The bell that floated up as water filled the historic gasholder in Granton Waterfront has been taken apart to make way for work to begin to restore the original 76 x 46 metre frame to look like new again. The City of Edinburgh Council plan to open up the area
Barhale has been appointed by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to its framework agreement for the supply of diversionary utilities works. The civil engineering and infrastructure specialist secured its place on the framework under Lot 2, Water-clean and Waste Infrastructure, of the West Midlands Metro Framework agreement for the Provision
O’Keefe is carrying out the second phase of groundworks and infrastructure works for a new residential development by modular off-site specialist TopHat. Although located on the site of the historic Kitchener Barracks in Kent, the apartments themselves are precision-engineered at TopHat’ s factory in Derbyshire and delivered to site ready
Akela Ground Engineering has appointed piling specialist, Will Payne, as their general manager. Will joins from Roger Bullivant where he managed piling works in Gibraltar, the Midlands and East Anglia and has been appointed to help Akela expand and grow their reputation in England. Will is an expert in driven
Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has reached a milestone on the M2 junction 5 improvements scheme, with some significant changes made that will benefit road users. GRAHAM was awarded the £92m M2 junction 5 improvements scheme by National Highways in June 2021. The junction is one of the busiest in the
Major progress is being made on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade, with the majority of earthworks which set the foundations for a new passing track loop between Bamford and Hathersage stations completed. On completion of the major upgrade project between Manchester and Sheffield, the passing loop will enable passenger trains
Leading groundworks and drainage supply specialist Civils Store is the latest infrastructure materials distributor to recognise the advantages of StormTech, the world leading stormwater management system from Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS). StormTech will now be available ex-stock from Civils Store. With Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management
Groundwork is underway with the first spades in the ground at a development set to bring 275 new homes to the Whitehouse area of Milton Keynes. Ashberry Homes is planning to build the homes at Ashberry at Whitehouse Park, on land south of Watling Street and east of Calverton Lane.
Network Rail has launched its masterplanning process at Bow Goods Yard, East London, which will see the regeneration of over 30 acres of brownfield land. The site is the final parcel of land to be developed as part of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games legacy. The site is
Pupils at the Stimpson Avenue Academy in Northampton have returned from their half-term holidays to a transformed garden space, courtesy of Kier, West Northamptonshire Council’s highways providers. The school first approached Kier regarding safety concerns over the space – such as its cordoned-off, disused pond and overgrown vegetation – seeking
The bell that floated up as water filled the historic gasholder in Granton Waterfront has been taken apart to make way for work to begin to restore the original 76 x 46 metre frame to look like new again. The City of Edinburgh Council plan to open up the area to create a new and exciting multifunctional public space as part of their wider £1.3bn regeneration project to create a new sustainable coastal town at Granton Waterfront. McLaughlin & Harvey began work on the site in January of this year on behalf of the Council using £16.4m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The Scottish Government has also provided an additional £1.2m to provide a high quality public park within the gasholder frame. The space within the restored gasholder is to have multi-sensory play zones, a dedicated space for permanent and temporary public art, a relaxation area, outdoor trails and tracks for exercise as well as a large outdoor space for sports, markets, seasonal events, community use, festivals, performance arts, exhibitions and play. Work will also be carried out to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers improving biodiversity and local habitat in the area. Council Leader Cammy Day said: It was really dramatic to see the bell being ripped apart by the machinery. It marked a historic moment as this iconic structure will be transformed now to move on with the times to serve a completely different purpose for the local community to enjoy arts, sports and culture for future generations to come. Now the bell has gone the contractor can get on with the exciting work to transform the frame back to its original glory which will be seen for miles around. The scale and ambition of the gasholder nicely mirrors that of this £1.3bn regeneration project where we are using brownfield land to build a new sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood which is well