THE multi-million-pound project to enhance policing services in East Lancashire has officially commenced, following the completion of enabling works on site. Located in Carr Road, Nelson, the new police station will bring together and replace existing stations in Colne and Nelson, providing a new home for Pendle’s policing operations under
LEADING regional procurement specialist EN:Procure has announced the appointment of 100 contractors after inviting tenders for its latest installers’ framework, valued at more than £3.2bn. The procurement arm of social housing consortium Efficiency North had recently opened the bidding for the next iteration of its Installation and Repairs Framework across
The UK Government has approved the construction of a new Category C super prison in Buckinghamshire, with a budget of £300 million. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has granted planning permission for the prison, which is set to accommodate nearly 1,500 inmates. The facility will be located adjacent to the
VIVO Defence Services today (Thursday, 1 February) marks its second anniversary looking after the UK Military’s Built Estate during which time it has undertaken more than one million maintenance jobs, completed nearly 25,000 special projects and contributed to a number of social value initiatives. Facilities management provider VIVO started working
Cambridgeshire County Council has allocated £500,000 to redevelop East Barnwell Library on Newmarket Road. Councillors on the Assets & Procurement Committee agreed to sell the land where the dated single storey library is based and the community centre space to the city council in support of the community redevelopment scheme.
VIVO Defence Services and its tier one supply chain partner Henry Brothers Construction have broken ground on a £6m scheme to house an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Troop at Gamecock Barracks near Nuneaton. The troop is relocating from Chetwynd Barracks, Nottingham, to Gamecock Barracks, in Warwickshire, under the Defence Estate
THE NEW £12m West Asset Resource Centre has officially been opened by Siobhian Brown, the Minister for Victims and Community Safety. The new facility, which is adjacent to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) headquarters and training facilities in Cambuslang, will support the servicing of vehicles owned by the
Edwin James Group, a leading provider of multi-disciplinary engineering services, is nearing completion of a project to assist the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) in its £1.42 – £1.52 billion North London Heat and Power Project. The project aims to create the greenest Energy Recovery Facility in the country, along
Specialist contractors are being sought to help influence a multi-million-pound framework dedicated to tackling the energy-efficient retrofit and decarbonisation of Great Britain’s public sector buildings and social housing stock. Not-for-profit public sector construction framework provider LHC Procurement Group (LHC) is looking for specialists to take part in market engagement and
Seven UK schools have been selected to take part in an £18.6 million innovative Decarbonisation Pilot, led by the Department for Education (DfE). The pilot will see schools benefit from new low carbon heating solutions, as well as improvements to the buildings fabric to make the school more thermal efficient,
THE multi-million-pound project to enhance policing services in East Lancashire has officially commenced, following the completion of enabling works on site. Located in Carr Road, Nelson, the new police station will bring together and replace existing stations in Colne and Nelson, providing a new home for Pendle’s policing operations under the Lancashire Constabulary. The new facility will be delivered with the support of multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard, which collaborated closely with contractor Willmott Dixon to reach this latest milestone. A multi-purpose policing hub, the new base will host several different policing teams, including neighbourhood, crime scene investigation and response teams. Integrating closely with the local community, a front counter has also been designed for residents to report issues and seek help directly. Pick Everard has provided a full suite of services to Lancashire Constabulary to secure planning consent for the facility in Nelson, including quantity surveying, principal design, mechanical and electrical, structural and civil engineering, architecture and sustainability. Andy Robinson, director at Pick Everard, said: “This is a modern policing facility that has been designed with both public and private need in mind. It is situated adjacent to an existing public park, with several different amenities close by, ensuring that residents don’t feel isolated or cut off from these vital services. The aim is to really integrate this police station with the local community, whilst delivering a highly efficient base, equipped with the latest technology and a sustainable design, to secure Pendle’s policing operations for generations to come. “The high specification will also ensure productivity and comfort for staff, with tall windows flooding the environment with natural light, alongside an energy-efficient thermal design. We’re looking forward to working closely with Lancashire Constabulary and Willmott Dixon to bring this exciting project to fruition.” Targeting a sustainable design, the new station will include provision for renewable energy, with an array of photovoltaic panels on the roof and a high level of thermal performance afforded through the building design. Rainwater management is also being provided on site to attenuate flow, with low consumption sanitary ware further minimising water reliance. A multi-storey car park, with 30 electric bays, are also included in plans to scale with Pendle’s future electric fleet. Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the north, said: “We are really proud to be able to play our part in ensuring Lancashire officers have the crucial facilities and the very best support to keep the people of Pendle safe. “We are focused on leaving a lasting legacy beyond bricks and mortar and that’s why we will be supporting the Lancashire economy by using local businesses and creating local employment opportunities whenever possible during construction.” Andrew Snowden, police and crime commissioner for Lancashire, said: “It’s great to see work start on the new Pendle Police Station, securing a state-of-the-art base that supports the fight against crime for years to come, and ensure people feel safe across the area. “The new facility is part of a wider investment in policing infrastructure across the Lancashire region. This latest development will ensure that the Pendle district is well-equipped to deal with the challenges of modern policing and will provide a vital resource for local officers in the years to come.” Superintendent Derry Crorken from Lancashire Constabulary’s East Division said: “This is a milestone moment for policing in Pendle – one which we feel will ultimately help us to provide a better quality of service to the public. “Once complete, the new building will see a massive improvement to our working environment, providing vital support to officers and staff who deliver frontline services to keep the area safe.” The new police station in Pendle is expected to be operational by Autumn 2025. For more information on Pick Everard and the services it provides, visit https://www.pickeverard.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING regional procurement specialist EN:Procure has announced the appointment of 100 contractors after inviting tenders for its latest installers’ framework, valued at more than £3.2bn. The procurement arm of social housing consortium Efficiency North had recently opened the bidding for the next iteration of its Installation and Repairs Framework across 36 lots for social housing projects in Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands and the north west. It will run from 26th February 2024 to 25th February 2028. The winning contractors will carry out a wide range of social housing repairs and installation work including electrical, heating, roofing and brickwork. Around 85% of the contractors are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), reflecting EN:Procure’s commitment to providing fair access to organisations of any size. More than £272m of repairs, maintenance and installation work has been delivered by the current version of the framework since its launch in 2019. A further £2m was gifted to members to fund social value initiatives for local communities, with £1.5m being given through EN:Able Communities since 2015. The new framework was procured under EN:Procure’s latest Gen-4 generation of tenders, incorporating the FAC-1 Framework Agreement and dynamic models for ESG delivery, reflecting many of the themes in the government’s Constructing the Gold Standard report. It will provide a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits for communities served by Efficiency North’s membership of social housing providers. Emma Mottram, director of operations at EN:Procure, said: “We’re excited to announce the successful bids for our latest framework process – it has been a big effort from everyone involved. We wanted to give as many businesses as possible the chance to take part and the tenders were of an extremely high standard. Congratulations to all those appointed. “The framework was structured to encourage SME engagement and so we are delighted that a large proportion of them are from that sector. We will be supporting them on their journey to delivering robust ESG targets. “The successful applicants are keen to deliver outstanding installation and repairs works, while also matching Efficiency North’s commitment to training and skills development, including the use of apprenticeships.” Emma added: “This has been one of the first iterations to be procured with our latest generation of framework agreements. The Gen4 frameworks will provide a higher level of transparency and underline the power of collaboration. “It will also pave the way for the social housing sector to achieve decarbonisation targets and improve sustainability.” EN:Procure has supported social housing landlord members to deliver nearly £1bn of works through its frameworks and DPSs since 2014. Full list of appointed contractors: ENP Installers framework GEN4 2024 Contractors.pdf To find out more information about EN:Procure and the framework including contractors appointed by lot visit: https://www.efficiencynorth.org/procure/frameworks/refurbishment-and-improvements/installation-servicing-repairs-maintenance Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK Government has approved the construction of a new Category C super prison in Buckinghamshire, with a budget of £300 million. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has granted planning permission for the prison, which is set to accommodate nearly 1,500 inmates. The facility will be located adjacent to the existing HMP Springhill and HMP Grendon sites. This initiative is part of the Government’s ambitious new prisons programme, which has secured over £4 billion in capital funding. The goal is to accommodate an additional 18,000 inmates across the prison estate by the mid-2020s. The project, gaining momentum after last year’s approval of Wates’s £300m HMP Gartree 2 Category B super prison in Leicestershire, is now advancing. ISG is reportedly in contention to construct the Grendon Springhill 2 Category C resettlement prison. The plan involves building six house blocks, including essential facilities like kitchen workshops and a central services hub. Each of the four-storey house blocks is designed to house 240 prisoners. However, before construction commences, the existing education block associated with HMP Springhill prison needs demolition, and a new sports pitch will be installed to serve the existing prison. The construction phase is expected to create around 100 jobs and inject over £77 million into the local economy. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
VIVO Defence Services today (Thursday, 1 February) marks its second anniversary looking after the UK Military’s Built Estate during which time it has undertaken more than one million maintenance jobs, completed nearly 25,000 special projects and contributed to a number of social value initiatives. Facilities management provider VIVO started working on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) providing maintenance, asset management and project work at military bases across the southwest and central regions in February 2022. This covers a wide array of tasks such as maintaining hangars and runways at air stations, looking after Single Living Accommodation (SLA) and providing grounds maintenance across Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Strategic Command and Defence Equipment & Support bases. During that time, VIVO undertook around 260,000 preventative planned maintenance tasks in 2022 and over 372,000 in 2023. These were largely brought about due to VIVO moving the service towards one where planned maintenance work is carried out to keep things running, rather than the ‘fix on fail’ approach of the previous contract. In regards to reactive maintenance tasks, VIVO carried out around 148,000 in 2022 and nearly 226,000 the following year. In total, this equates to around 1,006,000 overall planned and reactive maintenance tasks across the more than 100 military bases it is charged with looking after stretching from the Scottish borders to Cornwall. VIVO also operates a 24/7 helpdesk across its Built Estate regions so military personnel can report maintenance issues directly and this received over 204,000 emails and phone calls in 2022 and nearly 246,000 in 2023. In fact, the helpdesk recently had its busiest day ever on 8 January 2024, following Storm Henk, when it received 1,099 calls and 679 emails in one day. VIVO has invested heavily in extra resources – increasing the number of people available on its contracts by 40 per cent – and carried out almost 25,000 Billable Works projects – work outside of the contract scope that includes everything from repairing a gate to building a new facility. For example, at MoD Ashcurch, in Gloucestershire, VIVO replaced all the windows in a 71-block barracks, making it warmer for those living in them and much more energy efficient. At RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire, along with its supply chain partners VIVO completed a £3.6 million dye-bay for the Red Arrows in July 2023 – the first bespoke maintenance facility the world famous aerial flying team have had for their dye pods , which make their iconic smoke trails. The Red Arrows were so pleased with this they performed a fly-past to mark its opening (picture attached). VIVO also recently completed – with partners – a Primary Care Rehabilitation Facility at RAF Waddington for service personnel with musculoskeletal injuries and upgraded a data centre at ISS Boddington, in Gloucestershire. Other tasks have included rebuilding the historic grade II listed Serpentine Wall at RM Norton Manor, in Somerset, and refurbishing the entrance gates at Britannia Royal Naval College, at Dartmouth, Devon, which have been battered by the elements for 117 years. At the same time, VIVO has carried out much social value work including providing work placements for armed forces personnel to practice their trade skills in a private sector environment. This is aimed at helping them gain work when they leave active service. Other social value projects include working with partners to provide a safe space ‘listening ear’ for school children from military families and their friends to talk about concerns at a school in Dorset. The next 12 months will see a whole new range of billable work projects, for example, a new nine-mile security fence at RNAS Culdrose. in Cornwall, a glider storage building at RAF Shawbury, in Shropshire, and an accommodation block at MOD Kineton, in Staffordshire. Jerry Moloney, VIVO Defence Services Managing Director, said: “It has been a really busy, but productive time on our Built Estate regions over the past two years with more than a million maintenance jobs carried out and tens of thousands of special projects completed. “I am particularly proud that, in addition to the major contribution we have made to the military bases where we work, our people have contributed to some extremely worthwhile social value initiatives. This is a total credit to them, and I thank all our hardworking teams and our partners for everything they have done.