A brand new Morrisons Superstore has already opened as part of the wider revamp of the town centre recently completed by Knowsley Council and GMI that has also seen new restaurants opened and a cinema scheme progressing. GMI Construction Group PLC has heralded the completion of a significant package of
As a pioneer of pressure piping, GF Piping Systems (GF) announced today the introduction of bio-attributed materials to all of its market-leading polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) metric pressure pipes, fittings and valves produced in Europe. The sustainable PVC resin, made using tall oil, a waste product from paper production will see
SCAPE Scotland, one of Scotland’s leading public sector procurement authorities, has appointed a new framework manager to lead its partner relationships and support best-in-class procurement across the nation’s public sector built environment projects. Gary Meechan joins SCAPE Scotland following eight years with construction consultancy Currie & Brown, where he was
Montel Civil Engineering starts work to deliver access and services for CGX Connect Ground break is catalyst for unlocking the potential of strategic economic development at airport Works supported by £1.885 million Growth Deal funding through GFirst LEP A flagship new Gloucestershire development with the potential to deliver more
GDR Sales has taken delivery of the first SV120 sold in the UK. Retailed through Ben Burgess, Yanmar’s official dealer for Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Rutland, the new model will be used for riverbank maintenance, flailing and general building applications. One of the most powerful machines in the Yanmar portfolio,
Scotland’s five regional hub companies have delivered 151 new schools and nurseries to the value of £2 billion across Scotland. The public-private partnership bodies will come together for the Learning Places Scotland conference on 23rd November at the SEC Glasgow to showcase their success in creating modern learning facilities that
Rebecca Needham, Road Safety Officer for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said: RoSPA welcomes the announcement by the Government on the ban on using handheld mobile phones for any purpose whilst driving. Drivers holding their phone are gambling with their own lives and the
Hyde Group has been awarded the title Housing Association of the Year 2021 at The Whathouse? Awards, as Judges applaud the social housing landlord’s forward-thinking approach to some of the biggest issues facing the housing association sector over the coming years and its leadership position in the vanguard of sustainable development. While most big developing housing associations are cutting back development plans in
LEADING commercial property agency Innes England has announced an exciting expansion to its business following the appointment of highly experienced investment advisor Ben Robinson who is relocating from London. Ben has spent the past six years as a senior investment advisor at Matthews & Goodman where he was involved in
MORE than 300 industry professionals attended the seminal built environment sustainability conference “Net Zero Carbon: What’s Stopping Us?” in Birmingham. The event, held at The Grand Hotel, was hosted by national construction company Willmott Dixon in partnership with Building Brum, the region’s largest built environment network. It saw industry leaders
A brand new Morrisons Superstore has already opened as part of the wider revamp of the town centre recently completed by Knowsley Council and GMI that has also seen new restaurants opened and a cinema scheme progressing. GMI Construction Group PLC has heralded the completion of a significant package of works it has been undertaking since January 2020 when the announcement was made concerning its appointment to deliver Knowsley Council’s multi-million redevelopment of Kirkby town centre. Working on behalf of Knowsley Council GMI has created a 45,000 sq ft Morrisons superstore, a petrol station, car park, a 20,000 sq ft Home Bargains and Taco Bell and KFC drive-thru restaurants as part of the retail-led development in the town centre. Knowsley Council bought the town centre just two years ago after deciding to take control of the plans and speed up the delivery of the retail development and wider regeneration of the area. Talking about the new Kirkby Town Centre development, Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what has been achieved in such a short space of time. In less than two years since we took ownership, residents and visitors to Kirkby can now enjoy a new Morrisons superstore, petrol filling station and drive thru KFC and Taco Bell restaurants. Plus a larger Home Bargains will be opening in the new year. It’s amazing what has been achieved, particularly as the pandemic came just a few months into the construction. “Not only is this scheme about physical improvements in the town, but it has also created almost 400 new jobs for local people, with more opportunities soon to be advertised, and will boost the local economy by over £15m per year. “This is just the start as our plans also include a multi-screen cinema with food and drink outlets and we will also be welcoming more businesses into Kirkby over the coming months. Keep a look-out on www.knowsleynews.co.uk for the latest Kirkby news.” Also commenting on the development and GMI Construction Group PLC’s achievement, Divisional Director Marc Banks said : “This multi-million pound redevelopment breathes new life into Kirkby and is set to rejuvenate the town. We are proud to have played a leading role in that the new Morrisons supermarket is a really great addition to the town’s skyline. This was a multi-faceted development involving the construction of several elements. We would like to pay testament and thanks for the full project team involved here who once again have delivered an outstanding solution.”
