Construction base for Galloper offshore wind farm announced

Galloper Wind Farm Limited (GWFL), in partnership with Associated British Ports (ABP) and OGN Group, has confirmed the Port of Lowestoft as the base for the construction of the project.

The deal will see a multi-million pound investment into the local economy through lease and port payments and getting the base ready to become the project’s offshore construction base.

Over the two-year construction period, around 40 people will employed at the construction base.

The Port of Lowestoft was previously an oil operations base situated within the ABP facility in Lowestoft.

The announcement was made during Offshore Wind Week (16th – 20th October) and was confirmed by Peter Aldous, MP for Waveney at an event hosted by OrbisEnergy to promote the week. He said: “This is very welcome news and confirms Lowestoft’s position as a centre for the offshore wind industry. The project will bring new jobs to the area, further opportunities for existing businesses and can act as a catalyst for further growth in the sector.”

ABP Director, Andrew Harston, commented: “ABP’s Port of Lowestoft already supports around 1,200 jobs and contributes around £80 million to the economy. This positive development by RWE Innogy which utilises the extensive OGN facility to provide a ‘ready to go’ support base for Galloper underpins the port’s role as a key driver of both the local and regional economy, with the potential to make a significant contribution to the prosperity of the town and its hinterland.”

Around 700 jobs will be created during the construction of the wind farm, with 90 jobs created once the project is operational.

Once operational, the wind farm will be capable of generating up to 336MW – enough energy to power 336,000 homes.

Further GWFL project announcements, including the final decision on the Operations & Maintenance base, will be made in the coming months.

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University gets Royal recognition for timber research

Edinburgh Napier University have been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the second year running.

The Queen’s Anniversary Prize was awarded to the University’s School of Engineering and the Built Environment for its internationally acclaimed work in timber engineering, sustainable construction and wood science. This is their second victory, after winning the award previously in 2009.

The award, which has only been awarded 15 times in Scotland, recognises the global impact that the University’s research has had on the environment and the industry. It has supported more than 100 industry construction products and systems, 16 patentable products from the University, new British Standards in construction, the shaping of European and International standards and new timber strength grading processes now used in more than 50% of all UK grown softwood.

The judges were impressed with the success of the research relating to architectural design, timber offsite construction, nanocellulose and sustainable construction design along with the development in the industry and role played by staff in educating and engaging with the public.

The research staff have delivered a number of high-impact projects. Collaborating with South African Paper and Pulp Industries, a nanocellulose high strength material from wood fibres was developed which has multiple uses, from car-panels to wound care. Of key importance was the research funded by Forestry Commission Scotland, towards obtaining higher commercial value from home-grown sitka spruce, research on larch disease and the development of innovative systems like cross-laminated timber systems using lower grade timber for mass structural applications.

Professor Sean Smith, Director of Edinburgh Napier’s Institute for Sustainable Construction, said: “Globally timber is increasingly being used in the construction of new buildings due to its inherent sustainable properties. For our staff and students it has been a very exciting journey supporting the timber and construction sectors and we are delighted to be acknowledged for the positive impact on industry and the environment.”

Other projects included working with Diageo, Oregon LT, Russelwood Ltd, James Jones & Sons and Stewart Milne Group to develop innovative products.

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Business Park project voted greenest building in Europe

A flagship build project by the Midas Group has been honoured with the title of the greenest building.

The £12M Filwood Green Business Park was named Eco Green Building of the Year at the Bristol Green Capital Awards which took place on 12 November.

Bristol has the status of being European Green Capital 2015, taking over the title from Copenhagen, with previous winners including Stockholm, Hamburg, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Nantes.

A total of 40,000sq ft of workshop and office space was created to provide a new home for small and medium sized businesses in the City.The building is the first commercial building in the south west to ever earn a BREEAM “outstanding” rating, being one of the highest scoring environmentally-friendly buildings in the whole of Europe.

The building produces 20% of its own energy using photovoltaics, A+ Rated materials and planted roofs externally, however its sustainable ethos runs even deeper. Designed with high performance building materials and on-site energy generation, the building achieves a 40% CO2 reduction, saving and estimated 46 tonnes of CO2 annually, the equivalent of 276 double decker buses.

Derek Quinn, Executive Director at Midas Construction, said: “As a Bristol-based company we are very proud to accept the Eco Green Building Award for Filwood. It’s quite something, and doubly special, to receive an environmental award like this in a City which is so widely acknowledged as being one of Europe’s most forward-thinking green cities”.

The build involved more than 500 people working on the site, which created training opportunities for local apprentices and employment of more than 300 local sub-contractors, with 20 staff working towards an NVQ qualification.

Mayor George Ferguson has already invested £2M in 189 sustainable projects through the Bristol 2015 Green Capital Grants Programme.

 

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Fire Door Safety Week successful in raising awareness

Fire Door Safety Week, a campaign organised by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), BWF-CERTIFIRE scheme and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme, has enjoyed success in promoting the issues surrounding fire door safety.

An interim evaluation report for Fire Door Safety Week has revealed the 2015 campaign has reached more than 4.7 million people up to the end of September.

The campaign’s website saw more than 7,000 people visit and also enjoyed a 30% increase in its number of twitter followers.

Further awareness was generated by the BWF’s fire door safety films and the “Remember Sophie’ video attracted a significant number of views via Youtube.

The campaign has also benefitted from political support.

Fire Minister, Mark Francois, commented: ““Fire doors offer vital protection and can make a real difference to the impact of a fire. I commend the BWF and supporting organisations for this excellent industry-led Fire Door Safety Week and encourage everyone to use this timely reminder to check their fire doors, keep them closed and report any substandard ones to the owners of the building.”

Mike Penning, Minister of State at the Home Office, said: ““As a former fireman, I am all too aware of the importance of fire doors and the devastating consequences of propping them open and letting them fall into disrepair. A fire door is so much more than a door; at times it can be the difference between life and death.

“We all need to step up and ensure we can recognise and report common problems. I urge everyone to have a look at the Five Step Check – it may just save a life.”

The campaign was supported by nearly 130 organisations representing the property, FM and construction industries. Many businesses in the fire door industry organised their own events and marketing campaigns during Fire Door Safety Work, including Association for Specialist Fire Protection, Midland Building Products, Arnold Laver, Lorient Polyproducts, Vetrotech Saint Gobain, Ironmongery Direct, Yeoman Shield, Premdor, BM TRADA and Intastop.

Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of the BWF, said: ““The BWF and all the Fire Door Safety Week campaigners have taken a big bite out of the problem this year. Our thanks go to the very many firms and individuals who have put their own energies into this campaign. Together we are reaching millions of building owners, users and professionals whose job it is to keep us safe.

“But the scale of the issue still threatens to swamp us. We need even more to join us to voice our concerns regarding the lack of basic knowledge of fire door safety by the very individuals and organisations who have the formal responsibility to keep us safe in the buildings they own or manage.

“When the worst happens, it is the compartmentation of fire and the correct installation of certificated fire doorsets which buys us time, creating safe refuge and a protected route for the emergency services to come to our aid. On average there are 25 people seriously injured or killed in building fires every day in Great Britain. Our friends, our loved ones, our work colleagues, our tenants, our fire officers. This cannot continue.”

2016 marks the 350^th anniversary of the Great Fire of London and next year’s Fire Door Safety Week (26 September – 2 October) will look to generate even more awareness through events marking the anniversary.

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Crossrail surface works reach halfway point

Network Rail have announced that they are half way through delivering the £2.3Bn Crossrail investment programme on time and to budget.

Network Rail are in charge of design, development and delivery of parts of the Crossrail that are on the existing network. Three quarters of the Crossrail route runs above ground on existing rail network through outer London, Berkshire and Essex. They are adding 30 miles of new track on key parts of the network, and a new diveunder tunnel beneath the railway at Acton. The installation of a modernised signalling system will allow services to run more reliably.

There will be complete rebuilds for nine stations to provide new, spacious, bright ticket halls. The improvements, which are across a total of 29 stations, includes the delivery of more than 40 lifts and platform extensions at 16 stations to accommodate longer trains.

The plans also include electrifying the Great Western Main Line in west London and Berkshire to create a new, greener and more reliable electric train.

Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail Chief Executive, said: “While much of the focus has been on the tunnels and new stations in central London, Network Rail has been working hard to make sure that the existing railway is ready for Crossrail. This crucial work on Crossrail’s surface section will deliver major benefits for passengers and help to transform many of the areas through which the route will run.”

Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “The vast improvements on the existing rail network go hand-in-hand with the impressive tunnelled sections. Together they will create a transformational rail link that will bring better and faster journeys for passengers across London and beyond from 2018, boosting jobs and economic growth.”

The total funding available to deliver Crossrail is £14.8Bn, and will add 10% capacity to London’s rail network by 2018.

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DHF group hold second Gate Safety Week

The Door and Hardware Federation are raising awareness of the dangers of powered gates by holding a second Gate Safety Week.

The Door and Hardware Federation represents Britain’s leading manufacturers, suppliers and installers of powered automatic gates and gate automation equipment.

The group held its second Gate Safety Week last month, a successful campaign to highlight the dangers of non-compliant powered gates.

The campaign focused on encouraging users or owners to get gates checked by specialists to ensure they meet all of the safety requirements. It also educated organisations on the laws regarding the safety of powered gates and the liability that comes with the installation and operation.

Michael Skelding, DHF General Manager and Secretary said: “Existing gates may well present dangers and we urge owners to have them inspected and maintained regularly. Owners and managers of powered gates, and also contractors called out to carry out service or repair work on gates, all have responsibility to ensure the gates are safe.

“As an industry we are working tirelessly to raise powered gate safety standards by carrying out comprehensive compulsory training for gate fitters, actively promoting the gate safety message to owners and those responsible for gate maintenance, and petitioning Government to tighten up the law regarding gate safety. We are determined to confine powered gate accidents to the history books.”

It is estimated that currently only 30% of the 500,000 electric gates in the UK are safe to use. There have been seven deaths in the UK and Ireland over the last ten years, with nine serious injuries recorded.

 

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Benefits and challenges of BIM explored at ICE BIM conference

The 5th annual ICE BIM conference from the Institution of Civil Engineers dominated the October BIM calendar in the UK, with Government once again using the event as a platform to address industry.

Stretch targets for 2016 were announced by Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Level 2 BIM delivery director Terry Stock and UK Government Task Group for BIM head Mark Bew.

The conference also featured speakers from the Environment Agency, Highways England, the HSE, London Underground, Laing O’Rourke, HS2, IBM, Crossrail, Autodesk and Atkins.

A packed audience enjoyed the day in the Park Plaza, Victoria, gaining a better understanding of how BIM can help industry meet the Construction 2025 goals. Sessions showcased examples of BIM best practice is sectors including health and safety, security, procurement, contracts and sustainability.

The ICE BIM Action Group, led by Dr Anne Kemp, also presented the findings of the 2015 HeatMap Survey, and gave information on the work they have done, and continue to do promoting BIM throughout the industry.

For more information on BIM at the ICE, visit http://ift.tt/1kHeVhu

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