The sports and leisure industries within the UK are booming. More people than ever before are choosing to focus on their health and fitness, thanks in part to inspiring role models within the sector. Boxing and fitness classes are becoming particularly popular, yet space for these types of facilities is
Construction work is underway on a new £400 million housing scheme in Leeds led by CEG that will see over 1,000 new homes and 400,000 sq ft of offices, retail, leisure and community spaces developed at Kirkstall Forge. Phase one of the scheme will be delivered by Tolent, including the construction
Tolent has announced its recent contract win at Kirkstall Forge, where the team will build the site’s first residential phase, with the contract initially delivering the construction of two prototype houses. Led by CEG, Kirkstall Forge is a £400 million project in Leeds that will see over 1,000 new homes
National property and construction consultancy Wakemans has completed a £2.4million SuperRoom roll out programme for Travelodge, one of the UK’s largest budget hotel chains. The Travelodge SuperRoom is the UK’s first premium economy room concept within the budget hotel sector. It is designed around the ‘premium economy’ concept familiar to
BROXTOWE Borough Council has secured a deal to bring The Arc Cinema to Beeston town centre as part of its plans to create a vibrant hub of leisure facilities and new homes in Nottinghamshire. The eight-screen cinema forms part of the mixed-use development which will include a greater choice of
The Rotherham Interchange transport hub has increased the space for modern and electric vehicles, due to the transformation work carried out by Interserve. The £12 million refurbishment also includes upgrades to the car park, new cladding, surfacing, and the delivery of improved pedestrian routes. “We are delighted to have completed
A new student accommodation development is due to arrive in Leeds as construction work commences on the site after funding is provided. The Refinery scheme progressed after local developer Gregory Property Group announced forward funding from Curlew. “We are pleased to have secured funding for an immediate start on site.
A new tailored health and wellbeing programme will be incorporated by Caddick Construction, benefiting a total of 140 employees. The firm agreed a partnership with health and wellness provider – hero, which will deliver the programme. “Our employees are our greatest asset and we want to ensure they feel valued
The team at KAM Project Consultants was recently selected by logistics and industrial development company Baytree to provide construction services for the build of a warehouse, which is being hailed as ‘the most sustainable warehouse in the UK’. KAM, which has company offices in Leicester and Milton Keynes, provided employer’s
Office buildings have undergone a wellbeing revolution but the industrial sector has been slow to catch up. Baytree hopes to be ahead of the curve with its innovative new warehouse. Investing in all this is hoped to yield two results: talent retention and productivity. A happier, healthier workforce that enjoys
The sports and leisure industries within the UK are booming. More people than ever before are choosing to focus on their health and fitness, thanks in part to inspiring role models within the sector. Boxing and fitness classes are becoming particularly popular, yet space for these types of facilities is now limited. Consequently, the construction industry is seeing a demand for leisure centres and sports clubs. Here, we’ll look at the rise in the demand for sports clubs and leisure centres and how it benefits other businesses. Sports clubs continue to grow Last year, the Sports Club Survey Report discovered that sports clubs in England were continuing to grow despite numerous challenges. Over half of clubs that responded to the survey, claimed they expected their adult memberships to continue to increase. There was also an interesting rise in the number of volunteers working within sports centres, showing the love of sports isn’t just tied to money. The challenges of building sports and leisure centres Although the rise in the demand for sports and leisure centres is increasing, there are challenges construction workers face when building these types of buildings. A lot of the new sports clubs require a unique, modern construction, rather than a standard generic layout. They are more specialised buildings, ranging greatly in size from single gymnasiums to large stadiums. Even the refurbishment of older facilities can be a complex construction process. Just some of the issues involved in the building of sports clubs and leisure centres include high up-front costs and long project completion. How the increase in demand benefits other sectors There may be challenges within the construction of additional sports clubs and leisure centres. However, the rise in demand is having benefits on other sectors. Companies which supply fitness equipment are seeing an increase in business, as are those which supply facilities for the buildings such as JLA. An additional benefit is that these new clubs and leisure centres require new staff to keep them running. So, personal trainers are seeing an increase in demand too. However, the wider benefits are even more remarkable. As there is an increase in demand for sports and leisure facilities, it means a lot of people are focused on getting fitter. This is obviously a great benefit for society as a whole. It also means less pressure will be placed onto the NHS eventually as obesity levels drop. Obviously, this isn’t a benefit that’s going to happen overnight, but it is a promising sign that people are getting fitter and healthier. Overall, sports clubs and leisure centres are becoming more popular in the UK. While there may be challenges building and running new facilities, this increase in demand is delivering a lot of benefits to associated sectors too.
