The £75 million Triple Road Decker Project in North Tyneside is approaching its final stages. The scheme, which aims to lower the A19 under the A1058 Coast Road and Coast Road roundabout, is being delivered by the Sisk Lagan joint venture (JV). Since the construction began in June 2016, there
National building and engineering company, Britcon has announced that it is taking part in the Stop. Make a Change campaign across its 400-strong workforce in the UK. The initiative, driven by the Civil Engineering & Contractors Association (CECA), is a national stand down which aims to raise better awareness about
Progress on the award-winning Acton Gardens development in West London is steaming ahead, with Mick George Demolition Ltd appointed on behalf of Countryside Properties and L&Q to complete the forthcoming demolition works of Charles Hocking House as part of Phase 6.2. This sequence of work will focus on community facilities
Renfrewshire Council has invested £7.2 million of its budget to improve routes across Renfrewshire. Part of the continuing physical and economic regeneration of the area, the programme is set to be delivered in 2018/19 and it will include the resurfacing and improvement of a number of high profile routes and
A new proposal that includes reducing congestion and improving passenger experience at Gatwick Airport railway station was submitted by Network Rail, in partnership with Gatwick Airport Ltd, Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and the Department for Transport. The aim is to reduce crowding at the station, improve passenger flow
The UK once played a starring role in producing some of the world’s most valuable fossil fuels and minerals, and while the ‘golden age’ of mining may be consigned to the past, mines continue to leave a legacy on the land. Historic mines have the potential to impact today’s developers,
Anderton Concrete provided the Crossrail line in Maidenhead with a pioneering railway cable theft deterrent aiming to offer protection and security. As the area was deemed to be at high risk from cable theft, the company several products to minimise this risk, including Ander-fin, Anderlite Troughing and Ander-Loc. Ander-fin has
The construction industry’s charity CRASH was called upon to help Emmaus Village Carlton, a charity in Bedfordshire that provides employment and social enterprise opportunities for former homeless people, make its customers feel welcome from the very moment they step onsite. ACO’s award winning ground reinforcement system was then chosen for
DB Cargo UK, the rail freight operator, will be opening their new 70,000 sq ft warehouse called Wolverhampton Logistics Centre this autumn. The centre will increase the current capability of storing and handling steel coils by 1,944 coils, giving a total capacity of 3,325 coils, which is 40,000 tonnes of
Opening its doors less than a year ago in Astley, only 10 miles from Manchester city centre, Jarvie Plant is already reporting a sharp return on the investment it made in its first depot in England. The Grangemouth-based firm acquired a 3-acre site on Chaddock Lane, employing up to 10
The £75 million Triple Road Decker Project in North Tyneside is approaching its final stages. The scheme, which aims to lower the A19 under the A1058 Coast Road and Coast Road roundabout, is being delivered by the Sisk Lagan joint venture (JV). Since the construction began in June 2016, there have been three bridges built – one to support the A1058 Coast Road over the Coast Road roundabout and two to carry the Coast Road roundabout over the newly lowered A19. More than 580 piles have been installed, covering seven miles from end to end, in order to support the new structure. In addition, around 80,000 m3 of soil is being removed and being used to help form the embankments on the nearby A19 Testos scheme. “This is a busy junction used by more than 80,000 drivers every day and we have produced a video to show the incredible transformation that has already taken place. We are nearly three quarters complete now with the main bulk of the work digging out the 80,000 cubic meters of soil as the last major milestone,” said Highways England assistant project manager Steven Cox. Over the following 10 months, improvements will be carried out to the 1,175 metres of cycleway and an extra 247 metres will be created. The gantries for improved signage will also be installed and the roundabout completely resurfaced. “Drivers who use this junction regularly will already be able to see progress as the earth is removed to create the third layer of the junction which will mean drivers will be able to continue straight along the A19 underneath the roundabout,” said Steven Cox. “The final supports for the A1058 westbound bridge were lifted into place a few days ago and we have started the foundation work on the pedestrian and cycle bridges.”
