The redevelopment of Fleming Way in Swindon to create a new bus interchange, cycleways and public open space will see the installation of 150 semi-mature trees and 20,000 shrubs. Set to open in late summer 2025, the new space will transform the former carriageway and unwelcoming underpass into a new
Leading housing association Bromford has invested in a state-of-the-art piece of cleaning equipment as part of its commitment to creating cleaner, safer communities. This advanced, hand-held tool will allow the housing association to quickly and efficiently tackle stubborn marks on walls and floors, even in hard to reach areas. The
A range of Häfele architectural ironmongery has been used in the transformation of 15 Old Bailey into Hyde London City, a new £34.3 million lifestyle hotel developed by OB Capital and operated by Ennismore. Set within a Grade II listed building, Hyde London City blends heritage with bohemian elegance with
Matt Shufflebottom joins leading team to support continued growth CBRE has appointed leading North West office sector expert, Matt Shufflebottom, as Director within its Manchester Office Agency team. Matt joins after nine years with Knight Frank, where he was a Partner. He brings more than a decade of expertise within
Award Winning Fit Out Specialist Selects NFU Mutual’s Manchester Office Scheme For New Manchester HQ Award winning fit out specialist, Overbury, has selected NFU Mutual’s flagship Chancery Place office building in the central business district, as its new Manchester HQ. Overbury is one of the UK’s leading fit out specialists, operating nationally on
Everton has appointed OCS, a global leader in facilities management, to provide integrated facilities management services at the Club’s new stadium. OCS, who currently have around 8,000 clients across the UK, Europe, the Asian-Pacific and Middle East regions, have signed a five-year agreement for facilities management solutions for Everton Stadium,
Metal rainscreen specialist, Spanwall Façades, has delivered its latest cladding project in partnership with Alucraft, which demonstrates the application of MMC and offsite principles to façade design and construction. Fifteen George’s Quay is a prime commercial building overlooking the River Liffey in Dublin which has been transformed by developers IPUT
McLaughlin & Harvey have been awarded the main construction works at a major new green transport initiative in Dundee. McLaughlin & Harvey have been awarded the main construction works at a major new green transport initiative in Dundee. Councillors accepted their £11.1m bid for the main contract works on Friday.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced that it will receive the support of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program to enable the storage, preservation, and accessibility of digital items within its world-class architectural collections. The RIBA collections – one of the largest and most wide-ranging architectural collections
As part of National Highways’ National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme, WJ Group has helped install 22 new refuge bays between junctions 21a and 26 of the M6 using its latest coloured surfacing product. The NEAR scheme introduced by National Highways aims to reduce the distance between emergency refuge bays
The redevelopment of Fleming Way in Swindon to create a new bus interchange, cycleways and public open space will see the installation of 150 semi-mature trees and 20,000 shrubs. Set to open in late summer 2025, the new space will transform the former carriageway and unwelcoming underpass into a new gateway through the town centre. RSK Group company Crowders Nurseries, working with Ainsty Timber Marketing on behalf of Swindon Borough Council, is sourcing the trees, shrubs and perennial plants that will transform Fleming Way. The vision for the regeneration works is to create a new main gateway for the town centre, offering a vibrant future for Swindon. To achieve this, Crowders has specifically sourced planting, designed by landscape designers Hyland Edgar Driver (HED), that will provide long-term benefits, including reducing the town’s carbon emissions, offering year-round interest to the public and encouraging wildlife to thrive. Overseeing the project from Crowders, Danny Green said: “To support the vision for the Fleming Way redevelopment, 150 trees, 20,000 shrubs and perennial plants and 100 metres of instant hedging have been sourced, ready for planting over the winter. These include various multi-stemmed specimen trees, including Tibetan cherry trees (Prunus serrula ‘Tibetica’) and Himalayan birch trees (Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’), offering visual impact to the whole scheme while providing new habitats for local wildlife. “The plants were all selected based on their ability to absorb carbon, which contributes to cleaner air in Swindon town centre. Shrubs including Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’, a vibrant orange branched shrub, was chosen for its ability to capture carbon while surviving in dry environmental conditions. Autumn berries including the crab apple (Malus ‘Evereste’) and bird cherry (Prunus padus) have also been selected.” Planting large urban areas comes with its challenges, as Danny explained. “Part of the plans include an Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ elm tree as a feature tree in the Northern Parade between Newbridge Square and Unity Place. This particular variety of tree is resistant to diseases such as Dutch elm disease, which can have a devastating impact on elm populations. These trees are grown by only a small number of licensed nurseries in the UK and Europe, and sourcing one at 9 metres tall, which