Construction firm Beard has today begun the phased reopening of its offices, welcoming back staff who are struggling with the isolation of remote working. The move follows a successful week-long trial, with a range of safety measures implemented to ensure any risk of coronavirus infection is minimised. The majority of
Caddick Construction has been appointed to design and construct a new £5m Porsche centre, complete with workshops, MOT testing facility and offices to serve Cumbria and North Lancashire. Appointed by Porsche franchise holders Parker & Parker Limited, work has just begun on the new Porsche Centre South Lakes site, north
Clearview Developments, a boutique property company with headquarters in Surrey is excited to announce its development plans for Broadwater House in Royal Tunbridge Wells. The 19th century mansion, previously sub-divided into five units, has suffered from a lack of upkeep over the years. Proposals are to completely refurbish the existing
I could give you a hundred ways to make a germaphobe cry. But none would probably be as devastating as forcing one to use a public restroom. It would probably take a special kind of emergency to make a germaphobe even consider using one. And just when he made his
Birmingham-based Urban Village Capital has overcome the obstacles of lockdown to deliver full completion of its latest luxury £14m apartment development. Knight’s House, a stunning nine-floor former office block in affluent Sutton Coldfield, features a total of 63 apartments – including 12 penthouses, and continues the company’s upward spiral and
Construction and civil engineering specialist GRAHAM is celebrating a double win at the national Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Awards 2020. The contractor scooped the Fosroc Engineering Award, before then being named as the Overall Winner of the CIHT Awards 2020, both of which were for its work
The DAYCO interview… With all four brands in the Fexco Property Services group relying on the services of external suppliers and contractors, we knew that for many, maintaining operations during COVID19 was never going to be simple or easy. We spoke to one of our approved contractors to get their
Connex Offsite, specialists in the manufacture of high-end modular bathroom pods announced a three million pound contract, to supply luxury modular bathroom pods to London property developer, Mount Anvil. The contract will see the Newry based manufacturer export their residential bathroom pods to Mount Anvil’s Royal Eden Docks development, an
The second of Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation’s e-Roadshow events on Realising Resilience put the spotlight on Wales, where it is now a statutory requirement to have SuDS in place to manage on-site surface water. All three guest speakers, from the worlds of local authorities, architecture and planning, expressed the
While you may think that the construction industry has stayed pretty much the same over the years, with similar systems and processes in place, you would be wrong. Over the past few decades, technological advances in construction-based systems have completely honed and revolutionised the industry. From greatly enhancing productivity to
Construction firm Beard has today begun the phased reopening of its offices, welcoming back staff who are struggling with the isolation of remote working. The move follows a successful week-long trial, with a range of safety measures implemented to ensure any risk of coronavirus infection is minimised. The majority of office-based employees will continue to work from home, in line with the guidance from government, but conversations with staff members have revealed that some feel they would benefit from the interaction of an office environment. More than 90 per cent of Beard sites remained operational throughout the ‘lockdown’ period and work has already resumed on all others. The lessons learned from adapting working practices on site have been instrumental in enabling the firm to reopen its offices safely. A dedicated project manager has been appointed for each of the firm’s offices in Swindon, Guildford, Oxford and Bristol. They have overseen the process of ensuring that staff can return to the office safely. Those wishing to do so have all signed a declaration that they have not experienced symptoms of Covid-19 and complete an induction on the safety measures they need to be aware of. Beard has also prepared a short video for staff to help them with the new working arrangements, and this has been made available via the firm’s YouTube channel: Clear signage has been put up in all buildings to help staff to keep a two-metre distance at all times, with provision for a rota system to ensure reduced occupancy. Other safety measures include a ban on the use of meeting rooms, with meetings continuing to be held remotely where possible, and in open areas when absolutely necessary, while maintaining social distancing. Mike Hedges, director of Beard’s Bristol office and with overall responsibility for health and safety, commented: “The health and wellbeing of our staff is our top priority. We are not requiring anyone to return to the office but we know from talking to staff that there are some – particularly those who live alone – for whom full-time remote working has been challenging. “Mental wellbeing is every bit as important as physical health. We want to do our utmost to cater for the varied needs our colleagues have, while ensuring they are protected from unnecessary risk of infection. “It has been particularly valuable in achieving this to draw on the experiences of colleagues who have continued to work on site. They have performed minor miracles in adapting to safer working practices to protect against Covid-19 and the firm is extremely grateful to them for their efforts.”
