Post on 10-Jul-2020
Sustainability Report 2011BBC Drama Village, Cardiff.
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The new building will achieve BREEAM Excellent with the team aspiring to achieve Outstanding. This will be one of the largest buildings in Wales to achieve this standard of sustainability.
The volume of earth treated as part of the ground remediation was enough to fill 80 Olympic size swimming pools.
There is over 3.5km of drainage on site.
The 100km of cable used in the construction would reach all the way to Swansea and back.
12km of piling has been used which, if laid out together would cover the distance from BBC Llandaff to the Porth Teigr site.
The development has had one of the largest concrete pours in Wales, ultimately creating enough floor slabs to cover the area of 4 football pitches.
Contents
4-5 Introduction
6-15 Environmental Sustainability
16-21 Regeneration
22-23 Health and Wellbeing
28-29 Going Forward/Leaving a Legacy
24-27 Urban Design
The amount of recycled plasterboard used on project would be enough to build 8 small new homes.
‘In Pictures’ photography Betina Skovbro © 2011
In Pictures
Introduction
Sustainability, including
environmental, social and
economic considerations, has been
a key factor in the set-up, delivery
and day to day activity both on and
off site at the BBC Drama Village
Project in Cardiff Bay. Considerable
effort has been made to ensure the
key messages for sustainability were
communicated effectively to everyone
involved in the project. A Sustainability
Action Forum met every two weeks
to monitor and improve performance
as the project progressed.
VINCI Construction UK, along with
project partners, suppliers and sub-
contractors ensured the scheme
created a positive environmental and
social impact on site, in surrounding
communities and across the wider
region. This was recognised by
the Considerate Constructors
Scheme with a score of 37/40 and
a Performance Beyond Compliance
award. This report aims to outline
some of the sustainability highlights.
The format of the report complements
the igloo Footprint Document, and
to that end will be sectioned in line
with igloo’s Footprint themes:
•Environmental Sustainability
•Regeneration
•Health and Wellbeing
•Urban Design.
Whilst a number of the subjects will
naturally fall within more than one
of these headings, for clarity the
report is categorised as follows
with partnership working and a
commitment to outstanding health
and safety being integral to all areas:
5
Considerable effort was made to ensure the key messages for sustainability were communicated effectively.
Environmental Sustainability• Energy & Carbon Management
• Waste Management
Health & Wellbeing• Eating for Wellbeing
• Exercising for Wellbeing
• Maintaining Wellbeing
Regeneration• Community Engagement & Diversity
• Employment Training
• Local Suppliers
Efficient Design• Earthworks Strategy
• Building System Design
• Public Realm Design
Environmental Sustainability7
To efficiently and accurately monitor
the carbon footprint of the project, a
carbon monitoring tool was created and
used to gauge our activities. This was
specifically suited to the construction
environment and took account of
fuel and resources used on site, staff,
operative and visitor travel miles,
delivery miles and energy consumption.
The tool was used to monitor trends,
set targets and reduce consumption.
The tool identified operative travel
miles as the principal contributor to
the CO₂ footprint of the project. As
a result, amongst a number of other
measures, a car share scheme was
established for staff and operatives. This
was prominently advertised on site and
proved popular, resulting in a direct
decrease in per capita carbon emissions,
evidenced through the monitoring tool.
The work done on carbon monitoring
at the BBC Drama Village is now being
replicated on other VINCI Construction
UK sites in the region.
All electricity consumption on site
was converted to a “Green Tariff”. The
majority of power used on the project
came from on-shore wind and the full list
of renewable power sources used
are scheduled below.
To support the constant drive to
reduce the energy consumption on site,
a ‘Green Travel Plan’ was introduced
which included:
The Staff Cycle Scheme – VINCI
Construction UK runs a cycle scheme
in partnership with a well known
retailer where tax free bikes are
available for staff. In addition staff
members are given the incentive of 10p
per business mile cycled and sheltered
bike storage complete with stands for
locking were provided on site.
Staff and operatives were actively
encouraged out of their car during the
construction of the project;
•The use of public transport was
encouraged on site and up-to-date
timetables were on display across the
offices and welfare areas. Details of
the nearby ‘Park and Ride’ facility was
also displayed to reduce the number of
cars entering this busy part of the city.
•A secure shelter for cycle users was
created during the construction phase.
•A Car Sharing Scheme was also
introduced. A Car Share pin board
was used across the site to advertise
lifts wanted and offered and this
proved a very popular approach
amongst site staff, particularly those
coming from the Swansea/Neath/Port
Talbot area.
“When the Car Share scheme was
introduced on site, I was amazed
how many others did the exact same
journey as me every day. I, and two
others, car shared on a regular basis
and it feels great to be doing our bit
for the environment” Matthew Davies
Energy consumption was
monitored during the project
using an in-house Environmental
Performance Indicator tool. The
Performance Indicator monitored
the consumption of electricity, water
and fuel plus the quantity
of timber and waste generated.
The Performance Indicator was
divided into two distinct sections:
Energy/Carbon Management and
Waste Management which allowed
targets to be established and
performance measured.
Energy and Carbon ManagementA number of measures were
implemented to minimise energy
consumption on site. Passive Infrared
(PIR) sensors were installed on all
lights and heaters in the temporary
office and welfare accommodation.
This ensured energy was not
wasted when individual offices
were not in use. Door closers on all
external doors avoided heat loss.
Non-concussive taps were used
on all basins and urinals and low
energy lights used throughout the
site. Temporary power and water
was metered and sub-metered
with monitoring to ensure these
resources were used efficiently.
Water butts were used onsite
to conserve rainwater which
was subsequently reused for
construction activities such as dust
control. During the summer months
of 2011, approximately 1 million litres
of water was extracted from the
nearby Roath Basin for site wide
dust suppression, and so avoided
using the scarcer resource of mains
water. This helped reduce demand
and protect the existing mains
network in Cardiff Bay.
