Refurb Projects February 2021

REFURB PROJECTS THE JOURNAL OF REPAIR, REPLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE FEBRUARY 2021

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THE DESOWOOD REPAIR SYSTEM

CONTENTS 

Vol. 33 No 232. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 

SPECIAL FEATURES 

6-14 Education Infrastructure 

4 Fire Safety 

15 Heating & Ventilation 

21-35 Projects 

16-17 Roofing 

Multiseal Services Ltd., a contractor specialising in the 

application of silicone sealants and mastics, recently 

utilised Dowsil’s 791T low modulus weatherproof 

sealant during the demanding refurbishment of an 

iconic office building in Ipswich. Page 5. 

5 Sealants 

18-20 Social Housing 

Publisher/ Editor: Carole Titmuss 

Editorial Assistant: Sue Watson 

Advertising / Marketing: Lorraine Compton 

Subscriptions: Kay Knight 

Design / Graphics: Ian Purves, Jonathan Milburn 

This journal includes editorial photographs provided and paid 

for by suppliers. 

Refurbishment Projects incorporating Refurbishment 

Products is published by 

Sheen Publishing Ltd, 

50 Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5DD, UK 

Tel: 020 8504 1661 

Fax: 020 8505 4336 

Email: editor@refurbprojects.com 

Twitter: @RefurbProjects 

Refurb Projects is available on subscription. 

Annual rate: UK £28. 

Europe: £36 

Overseas: £40. 

Single Copies: UK: £5 

Overseas: £10 

ISSN 1475-1135 

Printed by Manson Group 

www.refurbprojects.com 

REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS, FEBRUARY 2021 3

FIRE SAFETY 

Multi-Sensor Fire Alarms: four things you may not know 

By Barry Sargent, Product Support Manager, Nittan 

Multi-Sensors combine 

two sensor types within 

one alarm. As different 

sensors detect different 

types of smoke and heat, and 

therefore different types of fire, 

combining more than one sensor in 

a single unit potentially makes for 

an improved response to real fires 

(as opposed to false alarms). It also 

reduces unit and installation costs, 

makes alarm specification far easier 

and looks better than having two 

alarms on the ceiling. As a result, 

the popularity of Multi-Sensors has 

increased dramatically. 

That much you may well already 

be aware of, but here are four 

aspect of Multi-Sensors that you 

may not have considered before: 

1. MULTI-SENSORS VARY IN 

DESIGN, AS DOES THEIR 

ABILITY 

Like most things in life, you get 

what you pay for. Multi-Sensors 

vary dramatically in design, from 

basic models where there is limited 

cross evaluation of the sensor 

values, through to highly 

sophisticated devices featuring 

advanced algorithms to assess the 

variation in values from each sensor 

in order to determine the nature of 

the potential fire. If you want to 

reap the benefits of a Multi-Sensor, 

don’t go for the lowest cost option. 

2. OVER ONE THIRD OF FALSE 

ALARMS COULD BE REDUCED 

IF MULTI-SENSORS ARE USED 

IN PLACE OF SINGLE SENSORS 

According to ‘Fire and rescue 

incident statistics, England, year 

ending March 2020’, of all incidents 

attended by fire and rescue services, 

fire false alarms made up 42% 

compared to actual fires at 28%. 

Reducing false alarms is imperative 

and one of the reasons for the 

development of the Multi-Sensor. 

The Building Research 

Establishment’s (BRE) ‘The 

performance of multi-sensors in fire 

and false alarm tests’ Briefing Paper, 

reporting on its test of optical heat 

Multi-Sensor detectors, estimates 

that potentially 38.1% of observed 

false alarms could have been 

reduced if Multi-Sensors had been 

present. 

3. STANDARD MULTI-SENSORS 

ARE NOT IMMUNE TO NON- 

COMBUSTION MATERIALS 

Whilst offering improved 

performance over standard optical 

detectors, Multi-Sensors have 

limitations. In fact, the BRE research 

demonstrated that, although 

delayed, in all cases alarms were 

given from non-combustion 

materials such as steam, dust or 

aerosol. The delay might allow for 

any transient false alarm sources to 

disappear before the fire threshold is 

reached, but it does not entirely stop 

a false alarm in these instances. 

Furthermore, to ensure this delay, 

some Multi-Sensor detectors have 

been configured to be less sensitive. 

4. NOT ALL MULTI-SENSORS USE 

ONE OPTICAL SMOKE AND ONE 

HEAT SENSOR 

Whilst smoke and heat sensors are 

the most common combination, 

there are others available. One of 

the less well-known combination, 

but highly effective, is a heat sensor 

and two optical sensors, albeit each 

using very different sensor 

technologies - IR light plus blue LED 

- to provide a more accurate 

measurement of particles within the 

chamber. Using a complex 

algorithm to calculate the ratio of 

these light sources, which operate at 

different wavelengths, the detector 

can determine the particle size and 

thus distinguish between smoke and 

non-combustion products such as 

steam, aerosols and dust. We take 

this approach in our Nittan EV-DPH 

Multi-Sensors. As we have seen 

above, this is where most typical 

Multi-Sensors struggle. 

The Nittan Group has been at the 

forefront of the international fire 

protection industry since 1954. 

01483 769 555 

sales@nittan.co.uk 

www.nittan.co.uk 

4 FEBRUARY 2021, REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS

Dowsil Sealant selected for refurbishment 

of iconic office building 

SEALANTS 

Multiseal Services Ltd., a 

contractor specialising 

in the application of 

silicone sealants and 

mastics, recently utilised Dowsil’s 

791T low modulus weatherproof 

sealant during the demanding 

refurbishment of an iconic office 

building in Ipswich. The Dowsil 

product was selected due to 

Multiseal’s previous experience 

working with Dowsil High 

Performance Building solutions and 

its good working relationship with 

The Sherwin Williams Company, 

which manufactures and distributes 

Dowsil products in the UK. 

Originally completed in 1975, 

The Willis Building was designed by 

the internationally renowned 

architect, Sir Norman Foster, and is 

considered to be the forerunner for 

High Tech office design. Still 

occupied by the insurance company 

now known as Willis Towers Watson, 

the structure is currently undergoing 

a programme of renovations and 

improvements led by contractor 

Novum Structures; while Multiseal is 

carrying out the glazing repairs and 

replacing all of the old joint seals. 

Novum was first awarded the 

contract for the maintenance of the 

glazing for The Wills Building in May 

2019. This involved a complete reseal 

of all the mastic to the glass 

joint. Following these works Novum 

then became responsible for 

replacing broken units caused by a 

number of factors, from stones 

thrown up by passing traffic to bird 

strikes. 

The Managing Director of 

Multiseal, Damian Corner, 

commented: “We have been carrying 

out work with Novum for more than 

a decade, on a number of new and 

maintenance projects. The famous 

Willis Building in Ipswich came 

about because of Novum’s 

continued and growing reputation 

within the glass industry. The glazing 

is old - though a number of the 

plate glass panels have been 

replaced due to breakages – and the 

high-modulus mastic previously used 

was generally in a poor condition. 

We were asked to carry out a 

preliminary survey on the glazing, 

and there were a lot of places where 

you could just pull the mastic out of 

the joints. 

“I have been using Dowsil 

sealants since my father brought me 

into the business, and have a very 

good working relationship with The 

Sherwin Williams Company, which 

manufactures and distributes Dowsil 

High Performance Construction 

products in the UK, and its local 

Area Manager, Clive Ely. He came in 

and looked at the glazing with us 

after the survey, confirming my 

decision to use the Dowsil 791T 

Weatherproofing Silicone Sealant – 

it is a premium product which you 

can always rely on for high 

performance in demanding 

conditions. Clive then returned 

following the initial phase to 

conduct pull tests and pressure tests, 

which confirmed the adhesion to 

the films, which had previously been 

applied to the glass inside and out.” 

Since the start of the work early 

last year, a full five pallets of the 

product have been used by 

Multiseal, along with ancillary 

Dowsil products. Despite the dark 

tinted glass giving the building its 

distinctive appearance, the 

translucent (T) version of Dowsil 791 

was selected to respect the 

transparency of the view from 

within the occupied space. 

Damian went on to explain: “By 

using the clear version of the Dowsil 

791 you just get a free-floating 

appearance against the structural 

fins, as the glazing appears clear 

from inside the offices or the roof 

top canteen, which was the last area 

we addressed. Then in addition to 

the 791T, we also made use of 

Dowsil R40 cleaner to remove any 

residue on the surfaces; it has been 

a very successful project despite the 

interruption caused by the 

coronavirus lockdown.” 

Novum is an international 

specialist contractor well known for 

the design, manufacture and supply 

of innovative architectural 

structures as well as their enclosures. 

The company also undertakes 

facilities management across both 

the UK and Europe. 

Dowsil 791 is a premium quality 

low modulus, weatherproof silicone 

sealant developed for glass-to-glass 

assemblies, which gives excellent 

adhesion to both porous and nonporous 

construction materials. It 

does not require the use of a primer 

and it can also be used for frame 

sealing and joints. The sealant can 

be utilised in temperatures from - 

20o to +50o C and is tack free in 

just two hours. Dowsil 791 is 

available in a range of nine colours, 

remaining resistant to UV radiation, 

ozone and extreme weather 

conditions. 

www.specification.sherwinwilliams.co.uk 


EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE 

Generating a sense of place. 

A stylish refurbishment of a village school near Cambridge. 

Refurbishing a school is about 

providing a better future for 

pupils and creating a 

professional environment for 

the staff. Generating a sense of place 

is an opportunity that shouldn’t be 

missed when renovating existing 

premises. 

Waterbeach Community Primary 

School is located in the village of 

Waterbeach to the northeast of 

Cambridge. Saunders Boston 

Architects were appointed alongside 

KIER to deliver a 12-classrooms 

extension and refurbishment to the 

existing school with a focus on the 

reception/admin area. 

This was a challenging project 

from a coordination and logistic 

perspective. Refurbishment to the 

admin area was carried out in 

conjunction with a large two-storey 

extension and the school remained in 

full-operation throughout the entire 

construction phase. 

The design is intended to offer 

the children a sense of place and 

excitement, with a splash of colour. 

The new block has been designed 

with a bold rainbow theme, with 

integral coloured glazed bricks 

inserted in the otherwise light grey 

facing brickwork. In addition, feature 

colour reveals to the windows 

replicate the seven colours of the 

rainbow. 

The existing main entrance to the 

school was not particularly 

welcoming. It was dated, nondescript 

and lacked presence. The 

fabric and finishes were tired and the 

interiors desperately needed new life 

and a different approach. As part of 

the refurbishment of entrance/admin 

area the rainbow theme has been 

carried through the façade on the 

extended admin/reception office. 

Alongside the external design, 

careful consideration has been given 

to the interior of the new extension 

and the existing school alike. The 

proposed a grey-and-white palette 

brings a contemporary feel to the 

existing walls, originally painted in 

an array of different colours and 

shades. 

Jane Green, WCPS Headteacher 

says “The new build has totally 

transformed our school. We have a 

bright, fresh learning environment 

that stimulates children’s learning 

and gives teachers a modern and 

purposeful place to work. A wellthought 

design with a long-term 

vision which improved our school” 

The staff room has replaced the 

former music room. Here the staff 

can switch-off from their daily 

assignments and tasks. De-stressing 

BEFORE 

is absolutely promoted and 

encouraged in this room. Different 

seating options allow the staff to 

feel comfortable and engage in 

conversations with colleagues. The 

new ceiling and lighting lifts the 

space, alongside stylish carpeting, repainted 

walls and cast-iron radiators, 

and a brand new kitchenette, 

comprising of a contemporary island 

with high-stools, appliances and a 

wide working surface. Beautiful light 

purple hints over the grey-and-white 

colour scheme. 

Gaye Roberts from 

Cambridgeshire County Council says 

“The new build embraces a rainbow 

theme in a fun but tasteful way and 

this is being rolled out over the 

refurbished areas. The Head is excited 

to follow the same principles 

BEFORE 

AFTER 

AFTER 

through the rest of the building as 

part of a rolling programme going 

forward. Margherita has encouraged 

this process and empowered the 

Head to make some decisions that 

will transform the school as a 

whole.” 

The new interior scheme has 

enhanced the school, providing a 

modern, elegant and flawless new 

environment. An easy palette has 

been provided which the school 

rolled out further during 2020 while 

the school was not fully occupied 

due to Covid-19. 

Margherita Cesca, Senior Lead 

Architect at Saunders Boston says 

“The new space is extremely flexible 

and has already a fantastic 

inspirational vibe! The pupils and the 

staff love their modernised new 

BEFORE 

AFTER 

school and that’s a great 

accomplishment from an 

architectural perspective. The staff is 

pleased and thankful to be working 

in such an inspiring environment. 

