A new road designed to improve the flow of traffic in and around Aylesford has been officially opened. The £8m road linking Station Road and Bellingham Way, has been delivered by Panattoni as part of its £180m redevelopment of the former Aylesford Newsprint site. Creating more than 1 million sq ft of high quality logistics and distribution space, the site near Junction 4 of the M20 in Kent is the South East flagship development of Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate company in the UK and Europe. The road was jointly opened with a cutting of a ribbon by Cllr Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council; Cllr Matt Boughton, Leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, and Tony Watkins, Panattoni’s Head of Development for South East and London. Tony Watkins said: “It’s great to be able to deliver on a key part of our promise to the local community. This new road has been designed to relieve congestion on the local road network and enable the site to support high quality businesses and the people they will employ.” As a result of the new road, all non-HGV traffic destined for Panattoni Park Aylesford or New Hythe Business Park can now access them via junctions 4, 5 and 6 on the M20, via Bellingham Way and Station Road. KCC Leader Roger Gough, added: “This investment in new infrastructure shows why it is so important to attract positive investment from market leaders such as Panattoni. “The timely provision of the new link assists with local connectivity, complementing the area’s highway network, and has enabled the redevelopment of the vacant Aylesford Newsprint site, creating thousands of new jobs. We look forward to supporting Panattoni’s continued investment in Kent and see this as a great vote of confidence in the importance of the county’s economy.” Thanks to its location, the site called Panattoni Park Aylesford, is now home to Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer; DHL, the global logistics company; Evri, the UK’s biggest dedicated parcel delivery company; Fowler Welch, the temperature-controlled logistics company, and Marley, a UK leader in the manufacture and supply of pitched roof systems to the construction market. Planning permission has also recently been granted for the development of 630,000 sq ft to be constructed on the site. The only remaining space is Plot 6A which offers the design and build of a further 16,500 sq ft of space for another logistics industry business. Cllr Matt Boughton, said: “Since first unveiling its plans in 2020, the team at Panattoni have been true to their word and transformed this derelict 90-acre site. They must be congratulated for delivering a really high quality home for world-class businesses offering a wide range of modern jobs here in Tonbridge and Malling.” As part of an agreement with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council during the planning process, Panattoni will support the refurbishment of the Aylesford and New Hythe railway stations. It will also extend the provision of local bus services in the area, and put new cycle paths and footpaths in place. The existing buildings on the site have been built to achieve high environmental performance. DHL’s building is a net zero carbon facility with a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and an EPC rating of ‘A+’ to support its last-mile facility serving the South East. The 97,891 sq ft building taken by Fowler Welch incorporates a 1.5MVA photovoltaic array covering the roof; a bespoke car park canopy; and cycle shelter. The peak electrical output from the solar panels is equal to the incoming supply, which means the Fowler Welch facility will be able to operate fully from the power generated onsite. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

£48m funding boost to get Penistone rail line on the right track Kirklees Council have been successful with their bid to the government’s Levelling Up Fund for £48m to support significant improvements to the infrastructure of the Penistone rail line. The fund is designed to support local authorities to invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities. The Penistone rail line runs between Huddersfield, Penistone and Sheffield, via Barnsley, providing an important link between communities and is a sustainable alternative to road travel. However, the line currently experiences capacity issues and has a number of infrastructure constraints that allow only one train to travel per hour along the northern section between Huddersfield and Barnsley. This, added to speed limits of 50mph or lower at some sections, all contribute to long journey times, averaging 1 hour 15 minutes, end to end. These slow journeys hinder connectivity between communities and are unattractive to commuters who turn to other forms of transport like private car travel. For lower income families without access to a car, it creates additional barriers to access employment, leisure and cultural attractions. The funding announced today will enable a package of infrastructure and access measures that will make the Penistone rail line a significant link between Huddersfield, Barnsley and Sheffield. Councillor Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council and Cabinet Member for Transport, says: “Here in Kirklees, our connectedness is one of our greatest strengths.  We not only have great towns and beautiful countryside, we’re also slap bang in the middle of some of the north’s most influential cities – and our rail links help connect us with those cities, with the rest of the north, beyond that, the whole of the UK.  The benefits of improving these connections, both to individual residents and to our local economy as a whole, are huge. “It’s also important to remember that this project is part of a much bigger picture in terms of developing Kirklees’ transport system, which will also help make public transport a more viable option across the district, tying in with our green agenda.  