Building work has begun on a new £30.5 million cancer diagnostic and treatment centre in Guildford. Developed in partnership with GenesisCare and Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust on the site of Royal Surrey County Hospital, this is the most recent private healthcare development from Prime PLC. Made possible by investment
The energy infrastructure specialist has announced David Mitchell as its new Director, effective from Thursday, 7 July. He replaces Ian Smyth, who will join Electricity North West as Chief Executive Officer later this year. David is an experienced leader who has worked for the company in its various forms since
The new Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest, Ahsan Khan, lay the ceremonial brick at affordable housing developer Pocket Living’s Osier Way scheme in Leyton. Joined by Leyton Ward Councillor Rhiannon Elgin and Pocket’s Chief Commercial Officer Nick Cuff, the ceremony marked an important milestone for the area and prospective first-time
A comprehensive programme of improvement works at the Lockwood Way Industrial Estate in the London Borough of Waltham Forest has been completed and handed over by the main contractor BRAC Contracts. The £650,000 project was secured by BRAC following a competitive tender process and included improvement works to both the
A new programme has been launched to accelerate the next wave of low carbon transport in the South and East of England. UK Power Networks is approaching the owners and managers of destination venues, property landlords and business workplaces who have long-term plans to install low carbon technology such as
M&J Evans, a groundworks and civil engineering contractor headquartered in the West Midlands, has invested over £4.5m in 52 Cat machines from Finning, exclusive UK & Ireland dealer, and is the first groundworks company to take delivery of the recently launched Cat CS12 GC vibratory soil compactor. The deal included
Construction firm, R G Carter has recently completed the construction of two new secure inspection facilities for Hutchinson Ports along the East Anglia coast. R G Carter won the bid to design and construct both secure inspection facilities at two of the UK’s most important ports, Harwich International in Essex,
Planning Consent For Leeds Urban Extension White Laithe Developments Ltd, as part of a consortium of landowners, has secured planning consent from Leeds City Council to transform land at Whinmoor into a residential-led sustainable urban extension with 2000 homes, which could facilitate significant job creation. Approval has been granted for
New 68,374 sq ft distribution facility set to practically complete this month Harbert Management Corporation (Europe) LLC has announced that it has secured a pre-letting at Guinness Point, a brand new 68,374 sq ft industrial unit in Trafford Park. The new distribution facility will be practically completed this month. Sainsburys
–Training costs, lack of customer demand, and excess paperwork are main barriers to change- -Installers will play a pivotal role in supporting homeowners with future heating decisions- The transition to low carbon heating is at finely balanced tipping point with installers split on whether they will be installing heat pumps
Building work has begun on a new £30.5 million cancer diagnostic and treatment centre in Guildford. Developed in partnership with GenesisCare and Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust on the site of Royal Surrey County Hospital, this is the most recent private healthcare development from Prime PLC. Made possible by investment from Assura, this pioneering development will provide patients with access to the latest treatment options for cancer, including highly targeted radiotherapy using a Magnetic Resonance Image Linear Accelerator (MR Linac). This exciting technology is not widely available in the UK but has been shown to improve outcomes for tumours that are moving or difficult to reach[1]. GenesisCare has used this advanced technology to successfully treat renal, pancreatic, and lung tumours at its Oxford centre, where surgery is not possible due to the complexity of the cancer. Compared to conventional radiotherapy, treatment can be administered with greater sparing of normal tissues, over a shorter of period of time, resulting in fewer sessions and less disruption for patients. Royal Surrey County Hospital will be one of a handful of Trusts to be able to offer access to this technology to its patients. Alongside this build, at the same site, Prime have also secured planning to develop a 600 space multistorey staff car park serving Royal Surrey County Hospital. Both the cancer centre and car park are being built by VINCI Building and are expected to achieve a BREEAM rating of Very Good, with Excellent for the Energy component, and an EPC of A. It will include PV panels, LED lighting throughout and EV charging points. The site will also benefit from creation of a new sensory garden for patient and staff wellbeing. Assura Development Director for Strategic Projects, Jon Webb, said: “As we move beyond the pandemic, the need for more space and capacity for care right across the health system has been clear and this new, state-of-the-art facility is part of that, helping to address treatment backlogs. It’s a special day to see the ground being