linked to surrounding communities and is somewhere residents will be proud to live. We’ve already started building some of the thousands of environmentally friendly affordable homes planned and active travel routes, along with recently completing the restoration of the former Granton Station building to become a modern workplace and cultural hub, with public square. UK Government Minister for Levelling Up, Dehenna Davison, said: The Granton gasholder has been part of Edinburgh’s skyline for over 120 years, and will soon be brought back to life as a real community asset. The bell’s removal will ensure the structure can be restored to its former glory, whilst the space will be brought into the 21st Century by becoming a destination for families, residents, and future generations to enjoy. We’re delighted to have supported this project through £16.4 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund which will ensure this iconic structure will serve as a beacon to people in the area for many years to come. Seamus Devlin, McLaughlin & Harvey Civil Engineering Director, said: McLaughlin & Harvey is delighted to be main contractor for the restoration works at Granton gasholder. We bring with us a wealth of experience in the civil engineering sector, and look forward to completing the deconstruction of the bell this week and the removal of the walls in the upcoming weeks. Fascinating gasholder facts The Granton Gas Holder is unique as the umbrella which supports the tank roof when the system is not pressurised, was made from timber as opposed to cast iron. These timbers were in remarkably great condition when demolition began. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barhale has been appointed by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to its framework agreement for the supply of diversionary utilities works. The civil engineering and infrastructure specialist secured its place on the framework under Lot 2, Water-clean and Waste Infrastructure, of the West Midlands Metro Framework agreement for the Provision of Diversionary Utilities Works for Metro Extensions and any Major Highways Schemes. Barhale will be one of four suppliers awarded to Lot 2 of the framework for advanced utility diversions across the WMCA. The others are J McCann, M&A Doocey Civil Engineering Ltd and IES Utilities Group. James Ingamells, regional director for Barhale, believes that the award reflects the strength of the business’s track-record and deep connections across the West Midlands. “We are very pleased to secure our place on the WMCA framework,” he said. “We are very proud of our roots in the region and our forty-plus years heritage operating from our headquarters in Walsall. “In that time, we have had the opportunity to work with many of the region’s statutory undertakers, key stakeholder groups, alliance project teams, suppliers, and sub-contractors. “We enjoy an ongoing relationship with the major water companies, Severn Trent and South Staffs, and have been involved with previous phases of the Midlands Metro Alliance, the team responsible for delivering the region transformative new transit system. “Having recently completed a mineshaft cap at Sandwell and the infilling of Wolverhampton’s Craddock Street Subway, we are also looking forward to working closely with more of the West Midlands’ local authorities. “Most importantly, the award will give us the opportunity to extend our engagement with the community both in terms of employment through Barhale and our construction supplies to fabrication business BCS and also in terms of our community outreach and engagement work.” The agreement runs for four years with an option to extend to a maximum of a further four years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
O’Keefe is carrying out the second phase of groundworks and infrastructure works for a new residential development by modular off-site specialist TopHat. Although located on the site of the historic Kitchener Barracks in Kent, the apartments themselves are precision-engineered at TopHat’ s factory in Derbyshire and delivered to site ready for installation. The project is part of a larger scheme that will see TopHat deliver almost 300 new homes over three phases on the 4.8-acre Kitchener Barracks site. O’Keefe is the groundworks contractor on the current second phase, which started with enabling works in January 2022 followed by the main works package in March 2022. The company was principal contractor on the first phase of the scheme, completed in early 2021. The site knowledge gained by the team on that phase has assisted greatly when dealing with the construction element of the phase two works. “We have worked with TopHat previously on other schemes so there is a positive relationship between TopHat and O’Keefe,” says O’Keefe project manager Daniel Gough. The Kitchener Barracks project involves the construction of three four-storey blocks of modular apartments which will comprise 96 one- and two-bedroom homes. On this phase, some 240 modular sections were assembled on site and cassette corridor sections were then installed at the upper levels between