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28th November 2019
It’s been a busy few months and we have plenty of news to share including project approvals, our new internship programme, new team members, staff promotions, new client wins, some amazing social events and of course our brand-new office. So here is just a brief roundup from our new Nottingham HQ.
On the consulting side of the business we have been working on an exciting new project with Bovis Homes Western region in Gloucester. The new residential development planned for Twigworth is estimated at £195 million and comprises 725 dwellings, forming part of Gloucestershire's Joint Core Strategy which aims to build over 31,000 new homes in the county by 2031.
The development, which is due to commence in Spring 2020, required our team’s expertise to assist Bovis in the acquisition of the site. Working closely with the Regional Land Director, Mark Slater and the wider land team, PJS had to identify the risk, opportunities and costs associated with the infrastructure delivery which helped to inform the clients bid price in order to successfully purchase the land from the Robert Hitchins Group. One of the key pieces of infrastructure is the new 3-armed roundabout constructed on the A38 to provide unhindered access and egress to the development.
PJS has recently been working up the drainage and highway design to support the Reserved Matters planning application for the first phase of development. Involving close liaison with the Bovis Technical team, Local Planning Authority and Lead Local Flood Authority. The design includes significant earthworks and level raising to facilitate a complex network of SuDS, comprising swales and landscaped attenuation ponds, to facilitate positive surface water outfalls.
Now in full swing, we are delighted to see our teams working closely together. Collaborations include working with new client Davidsons on a development in Coalville, which is expected to provide approximately 280 homes. The Geotechnical team paved the way with the initial foundation design before handing over to Tom and the Civils team who have designed S278 improvements to existing highways and site access as well as internal roads, drainage, S104 and S38 technical submissions and construction drawings.
Adam has been busy with the Structures team completing foundation designs for Persimmon Homes West Midlands region on their Audley Avenue site in Newport, Shropshire and over at Caverswall Lane, Stoke on Trent.
As well as spearheading the business our Managing Director, Paul, has been consulting for Taylor Wimpey’s Group Strategic Land Team working on feasibility designs and supporting their due diligence delivery for the new development in Wingerworth, Derbyshire.
Collaboratively the teams have been working on developments closer to home, for Bloor Homes and Bovis Homes in Edwalton. This new development on Melton Road will be significant to new housing needs in Nottingham. The Geotechnical Team have been working closely with the clients here on the geotechnical design to provide certainty on ground conditions.
In addition, we continue our work with Barratt Homes North Midlands Region on the regeneration of Thorsby Colliery in Edwinstowe having initially carried out the feasibility stage work and now their reserve matters planning application. The development will include 800 new homes, a retirement village, primary school, leisure facilities and 350-acre country park.
Paul comments “With now over half a year under our belts PJS Geotechnical has strengthened existing ties with our key clients on a number of new projects, whilst developing strong new working relationships with a number of the other large-scale housebuilders based across the Midlands region.
We are delighted to have been awarded a number of detailed foundation design packages for large-scale residential sites in the East Midlands on behalf of Persimmon & Redrow Homes.
We are also pleased to have delivered detailed Site Investigation works on two very large strategic development sites on behalf of Bovis Homes Mercia and Persimmon Homes North Midlands.
We are heading into 2020 with some even more exciting prospects and news to come so watch this space”
As the business continues to grow, we are delighted to welcome budding new engineers on board. Undergraduates Louis and Jack have been supporting the teams as part of our new internship programme and have been enjoying the hands-on experience and mentorship so far.
Louis comments “It has been an eye-opening experience and it has been fantastic to be exposed to and contribute to projects alongside Jack and the other engineers as a part of the team at PJS. I have enjoyed the challenges and the opportunities presented and look forward to continuing to develop my skills as an engineer.”
We must congratulate team members Bailey and Thomas, who have both been promoted to Civil Engineer and Principal Engineer respectively at PJS. Their dedication and enthusiasm are outstanding and reflects in the projects they work on and clients they support. Well done guys, keep up the good work!
As a start-up business we appreciate the challenges when it comes to recruitment. The is still only a small proportion of students pursuing a Civil Engineering career and therefore it is essential for businesses like us to support the Universities as much as possible. As well as our Internships, our Managing Director Paul is a member of Nottingham Trent University Alumni and attended the welcome event last month. Paul comments, “Taking part and mentoring students gives our business insights into what the future generation are looking to learn about and work on, which in turn will help us as a business offer not just a great client service but create the right environment for a civil engineer to not only begin a career but to learn more about business and the industry.”
It’s not just about work at PJS, socially we like to support our friends and the industry when it comes to raising awareness and networking too. We were delighted to have been invited to participate and sponsor the Federation of Piling Specialists Golf Day in September this year at the Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club, which was also attended by many of the leading geotechnical contractors from across the UK. The FPS are fundamental in the promotion of safety across the piling industry, which ties in perfectly with the core beliefs of PJS, being market leaders in the provision of working platform design to the industry.
A great day with 15 teams participating followed by a drinks reception and of course the awards. The PJS Team, comprising Martin Parker, Thomas Nunn and Alex Kenny of Redrow Homes, put in a commendable performance on the day, however were no match for Team Van Elle who were victorious in taking the top prize of Overall Team Winners – which we proudly sponsored. There is always next year guys!
This year PJS were also proud to support and attend the Forever Stars Pink & Blue Ball at the Belfry in Nottingham last month. Forever Stars are an East Midlands charity dedicated to supporting families who have suffered a stillbirth or infant loss. They are looking to raise £1million over the next 5 years as well as raise awareness. The money funds the Serenity suites in the City Hospital and QMC which are occupied sadly by up to 2 families per week. They provide facilities and on-going resources to support bereaved families in order to help families come to terms with their loss and enable the family to move forward and embrace the memory of their baby.
The ball raised over £13,000 and was a great night for the team to show off their glamorous side.
All in all, it has been another amazing couple of months here at PJS and we are all looking forward to what is to come in 2020. With more new people joining us on both sides of the business, our business continues to grow steadily and is moving in the right direction with technical approvals and repeat work coming in regularly.
We are also delighted to announce a number of projects in 2019 so far that have received technical approvals including:
