As the next step in the integration of Vodafone Hungary and UPC, in the autumn of 2022, colleagues working in the company’s Budapest offices will move to the Budapest ONE office park. The complex, developed by Futureal, will house Vodafone’s new headquarters, which will offer innovative technological solutions with the
England | Higher and Degree Apprenticeships now available: Construction Design and Build Technician (Level 4) and Design and Construction Management (Level 6) The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) is pleased to announce that the Higher Apprenticeship in Construction Design and Build Technician (Level 4) and the Degree Apprenticeship in Design and
New GS18 I GNSS RTK rover with Visual Positioning can measure what you see. Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, unveils the Leica GS18 I a versatile, GNSS RTK rover with Visual Positioning. The GS18 I allows users to capture points of interest from a distance and measure points from the
Contractor, GRAHAM, is targeting late January 2021 for the completion of the Congleton Link Road A536 scheme. Described as a “crucial piece of infrastructure”, the 5.7km bypass will join the A534 Sandbach Road (to the west of Congleton) with the A536 Macclesfield Road (to the north of the town). In
SITECH UK & Ireland, the leading distributor of Trimble® machine control technology for the heavy and civil construction industry, has launched a new training Academy to support operators using construction technology. The Academy includes a selection of courses delivered through distance learning, practical demonstrations and face-to-face classrooms sessions. Sessions are
The Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase has been completed on the UK’s first waste plastic to hydrogen facility. The facility, which is planned for Protos – Peel L&P Environmental’s strategic energy and resource hub in Cheshire – will create hydrogen from waste plastic which could be used to fuel cars,
Work is underway to build brand new affordable homes in Bingham and Parkview in North East Edinburgh. The Council-led developments – which will complete as early as Autumn 2021 – will be built by construction firm CCG (Scotland) Ltd. CCG has delivered a number of award-winning new homes for the
The new acute assessment hub, designed by architects BDP and being constructed by Kier, recently received full planning permission A major milestone has been reached in a key project to transform and modernise critical care and assessment buildings and services at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. Main construction works on
On Thursday 10th September 2020 the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) successfully staged its National Annual General Meeting (AGM) online for the first time in its 48-year history, with members agreeing to vote for all propositions. Members were invited to join some of BALI’s Landscape House team and Executive
The numbers behind the tiny homes movement make compelling evidence for these cost effective and flexible structures to be incorporated into UK housing strategy, claims British PVCu windows and doors manufacturer Euramax. The company is calling on Government to further discuss the potential of tiny homes and has highlighted that
As the next step in the integration of Vodafone Hungary and UPC, in the autumn of 2022, colleagues working in the company’s Budapest offices will move to the Budapest ONE office park. The complex, developed by Futureal, will house Vodafone’s new headquarters, which will offer innovative technological solutions with the highest standards, focusing not only on sustainability but also on the health and well-being of employees. Vodafone announced the acquisition of UPC Hungary last August, followed by the legal merger of the two companies on April 1, 2020. The next stop of the merger will directly affect the company’s employees, as, from October 2022, colleagues working in the Budapest headquarters will move to a common building in the Budapest ONE office park. “Vodafone Hungary has always stood for flexible working, however, with our recent experience in mind, we are trying to redefine and further advance this flexibility in terms of both office work and remote working. Of course, we will continue to provide our colleagues the possibility to work from home, as this is justified not only by the needs of our employees but also by considerations of environmental awareness. At the same time, we consider it important to create a green, digital office environment for our employees that inspires them and also supports their mental and physical well-being. In addition to the innovation aspects, we were looking for a modern building where we will be able to showcase our latest, most innovative technologies. In the coming months, we will be working with our colleagues and partners to create an office space