The mass wood structure and façade has been completed for UBC’s Brock Commons student residence – the world’s tallest wood building at 18 storeys (53 metres, about 174 feet) – four months ahead of schedule, showcasing the advantages of building with wood.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160930145847.htm
Many scientists consider graphene to be a wonder material. Now, a team of researchers has succeeded in linking graphene with another important chemical group, the porphyrins. Porphyrins are well-known because of their striking functional properties which for example play a central role in chlorophyll during photosynthesis. These new hybrid structures could also be used in the field of molecular electronics, catalysis or even as sensors.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160928154836.htm
Costain is on track for another major railway station redevelopment job, this time at Gatwick Airport.
The firm has been working under a early contractor involvement deal since early this summer on the development phase of the planned £120m station overhaul.
Detailed design work is now expected to get underway before the end of the year with Costain earmarked for the design and build contract.
The project would be another trophy in the contractor’s growing portfolio of stations for Network Rail which has seen major schemes like Reading and London Bridge station upgrade build the firm’s expertise and turnover.
A complete funding deal for the project must still be finalised by Network Rail, Gatwick Airport and the Department of Transport.
But already Network Rail and the airport have each announced they will contribute £30m to the project.
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “Network Rail is working with Costain to develop a new station at Gatwick Airport.
“Costain is working through early GRIP 3 and we will be moving into GRIP 4 on the project.
“At this point, given the early stages of the development, it’s not possible to put a cost on the scheme, or a value to Costain’s contract.”
The redesign at Gatwick will transform the station and passenger experience introducing a vaulted transparent roof to create an impressive new transport gateway for the airport.
Improvements to the new station include doubling in size of the concourse area to reduce congestion with more escalators and lifts fitted to improve access to all platforms.
This major station upgrade will be delivered alongside a significant increase in capacity on rail services through Gatwick, between Brighton and London, as a result of committed and planned enhancements.
Balfour Beatty is investing again in its UK rail operations with the acquisition a railway asset monitoring system specialist.
The purchase of Omnicom Engineering will allow Balfour to offer train borne high-speed laser and lower speed video asset checking systems, replacing manual track inspection.
Based across Derby and York, Omnicom has a client base which includes Network Rail in the UK and Australia’s largest rail freight operator, Aurizon.
Mark Bullock, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s UK Rail business, said: “Omnicom Engineering is a true innovator which is benefiting from over twenty years of investment in research and development.
“We will leverage this expertise alongside the high speed laser measurement technology that already exists within Balfour Beatty, to provide technical solutions to clients in the growing high-speed and unattended data collection market in which we see opportunities for increasing our business.
“Together, Omnicom and Balfour Beatty’s range of asset management solutions will offer an unrivalled richness of information to support the maintenance of roads and railways across the world.”
from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/09/30/balfour-beatty-buys-track-inspection-tech-firm/
The UK’s largest listed residential landlord Grainger has agreed a deal to forward purchase a major build-to-rent scheme on the former Yorkshire Post site in Leeds city centre.
This scheme will comprise 242 purpose-built rental homes over 18 floors with 72 car parking spaces.
The £40m forward purchase agreement hinges on landowner Stirling Investments securing detailed planning consent and successful completion of the development.
Demolitions crews cleared the 4.6 acre site in 2014 and only the landmark clock tower remains of the old newspaper office building.
Outline planning consent was granted for a mixed-used scheme, made up of three office buildings and one residential or hotel in early 2015.
Previous development plans granted outline planning
Leeds is one of five key target cities for Grainger’s PRS investment strategy, alongside Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and London.
Helen Gordon, Chief Executive of Grainger, said: “We are pleased to announce this sizeable PRS build-to-rent acquisition that will deliver 242 new, purpose-built rental homes in Leeds city centre. Leeds is a vibrant city which holds all the key characteristics of our PRS investment strategy, including a large professional workforce and significant economic growth potential.”
The developer behind Brighton’s £100m Circus Street scheme is to re-tender the project after failing to agree a price with contractors.
