News

Shear Design are pleased to announce that our Environmental Improvement Plan for 2009-2010 has shown positive results as we achieved a reduction of 35% of CO2 generated from our business activities. In October 2009 we generated 17 tonnes and by November 2011 only 11 tonnes. This year, to balance the negative impacts of our carbon footprint we are offsetting to support families in Kenya via the African Energy Efficient Stove Project. 
Carbon offsetting is part of our Environmental commitment and is recognised within our Green Dragon Environmental Standard Award.

Click Here for a lsit of CarbonZero companies.

Health & Safety Accreditation – Worksafe Consultant

Shear Design receives health and safety accreditation from 
SMAS (Safety Management Advisory Services) and are 
now registered as a Worksafe Consultant.
  
Click here for copy of Worksafe Consultant Certificate.

2009 Charitable Donations

Shear Design are pleased to have supported the following charities and community clubs during 2009:- 

Cancer Research UK
Cruelty to Children
Marshfield Junior Football Team
Bobaith Childrens’ Therapy Centre, Wales
Shelter Cymru
Help for Hero’s
St David’s Foundation
Ponthir Cricket Club

As part of our long-term commitment to protect the environment we have calculated the annual carbon dioxide emissions that we produce.  To balance out the impact on the environment we have offset this carbon footprint to become a CarbonZero company. 

To do this we have teamed up with carbon management company co2balance.  They assessed the size of our carbon footprint, which showed that we annually emit 17 tonnes of carbon dioxide.  

To offset our carbon footprint we are supporting co2balance’s Somercombe Wood Project in Devon.

Somercombe Wood is located in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on the Somerset/Devon border.  Native broadleaf trees have been planted at the woodland, which will naturally absorb carbon as they grow and include English Oak, Ash, Silver Birch and Alder.  The land is owned by co2balance, to ensure complete control over the future of the trees. 

Once the woodland is completed and mature it will be turned into a community woodland owned by a charitable trust, so that the local area can benefit from carbon offsetting as well as the environment.

At 35 acres, it is one of co2balance’s larger plantations and incorporates 5 acres of mature woods and wetland.  The tree planting on this land will link two much larger areas of woodland to form a single unit in excess of 200 acres.  This will create a sizeable forest and connect up valuable habitat creating safe corridors for wildlife.

To find out more on climate change and the projects that we are supporting, please visit www.co2balance.com

Shear wins commission to design a new KFC & Restaurant, Barlborough

Shear design have been commissioned to design the substructure, superstructure, external works and drainage for the proposed new KFC and restaurant units at Barlborough, Chesterfield. 

The 250m² KFC is of a single storey portal frame construction with laded elevations and the adjacent 200m ² restaurant is a two storey building with elevations comprising of cladding and facing brickwork.

Gareth Strange – Top of the Class

As part of our commitment to Investors in People, Gareth is currently in his last year of his degree in Civil Engineering, studying at University of Wales, Newport. We are very proud of Gareth’s progress and development and even more so when he won the ICE (Institute of Civil Engineering) Award for his assignment in Geotechnical Engineering.

Shear Team Event

To say a big THANK YOU for the hard work and commitment shown by our team this year we all went out for a hearty lunch and then rolled up our sleeves for an “uncompetitive” bowling competition.

Winning team: Andrew Thomas, Ben Powell, Christian Thomas & Gareth Strange.

Student Union Block at University of Glamorgan starts on site

The project consists of a flagship campus building incorporating new state of the art venue hall, offices, retail units and educational facilities.

The venue hall is approximately 260m² with height of 7m. Eco friendly features such as green walls and roofs, solar shading and natural ventilation are incorporated within the design and contribute to its required BREEAM rating: Very Good.

Shear Design wins tender bid for design of three primary schools for Bath & North East Somerset Council: Weston All Saints Primary School

The project is based on relocation of the existing Key Stage 2 school facilities into a new modern sustainable building as well as centralizing the school facilities which are currently spread over a very large school site. The relocation includes six new classrooms, offices for reception and school administration, library, IT training and school hall to serve both KS 1 and KS 2 pupils.

The new building design will include several environmental design features to achieve a BREEAM rating of Good as well as a 25% reduction in Carbon Footprint in line with Bath & North East Somerset Council’s corporate policies. These features include canopies to provide both covered external teaching areas and solar shading. The roofscape has roof lights to maximize natural lighting within the classroom and integrate actuated openings for natural cross ventilation. The building includes DDA compliant access to all areas across a sloping site which necessitates a split level design approach. There is also capacity to extend the building as part of a possible future integration of a new Key Stage 1 facility.

Midsomer Norton Primary School

The Midsomer Norton Primary School scheme, worth £1.4million, is located in the centre of the town’s conservation area, and includes the re-modelling and refurbishment of the existing Victorian school hall to create a contemporary and flexible learning resource area.

The project will also see the replacement of four temporary accommodation buildings with a permanent building, to include a school hall, reception classrooms, and nursery.

Batheaston Primary School

The Batheaston Primary School scheme, worth £1.9million, is located adjacent the town’s conservation area. 

The scheme consists of new building facilities for two classrooms and school hall to include community use and will replace two temporary structures.

The design has been progressed to compliment the existing Listed school building, the school’s operational ergonomics and uses and to enhance modern build technology to reduce the carbon footprint by 25% and obtain BREEAM Rating : Good.