Ten steps to BIM

BIM – Building Information Modelling – is a co-ordinated set of processes, supported by technology, that add value by creating, managing and sharing the properties of an asset throughout its lifecycle. BIM incorporates data – physical, commercial, environmental, and operational – on every element of a development’s design.

1. Better outcomes through collaboration All project partners – different design disciplines, the customer, contractor, specialists and suppliers – use a single, shared 3D model, cultivating collaborative working relationships. This ensures everyone is focused on achieving best value, from project inception to eventual decommissioning.
2. Enhanced performance – BIM makes possible swift and accurate comparison of different design options, enabling development of more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
3. Optimised solutions – Through deployment of new generative modelling technologies, solutions can be cost-effectively optimised against agreed parameters.
4. Greater predictability – Projects can be visualised at an early stage, giving owners and operators a clear idea of design intent and allowing them to modify the design to achieve the outcomes they want. In advance of construction, BIM also enables the project team to ‘build’ the project in a virtual environment, rehearsing complex procedures, optimising temporary works designs and planning procurement of materials, equipment and manpower.
5. Faster project delivery – Time savings, up to 50%, can be achieved by agreeing the design concept early in project development to eliminate late stage design changes; using standard design elements when practicable; resolving complex construction details before the project goes on site; avoiding clashes; taking advantage of intelligence and automation within the model to check design integrity and estimate quantities; producing fabrication and construction drawings from the model; and using data to control construction equipment.
6. Reduced safety risk – Crowd behaviour and fire modelling capability enable designs to be optimised for public safety. Asset managers can use the 3D model to enhance operational safety. Contractors can minimise construction risks by reviewing complex details or procedures before going on site.
7. Fits first time – Integrating multidisciplinary design inputs using a single 3D model allows interface issues to be identified and resolved in advance of construction, eliminating the cost and time impacts of redesign. The model also enables new and existing assets to be integrated seamlessly.
8. Reduced waste – Exact quantity take-offs mean that materials are not over-ordered. Precise programme scheduling enables just-in-time delivery of materials and equipment, reducing potential for damage. Use of BIM for automated fabrication of equipment and components enables more efficient materials handling and waste recovery.
9. Whole life asset management – BIM models contain product information that assists with commissioning, operation and maintenance activities – for example sequences for start-up and shut-down, interactive 3D diagrams showing how to take apart and reassemble equipment items and specifications allowing replacement parts to be ordered.
10. Continual improvement – Members of the project team can feed back information about the performance of processes and items of equipment, driving improvements on subsequent projects.

Submitted by Quadrasol

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Timber Frame, the solid solution to the housing crisis

In January, Prime Minister, David Cameron, announced that the Government will directly commission small to medium sized housebuilders to build 30,000 affordable homes on underused brownfield sites. Here, Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA), discusses this Government initiative and argues that timber frame housing can provide a timely, cost effective and sustainable solution to help solve the housing crisis.

The Government’s move to commission the construction of 30,000 new homes marks a positive start to 2016 for the housebuilding industry. By actively promoting the use of SME contractors, the Government has shown a clear will to reach its 2020 target of building one million new homes whilst diversifying the housebuilding sector.

 

Currently, the eight largest housebuilders in the UK provide 50% of new homes. As this policy is aimed at smaller housebuilders and developers, it will inevitably stimulate competition, opening up opportunities within the sector. Previously, the cost and difficulty in obtaining planning permission provided the main barrier to entry for these smaller contractors.

 

In fact, the legislative and bureaucratic logjam created by delays in planning permission applications is a huge frustration within the housing industry and has severely stymied the rate of growth of new builds. The Government has bypassed this impediment by identifying sites that already hold planning permission.

 

Cutting through this red tape will buoy smaller housebuilders as potentially more entrants will be attracted to the SME housebuilder market. Consequently, their position and accumulative autonomy within the housing sector will be bolstered and ultimately there will be an increased capacity to build homes at a faster rate.

 

Although this news is positive, the housing sector must capitalise on the momentum created by this announcement by positioning itself to build quality homes in a cost effective and time efficient manner. As such, timber frame is the ideal choice of material for UK SME housebuilders today.

 

Timber frame’s inherent strength, durability, sustainability, availability and relatively low cost give it a competitive advantage over other methods of construction. Structural timber, manufactured offsite, is monitored at every stage of its production and is not reliant on a multitude of other trades and determinants. Frames are constructed in a controlled and precise manner using the latest industry innovations and technology such as breathable membranes with thermal, acoustic, and fire protection inbuilt into the timber’s design.

 

Furthermore, a factory-based environment ensures safer working conditions for employees. Offsite timber construction doesn’t carry the same height risks as construction carried out onsite and is not weather reliant. This is a huge benefit given our changeable climate. Using offsite construction methods, strong winds, heavy rain and below freezing conditions has no effect on workers which leads to safer, better quality, more efficient and quicker production.

 

Moreover, an increase in offsite construction, as offered by timber frame, will improve the construction industry’s image among young people, helping to alleviate the chronic skills shortage within the sector. The government report, Construction 2025, outlined how the construction industry’s poor image was having a “detrimental effect on companies’ abilities to recruit and retain the best talent”. A more professional setting, away form the elements, will help convince prospective apprentices and graduates that their skills are best served within the construction industry.

 

Additionally, there are various cost benefits associated with building timber frame housing. Timber is a readily available material that can easily meet industry demands. Supplies of brick and block have recently suffered shortages and when a material is in short supply, a premium is placed on its price. There is also an alarming shortfall in the numbers of skilled bricklayers within the UK construction sector, with a recent Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) survey revealing 60% of respondents have difficulty in finding bricklayers for projects. These skill and supply shortages not only increase the financial burden on housing projects but at this moment when speed of construction is of the essence, they create unwelcome and unnecessary delays.

 

Timber not only enables specifiers to choose a material that is precision engineered and cost effective but also sustainable. Structural timber’s low heat conductivity, low embodied carbon, high structural strength, airtight construction and traceable supply chain make it an ideal choice for housebuilders with sustainability in mind.

 

With consideration to all these benefits associated with timber frame homes, it is the STA’s belief that an increase in the use of timber frame within the house-building sector would provide a solution to the perennial housing shortage crisis.

 

David Cameron’s announcement to directly commission the construction of thousands of homes is welcome news for SME housebuilders and the construction industry in general. However, whilst the priority is on the cost and speed of delivery, the issue of quality must not be overlooked. The construction industry and the Government must make a commitment to building more affordable homes, better, as to leave a social legacy beyond its 2020 mandate and accordingly, the choice of timber frame housing is the first step to achieving this.

 

ENDS

 

 

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Pledge-o-meter to share businesses National Apprenticeship Week commitment

Employers will be able to register their commitment to take on more apprenticeships and trainees with an online tool called the ‘Pledge-o-meter’ in the run up to National Apprenticeship Week.

National Apprenticeship Week will promote how apprenticeships can help people and businesses achieve their ambitions. This year it will run from 14 to 18 March and will highlight apprenticeship progression and opportunities by showcasing the wide range of apprenticeships available, from traineeships to higher and degree apprenticeships.

Businesses, schools, colleges and training organisations will look to increase awareness of this throughout the Week by holding events and organising activities.

The Pledge-o-meter will be hosted by the National Apprenticeship Service and was created by a team that included two apprentices and will allow companies to publicly share their pledge to taking on more apprentices and trainees.

2015 saw businesses commit to 23,000 apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week, which was up 20,000 from the previous year. It is hoped 2016’s event will see even more companies to share their pledges on the Pledge-o-meter.

The Pledge-o-meter has already seen action with Adecco pledging 50 apprentices, while Sellafield have committed to 165 apprenticeships.

An online events map will track all of the activities to allow people to see what events are being held near their location. Anybody running such an event is invited to submit the information so it can be shared on the map and let everybody know what is going on.

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North West apprentice wins National Apprenticeship Award

Wigan apprentice, Jade Aspinall was named the Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Higher Apprentice of the Year.

Jade Aspinall, a manufacturing engineer with MBDA UK, has been named Higher Apprentice of the year at an exclusive ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House, after competing with hundreds of other apprentices around England.

There are four apprentice categories, which are: intermediate, advanced and higher apprentice of the year, and the hotly contended apprenticeship champion of the year.

This awards are run by the National Apprenticeship Service, recognising for the twelfth year, excellence in businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplace.

