Yorkshire and Lincolnshire construction firm, Hobson & Porter has landed a place on the largest part of a £415m, five-year design and build framework for ports. Associated British Ports (ABP) has named 11 partner contractors to deliver an ambitious building programme at its 21 ports, across five regions of the
CBRE Seeking Proposals For Unique Development Opportunity One of Sheffield City Centre’s most prominent development opportunities has been launched to market by CBRE’s UK Development Advisory team, acting on behalf of Sheffield City Council (SCC). The Barker’s Pool Building, a c.200,000 sq ft former department store, forms a significant element
Commenting on the publication of the Government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Chair of the District Councils’ Network said: “The Levelling Up Bill is mixed news for DCN councils. We want to work with the Government to deliver their commitment to level up the country and empower
WORK on a three-storey, specialist training facility for those in the healthcare sector has now been completed at Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Clifton Campus. The renovation of existing NTU buildings and the completion of a new building will serve as a base for the Institute of Health & Allied Professions,
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) welcomes the inclusion of the planning system within the a ‘Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill’. Planners can be an asset to the Bill, increasing living standards and home ownership, cultivating pride in place, improving transport infrastructure and population health and strengthening local leadership. Victoria
86% of UK builders don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health The most common cause of stress is finances (34%) IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Basildon Mind, to raise awareness of the issue 89% of UK builders experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new
Following the Queen’s speech delivered today, leading energy trade association, the not-for-profit Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), has declared the time has come for the Government to deliver on the many promises made by Ministers around the hydrogen economy. Mike Foster, CEO of EUA, said: “We welcome an Energy Bill
Glasgow Queen Street Station and the University of Strathclyde Learning and Teaching Building, both designed by BDP’s Glasgow studio, have been shortlisted in separate categories of this year’s Scottish Design Awards. The transformation of Scotland’s third-busiest rail hub from a run-down collection of outdated extensions into a soaring contemporary concourse
AO Business has announced a new lead for its housebuilder team. Roger Giles, previously Business Development Manager, has been promoted to the leading position of UK Sales Manager, as the B2B division of online electricals retailer AO continues to transform the way appliances are purchased for new housing developments. Prior
Prologis, the UK’s leading developer and owner of logistics parks, has completed the construction of the UK’s first logistics property to go beyond net zero carbon in its construction and operation – delivering a net benefit for the environment over its lifetime. Located on Prologis Apex Park, near Daventry, Prologis
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire construction firm, Hobson & Porter has landed a place on the largest part of a £415m, five-year design and build framework for ports. Associated British Ports (ABP) has named 11 partner contractors to deliver an ambitious building programme at its 21 ports, across five regions of the UK. The work will be focused on the design and build, as well as construct-only agreements, of buildings at the ports. Hobson & Porter, which operates throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, has been selected for the framework’s Humber region, which covers ABP’s largest port area including Hull, Immingham, Grimsby and Goole. The news follows Hobson & Porter recently securing a place on two new regional medium works YORbuild frameworks, which are expected to account for over £640m of spending over the next four years. These cover the YORhub east region led by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and the west region led by Leeds City Council. These complement Hobson & Porter’s growing portfolio of frameworks including North Lincolnshire Council, Pagabo Medium Works, Efficiency North, Brierley Homes, Lidl and North East Lincolnshire Council. Joe Booth, business development director at Hobson & Porter, said: “Securing a place on the ABP framework follows a rigorous selection process and it is a fantastic achievement for both Hobson & Porter and our valued supply chain across East Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire. “It has the potential to shape the future development of the main ports on the Humber, which will ultimately benefit global trade for the UK and the local economies in the areas surrounding these ports.” Hobson & Porter has a wealth of experience in industrial, logistics and distribution projects throughout the region, which includes recently extending Ørsted’s flagship £9m East Coast Hub, at the Royal Docks in Grimsby, to create the largest offshore wind operations and maintenance facility in the UK. As a vital part of the supply chains of businesses throughout the nation, ABP’s 21 ports support 119,000 jobs and contribute £7.5 billion to the economy every year, handling approximately a quarter of the nation’s seaborne trade. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
