Trades & Services : Modular & MMC News
Portakabin Joins Everything Estates Framework to Accelerate Public Sector Building Delivery

Portakabin Joins Everything Estates Framework to Accelerate Public Sector Building Delivery

Portakabin has strengthened its position in the public sector construction market after being appointed as an approved supplier to Place Group’s Everything Estates framework, providing public sector organisations with faster access to modular building solutions through a compliant procurement route. The appointment will enable local authorities, education providers, NHS trusts

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Reds10 Group announces strategic investment in façade specialist Mad About Facades, strengthening in-house delivery capability

Reds10 Group announces strategic investment in façade specialist Mad About Facades, strengthening in-house delivery capability

Reds10 Group has completed a strategic investment in façade specialist Mad About Facades (MAF), strengthening Reds10’s vertically integrated, industrialised construction model by bringing façade design and delivery fully in-house, enhancing quality, efficiency and control across projects. Mad About Facades is a specialist façade and cladding contractor, delivering façade design, manufacture

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Leading modular manufacturer appointed to major public sector framework 

Leading modular manufacturer appointed to major public sector framework 

Offsite manufacturer, Premier Modular, has been announced as a supplier to public sector-owned professional buying organisation, ESPO, to support on seven lots on their new Modular Buildings framework (953).   Suppliers will design, manufacture, deliver, install and provide maintenance for modular buildings, with the national framework helping to provide much-needed high-quality, future proofed temporary and permanent infrastructure for the public sector.   Premier Modular, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, is known for

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Reds10 Group announces strategic investment in steel fabrication specialist ESL, bringing critical technical capability in-house

Reds10 Group announces strategic investment in steel fabrication specialist ESL, bringing critical technical capability in-house

Reds10 Group has completed a strategic investment in steel fabrication specialist ESL Fabrication Engineers (ESL).  The partnership strengthens Reds10’s vertically integrated, industrialised construction model by bringing critical steel fabrication in-house, enhancing delivery strength and support the business’s next phase of growth. Founded in 2010 by father and son Paul and

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£500m modular building deal set to transform public sector projects

£500m modular building deal set to transform public sector projects

Public sector procurement organisation YPO has announced the successful suppliers appointed to its £500 million modular buildings framework. The four-year agreement is designed to make it easier for public sector bodies to buy or hire modular buildings. It will support a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, housing and

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Modular Developer Reds10 sets sights on NHS hospitals in £500m growth drive

Modular Developer Reds10 sets sights on NHS hospitals in £500m growth drive

Modular construction developer Reds10 is positioning the NHS hospital building programme as a cornerstone of its next growth phase, as it targets annual turnover of £500m. The business has developed a prototype modular in-patient hospital bedroom designed to support the government’s Hospital 2.0 ambition under the New Hospital Programme. If

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Pinewood Structures using SterlingOSB Zero across its offsite systems

Pinewood Structures using SterlingOSB Zero across its offsite systems

A specialist timber engineering company, active throughout East Anglia and the Home Counties, is making extensive use of West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero in the production of its diverse offering of high performance, sustainable offsite solutions. Based in the village of Gamlingay on the Cambridgeshire-Bedfordshire border, Pinewood Structures was established in

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Latest Issue
Issue 343 : Aug 2026

Trades : Modular & MMC News

Portakabin Joins Everything Estates Framework to Accelerate Public Sector Building Delivery

Portakabin Joins Everything Estates Framework to Accelerate Public Sector Building Delivery