For example, as Huddersfield is a stop on the Transpennine Route – which is currently being upgraded – there is also the opportunity to connect more people to this and other planned infrastructure projects. “It’s very exciting to see so much transformation across Kirklees and beyond.” Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, says: “I am delighted that the Levelling Up Fund bid for this project has been successful and will allow us to deliver significant improvements to the Penistone line and provide numerous benefits to businesses and communities along the route. “Our transport links not only give us the opportunity to broaden the labour market for businesses in our area but provides easier and faster access to employment opportunities and leisure activities or events in the wider region.  “We submitted four Kirklees bids for Levelling Up funds, and all have now been successful. That is testament to the hard work our officers have put into designing and producing high quality bids. I want to thank Tracy Brabin, all the MPs, businesses and local people who supported us to put some brilliant plans together. “We will keep working to bring investment to all parts of Kirklees and this great selection of ambitious plans will help us deliver the economic growth we all need.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has completed the development of a new £10M truck park and Roll on Roll off (RoRo) ferry vessel port facility for leading UK Port Operator and repeat customer Peel Ports at the QEII Dock in Liverpool. The works which started onsite in June 2023 created the UK’s first Green Automotive Manufacturing Hub. This included recommissioning the existing berth, creating a new lorry park, gatehouse and welfare facilities, installation of a new ISPS fence line with gates, removal of an oil collection weir, new RoRo ramp, new bollards, fenders, ladders and lifesaving equipment, service modifications, demolition of an obsolete building on the quayside and dredging operations. The works also included new services and diversions. Commenting on the completion of the project Glencar Operations Director Tom Kearsley said: “We are absolutely thrilled to once again have worked with our partners at Peel Ports to construct this important new QEII Dock, RoRo and Truck Park facility. The award of this contract was following the appointment on Alex dock multi-user development which we are currently constructing. Achieving the handover date and the arrival of the first ship into the birth on 16th October is a testament to the outstanding project team that assembled on this scheme, they have delivered an outstanding result. This is the second portside related project in quick succession we have been instructed to in recent times and is a great example of what the business can showcase as we continue to cement our knowledge and specialist skillset in this area in the complicated nature of this type of dock construction. As a direct consequence of the construction of this new facility Peel Ports and its customers will be removing 14,700 HGV journeys off the road, as a result saving 28 million kilometres (Circa 17.5 million miles) and reducing 37% in energy consumption.’’ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Britain’s Strategic Road Network (SRN) has been the backbone of the nation’s connectivity for decades. But as demands on our roads evolve, so does our commitment to updating and enhancing them. A collaboration between Costain, WSP, Flannery, and Forkers, the Smart Motorway Programme (SMP) Alliances’ recent M6 project is a perfect example of this commitment. Spanning the M6 Junction 21a to 26, the 16km Smart Motorway project set out to augment capacity and enhance journey reliability on this integral artery of the UK’s highways. With triple the goods moved by road over rail and water combined and a third of all motor vehicle miles made on the SRN, projects like this have never been more pressing. On similar projects, the absence of data quality and efficient analysis has led to significant idle times, resulting in substantial fuel wastage and increased emissions. To maximise the efficiency of machinery during the construction phase, the SMP Alliance called on equipment data and telematics specialist MachineMax. Data-driven solutions MachineMax addressed these environmental and economic repercussions using its transformative telematics and data solution. The platform, focusing on crucial metrics, including: idle time, emissions, location, and fuel use, provided real-time data on equipment status, enabling immediate and actionable insights that lead to significant fuel savings and reduced emissions.Between the start of 2022 and July 2023, idling was successfully reduced from 56% to an impressive 19%. Furthermore, during the pilot phase, SMP Alliance managed to decrease fuel usage by 3500 litres per month, preventing 9236 kg of CO2 emissions. Tom Grahamslaw, Head of Connected Site for the SMP Alliance commented, “The MachineMax solution has created the insights we now need to understand and effectively manage plant across our projects, enabling us to drive a change in behaviours and deliver a step change in environmental performance.”Realising net-zero ambitions Construction teams on the project gained invaluable insights into equipment activity, idle periods, and usage percentages, significantly improving their understanding of equipment usage. GPS integration enabled tracking of routes, distances, and stops, facilitating better operational planning. Using just 20 highly efficient and cost-effective sensors from MachineMax, the SMP Alliance realise