Kenneth Booth

Ward Hadaway assists clients in gaining planning permission for £175m garden village development

Full-service law firm Ward Hadaway has successfully defended a judicial review claim in respect of planning permission for a multi-million pound garden village development in County Durham. Specialist planning lawyers within the organisation’s Built Environment Team provided advice during the planning application process and negotiated a substantial Section 106 agreement

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A Quick Safety Guide for Confined Spaces

Working in a confined space has been part of the job description for workers in a large variety of industries, from construction and city development to agriculture, aerospace, marine, mining, and many more. As dangerous as they are, however, confined work spaces cannot be completely avoided, and so the next

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Why Get Building Maintenance Services

A building is a place where you do business, work, live, or play. Read more about buildings in this link. This is an asset that will serve you for a lot of years if proper maintenance or preservation is followed. When you are doing business, you will make the impression

Read More »

Research shows construction megaprojects can improve workers’ knowledge of occupational health risks

Major construction projects can play a critical role in improving workers’ understanding of health risks and championing ‘universally high standards’ across the industry, new research suggests. A three-year research project, funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), aimed to explore the management of health, safety and wellbeing

Read More »

Tube Connectors: What Are They & What Do They Do?

Adding Strength And Sturdiness To Your Tubular Design Ensure your product design is entirely robust by using tube connectors to add the finishing touch. Tube connectors are the final part of a tubular design that acts to bind the finished product together. So, take for example a school chair made

Read More »

5 Ways to Reduce Your Household Bills

Are you considering ways to reduce your energy bills? Good, because last year the average gas and electricity bill in the UK was £1,138 a year, which is more than double what it was 100 years ago. Apart from the cost, a home that uses a lot of excess energy

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SHOCK AT SPEED AND SPREAD OF FIRE

A devastating fire at the Beechmere retirement development in Crewe has resulted 150 elderly residents losing their homes as the three storey timber framed building has collapsed. 70 firefighters from Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Merseyside worked for more than 12 hours to fight the blaze. Asst Ch Fire Officer, Gus

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Key appointments for Muckle LLP’s specialist construction team

The North East’s leading independent law firm for businesses Muckle LLP has promoted specialist Adam Aston to partner and recruited solicitor Sophie Crosby to its growing construction team. Adam, who joined Muckle as a trainee in 2006, advises on a diverse range of regional, national and international construction and engineering

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Latest Issue
Issue 343 : Aug 2026

Kenneth Booth

Ward Hadaway assists clients in gaining planning permission for £175m garden village development

Full-service law firm Ward Hadaway has successfully defended a judicial review claim in respect of planning permission for a multi-million pound garden village development in County Durham. Specialist planning lawyers within the organisation’s Built Environment Team provided advice during the planning application process and negotiated a substantial Section 106 agreement on behalf of North East-based contractor Tolent and its subsidiary Coolmore Land Limited for the £175m South Seaham Garden Village project. The project team also worked closely with Home Group who are also heavily involved in the project. The 77.75ha development, which will be located close to the A19 near the Dalton Retail Park in Seaham, will bring 1,500 new homes of mixed tenures to the area including shops, a café, a new primary school, a park and village square, community health and wellbeing village, community allotments and a world class business innovation and research hub surrounded by extensive green open space. Working closely with Home Group, Tolent will build around 1,000 of the new homes, of which 750 will be affordable homes (representing 50% of the housing on the site) designed for a range of buyers from first-time buyers to those in need of assisted living creating a truly inclusive community. Land for the remaining 500 homes will be sold on the open market with other national housebuilders likely to become involved. The ten-year project is expected to be home to some 4,000 residents and will create an estimated 1,000 jobs. The garden village project is one of 19 schemes announced in the UK and development is expected to start on site this autumn. Ward Hadaway has had a long-established relationship with Coolmore Land Limited, part of Tolent, having acted for Coolmore since 2009 when it first acquired an interest in the site with a view to future developments. Melissa Flynn, an associate in Ward Hadaway’s Built Environment team, said: “This has been a significant project and one which fully demonstrates the range of skills and capabilities of our team. Our dedicated planning experts have worked with our client from initial concept, advising on legal matters around the planning, judicial review and section 106 agreement with colleagues in the wider Built Environment Team also advising on the sale of the site to Home Group and other developers. “The garden village scheme will significantly boost the local economy, providing quality affordable homes, investment, innovation and jobs. We are proud to have assisted Tolent in this significant development project and we look forward to seeing the development come to fruition.” John Wood, director of Tolent, said: “Receiving garden village status is befitting of such a great development that really will be a national exemplar. Our vision to create a truly sustainable community with a mix of distinctive, high quality housing that improves quality of life is what we’re doing here, as well as creating jobs for the next decade and beyond. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Ward Hadaway for their support.”

