Greater Manchester is set to invest a further £40.7m in its walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure as it progresses with its delivery of the largest active travel network in the country. Active Travel England (ATE) has today confirmed it will award £23.7m to the city-region as part of a wider
A brand new affordable housing development on the site of the former Lairdsland Primary School, Kirkintilloch, has welcomed its first tenants. The 38 affordable homes are situated in a mixture of three and four-storey buildings which contain one and two-bedroomed flats and will be used as council housing. The
Over 100 new council homes have been approved as part of Edinburgh’s major regeneration of Fountainbridge. Formerly the site of the Fountain Brewery, the huge number of new homes for social rent will feature in a 49,000 square metre redevelopment overlooking the Union Canal. The area will be transformed as
Proposed planning fee increases could help local planning services address capacity, recruitment, and performance challenges, which the RTPI says threaten the Government’s goals to boost home ownership and level up. However, these increases may not come soon enough for councils with scheduled staffing cuts, according to Royal Town Planning Institute
Wiltshire Council has approved plans to refurbish and remodel the Grade II listed Town Hall in Trowbridge. This paves the way for the Town Hall to become a major creative and community hub for Trowbridge, comprising custom designed performance and activity spaces, recording studios and a licenced café bar with
Barnet Council has launched a new campaign aimed at helping residents to keep their homes healthy and free from damp, mould, and condensation. The council has recognised that dampness is a common problem for residents, which can lead to a range of health hazards, including respiratory problems and asthma. To
CBRE’s Liverpool Office Agency team has been instructed as sole letting agents by Wirral Borough Council to market 2 Grade A new build offices totalling 147,767 sq ft in Birkenhead. Currently on site, the scheme is earmarked for completion in Autumn 2023, the only new build offices completing in the
The regeneration of Perry Barr in Birmingham took another step forwards today as it was confirmed that construction is now complete on the first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme. Almost 1,000 much-needed new homes are now available for rent or sale on a former university campus in the
Planning permission was granted on Tuesday 28th March for the major regeneration of three key sites in the Church Street neighbourhood. This followed a recent positive resident ballot result which saw the community support the revised proposals. The Church Street Regeneration Programme will deliver up to 1,120 new homes and
Net-zero technology firm, IES, has collaborated with Dublin City Council on a Digital Twin project to identify how Dublin’s social housing stock can be decarbonised in the most efficient manner in terms of both operational energy and embodied energy. Using its world-leading digital twin technology, IES carried out modelling of
Greater Manchester is set to invest a further £40.7m in its walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure as it progresses with its delivery of the largest active travel network in the country. Active Travel England (ATE) has today confirmed it will award £23.7m to the city-region as part of a wider boost to active travel funding across the country, with Greater Manchester’s sum the largest regional settlement in the UK. In addition, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is due to approve the release of £17m from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund for four major active travel schemes when leaders meet next week. Both sources of investment will enable Greater Manchester to progress with its long-term ambition to create the largest walking, wheeling and cycling network in the country, and further unlock the health and environmental benefits of active travel for people across the city-region. Dame Sarah Storey, Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner, said: “The news of this funding award from Active Travel England is a sign of confidence in the plan we have here in Greater Manchester for the development of our Active Travel network. It’s vital that we are linking to the wider public transport system and building a Bee Network that provides genuine journey choice for residents and visitors alike. “The new funding, as well as the funding drawn down from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund, will be used across all 10 boroughs on a variety of infrastructure projects. The key focus remains that a universally accessible network is the aim and so the projects vary from segregated and accessible paths and crossings, to secure cycle storage and upgraded junctions. “I am looking forward to seeing all of the funded projects come to life as they will further add to the high quality, comprehensive network of active travel routes that are needed across the region.” The £23.7m has been allocated to 13 schemes in total, including a new active travel corridor along Chapel Street in Salford and a striking cycling and walking ‘helix ramp’ as part of the new Stockport Interchange. The eye-catching 180m spiral ramp will link a new rooftop park to the River