Whitbread PLC, the UK’s leading hospitality company and owner of Premier Inn, has announced plans to expand its presence in Northern Ireland with the development of a new 81-bedroom Premier Inn hotel at Belfast International Airport. This move follows a recent agreement-for-lease with JHT Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of Northern
Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, is to deliver a further 608 homes across phases four and five of Eastern Green in Coventry, with half of them delivered in joint venture partnership with award-winning housing provider Citizen. Eastern Green is a sustainable urban extension of Coventry, with outline
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor specialising in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has announced the completion of the third project awarded to it under the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) highways framework contract. Major improvements on Dysart Road in Grantham,
B&Q has announced its plans to acquire five leasehold Homebase stores across the UK for a total investment of £2.5 million. This strategic move will add over 269,000 square feet of retail space to B&Q’s growing portfolio, cementing its position as a leader in the home improvement sector. A New
Sovereign Network Group (SNG) has completed the first homes built to its pioneering Homes and Place Standard at Moonhill Rise in Exeter. These groundbreaking properties exemplify SNG’s vision for sustainable, future-proof living and set a new benchmark for residential development in the UK. The Homes and Place Standard is a
Ocean House, once a high-rise office building, has been converted into a luxury residential complex, redefining urban living within a repurposed commercial space. This transformation included a full interior refurbishment, the addition of two extra floors and the installation of two new Stannah lifts, one of which is a firefighter
LEADING fit out and refurbishment main contractor Pexhurst has announced its target to achieve net zero across Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030. The announcement follows a period of extensive research, data analysis and planning, with the target awaiting validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) –
Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has completed works for the pivotal new centre for Students with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (The Gateway) at Nottingham College’s Basford campus. The Gateway is a new two-storey building providing bespoke facilities for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (SLDD). Opening to students in February
The success of the UK’s energy transition will rely on collaboration between businesses to maintain a robust supply chain, a global energy specialist has warned following the launch of its latest research. Aggreko has revealed in its latest report Rebalancing the Energy Transition that CEOs in the UK cite supply chain
Some projects require military style planning to ensure that work can be undertaken in short periods of access time, and this is absolutely the case at Milton Keynes Hospital where Ashe has been working on a £3.4m Salix funded project for Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (MKUH). In
Whitbread PLC, the UK’s leading hospitality company and owner of Premier Inn, has announced plans to expand its presence in Northern Ireland with the development of a new 81-bedroom Premier Inn hotel at Belfast International Airport. This move follows a recent agreement-for-lease with JHT Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of Northern Irish developer J H Turkington and Sons, signed in late December. The new hotel is set to open its doors in mid-2026, marking the latest addition to Whitbread’s growing portfolio of airport locations across the UK and Ireland. Building on Success This investment is part of a strategic drive to strengthen Premier Inn’s footprint in key travel hubs. Since September 2024, Whitbread has added over 550 bedrooms to its airport portfolio at Manchester, Edinburgh, and Belfast airports. In its core UK and Ireland market, the company currently operates more than 85,500 rooms across 855 locations, with ambitious plans to expand to 125,000 rooms in the coming years. Jill Anderson, Acquisition Manager for Whitbread, highlighted the importance of this latest development:“Securing such a prime location at Belfast International Airport reinforces our commitment to growing our network in key travel hubs across the UK and Ireland. The site offers an exceptional opportunity to serve the airport’s six million annual passengers, providing the quality, comfort, and affordability Premier Inn is known for.” Strategic Airport Location The new hotel will be situated at the junction of Airport Road, Antrim Road, and British Roads, directly opposite the airport’s long-stay car park and within easy walking distance of the terminal. Designed to meet the needs of modern travellers, the hotel will feature an on-site restaurant and bar, 125 dedicated parking spaces (including seven for mobility-impaired guests), and landscaped grounds with improved site access. Planning permission for the development was granted by the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in November 2024. Construction is expected to commence in 2025, with the project representing a £6 million investment (on a capitalised lease expenditure basis). Creating Local Opportunities The hotel is set to create around 30 permanent roles once operational, contributing to the local economy and