RCM, the complete through wall solutions supplier is delighted to announce the addition of Abet Laminati MEG HPL façade to its already impressive portfolio. Robust, compact and long-lasting, MEG – Material Exterior Grade building façade by Abet Laminati is specifically designed for outdoor applications. This versatile and durable range is
A £15 million Capital Grant Fund has been allocated to develop an additional 21 community hubs and learning centres throughout Wales, confirmed Education Minister Kirsty Williams. Part of the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, the fund is a small part of the total of £3.7 billion that aims to replace and
Willmott Dixon has won a £34 million council house building contract to deliver 266 new homes on a site in Wolverhampton. The company will be completing the project for WV Living on the site for the Wednesfield High School on Lakefield Road, Wednesfield. The new development, named ‘The Marches’, will
A contract to build Powys County Council’s first affordable housing development for social rent in over 40 years has been awarded to a Welsh building company. Port Talbot-based Jistcourt has been appointed as lead contractor to build a three-storey building containing 26 one-bedroomed flats in Newtown. The company, who are
Higgins has started work on site to design and build a 14 storey residential block at Woolwich Reach, E16 for Notting Hill Genesis. The £21 million contract will deliver 75 affordable homes, one, two and three bedroom apartments, of which 28 will be London Living Rent homes and 47 shared
Construction work has started on a 55,000 sq ft industrial warehouse which is being developed on a speculative basis. MV55 is the newest addition to Markham Vale, a 200-acre industrial and logistics development located at Junction 29A of the M1 – a joint venture between Henry Boot Developments (HBD) and Derbyshire
The final beam was laid on a new nine-storey building on London’s Hanover Square development; a progress celebrated by contractor Mace and Great Portland Estates with a topping out ceremony. The 1.3 acre mixed-use development – Hanover Square Estate – is scheduled for completion next year. It will provide 220,000 sq ft
A year-long refurbishment of The Green Dragon Hotel, a Grade II listed building in Herefordshire, is underway; transforming a neglected city centre gem into a stunning 83 bedroom boutique hotel. The hotel is now seeking top hospitality talent to deliver its ambitious plan to be at the forefront of the
A £102 million contract has been sealed by Balfour Beatty for the delivery of 302 Zero Carbon Homes near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The firm will build phase one of the East Wick and Sweetwater development, which involves four mixed use buildings, including 302 apartments, townhouses and duplex residencies
Fusion Building Systems, the offsite manufacturer of light gauge steel frames has been awarded a contract by Solus Homes to provide a two-storey superstructure for the renovation of Morley Street Mill in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The former home of the Morley hosiery factory is being sympathetically redeveloped by the Loughborough housebuilder
RCM, the complete through wall solutions supplier is delighted to announce the addition of Abet Laminati MEG HPL façade to its already impressive portfolio. Robust, compact and long-lasting, MEG – Material Exterior Grade building façade by Abet Laminati is specifically designed for outdoor applications. This versatile and durable range is made up of a rigid core combined with a decorative surface consisting of weather-resistant thermosetting resins. The high pressure laminate (HPL) is often used as rainscreen cladding, as well as on balconies. Having the BBA Agrément certificate makes MEG an ideal choice for architects and with 58 colours, 31 woodgrains, 5 concrete and metal effect finishes the possibilities are huge. The new agreement between RCM and Abet Laminati to supply MEG facades follows RCM celebrating a most promising start to the year with ever increasing orders in their façade ranges. “As a company we have been going from strength to strength and it is a great achievement that we are able to bolster our façade range by adding the unique and versatile Abet Laminati MEG cladding range. We are always looking to the future and strive to give our customers the best possible solutions to their projects.” (Ian Quinton, Managing Director RCM) About RCM Established in 2004, RCM is a major supplier of complete through wall solutions to the UK construction industry. Supplying specialist building boards, façades, breather membranes and airtightness solutions, RCM offers a fully integrated approach to the building envelope whilst delivering on time and budget. RCM are a market leader in providing innovative products and solutions designed and tested to meet the demanding needs of construction. Specified for use in external façades, fire protection, acoustic, airtightness and decorative applications, RCM’s extensive portfolio has been installed on many of the UK’s largest projects. CPD Seminars For those interested in finding out more, RCM provides informative CPD sessions including a guide to materials, applications and specification considerations for building boards, internal and external linings and rainscreen façades, covering: What a specifier needs to consider Board materials and benefits Board applications Work on site For more details call 0800 612 4662 or email info@rcmltd.biz.