had to be crane-lifted into its bed, has been a challenge. Once settled, the tree will be a strong focal point and feature in the new space. “Medium-sized trees bring the scale of the planting down to provide a light and more human aspect with the surrounding plazas. For the central space, sustainable drainage solution (SuDS) areas and Betul (birch), Alnus (alder) and Salix (willow) trees were chosen to create a light canopy that ends near pedestrian crossings where a series of large and medium-sized trees (Prunus (ornamental cherry), Sorbus (mountain ash) and Tilia (linden)) were chosen to provide interest to pollinators and to increase ecological value. Overall, the mix of species used on Fleming Way is showcasing how far we have come from a traditional ‘avenue’: it has given way to a more biodiverse, climate-resilient approach that mimics that of many natural ecosystems.” Swindon Borough Council Project Manager Liam Hill-Davis said: “As we move into the final stages of delivering this challenging project, the full scale of the betterment to the public realm is really beginning to be seen. What was once a rather bleak and uninviting space is being transformed with the introduction of semi-mature trees and large areas of planting; new benches, cycle infrastructure and bus shelters will make Fleming Way a much improved area to use for residents and visitors to the town. The opening in the summer will be great, just as the plant life is at its best.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading housing association Bromford has invested in a state-of-the-art piece of cleaning equipment as part of its commitment to creating cleaner, safer communities. This advanced, hand-held tool will allow the housing association to quickly and efficiently tackle stubborn marks on walls and floors, even in hard to reach areas. The investment is particularly welcome in areas like Staple Hill, where concerns about anti-social behaviour have been raised by customers and where Bromford’s place-based approach is currently in action. Launched in August, the place-based approach brings together a team of neighbourhood coaches, engineers, and landscapers to collaborate and address local issues swiftly and effectively. By enabling teams to test new solutions, this approach has strengthened Bromford’s ability to respond to customer feedback and improve neighbourhoods. Kevin Johnson, Cleaning, Waste and Pest Control Programme Manager, highlighted the importance of this investment, saying, “This is a significant investment for us and will bring cleaning into the 21st century. We’re taking back lots of the services that would normally be contracted out, so we get more value for money and more control over what we do. It also gives colleagues the chance to train so they can progress through the cleaning directorate.” Bringing cleaning services in-house is expected to deliver faster response times and higher-quality outcomes. Beyond its practical benefits, the new machine underlines Bromford’s dedication to enhancing the overall appearance of its communities, reducing anti-social behaviour, and meeting the needs of its customers. As Bromford continues to roll out its place-based approach, this investment will play a key role in maintaining and improving homes and neighbourhoods, contributing to safer, more welcoming environments for everyone. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A range of Häfele architectural ironmongery has been used in the transformation of 15 Old Bailey into Hyde London City, a new £34.3 million lifestyle hotel developed by OB Capital and operated by Ennismore. Set within a Grade II listed building, Hyde London City blends heritage with bohemian elegance with 111 exquisitely designed guestrooms, each showcasing deep Victorian palettes, velvet furnishings and bold, nature-inspired wallpapers. The hotel also features two food and beverage options. Leydi is a modern Turkish restaurant from celebrated chef Selin Kiazim brings the flavours and all-day food culture of Istanbul to the heart of London. Meanwhile, Black Lacquer is an intimate cocktail bar where eclectic, global music is celebrated, with a décor inspired by Tokyo’s vinyl culture. Acting as specialist architect and interior designer on the project, Studio Moren sought to reintroduce Victorian features like cornicing, high skirtings and timber flooring while blending modern elements expected by today’s discerning traveller. The project also included the construction of a new extension over the existing light well, adding 21 guestrooms. Häfele’s involvement in the landmark project began at the outset, supporting Studio Moren with creating a mock-up room. From concept to completion, Häfele’s Projects team, led by Gordon Turner, provided regular site visits and bespoke, solution-driven support, helping to achieve the project’s overall blend of rich history and contemporary, luxury hospitality. Across the project, Häfele hardware has been used as both an architectural feature and to provide subtle practicalities while allowing authentic historical features to shine. For the former, antique brass solid bar levers in a Westminster design have been combined with antique brass bar pull handles in a nod to the site’s Victorian charm. Conversely, guest rooms feature concealed door closers, while concealed electromagnetic closers and Powermatic door closers were specified in corridor doors and arched head doors for practicality and function. The Häfele projects team also worked closely with Studio Moren to specify bespoke solutions to maximise historic features. Within ensuite bathrooms, concealed hinges were specified so that high skirting boards could be mounted up to the door and blend seamlessly with