Glencar has been appointed by Harwell Campus, the world-renowned science and innovation campus, to build a new £150 million Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire. The MITC development will encompass a research, development and manufacturing facility, providing the UK public with access to cutting-edge
Caddick Construction has scooped a £23 million contract to deliver Lancaster’s first extra care facility on behalf of Progress Housing Group. Groundwork has now begun on site with completion due in May 2025. Building on Caddick’s existing healthcare portfolio, this development will boost the provision of specialist residential care for
Countryside Partnerships has secured planning approval for the first phase of Haddon Cross, a new development forming part of the Great Haddon sustainable urban extension to the southwest of Peterborough. The first phase will deliver 157 new homes, of which 78 will be for sale on the open market under
Award-winning architects and interior designers, Marchini Curran Associates, has delivered architectural and interior design services for the landmark Grange Park development in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Working on behalf of Wesleyan, Grange Park business park – formerly the Zurich building in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham – is undergoing a transformative refurbishment to upgrade
Leeds-based developer, KMRE Group, has revealed its new show apartment, gym and co-working space at The Yacht Club, a luxury waterside development located on the banks of the River Trent. The show apartment offers a first look at the idyllic riverside lifestyle of The Yacht Club development, situated to the
DSM, the global purpose-led science-based company active in health, nutrition and bioscience and BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design, engineering and project delivery company, have signed a contract to begin the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) phase of an innovative new production facility in Dalry, Scotland. The new facility will be
City Plumbing, the UK’s leading plumbing and heating merchant, has partnered with technology firm, Vericon Systems, to bring a series of new tools to the market, helping private and social landlords remotely monitor and manage heating systems using real-time data. Vericon uses a universally compatible piece of telematics hardware, called
Carmarthen Hwb, a wellbeing and cultural centre housed in the former Debenhams store in the centre of Carmarthen, has been given the go ahead. A Notice of Commencement was issued on 13th March 2023 and works at the former department store on St Catherine’s Walk will start. Bouygues UK is the
Cannock-based housebuilder, Jessup Partnership is to build 26 new houses for YMCA Black Country at a development in Hamstead, Birmingham. The new development will be made up of two buildings housing one-bedroom studio apartments with communal facilities, which aim to provide young professionals and families with safe, secure, and affordable accommodation.
Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, has been appointed by Hertfordshire-based contractor Midgard, part of the JRL group, to supply kitchen worktops across three projects totalling almost half a million pounds. “We’re delighted to have been appointed by Midgard to work across these three projects! We’ve been working
Glencar has been appointed by Harwell Campus, the world-renowned science and innovation campus, to build a new £150 million Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire. The MITC development will encompass a research, development and manufacturing facility, providing the UK public with access to cutting-edge mRNA vaccines for a wide range of respiratory diseases, pending regulatory assessment and license. The new facility will also include a clinical biomarker laboratory – a prefabricated modular laboratory constructed in Northumberland, which will then be installed on the campus. Construction will begin this year, with the facility expected to become operational in 2025, subject to planning and regulatory approvals. The investment will create hundreds of jobs across Oxfordshire and the UK. It will cement Harwell Campus as a national health tech hub for the pioneering research and development of mRNA and other nucleic acid therapeutics. Commenting on the project, Eddie McGillycuddy, CEO, said: “Having successfully delivered The Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) and established a life science office within the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, we are absolutely delighted to now be delivering this pioneering research and development facility.” “Life science and pharmaceutical projects are complex, controlled environments that require significant design and engineering ability to ensure they are delivered correctly,” McGillycuddy explained. “We have expanded our specialist team within this space to push forward and make these facilities a cornerstone of our continued growth in the coming years. We very much look forward to working with the team at Moderna and Merit to develop this important new facility and further expand the thriving health tech cluster at Harwell.