Construction work is underway on a new £400 million housing scheme in Leeds led by CEG that will see over 1,000 new homes and 400,000 sq ft of offices, retail, leisure and community spaces developed at Kirkstall Forge. Phase one of the scheme will be delivered by Tolent, including the construction of two prototype houses. “This is another great win for the team which really shows the depth of experience and expertise we have as a national construction firm. With such a significant and visionary project that is already winning awards, we’re looking forward to being a part of this legacy for Leeds as well as the innovative prototype housing which is something new for us,” commented Regional director for Tolent, John Currie. The two prototype houses will be completed this summer and, once finished, members of CEG’s design team will move into the three and five-bed homes and test out the living experience. Improvement will be then made, according to their feedback, to finesse the final product. Following that, phase one of the scheme will see the construction of 112 contemporary homes, which were designed by Stirling Prize winner Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. “This innovative way of delivering prototype housing follows the attention to detail we have paid to everything we are delivering at Kirkstall Forge,” added James Shimwell, head of residential development at Kirkstall Forge. “By testing every detail we can ensure we best complement Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ inspiring design, which maximises the acres of green space and waterfront opportunity.”
Tolent has announced its recent contract win at Kirkstall Forge, where the team will build the site’s first residential phase, with the contract initially delivering the construction of two prototype houses. Led by CEG, Kirkstall Forge is a £400 million project in Leeds that will see over 1,000 new homes and 400,000 sq ft of offices, retail, leisure and community spaces being developed. The two prototype houses will be completed this summer and, once finished, members of CEG’s design team will move into the three and five-bed homes and test out the living experience. Following their feedback, improvements will be made to finesse the final product before continuing with the first phase of 112 contemporary homes, which were designed by Stirling Prize winner Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. Open plan, light and airy, offering open plan living opening out onto gardens and terraces across different floors, the homes have been designed for modern life, making everyday living refreshingly enjoyable and effortlessly cool. Regional Director for Tolent, John Currie, said: “This is another great win for the team which really shows the depth of experience and expertise we have as a national construction firm. “With such a significant and visionary project that is already winning awards, we’re looking forward to being a part of this legacy for Leeds as well as the innovative prototype housing which is something new for us.” James Shimwell, head of residential development at Kirkstall Forge, said: “This innovative way of delivering prototype housing follows the attention to detail we have paid to everything we are delivering at Kirkstall Forge. “By testing every detail we can ensure we best complement Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ inspiring design, which maximises the acres of green space and waterfront opportunity.” CEG’s decision to ensure Kirkstall Forge is ‘Different by Design’ has paid off to date; with the opening of a new railway station connecting this development site to Leeds City Centre in just six minutes, followed swiftly by a 110,000 sq ft office development which was 90% let less than a year from completion, securing the prestigious British Council of Offices best UK ‘Commercial Workplace’ award. Tolent, a north-east based national contractor, has been working across the Leeds and wider Yorkshire area since 1990, delivering a variety of contracts from industrial, leisure and more recently student accommodation. To find out more about Tolent visit www.tolent.co.uk
National property and construction consultancy Wakemans has completed a £2.4million SuperRoom roll out programme for Travelodge, one of the UK’s largest budget hotel chains. The Travelodge SuperRoom is the UK’s first premium economy room concept within the budget hotel sector. It is designed around the ‘premium economy’ concept familiar to airline users. It dials up the comfort factor for business and leisure customers who want the extra choice of a more premium room. Wakemans acted as project manager on the trial rooms, with responsibility for the procurement of the new amenities as well as fit-out, before overseeing the roll-out of SuperRooms in 48 Travelodge hotels around the UK. Nigel Himpson, Senior Associate Director at Wakemans, said: “SuperRooms are now available in some of the top locations around the country and offer an extra level of comfort to guests who opt for longer stays as well as those who choose to spend more time in the room.” A total of 296 SuperRooms have been incorporated into Travelodge’s existing city centre hotels. Scott Rutherford, Travelodge, Technical Services Director said: “At Travelodge we are all about bringing great value and choice to the budget traveller. More and more business travellers are opting for a budget hotel and last year we generated more sales from business customers than those on holiday. Our new SuperRoom adds an extra choice for customers who are spending more time working in the room, are staying longer or who just value that little bit more comfort. Alongside our recently upgraded classic room, this is another important milestone on our journey to become the favourite hotel for value.” The stylish SuperRoom has everything that you would expect from Travelodge but with lots of new additional creature comforts. It has been styled in a modern residential décor scheme, creating a home from home feel. It features a new dream-light colour scheme which includes tones of calming blue, warm beige and tranquil taupe, as well as blackout curtains, creating a relaxing atmosphere for a restful night’s sleep. The signature creature comforts in the SuperRoom include: Lavazza ‘A Modo Mio’ fresh capsule coffee machine to kick-start your day Hansgrohe Raindance 3-jet adjustable shower to leave you fully refreshed Multiple power and USB charging points at arm’s length throughout Relaxing ambient LED mood lighting Comfy armchair to relax in Larger desk area with a comfortable swivel chair Luxurious king-size Travelodge Dreamer™ bed Choice of firm and soft hypo-allergenic pillows Dressing stand with a powerful hairdryer In-room iron and ironing board Powerful hairdryer and full length mirror Samsung Slimline wall-mounted flat screen TV Hot chocolate and a KitKat for that extra treat when you need it
BROXTOWE Borough Council has secured a deal to bring The Arc Cinema to Beeston town centre as part of its plans to create a vibrant hub of leisure facilities and new homes in Nottinghamshire. The eight-screen cinema forms part of the mixed-use development which will include a greater choice of food and drink outlets and 132 new homes. Negotiations continue on 50 per cent of the commercial units available for food and drink outlets and the sale of the residential site has been agreed. Councillor Richard Jackson, Leader of the Council for Broxtowe Borough Council said: “This is a significant milestone in Beeston’s development which we are excited to announce. We have been in negotiations with three leading cinema operators for several months and selected Arc Cinema because of its approach to delivering high-quality screenings tailored to local communities.” Director for Melcorpo, Brian Gilligan said: “We are delighted to be launching The Arc Cinema in Beeston; I’m confident our cinema will complement the successful regeneration of this thriving town centre. “The Arc Cinema offers customers a premium cinema experience combining 700 supremely comfortable electric recliner seats, cutting-edge technology like laser projection with a friendly, personal atmosphere.” Work is expected to start on the site in August with an anticipated opening date in late 2020. The new cinema will contribute to Beeston’s night time economy, revitalising the town centre and creating a vibrant new hub where people want to spend time. Councillor Richard Jackson added: “The Arc Cinema will be an asset to Beeston and I’m really pleased the operator has selected the town as one if its locations to launch its UK rollout of 10 sites over the next three years. Our development presents an exciting opportunity for restaurants, bars and cafes looking to expand in the East Midlands.” The scheme forms the second phase of a £50 million development which involved the refurbishment of the shopping precinct, new and improved public transport connecting the town to the NET tram network, more retailers, cafes and a gym. The development is being marketed by agents HEB Tel: 0115 950 6611 and JLL Tel: 0115 908 2120. The project is also being supported by the D2N2 Local Growth Fund pt 3 N2TC Fund. For more information on the scheme and to view the designs, visit https://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/for-business/town-centres/beeston/beeston-square/
