Ordering and purchasing products online have become the norm in recent years. While brick-and-mortar stores continue to attract buyers, the shift of preference is hard to miss. The drastic change in consumer behavior may be attributed to the rise of mobile technology, though the advantages offered by virtual shopping could
nvesting in commercial real estate can be a life-changing experience. Not only do you get the chance to build up capital, but you also get to learn about an industry that’s vital to economics. If you’re interested in this lucrative real estate sector, there are a few things you should
Within the world of construction, there are a great variety of roles, industries, and businesses that are thriving. For anybody that’s looking into the most profitable ventures within the construction industry, either as an entrepreneur or as a worker, it’s important to look at the industry as a whole and
Commitment to increase delivery of the number of truly affordable homes in the pipeline by 160 to at least 1,362 council homes for social rent 84 homes previously planned for private sale in regeneration schemes on 300 Harrow Road and Westmead in Westbourne Park will now be council homes Council leads the way
Tritax Management LLP (“Tritax”), the specialist investor in critical supply chain real assets, today announced that all of its funds under management achieved improved GRESB scores, the global ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure, whilst its two listed funds were also awarded EPRA Gold Level certification. Highlights from the
Berkeley Group was awarded the Carbon Reduction Award at the 2022 National Sustainability Awards in October. The cross-sector awards, from The Better Society Network, celebrate ‘the pioneers of sustainability’ across the UK. The Carbon Reduction Award recognises Berkeley’s ambitious, holistic climate action strategy including solutions to cut carbon emissions – creating
Constructing Excellence South West’s CEO has been crowned the winner of an incredible regional property and construction award. Andrew Carpenter has been voted the Property Personality of the Year at the 2022 South West Property Awards. Returning for the fifteenth consecutive year, the awards recognise outstanding achievements of the people,
A brand new six-storey apartment block at the Abbey Wall development in Merton, Southwest London has been constructed over a third faster[1] than traditional concrete methods, while mitigating on-site safety risks, thanks to a pre-manufactured steel framed system from Intrastack. Constructed in just 25 weeks by RJB Interiors (RJB) for
Lancashire County Council’s delivery partner, Costain, and hydrogen industry start-up, Hydrologiq, have successfully trialled the use of a hydrogen-powered fuel cell generator at the Preston Western Distributor Road project’s M55 compound. The trial is the first for Lancashire County Council in line with its carbon reduction ambitions and demonstrated carbon savings
DP WORLD recently announces that work has started on site to build a new fourth berth at its London Gateway smart logistics hub. The resilience of the UK supply chain will be strengthened by the £350m project, which builds on DP World’s £2bn investment in Britain over the last decade.
Ordering and purchasing products online have become the norm in recent years. While brick-and-mortar stores continue to attract buyers, the shift of preference is hard to miss. The drastic change in consumer behavior may be attributed to the rise of mobile technology, though the advantages offered by virtual shopping could have also influenced this movement. A global consulting firm survey in 2021 found that 48% of consumers reported having changed their shopping habits due to the global pandemic. Aside from the shift in priorities, shoppers have also found efficiency and convenience in contactless transactions and virtual customer experience. Hence, online ordering is expected to grow continuously in popularity and influence across industries, including manufacturing. Both manufacturers and clients have benefited from the shift in how transactions are done. In the past, clients spent days waiting for companies’ quotes before placing an order. Meanwhile, manufacturers also waste time and effort in sending numerous quotations to clients without a guarantee of making a sale. These inconveniences and delays are significantly reduced with online transactions. If you’d like to know of other ways online ordering has made an impact on the manufacturing industry, here are some examples: Virtual business transactions improve efficiency for companies and customers. Aside from the time saved conducting business online, they also improve order accuracy, reduce errors, and allows customization when needed. For instance, customers who require CNC cutting services can upload CAD files on an ordering platform, giving the engineers a detailed picture of the design they want to achieve. Aside from enhanced order accuracy, clients can receive lead times and price quotations faster with online ordering. For example, a client requiring tube cutting can place an order online with the design, size details, and lead time required. Before the order is completed and processed, the client can review the prices for each service, the shipping costs, the expected completion date, and other information to help them decide if they should push through with it. Overall, online ordering can benefit service providers and their clients as it helps everyone save time, effort, and resources. In the past, many manufacturers focused on mass production, which left little room for customization. Today, online ordering is becoming more competitive than ever, so businesses have transformed