Another London Tower: Leadenhall
Another iconic City tower location has been proposed cornered on three sides by Grade II Listed Leadenhall Market. The 32-story tower will house 20,000 square feet of office space at 85 Gracechurch Street in the heart of the insurance district.
Plans include a food court & market space plus public space.
Architects Woods Bagot are designing the tower with manager Shaw Corporation & developer Hertshten Properties.
The consultation is due to be published for consultation this Autumn.
Hanson carbon capture zero carbon cement
Hanson has applied to build the world’s first carbon capture net zero cement operations in North Wales.
If approved for funding the site will produce zero carbon cement by 2027.
It has applied for cash under the Government’s carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) fund.
The project would capture up to 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and create 350 construction jobs and 222 ongoing jobs.
The Flintshire project has been shortlisted for Phase 2 of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) process.
Cement production consumes a lot of carbon with 7% of the world’s carbon output coming from cement manufacturing, creating not quite as much emissions as the United States but more than India, if it was a country.
New London Blackfriars Tower
New designs for two towers at Blackfriars Bridge near OXO tower have been unveiled.
The Korean UK consortium made up of developer Hines & National Pension Service of Korea consortium bought the site with consent last year for three towers residential and office space and green gardens and roof space.
The public consultation is now out with plans to be submitted to Southwark Council seeking approval at the end of 2022.
BAM Nuttal wins £25m Bedworth Leisure Centre
Bam Nuttal has won a £25m contract to develop a leisure centre and green space. The Bedworth Physical Activities Hub will replace the existing leisure centre.
The new development will include
- a new 25-metre, eight lane community pool
- a learner pool with moveable floor
- four-court sports hall
- 120 station fitness centre
- a 3G sports pitch
- a new ‘all wheels’ skate park
- a learn to ride facility
The green space around the building will also be developed into public space.
British Cycling are funding a new cycle hub that will offer bikes for rent.
Huge Hull project advances women in construction
The £355m A63 upgrade in Hull which will deliver re-designed main dual carriageway, an underpass and two new pedestrian bridges and completely change the face of the city centre is being run by two women from National Highways and Balfour Beatty, Frances Oliver and Michaela Maunders.
The project is nominated for the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards which encourages more women and girls to take up careers in engineering with winners announced on 6 October.
Green Port Hull has launched Women into Manufacturing and Engineering, an organisation to bring more girls into the industry which has over 50 partners and engaged with 2,700 women and girls.
However, the overall retention rate of STEM women graduates is 25% compared to 40% of males; and the attrition of women on the way up referred to as the ‘leaky pipeline’ leading to a lack of women in senior positions points to another factor to consider: how to promote and retain women in engineering throughout their engineering career.
Cumbrian Hydrogen plant
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by private company Carlton Power and public organisations Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and Barrow Borough Council as well as Cadent and Electricity North West aims to start production in 2025 on a 35MW hydrogen plant in Barrow-in-Furness.
If approved the public private partnership may apply for funding and approval under the Government’s Hydrogen Investment Package (HIP). The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund launched last month applies £240m of grant funding for low carbon hydrogen projects with the first allocations made in 2023.
Hydrogen is a controversial energy source as the molecules are smaller than other energy types and need to be stored under enormous pressure in specialist materials to avoid leakage. It is also highly flammable.
Kier to maintain waterways for a decade
Kier has won a slot on the £500m Civil Engineering Contract Framework with charity Canal & River Trust to maintain waterways over the next decade including canals, reservoirs and rivers, 1,582 locks, 55 tunnels, 2,970 bridges, 281 aqueducts and 71 reservoirs to protect against climate change. JN Bentley is also on the framework.
It’s the largest waterways value contract ever and starts in August with smaller contractors carrying out some of the work.