Network Rail has completed repair and restoration work on a 132-year-old canopy at the main entrance of Knaresborough Station in North Yorkshire. Network Rail carefully repaired the Grade II listed canopy to preserve the station’s rich heritage for years to come. The structure has seen a complete roof renewal and
A complex restoration project in Surrey will be cost managed by Gleeds, the international property and construction consultancy. The project includes the revamp of Clandon Park, a historic building in West Clandon that was ravaged by fire in April 2015. An intensive salvage phase has been carried out since the incident,
The former Royal Infirmary hospital in Edinburgh is going under restoration work, with the UK construction giant Balfour Beatty landing the contract for the project. The £70 million works will be completed to deliver a new major education hub for the University of Edinburgh. “We have a long history of
When it comes to restoring an old building, you need to make sure that you are being very careful. These buildings have been standing for a long time and so any attempt at repair can lead to more problems if things are not approached in the right way. To help
Work has begun on removing the former visitor facilities at Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, the first step in returning the area back to nature and creating extra forest for visitors to enjoy and wildlife to inhabit. The centre was closed last summer, once the new one opened in Forest
A 16th century Grade II Listed former farmhouse in East Suffolk has been restored and it includes subsequent 17th and 19th re-modelling. With a primarily oak timber frame, the construction features a double jettied gable at the first floor with brick noggin exposed in Flemish bond. A ground floor oriel window
Over 200 social homes in Manchester have received refurbishments from one of the largest privately-owned construction companies in the UK, Wates. A total of 62 previously vacant properties were fully refurbished with a further 151 properties receiving facelift works. The revamped homes in Ben Street in Clayton have been delivered
Refurbishment work to enhance the look of Rossmere Park in Hartlepool has started. The £500,000 project, which will be in two phases and take a year to complete, has been developed by Hartlepool Borough Council following public consultation on its masterplan for the park in 2015. Phase one includes the relocation
WORK to redevelop the historic Grade II listed Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths in Newcastle upon Tyne has started. The Pool and Turkish Baths – which holds fond memories for many locals – first opened in 1928 and closed to the public in April 2013. Now developer Fusion Lifestyle,
Sir Robert McAlpine starts work in the new year on £29m of repairs to the famous clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects Division has been awarded the scaffolding contract and pre-construction service agreement (PCSA) for a three-year programme of essential works to conserve the
Network Rail has completed repair and restoration work on a 132-year-old canopy at the main entrance of Knaresborough Station in North Yorkshire. Network Rail carefully repaired the Grade II listed canopy to preserve the station’s rich heritage for years to come. The structure has seen a complete roof renewal and redecoration throughout, including a fresh lick of paint in its traditional white and green colours. Before refurbishment began, scaffolding was temporarily installed to reinforce the station canopy, protecting passengers and the local community. “The revamped entrance has made a real difference to the station, giving it a vital upgrade whilst retaining its historic look. The crucial repair work will not only improve passenger experience, but it will also help to protect the Grade II listed building for future generations. I’d like to thank passengers, our partners and the community for their patience and hope they continue to enjoy the station’s connections to York, Harrogate and Leeds for years to come,” said Robert Ellams, Route Engineer for Network Rail’s North and East Route. With the refurbishment now complete, the structure matches the platform canopies which were also restored back in 2016. The scaffolding has also now been safely removed, allowing the people of the town to enjoy their local station once again. “This is great work from Network Rail and is part of a greater programme of investment in our stations and railways. It is also an investment in our heritage as this is a Grade II listed structure. The Network Rail team were really responsive when the Friends of Knaresborough Station approached me wanting the work completed quickly. They prioritised it and now we have a fantastic looking station with brilliant businesses on the platform to go with more and better rail services,” commented Andrew Jones, Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough. The station, which was awarded the Urban Heritage award at the National Heritage Awards last year, has benefitted from other major improvements over the last few years, including a £150,000 upgrade to the station roof in 2019. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A complex restoration project in Surrey will be cost managed by Gleeds, the international property and construction consultancy. The project includes the revamp of Clandon Park, a historic building in West Clandon that was ravaged by fire in April 2015. An intensive salvage phase has been carried out since the incident, which involved making the building safe as well as windproof and watertight before archaeologists could begin meticulously sifting through the debris to recover and catalogue surviving collection and architectural elements. Since the fire, detailed specialist surveys and investigations, including the undertaking of laser survey work and the completion of a conservation plan. The National Trust selected Gleeds’ heritage cost management team to support the project, joining the Trust-assembled consultant team in undertaking a comprehensive feasibility study before construction begins and providing strategic advice throughout. “This is one of the most significant conservation projects ever undertaken and I am delighted that Gleeds will be playing such a critical role in its delivery. We have worked with the organisation on a host of other historic schemes, including Knole, Ickworth House and Wimpole Hall and are committed to bringing historically significant sites such as these to life for the public to enjoy,” said Martin Hall, Director at Gleeds. Architectural practice Allies and Morrison was appointed to lead a design team which includes landscape architect, Robert Myers Associates, conservation architect, Purcell, structural engineer, Price & Myers and mechanical and electrical engineer, Max Fordham. They will support the National Trust with developing the concept for the remade Clandon Park, which will combine restored historic interiors, modern gallery and learning spaces, and beautiful new gardens to create a unique place for cultural and creative programming.
