Scotland has ambitious environmental goals. It is five years since the Paris agreement. The race to zero emissions is a driver for new types of thinking across all industries, and especially the sector I work in – the built environment . In my role as architect director at BDP’s Glasgow
Has your insurer insisted you comply with the CIREG (Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group) best practice document: ‘Managing Escape of Water Risk on Construction Sites’? If so, does your site fulfil the requirements that are highlighted? One of Whitecode’s clients will have an excess increase to a six-figure sum unless
In June 2017, a 220-bed Holiday Inn Express opened in Manchester — just 38 weeks after construction began. Modular construction continues to reach new heights, but the industry must still consider ways to make commercial buildings stronger, safer and more environmentally friendly. Here, Nick Cowley managing director of aluminium building
Vital Energi have been awarded a £6.58m contract to deliver ThamesWey Energy’s Woking Power Station project which will create a state-of-the-art Combined Heat & Power energy centre providing low-carbon heating and power to local businesses and residents. When complete, the energy centre will produce enough heat and power to supply
Indeglas, recognised as a leading supplier of interior glass screen solutions, has completed a £1.04m contract for Do & Co, a global gourmet entertainment and airline catering company based at Heathrow’s Segro Park. Fitting out the building to the clients extremely high specifications involved Indeglas designing, supplying, and installing specialist
Once the lockdown restrictions eased during summer 2020, the UK housing sector experienced a mini boom. Far from damaging the property market, the lockdown had both exacerbated pent-up demand for property while also kindling a fresh demand for properties outside city centres, especially dwellings with a garden or a spare room
North West construction and maintenance business, HMS, is delighted to announce the appointment of Alison Brown as Maintenance Director. Bringing over 30 years’ Social Housing experience to the role, Alison has a wealth of knowledge of the Repairs and Maintenance sector. With a Masters in Business and a degree
Consumerism has given rise to a massive problem of waste. Single use plastic, food wrappers, packaging, paper wipes, empty bottles and everything else we throw away ends up in landfills and keep piling up. At the rate humans are producing waste, it is not long before the planet runs out
Significant progress is being made at Panattoni’s Wakefield515 site, where steel is already up on the largest speculative development in the north for 10 years. Caddick Construction, Panattoni’s build partner for the landmark Yorkshire project, is on site to progress the 515,820 sq ft warehouse. The steel framework is now
Major engineering milestone completed this weekend (24-25 October), as a 45 metre, 914 tonne modular bridge was driven into place over the A446 in Solihull. Designed in a virtual world, the bridge took only 45 minutes to be driven into place. The A446 has been reopened 24 hours earlier than
Scotland has ambitious environmental goals. It is five years since the Paris agreement. The race to zero emissions is a driver for new types of thinking across all industries, and especially the sector I work in – the built environment . In my role as architect director at BDP’s Glasgow Studio, I have been involved in numerous education building projects across most local authorities in the last decade. Education can determine how people live the rest of their lives. So, providing a successful sustainable learning environment that promotes wellbeing is a contributing factor in allowing every young person to achieve their potential. Each of our school project designs starts with a blank piece of paper and the aim to create an inspiring place to learn but our work is also driven by Scotland’s ambitious net zero climate target. We are collaborating with local authorities and communities to create sustainable indoor and outdoor learning spaces in schools that show a commitment to teachers, students and the wider environment. The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities with funding initiatives including the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) managed by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT). These initiatives are encouraging local authorities to lead by example and all of our clients are taking on this challenge with great enthusiasm and commitment. As well as creating inspiring spaces, we take a sustainable approach to our designs. Our first principles are to use passive design measures to reduce the energy consumption of the buildings we design. We consider things like building orientation, the form factor and a fabric first approach to envelope design right at the outset of the project. As a Passivhaus certified practice, it is great to see so many new school developments considering the benefits that passive design principles can bring. BDP’s track record in sustainable buildings and the many benefits they bring is demonstrated at the Enterprise Centre, a low carbon exemplar building for the University of East Anglia within the Norwich Research Park. The building, which completed in 2015, has achieved BREEAM Outstanding with a score of 90.8%, and also secured the Passivhaus standard. BDP provided full engineering design for this project. In Waid Academy in Anstruther, completed in 2017 for Fife Council, we designed and delivered a great community school that includes a high school, police station, library and a community hub. We applied the same sustainable approach to design at The Waid and a recent report tracking energy use since it opened, demonstrates the building is working within the SFT LEIP targets, which were not considered at that