Fusion is driving ahead with a series of car showroom refurbishments after starting work on a £5.7 million dealership, which will include a rooftop car park.

We are using our expertise to create a stunning 13-car showroom at Audi Wearside on Newcastle Road, Sunderland, for the Benfield Motor Group.

Fusion director Gavin Stephens said: “The Audi Wearside scheme is a particularly interesting one for us because it will feature a rooftop car park, accessed via an exterior ramp. It is an excellent way to maximise the available space and to create an interesting architectural design.”

We are acting as employer’s agent and will be providing project management, quantity surveying and construction, design and management (CDM) services to develop the new car showroom and workshop facility, which follows on from the adjacent £5m Ford dealership that we completed 12 months ago.

We have also completed a £1 million extension of the VW Silverlink showroom, in Silverlink Business Park, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, for Benfield.

The three-phase, 20-week project to bring the dealership up to the latest VW design standards, has created a new 12-car showroom, as well as new offices, handover bay, parts department, and toilets.

“The work was carried out in three distinct phases to ensure minimum disruption to the business and its customers and we are delighted to have completed the work,” said Gavin.

“Over the past couple of years, car dealerships have become a key area of work for us and we are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to continue developing our working relationship with Benfield Motor Group.”

Last year, Fusion completed works on a £6.8 million Audi showroom in Scotswood Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and a £5 million flagship Ford dealership on Newcastle Road, Sunderland, for the group.

David Collins, Commercial Director, Benfield, said, “The Wearside Audi scheme is being undertaken as part of our ongoing capital investment programme and we are delighted to be working with Fusion on these high-profile projects which will improve retail facilities for our customers.”

Meanwhile, in the West Midlands, we have completed a new Porsche Centre at the Gateway site on junction 2 of the M54, Wolverhampton for Trebor Developments.

“This is yet another major scheme for a prestigious automotive group that we have completed,” explained Gavin. “It looks stunning and is a fantastic addition to the prime commercial site.”

A five-month refurbishment project of two Citizens Advice Bureaux offices in Birmingham has been completed.

We were appointed to provide contracts administration and construction, design and management co-ordination (CDMC) services for the CAB, which decided to move from its Bull Street premises and instead consolidate its services at 168, Corporation Street, and 744 Warwick Road, Tyseley.

The 20-week project saw the us co-ordinate the £250,000 worth of internal refurbishment works, including extensive power and data installations, at the two sites, both of which continued to operate as normal during the works.

Pollie Jelfs, director, said: “It was absolutely essential that CAB staff were able to go about their day-to-day duties while the refurbishment work was being carried out because relocation for those 20 weeks was not an option.

“By properly managing and scheduling the works and the schedule, we were able to co-ordinate the works with only minimal disruption to the employees, which meant they could continue their face-to-face meetings and telephone advice sessions with their clients.”

Janice Nichols, chief executive of Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau, said: “We rely on being available at the end of the phone or to meet our clients five days a week, so we were very pleased that Fusion Building Consultancy was able to undertake this significant refurbishment project without disturbing the everyday business.”

 

West Midlands-based Fusion Building Consultancy has completed a six-month refurbishment programme to create ten independent living apartments for people with autism.

It is another success for the Birmingham company, which has provided project management expertise to residential care and supported living organisation Homes Caring for Autism (HCA) on two previous accommodation schemes.

The Somerset-based organisation was so impressed with the project management work Fusion undertook in 2012 and 2013 when it built two new homes that the consultancy was called upon again to lead the £650,000 refurbishment of Wembdon Rise, a former Somerset County Council property in Bridgwater.

Birmingham-based Coltham Developments was appointed development manager to advise HCA on the purchase of the property and instructed Fusion to undertake the project management and cost consultancy role in the delivery of the refurbishment of the main home of 430sq m (4,328 sq ft) and two other buildings, one of which was a former coach house, of 155sq m (1,668 sq ft) and 75 sq m (807 sq ft).

Simon Mole, project manager and quantity surveyor at Fusion, said part of the brief was to retain the original features of the coach house as part of the scheme.

Its careful planning and project management has now transformed the former care home, which will provide premium quality living self-contained accommodation with staff offices, communal facilities and offices.

“We have enjoyed a superb relationship with the organisation on previous projects, so we were only too pleased to work with HCA again,” says Simon. “The scheme has gone very smoothly through all stages and now the property is looking fantastic. It is now ready to be occupied, enabling Homes Caring for Autism to continue providing excellent care for individuals with autism.”

Homes Caring for Autism started operating in 2004 and now runs residential and supported living services across Somerset, North Somerset and Wiltshire.

Including this new project, it now runs ten residential homes for individuals with autism and is planning to grow further to provide high quality accommodation for people who have complex needs.

HCA managing director Richard Smith, said: “We’ve been so pleased with the work that Fusion has done for us on other schemes that we had no hesitation in working with the company again. I’m delighted that it is another first-class job and I’m looking forward to welcoming our residents.”

Stuart Franks, of Coltham Developments, added: “Because we and Fusion have worked closely before with HCA, we understand their ethos and how they work; we had no hesitation in providing our expertise for another accommodation scheme and are pleased with how it has progressed.”

West Midlands-based property firm Fusion Building Consultancy has made three key appointments as the business continues to grow.

The company, based in Ludgate Hill, Birmingham, has welcomed associate director Errol Stewart to spearhead the specialist building surveying and landlord and tenant department.

With 20 years’ experience, Errol joins the company from global property and construction practice Rider Levett Bucknall where he was regional lead in building surveying services.

“Fusion has offered me a fantastic opportunity to work at the highest level and it was too good a chance to turn down,” he said. “I’ve watched with huge interest how the company has developed over the years so I’m pleased to join now and help to develop the business further.”

Joining Errol are assistant building surveyors Jake Dunkley and Luke Hatch, who are both graduates of Coventry University, attaining BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying.

Both have experience of working in a commercial building surveying practice in Birmingham and London are now completing their Assessment of Professional Competency.

“It’s great to continue my career with a well-established consultancy that is expanding its portfolio because it will allow me to undertake a wide variety of work across the sector,” Jake said.

Luke added: “Fusion has given me a great opportunity to pursue my chosen career and I’m looking forward to working with the team to develop my skills further.”

Welcoming them to Fusion, director Steven Jelfs said: “It’s an exciting time for us at Fusion as we continue to win high-profile, multi-million pound construction projects to compliment the traditional building consultancy work across the UK

“Because of this, it was time for us to expand our team and these talented new recruits will, I am sure, enable us to continue our growth.”

West Midlands-based building consultancy Fusion is in top gear after securing contracts to project manage the build of five multi-million pound showrooms for three automotive giants.

The company is currently providing project management, quantity surveying and CMDC services on more than £19 million worth of showrooms across the UK for major car brands Audi, Ford and Porsche.

It is just about to complete works on a new £6.8 million Audi showroom in Scotswood Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The 35,000 sq ft premises on the 4.5 acre site, owned by Benfield Motors, is due to open this month (June 2014) and will comprise a 17-car showroom, 17-bay workshop, used car display area for 79 vehicles, and a valeting area.

Fusion, based in Ludgate Hill, Birmingham, has completed another high-profile project for Benfield Motors, providing project management, quantity surveying and CMDC services for a new £5.8 million flagship Ford dealership on Newcastle Road, Sunderland.

The motor group has also submitted a planning application for an Audi dealership in Wearside.

David Collins, Benfield’s group director, said: “We are delighted with the support that Fusion has given us from the concept stage through to the execution and finished development.

“It is important when undertaking such prestige projects to work with partners who can deliver exactly what is needed to an exceptionally high standard because our customers expect nothing less.”

Earlier this year, Fusion completed the redevelopment of an existing Audi showroom in Cheltenham as part of a £2m investment from Blade Motor Group.

The 16-car showroom, with servicing bay and shop, on Tewkesbury Road, is located on one of the busiest junctions in Gloucestershire, being in the heart of a retail park.

Mike Flanagan, managing director of Blade Motor Group, which moved its operations from Gloucester to Cheltenham, creating an additional 15 jobs, said: “This is a prime location and so it was important for us to get it right. Fusion totally rebuilt the site and they did a very good job, managing the whole project.”

Trebor Developments has appointed Fusion to act as employer agents and quantity surveyors on the build of a new £5 million Porsche Centre in Wolverhampton. The scheme, which will be located at the Gateway site on junction 2 of the M54, was recently granted planning permission by Wolverhampton Council. Work is scheduled to start on site in spring 2014 with the dealership due to open in the early part of 2015.

Fusion director Gavin Stephens said: “Car dealerships are becoming a key sector for us and we are excited to be working with these prestigious automotive brands to open five new showrooms across the UK over the next two years.

“We are also delighted to work with a new client, Benfield Motor Group, which will see Fusion build its first Ford showroom and help Benfield roll out a new design concept for Audi in the North East and Midlands.”

We are working with a Solihull school to upgrade its learning facilities, as part of a £500,000 investment.

Hockley Heath Academy’s building programme will include two new classrooms, a changing room and an after school club space at the rear of the school. The additional rooms will allow for a larger special educational needs (SEN) room and a dedicated music room.

Fusion is project managing the build in addition to providing quantity surveying and CDMC services. Director Gavin Stephens said: “This project is unique for Fusion as it is the first time we have worked with a primary school. The construction work will be carried out in phases to ensure the classrooms can operate with minimal disruption. We hope the children enjoy their new and improved facilities.”

Fiona Mason, business development manager at Hockley Heath Academy, said: “When we achieved Academy status in August 2012 it meant we were able to manage our own school budgets and, therefore, choose where to invest in our facilities to most benefit our 230 students. The new development will provide a modern, spacious learning environment for our older pupils. It will also create designated areas for the teaching of music and for focused teaching groups. We are delighted by the support that we have received from Fusion in achieving this aim.”

The building project is due to be completed in March 2014.

We have started construction of state-of-the-art student accommodation in West Yorkshire to support two of the county’s key educational institutions.

Appleton Point – a six-storey, 160-apartment building – will be located within a mile of the University of Bradford and Bradford College. The £4.5m scheme is named after the renowned and Nobel prize winning physicist Edward Appleton, who was born in Bradford.

Fusion is acting as project managers and quantity surveyors on behalf of clients Mederco Ltd, who specialise in turnkey student housing schemes.

The self-contained studio apartments will feature a bed and wardrobe, furniture for studying and dining, an en-suite shower room and a kitchenette.

Occupants will also benefit from a range of excellent on-site facilities including a gym, cinema room, games/television room, study rooms, I.T. suite, and laundry facilities.

The University of Bradford is home to approximately 13,889 students, 22% of which are from overseas, and is ranked in the Sunday Times top 20 for graduate level employment in the UK.

The university has recently invested £84 million in its facilities, including a major refurbishment of the laboratories in the school of life sciences, improvements to sports facilities, a new MBA suite, and a library based at the school of management. The student union has also been refurbished and facilities for disabled students have been improved.

Bradford College, which has more than 23,000 students, is one of the top four largest colleges in the UK and is the largest provider of higher education outside of the university sector in England. The college is currently building a new £50m scheme as part of its five-year renewal plan.

Fusion director Steven Jelfs said: “We are pleased to be working with Mederco Ltd to bring new accommodation for the students of Bradford, who will also benefit from the on-site facilities.

“Both the university and college have made significant investments in their campuses and facilities and Appleton Point provides modern accommodation in a prime location, which will help them to attractive the caliber of domestic and international students they are aiming for.”

Stewart Day, of Mederco Ltd, said: “Despite recent fears over tuition fees, UCAS figures for 2013-2014 showed a 3.5% increase in applications. The current economic and financial climate has caused universities to focus on improving the standard of facilities, courses and lecturers they provide, rather than updating or providing more accommodation. As developers we have worked closely with the university and college to ensure Appleton Point provides everything their students need to ensure their learning experience is memorable.

“Fusion provides an extremely professional service and the company’s vast knowledge in the building sector has given me the confidence to appoint them as project managers and expand the boundaries of my business.”

The 14-month project is due to be completed in August 2014.

Mederco LTD is also working with Fusion Building Consultancy to identify sites across the UK that will be suitable for similar student accommodation schemes.

 

Fusion has completed a £1.6 million relocation to Cannock Wood Industrial Estate for automotive remanufacturer ATP Industries Group.

ATP took on the former Marshalls PLC concrete manufacturing plant in Cannock Wood – refurbishing the existing 47,000 sq ft facility and adding an additional 50,000 ft – after selling its former home in Hednesford to St Modwen.

“The main challenge was the time constraints in relocating a business with heavy plant and machinery, whilst ensuring the normal flow of business for what is a highly respected global company,” said Fusion director Nick Young.

Tony Peck from ATP said: “The relocation is set to benefit current and future clients and enables our highly skills workforce to grow with the business within our new premises.”