The pernicious and invasive native weed commonly called Horsetail has been around since the Palaeozoic era, which lasted from 541 to 252 million years ago. That means it was thriving before dinosaurs, and it used to grow to 98 feet tall. So, I think it is fair to say that
UAE-headquartered upscale residential, hospitality and commercial property developer Seven Tides has appointed UAE-based Airolink as the main building contractor, to complete the construction of its Seven City JLT development in Jumeirah Lake Towers, in Dubai. Airolink was founded in Ireland in 2001 and expanded into the Middle East in 2008,
In life, we need to have good quality relationships in order to gain any substantial meaning from them. Whether you are running a business or doing your best to nurture a friendship, relationships are crucial. But when you throw money into the mix, this is when things can get tricky.
A 29-acre site is the latest industrial/warehouse scheme brought forward by the developer as it continues to expand its development pipeline St Francis Group, a leading UK-based property development and investment group and an expert in brownfield development and regeneration has announced that it has assembled a site of 29
A £4million investment scheme has begun to rebuild parts of Derby’s electricity network in response to an anticipated surge in demand. The work will involve laying 7km of new underground cable and a complete rebuild of Mackworth’s primary substation. The project is needed to replace ageing equipment – some of
Policy Forum for London keynote seminar … Morning, Friday, 11th December 2020 Book Online | Live Agenda | CPD certified | Sponsorship | Our Website | @londonpolicy| Unsubscribe with Alex Williams, Director of City Planning, Transport for London Neil Henderson, Global Knowledge and Innovation Director, Transport and Key Account Leader,
The development, off Whalley Road, has two distinct new homes collections that include a number of three and four bedroom homes, perfectly suited for family life or young couples sharing. While the Heritage Collection offers traditional Arts and Crafts inspired architecture with period style features, the Harwood range provides streamlined,
BPH Plant Hire, an independently-owned plant hire company based in the South East, has launched a new website to coincide with the recent rebrand, following a commitment to increased investment in the company’s digital presence. The new website highlights for the first time the extensive fleet available to hire. Convenient
Chancerygate has achieved practical completion for its 94,000 sq ft Furlong Business Park scheme in Bishops Cleeve near Cheltenham, with almost a third of the development’s available units already sold. Furlong Business Park is a £10.2m development providing a total of 11 high-quality industrial and warehousing units ranging from 3,988 sq ft
First new design for pylon in nearly 100 years 116 new T-pylons along 57km route from Hinkley to Seabank, which will connect six million homes and businesses to low carbon energy At the end of July 2021 – the first T-pylon on National Grid’s Hinkley Connection is due to be constructed. It
The pernicious and invasive native weed commonly called Horsetail has been around since the Palaeozoic era, which lasted from 541 to 252 million years ago. That means it was thriving before dinosaurs, and it used to grow to 98 feet tall. So, I think it is fair to say that there is no quick fix if you want to control it. But it can be done. Deep-rooted, spore-spreading Equisetum arvense is the bane of many a gardener’s life, spreading quickly to form a dense carpet of foliage up to 20 inches high and crowding out many less vigorous plants in beds and borders. However, if it is discovered on a construction site, it can cause a major headache for developers, who then have to prove to the satisfaction of planning, building control and certification bodies that it has been properly dealt with. Sometimes called a living fossil, Horsetail is related to ferns. It is easily recognised by its upright, fir tree-like shoots. The problem is that its creeping rhizomes can reach down to seven feet under the surface and, even if it is laboriously dug out, small remnants can quickly re-establish the invasion. It is not notifiable, but it is classed as problematic and can grow up through tarmac. It is not anything like as scary as Japanese Knotweed but its presence on a building site creates real problems which can be time-consuming and costly to resolve. The most common response is to dig the intruder out and remove it – this is the tack most usually taken by council inspectors – but this course of action can create its own issues. The spoil containing the weed can only go to landfill and, as every builder knows, landfill taxes are increasingly onerous. There are also the costs of transporting it in a safe and compliant manner. These costs can sometimes be enough to make a site commercially unviable. But the reality is that dig-and-remove should be the last, rather than the first, option. There are much more economical and environmentally sensitive ways to reduce the infestation and keep it under control. The key is to have a sustainable Horsetail management plan and to engage closely with the relevant local authority personnel in order to persuade them of its efficiency and to demonstrate that the plan will stand both the test of time and the plant’s determined nature. The next element of the plan may seem counterintuitive, but it involves retaining the Horsetail-contaminated material on site. This has the immediate benefit of stripping out the major costs in dig-and-remove. The obvious question is: what do you do with it on-site? The answer is two-fold. Firstly, the material can be stock-piled and used for landscaping, protected by a suitable geo-textile membrane barrier to prevent spread or obtrusion. Secondly, knowing that the weed will spread where it can, the strategy is to direct it towards grassed areas where it can be mown regularly. Frequent cutting exhausts the spore-bearing first shoots and allows it to be kept in check and even wholly eradicated over a number of years. Infestations can also be weakened with proprietary herbicides, though the waxy cuticles which prevent penetration must be compromised first. This can be done by bruising the plant before application or by use of appropriate adjuvents to enhance the efficacy of the herbicides. In the end it is all about management on site and developing a dialogue with local authority officials to convince them that the plan is viable and sustainable. To achieve this expert advice is indispensable – Horsetail is a cunning and resourceful enemy and it needs to be taken on by professionals who not only know how to beat it but also how to save their clients from the most expensive and unnecessarily complex options. Keith Gallacher is Director of Complete Weed Control Scotland.
