5 July 2013

The Sheffield Cathedral Gateway Project, being funded as part of a £1.3 million Heritage Lottery Fund award, will see the modernisation and transformation of this significant and historic Grade I listed building.

Working with the main contractors, William Anelay Ltd of York, Quartzelec in Manchester have been awarded the M&E contract to deliver all the necessary related works for the new heating, electrical, water, ventilation, communications and lighting systems within the cathedral.

Quartzelec will be responsible for installing, commissioning and testing, a number of systems designed to ensure the safety of the cathedral and increase accessibility for all. As well as the provision of the new main/sub-main distribution system, new lighting and emergency lighting, fire alarms, telephones, data, AV and hearing assistance systems will be installed which will help bring the building into the 21st century and meet the overall project objective, of becoming ‘a place for all people’.

Quartzelec’s scope also includes replacing the existing boiler with a new installation that includes an under-floor heating system, relocating the existing cold water plant, as well as installing a water sterilisation system for the cathedral’s font.

Installation and commissioning for the M&E re-fit is due to be completed early 2014.

“This is a truly demanding project as the Cathedral will remain open to the public throughout the programme of works with regular services being conducted,” stated Martin Broughton, General Manager of Quartzelec Manchester. “We will be liaising closely with staff, clergy and other on-site contractors to ensure that all health and safety requirements are met and that least disruption is caused to them and all visitors throughout the project; plus we will be observing a strict code of conduct, befitting this place of worship.”

Martin Broughton continued: “We are delighted to be continuing our working relationship with William Anelay, having already completed numerous prestigious, high profile restoration schemes together. Another ongoing project that underlines our ability to sympathetically work on extremely demanding developments is the M&E contract we are currently delivering at Middleport Pottery, the last working Victorian ceramics factory in the UK. It was acquired by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust in June 2011 and HRH The Prince of Wales has already made several progress visits to the site this year.”