We are pleased to announce that our public art consultation is now live!
Between Monday 19 July and Monday 3 July, you have the opportunity to help shape the future of Mindenhurst’s art by voting for your favourite artist. We will be providing three pieces of public as part of the lasting legacy of the development; we hope the art will foster a sense of place and help shape the cultural identity of our new neighbourhood.
We have shortlisted three artists whose work reflects our ambitions for this project. The art will be installed in prominent places around Mindenhurst and will reflect the history, values and aspirations of our community.
You can read about the artists and see examples of their work on our public art consultation page or by popping into the Project Office on Newfoundland Road, where we are displaying an exhibition of the shortlisted artists.
Don’t miss the chance to have your say and please get in touch if you have any questions.
This series is all about our work to renovate and restore St Barbara’s Church, highlighting the work we have been doing to bring the church back to life.
This series is all about our work to renovate and restore St Barbara’s church, a Grade II listed church constructed in 1901 which sits on the Mindenhurst development site. It is a ‘tin tabernacle’ church meaning it is an iron structure that would have been assembled off site and exported to Deepcut. Tin Tabernacle churches were developed in the mid-19th century and were typically formed of a corrugated iron structure – the first mass-produced external building material – and timber frame. Only 86 tin tabernacle churches remain and fewer than 20 are listed – St Barbara’s Church is one of them.
The ‘portable Garrison’ church was erected in Deepcut in 1901, shortly after the permanent military camps at Blackdown and Deepcut were established, and it is important that we recognise the history of the Mindenhurst site.
The church was originally called St Michael & All Angels, it was dedicated to St Barbara’s in 1967 in honour of the Patron Saint of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps following the closure of Hilsea Barracks in Portsmouth. Much of the property of St. Barbara’s in Hilsea was installed in the church – most of which remain in the Church today. It was designated a listed building in 1984.
We have to take extra care – and work alongside Surrey Heath Borough Council and the Ministry of Defence – over any changes we make to ensure we restore the building to its former self and secure it for future generations.
Before we started any work on the church, we boarded up the stained-glass windows to protect them from damage and removed the church spire, ready for scaffolding to be installed. The scaffolding was needed so the team could carry out external works to the building – ensuring the building is safe and secure in all weathers and allowing the team access to redecorate the exterior walls.
We’ll be sharing a little more about the renovation work in this blog over the coming weeks so check back soon!
Protecting the church structure
An important part of the renovation process is ensuring we protect the church structure and original features as much as we can. We also have to protect the environment and ecology when we carry out any construction work across the development.
Before work could begin on the church renovation, we engaged Surrey Wildlife Trust to remove the bat features from the Church, we then installed bat mitigation measures throughout the Formal Park to provide alternative habitats for any bats using the Church. Construction could begin once the bats had moved out of the church.
We needed to carry out excavation works to install a foundation for the scaffolding – this is called a scaffold mat and it stops the scaffolding from shifting or sinking. As St Barbara’s is a Grade II listed building, we had to make sure the scaffolding did not rest on the building and potentially damage the external structure or brickwork. The scaffolding therefore needed to be extensive to protect the church and enable us to carry out the works we needed to deliver.
To keep the church dry, we fully covered the scaffolding with a plastic sheet, we then began patch testing the paint to check the durability and colour. As the church is a Grade II listed building, we have to consult the Conservation Officer at every step of the way – before the work is carried out. The patch testing is one example of the steps we take to get approval from the Conservation Officer.
Internal refurbishments
Our Senior Construction Manager, Carianne McIntosh, has been overseeing the internal and external refurbishment works at St Barbara’s Church, including the construction of a brand-new church hall.
St Barbara’s Church is a listed building, so we’ve got to be really careful and respect the history of the building both inside and out. During the renovation process, the Ministry of Defence has been removing flags and regimental memorabilia for archiving and display in Worthy Down museum. Religious artifacts have also been removed whilst renovation works take place, however they will be reinstated at the church once work is complete.