CBRE Seeking Proposals For Unique Development Opportunity One of Sheffield City Centre’s most prominent development opportunities has been launched to market by CBRE’s UK Development Advisory team, acting on behalf of Sheffield City Council (SCC). The Barker’s Pool Building, a c.200,000 sq ft former department store, forms a significant element of the council’s £470M Heart of the City regeneration scheme and proposals are being sought by June 2022 for the redevelopment of the strategically located property. Originally opened in 1962 as a department store with integrated car park, the property freehold is now owned by SCC who acquired the lease from John Lewis in January 2022. Sitting across 1.25 acres, the five-storey building can be sustainably redeveloped or repurposed for a wide range of uses, subject to planning approval. Holding a prime position alongside the core central streets of Fargate, The Moor and Division Street, the building offers a pivotal location benefitting from nearby landmarks including Sheffield City’s Town Hall and the award-winning Peace Gardens, as well as many food, retail and entertainment destinations. The property is also at the heart of one of the UK’s largest urban regeneration schemes, the 1.5m sq ft Heart of the City which represents a multi-million pound investment into Sheffield City Centre and which will provide active cultural, leisure, retail, residential and office uses to three sides of the property. Since acquiring The Barker’s Pool Building in January 2022, SCC has been busy with securing the building and commissioning various surveys. Works to remove asbestos and strip out redundant plant and machinery are currently out to tender and will commence in the next few months, with anticipated completion in Spring 2023. CBRE is openly marketing the property in a two-stage process, seeking expressions of interest by the end of June, with the second stage starting at the end of the summer once initial expressions of interest have been assessed and discussed with bidders. SCC is seeking proposals that add to the vibrancy and attraction of the widest possible number of visitors and local people into the city centre. Proposals must be of very high quality to enhance what SCC is achieving across the rest of the Heart of the City project and wider city centre. Proposals will be judged on economic, social and environmental benefits rather than purely financial, but will need to be commercially deliverable. Alex Andrews, CBRE’s UK Development Advisory Team, commented: “The Barker’s Pool Building presents an exceptional opportunity for a developer to bring forward a creative solution for this prominent building, delivering a sustainable, environmentally friendly scheme, which in turn will capitalise on the growth and development already being delivered across Sheffield City Centre. The building’s location at the core of the Heart of the City scheme will ensure its long-term prominence and we are looking forward to receiving proposals and discussing with prospective developers”. Kate Martin, Executive Director at Sheffield City Council, said: “We know how important this property is to the people of Sheffield and this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape a key city centre location. The decision on how the property and location is reimagined and its future use will be carefully considered. “Although removing the existing building is an option, we are keen to ensure we examine all the options on the table, so we can make a fully informed decision. We plan to make the most of this rare opportunity and develop something truly special for Sheffield. “As part of this process, we are inviting imaginative and deliverable proposals for either refurbishment or redevelopment of the property and are open to ideas around its future use. We look forward to receiving submissions of outstanding quality that will genuinely add to the vibrancy of the city centre and attract the widest possible number of Sheffield residents and visitors to the city.” Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Commenting on the publication of the Government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Chair of the District Councils’ Network said: “The Levelling Up Bill is mixed news for DCN councils. We want to work with the Government to deliver their commitment to level up the country and empower our local communities. “However, we’re concerned that district councils’ local knowledge and ability to deliver on levelling up is being overlooked when it comes to delivering new County Deals. The legislation would prevent district councils being constituent members of the new-style combined authorities and appears to allow district powers to be transferred to the combined authority without their consent. We think this is unnecessary and counter-productive. District councils are well placed to help the Government deliver ambitious deals to improve outcomes for our residents. We want the opportunity to do that as equal partners in county deals and call on the Government to recognise that in the legislation. “We’re pleased with the change of direction on planning reform. It’s right that local plans should drive development and that councils’ powers to regenerate their high streets and local places should be strengthened. Stronger compulsory powers, rental auctions for empty high street properties, and the new local infrastructure levy – to name a few – are all positive on paper. We look forward to working with the Government to make sure they deliver on their promise. “We also welcome the principle of encouraging positive public participation in local planning. The acid test for the idea of street votes will be implementing it in a way that boosts neighbourhood involvement without the unintended consequence of stopping developments that enhance our local places and support economic development “Increased numbers of second homes present challenges to local councils, particularly in rural and coastal communities, and exacerbate housing shortages and affordability for ordinary people. It’s excellent news that the Bill will give councils the power to increase council tax on underused second homes, allowing us to reinvest in improving local infrastructure and services.” Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
