Tag Archives: construction

News

Council’s Passivhaus scheme scoops excellence award

A development of new low energy social housing in Powys has been highly commended in awards that recognise the best construction projects in Wales.

Judges for Constructing Excellence in Wales were so impressed with the scheme by Powys County Council, it made a special award to the team behind the project in the Residential Property of the Year category at the ceremony at Celtic Manor on June 17.

The £1.3m development in Sarn, developed by the council’s Affordable Housing Team, was the first social housing to be built for the local authority in 30 years and the first ever to meet the stringent Passivhaus conditions.

The homes were designed by Hughes Architects with support from Passivhaus experts PYC from Welshpool and consulting civil and structural engineers Bradley Associates Ltd from Cardiff and built by Pave Aways Building Contractors.

The seven energy efficient homes — a mix of two-bedroom bungalows and two-bedroom and three-bedroom houses used low energy construction methods and included sustainability features such as solar panels and mechanical heat ventilation recovery systems that reduce running costs for tenants.

Welsh-grown wood was used for the timber frame while cellulose fibre insulation, manufactured from recycled newspaper, was used to reduce the use of plastics.

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Farier Powys, said: “I’m delighted that our first social housing to be built in 30 years has been recognised at this prestigious awards ceremony.

“This brilliant and ground-breaking development has been built to the exceptionally low-energy Passivhaus standard which will help to cut carbon emissions while tenants will have lower energy bills.”

Pave Aways’ Managing Director Steven Owen said: “These were the first Passivhaus homes we had built so to have received this recognition in a category alongside other major projects is a great achievement.

“A challenging site, a gap locally in the specialist skills required to build to this low energy specification and the coronavirus pandemic were all obstacles overcome to deliver these much-needed homes so we’re very proud of the Pave Aways’ team and everyone involved for this award.”

Richard Lewis, director at Hughes Architects, added: “The client took a bold decision to target Passivhaus certification on a challenging site, but the whole team from client, contractor and designers showed that complex projects can be delivered here in Mid Wales.”

News

Paddington Village reaches latest milestone following handover of car park and energy centre

Liverpool City Council and architects KKA have celebrated the completion of a new car park within the Knowledge Quarter, one of the UK’s leading innovation districts. 

The new multi-storey car park (MSCP) with a combined heat and power (CHP) energy centre, located on the Elm Grove site within Paddington Village Central, has recently been handed over by Morgan Sindall Construction. 

The 14 storey car park – comprising 13 levels for parking and the CHP energy centre on the lower ground floor – was designed by KKA and built by Morgan Sindall Construction. It has a capacity of 1,249, and contains a combination of standard and accessible bays, as well as 12 electric vehicle recharging bays with capacity to increase this number to 130 in the future.  

The building also offers parking for cycles and motorcycles and a management suite has also been incorporated, offering active frontage to the building on Smithdown Road. 

The cladding design for the new build is an abstract representation of the nearby Williamson Tunnels, a fascinating underground network of tunnels created by Joseph Williamson in the early 19th Century. 

The location of the tunnels beneath the site resulted in a significant design change during the early stages of the project. The location of a previously unknown tunnel meant that the energy centre, originally designed as a separate building, would need to be incorporated into the MSCP at ground level, requiring the building footprint to be reduced and the number of floors increased. 

The size and accommodation requirements of the energy centre were refined by specialist consultants Vital Energi.  

The CHP energy centre will deliver a sustainable power and heating source for Paddington Village, with district heating regarded as the lowest carbon footprint of all fossil fuel burning energy systems. 

Kasia Borkowska, director, KKA said: “It’s been a real privilege for KKA to contribute to Paddington Village through our role on this new car park and energy centre. By incorporating the Williamson Tunnels into our work, we have ensured that the facility will reflect the area’s proud history while also helping to make Paddington Village and the wider Knowledge Quarter a new jewel in the crown for Liverpool.” 

At 30 acres, Paddington Village, which was once the site of a now relocated secondary school, is being developed by Liverpool City Council in three phases: Paddington Central, Paddington South and Paddington North. The £1 billion expansion site lies east of the city centre which, when complete, will be a key part of one of the UK’s leading innovation districts – incorporating new science, technology, education and health space.  