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A Quick Safety Guide for Confined Spaces

Working in a confined space has been part of the job description for workers in a large variety of industries, from construction and city development to agriculture, aerospace, marine, mining, and many more. As dangerous as they are, however, confined work spaces cannot be completely avoided, and so the next best option we have is to learn to stay safe while working in these conditions. What is a Confined Space? Before tackling a problem, we must always start by identifying it. A confined space is defined by both OSHA and Safe Work Australia as a space that is not designed for a person to work in, but can still fit a person regardless to perform certain actions. These spaces may be fully or partially enclosed with limited or restricted entry and exit points. A few examples of confined spaces include vaults, tunnels, wells, manholes, sewers, tanks, silos, pipes, shafts, and culverts. In an ideal work scenario, workers are not supposed to and should be restricted from working in confined spaces for extended periods of time due to the wide range of hazards to which workers may be exposed while in the confined space. These hazards include: Unsafe oxygen levels – Certain confined spaces may not have a direct access to fresh air, limiting the oxygen supply in the space. This places the worker at risk of injury over time due to a lack of oxygen. Harmful gases – Some confined spaces may contain certain substances such as ammonia and methane that can significantly degrade the quality of the air inside the space, placing the worker at risk of poisoning. Methane and similar substances are also highly flammable and can be ignited by an electrical tool or a discharge of static electricity on the worker without the appropriate safety precautions. Engulfment – Confined spaces with limited exit points are at risk of engulfment by solid or liquid materials, as is often the case with grain silos and large fluid tanks, which can trap workers that are still inside. Areas that are considered as confined spaces aren’t necessarily small; many of them, in fact, can fit an entire adult without fail. In addition, it should also be noted that areas that may not be considered confined spaces may also become confined spaces when they fulfil further conditions of what a confined space is – for example, a standard shipping container with full-sized doors is not generally considered as a confined space, but can become a confined space if its entry points are restricted or blocked completely. Staying Safe in Confined Spaces Minimising the risk of injury to workers while they operate in confined spaces will require a process with three general steps. The first step is to assess risk – this involves identifying all of the hazards that are already apparent in the confined space, as well as any additional dangers that may arise from the worker’s presence in the space, such as the tools that the worker brings into the confined space. The second step is to inform. The appropriate personnel must be informed of the key aspects of working in confined spaces. They must be aware of all of the apparent and possible hazards of the confined space to be used, know how to conduct a proper risk assessment for the involved space, and implement the appropriate control measures to ensure the safety of the worker or workers who will operate in the confined space. In addition, agencies in both the industry and the government have regulations in place that legally restrict worker entry into confined spaces that have been found to contain a significant safety hazard – Australian regulations in fact require that companies must obtain a confined space entry permit before they are authorised to work in a confined space. Work supervisors and managers, therefore, should be aware of the process of obtaining the said permits. The third and final general step is to train. Work Health and Safety Regulation 69 dictates that any workers operating in a confined space must be able to continually communicate with a worker or supervisor outside of the confined work space that should be able to monitor the confined space from the outside and provide immediate assistance should it be needed. These and other WHS Regulations require that workers who will be operating in confined spaces be given the appropriate training and equipment. For all your confined space equipment needs there must be a certain level of quality. The gear must allow workers to be able to move and operate in a manner that ensures their own safety – this involves identifying and responding appropriately to hazardous situations. Workers must also be trained to assist those inside a confined space by identifying potential hazards that a worker inside may not be able to see, and to provide assistance accordingly.

