Kenneth Booth

ProSite – the new digital stock management solution for piping systems ensures 15% efficiency improvements

ProSite is the digital logistics solution from GF Piping Systems. It helps reduce administrative efforts of ordering, reordering, and accounting of piping system components. In addition, it simplifies the stock management of installation projects, reducing the necessary workforce and related costs to ensure that a sustainable and efficient solution is

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GT3 ANNOUNCES NEW SECTOR LEADS TO SPEARHEAD GROWTH

LEADING architecture practice GT3 Architects has created four new sector leads within its senior team to diversify and drive its core areas of expertise. As part of a wider restructure, which sees senior architects take more of ownership of projects, Paul Reed has become head of sport and leisure, Suzanne

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GILDERS YARD REACHES NEW HEIGHTS WITH TOPPING OUT CEREMONY

A HISTORIC development in the West Midlands has moved one step closer to completion following a topping out ceremony held by contractor Clegg Construction. Located in Great Hampton Street, Birmingham on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter, the scheme comprises four different buildings, one of which is listed. The scheme includes

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Latest Issue
Issue 343 : Aug 2026

Kenneth Booth

Hanehouse Developments bring forward plans for residential scheme and new public realm in Digbeth

Birmingham-based residential property developer, Hanehouse Developments has brought forward plans for a new residential scheme and public realm in Bradford Street, Digbeth.  The proposed scheme has been developed in consultation with Birmingham City Council and will look to advance a new public realm, beginning the process of connecting Lombard Street through to Green Street and onto Digbeth High Street.  This new public walkway is part of the wider Rea Valley Urban Quarter SPD that was adopted in October 2020. A mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments will provide 130 high quality homes for a wide range of individual and family-led owner occupiers.  Ground floor commercial space will provide much needed active street frontage for Bradford Street, along with services and amenities for local residents.  Design methodology has focused on sustainability with substantial improvements being made over and above current building regulations.  The development is being led by Hanehouse Developments and a team including K4 Architects and planning consultants, PJ Planning. Eamonn Minihane, Director of Hanehouse Developments, said: “The scheme design is sensitive to the existing fabric of Digbeth and its historic past, while also looking forward and supporting its ongoing regeneration.”  Hanehouse Developments was established in April 2020 by experienced property developers, Eamonn Minihane and Richard Whitehouse, alongside property and development finance expert, David Fair, to deliver high quality, innovative, inclusive, and sustainable development schemes in Birmingham, the Midlands and other strategic locations across the UK.  Following just over twelve months of trading in challenging circumstances, the company is looking to bring forward £120 million worth of residential development in Birmingham with an additional pipeline of over £150 million over the next 18 months.

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ProSite – the new digital stock management solution for piping systems ensures 15% efficiency improvements

ProSite is the digital logistics solution from GF Piping Systems. It helps reduce administrative efforts of ordering, reordering, and accounting of piping system components. In addition, it simplifies the stock management of installation projects, reducing the necessary workforce and related costs to ensure that a sustainable and efficient solution is achieved. Fifty percent of medium-sized businesses do not track their inventory. “The lack of tracked inventory can easily lead to out-of-stock situations. Not only does this threaten the timely completion of projects, but also the customer’s trust”, explains Bernd Schuster, Head of Global Specialized Solutions at GF Piping Systems. Project managers regularly face inventory challenges, with lead times from distributors causing potential delays and additional cost to projects that are already under time pressure. Introducing a digital logistics solution makes the supply chain more cost-effective, as the carrying cost is optimized and simultaneously the person-hours needed for administrative tasks are reduced. Thus, translating into an efficiency boost of the whole production chain. Nevertheless, there aren’t many digital tools for stock management available in the market that are affordable for medium-sized or small warehouses. Consequently, GF Piping Systems has developed ProSite, as a fully compatible solution that works with the devices already available on the project site, allowing them to professionalize their processes easily. This powerful new digital platform can improve the production efficiency by up to 15% for some customers, saving them 20% of the administrative tasks in the end and bringing human error rates to the minimum. In addition, ProSite provides a fully traceable overview of the goods managed, ordering, and invoice process. The new digital solution in GF Piping Systems’ portfolio helps to save warehouse space. The optimal inventory turnover ratio with automated just-in-time inventory management also significantly reduces administration and freight costs. At all times, the user can keep an overview of picklists and order books in a fully traceable and transparent manner. The fail-safe operation avoids excesses and shortages with staple material as well as custom pieces. In addition, the customer can keep the exact numbers required. For more product details, visit: www.gfps.com/prosite

