Chinese giant to build six UK pre-fab homes factories

A giant Chinese construction firm is teaming up with a UK housing association to deliver 25,000 pre-fabricated homes over the next five years.

The Government has helped to broker the 2.5bn deal that see China National Building Material Company build six offsite factories around the UK.

It has formed a joint venture with housing association Your Housing Group and renewable energy specialist Welink.

The partners are currently looking at factory sites in Scotland, South Wales, North East, North West, Yorkshire/North Midlands, and in the South and South West.

Five pilot schemes are set to deliver a total of 2,000 homes next year, ramping up production after to 25,000 homes per year by 2022.

The first scheme, in Liverpool, is expected to receive planning permission in January.

The joint venture aims to introduce a modular housing type, based on designs pioneered by Barcelona Housing Systems, to transform the pace of the delivery of new homes in the UK.

This uses precision produced steel frames and modern composite materials that means the developments are both low carbon and energy efficient in their construction and in their operation.

International Trade Minister, Greg Hands MP, said of the deal: “This is a clear endorsement of the UK’s attractiveness as a place for inward investment. This announcement has the potential to benefit local communities across the country, creating jobs, boosting local economies and creating homes.

“The Department for International Trade has worked closely with the consortium to highlight the strengths of the UK and played a fundamental role in bringing together the partners in this exciting joint venture.”

Ajmal Rahman, Chairman of WElink Group said of the deal: “This joint venture will give a significant kick-start to delivering the new homes people need across the UK which includes helping to address fuel poverty issues through our incorporated solar and energy efficient design – meaning our developments can be at least 75% off-grid.

“Furthermore, British produced light gauge steel framing will help keep our carbon footprint to a minimum.

Cesar Martinell, Chairman of Barcelona Housing Systems, said: “The UK represents a cornerstone market for our energy efficient modular housing solution and we are excited to be working with YHG to deliver a national solution for the British market.’

Stephen Haigh, UK CEO of the new joint venture, said: “Our announcement is very much about identifying new opportunities and assisting Government and other Housing Associations to achieve their housing aspirations as announced in the recent Autumn Statement, such as the £2.3bn infrastructure fund. It is also crucial that we work closely with Local Authorities to create mixed tenure communities to cement our development model as the solution to their house building and development needs’

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/12/19/chinese-giant-to-build-six-uk-pre-fab-homes-factories/

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Kier wins £135m Cardiff University contract

Kier has been confirmed as preferred bidder to deliver the first phase of early works on Cardiff University’s £300m Innovation Campus, in a £135m project that will see Kier building two new facilities.

One will house SPARK, the world’s first social science research park, and the Innovation Centre – a creative space for start-ups, spin-outs and partnership working.

The other will be home to two leading scientific research establishments – the Institute for Compound Semiconductors and Cardiff Catalysis Institute.

Work is set to start on-site in early 2017 and is due to complete in 2018. The scheme will also include a bridge linking Cardiff Business School with CIC.

Kier secured the contract under the SEWSCAP 2 framework, and the company has committed to subcontracting local SMEs, and providing opportunities for young people via apprenticeships.

Cardiff University students will be offered work placement opportunities, giving them first-hand experience of the different roles available within the construction industry.

Anthony Irving, managing director, Kier Construction Western & Wales, said the firm would be holding a Meet the Buyer event for local suppliers in early 2017.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/12/19/kier-wins-135m-cardiff-university-contract/

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Call-up for Government hubs £1bn fit-out bonanza

The Government has fired the starting gun for bidding on a massive £1bn fit-out framework for its ambitious estate reorganisation programme.

Its Government Hubs office closure and relocation plan is expected to generate up to £1bn of fit-out work over the next seven years.

For HMRC alone, this will see the current landscape of 170 offices reoriented into 13 modern Regional Centres, equipped with the digital infrastructure and training facilities.

From a wider Government perspective, the programme will transform central government’s office estate by accommodating departmental workforces in shared regional hubs and supporting office estate.

The major works programme will offer opportunities on a mix of small to large, and simple to complex fit-out projects across the country for a select list of preferred contractors.

Between six and 10 firms will be selected for its major projects lot jobs worth more than £25m around the UK. In total this will account for £500m of the forecast spend.

For projects worth less than £25m, the UK will be divided into a northern and southern framework panel, each of up to 10 firms.

The Government Hubs Programme aims to reduce the Government office estate from 800 buildings to around 200 by 2023. These will be centralised into 18 to 22 strategic hubs, located in major city centres.

Earlier this year Turner & Townsend was brought on board by HMRC to deliver a full range of advisory services, from project and supply chain management to communications and stakeholder management.

Interested firms need to email Lesley Bond at the Cabinet Office government procurement unit for a market sounding questionnaire and details of the event by 20 October 2016 at the latest.

PQQ documents

Firms seeking access to online PQQ documentation must send an email to lesley.bond1@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk by 9 January.

This email should contain:

(a) the contract reference — Govt Hubs Fit-Out Framework,

(b) a contact email address;

© a contact name,

(d) the company name and contact telephone number

Tenderers must register on the eSourcing portal.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/12/19/call-up-for-government-hubs-1bn-fit-out-bonanza/

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Bidding to start for £150m Luton Airport rail link

Galliford Try lands £32m Northumberland council HQ

Developers acting for Northumberland County Council have chosen Galliford Try to build its new headquarters under a £32m contract.

County development company Arch has awarded the contract and Galliford Try will start on site next month.

The project for the centre of Ashington will employ up to 220 construction workers over the next 18 months and at least 55 will be new job or apprenticeship opportunities for local residents.

The development is one of the biggest regeneration opportunities in Northumberland and part of a ten-year programme led by Arch that will invest more than £74m.

Northumberland County Council Leader Grant Davey said: ‘This is a welcome next step in our Market Towns Initiative to regenerate and improve Northumberland’s towns.

“We’re pleased the scheme has now appointed a team to start work and can now progress for the benefit of the town, the county and the wider region.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/12/19/galliford-try-lands-32m-northumberland-council-hq/

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Lidl given go-ahead for £70m London HQ

Discount supermarket chain Lidl has got the green light to build a new £70m London headquarters.

The planned 240,000sq ft office at Tolworth in wst London will replace Lidl’s current Wimbledon headquarters which it has outgrown.

The German firm was granted permission by Kingston Council but must wait for a final decision to rubber stamp the development from London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the new year.

The approval comes as the firm revealed it planned to ramp up spending in London with plans for 250 new stores.

Ingo Fischer, Lidl UK Board Director for Expansion and Development, said: “Our new headquarters not only signify an investment in our own infrastructure and workforce, but also highlight our wider investment ambitions within London as Lidl UK continues to experience incredible growth.

Earlier this month Lidl said it was also planning a major distribution centre in Doncaster, South Yorkshire costing around £70m.

In the south west Winvic Construction is building a £40m warehouse facility in Exeter and in Scotland another in Motherwell is out to tender.

Lidl plans to invest £1.5 bn over three years on expanding its store and logistics network to 1,500 stores despite Brexit. It currently trades from 640.

Lidl HQ Project team

Project Managers: Gleeds
Architect: M Moser Associates
Planning Consultant: Bilfinger GVA
Cost Consultant: CQS Group
Structural Engineer: Jubb Consulting Engineers
Services Engineer: RED Engineering
Geotechnical Engineer: Van Elle

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/12/19/lidl-given-go-ahead-for-70m-london-hq/

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World’s smallest radio receiver has building blocks the size of two atoms

Researchers have made the world’s smallest radio receiver – built out of an assembly of atomic-scale defects in pink diamonds.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161216114311.htm

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