broken and we look forward to the first patients benefiting from this state-of-the-art site, where such advanced technology will be in use for patients every day.” Rob Ferris, Business Development Director for Prime said “We are seeing increasing demand for our specialist expertise in securing land, planning and funding for the development of private cancer care facilities, designed to the highest standards for functionality and sustainability. We have collaborated with GenesisCare and Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a solution that will deliver outstanding benefits to the staff and patients of both organisations and improve health outcomes for the region.” Jason Griffiths, Regional Director at VINCI said “Vinci Building are proud to be delivering this amazing, state of the art cancer centre in Guildford. It will change people’s lives in Surrey and we are delighted to be part of the team”. Practical completion on the GenesisCare centre is expected in the autumn of 2023. [1] 1 Otazo, R., Lambin, P., Pignol, J., Ladd, M., Schlemmer, H., Baumann, M. and Hricak, H., 2021. MRI-guided Radiation Therapy: An Emerging Paradigm in Adaptive Radiation Oncology. Radiology, 298(2), pp.248-260. (Otazo et al., 2021)
The energy infrastructure specialist has announced David Mitchell as its new Director, effective from Thursday, 7 July. He replaces Ian Smyth, who will join Electricity North West as Chief Executive Officer later this year. David is an experienced leader who has worked for the company in its various forms since joining as an apprentice in 1980. In his most recent position as Head of Client Delivery, David has been responsible the delivery of major projects for key clients including works at Hinkley Point C, Great Western train line (GWEP) and London Underground. The internal promotion reflects UK Power Networks Services’ commitment to long-term expertise and professional development within the firm. The announcement comes during an exciting period of growth for UK Power Networks Services, as it continues to deliver for existing clients and expand to support industries through the sustainable energy transformation. The company’s clients include some of the UK’s highest profile business, including airports, ports, rail operators, public sector developments, utilities, manufacturers, and logistics firms. Last month, the company announced a new three-year project with the Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, to meet its Net Zero aspirations, reduce emissions, and increase the resilience of the port’s electricity network. New Director David Mitchell said: “I’m of course delighted to be stepping into this role. This is a hugely exciting time for UK Power Networks Services as we continue to deliver a bright energy future for our clients. There is plenty of work to do to meet the challenge, but I believe we have the right blend of skill, experience and determination to deliver.” Basil Scarsella, CEO of UK Power Networks, said: “David is an outstanding leader with a proven track record. His determination and passion will allow UK Power Networks Services to continue to support some of the UK’s most important industries through this critical phase in the transition to Net Zero.” Find out more about UK Power Networks Services: https://www.ukpowernetworksservices.co.uk/
The new Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest, Ahsan Khan, lay the ceremonial brick at affordable housing developer Pocket Living’s Osier Way scheme in Leyton. Joined by Leyton Ward Councillor Rhiannon Elgin and Pocket’s Chief Commercial Officer Nick Cuff, the ceremony marked an important milestone for the area and prospective first-time buyers residing and working in the borough. Once Osier Way completes, the London Borough of Waltham Forest will have delivered the highest number of Pocket homes, compared to any other borough across London. Totalling 331 homes, this reiterates the council’s ambitions and commitment to delivering housing for the next generation of homeowners. With the median age of residents within the borough standing at 35 years, (compared to 401 across England), the need for entry level homes has never been greater. Osier Way represents one of Pocket’s most ambitious projects in its 17-year history, as well as being England’s largest scheme dedicated only to first-time buyers. Scheduled for completion in summer 2023, the development will provide 196 new homes, including 148 one-bedroom, 41 two-bedroom and 7 three-bedroom Pocket homes; all of which will be exclusively available at a 20% discount to market value for first-time buyers who live or work within Waltham Forest. Located just a short walk from Leyton station, the car-free scheme, consisting of five blocks ranging from six to 13 storeys, will also include 900 square metres of light industrial space and a further 50 square metres of café space. To date, Pocket has delivered one scheme in Waltham Forest and has over 2,000 eligible first-time buyers who live or work in Waltham Forest interested in buying a Pocket home at Osier Way. Shortlisted for three design awards, Pocket’s Gainsford Road development highlighted the success of the Pocket model in Waltham Forest. Another 90-home scheme is also in construction at Forest Road in Walthamstow, which forms part of Pocket’s ambitious targets to deliver 550 