Jade was chosen as the winner in recognition of the outstanding contribution she has made to MBDA UK since joining as an apprentice in 2011, and has since been working as a manufacturing engineer on the project Meteor Missile. She is responsible for creating and updating plans and layouts from a design drawing, updating rework route cards, designing and ordering specialist tooling and overall ensuring that the production of the missile is continuous.

She was praised for her amazing desire, thirst for learning, knowledge about the company and working environment, and was described as “without a doubt a future leader in the business.”

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “Congratulations to Jade for your success at the National Apprenticeship Awards. Apprenticeships truly are set to be one of the great success stories of the decade, and Jade is a worthy ambassador.

“We are committed to 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 so that even more young people can follow Jade’s lead and reap the benefits of apprenticeships.”

Beccy Pleasant, Head of Skills and Talent, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said: “There was an excellent calibre of nominations, illustrating the success of apprenticeships in creating the workforce of the future. The Nuclear Decommissioning Industry recognise that it is time to think differently about how we recruit and develop our future workforce. Apprenticeships offer an excellent route for a range of different occupations. The application of learning to the workplace required by apprenticeships, means that the individuals can make valuable contributions early in their careers, and provides them options for different routes into employment.”

For the fifth year running the very best employer category entries will have the additional bonus of featuring in the prestigious annual Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list.

The Prime Minister has committed to 3 million apprenticeship starts by 2020.

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Robertson appointed to redevelop iconic Edinburgh sporting ground

Robertson has been appointed to lead the redevelopment of Raeburn Place, the iconic Edinburgh sports ground.

Raeburn Place Foundation’s development arm has selected Robertson Central business as principal contractor following a competitive process.

Raeburn Place, in the city’s Stockbridge area, secured its place in history by hosting the first rugby international in 1871 and the first Calcutta Cup match in 1879. It is home to Edinburgh Academicals, Scotland’s oldest rugby club and the second oldest in the world.

The plans for the multi-million pound development include a covered, 2,500 seater stand, a new rugby pitch, mini training pitches, changing rooms, a sprint track, purpose-built gym, medical and physiotherapy rooms. A cricket field will be reinstated along with practise nets, a sustainable surface draining system and upgraded floodlighting.

The development will include new function suites, a café bar, retail and commercial units and enhanced public space, along with a Museum of International Rugby, which will showcase the heritage of Raeburn Place and its integral role in the development of world rugby.

David Cairns, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Central, said: “We are delighted to be selected as principal contractor on the redevelopment of Raeburn Place, which will transform this area of Stockbridge to the benefit of the entire community.

“This is a complex development with many different elements and it is a challenge we are well equipped to handle thanks to our extensive experience. We will work closely with the Raeburn Place Foundation over the coming months to deliver the design and look forward to starting work on site this summer.”

David Newlands, Chairman, Raeburn Place Foundation, said: “This is an exciting moment for everyone who has been involved in planning for this project. We are delighted to have appointed Robertson Central to build new facilities at Raeburn Place.

“We were impressed by their understanding of the importance of our heritage and the community in delivering high quality, sustainable facilities that will enhance this important part of the city.

“Robertson Central has a great track record in delivering similar projects on time and on budget and we are confident that they will deliver for Raeburn Place.”

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Continued growth for house building in 2015

NHBC reports the number of new homes built topped 156,000.

The NHBC has seen further improvements in the house building sector over the last year, with a seven per cent increase on 2014, new figures show.

The figures represent an eight-year high with 75% more homes registered in 2015 than in 2009, the time of the housing crash.

Private sector registrations increased by 7% (118,611 in 2015; 110,674 in 2014), with the public sector increasing by 5% (37,529 in 2015; 35,685 in 2014).

The number of detached homes registered is the highest for over a decade, continuing the trend from 2014, while some 35,423 semi-detached homes registered creating a 20-year high.

The latest data from the NHBC has revealed that while the Eastern region (+23%), North West (+16%) and Scotland (+15%) are leading the way with these numbers, the majority of UK regions experienced notable house building growth. While London registrations were down nine per cent on the record 2014 total of 28,518, 2015 saw the third highest number of registrations on record with 25,994 registrations.

The East Midlands (+12%), South West (+9%) and West Midlands (+9%) also enjoyed a positive year, as did Northern Ireland (+30%) although this was from a relatively low base.

As the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, NHBC’s registration statistics are the lead indicator of the health of the country’s house building market.

Commenting on the annual statistics, NHBC Chief Executive Mike Quinton, said: “We are pleased to report that 2015 was a year for continued housing growth in the UK. Both the public and private sectors have performed well and we have seen encouraging levels of house-building across most regions of the country.

“The detached home continues its resurgence, with our figures showing that house builders are building the highest number of detached properties for over a decade, with semi-detached homes also at their highest level in more than 20 years.

“There is still a way to go before we are building the levels of new homes that were seen before the economic downturn, but 2015 represents consolidation on the growth seen over the last three years.

“As always, NHBC’s mission is to ensure construction quality of the very highest standard in new homes and this emphasis on quality remains unwavering – particularly during such periods of increased activity and production that we have seen over recent years.”

 

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PM announces support package to boost tourism across flood-hit north

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced funding for damages caused by floods and a campaign to promote tourism in the north.

David Cameron has announced a new package that will include £2M of government funding which will be used to fix bridges, rebuild walls and restore footpaths across the Lake District National Park. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has identified 180 local apprentices who will be mobilised to help with the park’s repair effort.

The package will include £1M to boost the north of England’s tourism industry and encourage British families to visit the region over the Easter break, with the launch of a marketing campaign co-ordinated by VisitEngland.

The package builds on the government’s £10M programme to grow tourism in the north with a new £4M Holidays at home are GREAT campaign, and advertising space worth £500,000 has also been made available at Heathrow to promote flood affected areas.

The announcement comes before the Prime Minister’s scheduled visit to Cumbria and Lancashire, where he will witness first-hand the investment in the area that is helping businesses and communities recover from the December floods.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “From York Minster to Honister Mine, Carlisle Castle to the Leeds Armouries, the north has some of the most iconic tourist attractions the UK has to offer. So it is absolutely right that we do everything we can to make sure these businesses feel supported and ready to receive visitors.

“The measures we’ve announced today are an important step, showcasing the best the region’s tourist industry has to offer while helping one of its key attractions in the Lake District National Park get back on its feet.”

The funding announced today will ensure that any damage to the Lake District Park’s 1400 bridges and 2,000 miles of paths, will be fixed as quickly as possible, with reinforcement of structures to ensure that they are resilient to flooding in the future.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss added: “The support we have promised today will help get those parts of the park in need of repair ready for visitors, so that families looking forward to their Easter and summer breaks can visit this stunning environment and back businesses and communities affected by the recent floods.”

The new DCMS-funded advertising campaign will launch on February 9 to coincide with the run-up to the February half-term and Easter holidays. The target audience will be London and the south-east, using London Underground posters, national press, social media and radio as well as key markets in Scotland and the North. The campaign will showcase key attractions and the picturesque countryside that Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumbria and Lancashire have to offer.

The government’s support comes after some businesses in affected areas reported a drop in bookings of up to 60%.

Tourism businesses that have been directly impacted by the flooding are eligible for Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ £6 million flood recovery grant.

 

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Further investment in North East Scotland

Scottish Government to go beyond Aberdeen City Deal investment.

Further investment has been announced today by Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, Keith Brown, into Aberdeen’s infrastructure.

On top of the City Region Deal, where the Scottish Government is committed to 50:50 funding of the Aberdeen City Deal, an additional £254M will be invested in the North East’s infrastructure over the same five-ten year time span.

The Scottish Government is committed to the communities in the North East, appreciating the value the area adds to its economy. Funding will aid the delivery of improved transport and digital connectivity and local housing programmes requested by the local authorities.

Some £1Bn is already being invested in the area with the construction of a new £37M secondary school in Inverurie only announced this week. Out of this, some £170M has been earmarked for the railways (Aberdeen to Inverness) and £745M in the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

The First Minister will visit Aberdeen on Monday for meetings with the oil and gas industry where she will make a further announcement of Scottish government action to support innovation, exploration, skills and access to finance for the North Sea industry.

Welcoming the extra funding, Mr Brown said: “This announcement of additional funding sends an unequivocal message that Aberdeen and the North East remain central to driving future growth and prosperity in Scotland.

