SHARC Energy Systems, a UK-based green energy firm, has secured the support of the ENGIE Regeneration teams to collaborate on developing opportunities for integrating SHARC technology into their established heat network portfolio, as well as creating new opportunities to partner on the development of standalone low carbon district heating networks.
The skills shortage in the construction industry is set to increase as the Brexit deadline inches closer. 78% of contractors already admit to skills shortages in their teams and this is said to increase as a large percentage of the workforce is made up of migrant workers. For construction companies, the need
Flats to be demolished by Rhodar after standing empty for over 10 years. Rhodar, a leading specialist enabling works provider, has won a high-profile, competitive tender process, which will see it demolish three 18 storey tower blocks that have stood empty for over 10 years. As part of plans to
Drone technology is enhancing every stage of the construction process from tasks, such as; bid submissions, stakeholder engagement and surveying, to site surveillance and maintenance. The implementation of drone technology enables Waldeck to deliver benefits, like never before, to Contractors delivering large-scale construction projects throughout the UK. THE BENEFITS Health
David Pratt has been appointed as Building Control Manager of Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP). He brings nearly 30 years of experience to the role, having previously held building inspector roles at Chesterfield Borough Council and most recently Mansfield District Council. David is the latest new appointment for DBCP which
FOUR years after starting on site, the design teams behind the purpose-built £320 million Waterside Campus for the University of Northampton have completed the project. The scheme which houses six new academic buildings on a 58-acre former brownfield site has been one of the biggest of its kind in the
Scotland’s largest building preservation company, Richardson and Starling, is today announcing its latest expansion with the opening of a new office in Inverness. 7 new posts are being created with the company actively recruiting from the local area. The firm is seeking 5 technicians and a property surveyor to join
Steelwork has been erected as the construction of a £14million industrial/warehouse development in Northamptonshire continues to make good progress. Main contractor MCS Group has been appointed by St Francis Group in joint venture with the Richardson family to deliver five units totalling 270,000 sq ft at Cransley Park, Kettering. Construction
460,000 houses being planned for land that will be released from the Green Belt, while the percentage of ‘affordable’ homes built continues to fall The Green Belt remains under severe pressure, despite government commitments to its protection, according to a new report from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
Award-winning developer Crest Nicholson has submitted a Reserved Matters Application for 192 homes and landscaped public open space at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire. Located on the former airfield to the north west of Huntingdon, Crest Nicholson will become the fifth housebuilder to join the growing development of over 5,000 homes.
SHARC Energy Systems, a UK-based green energy firm, has secured the support of the ENGIE Regeneration teams to collaborate on developing opportunities for integrating SHARC technology into their established heat network portfolio, as well as creating new opportunities to partner on the development of standalone low carbon district heating networks. ENGIE UK & Ireland announced a ‘Call for Projects’ in February saying it was looking to identify innovative projects and solutions for the recovery of heat from wastewater / sewage and SHARC was confirmed as one of two successful bidders in May. SHARC Energy Systems has already started discussions with ENGIE about projects and opportunities within ENGIE’s asset portfolio. The announcement comes at a time when the appetite for decentralised energy services in the UK is growing, with more focus being placed on the use of renewable technologies that continue to de-carbonise the energy supply for UK residents and businesses. Earlier this month the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) issued its infrastructure assessment report https://www.nic.org.uk/assessment/national-infrastructure-assessment/executive-summary/ which states that “the UK must take decisive action to have world-class infrastructure” and carries a core principle that half of the UK’s power will be provided by renewables by 2030. Alongside the NIC report, the recently published UNESCO report – “Waste Water: The Untapped Resource” http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/wwap/wwdr/2017-wastewater-the-untapped-resource/ shows how the macro market surrounding SHARC’s energy solutions is developing and how the value of this sustainable resource can be harnessed for the benefit of future generations. Russ Burton, SHARC’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are delighted to have won the support of the ENGIE Regeneration team and are looking forward to working with them to develop our service and solutions with them. “The team at SHARC have been tireless in their efforts to champion and promote the value of the waste heat that runs through our sewage lines every day and we are encouraged by the vision and enthusiasm that ENGIE is demonstrating in supporting our activities.” Ben Watts, Innovation and Solutions Director at ENGIE, said: “The Call for Projects process provides ENGIE with access to a wealth of start-ups and SMEs in the UK and globally in areas of strategic importance to the UK business unit. The decarbonisation of heat is a nationally important issue which ENGIE is looking to solve at a local level. We are delighted that SHARC entered this call and we look forward to developing projects together.”
The skills shortage in the construction industry is set to increase as the Brexit deadline inches closer. 78% of contractors already admit to skills shortages in their teams and this is said to increase as a large percentage of the workforce is made up of migrant workers. For construction companies, the need to make use of sub-contractors is on the increase, which means risk management is essential to ensure site security. For contractors, a back-to-basics approach is necessary, coupled with innovative tech, to keep safety standards high during this critical phase just before the March 29, 2019 deadline. Ongoing training and updates on safety drills Construction companies that have a healthy approach to construction safety and those who embrace it, also enjoy a better retention of staff. At the heart of construction site safety, is the Construction Safety Officer. This person is responsible for ensuring that the construction site follows the laid-down policies and guidelines in construction site safety and also to remain abreast of new trends in construction safety. This then needs to be relayed to the workers in order to ensure they’re fully aware of the requirements, and regular safety drills are essential. Regular maintenance and upgrade of equipment Old, rickety and rusty scaffolding and equipment can be detrimental to a construction site. If repairs and maintenance are done in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, this will extend the life of the equipment which means replacement might not be necessary. However, as the incident in Qatar recently revealed proper maintenance of equipment is essential in ensuring the equipment is capable of performing the task at hand. If both corrective and preventative maintenance had been performed on the hoists used during the construction of the 2022 World Cup soccer stadium, the outcome for Mr. Cox might have been different. Steps the owner of the hoists would have followed during maintenance include: Regularly scheduled maintenance Maintenance after faults were discovered Condition-based maintenance, and more. Safety before deadlines Although meeting construction targets are important to keep projects going and shareholders happy, it should never be at the risk of the safety of the workers. Time schedules should work in accordance with regulations to ensure workers are not overworked and fatigued. Companies who do not comply with this face serious implications that could shut their doors, never mind halt the progress on their projects. Recent fatalities on constructions sites managed by a Chinese developer, resulted in over 2,200 projects halted as inquiries continue. Not only do officials at the company face serious charges, but they’ve also potentially lost millions in projects. This also means thousands of workers had to down tools and be without income to sustain their families. The safety on construction sites is not only crucial to meet the satisfaction of the regulatory bodies, but also improve the work life of staff. Regular maintenance also plays a big role in ensuring site safety.
Flats to be demolished by Rhodar after standing empty for over 10 years. Rhodar, a leading specialist enabling works provider, has won a high-profile, competitive tender process, which will see it demolish three 18 storey tower blocks that have stood empty for over 10 years. As part of plans to regenerate a key area of Halifax in Calderdale, Rhodar has been appointed by Together Housing Group, one of the country’s largest social landlords, to clear the Beech Hill estate site, which is currently occupied by Cobden Court, Blenheim Court and Westbrook Court. Up to 80 Rhodar operatives are scheduled to work on the internal strip out and subsequent top down deconstruction of the tower blocks, along with a 65-metre super high reach excavator, of which only a handful exist in the UK. The excavator will remove approximately 10 storeys from each block, allowing further high reach kit to demolish the remaining structures. Four excavators ranging from 21 to 40 tonnes will be on hand to process site materials and the existing concrete and rubble will be recycled on site into a specific engineered fill material that will then be used to create a development platform for the next level of regeneration. This will contribute to a significantly reduced carbon footprint for the project by minimising vehicle movements in and around the project area. Rhodar will also utilise special water jets attached directly to the demolition equipment in addition to state-of-the-art mist cannons to mitigate dust migration generated from the demolition works. The £6m+ project win coincided with the company’s recent rebrand in June of this year. Rhodar’s new brand formally showcases its ability to provide an end-to-end specialist enabling works solution for the construction industry, offering asbestos removal, demolition and remediation services. The regeneration of Beech Hill is part of the Calderdale Together Investment Partnership, a partnership between Together Housing and Calderdale Council, which aims to deliver 500 affordable homes over the next five years, including new homes at the Beech Hill site, as well at other sites across Calderdale. Jason Davy, managing director at Rhodar, said: “This is an important milestone for our business as it will be the first major enabling works package we have undertaken since our corporate rebrand last month, and it’s extremely rewarding for our teams to be working on such a prestigious and high-profile regeneration scheme.” George Paterson, group director of Property Services at Together Housing Group, said: “I, like many people in Halifax, will be delighted to see new, affordable homes replace these outdated tower blocks. This is part of our commitment to address the housing crisis in West Yorkshire where the average home is now seven times the average salary.” The site clearance is expected to take 64 weeks with main demolition works commencing in January 2019.