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GT3 ANNOUNCES NEW SECTOR LEADS TO SPEARHEAD GROWTH

LEADING architecture practice GT3 Architects has created four new sector leads within its senior team to diversify and drive its core areas of expertise. As part of a wider restructure, which sees senior architects take more of ownership of projects, Paul Reed has become head of sport and leisure, Suzanne Blair is leading education and masterplanning, Liz Clarke overseeing residential, and Michael Simpson is responsible for workplace. The move follows a period of growth for the firm, which has seen nine new members of staff join its ranks within the last six months. Mark Gowdridge, director at GT3 Architects, said: “We’re delighted to announce our new sector leads. Paul, Suzanne, Liz, and Michael are all experts in their considered fields and we’re looking forward to supporting them in this new challenge. By having focused heads of department, we can really streamline our offering, projects, and direction to give the best possible service for our clients. “Since implementing, our sector leads have had more time to drive our research and development arm, mentor younger members of the team, and get involved in our more complex projects. Our senior architects are also benefitting from the increased autonomy and responsibility within their respective sectors. Simon Dunstan, director at GT3, added: “The firm was established more than 12 years ago, and we’ve spent many years developing our skills over a number of sectors. We’re keen to focus our efforts across all our specialist sectors and by having dedicated leads, we can ensure that education, masterplanning, residential, and workplace are given the same emphasis as sports and leisure. “It’s a really exciting time at GT3 and, despite the challenges of Covid-19, we found that the new structure has really empowered our team. We have two studios but operate as one practice and one team, which means everyone is able to work on projects they are interested in, rather than be dictated by geography. I’m looking forward to seeing both the practice and our staff as individuals grow as a result.” For further information visit www.gt3architects.com or join the conversation over on Twitter @_GT3Architects

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Furniture Island Revamps its Website Focusing on Modern and Contemporary Home Interiors

Modern and contemporary furniture pieces are a must for creating welcoming spaces. Simplicity has been a recurring theme in modern furniture and décor pieces. This trend has undergone series of changes since it first surfaced in the late 1800s.  It’s not surprising that many elements now come with minimal embellishments. Apart from that, several individuals are embracing clean lines, neutral walls, and eco-friendly décor pieces. More homeowners prefer open floor spaces, which is a key factor in clutter-free interiors.  Furniture Island’s website is user-friendly, so you don’t have to worry about finding delightful pieces that meet your needs. You can also take advantage of different filters to narrow down your options.  Without much ado, here are the top reasons why you should visit www.furniture-island.co.uk right away.  A wide range of products  One of the features that make Furniture Island stand out from the rest is its wide range of products. Customers’ tastes differ and keep evolving. They are proactive about satisfying the needs of their customers and have what it takes to produce furniture pieces of different designs.  Variety is the spice of life, and these words hold in the home décor sphere. Reputable furniture suppliers often have fresh inventory from time to time. They also update their stores with the latest designs. Taking a look at their past work will reveal their level of expertise which is top-notch.  Professional staff  Furniture Island hires highly-skilled experts with several years of experience. These individuals have more than a basic understanding of the products and customers’ behavior. They will prioritize your preferences and budget before offering suggestions.  Their customer service support staffs are courteous and offer timely support to both new and returning customers. You can get additional information about contemporary furniture pieces before checking out.  High-quality furniture pieces  As you navigate the Furniture Island website, you will discover that they offer corner sofas, cabinets, wardrobe pieces, dining tables, to mention a few. The manufacturers they collaborate with never run out of innovative ideas, so it’s easy for them to design functional pieces.  Many homeowners want comfy and luxury furniture pieces at a fraction of the price. Furniture Island can help you design the home of your dreams. You will be saving money in the long run once you take advantage of their offers.  The bottom line is to have a reasonable budget and do your due diligence.  Exceptional service  It’s common for online visitors to run a background check on a brand before doing business with them. Furniture Island’s past and current clients usually share glowing reviews about them. Their staff will allow customers to weigh their options instead of pressuring them to make a decision.  You can go through their testimonial section to get a glimpse of their customized services and products.  Convenient location Location can be a deal-breaker when shopping for stylish furniture pieces. This is the real reason why you need to choose a supplier in your area. It’s ideal to consider the additional cost of transporting the pieces to your home when searching for a furniture store.  Furniture Island delivery charges to Mainland England, Mainland Scotland, and Wales are quite affordable. Ensure that you go through the terms and conditions regarding their delivery service. 

