Interserve quits Prime NHS estates JV

Interserve has withdrawn from its NHS estate projects joint venture with healthcare property and planning experts Prime.

Prime has acquired full shares in Interserve Prime and rebranded the business Prime Partnering Solutions.

The business is currently working in three strategic estates partnerships with NHS Foundation Trust at University Hospital Southampton, Yeovil District Hospital and Dorset County Hospital.

Prime said that the acquisition would have no impact on ongoing projects other than to offer increased efficiency and the convenience of a single point of contact to clients and suppliers.

Interserve said that it would remain a supply chain partner to Prime and that the two companies continued to enjoy a good working relationship.

A contractor is due to be selected shortly to deliver Hereford Medical Centre

Prime works across the health and care system and has more recently become a leading partner for the acute sector, delivering projects through Strategic Estates Partnerships.

These 50-50 joint venture companies operated between the public and private sector to deliver a broad range of projects and services to public sector clients, from developing new clinical and commercial real estate through to facilities management and consultancy services.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/interserve-quits-prime-nhs-estates-jv/

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Graham to start Liverpool city road revamp

Liverpool City Council has instructed contractor Graham Group to start the first package of works next week for the £47m Liverpool City Centre Connectivity scheme.

The firm will focus on re-engineering major routes and widening pavement from the city’s commercial district through to the city’s retail and knowledge districts.

The first element will begin on Victoria Street running from North John Street to the Queensway Tunnel and is expected to complete in November.

Councillor James Noakes, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “With a growing residential population, a huge rise in visitors and major developments now taking shape, how we navigate around the city centre needs a radical rethink in key locations and some major improvements.

“The beginning of phase one at Victoria Street signals a new chapter for how we use our city centre, which when fully completed will open up some exciting opportunities in our public realm and will redefine how everyone from residents, workers, shoppers, students and tourists can enjoy exploring and discovering this amazing city.”

The remaining packages of the LCCC scheme will see a remodelling of Lime Street, with a new event space, and The Strand as well as the introduction of new bridges across Canning Dock to enhance the visitor experience to the city’s museums and World Heritage site.

The LCCC scheme is one of the flagship highways projects in the city council’s wider £500m Better Roads programme.

This also includes a £100m programme to upgrade the city’s North Liverpool corridor with the creation of two new waterfront link roads to support the council’s proposed new Cruise Liner Terminal and a new Isle of Man Ferry Terminal at Peel Land and Property’s £5bn Liverpool Waters scheme.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/graham-to-start-liverpool-city-road-revamp/

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Contractors face showdown over Aberdeen bypass delays

Scottish transport secretary Michael Matheson is demanding an “urgent meeting” with Balfour Beatty and Galliford Try bosses over further delays to fully opening the Aberdeen bypass.

Matheson tore into the Aberdeen Roads Limited joint venture firms in a strongly-worded statement on the £745m project.

‎HE said “Last month, Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) told Parliament that the current delays arose as a result of defective workmanship to the Don Crossing.

“In the space of just two weeks following that statement, ARL’s target opening date for the remaining section of the AWPR slipped from before Christmas to January.

“We are now at the end of January and ARL are still not in a position to open this final section.

“The people of the north east will want to know why ARL have failed to deliver their own programme once again and I am committed to keeping them fully updated.

“I am pleased to report all remaining physical works at the Don Crossing have finished.

“But the road can only be fully opened once Ministers receive the necessary assurances about the longer term impact of the remedial work and the changed costs of future maintenance.

“To put it more simply, we are not prepared to pick up the tab for mistakes made by construction companies.

“No responsible Government could ever saddle the public purse with uncertain costs for an uncertain period of time.

“Following a series of often robust meetings I held with ARL at the end of last year, I was delighted for the people of the north east when over 85% of the road finally opened on 12 December. Their feedback has been overwhelmingly positively since then.

“I am seeking yet another urgent meeting with the senior ARL team to leave them in no doubt as to how resolute our defence of the public purse will be.