Caddick Construction has been appointed to design and construct a new £5m Porsche centre, complete with workshops, MOT testing facility and offices to serve Cumbria and North Lancashire. Appointed by Porsche franchise holders Parker & Parker Limited, work has just begun on the new Porsche Centre South Lakes site, north of Kellet Road, Carnforth, with easy access to the M6. The new centre and all external works are due to be completed in the summer of 2021. The multi-million-pound project signals the continued long-term investment and strengthening position of the German luxury sports car brand in the North West. The new showroom and facilities encompasses 1618²m in total and will have the capacity to display the full range of the luxury car brand including: the 911, 718, Taycan, Panamera, Cayenne and Macan. The state-of-the-art centre will be completed with a plush handover lounge, meeting rooms and employee facilities. Caddick Contract Project Manager Derek Billows said: “This is a very exciting project and the team are focused on delivering an exceptional showroom and other facilities that will be a fitting home for such an aspirational car brand.” Ian Parker, Director of Porsche Centre South Lakes, added: “Caddick Construction has a long track record working with Porsche franchises across the North and we believe their quality and attention to detail mirrors our own exceptionally high standards. This purpose-built Centre ensures we can offer a first-class service in first-class surroundings, something our clients have come to expect over the years from us and Porsche in this region.” Caddick Construction and Caddick Civil Engineering are the operational arms of Caddick Group Plc. Offering more than 35 years’ experience across a range of market sectors including commercial, education, industrial, leisure, refurbishment, residential, care, retail, mixed use and fit out. Architect and Principal Designer for the project is Axis 3 Design Limited with structural engineering provided by Cumbrian-based R G Parkins & Partners Limited.
Clearview Developments, a boutique property company with headquarters in Surrey is excited to announce its development plans for Broadwater House in Royal Tunbridge Wells. The 19th century mansion, previously sub-divided into five units, has suffered from a lack of upkeep over the years. Proposals are to completely refurbish the existing building whilst also adding an extension that is in-keeping to create 14 tastefully designed one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments. With completion due in Q1 2021, the approved work will entail red brick banding, bringing back one of the mansion’s key architectural details. Furthermore, Clearview Developments will install timber-sashed windows that are in keeping with the originals, whilst authentic timber fasciae will also be reinstated. Finally, a new conservatory will be constructed in the position of the original conservatory, reintroducing yet another part of the original building. Jason Tema, Director at Clearview Developments, comments: “With high demand for housing in the local area, it is our priority to find existing properties that can be transformed into modern homes for today’s discerning buyer. We have previously redeveloped The Old Bank on London Road, which was a well-received project. With Broadwater House, we want to create something equally special and are absolutely delighted to have been given planning permission. The property has true potential to be transformed into an attractive home for families and downsizers alike but also professionals, who seek access to good transport links. As builder-developers with our own in-house construction arm, we are incredibly proud to be able to deliver an unrivalled premium quality.” …/ Once completed, residents will be able to enjoy bright and spacious interiors that celebrate the property’s history with neutral colour schemes, reinstated ornamental ceilings, decorative stucco and floor-to-ceiling windows.Upon entry, the carefully restored wooden entrance doors open up to the building’s foyer, greeting guests with stunning interior detailing that’s being brought back to life. This includes a newly installed staircase in the position where the original staircase was likely sited as well as the retention of some of the original fireplaces. The newly built apartments, which are spread across three floors, will mirror the style and design of the original building, whilst offering all the modern conveniences of 21st century living. In addition, buyers can choose from two furniture packages that offer comfort with a balanced colour palette. Located within a conservation area, Broadwater House will spoil its residents with unrivalled tranquillity and direct access to the nearby flora and fauna as Broadwater Down features the only official, public entrance to the adjacent Hargate Forest. The forest is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and was once part of the great medieval forests of the Sussex High Weald. To this day, nature lovers can admire an incredible diversity of plants and wildlife as well as stunning views over the