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Partnerships in Sustainable Construction
Introduction
Since October 2004, a major refurbishment project
at London's Unilever House at Blackfriars, deployed sustainable
construction and partnership tools as part of Bovis Lend Lease's
Project NoWaste programme.
The tools from the DTI-sponsored
initiative focus on effective waste management as well as
partnerships between the different teams on site.
Unilever
House, the world headquarters for Unilever plc, was originally
built in 1930. The interior of the building is being completely
rebuilt to include a modern communications infrastructure. |
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Unilever House during refurbishment
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Recycling
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Bovis Lend Lease have been running Project
NoWaste since October 2004 and everyone joining the project since has
received training from the NoWaste programme. Following the example at
Unilever House, we are now taking the NoWaste programme to our other
projects across the UK.
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The Bovis Lend Lease team is deploying an innovative
and complex demolition schedule that ensures the effective protection
of all heritage features of the art deco building and the utilisation
of much of the demolished materials for reuse, recycling or donation.
To
date, 17,621m3 of concrete and 6,452 tonnes of steel have been recycled,
and 5,491m2 of the original flooring will be reused. |
Steve Still, Project Manager - Bovis Lend Lease, Unilever
House Project |
Currently the project is achieving a recycling rate of around
86%, the majority of which is hardcore, concrete, metals and timber.
Concrete is being removed and crushed for reuse in the industry.
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CITB-ConstructionSkills
supports a partnership approach in helping all construction workers
in their lifelong learning, especially in the area of sustainable construction.
This project, while focusing on waste, engages the entire workforce
in developing aspects of their sustainable construction skills.
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Training
The NoWaste programme is designed for all the teams on the construction
site. The waste reduction training is offered to everyone via: an element
in the induction programme; training and awareness raising for trade
contractor managers; and regular toolbox talks for trade contractor partners
such as Byrne Bros, Axima, Gardner and Wilson James. |
Pat Bowen, Development Analyst, CITB-ConstructionSkills |
Partnerships in Skills Development
In addition, the NoWaste learning content is being used to support
skills development in partnership with other initiatives: with
Building London Creating Futures to provide training for individuals
to achieve their first NVQ in waste management operations; with
the CITB-ConstructionSkills in piloting construction project-wide
training; and also with the Islington Enterprise Agency in support
of their smaller construction companies programme.
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From Partnership to Innovations
Enhanced relationships mean that ideas are forthcoming
from all members of the workplace partnership. For example:
In specialist tools training: Through workforce requests,
external trainers on cartridge guns, scaffolding and abrasive
wheel usage were brought in to ensure the safety and quality
of the work being carried out.
Reducing Waste by repair and reuse: One trade contractor
is employing a staff member with a special role: to repair
damaged pallets so that they can be reused. |
Partnership at work (left to right) Steve Still, project
manager, Tony McAree (project executive) and Pat Dowling
(UCATT convenor) |
Rewarding health and safety at work: The workers
from each of the trade contractors decided to see which team
is best at making sure everyone wears their proper Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE). The competition is intense as
the winning team gets free breakfast vouchers.
Spreading good practice
The Grand Arcade in Cambridge is
a major new city centre retail development by a partnership
of Grosvenor and the Universities Superannuation Scheme in
the heart of Cambridge. |
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Rebuilding the interior of Unilever House
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Tools and techniques from Project NoWaste were introduced through
workshops with Bovis Lend Lease and trade contractor managers and
supervisors.
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Stanhope takes its corporate responsibilities
seriously and one of these is working in partnership with our trade contractors
for a more sustainable community. We welcome the opportunity to take
part in a programme that enables everyone to contribute towards sustainable
construction.
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Kings Waterfront is the single largest development
site in Liverpool City Centre. A partnership of Liverpool Vision, English
Partnerships, Northwest Regional Development Agency and Liverpool City
Council is jointly promoting its development.
The aim is to create a visitor
destination of international quality combining arena, conference
and exhibition facilities (a centrepiece for Capital of Culture
celebrations in 2008) with a development of residential, hotel,
office, retail, leisure, community and open space uses. |
Mike Knowles, Project Director - Stanhope PLC, Unilever
House Project |
Bovis Lend
Lease, the main contractor at this project, is planning to introduce
NoWaste as part of its construction programme.
Bovis Lend Lease and CITB-ConstructionSkills are working together
to develop a new approach towards construction sector training.
The National Skills Academy for Construction will centre on a network
of on-site training centres available on major construction projects
around the country. The network will deliver training on a project-by-project
basis, responding to the specific skills needs of each and the
training and development needs of construction employers.
The NoWaste programme is an excellent example of making construction
training available where in many cases it is best delivered – on
site. Both Academy partners were involved in a NoWaste pilot project
at Unilever House and the experiences gained will contribute to
the Academy.
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UCATT is committed to a skilled, safer
and less wasteful construction sector through a partnership between employers,
unions and employees. We welcome the opportunity to work with new and
old partners in this project to further refine the tools we have been
developing since 2000.
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About the Project
The NoWaste project is part of a broader programme using tools, materials
and guidance developed with the support of the DTI's Partnerships at
Work programme. Project Sus'D, the construction-sector specific programme
is led by UCATT the construction union and is managed by Greenfile Developments
Ltd. |
Alan Ritchie, General Secretary, UCATT |
Other project partners include CITB-ConstructionSkills, major
contractors, the BRE and Niall
Marriott Associates.
If you would like to implement your own sustainable development
partnership programme, the project team will be happy to provide
guidance and content. For more information, please contact:
UCATT Training - Tel. 020 7622 2362 / Email sfoley@ucatt.org.uk
Greenfile Developments Ltd - Tel 0796 619 4255 / Email info@greenfile.net
Please visit the programme's website for more information on the Partnerships
at Work programme.
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