Moda, Holland Park, a new rental neighbourhood with community and wellbeing at its heart, has reached practical completion and opened its doors to residents in the centre of Glasgow. Proving strong demand for high quality rental homes in the city, Moda, Holland Park opened its doors with all available apartments
Salford housing association Salix Homes has been awarded the highest grading from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in recognition of the homes and services it provides for customers. The RSH, the Government body that regulates the social housing sector, has recently completed a thorough inspection of Salix Homes as
More than one in three construction managers in the UK say that incorrectly sized equipment has caused operational inefficiencies on site, potentially disrupting their operations. According to the findings of a new report from Aggreko, ‘A Perfect Storm for European Construction?,’ 37% of UK respondents said that they had experienced
In collaboration with HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd, WJ Group were tasked with applying new road markings on the M6/M42 link road as part of long-term traffic management to support the construction of Phase One of the High-Speed rail network from London to Birmingham. The well-known high-speed rail project has
Technology provider HiiLIFE has announced the appointment of Oliver O’Hare as its first sales director. Hiring a new senior team member marks a significant step in HiiLIFE’s ongoing expansion, with Oliver bringing a wealth of experience in the engineering and HVAC sectors to the team. HiiLIFE, provides bespoke luxury
Partnership will enable users to instantly scan spaces and then experiment with lighting solutions to find the optimum design Metaroom by Amrax, a spatial 3D data capture company, has announced a partnership with the world’s largest lighting design software provider DIALux. The tie-up will enable users to send 3D scan
After a competitive tender process, Parkfords Management has been appointed to manage Century Tower in Chelmsford on behalf of the newly formed Right to Manage company. Michael Lawton, Director of Parkfords, explained, “This is a significant win for our Essex office. Over the last 18 months, we have made rapid
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has acquired a prime 65-acre site on the Nottinghamshire/Yorkshire border with planning consent for over 1.2 million sq ft. The two phase development, called Panattoni Central A1(M), by junction 34 of the A1(M), has been acquired from Mulberry
Southern Construction Framework (SCF), leading construction procurement framework delivered by the public sector for the public sector in the South of England, has launched its second generation Consult framework. Global programme and project delivery consultant and construction expert Mace and AJ 100 Top 15 architectural practice Corstorphine & Wright have secured
An industry expert is urging the new government to ensure it includes the development and prioritisation of retrofit training and knowledge as part of its focus on skills. The call follows the King’s announcement earlier this month of the Skills Bill designed to bring together local and national government, business,
Moda, Holland Park, a new rental neighbourhood with community and wellbeing at its heart, has reached practical completion and opened its doors to residents in the centre of Glasgow. Proving strong demand for high quality rental homes in the city, Moda, Holland Park opened its doors with all available apartments fully let. With state-of-the-art facilities across its 433 homes and amenities, the neighbourhood cements Moda Living’s reputation for building the happiest and healthiest communities in the UK. With design and materials inspired by Glasgow’s heritage in arts, culture and industry as well as the city’s botanical gardens, Moda, Holland Park, has delivered 433 interior-designed studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments for rent on Pitt Street, available furnished or unfurnished. The homes are complemented by 11,000 sq ft of amenities including a 24/7 gym and fitness centre, private dining rooms, cinema and gaming rooms, sky lounges with panoramic views over Glasgow, and landscaped spaces and roof terraces. Rent includes access to these spaces, high-speed wifi, and a 24/7 concierge service. The neighbourhood also offers 15,000 sq ft of commercial space. Health and wellbeing are built into the core of the neighbourhood, with a three-star Fitwel rating, Moda ensures wellness is embedded in every aspect of its buildings and public spaces from initial design to long-term operation. Working closely with team and residents, Moda will continually work to manage the carbon output of the rental neighbourhood. Utopi sensors in each apartment will allow residents to monitor their carbon output through the MyModa app, and ongoing communications with residents will encourage sustainable living within the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood significantly boosted employment and skills in the city centre, with 1,226 local people employed on the project. Training was provided to 24 apprentices