surrounding countryside. Similar can be said for Broadwater House itself, which will feature beautifully landscaped communal gardens. As much as Broadwater House’s location is in close proximity to nature, it offers equally convenient access to the hustle and bustle of the local community. The Pantiles shopping district and village area with its variety of boutique shops, restaurants, cafés and theatres is a 5-minute drive away. Those requiring regular access to London, benefit from Royal Tunbridge Wells’ railway station being a mere 10-minute drive away. The station is serviced by regular direct trains that reach London Bridge and Charing Cross stations within 60 minutes. Families will appreciate that Broadwater Down offers a choice of nearby, highly-regarded schools, including The Mead and Rose Hill preparatory schools. Further educational institutions include Holmewood House preparatory school in Langton Green, the boys’ and girls’ grammar schools in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge as well as independent secondary schools in Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Mayfield. Broadwater Down’s lifestyle offerings are as impressive as its history. Archives reveal that in 1448, the Neville family inherited the Eridge Park Estate which covered the area later known as Broadwater Down. The estate and the Neville family had strong ties with the Crown and it is believed that Henry VII often hunted within the Estate, whilst Queen Elizabeth I is thought to have spent six days there in 1573. In 1787, Henry Neville, the 2nd Earl of Abergavenny, started construction of Eridge Castle in the Gothic style. Enhancement works were continued throughout the post-medieval period with walks and carriage drives, construction of follies and the rebuilding of old workers cottages. …/ Finally, during the 1850 and 1860’s, William the 4th Earl of Abergavenny, decided to improve the area with the aid of developer George Mansfield. At the time, Royal Tunbridge Wells had grown to be a favoured resort town for wealthy upper and middle-class families after it was thought that the local springs had healing properties. This even led to visits from the Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on a number of occasions. The objective of William the 4th and Mansfield was to build 46 mansions on Broadwater Down that meet the requirements of the wealthy upper and middle-class families. 46 Broadwater House was thereby the very first property that was built as part of this scheme. Prior to construction, the area was dominated by woodland and Broadwater Down was little more than a trackway. Those interested in the new apartments at Broadwater House are invited to contact Clearview Developments on 03334442220 or visit www.broadwaterhouse.com. Prices start from £400,000.
I could give you a hundred ways to make a germaphobe cry. But none would probably be as devastating as forcing one to use a public restroom. It would probably take a special kind of emergency to make a germaphobe even consider using one. And just when he made his way to the bathroom partition, he’d probably run out screaming before he could do his business. The life of a germaphobe is difficult but with society forcing us to share each other’s utility, there has to be a way to get out of all this madness. In this article you are going to have to toughen up as we talk about the things that will make your stomach churn. Somewhere over the Bathroom Partitions As the most observant of you may already notice, I am a germaphobe myself and these words speak to me more deeply than I how I take my breath before I walk into a crowd of strangers. There are two things you would always find in my bag, if they were not on my hands already and that is a bag of wet wipes and an alcohol spray. There are times that I wished that I could bathe in purell and douse myself in lysol. Except that it would kill me along with all the germs and bacteria but that did not stop me from considering it. When I was younger, when people were debating which the best romance movie character was or which player was the best, I was busy doing important work. And that was to educate my fellow kids about the dangers that germs pose. For instance, I would talk to them in length about how the ten-second rule is pure bogus. That did not stop Jeremy from eating that baloney sandwich however. That still gives me nightmares to this day. And for that reason, and my qualifications as a lifetime germaphobe crusader, I will teach you how to conquer your public restroom fears. Let us find out what is beyond those bathroom partitions. Of course, I know that I have science on my side. Not that the smell, sight, sound and everything about the public bathroom are not proof enough, but having the scientists’ backing is a big deal. Research suggests that the public bathrooms ranks among the worst places in terms of diseases that you may catch. So, yes Sheila, the public bathroom will indeed kill me. The worst discovery from that research is that the bacteria that lingers in the bathroom can remain there for months. That is more than 30 days worth of bacteria piling up