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Plans have got off the ground again to save Whitby’s crumbling historic piers on the exposed North Yorkshire coast. Scarborough Borough Council has just started the hunt for a contractor to design and deliver extensive refurbishment of the east and west piers in Whitby Harbour. The piers have suffered heavy storm damage over the years with the east pier, in particular, at risk of collapse. The landmark piers have been protecting Whitby harbour and the town’s maze of harbourside cottages and passageways since 1545, when they were built of timber. They were rebuilt in 1632 using stone and today they are officially recognised as listed buildings by Historic England. Works will include repairs to the masonry block work including filling of voids due to material loss, driving new sheet …

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A leading UK provider of wood burning stoves and biomass heating solutions has revealed the aspects of a home that Britons look for and find most appealing when property hunting. Findings revealed that exposed brick, a kitchen island and a wood burner/aga were the house features most likely to persuade respondents to buy a property. In a bid to discover the most appealing home aesthetics Briton’s look for when viewing properties for the first time, a new piece of research undertaken by a leading UK provider of wood heating solutions set out to unveil the elements attached to a property most likely to help it sell. The team at www.Euroheat.co.uk polled a total of 2,085 UK-based adults aged 30-65, all of whom were either …

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Mobile CAD Surveying the measured building specialists were recently asked to provide floor plans and elevational drawings of a large office building in Hounslow, c.113,000sq ft. They turned round their quote and started on site within 7 days, completing the full survey just over a week later. Most projects are a rush these days, but they didn’t realise that Galliard Homes, the developer was ready to launch and market the site immediately even though completion was still two years away. It turns out that they were very successful and sold all 228 apartments within 3 hours of the doors opening. Mobile CAD Surveying Solutions are proud to be associated with this development and happy that their efforts to turn the project around so fast helped the client achieve …

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London’s Whiteleys shopping centre is set to get a new lease of life after ambitious plans to restore the Grade II-listed building were submitted to Westminster Council. A joint venture between a Meyer Bergman-advised investment fund and Warrior Group is seeking to deliver a £1bn redevelopment of the once grand department store in Bayswater. The Foster + Partners designed mixed-use scheme, which will incorporate the iconic central dome, will see 500,000-plus sq ft built behind the existing 1911 facade. This will include construction of more than 100 homes, a mixture of apartments and townhouses. These will be arranged around an inner courtyard with new shops, a boutique hotel, gym and basement cinema. Exterior of the existing building will be retained although it will be extended up with two …

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New research by trade insurance specialist’s construcaquote.com has revealed that the average British construction worker will eat upwards of 1,500 calories more than the recommended daily intake. Despite this revelation, less than one fifth of workers polled considered themselves to be at all overweight.   As part of its ongoing research into insights and trends surrounding the construction industry, a constructatquote.com has investigated the eating habits and diets of a group of British construction workers, to look into how healthy they are compared to those with more stationary and less active jobs. Researchers at constructaquote.com polled a total of 2,193 male UK construction workers, all of whom were aged 18 or over. In order to keep the results as unbiased as possible, those taking part in the …

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To coincide with UK Radon Awareness Week, leading experts in the field of radon management have undertaken a new piece of research which indicates that fewer than 10% of British adults are aware of the dangers of the gas, even though it is responsible for an estimated 1100 deaths annually as a result of the lung cancer it can cause. In the lead up to the 2015 Radon Awareness Week, taking place between the 7th and 13th  of November, a brand new study has been carried out in a bid to discover the awareness levels of radon gas amongst Britons. UK Radon Association members (www.radonweek.co.uk) commissioned a poll of 2,884 UK adults aged 18 and over as part of the research. Participants were spread across an even range …

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8 Router Bits & Accessories for all DIYers Whether you are a seasoned DIYer, donning your tool belt or a novice who chooses their tool belt based on the cool logo it holds, there are some pieces of equipment that everyone who is worth their salt should know about. Working on the assumption that you already have the raw materials, we welcome new and experienced DIYers alike to our countdown of what bits you need to complete your tool box, from money saving essentials to the stuff that makes you look like a pro: Coming in at Number 8 Looking to make your money go the extra mile? This dry lubricant spray will increase your tool life, making your saw blade and cutters live on much longer than expected. Unlike…

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JCOP clarifies need for EN 54 fire alarm on construction sites If you work in the construction sector then the chances are that you have already heard of Joint Code of Practice (JCOP) or, to give it its full title; ‘The Joint Code of Practice on the protection from Fire on Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation’. JCOP, as it is commonly referred to, for understandable reasons, has just been updated and is now available in its 9th edition. This edition applies to activities carried out prior to and during the procurement, construction and design process. JCOP is an important and useful document for construction professionals as it is often referred to in insurance contracts and is recognised as ‘best practice’, which means that it’s definitely worth …

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Main contractors will have to reveal where they are sourcing steelwork when bidding for major projects under emergency Government plans to level the playing field for the UK industry. The radical new measures are being introduced as concern grows that projects like HS2 will suck in huge amounts of cheap imported steel from China threatening the existence of UK steelwork fabricators and suppliers. New Government procurement guidelines also urge all public clients to look at the carbon footprint of steel supplies, including transport costs, when judging bids from main contractors. Procurement chiefs have also been told to take into account the social impacts of competing suppliers. Critcally, this includes the impact on jobs, protecting the health and safety of staff and the social integration of disadvantaged workers, …

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An interactive visual resource which showcases London’s finest and most-recognised architects and their respective buildings. London is gifted with a diverse range of architectural styles thanks in part to the age of the England’s capital but mostly owing to the talented pool of architects whose skills and creativity has helped shape the city’s skyline. To celebrate the collective talents of these architects and the ever-changing built landscape of London, Gregory Phillips has created a visual resource of iconic buildings called Architects of London. Visitors can navigate the guide using the left-hand side scrollable panel which features a choice selection of architects. Click on the architect to preview their iconic London building along with a concise summary of style, information on the architect and location …

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