A trio of Welsh schools have received major upgrades to their thermal insulation thanks to an integrated package of products provided by Sto Ltd. Ysgol Glan Morfa, Howardian Primary School and Ysgol Hamadryad in Cardiff have all had the company’s StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation system applied to significantly improve
3D Repo, creators of cloud-based design collaboration in Building Information Modelling (BIM) today announced that it has received an Epic MegaGrant, which will be used to build a new data delivery platform for the AEC industry. Harnessing the power of Unreal Engine’s advanced real-time technology, 3D Repo has created an
Award-winning developer Springbourne Homes has announced it is linking up with a leading Leicestershire school to launch an exciting, pioneering partnership. The Market Bosworth-based business is teaming up with the town’s Dixie Grammar School to offer pupils the chance to gain work experience and enjoy lessons in a workplace setting.
If you are also worried about getting your home ready for sale, you aren’t alone. With the right tips, you can successfully turn your house into one that attracts potential buyers. All sellers want to make a big profit by selling their homes quickly. However, that requires effort along with
Demolishing a house isn’t as costly as building a new one. But it can go as high as $40K if all the factors are not checked properly. Here are some tips to make it lower. You build your dream home sometimes. And other times, at an attractive deal, you buy
Generally, injection molding is a crucial method for producing different parts and products. Whenever mass production of parts is needed, injection molding has stood the test of time to be the only process viable. Injection molding is applicable in many industry areas. And probably one of the renowned uses is
29-acre scheme to be known as Spectrum Logistics Park will see the speculative development of 400,000 sq. ft of logistics/industrial space across 8 units at a site in Kings Norton, Birmingham. St Francis Group and its development partners the Richardson family have today announced that full planning consent has been
The Chancellor should use the Budget to enhance Research and Developments tax reliefs for investment in Green Technology, say leading tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg. David Hough, a partner at the firm said “In November the Prime Minister announced his plan for a Green Industrial Revolution but so far
Platform Housing Group, the largest housing association in the Midlands, has established a £1bn multi-currency, ESG enabled, Euro Medium Term Note – or EMTN – programme, supported by NatWest markets acting as Sole Arranger. Funding from the programme will be used to develop affordable housing across the Midlands and to improve the energy efficiency of its existing homes. The programme has been established
Hanson has become a partner in the HyNet North West consortium, which aims to create the world’s first low carbon industrial cluster. The proposed hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) project will play a critical role in the UK’s transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and
A trio of Welsh schools have received major upgrades to their thermal insulation thanks to an integrated package of products provided by Sto Ltd. Ysgol Glan Morfa, Howardian Primary School and Ysgol Hamadryad in Cardiff have all had the company’s StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation system applied to significantly improve their thermal performance. “We had originally considered a different solution which proved to be outside the budget,” says Nick Langley of Stride Treglown Architecture. “Sto were able to suggest an alternative which was less expensive but which had already been tried and tested on a previous school project in Swansea. The practice had used Sto products previously so we were happy to consider their suggestion.” StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation system features mineral fibre insulation boards and combines unrivalled fire protection and high thermal performance with excellent impact resistance, making it ideal for both new-build and refurbishment projects. It was installed using Sto-Rotofix Plus, a unique and easily adjustable spiral fixing which can accommodate any unevenness in the substrate to create a perfectly smooth outer finish. “Using this system, we created a 20mm drained cavity between the insulation and substrate, thus optimizing the water management of the completed construction,” adds Andrew Lloyd of M&P Contractors Wales Ltd who oversaw the installation work. This also helped to create the correct building lines which were required for the walls. “This was the first time we had used this solution from Sto, and with the training and support we received, all the products provided an integrated and reliable insulation solution.” A layer of StoLevell DuoPlus mineral bonding and reinforcing mortar was applied to the insulation, which gives good adhesion and provides a durable, weather-resistant and vapour permeable base layer ready to receive the top coat. StoSilco K silicone resin render was then added to provide a protective and decorative finish combining a high degree of water repellence and excellent water vapour permeability. The breathable yet highly water repellant properties of the StoSilco K render make it resistant to dirt build-up and help reduce the growth of algae and fungus. StoTherm Mineral incorporating StoSilco K finish is an ideal façade where rugged and reliable protection is required. Pic caption: Three Welsh schools have received major thermal insulation upgrades thanks to an integrated package of products provided by Sto, which included the company’s StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation system.
