London & South East Premier Construction

R G Carter Group

RG Carter
Written by Roma Publications

 

RG Carter

R G Carter Group specialise in delivering high quality construction, civil engineering and project management services across a range of sectors.

Founded in 1921 the firm have built up extensive experience in the following sectors; commercial, defence, education, emergency services, health, heritage, homes, industrial, infrastructure, leisure, retail and energy.

The family owned business has achieved growth over the past 90 years by combining strong traditional values with an innovative and forward thinking approach. The construction specialists service their national and regional clients from a network of offices based throughout the central and eastern regions of the UK, providing design, sustainable, partnered construction and project management services for private and public sector clients.

R G Carter is able to work on a plethora of projects ranging in size from £50 to over £50 million.

The firm’s strong traditional values are based upon honesty, trust and the development of long term relationships. They place client values at the heart of their operations, nurturing strategic partnerships with key clients through prudent financial management, open communication and a ‘one team’ approach.

By continually developing modern techniques and innovative approaches to successful project delivery, R G Carter is able to provide services that exceed clients’ expectations. The firm’s business approach has made them an industry leading contractor with a range of repeat business clients who trust and respect their values and commitment.

The firm always works collaboratively with clients, staff and suppliers and pride themselves on their ability to develop, design and construct in a sympathetic manner to the communities within which they operate.

The firm also embraces the principles of sustainable construction.

Since their inception the firm have worked with a plethora of clients including Broadland Housing Association, Waitrose, Lloyds TSB, Peterborough Garden Park, Tesco, Caterpillar, Norwich Castle, St Andrews Church, Framlingham Castle, Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board,Ipswich Borough Council, Battersea Dog & Cats Home and St Ives Business Park.

As part of Whitbread’s ongoing plans to add at least another 4,000 rooms to their portfolio across the UK, R G Carter are very pleased to be playing a part in expanding the Premier brand having recently handed over the new hotel in Rochester.

The firm has also undertaken the construction of a 121 bedroom hotel in just 49 weeks. The contract was awarded to R G Carter following their successful completion of several projects including hotel extensions at Ruislip in Kent, Weeley Heath in Essex and Ipswich in Suffolk as well as the conversion of Lord Alan Sugar’s Amprop offices to create a new 122 bedroom Premier Inn in Brentwood.

The firm remained committed to sustainability during this project and has installed showerheads that save three litres of water every minute, as well as a solar window film which allows light in but reduces the need for cooling by keeping heat out in summer.

R G Carter has also established a long working relationship with Norwich Cathedral. Over the years the construction firm has restored the cathedral’s original look by replacing cast iron downpipes with lead, the material originally used by the Normans who constructed the building 950 years ago.

They have also erected scaffolding standing ten-storeys tall in order to access the highest of the 36 water pipes. This work required the careful protection of the ancient lead roofing and stained glass windows against accidental damage. The new lead pipes exactly match existing lead guttering, as do the moulded ears that secure them to the walls.

The team has also undertaken a number of new build projects at Norwich Cathedral including the construction of a library, reception, reading room and restaurant on the site of a former refectory used by Benedictine Monks.

The two storey new build features English oak and is complemented by the exposed flint fabric of the existing cathedral building. The building boasts 18 oak columns, each weighing a tonne that terminates in four finger props to support the roof and a glass elevator.

The new building is tucked into the shadow of the cathedral and is virtually hidden from view. RIBA have hailed the refectory as one of the best examples of architecture in the East of England and the building achieved second place in a contest run by the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust. The chairman, Lord St John of Fawsley, commented:

“The architectural challenge in this country is how to graft the future on to the past – enhancing but not harming it.”

 

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