Commercial property developer and investor Barberry Industrial has today unveiled plans for a £14 million warehouse development in the West Midlands after acquiring a high-quality site in an off-market deal. Barberry plans to deliver a 70,000 sq ft Grade A ‘best in class’ distribution and logistics unit on the last
ADDING to a bursting CV that demonstrates why it is the UK’s leading housing decarbonisation specialist, Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd (SBS) has taken home two accolades from The Retrofit Academy Awards. Dubbed by many as the ‘Oscars of the decarbonisation sector’, The Retrofit Academy Awards recognise the effort, talent,
The tunnel will be used to carry power cables for HS2’s Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) set to build the high-speed rail line to Euston. UK Power Networks is providing HS2 with 45MVA of electricity supply to facilitate the construction of the high-speed railway. Three new high voltage cable circuits around
The Supply Chain Sustainability School, a leading online platform dedicated to promoting sustainable practices within supply chains, is pleased to announce the appointment of three new distinguished members to its Board of Directors. The new appointees bring a wealth of experience and expertise that will strengthen the School’s mission of
The largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, Panattoni, has broken ground on one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK, which will initiate the flow of a £900m investment into the economy over the next decade. Panattoni Park Swindon will comprise of 11 net zero carbon buildings totalling
Recognising Excellence in Employee Satisfaction and Engagement Employees from top Construction, Engineering & Real Estate companies such as Strata, McCarthy & Stone and Cameron Homes are amongst the 250,000 UK personnel who surveyed with Great Place to Work® UK. Using the data gathered from the research-backed and anonymous employee experience
Costain, the UK infrastructure business, has been selected by Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT Power) and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) as one of nine specialist partners for a landmark carbon capture scheme with a combined value of around £4bn. NZT Power and NEP are joint ventures involving the global
Balfour Beatty today announces that, alongside Technip Energies and GE Vernova, it has received a Letter of Intent from bp, on behalf of NZT Power Limited, to progress with the next phase of the Net Zero Teesside Power project. Net Zero Teesside Power, a joint venture between bp and Equinor,
The UK government’s plans for new gas power stations as back up for renewables should prompt high energy users to consider decentralised solutions to balance security of supply against the need for greener energy, according to a sector expert. The government says the new gas power stations, which will be
Goodman’s London Brentwood Commercial Park is set to become the new headquarters for Wayland Games, Europe’s largest independent retailer for tabletop hobbies, with construction underway for 50,000 sq ft of high-quality warehouse space. The start on site was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony as Goodman and construction partner, Magrock, launched
Commercial property developer and investor Barberry Industrial has today unveiled plans for a £14 million warehouse development in the West Midlands after acquiring a high-quality site in an off-market deal. Barberry plans to deliver a 70,000 sq ft Grade A ‘best in class’ distribution and logistics unit on the last site at Quinton Business Park, Ridgeway, Birmingham, after acquiring the land for an undisclosed sum. The company – one of the UK’s leading developers of mid-box industrial units – exchanged contracts within two weeks of instructing solicitors and completed the deal earlier this month, according to development director Jon Robinson. “Our acquisition of this prime site at Junction 3 of the M5 Quinton Business Park is the latest significant investment by Barberry. The acquisition demonstrates the strong financial position of the company, our ability to transact quickly and our continued commitment to the mid-box industrial and logistics sector in key strategic locations. “Importantly, the development of a best-in-class 70,000 sq ft unit will help to address the ongoing shortage of new, high quality mid-box industrial/logistics accommodation in the West Midlands. Our building will be designed to enable businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and deliver financial savings across their operations. Barberry strives to help create flexible space to work while promoting staff wellness, delivering quality accommodation that local, regional and national businesses need in order to expand their operations within the Midlands, delivering new jobs and attracting investment,” said Jon. The site is already allocated for employment uses and Barberry intends to submit a detailed application to Birmingham City Council in May for planning permission for a c:70,000 sq ft unit with a focus on sustainability, built to exceptional ESG standards, targeting EPC A and BREEAM Excellent accreditation including electric vehicle charging points, solar panels, green initiatives and wildlife walks around the site. Jon added: “We are excited at the prospect of delivering another high quality warehouse and distribution unit. The building will be available for occupiers’ requirements on either a freehold or leasehold basis.” Agents Savills and M1 Agency will be the retained agents acting for Barberry. Quinton Business Park is an established and prestigious business park situated adjacent to junction 3 of the M5 and on a main arterial route (A456) five miles south-west of Birmingham city centre. It hosts a range of corporate occupiers including Wates Construction, Highways Agency, Police Complaints Commission, VTG Rail, ADT, Lindner Prater and Serco. Barberry has a 2.4 million sq ft industrial/logistics development pipeline with a Gross Development Value of more than £395 million. The company has 500 acres of strategic residential and employment development land across 12 sites under its control and a growing income producing commercial and residential portfolio. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ADDING to a bursting CV that demonstrates why it is the UK’s leading housing decarbonisation specialist, Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd (SBS) has taken home two accolades from The Retrofit Academy Awards. Dubbed by many as the ‘Oscars of the decarbonisation sector’, The Retrofit Academy Awards recognise the effort, talent, and commitment to excellence across the industry. SBS has for a second year in a row been named Retrofit Contractor of the Year, as well as securing the win for Best Retrofit Employer award for the first time. Both awards further solidifying its reputation as the leading expert in delivering social change through its actions. The Retrofit Contractor of the Year award endorses excellence, meeting PAS 2035 principles, consistent delivery of high-quality resident engagement, innovation, high-quality whole house retrofit projects, and providing career pathways within the retrofit sector. Derek Horrocks, owner and chair at SBS, said: “We’re blown away to win two categories at the decarbonisation sector’s most prestigious awards. To me, it confirms that our approach to retrofit decarbonisation is the recipe for success. Putting people first – both in regard to our own team and the thousands of residents and client homes we’ve worked on in the past year – is key to the delivery of a high-quality service, which is at the heart of our ethos. “Since last year’s award win, we haven’t rested on our laurels either. Instead, we’ve put almost all members of our team through The Retrofit Academy’s accredited training programmes to further educate and upskill them – seeing us upskill and train every single member of our team. “Our core goal is to provide some of the most vulnerable in society with a warm, comfortable and healthy home. Through our work, we have achieved this for thousands of families over the past year. Our retrofit decarbonisation measures improve the residents’ health, wellbeing, and finances in one coordinated approach with the changes we see in communities following installation being night and day. These awards are symbolic that we’re doing well, but it by no means we will slow our momentum.” The Best Retrofit Employer category exists to recognise companies that are leading the way in people investment, skills and professional development. The category focuses on upskilling opportunities and the quality of organisational culture, seeking to recognise not just what has been delivered, but the employee satisfaction in company culture and standards. Gary Lawson, managing director at SBS, said: “Entering these awards allowed us to really take stock of the huge progress made in skills and training for our team – and wider supply chain – in the past year alone. Along with this award, we achieved Investors in People Silver accreditation, along with upskilling our whole workforce and supporting more subcontractors and partners to achieve retrofit NVQs and qualifications. “Meanwhile, we have built up our apprenticeship levels to 12% of the business – well above the industry average and with aims to increase this further. We haven’t stopped with our own team and have also provided training opportunities to the wider supply chain through CITB funding and Think Construction. “It’s a testament to the profound commitment, passion, and high-quality delivery of our team that we have been named Retrofit Contractor of the Year two years in a row. SBS has grown rapidly, and with it the extent of the societal change we’re now able to create. It’s an honour to be at the forefront the mission to solve fuel poverty and the climate crisis, working closely with The Retrofit Academy to inspire the next generation to follow in our footsteps.” To discover more about Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd’s mission to change lives through housing decarbonisation, go to https://www.sustainablebuildinguk.