“The ball is in ARL’s court and I look forward to making this clear in person.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/contractors-face-showdown-over-aberdeen-bypass-delays/

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Novel electron microscopy offers nanoscale, damage-free isotope tracking in amino acids

A new electron microscopy technique that detects the subtle changes in the weight of proteins at the nanoscale – while keeping the sample intact – could open a new pathway for deeper, more comprehensive studies of the basic building blocks of life. Scientists described the first use of an electron microscope to directly identify isotopes in amino acids at the nanoscale without damaging the samples.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190131143405.htm

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Self-growing materials that strengthen in response to force

A strategy inspired by the process responsible for muscle growth could lead to the development of stronger, longer-lasting materials.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190131143408.htm

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Graphene crinkles can be used as 'molecular zippers'

New research shows that electrically charged crinkles in layered graphene can be useful in the directed self- assembly of molecules.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190131125927.htm

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Layered 2D materials: Maximizing the potential of MXenes

New research shows how to customize the properties of materials called MXenes, which have displayed exceptional abilities to conduct electricity and block electromagnetic radiation.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190131084249.htm

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Green light for £1bn London Olympia revamp

A £1bn project to revamp the Olympia London exhibition centre has been approved by planners.

Construction work will start next year for owners YOO Capital and Deutsche Finance International.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council has approved plans  to turn the 14-acre site into a destination with leading hotels and restaurants alongside performance venues and office space.

Architects Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC are leading on the project design which will also see 2.5 acres of new public space created.

The project will create more than 3,000 new construction jobs over the next five-year build programme.

Key features of the project include:
• A 1,500-seat theatre
• A 1,000-seat performing arts venue
• Two hotels
• A four-screen cinema
• 670,000 sq ft of creative office space, including new co-working space
• Upgrades to the existing spaces to turn Olympia London into one of the world’s top
exhibition and event centres
• A 200,000 sq ft logistics centre

Chairman of YOO Capital John Hitchcox said: “Not only is this great news for London – it’s
also an example of a British project with European investment creating jobs and
opportunities in spite of the current economic and political climate.

“We are proud to announce this plan and press ‘Go’ on a £1bn project that will transform
Olympia London into a global force in arts, entertainment, exhibitions and events.

“We will achieve all of this with minimal disruption to the hundreds of inspirational events
that will continue to take place at Olympia London during the transformation.”

Gavin Neilan, Co-Founding Partner of DFI, commented: “We are delighted to announce
that planning consent has been granted for our £1bn transformation of Olympia London
and look forward to working with our partners to support the exhibition business
and unlock the tremendous potential within the iconic estate.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/green-light-for-1bn-london-olympia-revamp/

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Engineers create a robot that can 'imagine' itself

Engineers have created a robot that learns what it is, with zero prior knowledge of physics, geometry, or motor dynamics. Initially the robot has no clue what its shape is. After a brief period of ‘babbling,’ and within about a day of intensive computing, the robot creates a self-simulation, which it can then use to contemplate and adapt to different situations, handling new tasks as well as detecting and repairing damage in its body.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190130175621.htm

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Just three water companies get spending plan approval

Only three out of 10 major water companies in England and Wales have secured approval for future spending plans from regulator Ofwat.

Severn Trent, South West Water and United Utilities have had spending plans rubber stamped but the rest will have been told to rethink PR19 plans for cutting bills while plugging leaks.

Four companies – Affinity Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Thames Water and Southern Water – have the most work to do in order to meet the tough challenges Ofwat has laid down for the sector.

Across the board, water companies are proposing significant improvements for customers in the period 2020-25.

This includes a 15% reduction in leakage and at least £10bn worth of extra investment to meet more stringent environmental standards, connect new homes and meet increased demand over the coming years.

Ofwat Chief Executive, Rachel Fletcher said: “We have challenged all water companies to deliver more for less for customers over the next five years.

“We’re seeing an increased focus on the things closest to people’s hearts such as keeping bills affordable, cutting leakage, protecting the environment and helping those most in need.

“Three companies have already stepped up to the mark with high-quality plans and stretching commitments to customers for the next five years.

“The rest of the sector now needs to meet this high standard so that customers across the country get better and more efficient services”.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/just-three-water-companies-get-spending-plan-approval/

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Transport for North unveils £70bn blueprint for 2050

A £70bn plan to transform transport links across the north of England has been unveiled.

