St. Modwen Homes announces £85m+ of investment across five sites St. Modwen Homes, one of the UK’s leading developers of new communities and high-quality homes, today announces five projects which will deliver over 1,100 new homes across England. The new sites will be situated in Lancashire, Kent, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and
Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete UK continues its growth trajectory with the appointment of a new NPD and sustainability manager. Former laboratory manager Matthew Gabriel, has been promoted to the new role as the team further develops the company’s sustainability strategy. With a clear focus on strengthening the firm’s commitment to
20 new affordable homes will be constructed on land near to Earl Marshal Recreation Ground. Esh Construction has been named as construction partner on a £3 million scheme which will bring new affordable homes to Sheffield. Working on behalf of Great Places Housing Group, one of the fastest growing housing
With 92% of UK homeowners planning home renovation projects in 2022, Klober has invested in its sales team to support merchants and installers in 2022 and beyond. The appointments follow reports that 30% of roofing contractors saw their workloads grow in the last quarter of 2021, according to the NFRC’s
PLANS have been revealed for a number of transformative development schemes in Stoke-on-Trent this week, including the mixed-used Etruscan Square development, which is set to procure both its development and construction through Pagabo’s national frameworks. Etruscan Square, which is backed by £20 million of levelling up funding from the
Development is being built for leading UK confectionary manufacturer Swizzels at the new MA6NITUDE logistics/industrial development in Middlewich, Cheshire. GMI Construction Group PLC has today announced that it has been appointed by Magnitude Land LLP, a joint venture between Tritax Symmetry, the development arm of Tritax Big Box and NPLL
Offsite construction specialist Rollalong is using its expertise to provide accommodation for homeless families near Wokingham, Berkshire. The Dorset-based company is due to deliver 23 modular two-bedroom homes at Grovelands Park in Winnersh, replacing existing outdated temporary accommodation for homeless families. The homes were manufactured in controlled factory conditions at
A campaign emphasising the importance of working safely to avoid falls from the platform when using Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) to enable temporary work at height has been launched by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) at its annual Summit in London, UK, on 10 March 2022. IPAF’s Don’t
St. Modwen’s dedicated housebuilding business plans to double in size over the next five years as it brings together internal capabilities in land buying, planning, pre-construction, and customer delivery. Experts within its previously standalone strategic land business, Strategic Land & Regeneration, will be combining with St. Modwen Homes to accelerate
A Shropshire building contractor has secured the contract for a new £5.1m girls’ house at one of the UK’s top independent schools. The new facilities for day and boarding students at Shrewsbury School will be the 12th scheme Pave Aways has completed at the co-educational school for 13 to 18-year-olds. Other
St. Modwen Homes announces £85m+ of investment across five sites St. Modwen Homes, one of the UK’s leading developers of new communities and high-quality homes, today announces five projects which will deliver over 1,100 new homes across England. The new sites will be situated in Lancashire, Kent, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and London and will total over £85m of investment from St. Modwen Homes. The new developments include 28.6 acres of land in Ditton Edge, Kent, which has permission for 300 homes, as well as 116 homes in Coalville, Leicestershire. In West London, St. Modwen’s joint venture with Vinci has secured permission for 267 units in Uxbridge on the former RAF Uxbridge site while a further 300 homes will be delivered in Newark, Nottinghamshire. An additional 128 homes are due to exchange in Chorley, Lancashire. The announcement follows news this week that St. Modwen Homes plans to double in size over the next five years. St. Modwen Homes built almost 1200 new homes in 2021 and has been recognised as a five-star housebuilder with a Home Builder Federation customer satisfaction rating of over 90%. In September 2021, St. Modwen was named by Homes England as a preferred partner in its new Delivery Partner dynamic purchasing scheme. Dave Smith, Managing Director, St. Modwen Homes, said: “There is an urgent need for new homes in the UK, but the homes that are delivered need to be high quality, and communities must be created in the right places. St. Modwen has a proud record of delivering homes of the highest standard and thriving communities for people to live. Today’s announcement expands our footprint into new areas across the UK and builds on our continued, sustainable growth.”
Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete UK continues its growth trajectory with the appointment of a new NPD and sustainability manager. Former laboratory manager Matthew Gabriel, has been promoted to the new role as the team further develops the company’s sustainability strategy. With a clear focus on strengthening the firm’s commitment to sustainable construction, Matt’s two decades of concrete industry experience provides a strong foundation for further developing the company’s sustainability remit. Matt says: “With the environment at the forefront of everyone’s minds and customers looking to increase their use of supplementary cementitious material, my priority is to develop products and processes which support our customers’ own route towards low carbon concrete. “Our role as an additive manufacturer is crucial in helping reduce concrete’s CO2 footprint while finding cost effective, green solutions without impacting performance is key to the future of the construction sector. We are now looking to develop products that can help our customers to use or increase the use of products with a lower eCO2, hence the creation of a role dedicated entirely to this arena.” Oscrete is one of the UK’s leading specialist construction chemical suppliers, manufacturing a comprehensive range of concrete admixtures for the pre-cast and ready-mix market and developing and supplying additives for the manufacture of dry bagged mortars and adhesives. Director Scott Wilson added: “We expect to see continued growth in global demand for construction additives and that demand will be driven by sustainability requirements as well as performance. “Our strategy is to keep product evolution and responsible manufacturing at the forefront of our output. Matt’s promotion is just the first step in our 2022 laboratory development plan where NPD and sustainability will lead our growth and our supply.” Matt joined Oscrete in 2017 as laboratory manager following more than 10 years with Tarmac and Breeden. He added: “This an exciting and an important time as we accelerate our development of new admixtures to help the transition to carbon neutrality. I’m really looking forward to getting my teeth into a role which will help customers – and Oscrete – meet their sustainability goals.”
20 new affordable homes will be constructed on land near to Earl Marshal Recreation Ground. Esh Construction has been named as construction partner on a £3 million scheme which will bring new affordable homes to Sheffield. Working on behalf of Great Places Housing Group, one of the fastest growing housing associations in the North of England, Esh will build 20 new properties on a vacant piece of land off Osgathorpe Drive, near to the Earl Marshal Recreation Ground. Named Fir View Gardens, the two and three-bedroom homes will be available for affordable rent and will include associated parking and landscaping. Great Places Housing Group selected Esh Construction as the chosen contractor after the scheme was procured through the Innovation Chain North framework. Esh Operations Director, Simon Woodward, said: “We are delighted to secure our first contract award via Innovation Chain North and to be working in partnership with Great Places Housing Group. “Throughout this scheme we are committed to delivering a raft of initiatives which will provide social and economic benefits within the local area, including school engagement, work placement opportunities, volunteering and community funding.” The development was given the go ahead by planners in August last year and forms part of the housing association’s plans to develop 11,000 homes by 2030. Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, Helen Spencer, said “This scheme is within the heart of an existing Great Places community, and its completion will deliver high quality new homes to complement the existing neighbourhood. We are looking forward to working with Esh to deliver these homes and excellent social value outcomes for our community.” Esh will work in partnership with Poole Dick Associates, Bowker Sadler Architects and Sutcliffe to deliver the scheme which is expected to get underway in March this year. To find out more about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk
With 92% of UK homeowners planning home renovation projects in 2022, Klober has invested in its sales team to support merchants and installers in 2022 and beyond. The appointments follow reports that 30% of roofing contractors saw their workloads grow in the last quarter of 2021, according to the NFRC’s State of the Roofing Industry Survey. And this isn’t set to slow, with 43% of roofers anticipating an increase in workload. Hannah Watts joins Klober as an Area Account Manager after discovering her passion for construction as a Field Sales Executive. She will be responsible for the home counties, including Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire. “As a market leader in roofing components and accessories, the Klober brand is well respected and renowned for offering quality. I knew this role would bring new challenges and felt that Klober would provide a supportive environment in which to thrive,” said Hannah. “My role as an Area Account Manager will involve operating as a key point of contact for customers and I’m most looking forward to getting under the skin of their businesses to understand their specific requirements and identify opportunities for growth.” Also joining Klober as an Area Account Manager is Joey Hall who will be responsible for East Anglia. “When the opportunity arose to join Klober in this role, it was one I was thrilled to take, particularly as I’ve always been interested in pursuing a position like this,” he explained. “In my first 12 months, I hope to build strong relationships with merchants and work in collaboration to help meet their business goals. I am particularly looking forward to travelling and gaining thorough knowledge of my area.” Commenting on the new appointments, Chris Nicholls, Commercial Director at Klober said: “We take pride in our people as this means our network of merchants and contractors can be confident that they are in good hands. That’s why I’m extremely pleased to have Hannah and Joey on board and excited to see what they achieve.” For more information about Klober, please visit www.klober.co.uk