The regeneration scheme involves plans for 142 flats, 450 student rooms, 38,000 sq ft of office space as well as a new dance studio, library and academic buildings for the University of Brighton.
But two years after planning permission was granted for the public private partnership, which includes Brighton and Hove Council and the University, construction has still not started.
Originally it had been hoped construction could start to transform the derelict fruit and vegetable market site before the end of last year with the whole project completed by 2017.
Contractors Kier and Osborne have both been chasing a building deal but are understood to have failed to agree prices with developer U+I.
Now the developer is now going back to the drawing board and plans to re-tender the project.
Demolition work to clear the municipal market site began last year
U+I said it would announce a new construction schedule once the re-tendering process has been completed.
Rob Sloper, development director for U + I, said the company had spent the past year refining the design.
“We are 100 percent committed to this project and to delivering optimum quality, value and community benefit.
“Getting the right contractors is essential to successful delivery and we are seeking the right contractors through an open, competitive tendering process.”
When the regeneration scheme was first conceived contractor McLaren looked like a favourite to build the project because its property arm was a joint venture partner in the project. But U+I bought-out McLaren Property’s 50% stake two years ago.
US engineering giant KBR has signed off its long-term project management services contract for Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.
Confirmation of the deal came yesterday as the UK Government finally signed its £18bn contract with France and China to build the nuclear power station, giving the final go-ahead for construction at the site in Somerset.
Around £3bn-worth of contracts with construction and engineering firms have already been committed to deliver the nuclear plant.
UK-based businesses will benefit from more than 60% of the £18bn value of the project and 26,000 jobs and apprenticeships will be created.
KBR’s reimbursable rates contract will cover site operations management, contract management, and materials tracking.
To support the construction work at the West Somerset site, substantial activity will also take place at the major project offices in Paris, Bristol and Bridgwater.
KBR will provide support for the equipment supply chain, involving over 100 international suppliers and contractors.
Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew is preparing to start tendering for a contractor to deliver a £50m programme of works to its Grade I and Grade II listed buildings.
It expects to spend £5m-£10m a year over the next five years on a mixed programme of works including new builds, refurbishment of historic buildings and repair and replacement of M&E systems.
The successful programme contracting partner will also used to deliver work at the Wakehurst Place site in West Sussex.
Kew is expected to release an official tender notice within the next few months, but firms interested in more information can email the procurement office.
ISG recently secured the last major contract at UNESCO World Heritage site to restore the Grade-I listed Temperate House, dating from 1863. The £34m restoration project will see the Victorian glasshouse will remain shut until May 2018.
The new programme of works will include restoring Kew’s iconic 10-storey Pagoda built in 1762.
Constructionline is holding its biggest ever Meet the Buyer event at Twickenham Stadium next month.
Many of the industry’s biggest names will be looking to meet new subcontractors and suppliers on October 18.
Firms signed up include Kier, Bouygues UK, Hill, Lakehouse, Wates Construction and McLaughlin & Harvey.
More than 50 buyers will be at the event which will be opened by former England Rugby player Rory Underwood.
Constructionline is also making “VIP” tickets available which offer early access to the event.
Attendance is free for Constructionline members and £100 for non members. VIP tickets attract a £50 premium.
For more information and to register click here
The government is scrapping its Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme in December, a flagship policy brought in by former Chancellor George Osborne.
The scheme, which was introduced three years ago to stimulate the housing market gave first-time buyers the chance to buy a home with a Government-backed loan worth up to 95% of the value of the property.
In a letter to Bank of England governor Mark Carney, the chancellor Philip Hammond said the scheme had a “specific purpose that has now been successfully achieved”.
The scheme was scheduled to expire this year, but mortgage lenders had called for it to be replaced, warning that its closure would push the first-time-buyer market back into decline.
The mortgage guarantee scheme, which formed part of the wider Help to Buy policy still being retained, had proved controversial because of concerns its could contribute to an unsustainable housing bubble by boosting demand for homes without raising supply.
