Interaction, the strategic workplace design and build company, has won a multi-million-pound contract to design international law firm Osborne Clarke’s new flagship office in Bristol. Interaction has been commissioned to fit-out the law firm’s interior workspaces at Halo, part of the Finzels Reach regeneration project, which is set to be
High-tech 117,000 sqft warehouse further strengthens west London’s connectivity and capability abrdn’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) has today announced the completion of the second and final phase of construction of its state-of-the-art dnata City East warehouse campus, located opposite Heathrow’s Cargo Terminal. The completed 360,000 sq ft
The redevelopment of Sunderland’s Civic Centre site into a new residential community, has been given the green light. A planning application for 265 new homes was approved at the City Council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee meeting last night (11.04.22). North East regeneration and construction specialist Vistry Partnerships will deliver
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has worked closely with Sheffield Stagecoach to upgrade the lighting for all platforms on the Sheffield Supertram, one of the UK’s busiest tramlines with traffic of 10.5 million passengers every year. The upgrade is a move from energy-intensive SON-T lamps to the
The future of the A-listed Mansion House, the Scottish baronial masterpiece in Tollcross Park in Glasgow, has been secured by its sale to a local property company which has already contributed hugely to the preservation and enhancement of some of the East End’s most outstanding buildings. Family-owned developer Spectrum Properties,
Construction begins on two new apartment buildings for Hestia, the residential Platform of Federated Hermes. Launch of phase two highlights positive social impact of the SOYO project within the city of Leeds and the wider region. Event brings together local leaders and stakeholders to reflect on 2.5 years of activity
Over three quarters (77.7%) of Brits would support the UK generating and distributing alternative, low-carbon gas through the existing grid to replace the imports of natural gas from countries such as Qatar and Russia, a survey has found. The research of 2000 UK consumers, conducted on behalf of trade association
NATIONAL contractor Stepnell is bolstering its reputation in the education sector across the South West, as the business works on its sixth school project in Dorset in the operating year. Stepnell’s work across the multi-million-pound school projects, which include renovating buildings dating from the early twentieth to the twenty-first century,
Ibstock plc, a leading manufacturer of clay and concrete building products and solutions, has today launched its new ESG Strategy to 2030. The company, which is widely credited as leading the way in sustainability within the construction products sector, says its new ESG Strategy to 2030 will simplify the way
SCHOOL EXPANSION PROVIDES HUNDREDS OF NEW PUPIL PLACES FOR HILLINGDON HUNDREDS of new primary school places will be the result of an extensive refurbishment and expansion of Nanaksar Primary School in Hillingdon, West London, which has now been completed. Nanaksar Primary School is part of the Guru Nanak Multi-Academy Trust,
Interaction, the strategic workplace design and build company, has won a multi-million-pound contract to design international law firm Osborne Clarke’s new flagship office in Bristol. Interaction has been commissioned to fit-out the law firm’s interior workspaces at Halo, part of the Finzels Reach regeneration project, which is set to be one of the UK’s greenest office buildings. Interaction has designed a highly flexible workspace for over 800 employees that will promote agile working and staff health and wellbeing, while meeting strict sustainability criteria. Osborne Clarke is taking the top five floors of the landmark Halo building which will provide 74,000 sq ft of grade A office space in total. Interaction’s innovative design includes destination points on each level and an informal creative space to encourage movement between floors and greater collaboration. Key design features will include indoor gardens where people can work away from their desks, a yoga and spin studio, and a restaurant with a private rooftop terrace. The striking design also includes flexible meeting spaces with moveable walls and furniture that can be used for multiple different event settings. As part of the design brief, Interaction met tough sustainability standards and Osborne Clarke is aiming to achieve a WELL building standard certification for the fit-out of the internal space at Halo, which has a BREEAM outstanding accreditation for sustainability. Interaction has worked closely with suppliers and specialists to source sustainable materials that are designed to enhance wellbeing. The cutting-edge workplace design, which makes maximum use of natural materials and light, follows months of intensive consultation between Interaction’s design team and hundreds of employees across Osborne Clarke. Interaction has also won a contract to supply furniture for the new office. Rebecca Plummeridge, programme lead at Osborne Clarke, said: “The Interaction team has really worked with us to understand and guide how we will work in the future. The designs for the new office have gone down incredibly well with people from across our Bristol office and created lots of excitement – Interaction have understood our brief so well. “We’ve loved the experience and we’re looking forward to the next 12 months to see Interaction deliver the beautiful design they’ve created for us.” Interaction’s managing director, Dieter Wood, said “It’s a joy to work on projects where the client’s values and ambitions align so comfortably with ours. “Osborne Clarke highly values the wellbeing of its people and the sustainability of its new workspace. The firm is creating a best-in-class workplace to take them into the future. “Osborne Clarke was heavily engaged from the very beginning in both the process and the outcome, so we’ve ended up with a design that will deliver exactly what they’ve envisaged, in terms of aesthetics, usability and sustainability. “It’s a partner and project we’re incredibly proud of and we’re looking forward to delivering a flagship workspace in one of Bristol’s best buildings.”
