Modular teaching block for new High School

TG Escapes Eco-Buildings provide modular teaching block for new High School

The High School Leckhampton, is a brand new co-educational comprehensive school that will serve south Cheltenham. It is being built to cater for an expansion in pupil numbers at secondary level in the area. The school has been commissioned by Gloucestershire County Council but is being “sponsored” and developed by Balcarras.

TG Escapes Eco-Buildings were appointed to provide a stand-alone eco-building to accommodate the school’s intake in time for September 2021. The modular timber frame solution provides a fast build process with minimal disruption, and delivers a bespoke permanent building designed to last 60 years or more.

Ian Davidson, Assistant Head and Jeff Arris, Network Manager at Balcarras School explain the background and their experience of the project.

Why was the building needed?
IAN: Balcarras School were awarded the contract for an entirely new school, to teach 900 11-16 year olds, which was due to open in time for the start of the school year in September 2021. The initial phase of opening was for 120 Year 7 students with subsequent yearly intakes increasing until the school will be operating at full capacity with 5 year groups of around 180 pupils each.
Towards the end of 2020 it became apparent that the new school building would not be completed in time to welcome the initial intake of students. The existing school was operating at maximum occupancy and there was simply no space available to accommodate the new students.
The decision was taken to build a modular suite of 4 classrooms on the existing school site, each designed for around 30 Y7 pupils, to be used for classroom-based subjects (maths, English and social sciences). Science, art, DT and PE lessons will take place within the main school facilities.

What was the process for selecting the bulding provider?
JEFF: The year previously, the existing school had engaged with 3 contractors to provide a modular building to extend its IT facilities. TG Escapes won the tender process but it was ultimately decided to not proceed with the project.
However, TG Escapes had sufficiently impressed that they were selected as one of the 3 contractors invited to tender for the new project and again were the preferred choice. The governors were naturally concerned about timely delivery and potential overspend and engaged Evans Jones consultants to oversee the build, which commenced in January 2021.

How did you find the process?
IAN: I thought it was quite brilliant. My biggest concern was that the building would be completed on time, but I have never seen a building go up so quickly. Throughout the build the project manager was very approachable and easy to deal with. Any problems were immediately solved, avoiding any interruptions to the day to day running of the existing school site. All potentially disruptive operations such as crane and material deliveries were organised to fit the school timetable.

JEFF: The site was well managed and the project manager was fully engaged with the school throughout the build, securing agreement before each phase. Regular meetings between the school management team and the project manager were handled thoroughly and efficiently and the building was completed weeks ahead of schedule in May.

What do you think about the building’s quality now it is in use?
JEFF: It is good and functionally it is working well, particularly pupil flow. We are expecting the outside decking areas to be a very useful space.
Ian Whilst there have been a few snagging issues these are being well dealt with promptly. The finished look of the building is really good and reminds me of a “Grand Designs” project. The parents love it and the feedback from staff and students is also very positive. It feels both spacious and luxurious.

How important were the eco credentials?
IAN: Very important. Zero carbon and environmental issues have become a big consideration across the education sector.
Jeff The speed of construction versus a traditional build process was also of high importance. I was impressed by the lack of waste, helped by the donation of spare materials to the existing school.

For more information about TG Escapes Modular Timber Frame Buildings call 0800 917 7726 or email info@tgescapes.co.uk.

CLICK HERE To see a timelapse of the build in progress

www.tgescapes.co.uk

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SIKA HELPS MAXIMISE OFFSITE EFFICIENCIES

SIKA’S MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION DIVISION HELPS MAXIMISE OFFSITE EFFICIENCIES

The advantages of offsite construction to encourage greater efficiency, consistent quality, less waste and higher productivity will go some way to addressing the high demand for new buildings. As an alternative to traditional building techniques, offsite solutions are not new to the construction industry but are proving to be a cost efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional methods of construction and can help address skilled labour shortages. With its long track record of success as a complete system and problem solution provider, Sika’s modern methods of construction (MMC) division works with offsite manufacturing and assembly companies to look at how Sika products can be used as part of the process in this fast-growing sector.

