Multi-disciplinary construction company, Harris CM, has started work on a £10 million contract building a major new mixed-use development at Wakefield’s City Fields development. The 110,000 sq ft development, by DeVeer Estates, which is the commercial arm of Berkeley DeVeer, is located on Neil Fox Way and will be known
New state of the art 121,000 sq ft built to suit development will benefit from first class environmental facilities and include warehouse, office, training and workshop accommodation. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed
McDonald’s in Market Drayton, Shropshire, has become the UK’s first carbon net zero restaurant – using the Elliott offsite construction system. Being carbon net-zero means that the wind turbine and solar panel-powered restaurant will produce as much energy as it uses over the course of a year and there are
New images have been revealed of Hull’s exciting and transformative £96m Albion Square development. The large development in Hull city centre will feature a mixture of residential, office and retail space, as well as a large urban park. The proposals, designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects and landscape architects Gillespies, will also
A brand new Morrisons Superstore has already opened as part of the wider revamp of the town centre recently completed by Knowsley Council and GMI that has also seen new restaurants opened and a cinema scheme progressing. GMI Construction Group PLC has heralded the completion of a significant package of
TODAY the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), the UK’s largest membership organisation for private landlords, announces that it has agreed a new commercial partnership with leading online electricals retailer, AO. This new partnership means that AO is now a supplier of a range of Major Domestic Appliances (MDA), including fridge-freezers,
National property developer Godwin Developments has secured leases with leading British bakery chain Greggs and electric vehicle charging company The EV Network at its drive-thru retail development in Stoke-on-Trent, construction of which is currently under way and due for completion in Q4 of this year. The scheme, which is now
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has granted approval for Urbanest student residential-led mixed-use scheme designed by Apt, consisting of three towers of 28, 36 and 46 storeys providing 1,672 student beds and 80 residential apartments, 41,000 sqft commercial office space, including workspace for local business start-ups and small enterprises,
McDonald’s is to recruit 20,000 more people and open 50 new restaurants in the UK and Ireland, it has announced. The fast food chain will look to employ additional staff and set up new franchises across the country over the next 12 months. It comes in anticipation of increased crew
Caddick Construction has recently completed the construction of a new £5m Porsche centre, complete with workshops, MOT testing facility and offices, just off Junction 35 of the M6. Appointed by Porsche franchise holders Parker & Parker Limited, work has been completed on schedule on the state-of-the-art Porsche Centre South Lakes
Multi-disciplinary construction company, Harris CM, has started work on a £10 million contract building a major new mixed-use development at Wakefield’s City Fields development. The 110,000 sq ft development, by DeVeer Estates, which is the commercial arm of Berkeley DeVeer, is located on Neil Fox Way and will be known as the City Fields District Centre. It will consist of eight retail units including a 24,500 sq ft supermarket, a children’s nursery, a management suite and 14 apartments. City Fields is a substantial 375-hectare new development that is creating a new community of over 2,500 homes, a new primary school, parkland and other public realm, connected via the new Wakefield East Relief Road. Harris CM is also currently building 77 houses at City Fields on behalf of Rula Homes. Jason Adlam, CEO at Harris CM, said: “It’s great to be starting work on another major development that will contribute towards the continued regeneration of our hometown of Wakefield. We are also thoroughly enjoying working on City Fields District Centre alongside several other Wakefield based companies including architects, The Harris Partnership and HJ Consulting Engineers. “When work completes in May 2023, this development will provide a focal point for City Fields and benefit both the development’s new residents and Wakefield as a whole, thanks to the new road connections to the city.” Jason added: “This continues to be an exciting time for Harris CM and City Fields is an important contribution to our strong pipeline of work for the next 18 months, which puts us on track to hit £70 million turnover in 2022.” Harris CM is a privately owned construction company that provides new-build and refurbishment property solutions throughout the UK, with over 50 employees in 2022.
