Local housebuilder Harron Homes North Midlands has recently announced that Julia Portington, who has 38 years of experience in the housebuilder industry, has been promoted from Sales Executive to Senior Sales Executive at Brierley Heath, Stanton Hill, Sutton in Ashfield. Prior to joining Harron Homes in July of 2022, Julia
The Hill Group has been chosen as delivery partner by Buckinghamshire Council to build two key housing developments, at Bellfield Road, High Wycombe and Ashwells Field, Tylers Green in an agreement which will deliver over 177 high-quality sustainable new homes for the area. Hill will redevelop land on Bellfield Road
Kadans Science Partner has submitted plans for a new, purpose-built laboratory and office building at Merlin Place, Cambridge. Investment of this scale and Kadans’ dedication to design demonstrates the significance of new laboratory space in the Science and Technology industries and addresses the lack of space that is felt countrywide
Construction firm Kier has been selected by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to develop a new £25 million net zero carbon teaching block in south Wales. The Hawthorn All-Through School project will deliver new and exciting facilities for staff and pupils from Heol y Celyn English Medium Primary, Hawthorn
Work is to commence on the Kingsgate development in Huddersfield. Supported by Kirklees Council, developer WD Kingsgate will make major changes to the centre bringing cinema and engaging leisure activities to the offering, alongside the existing shops. Work to redevelop the 90,000 square foot, former House of Fraser store will
Derbyshire based civil engineering contractor Roger Bullivant (RB) has made significant CAPEX investments to meet environmental initiatives as part of the business’s strategic growth plans. RB is a UK subsidiary of group company Soletanche Bachy. As part of the groups environmental strategy to reduce its carbon footprint by 40% by
Yorkshire-headquartered Smith Brothers has opened applications for its popular apprenticeship programme, which seeks to find the next generation of talent to join the electrical engineering industry, and keep Britain connected. With applications open for budding substation fitters, the apprenticeship is the perfect springboard to a career in the utilities industry,
Those responsible for the safety of high-rise residential buildings in England have six months from April to register with the new Building Safety Regulator. The Building Safety Regulator was established to protect high-rise residents from unsafe building practices in England in response to the Grenfell Tower fire. Under the Building
Housebuilder Rippon Homes has opened its Windsor show home at its Fox Hollow development just off the Ridings, near Market Rasen. The development comprises a mixture of 98 two, three and four-bedroom homes, including detached and semi-detached houses and bungalows. Every home is designed to a high specification and built by
Lincoln-based Stirlin Construction, part of Stirlin Group, has reached 15 years of trading, with completed projects totalling over £70m and plans to deliver £10m worth of schemes in 2023. The milestone comes just months after Stirlin Group expanded its senior contracting team with the hire of Howard Griffith as head
Local housebuilder Harron Homes North Midlands has recently announced that Julia Portington, who has 38 years of experience in the housebuilder industry, has been promoted from Sales Executive to Senior Sales Executive at Brierley Heath, Stanton Hill, Sutton in Ashfield. Prior to joining Harron Homes in July of 2022, Julia had racked up 16 years of experience as a sales executive for another house builder, which meant that she joined Harron Homes with a ready set of skills and a wealth of experience. She also gained 22 years of experience as a sales manager in previous roles, which has complemented her skillset in her new role. “At Harron, I spend a lot of time liaising with our Sales Managers. I find that my own experience as a Sales Manager has enabled me to view things from both perspectives, which really makes our communication that much more effective. “I’m definitely a people person, and I think it’s this that encouraged me to apply as a Sales Executive. Being able to interact with both customers and fellow employees every day is definitely the most rewarding aspect of the job for me.” Originally starting her career with Harron Homes at The Grange, Harron’s Shireoaks development, Julia’s new role has her overseeing Brierly Heath, Stanton Hill, Sutton in Ashfield. “At Brierley Heath, I’m involved in coaching other Sales Executives, and feeding back marketing ideas to the company. We’re the troops on the ground really – we have first-hand experience of what the customers are looking for. It really helps us tailor our marketing ideas and approaches to what is most convenient and satisfying for the customer. “Brierley Heath is a lovely development,” adds Julia, “I’m genuinely enthusiastic about the houses I’m selling and am always keen to have my customers feel excited and satisfied with their purchase. “There’s a great variety in the customers you meet each day – some are old-hands in the housing business, purchasing their second or third home, while others are first time buyers. It’s wonderful to be instrumental in helping people get their first foot on the property ladder. “Our Part Exchange Scheme has made purchasing a home all the more convenient for new customers, and offers them easy moves. Schemes like this are one of the many ways I can ensure we leave the customer delighted with their purchase. “What’s really stood out about Harron Homes for me is how we all work together. There’s a real sense of collaboration in everything we do, and I’ve always felt I can turn to people for support or advice. I want this company to be the best, and am very excited to be playing my part in that.