Tate Consulting partnered with amber energy and MODA to provide an innovative energy and utility management solution for the fast-growing Build to Rent market. The COMM:UNITY scheme designed by amber energy will provide residents at MODA’s Angel Gardens 466 apartments in Manchester with the unique ability to pay one fee
A £4 million Highways England contract to upgrade the M271 Redbridge roundabout near Southampton Docks has been secured by Interserve, the international support services and construction group. “We are delighted to have secured another Highways England contract after our recent success on the A63 Princes Quay in Hull. Our works
GRAHAM has been appointed by Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) to construct a new shielded Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) Drum Store Extension and an Unshielded Waste Store Extension for shielded waste containers next to the existing Dounreay Cementation Plant (DCP) complex. Valued in excess of £22m, the complex works programme
HS2 will release images of two of its brand new stations, marking a significant milestone for the programme, cementing the project’s commitment to the Midlands and emphasising the region’s place at the heart of Britain’s new high speed network. The images will be released at Birmingham Library at the first
The UK’s digital revolution in energy markets will lead to significant and additional demand for physical services, according to Jon Parr, Managing Director of Lowri Beck, one of the country’s largest independent meter installers and data collection specialists. He predicts that digitalisation will quicken product innovation for energy technology, such
Concrete is just about everywhere in city infrastructure, from the paving slabs at our feet to the skyscrapers that tower above us. The trouble is, this overuse means that concrete is rarely appreciated for its many benefits as a building material. In fact, thanks to its association with certain architectural
Somers Town Energy is on course to provide further benefits to the London Borough of Camden following the installation of new plant equipment as the project moves into its second phase. Vital Energi and Camden Council originally began working on the £3.4m project in 2014 when we provided the retrofit
Hundreds of stakeholders call for urgent action to stabilise UK solar Proposal leaves UK consumers with much weaker rights than other European citizens The STA today publishes an open letter to Energy Minister Claire Perry calling on her to urgently confirm the continuation of the ‘export tariff’ from next April.
Flexenergy’s specialist prefabrication expertise has played a key role in a modular village providing a hotel-style living environment for workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site. The company, one of the UK’s leading pre-insulated polybutylene pipe specialists, has manufactured bespoke pipe components for heating and hot water
The £5 million contract to deliver phase one and two of the East Leeds Orbital Route has been awarded to Balfour Beatty by Leeds City Council. Works will include improvements to a number of existing Outer Ring Road junctions and the widening to three junctions along the A6120 Ring Road.
Tate Consulting partnered with amber energy and MODA to provide an innovative energy and utility management solution for the fast-growing Build to Rent market. The COMM:UNITY scheme designed by amber energy will provide residents at MODA’s Angel Gardens 466 apartments in Manchester with the unique ability to pay one fee for all utility bills. This unique approach to the BTR market provides several benefits, mainly a cost saving for residents, with just a single bill for electricity gas and water with no need to switch tariffs each year, or having to provide regular manual meter readings. Solar panels specified by Tate Consulting were also fitted to the roof of the apartment building alongside a combined heat and power unit, both of which provide electricity that can be used within the building, further reducing energy costs. Daniel Clegg, Managing Director of COMM:UNITY, said: “What we’re doing is unique. There are lots of advantages to this scheme which means one bill for all utilities so people aren’t dealing with lots of different energy providers. “People get their utilities at a better price because we look after the building as a whole and can pass on cost efficiencies and provide a bespoke ‘concierge’ level of customer service. 