homes across London in the next 18 months. Cllr Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, comments: “The Council is committed to doing whatever it can to help people in Waltham Forest onto the property ladder. The scale of Pocket Living’s ambition for the Osier Way scheme speaks to both to their ingenuity and the need for well designed, affordable homes for first-time buyers in the borough.” Nick Cuff, Chief Commercial Officer at Pocket Living, adds: “As the cost of living continues to rise it has never been more difficult to own a home in London and so it is vital that we continue to deliver innovative housing solutions to unlock homeownership for the next generation of Londoners. As such, we are proud to be continuing our partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest to bring forward highly sought-after homes that will truly help local people onto the housing ladder.”
A comprehensive programme of improvement works at the Lockwood Way Industrial Estate in the London Borough of Waltham Forest has been completed and handed over by the main contractor BRAC Contracts. The £650,000 project was secured by BRAC following a competitive tender process and included improvement works to both the industrial units, as well as the surrounding public realm. Located within the Blackhorse Lane Creative Enterprise Zone, the Lockwood Way Industrial Estate is home to an eclectic mix of local businesses including two craft breweries and a vintage scooter specialist. The improvement work has been carried out not only to further increase the attractiveness of the area to new businesses, but also to improve it for those already based there. The estate now boasts attractive new frontages to the industrial units, signage for both the businesses themselves as well as the wider estate, artwork, footpath widening, fencing, landscaping, and road resurfacing. It brings to life a vision created by We Made That. BRAC’s MD, Adam Clark, comments: “As an area identified for investment, Lockwood Way possessed huge potential not only to be updated and made more attractive to current and potential tenants, but also to become a more integral part of the local community. “Through the work that we’ve delivered against the vision outlined by the team at ‘We Made That’, the estate now has the potential to offer ‘after hours’ facilities and increase its vibrancy beyond all measure! We’re delighted to have been involved in such an important project and look forward to witnessing it being enjoyed.” The transformation of Lockwood Way will be celebrated on July 16, 2022, with a family-friendly block party featuring live music, children’s activities and street food. Concluding, Councillor Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration at Waltham Forest Council, comments: “Lockwood Way Industrial Estate has become a home for a broad variety of creatives, makers, and artisans who have transformed it into a bustling hub of culture and small businesses. We are delighted to have worked with We Made That and BRAC, alongside local businesses, to improve the area and build upon its heritage to support new industries finding their way and help local up-and-coming talents establish themselves. “The Lockwood Way project is an amazing opportunity to highlight the skills and services available in the borough, support local business growth and create jobs, and protect the breadth of creative diversity in the area.” Further information on the Lockwood Way Industrial Estate can be found here: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/regeneration-and-growth/regeneration-blackhorse-lane/regeneration-blackhorse-lane/lockwood-way
A new programme has been launched to accelerate the next wave of low carbon transport in the South and East of England. UK Power Networks is approaching the owners and managers of destination venues, property landlords and business workplaces who have long-term plans to install low carbon technology such as solar energy generation or electric vehicle charging hubs. The electricity distribution network operator for London, the South and East of England wants to help identify common challenges across groups and sectors, that until now have not needed to work with their local energy distributor, then identify common challenges and design practical solutions to help. The new Low Carbon Technology Customer Group will initially work with a broad range of trade bodies and individuals, representing sectors ranging from social housing landlords to emergency services, leisure and retail development owners, farmers and even caravan and camping destinations. The group will collaborate with UK Power Networks to identify common challenges they face in reducing their carbon footprint. Solutions could range from sector-specific toolkits to targeted, co-ordinated network investment programmes. Adam Lakey, stakeholder engagement manager at UK Power Networks, said: “We want to help anyone who might be thinking about decarbonising their existing property asset but doesn’t know who to speak to. We’re looking for input from organisations like ambulance trusts or fire brigades to campsites or shopping destinations; anyone who knows that at some point over the next five-10 years they want to install low carbon technology like EV chargers or solar panels but doesn’t yet know how to go about it. “We