Barry tops 25 years

As GEZE UK celebrate 35 years in business, one of the company’s longest serving members of staff, Area Sales Manager, Barry Topham, celebrates 25 years with the company.

 

In this time, Barry has seen the company grow hugely; back when he started there was just 23 staff and turnover of £3m, today the company employs over 250 people and turnover is over £35m.

 

Barry has also witnessed many changes in the industry, he says

“The growth of automated doors and the windows sector is astounding, yet there have also been negative changes. There has been a deterioration of quality on site, such as the use of chipboard doors, and the influx of low quality, inferior finished products at lowest price is not good – it means the expected product life is far too short. However, the GEZE brand is still recognised in the market place as a reliable, quality supplier of door and window control products – and one of the reasons I have stayed.

Another, is my customers – I always do what is best for both GEZE and the customer and my relationships with the vast majority of them is excellent and akin to friendship, which makes doing business more pleasurable.”

 

Barry runs his sales area as if it was his own company, his extensive knowledge of the market and the GEZE products enables him to ensure his customers get the advice they need and the best solution for their project.

 

Andy Howland, GEZE UK’s Sales and Marketing Director said

“I have worked with Barry for many years, his knowledge of GEZE and the industry is second to none, he is dedicated and passionate about what he does and is a real asset to the company.”

 

Previous to joining GEZE Barry worked as an Architectural Ironmonger and was a GEZE customer so he knows the business from both sides. Originally, he was employed at GEZE as a Specification Manager working with architects and planners but as soon as an Area Sales Manager role became available he snapped it up. Barry now covers central England and south Wales.

To find out more about GEZE UK and the comprehensive range of automatic

and manual door closers, and window technology products

 

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL GEZE

  or

CLICK HERE FOR THE GEZE WEBSITE

 

 

 

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T.LEVEL, THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION

T-level construction students are the future of the industry, says Actis

 

The first tranche of successful construction-focused T-level students, whose results were released in the last few days, are in the vanguard of helping transform an industry struggling to find skilled tradespeople, says insulation specialist Actis.

 

The results saw an across-the-board pass rate of just over 90% for the 3,448 students taking a range of technical levels, which included three construction focused subjects.

 

Students taking two of these – Onsite construction and Building services engineering for construction – are the first to have completed the two-year course. And it is the second year that students have completed the Design, surveying and planning for construction course.

 

The initial tranche of vocational subjects, available to 16- to 19-year-olds, which also include subjects such as accountancy, healthcare and finance,

will be augmented in 2024 and 2025 or beyond to embrace agriculture, legal services and catering.

 

“It is so encouraging for the future of construction that young people are able to choose a structured course which will prepare them for a vocational career,” said Actis UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper.

“With around 20 per cent of the course involving industry placement, the students get a real insight into their chosen profession, with strong academic back-up via classroom learning. With the T-levels being worth around the same as three A levels, it’s reassuring to see careers in construction given the elevated status they deserve. It’s a complicated business and with net zero targets and complex building regulations it requires a combination of academic know-how and physical ability – something which has perhaps not previously been recognised either by the education system or the wider public.

“With the ever-present need for more homes and for retrofitting existing thermally inefficient ones, there is huge demand for the services of talented skilled people in the industry.

“We are very keen on encouraging young people to consider careers in construction – and some of our team go into schools to talk about the kind of roles available and even take part in lessons at FE colleges, offering real life industry insight.”

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PRESTIGIOUS NORTHWEST HOSPITAL LOWERS CARBON BY SWITCHING TO RINNAI H1 SOLUTION

 

One of the biggest hospitals in the Northwest has changed its hot water feed entirely over to highly efficient continuous flow water heaters that are I2HY20 certified for 20% Hydrogen blends. The site has installed 10 Rinnai N Series 1600e units which are cascaded so that the whole system can deliver almost 10,000 litres of temperature controlled hot water on demand 24/7.

 

The main drivers for the decision to install Hydrogen blend ready continuous flow waters was the pressing need to lower the carbon intensity of the current storage water heaters. At the same time the hospital needed to ensure they had a reliable, robust system that would continuously deliver the vital supplies of hot water on demand. This was supported by the Rinnai N series Hydrogen Blend ready water heaters now coming with a 12-year warranty.

 

The Rinnai system was designed by the company’s in house Technical Services team in close cooperation with the leading building services consultancy which specified the new system. The consultancy team took full advantage of the carbon, capital expenditure and operational expenditure calculations provided by Rinnai’s specialist design team.