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The tunnel will be used to carry power cables for HS2’s Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) set to build the high-speed rail line to Euston. UK Power Networks is providing HS2 with 45MVA of electricity supply to facilitate the construction of the high-speed railway. Three new high voltage cable circuits around 3km in length will be energised to the Distribution Network Operator’s nearby substation which feed into the network that will power the manned TBMs. Each of the Euston TBMs weigh over 2,000 tonnes and measures 140m in length. They will be delivered to HS2’s Old Oak Common station site later this year and assembled ready for launch in the underground box. To connect the circuits to its Old Oak Common substation, UK Power Networks appointed civil engineering, infrastructure and tunnelling specialist Barhale to drive a 125m long tunnel beneath the Grand Union Canal, reaching the company’s substation on Atlas Road. 6m diameter and 15m deep caissoned launch and reception shafts were constructed before an Akkermann TBM was deployed to drive the 120m long tunnel beneath the canal. The 1500mm concrete tunnel was constructed from pipe jacked, pre-cast concrete sections. The completion of the micro tunnel is a significant milestone for UK Power Networks and HS2 allowing for the final section of the 33,000-volt cable route to be completed. Works are expected to be completed in spring 2024. Pamela Ali, programme manager, Capital Programme at UK Power Networks, said: “It has been a huge achievement to successfully and safely construct the micro-tunnel which will enable to install our circuits across the Grand Union Canal. A huge thank you to the HS2 and the Canal & River Trust for their support throughout.” Niki French, head of utilities, HS2, said: “The delivery of this power tunnel is a critical part of our programme to build the new high-speed railway into the heart of London. Through close collaboration and great teamwork, we have worked together to ensure the HS2 programme is maintained. It has been a pleasure working with the dedicated UK Power Networks team, who are always professional, helpful, and genuinely do care.” Barhale’s regional manager Ovi Frunza said: “This microtunnelling project is another key piece in the HS2 jigsaw. “We are pleased to be able to continue to play our part in the continuing construction of HS2. We are involved in works at several sites along the route, including essential diversionary work at Ruislip and enabling works at the London terminus. “This will be the first time that we have worked with UK Power Networks and we are delighted to have secured the contract for this essential work. We are looking forward to building a long-term relationship.” Jaione Echeveste, SCS Utilities, said: “HS2, UK Power Networks, and their contractors have been working collaboratively and relentlessly with key stakeholders to design and deliver this scheme. “The commitment and responsibility demonstrated by all parties throughout the project have stood out which have allowed us to achieve successfully this critical outcome.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Supply Chain Sustainability School, a leading online platform dedicated to promoting sustainable practices within supply chains, is pleased to announce the appointment of three new distinguished members to its Board of Directors. The new appointees bring a wealth of experience and expertise that will strengthen the School’s mission of enabling a sustainable built environment through knowledge and collaboration. Joining the board are: Aled commented, “I am honoured to join the Supply Chain Sustainability School Board. Their compelling vision to deliver a more sustainable built environment is inspirational. I am eager to contribute towards shaping a more productive, innovative and sustainable sector; catalysing more engagement and partners.” Mandy commented on her appointment: “Having been an active Partner in the Supply Chain Sustainability School for the last eight years, I’m honoured to be joining the Board. With a passion for all things sustainability and bringing SME perspective, I aim to support increased engagement from the smaller companies, who make up a large part of the supply chain.” Ben commented, “Being appointed to the board of the Supply Chain Sustainability School is a privilege. It’s a great opportunity to weave my passion for sustainability into the fabric of the construction industry. I’m excited to roll up my sleeves, collaborate with fellow visionaries, and drive meaningful change towards a future where every link in the chain reflects our commitment to our people, our places and our planet.” The Supply Chain Sustainability School is dedicated to equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to build resilient and environmentally responsible supply chains. The addition of these individuals to the Board of Directors underscores the School’s commitment to driving meaningful progress in sustainability practices. “We are thrilled to welcome Aled, Mandy and Ben to our Board of Directors,” said Hilary Hurrey, Head of the Supply Chain Sustainability School. “Their diverse backgrounds and deep expertise will be invaluable as we continue to empower our members and Partners to integrate sustainability into their operations.” For more information about the Supply Chain Sustainability School, explore the website here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, Panattoni, has broken ground on one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK, which will initiate the flow of a £900m investment into the economy over the next decade. Panattoni Park Swindon will comprise of 11 net zero carbon buildings totalling 7.2 million sq ft, of brand new advanced real estate space, fit for logistics, manufacturing and data centre uses. The formal ground breaking ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, Swindon’s Members of Parliament, Rt Hon Robert Buckland MP and Justin Tomlinson MP, and Panattoni CEO for Europe and India and Co-Founder, Robert Dobrzycki, Managing Director for UK, Matthew Byrom, and Head of Development, Southern England & London, James Watson. Speaking at the event, Mr