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction has scooped a £23 million contract to deliver Lancaster’s first extra care facility on behalf of Progress Housing Group. Groundwork has now begun on site with completion due in May 2025. Building on Caddick’s existing healthcare portfolio, this development will boost the provision of specialist residential care for those aged 55 and over in Lancaster, providing a safe and comfortable space for those requiring varying levels of care. The project will see the construction of a 92-unit extra care scheme incorporating one and two-bedroom apartments, with three of the one-bedroom apartments designed to be wheelchair friendly. Two existing buildings will also be converted into 16 one and two-bedroom general needs flats. Additional features such as assisted bathing, spa bathing, hairdressing facility, a games room, roof terraces and a laundry room will also be incorporated. External work will include alterations and remodelling of the existing and stone boundary wall, landscaping, a car park with EV charging points, restoration of all historial sandstone buildings and the installation of external lighting. Ian Threadgold, Managing Director of Caddick Construction for the North West commented: “Extra care facilities such as these are a vital necessity in any community and we’re pleased to be bringing this much needed development to life, on behalf of Progress Housing Group. Caddick’s extensive expertise in the healthcare sector is what has led our specialist team to this development and we’re thrilled to form an integral part of this project.” Rebecca Field, Head of Development at Progress Housing Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with Caddick Construction on our first Extra Care scheme facility and the first in Lancaster. “The scheme will provide homes for people aged 55 and over, with on-site, tailored care and support packages available to help residents live independently. It is hoped that the scheme will be completed by Summer 2025.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Countryside Partnerships has secured planning approval for the first phase of Haddon Cross, a new development forming part of the Great Haddon sustainable urban extension to the southwest of Peterborough. The first phase will deliver 157 new homes, of which 78 will be for sale on the open market under the Countryside Homes brand, and the remaining 79 will be affordable homes that will be owned and managed by Platform Housing Group following a recently signed agreement. 25 affordable homes were required under the planning agreement, with the additional 54 being provided over and above this requirement. Alongside future phases, the scheme will deliver a total of up to 1,499 homes and will include 7.5 hectares of amenity open space, 8.4 hectares of accessible natural green space, three play facilities for children and young people, a 4.5-hectare playing field, a 1-hectare allotment and new water features. This is Countryside’s second scheme within the wider Great Haddon masterplan. It is currently selling homes at Fletton Folly, a development of 347 two-, three- and four-bedroom houses. The wider Great Haddon site has outline planning permission for up to 5,350 new homes, a district centre and two neighbourhood centres comprising retail, community and health, leisure, residential and commercial uses. The planning consent also includes provision for education facilities, sport and recreational facilities, strategic open space, landscaping, associated infrastructure and servicing. Infrastructure works are already underway on the site and construction work on the new homes will start in the coming weeks. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning architects and interior designers, Marchini Curran Associates, has delivered architectural and interior design services for the landmark Grange Park development in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Working on behalf of Wesleyan, Grange Park business park – formerly the Zurich building in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham – is undergoing a transformative refurbishment to upgrade the existing office building with a focus on sustainable retrofit design to modernise the facilities. Set in 14 acres of parkland with over 100 mature trees and access to a further 11 acres of amenity space, Grange Park features three buildings: The Manor, a Grade II listed Gothic Revival house built in 1865 for Cheltenham solicitor Frederick Thomas Griffiths, The Coach House (the Manor’s carriage garage and stables) and The Grange, a 1990s purpose-built office headquarters offering approximately 185,000 sq. ft of high-quality office space. Works started in December 2021, and Marchini Curran Associates are the lead architects and interior designers for the CAT A refurbishment of the existing Grange premises – architecturally a well-considered building in need of modernisation. Phase One of the Cat A refurbishment is due for completion in June. The design approach focuses on upgrading the existing buildings and creation of collaborative shared spaces to encourage interaction between businesses. The refurbished facilities will align with market expectations, celebrating the best of the existing building and its surrounding environment. Key elements include opening up the existing atrium volume, refurbishment of retained key features, considerate integration of accent lighting to model the interior spaces and the use of natural materials referencing the green space of the parkland and rural surroundings. Flexible office suites surround the ‘Street’ (the central atrium) which has been re-imagined as an interior