and another 120 people under the age of 24. Moda’s construction partner Roberston also diverted 100% of site waste away from landfill. During construction of Moda, Holland Park, £38m was injected directly into the local economy, £11m of which was spent with SMEs. Moda, Holland Park was funded by a JV between Harrison Street, NFU Mutual and Apache Capital. Haus Collective and Ryder Architects were the architects on the project. As the long-term operator of the neighbourhood, Moda will continue to drive social value and contribute positively to its wider community. Earlier this year, Moda announced a three-year partnership with Glasgow School of Art. Moda, Holland Park is Moda’s second build-to-rent neighbourhood in Scotland, following Moda, The McEwan in Edinburgh – also funded by the Harrison Street, NFU Mutual and Apache Capital JV. Andrew Parker, Managing Director of Development at Moda Group, said: “Moda, Holland Park has delivered a new way of living to Glasgow, adding much needed, high-quality housing for its communities to enjoy for generations to come. We’re proud to have completed the build on the neighbourhood and of the jobs and wider economic value the project has delivered to date. We thank Robertson for its hard work on the project to realise the fantastic ambition of the project. “Our first residents are now living in the neighbourhood and we are looking forward to growing our Glasgow community in the coming weeks and months.” Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive, Robertson Group, said: “Seeing Holland Park come to life, as the first residents move in, is immensely satisfying for everyone on the team. The project is an exceptional example of repurposing a city centre site and how buy-to-rent can push boundaries, centred on integrated technology, health and wellbeing. “The site itself presented a challenging city centre interface but through close collaboration with our site neighbours, and a shared ethos with Moda to create positive change in what we do. We continue to champion high quality construction which enhances local communities. Over the course of the project, £38m has been spent with our local supply chain, and the site has provided training experience for over 100 young people.” John Dunkerley, CEO, Apache Capital: “With a conducive policy framework, institutional capital can play a critical role in Scotland’s rental housing market, not only in respect of boosting supply, but also in terms of stock diversification and improvement of the resident experience. Holland Park and The McEwan are exemplary in their approach towards amenity provision, operational management, and local community building, and set the standard of what renters can come to expect through build-to-rent development.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Salford housing association Salix Homes has been awarded the highest grading from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in recognition of the homes and services it provides for customers. The RSH, the Government body that regulates the social housing sector, has recently completed a thorough inspection of Salix Homes as part of the new standards and inspection programme introduced to help drive improvements in the quality of homes and services in the sector. Salix Homes, which owns 8,000 homes across Salford in Greater Manchester, is one of the first housing associations in the country to be awarded the highest possible C1 (consumer) grading, which is a newly introduced rating system based on performance against the new Consumer Standards. The landlord also retained its G1 grading for governance and V2 grading for financial viability. Sue Sutton, Salix Homes Chief Executive, said: “This is a really positive outcome for Salix Homes and we’re very proud to be amongst the first housing associations to have achieved the highest possible C1 grading under the new Consumer Standards, which reflects our ongoing commitment to putting customers at the heart of our organisation. “This achievement is testament to the dedication and hard work of our workforce, Board and Customer Committee. It also underpins our collective efforts to ensure that our homes are safe and well-maintained, our customers are listened to and respected, and that our services are responsive and effective. “Retaining our G1 and V2 gradings also highlights our dedication to strong governance and financial stability. These gradings assure our customers, colleagues and stakeholders that we are managing our resources wisely and are well-positioned to continue providing high-quality homes and services. “While we are proud of this recognition, we are not complacent. We’re committed to continuous improvement, and we will carry on learning from customer feedback to ensure we can keep delivering a housing service in Salford we’re all proud to be a part of.” In its judgement, the Regulator recognised Salix Homes’ strengths, including: The Government introduced the new Consumer Standards in April this year as part of an integrated approach to social housing regulation, setting the outcomes that landlords must deliver for tenants. Social housing providers have previously been assessed on their Governance (G grading) and financial Viability (V grading), but now there’s a new Consumer (C grading). Launched as part of the Social Housing Regulation Act, the new approach aims to drive improvements in the quality of social housing and services while continuing to scrutinise the financial viability and governance of housing associations. You can read the full judgement about Salix Homes on the RSH website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
