Building safety, hitting net zero targets, and the skills shortage were at the forefront of a major event for the South West’s construction industry. Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) hosted the CESW Construction Summit at Sandy Park, Exeter, and industry leaders and professionals gathered to discuss how the sector must
Why improved communication is key for the built environment UK construction accounts for around seven per cent of GDP and employs over 3 million people. But despite its significance, many firms are far behind modernisation and digital innovations seen in other parts of the economy — this includes its tools
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces the successful lease of G-Park Villaverde warehouse in Madrid to a US e-commerce company. On a 70,000 SQM plot of land, GLP will develop a state-of-the-art building totaling approximately 17,000 SQM. Given its proximity to the city of Madrid, G-Park Villaverde is ideally located for last-mile distribution.
LEADING housebuilder Lovell Homes has welcomed a brand-new sale advisor to its Blossomfield development in Thorp Arch near Wetherby. Caroline Lewis, who has more than five years’ experience in the industry, joins the team having previously worked for another housebuilder and has also worked in the new build retirement sector. She will be responsible for overseeing and
This is a good time to be asking ourselves about fuel usage norms because we’re currently in the midst of a fuel-related transition period. As of April 2022, red diesel – the standard option for many organisations in the construction and demolition world – is going to cost substantially more,
Chubb, a leading global provider of fire safety, security and monitoring solutions and services, today announced a collaboration with Airbox Systems, a provider of asset tracking solutions for frontline professionals, to integrate situational awareness tools with Chubb’s security solutions. The collaboration provides CCTV and access control solutions that orientate users
Brent Cross Town, a joint venture between Argent Related and Barnet Council, is using Site Scan drone flight management and image processing software from Esri UK to improve the efficiency of groundworks surveys and how it communicates progress of the new neighbourhood. The software is being used to create 3D point clouds, textured meshes,
State of the art 437,000 sq ft facility becomes the fourth fulfilment centre opened to date by the online fashion giant. GMI Construction Group PLC has heralded the official opening of a giant new state-of-the-art 437,000 sq ft fulfilment centre built for leading online retailer ASOS at a site at
A development of 160 new homes in Milton Keynes which is to be built using faster modern methods of construction has been given the green light. Bellway will deliver a mix of modular and timber frame houses at Tattenhoe Park as part of a pilot project being led by Homes
Homebuyers, investors and the people of Leeds have been given their first glimpse of a new £23.5 million city centre apartment development, after its scaffolding and site hoardings were taken down as the scheme approaches completion. This follows last month’s topping out of The Residence, which sits at the very
Building safety, hitting net zero targets, and the skills shortage were at the forefront of a major event for the South West’s construction industry. Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) hosted the CESW Construction Summit at Sandy Park, Exeter, and industry leaders and professionals gathered to discuss how the sector must come together and work collaboratively to tackle the current challenges. The jam-packed summit included an impressive line-up of speakers who all took centre stage to highlight the existing challenges facing the construction industry and how to tackle them head-on. Gary Townsend Vila, BSF Charter Strategic Lead, talked about the Building Safety Charter and its commitment to creating safer buildings and safer homes, and how this requires an urgent and positive cultural shift and behaviour change. While Ian Nicholson, Value Delivery Lead at Construction Innovation Hub, discussed the recently developed Value toolkit designed to help the industry drive better social, environmental and economic outcomes through value-based decision making. CEO of CESW and board member of CLC Construct Zero, Andrew Carpenter, also revealed the CLC Construct Zero nine priorities and the 28 detailed metrics needed to reach the net zero goals in construction. “It was good to see so many people come together to discuss the future of construction,” comments Andrew Carpenter. “This is such a pivotal time for the industry both regionally and nationally, as there’s many challenges to overcome but equally, huge opportunities to take advantage of. “The sector has a history of being fragmented but now is the time to work collaboratively to tackle the key issues, like building safety and net zero targets, so we can make positive changes for the future.” CESW leads the change agenda in construction regionally as part of Construction Excellence’s national mission to improve the industry’s performance and produce a better built environment. For more information about the Construction Summit and to access all speaker presentations, which are available to download, visit: https://constructingexcellencesw.org.uk/event/cesw-construction-summit/
