Ground has been broken on the development being marketed as Parallel 113 with the Grade A specification warehouse logistics unit expected to be complete and available by January 2023. St Francis Group a leading UK-based property development and investment group, and an expert in brownfield development and regeneration, today announced
Aver, a joint venture between NFU Mutual and Ergo Real Estate, has agreed to fund the development of 330,000 sq ft at Novus Point on a speculative basis. The agreement to fund 330,000 sq ft of logistics space at Novus Point in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire will increase Aver’s logistics portfolio to
HS2 Ltd has reached an agreement with Bruntwood, one of the UK’s leading property providers, to purchase Square One on Travis Street in readiness for construction of Manchester’s brand new high speed railway station. The sale marks HS2’s second major property acquisition in the city centre in just over 12
Heat networks that will use Energy from Waste to be developed in London and East Devon with support of funding awarded through the Government’s Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP). Over £250 million of funding has been awarded to heat network schemes under the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) since it
Morgan Sindall Construction and public sector procurement authority SCAPE have achieved CHAMPION level of the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment, joining HS2 (the project)and Skanska UK in this highest category level. The Code, which is a commitment scheme designed to facilitate action and collaboration in the built environment
Timber cladding comes in a wide variety of species and finishes, making it confusing to choose the best one for your shed or garden room. The ideal choice would be able to blend beauty with durability. In addition, you’ll want to pick cladding that can stand the test of time.
New homes are starting to take shape at the ambitious Neighbourhood development being built on brownfield land in Salford that has stood empty for more than a decade. Housing association Salix Homes and partner developer Step Places are building 157 new homes on two parcels of vacant land off Kara
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings today announced that it will open an OpenBlue Innovation Centre in its global HQ at One Albert Quay, Cork, Ireland. The OpenBlue Innovation Centre in Cork aims to create a future-ready built environment for both local and global customers
WORK on a three-storey, specialist training facility for those in the healthcare sector has now been completed at Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Clifton Campus. The renovation of existing NTU buildings and the completion of a new building will serve as a base for the Institute of Health & Allied Professions,
86% of UK builders don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health The most common cause of stress is finances (34%) IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Basildon Mind, to raise awareness of the issue 89% of UK builders experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new
Ground has been broken on the development being marketed as Parallel 113 with the Grade A specification warehouse logistics unit expected to be complete and available by January 2023. St Francis Group a leading UK-based property development and investment group, and an expert in brownfield development and regeneration, today announced that it has broken ground and commenced construction of a new 113,000 sq ft unit – branded as Parallel 113 – being developed speculatively in Walsall. Parallel 113 will create a high-quality warehouse/logistics unit which will be available for occupation from January 2023. The development will remediate a brownfield site of just over 2.5 hectares close to Junction 10 of the M6 which is currently undergoing a £78 million enhancement by Highways England to increase capacity and reduce congestion. When occupied the scheme will provide up to 200 new jobs. MCS Construction has been appointed as the main building contractor. St Francis Group also acknowledges the support of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council in bringing this development forward. Speaking about the start of construction St Francis Group Development Director Gareth Williams said: “We are delighted to be on site with the construction of another high-quality unit, and to be developing in such a prominent location adjoining the M6 motorway. There remains a distinct shortage of warehouse/industrial space across the Midlands and now that we have started on site, we expect a high level of interest from potential occupiers. The new unit will be extremely well connected being just under a mile from junction 9 of the M6, offering unrivalled connectivity and built to a high specification. We look forward to watching construction as it happens and seeing the progress on site” Also Speaking about the project, MCS Group Managing Director, Keir Edmonds said: “MCS are pleased to continue their partnership with St Francis Group to deliver premium industrial space in the West Midlands. The project demonstrates how brownfield sites can be remediated utilising ground improvement techniques and put back into use, whilst retaining and enhancing the local environment and ecology.” For further information visit: www.parallel113.co.uk Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Aver, a joint venture between NFU Mutual and Ergo Real Estate, has agreed to fund the development of 330,000 sq ft at Novus Point on a speculative basis. The agreement to fund 330,000 sq ft of logistics space at Novus Point in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire will increase Aver’s logistics portfolio to 2.5 million square feet. Martin Jepson, Founding Partner at Ergo Real Estate commented: “We are delighted to be working with investment and development company Cole Waterhouse and Peveril Securities on what promises to be an impressive scheme which adds another strategic development to our growing logistics platform.” Outline planning consent was granted unanimously in July 2020 for the development of a 15-acre light industrial scheme and a reserved matters application has now been submitted for the single build facility. Once a decision is made on the application, work is scheduled to start on site in April with practical completion due for December 2022. The project team includes MHA Architects, Lichfields, Renaissance, Henry Riley and Novo. Located off the A34 and close to the M6 motorway, Novus Point forms an extension to the well-established Lymedale Business Park. The development will support over 130 full-time employees during construction and approximately 500 full-time roles once the site is in operation. Speaking about the agreement, Damian Flood, CEO at Cole Waterhouse, commented: “There is a strong appetite from institutional funds looking to invest in potentially high-yielding, long-term income-producing assets, offering a secure return for their investors. Staffordshire acts as a gateway between the north and south and, as such, is already an established distribution location with ASDA, New Look, Parcelforce and TK Maxx all based here. These factors made the decision to build speculatively relatively straightforward.” Ralph Jones, Managing Director at Peveril Securities, continued: “This is a significant step forward in the development of Novus Point, made possible by the collaborative way in which all stakeholders have worked together. Securing Aver as a funding partner further strengthens our ability to deliver the scheme and, subject to a positive planning outcome, we look forward to building out this new facility next year.” Metis Real Estate advised Cole Waterhouse and Peveril Securities on the funding deal with Sixteen Real Estate acting as the marketing agent for the scheme. Burbage Realty represented Aver. Novus Point is projected to generate up to £37.3million GVA for the local economy. In addition to the creation of permanent jobs through the operation of the industrial units, it is anticipated that around 144 construction and 169 supply chain jobs will be supported during the two-year build programme with a total investment in the region of £19.9m. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
HS2 Ltd has reached an agreement with Bruntwood, one of the UK’s leading property providers, to purchase Square One on Travis Street in readiness for construction of Manchester’s brand new high speed railway station. The sale marks HS2’s second major property acquisition in the city centre in just over 12 months, following its purchase of the Store Street site in April 2021. Both sites have been purchased by HS2, on behalf of the Department for Transport, and are pivotal to the creation of the new high speed station that will be built adjacent to the existing Piccadilly Station. Manchester’s new station is forecast to open between 2035 and 2040 and includes six platforms at surface level, allowing passengers to access both HS2 and future NPR services. The plans also include provision for a new four platform Metrolink station beneath the HS2 station. Ruth Todd, Chief Commercial Officer at HS2 said: “Following submission of the Bill earlier this year, seeking powers to construct and operate the railway between Crewe and Manchester, this acquisition represents another major milestone in our programme to bring high speed rail to the North. “HS2’s purchase of Square One is a vote of confidence for investors locally and internationally to leverage the wider regeneration potential of the surrounding area, knowing that Manchester is set to become so brilliantly connected.” A large proportion of the area surrounding Piccadilly station is underdeveloped, making it a prime location for investment in new commercial space, housing and public realm. Investment would see businesses, residents and visitors benefit from a 41 minute connection to Birmingham on HS2 (a 46-minute saving), with direct services from London Euston set to more than halve, cutting one hour and 12 minutes off the current fastest journey time. Bruntwood, who sold the Square One site to HS2, has already set out its ambition to use the proceeds to continue investing in the UK’s regional centres. Pete Bearpark, Asset Management Director at Bruntwood, said: “We are committed to creating thriving places and communities, and after 15 years under Bruntwood stewardship, we have agreed to the sale of Square One and the land surrounding it to HS2 in advance of a formal compulsory purchase process. “We will use the proceeds to continue to reinvest into regional cities to drive economic growth and have a positive impact on businesses and communities.” Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Heat networks that will use Energy from Waste to be developed in London and East Devon with support of funding awarded through the Government’s Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP). Over £250 million of funding has been awarded to heat network schemes under the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) since it opened its doors to applicants in 2018. The total Capex of schemes offered HNIP funding exceeds £826 million highlighting the scale of the opportunity for investment in the sector. Ken Hunnisett, Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management, said: “Heat networks are at their brilliant best when using heat from natural resources or here, with these two exciting schemes in Southwark and Cranbrook, when recovering heat which would otherwise be wasted. Benefitting from a combined award of loan and grant funding exceeding £26m, the scale and ambition of the two projects