High-tech 117,000 sqft warehouse further strengthens west London’s connectivity and capability abrdn’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) has today announced the completion of the second and final phase of construction of its state-of-the-art dnata City East warehouse campus, located opposite Heathrow’s Cargo Terminal. The completed 360,000 sq ft warehouse campus significantly strengthens the nation’s critical logistics infrastructure, ensuring high value time-critical products are moved more quickly, safely and sustainably from this gateway location. Each phase of dnata City East has been specifically designed to meet the operational requirements of dnata, the largest independent cargo-handler serving Heathrow. The campus represents both the largest off-airport cargo handling operation at Heathrow Airport and one of the largest pre-lets in west London. The earlier 242,000 sq ft warehouse building – also built by AIPUT and pre-let to dnata – has been operational since late 2019, handling import and export throughput for Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo at Heathrow. Occupier demand for the very best sustainable industrial space in gateway locations throughout Greater London has accellerated throughout 2021 and early 2022, driven by the Covid recovery but also in response to Brexit and global supply chain issues. West London is virtually fully occupied, with vacancy levels of Grade A industrial space in this area at historic low levels of less than 3%. The lead contractor for the Phase 2 warehouse was specialist industrial and logistics constructor, McLaren Group, reporting to project manager, Avison Young. Throughout its design and construction, the building has incorporated the latest carbon reduction techniques, helping to future-proof both the operational and commercial value of the asset and to positively benefit the environment, local communities and the heath and wellbeing of dnata’s staff. Recycled and low-carbon materials have been widely used, together with the installation of solar PV panels, air-source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points. This specification has already set new quality standards in the area, as well as achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ environmental rating. /cont: Edward Amery, Head of UK Logistics at abrdn, commented: “The completion of AIPUT’s dnata City East marks the culmination of a four-year project to deliver a significant milestone in our strategy to drive the growth of AIPUT’s market-leading portfolio of prime industrial assets. dnata City East sets a new quality benchmark for industrial property investment, representing one of the UK’s very best critical logistics infrastructure assets. “We are proud that this new ‘centre of excellence’ will play a vital, long-term role in strengthening the UK’s supply chain resilience and make a positive impact at a local level for the environment and for communities.” Alex Doisneau, Managing Director, dnata (UK) Limited, commented: “The completion of Phase II of dnata City East marks a major step forward in our successful ongoing relationship with AIPUT, which has delivered a world-leading air cargo warehouse destination at the UK’s premier gateway airport. “These two new state-of-the-art facilities serve to support and enhance our customer and operational needs in a constantly changing environment.”
The redevelopment of Sunderland’s Civic Centre site into a new residential community, has been given the green light. A planning application for 265 new homes was approved at the City Council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee meeting last night (11.04.22). North East regeneration and construction specialist Vistry Partnerships will deliver the project which, in addition to the new housing, will provide high quality public open spaces and cycling and pedestrian links, improving access to the city centre. Of particular note is a proposal to recreate Saint George’s Square – bomb damaged during the Second World War and lost to redevelopment in the 60s – with the Grade II listed Saint George’s House as the focal point. The architecture and streetscape will be sensitive to the parkside location and the Ashbrooke Conservation Area. The completed homes will be sold under Vistry’s house building brand Linden Homes and will range from one to four bedroomed homes, with many benefitting from views across Mowbray Park. A complex demolition programme will be undertaken to clear the site ready for the new development. Andrew Rennie, Development Director with Vistry Partnerships North East, said: “We are delighted to have secured approval for this city centre redevelopment to go ahead, which we are confident will play a pivotal part in Sunderland’s regeneration. “We aim to create an attractive new residential quarter that sits comfortably within the surrounding architecture, with a focus on green space that encourages community use. It will be a fantastic new inclusive neighbourhood with its own distinctive character, providing a new housing offer on the edge of Ashbrooke and Mowbray Park whilst benefiting from the close proximity to the city centre.” The civic centre redevelopment is part of a wider plan to build more than 7,000 new homes across the city by 2030. This will ensure that Sunderland has the volume and variety of homes it needs to attract and retain a diverse range of residents. Peter McIntyre, executive director of city development at Sunderland City Council, said: “Having made the move to our new City Hall only a matter of weeks ago, I am delighted to see plans for the former civic centre site given the green light. “Housing on the outskirts of the city centre will deliver a significant boost to traders in the heart of the city, as people living on the doorstep head in to spend their time and money in shops, bars and restaurants. By bookending the city with residential developments – at Riverside Sunderland and the former Civic site – we will boost footfall and hopefully – with it – spend too.” Sunderland City Council is also delivering on ambitions to develop contemporary new city centre homes on the Riverside Sunderland site, and at Northern Spire Park alongside the stunning Northern Spire bridge, as well as driving developments at the seafront and Sunderland South Growth Area (SSGA). The council announced plans to relocate from its current base to Riverside Sunderland in 2019 and work commenced on Sunderland City Hall later that year. The move will enable the council to deliver services from a modern environment, where residents can access a range of services under one roof. Bringing together a range of public sector partners, that will work from the 190,000sq ft office space, city hall is being funded by institutional investor Legal & General, which is also working with developer Landid, to build two speculative offices that will stand on adjacent plots. Vistry Partnerships North East is currently active on 12 construction sites around the region with a gross development value of just under £350 million and four further projects in the planning process. The Sunderland Civic Centre project has been delivered with Lichfields Planning Consultants. Senior Director at Lichfields Newcastle office, Michael Hepburn, said: “This project has been a significant collaborative effort with both the local community and Council officers, providing significant contribution to the vibrancy and vitality of an important sector. Founded in 1962, Lichfields offers a range of planning services including economics, heritage, sustainability, and GIS. Its clients include local authorities and government bodies, as well as developers, landowners and operators in the housing, retail, leisure, commercial, waste and recycling and infrastructure sectors.
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has worked closely with Sheffield Stagecoach to upgrade the lighting for all platforms on the Sheffield Supertram, one of the UK’s busiest tramlines with traffic of 10.5 million passengers every year. The upgrade is a move from energy-intensive SON-T lamps to the new Philips TrueForce Core LED Road 40W lamps, which promise improved white light quality in customer-facing areas for increased safety and enhanced colour rendering for better visibility. In addition, with this replacement, it is estimated over 800,000 kWh energy will be saved each year by using the Trueforce LED lamps, as the lighting installed uses 80% less energy. After several months of extensive research into the right lighting solutions, Sheffield Stagecoach found the Philips TrueForce Core LED Road LED lamp 40W to be the perfect fit that meets all necessary specifications and objectives for upgrading the lighting. This replacement to the new SON lighting dramatically reduces the maintenance costs of lamps and the ageing electromagnetic gear system by reducing the need for frequent replacements and maintenance visits. The Philips TrueForce Core LED Road brings all the energy-efficiency and long-lifetime benefits of LED to HID replacement while providing instant saving with low initial investment, removing the need to replace existing fixtures. Philips TrueForce Core LED Road lamps are a tubular glass envelope LED retro-fit similar to that of SON-T lamps. They will fit in the existing luminaires and importantly work truly with the luminaire’s optic making sure that light is photometrically positioned. Signify was recommended as the lighting provider of choice by CEF Sheffield. ‘’For a long now, we have been looking for the best replacement that physically fits into the existing luminaires, taking away the need to replace them. We also needed to ensure the new lightbulbs meet all our objectives of enhanced safety, better visibility and being environmentally friendly. The Philips LED lighting solutions offer several benefits such as better colour rendering, enhanced CCTV visibility, increased traveller, staff safety, and improved visibility at the tram stops. In addition, the energy savings are impressive when compared with conventional light sources and long-lasting products. With instant restrike of the new LED lamps, this takes away the waiting period of HID cooldown in the case of power outages. We are sure we will reap several benefits for a long time to come.’’ Mark Tomkins, Infrastructure Electrical Co-ordinator, Stagecoach Supertram ‘’Our LED solution for the Sheffield tramline will encourage travellers to travel on the line worry-free due to the better visibility and safety. To add to this, the positive impact on the environment is another huge benefit for the Sheffield tramline as the upgrade to LED lighting helps reduce the tramline’s environmental impact. We are excited to be part of such an exciting project that ultimately leads to the citizen welfare and satisfaction.’’ Simon Greenwood, Sales Director Trade & Specification, Signify UK&I.
