Dominic is TFT’s Director of CDM Services and is responsible for managing the team of CDM consultants at the London office in the delivery of CDM Principal Designer, Principal Designer Advisor and Client CDM Advisor services to support Clients, Developers and Designers in compliance with the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015. He has a background in managing CDM teams at multi-disciplinary consultancies, where he has worked alongside colleagues in architecture, engineering, project management and surveying.
As a full Member of the Chartered Institute of Building, he is a multi-skilled construction professional and CDM consultant, qualified in construction, occupational health and safety, fire safety and building safety. He is an advocate for building safety and has supported his teams and Clients in preparation for the introduction of the Building Safety Act and its secondary legislation.
Dominic’s experience spans a range of sectors including residential, commercial real estate, aviation, infrastructure, modular construction, demolition, refurbishment and conversion works, and remedial works including fire safety remedials and recladding.
I live in West London, but I’m originally from Saltcoats, a small seaside town on the west coast of Scotland, which on a clear day has some of the best views of the coast and the Isle of Arran you could imagine… although the Scottish weather means those clear days are few and far between!
Outside of work I enjoy sports: running and badminton being my latest hobbies and keep me busy, and just about keep me fit! West London, in particular the riverside along Hammersmith, is a great place for running outdoors. I also love going to the cinema – I’m not a cultured film buff, I’ll just watch absolutely anything, even the bad films can be entertaining.
I love travelling and recent years have been fortunate to travel to New York, across Italy and weekend breaks to various cities in Europe. My favourite part of travelling by far, is trying the authentic local foods in each country and city that you just can’t get replicated anywhere else. Food is my greatest passion, I just need to balance it with the running to keep the pounds off!
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TFT establishes an Employee Ownership Trust
TFT has become an employee-owned business, having established its Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) following 19 years as a Partnership (LLP).
The change to EOT status marks TFT’s 50th year and comes with two commitments for the future: to share ownership and benefit for the whole TFT team, and to deliver on the firm’s values without external conflict or compromise.
The news follows TFT’s B Corp certification in December 2022. An ownership structure for shared benefit is part of TFT’s continual progression towards its B Corp goals: improving business performance, accountability and transparency.
As part of the new corporate structure, TFT Partners are now Senior Directors of the company, and take the same ownership status as all employees to share equally in the firm’s success via its Trust.
TFT’s leadership remains unchanged, but take C-Suite titles, with Alistair Allison remaining CEO, Alan Pemberton as Chair, Dan Henn as Chief Growth Officer, Seth Love-Jones as Chief Operations Officer and Mat Lown as Chief Knowledge & ESG Officer.
The decision is significant to TFT’s future, as CEO Alistair Allison says:
“The Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is real milestone for us, allowing the team to share equally in TFT’s success and future growth. It also means that our long-term commitments – to our team’s security, our clients’ quality of work, and our wider ambition to create a better built environment – are protected from possible external conflict.
“TFT has enjoyed a long life of independence which has become one of our defining assets. Our previous Partnership structure was crucial to preserve that independence. The Partnership has also made for a smooth transition to the EOT, which brings additional reassurance for our team and our clients that we will be independent for a long time to come.
“We continue to invest in long-term progress, resilience and sustainability. In recent years that has meant innovating our services and broadening our expertise to accelerate decarbonisation. While the challenges of the coming decades are less clear, our team’s ideas, skills and passion will be essential to meet them, and the EOT structure can empower more ideas and perspectives on our future.
“As we celebrate reaching 50 years in business, we continue to evaluate our role in the decades to come. How should TFT benefit our team, our clients, our industry and the wider world? We all have a long way to go in improving our positive impacts on the future. This shared ownership structure is the best way to remain focused on those goals without conflict or compromise.”
Alistair Allison, CEO, TFT
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Staff Stories – Louis Junior Maycock
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Mill Road, Cambridge
The property is a retail building on a high street in Cambridge. TFT provided dilapidations advice and negotiation services to support the occupier in relocating from the premises. The occupier had previously held a 15 year lease and left the premises following a strip out project.
Our approach to dilapidations is to start with the facts and not deviate from them. Our team looked and assessed the condition before the lease was signed and used this as a basis for assessing the repairing liability. As this unit had a retail occupier, the tenants’ alterations played a major part and agreeing the extent of alterations was pivotal.
