Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has unveiled its new 180,000 sq.ft hire facility in West London, Victory Park North, Wembley. Strategically located less than 11 miles from Central London, it offers convenient connectivity for customers across London and the South East. This one-stop facility brings together Sunbelt Rentals’ Film and
The Leeds PIPES heat network has gained international recognition as a international exemplar for city-wide heating systems, following a visit from the Canada-based Boltzmann Institute. The delegation attended as part of a pan-European “study tour”, to gain crucial insights to aid in the expansion of Canada’s low carbon energy infrastructure.
Costain has scooped a multimillion-pound front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by bp for a new hydrogen pipeline network in the Teesside area. Costain’s multi-disciplinary in-house engineering team will deliver the FEED to enable the construction for a new, 31km onshore pipeline distribution network that will deliver purified and dehydrated
Construction of the new Aseptic Pharmacy and Sterile Service Department at University Hospital Southampton has hit a significant milestone. A ‘topping out’ ceremony was held to celebrate the building reaching its highest point, marking a key step forward as the project moves closer to its scheduled opening in Spring 2025.
Balfour Beatty has scooped a £185 million contract by Transport Scotland to dual the A9 between Tomatin and Moy in the Scottish Highlands, approximately 21 kilometres (13 miles) south of Inverness. As part of the contract, Balfour Beatty will upgrade 9.6 kilometres of single carriageway to dual carriageway, construct four
A new £5.5 million bus interchange, designed by BDP and operated by Transport for Wales, has opened in Cardiff. The centralised bus facility located next to Cardiff Central Railway Station creates a sustainable travel gateway to Cardiff, providing improved connections to the area by integrating bus and rail services with
Holtec Britain has announced the successful completion of the first part of the UK Generic Design Assessment process (GDA) for its SMR-300 nuclear reactor. The GDA process is intended to provide confidence to the UK government that the proposed reactor embodiment is capable of being constructed, operated and decommissioned by
Morgan Sindall has been selected by Blackpool Council as the main contractor on a pre-contract services agreement to build a new £65m state-of-the-art education campus in the town centre. The appointment follows a competitive tendering process through the Pagabo Framework. The Multiversity mixed-use educational development will bring up to 3,000
Plans to refurbish and transform the lakeside Wynyard Hall Spa designed by GT3 Architects have been approved by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Nestled downhill from Wynyard Hall overlooking the lake, the spa is set to undergo an extensive transformation to expand its offering with more wet spa facilities and treatment rooms,
Morgan Sindall was selected by the NHS to deliver an extension to The Grange University Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) in Cwmbran, near Newport. Procured via the SCAPE National Construction Framework, the team has since started on-site with the phased work set to complete in April 2025. Additional amenities to the
Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland has unveiled its new 180,000 sq.ft hire facility in West London, Victory Park North, Wembley. Strategically located less than 11 miles from Central London, it offers convenient connectivity for customers across London and the South East. This one-stop facility brings together Sunbelt Rentals’ Film and TV business with the company’s wider offerings, such as Power, HVAC, and external training, ensuring an exceptional customer experience. This new facility is set to be the epicentre for Sunbelt Rentals’ sustainable net-zero and low-carbon equipment solutions, featuring their clean energy and sustainable location services. “The scale of the new location means we can offer an exceptional customer experience,” explained Mike Pollard, Managing Director of Film & TV at Sunbelt Rentals. “Along with the expansive warehouse and range of specialist equipment available equipment, customers can also use our test rooms, viewing theatre, creative hub and meeting rooms for enhanced creative collaboration.” With significant investment in both equipment and infrastructure, this new Film and TV facility will ensure customers receive everything they need with unmatched efficiency and sustainability at the core of their offering. They also aim to support the industry through partnerships, training and addressing skills shortages in Film and TV industry. The new location marks the first Sunbelt Rentals lighting team to be located in London, creating local employment and further opportunities for business growth and development across the region. For their grip services, they’ve expanded their fleet to include more crane services and telescopics than ever before, making it one of the largest fleets in the UK. Furthermore, the investment in the Camera and Lenses department ensures that customers have access to the latest and most innovative equipment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Leeds PIPES heat network has gained international recognition as a international exemplar for city-wide heating systems, following a visit from the Canada-based Boltzmann Institute. The delegation attended as part of a pan-European “study tour”, to gain crucial insights to aid in the expansion of Canada’s low carbon energy infrastructure. Leeds PIPES, one of the UK’s fastest growing, major