the rows of apartments. O’Keefe’s role includes part-construction of foundations, drainage and services for the modular apartments, plus access roads and external finishings. Although the apartment modules are manufactured off-site, they still require foundations and services to be built in-situ. The foundations are mass concrete strip footings bedded a minimum 200mm into the underlying chalk strata. One of the biggest challenges for O’Keefe has been to ensure the on-site works perfectly align with the factory-built modules. Working to exacting tolerances, O’Keefe has formed upstands to receive the prefabricated modular units. “Co-ordination is vital when off site manufacturing and site build foundations are carried out,” says Daniel Gough. “It is essential that precise as-built surveys are carried out to ensure that the position and levels are within the specified tolerance and any drainage pipes are located correctly.” O’Keefe formed the drainage connections prior to the modular sections being installed. Service entries were taken into the plantrooms situated in the two stair cores and then distributed to the modular units. Reinforced concrete upstands and slabs were constructed within the two cores and the end escape stairs and a reinforced concrete in-situ lift core constructed to each of the cores, with a steel framework installed prior to installation of the modules. O’Keefe’s contract has also involved construction of a reinforced concrete (RC) frame extension off the back of the existing Khartoum Building, dating from the 1930s. The RC frame comprises a lower ground floor/basement level for parking, including electrical vehicle charging bays, with a ground level transfer slab above. This forms part extension for housing apartments and part outdoor terrace. A particular challenge here was the interface between the existing Khartoum Building and the new RC frame. “The existing building was originally cut to demolish the western side some years ago – this was carried out and surveyed in a method to assist with best coordinating the design of the new RC frame with the remaining building elements,” explains Daniel. “The complex design has been a continuous, coordinated process assisted by O’Keefe, the consultant engineers, architects and TopHat, to ensure that further survey work was carried out to slabs, roofs, cavities and foundations for the structural frame to have its final design. “Underpinning was carried out on the building in the early stages of the project and then the installation and cutting back completed after the concrete had cured. “TopHat and O’Keefe have worked together throughout the RC frame element of the works to monitor progress and provide live survey data to the consultant engineers and architects to assist with overcoming any issues encountered during the RC frame build,” says Daniel. Andrew Shepherd, managing director of TopHat Solutions said: “TopHat have worked closely with O’Keefe on this complex and ground breaking project. It was essential that we had a partner that was able to address a number of different challenges from foundations for an innovative modular project through to a concrete frame that would tie into an existing heritage building. This ongoing relationship has been formed on a process of innovation and continuous improvement, which underpins our joint approach to future projects.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Akela Ground Engineering has appointed piling specialist, Will Payne, as their general manager. Will joins from Roger Bullivant where he managed piling works in Gibraltar, the Midlands and East Anglia and has been appointed to help Akela expand and grow their reputation in England. Will is an expert in driven piling techniques and has over two decades of experience in the specialist foundation industry, having also worked for Van Elle and Aarsleff. Akela Ground Engineering operates in Scotland and the North of England and was founded in 2019. It is part of the Akela Group which is headquartered in Thornliebank, near Glasgow, and has an office in Leeds. Will Payne, General Manager of Akela Ground Engineering, said: “Akela is a family oriented business that is looking to grow and expand their works across England and that is what attracted me to this role. “They have also been investing heavily in new technology and innovation over the past year. “I’ve worked in the UK and abroad within the specialist foundation industry and am very proud of my record in working with clients to find solutions at the most difficult of sites. “It is important to build and establish relationships with clients and I am looking forward to working with existing Akela clients and also expanding Akela right across England.” Mark Markey, Managing Director of Akela Group, said: “We are really proud to have Will Payne join the business at the crucial time of expanding our work in England. He is well known as a specialist in piling and will be a key part of growing our ground engineering arm. “Importantly, he is experienced at managing complex works and ensuring quality work is carried out in a safe manner. “He has decades of experience in the construction industry and his appointments will bolster Akela Ground Engineering and allow us to continue to go from strength to strength.