reflect the growth in the UK’s heat network market while also being exemplars of how green infrastructure can be a driver of tangible local economic growth and a compelling means of levelling up the very different communities of a bustling metropolitan borough and a Devon new town. The HNIP has now closed for applications, but we’ll continue to showcase its many success stories. Over the past three years we have seen some incredible projects come forward for funding we look forward to seeing them develop and expand further.” Business and Energy Minister, Lord Callanan, said: “Heat networks powered by energy from waste sites are an important and low-cost part of the UK’s low carbon heating mix, helping to reduce our reliance on gas and oil for heating. “Transitioning heat networks away from gas can help protect consumers from the volatility of fossil fuel prices and this funding will accelerate the development of technologies that help shield households and businesses.” Energy from Waste plants tackle two key challenges as we move towards a more sustainable society: waste and climate change. Not only do they deliver significant base-load low carbon electricity, but they also process waste that would otherwise end up in landfill. The generation of electricity results in high temperature waste heat which can be captured and used to heat our homes and buildings. Finally, the ash produced as a by-product can be used as aggregate in the construction sector. Overview of projects awarded funding Veolia (Funding Award: £16 million) Veolia has been awarded over £16 million to bring an EfW sourced, low-carbon, heat network to a new area of Southwark, supplying heating and hot water to several existing estates and schools that currently depend on gas boilers and supporting the future growth to a new regeneration area aimed to accommodate 20,000 new homes over the next 15 years. The project is subject to further agreement with SELCHP Ltd, the existing EfW energy centre, and will involve some modifications to improve efficiencies and enable further heat extraction and the construction of a new 6km district heat network. The proposed network will provide immediate and long-term carbon reductions to these developments compared to the proposed counterfactuals, while providing good value to residents and businesses. The network is expected to deliver on average 11,100 tonnes of carbon savings each year. Commenting on the latest carbon reduction energy project, Gavin Graveson, Veolia Senior Executive Vice-President, Northern Europe Zone, said: “Decarbonisation of the domestic heat supply is a key area where the UK can advance progress towards the net-zero carbon goal by increasing the adoption of heat networks. The proposed expansion of the existing Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) derived heat network, to a further eleven estates across the London Borough of Southwark, has now been made possible with support from BEIS and Triple Point Heat Networks. This significant new heat network project will deliver low carbon affordable heat to over 3,000 Southwark homes, local schools, and enable commercially viable connections to future private and commercial customers.” Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development, said: “Seventy-nine per cent of emissions in Southwark are from buildings, so to achieve our ambition of being net-zero by 2030, it’s crucial that we take steps to green all of our homes and buildings and support the shift away from gas. We are delighted to see this significant project move forward to do just that on eleven of our estates and at five of our schools in the Old Kent Road and North Peckham area. This will provide a sustainable and affordable heating and hot water solution, which will keep our students and residents warm, whilst also making a massive reduction in the borough’s carbon emissions.” Cranbrook (Funding Award: £10.7 million) Cranbrook is a new town in East Devon located near to the city of Exeter. Development began in 2011 and today around 2,800 homes have been built. Cranbrook is in close proximity to employment developments including the low carbon Skypark business park with a single heat network serving both developments. Over the next 20 years, Skypark is predicted to create up to 6,500 new jobs with a significant positive impact on the local economy. The development takes an integrated approach to sustainability which includes tackling embodied carbon, reduction in building level energy demands, the use of renewable technologies and ensuring the site is future proofed. A second network immediately to the west is being rolled out to serve Exeter Science Park and further housing development. The £10.7 million award by HNIP will allow both of these networks to be connected to a forthcoming Energy from Waste Plant. Cranbrook/Skypark will supply heat to 3,500 homes and 1.4m sq ft commercial space and Monkerton/Tithebarn which will connect 4,600 homes and 800k sq ft commercial space. The interconnection of these networks will enable the bulk supply of heat to both networks including all necessary resilience and back up. The project will also support the planned expansion of Cranbrook to circa 8,000 houses through enabling the delivery of a Future Homes Standard compliant energy solution. Cllr Geoff Jung, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Coast, Countryside and Environment, said: “We very much