The future of the A-listed Mansion House, the Scottish baronial masterpiece in Tollcross Park in Glasgow, has been secured by its sale to a local property company which has already contributed hugely to the preservation and enhancement of some of the East End’s most outstanding buildings. Family-owned developer Spectrum Properties, which operates all over Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirlingshire, has paid an undisclosed sum to save the building and plans to spend a further £1 million converting its 13 spacious apartments for rental. The purchase, from Shettleston Housing Association, is the latest development in the building’s 174-year history and will create much-needed homes in the park, which is regarded as one of the East End’s most attractive assets. The Mansion House, built by the architect David Bryce for the mine-owning Dunlop family, features classic crow-stepped gables, corbelled turrets and pointed roofs. The new homes will be served by a private road sweeping through the park. Spectrum Properties has been instrumental in preserving much of Glasgow’s Victorian architectural and industrial heritage and has invested tens of millions of pounds in saving and repurposing properties of recognised architectural merit. Spectrum Properties Managing Director Bill Roddie said: “The Mansion House is a quite spectacular property, built in a distinctive Scottish style and set on the summit of what was then the Dunlop family’s private estate. “In its essentials the building is similar to the Great Western Road, Glasgow mansion of the art collector and city benefactor, Sir William Burrell which we restored as high-end apartments a couple of years ago. As ever, we plan to undertake a sympathetic restoration of the entire property, keeping it in its original form and retaining the 13 residential apartments currently onsite. “It has had its ups and downs over the years, and at one stage was facing demolition before it was preserved by a far-sighted restoration project which was completed nearly 30 years ago. We are delighted now to be able to take on the challenge of custodianship. “When completed Tollcross House will be the centrepiece of the park and will complement other improvement work such as the £1 million restoration of the Winter Gardens glass house, which is a classic example of its kind.” It is anticipated that the new properties in the Mansion House will be ready for market by the end of next year. Spectrum Properties has previously been involved in preserving properties such as Victorian warehouses in French Street and Carstairs Street in Dalmarnock; the historic Shakespeare Street public school in the West End; the façade and towers of architecturally important Golfhill School in Dennistoun; and a factory on the 19th century Dixon’s Blazes Industrial Estate. One of the largest property companies in Scotland, it has also restored and converted sites such as Hillhead High School in Cecil Street in Glasgow, the former Hydepark Public School in Springburn and Shettleston Public Baths.. Although Spectrum Properties has moved into residential development in the last 10 years, its primary focus remains on commercial property. It owns some 700 commercial properties across the city, comprising 70% of its group holdings. Spectrum Properties directly employs 75 people and the same number of sub-contractors. It is actively recruiting to cope with rapid expansion. Established by Mr Roddie in 1988, the company now has a portfolio valuation of £60 million and a turnover in excess of £5 million.