The strategic body Transport for the North has set out an ambitious vision to invest in northern infrastructure for the next 30 years.

The Strategic Transport Plan could contribute towards an additional £100bn in economic growth for the North’s economy – creating 850,000 extra jobs.

It set out seven strategic transport corridors focused mainly on new or upgraded rail links as well as roads.

Its centrepiece is Northern Powerhouse Rail, a fast rail line from Liverpool to Newcastle.

The vision includes plans to link Liverpool to the high speed rail network in Manchester.

A new line between Manchester and Leeds via Bradford, upgrading the line between Leeds and Hull and the Hope Valley line between Sheffield and Manchester.

Subject to formal approval, the proposals will become Transport for the North’s statutory advice to Government on what the ongoing priorities are for enhancing sustainable and inclusive connectivity across the North.

Barry White, chief executive of Transport for the North, said:“The Strategic Transport Plan is a hugely important document for the North.

“It is our vision for a prosperous pan-Northern future and outlines how investment in transport could transform our economy.

“Our Investment Programme outlines how an additional investment of just £50 per person in the North, per year, could play a part in unlocking a £100bn increase in economic activity and create 850,000 new jobs.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/transport-for-north-unveils-70bn-blueprint-for-2050/

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T Clarke and Billington in bullish mood

Two of the industry’s leading specialists posted positive trading updates to the City today.

Building services giant T Clarke confirmed underlying operating profit margins were 2.7% as the forward order book hit a record £411m.

The company said: “The Board remains encouraged by the continued opportunities available to the Group, particularly on high profile projects working with clients who value our ability to deliver large, complex projects successfully.

“The Group remains on track, with good progress being reported from each of its businesses and it remains on target to achieve the market expectations during the course of the current financial year.”

Mark Lawrence, CEO, added: “We are working on three UK data centres and our Building Controls Division acquired in August 2017, can now boast its largest ever order book and the continued success in our other markets has led to the record forward order book for the TClarke Group as a whole.

“The Board continues to look forward with optimism and we remain focussed on delivering an improving financial performance as we move through the year.”

Steel specialist Billington confirmed 2018 results will be in line with market expectations.

It said: “Following strong progress made across the Group in 2018 and the awarding of £41m of new contracts announced on 22 November 2018, the current financial year has started well and the Board is pleased with the Company’s current solid workload position.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/t-clarke-and-billington-in-bullish-mood/

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Contractors win £23m R&D funding to future proof roads

Amey, Kier and Ringway have secured Government funding to research and trial new surface materials and pothole repair techniques to future proof roads.

The government is releasing £23m for further trial of the use of recycled plastics in roads to combat potholes and smart road technologies in eight local authorities.

Its innovative Live Labs projects will demonstrate new technologies in Kent, Staffordshire, Reading, Suffolk and Solihull and Birmingham. If successful the new technologies could be adopted by other authorities.

Demonstration projects include further plastic roads trials in Cumbria, using kinetic energy off Buckinghamshire roads to power lighting and using geothermal energy created from paths to keep car parks and bus stations in Central Bedfordshire from freezing over.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Potholes are the number one enemy for road users and this government is looking at numerous ways to keep our roads in the best condition.

Trials will demonstrate how 21st century technologies work in the real world.

Ringway Jacobs (Contractors) will receive over £5.5m to help harness renewable energy from roads in Buckinghamshire. This includes “Power Road” technology, already piloted successfully in France, to use geothermal energy connected to water pipes laid just below the surface to de-ice car parks/bus stations in sub-zero weather conditions.

Amey together with Keele University will explore how Smart Highways technology can be extended from primary roads to a local road network. Installation of sensors in Kent will help target more efficient highways maintenance service.

Kier will receive over £4m to adapt or replace lighting columns for use as charging points. All trials to be scalable so suitable for rolling out nationwide.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/contractors-win-23m-rd-funding-to-future-proof-roads/

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Weston opens factory to make “lego homes”

Weston has opened a new “house building factory” where home components will be stored and assembled in a similar way to a car production plant.

The £12m centre at Braintree contains 60,000 sqft of warehousing space and a 10,000 sqft manufacturing, assembly and quality-control workshop.

Raw materials, goods and components can be freighted from suppliers around the world then stored and assembled at the plant before being sent on-demand to sites.

The storage centre holds the components required to build a house or apartment including flooring, cladding, wall tiles, paneling material, kitchen and bathroom components.

Buyers choose their home finishes and the customised packs are sent to site with the factory able to supply up to 60  homes a day,

Bob Weston, Chief Executive of Weston Group says: “The new Braintree Logistics Centre is a highly advanced distribution and build-off-site centre and represents the future of the volume house building industry.

“Within the next 10 years technology will allow for new homes to be fully manufactured off-site by robots and computer-assisted engineering tools; customer specification choices fully automated; with factory-made components then built on-site using machines like a highly advanced lego-system.

“This step change will help enhance site safety, quality control and automotive-like precision. Our blue-chip factory at Braintree is another pioneering part of the process.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/weston-opens-factory-to-make-lego-homes/

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Four win £100m MEP work for Manchester scheme

Developer Allied London and construction partner Lendlease have chosen four firms to deliver the MEP works for the £1.25bn St. John’s development in Manchester.

NG Bailey, HE Simm, SES Engineering Services and Briggs & Forrester will work collaboratively to deliver a £100m package of works.

St. John’s is Manchester’s newest city centre neighbourhood comprising of commercial, leisure and residential spaces.

Piling and basement excavation works are presently underway for major elements of the site including the Manchester Goods Yard and tower 1 of the Nickle and Dime twin 36-storey build to rent towers.

The MEP framework contractors are being engaged early to drive value into the vast project.

Together they will plan out and agree common installation methods, a collective approach to BIM and design.

The first project that forms part of the MEP framework will commence over the coming months.

Paul Briars, regional director North West at NG Bailey, said: “We have a strong portfolio of Manchester-based projects and we look forward to building on our extensive experience, integrating our offsite manufacture capabilities, as well as offering a true end-to-end solution through the inclusion of our services division.”

Tony Hulbert, regional preconstruction manager at Briggs & Forrester Group said: “We are proud to work alongside our fellow MEP providers to deliver these essential services to the ambitious scheme over the next 4 to 5 years.

Greg Simm, operations director at HE Simm, said: “Our focus will lie on providing MEP services for both commercial and residential elements within the scheme, which will include the Nickel & Dime residential towers.”

Glen Hardman, North West operations director at SES Engineering Services, said: “Being involved in such a project also presents an opportunity for SES to demonstrate its BIM Level 2 and offsite manufacturing expertise to great effect, as well as working in collaboration with the other appointed framework partners to support the local community and skills training initiatives this scheme can offer.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/31/four-win-100m-mep-work-for-manchester-scheme/

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Sustainable and recyclable thermoelectric paper

Researchers have created a new concept of thermoelectric material. It is a device composed of cellulose, produced in situ in the laboratory by bacteria, with small amounts of a conductive nanomaterial, carbon nanotubes, using a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190130133045.htm

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Measuring stress around cells

Tissues and organs in the human body are shaped through forces generated by cells, that push and pull, to ‘sculpt’ biological structures. Thanks to a new tool, scientists will now be able to watch, and map these forces.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190130112707.htm

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Green alternative to PET could be even greener

One of the most successful plastics is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the material we use to make bottles and fibers for clothing. However, PET is made from petroleum-based building blocks. An alternative to PET can be made from bio-based furan molecules, but to polymerize these furans you need toxic catalysts and high temperatures. Now, polymer chemists have described an enzyme-based polymerization method.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190130103744.htm

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Waterproof graphene electronic circuits

Water molecules distort the electrical resistance of graphene, but a team of researchers has discovered that when this two-dimensional material is integrated with the metal of a circuit, contact resistance is not impaired by humidity. This finding will help to develop new sensors – the interface between circuits and the real world – with a significant cost reduction.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190130103815.htm

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Scientists use Nobel-prize winning chemistry for clean energy breakthrough

Scientists have used a Nobel-prize winning Chemistry technique on a mixture of metals to potentially reduce the cost of fuel cells used in electric cars and reduce harmful emissions from conventional vehicles. The researchers have translated a biological technique to reveal atomic scale chemistry in metal nanoparticles. These materials are one of the most effective catalysts for energy converting systems such as fuel cells.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190130133128.htm

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£38m funding boost for construction classrooms

Further education providers offering construction T Levels are set to benefit from a £38m funding boost to build new classroms and refurbish existing buildings.

T Levels are equivalent to A Levels and will be taught at more than  50 further education venues from 2020.

Construction is one of the first technical subjects on offer alongside education and digital.

Construction courses will focus on design, surveying and planning.

The £38m will make sure young people taking the new technical courses have access to industry standard equipment and high quality facilities to “gain the skills and knowledge employers demand.”

Apprenticeships and Skills Minster, Anne Milton said: “T Levels are a once in a generation opportunity to transform technical education in this country.

“They will give young people the opportunity to gain the skills they need to get a great job, go on to do a higher level apprenticeship or further study.

“It will be vital that they have access to the latest, high quality equipment and state-of the art facilities during their studies.

“The T Level Capital Fund will help those further education providers at the forefront of delivering these important reforms to be ready to teach T Levels from September 2020.

To support the further education sector to deliver the new T Level programmes, the government will provide an additional half a billion pounds every year once they are all fully rolled out.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/30/38m-funding-boost-for-construction-classrooms/

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Perfect storm pushes Aukett deeper into the red

Listed architect Aukett Swanke racked up further losses last year of £2.5m amid Brexit project delays, fierce fee competition and a slowdown its key United Arab Emirates market.

It warned that market prices had weakened considerably with design-led projects often awarded to other bidders at up to 50% Aukett’s own pricing.

In the UK alone, Aukett said revenue slump 25% last year bringing a cumulative fall of 45% over the past two years from £12m to £6.6m.

The group loss was greater than the hit it suffered during the financial crisis a decade ago and has seen the board call off its acquisition strategy and streamline headcount.

As a result, average staff levels fell 13% to 330 throughout the group.

Chairman Anthony Simmonds said : “Our company endured a perfect storm during the year ended 30 September 2018.

“Its architecture design operation in the United Kingdom suffered from a series of delayed projects and significant fee competition as a result of the continuing uncertainty of Brexit, while its business in the United Arab Emirates, although it started the year well, ended with a series of intermittent instructions, a reduced order book and debtor provisions taking their toll.

“Revenue for the year fell by 22% to £14.38m, which was too far and too rapid for us to address by cost reductions so that the year-end loss extended to £2.54m (2017: loss £325k).

“However, the recent relocation of the UK office to Bonhill Street and property consolidation in the UAE will achieve considerable reductions in excess of £400k per annum in our fixed costs in future periods.”

 

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/30/perfect-storm-pushes-aukett-deeper-into-the-red/

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Two alliances set for £5bn railway work bonanza

Network Rail has named its preferred alliances to deliver track and rail system renewals and improvements in Scotland and the South of England, worth an estimated £5bn.

Colas Rail and AECOM will work with Network Rail across the south of England, while a three-way joint venture of Babcock Rail, Arup and Arcadis will deliver upgrades in Scotland.

Deals are still subject to contract terms being finalised and agreed, with procurement currently operating a standstill period.

The bidding process for the remaining third regional alliance, Central region, is still underway with a preferred bidder due shortly following final verification and internal approvals.

The framework award for the next generation rail system contracts will be one of the most substantial of Network Rail’s CP6 contracts to be let.

Steve Featherstone, programme director Track, said: “Reaching this important milestone ensures we will have a stable foundation for the delivery of the Great Britain’s core railway infrastructure for the next decade.

“Our new strategy allows us to better align to the routes and ultimately, deliver for customers.”

Jean-Pierre Bertrand, CEO of Colas Rail said: “We are extremely proud of our team being recognised for the quality of the tender submission. We are fully committed to delivering major improvements to the UK railways in the South working together with our partners Aecom and Network Rail over the upcoming 10 years.

This was echoed by Archie Bethel, Babcock International’s CEO: “Building on our long term relationship with Network Rail, we are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder for this major programme of railway systems work, with our alliance partners Arcadis and Arup.  We look forward to working with Network Rail in the new alliance.”

 

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/01/30/two-alliances-set-for-5bn-railway-work-bonanza/

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