Stepnell Construction breaks ground at Itchen Sixth Form College
Category: Uncategorised
A GROUND-BREAKING ceremony has taken place to mark the beginning of construction works at Itchen Sixth Form College.
The project, delivered by complete construction partner Stepnell on behalf of Itchen, will enable the college to replace six temporary classrooms that were in very poor condition, nearing end of life and inefficient in terms of their energy use. The new two-storey teaching block will provide students with seven much-needed new classrooms and an extra sports hall. Preparatory works at the Middle Road site started in May, before building works began in July.
The scheme is jointly funded by the college and the Department for Education’s post-16 capacity fund.
Rob Speirs, regional director at Stepnell, said: “This is a fantastic project for Stepnell to be involved in and we look forward to the construction progressing. As part of our social value strategy, we will have apprentices and work experience trainees on the project and will utilise local suppliers and specialist subcontractors.”
Alex Scott, principal at Itchen Sixth Form College, said: “We are delighted to see work underway, on time for delivery early in 2025. The new building will enable us to further enhance the experience of our staff and students, replacing tired accommodation with purpose built, state of the art facilities. We are pleased to work with Stepnell and Clifton Projects to achieve this aim.”
The construction works are being managed by Cliftons Projects. Malcolm Wright, director at Cliftons Projects, said: “We are thrilled to announce the commencement of our third project for Itchen Sixth Form College, featuring the construction of seven new classrooms and a multi-purpose sports hall. This new build two storey 1,100m2 facility will be adjacent to the existing college buildings, enhancing the learning environment for students and staff.
“We are excited to support Itchen Sixth Form College in improving its facilities. This development reflects our commitment to creating inspiring and functional educational spaces.” The project also includes upgrading the college car park and removing the outdated modular classrooms, making way for permanent and modern educational spaces.
St. Bernadette’s team scoops award!
Category: Frameworks
The St. Bernadette’s RFC team are exceptionally proud to have won the Constructing Excellence South West Delivering Value Award tonight at the CESW Awards!
The project returned more than 8 times the social value pledged, this has and will continue to make a real difference to the local community.
The judges said ‘The winner of this award is the project that we considered provided the most value compared to the project budget and had the biggest impact on the wider community. Among other things, the project achieved a social value over 8 times the target set at the start of the project, a social value that almost matched the total project value. As well as the statistics presented, the judges were impressed with the impact the project provided on a deprived community. During the project, support was provided to community kitchens and foodbank’s, a police led intervention scheme in local schools was sponsored, nutrition and youth schemes were also developed and supported. The project has also left a legacy of apprentices in bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing and electricians in the local area and has bought life back to a site that had been abandoned and the focus of antisocial behaviour since 2011’.
To add further context around the work carried out to ‘Add Value’ to the project and area, the challenges that the site team faced in the first 8 weeks of the project were far and wide, some were eye watering and to the extent that as a business unit management team we contemplated suspending the works!
I’d like to congratulate the whole team for their tenacity and focus which is far more than just being recognised through achieving this award. The innovation and collaboration with all stakeholders and the introduction of external stakeholders to the end users has helped support and secure additional revenue streams for the Rugby Club as well as forward thinking training and development opportunities for the community through the ‘Bristol Bears HIT programme’ who are now in partnership with St. Bernadette’s Rugby Club of which Stepnell played a key part in this partnership.
Thank you to the whole team for all the hard work in achieving this exemplar project. We now look forward to seeing this development and it’s initiatives supporting the community of Hartcliffe for years to come.
Work Starts on Sports Facility in Loughborough
Category: Leisure
Work has officially started on a highly anticipated teaching and sports facility at Loughborough College.
Designed to provide students with unparalleled access to world-class sports facilities and flexible learning spaces, the facility is the result of a £9.91million investment from the Department for Education (DfE). Amongst its features, the new building will include modern training spaces, contemporary learning spaces, outstanding staff areas.
Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed by Summer 2025, opening its doors to students shortly thereafter.
The facility comes as a wider development plan at the College, with over £35m being invested in large projects across the campus, such as the East Midlands Institute of Technology and Digital Skills Hub.
Constructed by Stepnell, and working with Bond Bryan, Pearson Fraser, PRP, BDP, the facility is a significant milestone in the College’s reputation for advancing athletic excellence and continued commitment to sustainability.
