Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd (LMB), is one of the UK’s leading integrated brickwork, scaffolding and stone sub-contractors. Their scaffolding division is made up of 130 scaffolders, plus drivers, yard operatives, apprentices and other office-based staff. The company currently offers both brickwork and scaffolding apprenticeships in order to bring the next
The confidential reporting system for the building industry now includes fire safety and has relaunched as CROSS, Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK. CROSS-UK welcomes reports about fire safety and structural safety issues related to buildings and other structures in the built environment. Reports include information that will help others
Leading bathroom manufacturer, Geberit, is set to showcase its latest product launches and industry innovations at a unique three-day digital event for contractors. The ‘Innovation Days’ will be streamed live from the ‘House of Geberit’ and will bring an exciting programme of talks, demonstrations and presentations taking place in a
Construction work is an inherently dangerous environment to work in, compared to if you were sitting in an office where the hazards are said to be lower. But, over time, the good news is that the law hasn’t turned a blind eye to this. There are too many workplace protection
According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 2019 was a bumper year for housebuilding. Statistics show that almost a quarter of a million new homes were built between 2019 to 2020, the highest number since 1987. The thing is, some of those new properties weren’t particularly built
We all love swimming in a clean swimming pool. Clean here means the water should be crystal clear and free of any bacteria that may be harmful to you. Keeping your swimming pool clean is never a walk in the park if you don’t have some tips for doing it.
Planning permission has been granted for a significant new apartment complex and office space on the southern edge of Wolverhampton city centre. Designed by East London-based architectural practice, Ackroyd Lowrie, the £11m scheme will regenerate an underused brownfield site on the corner of Dudley Road and Bell Place. Comprising 100
Today, and in fighting this awful virus, it has never been more pertinent to test room integrity, for airtightness. A building that is not airtight cannot be properly mechanically ventilated. Now is the time to build tight, ventilate right. Until the outbreak of this global pandemic there was plenty of
Willmott Dixon Interiors has begun work on a £200,000 project to deliver a new suite within the state-of-the-art Innovation Studio at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB). The national fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor will refurbish an existing administrative space at AUB to create a c.3,000 sq ft Innovation Suite that will
A disused coal-fired power station in Staffordshire is set to be redeveloped to offer 2,300 new low carbon homes and a school. Cannock Chase and Lichfield district councils granted outline planning permission for energy and redevelopment specialist ENGIE, who own the 139-ha brownfield site, to press ahead with the mixed
Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd (LMB), is one of the UK’s leading integrated brickwork, scaffolding and stone sub-contractors. Their scaffolding division is made up of 130 scaffolders, plus drivers, yard operatives, apprentices and other office-based staff. The company currently offers both brickwork and scaffolding apprenticeships in order to bring the next generation of tradesmen into the construction. Jason Baker is 19 and from Dagenham, East London. He left school a year into his A-levels to work full time in sports retail. Deciding this wasn’t the career for him and encouraged by family friends who worked in the construction industry, Jason decided to look into the opportunities available. In November last year he began a 2-year scaffolding apprenticeship at LMB. Jason’s induction was carried out at Park Royal in Acton, since then he has been labouring on Barking Fresh Wharf. He has been partnered with a Part 2 scaffolder with 10 years-experience, who talks Jason through the work he does. Once Jason has completed his apprenticeship, he is looking to progress his career at LMB with a vison to move into scaffold management, spending time out on site with the various teams as well as in the office. Jason really enjoys working within a team and spending so much time outdoors. His advice for anyone looking to start a career in scaffolding would be: “Learn from others’ experience on site, know your body’s physical limits and where your abilities lie.” Conor Simmons is 22 from South East London. In 2017 joined Lee Marley Brickwork as a labourer, then signed up for their apprenticeship scheme and is now working as a full-term Part 2 Scaffolder. Whilst working for LMB, Conor has achieved his Part 1 and Part 2 in scaffold erecting, he is currently studying for his NEBOSH qualification. Scaffolding is a family trade with both Conor’s dad and Grandad working as scaffolders since a young age, a massive factor for him wanting to work in the industry. This young man has big ambitions for the future and hopes to get his advance scaffolding qualification and then his scaffolding supervisor qualification. Further down the line, his plan is to work in project/contract management. Conor has worked on many different sites and projects over the 4 years he’s been with Lee Marley, he’s currently working on Chelsea Creek, one of his standout projects and a job that has taught him a lot and given him a wealth of experience. He’s erecting scaffolds and a variety of other things such as installing catch nets and erecting hoist run-offs. Conor has worked on the Chelsea Creek project from the start of the project and has found it really interesting and exciting to see the