60% of households in the UK are on standard variable tariffs which cost about £200-£300 more a year. We also save money because we don’t have to pay for marketing or switching fees to people like Compare the Market.” To deliver the quality and cost advantages outlined above, Tate Consulting developed a bespoke Private Wire Electrical Distribution Network (BNO) to maximise the efficient delivery of the utility services at the lowest cost to customers. Jim Lee, Director at Tate Consulting based in Leeds and London said: “These private networks are designed to allow the infrastructures to adapt to changing trends and be sustainable for the BNO and management team throughout the life of the building. Tate Consulting worked with MODA from early concept into design development, partnering with amber energy to enable their COMM:UNITY scheme to be rolled out across MODA’s portfolio, including 515 New York Square apartments, which is part of MODA’s SoYo development in Leeds, and Lexington Liverpool a 34-storey tower with 304 apartments. Daniel Clegg said: “We have worked very closely with Tate Consulting on the Angel Gardens development and MODA portfolio as early as possible because, in the past, if we encountered any difficulties it’s often because it’s too late and difficult to change the design. “Working with Tate Consulting has been fantastic because they understood our needs from the start and MODA’s vision of how the properties will work when they’re live, so this avoided any such difficulties.” Further Information: Tate Consulting provides strategic, flexible, experienced and innovative approach in delivering engineering and management consultancy services for its clients globally. https://www.tateconsulting.eu Twitter: @Tate_Consulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tate-consulting/ The advantages and disadvantages of different electrical supply systems were investigated by Tate Consulting. This included (a) conventional metering with a district network operator (DNO), where the metering is centrally located, and the utility company supplies and installs the electrical infrastructure to the apartments; (b) an independent network operator (IDNO) who installs, owns and maintains the electrical infrastructure and (c) a building network operator (BNO) who installs and maintains the electrical infrastructure on behalf of the building owner. With the first two, the apartment users have their own individual meters whilst for the latter, the building owner meters and bills the individual tenants. The metering strategy uses “bulk” metered utility supplies for Electricity, Water and Gas, with MID compliant sub-meters being provided to the apartments for billing. Apartment and landlord meters connect to amber energy’s system data loggers via Mbus connections and amber energy monitor the MODA building portfolio to drive energy efficiency and sustainability across the portfolio to save money for residents and landlords. About amber energy® amber energy® is an energy management consultancy founded by Nick Proctor in 2009 to provide an honest alternative to the energy brokers on the market. Now in its 10th year of trading, amber is multi-award winning, including: Cardiff’s Fastest Growing Company; Energy Buying Team of the Year and Energy Firm of the Year. amber energy’s highly experienced industry experts provide a complete suite of in-house services to handle all requirements of the utility industry, including: Procurement, trading and risk Energy Bureau Energy Efficiency and Engineering New utility connections Water management Energy engagement projects Find out more at www.amberenergy.net
A £4 million Highways England contract to upgrade the M271 Redbridge roundabout near Southampton Docks has been secured by Interserve, the international support services and construction group. “We are delighted to have secured another Highways England contract after our recent success on the A63 Princes Quay in Hull. Our works on the Redbridge roundabout will benefit residents, businesses and ease congestion around Southampton docks,” said Wayne Howell, Sector Director for Highways. The scheme will see Interserve create a new free-flow, left-turn lane from the M271 to the Port of Southampton. The infrastructure division will also complete road-widening works to create four lanes on the roundabout to increase its overall capacity. Other associated works will include an additional toucan crossing which enables pedestrians and cyclists to cross together, replacing a footbridge and refurbishing an existing subway to the north of the junction. A major problem in this area of Southampton is congestion, with the M271 southbound to the A33 exhibiting average speeds of below 40 mph during peak hours which also impacts road safety. This scheme aims to reduce traffic delays on this important route into Southampton and create more reliable journey times for local, regional and port transport. Interserve is one of the world’s foremost support services and construction companies. Their core values are at the heart of everything they do. As leaders in innovative and sustainable outcomes for their clients and a great place to work for, Interserve offers advice, design, construction, equipment, facilities management and frontline public services. Headquartered in the UK and FTSE listed, Interserve has gross revenues of £3.7 billion and a workforce of circa 75,000 people worldwide.