Principal and CEO at Loughborough College, Corrie Harris, shared: “This project aligns with Loughborough College’s vision to be at the forefront of sports education and training. We are proud to offer our current and future students the opportunity to access this pioneering development, and we look forward to continuing to nurture upcoming athletic talent.
“By partnering with Stepnell on this project, we can ensure that our vision for the development of Loughborough College is realised in an environmentally responsible manner, and that the wider investments we make now will have a profound impact on our future.”
With energy efficiency and sustainability at the forefront of the new development, Stepnell is implementing a fabric-first approach in the construction of the sports hub, prioritising the building’s envelope, ensuring maximum thermal efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and enhancing the overall sustainability of the facility.
Tom Sewell, Regional Director at complete construction partner Stepnell, said: “Our expertise in further education and leisure positions us strongly to deliver sustainable facilities that are exceptional in both specification and as a facility to develop talent at the intersection of sport and academia. The project will set the standards for the wider development plans at the college, and we look forward to progressing the build over the next year.”
The College was one of just 62 colleges across the country to be successful in the bid for grant funding from the DfE’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund (FECTF), and this project is part of an overall £35 million of investment in the development of the campus, facilities, and resources.
Stepnell appointed to Sovereign Network Group Framework
Category: Frameworks
Meeting demand for social housing in the south of England, complete construction partner Stepnell has been appointed to the latest new-build framework provided by housing association Sovereign Network Group (SNG), set to deliver £800m for the residential sector.
Stepnell will work as one of 16 firms appointed to the framework, which supports SNG’s ambitions to deliver 25,000 new-build homes across the south and South West regions in the next ten years.
The framework appointment acts as a continuation of Stepnell’s ongoing work in the region, with its teams delivering similar new build social housing projects for Slough Urban Renewal, Wiltshire County Council and two schemes at St Peter’s and New Kingsland for Bristol City Council, along with project work through its long-standing relationship with Dorset Council. As part of its new relationship with SNG, Stepnell has been appointed for an initial two-year term, with future extensions optional.
Matthew James, pre-construction manager at Stepnell, said: “We’ve seen our capabilities in the affordable and social housing sector grow significantly over the past few years. The appointment to SNG’s latest framework recognises our long-established supply chain and clear sustainability policies to residential construction and adds to our strong pipeline of projects in the sector.
“We have extensive experience collaborating with both framework providers and project partners, especially in the south of England, and our continuation of this with SNG adds value to our clients and opens various doors of opportunity for us as a business.”
With an initial four projects in the pipeline this year, the Stepnell team will utilise multiple arms of its business including its design team and modern methods of construction (MMC) capabilities, as well as supporting sustainability aims through its specialist energy group Step Energy. This will offer a fabric first approach to decarbonising the projects, while also providing renewable energy options on the residential units.
Stepnell welcomes trio of trainees on Bluebell
Category: Frameworks
Our Bluebell ward project Walton Hospital in Chesterfield is proving to be the ideal training ground for young people starting their careers in the construction industry.
The project, for Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, is part of the Making Room for Dignity programme. Procured through the Procure Partnership Framework, once refurbished, the ward will provide 12 single ensuite inpatient rooms for older adults with mental healthcare needs. Each patient will have access to specialist older people clinicians focused in a safer ward environment to allow them to heal.
Currently, 18% of our workforce is made up of trainees and graduates out of 327 employees. Our target to recruit 10% of our workforce each year as new entrant trainees ensures we safeguard our future workforce needs, and that we have a pipeline of talent who are being trained at all levels and in all disciplines. We currently have 43 new emerging talent employees, including trainees, apprentices, graduates, year out students and T Level students, within the business.
McKenzie Hague started his career at Stepnell in 2021 and is a level 2 ground worker apprentice on the Bluebell project. His pathway into construction was originally in joinery before retraining as a ground worker. He is currently combining his studies at Stephenson College with paid work, which includes a mentor on site. His longer term goal is to progress to train future trainee ground workers like himself.
Studying for a BSc in Construction Site Management at Sheffield Hallam University, new recruit Will Mart is a trainee site manager at Bluebell. He joined us in January 2024. His previous role included projects at East Midlands Designer Outlet, Old Rectory, Clifton and Glenair in Mansfield.
Based in our Nottingham office and travelling regularly to site, Ben Sandhu is studying for a BSc Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at Nottingham Trent University. Ben previously studied sports science before deciding to change direction. His existing skills were easily transferable to make the successful move into construction.
