CEMEX UK wins CILT award

CEMEX UK has won a prestigious Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) award for its outstanding efforts in helping to protect vulnerable road users.

The award is recognition for the considerable work that CEMEX has done to improve the safety of vulnerable road users since 2004.

Over 500 of the UK’s leading professionals in transport, logistics and transport attended the CILT awards ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel. The awards look to recognise outstanding achievement and to encourage the highest standards and a professional approach to the practice of logistics and transport.

The judges commented: “CEMEX’s ambition is to become a beacon and really make a difference in helping to make Britain’s roads safer for vulnerable road users. Extensive investment and stakeholder engagement has returned impressive results on all these initiatives.”

The initiatives pioneered by the Company have encompassed all aspects of the transport business including driver training, additional safety features on their large goods vehicles (LGVs) and a comprehensive education programme working with cyclists to highlight the dangers about LGVs.

A key aspect of CEMEX’s have also been collaborating with leading industry bodies to help create a national standard of safety features on vehicles and raise awareness of the issues involved.

Dave Hart, Director CEMEX Logistics, commented: “We have to share the limited road space and increasingly have an appreciation and respect for everyone’s needs on the roads. As a business we need to get building materials to construction sites to build homes, roads, hospitals etc and cyclists and pedestrians need to get to work and go about their business. A large lorry and a cyclist do not make a harmonious mix!

“We are delighted to have won this award and receive recognition of the work that we have done.”

CEMEX vehicles have had innovative safety features added such as extra mirrors, proximity sensors and cameras have been added where appropriate.

CEMEX became the first company in the UK to operate and trial the new Econic tipper, designed by Mercedes-Benz to give the driver up to 90% extra visibility, while still being able to carry 20 tonnes of aggregates.

The Company have also held ‘Exchanging Places’ events that encourage cyclists to get into a cab of one of CEMEX’s vehicles to learn more about potential blind spots around an LGV. Since it’s inception, the programme has engaged 7,000 cyclists, with over 40 events being held throughout the country.

Equally important to the CEMEX’s commitment to safety is continual driver training and engagement. Every driver receives a minimum of three training sessions per year.

All 92 drivers in the London Readymix business have participated in the Safe Urban Driving course and this programme is being rolled out nationally amongst the Logistics drivers, who drive cement tankers and aggregate tippers, as part of their driver CPC programme.

Cemex also run the Safe Urban Driving course, which equips drivers with the knowledge, skills and defensive driving techniques to deal with the difficulties of driving in a busy urban environment. The course also allows driver to get on cycles to experience the road from the cyclists point of view.

All 92 drivers in the London Readymix business have participated in the Safe Urban Driving course, with the programme due to be rolled out nationally amongst the Logistics drivers, who drive cement tankers and aggregate tippers as part of their driver CPC programme.

The post CEMEX UK wins CILT award appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Smart meter rollout underway

By the end of 2020, every home across England, Scotland and Wales will be offered a new smart meter by their energy supplier.

The meters will a vital role in the government’s strategy to make the UK greener and more energy efficient and safeguarding its energy supply.

Smart meters will replace traditional meters and will offer a range of intelligent functions that will enable consumers to measure their gas and electricity consumption and securely send the information wirelessly to the household’s energy supplier and the consumer’s handheld smart meter display.

This next generation of meters will ensure accurate bills and mean an end to manual readings and estimated bills.

The smart meter will display almost real time information on a household’s energy use, showing the cost of consumption in pounds and pence, giving consumers an understanding of what energy is being used and the spent. This will allow householders to confidently budget for their energy cost.

The meters can be used for either prepay or credit payment methods, giving more flexibility and choice in choosing payment for energy bills.

Another benefit of the meters is that comparing energy tariffs will be much simpler, making the process of switching between energy providers easier and much quicker.

It is hoped that in the future, smart meters will be used in conjunction with smarter energy grids to help energy suppliers to be able to plan the supply and demand of gas and electricity. This will benefit consumers by way of cheaper tariffs at off-peak times.

Almost two million smart meters have already been installed across Great Britain and by 2020; around 50 million smart meters will be fitted in over 26 million households.

The post Smart meter rollout underway appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Chancellor to launch National Infrastructure Commission

Chancellor George Osborne will today launch the new National Infrastructure Commission, which will be tasked to oversee £100Bn of infrastructure spending by 2020.

The £100Bn, which was originally announced back in 2013, will be spent on “vital” infrastructure projects such as roads, rail and flood defences.

The commission will be led by Lord Adonis and made up of seven other commissioners: former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine; former Chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority Sir John Armitt: former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee Professor Tim Besley; Head of DeepMind Technologies Demis Hassabis; Design Panel Chair of HS2 Sadie Morgan; former Chief Economist Bridget Rosewell and Chairman of the Victoria & Albert Museum, Sir Paul Ruddock.

The National Infrastructure Commission will create a report at the beginning of each five-year Parliament and make recommendations for priority infrastructure projects.

The Chancellor said: “Infrastructure isn’t some obscure concept – it’s about people’s lives, economic security and the sort of country we want to live in. That’s why I am determined to shake Britain out of its inertia on infrastructure and end the situation where we trail our rivals when it comes to building everything from the housing to the power stations that our children will need.

“This is about jobs, growth, living standards and ensuring Britain is fit for the future. We must be the builders. At the Spending Review, I will commit to investing £100Bn in infrastructure over the next five years and we are creating an independent commission to give us a long-term, unbiased analysis of the country’s major infrastructure needs.”

The post Chancellor to launch National Infrastructure Commission appeared first on UK Construction Online.

CIC encourage Irish construction industry to back BIM

Kevin Rudden, President of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland, has announced the Construction Industry Council of Ireland’s (CIC) vision for a new digital future for the Irish construction industry.

Six Irish trade bodies, the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland, the Association of Consulting Engineers, Engineers Ireland, the Construction Industry Federation, and the Society of Chartered Surveyors and the Building Materials Federation in Ireland will look to guide Ireland’s move towards the digitisation of the construction industry.

Speaking at the launch of Digital Construction Week, Mr Rudden said the CIC “embraces” the BIM enabled world. He said: “The CIC actively encourages the Irish construction and built environment sector to continue to take full advantages of current and emerging information and communication technologies and to remain at the forefront of the industry in Europe.

“We see BS and PAS 1192 as important routes towards standardising BIM implementation.”

Mr Rudden said that the huge amount of overseas investment in Ireland, with the United States having invested $277Bn since 1990, has helped to drive BIM capability in Ireland.

He said: “The United States has been the world’s earliest adopters of BIM and in recent years, Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Amazon and Google have demanded BIM on all their development projects in Ireland.”

Intel’s $4BN investment in a new processor plant in Leixlip was also a key step, according to Mr Rudden. The project represented Ireland’s largest BIM project to date and involved a significant level of training in BIM across Ireland and had over 300 designers working simultaneously on the project at its peak.

Mr Rudden praised the UK government’s leadership on mandating BIM saying that it had “incentivised” the Irish construction industry to meet the challenge of BIM implementation. He said: “Since 2010, Irish exports of design services have increased by about 500% and a good portion of these services are true BIM. There’s also Irish government support for BIM to the Government 2020 strategy. It makes clear recommendations to support companies advancing to Level 2 BIM capability.”

Mr Rudden also used the occasion to announce the first national survey to benchmark the level of BIM adoption in Ireland.

The survey reveals that 67% of the top architects, engineers and contractors are confident in their BIM skills and knowledge. The figure for engineers was even higher at 90%.

Only 6% reported having no confidence, with the remaining 27% expressing a general knowledge of BIM and a gradual improvement in BIM skills.

75% of the respondents reported an increase demand for BIM in Ireland.

The survey also showed that there was a marginal majority in favour of Ireland following the UK in mandating BIM on public sector projects.

The post CIC encourage Irish construction industry to back BIM appeared first on UK Construction Online.

New home registrations up 9% on last year

New figures released today by the NHBC show that new home registrations dropped by 2% in the third quarter in comparison to the same period in 2014.

However, the overall year to-to-date statistics reveal that the number of new homes registered with NHBC has increased 9% from last year’s figures.

Including September, the number of new homes registered this year is 117,525 in comparison to 108,118 in 2014.

In the third quarter, 36,219 new homes were registered compared with 36,955 a year ago. The private sector is static at -1% (28,527; 28,906 in 2014), with the public sector down by 4% (7,692; 8,049 in 2014).

The fall in public sector registrations has been attributed by analysts to numerous housing associations sitting on developments due to welfare reforms and the cap on rental increases.

According to the figures, London saw a 25% increase in the number of new homes registered in the third quarter – 7,289 compared with 5,812 in the third quarter of 2014.

