Following continued success and showing further commitment to the North East region, leading engineering consultants, Rolton Group, announce the opening of their latest new office in Newcastle. The growing Rolton Group team now includes six colleagues based in the North East, who have made themselves at home in their new
The lead contractor behind the redevelopment of Birmingham’s iconic Alexander Stadium is reflecting on the success of the project and the wide range of community benefits brought to the local area following its recent completion. McLaughlin & Harvey has detailed the outcomes of its social value programme which was implemented
Salford-based furniture installation and interior fit out specialist First Install has been purchased by Ipswich-based Apex Joinery for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition strengthens both businesses creating a new multi-million pound partnership with operating bases in both the north and south of the country with the ability to deliver a
Bouygues UK has reached a key milestone in the third phase of Hallsville Quarter, the new town centre in London’s Canning Town. As the main contractor for this phase of development, the construction partner celebrated completing the structure of the build with a topping out ceremony on Wednesday 17th August,
SPORT and leisure specialist GT3 Architects has completed a new gateway leisure centre in Coalville, Leicestershire, allowing residents to access the centre’s state-of-the-art facilities five months earlier than anticipated. Replacing the former Heritage Leisure Centre in neighbouring Whitwick, this leisure destination has been completed ahead of schedule after seamless collaboration with contractor
In an attempt to revolutionise the theme park industry, Experts Back Stage Technologies Europe (BST) will be launching at London’s ExCeL event its range of innovative and environmentally friendly special effects. With over 500 exhibitors attending IAAPA’s Expo Europe this September, BST will be showcasing its spectacular and sustainable flame,
ONE of the UK’s leading contractors has been appointed to deliver a pioneering Passivhaus leisure centre, designed by the sports and leisure experts at GT3 Architects. Willmott Dixon has been named by Spelthorne Borough Council as main contractor on the £43.5m project in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, which is targeting a Passivhaus certification for low
Construction company, Seddon, turns Shire Hall library into an enterprise centre for Staffordshire County Council and local businesses Stafford’s 224-year-old Shire Hall has received a £2m regeneration, with Seddon turning the former library space into a new business enterprise centre. The new facilities offer a range of 97-323 sq. ft
A new urban sky park created on a disused railway viaduct in Manchester has been unveiled and will open to public visitors from Saturday, July 30. Castlefield Viaduct, a giant 330 metres long steel structure, has been transformed over the past five months into an elevated park with trees, plants
Major construction work at Scotland’s newest leisure and staycation destination, Wavegarden Scotland, got underway today in Ratho, near Edinburgh. The £55m landmark development will be the country’s first inland surfing destination using revolutionary new technology. The Wavegarden Scotland development is expected to open to the public in Summer 2024 –
Following continued success and showing further commitment to the North East region, leading engineering consultants, Rolton Group, announce the opening of their latest new office in Newcastle. The growing Rolton Group team now includes six colleagues based in the North East, who have made themselves at home in their new office at the Cobalt Business Exchange. This is the firm’s fifth UK office, providing a fantastic meeting place and strategic marketing hub to enhance the team’s presence in the North East region. “Building on our involvement with the ongoing Britishvolt Gigaplant project in Blyth, we have been actively establishing a team here in the North East,” shares Andrew Glancey, Associate Director at Rolton Group’s new location. “Newcastle is a fantastic city that boasts ample opportunity with access to the wider North East region for building client relationships and generating new workflow. Acquiring a permanent base for our growing regional team was the next logical step and one that supports our strategic business objectives for expansion. Really exciting times and a defining moment for Rolton Group!” An SME with decades of experience delivering world-class facilities within the automotive and advanced manufacturing industry and holding a rich track record across several strategic energy projects of national significance, Rolton Group was appointed in 2020 as lead engineering consultants for the development of Britishvolt’s £3.8billion Gigaplant in Blyth. Planning approval was granted unanimously for this – the UK’s first ever full-scale Gigaplant – in July 2021, with Rolton Group’s appointment to provide multi-disciplinary engineering designs and consultancy following the practice’s provision of strategic energy advice to the UK Government, in a project assessing suitable sites for Gigaplants across the UK. Craig Smith, Managing Director of Rolton Group, said: “With such an iconic, major project ongoing and several other clients and design team partners based in the region, expanding our operations to Newcastle has been an excellent move for us; but we’re not just here for the Gigaplant. Alongside the Britishvolt project, earlier this year Rolton Group was successfully appointed on the Prosper Design and Consultancy Framework for the provision of three separate Lots; Ground Investigations & Remediation Needs, Civil & Structural Engineering, and Mechanical & Electrical (MEP) Engineering Design. Awarded via an open-market tender process in which Rolton Group scored 100% on quality criteria for all three lots, the 24-month framework agreement provides easy access to specialist design and consultancy services for members of Prosper and other Public Sector Contracting Bodies in the North East, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, for a wide variety of construction and development projects. Craig continues: “In addition to successful appointment on the Prosper framework (amongst other projects), we’ve seen the Government’s levelling up agenda – which includes 18 North East locations identified as priority category one areas – showing a renewed focus nationally on the economic opportunities that exist in towns and cities outside of the traditional financial and economic centres of London and the South East. Making our own commitment to the North East region by establishing a permanent team and office here underlines our confidence in both the future opportunities of exciting developments to come and in the talented, local individuals working in (and joining) the construction industry.” Working in partnership with Northumbria University, Rolton Group has also launched the Rolton Group Engineering Scholarships for 2022. Established to support the growth of an underrepresented group in the engineering field and worth £6,000 each, two scholarships will be awarded this September to academically gifted Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women to support their studies on one of Northumbria’s engineering courses. “Establishing a permanent office in the North East is an excellent step forward, strengthening our team to ensure we continue serving our clients and projects efficiently while maintaining a personal touch,” Craig said. “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Rolton Group – without their continued efforts, none of this would be possible.” If you would like to meet with Rolton Group’s North East team, please e-mail Associate Director, Andrew Glancey via andrew.glancey@rolton.com. To find out more about Rolton Group, visit www.rolton.com.
The lead contractor behind the redevelopment of Birmingham’s iconic Alexander Stadium is reflecting on the success of the project and the wide range of community benefits brought to the local area following its recent completion. McLaughlin & Harvey has detailed the outcomes of its social value programme which was implemented over the course of the redevelopment in a report published today (17 August 2022), including impressive local job creation figures, ethical procurement, and a range of community partnerships. A total of 370 jobs were created and sustained throughout the redevelopment of the stadium over the last two years, as well as a total of 35 apprenticeships, work placements and internships, and 756 weeks’ worth of vocational training. 58% of employment was created for those living within 30 miles of the site, and an impressive 334 members of the workforce were upskilled throughout the course of the project. 91 community and education groups and over 600 school pupils have been engaged throughout the redevelopment, and £80,000 of community investment, both financial and in-kind, was achieved. McLaughlin & Harvey recently won the Inspiring Change in the Community Project Award for their Employment & Education Academy initiative on the project, which addressed the employment and skills gap by removing inequalities and barriers in employment and education. Judges at the Inspiring Change Conference & Awards, organised by CECA, praised the contractor for their outreach to local ‘hard to reach’ community groups, which ultimately led to 48 new entrants to the industry, including 26 long-term unemployed. Ethical procurement and working with local suppliers was also key to McLaughlin & Harvey’s social value programme. 50% of project spend was with local businesses and in total the social value programme generated £21.5m of local economic value. Martin Keys, Operations Director at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: “The greatest challenge faced was ensuring the project ran to time and budget. This was achieved amidst a world health pandemic and a global shipping crisis – to name a few – thanks to the collaboration, engagement and one-team approach from all partners involved. “Alongside this excellent achievement, today’s report also highlights the real benefit we have brought to local communities here in Birmingham, both engaging with young people and hard-to-reach groups, encouraging them into work and bringing a lasting legacy to the area, which as a business, we are very proud of.” The £72.4m stadium redevelopment project was part-funded by West Midlands Combined Authority (£25m) and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (£20m), with Birmingham City Council providing the remainder of the funding. Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Anyone who visits the venue knows what an amazing job our contractors have done on the redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium – which is now the undisputed premier athletics facility in the country. “But the community story is just as impressive. McLaughlin & Harvey told us they would be good neighbours and project partners and they backed up their words with a really impressive programme of community engagement and support for grassroots projects not only in Perry Barr, but right across the city. “They’ve set a standard for other firms working on projects for the council to meet.” Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “We invested in the stadium redevelopment because we knew that it would provide a world class sporting facility for the region and enhance our reputation on the global stage. Anyone can see the contractors have certainly delivered on that. “This project also creates a social legacy as we can see with hundreds of quality construction jobs and training opportunities created and supported through the pandemic and engagement with the community including local school children who will be inspired by their experiences for years to come.” Anita Bhalla, Interim Chair, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) said: “After successfully completing the redevelopment of Alexander Stadium on time and on budget, this latest report highlights how McLaughlin and Harvey also managed to deliver a wide-ranging and impactful community engagement programme. “Increasingly, social value is at the heart of how we measure our GBSLEP investments like the £20 million that went into this City Council project. We recognise how critical it is that local people feel the benefits of the major developments that are happening on their doorstop. This contributes to driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth across our region and for all our communities.” The report can be viewed at https://www.mclh.co.uk/media/6076/mclh-alexander-stadium-social-impact-report.pdf
Salford-based furniture installation and interior fit out specialist First Install has been purchased by Ipswich-based Apex Joinery for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition strengthens both businesses creating a new multi-million pound partnership with operating bases in both the north and south of the country with the ability to deliver a wide range of bespoke joinery, manufacturing, installations, and interior fit out solutions to clients nationwide. With two offices and a combined team of more than 50 personnel, both First Install and Apex Joinery can expect to double turnover in the coming 12 months to more than £5million, with plans to recruit across all areas of the business and embark on a period of concerted growth by securing new clients right across the country. Both businesses bring a strong reputation for quality, expertise and operational excellence to the new venture which will seamlessly provide clients in the retail, leisure, hospitality, office, commercial and industrial sectors with a turnkey solution to installations and bespoke interior fit outs. The service will take ideas from vision to reality, covering the complete process from initial concept and design development through prototypes, production and manufacture, furniture and retail display selection and interior layout advice complete with comprehensive 3D visuals and flythrough animation to final installation and handover with warehousing, storage and refurbishment-related construction undertaken as necessary. Head of sales and operations at First Install, Mike McVey, commented: “By joining forces, we have extended our geographical capabilities and established a new multi million pound nationwide operator with the shared aim of becoming the first choice for the design, manufacture and installation of beautiful interior fit outs along with furniture and retail display installation, across a range of different industry sectors. “In addition to being a mutually beneficial partnership, both combined businesses are committed to further growth and job creation and plan to bring additional complementary businesses on board forming an all-encompassing and experienced group that offers added value and choice for clients and give the client a compelling reason to choose us when selecting an installation, manufacturing and fit out partner.” Despite initially doubling in size, turnover and service capabilities, customer satisfaction, attention to detail and a personal approach remain at the heart of every project for the newly merged team. Mike McVey will head up sales and operations for the new venture, drawing on his vast experience which includes Makro, Halfords and Manchester City Football Club (Kitbag) to name just a few past clients. With both companies established for more than two decades, First Install and Apex Joinery are renowned for excellence in their operating sectors; First Install delivering professional furniture installation and specialist fit out and Apex Joinery delivering high quality purpose-made joinery. For further information on either business, please visit www.firstinstall.co.uk or www.apexjoinery.co.uk.
Bouygues UK has reached a key milestone in the third phase of Hallsville Quarter, the new town centre in London’s Canning Town. As the main contractor for this phase of development, the construction partner celebrated completing the structure of the build with a topping out ceremony on Wednesday 17th August, alongside Linkcity and One Housing Group. The £240m (GDV) Hallsville Quarter scheme is one of London’s biggest regeneration projects, and the third phase, expected to complete in 2024, will be the largest to date, more than doubling the number of new homes the scheme has delivered so far. Bouygues UK has been working closely with its property development sister company Linkcity, One Housing Group, Grainger and the London Borough of Newham to deliver Phase 3 which will include: 278 private rental homes situated across two blocks owned by Grainger, including 2,400m2 commercial space within the blocks 245 shared ownership (including 10 shared equity) 50 extra care 47 affordable rent (including 10 London affordable rent) 6,800m2 of commercial space owned by Linkcity which it intends to let and/or sell to a commercial investor. Download A computer generated image of Hallsville Quarter from Rathbone Street (c) HawkinsBrown This latest phase of the Hallsville Quarter development will also deliver an