can offer advice and expertise about how to go about it in the most cost-effective way. For example, if you install solar panels and then add electric vehicle charge points it may work out cheaper than upgrading your electricity supply for the charge points then adding solar power later. “We know there’s a vast range of existing buildings, developments and organisations that want to decarbonise. By starting a conversation with us through this new group we can help people do it more easily, quickly and cost-efficiently.” UK Power Networks is forecasting the number of electric vehicles connected to its networks will increase almost tenfold in the next five years, from 310,000 now to 2.6m in 2028. Last year, UK Power Networks launched its Green Recovery programme, an unprecedented opportunity to address climate change by kick-starting 86 shovel-ready green energy infrastructure projects. In total, £66m is being invested, including enabling 11 motorway service areas to install more than 600 ultra-fast 150kW chargers. This investment, combined with collaborative work across the sector, aims to develop the energy infrastructure that inspires customers with the confidence to switch to an EV. To find out more about participating in the LCT Customer Group, please email LCT@ukpowernetworks.co.uk
M&J Evans, a groundworks and civil engineering contractor headquartered in the West Midlands, has invested over £4.5m in 52 Cat machines from Finning, exclusive UK & Ireland dealer, and is the first groundworks company to take delivery of the recently launched Cat CS12 GC vibratory soil compactor. The deal included the purchase of 49 Cat 313 GC excavators, a staple for any groundworks company, offering up to 5% more fuel efficiency than competitor machines of equivalent class, and 20% less maintenance costs. M&J Evans has also bought three Cat CS12 GC vibratory soil compactors as part of the deal – two of which have now been delivered and being put through their paces on the company’s construction sites. M&J Evans plant and transport manager Philip McEvilly, a qualified machine operator, saw the compaction technology in action at a Finning roadshow and immediately recognised how the technology would significantly impact on-site productivity and increase fuel efficiency. “The technology enables the operator to input in the required level and parameters needed into the on-board computer, and then instead of the operator having to go over the area again and again until it’s compacted to the correct level, the machine does it perfectly, the first time,” he said. M&J Evans is one of the largest groundworks businesses in the UK and runs a varied fleet of over 1500 items including excavators, dumpers and rollers used on over 200 housing sites across the Midlands, Yorkshire, Northwest, South and Southwest following the opening of a Swindon headquarters. Phil added: “We decided to purchase the Cat machines from Finning because they offer a fully comprehensive warranty scheme and have excellent coverage across the UK which is important so we can ensure all our fleet of machines are serviced and maintained to keep them operational. We’re also using the company’s CUBIQ™ dealer services platform which enables us to have access to real-time data on machine use and performance which is critical to our business. “Rising diesel costs and fewer people mean idling time and wear and tear on our machines must be kept to a minimum so we’re getting the maximum utilisation from them. We also like to demonstrate to our customers that we’re being proactive in managing their costs. “Although availability of some new machines is a challenge, we’re delighted that Finning has been able to supply the Cat 313 GC excavators and the rollers within the timeframe we need.” Georgia Key, Territory Account Manager at Finning UK & Ireland, said: “We’re excited to see the first Cat CS12 GC with Machine Drive Power (MDP) going into groundworks in the UK. This is a state-of-the-art machine with soil compaction measurement technology which helps operators accurately determine the load bearing strength of the soil they are compacting. “The machine ensures customers have complete confidence that their work meets specification, allowing them to move on to the next area increasing productivity and saving time, fuel, and wear and tear on the machine. “As part of the deal, M&J has taken out a full three-year, 3000-hour warranty with Finning which provides customers with assurance and peace of mind that the machines run as productively and efficiency as possible during their lifetime. “The warranty package ensures all component machine parts are dispatched to site (wherever in the UK the machine is) in line with its scheduled maintenance and servicing plan. The customer also benefits from a full remote condition monitoring and industry-leading fluid analysis service, which enables the Finning service experts to identify any potential problems with the machines before they occur and act on it – reducing the risk of critical failure and minimising downtime. “Through the CUBIQ™ dealer services portal M&J also have instant access to invaluable machine performance information including running time, fuel usage bringing the customer closer to critical information about their assets which means they have the data to make the best possible decisions.”