Nationally, there was positive news when comparing the statistics to last year: Northern Ireland saw a rise of 39%, Scotland 8% and Wales 4% all enjoyed a positive quarter when compared to the same period last year.

Several regions in England, however, reported a fall in the number of registrations for the quarter but year-to-date figures indicate reveal growth in ten out twelve regions in the UK.

NHBC Chief Executive Mike Quinton commented: “Despite the marginal drop in housing registrations this quarter, 2015 is still promising to be a strong year for new housing growth in the UK. Our year-to-date figures show that registrations in both the private and public sector are ahead of last year.

“The industry remains upbeat and is working hard to build the number of homes our country so desperately needs, despite the pressures associated with rapid growth.”

The post New home registrations up 9% on last year appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Famous voices take over transport network on London Poppy Day

A host of famous voices and football stars will today take over the transport network to help encourage commuters to donate to The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

The celebrities providing their voices for the campaign include Brian Blessed, Danny Dyer, Barbara Windsor, Stephen Fry and Sir Derek Jacobi, with Arsene Wenger, John Terry and Harry Kane amongst those representing the world of football.

London Poppy Day is part of the national poppy appeal and seeks to raise as much money as possible over the course of a single day to provide support for the whole Armed Forces community.

The famous voices will be heard at London’s biggest and busiest railway stations, across the Tube network and on trams. The poppy message will also be displayed across 2,500 roadside countdown systems at bus stops.

As part of what’s now developed into an annual tradition, two Circle line Tube trains will be covered in the poppy livery, as well as nine London buses. All London Underground, London Overground and DLR trains will also display poppies on the front and back of every train.

A giant poppy will greet visitors to Kings Cross railway station, while Waterloo will host a poppy installation. Commuters and visitors to the station will be able to hear military bands at selected locations.

London’s Transport Commissioner, Mike Brown MVO, said: “We are proud to support The Royal British Legion’s annual London Poppy Day appeal in honour of the 4,500 transport workers, and all others from across the country, who have given their lives in both World Wars and other conflicts.

“Our transport network has once again been covered in the eye-catching poppy livery and customers traveling around the Capital will be entertained by famous voices making some special announcements.”

Phil Hufton, Network Rail’s Managing Director of Network Operations, said: “Network Rail has long supported the work of the Royal British Legion and our armed forces and proudly welcomes volunteer collectors and military personnel into our stations. On behalf of the RBL, we would like to thank our passengers and stations’ visitors for their generous contributions to this important cause.

“Visitors to London Victoria station can also visit the rail industry’s WWI exhibition, which commemorates the vital contribution made by thousands of railway workers, both men and women and the sacrifices that were made.”

On London Poppy Day, there will be around 2,500 uniformed personnel, veterans and volunteers collecting at around 50 Tube and main line stations.

Charles Byrne, Director of Fundraising for The Royal British Legion, said: “London Poppy Day wouldn’t be what it is without the people behind it. What started with 10 people in 2006 has undoubtedly grown in size but it’s still the thousands of individuals behind it that make it what it is today. From the uniformed collectors stationed across the city to the volunteers and musicians, we’re grateful to Londoners for getting in the spirit of the day and showing their support to the Armed Forces community.”

TfL will provide free travel to all volunteer collectors on 29 October. The train companies will also provide free travel to all volunteer collectors coming to London by train between 28 to 30 October, to support the London Poppy Day fundraising event.

 

 

The post Famous voices take over transport network on London Poppy Day appeared first on UK Construction Online.

£15M projects awarded for RAF Lossiemouth

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has awarded contracts worth a total of £15M for two new projects at RAF Lossiemouth to support the station’s Typhoon aircraft.

RAF Lossiemouth is home to squadrons operating both the Typhoon and Tornado jets and is also the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North Base, which sees it scramble crews and aircraft to intercept unidentified aircraft in UK airspace.

Henry Brothers have been awarded the £9M contract for an Installed Engine Test Facility. This building will house aircraft undergoing testing following the repair or replacement of an engine. The enclosed facility will be highly specialised and contain technology to keep the aircraft in place while the engine is running and an instant fire suppression system. It will also include soundproofing technology to reduce engine noise to a safe level and deaden sound waves, which could otherwise damage the aircraft.

Balfour Beatty Regional Construction secured the second contract to build a £6M Typhoon Propulsion Service Facility. This will provide workshop and office facilities fro Rolls Royce engineers to rebuild, support and supply the EJ200 engines used by 3 Typhoon Squadron.

The building will contain a highly secure storage area for the engines in hermetically sealed weatherproof engine pods.

The DIO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties, as well as providing related support services to meet needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.

Jim Ellistone, DIO’s Project Manager said: “DIO is currently undertaking a considerable amount of work at RAF Lossiemouth to support the three Typhoon squadrons now stationed here. These two projects are completely new facilities and an important part of the overall Typhoon programme.

The Installed Engine Test Facility and Typhoon Propulsion Service Facility will assist and support all three squadrons by ensuring the jet engines can be fully maintained, repaired, replaced, and checked safely on the ground. This will ensure that they are running optimally, efficiently and above all safely before taking to the air.”

Work both projects is due to start soon and due to complete by autumn 2016.

The post £15M projects awarded for RAF Lossiemouth appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station gets go ahead

Permission has been given today to Multifuel Energy Limited to build the Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station at Knottingley, West Yorkshire.

Energy Minister Lord Bourne approved the development, with construction expected to create 500 job opportunities to the area and 35 permanent positions once in operation.

Lord Bourne said: “This exciting project that will turn waste into energy is a great example of how innovation can help to power our homes and add to our energy mix

“This project will offer secure energy to Britain’s hardworking families and businesses, creating jobs and financial security for working people and boosting the Northern Powerhouse”.

The power station will be able to produce up to 90MWe of electricity by burning fuel derived from refuse and industrial and commercial waste, such as wood, which would have originally ended up in landfill.

It was announced earlier this year that Ferrybridge C Power Station will close in March 2016 with the loss of 400 jobs due to an increase in running costs and new environmental regulations.

Tom Maillet, Director of Engineering and Operations for Multifuel Energy Ltd, said: “We are delighted that the Secretary of State has made the decision to grant planning permission for the Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 project.

“We believe the Multifuel 1 project, which is fully operational, and the Multifuel 2 project can make a positive, low carbon contribution to the UK’s electricity supply and help to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.”

The development construction is expected to take around three years to complete.

The post Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station gets go ahead appeared first on UK Construction Online.

AMP6: A watershed moment

AMP6 kicked off in March this year, with the utility companies moving into the sixth phase of asset management following a long period of tendering and negotiations.

This phase of investment has seen the shift in focus from short term investment, replacing the ageing structures and systems to improve efficiency, to a ‘totex’ – or total expenditure investment – looking to improve and upgrade the systems for future benefits and in the long term.

The realignment was set out in an Ofwat report, published in 2013, which showed the methodology Ofwat would use to assess water companies’ business plans for AMP6.

The methodology relates to water supply and sewerage in England and Wales and made it clear that the water industry’s emphasis is shifting from the ‘ticking regulatory boxes’ approach of previous AMPs to focusing on value for money for customers.

For the first four AMP periods, water companies’ business plans were dominated by the need to meet tough European Union legislation covering issues like wastewater quality and wildlife habitats.

This period will see water companies trying to get the most out of their existing assets and finding ways to minimise cost of operation.

The Ofwat document made it clear that water companies should be focusing on what it called ‘long-term outcomes’, which it hopes will encourage innovative ways of working that will deliver services for less money, and with less impact on the environment.

As a result, the regulator expects to see substantial efficiency savings being delivered during the five year AMP6 period.

At the same time, Ofwat wants to encourage companies to manage water supplies more sustainably. It believes this will happen because the companies will no longer have a bias toward capital intensive and resource intensive solutions, and because it is introducing incentives to encourage the water companies to trade water and to source it form areas that do not damage the natural environment.

This shift in emphasis is leading to water companies looking for different skill sets from their supply chains – expertise that will help make more of existing assets.

The focus on long-term thinking is also being reflected in the way some water companies are looking to procure the firms that will deliver work during AMP6, with many opting for alliances, or for frameworks that run beyond the traditional five-year AMP period.

Ofwat gave final approval to a £44Bn spend by water firms over the next period at the end of last year, saying that the deals struck with the water companies will lead to 5% average fall in bills across England and Wales.

Jonson Cox, Ofwat Chairman, said: “This is an important step in maintaining customers’ trust and confidence in the water sector.

“We set out to deliver a challenging but fair outcome. We are requiring companies to meet higher service standards and deliver on their promises to customers.

“We are bringing down bills so customers can expect value for money, while investors can earn a fair return. Companies will need to stretch themselves to deliver much more with the same level of funding as in previous years. We will achieve more resilient infrastructure and better service as a result.”