The former Royal Infirmary hospital in Edinburgh is going under restoration work, with the UK construction giant Balfour Beatty landing the contract for the project. The £70 million works will be completed to deliver a new major education hub for the University of Edinburgh. “We have a long history of restoring listed buildings, including the National Museum of Scotland and the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Combining the latest construction techniques and technologies, we look forward to sympathetically restoring Edinburgh’s Old Royal Infirmary hospital for the wider benefit of the community,” commented Hector Macaulay, Balfour Beatty’s Managing Director of Scotland and Ireland. The Edinburgh Futures Institute development will include multiple teaching and learning facilities, function areas, and work spaces for staff, students and the general public. For the development, Balfour Beatty has to restore and connect six wards in order to unlock the building’s wide corridors to create free-flowing areas in the University’s Grade- A listed Old Royal Infirmary hospital building, spanning over 21,000 square meters. They will employ 170 people at construction peak. To enhance the restoration process, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and augmented and virtual reality technologies will also be utilised. Work will commence on the project in spring 2019, and is expected to be completed ahead of the start of the academic year in 2021.
When it comes to restoring an old building, you need to make sure that you are being very careful. These buildings have been standing for a long time and so any attempt at repair can lead to more problems if things are not approached in the right way. To help you with this, we have put together some tips on how to restore an old building. Keep reading to find out more. Look For Water Damage Before you get started on your project, you need to make sure that you are looking out for any sort of water damage. Water damage can be a warning of serious structural issues and it can easily appear around the floors, windows and ceilings. Make sure to double check the sill plate as this is an important structural part of the building. Choose Good Materials When you are investing in some materials and products to help with your building restoration project, you need to make sure that you are choosing the right ones. You want products that are built to last and aren’t just going to lead to more problems down the line. If you choose a trusted provider, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that their products can be trusted also. For example, there’s the company W.R. Meadows who ensure every product they create meets EPA standards. Having operated in the industry since 1926, they have extensive experience in creating construction materials that are of the highest quality for their customers. Get A Good Team A building restoration project can be very complicated and so you need to make sure that you have a team of people that you can trust to work on the project. Every member of the team should be trained to deal with this sort of old building to ensure the structure remains and that everything is approached in the right way. Train your team carefully and make sure that everyone knows how important this project is. Start With The Practical Elements Our next tip for those about to embark on a building restoration project is to start on the practical elements rather than the aesthetic. Think about starting off with the roof, the windows and the masonry in the building. Once you have completed these then you can move on with things like the aesthetic. You should also think about taking a look at the mortar in any fireplaces or chimneys in the building. Non-Threatening Quirks Our final tip is to make sure that you take advantage of any sort of non-threatening quirks. If the old building has some design quirks that have changed over the years, it is often a good idea to embrace these rather than change them. As long as the building will be structurally sound with these quirks in place, you should be able to embrace them. Final Verdict If you are planning a building restoration project this year, make sure that you take on board all of the advice that we have given you in this article. Think about choosing the right materials for the project and embracing any sort of quirks that the building has. This should help you to have a successful project and a structurally sound building.