project grow and move forwards. Other sites include Embassy Gardens, Chelsea Barracks and Kidbrooke Village. As a scaffolder his days vary, one day he could be erecting or striking a structural lift, to erecting or striking a loading bay. He says:” Every day is a new challenge which is one I’ll always look forward to”. To others looking to get into the industry Conor comments: “I would 100% encourage others to look into a career in scaffolding or any other sector within construction. It’s a rewarding job and a career you can always progress and learn new things in. My advice to others would be to just go for it. Don’t hesitate or be nervous about a new challenge. It will be rewarding in the long term”. Daniel Cooke is a Scaffold Director at LMB. Based in the head office, Daniel divides his time between Reading and across multiple sites, he comments: “Scaffolding is widely associated with being a high risk trade to consider, but in reality, is a very safe and enjoyable industry to enter into with the right training. For the younger generation or any generation for that matter, an apprenticeship is a great way to start out a career in scaffolding. We offer our apprentices a dedicated training manager and onsite support from our experienced site teams as well as a mapped-out route of training with providers such as Simian Risk and the CITB. It is definitely a great way to enter into the industry with fantastic earning opportunities and career paths. Both our founder Lee Marley and I started out as apprentices, making us even more passionate about the success of all the candidates we put through, we are always there to help and guide where needed. At LMB we will run twice yearly applications for scaffolding apprentice positions, which usually falls in March and September.” For more information about apprenticeships at Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd, please visit: www.leemarley.com.
The confidential reporting system for the building industry now includes fire safety and has relaunched as CROSS, Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK. CROSS-UK welcomes reports about fire safety and structural safety issues related to buildings and other structures in the built environment. Reports include information that will help others to learn from safety issues and typically look at concerns, near misses or incidents. Established originally in 1976 by the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Standing Committee on Structural Safety’s main function was to identify in advance, trends and developments that might contribute to an increased risk to structural safety. The move to this new organisation is a response to the findings of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety published in May 2018. Neil Gibbins from the Institution of Fire Engineers has been involved with the evolution of CROSS to include fire safety. He said: “The fire safety sector has nothing similar to CROSS. The UK approach to fire safety over the last forty years has changed quite dramatically. It has gone from being almost totally owned and managed in a prescriptive manner by the fire brigades to a much more diverse, goal based, self-compliant and complex process.” He continued: “The expansion of CROSS is a key step that will support fire sector learning, providing a route for professionals to safely share lessons that need to be learned and to provide some oversight of the health of the fire safety system.” The provision of a confidential reporting system that includes fire safety is a major step forward and Neil Gibbins said that the IFE welcomed the chance to be involved. Commenting on the creation of expert panels to comment on the reports received by CROSS, Neil explained: “The formation of a CROSS-UK Fire Safety Expert Panel and regular planned events that bring them together with the CROSS-UK Structural Safety Expert Panel provides the opportunity to feed informed opinion into the building safety system.” CROSS is seeking new ways to collaborate and welcomes approaches from those who would like to be involved. More information is available from www.cross-safety.org
Leading bathroom manufacturer, Geberit, is set to showcase its latest product launches and industry innovations at a unique three-day digital event for contractors. The ‘Innovation Days’ will be streamed live from the ‘House of Geberit’ and will bring an exciting programme of talks, demonstrations and presentations taking place in a real trade fair setting from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 April. The purpose-built showroom, measuring over 300-square metres, will welcome a host of experts to present Geberit’s new innovations for the coming year, as well as industry insights, the latest trends and need-to-know knowledge. Streaming live on a purpose built platform, the so-called ‘Innovation Days’ will use a real booth to provide a realistic and practice-orientated experience for its digital guests, allowing contractors to select which sessions they’d like to attend. The packed programme of events will explore ten key industry areas, including touchless technology, planning made easy, water flow and usage, sustainability, and the power of washing with water. It will also provide contractors with a first look at Geberit’s 2021 product launches. Pete Davis, Director of Marketing and Products at Geberit UK said: “As part of Geberit’s Innovation Days, we are inviting contractors to take part in a very special series of event live from our House of Geberit. Participants can plan their individual schedule around what suits their personal calendar and interests and are free to attend as many or as little as they wish. “The sessions will also provide guests with the opportunity to interact with Geberit experts via a live chat function, providing a realistic, fully interactive and unique experience.” Each topic discussion and demonstration is expected to take around 20 minutes. To register your attendance and find out more about the Innovations Days visit www.innovation-days.geberit.co.uk
