Renovations in keeping with heritage park

London’s historic Victoria Park has two new play areas and a dedicated area for skateboarding and bikes following a £12 million, 16 month renovation project.

The project, funded by Tower Hamlets Council and The Heritage Lottery Fund was carried out by family-owned construction, civil engineering and property services firm Osborne, which involved full renovation of the park’s facilities and grounds.

Improvements on the park included the two large play areas with play equipment, water play features, a new Wheels Park as well as restoration on the Old English Garden and other landscaping work.

Additional work included restoring the listed Burdett Coutts Fountain; the Rustic Shelter; the Bandstand; and all entrances and gates and Bonner Bridge. Many of the Bonner Bridge balustrades had to be replaced, and were cast from the original panels. More than one third of the materials and labour for this project came from within a 10 mile radius of the site.

Tommy Chambers the managing director of Osborne’s Civil Engineering team, said: “The whole community have joined us in refurbishing this magnificent park, with residents getting involved in planting, and some local school children painting murals to go on our hoardings while the work was taking place. 

“This park has been a key feature of the local landscape and in the lives of its residents since 1845, and these renovations have been designed to improve the experience for visitors.”

Car-free student accommodation project

Experienced student accommodation contractor Miller Construction has secured projects to deliver a £12 million 258-bed student accommodation block on behalf of S Harrison Developments for York St John University, and a multi-million 120-bed extension to Jarratt Hall for the University of Birmingham.

The new residencies for York St John University, on a derelict site in Carmelite Street, York, next to the city’s Hungate development, will be car-free, with students living within easy walking distance of all the city’s amenities. It is due to be completed in June 2013. 

Expected to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, the student block is the third project Miller Construction has undertaken within the boundaries of York’s City Walls.

The project at Jarratt Hall features an extension to the existing student accommodation and part new build. Due for completion in September 2013, the Jarratt Hall building is also expected to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.

Chris Webster the chief executive at Miller Construction said: “These contracts are in line with our strategy to focus our efforts on our core markets.  We are continuing to focus on programmes of work with repeat clients, in addition to increasing our client base.  We have delivered a number of successful student accommodation projects over the last three years, further reinforcing our skills and expertise in this market.”

Carmelite Street, York

New chief construction adviser

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering, ACE, has welcomed the appointment of Peter Hansford as chief construction adviser. A past president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Peter Hansford succeeds Paul Morrell who stands down in November 2012.

Nelson Ogunshakin ACE chief executive, said: “Peter Hansford is an experienced and highly respected ambassador for the infrastructure and construction industry. He has a strong track record with contractors, consultants, and public and private client bodies both in the UK and internationally.  

“I am sure that he will not only continue to ensure that construction is at the heart of government policy, but will also be a strong advocate for promoting the UK construction sector in the international arena.

“I also congratulate Paul Morrell for his achievements while in office. His energy and commitment has helped to bring government and the construction industry closer together, as well as giving a lead to efficiency and carbon reduction in the built and natural environment.”

Guidance on design and installation of internal stone flooring

A new, updated code of practice for the design and installation of internal flooring has been published by Stone Federation Great Britain.

The code aims to be of value to architects, specifiers, commercial and domestic clients, designers, engineers and other professionals and is based on the key parts of several British Standards relevant to natural stone flooring. 

It incorporates the latest European standards and sets out the principal factors involved when deciding to use natural stone flooring including stone selection, design, laying and protection and maintenance.

The federation’s chief executive Jane Buxey said: “We receive more enquiries about stone flooring than any other speciality and we believe this new guide will be invaluable in answering many of the most important questions on the subject.

“The guide clarifies the definition of tiles and slabs and follows the requirements of the Harmonised Product Standards in readiness for the introduction of CE Marking.

“This comes into effect in July 2013 and will bring transparency to the stone’s correct name and offer clients absolute certainty on the material provided.”

Within the guide are descriptions of various types of stone which follow the requirements of European classification and guidance on the selection of screeds with particular reference to proprietary screeds. 

Also included is the latest guidance on underfloor heating, including operating temperatures.

 Slip resistance is dealt with, including guidance on sloping floors and a section on cleaning, maintenance and production has been updated to incorporate the most recent guidance.

For more details and an order form see website www.stone-federationgb.org.uk or e-mail enquiries@stonefed.org.uk.

Stone Federation puts the focus on sustainability

Few organisations take their responsibility for sustainable operations as seriously as Stone Federation Great Britain. The organisation’s commitment is clear from the policy statement on their website, the sustainability workshops they organise and the fact that they have an annual sustainability awards competition for members.

Two recent publications from the federation are helping their members address current and future sustainability issues and offering them practical assistance in producing sustainability statements.

They were produced in conjunction with BRE and CITB Construction Skills, based on material used at Sustainability Workshops staged by the federation in conjunction with the other two organisations.

The publication ‘Natural Stone: The Sustainable Solution’ explains current sustainability principles with a focus on natural stone, the BREEAM Green Guide ratings and the Code for Sustainable Homes. The second document is ‘Demonstrating Your Company’s Sustainability Credentials’.

“There has been a huge increase in emphasis on sustainability in the last decade and these two publications are of major assistance in dealing with these issues,” said the federation’s chief executive, Jane Buxey.

More information on the sustainability of natural stone can be obtained on the federation’s website www.stonefed.org.uk, by e-mail from enquiries@stonefed.org.uk or telephone 01303 856123.