Leading construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has been appointed main contractor for a £26million redevelopment at Barnfield College in Luton, part of the West Herts College Group. The works, which are due to begin in late May, will mark the second phase of a major project to transform the existing
GMI Construction Group has secured a place on the £1billion Pagabo Medium Works Framework. Securing a place on the framework, which runs until 2027, enables GMI to be considered for medium-sized public sector construction projects valued up to £10million. It is the second instalment to the original framework that was
Wirral glazing firm set to hit £17m in their 20th year in business. Local specialist glazing company, RED Systems are celebrating 20 years in business this month. Founded by Manging Director, Michael Green back in 2003, the firm has grown to become one the most respected and successful specialist glazing
Jo Gilroy, Group Sustainability Director at Balfour Beatty, shares an update on the company’s ongoing journey towards the Zero Carbon Construction Site of the future at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh We have some exciting news to share. For the first time on a live Balfour Beatty site, we’ve gone
ADDING to a brimming trophy cabinet, specialist retrofit decarbonisation turnkey provider Sustainable Building Services (SBS) has been named Retrofit Contractor of the Year by The Retrofit Academy. The expertise and collaborative approach of SBS’s team has been recognised with the retrofit decarbonisation sector’s most acclaimed national accolade. The Retrofit Contractor
Muse and Poplar HARCA have selected McAleer & Rushe to build over 270 homes at Stroudley Walk in London. A total of 115 of the 274 homes will be available through London Affordable Rent and shared ownership at Stroudley Walk. Works are to start on site imminently and completion of
Humber-based firm Hobson & Porter has been selected by RWE to complete the construction of its new operations & maintenance facility known as the Grimsby Hub. The multi-million pound contract includes an extension to the existing Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm operations base located at Grimsby’s Royal Dock, and includes
BMI Redland have recently provided the roofing materials for the redevelopment of the Miller Court apartment complex in Romford, Essex. Made up of 13 apartments across two storeys, Romford’s Miller Court, was going through a vital regeneration project including the roof. With lead work that no longer met regulations and
Lincoln-based Stirlin Construction, part of Stirlin Group, has reached 15 years of trading, with completed projects totalling over £70m and plans to deliver £10m worth of schemes in 2023. The milestone comes just months after Stirlin Group expanded its senior contracting team with the hire of Howard Griffith as head
Stockport-based roofing company, Allied Roofing & Construction, has today launched its new look as part of a major rebrand following the company’s acquisition by Complete Investments Group last year. Allied Roofing has specialised in pitched roofing for the last 34 years, primarily working with housing associations, other public sector clients
Leading construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has been appointed main contractor for a £26million redevelopment at Barnfield College in Luton, part of the West Herts College Group. The works, which are due to begin in late May, will mark the second phase of a major project to transform the existing Barnfield College into one campus, with scope for future growth. Gilbert-Ash’s contract includes the design and build of a four-storey concrete frame specialist teaching block, providing teaching spaces, staff spaces and break-out areas. In addition, the project will include landscaping, car parking and external walkways. The new building will provide state-of-the-art facilities for the College’s construction and engineering students. It is also set to create employment opportunities with student numbers expected to rise significantly as a result of the new campus. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson said the company was delighted to be working on a project which will deliver a stand-out teaching resource for Barnfield College for generations to come. He said: “Gilbert-Ash has a reputation for delivering world class teaching facilities with a growing portfolio of excellent projects in the education sector. “We view projects like this as not only delivering new buildings but instead creating opportunities for young people to receive the best training so they can build rewarding careers through securing high value jobs. “It is also particularly pleasing that the new Barnfield College campus will cater for the next generation joining the construction and engineering industries. At Gilbert-Ash we are committed to attracting people into our industry and one way we can do this is by constructing buildings which help inspire them.” Gilbert-Ash has a unique approach to construction, fit-out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. Sustainability is a key focus for Gilbert-Ash with a number of initiatives underway to help the company to drive down its carbon footprint. To find out more about Gilbert-Ash visit www.gilbert-ash.com.