Construction work is an inherently dangerous environment to work in, compared to if you were sitting in an office where the hazards are said to be lower. But, over time, the good news is that the law hasn’t turned a blind eye to this. There are too many workplace protection laws and regulations to ensure the safety of these workers. When an accident happens, there’s also now a wide array of possible remedies. Think of medical compensation, workers compensation, personal injury laws, and safety hazards compliance rules to have in the workplace. Granted, despite the inherent hazards present around construction, there are now many safeguards to ensure the well-being of these workers. A quick visit on www.injuredcalltoday.com among other sites will open your eyes to some of the most common work accidents that can entitle you to compensation, before proceeding below. However, an accident is still an accident. It can happen at any time, more so when you’re least prepared for it. That said, here’s what you can do if you’ve been injured in a construction site accident: 1. Seek Medical Attention ASAP Even if on the surface, the accident may seem minimal, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t see a doctor. As soon as the accident happens, call for emergency services to come and get you, or whoever has been injured. That way, proper attention can be given before your injuries escalate to a point where it becomes too damaging. Once you’re at the hospital, focus on your care. Listen to all of the instructions your doctor will give you. The only way that you can fully recover is when you do your part to be diligent with the recovery protocols. In the event that you’re experiencing difficulty with getting proper medical care for your injuries, you may speak with an attorney about it. Your attorney can help you achieve the proper recourse for your concerns. They can evaluate the circumstances of your situation and determine if you have a valid claim to recover compensation for your injuries. For instance, if you’ve been injured due to a slip and fall accident, a common cause of construction accident, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. From there, they’ll advise you to use your medical records as evidence to strengthen your claim and ensure a positive outcome. 2. Report The Accident Your Employer Second, your employer, through the HR department, should also be notified of the accident as soon as possible. This is very important, as you wouldn’t want to get barred by the Statue of Limitations. Depending on where you’re from, different have their respective rules as to when employees should report the accident to their respective employers. This fast notification is very important, as it serves the following purposes: By reporting the accident to your employer, you can avoid any problems should you decide to file a claim to obtain compensation for your injuries. Check your state’s reporting rules and regulations to ensure a seamless and avoid the risk of denial of your claim. 3. Take Notes And Photographs Surely, you can’t do the documentation by yourself. If you’ve got a family with you who can do this seek for their assistance make sure that you’ve got a proper and complete record of photos and documentary proof of everything that happened in your construction accident. This act should also include all communications you’ve received from your employer, insurance company, doctors, and workers compensation commission. Keeping as many details are important, as these might be necessary to strengthen your claim. Just in case there’s going to be any dispute surrounding your accident, you’ve got evidentiary proof to negate any false claims. If you have difficulty collecting some evidence, you can ask for help from your lawyer to speed up the process. Remember, the more evidence you can present, the higher your chances of receiving the compensation you need to recover and bounce back following a construction site accident. 4. Ask For A Lawyer’s Advice After getting an injury from your construction accident, you’re generally entitled to two remedies. But, in order to have accurate, full and proper processing of these remedies, you’ll need to have a lawyer to help you out. At the very beginning, it’s through the expertise of a lawyer that you can best decide on what’s most appropriate solution for your situation. Here’s a quick touch-up on these remedies: When it comes to construction accidents, you can identify two types of benefit that you’re most likely entitled to recover are loss of wage benefits and the necessary medical expenses. Your lawyer can help you out with the proper computation based on factors like the extent of your injuries, wage, age, and average lifespan. They can also help ensure your workers’ compensation claim will not be denied due to some avoidable grounds, such as missed deadlines, inconsistent accident and medical reports, failure to receive immediate medical attention, and refusal to give a recorded statement. Overall, familiarize yourself with these two remedies you can avail of if you’re injured in a construction accident. This way, you can make the most of the proper legal remedy for your injuries and, in turn, maximize your financial recovery. Conclusion Construction workers are undeniably exposed to a wide array of work-related risks. But, while you don’t have control over these accidents from happening, you can have more control over its outcome. This means there are things you can do now to make the outcome of the construction workplace accident better. The goal should always be to have a full recovery. That way, you can be back on your feet in no time. Especially when the accident wasn’t due to your fault, it’s always nice to be properly compensated for what you deserve.
