Howard Civil Engineering

Project Update: Joseph Norton Academy

Our team has done a fantastic job constructing the radius wall at the site of the new Joseph Norton Academy. Building a curved wall requires precise geometric layouts and specialised techniques to manage material setbacks, ensure structural integrity, and achieve a perfectly smooth, seamless curve.

Our wider contract is also progressing well as we support Wates in the development of this multi-million pound, purpose-built campus which will more than double the school's capacity from 63 to 132 places.

Excellent work by everyone involved!

We are proud to announce our continued partnership with Lighthouse Charity, an amazing organisation dedicated to supporting mental health and wellbeing in our industry. This year, Howard Civil Engineering is doubling our annual support with a £2,000 donation to help fund their vital work.

In alignment with Men’s Mental Health Week, our site teams are taking part in , a nationwide fundraising event backed by the Lighthouse Charity.

Looking ahead to this summer, we will also be welcoming the Lighthouse Charity’s team for visits to our sites. They will be offering hands-on support and chatting directly with our site teams. It is a brilliant opportunity for our colleagues on site to have a confidential, one-to-one chat and open up about anything they may need support with.

Follow the link below for more information about the Lighthouse Charity and Wear Purple Week:

https://lighthousecharity.org/events/wear-purple-week/

You can also donate here:

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/wear-purple-week

At Howard Civil Engineering, our investment in GPS modelling and machine control technology is helping us deliver earthworks, infrastructure and civil engineering projects with greater accuracy, efficiency and certainty.

Using detailed 3D site models, design information is uploaded directly into GPS-enabled plant and equipment. This allows operators to work to precise levels and alignments in real time, reducing the need for traditional setting out while ensuring works are delivered exactly as designed.

Combined with drone surveying and our in-house engineering expertise, this technology provides accurate site data throughout the project lifecycle - from initial surveys and earthworks calculations through to progress monitoring and quality assurance.

Key benefits include:

✅Increased accuracy across earthworks and grading operations
✅Reduced rework, material waste and associated costs
✅Faster delivery through improved site efficiency
✅Enhanced safety by reducing on-the-ground survey requirements
✅Real-time progress tracking and validation of completed works
✅Greater confidence for clients through accurate, data-led reporting

As projects continue to increase in scale and complexity, the combination of advanced technology and experienced engineering teams is enabling smarter decisions, tighter control and more predictable project outcomes.

Trust Us to Deliver Certainty.

As our work continues in support of the major redevelopment at Skelton Grange, we are incredibly proud of the positive impact being delivered both on-site and across the local community.

From treating over 100,000m³ of groundwater and reusing 10,000 tonnes of material on site, to supporting biodiversity and protecting local water resources, sustainability remains a key aspect of this project.

Beyond the environmental achievements, our teams have helped raise more than £17,000 for local charities, volunteered 48 hours to improve the local area, supported career pathways for disadvantaged individuals through our Foundations for Life programme, and invested time and resources in community projects, schools, and local conservation initiatives.

We are also committed to inspiring the next generation, working closely with Leeds College of Building through site visits and ongoing engagement opportunities throughout the year.

A huge thank you to our teams, supply chain partners, and community stakeholders whose dedication makes these achievements possible. Together, we're demonstrating how major infrastructure projects can create lasting environmental, social, and economic value for the communities they serve.

Project Update: Joseph Norton Academy

Work is progressing well on the radius wall at Joseph Norton Academy, where Howard Civil Engineering has utilised the Fastform Shuttering system to improve structural precision, efficiency, and site safety.

Curved concrete walls traditionally require intricate formwork and carpentry, often resulting in increased material waste. By utilising a modular formwork solution, our site team has been able to achieve the required radius efficiently while maintaining high standards of quality and site safety.

The system enables a smooth concrete finish free from visible joint lines and screw marks, helping to achieve the architectural requirements of the project. In addition, integrated access platforms and handrails support safe working practices throughout the construction process.

Backed by detailed temporary works design and structural calculations, the approach has allowed Howard Civil Engineering to deliver a safe, efficient and sustainable concrete pour while maintaining programme and quality objectives on site.

Today is , and this year's theme is "Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future", highlighting climate change and the urgent need for climate action.

This is a commitment we are actively delivering through environmental management.

Howard Civil Engineering, working in close collaboration with Tunley Environmental's Environmental Sustainability team, has demonstrated how these challenges can be transformed into carbon and water savings by embedding zero-waste, circular economy principles directly into project delivery.

On a major site with extensive demolition works, we are processing demolished concrete into high-quality reusable aggregates, eliminating carbon-intensive waste transportation and achieving an estimated net GHG saving of 19 kg CO₂e per tonne through material reuse. In practical terms, recycling 10,000 tonnes saves emissions equivalent to driving an average UK car approximately 679,000 miles.

At the same time, we have implemented a five-stage closed-loop lagoon system that has treated and reused more than 100,000 m³ of legacy groundwater for dust suppression and grouting, significantly reducing mains water demand and tanker-related emissions.

Through these measures, we are eliminating historic pollution risks while:

• Protecting local water resources
• Supporting river ecosystems, aquatic habitats, and biodiversity
• Reducing emissions associated with water transport
• Preventing the spread of contamination

True sustainability means reducing waste and managing water and materials responsibly throughout the lifecycle of a project.

This week is , and we’re incredibly proud to share how Howard Civil Engineering have been giving back to our local communities over the past year!

From environmental stewardship to school upgrades, our team has been making a tangible impact.

Our dedicated Skelton Grange team has committed to weekly clean-ups every Monday, dedicating over 48 hours to litter picking along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the Trans Pennine Trail.

In addition to keeping our green spaces clean, the Skelton Grange team volunteered their time and materials free of charge to resurface a hazardous car park at St. Theresa’s Primary School in Cross Gates, ensuring zero disruption to the school day.

Furthering our commitment to education, a team of six Howard Civil Engineering operatives partnered with Wates Group to spend four days completely transforming the playground access at Melbourne Primary School in York.

Finally, we were proud to support local charity The Conservation Volunteers at Skelton Grange, upgrading footpaths to improve community accessibility to local nature hubs.

A massive thank you to all our operatives and team members who lend their time, skills, and hard work to these initiatives.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Andy Howarth and his wife Helen.

On behalf of everyone at Howard Civil Engineering, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Gavin, Chris, and the wider Howarth family. Our thoughts are with you all at this incredibly difficult time.

Andy and Helen brought warmth, energy and genuine kindness into every interaction, and they made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of meeting them.

Through our work alongside Howarths Foundation, we saw first-hand their determination to support disadvantaged individuals and help them find a pathway to a better, more stable life. It was work rooted in their caring, compassionate nature and deeply held values.

What will stay with us most, however, is not only what they achieved, but who they were as people: thoughtful, generous, full of life, and deeply committed to others.

We have been incredibly fortunate to have known and worked alongside Andy and Helen. Their legacy lives on through their family, through the Howarth Foundation, and through all those whose lives they touched.

We are thinking of you all, and sending our love and support at this very sad time.

We've expanded our fleet at Skelton Grange!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our new Hitachi Zaxis 300 on-site in Leeds. It’s already hard at work alongside our recently purchased Hitachi Zaxis 225 (Zero Swing).

Investing in the right machinery ensures we continue delivering high-quality results efficiently.

We can't wait to see the Hitachi Zaxis 300 in action!

British Library Update

Our joiners are currently setting up the shuttering for the new pedestrian grasscrete footpath, which extends from the East Elevation around to the North Elevation.

This innovative footpath marks a first-time application for this specific product and forms a key component of the Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) previously installed by HCE at the British Library. To ensure the permeable system works efficiently and effectively, it is being constructed in precise, distinct layers. The foundation begins with a Terram geotextile membrane to separate the soil strata and control water retention, followed by a gravel bed surrounding the land drain.

Next, a specialised, permeable solid concrete material known as hydraulically bound coarse is applied, topped with a thin bedding layer of sand. Finally, the main grasscrete paving is installed on top, reinforced with an A252 structural mesh to guarantee long-term strength and stability.