We were able to agree an exit with the landlord in a timely manner and to the satisfaction of the client. This approach allowed our client to focus on other interests. On behalf of the client, TFT agreed a settlement at 53% of the initial claim. The project also presented an opportunity to move away from the existing gas supply to a fully electric HVAC system. The system supported the occupiers net zero commitments, and the project reached an EPC of ‘B’ with 38 points.
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Green Dilapidations: more sustainable commercial property leases
Commercial building owners and occupiers are increasingly looking to fulfil their net zero carbon ambitions with measures beyond more sustainable development and energy performance practices. In particular, the current property leasing cycle and non-sustainable dilapidations processes are generating quantities of waste and carbon, which can be mitigated with a more sustainable approach: Green Dilapidations.
TFT’sGreen Dilapidations services are designed to help clients reduce the additional material, resources and cost associated with repeatedly fitting out and stripping out commercial property spaces over their lifetime. Taking a long-term view of tenancy, occupier and market requirements, we help our clients benefit from a more efficient, sustainable dilapidations process for both landlord and tenant.
Our support is rooted in facilitating better collaboration between stakeholders. That means the landlord and tenant of course, but also agents and the wider supply chain. Our sustainable building knowledge, commercial understanding and dilapidations expertise helps to formalise a better system as a whole.
We see a greater appetite from our landlord and tenant clients to adopt Green Dilapidations services. A notable occupier client is one of the leading property litigation practices, who we are helping to exit their existing offices in this way.
It’s not just for offices either, and can be used for retail, industrial and other commercial property sectors.
Martin’s project management approach adopts inclusive practices to drive innovation in project teams to rise to the challenge of client briefs to meet ever increasing regulation, ESG targets and sustainability accreditations.
He has a strong track record of delivering large complex projects covering refurbishment and redevelopment of existing structures with retained structures and facades in central London. Martin has managed disputes through to agreements with many tier 1 contractors and applies due diligence through his building pathology knowledge being a Chartered building surveyor and has represented developers, landlords and tenants.
Martin has often worked for several key clients; GPE, M&G RE, City of London Corporation, Portman Estates, The Crown Estate, B-flexion (Crosstree), Motcomb Estates, Quilter Plc, Global Holdings and CBRE IM. Martin has worked closely with end users to understand their key objectives, working across various sectors including commercial office, residential, retail and life sciences.
Martin previously worked at Buro Four and was responsible for leading the commercial offices sector and successfully delivered Quilter Plc’s new headquarter building at Senator House.
When not working I am involved in volunteer work including several years of mentoring British Council for Offices NextGen members, ex Co-Chair of Building Equality, Co-Chair of Maryland Community Group in east London and current Trustee at AMUK, with the aim to build London’s first permanent AIDS memorial by 2025.
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Sarah McDonnell
Sarah is Director of Project Management for the TFT Dublin office. She brings over 25 years of industry experience to TFT and has worked on a wide range of work overseeing all project management processes from purchase, through to design development and construction contract completion.
Her extensive experience includes projects across all industry sectors. Prior to joining TFT, Sarah worked on both client side for a prominent Irish property developer and also leading the refurbishment and Fit-Out division of one of Ireland’s leading contractors. Past clients include IPUT, Willis, JP Morgan, Google, KPMG and Hines.
Outside of the office, Sarah sits on the Board of ALONE, a charity dedicated to enabling older people to live independently at home and is also on the judging panel for the Irish Construction Excellence Awards.
Outside of work I am a mum to Aimee and Daragh, wife to Dave and chief dog walker to Pebbles. Weekends are usually spent as a taxi driver to matches, helping out on the local school’s Parents Association or trying to get my handicap down on the local golf course.
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RAAC in commercial buildings: what do you need to know?
Reinforced aerated autoclaved concrete (RAAC) is in the headlines following high-profile building failures and public scrutiny on the risks remaining to public buildings around the country. But is RAAC a material of concern for commercial buildings? If owners or occupiers of commercial buildings suspect that their buildings are constructed using RAAC, what should they do?
Many commercial building owners are aware of risks relating to RAAC and have developed guidance notes on its identification and management. But now, in light of widespread coverage of RAAC and its risks, many more people want to understand their exposure to it.