GRAHAM has been appointed by Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) to construct a new shielded Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) Drum Store Extension and an Unshielded Waste Store Extension for shielded waste containers next to the existing Dounreay Cementation Plant (DCP) complex. Valued in excess of £22m, the complex works programme on behalf of DSRL – the site license company contracted by Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) for the safe and secure clean up of the Dounreay nuclear site – begins later this month. Dounreay is Scotland’s largest nuclear decommissioning project and is widely recognised as one of Europe’s most challenging nuclear closure programmes. The site belongs to NDA, a non-departmental public body of the UK Government. The successful contract award follows a competitive tendering process involving several bidders, with the standstill period elapsing on Monday 24th September. The pre-construction phase is expected to take 25 weeks while construction is scheduled for a duration of 125 weeks. Continued transformation Commenting on the successful contract award Leo Martin, GRAHAM Managing Director – Civil Engineering, said: “Our knowledge of construction and delivery within a nuclear environment, combined with our experience in working with stringent safety systems, will ensure that we deliver assurance in the installation and validation of electrical and control equipment on site. “This is an important project on behalf of Dounreay Site Restoration Limited and will support the continued transformation of the Dounreay nuclear site into a safe, secure area. We have already established a strong partnership with Dounreay Site Restoration Limited, stretching back to early 2011, and will once again apply our collaborative approach and technical expertise to maximise the success of this project.” Long-term storage The project will see an existing above ground waste store extended to house intermediate level waste that is expected to be processed and packaged as part of the site’s clean up. Passively safe containers will be kept in long-term storage within the facility in accordance with Scottish Government policy. DSRL Construction Director, David Hubbard, said: “This contract represents an important step in the long-term management of the site’s waste. It is just one of several contracts being awarded to ensure we continue to reduce hazards and make progress towards the site’s interim end stage. The next few years will see us construct several new facilities to support the programme as well as starting to demolish a number of redundant structures.” Community development Around 100 people are expected to work on the project. GRAHAM is committed to a series of community development initiatives, including work placements and the recruitment of trainee positions. This is part of DSRL’s requirement for its supply chain partners to consider how they can support Caithness and North Sutherland’s socio-economic agenda. GRAHAM also plans to work with local training suppliers to develop its workforce involved in the project, particularly supporting some to achieve NVQ Level 2 and above qualifications. Nuclear expertise GRAHAM has a deep understanding of the Dounreay site and has already successfully completed a Grout Plant Facility and constructed two Low Level Waste Vaults involving the total excavation of 243,000m3 of rock. Demonstrating GRAHAM’s nuclear expertise further, it completed the regeneration of multiple, time-expired manufacturing and support facilities as part of an £80m Core Production Capability (CPC) Regeneration Project at Rolls Royce’s Nuclear Fuel Production Plant (NFPP) in Derby. In addition, GRAHAM is a strategic delivery partner of Low Level Waste Repository Limited (LLWR) as part of a four-year framework agreement, providing technical engineering, design and construction expertise at the UK’s national low level radioactive waste disposal facility in West Cumbria.
HS2 will release images of two of its brand new stations, marking a significant milestone for the programme, cementing the project’s commitment to the Midlands and emphasising the region’s place at the heart of Britain’s new high speed network. The images will be released at Birmingham Library at the first of a series of public engagement events during October, which give people the opportunity to see the new designs and give feedback. Curzon Street station in central Birmingham will be the first brand new intercity station built in Britain since 19th century, create a new landmark for the city and boost opportunities for regeneration in the city. Opening with seven high speed platforms in 2026, the new station will not only be for high speed rail passengers, it will be a brand new public space in Birmingham city centre. It will be fully integrated into an extended tram network, as well as offering pedestrian, cycle, taxi, bus and conventional rail connections to the rest of the city and the wider West Midlands. Interchange station will be a new major gateway station for the region, part of a new public transport interchange serving Solihull, the West Midlands, Birmingham Airport and the NEC. The station will help deliver longer term development and growth proposals for the area around the station, including new homes, business space and jobs. HS2 is also considering a number of extra elements to the scheme put forward by the Urban Growth Company (UGC) which aim to maximise the opportunities the new HS2 Interchange Station presents as a key catalyst for growth. WSP UK Ltd, working with Grimshaw Architects LLP is designing Curzon Street and Arup is designing Interchange station. Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport and Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, marked the start of works on the site of the future Curzon Street station last week. Works are well underway on 60 sites across the route from London to Birmingham, with over 7,000 jobs supported by the programme across the country on our way to 30,000 jobs at peak construction. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands said: “These brand new stations will be catalysts for regeneration, creating jobs and opportunities for local people and economic benefits for Birmingham and the Midlands. Curzon Street station will put Birmingham at the heart of Britain’s new high speed network and enhance the rail connectivity for the city, whilst Interchange provides a once in a life time opportunity to help drive the growth of the region.” HS2 CEO Mark Thurston said: “Both of these new stations will be transformational for the Midlands and will create opportunities for regeneration, growth and economic benefits for the city and region. Preparatory work for the stations is well under way, with a variety of enabling works including the construction of access roads and archaeological investigations. “As part of our plans to deliver a ‘green corridor’ across the whole route, we’re also creating new ecological habitats, community and amenity spaces to help integrate the new line and our stations into the surrounding landscape and environment. All of this activity is already creating job opportunities not just in the region, but across the whole country.” Sir John Peace, Midlands Engine Chairman said: “HS2 is already a huge part of the Midlands’ success story, bringing jobs and investment with it. These pioneering new station buildings will showcase a rail revolution which has our transformed region at its core. “HS2 will be one of the most celebrated infrastructure projects in the world when trains start rolling in to Interchange and Curzon Street in 2026, with a regenerative ripple effect that will be felt across the Midlands. I can’t wait to see the stations take shape.” Both stations have been designed with features to make it easy and simple for passengers to navigate the stations, access the platforms and connect seamlessly to other forms of transport. HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani said: “Birmingham will be at the heart of HS2, and the transformation that is already taking place shows exactly how our new high-speed railway will drive forward regeneration and economic growth across the country. “Unveiling the station designs for Curzon Street and the Solihull Interchange is a milestone moment. These stations will be catalysts for local jobs and new homes, as well as giving passengers access to thousands more seats, more services and better journeys. “We also want HS2 to set a new benchmark for truly inclusive travel, creating a railway that works for everyone. The task for our designers and engineers is now to take these ideas from the drawing board to reality, building iconic stations that are accessible, safe and open to all, no matter their needs.” Carol Stitchman, WSP Design Manager on Curzon Street said: “As well as being a catalyst for regeneration, the new HS2 Curzon Street station will become a landmark destination, welcoming people to the heart of Birmingham. Our design recognises the station’s function as a place of arrival and connection. It is the only HS2 station that welcomes you with a view of the city, where you can see the city from the train, and the train from the city. “WSP has welcomed 16 new apprentices to the Curzon Street station project, as part of our 140-strong project team. We are committed to boosting the skills of Britain’s next generation while delivering this transformative project.” Neven Sidor, Lead Architect, Grimshaws, for Curzon Street station, said: “HS2’s new Curzon Street station is inspired by the best station design of the past, inspired by Britain’s pioneering railway and industrial heritage reimagined for the 21st century. The elegant sleek low arch which will make the station instantly recognisable in the surrounding area and its warm coffered soffit will join the growing list of modern Birmingham icons. The West concourse will have the ambiance of a modern airport terminal with both platform and waiting areas included in the grand arched space. The East concourse has been designed to include the historic
The UK’s digital revolution in energy markets will lead to significant and additional demand for physical services, according to Jon Parr, Managing Director of Lowri Beck, one of the country’s largest independent meter installers and data collection specialists. He predicts that digitalisation will quicken product innovation for energy technology, such as smart meters, and lead to new opportunities for physical services providers. Lowri Beck currently installs and exchanges around 500,000 domestic meters annually, collects data from another 5million for Big 6 and Tier 2 suppliers, and is heavily involved in the nationwide smart meter roll-out. “Some might question the value of physical services in an increasingly digital era, but I believe that digitalisation will actually increase demand way beyond the current smart meter programme,” says Jon Parr, who is leading a strategy for growth focused on the next 20 years. “Energy suppliers, in common with every area of business, are investing heavily in the digital systems that will drive operational efficiency and enhanced customer engagement, but digital will also accelerate innovation in product development – as with smart meters – and in emerging markets, such as EV charging and home energy storage. In 10 years’ time, meters could be 100 times more sophisticated than they are today, working in real time to the minute, and at the same time facilitating load switching. “All these developments require skilled installation and maintenance people, and when you add in