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cambridgeshire County Council has allocated £500,000 to redevelop East Barnwell Library on Newmarket Road. Councillors on the Assets & Procurement Committee agreed to sell the land where the dated single storey library is based and the community centre space to the city council in support of the community redevelopment scheme. It is anticipated that the project will deliver significant social and economic benefits to the area in line with the county council ambition to ensure places and communities prosper. In return, the county council will be given a 125 year peppercorn lease on space in the new building to create a new library. Depending on planning permission, which has already been applied for by the city council, the new library could open as soon as 2026. Under the proposals, the library site would move across the road to a more prominent position next to Newmarket Road, with a new shared entrance for the community centre and library next to a pocket park. As well as providing a greener, more attractive setting, the shared space will mean key library functions like book collection and returns can remain open for longer. The area, known as Site 1 in the plans, will also be home to a new pre-school, which will be leased to the county council. The location is allocated as a mixed-use development in the city’s Local Plan and will also include 59 new homes. The community centre will be owned by the city council who will choose an operator to run the facility. The bowls club currently on the site, will be relocated to the Abbey Leisure Complex where a new green, pavilion and multi-use games area will be created. Across the first two sites, which will be developed in phases, the city council proposes 120 new affordable homes for social or intermediate rent, with four new homes purpose built for people with disabilities. The redevelopment programme is subject to funding from Homes England. The relocation means the community centre and library can remain open throughout the building works, minimising the time the library service will be unavailable to the time needed to transfer books, computers and materials to the new building. Detailed plans for the location of the existing community centre will be outlined in a separate planning application. The existing library is single-glazed with a flat roof and static shelfing. The new building, built to modern building regulations, will be much more sustainable, benefiting from greater energy efficiency and heated via an air source heat pump. It is anticipated that the new library facilities will include flexible shelving units, which can be moved to create space for events like Storytime and Rhymetime and will offer more meeting spaces and study bays than currently available at the existing library. There will also be accessible public toilets and changing facilities provided on site. The details of the library layout will be subject to engagement with the local community closer to the time. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
VIVO Defence Services and its tier one supply chain partner Henry Brothers Construction have broken ground on a £6m scheme to house an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Troop at Gamecock Barracks near Nuneaton. The troop is relocating from Chetwynd Barracks, Nottingham, to Gamecock Barracks, in Warwickshire, under the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme. Henry Brothers has been selected by client VIVO Defence Services to deliver the new building for the troop. It will feature space for offices, garages and stores, and will be built at the Southern edge of the base. Joined by representatives from the DEO Army Programme, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Gamecock Barracks and construction partners William Gough, VIVO and Midlands-based Henry Brothers Construction have now broken ground on the scheme. Warren Webster, Programme Director for DIO Major Projects (Army) said: “This is another demonstration of our commitment to increase the pace, quality and volume of Defence infrastructure delivery, by doing things differently. “We are working closely with our colleagues in DIO Regional Delivery and their long-term partner VIVO and its suppliers, to build this important capability. Collaboration remains at the heart of our delivery intent, and when completed, Gamecock Barracks will provide first class Explosive Ordnance Disposal facilities for the central region.” Managing director of Henry Brothers Construction, Ian Taylor, said: “Henry Brothers is very pleased to be continuing the successful relationship with VIVO Defence, which follows delivery of a new dye pod facility recently