The UK is currently facing a difficult time with the ongoing cost of living crisis hitting both businesses and individuals hard. This is due to rise in interest rates as well as inflation causing price rises for goods in all sectors and unfortunately, the construction industry hasn’t evaded this either.
Whether you’re aiming to complete a self-build or you simply want to understand what happens at the beginning of a construction project, it’s always essential to start at the foundational level. Here are the steps that lay the foundations for a new property. With the tips below, you can get
Steep inflation always causes a major challenge for businesses in all kinds of sectors. In the construction industry, it leads to increases in prices for things like building materials and machinery hire, and it can result in projects being delayed and profit margins being reduced. In recent times, inflation has
New concrete tile manufacturing facility unlocks significant, additional capacity enabling organic growth, whilst reducing resource consumption and CO2 emissions Investment in electric kilns at an existing facility, reduces reliance on natural gas. Wienerberger is pleased to announce a significant investment in the construction of a brand-new concrete roof tile manufacturing
DP WORLD recently announces that work has started on site to build a new fourth berth at its London Gateway smart logistics hub. The resilience of the UK supply chain will be strengthened by the £350m project, which builds on DP World’s £2bn investment in Britain over the last decade.
Balfour Beatty Living Places today announces that it has been awarded a new, seven-year, £297 million contract by East Sussex County Council for the maintenance of highways assets and delivery of infrastructure services across the county. There is an option to extend the contract by a further seven years based
First of two 2,000 tonne TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines) starts 5-mile journey towards Greenford from West Ruislip in West London First machine named ‘Sushila’, after pupils nominated local teacher Sushila Hirani. Second machine named after ‘first professional’ female astronomer Caroline Herschel. HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston: “The launch of the
Following a recent flurry of acquisitions within the UK, Prologis, a leading owner and developer of logistics real estate, has announced three strategic developments across the Midlands and the South East. The projects at Prologis Park Midpoint, located in Birmingham, Prologis Park West London and Prologis Park Brooklands in Weybridge
Housing association and social landlord, One Manchester, has handed over the keys to tenants in its latest new social housing and shared ownership development, boasting some impressive green credentials. A new development of 21 homes on Mayton Street in Openshaw completed last month creating a new benchmark for family social
Workers at Laing O’Rourke are confident that Everton Stadium will have the ‘wow’ factor – because they have already built it once! Craig Wallace, a Digital Engineer for Laing O’Rourke, is one of a select few with the responsibility for ensuring the project’s approach towards ‘digital’ uses leading processes, technology
The UK is currently facing a difficult time with the ongoing cost of living crisis hitting both businesses and individuals hard. This is due to rise in interest rates as well as inflation causing price rises for goods in all sectors and unfortunately, the construction industry hasn’t evaded this either. As we approach 2023, the future of construction is looking rather bleak with project prices expected to continue rising. Whilst inflation rates and interest rates will play their part in this, the main cause is a material shortage. Some of the resources that are low in stock everywhere include: This creates new challenges for businesses to navigate as they try to steer their business clear during these hard times. However, with careful planning and a proactive mindset, construction businesses can make changes to mitigate some of the rising costs and keep their business afloat in 2023. Read on to find out how you can do that. The prices of building materials There has been a 24.1% increase in material prices compared to one year prior according to data collected in August 2022. This is a huge increase which is making turning a profit even harder for construction businesses. The shortage of materials, inflation, energy price rises and war in Ukraine are all factors which have taken the prices of construction materials up. Many of these reasons don’t appear to be going away any time soon, so the construction industry must adapt now. What can construction businesses do about this? If rising prices and material shortages are affecting your business, then here are the easiest ways to ensure you keep costs and downtime to a minimum. Plan ahead Get organised and order your materials early to ensure they’re delivered on time and at a desirable price. Be sure to stay in close contact with suppliers for regular updates on your order. Research The internet is a great place to research the best prices for materials for your project. Find the suppliers that offer the best rates and place an order. You may also benefit from ordering in bulk for better prices too. Maintain construction compliance With material costs taking up most of your budget now, you don’t want to be spending money unnecessarily. That’s why you should think about taking out construction insurance which could cover your business and maintain strict health and safety standards on site, so you are not leaving your business completely exposed to accidents. The future is looking to be a costly one for businesses in all industries but in particular the construction sector. Having said all this, the construction sector will still be a vital part of the economy and one can expect demand for insulation and home improvements to still be high. Take the steps we’ve mentioned above to ensure your business isn’t at risk in 2023. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Whether you’re aiming to complete a self-build or you simply want to understand what happens at the beginning of a construction project, it’s always essential to start at the foundational level. Here are the steps that lay the foundations for a new property. With the tips below, you can get a good idea of what, precisely, has to be done before the real construction can begin. In most cases, these steps are going to be necessary before any other work is done. Do you need to demolish any buildings in the way? If you’re beginning construction on a bare patch of land, then you’re not going to need to think about demolition too much. However, if you do need to demolish any structures in the way, then you should do it with the help of demolition experts. Not only do you want to make sure that you’re able to complete demolitions as safely and efficiently as possible, but you also want to make sure that any demolitions that have to be carried out do not affect the stability and usability of the land beneath the buildings too much, given that you have to build on it again. An investigation of the area In some cases, you may need to work with a team to demolish any structures that are currently standing on the ground where you are aiming to work. Otherwise, regardless of whether there has been a structure there or not, you’re going to need to invest in the ground investigation. This can help you get an idea of where the ground itself has any issues that need to be addressed, such as stability levels, contamination of the ground from industrial or agricultural use, as well as the presence of any obstructions there might be in the ground, such as buried well infrastructure. You may also need to invest in some site clearance to make sure that the obstructions are moved out of the way. Putting down the foundations Once you know that the ground is clear, you need to go through the process of laying the foundations of the property. The extent of your foundations will depend primarily on the scale and weight of the building. A base for a garden shed or outhouse is not going to be anywhere near as extensive as the foundation for a house, for instance. There are two types of foundations, shallow and deep. For smaller buildings, including most homes, shallow foundations tend to be enough. However, you still need to make sure that the foundations you choose are effective at spreading out the weight of the new building while providing a stable and solid root for the building. Mind the groundwork Depending on the extent of the groundwork that you need to do in order to complete a project, this part may well come before the foundation is laid. For instance, groundwork includes any of the landscaping that has to be done to prepare a level and reliable worksite. It can also include any of the basement buildings and excavation that has to be done, not to mention identifying the sewage options for the building and drainage, so working with a team like drainage supplies from Kpipe is essential for ensuring that you’re able to connect the home’s drainage to whatever sewer lines are available. It’s best to leave the work of figuring out the drainage and utilities to contractors with skills and knowledge specific to those areas. Make sure that you’re ready to deal with any waste From all of the waste generated from clearing and excavating the land to the resources that are left over after you have completed the groundwork and the foundations, you need to be prepared for the sheer amount of waste that site demolition and clearance may require. There are a lot of cases where waste can be re-used down the line, whether on the same project or on a future project. However, if that’s not the case, then you may need to look at the possibility of working with teams like construction waste removal services from SafeGroup to make sure that you’re taking care of your waste responsibly and in keeping with any regulations. Every successful construction project demands effective planning and forward thinking. Without the groundwork and the foundational steps taken above, there can’t be any safety or reliability in a construction job. Ensure you have the tools, skills, and contractors necessary to do all of the above if you’re aiming to build a property from scratch. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Steep inflation always causes a major challenge for businesses in all kinds of sectors. In the construction industry, it leads to increases in prices for things like building materials and machinery hire, and it can result in projects being delayed and profit margins being reduced. In recent times, inflation has soared and significantly impacted the UK’s construction industry. Seeing as inflation is continuing to rise, construction companies and those involved in the supply chain could be facing problems for some time yet. Material Costs Have Risen Significantly Covid-19 lockdowns, Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and other factors, are all affecting the steep rise in inflation that the construction industry and other industries have recently experienced. In 2022, according to the latest statistics from the UK’s Office for National Statistics, the construction material price index rose by an incredible 25.2% year-on-year in April 2022. That is the eleventh consecutive year-on-year increase since June 2021. In the first four months of 2022 alone, ready-mix concrete rose by 12.5%, bricks, flagstones, blocks, and tiles rose by 18.4%, and steel bars for concrete reinforcement rose by a staggering 51.2%. Therefore, it