Former Stepnell apprentice and project manager on the Bluebell project, Scott Fullaway, said: “Will, Ben and McKenzie have all settled into this project really well. I am impressed with their hard working ethos and commitment to do a good job. They are all showing real promise and the potential for a long and successful career with us.”
Training manager, Jayne Suthard, added: “Training and development is fundamental in ensuring we employ the right people with the right skills to do the right jobs. Secondary to this is continuous learning and development, which ensures we keep abreast of modern working practices and operational requirements. We embrace young talent like these three trainees and recognise nurturing competent, motivated and well-trained people like them is essential to our continued success.”
Boathouse completed for leading girls School
Category: Leisure
Stepnell have completed the build of Maddy Moorings boathouse for Headington School in Oxfordshire. The new facilities will enhance the independent girl’s day and boarding school’s ability to develop rowing talent – home to one of the UK’s top school boat clubs.
Stepnell has built the new state-of-the-art two-storey boathouse on the river Thames, in Long Wittenham south of Abingdon. Designed by project architects Spratley & Partners, the boathouse can accommodate storage for up to 50 rowing boats.
The location and configuration of the boathouse were carefully designed to minimise impact on the site. Inside the building there is a large boat storage area, a multi-use training room and welfare facilities.
It will provide a first-class training facility for the school’s extremely high achieving rowing team for years to come.
Ian Batchelor, contracts manager at Stepnell, said: “Maddy Moorings boathouse has been an intricate project to provide modern and sustainable rowing facilities. The build is equally world-class in specification but also built with methods and materials of construction that were not disruptive to the local biodiversity during the build, nor will be in the long-term to the ecosystem along the river.”
“With the school being one of the UK’s top educational institutions for rowing, we are proud to have used our leisure expertise to deliver sporting infrastructure that will contribute significant lasting value to the schools’ future successes.”
The low-maintenance, energy-efficient boathouse, elevated on sixty steel columns includes an indoor communal area, with an accompanying balcony overlooking the river for spectating. Boats can be accessed and carried via three bespoke double doors opening up to a large staircase, all designed and built by Stepnell’s dedicated joinery team.
Completing the boathouse externally is a comprehensive package, including a stunning timber façade, river pontoons which rise and fall and a wet dock area. The wildflower roof proudly boasts biological variability. Enhanced road access routes, additional parking spaces and new surface water drainage have also been installed to improve the accessibility and usability of the site.
Bringing in expertise from ecologists at the Environment Agency, Stepnell ensured that any key environmental concerns would be identified and addressed before building along the Thames. This included undertaking flood risk management, identifying the presence of water voles and ensuring the protection of trees, bats, and nesting birds.
Stepnell Tops Out Main Entrance At Queen Alexandra Hospital
Category: Uncategorised
A MAJOR topping out milestone has been reached as part of entrance renovations at Queen Alexandra Hospital (QAH) it is completing on behalf of the Portsmouth Hospitals University (PHU) NHS Trust.
The completion of the main entrance roof marks significant progress to extend and enhance the hospital’s entrance. Works will now continue to finish the rest of the structure in time for opening in spring 2024.
A stronger partnership between neighbouring NHS trusts will help tackle the long-standing challenges of delivering healthcare for the Isle of Wight and ensure the provision of high quality, safe, and sustainable services to all the populations they serve.
Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust will take the logical next step in their Acute Services Partnership and this project will support continued engagement with partners and the public to shape the way forward.
The main entrance will include accessible toilet and changing spaces facilities, a lecture theatre, conferencing and boardroom facilities which will all support the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust partnership. As well as a new M&S Food store and clothing store The Stock Shop. Stepnell is also expected to start works to the north entrance once the main entrance is completed. Rob Speirs, director at Stepnell, said: “This significant milestone marks the fantastic progress we have made on the entrance works, in which we are helping PHU NHS Trust to create an accessible, functional and welcoming main entrance space for hospital staff, patients and the public and support the partnership between the two Trusts.
“While construction has been ongoing, we have made sure to limit disruption through installing a temporary side entrance and hoardings around the area of construction, closing the main revolving door at the existing entrance.
“With the main entrance nearing closer to completion, our attention will soon turn to focus on refurbishing the north entrance, which will include a reception, Costa Coffee and consultation areas, due for completion in autumn 2024.”
