Official launch of environmental R&D and Innovation Centre in Brighton
The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Alan Robins, will officially launch a new research, development and innovation centre at Plus X Brighton on Lewes Road set up by regional highways construction leader, Roadways.
James Bailey, Roadways’ chief executive said, “This centre will take our innovative environmental work to the next level and help our business to scale up. Not many people know that the concrete carried in a single drum mixer truck typically involves as much CO₂ as driving 17,000 kilometres by car. That’s halfway around the planet.
“Some construction professionals and much of the wider public are simply not aware how the carbon footprint of concrete and other construction materials can be significantly greater than other everyday items.
“As a result they are unlikely to consider it a priority to cut down on concrete consumption. Do you think about the effects of adding a concrete base to your shed? It’s little things like that which all add up.
If people did think that way, it would make a huge difference to global warming rather than just focusing on the things we see in the headlines everyday like flying, low energy lightbulbs or electric cars. Just ten wheelbarrows of concrete has the same carbon footprint as a flight ticket from London to Madrid. Looking at it another way: it would take a football stadium full of mature trees two years to absorb the CO₂ of that single concrete mixer truck.”
Roadways’ objectives for its Brighton research, development and innovation centre are to:
raise awareness of the carbon and wider ethical impact of construction materials.
help specifiers and end users embrace the idea of a built environment with lower levels of these problematic materials.
enable anyone interested to find better solutions.
research, develop, launch and grow Roadways’ own low carbon materials and solutions business. If successful this will help the company’s own concrete supply service (and other independent concrete producers) to cut their carbon footprint in half.
identify, develop and launch digital construction technologies, improving the safety, quality and productivity of contracting works.
promote Roadways’ highways contracting, civil engineering and asphalt surfacing services.
James went on to say, “We know what’s possible as we’ve already developed and launched cold asphalt that saves 40% CO2 and concrete we use under roads (called hydraulically bound materials or HBM) which saves 70% CO₂. For each lorry load, that’s a CO₂ saving equivalent to driving 3,500 kilometres by car. We’re actively looking to collaborate with civil and structural engineers, architects, and anyone with an interest in the industry who has the same ethical and environmentally-focused goals as ourselves.”
James Bailey previously led corporate innovation and venturing teams at BT. He said, “I’ve seen the amazing things that can be achieved when start-ups, corporate innovators and established SMEs like Roadways get together. Plus X provides the ideal environment for us to achieve our objectives. I’m really excited about the talent pool and business opportunities that Brighton offers”.
“We’re delighted to have been accepted into the Brighton Research, Innovation and Technology Exchange (BRITE) programme. BRITE is a business innovation project for ambitious businesses who want to innovate and grow. It is made possible by a partnership between Plus X Brighton and the University of Brighton and it is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.”
“The past year has presented new challenges for lots of industries, so it is great to see businesses like Roadways continue to adapt, grow and innovate, especially in the area of sustainability,” said Samantha Harland, the BRITE programme manager at Plus X.
“Plus X Brighton champions innovation and invention. Our seven-storey innovation hub provides unique support to pioneers in the sustainable economy, and we are proud to have Roadways as part of the BRITE cohort. Roadways will be able to access a variety of programmes designed by Plus X and the University of Brighton including business coaching, circular innovation strategy and access to our state-of-the-art workshop to build and test new eco materials and solutions. Collaboration at Plus X ignites creativity and enables our businesses of the future to grow and thrive. We provide this support to any growing business looking for flexible workspace and support coming out of lockdown.”
A launch event will be held on Thursday 1st July at Plus X which will include a Round Table discussion around the theme “Let’s help Brighton save 1,000 times the carbon emissions of other cities”. Influential and knowledgeable local industry experts on the Round Table are Zoe Osmond, director of the Green Growth Platform at the University of Brighton, Steve Creed, co-founder of Circular Brighton & Hove, Ian McKay of Deeper Green Architects, Kirsty Sutherland, senior engineer at Expedition.