 

‘Like for Like’ is the assumed replacement when a stored water system or unit comes to be replaced. However it is important to assess the site usage and requirements during a “distress” replacement as this can be the ideal time to lower onsite carbon and increase efficiency whilst futureproofing the system for the next 10-15 years.

 

Says Pete Seddon for Rinnai,

“So, what can continuous flow solutions offer that can make this entire process a lot easier? Continuous flow, instant delivery of hot water delivery provides constant flows of temperature specific and controlled end-product, with units which are hydrogen blends and BioLPG ready. They are also just a one-man lift, no need for lifting gear.

‘Not only that, but if the appliance being replaced was non-condensing and the new appliance was condensing, then the flue would require changing as well as the provision to discharge condensate. Plant rooms are very rarely designed to remove equipment. This requirement to remove equipment before new is installed would have a major impact – and it takes so much time. The whole system would have to be completely shut down to allow such major works to take place and all sites, especially healthcare ones, simply cannot allow this to happen’ adds Mr Seddon.

 

The other benefit is the ability to cascade the Rinnai appliances so when hot water demand fluctuates the systems will regulate energy input to ensure the system is always maximising energy usage. Another benefit of cascade solution is creating built-in redundancy – this means that if one unit needs to be shut down the complete site still has ready access to hot water.

A recent CPD entitled: “Carbon and Economic Benefits of Zero Storage in Hot Water Systems,” compares the operational, economic and ecological performance of a Rinnai N series model to that of a typical storage water system.

 

Rinnai N series models were found to provide considerable benefits in 1st and 5th year running costs, total lifecycle costs and 1st and 5th year carbon footprints. When compared to a traditional storage water system, the Rinnai N series has been proven to deliver 20% less operational costs, 30% less fuel consumption and capital costs are reduced by 20% in the examples highlighted in the CPD.

 

All Rinnai continuous flow water heaters are compact and allow for significant savings in plantroom space. All percentages are evaluated at a minimum and could be higher than stated.

 

Rinnai’s N Series range of condensing continuous flow water heaters are officially certified for I2HY20 Hydrogen blends meaning that they are fully certified for usage with methane and Hydrogen blends making them formally ready for Hydrogen blending.

 

SAVINGS CALCULATED UTILISING CONTINUOUS FLOW HOT WATER HEATING

15-20 % of the running cost,

30 % of the upfront cost,

15-20 % in carbon footprint,

60 % in space,

80 % in weight.

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE RINNAI WEBSITE
or HERE to EMAIL RINNAI
CLICK HERE For more information on the RINNAI product range

 

 

RINNAI’S H3 DECARBONISATION OFFERS PATHWAYS
& CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR
COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY

                                                   

Rinnai’s H3 range of decarbonising products include hydrogen / BioLPG ready technology, hybrid systems, and a wide range of LOW GWP heat pumps and solar thermal. Also, within Rinnai’s H3 range is Infinity hydrogen blend ready and BioLPG ready continuous flow water heaters which are stacked with a multitude of features that ensure long life, robust & durable use, customer satisfaction and product efficiency.

Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of heat pump, solar, hydrogen in any configuration, hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H3 range of products offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions. The range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, rDME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters.

Rinnai H1 continuous water heaters and boilers offer practical and economic decarbonization delivered through technological innovation in hydrogen and renewable liquid gas ready technology.

Rinnai’s H1 option is centred on hydrogen, as it is anticipated that clean hydrogen fuels will become internationally energy market-relevant in the future; Rinnai water heaters are hydrogen 20% blends ready and include the world’s first 100% hydrogen-ready hot water heating technology.

Rinnai H2 – Decarbonization simplified with renewable gas-ready units, Solar Thermal and Heat Pump Hybrids. Rinnai H2 is designed to introduce a practical and low-cost option which may suit specific sites and enable multiple decarbonisation pathways with the addition of high performance.

Rinnai H3 – Low-GWP heat pump technology made easy – Rinnai heat pumps are available for domestic and commercial usage with an extensive range of 4 – 115kW appliances.

Rinnai’s H3 heat pumps utilise R32 refrigerant and have favourable COP and SCOP.

Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.

Rinnai’s commercial and domestic continuous flow water heaters offer a limitless supply of instantaneous temperature controlled hot water and all units are designed to align with present and future energy sources. Rinnai condensing water heaters accept either existing fuel or hydrogen gas blends. Rinnai units are also suited for off-grid customers who require LPG and BioLPG or rDME.