Designed by award-winning firm Lungfish Architects, with construction works by Stepnell, the two-form entry school is scheduled to open in 2024, providing 420 places. The new school demonstrates Harworth’s commitment, as part of the Harworth Way, to working with local authorities and other partners to create sustainable communities, with this facility set to benefit the more than 1,000 residents soon to be living on site and those living in the wider area too.
“It’s exciting seeing work starting on the build and we look forward to seeing it taking shape. This school will be a welcome addition to this community, providing much-needed school places and a lovely setting for learning in an innovative way.”Councillor Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for children and families
The school will be built to a bespoke design based on forest school principles. Originating in Scandinavia, the forest school approach promotes education through play and activity while nurturing creativity through self-activity and investigation. To facilitate this, the school design consists of six single storey buildings, designed as a series of pavilions, which include teaching space as well as the school’s hall, kitchen, administration facilities and early years accommodation, all linked by way of a cloister. The teaching pavilions are organised around groups of four classrooms, offering much sought-after flexible teaching opportunities through a range of teaching spaces, such as group rooms and shared learning spaces.
“This new forest school demonstrates the Harworth Way in action, working with local partners to deliver a valuable asset to the local community, creating a sense of place and further enhancing the attractiveness of South East Coalville and the wider area as a place to live. With sustainability at the heart of its design, it will provide a modern and inspiring learning environment that is befitting of its National Forest location. I am grateful to all our partners for facilitating this development, and especially to North West Leicestershire District Council and Leicestershire County Council for their continued support.” David Cockroft, Regional Director – Midlands, Harworth
The classroom spaces have been designed to ensure they are dynamic, naturally lit and naturally ventilated. The school will generate approximately 10% of its own electrical requirements through a roof-mounted solar PV panel system and will use air-source heat pumps to meet its heating requirements. The buildings are intended to complement the largely residential nature of the site, with a contemporary and unique feel that also reflects the National Forest setting.
“This part of North West Leicestershire continues to see a lot of growth and development and I am delighted to see the start of work to bring a new forest school to benefit families and residents in the area. Ensuring infrastructure like roads and schools is delivered for any new settlement is vital to securing the future of our towns and village, so I look forward to seeing the next generation walk through the school doors in September 2024.”Keith Merrie, North West Leicestershire District Council Portfolio Holder for Infrastructure
A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Tuesday 10 October, attended by members of the Harworth team, including Andrew Blackshaw, Chief Operating Officer, and David Cockroft, Regional Director for the Midlands, alongside Councillor Deborah Taylor, Deputy Leader of Leicestershire County Council and cabinet member for children and young people, Councillor Keith Merrie of North West Leicestershire District Council. The leaders also opened a new 21-acre park comprising a riverside corridor with amenity space and several biodiversity enhancement features.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Harworth, and to mark this milestone moment for South East Coalville and its new community, As the first purpose-built forest school for Leicestershire County Council, we are pioneering a model for forest school design that has the potential to shape a new generation of schools. These types of learning environments benefit our children’s wellbeing because of the nature of their design – or rather, because their design is focused on nature. The benefits of balancing indoor and outdoor learning, and the school design that supports it, are achieved by careful consideration of the long-term outcomes and the happiness of pupils and their teachers.”Simon Reid, Managing Director, Lungfish Architects
South East Coalville is Harworth’s largest residential development in its Midlands region. The 250-acre site is situated just two miles from Junction 22 of the M1, and has an outline planning consent for the creation of a sustainable new community of more than 2,000 homes. The development comprises two distinct areas: Hugglescote Grange to the north and Swinfen Vale to the south, both named after surrounding villages. Immediately to the south of the site, is Harworth’s Bardon Hill development, providing 332,000 sq. ft modern Grade A employment space.
To date, Harworth has sold land parcels for the delivery of 793 homes, to housebuilders Redrow, Bellway, Morris Homes and Cadeby Homes and delivered new green space including the planting of over 800 trees. The second phase of the scheme will see the development of new homes, as well as a local centre close to the entrance to the site, where the school will be located, opposite a new Aldi supermarket. More community amenities are planned to be delivered at the site in the coming years.