offering employment opportunities in the hospitality sector. This development also signals Whitbread’s first new Premier Inn in Northern Ireland since the opening of its Lisburn location in 2019. Beyond Belfast, Whitbread is actively scouting for additional Premier Inn locations in Belfast City Centre, Enniskillen, and Newry, aiming to expand on its existing network of hotels in Bangor, Carrickfergus, Lisburn, and Derry/Londonderry. Looking Ahead The Belfast International Airport development underscores Whitbread’s commitment to addressing the increasing demand for quality, budget-friendly accommodation in Northern Ireland’s busiest travel hub. With millions of passengers passing through the airport annually, the new Premier Inn is set to play a key role in supporting the region’s growing tourism and travel sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, is to deliver a further 608 homes across phases four and five of Eastern Green in Coventry, with half of them delivered in joint venture partnership with award-winning housing provider Citizen. Eastern Green is a sustainable urban extension of Coventry, with outline planning permission in place for 2,400 homes and other community services. Vistry and Citizen are already developing phase one, which is providing 247 homes. Across phases four and five, 304 of the homes will be sold on the open market via Vistry’s retail housing brands, with 152 homes delivered for Citizen via the site’s Section 106 agreement, and the balance of 152 homes delivered as ‘additional’ affordable homes thanks to the joint venture partnership. Alongside the new homes, the Urban Extension at Eastern Green is providing 15ha of new employment space, 10,000 sq m of retail space, a primary school, a new local centre and a convenience store, as well as a range of ecological enhancements. James Warrington, Executive Chair at Vistry Group, said: “Continuing our joint venture with Citizen at Eastern Green is great example of Vistry’s long term partnerships strategy – it’s enabling us to provide more than 800 new homes across three phases, with 50% of them offered in affordable tenures and the remainder for sale with one of our retail housing brands, perfectly demonstrating the strengths of the Group.” Nick Byrne, Executive Director of Development at Citizen, said: “We’re pleased to be continuing our joint venture with Vistry and provide more affordable and market sale homes for people living in the West Midlands. “At Citizen we have an ambitious development programme to build homes to meet the needs of our region and we also work with our partners, including Vistry, to make a positive difference to our customers and communities. “We’re looking forward to seeing work at Eastern Green in Coventry continue building on our existing presence in the area.” Tim Roberts, CEO at Henry Boot, commented: “This sale to Vistry is a significant transaction for Hallam, executing the phased sale of the wider Pickford Gate site according to plan, which will create thousands of much needed new homes in the area. It also highlights the continued demand for prime sites from leading national housebuilders.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor specialising in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has announced the completion of the third project awarded to it under the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) highways framework contract. Major improvements on Dysart Road in Grantham, Lincolnshire, were completed a month ahead of schedule on 20th December, marking the end of a four-month reconstruction effort which has included the junctions of adjoining side roads. This project has spanned two-kilometres, from Dysart Road’s junction with Sankt Augustin Way to the A1 overbridge, and has been delivered under the General Works Lot contract, which aims to improve infrastructure assets across Lincolnshire over a four-year period. Winvic has excavated and rebuilt the entire two-kilometre road in sections, redeveloped the carriageway, resurfaced and created new pathways using nearly 8,000 tonnes of material. Additionally, Winvic completed comprehensive drainage, kerbing, and channel repairs, and refreshed carriageway markings. To ensure public safety a westbound one-way closure on Dysart Road was in place throughout the works, along with a combination of daytime and night-time road closures towards the end of the project. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure, commented: “We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of our third highways project under the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) highways framework. “The delivery of Dysart Road’s major reconstruction is a testament to our team’s expertise, efficiency and commitment to excellence. Delivered effectively, ahead of schedule, and with minimal disruption to the local community, this achievement highlights our dedication to providing transformative infrastructure upgrades that bring tangible benefits to both local communities and road users. “We are proud to have exceeded expectations on all three associated projects – A16 Marsh Lane, Boston; Newland, Lincoln; and now Dysart Road, Grantham. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with LCC and working on further infrastructure advancements for Lincolnshire.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news, and job vacancies, please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (formerly Twitter) @WinvicLtd and LinkedIn. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