Alongside the asset investment and upgrade, major projects set to take place include Severn Trent Water’s Birmingham Resilience project, Wessex Water’s integrated supply grid, and modernisation of United Utilities’ Davyhulme wastewater treatment works, with the Thames Tideway Tunnel to be financed and delivered by an independent provider.

Northumbrian Water names AMP6 winning bidders

Northumbrian Water recently named the four winning contractors to deliver the AMP6 framework.

An Esh Construction and MWH Joint Venture, Integrated Water Services, Interserve and Mott MacDonald Bentley will carry out planned maintenance work on Northumbrian Water’s network over the ten-year contract.

Works on the AMP6 contract range from short term flood damage mitigation to long-term, large-scale capital projects designed to improve overall asset infrastructure.

John McGovern, Northumbrian Water Group’s Head of Asset Delivery, said: “These partnership agreements clearly demonstrate our commitment to providing our customers, who rely on us every day, with an excellent service and to protecting the environment. The contracts will boost the economy of our region and of the local communities we serve and will also support employment.

”We are working closely with all companies involved to ensure the smooth transition of contracts and we look forward to working with those appointed. Having long-term framework agreements in place will enable better planning, relationship building and the transfer of in-depth knowledge and skills. As a result of the security that this work brings, those who have won contracts will also be able to further invest in their own businesses, people and systems.”

Stephen Wilkie, Regional Managing Director of Esh Construction, based in County Durham, said: “We are proud and delighted to have been awarded this contract together with our colleagues at MWH, especially as our working partnership goes back for more than ten years.

”This contract extends our working relationship with Northumbrian Water with whom we have worked for over 20 years and is in addition to another contract – delivering reactive wastewater maintenance services – which we won earlier this year.”

Cath Schefer, Managing Director of MWH UK said: “We’re delighted with our appointment to this framework contract with our partners Esh. It is a great opportunity to bring our complementary capabilities to meet the challenges of AMP6 and the Totex environment. We look forward to working collaboratively with the other framework partners to drive efficiencies and ‘best in class’ customer service.”

Northumbrian Water Group supplies 2.7 million people with water and waste water services in the North East and 1.8 million people with water services in Essex and Suffolk.

Yorkshire Water Services appoints £100M contract partner

Yorkshire Water Services has appointed Nomenca Limited, part of the NM Group, a £100M contract in the delivery of their £3.8Bn AMP6 investment programme.

Carrying out the repair, restoration, maintenance and improvement works to Yorkshire Water Service’s existing assets, as well as some customer support responsibilities.

Mark Fryer, General Manager for Nomenca Leeds commented: “this is a key contract win for Nomenca. I am thrilled, excited and looking forward to being involved with working collaboratively with Yorkshire Water to deliver savings through their Direct Delivery Model.”

Paul Robins, asset solutions manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “Following a 12 month selection period, we are pleased to announce that Nomenca is one of four contract partners we will be working with to deliver this new MEICA capital framework. The MEICA framework will provide a fast and efficient delivery route where capital work can go straight into delivery. A key element of the new framework will involve the contract partners bringing the private to public pumping stations up to company standards.”

The post AMP6: A watershed moment appeared first on UK Construction Online.

SMEs from UK and China attend UKTI Manchester event

A successful business matchmaking event was held in Manchester during the state visit of President Xi Jinping, hosted by UKTI and the Bank of China, Britain’s oldest bank.

The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) matchmaking event brought together 100 SMEs from across China to the UK to be matched with SMEs from the UK.

Michael Charlton, Minister Counsellor and Acting Director-General, UKTI China, said: “China is a huge and expanding market for UK businesses. UK exports have increased by over 37% in the last 2 years and we are determined for that figure to increase.”

The sectors targeted at the event included food and drink; healthcare and medical; retail and consumer products; clothing, footwear and fashion; aerospace, automotive, advanced engineering; and renewable energy.

The event provided the companies with the opportunity to benefit from being able to meet face to face in order to explore the possibility of doing business together.

The meetings were arranged beforehand thanks to a business matchmaking exercise carried out by UKTI, CBBC and the Bank of China.

Mr Charlton commented: “This match-making event is an excellent opportunity for UK and Chinese businesses to share industry insights, discuss market developments, break down trade barriers and develop relationships.”

Clive Drinkwater, Regional Director, UKTI North West, said China represented a “huge’ and “expanding” market for UK companies to do business. He said: “UK exports have increased by over 37 per cent in the last two years and we are determined for that figure to increase.

“This match-making event is an excellent opportunity for UK and Chinese businesses to share industry insights, discuss market developments, break down trade barriers and develop relationships.”

The post SMEs from UK and China attend UKTI Manchester event appeared first on UK Construction Online.

UK economic growth slows to 0.5%

Official figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that UK economic growth slowed more than expected in the third quarter.

Experts had expected to see growth fall slightly from the second quarter’s 0.7% to 0.6% but the new figures show growth had fallen to 0.5%.

The fall in growth is due in part to the performance of the construction and manufacturing sectors.

Construction output decreased by 2.2%, compared to an increase of 1.4% in the previous quarter. In comparison to the same period last year, construction output fell by 0.1%.

Manufacturing output continued to struggle and fell by 0.3%, while mining and quarrying saw an increase of 2.4% and water and waste management rose by 1.2%.

GDP was 2.3% higher in the third quarter when compared with the same period in 2014, which was slightly down on the 2.4% predicted by analysts.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at research company Markit, commented: “The slowdown is being led by the manufacturing sector, which is seeing a renewed recession as output has now fallen for three consecutive quarters, suffering a 0.3% decline in the three months to September,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at research firm Markit.

“Manufacturing output has so far fallen 0.9% this year. Producers are struggling as weak demand in many overseas markets, notably China and other emerging nations, is being exacerbated by the appreciation of sterling.”

The figures mean that the Bank of England will be under less pressure to increase the interest rates in the near future.

Mr Williamson said: “The third quarter slowdown, and warning lights from recent business surveys about the weakness intensifying in September, suggests that policymakers will want more time to assess the extent of the slowdown as we move into the fourth quarter, effectively postponing any rate hikes until next year.”

Responding to the figures, the Chancellor George Osborne commented: “It is good news that Britain continues to outperform other Western economies but there are clear global risks and there is still much more to do to fix our economy.

“In the Autumn Statement we will take more steps to ensure we feel the recovery right across our country, make the long-term investments for the future and, crucially, continue to make the tough decisions required so that Britain lives within its means.”

The post UK economic growth slows to 0.5% appeared first on UK Construction Online.

South East reporting growth in new homes

Since the recent government announcement that its target to build one million new homes by 2020, construction companies in the South East of England are experiencing an increase in project wins and customer enquiries.

The National House Building Council (NHBC) has reported that new build completions across the UK have risen by 15% on last year in the 12 months to June 2015, and despite a 1% drop in homes being started in the same period, areas along the south coast, including the M23 corridor, had experienced robust and increased levels of new build housing starts.

Goldstone Homes, based in Sussex, is one of the companies reporting a sharp rise in demand.  Managing Director, Jon Over, commented: “We deal with a large range of different projects, but increasingly it is new build housing developments that are becoming our main source of income particularly in the South East where there is a shortfall of available properties for sale.

“Over the previous six months we have seen a significant rise in project wins securing £2.7 million of new business and increasing our turnover by over 82% to £1.15m compared to the same six month period of 2014.

“We have actively recruited new members of staff to join our expanding team to take on and complete projects as well as assisting to help grow the business over the next 18 months.”

The post South East reporting growth in new homes appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Training, innovation and awareness key to energy efficiency market

Investment in training, public awareness and innovation of industry business models are vital for the energy efficiency market’s longevity and growth according to a new study.

The Trust and Certainty Report released today examines the challenges faced by industry and government in developing the energy efficient market.

The report was commissioned by the Supply Chain Insight Group – a combined work from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, SummitSkills, Building Futures and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), and was independently researched by Skyblue Research.

The study makes three key priority area recommendations that can help to stabilise the energy efficiency market. These include investing in training to combat energy-related skills shortages; inspiring innovation within the industry by developing new business models to stimulate client demand; and educating industry and consumers about the advantages of energy efficiency and helping more people take up energy efficient habits.

The report consulted with employers, key markets figures, and the result of over 200 examples of existing work and provides a strong platform from which industry and policy makers can plan a successful future for energy efficiency.

Gillian Econopouly, Head of Policy at the CITB, said: “This report brings together all the existing evidence on energy efficiency, and will be used as a reference point for the further development of clean energy policy.

“We look forward to working with industry, government and the education sector to develop the skills we need to make this happen.”

