Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, has been announced as a successful partner for the Pagabo National Framework for Medium Works, which launched this month. Running from January 2023 until January 2027, the next-generation framework is one of Pagabo’s most popular and active construction procurement routes for clients, with 148 projects
Wates was selected by Be First to develop over 330 new homes in Barking and Dagenham, as part of an £874 million regeneration of the Gascoigne Estate. This will be the third project Wates has undertaken for Be First in the area, having recently completed 201 homes at Gascoigne West
Tritax Symmetry has appointed GMI Construction to develop a 132,750 sq ft logistics facility at Symmetry Park Doncaster. The facility will be built on a speculative basis to net zero carbon in construction. “Symmetry Park Doncaster has become a prime logistics location with successful companies such as Butternut Box and
Leading Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson will spearhead the design and construction of the new £15.4 million state-of-the-art Air and Space Institute (ASI) aerospace project for Newark College, part of the Lincoln College Group, at the former cattle market site in Newark. The ASI provides a unique opportunity for school
Willmott Dixon has been appointed to work with the University of Exeter to complete detailed designs to build a new Multi-Faith Centre at Streatham Campus. Construction is due to start in summer this year. Exeter City Council recently approved plans to develop the Multi-Faith Centre, which will replace the existing
Fradley Park Primary School in Lichfield, Staffordshire, celebrated the official opening of its £4.8m free school with the local community last week (Friday 13 January). The two-storey building, which was constructed by Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson and completed in summer 2022, opened to 210 primary and 26 nursery pupils in
Harlow Council has approved plans to redevelop the town centre’s bus station and Terminus Street area. The proposals, which form part of Harlow Council’s town centre regeneration plans, were approved by the council’s Development Management Committee. The overhaul will be made possible thanks to government support secured by the council
The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity is one step closer to fulfilling the dreams of children cared for at Rotherham Hospital thanks to a £5,000 donation from Keepmoat. The generous donation is a major boost for the charity’s Christmas fundraising appeal, which this year aimed to fund the redevelopment of the
Sheen Lane Developments has got the planning thumbs up to turn a landmark House of Fraser building in south west London into a mixed-use development with gym and restaurant. The firm will redevelop the George Street store in Richmond giving it an additional top floor and extending the basement for
Sainsbury’s has put forward plans to build a new store in Arborfield Green as part of a development plan for the Berkshire village. The proposal has been made as part of the development of the new district centre in Arborfield Green. The supermarket has said it plans to open a
Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, has been announced as a successful partner for the Pagabo National Framework for Medium Works, which launched this month. Running from January 2023 until January 2027, the next-generation framework is one of Pagabo’s most popular and active construction procurement routes for clients, with 148 projects having completed to date. As part of the partnership, G F Tomlinson has been appointed to deliver projects from £500,000 up to £10million, throughout Yorkshire, and the East and West Midlands. G F Tomlinson will deliver public sector projects across the education, healthcare, civic, leisure, housing, blue light, highways and infrastructure sectors. In order to be successful, G F Tomlinson’s bid demonstrated relevant experience, financial stability and a strong commitment to social value and the carbon reduction agenda. As well as providing value for money for clients, delivering quality builds on time and on budget, and managing supply chain to a high standard. “We are delighted to have been appointed to the National Framework for Medium Works, which is our fifth framework agreement with Pagabo. G F Tomlinson has delivered in excess of £500 million projects through public sector frameworks to date and with our expertise, commitment to delivering high-quality projects and our passion to enhance social value for local communities, we are best placed to serve public sector clients on all their project requirements,” said Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson. “We look forward to constructing and delivering significant developments through this framework, that will support the regeneration of local communities across the Midlands and North, over the next threeto four years.” Since 2020, G F Tomlinson has partnered with Pagabo on several frameworks including the Major Works Framework, the Framework for Refit and Refurbishment Solutions, and the previous Medium Works Framework, which the new iteration now supersedes. Under these frameworks, the contractor recently delivered the £3.7m extension and remodelling of Cardinal Newman Catholic School to provide an additional 200 school placements, alongside a £2.4m urgent treatment centre at Lincoln Hospital, which expanded the facility’s existing accident and emergency department. “Congratulations to G F Tomlinson on securing their place on the second iteration of our Medium Works Framework. Pagabo have formed a close working relationship with them over the years, delivering 14 projects worth a combined value of £45m across our various construction frameworks, and so we’re excited to be continuing this through the duration of the framework,” added Tom Retallick, Framework Manager at Pagabo. They are currently on site constructing the £15.4m new Air and Space Institute (ASI) at Newark for the Lincoln College Group, which will provide a unique opportunity for school leavers 16 -18 to train for pilot, engineers and ground-crew roles in airlines, the military, airports and logistics companies in a state-of-the-art college facility. The company also has other projects in the pipeline procured via Pagabo, to the value of circa £35million still to come to site. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wates was selected by Be First to develop over 330 new homes in Barking and Dagenham, as part of an £874 million regeneration of the Gascoigne Estate. This will be the third project Wates has undertaken for Be First in the area, having recently completed 201 homes at Gascoigne West Phase 1. The £142 million Gascoigne East Phase 3B scheme will provide 277 apartments, 46 houses and 11 maisonettes as well as new public spaces connecting pedestrian and public transport links, centred around a garden square at the east of the site, as well as delivering £30 million in social value to the area. The build will use modern methods of construction such as offsite production of balconies, bathrooms and utilities cupboards, which will reduce construction time on site. “At Wates we believe everyone deserves a great place to live. This new project will provide huge economic, social and environmental benefits to local people and the local businesses that will be involved, as well as providing safe, healthy and comfortable places for communities to flourish,” said Helen Bunch, Executive Managing Director, Wates Residential. Be First has a strong track record in delivering new, high-quality homes for people and communities in Barking and Dagenham, with the borough named the most affordable for housing in the capital. The latest phase of this major development will complement the award-winning regeneration of the eastern side of the Gascoigne Estate, where Be First is delivering 526 new flats as part of a safer, healthier, and more sustainably designed environment. The wider Gascoigne Estate will include tree-lined public spaces, a new 5,000 sqm park Gascoigne Square along with public art and stunning designs in a mixture of traditional and modern styles. The Gascoigne East Phase 3B project will allow Wates to invest in the local community through the provision of 13 apprenticeships and a minimum of 40 work placements for local people. During the Gascogne West Phase 1 programme, the pandemic inspired Wates to find innovative ways to bring £45 million in social value to the local community including the creation of 21 apprenticeships, 22 work experience placements and £89k of investment in local charities and community causes. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Tritax Symmetry has appointed GMI Construction to develop a 132,750 sq ft logistics facility at Symmetry Park Doncaster. The facility will be built on a speculative basis to net zero carbon in construction. “Symmetry Park Doncaster has become a prime logistics location with successful companies such as Butternut Box and B&Q choosing to be based here. The highly sustainable facility we are developing will undoubtedly attract a sophisticated business looking for a build which supports its ESG and operational objectives,” said Scott Meakin, Development Surveyor at Tritax Symmetry. This is the third building to be constructed on the site: the first unit (151,000 sq ft) is occupied by Dogmates Ltd, trading as Butternut Box on a 15-year lease whilst the second unit (430,000) is being built by GMI and has been pre-let to B&Q, which is due to PC imminently. An additional 1.26-acre plot is available for development. “We are delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with Tritax Symmetry to deliver a facility that will contribute to the levelling up of the region by providing much-needed logistics space that encourages investment and job creation. This project reflects GMI’s growing position in the construction of manufacturing and logistics facilities not only in Yorkshire, but the other areas in which we operate – in the North West, North East and the Midlands,” added Andrew Hurcomb, GMI Construction Group’s Divisional Managing Director Yorkshire. Located at Junction 34 of the A1 (M) on the North Nottinghamshire/South Yorkshire border, Symmetry Park, Doncaster is a 54-acre site, located adjacent to J34 A1(M) and Blyth Services. Representing the development are the Leeds offices of Savills, Dove Haigh Phillips and Colliers International. “Tritax Symmetry’s decision to speculatively build out the net zero carbon in construction 132,750 sq ft unit comes at a time when Grade A standing stock in the region is at record low levels and we are already fielding strong enquiries regarding the unit which will practically complete in quarter three 2023,” concluded Rob Whatmuff, Head of Colliers Leeds. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson will spearhead the design and construction of the new £15.4 million state-of-the-art Air and Space Institute (ASI) aerospace project for Newark College, part of the Lincoln College Group, at the former cattle market site in Newark. The ASI provides a unique opportunity for school leavers aged 16-18 to train for pilot, engineer and ground-crew roles in airlines, the military, airports and logistics companies across the UK and abroad. “We are delighted to be appointed as main contractor on the ASI which offers state-of-the-art training for students at a brand-new campus in the heart of Newark. We are extremely pleased to have secured this project under the Pagabo National Framework for Major Construction Works. Through our early contractor involvement and close collaboration with the Client team, we look forward to turning Lincoln College Group’s vision into a reality by providing a world-class training facility for young people throughout the region,” said Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson. The new three-storey building, which is due to complete at the end of 2023, will be only the second of this type of college building to be built in the UK and will provide world class training for the air and space industry, accommodating a full-sized Airbus A318 for hands-on teaching experience, alongside a double height entrance hall, large open space hangar, flight simulator, teaching zones and lecture and seminar areas for students and staff. The scheme will be finished off with a combination of soft and hard landscaping works. “Like the whole of the town, we’re hugely excited about the progress being made on site and we can’t wait to see the building. Young people completing their GCSEs this year can apply for our engineer, pilot, space engineering, groundcrew and military pathways now and they will benefit from these fabulous new facilities during their course, as well as the chance to fly in our ASI aircraft and flight simulators,” commented Lincoln College Group Director of ASI and Strategic Growth, Tom Marsden. From conception, G F Tomlinson used BIM technology software to digitally map the complex build of the aerospace project, which includes numerous articulated angles, using world coordinate systems for the design and construction of the build. This allowed the contractors and Lincoln College Group to work the design and use real time updates to navigate the build through all the fundamental stages through to completion. “It is fantastic to see the vision for the Air and Space Institute coming to life in Newark and I know many local people are looking forward to having this huge asset in our district. Providing skills locally is a key driver for the whole package of projects being funded under Newark’s Town Fund initiative,” said Councillor David Lloyd, Co-Chair of Newark Town Board and Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council. “The ASI will be a huge boost for Newark’s inspiring generations of future pilots, ground crew and engineers to see its new home when it is completed. It will help shape the ambition for Newark’s future, making it a place people want to live, work, study and visit and I look forward to seeing the progress over the forthcoming years,” he concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has been appointed to work with the University of Exeter to complete detailed designs to build a new Multi-Faith Centre at Streatham Campus. Construction is due to start in summer this year. Exeter City Council recently approved plans to develop the Multi-Faith Centre, which will replace the existing Muslim prayer rooms and multi-faith spaces in the Old Library with a 50 person Muslim prayer space and a multi-faith space. It will also house communal meeting space, a kitchen, a dedicated office for the Multifaith Chaplaincy Team, a Changing Places facility and an external terrace area. “We are really excited to progress our plans for the new Multi-Faith Centre. The University is committed to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion and developing cultural competence working with partners across Exeter and Cornwall, and the wider region,” said Shraddha Chaudhary, Assistant Director for Culture and Inclusion at the University of Exeter. Sustainability and reducing carbon emissions are fundamental to the design of the new Multi-Faith Centre, which aims to achieve the Passivhaus standard. Features include the use of highly efficient porotherm blocks, air source heat pumps and PV panels on the building’s roof. Willmott Dixon has been working with a professional team, that includes Faithful and Gould, Group Emmett Design, SE3Design, Sands, SDS and ARUP. “Having worked with the University of Exeter on a number of projects, we are looking forward to delivering this new and inclusive Multi-Faith Centre and supporting the University’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, culture and heritage of its students and the wider community. This project aligns with our commitment to push the boundaries of sustainable design construction and operation of building,” added Rob Woolcock, Director at Willmott Dixon. The contractor has worked for the University of Exeter before on several projects. It has also several Passivhaus projects under its belt, including the Centre for Medicine at the University of Leicester and the Harris Academy in Sutton. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fradley Park Primary School in Lichfield, Staffordshire, celebrated the official opening of its £4.8m free school with the local community last week (Friday 13 January). The two-storey building, which was constructed by Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson and completed in summer 2022, opened to 210 primary and 26 nursery pupils in autumn last year – being the first school to be built in the area in over 40 years. “We’re delighted to have marked the official opening of Fradley Park Primary School, working collaboratively alongside Staffordshire County Council and Entrust, which has provided much-needed school places for young children within the local area. The brand-new facilities and state-of-the-art classrooms have created enhanced environments for children to learn and grow, and the ceremony was a great opportunity to see them explore their fantastic new school,” said Kevin Dodds, Construction Director at G F Tomlinson. The opening ceremony