ONE OF the country’s most ambitious residential developments is under construction, with ground broken on Riverside Sunderland’s first housing scheme. Sunderland City Council’s Vaux housing development – the first of 1,000 homes that will eventually stand across the Riverside Sunderland site – is underway, with North East based Tolent building
Bouygues UK has reached a key milestone in the third phase of Hallsville Quarter, the new town centre in London’s Canning Town. As the main contractor for this phase of development, the construction partner celebrated completing the structure of the build with a topping out ceremony on Wednesday 17th August,
Construction works have been completed on a new first school on the Bramshall Meadows estate on Ivinson Way in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Midlands-based main contractor G F Tomlinson has been leading the construction of the school since works started on the 12,000 sq. metre site last year. The school will offer
SPORT and leisure specialist GT3 Architects has completed a new gateway leisure centre in Coalville, Leicestershire, allowing residents to access the centre’s state-of-the-art facilities five months earlier than anticipated. Replacing the former Heritage Leisure Centre in neighbouring Whitwick, this leisure destination has been completed ahead of schedule after seamless collaboration with contractor
AFTER undergoing extensive roof and structural restoration assisted by a scaffolding structure weighing more than eight blue whales, the team behind the transformation of Derby’s iconic Market Hall has revealed that the first phase of work has now completed. The Grade II listed Victorian market hall, which has been trading
Bellway has been given the go-ahead to build 175 new homes in the Whitehouse area of Milton Keynes. The housebuilder has secured planning permission to deliver the new homes at a development to be known as Bellway at Whitehouse Park, with approval for its detailed plans given by Milton Keynes
Hayfield has made a significant investment in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) across six of its live development sites, as the multi-award-winning developer targets a turnover of £150m during 2022. A panelised system utilising large aircrete blocks is being used at five Hayfield developments, while a trial of Structural Insulated
1000 Aztec West, the South West’s first net zero carbon in operation out-of-town development, is fast taking shape. Designed by Scott Brownrigg for CEG, 1000 Aztec West near Bristol is set to become a state-of-the-art working environment which promotes inclusivity, sustainability and wellbeing, creating a new benchmark for office spaces
A38 opened 12 hours earlier than scheduled Between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 July, Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading Main Contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, erected a new pedestrian bridge over the A38 as part of its Peddimore project, being
HS2 has published its annual Equality, Diversity and Inclusion report. The report shows how the company delivering Britain’s new railway is continuing to challenge its national supply chain, and the wider rail engineering and construction sectors, to champion inclusivity. Across the supply chain, HS2’s performance continues to beat industry averages
ONE OF the country’s most ambitious residential developments is under construction, with ground broken on Riverside Sunderland’s first housing scheme. Sunderland City Council’s Vaux housing development – the first of 1,000 homes that will eventually stand across the Riverside Sunderland site – is underway, with North East based Tolent building 132 ultra-modern homes. Vaux is the first of four new residential communities being delivered by the council at Riverside Sunderland that will eventually provide city centre housing for up to 2,500 residents. Tolent will build the stunning houses – comprising apartments, townhouses, and maisonettes – using modern methods of construction, renewable energy systems and smart technology to reduce the carbon footprint of the development, producing high quality, energy efficient properties in the heart of the city. Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “It’s brilliant to see work get started on these new homes, which will help us to build a larger residential community in the city centre, in turn, driving more footfall and spend in the area by day and night. “These homes will be truly trailblazing too – made sustainably and able to support people to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs. It is a real statement development in lots of ways and one we’re proud to be leading. “And as we move forward with the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) in partnership with Sunderland College and MOBIE (Ministry of Building, Innovation and Education), we’ll begin to create a new housing ecosystem, that will see the city’s next generation of residents building the homes of the future that will deliver on our advanced manufacturing and low carbon aspirations.” HICSA is backed by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and will create a state of the art learning space at Sheepfolds where students will be trained up in modern methods of construction that will enable them to build many of the future phases of homes on Riverside Sunderland, as well as elsewhere in the city. All homes at Riverside Sunderland will provide a future living offer that will attract new and existing Sunderland residents to live in the vibrant city centre, with the properties sitting alongside the orchards and allotments of Kingsley Gardens and nearby Riverside Park, which is continuing on its journey towards becoming an accessible, attractive and ecologically diverse parkland. The Vaux neighbourhood will be the site of the Expo Sunderland in 2024, showcasing the homes of the future and the aspirational lifestyle that Sunderland will provide. Included in the scheme will be a cluster of award-winning dwellings, that were selected as the best in the national Homes of 2030 Design Competition – which explored how homes will look and function in the future. The Homes of 2030 competition, which was launched in March 2020, and managed by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), to encourage the design of environmentally-friendly homes that support people in leading independent, fulfilling lives as society ages. +Home designed by igloo Regeneration with Useful Projects, Expedition Engineers and Mawson Kerr and Connector Housing designed by Openstudio with Hoare Lea, LDA Design and Gardiner & Theobald were the joint winners of the competition, and it is their designs that will stand proudly on the site, shining a spotlight on future living and showcasing the ambitious plans the council has to make Sunderland a world-class place to live, work and play. Peter Connolly, chief executive of igloo Regeneration, said: “Working closely with the council, we have created a scheme that will be transformational for Sunderland, so getting to this point when we will start to see the first homes come out of the ground is a huge milestone for everyone involved. Not only because of the quality of the housing being delivered but also because of the positive impact that these homes will have on people’s lives. “We are very proud to have have brought together a team of local professionals who are working together effortlessly to set a real precedent for how new homes should be constructed and delivered across our UK cities in the future.” The first tranche of homes will be completed by Tolent towards the end of 2023. 111 of the homes will be built to 2025 Future Homes Standard and 21 to PASSIVHAUS standard, delivering high levels of energy efficiency. Hyperfast fibre will connect each home ensuring they’re fit for modern living and homes will also come with bike storage and a ‘city growing space’ to encourage people to grow their own herbs, fruit and vegetables. Paul Webster, chief executive officer of Tolent, said: “As a truly local contractor, we are proud to be involved in this landmark project and continue our legacy in the City of Sunderland. The delivery of these ultra-modern and sustainable homes pushes the boundaries of conventional housing projects and demonstrates the skill and vision of the entire project team. I look forward to seeing the historic site develop over the coming months as the buildings become established which will contribute to the changing skyline of the city centre.” Tolent has committed to delivering significant social value during construction, working with local people and supporting the local supply chain, as well as voluntary and community organisations across Sunderland. In all, over £17m of social value activity – including supporting local jobs for a range of people including apprenticeships and placements, a commitment to spend in the local area through the growth of regional supply chains and a variety of schemes to engage with local community groups – will be delivered during the construction phase of the project. Louise Dodds, Client Relationship Manager at Procurement Hub, said: “Procurement Hub is delighted to be the Procurement partner of choice to deliver a solution for Sunderland City Council on such a forward thinking scheme, and to be part of such a high-profile project which is being delivered by Tolent and will be showcased at the Housing Expo in 2023. We are excited to see the progress on site now that ground has been broken and works are commencing.”