the rest of the room. Häfele recommended a combination of restored original hardware and new elements for the existing external doors, such as antique brass panic hardware and 1500mm solid brass bolts to secure tall doors. The manufacturer also provided a bespoke auto operator solution for the site’s door leaves. At just 550mm wide, the doors required a customised approach as typically, products are designed for widths of at least 800mm. Häfele also incorporated battery-powered accessible touch pads into the design to avoid damage to the building’s historic façade. “Häfele’s support was invaluable throughout the transformation of Hyde London City,” said Ed Murray from Studio Moren. “The team brought ideas and expertise to the project and it was a true collaboration of ideas. We shared the vision and the team helped us make it a reality. Nothing was too much trouble for Gordon and the Häfele team.” To aid scheduling, Häfele supplied hardware sequentially for the project in ‘floor by floor’ packs, which were bagged and labelled by hand using the Häfele to Order service. As part of the Service+ Customised, Häfele can tailor orders to suit a client or project’s needs with support, including bespoke timber drawer construction and cut-to-order lighting, which are also available. Commenting on the project, Paul Smith, head of specification sales for Häfele UK, said: “Hyde London City is a spectacular hotel, and we’re honoured to be part of bringing this building back to its Victorian splendour. The project is also our second time working with Studio Moren in recent months, which is a testament to our team’s ability to provide a combination of expert specification, understanding of the architectural vision and bespoke service. We look forward to supporting the practice again on future projects.” For more information on Häfele’s specification services, visit hafele.co.uk/projects Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Matt Shufflebottom joins leading team to support continued growth CBRE has appointed leading North West office sector expert, Matt Shufflebottom, as Director within its Manchester Office Agency team. Matt joins after nine years with Knight Frank, where he was a Partner. He brings more than a decade of expertise within the North West office market, and will be focusing on office leasing and occupier mandates in his new role at CBRE. CBRE boasts a large, diverse office agency team within the North West covering all sectors, including growth areas such as flex and life sciences which continue to drive demand. Joe Rigby, MD North, CBRE said “This is a key appointment for us, as we plan to double down on the market following a record breaking year across the region. Matt’s appointment will further cement and support our growth plans within the office agency team and we welcome him at a time when the market is reaching a turning point and expected to gather pace and strength throughout the year.” Matt added: “I’m excited to join CBRE and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead. The Manchester team are market leaders in the office agency field and are renowned for providing best in class advice to our clients. I’m looking forward to adding my expertise to the team and building on their success.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award Winning Fit Out Specialist Selects NFU Mutual’s Manchester Office Scheme For New Manchester HQ Award winning fit out specialist, Overbury, has selected NFU Mutual’s flagship Chancery Place office building in the central business district, as its new Manchester HQ. Overbury is one of the UK’s leading fit out specialists, operating nationally on office, higher education and science facilities projects. The move will see them relocate from their existing premises at The Zenith Building, to 6,843 sq ft on the 13th floor of Chancery Place, signing a new 10-year lease. NFU Mutual has invested heavily into Chancery Place to create an enhanced occupier experience including a newly refurbished reception and common areas in addition to a communal roof top terrace. Plans are also in place to deliver significantly improved end-of-journey facilities in the basement area in the coming months. Alex Pocock, Asset Manager at NFU Mutual, said: “We are thrilled that Overbury has chosen Chancery Place as its new Manchester base. Securing an occupier of this calibre is a testament to the quality of the recent refurbishment works, and we are actively making further improvements to the building to enhance the existing amenity provision.” Mark Garner, Office Agent at CBRE said: “We are delighted to welcome Overbury to Chancery Place, who will benefit from one of the best, unrestricted views of Manchester City Centre from their floor. We’re very much looking forward to seeing what they do with the space.” David Vaal, Managing Director from Overbury commented “Having been at our existing offices for the last 18 years, this move comes at a pivotal moment in Overbury’s growth in the region, and as Managing Director for the business I’m proud to play a part in it. Our collaborative approach has been the foundation in securing repeat business, while also continuing to attract new clients through the high-quality work we deliver. “The new office environment we’re creating will inspire and motivate our team, providing a space that supports creativity and enables them to give exceptional service to our clients. Over the last 20 years, we’ve earned the reputation as the leading fit out specialist in the region, and our talented team will continue to uphold that status; always putting our clients first and collaborating with our consultant partners to build long lasting relationships.” CBRE, OBI and Colliers act as leasing agents for NFU Mutual on Chancery Place and Knight Frank acted for Overbury. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Everton has appointed OCS, a global leader in facilities management, to provide integrated facilities management services at the Club’s new stadium. OCS, who currently have around 8,000 clients across the UK, Europe, the Asian-Pacific and Middle East regions, have signed a five-year agreement for facilities management solutions for Everton Stadium, including waste management, cleaning and security. Everton will make the move from Goodison Park to their new home at Bramley-Moore Dock in 2025, and the partnership will see that OCS – with a 120,000-strong global workforce and a proven track record in football stadia and events – will manage and maintain the stadium to ensure it is safe, secure and operates efficiently. When fully operational, OCS will deploy a team of up to 200 locally recruited people at Everton Stadium for matchday and core operations. Richard Kenyon, Chief Commercial and Communications Officer at Everton, said: “We are pleased to welcome OCS as provider of facilities management at our new home. “OCS, which becomes an Official Supplier of Everton Stadium, has a large global client base and a strong track record in facilities management which makes them an excellent partner for us. “From our very early meetings, it was clear that they are not only committed to the highest of standards but were also very keen to make a significant impact in our community and this is reflected by the commitments they have made to Everton in the Community over the course of the agreement. “We’re excited to work alongside OCS to bring these community initiatives to life over the coming years and to see them play their part in delivering exceptional fan and visitor experiences in our new home.” Bruce McDonnell, OCS Private Sector Managing Director at OCS, said: “We are delighted to partner with Everton. “We have seamless operations in some of the most iconic football stadiums in the UK and we have a proven track record in ensuring the safety and satisfaction of fans, players, and staff alike. “We know that Everton’s new stadium won’t just be a football stadium, it will be a destination – for music, conferences and other events alike.” McDonnell added: “We want to embark on a transformative journey together with Everton. “We want to build something exceptional together, where innovation, community, and operational excellence converge. The future of Everton’s soft services starts here, with us!” OCS will work closely with Everton to design and deliver a tailored facilities management solution using advanced technologies to increase safety and streamline efficiencies. This will include a new search and screen process. Cleaning operations will also benefit from technology such as cleaning robots to maximise productivity and support the maintenance of a clean environment. In addition to the facilities management services, OCS will work closely with the Everton’s ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategies and Everton in the Community (EitC)programme. OCS will deliver a full Carbon Impact Assessment to the club and will incorporate sustainable practices into the operation of the new stadium, aligning with Everton on its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint. OCS will also create ESG champion roles to ensure social value commitments are met. OCS’s ESG champions help deliver the business’ commitments around social value, helping benefit local communities with a strong footprint based on recruitment, training and development. EitC provides life-changing opportunities, particularly for young people, aiming to give them a fresh start in life and opportunities to grow and develop. OCS will collaborate with EitC to create employment opportunities for local residents, particularly targeting vulnerable individuals. The partnership aims to recruit approximately 200 staff members for match days, with a focus on sustainable long-term employment and skill development. Additionally, the facilities management provider will participate in community recruitment events to ensure ongoing engagement and support for local job seekers beyond initial hiring needs. Jonny Young, Sector Managing Director, OCS said: “Everton in the Community is at the forefront of Football Club Social Value within the English football leagues. “We are operating hand in glove throughout the recruitment, onboarding, and training of colleagues to improve the lives and communities associated in and around Everton Football Club. “We are committed to recruiting locally, providing opportunities for all.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Metal rainscreen specialist, Spanwall Façades, has delivered its latest cladding project in partnership with Alucraft, which demonstrates the application of MMC and offsite principles to façade design and construction. Fifteen George’s Quay is a prime commercial building overlooking the River Liffey in Dublin which has been transformed by developers IPUT Real Estate into more than 70,000sqft of highly sustainable, LEED Platinum-rated office space. The redevelopment has expanded the building with the addition of two new upper floors, a new landscaped roof garden and terraces, a riverfront café, and the entire façade was replaced. The main contractor was Structure Tone and the consultants were Arup. The new envelope successfully blends stone, metalwork and floor-to-ceiling glazing with panoramic views. The bespoke rainscreen system met the aesthetic vision of architects Burke-Kennedy Doyle, whilst ensuring long-term durability, low maintenance, and high weather performance. Spanwall’s aluminium cladding was polyester powder