The post Training, innovation and awareness key to energy efficiency market appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Crossrail and Women into Construction join forces

Crossrail and its supply chain have joined forces with Women into Construction to provide further work experience and employment opportunities.

To mark the collaboration, Rail Minister Claire Perry met with a new generation of female construction workers at Crossrail’s Farringdon station.

Ms Perry said the partnership sent a “clear signal” that now is the ideal time for women to seek a career within the “growing and exciting”construction industry. She commented: “ I hope that many of the positive role models I have met today can inspire the next generation of female engineers and construction workers.

“Crossrail is bringing huge economic benefits, creating a trained construction workforce which can help deliver the infrastructure projects of the future. With government investment in schemes such as HS2, opportunities in construction will continue to grow.”

Women into Construction was originally created as part of the employment strategy of London 2012 and are an independent, not-for-profit group. It seeks to recruit women into all parts of construction; from entry level trades roles through to professional construction placements. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) currently funds the scheme.

The organisation have relocated to office space provided free of charge at Crossrail’s headquarters in Canary Wharf. It is envisaged that this move will provide an opportunity for closer collaboration between Women into Construction and Crossrail’s own employability and education teams that include the job brokerage service, which works in partnership with JobCentre Plus and Young Crossrail.

Kath Moore, Managing Director, Women into Construction, said: “Our partnership with Crossrail gives Women into Construction a unique opportunity to work directly with both Crossrail and their supply chain and help to address the current skills-gaps in construction as we seek to attract and retain far greater numbers of women into the industry.”

Hosted by Morgan Sindall, Crossrail’s first Women into Construction event took place at the Pudding Mill Lane site and provided work placements in Morgan Sindall’s engineering, health and safety and commercial teams. Further work placements have since been secured with other Crossrail principal contractors including Dragados-Sisk and Alstom-TSO-Costain.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) forecasts that more than 220,000 construction jobs are set to be created over the next five years. With women making up half of the working population of the UK, but only 11% of the construction workforce, employing more women into the industry is a major strategy to help reduce the skills gap.

The post Crossrail and Women into Construction join forces appeared first on UK Construction Online.

UK businesses invited to apply for funding for Chile partnership

UK businesses have been invited to create partnerships with Chilean companies to help meet challenges in the agri-food, resource efficiency and solar energy sectors.

The Newton-Picarte Fund will provide financial support to joint UK-Chilean experimental development projects in these areas with a share of up to £2M for projects that will aid Chile in overcoming certain challenges as it grows and develops.

The UK investment has been made possible by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills-managed Newton Fund, which seeks to create research collaborations between UK business and those in lower and middle-income partner countries.

The Newton-Picarte Fund is a joint fund of up to a total of £24M over three years aimed to encourage scientific research and innovation, in order to contribute to the economic development and social welfare of Chile.

The competition for funding is only open to UK-based SMEs and a project must include a minimum of one UK and one Chilean partner.

The total project cost for UK-based partners are expected to be up to £230,000, with small or micro businesses able to attract up to 45% of their costs as grant and medium-sized businesses 35%. Projects are expected to last between three and six months.

The competition is now open with applications to made through the EUREKA website and the deadline is 8 January 2016.

The post UK businesses invited to apply for funding for Chile partnership appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Digital construction can drive diversity in the construction industry

The digitisation of the construction industry can help to encourage greater diversity within the sector according to David Hancock, Head of Construction at the Cabinet Office.

Speaking at the opening of Digital Construction Week at the Irish Embassy, Dr Hancock praised the collaborative effort between the government and the construction sector saying the industry had responded “vigorously” and strongly” towards the preparation of mandating BIM for government contracts.

Dr Hancock said: “This is a good news story and it just shows you what you can do when government and industry work together towards a common goal.”

He expressed his confidence that the industry is “firmly on course” to comply with the mandate to deliver construction projects more “efficiently, collaboratively and safer” than before.

Last week the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) released the findings of its ‘BIM readiness’ survey that suggested only one in six companies were fully ready to be BIM Level 2 compliant by 2016.

Through the development of digital procurement, Dr Hancock said the government had achieved its efficiency savings target of between 15% and 20%, saving the taxpayer around £3.2Bn on construction projects over the past five years.

Dr Hancock said that the advancement towards a digital construction industry wasn’t just about the development of new technology but meant a change in the kind of skillset being required in the construction industry.

Whilst pointing the need for traditional building skills will always be in demand, said: “The time has come for some new skills and the entrants will be essential if we are to meet the challenges in the years to come.”

Dr Hancock said that he had hopes that the new skills required would see a greater gender diversity and BME presence in the construction workforces of the future. He commented: “The really exciting thing for me is that we will also enable a drive and improvement of gender diversity and BME involvement in construction industry by attracting individuals who have not previously considered our industry as attractive.”

The post Digital construction can drive diversity in the construction industry appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Hyperloop plan revolutionises high speed rail, says developer

The Californian Hyperloop could revolutionise travel and undermine the validity of spending multiple billions on high speed rail systems worldwide, according to one of the futuristic transport scheme’s prominent developers.

Less than 1 in 6 businesses ready for BIM Level 2

As the deadline for mandatory use of BIM Level 2 on all Whitehall-procured contracts fast approaches, a survey carried out by the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) has revealed less than one in six (16%) companies are ‘fully ready’.

The ‘BIM readiness’ survey was done in collaboration with the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and building services and engineering consultancy BSRIA.

The survey’s findings also show that 57% of businesses said they were not fully ready, while 27% said they were ‘not ready at all’.

Despite these worrying figures, nearly 65% of repondents felt that BIM level 2 would be good for the industry, with 57% saying it was the future for the construction industry.

ECA Director of Business Services Paul Reeve said that “BIM awareness” was generally high in the construction sector but many companies “have a long way to go” before the government’s 2016 deadline.

“The results indicate that while some companies have already engaged successfully with BIM, many more have yet to engage with the aspects that allow effective information sharing with others in their supply chain.

“In addition to flagging up our findings to government and the industry, we will be working with our ‘BIM readiness’ partners to tackle the important gaps identified by the survey, as soon as possible”.

CIBSE Technical Director, Hywel Davies, said there was a need for for specific tools and guidance for the MEP sector, which CIBSE is working closely with industry partners to develop.”

BSRIA’s Principal Consultant and BIM specialist John Sands also felt there was much work to be done for companies to be fully compliant with BIM Level 2 but was upbeat about the industry’s acceptance of the benefits it will bring. He said it “demonstrates the positive approach to the changes it will inevitably bring, and that is an important aspect of this survey.”

The post Less than 1 in 6 businesses ready for BIM Level 2 appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Northern Powerhouse China deals to be announced

The Prime Minister David Cameron is set to announce today that new partnerships with China will “unlock the potential” of the Northern Powerhouse.

Mr Cameron and the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, will undertake a tour of Manchester as part of China’s state visit to the UK.

The partnerships expected to agreed include the appointment of Beijing Construction and Engineering Group (BCEG) as main contractor for the Middlewood Locks regeneration project in Manchester.

Hualing Group will sign a deal with UK real estate company Scarborough Group International to invest in three major regeneration projects in the north: Middlewood Locks in Manchester, Thorpe Park in Leeds and Sheffield Digital Campus.

A joint innovation and entrepreneurship competition will be established between the University of Central Lancashire and the Shenzhen government in south eastern China.

Uppingham School in Rutland will set up five schools in China in a partnership with Hainan Airline and Tourism Group.

671 jobs will also be secured with the completion of the acquisition of educational supplies company Promethean World Plc and Hong Kong-based company, Netdragon Websoft.

The leaders will visit Manchester Airport for the announcement of the new route from Hainan Airlines that is envisaged will be worth a potential £50M to Manchester economy by opening links from China.

The visit to Manchester will also see the Prime Minister and President meet with former players from Manchester United and Manchester City and visit the National Football Museum.

The Prime Minister has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to “rebalancing” the UK’s economy and creating a Northern Powerhouse.

Mr Cameron said: “China is a key trading partner for the UK and the partnerships being made today will see real investment going into the north.

“This is all part of this government’s plan to attract more investment and deliver economic growth to an area of huge potential.”

The post Northern Powerhouse China deals to be announced appeared first on UK Construction Online.

EDF and China strike deal over Hinkley Point

EDF Energy and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) have reached an agreement over the nuclear power station to be built at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

State-owned CGN have signed a deal worth £6Bn that will see them own a third of the power station, with EDF retaining a 66.5% stake but will look to bring in other investors without bringing its own stake under 50%.

The deal also set up a wider UK partnership to create new nuclear power stations at Sizewell and Bradwell.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of the deal on the second day of the President’s UK state visit.

Over £30bn worth of deals between the UK and China are expected to be agreed during the visit.

EDF Chairman, Jean-Bernard Lévy, said: “I am confident that our experience and ability mean we will successfully deliver Hinkley Point C and subsequent projects. We are planning for a final investment decision within weeks so that we can move forward with construction.”

George Osborne had previously announced on his recent visit to China that the government will provide a £2Bn investment through its Infrastructure Guarantee Scheme.

The government’s position on Hinkley has drawn criticism following its decision to cut subsidies for rooftop solar panel installations by 87%.

The nuclear power station at Hinkley Point will provide 25,000 jobs and generate enough energy to power six million homes.

Construction at the plant is now expected to begin within weeks following many delays.

The post EDF and China strike deal over Hinkley Point appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Philip Hogg to leave Homes for Scotland

Trade body Homes for Scotland has today announced that Chief Executive Philip Hogg would be leaving the organisation in the coming months to take up a senior role within the home building industry.

Chairman Jim Mather said: “Philip will continue in his post during his notice period, working with his Executive Team to deliver Homes for Scotland’s business objectives and meet members’ day-to-day needs and requirements.  “In addition, he will help us in the recruitment of his successor and, in the process, consolidate the progress that he has made for Homes for Scotland and our members in the difficult years following the financial crisis.  “In particular, over the past three and a half years, Philip has raised the profile of home building to ensure that Homes for Scotland and its members play their full parts in boosting our country’s economic and social well-being, strengthening the mechanisms to engage and channel the ideas and needs of our members.    “When he eventually steps down, the proof of the quality of Philip’s legacy will be seen in our highly professional Executive Team, a track record of positive progress and an organisational reputation of alignment with the wider common good.  “We wish Philip well in his new post and we will always be grateful for a very material contribution to Homes for Scotland and a job well done.”

The post Philip Hogg to leave Homes for Scotland appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Scottish construction industry hit by skills shortage

Almost two-thirds of respondents to a survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) have said they have experienced difficulty sourcing labour with biggest shortfalls being felt in finding bricklayers.

RICS has said that the skills shortage is now close to reaching “crisis point”.

However, the RICS construction market survey shows that the number of respondents reporting increased workloads over the last quarter is around 30%.

65% predicted growth in the construction sector over the coming 12 months.

RICS, though, have warned that growth in the construction industry would only be sustainable if the skills shortage is tackled.

Sarah Speirs, director of RICS Scotland, said: “The availability of both blue collar and white collar construction workers is reaching crisis point. Without the relevant skills, we will not be able to grow many of the Scottish Government’s priority construction sectors such as infrastructure.

“Currently, while we know that there is a serious shortage of skills, we don’t yet know why we have seen such a dramatic drop in the labour market over the past five years.

“Part of the problem is the legacy of the collapse in the sector following the onset of the global financial crisis.

“Many professionals and other skilled workers chose to leave the industry and quite simply have not returned or been replaced.

“A real focus on attracting more young people into the industry is critical alongside an expansion of apprenticeship opportunities.”

The post Scottish construction industry hit by skills shortage appeared first on UK Construction Online.

How to 3D print a bridge - insitu

Dutch company MX3D has just unveiled its plans to print a bridge across a canal in Amsterdam - insitu.

Oxford to Cambridge Expressway study commissioned

A newly-commissioned £512,000 study is to explore the potential for a dedicated road link between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge – dubbed the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway.

Highways England has appointed WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, Halcrow and Steer Davies Gleave in a joint venture partnership to oversee the inquiry into the proposed expressway.

Options for improving connectivity between towns and cities between Oxford and Cambridge will be considered alongside a raft of alterations to the existing road network.

The comprehensive study, commissioned by the Department for Transport, forms an integral part of the Government’s Road Investment Strategy. It is one of six such studies taking place nationwide to identify and address the issues currently facing the strategic road network.

As part of the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway study, industry experts will scrutinise the fastest growing towns in the region – observing trends in housing growth and how the supporting road infrastructure could be improved to bring about wider economic benefit.

Road Minister Andrew Jones said: “Roads are key to our nation’s prosperity. For too long they have suffered from under investment. That is why as part of our long-term economic plan we are investing a record £15Bn in our roads programme.

“Improved road links between Oxford and Cambridge will allow hardworking families to have better access to jobs, shops and leisure facilities.”

Nigel Edwards, Divisional Director of Strategic Planning at Highways England, said: “This study could lead to major benefits across the UK and I’m pleased we’ve now reached the stage where we can appoint specialist companies to start the study process.”

While the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway is envisaged as a means of improving the existing transport network, interested parties will have to wait until autumn 2016 for the results of the study.

The post Oxford to Cambridge Expressway study commissioned appeared first on UK Construction Online.

PRAISE for TfL as road safety scheme is recognised

A rigorous safety initiative, spearheaded by Transport for London (TfL), has been recognised as outstanding by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC).

The ‘Preventing Road Accidents and Injuries for the Safety of Employees’ (PRAISE) accolade was awarded to TfL in recognition of the Organisation’s unwavering commitment to improving driving performance internally and throughout its entire supply chain.

All drivers working for or on behalf of TfL must now undertake vital safety measures. The stringent requirements of such best practice initiatives as the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) have proven invaluable to improving road safety city-wide. TfL’s directly employed drivers now require this accreditation, while Work Related Road Risk (WRRR) conditions have been built into all TfL contracts. Any business failing to adhere to the clauses agreed risks termination.

Ian Wainwright, Head of Freight and Fleet at TfL, said: “Road safety is a shared responsibility. We help others improve their road safety, but it is vital we lead the way. That’s why we are so pleased to be recognised at a European level for this comprehensive work. We are committed to improving the safety of our own fleet and every driver working on our behalf. The methods we have used are transferable. Any business or organisation can help us all have safer roads.”

Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), said: “Road safety is everyone’s business. But organisations, large and small, have a pivotal role to play by putting road safety considerations at the heart of their operations. The companies and organisations we have recognised are driving the change with initiatives that reduce collisions, prevent injuries and also help the bottom line.”

The ETSC also acknowledged the valuable contributions of FORS and the Construction Logistics and Cycle Safety (CLOCS) programme.

TfL is now encouraging other organisations to scrutinise their processes and use their buying power to improve road safety for all.

The post PRAISE for TfL as road safety scheme is recognised appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Exclusive Comment: Ecodriving

Bob Saynor, Driver Training Consultant for the Energy Saving Trust, discusses the disparity between test cycle and real world vehicle emissions and the many benefits of ecodriving.

The yawning gap between test cycle and real world emissions is front page news these days thanks to some very poor judgement from someone – no doubt just a junior technician! – at VW. At the Energy Saving Trust it’s nearly ten years since we spotted that driver training was the piece of the jigsaw that we were missing. Up until then our work promoting cleaner transport had focused on cleaner vehicles and mileage management. But it’s abundantly clear that regardless of what a vehicle achieves on paper, its real world emissions depend a great deal on the driver.

In terms of ‘air quality’ emissions (i.e. emissions that directly affect human health), the big emerging story over the last couple of years has been that in real world driving even new diesels still frequently emit far more particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) than they’re supposed to. Five or six times the official figure is common across the board, not just with VW who have acknowledged fitting the now notorious ‘defeat devices’ to some of their diesel engines. For fuel consumption and CO2 (the two go hand-in-hand) the story is similar: in the mid-2000s we at the Energy Saving Trust had robust data from a fuel card supplier showing that fleet vehicles’ fuel consumption and CO2 was approximately 15% higher than the manufacturers’ official claims. The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) reports that if you look back a bit further to 2001 the gap between test cycle and real world emissions was a more modest 8%. But according to the ICCT, whose findings are based on reported actual fuel consumption from more than half a million vehicles, by 2013 the average gap between official and real world fuel consumption and CO2 had grown to a massive 38%.

So what’s to be done? Clearly there’s a need for a more representative test cycle and the good news is that this is on its way, with the coming of the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedures (WLTP). This is being developed by the EU, Japan, India and the UNECE and is expected to be in use from around 2017. It also seems clear that however good this test cycle may be, it needs to be backed up by some form of significant real world emission testing programme. But in the short term, encouraging more efficient driving techniques is the best way to narrow or close that gap between vehicles’ stated and actual fuel consumption.

The Energy Saving Trust’s early involvement with ecodriving focused on information and advice but after evaluating various approaches we concluded that if you want to influence a driver’s behaviour, there’s no substitute for on-the-road training. The other conclusion we reached early on is that if training just focuses on efficiency, a driver can make good progress in a short time. So between 2009 and 2014 we trained nearly 40,000 fleet drivers, each with just over an hour’s ecodriving training. Drivers saw an average of approximately 14% reduction in fuel consumption on the day of training and long term studies show between three and 6.2% savings in the 12 months following training.