Construction firm, R G Carter has recently completed the construction of two new secure inspection facilities for Hutchinson Ports along the East Anglia coast. R G Carter won the bid to design and construct both secure inspection facilities at two of the UK’s most important ports, Harwich International in Essex, and the Port of Felixstowe, Suffolk, to inspect goods such as fresh produce and plants entering the UK. Completing the new border control posts at Harwich within 42 weeks, the project was slightly larger in scale, and more complex in design and build compared to the second inspection facility delivered at Felixstowe. The new site at Harwich is situated close to a newly constructed port exit and features state-of-the-art, steel-framed buildings housing temperature-controlled conditions to maintain ambient, chilled, or frozen temperatures, dependent on the goods being inspected by DEFRA agencies. With over 100 years of construction expertise, the East Anglian-based construction firm has racked up experience working on the ports and similar projects in the past. One of the key tasks was managing their 200-strong workforce of staff and sub-contractors at Harwich International. James Wilson, General Manager and Director from R G Carter is delighted to be handing over another successful project to Hutchinson Port, he said: “This has been an exciting and truly collaborative project for us to be involved in and we are delighted to have delivered these essential facilities at these busy regional Ports. We are very proud to see them successfully open for operational use and hope they provide the very highest standards of efficiency required at this important checkpoint.” The Felixstowe project includes ten dock levellers and two loading bays, both featuring temperature-controlled rooms with commercial fridges and freezers. Both sites at Harwich and Felixstowe include high specification offices and welfare facilities for the Port and DEFRA staff. The completion of these projects has resulted in significant benefits to each respective Port. The site at Harwich also includes a new exit road which allows freight to access the facility and then exit directly on to the A120, reducing freight congestion and allowing for free-flowing traffic.
Planning Consent For Leeds Urban Extension White Laithe Developments Ltd, as part of a consortium of landowners, has secured planning consent from Leeds City Council to transform land at Whinmoor into a residential-led sustainable urban extension with 2000 homes, which could facilitate significant job creation. Approval has been granted for the creation of a new community including 2000 homes, a local centre, a primary school, public open space and part of the East Leeds Orbital Road. The circa 250 acre site comprises three adjacent parcels of land, off Coal Road and Skelton Lane, between the A58 Wetherby Road and the A64 York Road. The residential development, which will be the primary land use within the site, will incorporate a mix of market and affordable homes from two bedroom apartments to five bedroom townhouses. Leeds City Council is required to deliver 51,952 new dwellings between 2017 and 2033, with a target that 3,247 dwellings per year should be delivered. The land at Whinmoor will significantly assist in contributing to housing delivery as it will accommodate 2,000 units of the wider East Leeds Extension site, which has an allocated capacity of 3,771 homes. The new primary school will be a two-form entry school and the mixed-use local centre will provide a variety of retail, community and health uses as a focal point for the new community. The development will also provide the first phase of the East Leeds Orbital Road between the A58 Wetherby Road and the A64 York Road, connecting surrounding communities. Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments – one of the JV partners, said; “The planning consent has facilitated an entirely new extension of Leeds to bring about much-needed housing and associated community facilities as well as a vital new road connection. The development has the potential to deliver a multitude of economic and social benefits, including significant job creation, and we are pleased to have played a role in unlocking its potential.” John Carter, Director at Evans Property Group – a JV partner, commented; “Developments of this scale have the ability to ensure the long-term success of cities and we are delighted that this strategic site at Whinmoor will be brought to life as a vibrant mixed-use development with a community at its heart. Development of sites like this is crucial and we are looking forward to seeing the scheme progress.”
