Sectors
Construction News
Upcoming event
24/03/09
Breaking New Ground: The iHub Exemplar
Tuesday 24th March 2009: Staverton Park, Daventry Road, Staverton, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 6JT
Sustainable Construction iNet all systems are go: learn about tailored innovation support to help you grow and access to dedicated grants for your business Find out about and tour the site of the Sustainable Construction iHub: a multimillion-pound building that will feature offices for up to 60 businesses, exhibition space and community facilities
Hear from keynote speaker, Michael Pawlyn, one of the leading architects behind the Eden Project and a passionate advocate of sustainable architecture
Sustainable Construction iNet advisors will be on hand to provide assistance in developing and implementing new products, processes and services
Dedicated grants are on offer to help your business to become more innovative
This is a valuable opportunity to network and build new links with key contacts in construction technologies, regional supply chains and the support and funding bodies.
To register or for more detailed information about this event please visit www.bre.co.uk/ifestival or email Gemma Davis at events@construction-inet.org.uk for further queries.
Booking confirmation, venue details and timings will be sent upon registration.
*The Sustainable Construction iNet is a business-led innovation network
Invest DVD
Find out more about what Northamptonshire has to offer potential business investors with our Investor DVD
Daventry iCon wins top award
The emda funded iCon centre for sustainable construction, currently under construction in Daventry, has won a Milton Keynes South Midlands Excellence Award.
The accolade was announced at a prestigious awards ceremony at Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury on Wednesday 2nd December 2009.
The MKSM Excellence Awards are designed to celebrate developments which demonstrate excellence in a variety of areas, including their economic impact, environmental credentials and distinctiveness.
The landmark iCon building will be a national centre of excellence for sustainable construction and green technologies. The state of the art building will contain an innovation centre with 60 small office units for businesses in the emerging market of sustainable construction, a conference hall for up to 300 people, as well as a public piazza and a café/restaurant.
Positioned on a key gateway to the town centre, the high quality facilities will attract in new businesses, deliver up to 175 quality jobs for Daventry and the region, and provide facilities which can be used by the local community.
ICON EM is the charitable organisation that has been set up for the purpose of running iCon. Chairman, David Walker, commented: "This award is the first recognition of the huge efforts made by numerous partners to bring this project to fruition. When complete, the iCon will be a centre that Daventry, and Northamptonshire as a whole, can be proud of."
David Wallace, Director of Innovation for East Midlands Development Agency (emda), which is providing funding for the iCon building, said: "The iCon building is in itself a great example of how new buildings can be created to be more environmentally friendly. It will be a tremendous asset not only for Daventry, but also for the East Midlands as a whole. It will provide fantastic facilities for businesses, and will also be the home of our Sustainable Construction iNet, which will help businesses in this sector to innovate, develop and grow."
Peter Mawson, Chief Executive of WNDC, which is part funding and delivering the project, said: "WNDC are delighted that the iCon has won this award and would like to thank everyone that has been involved with the project. The real winners are the young businesses that will eventually call this building their home, as well as the local community that will also benefit from the first class facilities at the iCon. It will be a highly environmentally friendly and attractive building, and something that the local area can be very proud of."
Funding for the building has been obtained from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and East Midlands Development Agency (emda). Included within the consortium led by The University of Northampton, West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC), one of the partners driving infrastructure delivery and the growth agenda in Daventry, is also part-funding and delivering the project.
Daventry District Council and Northamptonshire County Council have donated the land and provided car parking for iCon users.
Work has now begun on the development and is expected to be completed by December 2010.
The iCon is a key component within the Daventry Masterplan that has been prepared by Daventry District Council to drive forward regeneration of the town.
Councillor Chris Over, portfolio holder for economy, regeneration and employment at Daventry District Council, said: "This is excellent news and an important part of Daventry District Council's regeneration agenda. The Council has worked with our partners over a number of years to deliver this project and with it business opportunities and additional employment for local people. I believe iCon will play a significant role in achieving these objectives at a critical period in Daventry's development."