News

Advice from RGB: How small changes can help reduce energy bills this winter

With the head of Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, warning that the annual household energy bills are likely to rise by a further £800 when the price cap is adjusted in October, RGB Building Supplies is giving advice to local households about cost-effective changes they could make to receive a potential saving of up to £700 on the average yearly energy bill*.

Paul West, Branch Manager at RGB Exeter, commented:

“We are all hearing daily about the cost-of-living increases, and as purses are definitely feeling the pinch for many families, we have put together some tips about small changes people can make in their home now to reduce energy bills. Our tips don’t cost a lot of money and will also have a benefit to the environment.”

Cut out draughts

Fixing draughts is one of the cheapest and simplest jobs that can be done to conserve energy. A home loses heat through gaps around windows and skirting boards so by fitting draught excluding tape, or applying silicone around windows, and using draught excluders at the bottoms of doors will help heat to be locked inside. For homes that have open fireplaces, use excluders that can be fitted in chimneys to stop heat disappearing when not in use.

Energy saving cost: up to £45 per year / up to £65 per year for properties with chimneys

Switch to LED lightbulbs

Not only can money be saved by ensuring that lights are turned off in rooms that aren’t being used, but replacing all lightbulbs to LED alternatives, which are even more efficient than traditional energy saving bulbs, money can be saved on your electricity bills. LED bulbs use less energy and last longer than halogen lightbulbs.

Energy saving cost: an average of £4 per year per bulb depending on the wattage equivalent / average UK home saving of £40 per year

Make sure a home is insulated

“Much like fixing draughts, ensuring a home is adequately insulated will stop heat from escaping,” said Paul. “As heat rises, as much as 25% could be vanishing into a loft space. If a home does not have loft insulation, start by filling the gaps between the floor joists. If an attic space is used quite often, add insulation between the roof joists to increase the saving and improve the thermal efficiency.”

Energy saving cost: up to £250 per year

 Ensure radiators have working thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)

TRVs allow radiators to be set at different temperature settings in each room. This means that energy will not be wasted on rooms that aren’t used as regularly as others. TRVs can easily and cost-effectively be replaced without having to spend money on a new radiator.

Energy saving cost: up to £150 per year

Bleed radiators regularly

Air can become trapped in radiators meaning a heating system will not work to its optimum. By bleeding radiators, this air is released; it’s best practice to do this at least once a year. If a radiator is warm at the bottom and cold at the top or it’s making a gurgling noise, then it needs bleeding. Keys to bleed radiators are very cheap and can be picked up from most builders merchants or hardware shops.

Energy saving cost: up to £100 per year

Install energy saving shower heads

Energy efficient shower heads restrict the volume of water that flows through them, without reducing the pressure. This means less energy is needed to heat the water. If every member of a family reduced their showering time by one minute, they will see an impact on energy bills.

Energy saving cost: up to £30 per year off energy bill / £45 per year off water bill

Paul West concluded:

“Other small changes families can make to save on their energy bills include ensuring electrical items are turned off when not in use and not left on standby, only boiling as much water as is needed instead of a full kettle every time, using the eco setting on an appliance, and turning down the temperature to 30 degrees, or even lower, when using a washing machine.

“At RGB we have a range of products that can help a family cut their utility bills by saving energy and we are happy to give advice.”

* Saving is for an average household energy bill. Energy saving costs will depend on the size of the family and property.

News, North of England

Taylors Solicitors advises North West Roofing Supplies on swoop for B&M Henderson

A £30m-turnover supplier of roofing materials has expanded with the acquisition of a long-established business based in Burnley.

North West Roofing Supplies has acquired B&M Henderson for an undisclosed sum.

Family firm B&M Henderson was founded in the 1960s as a roofing contractor and switched to become a roofing merchants in the 1990s.

The £1.2m-turnover company supplies slates, tiles, battens, fascias, soffits, rainwater products, gutters, windows and doors to local roofing and building contractors.

North West Roofing Supplies has its headquarters in Kirkham, near Preston, and depots in Greater Manchester, St Helens, Morecambe, St Annes, Carlisle and Deeside. The company employs 58 staff and is owned by chief executive Steve Phillips and his wife Teresa.

