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An interview with Steve Miles
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| John Setra, MD K2 Consultancy with Steve Miles |
Tell us about yourself? How did you get involved in competing?
 "I've always enjoyed practical playing with cars and built a kit car some 20 years ago, and just stepping up the speed and thrill, since 2000 I have been competing in the British Sprint Championship in a single seater racing car. I am the driver, mechanic and I’ve developed the car into one of the top three fastest two litre racing cars in the country."
What is sprinting?
"Sprinting is a ‘car against the clock’ discipline and we typically run just under 2 laps from a standing start. 0-60mph is around 2.8 seconds and peak speeds of 155mph, so enough to keep you concentrated!"
How have you been doing in the races previously?
"Last year I came 5th place and so will be running number 5 on the car in 2016. There are often F1 engined cars to compete against which is always satisfying when you can beat them."
What are your goals for 2016?
"This year I am looking to beating last year’s personal bests and seeing where we end up overall – top 2 litre would be the target.
I am really excited about the season as the aerodynamics of the car have hopefully been significantly improved, which should result in lower lap times."
Tell us about the season and where the races will take place?
"Typically the season runs from March – October and covers the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland we shall be competing at the big circuits during the season."
Here is the schedule:
 28.03.16 Croft
21.05.16 Snetterton
22.05.16 Snetterton
04.06.16 Pembrey
05.06.16 Pembrey
18.06.16 Anglesey
19.06.16 Anglesey
30.07.16 Knockhill
31.07.16 Knockhill
06.08.16 Kirkistown
07.08.16 Kirkistown
11.09.16 Blyton Park
01.10.16 Anglesey
02.10.16 Anglesey
If people want to watch a race where can they get more information about attending?
"Drop me a line at smiles@moleracing.com or have a look at the website, www.moleracing.com
.... and finally why “Moleracing”?
"I was called ‘moley’ for years on account of what I look like first thing in the morning without my glasses!"
We also interviewed John Setra, MD at K2 ...
How long have K2 been associated with Mole Racing?
"As good friends, Steve and I have known each other for nearly 30 years! K2 have supported Mole Racing for over 5 years now and have seen massive improvements in both the car & driver!"
Do you have any forecasts for this season?
"Yes – definitely a top 6 finish this year, given the big improvements to the car over the winter season."
Sherbourne House student accommodation development in Coventry, reached a key milestone this week, with the arrival on site of the first modular units being used in the scheme. The modules have been constructed off site and are delivered and installed as complete units including all finishes, fittings and furniture.
This modular five storey student building is an extension of the current student accommodation. A total of 145 modules, some of which feature oriel windows, are being delivered and installed. These include studio bedrooms, accessible studio bedrooms, stair cores, lobby, reception areas, a common room, plant room and laundry room.
K2 Consultancy and K2 Rider Hunt are providing project management and cost consultancy services respectively, working with our client from initial concept design through to completion. This has included to date overseeing design development, planning permission award and procurement of the construction works to the current construction phase. The works are progressing under the JCT Design and Build form of contract.
Richard Mould, Associate at K2 Rider Hunt commented:
"We chose this method as our client had a very tight programme to achieve the desired completion date in time for the student intake in September 2016. Modular construction is typically a quicker method compared to a traditional method of construction on site and, therefore, it was considered that modular construction offered the best opportunity to achieve the preferred completion date. In addition, the design of the scheme lent itself to a modular construction."
We asked Richard a few more questions about the modular schemes for Student Accommodation:
Do you think this is the way forward for future student accommodation schemes in terms of cost efficiency and timing?
"Modular construction is a more expensive method of construction. However, in the current market, the cost differential between modular and traditional construction has reduced and therefore currently modular construction may offer a viable alternative for client’s looking to achieve programme savings. However, there are other factors, for example, design limitations, that need to be considered when advising on the proposed method of construction."
Would we recommend this to other clients and other schemes?
"In the right circumstances modular construction can provide programme benefits to a client, however, this needs to be considered alongside the project design and target costs. In the current market conditions, it is a method of construction that is worth considering."
Sherbourne House is conveniently located for students at Coventry University with the campus only a 15-minute walk away. Completion of the extension is due by September 2016.
Each room module has been carefully designed by Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects and Elements Europe under the Main Contractor, J R Pickstock, ensuring that the design is aesthetically pleasing yet affordable.
We are pleased to announce K2’s first Penhaligon’s installation
in London City Airports duty-free shop.
This is our first project working with Penhaligon’s wholesale team, with
further airport installations taking place in Luton and Heathrow terminals 4
and 5.
Penhaligon’s is a luxury
perfume brand and retailer which specialises in high-quality beauty and health
products.
Work has started on the installation of the cladding panels at The Residence, Nine Elms - Thames Gateway’s latest development. This is a huge milestone for the Bellway Home project, with a lot of effort having gone into the procurement, design and coordination of the package. The panel installation that was made off site in Belgium, will now see swift progress on the façade to the West parcel and enable internal fit out to start immediately.
K2’s role has been to provide development & project management services, to lead the team and provide commercial input into cost planning and procurement. In addition, K2's role includes the management of all the infrastructure works, securing the service connections, approvals from Network Rail and LUL and working with the wider area to secure power capacity and a district-wide heating network. Our role includes reviewing the overall sales specification, agreements with the commercial tenants and advising how to maximise the development returns.
Matthew Loughlin, K2 Director said:
'We are delighted to be involved in this significant project. This is one of the largest single development of its kind and will have a marked benefit on the city’s residents, creating employment as well as establishing the benchmark for comfort class living for its residents. We look forward to the coming years’ progress.”
The Nine Elms development project involves the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide 2 new 19 storey buildings on Ponton Road, SW8. The Residence will deliver over 500 much needed new homes in the capital. It is a collection of one, two, three and four bedroom homes, planned over several phases and due for completion in 2017. The exciting new development aims at bringing new retail and lifestyle opportunities to the area.
The first phase comprises 513 residential units including affordable housing and PRS, 2475 m² of commercial / community floor space, together with associated car parking, open space, landscaping and infrastructure works. The Second Phase will provide for a further 349 units.
The project is the largest single development delivered, not only, by Thames Gateway Division but by the entire Bellway Group; as such it is a highly strategic and important development which will be built to a high specification and design, providing a benchmark for future major developments. Its location at the centre of the Nine Elms Vauxhall Regeneration zone has made the challenges even larger.
Of the 510 new homes at The Residence, 76 will be affordable and there is also the potential to deliver rare private rented accommodation. Undercroft car and cycle parking will be available to residents, 10% of which will be dedicated to disabled drivers, and electric car charging points will be provided.
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