Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council have commenced work to transform Eaglescliffe railway station and make it more accessible for passengers. A multi-million-pound project will see accessibility at the station improved with the installation of a new footbridge, with lifts added for the first time. Contractors
Beard Construction has started work on a new 3,700 square-metre hospice in Farnham in Surrey. The project, worth £11.9 million to the award-winning contractor, will see Beard build the new Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which provides a full range of services including critical end-of-life care. The new purpose-built hospice will include
Birmingham City Council has revealed a masterplan proposal for the regeneration of Druids Heath to the community at a launch event at Manningford Hall. The masterplan was developed after two years of work, talking with and listening to the community to create a plan that can meet the needs of
Barratt Developments has commenced work on the first phase of expansion at Selkirk-based Oregon Timber Frame Limited (Oregon). The work is part of a wider £24 million investment by Barratt following its acquisition of the plant. Work has started on new office premises after the UK’s largest housebuilder announced plans
Caddick Construction has completed work on SOYO neighbourhood’s two newest residential blocks in Leeds city centre on behalf of Hestia, the residential platform of Federated Hermes Real Estate. Located south of York Road in Leeds, SOYO comprises two new residential buildings, known as Madison East and Mercer West, featuring 331
Persimmon Homes Wessex has submitted plans for the third phase of the Jubilee Gardens development that would trigger construction on the next 193 high-quality homes if approved by Wiltshire Council. The phase would involve a mixture of properties from the five-star developer and its sister company, Charles Church, and approval
Monkwearmouth Development (MDL), a Joint Venture between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited (SRMCV) and Argon Property Development Solutions Limited (APDS), with funding from Railpen, have handed over its first development to NTW Solutions Ltd at Monkwearmouth Hospital in Sunderland. Located within the grounds of the existing hospital, the new
Bradford College has teamed up with Sewell Construction for the creation of its new multi-million-pound T Level facilities. The work, which starts in May, will involve the remodelling of a number of areas within the College’s David Hockney Building to create a high-quality training environment, enabling students to learn skills
Construction work has commenced at Cordia UK’s latest project and inaugural build-to-rent (BTR) development, The Lampworks, in Birmingham. The Birmingham-based property developer has appointed Shropshire-based construction management practice buildfifty5 to deliver the main construction works for the project in partnership with residential general contractor Pedrano UK. The Lampworks will incorporate
Morgan Sindall has been appointed to two new Pagabo frameworks. The two frameworks are valued at £1.6 billion each and will run for four years. It was confirmed earlier this month that Morgan Sindall had been appointed to the new £1.6bn Healthcare Decarbonisation Framework from Pagabo, which has recently been
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council have commenced work to transform Eaglescliffe railway station and make it more accessible for passengers. A multi-million-pound project will see accessibility at the station improved with the installation of a new footbridge, with lifts added for the first time. Contractors BAM, working on behalf of Network Rail and the Tees Valley Combined Authority, have started on site. Once open, the new bridge will allow passengers to enter the station from its west side with a multi-storey car park, a project led by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, also to be created – with improved access to Yarm and traffic signals on the Cleasby Way junction. The improvements will also see the existing footbridge and ramps refurbished, with a new bridge deck installed. Improved station facilities, such as new waiting areas and taxi office, are also being added as part of the project. The scheme is designed to improve the experience of passengers and make it easier to use as they travel by train. The car park and wider cycle improvements linking to and from the station are being funded by the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and the Levelling Up Fund allocation for Stockton South respectively, secured by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. The new bridge is expected to be in place by winter 2024, with the lifts installed and available for passengers to use by autumn 2025. The station’s existing footbridge will remain open throughout the work but will close for refurbishment when the new bridge and lifts are open for use. Anna Weeks, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail’s North & East route, said: “This is a major milestone in the improvements we are going to deliver for the people of Eaglescliffe as they use their station. We want to make sure that every passenger can travel freely and easily by train and these upgrades will allow passengers to be able to do that. “It’s great that we can work together with our partners at the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council on this project to deliver a better passenger experience for people in the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Beard Construction has started work on a new 3,700 square-metre hospice in Farnham in Surrey. The project, worth £11.9 million to the award-winning contractor, will see Beard build the new Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which provides a full range of services including