BDC

Search
Linkedin
BDC Magazine
Kenneth Booth

J F FINNEGAN APPOINTED TO CONSTRUCT AVION (PLOT 3C) AERO CENTRE, DONCASTER

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2019

Trebor Developments has appointed Sheffield based Construction Contractor J F Finnegan to construct Avion Plot 3C, Aero Centre, First Avenue, Finningley, Doncaster. Plot 3C Aero Centre, located at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, consists of the construction of two industrial/logistics units totaling approximately 105,111 sq ft, inclusive of first floor office accommodation. 

Read More »

Detecting Sagging Roofs Early

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2019

Have you ever noticed a house whose roof looks curved and drooping instead of straight and wondered what is happening? This is a sagging roof. It can range from a simple problem to a more complicated one where you need a professional. This can be worrying. A little sag does

Read More »

CHANDLERS BUILDING SUPPLIES SHORTLISTED FOR SIX BUILDERS’ MERCHANTS AWARDS

Kenneth Booth November 14, 2019

Chandlers Building Supplies, renowned throughout the industry for its charitable outreach programme has been nominated for an incredible six awards at the forthcoming Builders’ Merchants Awards. This includes ‘Best Community Initiative’ for its charity football tournament with partner ‘Celeb FC’. The tournament and family fun day raised over £5,000 for charities, adding to

Read More »

PROTEUS FACADES BRINGS NEW LIFE TO ABANDONED BUILDING

Kenneth Booth November 13, 2019

A derelict building on the edge of Northampton city centre has been transformed into a striking 21st century educational facility, thanks in part to mirror-polished, perforated panels from Proteus Facades. What was once the Royal Mail Sorting Office on Barrack Road, has now been redeveloped into an iconic school featuring

Read More »

Brexit election must address housing crisis, says FMB

Kenneth Booth November 11, 2019

The urgent need to build more homes for everyone should be a key priority for all the political parties during the General Election campaign, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The FMB is calling on all the political parties to make house building a national infrastructure priority, along with

Read More »

Attitudes to safety flooring require a radical rethink – says Tarkett UK

Kenneth Booth November 8, 2019

Built environment specifiers should reconsider approaches to safety flooring when designing for interiors, says global flooring company Tarkett. The traditional look and feel of safety flooring often requires specifiers to compromise on desired aesthetics. But thanks to next generation transparent particles, Tarkett’s Safetred Design collections create limitless options for interiors

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 344 : Sep 2026

Kenneth Booth

J F FINNEGAN APPOINTED TO CONSTRUCT AVION (PLOT 3C) AERO CENTRE, DONCASTER

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2019

Trebor Developments has appointed Sheffield based Construction Contractor J F Finnegan to construct Avion Plot 3C, Aero Centre, First Avenue, Finningley, Doncaster. Plot 3C Aero Centre, located at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, consists of the construction of two industrial/logistics units totaling approximately 105,111 sq ft, inclusive of first floor office accommodation.  Site preparation works are already underway and the project is scheduled for completion in June 2020. J F Finnegan are no strangers to working in this region having delivered the Concrete Sleeper Production Facility at Ten Pound Walk for Trackwork Moll Limited and Warehouse & Office Units at First Point Business Park for The Catesby Property Group. Dawa Singh, Head of Pre-Construction at J F Finnegan commented, “We are delighted to have secured this project and look forward to working with Trebor Developments. J F Finnegan has played a significant role in similar schemes within the South Yorkshire region for over 70 years.” Commenting on the appointment Mark Wright, Partner at Trebor Developments, added, “We are very pleased to make the appointment of J F Finnegan to construct our “Avion”, Aero Centre, project, which we are developing in conjunction with our partners, Hillwood.  JF Finnegan has a first-class track record and we look forward to seeing these leading edge, high quality industrial/logistic buildings coming out of the ground in the New Year and be available for occupation in June 2020.”