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Why Get Building Maintenance Services

A building is a place where you do business, work, live, or play. Read more about buildings in this link. This is an asset that will serve you for a lot of years if proper maintenance or preservation is followed. When you are doing business, you will make the impression to your customers, investors, and competitors that you observe proper cleanliness and hygiene when you regularly schedule cleanings. As a building owner you won’t to scrub several floors every minute of the day as you can always get the service of building maintenance companies to do those for you. Building maintenance is important because weather elements such as rain or ultraviolet rays of the sun can make the walls deteriorate easily. If you are a hospital facility, you need to pass the regular inspection of the government and other health organizations. You can prevent dilapidation, broken glasses, and loosened tiles when there’s regular maintenance. Maintenance is a necessary investment especially if you want to excel over your competitors, make your employees feel safe, and make a good first impression. You can also avoid unnecessary costs such as injuries due to damaged roofs or walls, repairs, and loss of profits when you have reliable maintenance staff working for you. Here are other reasons why maintenance is good for your business. Maintenance is important, but so are materials. If you go to the Materials Market, you will be able to get what you need. Why Get Maintenance? Save on Staff Employment Costs Asking your staff to scrub the whole facility on top of their work can be too much especially if you own a big building. They will be unhappy because they might need to do overtime. They will not perform well when they feel that they have to work for something that they did not sign up for. In addition to this, you need to pay them overtime wages, pay for the cost of training, and buy special equipment that is tailor-made for cleaning. This can blow up your expenses in a month. On the other hand, hiring building maintenance services that are in the business of cleaning huge facilities will help you a lot. You maintain cleanliness at all times. You don’t need to train them because they are already trained for the job, and they have their own equipment. When your employees see that you make an effort to have a clean environment, they can work more efficiently and will stay longer in the office. Outsourced Cleaning Companies have the Right Skills and Tools Whether it is for carpets, floors, or windows, outsourced companies have the right microfiber cloth or sanitizing wands that are great for removing allergens and germs. Expect to walk in an office where you can see gleaming floors, soft carpets, clear windows, and polished doorknobs. Some companies can guarantee you an excellent service whether you are in the manufacturing industry or you are maintaining an office space. The right skills of workers will save you lots of stress and hassles in the long run. Walking in a spotless lobby first thing in the morning will be worth the investment. The orderly and neat fashion that you can get from trained staff and a reputable cleaning company will allow your business to flourish. Daily Cleaning Service With building maintenance, you don’t have to worry about trash, dirty comfort rooms, or dusty chairs. The trash is removed every day, so you won’t have to worry about flies inside your establishment. They clean common areas such as lounges, dining rooms, elevators, stairwells, offices, and a lot more. Every corner is cleaned and there are inaccessible areas that they can reach through their tools. You can hire them to do the cleaning daily. This ensures that you will have welcoming lounges, spotless dining rooms, and vacuumed carpets every single day. You can read more about vacuums here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_cleaner. Your employees or the tenants will appreciate it a lot if the building is well-kept. The Bottom Line A clean working environment is what you need for your business to flourish. Maintaining your building will keep it looking new and it will last longer. An injury-free workplace is an advantage because it will invite clients, investors, and other people who are interested in what you have to offer in your business. You only have one space. Make it pleasing to the eye and boost your employee productivity while you are at it. Hire the best cleaning company today!