New 68,374 sq ft distribution facility set to practically complete this month Harbert Management Corporation (Europe) LLC has announced that it has secured a pre-letting at Guinness Point, a brand new 68,374 sq ft industrial unit in Trafford Park. The new distribution facility will be practically completed this month. Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd has signed a 15 year lease on the facility which will provide the retailer with a prominent, high-quality, new build development within the heart the North West’s prime industrial/logistics location. Having identified a lack of supply within Trafford Park and the wider Greater Manchester region, Harbert Management Corporation committed to speculatively develop the unit with strong occupational demand received immediately. Steve Capper, Director, CBRE’s Industrial & Logistics team, comments; “Given the lack of development within Trafford Park, coupled with the prominent location and specification of the unit, it is no surprise that an excellent company such as Sainsburys has committed to the property.” Howard Hill of Harbert Management Corporation (Europe) LLC further comments; “We are excited to welcome Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd to the Trafford Park portfolio. It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with Sainsburys on the scheme and we look forward to seeing them operating from the unit very soon. We have seen record levels of take-up and rental growth across the Trafford Park holding and occupancy levels remain at an all-time high.” CBRE and B8RE acted for Harbert Management Corporation (Europe) LLC and Avison Young acted for Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd.
–Training costs, lack of customer demand, and excess paperwork are main barriers to change- -Installers will play a pivotal role in supporting homeowners with future heating decisions- The transition to low carbon heating is at finely balanced tipping point with installers split on whether they will be installing heat pumps in their customers’ homes. That’s the main finding of a new report from heat solutions provider Baxi which assesses what would encourage installers to take the leap to low carbon sources of heat. Baxi’s research with installers found that nearly a third – equivalent to about 37,000 of the more than 130,000 of the UK’s heating engineers – are prepared to embrace heat pumps in the near future. By contrast, around 30% say they are extremely unlikely to install heat pumps. The government is targeting 600,000 heat pump installations every year by 2028. That is ten times the current market and represents a transformation from early adoption to a mass market proposition. It would require an army of low carbon heating installers to be assisting homeowners and encouraging to make the change. Amongst the main findings in the report “Heating Installers: Taking the Leap to a Low Carbon Future” are that the government and the industry will need to address the important issue of training costs, ensuring there is enough demand from customers and reducing paperwork. On training costs – 39% said they would be more likely to install heat pumps if they received help with training costs. They currently pay the full cost of training and forgo work in order to receive heat pump training On customer demand – 56% of installers said customer demand needed to be addressed and 38% of installers are concerned about lack of government support for the market. The current Boiler Upgrade Scheme which pays a max £5,000 grant to support air source heat pump installations ends in 2025. On paperwork – 44%wanted support to reduce the burden of paperwork, for example in applying for government assistance schemes Karen Boswell, Managing Director of Baxi UK & Ireland, said: “Installers will play an important role as we decarbonise the nation’s heating and it will be vital that the government and industry support them with the right information, incentives and training. “They will need to be advocates for low carbon sources of heat and recommend to the nation’s homeowners that they should make the leap to a heat pump. To achieve this, we will need to address their concerns, support them with training, and explain more clearly the financial and non-financial benefits of these appliances.” Baxi’s report makes a series of recommendations which include spelling out stronger government initiatives that will drive demand for heat pumps over the coming decade; support for training costs on a first come-first served basis; and an industry wide campaign to market the role of a low carbon heating installer to attract new entrants. For more information, and to download the report, click here