The Rotherham Interchange transport hub has increased the space for modern and electric vehicles, due to the transformation work carried out by Interserve. The £12 million refurbishment also includes upgrades to the car park, new cladding, surfacing, and the delivery of improved pedestrian routes. “We are delighted to have completed the Rotherham Interchange refurbishment project. The new facilities will provide an improved passenger experience for users of the Interchange,” said John Gittins, Divisional Director at Interserve Construction. “As part of this project we are proud to have supported the training and development of 60 students from Rotherham Construction College. We look forward to continuing our relationship with SYPTE and Rotherham Council as it continues to invest in the town’s regeneration programme,” John added. The project was delivered over a 10-month period, during which 10,000 litres of paint were used, and 11,000 floor tiles, 10km of electric cables, 3,800m2 of insulation, 350 sheets of glass and solar panels were installed; all in order to provide the building’s sustainable energy needs. Interserve delivered the project on behalf of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) “The improved Rotherham Interchange will provide a better, brighter place for public transport users as well as those visiting, living and working in the town. Seventeen million people travelling through the Interchange each year, using 1,299 buses a day, will now benefit from new seating, lighting, information displays, electrics and flooring, CCTV and free public wi-fi,” commented SYPTE Executive Director, Stephen Edwards.
A new student accommodation development is due to arrive in Leeds as construction work commences on the site after funding is provided. The Refinery scheme progressed after local developer Gregory Property Group announced forward funding from Curlew. “We are pleased to have secured funding for an immediate start on site. The scheme’s design is impressive, delivering high quality accommodation for Leeds students in a prime location that connects student life to the vibrant city centre in a matter of minutes,” said Barry Gregory, Chairman of Gregory Property Group. The development is worth more than £30 million and it will include 407 beds comprising studios and bedroom clusters with terrace and garden features, along with share social hubs, a cinema, gym, games room, concierge and state-of-the-art 24-hour security. “Leeds remains a top ten university destination in the UK and with a growing student population of around 60,000 students the city needs more homes. We expect to complete the development in time for occupation from the September 2020 University term and Fresh Student Living will be managing that occupation on behalf of Curlew,” added Barry. The nine, 10 and 11-storey scheme on Bingley Street was designed by AHR Architects. Planning permission was granted for the project in November 2018, with GMI Construction Group securing a £21.5 million contract to build the development.
A new tailored health and wellbeing programme will be incorporated by Caddick Construction, benefiting a total of 140 employees. The firm agreed a partnership with health and wellness provider – hero, which will deliver the programme. “Our employees are our greatest asset and we want to ensure they feel valued and supported. We are thrilled to be leading the way when it comes to mental resilience and wellbeing in the workplace – issues which should not and cannot be ignored. As employers we take our responsibility to our team members seriously and want to support them in as many ways possible to ensure they are both healthy and happy inside and outside of work,” said Caddick Construction Managing Director Andrew Murray. “The hero team impressed us with the depth and level of support they provide behind the scenes. I’m confident this project will deliver tangible results for our staff that will enhance and improve the health and wellbeing our employees, whether office based or on site,” Andrew added. The programme will cover both mental and physical health and includes one-to-one health checks and screenings, wellbeing training for all direct line managers, mental health first aid training and ongoing workshops throughout 2019. This comes as current statistics show one in six construction workers in the UK is experiencing depression, anxiety or stress. “It’s always rewarding to see businesses waking up to the fact they play a large and important part in the health and wellbeing of their team. It’s great to see Caddick Construction leading the way and championing wellness at work in such a bold and committed manner. The ‘Mindset’ programme of events have been purposely designed to offer comprehensive screenings and health checks that cover everything from blood pressure to cholesterol and blood tests too,” commented Joe Gaunt, CEO of hero. “We have been working with Caddick to understand the current ‘state of the workforce’ enabling us to create a bespoke programme, which will deliver results and have immediate and long-term effects. The hero Discovery Report demonstrated clear indicators of specific support around what the Caddick team wanted to see. And, as a result, we were able to design a bespoke and tailored programme perfect for Caddick employees,” Joe concluded.