Construction begins on two new apartment buildings for Hestia, the residential Platform of Federated Hermes. Launch of phase two highlights positive social impact of the SOYO project within the city of Leeds and the wider region. Event brings together local leaders and stakeholders to reflect on 2.5 years of activity on SOYO, as well as plans for the future. Construction work has started on the latest Hestia apartment scheme in the SOYO district of Leeds, on behalf of Federated Hermes Limited and is scheduled for completion in late 2023. The scheme comprises two adjoining blocks in the new city centre district, with planning permission held for 331 apartments – a mixture of studio, 1,2 and 3 beds – as well as outdoor courtyards, and 12,000 sq. ft retail, restaurant and ground floor amenity space. The blocks will be delivered alongside new public realm including green spaces and a public square, in the fast-evolving cultural quarter of the city. Leeds-based DLG Architects have been tasked with designing the buildings with sustainability credentials that put the scheme on the Net Zero Carbon pathway by, using techniques to reduce embodied and operational carbon. Caddick Group businesses Caddick Developments, Caddick Land and Caddick Construction will work with the project team to take the scheme from blueprint to delivery. Myles Hartley, MD Caddick Developments said: “Projects like SOYO represent a huge investment in Leeds. This development will deliver new homes, commercial spaces and new landscaped areas – all things that will improve the physical built environment. As part the team developing Caddick’s wider ESG approach, I’m also hugely proud that we’ve been able to deliver the ambitious social value targets we set for ourselves, in spite of the challenges of the pandemic” Matt Chillingworth, Senior Investment Manager, Federated Hermes added: “Having established Hestia’s presence in Manchester, Liverpool and London, we are excited to bring the brand to Leeds. We are focused on delivering high quality mid-market, sustainable housing across the UK and in doing so are helping to deliver a meaningful impact on local communities. SOYO Leeds is an ideal location to achieve these goals. SOYO Leeds is using the opportunity to highlight the positive local impact of the development so far, which includes nearly 500 local Leeds residents being brought into employment on the first phase of SOYO – New York Square. The latest phase for Hestia will support a further 2,000 construction jobs, with the creation of 10 new apprenticeships. TT&G acted for Federated Hermes.
Over three quarters (77.7%) of Brits would support the UK generating and distributing alternative, low-carbon gas through the existing grid to replace the imports of natural gas from countries such as Qatar and Russia, a survey has found. The research of 2000 UK consumers, conducted on behalf of trade association the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), has also found almost three quarters (73.8%) of people would support development low carbon gas boilers that could be easily swapped with existing boilers to help deliver the UK’s climate change targets. Almost two thirds (64.3%) of respondents also said they would choose a low carbon boiler if replacing their heating system. Amid increasing cost-of-living concerns, 82% of respondents also believed the government should prioritise affordability in the development of renewable technologies for heating homes in the UK. However only 6.2% of those asked would be willing to pay £8500 for a new heating system, the average additional expense of retrofitting a heat pump. Almost two-thirds would be unwilling or unable to pay this much for a new heating system, leaving hydrogen heating as the only way to decarbonise their homes. Mike Foster, CEO of the EUA explains: “It is clear that Brits back action on climate change however, with the cost-of-living crisis causing concern for pretty much everyone, the Government have got to commit to a more affordable route. The vast majority of UK residents cannot afford the price tag for a heat pump, nor do they want to switch away from some kind of low carbon gas. “The gas grid is gearing up for hydrogen, and boiler manufacturers have already made promises around price for consumers. Now it is up to the Government to pull their finger out and prioritise UK people and their finances by progressing hydrogen as part of the UK’s energy mix.” With Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng alluding to hydrogen playing a role in the Government’s upcoming Energy Strategy, the UK public have made it clear an alternative to natural gas is their choice. 71% of respondents believed the Government should make a clear statement that, in future all gas, supplied to UK homes through the gas grid is low or zero carbon. Mr Foster adds: “Mr Kwarteng and the Prime Minister have a decision to make with this Energy Crisis. Either they continue with an electrification of heat, imposing large bills on the public and pushing more people into fuel poverty. Or they can start prioritising the financial wellbeing of the British public and listen to their demands when they say they want an alternative to natural gas, which can be found in hydrogen.” “We have to make progress to Net Zero but this cannot be at the cost of the British people. We have all seen energy bills rise, hurting people in their pockets. The Government must get this call right or risk making a huge political blunder which will see them out of office at the next election.” For more information, visit www.eua.org.uk
