• • • NEWS • • •


D9 acquires London’s Volta Data Centres for £45 million D


igital 9 Infrastructure plc has signed a binding sale and purchase agreement for the


acquisition of GAData Holdings Limited (trading as Volta Data Centres) for £45 million. Volta wholly owns and operates a 91,000 square


foot 6MW facility in central London, and provides colocation services. The facility on the edge of the City of London near Farringdon Station, has been in operation since 2013. The company said the deal “delivers on D9’s


metro Edge data centre strategy” to identify facilities located in or near urban centres offering low latency connectivity to customers. Jack Waters, chair of D9, said: “Data centres


form a key part of the digital infrastructure backbone. The acquisition of Volta, which was a


pipeline investment identified at IPO, adds to our portfolio of data centres which are in key connectivity locations, as D9 continues to build an integrated platform, driving connectivity throughout its investments.”


CSCS Smart Check – one app to check millions of qualifications


T


he new CSCS Smart Check app has launched, representing a major step forward in building quality and safety. For the first time,


all 2.1 million cards displaying the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) logo can be verified using a single app. All construction sites should require everyone working in a


construction occupation to hold a card displaying the CSCS logo and should check those cards regularly to ensure they are genuine and within date. However, with 38 different card schemes offering CSCS logoed


cards, all using their own card checking systems, the process can be complicated. To resolve this issue the Construction Leadership Council (CLC)


amended its existing card checking requirement to include the development of a solution that uses smart technology to validate all cards displaying the CSCS logo. Having one app to


check all physical and virtual cards at site gates, or on project entry, will introduce greater efficiencies for employers and those responsible for checking cards on site. It does not matter which scheme card turns up at the site gates, from asbestos to welding, if it displays a CSCS logo it will be compatible with CSCS Smart Check. Alan O’Neile, head of communications at CSCS, said: “Developed


by the 38 card schemes displaying the CSCS logo, CSCS Smart Check is a vital tool in certifying the qualifications held by individuals coming onto construction sites and projects in the built environment.” The app is free to use and can be downloaded for both Apple iOS


and Android devices. Jay Parmar, chief executive of the Joint Industry Board (JIB), added


“The CSCS Smart Check app represents a major step forward as, for the first time, all 2.1 million cards displaying the CSCS logo can be electronically verified using a single app. Mr Parmar said: “The rollout provides employers with a quick, easy


and secure way of ensuring everyone on site has the right qualifications and training for the job they do.”


6 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • APRIL 2022 Thor Johnsen, head of digital infrastructure


at Triple Point Investment Management LLP, added: “Volta is one of central London’s best- connected data centres, providing a unique opportunity to purchase a freehold operating asset with over 100 customers and an exciting long-term future as customers continue to seek low latency access in key centralised locations. “We are particularly excited to explore


opportunities across existing enterprise customers to optimise data centre utilisation across the broader platform, balancing the low latency metro access of Volta with the predictable power costs and sustainability benefits of our Nordic data centre platform, Verne Global.”


Network Rail begins procurement activities for five frameworks worth £4bn


frameworks worth £4 billion in total, which cover the renewal and minor enhancement of structures, earthworks and buildings. The Control Period 7 (CP7) Eastern


N


Region Renewals and Minor Enhancements contract notice was published on April 7. The frameworks include civil


engineering and construction work on railway structures, geotechnics and buildings; signalling and telecoms; and electrification and power. These works will take place


across Network Rail’s eastern region which covers its Anglia, East Coast, East Midlands and North and East routes. Network Rail will create two


partnerships in the Eastern region – in the North and South. It will appoint 14 construction


partners to deliver the CP7 renewals and minor enhancement works across the region. Five secondary suppliers which sit


outside the partnership will be appointed per framework. Construction partners appointed


to the first and second lots will carry out civils and associated mechanical and electrical works for stations, depots, maintenance delivery units and lineside buildings. They will undertake structural works for footbridges, overbridges, underbridges, tunnels, retaining walls and culverts. Construction partners appointed


to the third lot will work on signal renewals, signal conversions, point conversion, and track circuit conversions.


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


etwork Rail has begun procurement activities for five


Lot three additionally includes minor


works relating to intelligent infrastructure installations, alterations to existing solid state interlockings, alterations to track protections systems. Construction partners appointed to


the fourth lot will carry out works related to the contact systems. These include overhead line equipment (OLE) structure renewal, civils and installation. They also include OLE design, structural assessment, refurbishment and renewal, and geotechnical assessment. Construction partners appointed to


the fifth lot will undertake work relating to distribution and power. This covers high voltage (HV) non- traction distribution, HV traction distribution plant, HV circuit breakers, switchgear units, transformers, and signalling power. Lot five contractors will additionally


install trackside drainage pumps, including tunnel drainage pumps, and ventilation, points heating systems and swing bridge controls replacements. Tenders may be submitted for a


maximum of two lots, and a maximum of two lots may be awarded to one tenderer. The deadline for submitting tenders is 12pm on Friday, May 13.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44