Sunak said: “What we are able to celebrate today is one of the largest investments in the south, one of the largest development sites in the south, that is going to create thousands and thousands of jobs and that is fantastic for the local area. A huge vote of confidence, not just in the UK economy but in the local area in particular. I don’t think this would have happened without the efforts of everyone involved including our two MPs here and what it means is that everyone here can look forward to a brighter future. The economy has been through, of course, a tough couple of years but I believe we have turned a corner and announcements like this show that our plan is working.” Panattoni Park Swindon is committed to its environmental responsibility, achieving net zero carbon in construction, BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification, EPC A+ and 10% net gain biodiversity. The site benefits from detailed planning consent for a single unit of 1.25 million sq ft and outline planning permission for the whole park. The proposals will generate thousands of new employment opportunities, including up to 7,000 new jobs on site and 9,000 indirect jobs in the supply chain over the next 10 years. Speaking on behalf of Panattoni, Matthew Byrom, Managing Director, said: “It was great to welcome the Prime Minister today to unveil the ground breaking of Panattoni Park Swindon. What our commitment today of $1.15bn (£900m) into this project demonstrates, is that the UK post-Brexit remains a highly attractive place to invest; with its stable economy and political backdrop, it gives our capital certainty that our investment is secure. We are confident that this significant level of inward investment will lead to the creation of thousands of new jobs and have a substantive ‘ripple out’ effect to both the local and regional economy. Panattoni Park Swindon will deliver around 7,500 new jobs which is twice the number afforded by the site when it was closed by Honda in July 2021. There are also likely to be many additional opportunities for primary and secondary suppliers. By any measure, this project is a huge vote of confidence for the region and the fundamentals that underpin the UK economy.” Infrastructure and demolition works have commenced and the construction for the speculative phase of development will begin later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Recognising Excellence in Employee Satisfaction and Engagement Employees from top Construction, Engineering & Real Estate companies such as Strata, McCarthy & Stone and Cameron Homes are amongst the 250,000 UK personnel who surveyed with Great Place to Work® UK. Using the data gathered from the research-backed and anonymous employee experience surveys, Great Place To Work has announced its annual UK’s Best Workplaces™ list. Construction, Engineering & Real Estate companies featured in this year’s list include: Each entered business is studied against a thorough and rigorous criteria, to rank and reveal which workplaces earn a place on the 2024 list revealed last night at Grovesnor House by comedian Katherine Ryan. Taking into account both culture audits and employees’ perspectives from a whole variety of industries and company sizes, respondents covered all levels of the workforce – from frontline workers to CEOs. Each person shared confidential feedback with Great Place To Work UK about what it’s really like to work for their organisation, their leaders, and with their colleagues – and what exactly makes these employers the best of the best. The Construction, Engineering & Real Estate companies included in the survey scored 88% overall against the survey statement ‘Our executives fully embody the best characteristics of our company’, this is 35% higher than the UK average reported in a 2023 UK population study by Great Place to Work UK. McCarthy & Stone (who rank 41 out of 50 companies in the Super Large category) saw 89% of employees agree with the statement ‘Taking everything into account, I would say this is a great place to work’, beating the typical UK construction, engineering & real estate company by 16%. Overall, the survey data told Great Place To Work® UK that employers shouldn’t underestimate the power of fun at work! Fun along with great management are key factors to them when rating their workplace. Analysis of employee survey responses overall highlights the key conditions that, according to staff, set the best workplaces apart: Fun is more than fluff: Employees are warning organisations not to underestimate the power of fun and its impact on their job satisfaction, advocacy, loyalty and retention. Best Workplaces don’t just hire a good culture fit and hope for the best – they actively work to advance social connections and a solid sense of fellowship amongst colleagues across all teams and levels of seniority. At Best Workplaces, 86% of employees agree theirs “is a fun place to work” (vs. the UK average of only 65%). Great management is key to employees’ wellbeing and intent to stay: Employees who believe management shows a genuine interest in them as people, and not just employees, are 7X more likely to recommend the organisation to family and friends as ‘a great place to work’ than those whose managers fail to do so. They’re also 7X more likely to feel the organisation is a psychologically and emotionally healthy place to work, which significantly impacts their wellbeing and intent to stay with the company – and, in turn, the business’ overall performance. Culture is a key predictor of financial success: E.g. DHL Express – ranked third in the Super Large size category on this year’s List; was the No. 2 World’s Best Workplace™; and ranked 20 on the Fortune 500 Europe. The logistics giant is proof that great culture can be achieved even in a massive corporation within an industry widely perceived to be high-stress and low-fun for its frontline workers. “Every company says that people are at the centre of everything they do,” says John Pearson, Global CEO of DHL Express. “But only if you live that out authentically, and can point to dozens of proof points that demonstrate it, then they’re not just words.” Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director, Great Place To Work UK, said: “Merging purpose and profit in a people-centric culture will become even more critical to organisational success in 2024. Increasingly, UK employees are demanding more flexibility, more fun, and more opportunities for growth at the places they work. This is more than just a trend: our year-long evaluation of over 250,000 anonymous employee surveys, and countless business trends, proves it is a powerful shift towards more organisations adopting this holistic approach to business. Market leaders are recognising that success can no longer be measured merely in financial terms – the wellbeing, engagement, and trust of every individual is what truly drives an organisation forward. “In Best Workplaces, employees agree that every individual is seen not only as an asset, but also as a valued contributor. Their voice is not just heard, it’s actively sought. Feedback is assessed, addressed, and promises are delivered. These are not just great workplaces for some, they’re for all.” These companies also have the chance of being celebrated in the upcoming UK’s Best Workplaces in Construction, Engineering & Real Estate™ list this September, for more information of how to apply visit: https://www.greatplacetowork.co.uk/best-workplaces/construction To see best practices, insider interviews and the full list of the Best Workplaces™ 2024 please visit: www.greatplacetowork.co.uk/uks-best-workplaces Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Costain, the UK infrastructure business, has been selected by Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT Power) and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) as one of nine specialist partners for a landmark carbon capture scheme with a combined value of around £4bn. NZT Power and NEP are joint ventures involving the global energy leader, bp. Costain’s involvement with NZT Power, NEP and their partners is to oversee and manage the engineering procurement and construction of the onshore CO2 gathering system and associated utilities serving the East Coast Cluster. Costain is a recognised leader in energy infrastructure and in shaping energy transition solutions through its leading process design and programme management expertise. It has been involved in carbon capture projects since the 1960s and recently completed the front-end engineering design (FEED) for important elements of the landmark Teesside decarbonisation project. Sam White, managing director for natural resources at Costain, added: “This award is a testament to Costain’s position as a leading infrastructure solutions provider for the UK’s energy transition goals. Having completed delivery of the FEED stage, we continue to support bp as it progresses the wider decarbonisation of the local energy supply and pursues innovative carbon capture and storage solutions. “We are committed to improving critical infrastructure in the North-East of England and we are creating jobs and developing skills across the region. This includes delivering major upgrades to the region’s highways, as well as our recent AMP8 award with Northumbrian Water Group to upgrade both its wastewater and water treatment infrastructure that will improve people’s lives while safeguarding the environment.” NZT Power, a joint venture between bp and Equinor, could generate up to 860 megawatts of flexible, low-carbon power equivalent to the average electricity requirements of around 1.3m UK homes. Up to 2m tonnes of CO2 per year would be captured at the plant, and then transported and securely stored by the NEP in subsea storage sites beneath the North Sea. NEP, a joint venture between bp, Equinor, and TotalEnergies, is the CO2 transportation and storage provider for the East Coast Cluster (ECC). The Teesside onshore NEP infrastructure would serve the Teesside-based carbon capture projects – NZT Power, H2Teesside and Teesside Hydrogen CO2 Capture – that were selected for first connection to the ECC by DESNZ in March 2023 as part of the UK’s cluster sequencing process for carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS). It is anticipated that around 4m tonnes of CO2 per year from these projects would be transported and stored from 2027. Laura Hughes, energy sector director at Costain, commented: “This is a transformational project that will have an enormously positive impact on the region. The successful delivery of the project will require a tremendous team effort, and we are looking forward to contributing our unique expertise in engineering and delivery. Teesside will gain an outstanding, integrated decarbonisation system, with the East Coast Cluster set to be the pioneer as schemes are rolled out across the UK.” Ian Hunter, managing director Net Zero Teesside Power, said: “The selection