B&Q has announced its plans to acquire five leasehold Homebase stores across the UK for a total investment of £2.5 million. This strategic move will add over 269,000 square feet of retail space to B&Q’s growing portfolio, cementing its position as a leader in the home improvement sector. A New Chapter for B&Q The five stores, located in Altrincham, Basingstoke, Biggleswade, Leamington Spa, and Worcester, will undergo a transformation as they are converted to the B&Q brand. Subject to landlord approvals, the transaction is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of Kingfisher’s 2025/26 financial year. Store conversions are scheduled to begin in spring 2025, with completion anticipated by the year’s end. This acquisition follows B&Q’s recent expansion into Ireland, where it acquired three Homebase stores in late 2024, adding over 100,000 square feet of retail space. Excitement at the Helm Graham Bell, CEO of B&Q, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition:“We’re thrilled to be adding these five stores to our network, bringing a total of eight new sites to our footprint in the UK and Ireland. Our goal is to offer home improvers the convenience and choice they deserve, and we’re committed to transforming these stores to meet those needs. It’s a fantastic way to kick off 2025, and we look forward to welcoming our new customers and colleagues to the B&Q family.” A Response to Market Changes The move comes after Homebase faced significant financial difficulties, entering administration in November 2024. This led to 74 of its stores being placed on the market. B&Q’s strategic acquisition highlights its adaptability and determination to seize growth opportunities in a shifting retail landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sovereign Network Group (SNG) has completed the first homes built to its pioneering Homes and Place Standard at Moonhill Rise in Exeter. These groundbreaking properties exemplify SNG’s vision for sustainable, future-proof living and set a new benchmark for residential development in the UK. The Homes and Place Standard is a market-leading framework developed to assess quality and ensure every project prioritises sustainability, health, wellbeing and community creation. SNG designed Moonhill Rise to inform what “good” looks like across all its projects, both existing homes and new schemes, allowing further analysis to improve the home and place for SNG customers. It drives the approach to quality, urban design and SNG’s range of house types, and is now embedded across the organisation at all levels, from new build to retrofit. All new build properties designed under the Homes and Place Standard follow a fabric-first approach, specifying the most environmentally friendly materials and technologies to minimise energy usage. The first homes at Moonhill Rise are part of a new portfolio of standard house and apartment types that have delivered greater than 75% carbon reduction, meeting the forthcoming requirements of the Future Homes Standard. The homes are therefore warmer when required, healthier, cheaper to run and better for the customers’ environment. Moonhill Rise includes 33 Shared Ownership homes in a range of two, three, and four-bedroom house types. From the outset, all elements of the design were benchmarked against a set of demanding measures that include energy efficiency, cost-of-living, connectivity, health and wellbeing. The result is properties designed with the needs of modern living in mind, exceeding national space standards, designed for adapting living arrangements and providing generous storage to ensure both comfort and practicality. The homes feature large windows that allow more natural light to the interiors, contributing to a sense of well-being and creating uplifting living spaces. Rolling out the implementation of the Homes and Place Standard comes at a transformative time for SNG. The group, which was formed from the merger of Sovereign Housing Association and Network Homes in October 2023, delivered 2,100 homes in 2023/4 and has set the ambitious target of delivering 25,000 homes by 2033. Richard Young, Technical Director at Sovereign Network Group, commented: “The completion of the first homes built to the Homes and Place Standard at Moonhill Rise is a proud milestone for Sovereign Network Group and a testament to our commitment to raising the bar in housing design and quality. By putting customer needs at the heart of our work, we’re not just building homes, we’re building better futures for our residents and the communities they live in.” Sustainability has been embedded into every aspect of these new homes. They are constructed from timber frame and equipped with solar panels, air source heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging points, making them highly energy efficient and environmentally friendly. In addition to focusing on individual homes, the development has been designed to foster community connections, with thoughtfully planned communal spaces including local play areas, encouraging interaction among residents. New residents Chirag and Zeel Shah who recently moved into their new homes at Moonhill Rise commented: “The attention to detail in these homes is like nothing we’ve seen before. Our home feels so spacious and the large windows bring in so much light, something we’ve been particularly grateful for this winter. The Shared Ownership option also made owning a home like this possible for us, which is amazing.” The Homes and Place Standard is now embedded across SNG, informing every decision from urban design to individual building specifications. By setting a benchmark for quality and liveability, SNG ensures its developments will remain places people are proud to call home. The standards will continue to evolve over time, ensuring that SNG continues to build places that truly work for people. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ocean House, once a high-rise office building, has been converted into a luxury residential complex, redefining urban living within a repurposed commercial space. This transformation included a full interior refurbishment, the addition of two extra floors and the installation of two new Stannah lifts, one of which is a firefighter lift. Located in Saint Leonards-on-Sea, the building now features 84 high-quality self-contained apartments with a mix of one and two bedrooms. The lift solution for Ocean House was designed by Stannah at the request of building contractor DRG Solutions. The project was initiated by Elmsbrook, a company renowned for acquiring office buildings and converting them into premium residential housing. Work Stannah installed two 8-person passenger lifts, one of which is a firefighter lift, into existing building lift shafts to service the newly extended 14th floor. Stannah collaborated with DRG Solutions, which handled the shaft extensions and existing lift removals. Following this, Stannah carried out detailed preparatory work, including a full dimensional survey of the lift shaft and producing building work drawings to guide necessary modifications. As a result, DRG Solutions adjusted the shafts to align with the new lift dimensions, facilitating a smoother installation. When the original building was used as offices it had four lifts, so two of the now redundant lift shafts were repurposed for A.O.V. (Automatic Opening Ventilation) and electrical risers, maximising the use of the existing infrastructure. Additional building work included a full strip-out of the former office interiors, installation of a new roof, aluminium windows, upgraded electrical systems and new plumbing. The project also added external lighting and an evacuation alert control system to meet modern safety standards. Challenge The primary challenge was to complete the lift installation within a very tight schedule and at an early stage of the project works. Therefore, Stannah maximised labour efficiency, deploying two teams to work safely in the confined space of the lift shafts and carefully managed schedules while still delivering a high-quality installation. Due to the nature of the installation and extremely narrow shafts, the health and safety of on-site team members was a priority. To make the space more accessible, Stannah opted for 2.5-metre guide rails instead of the standard 5-metre guides. This allowed for easier handling and installation, reducing the physical constraints that installers face in tight lift shafts. Another challenge was the complexity of low lintel heights above the lift doors. To address this, Stannah proposed a solution that involved pushing the lifts further into the shaft, effectively allowing the doors to fit without modifying the lintels or risking damage to the building’s original structure. A 25mm ramp was also added to the firefighting lift to reposition the lift entrance without compromising structural integrity, minimising the need for further building works. Solution Due to the age of the existing lifts, a modernisation would not be cost-effective, so Stannah recommended a complete lift replacement. Stannah proposed the installation of two 8-person stainless steel firefighter and MRL (Motor Room Less) traction passenger lifts both with a weight capacity of 630 kg. The MRL lifts are equipped with gearless variable voltage drives offering a smooth and energy-efficient operation providing a reliable performance over time. The new lifts comply with EN81-73 standards, which ensure safe shutdown in the event of a fire and include firefighting controls for enhanced occupant safety. The lift is also equipped with a car preference key switch, allowing it to ignore external landing calls during an emergency and respond solely to commands from firefighters within the lift car. Both lifts span a travel height of 43.63 metres and operate at a speed of 1.6 metres per second, enabling quick and smooth access across all 14 floors. With the end user in mind, Stannah prioritised accessibility and durability in the lift’s design. The use of high-quality stainless steel and automatic, two-panel side-opening doors make the lift both robust and easily accessible. This facilitates the efficient movement of residents throughout the building with a commitment to delivering a premium and safe lift system. The results The lift solution provided by Stannah focused on accessibility, safety and operational efficiency. Stannah delivered a tailored lift system that perfectly aligned with the project’s logistical needs and design specifications. By proactively addressing potential challenges and maintaining close coordination with all teams, Stannah successfully integrated two new lifts into the existing building structure ahead of schedule and within budget. To ensure aesthetic appeal and a robust lift solution, Stannah incorporated stainless steel car finishes, Selcom Midi car door operators were selected for both lifts to create a cohesive and durable lift system that exceeded the client’s expectations. To avoid frequent misuse, Stannah recommended the installation of CCTV within the lift cars and lobbies. In response, additionally, Stannah has implemented 24/7 service coverage, offering prompt support and ensuring the lifts’ continuous operation. The combination of the passenger and firefighter lifts provided a practical solution, transforming the building into a highly desirable residential space with step-free access to all areas. Larry Power, Passenger Lift Sales Managerat Stannah said: “As a returning client, we are thrilled to have collaborated closely with DRG Solutions to provide step-free access to this luxurious high-rise residential building. “Effective communication was crucial throughout the project, especially as we worked alongside other on-site teams to meet tight deadlines. Thanks to strong coordination, the dedication of our on-site team and careful management of health and safety, we were able to complete the installation four weeks ahead of schedule.