Morgan Sindall Construction and public sector procurement authority SCAPE have achieved CHAMPION level of the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment, joining HS2 (the project)and Skanska UK in this highest category level. The Code, which is a commitment scheme designed to facilitate action and collaboration in the built environment towards reducing carbon emissions (CO2eq) related to design, construction, maintenance, operation and decommissioning of built assets, forms part of the Construction Leadership Council’s Construct Zero initiative. The Code is structured around commitments that stimulate action in different aspects of carbon reduction. All organisations who comply to the Code must set out and publish plans to meet Net Zero by 2045, including annual targets, recognising that the majority of cuts need to be made by 2030, and publish progress against it annually. This is the minimum commitment for achieving PLEDGER status. There are three levels of compliance to the Code, PLEDGER, SIGNATORY, and CHAMPION. To comply with the criteria required to achieve CHAMPION level, an organisation must sign up to all of the Further Commitments of the Code in addition to the core commitments. “We are delighted that Morgan Sindall Construction and SCAPE have achieved CHAMPON level of the Code. They join fellow CHAMPION organisations HS2 and Skanska UK, and PLEDGER level organisations – the National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF), City Building Engineering Services (CBES), Interclass and SCF Construct,” said Dr Jennifer Schooling OBE, Director of CSIC which hosts the Code. “There are already a number of additional organisations in the Code pipeline which is promising because carbon reduction is more likely to happen when all organisations within a value chain are committed to reducing their footprint and saving costs. The Code provides a framework for organisations to make a public commitment to and report on progress towards achieving Net Zero.” Pat Boyle, Managing Director of Morgan Sindall Construction said: “We are delighted to have been recognised as a Champion according to the Carbon Reduction Code, which raises the bar for organisational carbon management standards. Our commitment to be a Champion of the Code highlights the relevance of our Decarbonising Communities approach, and underlines our ongoing efforts to work openly and collaboratively with stakeholders across the value chain to deeply decarbonise our own operations and the assets we deliver for our customers.” Mark Robinson, chief executive of SCAPE commented, “Addressing the climate emergency with practical action is a national imperative, and it is one we take very seriously at SCAPE. The Carbon Code is a hugely important initiative, and so I am absolutely thrilled that our team has achieved Champion status. The code is vital to driving the systemic and behavioural change needed within construction and will serve as a barometer against our ambitious plans to enable a direct response to the climate challenge through procurement, design and delivery innovation. With the support of our passionate delivery partners, our talented teams and the robust governance that has been laid out in the Carbon Code, we are committed to working hand in glove with industry to chart a course that will improve the environmental performance of the public estate. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Timber cladding comes in a wide variety of species and finishes, making it confusing to choose the best one for your shed or garden room. The ideal choice would be able to blend beauty with durability. In addition, you’ll want to pick cladding that can stand the test of time. Durable materials may be expensive, but they add better value to your investment. Here are some of your best options in terms of profiles and materials. Profiles Shiplap. Ideal for rainy climates, shiplap is a popular cladding profile that exudes timeless, versatile style. It is installed horizontally, with overlapping panels and lips that interlock to create a flat surface for weather resistance. Log lap. Log lap cladding resembles a log cabin for a rustic appeal. That means the outer profile of the timber boards is that of a log, and the weather resistance is almost the same as shiplap. Feather-edge. Also called weatherboarding, this profile uses a sawn board that is cut diagonally to produce tapered, overlapped panels similar to roof tiles. It is also fitted horizontally and is traditionally used for cladding homes. Tongue and groove. Ideal for larger sheds, this profile uses boards built from planks that slot into each other, leaving no gaps since they are interlocking. It is solid and durable and creates flat walls. This type of construction produces strong cladding among the four, though it is more costly. It is not recommendable for wet climates as it traps water inside the connections. Materials Western red cedar cladding. Cedar is durable, slowly grown, and available in various colours, from brown to red. Among North American softwood, it has one of the most extended lifespans. It is lightweight and easy to work with. It produces long, clear timber with natural, straight grains. It makes an excellent exterior cladding because it is attractive, stable, and durable. European oak cladding. Oak has long been used for cladding because of its durability compared to other hardwoods. It has a distinct grain with silver grain. Oak is a lovely cladding material for it is straight-grained. In addition, it is durable and low-maintenance, making it a popular choice for garden sheds or garden rooms. Siberian larch cladding. Siberian larch is also a durable cladding option for gardens because it is resinous. The clear annual rings account for stunning panelling, and the colour varies from pale yellow to dark brown. It is highly dense, making it more stable. It is regarded to have a nice finish, so you can stain it or leave it untreated. Lunawood cladding. Lunawood is built using thermal modification, a process that uses steam and high temperature. It results in natural, chemical-free timber that can be recycled safely. It is also stable and durable and comes in a dark brown shade. Conclusion Wood is the most popular material for garden sheds and rooms because of its natural appeal, durability, insulation property, and sustainability. In choosing the type of timber cladding, the cost, durability, and appearance are primary considerations. The abovementioned material options are recommendable because they can combine these three factors. When choosing the cladding profile, consider the climate in your location. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