“While I support the City Deal agreement, the Scottish Government recognises that there is more support that can be made available to the region and that will deliver real economic benefits. That is why we have decided to invest £254M of additional Scottish Government support in key infrastructure in the North East to cement Aberdeen as one of the world’s leading cities for business and industry. It is clear that the appetite of the Councils, and the needs of the area require more.

“This additional funding includes £20M to unlock strategic housing development sites which will deliver affordable housing in the region and a further £10M to deliver competitive digital solutions to support economic development.”

“The £224M investment in the transport infrastructure will support improvements to the trunk road and strategic rail networks, including infrastructure improvements, double tracking at key pinch points, and other opportunities to improve journey times to the central belt and on to London, increasing capacity for passenger and freight services, supporting jobs and growth and providing an economic boost to the cities and communities of the North East.

“A grade-separated junction at Laurencekirk has been a long-standing commitment of the Scottish Government and we have been working hard with the two local authorities and Nestrans to deliver this much-needed scheme for the people of the north east as soon as possible, bringing improved road safety and economic benefits to road users and the local community in Laurencekirk and the north Angus area.

“This funding reaffirms our commitment to Aberdeen City and shire and supports over £1Bn of investment in the area including £50M for the Haudagain improvement works.”

 

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£4.5M upgrade for Rising Bridge roundabout

£4.5M upgrade of Rising Bridge roundabout next month will benefit cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.

Highways England is providing new traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes, linking villages, schools and businesses on either side of the busy A56.

The roundabout which links the A56 to the A680 Blackburn Road, will also be resurfaced and new lights will be installed.

Intelligent traffic lights will feature as part of the scheme, which will use sensors in the road to monitor traffic approaching from each direction, adjusting the lights accordingly.

The lights will allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross when it is safest to do so, and will remain on green for a longer period of time at the busier junctions.

The work is due to begin in February and expected to be completed in May.

Highways England Project Manager John Lyssejko said: “We’re improving some of England’s busiest A roads so that they support local communities as well as the drivers passing through them, and I’m pleased that the scheme at Rising Bridge roundabout will serve villages, schools and businesses in the area.

“We’ve had an enthusiastic reaction from local residents’ groups, businesses and head teachers to our plan, and we’ll do all we can to minimise disruption while work is taking place.”

Ann Taylor, Secretary of the Friends of Acre Village, said: “Highways England have taken our problems on board and engaged in a really positive dialogue with us about what could realistically be done to improve pedestrian safety in this part of the village.”

Highways England have been working on a series of safety improvements along a 2.5 mile stretch of the A56 near Haslingden, between two roundabouts which link the A56 to the A680, including Rising Bridge roundabout.

A pedestrian crossing is being upgraded which links Rising Bridge Road to Hall Park housing estate, along with new steel safety barriers. A new island is being created in the centre of the A56, to make it easier for residents  to safely cross from one side to the other.

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Roadworks crackdown could lead to fines

Proposals have been launched to combat disruption on local roads and ensure roadworks are completed as soon as possible.

Currently being considered by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, the proposals include seven-day working and charges to councils leaving temporary lights in place following completion or for leaving roadworks in place when no work is ongoing.

Councils and utility companies could face paying up to £5,000 a day if roadworks needlessly inconvenience motorists, by being left in place over a weekend, when no one is actually working.

Contractors working on A roads, managed by Council’s, will either have to work over the weekend, finish the project in a smaller time frame, or even lift the works until they resume.

Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin said: “I want to deliver better journeys for drivers. Roadworks can be essential, but that doesn’t mean they should be in place any longer than is absolutely necessary. That is why I am looking at proposals to reduce queues and make drivers’ lives easier. These commonsense measures will be a welcome relief to those trying to get from A to B on our local roads.

“Over Christmas we were able to lift a massive number of roadworks on trunk roads, but this package of measures will benefit drivers all the year round.”

Motorists will benefit from reduced congestion, with faster and more reliable journeys.

What this will mean for Councils, contractors and costs is yet to be seen.

Councillor Peter Box, the Local Government Association’s environment spokesman, said there was already a strong financial incentive for roadworks to be finished as quickly as possible, because equipment hire and labour was expensive.

“Often works are left unattended for a very good reason, for example to let concrete dry. These fines may mean we end up paying people to watch concrete dry because it is cheaper.”

He continued: “Councils and utility companies are working closely together to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. We have long called for the expansion of the lane rental scheme, which currently operates in London, where it has reduced delays significantly. Under the scheme, contractors pay for the time they occupy busy roads and are therefore incentivised to get the job done properly and on time.”

The National Joint Utilities Group said: “Any solution needs to balance all the conflicting priorities, including reducing disruption, operational impacts, meeting customers’ needs and keeping costs to a minimum.

“We will of course be reviewing the government’s proposals in detail once they are available and responding to the consultation.”

This initiative will sit alongside the government’s £15Bn Road investment strategy designed to help transform England’s road network, thus creating jobs, boosting economic growth, and fixing longstanding problems that inconvenience drivers.

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Apprentices needed as 230,000 construction jobs to be created

The Construction Industry Training Board has called for more apprentices as it announced figures today predicting a yearly average increase of 2.5% over the next five years.

A sustained period of growth from now until 2020 driven by infrastructure and housing construction has been forecast in the CITB’s Construction Skills Network (CSN).

Annual growth is predicted across all the UK’s regions and nations up to 2020, with Wales seeing the highest year-on-year growth with 7.1%, followed by the South West (4.4%), London (3.5%), and the North West (2.6%).

Huge infrastructure projects across the UK such as the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, Crossrail, High Speed 2, will see year on year infrastructure growth of 6.1%.

The commercial construction sector is expected to see growth of 3.4% per year, while it is anticipated private housebuilding will finally recover to its pre-economic crisis levels, reaching 26Bn by 2020.

Steve Radley, Director of Policy at the Construction Industry Training Board, said: “We can’t build the Britain we want without growing apprenticeships – and the careers they lead onto. That’s why it is vital that these new statistics, showing solid, sustained growth, inspire more people join the construction industry.

“We also want to attract workers who have left the industry to return, and upskill those currently in the sector, so we can deliver major projects and new housing faster and better.”

In comparison to other European countries, construction growth in the UK will be fourth in the continent until 2017, surpassing Germany, France and Spain.

The CITB will this year launch a series of new partnerships with local and regional training providers to help combat the skill shortage.

The Board has teamed up with the construction industry to help people discover the range of jobs and careers opportunities on offer by creating the Go Construct web portal.

Employment Minister Priti Patel said: “With record employment and rising numbers of people working in construction, this is a fantastic time to take up apprenticeships and gain practical experience.

“We’ve got Britain building again with a 25% increase in the number of new homes delivered over the past year alone and construction workers are benefiting from growing wages too – giving families the security of a regular paycheck.

“Today’s report highlights the great opportunities on offer for people to take advantage of the three million new apprenticeships this Government is delivering.”

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Government reforms have negative impact on SWMP for construction industry

Well-intentioned reforms have had negative impacts on SWMP rules that helped waste management.

In 2008, legislation was passed to enforce the proper management of waste on English construction sites, with Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP) compulsory to all construction projects costing over £30,000. The SWMP records the volume of waste created on a construction site and documents how it will be disposed of, recycled or reused.

However, despite the construction industry’s increased focus on the management of construction waste, it is no longer compulsory for sites to produce site waste management plans for every project. Whilst these reforms are well-intentioned, with the government wanting to reduce red tape, the changes have had a negative effect on the SWMP rules that were having a positive effect on the building industry and reduction of waste.

SWMP regulations have had a positive influence on the way that the construction industry thinks about waste, encouraging companies to show greater consideration for recycling and reusing materials.

According to the Digest of Waste and Resource Statistics, the construction sector produces the largest amount of waste.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has released the Digest of Waste and Resource Statistics; a compendium of statistics on a range of waste and resource areas.

According to WRAP, the construction industry accounts for 60% of all materials used, created 33% of waste and generated 45% of all CO2 emissions in the UK.

As part of the Government’s 2008 Climate Change Act, the UK has vowed to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050, which has made the recycling of materials essential for the construction industry if the UK is to stay on track and meet the targets. The industry is already exceeding its 70% target for recovering construction and demolition (C&D) waste.

In order to stay on track to hit the government’s targets, there will be greater emphasis on waste reduction during the design stage of the construction process, where there is the greatest room for environmental improvements.