UAE-headquartered upscale residential, hospitality and commercial property developer Seven Tides has appointed UAE-based Airolink as the main building contractor, to complete the construction of its Seven City JLT development in Jumeirah Lake Towers, in Dubai. Airolink was founded in Ireland in 2001 and expanded into the Middle East in 2008, with offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The company has worked on many projects over the past 12 years in the educational, commercial, retail, residential and hotel sectors. Abdulla bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides, said: “Airolink is well established, has a solid reputation along with a wealth of experience across numerous sectors, which is ideal for this development. Work is well underway on site and we are already working with Airolink at our Seven Palm development on Palm Jumeirah, so this should be a smooth transition.” The project is valued at over 1 billion dirhams ($272.26 million) and due for completion in Q2 2023. Seven City JLT has a total built-up area of up to 3.5 million square feet and is situated within Cluster Z in DMCC, opposite the Montgomery and Emirates’ golf courses and the Emirates Hills community. The development is made up of 2,744 units — with its residential element consisting of 2,617 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, plus 78 hotel rooms. The striking design sits upon a common podium, which plays host to promenade restaurants overlooking a lake. The tower also features a fully equipped gym, health club, infinity pool, children’s pool, 12 sky gardens, cafes, plus other dining options. The development also features a large retail offering with 49 retail units, covering 150,000 square feet over three floors. It will include a three-screen cinema, hypermarket, as well as 2,617 car parking spaces, with an additional 312 spaces dedicated to retail customers, including valet. At the initial launch of the project, phase 1 of the residential units was completely sold out in less than a week and the remaining units will be offered to the market in due course. “We are offering excellent value at a competitive price point. In addition, we offer a very attractive easy payment option consisting of a 5 percent deposit, followed by payments equal to 6 percent of the cost price to be paid every subsequent quarter. We estimate that studios should yield 12 percent per annum,” said bin Sulayem. Studio apartments start from 384,888 dirhams, ranging in size from 384 square feet to 416 square feet, while one-bedroom apartments start at 723,888 dirhams and range in size from a minimum of 734 square feet to a maximum of 890 square feet. Prices of two-bedroom apartments start at 1,106,888 dirhams and the size is 1,073 square feet. Finally, the entry price for three-bedroom apartments starts at 1,677,888 dirhams, covering 1,516 square feet of space.
