Innovative construction solutions and an award-winning carbon reduction initiative are being implemented on Sheffield’s newest mixed-use development.
Derbyshire-based contractor Bowmer + Kirkland (B+K) has started construction on the first phase of Urbo (West Bar) Ltd’s £300 million West Bar scheme. This phase, funded by Legal & General, will be called Soho Yard and will deliver two apartment buildings of 18-storeys and 14 storeys which will provide 368 homes to rent.
The exterior of these buildings will reflect the Victorian industrial structures that were previously on the site, but the construction techniques will include 21st Century sustainable, off-site methods designed to reduce carbon emissions and speed up the construction process.
The first tower crane has been installed and a second will be erected in mid-November. Both cranes will be operated using a carbon reduction initiative that Bowmer + Kirkland is rolling out across all its construction sites and for which the contractor has won two awards for innovation and carbon reduction.
B+K has recognised the carbon, fuel and cost savings associated with the Punch Flybrid technology, which uses a robust and durable flywheel energy storage system to significantly downsize generators powering tower cranes and other dynamically used equipment on site. Typically, the system is reducing CO2 emissions by 30-40% and using 26% less fuel.
The apartments will take 125 weeks to complete and B+K will also be building an eight-storey 100,000 sq ft Cat A office facility – known as number 1, West Bar Square at the opposite end of the site. Construction starts mid-November and the building will be available for new occupiers from Spring 2024.
Bowmer + Kirkland regional director, Steve Chambers, said: “We are all very excited to be constructing this major development in Sheffield. We have built some of the city’s most recognisable buildings over the years and we are delighted to continue our relationship with the city and look forward to delivering this regenerative scheme for our client.”
Urbo Managing Director, Peter Swallow, added: “We are excited to see Bowmer + Kirkland forging ahead now with construction of our West Bar development which is one of the largest mixed-use projects in the region and a major part of the regeneration of Sheffield City Centre. They are a perfect fit with our wider team, delivering a high-quality end product with both the residential and office buildings and also the connecting public realm spaces.”
The West Bar scheme is a joint development by Urbo Regeneration Ltd and Peveril Securities and is designed by 5 Plus Architects.