Drone technology is enhancing every stage of the construction process from tasks, such as; bid submissions, stakeholder engagement and surveying, to site surveillance and maintenance. The implementation of drone technology enables Waldeck to deliver benefits, like never before, to Contractors delivering large-scale construction projects throughout the UK. THE BENEFITS Health & Safety Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved Need for working at height is eliminated Our drones include fail-safe systems We use flight stabilisation technology management systems Efficiencies Large areas covered in a fraction of the time Quick turnaround of data captured and processed Reduced time on site minimising operation downtime Collaboration Shareable digital data Data which is instantly available in 3D Project risks are reduced WHAT DRONES CAN DO FOR YOU… Getting a Head Start Capturing data through drones enables a contextual review of the site and its environment, as well as facilitating earthworks and volume based analysis, and terrain topography. Once the project moves forward into detailed design, this survey data can inform the basis of the 3D project models. Stakeholder Engagement Visualisations enhance stakeholder engagement and enable a true understanding of a site before work commences. Waldeck’s use of drones enables our team to create visualisations and montages which are becoming continually important for the bid and tender process. Data Capture to Model Waldeck’s drones gather data which is far richer and much more detailed than traditional methods. We utilise our in-house expertise to enable the quick translation of the data captured into detailed 3D models for use on anything from; analysis of existing structures to project monitoring and verification. Estimate and Measure Waldeck’s drones capture high quality images which are then processed and interrogated to measure distances, heights and volumes from a site. As well as measuring the area of a site, we can provide an accurate estimate of materials required, managing costs from the outset. Progressive Surveillance Waldeck’s team use drones to progressively capture live sites and construction activities, which mitigates project risks by enabling a direct comparison between the design model and current programme at key milestones, ensuring projects are delivered on time. We are also able to create impressive completed project profile captures. Facilities Management Waldeck’s remote drones provide our clients with a cost-effective, high quality alternative to traditional surveys. They are equipped with high definition cameras which can capture picture perfect images of existing sites allowing us to prepare bespoke reporting maintenance schedules. The application of drone technology on projects and programmes enables Waldeck to enhance all aspects of the design and build process. To find out more about our drone offering, please see our Digital Surveying offering here or speak to one of the team on 08450 990285.
David Pratt has been appointed as Building Control Manager of Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP). He brings nearly 30 years of experience to the role, having previously held building inspector roles at Chesterfield Borough Council and most recently Mansfield District Council. David is the latest new appointment for DBCP which was formed last year following the merger of six established Local Authority Building Control Services from Derby City Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Bolsover District Council and Amber Valley Borough Council. Within the role, David will be active in marketing DBCP’s services and offering to builders, property owners and architects throughout the region. He will also be implementing the industry-recognised ISO:9001 quality management system across the organisation’s offices at Friar Gate in Derby and Chesterfield. Commenting on his new role, David said: “I am excited to join such a forward thinking organisation. DBCP is really going places and the implementation of ISO:9001 will further streamline processes and services across both of DBCP’s offices to deliver greater efficiency to our customers. “DBCP is very much a customer-centric organisation, committed to doing things the right way and looking after the customer. It was these values that attracted me to both the role and DBCP. “There is a great team here and we have a very exciting journey ahead of us to achieve our aim of being the number one choice for building control in the region.” Prior to becoming a building inspector, David began his career as an apprentice site joiner, progressing to the role of bench joiner and kitchen fitter before making the move to building control after 10 years. He added: “I have had experience of building control on the other side of the fence, so I understand the importance of building good relationships with builders, architects and property owners. I share DBCP’s focus in ensuring the best possible outcome for all parties involved in a project – it’s why I love what I do so much.” Outside work, David enjoys gardening and is soon to be a grandad. To learn more about DBCP or to book an inspection, please visit www.dbcp.co.uk or call 0333 880 2000.