Why improved communication is key for the built environment UK construction accounts for around seven per cent of GDP and employs over 3 million people. But despite its significance, many firms are far behind modernisation and digital innovations seen in other parts of the economy — this includes its tools for communication. Here, Kristian Torode, Director and Co-Founder of business phone systems provider Crystaline, explores why construction needs to up its communication game. Besides its slow uptake of digital technologies, pressures from COVID-19 and Brexit have also created productivity challenges across the construction sector. For instance, research from the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) found that 80 per cent of the 900 construction business owners it surveyed have had to postpone or cancel projects because of the pandemic. As a result, industry is falling behind in productivity, operating on very tight profit margins and therefore the smallest inefficiencies are having a considerable impact. Challenging comms According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), poor communication is the main reason why construction projects fail one-third of the time. In fact, more than half of project budget risk is due to ineffective and improper time management of project communications. Even if the project doesn’t fail, the effect of poor communication can still be detrimental. The PMI found that, in projects with minimal communication, only 37 per cent were completed on time and just 52 per cent met their original goals. In contrast, projects where effective communication was implemented resulted in 71 per cent completing on time and 80 per cent meeting their goals. Considering the industry is already under pressure from external, uncontrollable challenges, it must make improvements to reduce communication problems that can worsen these issues. Playing catch up Construction may be one of the largest industries in the UK, but it’s also one of the least digitised. 2020 research by IDC and Autodesk found that while almost three quarters of construction firms say digitalisation is a priority to improve their processes, business models and ecosystems, only 13 per cent are well on their way to achieving this. The emergence of IP-based telephony, along with cloud (hosted) technologies and Unified Communications, presents greater opportunities to upgrade legacy systems and develop effective communication tools for construction businesses. IP-based telephony such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls will become a necessity from 2025 when British Telecoms (BT) switches off the public switched telephone network (PSTN), moving to an entirely IP-based model of voice communication. This comes with numerous opportunities for construction. Firstly, VoIP works independently from local power and systems availability, so as long as the user has a stable internet connection, they can enjoy high-quality voice calls with 99.9 per cent connection uptime. Uptime can be boosted even further by ensuring access to a backup power source in case of power outages. So, in the event of an unpredicted outage, workers can still access the people and information they need from any internet connection or mobile device. Furthermore, there is no additional maintenance costs with VoIP as the hardware is located offsite in a data centre. Improving communication In remote and rural areas where connectivity isn’t reliable, it can be difficult for colleagues on-site to communicate with those located elsewhere. So, how do dispersed teams keep in touch? If time-sensitive information isn’t available in real-time, such as last minute changes or updates that could impact work safety, workers must wait to retrieve it, delaying work. Construction companies should implement a Unified Communication system such as Vodafone One Net Business, provided by Crystaline. This solution integrates landlines, mobiles, desktop and tablet connectivity on one system, allowing on-site workers, project managers and those back at headquarters to remain connected on any device. This ability to remain connected enables workforces to have a live, shareable view of project information at their fingertips, helping to bridge the gap between on site and the office. Construction is renowned for costly overruns, expensive equipment and increasingly narrow project schedules. But, by streamlining communication into one system that does not rely on cellular connectivity, projects will run faster and more efficiently, helping the industry to combat its productivity challenges. To find out how Crystaline can support your construction project, visit crystaline.uk.