Read More »

Detecting Sagging Roofs Early

Kenneth Booth November 18, 2019

Have you ever noticed a house whose roof looks curved and drooping instead of straight and wondered what is happening? This is a sagging roof. It can range from a simple problem to a more complicated one where you need a professional. This can be worrying. A little sag does not mean there is an imminent danger of its collapse. It is however a sign telling you to take some necessary actions. How Do You Know You Have a Sagging Roof? You will need to inspect it to know. You can check out a few ways to find out here. You can inspect it both from outside and inside. To inspect from inside the house, you need to get into the attic. Be sure you have a source of light bright enough to see every part. The roof should have a shape of a triangle combining the rafters and the beam that holds them. If you notice an unevenness when it is not designed that way, then you have a sagging roof. To inspect from outside, check from the side of the house and not from the end. See where the ridge of the roof is and measure with a straight plank or maybe a ruler. If it varies in contour from the straightedge, you most likely have a problem. If it is sagging, it can be repaired and reinforced. So, the earlier you detect it and take steps to correct it before it deteriorates into a bigger one, the better for you. Causes of Sagging Several individual factors may be responsible for sagging. It could also be a collection of these different individual factors. This website https://homereference.net/sagging-roof/ aims to explain these factors in detail. They include: Water Although Roofs are designed for optimal drainage, if the gutter system is flawed or a damaged shingle or any other thing impedes the flow of water from it, rainwater and snow can gather on it. Over time, due to poor ventilation in the attic, trapped moisture creates an environment for mold and mildew to grow which weakens it and causes it to deteriorate and sag. If this is the case, the first step will be to address the problem that eventually led to the sagging. Too Much Weight A roof is designed to handle a specific weight. Excess weight from ice and snow can cause it to sag. If you suspect this, call a professional to clear the ice. Also, structural problems and design issues like insufficient sheaths, undersized or inadequate number of rafters may not provide the needed support for the weight it is carrying. Excess layers of shingles and materials might also lead to too much weight. Inadequate Rafters and Joints Improperly constructed rafters or joints can lead to this. The weight of the roof pushes down on the ridge line then it is distributed to the rafters, joints and walls.  A poorly constructed one will over time become structurally inadequate. Age An average roof lasts between 15 to about 30 years when properly maintained and based on the climate and weather of where you live. They start to deteriorate when they reach the end of their lifespan. Other Causes These may include poor quality of materials and faulty installation. This is a good reason to get good contractors to handle the installation process. Also, a sinking foundation can cause a house to sag and ultimately affect the roof. What to do Find out if your roof is sagging by carrying out a personal assessment of it. Contact a professional to assess it if it’s beyond you. Check your home insurance coverage to see if a roof repair or replacement is covered. If it is covered, get all the documents needed to file a claim for a repair or replacement. File a claim with the insurance company. Have a professional fix it as it as soon as possible. Conclusion If you notice or suspect any issue, it is wise to take steps to fix it immediately. This is so as not to make it worse and by implication, more expensive to fix. If left unrepaired, it could eventually cave in and can cause more damage to your house. It could also cause injury or death to someone. Don’t forget that there could be one or more combined reasons why it is sagging. Let the professional assess and check all possible scenarios so you are sure that the root cause is discovered and fixed.

Read More »

CHANDLERS BUILDING SUPPLIES SHORTLISTED FOR SIX BUILDERS’ MERCHANTS AWARDS

Kenneth Booth November 14, 2019

Chandlers Building Supplies, renowned throughout the industry for its charitable outreach programme has been nominated for an incredible six awards at the forthcoming Builders’ Merchants Awards. This includes ‘Best Community Initiative’ for its charity football tournament with partner ‘Celeb FC’. The tournament and family fun day raised over £5,000 for charities, adding to the sum raised by the business for good causes this year. Other charity endeavours undertaken in 2019 include the 180 km cycling ‘7 Port Challenge’ and the annual ‘Pavestone Rally’ where Chandlers Building Supplies’ team emerged as the overall winner. In addition, Angela Straker, branch manager of the recently refurbished Chandlers Building Supplies site in Banstead, is shortlisted for two awards – ‘Independent Merchant Achiever of the Year’ and ‘Branch Manager of the Year’. Other awards Chandlers Building Supplies is shortlisted for are: ‘Timber Merchant of the Year’, ‘Training Initiative of the Year’ and ‘Independent Builders’ Merchant of the Year’.  Sue McKinney, Chandlers Building Supplies, said; “Being finalists for six prestigious awards is a wonderful way to end the year. As well as opening new branches and revamping existing ones, we have raised a record amount for charity and reinvested in improvements to our facilities for staff and customers. We are especially proud to have been recognised for our training initiative. Staff are central to our success, as evidenced by Angela’s nomination for two awards. We wish all the nominees the best of luck and look forward to celebrating on the day.”   The 2019 awards will be held on Friday 22, November at the London Hilton, Park Lane and will be hosted by three-time Olympic medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes DBE. Chandlers Building Supplies Limited and Parker Building Supplies Limited (Parkers) recently announced that they have merged, with the support of strategic partner, Cairngorm Capital. The new enlarged company has 37 branches operating from the Midlands to the South East, with over 750 employees. For more information visit https://chandlersbs.co.uk