boulevard with shared bench furniture sitting under the canopies of newly planted trees and greenery. Upgrades to space heating and heat recovery ventilation ensure that The Grange is now more energy efficient and benefiting from the addition of roof mounted photovoltaics contributing to the generation of renewable energy. The target for the office suites is to achieve an EPC rating of B, post refurbishment. The approach of retaining and refurbishing existing building elements helps to hugely reduce reliance on landfill and supports the spirit of improving the built environment whilst reducing impacts on the natural world. EV charging points will also be available on site, and a bus service runs every fifteen minutes, helping to further reduce travel emissions. “Fundamentally, our design approach was simply to reinvigorate the existing office building and to celebrate the best of its substantial natural surroundings,” said Antony Phillips, design director at Marchini Curran Associates. “Collaborative and open spaces integrated with the environment, free flowing interiors, and sustainable elements all formed part of our wider design vision and once complete, Grange Park will provide a high-quality business destination in the South West, attracting clients looking for an inspirational, integrated base to adapt and grow from.” Grange Park is situated in a prime location close to the M5, just three miles from Cheltenham town centre and approximately four miles from GCHQ. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leeds-based developer, KMRE Group, has revealed its new show apartment, gym and co-working space at The Yacht Club, a luxury waterside development located on the banks of the River Trent. The show apartment offers a first look at the idyllic riverside lifestyle of The Yacht Club development, situated to the south of Trent Lane, in close proximity to The Hook nature reserve, Central Avenue and Nottingham City Centre – which can be reached in just a 25-minute walk. The energy-efficient apartment comes complete with two bedrooms, including an ensuite bathroom and main bathroom, an open integrated kitchen and living space, as well as a south-facing private balcony with breath-taking riverside views. The development – which is now 70% sold – boasts an on-site gym, with panoramic windows looking out onto the river and nature reserve, providing convenient state-of-the-art exercise facilities without the need to commute. A dedicated co-working space is also available to residents who want to work alongside the calming riverside, which is an ideal spot for those in hybrid or remote working roles who are looking for a change of scenery during the working week. A concierge service will be on hand to ensure that the buildings are maintained, and security is monitored, for convenience and peace of mind. To celebrate the completion of the new show apartment, co-working space and gym, KMRE hosted a ‘First look’ launch event to showcase the new spaces to prospective buyers, with exclusive viewings and consultations with agents Pygott & Crone and FHP Living. The development will also benefit from a pedestrian footpath which stretches along the riverside, creating a safer and more convenient public access to the river’s network of paths and cycle ways, and in front of the development a decked communal seating area will be situated for residents to enjoy, as well as access to water sports such as paddle boarding. Over the next five years, council plans will see the surrounding areas regenerated and brought to life including a long-awaited pedestrian footbridge which will connect Lady Bay with Trent Basin. This will be the first bridge to be built on the River Trent in more than 60 years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
DSM, the global purpose-led science-based company active in health, nutrition and bioscience and BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design, engineering and project delivery company, have signed a contract to begin the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) phase of an innovative new production facility in Dalry, Scotland. The new facility will be the first large-scale production plant for Bovaer®. Bovaer® is DSM’s innovative feed additive to reduce intestinal methane emissions from cattle by approximately 30% in dairy cows and 45% on average for beef cattle. With this innovation, farmers can significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and thereby make a positive contribution in the fight against climate change. DSM first collaborated with BakerHicks on the initial concept stage, which began in 2021. They were appointed Principal Designer in 2021, responsible for developing and coordinating the concept and basic design. BakerHicks will now take the project through the detailed engineering, procurement and construction phases, up to handover and commissioning, which is expected to take place in 2025. They have provided multi-disciplinary design and engineering services throughout, including process and mechanical; piping; electrical, control and instrumentation; architecture; civil and structural; building services; HSE; project and construction management; and procurement. The BakerHicks team, a collaboration of local expertise from their UK offices and specialist process knowledge from their Swiss operations, have worked closely with DSM throughout. This included producing a fully integrated, intelligent model to accommodate the complex process technology into the Building Information Management (BIM) model. DSM broke ground in November 2022, and construction on site has since commenced. BakerHicks are currently finalising the detailed design for the project, supporting the procurement phase and will soon appoint construction contractors and equipment vendors, with an emphasis on local specialists and suppliers to further ensure sustainable working practices. The development of the Bovaer® plant at DSM’s Dalry site has been supported by the Scottish Government through Scottish Enterprise, the national agency supporting economic development and innovation, and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, attended the site’s groundbreaking ceremony on 30th November 2022. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City Plumbing, the UK’s leading plumbing and heating merchant, has partnered with technology firm, Vericon Systems, to bring a series of new tools to the market, helping private and social landlords remotely monitor and manage heating systems using real-time data. Vericon uses a universally compatible piece of telematics hardware, called the Boiler Control Module (BCM), that can be connected to each boiler in the housing portfolio. From here, data is centrally collated in real-time to continually monitor the health of the heating system. As well as allowing customers to monitor system efficiency, the technology notifies housing providers of the fault code when detected, allowing the right engineer with the right part to be sent to complete the repair. “By working with Vericon we’re able to help social housing providers and local authorities take a more proactive approach to the mitigation and prevention of mould and damp at a time when such a solution is critically needed,” said Dave Griggs, Managing Director of Spares at City Plumbing. “As a specialist in plumbing and heating supplies and an advocate for new technologies, City Plumbing is actively developing and supplying solutions that give its social housing customers the tools they need to improve their homes. This latest collaboration with Vericon is just one in a series of digital tools and partnerships designed to enhance diagnostics and servicing.” Through real time monitoring, housing providers are in complete control, being first to know about potential issues with heating systems before the residents may even be aware of them. To measure temperature and humidity and alert housing providers of potential mould and damp issues within a property, Vericon has also developed the MultiDot. By gaining valuable insights from this aggregated data, landlords can conduct preventative maintenance, take early action, and advise residents on how best to avoid humid conditions that can lead to mould. “Using the latest in technical innovations and smart devices, social landlords and housing associations can more effectively maintain heating health in their properties, ensuring a healthier environment for their residents and preventing costly maintenance issues by identifying problems before they become severe,” added Jorden Guest, Marketing Manager for Vericon Systems. The partnership between Vericon and City Plumbing comes at a time when the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) is calling for housing providers to respond swiftly to the sector-wide damp and mould issue. Following the inquest into the tragic death of two-year old Awaab Ishak, the RSH published a report revealing between 40-80,000 social homes in England have serious category-two damp and mould hazards. With Vericon’s monitored and connected technologies, providers can tackle boiler faults quickly and efficiently and identify homes at a high risk of mould. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Carmarthen Hwb, a wellbeing and cultural centre housed in the former Debenhams store in the centre of Carmarthen, has been given the go ahead. A Notice of Commencement was issued on 13th March 2023 and works at the former department store on St Catherine’s Walk will start. Bouygues UK is the preferred bidder for the project, which is a collaboration between Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Dda University Health Board and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). Funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, the Hwb will be a public space which will promote preventative health care and wellbeing. It will house council teams that can help residents with employment support and lifelong learning opportunities, will house a gym, as well as be home to some of the county’s museum collections in a state-of-the-art culture, leisure and exhibition space. The project has been funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. It will also be a base for Carmarthen town’s tourist information centre, council customer services as well as access to further and higher education for local people, delivered by the UWTSD Group, which includes Coleg Sir Gâr and Hywel Dda University Health Board. “It is great that this next stage of the planning process has been granted and we can start work on this redevelopment, which will bring nearly 8,000 square metres of commercial space in the town centre back to life,” said John Boughton, Managing Director of Wales for Bouygues UK. “Refurbishing rather than rebuilding this former department store ties in with Bouygues UK’s commitment to climate and the environment. We have ambitious