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Research shows construction megaprojects can improve workers’ knowledge of occupational health risks

Major construction projects can play a critical role in improving workers’ understanding of health risks and championing ‘universally high standards’ across the industry, new research suggests. A three-year research project, funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), aimed to explore the management of health, safety and wellbeing interventions on the Thames Tideway Tunnel project. Members of the research team from Loughborough University were integrated into each of the construction teams working on the Tideway project and monitored key health and safety processes, personnel, documentation, events and activities. In a new paper titled ‘Raising the bar for occupational health management in construction, published in the Institution of Civil Engineers’ journal Civil Engineering, the research team highlights practical measures from the Tideway project to help stakeholders improve the management of health risks in construction. The Loughborough team suggests major projects have an important role to play in upskilling the workforce, and that construction managers must take responsibility for health risk management, supported by skilled OSH and health professionals. Interventions included working with occupational hygienists to improve understanding about health risks and how to manage them and coordinating training sessions for project managers, engineers, supervisors and others who contribute to risk assessments focusing on practical control measures. Alistair Gibb, Professor of Construction Engineering Management at Loughborough University, said: “The construction industry faces many unique challenges when it comes to managing health risks and protecting workers. Across the industry there is poor understanding about the standards of health assessment which are legally required and low motivation among many employers to pay for health checks for workers who may soon move to other employers. “Major projects such as Tideway are critical to developing universally high health management standards and are well-placed to champion good OH services and to use their expertise and influence to embed change within their own supply chains. To achieve long-lasting improvements, these standards must be adopted throughout the sector, particularly within the SMEs which employ the majority of the workforce.” The study suggests a consistent approach to occupational health management and health surveillance is needed across the construction industry with a commitment to improved portability of OH data. The researchers also argue that health needs to be given higher visibility and clarity at prequalification and in tender documents. Mary Ogungbeje, Research Manager at IOSH, said: “This research goes a long way towards addressing what is a very prevalent and complex issue in the construction sector. “For health to truly be treated like safety in construction there needs to be a shift in the perception and practices of employers and workers, and acceptance in industry that high standards should not be an exceptional practice but the necessary norm. “The study highlights practical measures to help all stakeholders address barriers and improve the management of health risks in construction.” Steve Hails, Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Tideway, said: “Our commitment to transformational health, safety and wellbeing standards at Tideway is intended to set a new benchmark for the industry. Achieving parity between health and safety is a strategic objective for our programme and understanding the specific challenges emerging in the course of construction is imperative to our future direction. “The support from IOSH and Loughborough University has been invaluable in identifying our progress. This unique approach to conducting a longitudinal study with skilled researchers embedded into our construction teams, has allowed us to compile legacy information in real time rather than, as has historically been the case, at the end of the project. This gives Tideway objective feedback during our works and informs our future direction. “There are additional wider industry benefits for future projects to learn from our experiences through this approach and realising the benefits of industry working collaboratively with academia during the planning and construction phases of work.” An additional recommendation from the research includes further training for frontline workers, particularly to compensate for low visibility of health hazards including noise and respirable dust, and greater awareness of health conditions with long latency periods, including those caused by silica dust and asbestos exposure.   IOSH’s No Time to Lose campaign aims to explain the causes of occupational cancer and help businesses take action. Information about the dangers of silica dust, asbestos and other carcinogens and how to prevent exposure is available on the website:https://www.notimetolose.org.uk/ The paper, titled ‘Raising the bar for occupational health management in construction’ is published in the Institution of Civil Engineers journal Civil Engineering. The research is funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The paper is available here:https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/jcien.19.00029 In a second paper, published in the journal Safety Science, the research team explore in more detail the challenges to achieving lasting improvements to worker health in construction, this is available here: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1ZWj63IVV9gluI

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Tube Connectors: What Are They & What Do They Do?

Adding Strength And Sturdiness To Your Tubular Design Ensure your product design is entirely robust by using tube connectors to add the finishing touch. Tube connectors are the final part of a tubular design that acts to bind the finished product together. So, take for example a school chair made with metal tubes as the legs and feet. To connect each of the tubular legs to the bridge which sits beneath the plastic seat, you’ll need to use tube connectors to create a sturdy design. By doing so, you can be assured that the chair won’t buckle and break a leg off when a child sits on it. The tube connectors bind each of the individual tube legs together to create the finished product. Of course, this is just one example where a tube connector might be used. But in any tubular design, you’ll need to bear the following factors in mind. Plan Your Tube Configuration When considering the number and type of tube connectors you might require, begin by making a plan of your final design, including the number of tubes you have and where exactly you’ll need them to join together. From here, you can work backwards to determine the role of tube connectors in your plans. Tube connectors are incredibly versatile and can join together 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 tubes where required. Ensuring A Perfect Fit The connectors simply sit within your hollow tubing but must be the same shape as your tubes to provide a great fit. Typically, tube designs are made from either round or square tubes, so you’ll need your connector to match. If you require a particularly solid structure, as with your school chair, then you’ll likely require a connector with a solid steel core. Fitness equipment including treadmills and weight machines will undoubtedly require this type of connector due to the requirement for them to be robust. But lighter designs such as children’s toys can make do with a plastic moulding that consists of two clip parts. Considering The Purpose Of Your Connectors When looking at the configuration of your tubular design, consider the purpose of your connectors and how you’ll need them to be positioned. Some connector designs allow for rotation which is useful if you need your tubes to be able to be manipulated at various angles. Connectors are available that provide rotations of 0-190 degrees, 45-195 degrees, 60-300 degrees and 45-200 degrees, and some can move in small increments for better control. Aesthetics Tube connectors aren’t usually meant to be a core aesthetic focus of your design and in many cases you’ll either want to opt for a regular black colour, or match them more closely to the shade of your other tubes. So, with this in mind, you’ll need to choose connectors that come in the same material as your existing tubular components. If you’ve been wondering how to pull the various components of your tubular design together to create a robust product, then tube connectors are an essential item to have on your shopping list. Remember to take note of the internal diameter of your existing tubes to ensure you select a set of connectors that add the perfect finishing touch to your design. 

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Leading manufacturer of structural insulated panels appoints specialist Business Development Manager

North West-based Hemsec is one of the UK’s largest and longest-standing insulated panel manufacturers.  To help drive further planned growth and to satisfy the building industry’s need for materials used in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), the company has appointed an experienced sales professional in the construction sector, Paul Nicholls, as their Business Development Manager for SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels)  The potential for timber faced insulated panels to enable the construction industry to build better quality buildings, and to build them faster is enormous. Paul’s primary objective will be to educate and inform the sector of these huge opportunities, specifically with SIPs, and to showcase how with Hemsec as a supply chain partner companies can rest assured that they will have the highest certification standards available delivered on time, and in full.  Paul explained his new role and priorities. “I will be working with architects, developers and housing associations to explain how SIPs can contribute towards improving building insulation and sustainability, provide larger internal building dimensions, greater construction efficiency and fewer snags, thereby reducing overall operational costs and reducing the time capital is tied up in a project.  “Currently many professionals working in the industry are unaware of the key benefits SIPs offer, and my job will be to demonstrate why they are such an important solution. This in turn will help the industry to address the housing crisis in the UK, building more energy-efficient and affordable homes.”  Paul is working on a number of key projects for Hemsec. This includes a current Housing Association project where they are keen to explore the use of SIPs in their current building programme, recognising the need for innovative solutions and the benefits they offer as part of Modern Methods of Construction.  In addition to educating the sector about the benefits of SIPs, Paul will be working to develop Hemsec’s network of collaborators to meet the needs of businesses seeking everything from panel supply only to full turnkey solutions, the objective being to offer coherent and effective supply chain partnerships for all sizes of project, regardless of size or complexity.  Four months into his new role, Paul is excited about the potential of the business and is positive about the supportive culture that is an important part of the company’s success and longevity.  He said, “Hemsec is a great company to work for. It is very loyal to its local workforce, is family orientated, open and extremely welcoming. I firmly believe in our ambition to be quite different in the market place compared to our competitors, recognising the importance of developing strong business relationships.”    Hemsec is developing educational materials to facilitate SIPs usage in the construction industry and is in talks with secondary education colleges and the CITB to provide accredited learning. For more information please contact the company through Hemsec.com.