New homes are starting to take shape at the ambitious Neighbourhood development being built on brownfield land in Salford that has stood empty for more than a decade. Housing association Salix Homes and partner developer Step Places are building 157 new homes on two parcels of vacant land off Kara Street and Liverpool Street in Seedley South. The eco-friendly development, comprising social housing, homes for affordable rent and properties for shared ownership and outright sale, is on track for completion in summer 2023. Terry McBride, development manager at Salix Homes, said: “Neighbourhood will bring a new era of housing to Salford and complement the wider regeneration taking place in the area, so it’s great to see these new homes starting to take shape. “This brownfield land has stood empty for over a decade and we’re very proud to see our long-awaited vision to breathe new life into the area and deliver much needed housing, start to become reality. “With housing in such short supply, we’re confident that Neighbourhood will deliver more of the right types of homes that people need in Salford, including social and affordable housing, creating a vibrant, sustainable and aspirational community of modern, high-quality and energy efficient homes.” The community-focussed development is a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes and one and two-bedroom apartments, and Salix Homes is working with Salford-based contractor Watson Homes to deliver its part of the scheme. The housing association has secured funding from Homes England to help finance the multi-million-pound project. Manchester poet Tony Walsh marked the start of work at Neighbourhood last year, when he penned a new poem – Salford Keys – to honour the spirit of Salford and commemorate a new era of housing and regeneration in the city. The honorary Salfordian, also known as Longfella, has a close affinity to the area, having previously worked in the Seedley and Langworthy communities as a regeneration manager. Speaking at the development launch last year, he said: “I have an association with Salford going back 40-years and know every back alley of this area in particular. Having worked on the regeneration project 15 years ago, it’s great to see what was planned back then finally come to fruition and the new Neighbourhood development will be central to the regeneration of the area.” The innovative design of Neighbourhood is a modern take on the traditional terrace house, complete with raised terrace gardens for some of the properties. There will be a public green space at the heart of the development, 86 trees planted, and all houses will have cycle storage and electric car charging points. Harinder Dhaliwal, managing director of Step Places, added: “It’s a great scheme of mixed tenures and innovative house types with sustainability high on the agenda. In the current climate of rising energy prices, the air source heat pumps and highly insulated homes will be a real benefit for occupiers” In total, 91 of the properties at Neighbourhood will be shared ownership, affordable rent or social housing, while 66 will be available for market sale, with Help to Buy support available. Salford Council is purchasing 25 of the homes for social rent, while a further five properties will go to Inspiring Housing Community Land Trust for a community-led housing model, which aims to support affordable homes for local people. Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “It is fantastic to see this vacant site being brought back to life and it is very positive news this new development is eco-friendly. I look forward to joining the celebrations when the site is finished next year and people can move in. “These homes are provided against a backdrop of a national housing crisis with people on our housing lists that are desperate for affordable homes. We need to continue to work together to provide many more affordable homes in the city that local people can live in.” The 32 affordable rent homes will be allocated via Salford Home Search, while the remaining properties will be available via Salix Homes’ affordable home ownership brand – Willo Homes. The first phase of 47 homes at Neighbourhood, have already been reserved, with a further 20 homes released this month. Properties available as part of the Shared Ownership scheme are due to be released this summer, and people are urged to register their interest with Willo Homes now. For more information about homes available, email neighbourhood@salixhomes.co.uk or visit Neighbourhood Salford. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings today announced that it will open an OpenBlue Innovation Centre in its global HQ at One Albert Quay, Cork, Ireland. The OpenBlue Innovation Centre in Cork aims to create a future-ready built environment for both local and global customers and is part of an international network of OpenBlue Innovation Centres working to pioneer new ways to provide smart, healthy and sustainable spaces for customers. “We are very pleased to be launching our OpenBlue Innovation Center in Cork. This centre will be focused on working with our customers to identify solutions for them to hit decarbonisation and renewable energy goals while optimising building performance,” said Tomas Brannemo, vice president and president, Building Solutions EMEALA at Johnson Controls. “This centre will serve as our regional centre of excellence to bring clients to see Johnson Controls’ latest cutting-edge innovations on how to solve