A £15 million Capital Grant Fund has been allocated to develop an additional 21 community hubs and learning centres throughout Wales, confirmed Education Minister Kirsty Williams. Part of the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, the fund is a small part of the total of £3.7 billion that aims to replace and refurbish education buildings throughout Wales. “Our 21st Century Schools and Education programme is already making a huge difference to pupils, teachers and local communities throughout Wales; giving them access to state of the art educational facilities. Schools play a vital role within a community, and I’m fully aware of the importance of ensuring that our schools are not only fit for purpose, but are able to cater to the needs of local communities,” said Kirsty Williams. “That’s why we’ve committed to introducing more community learning centres, and plan to make community focused projects a key aspect of the second wave of the programme,” she added. The £15 million fund will be primarily used for projects that cater for the local community. This could be through adapting existing buildings for wider use, such as increasing the size of a school hall, by providing specialist facilities that widen use or enhanced sporting facilities, which can be used by local people. In addition, funding will also be used to create spaces that meet a specific need within the local community, such as learning new languages or vocational skills.
Willmott Dixon has won a £34 million council house building contract to deliver 266 new homes on a site in Wolverhampton. The company will be completing the project for WV Living on the site for the Wednesfield High School on Lakefield Road, Wednesfield. The new development, named ‘The Marches’, will include 67 affordable homes and comprise of one, two, three and four bedroom homes for sale. “This is fantastic news for WV Living and for the city, The Marches will provide much needed quality homes to rent and high quality homes to buy. WV Living is continuing to support the overall house building programme in the City of Wolverhampton and in appointing Willmott Dixon we will also see real, long-lasting benefits for the local community,” said Kate Martin, Director for Housing, City of Wolverhampton Council. “Willmott Dixon’s business commitment to social value and sustainable futures is a real strength and we are confident this development will also boost local business and skills, and add further pace to housing growth across the city,” added Kate Martin. Willmorr Dixon is working with BM3 Architecture on this project and the first homes are scheduled to be ready for tenants by the end of the year. 67 homes out of the total of 266 will be affordable. “We are delighted to be working with WV Living to develop and build over 260 new houses and apartments, creating new housing stock for the people of Wolverhampton. At Willmott Dixon, we also believe we have a purpose beyond profit and that includes leaving a lasting positive legacy in the areas where we work,” commented Simon Liversage, Director for Willmott Dixon in the Midlands. The development is part of WV Living’s plans to deliver more than 1,000 new homes across the city over four years. WV Living is also developing three further sites as part of its phase one developments, with 52 houses on the site of the former Danesmore Park Primary School in Ashmore Park, 25 at the former Ettingshall Primary School site, and 40 at the former Prouds Lane leisure centre site.
A contract to build Powys County Council’s first affordable housing development for social rent in over 40 years has been awarded to a Welsh building company. Port Talbot-based Jistcourt has been appointed as lead contractor to build a three-storey building containing 26 one-bedroomed flats in Newtown. The company, who are committed to using local sub-contractors, is a major player in the building and civil engineering industry and have worked with a number of councils and housing associations in Wales. The £3.5m development, which is being built on land adjacent to Newtown Bowling Club at Back Lane, will provide low-carbon accommodation available at an affordable rent. Home grown timber will be used as part of its construction with timber being used for both the primary structure and external materials, including windows and doors, which supports the council’s Wood Encouragement Policy. The Welsh Government has granted almost £2.2m in funding through its Innovative Housing Programme towards the development of the flats. Cllr James Evans, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “I’m delighted that Jistcourt (South Wales) Ltd have been appointed as the lead contractor for this exciting and innovative social housing development project. “This development, which will meet the needs of the local community, is just the first of many housing developments that we are planning across the county. It will also help meet our Vision 2025 – to build a minimum of 250 affordable homes across the county by 2023. “We are looking forward to working with Jistcourt for the duration of this construction project.” Rob Norman, Chairman of Jistcourt, said: “We are looking forward to working with Powys County Council on this exciting new development to provide 26 new affordable housing units in Newtown.”
Higgins has started work on site to design and build a 14 storey residential block at Woolwich Reach, E16 for Notting Hill Genesis. The £21 million contract will deliver 75 affordable homes, one, two and three bedroom apartments, of which 28 will be London Living Rent homes and 47 shared ownership, and commercial space overlooking the River Thames and next to Royal Victoria Gardens. Located on the derelict site of a former pub, the project also includes large communal spaces featuring a landscaped residents’ podium deck with car parking beneath and a new offsite public viewing platform with views over the river. Steve Leakey, Managing Director of Higgins comments, “We are delighted to be awarded the Woolwich Reach contract by Notting Hill Genesis and to commence work on site. Woolwich Reach is a key project in the wider regeneration of the area and will turn a site that has been derelict for decades into a prominent riverside location for people to enjoy for years to come. “We are already working on a number of successful projects with Notting Hill Genesis, at City Park West in Central Chelmsford and Wooddene Estate in Peckham and look forward to building on this success and working in partnership with them to deliver Woolwich Reach.” Jo Palmer, Assistant Development Director for Notting Hill Genesis, said: “This is a really exciting project for us, offering 100 per cent affordable housing in an area that desperately needs it, and we are pleased to have Higgins on board and starting on site. We look forward to providing more fantastic homes and public spaces in this part of London.” The development sits next to a busy thoroughfare linking the site to the Woolwich Ferry, while its southern boundary overlooks the Thames and improves public access to the Capital Ring, a popular dedicated walking and cycling route around the capital. The project offers the potential for spectacular views in all directions and will also offer gated access to Royal Victoria Gardens, the TFL Capital Ring Walk and has excellent transport links including the upgraded TFL Woolwich Ferry, DLR King George V Station and London City Airport which are all close by. For further information about Higgins please visit www.higginsconstruction.co.uk
Construction work has started on a 55,000 sq ft industrial warehouse which is being developed on a speculative basis. MV55 is the newest addition to Markham Vale, a 200-acre industrial and logistics development located at Junction 29A of the M1 – a joint venture between Henry Boot Developments (HBD) and Derbyshire County Council. Markham Vale is home to the likes of Great Bear, Gist, Ferdinand Bilstein and Sterigenics. This latest building fronts the M1 and includes flexible office space ranging from 2,500 sq ft – 5,000 sq ft alongside high-quality industrial facilities and 50 on-site parking spaces. Andrew Priestley, Development Surveyor at HBD, said: “Our decision to build our latest unit at Markham Vale on a speculative basis is very much a reflection of the strength of the market and continued demand for high-quality, well located industrial property. There is an acute shortage of good quality industrial space across the Yorkshire and East Midlands markets, particularly for buildings between 20,000 sq ft and 100,000 sq ft, resulting in a high degree of latent demand for new-build product like MV55. “We currently have a total of 108,000 sq ft under construction at Markham Vale, with this latest unit scheduled to complete in September along with Protec International’s new purpose-built premises, which started on site last month. Initial conversations have been very positive – businesses are keen to capitalise on its location as well as the high-quality build, which is something occupiers can always count on from HBD.” Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King, added: “This is a great opportunity for another business to join our thriving Markham Vale site. This plot has a lot to offer with great links to the M1 and a skilled workforce, high-quality industrial facilities and flexible office space.”
The final beam was laid on a new nine-storey building on London’s Hanover Square development; a progress celebrated by contractor Mace and Great Portland Estates with a topping out ceremony. The 1.3 acre mixed-use development – Hanover Square Estate – is scheduled for completion next year. It will provide 220,000 sq ft of high quality office, retail and residential accommodation centred around a new public courtyard. “This ceremony marks a significant milestone in the construction of the Hanover Square Estate. With Europe’s largest infrastructure project directly underneath us, and operating on a constrained construction site in Mayfair, this project was always going to face challenges. I am very proud of the collaborative working we have seen from our construction team and external stakeholders,” said Toby Courtauld, Chief Executive of Great Portland Estates. 18 Hanover Square is a nine-storey building constructed above the new eastern entrance to the Elizabeth Line’s Bond Street station, and will include 126,000 sq ft of offices and 2,300 sq ft of retail space. Other projects under the development include a separate building on New Bond Street, new office space above 1 Medici Courtyard, a restored Georgian Grade II Listed building, and six new 2 and 3 bedroom residential apartments at the junction of New Bond Street and Brook Street. “When complete, Hanover Square will deliver some of London’s most enviable offices, retail and private residences. I’m honoured to be here today to mark such a significant step forward for the project. Great Portland Estates are one of the best developers operating in the UK, and we’re thrilled to have built such a close relationship with them through the delivery of three major London landmarks,” added Mark Reynolds, Chief Executive of Mace. The project team has worked closely with Crossrail, who are delivering the new Elizabeth line station at Bond Street. They are also working closely with Transport for London (TfL), who operate the adjacent London Underground station.
A year-long refurbishment of The Green Dragon Hotel, a Grade II listed building in Herefordshire, is underway; transforming a neglected city centre gem into a stunning 83 bedroom boutique hotel. The hotel is now seeking top hospitality talent to deliver its ambitious plan to be at the forefront of the regional food and drink scene. Work started this month to refurbish both the exterior and interior of this landmark building, with exciting plans to bring it into the 21st century whilst being sympathetic to its significant centuries-long history. As well as improving the building’s amenities there are exciting opportunities for hospitality professionals who have a clear passion for food and drink. The hotel is currently seeking an Executive Chef, two Head Mixologists and world-class Baristas. Managing Director Julian Vaughan comments “ We are looking to bring something different to Hereford and this major landmark deserves only the best talents we can find. Herefordshire is abundant with high-quality produce as a major farming county and it is the perfect place for an Executive Chef to maximise their talents with the best ingredients right on their doorstep. Herefordshire also benefits from a lower cost of living than major cities and is perfect for someone looking to live a more rural lifestyle.” Two Head Mixologists will be appointed to lead the hotel’s new cocktail bar which is being supported by locally produced Chase Vodka. As well as overseeing the creation of new drinks menus, the role will also include recruiting and developing new talent and brand relationships. The historic Offa bar is set to be a talking point for visitors to the hotel. It is one of the most stunning rooms in the hotel and has for decades been mothballed. Plans are set to transform it into a buzzing and atmospheric cocktail bar, adding sparkle and glamour back into the Herefordshire nightlife. The focus will be on unique serves and cocktails that celebrate Herefordshire’s finest ingredients and rural inspirations. Plans for a fast-paced new coffee shop are also underway, and there will be roles available for passionate, experienced baristas to deliver a contemporary coffee experience and manage the transition from daytime espresso to an evening wine bar, serving both hotel guests and the busy local business community.
A £102 million contract has been sealed by Balfour Beatty for the delivery of 302 Zero Carbon Homes near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The firm will build phase one of the East Wick and Sweetwater development, which involves four mixed use buildings, including 302 apartments, townhouses and duplex residencies and a number of associated commercial facilities including retail and leisure amenities. The new homes will contribute to the transformation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, providing a new, diverse and vibrant part of East London, as well as 1,500 new homes for the community. Around 500 people are expected to be employed at construction peak, with 7% of the workforce made of up apprentices. “This contract award builds on Balfour Beatty’s strong relationship with the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the London Legacy Development Corporation, having constructed the London 2012 Aquatics Centre and delivered transformative engineering works to the London Olympic Stadium. We look forward to providing East London with a lasting legacy by creating a range of employment opportunities for local people and businesses through the development of this new and exciting neighborhood,” said Graham Hill, Balfour Beatty’s Managing Director for its London Regional construction business. This work is the first of seven construction phases for the development and is being supported by equity from Balfour Beatty Investments in joint venture with Places for People and borrowed funding provided by Homes England. Ground preparation works commenced in early 2019 with completion expected in spring 2021.
Fusion Building Systems, the offsite manufacturer of light gauge steel frames has been awarded a contract by Solus Homes to provide a two-storey superstructure for the renovation of Morley Street Mill in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The former home of the Morley hosiery factory is being sympathetically redeveloped by the Loughborough housebuilder to provide luxury apartment accommodation across six storeys, for sale on the open market. Northampton-based Fusion Building Systems’ contract is to design and manufacture offsite, the light gauge steel superstructure which will form the upper two floors of the development, to be positioned on top of the existing 18th century structure. The low weight of Fusion’s light gauge steel panelised system was one of the primary reasons it was chosen by Solus Homes, enabling the developer to retain as much of the original building construction without compromise. With individual exterior wall panels weighing up to 80% less than the same area in traditional building materials, the benefits of using a light gauge steel system are significant. This will be the first time the two companies have worked together and Solus Homes Managing Director Mark Hornsall, said: “I was aware of Fusion through industry connections and had seen some of their work locally. We discussed a similar mill restoration project they’d worked on in Leeds and after touring their manufacturing facility and reviewing their design and engineering capabilities, I was eager to see how their system could work for us.” Stewart Hackney, Fusion Building Systems Business Development Manager, added: “It’s been a pleasure to work through the plans for Morley Street with Solus Homes and as this project progresses, we hope they’ll see the benefits of working with our offsite system for themselves – through the predictability of cost, timelines and accuracy of construction.” Mark continued: “While lightweight materials are a driving factor in this project, I’m interested to see how offsite construction might speed up our site process – ultimately influencing the build quality of our developments and their commercial viability.” Demolition works at Morley Street started back in July 2018, followed by construction work in November. Fusion has an eight week build programme planned for the site and will shortly start on the design element of its work, before moving to production and then on to site in May. Solus Homes plans to reach completion by April 2020. www.fusionbuild.com www.solushomes.co.uk @FusionBuildLGS