The government will continue offer the highly popular Help to Buy equity loan and ISA schemes.
Latest figures show that over 185,000 completions under the schemes have taken place, of which over 150,000 households have been first time buyers.
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said: “Help to Buy continues to drive demand for new build homes by making home ownership more affordable and realistic.
“Its success is directly leading to more homes being built as it provides the confidence developers need to invest in the land and people required to increase their output.”
Student accommodation developer University Partnerships Programme has signed a deal to deliver a new student accommodation scheme for the University of Hull valued at around £130m.
UPP will now raise the £80m required for construction and handle the design, construction and operation of the scheme.
The 43-year partnership between the University and UPP will provide a further 1,450 students with a room, helping to meet the growing demand for high quality, on-campus accommodation.
Subject to gaining planning permission, construction is targeted to begin in May 2017 with work due to be completed by the end of 2019.
Sean O’Shea, group chief executive of UPP, said: “We are committed to driving investment into the UK’s higher education sector and plan to invest a further £1bn into universities over the next two years.”
The proposed development will be situated on the west side of the campus, close to the £28m Health Campus currently being built by Interserve.
Nine accommodation blocks will form around a central plaza at the top of a ‘street’, which will offer facilities such as a newsagents and a central recreation area with a café
This latest partnership boosts UPP’s portfolio to around 31,500 rooms through long-term partnerships with 15 leading universities across the UK.
Once the transaction is complete, UPP will have invested £2.2bn in universities across the UK since 1998.
The around £130m investment is in addition to the University of Hull’s £200m strategy to provide an “outstanding” experience for its students, which includes new and refurbished buildings, IT structure and student services.
Well the former England boss obviously thought so.
It looks like Sam Allardyce felt undervalued in the crazy world of football finances.
A man who’s core skill is “not being relegated” felt there was more to be had than just the £3m salary to manage his country.
Instead of simply thanking the great god of TV money every morning – Big Sam went chasing even more of the cash pile sloshing around the sport.
Allardyce was caught in an undercover sting and wanted £400,000 to represent overseas investors and be a keynote speaker at events.
Perhaps the FA should have paid him extra to talk football during his short reign as England manager?
Surely £3m is only enough for blazer wearing, hand shaking and mumbling through press conferences?
The actual tactics and team selection should come at a premium.
But let’s stop this before the agents get any ideas and turn our attention to the Ryder Cup.
Now I love the Ryder Cup and will be watching every minute while out in Portugal.
Playing on the Silver Coast’s finest courses in the morning then watching how it should be done for the rest of the day is Betting Spy’s idea of a perfect weekend.
And Europe look a bit overpriced at 2/1 to give the USA another beating in their own backyard.
This looks the strongest American team for a while – but the key word is team and when the pressure cranks up Europe usually come together as the States fall apart.
It’s a big ask of the European rookies but with Rory McIlroy as a talisman we will go out firing and try and shake the home side from the start.
The United States have only won one of the last seven matches and 2/1 could look a very big price come Sunday.
Betting Spy has joined forces with Paddy Power to offer all readers a free bet when they open an account. Just click on the link below to visit construction’s favourite bookmaker to find out all the latest prices and follow the easy steps to setting-up an online, telephone or mobile account
Running total of all bets to a £10 stake for 2016/17 season: £-35.00
Engineers have developed a 3-D printable ink that produces a synthetic bone implant that rapidly induces bone regeneration and growth. This hyperelastic “bone” material, whose shape can be easily customized, one day could be especially useful for the treatment of bone defects in children.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160928213732.htm
Two years ago, a research team published an article explaining how they had created a material with unique and extremely interesting electronic characteristics. In this ‘supercrystal’, the electrons move almost with the speed of photons, and the electric current can be switched on and off. This makes it ideal for ultra-fast electronics. But at the time, the researchers were at a loss to explain how this 'supercrystal’ obtained its unique structure. Now they have unraveled the mystery, and it appears to involve a completely different mechanism for crystal formation.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160928213047.htm
Blackpool Pleasure Beach has confirmed it will build a new £16.25m rollercoaster.