critical end-of-life care. The new purpose-built hospice will include a low-level, single-storey building, which consists of 18 bedrooms with ensuite wet rooms. Each room will have bifold doors which will open out into the courtyard or surrounding gardens. This will be supported by specialist suites for education, wellbeing and exercise. High-end materials and finishes, combined with Beard’s reputation for quality and excellence will ensure greater levels of comfort, dignity and privacy for patients and their families. The In-Patient Unit will be attached to a two-storey concrete frame building. The ground floor will include the main reception and lobby, as well as kitchens, cafeteria and lounges. It will also house the main plant room, utility room and clinical rooms. The first floor will provide office facilities for Phyllis Tuckwell staff, who have been relocated to various temporary sites. The new hospice is due to be completed towards the end of 2025 and will be a much larger and more modern facility. It replaces the existing building which was built over 90 years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. With the first spade in the ground, work has begun to clear the site ready for the foundations to go in. Beard is working with the local residents and stakeholders to ensure all work is conducted safely. With limited access around the site, Beard will use a tower crane to manage deliveries and help with construction. Beard staff are also supporting the hospice in its fundraising efforts. Tom Jenkinson, Beard’s Guildford director, said: “Many of our team here live locally, so they are really enthusiastic about the difference this building will make to the local community. We are thrilled to be involved in this build and look forward to seeing it as it emerges from this ground-breaking event. It’s a great opportunity to utilise our expertise and experience in building high-quality, specialist healthcare facilities across the region and further afield.” Sarah Church, chief executive of Phyllis Tuckwell, added: “Around 17,000 people had been cared for on our In-Patient Unit, let alone the many thousands of others cared for at home, since the hospice was launched. As demand increases, this new chapter in our history means we will be able to care for many more thousands of local residents who will need us in the years to come. Given Beard’s reputation and experience in the sector, they are a tremendous fit to build our brand-new hospice.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Birmingham City Council has revealed a masterplan proposal for the regeneration of Druids Heath to the community at a launch event at Manningford Hall. The masterplan was developed after two years of work, talking with and listening to the community to create a plan that can meet the needs of the people who live and work in Druids Heath. Staff were at the launch event to answer questions and receive feedback from the community about the plans, with more events planned over the next few days. An extensive consultation on the plans will begin in the coming months before approval for the plans will be sought next year. The proposed regeneration aims to make Druids Heath a more sustainable and greener place to live in the long term. New high-quality, energy-efficient homes will be built alongside excellent green spaces. The commercial and community spaces in Druids Heath will also be revitalised as part of the plan. Councillor Jayne Francis, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: “The masterplan marks the beginning of a new chapter for the regeneration of Druids Heath. This new plan shows how Druids Heath will be transformed into a healthier, more sustainable area by building on its key strengths – community spirit and abundance of green space. “This regeneration scheme will build the types of homes we need to tackle climate change, reduce fuel bills, and contribute to the city’s net zero ambitions. It will also bring much-needed provisions for older residents so they can live healthy, independent lives for longer. New greenways will be built to better connect the estate within the community and the estate to the surrounding city. “The scheme goes beyond delivering new homes; the regeneration will create a sustainable, healthy community that will allow anyone who lives there to thrive. “While the masterplan is a big step forward for the scheme, much more work remains, and there will be more decisions to be made with the local community about the scheme. With that in mind, an independent steering group representing residents, stakeholders, and businesses is being established to help influence future decisions regarding the regeneration. “We also understand residents’ concerns about being priced out of the area. For this reason, the council is looking at how we can use different financial models to give residents an opportunity to remain on the estate. We will let residents know more about these models as soon as we are able. It is really important to the council that everyone who wants to stay in Druids Heath can do so. “Regenerating an area is always a lengthy process. For this reason, the council will bolster services for tenants on the estate by installing more CCTV, implementing a specific repairs service for Druids Heath, and increasing cleaning provision to tackle fly-tipping.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barratt Developments has commenced work on the first phase of expansion at Selkirk-based Oregon Timber Frame Limited (Oregon). The work is part of a wider £24 million investment by Barratt following its acquisition of the plant. Work has started on new office premises after the UK’s largest housebuilder announced plans in 2022 to increase its workforce and invest in plant development. The 900m2 office block will accommodate up to 60 permanent staff members, approximately double the capacity of the current temporary block. Plans for a new training room, which will hold up to 20 people, have also been revealed as well as more meeting rooms and improved kitchen and welfare facilities over two floors. The Oregon expansion, comprising two phases, will create over 70 new jobs in the Borders community. Phase one includes the development of a new office for its growing workforce, due to be completed in 2025, while phase two will see the extension of the plant’s existing manufacturing capacity. The plans form part of Barratt’s long-term goal to increase its use of modern methods of construction off-site while reducing its carbon footprint, both of which are enabled by timber frame technology. Timber frame construction is also a key element of Barratt’s strategy for addressing the skills challenge facing the industry. Douglas McLeod, Regional Managing Director for Barratt Developments Scotland, said: “Starting construction on phase one of this expansion is a fantastic milestone for us. Since acquiring Oregon five years ago, we’ve worked hard to bring our plans to fruition, so commencing work on the new office is one step closer to achieving our goals. “The new block will double in capacity which aligns perfectly with our ambitions to create new employment opportunities in Selkirk. We’ve invested in a great business with a high-quality product and look forward to rolling out both phases of the project.” Building more homes off-site will help Barratt meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard, cut carbon emissions, reduce waste and minimise disruption to local communities, as part of its wider commitment to become carbon neutral in its operations by 2030. By 2030, Barratt aims for at least 30% of its homes to be built using modern methods of construction. Using a timber frame system also enables Barratt to cut the build time on development by an average of five weeks, compared to using traditional methods of construction. In FY 2023, Barratt built 3,200 of its 17,000 homes across the UK using timber frames from its two Oregon factories. On completion of phase one, work will commence on phase two with the expansion of the north and south factories. The north factory will welcome 24 new factory operatives with two semi-automated open line panels and three extra floor benches. Meanwhile, the south factory will accommodate 26 new operatives with three extra floor benches and five spandrel benches. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction has completed work on SOYO neighbourhood’s two newest residential blocks in Leeds city centre on behalf of Hestia, the residential platform of Federated Hermes Real Estate. Located south of York Road in Leeds, SOYO comprises two new residential buildings, known as Madison East and Mercer West, featuring 331 built-to-rent apartments, two commercial retail units, car parking facilities and sustainable public spaces for the local community. The project, focused on delivering quality modern living, has been developed by Caddick Construction through close collaboration with Hestia and joint enterprise partner Caddick Developments. The £57.4m project follows the completion of an earlier phase at SOYO, New York Square, where Caddick Construction delivered two 16 and 17-storey, build-to-rent apartment developments, housing 515 unique one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for Moda Living. SOYO is the newest multi-use neighbourhood in Leeds city centre and once complete the state-of-the-art quarter will offer over 1m sq ft of space to live, work and enjoy. The new development includes some of the largest green public spaces within the city, high-quality residential buildings and a hub for local artistic exhibitions, enhanced by its location at the heart of the city’s cultural district. Hestia is focused on delivering affordable residential assets that will have a positive impact on the environment and communities in which they reside. Since its inception, Hestia has embodied Federated Hermes’ Responsible Property Investment agenda by sourcing and developing homes in neighbourhoods people want to live in, to a specification enhanced by an eight-year operational track record and all aligned to the Hestia Net Zero Carbon Pathway. The project’s contribution towards creating vibrant and authentic communities has been emphasised by the recent appointment of local artist EV Hardaker (Emma) as SOYO’s ‘Artist in Residence’. Having worked with Emma for almost five years, Caddick Group recently cemented this partnership with the launch of THE ARCH, a major temporary art installation embodying the area’s identity. Emma will be further animating the area as the major regeneration project enters its final phase. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Persimmon Homes Wessex has submitted plans for the third phase of the Jubilee Gardens development that would trigger construction on the next 193 high-quality homes if approved by Wiltshire Council. The phase would involve a mixture of properties from the five-star developer and its sister company, Charles Church, and approval would mean 58 of these would be designated for a local housing provider, helping put a dent in Wiltshire’s 4,300-strong housing waiting list. The application delivers on the continued extension of the Linear Park, including active travel links and a play area. It will also complete the full length of the central spine road, connecting the previously approved sections from the two new junctions. As part of the wider development, Persimmon will invest millions of pounds in the local vicinity as the housebuilder delivers a sustainable community for local people. This will include land for a new primary school, significant areas of open space including a riverside park, equipped children’s play areas, two areas of sports pitches and associated changing rooms. A local