that puts in place all the detail that is needed to support the progress of a project through the gateway system, and to provide the detail that will support the golden thread for the lifetime of the building. “As a manufacturer we are committed to supporting the highest standards in construction and have the digital tools and technical knowledge to offer that to specifiers, architects and contractors as soon as interest has been lodged in a scheme. “While having the correct certification will be vital for the gateway scheme it is also essential that calculations for U-values are correct and that an accurate condensation risk analysis is in place to inform the correct use of systems to fulfil the criteria, ensure lasting quality in the build and to increase application processing speeds for our valued partners.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On 26 September 2024, over 700 project professionals will come together to network, interact and learn about the topics that really matter to women in the project profession. Hosted by the Association for Project Management (APM), the Women in Project Management Conference 2024 is one of the biggest dates in APM’s calendar. This year’s Women in Project Management Conference 2024: Leadership Unpacked will feature keynotes, speeches, and sessions on a variety of topics, including the three key streams; Women in Leadership, Celebrating Differences, and Career Develop Tools and Techniques. Additionally, the event will see APM’s new President Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE DL give her first major speech since being appointed to the role. Dr Thompson is the founder of the WinTrade Global Women in Business Network Summit and Awards and is part of a powerful network supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for greater gender and race equality and equity. Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE DL, APM President, said: “It’s an honour to have been appointed as the new President for the Association for Project Management. Not only is this an extremely proud moment for me personally, but it’s an important step for females in the project profession. “Currently the gender pay gap in the project profession is 16% higher than the national average and the number of females in leadership roles is at risk of stagnation. There are plenty of opportunities to improve the equality and diversity across the industry. “I can’t wait to hear from some of the many inspirational individuals at the conference and see so many project professionals come together to celebrate women in project management. “One of my main goals as APM President is to combat this issue of stagnation and break down barriers for women in the project profession. APM’s Women in Project Management Conference is a great opportunity to learn more about exactly what matters to women in the project profession.” The day includes a busy programme of speeches, panel sessions and workshops hosted by a wide variety of speakers from across the project profession and beyond. These sessions promise to provide attendees with the skills and behaviours required for their own personal and professional development. Most notably, the conference will feature keynotes from social entrepreneur and broadcaster Natalie Campbell MBE and England rugby world cup winner Maggie Alphonsi MBE. The event is concluded with a drinks reception that provides attendees with further opportunities to network and meet with like-minded individuals. APM is committed to improving the equality and diversity of those within the project profession in order to deliver improved project outcomes for the benefit of society. It supports businesses and individuals of all sizes with memberships, qualifications, chartered status, events and its online community hub. To learn more, visit apm.org.uk/apm-wipm-conference. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Seventy Ninth Group, a prominent asset management firm, has introduced a new £500m real estate bond aimed at revitalising leisure and holiday parks across the UK. The Seventy Ninth Luxury Living Six (LL6) bond is specifically designed for professional private and institutional investors, targeting the acquisition and redevelopment of UK holiday assets. With over 50 years of experience in real estate asset management, Seventy Ninth Group plans to capitalise on the post-pandemic market by acquiring holiday parks at significantly reduced prices. The strategy involves redeveloping these assets, with some being sold to the holiday and investment markets while others will be retained within the group’s long-term portfolio. Jake Webster, Managing Director of Seventy Ninth Group, commented: “The launch of this £500m bond highlights the ongoing success and expansion of our real estate investment portfolio. With the UK residential buy-to-let market facing uncertainty and record-high interest rates, astute investors are seeking to diversify their real estate holdings. We believe LL6 offers an excellent opportunity for our global network of 2,500 partners to achieve strong returns, and we look forward to welcoming more qualified investors in the coming weeks.