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BUILDING THE FUTUREA GUIDE TO REGENERATION AND MODERN CONSTRUCTION METHODS

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT REGENERATION AND MODERN CONSTRUCTION METHODS, DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE TIMES

27 JULY 2007

FACTS AND FIGURESStatistics released by the National House-Building Council (NHBC) last month reveal that the numberof applications to build new homes across the UK increased by a small percentage year on year duringthe period February to April 2007. NHBC statistics show that 51,465 new homes were started in thethree months from February to April - a four per cent increase on the same three month period a yearago (49,300). Of that total, 41,736 related to private sector activity (i.e. excluding housing associations),showing a two per cent decrease on the same period in 2006 (42,658).

Housing association volumes increased by almost half in the three months to the end of April thisyear with starts totalling 9,729, an increase of 46 per cent on the same period a year ago (6,642).

Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC Chief Executive, says: “There was a modest increase in house-building activityduring the three months to the end of April compared to the same period last year. The greatest region-al increase in the number of housing starts for the period was seen in the South East where 8,129 newhomes were started, 26 per cent higher than last year’s figure of 6,466.”

The number of homes completed showed little change year-on-year in the period from February2007 to April 2007. New build completions totalled 43,329 in the three months to the end of April, lessthan one per cent decrease on the same period last year when 43,522 new homes were started.

Additional figures for the three months from February 2007 to April 2007 show that the averagenumber of new homes sold each day in the UK was 554, an increase of eight per cent on the same peri-od a year ago (512).

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The growing challenge of urban regeneration

In regeneration we must rise to the task of creating alasting legacy which reflects both the past and thefuture of an area and its community. BY ALISTAIR BURT MP, SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNITIES AND REGENERATION

room apartments. I share the worry of the localauthority that without provision for families wewill not be creating balanced communities.Bringing the Olympics to London must be bene-ficial to families. Whilst understandably mostattention will be paid to the large scale projectsand buildings being created, the human dimen-sion of 2012 should shine through as the keysignature of our Olympics. Community is at theheart of regeneration, and if there is an unre-

solved conflict running through the heart of thecommunity then natural regeneration will beharder to achieve. If, as is the case in manyurban areas, there is a mismatch of types ofhousing and school places then different sec-tors of the community will feel pitted againstone another in a vicious cycle of deprivation.

The urban regeneration challenge is not justabout buildings. It is true, as Churchill said,that “first we shape our buildings, and thenthey shape us”. Our physical environment hassubtle but immeasurably important effects onour lives: the green open spaces betweenbuildings lift us up, the gravity defying monu-ments stand as a testimony to our achieve-ments and the pleasant residential streetssoothe and support us.

The Olympics of 2012 will be our genera-tion’s stamp upon the country. The vision anddesign of the grand and the big will say muchabout us – but so too will the little schemes andthe human scale, which must not be forgotten.

BUILDING THE FUTUREA TITLE FROM MEDIAPLANET

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Buildoffsite is an industry-wide campaigningorganisation that promotes greater uptake of offsite techniques by UK construction.

Steel Homes Group develops and promotes theeffective use of steel in residential construction.

This involves not always building up fromscratch, but reusing, reinventing and renew-ing. Regeneration rarely starts with a blanksheet of paper: rather it is about creating some-thing brave and new which incorporates all thegood parts of what has been before and usingthe new to breathe life into the old.

In this context the Olympics in 2012 is a giftwhich we should use wisely. We have a rare andexciting opportunity to invest in a projectwhich will benefit us and our children for yearsto come. We have to consider carefully howbest to manage the Olympics to maximise thebenefits which will ripple out from Stratford toall parts of London and throughout the country.

It is essential that despite the cost of theOlympics there is still money left for other proj-ects. We must not make the mistake of believingthat it is a panacea either for the region or thecountry. Other projects should not have essen-tial money diverted or the Olympics will losethe good will of the nation and with it the keyto their success. This is as much common senseas recognising from history that one of thepost-Olympic legacies must not be that thesports facilities are left unused and derelict.

We must not forget that at the heart of regen-eration should be the interest of the people. Ourcities and towns are living and breathing, heldtogether by the complex web of communities. Ivisited Stratford earlier this year and was disap-pointed to find that almost all of the new housesand flats being built were one – and two-bed-

At the same time as makinghomes affordable, there is also agrowing awareness of the need tobuild sustainable new homes –reducing the environmentalimpact of any new constructionand conserving resources.

Light steel frames for the resi-dential sector are increasinglyattracting the attention of theconstruction industry as a solu-tion that meets these needs - beingboth affordable and eco-friendly.

A market leader, Framing Solu-tions provides light steel framesystems to the house buildingand social housing sectors. ItsSurebuild lightweight steel fram-ing system comes with 25 yearsof continuous development and

certification and is being used bya number of house builders andhousing associations to create arange of new homes.

Surebuild is a light steel framestructure, enveloped in thermalinsulation panels with factorybuilt cassette floors and a timberor steel roof option. The system isunique in the domestic housingmarket. Introduced as long ago as1982, the Surebuild system repre-sents the best known and mostwidely used structural steel framesystem in the UK.

Framing Solutions has longbeen addressing sustainable waysof working, recognising theirimportance in reducing environ-mental impact and improving

business efficiency. Steel is 100per cent reusable – around 50 percent of steel used in constructioncomes from a recycled source.

However, steel systems offermore than just environmentalbenefits as Graham Townend,Head of Commercial for FramingSolutions explains: “As far asbuilding is concerned, it's truethat there are a lot of systems outthere. We don't profess to be thenumber one choice for everybuild but there are certain jobswhere we feel that steel offersdistinct advantages over other

Framing Solutions:A market leader inlight steel framingWith stories of inflated house prices constant-ly dominating the headlines, the need to buildhigh performing affordable new homes hasnever been more pressing.

Surebuild is being used by a number ofhouse builders to create a range ofaffordable, eco-friendly and energy effi-cient homes.

Redrow’s Debut house range, targeted atthe first time buyer, is exclusively built inlight steel frames and has received an Eco-Excellent rating by the British ResearchEstablishment (BRE). Mark Jowett, Head ofDeign & Technical confirmed that this is asignificant achievement given that thereare only around 20 schemes across the UKthat have been awarded this top rating. AnEcoHomes 'excellent' rating requires anoverall score of 70 per cent and only devel-

opments demonstrating exemplary envi-ronmental performance across the fullrange of issues achieve this.

Surebuild technology played an impor-tant role in reducing the local environmen-tal impact of site traffic during the con-struction of new student accommodationon the brownfield redevelopment at SedleyTaylor School, Cambridge. Hill Partner-ships – a leading contractor for the RSL(Residential Social Landlord) market –selected Framing Solutions as the lead sup-plier, ensuring the project was delivered inadvance of the 2005/2006 academic year.The tight schedule demanded that the4,500 sq metre superstructure, housing 150students and a nursery school, was erectedin just 12 weeks. Access was through amaze of Victorian residential streets, so itwas necessary to minimise delivery move-ments. Framing Solutions’ off site manu-facturing approach meant that the buildingprogramme was completed four weeksahead of schedule, with all quality, cost,delivery and safety measures achieved.

A FOCUS ON ELIMINATING WASTE Coming originally from a best practice automotive background, Adam Newton, Managing Direc-tor of Framing Solutions drives the company wide elimination of waste from the top. Newtonbelieves that this focus on waste elimination needs to be applied to all elements of the businessas well as associated supply-chain partners. To achieve this there must be an open culture inplace to challenge the way people work in the everyday quest for continuous improvement.

Embedded in the Framing Solutions culture is a commitment to monitoring and controllingwaste in all forms at every level.

This may mean re-using safely combustible off cuts to create heat for the plant, using lowenergy local infra-red zone heaters, or designing in the exact grade and gauge of material,therefore eliminating excess waste and cost at the design stage.

To this end 70 per cent of the workforce at Framing Solutions have completed an NVQ Level2 in Business Improvement Techniques (Kaizen BIT training) in the past 12 months. Kaizen is aJapansese philosophy which can be defined as a “continuous incremental improvement of anactivity, to attack all forms of waste and aid the creation of value.”

The benefits are being realised across the company - employees are applying their learningin cross-functional teams, targeting problems or opportunities within the business. Atten-dees on the courses work together on processes in all areas of the business on projects toeliminate waste.

For Framing Solutions there is a belief that sustainability must go beyond green processes.Waste elimination needs to permeate every part of the business from clean technologies anddesign to focused procurement, effective business management and auditing and monitoring.