More than one in three construction managers in the UK say that incorrectly sized equipment has caused operational inefficiencies on site, potentially disrupting their operations. According to the findings of a new report from Aggreko, ‘A Perfect Storm for European Construction?,’ 37% of UK respondents said that they had experienced issues with sizing equipment in the past year. Incorrectly sizing equipment can have a negative impact on both the sustainability and efficiency of a construction site as businesses will inevitably waste power and fuel. This can also pose a higher risk of equipment failure, in addition to unnecessary carbon emissions and increased costs. Specifying the correct solution for an application can change this. Getting the size right first time optimises performance over a project’s duration which can be a huge benefit for those who must hit sustainability targets as part of their contract. Tom Adlington, Sector Sales Manager, Building Services & Construction at Aggreko, said: “The strain on construction managers is already exceedingly high, so adding the stress of having inefficient and incorrectly sized equipment is something they could do without. “Using the expertise of their solutions provider to choose the correct equipment for the job is a vital step in achieving efficiency. Correctly sized and specified equipment offers savings on energy and is key to sustainability – making it a true win-win situation for the operator.” Different technologies should also be considered when sizing power equipment effectively. Hybridisation of generators is a prime example of this, where combining battery energy storage systems alongside modular and flexible power allows operation with greater efficiencies, lower noise levels and less emissions. “New technologies are giving stakeholders a real selection of viable solutions for their energy needs,” added Tom. “Combining these solutions in one efficient package can provide savings and give construction managers the peace of mind that comes with knowing everything is taken care of.” Despite the right-sizing challenges facing UK construction managers, the situation fairs better in the UK than Europe as a whole, where the Aggreko research found that 50% of 853 construction managers questioned thought incorrectly sized equipment had impacted site efficiency this year. To read the full report from Aggreko, ‘A Perfect Storm for European Construction’ click HERE Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In collaboration with HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd, WJ Group were tasked with applying new road markings on the M6/M42 link road as part of long-term traffic management to support the construction of Phase One of the High-Speed rail network from London to Birmingham. The well-known high-speed rail project has several implications for the UK’s strategic road network, as new structures and road alterations are required to enable it to cross the road network. Through their close partnership and knowledge of each other businesses, alongside shared aims of improving road worker safety and delivery efficiency, HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd worked with WJ to utilise two of their newest innovations on this scheme, the ThermoPrint and Autonomous PreMarker. These innovations both remove operatives from the potential dangers of working on the carriageway and into the safety of the vehicle. WJ Autonomous PreMarker Owing to the project’s long-term nature and considering future traffic management changes to the road layout to accommodate construction works, the WJ Autonomous PreMarker was deployed. The WJ Autonomous PreMarker represents a significant advancement in road marking technology by dramatically enhancing safety and efficiency during the pre-marking process. Traditionally, and still primarily, this process is conducted manually, exposing operatives to significant safety risks and creating substantial inefficiencies. By integrating state-of-the-art GPS-based positioning, advanced camera equipment and sophisticated onboard computing, the Autonomous PreMarker automates this process, removing operatives from the carriageway and greatly increasing efficiency. It does this by recording the exact position of road markings at normal traffic speeds, and then accurately pre-marking before new markings are installed. During this scheme, the equipment recorded all current longitudinal markings on this section of the network, so when they come to be changed and reinstated in years to come, the data will already be available to WJ, helping to improve efficiency and ensure they are replaced precisely where they were. ThermoPrint The second innovation