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
Amianto Services, a UK leading asbestos abatement firm, has successfully renewed their three-year asbestos licence with the regulatory board, Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Since their inception, Amianto Services have worked on large and complex projects across both the public and private sectors; from NHS trusts and higher education providers
Leading Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson will spearhead the design and construction of the new £15.4 million state-of-the-art Air and Space Institute (ASI) aerospace project for Newark College, part of the Lincoln College Group, at the former cattle market site in Newark. The ASI provides a unique opportunity for school
For further advice and guidance visit WorkRight Construction: Your health. Your future – Work Right to keep Britain safe Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail has completed repair and restoration work on a 132-year-old canopy at the main entrance of Knaresborough Station in North Yorkshire. Network Rail carefully repaired the Grade II listed canopy to preserve the station’s rich heritage for years to come. The structure has seen a complete roof renewal and
London based metal window refurbishment specialist, Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) has successfully completed two very demanding phases of work in refurbishing the exterior facades to the ASOS premises in Watford; renewing a past working relationship with main contractor ISG, while demonstrating its ability to embrace contemporary contracting techniques as
Story Homes has partnered with Anderton Concrete to utilise its unique Stepoc concrete shuttering technology to construct retaining walls as part of the development of 40 residential dwellings in Greystoke, West of Penrith. As the ground across the site was uneven in places, retaining walls of up to 1.8metres were
BDC Phase 2 Limited, a joint venture between Mace and Doric Properties, has agreed the forward funding and sale of Phase Two of the West Way Square regeneration development in Oxford to Grainger plc. Grainger has agreed to forward fund and acquire the 150-home build-to-rent scheme in Botley, Oxford. “We
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
Amianto Services, a UK leading asbestos abatement firm, has successfully renewed their three-year asbestos licence with the regulatory board, Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Since their inception, Amianto Services have worked on large and complex projects across both the public and private sectors; from NHS trusts and higher education providers to the housing sector and established commercial businesses. As proud partners of award-winning property and development firm, The Sovini Group, the asbestos specialists offers an ‘outstanding’ asbestos and abatement removal service, in addition to their recent expansion of services which has seen them provide thousands of passive fire protection (FIRAS) systems nationwide. Following a rigorous application process, Amianto Services are proud to have successfully achieved the renewal. Gaining the three-year HSE asbestos license gives clients further confidence that they are working with an established and trusted contractor. The HSE licence is set in place due to the significant risk’s involved in working with asbestos in public environments. Working with asbestos requires a high degree of regulatory control and the purpose of the HSE licensing is to achieve this. Following Amianto Services recent accolade their services will be monitored through regular audits and assessment to examine their quality of work as an official licence-holders. Amianto Services have a strong reputation for quickly and safely removing asbestos, and therefore this recognition demonstrates the company’s commitment to deliver the highest possible standards in all aspects of handling the removal and disposal of asbestos. Tony Loughran, Managing Director, commented, “Through a significant amount of hard work and a collective team effort, we are all looking forward to continuing our rapid and scalable growth. It is testament to everyone’s hard work and commitment to continually deliver highest standards and maximum safety possible.” For more information, or if you have an upcoming project to discuss with Amianto Services friendly and knowledgeable team, call 0151 529 7111, email info@amiantoservices.co.uk or visit www.amiantoservices.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson will spearhead the design and construction of the new £15.4 million state-of-the-art Air and Space Institute (ASI) aerospace project for Newark College, part of the Lincoln College Group, at the former cattle market site in Newark. The ASI provides a unique opportunity for school leavers aged 16-18 to train for pilot, engineer and ground-crew roles in airlines, the military, airports and logistics companies across the UK and abroad. “We are delighted to be appointed as main contractor on the ASI which offers state-of-the-art training for students at a brand-new campus in the heart of Newark. We are extremely pleased to have secured this project under the Pagabo National Framework for Major Construction Works. Through our early contractor involvement and close collaboration with the Client team, we look forward to turning Lincoln College Group’s vision into a reality by providing a world-class training facility for young people throughout the region,” said Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson. The new three-storey building, which is due to complete at the end of 2023, will be only the second of this type of college building to be built in the UK and will provide world class training for the air and space industry, accommodating a full-sized Airbus A318 for hands-on teaching experience, alongside a double height entrance hall, large open space hangar, flight simulator, teaching zones and lecture and seminar areas for students and staff. The scheme will be finished off with a combination of soft and hard landscaping works. “Like the whole of the town, we’re hugely excited about the progress being made on site and we can’t wait to see the building. Young people completing