heat networks provides homes, businesses and public buildings with affordable, reliable, low carbon heat and hot water through the use of recovered heat from a nearby Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility. Being delivered by Vital Energi, in partnership with Leeds City Council and Ener-Vate, the scheme was responsible for a near 6,000 tonnes of carbon reduction in 2023 alone, and has delivered over 430 green jobs across the Leeds city region. Its current customers include some of the city’s most notable organisations, including Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Beckett University and St James’s University Hospital. Connecting over 2,300 homes and 28 key buildings across the city centre, the city-wide heating network has attracted national recognition, having recently won the ‘Energy Project of the Year – Residential’ category at the prestigious Energy Awards in London. The project is also making significant local impact through inspiring the next generation of heating and electric engineers, as well as aspiring design and construction professionals. 40 students from the Urban Energy Systems course at the University of Leeds also had the opportunity to tour the network in action and gain unique insights from senior staff at the organisation. Representatives from The Boltzmann Institute visited energy facilities across eight countries in Europe in advance of their ambitious plans for district energy expansion across Canada, helping the country reach its goals for net zero emissions by 2050. Richard Gilbert, Director at the Boltzmann Institute said: “We had an incredibly worthwhile visit with Vital Energi to learn more about Leeds PIPES as part of our Europe-wide study tour, gaining invaluable insight to input into our wider plans for district energy expansion in Canada. We were particularly impressed by our tour of the Recycling and Energy recovery facility, which really demonstrated the brilliant innovation happening both in the city of Leeds, and in our sector.” Mike Cooke, Managing Director from Vital Energi said: “We have seen great progress for the Leeds PIPES network since the project began in 2018. We are proud of our collaboration with Leeds City Council and Ener-Vate and the impact it has on the international effort to achieving Net Zero. The recognition for the scheme is a real reflection of the team’s dedication to innovation in the green transition, and to providing flexible, resilient and future-proofed energy schemes for our clients. We are incredibly proud to see the real impact that Leeds PIPES is having on so many people within the city, and we will continue our work to support as many local businesses, and local lives, as we can.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Costain has scooped a multimillion-pound front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by bp for a new hydrogen pipeline network in the Teesside area. Costain’s multi-disciplinary in-house engineering team will deliver the FEED to enable the construction for a new, 31km onshore pipeline distribution network that will deliver purified and dehydrated hydrogen from bp’s new hydrogen production facility to industrial end users. Costain is expected to complete the FEED project in 2025. Operated by bp, as part of the East Coast Cluster, H2Teesside (H2T) is aiming to be one of the biggest blue hydrogen production facilities in the UK and will produce approximately 160,000 tonnes of low carbon hydrogen per annum. The blue hydrogen that H2T creates will ultimately displace natural gas consumption by industrial end users, establishing the hydrogen economy and enabling decarbonisation across the region. Earlier this year, Costain successfully completed the FEED for the onshore CO2 pipeline and associated utilities and was recently selected by bp to continue the work to the next stage and oversee and manage the engineering, procurement and construction of the CO2 system. Detailed engineering design and preparatory works will commence later this year, subject to final investment decisions. Sam White, managing director of natural resources at Costain, said: “This exciting project is a step change for UK decarbonisation. Our in-house engineering expertise will design a world-leading network that will safely transport hydrogen to provide industrial users with an alternative to natural gas, a key step in the development of the hydrogen economy. “In addition to the environmental benefits, this is a project that will be transformative for Teesside and its people, creating jobs and developing skills throughout the region. In transportation, water, and energy, we’re committed to delivering critical infrastructure that improves lives and prosperity across the North-East of England.” In addition, Technip Energies has been selected by bp to deliver FEED for the H2Teesside hydrogen production site. This will include establishing the execution methodology, a robust schedule and project cost. It is expected to complete FEED in 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction of the new Aseptic Pharmacy and Sterile Service Department at University Hospital Southampton has hit a significant milestone. A ‘topping out’ ceremony was held to celebrate the building reaching its highest point, marking a key step forward as the project moves closer to its scheduled opening in Spring 2025. Situated on plot 2 of the Adanac Health and Innovation Campus in Southampton, the new multi-use facility, which has been funded by investment from MacQuarie Group, will comprise an Aseptic Pharmacy, Sterile Services Department (SSD), and flexible expansion space. The Aseptic Pharmacy will act as an MHRA-licensed pharmacy, with drugs and medicines