As a pioneer of pressure piping, GF Piping Systems (GF) announced today the introduction of bio-attributed materials to all of its market-leading polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) metric pressure pipes, fittings and valves produced in Europe. The sustainable PVC resin, made using tall oil, a waste product from paper production will see up to 90% reduction in the CO2 emission during production versus conventional PVC while still maintaining the highest quality, durability, and recyclability. The PVC piping systems from GF, first produced in 1955, have been tried and tested for more than 65 years. Today, they include pipes, fittings, valves, actuators, and measurement and control technology used across industries in over 100 countries for the most demanding applications. To achieve the biggest impact, the PVC resin used for pipes, fittings and valves is successively adjusted to use up to 20% bio-attributed PVC. The sustainable PVC resins meet the same stringent performance criteria as GF’s conventionally produced PVC grades. To verify the correct use, an independent certification body is appointed to audit the production plants and supply chain which processes the bio-attributed PVC-U. “With the introduction of bio-attributed PVC into our material mix, we are transitioning toward more sustainably sourced products,” announces Jens Frisenborg, Head of Business Unit Industry/Utility at GF Piping Systems. “By adding renewable raw material, with identical chemical and mechanical properties, to our valves, fittings and pipes, we provide our customers with unrivaled quality, while also supporting them in achieving their own sustainability goals.” Insensitive, flexible to plan, easy to install, and very reliable: these properties of piping systems are in demand in numerous industrial areas: in drinking water treatment, microelectronics production, in sewage treatment plants, in shipbuilding, and the food industry. PVC piping systems are suitable for use in almost every branch of industry. It is not only their durability that makes them so versatile but also their easy installation. Now with bio-attributed PVC, GF Piping Systems is ensuring they are more sustainably sourced. More about sustainability at GF Piping Systems can be found here: https://www.gfps.com/com/en/about-us/company/sustainability.html
SCAPE Scotland, one of Scotland’s leading public sector procurement authorities, has appointed a new framework manager to lead its partner relationships and support best-in-class procurement across the nation’s public sector built environment projects. Gary Meechan joins SCAPE Scotland following eight years with construction consultancy Currie & Brown, where he was most recently associate project manager, specialising in delivering projects for public sector clients including the NHS. In the newly created role, Gary will work closely with SCAPE Scotland’s construction and consultancy partners, including contractors on its £2bn, net zero-ready Construction framework, to enhance the quality and social value generated by projects for its public sector clients. Partners on the recently launched framework include Kier, Morgan Sindall and McLaughlin & Harvey. Consultancy partners include Faithful & Gould, Triskelion & Arup. As well as managing and supporting SCAPE’s delivery partners in Scotland, Gary will also ensure the smooth-running of SCAPE’s construction frameworks in Northern Ireland, delivered by Graham and McLaughlin & Harvey. The new hire represents further investment in Scotland for the procurement authority, which appointed Lillian McDowall as senior business manager in April. Lillian is currently leading SCAPE Scotland’s client engagement team, which supports local authorities in driving community regeneration and economic growth through construction. SCAPE Scotland currently works with more than 45 public bodies, generating revenues in excess of £400m for Scottish contractors through its frameworks. With projects currently being delivered for clients including the City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Perth & Kinross Council, Edinburgh University and East Dunbartonshire Council. Gary Meechan, framework manager at SCAPE Scotland, said: “Regenerating the public estate will be at the heart of the Scottish government’s plans and approach to the climate emergency in the coming years. As such, it’s imperative that local authorities and other public sector organisations are able to make the most of investment in infrastructure with the support of best-in-class procurement advice and experienced contractors whose goals are aligned with their own. Our delivery partners have a long track record of helping public sector clients achieve their objectives, and I’m looking forward to working with both groups to accelerate project delivery, drive innovation and generate community benefits for the Scottish public sector.” Andy Bacon, operations director at SCAPE Scotland, said: “Gary’s appointment represents the latest investment in our team as we continue to strengthen our support for the public sector while aiding the growth of an extensive local supply chain across Scotland. His experience bridging the gap between client and contractor is incredibly valuable and will no doubt aid the success of our latest generation of consultancy and construction frameworks, which continue to see our projects deliver positive and sustainable legacies for local communities.”
Montel Civil Engineering starts work to deliver access and services for CGX Connect Ground break is catalyst for unlocking the potential of strategic economic development at airport Works supported by £1.885 million Growth Deal funding through GFirst LEP A flagship new Gloucestershire development with the potential to deliver more than 1,500 new jobs has broken ground and is already reporting ‘strong interest’ as the region’s economy continues to bounce back. CGX Connect is a new commercial development located on land within the northern perimeter of Gloucestershire Airport between the existing Anson and Meteor business parks. When completed it will provide around 30,000 sqm of flexible floor space in a prime location for businesses operating in the logistics and industrial sectors. Westcountry-based Montel Civil Engineering will create an entrance into the development, divert and protect existing and new services, and widen access to the B4063 to allow a dedicated right turn for those coming from the west. To do this, it will clear the site, create suitable drainage using existing sewers, construct new carriageway with two pedestrian refuges, and install streetlights, signage and road markings. Work is expected to take 20 weeks in total, with completion scheduled for Spring 2022. Montel was selected as the contractor for the work by Gloucester-based project manager Vitruvius. GFirst LEP is providing £1.885 million in Growth Deal funding to support this infrastructure work needed to deliver the new development. Karen Taylor, Managing Director Gloucestershire Airport, said: “With such a good location close to the road network and with the airport on its doorstep, we’re already seeing interest in CGX Connect from businesses across Gloucestershire, the West Country and further afield. “It will play a key part in our sustainable business growth in the decade ahead, so we’re excited to now be at a point when we can start to unlock CGX Connect’s potential.” Mark Price, Managing Director, Vitruvius Management Services, said: “It’s hugely satisfying to see work getting underway, having partnered with Gloucestershire Airport on CGX Connect as part of its ambitious ten-year plan. As project managers, we’ll continue to keep things on time and to budget, to create quality flexible space for growing commercial and industrial businesses.” David Owen, Chief Executive, GFirst LEP, said: “We’re proud to deliver Growth Deal funding for such an ambitious transformational project in the county, delivering up to 1,500 quality jobs. It’s fantastic to help break ground on a such a key development for Gloucestershire.” Simon Turbutt, Managing Director, Montel Civil Engineering, said: “We’ve a proven expertise and an excellent track record working as principal contractor on traditional schemes as well as larger design and construction projects. So the team’s delighted to have been selected to deliver such a high-profile project.” A construction plan has been carefully developed to avoid impacting the operations of existing nearby businesses. In addition to writing directly to residents and businesses to keep them informed on the progress of the works, Montel has put in place a dedicated 24-hour helpline 07795 415752 for any queries as the work progresses. A project specific webpage will also be regularly updated with details of the works progress – including advance notice of any temporary traffic management systems that might be put in place. The project webpage can be found at: www.montelcivilengineering.co.uk/project/cgx-business-park-infrastructure-works/ For information about the CGX Connect and Gloucestershire Airport, contact the Gloucestershire Airport team direct by emailing CommunityRelations@gloucestershireairport.co.uk orcalling 0800 062 2985.