for net zero”. Fitted with the most advanced Johnson Controls building technology solutions, the OpenBlue Innovation Centre will be a showcase of the latest and most innovative solutions from the company in a live environment. The research and development grant Johnson Controls received from the Irish government will support engineering activities at the centre, including developing a professional services hub for the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America region over a two-year period. Johnson Controls’ research and development presence has grown substantially in recent years and it is expected that 18 new research and development roles will be created as a result of the OpenBlue Innovation Center, in addition to 40 roles already in place working on the next generation solutions for Johnson Controls and its customers. Research and development at the OpenBlue Innovation Centre will focus on the global priority to reduce carbon emissions in the building sector. The building sector accounts for nearly 40 percent of global annual CO2 emissions, making it a key focus area in the pursuit of a net zero world. “Our partnership with the Irish government through IDA Ireland shows how governments and industry can drive real change. The financial support will allow us to increase our headcount, which will contribute not only to the local economy, but also to the development of our OpenBlue net zero solutions globally to have a positive impact on climate change,” said Eamonn Hughes, vice president and general manager, Digital Solutions EMEALA at Johnson Controls. Welcoming the investment, IDA Ireland’s Head of Engineering and Green Economy, Eileen Sharpe added: “IDA Ireland is committed to supporting the work of world class companies such as Johnson Controls to utilise the latest developments in AI, Data Analytics and Cloud Architecture to build new technologies to enable a more sustainable world. This is a most welcome investment for Cork and for Ireland and is in line with our strategy aim to develop Ireland as a leading location for Sustainability Engineering solutions.” OpenBlue, Johnson Controls’ suite of connected solutions, is a key enabler changing the face of sustainability for customers today, through smart buildings technologies designed for operational energy efficiency, occupant comfort and sustainability. Cutting-edge solutions such as OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings can help drive significant improvements in energy efficiency and corresponding carbon emissions. The OpenBlue Innovation Centre in Cork will launch on May 12, 2022. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
WORK on a three-storey, specialist training facility for those in the healthcare sector has now been completed at Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) Clifton Campus. The renovation of existing NTU buildings and the completion of a new building will serve as a base for the Institute of Health & Allied Professions, which offers a range of specialist courses such as adult and mental health nursing and paramedic science. The whole facility is focused on equipping the healthcare providers of the future with the knowledge and hands-on skills required for modern healthcare. Leading independent property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy, Pick Everard provided architecture, interior design and principal design services from concept to completion, working with main contractor Henry Brothers during the construction period. Devika Parmar, director of architecture at Pick Everard, said: “We are delighted to have provided services for such an important scheme for the university and its healthcare students. We won this project via a competition under the NTU consultancy framework, where we put forward our concept proposals to create a gateway building to the campus that would be visually striking, functional and inspirational for anyone hoping for a career within health services. We’re thrilled that the completed building aligns very closely with our original concept sketch. “Blending our healthcare and HE knowledge, we designed a building that caters to nursing, paramedical, and other healthcare professionals. It accommodates a variety of clinical simulation spaces that support teaching, assessments, and learning opportunities. “Underpinning our design approach was a modular grid and a simplicity in design to create flexibility and standardisation in space planning and construction delivery. Working closely with university stakeholders, we meticulously planned the building to meet user requirements and allow for new educational technologies to support the evolving learning demands.” With flexibility of use in mind, multi-use spaces have the potential to provide students with fully immersive experiences. The new building also provides a welcoming gateway building to the campus with the external façade treatment and quality materials providing aesthetic interest. One floor of the new development is dedicated to realistic simulated healthcare environments for the training of healthcare students. This includes hospital wards, consultations and counselling rooms and a mock flat for home and emergency care scenarios. Meanwhile, a further two floors provide office and flexible teaching space to accommodate creative learning approaches. David Shaw, national design director at Pick Everard, said: “The architecture of the new development has been designed for maximum visual impact on arrival to the campus. We wanted to ensure this new addition to an evolving campus would be complimentary but also distinctive both externally and internally. “The whole consultant team worked closely to deliver this project to ensure the architecture, interior design and engineering has been holistically considered. We were intent on combining the existing building into the