Designing for the deconstruction process is a topic that is being considered within the industry, with designing for deconstruction encouraging more eco-friendly demolition plans. The materials used and how companies plan to recycle them will allow architects to deliberate which materials will create the largest amount of waste and eliminate them from the building work in favour of more environmentally-friendly alternatives.

Significant improvements and investments have been made over the last decade, on the types of materials that can be recycled and reused, which broadens the quality of the environmentally-friendly structures built. However, there is still an issue in making specialist recycling services available nationwide.

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North West to get 22,500 construction jobs boost

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has today revealed figures that showing almost 22,500 new construction jobs will be created in the North West.

The CITB’s annual Construction Skills Network (CSN) report estimates that over the course of the next five years employment in construction employment will increase on average by 1.6% per year in the region, a sharper increase than the national rate of 1.1%.

The North West is anticipated to see an annual average growth rate of 2.6% in total construction output over the next five years, fractionally more than the UK rate of 2.5% following investment in the infrastructure and commercial sectors.

Infrastructure is expected to be the highest performing sector in the region with a yearly increase of 5.6%.

There are a number of current and new projects in the pipeline, such as work on the £290m, 10km long dual carriageway linking the A6 to Manchester Airport, numerous office and residential developments in Manchester city centre, and the nuclear power station at Moorside in Cumbria.

The CITB has teamed up with the construction industry to help people find out about the range of jobs and careers available by creating the Go Construct web portal.

Steve Housden, CITB Sector Strategy Manager for the North West, said: “We can’t build the Britain we want without apprenticeships and the careers they lead to. That’s why we want these new statistics, showing solid, sustained growth, to inspire more people across the North West to start apprenticeships and more construction firms to take them on.

“We also want to attract workers who have left the industry to return, and upskill those in it, so we can deliver major projects and new housing faster and better.”

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Infrastructure Secretary visits flooding project

£12.4M Springburn project progressing well

Progress at Scottish Water’s £12.4M flooding project at Elmvale Row, Springburn, was viewed by Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown as he visited the site today.

The project is part of the biggest investment in waste water infrastructure in the Greater Glasgow region for more than a century and is due to complete next year.

The project will provide two massive underground storage tanks capable of storing some 13,500cu m of extra storm water in the local network. Measuring some 25m in diameter and 18m deep, the tanks form part of Scottish Water’s £250M, five-year investment programme designed to convert the area’s infrastructure into an integrated and sustainable sewage network that will prevent future flooding.

Mr Brown said: “I am delighted to be here today and to see the works at Elmvale Row. This project is a key part of Scottish Water’s massive investment in the waste water network across Greater Glasgow to improve the water quality in the River Clyde and its tributaries and to address sewer flooding.

“Sewer flooding is an extremely serious problem particularly where it enters people’s homes, as has been the case here in Elmvale Row, and given previous occurrences of flooding over a number of years a permanent solution is required.

“Elmvale Row is just one example of the many projects that Scottish Water has underway to upgrade the Victorian sewage system to improve the water quality of the Clyde and to meet the demands of economic growth.

“I am therefore delighted to be able to see at first hand the progress on this vital project that will provide much needed relief to those who have been affected by floods in the past. It is another fine example of Scottish Water – a public sector organisation – delivering improvements for consumers and the Government’s support for this kind of investment to address flooding issues.”

Commenting on Scottish Water’s overall investment in its waste water infrastructure across Greater Glasgow, Mr Geoff Aitkenhead, Scottish Water’s executive director of capital investment, said: “We’re making good progress with all of this investment in the Greater Glasgow area’s waste water infrastructure, the biggest in living memory.

“The environment and communities throughout Greater Glasgow will benefit hugely from this because it will protect the natural environment and meet the needs of growth, economic development and regeneration for many years to come.”

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Exclusive Interview: ecoSHOWCASE

For almost a decade ecoSHOWCASE has remained the country’s leading green building product and facilities roadshow.

UK Construction Online speaks to Ashley Jones – Sales and Marketing Executive for Framework Media, organiser of the event – about the roadshow, its origins and this year’s eclectic line-up.

Could you provide our readers with an introduction to ecoSHOWCASE? How did it come to be?

In 2008 we acquired a well-established general construction roadshow that was heading nowhere. The event needed new focus and investment. There were many green and low energy initiatives around at the time so we decided to re-brand the event as ecoSHOWCASE, the green building roadshow, bringing them more up-to-date and creating a focal point for education.

Beginning in Manchester, the ecoSHOWCASE traverses the length and breadth of the country over the course of the year. How are these locations selected?

Our locations are chosen to create national coverage by visiting regional cities around the country. The venues are selected for their overall quality and convenience for visitors. We often choose premier sporting venues, which are easy to find and provide an excellent setting for the events.

Who would you describe as being your core audience?

ecoSHOWCASE is designed for specifiers and buyers, including: architects, engineers, surveyors, contractors, developers and facilities managers, both from the private and public sectors.

What seminars can attendees look forward to this year?

We kick-off this year’s schedule with four knock-out sessions, presented by key industry commentators from Ofgem, Cundall, JHAI and John McCall Architects. Topics range from current RHI legislation to practical advice, and examples of how to create a more sustainable built environment.

How are guest speakers and seminars chosen?

Our seminars are, most importantly, 100% educational. We select expert speakers – typically from industry bodies, government or impartial organisations – who can share their knowledge and experience.

Do you look for any specific criteria in terms of exhibitors?

We try to cover the widest possible spectrum of sustainable products and solutions with as little duplication as possible. We don’t judge the sustainable credentials of the suppliers – that’s the purpose of the event, a face-to-face forum for exchanging knowledge.

How might exhibiting benefit those companies?

The quality of our audience is the key. Specifiers are notoriously difficult to meet so our events provide excellent value and a unique environment for specification sales.

From an organisational point of view, where have the greatest challenges come from?

The biggest challenge is keeping the show fresh and relevant. To deliver quality content and increase the number of visitors.

What ultimately would you like visitors to take away from ecoSHOWCASE?

If there is one thing I would like visitors to comment about the show, it’s that they have learnt something – whether that’s a fresh idea they can put straight into practice or something for the future.

ecoSHOWCASE is co-located with itSHOWCASE, how does this benefit the visitors experience?

There is an obvious synergy between the two events. Construction industry software was at the heart of itSHOWCASE when it launched 25 years ago and it is still a major part of the show today. Visitors are free to attend both events, making it even more valuable use of their time.

The year’s first ecoSHOWCASE will take place on Tuesday 9th February at Old Trafford Stadium. Entry is free-of-charge. The roadshow will later appear in Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Leicester.

For more information please visit the ecoSHOWCASE website.

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Transport for London release new open data feeds

TfL have released new open data feeds to help London find station parking spaces and avoid congestion.

Transport for London have released their latest open data feeds, which will provide live information on the number of parking spaces available in London Underground car parks, as well as improved traffic camera information which will make drivers aware of areas that are congested.

The latest feeds are available at http://ift.tt/1ZSi631 and is part of TfL’s commitment to make journeys easier for customers, by making its information available and accessible to create better products and services.

TfL have an extensive range of data feeds already available, such as live travel information for all TfL services and details of planned roadworks and live road incidents, which help millions of people plan their journeys around London each day.

Almost 500 mobile phone and online apps are already powered by TfL’s open data, providing up-to-the-minute information about the Capital’s public transport and road networks.

The new data feeds will provide drivers with information about all 61 London Underground station car parks, including location, cost and number of spaces. For 23 of these, a dynamic feed is available to inform people how many spaces are currently being used. TfL is working with its contractors to investigate expanding the feed to cover all 61 London Underground car parks in the future.

Regularly updated images of the TfL Road Network across London will be available via “JamCams”, with developers having access to five second looped videos which are available on the website, from available TfL cameras. This will allow people to see how traffic is moving on particular roads to help understand live traffic conditions.

Investigations and improvements will be ongoing throughout the year, including simpler access to the annual road safety data, improvement work on tunnels and further data schemes which are modernising the road network. TfL is also investigating how to make complex fares information more accessible for developers.

Future plans also including using historic and real time data to provide more information on the predicted status of public transport and road networks to provide customers with alerts in advance.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: “Mobile devices and new sources of data are making it ever-easier to help people avoid delay and manage their journeys. We are absolutely committed to making sure that we help people have easier journeys through the Capital, and we are lucky enough to have a booming tech sector in London that is perfectly positioned to help us deliver on this commitment.”

Phil Young, Head of Online at TfL, said: “As people increasingly use mobile devices in every aspect of their day-to-day life, it’s vital that we make our information as easy for customers to access as possible, both through our own services and those of third parties and partners. This helps people make more informed choices and stimulates new products and services from the Capital’s world-leading tech sector.”

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Boost for housing as government puts hundreds of acres of land up for sale

Six hundred acres of surplus public land up for sale to deliver new homes and boost local growth.

The government has today announced details of 600 acres of surplus public sector land as part of plans to deliver thousands of new homes and local growth.

Developers are being urged to seize the opportunity, after Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said it was proof that the government is getting the country building again. The government has now embarked on the largest housing building programme since the 1970s, as it looks to deliver a million new homes, 160,000 of them through the sale of surplus sector land.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has more than 80 public land sites for sale and a further 40 sites will be brought to market over the next 18 months, providing a boost to local economies and a significant return to the taxpayer.

The new sites will support around 5,000 new homes as well as land for industry and business.

Over 20% of the sites already have outline or detailed planning permission.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: “Using surplus public sector land for housing has helped us get the country building again with the number of new homes up by 25%.

“Selling off these sites will allow us to go even further, delivering on our ambition to support a further 160,000 homes, while providing a significant boost to local economies and the taxpayer.

“I now want to see developers getting shovels in the ground as quick as possible and build the homes hard-working people want and deserve.”

The HCA is the government’s disposal agency for surplus public land, and using its local market knowledge, commercial expertise and experience of managing large portfolios of land, exceeded its contribution to the government’s last land programme by more than 3,000 homes.

Chief Executive of the HCA, Andy Rose, said: “We will use our commercial expertise and local market knowledge to make land attractive to house builders, to help get homes built more quickly and meet local priorities.

“As the government’s disposal agency for surplus public land, we are well placed to support other departments and agencies in meeting their contribution to the government’s land programme”.

The Land Development and Disposal Plan published today also sets out some key principles of land disposal, which followed a review of the HCA’s processes and were developed in cooperation with the Home Builders Federation and its members.

These include clearer objectives for each site prior to sale, early and meaningful market engagement with a transparent pipeline of sites and clearer commercial terms.

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Consultation launches for new tunnel proposed for Lower Thames Crossing

An eight week consultation has launched today for a new multi-billion pound road link across the River Thames.

Proposals for a new road link across the River Thames between Essex and Kent have been announced today.

The multi-billion pound road link will unlock massive economic benefits for the region and the whole country, relieve congestion at the existing Dartford Crossing and improve the resilience of the road network by providing a new alternative link across the Thames.

In 2013, two locations were shortlisted for a new bridge or tunnel across the river. Highways England have been carrying out detailed work on the two locations, one near the existing Dartford Crossing (option A), the other linking the M2 with the M25 via the A13 (option C), with a possible link to the M20, working with a wide range of stakeholders to assess the shortlisted options and develop possible routes at each location.

The evaluation is now complete, with Highways England recommending a new road crossing at location C through a bored tunnel.

The proposed scheme would run from the end of the M2, crossing the river just east of Gravesend and Tilbury and joining the M25 between junctions 29 and 30. It will be the first new crossing of the Thames east of London since the Queen Elizabeth II bridge opened at Dartford 25 years ago.

Highways England will begin the consultation today, seeking public views until Thursday 24 March.

Highways England Senior Project Manager, Martin Potts said: “Deciding where the new crossing should go is a vitally important decision, and we’ve been working hard to identify solutions that strike the best balance between improving journeys, getting value for money and managing environmental impact. Our assessments have shown that Location C provides double the economic benefits of Location A as well as a clear alternative route to the Dartford Crossing, reducing congestion and improving resilience of the road network. And by choosing a tunnel rather than a bridge we can minimise the effects of the new road on the environment.”

“This consultation is your chance to have your say on a once-in-a-generation, multi-billion pound investment that will have wide ranging effects for decades. I encourage anyone who would like to find out more to check out the consultation materials or come and see us at one of the public exhibitions we’ll be hosting.”

A Lower Thames Crossing which will increase capacity and provide better, faster journeys across the Thames. Once complete it could add over £7Bn to the economy by increasing investment and business opportunities, and create over 5,000 new jobs nationally.

There will be 24 public exhibitions, held at venues across Kent and Essex. All responses will be taken into consideration before a final decision is made by the Government later this year.

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Severe weather warnings issued for flood-hit areas

Communities hit by recent flooding are warned to be prepared for more flooding and travel disruptions.

Residents in Wales, Scotland, Lancashire, Cumbria, Yorkshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and the South East are being urged to check their flood risk in preparation for flooding, and to be cautious if travelling after severe weather warnings have been issued, with the expectations of heavy winds and torrential rain.

Southwestern Scotland is likely to face winds of up to 70mph. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued nine flood alerts and nearly 40 flood warnings.

Forecasters are predicting around 30 to 50mm of rain in most parts and up to 80 to 100mm in exposed upland areas.

After recent floods, rivers in Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire are already affected by record river levels, after rainfall made December the wettest on record. The potential for heavy rainfall may cause river levels to rise and flooding drains.

There is possibility for some flooding along the rivers Severn and Wye. Heavy rain may also cause some impacts on south England on Wednesday.

Environmental Agency teams have been helping communities recover from the floods, which caused severe damage, leading to power cuts evacuated homes and damaged roads and bridges last month.

A Met Office spokeswoman said: “We’ve got these warnings out for great swathes of the west coast of the UK, that’s for Tuesday into Wednesday, for potential heavy rain accompanied by strong winds as well.

“And because we’ve had so much rain falling on already saturated ground, some of the areas experiencing that will be the ones who have experienced flooding already.”

Clare Dinnis, National Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “We will issue flood warnings and alerts where necessary as rivers respond to the rainfall. This could also cause drains to overflow, so people need to be ready for flash flooding in some places. Environment Agency teams are already out checking flood defences, clearing trash screens and blockages in watercourses and culverts.

“Disruption to travel and some flooding of low-lying land and individual properties is possible. We urge people to take care near coastal paths and promenades, and not to drive through flood water. People should check their flood risk and keep up to date with the latest situation.”

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Government launches apprenticeship awareness scheme aimed at primary schools

The Prime Minister’s apprenticeship advisor, Nadhim Zahawi MP, has launched an apprenticeship awareness scheme aimed at primary school children.

The scheme was launched by Mr Zahawi at the Mayflower Primary School in London and will see various apprentices visit primary schools and speak directly to the pupils of the benefits of undertaking an apprenticeship. The launch saw 30 apprentices from different sectors from companies and organisations such as British Gas, the NHS, and KMPG, chat with pupils from the Mayflower Primary School about their jobs and attempting to inspire the children to think about their potential careers.

Run in partnership with the charity Primary Futures, the scheme seeks to provide greater information on apprenticeships within schools and help young children gain understanding of the links between their lessons and their future careers. It was also look address the issue of gender specific stereotyping.

This new apprenticeship awareness campaign comes on the back of the Department of Education’s announcement of new legislation requiring schools to work closely with colleges, university technical colleges and other training providers to ensure that young people are aware of all the routes to higher skills and the workplace, including Higher and Degree Apprenticeships.

The Prime Minister’s apprenticeship adviser, Nadhim Zahawi MP, says: “It’s so important for primary school children to meet with apprentices and I was delighted to have the opportunity to be involved with this. Many of us develop our idea of a dream job while we’re at primary school, and apprenticeships are a great way of achieving these dreams.

“As the government seeks to hit the target of 3 million apprenticeship starts by 2020, school pupils should be aware of future options they have from a young age, so they’re familiar with the system and what the possibilities are as they shape their future.”

Russell Hobby, General Secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT said: “It’s clear that there’s a real benefit in talking to children at an early age about the jobs they might do when they’re grown up; about how important their primary school learning really is in terms of future opportunities. Providing the right kind of inspiration can broaden horizons, which is where Primary Futures is proving to be so successful.

“Children are introduced to people from all sorts of jobs and can see the different paths to success, whether that’s degree, apprenticeship or any other route. Detailed guidance may come later but careers inspiration shouldn’t wait until children get to secondary school.

“Involving apprentices in Primary Futures is a great extra angle to explore. Apprentices may well be closer in age to the children they’re speaking to, and as a result they may be more approachable and easier to identify with. Equally, it’s important to demonstrate that apprenticeships are a credible route for future employment.”