regulation such as the incoming 24/7 commitment to restore power when vulnerable households go off-supply, demand for accredited technical support from providers such as Lowri Beck is set to increase significantly.” Based in Wigan, with additional offices in London, East Kilbride, Wrexham, Dunstable and a dedicated training centre in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lowri Beck was formed by Bob Vernon over 20 years ago and today employs 2,000 people across Britain. Jon Parr, who joined Lowri Beck in October last year, believes that the fast evolving mix of conventional and renewable power generation, and innovations in areas such as home power generation and battery storage, will inevitably lead to technology churn and create new infrastructure requirements. “Take the electric vehicle market, for example, which will grow rapidly in the years to come, driven in part by environmental concerns but also by the much-heralded government ambition to phase out of conventional combustion engine vehicles by 2040. “Not only will EV demand more power capacity, charging technology and payment systems, it will need network infrastructure. Lots of people talk about software and data management but at the end of the day, it still needs screwdrivers, cable clips, skilled resources and capacity to make it happen. “At Lowri Beck, we have over 1,000 flexible, trained and accredited engineers and technical people operating in the field every day, providing vital technical support and management services. It’s our USP and it will be even more relevant in the future.” www.lowribeck.co.uk
Concrete is just about everywhere in city infrastructure, from the paving slabs at our feet to the skyscrapers that tower above us. The trouble is, this overuse means that concrete is rarely appreciated for its many benefits as a building material. In fact, thanks to its association with certain architectural styles (Brutalism, we’re looking at you), concrete is often downright hated. This is a shame because concrete is cheap, durable, environmentally friendly and readily available – everything you need in a perfect building material. Even when a concrete building gets demolished or a concrete barrier is dismantled, its component parts can easily be reused and recycled into something new. Here are just five ways in which concrete constructions can be given a new, imaginative lease on life. Flexible traffic control Traffic management might seem like one of the most obvious uses for concrete barriers, but have you ever seen it used like this? Thanks to the innovative “Barrier-Transfer” machine, the concrete road-blocks that are typically considered a permanent fixture can be moved between lanes to accommodate for heavier traffic travelling in one direction. Perhaps it’s not the most creative use for the blocks themselves, but it’s certainly a refreshing way to update a very conventional scenario! Cinder blocks as shelving Eponymous with industrial interior design, cinder blocks can be used in a number of DIY furniture projects for a quirky, edgy and practical result. If you’re in need of a new bookcase, try balancing a plank of wood across two blocks, then stacking another two blocks and a plank on top of that. Just be careful about stacking them too high in case they fall – try to keep the top of your shelves below waist-height. Cinder blocks are often used in a similar way for other pieces of furniture, such as bed frames, coffee tables and seating arrangements. A quick online search will give you plenty of ideas. Concrete pipes as micro homes At the beginning of this year, an architecture firm in Hong Kong revealed its prototype design for stackable micro-homes made from giant sections of pipe. These “O Pods” were thought up as a solution to the limited space and high-demand within the city’s housing market, and offer a low-cost, temporary housing option for young people. It might sound extreme, but these cosy little tunnels actually look quite attractive inside and would make an ideal space for commuters, tourists or minimalism enthusiasts! “Lego” blocks for underground bunkers The robust nature of concrete as a construction material hasn’t just been noticed by housebuilders, with concrete blocks also being a popular choice for people creating storm shelters and underground bunkers. These aren’t just survivalists and Doomsday Preppers, but for households that live in high-risk areas for hurricanes and tornados. Pre-fabricated concrete “lego” blocks are extremely durable and lock together to create a secure barrier that can be used as a defence against landslides, flooding and extreme weather. Whether you use them to build a surface-level shelter or lower them into a dug-out hole in the garden is up to you. Jersey blocks as an obstacle course Capable of withstanding extreme force and all-weather conditions, concrete can be used indoors and outdoors to create a challenging terrain for vehicles and people. Jersey blocks are particularly ideal for creating rugged hurdles or flat-topped ledges to skate along, while poured concrete is typically used to form into smooth ramps and bowls. In fact, just about every type of concrete block can be inexpensively re-worked into a sturdy support or obstacle. The durability and versatility of concrete means that, the next time you need something for jumping over, scrambling up or dragging a certain distance, it’s your perfect material. For more information on the typical uses of blocks and barriers see quality barriers suppliers, Maltaward. The fact is, although concrete may be ugly and uninspiring at a first glance, it’s a cheap, environmentally-friendly and robust material that can be used in countless applications. If you’ve got a construction or engineering problem, why not see if you can get creative with concrete blocks to solve it?