Biomass 9.6%
Coal Mines Methane 0.2%
Hydro 10MW DMC or less 16.7%
Landfill Gas 7.4%
Municipal & Industrial Waste 0.5%
On-Shore Wind 65.6%
Pedal Power – The project team
also developed a relationship with a
local bike hire charity called “Pedal
Power”. Pedal Power provided the
site with bikes for hire from the
site office. Operatives and staff
were encouraged to use these at
lunchtime rather than using their
own vehicles. Staff also made use
of the bikes for meetings in the
local area.
At the end of the project, the
bikes were returned and the rents
collected were forwarded to Pedal
Power’s charity for disabled bike
riders. As an additional donation,
VINCI Construction UK provided
the labour to install a new set
of cycle stands at Pedal Power’s
headquarters in Sophia Gardens.
The gesture was well received by
Pedal Power and the racks are
proving to be well used.
Towards the end of the
construction period Pedal Power
needed to relocate to an alternative
location on the development. The
project team arranged for the
cabins and bikes to be moved and
Pedal Power are delighted with
their new location alongside the
new cycle path constructed as part
of the project.
The tool identified that by using predominantly local suppliers and a local workforce 90 tonnes of CO2 was saved every month.
The Green Tariff saved approximately 100 tonnes of CO2 during the construction period. An average family car could travel 450,000 miles before producing this much carbon.
“VINCI Construction UK has been very supportive on site – keeping Pedal Power staff informed. They are always very friendly.” Sybil Williams, Pedal Power
specifically suited to the construction
environment and took account of
fuel and resources used on site, staff,
operative and visitor travel miles,
delivery miles and energy consumption.
The tool was used to monitor trends,
set targets and reduce consumption.
The tool identified operative travel
miles as the principal contributor to
the CO₂ footprint of the project. As
a result, amongst a number of other
measures, a car share scheme was
established for staff and operatives. This
was prominently advertised on site and
proved popular, resulting in a direct
decrease in per capita carbon emissions,
evidenced through the monitoring tool.
The work done on carbon monitoring
at the BBC Drama Village is now being
replicated on other VINCI Construction The Green Tariff saved
Community use of Waste
The majority of wood waste was collected from site by Reseiclo Community Wood Recycling.
Reseiclo Community Wood Recycling is a not-for-profit company that provides an efficient and environmentally responsible timber collection service based in Newport (15 miles from the site). Reseiclo uses the reclaimed timber to make furniture (planters, chairs, fences etc) and sells them to the local community. The remaining timber is sold at comparably low prices to the public.
VINCI Construction UK used Reseiclo for removing the majority of timber waste from the project and through this, approximately 400m3 of timber has been directed to community use which would have otherwise been taken to a waste transfer station.
Case Study
Green Compass Scheme
This is a scheme set up by Constructing Excellence which audits waste management contractors to ensure the waste producer has the certainty that their waste is collected, checked, recycled or disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
Constructing Excellence assisted the project team with early advice on waste management, advised on choice of waste handling contractor and also provided the assistance of a waste auditor to review and audit how waste was managed on site during the construction period.
Case StudyCase Study
Local Support
Support was also provided to a local College by supplying waste timber for use in carpentry courses. Plastic bottles which were collected from the site welfare facilities were used to construct a coldframe at Kitchener Primary School.
A van full of timber off cuts from the feature façade was also collected by the RSPB to create bird boxes.
On-Site Waste Management
After meeting with various Waste Management Contractors (WMCs)throughout South Wales, Atlantic Waste was appointed as the WMC for the project.
Atlantic Waste is an accredited waste handler under the Constructing Excellence Green Compass scheme. They provided regular and detailed reports identifying the types and quantities of each waste stream and they also identified the end markets for material recycled from the project. A skip trailer enabled multiple skip exchanges and reduced the amount of vehicle movements to and from site.
Segregation – Three waste stations were located on site which facilitated the segregation of the following waste streams:
Metal, Plastic, Timber, Cardboard, Mixed Waste and Hazardous Wastes.
Case Study
Environmental Sustainability (cont.)
Waste Management – Monitoring and minimising waste was one of the key priorities for the project. Construction waste is a significant problem in Wales. The Environment Agency’s trend data shows no improvement in waste being diverted from landfill in the last four years, and only eight years of landfill space remains in Wales (source: WRAP Cymru).
VINCI Construction UK has made a commitment to supporting the Government target to half the amount of waste being sent to landfill by 2012. The project team ensured that every effort was made to minimise waste.
The Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) was developed to ensure a cohesive approach to dealing with waste. The SWMP was treated as a ‘living’ document during the construction period and detailed the amount and type of construction waste that was initially estimated to be produced on site; what was eventually produced; how waste was avoided; and how it was re-used, recycled or otherwise disposed of.
At the BBC Drama Village the project team:
– Used the Constructing Excellence Green Compass scheme to source accredited local waste handlers.
– Promoted re-use of materials within the community.
– Sought to eliminate waste at source, ie design out waste and determine innovative ways of re-using those materials left over from the construction process.
– Sought to use recycled materials.
– Placed emphasis on sourcing local materials and resources.
BuilderScrap Scheme /Recipro
The team at the BBC Drama Village volunteered the project to Constructing Excellence as a pilot for the launch of BuilderScrap Wales. This is an online exchange platform for surplus construction materials which get diverted from the waste stream and put to beneficial use.
The project was completed before the launch of BuilderScrap Wales, which became active on 13th November 2011. VINCI Construction UK will be promoting use of this scheme on our projects.
Case Study
9
Waste Management Case Studies.
Note: 96% of waste diverted from landfill.
The importance of responsible waste management was communicated to the entire site workforce at induction.
11
Plastics – these were separated into
differing types and baled at the nearby
waste handler prior to being sent off
for recycling. Our plastic waste was
used to produce new products such as
bottles, cartons, and food plastics.
Paper and Cardboard – this waste
stream was segregated and baled at
the Cardiff facility and then sent to
SCA Recycling in Gwent where it was
re-used in the manufacture of paper
and cardboard products.
Subcontractor and Supplier Involvement
Plasterboard Waste – All
plasterboard waste was collected
by Lafarge and recycled directly into
new plasterboard products.
Paint Cans – empty paint cans were
collected by Dulux Trade whilst they
delivered new ones. These were
cleaned out and recycled back into
paint cans, minimising waste from the
decorating contract.