at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. “This development at Gamecock Barracks will rehome an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Troop – giving them modern, purpose-built, secure facilities as part of the MOD’s investment into the armed forces. “Henry Brothers has significant experience of working within MOD sites across the UK, helping to improve and upgrade key military resources, and we are delighted to have now broken ground and started work on this latest development.” Jerry Moloney, Managing Director of VIVO Defence Services, added: “It is great news that work is now underway to build this important new facility at Gamecock Barracks. “We look forward to delivering it with our supply chain partners to the troop and are proud to work so closely with the UK military on developing new important infrastructure for them.” Belinda Lunn, Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme Director said: “I am delighted to see this significant project get off the ground, expanding our ongoing programme of investment and construction across the UK, to benefit Army personnel and support military capability. “I look forward to working with all partners involved in this project and to seeing the new infrastructure at Gamecock Barracks take shape over coming months.” The scheme for EOD Troop at Gamecock Barracks is due to be completed by the end of the year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
THE NEW £12m West Asset Resource Centre has officially been opened by Siobhian Brown, the Minister for Victims and Community Safety. The new facility, which is adjacent to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) headquarters and training facilities in Cambuslang, will support the servicing of vehicles owned by the world’s fourth largest fire and rescue service. Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard helped the responsible authority realise its vision through a management services package including project management, cost management and contract administration. The project was commissioned via Perfect Circle and procured through the SCAPE Consultancy framework. The 24-hour, 4,300 square foot centre contains relevant facilities for servicing SFRS’ fleet of regular and emergency vehicles, specialist equipment and appliances. The single storey workshop facility, which is up to 10 metres high in places, includes 16 service bays with testing areas and associated office space. The two-storey section of the building accommodates storage, service delivery offices, staff welfare space and accommodation with an abundance of natural light. Jamie Marshall, director at Pick Everard, said: “We have an excellent relationship with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which has seen us support on multiple projects in recent years. Those projects include the remodelling and retrofit of McDonald Road Community Fire Station in Edinburgh, but the newly-built resource centre in Cambuslang may be the pick of the bunch. “Through professionalism and first-class collaboration with contractor McLaughlin & Harvey, we were together able to tackle all challenges that appeared through the construction programme. SFRS has come away with a modern, purpose-built facility that will play a key role in ensuring that it always has the vehicle and equipment needed to help keep the people of Scotland safe.” The resource centre, which took 18 months to build having commenced in 2021, will be home to 65 permanent staff in total and 46 car park spaces are to be located adjacent to the main entrance, subject to planning approval. Iain Morris, SFRS Head of Asset Management, said: “This is a major new development to enhance the working conditions for our staff working across different areas of the Service. “The building includes a state of art workshop for our mechanics who work tirelessly to keep fire appliances maintained to protect communities across Scotland. “The design and materials used in this project has created one of our most energy efficient buildings, representing a tangible commitment to delivering value for money.” For more information on Pick Everard and its services, visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Edwin James Group, a leading provider of multi-disciplinary engineering services, is nearing completion of a project to assist the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) in its £1.42 – £1.52 billion North London Heat and Power Project. The project aims to create the greenest Energy Recovery Facility in the country, along with state-of-the-art recycling facilities. Working together, group companies EJ Parker Technical Services and EJ Peak Technology Solutions delivered complex projects totalling over £37m, covering comprehensive mechanical and electrical (M&E) services, extensive automation and control implementation and the largest solar array in North London. EJ Parker Technical Services was responsible for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of wide-ranging M&E works. These included lighting, venting and AC, security and fire suppression, waste management, and rainwater collection. The team also installed 2,235 solar modules and 11 Solis Inverters that will produce renewable energy, equivalent to powering 300 homes a year. The implementation of this sustainable energy solution is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 334,602 kg per year, equivalent to the impact of planting 8,830 trees annually. EJ Peak Technology Solutions was engaged to collate a comprehensive control philosophy for the site, including electrical and fibre optic network design, systems architecture, and various aspects of the infrastructure. The team consulted with all package vendors in order to design and integrate their systems into the new bespoke SCADA (Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition) system and ensured that all logistical movements and efficient site operational needs were met whilst complying with necessary legislative requirements. Subsequently, Peak was commissioned to carry out the entire works scope, based on the approved design, including a new site-wide PLC control system, new SCADA build/deployment, and full design/integration of the new site-wide BMS system. Commenting on the project, Christopher Kehoe, CEO, Edwin James Group, said: “Given the complex and regulated nature of the project, the combined efforts of both companies have been crucial in its successful execution. We believe in harnessing innovative technologies and collaborative teamwork for a greener future and are proud to support the North London Waste Authority in its mission to establish the greenest waste hub in the country. Together, we are setting new standards for waste management, renewable energy generation, and carbon reduction.” The project was awarded by Taylor Woodrow as part of a major contract to deliver the first Reuse and Recycling Centre open to the public at the site. Edmonton EcoPark is a waste management site of approximately 38 acres. The existing Energy from Waste facility is coming to the end of its life, having served north London for over 50 years. The redevelopment aims to generate electricity for 127,000 homes, provide hot water and heating for 60,000, and improve air quality using advanced technology, saving the carbon equivalent of removing 110,000 cars annually. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Specialist contractors are being sought to help influence a multi-million-pound framework dedicated to tackling the energy-efficient retrofit and decarbonisation of Great Britain’s public sector buildings and social housing stock. Not-for-profit public sector construction framework provider LHC Procurement Group (LHC) is looking for specialists to take part in market engagement and provide feedback on initial proposals for its Decarbonisation and Retrofit (N9) framework. It is hosting a pre-tender engagement (PTE) webinar on 20 September for contractor and consultancy organisations interested in shaping the new framework. Some of the key areas that LHC aims to explore during PTE include the PAS requirements, emerging technologies, and SME inclusion to identify any changes required to ensure a more balanced and inclusive framework. Set for launch in mid-2024, N9 is the successor to LHC’s Energy Efficiency Measures and Associated Works (N8) framework and builds on the provider’s 30-year heritage of delivering energy efficiency procurement solutions. It will offer public sector clients more access to suppliers offering a wider range of technologies and services, while targeting EPC improvements for housing stock. The public sector is faced with the challenge of retrofitting housing and other buildings to make vital energy-efficient fabric improvements. The exact scale of the task is unknown, but the social housing sector owns 4.4 million properties in the UK, while – according to the Climate Change Committee – there are another 1.9 million non-domestic public buildings. Dean Fazackerley, LHC’s Head of Technical Procurement, said: “At this stage, we are focusing on ensuring our N9 framework meets needs across the public sector, matches marketplace capability, and works to achieve government targets and future policy requirements. It’s clear our selection criteria must align with relevant standards to ensure N9 is robust, meets the expectations of all stakeholders and supports LHC’s drive to becoming a Gold Standard framework provider. “We’d encourage would-be suppliers for our N9 framework to attend the webinar, as it presents a unique opportunity to work in collaboration with our dedicated technical team to shape the framework in its early stages.” N9 is currently divided into seven workstreams, each containing multiple lots. The workstreams include Building Insulation and Performance; Heating Systems; Control and Management Systems; Electrical, Servicing and Maintenance of Renewable Systems; Multi-Disciplinary Works; and Consultancy. All bidders will be required to meet relevant industry standards, such as PAS 2035 and 2038, and there will be specific requirements for each lot. Dean Fazackerley added: “In the coming months we will be working with suppliers and clients to set out individual requirements for each lot, as different standards will be necessary depending on the nature of the work. “N9 will be operating within a highly competitive market, with the potential for changes in government policy and the rapid evolution of the energy sector during its four-year term. That’s why pre-tender engagement is so important for us in helping to identify opportunities to futureproof the framework as much as possible for the years to come.” The framework will be available nationwide through LHC’s five business units: London and South East (LSE); Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC); South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA); Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA); and Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA). LHC has been developing frameworks specifically dedicated to energy efficiency and net zero construction via retrofit and new build for 30 years, when discussions around the topic were still in their infancy. Clive Feeney, LHC group director, said: “In the early days of our energy efficiency frameworks, there were other issues that were more pressing for public sector organisations. These included economic recession, regulatory changes, and technology adoption. While those all remain relevant today, the journey to net zero is now the biggest challenge facing our industry. “LHC frameworks are underpinned by 57 years’ experience, and we are here to support local authorities, housing associations, schools and a range of other public sector organisations in delivering a range of energy efficiency and decarbonisation works. We are passionate about improving lives and places through quality procurement solutions, as well as awarding grants for community projects and schemes through our Community Benefit Fund.” Prospective suppliers can register early interest in this framework opportunity to receive further updates by registering on LHC’s eTendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/lhc/aspx/ProjectManage/18 For more information on LHC and to register for the PTE webinar, visit: www.lhcprocure.org.uk/pte-n9 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Seven UK schools have been selected to take part in an £18.6 million innovative Decarbonisation Pilot, led by the Department for Education (DfE). The pilot will see schools benefit from new low carbon heating solutions, as well as improvements to the buildings fabric to make the school more thermal efficient, all procured through Fusion21 frameworks. Energy bills and carbon emissions in the public and higher education sectors shows that schools and universities represent 36% of total UK public sector building emissions. The transformational work to reduce carbon emissions to make those schools selected as part of the pilot, significantly more energy efficient has recently got underway. Where necessary, the schools’ building fabric will be improved with upgrades ranging from new electrics, roofs and ceilings to new doors and windows amid a government drive to make educational buildings greener. The contractors were appointed via Fusion21’s Decarbonisation and Heating & Renewables frameworks which ensures housing, local authority, education, blue light and health sectors maximise social value in contracts. All Fusion21 contractors are committed to ensuring social value is embedded into their work ranging from employing locally where possible to apprenticeships and community projects. Schools involved in the pilot and the estimated makeover value: Trust name School Contractor and Fusion21 framework used Estimated total value School location Waterton Academy Trust West End Academy Kensa Contracting Ltd: Heating and Renewables Framework £3m Wakefield The Rose Learning Trust Richmond Hill Primary Academy Kensa Contracting Ltd: Heating and Renewables Framework £3.4m Doncaster North West Academies Trust Acton CofE Primary Academy GRAHAM Asset Management Ltd t/a GRAHAM: Decarbonisation Framework £2m Nantwich North West Academies Trust Calveley Primary Academy GRAHAM Asset Management Ltd t/a GRAHAM: Decarbonisation Framework £1.8m Tarporley BMAT Roydon Primary Academy Dodd Group (Midlands) Limited: Heating and Renewables Framework £2.1m Essex Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership Peasedown St John Primary School Dodd Group (Midlands) Limited: Heating and Renewables Framework £3.4m Bath St Mary’s Academy St Mary’s Academy Dodd Group (Midlands) Limited: Heating and Renewables Framework £2.9m Hitchin Today, Oliver Mooney, Head of Category at Fusion21 said: “It is fantastic to have been involved in such an important Department for Education project and to support the schools who used our framework to appoint the contractors for these transformational, multi-million pound improvement works which will vastly improve the buildings, bring huge energy savings and carbon emission reductions and ensure pupils, teachers and parents are playing an important role in decarbonisation and Net Zero ambitions”. The UK government is committed to climate action and has set out targets in its strategy to 2050. This project will support the drive for existing school buildings to be adapted and new ones designed adequately to respond to climate change and reduce emissions. The pilot will provide a valuable opportunity to learn more about alternative greener heating solutions and to use the learnings to consider how this can be scaled up to accelerate decarbonisation in the future. Research found that in 2019 schools alone were spending around £630m per annum on energy – with today’s figure expected to be much higher. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will provide £1.425 billion of grant funding for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures, including schools over the financial years 2022-2023 to 2024-2025.