New state of the art 121,000 sq ft built to suit development will benefit from first class environmental facilities and include warehouse, office, training and workshop accommodation. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by world renowned German manufacturer of chainsaws and other handheld power equipment STIHL to construct their new GB headquarters and distribution facility at a site in Surrey just off the A331. The new state of the art 121,000 sq ft development designed by Hale Architects will include 97,000 sq ft of warehouse space that will utilise state-of-the-art picking and storage systems to maximise productivity, efficiency and the use of space. An adjoining 25,000 sq ft HQ will boast dedicated retailer training facilities, an on-site restaurant, flexible collaborative workspaces and a technical workshop. The development will also incorporate new car parking, service yard, landscaping and the construction of a new access from the adjoining A331. The new HQ also benefits from first-class environmental credentials including two-thirds of the total roof area (17,000 sq ft) covered with photovoltaic solar panels to provide power to the new facility. In addition, there will be provision for 26 EV charging points in anticipation of the continued move towards the use of electric vehicles. The project is expected to take 42 weeks to build with the new facility expected to be complete by May 2023. Speaking about the contract award Roy Jones Glencar Managing Director London and South said: “STIHL are world leaders when it comes to chainsaws and garden power tools, setting the standard for over 90 years so Glencar are both honoured and proud to have been appointed to design and build their new headquarters and distribution facility. This state of the art project goes to serve as a further example of our design and build credentials and proven ability to construct buildings tailored to our customer exacting specifications. We look forward to working with STIHL GB and the extended project team and delivering on time and to budget. Also commenting Kay Green, Managing Director of STIHL GB, said: “STIHL has enjoyed a sustained period of growth in recent years, and as a consequence, we have outgrown our existing warehouse and office facilities. Our new purpose-built headquarters represents a significant capital investment and is a commitment to the future for our local workforce. This cutting-edge facility will allow us to plan for many years of future growth, which will continue to benefit the local economy. We are delighted that we were able to secure a suitable site in Camberley and we’re looking forward to working with Glencar and seeing construction progress”
McDonald’s in Market Drayton, Shropshire, has become the UK’s first carbon net zero restaurant – using the Elliott offsite construction system. Being carbon net-zero means that the wind turbine and solar panel-powered restaurant will produce as much energy as it uses over the course of a year and there are only a small number of highly efficient buildings in the UK that meet this criterion. Market Drayton is the first restaurant in the UK to be verified as net zero emissions for construction using the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC’s) net zero carbon buildings framework. Elliott was an integral part of the project delivery team, utilising its modular solution which features a large number of incremental improvements that combine to make a huge difference in overall performance. Minimising environmental impact and achieving a net-zero build were key requirements set out by McDonald’s at the very start of the project. The innovative turnkey solution includes kitchen, servery, offices, storage, dining area and toilets, as well as car park and external landscaping works. McDonald’s carbon net zero restaurant was 80% completed in the Elliott factory before being transported to site, minimising waste and maximising quality control, efficiency and speed of construction. Once on-site, the modules were connected to services and underwent final fit-out ready for handover. As part of a sustainable approach, the building utilises responsibly-sourced and recycled materials throughout, further reducing its environmental impact. The restaurant is designed to allow relocation, reconfiguration or recycling, depending on McDonald’s future requirements. All Elliott offsite modules are designed to have a service life of at least 60 years. Building modules for Market Drayton are constructed using a steel-framed system, a 100% recyclable material sourced from a UK supplier with certified Environmental Policy Declarations. Sustainable features include sheep’s wool insulation instead of fibreglass as well as cladding, ceiling, floor and wall tiles made from recycled plastic, a rainwater harvesting system, wind turbine electricity generation and photovoltaic car park lighting complete with battery backup. The kitchen incorporates a heat exchange that feeds into the dining area. The lightweight structure of Elliott’s steel frame modules minimised carbon intensive foundations. These were completed at the same time as the modules were manufactured, helping to reduce the build schedule by around half compared to an on-site build. Graham Stevenson, Construction Manager at Elliott, said: “This is a landmark project for McDonald’s, the Elliott Group and the building industry as a whole. Achieving a net zero carbon build confirms that the ambitious targets set for the built environment are achievable using our modular and offsite solutions.” McDonald’s spokeswoman Beth Hart said: “We’ve already started to roll out some of these innovations to other restaurants, but what is exciting about Market Drayton is the fact it will act as a blueprint for our future new builds. We believe that our food needs to be served in restaurants that are sustainable for the future. Market Drayton is a big step towards making that a reality.” According to the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), the built environment is directly responsible for 25% of the total UK carbon footprint, and therefore creating a net-zero carbon build plays a critical role in transitioning to a low carbon economy. To find out more about the McDonald’s Market Drayton carbon net-zero build, visit: www.elliottuk.com/case-studies For more information on offsite solutions from Elliott, visit: www.elliottuk.com