PLANS have been revealed for a number of transformative development schemes in Stoke-on-Trent this week, including the mixed-used Etruscan Square development, which is set to procure both its development and construction through Pagabo’s national frameworks. Etruscan Square, which is backed by £20 million of levelling up funding from the government, is set to transform the city centre with a 3,600-capacity arena, 82,000 sq ft of commercial space, 285 homes, a 138-bedroom 3-star hotel, and a 701-space multi-storey car park to support existing demand and new amenities alike. The announcement of the Etruscan Square development, which is already out for pre-planning consultation, was one of several levelling up initiatives announced by the leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council at global real estate conference MIPIM. As part of the overall announcement, the procurement strategy for the scheme was revealed by council leader Abi Brown, who spoke to developers at MIPIM about how 7.12 acres of city centre land is shovel-ready, and how Meigh Street Car Park is already being cleared to make way for new development. Jonathan Parker, head of construction at Pagabo, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to be working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council on the procurement of such an exciting development, which will bring huge transformation and opportunity to the city. “The government’s levelling up plans and funding have been widely welcomed, and we’re very pleased to see Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been so quick to put that funding towards schemes that will benefit the wider city. Being able to support schemes like this with simple, yet efficient and compliant procurement processes is something that we’re really proud of and that allows us to help turn these plans into a reality.” The procurement strategy reveals the council’s commitment to the comprehensive delivery of the Etruscan Square masterplan, outlining the use of Pagabo’s Developer-Led Framework to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality, mixed-use development. Meanwhile, the Etruscan Square multi-storey car park will be delivered via a stand-alone two stage design and build contract between the council and a main contractor, which will be procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework. Councillor Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Our Levelling Up projects already have huge momentum behind them and significant, tangible progress is being made to deliver them. We’re confident that we have the right opportunities, and the right mix of developments that can make the biggest difference to our city and are attractive schemes for development. “We’re backed by the biggest allocation in Levelling Up funding for a specific city in the country, we’ve tested out our proposals to major national investors in London, and now we’re telling global brands, major UK-based international companies and key national agencies what we are delivering in Stoke-on-Trent and how they can be a part of our success story.” The council has stated that the £20 million of levelling up funding for the development will be defrayed to de-risk and support the early delivery of the multi-storey car park, infrastructure and first phase residential proposals, which will act as the catalyst for the wider masterplan. Planning approval for the development is expected to be granted in the summer, shortly followed by the tender process to appoint the key parties through Pagabo’s frameworks to deliver the transformative scheme. For more information about Pagabo and its frameworks, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/
Development is being built for leading UK confectionary manufacturer Swizzels at the new MA6NITUDE logistics/industrial development in Middlewich, Cheshire. GMI Construction Group PLC has today announced that it has been appointed by Magnitude Land LLP, a joint venture between Tritax Symmetry, the development arm of Tritax Big Box and NPLL to commence work on a new 158,000 sq ft facility for leading UK confectionary company Swizzels at the MA6NITUDE logistics/industrial development situated in Middlewich, Cheshire. To herald the announcement of the project a ground-breaking ceremony was held onsite involving dignitaries from GMI and Tritax together with members of the extended project team. Construction of the AEW designed new facility started at the beginning of 2022 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2022. The facility represents the first phase of Swizzels’ expanded manufacturing/distribution capacity, which could grow up to 458,000 sq ft as future phases are added. To the northern area of the site at MA6NITUDE, Tritax Symmetry and GMI are delivering two new build facilities which are being built on a speculative basis and will comprise 149,000 sq ft and 41,000 sq ft. and expected to be available in June 2022. Speaking about the announcement Marc Banks, Divisional Marketing Director GMI Construction Group said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been instructed by Tritax to construct this important new facility for famous UK Confectionery manufacturer Swizzels. This follows our successful appointment on the adjacent plot where GMI is well along presently with the construction of new two speculative warehouse units of 149,000 and 41,000 sq ft respectively. GMI enjoys a strong and expanding working relationship with Tritax and we look forward to delivering another high-quality outcome for them.” Also Speaking about the next phases of development at MA6NITUDE, David Nuttall, development director at Tritax Symmetry, commented: “MA6NITUDE continues to evolve and with the two new speculative buildings available in the summer, we are well placed to welcome new high-quality occupiers to the area. Swizzels’ new manufacturing building will be an exceptional facility for their business and also opens up a further plot to enable us to deliver a 230,000 sq ft building by early 2023.”. Matt Pochin, director at Legat Owen, joint agents for the scheme with Savills and B8 Real Estate continued: “MA6NITUDE is already a major business destination in its own right and the high-level of activity, coupled with the fact that the speculatively developed units are constructed to net zero carbon in construction, will certainly appeal to businesses looking for more sustainable accommodation in line with their own ESG values”. Magnitude Land is being advised by project team including RPS (PM/QS), AEW Architects, civils and infrastructure specialist SGI, and CMS Solicitors.