Somers Town Energy is on course to provide further benefits to the London Borough of Camden following the installation of new plant equipment as the project moves into its second phase. Vital Energi and Camden Council originally began working on the £3.4m project in 2014 when we provided the retrofit energy centre into an under-used car park and connected four housing estates via a 581m district heating network. This has been providing 339 homes with low carbon heat and hot water from the three 1.3MWth boilers installed. The project is now at its exciting second stage which sees the installation of a 1MW CHP engine, four 9,000L and three 11,000L thermal stores which will reduce carbon emissions even further. The units were delivered over a two day period which saw us complete all traffic and pedestrian access management to ensure safety, with the deliveries completed between working hours to minimise disruption as much as possible. Once this phase of the project is complete, Somers Town Energy will provide savings of over 1,000 tonnes per annum and will deliver financial benefits to Camden Council through the sale of electricity generated by the CHP. As the heat network begun operation in 2015, there was limited historical operational data to determine detailed demand patterns, which led the Council to request a period of study in order to understand the network’s performance. This led Vital Energi to provide a dual phased solution, allowing for a period of heat study to generate operational data before deciding upon the best matched CHP engine size. An implementation plan like this allowed us to overcome challenges of the unknown usage levels and provide an accurate solution that best suited the client. Vital Energi’s Project Manager, Derek Culver, commented, “It is always an exciting time when a project reaches its next phase, and having been operating Somers Town Energy for almost four years we are incredibly pleased to be involved with this latest development. The additional CHP engine and thermal stores will maximise the financial and carbon savings for the borough with work connecting the next estate set to begin at the end of the month.” Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Improving Camden’s Environment added, “Somers Town Energy is Camden’s flagship low emissions project. It shows how a forward-looking council can deliver projects that are both good for the environment and save money. I look forward to seeing the project develop further over the coming months.” The next phase of Somers Town Energy will see extensions to a new community centre, the redesigned Edith Neville School and a further housing block. To support Camden’s Community Investment Programme visit www.camden.gov.uk/cip. If you’d like to know more about Vital Energi and the work they do, please visit www.vitalenergi.co.uk
Hundreds of stakeholders call for urgent action to stabilise UK solar Proposal leaves UK consumers with much weaker rights than other European citizens The STA today publishes an open letter to Energy Minister Claire Perry calling on her to urgently confirm the continuation of the ‘export tariff’ from next April. The ‘export tariff’ is not a subsidy but a mechanism that works alongside the Feed-In Tariff to ensure small solar generators are paid at a fair market rate, for the power they feed into the grid. The letter has been signed by over 200 diverse organisations, representing cutting edge ‘smart’ technologies, innovative suppliers, academics, major NGOs, youth groups, city leaders, faith groups, farmers & land owners, as well as leading lights in the solar & battery storage industries. STA Chief Executive Chris Hewett said; “The latest Government proposals for solar power are creating shock waves well beyond the solar industry. Nobody can fathom how Government can contemplate leaving households and small organisations as the only generators left unpaid for the valuable power they put into the electricity network. We are asking the Energy Minister to act quickly and promise to maintain the export tariff & to uphold the basic rights of a market.” The letter is published as the Government closes one of its consultations on the Feed-in-Tariff. The solar industry currently faces huge policy uncertainty when the FiT ends next March. That is despite a recent survey by Client Earth, one of the signatories to the letter, showing 62% of UK homes want to install solar & 60% want to install battery storage. [1] The proposal to remove the fair export payment flies in the face of new EU legislation that will enshrine the rights of ‘prosumers’ (households & organisations that generate, as well as consume power) across Europe to be paid at a fair market rate for the clean solar power they inject into the electricity network. If the UK removes this payment, UK homes, farmers, community organisations and small businesses will be the only groups generating electricity who are not paid for their power. Other generators spilling onto the network have been paid at a higher rate that the export tariff in 2018. If small generators are forced to spill their energy onto the grid for free they will effectively be subsidising the big players in the power industry – a scenario that even major suppliers, like E,On and Ovo Energy have rejected as signatories to the letter. James Watson, Chief Executive of SolarPower Europe said; “We are astonished that the UK could propose