New images have been revealed of Hull’s exciting and transformative £96m Albion Square development. The large development in Hull city centre will feature a mixture of residential, office and retail space, as well as a large urban park. The proposals, designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects and landscape architects Gillespies, will also use rewilding to create a new and natural green space, both for residents and the city. The project is being delivered by Hull City Council’s construction partner, VINCI Construction UK. Throughout the development, new buildings will complement the existing architecture, history and colour of this part of the city centre. Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council and portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “This development, just like our Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project, has Hull’s history and heritage at its heart. “The iconic mural will be the face of what will transform the city centre, creating first-class housing, retail units and office space, along with a unique and stunning urban woodland. “This important development will compliment and add to the incredible investment and regeneration we have already seen on the Marina and in the Old Town. Albion Square is a vital part of our exciting vision for the city centre.” Alan Boyson’s Three Ships Mural will be incorporated and made a key component of the new development, alongside retail space facing Albion Square, adding to the retail offer of Jameson Street and King Edward Street. Modern apartments will also be created at this part of the development, which will have access to stepped rooftop gardens. The rear of the development will feature retail units, as well as housing sensitive and complimentary to the existing Georgian architecture on Albion Street. This will include family homes and apartments, some of which will have private gardens. At the centre of the site, a new urban woodland will reconnect communities with city centre green space, allowing nature back into our urban areas through rewilding. Adam Greatrix, associate partner at Gillespies, said: “The Urban park represents far more than just a new park, this water based, biodiverse space is a statement of Hull City Council’s commitment and response to the climate emergency, to create a more sustainable and climate resilient city for its community.” The urban park will be an example of how we can live with water, showcasing how rainwater can be stored, filtered, drained sustainably, and become an amenity, even play opportunity, for its inhabitants rather than relying on traditional underground drainage networks. The result will be a dynamic and ever-changing park where water levels can rise and fall depending on weather conditions, to create either parkland or urban wetland. Niall Durney, associate partner at FaulknerBrowns Architects, said: “Albion Square will bring new activity and life to Hull city centre and provide the type of green space that is essential to sustainable, post-covid cities. “Our design focuses on repairing the urban grain of this part of the city, by re-instating historic streetscapes and framing an important piece of public art. The new buildings are all centred around the urban park, allowing both residents and the wider city to enjoy accessible, natural green space.” The design of the park draws inspiration from Hull’s dramatic estuary landscape and the biodiverse and ecological-rich river banks. Bridges and decks will guide people through the park which will feature water, lush green spaces, seating areas and artistic elements. The plans for Albion Square also include a bike hub where cyclists will be able to store bikes. The development will also include solar panels, EV charging points and other sustainable features. The plans will go to Hull City Council’s planning committee for final approval in early 2022. Construction of the site is scheduled to begin in 2023.
A brand new Morrisons Superstore has already opened as part of the wider revamp of the town centre recently completed by Knowsley Council and GMI that has also seen new restaurants opened and a cinema scheme progressing. GMI Construction Group PLC has heralded the completion of a significant package of works it has been undertaking since January 2020 when the announcement was made concerning its appointment to deliver Knowsley Council’s multi-million redevelopment of Kirkby town centre. Working on behalf of Knowsley Council GMI has created a 45,000 sq ft Morrisons superstore, a petrol station, car park, a 20,000 sq ft Home Bargains and Taco Bell and KFC drive-thru restaurants as part of the retail-led development in the town centre. Knowsley Council bought the town centre just two years ago after deciding to take control of the plans and speed up the delivery of the retail development and wider regeneration of the area. Talking about the new Kirkby Town Centre development, Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what has been achieved in such a short space of time. In less than two years since we took ownership, residents and visitors to Kirkby can now enjoy a new Morrisons superstore, petrol filling station and drive thru KFC and Taco Bell restaurants. Plus a larger Home Bargains will be opening in the new year. It’s amazing what has been achieved, particularly as the pandemic came just a few months into the construction. “Not only is this scheme about physical improvements in the town, but it has also created almost 400 new jobs for local people, with more opportunities soon to be advertised, and will boost the local economy by over £15m per year. “This is just the start as our plans also include a multi-screen cinema with food and drink outlets and we will also be welcoming more businesses into Kirkby over the coming months. Keep a look-out on www.knowsleynews.co.uk for the latest Kirkby news.” Also commenting on the development and GMI Construction Group PLC’s achievement, Divisional Director Marc Banks said : “This multi-million pound redevelopment breathes new life into Kirkby and is set to rejuvenate the town. We are proud to have played a leading role in that the new Morrisons supermarket is a really great addition to the town’s skyline. This was a multi-faceted development involving the construction of several elements. We would like to pay testament and thanks for the full project team involved here who once again have delivered an outstanding solution.”