Mersey and the TransPennine trail, and to a wider network of cycling, walking and wheeling routes. The ramp will not only be a striking structure to look at, but it will also provide a seamless and dedicated link for users to walk, wheel or cycle to the new park from ground level, and vice-versa. The first phase of Salford’s Chapel Street East scheme, between New Bailey Street and Blackfriars, will make it easier and safer for people travelling on foot or by bike by providing high quality cycle lanes, as well as improved footways and crossing provision. The other 11 schemes set to benefit from ATE’s award in Greater Manchester include: In addition to the ATE funding, GMCA leaders will also be asked to approve the draw down of a further £17m from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund at their next meeting on 26 May as part of the wider delivery of the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s vision for an integrated London-style transport system. Funding due to be rubber-stamped includes £4,312,386 for the Bee Network Crossings programme (GM-wide), £4,998,000 for improved active travel infrastructure in Bolton town centre east, a further £2,951,594 the Lord Street-Rock Street scheme in Oldham town centre and £4,751,389 for three CYCLOPs junctions on Talbot Road in Trafford. With approximately five million journeys made on Greater Manchester’s road network each day, the investment in active travel infrastructure will further enable people to opt for different modes of transport and in turn reduce congestion. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, added: “The scale of our ambition in transforming how people get around is huge; with a target for one million extra journeys being made on public transport or by bike or foot every day by 2040. “To meet this challenge head-on we are delivering our transformational Bee Network, which will make travelling easier, cheaper and more accessible and connect our trams and buses – and ultimately local train services – with the largest cycling, walking and wheeling network anywhere in the UK. “It is great news that all 10 of our boroughs will benefit from more than £40m being invested in active travel schemes across the city-region.” As well as funding to deliver new and improved cycling and walking routes, leaders at next week’s GMCA meeting will also be asked to approve the release of funds – allocated to the city-region from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) – to enable the ongoing development of plans for a range of transport projects, including a new train station at Golborne, a new quality bus route connecting Ashton and Stockport and the development of future rapid transit schemes. Proposals to strengthen governance arrangements around the delivery of Greater Manchester’s transformational plans for public transport and active travel will also be discussed, with plans for a new Bee Network Committee – which would lead transport decision-making at a regional level, taking greater ownership and responsibility for our integrated network – to replace the existing Greater Manchester Transport Committee.
A brand new affordable housing development on the site of the former Lairdsland Primary School, Kirkintilloch, has welcomed its first tenants. The 38 affordable homes are situated in a mixture of three and four-storey buildings which contain one and two-bedroomed flats and will be used as council housing. The new development, part of the Kirkintilloch Town Centre Masterplan, includes four wheelchair accessible flats and eight amenity flats on the ground floor for tenants with specific health needs. The remaining flats are general needs housing. The Council worked in partnership with Cruden Building and Coltart Earley Architects to ensure that the homes were designed and built to complement surrounding buildings on Kerr Street and Queen Street, which sit within Kirkintilloch Town Centre Conservation Area. The development, which included the demolition of the old school, was complete within two years and the final flats were handed over to the Council in April. Councillor Paul Ferretti, Convener of Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets, said, “I am delighted to see the completion of this smart and sympathetic development in the heart of Kirkintilloch. “This site forms just one part of the Council’s affordable housing investment programme, which is helping to meet the needs of local people who are finding it increasingly difficult to get on the housing ladder.” Site works included the creation of new parking spaces and soft and hard landscaping. Artefacts from the original school have been incorporated into the new building including the school’s date stone, now displayed in the new landscaped courtyard, and original stonework, which has been used to create boundary walls, bin stores and bicycle sheds. In addition, two cast iron columns from the world-famous Lion Foundry are now being used as streetlighting in the courtyard. Colin Kennedy, Construction Director at Cruden Building, said, “In addition to creating spacious, energy efficient homes, the projects have also delivered community benefits including the employment of local people, including labourers and cleaners, site visits for young people, mentoring by Cruden staff, Q&A sessions with apprentices and work placements.” Megan Cassidy, partner Mikey Hanlon and