NATIONAL contractor Stepnell is bolstering its reputation in the education sector across the South West, as the business works on its sixth school project in Dorset in the operating year. Stepnell’s work across the multi-million-pound school projects, which include renovating buildings dating from the early twentieth to the twenty-first century, is contributing to the county’s upgrading programme and adding to an ever-growing portfolio of education building expertise. Stepnell began their sixth project, a major renovation at Coombe House, on the outskirts of Shaftesbury in October 2021. Formerly St Mary’s School – a Roman Catholic day and boarding school for girls that was closed in July 2020 due to funding issues – the 165,000 square feet of mixed-use accommodation set within 55 acres was purchased by Dorset Council for £10 million as part of the council’s five-year £145 million capital programme. The project is due to complete in spring 2022. Previously, three projects have been completed on behalf of Gillingham Primary School, Ferndown Upper School and Blandford Upper School, with Coombe House, Woodroffe School, and Corfe Hills School currently underway. Corfe Hills School works are part of the efficiency estate programme and involve extensive remodelling and refurbishment of an existing year block. Provision of all new M&E Services, and IT Services. This also includes the provision of existing services to the remainder of the school at all times whilst implementing all new M&E and IT services. Provision of new classrooms, new windows and doors and associated ventilation. Formation of new IC’S and assistance with the decant of a number of classrooms. All works are taking place in a live school environment with works in close proximity to occupied classrooms. The project at Ferndown comprised of alterations to classrooms through new stud partitions, suspended ceilings and new flooring. At Blandford Upper, new ceilings, toilets and shower cubicles formed part of the refurbishment of the changing rooms. Remedial fire stopping works and fire doors were implemented between compartments to the roof void of block four. Furthermore, fire stopping measures were installed between the stairwells in block H and the adjoining class and storerooms. Rob Speirs, regional managing director of Stepnell, said: “Working within live sites in educational settings poses unique challenges but we are delighted to have been able to safely and efficiently complete works around the opening requirements of the school. The result is an enhanced space for high-quality education via the remodelled year block and existing school areas.” Rob added: “We were thrilled to have secured the redevelopment project for Coombe House, which will be pivotal in increasing the accessibility to high quality SEND institutions in Dorset. “Alongside our completed projects at Ferndown Upper School and Blandford Upper School, each development has shown Stepnell’s capability to form strong collaborations – including with Dorset Council and architects Kendall Kingscott. Our works in the region are helping to enable more resilient communities in a county where parents are desperate for their children to be educated to a high quality and meet their needs closer to home.” To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.
Ibstock plc, a leading manufacturer of clay and concrete building products and solutions, has today launched its new ESG Strategy to 2030. The company, which is widely credited as leading the way in sustainability within the construction products sector, says its new ESG Strategy to 2030 will simplify the way it articulates its goals and ambitions – thus enhancing understanding of the journey ahead with both its colleagues and external stakeholders. The Ibstock ESG Strategy to 2030 is an evolution of the company’s five-year Sustainability Roadmap set back in 2019 – with a number of its original targets achieved ahead of time. Ibstock’s evolved strategy defines a new era of responsible business and manufacturing and serves as an important accelerator in speeding up the pace of positive change. Ibstock’s ESG Strategy to 2030 has been structured in a way that its milestones and ambitions are communicated clearly and simply. Organised under three themes; Address Climate Change; Improve lives; and Manufacture Materials for life, headline ambitions include: 40% reduction in absolute carbon (Scope 1 & 2*) by 2030 Increase female senior leadership representation to 40% as part of a proactive approach to diversity and inclusion 20% of sales turnover revenue to come from new products and solutions that deliver customer value and improved sustainability Fostering engagement & ownership Key to the launch of Ibstock’s ESG Strategy is a desire to drive ownership and engagement of the company’s ESG goals. Using a strong, clear ‘call to action’ of ‘WE WILL’ which sits in front of its ambitions. The company hopes its new strategy will connect with colleagues at all levels of the business. Building on its award-winning People First approach to ESG and sustainability engagement, Ibstock will continue to drive employee engagement and understanding of its goals and ambitions – focusing on how individuals and their actions can contribute to the bigger picture. Ibstock says it new strategy is informed by a materiality assessment which has taken into consideration the views and perspectives of its key stakeholders. In addition, the company is also launching a major customer survey of attitudes to sustainability amongst housebuilders, builders merchants and architects and specifiers. The results of this process will shape a long-term programme of communications aimed at informing and connecting with Ibstock’s external stakeholders. Accelerating the pace of progress “We are very