integrated health centre under an innovative new model with local health partners, 1,125m2 of business accommodation, a new basement car park for 143 vehicles, and new high-quality public spaces, including fountains and play areas. In total, the Hallsville Quarter development, which is part of the Canning Town and Custom House regeneration project, will provide 1,100 new homes, over 30,000m2 of leisure and retail space, and more than 2,975m2 of space for community facilities, as well as new public spaces, pedestrian links, cyclist provision and secure parking spaces. Gerald Farque, Bouygues UK Managing Director said, “It’s wonderful to be here to celebrate reaching this important milestone at Hallsville Quarter Phase 3, one of the most significant town centre regeneration projects. I am particularly proud of our in-house civil works teams who have delivered, as with previous phases, the reinforced concrete frame. I would also like to congratulate the project team on their commitment to social value, in particular supporting local labour at each phase of this regeneration scheme.” Phillippa Prongué, Linkcity Managing Director said, “For over 10 years, Bouygues UK and Linkcity have been working closely with the London Borough of Newham to deliver the regeneration of Canning Town. It’s great to be here to celebrate reaching this stage of the build in a project which will transform this area of east London and help create a thriving centre. Congratulations to everyone involved in reaching this point.” Robert Marcantoni, Group Director of Development for One Housing (Part of Riverside) added, “One Housing are delighted to partner with Linkcity and Bouygues UK to provide over 300 much needed social homes within one of our key London boroughs. This milestone is a fantastic achievement and builds on the existing homes we have within this community. In this housing and cost of living crisis this 3rd Phase of Hallsville Quarter provides much needed affordable homes and delivers a 50 unit Extra Care Scheme where we will be providing support and personal care services to adults over 55 years old. Following the recent off-plan launch of our Shared Ownership homes, we have already had great interest and feedback and we look forward to the handover of these great affordable homes.”
SPORT and leisure specialist GT3 Architects has completed a new gateway leisure centre in Coalville, Leicestershire, allowing residents to access the centre’s state-of-the-art facilities five months earlier than anticipated. Replacing the former Heritage Leisure Centre in neighbouring Whitwick, this leisure destination has been completed ahead of schedule after seamless collaboration with contractor Metnor, project manager Paragon, landscape architect OOBE and M&E and BREEAM consultant Envision. The project, delivered on behalf of Everyone Active and North West Leicestershire District Council, includes an eight-lane, 25m pool, teaching pool with movable floor, eight-court sports hall, three squash courts and a 120-station fitness suite with spin and dance studios. Clare Noble, senior architectural technologist at GT3, said: “We were delighted to deliver this leisure centre so efficiently in collaboration with a host of great firms and contractors. We’ve worked with Everyone Active, Metnor and Paragon on a variety of leisure schemes and have a brilliant working relationship – this communication and transparency (combined with a lot of individuals putting in hard work) is what allowed us to accelerate the completion of the Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre. “A good working relationship is exceptionally important to GT3. We aim to create beautiful spaces while delivering transparency, inclusivity, and added value – which is why collaborating seamlessly with our partners is central to our work. Our ‘people architecture’ ethos extends beyond the people we’re designing for to the people we’re designing with, too.” One of the themes central to the site’s design was the sensitivity to its setting. Situated opposite an existing further education college, the new pool hall gives the appearance of pre-patinated copper cladding on its overhanging roof to reflect the design of the college. External glulam timber columns were carefully chosen to mirror the National Forest setting, and full-height glazing in the café opens up the centre to its surroundings. The bricks incorporated into the design have been locally sourced from nearby Ibstock, just 3.5 miles away, linking Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre further to its surroundings. The scheme has already seen great interest, with impressive engagement from the local community. Paul Sanders, head of community services at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: “Our state-of-the-art Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre is a fabulous facility for the district which, fits well into its National Forest setting. It’s a building we hope will get people excited about getting fit and active, and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring high-quality design.” The centre opened its doors to the public on 14 February and will facilitate a healthy lifestyle for the local community, with memberships to the former Hermitage Leisure Centre automatically transferring to the new state-of-the-art scheme. For further information visit www.gt3architects.com or join the conversation over on Twitter @_GT3Architects