of contractors is a major step forward for Net Zero Teesside Power. We have selected world-class partners who have the experience and capability needed to deliver. We aim to take final investment decision in September 2024 or before, after which we’d look forward to working with our EPC partners through the construction phase.” Chris Daykin, general manager, Northern Endurance Partnership, said: “The selection of contractors is a clear signal of momentum within the East Coast Cluster. The Northern Endurance Partnership’s CO2 pipelines are essential to connect carbon intensive projects to offshore storage and would play an important role in helping the region pursue its net zero plan.” The contracts are all subject to the receipt of regulatory clearances and final investment decisions (FID) being taken in September 2024 or earlier. Following FID, the projects would be aiming for commercial operations from 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty today announces that, alongside Technip Energies and GE Vernova, it has received a Letter of Intent from bp, on behalf of NZT Power Limited, to progress with the next phase of the Net Zero Teesside Power project. Net Zero Teesside Power, a joint venture between bp and Equinor, is poised to become one of the world’s first commercial scale gas-fired power stations with carbon capture, expected to capture up to 2 million tonnes of CO2 per year. The project is set to provide flexible, dispatchable low-carbon power equivalent to the average electricity requirements of around 1.3 million UK homes. In partnership with Technip Energies and GE Vernova, Balfour Beatty will construct a highly efficient combined-cycle plant, integrated with a state-of-the-art carbon capture plant using Technip Energies’ Canopy by T.ENTM solution powered by the Shell CANSOLV® CO2 capture technology. Balfour Beatty will bring its deep domain knowledge and unique, end-to-end multidisciplinary capabilities to deliver this landmark project, including the company’s industrial mechanical and electrical (M&E) heritage, utilising modular construction techniques to build the M&E equipment and plant rooms off-site, in a controlled factory setting. Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, said: “Today’s announcement takes us a step closer to realising one of the world’s first commercial scale gas-fired power stations with carbon capture. It’s a significant milestone in delivering the critical infrastructure needed to transition the UK to Net Zero. “Balfour Beatty’s market leading capabilities, underpinned by our unrivalled experience and proven track record in delivering complex infrastructure projects, means we are perfectly positioned to support the delivery of this critical project alongside Technip Energies and GE Vernova – proving on the world-stage that the UK is primed and ready to lead the way in decarbonising our industrial footprint.” Arnaud Pieton, CEO of Technip Energies, commented, “Our selection for the Net Zero Teesside Power project is a testament to Technip Energies growing leadership position as an integrated state-of-the-art CCUS solutions provider. By capturing up to 2 million tonnes of CO2 at a large power plant, we collectively rise to the challenge of scale by providing sustainable and available energy at a large scale. With our partners GE Vernova and Balfour Beatty, we are honoured to contribute to this flagship project that supports bp and the UK in their goal of developing one of the first decarbonised industrial clusters in the world.” Maví Zingoni, CEO, Power at GE Vernova commented: “The development of Net Zero Teesside Power, one of the world’s first commercial scale gas-fired power stations with carbon capture, marks a huge step towards supporting the UK government’s commitment to fully decarbonise its power system by 2035. GE Vernova will help bring proven expertise in natural gas combined cycle plant engineering, operability, and full-scale integration to support carbon abatement for this project. We believe post-combustion carbon capture can play a crucial role in reducing emissions and ensuring dispatchable power in the future.” Balfour Beatty’s selection follows the recent granting of the Development Consent Order by the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with the project shortlisted for UK Government funding. Final contract award will be subject to receipt of regulatory clearances and final investment decisions (FID) being taken in September 2024 or earlier. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK government’s plans for new gas power stations as back up for renewables should prompt high energy users to consider decentralised solutions to balance security of supply against the need for greener energy, according to a sector expert. The government says the new gas power stations, which will be capable of operating for as little as one to two hours, are needed to meet demand on days when renewables such as solar and wind cannot deliver. “These plans underscore the looming energy shortages facing the UK’s power network as the energy mix rightly shifts towards renewable sources, which are inherently vulnerable to unfavourable weather conditions,” said Chris Rason, Managing Director of Aggreko Energy Services. “This issue is most acute for high energy users such as manufacturing facilities and data centres, which must maintain resilience while achieving tough voluntary and statutory decarbonisation targets. “Coupled with well-documented