their services to cater to the consumer’s requirements. Besides customization, online ordering platforms give customers more freedom to explore a company’s products and services. Clients can spend as much or as little time at an online shop, and they also have control over what they view. With a user-friendly interface, your online ordering platform can help you attract and retain customers because of the positive consumer experience you provide. The virtual connection between manufacturing companies and their customers allowed companies to gain valuable insight into consumer mindset and behavior. For instance, companies can gather data from ordering platforms to create customer profiles which they can use to enhance their products and services or improve their marketing strategy. Furthermore, customers can take advantage of the opportunity to provide company feedback through online platforms. Clients can answer surveys, leave a rating, comment on products or services they used, or ask questions through a company’s online portal. Then, the collected information can be used by manufacturers to improve the quality of their products and make adjustments to their current business processes as needed. While the present world market still has opportunities for brick-and-mortar shops, the positive impact of online ordering platforms on manufacturing overhead costs cannot be overlooked. For one, maintaining a physical store in the United States can cost between USD$2,000 and USD$100,000. However, the prices depend on the size of the operations. Many small and medium enterprises prefer to channel their resources toward other business areas, which is why online shops are ideal. By reducing operational costs, manufacturers can direct their investments on product improvement, customer service, web design, or price competitiveness. While saving money, business owners can also improve their products and services, which positively impacts the company and its clients. According to a 2022 report by business solutions provider Raydiant, 55.6% of customers prefer shopping online. This figure embodies the consumer mindset that manufacturing businesses can take advantage of. For one, companies can expand their scope to various locations to cater to more clients. They can also offer more products as they won’t have to address space limitations like brick-and-mortar shops. Conclusion The impact of online ordering on the manufacturing industry is expected to last, and the transformation will continue as long as it supports growth for both landscapes. Meanwhile, business owners can take advantage of this trend and utilize it to improve the quality of their products and services. The enhanced connection with their customer pool and potential business can also help drive growth and revenue, which is why manufacturers should optimize their online ordering opportunities.
nvesting in commercial real estate can be a life-changing experience. Not only do you get the chance to build up capital, but you also get to learn about an industry that’s vital to economics. If you’re interested in this lucrative real estate sector, there are a few things you should know first. How to Break Into Commercial Real Estate Investing Successfully Whether you’re a real estate pro or a newbie, breaking into commercial real estate investing successfully requires a lot of research, skill, and practice. Use the following tips to get started. 1. Keep Detailed Records Preparation is key when it comes to commercial real estate, but many developers fail to spend enough time in the pre-investment stage. If you want to make better decisions, mitigate risks, and improve your operational efficiency, you need to invest in comprehensive project visibility. One great way to do this is through commercial real estate historical data, which can be stored and tracked with software. For example, Northspyre can empower real estate development teams to achieve predictable project outcomes by leveraging automation and data analytics. 2. Research Your Market One of the 5 rules for buying commercial real estate is “know what you’re looking for.” In this industry, knowledge is power. If you don’t know what a downtown New York office building should cost, you could overpay, lose the deal, or neglect to perform the correct inspections. All markets, no matter how big or small, come with their own expectations and rules. Your investment strategy is mostly determined by your cash flow, free time, and location. It’s a great idea to pick a niche prior to investing, and there are plenty available. If you want to stick to commercial office buildings in Phoenix, Arizona, then become aware of their zoning laws and inspection rules. Know your market inside and out before you ever write an offer letter. 3. Know How to Underwrite Underwriting in commercial real estate is essential, as it provides a financial projection of your property’s potential cash flow. By calculating factors such as financing terms, expense growth, and capital expenditures, you can determine if a building or development will turn a profit. While you can hire a professional to underwrite your investments for you, you’ll be paying at least $3,000 for this skill, and the process may take over a day. You can cut your time and costs significantly by learning to do this yourself, which allows you to invest faster and smarter. 