Work has begun on removing the former visitor facilities at Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, the first step in returning the area back to nature and creating extra forest for visitors to enjoy and wildlife to inhabit. The centre was closed last summer, once the new one opened in Forest Corner, run by an RSPB-led consortium, working with Nottinghamshire County Council. The partnership managing the forest includes Sherwood Forest Trust, Thoresby Estate and the Woodland Trust. The building of the new visitor centre was also supported by funding from D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, who provided £500,000. The old visitor centre was located within an area of internationally important forest habitat – a legally protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and had to be moved as being so close to the ancient oak trees was having a detrimental effect on them, and the structure of the woodland. Natural England, the Government’s advisor on the natural environment, helping to protect England’s landscapes and nature, had been pushing for the buildings to be moved outside of the protected area for many years, which is one of the reasons the new centre was relocated. Dave Parker, Area Manager for Natural England said the work forms part of an in an exciting and ambitious project to restore the historic forest to its former natural glory whilst providing a new and improved visitor experience. “We have been working closely with Nottinghamshire County Council and more recently the RSPB for more than 15 years to enable this project to take place,” he said. “The area where the former visitor centre stands is of such international importance that for both conservation and legal reasons it must be removed to reduce the impact of the structures on nearby ancient trees and the surrounding woodland habitat. “The removal of the centre will restore the land to a valuable mix of lowland heathland and wood pasture, providing an opportunity for rare Sherwood habitats to be re-created and expanded. It’s fantastic to see this work now progressing to benefit visitors, local residents and of course the forest’s very special wildlife.” Ross Frazer, RSPB project manager, said the work needs to be done with extreme sensitivity to avoid damaging the nearby ancient oaks, many of which are more than 500 years old. “We have spent the early part of the year ensuring adequate protection for the trees and the ground in some parts of the site, so that they are not damaged during the work,” he explained. “This is not a case of demolishing the buildings with heavy equipment, but carefully taking the buildings down and removing them. “We know there was a lot of affection for the old centre, but we hope that visitors will understand that it had been built in an area which wasn’t suitable, and this work is being done for the good of the forest that we all love and want to protect. “It’s an exciting prospect, to be taking down concrete and taking up tarmac to allow nature back in – this doesn’t happen very often!” Nottinghamshire County Councillor John Cottee, Chairman of the Communities and Place Committee, said: “This marks another chapter for this world-famous country park. The old visitor centre has been a long-standing fixture and certainly holds a lot of fond memories for many visitors, but the time has come for it to return back to nature. “There has been a high level of expertise and planning involved to ensure this restoration work goes as smoothly as possible.” Once cleared, the forest’s conservation team will then begin the task of restoring the site to nature, helping to create around a further four hectares of forest for the public to explore, and some important wildlife habitat. Howard Ward Associates (HWA) is providing engineering, arboricultural and ecological support on the project. Director Dan Bailey said: “It’s great to be working with the RSPB on this worthwhile remediation project to restore the area of the former visitor centre back to nature. “It is very rewarding to work with a client who is so passionate and focused on their objectives which, in this case, have a direct impact on an area of natural beauty so closely linked to Nottingham.” The work is being carried out by Edwinstowe contractors, Woodhead, who also built the new visitor centre and car park. The majority of the forest’s paths will be unaffected by the restoration works, but visitors are urged to take notice of signage around the site, and can see more information at www.visitsherwood.co.uk
A 16th century Grade II Listed former farmhouse in East Suffolk has been restored and it includes subsequent 17th and 19th re-modelling. With a primarily oak timber frame, the construction features a double jettied gable at the first floor with brick noggin exposed in Flemish bond. A ground floor oriel window is flanked by pargeted render panels and the outshot was rendered with partial parge work to the gable still visible. Exposed timbers and brickwork to the gable had been re-pointed in recent years and painted with heavy modern paint, which led to the areas showing sign of distress and a sorry appearance. Render to the gable, return wall and outshot had been patch repaired over the 20th century with heavy impervious cement render and various forms of filler, along with modern paint which was leading to the degradation of the structure. During exposure extensive decay to supporting laths and de-lamination of render coats, some resultant from water penetration and previous repairs resulted in render being removed. To fix the defect, careful measure and recording of the remaining detail and dimensions of parge work was undertaken so that templates and tools could be manufactured by a local engineer to replicate previous design and layout. The heavy paint to the exposed timber gable was removed with a chemical stripper, which was manufactured and supplied by Strippers Paint Removers, and cement pointing to brick noggins was carefully removed and re-pointing undertaken with one of Anglia Lime Company’s readymixed lime mortar mixes along with localised brick repairs with reclaimed Tudor reds. External cement render was removed and period render was found to be in a friable condition with supporting laths rot affected and fixing nails corroded. The previous rendered walls were then re-lathed and applied with ALC’s Fibrechalk and laid to a smooth finish. The gable end wall to outshot was re-dressed with parge work consisting of a continuous rope in borders, whilst panels to either side of the ground floor oriel window of the main gable was stamped with a pricked indent with beaded surround to match existing profile. To finish, and preserve it was all then painted with ALC’s Original Limewash. The restoration was completed by Rickards Period Plastering Ltd.