dog Lily have moved into one of the new wheelchair accessible flats. Megan said, “We are really happy with the flat. You can tell it has been specially designed and adapted for a wheelchair user, which is amazing. “It is a lovely area and all our neighbours seem really nice. I think we will be here for a long time.” Works have been carried out at nearby Holy Family and Lairdsland Schools as part of the Community Benefits Programme. Community projects included the construction of “Mud Kitchens” and the refurbishment of planters at local schools, the combined total of which was over £5,000. Artefacts from the original Lairdsland building, including coat hooks and a section of banister, are now part of a dedicated display at the town’s Auld Kirk Museum. The display, which runs until September 2023, gives an overview of the history of the school and includes objects from the museum collection and images from EDLC Archives. A mural from the original building, which dates from the 1930s and was hidden under new decor, and original wall tiles were removed and conserved by specialist conservators are also part of the Museums Collection. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Over 100 new council homes have been approved as part of Edinburgh’s major regeneration of Fountainbridge. Formerly the site of the Fountain Brewery, the huge number of new homes for social rent will feature in a 49,000 square metre redevelopment overlooking the Union Canal. The area will be transformed as part of a development called Leamington Square – a joint venture between the City of Edinburgh Council as landowner and a partnership between Cruden Homes (East) Ltd and Buccleuch Property. They will deliver around 464 homes alongside landscaping and infrastructure improvements, over 2,700 square metres of retail space supporting the creation of a 20-minute neighbourhood approach and new local jobs. The Council will own 115 homes for social rent and 71 homes for mid market rent as part of the plans and support the delivery of additional, affordable new homes. It will also spearhead the creation of a community growing space and new integrated cycle ways. Over 1,000 cycle parking spaces are planned for the development in total. The Union Canal is a Local Nature Conservation Site and landscaping is planned to create a biodiverse area in harmony with the character of the waterway. Generous use of trees of varying species is also planned while the development will be designed to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and incorporate low carbon technologies, in line with Edinburgh’s ambitious net zero aims. Historic elements of the adjacent North British Rubber Factory will also be preserved and incorporated into the designs. It is envisaged that work will begin in 2024 and be fully built-out by 2027. Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “For years, Edinburgh has desperately needed more new social housing. This council is determined to tackle that shortfall and I’m delighted that we’ve secured space for over 100 new homes for social rent at Leamington Square. “Just a stone’s throw away from the Union Canal, with great cycle links and amenities on the doorstep, the regeneration of the old brewery site is sure to prove a really popular place to live. “The demand we are seeing for affordable and social homes is only going to increase as our city grows. And, while the future is challenging, together with developers and others we are doing everything within our powers to make it fairer on residents and on our environment with high quality, affordable, sustainable homes.” Carlo D’Emidio, Project Director of Cruden Homes, said: “This is a significant milestone for this flagship new development, which will see the transformation of this former brownfield site in Fountainbridge into a vibrant new community. “Subject to our development agreement with City of Edinburgh Council, Cruden and Buccleuch will deliver highly sustainable, Net Zero homes which will sit amongst a wealth of new amenities and community spaces in the Capital’s newest neighbourhood.” Ewan Anderson, Managing Director, 7N Architects, said: “7N Architects are delighted that planners have approved our latest plans for this new, mixed use, neighbourhood at Fountainbridge in Edinburgh. The development will provide 464 mixed-tenure homes, 30,000 sq.ft of mixed-use space and people friendly public realm which will reinvigorate this important canalside site. We now look forward to taking the project onwards with Cruden Homes, Buccleuch Property and the City of Edinburgh Council.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Proposed planning fee increases could help local planning services address capacity, recruitment, and performance challenges, which the RTPI says threaten the Government’s goals to boost home ownership and level up. However, these increases may not come soon enough for councils with scheduled staffing cuts, according to Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) evidence released today. Heads of planning services within the RTPI’s consultation response believe the fee increase coming in 2024 to be too late. Some councils have already scheduled staffing cuts for the 2023-24 financial year. The RTPI states that a 35% fee increase for major applications and a 25% increase for all other applications would constitute an above-inflation rise. RTPI