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces the successful lease of G-Park Villaverde warehouse in Madrid to a US e-commerce company. On a 70,000 SQM plot of land, GLP will develop a state-of-the-art building totaling approximately 17,000 SQM. Given its proximity to the city of Madrid, G-Park Villaverde is ideally located for last-mile distribution. In addition, it is well-connected to the M-40, without passing through residential areas. It offers the possibility of a 100% sustainable distribution service to the city, using electric vehicles and bicycles (10 minutes by delivery lorry, 40 minutes by conventional bicycle and 20 minutes by electric bicycle from the warehouse to the center of Madrid). The logistics warehouse will generate a high number of jobs, which will benefit the surrounding urban centers. In addition, the connections with local metro services, buses and Madrid trains will facilitate easy access for staff using public transport to reach G-Park Villaverde. The logistics center has state-of-the-art sustainability features. The logistics platform is BREEAM Very Good certified, reflecting GLP’s commitment to developing sustainable spaces across its European portfolio. Among the many sustainability and wellness features are an energy production and management system and increased insulation. In addition, this project will have measures compatible with wellness certifications for employee wellbeing. These include improved lighting and acoustics, water fountains and pleasant recreational environments. All these measures will help to attract employees and improve employee productivity. Oscar Heras, Country Director of GLP Spain, says: “We are pleased to welcome a new customer to G-Park Villaverde. This logistics project combines cutting-edge design with the most innovative quality and sustainability standards. Furthermore, our ESG commitment reflects our desire to respect the wellbeing of the surrounding communities, ensuring that our presence brings benefits.”
LEADING housebuilder Lovell Homes has welcomed a brand-new sale advisor to its Blossomfield development in Thorp Arch near Wetherby. Caroline Lewis, who has more than five years’ experience in the industry, joins the team having previously worked for another housebuilder and has also worked in the new build retirement sector. She will be responsible for overseeing and completing sales at the new build development. When complete, Blossomfield will offer 119 high-specification houses, with three-bedroom homes starting from £315,000 and four-bedroom homes from £420,000. Caroline said: “I’m so excited to start my journey with Lovell Homes, especially at such a beautiful development like Thorp Arch. I was drawn to Lovell Homes due to its excellent reputation in the industry, both colleagues and friends within the sector recommended Lovell to me based on not just the quality of the homes but also the workplace culture and the way it looks after employees. “I’ve immediately been introduced to the fast-paced working environment within housing sales, and I absolutely love it. My top priority moving forward is to achieve and maintain a five-star development rating by working closely with customers and making their dream home become a reality. I feel incredibly fortunate to be looking after my own development so soon after joining the company and I want to make the most of this opportunity.” Combining contemporary design with rigorous build quality, the homes have been created with modern living in mind and feature elements such as open plan kitchen and dining areas and spacious rear gardens. Caroline added: “Supporting potential homeowners throughout their journey, from the first viewing all the way through to handing the keys over, is truly magical and I can’t wait to bring this exciting new community to fruition.” Robert Adams, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “We’re incredibly excited to see what Caroline brings to Blossomfield. Her passion for the site is evident and it’s been great to see her hit the ground running so quickly after starting at the development.” For more information, please visit Blossomfield, Thorp Arch or call us on 01937 318 046.