utilised on this scheme was the ThermoPrint, which installed 10 sets of M6 & M42 markings and arrows, delivering multiple benefits for safety, efficiency and performance. ThermoPrint is an automated road marking application machine that effectively removes the potentially hazardous, manual process of laying thermoplastic road markings by hand. This innovative technology shifts operatives from the carriageway to the safety of a vehicle cab, reducing the risks associated with working close to live traffic. Productivity is also enhanced by enabling quicker application of road markings without the need to set out before installation, reducing the time spent on site, and consequently improving project deliverable timelines. Additionally, it delivers higher retro-reflectivity, improved visibility and uniformity in application whilst its unique dotted line marking system enhances wet night performance by facilitating drainage, ensuring the marking stands proud of surface water, increasing visibility for road users. Conclusion The deployment of WJ Group’s latest innovations on the high-speed rail scheme, in collaboration with HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd, marks a significant step forward in enhancing road worker safety and operational efficiency. By utilising the Autonomous PreMarker and ThermoPrint technologies on the M6/M42 link road, the partnership has shown a potential future for the sector where fewer people are working on the carriageway, whilst also streamlining project timelines. These innovations demonstrate WJ Group and HW Martin’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to support the construction of the new high speed rail network, ultimately contributing to a safer and more efficient road network. As the high-speed rail project progresses, the integration of such advanced technologies will continue to play a crucial role in managing the complex demands of this infrastructure project. For more information about WJ Group, please visit: https://www.wj.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Technology provider HiiLIFE has announced the appointment of Oliver O’Hare as its first sales director. Hiring a new senior team member marks a significant step in HiiLIFE’s ongoing expansion, with Oliver bringing a wealth of experience in the engineering and HVAC sectors to the team. HiiLIFE, provides bespoke luxury technology packages for the construction, hospitality, and residential sectors. The business offers a comprehensive one-stop shop for all technological needs, including audio-visual (AV) systems, home entertainment, lighting, audio solutions, white goods, climate solutions, and smart home technology. Oliver said: “I was drawn to HiiLIFE by the company’s vibrant culture; the team is dedicated to working extremely hard, but also reward our efforts generously. The opportunity to continue working with Samsung HVAC equipment was another key factor, and it’s great to work in a new environment where we provide clients with one-stop solutions for all their technology needs. “I’m enjoying the team approach we have at HiiLIFE, where everyone works together to drive sales. Our culture is to encourage and support employees in achieving their goals and creating a clear growth trajectory for the benefit of both the individual and the business.” Oliver joined HiiLIFE from M&E contracting business, Chillflame Ltd. He joined Chillflame in 2014 and progressed from engineer to managing director within five years. Oliver increased Chillflame’s annual turnover by 350% and secured several large-scale clients such as Public Health England, Porton Down. Under Oliver’s management, Chillflame also won Contractor of the Year: HVAC & Specialist at the RAC Cooling Industry Awards in 2022. Oliver continued: “After thriving under the responsibility of leading a business and dealing with multi-million-pound contracts for the past four years, I’m looking forward to bringing that knowledge to HiiLIFE. I hope that my keen eye for detail and experience managing accounts, projects, and employees will land me in good stead for my new role.” As sales director, Oliver’s focus will be expanding HiiLIFE’s market presence and driving sales growth. His primary aim is to foster strong, enduring business relationships while consistently achieving sales milestones. Tom Brittain, Managing Director of HiiLIFE, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Oliver to the HiiLIFE family. His extensive experience and proven track record in growing businesses make him the perfect addition to our team. We are confident that his leadership in the sales division will help us achieve our ambitious growth goals and further establish HiiLIFE as a leader in luxury home technology.” For more information about HiiLIFE and its bespoke packages, please visit www.hii-life.