“Coalville Forest School is an exciting new development that we are delighted to be part of. The sustainable and creative design of the school is exceptional, and aligns well with our comprehensive construction offering at Stepnell. As a complete construction partner, we are proud of our skill to drive forward energy efficiency of buildings and create quality developments to be proud of – this project will be no exception. We are also proud of our strong regional reputation in the East Midlands, and look forward to delivering not only a fantastic project for the people of Coalville, but also leaving a lasting legacy of social value here too.”Tom Sewell, Regional Director, Stepnell
Transformation of engineering campus passes midpoint milestone
Category: Construction
Complete construction partner Stepnell has passed the midpoint of a capital project to substantially upgrade the engineering and technology centre at Leicester College.
Set to complete in November, the redevelopment of the facility on the Abbey Park Campus will provide students with updated learning facilities, to support the delivery of engineering T levels and other types of engineering qualifications.
The project includes the introduction of and upgrade to new industry standard laboratories. These will be used to teach students across specialist engineering disciplines, including electrical engineering, electronic engineering, pneumatic and hydraulics, programmable logic controllers (PLC) and robotics.
A new mechanical engineering workshop is also being constructed by Stepnell to accommodate industry-standard lathes and milling machines. Additionally, a specialist hand skills development and projects area, welding booths and a state-of-the-art grinding room will be integrated to enhance the hands-on learning experience.
Tom Sewell, regional director at Stepnell, said: “With a consistent pipeline of projects within the education sector, this is the third project we have undertaken for Leicester College. We have a key focus to continue developing lasting public sector client relations. “We understand the college’s needs to provide the best learning experience in the long term while minimising the disruption to the teaching experience during the build, and we’re progressing well ahead of completion in November. “With a strong familiarity within our construction team of the educational needs for aspiring engineers, it’s a highly rewarding project to help create the ideal learning space to educate future talent.”
The capital project supports the introduction of engineering T Level qualifications at Leicester College, with the Department for Education having provided more than £1 million towards the project cost from T-level capital grant funding.
The college aims to help meet the skills demand at higher technical levels regionally and nationally and provide a valid pathway to higher technical qualifications. It aims to support the forecasted 1.2% growth in engineering and electronic engineering occupations available in Leicestershire and Rutland by 2030.
Ibrar Raja, director of engineering at Leicester College, said: “I am delighted to witness the transformation of our engineering building into a state-of-the-art facility that reflects our commitment to providing the best possible learning environment for our students and supports the need for highly qualified and skilled engineers in the region. This refurbishment project embodies our dedication to fostering innovation and excellence in engineering education.”
Work underway on major project in Newark Town Centre
Category: Construction
The first phase to transform the empty former M&S building on Stodman Street in Newark into an attractive hub made up of homes and retail units is underway. This ambitious project will breathe new life into the heart of the town when completed.
Stepnell, a well-established complete construction partner with over 150 years’ heritage in the industry, is undertaking the initial phase and mobilisation of the project.
Councillor Matthew Spoors, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s exciting to see this project underway. We are showing that initiatives like this can help to develop town centres so that they that offer a vibrant experience which attracts different people at different times. “Without the Council’s intervention, this prominent building could have fallen into disrepair and become an eyesore. We’ve taken action into our own hands and are doing our best for Newark, turning a building that could have been abandoned into a thriving and active area where living, working and shopping come together.
“We actively asked many high street retailers to take on the store but none were interested in occupying the large 32,000sqft building. The fact is that they may already have a presence in nearby Nottingham and Lincoln and it’s not viable for them to occupy such a big building in a town of Newark’s size and location. There is however demand for smaller units and we are confident that the site will be occupied as soon as renovations are complete. This is reflected by the uptake of the retail units by the Travelodge and in the Buttermarket.”
Plans will see the empty building converted into an exciting hub made up of 29 high-quality residential homes in the heart of Newark, which will provide a new town centre housing offer with a sympathetic but eye-catching and vibrant design. There will also be two new retail units which will improve Newark’s retail offer with the aim of attracting more people into the town centre.
Smaller retail units will complement the rest of the town and will look at enhancing the shopping offer in the centre. The District Council has been successful in the past; although they own very few buildings in the town centre, since taking over and managing the area of the Buttermarket facing Middlegate, fantastic tenants such as Tambo Lounge, Iguazu, Specsavers and Inspire have collectively created a space for learning, shopping and socialising. With a track record for providing attractive units, the District Council continue to support town centre occupation.
Tom Cartledge, Co-Chair of the Newark Town Board, said: “This is an opportunity to transform a large empty building into something that will be hugely beneficial to the health of our high street in the future. “Across the country, retail in towns and cities is in decline which is why we’ve put this project together to inject new life in the area with the aim to make the heart of Newark a great place to live and shop. “There are many other projects running alongside the development including Newark Cultural Heart which has already brought people to the town centre through creating exciting events and programmes and the Stodman Street work is an extra step in encouraging more to visit, stay longer and take advantage of the activities and hospitality on offer.”
It is also putting emphasis on bringing sustainability aspects into the build. This development will utilise solar panels on the roof, have modern insulation and will recycle up to 90% of all materials removed from site. It will also create new green planting and expand St Marks Lane, opening up the link between Lombard Street and Stodman Street.
The first phase of work is likely to take place until the end of Christmas this year with the construction taking place soon after. Completion is expected to be in summer 2025.
Tom Sewell, Regional Director at Stepnell, said: “We are proud to be chosen as a trusted construction partner and to be beginning the important first phase of demolition works, which will create the space for building an exciting new hub in Newark. We are considerate of the need to minimise disruption to the public throughout the project, in what is a busy area of footfall in the town. “As the works progress, we will be making significant investment back into the local community. This includes targeted regional spending, employability programmes with local schools and colleges, and sustainability initiatives to reduce our carbon impact.”
The scheme has been procured through the Procure Partnerships Framework, which supports public sector bodies to procure contractor partners, divided regionally to support the values of local delivery with national governance.
The Framework supports public sector bodies to deliver their strategic targets, and is designed to be flexible yet robust, providing clients with demonstrable value for money when procuring their projects.
Tom Woolley, Key Account Manager (East), Procure Partnerships Framework: “Procure Partnerships Framework are absolutely delighted to have supported Newark and Sherwood District Council in appointing Stepnell to deliver this transformational scheme. “The completed works will join a wide range of successful schemes delivered by Stepnell in partnership with Procure Partnerships Framework, and it will be fantastic to see the boost that this project will provide to the people of Newark. It has been a pleasure to work with Newark and Sherwood District Council on this scheme, and we are excited to see how subsequent projects develop through the Towns Fund initiative.”
The Stodman Street development is one of many projects being funded by Newark Towns Board’s successful application to the Government’s Towns Fund initiative. It is being delivered by Newark and Sherwood District Council whose aim it is to breathe new life in Newark town centre. Other projects include the £3m restoration of Newark Castle and a £2.1m Cultural Heart project aiming to provide a varied and exciting events programme alongside investments to improve the town centre even further.
The £1.9 million alteration works to Stenson House, NWLDC’s civic building, which is also home to the Registration Service and Citizens Advice were completed over 31 weeks. During this time, Stepnell made changes to facilitate the separation of the building. This was achieved while preserving the current layout and updating the internal finishes such as floors, walls, ceilings and lighting.
Adrian Barnes, regional director at Stepnell said:“Stenson House and Whitwick Business Centre are two recognisable council buildings in Coalville. We went to great lengths to ensure that the refurbishment and improvement works were conducted with respect to improving building safety and efficiency while minimising disruption throughout the projects. Delivering these projects through the Procure Partnerships Framework (PPF) enabled us to be flexible during the build to meet the requirements of North West Leicestershire District Council. Via PPF we were able to deliver the renovations to the highest quality, with significant engagement with trusted local suppliers.”
The second project completed by Stepnell for the Council was a £1.4 million renovation of Whitwick Business Centre over 26 weeks. This was the first major update to the building since its last extension in the 1970’s. Older elements of the building were deteriorating rapidly, requiring extensive refurbishment to reach modern energy standards. Stepnell has now created a refreshed open plan and flexible office space for council employees.
Paul Wheatley, Head of Property and Economic Regeneration at North West Leicestershire District Council, said:“We have been delighted with the work that Stepnell has done in renovating two of our buildings for modern and efficient use by our staff, civic functions and tenants.
Mat Mason also attended bringing along The Community Kit Bag, known as the shop in a trailer. The Community Kit Bag provides low cost and free sports clothes and equipment to those who need it and helps support more people getting into sport whilst raising money to provide free mental health training and resources to sports clubs across the UK.
There was plenty going on with the local news in attendance, St. Bernadette’s RFC, Bristol Bears and local Council members.
St. Bernadette’s is due to complete in March 2024 includes a new clubhouse, pitches, floodlights and associated works clearly means so much to all in the local area and St. Bernadette’s RFC.
Work commences at Queen Alexandra Hospital
Category: Construction
Construction to the new main entrance at Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital is now underway, set to include changing facilities and an M&S Food store in the new amenities for patients and staff.
Delivered by healthcare construction specialists Stepnell for Portsmouth Hospitals University (PHU) NHS Trust, the 12-month project includes the creation of a new Changing Places facility, one of three accessible toilet and changing spaces set to arrive at the hospital soon. A lecture theatre and clothing store The Stock Shop will also be constructed.
To accommodate the works taking place on the live hospital site, a temporary side entrance has been created and hoardings have been erected around the area of construction, closing the main evolving door at the existing entrance.
Stepnell’s works to the main entrance comes as part of a series of significant improvements to the Queen Alexandra Hospital site, as the PHU NHS Trust aims to continue to deliver high quality services in a modern, welcoming and safe environment.
Mark Orchard, chief finance officer at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, said: “This is a fantastic new development which will help improve the experience of those visiting our hospital site. It is another step in a number of significant improvements to the QA site, including improved green spaces. These plans will help us continue to deliver high quality services in efficient, well-maintained and well-designed buildings.”
Rob Speirs, director at Stepnell, said: “Taking advantage of our wealth of experience and expertise in healthcare projects, we are helping Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to create a functional and appealing main entrance to the Queen Alexandra hospital that meets the needs of hospital staff, patients and other members of the public. “As part of our commitment to social value, we have ambitions to spend and engage with a local supply chain of subcontractors wherever possible. Being a healthcare specialist, we have a clear understanding of how to best achieve these aims on hospital projects and will be working closely with our supply chain to ensure we deliver to the standard we expect as a complete contractor.”
Stepnell will be working alongside Noviniti to undertake the project for PHU NHS trust, a developer with experience on the QA Hospital site, having built the North car park in 2022.
For more information on the project works taking place at Queen Alexandra Hospital as well as to find out more about Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, visit: https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/.
Using its extensive building expertise, the Stepnell team was responsible for design elements and quick delivery of the purpose-built facility, which is intended for hospital staff to use in support of their health and wellbeing. It includes facilities such as a state-of-the-art gym, counselling rooms, areas for complimentary therapies and group or individual reflections after traumatic incidents.
The finished Hub benefitted from Stepnell’s whole team working approach to develop and finalise the design with consultants and subcontractors – including Southgate and Sarabia Architects, MAC Consulting and Adept Consulting Engineers – to best meet the client’s budget. BIM coordination software was used in tandem with OneClick to enhance project discussions and engage early with the hospital Trust.
Tom Sewell, regional director at Stepnell, said: “Our team has gone above and beyond to ensure quality throughout the design and build of this new Health and Wellbeing Hub. As well as ensuring the project was built on time and within budget, we were also proud to have supported the hospital alongside local people, communities and businesses to help raise the required project funds. We are thrilled with the end result and the positive feedback received from stakeholders across the project.”
Stepnell’s work on the prestigious project featured a bespoke social value strategy, which included creating jobs for three local people, as well as organising fundraising events and carrying out significant social value work within the local community.
Dr Hal Spencer, chief executive of CRH NHS Trust, said: “We want to be recommended as a place to come to work and for the clinical care we provide. The Health and Wellbeing Hub is pretty unique in allowing us to offer this kind of facility to colleagues. I am especially proud of us opening on the day of the celebrations for NHS75. Along with our Emergency Department, Pediatric Assessment Unit, the Community Diagnostic Centres and much more, we are redefining the role and abilities of this fantastic hospital.”
Over the course of the project, more than 100 hours of support into employment training was provided to Chesterfield College and Parkside Community School and a cumulative total of 47 weeks of training was provided for trainees and apprentices studying at Level 2, 3 and 4+. Furthermore, Stepnell committed to a local supply chain by ordering building materials within a 30-mile radius of the project, which achieved a 50% local spend, including 36% spend with local SMEs.
Sue Woollett, social value manager at Stepnell, said: “This project is the epitome of what it means to put the community at the centre of our work. Stepnell was fully committed to the project with our own fundraising support for the hospital’s charity on top of being the appointed complete construction partner for the delivery of the hub. “It was an amazing project to be part of and we are delighted to be involved in providing a place for hospital staff to enjoy, as well as supporting the wider community during our time on-site, from young people to local tradespeople.”