Offsite construction specialist Rollalong is using its expertise to provide accommodation for homeless families near Wokingham, Berkshire. The Dorset-based company is due to deliver 23 modular two-bedroom homes at Grovelands Park in Winnersh, replacing existing outdated temporary accommodation for homeless families. The homes were manufactured in controlled factory conditions at Rollalong’s headquarters near Bournemouth. Phase one has now been transported to the site and work to complete the installation of all 23 homes is expected to be completed by August 2022. The project will double the number of homes on the Wokingham Borough Council site, and they will be far more energy efficient than the old units. The modular homes will allow more families to be accommodated safely and comfortably while they wait for somewhere permanent to live, and they have their own toilet and bathroom as well as an open-plan lounge, dining room and kitchen. One will be specially adapted for households with people who have disabilities. Laurie Garside, Projects Manager at Rollalong, said: “We are delighted to be working with Wokingham Borough Council’s housing team. The accommodation we have installed for the initial phase of the project is of a very high standard and will provide the local area with a much needed boost for temporary housing.” Councillor John Kaiser, Executive Member for Finance and Housing at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “Homelessness is a fast-growing issue across the country and, sadly, Wokingham borough is no different. We’ve seen an increase during the coronavirus pandemic and coupled with the rising cost of living, this trend is likely to continue. “Improving and increasing the amount of temporary accommodation at Grovelands Park will ensure that we have a safe, suitable supply to meet future need while helping people to live in comfort and dignity at a distressing, uncertain and vulnerable period in their lives. “The new homes will also reduce our reliance on bed and breakfasts, which are expensive, generally have shared facilities and are always outside of the borough, which can increase the sense of isolation for those facing homelessness.” All councils are required to provide temporary emergency housing for homeless families with children or families and individuals who are vulnerable until they find a settled home. At Grovelands Park the old prefabricated units had to be replaced as they were originally built as holiday homes and not intended for long-term occupation. The new timber-clad homes have modern and reliable heating systems and are highly insulated which will prevent pipes from freezing in winter, reduce heating costs and limit their carbon footprint. They also feature the latest fire safety and sustainability measures such as sprinkler systems, double glazing and solar panels, and they are fully furnished with internet access. Some homes are also trialling the latest air source heat pump technologies, an environmentally friendly system that draws heat from outside into the home.
A campaign emphasising the importance of working safely to avoid falls from the platform when using Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) to enable temporary work at height has been launched by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) at its annual Summit in London, UK, on 10 March 2022. IPAF’s Don’t Fall For It! safety campaign outlines the possible underlying causes of falls from the platform when using MEWPs, which almost always lead to serious injury or death. It offers operators and managers key advice to mitigate the most common risks and avoid accidents of this type, as identified in IPAF’s ongoing incident reporting and analysis via the www.ipafaccidentreporting.org portal. Peter Douglas, CEO & MD of IPAF, comments: “MEWPs are designed to safely conduct temporary work at height in just about every environment, but every year the most common type of accident we see reported are falls from the platform, which as you can imagine nearly always lead to serious injury or death if they occur while using machines at height. “We are determined that our new Don’t Fall For It! targeted global safety campaign will help to instil safe working practices and remind operators and managers of some fairly basic positive steps they can take to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring. The messaging is really simple – select the correct machine for the job, don’t take risks, don’t cut corners, and wear the correct personal fall protection equipment in boom-type platforms.” Brian Parker, IPAF’s Head of Safety & Technical, says: “Operators can help avoid this type of accident by focusing on the principles we’ve set out as part of this campaign. If they are properly trained and familiarised on the MEWPs being used, then hopefully none of this guidance should be new, but we know that complacency breeds contempt, and that too often corners are being cut or fundamental principles of safe use ignored. “With this safety campaign, IPAF is saying that, if you find yourself tempted to do something different to what you know is the right and proper way to work, or if you are ever asked to do something that you think just isn’t safe by a work colleague or supervisor, then ‘don’t fall for it!’ Far better to think twice and save a life – whether it is a workmate’s or your own!” Key points of guidance in the IPAF Don’t Fall For It! global safety campaign include: Plan thoroughly – conduct a proper MEWP site survey/assessment, select the correct machine for the work and use professionally trained operator(s) and supervisor(s). Know your machine – operators should be trained on the machine type they are using and familiarised on the specific model. Operators should assess that the machine is suitable for the task and conditions, and adequate in terms of reach, articulation, and load-bearing capacity. Machine knowledge includes whether personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) should be used and, if so, what type to use, and how to attach it. Clip on – If personal PFPE is required, all occupants of the platform must attach their lanyard to the correct anchor point. Ensure movement within the platform is possible while attached, and do not move the machine or elevate the platform until and unless all occupants are attached. Set up and manoeuvre the machine/platform effectively – occupants should never need to over-reach, unfasten PFPE, step or climb on guardrails or otherwise extend the safe working envelope of the platform. Ensure vertical MEWPs are positioned and repositioned as necessary to allow easy access to the area of work to be undertaken; operators should not overreach or stand on guardrails to access a work area instead of taking the time and effort to correctly reposition the machine. Stay inside the platform/attached – the guardrails of the platform form the primary fall prevention and define the operational envelope of the machine being used. Always stay inside the platform. Where there is a requirement for PFPE, you must wear it. Do not exit the platform at height; unclip/exit only on completion of work when safely lowered to the ground. IPAF offers further guidance on using MEWPs that provides more detail on specific risks and advises on safe operating procedures. For more information on all of IPAF’s safety campaigns and links to relevant technical guidance visit www.ipaf.org/safe or see www.ipaf.org/contact to find your nearest IPAF office or representative. ● Please visit www.ipaf.org/training and www.ipaf.org/resources for the full range of IPAF training course and the latest safety and technical guidance materials from IPAF.
St. Modwen’s dedicated housebuilding business plans to double in size over the next five years as it brings together internal capabilities in land buying, planning, pre-construction, and customer delivery. Experts within its previously standalone strategic land business, Strategic Land & Regeneration, will be combining with St. Modwen Homes to accelerate growth. St. Modwen’s residential and community focus will continue through St. Modwen Homes which last year delivered almost 1200 new homes. It has one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings for a housebuilder of its size in the UK (HBF), an award-winning track record in health and safety, and a progressive and sustainable approach to housebuilding. Acquired by Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, in August 2021, St. Modwen’s strategic focus on the high growth sectors of logistics and housebuilding has attracted ongoing support and investment. St. Modwen Homes is selling homes across 24 sites and is making significant land acquisitions to support its ambitious growth plans. Meanwhile, St. Modwen Logistics delivered 1.4m sq ft of new warehouse space during 2021, with high levels of growth planned in 2022, backed by one of the UK’s largest pipelines at c. 19m sq ft. Sarwjit Sambhi, CEO of St. Modwen, commented: “Over recent years, St. Modwen has become one of the UK’s leading developers of new communities and high-quality homes. Bringing together our land capabilities is natural progression for St. Modwen Homes and we hope a catalyst to double the size of this business.”
A Shropshire building contractor has secured the contract for a new £5.1m girls’ house at one of the UK’s top independent schools. The new facilities for day and boarding students at Shrewsbury School will be the 12th scheme Pave Aways has completed at the co-educational school for 13 to 18-year-olds. Other significant projects it has carried out at the school include the academic building Hodgson Hall, the Chatri Design Centre and the extension and refurbishment of the Barnes Theatre. The new house will be the fifth house for female students and has been designed by Adrian James Architects, which was responsible for Hogdson Hall. It will provide single and communal bedrooms for students and staff accommodation with shared facilities including a house hall, kitchen and TV room. Work will start in early April with completion in the summer term of 2023. Pave Aways will use its expertise in low carbon construction to deliver the highly sustainable blueprint, which includes a ‘fabric first’ highly insulated and airtight skin, plus a mechanical ventilation system, air source heat pumps and a photo voltaic panels to generate electricity. Managing Director Steven Owen said: “The new house is an exciting development in the evolution of Shrewsbury School and we’re delighted to have been trusted to build it. “Our experience in building low or zero carbon facilities for schools, coupled with our pedigree in the education sector, has been key to securing this contract. Having delivered a series of these schemes in the past two years, including the first ever Passivhaus school in Mid Wales, has given us a strong foundation in the skills required and a supply chain that is well equipped to support us.”