National building and engineering company, Britcon has announced that it is taking part in the Stop. Make a Change campaign across its 400-strong workforce in the UK. The initiative, driven by the Civil Engineering & Contractors Association (CECA), is a national stand down which aims to raise better awareness about construction industry health and safety and mental health. In April 2017 the campaign was launched for organisations from across the UK infrastructure sector to take part. Sites, offices and production facilities stopped current works to focus on working together to build a healthier and safer industry. In 2018, the campaign expanded to the wider industry. The campaign focuses primarily on two key priorities, Mental Health and Plant Safety. Currently, one in four people will suffer from mental health issues each year, with more than 400,000 days being lost to work-related stress, anxiety and depression in construction. Construction relies heavily on the use of mobile plant to support delivery on site and with 217 people killed in the industry over the last five years and around 10 per cent hit by moving vehicles, awareness and training needs to happen continually. Paul Clarkson, Managing Director at Britcon said, “By taking part in Stop. Make a Change, we have committed heavily by signing up to cross-industry initiatives and leading our own change programmes within the company. “Through planning and organisation our Health & Safety team has developed a bespoke training programme and visited all of our current and live sites to conduct a training programme on both mental wellbeing and plant safety. Staff welfare is paramount at Britcon. CECA chief executive Alasdair Reisner commented “We are delighted by the impact that Stop. Make a Change has had in 2018. Across the country more than 80,000 people at companies like Britcon have joined forces to commit themselves to make a better, safer industry for everyone that works in it.” Britcon is committed to continue this training year-round and has also been awarded funds from the CITB to support further training which will starting in May 2018. Established for more than 26 years, Britcon is £50 million turnover business headquartered in Scunthorpe and directly employs over 100 people and more than 300 through subcontractors on its project sites across the UK. Key contracts includes a £13.5 million contract to deliver a new anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in Dagenham for food waste recycler ReFood (UK) Ltd, a series of new developments, extensions and refurbishment projects valued over £10 million for Lidl, and contracts worth over £4 million for global chemicals business Kemira for which it won ‘Contract of the Year 2017 from CECA. Britcon is listed by the London Stock Exchange in its report of ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Europe’. @Britcon_Limited
Progress on the award-winning Acton Gardens development in West London is steaming ahead, with Mick George Demolition Ltd appointed on behalf of Countryside Properties and L&Q to complete the forthcoming demolition works of Charles Hocking House as part of Phase 6.2. This sequence of work will focus on community facilities designed to support a reinvigorated neighbourhood. A new nursery, doctor’s surgery, retail space and incubator office locations are all set to be created, anticipated for completion by Summer 2020. The project will coincide with Phase 6.1 and will see new homes built above ground floor retail units, residing on the former Hardy Court. The retail space will contain Oaktree Community Centre, Bollo Youth Club, a dental surgery, supermarket and Café operations. L&Q, the landlord for the new buildings will also have a permanent office built here. In its entirety, a total of 308 residential properties will be available on phase 6. Acton Gardens is one of the largest residential regeneration schemes in London, aiming to transform a 52-acre site of the former South East estate in to a vibrant new urban quarter. When complete, the £600m scheme will deliver over 2,500 new homes, along with enhanced transport links, retail and community facilities and extensive public open spaces, throughout a 21 multi-phased initiative that is anticipated to be complete in 2026. Mick George Ltd has already completed Asbestos Management and Demolition works on former stages of the Acton Gardens development, with this contract bringing the total valuation of works undertaken to date beyond the £2.1million mark. Michael George, Contracts Director at Mick George Ltd commented: ‘’Having worked in partnership with Countryside Properties on a number of developments in the past, we’re pleased that they have recognised our credentials in providing multiple services on a project of this magnitude. Our contracting services are becoming increasingly sought after up and down the country, which is a testament to the quality of service that the business is providing.’’ George continued: ’’Acton Gardens is undergoing a tremendous transformation. This purpose-built community section will be crucial in developing a strong communal spirit at the heart of any desirable location.‘’
Renfrewshire Council has invested £7.2 million of its budget to improve routes across Renfrewshire. Part of the continuing physical and economic regeneration of the area, the programme is set to be delivered in 2018/19 and it will include the resurfacing and improvement of a number of high profile routes and a large number of busy rural and residential streets. “We recognise that a key concern for the Renfrewshire community is the quality and safety of our roads network which is why a significant investment has been made to make improvements,” said Councillor Cathy McEwan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board. “While all roads cannot be repaired overnight, the investment we are making will ensure that the community begin to see tangible improvements immediately and a continual progress in the quality of our roads throughout the year.” The programme will focus on carriageway resurfacing, such as patching and surface dressing, as well as on addressing drainage improvements, footway resurfacing and crash and safety barrier installation. It will coincide with an enhanced schedule of pothole repairs, which will tackle the effects that severe weather has had on Renfrewshire’s roads. “We recognise there is a significant issue regarding potholes, which is affecting our roads due to the severe weather we faced this winter, with the freezing conditions causing the road surface to crack,” said Councillor McEwan. “This is an issue which has been seen nationally, even occurring on out motorways, and we have invested accordingly to ensure our teams can carry out the necessary repairs. We recognise the frustrations of road users and want to assure them that we are committed to providing a roads network that is fit for purpose and will work hard to address all problems across the area,” she concluded. The initial repairs that are part of the roads resurfacing programme are already underway, while the more extensive resurfacing work is set to begin shortly.
