Category

These days, some of the most modern construction projects utilising the latest, high-tech materials, are also using a centuries old method in the design of their roofs. Living roofs, sometimes referred to as green roofs, were used as far back as the 11th century, in traditional Viking dwellings. These days, the feature can be found in the most innovative building projects, including Manhattan’s most famous landmark, the Empire State Building. The benefits of the technique are numerous. A study conducted by the University of Toronto was the first of its kind to suggest that green roofs dramatically reduce the energy it takes to keep a building warm during winter. You can find more details from this study, here. The vegetation on the roof acts as a…

Read more »

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has signed a joint venture deal with a Chinese engineering business, UK support services company Carillion and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) to accelerate the development of its £800m Airport City scheme. Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) and Carillion are to join with the GMPF for the scheme, while Argent has been selected as the development manager. The JV was confirmed by Chancellor George Osborne in Beijing. Airport City will be the core element of the government-designated enterprise zone surrounding Manchester Airport, which is the UK’s third busiest. The five million sq ft project hopes to attract a raft of international businesses that could contribute an additional 16,000 jobs in the North West. It will include offices, hotels, manufacturing space, logistics …

Read more »

Warrington Borough Council is set to revamp the town’s centre after it announced a new £52 million proposal. The new initiative will see a new retail centre emerge, complete with a family-friendly shopping area, featuring restaurants and other leisure experiences. There will also be a contemporary market hall at the heart or the centre that will hopefully boost business in the area. It will be built on the same site that previously accommodated the Boots building on Bridge Street and will therefore preserve a street front entrance feature of the Grade II-listed brick facade. Other key elements include a new multiplex cinema and a civic centre to build community ties. The project, which is subject to a public consultation process and ratification by the …

Read more »

Construction work has begun on more than 1,000 homes at an Oxfordshire town. Cherwell District Council has described the 185 acre (75 hectare) site at Longford Park as “Banbury’s largest outstanding housing development”. Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Homes and Bovis Homes have started work on land south of Bankside and east of Oxford Road. The development will have 1,092 homes, shops, a school, a pub and 2,200 sq m (7,200 sq ft) of office space. Michael Gibbard, lead member for planning, said: “We have always included this development in both the local plan and land supply figures so the delivery of these houses will not impact upon either. “However, what it will do is provide people with completed, rather than pending homes to live in.”

Read more »

Carillion Alawi has been awarded a £92 million contract by The Oman Hospitality Company SAOC to build the Kempinski Wave Hotel in Muscat, Oman.  The 24 month contract, which is to start this month, involves the construction of a beach front resort including a 309-room 5-star hotel and 77 hotel apartments, to be operated by Kempinski Hotels. The plot is approximately 40,000 m2, and the resort will be built to a maximum five storey height plus basement car parking. Carillion Alawi has previously delivered projects worth £75 million for The Wave, Muscat development. Commenting on the award, Carillion Chief Executive, Richard Howson, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver this contract, which follows a number of significant recent contract wins in Oman and reflects Carillion …

Read more »

WORK is set to start on construction of a £6m Wirral indoor skate park and sporting village after the project was given outline planning permission. Rampworx’s plan for a 7,000 sq m complex on land at Valley Road in Bidston that could create up to 35 jobs was unanimously approved by councillors on Wirral’s planning committee when it met on Thursday. It includes a skate park with floor space up to 6,00 sq m and more than 1,000 sq m of commercial floor space. Ancillary facilities would include admin offices, a cafe, flexible learning spaces and business support facilities for young entrepreneurs and car parking. Rampworx, the charity and social enterprise that work with young people to provide sporting and learning opportunities, already has a skate park in Aintree, Liverpool, …

Read more »

Pre-engineered construction business Building with Frames has launched a new venture, backed up by support from the Regional Growth Fund. The funding has helped the Truro-based company launch Building with Boxes, aimed at helping businesses expand by using energy-efficient outdoor space. The new product range is constructed with insulated SIPS panels, and combines “inspirational design with quality”, offering extended living/work space outside.

Read more »

The scheme at Colegrave House, which sits above The Plaza shopping mall, will see the contractor substantially reconfigure and fit out four storeys of existing accommodation to create new offices for the retail group. Arcadia is the owner of several high street brands including Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topshop and Topman. Arcadia’s plans for the reconfiguration and refurbishment of the Oxford Street Plaza Centre include the creation of a new 73,500 sq ft flagship retail store, an enlarged double height office reception and a range of retail and gym extensions as well as enlarged offices for the Arcadia Group, which occupies around 125,000 sq ft of offices above the mall. Arcadia Group employs around 600 staff in the 125,000 sq ft of offices on the upper floors. The contract …

Read more »

WinPad IO – 10″ IP65 Ruggedized Windows Tablet a fantastic ruggedised tablet for external use, now with 500 nit screen rating and Pixel Qi versions. This fully loaded tablet is highly ruggedized without being over-sized or too heavy. Complete with every connectivity and data capture option available the WinPad® IO has it all. There is now a new model with N2600 CPU and 500 nits screen if you just want a brighter screen and also a Pixel Qi  version, see below for more details. The amazing WinPad® IO encapsulates the new energy efficient OakTrail CPU  platform in a highly ruggedized IP65 and MIL810G proof housing at only 1.6kg.  Combining a sunlight readable display and dual hot-swappable batteries this rugged tablet offers the choice of all wireless radios: WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, 3.5G …

Read more »

If you need a measured building survey or even several measured building surveys or a measured building surveyor,  you have come to the right place. If time is of the essence, or clients time constraints are limited on site, we can accommodate you. Whether your survey project is large or small, a single house plan of a few square metres, up to thousands of square metres or several house plans, or a schedule of building plans or ‘As Built’ surveys, we can meet your requirements. We have vast experience of Measured Building Surveys, floor plans, elevational drawings, sections, topographical surveys, everything from private homes & domestic premises, apartment blocks, and flats, Housing Associations, to churches, ecclesiastical buildings, hospitals, NHS Trusts, PCT Trusts, supermarkets, High Street…

Read more »