HS2 awards contract for modular slab track system for Phase One and 2a New factory in Somerset, set to create up to 500 jobs HS2 today awarded a major contract to design and manufacture the modular track system for the UK’s new high speed railway, to a partnership which includes
Vital Energi have won the £17m contract to deliver the primary energy infrastructure package for the Greystar and Henderson Park, Nine Elms Park plots B and D development which will be situated on the former Royal Mail centre. The 14-acre development, which lays between Battersea & Vauxhall, south of the
NOTTINGHAM’S biggest regeneration scheme for decades will begin in earnest in the coming weeks following the granting of planning approval for the first phase of The Island Quarter. The plans for Canal Turn today (23 September) received planning consent from Nottingham City Council, with work scheduled to start on site
Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has today made a statement to the House of Commons on the Government’s plans to protect jobs through the winter. The Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan includes a six month Job Support Scheme, an extension to the coronavirus loan schemes and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme,
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects has been appointed by Highways England (HE) to undertake widening and roundabout construction works on the A5 highway, as part of a S278 agreement. The £3.4 million scheme that
Joinery businesses are the cheapest trade to set up, costing around £6,600 Self-employed plumbers recover their start-up costs the quickest – under six weeks Joinery businesses are among the cheapest trade companies to set up in the UK, averaging nearly £2,500 less than other sectors, new research has revealed. With
Managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been appointed to manage the recladding of Metis Apartments in Scotland Street, Sheffield. The block of 122 Metis Apartments in Scotland Street and five commercial units contains Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding similar to the Grenfell Tower, which is due to be replaced under
Costain Group took this month’s top spot in the contractor league tables after being appointed the contractor for two major road projects. A new SMART motorway on the M62 at Brighouse and widening works on the A1 in Newcastle- upon-Tyne with a combined value of £575 million. In the runners
Leeds-based contractor Castlehouse Construction has completed Phase 1 of the Treadmills regeneration development at the former Northallerton Prison site. The company has handed over three retail units, one of which will be occupied by supermarket group Lidl – the retail anchor for the £17m scheme. The second unit will be
As governments across the UK and Ireland manage regional lockdowns, ease restrictions with more people returning to the workplace, and consider the possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19, Energy Networks Association and Energy UK members have reaffirmed their commitments to protect those most in need, keep colleagues and customers safe
HS2 awards contract for modular slab track system for Phase One and 2a New factory in Somerset, set to create up to 500 jobs HS2 today awarded a major contract to design and manufacture the modular track system for the UK’s new high speed railway, to a partnership which includes PORR UK Ltd and Aggregate Industries UK. The deal will see the slab track segments manufactured at a new factory near Shepton Mallet in Somerset helping to create up to 500 jobs over the life of the contract. The deal – worth £260m – will see the PORR consortium manufacture all of the track (excluding tunnels and some specialist structures) between London and Crewe, where HS2 joins the existing west coast mainline. Using a modular construction system known as Slab Track Austria, the concrete slab track will be manufactured offsite at a new purpose-built factory in Somerset before being transported to site. Once installed, the rails are then fitted onto the slab track. This type of system – which is used on several high speed railways across the world – will reduce maintenance costs and improve performance in comparison to traditional ballasted track. HS2 Ltd’s Procurement and Commercial Director, David Poole said: “HS2 is designed to provide reliable high frequency, high capacity rail services for millions of people across the UK. Slab track will provide long-term value for money with lower maintenance costs and greater reliability and that’s why I’m pleased that today we are awarding that contract to the PORR consortium. “This award – and the announcement of the new factory at Somerset – is another example of how HS2 is already supporting companies across the UK, creating jobs and helping the economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.” PORR is one of Austria’s leading engineering companies and one of the first companies in the world to develop a slab track system. PORR’s slab track system has been used to lay more than 780 kilometres of track worldwide – with its first stretch operating almost maintenance free since being laid in Langenlebern, Austria, in 1989. Aggregate Industries UK is one of Britain’s leading providers of construction materials, employing more than 3,700 people at 300 sites across the UK. The new factory is planned to be built at an existing Aggregate Industries site in Somerset. Simon Jukes, Managing Director of PORR UK Ltd said: “The PORR Consortium is delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to this major contract and will bring a wealth of technical expertise and experience in high speed rail and slab track to the HS2 project. We are looking forward to working collaboratively with the HS2 team to deliver a world class sustainable rail infrastructure for the United Kingdom.” A separate Track Systems contractor – due to be appointed in 2022 – will have overall responsibility for managing and coordinating the design and installation of the complex rail systems in each section of the route. This includes the installation of the slab track manufactured by the PORR consortium and the interface with signalling and overhead power supply. Separate specialist contractors will also deliver the rails, switches and crossings, high voltage power supply, communications and mechanical and electrical systems.