Read More »

PROTEUS FACADES BRINGS NEW LIFE TO ABANDONED BUILDING

Kenneth Booth November 13, 2019

A derelict building on the edge of Northampton city centre has been transformed into a striking 21st century educational facility, thanks in part to mirror-polished, perforated panels from Proteus Facades. What was once the Royal Mail Sorting Office on Barrack Road, has now been redeveloped into an iconic school featuring a reflective Proteus SC Perforated Stainless Steel façade. After closing due to a fire in 2003, the building remained uninhabited for over a decade and fell into disrepair. Once described as an eyesore of the city, the structure has now been given a new lease of life as Northampton International Academy. Helping to respond to a significant requirement for school places in the city, Architecture Initiative identified the old sorting office as the ideal space for the new state-of-the-art school. Working closely with the local authority, the London-based architects redesigned the colossal, brutalist building, which was originally opened by Princess Diana on her first solo engagement in 1981, into an education hub filled with natural light. The Proteus SC Perforated panels installed at Northampton International Academy cleverly mask the monolithic appearance of the original structure, whilst not completely hiding this brutalist piece of architecture. The mirror polished surface on the face of the panels reflects the skyline giving the impression that the building is less imposing. Reducing the perforation sizes from the middle of the façade to the top and bottom edges, maximises translucency, whilst acting as brise soleil, providing shade from solar glare and preventing over-heating to the teaching spaces. The single skin perforated panels were manufactured from a sheet of 2mm Stainless Steel, which offers the ideal combination of high strength and a modern, progressive aesthetic. The material also holds excellent corrosion resistant properties. Each panel, installed by Deane Roofing & Cladding, is supported by the Proteus aluminium carrier system and ancillary components anchored to a cantilever steel frame from the underlying masonry structure. These allowed the panels to be hooked-on from behind, accentuating the sheer, smooth façade interrupted only by the perforated design. Northamptonshire is known for its history of crafting leather goods, particularly the art of traditional shoemaking. So taking the design process one step further, Proteus Facades worked closely with Architecture Initiative to create perforations that acknowledge this heritage; with the holes on each panel positioned to imitate those found on a Northampton-made brogue-style shoe. In addition, careful placement of the small and large perforations allows natural light to pass through and flood the interior of the school, whilst the metal façade is rendered virtually invisible from the inside. This innovative approach is just one of the reasons Northampton International Academy was named one of the “boldest” buildings of 2019 by the Royal Institute of British Architects. With a floor area of 22,250m2 and generous high ceilings, the academy, run by the EMLC Academy Trust, accommodates over 2,220 pupils, including 420 primary, 1,500 secondary and 300 sixth formers. The front of the school houses two illuminated signage boxes that indicate separate entrances for primary and secondary pupils, which perfectly complement the mirror polish of the Proteus SC panels. Proteus SC is an engineered panel system that is available in either solid, perforated or expanded mesh formats, and in an extensive range of metals, colours, textures and forms. The system is available between 1mm and 5mm in thickness and can be specified with an acoustic insulation layer encapsulated within the panel. For internal applications Proteus Facades can also provide contrasting fabric inserts when the panels are perforated. Delivered by Northamptonshire County Council with funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency and developed by Contractor, Vinci Construction, Northampton International Academy is one of the largest education conversion projects in the country. For further information about Proteus SC or to view more inspirational rainscreen facades from Proteus Facades, visit: www.proteusfacades.com or call: 0151 545 5075.