Bouygues UK has reached a key milestone in the third phase of Hallsville Quarter, the new town centre in London’s Canning Town. As the main contractor for this phase of development, the construction partner celebrated completing the structure of the build with a topping out ceremony on Wednesday 17th August, alongside Linkcity and One Housing Group. The £240m (GDV) Hallsville Quarter scheme is one of London’s biggest regeneration projects, and the third phase, expected to complete in 2024, will be the largest to date, more than doubling the number of new homes the scheme has delivered so far. Bouygues UK has been working closely with its property development sister company Linkcity, One Housing Group, Grainger and the London Borough of Newham to deliver Phase 3 which will include: 278 private rental homes situated across two blocks owned by Grainger, including 2,400m2 commercial space within the blocks 245 shared ownership (including 10 shared equity) 50 extra care 47 affordable rent (including 10 London affordable rent) 6,800m2 of commercial space owned by Linkcity which it intends to let and/or sell to a commercial investor. Download A computer generated image of Hallsville Quarter from Rathbone Street (c) HawkinsBrown This latest phase of the Hallsville Quarter development will also deliver an integrated health centre under an innovative new model with local health partners, 1,125m2 of business accommodation, a new basement car park for 143 vehicles, and new high-quality public spaces, including fountains and play areas. In total, the Hallsville Quarter development, which is part of the Canning Town and Custom House regeneration project, will provide 1,100 new homes, over 30,000m2 of leisure and retail space, and more than 2,975m2 of space for community facilities, as well as new public spaces, pedestrian links, cyclist provision and secure parking spaces. Gerald Farque, Bouygues UK Managing Director said, “It’s wonderful to be here to celebrate reaching this important milestone at Hallsville Quarter Phase 3, one of the most significant town centre regeneration projects. I am particularly proud of our in-house civil works teams who have delivered, as with previous phases, the reinforced concrete frame. I would also like to congratulate the project team on their commitment to social value, in particular supporting local labour at each phase of this regeneration scheme.” Phillippa Prongué, Linkcity Managing Director said, “For over 10 years, Bouygues UK and Linkcity have been working closely with the London Borough of Newham to deliver the regeneration of Canning Town. It’s great to be here to celebrate reaching this stage of the build in a project which will transform this area of east London and help create a thriving centre. Congratulations to everyone involved in reaching this point.” Robert Marcantoni, Group Director of Development for One Housing (Part of Riverside) added, “One Housing are delighted to partner with Linkcity and Bouygues UK to provide over 300 much needed social homes within one of our key London boroughs. This milestone is a fantastic achievement and builds on the existing homes we have within this community. In this housing and cost of living crisis this 3rd Phase of Hallsville Quarter provides much needed affordable homes and delivers a 50 unit Extra Care Scheme where we will be providing support and personal care services to adults over 55 years old. Following the recent off-plan launch of our Shared Ownership homes, we have already had great interest and feedback and we look forward to the handover of these great affordable homes.”
Construction works have been completed on a new first school on the Bramshall Meadows estate on Ivinson Way in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Midlands-based main contractor G F Tomlinson has been leading the construction of the school since works started on the 12,000 sq. metre site last year. The school will offer places for pupils from four to nine-year-olds, as well as nursery placements and looks forward to welcoming the first cohort of pupils at the start of the academic year in September. An official opening ceremony will be held in October. The £4.3 million scheme has been completed through Staffordshire County Council’s Capital Framework and has been designed and project managed by Entrust. Now complete, the school will be led and managed by The Uttoxeter Learning Trust. The new, single storey 1 form entry (1FE) first school has been developed as part of a wider plan to expand first school provision in Uttoxeter in response to an increased demand for places generated from new housing in the local area, such as the Bramshall Meadows housing development. It represents the first school to be constructed in Uttoxeter in response to growth, comprising a nursery, classrooms, a multi-use hall, catering space, outdoor sports pitch, play areas and car parking. G F Tomlinson has been entrusted to deliver five schools to date for Staffordshire County Council with Bramshall Meadows First School being the latest, following the recently completed Fradley Park Primary School in Lichfield. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We feel very privileged to have been able to deliver this brand-new, high-quality school building for Staffordshire County Council which will create much-needed school places for children in the local area. The project is the first to be completed in response to the rise in demand for places within Uttoxeter and we feel very proud. “We very much look forward to seeing the school welcome pupils in September as the children take their first steps to embark on their academic journeys. The school has been designed with future growth and expansion very much in mind to provide an excellent learning environment for the growing community.” Jonathan Price, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education said: “Bramshall Meadows has been built in response to increased housing in the area, which has meant there will be more demand for school places. Whenever there is new housing in an area, we always work with developers, local schools and the Department for Education to put plans in place to meet increased demand for school places. “It’s fantastic that local children will be able to learn in a brand-new school with lots of amazing facilities, and I am sure they are looking forward to starting school life in September.” Andrea Cairns, Executive Headteacher at Bramshall Meadows First School, commented: “We are absolutely delighted with the new school and the high quality of the build project with all of its amazing facilities. We are very excited to welcome the first children into school in September!” To find out more about the school and further information about student places, visit: https://www.bramshallmeadows.org.uk/
SPORT and leisure specialist GT3 Architects has completed a new gateway leisure centre in Coalville, Leicestershire, allowing residents to access the centre’s state-of-the-art facilities five months earlier than anticipated. Replacing the former Heritage Leisure Centre in neighbouring Whitwick, this leisure destination has been completed ahead of schedule after seamless collaboration with contractor Metnor, project manager Paragon, landscape architect OOBE and M&E and BREEAM consultant Envision. The project, delivered on behalf of Everyone Active and North West Leicestershire District Council, includes an eight-lane, 25m pool, teaching pool with movable floor, eight-court sports hall, three squash courts and a 120-station fitness suite with spin and dance studios. Clare Noble, senior architectural technologist at GT3, said: “We were delighted to deliver this leisure centre so efficiently in collaboration with a host of great firms and contractors. We’ve worked with Everyone Active, Metnor and Paragon on a variety of leisure schemes and have a brilliant working relationship – this communication and transparency (combined with a lot of individuals putting in hard work) is what allowed us to accelerate the completion of the Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre. “A good working relationship is exceptionally important to GT3. We aim to create beautiful spaces while delivering transparency, inclusivity, and added value – which is why collaborating seamlessly with our partners is central to our work. Our ‘people architecture’ ethos extends beyond the people we’re designing for to the people we’re designing with, too.” One of the themes central to the site’s design was the sensitivity to its setting. Situated opposite an existing further education college, the new pool hall gives the appearance of pre-patinated copper cladding on its overhanging roof to reflect the design of the college. External glulam timber columns were carefully chosen to mirror the National Forest setting, and full-height glazing in the café opens up the centre to its surroundings. The bricks incorporated into the design have been locally sourced from nearby Ibstock, just 3.5 miles away, linking Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre further to its surroundings. The scheme has already seen great interest, with impressive engagement from the local community. Paul Sanders, head of community services at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: “Our state-of-the-art Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre is a fabulous facility for the district which, fits well into its National Forest setting. It’s a building we hope will get people excited about getting fit and active, and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring high-quality design.” The centre opened its doors to the public on 14 February and will facilitate a healthy lifestyle for the local community, with memberships to the former Hermitage Leisure Centre automatically transferring to the new state-of-the-art scheme. For further information visit www.gt3architects.com or join the conversation over on Twitter @_GT3Architects
AFTER undergoing extensive roof and structural restoration assisted by a scaffolding structure weighing more than eight blue whales, the team behind the transformation of Derby’s iconic Market Hall has revealed that the first phase of work has now completed. The Grade II listed Victorian market hall, which has been trading since 1866, will be transformed into a contemporary and vibrant cultural and retail destination. Wates Construction, which has an extensive track record of heritage restoration projects around the UK, has been leading an expert project team of local architects and engineers on the flagship project, comprising Latham Architects, Rogers Leask, and Clancy Consultants. The work completed includes masonry repairs to the building envelope, internal cleaning of the roof structure, and lead paint removal before the challenging and extensive heritage glazed roof replacement works. This included increasing ridge height to accommodate natural ventilation for the building, copper roof replacement, gutter and rainwater works, access equipment, localised electric works, lightening protection, and decoration. John Carlin, Regional Director at Wates Construction, said: “It has been a privilege to work on the restoration and transformation of such an iconic and unique building, maintaining its historic charm but also bringing it into the council’s overall modern vision for the revitalisation of the wider city centre. “Before this work on the roof was carried out, the Market Hall often had to close to customers for safety