A £2.95 million repair scheme to protect the Filey sea wall from future erosion is to begin next month. North Yorkshire Council has secured a grant from the Environment Agency to carry out the project, which aims to ensure the sea defence remains viable for the next 50 years. The
Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has unveiled its new 180,000 sq.ft hire facility in West London, Victory Park North, Wembley. Strategically located less than 11 miles from Central London, it offers convenient connectivity for customers across London and the South East. This one-stop facility brings together Sunbelt Rentals’ Film and
Bellway has completed a land deal on Golbourne Road in Winwick, with planning consent granted by Warrington Borough Council for 153 family homes. The site, which is 15 acres in size, was formerly privately owned farmland. With build due to start by the end of the month, the land will
The Leeds PIPES heat network has gained international recognition as a international exemplar for city-wide heating systems, following a visit from the Canada-based Boltzmann Institute. The delegation attended as part of a pan-European “study tour”, to gain crucial insights to aid in the expansion of Canada’s low carbon energy infrastructure.
The Island Quarter’s latest phase has progressed significantly with construction work complete at Winfield Court, the site’s 693-bed student accommodation phase. With construction work now concluded by Bowmer+Kirkland, Fresh will be managing the student scheme on behalf of The Conygar Investment Company. Leonard Design Architects has also completed the dressing
Costain has scooped a multimillion-pound front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by bp for a new hydrogen pipeline network in the Teesside area. Costain’s multi-disciplinary in-house engineering team will deliver the FEED to enable the construction for a new, 31km onshore pipeline distribution network that will deliver purified and dehydrated
Construction of the new Aseptic Pharmacy and Sterile Service Department at University Hospital Southampton has hit a significant milestone. A ‘topping out’ ceremony was held to celebrate the building reaching its highest point, marking a key step forward as the project moves closer to its scheduled opening in Spring 2025.
Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has announced a £19 million deal to bring 77 affordable apartments to Nottinghamshire in partnership with Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life. Work on the apartments, which will include access to communal
Balfour Beatty has scooped a £185 million contract by Transport Scotland to dual the A9 between Tomatin and Moy in the Scottish Highlands, approximately 21 kilometres (13 miles) south of Inverness. As part of the contract, Balfour Beatty will upgrade 9.6 kilometres of single carriageway to dual carriageway, construct four
A new £5.5 million bus interchange, designed by BDP and operated by Transport for Wales, has opened in Cardiff. The centralised bus facility located next to Cardiff Central Railway Station creates a sustainable travel gateway to Cardiff, providing improved connections to the area by integrating bus and rail services with
A £2.95 million repair scheme to protect the Filey sea wall from future erosion is to begin next month. North Yorkshire Council has secured a grant from the Environment Agency to carry out the project, which aims to ensure the sea defence remains viable for the next 50 years. The scheme will cover a 1.1-kilometre stretch of the coast between Coble Landing in the north and Royal Parade in the south. The defences were built between the 19th and 20th centuries, protecting 626 residential and 166 non-residential properties, as well as five Yorkshire Water assets, including sewage pumping stations. Executive member for highways, transport and coastal protection, Cllr Keane Duncan, said: “We are pleased to be able to begin the essential repair scheme which will enhance the condition of the sea wall by replacing damaged blocks, slipways and steps. “Extensive preparatory work has been carried out to ensure the stability of the wall and public safety. This includes comprehensive surveys and investigations to enable us to choose the best construction method and equipment. “We are also addressing concerns around erosion at St Martins Gill where the slipway meets the softer undefended cliffs. These vital improvements aim to bolster the integrity and resilience of our coastal defences, ensuring better protection for our community, infrastructure, and coastline.” The council has worked closely with its delivery partner and local businesses to minimise disruption. The project is due to begin on 24 August, but construction won’t start until mid-September to avoid the peak tourist season. The Filey sea wall scheme is due to be completed by the spring of next year, and earlier this month Jackson Civil Engineering Limited was appointed to carry out the work. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has unveiled its new 180,000 sq.ft hire facility in West London, Victory Park North, Wembley. Strategically located less than 11 miles from Central London, it offers convenient connectivity for customers across London and the South East. This one-stop facility brings together Sunbelt Rentals’ Film and TV business with the company’s wider offerings, such as Power, HVAC, and external training, ensuring an exceptional customer experience. This new facility is set to be the epicentre for Sunbelt Rentals’ sustainable net-zero and low-carbon equipment solutions, featuring their clean energy and sustainable location services. “The scale of the new location means we can offer an exceptional customer experience,” explained Mike Pollard, Managing Director of Film & TV at Sunbelt Rentals. “Along with the expansive warehouse and range of specialist equipment available equipment, customers can also use our test rooms, viewing theatre, creative hub and meeting rooms for enhanced creative collaboration.” With significant investment in both equipment and infrastructure, this new Film and TV facility will ensure customers receive everything they need with unmatched efficiency and sustainability at the core of their offering. They also aim to support the industry through partnerships, training and addressing skills shortages in Film and TV industry. The new location marks the first Sunbelt Rentals lighting team to be located in London, creating local employment and further opportunities for business growth and development across the region. For their grip services, they’ve expanded their fleet to include more crane services and telescopics than ever before, making it one of the largest fleets in the UK. Furthermore, the investment in the Camera and Lenses department ensures that customers have access to the latest and most innovative equipment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bellway has completed a land deal on Golbourne Road in Winwick, with planning consent granted by Warrington Borough Council for 153 family homes. The site, which is 15 acres in size, was formerly privately owned farmland. With build due to start by the end of the month, the land will be transformed into a picturesque development comprising a mix of three and four bedroom homes. The new development will be known as St Oswalds Place, and appealing to a family audience, will offer an array of semi-detached and detached houses, all providing garages and/or off road parking. Each property at St Oswalds Place has been expertly designed to an exceptionally high standard, with the development benefitting from a lovely open aspect yet well connected to local transport links, including the M6 and M62 motorways as well as Winwick Quay train station. Garce Yarlett, Sales Director at Bellway, said: “Winwick is a wonderful location for a new residential development. It is a particularly popular place to live for families, so we expect our range of three and four bedroom homes to be in demand once released for sale. Having only just completed on the land deal, we are thrilled to be making an immediate start on site at St Oswalds Place.” With construction commencing imminently, it is anticipated that the two stunning showhomes will open in June 2025, along with first occupancy. Bellway plans to release for sale the first few properties later this year, in November. In addition to the new development in Winwick, Bellway has made several significant Section 106 contributions, totalling more than £2m. Some of these include £897,241 towards primary and secondary school education, £154,154 towards healthcare, £120,000 towards highways and £321,082 towards sport. Bellway worked with APD Architects and Gateley Solicitors on the scheme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Leeds PIPES heat network has gained international recognition as a international exemplar for city-wide heating systems, following a visit from the Canada-based Boltzmann Institute. The delegation attended as part of a pan-European “study tour”, to gain crucial insights to aid in the expansion of Canada’s low carbon energy infrastructure. Leeds PIPES, one of the UK’s fastest growing, major heat networks provides homes, businesses and public buildings with affordable, reliable, low carbon heat and hot water through the use of recovered heat from a nearby Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility. Being delivered by Vital Energi, in partnership with Leeds City Council and Ener-Vate, the scheme was responsible for a near 6,000 tonnes of carbon reduction in 2023 alone, and has delivered over 430 green jobs across the Leeds city region. Its current customers include some of the city’s most notable organisations, including Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Beckett University and St James’s University Hospital. Connecting over 2,300 homes and 28 key buildings across the city centre, the city-wide heating network has attracted national recognition, having recently won the ‘Energy Project of the Year – Residential’ category at the prestigious Energy Awards in London. The project is also making significant local impact through inspiring the next generation of heating and electric engineers, as well as aspiring design and construction professionals. 