should already be clear just how much inflation is affecting companies in the construction industry. Indeed, according to a 2022 survey conducted by the UK’s Federation of Master Builders, 98% of builders in the country saw material costs increase in the first quarter of 2022, and 83% of those builders had no option but to pass on those additional costs to their clients. The survey also showed that 73% of UK builders ended up delaying projects due to a lack of materials. Subcontractors Are Feeling the Pinch While most companies that work directly and indirectly within the construction industry are feeling the impact of inflation, some firms are thriving due to the increase in inflation. For example, there has been a great effort to keep the supply chain moving, which means the top-rated movers for long distances have seen their business increase. But others, like subcontractors, are really feeling the pinch. In particular, many subcontractors who entered fixed-price lump sum contracts before 2022 or in early 2022 are discovering that their existing construction contracts are not economically viable anymore. With a lump sum contract, a single price for all construction work is agreed upon before the works begin, which means many construction companies simply cannot deliver the projects they were contracted to carry out. Obviously, the ramifications of that are huge, both for the construction firms and for their customers. Many subcontractors who are still in operation are now increasing their loans in order to fulfil client projects, while other subcontractors are falling by the wayside. Unless operators further up the supply chain can be more flexible in their prices, subcontractors and others will continue to be massively affected. Some of the UK’s Biggest Construction Projects Have Felt the Impact of Rising Inflation It is not only subcontractors and small companies that are being affected. Some of the UK’s biggest construction projects have also felt the impact of inflation. The rise in the cost of key building materials in addition to things like geopolitical risks has seen all of the UK’s major construction projects go over budget and past their due dates for completion, including the HS2 railway, Crossrail, Hinkley Point C, and the Battersea Power Station redevelopment. While those major projects are now starting to get back on track, unless inflation begins to come under more control and supply chains and labour shortages are sorted out soon, the construction industry as a whole in the UK, and throughout the world, is likely to be in turmoil for some time yet.
New concrete tile manufacturing facility unlocks significant, additional capacity enabling organic growth, whilst reducing resource consumption and CO2 emissions Investment in electric kilns at an existing facility, reduces reliance on natural gas. Wienerberger is pleased to announce a significant investment in the construction of a brand-new concrete roof tile manufacturing facility in Kent, South East England along with the significant energy transformation of its Broomfleet factory near Hull in the North East. These exciting new plans, designed to deliver organic growth from an increasingly efficient cost base, will bring a welcomed increase in production capacity, whilst also pressing ahead with decarbonisation plans as part of its ambitious Sustainability Roadmap. The new, state-of-the-art concrete roof tile production facility will be sited next to its Smeed Dean brick factory, reinforcing Wienerberger’s commitment to UK operations and the South East in particular, where brick manufacture at Smeed Dean dates back to 1875. The business will simultaneously complete the ambitious renovation of two of its Broomfleet factory lines, making it Europe’s first-ever clay roof-tile plant to completely eliminate the use of natural gas and the associated CO2 emissions from the drying and firing process, thus reducing the carbon emissions of these lines by an impressive 75%. This announcement is representative of the company’s confidence in the market and is testament to its commitment to decarbonisation via innovation of products, services, and new methods of production. In 2021, Wienerberger UK & Ireland set out its Sustainability Roadmap ‘Let’s Build Beyond’, which outlined the vital actions the business would take to create enduring value for its stakeholders as it transitioned to a net-zero emission, nature-positive business. Keith Barker, Chief Operating Officer, Wienerberger UK & Ireland commented, “We are aware of and want to tackle the issues of climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity head-on by making sustainability the main driver of our company growth strategy. This investment demonstrates our commitment to expansion in the UK and Ireland market and, is fully aligned with our ambitions for the sustainable growth which will secure the future of our business.” The new concrete tile-making facility will significantly increase the company’s production capacity enabling it to better serve the needs of its customers, with new and existing tile formats, providing additional capacity with lower CO2 emissions per square metre of installed roof. The significant, transformational investment at its Broomfleet clay roof tile manufacturing site near Hull is driven by the desire to reduce resource consumption and CO2 output. Wienerberger has chosen the UK for the first commercial-scale implementation of electric kilns using 100% renewable energy within the clay roof-tile manufacturing sector. This is a key step towards realising its ambitious carbon reduction commitment and demonstrates consistent implementation of the Group’s ESG strategy. Simon Nevitt, Operations Director and Board member at Wienerberger UK & Ireland commented “We recognise the importance of rapidly reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and we are achieving this through both product innovation, and manufacturing methods. This particular investment in two of our existing Broomfleet production lines eliminates our use of fossil fuels from the firing and drying processes, reducing the. carbon emissions (Scope 1 tCO2e) from this production line by 75%.” The phased transition process is due to begin later this year. Going forward, customers will benefit from a range of products with reduced embodied carbon content, supporting the construction industry’s transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
DP WORLD recently announces that work has started on site to build a new fourth berth at its London Gateway smart logistics hub. The resilience of the UK supply chain will be strengthened by the £350m project, which builds on DP World’s £2bn investment in Britain over the last decade. On completion in 2024 it will lift London Gateway’s capacity by a third, giving it more room to handle the world’s largest vessels than any other port in the country. Ernst Schulze, UK Chief Executive of DP World, said: “I am delighted that we have taken the next step in delivery of the new fourth berth and made clear our commitment to investing in and regenerating the areas where we operate. Over the next 10 years we have earmarked a further £1bn of investment in this country.” “The construction of the new fourth berth is creating 1,000 jobs and London Gateway’s rapidly growing logistics park will employ 12,000 people when it is completed in five years’ time. Our investment is a catalyst for the regeneration of one of the most deprived areas in the UK, which is currently in the top decile of deprivation.” Seamus Devlin, McLaughlin & Harvey Civil Engineering Director, added “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract with DP World and to begin delivering this vital piece of national infrastructure. We bring with us extensive experience in the marine sector, and look forward to engaging with our local supply chain and creating jobs locally.” DP World operates the UK’s most advanced logistics hubs: two deep water ports at London Gateway and Southampton with access to freight rail terminals, and a rapidly expanding logistics park on the doorstep of the capital. By offering a choice of deep-water entry and exit points to and from the country, the leading provider of smart logistics solutions is giving greater flexibility to shipping lines, cargo owners and exporters. In a record for the port, DP World announced in July that London Gateway handled more than one million TEU in six months between January and June. When factoring in throughput at Southampton this performance contributed to a record volume of cargo in the first half of the year for DP World’s ports in the UK, with a combined total of 1,937,000 TEU.
Balfour Beatty Living Places today announces that it has been awarded a new, seven-year, £297 million contract by East Sussex County Council for the maintenance of highways assets and delivery of infrastructure services across the county. There is an option to extend the contract by a further seven years based on the successful delivery of the initial seven-year term, worth up to a total value of £730 million. Balfour Beatty Living Places will work alongside East Sussex County Council to maintain the county’s highway network and infrastructure, including roads, pavements, drainage, streetlights, traffic lights and bridges. In addition, the company will also provide winter gritting services and deliver highway improvement schemes. Building on the success of its ‘Operational Control Hub’ in Herefordshire and Southampton, the company will establish a new facility in East Sussex, using the latest in innovative technologies and systems designed in-house to provide a single source of visibility to monitor all activities in real-time, track progress of works and enable data-driven decision making to drive efficiencies across the network. Steve Helliwell, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Living Places said: “This latest award builds on our longstanding expertise and commitment to providing best-in-class highways and infrastructure maintenance services across the UK. “Our dedicated team of professionals will seek to introduce new technologies and innovative solutions wherever we can, helping us to create great places to work, live and play, whilst also leaving behind a lasting positive legacy for the communities in East Sussex.” Cllr Claire Dowling, the county council’s Lead Member for Transport and Environment said: “It is vital for our residents and our economy that our road network is well-maintained, and work carried out is of the right quality. “This new contract has undergone extensive scrutiny to ensure it reflects the feedback we receive on our highways work and that it builds on the successes of the current contract and is fit for purpose for our residents and communities. She added: “As well as demonstrating that this could be achieved, Balfour Beatty Living Places also showed how its activities would align with our ongoing efforts to reduce our carbon emissions and how its actions would benefit the communities of East Sussex through its social value plan, including training, apprenticeships and community projects and events. “Balfour Beatty Living Places has a lot of experience with highways maintenance and major infrastructure projects, delivering services with a number of councils across the country and we look forward to working with them in East Sussex.” As part of its commitment to The 5% Club, the company expects the number of people in earn and learn positions will increase to 10% during the contract term through its partnership with the Youth Employability Service East Sussex. The contract is scheduled to commence in Spring 2023.
First of two 2,000 tonne TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines) starts 5-mile journey towards Greenford from West Ruislip in West London First machine named ‘Sushila’, after pupils nominated local teacher Sushila Hirani. Second machine named after ‘first professional’ female astronomer Caroline Herschel. HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston: “The launch of the TBMs on the largest section of tunnels through London is a major moment for HS2, and one that demonstrates the brilliant momentum that has built behind Britain’s flagship levelling-up project.” Broadcast quality B-Roll of the switch on available here: Northolt Tunnel TBM launched (6 October 2022) Broadcast quality drone footage of the event available here: Northolt Tunnel TBMs launched (drone) HS2 Ltd yesterday celebrated the start of the next phase of tunnelling on the enormous infrastructure project, launching the first of six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will dig over 26 miles of tunnels under the capital. HS2 Ltd’s CEO, Mark Thurston was joined by local teacher, Sushila Hirani, after whom one of the tunnel boring machines at the West London site is named, as it begins on its five mile journey. “Sushila” is the fourth of 10 HS2 tunnel boring machines to be launched. The milestone highlights the progress being made on building Britain’s new high speed rail network, creating jobs and providing contracts for businesses now. Later this year a second TBM, named after 18th century astronomer Caroline Herschel, will also be launched from the West London site to build the second of HS2’s twin-bore tunnels towards central London. Speaking about the launch, the HS2 Minister, Kevin Foster MP, said: “This launch is a landmark moment in the delivery of HS2, helping link London to Birmingham and unlock better connections, quicker journeys and create thousands of skilled jobs across the North and Midlands. “Already well underway, HS2 is set to revolutionise journeys for communities throughout the country, boost local economies and, at its peak, support more than 34,000 jobs across the UK.” Each weighing over 2,000 tonnes and measuring 140 metres in length, both TBMs will bore five miles non-stop for 22 months, except Christmas Day and bank holidays, to Greenpark Way in Greenford, where they will be dismantled and lifted from the ground. Separately, two other equally massive tunnel boring machines will set off towards Greenpark Way from HS2’s Victoria Road site in 2023 to build a further 3.4mile twin-bore tunnel. Together the quartet of TBMs will build 8.4miles of twin bored tunnels between West Ruislip and the new high speed rail super hub station at Old Oak Common. Another 4.5 mile twin-bore tunnel extending from Old Oak Common to Euston will complete HS2’s journey to its London terminus. Each TBM is operated by 15 people, working in shifts. A team of around 40 people assembled the TBMs, with 56 companies involved in getting the site ready and machines launched. In total the 10 TBMs will create 64 miles of tunnels on HS2 between London and the West Midlands. Launching the TBM, HS2 CEO Mark Thurston said: “The launch of the Tunnel Boring Machines on the longest section of tunnels through London is a significant moment for HS2, and one that demonstrates the momentum that has built behind Britain’s flagship levelling-up project. “The construction of 170 miles of new high speed railway between London and Crewe is now in full swing, supporting 27,000 jobs, nearly 1,000 apprenticeships and contracts for over 2,500 businesses.” Local school children from Dairy Meadow Primary School in Southall and Brentside Primary Academy helped name the TBMs after participating in workshops about the tunnelling work. The TBM launched today is called Sushila after local schoolteacher Sushila Hirani, Head of Department and Lead for STEM at Greenford High School. The Willow class at Dairy Meadow Primary School in Southall suggested the name due to her inspiring work and passion for getting more women and young people from BAME backgrounds into STEM subjects. With a background in product design, Sushila has been a teacher for nearly 30 years. Her involvement in local infrastructure and development projects, including the Waterside housing development in Southall, and drive to attract girls into STEM subjects as a path towards Engineering at A Level, apprenticeships, and degrees, has inspired many in the local area. Speaking about having HS2’s first London tunnel boring machine named after her, Sushila said: “I was very surprised that the Willow class pupils at Dairy Meadow chose to put my name forward for this honour. When I met the pupils, I was very impressed by how much work they had already engaged in relating to design and technology and STEM, led by their teacher Prabhjot Uppal, who is the design technology lead at the school. I have always had a passion for industrial design and engineering, and if this event helps young people connect with engineering and inspire them to pursue this path, then my small contribution here has been worthwhile.” The second TBM to be launched has been named Caroline after the German-born British astronomer Caroline Herschel. Considered the first professional female astronomer, discovering three new nebulae (hazy clouds where stars form) in 1783, Herschel went on to be first woman to ever discover a comet in 1786. She made significant contributions to the work of her astronomer brother Sir William, executing many of the calculations connected with his studies. She compiled a catalogue of 2500 nebulae and, in 1828, the Royal Astronomical Society awarded her its gold medal for this work. Her name was put forward for the TBM by pupils at Brentside Primary Academy in Ealing, who were inspired by her contribution to astronomy whilst learning about earth and space in their science lessons. Sushila and Caroline will be operated by Skanska Costain STRABAG JV (SCS JV). The machines are manufactured by worldwide TBM specialist Herrenknecht in Germany. Further facts about the TBMS: Each machine is 140 metres in length, one and a quarter times the length of a football pitch Each has a cutter head that is 9.84m in diameter, slightly smaller than the machines boring through
Following a recent flurry of acquisitions within the UK, Prologis, a leading owner and developer of logistics real estate, has announced three strategic developments across the Midlands and the South East. The projects at Prologis Park Midpoint, located in Birmingham, Prologis Park West London and Prologis Park Brooklands in Weybridge , bringing the total amount of land under development by Prologis UK for the logistics industry to 2.4 million sq. ft. Ground has been broken at Prologis Park Midpoint, one of the UK’s most successful logistics parks, with the new unit, DC6, under construction as part of a speculative development project. On completion, the new 163,754 sp. ft. distribution centre will bring the total floorspace of logistics properties at the park to over 1.6 million sq. ft. Prologis Park Midpoint is situated in the logistics “Golden Triangle” in the Midlands – a prime location to support growing supply chain needs. The park is situated just eight miles from central Birmingham and has access to 11 motorway junctions within five miles, providing vital accessibility for national and urban distribution. As demands within the ecommerce sector continue to grow, there has been an increased focus on the need for more high-density urban hubs to provide greater last-mile capabilities. In response to the growing needs of the industry, Prologis has broken ground on two key development areas within Greater London. Strategically positioned to ensure access the major consumer markets within West and Central London, and Thames Valley, Prologis Park West London is located on the doorstep of Heathrow Airport and within four miles of the M25. The two new units, DC5 (195,719 sq. ft.) and DC6 (143,849 sq. ft.), are due to finish construction in Spring 2023. Likewise, Prologis Park Brooklands DC1 is situated in a proven last-mile delivery location, serving Central and South London, with easy access to the M25, M3 and A3. The new 124,401 sq. ft. logistics facility draws upon a large and skilled labour pool from Weybridge and surrounding areas. Both Prologis Park West London and Prologis Park Brooklands are designed and built to meet the demands of high-performance operations. As well as being Grade A logistics and manufacturing facilities,all three developments will be certified net zero carbon in construction, with the new facilities targeted to achieve BREEAM-rated ‘Excellent’, a mark of Prologis’ ongoing environmental credentials. In addition, the units will be kitted out with EV infrastructure for the benefit of customers with green fleets. Paul Weston, Regional Head at Prologis UK, said: “Our development projects benefit from the excellent support of local councils and other stakeholders right from the start. Not only do these speculative developments show the strength and confidence we have in the sector, but also the exemplify the innovative ways in which the industry can support its ongoing growth. We’ve listened to the market, and to our customers, and are actively pushing forward development plans to support areas of growth, such as last-mile and urban delivery. “We’re immensely proud of the development projects that are ongoing across the country, and these new units are expected to generate a high level of interest and bring an array of benefits for the local economy and communities.”