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Partnership will enable users to instantly scan spaces and then experiment with lighting solutions to find the optimum design Metaroom by Amrax, a spatial 3D data capture company, has announced a partnership with the world’s largest lighting design software provider DIALux. The tie-up will enable users to send 3D scan data from Amrax’s Metaroom solution directly to DIALux’s planning software. This new feature will be available from mid-September with the release of DIALux evo 13. This allows the fast creation of precise and detailed light plans for each room. Scans* can be made in a matter of minutes on any Apple Pro device with a LiDAR sensor and then instantly imported into DIALux. At this point, users can experiment with scores of different factors to find the most cost effective, aesthetically pleasing, functional and sustainable lighting solution for their space. The partnership between Metaroom and DIALux aims to streamline the spatial design process for professional designers and consequently help to power innovation, sustainable design, and lower costs. The Metaroom app is an advanced 3D scanning app, driven by the power of AI, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) technologies. The tool enables professionals in spatial planning industries to envision and redefine spaces. The Metaroom solution is a workflow consisting of Metaroom app for capture and Metaroom Studio for optimisation before export. Through the Metaroom app users can scan rooms using an iPhone Pro or iPad Pro*. These scans are then uploaded to the cloud, generating true-to-scale 3D models within seconds. Users can then use the web application, Metaroom Studio, to enrich these 3D models with additional information before exporting, ensuring project-specific customisation and precision. DIALux is the global standard in lighting design software, utilized by over 750,000 active users to design, calculate, and visualize lighting for both indoor and outdoor areas. Featuring real luminaires from over 412 DIALux members, users can create unique atmospheres and generate comprehensive project documentation. Available in 26 languages, DIALux supports a worldwide network of lighting professionals and adheres to the open BIM approach. The integration with Metaroom is also based on open BIM and IFC standards. DIAL always prioritizes the needs of lighting designers in its feature development, aiming to streamline their workflows and simplify their tasks. By using Metaroom, lighting designers can save significant time when designing and placing luminaires. Projects can be conveniently downloaded from Metaroom Studio and imported into DIALux. The planning results can then be exported as an IFC model for the Open BIM process or other programs, significantly reducing the workload. Martin Huber, CEO of Amrax, said: “Advances in 3D modelling, software and AI are combining to democratise design. Lighting designers and electrical planners now have access to powerful tools that significantly enhance efficiency, enabling them to serve more customers in less time. This is going to lead to a revolution in how buildings are designed and how we all interact with our built environment. “Partnerships between cutting edge solutions like Metaroom and DIALux are key to powering this change. By creating an extensive ecosystem of lighting design solutions, we will significantly improve accessibility, reduce costs and bring spatial design to the mainstream.” Dieter Polle, CEO at DIALux, said: “Simply scan the room with your smartphone and start planning right away. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? By integrating Metaroom into DIALux, this is now possible. The time-consuming task of constructing the geometry before starting the actual lighting design is eliminated. Martin’s team and their solution have convinced us. The integration follows our Open BIM strategy technologically. With this integration, we’ve made life a bit easier for lighting designers.” Over 11.000 Metaroom users, including key players in the lighting, wireless planning and AEC industries, have registered through the Metaroom app and joined the Amrax B2B ecosystem dedicated to spatial design and 3D modelling. *Metaroom app’s scanning functionality is currently compatible with all LIDAR-enabled Apple devices (starting from iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro 2020 generation devices). However, you can view or download shared 3D models directly in any web browser through Metaroom Studio. The digital twin is created with the Metaroom app within minutes by using RGB and depth sensors from an iPhone or iPad Pro together with deep-learning neural networks. The accuracy of LiDAR sensors of the iPhone 14 Pro model is at 0.5-1%. The recognition range is approximately 5 meters. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