To prepare for the internal refurbishment of the church, Carianne has been helping the Ministry of Defence carefully remove the army memorabilia and flags. Carianne has prepared a plan which makes sure works are of a good quality so that maintenance costs are minimised, and we create a space which is suitable and safe for the community to use in the future.
Putting the finishing touches on the Church exterior
We stripped the paint from the wooden frames around the stained-glass windows so we could repair the existing woodwork, and where needed we installed new frames. To remove the paint on the external walls, we used the TORC cleaning method. This means cleaning the exterior of the building without using chemicals, to ensure all old and decaying paint was removed from the structure without impacting the building.
To ensure we did not pollute the surrounding land with old paint chippings, we built an embankment around the church before we began the TORC cleaning, this allowed us to carefully collect and remove any waste. We then replaced the old paint with a fresh coating, ensuring the external church walls are protected.
Removing the paint revealed the corrugated iron which is attached to the external church walls. We applied paste and used paint removal blankets to the timber, to ensure we were taking the necessary safety precautions in case of any lead content in the old paint. The old paint sticks to the blankets, which prevents paint chippings falling and contaminating the ground and surrounding land. Once all the paint was removed, we repaired the existing woodwork and installed new frames where needed.
We also refurbished the church roof before removing the scaffolding. To ensure the paint fused to the roof and to prevent any rusting, we replaced all old and damaged fixings, any rust and then applied a layer of primer paint to the roof before spraying on the top coat. We also found a leak in the roof above the organ, so this was repaired before the topcoat was finished.
Finally, we began to carefully remove the scaffolding to unveil the restored church exterior once the roof was completed.
1. The team is making good progress on the construction of the Loop Road and Brunswick Road (on the barracks). The team has been busy installing drainage, building the new road, and creating new footpaths.
2. We will continue removing the scaffolding around St. Barbara’s Church now that the external refurbishment and redecoration works are complete. The team will also begin decorating the South facing wall once the scaffolding has been removed as this area
is not accessible whilst the scaffolding is in place. We will then reinstall the church spire.
3. We will continue work on the new footpaths in the Central SANGs – inside the fence line – and the Blackdown ANGST. There may be additional traffic around the Officers Mess on Blackdown Road to facilitate the delivery of materials.
4. Highways improvement works will continue on the DIO Roads (Newfoundland, Union, and Canada Roads). This includes installing new surface water drainage, creating new footpaths, and the road build-up. We will keep you informed of any work taking place around your home.
🌳 Landscaping maintenance works around the Village Green, Mindenhurst Road and the Central SANGS are ongoing.
5. Works – such as clearance and demolition – to prepare the land for the future Southern SANGs will get underway. This includes landscaping works to the southern sustainable urban drainage system along the Frimley Lock Cycle Path.
We are pleased to announce that the Mindenhurst Bat Barn now has a name!
Thank you to everyone who answered our call for ideas, we received some fantastic suggestions! Pupils at Lakeside Primary School chose their favourite name from the suggestions, and we are proud to announce the chosen name is ‘Bat HQ’!
Bat HQ was built to provide a new habitat for the Brown Long-eared, Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle bats, providing them with a safe and secure place to roost and raise their young.
The design of the Bat HQ was developed in coordination with Surrey Wildlife Trusts Ecologists so that the size, proportions, and orientation could all be appropriate for the bats. The barn is located within an ANGST and is surrounded by woodland, located close to the original roosting site where the bats forage. It was designed to produce minimal waste during its construction, and this is why it was chosen to be manufactured off-site, then pieced together and tiled on-site.
These structures benefit our ecosystem by supporting these nocturnal creatures, which play a crucial role in natural pest control and pollination.
We’re delighted to announce that Mindenhurst has been shortlisted in the Planning Awards 2023 for best Mixed Use Development.
It’s great to have our commitment to creating innovative, sustainable and vibrant places recognised!
