Beware of unintentional WhatsApp Contracts

   

A recent English High Court ruling should serve as a warning to the construction industry that even informal WhatsApp exchanges can form legally-binding contracts, according to one lawyer.

Michael Kitson, a director at Lindsays, said contractors and developers negotiating contracts cannot afford to presume that the details of text messages and those sent via messaging apps are not legally-binding.

It follows the case of Jaevee Homes Ltd v Fincham Demolition Ltd in which a judge ruled that a contract had been concluded through a short exchange of messages on WhatsApp, despite the absence of a signed agreement or formal written terms.

Mr Kitson, who advises developers, contractors and funders involved in a range of building projects across Scotland, said: “This case reinforces that it’s not how you communicate, but what you say that matters.

“WhatsApp might feel informal, but the law won’t automatically see it that way.”

The recent court case arose from a demolition project in Norwich, where pricing talks initially took place over email before shifting to WhatsApp.

In a key exchange, the contractor messaged:

“Are we saying it’s my job mate so I can start getting organised?”. The developer replied: “Yes. Monthly applications.”  The contractor took this as concluding the contract.

The developer saw it as ‘a staging point’ and issued its standard terms purchaser order a week or so later. The contractor didn’t respond to those terms and started demolition work a few days later.

The developer later claimed no binding agreement had been concluded by the WhatsApp messages and that its standard terms formed the basis of the contract. This led to a dispute over payment and invoicing.

The court disagreed. It ruled that where key commercial terms such as scope of work and price are clearly agreed, the mode of communication is irrelevant if an objective observer would view the parties as intending to enter into a contract. A contract had been formed by the WhatsApp messages and legal obligations followed.

Mr Kitson expects the decision to prompt businesses to reconsider how they negotiate contracts, particularly when using informal platforms – and advised caution around starting work or issuing payments without confirming terms in writing.

He added:

“Many businesses will rightly be concerned about the risk of unintentionally entering into a contract, especially when using informal channels such as WhatsApp. If there’s no intention to be legally bound, that must be made explicitly clear, for example by prominently marking communications ‘Subject to Contract’.

“It’s also essential to issue your standard terms early in negotiations to help reduce protect your position. This case is a timely reminder for businesses to review how they communicate, whether staff need training on contractual risks, and remain cautious about actions – such as starting work, authorising it to begin or making payments – that could imply agreement to terms that haven’t been properly finalised or aren’t as desired.”

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Align Eduction with Construction Skills Demand

 

HoW College and Benniman celebrate regional construction sector with Skills West Midlands + Warwickshire

Heart of Worcestershire College (HoW College) attended the Skills West Midlands + Warwickshire (SWM+W) celebration of the construction sector in the region at the special awards event in support of Benniman Ltd, one of their strategic partners.

In her opening speech, Chair of the SWM+W Steering Group, Suzie Branch-Haddow, laid out the opportunities and challenges faced by the construction sector, drawing on the findings of a specially commissioned study on construction sector skills by Whitecap Consulting.

Suzie highlighted the critical role supporting skills development played by the FE sector which comprises 70 providers, employs nearly 10,000 people with 120,000 students participating in post-16 education. However, she also made clear there remains room for improvement with nearly 74% of regional employers not having engaged with post-16 education and training providers in the last five years.

Mo Horan, Vice Principal Apprenticeships, Partnerships & Skills, HoW College, said:

“In the construction sector, there are clear opportunities to align education provision with industry demand. Employers have emphasised that they need a workforce equipped not only with technical skills but also with the adaptability and resilience to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. These insights will guide how we shape our curriculum and training programmes moving forward.”

At the ceremony, Benniman Ltd and a selection of other organisations including; Balfour Beatty VINCI, Orton Group, Speller Metcalfe, and Taylor Wimpey were recognised for their investment in partnering with the further education sector.

HoW and Benniman Ltd recently announced their partnership aimed at promoting career opportunities and curriculum development in the construction industry. The collaboration will focus on educating young people about essential roles, skills, and the current skills agenda surrounding sustainability, environmental issues, and health and safety legislation.

Working together, this three-year commitment will assist in raising awareness of career pathways within the construction sector. Both organisations recognise the importance of equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in this vital industry.

For more information about HoW College visit www.howcollege.ac.uk.

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Driving sustainable change with recycled solutions for Plastic Free July

  

By Andy Leah, General Manager of Duraproducts

Plastic pollution has become one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time. In 2025, almost 500 million tonnes of primary plastics will be produced globally and over 400 million tonnes of plastics waste generated – most of it destined for landfill, incineration or the natural environment[1].