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MODULAR pool provider Myrtha Pools is set to deliver a new state-of-the-art hydrotherapy swim offering at Surrey specialist school, Philip Southcote School, as part of wider expansion works on the school’s main campus, on behalf of Surrey County Council. Procured through the fifth generation of the Southern Construction Framework, Morgan Sindall Construction is leading the construction work, which includes two new blocks, one comprising of new classrooms, an ICT suite and additional provision for hearing impaired students, and the second housing the specialist hydrotherapy pool, being delivered by the Myrtha Pools team. The 20 x 8 x 1.2mt pool is set to showcase cutting-edge technology which utilises offsite construction and a stainless-steel makeup in favour of reduced cost and installation time, along with offering carbon reductions of up to 45%. Also set to be delivered within the pool design are hydromassage areas to promote circulation and relaxation for users, offering increased ergonomic benefits. Kevin Burns, UK business development manager at Myrtha Pools, said: “A core ethos for us at Myrtha Pools is providing a positive impact for our end users, and this project couldn’t be more aligned with that. Having the opportunity to boost wellness and wellbeing within an educational environment is a huge privilege and we’re looking forward to watching the project unfold alongside Morgan Sindall over the coming weeks. “The bespoke hydrotherapy facilities we are delivering is just one example of our acceleration within the UK leisure market over the past year. We have a growing portfolio of operators who are beginning to understand the unique benefits stainless steel pools hold over traditional concrete. We’re helping create a positive and healthy future within the leisure market and having specialist schools as part of this mix adds to the growing level of expertise we can offer right here in the UK.” Guy Hannell, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Southern Home Counties, said: “At Morgan Sindall, we understand the importance of providing inspirational learning environments to every child in order to provide them with the very best start in life. It has been a pleasure to work with Myrtha Pools and Surrey County Council to provide prospective learners with some of the most state-of-the-art equipment in the region.” Additional car parking facilities and external landscaping will also be created as part of the Philip Southcote scheme in Weybridge. For more information on Myrtha Pools and its solutions, visit https://www.myrthapools.com/en/dealers/myrtha-pools-uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work on the fifth and final phase of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme is set to start in the first week of September along Ports Creek, the northern shore of Portsea Island. The work will include 1.3 km of flood defences with a design consisting of a sloped earth embankment, which provides the required flood defence level, with rock armour towards the creek. Construction company Knights Brown was appointed in August to carry out the work which is set to finish by the end of 2026. Knights Brown previously constructed the first and third phases, meaning they will have completed the majority of work on this valuable scheme. Construction site boundaries will comprise of the area north of the Hilsea Lines moat. Visitors will still be able to access the woodlands known as Foxes Forest on the southern side of the moat. The Portsbridge carpark near Portsbridge roundabout will be closed for the duration of the work. The footbridge leading over the M27 from Peronne Road will be closed for a one-week period in October, to allow a temporary overpass for pedestrians to be constructed. The overpass will remain in place for the duration of the work, maintaining pedestrian access to the footbridge. The footbridge adjacent to the railway line, further east along the creek, will be closed from November 2024 for a period of approximately 12 months (more information will be available when the detailed construction programme is finalised). Diversion routes will be signposted and updates will be available through signage, on social media and the website. As this phase will regenerate an area famous for its green open spaces the focus will be on retaining the natural feel by planting trees, native scrubs and wildflowers, improving paths, and access to the coastal path along the waterfront. New picnic benches, seating, play areas and viewing platforms along the coastal path route will create a more enjoyable environment. The North Portsea Coastal Scheme will also protect the Hilsea Lines by providing a future proof flood defence system, ensuring that this nationally important historical asset will be available for visitors to enjoy for the decades ahead. The project is funded by the Environment Agency and implemented by Coastal Partners on behalf of Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth City Council Leader, Cllr Steve Pitt said: “We’re very pleased to be working collaboratively with Knights Brown on the final phase of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme. It’s an exciting time as we forge towards completing the final link in this vital £85.9million sea defence project, which is made possible thanks to funding by the Environment Agency.” The scheme as a whole is one of the largest local authority-led coastal flood defence projects in the UK and is crucial for the protection of Portsmouth residents. The defences will safeguard more than 4,000 homes and almost 500 businesses. In total, it covers 8.4km of coastline from Tipner through to Milton. Most of the area is low-lying and many of the current coastal defences were approaching the end of their effective lives. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Helvar, a leading innovator in intelligent lighting solutions, is excited to announce the official commercial launch of Helvar Senses, an advanced environmental sensing solution integrated into lighting controls. Building on insights gained from pilot projects across various industries, including a successful trial with Rejlers in Sweden, Helvar Senses is now available to the broader market. By incorporating smart environmental sensing into its offering, Helvar’s solutions now offer even more opportunities to optimise building performance, sustainability, and occupant wellbeing. When it comes to enhancing building performance through lighting systems, a crucial element has often been overlooked – the potential to go beyond traditional controls. Lighting systems, which already serve as one of the densest sensor networks within a building, offer a unique opportunity to provide much more than light. With the addition of environmental sensing capabilities – such as monitoring air quality, temperature, humidity, and noise levels – Helvar Senses collects actionable data that can optimise not just lighting but overall building performance. This approach offers a scalable solution that is easier to manage and maintain compared to deploying standalone sensors. By integrating environmental sensing into the existing lighting infrastructure, building operators benefit from a unified system that reduces complexity, lowers operational expenditure (OpEx), and is simpler to maintain over time. By correlating data on occupancy and environmental conditions, building operators can make more informed decisions, leading to significant energy savings and reduced carbon emissions. For instance, integrating HVAC systems with Helvar Senses helps avoid siloed operations and enables better control over energy use by aligning air quality with occupancy patterns. Supporting Sustainability Goals and Building StandardsIn response to increasingly stringent sustainability directives such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and evolving building standards like BREEAM, WELL, and LEED, Helvar Senses offers a solution that helps minimise the “performance gap”– the difference between the predicted energy performance of a building and its actual energy usage. By providing real-time data, building operators can adjust systems to ensure that energy consumption is optimised according to real conditions, helping to meet both regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. Helvar Senses allows building operators to monitor key indoor environmental factors and thus better support the wellbeing of occupants. This is particularly relevant as organisations prioritise creating healthier workspaces that promote productivity and comfort. Customer Success with Rejlers The deployment of Helvar Senses in real-world projects has already produced impressive results. One of these projects is with Rejlers, a leading engineering consultancy who chose to expand their system at their HQ Office in Gothenburg, Sweden. The team opted to include Helvar Senses in their lighting renovation and saw immediate benefits. Nicklas Stenberg, project manager and team leader at Rejlers, explained how the solution has improved their indoor environment: “After expanding the entire system with Helvar Senses, we now have an easy way to check temperatures and air quality inside the premises. Previously, if we felt the air was bad, we would complain without any data to back it up. Now, we can monitor the actual conditions and take action accordingly.” Helvar Senses is empowering buildings to achieve greater energy efficiency while improving occupant wellbeing. By leveraging data from lighting sensors, Helvar Senses not only optimises lighting and energy use but also supports a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment. As companies strive to meet sustainability directives such as the CSRD, Helvar Senses offers a smart solution that drives measurable progress toward environmental goals. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