upon each other in a confined space. Think about how many breaths that you take in while you are there doing your business. The paranoia is real and it is justified. The Inevitable Bathroom Partition Encounter Before we dive right into a germaphobe’s survival tactics, let us get one thing straight. Germaphobia is real and having one does not mean you are crazy. The discussion about phobia as a mental disorder is a long trip down a rabbit hole that I am not willing to get into in this article. But, for the sake of argument, let us put all of these aside for a bit. I have the worst bladder and an even more terrible digestive system. Of course that is false but, really, not by much. Having that condition meant I had to use the bathroom more than the lucky ones. And combine that with being a germaphobe means I have my work cut out for me. Because of this, I have gathered enough experience to devise surefire ways to survive your trip to the public bathroom. The real lesson here is the public bathroom is inevitable, tiny bladder or not. Everyone has to go at the most inopportune times at some point. Noone is special enough to be exempt from this predicament. The Best Bathroom Partition You are probably already convulsing over being made to choose between a wall and a hard place. So let me unstuck you. Not all public restrooms are the same and some can actually be quite decent, for a public restroom that is. As a seasoned veteran of the art of public bathroom sleuthing, I can tell you that it takes time and courage before you can hone your own skills as well. I divided public bathrooms into four categories and you will know each one as we go. The first type of public bathroom is what I call the hard-pass bathroom. Because you cannot get away fast enough away from that place. You probably already have an idea what kind of public bathroom I am talking about. Think of it like the public bathroom of public bathrooms, like the ones on a New York subway. If you could not drag yourself to use the subway, then there is no chance that you would use their bathroom and that is a fact. Consider crossing off these no-no bathrooms in your public bathroom list. Unless you are absolutely out of options, it would be better for you to just battle on until you find a better public bathroom. The second type is good enough, but not quite. These ones are what you would rather avoid if you have other choices but it would not make you convulse to be there for a minute or two. If you need to do business taking longer than that, then this bathroom is not for you. Generally, we classify bathrooms of common use but private bathrooms in this category. These include your cafeteria bathrooms, the one in movie theaters, and other similar facilities. And lastly, the public bathrooms that are worth noting are the fancy ones that take their sanitation seriously. You can be sure that you are entering one by being greeted by a strong chemical smell from the bleach and other cleaning agents. Some people do not like the smell, but if you are a germaphobe like
Birmingham-based Urban Village Capital has overcome the obstacles of lockdown to deliver full completion of its latest luxury £14m apartment development. Knight’s House, a stunning nine-floor former office block in affluent Sutton Coldfield, features a total of 63 apartments – including 12 penthouses, and continues the company’s upward spiral and ambition to be a major player in the private rental sector. Having announced practical completion in November, Urban Village Group has had to negotiate the issues posed by the COVID-19 lockdown before being able to open up the rental market. While the finishing touches were completed to the property during the lockdown, Urban Village Group offered two-months rent-free accommodation to NHS workers serving in Birmingham’s hospitals during the height of the COVID-19 crisis. Knight’s House adds to the company’s growing portfolio of build-to-rent developments, which also includes The Old Arts School House in Sutton Coldfield. Urban Village Capital plans to add a further 247 apartments next year having recent purchased a landmark office block in the Yardley area of Birmingham. Urban Village Group are pioneering the conversion of unloved former commercial buildings and turning them into desirable living spaces, which is aiding the UK government’s push for 300,000 new homes every year. Birmingham has been identified as a key location for the government’s plans as it looks to create a Commonwealth Games Legacy. The city is hosting the games in 2022. Urban Village Capital chief executive Nick Sellman said: “Knight’s House is a stunning addition to the Birmingham residential rental market. “The final couple of months of the development did pose one or two challenges, but nothing that we haven’t been able to overcome to add this development to our growing list of properties. “We are continually sourcing and developing tired properties to transform them into highly-desirable living spaces. There is a huge demand for quality properties across Birmingham and we are playing a key role in delivering those homes and helping the government achieve