The post Read the Latest News on the New British Army Band Music Facility at Sandhurst is Finished, the Voltalia Builds 49.9mw Paddock Solar, the Next £200m Television Centre Flats Phase Begins, Upgrades for Major UK and Ireland Ports From Peel Ports and S&P Global Data Shows the Construction Industry Rising appeared first on UK Construction Blog.

In today’s UK construction news, we will look into the new music facility for the British Army Band at Sandhurst has been finished as construction has been completed. During this time, Voltalia has begun work on the Paddock solar project, which has a capacity of 49.9 megawatts. As an additional point of interest, Mitsui Fudosan and Stanhope have begun building on the 347-home development. In addition, construction has begun on the next phase of the Television Centre flats, which will cost £200 million. Moreover, Peel Ports is planning to upgrade major ports in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the near future. On top of that, according to S&P Global, the construction industry has experienced growth for the first time in seven months.

The New British Army Band Music Facility at Sandhurst is Finished

Original Source: Construction completes on new music facility for British Army Band at Sandhurst

A new £12 million Army band facility at Sandhurst has been constructed.

The new, acoustically-optimised facility supports British Army Band Sandhurst musicians’ rehearsals, concerts, and collaboration.

RMAS renovated its 1850 stables and offices into an instrument store, music library, offices, rehearsal spaces, changing rooms, and crew area. Sustainable features include solar panels and heat source pumps in two blocks.

In February 2023, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) contracted Willmott Dixon and Pick Everard to deliver the Joint Bands School project. The Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme is spending £3.35 billion over 10 years to improve troops’ living, working, and training quarters.

The new Royal Military Academy Sandhurst music facility. Willmott Dixon Project Manager Michael Ellett, Maj Brendan Wood, Joint Bands School Project Sponsor, Debs Thorne, Programme Manager, Matt Rix, Senior Building Manager, and Kieran Corrigan, Project Surveyor, are from left to right. MOD Crown Copyright.

Joint Bands School Programme Manager Debs Thorne spoke:

This project is an excellent illustration of the Army estate’s major investment in modern, sustainable infrastructure to support military training and future capacity. The finished buildings are impressive, and I’m sure the British Army Band Sandhurst will enjoy their new music facility.

According to DIO Project Manager Aleksia Xhaferraj:

We are happy to have developed this new facility for Army musicians, which will assist them much. This project was completed thanks to DIO, the Army, and our contractors’ participation.

Willmott Dixon MD Richard Poulter said:

We are proud to have helped build this cutting-edge facility for our military. I hope musicians are inspired and thrive in the amazing building.

The RMAS Ensemble Band will move in this summer. A fall 2024 opening celebration is planned for the new Band facility.

The DEO Portfolio, which is investing £5.1 billion in defence estate infrastructure, includes the DEO Army programme.

Voltalia builds 49.9MW Paddock Solar

Original Source: Voltalia begins construction on 49.9MW Paddock solar project

International energy company Voltalia has started building its 49.9MW southeast England photovoltaic (PV) power facility.

This plant, which will start production in the second half of 2025, will sell electricity to firms under long-term contracts like Corporate Power Purchase Agreements.

According to Voltalia CEO Sébastien Clerc, the company has seven UK solar and storage installations with 260 megawatts of capacity. Our future projects will boost national expansion and third-party client service.�

Voltalia UK’s portfolio

In recent years, Voltalia has expanded its UK and Irish solar and battery storage range.

In November 2023, Co-op signed a 15-year Corporate PPA with Voltalia for the full 34MW Eastgate solar project.

Eastgate solar project will power the consumer co-operative’s UK food stores, distribution centres, and funeralcare homes.

The 62,500-panel solar panel farm near Scarborough, North Yorkshire, is scheduled to open in 2025. Construction has commenced.

The solar farm’s maximum capacity may supply 7.5% of Co-op’s annual electricity consumption once fully operational.

The business secured a CfD to create two 90MW UK solar projects in September 2022.

The 45MW projects at Clifton Farm in Yeovil and Higher Stockbridge in Sherbourne will be in Dorset.

The Allocation Round 4 (AR4) auction granted Voltalia the CfD, which will help them expand into UK renewables. Contract term is 20 years and delivery is expected in 2024/25.

Voltalia in Ireland

Voltalia has managed 338MW of Irish solar projects in addition to its English portfolio.

Voltalia was selected to develop and manage 230 MW of solar farms in four Irish sites in August 2023.

Ireland-based Power Capital Renewable Energy selected Voltalia to build, operate, and maintain four solar farms (now under construction) for 15 years.

The four solar farms are Lysaghts Town (131 MW), Tullabeg (83.9MW), Painestown (9.3MW), and Beaulieu (6.6MW).

The smaller sites will be finished this year, while the larger ones will launch in 2024. The four solar PV projects will sell power through long-term tech contracts.

Voltalia was selected by ESB and Bord na Móna to develop a 108 MW solar farm in Ireland a month earlier.

ESB and Bord na Móna, semi-state-owned corporations, chose Voltalia as the solar farm EPC contractor in Timahoe North, County Kildare.

By 2024, the Timahoe North solar farm should be completely operational. This is the first large-scale solar project under ESB and Bord’s solar co-development agreement, which plans to build 500 MW solar farms on Bord na Móna property.

Solar farms will result from this partnership.

Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan Start a 347-Home Project

Original Source: Mitsui Fudosan and Stanhope commence construction on 347-home scheme

In White City, London, Mitsui Fudosan UK and Stanhope have begun construction on two new residential structures at Television Centre, the second phase of the concept.

Mitsui Fudosan UK and Stanhope are creating two new residential towers at Television Centre in White City, London, for the second phase of the project.

Multiplex is managing construction, which will finish in mid-2027.

The nine-story “scenery house� by dRMM and the 25-story “the Ariel� by AHMM contain 347 apartments and townhouses.

Residents will have access to residents’ lounges, screening rooms, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, private dining rooms, and roof terraces for studios to four-bedroom townhouses.

In and around structures, greening has been prioritised.

Between the two buildings, landscape architect Gillespies developed a courtyard garden, rooftop terrace, and pocket park.

Phase 2 will complete the masterplan and open the site to local residents by adding a second entrance on Wood Lane and a pedestrian connection to Hammersmith Park via interlinking streets.

Mitsui Fudosan UK executive director Tatsu Imamura said: “We are delighted that construction works for the penultimate residential plots are now underway. We will continue to build upon our existing work on the Television Centre site, which already includes over 500,000 sq ft of office space and 574 private and affordable homes.

We and Stanhope are committed to building additional houses on the property while exploring larger investment prospects in London and other parts of the UK.’

Stanhope CEO David Camp said: “It’s great to see Multiplex start work on site and develop this phase of the Television Centre masterplan.

We’ve grown stronger with Mitsui Fudosan over the years, and this is another milestone for the project.

Upgrades for Major UK and Ireland Ports from Peel Ports

Original Source: Peel Ports Lines Up Upgrades for Major UK and Ireland Ports

Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second-largest port operator, calls for bids on $940 million construction projects at its major UK and Ireland ports. Liverpool, Heysham Port, Manchester Ship Canal, Clydeport, Great Yarmouth, and Dublin Port are all part of the Group’s UK and Ireland port upgrade programme.

For up to eight years, the contractors will work on the projects. building encompasses port infrastructure improvements and new buildings.

“This move is a huge step in futureproofing our network of ports so we can respond and adapt to our port users’ needs agilely,” said Peel Ports Group Managing Director of Port Services Lewis McIntyre.

General construction operations such as drainage, road and carpark construction, warehouse construction, rail and bridge construction, and maintenance are divided into two packages.

In the second framework, marine construction includes berthing furniture, bollards, lock and sluice gate maintenance and repair.

Peel Ports stressed that participating contractors must help the company reach net-zero status by 2040. End-of-year contracts will be awarded.

Maritime Minister Lord Davies opened the bidding process last week for $1.9 million to build green shipping routes to and from the UK. Annually, the UK hosts the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC5) to promote clean maritime technology research and development.

Sponsored research should find zero-emission shipping routes from the UK to the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and Ireland. Mapping out infrastructure along routes to allow vessels to use green fuels and power charging systems and identifying rules to decarbonise the industry are core priorities.

S&P Global Data Shows the Construction Industry Rising for the First Time in Seven Months

Original Source: Construction sector on the up for first time in seven months, finds S&P Global

New S&P Global UK Construction PMI data shows marginal growth in the UK construction industry after six months of decline.

The sector experienced its largest order rise since May 2023 in March, with input price inflation at a three-month low.

As the economy improves and financial conditions stabilise, companies report a turnaround in their sales pipelines and more new business inquiries.

Despite easing job losses, employers remain hesitant about hiring, with employment figures decreasing for the third month in a row.

Civil engineering output rose little in March, making it the best-performing segment.

House building and commercial construction activity remain steady, while residential work has stabilised for the first time since November 2022.

Subcontractor rates rose at the quickest rate since August 2023 in the latest poll, indicating increased availability.

March saw a third month of rising purchasing costs. Inflation was thin, the lowest during this time.

Rising transport costs were also noticed by sector companies, but robust supplier competition may have limited input price inflation.

March saw a moderate reduction in supplier delivery times for the thirteenth month in a row. Anecdotes suggested that materials availability and low demand improved vendor performance.

In the next year, 49% of S&P Global’s survey panel expects construction production to climb, compared to 11% expecting it to fall.

However, optimism is lower than in February and the lowest this year.

Overall, respondents expect market conditions to improve, especially for house building projects, but political uncertainty, squeezed margins, and financial difficulties are reducing optimism.

S&P Global Market Intelligence economics director Tim Moore said: “UK construction output returned to growth in March as civil engineering work expanded and housing and commercial building conditions stabilised.

As order books improved again in March and to the biggest amount in just under a year, construction workloads appear to be improving.

Construction companies reported a broad resurgence in tender possibilities, boosted by lower borrowing rates and evidence of UK economic recovery in Q1 2024.

Due to margin pressures and significant clients’ risk aversion, construction staff recruiting was sluggish in March.

Construction firms had trouble replacing leaving workers, lowering employment for the third month in a row.

Subdued purchasing activity lessened building supply chain tensions.

Cost inflation slowed to a three-month low in March due to improved supply circumstances.

Summary of today’s construction news

Overall, we discussed Rehearsals, concerts, and collaborations are all supported by the new, acoustically designed facilities for the British Army Band Sandhurst. RMAS transformed its stables and offices, which were built in 1850, into a space for instruments, music libraries, offices, rehearsals, changing rooms, and crew areas. Two buildings’ worth of eco-friendly amenities include heat source pumps and solar panels. Voltalia, an international energy firm, has begun construction on a photovoltaic (PV) power station in southeast England with a capacity of 49.9 MW. Firms can buy power from this plant through long-term contracts such Corporate Power Purchase Agreements once it starts producing in the second half of 2025. In addition, the second phase of the project is underway at Television Centre in White City, London, where Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan UK are constructing two new apartment towers. The construction, overseen by Multiplex, is expected to conclude in the middle of 2027. Additionally, major ports in the United Kingdom and Ireland owned by the second-largest port operator in the country, Peel Ports Group, are advertising $940 million in new projects. The Group’s port upgrade initiative in the UK and Ireland includes Liverpool, Heysham, Dublin, Clydeport, Great Yarmouth, and Manchester Ship Canal. Furthermore, after falling for six months in a row, the UK construction industry has shown slight improvement according to new data from the S&P Global UK Construction PMI. March saw the highest increase in orders for the industry since May 2023, while inflation for input prices hit a three-month low. Sales pipelines are turning around and new business inquiries are increasing as a result of the stabilisation of financial conditions and the improvement of the economy.