GDR Sales has taken delivery of the first SV120 sold in the UK. Retailed through Ben Burgess, Yanmar’s official dealer for Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Rutland, the new model will be used for riverbank maintenance, flailing and general building applications. One of the most powerful machines in the Yanmar portfolio, the SV120 delivers class-leading versatility, impressive capability and unbeatable performance. Its compact design and short tail make it a hugely popular choice for tight job sites, while its offset boom (unique on a machine of this size) allows operators to work in small spaces, close to walls and across the entire track width without having to reposition the excavator. Featuring a 3.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine, the SV120 delivers 85kW (116HP) at 2,000rpm and 400Nm torque at 1,600rpm, all fed through a pressure-controlled autoshift transmission. A hydrostatic travel drive (with planetary reduction gears) allows the SV120 to travel in two speed ranges, 0-2.7km/h in forward and 5.4km/h in reverse – at gradients up to 60%. With four independent hydraulic circuits, the SV120 can use a wide variety of tools, making it incredibly versatile – from buckets to rock breakers, loading hooks and pallet forks. A hydraulic pump capacity of 190L/min and a maximum working pressure of 350 bar deliver a digging force of 81.5kN for the bucket and 61kN for the arm. Recently delivered to the GDR Sales headquarters in Norwich, the SV120 is already proving a valuable investment. Director Gary Riseborough commented: “I’ve been a customer of Ben Burgess for more than 30 years and have a good working relationship with the team. Over the years I’ve purchased several machines and have always been really happy with the service received. “I was visiting the Norwich site and spotted the SV120 in the yard. It was very similar to my existing midi excavator, but more compact. I asked the team if it was available and bought it on the spot! “It’s been a really good machine so far. It came as standard with all the features you would usually need to add on to a machine and this particular model actually runs on bio-oil, which (when working close to rivers) is ideal. We also work in a lot of wooded areas, so the machine’s compact size means we can easily fit between trees. Major components are accessible from ground level, so there are no rails to get in the way, and the visibility from the cab is brilliant. I can’t say that I’ve seen a comparable machine do it better!” Robert Turner, Construction Sales Manager at Ben Burgess, added: “We’ve worked closely with GDR Sales for a number of years, providing a wide range of class-leading equipment. When Gary purchased the SV120, we knew it would prove the perfect partner. Combining compact design with class-leading performance, we’re confident that the new model will continue to deliver above and beyond expectation for years to come.” Located in Norwich, England, GDR Sales provides a wide range of contracting services, including riverbank cutting and maintenance, flailing and weeding for farms. Furthermore, the team delivers a variety of building work for sites across the region. For more information about Ben Burgess, visit www.benburgess.co.uk/new-machinery/construction-machinery. For more information about Yanmar’s latest range of compact equipment, including the SV120, visit https://www.yanmar.com/gb/construction/.
Scotland’s five regional hub companies have delivered 151 new schools and nurseries to the value of £2 billion across Scotland. The public-private partnership bodies will come together for the Learning Places Scotland conference on 23rd November at the SEC Glasgow to showcase their success in creating modern learning facilities that will benefit communities for many years to come. The hub companies continue to build on their successful track record with a further £310 million of education projects under construction and £524 million in development. An independent report published this year by economic and social researchers, EKOS Ltd, found that the hub programme has performed well against its objectives, delivering substantial social impacts and community benefits across Scotland. The hub companies have adopted a social value approach to their projects that includes economic impact and sustainability in the communities they serve. Peter Reekie, chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust that manages the hub Programme, explained: “Since their inception, the five hub companies have worked with local authorities to deliver learning places which provide great environments for young people to thrive. “All of those involved from the client teams and the hub companies themselves through their design and construction supply chains to the smallest SMEs should be proud of the outcomes they have delivered for the industry and local economies as projects have been successfully delivered, and for communities across Scotland through the buildings they have created.” Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training will give the keynote address at the conference. The theme of the event is “Scotland’s Learning Estate – Connecting People, Places and Learning”, which aims to support more collaboration around the planning and implementation of new integrated learning environments to improve education and the life chances of children and young people. Scotland’s five regional hub companies are: hub North Scotland hub East Central Scotland hub South East Scotland hub West Scotland hub South West Scotland