Returning Packaging to Sender –
Suppliers were encouraged to return
as much packaging to the sender as
possible. This was most effective with
the cladding package with Euroclad
accepting all packaging materials to
be returned and recycled. This not only
reduced the number of skip exchanges
onsite but increased our recycling
rate as Atlantic Waste did not have
the facilities to deal with the specific
packaging material Euroclad were
using.
Flooring Waste – was taken away
by the installer and collected in
segregated bins for recycling.
End Markets
Wood – Any wood waste which
was not suitable for community
use was processed nearby in
Cardiff through two shredders,
first at a slow speed and then at
a high speed, both of which had
magnetic separation to extract
all the ferrous metals which were
collected for re-use. The wood chip
was graded to produce a number of
different products including animal
bedding, wood chip for equestrian
surfaces, wood chip for panel board
manufacture and wood chip for
‘green’ power generation.
Green Waste – Any green waste
produced on the project was
also treated by shredding and
composting. The final compost
product was then used as a soil
conditioner in topsoil. All green
waste was treated offsite locally in
Cardiff, and then sold as a product
in the Cardiff area.
Mixed Waste – The Green Compass
waste handling supplier have
invested significantly in the
production of a Material Recycling
Facility (MRF). The facility contains
a series of conveyors which
separate mixed materials into
the different waste streams. This
enabled a larger proportion of
mixed waste to be recycled.
Metal – All metal waste was taken
to EMR recycling (which is located
within a mile of the Drama Village
project) and then reused in the
production of steel in Cardiff.
Promoting the message – the
importance of responsible waste
management was communicated
to the entire site workforce at
induction. This outlined the projects
commitment to waste minimisation,
segregation and recycling. This was
supported by information regularly
displayed on performance against
project environmental targets.
Recycling office waste - whilst
not included in the WRAP SWMP
guidelines, the project team were
committed to include site office
waste in the recycling drive. This
included plastic, paper, cardboard,
cans, toner cartridges and
compostable food waste. This was
collected weekly and hand sorted
into each waste stream and recycled.
In addition all confidential paper
waste was collected by the Office
Recycling Company and shredded
before recycling.
Avoiding breakages - A ‘Just in time’
approach was adopted throughout
site to encourage ‘just in time’ co-
ordination of deliveries to prevent
items facing potential damage during
storage and rehandling on site.
Designing out WasteThe most efficient way of reducing
waste to landfill is of course to
prevent waste in the first place.
There are a number of examples that
have helped to reduce the waste
created by this project.
•Omitted the use of blockwork for
the internal walls to the studios.
This reduced the weight of the
walls and reduced the extent of
foundations and piling required.
•The “Living Wall” was designed to
use off-cuts of Gwrhyd sandstone -
a waste product from the Specialist
Stone Quarry at Rhiwfawr near
Swansea, and so prevented it
from going to landfill. This also
allowed us to re-use any off cuts
of sandstone used to construct the
footpaths and the wall.
•Excavation arisings were
treated/mixed onsite to create
a Class 1 backfill product, this was
tested and certified for use as
backfill to drainage trenches
within the highway.
•Timber off cuts from the feature
façade were cut into strips and
used as battens to fix the larch.
This reduced the amount of waste
created tremendously.
•Roofing system was designed to
account for minimal waste. This
involved bringing the Euroclad
machinery onto site to form the
roofing sheets, cut to the exact
length, and lifted straight onto the
roof. This was a waste free process
as nothing had to be stored and
therefore potentially damaged, so
Environmental Sustainability (cont.)
Any green waste produced on the project was also treated by shredding and composting.
Plasterboard
Wood
Mixed
Packaging
Amount of Recycled Wastes (Tonnes)
The amount of Recycled Plasterboard used at the Porth Teigr Development could fill up to 5 Football Pitches, when laid out flat.
13
Use of Recycled Materials -
Wherever possible the use of
recycled materials has been
incorporated on site:
•8,000 m3 of recycled aggregate has been used for roads and pavements
•63% of the plasterboard used on the project comes from recycled materials.
•All steel reinforcement used on the project had a previous use.
•The Living Wall (which is 123m long and 7m high) was constructed from sandstone off cut from a quarry at Gwrhyd Uchaf Farm, Rhiwfawr, Swansea. These off cuts became surplus during the production of stone paving and walling.
Environmental Sustainability (cont.)
All concrete used at the Porth Teigr Development was manufactured less than 1.7 miles from site.
Waste to Landfill
Waste Recycled
Percentage of Waste Recycled
96%
4%
96%
39.92
73.43
66.04
15.6
•Rainwater was harvested on site and used for flushing toilets and to irrigate the Living Wall, via a drip system.
The schedule below gives a more
comprehensive list of recycled
materials used on the project.
The concrete used at the Porth Teigr Development contains GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag). This is a by-product from the steel industry and was obtained locally from two locations – Port Talbot Steel Works and Llanwern, Newport Steelworks.
Paragon Carpet Tiles – “Nothing is sent to landfill – the general waste is sorted, extracting those components that can be recycled, the remaining waste is then incinerated using it as fuel for power stations.”
Examples of Recycled Content Within Main Building Elements at the BBC Drama Village
Material Quantity Recycled % of Quantity Recycled Content
Concrete Within Floor Slabs 4888 T 1349 T 28%
Concrete within Ground Beams 696 T 192 T 28%
Concrete within Trailer Park Slabs 1524 T 420 T 28%
Service Road Aggregate 3876 T 2072 T 53%
Stone used within BBC Footprint 7298 T 7298 T 100%
Carpet Tiles 4731 m2 3075 m2 65%
Vinyl Flooring 1753 m2 525.9 m2 30%
Plasterboard 73000 m2 45990 m2 63%
Structural Steel 467 T 117 T 25%
Ceiling Tiles - Armstrong 5900 m2 2478 m2 42%
Kingspan Cladding to walls 2196 m2 373 m2 17%
Euroclad to Walls 6795 m2 5368 m2 79%
Euroclad to Roof 13725 m2 10843 m2 79%
Steel Reinforcement 570 T 570 T 100%
no protection was required = no off
cuts!
