Industry leading multi-disciplinary bridge works specialist Spencer Group has come up with a unique method to carry out essential works on an historic structure. Spencer Group is carrying out the design, construction, installation and maintenance of a temporary walkway for Grade II listed Connel Bridge, in Scotland, ahead of major
MAY MEANS CONSTRUCTION SAFETY THIS MAY, Construction Safety Week will join global businesses from across the sector to inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. James Pecz, global solutions marketing manager at Ramtech, discusses how technology is helping to support the construction industry to raise fire safety
Vehicular access to CGX Connect site is now complete Flagship Gloucestershire development has the potential to deliver new jobs Works supported by £1.885 million Growth Deal funding through GFirst LEP CGX Connect, the flagship commercial development at Gloucestershire Airport has reached a critical delivery milestone with access to the site
BCI Industrial Services, the quality and inspection services specialist, has relocated to the Energy Development Centre (EDC) on Moorfield Group’s Aberdeen Energy Park in Bridge of Don, in line with the company’s ambitious growth plans. BCI has agreed a five-year lease for Unit 8 of the EDC, comprising 1,500 sq
Country-wide vacant property and site security specialist, VPS UK Ltd, is celebrating after being cited as a finalist for an internationally-recognised award for a transformative approach to health and safety for its staff. The British Safety Council International Safety Awards has selected VPS as the only UK representative on its
The industry’s first ‘Transparent Bucket’ system launched by Doosan Infracore Europe, has won another major award in Europe. The latest honour is the ‘Coup de Coeur’ – Jury’s favourite – Award from the Jury of the 4th edition of the Grands Prix Matériels Chantiers de France and DLR, which took
The rapid growth in demand for logistics property since the start of the pandemic, largely due to the sharp rise in e-commerce activity, is attracting inward investment to Croydon. New warehouses have been let at Prologis Park Beddington Lane, which completed last summer, with all other units already under offer.
A new online tool to help the rail industry measure the social value of its investments, infrastructure projects and day-to-day operations has been launched today. The Rail Social Value Tool (RSVT), co-funded by Network Rail, is provided by the Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) and Loop (formerly Social Profit Calculator).
Cube Homes’ Holcombe View in Whitefield was named as Boutique Housing Development of the Year at Insider’s North West Residential Property Awards at Manchester Central. The development, of 14 large family homes, beat competition from across the region to win the prestigious title at the event which was compered by
Devon County Council and Norse Group are to launch a new joint venture. South West Norse will bring together Devon Norse’s facilities management, cleaning and catering operations with NPS South West’s multidisciplinary property consultancy services. The existing joint ventures between the Norse Group and Devon County Council have separately secured
Industry leading multi-disciplinary bridge works specialist Spencer Group has come up with a unique method to carry out essential works on an historic structure. Spencer Group is carrying out the design, construction, installation and maintenance of a temporary walkway for Grade II listed Connel Bridge, in Scotland, ahead of major deck replacement works. The walkway, which will be cantilevered off the east side of the bridge, will allow for pedestrian and cyclist access during the works to replace the entire deck, which will take place over the course of the next two years. The walkway is expected to be completed in four months, with the possibility of retaining the facility depending on a feasibility study and full public consultation. The walkway construction has been programmed to cause minimal disruption to traffic and the local community. The A828 Connel Bridge was the second largest cantilever bridge in Europe when it was built by Sir William Arrol in 1903. It links the villages of Connel and North Connel, close to Oban. Originally a railway bridge, it was used for both rail and road traffic from 1914, until the railway closed in 1966. The new steel walkway design will be in-keeping with the heritage of the bridge, with Spencer Group also self-delivering integrated street lighting. Spencer Group is carrying out the project for BEAR Scotland, a service provider in the Scottish roads maintenance sector, on behalf of the national transport agency for Scotland, Transport Scotland. The temporary walkway is part of the critical enabling works ahead of the deck replacement scheme and Spencer Group, which specialises in providing innovative solutions to complex engineering projects, is mitigating the impact the walkway works will have on traffic and the local community. Luke Fisher, Sector Lead for Bridges and Structures at Spencer Group, said: “We’re delighted to have been selected to carry out this important project, which is the latest in our growing portfolio of heritage bridge works. “During the tender process, we focused our proposals on a sympathetic walkway design and methodologies that reduced traffic management during the construction works. “Our designers proposed a traditional steel walkway design that was in-keeping with the heritage of the bridge, clamping to the existing structure where possible, to minimise invasive construction works to the bridge interface points. “A key element of the project is also to minimise the impact on local residents and traffic, both on Connel Bridge and on the A85 below. “The original design intent was to install support brackets over the side of the masonry viaducts that would require rope access for installation, meaning traffic management would have needed to be in place on the A85. “We’ve come up with an alternative design solution that mitigates this, with brackets that can be installed from the confines of the bridge parapets. In addition, we’ve developed an installation methodology that allows our teams to install the new walkway progressively from the leading edge, almost eliminating the requirement for traffic management on the bridge during the works.” Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “We appreciate the historical importance of the A828 Connel Bridge and the vital transport link it provides to local communities. “This project will allow teams to install a temporary footway on the east side of Connel Bridge, in advance of the deck replacement works which are scheduled to take place next year. The temporary walkway will maintain a route across the bridge whilst the bridge deck is replaced, as we will need to close the existing footpath and carriageway. “Alongside Transport Scotland, we are currently considering making the walkway a permanent facility and will carry out a feasibility study of the options available, which will include consultation with all key stakeholders.” Spencer Group delivers innovative engineering and construction solutions in the transport, infrastructure, materials handling, energy and industrial sectors. For further information about Spencer Group’s extensive bridge project capabilities, visit https://thespencergroup.co.uk/our-work/bridges/.
MAY MEANS CONSTRUCTION SAFETY THIS MAY, Construction Safety Week will join global businesses from across the sector to inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. James Pecz, global solutions marketing manager at Ramtech, discusses how technology is helping to support the construction industry to raise fire safety standards. The first week of May plays host to some of the biggest events and awareness weeks for the construction sector, including Construction Safety Week 2022 (2 – 6 May) and the UK’s largest construction event UK Construction Week’ (3 – 5 May). With the spotlight firmly on the sector, it is a good opportunity to review the importance of continued progress and excellence in construction. A big part of this success is reliant on safety, which should underpin everything. Ensuring that all construction workers can return home safely and that under construction sites are well protected – from start to project completion – is paramount. At Ramtech, Internet of Things (IoT) wireless technology plays a key role in our approach to keeping construction sites safe. While there are many different safety risks on a site, our work for the construction industry primarily focuses on temporary fire safety and security solutions. Fire protection Busy workers on construction sites operating machinery are often close to sources of ignition, such as highly combustible materials and solvents. On top of this, fire could also happen during the construction phase as open sites are often more vulnerable to theft, vandalism, and arson. Further adding to this risk is the fact that typical building protection systems such as sprinklers, fire walls and wired detectors are not always in place until the final stages of construction. These issues are not unique to just one area and the global construction industry all face the threat of fire. Taking global action The common risk of fire means that as a sector we should all be raising standards by utilising the technology available to us. Relying on manual and outdated methods, such as using an air horn or shouting to raise the alarm is still a concern. In the US, many sites still choose to use air horns as an evacuation method on construction sites. However, this does come with disadvantages. Namely, an air horn cannot provide site-wide evacuation as it isn’t able to tell you where the fire is located, merely that there is a fire somewhere on the site. It can also be hard to distinguish the noise of an air horn above other background sounds on a site. Similarly, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) still advises that ‘on small low risk sites the alarm may be raised by shouting’. The HSE does advise that ‘on high risk or larger sites a fixed and interconnected system (wired in or wireless) of call points and sounders will be required to provide an effective warning system’. Typically, a wired solution is usually the best form of protection on a completed site, due to the layout of the building being fixed and the access to power sorted. For construction sites that are constantly changing and that also do not have a reliable power source yet, the ability to have a flexible fire alarm solution that does not rely on a fixed location and can be moved or added to as needed is the ideal solution. Wireless solutions and IoT When considering the best ways to protect construction sites, it makes sense to use the best that technology has to offer. Our world is more connected than ever before, and this has helped to influence the next generation of wireless connected solutions. In fact, the IoT spans nearly 100 billion physical objects allowing them to communicate with each other. Due to this progress, wireless fire alarm systems have advanced greatly over the past few decades. Take our fully EN54-25 compliant WES3 24/7 fire alarm monitoring system for example; it can connect to our REACT platform, which is a cloud-based solution that raises alerts in real time, and is sent straight to the people who can act on them via a simple to use mobile app. Because the protection offered by technology like the WES3 is constant, this means that no matter the time or place the fire can be detected and communicated to personnel via the use of secure radio frequencies. With an unlimited number of units able to be used per site, more units can be added as the build progresses. Repeater units ensure the signal gets a boost on especially large sites. An emergency signal can be triggered automatically or manually from anywhere. This is all possible without wires or cables and without having to rely on the presence of workers to detect and extinguish fires. Technology like this is a gamechanger for the construction industry and will reduce risk and prevent incidents from occurring. As we consider how to better protect the safety of our sites from the risk of fire, I urge global professionals who are coming together in the name of construction safety and awareness this May to think carefully and look to embrace technology in a bid to raise industry safety standards. For more information about Ramtech’s construction solutions, please visit www.ramtechglobal.com