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Electronic lock models chosen by designers and architects

It is common that one of the main concerns to take into account when travelling is the hotel where you are going to stay, especially if you are going to stay for a long period of time. Clients tend to look for a hotel in accordance with their economic possibilities and always taking into account their needs. It is true that the design of the hotel, the construction of the building, the reception area and the lounge/dining room for meals are one of the main attractions before deciding to stay in a specific hotel. But what really pleases a client the most and what he/she will notice the most is the room where he/she is going to stay and feel comfortable after a whole day working or sightseeing. That is why every detail counts, from a comfortable bed to a warm and pleasant light. So, what about the security in a room? Can we guarantee the safety of our most precious valuables or the money we want to keep in the room? In this sense, it is important to have an electronic lock with an attractive design and which, of course, fulfils its main function: guaranteeing security through state-of-the-art opening systems such as Bluetooth, numerical code or proximity cards. A good combination of design and functionality will make the customer feel in his comfort zone and give the hotel in question a good appearance and care for its guests. In the following, you will find two types of electronic locks chosen for their design and minimalism and which can be found for sale at Omnitec Systems, a company with more than 25 years of experience in the development, manufacturing and marketing of locks, minibars, access controls and safes. Therefore, it is a company that manufactures and offers solutions for hotels, always focusing on the most appropriate and minimalist design possible that enhances the guest experience and the feeling of luxury. The EVO electronic lock This first type of electronic lock, noted for its minimalism and subtlety, is often one of the best and most common choices for hotels looking for high technological features combined with a minimalist, attractive and user-friendly design. What is most striking about this electronic lock is its mechanism, as it is fully integrated into the door. The only thing that is visible is the doorknob, the keyhole and the reader that works via Bluetooth and Smartphone or with a MiFare proximity card. Depending on the preferred configuration, no electronic mechanisms will be visible, thus fully respecting the decorative concept of the hotel and the interior of the room. It is a very discreet, elegant electronic lock that fits both classic and more modern styles. In addition, this type of lock guarantees maximum security for guests and their belongings, as the system used to open and close the door can always be synchronised with the hotel’s reception computers, and you can alway opt for remote opening and management. OS-SLIM Secondly, there is the OS-SLIM option, an electronic lock with a high technological level in a sleek profile design. As mentioned in the previous case, this lock is also a very elegant option and stands out for its modern anddetailed technological configuration system. This model offers a clean, modern and innovative feel to the door and the surrounding space, both to the guests in the room and to anyone passing by. Its finishes are combined with black, white and gold; these colours use a VPD (Vapour Phase Deposition) lacquering process that makes the lock highly resistant and prevents any possible future corrosion. Thus, this model is currently very popular in the hotel sector, especially because of its design that integrates perfectly into any type of design, as well as for its results of use. It has a Bluetooth opening system with a MiFare proximity card or remotely through the Gateway. In short, this type of electronic security system is becoming more and more common in the hotel sector, which is why it is recommended that you contact the Omnitec team if you have any doubts about this type of electronic lock, as they will be fully prepared to help you and provide your hotel’s security system with modernity and comfort.

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GILDERS YARD REACHES NEW HEIGHTS WITH TOPPING OUT CEREMONY

A HISTORIC development in the West Midlands has moved one step closer to completion following a topping out ceremony held by contractor Clegg Construction. Located in Great Hampton Street, Birmingham on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter, the scheme comprises four different buildings, one of which is listed. The scheme includes the regeneration of the grade II* listed former J. Ashford and Son jewellery factory building, which is being revitalised, with three further distinct blocks each with their own innovative and contextual architectural style. The three and four storey build-to-rent (BTR) development will provide 158 new high-quality rental homes and 10,000 sq ft. of ground level commercial space.  Clegg Construction was appointed to complete the BTR project, which includes the grade II* listed former factory, with works due for completion in early 2022. Dave Swift, operations manager at Clegg Construction, said: “We’re really excited to have reached this significant milestone as it’s a great scheme to be involved in. We very much enjoy working on projects that combine heritage buildings with new development to create something really special.  “We are therefore proud to be part of scheme that offers much needed residential and commercial space in the city centre. We’ve made excellent progress to reach this point and we’re very much looking forward to seeing the scheme progress to a finished product, delivering high quality rental homes in this vibrant part of the city.” The scheme aims to address the national housing shortage and boost the West Midlands’ residential offering, as well as contributing towards economic growth with the inclusion of 10,000 sq ft of commercial space that can be utilised by local businesses. 