Plastic Free July raises awareness to act against plastic pollution, by encouraging people to reduce their use of single-use plastics the initiative promotes cleaner streets, oceans, and public spaces. Through practical resources and community engagement, Plastic Free July provides meaningful ways to be part of the solution.

At Duraproducts, reducing and offsetting environmental impacts are a fundamental factor within product design and our commitment is to avoid virgin plastics entirely and instead prioritise recycled alternatives, like synthetic polymers made from recycled plastic parts.

Our pioneering lightweight kerb solution, Durakerb was developed not only as a solution to reduce downcycled waste but also to offer a smarter, more sustainable option for infrastructure projects. Durakerb units contain 88% recycled and recyclable polymer units from recycled milk bottles, caps and closures, plus other household and commercial polymer waste, thereby diverting waste from landfills and minimising environmental harm. With end-of-life potential in mind, the units can be either recycled into new products or repurposed in their entirety for different projects, further contributing to a more sustainable future.

In choosing products with a high recycled polymer content, you immediately eradicate significant risks that waste can present to the natural environment. You also create a sustained demand for recycled material that drives innovation so we not only recycle more in terms of volume but in variety, recycling material that would once have been considered un-recyclable.

Promoting high-recycled-content products like Durakerb supports innovation and helps shape a cleaner, more resilient future. By choosing recycled over virgin materials, Duraproducts is proud to support Plastic Free July and demonstrate how sustainable innovation can drive lasting change in the construction industry.

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Small Modular Reactor Fabricated in the UK for the US

 

A test unit small modular reactor (SMR) vessel, fabricated in partnership with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE), has been successfully installed by the US-based nuclear energy company, Kairos Power, at its USA campus in Tennessee. 

The 14-foot-high reactor vessel is the central component in Kairos Power’s non-nuclear reactor mockup, and its installation marks a significant milestone for the US-based company in the construction of its third Engineering Test Unit (ETU 3.0).

Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Kairos Power is using its Engineering Test Unit programme to validate a safe, cost-effective pathway for the future deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in the United States.

Leveraging industry and academic partnerships, Kairos is piloting the use of innovative engineering techniques and construction processes that can help lower costs and accelerate production timelines for a future commercial fleet of SMRs that will support the clean energy transition in the U.S.

The University of Sheffield AMRC brought its unique expertise and capability to the ETU project, integrating various advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof – including CVE’s advanced welding technology. The AMRC’s capability to manage machining, welding and inspection in a single location allowed for the fabrication of a complete vessel rather than individual parts, proactively addressing potential future issues.

Ben Morgan, interim CEO at the University of Sheffield AMRC, said:

“Large demonstrators like the ETU 3.0 reactor vessel are vital for effectively bringing advanced manufacturing methods into industry, offering a holistic solution for fabricating complex, large-scale components.

“The collaborative efforts of CVE, Kairos Power and the AMRC in addressing the complexities of welding, fixturing, machining and inspection for ETU 3.0 will undoubtedly accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies for clean, affordable and secure power.”

The ETU 3.0 reactor vessel was fabricated using a cutting-edge electron beam welding technology from CVE, which produces high-quality welds at least an order of magnitude faster than conventional arc welding. For example, welds that previously took one week during the fabrication of the ETU 2.0 vessel were completed in approximately ten minutes for ETU 3.0.

Bob Nicolson, CVE managing director, said:

“Our collaboration with Kairos Power and the team at AMRC underscores the transformative potential of electron beam welding in advanced manufacturing. The technology scales well to the precise and demanding requirements of nuclear construction, and this partnership represents a significant step forward in SMR commercialisation.”

The ETU 3.0 project allowed Kairos Power to evaluate the use of electron beam welding to enable faster, more cost-effective production of reactor vessels with precise tolerances for its future commercial fleet.

Craig Gerardi, vice president for manufacturing at Kairos Power, said:

“The ability to test innovative production methods using full-scale non-nuclear hardware is a game-changer for Kairos Power.

“Collaborating with CVE and AMRC let us rapidly gain hands-on experience with electron beam welding that could transform how we deliver reactors for customers.”

Beyond its manufacturing innovations, the ETU 3.0 facility will serve as a vital proving ground to refine civil construction methods and quality assurance procedures for the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, and will ultimately support the Hermes reactor as an operator training centre and test platform for remote handling and maintenance equipment.

Edward Blandford, chief technology officer and co-founder of Kairos Power, said:

“The installation of our third ETU reactor vessel marks a significant moment on our commercial development pathway.

“ETU 3.0 will serve an important mission as a testing and training platform to ensure safe and efficient operations for the Hermes reactor. But, more broadly, the expertise and capabilities we gain from the ETU program will help pave the way to successfully deploy Kairos Power’s commercial fleet.”

The facility will help improve operator safety and reduce downtime by prequalifying procedures for maintaining and replacing high-temperature reactor systems and components. Capabilities to be tested will include shielded component transfer systems, heavy-lifting and positioning systems, and remote vision, control and feedback.

The ETU 3.0 building will also house a Modular Systems Facility where plant equipment modules for ETU 3.0 and the Hermes reactor will be staged, assembled, and tested prior to installation. The modular reactor construction methods being piloted with the ETU series and Hermes will be foundational to reducing construction costs and timelines for future plant deployments.

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Bright move from Braintree Council

Bright move from Braintree Council with landmark solar installation from RenEnergy

 

RenEnergy has supported Braintree Council with a large-scale 407KW solar panel installation in Essex as part of the authority’s drive to increase efficiency and reduce emissions from its buildings.

Expected to produce over 399MWh of energy annually, the renewable energy specialist installed 983 solar panels on the Witham Leisure Centre, including both solar carports and roof arrays.

Before getting started with the task, the council faced a few initial hurdles. Firstly, the project needed to be delivered before the Sport England Funding deadline at the end of March 2025 and in line with its requirements for funding.

Secondly, as the rooftop and carport solutions were installed at the same time, there were various logistical, resource and health and safety considerations. The scale of the project also meant that numerous local contractors were working on-site together, so clear communication and quick decision-making was vital for bringing the Braintree Council renewable energy vision to life.

To ensure these problems were addressed early on, RenEnergy UK was able to collaborate closely with all of the stakeholders to complete the project before initial deadline. Now, the leisure centre avoids an estimated 59,415kg of CO2 emissions each year and it will be operating at a 34.7% self-sufficiency level. The extra supply of clean energy also means the centre can reduce operational costs on the site with better efficiency and lower emissions from energy.

Witham Leisure Centre has various facilities such as a gym, swimming pool, sports hall and fitness studios and the installation will help reduce their operation costs. The installation is an example of how other leisure centres and local authorities could potentially follow suit and lower energy costs and emissions by generating energy on-site. There may also be the chance to add EV chargers outdoors, to support the current Labour government’s target of having 300,000 charge points across the UK by the end of the decade.

The task has come at a time when numerous local authorities across the UK are navigating renewable energy rollout in line with their sustainability goals. These targets are increasingly important with the current backdrop of the UK’s net zero drive and ambitious goals laid out in the Clean Power 2030 strategy.

The collaboration between RenEnergy UK, Braintree Council and Witham Leisure Centre Management should provide other local authorities with an idea of how to approach these issues. By working together with strategic partners to come up with a detailed plans and execute them successfully, such targets can easily be reached.

 

Mark Wilson, Sustainability Manager at Braintree District Council said:

“We are beyond impressed with the work RenEnergy UK has done to install these solar panels for us. Right now, lots of local councils up and down the country are looking for sustainability solutions and we’ve shown that stakeholders investing in this has immense benefits for everyone.”

 

RenEnergy’s recent work on the Witham Leisure Centre forms a part of the specialist’s role in clean energy rollout in the UK, which has also seen the company launch its ongoing research on solar car ports. The research has already found 629,000 car park spaces with the potential to have solar carports installed across a range of commercial sites that utilise high amounts of energy. This includes sports facilities such as Witham Leisure Centre, in addition to hotels, educations facilities, airports, hospitals and medical facilities.

By combining parking shelter with solar panel installations, businesses can make their journey of reaching the point of energy independence easier.

 

Damian Baker, Managing Director of RenEnergy UK said:

“As a company, we’ve seen an increase in the number of businesses and local authorities asking us to help them make their workplaces more sustainable.

“It’s great to see more companies starting to take notice of how seemingly small things can make a huge difference. We were able to maximise less space by using rooftop and carport arrays, both of which haven’t disrupted the daily operations of the leisure centre. It’s more than possible to reach environmental targets without reducing the operational efficiency of the buildings we work on.”

 

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Future Construction at the Molecular Level

Credit: University of Stuttgart / 2nd Physics Institute

Researchers are creating new moiré materials at the nanometer scale using advanced DNA nanotechnology: DNA moiré superlattices form when two periodic DNA lattices are overlaid with a slight rotational twist or positional offset. This creates a new, larger interference pattern with completely different physical properties. A new approach developed by researchers at the University of Stuttgart and the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research not only facilitates the complex construction of these superlattices; it also unlocks entirely new design possibilities at the nanoscale. The study has been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

Moiré superlattices have become central to modern condensed matter and photonic research. However, realizing such structures typically involves delicate and laborious fabrication steps, including precise alignment and transfer of pre-fabricated layers under highly controlled conditions. “Our approach bypasses traditional constraints of creating moiré superlattices,” says Prof. Laura Na Liu, director of the 2nd Physics Institute at the University of Stuttgart.

New paradigm for the construction of moiré superlattices

“Unlike conventional methods that rely on mechanical stacking and twisting of two-dimensional materials, our platform leverages a bottom-up assembly process,” explains Laura Na Liu.

The assembly process refers to the linking of individual DNA strands to form larger, ordered structures. It is based on self-organization: The DNA strands join together without external intervention, solely through molecular interactions. The Stuttgart research team is taking advantage of this special feature.

“We encode the geometric parameters of the superlattice — such as rotation angle, sublattice spacing, and lattice symmetry — directly into the molecular design of the initial structure, known as the nucleation seed. We then allow the entire architecture to self-assemble with nanometer precision.”

The seed acts as a structural blueprint, directing the hierarchical growth of 2D DNA lattices into precisely twisted bilayers or trilayers, all achieved within a single solution-phase assembly step.

Exploring Uncharted Territory: Moiré Structures on the Intermediate Nanometer Scale

While moiré superlattices have been widely explored at the atomic (angstrom) and photonic (submicron) scales, the intermediate nanometer regime, where both molecular programmability and material functionality converge, has remained largely inaccessible. The Stuttgart researchers have closed this gap with their current study. The team combines two powerful DNA nanotechniques: DNA origami and single-stranded tile (SST) assembly.

Using this hybrid strategy, the researchers constructed micrometer-scale superlattices with unit cell dimensions as small as 2.2 nanometers, featuring tunable twist angles and various lattice symmetries, including square, kagome, and honeycomb. They also demonstrated gradient moiré superlattices, in which the twist angle and hence moiré periodicity varies continuously across the structure.

“These superlattices reveal well-defined moiré patterns under transmission electron microscopy, with observed twist angles closely matching those encoded in the DNA origami seed,” notes co-author Prof. Peter A. van Aken from the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research.

The study also introduces a new growth process for moiré superlattices. The process is initiated by spatially defined capture strands on the DNA seed that act as molecular ‘hooks’ to precisely bind SSTs and direct their interlayer alignment. This enables the controlled formation of twisted bilayers or trilayers with accurately aligned SST sublattices.

Broad implications across molecular engineering, nanophotonics, spintronics, and materials science

Their high spatial resolution, precise addressability, and programmable symmetry endow the new moiré superlattices with significant potential for diverse applications in research and technology. For example, they are ideal scaffolds for nanoscale components — such as fluorescent molecules, metallic nanoparticles or semiconductors in customized 2D and 3D architectures.

When chemically transformed into rigid frameworks, these lattices could be repurposed as phononic crystals or mechanical metamaterials with tunable vibrational responses. Their spatial gradient design also opens avenues for transformation optics and gradient-index photonic devices, where moiré periodicity could steer light or sound along controlled trajectories.

One particularly promising application lies in spin-selective electron transport. DNA has been shown to act as a spin filter, and these well-ordered superlattices with defined moiré symmetries could serve as a platform to explore topological spin transport phenomena in a highly programmable setting.

“This is not about mimicking quantum materials,” says Laura Na Liu. “It’s about expanding the design space and making it possible to build new types of structured matter from the bottom up, with geometric control embedded directly into the molecules.”

Source: Science Daily

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Mega Crane Lifts Nuclear Reactor Dome

EDF Energy

London-based EDF Energy has lifted a 245-ton dome onto a reactor building using the world’s largest construction crane.

The new nuclear plant in Somerset, Hinkley Point C, will feature twin nuclear reactors. It is the first nuclear plant under construction in Britain in 30 years.

Once operational, these will provide zero-carbon electricity for more than six million homes, a report from the BBC reveals.

The engineers behind the development have used prefabrication to speed up the process and bring the plant online as soon as possible. EDF Energy says the site is projected to open in 2031. The opening is five years later than originally planned, due in large part to delays caused by the pandemic. The Hinkley Point C project is costing UK taxpayers a total of £26 billion (approx. $33 billion).

In a press statement, Hinkley Point C CEO Stuart Crooks said, “restarting the industry has been hard, but the second of our two identical units shows the big benefits of repeating an identical design. The build and repeat method is the best way to build new nuclear with time savings already at 20-30 percent.”

According to UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks,

“Hinkley Point C will deliver the next generation of clean, homegrown nuclear power, creating high quality jobs and growth in Somerset and across its supply chains.”

“The government is ending years of delays to usher in a golden age of new nuclear, with funding for Sizewell C and SMRs, protecting family finances and boosting our energy security,” he continued.

 

 

To lift the dome into place, constructors used an SGC-250 crane nicknamed “Big Carl” after Carl Serens, the founder of the company that made the crane.

Big Carl features 96 wheels and is powered by 12 engines, allowing it to operate over 6 kilometers of track. The enormous system has a maximum capacity of 5,000 tons. It uses 52 counterweight containers weighing 100 tons each.

 

Source: Interesting Engineering

 

 

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UK Could be a Leader in the Quest for Fusion Power

 

New clean energy jobs and growth for British businesses are set to be unlocked as the government confirms the UK will be the first country in the world to develop fusion-specific planning rules.

The plans will see fusion introduced into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, putting fusion energy projects on the same footing as other clean energy technologies such as solar, onshore wind and nuclear.

This will drive growth and unlock benefits for places such as Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and South Yorkshire where the fusion industry is already supporting thousands of jobs – revitalising industrial heartlands with the clean energy of the future.

Currently, fusion projects must submit an application to the local authority with no set timelines for approval and no guidance on which sites are appropriate – hindering the technology’s development in the UK.

The introduction of a National Policy Statement will provide clarity to developers and streamline the planning process for fusion, giving applicants clearer guidance on where and how quickly projects can be developed. This will give industry certainty, break down regulatory barriers and get projects built quicker to cement the UK’s position at the forefront of the global race for fusion.

The Spending Review also delivered a commitment to invest over £2.5 billion in fusion research and development. This includes progressing with the STEP programme (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) which aims to develop and build a world-leading fusion power plant by 2040 in Nottinghamshire, creating thousands of new jobs with the potential to unlock limitless clean power.

A thriving fusion industry in the UK will support the growth of other technologies, including superconductors, robotics and advanced materials, which in turn will provide highly-skilled jobs for British scientists, engineers and construction workers as part of the Plan for Change.

The government’s clean energy mission is the only route to energy security, lower bills and good jobs for the country, and by setting out clearer planning rules for investors, the UK will maintain its optimum position for fusion industry investment.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

The future of fusion energy starts now. We are backing the builders not the blockers – paving the way for the UK to become a clean energy superpower and ensuring that limitless fusion energy plays a key role in our future clean energy mix.

We are ensuring the clean energy of the future gets built in Britain, supporting the creation of highly skilled jobs and driving growth into our industrial heartlands as part of our Plan for Change.

This clarity for investors follows a major backing of £61.9 billion for clean homegrown power in the Spending Review, in which a golden age of nuclear was confirmed with the selection of Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred bidder to build the UK’s first small modular reactors and £14.2 billion investment to build Sizewell C.

Developing the fusion NPS will also help fusion energy projects move faster along the process from identifying sites to the start of construction.

This follows the government’s £20 million investment into the ‘Starmaker One’ British fusion investment fund which is expected to unlock £100 million of private investment in the UK – driving economic growth.

Tim Bestwick, CEO, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), said:

The inclusion of fusion energy in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime is a clear indication of the government’s support for fusion.

Fusion promises to be a safe, sustainable part of the world’s future energy supply and the UK has a huge opportunity to become a global hub of fusion and related technology.

Fusion-specific planning rules will help provide certainty about investing in UK fusion developments, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in the quest to commercialise fusion energy.

Source: Gov.uk

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Project management platform built for prefab

Offsight, a leading project management platform built for prefab, modular, and offsite construction, has announced an enterprise-wide partnership with Performance Contracting Inc. (PCI), one of the largest specialty contractors in the U.S. As part of the partnership, PCI will deploy Offsight’s full software suite across its expanding network of prefab and offsite manufacturing facilities nationwide, supporting its commitment to scaling prefabrication operations with greater visibility, efficiency, and control.

Prefabrication and offsite construction is rapidly transforming the industry, offering faster, safer, and more cost-effective project delivery while maintaining high-quality standards. For PCI, the shift presents a major long-term growth opportunity. PCI already operates several successful prefab factories and has plans to launch many more in the coming years. To support this expansion, the company is making significant investments in the technologies and processes that will enable scalable, efficient growth across the enterprise.

PCI initially implemented Offsight in one of its factories and quickly realized that the technology was essential to unlocking the full ROI of offsite construction, including speed, cost savings, and quality. Following the success of the initial rollout, PCI is now scaling Offsight across all of its entire offsite construction operations.

As part of the rollout, PCI has adopted Offsight’s full product suite, including:

  • Prefab Planning & Forecasting
  • Production & Quality Tracking
  • Materials & Inventory Management
  • Labor & Workforce Management
  • Real-Time Advanced Analytics
  • Project & Factory Reporting

Offsight will enable PCI to centralize factory operations, track quality in real-time, streamline materials flow, and optimize labor productivity across projects and locations.

“We implemented Offsight across PCI’s enterprise to align with our long-term vision for scaling offsite construction,”said Eric Corder, Head of IT at PCI. “The platform gives us the visibility and control to grow confidently.”

One of the key reasons PCI selected Offsight was its enterprise-grade capabilities, supporting cross-factory and field collaboration, data centralization across legacy systems, and secure scalability. Offsight also maintains the largest prefab and offsite construction-specific dataset in the industry, comprising millions of data points. This allows Offsight to develop AI-powered features that support workforce training, predictive planning, and continuous process improvement for enterprise customers.

“Offsight is the most robust platform purpose-built for offsite construction,” added Ryan Moorman, Operations Manager of Prefabrication at PCI. “They’ve worked closely with us from the start to tailor the platform to our needs and support our prefab workflows end-to-end.”

This partnership marks a significant milestone in PCI’s digital transformation and positions the company as a leader in scalable, tech-enabled construction.

“Offsight was built for the prefab and offsite construction industry, and we’re thrilled to enter into a multi-year partnership with cutting-edge enterprise companies like PCI,” said Vikas Murali, CEO of Offsight. “Together, we’re building the next generation of technology that will power the construction industry going forward.”

For more information, visit www.offsight.com.

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Restoration of the largest surviving Victorian municipal water tower

Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects has been appointed to lead the restoration of the largest surviving Victorian municipal water tower in England.

The Balkerne Water Tower in Colchester, known locally as ‘Jumbo’, will receive an overhaul as part of a package of works to revive the Grade II* listed building which was decommissioned in 1984.

Once completed, the tower will become a fully accessible destination venue with visitor experience and historical interpretation spaces.

Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects’ industry-leading heritage sector expertise and experience working on listed buildings will be key in retaining the tower’s historical attributes. Construction dates back to 1882 and was built using about 1.25 million bricks and 142 tonnes of cast iron.

The project has been commissioned by North Essex Heritage, who secured a 150-year lease on the building in 2021, and has backing from UK Government Funding, Colchester City Council, Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Pre-construction work is due to start on-site early July 2025, ahead of main construction work beginning in December 2025.

Mike Coleman, Operations Director, Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects, said:

“We are delighted to have been appointed to help bring a much-loved asset of industrial heritage and part of Colchester’s rich history back into public use for the residents and visitors.

“Our team will be able to call upon years of experience in the heritage sector, leveraging traditional skills to retain the tower’s charm and character while bringing it up to the standards required of a modern-day attraction.”

Jason Lowe, Project Director, North Essex Heritage, said:

“We are pleased to be joining forces with Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects to deliver this remarkable heritage scheme. We look forward to working with a partner who understands what Jumbo means to Colchester and the importance of putting the community at the heart of what we do. Together we will transform this heritage icon to inspire, engage and serve the local community”.

Simon Hall DL MBE, Chair of North Essex Heritage, a charity and building preservation trust, said:

“We are delighted to have appointed Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects to lead the transformation of this unique heritage asset. Working alongside our Project Director and other experts, including Purcell and Focus Consultants, their expertise will help us ensure the future of this historic building.

“The importance of Jumbo both locally and nationally cannot be overstated. Newly restored, thanks to National Lottery players and other funders, Jumbo will be a highly visible exemplar of historic building conservation and creative heritage reuse, contributing to Colchester’s wider economic regeneration.”

Zoë Skelding, Conservation Architect and Partner, Purcell, said:

“We look forward to working with the Special Projects team at Sir Robert McAlpine, drawing upon their extensive expertise and track record of delivering complex and historic projects, to conserve and revitalise Jumbo Water Tower.”

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