GMI Construction Group has secured a place on the £1billion Pagabo Medium Works Framework. Securing a place on the framework, which runs until 2027, enables GMI to be considered for medium-sized public sector construction projects valued up to £10million. It is the second instalment to the original framework that was launched in 2019. GMI is one of 94 contractors to be selected by Pagabo, which works closely with public sector organisations by providing EU compliant framework agreements. With a strong track record of delivering projects for the public sector, GMI, which operates in the North West, North East, Yorkshire and the Midlands, has delivered a range of schemes for clients including the Department of Work and Pensions. Lee Powell, Group CEO of GMI Construction, said: “We are very proud to be named on this framework, which is a testament to the high standards of construction, project engagement, and value for money we deliver at GMI. It will also contribute to our commitment to levelling up in the economy by supporting the public investment in new buildings in the regions we operate, generating and sustaining employment and the use of local supply chains.” Jason Stapley, Chief Procurement Officer at The 55 Group, Pagabo’s parent organisation, said: “Our latest announcement sees the return of our popular Medium Works Framework – one of our most active construction offerings, which has seen more than 160 projects procured through it to date. This time, we’ve increased the total number of suppliers by 50 and are expecting to see the results from the old framework improved upon.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wirral glazing firm set to hit £17m in their 20th year in business. Local specialist glazing company, RED Systems are celebrating 20 years in business this month. Founded by Manging Director, Michael Green back in 2003, the firm has grown to become one the most respected and successful specialist glazing contractors in the region. With offices in both Neston and central London, RED Systems work with most of the UK’s leading Tier 1 contractors and national housing developers as well as forging a strong foothold in the MMC sector with leading off-site specialist FP McCann. This partnership has allowed RED to install windows off-site, enabling faster build times and increased efficiencies across the board. As well as this, innovative approaches such as RED’s industry-leading ‘rapid dry envelope’ solution, with windows, SFS and weatherboarding all wrapped up into 1 package to help accelerate traditional programmes have been embraced by major clients. Speaking about the milestone, RED System’s Managing Director Michael Green said: “Since taking our first order by fax 20 years ago, we have remained focused on providing excellence in terms of customer service and invested heavily in ongoing innovation and the development of our team. Our ethos is to ‘create lifetime customers through service delivery excellence’ and we couldn’t do this without our incredible team.” “Marking our 20th Anniversary has also given us the chance to reflect on our key achievements over the years and the clients, colleagues and mentors who helped us on our journey.” Committed to innovation and modern working practices, safety is also very much a key factor for team RED, and the company have been instrumental in developing a number of initiatives to ensure their on-site operations and product quality remain at the very highest levels. Their revolutionary QR code technology has transformed their approach to managing defects and delivering post-installation customer service. Their commitment to embracing digital technology has set a blueprint for the industry. “Here at RED, we have channelled a considerable amount of resource into enhanced CPD provision around the Building Safety Act and are committed to ongoing digital transformation in terms of managing quality, safety, and customer care”, commented Green. “The construction industry is an ever-changing landscape, so whether you have been established for 20, 40 or 100 years, developing is all about adapting, learning, and reacting to market conditions.” With a buoyant forward order book and several landmark projects in the pipeline, RED Systems look set to maintain their growth and continue to make waves in the industry for many years to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Jo Gilroy, Group Sustainability Director at Balfour Beatty, shares an update on the company’s ongoing journey towards the Zero Carbon Construction Site of the future at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh We have some exciting news to share. For the first time on a live Balfour Beatty site, we’ve gone all electric. For a duration of six weeks, our team working to deliver our Edinburgh Biomes project at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh recently trialled a fleet of all electric plant, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and familiarising ourselves with the next generation of telehandlers, excavators, dumpers and wackers. One