40 students from the Urban Energy Systems course at the University of Leeds also had the opportunity to tour the network in action and gain unique insights from senior staff at the organisation. Representatives from The Boltzmann Institute visited energy facilities across eight countries in Europe in advance of their ambitious plans for district energy expansion across Canada, helping the country reach its goals for net zero emissions by 2050. Richard Gilbert, Director at the Boltzmann Institute said: “We had an incredibly worthwhile visit with Vital Energi to learn more about Leeds PIPES as part of our Europe-wide study tour, gaining invaluable insight to input into our wider plans for district energy expansion in Canada. We were particularly impressed by our tour of the Recycling and Energy recovery facility, which really demonstrated the brilliant innovation happening both in the city of Leeds, and in our sector.” Mike Cooke, Managing Director from Vital Energi said: “We have seen great progress for the Leeds PIPES network since the project began in 2018. We are proud of our collaboration with Leeds City Council and Ener-Vate and the impact it has on the international effort to achieving Net Zero. The recognition for the scheme is a real reflection of the team’s dedication to innovation in the green transition, and to providing flexible, resilient and future-proofed energy schemes for our clients. We are incredibly proud to see the real impact that Leeds PIPES is having on so many people within the city, and we will continue our work to support as many local businesses, and local lives, as we can.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Island Quarter’s latest phase has progressed significantly with construction work complete at Winfield Court, the site’s 693-bed student accommodation phase. With construction work now concluded by Bowmer+Kirkland, Fresh will be managing the student scheme on behalf of The Conygar Investment Company. Leonard Design Architects has also completed the dressing of the communal spaces, which have been in high demand for prospective occupants, ahead of the accommodation opening to students in September for the 2024/25 academic year. Amenities in the new facility include high-level sky lounges that offer projected views across the city and private courtyard spaces that will provide the opportunity for working, socialising, dining and exercising. Christopher Ware, property director at The Island Quarter, said: “With Nottingham home to two outstanding universities attracting students both nationally and internationally, Winfield Court will be a thriving student community with high-quality housing while they study in the city. “This phase is an example of the highest quality student accommodation available and will be an excellent addition to The Island Quarter with plenty of entertainment, relaxation and future employment opportunities for them.” Following the planning submission in February for a further 383-space student block built on the Manvers Road side of the 36-acre site, The Island Quarter could eventually be home to more than 1,000 students. The new student block is the latest planning submission by developer The Conygar Investment Company, following last May’s approval for a new 250,000 sq ft biosciences campus on the northern side of the site. Mark Cordin, head of division (central) for Fresh, said: “The completion of Winfield Court to Fresh marks the beginning of a vibrant student community at The Island Quarter. With its exceptional amenities and thoughtful design, complemented by our award winning Be wellbeing programme, Winfield Court will provide students with more than just a place to live – it offers a dynamic and welcoming environment for learning, socialising, and thriving. Nottingham is a flourishing student city.” Christian Parnell, regional director at Bowmer+Kirkland, said: “The buildings now stand proud across key vantage points of Nottingham City Centre and highlights the striking design and quality that ourselves, Conygar, design team and supply chain have focused on throughout the construction. “The project has been a pleasure to be a part of especially around its local connection and a true example of great collaboration and teamwork from everyone involved. Our team is really proud to have been involved in such an amazing facility for students to enjoy for many years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Costain has scooped a multimillion-pound front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by bp for a new hydrogen pipeline network in the Teesside area. Costain’s multi-disciplinary in-house engineering team will deliver the FEED to enable the construction for a new, 31km onshore pipeline distribution network that will deliver purified and dehydrated hydrogen from bp’s new hydrogen production facility to industrial end users. Costain is expected to complete the FEED project in 2025. Operated by bp, as part of the East Coast Cluster, H2Teesside (H2T) is aiming to be one of the biggest blue hydrogen production facilities in the UK and will produce approximately 160,000 tonnes of low carbon hydrogen