To those who remain cynical and point out the difficulties involved in complying with new ini-tiatives, Adam Newton believes that all forms of waste represent unnecessary costs which haveno place in any business. Sustainable ways of working are therefore at the heart of the company'sethos. It makes good business sense for the environment, and good sense to the buisness andmajor stakeholders.

Richard Brown, Quality and Business Improvement Manager of Framing Solutions managesthe Kaizen training programmes. He says there has already been significant improvements toproducts and processes within the company. Storage solutions for sub-components and over-coming capacity problems have been one notable success for Kaizen. “We have found Kaizenhas helped people integrate better. In the factory we have involved technical and office staff –people who don’t normally see a lot of each other. It has helped build relationships, which forus as a company is a big win.”

Surebuildtechnologyat work

� Redrow’s Debut house range – targeted at first time buyers.

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� Sedley TaylorSchool, Cambridge –one of the successes

of Surebuild Technology

systems – for example puttingapartments over retail wherethere might be a concrete groundfloor with steel frame apartmentsabove. The Surebuild system alsominimises waste and keeps thenumber of delivery vehicles to aminimum, as you are delivering aproduct from a factory not com-ponents from a site.”

For a whole variety of reasons,from practicality to environmen-tal, Surebuild is being used by anumber of housebuilders (includ-ing Redrow’s Debut house range) –targeted at first time buyers.


The use of the Games as a catalyst tostimulate the regeneration of a 500-acre site in East London and its abil-ity to promote and inspire futuregenerations of sportsmen wereimportant factors in deciding Lon-don’s selection.

The London 2012 OrganisingCommittee will organise, publiciseand stage the 2012 Games. It willalso report directly to the Interna-tional Olympic Committee on Lon-don 2012. The Olympic DeliveryAuthority will deliver the new ven-ues and infrastructure ready in timefor 2012. Together they are working,along with key stakeholders fromnational and city government andsport, to deliver the vision and thelegacy.

Olympic ParkThe Olympic Park in East Londonlies at the heart of London's plansfor the 2012 Games. Situated at theheart of the lower Lea Valley, justfour miles north from Tower Bridgeand close to Stratford, the site is oneof the capital’s most underdevelopedareas. It will be transformed firstinto a first class sporting venue withan Olympic Stadium, a velopark,hockey centre, aquatics centre andother stadia - all within easy walk-ing distance of each other. The Parkwill also house the Olympic Village,providing accommodation for everycompetitor and official, with 80 percent within 20 minutes of their eventvenues, and a media centre.

The Park’s legacy will be that afterthe Olympics it will be one of thelargest urban parks created in

Europe in more than 150 years,stretching 20 miles from the Hert-fordshire countryside to the tidalestuary of the River Thames. It willhave a network of footpaths, cycleways and canal towpaths that willlink the communities on either sideof the valley. Riverside housing,shops, restaurants and cafes willprovide new amenities for the localcommunity. New playing fields willsit alongside the world-class sportfacilities that will be adapted forcommunity use. The concept is toprovide sustainable communities

where people live, work and play inthe area. Work on the Olympic Parkstarted in July 2006 and full plan-ning permission for the Park hasbeen granted.

River systemAs well as the regeneration of thearea, the natural river system and itssurrounding habitats will berestored. This will involve the dredg-ing of canals, widening rivers andthe creation of three hectares of wet-lands. The restoration will involvethe planting of native species like

oak and hazel to create a wildlifehaven in East London.

In delivery of this vision - and notforgetting there is also the smallmatter of delivering the Olympic andParalympic Games – there are somebig objectives to meet - particularlyenvironmental. It is seeking to be azero-waste, low carbon Games thatdelivers the One Planet Living Con-cept developed by Bioregional andWWF, whereby the Games improvethe quality of life for people withoutconsuming excessive naturalresources.

BenefitsThe regeneration of the site isplanned to be lasting and will havean impact for the East of Londonand beyond as the region feels thebenefits of cross-city transportimprovements in London, moretraining and job opportunities aswell as opportunities for a vast arrayof businesses. The communityregeneration aims to provide aspringboard for reducing healthinequalities in East London and forencouraging people across the coun-try to take up sport and developactive, healthy lifestyles.

It is clear that there will be manychallenges – how to ensure that theyare greenest Olympics, improving onSydney, and how to ensure that theGames deliver a lasting positivelegacy. Providing a sustainable lega-cy sits at the very heart of the Gamesand is a driving force for all theagencies responsible for building,staging and hosting them in 2012.However, achieving a lasting legacyis not that simple. A lasting legacyfor London? - a recent report com-missioned by the GLA - looked atprevious Games in Barcelona,Atlanta, Sydney and Athens. A keyfinding was that a legacy can onlybe achieved if the governance, net-works and community involvementset up during the development of theGames is maintained and involvesthem after the Games has left.

Dr Iain Macrury at the Universityof East London and co-author of thereport explains: “For example, abuilding or an Olympic site may havea future planned for it, but for this tobe realised the human and socialcapability to innovate and networkneeds to continue. In Atlanta this wasweak and as a result its legacy wasnever fulfilled”. Another lessoncomes from the Sydney ParalympicGames which were the best attendedin the history of the event andachieved real engagement with thedisabled community through theOlympic Access Advisory Committeecreating a legacy for human rightsand environmental planning.

ParticipationCommunity involvement and partic-ipation appears to be have been a keyingredient for success in past Games,this will also affect the post-Gamesuse of infrastructure. In the case ofthe legacy this needs to be built intoinitial conception, design and deliv-ery of the facilities, including notjust the buildings, but other aspectssuch as brand management, IT andpost-Games maintenance contracts.

There is a real opportunity tomake a lasting impression, but whatis clear is that success is far fromguaranteed and the there are manypitfalls, just like any large-scaleregeneration project.

www.article13.com

2012 London Olympics:the challenge of leavinga lasting legacyLondon won the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games with a vision "to stageinspirational Games that capture the imagination of young people aroundthe world and leave a lasting legacy." BY DR PAUL TOYNE

� An artist's impression of the Aquatics Centre during the Games


In fact it is easy to be swept away bya mood of euphoria and believe thatall the city’s problems are finallyover. It is easy to forget that Belfastis still in many parts a poor, deprivedand divided place.

The Department for Social Devel-opment (DSD) has strategic respon-sibility for regeneration in NorthernIreland. The difficult job of regener-ating the most deprived parts ofBelfast – that’s away from the citycentre – lies with the department’sBelfast Regeneration Office. Fouryears ago, in June 2003, the govern-ment published a policy documentcalled People and Place – a strategyfor neighbourhood renewal whichset out to tackle the complex andmulti-dimensional nature of depri-vation in Northern Ireland’s mostdeprived neighbourhoods.

The aim was to take a morefocussed approach to deprivation,concentrating help on the mostdeprived communities. As well asthis the aim was also to take a longerterm approach – a seven to ten yearapproach – to tackling deprivationas it was felt that previous effortshad been short term and there hadoften been a “scatter-gun” approach

meaning that efforts to regeneratehad too often been ineffective.

The “big idea” in People and Placewas to build neighbourhood part-nerships in those communities thatlived in the worst ten per cent ofareas. These partnerships wouldconsist of local community repre-sentatives, statutory agencies, theprivate sector and political represen-tatives. Each neighbourhood part-nership set itself a vision of what itwanted its area to look like in tenyears time.

In some parts of Belfast there is avery well established communityinfrastructure, in other parts this isless so. The city is divided largely onreligious lines and in certain parts ofthe city there are physical divisions –

peace lines – between the differentcommunities. It can sometimes be adifficult environment to operate in.For obvious reasons regeneration is amore complex issue here than inother cities in the UK.

In Belfast 15 neighbourhood part-nerships were created (36 acrossNorthern Ireland in total) and crosscommunity partnerships were creat-ed where this was possible. In Belfastsome neighbourhoods are singleidentity – Loyalist or Republican -and there is little or no possibility ofcreating cross-community neigh-bourhood partnerships. But in otherareas an element of reconciliationhas allowed additional regenerationprojects to take place as well.

Troubles tourismPerhaps the area that illustrates thisbest is West Belfast with the CatholicFalls Road and the adjoining Protes-tant Shankill Road. Both communitiesare separated by a peace line with gatesin places between the two areas.Belfast has become a tourist attractionwith visitors even going on “troublestourism” tours and there was clearlyscope for bringing economic regenera-tion through a form of tourism whichwould benefit both communities. Theonly problem was that the Republicanand Loyalist tourism sites such as thefamous painted murals were locatedon both sides of the peace line - oftenat their most sensitive spots.