Over 200 social homes in Manchester have received refurbishments from one of the largest privately-owned construction companies in the UK, Wates. A total of 62 previously vacant properties were fully refurbished with a further 151 properties receiving facelift works. The revamped homes in Ben Street in Clayton have been delivered by Wates Living Space four weeks ahead of schedule. The refurbishments include re-roofing, energy efficiency upgrades, fully-fitted kitchens and bathrooms, flooring and carpeting as well as the installation of new heating systems. The facade works involved replacing all existing windows and doors with modern UPVC, improving guttering and cleaning brickwork plus the refurbishment of communal alley space and external walling. “The work delivered by the Wates Living Space team at Ben Street is truly transformative. To take homes that have laid empty for 20 years and bring them up to this standard of quality is a task of great care and expertise and it is truly heartening to see the difference that this has made to residents,” said David Morgan, Managing Director of Wates Living Space. “Our work at Ben Street was above all things about the community. The project team should rightly be very proud of the ways in which they have engaged with local residents, community groups and neighbouring schools to ensure the positive legacy of this important work becomes a catalyst for lasting community spirit for generations to come,” he added. Delivered on behalf of Manchester City Council, the refurbishments brought to life the 200 properties that are now up to decent home standards. “First and foremost, I would like to welcome the new east Manchester tenants in to their new homes. These are some of the luckiest residents in the city as the first to access the refurbished housing at the Ben Street regeneration area. Wates has done a remarkable job turning these properties into high-quality family homes,” commented Cllr Suzanne Richards, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration.
Refurbishment work to enhance the look of Rossmere Park in Hartlepool has started. The £500,000 project, which will be in two phases and take a year to complete, has been developed by Hartlepool Borough Council following public consultation on its masterplan for the park in 2015. Phase one includes the relocation of the toddler play area near to the cafe, complete with a range of new equipment, and the creation of a separate all-new junior play area featuring facilities including a Sutu interactive ball wall. On the site of the old toddler play area off Braemar Road an on-site car park will be built. Moreover, a new covered area for events will be created in the centre and there will also be general enhancement work around the park. “These exciting improvements will create new and better facilities for children and adults alike. I look forward very much to seeing the park welcome many more visitors when the work has been completed,” said Councillor Ann Marshall, Vice-Chair of the Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee. Phase two will focus on the pond and will include planting around the pond’s concrete edging to improve its visual appearance and the introduction of several miniature floating islands which will act as natural filtration systems to improve the oxygen levels for the fish. “I’m delighted that, thanks to this external funding, Rossmere Park is getting a new lease of life,” added Councillor Jim Lindridge, Vice-Chair of the Council’s Regeneration Services Committee. The two phases project has been funded by Mondegreen Environmental Body – a regional grant-giving organisation which distributes money from the Landfill Tax to community initiatives.