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING fit out and refurbishment main contractor Pexhurst has announced its target to achieve net zero across Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030. The announcement follows a period of extensive research, data analysis and planning, with the target awaiting validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) – an external verification process of near-term targets to ensure they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as outlined by the Paris Agreement 2015. Having established its 2023 financial year as the baseline for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, the contractor has been able to plan for, set and now announce an ambitious absolute net zero target for these emissions. Between now and 2030, Pexurst has an intermediate target to achieve a 40% reduction in emissions by 2027. This journey has been captured in its new Carbon Reduction Plan, to be published soon, detailing its plan for a sustainable future by addressing each component of its footprint, the solutions to decarbonise them and timings for when changes will occur. Stuart Byles, director at Pexhurst, said: “As a responsible contractor, announcing a net zero target for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions is a very important moment in our own efforts to tackle climate change. There were many sources of inspiration during this process, such as our progressive commitment to sustainability and the equally ambitious net zero targets set by our clients – without forgetting how the changes will reduce our environmental impact amid a climate emergency. “The announcement of our net zero target follows a significant period of hard work to ensure we are ambitious but also realistic. The Pexhurst Junior Board deserves recognition for its role in this process, but also our sustainability coordinator Luca Sidoli – who has brought new ideas to the table along with the enthusiasm needed to ensure everyone at Pexhurst understands and embraces change. The journey we are embarking on will involve everyone within the business, which makes me proud to have such a strong cohort of passionate and vocal sustainability advocates.” By 2030, Pexhurst aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 90% in relation to the 2023 baseline year, followed by the carbon removal of the remaining 10%. Some of the measures Pexhurst aim to introduce to achieve its target include transitioning to electric-powered plant and fleet vehicles, as well as substituting diesel with hydrogenated vegetable oil and implementing renewable energy tariffs wherever possible. Luca Sidoli, sustainability coordinator at Pexhurst, said: “Sustainability is a huge and complex challenge that we all face, which means that education must be ongoing. Part of our net zero target strategy includes continued training on carbon impact and emissions, starting as early as the Pexhurst onboarding process, as well as supporting our staff on the operational changes required to make reductions in our emissions. “As we move forward, we will be doing everything we can to make sustainability an accessible topic – to continue inspiring, motivating and proving that urgent change is achievable. Beyond the Pexhurst team, we will be ensuring that our supply chain and clients are able to engage with us on the topic of net zero so that we are also contributing to their ambitions.” Pexhurst also understands the significance and size of its Scope 3 emissions. Therefore, it is currently undergoing a screening process with the aim of generating a complete dataset of its material categories, which will allow the contractor to begin developing a reduction plan for these emissions. To learn more about Pexhurst’s baseline year emissions and what the business has already achieved during its sustainability journey, read its Sustainability Statement for the 2023/24 reporting period: www.pexhurst.co.uk/pexhurst-sustainability-statement-2023-24 To learn more about Pexhurst, visit www.pexhurst.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has completed works for the pivotal new centre for Students with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (The Gateway) at Nottingham College’s Basford campus. The Gateway is a new two-storey building providing bespoke facilities for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (SLDD). Opening to students in February 2025, it comprises 13 classrooms, a teaching kitchen, dining area and ancillary spaces across a gross internal floor area of 1,350m2, as well as associated external works to the grounds. A major build for the Nottingham College portfolio, The Gateway was procured via Pagabo’s Medium Works Framework and is one of two major new additions to the college’s Basford campus that G F Tomlinson has worked on this year. The contractor completed the Construction Skills Centre (CSC) in November – a new build specialist facility offering flexible teaching and learning spaces to help meet the growing need for training for construction skilled trades in the local area. Both buildings are designed to align with the Department for Education’s (DfE) output specification and support the sustainability ambitions of Nottingham College, working towards becoming carbon zero by 2030. G F Tomlinson provided £2.1m of Social Value Added opportunities for the local community. This included organised site visits, regular newsletters and career talks with students from the college. 