4. Hire an Experienced Team Commercial real estate investors will have a hard time succeeding without a great team. A commercial real estate broker, for example, is an expert who can help vet a property and negotiate contracts. Oftentimes, the buyer/seller will pay the broker’s fee, not the investor. It’s important to ask the broker before assuming they’ll let you use their experience for free. Even if your broker charges a fee, it’s still cheaper to use their expertise in your strategy. But brokers aren’t the only real estate professionals you’ll need. You’ll need a real estate attorney, building inspectors, general contractors, project managers, property managers, and property lenders. Make sure these professionals are experienced in commercial real estate. 5. Consider Financing Upfront A commercial real estate loan is similar to a mortgage, except it’s used strictly for business purposes. Commercial loans usually have a 5 to 20-year amortization period and have a loan-to-value ratio of 65% to 80%. Your credit score determines how much interest you’ll pay. If you’ve never applied for a commercial loan in the past, know that you’ll be subjected to long wait periods and a lot of paperwork. You should familiarize yourself with the process, so you can use your loans as quickly as possible. Get your loans pre-approved to lock in the interest rate.
Within the world of construction, there are a great variety of roles, industries, and businesses that are thriving. For anybody that’s looking into the most profitable ventures within the construction industry, either as an entrepreneur or as a worker, it’s important to look at the industry as a whole and how many “sub-industries” there could be. Let’s show you some of these. Site Clearing Site clearing is, in many ways, the antithesis of the construction industry. The construction industry as a whole has received a lot of criticism because of the lack of effective recycling practices. It’s an easy one to overlook because, in the real estate industry, where many buyers are looking for new house and land package deals to create their dream property, the process can take a lot longer than necessary. The construction of any new home involves many different moving parts, with a variety of contractors and constructors. Site clearing is one of the most profitable areas because this will not just ensure the materials are removed from the construction site swiftly, but they can be recycled and sold in recycling markets. A contractor could offer services in clearing a site before or after a job and create a second source of income by selling these items. Paving Companies Paving is vital, especially in the real estate industry. Everybody needs some type of paving, whether it’s in commercial industries or in residential areas. One of the benefits of this type of business is the low upfront costs. It’s also a very far-reaching business because of the sheer diversity on offer; it can be combined with other exterior services. Landscaping and exterior remodelling can work in tandem with this type of business venture. Manufacturing Materials From cement to bricks, blocks, and other paving services, retail is an incredibly profitable venture within the construction industry. The great benefit of this type of business is that you can cater for interior and exterior services. For example, you could sell tiles made of ceramics for countertops or flooring. Naturally, starting a business in this type of industry means you can sell supplementary materials or other types of products. You can manufacture materials which you can sell, like cement or cement blocks. This is also another way to benefit construction businesses. Working to sell exclusively to construction companies is a very lucrative endeavour. Solar Panel Construction and Insulation The world is looking for more environmentally friendly practices. Alternative energy sources are becoming more popular with people looking to bypass the excessive costs of their utility bills. Solar panels can provide a useful addition to anybody’s property, and there is a demand for experts in this field. As renewable energy becomes more common, there will be a greater need for construction companies with renewable energy sources, specifically solar panels. Skilled Contractors We are at a crossroads in the construction industry. There is now a greater demand for skilled contractors because the Baby Boomer generations are now retiring in their droves, but younger skilled contractors are not replacing them. While there has been a drive for younger contractors with specific skills like carpentry, the numbers are not adding up because younger members of society are becoming increasingly reliant on the internet to solve their problems. This means there is a massive gap in the markets to provide carpentry services, not just for construction companies, but for the average consumer. Carpentry covers a number of specialities, for example, making cabinets for the interiors of properties, but also bridge carpenters, who produce wood for bridges. The most beneficial thing about being a carpenter is, because it is a skill that is greatly in demand, you can charge a premium for your services. Remodelling Remodelling services, whether it’s interior or exterior remodelling, can prove beneficial when working in tandem with construction companies. Many individual contractors can work with construction companies on a freelance basis to provide those finishing touches to exterior parts of properties. Exterior remodelling covers several disciplines, for example, remodelling building facades or just replacing windows and doors in residential properties. The most important thing for anybody to recognise when they are trying to expand their business or start within the construction industry is to be competitive and recognise the gaps in the market, as well as the gaps in skills. The construction industry is always going to be a lucrative one because of the demand for infrastructure, but when we drill down into the smaller industries, we can start to pick apart the more lucrative aspects.