members expect these increases to help local planning services overcome capacity, recruitment and performance challenges. To avoid future financial cliff edges, the RTPI has urged the Government to safeguard these potential gains by annually adjusting fees in line with inflation and allowing councils to “ring fence” this additional income for planning service provision. Richard Blyth, Head of Policy Practice and Research at the RTPI said, “Our members have previously warned that capacity, recruitment and performance are threats to the government’s ambitions to strengthen our plan-led system, boost home ownership and level up. We believe that increased planning fees will provide crucial assistance to local planning authorities in urgent need of support. “However, while increased fees are an important first step, we do not see them as a silver bullet to meeting the capacity requirements. We’ve also encouraged Government to address the fundamental questions on how our planning system will ensure good – not just fast – decisions in the public interest. “Proposals to collect better data on local planning authority performance in England are a positive step. The RTPI will continue to advise Government on how improvements in ‘customer experience’ should help the entire community, not just developers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wiltshire Council has approved plans to refurbish and remodel the Grade II listed Town Hall in Trowbridge. This paves the way for the Town Hall to become a major creative and community hub for Trowbridge, comprising custom designed performance and activity spaces, recording studios and a licenced café bar with refurbished spaces for a wide range of community activities from yoga classes to toddler groups. Listed Building Consent was also granted on the same day ensuring the status of the Town Hall as a local historic landmark in the heart of the town. “Securing these planning permissions are vital milestones in this project which forms part of the £16 million investment in Trowbridge town centre through the government’s Future High Streets Fund. We are delighted that we can now start to move from planning to the exciting stage of delivery with works starting later this year,” said Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council. “One of the key aims in our Business Plan is making sure our towns are resilient, ensuring our communities are able to grow sustainably with access to leisure, arts, heritage and culture. The refurbishment of Trowbridge Town Hall is central to developing a unique cultural offer in the town, encouraging increased footfall into the town centre and helping to revive Trowbridge’s poor evening economy. We are looking forward to these plans being realised in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barnet Council has launched a new campaign aimed at helping residents to keep their homes healthy and free from damp, mould, and condensation. The council has recognised that dampness is a common problem for residents, which can lead to a range of health hazards, including respiratory problems and asthma. To help combat this issue, the council is providing residents with a range of advice on how to tackle dampness, mould, and condensation. This includes information on the causes of dampness, tips to prevent it, and guidance on how to treat mould growth. Alongside this, the council is also investing £2.2million per annum for the next 10 years to address damp and mould issues across the council’s housing stock. The council’s arms length management organisation, Barnet Homes, has already surveyed more than 80% of homes, so that any damp or mould can either be treated immediately or prioritised on the basis of its severity. Dampness can be caused by a range of factors, such as leaking pipes, missing roof tiles, defective damp proof course, and condensation. Condensation, in particular, is a common issue in poorly heated, insulated, or ventilated homes, especially during colder weather. It can lead to moisture build-up and tiny droplets of water appearing, causing staining, mould growth, and damage to your home, furniture, and clothing. In extreme cases, mould growth can also have severe health consequences. Residents can follow these tips to minimize the risk of dampness and mould growth in their homes: By taking these simple steps, residents can improve their health and prevent further damage to their homes. Councillor Ross Houston, Chair of Barnet Council’s Housing and Growth Committee, stated, “Keeping your home healthy is essential for a comfortable and safe living environment. We understand that residents face various challenges, and dampness is one of them. We want to provide our residents with the tools and advice they need to tackle these issues effectively.” To treat mould growth, residents can use a bleach and water solution or mould remover spray to wipe down walls and window frames, shampoo carpets, use good quality fungicidal paint to help prevent mould, and use wallpaper paste containing a fungicide to prevent further mould growth. If you notice any signs of dampness or mould in your home, it is crucial to tackle the problem as soon as possible to prevent further damage and health hazards. Barnet Homes residents living in council housing can report damp or mould using Barnet Homes’ online form at barnethomes.org/report-damp. They can also report the issue by emailing healthyhomesteam@barnethomes.org or calling 020 8080 6587. Other residents living in social housing (such as housing association homes) should report damp or mould directly to their landlord. Private Sector Housing residents can report unresolved issues to Environmental Health on environmentalhealth@barnet.gov.uk or call 0208 359 7995. Visit the Barnet Council website for more guidance on ‘Keeping your home healthy – damp, mould and condensation advice’ at www.barnet.gov.uk/mouldanddamp. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CBRE’s Liverpool Office Agency team has been instructed as sole letting agents by Wirral Borough Council to market 2 Grade A new build offices totalling 147,767 sq ft in Birkenhead. Currently on site, the scheme is earmarked for completion in Autumn 2023, the only new build offices completing in the Liverpool City region this year with some of the highest ESG and EPC credentials. The scheme, being developed through the Wirral Growth Company, a 50:50 partnership between Wirral Borough Council and Muse will deliver 2 Grade A, BREEAM Excellent office buildings extending to a total of 147,767 sq ft. Wirral Borough Council will be occupying 65,447 sq ft of Building One, leaving part ground and whole of the 1st floor available extending to 24,144 sq ft. Building Two, comprising 58,176 sq ft of office space is also available. The assets are being built to the highest specification and will provide column free floorplates from 12,500-19,400 sq ft and include VRF air conditioning, metal tiled suspended ceiling, LED lighting, full access raised floor, floor to ceiling glazed elevations, 2.8m floor to ceiling heights, feature reception, showers and cycle hub facilities and will also achieve an EPC ‘A’ rating. Neil Kirkham, Senior Director at CBRE commented “CBRE is delighted to market this truly high quality asset on behalf of Wirral Borough Council. The scheme will be the only new build office completing in the Liverpool City region this year and will provide the quality of product that is missing and in high demand in the market currently. “These are exciting times for Birkenhead, following developments at Wirral Waters, together with the numerous projects Wirral Borough Council is delivering within its Birkenhead 2040 vision including Dock Branch Park, Hind Street Urban Garden Village and further commercial district development such as a new ‘repositioned’ Birkenhead Market. “Not only will the new offices benefit from the highest quality finishes and amenities, they will also achieve some of the highest ESG credentials including BREEAM Excellent, EPC A, Well Gold and Wired Score Gold. From an occupier perspective, this development offers all the key attributes employers and employees are currently seeking, with high quality national retailers and F&B offerings in the adjacent Grange Shopping Precinct and Pyramids Shopping Centre, together with unrivalled transport connectivity, The adjacent bus terminus, Conway Park and Birkenhead Central train stations also provide a two stop service to Liverpool with direct access to the wider Borough and Chester, together with 3 multi-storey car parks within 200m. “Birkenhead has not seen a speculative office scheme in the town centre for 20 years and we are therefore fully anticipating these buildings are going to satisfy a lot of pent up demand for space in the market.” David Hughes, Director or Regeneration and Place for Wirral Council said: “This scheme represents an exciting opportunity for businesses looking for modern, sustainable, first-rate office space in the Liverpool City Region. “These buildings will make a positive contribution to the regeneration of Birkenhead, which is currently undergoing significant transformation through a range of other projects. This development is a testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality assets that meet the needs of businesses and the wider community. “I look forward to working closely with CBRE to bring these buildings to market and to welcoming new tenants to this vibrant and dynamic area of Wirral.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The regeneration of Perry Barr in Birmingham took another step forwards today as it was confirmed that construction is now complete on the first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme. Almost 1,000 much-needed new homes are now available for rent or sale on a former university campus in the north of the city. Completion of the new homes was announced at the same time that Lendlease, the principal contractor for the scheme on behalf of Birmingham City Council, revealed the project has beaten a number of targets it was set in order to help support the local economy and bring wider community benefits. More than 650 new jobs have been created for local people throughout the construction, including almost 100 apprenticeships, and more than 1,350 people have been upskilled on the site. Highlights included a Women in Construction course, which promotes opportunities for women in the construction industry across the UK, funded through the Home Builders Federation. Participants received advice and guidance, as well as training in various areas of construction, and two weeks’ work experience. Lendlease also worked with Solihull College to deliver English for Construction courses for people who have English as a second language, a