plans to decarbonise, reduce water and energy use, as well as decrease waste generated on site by 40% by 2030. This is a unique development that brings together health, education and public services under one roof – serving the local community at an easily accessible base, and will be an amazing resource for all who use it,” John added. Housed in the former Debenhams department store in St Catherine’s Walk, it is expected that once open to the public it will increase footfall for the town centre and drive further economic resilience for local traders and retailers. When the store closed in May 2021 the knock-on effect on trade in the town centre was significant. It is hoped that the new centre, the first of its kind in Carmarthenshire, will encourage more people from the region into Carmarthen town centre to take advantage of all of the public and leisure services that will be available under one roof. Bouygues UK has already been working closely with sub-contractors from the area on its other project at Pentre Awel in Llanelli, and will continue to do so at the Carmarthenshire Hwb project – with a further commitment to upskill all those working in its supply chain on the importance of embedding sustainability into their work. This is excellent news, as the Carmarthen HWB will provide a range of public services under one roof. Working in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board and University of Wales Trinity Saint David, we intend to bring this prime commercial space back into use to help boost the local economy and transform the town centre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cannock-based housebuilder, Jessup Partnership is to build 26 new houses for YMCA Black Country at a development in Hamstead, Birmingham. The new development will be made up of two buildings housing one-bedroom studio apartments with communal facilities, which aim to provide young professionals and families with safe, secure, and affordable accommodation. Construction on site began at the start of this month and will be completed by the start of 2024. Once finished, the project will provide 26 affordable homes, comprising a mix of tenures including affordable rent and open market rent. Birmingham’s BPN Architects are designing the new homes, which will include a mix of part two-storey and part single-storey properties which are set in extensive landscaped grounds. “We are thrilled to be on-site at 235 Hamstead Road working with the Jessup Partnerships to create an additional 26 homes. At YMCA Black Country Group, we are committed to providing young adults with safe, aspirational, affordable accommodation with a landlord they can trust. The delivery of another 26 self-contained homes will enable us to further our offer, enabling our tenants to be connected to their communities, belong, contribute and thrive,” said Sally Cowan, Chief Officer at YMCA Black Country Group. Situated near the River Tame and just a short drive to Birmingham City Centre, the site has excellent access links to numerous bus routes and is just two minutes away from the nearest train station, which offers regular direct services to Wolverhampton and Walsall. The development also has a handy Tesco Express store next door. The site is located just over four miles away from Walsall Arboretum which is the perfect rural retreat for families and just six miles away from Star City which boasts 12 restaurants, nine leisure attractions, and a 25-screen VUE cinema. The development is also just a two-mile drive to Forge Mill Farm which is an ideal day out for young families. Its 92-strong team provides a full development management service from land acquisition and planning consent, through to the construction of high-quality homes across the wider Midlands. Jessup also benefits from preferred partner status with Homes England. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, has been appointed by Hertfordshire-based contractor Midgard, part of the JRL group, to supply kitchen worktops across three projects totalling almost half a million pounds. “We’re delighted to have been appointed by Midgard to work across these three projects! We’ve been working with Midgard for many years now, so we’re thrilled this relationship continues to grow – as do our wider business partnerships. We’re looking forward to getting started,” commented Richard Silverwood, Director of Special Projects, at Roann Limited. The three projects, located in Brent Cross Town, London and Preston Road, Brighton, are utilising 20mm Silestone Blanco Norte and 20mm Caesarstone Frozen Terra products throughout all kitchen areas, provided by Roann Limited as the exclusive worktop supplier. The Preston Road project will begin in April/May 2023, on the RIBA stage 4/5 full design on the redevelopment of ‘Brighton’s ugliest building’ on Preston Road. This consists of 229 apartments spread across three tower blocks, with one to three-bedroom apartments. The two Brent Cross projects will begin in September 2023, as part of the Brent Cross Town mega-development, which will see 800 new homes for sale and rent, alongside new retail and dining spaces, which is set to complete in 2025. These appointments from Midgard come shortly after the news that Roann Limited had invested in a sustainability initiative and is replacing all single use plastic, with recyclable cardboard, and reported on a record-breaking year in 2022. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