Sika’s decision to create this team of experts in 2019 came at a time when offsite manufacturing was growing in popularity, as a result of its multiple benefits including improved quality control, reduced waste and speed of construction. Its extended team of offsite manufacturing specialists across Europe cover a breadth of skill and expertise. As a business, Sika has many products that can be used in offsite construction, both within production assembly lines and/or application upon delivery to site, for a variety of purposes.
Sika offers the industry’s widest product ranges for sealing and bonding, roofing, building finishing, passive fire protection, damping and reinforcing, concrete, flooring, waterproofing and wall finishes for interior and exterior applications, and bathroom pod waterproofing and tiling systems.
Sika has an extensive R&D capability and global reach. This means the company has a proven track record of working across international markets, many of which are on the pulse of offsite manufacturing’s innovations. Sika’s MMC division is utilising global experience to guide offsite manufacturing companies towards unlocking new potentials. The division offers a customised approach for modular manufacturers, especially where construction solutions need an industrial approach.

Offsite school project
One project where Sika products have played an important part in offsite construction is for an award-winning school project in Birmingham. Sika provided a technically advanced, high-performance, hybrid roofing membrane for the newly-constructed King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls in Birmingham, which was built using innovative offsite construction techniques.
To meet performance and programme goals for the building’s construction, a hybrid design was devised by offsite construction and modular specialists, Innovaré, which included integrated BBA-Certified i-SIP panels, hollow core concrete plank floors, and a lightweight timber cassette roofing system. This hybrid method of construction, which meant most of the new school structure was manufactured offsite, offered a radically quicker speed of build, reducing preliminary and overall costs. It also ensured the building’s performance and programme goals were met.
Sika’s 4mm elastomeric and plastomeric bituminous hybrid membrane, SikaBit Pro 940®, provided the watertight finish for the new building’s energy-efficient roofing system, which integrates timber cassettes with i-joists.
SIkaBit Pro 940® combines the advantages of APAO and SBS-modified bitumen, allowing two different compounds to work together. The upper layer comprises APA-modified bitumen, offering excellent heat resistance and durability. The under layer is SBS-modified bitumen, providing increased elongation, improving flexibility and excellent resistance to thermo-oxidative aging which will last longer than traditional membranes and reduce ongoing maintenance. SikaBit® has been developed to comply with the NFRC’s Safe2Torch Guidance to help specifiers prioritise safety at the design stage of roofing projects.
The specification of SikaBit Pro 940® as part of the school’s energy-efficient roofing system contributed to the building’s fabric achieving required levels of thermal, airtightness, acoustic and maintenance performance. In terms of the roof’s construction, Innovaré manufactured large-format structural timber roof cassettes, ensuring that the structural members and deck went into place quickly.

 

LW Roofing, one of Sika’s Certified Roofing Contractors, was responsible for the design and installation of the roofing system. In addition, RLW Roofing completed façade works, using Sika Parex Historic Mortar KL.
“We are proud that in collaboration with RLW Roofing, our products and expertise were used to successful effect in the delivery of this wonderful school, RLW’s skill and expertise were instrumental in delivering a technically robust solution” Simon Griffiths Head of Sales, Offsite Construction at Sika, said. “The hybrid method of construction implemented by Innovaré for this project aligns perfectly with Sika’s promotion of sustainable development within the construction industry.”