coated in two shades of bronze and used to striking effect in vertical and horizontal rectilinear configurations which complement the stonework. Working closely with façade contractor Alucraft, Spanwall manufactured the bespoke rainscreen panels and pre-assembled the units using the latest digital design technology and offsite manufacturing techniques to reduce work on site. The building is sited in a highly constrained location with limited access for deliveries and material storage. Spanwall maximised assembly of the metal cladding sections in its factory, to reduce work on site and speed up the installation process. Spanwall produced 230 pre-assembled rainscreen units, using over 6,000 individual components and more than 10,000m of CNC-routed metal profiling for the project. The large cladding sub-assemblies were fixed with a generic hook and carrier system for ease of installation by Alucraft and were delivered to site in precise sequencing, reducing waste, material storage, and vehicle movements. Spanwall’s use of advanced digital design and smart manufacturing processes combined with the high level of pre-assembly ensured a level of quality control and precision that would have been difficult to achieve on site. The offsite methodology was critical to overcoming the logistical challenges of the site, enabling Spanwall and Alucraft to implement a just-in-time delivery system that ensured fast and efficient installation with minimal disruption to neighbouring buildings. Ronnie Mills, Managing Director of Alucraft, said, “Working with Spanwall on this project is a great example of how close collaboration between the cladding manufacturer and the specialist façade contractor can lead to outstanding project delivery and new methodologies.” “Spanwall’s expertise in metal fabrication, combined with our façade design experience, enabled us to successfully address the site challenges, the complexities of the architectural design, and deliver the project on time and to the very highest standards.” David Clark, Managing Director of Spanwall, said, “Our ongoing investment in digital design and smart manufacturing technology allowed us to produce dimensionally accurate rainscreen sub-assemblies in a controlled factory environment. This solution simplified work on site and maximised efficiency for our project partners, Alucraft.” “By embracing advanced manufacturing methodologies and digital technology, we can significantly improve both the quality and speed of metal cladding installations. We look forward to collaborating with Alucraft on future façade projects, both in the UK and Ireland.” Spanwall created digital twins of every component for this cladding package. This allowed the design to be validated digitally before proceeding into manufacture and facilitated online simulation of the metal folding process. Spanwall was then able to pre-configure all connection points for the individual cladding components to ensure seamless final assembly in the factory once every part had been manufactured and painted. The bespoke rainscreen façade for Fifteen George’s Quay has enhanced the aesthetic appeal of this landmark commercial building and has provided a robust, low-maintenance façade solution that meets the stringent performance requirements for a waterside location. www.spanwall.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaughlin & Harvey have been awarded the main construction works at a major new green transport initiative in Dundee. McLaughlin & Harvey have been awarded the main construction works at a major new green transport initiative in Dundee. Councillors accepted their £11.1m bid for the main contract works on Friday. McLaughlin & Harvey have already undertaken the enabling works at the Bell Street multi-storey car park and will continue transforming it into a Green Transport Hub. The main works project, delivered as part of SCAPE Scotland’s framework, will include installing 350 electrical vehicle charging points supported by a solar panel array on the roof, a battery storage system, car share spaces, and an e-bike hire service. When completed, the existing ground floor of the car park will be fully pedestrianised and include information points and meeting spaces. Framework Director at McLaughlin & Harvey, Chris Boyle commented, “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Dundee City Council at the new Green Transport Hub. This project has harnessed collaborative engagement through the SCAPE framework to fast track the design and construction processes to deliver to the Council’s objectives and timescales. The regeneration of the Bell Street area and re-purposing the existing carpark into a 21st century sustainable transport hub for the city centre will help deliver a greener city, providing active travel options for the communities of Dundee”. Convener of Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Cllr Steven Rome from Dundee City Council said: “This project represents an ambitious redevelopment of the car park into a pioneering green transport hub which is designed to help change people’s travel habits for the future. “It will make a significant contribution towards our goal of creating a greener city made up of strong communities where people feel empowered and safe, and where we are tackling climate change to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2045. “The hub will accommodate infrastructure to provide people with access to sustainable transport options that improve connectivity and make the city centre greener, safer, and a more attractive place to live, work and visit.” The area surrounding the car park will include enhanced landscaping with active travel routes designed to accommodate future active travel connections