This is a good time to be asking ourselves about fuel usage norms because we’re currently in the midst of a fuel-related transition period. As of April 2022, red diesel – the standard option for many organisations in the construction and demolition world – is going to cost substantially more, because it will no longer be subject to a favourable tax rebate. In other words: fuel is going to get a lot more expensive. Given that red diesel will no longer be the obvious, commercially viable choice for the industry, now is the time to reflect on whether a firm commitment needs to be made to environmentally friendly alternative fuels. This chain of thought is precisely one which the government hoped to spark off with this new policy. As the policy paper notes, this tax change is designed to incentivise “users of polluting fuels like diesel to improve the energy efficiency of their vehicles and machinery, invest in cleaner alternatives, or just use less fuel. These tax changes should therefore have a positive impact on carbon emissions and air quality.” Efforts to reduce diesel emissions are, obviously, of paramount importance. As the Environmental Protection Agency notes, diesel emissions not only produce ground-level ozone, which damages vegetation, but they also contribute to climate change – an issue which is, as mentioned above, at the forefront of our collective minds at the moment. It’s clear that a switch to environmentally friendly fuels is a good move for all concerned. However, this kind of government intervention won’t achieve this by itself. Shouldering the responsibility on an industry-wide level The issue with the government’s taxation changes to red diesel, in an environmental sense, is that they may not provide the crucial incentives named in the policy paper. Marie Claude Hemming, director of external affairs for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), has spoken out against the supposed environmental benefits of the government’s decision. As she notes: “While the Government has legislated to remove the tax rebate on construction’s red diesel use, it has also removed any incentive for greener fuels. This policy increases tax revenues but no longer provides the option to choose lower carbon alternatives in the first instance.” Diesel might be getting more expensive, but green fuels aren’t getting any cheaper. This doesn’t mean that green fuels aren’t worth adopting, of course: HVO, to take a prominent example, produces 90 per cent lower emissions, and it’s made from renewable materials including animal oils, fats, and of course vegetable oil. Moreover, introducing fuel usage changes that prioritise HVO would minimise any disruptions to this transition, since HVO is compatible with existing diesel engines. This means that although, on paper, adopting a new fuel usage standard might seem like a big shake-up, there would be no disruptions to day-to-day equipment in practice. In this sense, then, it’s entirely feasible for the industry to adopt this kind of new fuel usage standard. Crucially, however, the construction/demolition industry itself needs to take on the responsibility of making this kind of bold change. Current government interventions aren’t quite enough – as such, the onus is on us to update our standards and take proactive steps towards a better future for our planet. By Ben Griffiths, SHE and Operations Director, Rye Group www.ryegroup.co.uk
Chubb, a leading global provider of fire safety, security and monitoring solutions and services, today announced a collaboration with Airbox Systems, a provider of asset tracking solutions for frontline professionals, to integrate situational awareness tools with Chubb’s security solutions. The collaboration provides CCTV and access control solutions that orientate users to real-time situations, informing decisions at all levels to frontline personnel in the field. Chubb is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. The collaboration integrates Chubb’s access management system, ADACS, with Airbox’s command and control software to create a real-time situational awareness system. This technology provides a live CCTV feed via a secured network, directly to frontline field professionals including military, law enforcement, special forces, fire and emergency services who support air and ground operations. “Working with Airbox allows Chubb to further strengthen its security offering as Airbox seamlessly interfaces with Chubb’s extensive CCTV network, offering an unrivalled asset management capability,” said David Dunnagan, Managing Director, Chubb Systems, Chubb. ADACS is a specialist solution developed by Chubb’s in-house team that can safeguard security at the highest-risk sites. Its powerful and sophisticated information management system collates data and security information from multiple channels, and easily integrates with an organisation’s intruder detection, access control, CCTV monitoring and digital video recording technologies. “This collaboration with Chubb allows Airbox to make a positive impact on operative safety, and we are excited to work together to deliver cutting-edge situational awareness technology to our mutual customers,” said William Moore, CEO of Airbox Systems. Chubb has over 50 years of experience helping to secure the buildings, assets, facilities, systems, software, data and networks that are needed to keep the UK running. To learn more about Chubb’s collaboration with Airbox Systems please visit https://www.chubbfiresecurity.com/en/uk/systems/our-solutions/software-solutions/airbox.html.
