Simon Coultas

As seen on ITV News, Lawrence Williamson, Associate Mechanical Engineer at Buro Happold, joined the project team to discuss the ambitious revival of Great Yarmouth’s Winter Gardens. Appearing alongside Carl Smith, Leader, Great Yarmouth Borough Council Faye Davies, Managing Director, Burrell Foley Fischer LLP, and Paul Tumelty, Regional Director, VINCI Building UK, Lawrence shared insights into the engineering behind restoring the UK’s last surviving Victorian ironwork glasshouse on a seaside promenade. The Grade II* listed building has stood unused and deteriorating since 2008. Once a vibrant symbol of the golden age of British seaside resorts, it now sits on Historic England’s “at risk” register. However, public consultation has revealed strong local support for its restoration. The £18 million regeneration project aims to breathe new life into the structure, transforming it into a year-round attraction that celebrates heritage, horticulture, and community. Lawrence said: “We’re aiming to create a comfortable environment for both plants and visitors. That means maximising natural ventilation, incorporating openable windows, and introducing shading to reduce direct sunlight. We’ll also be using large stratification fans suspended from the ceiling to encourage air movement throughout the space.” The restoration of the Winter Gardens is expected to significantly boost Great Yarmouth’s tourism industry, reconnecting the town with its rich seaside heritage while offering a sustainable and inclusive public space for future generations. Watch the full ITV News segment here: https://buro.im/46Xmppl #MEP #Sustainability #Engineering #VictorianGlasshouse #HeritageBuilding

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Inspiring the next generation of quantity surveyors🌍 Last week we welcomed our new quantity surveying apprentices for a guided tour of our Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, led by Director Gari Harris. Sufri Weithers, Senior Partnerships Lead, explained, “The visit was a pivotal moment for our future quantity surveyors - seeing how sustainability, digital innovation and construction now go hand-in-hand.” From green hydrogen to carbon capture and the circular economy, the cohort saw first-hand how the future of construction is being shaped here on Teesside. Find out more about the programme here➡️ https://lnkd.in/e7-U2XV6

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Let's Talk: Quantity Surveying How do you ensure accuracy when preparing estimates, BOQs, or valuations under tight deadlines? What skills are required to succeed? We discussed these and other questions with Quantity Surveyor Rachel Cunningham, who spoke about the value of clear processes and the technical skills that help deliver reliable results 👇

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We’re excited to share the launch of a new resource designed to support structural engineers working with existing buildings and infrastructure. The guide explores how to assess and interpret factors of safety when appraising existing structures — an area where engineers are often required to balance technical judgement, limited information, and the need to ensure ongoing safety. Key themes covered include: - Understanding the concept and role of safety factors in practice - How they apply differently to existing versus new structures - Practical considerations when making engineering decisions - Supporting safe, proportionate, and professional outcomes This guidance has been developed to strengthen decision-making and provide clarity in situations where the safety of existing structures must be evaluated. Access the full guide here: https://lnkd.in/eqTvrwCa #StructuralEngineering #EngineeringGuidance #ExistingStructures #Safety #ProfessionalPractice

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Young people and the unemployed are continuing to benefit from new careers on HS2 thanks to earn-as-you-learn training opportunities. New figures show that in the last three months, 69 people started new careers with our Midlands-based construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI. In all, this means that 12,535 local residents are now employed on the programme. The total includes 740 people from the West Midlands who have secured an HS2 apprenticeship and a further 1,936 who have progressed into jobs following a period of unemployment. Learn more: https://gloo.to/FieK #Careers #HS2 #WestMidlands

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The government’s new towns proposal has raised questions about how the sector will meet the demands of large-scale delivery. Our Director and Head of Local Government, UK, Steve Perkins spoke to Construction Management magazine about the workforce challenge behind these ambitions. Steve reflects on the scope of what’s required to realise the government’s plans and the need for coordinated skills planning. He notes that the challenge is not just about numbers, but about capability, and calls for investment in modern construction methods and regional delivery models. 👉 Read the full article: https://tur.town/46M5dmr #ProgrammeDelivery #MajorProgrammes #ConstructionLeadership

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