The key to effective short duration ecodriving training is focusing on the few main points that make a big difference to most drivers. In practical terms this means better anticipation to avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking; early gear changes when accelerating; stepping off the accelerator as early as possible but remaining in gear when decelerating; and slowing down at higher speeds. It’s certainly not rocket science but our experience is that you can talk about these techniques in a room full of drivers all apparently understanding and agreeing, but then get those same drivers out on the road with a good fleet trainer and you’ll still find there’s plenty of room for improvement! Crucially, that improvement comes very quickly with a bit of coaching.

Ecodriving also brings safety benefits: There’s good evidence from the UK and from Germany of around 30% reduction in ‘at fault’ accidents and 18% reduction in total accidents in the year following fleet ecodriving training even though in both cases the training was entirely focused on efficiency, not safety.  The explanation for this is simple, since better anticipation is the key to both safety and efficiency.  In fact there’s a lot of crossover between ecodriving and advanced driver training and if you want to try to maximise the long term savings following training I’d suggest trying to convey the idea that ecodriving is about being a better driver, rather than about doing the right or the worthy thing.

At the Energy Saving Trust we now run a subsidised fleet ecodriving scheme in England funded by the Department for Transport (http://ift.tt/1NSlCJP). We no longer train drivers ourselves, but most of the country’s main fleet training companies are involved in the scheme and they claim a subsidy from us for each driver trained. The scheme has been going for 18 months and is working well. Its key strength is the diversity of training available, from stand-alone short-duration ecodriving training, to longer training usually focusing on safety but also including our requirements on efficiency.

Returning to the figures mentioned earlier, there’s quite a gap between the 14% reduction in fuel consumption on the day of training and the 3 to 6.2% savings in the following year. Good fleet management can go a long way to ensuring a fleet is near the top of that range or perhaps exceeds it. At its core this means the fleet manager being on top of his or her vehicle data so that efficient drivers can be rewarded, perhaps financially, and poor drivers can be spotted and offered extra support or training. There are also some great technological solutions including telematics systems that give feedback to the driver, the fleet manager or both. Most telematics systems access the vehicle CANbus for data such as engine speed, throttle position, fuel consumption etc and combine this with location data provided by GPS.  Some even add mapping data as an input, for example to advise the driver to lift off the accelerator if he’s approaching a junction at speed.

Training and technology are entirely complementary approaches to efficiency, since each addresses the other’s weakness: Technology doesn’t yet help a driver to read and anticipate other road users’ actions, nor can it understand, challenge and influence a driver’s assumptions and beliefs as effectively as a good trainer. But training suffers from fade, so if the technology is there consistently reminding the driver about efficient driving techniques that he’s been introduced to on a good training course, then this can be a powerful combination. And with the potential benefits of fewer accidents, reduced emissions and lower fuel bills there’s surely a strong case for investing in the two.

http://ift.tt/1NSlCJR

ecodriving@est.org.uk

020 722 0101

The post Exclusive Comment: Ecodriving appeared first on UK Construction Online.

New homes handed over on £300M Blackwall Reach regeneration

Local residents were joined by the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Swan Housing Group and the Greater London Authority to mark the hand over of new homes from the £300M Blackwall Reach regeneration project.

The properties in Camellia House and Blashill Court have been handed over to residents, many of who were previously living on the neighbouring Robin Hood Gardens Estate.

The new phase has provided 98 properties, with 79 being let to social housing residents, eight being made available to people living and working in Tower Hamlets and the remainder going to leaseholders from Robin Hood Gardens to enable them to stay in the community.

The 98 new homes, together with Swan’s Regional Housing office and new multi- purpose Community Facilities belong to the first part of a four phase regeneration project that will see the replacement of the existing 252 Robin Hood Gardens properties with over 1,500 homes in the next ten years.

Over half the properties will be affordable homes, which will deliver much needed housing in the area. New community facilities will also be created and include a replacement mosque; commercial units and an improved central park while creating training and employment opportunities for residents.

Sandra Fawcett, Executive Director of Operations from Swan Housing Group said: “We’re delighted to have handed over 98 new homes from Phase 1A of the Blackwall Reach regeneration project to residents. Work on Phase 1B, which will deliver 242 new homes and retail units has already begun.”

Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: “Blackwall Reach is a successful and ambitious regeneration scheme to deliver more than 1,500 top quality and much needed families homes.

“The success of phase one is a testament to the positive working partnerships behind the project, and the way in which residents have actively engaged with the plans from the outset.

“It is particularly important that we address the chronic shortage of really affordable housing, and that local people have more opportunities to live in the areas they grew up in.”

The post New homes handed over on £300M Blackwall Reach regeneration appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Ageing population puts further strain on housing levels

A new report has revealed that the total value of housing output in Great Britain increased by 30.4% and the number of new housing starts rose by 29% between 2010 and 2014.

The report “Housebuilding’ from Key Note shows that despite what might appear to be positive news in terms of the numbers and value, the housebuilding market has yet to recover to the levels pre 2008/2009 before the financial crisis.

The study provides an evaluation of the housing market by examining the market size, current and future market trends, the key drivers presently affecting the industry, as well as providing a competitor analysis of the main operators operating in the industry. The report also provides a political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legislative analysis of the housing sector, with one section focussing on the impact the ageing population has on the industry.

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), it is predicted that between 2017 and 2037, the population of the UK is anticipated to rise from 63.7 million to 73.3 million, a rise of 15.1% over the 20-year period. It is also forecast that the number of older people will swell considerably; in 2017 it is estimated that there will 5.5 million people aged 75 and over in the UK. By 2037, this number will have increased by 72.7% to 9.5 million. In the same period, the number of people aged 85 and over will increase from 1.7 million to 3.6 million.

The report suggests that this increase in the number of ageing people in the UK will put increased strain upon the already struggling housing market.

This means that the need to build new homes at a greater pace to keep up with demand has never been greater.

In the short term, it’s predicted that there will be a 13.2% rise in the number of new housing starts between 2015 and 2017, with the value of housebuilding expected to rise by 7.4% over the same period.

The post Ageing population puts further strain on housing levels appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Solar Trade Association launches £1 emergency rescue plan

The Solar Trade Association (STA) has launched a solar rescue plan in response to planned government cuts of 87% to subsidies for rooftop solar panel installations in January.

The emergency plan would see just one pound added to consumers’ bills by 2019, in addition to the £9 a year that it currently costs households to subsidise solar technology.

Should the cuts go ahead, the STA estimates that up to 27,000 jobs would be at risk with a number of solar businesses already feeling the strain including Leicester-based company, Mark Group, who went into administration last week, putting at risk over 900 jobs.

Speaking on the fate of Mark Group, Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association, commented: “This is terrible news for the UK solar industry. The consultation has not even closed, and businesses are already going under – despite the fact that the Government claim this is a ‘real’ consultation. Mark Group going into administration will also cause serious knock on effects in the supply chain.”

“Surely this will set alarm bells ringing for the Government?  Jobs matter, and there are 27,000 at stake. We are preparing alternative solutions and will be working with decision makers to discuss our alternative proposal for more structured, steady and workable reductions to support.”

Last week, Zep Solar UK pulled out of the UK citing the government’s planned cuts as the reason why. A spokesperson for the company said: “We’re left to conclude that the UK government doesn’t support solar development. We’ve put expansion plans to the UK on hold indefinitely and will focus efforts elsewhere.”

The STA has called for cross-party support for the emergency proposals which would need to be adopted quickly to prevent further job losses, wastage of the money already invested by the taxpayer, and future economic investment.

The government has claimed the cuts are an effort to protect the consumer from soaring energy bills and says it has also already committed a huge amount in subsidies for the industry, enabling it to support itself.

The STA disputes this, saying “neither claim stands up to scrutiny” and urged people and businesses to support its proposals.

The post Solar Trade Association launches £1 emergency rescue plan appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Skills Shortage: Government urged to seriously back further education courses

A new study has suggested that up to half a billion pounds should be diverted from universities to improve the quality of professional and technical courses provided by further educational colleges in the UK.

The report ‘Higher, Further, Faster, More: Improving higher level professional and technical education’ was undertaken by leading think tank, Policy Exchange, and funded by Wates and the CITB.

The report says that while the UK has some of the best universities in the world, many of these institutions have vast financial reserves and public spending is focussed too much on higher education to the detriment of further education. This is having a negative effect on the growth of training that is urgently required across the technical and professional roles within the UK’s job market.

Since the introduction of tuition fees, funding for higher education institutions has increased significantly, with a 26% rise in overall income since 2009 /2010 and universities holding £12.3Bn of unrestricted reserves – worth almost 50% of the total annual budget for the higher education sector.