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Housing subsidies increased for affordable homes for rent

Housing subsidies are being increased for affordable homes for rent, giving a boost to Scotland’s affordable homes target.

Over the next three years, housing subsidies are being increased for affordable homes to rent being delivered by councils and registered social landlords (RSLs).

Subsidies help councils and RSLs acquire land or buildings and to build, convert or improve housing for social and affordable rent.

An expert group, which included housing associations and council representatives, recommended increasing subsidy levels, and all recommendations have now been agreed in full and will be implemented for any new grant applications.

Each new home will see an increase in grant subsidies of up to £14,000, with incentives being offered for homes that are achieving the higher greener standard.

As a result, RSLs in city and urban areas subsidy goes up to £58,000 to £70,000, and for council homes from £46,000 to £57,000.

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said: “I would like to thank the group for their work on the report. We are aware of the pressures being faced by councils and housing associations, and support their recommendations on increasing subsidies.

“Housing is at the heart of our ambitions to create a fairer and prosperous country and councils and registered social landlords will play a critical role in realising that.

“We have a strong record on housing, having exceeded our target to deliver 30,000 affordable homes in this Parliament. We also started a new generation of council house building and have taken steps to safeguard social housing for the future by abolishing the right to buy.

The new target is now to deliver 50,000 affordable homes, which will be backed with £3Bn of investment. The new target is a 67% increase in affordable housing supply, with 70% of the new target being for social rent.

 

 

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20,000th lorry driver completes TfL’s Safe Urban Driving course

A total of 20,000 of the UK’s licensed HGV drivers have now taken TfL’s Safe Urban Driving course, since it was created in 2011.

The Safe Urban Driving course has seen its 20,000^th driver take part in the first accredited course in the UK to include on-road cycle training for HGV drivers.

The element of the course gives drivers a vulnerable road user’s perspective of the road, and helps improve road safety through changing negative attitudes towards cyclists and pedestrians. Safe Urban Driving contributes to the 35 hours training that is required of HGV drivers under the Driver Certificate of Competence.

Based on the success of the course, TfL are expecting to train another 4,000 drivers this year.

Leon Daniels, Managing Director Surface Transport at TfL, said: “We’re helping create a safer generation of lorry drivers – and protect vulnerable road users – having now trained 20,000 of those who drive vital but intimidating vehicles. Our Safe Urban Driving course promotes more consideration for others while out on the road. I’ve been on this course and know how eye-opening and important it is; that’s why we want all lorry drivers operating in London to take part in this type of training and express our thanks to those who already have.”

Safe Urban Driving makes it easy for councils, developers and businesses to ensure that their supply chain uses the safest drivers, satisfying one of TfL’ Work Related Road Risk contractual requirements. The course also meets the training requirements for the Construction Logistics and Cycle Safety (CLOCS) programme. Fulfilling these requirements is a good way for all organisations to ensure that their drivers will be safer and more aware, reducing the risk of being involved in serious collisions on the roads.

TfL’s innovative Safe Urban Driving course is now delivered all over the UK.

Cllr Wesley Harcourt, Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Residents’ Services, said: “More than 1,400 lorry and van drivers in Hammersmith & Fulham have taken up this vital TfL-funded course. In March, we’ll deliver our one hundredth session. We are determined to make our roads safer for everyone who uses them.”

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Four cities awarded £40M fund to encourage drivers to go green

Nottingham, Bristol, Milton Keynes and London have been named as winners of multi-million fund to drive green car revolution across UK cities.

After successful bidding for a share of the £40M funding created to support the take-up of plug-in electric cars across the UK, four cities have today been awarded the funds to promote green vehicle technology.

The winners of the Go Ultra Low City scheme were announced by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, after they designed schemes that will help encourage thousands of people to consider switching to a plug-in car.

The government competition will support the UK’s thriving green vehicle sector, improve air quality in urban hotspots and help the government meet its emission cutting targets.

The four cities will deliver cutting edge technology, such as rapid charging hubs and street lighting that double as charge points, along with a range of innovative proposals that will give privileges to plug-in car owners, such as access to bus lanes in city centres.

Around 25,000 parking spaces will also be opened up for plug-in car owners saving commuters as much as £1,300 a year.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “These Go Ultra Low Cities have proposed exciting, innovative ideas that will encourage drivers to choose an electric car. I want to see thousands more greener vehicles on our roads and I am proud to back this ambition with £40M to help the UK become international pioneers of emission cutting technology.

“The UK is a world leader in the uptake of low emission vehicles and our long-term economic plan is investing £600M by 2020 to improve air quality, create jobs and achieve our goal of every new car and van in the UK being ultra-low emission by 2040.”

As part of the Go Ultra Low Cities announcement, London is awarded £13M to create “Neighbourhoods of the future” making ultra-slow emission vehicles priority in several boroughs across the capital. Streets in Hackney will introduce electric charging street lighting, while Harrow will develop a low emission zone offering parking and traffic priority to owners of plug-in vehicles. London’s proposals aim to deliver 70,000 ULEVs sold by 2020.

A total of £9M will go to Milton Keynes, to open a city centre Electric Vehicle Experience Centre, a “one stop shop” providing customer advice and short-term vehicle loan, along with 20,000 free parking bays for EVs and co-brand bus lanes.

Bristol have £7M to offer free parking for ULEV’s, access to three carpool lanes, 80 rapid and fast chargers across the city and a scheme to encourage people to lease a plug-in car for up to four weeks to help them understand the benefits of electric vehicles.

Nottinghamshire and Derby will use £6M of funding to install 230 chargepoints and offer ULEV owners discount parking and over 13 miles of bus lanes across key routes of the city.

The funding will also support highly skilled jobs in the automotive industry, by encouraging the sale of thousands of extra plug-in cars, many of which will be built and tested in the UK.

The Go Ultra Low Cities fund is just one element of a comprehensive £600 million package of measures from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles by 2020, which also includes £400M of guaranteed money for individual plug-in car grants, investment in low emission buses and taxis, and research and development funding for innovative technology such as lighter vehicles and longer-lasting car batteries.

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Funding for new schools in Scotland

A £230M investment will be made to replace 19 schools across Scotland.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today that more than 6,500 pupils will benefit from the creation of 19 new schools across Scotland.

The Minister met with pupils and teachers at Queen Margaret Academy in South Ayrshire, which one is one of the schools set to be replaced under the scheme. The Academy will benefit from a new supported learning centre for up to 50 young people with complex learning needs.

The £230M investment is part of the final phase of the £1.8Bn ‘Schools for the Future’ programme and will see the total number of schools being constructed to 112.

Since its inception, the Schools for the Future programme has created around 11,000 construction jobs and 230 apprenticeships.

The First Minister said: “We are working hard to improve educational standards across the country to make sure that every child in Scotland has the ability to achieve their potential.

“Part of that is making sure that children have the right physical environment to learn in. This ambitious plan will replace older schools across the country with new, modern buildings that will bring benefits to the whole community.

“We had planned to build or refurbish 55 schools across Scotland, these new schools now take the total to 112 – more than double our original target. Since 2007, we have worked with local authorities to rebuild or refurbish 607 schools, resulting in the number of children educated in ‘poor’ or ‘bad’ condition schools falling by 60 per cent.

“This infrastructure investment programme has already generated an estimated 11,000 construction jobs and 230 apprenticeship placements. Now as these further developments begin construction we will see a further boost to the economy right across the country.”

Gemma Boggs, Schools Programme Director at Scottish Futures Trust said: “Today’s announcement builds on the huge progress SFT has made managing the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme.

“We are working with all local authorities to achieve the very best value for the investment in their new schools which will be of benefit to thousands of pupils across Scotland, whilst also supporting many local SMEs when construction starts.”

All 19 schools are set to complete by 2020.

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Why should I consider leasing my next car?

The growing popularity of car leasing means more companies are considering leasing their vehicles. UK Construction takes a look at the advantages of leasing vehicles.

Personal car leasing has long been a popular method of affording to drive around the world. In the United States, around one in four vehicles on the road are leased. The popularity of financing a new car in this manner is now growing rapidly in the UK.

The economic crisis of 2008 hit the new car sales market hard but sales have been rising steadily since 2012. One of the main reasons for this is rise of the lease market and the two main types of leasing deals – Personal Contract Purchases (PCP) and Personal Contract Hire (PCH).

