‘OUTSTANDING’ MODULAR SOLUTION

Marshalls Civils & Drainage’s modular solution is “outstanding” for KCD in Surrey

 

Flat pack wastewater treatment unit makes it mark for Thames Water.

 

Flat pack drainage systems from Marshalls Civils & Drainage have proved an “outstanding” solution to flooding problems at a busy outer London interchange for Thames Water.

A bespoke modular flat pack wastewater treatment chamber unit by Marshalls has helped alleviate flooding at a busy junction of Demesne Road and Tharp Road in Wallington near Sutton in Surrey.

The 1.7m wide x 3.06m long x 2.96m high precast concrete unit, which was manufactured off-site, was installed to a depth of 3.26m over three days in October by the major projects team at KCD, a joint venture between Kier and Clancy.

The unit was required to house a FLIP pump in one chamber, with the second chamber acting as a storage unit for foul waste should the pump fail. The original design was for a double skin of engineering bricks, but Marshalls’ chamber unit was suggested when the site proved too constrained to easily allow its construction.

The whole solution from Marshalls was delivered as a one-piece base, with four interconnecting external walls and internal weir wall, pre-fitted with watertight seals and topped off with a cover slab with access openings for the locations of covers to allow for inspection and maintenance.

The works in the highway of Tharp Road and in the rear access road behind a number of properties were carried out to reduce the risk of the foul sewer network surcharging and subsequent flooding of eight homes on the road. Customers in the area had endured multiple flood events in heavy rainstorms, so were delighted to see the work completed so quickly.

 

KCD project manager Abi El Mohri said: “We changed the design mainly to accommodate the space, or lack of it. It was very limited due to the services underground clashing with the space needed for the chamber.

“In the end we found an abandoned gas pipe and involved SGN [the gas distribution company] who came and removed it in the particular area of the chamber. Space was a bit tight, but we made the Marshalls chamber fit.”

“The other challenges were the flooding which is the main reason for us installing the alleviation unit and managing access for the resident access. s With a short road closure and parking restrictions we got the works done quickly – so as to minimise disruption.”

He added: “Marshalls were outstanding from my point of view. They delivered as planned although we had to change the date once, but they made it happen and provided us with an expert manager on site which made a complex assembly look really simple. Fair play to Marshalls, a credit to the company.”

 

Marshalls’ business development manager Billy Fairhurst was so impressed with the KCD installation he emailed the team to say: “I would like to comment on the cleanliness and work ethic of your team during this installation. They were very professional in all aspects and due diligence was given in all aspects of the erection.”

www.marshalls.co.uk

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MODULAR SOLUTION FOR THE HOMELESS

Stelling Properties believes Modular construction for Meanwhile Housing schemes could be the answer to reducing hospital readmissions for the homeless

 

Following the Government’s announcement that it will provide extra funding for pilot schemes to provide temporary housing and extra care for the homeless that have recently been released from hospital, Stelling Properties is calling on those responsible for delivering the pilot programs, to look at modular construction as a way of accelerating the delivery of the homes needed.

A recent study of 3,000 homeless patients found that 2,000 were readmitted to hospital within a year, with the onset of winter approaching, there is a need to move quickly to provide high quality, safe, secure accommodation, Stelling Properties believes that modular constructed Meanwhile Housing is a solution which will allow the most vulnerable to benefit quicker thus contributing to breaking the cycle of hospital readmissions.

Meanwhile housing affords the opportunity to accelerate the delivery of new homes on sites awaiting permanent redevelopment as these homes can be occupied several years before a final development is completed allowing redundant land to be utilised. With the potential to deliver modular construction projects up to 50% quicker than traditional projects, Stelling Properties believes modular construction provides an immediate solution to homelessness crisis.

 

“We have an innovative solution that is readily available. The extra funding is great news that will make a real difference, we now need to make sure that all parties including planners act fast to reduce the seasonal impact of winter and provide the safe secure temporary homes that are needed” said !ntonio

Lopez, Head of Property Operations & New Opportunities at Stelling Properties.