that’s most suited to the needs of future employment.” – said Amanda Nelson, CEO of Vodafone Hungary. Vodafone aims to use technology to build a better, more sustainable future and protect the planet through environmentally conscious operation. Accordingly, the company considers it important to be able to showcase to visitors the various technological innovations offered by Vodafone and the tools used for implementing green guidelines, in a showroom to be set up in the new building. The Budapest ONE office park, designed in compliance with the standards of the environmentally conscious WELL Building and BREEAM building certification systems, is fully in line with Vodafone’s efforts to this end. The office building will be equipped with an energy-saving, intelligent central building management system, and electric car chargers will also be available in the parking garage. In the building, the mental and physical wellbeing of employees will be supported, among others, by a multifunctional community room, a bicycle storage area with a shower, a panoramic running track at the top of the building and a half-hectare open space inside the office park, which will be a popular meeting place with its uniquely designed green areas. “Vodafone’s choice is further proof that there is still strong market demand for a modern, healthy and innovative office environment. The design of Budapest ONE and its forward-looking solutions allow employees to work flexibly in creatively designed spaces, in line with the expectations of a new era in the wake of the pandemic. The success of the first phase of development and the increased interest in the next two buildings show that well-located office buildings with people-centered solutions and services will continue to be sought after.” – emphasised Tibor Tatár, CEO of Futureal. In the selection of the new headquarters, location was also a key consideration, as Budapest ONE is located in Hungary’s largest multimodal transportation hub, connecting multiple modes of transport. The large-scale development, which will take place in Őrmező, one of the dynamically developing areas of Budapest, located at the junction of Kelenföld railway station, metro line 4, tram line 1 and several bus routes, as well as the Budapest stretch of the M1 – M7 motorways, can be reached on direct transport services from Budapest’s downtown in up to 10 minutes.
England | Higher and Degree Apprenticeships now available: Construction Design and Build Technician (Level 4) and Design and Construction Management (Level 6) The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) is pleased to announce that the Higher Apprenticeship in Construction Design and Build Technician (Level 4) and the Degree Apprenticeship in Design and Construction Management (Level 6) standards in England are now eligible for public funding through the apprenticeship levy. Qualifications for Industry (QFI) is listed as the End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) for both apprenticeships and more EPAOs may become available later on. Apprentices will be eligible for student membership of CIAT for the duration of their apprenticeship, and encouraged to progress their membership with the Institute further to successful qualification of the apprenticeship. Dr Matthew Brooke-Peat MCIAT, Vice-President Education says: “The availability of levy funding to support the training of future Architectural Technology professionals is welcome news. The profession will greatly benefit from an alternative pathway and we expect that this will enable different perspectives to shape Architectural Technology.” Employers and training providers are now able to make the necessary preparations and begin the recruitment process. For further advice on employing an apprentice, please refer to the Government’s website on ‘How to take on an apprentice’ prior to advertising a vacancy. Commenting on this announcement, Francesca Berriman, Chief Executive, said: “This is an important development of Architectural Technology and for CIAT. It is also important to remember that your practice does not have to be a levy paying business to take advantage of apprenticeships for you or your employee.” Educational establishments are encouraged to validate their existing Architectural Technology programmes or devise new provisions with curricula based on the relevant apprenticeship standards and seek CIAT Accreditation for these programmes. To do so, please contact Noora Kokkarinen, Assistant Education Director on education@ciat.org.uk. Further information on apprenticeships can be found on our website at ciat.org.uk/education/apprenticeships.html ends The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) is the lead qualifying body for Architectural Technology and represents those practising and studying within the discipline. CIAT qualifies Chartered Architectural Technologists, MCIAT.