In comparison, further education colleges have seen a sizable reduction in their revenue, with the adult skills budget being slashed by nearly a quarter since 2009 -2010. According to the National Audit Office, more than 1 in 4 of the entire FE college network could effectively go bankrupt within a year.

In an effort to raise the UK’s further education system to be on par with that of higher education, the study makes a number of recommendations, principally addressing the level of underfunding and support offered to students.

It calls for the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) to redirect up to £532m of the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) grant to improve the quality of higher level technical qualifications on offer at further education colleges, with any remaining grant funding to go to universities with the smallest financial reserves.

Also proposed is the extension of student loans and the introduction of maintenance support to students in further education.

New institutes of technology that were recently announced under the government’s Productivity Plan, would be able to award their own technical degrees, negating the need to partner with a university.

An expansion of Industrial Partnership bodies would play an essential role in designing and approving all new technical qualifications, including the new degree Apprenticeships.

The report cites the Royal Academy of Engineering forecast that the UK economy needs 830,000 more engineers by 2020 to deal with the skill shortage.

Jonathan Simons, Head of Education at Policy Exchange, said: “The case for training and for skills has never been more important – to help create 3 million Apprenticeships, to fuel the Northern Powerhouse, to boost social mobility and to drive economic growth.

“The UK is home to world beating universities that we should all be proud of. But as well as degrees, we also need many more people with high class technical and professional skills – and that means a flourishing further education system.

“It is clear that higher education is significantly better funded than its further education counterpart. Universities have substantial cash reserves which could be much better utilised than sitting in banks. That is why we think a proportion of the government grant to universities should be reallocated towards offering more students higher level technical qualifications at further education institutions, and why the student loan system should be expanded so that young people have access to finance to support their higher level study whichever route they choose.”

The post Skills Shortage: Government urged to seriously back further education courses appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Cross-party call for removal of asbestos in all public buildings

A report by the all-party parliamentary group on occupational safety and health has called for the eradication of any remaining asbestos from buildings in Britain.

The report says that that regulations are needed for the safe, phased and planned removal of all remaining asbestos in Britain by 2035.

The dangers of asbestos are well documented with exposure known to cause mesothelioma – a cancer of the membrane on the lungs, heart and gut, and also asbestosis, which is a long-term condition due to lung scarring. According to official figures, around 2,000 people are likely to die prematurely as a consequence of exposure to asbestos.

The report’s recommendations state that commercial, public and rented domestic premises should be registered with the HSE and undergo a survey by 2022. The next phase would see asbestos removed from public buildings and educational premises by 2028, and the complete removal by 2035 at the latest.

The report estimates that asbestos is still in use in potentially 500,000 non-domestic properties in the UK.

Ian Lavery, Wansbeck MP, Chair of the all-party group, said: “There is far too much complacency about the asbestos which we can still find in hundreds of thousands of workplaces as well as a majority of schools where children face exposure to this killer dust.

“We believe that the government needs to start now on developing a programme to ensure that asbestos is safely removed from every workplace and public place so that we can end, once and for all this dreadful legacy which has killed so many people, and will continue to kill until asbestos is eradicated.”

The TUC has backed the recommendations in the report. TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The effects of exposure to asbestos at work continue to cause thousands of deaths every year. Yet asbestos is still with us in around half a million workplaces and public buildings across the UK. As a result, more than 15 years after the use of asbestos was banned, hundreds of thousands of workers are still put at risk of exposure every day.

“The proposal from the all-party group for the safe removal and disposal of asbestos from all workplaces and public buildings,’ he continued, ‘is the only way of ensuring that future generations do not have to live with the continuing legacy that asbestos will leave unless action is taken now.”

The post Cross-party call for removal of asbestos in all public buildings appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Housing rent at an all time high

Rent levels in September reached a record high, averaging £816 per month across England and Wales, according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from Your Move and Reeds Rains.

September’s figures show a rise of 1.6% from August, with annual rise from September 2014 standing at 6.3% when the average rent was £768.

Over the year to the end of September, London saw the biggest rise with 11.6%, meaning the average rent in capital is now £1,301.

The East of England saw a increase of 8.8%, with the East Midlands of 6.7%, with and the West Midlands each seeing record increases of 6.7% and 5.2% respectively.

Adrian Gill, Director of Estate Agents Reeds Rains and Your Move, commented: “Rents are rising strongly in real terms due to the recent acceleration in wages, and the much deeper and longer-term shortage of available properties across the UK – of all tenures.

“Meanwhile, as the price of everyday essentials plateaus and even falls, rents are no longer following the same broad trends. The cost of a place to live has now uncoupled from the cost of living.

“As long as this supply and demand imbalance keeps up, it is hard to see any reversal in the speed of rent rises. “In many ways housing is more essential than other expenses, so this also raises important questions about the nature of inflation. In this case, reform of the UK housing market and planning system is the only serious way to maintain steadier rental inflation.”

The post Housing rent at an all time high appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Burntwood School wins RIBA Stirling Prize 2015

Burntwood School, a large comprehensive school in Wandsworth, London, has won the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize 2015.

Architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHHM), who worked closely with Lend Lease, Wandsworth Borough Council and Burntwood School, developed the £40.9M project and collected the award.

The School was one of the final projects to be developed under the Building Schools for the Future scheme that was axed by the then Coalition government in 2010.

The construction was completed in three phases, with 85% of the original 1958 school buildings being rebuilt and the main hall and gym block also being refurbished.

Burntwood School (C) Timothy Soar

Burntwood School beat off competition from the other five building shortlisted for the award, Darbishire Place, Maggie’s Lanarkshire, NEO Bankside, University of Greenwich’s Stockwell Street Building and The Whitworth in Manchester.

The judges said of the School: “Burntwood School is the clear winner of the 2015 RIBA Stirling Prize. It is the most accomplished of the six shortlisted buildings because it demonstrates the full range of the skills that architects can offer to society.

“It encompasses great contemporary design and clever reuse of existing buildings as well as superb integration of artwork, landscaping and engineering. It is a genuine collaborative project. There was a wonderful working relationship between the head teacher and the architect: a true partnership of equals.”

RIBA President Jane Duncan commented: “Burntwood School shows us how superb school design can be at the heart of raising our children’s educational enjoyment and achievement.

“Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, experienced school architects, have created a stunning campus. They have produced delightful, resourceful and energy efficient buildings that will benefit the whole community in the long term.

With the UK facing a huge shortage of school places, it is vital we learn lessons from Burntwood.”

Burntwood School (C) Timothy Soar

The post Burntwood School wins RIBA Stirling Prize 2015 appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Crossrail sucking up talent from across the country

Crossrail’s requirement for skilled workers has grabbed talented engineering and construction workers from hundreds of miles away leading to a skill shortage in other areas of the UK, according to new research from specialist recruiter Randstad CPE.

Crossrail is not only a powerful draw for international talent but also for workers within the UK. 28.3% of employees beginning Crossrail related work in the London area were originally from locations more than 30 miles away from the new railway line. This figure is from the analysis of over 40,000 individual construction and engineering placements in the UK, including more than 150 various Crossrail related job descriptions.

Of the 28.3% more than half have taken up Crossrail jobs 50 miles from their homes, while 4.7% have moved over 100 miles or more.

Out of an estimated 14,000 people to have worked on Crossrail since the start of the project in May 2009, 4,000 employees commuted or relocated more than 30 miles towards London and 2,100 originally came from over 50 miles away.

Owen Goodhead, MD of Randstad Construction, Property & Engineering, comments: “Britain’s construction and engineering skills gap has been a dilemma for decades.  But now it is biting.

“The infrastructure challenges of the 21st century make this an urgent issue. Crossrail is just one major project, and the effect is felt sharply across the UK.

“Employers want the right person for the right job – absolutely the correct approach – but this is unleashing a spiral of competition. Skills shortages are here to stay for the foreseeable future, and candidates looking for construction and engineering jobs are benefitting. At the start of the project in 2009, the draw of Crossrail was accentuated by the recession, and today it is one of the brightest symbols of recovery in the UK jobs market.

“The downside is in local areas at the other end of this skills vacuum. Crossrail will revolutionise the daily commute for thousands. But the people creating this engineering marvel have their own stories of relocation and long commutes – and their home towns will tell the story of a skills exodus.”

The potential for greater earnings in London is clearly a strong pull, with those workers in general Crossrail jobs earning £1,189 extra per year, a total of £10,701 if the employee works for the entire duration of the project (2009 -2018).

The difference in wages in even more significant when more specialist roles are examined. Tunnelling engineers working in the London area earn on average £25,000. Site manager jobs pay in excess of £30,000, while experienced project managers can see salaries of over £50,000.