You can read more about the Planning Awards here: https://www.planningawards.com/finalists/mindenhurst-deepcut-v0010
We are pleased to announce that we have just exchanged contracts with an independent development company, Newfoundland Developments, for the sale of the food store at Mindenhurst.
Newfoundland Developments will be working with their operating partner Asda to submit a detailed planning application in the coming months. Their design will utilise the building of the former RLC museum, accessed from the new Mindenhurst Road. The completion of the sale will be subject to a successful planning application.
We will keep the community informed throughout the next stages and would encourage everyone to engage with the scheme, as and when the detail is available.
Spring is here and Easter is just around the corner!
To celebrate, we are organising some Easter activities on the Village Green. We welcome you to join us on Wednesday 5th April 1pm-3pm, for a scavenger hunt, Easter crafts, and chocolate treats!
This event is free to attend and open to all members of the community. We kindly ask that all children are accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event.
We look forward to seeing you there.
We are temporarily closing a stretch of footpath in the Central SANG whilst work is carried out on the bank between the Bovis Homes and the SANG.
Initially the trees in this area will be removed to allow Bovis to regrade the bank and once complete, new trees will be planted.
Work will begin on Tuesday 7th March and is expected to take 3 months.
During this time the stretch of path (highlighted in red on the plan below) will be closed. The plan also highlights the new circular route that will be in place while this footpath is closed.
In celebration of Women in Construction Week, we want to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women and emphasise the growing role women play in the industry.
As part of our celebration, all the women in the Mindenhurst project team are sharing their experiences and offering some advice for anyone considering a career in construction.
I look after the construction elements of the site and together with my colleagues Ed, Mike, and Rob, we are responsible for all of the construction at Mindenhurst.
I am involved from planning stage to handover. I get involved with putting together methodology documents for the Council, ensuring that designs are constructible, on time, to budget and are suitable for the end user (the existing and new residents).
I also ensure the correct designs are built on site, and most importantly I ensure that my operatives work in a safe and healthy manner so that they go home to their families at the end of the day.
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My work changes on a daily basis and I really enjoy the variety that I get to experience. I also enjoy the variety of personalities and skills I get to work with on a daily basis – I learn something new every day and get to meet some of the most skilled tradespeople. I like that all types of people can work in the Construction Industry – from those who are very methodical and enjoy the office environment, to those people who work best when they learn through ‘doing’ and enjoy working on site.
I take great pride in knowing that I am helping to provide the infrastructure we need for our future. I help build hospitals that will care for the sick, training facilities that will train our future service people and developments that will become forever homes.
From a very young age I used to travel to London to work with my dad some weekends. During this time I saw the construction of The Gherkin in London. It quickly became my favourite building and still is to this day!
I went to a Girls Grammar School and knew that I wanted to work in the Construction Industry – I was the only female to go into Construction during the 20 year career of my Careers Officer.
When I found out that Skanska built the Gherkin, I knew I wanted to work for them. So I applied for the graduate scheme and was successful!
I have worked on the Royal Papworth Hospital and Worth Down Camp so far during my career with Skanska, and I look forward to working on many more projects that add value to our communities.
Working in Construction doesn’t always mean working out on a wet and dirty site. We have so many roles that require different sets of skills – from commercial teams, to designers, engineers, construction managers and tradespeople.
Construction is changing from the image that it has held for decades – we actively encourage diversity, inclusion, health and wellbeing and we offer so many routes into the industry – from apprenticeships to graduate schemes. The construction industry has a place for anyone that wants to make a positive difference to society.
I manage the contractual and financial aspect of construction projects and enhance value for our client’s money. My daily activities include preparing tender and contract documents based on a client’s requirements, carrying out cost analysis and monitoring cost variations from the start construction project till the end.
I enjoy working with like-minded colleagues in completing a construction project. I enjoy working with the different designers and builders who work together to see that a project is completed to a Client’s specification.
My dad was a subcontractor and usually required the services of a quantity surveyor whenever he had to submit a tender. As a child I was happy to add up various costs on each sheet for the QS, over time, I developed an interest in reading the tender documents. In the years after I started my family, I began to think a lot more about starting a career in construction. Having researched about Quantity surveying, I enrolled into university to study quantity surveying for my master’s degree. I got a trainee role with a consultancy while in university that facilitated learning on the job. I recently joined the commercial team at Skanska Deepcut, to assist with the procurement and management of construction packages.
The construction industry has numerous jobs that are not the popular roles, there are many avenues to join the industry such as apprenticeships and graduate programs. I’d encourage the youth to search up these online. You’d be amazed at what comes up.
Supporting the project team in ensuring environmental compliance is being met on site; undertaking environmental inspections; collecting and reporting environmental monitoring information; planning and monitoring ecological mitigation on site; supporting the delivery of BREEAM certification for new buildings and producing environmental management documents.
There is lot of variety in what I do on a daily basis which keeps things interesting! Deepcut is a big site with a lot of environmental considerations and constraints so its been a great first project to work on for me and I have learnt a lot in my time here. I am passionate about the environment and its great seeing important issues such as carbon reduction and biodiversity becoming much higher up on the agenda in the construction industry.
I studied Physical Geography at University and whilst there I managed to get some environmental consultancy work experience in the summers . I really enjoyed this and enjoyed the mix of being in the office and getting out on site and this helped me decide I wanted to work in the construction industry. After graduating in 2019 I started a 3-month internship with Skanska at Deepcut, after which I was asked to stay another year as an environmental assistant, and then was given a permanent role as an Environmental Advisor last year.
Do your research into what you might enjoy as there are so many different roles with construction, and a huge variety of different sectors that you can work in. If you are able to get work experience it’s a great way to see what you enjoy doing and make connections. It’s good to remember you are never stuck on one career path and people have unexpected ways of getting to where they are today!
As a development director I am responsible for overseeing all aspects of a development project, from land disposal, planning, design to construction and completion. This means I get to see the project come to life, which can be a highly satisfying experience.
I often work with a team of professionals, including architects, engineers, contractors, and other specialist. As a leader of this team, I get to guide and motivate my team members to work together towards a common goal.
In addition, my role can encounter unexpected challenges, such as design issues, supply chain disruptions, or weather delays. As a project director I am responsible for finding solutions to these challenges, which can be intellectually stimulating and rewarding.
The best part of my job is the sense of accomplishment that comes from delivering a successful project and seeing the positive impact it has on the community.
After completing a degree in business management, I decided to move to the UK to pursue further studies in finance. Influenced by my father lifelong career in the construction industry I found an opportunity to work for Skanska as a sponsored student in quantity surveyor, which it was a career path that would give me the practical opportunity to learn various aspects of a construction project with a direct focus of the commercial and financials. This path gave me the step-in stone to expand my experience and knowledge and to develop my career to where I am today.
Remember that a career in construction can be challenging but also rewarding, with opportunities for growth and advancement. By being proactive, adaptable and committed to learning and growth, you can build a successful and fulfilling career in the construction industry.
Inspecting worksites and equipment, conducting training and safety orientations, and developing and implementing safety protocols. Additionally, I provide advice to help ensure the safety of workers and others on site.
I enjoy being able to use my knowledge and experience to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I also appreciate the opportunity to work with diverse teams and help to create a safe and healthy work environment.
I began as a weighbridge operator for a waste management company. An opportunity arose to join the health and safety team and transfer to the demolition department. I took the opportunity and never looked back!
Do it! The construction industry offers a wide range of exciting and rewarding career paths, plus you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to build the future. There is such a variety of jobs within the construction so there is a job role to suit everyone.
I am responsible for building relationships with our neighbours, keeping them informed, and responding to their concerns. I try to maximise opportunities for the local community to benefit from our work by arranging community events, volunteering, school visits, and supporting local charities.
I really enjoy the variety of my role. Every day is different which means that I am always learning, meeting new people, and taking on new challenges.
I studied Fine Art at university and never imagined I would have a career in construction. I joined the industry as a PA working with the Arup infrastructure team on the London Olympic Games. I left London after starting a family but I wanted to stay in the same industry as I enjoyed working as part of a protect team. My first role with Skanska was as Office Manager on the MOD training facility at Worthy Down, before moving to my current role on the Mindenhurst development in Deepcut.
Don’t set limitations on yourself, try to think past the stereotype of the construction industry. It is such an innovative, diverse, creative, and rewarding industry to work in. There are a huge variety of careers available where you get the chance make a real difference to the built world and the communities in which you work.
As an Information Controller (formerly known as a Document Controller) you are responsible for quality checking all drawings and documents that make their way through the project DMS (Document Management System) from the tendering and design stages, right through to commissioning and handover of works to the Client. The site admin side of things is always varied, you work closely with your team and support them where required. Tasks can be anything from recording annual leave and staff whereabouts on the project right through to liaising with the subcontractors to collate the relevant paperwork and permits etc., for the safe running of site and delivery of the project.
Luckily for me, I enjoy every aspect of my job, mainly because I enjoy working as part of a team but still have my own responsibilities within the project. I like to be organised and have a process for all my tasks, to ensure thorough and correct records are maintained, in my opinion, this role is ideal for someone of a similar mindset.
I feel very lucky to be in the position I am in now, because the nature of the project, which is set in the lovely Surrey countryside, and the environment is cheerful, motivating, and brimming with wildlife all around. Knowing that Skanska care very much for their responsibilities to the local community is paramount, for the future of our children, which is very reassuring.
When I left school, I went straight out to work in retail and progressed up the chain of command to become management. However, I found there was very little on offer to me, to continue my quest to improve. I decided to look for something new and I started work as an office junior which gave me the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. I then moved into an admin/office manager role with Morgan Sindall, a construction firm working for Heathrow Airport Limited, in their Aviation division. I loved working in the airport, being able to go airside, and seeing behind the scenes. I found this fascinating and led to me serving 10 years on the Heathrow framework for both Morgan Sindall and Balfour Beatty. During this time I really honed my skills in information control and project handover (Health & Safety files and O&M Manuals). So, from there, I now find myself working for Skanska, and have been for a year now, in a similar role but improving and learning more about construction with each project.
Never underestimate your ability to get where you want to be, you just need drive and the tenacity to succeed in life. Due to the culture of construction, you meet many people from all walks of life, who become your work “family” and we all work together to go home safely and happy. We are such a diverse industry, and we care for each other, regardless of background, creed or identity, not a bad place to spend your working week at all.
Over the coming months, work will be carried out to upgrade the electrical infrastructure in Deepcut and Mindenhurst to increase the capacity of the network.
This work is necessary to comply with Government changes in legislation, which requires the provision of fast electric vehicle (EV) charging. Unfortunately the current electrical network didn’t have the capacity to supply this type of charging therefore the network will be upgraded from the primary substation in Farnborough. Once complete the extra capacity will enable us to provide fast EV charging, not only in new homes, but also extra charging points located in the public car parks at St Barbara’s Church and the new sport hub.
The work is being carried out by Blu-3, who will have two teams working over an 8 month period to install new power cables along the 5.5km route from Farnborough to Deepcut. Their teams will be working Mon-Friday, 08:00 to 17:00, and the route they will follow is shown on the map below.
Blu-3 will be carrying out letter drops to notify residents of works affecting their homes or premises. They are also attending the next two community drop-in sessions so that they can answer questions from local residents. The dates for these sessions are below:
If you have any questions regarding this work, please contact us at hello@mindenhurst.co.uk or Blue-3 at hello@blu-3.co.uk.
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