On the Catholic Falls Road side ofthe divide one tourist organisation iscalled Failte Feirste Thiar – meaning“Welcome to West Belfast” in Gaelic.A similar organisation in the adjoin-ing Protestant area is called theShankill Tourism Project. So called“Troubles tourism” visitors can nowtake part in walking tours thatinvolve a degree of cooperationbetween both communities. Visitorsare shown round the “troublessights” in the Protestant parts of thecity and then handed over to theguides on the Catholic side of thedivide to see the “troubles sights” inthe nationalist part of the city.

It may not sound like a majorexample of co-operation but one hasto remember that these are two com-munities that have sometimes beenat war yet are now prepared to coop-erate for their mutual benefit.

Another interesting regenerationarea lies along Lanark Way betweenthe Catholic Falls Road and ProtestantShankill Road. In the past this hadbeen a run-down area lying in a sortof “no man’s land” it was difficult toregenerate as neither of the two com-munities treated it as being their ownand there was no sense of ownershipby either community. Neither had avested interest in its regeneration. Theresult was that the area faced terminaldecline. To make matters worse therewas a massive concrete “peace wall”along one side of it.

What the Department for SocialDevelopment’s Belfast RegenerationOffice did was to use its powers tobring investment into the area. Aprocess of assembling land wasstarted - on some land people hadjust moved away. The next prioritywas to offer an Urban DevelopmentGrant and to give both an incentiveand a safety net to developers cov-ering any loss they might make. Theresult is that an area, which was awasteland, has been transformedinto one with thriving businesses,social economy projects, even hous-ing has returned.

Belfast has traditionally been a citycomprising two communities –Nationalist and Unionist. But this ischanging. As Belfast shares in theUK’s growing prosperity it finds itselfhome to a growing community ofnew groups - Chinese and Asian aswell as Eastern European workers. Thecity is becoming much more pluralis-tic. Perhaps this is a sign of the times.

Although many Belfast residentsmay still choose to live in segregatedcommunities the paradox is that it isdifficult to provide segregated facili-ties for one community and anotherone. The long term solution is there-fore to live together and respect tra-ditions. There are signs that Belfastis moving on. Regenerating Belfastis a work in progress – much hasbeen achieved but of course muchstill needs to be done.

MINISTER’S VIEW

Margaret Ritchie, MLA, wasappointed Social Development Min-ister when devolution returned toNorthern Ireland on 8 May.

She describes NeighbourhoodRenewal and the regeneration ofurban areas as a crucial aspect of herresponsibilities: “By working in ourmost disadvantaged communities,the Neighbourhood Renewal Strate-gy brings together all parts of Gov-ernment to work with local people toaddress the issues which deny themthe benefits and chances availableelsewhere.

Regeneration,reconciliationin BelfastBelfast is booming. The peace dividend is payinghandsome rewards and there is a real sense of anew beginning. BY IAN COOK

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� Lanark Way before… and after regeneration. � Belfast in troubled times.

“Regeneration isnot just about bricks

and mortar”While this is a long-term strategy,

the Belfast projects cited are tangibleexamples of what has been achievedto-date. This is replicated acrossNorthern Ireland.

“Regeneration is not just aboutbricks and mortar. It is about localcommunities and Governmentworking collaboratively to bringabout real and lasting change. I amdetermined to work with all intereststo build healthy vibrant communi-ties that leave behind the divisionsof the past. Ultimately, I want to seeus moving to a situation wherepeace lines are removed and com-munities can become more and moreintegrated.”

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Delta-Simons Shining Earth™ can help your organisation deliver its Corporate Responsibility promises whilst retaining focus ongrowth of the bottom line and creating real opportunity to enhance the top line too. If you have the will, we have the way.

Enhanced Corporate Environmental Performance isn’t just ‘Good Business’, it’s ‘Good for Business’ too.

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Constructing buildings from factory made,pre-finished room modules has manyadvantages, but ensuring these structures

have the architectural appeal and “feel” of tradi-tionally built structures requires the innovationschampioned by Caledonian Building Systems.

The growth of Caledonian Building Systemsdemonstrates that the UK construction industry ischanging. Established in 1996, Caledonian re-invented the modular building process by devel-oping a structural steel concept which hasenabled the rapid build of many large scale con-struction projects across the accommodation sec-tor. Regular appearances in the Sunday TimesProfit Track 100 and awarded the Bank of Scot-land Award for Innovation in 2006, Caledonianhas grown into a £150M turnover constructorfocusing on the application of off-site construc-tion across the UK and Ireland.

The Caledonian construction process is basedupon the concept of pre-engineering - construct-ing buildings from a series of factory manufac-tured room modules. Modules are created from

fully welded steel frames, using hot rolled steel tocreate the module frame and cold rolled steel toprovide joists and wall panel structures. Thesemodules are fitted out as complete rooms, includ-ing plumbing and wiring, full completion ofkitchens, bathrooms and en-suites, decorationsand furniture fitting, prior to delivery and instal-lation on site.

A typical module is 15 x 4m and around 3m tall- designed to suit road transport limits. The mod-ular structure, once assembled on site, is fullyself-supporting, allowing modules to be stacked,one on top of another, to create large scale multi-storey structures in very short timescales. Themodular framing concept allows tremendousflexibility in design terms, with angled modulesand panel sections able to be incorporated along-side the more typical rectangular module struc-tures enabling the system to achieve modernarchitectural forms.

Other techniques, which include panellised ele-ments and linkage to traditional forms of con-struction (eg. in situ concrete and steel structures)

for non-modular areas, are employed by Caledon-ian, to ensure that the optimum solution in termsof cost, quality, programme and safety is achievedfor each specific building.

The company’s expertise has progressively beenapplied to markets including Prison construction,Ministry of Defence accommodation, Hotels, Resi-dential and Student accommodation sectors.Recent developments have enabled structures upto 18 storeys to be constructed – the Paragon resi-dential project, for Berkeley First in Brentford,provided key worker one and two bed flats plusstudent accommodation and won Building Maga-zine’s Major Housing Project of the Year 2007.

The benefits offered by Caledonian’s construc-tion process do not only relate to constructionspeed. Many urban developments must considerthe disruption and inconvenience caused to localresidents by a construction project - with theCaledonian process up to 75% of a project’s valuemay be constructed off site, leading to reducedtransport movements and reduced number ofpersonnel on site. A shorter, less disruptive build

can be a much more enjoyable experience foreveryone.

So what next for modular construction? Hav-ing proved the ability to build quickly, build highand construct large scale projects, Caledonian isnow highly focused on sustainable construction.Standards such as BREEAM “Excellent” and Eco-Homes “Excellent” have been achieved for manyprojects. Plus the Caledonian manufacturingprocess will achieve “zero waste to landfill” laterthis year – waste is firstly minimized by gooddesign and then any remaining waste created inconstruction is all recycled.

The environmental and sustainability creden-tials for this type of off-site process are significantand with the incorporation of sustainable energysystems, modular building is set to become anincreasingly important method of constructionfor multi-storey residential building.

Caledonian operates as both Principle Contrac-tor and Modular Sub-Contractor, constructingprojects with values between £1M and £50M

www.cbuildings.co.uk

Building on innovation

Modular construction…

Clockwise from above: A hotel room module being craned into position on a 190 bedroom development in Dublin; 6 storey residential building near Kings Cross constructed entirely from Caledonian modular units;Modules being assembled to form the 17 storey Paragon high rise residential development; All 1050 units of the Paragon residential development were constructed using Caledonian factory manufactured modules


The aim of the New Deal for Com-munities is to tackle multiple depri-vation in the most deprived neigh-bourhoods, and give some of thepoorest communities in England the

resources to tackle their problems inan intensive and co-ordinated man-ner. In this way it is hoped to bridgethe gap between these neighbour-hoods and the rest of England.

Launched in 1998 a total of 17pathfinder partnerships wereannounced followed by a secondround of 22 partnerships in the fol-lowing year. Approximately £2bnhas been committed to the 39 part-nerships to date.

ImprovementThe keys to change are improvinglocal services, increasing communi-ty capacity (ie enabling people to domore for themselves); and adoptingan evidence-based approach todelivering change (ie getting proofof what works in practice). One areawhere a New Deal partnership hasbeen set up is East Manchester.

FundingEast Manchester’s New Deal forCommunities Programme was estab-lished in 2001 when more than £51million pounds of Governmentfunding was secured to achievemajor improvements to the area.Local residents played an integralrole in securing the funding.

One of the main people involvedhas been Elaine Wright (pictured).The area was classic white working-class with small but well-kept Victo-rian terraces, men more or less infull employment – even if work waspoorly paid – clean streets and wellbehaved children. But in the 1970sand 1980s unemployment hit thearea hard. Incomes fell and withpoor job prospects local childrenstarted to leave school earlier andearlier, even as the rest of the coun-try started to become more skilledand better educated. Bit by bit hous-ing and the streets, parks and publicbuildings fell into disrepair.

Boarded upBy the late 1990s an estimated halfof the houses were boarded up, theother half were plastered with graffi-ti. Residents locked their doors at6pm, afraid to walk the streets afterdark. During all this time, ElaineWright was actively trying to sortthings out in the area. She led a localresidents group and knocked oncouncil and other doors looking forhelp to restore the area to its formerstate. When her area of East Man-chester was chosen as one of the 39

New Deal for Communities neigh-bourhoods Elaine got involved withit immediately and is now on hersecond term as a board member.That means she gets to nominateprojects, discuss them and vote,along with her fellow board mem-bers, on spending money on them.

FixedWhat this means is that if there’s aleaking roof in the local secondaryschool the board can take a vote on aMonday to have it fixed and contractsomebody to do it on Tuesday. Thisobviously cuts out the years of nego-tiation and tendering that wouldoccur if the school had to appeal tothe council to have the roof repaired.It’s the first time in Elaine’s longcareer as a community championthat she’s actually had the power tochange things. And, as a result, theEast Manchester area has been total-ly transformed; no more boarded uphouses, the number of children stay-ing on at school has soared, crimehas fallen dramatically.

For further information aboutneighbourhood renewal go towww.neighbourhood.gov.uk

A new deal for East ManchesterOne of the most interesting and innovative regen-eration projects of recent years is called the New Deal for Communities.

� Elaine Wright was born and grew upin inner-city East Manchester

Hanson Building Products’ Eco-House -constructed in the groundsof the Building Research Establish-ment at Watford - aims to provide aconcept dwelling that brings togeth-er many of the company’s latestdevelopments in sustainable modernmasonry construction and “Smart”living.

The Hanson EcoHouse, officiallyopened at the BRE Offsite 2007 exhi-bition and conference in June, effec-tively demonstrates the progressmade since Hanson House 1 wasbuilt in 2005. Innovations trialledon HH1 have been refined andincorporated into a purpose-designed dwelling that shows all thebenefits of offsite fabrication, highthermal mass and natural ventila-tion that will assist in the achieve-ment of the zero carbon target thathouse-builders and developers willhave to meet by 2016.

The design principle of the tradi-tional brick kiln has been taken asthe inspiration for the form of the

house, utilising the “stack effect” toventilate the accommodationthrough a distinctive roof lantern.The lantern is “intelligently” operat-ed to open and close as required tomeet the prevailing weather pat-terns, and so regulate internal airtemperature. The rather unusualshape of the roof is further empha-sised by vertically run zinc sheeting,with stack-bonded brickwork com-pleting the building’s distinctiveappearance.

One of the biggest challenges forarchitects in designing homes is theneed to respond to climate changeand how to keep buildings cool. TheHanson EcoHouse will take fulladvantage of the benefits of tradi-tional concrete and masonry con-struction with its high thermal massto create a structure that copes effi-ciently with the temperatureextremes of summer and winter. Thisis in direct contrast to more light-weight structures that are unable tobenefit from this inherent feature.

As in Hanson House 1, the mainstructure is constructed usingmasonry panels manufactured off-site in a controlled factory environ-ment, bringing the benefits of highquality and speed of constructionwith little or no site waste. This com-pares with an industry average of 20per cent wastage incurred in on-siteconstruction that can also be moresusceptible to weather delays anddifficulties.

With housebuilders, housing asso-ciations and local authorities seek-ing cost-effective, durable and flexi-ble dwellings, the Hanson EcoHouseprovides all of these benefits, usingfactory manufactured componentswith fast build times and provenwhole-life costings.

Stressing the strong environmen-tal credentials of the Hanson Eco-House David Szymanski, managingdirector of Hanson Building Prod-ucts said that more needed to bedone than simply designing individ-ual zero-rated homes. He said agreater emphasis needed to be puton developing green communities tosatisfy our energy efficiency needs,.

“We need to start talking about

communities and not individualhouses. At the moment it is extreme-ly difficult to attain zero-carbon sta-tus, except perhaps by includingwind turbines and ground sourceheat pumps. If we are really seriousabout sustainability we should belooking to install these with capaci-

ties large enough to supply wholecommunities. We need to live it aswell as build it. The communityneeds to buy into it too,” he said.

Mr Szymanski said that planswere in hand to show the benefits ofthe new Hanson house in a commu-nity setting.

Hanson launches EcoHouse…but zero carbon homes need wider thinking saysHanson chief.

� Hanson Building Products’ EcoHouse


Modular construction, with highspecification accommodationunits manufactured ‘off site’ isthe obvious answer and thanks tothe excellent design and superbbuild quality of Britspace’s steel-framed system, today’s units area far cry from the much-lament-ed post-war pre-fab the countryhad become used to seeing.

Explains Derrick Tyler, Manag-ing Director at Britspace: “Ourproduct takes the concept of thepre-engineered buildings to acompletely different level; goneare the old pre-engineered cuboidsthat forced clients’ original designbriefs to be compromised.

“We now work closely with ourclients to ensure their designs aremanufactured to the exactingstandards of a permanent, highquality building, with all theadded advantages of a modularbuild. This applies whether thestructure is to be a home, aschool, hospital, hotel, officebuilding, or a prison cell.”

Thanks to its innovation andtechnical expertise, Britspace hasbeen instrumental in changingattitudes towards modular build-ing systems.

Part of GB Industries, the com-pany has over 30 years’ experi-ence in bespoke design, leadingthe sector in the construction ofbespoke steel-framed modularbuildings. Its track record inbuilding around 400 fast foodrestaurants off site for McDonaldshas now given way to a focus onmanufacturing bespoke multi-storey permanent buildings in theUK for a variety of sectors,including education, healthcare,residential, offices, retail, hotels,military and transport.

Integrity Locked inIf any proof were needed aboutthe build quality and integrity ofthe Britspace product, theachievement of producing a fully

compliant product as a way ofcombating prison overcrowdingprovides a very credible endorse-ment. Britspace’s proven abilityto construct prison-grade accom-modation to increase the capacityof existing prisons has made amodular approach a definitealternative option.

Speedy ConstructionBritspace is also answering theneeds of one of the Government’sother key investment priorities:education. Here the speed of con-struction helps to minimise term-time disruption, whilst Brit-space’s flexible approach todesign and excellent build quali-ty create a contemporary learn-ing environment.

Britspace’s design for MaryErskine School, a single storeyschool building for 3 - 7 year oldsis a case in point. Externally, thenew modular building fuses natu-ral materials and modern designs.Internally, it is excitingly differentwith a ‘wriggly corridor’ linkingrooms of varying shapes and sizes.

Speed and quality were the keycriteria in the school’s decisionmaking process, and Britspace’ssolution completed the on sitebuild in a 14-week programme,with minimal disruption, andgreater predictability of cost andfinished quality.

Home GroundThe benefits of modular con-struction also brought it to theattention of residential develop-ers. With Gordon Brown increas-ing the target number of newhomes to be built Britspace couldnow help house builders tacklethe challenges of maximisingtheir landbank, building cost-effectively and dramaticallyincreasing the speed and qualityin which homes are built.

Derrick Tyler continues: “Mod-ular units are an ideal answer for

creating a large amount of newhomes quickly and cost-effec-tively, especially in urban areaswhere building sites can oftencause disruption that goes on formonths or even years with a tra-ditional build scheme.

“Modular does not mean thatthe occupier is getting a substan-dard product, it means they aregetting a quality assured productdelivered on time, to budget andmanufactured in factory condi-tions to exact standard.”

Britspace provided the modularunits for the Citispace UrbanApartment development in cen-tral Leeds, which quickly soldout. Located within walking dis-tance of the city centre, thedevelopment proved the idealaffordable option for Leeds’young key worker professionals,offering them high specificationwith an affordable price tag.

Britspace worked in partner-ship with the client and theirarchitect and was involved withthe Citispace project from itsinception.

The apartments have been inno-vatively designed to offer smartuse of space comprising entrancehall, open-plan living and diningarea, space saving kitchen, andone or two bedrooms each with ashower room. The modules wereconstructed using a lightweightgalvanised steel frame, which hasa design life equal to that of tradi-tional brick builds.

Citispace has been delightedwith the way in which Britspace

has worked with them to deliver ahigh quality end product. RobertKidd, Managing Director of Citi-space said: “Britspace has beenable to advise us how to bestmake the most of the space avail-able and offer a solution to thecurrent demand.”

Professional ResultsIt’s not just residential developerswho have recognised the advan-tages of modular construction increating a high quality end prod-uct in a fraction of the time. Brit-space also completed a number ofcommercial schemes and, earlierthis year, Docklands Light Rail-way opened its £3.2 millionthree-storey office block at itsdepot in Poplar, East London.

Britspace was brought on boardto design, manufacture and con-struct the three-storey high-speci-fication office building followingan original conceptual design byAtkins Global. The building’smain structure is made up of 52factory manufactured modular

units. Live railway lines borderingthe site and a large electrical sub-station, created additional con-struction challenges. However,using modular construction tech-niques the entire programme wasreduced by more than 20 weeks,thus limiting disruptions.

Leading the WayAcross the country, constructionsites are springing up on analmost daily basis transformingour cities and updating our towns.Increasingly, the revolution is notonly in the way our urban land-scape looks, but also in the meth-ods being used to change it. Andwith its enviable track record,Britspace is poised to become thetrailblazer that takes modularconstruction into the mainstream.

For more information on Brit-space’s services please visitwww.britspace.co.uk or call

01430 444400.

From the prison overcrowding crisis to thelack of affordable homes across the country,the need to build high standard accommoda-tion quickly and cost-effectively has neverbeen greater.

Britspace: a modularsolution for every construction challenge

� Docklands Light Railway

Top Bury College. Above Citispace.


Government can play a key role inthis by making sure that fiscalincentives to support policy are welltargeted and capable of influencingthe amount of brownfield develop-ment taking place in the future.

In her final Review of Land UsePlanning (December 2006), KateBarker made a number of recom-mendations to help focus the atten-tion in this area, including a reviewof empty property relief, modifica-tions to the land remediation taxrelief together with recognition thatLocal Authorities need to be able toshare in the benefits derived fromdevelopment in their area so thatfunds can be created to pump backinto local infrastructure. There wasalso a recommendation that chargesbe placed on owners of long termderelict sites, especially where theseare unconstrained and capable ofdevelopment.

ReliefEmpty property relief has alreadybeen modified (in the 2007 Budget)through the withdrawal of relieffrom business rates for propertiesthat remain vacant for more than sixmonths. Other developments includethe much maligned Planning-gainSupplement which seems to be gath-ering momentum as the preferredmechanism for capturing gains aris-ing from local development. Withthe passing of an enabling billallowing a budget of approximately£50m to work up these proposals, itis questionable whether the recentpromise of another governmentconsultation on the issue will be suf-ficient to divert it’s predicted course.

The 2007 budget also included theconsultation documents for a modi-fied land remediation tax relief,which was extended in brief toinclude proposed measures to phaseout landfill tax exemption, anexemption from landfill tax that is

currently levied on developers tak-ing waste to landfill. With the likelyintroduction of a “pay-as–you-throw” scheme for private house-holds it seems increasingly likelythat, on presentational groundsalone, the withdrawal of this exemp-tion is a done deal.

ModificationsAs regards to modifications to thetax relief itself, it is perhaps neces-sary to identify and prioritise themain causes of dereliction so thatthe relief can be targeted most effec-tively. The relief currently allows adeveloper to reclaim up to 15 percent of their costs incurred on reme-diating contaminated sites through areduction in their tax bill. However,contamination is only one of the

relief has a key role to play inencouraging greater private sectorparticipation in brownfield develop-

ment, it is likely that the hardcorelong term derelict sites will only everbecome viable once dedicated publicsector grants are made available ormore money is made available forresearch into technologies to helpclean up some of worst contaminat-ed sites.

Announcements of enhancedhousing targets across all sectors andcommitments to the development ofbrownfield sites do make greatsoundbites. But what remains to beseen is whether the Government willsupport these initiatives with thenecessary funds. With a Comprehen-sive Spending Review and the con-sultation results to be announcedlater this year, at least we won’t haveto wait too long to find out.

The brownfield challengeAt a time when Government is pressing ahead with ambitious housing tar-gets, we need to make sure that we are making the most use of previouslydeveloped vacant or derelict land.

Learn more...visit www.terrapin-ltd.co.ukor call 0844 848 9300

Terrapin’s innovative offsite construction methods haverevolutionised the construction industry. Our heritage andflexible approach to design underpin our passion for providing a quality service from concept to completion. We call it IntelligentSpace®

Colchester GarrisonPhase One handed over 10 weeks early

causes of dereliction, others being alack of roads and services; unstableground conditions resulting frommining activities; flood mitigationcosts as a consequence of increas-ingly onerous flood protectionmeasures; planning and other regu-latory constraints or simply becausethe site is located where no onewants to live or work.

All of these are real constraints todevelopment and deciding on theirrelative prominence will allow anynew tax relief to be targeted mosteffectively. However, whilst tax

“Announcementsof enhanced housing

targets across allsectors and commit-ments to the devel-opment of brown-field sites do makegreat soundbites”


Wales’s youngest city will once morebecome the economic heartbeat ofsouth east Wales. Newport Unlimited,a partnership of Newport City Coun-cil and the Welsh Assembly Govern-ment, working with the private sec-tor, has developed three master plansto map out a new environment forcity living, working and leisure.

In the run up to the Ryder Cup,Newport will see more than 50 proj-ects delivered across 15 priorityareas, helping to attract £1 billion inprivate sector investment and create5,000 new jobs. The city is develop-ing rapidly, and its full potential isbeing unlocked.

Last year, the first completed proj-ect to be rolled out as part of theregeneration programme was putinto place. Spanning the River Usk,the iconic, £5 million, multi award-winning Newport City Footbridgehas joined both sides of Newportbringing the city closer to embrac-ing its waterfront. The left bank ofthe River Usk is set to become a cul-tural district, home to the arts and

education, with a £50 million Uni-versity campus to accommodate upto 3,000 students.

The city centre will see over £300million of new investment in shop-ping and commercial developmentswhich will increase substantially thecity’s retail offer. Three new shoppingcentres are planned and underway,including a 400,000 sq ft Friars Walkdevelopment, as well as City Spires,both led by Modus. Furthermore, the200,000 sq ft refurbished KingswayCentre by UBS, will add to, and com-plement, the busy Commercial Streetpedestrianised shopping area.

Significant development is due totake place in the east of the city, asdeveloper St Modwen has beengiven the go-ahead for a develop-ment of 4,000 new homes, two newschools and café bars. The 600-acredevelopment located in Llanwern isone of the largest brownfield sites inEngland and Wales.

The west side of the city is set asideas a key business district, andreceived a series of major boosts

when it was announced that almost2,000 jobs would come to Newport.The relocation and consolidation of astring of high profile organisationsincluding the Headquarters of theOffice of National Statistics, HMPrison Services, the Quinn Group andWales and West Utilities, have set theball rolling in attracting privateinvestment to drive the city’s growth.

Vantage pointJohn Burrows, chief executive ofNewport Unlimited, said: “New-port’s position on the M4 corridor,located midway between Cardiffand Bristol, gives it an excellentvantage point to attract job-creatinginvestment. The regeneration pro-gramme underway in Newport willestablish it as a premier location forliving, working and leisure.

“The Newport of 2020 will have avibrant city centre waterfront andcultural quarter; showpiece publicsquares; eye catching marina-stylehomes at its gateway; more thanhalf a million sq ft of new offices,600,000 sq ft of new and refurbishedretail space and up to 5,000 newjobs. It will be a prosperous and for-ward-thinking city for the future.”

Media enquiries to Sian Hunt atFreshwater on 02920 545370 oremail [email protected]

A transformed Newport for 2020As the 2010 Ryder Cup golf tournament drawscloser, Newport, the host city, is undergoing animpressive transformation with a number ofregeneration projects underway and more takingoff the ground.

Regeneration ofWest BromwichWest Bromwich in Sandwell, the heart of theBlack Country, is undergoing a spectacular trans-formation under multi-million pound plans driv-en by Sandwell Council and its partners.

In contrast with the town’s proudhistory of industry and manufactur-ing, the focus is on retail, culturaland leisure facilities.

Working closely with the council,Tesco aims to develop one of itslargest schemes in Europe, due forcompletion in 2009/10.

A £100m investment will create1,500 jobs and a wealth of top quali-ty shopping, restaurant and leisurefacilities, transforming the towncentre into a principal retail centre.

In addition, a new site forSandwell College, one of the largestFurther Education colleges in thecountry, has been agreed.

These developments go hand-in-hand with Sandwell Council’s plansfor developing and improving cul-tural opportunities for local peopleand visitors. With finance from theCouncil and its partners, includingthe Heritage Lottery Fund, plans areunderway to:• Improve links between the townand the 2,300 acre Sandwell Valley,one of the largest areas of opencountryside in the West Midlands. • Build a landmark £4m ‘GreenBridge’ over a busy A-road to bringgreen space into the heart of the towncentre. This would mark the southernend of a 12 mile ‘Green Bridge Corri-dor’ for walkers and cyclists betweenWest Bromwich and Walsall’sArboretum park. There would beinvestment in important green spacesfor wildlife along the route.

Sandwell Council has teamed upwith its Walsall counterpart on theGreen Bridge project, as part of awider Black Country bid for up to£50m from the Big Lottery’s Fund‘Living Landmarks: The People’sMillions’ Programme. Elsewhere inWest Bromwich, options are being

considered for the development of anew Leisure Centre with potentialfor a main pool, training pool, funpool and indoor sports courts.Funding options are also being con-sidered.

The Oak House, a 16th centuryhalf-timbered yeoman’s house isalso in line for dramatic improve-ments. A resource for schools andfamilies in the area, visitor facilitiesare set to be improved through thiswork. The Heritage Lottery Fund hasprovided a project developmentgrant to support detailed proposals.

The splendid Victorian and Edwar-dian buildings that make up WestBromwich Town Hall and CentralLibrary are also part of long-termplans. Over time the Central Librarywill be expanded in response to localdemand, the borough’s archives willbe re-housed, and the Town Hall willbe brought back into greater use.

Flagship building The Public -familiar to many observers of con-temporary architecture - is set toopen in early summer 2008, along-side a recently completed townsquare. The Public Gallery, offeringan interactive visual arts experienceattracting local, regional and inter-national audiences, is at the heart ofthe building.

Currently Sandwell’s culturalfacilities attract five million visitsper year. With the ambitions in placefor West Bromwich, this figure is setto rise, bringing economic regenera-tion and a higher quality of life tothe area.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet mem-ber for regeneration and transportCllr Bob Badham said: “We are estab-lishing West Bromwich as the premiertown centre for Sandwell and amongthe best in the West Midlands.”

Artist’s impression of the Green Bridge

� Multi award-winning Newport City Footbridge

By bringing together the University of Wolverhampton’swealth of knowledge and expertise, CoRE sources a widerange of skills and services relating to key areas such ascommunity, cultural, economic, physical and social

regeneration including:

� Qualifications to Professional Membership

� Training and Development

� Continuous Professional Development Opportunities

� Practice-based Research and Evaluation

� Consultancy

� Conferences, Seminars and Workshops.

For further information on the University of Wolverhampton’sregeneration activities, please contact:

Tel: 0800 068 5023 Fax: 01902 824290

Email: [email protected] Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/core

Learning with you, working for you

To find out more about the exciting transformation of the City of Newport leading up to 2010 when the city hosts the International Ryder Cup Golf Tournament…

and about Newport’s new multi award-winning iconic footbridge contact:

[email protected] www.newportunlimited.co.uk

City of NewportThe place to be

1.5 million people within 45 minutes drive time Midway between Cardiff and Bristol, Newport offers a larger workforce, skills base,

and retail catchment area than any city in Wales and the West of England

And furthermore by 2010 the transformation of Newport’s City Centre will be well advanced with:

Enabling you to enjoy your work, leisure and play. The choice is obvious… Newport, South Wales

• Two new shopping centres and car parks

• A new Debenhams and many more shops

• Hotels and new office developments

• Riverside walkways and civic spaces

• Exciting new residential opportunities

• City Centre university campus

• A modernised railway station• Better transport and accessibility

To find out more about the exciting transformation of the City of Newport leading up to 2010 when the city hosts the International Ryder Cup Golf Tournament…

and about Newport’s new multi award-winning iconic footbridge contact:

[email protected] www.newportunlimited.co.uk


Eight Regional Development Agencies (RDA) -seven in England and one in Wales -wereestablished in April 1999. A ninth, in London,was established in July 2000 following the set-ting-up of the Greater London Authority.

These Regional Development Agencies wereestablished as part of the wider package ofdevolution measures and have the followingfive statutory objectives:• To further economic development and

regeneration• To promote business efficiency and competi-

tiveness• To promote employment• To enhance the development and application

of skills relevant to employment• To contribute to sustainable development

Each RDA sets out how these objectives canbe met within the context of their region in theirRegional Economic Strategy (RES). The strategyis developed with partners from all sectors andis, therefore, owned by the whole region.

OverlapWithin each region RDAs are promoting thedelivery of their statutory objectives, many ofwhich over-lap with each other. One exampleis regeneration and sustainable development;here the concept of sustainable communitieshas been developed as places in which peoplewant to live, now and in the future. Such com-munities embody the principles of sustainabledevelopment at the local level, which meansthey seek to improve the quality of life for allwhilst safeguarding the environment for futuregenerations.

Other organizations are also trying to makethe concept viable. English Partnerships andlocal authorities are taking an active role, aswell as business, for example the constructionand retail sectors. The latter has invested inmixed-use of city centre sites providing shop-ping, office and housing. Specific agencieshave been set up to help, for example theAcademy for Sustainable Communities, whichseeks to help fill skills gaps in the workplace.

Examples of RDA efforts to create sustain-able communities include the South West ofEngland RDA’s support to Temple Quarter inthe East part of the city of Bristol. Here a £750million development seeks to provide afford-able homes with access to good jobs and animproving transport infrastructure. The 73,000sq m (785,000 sq ft) Temple Quay developmentis now fully let to some of the world’s mostprominent companies.

The Bristol success story continues withTemple Quay 2. Here the South West of Eng-land Regional Development Agency anddeveloper Castlemore Securities Ltd worked inpartnership to develop offices, shops, leisurefacilities, workspaces, waterside walkways,public areas and squares. Allowing people tolive and work in the same area reduces con-gestion and reduces environmental impactssuch as pollution and energy use.

At the other end of the country, on a differentscale, the RDA One North East has supported thegeneration of energy from renewable sourcesfor the village, school, business workshops,youth hostel, Kielder Castle visitors’ centre andsix new homes in Kielder Village. The wood-chip-fuelled power plant is supplied by theForestry Commission’s Kielder Forest - thelargest man-made forest in Europe. The plant islow maintenance as a local resident has beenrecruited and trained to manage the system.

Key to all projects is a partnershipapproach with a wide range of partnersbringing specific skills and experiences, par-ticularly insight as to what approach is bestto take. Successful projects also includeactive engagement of a wide range of thecommunity so that their present and futurerequirements can be integrated into thedesign and functionality of the development.Integrating environmental and social consid-erations into projects aimed at stimulatingeconomic generation whilst improving theway our communities function is vital if weare to plan for a future with more environ-mental constraints, like climate change.

What does anRDA stand for?What is the role of a regional development agencies or RDA inregeneration and creating sustainable development? BY DR PAUL TOYNE

Why off-site isthe future forconstructionOff-site construction is something thatRichard Ogden (pictured), chairman ofBuildoffsite passionately believes in. BY IAN COOK

In fact he has been promoting off-site con-struction since the 1980s when he worked asvice president of construction and equipmentat fast food giants McDonald’s UK. At the timea number of pressures were forcing businessessuch as catering to look closely at their con-struction methods.

Major 1980s projects – such as Canary Wharfand the Channel Tunnel – were putting enor-mous pressure on the construction industry andthose managing construction projects werelooking for new construction methods that werespeedy and affordable as well as safe. Ogdenwas an early convert to the off-site cause.“I amknown in as an early adopter”, he admits.

He was not disappointed by what he found. Aswell as reducing costs and ensuring quality, off-site construction can also be very fast. Construc-tion speeds while he worked at McDonald’smoved from around 30 days to just 48 hours inone celebrated project at Peterborough. “We actu-ally put in the foundations, built the building, putthe roof on and served food 48 hours later. Cer-tainly this was good for our business but just thinkwhat this means in terms of reduced nuisance andinconvenience for the local community.”

There really was no looking back for RichardOgden and for the past three years he has beenchairman of Buildoffsite, a fully independentmember-based organisation promoting theoff-site construction sector – driving off-siteconstruction in residential, retail and industrialboth within the private and the public market-place. The organisation was originally spon-sored by the DTI.

In spite of its many natural advantages andits growing use in construction off-site is anindustry still in its infancy. Off-site spendaccounts for as little as £6bn in a market worth£120bn meaning it has a market share of as lit-tle as five per cent.

Much of this may be due to a certain conser-vatism as far as modern construction methods areconcerned but Ogden hopes to see a 100 per centincrease in off-site’s market share by 2010 and a

ten-fold increase by 2020. He admits that off siteis still very much a junior partner in the construc-tion industry but thinks things may be about tochange. Major construction projects like theOlympics and the Thames Gateway projects aresure to boost off site construction as there will bean enormous demand not just in terms of thingslike costs but also on meeting tight deadlines.

One of the problems that has dogged off-sitefor years is actually a prejudice against prefabri-cation. Interestingly the term “pre-fab” - asapplied to the 1940s post war building schemes- usually denotes a building method that wasperceived as being insubstantial - seen merelyas a stop gap measure and one which was wide-ly abandoned as soon as conditions changed.Richard Ogden accepts there is even today aprejudice against prefabrication off site.

“The prejudices are certainly there becausethe rump of the construction industry is stillengaged in what we call traditional construc-tion and for many off site is outside of themainstream. But look at the prefabs of the late1940s – they had a life of ten years and repre-sented a step change in living conditions.Some of them in Birmingham are now listedbuildings and cherished by those who live inthem. This idea that prefabs fall to pieces isrubbish. Any building falls to pieces if youdon’t look after it properly. Yes there are preju-dices but I think today people are looking forsomething that is fresh, deliverable and theywants costs down or cost neutral. What theyare getting at the moment is rising costs anddoggedly poor productivity.”

Looking to the future Richard Ogden says heis hugely optimistic about the growth of offsite production because it is an idea whosetime has come. With big projects coming onstream such as the Olympics for which therecan be no overruns the virtues of off site meth-ods – fast, economic, safer to build and moreenvironmental - may soon become obvious toan industry that has traditionally been reluc-tant to look off site for solutions.


Speed of installation, safety andreducing the number of man hoursworking at height were the main pri-orities for designers Dane Architec-tural and main contractors LaingO'Rourke. A delivery schedule wascarefully designed to coincide withthe site programme and, despite apredicted installation programme offive days, all of the 22 modules werelifted and bolted into position in justtwo days by approved Teamkal con-tractor EHS Roofing.

Providing off-site solutions forroof construction across a full rangeof sectors including military, custo-dial, health, residential and commer-cial; Hi-Point by Corus is manufac-tured at a dedicated site in Haydock,home to Corus Building Systems andthe Kalzip portfolio of products andsystems. It is born of modern meth-

ods of construction, being manufac-tured and assembled under factorycontrolled conditions. Providingrobust modular roof structures,which can be erected quickly withminimal disruption on site, the sys-tem is ideally suited to fast-trackbuilding projects where limited timeand space requires construction totake place off site. Complete roofs,including primary and secondarystructures can be pre-assembled atthe factory then transported to site.Alternatively, where there is ade-quate space to construct and storethe roof modules on site, the compo-nents can be delivered as a kit of fac-tory-manufactured parts that areready for assembly and installation.

Offering significant safety benefits,the main construction and assemblyof the modules takes place at ground

level. The lightweight structure canthen be easily craned into position foralignment and finishing. Minimisinglabour times and reducing the numberof workers required on site, the lengthof time spent working at height is sig-nificantly reduced along with theassociated dangers, and the risks ofinjuries caused by falling debris. Evenguttering and some fascias can be putin place prior to the crane lift, ensur-ing that any work at height is onlyundertaken if absolutely necessary.

Like all off-site construction, theKalzip solution is extremely cost-effective, requiring less scaffoldingand fewer on site workers, and canhelp achieve quicker project comple-tion through simultaneous roof con-struction that is unaffected by poorweather conditions.

The use of Kalzip OSC offered theUnity development a quick, efficientinstallation process considerablyreducing the time needed for the on-site roofing programme and as aresult, benefited the entire buildschedule as well as fulfilling all theaesthetic and performance require-ments of the development.

Hi-Point: raising the roofand lowering the riskAt 27 storeys, Liverpool’s Unity development ofluxury apartments has transformed the city’s sky-line with its striking 1.5-degree pitched Kalzip,off-site manufactured, gull-wing roof that sits 94metres above the ground.

� The main construction and assembly of the module took place off-site before thelightweight structure was craned into position for finishing

A new wave of modern manufactured solu-tions is making the acceptability of off-sitemethods more desirable to architects andoccupiers alike. But those looking for inno-vations most likely to radically change theway construction projects are deliveredshould look inside buildings, at the off-sitebuilding services sector.

NG Bailey is one of the co-founders ofBuildoffsite and through its engineeringand manufacturing business - Bailey Off-Site, is heralding a new way of bringingbuildings to life. Traditionally the UK con-struction industry has been resistant tochange. Mechanical and electrical contrac-tors have been expected to simply makethings ‘fit’ and it was assumed that theywould be able to work around problems and

poor information to make systems work. NGBailey has been challenging this since 2000when it first established the capability tooffer pre-assembled mechanical and electri-cal modules for building installation. Sevenyears on and NG Bailey has invested over£5million in the UK’s largest off-site build-ing services manufacturing capability.

Bailey Off-Site is able to supply a uniqueand diverse range of off-site building servic-es solutions including mechanical and elec-trical modules - such as pipe work for lowtemperature hot water, chilled and domesticwater systems. It also has the capability toinstall Integrated Plumbing Systems (IPS) -including toilet, basin and urinal installa-tions – suitable to be ‘plugged in’ to a rangeof buildings in different sectors such ashealth, education and commercial.

Prefabricated domestic hot water systemshave been developed integrating, controlsand power distribution. These are deliveredpre-plumbed, wired, tested and supplied as a

ready to use module. Even plantrooms canbe pre-assembled as fully integrated “plugand play” solutions. Assembled and testedbefore building installation and commis-sioning, they can meet tight site constraintsfor either expansion to existing systems orrenovations to old or new buildings.

It is predicted that the sector will experi-ence significant growth over the next fewyears. Bailey Off-Site already has a longtrack record of completing high profile proj-ects using off-site engineered building serv-ices. The company has recently developedone of the largest (1200m2 in size) prefabri-

cated plantrooms in the UK for the roof ofSheffield Northern General Hospital’s criti-cal care unit. Modular plant rooms, roofservice modules and lightweight pipe rackswere supplied by Bailey Off-Site in the con-struction of Heathrow Pier 6, to cater for theintroduction of the new A380 Airbus. Butthe largest and most prestigious projectdemonstrating NG Bailey’s off-site capabili-ty is a flagship PFI contract on Merseyside.The company has been brought on board todeliver two challenging state-of-the-arthospitals incorporating off-site mechanicaland electrical solutions for the St Helens andKnowsley Hospitals NHS Trust.

The overarching message from NG Baileyto architects, construction customers anddevelopers alike is that engineering buildingservices off-site reduces programme risk;eliminates time from the building processand improves quality as well as almost dou-bling productivity on site. Add to this thepositive impact on the environment and sitesafety and it seems remarkable that mechan-ical and electrical off-site makes up only 11per cent of the off-site sector as a whole.Something NG Bailey is committed tochange.

For more details on NG Bailey or BaileyOff-Site contact Steve Ainsworth, Business

Development Director, Bailey Off-Site: 01274 805010

[email protected]

Bringing buildings to life: inside future trendsThere is no doubt amongst industry observers that ‘modern meth-ods of construction’ has moved into its next phase. The industry isgraduating from the pioneering stage by shifting up a gear.

Developing and regenerating real estate using innovative legal solutions

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Legalinnovation in regeneration

Lawrence Graham LLP4 More London RiversideLondon SE1 2AU

T/ +44(0)20 7379 0000F/ +44(0)20 7379 6854

Specialist Recruitment hays.com/cp

Senior Urban DesignerSouthampton • c.£70,000 DOE + Benefits

Working for an architectural consultancy with offices in Surrey and Hampshire, you will produce designs to a client base ofresidential developers on a variety of interesting projects. Working for a company whose name has been established for over10 years, you will be creating and co-ordinating commercial and residential schemes from feasibility and masterplanning,through to detailed design on projects ranging from one-off bespoke residences, through to innovative, affordable housingschemes, up to multi-storey landmark developments and c.1000 unit multi use schemes. You will have experience within theresidential sector and of liaising with clients and local authorities. Solid CAD and freehand design and presentation skills are amust. In return, you will be offered the opportunity to work for a forward-thinking firm where outstanding efforts are rewarded.A clear career path can be offered to those who are willing to ensure their capabilities are noticed. A competitive package ofremuneration will be offered, including flexible healthcare, pension options, car allowance and expenses. This consultancy iswilling to pay over and above the advertised salary for the right candidate.

E [email protected] T 02380 639036

Senior Client-Side Construction Project ManagerLondon • £60-65,000 Basic Salary + Benefits

Take up this rare opportunity to work for a leading international blue-chip company. You would work within the company’s realestate team that manages a multi-million pound property portfolio. A highly skilled and motivated project manager would berequired to help drive a variety of activities ranging from simple asset replacement works to multi million office fit out andrelocation projects. The role is focused on southern England but you will have opportunities to deliver projects anywhere inthe UK and possibly in North Europe. You will be highly skilled and motivated and ideally be a professional member of aconstruction related institute. Some asset replacement, as well as large-scale fit out experience is desirable. In return, thiscompany is offering excellent career progression opportunities and a highly competitive corporate benefits package.

E [email protected] T 020 7580 6212

Commercial ManagersEssex • Excess of £50,000 + Package

A nationwide contractor seeks motivated commercial managers to join its enterprise. Operating mainly in the South East,Home Counties and East Anglia, this contractor is heavily involved in the delivery of new building and refurbishment projectsusing a flexible resource to meet project specific client requirements. As with all tis divisions, a key element in the constructionoffer is the ability to develop long-term client and consultant relationships based on superior performance achieved throughteamwork, cooperation and trust. Management and key personnel within the construction division offer a powerful level ofexpertise in all sectors. The company itself offers a professional, intelligent construction service to established market leadersin the building, transportation, retail, leisure and commercial sectors. All applications will be in total confidence.

E [email protected] T 01473 281968

As part of a Hays Plc, a FTSE 250 company, HaysConstruction & Property excelsin providing a high quality serviceto both applicants and clients.We have a phenomenal trackrecord, no fewer than 60,000candidate placements every yearin both temporary and permanentpositions for hundreds of privateand public sector organisations.With our expert knowledge, weare ideally placed to meet theneeds of applicants and clientsin the industry.

For further details or to applyfor any of these roles, contactthe relevant consultant.Further vacancies can also be viewed on our website.


Indeed, it includes other aspectssuch as optimum use of resources,stability, durability, factory-basedproduction, social issues, improvedsafety, reduction of waste andchanges in construction process.

The Brundtland Report, from theUN World Commission on Environ-ment and Development published in1987, described sustainability as“developments meeting the needs ofthe present generation withoutcompromising the ability of thefuture generation to meet their own

needs”. However can the industrydeliver against theses targets?

On the one hand the constructionindustry has to provide an additional70,000 houses per year – at a timewhen the cost of construction is ris-ing, and when traditionally skilledbuilders are in short supply and avail-able suitable land is scarce. On theother hand, people need affordable,mortgageable and quality homes atthe right place and at the right time.

If we are to meet the market needs,the industry must evolve from its tra-

ditional ways and provide alterna-tives that can satisfy not only devel-opers, but also people who ultimatelyhave a right to choose which methodof construction will create sustain-able communities for them to live in.

What solutions are available?Fortunately, modern solutions thatcombine efficiency with environ-mental considerations - deliveringwhat consumers and developers want- are at hand. By maximising the useof technologies such as offsite tech-niques or steel framed solutions, theconstruction sector can meet highvolume demand and quality whileoffering a cost effective approach tosustainable homes that exceeds thecurrent government requirements.Members of the Steel Homes Group(www.steelhomesgroup.com) havecertainly demonstrated the efficiencyof such methods of construction.

Indeed, offsite techniques, wherecomponents are cut to length, drilled,fabricated and assembled in a con-trolled environment enable a reduc-tion of waste at source and a timelydelivery on site with minimal impacton the social environment (noise, dust,traffic, etc). Independent studies showsteel to be the more economic solutionas it requires fewer foundations, pro-

vides faster construction on site and isreadily adaptable and durable. Inaddition steel is the only material thatis 100 percent recyclable withoutdegradation, resulting in saved landfillspace and the conservation of naturalresources. Research in conjunctionwith the National Federation of Dem-olition Contractors (NFDC) shows that84 percent of the steel arising fromdemolition sites is in fact recycled anda further 10 percent re-used.

At a time when the Governmentbrings a stronger emphasis on hous-ing, realising the increased difficultyfor first time buyers to climb theproperty ladder, property developers,lenders as well as end users should begiven the opportunity to explore thewider range of choices availablewithin the property market.

Offsite techniques, which have long

been tested and approved throughquality certification, represent the 21stcentury solution to deliver sustainablebuildings in residential, commercial orhealth sectors.

If we are to meet the sustainabilityagenda while meeting the market’sdemand, we should concentrate ourefforts on where and how differentmaterials perform best and use themaccordingly to satisfy the client’sneed, rather than systematicallyopposing them; and the Steel HomesGroup will continue to promote theeffective use of steel in constructionbased on this principle.

For further information pleasecontact Clare Convy

[email protected]

What offsitetechnology isdoing for youAlthough claiming green credentials has never beeneasier, actually delivering sustainability has neverbeen more challenging for the construction indus-try as it is much wider than the embodied energy ofmaterials on which we currently concentrate.

An early starter in thinking aboutsustainability, Sweden was one ofthe first countries to recognise theimportance of environmental issuesin house construction. The country’sexample inspired ecoTECH, a UKsustainable building organisation,to bring progressive Scandinavianconstruction ideas to Britain anddeliver a turnkey affordable housingsolution entitled ORGANICS byecoTECH at £99 per square foot.

Christine Hynes, who set upecoTECH in 2001 had worked formany years in Scandinavia and hadexperienced at first hand the superi-ority of Scandinavian housing. Asshe puts it: “They are not only more

cost effective but also offer a health-ier environment to live in.”

One of the main differencesbetween British and Scandinavianhouse building is the use of off-siteconstruction in Sweden. The term“off site construction” means thatthe vast majority of building work iscarried out away from the tradition-al building site with most of the con-struction work done in a controlledmodern factory environment, leav-ing as little as possible to thevagaries of the weather, site condi-tions and importantly, to on-sitelabour skills. This allows for greaterquality control with all componentsprecision made and fitted and creat-

ing less waste off site. ecoTECH isworking to provide training forthese new technologies throughoutthe UK, creating the opportunity tore-train and create jobs in regenera-tion and new town areas.

ORGANICS by ecoTECH consist ofenergy efficient apartments,detached and semi-detached houses,terraced houses, town houses, col-lective housing for pensioners aswell as a variety of other buildings.The walls of the buildings are deliv-ered to the UK from Sweden by seawhilst all other components are builtin UK factories such as the roofs andthe eco-pod kitchens/bathrooms.The external ‘skin’ of the buildingcan either be factory fitted or builton-site in wood, brick or render.

As well as being sustainable andaffordable ecoTECH homes are alsodesigned to be “intelligent”. One of the

features of ecoTECH homes is the useof Cisco Technology to improve abuilding’s performance by harnessingit to more effectively manage heatand light as well as improve the livesof people who call that building theirhome through the provision of enter-tainment, home working and security.

ecoTECH has developed a range oftechnology features that add valueto homes and enhance the lives ofthose who live within them. Forexample:• Central control Creating a simplecentral computer control and tele-phone link for all integral systems • Energy systems Giving remotemetering, energy read-outs andmore effective heat control • Central locking Ensuring anecoTECH home is as secure as it isenvironmentally friendly • Flexible lighting Remote controlledlighting that is not only flexible, butalso energy saving• Disability systems Cameras andalarm systems for the disabled, eld-erly or infirm

• Security and safety Intruder, fire,smoke and CO 2 detectors that canbe seamlessly integrated with othersystems such as lighting and centrallocking• Communications Open multi-mediacommunications infrastructure forTV, telephone and computers

ecoTECH believes that while theabove technology can be applied toevery home, an individual solutionmust be applied to each project. Inthis way systems can be designedand installed to maximise the valueto all its stakeholders.

For more information please visitwww.eco-techgroup.com

Home Swede homeIf you want a quality, environmentally friendlyhome then Sweden is the country to look to forinspiration.

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