Vital Energi have won the £17m contract to deliver the primary energy infrastructure package for the Greystar and Henderson Park, Nine Elms Park plots B and D development which will be situated on the former Royal Mail centre. The 14-acre development, which lays between Battersea & Vauxhall, south of the River Thames, will create a total of 894 rental homes in plots B and D with the addition of high spec amenity areas and retail units at ground floor. Each block will be served via their own district heating, chilled and water services plant and the development will be future proofed to enable easy connection to a wider district heating network in the future. Rob Callaghan, Regional director for Vital Energi commented, “Not only are Greystar and Henderson Park, with their delivery partner Telford Homes, creating much-needed, high quality rental housing in London, they are doing it with sustainability at its heart. The overall Nine Elms Park development will deliver a vibrant community with a school, retail units and community facilities and at full build out will deliver almost 2,000 new homes where they are needed. “This will be a fantastic addition to the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea Regeneration Area (known as VNEB) and London in general and we look forward to beginning work on this exciting new development.”
NOTTINGHAM’S biggest regeneration scheme for decades will begin in earnest in the coming weeks following the granting of planning approval for the first phase of The Island Quarter. The plans for Canal Turn today (23 September) received planning consent from Nottingham City Council, with work scheduled to start on site in November. The approved phase will include a three-storey 2,000 sqm pavilion on the waterfront, featuring two restaurants, circa 500 sqm of events space with panoramic views and a large rooftop terrace, forming the opening phase of development on the 40-acre site. The plans also feature provision for a bandstand and a substantial area of new, attractive public realm – all of which will open up the canal basin area, enhancing one of Nottingham’s most under-utilised assets. The first phase will also include extensive improvement works to the canal at the London Road end of the site, which will help form a focal point for The Island Quarter. Christopher Ware, property director of Conygar, the developer behind the scheme, said: “We are delighted that planning for Canal Turn has been granted. We’ve worked closely with Nottingham City Council to progress the application and ensure that we can get started promptly on what is a landmark site not just for the city, but the region as a whole. “Canal Turn marks the first stage of a development that will create a unique, year-round destination for the city, as well as a thriving and vibrant new community for Nottingham.” Having been granted outline planning consent for the former Boots Island site in April 2019, the team behind the development worked closely with the city’s planning and regeneration team on the Section 106 agreement, which was signed off earlier this year. Richard Watson, director of Conygar Nottingham, said: “Throughout this process, we’ve been committed to creating a development that reflects Nottingham and enhances its credentials as a first-rate city. “We’ve worked closely with the city and the design team to put together these plans for a development, which will be of huge benefit to the local economy and will create thousands of jobs during the build phase and beyond.” The overall plans for the site, which has been derelict for many years, will bring new homes, grade A office space, creative spaces, a lifestyle hotel, PRS apartments and co-working space, a ‘linear’ park and vibrant community and event space as well as student accommodation to the city. Councillor David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s really pleasing to see not just new developments taking place in Nottingham, but major developments like The Island Quarter and on such a huge, transformative scale. “Not many places have the opportunity to create a new addition to their city like this, with 40 acres of land prime for redevelopment so close to the city centre. It will become a major asset to Nottingham, connecting nearby neighbourhoods to the city centre through an area long overdue for redevelopment. “The plans to provide a mix of places to live, work and play will perfectly complement the other redevelopments across the southside area, and hopefully this first phase is a sign of the quality of the developments to come on site. We’re pleased to be working with Conygar on creating this new space for our city and like many others, I look forward to watching it change before us.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP has today made a statement to the House of Commons on the Government’s plans to protect jobs through the winter. The Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan includes a six month Job Support Scheme, an extension to the coronavirus loan schemes and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, and flexibility for VAT repayments. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt acutely by businesses operating in the built environment, with projects facing supply chain issues, a halt to planning and inspection timetables and new health and safety measures changing the way the industry works. The CIOB welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement of these measures, and particularly the extension of the coronavirus loan schemes, which have been an important lifeline to construction businesses over the past months. Small and medium sized enterprises make up around 99% of the construction industry, and support for these businesses is essential for their survival. Despite these challenges, construction professionals have remained optimistic throughout the crisis and have worked hard to adapt and operate safely to support the economy and provide vital infrastructure, including the NHS Nightingale field hospitals. The Construction Talent Retention Scheme is helping businesses to quickly recruit talented individuals and reduce skills shortages within the industry. The construction industry has a crucial role to play in safeguarding employment and supporting the economy through the coming winter months. While The CIOB recognises that now is not the time to outline long-term plans, it is important that thought is given to a stable pipeline of future work for the industry. The industry will need confidence if it is to retain its existing skills base, as well as attract new entrants and train or retrain them in the low carbon skills of the future. The CIOB is calling on the Government to build on its £2 billion Green Homes Grant scheme (GHG) and make progress towards its manifesto commitment of £9.2 billion to improve energy efficiency in homes, schools and hospitals. The CIOB also recommends that the Government implement a ‘Help to Fix’ interest-free loan scheme, predicated on energy efficiency, to improve the quality of the nation’s housing stock and encourage the uptake of retrofit measures by homeowners not covered by the GHG. This will help to protect existing employment and provide new, green jobs across all regions of the UK.