3D Repo, creators of cloud-based design collaboration in Building Information Modelling (BIM) today announced that it has received an Epic MegaGrant, which will be used to build a new data delivery platform for the AEC industry. Harnessing the power of Unreal Engine’s advanced real-time technology, 3D Repo has created an infinitely scalable 3D rendering and data delivery platform that allows AEC users to share and view massive and complex 3D engineering models online. Dr Jozef Dobos, CEO at 3D Repo, said: “Over the past two years we’ve seen a gradual shift from BIM to Digital Twins, with more and more clients requesting high visual fidelity for both engineering and client presentation purposes, and the ability to explore vast 3D scenes in real-time. “Our new digital twin streaming solution is a major breakthrough that will enable AEC professionals to collaborate remotely using very large and complex 3D models across the web. 3D Repo is delighted to receive the Epic MegaGrant to help push the boundaries and improve efficiency and quality of construction in the UK.” Via open APIs, the 3D Repo version control cloud connects with Unreal Engine, where pre-optimised assets are dynamically loaded directly into a running game, giving users the ability to log-in via their 3D Repo credentials and seamlessly retrieve any of their assets on the fly. This is made possible through a persistent storage layer rather than parsing and baking assets into a new game executable each time an asset revision is created. Ken Pimentel, AEC industry management at Epic Games, said: “The new 3D Repo data delivery platform for Unreal Engine enables remote collaboration using very large and complex 3D models through the power of Unreal’s real-time technology. “AEC professionals are running into a wall trying to visualise large-scale projects using existing solutions, and this effort shows what’s truly possible when innovative teams collaborate for a mutual goal.” The integration library is now freely available for download at https://3drepo.com/downloads/#plugins
Award-winning developer Springbourne Homes has announced it is linking up with a leading Leicestershire school to launch an exciting, pioneering partnership. The Market Bosworth-based business is teaming up with the town’s Dixie Grammar School to offer pupils the chance to gain work experience and enjoy lessons in a workplace setting. Springbourne Homes chairman Adrian Burr says it’s an important new initiative in the heart of the local community where they’re currently building their luxury Hornsey Rise development. Adrian said: “I’m very excited about forging this relationship with Dixie Grammar School and further establishing Springbourne Homes as a part of the community. “It’s a perfect fit. The Junior School and Nursery is located only a short walk from our flagship Hornsey Rise development while the Senior School is just down the road from our headquarters at Market Bosworth Marina. “We’re all looking forward to welcoming Dixie pupils to our Hornsey Rise development and to our eco-friendly offices at the Marina as we give them the opportunity to broaden their education within a real-life working environment. “The Market Bosworth area is the heartland of our business. It’s where we are based and where we have developed a number of sites, with successful builds in Sheepy Magna, Sheepy Parva, Carlton, Sibson, Norton Juxta and Barwell. “Some of the children may even live in a Springbourne Home so it’s really important for us to stay involved and stay in touch.” Dixie Grammar School Headmaster Richard Lynn welcomed the new partnership, which has been agreed in time for the return of pupils next week, Monday March 8th. He said: “We are delighted to have been in touch with Springbourne Homes, whose fabulous new development, Hornsey Rise, is within a stone’s throw of our Junior School and Nursery. “Local companies such as Springbourne offer real opportunities for our school and its students. “Plans for Dixie pupils to take a leading role in the re-consecration of the war memorial on the Hornsey Rise site are already being discussed as well as the numerous possibilities for Dixie pupils to apply their education in the real world. “These include a home design competition for DT students, our scientists exploring the environmental benefits of these ultra-modern homes and historians delving into the fascinating past of the surrounding landscape and features, which date back to Lady Godiva. “With these openings and potential work experience on the horizon, this is a local partnership with a bright future.” Dixie Grammar School is one of Leicestershire’s top schools. It has been rated “excellent” across the board by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, and enjoys a fantastic reputation for the excellent education it offers to pupils aged 3-18. Hornsey Rise a select development of 3,4 and 5 bedroom homes ranging in price from £570,000 to £1,450,000 with completion anticipated this summer. For more information on the Hornsey Rise development and Springbourne Homes visit: www.springbournehomes.co.uk For more details about Dixie Grammar School visit: www.dixie.org.uk
If you are also worried about getting your home ready for sale, you aren’t alone. With the right tips, you can successfully turn your house into one that attracts potential buyers. All sellers want to make a big profit by selling their homes quickly. However, that requires effort along with good luck. You need to carefully plan and discuss with your agent how you can professionally prepare the house that will convince buyers to pay you a large amount of money. Here are some tips that will instantly make your house shine 1. Buy light bulbs and keep all of them on: Go ahead and buy as many light bulbs as you can. When a potential buyer visits your house, turn on all the lights and lamps. No one would find a dull property attractive. The house should seem bright and lit up. 2. Get your house deep cleaned by professionals: First impressions are often the last ones. Don’t let the dirty floors, dusty surfaces, or foul smell hurt the potential buyer and make them change their mind. Before you list your house and start the selling process, give your place a deep clean. You should contact a professional cleaning service provider so that they can make sure your home is in pristine condition. They will clean the toilets, wipe all the surfaces clean, mop the floors, clean all the rugs and scrub the bathrooms. 3. Declutter the house: To make your house appealing to buyers, you must declutter and organize your space. That will go a long way in making your house attractive. When your house would be free of clutter, buyers will only focus on the home instead of the junk and the overflowing cabinets/closets. Keep all your belongings in place and make sure there is minimal furniture in the house. Less is always more. 4. Contact a handyman: Having a handyman on speed dial is an essential thing in selling any house. It’s your responsibility to make sure that all damaged items get fixed. That includes leaky faucets, locker running toilets, hardware, broken appliances, chipped tiles, stained carpets, cracked windows, cracks in the walls, scuffed paintwork, and squeaky floors. Once you have fixed all the damaged things in your house, start the selling process. If you don’t do this, potential buyers will assume that your home is not well-maintained. The biggest turn-off for most buyers is wear and tear. They will get an alert that this house requires work. They will not buy the house, or they’ll ask you to reduce the amount of money you are asking for the property. You can take advice from your agent about which areas in the house you need to overhaul before inviting potential buyers. You need to make sure that you are not overcapitalizing, but the house is still looking appealing. 5. Paint the walls: Before you list your house, it’s time to coat the walls with fresh paint. If you already have bright colored pigments on your walls like orange and green, coat with neutral colors. Try to stick to light Gray’s, whites, and light beige wall colors. These shades will help to make your house look brighter, bigger, and welcoming. If you repaint your home, the fresh coat will cover all the imperfections of the walls. Potential buyers will be more interested in buying a house that has clean walls. 6. Style your house: To give an instant facelift to your property, style it. That can provide a fresh look to your house and make it more appealing to potential buyers. You can either hire a stylist or order some new accessories and furniture and do it yourself. 7. Take professional photos: When you list your house on social media, opt for professional photography. The first impression of your property will be on the internet, so you must take out time to get some high-quality and aesthetic photos of your house. 8. Organize your closet space: All buyers need storage space for their belongings. Remove half of your things from the closets and transfer them to a storage unit. After that, organize the remaining items neatly. That way, highlight the storage space in your house.