Commitment to increase delivery of the number of truly affordable homes in the pipeline by 160 to at least 1,362 council homes for social rent 84 homes previously planned for private sale in regeneration schemes on 300 Harrow Road and Westmead in Westbourne Park will now be council homes Council leads the way giving priority for the delivery of council homes on the council’s own development – a shift from 60:40% split in favour of intermediate rent housing to a 70:30% split in favour of council homes There are more major regeneration projects in the pipeline, which will further increase the council’s affordable housing offer. Westminster City Council has announced a commitment to deliver at least 1,362 council homes for social rent, as the new administration looks set to implement changes to support local people to live in truly affordable homes in the heart of London. The pledge, which will maximise the delivery of truly affordable housing, will see an increase of at least 160 new council homes for social rent in addition to the 1,202 council homes already in the council’s housebuilding pipeline. This increase will begin addressing the waiting list of more than 4,000 households currently registered for council housing and begin to reduce the numbers of families relying on temporary accommodation. The council has set a commitment for affordable provision on all future housing schemes to be mainly council homes for social rent, and for these to be family-sized homes. The decision taken by the council will also see a rebalance of the previous 60:40 split for the council’s own development in favour of intermediate rent housing to a new 70:30 split in favour of council housing for social rent. The previous expectation stated that 60% of affordable homes would be intermediate housing, with the remaining 40% council housing. The council’s new strategy is to commit strongly to affordable housing, so now 70% of homes will be council housing with the remaining 30% being intermediate for the council’s own delivery. The delivery of these new, affordable, family-sized homes will be achieved by the proposed change of tenure from market sale and intermediate rent to social rent for upcoming schemes, such as 300 Harrow Road and Westmead in Westbourne Park. The new plans set out that market homes at 300 Harrow Road (60 Homes) and Westmead in Westbourne Park (24 Homes) will now be delivered as completely affordable council housing. A further additional 18 intermediate rent homes will be delivered across both schemes. From these two schemes alone, a total of 102 additional genuinely affordable homes will be created and will be a mix of social and intermediate, taking the total number of affordable homes for both schemes to 177. The 100% affordable residential homes will be re-balanced, so that all one bedroom homes, including the studios on 300 Harrow Road, will be intermediate and the homes with at least two bedrooms will be held as council housing for social rent. The council recently launched its new Fairer Westminster strategy which sets out how the council will work with the local community to support them and tackle inequality, and this new pledge to deliver more social housing aims to build a fairer city for our residents to live in. There are other major regeneration projects in the pipeline still to come, such as Ebury Bridge and Church Street, which will further increase the council’s affordable housing offer. Cllr Matt Noble, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Regeneration and Renters at Westminster City Council said: “As one of the new administration’s first major pledges, in line with our manifesto, we want to show the people of Westminster that we really care about building truly affordable, family-sized homes which meet the needs of our residents and so we can build a fairer city for everyone. The wait for a family-sized social rent home in Westminster – and across London as a whole – is massive and this new commitment to deliver truly affordable homes, which sees an emphasis on council housing for social rent in the heart of the city, is the first step in a longer pipeline of work to deliver high-quality, family homes for our local people.” These new proposals were set out in a Cabinet Report which was approved at Cabinet on Monday 17 October. Read the full report. The council is adopting the London Living Rent definition of intermediate and social rent: Intermediate rent offers ‘low cost’ rental accommodation, with rent set at up to 80% of market rent. Social rent is usually rent that is paid to registered providers and local authorities. It is low-cost rent that is set by a government formula. This means it is significantly lower than the rent a tenant would pay in the normal market. Not everyone is eligible for