According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 2019 was a bumper year for housebuilding. Statistics show that almost a quarter of a million new homes were built between 2019 to 2020, the highest number since 1987. The thing is, some of those new properties weren’t particularly built with a focus on smart technology – and that’s a trend that seems to be continuing. Here’s why that’s going to be a problem in the not-so-distant future and why homebuilders should apply more focus on that: Consumers Want More Automation There was once a time where smart technology incorporated into new properties got considered a luxury. However, as with many things that evolve over time, smart technology has become commonplace in today’s modern world. Today’s homebuyers want to purchase properties that offer a plethora of home automation technology. They want their homes to make their daily lives easier and more efficient. For example, they might want living room control panels with tactile switches that are also controllable and customisable via a smartphone app. They might also want garage doors that open automatically whenever they arrive home from a long day at work. IoT Technology Is Becoming More Commonplace The use of IoT (Internet of Things) devices in people’s homes have become more widespread in recent years as consumers move towards home automation. For instance, smart doorbells like the Ring Doorbell offer a rich blend of extra security and convenience. There are also products like the Nest Thermostat that make it simpler to manage home heating controls. Everything in such products is manageable by a simple smartphone app and is a far cry from the “old school” wall thermostats installed by heating engineers. Tomorrow’s homebuilders must take on board that IoT technology is here to stay and will only become more commonplace across the UK. With that in mind, it makes sense to incorporate such technology in new builds. New Builds Need EV Charging Points There’s no getting away from the fact that car manufacturers can only sell new hybrid petrol and diesel cars from 2030. In 2035, the government will even ban those, so consumers can only purchase electric vehicles (EVs) from that year. Future new builds should incorporate EV charging points for homebuyers to use, especially smart chargers that remotely indicate to those homebuyers when a charging cycle is complete. EV charging points outside new builds is a significant selling point to potential homebuyers, especially those investing in EV technology for their transport needs. Consumers Want to Save Money Lastly, people have always wanted to save money; that’s not a new fact. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that homebuyers are becoming more environmentally conscious, and they want to save money while being greener. Perhaps the best example is installing solar energy solutions, such as photovoltaic cells on roofs to create ‘free’ electricity from the sun. Tomorrow’s new builds should incorporate such solar energy solutions if homebuilders want to market their properties to the widest audiences.
We all love swimming in a clean swimming pool. Clean here means the water should be crystal clear and free of any bacteria that may be harmful to you. Keeping your swimming pool clean is never a walk in the park if you don’t have some tips for doing it. If you need chemical free pool & hot tub cleaning services, you can reach out to Waters Choice for the best water pool care services. In his article, we will share some proven ways to take care of your swimming pool like a pro. 1. Check water level If your swimming pool water runs low, you should use a garden horse to add more water. In case there is a massive storm and your swimming pool overflow, you can use a pump to drain some water. Ensure you keep the water level at the recommended level and check if you need a permit to fill in a pool. 2. Soak unwanted oils If there are unwanted oils in your swimming pool, you can use a tennis ball to soak them all. Grease gets into your pool from sunscreen, hair products, and suntan lotion. Just throw a tennis ball inside your pool and allow it to soak for some time to remove the oil. 3. Power-wash the pool As days go, your pool deck will become dirty. To keep all the germs and bacteria away, you should always clean the deck and keep it dry when you can. 4. Regular check-up Your swimming pool will still need regular maintenance even when you clean it regularly. You can call a swimming pool expert to check your pool at least once a year and ensure everything runs smoothly. To increase the overall performance of your swimming pool, you should schedule regular maintenance. 5. Clean the skimmers every day Sometimes, larger debris from the swimming pool gets trapped in the systems, and you need to ensure they remain open and clear. Empty some water from the pool in case of rainfall. Also, you can backwash the filters to remove any debris and built-up grit that may damage them. Use the swimming pool pump to remove the debris in the filters. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using the swimming pool pump. 6. Maintain pool chemistry If you want your swimming pool to serve you for long and ensure it is clean round the clock, you must maintain the right chemical range. When taking care of your swimming pool, you have to look into factors like the pH level and total alkalinity. Check the chlorine level, metal sequestrant, and algaecide of the pool regularly. Always ensure you test your swimming pool every day to test ensure optimum chemistry. Final Thoughts There are many ways to keep your swimming pool clean and free of bacteria and germs. You have to maintain proper pool chemistry by using the right chemicals in your pool. You can reach out to a professional to help maintain and repair your swimming pool in case of any issue.
Planning permission has been granted for a significant new apartment complex and office space on the southern edge of Wolverhampton city centre. Designed by East London-based architectural practice, Ackroyd Lowrie, the £11m scheme will regenerate an underused brownfield site on the corner of Dudley Road and Bell Place. Comprising 100 one and two bedroom apartments, basement car parking, cycle parking, communal rooftop gardens and associated landscaping, the Dudley Road development will also have a 230m² office space for use by the developer, M&E Group. “The redevelopment of Dudley Road represents a major regeneration for one of the city centre’s main gateways and we’re pleased it is already being viewed as a positive contribution,” explains director, Oliver Lowrie. “Underutilised and neglected sites like these can have a massive impact in rejuvenating city centres into attractive places to live and work. We are pleased to be working with the developer, M&E Group on the delivery of hundreds of new homes on brownfield sites across the Midlands, supporting the governments’ aim to level-up the economy. “Our design for Dudley Road is focused on providing a visually distinctive building that is suitable for modern living. Taking inspiration from the neighbourhood, which has a predominantly industrial heritage, we’ve created a scheme of varied height and massing to both respond and connect to surrounding buildings. The material palette features characterful dark and light grey brickwork, red zinc cladding along with feature detailing such as balustrading,” concluded Oliver. Extensive consideration was also given to Dudley Road’s environmental impact and a fabric first approach will be adopted throughout construction. The development will include high-efficiency LED lighting throughout as well as rooftop solar PV panels, which are expected to achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of at least 10%. Oliver added: “The pandemic has fundamentally changed people’s priorities and with so much time being spent in our homes, living as sustainably as possible in well-positioned and well-insulated properties is crucial. The new apartments at Dudley Road are situated within just a 10-minute walk of the city centre, and we deliberately designed each space to be dual aspect, so plenty of natural light. In addition, each home has access to private outdoor space in the form of a garden, balcony or roof terrace.” Hardeep Singh, director at developer, M&E Group said: “We’re excited to bring forward this major new development for Wolverhampton and we believe the mix of apartments will have widespread appeal among professionals, young families and investors. We are delighted the Council has echoed this viewpoint by granting planning permission.” Planning permission for Dudley Road was secured by specialist urban planning consultancy, Hybrid Planning & Development. Work is anticipated to begin in summer on an 18 month build programme.