and development. The Green Transport Hub & Spokes initiative was allocated £14.4 million from the previous UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. £1.6 million for the main works came from Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced that it will receive the support of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program to enable the storage, preservation, and accessibility of digital items within its world-class architectural collections. The RIBA collections – one of the largest and most wide-ranging architectural collections in the world – represent a unique body of knowledge spanning thousands of architects, hundreds of years and dozens of nations. It includes everything from 15th century books, manuscripts and drawings to models and photographs documenting architecture around the world today. However new items received into the collections are increasingly in born-digital formats, in particular Computer-aided design (CAD) drawings and digital photographs—reflecting the pervasiveness of digital technology and design within today’s architecture profession. With Bloomberg Philanthropies’ support, RIBA will develop and implement a state-of-the-art Digital Archive Management System, allowing RIBA to significantly advance its capacity to securely store, manage and protect its growing collection of born-digital items. The project will also support the transfer of existing born-digital materials currently held in unsuitable storage conditions, safeguarding their integrity and ensuring they remain accessible for future generations. This initiative will aid RIBA’s ambitious long-term plans, as part of its House of Architecture transformation programme, to digitise and catalogue its physical collections to make them more widely accessible online. Digitisation will also contribute to preserving the content of vulnerable physical items that are at risk of deterioration. As well as enhancing its own organisational expertise and knowledge of best practices in digital preservation, RIBA has pledged to share the insights and learnings it gathers with the broader UK cultural sector and the architectural profession in order to drive digital innovation and collaboration. Oliver-Urquhart Irvine, Executive Director of Architecture Programmes & Collections at RIBA, said: “This transformative support from Bloomberg Philanthropies will future proof our architectural collections, ensuring they remain accessible and relevant in an increasingly digital age. By investing in cutting-edge technology and expertise, we are safeguarding our invaluable records of architectural heritage for generations to come while contributing to the broader digital preservation community. “The RIBA Collections house some of the world’s most significant records of architectural design and history, spanning centuries of global innovation. This project represents a critical step in modernising how RIBA manages its collections and enhances their accessibility for diverse audiences.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As part of National Highways’ National Emergency Area Retrofit (NEAR) programme, WJ Group has helped install 22 new refuge bays between junctions 21a and 26 of the M6 using its latest coloured surfacing product. The NEAR scheme introduced by National Highways aims to reduce the distance between emergency refuge bays along smart motorways to provide vehicles and drivers with a safe space to pull over. Having secured £390m from the government during the second Road Investment Strategy rollout, an additional 150 bays are being added across the network. A critical part of the installation process is ensuring that the new bays have high friction levels to reduce stopping distances and help drivers come to a stop after travelling at a significant speed. Without this, vehicles may skid when braking. With emergency refuge bays playing an important role in ensuring motorists’ safety in situations such as breakdowns, the speed at which they can be installed and maintained is critical in reducing downtime. However, traditional methods for installing approved surfacing solutions can take up to two days per bay to complete as well as requiring workers and vehicles to be on the site for an extended period. In turn, this leads to environmental, safety and cost implications. To counteract these issues, National Highways asked the Smart Motorway Project Alliance (SMPA) to create a new solution. To achieve this, WJ Group developed RapidGrip. Combining pigment, aggregate and binder, this solution means that only a one coat application is required, eliminating the need for a sweeper truck and two curing periods. Created with the support of the SMPA members, it allowed two bays to be completed per shift via a single truck. As a result, WJ Group was able to retrofit all 22 bays across 14 shifts and achieve an average of 78 pendulum test value – the measurement to determine friction levels of a surface –helping drivers safely pull over while travelling along one of the busiest sections of the M6. Martin Webb, Innovation Director at WJ Group said: “When drivers find themselves in the position where they need to pull over on the motorway, they require a safe and dedicated space to do so. With our RapidGrip solution, National Highways is ensuring that drivers are at less risk of skidding when coming to a stop. “Innovations such as RapidGrip mean that the installation and retrofit of these bays can be carried out with minimal disruption to the public and ensure workers are not on the road for an extended period, while maximising the safety of road users.” For more information about WJ Group, please visit: https://www.wj.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