The project has been given the code name ‘Construction 2018’ during its development.
The rollercoaster is being manufactured by Mack Rides at its factory in Waldkirch, Germany and will open in Blackpool in Spring 2018.
A double launch will see thrill seekers propelled forward at high speed at the start of the ride and a second point half way through the two and a half minute experience.
Riders will experience the same levels of G force felt by the driver of a Formula 1 car while the launch of the ride features acceleration which is four times that experienced in a Lamborghini Gallardo.
Construction 2018 will reach heights of 88.5ft with drops of up to 82ft.
Deputy Managing Director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Nick Thompson, said: “We have been working on this concept for five years now and are delighted to be able share news of our plans.
“Construction 2018 will be fast, adrenalin fuelled and exhilarating but also smooth and comfortable – an entirely new ride experience.
“It sees a significant investment in Blackpool Pleasure Beach. We expect to see thrill seekers flock to the park to experience this UK ride first.”
Ministers are “blatantly ignoring” safety concerns about the new programme of smart motorways, warn MPs.
A critical report from Transport Select Committee published in the Summer recommended that the government should not proceed with ‘All lane running’ schemes while major safety concerns exist.
The cross-party group of watchdog MPs have now launched an attack on the Department for Transport for approving an all-lane running scheme on a 32-mile stretch of the M4 before its response to their report could be considered.
Officials have been keen to press ahead with smart motorway projects – which are already in operation on sections of the M42, M1, M6 and M5 – as a way of boosting capacity without widening roads.
Plans are in place to convert the hard shoulder into a running lane on around 300 miles of motorway, with a programme of 30 schemes costing £6bn over the next nine years.
The Committee argued that the permanent conversion of the hard shoulder into a running lane is a radical change to the nature of motorways and creates a real challenge for motorists.
Louise Ellman, chair of the Transport Select Committee, said: “The Department for Transport is blatantly ignoring the safety concerns set out in our report. We had barely received the response to our report before the government endorsed an all lane running scheme on the M4.
“The Committee isn’t arguing with the government about the need for more capacity on our motorways, or their statement that motorways are our safest roads. We support smart motorways such as the M42 scheme.
“But we take real issue with the government’s assertion that all lane running schemes on motorways are no different to other types of roads without hard shoulders. Motorways are a different class of road and drivers have different expectations when using them.
She said: “The Committee remains concerned about the size and spacing of Emergency Refuge Areas. While we are pleased that Highways England has committed to a review, the M4 proposal should not have gone ahead until the review is complete.
“We are not the only people who are worried about this incarnation of All lane running schemes. In the course of our inquiry, there were genuine concerns raised by the emergency services, road workers and recovery operators. The government cannot ignore them.”
A Styles & Wood worker is recovering after breaking his neck at a company sports day.
The Enquirer understands that the worker was injured during a space hopper race at the event last week.
The man spent several days in hospital after the incident.
A spokesperson for Styles&Wood said: “A member of our team was injured in an unfortunate accident at our company sports day.
“We are pleased that he has now returned home with our best wishes. He will have our support throughout his recovery.
“We are sad that this has happened at what is normally a very enjoyable event for our employees.”
Portuguese construction giant Mota-Engil is now targeting UK infrastructure jobs.
The £2bn turnover company is chasing work on some of the country’s biggest projects including HS2 and the Silvertown Tunnel.
Mota-Engil has set up a base in St Albans, Hertfordshire and is now talking to infrastructure clients and contractors.
The company has a worldwide workforce of more than 25,000 who can be used to alleviate skills shortages on UK civil engineering sites.
Mota-Engil has been successfully working in Ireland for the last ten years through its subsidiary firms Glan Agua and MEIC.
UK Branch Director Luis Moreira da Silva said: “It is a natural step for us to come to the UK where there is a big pipeline of infrastructure work.
“We are targeting major projects in sectors like transport and water where we have the skilled people to complete these jobs.”