Vehicular access to CGX Connect site is now complete Flagship Gloucestershire development has the potential to deliver new jobs Works supported by £1.885 million Growth Deal funding through GFirst LEP CGX Connect, the flagship commercial development at Gloucestershire Airport has reached a critical delivery milestone with access to the site now complete and future development unlocked. Karen Taylor, Managing Director, Gloucestershire Airport, has described this as a “significant” step toward delivering the final scheme which, when complete, will provide around 30,000 sqm of flexible floor space in a prime location for businesses operating in the logistics and industry sectors, while also potentially creating up to 1,500 employment opportunities. Montel Civil Engineering, instructed by Gloucestershire-based project manager Vitruvius Management Services as principal contractor, has delivered the work to date. This has included building a new entrance into the development, the diversion and protection of existing and new services, and the widening of access to the B4063 to allow a dedicated right turn for those coming from the west, alongside enabling works to clear the site, construct pedestrian refuges, and put in place new streetlights, signage and road markings. GFirst LEP provided £1.885 million in Growth Deal funding to support the infrastructure work needed to deliver CGX Connect. Karen Taylor, Managing Director, Gloucestershire Airport, commented: “These are exciting times for Gloucestershire Airport and CGX Connect. We’ve already seen strong interest in CGX Connect from businesses in Gloucestershire and the West Country, as well as those with national operations. “Now that there’s vehicular access to the site, we expect things to move quickly. Before now no one could access the site to build. This access road will unlock future development and brings us one step closer to realising a landmark development with the potential to unlock so much growth for the region.” David Owen, Chief Executive, GFirst LEP, said: “We’re proud to deliver Growth Deal funding for such an ambitious project in the county, delivering up to 1,500 quality jobs. It’s an exciting time for Gloucestershire as this project nears fruition.” Mark Price, Managing Director, Vitruvius Management Services, said: “Vitruvius would like to thank civils contractor Montel and our wider consultancy team for completing the construction of the park infrastructure works. Unlocking development at CGX Connect marks a significant milestone in delivering this project.” Simon Turbutt, Managing Director, Montel Civil Engineering, said: “This was an exciting opportunity to work with both Vitruvius and Gloucestershire Airport on the infrastructure for CGX Connect and a great example of how infrastructure improvements can be an enabler and catalyst for significant economic growth within the region.” Karen Taylor concludes: “These are transformational times for Gloucestershire Airport. CGX Connect, along with ongoing work to upgrade the airport’s runways, will elevate the quality and status of the airport as a ‘gateway for growth’ for the many significant developments being brought forward across the region.” Alongside CGX Connect, work to upgrade the airport’s runways is well underway and due to complete this summer. The airport’s crosswind runway (04-22) has already re-opened. Work is currently ongoing to resurface the main runway (09-27), install new lighting, upgrade signage and drainage, and install below ground infrastructure. For all commercial enquiries, contact Gloucestershire Airport by emailing communityrelations@gloucestershireairport.co.uk or calling 0800 062 2985. Montel Civil Engineering has a dedicated 24-hour helpline for any issues relating traffic management measures for CGX Connect: 07795 415752.