Rinnai products are i2HY20 certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours. Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question. Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s. More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its . . . . 

 . . . . “Help Me Choose” webpage.

 

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‘Marathon’ bridge construction completed

HS2 ‘marathon’ bridge construction completed near Lichfield

 

HS2 has completed a ‘marathon’ construction operation at Streethay near Lichfield as part of an innovative project to pave the way for Britain’s new high-speed line.

The operation – which utilised the latest low-carbon design – involved excavating 14,000 tonnes of earth, building a 140 metre retaining wall and moving a 2,600 tonne bridge deck 130 metres into place under the South Staffordshire freight railway.

The work was carried out during a 10 week blockade. It was completed by HS2’s civils contractor in the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI, and designers Mott MacDonald as part of a Design Joint Venture with SYSTRA (MMSDJV), together with teams from 18 specialist supply chain companies.

At the end of July, the 2,600 tonne bridge deck, which had been cast on land adjacent to the railway was moved 130 metres into position using self-propelled modular transporters. Since then, each side of the bridge was backfilled, the rail tracks were reinstated, with the railway line was successfully handed back to Network Rail on Wednesday 16 August and now reopened.

The 25 metres long and 18 metres wide Streethay overbridge sits within HS2’s Streethay cutting and will enable HS2 trains to travel under the existing railway between Birmingham and Crewe. Through design development, Mott MacDonald engineers were able to reduce the total length of wall structures for the railway at Streethay from 1.6 kilometres to 420 metres, meaning 80% less concrete is needed – saving around 420,000 tonnes of carbon, supporting HS2’s ambition to cut carbon on the project.

The Streethay bridge sits on top of the larger 420 metre long retaining wall structure which will have two additional bridges crossing it – the south bound A38 slip road bridge, and the Rykneld Bridge which carries the A38 north bound slip road and the A38 north and south bound carriageway.

At its peak, over 150 people worked on the complex construction operation, with teams from 18 specialist companies, delivering design, surveys, piling works, bridge build, concrete pouring, crane operations, reinforcements, modular transportation, track and systems removal and reinstatement.

The work was delivered in parallel to the construction of the nearby Fulfen Wood bridge, which involved moving a giant 6,200 tonne single span structure under the West Coast Main Line – the UK’s heaviest drive to install an intersection bridge.

Caroline Warrington, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd said:

“This is a fantastic example of a project within a project at HS2, pulling together teams from 18 specialist supply chain companies from the West Midlands as well as other regions, to deliver a complex construction operation. These are some of the many companies that are helping to build Britain’s new zero carbon railway, supporting thousands of jobs right across the country.

“Unlike the Fulfen Wood bridge structure, which was constructed entirely off site, the Streethay bridge walls under the railway embankment had to be constructed during the blockade. This required a 72 day blockade, making it more of a marathon than a sprint!”

David Millar, Rail Interface Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI said:

“The successful delivery of this complex and challenging piece of engineering near Lichfield is another proud moment for Balfour Beatty VINCI on the HS2 project.

“It’s only been possible thanks to the skill, dedication and support shown by the project team over the past few years, including our supply chain. Together, we’ve had to work around existing transport infrastructure, including the South Staffordshire freight railway and the A38, making this achievement even more rewarding.”

Mark Jordan, Mainline Design Director at Mott MacDonald Systra Design Joint Venture:

“We’re immensely proud of the collaborative effort to get the design for this critical structure and operation ready for HS2.  It’s no small task to coordinate milestones like the Streethay bridge, with expertise from our geotechnical and structural engineering teams delivering design to meet the interfacing requirements of both HS2 and Network Rail, and innovation to enable off-site construction and transportation of the 2,600 tonne structure by Self Propelled Modular Transport.”

Prior to the railway blockade, retaining walls were installed on either side of the railway, enabling the areas to be excavated. The bridge deck was constructed on land adjacent to the existing railway, 130 metres from its final position.

Once the railway was closed to freight trains, the track and embankment were removed. Bachy Soletanche Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering joint venture then installed an additional 76 secant piles measuring 1.3 metres diameter and 30 metres deep, linking to the piles they installed prior to the blockade, to create two retaining walls which act as the walls for the bridge.

A concrete capping beam was installed over the retaining walls, then the bridge was moved into place using self-propelled modular transporters with 344 wheels. Concrete was poured to attach the deck to the capping beam, the embankment was backfilled using 2,500 tonnes of structural backfill, on either side of the bridge, before the railway line was reinstated.

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Construction industry updates from SFS’s podcasts

SFS UK, the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of carbon and stainless-steel fastening solutions for roofing, cladding and façade systems, has been offering support and advice to specifiers within the construction industry for more than 120 years. Today, this support includes a series of informative podcasts.

 

There is a series of three podcasts focusing on fall protection and subframes, each lasting around 30 minutes, discussing fragile roof design trends, the effects of thicker insulation in rainscreen cladding subframe systems and the effect of rainscreen subframe systems on the overall performance of external walls.  The podcasts address industry regulations and best practice in installation; they are designed for everyone in the construction industry.

 

Also on offer is SFS PocketTalks, a range of shorter podcast episodes addressing the latest construction practices.

 

With four episodes in the series at around five minutes each, PocketTalks discuss u-values, the challenges created by a lack of testing standards for permanently attached fall systems, the implications of the UK Cabinet Office’s Construction Playbook and consider the impact of thermal bridging on rainscreen subframes.

 

CLICK HERE  —————  AND HERE

  

TO ACCESS THE SFS PODCASTS

 

For further information, call 0330 0555888 or CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE  

 

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Testing Public Attitudes to Radioactive Waste

Ministers are looking to test public attitudes to radioactive waste management, including potentially building facilities near where people live.

The Scottish Government has budgeted up to £30,000 to commission a survey of public opinion, documents published online show.

Questions will cover topics such as trust in the government and the nuclear industry, as well as “attitudes towards constructing facilities for radioactive waste in proximity to where people live, if proven to be safe and resulting in significant economic benefits”.

The move forms part of the Higher Activity Waste Implementation Strategy, which was published in 2016 and sets out long-term plans for disposing of such material.

The Scottish Government said it was a “very long-term programme of work” and no decisions had been made regarding locations.

A tender document says the work “will help improve Scotland’s environment by informing radioactive waste policy makers about the views of Scottish citizens, as storage and disposal options are considered as part of Scottish ministers’ obligations to manage the nuclear legacy clean-up programme”.

It adds: “The nuclear waste landscape in Scotland remains complex, with a mixture of civilian and military nuclear waste liabilities requiring careful management to help protect people and the environment. The Scottish Government is responsible for developing national radioactive waste plans to help manage this nuclear legacy and in 2016, published its Higher Activity Waste (HAW) Implementation Strategy. This strategy included an illustrative timeline towards construction of a national nuclear waste repository and a commitment to undertake various research activities such as carrying out public attitude surveys and developing near-surface disposal concepts.”

The 2016 strategy outlines three key stages of work. The first, which lasts until 2030, includes a review of the radioactive waste that is expected to arise in Scotland. In the second, which lasts from 2030 until 2070, the Scottish Government will work with the relevant authorities to develop “a near-surface disposal concept”. In phase three, from 2070 onwards, it is anticipated that replacement near-surface storage facilities will be constructed.

The tender document says: “The primary aim of this work is to design and deliver research that will help develop a deeper understanding of the views of the Scottish public on a range of radioactive waste management issues, including safety and trust in government and industry.”

Suggested topics for questions include public perceptions of health and environmental impacts, as well as attitudes towards locating facilities near homes. “The survey sample must be large enough to allow for robust breakdowns of the data by various factors”, the document says. “We invite tenderers to propose the most appropriate sample size but expect a minimum of 1,100 responses.”

The research is expected to be undertaken between December and January, with a budget of between £25,000 and £30,000.

A Scottish Government spokesman said:

“It places great importance on the need to address Scotland’s radioactive waste legacy and is committed to the safe, secure and responsible management of waste with care for people and the environment”.

He added: “Our Higher Activity Radioactive Waste Implementation Strategy includes an illustrative timeline towards the construction of a national nuclear waste repository and a commitment to undertake research on public attitudes towards the disposal of radioactive waste. We are now commissioning this research to ensure public attitudes are properly considered as storage and disposal options are considered. This is a very long-term programme of work and no decisions have been made regarding the location of any future facility.”

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ULEZ expansion will hurt trades the most

On 29 August 2023, the ULEZ charge of £12.50 will be expanded to Greater London and for construction, it couldn’t come at a worse time. 

 

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said:

“Construction inflation is higher than the national average and the rising cost of living is biting workers and their clients. Whilst addressing air quality is imperative, the ULEZ expansion feels like a tax, rather than a strategic mission to improve the health of Londoners. Some older vehicles over 3.5 tonnes may be liable for more than £300 a day and others under that weight, up to £127.50.”  

 Speaking on FixRadio, the London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Clive Holland that tradespeople are exposed to high levels of pollution by driving their own vehicles and so he urged them to support the ULEZ expansion as to not lose days from work from ill health related to air quality.

 Mayor Khan also highlighted that, after listening to tradespersons, his van scrappage scheme had been increased to £7,000, or £9,500 for those opting for an electric vehicle, while the retrofit grant rises to £6,000. 

 Unfortunately, retrofitting, which is run by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS), would not cover pre-Euro 6 diesel vehicles, pre-Euro 4 petrol vehicles or LPG. A change of engine will not be accepted unless an expensive full rolling road test is completed. 

 Transport for London (TFL) estimates that 30,000 non-compliant vans currently use the expanded ULEZ daily, but analysis conducted by Autotrader identified that there were only 5,181 compliant vans currently for sale across the whole of London and the South-East. 

 An NFB search of the Autotrader website within 60 miles of the capital revealed that the cheapest diesel compliant small van was £4,000 and had 128,000 miles on the clock. Similarly, the cheapest compliant medium sized diesel van was £4,800 but had done 265,000 miles. 
 
A few EV vans are available but the cheapest was a small form with a range of sixty miles and cost £4,400. 

 In addition, there are concerns around the broader strategy, particularly the scrappage scheme and suggestion that the tube could be an alternative for travel.  

 Scrappage schemes generate new emissions through destruction and new vehicle manufacturing, driving up prices of vans nationally. Some have also argued for the potential of sending old vehicles to developing nations.

Concerns at the lack of effort to improve air quality on the tube remain a talking point and a King’s College London report in 2019 found the air in Tube carriages is 18 times worse than the roadside air above ground. 

 Richard Beresford continued:

“With fewer than five percent of London’s workers being employed in construction, other ideas could be explored. The £7,5000 grant could be set aside as a credit for fines. Trades could be given free parking. Removed vehicles could be sold to developing nations at heavily discounted rates, or air quality on the tube could be drastically improved for its five million daily passenger journeys.

Improving air quality is vital but this blunt ULEZ instrument, which harms existing businesses, makes new ones harder to start, doesn’t improve the area where air quality is worst, all while creating more global carbon, feels as though it could do with a tweak or rethink.”

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Stormont collapse threatens local construction sector

Companies across Tyrone that are connected with the construction trade are now feeling the full financial ramifications of Stormont’s ongoing collapse.

Reported at the weekend, a recent survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) suggested that many building contractors – as well as other businesses in the construction industry’s orbit – saw their workloads fall in the second quarter of 2023.

It is believed that budgetary constraints and the absence of a devolved government are at least partly responsible for the pressures being experienced.

Since the DUP brought down power-sharing in the North in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol, state investment in infrastructure has been hampered and other public spending mechanisms have been jammed.

One local building contractor said he had ‘little hope’ for the future of the county’s construction trade.

 

“Stormont’s collapse is affecting the building trade both directly and indirectly,” he began.

“There is not as much money being spent on new government-financed developments, and your average person does not have as much money to invest in property.

“I have been sitting with empty houses in Douglas Bridge for ages, and I just cannot get rid of them.

“They are in a nice area, they are fairly priced, but young people just do not have the money to secure a mortgage and get on the property ladder.”

The contractor, who requested not to be named, said that he had no faith in either Stormont or Westminster to provide the economy with the support which he believes it needs.

“Interest rates are going through the roof, and the market needs a helping hand, but Stormont is as good as gone, and Westminster does not seem to care one bit about us,” he said.

“When it comes to what is in store for us in the next few years, your guess is as good as mine.

“All I know is that I am not holding my breath for the government to step in and save the day.”

Source: Ulster Herald

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Carbon calculations for temporary access solutions now available from TPA

TPA launches carbon calculator comparison between portable roadways and stone roads

 

An online calculator that enables contractors to compare the carbon savings of portable roadways over aggregate and stone roads has been launched by specialist temporary access solutions provider TPA.

Believed to be the first of its kind in the industry, the interactive tool allows customers and businesses a quick and easy insight into how they can reduce their CO2 emissions and calculates how many trees the CO2 saving equates to. TPA’s research shows a portable roadway generally has more than an 80% carbon saving compared to a stone access road.

An average saving is calculated within just a few clicks when the user submits the area of temporary access they require, at which point the user can request a full report, bespoke to their own site, which gives them a Carbon Savings Certificate, or enquire about TPA’s range of temporary vehicular or pedestrian trackways. In 2022, TPA’s customers prevented over 10 million kgs of carbon emissions being generated as the company installed over one million square metres of portable roadways.

TPA’s new tool incorporates factors such as production and disposal of materials and delivery of materials to and from site.

Fellow Vp plc subsidiary Groundforce Shorco recently made its own online calculator for temporary works designs available to the shoring industry free of charge, and the Vp group itself, which has pledged to become net zero by 2050 at the latest, has achieved a 55% reduction in carbon intensity since 2010.

 

TPA managing director David Walkden said:

“Our new carbon calculator is a must-have for anyone serious, like us, about minimising our impact on the environment. Rental equipment is inherently sustainable due to the fact that it is re-used over and over again, however, our aluminium roadways are fully recyclable at the end of their life and are optimised to be transported efficiently, requiring less than 5% of the volume of transport movements when compared to hauling stone and aggregates to cover the equivalent area.”

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE

 

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Edinburgh’s Green City Space

Planning application to be submitted for 256 sustainable homes at Ferry Road site 

More than two-thirds of development area delivering high-quality green space.

New images showing the spectacular homes-led redevelopment of one of Edinburgh city centre’s largest potential development sites have been revealed. Regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate, together with fund manager REInvest Asset Management S.A., has unveiled detailed plans to redevelop the former Deutsche Bank House at 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, near the Crewe Toll roundabout. The office and data-processing centre was formerly the Scottish base for State Street Bank until the building was vacated in 2018.

The developers are now lodging a planning application with the City of Edinburgh Council to transform the vacant site, rebranded as ‘525 Park View’, into a new residential neighbourhood providing 256 sustainable homes, 25% of which will be for affordable housing. Flexible commercial space facing on to Ferry Road also provides the potential for cafes, shops and shared workspaces.

The proposals are set to dramatically raise the bar for sustainable city-centre living. More than two thirds of the development area will be made up of high-quality green spaces – including a large central communal garden as well as biodiverse green roofs and a ‘wetland’ area which enhances local ecology whilst contributing to the wider sustainable urban drainage system. Smart technology such as individual air source heat pumps for each home also means no fossil fuels will be used, underlining the developers’ commitment to sustainable low carbon development and delivering low energy costs for occupiers.

The planning submission follows a comprehensive 14-month consultation programme, with the developers and Edinburgh-based 7N Architects working closely with local community and wider city interests to ensure maximum benefit for both the local area and Edinburgh as a whole. Looking forward to the 525 Park View planning submission, Artisan Real Estate’s ’s Regional Director for Scotland, David Westwater, said:

“This is a hugely exciting opportunity to breathe new life into an underused building, whilst ensuring its long-term future by bringing a new sustainable community to an accessible city centre location

“Following the consultation feedback, we have worked hard to make this development not just the right fit for the site but also an integral part of the wider city centre area. We have reduced the heights of the building from nine to seven storeys and ensured the overall architectural design and materials respect local and historical contexts. We are also fully aware that we have the responsibility to ensure that our developments exceed all current environmental standards, setting new benchmarks for smart, sustainable living whilst providing a high quality of internal and external space. Our proposals have been guided by low-carbon design and encompass a mix of apartment sizes and layouts, led mainly by residential as well as much-needed affordable housing and other complementary commercial uses.”

Artisan Real Estate has a strong track record in delivering complex residential and mixed-use regeneration projects in sensitive city centre environments across the UK, and recently won the inaugural ‘Excellence in Sustainability’ award at the 2023 Scottish Homes Awards.

Development partner REInvest Asset Management S.A. was founded in Luxembourg as a specialist for future-facing investment ideas and currently manages and develops properties across Europe with a value in excess of EUR 2.3 billion. 525 Park View is held in a progressive property fund within a pan-European portfolio managed on behalf of a German insurance group. Thomas Merkes, Head of Asset Management at REInvest Asset Management S.A. added:

“Our joint venture partnership with Artisan represents a major step forward in providing an innovative and collaborative mixed-use development solution to unlock the potential for this significant city centre site, which is set to create a genuinely transformational development in an accessible city centre location. Our planning submission for this complex site demonstrates how we can make a positive contribution to the local area, bringing investment, life and excitement back to this important part of the Capital.”

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