Offsite alliance
As part of its commitment to offsite manufacturing across the nation, Sika has recently joined Offsite Alliance, a membership organisation that increases the uptake and delivery of offsite technologies in the residential sector. Through a combination of action and collaboration, Sika will work with fellow like-minded organisations to promote best practice, share innovation and work together to create the high quality, sustainable homes of the future.
With extensive technical expertise and solid practical experience on every continent, in many climates and environments, Sika is a highly qualified, reliable partner for all manner of manufacturing and construction needs.

www.sika.com

 

 

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Modular homes – are we storing up problems for the future?

by Jim Edwards, Commercial Director of Global Warranties

 

The market for modular and prefabricated buildings continues to boom, but are we storing up problems for the future that may ultimately cost millions of pounds in repairs and heartache for home owners? According to Global, the country’s fastest growing supplier of insurance backed latent defect warranties, it is a real possibility.

Manufacturers from every part of the globe are now producing and developing more components offsite than ever before with industry estimates suggesting that some 15,000 new modular homes are being built every year in the UK alone – a figure that is rising rapidly.

Every new home requires a latent defects warranty to cover anything unforeseen that might happen between year two and year three. During the first 24 months the builder is responsible for correcting any issues.

It is a system that has traditionally worked well, with more conventional homes seeking a latent defects warranty, being inspected at every stage of the build process. Companies such as Global have a multi stage inspection guide from the moment footings are dug and concrete poured, right up to final delivery, to ensure that each home is fit for purpose.

“The problem is,” said Jim Edwards, commercial Director for Global Home Warranties, “how do you inspect modular components for latent defects? This would require sending our surveyors to every factory currently producing such systems, as far away as China in some cases.”

“This means that while we can inspect the way they are installed, we equally have to accept that offsite components are fit for purpose and have reached the highest possible standard. In most cases this is very much the case, but there is no way of knowing 100% and this is where the real problem lies – without independent inspection at the factories then it is not possible to determine whether we will have to address latent defects issues in the future.”

The market for modular buildings is expected to grow in excess of 6% year on year and there are estimates that the majority of contractors architects and engineers are now designing with or using modules built offsite.

The move to offsite construction has been driven by the need to meet Government targets to build up to 300,000 new homes every year which means that modular and prefabricated components are increasingly being used.

Companies in the UK specialising in offsite construction have an enviable track record in terms of quality and mostly produce components which have been ISO certified or meet all current building regulations and standards.

This means, according to Global, that it will more likely to be imported systems that ultimately fail, possibly because overseas manufacturers are not as familiar with or as aware of building practice within the UK and European construction sector, or simply because standards have been set lower to save money.

“As we know, price is very much a factor within all areas of construction and there is likely to be a temptation to import more and more low-cost building systems,” said Jim Edwards. “They may do exactly what it says on the tin but none of us yet know what is likely to happen two, five or even 10 years down the line and now is the time to ask ourselves – should we be more stringent by having independent inspection processes in every factory that produces such materials.”

There is growing evidence and other industry experts agree that we could be storing up problems. Recent reports suggest that the lack of detailed data on the durability of modular homes in the UK could be a considerable barrier for construction professionals concerned about the long-term viability of offsite components.

Financial service providers, including insurers, mortgage lenders and valuers need to have certainty that modular homes are safe and durable if they are to engage with them, which is why we are now seeing Global and other industry experts calling for the development of a digital database that records the design, processes and materials used in the construction of buildings.

Digital technology would make it possible to create a database that would store and track information about the built environment and would record the materials and processes used. It could also track repairs and alterations in larger housing developments and make sure that this information would be available to relevant stakeholders, including insurers and fire services.

“This will never be as good as a personal inspection process,” said Jim Edwards, “but it would certainly provide more confidence and peace of mind for the entire industry and ultimately for the insurance companies that have to back latent defects warranties – and the time to act is now.”

 

GLOBAL WARRANTIES WEBSITE

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The Row House from Urban Splash arrives in the Wirral

House by Urban Splash has delivered six of its factory-built homes to the development along with partner Peel L&P.

The houses include the three-storey Town House design and the Row House – which will be making its debut at Wirral Waters. Each has been set up in Wirral Waters’ East Float area, which faces East Float Dock.