BCI Industrial Services, the quality and inspection services specialist, has relocated to the Energy Development Centre (EDC) on Moorfield Group’s Aberdeen Energy Park in Bridge of Don, in line with the company’s ambitious growth plans. BCI has agreed a five-year lease for Unit 8 of the EDC, comprising 1,500 sq ft of high-quality, flexible office space. The new office will serve as BCI’s headquarters and initially accommodate five staff, with BCI looking to recruit additional staff later in the year. BCI offers quality and inspection services, including non-destructive testing (NDT), vendor inspection, expediting and quality auditing. BCI’s team of experienced coordinators is supported by a database of over 3,000 independent inspectors & expeditors, enabling BCI to deploy manpower both locally and internationally to support a worldwide network of clients with all their project quality requirements. Stuart Beveridge, Director of BCI, said: “Location and quality of space were the determining factors for our move to the Energy Park. We needed more space within a prestigious location, and the Energy Development Centre ticked all the boxes. It provides a great base for our staff and will help facilitate our future ambitious growth plans.” Hugh Canham, Head of Asset Management at Moorfield Group added: “BCI aligns well with the current occupiers in the Energy Development Centre, which is generating strong interest and has now achieved 80% occupancy, with only two available units remaining. “Occupiers are focusing on securing the highest quality workspace as they welcome staff back to the office. The Energy and Innovation Parks offer a great solution that provides BCI, and all occupiers, with an efficient and flexible office within a high-spec environment in a prime location.” Commenting on the market, Daniel Stalker from Ryden said: “Positive sentiment is now returning to the north east property market, with occupiers seeking high-quality flexible space in strategic locations like Bridge of Don. The EDC provides the ideal blend of hybrid office and industrial premises which is suitable for a range of occupiers.” Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks comprise 200,000 sq ft of multi-let office and industrial space for more than 80 companies and a workforce of nearly 2,000 employees. The Parks offer a varied mix of office solutions, including leased offices, serviced offices and coworking space, catering to the needs of occupiers of all sizes. The Parks are conveniently located approximately three miles north of Aberdeen city centre and close to the Third Don Crossing. Knight Frank and Ryden are joint agents for Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks, which is managed by Avison Young. @AberdeenEIP
Country-wide vacant property and site security specialist, VPS UK Ltd, is celebrating after being cited as a finalist for an internationally-recognised award for a transformative approach to health and safety for its staff. The British Safety Council International Safety Awards has selected VPS as the only UK representative on its shortlist for organisations that have significantly transformed an aspect of health, safety or wellbeing, through the use of information. The other five companies include a Chinese construction conglomerate, one of the world’s Top 500 companies, and a Canadian multinational. Now in their 64th year, the International Safety Awards recognise and celebrate organisations from around the world which have demonstrated to independent judges their commitment to preventing workplace injuries and work-related ill health. The awards also acknowledge commitment to wellbeing and mental health at work. They span all sectors with significant representation from the construction, manufacturing, oil, gas, mining, power and utility sectors. Carolyn Smith, VPS Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing, said: “To gain this recognition in such an incredible international field is a fantastic achievement, and demonstrates the hard work of all our staff to ensure that we operate to the highest safety standards. VPS has an unwavering commitment and passion for keeping people safe at work. Building a safety platform and umbrella for all is critical, not only for our staff, but for our customers too, as we partner with the construction and utility sectors for providing safety and security services.” Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of British Safety Council, said: “The vision of British Safety Council is that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work – anywhere in the world. Achieving this requires more than complying with legislation; it means people committed not only to health and safety but also more and more to workplace wellbeing and impelling others to follow suit. Effective management of health and safety risks is a business growth enabler, benefiting not just employees, but organisations and wider society. The International Safety Awards encourage other organisations to adopt this approach and place employees’ health, safety and wellbeing at the core of their business.” For more information about the British Safety Council Awards visit https://www.britsafe.org/awards-and-events/awards/international-safety-awards/isa-2022-additional-awards-shortlist/