social housing and so the next best alternative could be to aim for a provider that charges ‘affordable rent’ or intermediate rent. With regards to social rent, there are two tenancy options – introductory tenancy and secure tenancy: Introductory tenancy: All new tenants of Westminster Council will be introductory tenants unless they were already a secure or assured tenant of a local authority or registered social landlord at a previous property. An introductory tenancy will last for a trial period of 12 months, after which if you do not break any of the tenancy conditions, you will automatically become a secure tenant. Introductory tenants have fewer rights than secure tenants. You cannot do the following: apply to buy your home vote for a change of landlord sublet part of the property or take in a lodger apply to exchange your tenancy Secure tenancy: If you have had your tenancy for at least 12 months you will normally be a secure tenant. Secure tenants have more rights than introductory tenants. By law, as a secure tenant you have the right to live in your property indefinitely, as long as you keep to these tenancy conditions and your tenancy agreement.
Tritax Management LLP (“Tritax”), the specialist investor in critical supply chain real assets, today announced that all of its funds under management achieved improved GRESB scores, the global ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure, whilst its two listed funds were also awarded EPRA Gold Level certification. Highlights from the 2022 GRESB report: Improved ESG performance and data coverage across all Tritax funds, achieving a total of 13 stars compared to 12 green stars in 2021. Tritax Big Box REIT plc and Tritax EuroBox plc both achieved the maximum score for the criteria of Leadership, Policies, Reporting, Risk Management and Stakeholder Engagement. Tritax Big Box REIT plc was awarded four stars and named the Leader for Development in the European and Global Industrial Sectors for the second consecutive year. Tritax EuroBox plc was awarded the maximum five stars, an improvement on four stars awarded in 2021, and named the Leader in Sustainability for European Industrial Distribution Warehouses Listed Sector. Highlights from the 2022 EPRA report: Tritax Big Box retained its EPRA Gold Level certification and was one of only nine companies to achieve the most improved award for its 30% year-on-year improved performance. Tritax EuroBox has also been awarded EPRA Gold Level certification for sustainability best practice in its first year of inclusion in the EPRA Sustainability Best Practices Recommendations Report. James Dunlop, CEO – Investment at Tritax, commented: “At Tritax, we believe that collaborating with our stakeholders to deliver a cleaner, healthier and more equitable society drives superior returns over the long term. We make significant efforts to work in partnership with our customers so they can meet their ESG objectives and create the best buildings delivering the widest positive impact that will meet the highest sustainability and wellbeing standards. The year-on-year increase in our GRESB scores across all our funds, combined with EPRA Gold Level certification for our listed funds, demonstrates that we continue to make progress in improving our environmental, social and governance performance and delivering better outcomes for our investors and other stakeholders.” Alan Somerville, Director of ESG at Tritax, added: “Our EPRA certifications and GRESB scores reflect our ambitious ESG programme, which is underpinned by meaningful targets set across both our asset management and development management activities. We are actively delivering positive environmental and socio-economic impact by developing and managing net zero carbon buildings with high green building standards, that enhance nature and biodiversity and create social value.” ESG is fundamental to the strategy of the Group’s funds under management and is integrated throughout their investment processes and operations. The Group and its funds focus on four key priorities, aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), where they believe they can make the greatest difference: sustainable buildings (aligned with SDG 11), climate and carbon (aligned with SDG 13), nature and wellbeing (aligned with SDG 15), and social value (aligned with SDG 8). To discover more about Tritax’s approach to ESG visit www.tritax.co.uk/esg. GRESB scores and ratings across Tritax’s funds under management: Fund Total Score Star Rating 2022 2021 2022 2021 Tritax Big Box REIT plc 83 81 4-star 4-star Tritax Big Box REIT plc – Development* 99 97 5-star 5-star Tritax EuroBox plc 88 82 5-star 4-star Tritax Property Income Fund 71 69 2-star 2-star Tritax MetroBox 71 68 2-star 2-star *Development not included in total score DOWNLOAD REPORT