Da Silva said the business is interested in funding projects as well as building them and is open to working with domestic contractors.
He said: “For something like HS2 we are coming in late so we will talk with companies about being a Tier Two supplier.
“We are also open to forming joint ventures and are talking at the moment with a view to joining consortiums.”
Mota-Engil employs more than 200 staff in Ireland and is looking to quickly establish itself in the UK.
Contracts Director Patrick Ryle said: “We have worked on some of the biggest projects in Ireland and now want to expand in the UK market.”
The firm’s latest major international deal is a £600m contract to build a new airport in Rwanda.
Builder Forrest has secured a £20m hire-rise private rented flats project in Salford Quays, its third major project for north west developer X1.
The Trafford Road project known as the X1 The Gateway will rises to 19 floors containing 191 one and two bedroom apartments.
Forrest has just started on-site at the 18,500 sq ft scheme, which will feature a gym for residents, 30 off-street parking spaces as well as a commercial unit on the ground floor.
Senior project manager, Matthew Fisher, who joined Forrest’s senior operational team from Bouygues in April to support X1 developments, will oversee the project.
Forrest recently completed phase one of X1’s Eastbank project in Manchester city centre, and was appointed to deliver phase two, X1 The Plaza, in January 2016.
Neil Ashworth, head of new build at Forrest said: “Strengthening our profile in the private residential sector continues to be a driver behind our diversification strategy, especially as growing property demand pushes new-build development in the sector even higher.”
Melissa Green, Operations and Regional Director of X1 said: “Following our successful partnership with Forrest on X1 Eastbank, they were a natural choice for X1 The Gateway. With all units in X1 Eastbank already sold, we expect to see similar levels of popularity for this new high-end scheme.”
Development partners U+I and Rioja Developments have gained full planning for what will be the biggest designer outlet shopping village in the West Midlands.
The two phase Mill Green Village scheme will be situated on the outskirts of Cannock town centre and cost more than £110m to build.
It is expected construction work will begin in autumn next year on the first phase of the 280,000 sq ft village. By 2019, it will provide up to 130 designer outlet stores, new restaurants and around 2,000 car parking spaces within easy access of the M6 and M6 Toll road.
Richard Upton, Deputy CEO, U+I, said: “This is a major investment that could generate more than £500m of socio-economic improvements over the next ten years and create in excess of a thousand jobs, benefitting Cannock and the wider region and putting this outlet in the top five outlet centres nationally.
“We intend to create a unique experience in factory outlet retailing.”
Designs for the designer factory shop outlet were drawn up by Holder Mathias Architects
In a discovery that could have profound implications for future energy policy, scientists have demonstrated it is possible to manufacture solar cells that are far more efficient than existing silicon energy cells by using a new kind of material, a development that could help reduce fossil fuel consumption.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160928151119.htm
The man in charge of maintaining Buckingham Palace has been jailed for five years after he accepted more than £100,000 in bribes.
Owners of two M&E firms involved in the contracts for cash scam were also each jailed for 18 months for making corrupt payments to Ronald Harper, the former deputy property manager within the Royal Household.
Harper worked with an annual budget of £2.3m in the role and was able to authorise orders worth up to £30,000.
The bribes secured lucrative M&E contracts for Melton Power Services and BSI Nordale in Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s Gallery, St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace.
MPS also renewed its Royal Warrant during the period of the conspiracy.
During two trials covering the case at Southwark Crown Court, the jury heard that the former MPS director Steven Thompson and BSI Nordale director Christopher Murphy made the payments to obtain or retain the valuable contracts.
In sentencing, the Judge said that Harper’s offences were aggravated by the fact that he proudly displayed an award for excellence, given by the Royal Household, in his office.
Both MPS and BSI inflated the price of contracts and the additional amounts were then used to create a fund from which the bribes were paid. Thompson, the former owner of MPS, also kept some of the additional money himself.
Harper received £55,000 in covert payments from MPS and £20,000 from BSI Nordale. In addition unexplained cash deposits into Harper’s bank account in the region of £30,000 were also uncovered.
Nick Vamos, Head of Special Crime at the CPS, said: “This was a complex scam but by working in close liaison with Leicestershire Police, CPS prosecutors were able to meticulously piece together a case that laid bare the extent of the defendants’ corruption.
“It was a long-running, sophisticated and well-planned fraud in which they exploited the good name and status of the Royal Household to enrich themselves at the taxpayers’ expense.
“This case demonstrates the commitment of the CPS to hold to account those who seek to gain through corrupt practices.”
Scientists have measured the mechanics of tiny crystalline ceramics. Materials are made of atoms, and if they are arranged periodically, they are called crystalline structures. If the size of these crystalline structures is 1,000 times smaller than a single human hair diameter, then they are called nano-structures such as nano-rods, nano-wires, nano-ribbons, nano-belts etc.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160928094458.htm
A new kind of steel for the motors in electric vehicles is now under development. The new steel would help make the motors smaller, lighter, more powerful and more cost effective.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160928083357.htm
A simple new method for producing large quantities of the promising nanomaterial graphene has been discovered by an international team of researchers.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160927225306.htm
A less-expensive, more energy-efficient way has been found to produce alane – aluminum trihydride – a hydrogen source widely considered to be a technological dead-end for use in automotive vehicles.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160927134046.htm
The profound effects of electron interactions on the flow of electric currents in metals have been revealed by new research. Controlling currents of strongly interacting electrons is critical to the development of tomorrow’s advanced microelectronics systems, including spintronics devices that will process data faster, use less power than today’s technology, and operate in conditions where quantum effects predominate.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160927123606.htm
Apple has signed a deal to become the largest office tenant at Battersea Power Station.
The computer giant will occupy 500,000 sq ft of space across six floors of the central Boiler House inside the power station.
Apple is expected to move in during 2021 to its new new London campus which will be home to 1,400 employees.
Rob Tincknell, CEO of Battersea Power Station Development Company said: “We are delighted that Apple has chosen to make Battersea Power Station its home in 2021.
“It is testament to our fantastic building and the wider regeneration of the 42-acre site which offers a carefully curated mix of homes, businesses and leisure amidst extraordinary open spaces and new transport links.
“It has always been our clear objective to create one of London’s most thriving new communities and this commitment from Apple will undoubtedly help us achieve our goal.”
It is understood that the transaction represents the largest office letting in London’s wider West End in the last twenty years.
The Scottish Government is introducing project bank accounts on public work projects to protect subcontractors from insolvency and payment abuse.
From 31 October, project bank accounts will be a tender requirement on building projects over £4m and civil engineering projects valued over £10m.
The Scottish Government has been co-ordinating trials for a couple of years and contractors received the first PBA payment from NHS Lanarkshire on two work packages worth £1.4 million at Monklands Hospital in April 2014.
Project bank accounts ringfence payments for subcontractors and suppliers, who are typically paid within five days of the commissioning public body paying the value of the interim certificate into the account.
Legal trust status ring-fences amounts in the project bank account, protecting the funds should a main contractor fall into adminsitration.
Main contractor will be exempt from if 75% of the work is carried out in-house or by associated firms.
Finance secretary Derek Mackay said: “This is an important milestone in the government’s commitment to improving cashflow for smaller firms.
“The PBA guidance translates trial programme experience into a simplified common approach with practical resources for implementation in Scottish Government projects. We urge all other organisations involved in commissioning work on Scotland’s infrastructure to use PBAs.”
The Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group Scotland, which represents the largest sector (by value) in Scottish construction, said it was delighted by the move.
Chairman Eddie Myles said: “SEC Group Scotland has been the leading exponent of PBAs since they are the most effective method for ensuring regular and secure payments to construction supply chains, especially SMEs.”
Only a few tables are left for the Construction Enquirer Awards in Birmingham next month.
Top Ten winners will be picking up their trophies at a glittering evening hosted by comedian Russell Kane and Channel Four’s architecture expert George Clarke.
More than 11,000 people voted for their industry favourites in the inaugural Enquirer awards.
And now is the time for winning firms to reward the staff and suppliers who voted them in to the Top Ten slots.
Enquirer editor Aron Morby said: “These awards are setting the standard in construction because they are the result of thousands of votes by industry people.
“Being voted the best by your peers is the ultimate accolade.
“We know how proud firms are to be named Top Ten winners and now is the time to thank those who voted by giving them a great night out.”
The awards night is on October 18 at the Vox in Birmingham alongside UK Construction Week.
It will also be the perfect opportunity for exhibitors to network with a room full of construction’s leading lights.
The event is sponsored by Keepmoat, Kier, McNicholas,Taylor Hart, Taylor Woodrow and Torsion.
Further sponsorship opportunities are available to associate your brand with awards which are engaging the whole of construction.
To discuss sponsorship packages please email Lucy Stott
To book your places please click here
Top Ten winners will receive their awards on the night and the company in each category which gathered the most votes will also be revealed.
Urban regeneration developer U+I has submitted planning applications for four mixed-use projects of over 1,000 new rental homes in Ashford, Maidstone, Swanley and Woking.
The London City Region development projects are valued at more than £250m and are anchored by private rental homes within a retail and leisure mix.
Richard Upton, Deputy CEO of U+I, said: “We are making good progress at each of these sites, all located within the London City Region ‘Huburbs’ and within an hour’s commute of central London.
“We have selected these sites very carefully. Each one is close to a train station, beautiful parks and located in quality towns where consistent rental and capital growth will be evident and each will remain relatively affordable for the wider population. That is important to U+I and helps mitigate risks in uncertain times.
“These 1,000 homes represent the first chapter in our unfolding rental story.”
The rental market is now valued at £1.29 trillion, and is expected to account for 22% of the UK’s housing market by 2025 as the demand for a high quality, value for money rental offer increases. U+I’s new schemes will provide a curated and bespoke offer tailored to the needs of ‘Generation Rent’.
In Ashford, U+I is bringing forward a development on a six acre site, owned by the Homes and Communities Agency, located opposite Ashford International train station.
The proposed project consists of 200 flats, a 120-bed hotel, an Aldi food store, a new brewery and visitor centre for beer maker, Chapel Down. Designed by Kent architect and interior designer, Guy Hollaway Architects, construction could start in early 2017.
An application will shortly be submitted for the second phase of the project to develop 300 mostly private rental flats. Designed by Guy Hollaway Architects, the development includes a 17-storey landmark building at its heart. featuring rooftop allotments.
In Swanley, U+I plans to extend and enhance Swanley Square shopping centre, including 340 homes and 50,000 sq ft of commercial space and a new car park. The Swanley town centre project is designed by HLM Architects.
In Woking, U+I has submitted a planning application to redevelop Elizabeth House, an empty 1980’s office into 241 new homes,with small retail and start up units at ground floor level. The scheme designed by build to rent architect RTKL will also provide affordable workspace.
Crossrail workers have slammed site welfare conditions after having to walk two miles to use a toilet.
One worker said: “It’s an absolute joke down there – how can you run a major project like this making people walk for two miles to use the loo?
“We haven’t had a mobile toilet in the tunnel down here for weeks now.
“We have to walk all the way to Tottenham Court Road which is two miles away.”
Workers are also unhappy about a lack of canteens and a site access system described as “chaotic”.
Another source said: “There’s only one turnstile to get on site in some places so the quese are chaotic.
“You have to leave early to try and beat the rush and lose out pay wise.”
Construction union UCATT is planning a demonstration at the Fisher Street site tomorrow while Unite leaders are set for a showdown meeting next month with Crossrail chiefs and contractors over bonus pay demands by electricians.
Contractors are understood to have set up a series of working groups to address the issues before the situation escalates.
But rank and file sparks are known to be organising on the job and are planning to produce their own site newspaper.
Tunnel Vision will be widely circulated among the workforce and detail ongoing disputes and demands.