In an attempt to revolutionise the theme park industry, Experts Back Stage Technologies Europe (BST) will be launching at London’s ExCeL event its range of innovative and environmentally friendly special effects. With over 500 exhibitors attending IAAPA’s Expo Europe this September, BST will be showcasing its spectacular and sustainable flame, smoke, fragrance, and fog effects. Just like in any other industry, businesses and their customers are starting to become more aware and conscious of their impact on the environment, which is why BST wanted to take a first step in the theme park industry and deliver effects that have not been heard of before. “Special effects have historically not been very environmentally friendly or at the very least, not from renewable or sustainable sources. Typical examples would be propane flames and explosions, as well as smoke and fog machines which use chemicals such as glycol or greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide to create the effect,” said BST Managing Director John Coller. “We have devised a system that produces smoke and fog but just uses water – Koolfog™. Koolfog is REAL fog, just water and nothing else, so it is environmentally friendly and has no consumables – other than water. Our flame simulation system Fake Flame™ also uses water in the form of steam to create flame and fire effects without the use of fossil fuels such as propane or paraffins. These innovative effects are not only better for the environment, but they are more cost-effective and help theme parks improve their carbon footprint,” he added. From wooden rollercoaster Wicker Man at Alton Towers, to ICON at Blackpool Pleasure Beach to Croc Drop at Chessington World Of Adventures, BST has worked with theme parks across the world to deliver memorable experiences for their guests. Now, with John’s experience of over 35 years in the fireworks and special effects industry, BST can deliver the same experiences, but in an environmentally-friendly way. BST will be delighting the thousands of attendees from across the globe as they descend on London’s ExCeL for IAAPA’s Expo Europe, a major event which is shining the spotlight firmly on the recovering tourism industry in this special Jubilee year for the UK, and putting London at the heart of Europe’s leisure industry in 2022. Returning to London for the first time since 2011, and with a jam-packed programme full of the latest technology from across the globe, IAAPA is set to deliver one of the best Expos yet, with guests able to network with colleagues, explore the latest developments in the industry, discover new products and services and expand their knowledge with the help and support of industry experts. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
ONE of the UK’s leading contractors has been appointed to deliver a pioneering Passivhaus leisure centre, designed by the sports and leisure experts at GT3 Architects. Willmott Dixon has been named by Spelthorne Borough Council as main contractor on the £43.5m project in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, which is targeting a Passivhaus certification for low carbon buildings. The firm has been appointed alongside Passivhaus expert Gale & Snowden and will work collaboratively with GT3 to ensure sustainability is prioritised in line with the UK’s targets for reaching net zero. Spelthorne Borough Council have decided to adopt the Passivhaus approach, due to our net zero commitment, which will be the first wet and dry Passivhaus leisure centre in the UK. The centre will feature modern facilities such as a rooftop 3G pitch, sports hall, gym and competitive, learner and splash swimming pools. Alongside the core features, the design also includes a mini spa, flexible studio space, soft play, Clip n Climb and a community café, ensuring community-wide benefit for the project. Mark Gowdridge, director at GT3 Architects, said: “It’s great to see the progression of this fantastic project, and especially to have the team at Willmott Dixon now joining us with their wealth of knowledge in sustainable construction. “We are working ever closer to the Passivhaus certification for our design, which will save up to 60% in energy costs and ensure the building is futureproofed. We’re very happy with how the project is moving and having the input of Willmott Dixon will only enhance this. We are very much looking forward to bringing a fundamental space for health and wellbeing to the surrounding community.” Willmott Dixon is currently the only carbon neutral construction company and has set several further challenging targets to meet by 2030. Its ‘Now or Never’ strategy, launched in 2020, focuses on achieving operational net zero across all new build and refurbishment projects, being a zero-carbon company without any offsetting, and improving more than 100,000 lives through its social value commitments. Willmott Dixon has also shown its commitment to the environment by establishing the only dedicated in-house sustainability consultancy. Roger Forsdyke, managing director of London and the South, said: “We are hugely excited to be working alongside Spelthorne Borough Council, GT3 and Gale and Snowden on what will be a landmark project. Spelthorne Borough Council’s choice to adopt the Passivhaus approach is a testament to their commitment to carbon reduction. Within Willmott Dixon, we are putting maximum efforts in to supporting our customers to address the climate emergency, with projects like this ensuring we can continue in adopting our expertise to suit the ambitions of our partners. We are looking forward to working alongside both GT3 and Gale and Snowden again ensuring the project’s success will be realised.” Passivhaus methodology was established in the early 1990s and has since become the world-leading standard in energy-efficient design and construction. Passivhaus buildings provide users with a high level of comfort, while also using very little energy by optimising the design of the building and all its systems. Daniel Mouawad, Chief Executive of Spelthorne Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to be a pioneering authority, demonstrating our commitment to net zero by building an ultra-low Passivhaus leisure centre. Having declared a climate emergency, we recognise the need to lead by example to achieve cleaner and greener lifestyles and a sustainable borough for all to enjoy. This centre is a great example of partnership working and will provide the right infrastructure to meet our communities’ changing needs and will enable residents to stay active in a healthy environment, with low chemical pools and a dementia friendly design.” For further information visit www.gt3architects.com or join the conversation over on Twitter @_GT3Architects