 

Contact: tim.page@stellingproperties.com 

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Architectural wizardry does not a home make

The Water Tower (Photo: Channel 4 / Dennis Pedersen)

 

Grand Designs: House of the Year, Channel 4, review: Another year, another shortlist of outlandish houses that don’t represent true British architecture

By Barbara Speed Opinion Editor at iNews

The House of the Year competition has rolled around again, and the homes on display are as outlandish as ever. A water tower turned into the Thunderbirds’ HQ! A house inside a 14th century stone keep! A house built on top of another, less attractive house!

The competition, run by the Royal Institute of British Architects and with its shortlist and winner revealed via Grand Designs, does at least nod in the direction of sustainability and functionality.

The Thunderbirds-style “Water Tower” in King’s Lynn preserved a disused structure, and alma-nac studio’s “House-within-a-House” in London is much better insulated than the 1950s home it swallowed up. But the competition rings oddly in its designation of “House of the Year” when the shortlist couldn’t be further from what most of us live in.

House within a House, one of the buildings shortlisted for RIBA’s House of the Year competition (Photo: Channel 4)

 

 

 

Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud seemed painfully aware of this fact as he ran through the longlist of properties in the “surprise” category. He proclaimed rather unconvincingly that the gargantuan, expensive “House-within-a-House” is the “template of a modern family home” after learning that its fancy oak floors withstood regular skateboarding.

 

 

 

 

Pele Tower House (Photo: Channel 4)

 

 

Pele Tower House’s architect was praised for letting light in despite the original windows being designed purely for shooting arrows, and for managing to surround its swimming pool with a mortar-free stone wall at huge expense. Not issues faced by your average homeowner.

 

 

 

 

 

The word “house” has complicated associations, and on the basis of this competition, is not to be confused with “home”. It is not clear whether the winning project here will be commended for its architectural wizardry, or for its ability to improve its owners’ lives and inspire future, better iterations of the sorts of houses the rest of us occupy. I fear it will be the former.

UK housing is in short supply, and is too often badly constructed, a health risk or made from deadly materials. There are scores of problems worth architects’ time; I’m not sure House of the Year tackled any of them.

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Green Life Buildings enters strategic partnership with DTM Global

Green Life Buildings (GLB) has agreed a strategic partnership with DTM Global Holdings to provide its Advanced Building System (ABS) to Canada, India and South East Asia. The partnership will focus on building greener homes in line with the need for immediate climate action. JV companies will be formed in Canada and India and the initial order book from Canada and India is anticipated to exceed £3m by mid 2022. As part of the partnership, the JV companies intend to create production facilities in key overseas markets.

Chris Williams, CEO of GLB said “our JV with DTM provides us with the ideal opportunity to offer our greener building system to new markets, enabling them to benefit from the carbon savings of the system”.

Sanjeev Kumar, director and CEO of DTM added “we are intimately familiar with the markets of Canada, India and South East Asia. We are convinced that there is huge untapped demand for new construction methods that are both cost effective and environmentally friendly”.

 

About GLB

 

GLB’s Advanced Building System, is recognised by the UK government as a Modern Method of Construction, and utilises low carbon materials to provide benefits at every stage of manufacture and installation. The system provides structural, acoustic, thermal and carbon benefits compared to traditional techniques. The M2 technology behind the ABS is proven as are the products that provide innovative, sustainable and cost effective building solutions to developers, housing associations and public authorities. The ABS can reduce costs by up to 40% compared to traditional methods, and construction times by up to 50%. The processes used minimise waste and all elements of the products are recyclable. When completed the system offers fire resistance (REI120), has high structural strength and can be made into any shape whilst reducing CO2e emissions compared to current practices by over 45% in construction (more than 22 tonnes per home) and 65% in operation.

 

About Delamore

 

The Delamore & Owl Group of Companies is a privately owned group and parent of 48 subsidiaries, with an ever increasing global reach and client base. Among its portfolio of clients are governments, non-government, and privately owned entities based in more than 30 countries in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia Pacific.

 

As a conglomerate, the group’s complete library of businesses spreads across various sectors of the economy including aviation, agriculture and agri-commodities, commodity trading, consultancy, construction, ICT, infrastructure, environment & energy, healthcare, financial services, mining, among others. DTM Global Holdings is an environmental, tech and media focused entity within the Delamore & Owl Group.

