Teeside University has welcomed its latest flagship building, which has been completed as part of a new UK centre of excellence for biosciences set to open later this year. The new National Horizons Centre, the University’s research, teaching and training facility, was delivered by Wates Construction over a year-long build programme.
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
APA Facade Systems, Speedclad and Wates Group are continuing their partnership for the newest development in Leeds’ most sought-after business location – 4 Wellington Place. APA’s TB60 and TB60 SG facade system will be installed by Speedclad to 4 Wellington Place, marking the latest installment in this 22-acre office development. The proposed addition to Wellington Place consists
The CBI is a Construction Council that is made up of 35 Chief Executives from across the sector. The Council has asked a group labelled as future leaders within the construction industry to create some recommendations that will help with collaboration and digitisation of the sector. The future leaders group
Wates Construction has been appointed to build three student accommodation projects Select Property Group that are together worth more than £130m to the contractor. The contracts are for three Vita Student schemes at sites in Manchester, Newcastle and York. All schemes are programmed to complete in September 2017. The largest
Wates Group has confirmed that Paul Chandler will become Group Managing Director of its Construction Group in the New Year. Chandler will join the firm from Skanska where he spent 34 years and was head of the company’s building operations in the UK. He replaces Wates veteran Dave Smith who
Wates Living Space Maintenance has secured a £24 million contract to deliver a programme of responsive repairs and voids maintenance on behalf of Network Homes. The contract will run for five years with an optional five year extension which will see Wates Living Space maintenance provide a 24/7, 365 days
Teeside University has welcomed its latest flagship building, which has been completed as part of a new UK centre of excellence for biosciences set to open later this year. The new National Horizons Centre, the University’s research, teaching and training facility, was delivered by Wates Construction over a year-long build programme. The £22.3 million building will sit at the heart of a cluster of excellence on Darlington’s Central Park alongside the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre and the University’s Centre for Professional and Executive Development. At peak construction periods, Wates’ team stood at 125 site operatives with extensive opportunities for training and employment for local people also created. On-site training has also included the contractor’s industry leading Building Futures course, which is designed to introduce local jobseekers to careers in construction. The course at the National Horizons Centre led to long-term employment for 50% of candidates with Wates and its supply chain. “The new National Horizons Centre is one of the biggest investments we have made so far. Our rich history of innovation, research and development is set to continue thanks to this state-of-the-art facility in Darlington. Just a year ago, I was stood in an empty field and we were breaking ground on this world-class biosciences research facility – and now we’re seeing the results. I’m also delighted to see that local businesses and local apprentices have benefited from the construction phase,” said Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen. “The new economy will be built on biologics and digital – key sectors we need to support. This massive £17.5million commitment of ours is testament to the importance we have placed on securing jobs for the future,” he added. A programme of fit-out works are now scheduled to take place ahead of the reveal of the new campus later this year.
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.
APA Facade Systems, Speedclad and Wates Group are continuing their partnership for the newest development in Leeds’ most sought-after business location – 4 Wellington Place. APA’s TB60 and TB60 SG facade system will be installed by Speedclad to 4 Wellington Place, marking the latest installment in this 22-acre office development. The proposed addition to Wellington Place consists of an eight-storey triangular building, with a sloping roofline from Northern Street to Tower Square, incorporating terraces to all floors facing onto the Lifting Tower. The development frames stunning views across Wellington Place and the wider townscape, reflecting its emerging context through the use of the bronze, stone and glass as seen on 3, 5 and 6 Wellington Place. Described as ‘the jewel in the crown’ of the wider 22-acre development, on account of its unique form, 4 Wellington Place will deliver 131,500ft² nett of grade A office accommodation. It will also include 17,000ft² of ground floor retail and leisure space, in addition to basement car parking and landscape work. When entering the masterplan via the two avenues heading towards Tower Square, the proposed facades intersperse stone and bronze vertical panels with glazing, giving the reflective quality that creates the building’s jewel-like appearance. The gateway approach of 4 Wellington Place and its position sitting at the centre of the current master plan, has led to the development of a building that is distinct whilst borrowing from the architectural language of the surrounding buildings. Having already completed no’s 3 and 5 Wellington Place, APA Facade Systems is currently working on no’s 7 & 8 and is delighted to secure the latest contract in this development.
The CBI is a Construction Council that is made up of 35 Chief Executives from across the sector. The Council has asked a group labelled as future leaders within the construction industry to create some recommendations that will help with collaboration and digitisation of the sector. The future leaders group that has been asked to compile these recommendations come from a range of different companies including BAM Nuttall, Carillion, Henry Boot, Kier Group, J Murphy & Sons, Mott Macdonald, NG Bailey, Pinsent Masons, Wates, Ryder Architecture and Saint Gobain. The group of future leaders will report to the CBI Construction Council in November with their recommendations that will hopefully see the industry adapt in preparation for the future. The Future leaders group is comprised of 18 individuals that have been marked as rising stars. The members of this council are all under the age of 35 and come companies at different parts of the supply chain as well as from a variety of different size businesses. The range of different sectors involved in making the recommendations should mean that the ideas put forward to the CBI will benefit companies across the supply chain. It is thought that bringing potential future leaders of the construction industry together will help to develop ideas from a fresher perspective. This will help the industry push forward the industry and lead to the development of solutions that are efficient in to the future. Thinking of new ideas will also help the construction sector manage with the aims set out by the Government to update infrastructure, as well as housing, roads, rail and nuclear. The Future Leaders Group ideas will complement the work that is done by the CBI Construction Council. This Construction Council works to promote the construction sector and help the Government in order to allow the industry to thrive and progress.
Wates Construction has been appointed to build three student accommodation projects Select Property Group that are together worth more than £130m to the contractor. The contracts are for three Vita Student schemes at sites in Manchester, Newcastle and York. All schemes are programmed to complete in September 2017. The largest of the three, worth £60.2m, is for the construction of 748 Vita Student beds at Manchester’s Circle Square, the former BBC site on Oxford Road. The second contract, valued at £47.7m, is for a Vita Student Village in York to house 659 students in 15 three- and four-storey buildings across a 6.3 acre site. This includes the refurbishment of a former convent building. Thirdly, Wates will also construct 331 beds at Select’s second Newcastle-based Vita Student development, which is a £23.8m development of 10 storeys at Strawberry Place near St James’ Park. “We’re pleased to announce this partnership with Wates today on three of our most high-profile developments,” said Select Property Group chief commercial officer Mark Oakes. “We are a rapidly expanding business with over 4,500 units currently in development in the North of England across our Vita Student, CitySuites and Affinity Living brands.” He added: “At a significant time of growth, it’s important for us to build long-lasting strategic partnerships with industry partners that we are confident can deliver on time and budget and share our commitment to produce exceptional, quality buildings that our customers want to live in.” Phil Harrison, managing director of Wates Construction Midlands and North, said: “The buoyancy of the private residential market in the north is in part being driven by an increased appetite for premium student accommodation, a demand that Select Property Group is leading the way in addressing. Select currently has nine Vita Student residences at sites in Bristol, Exeter, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Southampton. Five further residences are in development in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and York.
Wates Group has confirmed that Paul Chandler will become Group Managing Director of its Construction Group in the New Year. Chandler will join the firm from Skanska where he spent 34 years and was head of the company’s building operations in the UK. He replaces Wates veteran Dave Smith who will step down from the business after 32 years. Wates CEO, Andrew Davis, commented: “Paul has built an enviable reputation for delivering large and complex projects with a keen emphasis on operational excellence. “He also brings enormous experience in sustainability and diversity and inclusion, areas which we have always valued at Wates, and which are becoming increasingly important to our customers. “I am delighted that Paul has agreed to join the Wates team and look forward to working with him on the many opportunities ahead.” Chandler said: “I am delighted to be joining the Wates Group at an exciting time in its growth strategy. “Wates has a great reputation across a number of sectors with strong performance across all its operations. “I look forward to bringing my experience to bear on the next stage of the Construction Group’s development alongside my new colleagues.” Sir Robert McAlpine also confirmed some changes to senior roles with London Regional Manager Grant Findlay promoted to the national role of Head of Preconstruction for the Building Division. McAlpine also officially confirmed Paul Heather will be joining from Skanska to take on the London regional role. Last month it was announced that Chief Operating Officer Dave Smith will leave the company at the end of the year. In a statement the contractor said Smith would step down from the role, as well as group managing director of the firm’s construction group and his group board roles with immediate effect. He will leave the company at the end of the year.
Wates Living Space Maintenance has secured a £24 million contract to deliver a programme of responsive repairs and voids maintenance on behalf of Network Homes. The contract will run for five years with an optional five year extension which will see Wates Living Space maintenance provide a 24/7, 365 days a year service for almost 14,000 homes throughout 18 London Boroughs and the counties surrounding them. The work will add to Wates Living Space Maintenance’s extensive London presence and will be delivered across housing stock within the London Boroughs of Barnet, Harrow, Westminster and Brent. Throughout the life of the contract, Wates has also pledged to use its presence throughout London to positively benefit the communities it works in. Included in the commitment will be opportunities for employment and training, bolstered by the appointment of local supply chain partners. Wates Living Space Maintenance Managing Director, David Morgan, said that their appointment to deliver the important work on behalf of Network Homes is a great testament to their reputation as a responsive, reliable and trusted partner to their clients. Morgan added: “Wates Living Space Maintenance shares Network Homes’ commitment to continually better our offering to residents, which will be achieved throughout this programme via our innovative round-the-clock service delivery. “We are now focused on mobilising our teams and ensuring that our client’s investment is realised effectively and efficiently, ultimately upholding the quality and comfort that they proudly offer to their customers.” Director of Asset Management at Network Homes, Gerry Doherty, said that having a top quality responsive repairs service is essential to help them achieve their ambition of 90% customer satisfaction. Doherty added that their appointment of Wates is a key step towards achieving this and he is confident that they will carry on improving and providing a top level of service to their customers.
