CASE STUDY: Russell Road: Programme certainty through LGSF
OVERVIEW
Manchester City Council, Great Places Housing Group and LGBT Foundation are developing the UK’s first purpose-built LGBTQ+ majority extra care scheme at Russell Road in Manchester.
The development comprises a five-storey extra care scheme providing 80 one and two-bedroom apartments, together with ancillary facilities and circulation space, alongside a four-storey residential block containing a further 40 one and two-bedroom apartments. Designed to achieve Passive House energy efficiency standards, the development brings together ambitious social and environmental objectives with a demanding construction programme. Following a successful previous scheme at Trafford Waters, Rowlinson Construction appointed Remagin to provide the light gauge steel frame (LGSF) solution for Russell Road.
Dave Hanlon, Head of Operations, Rowlinson Construction commented
"Throughout our engagement with Remagin they have delivered first class services across all aspects of their scope of work. From the initial design stage through to erection, Remagin demonstrated exceptional professionalism, expertise, and commitment. They delivered on programme and maintained strict budget controls, ensuring the project progressed efficiently. Their approach to Health & Safety was exceptional , with rigorous standards and proactive measures that set a benchmark for best practices. Additionally, their quality assurance processes were exemplary, resulting in high-quality workmanship that met and often exceeded our expectations.
With two separate blocks being delivered to individual programmes, the project required a structural solution that could provide programme certainty while allowing follow-on trades to begin as early as possible.
Speed alone was not the only consideration. Rowlinson needed a delivery partner able to manage the process from design through manufacture and installation, while maintaining tight control of quality, health and safety, programme and budget.
As a first-of-its-kind development, designed to achieve Passive House energy efficiency standards and with the majority of residents identifying as LGBTQ+, Russell Road also placed a strong emphasis on precision and build quality.
Remagin provided the light gauge steel frame structure for the scheme, taking responsibility from the initial design stages through to erection on site. Although each block had its own programme duration, staggered start dates allowed installation to run concurrently, resulting in an overall site installation period of approximately 22 weeks, with the four-storey residential block now complete.
The panelised LGSF approach also enabled Rowlinson to bring forward follow-on trades, creating wider programme benefits beyond the speed of the structural installation itself.
For Rowlinson, the benefits of the approach extended beyond the structural installation itself. Greater integration between design, manufacture and site delivery helped simplify interfaces, maintain control of programme and quality, and create a safer, more coordinated route through construction. These benefits were particularly important on a project combining an ambitious programme with the exacting performance requirements of Passive House.
Dermot Nolan, Construction Manager at Rowlinson Construction, explained:
“We chose to use Remagin’s LGSF solution again due to programme benefits - we can be watertight within 20 weeks on a scheme this size, which has great programme benefits. In addition, everything is delivered in one panel, from one contractor, and has significant health and safety benefits too. Working with Remagin has been a seamless process from initial designs through to operatives on site.”
Russell Road builds on an established relationship between Remagin and Rowlinson Construction following their previous work together at Trafford Waters. For Rowlinson, the decision to use LGSF again was driven by more than speed of installation. Bringing the structure forward quickly allowed follow-on trades to start sooner, while the panelised approach created a more integrated route from design through to delivery on site.
The repeat appointment also reflects the value of a delivery model that Rowlinson had already experienced first-hand, with Remagin working alongside the project team from the early design stages through to installation.
Stephen Parker, Head of Contracts UK at Remagin by Etex, said:
"Following a successful scheme at Trafford Waters, we are delighted to work with the team at Rowlinson Construction again. They chose Remagin’s LGSF solution due to the programme benefits, with follow-on trades commencing earlier than traditional construction. Stephen Parker, Head of Contracts UK, Remagin by Etex, went on to say, we are proud to have worked collaboratively on Russell Road and look forward to working with the team again."
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