reasons if there was possibility of strong winds, snow, or heavy rain in case the glass windows came out of their frames. Along with the extensive restoration of the roof structure, all of these windows have now been replaced, meaning that closing the market and disrupting trade just for weather will no longer be necessary.” “Making sure that trading could continue while initial surveys and work on the roof took place was particularly important. To do this, we installed a scaffolding structure to give access to the roof without disrupting ground level activity. It was an impressive feat of engineering all by itself, which would have spanned more than 62 miles if placed end-to-end and weighed almost 900 tonnes, but it really was the key to making sure trade could continue despite our ongoing work, supporting the city’s traders post-pandemic.” Throughout the process, the project team supported traders and the council project team to a high level, offering tours and site visits, as well as engaging with local sixth-form college students and a range of industry professionals to involve the local community in the project. The team is now looking forward to commencing the second phase of the regeneration programme, which is set for later this year and will focus on internal and external configuration to transform the look and feel of the building. Raised concrete floor plinths that currently house individual market stalls will be removed to create a more airy, open and accessible space, with the ground level intended to provide space for up to 32 market stalls, which will be portable for flexibility. Meanwhile, the interior balcony area will provide an opportunity to accommodate a small business incubator, and to provide space for special themed markets, such as antiques or crafts. The entrances to the Market Hall are also set to be improved in the upcoming phase of work, allowing market activity to flow seamlessly into the surrounding streets and creating an attractive and flexible space in the adjacent Osnabruck Square. The Market Hall is located within Derby’s City Centre Conservation Area, which also contains Derby Cathedral, the Silk Mill, and the Guildhall Theatre, and was originally designed by Derbyshire engineer Rowland Mason Ordish. When completed, it will complement the emerging Cultural Hub, which aims to re-energise the day and night-time economies and drive stronger footfall in the Market Place and wider city centre Councillor Mick Barker, Cabinet Member for Governance and Deputy Leader of Derby City Council, said: “Derby Market Hall is one of the city’s most beautiful and prominent buildings, which connects key areas of our city centre. “As a Grade II listed building, it deserves tasteful and sympathetic attention to detail to its renovation. Quality takes time and we’re delighted to see that this striking copper roof has now been finished, which paves the way for the rest of the Market Hall’s transformation. “Soon we can move onto the internal renovation and give Derby a fantastic market, which is full of life and which will help draw people back into the heart of our city.” Wates Construction was appointed via SCAPE’s Major Works framework. The second phase of development is set to commence on site in Q4 2022, with an aim to complete in 2024. For more information, please visit https://www.wates.co.uk/
Bellway has been given the go-ahead to build 175 new homes in the Whitehouse area of Milton Keynes. The housebuilder has secured planning permission to deliver the new homes at a development to be known as Bellway at Whitehouse Park, with approval for its detailed plans given by Milton Keynes Council on Tuesday 19 July. The development, which will be on two parcels of land off Watling Street, will consist of 122 new homes for private sale and 53 affordable properties for local people through rent or shared ownership. Luke Southgate, Sales Director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “We have worked closely with Milton Keynes Council to ensure that our detailed plans for these 175 new homes meet the needs of local people. “We are very keen to get on with this exciting project and aim to begin groundworks at the end of the month, with a view to releasing the first homes for sale in the autumn. At the development, we will be building two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses to suit a wide range of purchasers, including first-time buyers, growing families and people downsizing. “As well as providing new homes for private sale, the development will also deliver a selection of 53 affordable properties to allow local people to live in new homes in the area and stay close to their family, friends and places of work.” Bellway has plans to build a total of 452 new homes at Bellway at Whitehouse Park across five plots of land acquired from L&Q last year. Whitehouse Park is part of the Western Expansion Area in Milton Keynes, which is scheduled to deliver a total of 6,500 new homes. Outline planning consent was given for this project in 2007. Luke said: “At Bellway Northern Home Counties we have our divisional headquarters in Milton Keynes and feel a real connection to the town. We are proud to be playing a key role in the ambitious scheme to deliver thousands of much-needed new homes to Milton Keynes. “These 175 new homes represent the first phase of Bellway’s plans to deliver a total of 452 new homes at Whitehouse Park. This is evidence of our ongoing commitment to try to meet the growing demand for new housing in this increasingly popular location.” More information about the new homes coming soon at Bellway at Whitehouse Park is available at https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/northern-home-counties/bellway-at-whitehouse-park.