In life, we need to have good quality relationships in order to gain any substantial meaning from them. Whether you are running a business or doing your best to nurture a friendship, relationships are crucial. But when you throw money into the mix, this is when things can get tricky. Money is the ultimate goal, but we need to remember that money isn’t everything. But when we are suffering from debt or struggling to keep our business afloat, we have to put certain components in place to guarantee success. But before all this, you need to fix your personal relationship with money. And how can we do this? Prioritise As our lives change, we have to choose priorities in life. When you consider your value system, such as if you prioritise money over everything else, is this going to damage your relationships in other aspects of your life? There are so many business people out there that are driven by profit that they ignore the needs of their employees, consciously or unconsciously. And this is where we have to look at fixing our own values. This means that we may have to look at our debt system. While there are systems out there like the Debt to Success System (DTSS) and if you’re wondering is DTSS legit? It is one of those systems that can open your eyes to the wider world. It’s not just about the finances, but something like this can throw up so many pertinent points that we can’t help but address our attitudes towards money. Prioritise it, but don’t let it take over your life. Stop Using It for Manipulation Purposes The very nature of doing business relies on money as the most vital commodity. And with money comes the balance of power. But when you start to think about the things that you really care about in life, does money really factor into it? Or to rephrase it better; should money factor into it? When you love someone, would you manipulate someone into doing something to get you money? As soon as you start to remove the ideas of power with regards to your money thoughts, it makes for more clarity in life. Relationships and Passion Will Bring the Answer Whether we are setting up a side hustle or we are looking to forge a life for ourselves, when we have more control when we place an onus more on money rather than how we feel at the end of the day, this can throw things out of balance. When we start to put our passions into a project, this may require a lot of effort on our part, but the results we get out of it will be worth it, financial or not. When people are looking to make a living from doing something they love there comes a point where they have to address their own passions towards the project. Once you start to address your own relationships with a certain type of work, you can ask yourself if you are happy to do it without earning money at the outset. Naturally, we all need to make a living but money is a commodity used for trade rather than the route of happiness. This is why you have to fix your relationship with it. https://youtube.com/watch?v=28-FMrg0KqQ
A 29-acre site is the latest industrial/warehouse scheme brought forward by the developer as it continues to expand its development pipeline St Francis Group, a leading UK-based property development and investment group and an expert in brownfield development and regeneration has announced that it has assembled a site of 29 acres in Kings Norton, Birmingham for the development of new industrial warehouse space. Announcing the purchase of the Pilkington Automotive and GKN Aerospace sites, the speculative development of a 400,000 sq. ft multi-unit scheme will be funded by the Richardson family making this the third collaboration between the two parties following the successful development and sale of Velocity42 in Redditch and Cransley Park in Kettering. A detailed planning application will be submitted later this year with work on site scheduled to begin once the existing occupiers vacate next year. The new proposals could create around 900 new jobs. Speaking about the announcement Gareth Williams, Director at St Francis Group said “We are delighted to have secured these strategic sites and to be able to promote a scheme in the heart of the greater Birmingham conurbation. We have seen a huge growth in the mid box industrial warehouse market, and we will be aiming to meet that demand with 8 new energy efficient units ranging from 25,000 sq. ft to 70,000 sq. ft” “We recognise the value in higher performing sustainable assets and so we are looking to develop units using construction standards that exceed occupier expectations throughout their life cycle.” New units will be ready for occupation by the end of 2022. Marketing for pre-let deals will begin immediately. Savills and JLL have been retained as sole letting agents on the scheme.
A £4million investment scheme has begun to rebuild parts of Derby’s electricity network in response to an anticipated surge in demand. The work will involve laying 7km of new underground cable and a complete rebuild of Mackworth’s primary substation. The project is needed to replace ageing equipment – some of which has been in place for more than 50 years – and to meet an expected growth in demand for electricity, as a result of new developments in and around Mackworth. It will benefit around 100,000 customers. The first part of the job will be to lay 3.75km of new cable from Derby to Mackworth. Work is expected to take up to six months and will begin in the city centre, before moving out towards the A38. There will be some road closures as a result of the scheme. Paul Squires, WPD Engineering Specialist based at Derby, said: “This is a huge investment for the people of Derby which will enable us to meet their electricity needs for decades to come. This takes into account the changes to electricity use that will arise from an anticipated switch to electric vehicles and other low carbon technologies. “We have worked closely with the local authority to plan the work and to keep disruption to a minimum. We will also be working 10 hour days and at weekends to complete the work as quickly as possible. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during this essential project.” All WPD staff will be observing strict social distancing and hygiene regulations while working on site, to protect themselves and customers during the coronavirus pandemic. The roads affected will be Sowter Road, St Marys Gate, Cathedral Road, Queens Street, Jury Street ,Willow Row,St Alkmunds Way, Agard Street, Bridge Street, Friargate, Vernon Street, South Street, Uttoxeter Old Road, Stepping Lane, Hanford Street, Stanley Street, Morley Street, Napier Street, Mackenzie Street, Lyttleton Street and Greenwich Drive South. There will be some rolling road closures on Stepping Lane, Handford Street, Stanley St, Napier Street and Mackenzie Street with short diversions in place, along with some temporary parking restrictions. Temporary traffic signals will be used on some of the larger streets.