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Balfour Beatty celebrates the formal handover of Woolwich Elizabeth line station

Crossrail has today handed over the Woolwich Elizabeth line station to Transport for London, following the successful delivery by Balfour Beatty; marking the fourth central London station to be transferred ahead of Trial Operations beginning later this year. Delivered alongside its design partners, Mott MacDonald, the revitalised station will ensure quicker, easier and more convenient travel for commuters, residents and visitors each day both into and out of Woolwich, whilst also supporting wider regeneration in the local area – creating numerous jobs and opportunities for local businesses. Works to the much-anticipated station involved the delivery of a 276-metre-long underground station, with Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering providing the associated diaphragm walls and bearing piles.  In addition, Balfour Beatty was responsible for installing Mechanical and Electrical plant at two portals as well as station operations rooms where the Elizabeth line trains will surface from either end of the Thames Tunnel at North Woolwich and Plumstead. Andy Lambden, Balfour Beatty Project Director, said: “This is an incredible milestone for both Balfour Beatty and Crossrail – one that signifies another step towards the official opening of the long-awaited, iconic, Elizabeth Line. “Testament to our unrivalled expertise from across the Group, we are delighted to have safely and successfully delivered a station which will transform travel across south east London, whilst also supporting economic growth in the area through new employment and business opportunities.” Mark Wild, Crossrail Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted that Woolwich station has been handed over to Transport for London. Woolwich is a beautiful station, surrounded by history which has been brilliantly captured by all those working on the station build. I am proud of everyone who has worked so hard to get this magnificent new railway station over the line.” David Eastland, Mott MacDonald’s project design director, C530 Woolwich Station, said: “This has been a remarkable programme of works with some amazing people and skills. The station is a living legacy providing, transport homes and jobs, so it gives me great pleasure to see the station handed over as part of the transformation of the Woolwich area and the wider contribution to London.” Located on the site of the Royal Arsenal which was home to a military academy and previously used for the manufacture of guns and explosives, munitions testing and the production of medals including the ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ which was given to the next of kin of those killed during World War One, the station’s design subtly references the military past of the site. Why not watch the video below and learn more from Andy Lambden, Balfour Beatty’s Project Director?

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More support required to help Scottish communities plan their places – RTPI

The body representing town planners in Scotland has called on Scottish Government to provide more support for communities and planning authorities to allow local people to shape how their places develop.  In responding to the consultation on draft proposals for the framework of regulations for Local Place Plans, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland says that there is a need for more funding, resources for capacity building and guidance. RTPI Scotland Convenor Barbara Cummins said: “This is an important moment for the planning system and the future of community engagement. Local Place Plans provide a golden opportunity to support communities to be more engaged in discussions about the future of the places where they live.  “This means that we need to make sure that they have the resources they need to do this, that they can access expertise and that they are able to engage people across their area in the discussion. These resources need to be targeted to communities that need them the most so we don’t exacerbate existing inequalities in Scotland. “We cautiously welcome the light-touch approach taken by Scottish Government to this legislation, striking the difficult balance between providing a robust framework for development whilst ensuring that the process to produce Local Place Plans is not over-complicated for communities and allows for local flexibility.” In its response, RTPI Scotland has called on Scottish Government to bring greater clarity as to how the new future of community-led plans will be implemented in areas such as resourcing, timing and development planning and management procedures. Read RTPI Scotland’s full response to the Scottish Government consultation here

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BUREAU VERITAS URGES CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES TO TAKE HEED OF NET ZERO PLEDGE REQUIRED FOR UK GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