FOUR years after starting on site, the design teams behind the purpose-built £320 million Waterside Campus for the University of Northampton have completed the project. The scheme which houses six new academic buildings on a 58-acre former brownfield site has been one of the biggest of its kind in the higher education sector. CPMG Architects, experts in higher education campus transformation, led on the delivery of three campus buildings – the Creative Hub, Senate Building and Logistics Hub – which form half of the university’s new academic buildings. Chris White, director at CPMG said: “This multi-million-pound scheme is a complex development delivered with true collaboration between consultant partners and contracting teams. We’re proud to be part of the team to deliver this ambitious project and these three important buildings.” The four-storey senate building acts as the corporate and research centre hosting guest lectures, exhibitions and events within its teaching spaces, large lecture hall and impressive atria. The dramatic roof creates a bold entrance to the campus and shapes its impact on the wider environment. The Creative Hub will be home to the university’s art and design faculties. With art studios, specialist teaching spaces, media spaces and laboratories; the building’s stripped back and open-plan structure allows visitors unrestricted views of the River Nene. A Logistics Hub has also been completed, housing the university’s infrastructure team which is vital in supporting the campus activity as facilities continue to develop onsite. Chris continued: “We have a wealth of experience in the higher education sector, so we understood the challenges and requirements of delivering a modern estate that is fit for the future. Now the project is complete I’m confident it will be a catalyst to support Northampton’s wider regeneration programme and will be one of the UK’s most vibrant student communities.” CPMG Architects worked with Bowmer & Kirkland on the new campus which will provide world-class teaching and learning facilities for 15,000 students. The new campus also features a Learning Hub, Research and Enterprise Hub, Sports Hub, students’ union, cafes, a restaurant, retail space and student residences. Chris added: “Since our involvement on the project, the whole approach to delivering the campus has been one of collaboration between the architectural practices involved and the wider consultant team, both on the contractor and client sides of the development.” The university previously occupied two campuses located outside of the city; Waterside aims to become a new destination for the university’s students – amalgamating the existing two sites to create one central location. CPMG has more than 30 years’ worth of experience in the education sector – evolving alongside the developing industry. The firm has recently completed projects at University of Derby, Teesside University and Cranfield University – with designs ranging from aerospace research facilities and labs to students’ unions and libraries. Find out more about CPMG at www.cpmg-architects.com or join the conversation @CPMGArchitects
Scotland’s largest building preservation company, Richardson and Starling, is today announcing its latest expansion with the opening of a new office in Inverness. 7 new posts are being created with the company actively recruiting from the local area. The firm is seeking 5 technicians and a property surveyor to join an administrator who is already in place. The premises at Henderson Drive will service Inverness and the Highlands and takes the company’s branch network to 13 across Scotland and the North of England. “There is a strong market for our services in Inverness and the Highlands with a high demand to use local-based companies,” said Richardson & Starling’s managing director, Graham Duncan. “Until now we have serviced the area from our Elgin office but we are keen to work more closely with local suppliers, so setting up an Inverness office was the next obvious step for us.” In July, the firm won a national trade body’s UK contractor of the year title for the record third successive year The Cambuslang-headquartered organisation retained the ‘Contractor of the Year, Damp and Timber Treatment’ title at The Property Care Association’s Best Practice Awards held last month at The Slate, University of Warwick. The firm also walked away with the ‘Innovation’ title as well as two highly commended accolades in the ‘Training and Staff Development’ and ‘Sustainability’ categories. Richardson & Starling is the largest company within the Veitchi Group and has been providing preservation services since 1935.
Steelwork has been erected as the construction of a £14million industrial/warehouse development in Northamptonshire continues to make good progress. Main contractor MCS Group has been appointed by St Francis Group in joint venture with the Richardson family to deliver five units totalling 270,000 sq ft at Cransley Park, Kettering. Construction started on site in May. MCS Group managing director Keir Edmonds said: “Cransley Park, which is adjacent to the A14, is in a prime location for business. On behalf of St Francis Group, we’re delivering high quality units of up to 100,000 sq ft which will cater for a range of occupier requirements, within a landscaped environment. “Very good progress is being made on site, with the steelwork starting to go up, and we’re on schedule to reach practical completion in February 2019.” Cransley Park comprises a 32-acre gateway site strategically located just off junction 8 of the A14 in Kettering. Gareth Williams, development director at St Francis Group, said: “We appointed MCS Group because they have an excellent track record in delivering developments in the industrial/warehouse sector. This is an exciting development, which will deliver much-needed space into a strong regional market where the supply is currently limited. We expect a great deal of interest from potential occupiers now that work is well underway.” The units are being offered for both lease and purchase and have been designed to a high specification to achieve the BREEAM Very Good and EPC ‘A’ rating, featuring 50K/n floor loading, 50M service yards, 8-10M eaves height, dock levellers, level access doors, car/HGV parking and first office accommodation. Prop Search and LSH are the letting agents. Keir added: “This is one of a number of industrial schemes that we are working on. We are delivering around 1,000,000 sq ft of industrial space this year and it’s where we believe there is a major opportunity to win substantial levels of new business and to establish ourselves as one of the leading main contractors in the sector.” MCS Group is currently constructing several warehouse units at sites across the UK and has recently won contracts in Lutterworth, Hatfield and Bristol. The company has also built and refurbished more than 300 car dealerships including Audi, BMW, Mclaren and Jaguar Land Rover since its inception in 2003.
460,000 houses being planned for land that will be released from the Green Belt, while the percentage of ‘affordable’ homes built continues to fall The Green Belt remains under severe pressure, despite government commitments to its protection, according to a new report from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). CPRE’s annual State of the Green Belt report highlights that there are currently 460,000 homes being planned to be built on land that will soon be released from the Green Belt. Moving Green Belt boundaries when reviewing local plans makes it easier for local authorities to release land for housing, but is only supposed to take place under ‘exceptional circumstances’. This strategic shrinking of the Green Belt, as a way of getting around its protected status, is as harmful as building on the Green Belt itself. The report also demonstrates that building on the Green Belt is not solving the affordable housing crisis, and will not do so. Last year 72% of homes built on greenfield land within the Green Belt were unaffordable by the government’s definition. Of the 460,000 homes that are planned to be built on land that will be released from the Green Belt, the percentage of unaffordable homes will increase to 78%. CPRE warns that this release of land looks set to continue, as one third of local authorities with Green Belt land will find themselves with an increase in housing targets, due to a new method for calculating housing demand. The London (Metropolitan) Green Belt will be the biggest casualty. Tom Fyans, Director of Campaigns and Policy at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: ‘We are being sold a lie by many developers. As they sell off and gobble up the Green Belt to build low density, unaffordable housing, young families go on struggling to afford a place to live. The affordable housing crisis must be addressed with increasing urgency, while acknowledging that far from providing the solution, building on the Green Belt only serves to entrench the issue. ‘The government is failing in its commitment to protect the Green Belt – it is being eroded at an alarming rate. But it is essential, if the Green Belt is to fulfil its main purposes and provide 30 million of us with access to the benefits of the countryside, that the redevelopment of brownfield land is prioritised, and Green Belt protection strengthened.’ There is currently enough brownfield land in England to accommodate more than 1 million homes. CPRE urges the government and local authorities to ensure that this is redeveloped before any more greenfield land is released from the Green Belt. Local authorities with Green Belt land have enough brownfield land for over 720,000 homes, the report finds, much of which is in areas with a high need for housing and existing infrastructure. In addition to a push for a genuine ‘brownfield first’ approach to development, CPRE are also calling on the government to: retain its commitment to protect the Green Belt by establishing long-term boundaries halt speculative development in the Green Belt develop clear guidance for local authorities on housing requirements to protect designated land support the creation of new Green Belts where local authorities have established a clear need for them
Award-winning developer Crest Nicholson has submitted a Reserved Matters Application for 192 homes and landscaped public open space at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire. Located on the former airfield to the north west of Huntingdon, Crest Nicholson will become the fifth housebuilder to join the growing development of over 5,000 homes. The application comes forward under the Planning Framework and Design Code set in place by the Outline application for Alconbury Weald. The Crest Nicholson team is working closely with the master developer behind Alconbury Weald, Urban&Civic. Benefitting from a prominent location on the central hub of the first phase, the new homes have been carefully designed to reflect the character of the local area. The green spaces around the homes will be connected by safe cycle and walking routes, while a number of public amenities will be delivered along the Linear Park, including orchards, outdoor table tennis and other games. Crest Nicholson aims to deliver a mixture of house types at Alconbury Weald, including one & two-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom townhouses along the green Boulevard. Townhouses with balconies will surround the cricket pitch and semi-detached and mews properties frame the Linear Park, which follows the line of one of the former airfield’s taxi-ways creating a safe walk and scoot to school route. A mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses characterise the remainder of the development, arranged around a central green park. Contemporary buff-coloured brick and red brick are used to denote distinct character areas within the development and are complemented by blue brick and render detailing. Internally, the homes will be light and spacious, and finished to a high specification. Toby Lambert, Development Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern: “We are excited to have secured the opportunity to become the latest housebuilder to join the growing Alconbury Weald community. With over 5,000 homes, an enterprise zone and a variety of public amenities – including new schools, sports pitches and a health centre – this is truly a visionary project for the wider Cambridgeshire area. Our plans are to deliver a mix of 192 high-quality homes and we look forward to working with Urban&Civic bringing this vision to fruition.” Tim Leathes, Development Director for Urban&Civic, said: “With 475 homes currently under construction, 130 families moved in, and families moving in each week, it is great to be able to open up the next parcel for development. Our approach ensures that housebuilders coming on site bring forward the variety of sizes, types and prices people need, but there is also a consistency in the overall quality and nature of design and in the way homes connect to community facilities and green space. “As the first housebuilders start to finish their work on the early areas around the school, we will be announcing more housebuilders coming on over the next few months. There are nearly 70 house types on sale at Alconbury Weald, offering a great place to live and set down roots.”