was attended by Ben Robinson, High Sheriff and County Councillor Jonathan Price from Staffordshire County Council, Construction Director Kevin Dodds from G F Tomlinson, and CEO of John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust Mike Donoghue. As well as approximately 50 guests, comprising school staff and governors, John Taylor MAT directors and members, and colleagues from the local authority and other partner and community organisations. “I was really pleased to officially open Fradley Park Primary, which is the latest primary school in the county to be built in response to growing demand for school places in the area. It’s been great to see the first classes of children settling in well to their new school, which looks to be a fantastic place for them to start their education journey,” commented Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education Jonathan Price. The occasion was marked with speeches and a presentation of the school’s journey, before the Lichfield school was officially opened by Ben Robinson, High Sheriff of Staffordshire County Council and County Councillor Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND. The school was delivered through the Staffordshire County Council Framework, and project managed by Entrust, and is now being managed by the John Taylor Multi Academy Trust. This is one of six educational schemes that G F Tomlinson has delivered within Staffordshire alongside Entrust, with the Derby-headquartered firm recently completing the latest scheme – Bramshall Meadows First School in Uttoxeter. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Harlow Council has approved plans to redevelop the town centre’s bus station and Terminus Street area. The proposals, which form part of Harlow Council’s town centre regeneration plans, were approved by the council’s Development Management Committee. The overhaul will be made possible thanks to government support secured by the council as part of its successful £23.7m Towns Fund bid. The planning permission makes way to develop a new transport hub and interchange for Harlow bus station services, as well as a cycle hub and dramatic improvements to the area’s public realm amenities and landscaping. Works, which are due to start in the coming months, will deliver: • The entire redevelopment of the bus station and Terminus Street • A new single-storey transport hub to the north of the site, with green space and a canopy covered waiting area • A cycle hub to the south with storage space for up to 80 cycles • Flexible events space • A new exit for buses from Terminus Street onto Crown Gate • Transformation of Terminus Street • The removal of the bridge connecting East Walk and Terminus House • A new entry area to Terminus House, with a lift to serve the first and second floors • Works to the existing Terminus House bin store. The development will support both existing public transport routes and proposed sustainable transport corridor routes, which will promote walking and cycling, as part of the development of Harlow and Gilston Garden Town. The inclusion of green areas and an events space will also help to transform the overall character of the area and create a welcoming environment. “This is another major step forward for the regeneration of the town centre following the recent purchases of Occasio House and the Harvey Centre, the £46 million investment from Strawberry Star and the many other plans that are coming into fruition – all in line with our Town Centre Masterplan,” said Councillor Dan Swords, Deputy Leader of the Council. “This transformation of Terminus Street and the entire rebuilding of the bus station area will completely overhaul a run-down part of the town centre into a welcoming gateway into Harlow’s new town centre. The new transport hub will allow for sustainable transport and cycling and will be built to the highest quality, with fantastic landscaping, public realm and build quality. This has all been made possible by the £23.7 million Towns Fund investment from the government which will also transform Broad Walk too – seamlessly connecting the new gateway into the town centre with the high street. “This is truly a historic moment for our town as the regeneration of the town centre motors on with construction work starting shortly. We are delivering on the council’s commitment to entirely rebuild our town centre and to restore pride in our town. We are also continuing our work with all our other regeneration priorities for the town, like building new council homes, repairing existing council homes and restoring pride in the town,” he added. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity is one step closer to fulfilling the dreams of children cared for at Rotherham Hospital thanks to a £5,000 donation from Keepmoat. The generous donation is a major boost for the charity’s Christmas fundraising appeal, which this year aimed to fund the redevelopment of the Children’s Ward outdoor play area. The donation was celebrated at the launch of Keepmoat’s latest housing development at Moorgate Boulevard, off Moorgate Road, Rotherham, where representatives from Keepmoat were joined by the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Tajamal Khan, and Dr Ted to explore its new showhomes which are now open to the public. Alongside the charity donation, Keepmoat is offering an exclusive £1,000 referral bonus*, for The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust staff when they successfully refer friends and family who go on to purchase a new home at the development. “We are so grateful and proud to receive such a significant donation from the team at Keepmoat. Their new showhomes at Moorgate Boulevard are a short walk from Rotherham Hospital so it showcases their