Berkeley Group was awarded the Carbon Reduction Award at the 2022 National Sustainability Awards in October. The cross-sector awards, from The Better Society Network, celebrate ‘the pioneers of sustainability’ across the UK. The Carbon Reduction Award recognises Berkeley’s ambitious, holistic climate action strategy including solutions to cut carbon emissions – creating low carbon, resilient homes and places, alongside transformational changes to construction processes and wider business operations. Berkeley has set independently validated science-based targets for reducing carbon emissions, and is committed to being a net zero business by 2040. Carbon emissions from Berkeley’s direct operations have reduced by more than 40% since 2018-2019, and the business has procured 100% renewable electricity across all UK operations since May 2017. Rob Perrins, Chief Executive of Berkeley Group, said: “As a responsible business we have a duty to take action on climate change and this has been a priority for Berkeley more than a decade. This award reflects the hard work of our teams and partners, finding real solutions that support the transition to a low-carbon economy, and creating sustainable homes for the future.” Looking ahead, Berkeley is expanding its work to drive down embodied carbon. The homebuilder has completed 15 embodied carbon assessments, across a range of building typologies, to help identify the carbon-intensive materials within new buildings. Assessments will now be undertaken for new sites from the early planning stages, as Berkeley works with partners to understand the carbon intensity of different materials and reduce their impacts in these future projects. Find out more about Berkeley’s approach to tackling climate change here.
Constructing Excellence South West’s CEO has been crowned the winner of an incredible regional property and construction award. Andrew Carpenter has been voted the Property Personality of the Year at the 2022 South West Property Awards. Returning for the fifteenth consecutive year, the awards recognise outstanding achievements of the people, businesses and organisations which have played a vital role in the design and development of the built environment in the South West region. Since joining the construction sector 45 years ago, Andrew has worked tirelessly and was selected for his contribution during Covid-19 and beyond where he created opportunities for construction professionals across the South West to regularly collaborate via webinars, dinners or debates. “I can’t quite believe that I was voted the South West Property Personality of the Year,” comments Andrew. “At Constructing Excellence South West we’re passionate about supporting the industry and wanted to make sure we continued to engage with our members throughout the pandemic. So, we designed and launched a brand-new weekly webinar series covering a wide range of industry topics to keep people informed and consulted. “It’s fantastic to win this award and I’m incredibly proud to have been nominated by the judges and chosen by the ballot.” Constructing Excellence South West is a member-led organisation created to drive the change agenda in construction across the South West region. It exists to improve industry performance to produce a better-built environment and operates for the good of the construction industry and its stakeholders. For more information on Constructing Excellence South West and its membership visit: https://constructingexcellencesw.org.uk/
A brand new six-storey apartment block at the Abbey Wall development in Merton, Southwest London has been constructed over a third faster[1] than traditional concrete methods, while mitigating on-site safety risks, thanks to a pre-manufactured steel framed system from Intrastack. Constructed in just 25 weeks by RJB Interiors (RJB) for main developer, Indigo Scott, the mixed-use residential scheme comprises 66 apartments and a commercial unit to the ground floor. Due to the six-storeys and composite concrete floor, a lighter, more versatile structure was required to support the construction. The developer opted for Intrastack’s light gauged steel system. Not only was it able to provide the right strength and weight-bearing capacity, but it also enabled the team to speed up the construction programme to deliver a quicker return-on-investment. A typical concrete frame project of this size would likely run to a 30-week programme to install the frame, followed by a further 10 weeks of exterior wall construction. In contrast, the Intrastack solution was installed fully in just 25 weeks. Critical to the project’s success was the ability to manufacture the steel frame off-site, using a just-in-time approach to help improve build times and eliminate on-site