W M Donald Ltd, based at Netherley, Stonehaven and Inverness are the first Civil Engineering Contractor in the North of Scotland to achieve carbon neutral status. With over 160 employees, and a fleet of 100 vehicles, W M Donald are widely recognised as industry leaders in civil engineering construction. Their
The UK’s slow-to-change-its-ways construction industry needs to harness the power of technology to flourish in a post-Brexit world, according to one industry specialist. Dan Grimshaw says unless the majority of future new homes are constructed off-site, the government is unlikely to achieve its pledge to reach net zero carbon by
SatSense Ltd, one of few satellite-derived ground movement data providers in Europe has developed an autonomous self-service based transactional portal for its users. SatShop allows users to log into a website and download InSAR ground movement data over their area of interest. InSAR, or Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, is a
Lengthy stints of lockdown restrictions have caused many homebuyers to reevaluate what they want from their bricks and mortar investment. The conclusion? A bigger home, more outdoor space and a move away from the city. While this has been a trend that has intensified over the last year, the latest
Every industry is facing an uncertain few years. Changes to the way we live our lives are driving fundamental changes in our society. As is digital transformation. The wholesale uptake of digital technologies, robotics, automated systems and electronics is moving us further and further away from traditional modes of work.
If your building makes employees experience sick building syndrome (SBS), it’s time for you to take this matter seriously. SBS is a condition where people get sick because of the building’s condition. Many factors contribute to this, like poor indoor air quality and other subfactors that weren’t considered beforehand. Since
The construction industry has always been ranked as among the most dangerous sectors to work in. The combination of safety and health risks that involve heavy-duty equipment, vehicles, and manual tasks makes the industry notoriously dangerous. In fact, statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shows that 20%
Nottingham: Blocwork LLP, a 50:50 joint venture between Network Rail and Bloc Group to develop rail side sites nationally, has appointed GRAHAM as construction partner to build a PRS ‘build to rent’ development on Queens Road, Nottingham. The development is being funded by the FTSE250 property business, Grainger Plc, the
SEGRO is taking sustainability to a new level after securing a major pre-let at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway with a leading online retailer, which will include double-deck parking for 200 electric vans. The customer has agreed a 15-year lease for a 150,000 sq ft unit on a 21-acre
Premier Forecourts and Construction, a specialist in forecourts and diverse construction projects, has completed works at a Motor Fuel Group (MFG) site at Crow Orchard in Wigan, providing MFG’s latest ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) 150kW chargers. Swansea-based Premier Forecourts and Construction was appointed by MFG as principal contractor to install
W M Donald Ltd, based at Netherley, Stonehaven and Inverness are the first Civil Engineering Contractor in the North of Scotland to achieve carbon neutral status. With over 160 employees, and a fleet of 100 vehicles, W M Donald are widely recognised as industry leaders in civil engineering construction. Their team played an important role in servicing the majority of the recent key infrastructure projects in the North East, including AWPR, Counteswells, Chapelton of Elsick, Grandhome, Kingsford Training Facility, and Nigg Bay Harbour. The company has already achieved ISO accreditations 9001, 14001, 45001, and operates from a newly constructed “low carbon” office built to the best practice standards for environmental performance through design, specification, construction and operation (BREEAM). The building has many low energy elements including Air Source heat pumps for heating and hot water and 100 kW of Photo Voltaic panels to offset electrical demand. Achieving Carbon Neutral Status was just one of many objectives that the W M Donald senior management team have set out to demonstrate their commitment to continuous improvement, and to protecting the natural world. Aberdeen-based consultants, Carbon-Zero, were responsible for carrying out the review of W M Donald’s practices, and highlighting ways of reducing their impact on the environment. Current initiatives being rolled out by W M Donald include installation of 4 nr 21KW electric car charging points, electric pool cars and purchasing of green electricity units, with several more already planned or in the early stages of implementation. Ewan Riddoch, Managing Director, W M Donald said: “Everyone from Directors to Site Teams are extremely proud of our carbon neutral status. It clearly demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement. Embracing new and improved ways of working is at the heart of everything we do, and it has been brilliant to see our whole team get behind the process of achieving this standard. “The team from Carbon-Zero have been an incredible support, especially as most of this assessment was carried out during Covid-19 restrictions. With their continued guidance we are now working on additional environmental initiatives that our team and clients will also benefit from.” Brian Johnstone, Business Development and Assessor, Carbon-Zero said: “In the efforts they have made in establishing their low carbon operations base, and their ongoing carbon management commitment, WM Donald are an example to all businesses of what can be achieved in reducing their carbon emissions. They should be commended for their foresight and congratulated on becoming a Carbon Neutral business.”
The UK’s slow-to-change-its-ways construction industry needs to harness the power of technology to flourish in a post-Brexit world, according to one industry specialist. Dan Grimshaw says unless the majority of future new homes are constructed off-site, the government is unlikely to achieve its pledge to reach net zero carbon by 2050. “Brexit was hailed as a means of transforming the UK into a technology superpower and that same ethos needs to carry on through into home building,” said Dan, from Beam Development. “To meet the government’s net zero carbon promise and 300,000-homes-a-year target, the focus needs to be more on prefabrication and factory-based methods. “The construction industry still has an old-fashioned way of doing things with practices leftover from the past. It’s going to have to keep up or we’ll get left behind. “Building onsite means juggling with challenging time schedules and so many variables: the weather, the quality of the people, the different materials, to name but a few. “And what’s more, you couldn’t even get a mortgage on a timber framed house until quite recently, which has also slowed down the pace of modernisation. “By contrast, off-site construction is about quality control, and being able to build things in a managed environment rather than being out on a building site. “Ultimately the big players in the industry will have to move to off-site construction and there will then be a sea change – as was the case with electric cars – then it will all become normal.” Earlier this month’s the Government announced it is set to establish a Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) taskforce to accelerate the delivery of MMC homes in the UK. Dan says the advantages of MMCs can be seen across the spectrum of specification. “Where homes are constructed along a production line in a factory setting – rather than on a building site – makes sense and creates huge carbon savings,” he added. “Modular homes can be installed within days and are high-tech, hard-wearing and provide a contemporary solution to traditional construction problems. “A streamlined process that can be repeated time and again for each project means costs are saved through economies of scale and lowered design costs. “The buildings are designed in panels, so simple designs can be achieved easily, while more complex ones which involve more work, take a little longer. “Houses or sections of a house will come on a lorry from the factory, pre-assembled, and with everything installed including a boiler, and delivered to the site. “All of the electric components just need to be clipped and connected together by a house assembly team and the whole thing can be ready in days. “There will still be specific skills needed in the design and in manufacturing of course, but these will be done in the factory under more controlled conditions.” In Europe Estonia-based Kodasema is the world’s fourth-largest exporter of MMC houses, with Germany’s Huff Haus the high-spec market leaders, and BoKlok, meanwhile, a joint venture between Scandinavian giants Skanska and Ikea, caters for the mass market. As part of the Future Homes Standard, the government has outlined plans to reduce carbon emissions from homes by almost a third. Dan Grimshaw is a design and construction specialist who has worked on premium residential projects for more than 15 years. Dan believes in the importance of nurturing talent and is a mentor to the British Library’s prestigious Innovating for Growth programme. For further information visit: www.beamdevelopment.co.uk
SatSense Ltd, one of few satellite-derived ground movement data providers in Europe has developed an autonomous self-service based transactional portal for its users. SatShop allows users to log into a website and download InSAR ground movement data over their area of interest. InSAR, or Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, is a technique used in remote sensing. Satellite radar images are used to generate insight into surface deformation. SatSense Ltd. uses this data to help people understand historic and ongoing ground and structure movements, accurate down to millimetres. Traditionally, SatSense compile a detailed report with expert analysis to aid customers but now, select users will be able to select and download the data for themselves. The Leeds-based scale-up understands that time and accessibility are often key pain points for their userbase, who are often geotechnical engineers. The CEO, Matthew Bray has been quick to note that the traditional way of obtaining InSAR data can be laboured and unnecessarily time consuming. The self-service portal is their answer to this, and in doing so, they aim to integrate their solution more effectively into engineers’ workflow processes. The CEO Matthew Bray commented that “Our next generation solution is one that will continue to give value to our customers; the self-service portal, SatShop, is our way of helping to drive efficiency and reduce costs for geotechnical engineers. The easy to use, step-by-step process will only boost our rapidly increasing adoption – we look forward to continuing to develop our products with customers and maintain this upward trajectory.” This is a strong statement of intent from SatSense Ltd. as they move towards a frictionless transaction system, one that will be seen more and more in the coming years. The portal interface is set up to allow complete autonomy by allowing users to interact entirely with the digital process, and have data sent directly to them, in their preferred format, when they want it. SatSense Ltd. Have gone from strength to strength since receiving significant investment from local investment house Mercia Asset Management. Investment Manager at Mercia, William Schaffer issued a statement welcoming the move to an autonomous digital platform. “SatSense is a promising investment for the Northern Powerhouse investment Fund. In bringing their solution forward and offering a seamless user experience, they are commercialising and democratising an incredibly valuable data set in a truly unique way. We anticipate their efforts will deliver substantial value to their customers and markets.”
Lengthy stints of lockdown restrictions have caused many homebuyers to reevaluate what they want from their bricks and mortar investment. The conclusion? A bigger home, more outdoor space and a move away from the city. While this has been a trend that has intensified over the last year, the latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed that demand for apartment living remains strong in a number of the UK’s major cities. Warwick Estates analysed homebuyer demand based on the number of apartments and flats in each city that were already sold subject to contract (SSTC) or under offer, attributing a demand score based on this level of stock as a percentage of all flats listed for sale. So if 100 flats are listed and 50 are already SSTC or under offer, buyer demand in that particular city would sit at 50%. UK demand for flat living When looking at overall demand across the UK’s top 20 major cities, an average of 40% of all flats listed for sale have already been snapped up by buyers. However, in some major cities, the demand for flat living is far higher. Glasgow ranks as the flattest place in the UK property market at present, with buyer demand at 71%. Nearby Edinburgh is also a flat homebuyer hotspot, with 60% of all flat and apartments listed for sale already SSTC or under offer. Outside of Scotland, Bristol ranks top for flat demand in England at 55%, while Plymouth (53%), Bournemouth (47%), Portsmouth (45%), Leeds (42%), Southampton (42%), Nottingham (42%) and Sheffield (41%) also rank high. Most in-demand flat property features When looking at what features of a flat are most sought after amongst buyers, the availability of garden space within a development is the hottest requirement in the current market. 44% of all flats with garden space listed for sale on the market are already sold or under offer. Parking and garage space ranked as the second most sought after feature of an apartment property (42%), with a balcony and terrace (36%) placing ahead of a porter or concierge (27%). COO of Warwick Estates, Emma Power, commented: “There’s no doubting that the monotony of lockdown has caused many to look to greener, larger, pastures, that allow them the space to escape the confines of their four walls even under lockdown restrictions. However, this certainly doesn’t mean that flats and apartments have become redundant in today’s market and in many cities, this is quite the opposite. For some, it’s simply a lifestyle choice, others will be looking to downsize and for many more, the generally more affordable price of apartments allows them to get a foot on the ladder with a place to call their own. With a lockdown escape plan now in place, we expect demand for flat living to strengthen as our major cities once again become the hub for our professional and social lives. Of course, with the pandemic and memories of lockdown still very fresh in our minds, homebuyers of all property types will continue to prioritise size and outdoor space when searching for their perfect home. ” Table shows overall buyer demand for flats listed in each city, as well as individual demand for flats based on each property feature City Overall demand Garden Parking or Garage Balcony or Terrace Porter or Concierge Glasgow 71% 74% 69% 64% 71% Edinburgh 60% 61% 60% 51% 45% Bristol 55% 56% 54% 45% 44% Plymouth 53% 58% 56% 45% 43% Bournemouth 47% 45% 48% 45% 28% Portsmouth 45% 47% 45% 46% 34% Leeds 42% 51% 49% 36% 32% Southampton 42% 47% 43% 39% 20% Nottingham 42% 48% 43% 39% 28% Sheffield 41% 52% 51% 41% 33% Cardiff 39% 46% 41% 30% 21% Belfast 36% 42% 39% 40% 0% Bradford 34% 38% 38% 39% 26% Newcastle 31% 37% 29% 19% 7% Leicester 28% 26% 33% 25% 27% London 27% 31% 29% 23% 14% Birmingham 25% 31% 31% 27% 15% Liverpool 25% 32% 32% 26% 21% Swansea 24% 25% 26% 20% 13% Manchester 22% 23% 26% 22% 13% Average of all 20 UK Cities 40% 44% 42% 36% 27% Data sourced from Zoopla (18/03/2021). Demand based on the number of properties sold subject to contract or under offer as a percentage of all properties listed.