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Hill Group has been chosen as delivery partner by Buckinghamshire Council to build two key housing developments, at Bellfield Road, High Wycombe and Ashwells Field, Tylers Green in an agreement which will deliver over 177 high-quality sustainable new homes for the area. Hill will redevelop land on Bellfield Road which will transform the site of a disused storage facility into a collection of 68 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. All available through affordable rent, Hill will be finalising a reserved matters planning application for the scheme in the spring. “As a leading housebuilder, we are honoured to have been entrusted by Buckinghamshire Council to play a pivotal role in the transformation of two prominent land sites in the High Wycombe area. This is a testament to our commitment to delivering sustainable and thriving communities that align with the needs and aspirations of residents,” said Andy Hill, Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group. “We wholeheartedly embrace the opportunity to shape the future of these sites and create enduring value for the people of High Wycombe. Our teams will collaborate closely with local stakeholders to bring our shared vision for these communities to fruition, and we are confident that together we can make a lasting impact that will benefit generations to come,” Andy continued. Plans for Ashwells Field feature a range of over 100 two, three, four, and five-bedroom houses set around landscaped gardens and open communal space, including a children’s play area. The homes at Ashwells Field will include private sale, and a mix of affordable tenures. Working closely with the local community and the planning authority, detailed designs will go to planning in the summer. “As a council we are committed to supporting our communities and ensuring that there is enough affordable housing across Buckinghamshire that is accessible for our residents. Using land we own at Bellfield as one of the sites, we are committed to building a range of affordable options for renters and buyers across the two developments in High Wycombe. Not only will we work to deliver high quality designs, we are also ensuring that the new homes will be sustainable to run with an enhanced energy performance. We are pleased to work with The Hill Group and are hoping to produce high quality homes that create thriving communities at these two High Wycombe sites,” concluded John Chilver, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Accessible Housing and Resources. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kadans Science Partner has submitted plans for a new, purpose-built laboratory and office building at Merlin Place, Cambridge. Investment of this scale and Kadans’ dedication to design demonstrates the significance of new laboratory space in the Science and Technology industries and addresses the lack of space that is felt countrywide across the UK, but most acutely in the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’. The new build development has been designed by Kadans’ in-house team alongside specialist professionals. To respond quickly and innovatively to the ever-changing landscape of scientific requirements, flexibility was a core driver in the design inception for Merlin Place. Considering structural grids, floor loadings, servicing, and operations, Kadans provides long-lasting and highly adaptable spaces. Matching these principles with informed space planning, the design of this building enhances space and light, fundamental to modern working environments and talent retention. “After extensive design work over 18 months and collaboration with the Cambridge City Council Planners, it is exciting to reach this important milestone in the programme and take a step closer in delivering our best-in-class science focused buildings,” said Edward Joslin, Development Director, Kadans Science Partner. The scheme delivers robust lab infrastructure and empowers an ecosystem for further innovation. It offers a communal space and much-needed additional café to the Cambridge North Cluster. Providing this will encourage tenants from across the cluster to come together and collaborate, while bringing Kadans’ world class knowledge in the design, development, delivery and operations of R&D buildings to the cluster. This development furthers the implementation of Kadans’ long-term model to bolster their presence and facilities within the world leading Cambridge cluster, one of the largest research & development clusters in Europe. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction firm Kier has been selected by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council to develop a new £25 million net zero carbon teaching block in south Wales. The Hawthorn All-Through School project will deliver new and exciting facilities for staff and pupils from Heol y Celyn English Medium Primary, Hawthorn Primary and Hawthorn High. It has been designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation though the installation of on site renewable energy sources such as air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels alongside purchase of renewable electricity from an energy supplier. Three of the school’s existing buildings will be demolished to make way for a new teaching block. One of these buildings is the old caretaker’s house, with the stone from the Victorian building used in the building of the new structure. “This project presents a unique opportunity to provide not one but three schools with state-of-the-art facilities which will be a significant asset to the community of Pontypridd for generations to come. With the recently completed Ffynnon Taf Primary School just 10 minutes down the road using a nearby hot spring to heat its classrooms, this project further demonstrates our commitment to providing sustainable buildings in south Wales,” said Jason Taylor, Regional Director at Kier. The new school will include 27 classrooms, a staff room, offices, reception area, therapy room, library, ICT suite, meeting rooms, DT and music areas and two new multi-use games areas, which are in addition to the existing one and current all-weather pitch. A new car park and pick up-drop off spaces will also be built as part of the project, as well as a designated bus drop off zone. Procured through the SEWSCAP framework, work is expected to be completed in 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work is to commence on the Kingsgate development in Huddersfield. Supported by Kirklees Council, developer WD Kingsgate will make major changes to the centre bringing cinema and engaging leisure activities to the offering, alongside the existing shops. Work to redevelop the 90,000 square foot, former House of Fraser store will begin in early March, with a target opening date for the complex of September 2024. “We are committed to helping businesses thrive in Kirklees and I am delighted that the council has worked very closely with WD Kingsgate to help them to deliver this scheme. Kingsgate is a key destination within the town centre, and the redevelopment will complement the existing shops and become an important family-friendly leisure destination. The developer’s vision for the project is in line with our own Blueprint ambitions for the town centre and will help create the perfect mix of retail, culture and leisure,” said Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Regeneration. The Kingsgate Centre is a key focus of Huddersfield’s town centre offer and is in a prime location next to the council’s planned Cultural Heart project. These complementary projects will transform the leisure offering in the town centre and improve the experience for residents and visitors alike. The cinema and leisure proposition will be operated by The Light, who already operate 12 other venues across the country with another opening in Surrey this year. The Light will offer six state of the art cinema screens, ten bowling lanes, alongside a variety of other leisure activities and food offerings which will be revealed in the lead up to the opening. “I am grateful for the council’s support in delivering this scheme. We are excited about bringing a high-quality cinema in to Huddersfield town centre alongside a variety of other food and leisure outlets. Our redeveloped centre will create a new destination within the town centre that gives the opportunity to shop, eat and see the latest films all within a stone’s throw of the other planned town centre developments,” added Peter Everest of WD Kingsgate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Derbyshire based civil engineering contractor Roger Bullivant (RB) has made significant CAPEX investments to meet environmental initiatives as part of the business’s strategic growth plans. RB is a UK subsidiary of group company Soletanche Bachy. As part of the groups environmental strategy to reduce its carbon footprint by 40% by 2030, RB has implemented key initiatives to drive environmental improvements within the business. Over the last 18 months, projects such as additional cement silos, electric forklift trucks, electric fleet vehicles, photovoltaic (PV) panels and REGO certified green tariffs have been implemented. The additional cement silos installed at its Swadlincote headquarters has tripled the storage capacity and reduced supply chain risk. More importantly it has facilitated the move to low carbon concrete. The company has reduced cement content by 50% though the use of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and reduced embodied carbon by four thousand tonnes per year. The latest innovations qualify the company as being recognised as a producer of CEMIII A products. RB are continuing to develop even lower carbon concrete to maximise environmental impact and enhance performance and strength. In just under twenty-four months of operation, the PV panels installed at HQ produced 152,589kWh. To put this into context, RB’s annual renewable energy generation is sufficient to power twenty-eight homes for a year. A third phase of PV panels will be completed by January 2023. “We support the governments’ ambition to transition the UK to a net zero