The car industry created the PCP as a way to stimulate growth in the struggling new car market and have been able to offer cheaper deals due to the low interests rate. According to the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), around 75% of vehicles bought in 2015 were registered through Personal Contract Purchases.

PCPs deals are popular because they provide a great deal of flexibility and lower monthly payments. A fixed monthly fee to use the car is paid for an agreed time period and a set number of miles. They also provide the option of being able to buy the car outright at the end of the rental term by making a ‘balloon payment’.

Personal Contract Hire arrangements differ in this regard, as there is no option to purchase the car at the end of the lease period.

Traditionally these financial arrangements were targeted towards businesses, particularly those operating large fleets of vehicles, but competitive deals make them attractive for smaller companies and individuals.

The main benefit to leasing rather than buying is how quickly a new car depreciates in value. The old adage goes that thousands drop off its value as soon as it’s driven out of the car showroom. A leasing agreement allows you to pay an agreed amount per month for something that is constantly decreasing in value.

There are of course other advantages to leasing a vehicle. On average, monthly repayments can cost between 35 – 55% less than the cost of repaying a car loan.

With a PCP arrangement, the deposit required will be much lower too, usually amounting to three monthly payments, meaning there are no huge upfront costs.

PCH usually include a large deposit of between 20% -50%, with the balance of the vehicle paid over the duration of the lease agreement.

In terms of choosing a car, the current cost of leasing means you are likely to be able to afford a car that you may never be able to afford if you were buying a vehicle. For example, a C-class Mercedes can cost as much a Ford Mondeo in terms of monthly repayments.

Depending on the PCP arrangement, the cost of servicing, maintenance and even road tax could be included in the cost of the lease.

Also, leasing a vehicle means you are free to change cars at the end of the lease period whether that be two, three or fours years, and take advantage of advancements in technology and fuel efficiency that comes with newer models.

Cars that tend to depreciate less in value are usually available at a competitive rate. Traditionally, German manufacturers such as Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi depreciate less and because of this higher residual value, are often amongst the best deals available. There are, however, numerous enticing offers on various manufacturers so it is worth having a look around for the best deal.

It is worth noting that four out of five PCP agreements see the car returned and the option to make the balloon payment declined. It maybe that if you know that you have no intention of ever owning the vehicle outright to compare the costs between PCP and PCH agreements, as a PCH may end up being a cheaper alternative.

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£150M redevelopment of Quarry Hill site gets the green light

Caddick Developments has secured outline planning permission for its multi-million pound Quarry Hill scheme.

Quarry Hill is now set to be another key development in the regeneration of Leeds City Centre’s Cultural Quarter, adjacent to West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds College of Music, BBC studios, Northern Ballet Head Quarters and opposite the new Victoria Gate Scheme.

The proposal includes 106,000sq ft of offices, 35,000sq ft leisure, in excess of 700 residential units, a multi-storey car park, 7,500sq ft retail facilities, a medical centre and a series of vibrant public squares.

Caddick has been working closely with Leeds City Council and its Design Advisory Group since 2002 when they were chosen as the preferred developer and the scheme was approved in principle in 2005, to ensure the plans are in line with current planning policy.

Sarah Friskney, Senior Development Surveyor at Caddick Developments, said: “We’re obviously very pleased that our scheme has received such a positive and unanimous response from the planning committee and we have the go-ahead to progress with our plans. Throughout the planning process we took every step to engage with the local community, and importantly with our neighbours and stakeholders, to ensure we presented the best scheme to transform this site. Our focus now will be on working up detailed plans and build momentum to set us on the right path to deliver our vision for Quarry Hill.

“A key focus of our design was to improve the public realm and strengthen the Cultural Quarter of Leeds City Centre to complement the existing community at Quarry Hill. Therefore a series of linked public spaces between the buildings will frame a variety of views plus the main boulevard encourages pedestrian flow connecting Quarry Hill with the city centre and the city beyond.”

Caddick is involved in two major development sites in Leeds City Centre, after purchasing City One, a 9.5 acre site which sits prominently in the south of the city, on one of the main routes into the centre.

The site has existing outline planning consent for a mixed-use development including office space, residential, multi storey car park and leisure accommodation.

Plans for City One are currently being worked on, Johnny Caddick, Director of Caddick Developments, believes this is another pivotal site in the regeneration of Leeds City Centre.

 

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Housing Minister announces £5M cash boost to tackle rogue landlords

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis has announced a £5M cash boost for councils to tackle rogue landlords in their area.

A total of 48 landlords will share £5M of funding so that they can take on irresponsible landlords that force tenants to live in squalid and dangerous properties.

The funding will also help councils to clamp down on “beds in sheds”.

Since 2011, there have been nearly 40,000 inspections that have taken place, with over 3,000 landlords facing further enforcement action or prosecution.

The £5M will help ensure that properties are of reasonable living standards by allowing local authorities to carry out more raids, increase inspections of property, issue more statutory notices, survey more streets and to demolish sheds and prohibited buildings.

The funding is part of a package of measures to ensure that tenants get a better deal when they rent a home. The extra funding shows significant progress had been made, with a total of £11.7M distributed to councils to crack down on the issue.

Protection for tenants against retaliatory eviction where they have a legitimate complaint, has been introduced, along with the stopping of landlords from serving an open-ended eviction notice at the start of the tenancy.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: “Many private rental tenants are happy with their home and the service they receive, but there are still rogue landlords that exploit vulnerable people and force their tenants to live in overcrowded and squalid accommodation.

“We also want to raise the quality and choice of rental accommodation across the sector. The funding will ensure tenants know what level of service they can expect and have confidence to get help and take action if things go wrong.”

The new measures will not affect any respectable and legitimate landlords.

Poor quality, overcrowded and dangerous accommodation can lead on to wider problems within the community, such as anti-social behaviour, unemployment, and sanitation issues for whole roads, greater fire risk and fraud.

From 1 February 2016 landlords in England will have to carry out Right to Rent checks to ensure potential tenants have the right to rent property in the country.

The funding comes as part of an ambitious package of proposals in the Housing and Planning Bill to give tenants the confidence to demand better standards. Measures in the Bill include a database of rogue landlords, banning order, introduction of civil penalties, extension of Rent Repayment Orders to cover illegal eviction, breach of a banning order or failure to comply with a statutory notice, and more stringent fit and proper person test for landlords of licensable properties such as Houses in Multiple Occupation.

 

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Construction industry to tackle occupational health

171 business leaders in the construction industry have pledged to improve occupational health at the Committing Construction to a Healthier Future summit in London yesterday.

The summit saw industry leaders come together in an effort to eradicate preventable ill health and disease in the construction industry.

The Construction Health Summit was organised by the Health in Construction Leadership Group, a recently established collaborative group comprising contractors, clients, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), professional bodies, trade associations and trade unions.

The gathering of key industry leaders, which included Crossrail, Thames Tideway Tunnel, Balfour Beatty, Skanska and Mace, signed a pledge to eliminate occupational ill health and disease from the construction industry.

The statistic that deaths as a result of occupational disease are 100 times more likely than deaths caused by accidents.

Currently, occupational cancer accounts for over 40% of cancer deaths and registrations in the workplace. The most common cause of these cancers is exposure to asbestos (70%) and silica (17%).

There are also a high number of people who suffer from hearing loss due to excessive noise levels, hand arm vibration syndrome or musculoskeletal disorders from physical activity.

Speakers at the summit included Judith Hackitt CBE, Chair of HSE; Justin Tomlinson MP, the Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Disabled People with responsibility for Health and Safety; Andy Mitchell, CEO of Thames Tideway; Andrew Wolstenholme, CEO of Crossrail and Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council; and Sir Malcolm Grant, Chairman of NHS England.

Leo Quinn, Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty, said: “When 100 times more UK construction workers die from occupational disease than from accidents, it’s vital that the industry looks at what more can be done in order to improve health as well as safety.”

It is hoped that by signing the pledge, the construction industry will be able to see the same cultural shift that led to dramatic reductions in on-site injuries and fatalities, to treat health like safety.

Chair of the HSE, Judith Hackitt CBE, said: “The number of on-site related fatalities has fallen by two-thirds in the past ten years due to a concerted and joined up effort by the construction industry. We can have a similar impact on the health of the workforce with an equally determined effort by the industry and its supporting organisations.”

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Santander Cycles expands to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

London’s flagship cycle hire scheme, Santander Cycles, has been expanded to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The popular scheme has been expanded, with eight new docking stations and 310 docking points being installed in the Park, furthering the reach of the scheme.