Portakabin has strengthened its position in the public sector construction market after being appointed as an approved supplier to Place Group’s Everything Estates framework, providing public sector organisations with faster access to modular building solutions through a compliant procurement route. The appointment will enable local authorities, education providers, NHS trusts and other public sector bodies to procure both temporary and permanent modular buildings without the need for lengthy tendering processes, helping accelerate the delivery of new facilities and estate improvements. Everything Estates is designed to simplify procurement by allowing organisations to either directly appoint approved suppliers or undertake a streamlined mini competition, reducing timescales while ensuring compliance with public sector procurement requirements. For the construction and built environment sectors, the framework offers a practical route for delivering projects where speed, flexibility and value are critical. It supports organisations responding to increasing demand for services, replacing ageing infrastructure or delivering additional accommodation quickly and efficiently. Portakabin’s inclusion on the framework reinforces the growing role that modular construction continues to play across the public estate, where off-site manufacturing is increasingly being adopted to minimise disruption, improve programme certainty and deliver sustainable, high-quality buildings. Keith Rayner, Head of Frameworks at Portakabin, said: “Joining the Everything Estates framework reinforces our commitment to making it easier for public sector organisations to access high-quality modular building solutions, for both temporary and permanent requirements. “Whether responding to growing demand, replacing ageing facilities or delivering new accommodation at pace, the framework provides customers with a compliant and streamlined procurement route that saves valuable time, while ensuring excellent value.” Claire Delaney, Managing Director of Everything Estates, added: “Everything Estates gives control to our clients by allowing customers to obtain the best value for money based upon their requirements and not those that are pre-determined by the framework operator. It removes unnecessary bureaucracy and creates a time efficient route for procurement, which delivers enhanced return on investment for all parties.” As demand continues to grow for flexible and efficient estate solutions, the appointment highlights the increasing importance of framework agreements in supporting the rapid delivery of public sector projects, while providing clients with greater choice, improved procurement efficiency and access to trusted construction partners. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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NORD/LB supports £360m financing of leading UK social infrastructure provider Premier Modular

NORD/LB supports £360m financing of leading UK social infrastructure provider Premier Modular

Funding from NORD/LB and a consortium of international lenders will enable Premier Modular to expand its modular infrastructure platform across key UK and European social sectors  Premier Modular is backed by leading investors Cabot Square Capital and MML Capital Partners   Deal reinforces NORD/LB’s commitment to financing critical projects that meet Europe’s growing social infrastructure needs  German bank NORD/LB, in conjunction with a consortium of international lenders, has announced a £360 million financing package for Premier Modular, the UK’s leading provider of high-quality modular buildings for social infrastructure. The package includes a refinancing and CapEx facility that will support the continued growth of Premier Modular’s leading social infrastructure modular platform across the UK and Europe. Europe and the UK are facing an urgent need for modern, flexible infrastructure solutions to replace ageing social infrastructure buildings quickly and efficiently. Premier Modular is helping to meet this demand through adaptable modular buildings that are faster to deploy, lower cost, and more sustainable than traditional construction, with an asset life of more than 30 years.  Over this period, its modules can be reused and reconfigured, enabling governments and public authorities to rapidly adapt social infrastructure to the changing needs of their populations. The transaction represents another important deal for NORD/LB, further strengthening its presence, track record, and project financing capabilities in the social infrastructure sector. The bank will continue to build on this momentum by financing further projects that help fulfil Europe’s evolving social needs.  “We are pleased to back Premier Modular’s continued growth, supporting the expansion of its established and leading social infrastructure platform,” said Sean Cook, Head of Infrastructure Origination Europe at NORD/LB. “Across Europe and the UK, governments and local authorities are under increasing pressure to adapt and modernise social infrastructure in response to the changing needs of their populations. Premier Modular is at the forefront of helping Europe address this challenge, and we’re proud to support the continued growth of this important platform.” “This refinancing is an important milestone for Premier Modular and reflects the confidence our banking partners have in the business,”said David Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Premier Modular. “We have built a market-leading platform with a high-quality, modern fleet and a long-standing customer base, and this financing gives us the firepower to continue investing in that platform. Demand for flexible, high-quality modular space in the UK has never been stronger, and we are well positioned to capitalise on that opportunity.” Latham & Watkins acted as the lending consortium’s legal adviser on the deal, while Simpson Thacher & Bartlett acted as Premier Modular’s legal adviser.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Reds10 Group announces strategic investment in façade specialist Mad About Facades, strengthening in-house delivery capability

Reds10 Group announces strategic investment in façade specialist Mad About Facades, strengthening in-house delivery capability