When entering the school there is 

now a sense of calmness and 

professionalism.” 

Architect: 

Saunders Boston Architects 

Project Architect: Margherita 

Cesca 

Contractor: KIER 

Client: Cambridgeshire County 

Council 

Project Management: Oxbury 

Structures: Peter Dann 

M&E: Bannerman Consulting 

Landscape: HP Landscape 



Towering Gothic Arches at Harris Manchester 

College, fitted with secondary glazing 

Harris Manchester College is 

one of the principal 

Colleges at Oxford 

University. The Victorian 

buildings contain decorative 

wooden panelling, gothic revival 

architectural detailing and large 

stained-glass windows. With a new 

construction site opposite the main 

building, four rooms were affected 

by noise and dust ingress in the 

Grade II Listed building: two 

meeting rooms, a student common 

room, and the Tate Library. 

Secondary glazing was deemed the 

most appropriate option. 

Selectaglaze was contacted to 

provide advice on treatments and 

support in gaining Listed Building 

Consent by producing the 

application drawings; as well as to 

fulfil the glazing requirements. 

In the two meeting rooms: Series 

20 slimline vertical sliding units 

were installed; colour matched in a 

wood grain finish to complement 

the wood panelling and reveals. They 

were glazed with 6.8mm acoustic 

glass and placed to optimise the 

cavity, ensuring high levels of 

acoustic reduction, as well as 

offering access for cleaning and 

maintenance. The window sills had 

inset heating grilles, so by designing 

an enlarged rebated timber, the 

secondary could be reinforced and 

sealed around the full perimeter but 

still leave clear passage for air from 

the heating system. 

The primary windows in the Tate 

Library are tall gothic arched 

windows, with three stained glass 

windows forming a main bay. To 

complement the interior décor and 

leaded casings, the timber sub 

frames and secondary glazing 

profiles were colour coated in 9005 

Jet Black Matt. 

The tall gothic arches measured 

around 4.5m tall and had a 

mezzanine cutting them part way, 

which made the design and 

installation tricky. The portion of the 

window below the mezzanine was a 

Series 10 horizontal sliding unit. 

Stacked above, in an area not 

requiring access, were two series 42 

fixed lights. Above these up to the 

spring point, was another Series 10, 

followed by three Series 42 curved 

fixed lights including reverse curving 

to follow the lines and details of the 

tracery at the head. Installed with 

6.8 laminate glass and a generous 

cavity; the space inhibits disruption, 

is warmer and provides UV shielding 

to the books and manuscripts in the 

Library. 

The student Common Room 

needed a resolution to prevent 

noise entering from the 

neighbouring construction site. 

Series 20 slimline vertical sliders 

were installed in white to match 

the interior design. 

Selectaglaze is the leading 

specialist in secondary glazing, 

established in 1966 and Royal 

Warrant Holder since 2004. 

01727 837271 

enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk 

www.selectaglaze.co.uk 


“When we approach the design of the chiller we always 

consider the following; 

Clients Requirement 

Energy Efficient 

Concept Design + Scope 

Longevity 

Reliability 

We also take into account the way the chiller is going to last and 

mature over its running life time” 

Chief Designer

Enquiry Number 12 at www.modbs.co.uk/enquiries


Rectifying a dry rot outbreak at 

Holmlea Primary School 

Wise Property Care helps 

preserve the 120-yearold 

Grade B listed 

school, which has been 

converted into much-needed 

housing for Glaswegians 

December 4th 2020: Wise 

Property Care has announced it 

completed essential damp 

treatments on the 120-year-old 

Grade B listed Holmlea Primary 

School building this summer, 

working throughout the 

construction process before it was 

converted into residences for 

Cathcart & District Housing 

Association and Home Group 

Scotland. 

Based in Barrhead, Glasgow, Wise 

Property Care experts worked 

alongside architects and CCG 

(Scotland) Ltd, a construction 

company, who ensured the façade of 

the building maintained its original 

character and that finished work 

was in keeping with its historic 

importance to the local area. 

The school had been derelict 

since 1994 and had fallen into 

disrepair, suffering from rain and 

water damage. This resulted in a 

huge dry rot outbreak affecting the 

structural integrity of the site. Due 

to rainwater penetration in the main 

building, primarily from the cupola 

roof, there was dry rot from roof 

level down to the basement, 

collapsing several ceilings, floors and 

roof trusses, causing dangerous 

conditions on site. The ceiling that 

collapsed has since been completely 

renewed. 

Wise Property Care experts had 

been working on the restoration of 

the building since February 2019, 

removing wet and dry rot from all 

areas of the property where it might 

cause future issues for new 

inhabitants of the homes. All sources 

of moisture that allowed dry rot to 

flourish previously were removed in 

partnership with CCG (Scotland) Ltd, 

the contractors, and with the 

appropriate application of fungicide 

treatment on all timbers. Wood was 

also replaced where it posed issues 

to the structural integrity of the 

building. 

David Orr at Wise Property Care 

said: “My dad used to go to Holmlea 

Primary School, and after hearing 

stories of his education, it gave me 

great pride to be a part of the team 

able to restore the building to its 

former glory. The school buildings 

will now play a different, but equally 

important role in the local 

community as homes, and it was 

important to everyone involved in 

the project that their history was 

not forgotten. 

“The site had one of the biggest 

dry rot outbreaks I’ve seen over my 

26 years in the industry, and this 

meant restoration and renovation 

was a challenge. We worked closely 

with architects and construction 

professionals to bring to life the new 

chapter for Holmlea Primary School, 

and I’m excited to see everything 

complete as its new dwellers settle 

into the community.” 

www.wisebasementsystems.com 


F. Ball achieves first class result at 

Plymouth College of Art 


High performance floor 

preparation products and 

adhesives from F. Ball and 

Co. Ltd. have been used to 

transform Tavistock Place, the main 

undergraduate building at Plymouth 

College of Art, into an inspiring 

learning space. 

The refurbishment took place 

during the summer break, meaning a 

quick turnaround to upgrade the 

campus gateway for staff and 

students was required before the 

new academic year commenced. 

Specialist F. Ball products enabled 

contractors to install safety vinyl 

sheet and carpet tiles, using 

Styccobond F49 pressure sensitive 

adhesive and Styccobond F41 

tackifier, respectively, in the 

independent art school’s reception, 

gallery, café bar, offices, and 

conference rooms. 

Having removed existing wood 

block, vinyl sheet, and ceramic tile 

floorcoverings, contractors from 

Lang & Potter Flooring were faced 

with clear signs of damp, a 

sand/cement screed in a poor 

condition, and a number of uneven 

subfloors which required levelling. 

Once adhesive residues were 

removed by mechanical means and 

the subfloor primed, the issues were 

resolved using Stopgap 1200 Pro 

levelling compound to patch fill 

holes up to 18mm depth. The 

product was also combined with 

Stopgap Aggregate to fill deeper 

spaces created by the removal of 

internal walls. Finally, a topcoat of 

the levelling compound applied 

throughout the entire ground floor 

produced a perfectly smooth base 

for the subsequent application of 

other subfloor preparation products. 

Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling 

compound was selected for its 

moisture tolerant properties; it can 

be used to patch and level uneven 

subfloors prior to the application of 

a waterproof surface membrane and 

prevent it from pooling in 

undulations on the surface. A very 

rough surface requires a greater 

quantity of product to achieve full 

coverage, as well as an extended 

curing period, both of which add 

time and expense to a project. 

Once the levelling compound 

had cured, F. Ball’s Stopgap F77 

waterproof surface membrane was 

applied throughout the ground floor. 

Stopgap F77 cures in as little as 

three hours with a single coat 

application to create a barrier 

against excess subfloor moisture 

attacking subsequently applied 

adhesives, where RH levels are up to 

98%. 

Following a further application 

of primer and levelling compound, 

Burmatex Tivoli carpet tiles were 

affixed in offices and conference 

rooms using Styccobond F41 carpet 

tile tackifier. The fast-drying 

adhesive is designed to provide a 

permanently tacky film, preventing 

loose-lay carpet tiles from moving 

under normal foot traffic, but 

enabling individual tiles to be lifted 

and replaced easily in the future, 

when worn or damaged. 

In the café’s kitchen, Styccobond 

F49 Hybrid PS was used to secure 

Altro Stronghold 30 slip-resistant 

vinyl. The pressure sensitive adhesive 

delivers instant grab and extended 

open time whilst providing an 

extremely strong water-resistant 

bond, making it a suitable choice for 

use in the kitchen, which will be 

subject to extensive wet cleaning. 

Throughout the main reception, café 

bar and gallery, Altro XpressLay 

loose-lay vinyl sheet completed the 

installation. 

Commenting on the project, 

Mark Wood, Director at Lang & 

Potter flooring, said: “There was a 

short window in which to complete 

the job ahead of the new academic 

year starting, and the F. Ball 

products helped to meet the 

deadline. We turn to F. Ball products 

as we know what we’re getting, and 

they help us to deliver high quality 

results for clients.” 

Tel: 01538 361 633 

www.f-ball.co.uk 



STO insulation solution achieves excellent 

marks on Cardiff school projects 

Atrio of Welsh schools have 

received major upgrades to 

their thermal insulation 

thanks to an integrated 

package of products provided by Sto 

Ltd. Ysgol Glan Morfa, Howardian 

Primary School and Ysgol 

Hamadryad in Cardiff have all had 

the company’s StoTherm Mineral 

external wall insulation system 

applied to significantly improve their 

thermal performance. 

“We had originally considered a 

different solution which proved to 

be outside the budget,” says Nick 

Langley of Stride Treglown 

Architecture. “Sto were able to 

suggest an alternative which was 

less expensive but which had already 

been tried and tested on a previous 

school project in Swansea. The 

practice had used Sto products 

previously so we were happy to 

consider their suggestion.” 

StoTherm Mineral external wall 

insulation system features mineral 

fibre insulation boards and combines 

unrivalled fire protection and high 

thermal performance with excellent 

impact resistance, making it ideal for 

both new-build and refurbishment 

projects. It was installed using Sto- 

Rotofix Plus, a unique and easily 

adjustable spiral fixing which can 

accommodate any unevenness in the 

substrate to create a perfectly 

smooth outer finish. 

“Using this system, we created a 

20mm drained cavity between the 

insulation and substrate, thus 

optimizing the water management 

of the completed construction,” adds 

Andrew Lloyd of M&P Contractors 

Wales Ltd who oversaw the 

installation work. This also helped to 

create the correct building lines 

which were required for the walls. 

“This was the first time we had 

used this solution from Sto, and 

with the training and support we 

received, all the products provided 

an integrated and reliable insulation 

solution.” 

A layer of StoLevell DuoPlus 

mineral bonding and reinforcing 

mortar was applied to the insulation, 

which gives good adhesion and 

provides a durable, weather-resistant 

and vapour permeable base layer 

ready to receive the top coat. 

StoSilco K silicone resin render 

was then added to provide a 

protective and decorative finish 

combining a high degree of water 

repellence and excellent water 

vapour permeability. The breathable 

yet highly water repellant properties 

of the StoSilco K render make it 

resistant to dirt build-up and help 

reduce the growth of algae and 

fungus. StoTherm Mineral 

incorporating StoSilco K finish is an 

ideal facade where rugged and 

reliable protection is required. 

Pic caption: Three Welsh schools 

have received major thermal 

insulation upgrades thanks to an 

integrated package of products 

provided by Sto, which included the 

company’s StoTherm Mineral 

external wall insulation system. 

www.sto.co.uk 


Works begin on pivotal build of 

West Midlands SEND school 


Midlands contractor G F 

Tomlinson has been 

selected by the 

Department for 

Education (DfE) to design and build 

a brand-new facility for the 

modernisation of Oscott Manor 

School in Birmingham, as part of the 

DfE’s Priority School Building 

Programme. 

Oscott Manor School, located in 

Old Oscott Hill, Birmingham, is a 

SEND (Special Educational Needs & 

Disability) secondary school 

supporting pupils with autism. 

Rated ‘Good’ in the most recent 

Ofsted inspection, the school has 

outgrown its current building 

following an increase in the demand 

for places, and due to site 

constraints which has meant the 

current site is too small to develop. 

This has resulted in the relocation 

and the construction of a new 

school at nearby Reservoir Road in 

Erdington, Birmingham. 

Due for completion in winter 

2021, the new educational facility 

will be a community school for 120 

young people aged 11-19, with 

autism as their primary diagnosis. 