TODAY the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), the UK’s largest membership organisation for private landlords, announces that it has agreed a new commercial partnership with leading online electricals retailer, AO. This new partnership means that AO is now a supplier of a range of Major Domestic Appliances (MDA), including fridge-freezers, dishwashers, ovens, hobs and washing machines, to the NRLA’s membership. Following the launch, NRLA members will be able to access this service using a dedicated telephone line which is open during AO’s office opening hours. This service will be offered to NRLA members through a dedicated Account Manager at AO, who will ensure they can access selected appliances for their rental properties at highly competitive, trade member rates. With over 1.5 million square feet of warehousing and completing premier installations across the UK every week, AO can minimise supply chain disruption, by holding over three months’ worth of stock at any time, meaning the products are always available for next day delivery and installation, offering a fantastic service for members. Anthony Sant, MD of AO Business, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the NRLA to our growing B2B partnerships. Our aim with this national partnership is to bring AO’s exceptional customer service to the NRLA’s network, which will also include guaranteed market-leading appliance supply and installation. With over 20 years’ experience as an electricals retailer and strong relationships with global manufacturers, AO Business is able to offer NRLA members a unique, competitive proposition.” Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “We are delighted to partner with AO, which will provide our members with a great range of modern domestic appliances at fantastic rates. “NRLA members will benefit from AO’s brilliant customer service as well as their market leading supply and installation – meaning appliances can be sourced and installed quickly, easily and cheaply.
National property developer Godwin Developments has secured leases with leading British bakery chain Greggs and electric vehicle charging company The EV Network at its drive-thru retail development in Stoke-on-Trent, construction of which is currently under way and due for completion in Q4 of this year. The scheme, which is now fully let, is situated off the busy A50 Baths Road in Longton near the Phoenix Retail Park. The development is eight minutes’ drive from the city centre and is also adjacent to a Tesco Extra supermarket and a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant. With the lease of the drive-thru unit agreed with Costa Coffee earlier this year, Greggs has now committed to occupying the second unit at the site, which is a drive-to. The Greggs unit will contain 16 indoor seats as well as some external seating. Ketan Patel, senior development manager at Godwin Developments, said: “We’re delighted to have reached an agreement with national bakery giant Greggs at our roadside retail scheme in Stoke-on-Trent. The new store will provide a quick and convenient food-to-go offering to 60,000+ vehicles passing the site daily as well as the approximately 55,000 residents living within a 10-minute drive of the new outlet. Securing a popular operator like Greggs is a welcome addition to our scheme and will bring further custom to the site from the A50 and the Longton area.” Francesca Michie, regional property manager from Greggs, added: “We are delighted to be growing our presence in the city of Stoke-on-Trent. We are looking forward to opening the store and envisage this will be very popular amongst local residents as well as commuters on the A50. We would like to thank the team at Godwin Developments for their highly professional and flexible approach in helping us create the unit that best fits our requirements.” As well as signing Greggs for the development, Godwin has agreed a lease with independent charging provider The EV Network. The company will provide six charging bays that will be available alongside the site’s other 35 car parking spaces. Ketan added: “The proportion of electric vehicles on our roads is rising – with electric vehicles now expected to account for more than one in six new cars acquired in 2021. We therefore recognise the importance of making quick and rapid EV charging points available at the site. These will provide additional facilities to consumers as well as ensure the scheme’s longevity and sustainability.” Matthew Guest, acquisition manager at The EV Network, said: “The development represents a fantastic opportunity to bring ultra-fast, 300kW EV charging hardware to Stoke-on-Trent, enabling all electric vehicles to be charged in the shortest possible time. We are delighted to have worked with Godwin on this scheme and look forward to seeing the scheme in operation.” Stuart Pratt, director and co-founder at Godwin Developments, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Greggs again, providing the nation’s favourite bakery chain with an opportunity to grow its market share and customer reach at this prominent high traffic location in Stoke-on-Trent. It is also fantastic to be partnering with the EV Network for this development who have been excellent throughout. “Godwin Developments is a business with a significant experience with roadside retail schemes – including land acquisition, planning and build out – and we continue to seek additional sites across the country to support our customers expansion plans. “We are also pleased to be working on this occasion with local firm Intium Construction Ltd, providing additional income and employment into the area.” For more information about Godwin Developments, visit www.godwingroup.co.uk/developments