carbon by 2050 and tackling climate change and creating sustainable solutions remains a strategic priority. With a considered and scientific approach, our low carbon concrete moves us a step closer to net-zero. Our in-house research, design, plant, and manufacturing teams are continuously looking at cutting edge technologies that allow us to innovate and inspire the industry,” said Managing Director Cliff Wren. “The significant investments we have made over the last eighteen months highlights our commitment to raise environmental standards within the sector as we drive down on our carbon footprint,” he added. Roger Bullivant Limited are the one of the UK’s leading ground engineering foundation companies, employing over 500 staff specialising in the design and manufacture of precast foundation solutions. The company operates across seven regional offices in England, Scotland and Wales. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yorkshire-headquartered Smith Brothers has opened applications for its popular apprenticeship programme, which seeks to find the next generation of talent to join the electrical engineering industry, and keep Britain connected. With applications open for budding substation fitters, the apprenticeship is the perfect springboard to a career in the utilities industry, offering vital hands-on experience of working on overhead lines, with underground cables, and in substation fitting. As part of the course, Smith Brothers will provide direct, practical advice to a pair of trainee fitters — with one of the positions already filled. This will be dovetailed by a two-year City & Guilds academic course and three years with Utility and Construction Training (UCT). “Apprenticeships provide people of all ages with a fantastic opportunity to combine practical learning with earning an income — something which is more pertinent than ever, in the current economic climate. As an employer, it’s our responsibility to support the ambitions of those in our sector and region. If you qualify as a fitter, you have a ready-made, lifelong career – anywhere in the world. It’s important that we do our bit in fostering the brightest and best in engineering talent,” explained Dave Ogden, director at Smith Brothers. The course is designed to give apprentices a sound working knowledge of a wide variety of fitting activity, as well as an understanding of safe working practices, and the practical skills and techniques to enable them to become valuable members of the workforce. The annual apprenticeship scheme is not solely reserved for school-leavers though, as Dave continued: “We take apprentices of all ages because we believe that everyone deserves the chance to learn a trade. Some of the best engineers left school and went straight into a labouring job, but years later, they might be keen to back up that ‘on the ground’ experience with a formal qualification.” As part of the programme, trainees will spend one month per year at the UTC training centre, 9-10 months on site with Smith Brothers, and the remaining time focused on completing the City & Guilds academic requirements. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Those responsible for the safety of high-rise residential buildings in England have six months from April to register with the new Building Safety Regulator. The Building Safety Regulator was established to protect high-rise residents from unsafe building practices in England in response to the Grenfell Tower fire. Under the Building Safety Act, high-rise residential buildings which are 18 metres tall or higher, or at least seven storeys, with two or more residential units are defined as ‘higher-risk’. Across England there are approximately 12,500 of these buildings and the new regulator will require all of them to be registered from April 2023, with a named person responsible for maintaining their safety. “This registration process is an important step towards building a safer future for residents of high-rise buildings. We want it to be clear where responsibility for safety in these buildings lies. As the Building Safety Regulator, we will draw from our experience to provide guidance and oversight for the industry and lay the foundation for a world-leading building safety regime, which is a part of our mission to protect people and places,” said HSE Chief Executive Sarah Albon. A new campaign aimed at owners and managers of high-rise residential buildings will highlight their new legal duties. It will call on those responsible for the safety management of higher-risk buildings to prepare for a new wave of regulatory change to ensure that they are ready to step up and comply. The registration process is a crucial stage in setting up the new building safety regime. Registering buildings in scope will be a legal requirement and owners and managers who fail to comply by October 2023 will be investigated and may face prosecution. “Our message is clear – industry must raise its standards and residents of high-rise buildings in England must be kept safe. This is a landmark moment for building safety, the information provided through registration will be an invaluable part of our crackdown on unsafe building practices. Those who are responsible for high-rise residential buildings must register; failure to do so will be against the law,” added Chief Inspector of Buildings Peter Baker. Building registration is a major step in a package of measures to ensure high-rise residential buildings are safe for residents and users. It follows the introduction of Planning Gateway One in August 2021 and will be followed by more robust building control of high-rise developments, and the certification of occupied high-rise buildings by the new Regulator. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder Rippon Homes has opened its Windsor show home at its Fox Hollow development just off the Ridings, near Market Rasen. The development comprises a mixture of 98 two, three and four-bedroom homes, including detached and semi-detached houses and bungalows. Every home is designed to a high specification and built by skilled craftspeople using the highest quality materials, with a fantastic range of styles available to suit all kinds of property seekers from first-time buyers to growing families and downsizers. The stunning four-bedroom home was brought to life by Etch Interiors, whose Creative Director, Hannah Stelling, said: “With Fox Hollow being in the beautiful market town of Market Rasen, I wanted the show home to feel quite organic, soft and natural. We wanted to do something with a more earthy tone – so we had browns, terracottas, greens and used lots of natural fabrics like linen.” “In terms of furniture, we bought some nice brass accents in for a warmer feel. We’ve used lots of warmer walnuts too, some nice deep greens but some warm and taupe colours. The whole house, as you go around has this nice, comfortable and relaxed feel.” Market Rasen features a host of amenities for prospective homebuyers including weekly open-air markets, a range of chain and independent restaurants and eateries, and over 50 independent businesses. Also nearby are Willingham Woods and Wild Pines Park, perfect for family walks. Fox Hollow is well located for access to Lincoln and Grimsby, making it ideal for commuters. Residents of the development will also be able to benefit from being less than a mile away from Market Rasen railway station, which has direct links to Nottingham and Leicester. “We are delighted to have launched the Windsor show home at our Fox Hollow development, and are excited to watch a wonderful community grow in this idyllic town,” added Julie Johnson, Director of Sales and Marketing at Rippon Homes. “With a range of homes that will appeal to a variety of property seekers, and an opportunity to settle in a popular town with all the facilities needed for everyday life. We have seen a huge interest in our homes at Fox Hollows, since launching with quite a few homes being sold off plan. We therefore urge potential homebuyers to book an appointment with our sales team.” Fox Hollow is one of three new Lincolnshire developments from Rippon Homes, alongside Eleanor Gardens in Navenby and Rose Gardens in Lea. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lincoln-based Stirlin Construction, part of Stirlin Group, has reached 15 years of trading, with completed projects totalling over £70m and plans to deliver £10m worth of schemes in 2023. The milestone comes just months after Stirlin Group expanded its senior contracting team with the hire of Howard Griffith as head of construction and Ryan Goddard as quantity surveyor. Stirlin Group is a development and construction company based in its purpose-built premises on Sadler Road in Lincoln. Since its first commercial project in 2007, Stirlin Construction has successfully delivered 30 commercial and residential schemes across Lincolnshire, for private clients and joint venture partners. The recent hire of Howard and Ryan takes the team to 20, and as the company increases its portfolio of projects, the team will expand further this year with the hire of a commercial manager and a number of other positions. Stirlin Group’s strategy for 2023 is to further build its presence and reputation for quality in its home county, along with expansion into the wider Midlands – with conversations already taking place with clients. “Our ambition has always been to be one of the leading residential and commercial developers and contractors in Lincoln and I believe we have achieved this. With the sustained demand for our services and approach, we are growing our team and widening the areas that we operate in to enable us to meet that demand and attain our aspirations for the future,” said Tony Lawton, Managing Director of Stirlin Group. “Stirlin Group is largely known as a property development company – which it certainly still is – but we have also been successfully managing the construction of our own developments and projects for a variety of clients, developing a strong reputation over the years. It’s wonderful to have reached 15 years of contracting, and with a strong order book for this year, ambitious growth plans and our talented team, it’s a very exciting time for the business. I would like to thank the whole Stirlin Group team for their passion and commitment and to our valued clients who choose to work with us.” Active projects for the contractor include a 10,000 office development for Duncan & Toplis in Louth, an industrial/office development at the Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) in Holbeach, and new phases added to commercial schemes at Kirk’s Yard in Branston and Leafbridge Business Park in Hykeham. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