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5 Ways to Reduce Your Household Bills

Are you considering ways to reduce your energy bills? Good, because last year the average gas and electricity bill in the UK was £1,138 a year, which is more than double what it was 100 years ago. Apart from the cost, a home that uses a lot of excess energy is also contributing to the pollution and carbon emissions throughout the country. In our post on the ‘Top Tips to Reduce Energy Usage in Your Home’, it details how your appliances and heating system can be the biggest culprits when it comes to energy consumption. Fortunately, these are easy to remedy, and we are going to have a look at five ways to reduce your household bills. Upgrade Your Boiler Because more than half of your household energy bill is spent on heating, replacing an old and inefficient boiler can make a huge difference to your bill. Just ask Philip Dyte from London, who was recently featured in a Money Wise article about cutting energy bills. After he upgraded his flat’s old boiler, he noted that he saved over £100 on his yearly energy bill. HomeServe explains that when a boiler is old it is best to get it replaced as soon as possible. By upgrading your boiler, it is a good way to reduce the amount of energy consumption, as you can switch from a regular boiler to a combi boiler. This is the most popular type of boiler in the UK and can be a very economical option. Use Smart Thermostats While standard electric heating is extremely efficient, in the UK it is very expensive. In fact, it’s three to four times more expensive than a newer gas-powered central heating system. Using a smart thermostat and reducing room temperatures by just one degree can save you £75 a year. You can control these from your smartphone from practically anywhere and some can even learn your routine or adjust settings automatically based on the weather forecast. Home Insulation Insulating cavity walls and your loft can mean huge savings on your yearly energy bill, as well as getting double-glazing. Energy Saving Secrets states that laying thick 270mm loft insulation can save you up to £130 off your yearly energy bills, as a lot less heat will be lost through your roof. On the other hand, cavity wall insulation can save you up to £145 a year, while solid-wall insulation can save you £245 a year. This type of insulation is much more expensive to fit, however, the energy savings might be worth it in the long run. Meanwhile, double-glazed windows could result in savings up to £75-£100 a year, depending on the quality of glass. Energy-Efficient Appliances Apart from energy-saving LED light bulbs, choosing energy-efficient appliances in your home could save you money, too. Modern appliances tend to have energy ratings from A to G, with the former being the greenest and the latter the least green. Some appliances like fridge-freezer combinations have A+++ ratings and are much more efficient than appliances that are 10 years old. This is Money’s guide to energy efficient appliances, explains that households could save about £113 a year by switching to a more energy-efficient fridge freezer. An A+++ dishwasher could also save you £47 a year, while an A+++ washing machine could result in a savings of £34. Energy Efficient Lighting In the UK, lighting accounts for about 15% of a household’s energy bill. Upgrading from your standard light bulbs to energy-efficient LED bulbs will cost just under £1.60 to run per year, whereas a traditional bulb is closer to £10. LED bulbs can save you £2 a year per bulb, and considering they cost less than £5 they will essentially pay for themselves in a few months. Getting into the habit of turning off lights when you leave a room is another good way to save on your energy bill.

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Doorways To The Past: What Manhole Covers Tell Us About Old Infrastructures