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects has been appointed by Highways England (HE) to undertake widening and roundabout construction works on the A5 highway, as part of a S278 agreement. The £3.4 million scheme that will facilitate access to the new 18-acre industrial and manufacturing site, Hinckley Park, is located circa 1km east of Junction 1 of the M69. The Winvic team started on-site in July and the scheme will be completed and open for use in January 2021. The programme of works not only includes the construction of a new 50m diameter* roundabout, but also comprises resurfacing works where the trunk road will be widened on the south side. The broadening of the A5 will generate space for the creation a new pedestrian footway on the north side of the road. Additionally, an access off the A5 – 650m east of M69 J1 – will be constructed, which will be for the sole use of a new sub-station. Winvic is currently undertaking initial earthworks – engineering existing ground levels to correlate with the new works – has begun the drainage programme and is due to start the lane kerb works. The majority of the existing highway drainage will be amended to suit the new road configuration while up-to-date signage and white lining will be realised prior to the scheme’s handover to HE. The majority of the work to construct the roundabout will take place offline to reduce the impact on the road network, with short periods of overnight traffic signals and closures being effected to deliver the carriageway widening and final surfacing works. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Director of Civils and Infrastructure, commented: “Winvic has worked extremely effectively with Highways England on numerous complex schemes, so liaison with the authority throughout the design process and construction works to date has been straightforward and efficient. Ensuring A5 road users are not inconvenienced whilst keeping our workforce safe on a live highway has naturally been one of our top priorities, and I’m delighted to say the scheme is progressing at pace, and on track for completion in January 2021. This project is a great step forward for Winvic to demonstrate that we can work with Highways England on its national frameworks by delivering schemes like this across the highways sector, now and in the future.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.
Joinery businesses are the cheapest trade to set up, costing around £6,600 Self-employed plumbers recover their start-up costs the quickest – under six weeks Joinery businesses are among the cheapest trade companies to set up in the UK, averaging nearly £2,500 less than other sectors, new research has revealed. With over 40% of construction firms expected to make redundancies due to the virus[1], tradespeople may be considering going self-employed. IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, has identified the cheapest industries in which to do so. The study added up the typical costs people pay when entering the UK’s four most popular trades[2] (joinery, building, electrical, plumbing), with everything from insurance to marketing. Joiners pay the least, with the average set-up fee totalling £6,642. With the typical daily rate for joiners around £150[3], these initial costs could be repaid within nine, five-day weeks. Despite being the most expensive businesses to set up, plumbers can expect to earn back their investment quickest, as they are able to charge the highest daily rates. Averaging nearly £350 a day[4], the £9,124 start-up cost could be repaid within six working weeks. The trade businesses which are the cheapest to set up in the UK are: 1) Joinery – £6,642 (repaid in nine weeks, £150 a day) 2) Building – £6,791 (nine weeks, £160 a day[5]) 3) Electrical – £6,873 (six weeks, £245 a day[6]) 4) Plumbing – £9,124 (six weeks, £347.50 a day) One of the most significant outgoings is accreditation. New plumbing companies pay the most in this department, with organisations like HETAS and OFTEC charging substantial sums for membership. Such credentials, combined with the cost of other important courses, like First Aid at Work, the Gas Safe Register and Asbestos Awareness, can set you back over £3,000, which is significantly more than other trades. Some expenses, however, are necessary across all sectors, such as insurance, marketing, company registration and van hire. A new trade business can expect to pay over £600 a year to completely cover themselves with insurance. Contractors All Risk insurance is one of the most costly forms of protection, starting at £298 a year, but includes cover against both property damage and third-party injury, so is worth the investment. Marketing is another significant outlay, but an important one nonetheless. Paying out for business cards, flyers, logo design and a new website usually costs at least £600 pounds. However, such costs will pay for themselves if they lead to a surge in new clients. Finally, there’s the crucial cost of equipment. A tradesperson may have accumulated tools during their career, but if they are new to the industry, there are tools they will need before taking on work. Joiners pay the most here, with key equipment adding up to £600. Circular and table saws are the biggest outlays, so it could be worth looking for second-hand retailers, whilst ensuring the products are high quality, as income will depend on their performance. The full breakdown of costs per trade is as follows: Type of Cost Joiner Builder Electrician Plumber Accreditation £1,005.00 £1,041.00 £1,005.00 £3,481.00 Trade Association £117.00 £472.80 £585.00 £231.00 Marketing £610.54 £610.54 £610.54 £610.54 Insurance £638.21 £638.21 £638.21 £638.21 Equipment £599.38 £355.97 £361.87 £490.98 Other (storage, van hire, business registration) £3,672.00 £3,672.00 £3,672.00 £3,672.00 Total £6,642 £6,791 £6,873 £9,124 Andy Porter, a self-employed carpenter from Southampton, has given his three top tips for people looking to set up their own trade business: 1) Look at local adverts and see what similar trades are doing (e.g. services, pricing) 2) Get quote and invoice terms and conditions in place early and make sure they are watertight 3) Make sure you have plenty of money saved up as cash flow is incredibly important Marco Verdonkschot, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “Many tradespeople will aim to run their own businesses one day, so it’s useful to get an idea of how much it would cost to do so. While these sums can appear quite daunting, most of the expenses will directly improve your service or help you win more work, so are worth the investment in the long run. “Owning your own business can be incredibly satisfying, so to help those who are considering going it alone, we’ve compiled a list of tips on how to do so effectively.” For eight pieces of advice from tradespeople who have set up their own business, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog/eight-top-tips-for-setting-up-your-own-trades-business
Managing agent Rendall & Rittner has been appointed to manage the recladding of Metis Apartments in Scotland Street, Sheffield. The block of 122 Metis Apartments in Scotland Street and five commercial units contains Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding similar to the Grenfell Tower, which is due to be replaced under Government funding. Rendall & Rittner was selected by the First Tier Tribunal to oversee the reinstatement work and the ongoing management of the building. Matt Kirk, northern divisional director at Rendall & Rittner, said: “We are delighted to be appointed to manage the recladding of Metis Apartments and work closely with its residents to make their homes safe for the future. “We recognise that by appointing us, the First Tier Tribunal is placing responsibility on us to carry out the works promptly and professionally. It will be a huge relief for everyone that lives in the building when this issue is resolved.” “As a business we wholeheartedly welcome the government’s Building Safety Fund and will be actively pursuing funding on behalf of residents and leaseholders at buildings that we manage that meet the criteria.” An inspection of cladding on the Metis Apartments in 2017 found it to be unsafe. The cladding was tested by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and deemed to be aluminium composite material.
Costain Group took this month’s top spot in the contractor league tables after being appointed the contractor for two major road projects. A new SMART motorway on the M62 at Brighouse and widening works on the A1 in Newcastle- upon-Tyne with a combined value of £575 million. In the runners up spot this month is Bowmer & Kirkland with eight awards totalling £138 million. A new primary and secondary academy in Enfield provided £45 million of the total. The scheme is part of the Government Free School Initiative and will provide education facilities for over 2,000 children. The latest edition of the Top 50 League Tables published by industry analysts Barbour ABI, highlights the number and value of construction contracts awarded during August. This month shows that the combined value of contracts awarded to the Top 50 was just over £2.6 billion with a total of 130 projects. For August, Kier Construction were the busiest contractor with a total of 14 contract awards at a combined value of £108 million. BAM Construction sit at the top of the rolling 12-month league table with 51 projects at a total value of £1.9 billion. Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Barbour ABI & AMA Research said, “The value of contracts picked up by top contractors fell back in August to £2.6bn from £3.9bn in July. This fits with our expectation of subdued activity due to the uncertainty caused by the possibilities of subsequent outbreaks of Covid-19, a disruptive Brexit and a wider economic slowdown. However, the construction market is retaining some momentum after the slump during lockdown, and there are new projects coming through, although at lower levels compared to before Coronavirus.” Download the full report here: https://ubm.io/2WBolhM
Leeds-based contractor Castlehouse Construction has completed Phase 1 of the Treadmills regeneration development at the former Northallerton Prison site. The company has handed over three retail units, one of which will be occupied by supermarket group Lidl – the retail anchor for the £17m scheme. The second unit will be occupied by frozen food specialist Iceland and the third 1,300 sq ft unit is available for occupation. A car park on the south side of the site has also been delivered. Driven forward by the Central Northallerton Development Company Ltd (CNDCL), a joint venture between Hambleton District Council and leading Yorkshire developer Wykeland Group, the scheme will cement a new future for the old Grade II listed prison buildings by transforming the major landmark into an exciting, new mixed-use destination incorporating retail, leisure and office space. Despite a challenging climate with the pandemic, Castlehouse carried out all construction work on site with extensive and stringent safety measures in place, complying fully with Government and construction industry guidelines introduced