of the key challenges that we have faced revolves around electric vehicle charging infrastructure and availability of viable charging stations. As you can imagine, most battery-powered plant is considerably smaller than diesel plant and therefore only offers enough power for around four-to-six hours of work before it needs recharging. In addition, as with electric cars and vans, electric plant is far more expensive to hire or purchase than traditional diesel machinery. However, reduced fuel costs and maintenance requirements can make it considerably more cost-effective in the long run. We must also consider that upfront costs are only going to reduce as the industry climbs aboard the electric bandwagon! There is no doubt that the switch to electric will require changes to the way in which we plan and manage our sites on day-to-day basis. We’ll need to take action and ensure that we’re charging our electric plant overnight and utilising our Power Profiler tool – which recommends the most cost and carbon efficient site compound set up, wherever possible. So undoubtedly, there are compromises and hurdles to overcome. However, clearly, one of the main advantages of electric over diesel plant is that they produce zero emissions. This is not only a clear step in the right direction for the construction sector, but it also means that they can operate in enclosed spaces or on smaller sites without additional ventilation and carbon monoxide monitoring. We have also noticed a clear difference in terms of air quality, and noise pollution too. In fact, the machinery is so quiet during standard operations, our operating procedures and safety training will need to be updated to keep our workforce safe! However, in spite of all these benefits, all-electric plant isn’t yet a realistic option for our bigger sites, or for heavy plant. The required infrastructure does not currently exist to accommodate a fully electric fleet on a large scale, without a mains grid connection. That’s why our view is that, for heavy plant, the priority for the industry has to be to accelerate the energy transition to hydrogen rather than rely on electric providing the solution. We are leading the way in making combustion engines work with hydrogen fuel for medium-sized plant such as telehandlers and traditional diggers, through our partnership with JCB and Sunbelt Rentals. We are also working with GeoPura and Siemens Energy on hydrogen fuel cells to generate power without an electrical connection. The potential of this work is huge. Replacing diesel generators with hydrogen would see a significant reduction to our carbon footprint, given that 46% of our sites sampled use diesel generators to power temporary accommodation units on site. Decarbonising the plant used on construction sites is an area that is moving quickly. The giant leap of faith we have just taken at the Zero Carbon Construction Site is one that has been challenging but more than worthwhile. Using smaller and medium sized electric plant is definitely something we will continue to pursue, utilising a mix-and-match approach to help determine the best possible solutions for the future. Read the latest diary entry in full here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ADDING to a brimming trophy cabinet, specialist retrofit decarbonisation turnkey provider Sustainable Building Services (SBS) has been named Retrofit Contractor of the Year by The Retrofit Academy. The expertise and collaborative approach of SBS’s team has been recognised with the retrofit decarbonisation sector’s most acclaimed national accolade. The Retrofit Contractor of the Year award endorses excellence, meeting PAS 2035 principles, consistent delivery of high-quality resident engagement, innovation, high-quality whole house retrofit projects, and providing career pathways within the retrofit sector. Derek Horrocks, owner and chairman at Sustainable Building Services, said: “This award goes to show that expertise and compliance will always succeed. Being named Retrofit Contractor of the Year ahead of multiple, large-scale Tier 1 contractors is down to our demonstrable understanding of the how and why the different aspects of a decarbonisation project must fit together. “Fundamental to this is providing the highest level of PAS compliance, which is required for delivering works under specific funding regimes but each principle is deployed on each and every scheme we work on. “As leaders in this field, we’re often breaking new ground and leading the way in housing decarbonisation through innovation and experience. Our team is committed to providing high quality support and expertise, on all the projects we work on, taking a bespoke approach to every home to ensure there are no disappointments with the results.” SBS holds a wealth of specialist experience in delivering housing decarbonisation work and is one of a small number of contractors that have delivered projects at scale under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Demonstrator and Wave 1, the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) and the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). It provides full ‘turnkey’ large-scale retrofit services to social housing providers and owner-occupiers, upgrading the energy efficiency of thousands of homes every year – delivered to PAS2035:2019 compliance standards. The prestigious national win follows swiftly from EEM’s Building Communities Awards, at which SBS won both ‘Carbon Reduction Project of the Year’ and ‘Refurbishment Project of the Year’. EEM’s award submission was a joint entry with Rykneld Homes for the expansive work being delivered on more than 400 homes for North East Derbyshire District Council. With funding from the Local Authority Delivery Fund, SBS was appointed by Rykneld as principal contractors on a two-year, £12m multi-phase, multi-measure retrofit decarbonisation scheme. This work has led to a £23m Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 application. Derek said: “All three awards from both EEM and the Retrofit Academy are greatly valued as recognitions of our ongoing work. We consider them to represent a benchmark we shall continually strive for moving forward and are excited to build upon this success into the future.” The Building Communities Awards are highly esteemed within the industry and is entered by leading property and construction organisations every year, vying for a win. SBS and Rykneld Homes was also named runner up for the ‘Collaborative Working Award’. To discover more about Sustainable Building Service’s mission to decarbonise the UK’s housing stock, visit its website at: www.sustainablebuildinguk.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Muse and Poplar HARCA have selected McAleer & Rushe to build over 270 homes at Stroudley Walk in London. A total of 115 of the 274 homes will be available through London Affordable Rent and shared ownership at Stroudley Walk. Works are to start on site imminently and completion of the regeneration scheme is expected in Winter 2025. “We are excited to deliver a thriving new neighbourhood of all-electric homes and a fantastic public realm space for all of the community to enjoy for years to come. This regeneration scheme represents our fourth project working with Muse and we are delighted to work in partnership with Poplar HARCA for the first time. It is important to us as a company to integrate ourselves in the communities we operate in, and we look forward to establishing a relationship with local residents and businesses to leave a lasting and positive legacy,” said Jonathan O’Neill, Senior Director at McAleer & Rushe. Designed by RM_A Architects, the vibrant new neighbourhood in Bromley by Bow, is focused on creating a safe and thriving place, complete with a new pocket park and part-pedestrianised street, with a new community café alongside other retail spaces for the whole community to enjoy. “With our partners at Poplar HARCA and now with our contractor, McAleer & Rushe, we’re committed to building a brighter future, together, to benefit everyone in the local area. Our regeneration at Stroudley Walk provides a real opportunity to do this, with much-needed affordable homes, coupled with exciting, new public spaces, to create a safe and welcoming place for all,” added Isabelle Asante, Senior Development Manager at Muse. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Humber-based firm Hobson & Porter has been selected by RWE to complete the construction of its new operations & maintenance facility known as the Grimsby Hub. The multi-million pound contract includes an extension to the existing Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm operations base located at Grimsby’s Royal Dock, and includes the creation of a new Centralised Control Room (CCR) to oversee the operation of the vast majority of RWE’s UK Offshore portfolio, helping to cement Grimsby’s role as a leading location for the UK’s offshore wind sector. “We are thrilled to have Hobson & Porter onboard to complete the extensive construction works required to extend the existing Triton Knoll facilities. It is great to have been able to award the contract to a local firm which brings a wealth of experience to the project. We can’t wait for construction to finish and provide even more locally based, skilled jobs for the region,” said Guy Middleton, RWE General Manager for the Grimsby Hub. RWE announced the creation of the Grimsby Hub back in 2021, marking a major strategic commitment to the UK’s east coast. As well as Triton Knoll, RWE’s 1.4 gigawatt (GW) Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, currently under construction, will also locate its operations and maintenance activities to the new hub in the future. In total, RWE expects the new facility will accommodate around 140 RWE employees, with potentially around 70 new local jobs created, plus indirect jobs required in support. The Grimsby Hub will also enable the company to strengthen its relationship with the region’s businesses and local communities, by committing to a longer-term presence in the area. The location of the Grimsby Hub was