Housing association and social landlord, One Manchester, has handed over the keys to tenants in its latest new social housing and shared ownership development, boasting some impressive green credentials. A new development of 21 homes on Mayton Street in Openshaw completed last month creating a new benchmark for family social housing in the city. The all-electric development consists of 15 houses for social rent and six made available for shared ownership. The homes were constructed using a sustainable timber panellised system manufactured off site and make use of air source heat pumps for hot water heating. The wider development also benefits from solar-powered street lighting. Building work for the Mayton Street development was started by John Southworth Builders in August 2021, and after 12 months the project has been completed – three months ahead of its proposed completion in December 2022. One Manchester is working toward the zero carbon Manchester ambition to become a zero carbon city by 2038 at the latest. Judy Noah, Director of Development at One Manchester, said: “One Manchester is committed to decarbonising its portfolio and this can be seen in our latest development on Mayton Street. We are no longer building new homes with gas boilers and we are making sure that these homes are exceptionally well-insulated so that they require minimal amounts of heating to keep them warm. “We worked hard to ensure that the scheme maintained a significant element of well landscaped and inviting green space while also creating brilliant family homes with remarkably high quality large gardens. We’re excited to see families move in and how they make this neighbourhood their own.” Plans for the project were designed by GWP Architecture. The social properties are now all occupied and the shared ownership properties are expected to complete before the end of September. Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “We have a number of housing challenges in Manchester, which include meeting a growing demand for quality social and affordable housing, to support more residents to become home owners, and to increase the number of sustainable homes to help us meet our target to become a zero carbon city by 2038. “This development ticks all those boxes – while bringing brownfield land back into use. This is exactly the type of housing investment we need in Manchester.” The site in One Manchester’s ownership had been cleared of unpopular flats some years ago and was initially earmarked for 39 new homes. However, responding to local concerns, One Manchester opted to reduce the number of homes and preserve and improve the green space provision. The Mayton Street project is a continuation of One Manchester’s projects at Windermere Close, Openshaw and Blackrock Street, Beswick which have all incorporated passivhaus design, renewable heating and off-site manufacture.
Workers at Laing O’Rourke are confident that Everton Stadium will have the ‘wow’ factor – because they have already built it once! Craig Wallace, a Digital Engineer for Laing O’Rourke, is one of a select few with the responsibility for ensuring the project’s approach towards ‘digital’ uses leading processes, technology and data. One of the ways this is evident is through a process known as Building Information Modelling (BIM), which has provided Laing with the opportunity to build the project twice – virtually, and now in reality. As such, the 52,888-seater stadium has already been completed in digital form, in mind-boggling and minute detail, from the millimetre-accurate assembly of steelwork, prefabricated concrete walls and giant roof trusses, through to pinpoint positioning of wiring, plumbing, light switches and plug sockets. “We like to think we have already built Everton Stadium,” explained Craig, who works within the offices at Bramley-Moore Dock. “It’s been built virtually on screen in a simulated environment, and now physically on site. “The real benefit is that this enables us to resolve issues upfront, in a simulated environment, before work begins on-site. “That promotes efficiency gains, reduction in risks, leads to programme and cost benefits and provides certainty throughout the life-cycle of the build. “It took some teamwork to pull together and it’s a real collaborative effort, in that our entire supply chain contribute to the model. “All of the different disciplines, such as electrical, mechanical, structural and architectural, develop their own 3D model, involving their scope of work, and then share them with us on a collaborative online platform. “That provides us with around 1,500 shared model files, which we then combine into a master model for the entire team to use. “From that, the entire project team can work to co-ordinate the build and ensure there are no clashes within the disciplines.” The 3D model, representing what will be constructed in terms of the design, incorporates the three dimensions of width, depth and height. Then, by introducing the vital dimension of time and linking model elements to the construction programme activities, the cutting-edge 4D model allows the Laing O’Rourke team to visualise the construction sequence and assess potential risks or clashes in the programme, along with opportunities that might not have been seen using more traditional methods. “What you might see in the industry is the model being linked to the programme and that shows the sequencing of the build,” explained Craig. “In addition to this, we focus on including elements such as coordinating mobile cranes, storage zones, engineering controls, walking routes and more. “That really helps to drive what we do on site and how we can coordinate different pieces of work safely. This is our highest value.” The rolling model can be accessed by the workforce on site, via screens or mobile phones, enabling them to undertake the precise workloads and feedback on progress to keep the information flow going. “Working with our supply chain, we can use the model and embedded data to visually track the progress of the build and then communicate this through dashboard reporting,” added Craig. “The model is integral to dictating, with precise detail, the just-in-time delivery slots for tonnes of steelwork and the thousands of concrete wall panels, pillars and beams. “The model is accurate as it can be, and by coordinating the disciplines we can then increase the accuracy as the design progresses. “Out of the models we can then extract the drawings and then they, along with the 3D models, can be used in parallel by the workforce.” CLICK TO SEE VIDEO – https://evertonfc.sharefile.com/d-s20d9a1b82c3d426c817084986d914c26