Read More »

Things can only get Beza: two local brands with an international flavour open at Elephant Park

Kenneth Booth November 13, 2019

Two south London-based eateries have opened their doors to the public at Elephant Park – the £2.3bn development that is taking shape in Elephant & Castle.  KOI Ramen Bar is bringing southern Japanese flavours to south London, and customers will find a small menu that is big on flavour. The team, led by Ming Chan and Hiroko Takata, will specialise in Tonkotsu Ramen, a creamy pork broth that is cooked for 16 hours and served over noodles. Beza is a traditional Ethiopian restaurant that uses plant-based and seasonal ingredients to serve a range of authentic dishes from a 100 per cent vegan menu. Beza was previously a tenant at Artworks Elephant, a temporary pop-up retail park that was created to provide community-led space for start-ups and small businesses in the area. With an increasing number of retailers moving into the development, Elephant Park is rapidly becoming one of the most desirable areas to live, work or visit in south London. Kristy Lansdown, Project Director of Elephant Park for Lendlease, said: “Having Beza and KOI Ramen Bar open their doors has made this corner of south London feel even more special. They are the first of a series of openings for local restaurants with a truly international feel at Elephant Park, and we are very proud to have them here.” Ming Chan, of KOI Ramen Bar, said: “We are so happy to be here in our first proper shop in Elephant & Castle and cannot wait to serve our Ramen to all the locals around here.  We’re excited to be in this fast growing development,  and look forward to seeing everyone’s faces over the next few years.” Beza Ethio, Founder of the eponymous brand, said: “We approached Lendlease at Artworks Elephant with the hope that their drive to support small brands at the temporary space would help us grow. We are delighted to see this come to fruition, with our first-ever permanent restaurant space, and look forward to serving the local community, many of whom already know us well.”

Read More »

KAM Project Consultants bolsters its Milton Keynes office with four new hires

Kenneth Booth November 13, 2019

KAM Project Consultants has expanded its Milton Keynes team with four new hires for the cost management team from graduate to senior levels. Leann Rodney, senior cost manager, will be responsible for employer’s agent duties, plus pre and post contract cost management. She has 12 years’ experience in the industry and degrees in business administration and quantity surveying and is qualified MRICS. Cost manager Sheldon Farrell has also joined KAM. With a degree in quantity surveying and over four years’ experience in the industrial and commercial sectors, he is well equipped to provide services to projects in KAM’s core sector of industrial. Saahib Reehal and Paul Moloyos have both joined the team as graduate cost managers. As part of their structured training programme, they will be developing their careers across a variety of exciting projects. Saahib has freshly graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in quantity surveying having previously worked at VolkerFitzpatrick during a University placement year, Paul worked with the KAM team for a work experience placement in 2018 and has recently graduated from the University of Reading with a degree in quantity surveying. KAM is currently working on a number of high-profile projects across the country for developers in the industrial and commercial sectors, plus appointments for customers such as the new MRO service centre for client Gulfstream at Farnborough Airport. Kevin Sims, director at KAM Project Consultants said: “We’re pleased to announce that our Milton Keynes team is growing. To support our ever-expanding client portfolio, we have employed staff with a range of skills and experience. Career growth and development is key to our business model, and we aim to nourish our staff in their career at every level.” Leann Rodney said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the KAM team as senior cost manager and look forward to applying my expertise whilst working on an interesting range of upcoming projects.” Sheldon Farrell said: “KAM is passionate about promoting the growth of individuals, which is what attracted me to the role. I look forward to getting stuck in with the work and utilising my skillset, as well as progressing within the company.” Saahib Reehal said: “KAM is held in high regard in the industry as a progressive company with a welcoming and supportive team. I hope to bring an energetic and hardworking approach to the company, to help us complete projects to the highest possible standards.” Paul Moloyos said: “I’m delighted to be starting my career at KAM Project Consultants as a graduate cost manager. Having previously undertaken work experience at KAM, I was attracted to the company due to its continued involvement and expansion into new, large projects both in and outside of the UK, I look forward to continuing my work with the team.”