Key Facts about waste at the BBC
Drama Village
•40,000 tonnes of spoil retained
on site as opposed to being
disposed of elsewhere. This
saved approximately 2,000 lorry
loads of waste being transported
from site. This saved a total of
4,000 traffic movements and an
average of 50,000 miles, which
in turn reduced the pressure the
additional journeys would have on
traffic infrastructure in the local area.
•5,000 tonnes of this waste
was incorporated back into the
development and the remaining
material was processed on site for
future re-use.
•96% of waste produced was
diverted from landfill. This
amounted to 203 tonnes.
•The plasterboard recycled on the
project would be enough to build
8 small family homes.
•24.97% of our total recycled
waste was given to community
organisations such as Reseiclo.
The BBC Drama Village was designed to achieve an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM Rating. BREEAM is the world’s leading design and assessment method for sustainable buildings.
15
Environmental Sustainability (cont.)
During the design and procurement phases at the BBC Drama Village, the project team were careful to ensure that the materials used on the project were responsibly sourced.
A large part of responsible sourcing
of materials comes from using local
suppliers and contractors. The table
below gives manufacturing locations
and their distance from the Porth Teigr
Development:-
BREEAM Section
The BBC Drama Village was designed
to achieve an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM
Rating. BREEAM is the world’s
leading design and assessment
method for sustainable buildings.
An “Excellent” demonstrates a high
standard of sustainability and energy
efficiency, although it is also hoped
the project may become the first
industrial building in Wales to reach
the BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating.
Responsible Sourcing of Materials
VINCI Construction UK realises
the construction industry is a
major consumer of resources and
this can have a large impact on
environmental sustainability.
During the design and procurement
phases at the BBC Drama Village,
the project team were careful
to ensure materials used on the
project were responsibly sourced.
The team ensured material
manufacturers used on the project
were certified to appropriate
standards and that the responsible
sourcing of materials could be verified.
For example, Euroclad (Profile
Walling and Roofing) have an
Environmental Management System
with ISO14001 Approval, as do the
Cladding Contractor/ Installer.
FSC Accreditation (Forest
Stewardship Council)
All of the timber used at the BBC
Drama Village was FSC accredited.
This is not only the case for the
timber used within the fabric of the
building – it is true for all timber
used on the project, for example
temporary fencing/hoarding had
FSC accreditation. FSC certified
products are verified from the
forest of origin, through the supply
chain. The FSC label ensures
the product has been harvested
responsibly from sources which
have been verified.
The BBC Drama Village was
also assessed for its responsible
sourcing of materials using a
calculator designed by the BRE.
The Calculator assessed the level of
the main elements of the building,
using tiers. The higher tiers are
for those materials which can be
accredited throughout the supply
chain, where lower tiers are for
those materials which have lesser
accreditation throughout the chain.
Manufacturing Locations - BBC Drama Village Project
Element Material Manufacturing Distance From Site Locations
Frame Hot Rolled Steel Columns, Corus Port Talbot & Port Talbot (35 miles) Beams, Trusses & Braces Rowecord Newport Newport (15 miles)
Ground Floor Concrete Tarmac Cardiff Docks 1.7 miles
Ground Floor Steel Reinforcement Roe Bros & Co. Newport 15 miles
Upper Floors Concrete Tarmac Cardiff Docks 1.7 miles
Upper Floors Steel Reinforcement Roe Bros & Co. Newport 15 miles
Upper Floors Metfloor 60 Decking Cmf Group - 33 miles & Studweld Monmouthshire
Roof Euroclad Liner Sheet Corus Port Talbot, Euroclad Port Talbot (35 miles) Cardiff, and further Cardiff (6.5 miles) manufacturing process on site (rolling into profiled sheets)
Roof Euroclad Top Sheet Corus Port Talbot, Euroclad Port Talbot (35 miles) Cardiff, and further Cardiff (6.5 miles) manufacturing process on site (rolling into profiled sheets)
Roof Knauf Insulation Cwmbran Manufacturing 22 miles Facility
External Walls Euroclad Liner Sheet Corus Port Talbot, Euroclad Port Talbot (35 miles) Cardiff, and further Cardiff (6.5 miles) manufacturing process on site (rolling into profiled sheets)
External Walls Euroclad Top Sheet Corus Port Talbot, Euroclad Port Talbot (35 miles) Cardiff, and further Cardiff (6.5 miles) manufacturing process on site (rolling into profiled sheets)
External Walls Knauf Insulation Cwmbran Manufacturing 22 miles Facility
Internal Walls Lafarge Plasterboard Bristol Manufacturing 40 miles Facility
Internal Walls Lafarge Tape & Bristol Manufacturing 40 miles Joint Plaster Product Facility
Internal Walls Knauf Insulation Cwmbran Manufacturing 22 miles Facility
Substructure Concrete Tarmac Cardiff Docks 1.7 miles
Substructure Steel Reinforcement Roe Bros & Co. Newport 15 miles
Substructure Reinforced Bridgewater, Somerset 85 miles Concrete Piles
Regeneration
The Green Doctor This is a service that was created by
VINCI Construction UK which offers
free advice to local communities
and the general public with regard
to minimising the impact on the
environment from within the home
and business. The majority of
advice includes issues around waste
regulations, recycling activities, ecology,
carbon footprinting and sustainability.
EducationRelationships with three local
schools were established; Kitchener
Primary School, Fitzalan High School
and Pontypridd High. There were
six Construction Skills Construction
Ambassadors within the team
who were trained to work with
children and young people. These
Ambassadors continue to work with
Construction Skills and Careers
Wales with the Education Business
Partnership to deliver school
programmes across the region.
Fitzalan High School – James
Andrew and Suzi Doidge supported
a ‘Careers Conference’ Day at the
school. The day helped Year 11
students with skills and advice on
their CV’s, letters of application, role
play and appropriate behaviour in
the workplace. Following a successful
event, the team look forward to
participation again next year.
Pontypridd High – working with
the Education Business Partnership,
the team were able to welcome a
group of construction students from
Pontypridd to the site. The students
received a talk about the project,
a site tour and met the Institute of
Civil Engineer’s President who was
also visiting site that day!