New GS18 I GNSS RTK rover with Visual Positioning can measure what you see. Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, unveils the Leica GS18 I a versatile, GNSS RTK rover with Visual Positioning. The GS18 I allows users to capture points of interest from a distance and measure points from the images in the field or the office. Visual Positioning technology (sensor fusion combining GNSS, IMU and a camera), allows users to reach previously inaccessible or obstructed points safely and efficiently. Visual Positioning is based on photogrammetric technology with near real-time data processing, allowing surveyors to check the quality of their data while on site. “The GS18 I and the workflow in Infinity opens even more new possibilities for us to capture and measure everything we need. GS18 I can help fill the data gaps common with traditional GNSS systems that often require supplemental field locations with a total station to complete an area being surveyed. Now you can have one piece of equipment to carry out several jobs onsite with fewer equipment setups,” said Donald Smith, P.L.S., senior project manager and principal at BL Companies. “The survey is performed more efficiently as the GNSS crew can capture all detail, even areas with limited access. No data is missed because points can be extracted through Infinity later in the office.” World’s fastest GNSS RTK rover now also with Visual Positioning The GS18 I continues the success from the tilt-compensated Leica GS18 T rover. In addition to visual point positioning, the GS18 I inherits all the functionalities of a GS18 T, including the ability to map and stake out points with either tilted or levelled pole. “We designed the GS18 I for surveying professionals who need to measure points that previously could not be measured easily and accurately with GNSS and for those who want to capture the environment quickly and decide later which points shall be measured,” said Bernhard Richter, Vice President of Geomatics at Leica Geosystems. “With this world’s first GNSS RTK rover with integrated Visual Positioning Technology, Hexagon brings GNSS technology also to new user segments while increasing safety, speed and productivity.” GS18 users can use less time on site and continue measuring points with Leica Infinity software in the office, saving expensive on-site time. If new measurement needs arise, surveyors can measure additional points from the captured images. The GS18 I works with Leica Captivate field software for image capturing, on-site point measurement and quality assurance in the field. Users can go beyond measuring points and create an automatically registered and referenced 3D point cloud from the same images and continue working in other 3D software. Leica Geosystems – when it has to be right With more than 200 years of history, Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, is the trusted supplier of premium sensors, software and services. Delivering value every day to professionals in surveying, construction, infrastructure, mining, mapping and other geospatial content-dependent industries, Leica Geosystems leads the industry with innovative solutions to empower our autonomous future. Hexagon is a global leader in sensors, software and autonomous solutions. Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 20,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 3.9bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.
Contractor, GRAHAM, is targeting late January 2021 for the completion of the Congleton Link Road A536 scheme. Described as a “crucial piece of infrastructure”, the 5.7km bypass will join the A534 Sandbach Road (to the west of Congleton) with the A536 Macclesfield Road (to the north of the town). In the opening year, during rush hour, traffic journeys across Congleton are expected to take circa six minutes less than the current rate. Air quality assessments also indicate that there will be substantial improvements throughout the town centre. GRAHAM has implemented a five-phase, sequenced programme of works, split into five mainline zones in order to meet the agreed sectional completion dates. Despite recent challenges associated with COVID-19, and inclement weather conditions, “great progress” has been made in recent months as GRAHAM Contracts Manager, Alastair Lewis, explains. “We are delighted with the great progress of the Congleton Link Road A536 project so far despite a number of challenges, in particular those presented by COVID-19,” “I hope the aerial photographs give the local community a real sense of the scale and complexity of the project. Once complete, it will help deliver economic and social regeneration to the town. At this stage, I would like to thank the people of Congleton for their time and patience throughout the scheme.” Key milestones Among the recent milestones is the completion of the waterproofing works to the river Dane structure, which is the final phase of works before surfacing