Every industry is facing an uncertain few years. Changes to the way we live our lives are driving fundamental changes in our society. As is digital transformation. The wholesale uptake of digital technologies, robotics, automated systems and electronics is moving us further and further away from traditional modes of work. The construction industry is facing the same reckoning. With new innovations for building materials and methods hitting the trade market more often, some industry insiders worry that the demand for skilled tradesmen withing the building industry will decrease. Traditional tradesmen, highly skilled workers who have learned their trade, have been at the epicentre of construction for hundreds of years. Their knowledge and expertise have helped to complete some of the greatest construction projects on earth. Developments in building methods and technology are starting to undermine the traditional trades. Hoping to make construction more efficient, modern building technologies and methods could see demand for skilled trades decrease in the years to come. For example, a dry hip system removes the need for sand and mortar when installing a roof, making the installation process much simpler. How the demand for skilled labour will be impacted is still unclear. However, the Chancellor’s announcement of financial incentives for apprenticeships will further boost the numbers of young people looking to move into trades. If the industry gets on top of learning and teaching these new building methods, we could see a boom of more efficient building projects across the country. This could improve the living conditions for thousands of people across the UK, while also providing secure jobs for generations of seasoned and new tradespeople up and down the country. It will hopefully fill the gap of highly skilled European workers who are no longer coming to Britain after Brexit. As fears of decreased demand for skilled workers in the construction industry continue, there are areas of construction where jobs opportunities look set to improve over the next few years. Project management demand within the industry is still high and looks set to remain that way. While the demand for tradesmen and skilled workers may fluctuate over the next few years, the industry as a whole looks set for a boom decade. Learning new building methods, how to maintain and run automated systems, and adapting to new work environments will make the difference between employment or not over the next few years.
If your building makes employees experience sick building syndrome (SBS), it’s time for you to take this matter seriously. SBS is a condition where people get sick because of the building’s condition. Many factors contribute to this, like poor indoor air quality and other subfactors that weren’t considered beforehand. Since the sick building syndrome includes many symptoms, it’s difficult to tell if one is only experiencing a common cold. One thing to tell things apart is when the symptoms continue to reoccur when someone visits or returns to the exact location. If you want to know more about this specific disorder, you can get more information here. It’s imperative for buildings to be constructed with one’s health concern in mind. Thus, if you’re on your way to construct or renovate, here are some ways to prevent health problems from your building: 1. Improve Air Ventilation Doubling the air ventilation system in your building will also double the output for your workers’ cognitive function. This will impact productivity and performance, resulting in decreased sick leaves by employees. Although investing in double ventilation may cost a bit higher initially, this will create a better atmosphere and working environment on your office floors. Inadequate ventilation will lead to high humidity and increase carbon dioxide concentrations, which will cause people to feel stuffy and suffocated. Proper ventilation controls odors and dilutes gases, as well as hampers the spread of respiratory diseases. Invest in a good quality HVAC system for all offices and floors of your building. Also, consider your structure’s demographic location as summer and winter season often requires your air conditioner and heater to function perfectly. 2. Allow More Natural Light Even in the old times, many building occupants usually complain about the lighting. It may be too dark and dim or some buildings are blasted with harsh fluorescents. The good thing about technological advancement is that many building construction projects have now utilized more natural lighting and techniques, like task lighting, dimmers, and timers. Such methods are suitable for the environment, as well as result in happier and more productive employees and building occupants. Another good news in the field of natural lighting in buildings is that more scientific research is being conducted on how some lighting designs can influence the body’s daily cycles and circadian rhythms. By using specific bulb designs that are blue-enriched and are naturally mimicking daylight, employees can now have improved sleep quality at night. 