The school will provide educational, 

health and care plans for each 

student. 

Construction works will involve 

the demolition of existing buildings 

at the 2.8 acre Reservoir Road site; 

the former Bridge SEND School, 

Fairfield Children’s Home and the 

Children’s Bungalow, followed by the 

construction of the new 29,923 sq. 

ft two-storey modern educational 

facility with a range of versatile 

teaching spaces for ICT, design and 

technology, science and music, as 

well as general staff facilities, 

external play areas and associated 

access roads. 

It will also include a multi-use 

games area (MUGA), a forest school 

with associated lighting and secure 

boundaries, staff parking and safe 

drop off and pick up areas for 

pupils. 

As you enter the site, the school 

is adjacent to the Elwood Day Centre 

which will remain open throughout 

the works, and G F Tomlinson has 

worked closely with the centre to 

ensure access will be maintained at 

all times and there is minimum 

disruption to service users. Network 

Rail is situated on the left and 

residential properties are located to 

the right and to the rear. 

This project will mark the 13th 

scheme delivered by G F Tomlinson 

under the DfE framework since 2014 

and in line with the organisation’s 

commitment to social value, the 

scheme will maximise opportunities 

for work experience and 

employment, partnering with local 

schools, colleges, universities and 

unemployed residents, through an 

Employment and Skills Plan, 

developed in consultation with 

Birmingham City Council. 

Chris Flint, director of G F 

Tomlinson, said: “We are delighted 

to be managing the design and build 

of the new Oscott Manor SEND 

School, under the DfE framework. 

“The building replacement is part 

of the DfE’s Priority School Building 

Programme (PSBP) that considers 

applications from Local Authorities 

and other agencies to rebuild and 

refurbish school buildings in the 

greatest need of repair across the 

country, and the new building will 

be constructed by the DfE’s Capital 

team, which includes G F Tomlinson. 

“This scheme adds to our 

strategic portfolio of projects in the 

education sector throughout the 

West Midlands region where we 

have an established reputation for 

delivering high quality SEND schools, 

providing safe and inspiring places 

for young people to learn and 

thrive. 

“As always, we have focused on 

the social value of this project, 

ensuring our dedicated Employment 

and Skills Plan provides tangible 

benefits to the community of 

Erdington and the surrounding 

areas.” 

Head teacher of Oscott Manor 

School, Victoria Miller, said: “The 

completion of this carefully designed 

project will provide a wealth of 

opportunities for our pupils and 

enhance their curriculum access, 

community connections and ability 

to develop the independent skills 

that will prepare them for 

adulthood. We are delighted to be 

working so closely with the DfE, 

Bond Bryan Architects and G F 

Tomlinson to ensure that this project 

meets the needs of our cohort.” 

G F Tomlinson’s design team 

include Bond Bryan Architects, BSP 

Consulting for structural and civil 

engineering services and Anderson 

Green for mechanical and electrical 

services. 

www.gftomlinson.co.uk 



Students at the City of Liverpool College to 

work on £33m Bootle regeneration 

Students at The City of 

Liverpool College are set to 

work with social enterprise 

SAFE Regeneration, on its 

plans for a £33 million 

neighbourhood in Bootle. 

SAFE Regeneration, a community 

social enterprise and arts 

organisation, plans to transform a 

six-acre area in Bootle next to the 

Leeds and Liverpool Canal. 

As part of the partnership, 

students from across College 

departments will contribute to the 

development over the next few 

years. From construction and leisure 

tourism, to hospitality, business 

planning, arts and creativity, digital 

and graphic design, students will 

have the opportunity to work on a 

real life, local project, contributing 

to Bootle’s regeneration, while 

gaining valuable work experience, 

whether through placements with 

contractors or in local bars and 

restaurants. 

SAFE will benefit from having 

access to a pool of local talent, who 

all have a desire and determination 

to learn and develop their skills and 

make a real, lasting difference to 

their communities. 

The proposed development – for 

which plans have recently been 

submitted to the local council – is 

a long-term investment vision for 

Bootle and includes 107 affordable 

family homes, an 80-bed extra care 

facility for residents aged 55 and 

over, leisure facilities, a 

microbrewery and an arts hub and 

business centre. 

One such project that students 

on the College’s Digital courses are 

already working on, is a community 

app, to keep members of the Bootle 

community updated on events in the 

area, and the progress of the 

regeneration project. The second 

phase of the project will see 

students create a digital health 

solution, which will link to local GP 

practices and enable remote health 

monitoring. This particular project is 

even more relevant given the strain 

that has been put on the NHS this 

year, with many practices being 

forced to conduct appointments 

remotely. 

Brian Dawe, CEO at SAFE 

Regeneration said: 

“We are delighted to be working 

with such a progressive college for 

the benefit of our community. 

Students will gain valuable 

experience of delivering ground 

breaking projects, whilst learning 

about the social value of our work – 

this is true partnership working. 

“We believe passionately that the 

good people of Bootle deserve 

quality and choice and are 

committed to working with our 

community partners to continue to 

bring significant social, economic 

and environmental benefits to our 

neighbourhood. We’re incredibly 

excited to have the future 

generation of talented workers so 

involved in this ambitious project.” 

Elaine Bowker, principal and 

chief executive at The City of 

Liverpool College, said: 

“The partnerships that we have 

across The City of Liverpool College 

are designed to provide our students 

with unique opportunities real world 

experience. We are passionate about 

ensuring that we are providing our 

students with the skills they need to 

enter the world of work and having 

the chance to work on such a 

significant local project for students 

across the College is an opportunity 

like no other. 

“We are looking forward to 

seeing the results of this partnership 

come to fruition and seeing our 

students made a real, lasting change 

in their communities.” 

www.liv-coll.ac.uk 


HEATING & VENTILATION 

Ground-breaking underfloor air conditioning 

system wins ‘Retrofit Project of the Year’ award 

Underfloor air conditioning 

pioneer, AET Flexible Space, 

has won the ‘Retrofit 

Project of the Year’ at the 

H&V News Awards 2020 for its work 

supplying its system to the 

refurbishment of 24 St James 

Square. The judges commented that 

the project was “an innovative use 

of building services [which] 

addressed the challenge of a historic 

site with low ceiling height and 

extensive period features.” They also 

particularly highlighted the benefits 

of the flexibility of AET’s underfloor 

air conditioning technology. 

One of the key challenges 

presented by the refurbishment of 

the grade-2 listed 24 St James 

Square was the need to 

simultaneously preserve key 

architectural features of the 

building, whilst at the same time 

providing flexible, modern, premium 

office space that would suit the 

requirements of incoming tenants. 

The remodelling of the office 

interiors at all levels was driven by 

seeking to maximise floor space and 

take full advantage of views from 

the double aspect interior, as well as 

providing flexible air conditioning at 

each floor plate. This would simply 

not have been possible with a 

conventional ceiling-based air 

conditioning system. 

M&E Consultant for the 24 St 

James’s Square project, Vic Holloway, 

from Edward Pearce LLP commented, 

“At the outset of the design process 

it was clear that the refurbishment 

delivered significant challenges in 

delivering fully serviced 

accommodation whilst maintaining 

respectable floor to ceiling heights. 

The AET downflow units promptly 

stood out as the obvious candidate 

for several reasons, including having 

the absolute minimum requirement 

for floor void height, and offering 

excellent distribution of cooling, 

heating and ventilation evenly 

across the whole floor, whilst 

reducing energy consumption.” 

AET’s underfloor air conditioning 

CAM-V system was perfectly suited 

to this complex project, because it 

makes use of the space beneath a 

raised access floor to create the air 

ventilation path, eliminating the 

need for ceiling-based services and 

associated duct and pipework, thus 

maximising floor to ceiling heights. 

The high floor to ceiling heights and 

preservation of the windows and 

original ceilings have also created a 

brighter and more airy office 

environment. 

Refurbishment of existing 

buildings has been identified as a 

key way to increase the 

sustainability of the construction 

industry, especially in densely builtup 

cities like London. However, 

converting residential buildings into 

class A office environments is often 

a major challenge. AET’s underfloor 

systems are perfectly adapted to this 

challenge, as they require minimal 

adjustments for installation, and 

provide all the necessary heating 

and cooling for a commercial 

building. 

The 24 St James project has 

already won the “Best Office 

Architecture London” award at the 

2019 International Property Awards, 

and the space is currently being let 

as Grade A office space by BNP 

Paribas Real Estate. 

www.flexiblespace.com 


ROOFING 

Welsh Slate reroof requires one of the largest 

freestanding scaffolds 

Clarke Roofing Southern completes a mammoth reroof at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation. 

Work has drawn to a 

close on the two-year 

refurbishment of the 

roof of a historic arts 

college that required 26,000 new 

Welsh slates for 39 separate roof 

areas. 

The £4.8 million project has won 

specialist contractor Clarke Roofing 

Southern Ltd a place in the history 

books, for the fact it required one of 

the largest, free-standing scaffolds 

in the UK at the time, as well as a 

shortlisting in the 2020 Pitched 

Roofing Awards. 

West Dean College of Arts and 

Conservation in Chichester, West 

Sussex, has an international 

reputation for excellence in arts and 

conservation education, from short 

course to degree level, including 

professional development courses in 

building conservation. 

But the 126-year-old roof of its 

home in West Dean House, a Grade 

II listed building of cultural and 

historical significance, which also 

houses the unique West Dean 

Collection and Edward James 

Archive, required extensive repairs to 

all 39 sections, including leadwork, 

flintwork and carpentry. 

The work to repair numerous 

leaks and failed masonry at high 

level to provide a fully-ventilated 

contemporary cold roof had to be 

carried out in two stages – Phase 1 

starting at the west end of the 

house, moving towards the centre, 

and Phase 2 working from the 

centre to the east end, stopping at 

the workshops. 

Each of the 39 areas varied in 

pitch and condition but Clarke 

Roofing Southern managed to 

salvage a limited number of the 

existing Penrhyn Heather Blues from 

Welsh Slate which had been re-fixed 

many times, limiting their re-use 

due to the angle of creep. 

The 26,000 new 500mm by 

300mm Penrhyn Heather Blues used 

to make up the difference were 

fixed at 110-125mm headlap with 

copper nails. Prior to installing, all 

the slates were sorted and graded to 

ensure correct fixing in accordance 

with BS 5534 and BS 8000 – the 

codes of practice for slating and 

tiling. 

The team from Clarke Roofing 

Southern worked closely with the 

architect, engineers and college, each 

of whom had significant input into 

the design and finishes. The college 

managed the progress by moving 

students and guests to varying 

locations and bedrooms to avoid 

being under a significant work area. 

The building’s Grade II listing and 

Wyatt flint façade meant Clarke 

Roofing Southern Ltd could not fix 

scaffold ties to the fabric. At 100m 

long and with a roof spanning 50m, 

it was one of the largest freestanding 

scaffolds in the UK at the 

time. 

Rooflight tolerance was 2mm, 

measured with lasers, to ensure the 

ornate ceiling in the stairwell was 

not damaged. The vast number of 

structural repairs required 

necessitated more than 1,000 

architects’ instructions. 

Clarke Roofing Southern’s 

managing director Frank Clarke said: 

“As NFRC heritage-status roofing 

contractors we are aware of our 

responsibility in choosing the correct 

materials and known provenance for 

all heritage projects. 

“At the outset of the tendering 

phase we met with the architects to 

look at roof elevations, advise on the 

existing material and agree on the 

materials that would be used on the 

project. Samples were provided by 

Welsh Slate for listed building 

approval. 

“We discussed with Welsh Slate 

and our suppliers, Chandlers 

merchants, the pitch, angle of creep 

and headlap on each of the 

individual roofs on the project, and 

our slaters were able to use the 

chart on site showing everything 

they needed on each roof. The new 

Penrhyn slate matched perfectly. 

“Due to the listed status of the 

building and its importance in the 

arts and crafts, there was never 

going to be a substitute for what we 

believe is the best slate in the world 

and thankfully British.” 

He added: “In our view, we think 

the trust, residents and staff did not 

realise the enormity of the task until 

we took all the college staff on a 

roof tour. I think then we can safely 

say we exceeded every expectation.” 

The contractor also provided site 

tours for more than 200 people to 

view and discuss the works at roof 

level, and guided trainee architects 

to help them understand natural 

slate, ventilation requirements and 

lead carbonation. People on these 

tours included college students, 

some of whom were learning natural 

slate work as part of their course. 

All the materials used were 

chosen to provide long-term 

durability (with Welsh Slate 

guaranteed for 100 years) and not 

compromise the heritage building or 

listed building consent as well as to 

enhance ventilation. 