The industry’s first ‘Transparent Bucket’ system launched by Doosan Infracore Europe, has won another major award in Europe. The latest honour is the ‘Coup de Coeur’ – Jury’s favourite – Award from the Jury of the 4th edition of the Grands Prix Matériels Chantiers de France and DLR, which took place in Nantes, France, on Friday, 1st April 2022, during the recent national DLR 2022 Congress. The Transparent Bucket is the first safety system of its type for wheel loaders. Due to the blind spots caused by buckets, the area in front of wheel loaders is considered a potential risk area. The new Transparent Bucket device records images at the front of the loader using cameras placed at the top and bottom of the machine. Using a curved projection method, the system displays combined images in real time on a monitor installed in the cab. With this monitor, the driver can check at any time on the screen what is happening in the blind spots in front of the bucket and thus avoid accidents. Another advantage of the Transparent Bucket system is the increased working efficiency that a full view of the front of the machine offers, which is ideal for fast loading/unloading operations or for transporting materials such as earth, sand, aggregates and in waste/recycling operations. After receiving the new award on behalf of Doosan, Gilles Bendaoud, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Doosan Infracore Europe, explained: “As safety standards for machines and job sites continue to tighten around the world, sophisticated safety systems have become a key factor in the selection of a machine. We plan to continue to develop safety systems that protect both operators and personnel working around the machines. We look forward to being at the forefront of promoting safer and accident-free work sites.” Patents filed in Korea, North America, Europe and China Doosan Infracore is the first company in the world to develop and apply a front loading function with a transparent bucket and a full vision system for construction machines. This innovation is protected by several patents in Korea, North America, Europe and China. Doosan has also developed other advanced safety systems for the machine lines in its portfolio, such as the All-round Vision Monitor (AVM) system, which displays the entire area surrounding the machine, and an obstacle detection system behind the machine using ultrasonic sensors. Both of these systems have already met with great success with customers. Grands Prix Matériels Created in 1965, the DLR is a leading French organization that brings together and federates companies in the sectors of distribution, rental, maintenance and services for equipment intended for construction and handling. Chantiers de France is one of the leading publications serving all aspects of the construction industry in France. DLR and Chantiers de France have been awarding the Grands Prix Matériels awards every year for the past four years. These awards distinguish remarkable innovations in the field of construction equipment in six different categories: Light range, Heavy range, Small equipment and site tools, Services, Jury’s favorite and Personality of the year. Picture caption – Gilles Bendaoud (centre), Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Doosan Infracore Europe, receiving the Jury’s Favourite Award for the Transparent Bucket at the DLR 2022 Congress. For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com
The rapid growth in demand for logistics property since the start of the pandemic, largely due to the sharp rise in e-commerce activity, is attracting inward investment to Croydon. New warehouses have been let at Prologis Park Beddington Lane, which completed last summer, with all other units already under offer. Prologis UK began work on the redevelopment of the site at Beddington Lane, Croydon, in March 2018, after acquiring the former Thames Water sewage works. Comprising six purpose-built units, each with a BREEAM standard of Excellent and a high EPC rating, the development offers over 220,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and office space and was completed last summer. One of the buildings are already let – one to Easy Shipping, a leading storage and removals business, and the other to Oddbox, a purveyor of fruit and vegetable boxes that are delivered to people’s homes. Two further units, spanning 146,000 sq. ft. are currently under offer. The development is in a prime location, close to the A23, Purley Way, which is a priority red route into Central London. It also has great access to the M25 south-west quadrant, which is densely-populated by homes and businesses. There are also good public transport links nearby, and Beddington Lane Tram Stop a five-minute walk away. With more businesses choosing to locate in Croydon, Prologis UK is aiming to set a new standard for logistics property in the Borough by creating buildings that are net zero carbon in terms of both their construction and operation. The new buildings at Beddington Lane are fitted with photovoltaic panels so they can harness sunlight and provide a source of electricity to the occupier. Daylight has also been optimised during the design and construction of each building and LED lighting with automatic daylight and movement controls is installed as standard. Prologis UK is committed to adding value to the environment and local community too. With plans to promote biodiversity at the site, staff at the property company are also active participants in the local community, with representation on the Croydon Place Renew Panel, run by Croydon Borough Council. Gillian Scarth, Director of Capital Leasing & Deployment at Prologis UK, said: “Prologis has been present in Croydon for many years and we let one of the UK’s biggest warehouses to a leading online retailer at a site close to Prologis Park Beddington just last year. “This latest development of prime logistics property is designed to cater for businesses of all sizes – with warehouse and office space ranging from 15,000 sq. ft. to more than 100,000 sq. ft. With a building already let and others under offer, it is clear that demand in the area is very strong indeed and this is an economic opportunity for the local area. “We believe that repurposing sites in areas such as Croydon is critical to consumers and businesses across the South East, to help maintain the flow of goods.”
