The Winter Gardens, Blackpool

What the project involves

The Winter Gardens is one of Blackpool’s oldest and most famous landmarks. Within the Grade II listed building is the Spanish Hall; split over two floors, it has a capacity of 700 and is regularly used as a venue for conferences, exhibitions and private functions.

In 2018, a major restoration and renovation project began to refurbish the hall’s stunning ceiling and glass roof, in addition to the protection of the Andalusian themed artwork and plasterwork.

The works aim to open up the full space of the hall while returning it to its former glory. The project is set to be completed in 2019.

How the client is benefitting

Aegis was appointed to provide CDM Principal Designer Advisor services on the restoration project on behalf of client Blackpool Council. Conlon Construction acted as Principal Contractor and Principal Designer.

Aegis advised the Principal Designer on the planning, management and monitoring of the co-ordination of health and safety, providing re-assurance and the essential guidance required throughout a project of this nature.

Why it is crucial to understand the client and their needs

The location of the Winter Gardens, within Blackpool’s bustling town centre, resulted in constraints where access was concerned. In addition, the site was occupied throughout the works with members of the public using the building, and there were several factors to be taken into consideration relating to the special care and attention required of listed buildings.

For nearly a quarter of a century, Aegis has provided value-adding CDM services for major development schemes and has worked on several historic building projects including Victoria Baths, Manchester and Manchester Central Library.

Since the initial introduction of the CDM regulations in 1994, we have been instrumental in numerous major projects across the North West. This means we have developed deep knowledge and specialist insight into our clients’ specific requirements.

Advanced Technology Centre and Construction Skills Centre, Blackpool & the Fylde College

What the project involves

Aegis has played key role in the delivery of Blackpool and the Fylde College’s £50 million, 10-year Property Strategy to replace existing accommodation with purpose-built teaching and learning facilities.

We were appointed to provide CDM services to the college as part of a root-and-branch redevelopment of its Bispham campus.

The campus now accommodates a new 3,200m2 Advanced Technology Centre (ATC), which will deliver the technical and leadership skills needed by students to close the skills gap in the advanced engineering and manufacturing sector.

The ATC features advanced engineering workshops equipped with the latest CNC technology, as well as a project zone that houses pneumatics, robotics, electronics and the latest CAD design studio. In addition there is a research and development centre, automotive workshops, and materials and paint applications workshop.

The Bispham campus project also includes a 1,100m2 two storey extension to the Construction Skills Centre (CSC) to incorporate additional workshops and classrooms.

How the client is benefiting

More than 20,000 people study at the college annually, with around 6,000 students and over 200 employers benefitting from the new ATC facility alone.

Our work involved assisting in the completion of three inter-related projects. Firstly, there was a ‘muck shift’ that involved moving earth around site to prepare for the ATC. Secondly, the old Heating and Ventilation building was demolished, allowing the construction of the CSC extension, which includes extra workshops and classrooms. Thirdly, the ATC was built, allowing the defunct Wyre building to be demolished.

The total cost for this programme was over £10m for both the ATC new build and CSC extension, which included the demolition of existing accommodation and landscaping improvements.

Aegis’ CDM solutions involved co-ordinating health and safety arrangements to ensure processes and procedures for all activity were effectively implemented.

We contributed extra value by working with the college to implement and manage CDM 2015 regulations which improve health and safety in the construction industry by clearly defining roles and responsibilities on construction projects.

Why it is crucial to understand the client and their needs

Aegis has provided value-adding CDM services for major development schemes since the initial introduction of the regulations almost a quarter of a century ago in 1994.

During this extensive period, we have worked on a number of significant education projects across the North West which had enabled us to develop in-depth knowledge and insight into the sector and its particular requirements.

As well as the ATC and CSC, we have worked on Blackpool and The Fylde College’s Lancashire Energy HQ, Preston’s College’s iSTEM Centre, Blackburn College’s RATH Building and leisure
centre, Myerscough College’s high performance centre and student accommodation block, and Bolton School’s sixth form centre.

Lancashire Energy HQ, Blackpool & the Fylde College

What the project involves

Blackpool and The Fylde College’s Lancashire Energy HQ is a new flagship development on Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.

The £9.8m educational facility represents significant investment in technical and professional education for the energy sector, which will drive business growth and jobs in the area.

It is designed to provide a cutting-edge education and training facility local students, delivering the full range of technical and professional education required by the industry, with a focus on the green and renewable sectors.

Part of the Northern Powerhouse project, Lancashire Energy HQ aims to attract high-skilled jobs and businesses to area.

How the client is benefiting

Aegis was appointed to provide CDM principal designer services to the college for the design and build of the Lancashire Energy HQ facility on the site of the former airport terminal. The construction project ran from April 2016 until June 2017.

The facility is equipped with industry-standard resources and technology to support the delivery of technical and professional training for the energy sector.

The building includes workshops and accommodates specialised skills training for the energy sector, especially oil, gas and wind. In addition it incorporates teaching classrooms, staff and administration facilities, ancillary spaces, kitchen and supporting spaces, refectory and atrium.