time. In a time where there is a heightened need to take learning out of the classroom, the use of sustainable, educational buildings and landscape is vital for varied, creative teaching methods. A sustainable campus provides a positive legacy for local authorities and demonstrates their commitment to providing a sustainable community environment. The LEIP targets set by the Scottish Government can be achieved without Passivhaus certification. Another great example of our sustainable design approach is the Maybole Community Campus for hub South West and South Ayrshire Council; a project that will provide a new secondary school and combine three primary schools together with early years provision. The campus also includes a community swimming pool and a full-size rugby pitch and is one of the first phase investment projects supported by LEIP. The design embodies sustainable principles and explores the possibility of incorporating a renewable energy source, such as wind turbines and photovoltaics, to exceed carbon neutral. Every school project starts with extensive consultations with the stakeholders – a process of collaboration that is central to BDP’s way of working. Our interactions with teachers and pupils demonstrate quite clearly that learners want buildings that help the environment. Young people, in particular, are more aware of the impact we have on our environments and so we have a moral obligation to create a learning environment that positively contributes to the future of students. We are learning lessons with each project and I’m so glad we can offer sustainable learning and teaching spaces that sit at the heart of community projects, providing a positive and lasting legacy. Lindsey Mitchell is Architect Director at BDP’s Glasgow Studio
Has your insurer insisted you comply with the CIREG (Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group) best practice document: ‘Managing Escape of Water Risk on Construction Sites’? If so, does your site fulfil the requirements that are highlighted? One of Whitecode’s clients will have an excess increase to a six-figure sum unless they follow the guidance within this document. But how do you comply and what are the options? Alex Hill, Managing Director at Whitecode explains the issues. First of all, the question we should be asking is why the CIREG is publishing this guidance. In a couple of words, it is as a result of modern systems. Generally, it is rarely the fault of the system used – they are almost always installation errors. But as an industry, we didn’t have such failures when traditional systems were the order of the day such as soldered copper. Once upon a time copper was seen as something of an art form, a process which required a high level of skill and experienced workmanship. However, the clampdown on hot works on construction sites, due to the fire risk and cost of metals has driven the industry down a route of using plastic-based push-fit and clamped metal systems. Unfortunately, these modern systems have relegated soldered copper to the ranks of a bygone fashion; a once well-used solution that now doesn’t have much of a presence in the industry.Whilst Whitecode is in no way averse to modern systems – plastic and metal push-fit or compression systems have their limitations – the rise in large-scale water leaks caused by modern systems is difficult to deny. This constraint can be as a result of insufficient push-fit mechanism installation training. This lack of competence compromises both the performance and quality of modern solutions. What does this mean to construction clients? Whitecode is finding more of its clients and end-users are asking for permanent leak detection to remain in situ after the construction team leaves, to ensure continual building protection. The CIREG recommends the risk of water must be similar in status to project risk such as a fire. It’s hard to ignore the irony here; it was the fire risk that has, in our opinion, resulted in the gradual disuse of traditional systems including soldered copper. The CIREG instructs us to nominate a competent person for the management of escaped water and suggests we should appoint the M&E contractor to carry out this role. For us here at Whitecode, we would say this is akin to allowing a fox to guard chickens. Instead, we propose the building services consultant should be responsible for highlighting who the role is given to. This consultant must also create the water management plan and review the practices onsite as work progresses. He or she would subsequently provide a balanced, independent opinion of the work performed and the quality ascertained onsite. After all, our advice is covered by professional indemnity insurance. The plan should include: The nominated duty holders. Summary of the system. Management of water systems: System overview Design features System selections Quality assurance Installation standards Mitigation and detection Isolation of the water supply in the event of a leak Removing water from the building Testing regime Emergency procedures The key elements that site managers and designers might not be familiar with are the mitigation measures. These include, but are not limited to: The need to provide automatic water shut off devices. This detects when there is a problem so it can be shut down. All water supplies to be isolated once the site is closed. Weekly checks on automatic devices. Label all supplies once installed, not at the end of the project. This includes all temporary valves. On permanent systems, automatic devices should be fitted in the following locations: At the mains inlet Before any booster pumps On each floor Any other system such as LTHW, MTHW, chilled water underfloor heating In severe weather, all pipes should be drained down or trace heated. Whitecode suggests that these systems are likely to be left in situ once the system is no longer on a construction site. These are very honourable requirements, and it will take a large step change in our thinking as designers to make this a reality. With the CIREG providing conflicting advice as to how to mitigate the risk of escaped water on construction sites, rest assured that Whitecode and its wealth of experience are on hand to devise a management plan which reflects your needs. If you need advice or design for your site, head to: www.whitecodedesignassociates.co.uk
In June 2017, a 220-bed Holiday Inn Express opened in Manchester — just 38 weeks after construction began. Modular construction continues to reach new heights, but the industry must still consider ways to make commercial buildings stronger, safer and more environmentally friendly. Here, Nick Cowley managing director of aluminium building product supplier Endurawood, explains why modular builders should use aluminium to enhance their commercial construction projects. Considering the Census Bureau’s 2019 Survey of Construction states seven months as the average completion time for a single-family home, constructing an entire hotel in less than ten months is impressively rapid. As well as helping to produce more residential buildings, modular construction is aiding the production of many commercial buildings. School classrooms, restaurants, hotels and public offices are being constructed using modular methods of construction (MMC). MMC provide many advantages, such as quicker completion times and reduced waste, but considering the materials used in the project can optimise projects even further. Aluminium is lighter than many traditional construction metals, making it easier to manage on and offsite. This, alongside several other benefits, helps to support the quick completion times that modular builds are renowned for. Minimal maintenance Originally developed as a solution to quickly rebuild homes after the Second World War, modular builds face the misconception of being temporary structures. However, if the correct materials are considered at the start of a commercial project, the end result can be as durable as the modular build’s neighbouring shops and offices. While commonly used metals such as iron and steel must be treated with a substance containing a corrosion inhibitor, using a naturally corrosion resistant material will lengthen a modular build’s lifespan. Aluminium gains natural corrosion resistance from a layer of aluminium oxide that forms on its surface when it’s exposed to the atmosphere. This layer protects the material from further oxidation, enhancing its resistance against weather conditions and chemicals. Aluminium’s natural protection benefits commercial buildings for numerous reasons. Firstly, it increases the durability of the building, reducing maintenance and therefore keeping refurbishment costs down for the building owner. Secondly, using aluminium preserves the building’s design, making it appear newer for longer. In an increasingly competitive market, people are more conscious about appearance and design of the facilities they use. Rust can diminish the exterior of a building, making it less likely to appeal to customers than a building that looks brand new. Supporting sustainability Prefabricated buildings are far easier to disassemble and relocate to different sites, thanks to their pre-assembled parts. Therefore, if a building has become obsolete or disused, its modular parts can be repurposed so that they don’t go to waste. If modular construction techniques became the norm, the requirement for new raw materials would be substantially reduced. This makes modular buildings inherently more sustainable, but project managers can further boost the sustainability of their commercial project by considering material choice. Sustainable materials are especially important when designing new modules, which have not been recycled from past projects. Aluminium is an infinitely recyclable building material, meaning it can be reused multiple times without diminishing its original qualities. In fact, nearly 75 per cent of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today. Replacing emission-heavy metals with aluminium can help to reduce the carbon footprint of a commercial modular project. Choosing aluminium can further boost the sustainability of a building by reducing its energy output. Aluminium absorbs heat and is freeze and frost resistant, making options such as external aluminium cladding a thermally efficient alternative that could help to lower a building’s heating bills. Securing safety Finally, aluminium can improve the safety of a commercial building. Regardless of a building’s purpose, safety must always be at the forefront of its design. We’re aware of the disasters that have occurred when material safety standards have not been met, and it’s vital that these inconceivable mistakes never occur. While aluminium is not fireproof, it acts as a flame retardant when it starts to melt. This means that aluminium provides additional protection against the flames, reducing the potential damage to the building and those inside it. All Endurawood products are manufactured to meet international fire safety standards and its decking systems are highly slip resistant. Endurawood can be applied to many areas of a commercial building, such as decorative external battens to improve building design, for outdoor decking areas and for privacy enclosures to conceal building waste. Endurawood delivers safety in all conditions, providing the peace of mind for those involved in the construction and use of the building. Modular construction brings many advantages to the construction industry, but using materials that can enhance the method’s advantages is key. Aluminium can create a commercial property that is more sustainable, safer and with less maintenance requirements — achieving a build that can match the dizzyingly fast heights of modular’s existing success stories.
Vital Energi have been awarded a £6.58m contract to deliver ThamesWey Energy’s Woking Power Station project which will create a state-of-the-art Combined Heat & Power energy centre providing low-carbon heating and power to local businesses and residents. When complete, the energy centre will produce enough heat and power to supply the equivalent of 2,500 homes and it’s first customers will be the new Hilton hotel, shops and over 400 apartments currently being delivered as part of the Victoria Square development. The energy centre has been designed to be both scalable and highly flexible, capable of generating up to 10MW of heat, and adopting progressively lower carbon technologies over the next ten years. The energy centre comprises a three-storey building at the junction of Poole Road and Butts Road, with energy plant and equipment based on the ground and first floors and a new headquarters for ThamesWey on the third floor. The building is being constructed to be capable of upward extension of up to a further 17 stories of co-living space. When complete the flues from the energy centre will measure 29.3m. In addition to initial energy production by Combined Heat & Power engine and generator there will be gas boilers to add resilience and three large thermal stores which will serve the dual purpose of releasing stored heat during peak times of demand and adding an interesting architectural landmark to the development. Rob Callaghan, Regional Director for Vital Energi commented, “This is a fantastic project to be involved in as it will allow Woking to grow and develop in a sustainable way, utilising low-carbon heat to meet the town’s needs. This scheme was designed with long-term growth in mind and will be able to meet Woking’s energy needs well into the future, providing a resilient, low-carbon energy infrastructure.” The project is being delivered for ThamesWey by Galliford Try. The mechanical and engineering consultants on the project are Hulley & Kirkwood and Vital Energi have been working on the project since 2018 and recently won the contract to undertake the mechanical and electrical services installations. This energy centre will feed a new low temperature District Heating Network, delivering low-carbon heat to local buildings. In addition to delivering heat, the energy centre will also provide electricity via an 11kW network within central Woking.
Indeglas, recognised as a leading supplier of interior glass screen solutions, has completed a £1.04m contract for Do & Co, a global gourmet entertainment and airline catering company based at Heathrow’s Segro Park. Fitting out the building to the clients extremely high specifications involved Indeglas designing, supplying, and installing specialist glass screens to meet the demands of hot kitchens, food prep, packaging, cold storage and menu demonstration areas. Jeanette MacIntyre, Managing Director of Indeglas, said: “Before Covid 19 struck, Indeglas had invested in training and equipment to facilitate robotic glass lifting processes for this project due to the scale of the operation and the weight of individual glass panes. “The investment paid off, driving efficiency and ensuring safety whilst also enabling a speedy return from lockdown with one person/one robot squads operating effectively without the need for social distancing. “The scale of the building also assisted various trades to keep significant distance from each other. The main contractor, McLaughlin and Harvey, was pro-active and well-organised in implementing Covid 19 safety measures throughout. “Although the project was completely closed down for a number of weeks, and we were forced to work remotely without accessing our own office and storage facility, the entire management team worked tirelessly to interpret the new, emerging safety procedures required and partnered with the main contractor to ensure a safe, effective and economically viable return to work.” Indeglas is a member of the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) trade association and has benefited from the work it has done in interpreting and simplifying the evolving legislative and economic impact of COVID 19 for SMEs within the interiors sector. It has also remained engaged with the initiatives of the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CCIV) Forum through both FIS and the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and intends to continue its engagement with CICV. Established 20 years ago, Indeglas is a specialist contractor and sole distributor in the UK and Ireland for the products of award-winning glazed screen system, DEKO of Denmark. The company is a trusted partner to some of the UK’s leading construction companies with relationships built over many years. As the production of specialist and complex glass types for architectural application increases Indeglas bring a trusted collaboration of knowledge, supply partners, engineers and logistics specialists to the table, bringing sound advice to design, procurement, logistics and installation stages of a project. A dedicated maintenance service for completed installations is also provided throughout the UK.
Once the lockdown restrictions eased during summer 2020, the UK housing sector experienced a mini boom. Far from damaging the property market, the lockdown had both exacerbated pent-up demand for property while also kindling a fresh demand for properties outside city centres, especially dwellings with a garden or a spare room for a “wok-at-home” office. Simultaneously, the government proposed a radical overhaul of the planning system, which promises to free up more land for major housing developments. UK developers are currently taking Mark Twain famous advice to, “buy land, they’re not making it any more”. In anticipation of significantly looser planning laws, developers are now scrambling to secure suitable land for development. Landowners are therefore being approached with very attractive offers. However, these offers often come with strings attached. Some developers wish to effectively secure an option to develop land in the future, should planning be obtained and the market remains favourable. Other developers are willing to purchase land where permission is in place, but they often want to defer a substantial proportion of the payment for it. For example, a housing developer might offer to buy land from a farmer for £10 million, to be developed for housing. However, This attractively high offer comes with a caveats: More and more frequently the developer wants to make the payment in a number tranches spread over five years. (Typical arrangements vary between 2-5 years, usually involving 3 or 4 tranches of payment.) The developer may (with good reason) justify spreading out the payment by citing cashflow issues or uncertainty around planning permission or the timescales involved. Yet if the developer goes bust, the landowner may be unable to obtain the contractually agreed payment unless they have certain security protections in place. In such a scenario, how can the landowner best protect their interests? Landowners can protect themselves in several ways. Firstly, the sale could be structured so that it does not complete until all the payments are received. If that cannot be agreed, the landowner can be protected by placing legal charges on the land, which may enable it to be recovered in whole or part in the event of non-payment. Land Registry restrictions could also be placed on the land. It may even be possible to hold back a few houses, or a strategic part of the site, as security against non-payment by the developer. Where deferred or staged payments are agreed, the landowner should also ensure that they will not be adversely impacted by tax liabilities. There is a real risk that the landowner may become liable for the full Capital Gains Tax (CGT) – as calculated on the total purchase price – at the time of legal completion. However, if staged payments are in place, the seller may only have received part of the proceeds of sale and so may not have enough to pay the CGT bill. For its part, the developer will understandably want to ensure that any mechanism of security being used won’t hold up its plot sales or slow up the conveyancing process to the end user. In terms of how a staged payment deal is structured, the needs of the landowner and the developer can sometimes seem to be in direct opposition. However, it’s important that the parties do not lose sight of the fact that a mutually beneficial one should be attainable. When the respective parties’ advisors take a positive, collaborative approach, it is usually possible to find a solution which works to the benefit of both parties. Negotiating a workable deal invariably requires trust. Sharp practice by some developers (and occasionally the landowner!) can result in deals breaking down. Too often, the developer’s request to defer part of the payment comes after an option or contract has already been exchanged. Sometimes, a developer may attempt to present the landowner with a fait accompli in terms of the payment structure. It’s therefore advisable for landowners to obtain expert legal and tax advice early. Landowners are often unfamiliar with the tactics used by developers. In order to negotiate a favourable deal, landowners need to work with advisors who have recent experience acting for both developers and landowners. Even where the buyer and seller’s expectations are not completely aligned at the outset of a negotiation, good agents and solicitors can create solutions which work to the benefit of both parties. Robert Sprake is a specialist lawyer in real estate and residential property development at Excello Law www.excellolaw.co.uk
North West construction and maintenance business, HMS, is delighted to announce the appointment of Alison Brown as Maintenance Director. Bringing over 30 years’ Social Housing experience to the role, Alison has a wealth of knowledge of the Repairs and Maintenance sector. With a Masters in Business and a degree in Housing Management and Development, she has had multiple senior roles in the social housing sector, in both public and private sector organisations. Discussing her appointment, Alison said: “Since being a teenager, I decided I wanted to work in the social housing sector, after having a weekend job working in an Extra Care Supported Living Scheme and seeing the impact quality homes had on people’s lives .” This early passion for Social Housing has seen Alison cultivate an extensive track record of improving services for clients, across the country. Alison continues: “What attracted me to the role at HMS is the opportunity to be part of an organisation that seeks to balance commercial drive with a real customer service focus. “The HMS operating model of improving existing services and its social commitment to the people who live and work in its communities’ is unprecedented and is one that really contributes towards improving the lives of the people of Liverpool, St Helens and Warrington. “They have a genuine drive to increase employment opportunities for local people through initiatives like worklessness programmes, apprenticeships and Women in Construction, together with an ongoing commitment to training and upskilling the whole team, so that its legacy supports the vital work of the Torus Foundation. This is something that resonates deeply with me as it is vital that we continue investing in our existing staff and future talent. “I’m looking forward to contributing to HMS’ success and growth as one of the leading Maintenance and Construction organisations in the region.” Managing Director of HMS, Paul Worthington, said: “The whole team is thrilled to welcome Alison onboard and utilise her unique experience to continue our expansion. This is a fantastic opportunity for us all and I know that Alison will support our corporate plans for growth so we can reinvest our profits to further increase our social impact so our communities’ can continue to thrive.”
Consumerism has given rise to a massive problem of waste. Single use plastic, food wrappers, packaging, paper wipes, empty bottles and everything else we throw away ends up in landfills and keep piling up. At the rate humans are producing waste, it is not long before the planet runs out of space and thus, reducing waste production is the only way to go. If you are someone who goes around picking up thrown away furniture, wooden custom boxes, bottles etc, here are some fun upcycling ideas to transform trash to treasure. Bags Out Of Plastic However much you take the conscious decision of reducing packaging, there will be times when you simply can’t avoid a plastic packet. But instead of throwing them away, you can easily upcycle them and put them to good use. Collect and clean all your polythene bags, wrappers and other forms of plastic, even torn ones work. Lay them out flat and using a hot iron melt and mould them into a sheet of plastic. If needed layer up sheets for better reinforcement. This can be shaped into a sturdy shopping bag, waterproofing linings, packing etc. Crates For Storage, Display And Seating Discarded wooden crates are practically treasures as they can be put to many different kinds of uses. You can make the best of odd spaces such as under the bed and random nook by simply sticking a crate and storing things in it. It can keep your things sorted and thus, make it easier to find when needed. With a little basic carpentering skills you can convert multiple crates into a nice wardrobe for storage, a display unit for plants and such or even an affordable couch. If you do not want to put in the work, simply throw a cushion over it and use as a single-seater. Simply by adding some old fabric, these can be converted into pet beds for stray animals to take refuge in. Bottles As Décor While used bottles can be used to store drinking water, not all discarded bottles might be the safest for storing consumables. However you can put them to use in several ways. You can easily cut plastic bottles up, poke little holes and use them as planters or propagating pots for your garden. Smaller bottles, be it plastic or glass can be used to decorate. Throw in some pretty string lights o a candle and you have a beautiful light. These can also be painted, cut or decorated and made into pretty pieces to make your place look nicer and they also serve as great handmade gifts. Scraps for art Scraps of clothes, metals, single use cutlery and even electronic wastes such as chips and circuits, cables, wires etc can be repurposed into Halloween or Christmas decorations, stunning art pieces around your home, quirky gifts or even as art installations left outside for passers by to admire. You can use your old clothes to create fascinating patchwork rugs, bags, scarves and other pieces of clothing or décor. With a little imagination and work you can put every bit of non-biodegradable item into use and thus, effectively reduce the amount of waste that we leave out. Every little bit of effort goes a long way in better waste management and a cleaner planet
Significant progress is being made at Panattoni’s Wakefield515 site, where steel is already up on the largest speculative development in the north for 10 years. Caddick Construction, Panattoni’s build partner for the landmark Yorkshire project, is on site to progress the 515,820 sq ft warehouse. The steel framework is now fully formed and cladding being added. The warehouse facility located at the M62 and A1(M) junction will serve as a key strategic hub for future occupiers, offering access to major cities and ports across the north of England. Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and the port of Immingham are all within a 90-minute drive of the facility. Up to 500 full-time jobs and £5.5 million will be brought into the local economy as an immediate result of Wakefield515’s construction, due to be completed by the end of Q2 2021. Wakefield515 is designed to offer maximum flexibility for logistics and distribution businesses. The cross-docked warehouse will provide occupiers with generous yards of up to 100m and will incorporate sustainable features, such as rainwater harvesting systems, a PV ready roof and LED motion sensor lighting. The building will be built to a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ and EPC rating of ‘A’. Andy Preston, Development Manager for the project, said: “We are pleased to see such good progress on this important development. Wakefield515 will not only meet demand for large warehouse facilities along the M62 corridor but also contribute to economic development in the north. Construction work will provide an immediate boost for the area but the building’s benefits will be felt long after this phase is complete. We look forward to seeing it take shape.” Chris Wilson, Commercial Development Director at Caddick Construction, said: “It’s exciting to see construction now well underway in Wakefield in such challenging circumstances. Caddick is proud to be working with Panattoni on this landmark project that brings immediate job opportunities and real economic benefits to the region.” To view progress at the site or to find out more information please visit www.wakefield515.com