Hayfield has made a significant investment in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) across six of its live development sites, as the multi-award-winning developer targets a turnover of £150m during 2022. A panelised system utilising large aircrete blocks is being used at five Hayfield developments, while a trial of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) is underway at another scheme. The introduction of MMC is accelerating Hayfield’s build timeframes, delivering greater programme and cost certainty, while alleviating the risks of material and labour shortages. Andy Morris, Managing Director of Hayfield said: “Making a significant investment in MMC is a fundamental strand of our ESG strategy. We are creating programme efficiencies and reducing CO2 emissions, while continuing to deliver beautiful, handcrafted homes to our customers. Some developers opt for modern exteriors when using MMC, but our architecture is far more traditional in style, as that’s what our customers prefer. “The panelised system we are using at five Hayfield developments is the closest MMC alternative to traditional brick and block masonry construction. It is enabling us to improve build pace by seven weeks. This is not only increasing our production rate and assisting with our growth plans, it is also opening up more land opportunities. To demonstrate our commitment to MMC and offsite construction, I am thrilled to report we have established an internal MMC committee to explore and review further opportunities.” The panelised ‘I-House’ MMC system is being utilised at Hayfield Park in Bromham and Hayfield Lakes in Clophill, which are both in Bedfordshire. It is also being installed at Hayfield’s two live Buckinghamshire schemes; Hayfield Walk in Hanslope, and Hayfield Oaks in Woburn Sands. The fifth live scheme selected for this MMC approach is Hayfield Grove in the Worcestershire village of Hallow, which is the housebuilder’s first EPC-A rated development. An alternative MMC trial utilising SIPs is underway at the final phase of Hayfield Place in the Bedfordshire village of Silsoe. Hayfield is proactively installing air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, EV fast-charging points, 100% renewable energy, and fibre optic broadband into all new and upcoming developments, in line with its zero-carbon-ready specification. The new investment in MMC is in line with Hayfield seeking to deliver 350 homes during 2022. The company is gearing up to construct 500 homes annually, supported by a portfolio of sites to enable visible production into the future.
1000 Aztec West, the South West’s first net zero carbon in operation out-of-town development, is fast taking shape. Designed by Scott Brownrigg for CEG, 1000 Aztec West near Bristol is set to become a state-of-the-art working environment which promotes inclusivity, sustainability and wellbeing, creating a new benchmark for office spaces in the UK. South Gloucestershire council leader Toby Savage has visited the site to see the rapid progress of the £17m transformation which is being delivered by Beard Construction. The structure’s existing 1980s footings, frame and building structure have been retained, saving some 1.7 million kg of carbon and creating a pathway to a net zero carbon development. The savings have been made by a clever conversion of the existing steel frame and much of the preparatory work was devoted to shot-blasting a cement fire treatment from the steel, which was then given a rust-proof coating. With the steel skeleton work complete, the existing roof will be removed to create a new floor and roof, which will see the capacity of the building grow from 38,000 sq ft to 80,000 sq ft, creating space for an 850-strong workforce. Councillor Savage, South Gloucestershire Council Leader and cabinet member for the local economy, said: “South Gloucestershire is the economic powerhouse of the West of England and is a fantastic place to live, work and base a business. We welcome CEG’s confidence in this location, which, thanks to its excellent connectivity, is booming. “This building is being re-developed and modernised with sustainability in mind and is in line with our own ambitious goal of tackling the climate emergency by becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The 1000 Aztec West redevelopment fits into a wider picture of significant investment in office, residential and leisure facilities in this part of our district – from the thousands of new homes being built on the former Filton Airfield, to nearby landmark leisure facilities like surfing centre The Wave, Bristol Zoo’s Wild Place and the recently opened ice rink Planet Ice.” Paul Richardson, investment manager at CEG, said: “The development delivers the key requirements of contemporary tenants – environmental sustainability, staff wellbeing, on-site facilities and data connectivity, all of which respond to the requirements of businesses seeking to provide with people with the best workspace