its ambitious targets.” Urban Village Capital made use of the government’s housing rules allowing existing offices to be built upwards to increase housing stock. Consequently, Knight’s House was increased from seven to nine floors to accommodate the new penthouses. The property features spacious one or two-bedroom stylish apartments, which will meet the needs of today’s modern professionals. Each apartment offers premium designer kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms and come with chrome fittings and laminate wood flooring. One of the key innovations in the building is the addition of hyperoptic broadband, which delivers connection speeds of up to 1GB. The superfast connectivity is expected to have huge appeal to those professionals have the desire and capability to work-from-home after the lockdown. New tenants will be able to benefit from an exclusive broadband package, while tenants taking a 12-month lease will qualify for one month’s free broadband. Viewings are now available and can be arranged via residential lettings agent Centrick. Contact them via email birmingham@centrick.co.uk or call 0121 347 6116. The development also includes a restaurant and office suite.
Construction and civil engineering specialist GRAHAM is celebrating a double win at the national Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Awards 2020. The contractor scooped the Fosroc Engineering Award, before then being named as the Overall Winner of the CIHT Awards 2020, both of which were for its work on Carpenter’s Land Bridge, a project that connects London’s East Bank to its International Quarter. The CIHT Awards is an annual global competition that celebrate innovative work, what it takes to be the best and the incredible benefits that the highways and transportation sector and its work bring to society. Carpenter’s Land Bridge is a vital pedestrian and cycle bridge that links the £1.1 billion East Bank culture and education district on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to International Quarter London. The project saw GRAHAM’s civil engineering teams design and install a 66m long steel bridge, formed of a portal frame and bearings, a concrete cill beam and bearings within an existing retaining wall structure, that crosses both Network Rail and Docklands Light Railways lines. The bridge was designed using Business Information Modelling software, consisting of both object-oriented 3D geometrical and non-graphical data, which was updated throughout the course of the project. Judges at the CIHT Awards praised the scheme, stating they were particularly impressed with GRAHAM’s creative approach to design and implementation. Judges stated: “The innovative solution, using off site fabrication and novel construction techniques provided a potential model for others to follow.” They added that there “were significant benefits in delivering during a constrained time window with large social values for the community and business.” On being named winners at the awards, Leo Martin, GRAHAM’s Managing Director of Civil Engineering, said: “It is a great honour to receive not just one, but two prestigious CIHT Awards for our work at the Carpenter’s Land Bridge. I would like to thank our project team for the dedication and commitment that was essential to completing the scheme on schedule and to budget. “The team went the extra mile on this project, taking advantage of the rail network shutdown to minimise disruption, and installing the bridge during overnight works on Christmas Eve, working into Christmas Day morning to ensure our programme was met.” Leo added: “Collaboration, as always, was also key to the delivery of this scheme and I’d like to thank our clients at the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), our partners COWI designers and Briton Fabricators, MACE – the LLDC’s project management partner and principal contractor for the East Bank development, and all the stakeholders involved in the work for making this a success. The CIHT Awards are a highlight of the industry’s calendar and to be recognised at them is a fantastic achievement.” The CIHT Awards were announced at a virtual awards ceremony on the 23rd June. For more information on the awards and to view the full winners list visit: https://www.ciht.org.uk/events-listing/featured-events/ciht-awards/
The DAYCO interview… With all four brands in the Fexco Property Services group relying on the services of external suppliers and contractors, we knew that for many, maintaining operations during COVID19 was never going to be simple or easy. We spoke to one of our approved contractors to get their perspective on how life has changed for their business, and what predictions they had for ‘business as usual’ in the future. Stephen Day and Tom Lloyd are Directors of Dayco, a property maintenance services company who supply a wide range of services from electrical, decorating, cleaning and general maintenance repairs to major works. Tom was originally the founder of Lloyds Cleaning & Maintenance Services Ltd, providing maintenance services to property management companies, until he merged his company with Dayco. Steve (CEO) and Tom (COO) shared their experiences and key insights into how their business had to adapt to not only keep business running but keep their staff safe as lockdown took hold on the Nation. Q: What was your reaction to the lockdown when it was initially announced? We noticed trends and patterns across the business that emerged immediately it was announced, but I have to say we saw changes approaching before lockdown so Tom and I had already put a strategy plan in place that would focus on emergency works, putting non-essential small scale works on hold. As Boris announced lockdown, we immediately had an influx of messages from suppliers of materials and parts, who reacted by closing their doors. Two days later and with further clarity they partially opened, but only for ‘click and collect’. This did ease the problem, however, we then had to negotiate long queues which meant that simple repairs that should have been a quick job, such as changing a tap washer now takes twice as long. Q: Has stress on the supply chain affected you? Yes, it has, with large builder’s merchants started to struggle with not having enough stock, as larger warehouses were not getting supplies in, and as a result, some have since closed down. One noticeable product affected by this was wall plaster, which rapidly became hard to find. Supply & demand has generally created cost issues and prices have noticeably risen across many items. Cleaning supplies have obviously been in extremely high demand even with price rises on essential products and materials. Q: Have any of your services been affected? Indeed, some have, most notably with our cleaning services. Regular cleans turned into major cleaning tasks (or deep cleans) which meant that we had to provide protective clothing and products to our staff, not all of whom were comfortable wearing restrictive PPE. In general, we think preparation time scales were not realistic and with the demand for cleaning equipment and clothing etc being so high it meant some changes to our business – at the time the lockdown came, we were running around 80 cleaning contracts. You couldn’t set up a contract with a new supplier as demand was too great – it limited who we could buy from, but we had to ensure that all of our workers were complying to the government guidelines and issued with the right protective equipment and clothing. Q: Has this had an impact on your business? It has to a degree; whilst the cleaning contracts have thrived due to high demand, our maintenance contacts have reduced somewhat. Cleaning contracts generate less profit but with the volume of contracts increasing we have maintained margins and ensured business continuity. Q: What changes have you had to implement? Several changes were made almost immediately because we had already discussed a plan that we could roll out if necessary, which included putting provisions in place to set people up to work from home – which we did straight away with some of our office staff. We had to reassess the company’s financial status – financial holidays, furloughs etc. to protect the business, and we also had to change our entire assessment for working on site. Q: How important is H&S? H&S is a major part of what we do – so it certainly became a main focus in the early days of lockdown, we had to ensure everything was in line with government guidelines and we were fully prepared to keep our clients, the public and staff safe. As well as our in-house H&S team we work closely with an independent H&S consultant firm which has been a big help. How to interpret the information as it constantly changes and processing the changes into correct procedures has taken a lot of time. We needed ideas and strategies to adapt and having those resources to hand has played a massive part in helping us to make the right changes. Q: What have you done for your clients? We’ve had to install Perspex screens at concierge desks. We’ve put in road barriers and other measures to instruct social distancing, as well as full sanitisation services where we can. We’ve worked on a number of sites with confirmed COVID cases, but the Property Managers have been very good at keeping us informed at all times. We set up a special sanitisation team to provide a reactive service where ‘deep cleans’ were instructed – as soon as we were advised we would go in and carry out full sanitation clean. We have ramped up this service to accommodate the client’s needs. Q: How have your staff reacted to the change? Staff have generally been ok with the changes. Before lockdown, there were whispers about people stopping work and some operatives felt uncomfortable about working with the threat of the virus all around. We decided pretty quickly that we would not enforce working on site for anyone who decided the risk was too great. By the end of March we assessed the workload situation and any issues arising from staff concerns, providing a statement to staff about being able to work from home and since then Teams and Zoom have