VINCI Construction UK has worked hard to understand the cultural diversity of the area and identify local stakeholders to ensure appropriate levels of communication.
Local Residents
Stakeholder Group
Identified Stakeholders
Communication Method
Adventurers Quay Residents Committee
Attendance at residents meeting
Newsletters
Letter drops
Wider Community
Community Groups
Butetown Community Partnership
Somali Youth Partnership
Local Businesses
Brittannia Quay businesses
Harbour Authority
Norwegian Church
British Associated Ports
Atradius
Bute Street businesses
Meetings and site visits
Providing work placement and employment
Letter drops
Site visits
Newsletters
Education Local Schools
Kitchener Primary School
Fitzalan High School
Pontypridd High
Local Businesses
Cardiff University
Bridgend College
Cardiff Construction Training Centre
School visits
Assemblies
Career Guidance
Career Skills training
Providing work placement and employment
17
Butetown Somali Youth Association on site
Kitchener SchoolAs part of their Community
Engagement strategy for the project,
the project team met with Kitchener
Primary School. Talking with the
teachers, it soon became apparent
that both organisations shared the
same sustainability ethos with the
school having just won their Eco
Schools Flag Award. Liaising with
the school staff, the team devised
a programme of events for the
pupils to get them involved with the
Drama Village Project and promote
sustainability to encourage the next
generation of sustainable contractors!
•Assemblies with Ivor Goodsite to tell the children about the project and how to stay safe at a construction site
•An art poster competition to help keep our staff safe on the BBC site
•A flag pole to proudly fly their new Eco Schools flag was provided and installed by the team
•A visit from VINCI’s Eco Dragon to kick start a plastic bottle collection scheme
•The School’s Eco Council visited the site to see how we segregate our waste
•The Eco Council helped our team to use the 1,200 plastic bottles collected by the school and site team and some of our waste timber to make cold frames for their school allotment.
Community Engagement and DiversityIn order for the scheme to be an effective catalyst for the
regeneration of the Roath Basin and surrounding areas,
the involvement and engagement of local community
stakeholders was of paramount importance. To this end
the project team worked hard to understand the cultural
diversity of the area and identified local stakeholders to
ensure appropriate levels of communication. To enable
this, a stakeholder mapping exercise was undertaken and
key stakeholders highlighted.
External stakeholder identification and communication method
Local ResidentsVINCI Construction UK recognised the importance
of early communications and worked to engage local
residents in the project. Residents at neighbouring
Adventurers Quay were kept regularly informed of site
progress through a series of letters, newsletters and
attendance at their resident’s association meetings.
Efforts were made to minimise any disruption to the
residents and any inevitable disruption was managed
by honest and timely information to the residents.
“The approach of the VINCI Construction UK team in understanding and involving residents has been very refreshing. It is great to know that our views and concerns are being considered whilst work is underway close to our homes.” Resident, Adventurers Quay
(closest apartment complex to the scheme)
The wider communityA strong relationship was also developed with the Butetown Community Partnership, which in turnenabled partnerships to be formed with schools and community groups in the local area. A numberof events and meetings took place in the community and valuable links have been created. As anexample, the team welcomed the Butetown Somali Youth Association on site, attended events at theButetown Community Centre and subsequently employed construction students from Butetown.
Name: Nigel Jamal BrinksAge: 20Educational establishment: Bridgend College Hometown: Pontyclun
Nigel was studying for NVQ level 2 and 3 at Bridgend College and was selected for a week’s placement with VINCI Construction UK in February 2011. Having worked the week shadowing the site team and getting hands-on experience of plumbing and gasworks, the team spotted his potential and was quick to offer him a full time job. Nigel was one of eight students from the college who worked on the site and was appointed in full time work. His positive and hardworking nature alongside his ability to fit straight into the team made him the ideal candidate for the job! Nigel was able to progress his NVQ with the help of practical work on site.
“Getting the opportunity for work experience at VINCI was a dream come true. The work they do with Bridgend College has meant that I had the opportunity to prove myself to a real employer. I have applied to endless construction companies in search of some practical work experience but never been able to get a break. When I realised that VINCI was working with the College to offer placements, I jumped at the chance. The team has been really supportive and the experience I’m getting on site is invaluable and putting me in good stead for my future career.”
Name: Nick LedgerHometown: CardiffPosition: Senior Quantity Surveyor
Nick joined VINCI Construction UK in June 2010 as a Senior Quantity Surveyor to work on the Porth Teigr scheme. Having been a victim of the economic climate, Nick had found himself out of work. After six months unemployment, Nick managed to get a short term contract with a small local construction firm but was uncomfortable with the uncertainty and facing inevitable unemployment again at the end of the contract. The project was able to offer Nick a full time position and he is now a key member of the senior project team.
“I am extremely grateful to VINCI Construction UK for the chance of securing employment at a time when many people in the industry are facing uncertainty. It is great to have the opportunity to work on a high profile project like the new Drama Village and to be part of such a great team of people”.
Employment and Training In terms of employment, construction is one of the UK’s largest industries and offers a wide range of careers and opportunities to suit all talents and aspirations. VINCI Construction UK look for their staff to achieve their potential whilst providing local opportunities for local people.
Local workforce VINCI Construction UK understands its responsibility to make a positive economic contribution to the region by employing a local workforce. Of the workforce on the Drama Village 78% came from within a 20 mile radius of the project.
The project team worked with JobCentrePlus to make any opportunities/vacancies related to the project available and accessible to the local/regional community. This agreement was also extended
earned by these providing goods and services to the project equated to approximately £15M.
Education and Training VINCI Construction UK is passionate about learning and as such, supporting education and training is a critical part of an established corporate commitment to sustainable regeneration.
Up-skilling the workforce VINCI Construction UK made a commitment to use its industry expertise and resources to provide training opportunities for operatives and sub-contractors working on the project. A regular series of ‘Toolbox Talk’ training sessions were carried out and ‘’Step Up” behavioural training was made available for operatives.
Support and advice was also provided to sub-contractor and supplier SME’s that would otherwise be unavailable to them. For example, a Management and Leadership training day was held for newly appointed sub-contractor supervisors and a series of SME support clinics offered. The clinics advised and guided smaller companies about types of funding and training to which they were entitled.