A team at Taylors Solicitors advised North West Roofing Supplies on the acquisition. The Taylors team was led by corporate partner Matthew Catterall and included partner John Lomax, the firm’s head of commercial property.

Andrew Tabernacle of Bishops Chartered Accountants in Blackburn and Blackpool provided accounting and tax advice.

Matthew Catterall said: “We are delighted for Steve and the rest of the team at North West Roofing Supplies. This acquisition will enable them to continue their expansion and bring their excellent product offering to a wider market.”

B&M Henderson will eventually be integrated into North West Roofing Supplies. Mark Henderson, managing director of B&M Henderson, is staying on for a period.

North West Roofing Supplies, founded in 2001, supplies roofing materials and plastic and timber building products to contractors operating in new-build and refurbishment markets.

Steve Phillips said the company continues to seek further acquisitions in line with an ambitious expansion strategy.

He said: “B&M Henderson is an ideal fit for the business as we continue on our growth journey. It gives us a presence in East Lancashire and strengthens our position as a leading distributor of roofing materials in the region.”

Appointments, Construction, News

Sarah Leadbetter rejoins RECOM Solutions as head of healthcare projects team

Construction project management consultancy RECOM Solutions has welcomed back Sarah Leadbetter as head of its healthcare projects team, a new role created to reflect the company’s growing workload in the sector.

Sarah first joined RECOM in 2017 as an associate director from Deloitte Real Estate, where she was an associate director managing major capital projects.

In 2019 she moved to Turner + Townsend as a senior project manager, before being promoted to associate director.

She has now re-joined fast-expanding RECOM to lead its healthcare offering and support clients across the UK.

RECOM works with clients such as the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the Northern Care Alliance at hospital and healthcare sites. Current projects include developing strategies for the delivery of passive fire protection schemes.

Sarah said: “RECOM’s culture and alignment with my own aspirations, together with the opportunity to make a difference in such an important sector, made the decision to return to the business an easy one.

“Since leaving in 2019, I have gained further experience working across large-scale, complex projects, and I’m excited to be bringing this knowledge back to RECOM which will assist with the growth of our healthcare offering.”

RECOM, which was founded in 2015 by directors Jason McKnight and Joseph Dillon, undertakes construction project management and main contracting work across sectors including healthcare, education, retail and leisure, commercial and residential. It also provides consultancy services to assist in the design and delivery of health and safety, sustainability, passive fire protection and cladding projects.

The company is an approved contractor under the UK’s Fire Accreditation Scheme (FIRAS) for its fire protection services, which include passive fire protection installation, fire door surveys and installations, repairs and upgrades, fire strategy reviews, compartmentation surveying, advice and guidance, training, development and support.

Earlier this year, RECOM acquired a three-storey building on the Waters Edge Business Park in Salford Quays as its new headquarters to accommodate its expanding team, with staff numbers now at more than 30.

Jason McKnight said: “Sarah has established herself as an extremely competent professional and she has immediately settled back in at RECOM.

“She supports our values and vision and is a pleasure to work with, adding experience to our young and dynamic team.

“Her return shows that RECOM has matured in size and scale since she left. We have seen significant growth in the healthcare sector, with places on a number of public sector frameworks, including NHS Shared Business Services, Fusion21 and Rise.”

He added: “We have a distinguished team which is successfully delivering numerous healthcare projects throughout the UK, and Sarah is the ideal person to lead our expansion in this sector in her new role. To cater for continued growth in healthcare, we will be recruiting further to bolster the team and assist existing and future clients.”

To learn more visit www.recomsolutions.co.uk

Construction, Construction News, News

MC Construction wins corporate supporter of the year award from cancer research charity

Salford-based MC Construction has been honoured for its fundraising efforts in aid of North West Cancer Research.

The company won the charity’s Corporate Supporter award at a gala dinner and ceremony held at the Isla Gladstone Conservatory in Liverpool.

North West Cancer Research is an independent charity dedicated to tackling cancer across the north west and North Wales. Its team aims to tackle the causes of the disease and prevent it, to improve the care of those who are diagnosed with it and, ultimately, to find a cure.