Reds10 Group has completed a strategic investment in façade specialist Mad About Facades (MAF), strengthening Reds10’s vertically integrated, industrialised construction model by bringing façade design and delivery fully in-house, enhancing quality, efficiency and control across projects. Mad About Facades is a specialist façade and cladding contractor, delivering façade design, manufacture and installation across the defence, education and residential sectors. The business has grown rapidly since launching, with a team of nine employees supported by a workforce of up to 30 operatives delivering projects across the UK. Notable schemes include Single Living Accommodation for the Ministry of Defence, alongside education projects at Thomas Telford School and Connaught SEND School. Reds10 and Mad About Facades have worked together since February 2025, with Reds10 acting as a key client across MAF’s growing portfolio. The investment formalises this relationship, with Reds10 becoming a strategic shareholder, supporting the continued scaling of the business while strengthening Reds10’s ability to deliver façade packages as part of a fully integrated model. Façades are a key component of modern offsite construction, and this investment builds on Reds10 Group’s wider strategy to bring critical construction capabilities in-house, supporting more efficient programme delivery and greater coordination across complex projects. Last month, Reds10 Group completed a strategic investment in steel fabrication specialist ESL Fabrication Engineers (ESL), which specialises in the comprehensive delivery of steel fabrication across the UK, from manufacture and installation to repair and maintenance works. Mad About Facades joins ESL as part of the Reds10 Group, bringing the total number of companies in the Group to twelve, including Reds10 and its sister businesses. The Group structure brings together complementary businesses under one roof to drive the industrialisation of construction, supported by data-led processes and AI integration across the development lifecycle. Paul Ruddick, Chief Executive of Reds10 Group, said: “Bringing façade capability into the Group is an important step in strengthening our fully integrated model. Mad About Facades has an excellent reputation for quality and delivery, and this investment allows us to align façade design and manufacture more closely with our wider operations. As we continue to grow, having this expertise in-house will be key to driving efficiency, innovation and consistency across our projects.” Warren Moses, Commercial Director of Mad About Facades, added: “Joining the Reds10 Group marks an exciting new chapter for Mad About Facades. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a business, building our reputation on technical expertise, innovation and a commitment to delivering high-quality façade solutions. Reds10 has established itself as a leader in industrialised construction, and its vision closely aligns with our own ambitions for quality, efficiency and continuous improvement. By becoming part of the Group, we can combine our specialist façade expertise with a fully integrated delivery model, creating significant opportunities for growth, collaboration and innovation.” The investment follows Reds10’s continued growth and its ambition to further expand its presence across key sectors, including defence, education, justice and health, alongside an increasing focus on affordable housing and temporary accommodation. Reds10 manufactures all its buildings off-site at its advanced construction facility in Driffield, East Yorkshire, where it operates five factories totalling 300,000 sq ft. By investing in its own capabilities and supply chain, the Group is able to deliver sustainable, high-quality buildings with greater certainty, from concept through to completion. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Leading modular manufacturer appointed to major public sector framework 

Leading modular manufacturer appointed to major public sector framework 

Offsite manufacturer, Premier Modular, has been announced as a supplier to public sector-owned professional buying organisation, ESPO, to support on seven lots on their new Modular Buildings framework (953).   Suppliers will design, manufacture, deliver, install and provide maintenance for modular buildings, with the national framework helping to provide much-needed high-quality, future proofed temporary and permanent infrastructure for the public sector.   Premier Modular, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, is known for its ability to deliver modular schemes through different procurement options and has been awarded to seven out of ten lots of the framework. The lots include the hire and purchase of Modular Healthcare and Education Buildings, and the purchase of Modular Catering, Accommodation and Miscellaneous Buildings.  Progress is expected to continue into 2028, providing the delivery and installation for a range of units from accommodation to site offices, with the option for bespoke design projects.   Premier Modular has continuously worked over the years to meet evolving and growing demand across the public sector. In the past year alone, the business has delivered a new Community Diagnostic Centre at a War Memorial Hospital in Cheshire, supplied a large-scale temporary school to support the development of a new permanent facility at Greenshaw High School, and won a multi-million-pound contract to deliver new security buildings across three major UK airports. In 2025, Premier Modular was also appointed to the £1bn NHS Commercial Solutions Framework, designed to support the rapid and sustainable delivery of modular buildings across healthcare, housing, education and other public facilities.   David Harris, Managing Director of Premier Modular, said: “Being awarded a place on seven out of ten lots of the new ESPO framework reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality, flexible spaces across the public sector. As demand continues to increase, this opportunity allows us to support communities with more speed, more certainty and more sustainable outcomes exactly where they’re needed and matter most.  “By shifting more of the construction process offsite, we’re reducing disruption, improving quality control, and accelerating delivery times and helping reshape the built environment into something smarter, greener and more resilient for the future.”  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Reds10 Group announces strategic investment in steel fabrication specialist ESL, bringing critical technical capability in-house

Reds10 Group announces strategic investment in steel fabrication specialist ESL, bringing critical technical capability in-house

Reds10 Group has completed a strategic investment in steel fabrication specialist ESL Fabrication Engineers (ESL).  The partnership strengthens Reds10’s vertically integrated, industrialised construction model by bringing critical steel fabrication in-house, enhancing delivery strength and support the business’s next phase of growth. Founded in 2010 by father and son Paul and Gareth Thompson, ESL specialises in the comprehensive delivery of steel fabrication across the UK, from manufacture and installation to repair and maintenance works. The business has grown steadily since its inception, growing its turnover to £7 million in 2026, becoming one of the fastest growing engineering companies in East Yorkshire. The business now employs just under 50 people from its purpose-built factory facility in Kingston upon Hull. ESL will become part of the recently established Reds10 Group, bringing the total number of companies in the group to ten, including Reds10 and its sister companies. The creation of Reds10 Group brings a family of businesses together under one roof to further drive the wholesale industrialisation of design, production and construction, with AI integrated at every stage. ESL has a well-established relationship with Reds10, having worked together for the last five years to deliver high-quality sustainable buildings for the public sector, with a particular focus on defence, education, justice and health. With steel structures being an integral part of industrialised construction, ESL’s specialist technical design capabilities will enhance Reds10’s offering to maximise efficiencies in-house. The companies’ factory locations are geographically complementary, with Reds10 manufacturing off‑site in Driffield, East Yorkshire, and ESL’s purpose‑built facility just 20 miles away in Kingston upon Hull. Speaking of the partnership, Paul Ruddick, chief executive of Reds10 Group, said: “Having worked with ESL for several years, we’ve seen first‑hand the consistent quality of their service and their ambition for excellence and growth, values that closely align with our own. Bringing steel fabrication into the Reds10 Group adds a critical piece of the jigsaw as we launch our next phase of strategic growth to exploit advancing technologies, while integrating AI at every level of the business.” Gareth Thompson, co-founder and managing director of ESL said: “We’ve come a long way since ESL’s inception in 2010 and our partnership with Reds10 feels like a natural next step that will bring clear benefits to both businesses. This marks an exciting next phase in our evolution, and we look forward to building on the strong working relationship we’ve developed with Reds10 in recent years and maximising the opportunities ahead.” The partnership comes after Reds10 reported robust financial results for the 2024/25, with revenue of £144.7m and an industry-leading operating margin of 4.8%. Reds10 has set out an ambitious plan to grow its revenue to £500m and is targeting an expansion into the healthcare sector, as well as the affordable housing and temporary accommodation sectors, providing high quality sustainable homes for local authorities to help them tackle the housing crisis in their communities. Reds10 manufactures all its buildings off-site at its advanced construction facility in Driffield, East Yorkshire, where it has five factories totalling 300,000 sq ft. By investing in its own workforce, the company is able to deliver sustainable and innovative buildings in modern manufacturing facilities which are then transported and assembled on site to the most exacting standards. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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TALO Appointed to Deliver Offsite Superstructures for First Residential Scheme in New Collaboration with Lucy Developments

TALO Appointed to Deliver Offsite Superstructures for First Residential Scheme in New Collaboration with Lucy Developments

TALO, the specialist in ultra-low energy offsite timber housing, has been awarded a £1.1m contract by Lucy Developments for a nine-home residential scheme in the canalside village of Wilstone near Tring in Hertfordshire. Moorings is the first project in a new long-term collaboration between the two companies, with further, larger residential sites already in the planning pipeline. TALO has been selected by Lucy Developments to facilitate the construction of ultra-low energy homes at scale, achieving shorter programmes, outstanding quality and greater cost certainty than traditional construction can offer for the same cost. The Moorings development will deliver nine two-storey homes – a mix of three and four-bed terraced properties and two four-bed detached homes. Greg Hilton, Head of Lucy Developments:“Moorings at Wilstone is an important project for us. The ability to deliver homes of this quality with much lower energy consumption in less time, is a significant advantage, both commercially and to achieve more sustainable development and construction. This is the first step in a wider partnership with TALO and we are now progressing plans for larger sites using their housebuilding solutions.” To accelerate delivery, the advanced timber superstructure from TALO will be manufactured offsite using high quality, slow-grown Nordic timber protected through a fully dry fabrication and installation process. This will further enhance thermal performance and avoid the common issue of wet timber needing to dry out. The structures will arrive on site in four phases by early this summer, pre-installed with a high level of insulation, plasterboard, timber cladding and triple glazing, ready for rapid assembly. This means all nine homes will be watertight in just one week per phase, allowing the contractor to start internal fitout at an earlier stage and with greater cost and programme certainty. TALO’s low carbon energy strategy has been specified in parallel with the highly insulated timber superstructure to minimise energy bills – a solar battery package to power hot water and electric underfloor heating and MVHR for enhanced air quality and a healthier internal environment. Dr Anthony Greer, Executive Director for Corporate Strategy at TALO: “This new partnership has been created to scale ultra-low energy housebuilding. Lucy Developments has a strong ethos around sustainability, quality and the long-term performance of the homes they build. This alignment makes our collaboration a fantastic fit. Our offsite superstructure solution and energy strategy will enable their development team to deliver ultra-low energy homes with far greater certainty, reduced build programmes, and enhanced air tightness and energy efficiency than is typically achievable with traditional construction for the same cost. By using TALO’s integrated solutions, Lucy can scale delivery, reduce risk and accelerate the provision of high-quality family homes to help meet the serious shortfall in new housing.” Lucy Developments is a long-established and sustainability-focused housebuilder and developer, delivering a wide range of homes for market sale and affordable housing. The Moorings project is the first of multiple planned sites and is part of Lucy’s vision to make TALO its preferred construction solution for ultra-low energy family homes. The homes were designed by architects Lewis and Hickey and the technical rationalisation was carried out by Trower Davies. The design reflects local architecture in the village and maximises views of the canal, with features including metal roofing, dark-stained timber cladding, red and buff-coloured brickwork, large triple-glazed windows, projecting bays, and first-floor balconies overlooking the water. TALO combines proven offsite technology from Finland with advanced design and manufacturing processes to build ultra-low energy homes. It partners with housing providers, architects, housebuilders and residential developers across the UK with the aim of increasing the productivity, cost efficiency, quality and sustainability of ultra-low energy, low-rise homes – whether for market sale, private rent, shared ownership, or affordable housing. For more information, see www.talo.co.uk or email hello@talo.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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£500m modular building deal set to transform public sector projects

£500m modular building deal set to transform public sector projects

Public sector procurement organisation YPO has announced the successful suppliers appointed to its £500 million modular buildings framework. The four-year agreement is designed to make it easier for public sector bodies to buy or hire modular buildings. It will support a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, housing and justice, by providing faster and more flexible building solutions. Michelle Walker, Head of Procurement Service and Supply Solutions at YPO (pictured), said the framework brings together a strong group of providers delivering both innovative and sustainable options. She explained that the organisation is looking forward to working closely with suppliers and helping contracting authorities get the most value from modular construction, both in terms of efficiency and long-term benefits. A total of 28 companies have secured places across 15 lots on the framework. These include: Actiform LimitedAirport Capacity Solutions LimitedCleveland Sitesafe LimitedElite Systems (GB) LimitedHealth Spaces LimitedHealthmatic LimitedIdeal Building Systems LimitedInstaspace LtdIntegra Buildings LimitedJDC Building Works LtdMac Zero Modular Buildings LtdMcAvoy Modular Offsite LimitedModuleCo Healthcare LimitedModuleCo LimitedMy Fab LimitedP McVey Building Systems LtdPKL Group (UK) LimitedPortable Offices (Hire) LimitedPortakabin LimitedPremier Modular LimitedQube Structures Ltd trading as The QubeSilwood Facilities Limited trading as Silwood SpaceSKW Construction LtdStelling Modular Limited trading as Stelling PropertiesThurston Group LimitedWernick Buildings LimitedWestern Building Systems LtdZED Pods Ltd The framework is expected to play a key role in accelerating the adoption of modular construction across the UK public sector, helping organisations deliver buildings more quickly, sustainably and cost-effectively. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Modular Developer Reds10 sets sights on NHS hospitals in £500m growth drive

Modular Developer Reds10 sets sights on NHS hospitals in £500m growth drive

Modular construction developer Reds10 is positioning the NHS hospital building programme as a cornerstone of its next growth phase, as it targets annual turnover of £500m. The business has developed a prototype modular in-patient hospital bedroom designed to support the government’s Hospital 2.0 ambition under the New Hospital Programme. If approved, the room could become a standardised model deployed across future hospital developments, offering the NHS a repeatable, modular solution to accelerate delivery of new healthcare facilities. The healthcare focus comes as Reds10 prepares for its next stage of expansion, following a year of steady performance. The company reported revenue of £145m for the year ending 31 March 2025, alongside continued investment in advanced manufacturing, automation and data-led design. Operating margin held at 4.8%, with pre-tax profit stable at £7m. Reds10 remains debt free, holding £20m in cash, and is forecasting revenue of approximately £160m in the current financial year. At its Driffield manufacturing campus, two of the firm’s five factories are now fully industrialised, supported by increased automation and data-driven production processes. This investment underpins a secured pipeline in excess of £350m, spanning long-term programmes across defence, education and justice. Reds10 has been appointed as one of five contractors on the Defence Infrastructure Organisation alliance delivering single living accommodation for the Armed Forces. The developer also holds positions on the London Construction Programme public-sector education framework and the NHS Shared Business Services Modular Buildings 3 framework. Alongside healthcare, the business is targeting growth in affordable housing and temporary accommodation, applying its industrialised delivery model across multiple sectors. Chairman Paul Ruddick said the company’s performance demonstrated the resilience of volumetric construction when backed by the right strategy. He said the business had defied wider challenges in the sector by diversifying income streams and taking a long-term approach to investment. Following a period of consolidation, Reds10 is now accelerating the industrialisation of its design, manufacturing and construction processes, with artificial intelligence embedded throughout its operations. Looking ahead, Ruddick said the developer sees significant opportunity in both health and residential markets, where its scalable, industrialised model can support the next generation of buildings and infrastructure. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Pinewood Structures using SterlingOSB Zero across its offsite systems

Pinewood Structures using SterlingOSB Zero across its offsite systems

A specialist timber engineering company, active throughout East Anglia and the Home Counties, is making extensive use of West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero in the production of its diverse offering of high performance, sustainable offsite solutions. Based in the village of Gamlingay on the Cambridgeshire-Bedfordshire border, Pinewood Structures was established in 1981 and has grown steadily to become one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of timber-based systems across a variety of sectors, including housing and retirement developments, hotels and student living. The selection of site-specific solutions includes both open panel timber frame and ‘NHBC Accepted’ status factory insulated closed panels as well as floor and roof cassettes. The Sales and Marketing Manager for Pinewood Structures, Peter Keogh, commented: “Over the past 15 years we have successfully completed over 600 separate schemes encompassing not only residential and student accommodation, but also hotels, supermarkets and other types of development. We manufacture our offsite timber frame solutions at our two purpose-designed factory units in Gamlingay, which provide us with 40,000 square feet of production space. “Importantly, although numbers for the housebuilding industry remain flat, timber frame is steadily growing its market share, and we confidently expect to increase our total capacity from the current figure of approximately 1500 units per year: partly due to the fact we work a lot in affordable housebuilding which is being quite strongly supported by the Government. We are also working with registered providers and developers targeting the buy-to-rent market who favour a quick build method.” Referencing the company’s commitments to being a sustainable supplier, Peter added: “In terms of our manufacturing, we primarily use the West Fraser 9mm Sterling OSB Zero as the sheathing to our open and closed panel systems; though it is also employed in other applications such as for fabricating floor cassettes for apartment buildings which will have an OSB deck onto which an acoustic floor system is installed. We also use CaberDek for some projects. “Pinewood has long had a strong emphasis on the use of sustainably sourced materials, with the low embodied energy of timber having obvious attractions, which we need to prove to our customers through sustainable procurement. In addition, as a major manufacturer, we need a strong supply chain with West Fraser being a national supplier able to support us through reliability and quality. Overall, we are in a good place in the market and are excited about the future for timber frame and what timber products can do to help meet climate challenge.” West Fraser, furthermore, ensures that all its lumber is sourced from responsibly managed forests, mainly in the UK, carrying full chain of custody meaning stocks are conserved by replanting and carefully planned cropping. While local sourcing reduces mileage, West Fraser is also investing heavily in a new rail head for its Inverness plant and buys only renewable electricity for the site – and has switched from gas power to biomass for its drying process. Across the group, ESG commitments are being delivered, and Inverness is on course to attain its 2030 targets next year.  All West Fraser panel products produced in the UK are net carbon negative and manufactured in mills that have obtained the coveted environmental ISO 14001 accreditation.  Responsibly sourced, the panels are FSC® certified (C012533) and created from locally grown timber, cutting embodied carbon from transportation. For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Gateway unlocked: Tide wins UK’s first Gateway 2 sign-off for a high-rise volumetric scheme

Gateway unlocked: Tide wins UK’s first Gateway 2 sign-off for a high-rise volumetric scheme

Volumetric developer Tide has secured the UK’s first Gateway 2 approval for an offsite high-rise under the post-Grenfell Building Safety regime, clearing the way for construction of The Green, a 23-storey, 424-bed student tower in Southall, west London. The milestone offers a practical template for how modular projects can satisfy the Building Safety Regulator’s demands and should accelerate confidence in factory-built delivery at height. The scheme, consented in January, will be delivered by Tide with its sister company and manufacturer Vision Volumetric. Using an integrated design-and-manufacture model, the in-house design and technical teams worked with consultant partners to evidence full compliance through detailed golden-thread documentation at Gateway 2, the point at which work can lawfully start on site. Why it matters for offsite• Process and proof: Tide and Vision aligned their technical submissions with the regulator’s expectations, establishing a replicable workflow for fire safety, structure, MEP, façade performance and product assurance within a volumetric system.• Digital golden thread by default: every module is digitally logged end-to-end. Vision’s factory controls track each build stage with QR-coded records and six independent QA sign-offs before a unit leaves the line, creating immediate evidence for Gateway 3 and data-rich handover for FM.• Programme certainty with compliance baked in: by resolving compliance at module level in the factory, site risk should reduce, installation programmes tighten and rework costs fall. Christy Hayes, CEO of Tide and Vision, said: “Securing the UK’s first Gateway 2 approval for a volumetric building is a landmark moment for Tide and Vision. Strong collaboration and regular communication with the regulatory lead and multi-disciplinary team have been key to this project. By working hand-in-hand with the regulator, we have fine-tuned our documentation and quality processes to align fully with Gateway requirements. This gives us confidence in navigating Gateway 3 and future approvals, while setting a clear benchmark for volumetric construction across the industry.” Looking ahead to Gateway 3, Tide says the same controls and documentation will underpin the completion and certification phase, with each volumetric unit’s provenance and workmanship evidenced before it reaches site. With construction now able to start at The Green, Southall gains one of the UK’s first student towers delivered to the spirit and letter of the Building Safety Act via volumetric construction. For developers weighing up MMC at height, Tide’s passage through Gateway 2 provides a workable benchmark: integrate design and manufacturing, evidence performance at component level, and treat the digital thread as core project infrastructure rather than a compliance afterthought. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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