Demolishing a house isn’t as costly as building a new one. But it can go as high as $40K if all the factors are not checked properly. Here are some tips to make it lower. You build your dream home sometimes. And other times, at an attractive deal, you buy trash, knock down the entire house, and then construct the new house from scratch. For instance, if you’re using the latter path and not aware of what you’re doing, your dream home can turn into a total budget nightmare. The expense of tearing down a house is not as high as constructing a new building, but it needs to be addressed properly. For a three-bedroom home, the estimated average price in Brisbane, Australia, is $17,000. We’ll help you look more closely at the demo plan to ensure whether it’s all good enough to justify it. They’re not only easy to do, but they also benefit the environment. Demolition is a massive project, and beginning a demo project will lead to considerable time and financial strains down the track if you don’t have a definite plan in mind. Get a hard hat; we have a job to do. The tips below will guide you on the right path if you’re concerned about saving some cash on your house demolition project. What does that really imply to Demo A House? In simple terms, demoing involves tearing down small parts or all of a home to reconstruct it., This could mean only tearing down a wall or maybe two to enlarge your main bathroom, or it could require breaking the whole house to the ground to create something even more modern. There are two traditional methods of demolishing a house in either situation. Mechanical Demolition: The demolition of a structure using heavy machinery. Deconstruction: Using simple equipment for the project of demolishing a building manually (well, saws, hammers, and all of that stuff) We’re going to let you decide which seems to be more of your type. A mixture of the two is pretty standard for people to choose; they remove as much of it as possible manually and then bring the large machines to complete the job. You might need to knock down an old house, or you just want to tear down part of your home to create a new addition. Whatever your reason, knowing how much it will cost you comes in handy. To ensure that the correct demolition approach for the building is employed, it is necessary to recruit professionals. Deconstruct on your own as much as possible You might be shocked by the amount of stuff in your home that is still reusable, even after years of wear and tear. Not just that, but you may be surprised too by your potential to deconstruct your own home! If the thought of having neighbours or a team of qualified volunteers come into your home to retrieve items/materials for you is comfortable, then this would be a perfect way to dump things from your house while assisting others as well. You deconstruct the home, and they’ll get the recovered building materials. This is a win-win! Someone in need might also reuse fittings and flooring, so letting friends and charities know that you intend to demolish your home and that its materials are up for grabs is a great way of spreading love. Salvage for some additional dough Did you know that your home’s internal fittings will earn you some nice bucks and net a decent return? Scrap yards will love to take away any copper pipes and wires in the house. How much does demolishing a house cost? The cost of demolition would differ based upon your house’s size and the materials it consists of. The estimated price is about $15,000 to demolish a small detached house (80-120 square metres). The typical demolition cost is around $30,000 for a large detached house (200-250 square meters). The dumping of the components is the largest part of the overall demolition expense, as demolition firms can charge transport and landfill premiums. That being said, if any of this ‘waste’ can be recycled, you can decrease the cost you are paying for demolition. * The cost data is based on third-party sources Does the expense vary depending on location? The expense of house demolition and destruction in Australia differs by area and population. A Brisbane home could be demolished for approximately $16000, whereas the cost for the same home in Sydney is about $17,500. How long can the demolition take? Depending on the size and scope of the project, the timeframe for demolition can differ. Demolition normally takes 4-8 days to finish. If you’re demolishing a terraced or semi-detached home, then the time and expense will rise. Costs & Considerations of Site Planning Plumbing pipes, HVAC units, and electrical wiring, and outputs must be handled by an expert. It is necessary to detach gas, electricity, and water lines if you’re bulldozing an entire building. If you’re just tearing down a few walls, these services would also need to be turned off so that any cables, pipes, or HVAC lines can be removed, diverted, or replaced by your contractor. For safety purposes, the expense of hiring an electrician is well worth the expenditure and may even be needed by the code. While knocking down a house, you will have to invest in safety gear. Tape all construction areas off and clearly mark them. Make sure that during evening work hours, outdoor areas are illuminated with floodlights. Be sure to inquire whether they plan to supply and install site planning resources when recruiting professionals for the work. Wearing protective clothing, gloves, work boots, goggles, and a hard hat is necessary. Types of projects for demolition Commercial Buildings: Commercial demolition costs are much higher than those for residential ones. A single-storied building can take around a hundred dollars per square meter in Brisbane, while two floors can cost around $120 per square meter. Buildings on three
Generally, injection molding is a crucial method for producing different parts and products. Whenever mass production of parts is needed, injection molding has stood the test of time to be the only process viable. Injection molding is applicable in many industry areas. And probably one of the renowned uses is in the production of plastic parts for various services. In the medical industry, injection molding is one of the preferred techniques in production. The process sees the production of medical-grade plastics used in the medical devices, laboratory, and other facility equipment. But why is injection molding the best method in delivering these parts? The benefits associated with injection molding for medical parts are vast and depend on varied needs. Over time, medical supplies and other experts have concluded that medical injection molding for medical parts, devices, and components is highly effective in quality and specifications. Alongside those, this process also ensures the cost-effective and efficient production of these items. Another concern someone may have is the exact application of medical injection molding. The truth is that they are many and include the production of beakers, test tubes, containers, implantable components, surgical equipment, and orthopedics. Regardless of the specific area of application, these medical injection molding has always ensured the delivery of quality items. Probably one of the issues that can be challenging is the considerations to have in mind when choosing medical plastic injection molding parts. Medical Injection Molding Considerations While it is true that medical injection molding is efficient in its class, the possibility of errors is always high. This is especially true whenever there aren’t any thorough plans in the production or whenever the expert handling the whole process is not experienced enough. It is also crucial to note that plastic injection molding for medical components is an essential process with very high failure chances. That is why users must consider several factors and issues in the planning, designing, and manufacturing of the parts. They include: FDA Regulations FDA regulations for cleanliness and sterility are very crucial for medical components. That is in the production process and the parts produced at the end of it all. Therefore, whenever anyone is looking to choose any item made through this process, it is an excellent idea to select a material that meets the set standards. That is not enough; it is also highly advisable for the seller or producer to showcase the documents supporting this. ISO Certification and Compliance When it comes to ISO regulations, not a company or sector is left outside. In fact, if there were one industry that could never miss this, is the medical industry. At the lowest level, a facility specializing in medical components production must ensure compliance with ISO standards. These may include adherence to the different classes depending on the products being manufactured. The client and the manufacturing partner should be aware of the component’s standards in question and the intended application. Material Properties The material in any device will inform much of its durability and strength. That is why when choosing a medical device or equipment, it is highly recommended that buyers go for products with specific physical properties to suit the applications. The materials can range from silicone, polycarbonate, polycarbonate, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Silicone is one of the best for the production of parts where flexibility is a crucial concern. This material is exceptional with its durability and biocompatibility. Nevertheless, some of the additional material properties to check on include but are not limited to the following. Ability to Be Sterilized Every component of a medical injection molding must meet this requirement. The materials must be resistant to contamination and be sterilized to prevent harm to any human interaction. Everyone knows the level of infection a medical device can bring to people and so it makes perfect sense to ensure it can sterilize to reduce this. Suitability to Extreme Environment Another critical consideration the devices should meet is the ability to survive extreme conditions. For instance, the bio-implants must handle the challenging state of the human body, including durability when exposed to heat, corrosives, movements, and reliable operation. The good news, albeit, is that most medical injection molding parts meet this requirement. But that does not eliminate the possibility that there may be substandard products that don’t meet this class. Durability Durability is another material property never to overlook. Easily breakable materials are not suitable for the medical industry. As such, it is highly recommended that someone goes for material with shatter and breakage resistance necessary in medical applications.
29-acre scheme to be known as Spectrum Logistics Park will see the speculative development of 400,000 sq. ft of logistics/industrial space across 8 units at a site in Kings Norton, Birmingham. St Francis Group and its development partners the Richardson family have today announced that full planning consent has been obtained for the development of 400,000 sq. ft of new industrial warehouse space on a site of 29 acres at Eckersall Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham. An expert in brownfield regeneration, St Francis Group has teamed up with the Richardson family again making this the third collaboration between the parties following the successful development of nearly 600,000 sq. ft of speculative warehouse space across the region. The scheme to be known as Spectrum Logistics Park will feature 8 new highly specified industrial/warehouse units ranging in size from 25,000 to 70,000 sq ft, all built to a highly efficient BREEAM Excellent rating. Speaking about the announcement Gareth Williams, Director at St Francis Group said: “We are very happy today to confirm that full planning consent has been granted to develop this important new mid-box scheme right in the heart of the greater Birmingham conurbation. As we move into the build phase, we are continuing to see huge demand for units in this mid industrial box sector and are already marketing the scheme for pre-lets.” Demolition work on site is scheduled to begin in May once the existing occupiers have moved out and the first units will be ready for occupation from September 2022. Richard James-Moore of letting agents JLL who are jointly appointed with Savills said, “This is an exciting new development of sustainable space and Spectrum Logistics Park will probably be the first new development in Birmingham to offer a BREEAM Excellent accreditation giving occupiers truly sustainable options”. Spectrum Logistics Park will be situated on the site of the former Pilkington Automotive and GKN Aerospace manufacturing plants in Kings Norton within the southern Birmingham conurbation and adjacent to the A441 and A38 offering fast connections throughout the region. Savills and JLL are jointly appointed to market the scheme.
The Chancellor should use the Budget to enhance Research and Developments tax reliefs for investment in Green Technology, say leading tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg. David Hough, a partner at the firm said “In November the Prime Minister announced his plan for a Green Industrial Revolution but so far his financial commitments are modest, and the Government needs to do much more. “Developing new technology is inherently risky and countries all over the world are scrambling to be at the forefront of the green economy – the Chancellor must look to make sure that the UK is considered a favorable location to set up shop.” He added: The importance of retraining in new skills to allow businesses to take full advantage of the benefits of new technology investments is critical. “Government grants to facilitate learning and development of new skills are key to support the technology sector. Businesses in other sectors are looking to take advantage of “Industry 4.0” but doing so requires retraining parts of the existing workforce so they can adapt to the new technology.” David said: “An announcement by the Chancellor to introduce targeted grants to small and medium sized businesses to retrain employees, for example those on a production line, to understand automation, machine learning and data analytics would be a welcome in the Budget.” He added: “The Chancellor should also be considering how the ‘new normal’ is going to impact on working patterns and our daily lives as we emerge from lockdown. In theory the ability to do more remotely opens up new opportunities for many people and parts of the UK but much of the country lacks the infrastructure to take full advantage.” David said: “Only sixty five percent of the UK has access to ultrafast broadband. The pandemic is fast tracking our use of new technology, whether it is home learning, online retailing or remote working. Every home should have affordable access to fast broadband. The Government must resist the temptation to restrict spending on the rollout further and commit to fibre broadband in every home by 2025 which would help the economy recover.”