A new proposal that includes reducing congestion and improving passenger experience at Gatwick Airport railway station was submitted by Network Rail, in partnership with Gatwick Airport Ltd, Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and the Department for Transport. The aim is to reduce crowding at the station, improve passenger flow and provide better connections between the railway station, airport terminals and onward travel destinations. “The proposals will transform passenger experience, support airport growth and, along with other upgrades of the Brighton Mainline – the £300m reliability fund and our proposals for Croydon – improve journeys and provide a boost to the local, regional and national economy,” said John Halsall, Network Rail manager director for the South East route. “Our proposals for the station are still being developed in detail and the submission of the planning application is an important step forward in this process.” The plan includes the following features: almost doubling the size of the rail station concourse, installing eight new escalators, five new lifts and four new stairways to improve accessibility and passenger flow, widening platforms 5 and 6 to reduce overcrowding, upgrading connections to the south terminal with improved passenger information, and create a new attractive roof structure. “The new Gatwick station is set to reduce congestion and give passengers a much improved experience, including a more seamless transition between airport and station,” said Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer at Gatwick Airport. “More than a million local commuters and business people also use the station each year and will benefit from this fantastic example of the public and private sector working together to deliver a world class transport hub.” If the project received planning permission and funding from all parties involved, then construction could begin in 2019 and be completed by 2022.
The UK once played a starring role in producing some of the world’s most valuable fossil fuels and minerals, and while the ‘golden age’ of mining may be consigned to the past, mines continue to leave a legacy on the land. Historic mines have the potential to impact today’s developers, property owners and purchasers, and if not identified early on during a project or sale, could wipe thousands off a land or home’s value. Historic mining activity is still affecting the modern property and land development market, and it’s not just in known mining hotspots such as Cornwall, with an estimated 150,000 abandoned mines across the UK – from Lands’ End to John O’Groats. Identifying and remediating mining risks can not only help in the construction of a safe development, property or public area, but can also play a significant role during sale negotiations if a mining search is conducted early enough – potentially saving hundreds of thousands of pounds. Paul Raglan, Managing Director, Mining Searches UK, outlines how and why mining searches are crucial in today’s property and land markets, and while often seen as an inconvenience, can play a vital role in not only mitigating risk and negotiating best price, but can be a fundamental factor during development design. Damage Limitation Mining searches are essential for any piece of land to determine whether there is evidence of historical mining activity beneath it, or in the surrounding areas. This is important even for areas where there are no obvious signs of mining as closed mines leave very little, if any, evidence on the surface, but still have the potential to cause major problems if not investigated. Mine workings commonly run long distances beneath the ground from mine shafts and extend beneath land that is due to be developed – as well as existing residential properties. These shafts and tunnels could potentially cave in if not properly dealt with, causing subsidence and damage to buildings above them – so it’s important that this is addressed before this situation arises to not only save further financial investment in the future, but to also safeguard the lives of those living above. Today, closed mines are capped and filled in to stabilise them and minimise risk, but old mine-shafts were not always dealt with in this way. Cases of old shafts collapsing and causing damage to houses are regularly reported, and while being an obvious risk to safety, can also dramatically reduce the value of land. To ensure land is purchased and sold at the best price, it can prove valuable to know the finer workings of the area in question, given sizeable sums of money are often at stake. Developers aware of land with a known mine, can potentially negotiate value down considerably – but only if they are willing to invest in further investigations and remediation. Once completed, this can potentially propel value up by over 100% dependent on location. Detailed Design There are also environmental issues associated with old mine workings. Topsoil containing dangerous, naturally-occurring elements such as arsenic may be present, which can dictate where various developments can or can’t take place. For example, areas with arsenic present are usually not suitable for home gardens or parks but are safe when surfaced with concrete, and can be used for car parks, playing fields or roads. Identification of these areas is key to not only minimise land wastage, but this information can better inform early development designs and plans, putting every available space to best use. Essential Expertise Before any negotiations, plans or exchanges take place, it is crucial to call the experts in. A team of specialists will check all available archived records of the land and surrounding areas – including Aerial surveys and Ordnance surveys, town plans, estates