fabrication. This process was carefully coordinated with planned delivery sequences to complement the build programme and ensure a seamless installation process. Although RJB has constructed numerous projects using mild steel frame construction, this was the first time the business had worked with Intrastack. Matthew Kirby, Commercial Director from RJB Interiors explains further. “We pride ourselves in delivering an efficient and cost-effective programme for our clients. The combination of the speed of construction on-site, alongside a high quality, durable end-product from Intrastack has enabled us to deliver an overall cost saving to our client. “We spent approximately 15 weeks less on site that would have been required with a concrete frame construction and this clearly translates into both labour and plant cost savings, estimated to be in the region of £60,000. “Fabricating the panels off-site in a quality, process-driven manufacturing environment has helped to reduce health and safety concerns. With no cutting or fabrication required on site, we were able to reduce site preliminaries and plant costs, with rapid construction of the primary structure, allowing us to commence on site activities much earlier than with a traditional construction. “In particular, the offsite manufacturing techniques meant that waste was handled in a controlled environment, and we had confidence that any off cuts would be either reused or disposed of responsibly. This is a significant benefit on site, and we estimate that waste was reduced by as much as 50 per cent, plus the associated time of processing and managing waste disposals. “Much of the build also took place during the winter months with exposure to the British weather. Concrete construction can be a lengthier process during the colder months, while we wait for the product to dry. The steel frame is less dependent on site and weather conditions during construction than traditional methods and has enabled a greater productivity rate on site.” The Intrastack solution is designed to provide the full primary structure in multi-occupancy buildings; it is delivered pre-panelised to site for installation to create the finished load-bearing structure. According to the Steel Construction Institute, a key benefit of this type of lightweight steel frame construction system is that foundation loads and sizes are reduced by over 70 per cent relative to concrete and blockwork construction.[1] Accuracy of the finished structure was to within just a couple of millimeters. Combined with the average lifespan of a steel framed building with warm wall construction, which can be as much as 250 years[2], the overall result is a high-quality, durable solution. Indigo Scott is committed to improving its sustainability credentials across each construction project. In doing so the business prioritises thermal performance and is dedicated to reducing on-site waste to reduce the overall carbon footprint. This meant the Intrastack steel frame system was a natural choice due to its high level of thermal insulation and airtightness. When it comes to light steel framing and modular construction, embodied carbon in the building fabric is reduced by 20 per cent and site waste is virtually eliminated; this is a huge feat compared to the average 10% wastage that occurs when using traditional materials and methods.[3] Intrastack has invested over a quarter of a million pounds on comprehensive system testing to ensure each suite of products meets all building performance requirements. By combining steel frame construction with a concrete floor, the buildings acoustic performance is enhanced, and the tested fire performance offers 120 minutes of protection. [1] Figure calculated based on standard 30 week programme plus 10 week exterior wall construction for a concrete frame versus 25 weeks for a complete steel frame structure [1] Figures provided by the Steel Construction Institute – Technical Information Sheet ED020 [2] When discussing steel frame durability, the Steel Construction Institute cites design life predictions of light steel framing in a ‘warm frame’ environment as being in excss of 250 years. Technical Information Sheet ED022 [3] Figures obtained from the Steel Construction Institute. Technical Information sheet ED020