key tool for increasing safety through better communication on a site which at its peak had 26 different nationalities of workers on the project. Participants who completed the course were rewarded with a Level 1 Health and Safety in Construction qualification. Over the course of the £326m contract, £267m has been spent by Lendlease with local businesses, and workers have devoted 2,679 hours to volunteering in the local area – the equivalent of four months of continuous work, and nearly three times the target they were set. This included working with Eden Boys School and Welford Primary School to build and maintain outdoor learning areas, as well as collecting for local food banks. Designs created by students from Birmingham Metropolitan College were exhibited on site hoardings visible near the site to raise awareness of Single Use Plastics (SUP). This was inspired by the SUP Ambassadors programme, a project developed with students from Eden Boys’ School, that aimed to raise awareness of SUP and its impact on the environment, people and wildlife. Lendlease, together with construction partners, also sponsored the production of a new book aimed at educating primary school children on avoiding single use plastics, which was launched at Calshot Primary School, and was distributed to primary schools across Birmingham. The new homes at Perry Barr consist of a mix of homes for rent and sale, surrounded by accessible green space. The tallest building on the scheme tops out at fifteen storeys and the first residents are expected to move in later this year. The scheme is part of a wider £700million-plus regeneration of Perry Barr in the north-west of the city, including improved leisure and community facilities along with upgraded transport infrastructure, all of which is underpinned by the Perry Barr 2040 Masterplan, developed by the Council in partnership with local residents and stakeholders. Lendlease are the Management Contractor for this first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, working with Kier, Willmott Dixon, PJ Careys and Vinci UK to deliver the project. Quote attributable to Anna Evans, Project director for the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, Lendlease: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved at the end of this project. Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the team responded quickly to adapt to new ways of working and tirelessly devoted themselves to completing the project. Not only that, everybody went above and beyond to truly create a lasting legacy for Perry Barr, with new jobs, skills and sustainability initiatives. I want to thank everybody involved for their hard work and I look forward to seeing the first residents moving in and enjoying this vibrant new neighbourhood.” Quote attributable to Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council: “Perry Barr is being transformed and the completion of these much-needed homes is another major milestone in the ongoing regeneration of an area that has long been deserving of investment. “We’re determined that neighbourhoods across the city will reap the rewards of this golden decade of opportunity, and with major improvements to transport infrastructure, the redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium into a world-class sporting facility and the Perry Barr 2040 Masterplan, it’s clear that north west Birmingham is already benefitting. “Success for Birmingham must mean success for the people and communities of Birmingham, so it is especially pleasing that we have partnered with contractors who have a clear commitment to ensuring that existing residents and communities benefit from their work.” Find out more about the Perry Parr regeneration scheme at https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50253/perry_barr_regeneration Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning permission was granted on Tuesday 28th March for the major regeneration of three key sites in the Church Street neighbourhood. This followed a recent positive resident ballot result which saw the community support the revised proposals. The Church Street Regeneration Programme will deliver up to 1,120 new homes and will ensure the re-provision of all existing council homes with new higher quality council homes for social rent with affordable homes making up over 50% of the homes delivered in the scheme. The approved plans will enable the council to: The plans will transform the three key sites in the Church Street neighbourhood re-providing 228 council homes at a better quality, allowing council tenants the right to return, and delivering at least 156 additional council homes for social rent. A further 169 intermediate rent homes bring the total provision of affordable homes across all three sites to over 50%. Local residents have voted in favour of the Council’s two major regeneration schemes at Church Street and Ebury Bridge. This has unlocked £60m in additional funding from the GLA which has enabled delivery of higher levels of truly affordable housing. Along with the delivery of new homes, the regeneration will also deliver enhanced infrastructure and improvements to Church Street Market (such as increased storage and van parking for market traders) allowing it to continue to flourish and to provide opportunities for increased vibrancy and footfall. Cllr Matt Noble, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Renters and Climate Action at Westminster City Council said: Now planning permission has been granted for Church Street, enabling work at Site A will begin later this year. The planning application submitted was a ‘hybrid’ application that consists of two parts: This means there will be further consultation and design development with the local community for Sites B, C and Church Street market, which will be done in due course. The council launched its new Fairer Westminster strategy in October 2022, which sets out how the council will work with the local community to support them and tackle inequality. The introduction of resident ballots aims to give residents a say on the future of their area and to deliver more council homes for social rent, building a fairer city for people to live in. As part of the new Fairer Westminster strategy, the target is for approximately 70% of affordable homes on council-owned developments to be Council homes for social rent. The council announced its commitment to increase the number of truly affordable homes in Westminster in October last year. The projected GLA funding for both Ebury and Church Street, takes the affordable homes total across all the Westminster schemes to at least 1,400 council homes for social rent. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Net-zero technology firm, IES, has collaborated with Dublin City Council on a Digital Twin project to identify how Dublin’s social housing stock can be decarbonised in the most efficient manner in terms of both operational energy and embodied energy. Using its world-leading digital twin technology, IES carried out modelling of three residential blocks located on Lower Dominick Street. It assessed the full carbon impact and efficiency of four renovation strategies, over three different time periods, to regenerate the vacant buildings built in 1962. The strategies align with the council’s climate targets for 2030, 2050 and beyond. The project took a whole-life carbon approach, taking into account both embodied and operational carbon. Consideration of embodied carbon, which is the emissions associated with construction and materials throughout the whole life-cycle of a building, is a critical part of sustainable building analysis that is often overlooked. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a building, which uses real data, and physics-based simulations to behave as it would in real life. Powered by dynamic simulation modelling software, the digital twin models were used to identify which strategy, from shallow retrofit to demolition and rebuild, would result in the biggest reduction in whole-life carbon emissions. In order to determine the strategy which would lower emissions most significantly, the main sources of energy consumption were identified by calibrating data from existing energy bills of the social housing site. The results are included in the Dublin City Council Climate Resilient Housing Report, which highlights that over a 60-year life period, the best renovation strategy determined for social housing was Deep Retrofit. Under this strategy, each residential block can achieve around an 85% reduction in cumulative emissions by carrying out a deep retrofit. Because of the study, Dublin City Council can make evidence-backed decisions when developing the most optimal whole-life carbon regeneration strategy for the refurbishment of ageing, social housing buildings. The project was funded by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Public Sector Innovation Fund, with IES and DCC in partnership winning this project to create the digital twin. The results of the project will help Dublin City Council to meet emissions reduction and retrofitting targets for social housing, alongside housing delivery targets. As more targets are imposed by the government to mitigate climate change, new systems must be developed to assess the strategies for derelict buildings. Following its success, it’s hoped that the study can be scaled to other sites across Dublin and beyond to estimate the carbon impact of renovation projects. Don McLean, founder and CEO of IES, said: “Retrofitting vs demolition continues to be a widespread debate, particularly as higher targets are imposed to tackle climate change. With around 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 likely already built, retrofitting has a key role to play in decarbonising our built environment and driving energy efficiency. Whilst demolition is sometimes unavoidable, it increases emissions, through embodied carbon and materials required for rebuilding. “We hope that the results of this project will help local authorities to determine the best strategy for decarbonising derelict buildings and meeting targets. It’s a step in the right direction to making vacant buildings in Ireland as carbon neutral as possible, and one that we hope other councils will soon replicate.” Sabrina Dekker, climate change co-ordinator at Dublin City Council, said: “This project has demonstrated the results that can be achieved through working collaboratively, exchanging knowledge to drive innovation and meet targets. IES’s digital twin technology has enabled us to confirm the importance of retrofitting to reduce our emissions and we hope that the results can be utilised to inform future projects.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