ending payments to householders for their clean power just as Europe moves to secure the rights of all its citizens to fair payment. Such poor treatment of British small scale energy consumers will harm public engagement in solar, at a time when we need to increase the uptake of clean energies, and will put the UK public at a huge disadvantage compared to other EU countries.” The proposal also comes when UK solar deployment is at an eight-year low and the industry urgently needs Government to provide a fair and level playing field for the technology. Deployment of solar in the UK has fallen by 95% in 2018 compared to 2015, as it has been hit with a series of damaging tax changes alongside the removal of support. Leo Murray, Director of Strategy at 10:10 Climate Action said: “The Feed in Tariff has been the most popular and successful British climate change policy ever implemented, empowering hundreds of thousands of citizens and communities to help tackle the defining challenge of our time. Scrapping it with no form of replacement doesn’t just mean locking the public out of the renewables revolution, it risks derailing it altogether.” The letter instead asks Government to not only maintain the fair export tariff, but remove a series of regulatory barriers which are currently preventing a market for local flexibility services and exported power to flourish. Chris Hewett added, “It is vital for Government to ensure households and small businesses are taken on a clear & secure journey in the emerging smart energy system. It is not too late for some really positive policies given the potential of smart homes and businesses to save the system and our economy billions of pounds compared to business as usual. Removing illogical barriers to the 830,000 solar homes in the UK to installing battery storage and smart meters is also an easy win. “Let’s be clear; we are not asking for subsidy. We are asking for fair treatment for the everyday people and businesses who want to invest in clean power to do something really meaningful to help tackle climate change. Government must support their efforts.”
Flexenergy’s specialist prefabrication expertise has played a key role in a modular village providing a hotel-style living environment for workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site. The company, one of the UK’s leading pre-insulated polybutylene pipe specialists, has manufactured bespoke pipe components for heating and hot water distribution systems for the 44 blocks of accommodation, with ensuite bedrooms, housing almost 1,500 operatives on the Hinkley Point C construction site and in Bridgewater, Somerset. For Flexenergy the project involved providing coiled pipe and prefabricated sections to connect air source heat pumps to the accommodation blocks on the two sites, supplying 110 ‘U’ shaped and 16 ‘L’ shaped fabrications as well as 400 metres of pipe. The sections were assembled and tested before being shipped in batches in line with construction schedules. Flexenergy’s Sales Director, Sandy Fairley commented: “This has been a significant project, underlining our capabilities for bespoke prefabrication, in this case linked to the provision of heating and hot water to the modular accommodation blocks. The ease of installation, coupled with the pipe’s high thermal efficiency and recyclability, made for an attractive and flexible proposition for the contractors.” www.flexenergy.co.uk
The £5 million contract to deliver phase one and two of the East Leeds Orbital Route has been awarded to Balfour Beatty by Leeds City Council. Works will include improvements to a number of existing Outer Ring Road junctions and the widening to three junctions along the A6120 Ring Road. Balfour Beatty will also be responsible for the design of the £87 million 7km East Leeds Orbital Route. The initial highway work forms a part of the wider East Leeds Extension (ELE) programme, which on completion will be the largest road scheme in the city since the 1970s. “We are delighted to have been awarded the initial contract to commence improvement works to the East Leeds Orbital Route,” said Thomas Edgcumbe, Balfour Beatty Managing Director for its North and Midlands regional business. “We are looking forward to working in partnership with Leeds City Council and making a significant and sustainable contribution to the local economy and community. We have a wealth of experience in the design and delivery of highways schemes and this award is testament to the success of our work across the UK,” he continued. With work due to commence next month, phase one and two are expected to be completed next summer. Through the project, Balfour Beatty will make a significant and sustainable contribution to the local economy, engaging with Employment Leeds to deliver employment and skills workshops for the surrounding community. This contract award follows the robust contingency measures taken by Leeds City Council to deal with the original supplier, Carillion, being unable to deliver the work. The East Leeds Orbital Route is being been financed through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s ‘West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund’. The Fund is part of the Leeds City Region Growth Deal, a £1 billion package of Government investment through the Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) that will accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.