and maps, as well as using research from mining historians. Using all this information, a full risk assessment and conclusion should be provided as part of a detailed report. Where significant mining features are identified, ground investigation is recommended to clarify any associated risks. In the worst-case scenario, where investigation confirms the presence of mining features, property can be rendered unsuitable for mortgage and available for cash purchase only, often with a commensurate drop in value. It is always wise for developers of new communities to eliminate the risk of this happening from the start by ensuring that thorough mining searches have been conducted on any piece of land due for development, and not just those earmarked for residential areas. Some developers purchase land direct from construction or remediation companies, which have already taken steps to address mining concerns – including remediation – leaving developers free to press on with their plans. However, developers need to ensure that a trusted and industry recognised mining search organisation has been used by the seller, as well as requesting all certificates to ensure that the land is completely safe for commercial or residential construction. Although the results of a mining search can often uncover unwelcome information, knowledge really is power, and it is crucial to detect and fix potential problems before they occur. While many of the UK’s mines closed decades ago, they are still a key consideration in today’s property and development industry. By addressing at the earliest possible stages, developers can not only save time and money in the long term but can also ensure the construction of safe and attractive communities, designed around the best use of the land. https://www.miningsearchesuk.com/
Anderton Concrete provided the Crossrail line in Maidenhead with a pioneering railway cable theft deterrent aiming to offer protection and security. As the area was deemed to be at high risk from cable theft, the company several products to minimise this risk, including Ander-fin, Anderlite Troughing and Ander-Loc. Ander-fin has proved to significantly reduce the frequency of rail cable theft where installed. The product responds to a very distinct market need: in the current Network Rail control period, the rail industry has lost more than 200,000 minutes to cable theft costings millions of pounds. An incident like this costs the industry up to £300,000. “We installed Ander-fin on Crossrail at Maidenhead because it is quick and easy to install and offers a unique, cost effective method of cable theft prevention. Given the high cost of cable theft and the risk to life I would like to see this product installed on all major schemes going forward. It has gone down as a great success with our client Network Rail and I believe they will insist on using this product in the future,” said Steve Snell, Project Engineer for Balfour Beatty, the company that oversees the Network Rail project. Manufactured from glass filled nylon, Ander-fin has a failure load in excess of 2kN, it is easy to install and it enables cables to be secured to troughs every metre in high risk areas. “Ander-fin is a revolutionary cable anchoring system which is designed to tension and secure the cable to the trough, preventing its removal. For this high-risk stretch of line on Crossrail it offers a cost-effective solution which should reduce the amount of time lost through cable theft,” commented Sharon Rice, Rail Manager at Anderton Concrete. Anderton Concrete is a UK market leader in the supply of cable protection products to the rail industry. The company has been manufacturing precast concrete products for more than 50 years and its extensive rage includes drainage catchpits, signal bases, point rod rollers, ballast boards, posts and postmix.
The construction industry’s charity CRASH was called upon to help Emmaus Village Carlton, a charity in Bedfordshire that provides employment and social enterprise opportunities for former homeless people, make its customers feel welcome from the very moment they step onsite. ACO’s award winning ground reinforcement system was then chosen for car park improvement works. CRASH and Emmaus Village Carlton have been working together on a number of projects over the years. Previous to this collaboration, the old building was so cold that Companions (residents) had to work in their coats, gloves and hats and customers used to complain about it. The next job that followed the improvement of the internal facilities was the development of the parking space. In order to create more spaces, a grass lawn area was designed for the new car park. ACO Water Management donated £9,000 worth of its lightweight ground reinforcement system, GroundGuard. The permeable gravel-filled system is over 90% porous and delivers a highly efficient rate of surface water run-off. This was a key consideration, given the fact the car park was to be built over a piece of grassland. The sustainable benefits of GroundGuard were a huge selling point, as not only is the system environmentally friendly, but it is also cost-effective as it eliminates the expense of having to install a supplementary drainage system. In addition, GroundGuard is quick and easy to install, which ensured that the project was going to be completed in the specified five week timeframe. The system holds the gravel in place and helps keep the maintenance down to a minimum. Overall, it has delivered on all aspects of the project and the parking area is now safe, clean and aesthetically pleasing. The 250 sqm car park is located just a short distance away from the bistro and will help relieve the current pressure on the main car park, which can become very busy at lunchtimes during the week.