791 local student engagements, 187.5 hours of work experience placements and 48 apprentice weeks equating to 1,804 apprentice hours were provided. Other social value initiatives included partnering with local SME’s Eastledge Ltd, JR Howitt Decorators, Morecroft Electrical Ltd, Optimus Architectural Ltd, SDS Metalwork, Telling Finishings Ltd, Vision Joinery Ltd and William Bailey Ltd where we collectively made a much-needed contribution to the Remar Nottingham Community Kitchen Foodbank, donating £300 worth of essential food items to assist local families in need. The scheme incorporates several sustainability elements such as the installation of 106 PV panels, four air source heat pumps and high spec insulation meaning the new building needs much less energy to heat, and water wastage will be reduced due to state-of-the-art tap and plumbing solutions. During the project, 774 miles were driven using low-emission vehicles and 79% local labour and 76% local spend was achieved within 20 miles of site. 1.5 tonnes of waste materials were rescued from the waste stream and 100% of site waste was recycled, aligning with the target of offsetting carbon during the project, in line with the Government’s Net Zero agenda. Adrian Grocock, Group Managing Director of G F Tomlinson, said: “Building on our extensive experience within the Education sector, we’re pleased to have completed two pivotal educational schemes for Nottingham College, procured through the Pagabo National Framework for Medium Works. “The Gateway will provide much-needed facilities to support the learning and development of SLDD students at the Basford campus, and alongside the Construction Skills Centre (CSC), we’re delighted to have played a critical role in bringing these landmark buildings to fruition.” Carl Ara, Assistant Principal – Basford, said: “We are delighted with the new facilities at The Gateway, a purpose-built, dedicated space designed to support our students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This exceptional facility includes a wonderful outdoor sensory garden for students to enjoy, offering a calming and engaging environment. The interior spaces are currently being designed, and we are thrilled about the creative and functional features being incorporated. Once complete, The Gateway will be an inspiring, inclusive space where our supported learning students can truly thrive and reach their full potential.” Adam Brumfitt, East Midlands Regional Delivery Manager at Pagabo said “Having supported the client in navigating the challenges associated with the procurement of these projects including tight timescales, the outcomes resulting from the appointment of GF Tomlinson for both projects via our Medium Works framework are great to see”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The success of the UK’s energy transition will rely on collaboration between businesses to maintain a robust supply chain, a global energy specialist has warned following the launch of its latest research. Aggreko has revealed in its latest report Rebalancing the Energy Transition that CEOs in the UK cite supply chain main risk to the energy transition, followed by lack of investment and access to technology. This concern over the impact of supply chain comes as the UK government has reaffirmed its commitment to renewable energy production and infrastructure through the establishment of Clean Power 2030. The new initiative is aimed at overcoming barriers and accelerating progress on energy projects, including the recent plans to give approval power for onshore wind projects over 100MW to government ministers[1] over local authorities. Clearly, successful rollout of infrastructure for renewable energy production and transmission, along with the energy transition of businesses across the UK, will require innovative ways of thinking within the energy supply chain. Aggreko’s research showed that ambition around the energy transition among energy intensive businesses is also strong, with eight in 10 UK CEOs stating they will increase investment in the energy transition over the next 12 months. Though nine in ten (or 9 in 10) UK respondents cited they have adjusted timescales around energy transition targets, the UK has the highest proportion of CEOs (52%) across the countries surveyed that stated they have only adjusted short term goals and remain on track for net zero targets. With ambition from businesses matching that of the government in terms of sustainability targets, Aggreko is highlighting how the entire supply chain must work together to ensure a successful energy transition. Alan Dunne, UK and Ireland Managing Director at Aggreko, said: “With continued uncertainty around energy cost and resilience, businesses in the UK are facing the challenge of balancing profitability and sustainability. Much like the government and its Clean Energy 2030, UK businesses remain ambitious in making their energy transitions. However, our