WORK on a three-storey, specialist training facility for those in the healthcare sector has now been completed at Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Clifton Campus. The renovation of existing NTU buildings and the completion of a new building will serve as a base for the Institute of Health & Allied Professions, which offers a range of specialist courses such as adult and mental health nursing and paramedic science. The whole facility is focused on equipping the healthcare providers of the future with the knowledge and hands-on skills required for modern healthcare. Leading independent property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy, Pick Everard provided architecture, interior design and principal design services from concept to completion, working with main contractor Henry Brothers during the construction period. Devika Parmar, director of architecture at Pick Everard, said: “We are delighted to have provided services for such an important scheme for the university and its healthcare students. We won this project via a competition under the NTU consultancy framework, where we put forward our concept proposals to create a gateway building to the campus that would be visually striking, functional and inspirational for anyone hoping for a career within health services. We’re thrilled that the completed building aligns very closely with our original concept sketch. “Blending our healthcare and HE knowledge, we designed a building that caters to nursing, paramedical, and other healthcare professionals. It accommodates a variety of clinical simulation spaces that support teaching, assessments, and learning opportunities. “Underpinning our design approach was a modular grid and a simplicity in design to create flexibility and standardisation in space planning and construction delivery. Working closely with university stakeholders, we meticulously planned the building to meet user requirements and allow for new educational technologies to support the evolving learning demands.” With flexibility of use in mind, multi-use spaces have the potential to provide students with fully immersive experiences. The new building also provides a welcoming gateway building to the campus with the external façade treatment and quality materials providing aesthetic interest. One floor of the new development is dedicated to realistic simulated healthcare environments for the training of healthcare students. This includes hospital wards, consultations and counselling rooms and a mock flat for home and emergency care scenarios. Meanwhile, a further two floors provide office and flexible teaching space to accommodate creative learning approaches. David Shaw, national design director at Pick Everard, said: “The architecture of the new development has been designed for maximum visual impact on arrival to the campus. We wanted to ensure this new addition to an evolving campus would be complimentary but also distinctive both externally and internally. “The whole consultant team worked closely to deliver this project to ensure the architecture, interior design and engineering has been holistically considered. We were intent on combining the existing building into the project, with the atrium space connecting the refurbished and new accommodations to bring people together in a central collaboration space. “With such unique requirements for its end use, this development provided room for a number of innovations to be adopted. This included the inclusion of virtual reality training spaces that completely immerse students into situational experiences, which is an incredibly valuable experience for their training. “The pandemic has reaffirmed the need for training facilities like this to make sure that the healthcare professionals now and tomorrow have the best quality teaching experience possible. We very much look forward to seeing the building fully occupied by students and professionals and seeing them make the most of their new teaching spaces.” Dr Anne Felton, head of the Institute of Health & Allied Professions at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, said: “We’re incredibly excited that our new teaching centre is now open. The courses we’re providing will directly increase the supply of professional qualified staff into the NHS and related services, as well as providing a dedicated facility to allow greater opportunities for Continuing Professional Development for existing health practitioners within the local area. “The virtual reality training facilities that will provide students with fully immersive situational experiences are a demonstration of NTU’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of the learning experience, while the audio-visual recording equipment installed within the simulation suites will enable feedback and reflection on students’ performances, creating a truly modern learning experience.” Ian Taylor, managing director at Henry Brothers Midlands, the contractor for the development, said: “It’s great to see this project reach completion and I look forward to seeing it full of students. Despite being a challenging project delivered during difficult times, I’m really pleased with how the whole team came together to deliver a great looking building for the university’s students and staff.” For more information about Pick Everard, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) welcomes the inclusion of the planning system within the a ‘Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill’. Planners can be an asset to the Bill, increasing living standards and home ownership, cultivating pride in place, improving transport infrastructure and population health and strengthening local leadership. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI said: “We welcome government recognition that a strong planning system will be essential to levelling up. We hope that such a system will help communities better shape the places they live, work and enjoy. “Our members stand ready to support the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to develop a system. But, if we’re going to achieve the overall ambitions of Levelling Up and regeneration, we need to ensure we’re building the right homes in the right places. “It is essential that any reform comes forward as soon as possible to help prevent further delays. It is also key that all local areas have an up to date local plan, are sufficiently resourced, and open to a dialogue with their local communities, including businesses and residents current and future.” The RTPI will continue to work with Government, officials and parliamentarians based on its member’s experiences, its expertise and timely research to help shape these planning reforms. The RTPI will follow up with further analysis on the role of planning within the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill as news develops. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