pleased to launch our ESG Strategy to 2030. It takes our business on the next exciting – and energetic – stage in its evolution,” says Joe Hudson, Ibstock plc’s Chief Executive Officer. “Whilst our new strategy sets our longer-term ambition, we are also very proud of the progress we have made on our journey so far to becoming a more sustainable, purpose-led business. Where the past decade has been about incremental improvement and embedding change, the next decade needs to go much further, much faster. “To get where we need to be, we must continue to bring our people with us on this journey to enable us to make progress more swiftly and with greater impact. This is work that requires our passionate people with a desire to make positive change at pace. We are confident we will achieve our goals – but we will need to do this together. We are calling on our colleagues, suppliers, partners and customers to work with us – as we will work with them – to deliver on the challenges and opportunities that we share.” Ibstock plc’s ESG Strategy to 2030 can be accessed at https://www.ibstockplc.co.uk/sustainability
SCHOOL EXPANSION PROVIDES HUNDREDS OF NEW PUPIL PLACES FOR HILLINGDON HUNDREDS of new primary school places will be the result of an extensive refurbishment and expansion of Nanaksar Primary School in Hillingdon, West London, which has now been completed. Nanaksar Primary School is part of the Guru Nanak Multi-Academy Trust, which has an exceptional track record of establishing successful schools. Its founder – Sant Baba Singh Ji – believes that education is a human right for children and has established 19 schools worldwide. Designed by architecture firm CPMG Architects, and delivered by contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, the £14m project includes new, purpose-built facilities to accommodate up to 840 pupils across all primary years. The new school space – built for the Department for Education – provides a warm, friendly and inclusive environment, accompanied by excellent outdoor sporting, social and learning spaces. This includes a dedicated outdoor horticultural area to reflect a key part of the Nanaksar ethos and curriculum, providing an invaluable space for learning about plants and plant care, along with the production of fruit and vegetables as healthy food choices. A generously sized greenhouse is also included along with a series of raised beds for cultivation. Hugh Avison, director at CPMG Architects, said: “It was rewarding to have been able to enhance the external areas to really maximise opportunities for outdoor learning. We made the most of the awkward tapering geometry of the site by creating an orchard, which provides a valuable natural asset to the school campus. In addition, as it matures it will become an important extension to the existing woodland within the Minet Country Park, expanding ecological corridors and benefitting local biodiversity. The planted sedum roof to the main hall spaces provides a further haven for wildlife. “Another important consideration for the school was the provision of a really supportive environment for the pupils. The building design and layout provides clear sight lines, views across the landscape, small group breakout spaces, as well as distributed staff spaces for pastoral support. “Overall, we’re genuinely pleased to have played an important part in providing best start to schooling life that all pupils deserve, and to have helped increase the number of high-quality education places for the local community.” To support with age progression, younger students are prioritised on the ground floor, with direct access from the reception classrooms to outdoor terrace areas, which minimises their need to use stairs. From this, the building organisation establishes physical progression up the building as pupils move up through year groups. The arrangement within the teaching wing of the school has been developed to group together four classrooms associated with each year group, accompanied by a dedicated breakout space. Teaching corridors are also split into year group zones, identified by different interior colours and finishes. Externally, the designs make use of traditional brickwork in an understated and contemporary manner to create a light and welcoming visual appearance, balancing a fresh and independent identity for the school. These two styles of brickwork add warmth and texture, while minimising maintenance requirements to create a building that stands the test of time. Within this, the primary school setting is reflected in more playful elements such as a patterned wall at the main entrance, colourful surfaces and inventive playline markings. Aftab Ahmed, head of business operations and chief operating officer at Nanaksar Primary School, said: “We are so pleased with the new school facilities provided by the team. This work has marked a major investment for the community in Hillingdon for current and future generations. “The new school facilities create a safe, welcoming and friendly environment that meets the needs of our current and future pupils across all communities. The facilities not only deliver a great teaching space but allows the teachers deliver the high quality of education using various resources incorporated within the build. “The work delivered will make sure that everyone thrives in this environment, and that our students get the very best start to their education possible.” The project team consists of landscape architects Ares, planning consultant DPP, structural engineer and highways consultant Curtins, building services engineer CPW, technical advisors MACE and main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland.