Author Archives: Grace Davey

Work progressing on charity’s new Waterfront youth hub

Work on a new youth hub for an Ipswich charity is well underway, with the project just weeks away from completion.

Seamans are proud to be supporting For Children & Young People (4YP) in creating the new youth hub on the Ipswich Waterfront, refurbishing a unit previously home to Oasis Lounge and Anytime Fitness Centre.

4YP supports young people aged between 7 and 25 through its mental health, counselling and youth work services.

The new hub, which will replace the charity’s current home in Lower Brook Street, is being funded with £1.14m from Ipswich Borough Council’s Town Fund.

Jonny Oliver, Contracts Manager for Seamans Building, said: “It’s a great project to be involved in.

“We’re turning it into a multifunction space – there will be rooms they can use for their counselling, there will be staff areas, craft rooms, offices, toilet facilities, kitchen areas and a large multi-use area in the centre of the building.

“It’s important to give them this amazing new space the charity has helped to design. 

“It’s going to be bright, with lots of colours – a space where the young people feel safe and happy to use it for all the different things they need to do, sparking all the different conversations they’ll have with the people who work for 4YP.”

As the building had sat vacant for some time, the building has required extensive refurbishment.

This has included stripping out the internal spaces, removing the old carpet tiles and shot blasting steel structures to ensure a blank canvas for plastering and decorating.

Jonny said the main challenges to overcome have been the building’s location at Regatta Quay.

“We have had quite a short timescale to get it all done, getting the project finished and ready for use,” he said.

“There has been a lot to do in a short amount of time. 

“On top of that, given its location right on the waterfront, there have been lots of challenges with all the people walking past and the limited space we have for vehicles.

“It has been a challenge to get some of the materials in as everything has had to be walked in from just down the road.”

Jonny added it has been a pleasure to work on a project that would positively impact so many young people’s lives.

“It’s been a good one to work on,” he said. “I think what really makes it so special is who we are doing the work for. 

“Often a project will be all about getting the work done as quickly as possible and on budget, but here they really care about what they’re creating and who they will be able to support.”

The new youth hub is set to open in the autumn.

Commitment and dedication celebrated at Seamans long-service ceremony

Seamans Building has celebrated the long service of its staff at a special awards event.

More than 55 staff from across the business gathered at The Victoria in Thurston on April 2 to shine a light on those who had been with the company for more than ten years – with some employees celebrating more than 40 years at the company.

Addressing those gathered, Managing Director Duncan Haydon said: “Today we are saying thank you to you all.

“Each of you are executing a wide range of work, heritage tasks, modern new builds; each task with unique and, at times, quite technical demands; a number of those challenges recognised by industry awards.

“Here we recognise those individuals who have shown exceptional loyalty, commitment, and dedication to our company, acknowledging their continuous employment.”

More than 36% of Seamans’ employees have worked with the company for more than ten years, with 12% at the company having worked for 25 years or more.

Following the ceremony, Duncan added: “This celebration was an opportunity to say thank you to our employees for their hard work and dedication over the years.

“Seamans Building has members of staff who have been with us for decades, so it’s wonderful to be able to get together to raise a glass to their achievements.

“We have an amazing team here at Seamans, with years of construction experience, and are proud that employees want to be with us for so many years.

“From new recruits just starting an apprenticeship to those who have been here for 40 years or more, our staff are at the heart of everything we do, so we are proud to celebrate their success.”

Topping out ceremony held for new 30-place nursery at Suffolk primary school

Seamans Building were proud to attend the topping out ceremony for a new early years facility at Melton Primary School – which will provide places for 30 children in the local community.

Construction of the new state-of-the-art nursery started in Autumn 2025, led by Concertus in partnership with Seamans, and is expected to be completed in May ready to welcome students at the start of the next school year. 

The design and construction teams gathered with local councillors and staff from the school on Wednesday, February 26 to celebrate the final brick being laid before the electrical, plumbing and finishing touches are put on the building.

Co-Headteacher Caroline Richardson said the children have been excited by the nursery’s construction, having been kept up-to-date with how the project has progressed in assemblies throughout the year.

“We are absolutely delighted to be opening our brand-new nursery building here at Melton Primary School,” she said.

“This wonderful new space allows us to expand our early years provision to welcome two-year-olds, giving even more families access to high-quality education from the very start of their child’s journey. 

“The purpose-built facilities have been thoughtfully designed to nurture creativity and confidence in some of the youngest members of our community. 

“It is a truly exciting milestone for our school, and we look forward to seeing our children thrive in this inspiring new environment”.

The project has been funded through East Suffolk Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and delivered in partnership with Suffolk County Council.

Site Manager Darren Knights, from Seamans, said: “It has been a really interesting project to work on.

“The children have been very engaged in what we have been doing and we have built a great relationship with the school and staff.

“The children were here to watch when the foundations were poured, so have seen the building constructed from the ground up.”

The innovative building will feature a large sheltered canopy so children can enjoy an all-weather play space, along with large windows framing views of the school grounds which will provide plenty of natural light.

Matt Lowe, Project Manager for Concertus, said: “It has been a brilliant project to be part of.

“We’ve had a few issues with the weather but Seamans have managed everything spectacularly well and have been great in engaging the children.”

To see more of our projects in the education sector, visit our projects page here. 

Jake marks successful start to life as Seamans’ Commercial Manager

Seamans’ new Commercial Manager, Jake Waggott, said he is loving life in the business after marking his first few months in post.

Jake joined the team in October 2025, having risen the ranks to Senior Quantity Surveyor at another local contractor since leaving sixth form in 2009.

Jake has got stuck into life at Seamans since taking on the position and has played a key role in several projects to date.

“It’s been really good,” he said. “Seamans is a great company with great people, and some really interesting projects to be a part of. 

“There’s a nice balance to the types of work we do and some exciting times ahead.”

Projects Jake has been involved in so far include two jobs at local schools, alongside a commercial warehouse build – with a new project at the University of Suffolk also on the horizon.

“It’s exciting,” he added. “It has been a nice change, taking on new work with some new and not-so-new faces. It’s a small world! 

“I really enjoy the commercial side, following the whole process from start to finish. 

“Depending on the number of live projects I have on, I get a great balance of being on-site and being in the office, which is something I really enjoy about the role.”

Adam Cummings, our Commercial Director, added: “When Jake first accepted the role, I was delighted to have him on board, and the last few months have only reinforced that decision. He’s already become a key figure in the future of the business and has fitted straight into the team ethos we value so highly. There are exciting times ahead, and I’m really pleased that Jake will be part of that journey with us.”

To learn more about employment and development opportunities at Seamans, visit our careers page here. 

Seamans strengthen aftercare service ahead of new legislation

As new legislation raises expectations around building safety and tenant protection, aftercare is no longer “nice to have” – it’s a compliance-critical service.

Awaab’s Law places increased importance on inspection regimes, defect prioritisation, remedial timescales and clear reporting, with statutory response times for damp, mould and serious hazards.
It represents a significant shift in how buildings must be managed after completion but at Seamans, we didn’t wait for legislation to drive improvement.

September 2025, Seamans strengthened our aftercare capability with the appointment of Mal Manning as Aftercare Manager, reinforcing a service designed to provide structure, accountability and reassurance, long after handover.

Mal leads our aftercare team, ensuring defects are quickly logged, prioritised, tracked and resolved within defined timescales – giving clients confidence their legal and contractual obligations are being met.

“For our clients, it acts as a safety blanket,” said Mal. “They know they’ll be supported even after the initial build is complete, and that any issues will be taken seriously and dealt with promptly.”

For up to two years following completion, Mal and his team will remain actively involved, carrying out site assessments, identifying root causes and ensuring defects are properly rectified.

A final inspection with the client ensures all outstanding items are addressed before the aftercare period concludes.

Commercial Director Adam Cummings added: “As legislation evolves, aftercare needs to move from reactive to robust, structured and accountable.

“Mal’s appointment gives our clients a clear point of contact and real peace of mind that we stand behind the quality of our work.”

If you’re reviewing what Awaab’s Law means for your buildings or assets, our aftercare team is already set up to help.

If you would like to contact our aftercare team please email MManning@seamans.co.uk.