86% of UK builders don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health The most common cause of stress is finances (34%) IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Basildon Mind, to raise awareness of the issue 89% of UK builders experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new study has found. The research was commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week (9th-15th May) by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, and the results have been published in its annual industry report. Unfortunately, 86% of builders say they don’t feel comfortable talking to others about their mental health, with finances (34%) being their main cause of anxiety. Across all trades, almost two-thirds (64%) experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress, anxiety or depression, every month, and sadly, one in eight (13%) feel symptoms every single day. Finances remain the number one cause of stress, with over a third (34%) saying that money worries play on their mind. In fact, the top five reasons are the same as last year, with customer tensions (24%) taking second spot once again. The most significant change from 2021 is the impact of customer abuse, with almost a fifth (18%) saying they struggle with insults or threats, which is treble the figure from the previous report (6%). The top 10 most common causes of stress for tradespeople are: Unfortunately, despite the benefits of doing so, more than four in five (85%) tradespeople don’t feel comfortable talking to others about their feelings. Just one in six (16%) have spoken to friends or family about their mental health, which is considerably fewer than last year (42%). Furthermore, one in six (16%) worry what their colleagues would think if they told them what they were going through, and more than a quarter (28%) feel they can’t take time off work for mental health reasons. Plumbers are the most likely tradespeople to feel stressed or anxious on a daily basis (27%), but overall, mental health problems are most common amongst plasterers. More than nine in ten (92%) say they experience issues at least once a year. The trades that are most and least likely to experience mental health issues are: As part of its campaign to raise awareness of mental health amongst tradespeople, IronmongeryDirect is partnering with Basildon Mind, the mental health charity, and is donating over £3,000 to support with its vital services. Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal. “We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.” Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “It’s an unfortunate truth that mental health issues are common across our industry, and it’s awful to see that so many tradespeople experience problems on a regular basis. “It’s particularly worrying to see that the number of people talking to others about their mental health has dropped significantly from last year. As difficult as it can be to discuss your feelings, talking about them with someone else, whether that’s a colleague or family member, can really help to begin addressing the issues.” To read IronmongeryDirect’s Mental Health in the Trades: 2022 Report, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/ Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Following the Queen’s speech delivered today, leading energy trade association, the not-for-profit Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), has declared the time has come for the Government to deliver on the many promises made by Ministers around the hydrogen economy. Mike Foster, CEO of EUA, said: “We welcome an Energy Bill designed to promote Carbon Capture and Storage and help deliver large scale hydrogen heating trials. This puts consumers at the heart of decarbonising homes in the UK, giving people the choice between the relevant technologies – heat pumps, heat networks and hydrogen gas boilers. The latter will involve no additional upfront costs to the consumer and minimal levels of disruption and creates a secure energy supply free from the blood-stained hands of President Putin. “We need to hear details of the business model that will deliver UK domestic production of this zero-carbon wonder-fuel, and practical action to make sure every home that wants cheap, zero carbon gas for their boilers, cookers and fires gets it. “We need to urgently shift away from fossil fuel gas to hydrogen, using the world-class gas networks already underground to supply our homes and businesses. Now is not the time to consider re-wiring Britain; ripping out boilers to be replaced with £10 grand a time heat pumps would be a folly when clean gas is just around the corner. “From our recent research of 2000 UK consumers, the majority of Brits agree. Over three quarters (77.7%) of respondents saying they would support the UK generating and distributing alternative, low-carbon gas through the existing grid to replace the imports of natural gas from countries such as Qatar and Russia. An overwhelming 82% also believed the government should prioritise affordability in the development of renewable technologies for heating homes in the UK. There is a clear message that costly alternatives like heat pumps will not be favoured by households in this cost-of-living crisis. “Meanwhile, let’s also hear what the Government plan to do to keep bills down this winter. Massive investment in economically-viable energy efficiency schemes would be an entirely sensible step while the Energy Bill progresses through Parliament, creating the hydrogen future the Prime Minister and others have spoken about.”