The team at KAM Project Consultants was recently selected by logistics and industrial development company Baytree to provide construction services for the build of a warehouse, which is being hailed as ‘the most sustainable warehouse in the UK’. KAM, which has company offices in Leicester and Milton Keynes, provided employer’s agent and cost manager services for the build of the warehouse in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, which has been praised for a number of environmental and technological advances and is now ready to market to potential occupiers. Using mixed reality technology called Microsoft HoloLens, a first for the UK logistics sector, the warehouse will allow customers of the future occupying business the chance to visualise and interact with the building in a variety of different 3D scales to showcase fitouts within the warehouse and offices. Insulated and airtight, the building is fitted with solar panels and contains air source heat pumps that extract heat from the air outside to power equipment inside. Clear panels in the warehouse ceiling reduce the need for artificial lighting and all existing lighting is LED and environmentally friendly. The building is also fitted with an energy monitoring system complete with smart meters which track energy usage and turn lights and heating off when parts of the building are unoccupied, this can be controlled remotely. The sensors monitor air and water quality, internal noise, lighting, humidity, temperature and patterns of occupancy. Services for future employees range from solar-powered electric car charging points to outdoor gym equipment, and the company has installed walls covered with reindeer moss to improve air quality and absorb noise. The fire track for the building has been designed to have dual use as a running track and there are also allotments and orchards for workers to cultivate and enjoy their own fruit and vegetables grown onsite. Construction works completed on the warehouse at the end of 2018, and the site will eventually comprise two warehouses – one of 267,000 sq. ft and one of approximately 360,000 sq. ft once a pre-let has been secured for the second. Developers say that once the pre-let is secured, completion can be expected for the second in approximately six months. David French, director at KAM Project Consultants said: “We’ve really enjoyed being part of this project to put such a sustainable build on the map. From a business point of view, it’s so important to consider the environmental impact of your work and so much planning went into this build to ensure a sustainable working environment for the occupier, which is key for the future of the logistics sector. “The build consists of many sustainable elements and will provide a fantastic and modern space for a logistics business and its employees – we look forward to seeing more of this type of innovation and sustainable effort in our future projects.” For both the first and second warehouses, Baytree hopes to attract high-quality occupiers who will bring a variety of skilled employment opportunities to the area. A pre-let has yet to be signed for the second building, but there has already been interest from a number of parties. The location of the site close to the M1 is ideal for potential tenants including businesses in the retail, pharmaceutical or manufacturing sectors. Alongside KAM, Savills, Chetwood Architects, Hydrock Consultants, Kelly Taylor Associates and David Lock Associates supported Baytree with the build of the warehouse.
Office buildings have undergone a wellbeing revolution but the industrial sector has been slow to catch up. Baytree hopes to be ahead of the curve with its innovative new warehouse. Investing in all this is hoped to yield two results: talent retention and productivity. A happier, healthier workforce that enjoys the working environment will stay in their jobs longer and work better. Until now, workplace wellness had not crossed over into the industrial and logistics sector. But that could be set to change. A new speculatively built warehouse in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, includes a range of health-boosting amenities and is, its developer claims, the most sustainable shed in the world. The building has been developed by Baytree, a logistics and industrial development company launched by AXA Investment Managers’ Real Assets division in 2015, which focuses on the UK, French and German industrial markets. The land was owned by Central Bedfordshire Council, and Baytree agreed a deal to buy it at the end of 2017.