Row House comes in three sizes, one with two bedrooms and two storeys, another with three bedrooms and 2.5 storeys, and a third with four bedrooms and three storeys. Each Row House has a private terrace and access to a communal garden.

The Town House design comes with three storeys and can have up to five bedrooms. The Town House model is prominent in Manchester’s New Islington neighbourhood.

House by Urban Splash is making 40 modular houses for the first phase of the East Float neighbourhood, which will ultimately have 350 homes. Lloyds Bank provided a £5m development loan for the project, with the understanding that more will be provided as the scheme advances. All of the modular houses will be made at House by Urban Splash’s factory in the East Midlands, using modern methods of construction.

“We’re absolutely delighted to deliver our first brilliantly-designed, precision manufactured homes to this new neighbourhood – including our first ever Row House homes,” said House by Urban Splash senior sales manager Toby Brown.

“We’ve never created our Row House homes anywhere before so this is a great opportunity for buyers on the Wirral to be early adopters and secure themselves a home completely different to anything else on the market.”

East Float is just one part of the wider Peel L&P Wirral Waters project, which spans 500 acres of land and will ultimately have up to 13,000 homes and 20m sq ft of mixed-use floor space.

Richard Mawdsley, director of development for Wirral Waters, said that the arrival of the homes was a “significant example of progress” at the scheme.

“Together with the other developments along Northbank, we are creating a new mixed, sustainable neighbourhood – a community for all,” Mawdsley said. “These innovative homes will sit alongside new public realm, including pocket parks and dockside walkways, helping to support healthier communities with a focus on fresh air and active travel.”

Wirral Waters residents are expected to move into their East Float homes starting in early spring.

by Julia Hatmaker

 

Source: Place North West

 

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A TOTAL MODULAR SOLUTION

“A total modular solution”: Euramax and MGI MD on ambitious plans for growth

Nick Cowley joined Euramax Solutions as its new Managing Director in 2019 – but not long afterwards, he learned the company’s existing owners were planning to sell. What could have been a challenging and uncertain moment turned into a major opportunity, however, as Euramax went on to become part of fast-growing Modular Group Investments – a firm that Nick now helps lead as its MD. Here, he gives his thoughts on what lies ahead for the two companies.

Nick, what was Euramax Solutions like when you first joined? And how has it changed under your leadership?

I was appointed as Euramax MD back in 2019, when it was already a large, widely respected uPVC window manufacturer with a very strong presence in the leisure market.

It started out specialising in windows for narrow boats in the ‘50s, before diversifying into the broader holiday home sector, then spreading into construction much more generally.

Because of that heritage, leisure will always be a big part of what Euramax does – but as Managing Director, my aim has been to diversify and increase our presence in the builders merchant and enter the modular construction sectors, using our core strengths of delivery and service solutions.

We’ve being working with some of the country’s biggest merchants, serving both the trade and the DIY market, as well as some highly respected modular builders. In the coming years, we want to significantly expand in both these areas.

Tell us how you first came across MGI, and the rationale behind Euramax’s acquisition.

Soon after joining Euramax Solutions, I was informed that our American owners were looking to sell the company.

I suggested to the CEO that I help him find a buyer, and he agreed, so I set about looking for the right business to take Euramax forward.

Before long, I found MGI. The relationship had a very twenty-first century beginning – I simply came across them one day on LinkedIn.

But after meeting Michael Garratt, MGI’s founder and CEO, it very quickly became clear he was the person I was looking for.

Michael is extremely knowledgeable about modular construction, and we both shared a passionate belief that offsite and MMC has huge potential for growth in the years ahead.

Obviously, when I first started looking for a buyer, I had no intention of going on to have a role in whatever business acquired us – but with MGI, the synergies were so strong that it just made sense.

That’s how I became Managing Director of MGI, as well as Euramax.

What are your ambitions for MGI?

Essentially, our aim is to be able to provide building products utilised in the modular construction supply chain.

We want to reach a situation where an MGI lorry can roll into a customer’s factory and supply them with everything they need – from doors and windows to roofing, decking, cladding and so on.

To achieve that goal, we’re looking to acquire companies that are either in the modular supply chain already, or have expertise that we can bring into modular.

Most recently, for example, we’ve acquired Rapid PVCu systems. MGI doesn’t specialise in fenestration – as I’ve said, we want to cover the whole spectrum of modular components – but Rapid was another case where the synergies were too good to turn down.

We also want to pay a lot of attention to how the different products in the modular supply chain interact with each other, too.

What often happens at the moment is that companies just supply a particular product, then leave it to the customer to work out how that product will work alongside all the other components they’re buying in.

At MGI, we’re interested in developing a total modular construction system – windows that interface with cladding, which interfaces with decking and so on, to make modular builders’ lives as easy as possible.

Are there any particular criteria a company would have to meet for you to consider making them part of MGI?

We’re looking for well-run, medium-sized businesses with expertise in MMC already – or if not, expertise that would easily translate to the modular sector.

Beyond that, we’re very flexible. We know that, if you’ve run a business you’re passionate about for decades, it can be really difficult to leave all that behind – so we’re totally open for existing owners to stay on in some capacity and help us drive the business forward.

Equally, if someone’s looking to retire completely, we’re very happy to help them exit the industry, and build on the foundations they’ve created.

Ultimately, our message is that if you’ve got a business that you think would fit the bill, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

For more information, call MGI on 0330 1340290 or email nick@modulargroupinvestments.co.uk

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KEYHOUSE ‘12 HOUR HOUSE’ HIGHLY COMMENDED AT INDUSTRY AWARDS

Keystone Group is delighted to announce that Keyhouse – its revolutionary 12 Hour House – has been highly commended in the Innovation category at the 14th Annual Construction Excellence National Awards 2020.

The prestigious awards showcase excellence in the built environment and are part of a national programme of nine regional awards covering England and Wales. The commendation at the national awards recognises the company’s ground breaking Keyhouse. An innovative flat pack system which brings the reality of a factory built home to those housebuilders wanting to take the next move in offsite construction, it can be assembled on site in just 12 hours. The highly commended accolade follows a regional award win for the East Midlands.

Cathal Nicholas at Keystone Group said: “This is a fantastic achievement. The Construction Excellence awards are revered throughout the industry. The recognition is testament to our vast manufacturing and technical expertise, and the same ground-breaking innovation that can be seen across the Keystone Group. The Keyhouse 12 Hour House offers tremendous potential for clients who value the opportunity to fast track completion of homes with the minimum of onsite labour.”

Commenting on the standard of the awards, the judges from Constructing Excellence said: “The quality of the entries and winners to these awards demonstrates just how much the construction industry is progressing and the Keystone Group are very much at the forefront of that.”

 

The Keyhouse system is based around a series of factory built components that are delivered to site. Once on site a team of four people can construct the house in just 12 hours delivering the complete structure of a brick finish on a robust concrete outer leaf with an internal insulated timber frame, along with floor cassettes, staircase and a pre-tiled roof. It is watertight, airtight-insulated and ready for the first fix. This enables the housebuilder to add additional value and offer homebuyers a personal choice of finishes.

The Keyhouse flat pack system has inherent design flexibility. The company’s design team can work with architects, housebuilders and developers to adapt the concept design to suit most house requirements. The system can also accommodate ‘stepped’ and ‘staggered’ site layouts.

 

Winners of this year’s Construction Excellence Awards were announced during an online ceremony held on January 29th.

 

To find out about Keyhouse, visit www.thekeyhouse.co.uk or contact Info@TheKeystoneGroup.co.uk

 

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Net Zero Classroom block by TG Escapes extends facilities at the Samuel Ryder Academy

Samuel Ryder was a very small secondary school with about 250 students. The Local Authority decided to extend the school’s provision to cover primary and secondary pupils. Since then the school, with an outstanding leadership Ofsted rating, has grown in popularity and demand for places has outstripped capacity.

Their timber frame modular building from TG Escapes was completed at the end of August 2020 ready for use in time for the students’ return to school. The block consists of 7 English classrooms, the English team office, an SLT office, year 7 and 8 toilets, a media suite and 2 year 6 classrooms. Whilst price was the key criteria during the selection process, the sustainable nature of the building materials used was a benefit.

“Offsite fabrication resulted in a very rapid onsite construction. I was impressed by the speed of delivery, which occurred on schedule, and the site manager who had excellent communication skills and was extremely accommodating of requests to tweak the original design.“ Ian Cushion, Scholars’ Education Trust Estates Manager.

Barker Associates consultancy sent out invitations to tender to six contractors, from which a shortlist of three was drawn up. The key criteria were price and quality, but it was also very important that the company selected had proven experience of working with schools, and that the individuals with whom the school had contact were of the right calibre.

The energy performance certificate for this building is A+ rated at minus 24 making the building carbon neutral, or net-zero, in operation.

Mechanical & Electrical systems are key to producing comfortable building environments as well as achieving energy efficiency and our M&E consultant Designphase Ltd used a combination of 4 systems to achieve this.

•  Air source heat pumps to heat the hot water and most of the space heating.
•  A hybrid active ventilation system to efficiently supply fresh air and extract stale air.
•  LED lighting & lighting controls with daylight dimming to keep consumption to a minimum.
•  A solar photovoltaic system was installed across the roof.

The air source heat pumps specified produce between 3-4 kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity used.
The ventilation system tempers the incoming air with the hot air being extracted using low wattage fans to distribute the air and provide a comfortable environment.

The LED lighting is inherently efficient and the addition of controls like daylight dimming means that when the spaces are flooded with natural daylight, the lights will respond automatically.

Finally, a large 72kW solar photovoltaic array was installed across the roof to help offset the energy used in the building.
The combination of these systems resulted in a building that is both comfortable to use and provides a high level of energy efficiency that will benefit the end-users at Samuel Ryder and the environment we pass onto the next generation.

TG Escapes partners in achieving this are Metropolis Architects,  Solar for Schools, Passivent, Westcott Air Conditioning and Dextra.

“Energy efficiency was considered very important given the passion of many pupils for environmental issues. Rightly so – it’s this world that they are going to inherit. The students and staff find their time in the building wonderful. The primary occupant was the English department who feel very spoilt and lucky to have the experience of teaching and learning in their new classrooms. It was a very good experience from start to finish with TG Escapes, I would recommend them to others.” Ian Bailey, Deputy Headteacher.

www.tgescapes.co.uk

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Passivhaus Modular at Scale

A modular build system that delivers to the highest standards of Passivhaus every time: Beattie Passive’s goal is nothing less than to revolutionise the UK Construction Industry. 

Becoming increasingly concerned with the widening performance gap between what was designed and what was built in the construction industry, Ron Beattie founded Beattie Passive with the aim of developing a simple build system; one that would lift the standards of building holistically across a range of elements, and consistently deliver high performance, high quality homes, delivering Passivhaus – the gold standard of energy efficient design – as standard. They have since gone on to deliver over 400 homes in the UK, ranging from one-bedroom apartments to complex grand design farmhouses and everything in between, all meeting the Passivhaus standard.

One of the key differentiators of the Beattie Passive system is not only the high energy efficiency and quality delivered as standard, but its flexibility in terms of buildability. The same patented, high performance system is supplied through multiple delivery methods from onsite stick build, to factory built panels, to fully modular solutions. This enables the organisation to easily respond to clients’ specific requirements, providing complete flexibility on design as well as being able to effectively respond to varying site and access conditions.

Responding to the growing demand for offsite build solutions, Beattie Passive evolved and developed their offerings, delivering modular Structural Thermal Envelopes for multiple terraces and detached homes at the Graven Hill Custom Build development in Bicester. This led to the organisation developing its innovative system into a fully modular home solution that is completed to turnkey in their factory in Norfolk. They are now delivering modular housing for multiple clients across the UK.

Since the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Beattie Passive has seen a considerable increase in demand for their fully modular solution, in particular their Haus4 range. In response to the developing homelessness crisis in the UK, Beattie Passive developed a flexible and affordable yet high quality solution to provide relocatable housing for the nations’ homeless. The product ranges from a Haus4one – a fully contained, single person home through to the Haus4Studio blocks and Haus4two and Haus4three. These modular units can be manufactured very quickly (in as little as six weeks), are all built to Passivhaus standards, providing a warm, comfortable environment to live in, and critically are easily relocatable, making them an ideal solution for temporary housing to address immediate housing requirements, and then can be relocated as needs change.

Beattie Passive have expanded on this concept to innovate a variety of flexible, modular housing offerings, from studios to 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments in 3 storey blocks, to bungalows and detached houses. They have also launched flexible additional building solutions, for example Haus4Care providing additional care for people coming out of hospital, and student / learning accommodation. This demonstrates the true flexibility of the system and the organisations ability to work innovatively with their clients to meet their exacting and differing requirements.

Having recently completed a successful expansion into much larger premises, Beattie Passive have been able to greatly increase capacity and ramp up production and take on larger orders, delivering over 150 units since setting up the new factory in August 2020. The largest of these projects in progress so far is a new modular development of 48 temporary 1, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments and office space for Cardiff Council. The apartment blocks will be certified to Passivhaus Plus standard, all delivering the high quality of Beattie Passive and will be fully demountable and reusable to importantly enable the Council to relocate the units as required.

As the need for good quality housing continues to rise in the UK, homelessness becomes an ever increasing challenge, and climate change continues to be a problem, the need for flexible, environmentally friendly housing is demonstrably clear. Beattie Passive are always on the lookout for partners with a shared vision, and whom they can work with to tackle these issues and together revolutionise construction in the UK for the better.

www.beattiepassive.com

 

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Affordable modular homes

In October 2019, the first step in creating 73 affordable modular homes close to Blackburn town centre was initiated as part of a deal between Places for People and Homes England – the government’s housing agency.

Funded through Places for People’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England, the development brought new timber-framed homes to a site off Alaska Street, just south of Blackburn town centre.

All of the two-, three- and four-bedroom homes were created offsite at the Modularwise factory in Wales, using pre-manufactured modular construction techniques, which included TapcoSlate Classic from Tapco Roofing Products for the roof structures.

Places for People were selected as one of Homes England’s first strategic partners in July 2018, receiving £74 million in funding to help deliver 2,603 additional affordable homes by 2024.

The Alaska Street development was created as part of a broader strategy which has seen an increase in commitment to modern methods of construction (MMC) – including an announcement of a partnership with Ilke Homes, which at the time was the modular sector’s biggest ever deal.
David Cowans, Chief Executive of Places for People, said at the launch of the project: “We are delighted to announce more details of this development, which will pave the way for the creation of affordable homes for the local community in Blackburn.

“Our recent efforts show how Places for People is embracing modern methods of construction as we strategically invest in modular, finding new ways to deliver better, well-designed and affordable homes in the process.”
The investment from Homes England comes following the organisation’s increasing support of modern methods of construction (MMC); Chris Groves, General Manager for MMC at Homes England explained: “MMC has the potential to be significantly more productive than traditional building methods and greatly increase the pace at which new homes are delivered.
“In October 2019, Homes England published its strategic five-year plan that makes the take-up of MMC a requirement for developers on our sites. We use strategic partnerships, like that with Places for People, to support our partners in adopting MMC and help create affordable homes that towns like Blackburn need.”

Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development at Blackburn and Darwen Council, concluded: “This project will bring affordable, modern homes to Blackburn, and increase choice for people in the borough.“It will also contribute to the wider regeneration of the area and add to the great home building taking place. The redevelopment of Alaska Street has been a priority for the regeneration of South Blackburn for a number of years and we are delighted that work can now progress.”

During the R&D phase Modularwise realised that offsite and modular roofing requirements are extremely different to standard-build roofing mainly because of unit transportation to sites. Most standard roofing materials are quite heavy and brittle, and therefore do not travel well, especially when lifting into place and joining to other structures. After researching and trialling quite a few roofing choices, Modularwise finalised on TapcoSlate Classic as the roof covering for the entirety of the project due to its lightweight but highly impact-resistant properties… it also helps that it looks just like real slate and so more aesthetically pleasing than some other products they compared.

TapcoSlate Classic is the market-leading composite slate product that helps to protect your home from the elements with the highest Class 4 Hail Impact Resistance, 110mph Wind Uplift Performance, thoroughly tested by the best in UK and European construction and approved by LABC & LABSS to meet local building regulation requirements. With its 40-year transferable warranty, low maintenance and easy fitting, what’s not to like?
Now, almost three years later the project is completed, and a new community has been born. This is exactly what MMC brings to the table, affordable houses, quickly built, for real people. Tapco Roofing Products is proud to be a part of this extremely worthwhile project.

www.tapcoroofingproducts.com

 

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Building delivered on budget & ahead of schedule for George Eliot Hospital

George Eliot hospital required a new 30 bed ward for orthopaedic elective & general elective patients as part of the Trust’s five-year estate strategy. A high quality, HTM and DDA compliant building was required urgently.

Wernick Buildings were appointed under a Pre-Contract Services Agreement to design the building through to RIBA Stage 3. After demonstrating they could provide an economically viable, single storey solution, Wernick were formally appointed as principal contractor.

By engaging with a modular provider before producing a design, the hospital were able to work with Wernick to take full advantage of the benefits of modular construction which included maximising the amount of fit out that could take place in the factory to reduce time on site. It also facilitated closer collaboration on the specialist requirements of the building, for example using the hospital’s preferred contractors to provide medical gasses.
Manufacturing the building in a factory environment gave the project several advantages. Firstly, the building could be constructed while the foundations were being prepared, drastically reducing programme length. Manufacture was also not affected by site conditions like the weather, making the programme even more reliable.

The building was comprised of 33 modules, including a unit to link the new wards to an existing building on site. which were manufactured in Wernick’s dedicated factory in Port Talbot. These were transported to site by lorry, then craned into position and bolted together to form the complete building.
While the initial programme was 20 weeks, the outbreak of the coronavirus made the hospital’s requirement more urgent. By implementing longer hours and working weekends, Wernick were able to condense the programme to just 14 weeks.

 

Determined to deliver the project on time, Wernick worked with their subcontractors and the hospital to devise working methods that would allow them to continue work on site, including strict social distancing measures. These new working methods were communicated through daily briefings and site signage. The closer collaboration early in the process which had minimised the amount of work needed on site also facilitated safer working while maintaining programme. Reduced time on site also meant minimum disruption to the rest of the hospital during this crucial period.

The completed single-story building, delivered on time and on budget, consists of 1000 sqm of gross internal floor space comprising 33 modular units. The fit out includes bedhead trunking incorporating medical gasses, nurse call systems, access control and CCTV, fire escape ramps and nurse stations. Externally, the building is finished to match existing buildings on site.

Kirstie Webb, Head of Estates & Facilities for George Eliot NHS Trust, commented:
“Excellent product, finished ahead of time and within budget. This is particularly impressive as it coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic first wave.”

 

www.wernick.co.uk

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