Read More »

‘Groundbreaking’ e-commerce warehouse complex under construction in Ipswich

Kenneth Booth November 12, 2019

The first phase of a giant warehousing complex geared for the needs of online shopping is taking shape at Ipswich, off the A14. The Great Blakenham scheme – described as groundbreaking – will be a warehouse and distribution complex which is set to break with traditional norms with its building design. Developer Curzon de Vere said the aim was of Port One Logistics Park is to give e-commerce operations warehousing and distribution facilities geared to their needs. It said most e-commerce activities were being conducted from centre designed and built for other purposes and many operators were experiencing inefficiencies and high costs as a result. With leases agreed and planning approval in place, Anglia Building Services Ltd has started work on the first phase of the 60-acre site, off the A14’s junction 52, which will result in three units being built within the next year. The first 143,000sq ft unit has been designed for Ipswich-based Chinese fulfilment house operator FDS Corporation Ltd. FDS general manager Sheng Li said: “The past three years has shown us how well our Suffolk location works for us and our growth has given us the confidence to look at a new facility.” Ports and logistics solutions specialist Murray Gibson Associates Ltd, who is providing architecture services, said it was an “exceptional” project, with the building designed from the inside out. “It is very rarely that you get the opportunity of a completely clean sheet of paper on which to design an operation that not only exceeds the client’s original brief, but also ticks so many of the desirable supply chain features that this site in particular offers,” said the firm’s owner Murray Gibson. “Having perfected the internal layout and process flows, it was literally a case of wrapping the building around it.” A fulfilment house differs from conventional warehouses in its use of the ‘cube’ of the building rather than just focusing on the floor area, he explained. “This three-dimensional approach has enabled us to achieve a density of over 32,000 pallets of storage, nine-high with semi-automated locating.” It is thought that around a fifth of UK consumer purchases will be made online by the end of 2019, and that will increase to around a quarter by 2023, with the UK leading Europe in its growing preference for online shopping. “Behind the scenes, nothing short of a mini-revolution has taken place, largely unseen, that ensures our online purchases arrive where we want them and when, leaving us to get on with our busy lives,” explained Mr Gibson. “By cutting out multiple distribution centres and stores and delivering direct to the consumer, retailing is now embedded in the processes that enable us to buy products on our computer, tablet or smart phone. Orders are picked, labelled and marshalled for dispatch by courier and delivery companies to our chosen destination, offering an ever-widening number of options to suit our individual lifestyles.” Other buildings of between 50,000 and 700,000sq ft are planned for the logistics park. They will follow similar design principles, with planning consent for building heights of more than 20 metres. Easy access to the east and westbound carriageways of the A14 are key feature of the site, which will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Port One Logistics Park enters the market in exactly the right place and at the right time,” said Mr Gibson. “According to industry analysts Retail Economics, and demonstrated at this year’s United Kingdom Warehousing Association national conference, a further 44m sq ft of warehouse space needs to be built in the UK by the end of 2021 – just to meet the demands of the online retail sector.”

Read More »

Brexit election must address housing crisis, says FMB

Kenneth Booth November 11, 2019

The urgent need to build more homes for everyone should be a key priority for all the political parties during the General Election campaign, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The FMB is calling on all the political parties to make house building a national infrastructure priority, along with 11 other key policy areas in its ‘Programme for Government’ published today.  The programme calls for the political parties to commit to the following: Housing • Make house building a national infrastructure priority and build 1.5 million new homes  • Free up more public land for housing and break it up into small plots for small builders • Invest in local authority planning departments to speed up the planning process  Skills  • Promote vocational education and invest in Further Education  • Reform the UK Apprenticeship Levy so it works better for small companies • Introduce a fair and balanced post-Brexit immigration system  Quality  • Licence all UK construction companies • Introduce mandatory warranties for building control-approved work • Create a new ‘General Builder’ qualification  Net Zero Carbon • Create a National Retrofit Strategy  • Invest in upskilling builders to build and upgrade homes fit for the future • Cut VAT on home improvement work to 5%  Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said: “In this Brexit election the main political parties mustn’t lose sight of the big issues facing the UK such as the current housing crisis. We are still not building enough new homes, and this has led to an affordability crisis and over-crowding. This election is an opportunity for all parties to publish ambitious plans to turn this situation around. Small builders stand ready to help the new Government not only to build more new homes but also make our existing homes more energy efficient.”   Brian Berry concluded: “Small building companies will also be instrumental in helping the future government tackle other major challenges facing the UK, from helping to tackle the climate crisis to helping to building the hospitals and schools of the future. Our Programme for Government gives 12 clear policies for each of the political parties to adopt to support SME builders. Politicians must not only give the country the gift of resolving Brexit this Christmas, but also a vision for the future of our built environment.” The Programme for Government is available here: https://www.fmb.org.uk/media/50547/fmb-programme-for-government-2019-2024.pdf. 