Brent Cross Town, a joint venture between Argent Related and Barnet Council, is using Site Scan drone flight management and image processing software from Esri UK to improve the efficiency of groundworks surveys and how it communicates progress of the new neighbourhood. The software is being used to create 3D point clouds, textured meshes, video and 360-degree panoramas, enabling highly accurate and consistent updates to be shared amongst all stakeholders as the development progresses. A new park town for both Barnet and London, Brent Cross Town is an ambitious new neighbourhood spanning 180 acres, incorporating 50 acres of parks and playing fields. Delivering 6,700 new homes and 3m sq ft of office space for 25,000 employees, the town will be a major new office destination. New and sustainable transport links, a high street, local amenities, services and world-class sports facilities are also part of the scheme. Previously, drone surveys were commissioned to third parties on an ad-hoc basis, with outputs defined by the business purpose they were satisfying, such as project management, logistical planning, marketing or legal. Brent Cross Town wanted to create a more consistent and efficient method of monitoring site progress and make the overall drone programme easier to manage. Lily Wydra, GIS, Land and Property Manager at Argent Related, explained: “Before Site Scan we had no pre-existing software specifically for planning flights or managing and processing drone imagery outputs. Now we have a consistent framework for managing all flights through our supply chain, processing images, creating high quality geospatially-enabled outputs and disseminating them to multiple stakeholders. As a cloud-based service, Site Scan also means we can work seamlessly with contractors, such as civil engineering contractor Galldris Services Ltd, who we’ve currently requested to carry out drone survey work.” The drone team at Galldris has been regularly flying drone surveys with its fleet of DJI drones and using Esri Site Scan under Argent’s operator licence, since March 2021. Galldris has also been helping to maintain part of the network of GCPs (Ground Control Points) to aid in the auto-georeferencing of drone imagery. The team now processes monthly drone outputs to support internal operations and delivers them to Argent who utilise and disseminate them through a collection of ArcGIS Online maps and apps. Outputs include 3D point clouds which have been helping construction managers, technical teams and contractors understand how changes in site topography will impact the site and for performing volumetric calculations, on how much earth needs to be excavated and removed. While video, static images and 360-degree panoramas have been used to provide project teams, investors and the public with engaging visual updates on construction progress and by legal teams when working on leases with potential tenants. “Site Scan has enabled us to create a formalised and repeatable approach for generating digital drone outputs, irrespective of the survey provider, which is also proving to be more cost effective than commissioning one-off surveys,” commented Wydra. “Drone usage is increasing so having a scalable framework to manage flights and streamline the integration of data captured into GIS, BIM and CAD workflows is proving invaluable. Ultimately, better drone outputs support a better data-driven decision-making process.” Site Scan connects seamlessly with Argent Related’s enterprise GIS, Esri ArcGIS and is already enriching geospatial datasets. Drone data can be quickly published into ArcGIS Online to enhance pre-existing online maps, including those on-site or shared with Barnet Council, who has started to publish some data layers in its Masterplan. The regular drone surveys also proved invaluable for monitoring progress remotely during COVID-19 lockdowns, when site access was limited. Brent Cross Town is the first Argent Related project where Site Scan has been deployed but the developer business is planning to use it at other major developments, including King’s Cross and Tottenham Hale, as the demand for drone data increases. “Deploying Site Scan at Brent Cross Town has streamlined how we carry out surveys, visualise large-scale developments and communicate site progress,” concluded Wydra. “Engineering is a precise school of activity and drones are a relatively new part of the workflow but now they are working alongside tried and tested engineering practices and surveying activities. Site Scan is helping to build a more coordinated and efficient way of managing our drone programmes and will soon move to other developments as we scale it across the business.”
State of the art 437,000 sq ft facility becomes the fourth fulfilment centre opened to date by the online fashion giant. GMI Construction Group PLC has heralded the official opening of a giant new state-of-the-art 437,000 sq ft fulfilment centre built for leading online retailer ASOS at a site at Fradley Park in Lichfield. The £90 million development which took 39 weeks to build features over 407,000 sq ft of warehouse space together with 30,000 sq ft of offices. More than 700 people have already been recruited at the facility, with that number rising to 2,000 over the next three years in order to serve customers in the UK and 150 other countries across the world. ASOS said it expects to ship over 30 million units in the site’s first year, and up to 4.5 million per week once the facility is fully operational and automation is complete. It said it expects the facility to help it meet its goal of reaching £7 billion in annual revenue within the next three to four years. Speaking about the opening ASOS Chief Operating Officer UK Mat Dunn said: “We are thrilled to be celebrating the opening of our brand-new warehouse in Lichfield, which will support our ambitious international growth plans and bring a significant number of jobs to the area,” “Our choice of Lichfield reflects the skills and talent it has to offer and we’re looking forward to becoming part of the local community in the years ahead.” Also commenting GMI managing Director Andy Bruce said: “Its enormously gratifying to see this incredible building officially come to life and become operational. It is the culmination of nearly two years of construction, fit out and enabling works. The full project team should be very proud of what has been delivered here which once again is a clear example of GMI’s ability to deliver first class projects on time and on budget without compromise” ASOS currently operates three other fulfilment centres, in Barnsley, Berlin and Atlanta.