manufactured for UHS and other NHS providers in the region. Meanwhile, the SSD will sterilise surgical tools and equipment for use by UHS; these services will be delivered at the new location by current provider IHSS. UHS is one of the largest acute teaching trusts in England and experiences a very high demand on its geographically constrained site. By working with developer Prime plc, through the Southampton Commercial Estates Development Partnership (CEDP), the trust has been able to unlock many complex estate challenges. These new facilities will be the latest in a series of developments designed to create more space for the trust to expand. Previous development on the hospital site has produced a new entrance, retail space and staff car park. The partners then worked together to create Adanac Health and Innovation Campus, providing additional expansion space with good proximity to the hospital and easy access to the motorway network. Ewan Forsyth, Development Director at Prime: “Prime is proud to play a pivotal role in the ongoing transformation of University Hospital Southampton. The development of the new Sterile Services Department and aseptic pharmacy not only showcases our commitment to innovative, high-quality healthcare infrastructure but also aligns with the Trust’s sustainability goals. By integrating advanced sterilisation and pharmaceutical preparation facilities under one roof, we have created a state-of-the-art environment that will enhance the hospital’s capabilities and improve patient care. This project stands as a testament to what can be achieved through strategic partnerships and innovative thinking, supporting UHS in its mission to provide exceptional healthcare services now and in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty has scooped a £185 million contract by Transport Scotland to dual the A9 between Tomatin and Moy in the Scottish Highlands, approximately 21 kilometres (13 miles) south of Inverness. As part of the contract, Balfour Beatty will upgrade 9.6 kilometres of single carriageway to dual carriageway, construct four major bridges along the route as well as deliver new side roads together with various junction upgrades. Balfour Beatty will also provide over 10 kilometres of improved active travel routes to promote and encourage cycling and walking in the local area. The A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project is expected to improve road safety, journey times and reliability for all road users including pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers. This major investment in the local area will generate economic growth, supporting businesses, communities, and tourism throughout Scotland by strengthening the link between Scotland’s central belt and the Highlands and Islands. As part of its commitment to leaving a lasting positive legacy for the communities in which it operates, Balfour Beatty will reduce its carbon emissions during the construction phase by sourcing local materials wherever possible, helping to minimise the number of heavy goods vehicle movements and deliveries to and from the site. Balfour Beatty will also harness industry-leading digital delivery techniques such as 4D planning to digitally plan and rehearse the construction sequence of the Moy Rail Bridge and Dalmagarry Bridge to optimise the phasing of works, identify any potential construction sequencing challenges and put in place solutions to drive efficiencies and productivity. The A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project forms part of Transport Scotland’s multi-billion pound A9 Dualling Programme, for which a delivery plan was announced in December 2023. It marks the third section of the programme to begin construction following the successful completion of the Kincraig to Dalraddy and the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam sections, which opened in 2017 and 2021 respectively, with the latter also being constructed by Balfour Beatty. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new £5.5 million bus interchange, designed by BDP and operated by Transport for Wales, has opened in Cardiff. The centralised bus facility located next to Cardiff Central Railway Station creates a sustainable travel gateway to Cardiff, providing improved connections to the area by integrating bus and rail services with local walking routes, cycle ways and taxis. Multidisciplinary design practice BDP provided architectural and interior design, branding and wayfinding consultancy for the project which is part of the Welsh Government’s broader initiative to develop an integrated travel network for the people of Wales making public transport the easiest choice for all. Within the 2,235sqm interchange, the central feature is the bus terminus which includes 14 bus bays along with ancillary space for retail, food and beverage outlets and public toilet facilities to enhance passenger comfort for onward travel. A mezzanine level houses Transport for Wales’s strategic operations centre for south Wales. Central to BDP’s design is a focus on accessibility and inclusivity. Enhanced links between the bus interchange and the railway station are supported by clear wayfinding for a seamless travel experience. A striking red wall in the concourse provides a key visual orientation and branded identity focal point. Features such as tactile flooring routes and a braille accessibility map assist blind and partially sighted customers and the interchange includes a changing places room and a fully equipped family room. BDP’s collaborative approach was at the heart of the project with the implementation of an extensive stakeholder engagement programme including consultations with the local authority, transport operators, service users, police, fire service, the local community and accessibility groups to ensure that the design meets the needs of all users. Working with project manager and lead consultant Mott Macdonald, BDP addressed specialist security and fire safety design requirements. In addition, BDP conducted a complementary study which explored how the wider public realm around central Cardiff could be adapted to further improve connectivity between transport modes including active travel, wayfinding, technology, branding and green infrastructure. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Holtec Britain has announced the successful completion of the first part of the UK Generic Design Assessment process (GDA) for its SMR-300 nuclear reactor. The GDA process is intended to provide confidence to the UK government that the proposed reactor embodiment is capable of being constructed, operated and decommissioned by the highest standards of safety, security and environmental protection required in Great Britain. In addition to the evaluation of Holtec’s SMR-300 technology, GDA ‘Step 1’ also made a positive assessment of the operational readiness of Holtec Britain. This regulatory assessment confirmed that Holtec Britain is a capable nuclear organisation fully qualified and resourced to deliver major nuclear power projects in the United Kingdom. Supported by a £60m investment, £30m of which was secured from the UK government’s Future Nuclear Enabling Fund award last year (HH38.18), the Holtec Britain team has now more than tripled in size and has relocated its UK HQ to Bristol in the southwest of the country. The company said that it was pleased by the UK regulators’ affirmative assessment of Holtec Britain, which is backed by its US parent – Holtec International (USA) – as well as Team Holtec members Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. of Korea and Mitsubishi Electric Co. of Japan. Holtec’s plan for the UK includes the establishment of a heavy manufacturing plant in the country to build SMR-300 components mirroring the Company’s existing plants in the United States. Selection of the most suitable site for the manufacturing facility is underway. Dr Rick Springman, Holtec’s President of Global Clean Energy Opportunities responsible for Holtec Britain voiced his optimism for the Company’s SMR-300’s prospects in the UK: “We are proud of our Holtec Britain organization for securing regulatory Step 1 endorsement in record time. We are confident of our capability to deliver SMR-300 plants in numbers needed by the country. It helps that our SMR-300 plant is premised on the PWR technology with which Great Britain is well versed in its civilian as well as naval nuclear program.” Holtec’s SMR-300 is a 300 MWe small modular reactor that is ideally suited for distributed generation, which reduces dependence on heavy inter-regional transmission of electrical power thus improving the resilience and security of the power grid. It is uniquely qualified to reject its waste heat directly to air eliminating the need for time-consuming water use permits. The plant is quite compact requiring ~30 acres for two co-located units. Thanks to its low radiation accretion profile, even under the most severe postulated accident, the plant’s controlled area suffices to serve as its exclusion boundary. Holtec is on track to begin the licensing and construction of two SMR-300 units at the Company’s Palisades site. The shovel-to-startup life cycle of the first batch of SMR-300s is expected to be three years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall has been selected by Blackpool Council as the main contractor on a pre-contract services agreement to build a new £65m state-of-the-art education campus in the town centre. The appointment follows a competitive tendering process through the Pagabo Framework. The Multiversity mixed-use educational development will bring up to 3,000 students and staff into Blackpool town centre and allow Blackpool and the Fylde College to relocate from out-of-town facilities into a world-class campus off Cookson Street in Blackpool. Land for the development is currently being assembled with the site offering a perfect location situated next to tram, train and bus services, making it accessible to students across the Fylde Coast and beyond. The Multiversity would be leased to the College, offering more than 70 individual courses and enhancing its existing higher education provision which is directly linked to local employment needs. The Multiversity would also support a wide range of qualifications, from further education, through to higher education and adult learning. The proposed development would include two phases, starting with an education campus on the corner of Cookson Street and George Street, followed by future development across the southern end of the site by Milbourne Street and Grosvenor Street. The plans would deliver up to 32,600 sqm of education space and commercial space across several phases, starting with the new Multiversity building. Outline approval for the scheme was granted in April 2024, with a reserved matters application to follow this summer. The main campus building would be designed to be carbon-neutral in operation, with the surrounding area on George Street landscaped and pedestrianised to make it a safer environment for students and local people. The Multiversity has been designed by established architects Hawkins\Brown and aims to complement the rest of the Talbot Gateway regeneration. Steven Gregory, Morgan Sindall Construction’s North West Area Director, said: “We’re excited to be appointed to the Multiversity Campus project with Blackpool Council and the Blackpool and The Fylde College, which promises to deliver precious benefits for the local community. Once complete, the campus will boost access to advanced skills for Blackpool’s resident and support the town centre’s wider regeneration. “The Morgan Sindall team is committed to maximising the social and economic value generated during the development. This will be achieved in several ways, such as utilising local contractors and creating a Knowledge Quad to provide training and learning opportunities, such as hosting the Blackpool Community Skills Academy employability programme. We’ve also already partnered with Blackpool and The Fylde College to provide ongoing education support to help students become ‘work ready’.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to refurbish and transform the lakeside Wynyard Hall Spa designed by GT3 Architects have been approved by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Nestled downhill from Wynyard Hall overlooking the lake, the spa is set to undergo an extensive transformation to expand its offering with more wet spa facilities and treatment rooms, as well as increased accessibility for users. The approved plans will see the existing ground floor building extended, along with the introduction of a new-look outdoor space. New features will include an infinity pool and ice plunge pool, two barrel saunas, fit pit seating areas alongside two hot tubs, and external terraces. A café area accommodating 40 covers will be positioned on the lower floor by the lake, fostering fluidity of movement with easy access to outdoor seating spaces. The lower floor will also feature changing rooms and indoor spa facilities, which include a herbal sauna, steam room, frigidarium, experience showers, salt therapy room, and plunge pools. A new-build upper-level will house six single and one double treatment rooms, a manicure room, and relaxation rooms. Anna Cumberland, senior architect at GT3 Architects, said: “It’s fantastic to see the design proposals for Wynyard Hall Spa now approved and we very much look forward to getting work underway and bringing the new facility to fruition. “Everything we do is rooted in people architecture, making sure that every design is truly focused on the people who will interact with the space, whether that be as a visitor or staff. In the case of Wynyard Hall Spa, this includes improving accessibility to allow more people to visit. Readdressing the entrance and circulation around the spa facilities, as well as re-aligning the building levels, introducing a lift, and adding accessible parking with an access route will all improve the spa in its current form. “The designs combine the luxury aesthetic expected by visitors with a sensitivity to the overall setting, particularly with the listed nature of Wynyard Hall and its gardens, which date back to the early 19th century. A clean and simple exterior using a buffbrick base to the lower level creates this cohesion with the setting, while a timber finish with feature glazing to the upper level adds a contemporary element which frames views across the grounds and creates an all-important connection to nature.” Taking inspiration from Nordic spa experiences, the building orientation takes spa users on a journey through their visit using the contrast of hot and cold, and dark and light alongside a blend of tactile materials. Meanwhile, close consultation with the spa manager ensured that the operational functions of the spa were considered and would be efficient for staff, while also not impacting the visitor experience. The design team for the approved plans includes Southern Green Landscape Architects, Portland Consulting Engineers, TGA Consulting Engineers, SAJ Transport Consultants, and ELG Planning. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall was selected by the NHS to deliver an extension to The Grange University Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) in Cwmbran, near Newport. Procured via the SCAPE National Construction Framework, the team has since started on-site with the phased work set to complete in April 2025. Additional amenities to the pre-existing facilities include a three-storey building with a ground-floor ED triage area. The remaining floors will continue as open plans to the meet required needs of the hospital. Further to the extension, the tier one contractor will deliver refurbishment works in the current Emergency Department waiting and triage rooms to meet modern standards. The project is being designed and managed by Gleeds in conjunction with the NHS (Aneurin Bevan University Health Board), with the former involving Morgan Sindall at RIBA stage four. Early engagement and consultation via the SCAPE framework resulted in a quick, 8-month consultation turnaround. Throughout the construction of the Grange University’s extension, Morgan Sindall will utilise its in-house carbon mapping software, CarboniCa, to track – and importantly reduce – carbon emissions on-site. Furthermore, the team will install Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on both the new building and the roof of current hospital buildings. In line with Morgan Sindall and SCAPE’s commitment to environmental and social value, the project looks to incorporate 20 apprenticeship weeks, two weeks of work placements and 24 hours spent in schools at careers events. Additionally, the project is set to directly employ three local work starters. As part of its green transport initiative, Morgan Sindall will encourage its staff and supply chain to utilise low-emission transport to and from the site, reducing their carbon footprint and promoting eco-friendly transportation alternatives. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