Rebecca Needham, Road Safety Officer for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said: RoSPA welcomes the announcement by the Government on the ban on using handheld mobile phones for any purpose whilst driving. Drivers holding their phone are gambling with their own lives and the safety of others – as they are four times more likely to crash *. In 2020, there were 368 collisions of all severities where use of a mobile phone was a contributory factor. The 2003 legislation, which initially banned mobile phone use while driving, was brought into being before the age of the smartphone. There is now a considerable number of potential distractions, such as mobile phones and infotainment systems, which can divert the driver’s attention away from the road. Today’s announcement ** further underscores the importance of clear and enforceable penalties for distracted drivers, this will help change the belief that holding a phone is consequence free. Using a mobile phone behind the wheel has been shown to reflect a deep-seated and irresponsible attitude rather than an in the moment reaction. For more than a century RoSPA has been at the forefront of making our roads safer, having campaigned for changes in the law to make wearing a seatbelt in a moving vehicle mandatory, drink-driving illegal and more recently banning the use of handheld mobile phones while driving. To read more about RoSPA’s position on mobile phone use whilst driving head here: https://www.rospa.com/media/documents/road-safety/consultation-responses/RoSPA-response-to-DfT-mobile-phone-consultation.pdf * WHO ‘Mobile phone use: a growing problem of driver distraction’ https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/distracted_driving_summary.pdf ** Ipsos MORI & DfT (2021) ‘Research on the use of mobile phones while driving’ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-on-the-use-of-mobile-phones-while-driving
Hyde Group has been awarded the title Housing Association of the Year 2021 at The Whathouse? Awards, as Judges applaud the social housing landlord’s forward-thinking approach to some of the biggest issues facing the housing association sector over the coming years and its leadership position in the vanguard of sustainable development. While most big developing housing associations are cutting back development plans in the teeth of multiple and severe sectoral financial strains, Hyde is forecasting an increase on its 650 completions last year of around 15% and aiming to build 13,000 homes over the next 10 years. It’s achieving this through positive large-scale collaborations, including joint venture arrangements with Barratt, Countryside and Brighton & Hove Council, and by teaming up with other developing housing associations to share costs, risks, and rewards. It is also developing innovative sources of finance, including a £500m ground-breaking deal with M&G to create 2,000 shared ownership homes. Hyde is in the vanguard on sustainable development too, as one of the founding partners of the Greener Futures Partnership with four other HAs, designed not only to benefit its own homes and residents but to share learning sector-wide around financing, technological solutions and decarbonisation options. It is already pushing ahead with digital improvements to its development process, including BIM and smart technology, and reducing costs through construction management and a solid contractor framework. The Judges said: “Hyde Group is a deserving winner of the title Housing Association of the Year. The social landlord is ensuring it delivers on social value, with innovative and influential research around the societal value created by its social housing tenancies; efforts to reduce homelessness through properties listed on its own specialist website, which other HAs are now contributing to; and a new housing management strategy.” The WhatHouse? Awards – dubbed the Oscars of the housebuilding industry – showcases and celebrates the brightest stars in the housing sector, honouring those who build Britain’s best homes. Now in their 41st year, the glittering ceremony took place at London’s JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel, where the winners of the 21 categories were announced. Housing Association of the Year Award Gold – Hyde Group Silver – Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Bronze – Abri
LEADING commercial property agency Innes England has announced an exciting expansion to its business following the appointment of highly experienced investment advisor Ben Robinson who is relocating from London. Ben has spent the past six years as a senior investment advisor at Matthews & Goodman where he was involved in over £250m of real estate transactions across the office, industrial and alternatives sectors. Prior to this he spent time at CBRE undertaking international real estate transactions, and eight years at Mapeley where he was an asset manager overseeing a £600 million UK fund. Returning to his hometown of Nottingham after 15 years with some of the capital’s top firms, Ben is looking to bring his wealth of experience and client contacts to the East Midlands and will be heading up a new investment department with Innes England. Ben, a Nottingham Trent University alumnus, said: “I’m delighted to be moving back to the city I grew up in and where I studied for my MA. “Innes England is one of the biggest consultancy firms in the region so it was an easy choice. I’m very excited to be joining the team and look forward to adding to its already impressive reputation in the market as the go-to agent in the East Midlands. “I intend to utilise the wealth of experience I have gained during my time in London to provide a high quality and joined-up investment service across the East Midlands through Innes England’s Nottingham, Derby and Leicester offices. I’m looking forward to helping clients navigate and prosper from the trends that have been accelerated by the pandemic, which continue to play out across the ‘sheds, beds and meds’ sectors. I’m looking forward to working with managing director Matt Hannah as well as the rest of the team to provide a full cycle service to existing clients and new investors to the region”. Following successful recognition for its investment services, including at the EG Awards in 2020 where it scooped ‘Most Active Agent 2019 for Investment’, the firm is looking to solidify its achievement with a dedicated department. Matthew Hannah, managing director at Innes England, said: “We are building on our activity in the investment market to launch a dedicated new department. Having Ben on board to head this up will be invaluable to its growth and success. “Ben has an impressive resume of experience working with some of London’s top firms, including major accounts, so I have no doubt he will be a tremendous asset to the team. I’m excited to see where he takes the new department and look forward to working alongside him. “With the firm’s market knowledge on rental levels, tenant demand, and data from our Market Insite reviews we are in a strong position to bolster our investment services with Ben as a dedicated source. Together with our building surveying and asset management teams we can now offer pre-acquisition advice on properties and service charges with agency input to ensure the asset performs to its maximum potential.” Find out more at http://www.innes-england.com or join the conversation at @InnesEngland.