Work Experience/Apprenticeships As part of the commitment to learning, VINCI Construction UK promoted opportunities for work experience students on the project and encouraged the appointment of apprentices wherever possible. Partnerships were created with Careers Wales, Bridgend College and Cardiff University to offer students at all levels the opportunity to carry out valuable work experience on the site. The scheme proved to be very successful with 26 students completing a total of 38 weeks work placement.
Aside from the work experience programme the project team actively promoted the placement of apprentices on the project. The project also provided 121.4 weeks of apprenticeship on the project both on and off site.
“Bridgend College is pleased to be working with VINCI Construction UK and the support given to both our Pathways to Apprenticeship provision and our Technical & Professional section has resulted in excellent work experience opportunities for our students.” Victoria Williams, Lecturer, Bridgend College.
to suppliers and sub-contractors to ensure that local residents were given priority to apply. Fifteen staff from the local area were appointed to the project team in roles ranging from catering staff to senior project team. Many more were employed as operatives and supervisors on site.
Approximately £8M was spent on wages to local operatives working directly on site, which, when added to wages
Regeneration (cont.)19
Name: Steven TideswellEducation: MEng Civil Engineering at The University of BristolPosition: Trainee/Assistant Engineer
“I was supported through my studies by VINCI Construction UK with a bursary and three industrial placements in my summers. After graduation my sponsorship was upheld and I was consequently offered a contract. This is when I started on the BBC Drama Village in my first full time role as
‘Assistant Engineer’. On this project my development has been accelerated greatly by continued support, and an increase in responsibility and challenge. I have now started the ICE Chartership Scheme which VINCI Construction UK fund and help me to manage. I intend to become chartered as soon as possible.”
Name: Dhanesh VaghaniEducation: Currently studying HNC Civil Engineering, Part-time at University of GlamorganPosition: Trainee Engineer
“I have learned so much on this project as I have been guided and supported every step of the way. My confidence in practicing engineering is continually increasing as I experience different types of engineering. Not only are my engineering skills increasing but also my communication, leadership and Health and Safety awareness. My overall knowledge of the construction industry has increased dramatically since I started work on this scheme and I am looking forward to future challenges.”
Employment
Position Hometown Total Weeks
Senior Quantity Cardiff 60 Surveyor
Senior Quantity Swansea 44 Surveyor
General Porth 65 Operative
Gateman Cardiff 60 (grangetown)
Commercial Blackwood 67 Manager (Gwent)
Senior Design Cardiff 60 Manager (Heath)
Project Caerleon 50 Manager
Office Cardiff 65 Manager
Asst Quantity Rhonnda 67 Surveyor
Project Port Talbot 60 Manager
Building Services Cardiff 50 Manager
General Cardiff 55 Operative
Apprentices
Position Organisation Total Weeks
Trainee Rowecord 2.2 Draughtsman
Trainee Rowecord 0.8 Draughtsman
Apprentice Rowecord 2.1 Welder
Apprentice Rowecord 4.3 Welder
Apprentice Rowecord 4 Welder
Apprentice Whiteheads 24 Electrician
Apprentice Whiteheads 5 Electrician
Trainee Vinci 48 Engineer
Trainee Vinci 31 Engineer
Total 121.4
Work Experience
Position No. Educational Total Organisation Weeks
Carpenter 4 Bridgend 4 College
Electrician 4 Bridgend 4 College
Plumber 2 Bridgend 2 College
Civils 1 Bridgend 1 College
School 1 Whitchurch 1 Placement High
University 1 Cardiff 1 Placement University
Construction 1 Bridgend 1 Management College
Regeneration of the area lies with making every effort to ensure local suppliers are sourced and used.
Regeneration (cont.)
VINCI Construction UK understands its responsibility to make a positive economic contribution to the region by employing a local workforce.
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Local SuppliersMuch of the commitment to supporting the economic regeneration of the area lies with making every effort to ensure local suppliers are sourced and used wherever possible throughout the life of the project in the first, second and third tier of procurement.
The diagram demonstrates that 78% of the total project spend is being invested back into companies within a 20 mile radius of the project site, and indeed 87% is retained within South Wales.
In order to achieve this above average local spend percentage, VINCI Construction UK worked hard to identify and source local organisations. A ‘Meet the Buyer’ event was held in Grangetown Leisure Centre in January 2011 and was attended by 40 local suppliers. The event allowed these businesses to talk to the
procurement team about the potential opportunities available on the project and in the region generally with VINCI Construction UK. Advice and guidance was offered about how companies, particularly the SME’s, can prepare and equip themselves for tendering work with large main contractors. This included topics ranging from health and safety policy to funding or training grants available to strengthen the company’s chances of selection. Of the 40 companies attending on the day, 17 were asked to tender for work with VINCI Construction UK with other organisations receiving advice and guidance.
All steel reinforcements, and cladding in the scheme is sourced from companies within one mile of the site; Celsa and Euroclad.
Health and Wellbeing
99 full health checks were undertaken and 67 drug and alcohol tests.
A key element of the
sustainability of the project
has been promoting the physical
and emotional wellbeing of those
involved in, and affected by, the
scheme. Some examples include:
Eating for wellbeingEfforts have been made to promote
awareness of the importance of
healthy eating. The site canteen
offered healthy alternatives to
the traditional builder’s breakfast
and displayed posters and other
information on maintaining a
healthy diet. The ‘wellbeing plate’
which was designed as a guide to
recommended daily allowances
for food groups was a key feature
of this. In addition a ‘Wellbeing
Wednesday’ initiative was piloted
on site in which VINCI Construction
UK created a partnership with the
local Butetown Food Cooperative
to offer free fruit to all staff and
operatives every Wednesday.
Exercising for wellbeingIt is widely recognised that
an increase in the amount of
exercise undertaken can be hugely
beneficial for mental, emotional
and physical wellbeing. As such
the project team developed a site
based scheme to promote and
encourage staff to cycle to work.
This not only promotes a healthy
lifestyle but contributes to the aim
of constantly reducing the carbon
footprint of the programme where
possible. In addition to providing
secure covered cycle storage with
showering and changing facilities on
site, maps of local cycle routes and
information about other activities
in the local area were displayed to
encourage operatives to exercise in
lunch breaks and after work.
Maintaining wellbeingVINCI’s Occupational Health Nurse visited site throughout the construction phase and carried out free health checks, provided support and aftercare for staff, operatives, subcontractors and anyone else involved in the project including the design team. Further to this, regular random drug and alcohol tests were carried out as part of a commitment to minimising risks of accidents and injury and of being a responsible employer.
Due to the size of the site, satellite welfare blocks were provided in various locations around site.
The project team also recognised that whilst each of the schemes implemented could provide significant benefits compared to a traditional site set-up, the ability to influence or improve the wellbeing of the operatives relied on the interaction of these individual initiatives, the environment in which they were implemented and the willingness of the workforce to become involved. To gauge the health of the site in its totality the project team sought advice from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Health and Social Care Officers, who are also responsible for evaluations under ‘The Corporate Health Standard’.
National awareness campaigns such as No Smoking Day and Food Awareness Week were also supported with prominent displays and initiatives on site.
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An increase in the amount of exercise undertaken can be beneficial for mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.
The commitment to efficient
design has been a primary focus
of the BBC Drama Village project.
The building will achieve BREEAM
Excellent with the team aspiring
to go above and beyond this to
achieve ‘Outstanding’ status.
Earthworks StrategyA site wide remediation strategy
was implemented based on
100% treatment and re-use of
contaminated material. The site wide
remediation strategy is also linked to
the long term earthworks strategy
which was assessed and adapted
to ensure additional site generated
materials were accommodated within
the master plan, thus supporting
the strategy for ‘no waste off site’.
This has been a significant
contributing factor to reducing
the scheme’s carbon footprint. In
total, approximately 20,000 m3 of
excavated material was treated on
site to be reused within the future
site wide development.
This is an equivalent saving of
71.6 tonnes of CO₂ (DEFRA, 2010*),
significantly reducing the scheme’s
carbon footprint.
Building System Design
A number of considerations were
made at design stage to ensure the
efficient design of the mechanical
and electrical (M&E) aspects of
the building/development. For
instance, rain water harvesting has
been installed to serve toilets and
the irrigation to the Living Wall.
Waterless urinals were introduced
and also low flow appliances included.
Photovoltaic panels were installed
on the roof of the Casualty Studios.
the seasonal differences result
in a gradual increase in daylight
contribution.
Heating Services – A Combined
Heat and Power Unit is designed
to provide base load space
heating demands in 50% of the
office and support building. All
CHP generated electricity is then
distributed into the electrical
low voltage system. Renewable
technology is used by Solar
Thermal Tubes to provide energy
to assist the heating of hot water.
Cooling Services – All compressor
Units used to provide refrigeration
for cooling within the buildings and
studios are equipped with power
factor correction capacitors and
variable speed drives to electrical
motors to reduce high start up
currents and improve efficiency to
over 85%.
Air Tightness – Building air tightness
was improved to over and above
the statutory requirement (with air
tightness of 2.5 m3/(h.m2) at 50 Pa
achieved). This is four times better
than required by Building Regulations.
Lifts – The energy efficient
passenger lifts selected have gained
both BREEAM credits available in
the Energy Section. These lifts use
approximately 40% less energy than
traditional traction lifts.
Photovoltaics – 50kW of
photovoltaic panels were installed
on the roof of the Casualty studios.
The inclusion of all of the above gives an EPC of 20 (A rating) for the building and gains 12 out of the 15 BREEAM points for energy.
The most expensive energy in
environmental and economic
terms is electricity. Methods of
reducing electricity consumption
and carbon emissions from
electrical elements within the
design include the following:-
Lighting – The internal lighting
design includes automated controls,
comprising combined motion and
daylight sensors. The automated
control helps reduce the energy
consumption for the lighting
distribution system by a predicted 15%.
The external lighting design is
controlled by time switch and
photocell technology. The photocell
technology helps provide a
greater degree of control when
50kW of Photovoltaic panels were also installed on the roof of the Casualty Studios.
Urban Design25
*DEFRA, 2010 – 2010 Guidelines to Defra / DECC’s GHG
Conversion Factors for Company Reporting, Annex 7, Table 7d
Water Savings – Case StudyThe standard benchmark Domestic Hot/Cold Water usage for a building like this with an occupancy of 600 people would be 216,000 litres/week.
The rainwater harvesting system on average will supply 38,360 litres per week to the WCs, which decreases the cold water demand by 23.7%.
The waterless urinals will save 8,100 litres per week to the WCs, which decreases the cold water demand by a further 5%.
This equates to an approximate saving of 2.4 million litres of water per year. Other measures include;
– CHP plant
– Solar Hot Water System
– High efficiency heat recovery heating & cooling to offices
– Heat recovery on ventilation plant
– PIR & daylight linked lighting control systems
– Sub-metering reporting back to BMS
– Energy efficient lifts
DCW DHW DCW DHW (Litres/Week) (Litres/Week) Saving (%) Saving (%)
Typical Benchmark System 162,000 54,000 N/A N/A
Rainwater Harvesting -38,360 0 23.7% 0%
Waterless Urinals -8,100 0 5.0% 0%
Total 115,540 54,000 28.7% 0%
- EPC Score of 20–A Rating- Exceeds Part L 2010 by 38.1%- Total carbon saved over a standard Part L 2010 compliant building – 199,907kg CO2- Total energy generated from renewable – 218,345kg CO2
Design Influencing TravelThe desire to influence the nature of
the travel habits of those who will
live and work on Porth Teigr meant
a variety of transport options were
developed and provided. Measures
have been implemented which will
encourage people to use alternative
means of transport and move away
from single occupancy car use.
Some examples;
•A new Bus Route has been created
from Cardiff Train Station, and the
new road construction has allowed
for a Bus Stop directly outside
Roath Lock Studios.
•A large number of secure cycle
spaces have been provided and
showers are available throughout
the building for cyclists.
•10 Parking spaces have been set
aside for a Car Sharing Scheme.
Public Realm DesignThe character of the public realm
on the project has provided
places that are legible and have a
distinctive identity. The concept
for Porth Teigr respects the
special character of this dockside
environment and gets the scale
right. There has been a concerted
effort to ensure Porth Teigr public
realm is not made ‘too smart’.
The sustainability of materials
has been central in the selection
process for the public realm areas.
This not only related to optimising
re-use of existing resources
but also the environmental
performance and location of new
materials and products.
The relationship of BBC Drama Village
together with future buildings on the
development and the public realm is
crucial; the designs fully consider solar
orientation, building enclosure and
scale, relationship of active frontage,
use, movement, identity and protection
from wind. This rigour will ensure that
the public realm will be well used and
animated as much as possible.
•Layout and materials have been used
to create a distinctive and recognisable
public realm which has been inspired
by a respect for the history and post
industrial character of the site. This
creates a place that is unique and has
an inherent character and legibility.
•The public realm at Porth Teigr has
been planned to accommodate the full
range of human activity: as a place for
•Functional lighting has been developed with Cardiff County Council Highways, feature lighting has been used to differentiate the ‘special streets and spaces’ with uplighters used at the base of the Living Wall and feature street lights, uplighters and bench lights used in the BBC Entrance Space.
•A palette of plants has been developed which is appropriate to the urban and climatic conditions expected on site. The planting on the project is low maintenance and of an appropriate character for the site. In addition, self-binding gravel and geotextiles have been specified to planting areas to prevent weed growth and reduce maintenance.
•Materials have been selected which infer little or no maintenance, eg chunky, untreated timber to withstand urban conditions, paving which
socialising, children’s play, exercise,
eating, entertainment; a place to
work and a place to relax.
•The success of the public realm
depends on a clear role for the
spaces and streets so that people
can use the Bay in comfort, and
safety. Therefore, how spaces are
used and how they interconnect has
been identified at a strategic level
and subsequently implemented.
•Layout of the public realm has
been developed to leave as much
flexibility as possible for the future
phases of development. The clusters
of trees to either side of the street
provide a distinctive rhythm to the
street and a varying character. It
will provide a basis for the creation
of small gathering spaces and
All materials achieve a Grade A or A* as recognised in the Green Guide to Specification (BREEAM). Notable examples of this are as follows:
entrances to future development
plots rather than a limited, purely
linear avenue style road corridor.
•The area to the front of BBC Drama
Vilage has a very distinctive character.
The space will provide a crucial first
impression for people arriving at
the BBC; up to 1,000 people each
day. It has been designed as an
abstract ‘Welsh forest’.
•The “Living Wall” forms a 120m
long, 7m high wall to the south of
the BBC building and has a number
of different functions. It provides
a visual and acoustic screen to the
external television studio for the
BBC (filming of Casualty). It creates
a dramatic vertical device in the
landscape and has a lot of potential
for ecology and for improving Porth
Teigr’s biodiversity. It incorporates
new homes for solitary bees,
lacewings and other invertebrate.
Street furniture and public art
•Litter bins, signage, functional and
feature lighting, seating and cycle
stands are all included within the
phase 1 public realm, and have been
located to provide maximum benefit.
•Large bespoke timber seats have
been designed specifically for the
BBC Entrance Space. They have
been designed using a simple
palette of materials, assembled
in a straightforward manner and
are ‘super size’ to reflect the scale
and honesty of the site’s context.
Their size will also enable complete
flexibility of end use. They are
simple to manufacture, robust,
weather-proof and easy to maintain.
The concept for Porth Teigr respects the special character of this dockside environment and gets the scale right.
Urban Design27
• Re-use of site clearance material for site formation
and sub base
• Stone cubes around the outer lock bridge crossing have
been re-cut from the existing dockside coping stones
• Welsh supply of sandstone for BBC entrance
(Gwrhyd Uchaf Farm, Rhiwfawr, Swansea)
• The same sandstone has been used to face the green/acoustic
wall using purely off cuts (recycled waste) from cropped
walling stones and paving slabs
• UK supply of granite for vehicle deterrents outside of BBC
• A clay paver manufactured from purely natural materials was
used as the predominant material in the footways, bedded on
sand, reducing the amount of cement material used
• All timber is from sustainable certifiable sources
• 154 trees and 5371 plants were planted during phase 1
requires little long term/ongoing maintenance. Initial maintenance will be required to ensure establishment of trees, but minimal long term maintenance should be required to the species selected. Irrigation has been specified to the “Living Wall” athough this is intended as a back-up only and will be fed from the rainwater harvesting tank.
The sustainability of materials has been central in the selection process for the public realm areas.
BuilderScrap Scheme/Recipro continue to be supported by VINCI Construction UK.
Going Forward / Leaving a Legacy
Kitchener Primary School’s Cold Frame continues to be used on their school allotment, with more planting planned for the next growing season!
VINCI Construction UK continue to meet with the community of Butetown in relation to further projects in the area.
Energy efficient lifts at the project will save 40% energy compared to traditional traction lifts everytime they are used!
VINCI Construction UK’s Construction and Business Ambassadors trained during the project continue to visit schools to encourage the workforce of the future.
Members of the Project Team will be supporting Fitzalan High School’s Careers Conference in 2012.
Through the water saving measures installed at construction phase, the Drama Village wil save 2.4 million litres of water every year.
The ‘Living Wall’ will continue to not only provide a visual and acoustic screen for filming, but also a home for solitary bees, lacewings and other invertebrates for many years to come.
Employees taken on during the scheme byVINCI Construction UK, such as Nick Ledger, Nigel Jamal Brinks, Steve Tideswell and Dhanesh Varghani continue to be employed and supported by the company.
The new bus route and green travel aspects will positively affect the environment through their use, saving a significant amount of CO₂.
Links with the Butetown Somali Youth Association continue to grow, with some of their members undertaking work experience placements and mentoring.
The lighting measures installed will save 15% electricity for the BBC.
Kitchener Primary School has been ‘adopted’ by the local VINCI Construction UK team, with further projects planned at the school.
Best practice learned from this project is being shared within VINCI Construction UK and the construction industry through talks at Sustainability Breakfasts and Project Debriefs.
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Photography credit Betina Skovbro © 2011