Leading compliance expert Bureau Veritas has revealed that construction businesses looking to bid for UK government contracts worth more than £5m will need to step up their sustainability credentials as a new rule requires them to commit to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – and demonstrate how they will manage their impact on the environment throughout the contract. Earlier this month, the UK government announced it will require businesses to commit to net zero by 2050 and publish clear and credible carbon reduction plans before they can bid for major government contracts1. A carbon reduction plan sets out where an organisation’s emissions come from and the environmental management measures that they have in place. Some large companies already self-report parts of their carbon emissions, known as Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect owned) emissions. However, the new rules are set to go further, requiring the reporting of some Scope 3 emissions, including business travel, employee commuting, transportation, distribution and waste. Scope 3 emissions represent a significant proportion of an organisation’s carbon footprint. Welcoming the new measures, Bureau Veritas, which has helped some of the world’s largest organisations improve their sustainability performance, has described the move as a ‘quantum leap’ for sustainability. As such, the firm is pressing construction businesses to revisit, review and independently verify their environmental strategies in preparation of the upcoming changes, due to be implemented from September. David Murray, Technical Director for Sustainability at Bureau Veritas, comments: “Considering the government spends more than £290 billion on procurement every year, these new requirements are a ‘quantum leap’ for sustainability across the UK. “However, it also means that companies hoping to win these lucrative government contracts can no longer simply pay lip service to their environmental policy but instead must demonstrate a credible, robust and ambitious plan for achieving net zero carbon emissions. “Ahead of these changes, firms that haven’t done so already will need to review their existing sustainability strategy and be confident about how they plan to reach net zero carbon emissions, which includes a focus on coherent data collection, reporting and action. “Whilst this process can be inherently complex, the good news is as a third-party sustainability expert, at Bureau Veritas, we’ve built up specialist experience in supporting businesses with the sustainability credential in recent years – invaluable expertise which we’d urge all construction business to utilise now.” Bureau Veritas has experience and technical expertise in helping some of the world’s largest organisations improve their sustainability performance in a number of sectors including food, pharmaceutical, financial and manufacturing. With a proven track record in verification of environmental, health & safety and social data, including conducting audits against the requirements of ISO 14064 Part 3, Bureau Veritas is also a GRI Community Member, an AA1000AS Licensed Provider and a UKAS accredited ISO 14064-1 Verification Body. To find out more, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk

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Fears that lack of mental-health support for construction workers could lead to suicide

Glasgow Caledonian University research finds rise in suicide rate for construction workers and labourers The data also shows no change in historical ratios, with people in the construction industry three times more likely to take their own life than those working outside it The results will inform a new dashboard for policy makers aimed at making sure mental health initiatives reach the right people in the industry   Initiatives aimed at protecting the mental health of construction workers may not be getting to those who need them, leading to an increased risk of suicide, researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University have warned. The new findings come after academics at the University’s Research Centre for Built Environment Asset Management (BEAM) Centre helped develop a ‘dashboard’ of wellbeing for the industry, commissioned by construction mental-health charity, the Lighthouse Club. The dashboard will be an interactive database, bringing together in one place measurable data in the public domain on construction safety, health and wellbeing. This will be updated yearly, allowing industry organisations, policy makers and researchers to view trends via graphs generated by the data, as well as use it to track progress of industry initiatives, inform decision making and undertake further analysis using the source data. The work involved bringing data together on suicides – seen as the ‘acid test’ as to whether mental-health initiatives are working – for the period immediately before and subsequently after the UK Government Independent Review on mental health ‘Thriving at work’ in 2017. Analysis of suicides by occupation, conducted by Professor Billy Hare, who is leading the study, demonstrated that the number per 100,000 for construction workers rose from 26 to 29 in the four years to 2019, despite various initiatives and thousands of awareness training sessions put in place since publication of the Government report in 2017. The data also shows no change in historical ratios, with people in the construction industry three times more likely to take their own life than those working outside it. There also appears to be some variation between certain occupational groups within the industry. Those working in non-manual occupations, such as managers and professionals, have lower rates, which have also seen an overall drop in rate from just under 7 in 2015, to just under 5 per 100,000 in 2019. Conversely, unskilled workers, such as labourers, have seen their rate rise year on year from 48 to just over 73 suicides per 100,000. Professor Hare said: “This occupational group is usually higher than average for suicides, but the sharp rise and widening gap over the period analysed, in contrast to their non-manual colleagues, is concerning and may indicate recent initiatives are not reaching these more vulnerable sectors of the industry. “Unskilled workers tend to fall into the lowest socio-economic classes, which are associated with lower life expectancy in general, and tend to display the classic characteristics linked to poor mental health, such as alcohol and substance abuse, financial and relationship problems and suffer multiple stressful life events.” Professor Hare cautioned, however, that these are just preliminary findings and more robust data needs to be obtained so that factors such as age can be controlled for. Usable data was only available for England and Wales, and the team are hoping to also add those for Scotland and Northern Ireland in due course. Meanwhile, researchers led by Professor Hare are also undertaking a review of construction-specific factors around suicide, funded by the Samaritans. This research will inform the charity’s development of intervention strategies to reduce the high rates seen in the construction industry.

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