research has found that barriers and challenges still remain, even though the ambition to fund the energy transition is there. “High energy costs and fluctuating energy security and resilience has continued to be a challenge for businesses, however, supply chain issues are clearly the biggest risk posed to energy transitions in the eyes of leaders. To overcome all of these challenges at once, it is imperative that businesses engage with expert partners across the supply chain to identify practical ways to reach ESG goals while keeping operations efficient and profitable.” As the UK continues to develop renewable energy production and infrastructure, the report highlights the challenges around striking the right balance between commercial and ESG ambitions with energy procurement. A key part of this is working closely within the energy supply chain to assess requirements and challenges to choose the most practical solution to deliver efficiency and environmental benefits. Providing the latest efficient technologies through its Greener Upgrades portfolio, such as battery energy storage solutions and Stage V generators, is a central part of Aggreko’s sustainability framework Energising Change Dunne continued: “Making a success of the energy transition relies heavily on businesses having the right technologies and solutions for their requirements, along with the expertise to implement it correctly. While reliable energy supply and stable costs remain in the balance for the UK, working with expert energy supply partners can provide businesses with this to provide resilience and cost efficiency throughout the energy transition.” For more information and to read Rebalancing the Energy Transition, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Some projects require military style planning to ensure that work can be undertaken in short periods of access time, and this is absolutely the case at Milton Keynes Hospital where Ashe has been working on a £3.4m Salix funded project for Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (MKUH). In order to meet efficiency targets the hospital building, which was constructed in 1984, needed to replace its single glazed windows with thermally efficient double glazing. Many of the windows are on occupied hospital wards each with eight beds. Without the capacity to decant an entire ward to another space, the project has been undertaken in live wards with only the patients from the two beds nearest the windows being relocated during the works. Window of opportunity Contracts manager, Steve Cockram, explains the challenges on a project of this type: “We only got one day to cordon off each area to the safety and hygiene standards required by the hospital which takes around two hours. We then removed the existing windows, installed the new windows, clearing any debris and cleansing the area to high clinical hygiene standards ready for patients to move back into the bay by the end of the day.” A major challenge was upgrading the windows in the hospital’s shop. The shelving and refrigerators were all positioned against the windows which had to be moved from the working area, old windows removed, new windows installed, then all returned to their original positions, in one working day, whilst the shop remained open to the public. Steve continues: “Despite the best programming, it was inevitable that some wards would not be available as planned due to emergencies, therefore it was decided that all of the new windows would be ordered and stored within easy access of the site so that we could pivot quickly to work in another part of the building should access be denied.” This plan B approach made Ashe so efficient that the team actually shaved four weeks off the original schedule which was due to complete in mid-October. In total 456 windows, 22 doors and a curtain wall have been installed. Precision timing Extensive mechanical and electrical works have also been carried out providing new energy efficient air handling units (AHU) to ensure clean ventilation. The AHUs serve four of the main operating theatres at the hospital, so timescales were crucial in achieving theatre re-commissioning. The trust required three months’ notice for the start of the works to allow for closures to be communicated to staff, and operations to be scheduled appropriately. Each theatre was shut down for three weeks at a time, with the handover of each AHU and theatre allowing access into another theatre. Ashe adhered to these strict timescales and managed to complete the AHU works to operating theatres also ahead of programme. Ashe has also installed the services in preparation for the upgrade of the steam generation for the hospital’s autoclave sterilisation system. The works will enable the hospital to transition from gas-powered to an electrically-heated system, to make it more energy efficient. Careful co-ordination with the hospital was required so that one of the four main entrances could be closed for two days to allow use of a crane to access the plant room. Signage and barriers also had to be of a high standard. The project forms part of the hospital’s Greener Future plans having secured £4.8m of funding from the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme which aims to reduce emissions from public sector buildings by 75%. The project was procured under the Pagabo Medium Works Framework. This is one of several healthcare projects Ashe is currently undertaking which includes creating a new community diagnostic centre in the heart of the city, for MKUH. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
