Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE) Extension

Client: UK Health Security Agency

Project Value: £650k

Completion: July 2022

This project for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) involved a single storey extension and internal alterations at CRCE Leeds, to provide new and upgraded training facilities, staff welfare areas and breakout spaces.

To allow for future expansion of the building, the works have been designed and constructed to accommodate another floor through a vertical extension, if this is required at a later date.

The UKHSA is the UK’s primary authority on radiation protection and represents a significant national resource. The Leeds centre maintains emergency response arrangements for radiological and nuclear emergencies that might have an effect on public health. The building remained occupied throughout, and it was important that our construction works were carried out with minimal disruption to the ongoing use of the facility.

We delivered the project in phases and planned service interruptions out of hours and in line with UKHSA requirements. We completed the extension first, allowing staff to relocate to their new premises prior to commencement of the refurbishment works.

The refurbishment aspect of the project included internal remodelling and alterations as well as a full renovation of the training rooms, offices, and staff welfare facilities. We removed existing walls to create alternative layouts, and then completed the full decoration of each space alongside upgraded fixtures and fittings, sanitaryware, doors, and alterations to the existing electrical and mechanical systems.

There were substantial external, and groundworks involved in the project, including the installation of two attenuation tanks to manage rainwater and the connection of the new drainage system. To enable these works to be completed, JCL applied for a Section 50 Permit and TTOP from Leeds City Council, and permission from Yorkshire Water to break into their system.

Traffic management, including temporary lighting, was required to control the flow of traffic around the works while we were excavating part of the road for the connection. During the temporary works our team used trench boxes to support the excavation and once the new system was connected we carefully backfilled the road and ensured a high standard of finish.

As a multi-disciplinary principal contractor, JCL were able to deliver the civil engineering and construction services simultaneously which provided significant benefits to UKHSA. Our internal teams worked together to plan and coordinate site activities, revising the original client programme to offer a more effective option. Our alternative enabled additional concurrent working which reduced project timescales and provided cost-savings for the UKHSA.

Our scope of works included:

• Construction of a new single storey extension
• Laboratory-grade fit-out
• Demolition, strip out, refurbishment and fit out of existing areas
• Below ground drainage systems
• Soakaway, septic tank and sewage treatment units
• New perimeter footpath
• 278 works
• Planting