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has reached a milestone on the M2 junction 5 improvements scheme, with some significant changes made that will benefit road users. GRAHAM was awarded the £92m M2 junction 5 improvements scheme by National Highways in June 2021. The junction is one of the busiest in the region and experiences large queues and heavy congestion on a daily basis. It also had one of the highest collision rates across England’s motorway and major A roads nationally. The project team has recently implemented major changes to the way drivers use the Stockbury roundabout. Earlier in the year, GRAHAM switched the A249 southbound traffic onto a new stretch of road on the south side of the roundabout, that runs adjacent to the existing carriageway. The new section is temporarily carrying southbound traffic and once complete will become the new Oad Street Link Road, which will carry traffic directly from Oad Street to the Stockbury roundabout. The A249’s northbound traffic has also been switched onto the existing southbound carriageway to allow construction of the Stockbury South bridge structure. Once complete, the flyover will allow traffic to flow without restrictions over the Stockbury roundabout, reducing delays and improving safety. Last month GRAHAM opened the new Maidstone Link Road, a new carriageway connecting Maidstone Road to Oad Street. The project team also opened the new southbound diverge (slip road) to southbound traffic. The start of this new slip road consists of continuously reinforced concrete paving (CRCP), to tie in the existing carriageway, with surfacing also recently completed. Once works are complete, the southbound diverge will have a dedicated slip road to the M2 (westbound). The switching of traffic to the southbound diverge will enable the construction of the northern Stockbury flyover, with the first step being the installation of 900mm dia CFA (Continuous flight auger) piles. Now the traffic has been switched, GRAHAM’s team is demolishing the CRCP slab beneath the existing A249 carriageway utilising excavators with hydraulic breakers. Recent progress has seen the construction of the southern abutment for the new Stockbury south bridge structure. The abutment is constructed with 170 cubic meters of steel-reinforced concrete. Following completion of the abutment, GRAHAM has made major progress on the scheme’s bespoke flint-clad reinforced earth RECO walls. The RECO walls will see 1,500 RECO panels placed in total, allowing earth to be backfilled behind them. The faces of the panels have been chosen to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish to the scheme, with a coarse finish of locally sourced flint utilised to suit the scheme’s natural surroundings in the Stockbury Valley. Once complete, the scheme will lead to smoother and safer journeys for hundreds of thousands of drivers each day. For more information about the scheme visit the M2 junction 5 project website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Major progress is being made on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade, with the majority of earthworks which set the foundations for a new passing track loop between Bamford and Hathersage stations completed. On completion of the major upgrade project between Manchester and Sheffield, the passing loop will enable passenger trains to pass slower freight trains, increasing the reliability of passenger journeys. The team on the ground has completed soil nailing and regrade work at Bamford to clear the land needed for the new track and to secure the adjoining rock face. This involves drilling nails into the embankment to stabilise the ground in advance of track installation. A total of 935 nails have been installed by the team as part of the work ready for track to be installed later in the year. LINK TO VIDEO Graeme Whitehead, Senior Sponsor on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade said: “We’re very pleased with the progress of work that the team have made at Bamford, despite challenging ground conditions”. “Reaching this milestone means that we’re one step closer to completing the passing loop and delivering benefits to passengers travelling along the Hope Valley line.” The first phase of track installation on the loop was completed in Bamford between November 2022 and February 2023. This included the construction and placement of two turnout sections of track for the loop, which will eventually meet in the middle completing a passing loop for fast trains to pass, therefore reducing delays to services. The remainder of the loop is planned to be completed this year. Elsewhere on the project, work is progressing to build a second platform and a new footbridge at Dore & Totley station. Over 2355m of track has been installed in Dore & Totley since July 2022, and work has recently started to build the foundations for the platform and footbridge. The Hope Valley Railway Upgrade is due to complete in spring 2024.