6,000t capacity giant enables faster construction methodologies across the energy sector Mammoet, the largest global engineered heavy lifting and transport company, has today launched the world’s strongest land-based crane, the SK6000. As populations grow, so do our energy needs. The SK6000 re-defines the scale of human construction, allowing large energy and infrastructure projects to build from bigger pieces, in parallel – reaching first power sooner, and more cost-effectively. The SK6000 has a key role in offshore wind, where fast growth of components in recent years has led to supply chain issues. Lifting 3,000t to a height of 220m, the SK6000 ensures that wind farms in the planning phase today can be safely executed and delivered in the future. In the oil and gas sector, the SK6000 delivers reduced integration times to offshore floating projects, while onshore new build and expansion projects can be delivered with increased uptime. Both scopes then benefit from modular construction techniques that allow critical path components to be simultaneously built offsite anywhere in the world, before transporting to site ahead of installation. As more new-build nuclear plants are greenlit, the SK6000 helps the sector to benefit from similar tried-and-tested construction methodologies – helping projects to reach completion sooner and deliver low carbon energy to communities. The SK6000 has a maximum capacity of 6,000t, utilizing 4,200t of ballast to lift with a maximum ground bearing pressure of 30t/m2. The crane design uses containerization techniques for ease of deployment, and can be transported using shipping containers to any location worldwide. It also offers full electric power capability from battery or supply from the grid, allowing customers to reduce the carbon impact of projects significantly. “This crane is truly a world record feat of engineering, with a production schedule to match”, said Gavin Kerr, Director Global Services at Mammoet. “Hundreds of colleagues have been directly involved with its development across the business. There are very few companies on Earth – if any – that could have brought this crane into reality, and we are immensely proud to be able to do so”. The SK6000 is currently undergoing testing at Mammoet’s Westdorpe facility in the Netherlands, ready for deployment to its first project later in the year. [Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty has featured in The Energyst discussing how its Asset Technology Solutions (ATS) business is supporting the decarbonisation of the company. The article explores how Balfour Beatty is reinventing ways of working and introducing new technologies and solutions including EcoNet, a power management tool, and EcoSense site cabins that are equipped with energy-saving features, to reduce carbon emissions across projects. Balfour Beatty Energy Manager, Stuart McLeod, said: “By embracing innovation and sustainability, we can pave the way for a new era in construction where efficiency and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Our dedication and ingenuity will drive this change, with ATS proving that a sustainable and energy-efficient future is within our reach.” You can read the full article here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) has announced the start of works on a significant new project, ‘B4’, at one of the UK’s largest and busiest airports. Valued at £12,844,105.00, the development on the World Freight Terminal at Manchester Airport marks a crucial addition to its infrastructure. Delivered on behalf of Columbia Threadneedle Investments, the project follows a previous phase of works for the client, at the World Freight Terminal development to the west of Manchester Airport, which concentrated on the build of a 100,000 sq. ft warehouse sub-divided into three commercial units, with internal office spaces. B4 involves the design and construction of a state-of-the-art industrial unit, complete with office space, external works, and meticulous landscaping. Spanning 92,000 square feet, the facility will serve as prime industrial and logistics space within the boundaries of airport security. With a 50-week completion target, McLaren Construction Midlands and North will oversee all aspects of construction, including associated access roads and sustainable landscaping features. The building’s external finishes will align with the contractors previous successful projects for Columbia Threadneedle, including B3 DNATA and B401, ensuring architectural consistency and quality. McLaren Construction Midlands and North demonstrates its commitment to environmental sustainability by integrating recycled components from previous demolitions, using available materials from the groundwork that can be crushed and re-used, and connecting to the site’s Mains Power, thereby eliminating the need for generators and fuel. This approach not only contributes to the project’s exceptional BREEAM Rating of Excellent and EPC rating of A+ but also extends to McLaren’s efforts to enhance local ecology. Particularly near the Site-Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) areas. The contractor has meticulously planned the development to minimise environmental impact, enhance biodiversity, and target additional BREEAM points for ecological enhancements. Operating within the confines of airport security has posed unique logistical challenges but McLaren Construction has navigated these complexities by collaborating closely with Manchester Airport Group (MAG) Utilities and other stakeholders, ensuring seamless coordination of deliveries amidst ongoing airport operations. Gary Cramp, managing director of McLaren Construction (Midlands and North), said: “We are proud to once again be working with Columbia Threadneedle Investments on this vital addition to the World Freight Terminal infrastructure. The B4 project is an essential part of the airport’s ongoing development, providing much-needed industrial and logistics space. With our experience in delivering high-quality projects in complex environments, we are confident that this new facility will play a key role in supporting the airport’s growth and operational needs.” To find out more about McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) Ltd, please visit: www.mclarengroup.