Construction company, Seddon, turns Shire Hall library into an enterprise centre for Staffordshire County Council and local businesses Stafford’s 224-year-old Shire Hall has received a £2m regeneration, with Seddon turning the former library space into a new business enterprise centre. The new facilities offer a range of 97-323 sq. ft office spaces, a reception room and meeting areas to facilitate networking opportunities and knowledge sharing, with flexible hot desking and PO box rental also on offer to local businesses. The new business centre will create accessible provisions to help support local small and start-up businesses with flexible tenancies and an on-site support team. Stafford Chamber of Commerce is among the first of the occupants to move into the market square centre, which blends modern office aesthetics with the historical features of the building’s architecture, having been built for use as a courthouse in 1798. During the 28-week project, a bespoke lath and plaster ornate ceiling, an original part of the building, was repaired and redecorated by a specialist. As Shire Hall is Grade II listed, Seddon and its delivery partner, Entrust, worked to standards and expectations set by the Heritage Authority to uphold the integrity of the building, whilst optimising it for its new life as a business enterprise centre. Peter Jackson, managing director of Seddon said: “The Shire Hall project has been an excellent project for us, modernising the interior of one of Stafford’s landmark buildings whilst still keeping its history and integrity in place. Regeneration projects like this are important to both Seddon and the communities we serve. The project is a testament to our relationship with Staffordshire County Council which continues to go from strength to strength.” Staffordshire Council deputy leader, Philip White added: “It’s fantastic to see the Shire Hall open for business and with the first tenants ready to make the most of the superb facilities. “Having Shire Hall open again as a thriving business centre is exciting for Stafford and will play an important part in the wider regeneration of the town. It is an iconic landmark in the heart of Stafford town centre and we’re pleased to have brought it back into productive use for the community.” Taken on by the North West based contractors, the project sees Seddon building on its recent growth in the Midlands, which has resulted in a 117% turnover in the region since 2018 and brings a new era of usage for the Grade II listed building. Seddon’s current projects in the Midlands include the refurbishment and remodelling of Sandwell secondary school in West Bromwich, converting its use from a technical college into a general teaching facility. It is also refurbishing category 2 bioscience labs at the University of Derby, with Seddon now firmly established in the region.
A new urban sky park created on a disused railway viaduct in Manchester has been unveiled and will open to public visitors from Saturday, July 30. Castlefield Viaduct, a giant 330 metres long steel structure, has been transformed over the past five months into an elevated park with trees, plants and flowers in a National Trust project overseen by Salford-based MC Construction. Thousands of plants, shrubs and trees have been planted to ‘green’ the historic landmark. The park’s 3,000-plus plants and its design features take their inspiration from Manchester’s heritage, including the county flower, cotton grass and fern species once collected by Manchester suffragist and botanist Lydia Becker. It will be open for 12 months, during which time visitors will be able to explore part of the structure and find out more about the viaduct’s heritage, the city’s long relationship with plants and trees, and learn urban gardening tips. The National Trust hopes to inspire and capture visitor and community opinions to help shape the longer-term future of the Grade II listed structure. Russ Forshaw, Group Operations Director at MC Construction, said: “It has been a great pleasure partnering with National Trust and the key stakeholders involved in the project. “Regenerating the disused Grade II listed Viaduct that has stood above the historic area of Castlefield for over 125 years has been no easy task. I am thrilled with the end result and I am incredibly proud of the team who have worked tirelessly over the past couple of months to bring National Trust’s vision to life.” Unveiling the park today, Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust, said: “Today is incredibly exciting. The idea of transforming the viaduct has been around for a while, but it was always put in the ‘too hard to achieve’ box and set aside. “For that long-held vision to finally come to life is therefore testament to the strong partnerships we have formed and the hard work of many. “What I love about this space is that it encapsulates so much of what the Trust’s work is about: opening up our shared heritage for everyone to enjoy, creating beautiful spaces and bringing people close to nature. It’s about creating something new