Leading groundworks and drainage supply specialist Civils Store is the latest infrastructure materials distributor to recognise the advantages of StormTech, the world leading stormwater management system from Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS). StormTech will now be available ex-stock from Civils Store. With Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010, requiring developers to seek adoption of all their Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), expected to be implemented next year, the importance and accessibility of effective stormwater storage and attenuation systems is only set to increase. With Civils Store now stocking StormTech, a versatile and effective alternative to crates, ADS’s globally popular products can now be more readily sourced throughout Civil Store’s UK branch network. Combining arch-shaped chambers with an innovative, integrated water quality treatment system, StormTech has been used successfully in over 50,000 projects worldwide employing in excess of 3m units. Featuring a range of chamber sizes and its unique Isolator Row, providing ‘first flush’ cleansing and treatment of storm water run-off, StormTech is especially suited to applications requiring minimum cover, installation under trafficked areas and fast construction. As units are stackable, minimal space is required for storage and transport. StormTech fully complies with the recently updated Design and Construction Guidance for foul and surface water sewers (DCG), meaning that water companies in England can accept StormTech when offered for adoption by developers under Section 104 Agreements in accordance with the Water Industry Act 1991. Additionally, structural modelling to Eurocodes has demonstrated that StormTech SuDS attenuation chambers can be installed to the minimum and maximum cover depths detailed within the standard ADS installation guidelines, originally based on US standards. Kevin Hancock, Civils Store Managing Director, says of the new partnership with ADS, “We have enjoyed great success with StormTech on a buy-to-order basis, and with the huge increase in interest in StormTech and with Schedule 3 just round the corner, it makes perfect sense for us to bring StormTech into stock at our depots. Our first shipment is to Kent, then into Somerset, with other branches to follow.” For details of Civil Store branches, and to get a quotation, please visit bit.ly/civilsstore. For more information on Advanced Drainage Systems’ StormTech, including a handy Design Tool and Installation App or to book a CPD, go to www.adspipe.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Groundwork is underway with the first spades in the ground at a development set to bring 275 new homes to the Whitehouse area of Milton Keynes. Ashberry Homes is planning to build the homes at Ashberry at Whitehouse Park, on land south of Watling Street and east of Calverton Lane. It’s part of the wider Whitehouse neighbourhood which has outline planning permission for more than 4,000 new homes. Detailed planning permission for this latest collection of 275 homes was granted by Milton Keynes Council earlier this year. Ashberry at Whitehouse Park will feature a selection of one and two-bedroom apartments, and two, three and four-bedroom houses. Lindsey Davenport, Senior Sales Manager for Ashberry Homes, said: “An exciting project lies ahead with this high-quality contribution to Whitehouse. “With groundworks now underway, we are looking forward to starting construction of the new homes at Ashberry at Whitehouse Park and providing homebuyers with a varied choice of quality new-build properties. “This development will help consolidate Ashberry Homes as a reliable and well-established housebuilder in Milton Keynes, helping to provide the new housing the city needs.” Ashberry Homes is part of the Bellway Group, with Bellway’s Northern Home Counties division currently building 175 new homes on a neighbouring site, Bellway at Whitehouse Park, as part of the consortium project. New community facilities, such Whitehouse Primary School, Watling Academy and Whitehouse Surgery, are also open as part of the wider growing neighbourhood. The Whitehouse project is part of the Western Expansion Area of Milton Keynes which has been earmarked for a total of 6,500 new homes. Lindsey said: “There is already such a welcoming community forming within the Whitehouse consortium and the fact there are schools for both primary and secondary-age children here makes it even more appealing for families. “The development is also close to Milton Keynes, and all the city’s amenities, as well as direct train links from Milton Keynes Central into London.” The first homes are due to go on sale at Ashberry at Whitehouse Park in August this year. For more information, call the sales team on 01908 036312 or visit https://www.ashberryhomes.co.uk/new-homes/northern-home-counties/ashberry-at-whitehouse-park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail has launched its masterplanning process at Bow Goods Yard, East London, which will see the regeneration of over 30 acres of brownfield land. The site is the final parcel of land to be developed as part of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games legacy. The site is situated close to the A12, and is currently home to several heavy freight uses. Network Rail will work with Maccreanor Lavington Architects