Read More »

£50m shed near Wakefield to be built by leading contractor Caddick

Kenneth Booth November 8, 2019

A project funded by AEW UK Investment Management, which has bought the site from Caddick Group in the stages to start construction. Wakefield 515, which will be speculatively built, marks the second phase of Crosspoint 33, an emerging warehouse & logistics hub by junction 33 of the M62 motorway. Caddick also built the first phase – a £100m 1.2m sq ft distribution centre now occupied by TJX Europe, parent company of retail brands TK Maxx and HomeSense. Myles Hartley, managing director at Caddick Developments, detailed thoughts on his company’s beds-and-sheds strategy. “As a group, our focus is on structurally-supported asset classes such as build-to-rent and industrial/logistics, where we see long-term growth potential,” he said. Caddick’s build-to-rent housing brand, Moda Living, opened its first development, Angel Gardens in central Manchester, last month. It is also due to start on-site with the first phase of its £300m SOYO neighbourhood in Leeds city centre, a 515-home BTR scheme that Caddick Construction will build for Moda Living.

Read More »

Attitudes to safety flooring require a radical rethink – says Tarkett UK

Kenneth Booth November 8, 2019

Built environment specifiers should reconsider approaches to safety flooring when designing for interiors, says global flooring company Tarkett. The traditional look and feel of safety flooring often requires specifiers to compromise on desired aesthetics. But thanks to next generation transparent particles, Tarkett’s Safetred Design collections create limitless options for interiors while ensuring the same safety performance. Developed with architects, designers and end users in mind, the Safetred Design collections offer a wide range of surface visuals and colours to choose from, including beautiful wood grain, a welcoming textile line and the realism of natural stone, making it possible to create an ‘at home’ environment everywhere. Challenging the ‘institutional’ look and feel of safety floors Traditional safety flooring has a ‘speckled’ appearance – these black specks are very hard particles called silicon carbide, which ensure that slip resistance does not diminish over time. From a visual point of view, this is often a source of frustration for architects and designers, as it means placing limits on creativity. To address this, Tarkett’s Safetred Design ranges use a transparent particle called aluminium oxide, which has the same resistance properties but is invisible. This product innovation allows Tarkett to offer a wide selection of designs without neglecting safety: the result is a proven, sustainably slip resistant floor which meets the requirements of the manufacturing standard, EN 13845. Designed for wellbeing The UK has some of the most stringent rules and regulations around safety. Slips and trips may well be the number one risk when it comes to injuries – so the importance of choosing a proven, durable slip resistant floor cannot be underestimated. With a wide range of wood, natural or colourful patterns on offer, Safetred Design allows specifiers to design flooring combinations that create inspiring and beautiful environments while also reducing the risk of slips, trips and falls. This is flooring designed with wellbeing in mind: free from phthalates and with ‘undetectable’ levels of VOC emissions. Closing the loop The products created for the collections are not only beautiful on the outside but beautiful on the inside. Traditionally, safety floors have been problematic in terms of recycling due to the nature of the aluminium oxide or carborundum inherent in them, however the ReStartÒ programme is able to extract these particles for down-cycling so more of the product can be utilised. Safetred is produced using up to 40% of recycled content, and can be recycled via the Tarkett ReStartÒ programme. To download the new Safetred Design brochure or book an appointment to find out more, visit Tarkett’s website.

Read More »