The slating, tiling and leadwork 

teams from Clarke Roofing Southern 

included operatives training to 

various NVQ levels, including 

specific heritage work. It is in the 

category “Best use of a roof tile for 

a heritage roof,” that the company 

has won its 2020 Pitched Roofing 

Award. 

Sean Wootten, Welsh Slate’s 

technical sales manager for southeast 

England, said: “It is always a 

pleasure to see our fantastic slates 

installed by high-class professionals 

on wonderful projects like this. We 

worked closely with the contractor 

on the technical details ensuring the 

slates were supplied at the correct 

headlap for the project location.” 

West Dean College of Arts and 

Conservation is housed in the 

turreted and castellated former 

home of poet, artist, designer and 

patron of the Surrealist Movement 

Edward James. Programmes include 

short courses in arts, craft and 

building conservation, as well as 

degree and diploma study in arts 

and conservation. It is part of The 

Edward James Foundation, a 

registered charity which also 

comprises West Dean Gardens, West 

Dean Estate and West Dean Tapestry 

Studios. 

To watch Clarke Roofing’s three-minute drone video of the project, please 

go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5EKtX2UAJQ&t=5s. 


ROOFING 

Cupa Heavy 3 Random provides a traditional 

touch to Ayrshire Hotel refurbishment 

Tasked with renewing the 

traditional slate roof on the 

historic Marine Hotel in Troon, 

specialist contractor John 

Fulton Plumbing and Roofing 

selected CUPA PIZARRAS’ Heavy 3 

slate as an authentic alternative to 

the now unavailable Scottish slates. 

Dating back to 1894, The Marine 

Hotel is a luxury 89 room hotel in 

Troon on the Ayrshire coastline with 

views over the Firth of Clyde and 

the Isle of Arran. It sits on the edge 

of the historic Royal Troon Golf 

course, the nine-time host of The 

Open Championship, overlooking the 

18th hole. 

In 2019, the owners of the hotel 

announced major work that would 

see both the interior and exterior of 

the building restored and refreshed. 

Internally this included every guest 

room and all public areas while 

externally, the windows, stonework 

and roof would be refurbished. 

Having worked with the hotel to 

address previous issues with the 

roof, Glasgow based John Fulton 

Plumbing and Roofing submitted a 

plan for the renewal of the slate 

roof and leadwork, along with a 

comprehensive overhaul of the 

existing stone façade and the 

installation of new sash and case 

double glazed windows. With the 

support of CUPA PIZARRAS, the 

John Fulton team put forward CUPA 

Heavy 3 as the ideal alternative to 

Scottish slate. The dark grey, 7-8mm 

thick Heavy 3 slates closely replicate 

the colour and thickness of the 

original slates, as well as the 

characteristic pyrite crystals often 

visible on the surface. 

The slates were supplied in CUPA 

PIZARRAS’ Random format and laid 

in diminishing courses to replicate 

the look created by the traditional 

roofing methods. This approach, 

sometimes referred to as random 

roofing, was the result of many 

Scottish quarries producing slates in 

varying dimensions and thicknesses 

to maximise the use of the quarry 

output. This led to the practice of 

laying the roof in diminishing 

courses, with the largest slates at 

the base of the roof and smaller 

ones laid near the ridge. While 

modern production techniques mean 

this is no longer necessary, CUPA 

PIZARRAS’ Random allows this effect 

to be recreated by including a 

selection of slates from across its 

range of available sizes. 

The Marine Hotel is a Category C 

Listed Building as it is a notable 

example of the work of Scottish 

architects James Salmon and John 

Gaff Gillespie. Therefore, any 

changes to the building, including 

the choice of materials, had to be 

reviewed and approved by Historic 

Environment Scotland (HES). 

“We had worked with CUPA 

PIZARRAS slate on many projects 

before where a traditional look was 

required,” said Martin Mcguinness, 

Roofing Manager at John Fulton. 

“The hotel’s owners looked at 

previous examples of where Heavy 3 

had been used and were satisfied it 

would achieve the aesthetic they 

wanted. Also, because the product 

has been used on a number of 

heritage projects in Scotland, 

gaining HES approval was 

straightforward.” 

“The relatively complex design of 

the roof, with approximately 25 

different roof areas, and the hotel’s 

coastal location meant CUPA 

PIZARRAS’ 100-year warranty was 

important in giving the client true 

peace of mind about the quality of 

the slate and its ability to withstand 

the test of time. ” 

Allan Liddell, Specification 

Manager at CUPA PIZARRAS added: 

“The Marine Hotel is an iconic 

building in the area and we are 

proud to have been part of its 

refurbishment. As demonstrated on 

this project, Heavy 3 offers an 

excellent solution to the challenge 

of replacing traditional Scottish slate 

roofs. It also meets the highest 

modern standards through our 

commitment to quality, traceability 

and minimising the environmental 

impact of production and 

transportation.” 

The refurbishment of the roof 

began in June 2019 and was 

completed in July 2020. The hotel 

remained open throughout the work 

until it was required to temporarily 

close due to measures put in place 

to control the spread of COVID-19. 

www.cupapizarras.com/uk 

REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS, February 2021 17

SOCIAL HOUSING 

Go ahead secured for two residential 

schemes in Nottingham 

UK residential and 

commercial property 

developer Godwin 

Developments has secured 

planning consent from Nottingham 

City Council’s planning committee 

for the construction of 102 family 

homes in the Bulwell area in the 

city. 

The mix of two- and threebedroom 

properties will be delivered 

across two neighbouring 

developments with a combined land 

size of 5.2 acres. Both sites are 

currently vacant and are set to be 

restored for community use after 

nearly a decade of being disused. 

The Maple Fields development, 

which will be built on the site of the 

former Henry Mellish School on 

Kersall Drive, will contain a total of 

57 homes, while the Crescent 

scheme – situated on the previous 

Piccadilly Playing Field - will provide 

an additional 45 dwellings to the 

local area. 

Residents will have easy access 

to a range of nearby amenities, 

including supermarkets, a doctor's 

surgery, home and retail outlets, 

eateries, a nursery and primary and 

secondary schools. The new schemes 

are also located near well-serviced 

bus routes and are just a 10-minute 

walk from Bulwell Train Station, 

which offers regular services into 

Nottingham and further afield. 

Both developments have been 

amended after feedback from 

councillors and residents to 

incorporate new materials and a 

colour palette that better reflect the 

character of the local area. 

Additional planting, better defined 

community gateways and improved 

shared road surfaces have also been 

included to provide for more 

sustainable and attractive schemes. 

Gurdeep Gill, associate director 

at Godwin Developments, said: “We 

are delighted to have secured 

planning permission for both sites. 

The developments will support the 

regeneration of the local area, 

enhance the provision of highquality 

homes in Bulwell and 

improve local infrastructure. We are 

also pleased to confirm that these 

schemes will deliver a higher 

proportion of affordable homes for 

the local community than required 

by planning policy. 

“We wish to thank Nottingham 

City Council’s planning department 

for working closely with us to shape 

these proposals and the councillors 

for giving us the green light to take 

them to the next stage. 

“We would also like to thank the 

award winning architects CPMG, 

who designed the scheme, RG+P for 

project managing the development 

and Rodgers Leask for expert 

engineering advice throughout.” 

James Mulcare, land director at 

Godwin Developments, added: “We 

are extremely pleased to have 

secured planning approval for both 

these suburban housing sites, having 

worked closely with Nottingham 

City Council and its planning 

department during the development 

process. 

“Both schemes align well with 

our core suburban development 

principles, which aim to provide 

high-quality homes for families with 

a wider choice of tenures and help 

to improve local communities in key 

regional cities such as Nottingham.” 

Throughout the approximate 

two-year construction period, the 

developments are set to create over 

300 temporary jobs and contribute 

in excess of £150,000 to the local 

community and infrastructure. 

This announcement follows news 

of Godwin Development’s planning 

approval of another residential 

scheme in Doncaster, which will see 

the creation of 60 Build-to-Rent 

homes and strengthens further the 

developers’ UK-wide pipeline of the 

business which currently includes 

over 2,000 residential units. 

www.godwindevelopments.co.uk 


Construction starts on over 100 new 

affordable homes in Nottingham 


Work to build 106 new 

council houses has 

started in Top Valley. 

Nottingham City Homes 

(NCH) was given planning 

permission to build the properties on 

land on Whitcombe Gardens, which 

is where the former Eastglade 

School stood. It was closed in July 

2007 and demolished soon after. 

The 106 new homes include 23 

one bed flats, 63 two bed houses 

and 20 three bed homes – plus open 

space for the whole community to 

enjoy. 

Nottingham company Pelham 

Architects has designed the site and 

local construction company Robert 

Woodhead Limited are building the 

homes. They will then be managed 

by NCH on behalf of Nottingham 

City Council, who will own the 

homes. 

Builders are now on site and the 

homes are expected to be completed 

in 2023. Once built, this will take 

the total number of new homes 

built for affordable rent by 

Nottingham City Council and 

Nottingham City Homes - as part of 

the Building a Better Nottingham 

programme to over 700 in the city. 

Nick Murphy, Chief Executive of 

Nottingham City Homes, said: “This 

is one of the biggest projects in the 

pipeline for NCH and the council, as 

we continue our partnership to 

create affordable homes for local 

people on the council house waiting 

list. 

“These homes will offer local 

people affordable, well-designed and 

energy efficient homes – places they 

will be proud to live. As well as these 

new homes, we are creating open 

green space and we are adding 

wider improvements to the area, 

which will benefit the whole 

neighbourhood and be an asset to 

the local community.” 

Councillor Linda Woodings, 

Portfolio Holder for Planning, 

Housing and Heritage at 

Nottingham City Council, said: 

“We’re really proud to see the start 

of works on the Eastglade site 

which, when complete will provide 

over 100 new much needed council 

homes for affordable rent. 

“Providing homes which are high 

quality, warm, energy efficient and 

safe is even more important now 

than ever as people spend more time 

at home. It is also important that, as 

part of the development we are able 

to provide green and open space, 

which the whole community can 

enjoy. 

“We look forward to working 

with Nottingham City Homes and 

partners and seeing the 

transformation from an unused site 

into new homes for local people and 

families”. 

Tom Woodhead, Business Services 

Director said: “We are really looking 

forward to playing our part in the 

community while we deliver these 

high quality homes. We have been 

planning how we can create and 

sustain local jobs, inspire people into 

the construction industry and work 

with NCH and our supply chain to 

support a number of grass roots 

initiatives to create social value.” 

www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk 



Esh Construction Completes £11m Affordable 

Housing Projects in Yorkshire 

Esh Construction has worked 

in partnership with Yorkshire 

Housing to deliver more than 

80 affordable homes across 

two developments totalling £11.4 

million in Yorkshire. 

The first to complete was 

Bodmin Road, marking the first 

land-led development Esh 

Construction has delivered in 

Yorkshire. The £3.7 million 

development in Middleton, Leeds, 

was officially handed over at the 

start of November and provides 32 

new homes which will help address 

the shortfall of affordable housing 

in the south west of Leeds. 

Bodmin Road provides 28 houses 

and four apartments with a mix of 

two- and three-bedroom homes, for 

shared ownership and affordable 

rent tenures. The houses are 

arranged in semi-detached terraces 

and the apartments are in a twostorey 

block, all with parking 

facilities. 

Work at Bodmin Road 

commenced in April 2019 in 

partnership with SSA Architects and 

Clancy Consulting when Leeds City 

Council approved the plans to 

transform the site of two former 

care homes. 

The second development to 

complete is Barnsdale Road, located 

two miles north of Castleford in 

Allerton Bywater. Esh’s affordable 

housing division transformed 4.6 

acres of land formerly used as a 

colliery station yard into 12 twobedroom, 

38 three-bedroom, and 

five four-bedroom houses, again for 

a mix of shared ownership and 

affordable rent tenures. 

Contemporary in design and in 

keeping with a neighbouring urban 

village, the 55 new homes are 

arranged in small terraces and semidetached 

units, each with their own 

landscaped garden area and parking 

facilities. 

Construction work on the £7.6m 

Barnsdale Road development started 

in February 2018 when Esh 

Construction was appointed as the 

design and build contractor working 

with Acanthus WSM Architects, BWA 

(Europe) Ltd and WSP. 

Stuart Leslie, Divisional Director 

at Esh Construction, said: “The 

project delivery teams and our 

partners have worked in 

collaboration to overcome the 

difficulties faced as a result of the 

COVID-19 outbreak to deliver two 

high-quality developments for 

Yorkshire Housing. 

“Bodmin Road is a scheme which 

has been long in the making and is 

testament to a huge, combined 

effort, from land acquisition to 

design and planning stages through 

to its construction. We’re delighted 

to have worked in partnership with 

Yorkshire Housing to help address 

the housing shortage within these 

areas and look forward to working 

together again in the future.” 

Sian Grindley, Head of 

Development at Yorkshire Housing 

said: “Delivering two great 

affordable housing projects during 

what has been a testing year is 

testament to our partnership and 

the hard work the teams at 

Yorkshire Housing and Esh have put 

into getting both Bodmin Road, 

Middleton and Barnsdale Road, 

Allerton Bywater, over the line. 

“We are passionate about 

creating new communities and 

delivering quality affordable homes 

across Yorkshire that our customers 

are proud to live in and call home. 

The completion of Bodmin Road and 

Barnsdale Road contributes to our 

strategic priority of delivering 8,000 

new homes by 2030.” 

www.eshgroup.co.uk0 


PROJECTS 

How to guard your property from flood damage 

By Catherine Hill, National Commercial Manager at Peter Cox 

Winter months are often 

characterised by heavy 

rainfall across the UK, 

with extreme weather 

sometimes causing flash floods. 

Storm Bella was the latest to bring 

serious flood risks to property 

owners, with the Met Office issuing 

112 flood warnings from Cornwall to 

Kent of potential damage to 

buildings in December. 

It's predicted there will be 10-13 

days of rainfall in the UK across 

January and February, so it’s 

important those responsible for 

property maintenance and 

construction know how to prepare 

for flood warnings and prevent 

damage. Floods can strike quickly 

and without warning, which means 

damage is costly and difficult to 

repair if the right preparations 

haven’t been made in time. Damage 

mitigation is therefore important at 

this time of year, and that 

professionals understand where their 

properties might be at risk. 

RESISTANCE VS RESILIENCE 

For properties in at-risk zones, it is 

important to assess protection 

measures before floods occur. These 

actions fall into two categories: 

flood resistant or flood resilient 

measures. Resilience measures look 

to mitigate and reduce the damage 

caused by flooding in a property, 

while resistance measures seek to 

prevent water ingress by creating 

watertight barriers. This means 

floodwater is unable to enter a 

building because waterproof 

membranes have been used. 

GENERAL DESIGN PHILOSOPHY 

Once resistance and resilience 

measures have been taken into 

account, there’s a common 

methodology for ensuring no water 

ingress in a building. This is a 

combined approach that involves 

two barrier methods. First, 

floodwater is excluded from the 

building using various barrier 

methods, which are applied to the 

structure and to points of entry such 

as doors and service penetrations. 

These barrier measures, if breached 

or damaged during a flood event 

will be backed up by internal 

waterproofing methods, which 

should in any substructure (cellars or 

basements) comply to BS8102 2009. 

In retrofit scenarios a 

waterproofing system is often now 

adopted, these are known as drained 

protection measures involving 

hidden cavity drainage membranes, 

drainage channels, floor gullies and 

a pump. This means penetrating 

floodwater will be controlled and 

diverted behind the membranes and 

finishes, before being pumped out of 

the building at a faster rate than it 

can enter the premises. 

In case of overtopping, 

protracted periods of ingress, or 

bypassing of prevention measures 

such as leaving a door open 

inadvertently, the internal finishes 

are designed to be resistant and 

“recoverable” quickly. This will 

protect vulnerable parts of a 

property – particularly those at 

lower-ground or below ground 

levels, where water is most likely to 

get in and cause lasting damage. 

WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF 

FLOOD DAMAGE 

If a property succumbs to flood 

damage, it can create dangerous 

situations from an electrical, 

structural and hygiene point of view. 

Before clean-up, you should reach 

out to trained experts to evaluate 

the affected property and identify 

all the damage and structural 

hazards. This allows the clean-up 

and rebuilding process to take place 

as efficiently and safely as possible. 

It’s also worth consulting a qualified 

electrician, as they can check all the 

electrics in the building are safe, and 

establish what equipment can safely 

be used during the clean-up process. 

Property experts can help to 

assess damage to the structure and 

recommend a course of action for 

restoring a property to its pre-flood 

state, while they will also have 

access to specialist equipment like a 

pump and generator. Having a clear 

plan can help to reduce the stress of 

dealing with the aftermath and 

ensure restoration takes place before 

water damage causes timber decay. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

Flood damage can not only be costly 

and difficult to repair, but it can 

also be incredibly dangerous and 

distressing. It’s important to prepare 

a property as best you can to reduce 

damage should a flood occur. 

Flooding and damp proofing give a 

property the best chance of 

restoring it to its original state in 

the most timely and safe manner 

possible. 

Web: www.petercox.com 


PROJECTS 

Historic homes at landmark Clifton Village 

development on track 

Works to restore and 

convert a Grade II listed 

rectory building into 

separate homes and 

build new executive properties 

within its grounds in Clifton Village 

are progressing well, with two 

houses now sold and five available 

to purchase. 

Expected for completion in 

February 2021, works on the Rectory 

Mews development as it is known, 

are being led by Tomlinson Homes, a 

division of the G F Tomlinson Group, 

and will see the previously derelict 

Old Rectory site, which dates back to 

the mid-1700s, restored and 

converted into a prominent gateway 

residential feature in the soughtafter 

Clifton Village in 

Nottinghamshire. 

The Old Rectory, once home to 

the Rector of Clifton, is a typical 

Georgian style building with South 

facing garden elevations, and the 

property still retains its original 

square stairwell with wooden 

cantilever stairs and large purposebuilt 

rooms. Along with its boundary 

wall, it occupies a prime position in 

Clifton Village. 

Once finished, Rectory Mews will 

comprise four luxury homes within 

the Old Rectory building, each with 

its own entrance, outdoor space and 

garden, and within the beautifully 

landscaped grounds – three new 

executive properties will be built 

with garden facing elevations, 

accessed through a private gated 

driveway. 

Homes within the Old Rectory 

conversion include The Gatehouse - 

a three-bedroom property and The 

Cottage - a two-bedroom property, 

which are both currently sold 

subject to contract. The Rectory - a 

five-bedroom property with 

reinstalled period features and views 

into the garden and The Lodge - a 

four-bedroom property, are both still 

available for purchase. 

Sat within the exclusive grounds 

– the three new executive detached 

homes will include two fivebedroom 

properties - Beech House 

and Oak House, and Cedar House - a 

six-bedroom property, all of which 

are currently for sale. 

The stunning new build 

properties boast ample living spaces, 

with garages, security gated access 

and private sun lounges. 

Prices for the remaining available 

properties at Rectory Mews start at 

£550,000 and go up to £1million, 

and buyers can contact sole selling 

agent haart in Nottingham on 0115 

941 1311 to register interest. 

Viewings are being organised in line 

with COVID-19 government safety 

guidelines. 

Tomlinson Homes has worked 

closely with the local community 

and Nottinghamshire County 

Council’s conservation team for all 

restoration works, and all properties 

are fitted with high spec fixtures 

and fittings, including Burbidge 

kitchens sourced locally from Design 

Time in West Bridgford and 

bathrooms from Roca, and Villeroy 

and Boch. 

All interior design has been 

inspired by the location of the 

development and the new build 

properties have been named after 

trees within the grounds. 

The development is superbly 

positioned in close proximity to 

major employers such as Boots, 

Experian and both universities, with 

easy access to major travel routes 

including the M1, Beeston Station 

and Nottingham Parkway Station 

which has regular trains to London 

and East Midlands Airport. 

Siman Preston, group property 

manager at Tomlinson Homes, said: 

“Works are progressing seamlessly at 

Rectory Mews – which once 

complete, will be an iconic 

residential development within the 

highly desirable Clifton Village. 

“The stunning restoration and 

conversion of the once derelict 

building will be a prominent feature 

of the village, giving it the entrance 

it so rightly deserves after so long. 

“As well as the two properties 

already sold, we have had a great 

amount of interest in the remaining 

five homes and encourage buyers to 

register their interest for viewings 

with haart if they would like to look 

around, which is highly 

recommended. With the stamp duty 

ending in March next year, buyers 

can qualify for a reduction in stamp 

duty if they act within this 

timescale.” 

Tomlinson Homes is working 

alongside Nottinghamshire County 

Council’s conservation team, with a 

number of local companies to 

deliver this scheme, utilising 

workforce in the local area. 



Preparation key to successful sustainable 

retrofit projects 

PROJECTS 

The move to extend the Green 

Homes Grant scheme to 

March 2022 gives renovation, 

maintenance and 

improvement (RMI) contractors a 

chance to capitalise on the 

subsequent increase in demand for 

sustainable retrofit projects. Here, 

Gareth Dunn, Service Innovation 

Director for British Gypsum, 

explains how installers can prepare 

themselves to take advantage of 

the impending boom in energy 

efficiency improvement projects. 

The Green Homes Grant scheme 

was introduced in September and 

enables homeowners to apply for 

grants up to £5,000 towards the 

cost of primary and secondary 

energy efficiency improvements. 

The scheme is part of the 

government’s drive for net zero 

emissions by 2050 and was 

introduced to reduce the amount of 

CO2 generated by domestic 

properties, which currently 

accounts for a fifth of the UK’s 

total emissions. 

Internal wall insulation (IWI) is 

one of the key types of primary 

improvement work permitted under 

the scheme and is a relatively quick 

and inexpensive way for 

homeowners to improve the energy 

efficiency of a property. Demand 

for IWI improvements is therefore 

expected to increase significantly 

over the next year or so. 

IWI substantially improves the 

thermal performance of a property 

and is extremely effective for 

increasing energy efficiency. Many 

residential properties today, 

especially those built more than 20 

years ago, are no way near as 

energy efficient as they could be, 

with as much as 35 per cent of 

heat lost through poorly insulated 

walls. IWI improves the insulation 

properties of solid walls to enable 

them to maintain a more constant 

temperature, and in turn help to 

lower the homeowners’ energy bills. 

Additionally, once installed, there’s 

no ongoing maintenance or 

servicing required. 

To yield the best results for the 

homeowner it is vital installers use 

the highest performing product for 

the surface application. For 

example, British Gypsum’s DriLyner 

RF is designed specifically for use 

on cleaned, painted surfaces. It can 

be fitted directly onto the existing 

surface once the skirtings and any 

other fixtures and fittings are 

removed. Specialised products are 

also available for applications 

where the existing plasterwork is 

decaying and falling off, helping to 

improve speed and ease of 

installation, and keeping 

encroachment on floor space to a 

minimum. 

In order to carry out this kind of 

British_Gypsum_Gareth_Dunn 

work under the Green Homes Grant 

scheme, installers must first receive 

PAS2030/35 accreditation and 

register to the voluntary Trustmark 

scheme. This makes it important to 

receive comprehensive training, 

with IWI courses such as the one 

we run offering a great way to 

train towards PAS2030/35. In 

deciding on a course it will be 

important to consider whether it 

will offer not only an overview of 

IWI techniques and best practice 

but also practical demonstrations 

on how to improve insulation, 

minimise air leakage and better 

understand the effects of 

condensation when fitting systems. 

Receiving the right training on 

energy efficiency regulations will 

also help installers complete jobs to 

a high standard and ensure they 

earn professional business 

recommendations. 

The extension of the Green 

Homes Grant scheme will generate 

lots of new business opportunities 

for installers over the next 15 

months or so. However, putting in 

the preparatory work now, will 

ensure they have the necessary 

paperwork and tools to do the job. 

Web: www.british-gypsum.com 


PROJECTS 

Works start on £3.4m Staffordshire 

healthcare facility 

Midlands contractor G F 

Tomlinson has 

commenced works on 

the new Greenwood 

House Medical Centre in Burntwood, 

Staffordshire. 

Due for completion in September 

2021, the new £3.4million medical 

facility, located on Lichfield Road, 

will bring first class healthcare 

facilities to the community, relieving 

the pressure of local hospitals. 

The new single storey centre will 

consist of 12 consulting rooms, five 

treatment rooms, a healthcare and 

phlebotomy room, and a health 

education space with an adjoining 

pharmacy unit, and will be built on 

a site previously occupied by a 

residential care home, which has 

been vacant since 2008. 

Providing a much-needed 

upgrade to the current healthcare 

facilities, the centre will be replacing 

services provided by the Darwin 

Medical Practice - located on 

Hudson Drive approximately 300 

metres away from Greenwood 

House, ensuring improved and 

accessible facilities for the area. 

There will also be 61 onsite 

parking spaces created and 

surroundings will be landscaped, 

with the centre using the existing 

road entrance for the former care 

home. 

The scheme has been funded by 

NHS England’s Estates and 

Technology Transformation Fund, 

which aims to improve healthcare 

services for patients across the 

country with modernised facilities 

and technology. 

Procured through the 

Staffordshire County Council 

framework, G F Tomlinson has been 

selected to provide construction 

works for the site, and this is the 

fifth project the contractor has 

procured through the framework 

since 2016. 

Chris Flint, director of G F 

Tomlinson said: “The importance of 

good quality healthcare is 

important, now more than ever, and 

the new medical centre will provide 

optimised and accessible facilities 

for the local community which are 

currently inadequate, meeting the 

demands of the ageing population 

in Burntwood. 

“We’re pleased to be partnering 

with Staffordshire County Council 

once again to provide vital public 

service buildings for the wider 

community, instilling confidence 

that they have access to good 

healthcare whenever they need it.” 

Alan White, leader of 

Staffordshire County Council and 

former cabinet member for health, 

care and wellbeing, said: “Part of the 

strategy for reducing demand on our 

hospitals from ageing communities 

is to provide more facilities and 

services close to residents. 

“This development, reusing a 

dormant plot of land that has long 

been earmarked for the purpose, will 

provide additional capacity for the 

local GP practice and means people 

in Burntwood can look forward to a 

new, state-of-the-art facility that 

meets the community’s needs.” 

Dr Gerbo Huisman, GP partner at 

Darwin Medical Practice, said: “I am 

delighted that years of collaborative 

working and planning between 

skilled and dedicated professionals 

from local health authorities, the 

county council and The Darwin 

Medical Practice are now coming to 

fruition. 

“Our patients, as well as the 

wider community, are now getting 

what they have asked for so long; a 

modern, spacious and comfortable 

health centre from which we, their 

GP practice, will be delivering high 

quality, responsive and patient 

centred primary care services.” 

Staffordshire County Council is 

leading this project, with project 

management from ENTRUST, G F 

Tomlinson acting as main contractor, 

CPMG as architect and Jackson 

Purdue as structural engineer. 



Planning goes in for ground-breaking 

‘UK First’ development 

PROJECTS 

Contemporary interpretations 

of Victorian railway arches 

and a stunning atrium are 

among the key features of 

the latest phase of the 

groundbreaking The Island Quarter 

development in Nottingham. 

Proposals for a ground-breaking 

multi-million ‘cohesive use’ scheme 

designed by Jestico+Whiles, feature 

a combination of hotels, co-working 

space, apartments, green public 

realm and leisure facilities. 

The latest phase - which is the 

flagship of Conygar’s The Island 

Quarter development - has been 

hailed as a ‘UK first’ which leads the 

way in terms of sustainability, 

innovation and engagement with 

nature and green space in a post- 

Covid world. 

The ambitious plans submitted to 

Nottingham City Council today (4 

January) include a 223-room hotel, 

247 residential apartments and an 

extensive food and beverage area 

featuring a stunning bar and busy 

forum for people to meet. 

James Dilley, director at architect 

Jestico+Whiles, said: “This design 

truly blends with Canal Turn and its 

surroundings. It is about place 

making, focused on a spirit of 

community, conviviality and 

collaboration. The design we have 

brought forward really reflects the 

synergy of uses that the wider 

scheme will create, and we hope will 

create a ripple effect across the 

entire site and across Nottingham 

itself. 

“This building is inspired by the 

rich and layered context of The 

Island Quarter, respecting and 

referencing its centuries of heritage 

while creating something entirely 

new. This isn’t helicopter 

architecture – we aren’t just 

dropping something in and hoping it 

works with its surroundings, it is 

born of its special context.” 

Richard Watson, of developer 

Conygar, said: “The Island Quarter is 

the biggest city centre regeneration 

schemes in the UK, and we believe it 

is vital for the development to bring 

something outstanding to 

Nottingham, for which the city and 

the Midlands can be proud of. 

“We are fortunate to have a site 

in Nottingham with its great 

heritage and an international 

reputation - with developments such 

as this and, among other schemes, 

the renovation of Nottingham 

Castle, we want to ensure it retains 

its rightful place as the Queen of 

the Midlands and a core UK city. 

“It is an ambitious project - 

unmatched across the UK. The 

scheme will raise the profile of 

Nottingham, so we are working 

closely with our team of architects 

and designers to create a lasting 

legacy and community for 

Nottingham.” 

The first glimpse of the new 

images highlights such features as 

large archways, wide open spaces 

within the hotel areas and a 100mlong 

atrium to create a light and 

airy atmosphere for residents and 

visitors. 

The proposal – which also 

features a luxury day spa and green 

space for visitors – is believed to be 

the UK’s first cohesive-use 

development, incorporating multiple 

uses within the same flowing space, 

similar to Roppongi Hills in Tokyo. 

Several aspects of the design 

have been created to meet changing 

needs anticipated in the aftermath 

of the pandemic, such as flexible 

spaces, relaxing community areas 

and green public realm. 

David Jones, director at Axis 

Planning, which has coordinated all 

planning-related inputs on the 

scheme since its inception, said: 

“This latest phase of the Island 

Quarter is groundbreaking in a 

number of ways. The innovative 

blending of hotel, office and 

residential space and the distinctive 

combination of high quality internal 

and external environments will, I’m 

sure, generate significant footfall in 

this soon to be revitalised part of 

the city”. 

“The ground floor provides an 

extensive, mixed-use food and 

beverage-led experience 

incorporating restaurant, bar, forum 

and atrium space in a way that 

hasn’t been done before in the UK. 

“The mix of linked buildings 

together with integral and adjacent 

open spaces provides a fluidity 

within the development which will 

be essential in a post-Covid world. 

We’re convinced this will create a 

truly unique experience for people 

to visit and to stay, live, work and 

play. 

“The scheme will complement 

future plans for the city, such as the 

highly anticipated redevelopment of 

the Broadmarsh. Together, these 

developments will lead the way for 

the ambitious Southside 

regeneration.” 

The Island Quarter masterplan, 

which received outline planning 

approval in April 2019, has been 

designed with a full lifecycle of uses, 

ranging from student housing, office 

space and community living. 

The development will introduce a 

network of public realm and access 

routes for pedestrians and cyclists, 

with green spaces at the heart of 

the plans. 

Operating in tandem with Canal 

Turn, the opening phase of the 

scheme, the architecture mirrors the 

heritage buildings opposite, as well 

as taking inspiration from the 

nearby Victorian railway buildings. 

Alongside the hotel – which will 

provide short and long-stay 

accommodation with city views 

from a landmark 17-storey building 

– the proposals feature 3,000 sqm of 

serviced flexible office space. 

The latest phase will also see the 

creation of significant amounts of 

landscaped green space in the form 

of a linear park, creating a clear link 

through the site from the city centre 

to the suburbs to the east of the 

city. 

www.theislandquarter.com 


PROJECTS 

Farrells unveil designs at Grade II 

listed Pantechnicon 

Completed in Autumn 2020, 

Farrells’ sensitive and 

contemporary restoration at 

Belgravia’s ‘Pantechnicon’ 

now plays host to a brand-new 

concept store and dining experience, 

breathing new life into the former 

warehouse. 

Appointed by Pantechnicon 

London Limited, Farrells began work 

on the scheme in 2015. The 

practices’ approach enhanced the 

Pantechnicon’s history by providing 

essential repairs and refurbishment 

of the Grade II listed building. Its 

classical frontage, a landmark in 

Belgravia, remains with its interior 

architecture taking on a new lease 

of life. 

A new cantilevered three storey 

rear extension was created to add 

substantial volume on each floor 

with large scale warehouse inspired 

windows that flood the spaces with 

light, as well as a new glazed 

pavilion on the 5th floor with an 

opening roof, which generates 

additional dining and terrace space. 

The expansion of the previously 

unused basement through the 

lowering of the floor level to 

increase the height and volume of 

the space has also created a series of 

new spaces extending all the way 

through to the under-pavement 

vault rooms. The arrangement of the 

new building structures and 

fenestration are derived and drawn 

across the floor plan from the 

geometries of the classical façade 

whilst stepping and out structurally 

and spatially in a very modern way. 

Design Partner at Farrells, Russ 

Hamilton comments: “Our designs 

have carefully restored the building 

and celebrated its heritage, whilst 

enhancing its interiors for modern 

day use. By creating the rear 

extension and growing the volume 

of the basement, the Pantechnicon 

now benefits from an additional 140 

sqm of optimal dining and retail 

space.” 

Built in 1830 as an arts and 

crafts centre and subsequently an 

upmarket warehouse for local 

residents, the look and feel of the 

new rear facade uses a warehouse 

aesthetic to reference its past whilst 

stepping in plan and against the 

skyline in a dynamic and modern 

way. The extension is clad in a 

glazed off-white brick, paying 

homage to the historical use of this 

material in London back courts 

whilst contrasting strongly with its 

neighbours London stock brick 

frontages. 

www.farrells.com 


PROJECTS 

Detailed Planning Consent Granted for first 

Phase of £200m Becketwell Scheme 

Detailed planning permission 

has been granted for the 

first phase of the £200m 

regeneration of the 

Becketwell area of Derby city centre, 

with development work to start in 

late Spring. 

At a meeting of the Derby City 

Council planning committee held 

last night, councillors considered a 

reserved matters planning 

application and voted unanimously 

in favour of developers St James 

Securities’ landmark scheme. 

With detailed planning 

consented, the Leeds-based company 

will now be able to start to work-on 

phase one of the scheme, which 

includes the construction of 259 

build to rent apartments on the site 

of the former Debenhams store on 

Victoria Street. 

A new high quality public square 

on the site of the former Central 

United Reformed Church remains 

the centrepiece of the development 

and will also be delivered as part of 

the first phase. 

Work is already well underway to 

bring forward a second phase to 

comprise a new 3,500-capacity 

performance and conference venue 

on the site of Laurie House offices 

and the former Pink Coconut 

nightclub. 

Future planned phases of the 

scheme include a range of other 

complementary uses of the site 

including up to 25,000 sq. m of new 

grade A offices and commercial 

space, a hotel and a multi-storey car 

park. 

Demolition of the former 

Debenhams store which occupied 

part of the site was completed last 

year. 

The regeneration of the 

Becketwell area is expected to bring 

numerous benefits to the city, 

including a repopulation of both 

office workers and residents to the 

city centre which will help boost 

activity outside of traditional retail 

hours. 

It is also hoped that the 

substantial levels of investment 

proposed at Becketwell will provide 

confidence for further new 

investment in surrounding areas of 

the city centre. 

More than 2,000 jobs are 

expected to be created by the 

development. 

A report, prepared by the city 

council’s planning department ahead 

of the meeting had recommended 

the scheme for approval, stating 

that: 

“The proposal is an acceptable 

form of development in terms of its 

layout, scale, external appearance 

and impact on the overall character 

of the immediate area. 

“The development should act as a 

catalyst and drive subsequent phases 

of development on the wider 

Becketwell site and this important 

proposal will deliver much needed 

residential accommodation in the 

city centre. The proposal accords 

with the Development Plan when 

read as a whole and it constitutes 

sustainable development in social, 

economic and environmental terms.” 

Commenting on the decision to 

grant planning permission for phase 

one of the Becketwell scheme, Paul 

Morris, development director at St 

James Securities said: 

“We are delighted that planning 

has been granted for what will be a 

landmark regeneration scheme for 

the city. 

“We and our wider team of 

consultants have been working on 

the scheme for more than three 

years. To receive a unanimous 

decision from the planning 

committee is a vindication that our 

scheme is the right fit for the city 

and will provide the impetus to kickstart 

further investment. 

“The Becketwell regeneration 

scheme is now set to move from 

being an aspiration to a reality. We 

look forward to working alongside 

Derby City Council and our other 

private sector partners to deliver a 

scheme that will revitalise a longneglected 

area of the city and 

contribute to improving the vibrancy 

and attraction of the city centre 

overall. 

“Gaining detailed approval will 

mean that we can now get onto site. 

At present, the programme is 

showing a start of works in May, 

with completion at the start of 

2023.” 

Councillor Matthew Holmes, 

deputy leader of Derby City Council 

and cabinet member for 

regeneration, planning and 

transportation, said: 

“We very much welcome the 

exciting progress on the Becketwell 

development. A thriving city centre 

is vital for Derby’s future economic 

prosperity and this project will be 

transformational - allowing 

hundreds of people to live in highquality 

homes in the heart of the 

city and breathing new life into an 

area which has been challenged for 

many years. 

“Of course, alongside the 

apartments and commercial units 

that feature in this first phase of the 

scheme, there will be even wider 

development, including new offices, 

public space, and a hotel - as well as 

a new performance venue, that will 

be developed by St James Securities 

and owned by Derby City Council. 

“Becketwell will truly help us 

achieve our aspiration to make 

Derby a vibrant city where people 

will want to live, work, shop and 

spend their leisure time and we look 

forward to seeing work begin on site 

to make this a reality in the coming 

weeks. 

“We remain grateful for the 

support of the D2N2 Local 

Enterprise Partnership in helping 

bring this project to life." 

John Forkin, managing director 

of Marketing Derby, added: 

"We are delighted that planning 

has been approved for what is a 

crucial step in taking forward one 

the city's regeneration priorities. 

“There is much talk about the 

need to repurpose city centres and 

by creating new quality homes for 

500 people in the heart of Derby, St 

James Securities are doing exactly 

what is required. 

“This is an important piece in a 

bigger jigsaw, that will not only 

develop the Becketwell site, but also 

act to build confidence for further 

investment in Derby." 

St James Securities is currently in 

legals with the funders and 

operators of the Build to Rent first 

phase of the scheme and will be 

announcing the name of the fund in 

the coming weeks once contracts 

have been exchanged. 

Funding for the Becketwell 

project includes £8.1 million in Local 

Growth Fund investment from the 

D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership; 

the private sector-led partnership of 

business, local authorities, skills and 

training providers, and community 

and voluntary services which works 

to promote economic and jobs 

growth across Derby, Derbyshire, 

Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire. 

St James Securities have 

completed many successful projects 

of this scale, including St Paul’s 

Place in Sheffield and the awardwinning 

Round Foundry in Leeds. 

Web: www.sjs.co.uk 


PROJECTS 

Gleeds begins work on 

Prince Charles Hospital revamp 

International property and 

construction consultancy Gleeds 

has begun the final phases of 

renovations at the Prince Charles 

Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales 

following a decision from Health 

Minister, Vaughan Gething, to award 

£220 million in funding to the 

scheme. 

As project and cost manager 

Gleeds will oversee works on behalf 

of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg 

University Health Board. This latest 

phase will involve redesigning and 

relocating departments on the 

ground and first floor of the 

hospital in order to improve patient 

care and the working environment 

for staff by creating a more efficient 

and modern setting. A host of 

services are set to benefit from the 

changes, including primary 

operating theatres, critical care, 

radiology, pathology, and outpatient 

facilities. 

The substantial project has 

required careful planning, as all 

works are to be carried out on a live 

site while ensuring minimal 

interruption to the patient 

experience. Initially, the ground and 

first floor areas will be stripped back 

to their original steel frame in stages 

to enable the safe removal of 

asbestos from the building and to 

facilitate the implementation of upto-date 

fire prevention design 

features throughout. 

Simon Williams, Director 

responsible for Gleeds’ project 

management services in Wales, said: 

“Having worked closely with the 

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University 

Health Board on a number of 

projects over the years, we are 

delighted to be heading up the team 

delivering this major scheme for 

Merthyr Tydfil. The Welsh 

Government’s recent funding award 

represents a real investment in the 

future of this community and its 

healthcare system which will benefit 

patients and staff for generations to 

come. With over 80 apprenticeships 

expected to be created and more 

than 60% of the workforce coming 

from within Wales, the project also 

promises to provide a huge boost to 

the local economy”. 

Cwm Taf Morgannwg CEO Paul 

Mears added: “The Prince Charles 

hospital provides vital services for 

the Cwm Taf Morgannwg area and 

beyond and this programme of 

works will ensure that we can 

continue to deliver high quality care 

and an enhanced environment for 

our staff going forward. Getting this 

project to fruition has been a key 

priority for the Health Board, and 

the Welsh Government’s decision to 

award funding is indicative of its 

commitment to improving the 

healthcare provision across the 

country”. 

Works on site are expected to 

complete by 2026. 

www.gleeds.com 


PROJECTS 

Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects appointed Principal 

Contractor to the restoration of St Marylebone Parish Church 

Sir Robert McAlpine Special 

Projects have been appointed 

principal contractor to the St 

Marylebone Parish Church 

Changing Lives project in London, 

that will see the restoration and 

refurbishment of this Grade I listed 

building. The project aims to deliver 

one of the city’s most communityengaged 

heritage projects: a project 

which will change the lives of its 

participants. The Changing Lives 

campaign will make urgent 

improvements to the building, 

including the Parish Church Crypt, 

which is in critical need of 

redevelopment and modernisation to 

house new visitor and community 

spaces with safer and more 

accessible entrance routes for all. 

Due to its focus on restoration 

and accessing heritage, the project is 

partially funded by the National 

Lottery Heritage Fund. The work, 

designed by Caroe Architecture and 

led by Craig Chandler, Project 

Manager for Sir Robert McAlpine 

Special Projects, is set to start on 

site in January 2021. 

The scheme will also provide 

individuals starting out their 

heritage careers with an opportunity 

to hone their skills with practical 

workshops. Owing to the strong link 

between St Marylebone Parish 

Church and the Building Crafts 

College, Sir Robert McAlpine will 

facilitate an on-the-job craft 

training programme for a number of 

second year Masonry and Carpentry 

students during the project. 

The building will remain open 

throughout, allowing public worship, 

the St Marylebone HCC and the 

Marylebone Health Centre (NHS GP 

Surgery) to continue. The project 

team will put measures in place to 

minimise disruption to worshippers, 

visitors and people working inside 

the parish church. During lockdown, 

essential support work to 

communities will be maintained in 

accordance with legislation and 

strict health and safety guidelines. 

The Sir Robert McAlpine Special 

Projects experts will work closely 

with a wider specialist team, which 

includes Focus Consultants as 

Project Director and Project 

Manager and Contract 

Administrator, Alan Baxter Ltd as 

Structural Engineering, Synergy as 

Quantity Surveyor, CBG as MEP 

(mechanical, engineering and 

plumbing) Engineers, and Phillip 

Waller Consulting as Health & Safety 

Consultant. 

The project will remove the 

parish church from Historic 

England’s Buildings at Risk Register 

and, externally, conservation and 

restoration work will reinstate lost 

architectural features of the 

Georgian parish church and provide 

longevity to the roof structure 

through extensive carpentry works 

and recovering with new Welsh slate 

over improved lead detailing. 

Inside the parish church, works 

will include the creation of a new 

staircase and lift to improve access 

to the Crypt, new internal walls, 

doors, flooring and upgraded 

mechanical and electrical 

installations. The Crypt and ground 

floor levels of the ancillary portions 

of the parish church will also be 

refurbished. Monuments and 

chandeliers will be removed and 

restored before being set back in 

place. 

The Revd Canon Dr Stephen, 

Rector of St Marylebone, writes, 

“The Parochial Church Council is very 

pleased to be working with Craig 

Chandler and the Sir Robert 

McAlpine Special Projects team. We 

have every confidence that this 

project will not only preserve an 

important Grade 1-listed building 

for future generations, but will help 

the parish church to continue and 

extend its vital work with the local 

community and to continue 

Changing Lives for the better as it 

has done for more than 900 years.” 

Mike Coleman, Operations 

Director for Sir Robert McAlpine 

Special Projects, said: “The team is 

thrilled to be appointed to the 

Changing Lives project at St 

Marylebone Parish Church as it 

encapsulates Special Projects’ 

primary focus – complex heritage 

restoration and adaptation projects, 

and the unique challenges such 

works and structures present – and 

enables us to extend our expertise 

once more to an ecclesiastical 

scheme. 

“The team performed superbly 

during the tender period, and great 

credit goes to Craig Chandler, whose 

academic and professional 

background, outstanding track 

record on similar projects and deep 

commitment to heritage 

conservation and refurbishment, 

made him the perfect Project 

Manager for St Marylebone 

Changing Lives.” 

Paul Heather, London Managing 

Director for Sir Robert McAlpine, 

commented: “Changing Lives is a 

flagship heritage project envisioned 

by London’s foremost consultants 

and carried out to the highest 

standards by a select group of 

specialist contractors. We are 

delighted to see our experienced 

Special Projects team lead on this 

exciting scheme. We also look 

forward to working with established 

heritage and conservation specialists 

such as Caroe Architecture, Synergy, 

Alan Baxter Ltd, Focus Consultants, 

CBG, and Phillip Water Consulting, 

to restore the appearance of this 

magnificent building for the benefit 

of the local community and its many 

visitors.” 

Dr Tristram Hunt, Patron of St 

Marylebone Changing Lives writes, 

“Parish Churches are not only 

custodians of our nation’s heritage, 

but places where communities can 

come together to worship, rejoice 

and mourn. St Marylebone Parish 

Church has been shaping, naming 

and sustaining community for nearly 

a thousand years. I am particularly 

proud of the creative plans that the 

parish church has to extend its work 

with young people and the project 

offers inspirational opportunities to 

many in our community at a time of 

exceptional challenge. Thank you to 

everyone who has played a role in 

making this project happen.” 

Stuart McLeod, Director London 

and South at The National Lottery 

Heritage Fund, said: “Thanks to 

money raised by National Lottery 

players, we are proud to support the 

Changing Lives project at St 

Marylebone Parish Church. The 

historically-significant Grade I listed 

building will enhance its role as a 

hub for the community, creating 

new spaces and opportunities to 

engage with their local heritage.” 

The works are due to be 

completed in 2022. 

www.srm.com 


PROJECTS 

A PANORAMIC glass lift has been installed in 

an iconic Lancashire building 

Clitheroe-based specialists 

Axess 2 were brought in to 

carry out the work at The 

Landmark in Burnley, which 

is home to a community of 

businesses in the town. 

The new development at The 

Landmark, which offers shared office 

space for businesses, will create an 

event venue in the oldest part of the 

building, which dates back to 1870. 

Liz Wilkinson, General Manager 

at The Landmark, said: “Phase one of 

The Landmark opened in February 

2018 with the launch of our 

Business Club, which offers a flexible 

coworking space for businesses, as 

well as private office space, meeting 

and conference rooms. 

“Phase two is the creation of a 

multi-purpose venue to host events 

such as weddings and conferences, 

which is due to open later this year. 

“As The Landmark is Grade-II 

listed, any work done to it must be 

in keeping with the original 

building. The external glass lift 

ticked those boxes by blending 

seamlessly into the Gothic 

architecture of the building.” 

The uninterrupted glass panels 

on the exterior sides of the 

passenger lift give an unobstructed 

view of the town centre landscape, 

with bespoke LED lighting inside 

adding an extra wow factor. 

Nathan Massey, from Axess 2, 

said The Landmark was an exciting 

project and the company enjoyed 

bringing its design solution 

experience to the scheme to ensure 

the lift was consistent with its 

surroundings. 

He said: “It was important that 

the addition of the lift was in 

keeping with the building, and the 

glass exterior and minimal steel 

certainly achieve that. Inside the lift 

is spacious and airy, while the glass 

panels make the most of the views 

from The Landmark. 

“We work closely with all our 

clients to ensure that they receive a 

bespoke service which suits their 

requirements. In this case, we were 

able to deliver a contemporary, 

practical solution to provide access 

from ground level to the first floor 

of this iconic building.” 

Formerly Burnley Grammar 

School, The Landmark on School 

Lane was transformed into a flexible, 

contemporary space for small 

businesses and entrepreneurs by 

Burnley businessman Mark Crabtree 

OBE, who founded Oscar-winning 

audio giant AMS Neve. 

The Landmark offers highquality, 

affordable office space, 

flexible coworking memberships and 

pay-as-you-go hot desking options 

as part of its Business Club. Members 

also have access to meeting rooms, 

conference facilities and a fullylicenced 

cafe-bar. 

It is open for business during 

lockdown because many of its 

tenants and members cannot work 

from home. 

www.axess2.co.uk 

www.landmarkburnley.co.uk 


Achieving net zero carbon buildings 

PROJECTS 

According to a report from 

the UN’s Building Efficiency 

Initiative (Driving 

Transformation to Energy 

Efficient Buildings), each $1 spent 

on energy efficiency avoids more 

than $2 on average, in energy 

supply investments. However, the 

UK’s Carbon Trust estimates that 

around 75 per cent of an industrial 

unit’s heat is lost through the 

building fabric. Upgrading a building 

to a level suitable for achieving net 

zero carbon is therefore 

commercially appealing, as 

enhancements will reduce energy 

demand and building running costs. 

The UK Green Building Council’s 

‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings: A 

Framework Definition’ provides the 

property sector with clarity on the 

outcomes required for a net zero 

carbon building. It sets out two 

definitions for net zero carbon 

buildings and the approach to 

demonstrate this status - net zero 

carbon for construction and net zero 

carbon relating to operational 

energy, which is probably most 

relevant to those refurbishing 

buildings. 

NET ZERO CARBON – 

OPERATIONAL ENERGY 

The energy used in the operation of 

existing buildings represents the 

Beverly Quinn, Environmental 

Engineer at TÜV SÜD, an 

international building services 

engineering consultancy, 

specialising in sustainable MEP 

(mechanical, electrical and public 

health), BIM (Building Information 

Modelling), lighting design, and 

vertical transportation. 

most significant carbon impact, 

contributing 30% of the UK’s total 

emissions in 2017. 

The scope of net zero carbon for 

operational energy should be 

defined as: “all areas under 

operational control that have been 

used to demonstrate a net zero 

carbon balance”. The energy scope 

should also be disclosed to allow 

comparability between buildings. 

Investing in energy efficiency 

and demand reduction is the most 

cost-effective way to minimise the 

new infrastructure that will be 

required to achieve a zero-carbon 

energy system. The building should 

target reductions in energy demand 

and consumption to reduce the 

amount of total electricity supplied, 

from both the grid and renewable 

energy sources. 

The approach used to reduce 

energy demand and consumption 

will vary between buildings, but 

considerations may include: 

Building fabric and passive 

design – reducing the overall energy 

required to operate the building. 

Improvements include efficient 

fabric and shading, natural 

daylighting, natural ventilation, 

appropriate sizing of building 

systems to limit over-engineering. 

Systems energy efficiency – 

using highly energy efficient 

building systems across HVAC, 

lighting, vertical transport etc. 

Energy management – 

implementing smart energy/building 

management systems. Improvements 

include energy auditing, managing 

occupant behaviour, managing ‘peak 

loads’, adjusting HVAC temperature 

set points, achieving ISE 50001 

accreditation. 

The physical wellbeing of 

occupants should also be considered 

alongside energy reductions, such as 

considerations around indoor air 

quality, daylighting and overheating. 

The building should report 

annual carbon impacts as total 

(tCO2e) and in terms of intensity 

(kgCO2e/m2). The building is 

considered to be net zero carbon for 

operational energy when its total 

annual net CO2e emissions equal 

zero and these calculations have 

been audited by a third-party. 

WHOLE-LIFE CARBON REDUCTION 

A third and future definition for net 

zero carbon buildings would be a 

net zero whole-life carbon 

definition, which would ensure that 

a lifecycle approach is taken to 

make informed decisions about 

building design and operation. This 

would encourage design for 

flexibility, adaptation and 

deconstruction to minimise end-oflife 

impacts and enable a circular 

economy within the built 

environment. However, this 

approach is not currently covered by 

the framework due to the 

limitations in reporting carbon from 

the maintenance, repair, 

refurbishment and end-of-life stages 

of a building’s lifecycle. 

www.tuvsud.com/en-gb/real-estate 

Net zero carbon buildings are 

commercially appealing. 


PRODUCTS & SERVICES DIRECTORY 

BUYERS GUIDE 

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CALL 0208 504 1661 

NATURAL STONE 

EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION 

Tel : 01942 717100 Email: info@wbs-ltd.co.uk 

SECONDARY GLAZING 

Wetherby Building Systems Ltd is the UK’s market leader in the manufacture 

and distribution of a wide range of external wall insulation (EWI) systems, 

polymer modified renders, silicone & acrylic thin-coat renders & brick slip 

systems for the retrofit market. 

Wetherby’s insulated render systems offer environmentally sympathetic external 

façade solutions that have been successfully installed on many domestic 

refurbishment projects, new build schemes, commercial buildings and 

educational establishments for over 20 years. 

With over 7 million untreated solid wall properties in the UK the government 

recognise the urgent need to tackle this housing stock to reduce energy bills 

and cut carbon emissions. 

Following the clients choice of 

insulant, Wetherby can then offer 

a range of different renders and 

polymeric coatings in an unlimited 

colour range ensuring whatever 

finish or colour the client wishes 

to achieve we can match. 

Complementing the render 

systems Wetherby also offer a 

unique brick slip system, allowing 

the façade to match traditional 

brickwork and increasing the 

scope for design. Including our 

new 7mm Brick 

Wetherby operate through a network of approved installers, all of whom are 

trained and regularly inspected to ensure specifications and best site practices 

are followed. 

Wetherby offer a comprehensive technical service to ensure potential customers 

have all the information to specify the correct system that will achieve maximum 

efficiency of the EWI specification. 

www.wbs-ltd.co.uk 

WOOD REPAIR 


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Web-site: www.desofil-uk.com 


PRODUCTS & SERVICES DIRECTORY 

BUYERS GUIDE 

CONSERVATION 

1,000 CONTACTS, 

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PROJECTS 

Works commence on new £10m 

Nottinghamshire housing development 

Building works have started 

on ‘Forest Park’; an exclusive 

45-home development in 

Nottinghamshire, by 

property developer Taggart Homes. 

Located in the village of 

Annesley, in the Ashfield district of 

Nottinghamshire, the development 

has a prime position on Derby Road 

in the heart of the village. 

Previously the site of a welfare 

club which has been vacant since 

2009, the development will inject 

new life into the disused land and is 

due for completion by winter 2021. 

The much-needed homes will 

appeal to a varied demographic with 

all properties to fall within the Help 

to Buy Scheme. 

Chief executive officer of 

Taggart Homes, Michael Taggart, 

said: “Forest Park is an exciting new 

development that will bring forward 

sought-after homes in an excellent 

location. 

“We build beautifully designed 

and well-planned developments for 

the ultimate in modern living and go 

the extra mile to include highquality 

features that home owners 

desire as standard. 

“We are pleased to be 

progressing with Forest Park which 

will reinvigorate and breathe new 

life into an unused area in Annesley, 

in a wonderful, central location in 

the village.” 

Taggart Homes is working 

alongside Core Architects and 

Ashfield District Council to deliver 

this scheme. 

www.taggarthomes.com 

Green light for £6.5m development with 

stunning views over Tyne Valley 

The first phase of a £6.5million 

development in a desirable 

area of Gateshead has been 

given the go ahead. The-17 

home development at Streetgate, 

near Sunniside, was approved at 

Gateshead Council’s Planning and 

Development Committee on October 

28, 2020. 

The four-bedroom semi-detached 

homes will be built on a 8003 m² 

site at the edge of farmland with 

stunning countryside views across 

the Tyne Valley. 

Designed by BDN Ltd, Kapex 

Construction will start building the 

homes in early 2021, with 

completion expected in summer 

2022. 

Kapex Construction, part of 

Newcastle-based Morton Group, 

plans to build three more phases on 

the site, providing up to 50 

attractive new homes in the popular 

suburb of Gateshead. 

Streetgate and nearby Sunniside 

boast great restaurants and shops 

near to a number of ‘outstanding’ 

schools, along with good access to 

the Team Valley, Metrocentre, 

Gateshead and Newcastle city 

centre. 

Nearby Lottie’s Wood – owned 

by the Woodland Trust and named 

by local people after former 

dairymaid Lottie Brabban – forms 

part of the Great North Forest, with 

native trees and shrubs, Scots Pine, 

pastureland and hay meadow. 

Chris Nunn, Business 

Development Director at Kapex 

Construction, said: “We’re delighted 

to achieve planning permission for 

this lovely development on the A692 

behind The Cottage in Streetgate. 

“These beautifully designed 

modern homes with large windows 

are set in a stunning landscape in a 

very desirable village close to 

Sunniside and Whickham. 

“It’s a great development in a 

fantastic location and we can’t wait 

to start work on building these 

homes as phase one of our overall 

four-phase development.” 

www.themortongroup.co.uk 

MHA sells office 

development at 

Banbury Cross 

Business Park 

M 

HA has today announced the 

sale of its 33,599sq.ft. Banbury 

Cross Business Park office 

development, 1 Brookhill Way, to 

Charnwood Borough Council. 

Jointly let to Lloyds Bank Plc and 

Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Ltd 

since 2000 with approx. 5 years 

unexpired, Lloyds has continued to 

demonstrate its commitment to this 

purpose-built development, which 

comprises a three storey flexible 

office building and excellent car 

parking provision. 

Located in the heart of the 

Oxford-Cambridge Arc, an area of 

significant economic potential, 

forecasting one million new jobs and 

one million new homes by 2050, the 

commercial property boasts 

excellent connectivity and local 

amenities, just 250 metres west of 

Junction 11 of the M40 Motorway, 

and three minutes' walk from 

Banbury Gateway Shopping Park. 

The 2.11 acre office development 

with flexible floorplates offers 

significant development potential 

subject to the necessary consents. 

Hossein Abedinzadeh, Founder of 

MHA London commented: “We are 

delighted to have completed on the 

sale of 1 Brookhill Way, Banbury. 

High quality commercial office space 

of this nature is in short supply in 

the area, and the future 

development potential of the 

property itself, combined with 

longstanding tenants, Lloyds Bank, 

will correspond with the greater 

objectives of the Oxford-Cambridge 

Arc.” 

www.mhalondon.com/casestudy/banbury-cross-business-park 


Forticrete’s Architectural Masonry 

extends to home renovations 

When Architects 

O’Sullivan Skoufoglou 

was commissioned to 

design a rear extension 

as part of the significant renovation 

of an end-terraced property in 

Hackney, London, it utilised the 

opportunity to undertake an 

alternative approach to the types of 

building products specified and their 

corresponding methods of 

installation. 

Adding an additional 15 square 

metres to the property, the single 

storey rear extension was 

constructed utilising Forticrete’s 

Architectural Masonry Blocks, which 

were installed to the rear and side of 

the house to create a new kitchen 

and dining area, which overlooks the 

garden. 

Specified in a Straw Shot-blasted 

finish, the Concrete Blocks were 

employed to construct the rear wall 

of the new volume. The result is a 

unified, homogeneous visual that 

facilitates a seamless transition 

between the interior and exterior 

living spaces. 

Further animating the rear 

facade is the construction of an arch 

around the doorway, which is also 

complemented by an angular bench 

under the window, to provide the 

homeowners a secluded place to 

enjoy the outside area. 

The Straw Shot-blasted finish of 

the Concrete Blocks delivers a tactile 

finish that reflects a contemporary 

terrazzo style aesthetic, whilst still 

complementing the existing 

brickwork for a cohesive visual 

effect. The installation of roof lights 

throughout the roof of the 

extension also floods the internal 

spaces with natural light to 

highlight the unique texture of the 

new concrete structure, providing 

the owners with an inviting and 

engaging dining space. 

Co-director of O’Sullivan 

Skoufoglou, Jody O’Sullivan, who led 

the project, said: “As an architectural 

practice based in London, a 

significant proportion of our work is 

re-configuring existing residential 

buildings. With this project in 

particular, we were presented with 

the opportunity to push the 

boundaries of what is typically 

expected, whilst ensuring the new 

design was still in keeping with the 

existing structure of the home. 

Having grown up within the 

construction industry, I was aware of 

Forticrete’s Concrete Blocks and 

their benefits for commercial 

buildings. When researching suitable 

masonry building products for this 

project, I was reminded of the 

materials and felt they would be the 

ideal solution to add a new layer of 

history that would last and weather 

suitably with time.” 

To enhance the overall mass of 

the interior and exterior walls, the 

Concrete Blocks were laid with a 

very narrow joint between them, 

while a near identical colour of 

PROJECTS 

mortar was chosen to mimic the 

pink, earthy tones of the blocks. 

Sean Welch, Area Sales Manager 

at Forticrete, added: “This was an 

exciting project for Forticrete to be 

involved with, demonstrating the 

wide-reaching versatility of our 

Concrete Blocks. Jody and his team 

have completely transformed the 

expectations of the visual and 

functional aspirations of this project 

to create a home that is completely 

unique.” 

Historically specified for the 

exterior of commercial buildings, the 

Architectural Masonry range is 

manufactured from high grade 

limestone and sandstone aggregates 

that have been chosen for their 

renowned performance benefits and 

reliable quality. 

The Shot-blasted masonry 

creates a natural, weathered appeal 

that is suitable for both commercial 

and residential applications, such as 

the Balcorne Street renovation 

project. The cost-effective solution 

provides architects with a durable 

yet aesthetically striking building 

material that can be installed in a 

range of internal and external 

formations. 

For further information on 

Forticrete’s market leading 

offering, visit: www.forticrete.co.uk 

or call 01525 244900. 


Next issue in 

Special Features: 

Heating & Ventilation 

Retrofit 

Roofing & Cladding 

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In Every Issue: 

News • New Products • Services • Projects 

36 REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS, FEBRUARY 2021

Refurb Projects February 2021

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