After a competitive tender process, Parkfords Management has been appointed to manage Century Tower in Chelmsford on behalf of the newly formed Right to Manage company. Michael Lawton, Director of Parkfords, explained, “This is a significant win for our Essex office. Over the last 18 months, we have made rapid strides, consistently securing new contracts and setting new benchmarks for customer service and client interaction. By focusing on transparent communication, prompt issue resolution, and personalised service offerings, we bring a fresh perspective to client relationships, ensuring our clients feel valued and heard. This dedication to quality and client satisfaction has been instrumental in our swift growth and success. We’re excited to bring our expertise to this fantastic building and look forward to making a positive impact and setting a new benchmark for quality’’. About Century Tower Century Tower is a nine-storey residential building completed in 2015 on land once owned by the neighbouring Essex County Cricket Club. Initially part of a larger development that was later scaled down, this modern apartment block is set in the heart of Chelmsford City Centre, overlooking Central Park and the River Can. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, has acquired a prime 65-acre site on the Nottinghamshire/Yorkshire border with planning consent for over 1.2 million sq ft. The two phase development, called Panattoni Central A1(M), by junction 34 of the A1(M), has been acquired from Mulberry Developments in an off-market deal. Panattoni will commence construction of what will be the largest-ever speculative logistics unit in the North of England, a building of 770,000 sqft, in the autumn. Practical completion is expected in September 2025. Panattoni is targeting net zero carbon development, an EPC rating of ‘A’ and BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ sustainability rating – its second development in the UK with an ‘Outstanding’ rating this year. The cross-docked unit will benefit from 18m eaves, 55m service yards, EV van and car charging and 15% rooflights. Winvic Construction has been appointed as the contractor. The remaining 27-acre plot, which already benefits from reserved matters planning consent for a 461,000 sq ft building will initially be marketed on a build-to-suit basis. Panattoni 770 Central A1(M) is in a strategic location with easy access to local and national distribution routes, including the A1(M), M1 and M62 as well as the east coast ports. Major distribution occupiers in the immediate vicinity include Culina, B&Q, Butternut Box and Daher Aerospace. Panattoni remains focused on the big box market, where there is a scarcity of supply and strong demand for units of 400,000 sq ft and above. Dan Burn, Head of Development North West & Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to acquire a prime logistics site in an established location by the A1(M). The development provides us with the opportunity to capitalise on the dearth of supply of XXL units across the country. Panattoni was advised by Cushman & Wakefield and Mulberry Developments was advised by M1 Agency. For more information please visit https://panattoni.co.uk/our-properties/central-a1m/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Southern Construction Framework (SCF), leading construction procurement framework delivered by the public sector for the public sector in the South of England, has launched its second generation Consult framework. Global programme and project delivery consultant and construction expert Mace and AJ 100 Top 15 architectural practice Corstorphine & Wright have secured positions on the latest generation SCF Consult framework. The suppliers can be appointed by any public sector body to deliver all project, property and asset consultancy services. The new generation SCF Consult expands on the success of the previous generation of the consultancy framework, complementing the SCF integrated team approach to two-stage open book procurement, offering clients greater flexibility in contracting and pricing models. This will enable public sector organisations across London, the South East and South West of England to procure Mace and Corstorphine & Wright services in the delivery of key projects. The two firms combine to offer public sector clients a broad range of construction, property, estate and asset management services, including Design, Engineering, Surveying and Cost, Project & Programme Management. The scope of services supports projects from inception through to completion, including but not limited to: planning, urban design and master planning, development consultancy advice, strategic advisory services, multi-disciplinary design and decarbonation and sustainability advice. Mace has secured a position as lead supplier for Cost, Project and Programme Management while Corstorphine & Wright leads for Design, Engineering, Surveying and Strategy. Both suppliers can also be accessed for full multi-disciplinary project delivery commissions. Adam Sanford, Operations Lead South East and London, at SCF commented: “We are committed to offering public sector bodies great value through SCF. Through this time of policy review with the new parliament in session, the SCF Consult team can help public sector bodies across health, education, leisure and local authority to navigate the changing landscape.” Kingsley Clarke, Head of SCF, South West, said: “SCF Consult provides dependable expertise to clients across the South West, enabling the delivery of essential projects that matter to local communities. Together with Mace and Corstorphine & Wright, we are excited about development across the South of England.” Mace has delivered a range of projects and services through SCF Consult to date, including the Alexandra Theatre