per annum. The blue hydrogen that H2T creates will ultimately displace natural gas consumption by industrial end users, establishing the hydrogen economy and enabling decarbonisation across the region. Earlier this year, Costain successfully completed the FEED for the onshore CO2 pipeline and associated utilities and was recently selected by bp to continue the work to the next stage and oversee and manage the engineering, procurement and construction of the CO2 system. Detailed engineering design and preparatory works will commence later this year, subject to final investment decisions. Sam White, managing director of natural resources at Costain, said: “This exciting project is a step change for UK decarbonisation. Our in-house engineering expertise will design a world-leading network that will safely transport hydrogen to provide industrial users with an alternative to natural gas, a key step in the development of the hydrogen economy. “In addition to the environmental benefits, this is a project that will be transformative for Teesside and its people, creating jobs and developing skills throughout the region. In transportation, water, and energy, we’re committed to delivering critical infrastructure that improves lives and prosperity across the North-East of England.” In addition, Technip Energies has been selected by bp to deliver FEED for the H2Teesside hydrogen production site. This will include establishing the execution methodology, a robust schedule and project cost. It is expected to complete FEED in 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction of the new Aseptic Pharmacy and Sterile Service Department at University Hospital Southampton has hit a significant milestone. A ‘topping out’ ceremony was held to celebrate the building reaching its highest point, marking a key step forward as the project moves closer to its scheduled opening in Spring 2025. Situated on plot 2 of the Adanac Health and Innovation Campus in Southampton, the new multi-use facility, which has been funded by investment from MacQuarie Group, will comprise an Aseptic Pharmacy, Sterile Services Department (SSD), and flexible expansion space. The Aseptic Pharmacy will act as an MHRA-licensed pharmacy, with drugs and medicines manufactured for UHS and other NHS providers in the region. Meanwhile, the SSD will sterilise surgical tools and equipment for use by UHS; these services will be delivered at the new location by current provider IHSS. UHS is one of the largest acute teaching trusts in England and experiences a very high demand on its geographically constrained site. By working with developer Prime plc, through the Southampton Commercial Estates Development Partnership (CEDP), the trust has been able to unlock many complex estate challenges. These new facilities will be the latest in a series of developments designed to create more space for the trust to expand. Previous development on the hospital site has produced a new entrance, retail space and staff car park. The partners then worked together to create Adanac Health and Innovation Campus, providing additional expansion space with good proximity to the hospital and easy access to the motorway network. Ewan Forsyth, Development Director at Prime: “Prime is proud to play a pivotal role in the ongoing transformation of University Hospital Southampton. The development of the new Sterile Services Department and aseptic pharmacy not only showcases our commitment to innovative, high-quality healthcare infrastructure but also aligns with the Trust’s sustainability goals. By integrating advanced sterilisation and pharmaceutical preparation facilities under one roof, we have created a state-of-the-art environment that will enhance the hospital’s capabilities and improve patient care. This project stands as a testament to what can be achieved through strategic partnerships and innovative thinking, supporting UHS in its mission to provide exceptional healthcare services now and in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has announced a £19 million deal to bring 77 affordable apartments to Nottinghamshire in partnership with Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life. Work on the apartments, which will include access to communal areas and landscaped gardens, will start imminently, addressing the strong demand for later living in the area. The new development from Vistry Group and Anchor, built on brownfield land, will consist of one and two-bedroom apartments and is located in Edwaltong to the south of Nottingham and the River Trent. Edwalton is an area of West Bridgford and boasts some of Nottinghamshire’s most exclusive properties. Andy Reynolds, managing director of Vistry South East Midlands, said: “We are delighted to be working with Anchor to build beautifully designed assisted living apartments for the affordable market.” “We’re excited to be leading the way in meeting the requirements of those needing this type of accommodation when housing is in such high demand. These much-needed new homes will be built to an exceptional standard to create a thriving and sustainable community.” Victoria Mager, director of development delivery at Anchor, said: “The development at Edwalton will offer residents the opportunity to be part of an open, inviting, and warm community. We’re looking forward to work starting in the next month and offering the opportunity for people to enjoy living in later life.” “This new community will deliver much-needed accommodation for older people in the local area. We anticipate delivering an average of at least 500 homes a year over a rolling ten-year period. This is in addition to growing the number of homes we provide in residential care.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty has scooped a £185 million contract by Transport Scotland to dual the A9 between Tomatin and Moy in the Scottish Highlands, approximately 21 kilometres (13 miles) south of Inverness. As part of the contract, Balfour Beatty will upgrade 9.6 kilometres of single carriageway to dual carriageway, construct four major bridges along the route as well as deliver new side roads together with various junction upgrades. Balfour Beatty will also provide over 10 kilometres of improved active travel routes to promote and encourage cycling and walking in the local area. The A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project is expected to improve road safety, journey times and reliability for all road users including pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers. This major investment in the local area will generate economic growth, supporting businesses, communities, and tourism throughout Scotland by strengthening the link between Scotland’s central belt and the Highlands and Islands. As part of its commitment to leaving a lasting positive legacy for the communities in which it operates, Balfour Beatty will reduce its carbon emissions during the construction phase by sourcing local materials wherever possible, helping to minimise the number of heavy goods vehicle movements and deliveries to and from the site. Balfour Beatty will also harness industry-leading digital delivery techniques such as 4D planning to digitally plan and rehearse the construction sequence of the Moy Rail Bridge and Dalmagarry Bridge to optimise the phasing of works, identify any potential construction sequencing challenges and put in place solutions to drive efficiencies and productivity. The A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project forms part of Transport Scotland’s multi-billion pound A9 Dualling Programme, for which a delivery plan was announced in December 2023. It marks the third section of the programme to begin construction following the successful completion of the Kincraig to Dalraddy and the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam sections, which opened in 2017 and 2021 respectively, with the latter also being constructed by Balfour Beatty. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new £5.5 million bus interchange, designed by BDP and operated by Transport for Wales, has opened in Cardiff. The centralised bus facility located next to Cardiff Central Railway Station creates a sustainable travel gateway to Cardiff, providing improved connections to the area by integrating bus and rail services with local walking routes, cycle ways and taxis. Multidisciplinary design practice BDP provided architectural and interior design, branding and wayfinding consultancy for the project which is part of the Welsh Government’s broader initiative to develop an integrated travel network for the people of Wales making public transport the easiest choice for all. Within the 2,235sqm interchange, the central feature is the bus terminus which includes 14 bus bays along with ancillary space for retail, food and beverage outlets and public toilet facilities to enhance passenger comfort for onward travel. A mezzanine level houses Transport for Wales’s strategic operations centre for south Wales. Central to BDP’s design is a focus on accessibility and inclusivity. Enhanced links between the bus interchange and the railway station are supported by clear wayfinding for a seamless travel experience. A striking red wall in the concourse provides a key visual orientation and branded identity focal point. Features such as tactile flooring routes and a braille accessibility map assist blind and partially sighted customers and the interchange includes a changing places room and a fully equipped family room. BDP’s collaborative approach was at the heart of the project with the implementation of an extensive stakeholder engagement programme including consultations with the local authority, transport operators, service users, police, fire service, the local community and accessibility groups to ensure that the design meets the needs of all users. Working with project manager and lead consultant Mott Macdonald, BDP addressed specialist security and fire safety design requirements. In addition, BDP conducted a complementary study which explored how the wider public realm around central Cardiff could be adapted to further improve connectivity between transport modes including active travel, wayfinding, technology, branding and green infrastructure. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