WORK to redevelop the historic Grade II listed Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths in Newcastle upon Tyne has started. The Pool and Turkish Baths – which holds fond memories for many locals – first opened in 1928 and closed to the public in April 2013. Now developer Fusion Lifestyle, in partnership with a group of specialist companies including leisure, design and build expert Createability, will begin the £5m renovation of the city centre building. An expert team will begin work immediately on the project, which has faced unforeseen delays often associated with buildings of this age. Fusion, a registered charity, has developed exciting plans to bring the pool, Turkish baths and spa back to life, and add a fitness suite and café bistro to the site. The plans include restoration of the Turkish baths and swimming pool, the creation of a new state-of-the-art fitness suite, glass fronted conditioning studios on the first and ground floor and contemporary changing areas. Works will also deliver a new spa which will offer a range of treatments and improved access for disabled people. It is estimated the works will be completed by the summer of 2019. Anthony Cawley, operations director at Fusion Lifestyle, said: “We’re delighted to start the exciting work to bring the Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths back to life for a new generation. “The reinvigorated venue will bring between 100 to 150 jobs to the city once re-opened.” Fusion Lifestyle secured planning permission and listed building consent from Newcastle City Council in 2016 after spotting the historic venue thanks to the community campaign to save the building by Re-open Newcastle Turkish Baths and City Pool Group. The charity – which runs leisure venues across the UK – reinvests profits back into its operations to provide affordable health and fitness facilities for communities. Leader of Newcastle City Council, Councillor Nick Forbes, said: “It’s great to see redevelopment work starting on this historic city treasure. This is a beautiful building that we were determined would not be lost to the city. “Newcastle has been through a lot of difficult changes as a result of Government austerity, and we have had to search for new ways of providing the services residents want and depend on. “The investment about to go in to the City Pool is a great example of that. Newcastle City Council said we would not turn our back on leisure facilities and keep all options open, and by working with Fusion we see this building saved for people to enjoy. “This time next year we’ll be getting ready for a renewed City Pool bringing with it at least 100 jobs to our city centre. I look forward to that next step.” Ian Cotgrave, managing director of Createability, said: “The restoration plans will turn this historic 1920s building into a stunning leisure destination fit for 21st Century use. “We have more than 20 years’ experience working alongside leisure trusts, including Fusion, sensitively redeveloping and refurbishing old leisure venues and this has to be one of the most exciting projects we have worked on to date. We cannot wait to reveal the beautiful facilities to the local community once more.” The works will include careful restoration of many of the building’s original features, such as the original 1920s pool tiles, wood-panelled changing rooms and terrazzo flooring in the Turkish baths. Cait Read of the Re-open Newcastle Turkish Baths and City Pool Group said: “We are delighted that work will finally start to restore and re-open Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths. “What great news, in this year that is the 90th anniversary of the building first opening its doors to the public, that it will be restored, renewed and will re-open serving the people of Newcastle and visitors to the city as was originally intended. “We will continue to be involved alongside Fusion to ensure that the building re-opens as an affordable and accessible facility for all. “We are also planning to explore the unique heritage of the City Pool and City Hall building and to mark the 90th anniversary of its original opening in 1928.” For more information and to register for updates, please visit www.citypool.co.uk.
Sir Robert McAlpine starts work in the new year on £29m of repairs to the famous clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects Division has been awarded the scaffolding contract and pre-construction service agreement (PCSA) for a three-year programme of essential works to conserve the Elizabeth Tower, the Great Clock and the Great Bell, also known as Big Ben. The works have been designed to repair problems identified with the Elizabeth Tower and the Great Clock, which cannot be rectified whilst the clock is in action. McAlpine will repair and redecorate the interior and renew the building services, conserving significant elements of the Tower, as designed by architects Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin As the Tower is 96 metres tall, scaffolding is needed to enable workers to reach high levels safely. Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects Division will begin work on constructing the scaffolding, an essential preliminary step before any following conservation works can begin, in January 2017. The construction is expected to last approximately six months, by which time the scaffolding will have reached the top of the Elizabeth Tower. While the scaffold will be in place for the duration of the works, at least one clock face will be visible at all times. The approximate fee value for the scaffolding construction and PCSA is £3.5m. The conservation of the Elizabeth Tower as a whole is expected to cost £29m. In addition to the scaffolding contract, Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects Division has also been awarded the PCSA for the remainder of the conservation works. The PCSA will be used to allow further detailed planning for the conservation of the Elizabeth Tower, the Great Clock and additional modernisation, while the scaffolding goes up. Read more at http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/summoned-by-bells-mcalpine-to-rescue-big-ben