Today, and in fighting this awful virus, it has never been more pertinent to test room integrity, for airtightness. A building that is not airtight cannot be properly mechanically ventilated. Now is the time to build tight, ventilate right. Until the outbreak of this global pandemic there was plenty of frustration around the slow pace of technology adoption within the built environment. Whilst other industries had made good progress, teams of builders were struggling to meet minimum building performance standards. Inefficient processes left much room for improvement. New homes often fail to meet low-energy targets, and to satisfy residents with fundamental issues such as ease of use, summer comfort and energy costs. There is far too little Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) happening routinely on projects to close the performance gap. HOW COVID-19 CHANGED OUR BUILDING SECTOR The pandemic can be credited with pushing the construction industry in the right direction. Many processes have changed and there is no need to go back to the way it was. The technological advances that would have happened over the next few decades, have now been achieved, due to the pandemic’s dramatic acceleration of technology adoption. Most buildings are tested for airtightness, air permeability, and air leaks with outdated and intrusive technology, making tests difficult, time consuming and expensive. Yet it is critical to quickly locate and accurately quantify air leaks in rooms and buildings. There is now a unique solution from Coltraco Ultrasonics who have brought testing for airtightness, and air permeability into the 21st Century. Air leaks with a diameter as small as 0.5mm can now be detected and quickly located with the Portascanner® AIRTIGHT 520. BUILDINGS, AIRTIGHTNESS AND VENTILATION In March 2020, the world as we knew it fundamentally and suddenly changed, however, innovation continued to evolve and thrive. There was an urgent requirement within the NHS to prevent infection spread in hospitals and contain the virus by maintaining negatively pressurised ICU Wards and ensuring their airtightness. UK Government put out a COVID-19 emergency response grant through InnovateUK for technology to help the NHS. In June 2020 Coltraco Ultrasonics was one of the winners. The grant was for adapting their already award-winning watertight integrity technology into technology suitable for room airtight testing. Like many businesses, Coltraco Ultrasonics was transformed by the pandemic. In just 8 months Coltraco Ultrasonics had successfully designed and manufactured 2 innovative solutions to help the NHS and healthcare settings with infection control and the building sector to ensure effective ventilation through airtightness. Following from this need to contain the spread of airborne diseases, Coltraco Ultrasonics swiftly saw the demand for this leak detection technology to be re-designed for the built environment. Portascanner® AIRTIGHT 520 is a new solution to ensure that buildings are airtight so that people can be confident that they are returning to “safe buildings” and “safe working” by properly ventilating them. This is to ensure that all ventilation systems are operating effectively, and thereby enhance indoor air quality (IAQ) which has now become a poignant issue. No alternative leak measuring technologies measure the leak size directly, but instead infer it from pressure differences of airflow measurements, which are assumed to be taken at constant temperature and pressure, something that in reality, is never the case. This means that alternative technologies have inaccuracies that may be minimised, but not eliminated entirely, by highly skilled operators using manual calculators. For the first time, with minimal training, the user can locate a leak, quantify the leak site, calculate the air flow rate through it, and generate an air permeability value for the room. You can then take accurate remedial action where necessary, and have full confidence in both the airtightness of your room, and the effectiveness of your ventilation in circulating clean air. SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF CLEAN AIR Human Resources and Facilities Management Teams are tasked with keeping buildings and spaces comfortable, sustainable, efficient, safe, healthy and well maintained, and this list keeps growing as buildings, including residential buildings are expected to deliver more. More can include addressing the effects of Climate Change by making a building more energy efficient. More after this pandemic will include a critical appraisal of indoor air quality. Seventy per cent of the world’s population spends an estimated 90% of its time indoors, and the World Health Organisation estimates that in 2020 there were more than 6 million premature deaths due to air pollution much of it attributed to poor IAQ. Digitalisation has the power to evolve buildings from being fixed passive structures into highly interactive and richly informative systems. Homes are becoming more autonomous, so that the mechanical components inside of the spaces created can ensure that occupants are safer, healthier and more comfortable. ADDRESSING AIR POLLUTION Air filtration has never been considered a hot topic, but reflecting on what we know now, perhaps it should have been. Air quality plays an important role in our physical and mental health, and with COVID-19 good air filtration could mean the difference between sick and healthy, and in some cases, life and death. A fundamental requirement for energy efficient mechanical ventilation and for effective air filtration is achieving a minimum level of air tightness in buildings. Air pollution is an increasing concern, as is maintaining an adequate level of Oxygen within the built environment. The air we breathe is made up of multiple gases, however for a human to function normally the air must contain enough oxygen. Under normal atmospheric pressure we normally inhale air that contains 20.9% oxygen; if this falls even by one or 2 %, then functionality starts to become more laborious and the environment turns hypoxic, meaning that oxygen levels are low and could be harmful. Humans like fires need to have a constant and assured level of oxygen, and as we consume oxygen, more must be delivered to us. THE LINK BETWEEN PANDEMICS AND BUILDING VENTILATION The design choices being programmed into buildings right now will be with us for years to come. This is a good thing because of the increased emphasis being placed upon, “Build tight, ventilate right.” COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic disease we will suffer, but our spaces will be better prepared for
Willmott Dixon Interiors has begun work on a £200,000 project to deliver a new suite within the state-of-the-art Innovation Studio at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB). The national fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor will refurbish an existing administrative space at AUB to create a c.3,000 sq ft Innovation Suite that will include a new reception area to the art incubation facility studio. The Innovation Suite will deliver collaborative work and social space for local businesses, start-ups, CPD delivery and post graduate students working in the innovative creative, cultural, engineering and manufacturing sectors. It will also house specialist digital and clean digital fabrication equipment supplied by the university’s Innovation Resources project. Willmott Dixon Interiors will create a new collaborative reception space and workshop rooms at the Innovation Suite, including AV, body scanner, 3D printing and textiles facilities. The project will see the installation of new mechanical and electrical services and the refurbishment of existing seating areas. Works will include new floor finishes and decoration, as well as new furniture and a timber feature wall. The Innovation Suite project will use £230,000 in Dorset LEP Local Growth Fund allocation and £65,000 in AUB match funding, and was awarded through the Pagabo Refit and Refurbishment procurement framework. It has been designed by architects at Willmott Dixon Interiors, with Selway Joyce as project manager, quantity surveyor and employer’s agent. Graham Shaw, managing director at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “AUB has justifiably developed a reputation as a top sector specialist and leading arts university for the creative industries. A new Innovation Suite will enhance the already impressive facilities available through the Innovation Studio. We look forward to delivering a space that supports local businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs and further contributes to the successful growth of the digital and creative sectors in the region.” First established in 1885 as a specialist art institution, AUB is now the UK’s number one specialist university for employability, according to The Times Higher Education’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and is ranked as the UK’s top specialist art and design university by The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021. Willmott Dixon Interiors is one of the UK’s specialist high-quality interior fit out and refurbishment contractors. It has delivered a wide range of projects across the higher and further education sectors, including a £39 million refurbishment at London South Bank University’s London Road Building and the design and refurbishment of space across the Waterlooville Campus at Havant & South Downs College. For more information, visit: www.willmottdixoninteriors.co.uk
A disused coal-fired power station in Staffordshire is set to be redeveloped to offer 2,300 new low carbon homes and a school. Cannock Chase and Lichfield district councils granted outline planning permission for energy and redevelopment specialist ENGIE, who own the 139-ha brownfield site, to press ahead with the mixed development. ENGIE UK & Ireland’s divisional chief executive Colin Macpherson said: “We have been in positive and productive communication with all the relevant local authorities and local residents for many years now; as we pushed to drive forward with a powerful proposal that would enrich the local area and inject new homes, jobs and opportunities after the closure of the power station.” Initial work will start to the north of the development, where the coal yards are. Remediation will begin next month and should finish by the end of 2022. The cooling towers are due to be demolished on 6 June 2021, which will mark a milestone for the start of the redevelopment. Infrastructure work is to begin this autumn with housing parcels allocated following remediation. Cannock Chase council interim managing director Bob Kean said: “As we recover from the pandemic the development of the former power station site becomes hugely significant for us. It is one of our main economic objectives in our new corporate plan and will help us realise our ambition to be a carbon-neutral district by 2030.” The wider Rugeley masterplan includes more than 12 acres of employment space and a new country park alongside the River Trent. ENGIE has incorporated significant local commitments as part of the section 106 agreement, including the delivery of a new neighbourhood centre and dentist facility. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said the low carbon development was an innovative one and just the type of project development finance lenders would be keen to back. ENGIE is exploring how it can support and enhance amenities for several locally loved fixtures including the model railway, local allotments and the canal. The former 1GW power station closed in 2016 due to challenging market conditions and competition from cleaner sources of energy, marking another milestone towards the UK closing all its coal-fired power plants by 2024.