3. Go Green Incorporating nature into the workplace is one of the ways for buildings to become more work-friendly to everyone. Placing indoor plants and having a rooftop garden are some strategies for facilities to ensure an environment that helps maintain people’s mental health. Indoor plants are said to reduce stress levels and sharpen people’s attention. Many companies and organizations have been keenly aware of this advantage, which is why most commercial buildings have gone green with their interiors. 4. Design Your Building Appropriately The blueprint and architectural design of your building play a vital role in maintaining the occupants’ health condition. Also, encouraging mobility and interaction between colleagues are dependent on how the building is designed. The interior design and placements of furniture and equipment should be properly planned out. Your building should have locations for cluster printers, water coolers, and designate communal trash and recycling bins. As for the outer part of your building, you should have streetscapes that encourage occupants and employees to take a walk, ride bicycles, or make it accessible to commute via public transportation, so occupants have a space for some physical exercises. 5. Apply Healthy Building Strategies Another way to boost your building’s defenses against disease is to enact healthy building strategies. Know which areas and corners in the building need to be more ventilated. Use portable air purifiers on each floor and consider different innovative gadgets like touchless entryways, elevators, and automatic systems for sinks and toilet flushes. Furthermore, using enhanced disinfection and sanitization protocols will meet everyone’s demands for maintaining a clean and healthy space. Thus, invest in hygiene systems and proper training for the cleaning staff. Ensuring a clean workspace will inspire everyone in the building to stay organized and healthy. Conclusion Ensuring that your building is in its best condition for your occupants and employees is very important, which is why it’s important to apply these different ways to prevent health problems. Keep in mind that your building should have good ventilation, more natural light, designed with some greeneries, and should have a productive interior and exterior design. All these factors and more will ensure everyone in the building will stay healthy and happy.
The construction industry has always been ranked as among the most dangerous sectors to work in. The combination of safety and health risks that involve heavy-duty equipment, vehicles, and manual tasks makes the industry notoriously dangerous. In fact, statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shows that 20% of workplace deaths occurred in construction sites. The 2020 pandemic made safety in construction sites even more of a concern. Protocols would have to be implemented, and local laws regarding COVID 19 safety would have to be followed diligently. Cutting corners to save costs may be tempting for employers, but workplace-related injuries would be more costly in the long run; around 1.6 million workdays are lost annually due to work accidents and injuries. Besides, ignoring safety rules would be gambling with workers’ safety, not to mention the lawsuits that could result if safety protocols are ignored. In any case, safety should always be a priority as it’s in everybody’s interest. All stakeholders involved in the job should be able to work without worrying about unsafe workplaces. There are many ways to improve safety in the job, and the cost doesn’t have to be prohibitive. Below are a few tips for staying safe in the construction industry. Tips For Staying Safe In the US, an average of two construction workers die every day due to work-related injuries. One in five workplace deaths, in fact, happens in the construction industry. The most common causes of fatalities in construction sites are being struck by or caught between objects, falls, and electrocution. An employee typically cannot sue the employer for any injuries suffered on the job. What the employee can do is make use of the workers’ compensation system. There are instances, however, when the contractors and the owners of the premises could be held liable if any injuries happened to workers on-site. Furthermore, laws and regulations can apply differently to non-union employees who weren’t eligible for safety training. Here are the findings regarding cases like these. 1. Workers Should Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) If you’re an employer, provide your workers with the appropriate personal protective equipment. A proper PPE worn correctly can protect people from injuries of all sorts—minor, serious, or the fatal kind. A properly-appointed PPE can consist of a helmet, safety goggles, ear protection, knee pads, safety shoes, safety belt, and hi-visibility jackets. If any of the pieces are worn out or broken, have them replaced immediately. Also, ensure that PPEs are worn by the workers at all times while on-site. 2. Scaffolding Should Be Up To Standard Scaffoldings can be dangerous, that’s why neither shortcuts nor improvisations should be involved when erecting one. Scaffoldings shouldn’t have any risk of collapsing; they should be erected on stable ground and with a solid foundation. Scaffoldings should also be well-maintained. If any damage or inconsistencies appear, it should be immediately repaired. Make sure also that workers are trained adequately in scaffolding safety. Keep in mind that 47% of construction workers’ injuries result from falls. 3. Health And Safety Training Sufficient health and safety training is required for construction workers, especially those who work in high- and medium-risk environments. They should also be made aware of COVID-19 health protocols for the job site and the community, and ensure that they follow these to the letter. Workers should also be aware of the risks involved with their jobs, like when working at a height, in confined spaces, or with machinery. Basic knowledge of first aid and know-how to give life-saving techniques like CPR are also advised. 4. Display Signs Prominently Construction sites are inherently hazardous, not only for the workers, but for the public too. That’s why putting up signs and posters prominently to warn everyone to be careful is important. Signs could alert everyone of the presence of dangers, such as falling debris or objects, the presence of chemicals or gas, or large vehicles. Putting up signs can be a cost-effective method of lessening accidents. 5. Regular Inspection of Tools and Equipment Workers depend on their tools—to get the job done and to do the job efficiently. Broken tools are unsafe and could result in serious accidents. Almost 3% of construction workers suffered injuries for the year 2019-2020, which is higher statistically than the rate in all other industries. For the rate to be reduced, a thorough and regular inspection of equipment should be conducted to prevent any malfunction that could cause harm. Any issues stemming from defective equipment or subpar tools should be highlighted by both the employer and the workers. The responsibility falls on everybody involved. Conclusion Construction sites are one of the most dangerous places to work in. Injury and workplace fatality rates in the construction industry are among the highest. Employers, contractors, and workers should be made aware that safety is everybody’s concern. Ignoring safety protocols can be costly, in more ways than one.
Nottingham: Blocwork LLP, a 50:50 joint venture between Network Rail and Bloc Group to develop rail side sites nationally, has appointed GRAHAM as construction partner to build a PRS ‘build to rent’ development on Queens Road, Nottingham. The development is being funded by the FTSE250 property business, Grainger Plc, the UK’s largest listed provider of private rental homes, and is its first PRS ‘build to rent’ development in Nottingham. Designed by Franklin Ellis Architects, the development has already secured planning consent for 348 homes and is located in a desirable location on the Queens Road, which is near the town centre and adjacent to Nottingham railway station. Providing 197,250 sq ft over 10 floors, the development will comprise a mix of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with amenity and commercial space at ground floor level. It will be built in just over a 2-year construction programme. Ronan Hughes, Regional Director from GRAHAM, said: “There’s a strong market for high-quality PRS development in Nottingham and this project represents a positive step forward in the area’s future development. Grainger is universally recognised as one of the leading providers of build to rent accommodation, so we are looking forward to working with them and the wider project team to bring this development forward.” Helen Gordon, Chief Executive of Grainger, said: “We are pleased to progress with our Nottingham development, which upon completion will provide 348 new high quality rental homes, all professionally managed by an inhouse Grainger service team. Nottingham has a vibrant community with a strong and growing demand for renting and our Queens Road development will offer renters in the city a great home, great value, flexible and long-term agreements, and a range of resident amenities, including co-working space and superfast highspeed broadband included within the rent. Grainger’s homes appeal to a diverse range of renters; from young professionals through to families and downsizers. We look forward to sharing updates as the development progresses” Richard Thomas, Director, Bloc Ltd and Blocwork LLP said: “We are delighted to be working with GRAHAM and Grainger on this project. Having been a former student at Nottingham University many years ago, I have really enjoyed putting the scheme together with our team that once completed will add to the vibrancy of this part of Nottingham and complete the redevelopment of the station which has become a great regional transport hub.” Stuart Kirkwood, Group Property Director, Network Rail Property said: “The Nottingham development is a fantastic example of Network Rail working closely with the private sector to deliver vital new homes on land no longer required by the operational railway. The investment by Grainger points to the growing appetite in the sector for viable build to rent schemes, and we are pleased this investment has now moved on the construction phase. Network Rail has a track record of successful partnership projects across the country, which not only deliver housing, jobs and economic growth, but also generate vital funds to be reinvested back into the railway, improving services for our passengers.” GRAHAM started on site last month and construction is expected to complete April 2023.
SEGRO is taking sustainability to a new level after securing a major pre-let at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway with a leading online retailer, which will include double-deck parking for 200 electric vans. The customer has agreed a 15-year lease for a 150,000 sq ft unit on a 21-acre site. The BREEAM ‘Excellent’ (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) building will be used as a distribution hub. The double-level vehicle parking areas will have the ability to provide electrical charging to all 200 van parking spaces on site. Other sustainable features include roof-mounted photovoltaic panels and LED lighting. SEGRO has been able to provide an accelerated construction programme to enable the customer to expand its operations as quickly as possible. The accelerated programme will enable SEGRO to deliver the space to the customer in just over five months, rather than the nine months a standard build programme would take for a building of this size. Furthermore, the customer will have access to be able to begin its internal fit out after just 14 weeks. The pre-let illustrates the developer’s ‘Responsible SEGRO’ commitment – a framework launched in February, which is anchored on three priority areas; championing low-carbon growth, investing in local communities and nurturing talent. Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director, National Logistics, SEGRO, said: “This pre-let is a brilliant example of how we are supporting our customers’ growth plans and showcases how we are helping them meet their sustainability goals. “The deal highlights the region’s increasing demand for modern, sustainable warehouse and industrial space, and how developments like SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway can provide the scale, location and connectivity to meet them.” Already home to a diverse range of customers including Games Workshop and DHL, the logistics hub is centrally located within the UK industrial and logistics market, offering immediate access to the UK’s motorway network as well as dedicated on-site rail and air freight terminal – the UK’s largest freight airport operating 24 hours a day – with direct link to Felixstowe and Southampton. The proximity to the major cities of Leicester, Derby and Nottingham and other local towns ensure a strong labour pool. Practical completion of the new unit is anticipated in August 2021. For more information please contact: Lara Al-Sabti, External Communications Executive, SEGRO lara.alsabti@segro.com
Premier Forecourts and Construction, a specialist in forecourts and diverse construction projects, has completed works at a Motor Fuel Group (MFG) site at Crow Orchard in Wigan, providing MFG’s latest ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) 150kW chargers. Swansea-based Premier Forecourts and Construction was appointed by MFG as principal contractor to install eight new bays with ultra-rapid 150kW chargers for electric vehicles at the site. The Crow Orchard electric vehicle hub is the first of MFG’s EV Power stations to be located next to a major trunk road. The site now caters for drivers of electric vehicles as well as traditional petrol and diesel engines, with the cutting-edge ultra-rapid EV chargers allowing around 100 miles of driving from just 10 minutes of charging – making the refuelling experience comparable to that of drivers of petrol and diesel cars. Following Prime Minister Johnson’s announcement towards the end of 2020, which brought forward the date for the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2030, the future of motoring is undoubtedly electric. As a result, MFG are investing significantly in electric vehicle charging points across the UK. Time-lapse footage released collaboratively by Premier Forecourts and Construction and Motor Fuel Group shows how the work to install the eight new EV chargers was able to be completed, whilst allowing the busy service station to remain open. The project was completed on time, safely and without disruption, despite the challenging working environment caused by COVID-19. Formerly the construction division of The Premier Group, Premier Forecourts and Construction has grown and diversified into other areas of construction, in addition to its specialist forecourt work. Its work base within the electrical vehicle charging sector has significantly increased in recent years, showcasing its successful expansion into new markets. Steve Evans, Premier Forecourts and Construction managing director, said: “We were delighted to be working on such an important project for MFG using its new design of EV charger. We hope this will be the first of many similar projects we complete for them across the UK.” Andrew Edwards, Group Infrastructure Director at MFG, said: “A very complex construction project delivered on time, delivered on budget and made easy, thank you Premier!”