Glasgow Queen Street Station and the University of Strathclyde Learning and Teaching Building, both designed by BDP’s Glasgow studio, have been shortlisted in separate categories of this year’s Scottish Design Awards. The transformation of Scotland’s third-busiest rail hub from a run-down collection of outdated extensions into a soaring contemporary concourse that celebrates the station’s Victorian heritage, has been nominated in the ‘Public Building’ category, while the refurbishment of two existing buildings to form new teaching spaces, lecture theatre, Student union and support services, has been shortlisted in the ‘Retrofit’ category. And Ed Dymock, Architect Associate, BDP, said: “Since 1878, James Carswell’s original train shed has been hidden away at the heart of Queen Street, but the southern extension of the platforms gave us the opportunity to open up the views, work with volume and scale and allow the station to play a civic role within the city. Martin Jarvie, Architect Associate, BDP, said: “We are delighted to be nominated for these awards. At Strathclyde University the decision to transform the existing buildings rather than a new-build project has substantial sustainable benefits. Our Sustainability Team compared the embodied carbon of the adaptive re-use of the existing building structure to a notional new build equivalent and demonstrated that the project saved around 67% of CO2e.” The winners of the Scottish Design Awards will be announced on 29 June. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
AO Business has announced a new lead for its housebuilder team. Roger Giles, previously Business Development Manager, has been promoted to the leading position of UK Sales Manager, as the B2B division of online electricals retailer AO continues to transform the way appliances are purchased for new housing developments. Prior to joining AO Business, Roger Giles has worked in the contract kitchen market for over 25 years, supplying premium products to both national and regional housebuilders. Most recently, he worked as a Contract Sales Manager at Omega PLC before joining AO Business in March last year. Wayne Paskin, Business Development Manager on the housebuilders team, has also been promoted to a senior position. Being part of a large retail group with its own logistics network has meant that AO Business can provide a solution to the everyday challenges facing housebuilders and offer a fantastic next day delivery and installation proposition. Talking about his new position, Roger said: “I’m excited by the opportunity to grow the housebuilder business at AO and move forward with some of the positive changes we’ve been making in the industry. Throughout my time with AO Business so far, I’ve seen housebuilders really waking up to the benefits of our proposition and I look forward to stepping up to this new role.” With renowned customer service and over 20 years’ experience of selling electricals to the public, AO Business offer a unique proposition for time-pressed housebuilders. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Prologis, the UK’s leading developer and owner of logistics parks, has completed the construction of the UK’s first logistics property to go beyond net zero carbon in its construction and operation – delivering a net benefit for the environment over its lifetime. Located on Prologis Apex Park, near Daventry, Prologis has delivered a brand new 435,000 sq ft unit, which will act as UK Logistics Centre for an American multinational. In a first for the world of industrial logistics property, Prologis have delivered an industrial unit which pushes the boundaries of sustainable construction. The building includes the installation of bespoke energy saving technology. In addition to the standard sustainability measures provided by Prologis, including rainwater harvesting and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, a 1.4MW rooftop solar system has also been installed, resulting in a building which will return more energy to the grid than it uses. The surplus energy it generates will help to power other homes and businesses. The new unit at Apex Park is BREEAM rated ‘Outstanding’ – placing it in the top 1% of UK non-domestic buildings. When certified at Post Construction stage by BREEAM, the building scored 88.2%, which was the highest “Industrial 2018 Shell & Core” score so far achieved. Martin Cooper, vice president, development management at Prologis UK, said: “This is a milestone for Prologis and shows what can be achieved when like-minded businesses work together to realise their vision for a building that delivers a net benefit for the environment. All our new warehouses in the UK have been net zero carbon in construction for the past 14 years, but this building at Apex Park takes carbon reduction to a new level. “The dialogue around net zero is progressing rapidly and businesses are beginning to look beyond ‘operational carbon’ to find other ways to make their buildings more sustainable. Reducing the embodied carbon of new buildings requires intense collaboration across the supply chain, from engineers and architects to material and product suppliers, plant hire firms and contractors. Moving as a country towards being net zero by 2050, we look forward to seeing many more logistics projects that are net-positive for the environment, and we’re extremely proud to be leading the way.” Additionally, the new unit is also the first development of its type to achieve an EPC rating of A+, meeting the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Framework Definition of Net Zero Carbon for both embodied & operational carbon. It’s predicted that the unit will generate more energy than it uses, avoiding 105 tCO2e per year and feeding unused energy back in the grid. As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainable construction Prologis ensures that each new logistics property can achieve a net environmental benefit, starting by designing out carbon emissions wherever possible – for example by offering customers rooftop solar power systems. The whole life carbon footprint is then measured, and unavoidable embodied carbon emissions are mitigated by protecting rainforest. Through Prologis’ partnership with climate change charity, Cool Earth, 310 acres of Papua New Guinea rainforest were protected based on a whole lifetime assessment of the Apex Park building’s carbon impact. In November 2021, Prologis were awarded the Terra Carta seal, which recognises companies who are building a sustainable future and have made a serious commitment to put nature, people & the planet at the heart of the economy. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News