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has granted approval for Urbanest student residential-led mixed-use scheme designed by Apt, consisting of three towers of 28, 36 and 46 storeys providing 1,672 student beds and 80 residential apartments, 41,000 sqft commercial office space, including workspace for local business start-ups and small enterprises, as well as ancillary residential, indoor soft play-space for children and retail. The development will transform the vacant and important gateway site at 2 Trafalgar Way, on the edge of Canary Wharf, and deliver a significant economic and social boost for the borough and local community, with hundreds of new jobs created and an estimated £10.5m spent in the borough each year by students, residents and staff. The proposals have been supported by University College London. “Our vision for 2 Trafalgar Way was to create a vertical campus, where living, studying, and working successfully co-exist, serving to create an enriching environment which will extend into the ground floor public realm and beyond. We’re thrilled that Tower Hamlets have approved the proposal and we look forward to working with Urbanest through the next stages of the project,” said James Ewen, project leader at Apt. In addition to providing high-quality accommodation, the project aims to achieve exemplar sustainability credentials, targeting BREEAM Outstanding and Passivhaus certification, which once achieved, will make it the largest Passivhaus development in Europe. The proposals also focus on sustainable transport, with approximately 1,500 cycle spaces provided across the site, which, together with much-improved public realm and better connections to the local cycle network, will ensure that the site becomes more integrated and accessible to local communities. “We’re delighted that Tower Hamlet’s Strategic Development Committee has granted approval to our scheme. We have worked extremely hard over the past few years to create something exceptional that not only responds to the resilient demand we are seeing but is also a beautifully designed collection of buildings,” said Anthony Mellalieu, Development Director, on behalf of Urbanest. “We’re obviously very excited about the scheme’s sustainability credentials. Delivering the largest Passivhaus certified student accommodation building globally is a massive undertaking and a testament to our commitment to creating the sort of places and spaces future generations want to live and work in. “This is an excellently located site for students, with lots on in the local area and only a short walk or Cycle to Canary Wharf, and a quick tube into central London. We look forward to starting construction and proposed opening in time for the 2025/26 academic year.” Work on site is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2022.
McDonald’s is to recruit 20,000 more people and open 50 new restaurants in the UK and Ireland, it has announced. The fast food chain will look to employ additional staff and set up new franchises across the country over the next 12 months. It comes in anticipation of increased crew capacity as part of changing Government coronavirus guidelines. The firm said the additions are not to replace the jobs lost throughout the pandemic, and are instead to prepare for the additional restaurants. Paul Pomroy, CEO, of McDonald’s UK & Ireland said: “It’s fantastic to be able to offer an additional 20,000 people an opportunity to work with us. “Our 1,400 restaurants are run by 200 local franchisees which means we have a personal stake in every one of our communities. “It’s a big responsibility, and the moves we’ve announced today reflect our commitment to continue to innovate and invest in the local communities and economies we serve.”
Caddick Construction has recently completed the construction of a new £5m Porsche centre, complete with workshops, MOT testing facility and offices, just off Junction 35 of the M6. Appointed by Porsche franchise holders Parker & Parker Limited, work has been completed on schedule on the state-of-the-art Porsche Centre South Lakes site, Electric Drive, Carnforth, the new home for Porsche Centre Kendal. The address name was chosen specifically to mirror Porsche’s public commitment to building all electric cars. The new showroom and facilities covering 1,618²m in total and will have the capacity to display the full range of the luxury car brand including the newly launched all electric Taycan. The centre also includes a luxurious handover lounge, meeting rooms and employee facilities as well as ample parking and attractive, landscaped, outdoor space. The multi-million-pound project signals the long-term commitment and strengthening position of the German luxury sports car brand in the North West which is still seeing high levels of demand and interest as the UK moves slowly out of lockdown measures. Caddick Construction North West Managing Director Ian Threadgold said: “This has been an exciting and very rewarding contract to be involved with. Porsche is one of the most desirable and respected brands in the world and we are delighted to be able to deliver an exceptional dealership and showroom in a such a stunning location.” Ian Parker, Director of Porsche Centre South Lakes, added: “All the team are delighted with the Centre which looks amazing, both the interior fit out and external facade. Anticipation has been growing over recent months and it is living up to all our expectations. We are now working hard towards our official opening in July so we can really showcase the fitting new home of Porsche for Cumbria and North Lancashire.” Architect and Principal Designer for the project is Axis 3 Design Limited with structural engineering provided by Cumbrian-based R G Parkins & Partners Limited.