A development of 160 new homes in Milton Keynes which is to be built using faster modern methods of construction has been given the green light. Bellway will deliver a mix of modular and timber frame houses at Tattenhoe Park as part of a pilot project being led by Homes England. The developer has been selected to deliver the fourth phase of homes at Tattenhoe Park, a landmark extension to the town, and its plans have since approved by Milton Keynes Council in October. Bellway’s development will be located in the south-western part of the wider site, close to Priory Rise School. Construction work is due to get underway in April 2022with the first homes set to be completed byAugust 2022. Phase four at Tattenhoe Park will provide 112 properties for private ownership and 48 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership, as well as public open space and new pedestrian and cycle links. There will be a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, one and two-bedroom maisonettes, and two to four-bedroom houses. The 40 modular homes will be built off site in a factory, while the other 120 properties will be constructed using timber frames and panels in place of traditional breeze blocks. Adopting these methods will enable the homes to be delivered at a faster pace than those built using more traditional techniques. Paul Smits, Managing Director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “This is a hugely significant development not only for Bellway and Milton Keynes, but also for housebuilding in this country. Phase four at Tattenhoe Park is the first Bellway development to include modular homes. It will deliver much-needed new housing for the town, and it is one of a select group of developments chosen by Homes England for its pilot scheme. “The modern methods of construction we are using at Tattenhoe Park have the potential to transform the way new homes are delivered in this country. We are pleased to be working with Homes England on this exciting project to help accelerate the supply of new homes in high-demand areas. “The off-site manufacturing process eradicates weather-related delays, which means we can speed up construction while maintaining the high quality that Bellway achieves as a five-star housebuilder. “We look forward to starting work on the site and to releasing the first homes onto the market in Spring 2022.” Outline planning permission is already in place for up to 1,310 homes at Tattenhoe Park, a new neighbourhood which is being created on the southern edge of Milton Keynes. For more information about the development, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/northern-home-counties/tattenhoe-park.
Homebuyers, investors and the people of Leeds have been given their first glimpse of a new £23.5 million city centre apartment development, after its scaffolding and site hoardings were taken down as the scheme approaches completion. This follows last month’s topping out of The Residence, which sits at the very eastern end of Kirkstall Road. The development by KMRE Group, consists of 111, one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as two penthouses with large terraces and stunning views across Leeds and beyond. The ground floor of the development offers 2,400 sq ft of commercial space and there are also 25 parking spaces. More than two thirds of the homes in the 10-storey building, which are being marketed by Linley & Simpson with Morgans, are already reserved and KMRE Group has just launched a new website to showcase the development. Visitors to https://theresidenceleeds.co.uk/ benefit from up to date information about apartment availability, as well as full details on the development and its specification. Kam Mogul, managing director at KMRE, said: “The Residence is progressing well and the topping out of the development, as well as the scaffolding and site hoarding removal, are significant milestones that have given people their first opportunity to see how our landmark building looks. The response from both our buyers and the Leeds community, has been extremely positive. “The Residence will be the first development to complete on the Kirkstall Road corridor, which will soon benefit from hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment and development that will create thousands of new homes and a vibrant community in the area. We’re extremely proud to be setting a benchmark with The Residence for surrounding developments to follow.” Jonathan Morgan, from Linley & Simpson with Morgans, said: “The scale, height and quality of The Residence have already made a statement in this part of the city as a number of other schemes are set to come forward. “Following the topping out of the development, buyers can now also experience the ninth and tenth floor duplex penthouses for themselves. These are some of the most exciting apartments currently being built in the city centre and offer split level, open plan living areas with the bedrooms on the lower levels so that the living areas get the benefit of the generous roof terraces with city and skyline views.” The Residence is an easy walk to the LGI and Law Courts which are 12-minutes away, the railway station is a 15-minute walk and Leeds University or Holbeck Urban Village along the canal are both around a 16-minute walk. Apartments at The Residence start at £152,000 and the three bedroom penthouses, with generous south facing terraces, are priced from £463,000. For further information visit https://theresidenceleeds.co.uk/ or https://www.linleyandsimpson.co.uk/