Work set to start on new Suffolk nursery in Melton

Seamans Building is proud to have been appointed to deliver a state-of-the-art new nursery in Suffolk as a village school looks to expand.

The new early years centre at Melton Primary School, near Woodbridge, will provide 30 new places at the school.

The single-storey building will be built using buff brick materials to blend in with its surroundings and will include a canopied area leading to a new play space.

Our Pre-Construction Director, Mark Reason, said: ‘We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver the new early years facility at Melton Primary School.

“We can already see the positive influence the school has on the local community and the wonderful work that has gone into providing the children with such a great blend of indoor and outdoor learning spaces.

“It is testament to the dedication of everyone associated with the school.

“Seamans are excited to be collaborating with Concertus and Suffolk County Council to further enhance the school for more children to enjoy.”

Funding for the project has been achieved through East Suffolk Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy – a pot made up of contributions by housing developers for use on projects such as schools and medical centres.

Planning permission for the nursery was granted in June 2025, with work set to begin before the end of the year.

Charles Coulson, Associate Director at project managers Concertus, said: “We are dedicated to creating a nurturing and engaging environment for the youngest learners in our community.

“By collaborating with Seamans Building and Suffolk County Council, we aim to bring this vision to life and improve early years provision in Woodbridge.

“We look forward to the positive impact this facility will have on local families and the school community.”

Cllr Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND at Suffolk County Council, added: “We are very pleased to be able to deliver 30 early years places at Melton Primary School.

“These additional places will ensure young children living in the area have access to good quality early education in a purpose-built environment.

“This not only supports the children’s development but also enables parents to access funded childcare.”

Meet Seamans’ new Construction Director Matt Bynoe

Seamans are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Construction Director, Matt Bynoe.

Matt has a wealth of experience in construction, having spearheaded a wide variety of challenging projects across Suffolk and beyond throughout his career.

Matt said he was excited to join the Seamans’ team, impressed by the company’s long history of delivering high-quality projects.

He said: “Seamans was an attractive move for me because there’s such a great balance of skills here – the senior team and skilled operatives offer a unique blend to customers and end users.

“They have been in the business for a long time and have an impressive track record of staff retention.

“The balance is perfect, you have new staff who have been here a few years and others who have been here for their whole careers.

“It means the company has people coming in with new ways of thinking and approaching projects but also employees with huge experience and knowledge in multiple sectors.”

Starting his career in civil engineering, Matt put himself through college while working part time, later joining an Essex-based construction firm as a management trainee.

He worked at a number of construction companies over the years, most recently spending 15 years as Contracts Director at a large regional building firm, building extensive experience in complex, multisector projects.

These include complex restoration projects, including the repair and refurbishment of the scheduled ancient monument St Osyth Priory – one of the oldest monastic gatehouses in the UK.

Matt said his experience with heritage projects would be helpful in his role at Seamans.

“The St Osyth Priory project was a privilege to work on, taking a lot of coordination between Historic England, planners, trustees and various other interested parties,” he said.

“Historic building restoration is challenging from a contracts point of view, difficult to budget and programme and to navigate stakeholders – but hugely rewarding.”

“I’ve really enjoyed it here at Seamans since joining in May.

“It’s regional, well-established, has been going for 120 years and has a very good working environment.

“It also means I travel and work in a beautiful part of the country, which is a big bonus.”

To read more about Seaman’s board of directors, see our blog page here.

Suffolk pub devastated in fire is rebuilt

Seamans Building is proud to have completed work on a Suffolk town’s grade II listed community pub – after it was ravaged by fire more than a decade ago.

The George in Wickham Market, the town’s last remaining pub, suffered severe damage in a devastating fire in April 2013 and has remained closed ever since.

However, thanks to a large community fundraising campaign the pub has now risen from the ashes.

Ben Whatling, Director at Seamans, said the company was proud to play its part in saving the historic building.

He said: “It is wonderful to see this grade II listed pub back in action – it’s a valuable community resource and an important social hub for the whole town.

“To be part of such an important project for the town has been great and we are delighted to see the building serving the local area once again.”

The restored pub is thought to have been built as far back as the early 16th century, dating back to the time of Henry VIII.