London’s Cycling Commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, and Jessica Ennis-Hill, Santander ambassador, were at the Park today to launch the new docking stations, including some special edition gold Santander Cycles to reflect the link to the London 2012 cycling legacy.

The newest docking stations are located at the London Aquatics Centre, Lee Valley VeloPark, the ArcelorMittal Orbit and East Village, the former 2012 Athletes Village, with locals able to hire a bike and cycle around the park with docking and rehiring at various points.

People also have the opportunity to cycle on into the city using Cycle Superhighway 2.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: “It is fantastic to see our iconic cycle hire scheme spread its wings to the glorious setting of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The scheme has developed beyond recognition since it first started, with millions of miles ridden by cyclists of all ages and abilities. By successfully expanding further east, TfL is giving even more people the chance to get around on our trusty red bikes. It’s a real boost for commuters, shoppers and tourists, and another shot in the arm for booming east London.”

Chief Marketing Officer of Santander, Keith Moor spoke of the commitment between themselves and Transport for London, providing extra benefits in the future to give Londoners and visitors a good experience.

Jessica Ennis-Hill, Santander ambassador and Olympic gold medallist, said: “I am really happy to see that the Santander Cycles scheme has been extended to include Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The venue is so iconic and holds lots of great memories for me, but above all there is so much to do and see around the park. New ways to encourage people to be more active and explore their city are always so welcome and here you can cycle and take in all the iconic Olympic venues – it’s brilliant.”

The total number of docking stations within the scheme is now 761, with plans in place to introduce two docking stations at Here East, the new digital quarter at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in the Spring, as well as in Kings Cross, Stockwell and Vauxhall.

Since its launch in 2010, the cycles have been hired more than 47 million times. Santander’s Cycles App has been downloads by more than 150,000 people.

Santander Cycles is the second largest cycle hire scheme in Europe, with 11,5000 bikes for hire from as little as £2 per day for casual users or 25p per day on an annual membership.

 

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Scottish house prices set to rise further in the first quarter of 2016

According to the latest survey by RICS, Scottish house prices are expected to increase in early 2016 as supply continues to fail to meet demand.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has said that the RICS UK Residential Market Survey, December 2015, has shown rising demand and a slight increase in properties coming onto the market led to an uplift in newly agreed sales in December (a net balance of 24%).

Surveyors expect this trend to continue in the near-term at least.

A net balance of 35% of Scottish respondents forecast a rise in transactions in the January-to-March period, with 24% of surveyors also expecting average prices to increase in this quarter.

Sarah Speirs, Director RICS in Scotland, said: “Despite a growth in new instructions, the chronic shortage of housing supply in Scotland continues to result in rising house prices and rents across the country. To remedy the shortage, Scottish Government policy is, and for a considerable amount of time has been, aimed at supporting demand and, more crucially, the new build market and home ownership.

RICS launched its manifesto yesterday, presenting Shaping Scotland’s Housing Future, developed by RICS practitioners, aiming to inform political parties of the role property plays in driving Scotland’s economic growth ahead of the parliamentary elections in May.

The report recommends the creation of a Housing Land Agency, which would work with local authorities and developers identifying land, primarily in areas of market failure, and installing any necessary infrastructure for sites.

Other requests include improvements to existing residential tenements across Scotland via the Planned Maintenance Scheme, where owners of properties in tenements could take part in regular surveys and have in place a programme of maintenance management. The Help to Maintain Scheme was proposed, which would provide funding to home owners to invest in their property to improve the fabric of its structure or energy efficiency.

In order for the future government to increase housing supply, the report also calls for the introduction of Construction and Planning Skills Programmes in response to severe skills shortages within the sector.

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Nissan go ahead on £26.5M investment in EV battery plant

This morning, Nissan confirmed its commitment to produce electric vehicle (EV) batteries at its advanced lithium-ion battery plant in Sunderland.

The announcement follows the launch of a third generation all-electric LEAF with class-leading range of up to 250km, reaffirming Nissan’s commitment to a 100% electric future. In 2015 alone, Nissan sold 43,651 LEAFs worldwide, 15,630 of which were in Europe.

The £26.5M investment will safeguard 300 highly-skilled jobs in manufacturing, maintenance and engineering at the plant, which is the largest of its type in Europe. One of three Nissan battery production sites, the plant will provide battery modules for the all-electric Nissan LEAF and e-NV200 electric van, which is manufactured at Nissan’s facility in Barcelona, Spain.

Paul Willcox, Chairman, Nissan Europe, said: “The Nissan LEAF has transformed the performance and perception of EVs and made Nissan the undisputed leader in EV technology. Today’s announcement reflects Nissan’s intention to remain EV leaders for many years to come, with our European operations at the heart of our future innovations.”

Willcox added: “Nissan has achieved second-to-none quality levels since launching battery manufacturing in Sunderland, and securing this critical future production is a testament to our success. This news coincides with the launch of the 250km range Nissan LEAF. Now in its third generation, the LEAF continues to go from strength to strength as we realize our electric motoring vision.”

Nissan’s heritage with electric vehicles dates back 68 years with the Tama Electric Vehicle. Nissan, which has dedicated itself to in-house research and development of the EV battery, has taken it from zinc and nickel hydride to lithium-ion.

EV production began in Sunderland in 2013 and this year will mark the 30^th anniversary for Nissan at the plant, which is now the largest plant in the history of the UK car industry.

Nissan has announced that it has invested more than 500Bn JPY in EV projects, with bold plans to expand further as demand for clean, efficient and affordable electric cars continues to grow.

As the level of electric vehicle technology continues to increase, Nissan believes that this shift towards cleaner, more efficient zero emission vehicles will contribute greatly in improving air quality and lowering noise levels. Nissan will accelerate its endeavours for the realisation of a zero emission society by further developing and popularizing EVs as well as innovations utilizing EV-related technology and business.

 

 

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Education Minister visits £1.29M school extension

Education Minister John O’Dowd has visited a primary school in Carrickfergus to take a look at a £1.29M classroom extension.

The extension at Acorn Integrated Primary School, which has an enrolment of 201 pupils and 26 children in a nursery unit, has created three new classrooms and a play area for children.

Work on the extension was carried out by Newmac Contracts, Portadown and funded by the School Enhancement Programme, which provides opportunities fro schools to enhance and prolong the lifespan of the existing estate.

The Education Minister said: “I am delighted to be here today to see what a difference this project has made to the fabric of Acorn Integrated.  The new facilities have provided a real boost, which will enhance the learning environment and ensure that the school is well equipped to deliver the curriculum well into the future.

“Projects like this one have been made possible through the School Enhancement Programme, which not only benefits the classroom, but also supports the local construction industry.

“Improving the schools’ estate remains a key priority for me and I will seek additional funds to ensure that this important area of work continues to get the attention it deserves.”

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Chair recruited for £30M HS2 community and business funds

Cathy Elliot is to be the Independent Chair of the panel overseeing the delivery of the HS2 Community and Business Funds.

Cathy Elliot, currently Chief Executive of Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside, will be the Independent Chair of the panel overseeing the delivery of the HS2 Community and Business Funds.

The £30M programme will offer additional support to communities and local economies, which are disrupted by the construction of the high speed rail link between London and the West Midlands.

The first of two funds, The Community and Environment Fund (CEF) will provide benefits to local communities who are affected by Phase one section of the network which covers 140 miles between London and the West Midlands.

This will be in addition to the comprehensive mitigation already set out in the Bill currently going through Parliament.

The second fund is the Business and Local Economy Fund, which will support and promote local economies that are demonstrably disrupted by the construction of HS2.

Once the Parliamentary Bill is granted Royal Assent, both funds will be available.

Cathy Elliot’s first job as the Chair will be to work with project sponsor HS2 Ltd to finalise the eligibility criteria for the funds and recruit other members of the board along with the management body that will administer the grants.

Welcoming the appointment, HS2 Ltd CEO, Simon Kirby said: “This is an important stage in the development of two funding programmes that will offer extra help to those that are directly impacted by the construction of this much-needed new rail network.

“Cathy’s considerable experience and leadership will help make sure that we put in place a grants programme that really delivers on its aims.”

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said: “I welcome Cathy Elliott in her new role as Chair of these two very important initiatives, her extensive experience will be a real asset to the panel, and will help to ensure eligible communities and businesses receive the additional support available to them.”

 

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