A new online tool to help the rail industry measure the social value of its investments, infrastructure projects and day-to-day operations has been launched today. The Rail Social Value Tool (RSVT), co-funded by Network Rail, is provided by the Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) and Loop (formerly Social Profit Calculator). The RSVT allows the rail industry to forecast, monitor and evaluate the social value of its activities. This is about measuring the impact on the welfare and wellbeing of both individuals and wider society, the net positive (or negative) social, economic and fiscal value that a project, organisation or specific initiative generates. With 500 indicators, organised across 12 social impacts, the RSVT can measure and monetise a wide range of benefits. These include: Improving safety Jobs created, apprentices employed and training provided Change to air quality Increasing biodiversity, by protecting and boosting plant and animal life, and planting trees Curriculum enrichment support for young people Design features that make rail travel more accessible and inclusive Employee and community volunteering Co-designing infrastructure and services with communities The RSVT has undergone extensive testing since November 2021 by early adopters, including Network Rail and companies in its supply chain. Liz Holford, Network Rail’s Sustainability Strategy manager (Social Performance) said: “The launch of the Rail Social Value Tool is an important milestone which enables our industry to make a step-change in how we understand and manage our impacts on people. “We’re already using the tool to forecast and maximise the social value of station redevelopments and infrastructure enhancements as well as current projects and some completed ones, and we’re looking forward to using it further to manage and improve the impact our railway has on society.” George Davies, RSSB’s Director for Sustainable Development said: “It’s fantastic to see the Rail Social Value Tool launched today. It’s a first for the rail industry, and I would like to thank everyone involved in its development. “Rail is one of the most sustainable forms of transport. However, until now, we haven’t been able to measure its social value in sufficient detail. “We can now assess, and importantly place a financial value on the effect the railway has in a number of areas including the natural environment, communities, people and their health, cultural heritage, housing, inclusivity, and distribution of opportunities. “As we transform the Railway and deliver the vision of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, the Rail Social Value Tool will guide decisions on rail development across the country to ensure the best return on those investments for society.” Gerard Toplass, Group Chief Executive, Loop said: “We are proud to have worked with RSSB and the wider rail sector to help them deliver the Rail Social Value Tool. Together we have developed 449 measures (KPIs) across 12 social value impact areas that cover people, sustainability and economic activity. “It is a first for the industry, and our software team worked in true collaboration with RSSB to develop a simple and accessible tool that can be used throughout the supply-chain and is aligned to the sector’s needs and objectives.Over the next 5 years we look forward to further developing the tool and helping the rail sector continue to deliver measured social value.”
Cube Homes’ Holcombe View in Whitefield was named as Boutique Housing Development of the Year at Insider’s North West Residential Property Awards at Manchester Central. The development, of 14 large family homes, beat competition from across the region to win the prestigious title at the event which was compered by television’s Matt Baker and attended by 860 people from the built environment industry in region Judges said that Holcombe View provided ‘a great fit with its surroundings’ and that the ‘characterful development is something a little different.” Nestled within semi-rural surroundings, the four and five bedroom properties feature large windows and vaulted ceilings and were positioned to take advantage of the breath-taking views of Holcombe Hill. Christopher Heath, Managing Director of Manchester-based Cube Homes, said: “It’s a real honour to win this award especially as the competition was really tough – all of the finalists in this category were amazing. “We are so proud of Holcombe View, it was one of our fastest selling developments – we sold 10 of the properties within the first 10 days of release! Many people still think of new build developments as rows of cookie cutter houses but we always try to offer genuinely different homes which have the proportions and individuality of traditional properties but with the added benefit of energy efficient heating and the latest contemporary kitchens and bathrooms. “We are passionate about the locations we chose to build in and always try to choose inspiring places, with lots of access to green space and fantastic local amenities.” Cube Homes is the private sector arm of the Great Places Housing Group, which provides affordable social housing across the region. With its profit-for-purpose ethos, all profits generated by Cube Homes is reinvested to help projects across Great Places’ communities.
Devon County Council and Norse Group are to launch a new joint venture. South West Norse will bring together Devon Norse’s facilities management, cleaning and catering operations with NPS South West’s multidisciplinary property consultancy services. The existing joint ventures between the Norse Group and Devon County Council have separately secured a number of exciting contracts, which will continue under the new combined joint venture Working together from 1 May 2022 will allow expertise across both joint ventures to be combined and services to be extended, said Matt Wilby, newly appointed Operations Director for South West Norse. “South West Norse will not only provide greater efficiencies but will also allow us to work closer together as a team and develop new commercial opportunities,” he said. The Norse Group works with clients across a range of sectors and is known for its innovative joint venture partnerships with other local authorities. Its new partnership with Devon County Council will run to at least 2027 and will play a vital role in helping the county council to meet its future strategic priorities, including its pandemic recovery plans. Councillor John Hart, Devon County Council’s Leader and Cabinet Member responsible for property, said: “Devon County Council is pleased to announce the creation of South West Norse based on the strong foundations of the successful partnership it has built with Norse over the last 15 years. The combined joint venture offers the opportunity to innovate and change the way services are delivered, to be more efficient by integrating Property and FM services and support and work closely with the Council.”