to develop a vision for the site’s redevelopment. Possible options for the area include, a new neighbourhood of homes, a logistics and freight hub as well as a new business campus. Commenting on the project, Robin Dobson, Group Property Director at Network Rail said: “As the last part of the regeneration story for the Olympic Park, Bow Goods Yard is strategically connected by both road and rail. The development has the potential to create London’s largest state-of-the-art freight and last mile logistics hub to serve Greater London, alongside delivering homes, a workspace campus and open space connecting to the surrounding neighbourhoods. “The regeneration of this strategic site demonstrates the huge importance rail infrastructure plays in unlocking the development of brownfield sites and to deliver on London’s sustainability agenda. We look forward to working closely with both communities and key stakeholders on this opportunity.” Reflecting on their involvement, Blazej Czuba, Associate Urban Designer with Maccreanor Lavington said: “We have been developing unique approaches to London’s employment locations for many years and we are thrilled to have been selected to apply them on this unique site. Bow Goods Yard has the potential to be London’s most industrious sites – it is also about its newest park and the evolving residential neighbourhoods around it. “This project needs care and sensitivity in its design, with a fair amount of innovation. The team understands the complexity of London: its communities, its spatial character, its uses, and the mix that will create a new neighbourhood here for the people of Newham and Tower Hamlets.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pupils at the Stimpson Avenue Academy in Northampton have returned from their half-term holidays to a transformed garden space, courtesy of Kier, West Northamptonshire Council’s highways providers. The school first approached Kier regarding safety concerns over the space – such as its cordoned-off, disused pond and overgrown vegetation – seeking help to return the space to its former glory. Kier was joined by Bridge and Highways Maintenance Ltd and five of its fellow supply chain partners – which spent three months designing the space and receiving donations to bring their vision to life. Over 30 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to support the cause, who spent three days during the half term renovating the space, with some parents donating plants and seeds to support the cause. Luci Clapton, Head of School at Stimpson Avenue Academy, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the completion of our new garden. The response from our parents, and most importantly our pupils, has been fantastic. “What had become a disused and unloved area has been transformed into a wonderful outside space, which will be used at playtimes and lunchtimes as a quiet space for the children. It will also be used for community events such as our sports day and summer fete.” The garden is now equipped with a sensory footpath; a new pergola; recycled tyre planters painted as ladybirds and bumble bees; a wildflower garden space; raised planters; a compost area; bug hotels; and a log seating, campfire area. Luci continued: “The new garden will form part of our curriculum, as we are launching a new Forest School this year, which offers our pupils the unique opportunity to learn about nature and try a range of outdoor activities including den building and bug hunting. “Our Eco-Committee and the Junior Leadership Team are also excited to be leading some projects in the new garden, including planting and growing vegetables.” The works also included filling in an old disused pond which was unsafe for the children to play near but too costly to fill in. The highways team filled in the hole and shredded the vegetation that had been cut down and filled the top of the pond with it over a membrane – making their own woodchip, before building a wigwam to place over the top. Parents were invited to see the final result alongside a class of pupils, and were joined by Cllr Phil Larratt Cabinet Member for environment, transport, highways and waste, and John Coombes, general manager for Kier Highways. John Coombes said: “After three months of hard work and planning, the school’s garden space has been transformed from a tired, overgrown safety concern to a fun, safe educational space for the children of Stimpson Avenue Academy to play and learn. We are proud to be able to leave a legacy at the school, with the garden now used to teach the children about the importance of sustainability and nature as part of this project. We’re thankful to Bridges and Highways Maintenance ltd and our partners for their role in bringing this project to life.” Cllr Phil Larratt added: “ We are delighted to be working with Kier Highways to deliver the Highways contract across West Northamptonshire. The fantastic work they’ve carried out at Stimpson Academy is just one example that demonstrates their commitment to making a real difference across the local community. It was great to see their hard work first hand, and I hope pupils enjoy this space for years to come.” Also generously donating materials and their time to complete the makeover were, PGR, NC & JC Construction, EM Pell & Partners Ltd, Hanson, R&C Williams, Swarco and Wickes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