environment.” Ed Hayden, Director at Scott Brownrigg, said: “It’s great to visit the site with Councillor Toby Savage and see the work progressing on our Aztec 1000 design for CEG. The lakeside setting and carbon conscious design will make this a really exciting new addition to the Park.” Designed to meet BREEAM Excellent and EPC A, 1000 Aztec West will be powered by renewable energy and use energy-efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems. A striking three-storey atrium will be added to the centre of the stunning new, all-glass structure which will include a secure cycle block with male and female showers and changing facilities to encourage sustainable travel. A 1,300 sq ft gym and wellness facility will be the heartbeat of the building, with daily gym and yoga classes to help tenants balance their work and leisure commitments. Attractive indoor spaces will provide places to eat, meet, drink and work, with access to Wi-Fi and plug-in points. Outside, a new café, decked terrace area and rooftop terraces will overlook Aztec West’s existing lake and parkland. Completion of the project is expected in summer 2023. More information is available at: www.1000aztecwest.co.uk
A38 opened 12 hours earlier than scheduled Between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 July, Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading Main Contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, erected a new pedestrian bridge over the A38 as part of its Peddimore project, being delivered for IM Properties. IM Properties is Birmingham City Council’s development partner for the first phase of Peddimore, which comprises all infrastructure works and the development of 37-hectares of the 71-hectare site. The civils and infrastructure project at Minworth, close to Sutton Coldfield, is to enable a major employment park. The steel tied arch footbridge has a 60-metre span, is 6.5 metres wide and the arch peaks at 20 metres above the highway. It was manufactured off site and then transported to Minworth in three deck sections and three arch sections approximately four weeks ago. It was assembled in an off-line area adjacent to the new 75 metre diameter roundabout that Winvic has also been constructing as part of the scheme. The roundabout and bridge can be seen on the Peddimore Winvic Live feed and a video of the weekend installation can be found on Winvic’s YouTube. On the morning of Friday 22, the Winvic team tandem lifted the 90-tonne structure with two mobile cranes – one 330-tonne and one 220 tonne – on to six Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMT). Traffic management was put in place from 6pm that evening and at 8pm when the road was closed to traffic the installation could begin. The SPMTs were controlled remotely, moving the structure into place on to the concrete abutments and temporary jacks by midnight, and through the night the structure’s bearings were secured and grouted. The temporary compressive struts and hangers were removed in sequence throughout the day on Saturday. Between 4pm and 4am on Sunday 24 July, 18 permanent, stainless-steel finish Total Macalloy Struts were individually torqued and tensioned to a predetermined load before being fine-tuned. The footbridge installation programme was planned meticulously by Winvic, not least because further works to the bridge could be undertaken until 10 August, due to a three-week embargo on road closures for the Commonwealth Games, being held in Birmingham. With completion of the Peddimore infrastructure project scheduled for summer, any postponement with the bridge would delay handover. The timescales also meant that no lead-time could be lost, but the UK’s record-temperatures also presented challenging conditions for operatives. Therefore, the site team made the decision to begin work at 5am each day so activities could still be carried to programme out before temperatures increased in the afternoons. The Winvic team completed the works ahead of schedule and the road was re-opened 12 hours earlier than expected, at 5.30pm on Sunday 24 July. This week, Winvic will begin the construction a permanent footpath, east of the bridge, to the Peddimore site as well as a temporary footpath on the west side of the bridge, which will meet with Walmley Ash Lane. The bridge and pathways will give residents pedestrian access over the A38 into Minworth and forms part of the green travel planning for the scheme. The other focus areas during the final five weeks of the scheme are installing access steps, handrailing, cabling and lighting, undertaking a secondary reinforced concrete cast to the bridge abutments, backfilling the abutments and approach ramps and completing the drainage and ducting connections. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Director of Civils and Infrastructure, commented: “Our scenario planning, programme management, health and safety preparations and liaison with Birmingham City Council have led to a very successful weekend at IM Properties Peddimore project. Every step of the footbridge installation – from lifting it on to the SPMTs to putting it in place over the highway to fitting the struts – went to plan; in fact, so well, we were able to open the A38 twelve hours earlier than scheduled. It was a true team effort and numerous specialist subcontractors proved themselves to be leaders in their fields. “There was no room in error with the timings, or our upcoming agreed handover date to IM Properties could not be met due to the embargo on road closures during the Commonwealth Games. The soaring temperatures certainly didn’t help in the run-up and I’d like to give special thanks to the whole Peddimore team who went above and beyond, starting work extra early so tasks could be completed before temperatures increased in the afternoon. With the bridge in place, we’re on track for handover towards the end of summer.” Andy Reynolds, Project Director for IM Properties added: “Winvic Construction Ltd, is a trusted partner in our supply chain and having worked with them across a number of our schemes, they have continually demonstrated their commitment to meeting deadlines and ensuring a partnership approach is taken when liaising with key stakeholders and the local community to work considerately and minimise disruption. “The success of the bridge works is testament to the professionalism and determination of the whole team to plan and execute a complex and time critical operation of this nature. Working in difficult conditions, they really excelled themselves and they have once again underlined why we selected them to deliver one of the UK’s largest manufacturing and logistics schemes.” Winvic praised a number of specialist subcontractors that worked as one team with Winvic to successfully deliver the bridge works, including Carver Engineering Services, Mammoet, USL Ekspan and Rubix. For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.
HS2 has published its annual Equality, Diversity and Inclusion report. The report shows how the company delivering Britain’s new railway is continuing to challenge its national supply chain, and the wider rail engineering and construction sectors, to champion inclusivity. Across the supply chain, HS2’s performance continues to beat industry averages for the number of female and BAME employees working on the project, with the supply chain achieving 28% and 18% respectively. With all three phases of the project now live, and HS2’s journey north beginning, challenge and opportunity come in equal measure. HS2 Ltd has set itself high standards, leading the way in the performance it expects from the 2,500 UK-based businesses engaged in its supply chain. Whilst just shy of the internal targets it set itself, HS2 Ltd’s own performance saw its female workforce reach 37% [40%], whilst the number of BAME employees peaked at 22%* [23%]. Natalie Penrose, Head of Legacy at HS2 said: “HS2’s construction is gathering pace by the day, and we now have a 25,000-strong workforce spread across more than 350 sites. HS2’s scale brings the reality of our challenge to life, given the white male dominance that has gripped the rail and civil engineering sectors for many years. “But every challenge brings opportunity, and I’m proud of the huge waves we are making to address national skills shortages, the threat of an ageing workforce in engineering and in attracting more women and BAME candidates into employment on the project.” At the heart of HS2’s drive for change is the growing network of employees who challenge the organisation to achieve excellence. With a collective membership of over 1,650 across eight bespoke networking groups, staff are empowered to share their experiences and expertise on a range of initiatives from gender balance, the inclusion of ethnic minority staff, challenging homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and promoting disability awareness. Engaging employees in the strategy, policy and decision making processes had driven positive change and key achievements during 2021/2022. On International Disabled People’s Day in December, HS2 launched its accessibility policy and digital accessibility hub, which seek to address the changing needs of disabled employees in the workplace and ensure that staff recognise the adjustments they can make to support their colleagues and the wider workforce. Learning from others remains a key focus for HS2 in the years ahead and we are proud of the partnerships we are forming with schools, specialist employment support services and charitable groups along the line of route to help us achieve best practice. Our work with SEND schools and specialist schools for the deaf helps us to understand the design changes we can implement to make our stations and trains accessible for all, as we strive to ensure that we build a railway that reflects the diverse needs of the communities it will serve. For more information about HS2’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, read the full report here.