centre, allotments, public art, employment land, improvements to public footpaths, new pedestrian and cycle routes, biodiversity enhancements and a dedicated ecology area will also be delivered at Jubilee Gardens. Significant financial contributions will also be made towards education provision, bus services connecting the scheme with town centre, signal upgrades to improve vehicle movements in the town centre, health care in Warminster, and enhancements to local public rights of way. A sizeable financial contribution will also be made by the housebuilder to provide funding for local infrastructure priorities – the Victoria Road roundabout is now complete and work is commencing this month on the access from Bath Road. The application follows a visit from the board of Selwood Housing, a local housing association partner, to the site – where Persimmon has already transferred properties to them as part of its plans – to see how their high-quality homes are built. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Monkwearmouth Development (MDL), a Joint Venture between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited (SRMCV) and Argon Property Development Solutions Limited (APDS), with funding from Railpen, have handed over its first development to NTW Solutions Ltd at Monkwearmouth Hospital in Sunderland. Located within the grounds of the existing hospital, the new modern fit-for-purpose building provides a welcoming, level and accessible front entrance to the main outpatient facilities. In addition to the new entrance and reception area, the new accommodation includes meeting rooms, flexible open-plan workspaces and breakout areas, and consultants’ offices on upper floors along with areas for their support teams to work in. The new building has created the perfect office environment for employees at the site and encourages collaborative working and support; all of which service users should benefit from. The building also houses a Changing Places facility, and the new ‘Café Bede’ community café is open to the general public, visitors, staff and service users across the Hospital. The new café includes areas for inside and outside dining and is home to a time capsule placed in the ground during the construction works; telling the story of the build, the history of the site and the previous building for people to read in years to come. Sir Robert McAlpine completed the construction of the 3,287 sq. m, three-storey building for MDL over 19 months with the facility achieving a Design stage BREEAM Excellent standard. In addition to a replacement tree-lined staff car park, the development delivers level access and a beautifully landscaped piazza area including seating and extensive planting, along with a memorial garden. The external works have transformed the previous parking area that fronts onto Newcastle Road and create better connectivity within the estate for hospital users, staff and visitors. MDL worked with NTW Solutions Limited, a limited company established by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, to provide premises that will enable NTW Solutions to deliver improved facilities and a range of important services to the Trust. Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest mental health and disability Trusts in England. Monkwearmouth Development Ltd is a Joint Venture between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited and Argon Property Development Solutions Limited. It was appointed to this work through SRMCV’s place on the Pagabo Developer Led Framework, a nationwide procurement framework available for public sector organisations that focuses on delivering social value for each development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bradford College has teamed up with Sewell Construction for the creation of its new multi-million-pound T Level facilities. The work, which starts in May, will involve the remodelling of a number of areas within the College’s David Hockney Building to create a high-quality training environment, enabling students to learn skills which will help them in their future careers. The project is the result of a £3.5m Department for Education (T Level Capital Fund – Wave 5) investment. As well as adding new lecturing spaces for business and media students, the project will also create new hair and beauty salon facilities and refurbish the college’s existing training restaurant. Both will be open to the public and used by students to hone their new skills in real-life environments. The commercial and training salon will include a barbers, nail bar and laser room for beauty treatments, and the restaurant will incorporate a new outdoor street food cabin and dining area. Business and admin students will have refurbished classrooms, and media students will be able to use the latest technology in a new TV studio, editing and sound suites. The fast-paced construction programme will take place over the summer, allowing students to return in September to their brand-new facilities. Pamela Sheldon, Head of Projects at Bradford College said: “We’re delighted to be working with Sewell Construction again to bring even more exceptional vocational T Level facilities to Bradford College. Their team is helping us realise our ambitious plans to create the best facilities to help turn our students’ passions into successful professions. “Sewell Construction hasn’t just helped us to create better a better campus for our students, but they’re also getting involved in our curriculum, supporting our construction students with masterclasses, work placements and industry insight days. Together, we can help young people achieve their potential, and really change lives.” Work on the new college facilities is expected to begin at the end of May, after the company were appointed through the Procure Partnerships Framework. Sewell Construction and sister company I&G have