TFT Partner Jay Ridings has written on this issue for the RICS’ Built Environment Journal, and we’ve also compiled this set of frequently asked questions about RAAC. If you want to know about its origins, its use and management today, read on.
What is Reinforced Aerated Autoclaved Concrete (RAAC)?
In brief:
Aerated autoclaved concrete (AAC) is much lighter and softer than regular concrete, with lower thermal conductivity. AAC was originally developed in Sweden to form lightweight thermal blocks and, using the same method, wide reinforced planks (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) planks) were created. These planks are commonly found as roof decks, flooring and internal partitions. Occasionally they are also used as external walls.
What are the weaknesses of RAAC?
The greatest concern with RAAC planks is their potential for sudden shear failure. If a building structure is going to fail, we want this to happen by degrees so that there are warning signs to act on instead of immediate catastrophic failure. The reason for the shear failure is due to issues with the steel reinforcement, typically at the end of the planks.
Other concerns leading to deterioration of planks potentially impact their structural stability. Planks are prone to deflection and sagging, particularly if:
Planks are incorrectly detailed
Working loads have been underestimated
Elements are undersized
Reinforcement is inadequate
If there is sagging there is the potential for cracking and for the steel reinforcement to become exposed to moisture which could lead to corrosion. If roof planks begin to sag, water can gather on the roof above them (known as ponding). This may increase the load on the sagging planks, leading to further moisture ingress, exposure of the steel reinforcement, corrosion, and cracking.
Is RAAC found in commercial buildings?
In our experience, it is rare to see RAAC planks within commercial buildings. RAAC is most prominent in the public sector, notably schools and hospitals, but there are reports of its use in court buildings, prisons, and police stations.
However, these planks were available commercially and may be in buildings other than the above. In addition, buildings do change in their use and ownership over time, so there will be instances where buildings constructed within the public sector are now privately owned.
How do I know if my building contains RAAC?
There is no central register of buildings with RAAC planks, so identification depends on local knowledge and independent inspections. Here are some simple principles for identifying RAAC planks:
Panels 600mm wide
A distinctive V-shaped groove at regular spacing
White or light grey colour
On records or drawings, planks may be referred to by proprietary names such as Siporex, Durox, Celcon, Hebel and Ytong
Panels are very soft and if you press a screwdriver or nail into the surface, you will be able to make an indentation. Please note: care should be taken when investigating in this way as applied surface finishes may contain asbestos.
Inside, planks will appear bubbly like an Aero chocolate bar, with no visible stones (aggregate) in the panels.
If you suspect RAAC in your building, then an appropriately experienced Chartered Structural Engineer or Chartered Building Surveyor should be appointed for identification and inspection work.
Their investigations will include but are not limited to:
Assessing cracking
Measuring deflections
Reviewing water penetration and corrosion
Using cover meters to assess regular spacing of reinforcement
Checking that reinforcement extends to the end of planks and is properly supported
Taking and sending samples for laboratory testing
How can I manage RAAC?
If RAAC is discovered, you must undertake a risk assessment considering the use of the building, the areas affected and any deterioration of the structure. The position of reinforcement can be scanned using a cover meter and samples can be tested for carbonation, which is a sign that cracking could follow.
Structural engineers often recommend RAAC planks to be removed or strengthened wherever they are found, regardless of condition. This is because of the risk of sudden catastrophic failure and the fact that these planks are likely to have exceeded their design life. Subject to a full assessment of the risks, it may be possible to take a different approach.
Can you help me investigate RAAC in commercial buildings?
Yes, our team of Chartered Surveyors is on hand to investigate and manage improvements works for commercial buildings.
It is very likely there will be further discoveries and media attention on RAAC. News of failing buildings due to this outdated material highlights the urgent need for guidance and action to identify and implement remedial solutions.
The property is a mixed-use primarily retail complex incorporating the city library of Cambridge. The third floor of the building is occupied by an education provider with reception area, classrooms and dedicated washrooms.
As part of continued investment in the premises, by the asset manager and to support the ongoing service of the education provider to the city of Cambridge, TFT managed a design and build landlords CAT A and occupies CAT B fit out of the third floor.
The project included a new heating system an improved passive and dynamic fire protection and also presented an opportunity to move away from the existing gas supply to a fully electric HVAC system. The system supported the occupiers net zero commitments, and the project reached an EPC of ‘B’ with 38 points.
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