DB Cargo UK, the rail freight operator, will be opening their new 70,000 sq ft warehouse called Wolverhampton Logistics Centre this autumn. The centre will increase the current capability of storing and handling steel coils by 1,944 coils, giving a total capacity of 3,325 coils, which is 40,000 tonnes of steel. The coils are transported by the company via rail to the site and then distributed to manufacturers across the West Midlands to produce products such as white goods and cars. J F Finnegan is the Principal Contractor responsible for the design and construction of the Logistics Centre, as well as the coordinator of the installation of the new internal rail line. “We are delighted to be working with DB Cargo UK and William Saunders (Employers Agent) on this project. Our extensive experience of working within the manufacturing and industrial sectors was fundamental in securing this scheme,” said Paul Ballantyne, Commercial Manager at J F Finnegan Limited. Based in Sheffield, J F Finnegan Limited was established in 1945 and specialises in industrial, manufacturing, and retail schemes. The work on site commenced at the beginning of this month, while the steel frame is due for erection in late April with the completion of the scheme anticipated in autumn 2018. DB Cargo UK started manufacturing in Wolverhampton back in 1966 and since then they have been making significant investments on site and creating job opportunities for the local community. It is the largest freight haulier in the UK and it operates freight and infrastructure services, as well as passenger charter trains throughout the country. It transports a multitude of freight, including intermodal containers, metals, coals, biomass and aggregates. By providing a full range of logistics, supply chain and associated services, customers can choose a single supplier to transport freight all around the UK, on time and with minimal environmental impact.
Opening its doors less than a year ago in Astley, only 10 miles from Manchester city centre, Jarvie Plant is already reporting a sharp return on the investment it made in its first depot in England. The Grangemouth-based firm acquired a 3-acre site on Chaddock Lane, employing up to 10 staff and investing heavily in a wide range of hire equipment, including telehandlers, dumpers, excavators, site accommodation, vehicles, generators and lighting. In January, Manchester was confirmed by Deloitte Real Estate’s latest Crane Survey as one of the fastest growing cities in Europe, highlighting a booming construction market as a key driver. Residential and office developments across the city are on the rise with a 60% increase in the number of units being constructed, and in excess of 1.5 million sq ft of business space is being developed across six new schemes. It’s a trend, say company bosses, which has been reflected in the flow of local firms who have visited their Manchester facility. “Our customers range from small to large businesses in a diverse mix of sectors and we have quickly established a name for providing high quality plant and a reliable service,” explains regional operations manager, Dave Ingleby. “We are aiming to provide a customer focused service where we understand the client’s needs and we’ll go that extra mile to meet the requirements of developers and contractors.” This proactive approach is winning the business new clients such as a property developer working on the conversion of a bonded warehouse in the city centre. Following detailed discussions around the complexities of the project, a tailored package of accommodation units, a power generator, small dumper and excavator were all delivered. An 18m telehandler was also supplied to allow materials to be delivered at height. But it’s not just in Manchester where Jarvie’s plant has been distributed. The depot is close to junctions of the M60 and M61 making the entire north-west area accessible. A ground works contractor currently has static welfare units on hire at three prestigious housing developments in Crosby, Handforth and St Helens; while several rough terrain fork trucks are out to a cladding company with one as far south as Welshpool. In addition to the spike in construction activity in the area, there are also some major infrastructure projects ongoing. A £1bn extension of Manchester Airport is underway and the sprawling Metrolink system is being extended with a new 3.4-mile line to the Trafford Centre. “With so much activity across the region it is vital that developers complete their projects safely, on time and within budget,” adds Mr Ingleby. “Using our own transportation we can deliver vital plant equipment direct to site and we are finding this proactive, helpful service is being well received.”