The construction comprises a new two-storey steel frame, formed through a double height space with curved roof to the rear and two-storey space with flat roof to the front. It is a BREEAM Excellent building, with an extensive solar heating system on the roof.

Aegis’ CDM solutions required us to co-ordinate health and safety arrangements to make certain processes and procedures for all on-site activity were meticulously implemented.

Why it is crucial to understand the client and their needs

For nearly a quarter of a century, Aegis has provided value-adding CDM services for major development schemes.

Since the since the initial introduction of the CDM regulations in 1994, we have been instrumental in numerous major projects across the North West. This means we have developed deep knowledge and specialist insight into our clients’ specific requirements.

In addition to Lancashire Energy HQ, we have worked on a number of education projects including  Blackpool and the Fylde College’s Advanced Technology Centre and Construction Skills Centre,  Preston’s College’s iSTEM Centre, Blackburn College’s RATH Building and leisure centre, Myerscough College’s high performance centre and student accommodation block, and Bolton School’s sixth form centre.

CDM-C Gate Guardian, BAE Systems

What the project involves

A full-scale replica of the iconic English Electric Lightning fighter jet has been installed to guard the gates of the BAE Systems Samlesbury site, and Aegis has played a key role in the project.

The life-sized model has replaced the original fuselage which was manufactured at Samlesbury. It has stood at the gates on the A59 for more than two decades, but has become damaged by the Lancashire elements over time. The replica, constructed by a specialist aeroplane renovation and replica manufacturer based in Cornwall, is made of fibreglass to better protect it from the environment.

The project involved the removal of the original gate guardian and replacing it with the replica. The model has a front of house location next to the main site entrance and the busy A59, and is therefore highly visible to passers-by and site visitors.

Work was split into three phases: Groundworks to prepare the site, transportation of the replicas from Cornwall to Samlesbury, and installation of the replica aircraft.

How the client is benefiting

BAE’s Samlesbury site is occupied by the company’s Military Air and Information Division. The iconic Electric Lightning, which has helped lay the foundations of modern day jets such as Typhoon, is an important piece of heritage – not only for BAE but Lancashire as a whole.

Aegis was appointed CDM Co-ordinator on the Gate Guardians Project and has had a continuous involvement in co-ordinating health and safety issues which impacted on the works.

The key benefit to BAE Systems is that Aegis ensured all processes and procedures for the removal of the original gate guardian and the installation of its replacement were implemented effectively and comprehensively. This was also taking into account the busy working site and its proximity to a main road.

The replica English Electric Lightning fighter now stands proud at the site where it first took to the skies in November 1959. It was a turning point in aviation history as the first completely British designed and built fighter aircraft able to fly at twice the speed of sound.

Why it is crucial to understand the client and their needs

Aegis has been working with BAE Systems at its Samlesbury and Warton sites for more than 18 years, and is a preferred supplier for the Military Air and Information Division there.

We will continue to work with BAE as it enters the second stage of the Gate Guardians project, to erect a second full-scale replica of an F-35 Lightning II alongside the Electric Lightning – parts of which are built at Samlesbury.

CDM-C Bishopton

What the project involves

The £125 million transformation by BAE Systems of the former Royal Ordnance Factory at Bishopton, west of Glasgow, is one of the biggest brownfield development projects in the UK.

Aegis is providing BAE Systems Real Estate Solutions with Construction Design and Management (CDM) co-ordination for the broader programme, as well as individual projects within it.

The scheme involves the regeneration of 1,800 acres of disused land as 2,500 new homes, 1.6 million sq ft of commercial space, recreation and leisure facilities and new community woodland parks.

The area, known as Dargavel Village and Business Park, is located near the M8 and West Coast Main Line, and an integral part of the work was the installation of a new bridge over the railway line from December 2012 and January 2013.

How the client is benefiting

Aegis’ provision of CDM solutions means co-ordinating health and safety arrangements across the entire programme, along with specific projects.

The contract represents a significant challenge because we must work closely and collaboratively with our client, BAE Systems, along with three property developers, and their construction companies.

The key benefit to BAE Systems is that Aegis ensures health and safety processes and procedures for all activity on the site are implemented effectively and comprehensively. Given the number of companies involved – not to mention the home-owners and businesses who are increasingly occupying the site – this is a technically demanding and operationally complex undertaking.

Why it is crucial to understand the client and their needs

Aegis was brought in to deliver CDM co-ordination services in 2012 because a national consultancy was not delivering the level of service demanded by BAE Systems.

The client was confident that we could deliver effective CDM co-ordination services for this highly demanding programme at very short notice.

One of the reasons for this was that Aegis has been working with BAE Systems at Samlesbury and Warton in Lancashire for 18 years and is a preferred supplier for the Military Air and Information Division there.

Another key factor was that Tim Hudson, our Technical Director, had worked with BAE Systems Real Estate Solutions on the construction and fit-out of a new Small Arms Ammunition Facility at Radway Green near Crewe.

The client had been so impressed with Tim’s deep industry knowledge and technical skills, that they wanted him to take over the management of CDM co-ordination services at Bishopton and Aegis’ appointment followed soon afterwards.