commitment to enhancing the environment around them,” said Rachael Dawes, Head of Fundraising. “We have ambitious plans to revamp the rooftop space and hope to make it a special place for children and young people for generations to come. We’re one step closer to making that happen thanks to Keepmoat. I hope they have inspired other businesses, community groups and individuals to support us too.” Last year, colleagues at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, schools, community groups and individuals pooled their festive cheer to kick-start fundraising for the play area, raising a magnificent £6,500 by taking part in our Virtual Santa Jog, Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Jumper Day. More than £30,000 is needed to revamp the play area, so every penny raised will count. Our previous young patients, their families and Children’s Ward staff have already told us what their dream play area would look and feel like – now we need your support to make their dreams a reality. “We are absolutely delighted to be supporting another important institution in the community next to our new Moorgate Boulevard development. As homebuilders, we strive to build communities and transform lives, and I’m proud that we are able to support the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity through our donation. The donation is designed to enable children of all ages who may find themselves at Rotherham Hospital, to enjoy an improved children’s ward play area on its rooftop,” added Antony Rowe, Sales Manager for Keepmoat. “We were honoured that our three fabulous showhomes have been officially opened by the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Tajamal Khan, and the charity’s mascot Dr Ted. Our new 170-home development is located opposite Rotherham Hospital, which is in ideal proximity for commuting staff – and our referral scheme is designed to support NHS employees get their foot onto the property ladder. We look forward to welcoming future visitors to our Moorgate Boulevard showhomes and we’re excited to create a thriving community that is dedicated to improving lives,” Antony concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sheen Lane Developments has got the planning thumbs up to turn a landmark House of Fraser building in south west London into a mixed-use development with gym and restaurant. The firm will redevelop the George Street store in Richmond giving it an additional top floor and extending the basement for a swimming pool. The grade II-listed store was originally built in the 1960s and has been empty since September 2020 when House of Fraser ceased trading. “We’re extremely pleased to have secured planning consent for this prominent town centre building in the heart of Richmond. It offers a superb opportunity to bring back into use a key building that has been empty for more than two years,” said Henry Courtier, of planning consultant Pegasus Group. The developer Sheen Lane Developments is now starting work having already secured occupational interest from several operators, and it is expected that the basement and first floor will be occupied by private gyms, with the ground floor being retail and a restaurant. Offices would occupy floors two and three, while another restaurant would move to the fourth floor. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sainsbury’s has put forward plans to build a new store in Arborfield Green as part of a development plan for the Berkshire village. The proposal has been made as part of the development of the new district centre in Arborfield Green. The supermarket has said it plans to open a ‘neighbourhood hub’ store, which would be a larger version of its convenience stores. It will create 40 jobs in the area and offer a click-and-collect service for customers. “The store would form part of the district centre off Nine Mile Ride Extension, which we’ve awarded outline planning permission and are now awaiting a more detailed submission from developer Crest Nicholson. The development is required to include this, which we imposed to ensure residents are served by high-quality infrastructure alongside new housing which the Government requires us to take,” said the Wokingham Borough Council. “We welcome Sainsbury’s news as it shows the financial uncertainty caused by coronavirus and Brexit, which is why the district centre has been delayed, is improving. Further details will come through a separate planning application.” Crest Nicholson exhibited revised plans for Arborfield Green’s district centre and is now seeking people’s feedback before it submits a planning application to the council. The plans include a supermarket, smaller shops, a square, a community centre, a pub and green space and allotments. Since the plans were first put forward the developer has proposed a different layout and new pedestrian areas. The plan is running behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic. The council has apologised to residents for the delay. It said: “We know there’s been frustration at how long this has taken, so we’ve met Crest to discuss these delays and will be pressing them to move as quickly as possible. This project fell behind schedule, in part, due to reasons beyond the developer’s control. The coronavirus pandemic made retailers reluctant to open stores so it was very hard to attract interest from supermarkets. “Without an ‘anchor’ tenant to attract others, which was also partly down to Brexit, the scheme was unviable for a while. Government guidelines require us to be fair so we didn’t take any further action. However, as time moves on and the national situation improves, we’ll stay in touch with Crest to ensure there are no unnecessary delays.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