Jeremy Corbyn is known for his unusual love of manhole covers, which he notes to be markers of social history. While we tend to think of them as mundane necessities of our drainage system, there is indeed more they can tell us about the history of our infrastructure than first meets the eye.  What are manhole covers and why are they needed? Manhole covers have been around since Roman times, allowing access to inspection chambers so that drainage systems can be maintained. They also serve as temporary storage points for excess water to prevent it from flooding into the streets, and vary in size and thickness depending on location. Specialist manufacturers like EasyMerchant ensure that a range of sizes is available to meet the demands of heavy traffic and densely populated areas, and modern designs prevent unauthorised access to the drainage system.  Street jewellery  Besides their practical use, manhole covers have been described as ‘street jewellery’, often sporting colourful and unusual designs. An example of this is the special edition commemorative manhole cover installed in Whitechapel last year in honour of the engineers who removed the Whitechapel fatberg: a piece of recent history to add to the tapestry of stories told by London’s manhole covers. Commemorative and one-off designs like the one in Whitechapel may appear simply decorative, but over time, they come to tell important stories about a city’s history.  Historic markers  Countrywide, manhole covers have a story to tell; London is just an example, but its sheer size and history makes it a rich source of manhole history. Manufacturers names are embossed on cast iron covers, becoming functional by creating an anti-slip surface. Amongst these names, a glance at a London street might reveal the inventor of the first flushing public toilets, George Jennings. The toilet was so popular that the capital’s sewage system was unable to cope with demand, and this resulted in a large amount of sewage ending up in the Thames, which in turn led to The Great Stink in 1858. Also commemorated on London manhole covers is Thomas Crapper, known for his contributions to toilet improvement, and London County Council Tramways, which picked up an electrical current from slots in the road. The names of telegraph and electrical companies may also be spotted, serving as long-lasting reminders of infrastructures of the past.   Manhole covers are an essential part of a well-maintained drainage system, but they also provide important markers of the history of urban development. With each new cover that we add, we are contributing to the historic stories of our cities.

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SHOCK AT SPEED AND SPREAD OF FIRE

A devastating fire at the Beechmere retirement development in Crewe has resulted 150 elderly residents losing their homes as the three storey timber framed building has collapsed. 70 firefighters from Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Merseyside worked for more than 12 hours to fight the blaze. Asst Ch Fire Officer, Gus O’Rourke said he was “extremely shocked” at how quickly the fire had spread and, once everyone was evacuated, crews had worked to protect neighbouring properties. He said a “stay put” policy for residents in the complex was quickly abandoned due to the speed with which the fire spread. The retirement complex contained 132 high quality ‘extra care’ apartments plus a range of facilities. According to the local paper the Crewe Chronicle it boasted containing “the most timber used in any residential development in Europe” “What was significant about this fire was the speed at which it spread, giving residents little time to evacuate”, said Steve Elliott, Chairman of the British Association of Reinforcement. “Following on from the major fire in Barking earlier this year, this latest fire underlines the real dangers of timber frame construction”.

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Key appointments for Muckle LLP’s specialist construction team

The North East’s leading independent law firm for businesses Muckle LLP has promoted specialist Adam Aston to partner and recruited solicitor Sophie Crosby to its growing construction team. Adam, who joined Muckle as a trainee in 2006, advises on a diverse range of regional, national and international construction and engineering projects, as well as regularly running legal workshops and presenting legal updates to the construction industry. Sophie Crosby, a Northumbria University law graduate, joins the firm as a chartered legal executive and qualifies as a solicitor in September. She formerly worked for a national law firm, advising on disputes, and has considerable experience of drafting and negotiating commercial contracts following two-plus years as inhouse counsel at Stanley Black & Decker. The team is experiencing a strong period of growth, having advised on some of the region’s largest construction projects including the award-winning Urban Sciences Building, the Frederick Douglass Centre and the Catalyst at Newcastle Helix; various phases of the £200m Stephenson Quarter regeneration; and the 1.75-acre city centre Newgate Centre redevelopment. Muckle LLP’s construction lawyers work with clients from project inception through procurement and tender stages, contract negotiation and to completion. Where disputes arise, the team also advises on resolution through negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation as required. Lucilla Waugh, partner and head of the construction and engineering team, said: “We are delighted to announce these two appointments. Adam is an exceptionally talented commercial lawyer, greatly valued by our clients for his can-do attitude, technical skills and client service. He has a detailed understanding of the risk profile and market positions on the wide range of construction and engineering contracts and acts for all levels of the design and construction supply chain; employers, developers, contractors, consultants and sub-contractors. “Sophie brings additional experience and perspective to our team. We make a point of recruiting people who have something different about them, whether it is sector knowledge, extra skills or a different approach to service delivery, all of which Sophie has.” To find out more about the role of the construction team, please visit www.muckle–llp.com

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