Mr Goodhead commented: “Filling quantity surveyor jobs and project manager jobs can be a challenge for employers right across the UK. But London is the white-hot core – where the same job titles command an even greater premium. Especially for high-profile projects, employers are stumping up the cash to get the right skills.”

“All rail workers, tunnellers, automotive and structural engineers get a bonus for living in London – but those employed by Crossrail itself are likely to see even higher earnings again. Not only is Crossrail an iconic project for any CV, it has its own training and learning opportunities – and its own additional earnings premium, even in London.

“Crossrail will be winding down within the next two years, and ambitious skilled people may start to look to other regions. But for a decade one railway will have defined a huge portion of the jobs market.”

With Crossrail set to complete in 2018, the research indicates that the trend seen on the project is also being echoed in other construction and engineering roles. Since 2009, Randstad CPE have seen 38% of recruitment in engineering jobs and construction jobs unconnected to Crossrail, finding jobs in the London area over the last six years.

Owen Goodhead said: “London and the South East are now powering the whole UK construction industry. Crossrail represents a particular crunch point for even scarcer skills – but the trend is now growing. Property prices around London provide a steady underpinning to returns from residential house building – while huge infrastructure projects like Crossrail, the Thames Tideway and soon HS2, all radiate out from the capital.

“But while all roads may lead to London, the rest of the UK still needs skilled engineers and construction workers. In a world where jobs are increasingly outnumbering the best candidates, employers need to up their game to find the right people for the job.

“As a country we need more people to start from scratch in construction and engineering – which means training.  In particular, apprenticeships can be a huge part of the solution, invigorating the workforce with a fresh cohort of skilled people, and widening access to the very best jobs.”

The post Crossrail sucking up talent from across the country appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Suppliers sought for £113M Aston University redevelopment programme

Constructionline are inviting Birmingham contractors to meet with procurement decision makers at Aston University to hear about its forthcoming £113M redevelopment programme to take place over the next six years.

The schemes will include new builds and demolitions as well as major refurbishments and will vary in value from £25,000 to £20M.

The University is looking to create an approved list of suppliers for its main construction contractors.

A Supplier Engagement Day will be held on 21 October at Aston University’s Main Building and will be hosted by Constructionline. It will give suppliers the opportunity to meet with procurement decision makers from Aston University, and Constructionline staff will also be available to advise suppliers on how best to present their business.

Ian Oldacre, Deputy Director of Estates – Development and Facilities at Aston University, said: “We’re embarking on a long-term redevelopment plan to ensure that our university stays ahead of the curve. Working with local businesses is something that we’re really committed to so we look forward to discussing our plans in further detail with attendees on the day.”

Cheryl Wrench, Client Relationship Manager at Constructionline, said: “Aston University are offering local SMEs a fantastic chance to work on a large redevelopment project in the area.

“Often suppliers can be unclear on how to go about putting themselves forward for such high value work, which is where our events come in. They’re specifically designed to help suppliers gain knowledge of whether they are suitable for a project and how they can submit tender information, while at the same time equipping buyers with all that they need to cost-effectively source a reliable supply chain.

“I encourage all those in the Birmingham area to come along to the event at the university on the 21st – it’s an unmissable opportunity.”

The post Suppliers sought for £113M Aston University redevelopment programme appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Five Pancras Square wins Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award

Five Pancras Square in the London Borough of Camden has won the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award at the British Construction Industry Awards 2015 held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London last night.

The award was given in recognition of the community building being a fine example of public sector construction, making innovative use of space which contains a state-of-the-art leisure centre, library and Camden Council offices.

The building has the capacity to serve 225,140 residents in addition to the numerous commuters who pass through the area. It is anticipated the building will help the council to make savings of around half a million pounds a year.

The building is one of the first inner-city buildings to attain a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ sustainability rating, with 90% of the building materials used being responsibly sourced. Low carbon emissions and reduced running costs were achieved the installation of an energy efficient ventilation system and solar panels.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “Five Pancras Square shows how government and construction firms working together can deliver innovative, environmental and cost effective buildings.”

The Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award recognises publicly funded projects that are completed on time, on budget and bring significant change to the community. Previous winners of the award include the Tate Modern and the Velodrome at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

32 public buildings across the country were shortlisted for the award, including transport infrastructure, university buildings, healthcare and environmental projects.

The post Five Pancras Square wins Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Only £1M of £525M Builders’ Finance Fund released

It has emerged that only £1M of a £525M government fund has been released help get housing projects that stalled during economic crisis under way again.

The Builders Finance Fund (BFF) was launched in April 2014 and is due to run until March 2017 but so far only two projects have benefitted from the fund. The two schemes, Poltair Developments’ Trecerus Farm project in Cornwall and Hallmark Developments for its Priory Hall Project in Essex, have shared just over £1M between them.

The news has come to light following the BBC’s Freedom of Information request.

The project was created to help restart housing developments that contained between five and 250 units that had stalled or slowed down, most likely due to difficulty accessing development funds, and also to help bring forward sites that had stalled but were otherwise viable.

In September 2014, the government published a shortlist of 165 schemes to go through the due diligence process to gain access to the Builders’ Finance Fund.

Industry experts have raised concerns that access to the Builders’ Finance Fund is overly complicated and putting developers off applying and called for the it to be simplified.

Rico Wojtulewicz, policy advisor for the House Builders’ Association, said: “The government stated that the fund would bring 13,000 new homes but that has clearly not been the case over the past year.

“More attention should be put into how to increase take-up.”

The government has pledged to build a million new homes by 2020 in an effort to deal with the housing shortage.

The post Only £1M of £525M Builders’ Finance Fund released appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Apprenticeship numbers at record high

The government has today released statistics that show that the number of people doing apprenticeships is at its highest ever figure, with strong growth also seen in the number of higher apprenticeships.

During the 2014 to 2015 academic school year, more than 872,000 people were employed on government-funded apprenticeships, with nearly 30,000 people working towards attaining highly valued skills via higher and degree apprenticeships.

The government has stated its commitment to building on the figures and vowed to launch more degree apprenticeships that mix a high quality degree with an apprenticeship.

It is hoped that reforms will ensure that every large business makes a contribution in terms of increasing the quality of apprenticeships offered and developing the next generation of skilled employees.

The reforms include the introduction of an apprenticeship levy to provide greater investment in apprenticeships, protecting the use of the term ‘apprenticeship’ in law and ensuring large value government procurement contracts have a commitment to hire apprentices.

According to government statistics, for every one pound invested in apprenticeships by the government, £26 to £28 is returned to the economy.

The provisional data also shows that 19,200 began a traineeship course in the last academic year. These courses provide experience and work skills that can progress to an apprenticeship or employment.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “Our apprenticeship reforms are helping to build the modern highly skilled workforce British businesses need. We are committed to delivering 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 because that means more opportunities for our young people, more growth for our businesses.

“Through protecting apprenticeship quality, reforming funding and working with top universities to launch new degree apprenticeships, we are making sure apprenticeships deliver for individuals, businesses and the economy.”

The government has made a commitment of delivering 3 million apprenticeships by 2020.

The post Apprenticeship numbers at record high appeared first on UK Construction Online.

House prices in England rising faster than rest of the UK

Official figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that house prices in England have increased considerably faster than the rest of the UK.

UK house prices increased by 5.2% in the year to the end of August, the same rate as to end of July.

This is in comparison to a 0.8% increase in Wales, 2.9% in Northern Ireland and a drop of 0.9% in Scotland.

The fastest rises in England were in East and South East with an annual increase of 8.8% and 7.4% respectively.

The most expensive properties are in London, costing on average £522,000, down slightly on the figure from July. The North East had the lowest average house price at £160,000.

Average mix-adjusted house prices in August 2015 stood at £298,000 in England, £174,000 in Wales, £151,000 in Northern Ireland and £198,000 in Scotland.

The average price of a house in the UK is now £284,000 and £217,000 if London and the South East are excluded.

The figures also revealed that a prices for a new home paid by fist-time buyers were on average 3.8% higher than in August last year.

Adrian Gill, Director of estate agents Reeds Rain and Your Move, commented: “The cheaper northern regions are experiencing the fastest growth in property sales, while a shortage of property stock on the market in the South is slowing activity.

“The most frequently paid property price across England and Wales is just £125,000, mirroring the level at which stamp duty becomes payable, and reflecting the impetus that has been injected in the first-time buyer market recently.

“It is also the lower to mid-range properties priced between £180,000 and £360,000 which are seeing the fastest increases in value, while the shift in stamp duty bands continues to slow growth at the higher end of the market, and prices above £600,000 are largely stationary.”

The post House prices in England rising faster than rest of the UK appeared first on UK Construction Online.