its ambition to deliver highway projects more efficiently and sustainably through tangible savings and reductions in idling, as well as improved air quality for both on-site workers and local residents Eamonn Slevin Operations Director for the SMP Alliance added, “The use of fuel on our construction sites is the single largest contributory factor to carbon emissions during assembly. On the M6, by using MachineMax’s innovative data solution, we were provided with better quality data which has allowed targeted behavioural training, plant idling has been reduced from 50% of operating time to 18%. The benefits of this are a reduction in carbon emissions, reduced impact on air quality from emissions and longevity of plant.” The green brick road The M6 Junction 21a to 26 Smart Motorway project is a testament to Britain’s commitment to its SRN, and the integration of innovative solutions to foster a data-driven approach sets a benchmark for future infrastructure projects. As the government continues its substantial investment across transport modes, projects like this will ensure our road networks remain safe, reliable, resilient, responsive, and efficient, unlocking vast economic and social benefits. Amy Law, Head of Marketing & Sales at MachineMax, concluded, “’In a world where every second and every litre of fuel counts, our technology is not just about data; it’s about driving real change on the ground. Working with Costain, Flannery, Forkers and WSP has enabled us to showcase the importance of timely, accurate data for project emission reductions, also exemplifying how the fusion of innovation and collaboration can redefine the future of construction efficiency and our Strategic Road Network. We’re not just building roads; we’re paving the way for a sustainable, connected Britain.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

A major construction milestone has taken place at the £26.5 million new White Rose Rail Station in south Leeds.  Rail infrastructure specialist Spencer Group has now installed two new link bridges from the main station buildings to platform level at the new station, which is being built next to the White Rose Park between Morley and Cottingley on the main trans-Pennine route to Manchester via Huddersfield.   The new station will make it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport, connecting more people with jobs, training, education and leisure activities.     It will provide improved access to the White Rose Park, shopping centre and bus interchange.  Alongside 80 cycle parking spaces, the scheme also includes better walking and cycling routes for local communities, including to the White Rose Shopping Centre and bus interchange.  The scheme is being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Munroe K, Leeds City Council, Network Rail and the Department for Transport.  Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:  “We’re determined to create a better-connected region where everyone has the same opportunity to get on in life.    “Investing in transport schemes that support economic growth, like the White Rose Rail Station, has a key role to play in that.  “This investment will bring new opportunities for people in nearby communities by boosting transport links, regeneration and jobs.”  The two link bridges were installed overnight over the course of two weekends.  A 1,200-tonne crane – about 200 times the weight of an elephant – was built on site.  It had to be transported in sections and took a week to assemble with more than 25 lorry deliveries of components.     The east link bridge, which had to be built in two halves and welded together on-site, is 40m long and weighed 84 tonnes.    The west link bridge is 20m long and weighs 46 tonnes.   The works follow the installation of platform canopy sections earlier this year.    Leeds City Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, said:  “It’s really pleasing to see a significant milestone achieved in the construction of Leeds newest Rail Station. The changes when complete will improve access to the city centre for residents in surrounding neighbourhoods, visitors to Leeds and thousands of young people who learn in the city’s schools and colleges each day. White Rose Station along with other improved transport links we’re working on provide more opportunities to reduce our city’s carbon impact and realise our economic potential.”  David Aspin, CEO of Munroe K, said:  “Seeing the two foot bridges installed marks a significant milestone in the project and is real testament to the workmanship of the whole team at Spencer Group. In the recent weeks the station buildings have come to life as the external cladding has been added and now the passenger walkways. We’re excited to see the progress continue as we head towards the new station opening next year.”  Anna Weeks, Principal Programme Sponsor at Network Rail, said:   “It’s always special to reach milestones such as this in the large-scale infrastructure projects that Network Rail supports alongside its partners. We’re proud to be playing our part in delivering a new accessible railway station for local residents and the wider public, offering them more sustainable ways to travel into Leeds city centre and beyond.”  Joe Bennett, Operations Director at Spencer Group, said:   “The installation of the two link bridges represents a major milestone in the project.  “We had to work around external obstacles with the bridge lifts, including gas main renewals on the main road, but it went very well. The station is now really beginning to take shape. “We’re excited to be working closely with our partners to deliver this important project, which will provide a significant upgrade to the rail infrastructure in the North.”  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals