A great day was had by all when the Liverpool Office of Assent treated themselves and 25 golf mad clients to a day at Chirk Golf Club in the Welsh countryside overlooked by Chirk Castle. Not satisfied with a mere 18 holes on "Captain David's" course the group warmed up on the 9 hole Par 3 "Academy Course".

Fortified with bacon rolls on arrival at the course they set about the daunting task of marching 6000 yards armed with tee and clubs. A brief respite for lunch was followed by the really challenging "Captain Davids" course and the competition got underway which was finally won by Simon Fullard of Davis Langdon. Simon let slip afterwards that as well being keen on watching golf movies he almost turned Pro!

Martin started in Building Control in 1969 as a trainee at Wakefield County Borough Council. He joined Kirklees in 1979 and become a Senior Building Control Surveyor.

He left in 1985 to become a lecturer at Wakefield College where he established the Diploma in Building Control. In 1987 he returned to Kirklees to head up the licensing and safety in sports grounds team before joining Leeds College of Building and Leeds Metropolitan University in 1989 where he established the Building Control degree and then the degree in Fire safety Engineering.

In 1988 under a commission for the United Nations he co-wrote the Building Regulations for Lesotho.

In 2000 he left to become a director of the private approved inspector company jhai and more recently he has been an Associate Director with AIS.

Martin is also a consultant on Building Regulation matters the CLG where he co-wrote and delivered the full training package for Part L in 2006.

Martin has extensive knowledge and experience in Building Regulation matters and is also a member of the RICS Building Control Faculty where he is an APC assessor and APC doctor.

Some of the major projects Martin has worked on include re-furbishment of New Scotland Yard for the Metropolitan Police, New distribution warehouses for Coca Cola, Princes Foods, factories for Sandvik, as well as other Blue Chip clients.

The Learning Centre is a flagship example of sustainable development taking a holistic approach to energy efficiency in its design ~ super insulated, low energy, BREAAM building with a top level design rating of Outstanding and is anticipated on completion to be one of the highest BREEAM rated buildings in the UK . It will have integrated renewable energy technologies to include a combination of rainwater harvesting and a grey water recycling system reducing the buildings water consumption by 70%. A wind turbine will provide energy to the building and a ground source heat pump will help with the minimal heating requirements.

Other technologies include a sedum roof designed to help blend the building into its surroundings and provide an insulating surface, promoting biodiversity and assisting with the absorption of carbon dioxide. It is estimated that the building will save the production of 75 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

The project is due to complete late February 2010. For any further information contact Peter Whiteside.

John started in Building Control in 2002 as a graduate with Wakefield Metropolitan Council. He joined Leeds City Council in 2003 before joining private sector building control 2005 where he has developed his career over the last few years.

Some of the major projects John has worked on include the North Enclosure at Headingley Stadium,  high specification residential commissions for Royalton Ltd, new offices and warehouses for J F Finnegan, refurbishment and new build works for A&S Leisure and Schools projects for the Diocese of Leeds, as well as other leading developers and clients.

Outside of work John enjoys making  curries and watching Hull City. Well.no-ones perfect!

John can be contacted via email at johnmiles@assentbc.co.uk or via the Wakefield Office on 01924 229180

Rachel FitzPatrick. M.R.I.C.S.,M.I.Fire.E.

Rachel started Building control in 1988 at Hull City Council where she stayed until 2002 when she set up her own company All She Surveys Ltd  which she developed working alongside a number of Councils and Approved inspectors before joining Assent as an Associate in 2009.

She is currently studying to be a Level 4 Commercial Energy Assessor.

She  has worked on the Rotherham and Bassetlaw Joint Venture for Schools projects over the last seven years and has undertaken projects with many major clients, enjoying the cinema and leisure projects on the Hull Kingswood estates in her time there. She also does a fair amount of domestic work local to the Hull office.

Outside of work Rachel  rides horses in Three Day Events both nationally and abroad including being Senior British rider at the Dutch Varsseveld event in September 2007. She also co-organised the immensely successful Naked Event Riders Calendar 2008 raising some 48K for spinal injury charities in three months. She is married to Robbo has a son Buster born early 2008. He likes ponies too!

Assent Building Control Ltd are pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Orme BSc FBENG as an Associate with the company.

Jason joined the industry in 1985 as a trainee Site Surveyor for John Mowlem. In 1988 he joined Ealing Building Control gaining a wide variety of experience over 16 years. Major projects included new sports centre for Virgin Leisure, conversion of offices into luxury apartments incorporating Fire Engineered solutions, new shopping malls and a new High School in Greenford.

In 2003 Jason moved to Caradon Council in Cornwall, dealing with agricultural buildings, barn conversions and new hotels. 2004 saw the bright lights of Plymouth City Council lure Jason away to become involved in some of the major projects that were part of Plymouths long awaited regeneration. These included luxury harbour sided apartments incorporating fire engineering models resulting in an intelligent design with regards fire safety . Jason was also responsible for all new educational buildings within Plymouth as part of schools for the future programme.

Jason left these shores in 2005 for twelve months to work for Certis an Australian Approved Inspector. Here Jason gained valuable experience with high rise mixed use developments, data storage buildings and very large warehouse buildings over 150,000m³ for Brisbane airport.

On return to the UK Jason worked as Building Control Manager for Bracknell Forest Council and then as a Senior Building Control Surveyor with Carillion dealing with new Academy Schools in Kent and Essex as well as projects for Defence Estates.

Jason lives in Ascot, Berkshire keeping busy with four children and working part time as a Retained Fire Fighter providing cover evenings and weekends.

The seminar is to be held at The Village Hotel & Leisure Club, Waterfold Business Park, Rochdale Road, Bury, BL9 7BQ commencing at 12 Noon.

We still have places available so if you would like to attend please contact ourselves by e-mail on Admin@assentbc.co.uk to book your place.

Brian is well known around the region and has over 30 years experience in Building Control and will join an already skilled and motivated team.

His role will be to assist in the marketing of the company as well as look after projects in the West Yorkshire area.

Brian will welcome contacts from clients old and new on 01924 229180

We are delighted to anounce the appointment of Associates, Matt Brown and James Cook.  Matt and James have a wealth of previous Building Control experience having worked for other AIs and local authorities within the Bristol area.  They are committed to raising the profile of Assent Building Control within South Wales and the local region and intend to work on a broad range of both commercial and residential schemes.  The office in Bristol is ideally situated to service their region and they would welcome any contact from previous clients on 0844 8793195 or Mobile numbers 07970 573268 (Matt) / 07702 030809 (James).  

Assent have been holding a series of seminars to introduce the Changes to Parts L, F & J of the Building Regulations.

These have been held In Wakefield, Hull, Harrogate, London and Gloucester.

With a total audience of over 1000 people the presentations have been very well received by our clients.

Martin Conlon, one of assents directors, has delivered the seminars and is extremely delighted with the response and feedback. The seminars are continuing and for details of where and when there is one near you please contact Kay Rowley on 01924 229180.

The event was held on the lawn area that separates the two offices. There was a hog roast, bar [with four real ales supplied by Ossett Brewery] and a jazz band.

Over 150 people turned up on a very warm [and dry] evening.

With that many clients the party was in full swing well into the night.

Everyone agreed that it had been a great event and all are looking forward to a repeat next year.

The event was held at Waterton Park Golf club at Walton near Wakefield.

There was heavy rain just after tee off but it soon stopped, cleared up and everybody dried up before they reached the clubhouse.

The winning team consisted of John Dilley [Assent] Martin Walsh [Martin Walsh Associates], Oliver Wood [guest] Bernard Hepptinstall [contractor].

Everyone who took part enjoyed the day which also consisted of a putting competition and a computer analysis of their swing to help them improve in the future.

Lancaster Co-Housing gets Green light

The project a groundbreaking UK first, will incorporate 36 PassivHaus Zero Carbon (Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6) Houses, Common House, and shared Zero Carbon Workspaces with a 220KW Hydro Electric scheme all providing a sustainable work/live community by the river banks of the Rive Lune near Lancaster.

The site, a flagship project of sustainable design, is to be car free, have (optional) evening communal dining and will use cutting edge technology; including super insulation and use passive solar gain providing whole house heating from a single radiator. House types range from 1 bed flats through to 3 storey 3 bed houses with over 75% of the plots already sold.

Peter Whiteside of Assent Building Control (Wakefield), has advised the Project Development Team, including lead Architect Andrew Yeats of EcoArc Architects, from initial inception through into the detailed design stage. The project is anticipated to commence on site in Spring 2011. Full planning permission has recently been granted and Peter will be advising and providing staged approvals right through to anticipated completion of early 2012.

More information can be obtained at www.lancastercohousing.org.uk

Success or Part L Seminars.

 Assent are highly delighted with the success of the seminars to raise awareness and understanding of Part L 2010 that have been held this summer.

With over 20 seminars attracting a total of over 900 people across the North of England they have been a major success.

Assent are committed to providing our clients with the very latest and up to date information to assist them in their work. This commitment has been recognised by a large number of clients who are firmly behind us in our quest.

All the seminars were very practical and contained the right amount of technical input and explanation of the implications.

More seminars are planned and if you want to know more  please contact Martin Conlon on 09124 229180 or e-mail:  martin@assentbc.co.uk  

New member of staff at Wakefield

As part of our continuing expansion Assent are delighted to announce that the professional staff at the Wakefield office has been enhanced by the arrival of Tony Turner.

Tony has previously worked in the private sector and with a local authority and joins Assent at a very exciting time.

Assent are growing and developing new markets and clients and Tony has join us to help meet out commitments to our clients.

Tony has a very good track record and we look forward to him being a very effective member of our already dynamic team.

Assent Expansion Continues

 Assent continues to expand and is very proud to announce that John Miles has been appointed Regional manager for the Manchester area.

Assent is moving into the Manchester area on the back of some very strong projects and a demand from our clients to have a locally based office.

This is a significant appointment and commitment by assent as shows a real vote of confidence in the construction sector in the Manchester area.

John has started work on his new role with relish and is very keen and eager to speak to anyone who would like to do business with us.

John can be contacted on 07944 095976 or e-mail:  johnmiles@assentbc.co.uk

The Yorkshire Regional Board of the RICS has undergone a re-structure. Martin Conlon a Director of ASSENT has been appointed to the board. I am very pleased to be a member of a very active regional board and I look forward to helping the RICS develop its profile in the region said Martin. One of the first tasks that the new board has undertaken is the judging of the Pro-Yorkshire awards which will be held in May.

Assent are pleased to announce that Howard Atkinson has joined their Wakefield office as a Fire Engineer.  Howard has over 30 years experience in the fire related fields and brings a wealth of expertise to the business.  Howard will be concentrating on carrying out statutory fire risk assessments for all clients and can be contacted on 01924 229180.

Avid watchers of Channel 4's programme Beenys Conservation Nightmare will have noticed two  George Clooney lookalikes from Assent making an appearance.  John Dilley and Martin Conlon were both called upon to provide consultation advice and guidance after Sarah Beeny and her Husband ran into difficulties with the alterations to Rise Hall.

Rise Hall is their home in East Yorkshire and work to restore it and develop it into a wedding venue fell foul of the Local Authority who were proving to be problematic in giving the approvals needed.

John and Martin provided much needed legal and technical guidance which enabled the situation to be resolved after a 12 month period of arguing.

Assent proved to be invaluable in helping to clear up the issues that the Local Authority were concerned about.

Rise Hall now has a licence to conduct wedding ceremonies.

Check out the restoration work at www.risehall.com