project, with the atrium space connecting the refurbished and new accommodations to bring people together in a central collaboration space. “With such unique requirements for its end use, this development provided room for a number of innovations to be adopted. This included the inclusion of virtual reality training spaces that completely immerse students into situational experiences, which is an incredibly valuable experience for their training. “The pandemic has reaffirmed the need for training facilities like this to make sure that the healthcare professionals now and tomorrow have the best quality teaching experience possible. We very much look forward to seeing the building fully occupied by students and professionals and seeing them make the most of their new teaching spaces.” Dr Anne Felton, head of the Institute of Health & Allied Professions at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, said: “We’re incredibly excited that our new teaching centre is now open. The courses we’re providing will directly increase the supply of professional qualified staff into the NHS and related services, as well as providing a dedicated facility to allow greater opportunities for Continuing Professional Development for existing health practitioners within the local area. “The virtual reality training facilities that will provide students with fully immersive situational experiences are a demonstration of NTU’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of the learning experience, while the audio-visual recording equipment installed within the simulation suites will enable feedback and reflection on students’ performances, creating a truly modern learning experience.” Ian Taylor, managing director at Henry Brothers Midlands, the contractor for the development, said: “It’s great to see this project reach completion and I look forward to seeing it full of students. Despite being a challenging project delivered during difficult times, I’m really pleased with how the whole team came together to deliver a great looking building for the university’s students and staff.” For more information about Pick Everard, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News
86% of UK builders don’t feel comfortable talking about their mental health The most common cause of stress is finances (34%) IronmongeryDirect is working with mental health charity, Basildon Mind, to raise awareness of the issue 89% of UK builders experience mental health problems due to work-related issues, a new study has found. The research was commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week (9th-15th May) by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, and the results have been published in its annual industry report. Unfortunately, 86% of builders say they don’t feel comfortable talking to others about their mental health, with finances (34%) being their main cause of anxiety. Across all trades, almost two-thirds (64%) experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress, anxiety or depression, every month, and sadly, one in eight (13%) feel symptoms every single day. Finances remain the number one cause of stress, with over a third (34%) saying that money worries play on their mind. In fact, the top five reasons are the same as last year, with customer tensions (24%) taking second spot once again. The most significant change from 2021 is the impact of customer abuse, with almost a fifth (18%) saying they struggle with insults or threats, which is treble the figure from the previous report (6%). The top 10 most common causes of stress for tradespeople are: Unfortunately, despite the benefits of doing so, more than four in five (85%) tradespeople don’t feel comfortable talking to others about their feelings. Just one in six (16%) have spoken to friends or family about their mental health, which is considerably fewer than last year (42%). Furthermore, one in six (16%) worry what their colleagues would think if they told them what they were going through, and more than a quarter (28%) feel they can’t take time off work for mental health reasons. Plumbers are the most likely tradespeople to feel stressed or anxious on a daily basis (27%), but overall, mental health problems are most common amongst plasterers. More than nine in ten (92%) say they experience issues at least once a year. The trades that are most and least likely to experience mental health issues are: As part of its campaign to raise awareness of mental health amongst tradespeople, IronmongeryDirect is partnering with Basildon Mind, the mental health charity, and is donating over £3,000 to support with its vital services. Emma Mamo, Head of Workspace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “In male-dominated industries such as construction, employees are often less willing and able to open up about their mental health and ask for support. This can be problematic because mental health problems often become worse if left untreated, and the consequences can be fatal. “We urge employers to create cultures where employees can speak openly and honestly about their mental health.” Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “It’s an unfortunate truth that mental health issues are common across our industry, and it’s awful to see that so many tradespeople experience problems on a regular basis. “It’s particularly worrying to see that the number of people talking to others about their mental health has dropped significantly from last year. As difficult as it can be to discuss your feelings, talking about them with someone else, whether that’s a colleague or family member, can really help to begin addressing the issues.” To read IronmongeryDirect’s Mental Health in the Trades: 2022 Report, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/research/mental-health-in-the-trades/ Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News