Policy Forum for London keynote seminar … Morning, Friday, 11th December 2020 Book Online | Live Agenda | CPD certified | Sponsorship | Our Website | @londonpolicy| Unsubscribe with Alex Williams, Director of City Planning, Transport for London Neil Henderson, Global Knowledge and Innovation Director, Transport and Key Account Leader, Mott MacDonald and Kirsty Hoyle, Transport For All; Adam Tyndall, London First; Dave Widger, AECOM; and a senior speaker confirmed from London TravelWatch *Please share this email with interested colleagues* Note: fees apply for most delegates, but concessionary and complimentary places are available [subject to terms and conditions – see below]. I’m inviting you to this conference, which will examine priorities and next steps for developing transport services and infrastructure in London – including moving on from the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Book Online] The agenda: Priorities for developing London’s transport system – maximising economic contribution, and moving through the impact of COVID-19 The London bus network and services – rebuilding user confidence in public transport Delivering future transport projects in London – finance, planning and innovative practice Next steps for meeting passenger demand in London and improving service delivery The business case for transport development and accelerating infrastructure projects Expanding regional development – new rail infrastructure in London and increasing connectivity with the South East Transport connectivity and opportunities for London business Delivery of infrastructure projects and accelerating London’s economic recovery Transport, housing and regenerating London Accelerating decarbonisation across the transport network, preparing London for the low-carbon transition, and supporting active travel Moving forward the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, and overcoming challenges from COVID-19 [jump to full agenda] [Book Online] ***Full-scale policy conference taking place online*** [further details] A scan of the background and relevant developments: [back to agenda summary] COVID-19 – ongoing impact on staff welfare, passenger demands and attitudes, delivering safe capacity, continuing transport projects, and financially sustainability funding – the £1.6bn funding and financing package agreed between TfL and the DfT to protect current transport services and restore those that have been cut the government led financial review of Transport for London – agreed on as part of the funding package to identify options for strengthening TfL’s financial stability TfL’s Budget and Business Plan – for improving services and the physical infrastructure to boost capacity, such as overground line and signalling, creating more step-free access, and alleviating road congestion through highway, bridge, and tunnel development the Mayor’s Transport Strategy – remaining objectives including developing infrastructure resilience, enabling city-wide inter-modal transport, and expanding connectivity with the wider South East Gear change: a bold vision for cycling and walking – £2bn announced by the PM for expanding walking and cycling options nationally – including ‘Mini-Hollands’ in London – with new cycle and pedestrian routes, rolling out e-bikes for the elderly and longer distance journeys, and setting higher standards for cycling infrastructure the London Environment Strategy – including scaling up and facilitating healthier modes of transport, improving city-wide air quality, and encouraging the adoption of low-emission vehicles [Book Online here] The discussion in detail: [back to agenda summary] Public transport the London Transition Board – priorities for its strategy for transport and part of the response to the COVID-19 crisis and supporting recovery going forward restoring services – assessing prospects of a return to pre-pandemic levels, and initiatives for encouraging residents and commuters to begin using the public transport network scaling up – priorities for operators and their partners to enhance the frequency of bus, overground and tube services, implications of social distancing, and the task of rebuilding user confidence financial sustainability – options for restoring and maximising revenue generation, a medium and long-term financial and operational recovery plan, and minimising risks for infrastructure delivery collaboration and engagement – strategies for coordinating public and private project development, and giving a voice to passenger and community groups Infrastructure transport projects – examining their future across London, their scope and how they can be organised and targeted to best support the economy and the needs of different stakeholders the London Transport Strategy – assessing progress and the further measures needed to achieve core objectives, including infrastructure resilience, fitness for the future with a growing population, enabling intermodal transport city-wide, and expanding connectivity to Greater London and the wider South East regeneration – how best to accelerate and maximise the impact of transport infrastructure development: rail – priorities for new stations, services and line modernisation, expanding connections to Kent, Essex and elsewhere, and evaluating progress on Crossrail and Elizabeth line stations shovel-ready transport infrastructure projects – how to accelerate and coordinate finance, planning and other elements to move forward development supporting London businesses – assessing key areas such as reducing barriers to travel, trade and collaboration, and supporting productivity and economic activity in outer London the London Plan – its objectives around transport and housing development as a means of fuelling economic growth: the Housing Secretary’s concerns – on housing delivery and planning regulation coordination and connectivity – strategic development of transport links and unlocking potential for housing and wider property development, across the London region planning – the potential impact of the Planning for the future White Paper and its proposals for streamlining regulation on London and its economy Decarbonisation priorities and next steps – strategies and implications for health, transport businesses and the economy of decarbonising London’s transport system active travel – the Streetspace for London programme initiated in response to COVID-19, and opportunities for reforming road space for new cycle lanes, greater walking space and car-free zones accelerating the switch to low-carbon forms of transport – priorities for further public and private sector investment in electric public transport, working with local authorities and other stakeholders to roll out charging locations, and opportunities for ultra-low emission zones [Book Online] Policy officials attending Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stake holders. [About Us] There’s an outline of the government departments, regulators and other interested parties who we expect to take part here.
The development, off Whalley Road, has two distinct new homes collections that include a number of three and four bedroom homes, perfectly suited for family life or young couples sharing. While the Heritage Collection offers traditional Arts and Crafts inspired architecture with period style features, the Harwood range provides streamlined, smart exteriors, finished in stone, for those who prefer a more contemporary look. Both collections offer up to the minute interiors designed for modern lifestyles. Current prices start from £282,995 for a three-bedroom detached Birch, while four-bedroom detached homes start from £329,995. Sian Pitt, sales director at our Lancashire division says: “Buying your first home is a big step so you’ll want to choose one that you will love for years to come. Oak Leigh Gardens has a great selection from both our Heritage Collection and Harwood range. One thing they do have in common is providing plenty of space to grow into, open-plan kitchens, and main bedrooms with their own en-suites, plus private gardens to relax in.” Homebuyers can also use the Government backed Help to Buy to get them moving sooner. Sian explains how it works: “Buyers can secure a house with just a 5% deposit and then the Government will lend up to 20% of the value of the new home through an equity loan, which is interest free for the first five years and can be repaid at any time within 25 years or on the resale of the home, whichever is sooner. Buyers will then need just a 75% mortgage from a bank or building society of choice.” Nestled between Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland, in the sought-after Ribble Valley, Oak Leigh Gardens’ rural location has proved to be an attractive selling point for commuters and young families, especially as it’s also so well connected. Situated just off the main A59 Preston Road, the homes are close to the M6; Clitheroe is less than three miles away and places like Blackburn, Burnley, Preston and even Manchester are all easily reached. Closer to home, there’s an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ rated primary school just a short walk away, and two ‘outstanding’ rated senior schools within a couple of miles. To find out more about the homes or help available see www.redrow.co.uk/oakleigh, call 01254 865167 or visit the development and view the fully furnished show homes, which are usually open daily from 10am to 5.30pm.
BPH Plant Hire, an independently-owned plant hire company based in the South East, has launched a new website to coincide with the recent rebrand, following a commitment to increased investment in the company’s digital presence. The new website highlights for the first time the extensive fleet available to hire. Convenient features of the site include the category pages, which have been designed so that users can easily find their desired model by filtering specifications such as tonnage, and whether the equipment is cabbed or wheeled. Users can also compare models from specification tables that show side by side comparisons of each vehicle available. Enquiries about specific models can now be made directly from the results page with ‘get a quote’ forms that autofill the vehicle model, saving time and extra clicks. Commenting on the new site, Managing Director at BPH, Simon Bastable says: “The new website is another step in our mission to continually improve the experience of hiring plant machinery. “We’ve worked hard to ensure that technical specifications are digested into the key pieces of information our customers care about and our product descriptions benefit from our expertise, like where we outline the most suitable applications of each vehicle and attachment. “Early feedback has been really positive and we look forward to continued growth and investment in our digital presence.” BPH Plant hire boasts immediate availability on the hire of excavators, dumpers, dozers. As an arm of BPH UK, which specialises in hydraulic attachments, when you enquire through BPH Plant Hire, you can also arrange any plant hire attachments needed. Visit the new website here: https://bphplanthire.com/
Chancerygate has achieved practical completion for its 94,000 sq ft Furlong Business Park scheme in Bishops Cleeve near Cheltenham, with almost a third of the development’s available units already sold. Furlong Business Park is a £10.2m development providing a total of 11 high-quality industrial and warehousing units ranging from 3,988 sq ft to 25,714 sq ft. Units are available on both a freehold and leasehold basis. Having pre-sold a 3,075 sq ft unit to Chipping Norton-based printing company KopyRite Printers last November, Chancerygate pre-sold a further 4,590 sq ft unit before the scheme’s completion, which was purchased by building specialists, D&G Contracting. A further unit totalling 4,865 sq ft was bought by creative agency Still Moving Media within days of the development’s completion, while a 3,988 sq ft unit is currently under offer. Situated within Cleeve Business Park on the outskirts of Cheltenham, Furlong Business Park is approximately one mile north of Cheltenham racecourse and four miles from Junction 10 of the M5. Nearby occupiers on Cleeve Business Park include GE Aviation, Zurich Insurance and Capita Life & Pensions. Chancerygate is also in the process of developing a second industrial scheme in Cheltenham, which is expected to be available for occupation next autumn. Called Festival Trade Park, the development will offer 14 trade counter, industrial and warehousing units ranging from 3,487 to 34,981 sq ft and is part of a joint venture with international real estate firm Hines. Commenting on the site’s practical completion, Chancerygate development director George Dickens, said: “We’re very pleased to have achieved practical completion at Furlong Business Park with a third of the scheme’s units now sold and the remaining seven units attracting plenty of interest. “Prior to our two active sites in Cheltenham, there had not been a speculative development in the area for more than a decade. Our recent investment in the region shows our commitment to giving prospective occupiers high-quality industrial space to grow their businesses in Gloucestershire.” BNP Paribas Real Estates and Colliers International are joint sales agents for Furlong Business Park.
First new design for pylon in nearly 100 years 116 new T-pylons along 57km route from Hinkley to Seabank, which will connect six million homes and businesses to low carbon energy At the end of July 2021 – the first T-pylon on National Grid’s Hinkley Connection is due to be constructed. It will be one of 116 T-pylons* along the 57km route, which will connect low carbon energy from EDF’s Hinkley Point C power station to six million UK homes and businesses. It will also allow for more capacity on the network for renewable energy from the South West peninsular. Once energised, they will be the UK’s first operational T-pylons and the first new design for a UK electricity pylon for almost a century. The T-pylons have a single pole and T-shaped cross arms which hold the wires in a diamond ‘earring’ shape. They are around 35 metres high; about a third shorter than traditional 400kV lattice pylons, have a smaller footprint and use less land. The new high-voltage 400kV overhead line featuring the new pylons is just one element of the Hinkley Connection which will run from Hinkley to Seabank, near Avonmouth. The full route is made up of 14 interconnected project stages which are set for completion by 2025. It includes modifications to Western Power Distribution’s (WPD) existing network plus 8.5km of underground cables through the Mendip Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which will leave the area free of pylons for the first time since the 1960s. Construction work started in 2018 and, as a critical infrastructure project, has continued throughout 2020. In that time, highlights include: Start of works to underground 132kV lines and remove pylons that run close to and over homes in Nailsea Completion of the temporary haul road for construction of the Mendip underground cables, including installation of a 90-tonne Callendar Hamilton Bridge – the first to be built in the UK for several decades. The start of trenching and ducting in preparation for the underground cables through the Mendip Hills Construction of 2400m of bat flyways to maintain habitat connectivity for bat roosts Start of construction work on two new substations at Shurton and Sandford Removal of pylons and wires near the M49 at Avonmouth and undergrounding of a short section of cable running north from Avonmouth substation Installation of a tilting weir on moors near Tickenham to adjust water levels to encourage wading birds to nest and breed National Grid is also supporting local communities most impacted by the works through a range of initiatives. So far these include over £354,000 in STEM grants to 538 schools, a total of £332,000 in community grants to 22 local projects plus an adult skills programme that has seen 175 local unemployed people gain a recognised construction qualification and helped 66 back into employment. James Goode, Project Director for National Grid said: “We have already reached some significant milestones on the Hinkley Connection Project, which is a testament to the skills and expertise of the project team and partners. It’s exciting to look forward to this time next year, when Hinkley Connection will see construction of the first new pylon design in nearly 100 years.”