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Flashing hi-ves vests are being developed to warn workers of potential dangers on sites. The SmartVest contains strips of LED lights which flash different colours to warn workers of particular hazards. The vests have been developed by software specialist 3Squared and link-up to its site management system. Workers will be alerted with flashing lights to dangers like oncoming trains on rail sites. Lights will also warn operatives when they enter a dangerous site zone as mapped out on the 3Squared ‘SmartSafe’ virtual zone management platform. Tim Jones, Managing Director of 3Squared, said: “The SmartVest concept innovatively and creatively takes an established product with existing safety benefits into the 21st Century. “We are very excited about what this could mean for construction and infrastructure workers in …

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Each winter the demand for de-icing products spikes significantly as winter is harsher each year. Two of the most common de-icing products are brown and white gritting rock salt. Both products are effective in managing the buildup of ice on roads and pavements and both can be easily spread. In fact, in a short amount of time these rock salts can cover quite a large area. Also, both are cost efficient and effective. Salt works by lowering the melting point of ice. When salt mixes with any moisture or water, a saline solution is created (salty water). This saline solution will freeze at a lower point than fresh water, making it more difficult for ice to form. Brown Rock Gritting Salt Brown rock salt is …

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It seems that hardly a day goes by without the news featuring a significant proportion of column space to the ongoing housing crises within the UK. Such a crisis in then only emphasised when we consider a few facts and figures. According statistics referenced by the BBC and CBI only 15,698 affordable homes where built between 2011 and 2012 and with the shortfall of homes expected to be around one million, the crisis doesn’t look set for resolution anytime soon. This is then emphasised by there being a growing social housing waiting list with ever more bloated rental prices, with 1.69 million households upon the list to date and a significant jump in affordable housing rent of 7% to £78.78 per week (Gov.uk 2013). With such a political hot potato …

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Auction houses for cheap property is an attractive proposition for those who are looking to build their property portfolio. Transparency is integral and never more so than from your building survey. It seems that this element of purchasing property has long since suffered from a vague and often misunderstood purpose. So what does this then means for the conscientious property developer.   The modern property developer and their legal and financial challenges According to the Home Owners Alliance, only 20% of buyers think they need to get a survey no matter what the condition of age of property they are buying, is this ignorance or experience? As a property developer, you success will be in the finances, but that doesn’t mean you need to purchase a …

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Production has started into building the UK’s first Eco-Town which will be situated in North West Bicester, Oxfordshire. The project which will see up to 6,000 sustainable homes being built is part of a long term eco-friendly drive known as the “Exemplar”. The initial construction involves the production of 33 homes in the area. Each one will be highly efficient and produce zero carbon making this the first true zero carbon community in the UK. In addition, the development will boast 40% green space which is well above the national average. Mark Fielding MD at Cotaplan building systems highlighted on the project, “Like ourselves, A2dominiona have a vision to transform the way communities live and use accommodation in a sustainable way.  Cotaplan are glad to see …

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Leeds shopfitting and joinery specialist Wood-Mitchell Building Group has been placed in administration. Most of the 70 staff at the £12m turnover firm have been laid off by administrators from Deloitte. The administrators are now in the process of shutting the business down, which traces it history back to 1896. Wood-Mitchell serviced a variety of regional and national clients across a range of sectors, from museums, offices and shops. Deloitte’s Leeds office aims to run the business with a skeleton staff to complete some outstanding contracts and will put the firm’s freehold property in Lowtown, Pudsey up for sale.

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Aberdeen council has backed development partner Henry Boot’s funding proposals for a £333m conference and exhibition centre on the outskirts of the city. The planned £333m Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre will be built at Bucksburn near the Dyce airport and will replace the existing AECC at the Bridge of Don, which was built in 1985. A mixed-use residential-led scheme is proposed for the Bridge of Don site once the new centre is up and running. Boot will submit detailed plans targeting a planning permission by the end of 2015 to develop the initial phase of the project, including the 750,000 sq ft exhibition and conference centre, two hotels and an anaerobic digestion green energy centre. Construction is penciled in to start in mid-2016 and run through …

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Leeds-based McFadden Construction has become the first victim of the financial turmoil at construction business GB Group. Yesterday the local civil engineering firm itself filed for administration after being locked in a long-running payment dispute with GB Group over work on a major Leeds hotel project. McFadden boss Martin Horne said: “There are several contractors that have not been fully paid on the Leeds hotel. “We were in the throes of a second adjudication for around £700,000, after winning £450,000 in an earlier ruling for work on the reinforced concrete basement. “But with GB Group filing for administration there is now obviously a big question mark over the case, which has been putting a big strain on our cashflow. “This payment dispute has hit more …

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Development Securities and Transport for London has formed a joint venture to create a mixed-use scheme at Southwark Underground station. The one-acre site above and around the London Underground station on Blackfriars Road has potential for a 225,00 sq ft landmark scheme, led with 300 flats. The development site combines three sites: a vacant office building, Algarve House; adjacent land owned by TfL including the air space above Southwark Underground station; and further land around the station owned by the London Borough of Southwark Located between the Elephant and Castle regeneration area and the South Bank, the high rise project including developing air-rights would deliver over 300 flats as well as shops and restaurants. Development Securities and TfL have signed up architect AHMM to develop a masterplan …

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The deal marks the firm’s first foray as a major housing developer in the UK and saw it fend off rival bids from a Mace, Argent and Peabody consortium and specialist developer Grainger. Balfour Beatty’s UK construction arm will deliver all construction, which is expected to generate £400m, while the group’s investment arm injects £35m of equity over eight years, representing 50% of the equity required. The development will be constructed in phases over eight years creating 50 apprenticeships and sustaining 350 construction jobs at the peak of construction. The transformational project at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London is being delivered in a 50:50 joint venture with Places for People, which will manage sales and letting. It will create two new neighbourhoods, to be called East Wick and Sweetwater, with …

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