Bamber Bridge | SIP Affordable Housing - Residential Project

About the project

ARCHITECT: Sanderson Weatherall

MAIN CONTRACTOR: Tyson Construction

CLIENT: South Ribble Council and Progress Housing Group

PROJECT TYPE: Affordable Housing (Residential Development)

142mm SIP Panel 

The panels are typically 1220mm wide and can be as long as 7.5 metres in length to suit each individual project. https://sipbuilduk.co.uk/sip-walls/

Metal Open Web Internal Floors.

A metal open web floor refers to a floor construction method that utilizes metal open web joists or trusses. This design allows for efficient routing of services and provides cost savings, ease of installation, and design flexibility. https://sipbuilduk.co.uk/sip-flooring

TF200

TF200 is a breather membrane product offered by the company Glidevale Protect. It is a high-performance membrane meant for safeguarding external walls including roof while construction is happening.

Residential Structure – tbc + *2020

The costs provided are totally indicative and should be used informatively and not part of any detailed budgeting process. How long is a piece of string comes to mind!!! https://sipbuilduk.co.uk/sip-cost/

We do hope however that this helps to provide a picture of what can be achieved with our structures within different budget ranges.

Bamber Bridge | SIP Affordable Housing – Residential Project

The Former McKenzie Arms site in Bamber Bridge had been a point of discussion for years as the derelict site stood disused and degrading.

South Ribble Council were granted planning for the site in 2019 to transform the site into much needed affordable housing for the Borough with the aim to deliver high quality, thermally efficient homes for the future tenants. With South Ribble Council set to own the dwellings (for the first time in 25 years) the aim was to deliver a flagship project built to near Passive Haus standard which would ensure low running costs for the tenants and low maintenance costs for the council.

Work began in 2021on the development consisting of three, three-bedroom townhouses, nine one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom apartments.

Councillor Bill Evans, Cabinet member for Housing, Regeneration and City Deal said, “South Ribble needs more higher standard, low carbon, affordable homes and we are delivering.”

"We're dedicated to ensuring that people across the borough can have access to affordable, safe and environmentally friendly housing, and this development at the McKenzie Arms site will meet the demand of stock which is vitally needed."

Councillor Paul Foster added;  “The new homes are set to be affordable, safe, and environmentally friendly meeting the demand of housing stock in the area.”

“As well as offer a reduction in energy bills, the standard of the new properties will provide excellent indoor air quality which will help to alleviate allergies and respiratory problems and will work towards zero carbon targets”

In order to achieve this, Sanderson Weatherall (architect) worked in conjunction with the council and specified the use of SIP Panels to ensure that the thermal efficiency of the building fabric itself would be achieved.

Bamber Bridge - Affordable Housing Residential SIP Project - SIP Build UK
Bamber Bridge - Affordable Housing Residential SIP Project - SIP Build UK

Stephen Richardson MSc (dig.arch), DipPPM, BArch, Ba(hons), RIBA, partner and lead architect at Sanderson Weatherall stated;

“When considering the construction methods of the project we opted for a SIP system to help minimise thermal bridges and maximise thermal performance whilst keeping the wall build-up as economical as possible. Working with SIP Build UK from the concept stage we were able to establish budget costs and design principles prior to engaging with the main contractor to maximise efficiencies once the project reached site”. Early engagement with SIP Build UK was key to ensuring the successful delivery of this project on site on time”

Numerous design team meetings took place looking at the various options that SIP Build UK could provide in order to achieve target on budget. These meetings often included client, main contractor, architect, M&E & Passive Haus consultants along with structural engineers and lead QS Gosling Consulting.

This collaborative approach allowed all parties to have absolute clarity on their responsibilities, again providing further security in delivering the project accurately and on time.

The final specification was a 142mm SIP wall panel and 172mm SIP roof panel. SIP Build UK entered into early design work to help with the specification, working alongside the architect in delivering standard details and line and point load engineering information. This combined with a detailed cost for the design, engineering and installation on site of the SIPs system allowed the main contractor (Tyson Construction) to provide an overall accurate cost for the successful delivery of the project to the client.

Bamber Bridge - Affordable Housing Residential SIP Project - SIP Build UK

Ian Still, National Sales Director at SIP Build UK stated “Being engaged with at such an early stage was imperative to the successful delivery of the project. We were able to gain a clear understanding of the Councils passion for this project along with the thermal performance criteria they were wanting to deliver for their tenants. From there our consultative approach allowed for numerous options to be considered through the architect before finalising the most effective SIPs system for the project based on the whole project teams requirements.”

SIP Build UK included for all SIP external wall and roof panels, all internal walls, intermediate floors and all additional structure such as steels / glulam where they were required for the SIP frame. This combined with all contracts management and cranage being allowed for provided the main contractor with just one point of contact for the SIP package. As well as the thermal performance that was required for the project, the “all inclusive” package provided by SIP Build UK ensured that the coordination of design, engineering and on site install was seamless – again providing further predictability for main contractor and client.

The project was installed on site in just 13 weeks and handed back to the main contractor ready for follow on trades to complete the project.

Article from Progress Group

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Image credits | Mckenzie Arms, Tyson Construction.

Around 30 people now call Bamber Bridge home after South Ribble Borough Council opened the doors on its completed homes at the former McKenzie Arms site on Station Road.

The project – to build the first council-owned homes in over 25 years – began in 2020 and tenants have started to move in. The homes while council-owned, are to be managed by Progress Housing Group.

On site there are three, three-bedroom townhouses, nine one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom apartments.

All homes are high quality affordable rented properties that meet all current space and energy standards which will aim to give a high level of comfort, using very little energy for heating and cooling.

Bamber Bridge - Affordable Housing Residential SIP Project - SIP Build UK

One tenant set to move into one of the properties, Suzanne, said:  "We are really excited to move into our new home. The homes are gorgeous, they are very spacious and done to a high standard. "Myself and my daughter are happy to stay in Bamber Bridge where we have lived all of our lives and get to stay close to our friends and family."

Bamber Bridge - Affordable Housing Residential SIP Project - SIP Build UK

A local connection criterion was added as part of the application process for the homes to ensure that the quality affordable properties were available for local people with a specific link to the area of Bamber Bridge.

Councillor Paul Foster, Leader of South Ribble Borough Council said: “I just cannot get over how amazing it is to see these homes finished with new residents moving in. We wanted to create quality, affordable and energy efficient homes for local people and we have delivered.

“I hope this is the first of many quality homes we can build across the borough. Our residents deserve the very best, and local people should not have to settle for rogue landlords, many of whom offer sub-standard properties at extortionate prices. This is a new era for council housing, and I cannot wait to look at how we can develop more.”

"I hope this is the first of many quality homes we can build across the borough. Our residents deserve the very best, and local people should not have to settle for rogue landlords, many of whom offer sub-standard properties at extortionate prices. This is a new era for council housing, and I cannot wait to look at how we can develop more."

Robert Porter, Director of Housing Operations for Progress Housing Group, said: “We are delighted to see the development reach completion and are thrilled to be managing these homes on behalf of South Ribble Borough Council. It is a great example of our continued partnership working.

“The properties have been built to a high quality and are situated in a convenient central location, near transport links, schools and shops.

“These new homes help to meet the acute shortage of affordable homes in the borough and an ever-growing increase in demand. 

“We are really pleased to welcome tenants to their new homes and wish them many years of happiness in them.”

The project was part funded through the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and One Public Estates Land Release Fund and Homes England with the project delivered by Tyson Construction.

This article is written by South Ribble Borough Council and adapted, with permission to go on our website.

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