their GCSEs this year can apply for our engineer, pilot, space engineering, groundcrew and military pathways now and they will benefit from these fabulous new facilities during their course, as well as the chance to fly in our ASI aircraft and flight simulators,” commented Lincoln College Group Director of ASI and Strategic Growth, Tom Marsden. From conception, G F Tomlinson used BIM technology software to digitally map the complex build of the aerospace project, which includes numerous articulated angles, using world coordinate systems for the design and construction of the build. This allowed the contractors and Lincoln College Group to work the design and use real time updates to navigate the build through all the fundamental stages through to completion. “It is fantastic to see the vision for the Air and Space Institute coming to life in Newark and I know many local people are looking forward to having this huge asset in our district. Providing skills locally is a key driver for the whole package of projects being funded under Newark’s Town Fund initiative,” said Councillor David Lloyd, Co-Chair of Newark Town Board and Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council. “The ASI will be a huge boost for Newark’s inspiring generations of future pilots, ground crew and engineers to see its new home when it is completed. It will help shape the ambition for Newark’s future, making it a place people want to live, work, study and visit and I look forward to seeing the progress over the forthcoming years,” he concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
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Network Rail has completed repair and restoration work on a 132-year-old canopy at the main entrance of Knaresborough Station in North Yorkshire. Network Rail carefully repaired the Grade II listed canopy to preserve the station’s rich heritage for years to come. The structure has seen a complete roof renewal and redecoration throughout, including a fresh lick of paint in its traditional white and green colours. Before refurbishment began, scaffolding was temporarily installed to reinforce the station canopy, protecting passengers and the local community. “The revamped entrance has made a real difference to the station, giving it a vital upgrade whilst retaining its historic look. The crucial repair work will not only improve passenger experience, but it will also help to protect the Grade II listed building for future generations. I’d like to thank passengers, our partners and the community for their patience and hope they continue to enjoy the station’s connections to York, Harrogate and Leeds for years to come,” said Robert Ellams, Route Engineer for Network Rail’s North and East Route. With the refurbishment now complete, the structure matches the platform canopies which were also restored back in 2016. The scaffolding has also now been safely removed, allowing the people of the town to enjoy their local station once again. “This is great work from Network Rail and is part of a greater programme of investment in our stations and railways. It is also an investment in our heritage as this is a Grade II listed structure. The Network Rail team were really responsive when the Friends of Knaresborough Station approached me wanting the work completed quickly. They prioritised it and now we have a fantastic looking station with brilliant businesses on the platform to go with more and better rail services,” commented Andrew Jones, Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough. The station, which was awarded the Urban Heritage award at the National Heritage Awards last year, has benefitted from other major improvements over the last few years, including a £150,000 upgrade to the station roof in 2019. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
London based metal window refurbishment specialist, Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) has successfully completed two very demanding phases of work in refurbishing the exterior facades to the ASOS premises in Watford; renewing a past working relationship with main contractor ISG, while demonstrating its ability to embrace contemporary contracting techniques as well as traditional trade skills. The property, which dates from late 1990’s, not only required re-glazing and extensive mastic renewal and replacement to its original aluminium curtain walling system, but the articulated, stepped and brise soliel structure also presented real logistical challenges for ASWS, in terms of access and the very tight programme timetable. Initially, ASWS was engaged to carry out a full survey of the property’s curtain walling, to determine its general condition, highlighting specific areas of damage and deterioration, as well as any glazing units which might require replacement. This included a full external survey using MEWPS and photography. The company was then awarded the contract for the first phase of work under competitive tender, which addressed the whole building envelope across all elevations and roof works. Its team of twelve highly experienced operatives then proceeded to carry out the repairs utilising half a dozen different types of access equipment, including scissor lifts, HGV mounted Broncos and other types of MEWPS, including the specialist Spider equipment, which is designed to work at extreme heights in narrow areas that normal access equipment wouldn’t be able to operate in. This required the ASWS team to be specifically trained in IPAF 1b to be able to operate the spiders. The largest IG unit fitted was a 3m long by 2m high, weighing over 300kg. Kris Bennell, Contracts Director for ASWS, explained: “Aside from having carried out past projects for ISG, we were awarded the ASOS contract on the basis of our overall capabilities and being able to show the ability to work in challenging circumstances as well as to tight programmes. “While we have extensive experience of renovating different types of metal window – from the earliest wrought iron and steel windows, through to contemporary aluminium systems – access issues were a major element to this job: involving getting to different heights, dealing with the variable ground conditions, the various weights of machine, and