 

 

DTM Global – Sanjeev Kumar: sanjeev@dtmglobalholdings.com

 

GLB – Chris Williams: chris@greenlifebuildings.co.uk, https://www.greenlifebuildings.co.uk

 

 

 

 

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5,000-HOME MASTERPLAN

The new homes will seek to deliver low-carbon housing with low energy environmental design while exploring modern methods of construction.

 

Glenn Howells Architects has unveiled plans for a 5,000-home masterplan around the National Exhibition Centre in Solihull, east Birmingham

The new ‘urban village’ will be built on more than 27ha of surface-level car parking and surplus land, and will include a new hotel, restaurants and cafés, a primary school, 35,000m² of commercial space and 14,000m² of event space.

The scheme is being developed by the NEC Group, which is owned by Blackstone, a New York-based asset manager that looks after $650 billion (£482 billion) of funds. It is being built on the NEC Campus, on land owned by Birmingham City Council.

NEC Group said the plans will ‘establish an inclusive, diverse and prosperous community for over 11,000 people,’ adding that the new settlement will work ‘in harmony with the existing mature woodland and hedgerow landscape’ and ‘promote nature-focused and active lifestyles’.

The plans also include a new ‘grand plaza’ for the NEC Campus, to improve the visitor offer. This will be surrounded by restaurants as well as the new hotel and will provide a ‘dynamic outdoor event space’.

NEC Group said the plans would create a total of 3,500 new jobs.

There will also be a new ‘urban boulevard’ which will connect the site with the HS2 Interchange station and the Arden Cross development around it. The boulevard will be lined with commercial buildings with ground-floor retail space.

The masterplan will be subject to a six-week consultation running from 10 November to 24 December. After this it will be updated before a developer for the first phase of the scheme is procured.

Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: ‘This is an exciting moment for Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, as this transformational masterplan is published. Birmingham is attracting record levels of investment and the NEC Masterplan is testament to that.

‘Over the coming years this project will provide much-needed new homes and high-quality jobs for people from our region and I encourage people to make their thoughts known through the public consultation.

‘I believe that we are at the beginning of a golden decade for Birmingham, with the Commonwealth Games taking place next year and the arrival of HS2. The NEC Masterplan will connect the site with Arden Cross and the High Speed 2 Interchange, which together will transform this area, creating thousands of jobs, and building thousands of homes.’

Architect’s view

Our approach to the NEC Masterplan in the UK Central Solihull Hub Area is an ambitious vision for what will be a new urban village within an established blue and green infrastructure on the edge of the Forest of Arden.

The existing infrastructure that serves the NEC Campus and the excellent transport links, including Birmingham Airport, Birmingham International train station and the new HS2 interchange, provides the ideal opportunity for the regeneration of this brownfield site to help meet the housing needs of the region.

We believe the matured landscaping, lakeside setting, and nearby woodlands will help to create a healthy and active environment for residents and visitors alike.

The masterplan will provide amenities, a range of communal uses and a primary school to meet community needs and build on the principles of the 15-minute neighbourhood.

What’s also exciting is the range of typologies on offer that will deliver homes to a wider demographic of society from young families to professionals and those in later life. The new homes will seek to deliver low-carbon housing with low energy environmental design while exploring modern methods of construction.’

Dav Bansal, partner, Glenn Howells Architects

 

Source: Architects Journal

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1500 Sustainable Modular Homes

CARDIFF INSTALLS FIRST OF THEIR KIND GREEN, AFFORDABLE HOMES

  • Wates Residential and Cardiff Council lowering nine modular homes onsite at Crofts Street, Plasnewydd
  • First time this method of offsite construction used for permanent family homes in city
  • Homes to be made available to residents on Council’s housing waiting list in just five weeks

 

 

Wates Residential and Cardiff Council are today installing Cardiff’s first sustainable, modular homes, at a brownfield site on Crofts Street, Plasnewydd, as the Council increases its provision of affordable homes for local residents on housing waiting lists and those most in need.