Following the fire, the building was in a severe state of disrepair, with the pub completely gutted by the blaze.

Seamans were first required to ensure the building was safe and then removed the loose fire damaged parts of the structure.

They then took back what was left of the oak frame before work could start on restoring it to its former glory.

The project was funded through generous grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Community Share Booster Programme, Co-op Finance and The Community Ownership Fund – part of the Government’s Levelling Up programme – as well as a host of community fundraising events.

A spokesperson for The George Pub Management Committee said: “Following the fire and its loss to the community in 2013, it’s fantastic to see The George pub sympathetically restored and secured for generations to come.”

Ribbon-cutting celebration marks reopening Suffolk primary school

Seamans Building was thrilled to take part in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the reopening of Otley Primary School following a fire in the school’s toilets just before Christmas.

Following the fire, pupils were relocated to the nearby Witnesham Primary School while plans to renovate the school were put together.

Seamans Building, along with the design team, Concertus, Vertas Property Management Team, and Suffolk County Council, quickly set up temporary classrooms to provide the children with a safe learning environment while work to refurbish the school took place.

Last week the team behind the project reunited, joined by pupils, parents and school staff, for a grand reopening – cutting a ribbon to mark the completion of the school’s restoration.

The team behind the renovation project joined pupils, parents and staff at the reopening celebration. Credit: Concertus.

Donna Barford, Senior Quantity Surveyor at Seamans Building, said: “It has been a real privilege to be part of the team supporting the school during such a challenging time. 

“From swiftly relocating students to safe temporary classrooms to carefully restoring, refurbishing and enhancing the damaged building, it’s been a pleasure to work closely with the school staff, Concertus and Suffolk County Council to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for the pupils’ return.”

Hannah Evans, Executive Headteacher at both Otley and Witnesham primary schools, said: “Our two schools are linked under a shared Headteacher and a single governing body.

“Although each school retains its own unique identity, this was an extraordinary opportunity for teachers and pupils to come together and maximise learning for all pupils. 

“I am so grateful to our community for the incredible support shown and to the staff and children for their fantastic adaptability and ‘can do’ attitude.”

Once temporary classrooms were in place, works to rectify the fire and smoke damage included the complete strip-out of the hallway, toilets and offices, as well as extensive roof repairs.

Annett Thompson, Senior Project Manager at Concertus, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Hannah, who has been instrumental in our exceptional results on this project.

“Given the tight timelines, this accomplishment is remarkable and was made possible by outstanding communication and teamwork by all involved.”

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, children were given an overview of what works had taken place, along with insight into what a career in construction could look like.

Seamans’ work on Tiverton House earns local industry award

Seamans Building are thrilled to have won a prestigious local construction award alongside a world-renowned architect.

Our team, together with Quinlan Terry Architects LLP, were the proud recipients of this year’s Craftsmanship Award at the Suffolk Joint Construction Committee (SJCC) Awards, honouring the finest design and craft in Suffolk.

The award was in recognition of our work on Tiverton House, a stunning property in Aldeburgh built following the English Palladian Country House tradition.

Ben Whatling, our Special Works Director, said: “We are honoured to take home this prestigious award together with Roger Barrell and David Jones at Quinlan Terry Architects.

“Together we have created an incredible property which perfectly captures the grandeur and beauty of a Georgian country home.

“The project took an immense level of hard work and attention to detail from our team and supply chain partners – and as always, our commitment to excellence shone throughout. We couldn’t be prouder of the results.

“A huge congratulations go to all the fellow winners showcasing the incredible talent on display across our county.”

Completed in 2023, Tiverton House is built using Flemish Bond buff brickwork in hydraulic lime and sand mortar with penny joining to both bed and perp joints.

Its magnificent facade is complete with pistol brick arches, stone cills and pediments, earning it national attention and award glory from the Georgian Society.

Together with Quinlan Terry CBE, Roger and the team at Quinlan Terry have gained worldwide recognition for their work in the New Classical Style, with King Charles III highlighting Quinlan as his ‘favourite architect’.

Tiverton House is one of many bespoke new build homes we have worked on in recent years, ranging from barn conversions to contemporary homes of distinction.

More information on our work as a new home builder and property developer can be found here.