employing crane mounted glazing machines. Not only that the job was completed over one of the coldest winters in recent memory! We are delighted to say that the project was completed on time and practical completion was achieved by our client.” The Project Manager for ISG, Dragos Caraimaneanu commented: “This was a very demanding job where we were completing the full Cat. A and Cat. B fit out on behalf of ASOS. Despite the difficulties ASWS performed very well, even repairing and reglazing an extremely large window that was broken. The client was also very happy with the results.” ASWS was duly awarded the second phase of the project a year later, which addressed the next building that ASOS took possession of next door in Leavesden Park. ASWS has since gone on to win other work with ISG. And elsewhere across the country, the company has continued to carry out a diverse range of work for both private and commercial clients: much of it involving the detailed repair or installation of new traditional style steel windows. For more information on ASWS, please visit asws.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Story Homes has partnered with Anderton Concrete to utilise its unique Stepoc concrete shuttering technology to construct retaining walls as part of the development of 40 residential dwellings in Greystoke, West of Penrith. As the ground across the site was uneven in places, retaining walls of up to 1.8metres were required to ensure an optimal construction was achieved. However, once ground was broken, an unexpected incline of almost 2.5metres between three pairs of gardens was uncovered. This left the developers with a new challenge to ensure the difference in height was addressed by retaining the ground safely and quickly to minimise any potential disruption to the build and maximise on site efficiencies. Story Homes considered several retaining wall possibilities but specified Anderton Concrete’s Stepoc shuttering system because of its quick installation traits and ability to retain ground up to 4.0metres in height. “The initial design details for the scheme were based on a series of smaller garden retaining walls to create back to back terraced gardens, the details employed at this stage were in line with our internal standard suite of retaining wall designs. In order to bring improvements to these garden areas whilst balancing cost, buildability and space on site we decided to utilise the Anderton Concrete Stepoc system,” explains Scott Bradshaw, Engineering Manager, Cumbria and Scotland, Story Homes. “The slenderness of the Stepoc wall meant that with restricted space on the site, the overall amount of slope that had to be cut back could be reduced, saving precious time. This was the same with the overall speed of installation, which was swift and primarily enabled by the lack of steel fixing required in the stem.” Stepoc’s precast concrete block technology is unique in its versatility to facilitate the construction of retaining walls for multiple applications. Story Homes had previously specified the technology, but it was a first for the company’s Site Manager, Paul Woodruff, who was impressed with its wholesale benefits and adaptability. Stepoc’s ability to solve the problem of a considerable incline between gardens was achieved because of its flexible construction and ease of installation. As the wall can be laid dry, it saves valuable time, whilst the concrete pour cascades inside the wall, meaning minimal mess and maintenance. It can also be installed in various weather conditions, meaning no lengthy delays to overall construction times. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BDC Phase 2 Limited, a joint venture between Mace and Doric Properties, has agreed the forward funding and sale of Phase Two of the West Way Square regeneration development in Oxford to Grainger plc. Grainger has agreed to forward fund and acquire the 150-home build-to-rent scheme in Botley, Oxford. “We are delighted to secure our first scheme in Oxford, a key target city with robust underlying fundamentals and a great need for high quality rental homes. The convenient location and connectivity of West Way Square makes it attractive for those working in the city centre or at the many local business and science parks,” said Helen Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Grainger. West Way Square is a mixed-use development located 10 minutes from Oxford city centre. Oxford Parkway and Oxford’s mainline station are nearby with five of Oxford’s leading science parks located within 15 minutes of the development. The joint venture has already created 264 purpose-built student accommodation studios and apartments, 20 build to rent apartments, almost 40,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, a new hotel and office and community spaces, including a local library as well as car and cycle parking amenities and a new public piazza in Phase One. Phase Two, which is the final phase of the development, includes the 150 high quality build to rent homes as well as c.3,244 sq. ft. of internal residents’ amenity space and an outdoor amenity provision comprising a c.7,662 sq. ft. podium garden and a c.2,263 sq. ft. roof terrace. The scheme also includes seven ground-floor commercial units, totalling c.10,058 sq. ft., and 120 parking permits. “This is a great deal, which underlines the strength of our partnership working approach to urban regeneration in creating a new, high quality, mixed-use development. Phase One saw us work with the local community, the council and our partners Doric Properties to deliver a vibrant new destination and attract residents and businesses into the area. With this funding in place for Phase Two, we can realise the overall vision for the development to leave a positive and lasting legacy for this thriving part of Oxford and for Grainger,” added Kirsten White, Finance Director for Develop, Mace Group. Gilbert-Ash Limited have been appointed as the main contractor for Phase 2 and Mace Develop as development manager. Preparatory work has commenced, and on-site works are expected to start in late November 2022, with practical completion targeted for late 2024. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