challenges relating to grid capacity and connection delays, it is unsustainable for high energy users to wait for centralised solutions from government. These will take many years to come to fruition, following site selection, design, planning permission and construction, and may not be ready when needed by energy intensive industries. As a result, a move towards decentralised generation is crucial.” The short-term decentralised options offered by Aggreko include battery energy storage solutions (BESS) combined with low emission, high performance Stage V generators, supporting or working independently of existing grid supply, with the option to scale to meet increased demand resulting from future expansion. Beyond this, Aggreko is also offering long term renewable solutions on a permanent basis. Chris added: “Adopting decentralised solutions gives control back to high energy users, assuring them of their ability to maintain uptime despite increasing challenges for the security of supply from the grid, while offering the ability to scale up or down depending on grid performance and operational needs.” Aggreko’s support for the energy transition is reflected in its recently launched sustainability framework, Energising Change. The framework allows Aggreko and the organisations it works with to embed low-carbon power technologies in their operations. At the heart of Energising Change are investments that give high energy users access to cleaner and greener energy sources, such as the expansion of its fleets of small, mid and large-size BESS, which builds on $140m earmarked over the last two years to expand Aggreko’s Greener UpgradesTM fleet, including new boilers, Stage V generators, batteries and chillers. To find out more, visit: www.aggreko.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Goodman’s London Brentwood Commercial Park is set to become the new headquarters for Wayland Games, Europe’s largest independent retailer for tabletop hobbies, with construction underway for 50,000 sq ft of high-quality warehouse space. The start on site was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony as Goodman and construction partner, Magrock, launched the development’s second phase. Located just three miles from Junction 29 of the M25, the purpose-built facility will provide space for Wayland Games to meet growing customer demand and enhance operational efficiency. The increased warehouse capacity will allow the retailer to stock more products, streamline its operations and use the latest technology to optimise inventory management, order fulfilment, and e-commerce logistics. To enable the company’s continued expansion, a sizeable mezzanine will provide office space and a dedicated production area, including a new creative studio for the company’s own brand Warcradle Studios. The building will also feature a communal space for the local gaming community to meet and play their favourite games. In line with Goodman’s focus on sustainability, the high-specification unit will be built to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ specification and will target an A+ rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Other features include solar PV to help contribute to the building’s power needs, innovative SolarWall® technology for heating office areas, and rainwater harvesting. Richard Lawford, Managing Director at Wayland Games, said: “Construction of this new facility marks a significant moment in our history. The purpose-built space will allow us to drive greater operational efficiencies while catering for future business growth. As part of our commitment to sustainability, it will also help us lower our energy use and continue to support us in reducing our carbon footprint.” Chris Beamer, Associate Director – Development at Goodman, added: “London Brentwood Commercial Park is already proving popular and has seen aviation supply chain specialist, Farsound, and global 3PL, OMLog, basing their UK operations here. We’re excited to be working with Wayland Games to deliver a state-of-the-art facility that will support the company’s expansion and help meet growing customer demand.” Goodman’s London Brentwood Commercial Park provides access to world-class multimodal infrastructure, combined with excellent connectivity to UK, European and global markets. Logistics and distribution businesses can benefit from proximity to the major east coast sea ports, six port-side rail freight terminals and fast access to the M1, A1(M), M11 and M2. Phase 2 will see the completion of a further two units of 22,090 sq ft each, available for customers in Q4 this year. Each property will benefit from a ‘best in class’ specification, 1Gbps of diverse fibre for business continuity and future-proofing, and significant power availability to cater to a variety of businesses and technology requirements. Richard Brewer, Managing Director at Magrock, said: “We are delighted to be Goodman’s construction partner in delivering the next phase of development at London Brentwood Commercial Park. Working with Goodman, we will be creating sustainable and state-of-the-art facilities for its customers. Each new unit will feature market-leading specifications, including on-site renewables to maximise clean energy generation.” Agents marketing the scheme are Colliers, Knight Frank and Savills. To find out more about London Brentwood Commercial Park, please visit the website for further details. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals