TV presenter and interiors expert welcomes the new Greenstar Lifestyle range as an integral part of the design-conscious home.

Interior Designer Sophie Robinson unveiled the Greenstar Lifestyle range at Bosch UK’s Innovation Hub in Denham today.

The result of eight years of development by Worcester Bosch, the new Greenstar Lifestyle range comprises two models, the Life and the Style. Both models feature a slick new design, a whole host of innovative features and are available in combi, system and regular boiler types.

Most important for the design-conscious home owner is its looks: the boiler no longer needs to be ‘hidden away’ as this stylish new range can be proudly shown off in your home alongside your style savy interior.

Redrow, one of the country’s leading housebuilders, has received 28 awards at the Pride in the Job Quality Awards, breaking its own record of 27 awards achieved in 2017. The accolade, established by the National House Building Council (NHBC), celebrates the exceptional contribution site managers make in creating homes of outstanding quality.

Redrow site managers from locations including Lancashire, the Midlands, South East, South Wales, the West Country and Yorkshire have been recognised as Quality Award winners.

The winners of the prestigious industry award are selected from a pool of 16,000 site managers across the UK. The 12-month selection and judging process identifies site managers who encapsulate skills such as leadership, technical expertise and attention to detail.

As the trend for high-quality marble and concrete finishes shows no sign of waning, a brand-new range of premium, stone-effect surfaces from Meganite has launched in the UK that can be used for a vast range of applications.

Meganite’s Movement Series is being sold exclusively by Arnold Laver, the UK’s leading supplier of timber and construction materials. The high-performance product is extremely versatile and can be used to create kitchen worktops, wall coverings, splashbacks, counter tops and even shower walls, in both residential and commercial buildings.

The concrete and marble surfaces are non-porous and are available in a wide range of colours. Both variations of the product are manufactured with natural, flowing veins that can be seamlessly joined and fabricated.

Ceiling mount tested to BS EN 1365-2:2014 Fire Resistance Tests for Loadbearing Elements

British soundproofing experts, Oscar Acoustics, has achieved a 90-minute fire rating at BRE Group’s testing facility for its Iso-Mount Type1 ceiling mount.

An isolating ceiling mount, Iso-Mount Type1 significantly reduces transmission of noise from the floor above but only loses 6mm of ceiling height. The mount was tested to BS EN 1365-2:2014 Fire Resistance Tests for Loadbearing Elements at BRE Group’s laboratory in Watford in December 2018.

The team at Oscar Acoustics constructed a complete floor structure consisting of timber joists, timber floor and Type1 Iso-Mounts. The structure supported two layers of 15mm Fireline board and 100mm of Rockwool insulation and during testing achieved over 90 minutes fire resistance, exceeding Oscar Acoustic’s target of 60 minutes. 

Electrical wholesalers and installers are being reminded of the opportunities available to them following the recent publication of the latest Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) 10 and the subsequent decision by the Greater London Assembly (GLA) to use the updated carbon emissions factors.

In July 2018, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), in partnership with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) published SAP 10, which will replace the outdated SAP 2012 calculation that the industry has used since 2013 – this will take effect once Part L / Section 6 of the Building Regulations is updated.

The GLA, in October 2018, announced their intention to encourage property developers to use updated SAP 10 carbon emission factors when submitting a detailed energy assessment – a requirement under Policy 5.2 of the London Plan. This requirement took effect in January 2019.

The VELUX Group, world leading roof window and modular skylights manufacturer is launching Vario by VELUX – the brand’s first made-to-order rooflight solution for flat roofs. The new Vario range is completely bespoke, offering a variety of shapes and sizes to fit any design space. In addition, this new range allows design-conscious homeowners to become more involved in the design process, creating a unique solution to fit their lifestyle needs and bring more light and fresh air into the home.

For more than 75 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world with its passion for quality solutions that provide daylight and fresh air to millions of homes worldwide. Vario draws heavily on this wealth of experience, allowing consumers to build a truly custom creation and craft the ultimate blend of natural light, with their choice of shape, size, colours, features and finishes. The new offering also brings to life an exciting 2D to 3D living concept allowing consumers to experience a different dimension in home design. From the initial inspiration through to, selection of the best solution, installation process and direct delivery services, the Vario process is simple and seamless.

STEPNELL has been awarded a £12 million contract to deliver a new luxury care facility in Eastcote, Solihull featuring 84 rooms and apartments.

The construction team has recently started on site to deliver the 78-week scheme on behalf of Cinnamon Care Collection, providers of luxury care homes and retirement developments.

The build comprises three two-storey buildings; a 50-bedroom care home and two additional apartment blocks featuring 34 retirement apartments, all surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens with facilities such as a restaurant and café-bar.

The brownfield site will be transformed into private care facility offering a range of services including day care, dementia care, nursing care, residential care and short-stay care.

Yorkshire firm Triton Construction has stepped in to save the UK’s only Women’s Union Cyclists International (UCI) registered racing team from closure.  The rescue, through management support and funding, means that ‘Drops’ can take part in the much-anticipated Women’s Tour of Britain this week.

The rescue comes from a family’s love and performance legacy in cycling.  Michael Parkinson, founder and chairman of Triton Construction has a deep-seated passion for the sport and is married to Lisa Brambani, a four times national road and time trial champion cyclist and silver medal winner in the road race at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.  Their daughter, Abby Mae Parkinson is currently a British professional racing cyclist, former National Junior Road Race Champion and rides for team Drops.

Nominations for the annual UK Construction Week (UKCW) Role Models initiative have quadrupled since last year, according to event organisers Media 10.

Dozens of architects were among the entrants this Spring, attracted to a scheme which provides a schools contact programme and public platform to professionals of any age and background to share inspiring stories of how they came into their career and why they love what they do.

UKCW has chosen 98 Role Models out of hundreds of entries, from all professions and at all levels, and has now published its shortlist for 2019.

These Role Models include people at chief executive, director and associate director level, but also many more junior representatives who have made a huge impact at the very start of their careers. They include architects, engineers, construction project managers, site managers, quantity surveyors, a wide range of sustainability, health and safety and geotechnical experts, tradespeople and professionals focused on digital construction, administration, finance, HR, learning and communications.

Having a small garden can be both a blessing and a challenge. Whilst it can be easier to maintain a small area, your gardening ambitions may feel restricted by a lack of space.

Fear not though; you needn’t compromise. There are lots of smart tips and tricks allowing you to create your own outdoor haven, regardless of its size.

Sarah Pierce, director of outdoor joinery company Oxford Planters, has provided her top six tips for making the most of your outdoor space:

Ibstock Brick has joined forces with Miller Homes to support Habitat for Humanity’s pledge to build more ‘Habitat Homes’ and its WaSH (water, sanitation and hygiene) programme in Malawi.

The leading manufacturer of high quality brick ranges is supporting Adrian Jones, Sales Manager for Ibstock Brick, as he takes part in the initiative in Salima, Malawi to build new homes, with the aim of alleviating poverty housing.

Adrian, who is based out of Ibstock Brick’s Leicestershire headquarters, commented: “I’m extremely proud to represent Ibstock on this trip. In the UK we’re fortunate with our standards of living and this trip will really make a difference to the community in Salima. The trip will be life changing for us all and I just hope that our work can help put a smile on people’s faces and really make a substantial difference to their living and school environments.”

Industry-leading systems supplier VEKA UK Group has unveiled an exclusive ultramatt material unlike anything else in the industry.

This innovative surface, called SPECTRAL, is exclusive to VEKA UK Group and was launched at the FIT Show where it was welcomed with fantastic feedback, being hailed the ‘star of the stand’.

Marketing Director Dawn Stockell explains: “This unique product uses ground-breaking technology to create an ultrasmooth, ultramatt finish that has unrivalled performance benefits.

“Visitors to VEKA UK Group’s stand at the FIT Show were impressed by its smooth and modern aesthetic; someone admiring the Imagine Bi-Fold in SPECTRAL’s Umbra Grey even asked the team if we had started offering aluminium systems!