for the community, while also protecting an ironic piece of industrial history. “We hope hundreds of people will visit and enjoy spending time in nature among the trees, shrubs and wildlife that is already starting to make this space its home. We’ll also be able to learn from this project and really start to understand more about what and how we can bring more green spaces and wildlife to thousands more people across the country in urban spaces.” Visitors will experience a variety of planting displays as they walk along the viaduct, while enjoying the elevated setting above the historic cobbled streets. The plans for Castlefield Viaduct are part of the National Trust’s Urban Places work to increase access for all to nature, history and beauty in, around and near urban areas. In addition to creating a place where people and nature meet, the new experience will also celebrate the industrial heritage of Castlefield which has been reflected through all elements of the design. The design of the planters gives a subtle nod to the industrial architecture of the 330 metres long viaduct which was built in 1892 by Heenan and Froude, the engineers who worked on Blackpool Tower. The shape of the planters mirrors the curve of the viaduct and their width is the same as the railway tracks that once transported goods across the structure to the Great Northern Warehouse. A section of the viaduct has also been left untouched to provide a sense of how nature has reclaimed the space since the site closed in the late 1960s. Costing £1.8 million, the pilot has been made possible thanks to funding from Postcode Earth Trust supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, as well as public donations which will cover two-thirds of the build costs. One hundred people a day will be able to visit the viaduct from next Saturday. Entry on to the structure will be free, but a booking system will be in place to help manage numbers. As part of the experience, visitors will be able to join guided walks on the viaduct.
Major construction work at Scotland’s newest leisure and staycation destination, Wavegarden Scotland, got underway today in Ratho, near Edinburgh. The £55m landmark development will be the country’s first inland surfing destination using revolutionary new technology. The Wavegarden Scotland development is expected to open to the public in Summer 2024 – boosting long term socio-economic, recreational and tourism benefits including creating up to 130 jobs once open, generating up to £11m for the local economy and attracting over 180,000 visitors each year. Civil engineering and groundworks specialists Malcolm Construction is the firm appointed to build the groundbreaking destination which will include – in addition to Scotland’s first surf park – a surf school, overnight accommodation, a waterfront café and restaurant and retail spaces. Malcolm Construction has overseen the construction of some of Scotland’s most iconic sporting and leisure developments, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village, the temporary athletics track at Hampden Park for the games and the 14,000 capacity Hydro arena at the SEC in Glasgow. Doig+Smith will oversee the management of the major project and have enlisted support from environmental design consultants Atelier Ten, architects Oberlanders, landscape architects HarrisonStevens, engineering consultants Ramage Young and property experts Colliers. Andy Hadden, founder of Tartan Leisure Ltd which is developing Wavegarden Scotland said: “It has taken many years of hard work and collaboration to get to this point and we could not be happier to see work begin on Scotland’s first inland surf park. “There has been extensive preparatory work going on behind the scenes with financial backers and with our design team and partners to ensure that this new facility will be a world-class leisure destination. Beginning construction work is a special moment for all of the team and marks a major milestone in our journey. “All of the firms appointed to work with us come with strong reputations in their respective field of engineering and project management and I am pleased they share our vision to deliver one of Scotland’s largest leisure attractions this century.” Walter Malcolm, Managing Director of Malcolm Construction said: “Everyone at Malcolm Construction is excited to be part of this innovative project. We have extensive experience of delivering complex engineering works and we look forward to working with the Wavegarden Scotland team to deliver such an important attraction for Scotland.” Gordon McLintock, Director of Doig+Smith added: “We have been providing project management, cost management, principal designer and supervisor services for the project so it’s incredibly exciting to see the project start to become a reality. We have extensive experience in large scale projects such as this including the new Port of Aberdeen project, substantial works over many years at both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, and multiple education projects across the country in both the private and public sectors. We consider it a privilege to be part of the team bringing Scotland’s first inland surf park to life.” The development, set within a 60-acre country park, will use the latest wave generation technology called The Cove, developed by Wavegarden in Spain. The site will host surfers of all abilities who can ride the 1,000 bespoke ocean-like waves created per hour. Wavegarden is an innovative engineering company and has an extremely high growth potential in the surf park sector with more than 60 projects currently in development across the globe, seven facilities operating successfully and seven projects currently under construction across four continents.