Connex Offsite, specialists in the manufacture of high-end modular bathroom pods announced a three million pound contract, to supply luxury modular bathroom pods to London property developer, Mount Anvil. The contract will see the Newry based manufacturer export their residential bathroom pods to Mount Anvil’s Royal Eden Docks development, an area in East London that is set to re-emerge as a globally significant commercial, cultural and residential centre. Connex is aggressively targeting new business throughout the UK, viewing the residential market as having major scope for future expansion. In the next two months, the firm will recruit staff for a variety of roles including joiners, operations managers, designers, general labourers and tilers, to meet their rapidly growing order book. Brendan Doherty, Managing Director of Connex Offsite said: “We are delighted to be working with Mount Anvil, one of the leading property developers in London, with thirty years of construction history in the city under their belts. “Mount Anvil recognised the high quality of our pods and standard of service from recent major projects we have delivered in Central London and decided our product was a perfect fit for their supply chain requirements. “We have seen huge growth in recent months and I believe the Covid-19 crisis has been the catalyst for a shift to modular construction. Off-site manufacturing is being embraced by the industry because of the restrictions on the level of labour on site. Because our pods are completely finished in a controlled environment, shrink wrapped on the factory floor and shipped to the construction site, we are reducing the numbers of trades required on site.” Connex launched two years ago, with a £1.2 million investment, and due to a significant increase in production, will move into its new £2.5millionfacility ahead of time, in August 2020.
The second of Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation’s e-Roadshow events on Realising Resilience put the spotlight on Wales, where it is now a statutory requirement to have SuDS in place to manage on-site surface water. All three guest speakers, from the worlds of local authorities, architecture and planning, expressed the view that you must plan for SuDS, and now green urbanisation, from the outset to achieve the best outcomes. “The principal advice from every speaker was that you must consider SuDS at the design stage if you want to achieve the desired aesthetic, resilience and biodiversity outcomes,” explained Sean Robinson, Polypipe Civils’s Specification Director, who hosted the event. “You can’t simply plan a development and then tack on a SuDS element as an afterthought.” Matt Bradley, National Specification Manager, Civils & Landscape, opened proceedings with an explanation of how Polypipe’s green urbanisation approach can ‘hardwire green assets into the SuDS solution’. He also emphasised the importance of collaboration throughout the design process. “The benefits of green urbanisation can’t be realised by one body on its own,” he said. “You need early engagement between stakeholders and manufacturers because cooperation is the key to success.” The notion that approvals from the SuDS Approval Body (SAB) added time and cost to development got short shrift from Ian Titherington, SAB Officer for Cardiff City Council. “It’s an urban myth,” he declared. “If you get the SAB officers engaged early in the design then it will be cheaper and faster to design, get approved and get built.” Both Ian and the next speaker, Kathryn Williams of Kew Planning, pointed out that this legislation covers virtually all construction – even down to a residential extension or patio. Kathryn argued that not only was this far too wide-ranging but also the whole process needed amending to be fair and workable in order to promote more SuDS schemes. For his part the third speaker, architect Noel Isherwood, saw the new requirement as encouraging a rethink in housing development design, with SuDS helping to mitigate the dominance that highways has always had. “Incorporating green urbanisation into a housing scheme means that densities can be higher but without sacrificing amenity. Interstitial areas can be transformed as places where people can meet and spend time. No longer are amenity areas just bits of land that are left over at the end of the design,” he said. “The beauty of SuDS is that highways is no longer the major driver for developments, so we can explore better ways of designing the built environment. It becomes all about placemaking, rather than the car.” Polypipe’s next Realising Resilience e-Roadshow on 30 June examines Green Urbanisation in the context of Birmingham and is entitled Planning and Development to Enhance Health and Wellbeing. Realising Resilience events centred on London and Scotland follow on 7 July and 14 July respectively. All of the guest speaker presentations for the Wales e- Realising Resilience e-Roadshow event can be viewed at https://www.polypipe.com/news For information on the full programme and details of how to register visit: – https://www.polypipe.com/roadshow-2020 Pic caption: Trees deliver the greatest multi-functional benefits across the spectrum of green urbanisation applications at roof podium and pavement level.