Rejuvenation for Arun District Council, Bransbury Community Leisure Centre for Portsmouth County Council and the Schools for the Future Programme on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council. Corstorphine & Wright has delivered multiple projects under SCF Construct such as the New Exeter Police Station for Devon and Cornwall Police and the stunning regeneration project, The Northgate Yard delivering new leisure facilities in Bridgwater for Somerset Council. Daniel Easthope, Managing Director for Property UK & Europe at Mace Consult, said: “Our teams have delivered fantastic work through the SCF frameworks, ranging from theatres, research and police facilities, schools and hospitals that have helped communities to thrive. Together with the framework owners, we have created exceptional value for clients across the South East and South West of the UK. We are delighted to be reappointed to SCF Consult and look forward to working with Corstorphine & Wright to drive delivery across the region.” Simon Crosby, Group Director and Head of Public Sector at Corstorphine & Wright, added: “We are thrilled to be part of the SCF Consult team, where we will continue to form trusted partnerships with contractors to drive positive change and work towards fulfilling the levelling up targets of the communities we work in. “We have delivered some exceptional projects through SCF frameworks, and its simplicity and ease of use have helped to streamline our processes, allowing us to focus on delivering exceptional value for money for the public sector at a time when budgets are squeezed. We are looking forward to continuing to develop our relationship with Mace, a partnership that has already delivered award winning public buildings such as the Derby Council Headquarters building.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An industry expert is urging the new government to ensure it includes the development and prioritisation of retrofit training and knowledge as part of its focus on skills. The call follows the King’s announcement earlier this month of the Skills Bill designed to bring together local and national government, business, skills providers and unions to develop a highly trained workforce. As the government has also announced plans to build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years and reinstate housebuilding targets for local councils, concern is also being raised around ensuring the decarbonisation of existing housing stock remains a priority. As such, David Pierpoint, CEO of The Retrofit Academy is urging the government to ensure there is focus on developing the skills for the high-quality retrofitting of 27 million existing homes to make them healthier, warmer and more sustainable. Without this focus, the organisation is concerned that work to improve homes across the UK will lose momentum and the risk of poor quality retrofit will grow. Speaking on this challenge, David Pierpoint, CEO of The Retrofit Academy, said: “It is fantastic to see the government prioritising the development of a highly skilled workforce in the UK by bringing together businesses, providers, unions, Mayoral Combined Authorities and the national government. For many years we have been working closely with such organisations to make this a reality for retrofit skills and we have been making great strides in doing so, but there remains a significant challenge ahead. “It is vital that the incoming government continues to fund quality retrofit at scale, including the training required to create the retrofit workforce this requires. We understand the importance of building new homes in providing more people in the UK with a warm and comfortable place to live. However, there are millions of homes that are already available that need upgrading to provide the same, and to help us progress to net zero. As the government have said, collaboration is key to developing the skills to make this a success and we urge them to continue to drive the policy and funding that will make this possible.” In order to ensure that quality is built into retrofit from the outset, The Retrofit Academy has been developing and delivering leading accredited courses to equip people with the tools that they need to take on roles laid out in the PAS 2035 Standard – the official framework for whole-house retrofit in the UK. By embedding quality into the training process and resources, The Retrofit Academy is hoping to instil the responsibility of getting retrofit carried out to the correct high standard first time and at scale. David said: “Quality is everything when it comes to retrofit. It has to be carried out to the highest standard first time, with no exceptions or excuses. This means quality should be built in at every level, from the training courses to the continuous development, accreditation processes and work afterwards. This also means that policy and funding should actively promote the best quality retrofit, which is why we are urging the government to make this a priority within its Skills Bill and wider housing policy.” For more information about The Retrofit Academy, click here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals