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Environmental Control

A large 7.66-acre site on the north bank of the River Orwell in Ipswich, Suffolk is the site of a new 173 home housing development being built by a partnership of Galliard Homes, Aviva Investors and Packaged Living. And Stelrad has supplied just short of 1,200 of its Vita Deco radiators to share heat around the homes on the development. The main contractor for the heating installations on site is Loughton based Link 365 and the Stelrad radiators were supplied via BSS in Colchester and delivered in batches to meet the installation needs as the development progressed.


Modern brick townhouses with dark roofs, metal balconies, and a fenced green yard. Overcast sky, parked blue car on the right.

Grafton Way is a major ‘Buy to Rent’ scheme to provide high quality, affordable rented two, three and four bedroomed homes, with the focus on providing a sustainable development that prioritises green credentials throughout their construction. All the new homes will have heating and hot water courtesy of air source heat pumps, and each home will feature electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to encourage tenants to opt for electric vehicles.


The development is targeting a minimum EPC rating of B. Before the development, the site comprised a vacant brownfield site and a temporary car park. The site had been unoccupied since the departure of B&Q from the site around ten years ago.


At the groundbreaking ceremony back in 2022, the then Ipswich Borough Council leader Cllr David Ellesmore said: “Ipswich needs more homes to cater for the town’s growing population and it’s great to see Galliard Homes and Packaged Living answering the call. Grafton Way isn’t just another housing development. It’s a new neighbourhood that will regenerate and breathe life into the waterfront, delivering much needed homes for the people of Ipswich.”


Empty room with light wood floor, white walls, and large windows showing green lawn. A radiator on the wall and patio doors are visible. Bright ambiance.

The development is a perfect example of proof that air source heat pump driven systems operate as well with radiators as any form of heating in new homes. This development sees the use of Vaillant heat pumps and radiators can be part of the heating system’s future proofing if properly specified and sized to ensure the levels of comfort heating that each room requires.


The Stelrad Vita Deco features a stunning flat front, with smart horizontal lines across the face of the radiator, giving each room a focal point – not simply a heating appliance. “We’re delighted to have been selected to be a part of this excellent new development,” says Stelrad’s Regional Manager (South), Sahil Patel. “It’s great to be associated with sustainable projects and to see our radiators adding a little bit of style to these stunning homes.”


Project manager for Link 365 is Jason Rayner: “We’ve worked with Stelrad radiators before, and we like the ease of installation, the quality of the products and the delivery arrangements they are happy to comply with for us, so we have the radiators on site when we need them. We think the radiators look brilliant in these new homes and will go on to provide sustainable heating for the occupants for very many years.” You can find out more about the Vita Deco and other Vita models along with the wide range of options from Stelrad by visiting www.stelradprofessional.com

To accelerate installation and enhance precision of its passive fire protection, Siderise has launched a new advanced Cut Strip Service — delivering ready-to-install, digitally sized cavity fire barriers and firestops for building façades. This innovative offering eradicates cutting onsite, reduces waste, and improves safety, helping contractors to achieve faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective installations. This marks a bold step forward in Siderise’s mission to ‘Go Beyond, contributing to safer buildings.’


Person in a yellow vest handles insulation panels in a factory. Text on panels: "SIDERISE, integrity in all we do." Industrial setting.

Cavity barriers and firestops are often supplied in slab form for cutting to size onsite. However, through this new service, contractors can choose to have any Siderise CW, EW, RH and RV products pre-cut on Siderise’s high-speed, automated production line to meet their exacting project requirements. This results in precision-cut products that have been digitally sized and manufactured under strict quality control measures, ensuring consistent quality and mitigating the safety risks and inefficiencies of onsite cutting.


Foam slabs on a roller conveyor in a factory. Yellow and black safety barriers surround the area. Text "SIDERISE" visible on slabs.

But this isn’t just about convenience. Using this service can save considerable time, effort and labour – therefore associated costs. To ensure contractors and project managers see these benefits in their project’s bottom line, the Cut Strip Service has been carefully and competitively priced so that its cost is negated by the savings made from a more efficient installation process and reduced waste. Siderise has developed the Cut Strip Service in direct response to growing demands for improved quality control in construction products, while also addressing global challenges related to site efficiency, safety, and the implementation of sustainable waste management practices on construction sites.


A large industrial saw with a yellow safety cover cuts gray, patterned sheets labeled "STORES". Caution sign visible, factory setting.

Gavin Rees, Chief Operating Officer at Siderise explains more:  “The Siderise Cut Strip Service exemplifies our ‘Customer First’ and ‘Strive for Betterment’ values. Pre-cut passive fire protection products offer major advantages on all kind of projects—whether it’s ensuring consistent quality across large projects, reducing site waste to meet ESG goals, or speeding up installation. By automating this process, we’re making it a standard offering across all product ranges, with unmatched lead times, cost efficiency, and confidence in product precision.”


Additionally, using pre-cut strips may help installation teams better demonstrate alignment with project plans and drawings— an important consideration for projects in regions with strict building safety and compliance regimes such as the UK. The Siderise Cut Strip Service is now available for all projects around the world,  alongside standard slab supply. For more information, please contact salesteam@siderise.com  www.siderise.com

Navigator MSL has launched the MAGBLU™ THORSYS 8M Heat Pump Circulating Pump – compact in size, powerful in performance. Specifically designed for heat pump systems, this high-efficiency pump delivers an impressive 8.1 metre head and 3.6 m³/h flow rate, making it ideal for demanding renewable installations.



Black and silver circulation pump with visible label, model APE25-6-80/TT. "MAGBLU" logo on top. Set against a plain background.


With a rare 135mm body, the THORSYS 8M offers exceptional output in a compact form – perfect for tight spaces without compromising on performance. It features 9-speed control, quiet operation, and energy efficiency with EEI < 0.21, all backed b

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