delivered in excess of £40m worth of projects alongside Procure Partnerships, with the framework offering public sector clients a dynamic and compliant route to market using mini-competition and direct award functions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work has commenced at Cordia UK’s latest project and inaugural build-to-rent (BTR) development, The Lampworks, in Birmingham. The Birmingham-based property developer has appointed Shropshire-based construction management practice buildfifty5 to deliver the main construction works for the project in partnership with residential general contractor Pedrano UK. The Lampworks will incorporate a total of 148 apartments and is set to be one of the most energy-efficient projects in Birmingham – offering exclusively A and B EPC-rated dwellings. As the first building in Cordia UK’s BTR portfolio, it will offer a combination of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and affordable homes, alongside contemporary commercial units on the ground floor set in a series of striking landscaped courtyards. Residents will have access to high-quality communal facilities, including a co-working space, individual meeting rooms, a shared lounge and a communal kitchen/diner, fit out with modern designs and the latest technologies. Located at the intersection of Great Hampton Street and Harford Street, The Lampworks will reflect the industrial heritage of the Jewellery Quarter. It forms part of Cordia UK’s wider vision for Great Hampton Street, a master plan to transform the area into a thriving residential and commercial destination. András Kárpáti, CEO at Cordia UK, said: “The Lampworks is the first development in our build-to-rent portfolio and a unique addition to Birmingham’s rental market – offering contemporary architectural design and amenities in a setting that maintains and reflects the Jewellery Quarter’s renowned heritage. “We are excited to be working with our construction partners buildfifty5 and Pedrano UK on the project and look forward to seeing our vision for Great Hampton Street continue to come to life with new residents and independent businesses.” As a member of one of the largest residential real estate development and investment groups in Europe, Cordia International (Member of Futureal Group), Cordia UK benefits from a vast track record of international projects and is driving forward innovative practices in the UK residential market. Construction at The Lampworks is being supported by Cordia International’s key strategic partner, Pedrano Group. With 15 years of experience in apartment developments across Europe, Pedrano will work closely with local contractor buildfifty5 to provide strategic direction on the project. Financial support for the development has been provided by Octopus Real Estate, part of Octopus Investments and a leading specialist real estate investor and lender, with assistance from financial advisor BBS Capital. The loan was provided as part of its Greener Homes Alliance with Homes England, which pledges to commit £172 million in finance and expert support to SME housebuilders ─ enabling them to build more high-quality, energy-efficient homes throughout England. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall has been appointed to two new Pagabo frameworks. The two frameworks are valued at £1.6 billion each and will run for four years. It was confirmed earlier this month that Morgan Sindall had been appointed to the new £1.6bn Healthcare Decarbonisation Framework from Pagabo, which has recently been named as an NHS Accredited Framework Host. Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is serving as the healthcare sector-specialist contracting authority for the framework, which will run for four years. The suppliers appointed can provide a complete business solution for clients, allowing them to go directly to main contractors to undertake retrofit assessments, work up costs, self-deliver or bring in supply chain partners to deliver schemes, while serving as a single point of contact. The second framework – Decarbonisation Solutions Framework – is open to clients from all other sectors and is hosted by Kingston upon Hull City Council. Projects delivered through this framework will be focused on decarbonising existing domestic and non-domestic estates (education, commercial, leisure) by reducing operational carbon emissions and improving energy performance. For both frameworks, Morgan Sindall successfully bid for Lots 2 (£1-5m), 3 (£5-15m) and 4 (£15m+). Typical projects may include, but are not limited to, installation of specialist heating, cooling and ventilation systems, installation of renewable energy sources, fabric upgrades, installation of energy-saving lighting, and replacement of inefficient glazing. Since 2015 Morgan Sindall has collaborated with Pagabo to deliver projects using its Intelligent Solutions approach, which brings together digital and platform design capabilities with modern construction methods and innovative carbon reduction tools to create unique, sustainable, and inspiring places. Rob Hall, Framework Director, Morgan Sindall Construction said: “On the many projects we have been appointed to and delivered through Pagabo’s frameworks in recent years, decarbonisation and the deployment of green technology has always been a focus. It’s therefore fantastic news that we have won places on these two new frameworks specifically designed for decarbonising public estates. “Given the climate emergency and the need to reach challenging net zero targets, we envisage demand for decarbonisation services within the construction industry to soar in years to come. These frameworks provide an excellent means by which we can offer creative solutions to ensure public buildings can continue to serve their communities while being as sustainable as possible.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