Platform Housing Group, the largest housing association in the Midlands, has established a £1bn multi-currency, ESG enabled, Euro Medium Term Note – or EMTN – programme, supported by NatWest markets acting as Sole Arranger. Funding from the programme will be used to develop affordable housing across the Midlands and to improve the energy efficiency of its existing homes. The programme has been established to allow future issuances to be both in foreign currency and sustainability linked. The programme demonstrates Platform’s commitment to fund raising through the debt capital markets following its £350m bond issued in July at a record breaking yield of 1.71%. Elizabeth Froude, Chief Executive at Platform Housing Group said: “We are delighted to have established an EMTN programme which will play a key part in our Treasury Strategy for the coming years. The program signals that Platform is committed to fund raising from the capital markets and its A+ ratings demonstrate we remain a sound investment. It will help us access the funding that we need to invest in our homes and our communities as we continue to help alleviate the Midlands housing shortage and provide enhanced life prospects for more people.” Platform Housing Group – which owns 46,000 homes in total – completed 1,448 homes in 2019/20 (1,598 in 2018/19) at an investment of £258m (£228m in 2018/19). The Group also built more social rented homes – at a figure of 981 – during the past 2 years in England than any other provider, 523 in 2019/20, almost 33% of the total homes built. Platform Housing Group’s operating area is from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South. NatWest Markets acted as Sole Arranger on the Programme Establishment, with Addelshaw Goddard LLP appointed as legal counsel to the joint dealers and Devonshires Solicitors LLP appointed as legal counsel to Platform Housing Group. George Flynn, Debt & Financing Solutions at NatWest Markets commented: “We are delighted to have supported Platform as sole arranger in the establishment of its £1bn EMTN programme. This follows on from our support during its inaugural £350m Public Bond executed in 2020 and provides a flexible and versatile framework to maximise Platform’s funding agility. This will provide swift access to the capital markets for funding to support Platform’s core social purpose to expand the availability of affordable homes across the Midlands.” For further information please contact Ben Colyer, Corporate Treasury Director at Platform Housing Group on 07918 16099 or email him at ben.colyer@platformhg.com.
Hanson has become a partner in the HyNet North West consortium, which aims to create the world’s first low carbon industrial cluster. The proposed hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) project will play a critical role in the UK’s transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and the fight against climate change. The region HyNet North West covers – which stretches from Flintshire and Wrexham, through Cheshire, Liverpool and Greater Manchester into Lancashire – has the largest concentration of advanced manufacturing and chemical production in the UK, including Hanson’s Padeswood cement works, near Mold, Flintshire. The project will reduce regional CO2 emissions by up to 10 million tonnes – including 800,000 tonnes from Hanson’s Padeswood plant – every year by 2030; the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road. “Our involvement in the HyNet North West project is the latest example of our commitment to cutting CO2 emissions,” said Simon Willis, Hanson CEO. “CCS at our cement plants will be a key part of our roadmap to achieve net zero carbon by 2050. The first step would be for us to carry out a feasibility study, this would give us a clear design basis and cost estimate for a capture plant and connection to the planned HyNet North West CO2 network and storage system.” The UK Government recognises the decarbonising of industrial clusters as an essential part of the journey to net zero, as described in its 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. HyNet North West will deliver 80 per cent of the national target of 5GW of hydrogen production, 100 per cent, of the national target for CCS capacity by 2030, and a hydrogen town. The HyNet North West project also includes production, storage and distribution of low carbon hydrogen, which will help to decarbonise other industries whose CO2 emissions primarily come from fossil fuels. The project, led by Progressive Energy, is being developed by a consortium of regionally located partners including Cadent, CF Fertilisers, Eni UK, Essar, INOVYN and the University of Chester as well as Hanson. David Parkin, director of Progressive Energy and HyNet North West’s project director, said: “We are extremely pleased to be joined by Hanson. The HyNet North West consortium is showing just what can happen when organisations come together with the common goal of rapid decarbonisation of a region and Hanson’s commitment to energy efficiency and carbon reduction at its cement plants, further strengthens this. Decarbonising the Padeswood plant will make a substantial contribution to emissions reductions in Wales and the UK as a whole. “Taking carbon dioxide out of industrial processes, including cement production, is a key route for the UK to reach net zero by 2050. We have designed HyNet North West to be low risk, low cost and deliverable, largely using existing assets. This enables the project to begin decarbonising from as early as 2025 and to be expanded in the future.” More information about HyNet North West can be found at www.hynet.co.uk