Staff at MC Construction voted for North West Cancer Research as the firm’s charity of the year for 2021, which was the company’s 50th anniversary year.

They undertook a variety of fundraising activities, including a skydive, the National Three Peaks Challenge, the Great Manchester Run, Tough Mudder, the company’s annual Golden Trowel golf tournament, raffles and a Bake-Off.

The company smashed its target of £10,000 to raise a total of £11,169. The money is being used to fund a year’s laboratory costs for research into early detection of prostate cancer, the most prevalent form of male cancer in the region.

In addition, MC Construction undertook an extensive campaign to raise awareness among staff, their families and friends and the company’s supply chain. This included the distribution of leaflets and posters at its offices and site cabins, and social media postings on healthy living tips and early warning signs.

Alastair Richards, chief executive of North West Cancer Research, said: “MC Construction chose to support the charity to mark its golden jubilee and the entire workforce got behind the fundraising with a great variety of events throughout the year.

“Not content with smashing its target, the company set about raising awareness of cancer prevention among its staff and clients, making it a very worthy winner of the North West Cancer Research Corporate Supporter Award 2022.”

MC Construction, which employs more than 60 people, undertakes building projects throughout the north west with a focus on the commercial, education, heritage, hospitality, industrial, local authority, social housing and healthcare sectors.

The company was founded in 1971 by Charlie Lowe and John Purcell. John’s sons Mike and Chris and Charlie’s sons David and Ian Lowe are currently serving as directors.

David, who is MC Construction’s managing director, said: “North West Cancer Research raises vital funds for painstaking research which saves lives, and we were proud to support the charity in our golden jubilee year.

“It’s a local charity which is close to the hearts of everyone in the business, and the whole team got behind our fundraising efforts from day one.

“Thanks to their tremendous efforts we smashed our fundraising target and the money is funding laboratory research at the University of Liverpool which will hopefully make a huge difference in years to come.

“Most cases of prostate cancer are discovered too late, mainly because men are too afraid or embarrassed to go for a check-up. The lab project hopes to discover ways to improve detection rates through urine samples.

“We wish the research team every success, and we are thrilled that our efforts to support them have been recognised with this award.”

News, Property, Property Buyer News, South East

Professionals find a new home and a better life in Ewell

A professional couple are enjoying more space and a better quality of life after moving from the busy streets of South London to a quiet village in Surrey.

Malcolm Scott, 39, and his wife Eashani, 38, have purchased a new two-bedroom house at Bellway’s Buckthorn Grange development in Ewell.

The couple, whose employers are both based in the capital, were previously renting a one-bedroom flat in Tooting.

Malcolm is a civil servant based in Whitehall, while Eashani is a data analyst who has been working from home since March 2020.

Malcolm said: “It has been a thrilling experience to buy a new house in such a beautiful location, especially for Eashani because this is the first time she has had the joy of owning a home.

“We have everything we need and more at this development because the house came with a garage and a private garden.

“Having lived in a one-bedroom flat for quite a while, we can really appreciate how spacious the rooms are at our new home. And it is so nice to have a house all to yourself.

“Eashani has been working from home since the beginning of the pandemic and now she has a lot more space to make that more comfortable for her. Since she works as a data analyst, it also helps that the broadband speed is much faster here than it was in Tooting.”

As professionals working full time, both Malcolm and Eashani agreed that purchasing a newly built property would be a sound investment.

Malcolm said: “Buying a house is probably one of the best ways to invest your money because the value of the property grows much faster than a bank deposit.

“My father told us never to buy an old house because that would cost more money to make it ready for us to move in. The best thing about buying a newly built house is that it is like a blank slate you can turn into you own.

“The place we were renting in Tooting was an old school that had been converted into a flat, and the energy bills were unreasonably high because the building was that old. We are now saving money on our bills because we bought a new build which is far more energy efficient.”

The couple decided to buy at Buckthorn Grange after visiting the showhome at the development, which is located off Scotts Farm Road, in July last year. They said the fact the house they bought came with a private garage set it apart from the other properties they looked at slightly closer to the capital.

Malcolm added: “In terms of customer support, the sales advisors from Bellway were fabulous from day one. They really cared and worked hard on ensuring that the house was as good as it could be.

“It is amazing how many aspects of the house we were able to customise, and Bellway were very helpful with all the work we wanted to have done before we moved in. They let us choose the oak flooring, the grey tiles, and pretty much everything they fitted in the kitchen.

“We knew we made the right choice as soon as we moved in. You could see that the build quality of the house was excellent, and it had a very nice feeling as you went from one room to the next.”

After moving to Buckthorn Grange, the couple have been enjoying the many advantages of living in Surrey.

Malcolm said: “The location is ideal for going on walks because there are two different parks on either side of our development. It is also much safer to go for a run since there is very little traffic on the streets in comparison to Tooting.

“It is also a lot easier for us to travel now because we can simply bypass the traffic of London which used to add at least two hours to our journey every time we drove somewhere outside the city.”

Malcolm, who commutes to work four days a week from Ewell West station around a 30-minute walk away, added: “The train to London takes around 40 to 50 minutes. The commute may be longer now than it was when we were in Tooting, but it is less difficult and the money we save on the rent makes up for the train fares.

“There is also the better quality of life that comes with the location. Tooting was not just busy in the evenings on Fridays and Saturdays – it was always busy. It’s wonderful to live away from all that road noise because now I can instantly relax as soon as I come home.”

A selection of one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as three-bedroom houses, are currently available at Buckthorn Grange, with prices starting from £310,950.

For more information, call 01737 749667 or visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/south-london/buckthorn-grange.

Captions:

  • Malcom and Eashani living in their new home at Bellway’s Buckthorn Grange development, in Ewell
AI, News

ThoughtRiver announce risk management revolution with the first AI contract review tool developed specifically for the construction industry

Legal tech pioneer promises faster review, negotiation, and approval of construction and engineering appointments, using industry-specific AI.

Cambridge, ENGLAND, May 2022. ThoughtRiver, one of the UK’s leading legal technology companies, has announced the development of a tool tailored to reviewing construction and engineering appointments. The tool is already being used by leading law firm Shoosmiths LLP and Engineering Consultancy Hoare Lea.

ThoughtRiver’s contract acceleration platform, which uses a combination of Natural Language Processing and Semantic Matching to automatically generate a checklist of key risks and recommended actions in moments, is already used by multinationals across the globe including Schindler, DB Schenker and 3 of the ‘big 4’ accountancy firms. This latest development, however, is the first time the AI aficionados have turned their attention to developing a specific solution for the construction industry.

“Contract risk management has become an acute priority in recent years because of increased insurer scrutiny of liability clauses when determining whether to offer cover and at what price. For consultants, this can squeeze profitability and in extreme cases threaten viability. It was clear that our unique technology and content can offer significant benefits when applied to the review of construction and engineering appointments,” says Tim Pullan, CEO, and Founder of ThoughtRiver. “There is such an obvious synergy between what the industry needs in terms of contracting consistency, cost savings and portfolio risk visibility and the capabilities we can offer. We are delighted that we’ve been able to develop a much-needed tool that is also a market first.”

Hamish Gray, Director of Legal and Commercial at Hoare Lea, said “We scanned the market for an AI capability capable of being trained to review our appointments and found a clear winner in ThoughtRiver with a compelling business case supporting the investment. It is no surprise that they lead the way in contract acceleration for larger enterprises. The platform generates its first pass risk review in minutes which is a fraction of the time it takes a human to read through a typical appointment.”

ThoughtRiver have good reason to be confident in the construction industry: their Head of Legal Content, responsible for developing and training the tool, is Iain Murdoch – a well-known figure in the construction law world and ex Head of Construction Law for Practical Law. “I built the tool I would want to use.” Iain says, “ThoughtRiver analyses an appointment and produces a report of key issues very fast. I’m certain that it will prove its value to anyone who uses it!”

Hamish Gray adds, “Working with the ThoughtRiver team has been a really positive experience. I’ve been impressed by their AI technology and their in-depth knowledge of our industry. We were already mature in our risk processes, and they’re developing a tool that should enable us to go to another level.”

The tool works out of the box and is continually trained against a large basket of relevant documents, and coms pre-configured with advice notes and drafting suggestions. It can also be tailored to an organisation’s playbook to create a bespoke review. Anyone interested in seeing ThoughtRiver’s new construction and engineering appointment contract review in action for themselves can request a demo through their website at thoughtriver.com or register for their upcoming webinar: https://content.thoughtriver.com/acceleratingappointments

Awards, News

Unispace shortlisted for three Mixology2022 awards

Global workplace creation expert, Unispace, has been shortlisted for three Mixology2022 awards.

Hosted by Mix Interiors, the Mixology Awards celebrate the very best projects, products and people in commercial interior design. Unispace has been shortlisted in three categories for both its client projects and its own workplace designs, which include:

  • Project of the Year – Workplace Interiors, 15,000 to 30,000 sq ft: The firm’s development of Astellas Pharma’s Madrid workplace made the shortlist for this category. The multinational pharmaceutical company reached out to Unispace to develop a new workplace to suit the post-Covid needs of its business. The bespoke workplace was designed to provide a range of agile environments and create a more human-centric environment stepping away from a traditional hierarchical corporate structure.
  • Project of the Year – Workplace Interiors, Sub 5,000 sq ft: Unispace’s own Amsterdam Studio has been shortlisted for this award. The space has been designed to embrace ‘gezellig’, a Dutch term which emphasises open, inviting, and diverse spaces including a Library, Wintergarden, Social Kitchen and Karaoke Booth, all arranged around our dedicated learning and collaboration space: The Hive. The studio has been planned to take best advantage of the canal-side views and is a showcase for progressive local design culture and heritage, with the use of bold textiles, recycled materials, and iconic Dutch furniture selections.
  • Project of the Year – Workplace Interiors, 5,000 to 15,000 sq ft: The experts new Zurich studio wraps up the triple shortlist for Unispace. The studio was developed with people in mind. An experiential design has delivered a sense of calm and serenity that is influenced by its natural surroundings with material selection as natural as it is minimal, with a bias towards refined detailing. As a major hub in the EMEA portfolio, the studio design focuses on open, flexible spaces that foster connectivity, collaboration, innovation and wellbeing. The project was also delivered sustainably and was accredited with the highest possible LEED rating (Platinum).

Winners of the awards will be announced in June.

Lawrence Mohiuddine, CEO EMEA at Unispace, commented:

“We are delighted to have been shortlisted for not one, but three Mixology2022 awards, especially following our exciting with for Workplace Interiors, Project of the Year, 5,000 and to 15,000 sq ft last year with Boston Scientific and their remarkable workplace in Clonmel.”

“This prestigious accolade celebrates the best in the world of workplace interior design and to be shortlisted for not only the projects we deliver for our clients, but also our own office designs is an honour.”

News

Award winning construction firm builds strong foundation for the future

One of Shropshire and Mid Wales’ leading construction firms has made a raft of new appointments to underpin its long-term strategy for growth.

Pave Aways has appointed Sarah Jones as its first ever marketing co-ordinator with Paul Cartwright taking up a role as contracts manager. It has also welcomed back Gary Thomas as a quantity surveyor.

Sarah, a fluent Welsh speaker, will use her experience from her master’s degree in Environmental and Business Management at Bangor University to build the Pave Aways brand and support the development of its specialism in net carbon construction.

Paul studied for a HNC and HND in construction at Shrewsbury College and brings a wealth of experience to Pave Aways, having worked on projects across the UK and in sectors including healthcare, education and retail.

Gary, who was heavily involved in the £8.45m plant that Pave Aways built for automotive parts supplier Polytec Group in Telford in 2018, returns to the team, bringing an interest in sustainable construction to his new role.

Pave Aways has offices in Knockin, Newtown and Wrexham serving its client base across Shropshire, Mid and North Wales and Cheshire. Current projects it is working on include the first ever specialist treatment centre for military veterans at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital at Gobowen, a new boarding house at Shrewsbury School and converting the former Oldford School in Welshpool into a family centre and nursery for Powys County Council.

Managing Director Steven Owen said: “These new appointments will allow us to continue to develop our growing strength and expertise in low carbon and Passivhaus construction as well as further improving the environmental aspect of how we do business.

“Sarah and Paul are very welcome additions to the Pave Aways family, and we are delighted that Gary has returned to take up a new position with us.”