The nine two-bedroom properties, which have been built offsite using modern methods of construction (MMC), will be lowered onto their final position on-site with all the groundworks and external hard and soft landscaping completed.

This is the first time this method of offsite construction has been used by Cardiff Council to deliver permanent homes for families living in the city. The method not only enables the units to be built and installed in record time, but will also use the latest technology and construction materials to create net-zero carbon buildings that are 90% more energy efficient than standard homes built to current Building Regulations. They will be extremely airtight, meaning they are well insulated and residents will see huge savings on their bills[1].

In recognition of their environmental credentials, the homes have achieved Grade A in Predicted Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact (CO2) ratings. The houses will have solar panels on their roofs and MEV Heat Recovery with electric heating elements, so that they will not be required to connect to the mains gas service and will emit significantly less CO2 than a standard home.

Offsite construction also creates less disruption to residents, as the overall build programme and onsite activity is greatly reduced, with the units being designed to the same style as the terraced housing in the area.

Once the units are installed, all services will be connected, followed by the installation of electricity and plumbing, with the Council making the homes available to tenants on its existing housing waiting list in just five weeks.

 

Edward Rees, Wates Residential Regional Director, Cardiff, said:

“It is incredible to see this unused plot of land transformed into affordable homes. We care about the communities in which we operate and aim to design and build homes that put local people first. And, by using innovative modern methods of construction, we’re not only able to deliver these units just five weeks from now, but we are also creating homes that will support Cardiff and its residents in reducing their energy consumption and contributing to a more sustainable future.

 “We are committed to eliminating waste and carbon from our operations by 2025, well ahead of the Government’s own environmental targets, and we’re working collaboratively with customers, supply chain and joint venture partners to find better and more innovative ways to reduce waste, reduce energy consumption and enhance the natural environment.”

 

 

Cllr Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Cardiff Council, who attended the lowering of the units today, said:

 “The installation of the modular units at Crofts Street is a very exciting day for us as we have eagerly been awaiting their arrival. Increasing the availability of affordable housing for people in Cardiff is a high priority for the Council, but we also want to make sure that the new homes we are delivering are good quality properties that are as ‘green’ as they possibly can be for the benefits of our tenants by reducing fuel poverty and the benefit of our wider population, because it’s the right, sustainable thing to do.

 “Right across our housing development programme, we are working on getting as close to zero carbon as we can with innovative construction methods and technologies that surpass current building regulations, minimise environmental impact and reduce ongoing running costs for tenants.

 “I’m delighted that the first new tenants in the development will be in before Christmas and they can begin enjoying living in their new Cardiff Living homes so soon.”

 

The homes are part of Wates Residential’s Cardiff Living partnership with Cardiff Council to deliver 1,500 new homes across 40 sites in the city over a 10-year period, including affordable homes for rent and sale, supported accommodation and more accessible and adaptable homes for older people.

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A mindful eco build

Timber frame specialist, Blue Sky Property Services, of Norfolk, is always mindful of the environmental impact of its building and renovating projects.  This is certainly true of the conversion of an old engineering unit into a luxury two double bedroom eco holiday rental being built in the Norfolk countryside.

“We always specify West Fraser products as they are easy to use and are produced with the environment in mind.  We used CaberShieldPlus on the first floor as we didn’t need to worry about leaving it exposed while we were building.  The non-slip textured finish is not only safe; as the waterproof coating is permanent, it means there’s no plastic to throw away!” said James Carter, Director of Blue Sky Property Services.

All West Fraser panel products produced in the UK are net carbon negative and manufactured in mills that have obtained the coveted environmental ISO 14001 accreditation. Responsibly sourced, the panels are FSC certified and created from locally grown timber, cutting embodied carbon from transportation. Samples of SterlingOSB Zero, and West Fraser’s other construction panels, can be ordered on the website.

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com

 

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The Misunderstood Circular Economy

Lindsey Vest, Smart Cities & Smart Spaces Research Analyst at ABI Research explains:

“The circular economy is an often-misunderstood concept that goes much further than waste management and can become a blueprint for cities. It is a movement away from our take-make-waste economy to one which designs out waste, keeps products and materials in use, and regenerates natural systems.

Circularity concepts such as remanufacturing, reuse, and the sharing economy will be critically enabled by smart cities technologies such as IoT, AI and Digital Twins.”

Many current and future governmental actions are expected to increase circularity across the world, notably the EU’s newly released Circular Economy Action Plan – part of its Green Deal – and China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) which specifically targets Circular Economy Development.

This is in addition to organizations such as the globally recognized Ellen MacArthur Foundation, dedicated to circular economy education and connection for companies and governments around the world and C40 Cities, whose members make up 25% of global GDP and champion the circular economy and its growth.

Furthermore, many different tech companies are engaging in circular concepts such as Cityzenith’s Digital Twin platform SmartWorldOS, which helps companies design out waste in their projects

With around 70% of people expected to be living in cities by 2050 it is essential that urban infrastructure can support this population volume and density, so ‘smart cities’ and their technologies will be essential to the circular economy.

Many current smart city technologies already support a circular economy such as the sharing economy, smart lighting, and green infrastructure. “However, these technologies need to adopt circular practices from cradle-to-grave to make full use of the opportunities brought by the circular economy,” ABI Research’s Lindsey Vest concludes.

Cityzenith CEO and Founder Michael Jansen believes Digital Twins will play a huge part in realising circularity in cities all over the world:

“Our technology can cut the operating costs of buildings by 35%, boost their productivity by 20%, and cut their carbon emissions by 50-100%. The potential of our analytics to identify and manage potential inefficiencies in the drive for circularity is astronomical.”

Digital Twin technology has been named by the World Nano Foundation as one of five top tech growth sectors, including nanotechnology, genomics, biotechnology, and AI. These five sectors will enjoy a combined growth of more than 400% over the next five years. The Digital Twin market alone is predicted to grow from $3.1bn to $48.2bn by 2026, according to MarketsandMarkets.

Michael Jansen added: “As the world works towards these ambitious circularity targets, it is clear that innovators and creators are needed to reimagine the way we handle waste and to recycle as many of our materials as possible, along with managing emissions and linking those to carbon credits or offsets in real time to an urban Digital Twin platform.”

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Largest Offshore Wind Farm in South-East Asia

The 1.4 GW Phu Cuong Soc Trang offshore wind project, being developed as a joint venture between Mainstream Renewable Power and the Phu Cuong Group, is located off the southern coast of Vietnam and will be the largest offshore wind farm in South-East Asia

In a vital step for the Phu Cuong Soc Trang Offshore Wind Farm, Mainstream Renewable Power (“Mainstream”) today announces its receipt of a Decision on Investment and an Investment Registration Certification (IRC) from the provincial government of Soc Trang for the first 200 MW of the offshore wind farm. The project, once fully complete, will have a capacity of up to 1.4 GW and will generate enough electricity to power over 1.6 million homes (around 6% of Vietnam’s 268 million homes), as well as mitigating 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The project is anticipated to reach financial close in 2022, enabling first power to commence as early as 2023.

The wind farm is a joint venture between Mainstream and its Vietnamese partner the Phu Cuong Group, with Mainstream owning 70% of the asset and the Phu Cuong Group owning the remaining 30%.

The project follows a multi-stage development approach, with 200 MW of capacity set to be delivered in phase 1 and the remaining 1,200MW to be developed thereafter. Today’s announcement represents a significant milestone for Mainstream’s presence in Vietnam. The project has already completed its wind measurement campaign and other site studies, and the procurement process to secure a wind turbine supplier and balance of plant contractor is well advanced.

Moving forward, Mainstream will work closely with EVN, Vietnam’s national electricity company, to finalise the grid connection agreement, as well as the project’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Mainstream has been present in Vietnam since 2016 where it is developing 2.3 GW of solar and offshore wind assets.

Cameron Smith, Mainstream’s General Manager for APAC, said:

“We are excited to be a part of Vietnam’s energy transition with the Phu Cuong Soc Trang project, which is being developed to the highest international standards, drawing on Mainstream’s extensive experience. Being leaders in renewable development in many countries, we understand the importance of community engagement, and we are pleased to have had such positive support from the Soc Trang community.

“We commend the government for the progress made in encouraging the development of renewable energy in Vietnam to date. The Phu Cuong Soc Trang project promises to be a catalyst for the development of a true offshore wind industry of a scale that will promote the achievement of net zero by 2050.”

Mr Nguyen Viet Cuong, Chairman of the Phu Cuong Group, said:

“The Phu Cuong Soc Trang offshore wind farm is an essential investment in Vietnam’s clean energy infrastructure and will make a major contribution towards the country’s carbon neutrality roadmap. This wind farm, which will be the largest in the region, will play a key role in accelerating the development of Vietnam’s economy by promoting the growth of industrialization. The government’s supportive policies to promote renewable energy are important for promoting foreign direct investment in co-operation with Vietnamese partners.”

About Mainstream Renewable Power 

Mainstream is one of the most successful pure-play developers of offshore wind at scale globally.  It has successfully consented Hornsea One (1.2 GW), the largest operational offshore wind plant in the world today; and developed the Hornsea 2 project (1.4 GW) before selling these projects and the entire Zone in 2015. Overall, it has developed and consented 20% of the UK’s offshore wind capacity either in operation or under construction.  Mainstream fully consented the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind project in Scotland, 450 MW, currently under construction. The company’s Soc Trang 1.4 GW offshore wind development in Vietnam is one of South-East Asia’s largest renewable energy developments.  

Mainstream has raised more than EUR3.0bn in project finance to date and employs more than 420 staff across five continents. 

www.mainstreamrp.com 

 

 

 

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The Role of Modular Buildings Net Zero Aims

by Antonio Lopez of Stelling Properties

 

With the Construction Industry accounting for nearly 40% of global emissions, to deliver the Government carbon reduction targets, traditional thinking and practices are changing, here Antonio Lopez of Stelling Properties explores the role Modular Construction can play in delivering Net Zero Buildings. What first needs to be recognised is that delivering Net Zero Buildings requires a focus on both the operational carbon and embedded carbon.

Operational Carbon

Putting to one side the specification of materials and systems, as that applies equally to traditional construction methods. The role that Modular Construction can play in reducing operational carbon centres on the better build quality derived from manufacturing practices in a controlled environment. The quality assured factory-controlled production and installation processes provide a greater certainty regarding the thermal performance of the unit due to the integrity of insulation and low air leakage. Indeed, Volumetric buildings have been achieving airtightness levels of <5m3/m2/hour against the traditional building targets of 10.

Embedded Carbon

The role Volumetric Construction plays in reducing embedded carbon might not be immediately obvious, however it can contribute significantly to the less carbon being used in the construction process.

Let’s first look at the operatives employed in the construction process, the average daily commute for workers in the UK is a round trip of 23 miles per day, based on this the vast majority of the operatives will live within 10 – 12 miles of the factory unit, which in conjunction with car share schemes, the use of public transport and for the fit and energetic cycling to work, there is a reduction in the carbon created by transporting staff to different site locations.

Good design is a key factor in the success of modular construction, at the design stage material wastage can be engineered out of the construction process due to the certainty over the tolerances within the modules, materials can either be ordered cut to size directly from the manufacturer alternatively standard size products like plaster board are optimised to reduce the material wastage, this helps significantly in reducing the reported 100 million tons a year of waste the UK construction industry creates and importantly eliminates the carbon used in producing the wasted materials.

Within the controlled environment of the factory, it is easier to ensure that any waste materials are where possible recycled, as it becomes a part of the standardised manufacturing process.

The materials used in the construction, will still need to be delivered to site, however with Modular Construction, there is one delivery point for multiple sites, meaning greater efficiency in delivery logistics, with materials for use on several sites being delivered to one facility reducing frequent multiple site deliveries.

Unlike most construction sites, factories can provide safe, secure, dry, and environmentally controlled warehousing for materials, allowing for the efficient delivery of materials, further reducing supply chain mileage by reducing the number of deliveries.

Modular Construction offers several benefits over traditional construction and should be considered as an integral element in making the Construction Industry more sustainable, and better placed to deliver the Net Zero Buildings and homes of the future.

 

www.stellingproperties.com

 

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