Major engineering milestone completed this weekend (24-25 October), as a 45 metre, 914 tonne modular bridge was driven into place over the A446 in Solihull. Designed in a virtual world, the bridge took only 45 minutes to be driven into place. The A446 has been reopened 24 hours earlier than planned. Durham-based Cleveland Bridge manufactured and supplied 220 tonnes of steel girders for the bridge, while Expanded’s off-site manufacturing factory in Nottinghamshire provided 80 precast concrete modular abutment blocks. Video, time lapse and photos available here: The second of four bridges to be completed on the site of HS2’s new Interchange Station at the heart of the new high-speed network, this new bridge will carry the A452 and form part of a major remodelling of the local road network. This will improve the circulation of traffic around the UK’s new high-speed railway, integrating the existing network with the new Interchange Station. Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the Midlands site in September to mark the official start of construction for the HS2 project, and a further two bridges are nearing completion. Over 200 people are involved in this construction site, contributing to supporting jobs in the region. The bridge move was led by specialist engineering contractor Expanded and HS2 enabling works contractor, LMJV (Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons Joint Venture). Also supporting the hi-tech process, a design joint venture involving WSP and Ramboll provided engineering and environmental services. By applying advanced digital capabilities to design all elements of the structure in a virtual world, they determined that the A446 road bridge would be built using a Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) strategy. After building the bridge in modular sections, the final part of this process was the 128-wheel hydraulic platform taking just 45 minutes to move the bridge span 150 metres, where it was lowered onto the DfMA abutment shells to complete the overall bridge structure. Traditional construction methods would have required several weeks of lane closures on both carriageways, followed by additional weekend and overnight closures. HS2’s Delivery Director David Bennett said: “As work ramps up at one of HS2’s largest construction sites, it was fantastic to see this next milestone achieved so quickly. It was finished 24 hours ahead of schedule and follows hot on the heels of the installation of the bridge over the M42 in August, which was also completed early. We’re pleased to see innovations like this on the project dramatically reducing environmental impacts and disruption for road users. “With construction of the railway now well underway, 22,000 jobs being created and an estimated 400,000 supply chain contracts available, HS2 is playing a pivotal role in helping Britain’s economic recovery.” Jon England, DJV Project Director said: “Our successful partnership approach has led to the design and construction of HS2’s first permanent bridges including one over the M42, the A452 bridge over the A446, as well as two other bridges over what will be the main HS2 railway line adjacent to the new HS2 Interchange Station. “We are proud that through collaboration with LM JV, Highways England and local authorities, the application of 3D modelling techniques to align highways, earthworks, structures and utilities with the existing infrastructure and the innovative use of offsite manufacturing and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly techniques, we were able to safely deliver on this ground-breaking project.” LM Senior Project Manager Richard Fairhurst said: “Digital design, offsite manufacturing and modular components are the enablers of innovative construction methodology – they bring greater efficiency and safety to major infrastructure projects like this, and importantly, can save months on delivery schedules. That’s great news for clients, stakeholders and local communities alike. This is the future of bridge design and delivery.”