the bridge deck. When the surfacing has been completed, material earmarked for other areas of the scheme will be transported over the bridge, rather than vehicles travelling through the town. The riverbank erosion protection works are now complete Significantly, the Giantswood Lane Bridge is complete following the completion in August of the bridge joints, final surfacing and white lining of the realigned carriageway. The Giantswood Lane structure offers a great viewing point of the new mainline currently under construction. The Chelford road overbridge has been opened to traffic and the realignment of the Chelford Road carriageway will be undertaken before the final surfacing works are carried out. Permanent sheet piles are currently being installed as part of the works to construct the underground attenuation tank, which will collect excess surface water before been pumped away. Progress continues on the Loach Brook Bridge with the bridge deck recently been finished. The final concrete pours to the south side of the structure will be carried out during September. Further key achievements and updates include: The final surfacing and white lining to the new roundabout junction on Sandbach Road have been completed and the temporary traffic lights have been removed. The largest section of mainline has had subbase laid with further road foundation works to be undertaken ahead of the surfacing works in October. Road foundation and kerb installation works continue across the entire scheme. The planting of vegetation including trees, shrubs and seeding of grass has commenced across the scheme. Two new underpasses have successfully been installed on Manchester Road and works to back fill material over the structures are to take place during September. For more information on the Congleton Link Road project, or GRAHAM please visit: www.graham.co.uk/congleton-link-road If you would like to receive project updates, please register via: https://group.graham.co.uk/l/1F8/CongletonLinkRoad Alternatively, you can email the GRAHAM Project Team directly at congletonlink@graham.co.uk
SITECH UK & Ireland, the leading distributor of Trimble® machine control technology for the heavy and civil construction industry, has launched a new training Academy to support operators using construction technology. The Academy includes a selection of courses delivered through distance learning, practical demonstrations and face-to-face classrooms sessions. Sessions are suitable for everyone, from beginners to advanced users, meaning operators at all levels can refine their skills and expertise. Machine control technology and site positioning systems provide construction firms with highly accurate data, lower surveying costs and improved efficiency, giving businesses a competitive edge in a market that is rapidly digitalising. However, a certain level of operator skill is essential to achieve these benefits. Operators must receive thorough training to ensure that machine control hardware and software is used to its full potential and that the business achieves good return on investment. The Academy involves a SITECH-certified series of face-to-face training sessions — all delivered in line with Government social distancing guidelines. The courses are split into several categories, including on-machine, off machine (site positioning), site software, surveyor, lasers and levels, and professional services such as drones. “Machine control technology gives businesses a huge competitive advantage and the ability to tender for large infrastructure projects. However, a key issue for operators is getting the right training from the start,” explained David Allen, Technical Support Manager at SITECH UK & Ireland. “That is why we have devised such a thorough training programme, to make sure construction businesses can perform at their absolute best. We’ve thought about the individual too, all courses from basic- to advanced-level are available in visual and audio formats to accommodate the individual learner.” “The course content has been developed by SITECH’s experienced team and each trainer has been certified by Trimble’s Train the Trainer course,” said Ian Barnes, Head of Business at SITECH UK & Ireland. “But their knowledge isn’t just academic — each trainer works hands-on with machine control, site positioning and Trimble software on a regular basis, which means we can guarantee a skilled and knowledgeable tutor for each course.” Whether you’re just starting out or are an industry expert, the SITECH Academy can ensure that your skills and knowledge are at their best when using Trimble technology. Visit our website to book a course https://www.sitechukandireland.com/training/.
The Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase has been completed on the UK’s first waste plastic to hydrogen facility. The facility, which is planned for Protos – Peel L&P Environmental’s strategic energy and resource hub in Cheshire – will create hydrogen from waste plastic which could be used to fuel cars, buses and HGVs. Completed during lockdown, the study assessed all the design and engineering aspects of the proposed facility. It also evaluated the total project costs – estimated at £20m – which will facilitate Peel L&P Environmental finalising the project financing. The ‘UK first’ facility which gained planning consent from Cheshire West & Chester Council in March 2020 will use pioneering DMG (Distributed Modular Generation) technology developed by Powerhouse Energy Group plc (AIM: PHE) at Thornton Science Park, next door to Protos. The facility will transform the way plastic is dealt with regionally, with the scheme also set to provide a blueprint for future projects to be rolled out nationally. Peel L&P Environmental will develop 11 facilities across the UK in the next few years and has the option of exclusive rights to the Powerhouse Energy technology in the UK leading to over 70 facilities in total. The plastic to hydrogen facility, is the first part of the ‘Plastic Park’ planned at Protos, which will revolutionise the way that plastic waste is currently handled. Envisaged to be one of many Plastic Parks across the UK, it will provide a comprehensive solution for the 4.9 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in the UK each year, preventing it ending up in landfill, exported overseas or in the ocean. A planning application for the first Plastic Park at Protos is expected before the end of the year. Richard Barker, Director at Peel L&P Environmental said: “This FEED phase is an important step forward in delivering this innovative technology at Protos. Working with Powerhouse Energy we’re creating a blueprint for this UK first plastic-to-hydrogen facility, with plans to roll out over 70 more across the UK. With hydrogen increasingly being seen as an important part of our journey to net zero the time is now.” Jayne Hennessy, Development Manager at Peel L&P Environmental said: “The Powerhouse Energy technology was developed right next door to Protos at Thornton Science Park which illustrates how the North West is leading on innovation around net zero. It’s great to see the project moving forward and paves the way for construction starting later this year.” David Ryan, CEO of Powerhouse Energy said: “I would like to congratulate Peel L&P on bringing the FEED phase for the DMG plant at Protos to a successful completion, especially during the lockdown period which is a significant achievement. Defining the application at Protos has provided further commercial and technical validation of our DMG technology. We are confident that the delivery of this first commercial plant will provide a community based distributed source of hydrogen to further the hydrogen economy in the UK.” Peel L&P Environmental is engaging with supply chain partners to support the project with construction expected to start later this year. The company is also in the process of applying for an Environmental Permit for the facility. About Peel Environmental and Protos Peel Environmental, part of Peel L&P, owns and develops waste infrastructure projects. It has achieved consent for a range of energy infrastructure schemes including a 49MW Energy from Waste plant at Protos in Cheshire, 29MW Energy from Waste plant at Kellingley, North Yorkshire, 250,000tpa AD and MRF in Glasgow; and a 20MW Energy Centre at Houghton Main, Barnsley. Peel works with investors, waste management companies, technology providers and contractors to secure a deliverable and fundable business model for each project. www.peelenvironmental.co.uk Peel Environmental brought forward and consented the Protos development, previously known as Ince Resource Recovery Park. The 54ha (134 acres) development site has full outline planning consent and part detailed planning consent for general manufacturing and distribution uses (B1, B2 & B8), as well as a biomass facility and an Energy from Waste facility. www.protos.co.uk @ThisIsProtos Protos sits within the Energy Innovation District (EID) which brings together energy users, network owners, innovators and partners working alongside Cheshire & Warrington LEP, Cheshire West and Chester Council and the University of Chester. With the objective of driving down the cost of clean energy the EID is an opportunity to deliver a new decarbonised energy system for the North West of England, meeting the Government’s Clean Growth agenda while boosting economic growth and investment. www.energyinnovationdistrict.com About Peel L&P – realising possibility. We are an ambitious regeneration business with generations of history, heritage and expertise in our DNA. First established in 1971, Peel L&P is now responsible for some of the most transformational development projects in the UK today. Owning and managing 12 million sq. ft of property and 20,000 acres of land and water, our holdings are concentrated in the north west of England but we also own and manage