News

Some 3D printing initiatives are more ambitious than producing jewellery or multi-dimensional images of the family. The 3D Print Canal House Project from DUS Architects in Amsterdam is looking to print housing with new resources derived from bio-based raw materials, or with recycled plastics. DUS calls it a collaboration in research and doing, linking science, design, construction and community, by 3D printing a canal house at an expo-site in the very heart of Amsterdam’. The 3D Print Canal House is printed with the KamerMaker and each design comprises several room types, with each room  printed separately on site. The separate rooms are assembled into connected floors, and then stacked into an entire house. Rooms can easily be disconnected in case the building needs to be relocated. …

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Nearly 10,000 solar panels are being installed on farmland in Monk Sherborne, The solar farm is being built by Lightsource Renewable Energy at Hill End Farm, in Aldermaston Road, after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council approved the company’s plans in December. The 6.37-hectare site is now being transformed into a 2.8megawatt solar farm, which will generate enough power for 806 homes. The site will generate enough renewable energy to save around 1,375,220kg of CO2 emissions per year – the equivalent of removing 305 cars from the road each year. Lightsource, which has installed solar panels on the roofs of over 100 schools in the UK, has been granted permission for a temporary solar farm. At the end of its operational life, of between 30 and 35 years, all equipment associated with the farm…

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The Chancellor set out plans to give smaller house builders access to a £500m fund to stimulate small local projects. The finance pot formed part of a set of measures that George Osborne claimed would support building of 200,000 new homes. Until now Government guarantee schemes were limited to support for major infrastructure projects being developed by major house builders. In 1988 two-thirds of all new homes were built by small and medium sized builders, but that figure now stands at less than a third. The Builders Finance Fund hopes to galvanise local housing projects with  loans to smaller housing developers. It estimated that the fund will unlock 15,000 housing units stalled due to difficulty in accessing finance. He said that the Government would also back three vast housing schemes: a garden …

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Alumno Developments has been granted planning permission for a major student accommodation project at the Eastside Locks in Birmingham. Construction of three buildings, ranging in height from 9 storeys to 13 storeys to provide 625 student bedrooms can no start later this year. The City Locks scheme designed by Glenn Howells Architects is expected to cost around £40m to build and will be located near to the site of the proposed HS2 terminus. David Campbell, managing director at Alumno, said: “ Eastside Locks is one of the largest regeneration projects in the country and the student accommodation developments will kick start the further developments set to emerge on the site.” Contractors Balfour Beatty, GB Building and Shepherd have each worked with Alumno on previous student projects. Last week the developer also…

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Costain is seeking planning permission to develop a major solar farm on disused land north of Heathrow. The proposed scheme on land owned by Costain since the early 1960s could generate 5.5MW of energy, enough to power around 1,650 homes. The 37-acre site, near Sipson Road and Holloway Lane in the London Borough of Hillingdon, was originally used for gravel extraction. Later it was used by the local council for landfill and sealed and reinstated in 1972 before being returned to Costain. Due to its poor state, the land has since been unused and undeveloped. Costain said a solar farm could be a viable proposition, in the light of new planning guidance encouraging energy from renewable sources. Ian Shervell of Costain’s Investments Team, said: “A number of projects have …

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Durham County Council says it will recommend for approval a plan that promises 31,400 new homes; 9500 sq m of new retail floorspace and land for warehousing and offices. Planning The County Durham-wide plans, which include proposals for each of the county’s 12 main towns and for rural areas, are expected to be agreed next month and set the agenda leading up to 2030. If approved, the strategy would be referred to the Government for approval and could be adopted by 2015. Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic development, said: “We welcome the positive feedback and appreciate the time everyone has taken to give us their comments. This is a hugely important document and we look forward to it getting the formal go-ahead and are ready to make sure it …

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Canary Wharf Group has received planning to build its first major residential tower on the east London Docklands site. The 58-storey Diamond Tower takes its name from the repeat pattern of the shell supporting steelwork, which will  soar 218m into the sky. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has granted planning permission for the tower and it will be referred to the Mayor of London who is expected to rubber stamp final approval. The development marks a new stage in the evolution of Canary Wharf, which first opened in the early 1990s. It is the first of several major residential tower block schemes  to get the green light planned around Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs. The tower will include 566 apartments, as well as shops and a health …

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Building of a planned 170m viewing tower in Brighton will start in the summer after councillors agreed to take out a government loan for the scheme – and pass it onto developers. The ambitious plan to draw in tourists with a new south coast attraction looked set to crash when a private backer withdrew a £15m funding offer last year. But now the council has agreed to provide extra top up lending of £21.4m on top of the £14.8m previously agreed to get the scheme off the ground. The elevating viewing platform project is to be built near the ruined West Pier and is expected to earn the council three times more than it needs to cover its loan repayments. The extra £21m …

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A construction worker was killed in a Crossrail tunnel last Friday morning by a piece of falling concrete. The 43-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering head injuries ten metres below ground in the tunnel at Fisher Street, Holborn. He was spraying concrete onto the floor of the tunnel when a piece fell from the ceiling. Main contractor on the western tunnels section is BAM, Ferrovial, Kier (BFK). Six fire rescue units, three fire engines and over 50 firefighters and officers were called to the scene. A Crossrail statement said: “Sadly, at approximately 5am this morning a contractor working at our site in Fisher Street, London was fatally injured. “Our first and foremost thoughts are with the family and friends affected by this. The …

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Building surveyor Sophie Lydia Smith has been crowned Miss Cheltenham and will now compete in this summer’s Miss England pageant. Lydia Smith works for Stroud District Council after completing a two-year course in construction and civil engineering. She told the Gloucestershire Echo: “I work in building conservation and construction so I don’t always look glamorous at work. “This was my chance to look glamorous.” Her mother Sonia added: “I think she can inspire many other young women and that you don’t have to be a man to work in her industry.”

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