in response to Covid-19. Castlehouse is currently on site fitting out the Lidl store, closely followed by Iceland, with both stores earmarked to open their doors to the public this autumn. The northern part of the site, including five Grade II listed Victorian former prison blocks, forms part of the second phase of the development which is well underway by a local contractor and involves external restoration and extensive internal redevelopment of four of the five buildings. The final building, the tenement block, will be converted at a later stage. The former main cell block and the female wing will house the 7,000 sq ft Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) Northallerton, a new community of tech specialists, building on the Hull-based C4DI digital hub’s success. Richard Lumley, Chairman of Castlehouse Construction said: “We are delighted to hand over Phase 1 of this exciting regeneration development in spite of a challenging backdrop. We are extremely proud of the team who worked diligently to deliver a key part of the scheme, providing the Hambleton and wider community with some great retail names as part of the development’s strategic vision.” Leader of Hambleton District Council, Councillor Mark Robson said: “This handover marks the first step in Hambleton’s ambitious plans to regenerate the former prison site – having Lidl and Iceland opening up before Christmas will be a huge economic boost for Northallerton’s High Street and contribute to our vision to make our market town’s vibrant. “In 2021 we will see C4Di open in one of the listed buildings on the site and that will bring in businesses to the town. It is a very exciting time for Northallerton and Hambleton district.” Jonathan Stubbs, Wykeland Development Director and a CNDCL Board member, said: “The completion of construction on phase one of Treadmills is a major milestone in the delivery of this exciting regeneration project and we’re now looking forward to the opening of the Lidl and Iceland stores. “This is one of many developments we are moving forward across the region to deliver new investment and jobs that are vital to the post-Covid economic recovery.”
As governments across the UK and Ireland manage regional lockdowns, ease restrictions with more people returning to the workplace, and consider the possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19, Energy Networks Association and Energy UK members have reaffirmed their commitments to protect those most in need, keep colleagues and customers safe and their energy flowing. From the outset of the pandemic, companies across the energy industry have implemented safe working practices in consultation with colleagues, contractors, and trades unions. As the governments’ responses to the coronavirus pandemic develops, companies and unions are continuing to keep their approach under careful watch and carry out regular reviews of their practices to make sure they operate as safely as possible. Energy companies will always take an approach which safeguards the health and well-being of their customers and colleagues, while maintaining a safe and reliable supply of energy. As lockdown restrictions ease in many parts of the country, companies and unions are mindful of the possibility of more local lockdowns and a resurgence that will require continued vigilance. They continue to take appropriate safety measures, including: Revising and implementing procedures based on our joint learning from experience gained since the start of the pandemic. Continuing to ensure any new or revised procedures provide customers with the best possible service Working with the National HESAC and across the whole energy industry to pre-empt and prepare for any potential spikes in infections to ensure that colleagues and the public have confidence that the essential services they rely on will continue to be provided safely. Reviewing existing COVID-19 risk assessments with trades union health and safety representatives. Any changes to the assessments will be shared with energy industry and contractors, demonstrating transparency and ensuring they are easily accessible. David Smith, Chief Executive of Energy Networks Association, which represents the UK and Ireland’s energy networks businesses, said: “The energy networks continue to put colleagues and customers at the heart of their COVID-19 response. We are constantly reviewing our plans to make sure we continue to provide the best possible service, especially to those who need extra help. We will carry on working with our colleagues and trades unions to keep people safe, protect those most in need and keep your energy flowing.” Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive of Energy UK said: “At the start of the pandemic our members responded quickly to make sure customers were supported and that we kept the lights on, maintaining the highest standards of health and safety in unprecedented circumstances while protecting the welfare of staff and customers. The experience gained over the last few months will help the industry rise to any future challenges and our sector will continue to work with staff and union representatives to protect essential energy workers and the customers they serve.” Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect said: “By working together and focusing on detailed changes to make work COVID-secure, the companies and unions have ensured that we have maintained high safety standards and service to customers. Trade union safety representatives have played a key role and their work will be even more vital during the challenging times ahead.”