significant assets throughout the UK with a total portfolio value of £2.6 billion. As a part of the Peel Group; we are integral to a business that strives to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Our legacy matters. We take great pride in the outcomes we achieve, the people we work with, the way we go about our business and the transformational projects we deliver. Our specialist teams have a proven track record in delivering high-quality, legacy projects across land, property, water and airspace. This includes airports, hotels, waterways, media hubs, event spaces, leisure facilities, retail, workspaces, residential development, industrial & logistical space, public realm, historic gardens and the renewable energy sector. Peel L&P is an agile and ambitious business with a legacy of success for a long-term, sustainable future. We see possibility. We deliver transformation. More information at www.peellandp.co.uk or follow @PeelLandP on Twitter. About Powerhouse Energy Group (AIM:PHE) Powerhouse Energy Group has developed a proprietary process technology – DMG® – which can utilise waste plastic, end-of-life-tyres, and other waste streams to efficiently and economically convert them
Work is underway to build brand new affordable homes in Bingham and Parkview in North East Edinburgh. The Council-led developments – which will complete as early as Autumn 2021 – will be built by construction firm CCG (Scotland) Ltd. CCG has delivered a number of award-winning new homes for the Council at Leith Fort and in Greendykes and is also progressing a major development of affordable housing in Craigmillar, which received its first new tenants this summer. Both new sites promise to provide modern and energy efficient homes for social rent as part of Edinburgh’s ambitious 20,000 affordable homes target. In addition to delivering new homes, CCG will provide apprenticeships, engage with local schools and colleges and provide community investment funds in Bingham and Parkview. Construction is now underway in Bingham along Duddingston Row at the former home of Lismore Primary School. Work will also start at Parkview next month at Peffermill Road, the former site of the Parkview Care Home, bringing a derelict brownfield site back to life. The homes will benefit from improved energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint, saving residents on fuel bills, and will have access to high quality green space. Included in the design is a mix of one, two and three bed flats, colonies and houses, with 70 homes across the two sites (40 in Bingham, 30 in Parkview). Councillor Kate Campbell, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Every new social home counts because housing need is exceptional in Edinburgh – there’s nothing better than seeing council houses being built and knowing that it won’t be long until they become people’s homes. With so many families in need of a new home, and construction so important to our economic recovery from Covid-19, the homes and jobs being delivered by our ambitious house-building programme will make a real difference to people’s lives. “But we have to keep delivering more. We have 3,500 new homes in design development right now, with 800 homes already under construction across the city. Soon, we’ll be setting out our investment plans for the next 10 years, to make sure that we continue to provide much needed homes, create jobs and support local communities with tangible benefits like apprenticeships, community hubs, parks and improved public spaces.” Councillor Mandy Watt, Edinburgh’s Vice Housing and Economy Convener, added: “Everyone has the right to a safe, warm home. That’s why our strategy for the future is about investing more in our communities, upgrading our social housing and building thousands of new affordable homes in Edinburgh. “And it’s not just about bricks and mortar – we’re seeing other benefits and improvements that we can bring to local areas. These developments in Bingham and Parkview will benefit lots of people in many different ways. They’ll help to regenerate the area and provide better public realm, better greenspace and funding for neighbourhood projects. They’ll benefit the long-term future of our environment too, thanks to their low carbon footprint and focus on energy efficiency.” CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said: “CCG’s commitment to providing quality, energy efficient homes is a philosophy shared by the City of Edinburgh Council. Our partnership has continued to deliver a lasting legacy across the region by not only supporting the supply of new affordable homes but also creating jobs, apprenticeships and localised investment. “The commencement of Bingham and Parkview is another important milestone for us both and we look forward to working with the Council as we head into 2021 and beyond.” The £9.5m investment will be funded by the Council with £4.1m in grant funding from the Scottish Government.
The new acute assessment hub, designed by architects BDP and being constructed by Kier, recently received full planning permission A major milestone has been reached in a key project to transform and modernise critical care and assessment buildings and services at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. Main construction works on a new acute assessment hub that will include a new three-storey building for the therapies department have now begun. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, along with community and mental health services in Somerset, is one of 21 organisations expected to benefit from the Department of Health and Social Care’s hospital building programme, with potential funding of £450m. The next steps of the Trust’s ambitious plan – called Musgrove 2030 – will include a new maternity and children’s building and further development of its cancer and emergency services. This is in addition to the plans for a new surgical centre, acute assessment hub, therapies department and maternity refurbishments at the hospital. Designed by global architecture and engineering practice BDP‘s South West team and being delivered by contractor Kier, the acute assessment hub is a game changer for the hospital. It will include an admission hub for those patients who need to be admitted to hospital for additional care and a unit for those patients who require emergency treatment that can be delivered on the same day, without the need to be admitted to hospital overnight. The current surgical admissions unit is located in World War II ‘Nightingale’ style ward accommodation that is unsuitable for modern standards of care and is some distance from the surgical operating theatres. In the future, it will be included in the acute assessment hub, adjacent to the emergency department. This comes after the Trust secured full planning permission from the district council for both the acute assessment hub and surgical centre, which has also been designed by BDP, as well as NHS Improvement’s approval of the full business case for the acute assessment hub. Adrian Hitchcock, architect director at BDP, which also designed the hospital’s Jubilee Building that opened in 2014, said: “At a time when it is more important than ever to ensure healthcare services are fit for the future and adaptable, it’s excellent news that works are forging ahead at Musgrove Park Hospital to ensure their teams can deliver the very best care to their patients. “We are always looking to raise the bar in terms of devising innovative healthcare design that meets the needs of future generations and this approach is certainly illustrated in the projects we are undertaking at Musgrove Park. The acute assessment hub will mean significant improvements in the facilities for patients needing emergency assessment and streamlines access to treatment through the co-location of clinical services.” Dr Matthew Hayman, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s deputy chief medical officer, said: “I am very proud of the quality of care that my colleagues provide to our patients at Musgrove Park Hospital but some of these hospital services are housed in facilities that were built in the 1940s and are simply not good enough. “We are very excited by the improvements we can make to the care we provide and to our patients’ experience by planning and building modern state-of-the-art facilities that are optimally configured and placed alongside one another, which will enable us to improve how we deliver care to our patients.” The acute assessment centre is due to be complete in early 2022. BDP’s South West studio includes a specialist healthcare team who are responsible for the multi award-winning Southmead Hospital and Bristol’s Nightingale Hospital at the UWE Bristol Exhibition and Conference Centre. Indeed, nationally, BDP developed designs for most of the Nightingale temporary hospitals in England.
On Thursday 10th September 2020 the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) successfully staged its National Annual General Meeting (AGM) online for the first time in its 48-year history, with members agreeing to vote for all propositions. Members were invited to join some of BALI’s Landscape House team and Executive Board Directors, including, at the time, National Chairman Matt O’Conner and Vice Chairman Richard Kay, alongside Honorary Treasurer Richard Stone and Chief Executive Wayne Grills, for a 150-minute webinar which included over 60 minutes of presentations that followed the formal meeting. The event ran smoothly, with just under 40 members attending live on the day utilising sound technology that BALI invested in well before COVID-19 which allowed members to virtually cast their all-important votes on crucial Association matters. Some members who had sent apologies were still able to vote by proxy and their votes were received before the meeting and therefore included in the total counts. These included the adoption of the financial accounts for the year ending 31st March 2020 and the election of existing board directors who had offered to stand for re-election, including Design Director & Sustainability Director Rosemary Coldstream MBALI, a Registered Designer member of BALI, Governance Director Paul Downer of Registered Contractor Oak View Landscapes and Commercial Contracts Director Stuart Simpson of Registered Contractor Ashlea, who were all successfully re-elected. Long-serving Director Robert Field of Registered Contractor Robert Field Landscapes, who had previously held the position of National Chairman, decided to stand down from his duties on the board and did not seek re-election. BALI’s board of directors and the team at Landscape House extend their gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to Robert for his support and guidance over the numerous years he has served. Next on the agenda was the acceptance of the director’s recommendations to appoint a National Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Treasurer and Immediate Past Chairman. Richard Kay of Registered Affiliate Green-tech was successfully made National Chairman of the Association, replacing Matt O’Conner of Registered Contractor John O‘Conner Grounds Maintenance who was officially made Immediate Past Chairman. Nigel Bowcock of Registered Contractor Acre Landscapes was made Vice Chairman and Richard Stone of Registered Contractor Bawden Managed Landscapes will resume his role as Honorary Treasurer. The AGM culminated with the appointment of Adrian Wickham of Registered Affiliate Oracle Solicitors who has now joined BALI’s board of directors. Commenting on his appointment to the board, Adrian said: “I’m really proud to have been elected to join the BALI board. I can’t wait to get involved and to support the industry. Thank you to everyone who supported me.” On Twitter, Pete Jones of Registered Contractor Land Design Partnerships said: “Congratulations Adrian, a fantastic addition to the BALI board of directors, good luck in your new role.” Commenting on this year’s event, Wayne Grills said: “On behalf of the board of directors we are incredibly proud of the team at Landscape House for successfully hosting our first live AGM in this format. Members were impressed by the way in which the event was presented and took little time to comment on social media on how well it had gone. Although I missed the interaction with members in the room, I felt we managed to retain the essence of what an AGM is all about, giving our members a voice and a vote on their Association; how it’s run, who it’s run by and what our future direction should be. I would also like to thank Matt for his support and guidance over the last two years and congratulate Richard and Nigel for becoming Chair and Vice Chair respectfully. Finally, I would like to congratulate Adrian for his appointment to the board, a welcome addition of which we all approve.” Following the formal AGM, three speakers were invited to present, including the Royal Horticultural Society’s Director of Gardens and Shows Helena Pettit, Managing Director of Registered Affiliate Ecosulis Cain Blythe and Jason Pollock, Plant Health Regulation Lead and Trade Adviser from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Helena provided an update on the RHS’s plans for 2021. Cain focused on the subject of rewilding, which saw Registered Designer Jilayne Rickards MBALI say: “This is inspirational. Such a great speaker. I would like more information on how garden designers can help introduce rewilding in small urban garden settings” whilst Rachael Booth from Registered Affiliate Water Gems (Alba) added: “Great presentation, looking forward to having a chat with Cain after the AGM as we’re also working on a project called ‘Rewilding Roborough Fields’ in Devon so this couldn’t be better timed.” The final presentation was carried out by Jason whose comprehensive and detailed overview of the plant passporting regulations were well received.
The numbers behind the tiny homes movement make compelling evidence for these cost effective and flexible structures to be incorporated into UK housing strategy, claims British PVCu windows and doors manufacturer Euramax. The company is calling on Government to further discuss the potential of tiny homes and has highlighted that the structures have never been mentioned in parliament, despite housing having been debated 301 times in the last five years. “According to clean energy switching supplier The Switch, there were 8000 tiny homes built in the UK last year, which, while reflecting high levels of interest in the movement as an aspirational eco-housing goal, is not enough to help the Government meet its targets or reduce homelessness,” explained Nick Cowley, managing director of Euramax. Tiny homes can be described as residential buildings of less than 400 square feet, and typically feature compact stairs and reduced ceiling heights. They were defined in the 2018 International Residential Code, Appendix Q Tiny Houses and the movement was first named in 1997, in Sarah Susanka’s The Not So Big House. They are sustainable and mobile and have a low associated cost of ownership, manufacture, and installation. Advocates of tiny homes, such as the architect Mark Burton, believe they could provide lower debt living for students, a step back into housing for the homeless and affordable housing for people struggling to get into the property ladder. “The only legitimate way of solving our housing crisis is by combining off site built structures, such as tiny homes, as well as off site elements such as pre-built timber frames, pre-built extensions and others, with traditional building enhanced with Industry 4.0 smart technology,” continued Cowley. Government has only discussed the potential of ‘Offsite Manufactured Housing’ once, in 2017, in the House of Lords, after a question by Lord Kennedy of Southwark. However, the debate was side-tracked into a discussion on land banking, which refers to a property developer buying land and obtaining planning permission to build on it, only to leave it stagnant to artificially raise house prices in the area. “What is the Government prepared to do to further deal with the problem that supply is low because lenders cannot or will not routinely lend on such properties?” asked Lord Kennedy during the debate. “They [lenders] do not fully understand the risks, and builders will not build more of this type of housing because mortgage lending is in limited supply, as is home insurance. This type of building has the potential to help to solve the crisis, but more support is needed to help the sector.” Euramax has gathered the numbers behind the tiny homes movement into an infographic, which illustrates the potential of the movement to help solve the UK homes crisis.