chosen because of its proximity to existing and future projects and its deep-water quayside, which is suited to the use of Service Operations Vessels (SOVs). Construction is due to commence shortly and will take around one year to complete. Once construction has finished, the new facility will include a joint control room offering 24/7 monitoring of multiple sites, new shared office space, and separate warehouse facilities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BMI Redland have recently provided the roofing materials for the redevelopment of the Miller Court apartment complex in Romford, Essex. Made up of 13 apartments across two storeys, Romford’s Miller Court, was going through a vital regeneration project including the roof. With lead work that no longer met regulations and evidence of falling tiles on most elevations, the roof was nearing the end of its natural life. To protect the future of the cobblestone building, and the safety of the residents a total reroof was recommended. The building, which is owned by a private trust, had many historic repairs, evidence of falling tiles, little ventilation, and the lead work was no longer meeting industry regulations. In fact, considering the amount of work that needed to be completed, including replacing the eaves, ridges, and valleys and working around the red-brick chimneys, a repair would not have been enough for the roof that protects Miller Court’s residents. Russell Roofing were contracted to manage the new roofing project which had a budget of £150,000. This included managing the complexities of multiple elevations and drop-downs across four storeys, and low-level roof work including porches and bays. As with many projects, planning permission was needed for the reroof. When deciding what products were to be used, the local council had certain requirements that needed to be met so the team opted to use BMI Redland’s Rosemary Clay Classic tiles in Red, with Redland’s Dry Vent Ridge System, a new eaves ventilation system and vent tiles. THE CHALLENGE A 600 square metre challenge presents some complexities. The 600 square metre roof of Miller Court was made up of existing clay plain tiles that had been repaired multiple times over the years. The scope of the work involved renewing all the existing roof coverings, including the field area, eaves, ridges, verges, and valleys, as well as incorporating low-level work like porches and bays. Plus, with a variety of different building storeys (between one and four), there needed to be extra care taken throughout the planning and installation of the roof. Alongside, tenants were in residence throughout the replacement of the roof. Therefore, to avoid as much disruption as possible, the work would have to be done in phases. THE SOLUTION Minimal disruption through expert craftsmanship. The shape of the roof, and the details involved with the ridges, verge, and valleys, meant that there needed to be extra care and attention taken throughout the installation. For example, as a London based site, there needed to be a rigid delivery route set up. To reduce the disruption to the tenants living at Miller Court, the Russell Roofing team worked in small sections – completing each one before moving onto the next. To start, they needed to remove the existing covering and dispose of it, then moved onto the installation of the Rosemary Clay Classic tiles in Red to match the existing look of the building and the surrounding area. A Dry-Fix system was used to add ventilation to the project, while not impacting the overall finish of the roof. Contractor Quote: “Redland’s Rosemary tiles are market-leading products. Whenever we get the option of open spec for pitched roofs, we opt for Redland. Combination of good customer service, their quality products, and, more often than not, they are commercially viable as well. They tick all the boxes really.” – Frazer Simpson, Russell Roofing THE IMPACT Providing a full solution. As part of Russell Roofing’s commitment to developing young roofing talent, they had a variety of different teams working on site. These teams were made up of two to three individuals, one who was a full-time roofer with experience, and the other a labourer that was newer to the industry, looking to develop skills throughout the project, while ensuring a high-quality finish was maintained. Before Photograph of the old roof of Miller Court Details of the newly refurbished roof of Miller Court Details of the newly refurbished roof of Miller Court The Redland Rosemary Clay Classic tile made the perfect choice for the roof, in keeping with the local roofscape and satisfying planning permission requirements. The previous roof hadn’t been installed with any ventilation, so Russell Roofing have made sure the roof will be warm and dry for years to come. In focus: Rosemary Clay The Redland Rosemary Clay Classic plain tile has natural strength from the finest Etruria Marl clay. Rosemary is offered in a range of weathered, brindled, and single colours to achieve any look. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lincoln-based Stirlin Construction, part of Stirlin Group, has reached 15 years of trading, with completed projects totalling over £70m and plans to deliver £10m worth of schemes in 2023. The milestone comes just months after Stirlin Group expanded its senior contracting team with the hire of Howard Griffith as head of construction and Ryan Goddard as quantity surveyor. Stirlin Group is a development and construction company based in its purpose-built premises on Sadler Road in Lincoln. Since its first commercial project in 2007, Stirlin Construction has successfully delivered 30 commercial and residential schemes across Lincolnshire, for private clients and joint venture partners. The recent hire of Howard and Ryan takes the team to 20, and as the company increases its portfolio of projects, the team will expand further this year with the hire of a commercial manager and a number of other positions. Stirlin Group’s strategy for 2023 is to further build its presence and reputation for quality in its home county, along with expansion into the wider Midlands – with conversations already taking place with clients. Tony Lawton, managing director of Stirlin Group, said: “Our ambition has always been to be one of the leading residential and commercial developers and contractors in Lincoln and I believe we have achieved this. With the sustained demand for our services and approach, we are growing our team and widening the areas that we operate in to enable us to meet that demand and attain our aspirations for the future. “Stirlin Group is largely known as a property development company – which it certainly still is – but we have also been successfully managing the construction of our own developments and projects for a variety of clients, developing a strong reputation over the years. “It’s wonderful to have reached 15 years of contracting, and with a strong order book for this year, ambitious growth plans and our talented team, it’s a very exciting time for the business. I would like to thank the whole Stirlin Group team for their passion and commitment and to our valued clients who choose to work with us.” Active projects for the contractor include a 10,000 office development for Duncan & Toplis in Louth, an industrial/office development at the Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) in Holbeach, and new phases added to commercial schemes at Kirk’s Yard in Branston and Leafbridge Business Park in Hykeham. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stockport-based roofing company, Allied Roofing & Construction, has today launched its new look as part of a major rebrand following the company’s acquisition by Complete Investments Group last year. Allied Roofing has specialised in pitched roofing for the last 34 years, primarily working with housing associations, other public sector clients and commercial clients, as well as on large domestic re-roofs across Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. The company, which was founded in 1989, is now led by CEO Mike Wharton. Allied Roofing’s vibrant rebrand signifies a fresh start after the company was acquired by Complete Investments Group, owner of Complete Roofing Systems, in September 2022 in a seven-figure deal. The original Allied Roofing logo has been with the company for the last three decades, but in light of the business’s projected growth, as well as their enhanced range of services, they have revealed a modernised logo and brand, paired with a new website to reflect the rapid, positive change that is taking place both operationally and technologically. Beth Wood, Marketing Manager of Allied Roofing & Construction, said: “Allied Roofing’s rebrand signifies an exciting new start for the business. We have been working hard these last few months to enhance our roofing services, ensuring our clients receive the very best value and quality of work with every single project. Our new look is a great representation of this. “Since the acquisition, we have been able to further develop our skills and offering to benefit our client portfolio. So much so, that within the first few weeks, we won our first flat roofing contract. We’ve also made great progress in improving our operational processes – we’ve already introduced a new CRM system and we’re launching industry-leading ERP software within the next few months.” Mike Wharton, CEO of Allied Roofing & Construction and Complete Roofing Systems, said: “Since acquiring Allied Roofing last year, progress has been moving at a quick pace. We have been working collaboratively to position the business as the go-to choice for high-quality, great value roofing services in the public sector. Our rapid introduction of technology solutions will ensure that clients benefit from fast, clean processes to ensure maximum value. “Allied Roofing’s new website and rebrand portray the positive direction of the business and the improvements that are taking place across the board. I’m looking forward to seeing Allied Roofing flourish this year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