Lancashire County Council’s delivery partner, Costain, and hydrogen industry start-up, Hydrologiq, have successfully trialled the use of a hydrogen-powered fuel cell generator at the Preston Western Distributor Road project’s M55 compound. The trial is the first for Lancashire County Council in line with its carbon reduction ambitions and demonstrated carbon savings from onsite operations of between 70% and close to 100%, when powered by grey and green hydrogen respectively. Moving from diesel to green hydrogen on a similar compound could save up to 11 tonnes CO2e per month. Hydrologiq funded the trial through an innovation grant from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which aims to support the deployment of hydrogen generators on real-world sites throughout the UK. This innovation established significant benefits for the local community from the use of a EODev GEH2 fuel-cell and battery integrated generator, including extremely quiet operations and the emission of water as sole by-product from its use. The trials also showed that hydrogen could transform performance by reliably and efficiently powering an entire site compound, comprising offices, a canteen, drying room, toilets and two battery electric vehicle (BEV) charging stations. Benjamin Lindley, director at Hydrologiq, said: “On-site power provided via hydrogen fuel-cell technology has the ability to make construction sites quieter, cleaner, and healthier places to work. The generator itself ran so quietly that a diligent security guard raised a false alarm that the power had cut off when he didn’t hear the expected rumble from the diesel unit. And, whatever the source of hydrogen, a fuel-cell generator only produces water at point of use, eliminating NOx and particulates.” “At Hydrologiq, we believe that replacing diesel with hydrogen will happen quicker and safer if businesses are open to collaboration. We are grateful to everyone at Costain who worked with us to make this trailblazing deployment a success. Thanks also to our grant collaborators Blue Lightning Solutions, and our suppliers: generator manufacturers EODev, and fuel providers BOC.” Tara McCracken, Project Environment Manager at Costain, said: “Costain has set an ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2035 at the very latest. Our aim is to be a clean growth leader, enabling the uptake of low carbon solutions such as hydrogen and supporting our supply chain to achieve net zero carbon. “By 2023, every solution delivered by Costain for our clients will propose low carbon options. The successful trial deployment of hydrogen at Preston Western Distributor Road demonstrates our commitment to improving lives, today and for the future by making infrastructure sustainable and resilient. Our approach to sustainability on the project was recently recognised by the Considerate Constructors Scheme, who awarded us top marks in all categories, including Respect the Community and Care for the Environment. We are looking forward to seeing more hydrogen-powered generators on our projects in the future.”
DP WORLD recently announces that work has started on site to build a new fourth berth at its London Gateway smart logistics hub. The resilience of the UK supply chain will be strengthened by the £350m project, which builds on DP World’s £2bn investment in Britain over the last decade. On completion in 2024 it will lift London Gateway’s capacity by a third, giving it more room to handle the world’s largest vessels than any other port in the country. Ernst Schulze, UK Chief Executive of DP World, said: “I am delighted that we have taken the next step in delivery of the new fourth berth and made clear our commitment to investing in and regenerating the areas where we operate. Over the next 10 years we have earmarked a further £1bn of investment in this country.” “The construction of the new fourth berth is creating 1,000 jobs and London Gateway’s rapidly growing logistics park will employ 12,000 people when it is completed in five years’ time. Our investment is a catalyst for the regeneration of one of the most deprived areas in the UK, which is currently in the top decile of deprivation.” Seamus Devlin, McLaughlin & Harvey Civil Engineering Director, added “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract with DP World and to begin delivering this vital piece of national infrastructure. We bring with us extensive experience in the marine sector, and look forward to engaging with our local supply chain and creating jobs locally.” DP World operates the UK’s most advanced logistics hubs: two deep water ports at London Gateway and Southampton with access to freight rail terminals, and a rapidly expanding logistics park on the doorstep of the capital. By offering a choice of deep-water entry and exit points to and from the country, the leading provider of smart logistics solutions is giving greater flexibility to shipping lines, cargo owners and exporters. In a record for the port, DP World announced in July that London Gateway handled more than one million TEU in six months between January and June. When factoring in throughput at Southampton this performance contributed to a record volume of cargo in the first half of the year for DP World’s ports in the UK, with a combined total of 1,937,000 TEU.