While you may think that the construction industry has stayed pretty much the same over the years, with similar systems and processes in place, you would be wrong. Over the past few decades, technological advances in construction-based systems have completely honed and revolutionised the industry. From greatly enhancing productivity to improving safety measures, technology has – and continues to – play a huge role in the growth of the industry. But how I hear you ask? Well, that’s what this article is here to look at – in particular, assessing how training and safety have both improved as a result of implementing technological advances. Augmented & Virtual Reality Back in 2016, approximately 20% of worker deaths were found to be construction-related incidents, demonstrating just how important effective safety training and measures can be. Since then, advances in virtual reality (VR) have already started to make a strong impact on lowering this number of deaths, by enabling workers to familiarise themselves with potentially dangerous situations in a perfectly safe virtual environment. Say, for instance, if a trainee needs to learn how to dismount heavy plastic barriers from the back of a lorry. Using a VR-based system, scenarios can now be produced to teach said trainee the right way to respond, depending on the exact circumstance. Having already been used for many years by flight schools, medical schools and the military, VR simulators can be utilised in various ways to train workers on how to carry out precise operations – whether that be operating cranes or doing masonry work. Augmented reality (AR), on the other hand, can greatly improve safety in an entirely different way. Whether it be producing detailed safety plans or providing expert training, there are several different ways in which AR can be utilised within the construction industry. For example, workers could have augmented safety checklists, specific to each task, pop up on a display integrated into a smart hard hat or safety goggles. This will then remind them to make sure they are wearing to proper personal protective equipment, and carry out any checks required to perform tasks safely. Safety managers can also have the opportunity to monitor exactly what their workers are doing, walking them through tasks whenever they need assistance. Wearables Wearables are pretty much everywhere nowadays and the construction industry is no different; workers are now being fitted with smart tech capable of monitoring their working environment and improving their on-site safety. The wearables that workers are now being told to wear have a wide array of smart features able to track their movements, repetitive motions and any slips, falls or injuries they might have. These smart devices embed into the personal protective equipment they are already familiar with, meaning using them shouldn’t disrupt their ability to work. However, that’s not all. The rise of smart clothing in recent years has revolutionised the construction industry in terms of assessing the overall health of workers. Being able to monitor vital signs like respiration rate, skin temperature, and heart rate can make it easy to pinpoint whether a worker is suffering from fatigue or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This can then enable safety managers or health professionals to step in before an accident occurs. Site Sensors As we’ve already mentioned, keeping construction sites as safe as possible is imperative to ensuring the protection of workers. With this in mind, site sensors can now be deployed across construction sites to take measurements of the dust level, the temperature and the noise level, in order to control and prevent potentially harmful exposure. These sensors can be mounted throughout the entire construction site, immediately alerting workers when they are most at risk of being exposed to potential danger. The sensors then relay the data they record back to the site safety manager, who can then make the necessary changes required to ensure their workers’ safety. Final thoughts… Ensuring the safety of construction workers is absolutely imperative but, thankfully, advances in technology are helping us do just that. Whether it be through improving on-site safety, training procedures or identifying health-related issues, technology will continue to play a more and more pivotal role in the life and role of a construction worker as time moves on. Watch this space.