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A breaking-ground ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction work at a new village on the edge of Swindon up to 2,500 homes. Senior figures from housebuilder Vistry Group, Sovereign Network Group (SNG) and Swindon Borough Council gathered to formally place the first spade in the ground at Lotmead on Friday 23 August. The development, which is a joint venture between Vistry and SNG, has been planned to include a local centre, two primary schools, sports hub and green space on a 417-acre site to the east of Wanborough Road. Lotmead forms part of the wider New Eastern Villages project which is set to provide around 8,000 new homes alongside a range of new employment, health, retail, education and leisure facilities. Vistry Cotswolds will build 214 homes under its Bovis Homes brand in the first phase of Lotmead, known as King George Park, on a 39-acre parcel of land in the south-western part of the wider site. This will include 153 properties for private sale through Vistry’s Bovis Homes brand and 61 affordable homes for low-cost rent or shared ownership through SNG. The breaking-ground ceremony was attended by Swindon Borough Council leader Jim Robbins, the council’s corporate director for inclusive economy and sustainability James Coulstock, and director of strategic growth Richard Bell. Also in attendance were James Gibson, development director at SNG, and a delegation from the senior management team at Vistry Cotswolds led by regional managing director Supriya Ray. Councillor Robbins said: “I am delighted we have been able to support the UK’s biggest housebuilder, Vistry, in unlocking this site for over 2,000 homes in the New Eastern Villages (NEV) to show that Swindon is leading the way in delivering the housing growth expected by the new government. “Lotmead will see a significant number of new homes, 30 per cent of which will be affordable, and a brand new community in a village setting complete with schools, green open spaces and local facilities delivering on our missions to build a greener and better Swindon. “I look forward to seeing the development take shape as we continue our drive to meet our housing targets so we build the homes our residents will need now and into the future.” Supriya Ray, regional managing director of Vistry Cotswolds, said: “The New Eastern Villages scheme is one of the most significant urban regeneration projects in the UK. This exciting development will not only help to address the country’s housing shortage but also assist Swindon Borough Council’s aspirations to kick start economic growth in the town and wider region. “Lotmead is one of the first villages to be brought forward within the wider scheme, and will therefore have an integral role to play in the formation of this new community. We are proud to be working in partnership with SNG and the council to deliver the new homes and infrastructure which will create a thriving and sustainable neighbourhood where people will want to live. “Our involvement in this massively important project reflects our partnerships-led approach and further underlines Vistry’s position as the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes.” As part of the planning agreement for the development, Vistry will be providing a significant investment in local services and infrastructure, which it expects to be in the region of £60 million. This will include contributions towards primary and secondary education, healthcare and road improvements. In addition to this, Vistry will be providing allotments, sports pitches, two equipped play areas, a new road, cycle links, and a sports pavilion. James Gibson, Development Director Regional Managing Director West at SNG, said: “This site is a positive step towards delivering our ambitious plans for tens of thousands of good, affordable, new homes that are much needed. I’m delighted that our joint venture with Vistry will form a vital part of the delivery of this vision in the Swindon area. “To maximise our impact, we’re always looking to work with partners like Vistry that share our vision of building high quality, sustainable neighbourhoods with the range of supporting facilities and infrastructure that will form a thriving community over generations at Lotmead.” Outline planning permission for the Lotmead scheme was granted in 2021 and detailed plans for the first phase of 214 homes were approved by Swindon Borough Council in June this year. Properties will include a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses and eight one-bedroom apartments. The first homes are due to be completed by Summer 2025. For more information about Vistry Group, visit vistrygroup.co.uk. To find out more about SNG, go to sng.org.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
