Fusion Building Consultancy has handed over a £3 million distribution and customer centre for a leading cable management manufacturer, a month ahead of schedule.

HellermannTyton is relocating from Aldridge to its new 63,000 sq ft warehouse in Kingswood, Lakeside, Cannock, after Fusion oversaw the development. It was appointed by Coltham Developments to be employer’s agent and principal designer for the scheme and, thanks to the early completion, HellermannTyton is expected to move in in November 2016 following extensive fit out works.

Simon Mole, project manager and quantity surveyor, said: “The entire operation ran very smoothly from beginning to handover and we are pleased to deliver an exceptional facility for a global brand.”

The warehouse, which will act as a main distribution and customer centre for the company, has an internal height of 10 metres, a 50kN floor loading and is rated as BREEAM Very Good.

Jon Churchley, commercial manager at HellermannTyton, said: “The development is essential for our growth into the next phase. We will have increased inventory space and a customer meeting facility, along with dedicated product training academy for both our staff and customers.”

Stuart Franks, development manager at Coltham, said: “We’ve appointed Fusion for a number of building schemes on our behalf and are very pleased that this pre-let development was not only completed to an exceptional standard, but was also handed over early to the client,” he added.

The development received forward funding from Custodian Capital and assistance from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP Growing Places fund, which assists firms with schemes such as buying or constructing new buildings, refurbishing existing premises, improving access or introducing environmental improvements.

The fund is designed to boost economic activity in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, promoting the delivery of jobs and housing and addressing infrastructure and site constraints by offering firms interest-free or low-rate loans.

David Frost CBE, chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP, said: “HellermannTyton’s expansion is a great example of how the Growing Places fund is being used to create a high quality commercial facility and bring new jobs to our area. The LEP is delighted to have been able to be assist in this success story.”

Bennimann Construction Group was the appointed contractor.

 

Fusion has handed over a £4 million warehouse for a global lighting company after a year-long building project.

The purpose-built, 86,000 sq ft headquarters for Astro Lighting in Harlow saw Fusion’s expert surveying team undertake project management, quantity surveying and health and safety co-ordination for the company, whose lights are exported all over the world.

Director Gavin Stephens led the scheme, which was completed ahead of schedule and also included the demolition of two existing warehouses on the site to make way for the new building.

Developers Canmoor moved on site in May 2015 and fit-out work was completed in 12 months, ahead of the firm beginning the move. As well as the warehouse, which has space for its 11,000 products, the new HQ also includes design studios and workshops, meeting rooms, and showrooms.

Gavin said: “It’s an incredibly impressive space. The build included a lot of bespoke carpentry and a £1 million fit-out that will enable the company to showcase hundreds of its products for its customers.

“The scale of the project demonstrates that the Fusion team has the expertise to undertake large and complex schemes such as this and as we hand it over to Astro Lighting, we are absolutely thrilled with how it looks.”

Fusion has boosted its surveying team with the appointment of a new surveyor.

The rapidly growing company has welcomed Michael Stephenson, who will take charge of the retail and leisure scheme portfolios.

Michael’s 15 years’ experience as a surveyor and project manager brings a wealth of experience to the team. He has worked in both private consultancy and contracting across multi-discipline sectors, and in recent years has focused mainly on the leisure industry.

He joins a strong team of experienced building and quantity surveyors, who are working on a number of projects across the country for industry giants such as Whitbread and Marston’s.

“Fusion has an impressive client list and undertakes a wide range of project work across the UK, so I was keen to join the consultancy,” said Michael.

“What particularly caught my eye is the great work the team is carrying out on a number of notable retail and leisure schemes with some of the country’s biggest names in those sectors, so I jumped at the chance to join the surveying team.”

Welcoming him to Fusion, director Steven Jelfs said: “We’ve had a number of big business wins over the past 18 months and that has led us to recruit pro-actively. Michael’s skills and expertise complement that of the existing team and we are very much looking forward to him working alongside our clients.”

Fusion has handed over a new £4 million warehouse to a Coventry-based family firm after a 12-month building project.

The striking 80,000 sq ft building in Torrington Avenue, Coventry, features six-metre high copper fins, bespoke made for The Lawton Tube Co Ltd, which is the UK’s top independent manufacturer and distributor of copper tube.

Gavin Stephens, partner, said it had completed the project on time and within budget for the local family-owned firm.

Fusion was appointed project manager, health and safety advisors, and quantity surveyors for the scheme, overseeing the demolition of a factory that had been on the site and remediation works. It then went on to work with A&H Construction to manage the build of the new warehouse, which was designed by architects Pinnegar Hayward Design.

“It took a lot of work to prepare the ground prior to construction because of the previous industrial activity on the site and we also wanted to maximise the building size without encroaching on a nearby Severn Trent Water easement,” said Gavin.

“We are delighted with how the building scheme progressed and we worked very closely with the contractor and architect throughout to ensure that every step was completed smoothly.

“There are imaginative uses of copper throughout the building, such as handrails, electric sockets, sinks and taps, which provide a real harmony with the business.

“It’s always gratifying to hand over a completed project to the client, particularly when it looks as good as this. We’re pleased to have played our part in the success of the project and to have had the opportunity to work again with Pinnegar Hayward Design and A&H Construction.”

The new warehouse stands opposite Lawton Copper Tubes’ existing premises in Torrington Avenue, where it has been based since 1937.

Oliver Lawton, managing director, said the new premises will enable the company, which was founded 98 years ago and is currently run by the fourth generation of the family, to be more effective, efficient and provide its customer base with an improved service.

“The new headquarters will secure the 70 jobs here in the Midlands and will provide us with the ideal platform for growth,” he added.

Lawton Copper Tubes, which makes and distributes plumbing, ACR, medical and engineering copper tube for many of the major blue chip national and independent merchant chains in the UK, has grown markedly over the last 20 years. It is proud of its links with the Scottish distillery industry, with whom it has worked for decades.

More than 80 clients, consultants and friends joined leading Birmingham chartered surveyors Fusion Building Consultancy to celebrate another successful year in commercial property at its annual drinks reception.

Directors and staff from the firm, which is based in Ludgate Hill, welcomed their guests to the event at The Cosy Club, in Bennett’s Hill.

It was a welcome return for the consultancy, which has worked on the building over the years – including project-managing the conversion of the Grade-II listed Midland Bank premises and more recently overseeing the external refurbishment works last year ahead of Cosy Club moving in.

Director Steven Jelfs said: “We always look forward to our annual drinks reception because it gives us an opportunity to meet with our clients in an informal atmosphere and it was particularly good to return a building which the team have worked on over the years.”

Fusion Building Consultancy is a Birmingham-based independent firm of chartered surveyors, which works with a large client base on projects in sectors such as industrial and logistics, offices, retail, data centres, and residential. Services include: project management, cost consultancy, contract administration, due diligence reports, health and safety, and dilapidations. 

Mark Vernon- A&J Mucklow; Steven Jelfs – Fusion Building Consultancy;
Robert Robson – TATA Technologies

Chris Thomas – Thomas Lister; Pollie Jelfs- Fusion Building Consultancy;
Rachel Lister – Thomas Lister

Chris Orton – Thuja Design; Luke Hatch – Fusion Building Consultancy

Steven Jelfs – Fusion Building Consultancy; Nick Jones – Ashfield Land;
Tim Blairs –  Antringham Developments

Gavin Stephens, Errol Stewart, Rob Bidmead – all Fusion Building Consultancy

Roy Yates – Webb Gray; Alex Morgan – Stoford; Simon Mole – Fusion Building Consultancy; Mark Vernon – A&J Mucklow

Rachel Jelfs – Fusion Building Consultancy; David Johnson – Listers Group;
Andrew Nock – Fusion Building Consultancy

Leading West Midlands building consultancy Fusion has expanded its team following a series of new employers agent contract wins.

The company, in Ludgate Hill, Birmingham, has appointed Baljinder Malhan, quantity surveyor to strengthen Fusion’s cost consultancy team, and Kim Douglas, to assist the building surveying team.

Bal brings more than 13 years’ experience in a vast array of property sectors, including residential, healthcare, leisure, education and nuclear. He joins the company from Rider Levett Bucknall, where he was a senior quantity surveyor.

Kim Douglas, who worked for Chubb Fire and Security, where she was senior customer adviser/trainer for new staff, will be providing essential administrative support to the QS and building teams.

Steven Jelfs, Fusion director, said: “The past 18 months have been very exciting for Fusion, thanks to a series of business wins. We’ve been growing steadily, which has put us in an excellent position to seek new clients for short- and long-term projects.

“The new appointments demonstrate our commitment to expanding the scope of our work, while continuing to provide the highest standards of work across the entire building consultancy portfolio.”

Fusion Building Consultancy is a Birmingham-based independent firm of chartered surveyors working with a large client base on projects in sectors such as industrial & logistics, offices, retail, data centres, and residential. Services include: project management, cost consultancy, contract administration, due diligence reports, health and safety, and dilapidations. For more information visit www.fusionbc.co.uk.

A West Midlands building consultancy is toasting its success after being appointed by hospitality giant Whitbread for a two-year major refurbishment of thousands of its hotel bedrooms.

Fusion Building Consultancy will work across the multinational’s portfolio, including the overhaul of 3,083 of bedrooms and bathrooms for 44 Premier Inns and completing numerous building surveys across Whitbread’s Beefeater estate.

The consultancy has been appointed project manager for the hotel programme, which will see contractors working on a number of projects, from redecoration of individual rooms to full refurbishment where rooms are stripped back to the shell and refitted with the latest brand standard.

Fusion will also undertake the building surveyor role for the restaurant surveys.

Fusion director Steven Jelfs said the first 16 projects being run by Rob Bidmead, building surveyor at the Birmingham-based business, as part of a team of consultants, involves refurbishment and redecoration projects at selected Whitbread properties.

He said the company was invited to join an existing team of consultants following its success last year when it undertook detailed survey work at 12 of the group’s Beefeater restaurants. Each of these restaurants was earmarked for major refurbishment.

“It was the first time we had worked with Whitbread and we are delighted that we have now been invited to join its team of consultants. The Beefeater restaurants project was very successful and we are looking forward to playing a greater role in developing the Whitbread property portfolio,” said Steven.

“Hospitality is a growing area for us and one that we are excited to be involved in. To be appointed by such a prestigious name as Whitbread is an important step as we continue to develop our expertise in this particular business sector.”

Jim Francis, Head of Refurbishment at Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants, said: “Whitbread is investing significantly and effectively into growing the Premier Inn estate and keeping it in outstanding condition.  Delivering quality, consistency and value to our customers is central to our brand.Partnering with proven experts like Fusion Building Consultancy brings insight, enthusiasm and experience into our team and we’re looking forward to developing our relationship further and ensuring the best results across our estate of more than 700 UK Premier Inn hotels.”

Fusion Building Consultancy is a Birmingham-based independent firm of chartered surveyors working with a large client base on projects in sectors such as industrial & logistics, offices, retail, data centres, and residential. Services include: project management, cost consultancy, contract administration, due diligence reports, health and safety, and dilapidations. For more information visit www.fusionbc.co.uk.

Fusion has begun work on a new £4 million warehouse for a well-known family firm in Coventry.

Contractors have just moved on to the site in Torrington Avenue, on the outskirts of the city centre, where an 80,000 sq ft warehouse is to be built for Lawton Copper Tubes, the UK’s leading independent manufacturer and distributor of copper tube.

Fusion Building Consultancy has been appointed project managers, health and safety advisors, and quantity surveyors for the scheme, which will be built by A&H Construction.

Gavin Stephens, partner, said before construction work began, it managed the demolition of a former factory site on the site.

“Lawton Copper Tubes appointed us to project manage the entire scheme from start to finish and we spent three months on remediation work before bringing constructors on site to start the build,” he said.

“By keeping to a tight schedule and a keen eye on budget, we anticipate a completion date in November.”

The design by architect Pinnegar Hayward Designs includes offices and a warehouse, with the design incorporating copper fins on the front elevation to reflect the heritage of the 97-year-old family-owned firm, which also has premises opposite its new building that it moved into in 1937.

Oliver Lawton, managing director of Lawton Copper Tubes, said: “We’ve grown considerably over the last 15 years, expanding our product lines and capacity, so the construction of a new warehouse is an exciting development for us.

“Once it is completed and is operational, we can put in place our plans for future growth.”

Work is almost complete on a new £2 million teaching facility at Telford College of Arts and Technology for students with severe and complex learning disabilities.

Fusion is providing quantity surveying and CDM co-ordinator services for the construction of The Willow Tree – a 1,000 sq m secure facility that will comprise teaching rooms, a sensory room, a holistic therapy room, and a care suite.

Rachel Jelfs, CDM co-ordinator at Birmingham-based Fusion Building Consultancy said “The Willow Tree will extend the college’s teaching provisions for students with learning difficulties and disabilities and the design team and the college have been working very closely with the local authority to ensure that the right specification is achieved.

“It will be a secure building to ensure the students’ safety and have high levels of durability. A palette of materials and colours will be used throughout to create a welcoming comfortable atmosphere.”

The facility, which was designed by architects Pinnegar Hayward Design LLP, also includes a new access road and large drop-off area to accommodate multi-axle minibuses that can manoeuvre without reversing.

This specialised, high-quality project at Haybridge Road, Wellington, is being built by Paveaways Ltd, Oswestry, and it should be completed by the end of May.

It is the third new-build project that Birmingham-based Fusion has been involved with at the college, having undertaken QS and CDMC services at its £2.2 million Discovery Centre and £2 million automotive engineering workshop.

It has also carried out with a number of refurbishments at the college, including a new construction centre, facilities for arts students and learners with learning difficulties and disabilities, plus a number of demolitions.

The college, which has 6,000 campus-based students and has spent more than £10 million on refurbishments and new buildings, is just one of the many education providers in the Midlands the building consultancy has worked with.