MORE than 300 industry professionals attended the seminal built environment sustainability conference “Net Zero Carbon: What’s Stopping Us?” in Birmingham. The event, held at The Grand Hotel, was hosted by national construction company Willmott Dixon in partnership with Building Brum, the region’s largest built environment network. It saw industry leaders from across the UK gather in the ‘second city’ to discuss how the sector can achieve its net zero carbon ambitions. A select panel – from both the public and private sector – shared their insights into the challenges, solutions, and realities of achieving carbon net zero in construction as well as discussing the outcomes of COP26 and how the built environment should respond. Peter Owen, managing director at Willmott Dixon in the Midlands, said: “We’re delighted with the success of the packed-out event last night, which demonstrated the passion and dedication of both the public and private sector in its efforts to reach net-zero. “It was important to us to bring together key players within the built environment industry to have meaningful discussions on net zero but also highlight the importance of collaboration in order to achieve our shared sustainability goals. The panel discussion, and subsequent questions from the audience, showcased the significance everyone is placing on this matter and how we can join forces to make it happen.” “One year after its launch, our ‘Now or Never’ 2030 Sustainability Strategy is well underway and we are on track to achieve multiple ambitious targets by 2030. By sharing our three key themes – brilliant buildings, building lives, and better planet – we hope to inspire other businesses to join us in aiming for zero-carbon in our own operations instead of settling for net-zero. Providing unique insight and valuable experience, the guest panelists included Deborah Cadman OBE, chief executive of Birmingham City Council, Belinda Morgan, partner at multi-disciplinary consultancy Cundall, Tim Carey, chief product director at integrated construction platform provider Collida, and Chris Clarke, director of performance and improvement at public sector framework provider Scape, and James Douglas, head of sustainability at fellow contractor Lendlease. The panel was led by Willmott Dixon’s chief sustainability officer, Julia Barrett, who is also director of the Aldersgate Group, a business, politics and civil society leadership alliance that drives action for a sustainable economy. Julia said: “Sustainability is at the centre of discussions in both the public and private sector, which was evident at the event. Collectively we are responsible for moving forward with carbon net zero, and the panel’s insights into solutions to achieve this really sparked conversation, and hopefully action, among attendees.” During the conference, guests learned more about how the sector can accelerate the journey to net zero. Topics included the widespread adoption of sustainable materials; prioritising sustainability against cost in contract selections, the importance of building for the future today as opposed to retrofitting, and the importance of working with and upskilling the supply chain. The event was held in partnership with Building Brum, a leading built environment networking platform that brings together passionate professionals across the sector, to discuss key topics. Conor Nolan, programme director at Building Brum, added: “The “Net Zero Carbon: What’s Stopping Us?” event exemplified the ambitions of Building Brum; to provide educational events and unique networking opportunities that spark meaningful conversations. We were delighted to collaborate with our construction partners Willmott Dixon to create such a successful event and hope to see exciting changes in the industry moving forward towards its sustainable goals.”