Buy-to-let investors rush to complete sales before stamp duty rise

Buy-to-let landlords, estate agents, mortgage lenders and solicitors firms are rushing to complete property deals before stamp duty rise.

From midnight on Friday, a 3% stamp duty surcharge on second homes will take effect for buy-to-let landlords, estate agents, mortgage lenders and solicitors firms, which is designed to put a brake on the runaway buy-to-let market.

The measure was delayed until 1 April, to give those in the middle of existing purchases time to complete before the new tax change.

After an announcement made by George Osborne in November last year, anyone buying a home that is not their main residence will have to pay a 3% stamp duty surcharge.

In Scotland, the equivalent tax – the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) – is also being up-rated.

From midnight on Thursday the duty on a property sold for £200,000 will rise from £1,500 to £7,500.

Martin Baum, the President of the National Association of Estate Agents, said: “It’s a busy crazy day.”

“We’ve all got a bottleneck, and a huge amount of deals before the deadline. I’ve heard of estate agents and conveyancers staying open till 10pm, and then opening again at 5am this morning.”

Paul Smith, Chief Executive of Britain’s biggest estate agent chain, Haart, said: “In London we have seen a 35% increase in exchange activity in the last week as buyers rush to complete in time for the stamp duty deadline. We’ve been especially busy in north and east London, which are very popular areas for buy to let. Outside of London and the home counties the effect of the stamp duty change has been less noticeable.”

Earlier this week, the Bank of England announced plans to subject landlords to a series of new affordability tests, where their personal income and expenditure could be scrutinised by lenders before they decide to give them a mortgage.

Landlords may also have to prove that they could afford a rise in borrowing costs.

 

The post Buy-to-let investors rush to complete sales before stamp duty rise appeared first on UK Construction Online.

North Wales growth deal will empower the community

Secretary of State pushes forward with growth deals that will empower communities and create jobs for north Wales.

Wales Office has hosted a meeting at the round table at Glyndwr University in St Asaph, with more than 20 heads of councils, business organisations and major employers, to bring forward plans for a growth deal in North Wales, originally announced by George Osborne in the budget.

The round table was designed to explore what the region wants to develop as a distinct economy.

Senior councillors from local authorities in North Wales, Cheshire and Wirral together with business organisations like the CBI, Institute of Directors and the Federation of Small Businesses were invited, along with representatives from Toyota and Airbus who are also due to attend together with the heads of universities in North Wales.

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said: “This is the very early stages of the development of the north Wales growth deal. On having been appointed as secretary of state, I was determined to make it my priority to come to north Wales to develop the growth deal and today is the start of the process of community engagement.

“The purpose of today is to bring together business and community leaders to establish what their vision is to try and develop a plan that will give us that strategic goal over the next ten years or more that we can work towards achieving.

“That will be built on the expertise that already lies here and filling the missing links in order to get us towards that vision.”

The government announced in the Budget that it was ‘opening the door’ to a growth deal for North Wales during the Budget and that it would be looking to the next Welsh Government to devolve powers down and invest in the region as part of any future deal.

 

The post North Wales growth deal will empower the community appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Crisis meeting held for future of steel industry

Prime Minister hosting crisis talks on UK steel industry, the future of the Port Talbot Steelworks and 5,500 staff.

Prime Minister David Cameron is hosting crisis talks in Downing Street, after mounting pressure to guarantee the future of the Port Talbot steelworks, following Tata Steel’s announcement of plans to sell the plant in south Wales.

The meeting, which will be attended by ministers and senior officials from the Treasury, Department for Business, Cabinet Office and Welsh Office, will focus on providing a “sustainable long-term future” for the steel sector.

Tata Steel directly employs 15,000 workers and supports thousands of others. Steel production makes up one per cent of Britain’s manufacturing output and 0.1% of the country’s economic output.

The Port Talbot plant is said to be losing £1M a day.

Labour has urged ministers to “get their act” together and step in now, with the government wanting reassurance Tata Steel will not close its plants before a buyer is found.

Jeremy Corbyn has said that the government must intervene to safeguard the future of the UK steel industry, so far stopping short of taking the business into permanent public ownership.

There have been more 850,000 signatures on a labour petition calling for the Parliament to discuss the situation, but the government have ruled out the move.

Labour has said the Port Talbot plant, which was privatised in the 1980s as part of the sale of British Steel, should be temporarily renationalised if no buyer comes forward and it faces closure.

There are concerns that the end of the steel industry and Port Talbot would have a major effect on Britain’s status as a leading military power, undermining defence capabilities.

Lord West, a former First Sea Lord, said: “I cannot think of another major military power that doesn’t have its own indigenous steel production capabilities.”

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the government “should nationalise to stabilise” and “bring forward the support that was expected in this budget and didn’t happen” about reducing business rates.

Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP, has called for an immediate injection of government money to ensure plant – which is in his Aberavon constituency – keeps going while its future lies in the balance.

 

The post Crisis meeting held for future of steel industry appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Case Study : The John Roan School

How a two-site school was transformed.

In this article, Jamie Barrett, Managing Director of construction consultancy Evolution5, looks at how a historic school in London was transformed to help address the increasing pressure on education provision in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and considers some of the lessons learned from its project management.

Greenwich has one of the fastest-growing school-age populations in the UK. This project was required to help address the increasing pressure on education provision in the area.

Images © Hufton+Crow

The John Roan School is a secondary school, which dates back to 1677. It occupies two sites adjacent to Greenwich Park – the lower school was located at Westcombe Park and the original school which was built in 1928 and is a neo-classical Grade II listed building, is at Maze Hill.

State-of-the-art teaching facilities and flexible, transformational and inspiring learning environments were required to take the school into the next century and expand places to 1,400 pupils including 350 for sixth form students.

A Three-phase Solution

Evolution5 was appointed to provide project management and cost management services to redevelop the John Roan School sites through Greenwich Council’s strategic partnership arrangement with Babcock International.

The scheme was a complex, two-year new build, refurbishment and extension programme. It has created spacious, well-lit buildings that offer high quality facilities for both vocational and academic learning.

Remodelling and Extension

Images © Hufton+Crow

The listed building at Maze Hill was extensively and sensitively remodelled and extended to improve the classrooms and circulation areas, and to create new social, dining and learning spaces in one of the internal courtyards covered with an ETFE ‘floating pillow’ roof. A dedicated sixth form centre and ICT facilities have also been added.

Demolition and Redevelopment

The building at Westcombe Park was completely demolished and replaced with a new purpose-built, three-storey 7,845sq m school for years 9, 10 and 11. Decant sports accommodation was also provided during the build programme. The finished campus now accommodates general classrooms, design and technology laboratories, and an entrance atrium with stepped seating to create a performance space linked to the main curriculum and sports wings. There are multi-purpose and open-plan spaces for use as an open learning resource centre and break-out study areas; a winter garden, and drama and activities studios. A sports and amenity building doubles as a valuable community facility.

Images © Hufton+Crow

Refurbishment for Interim Decant and Primary Use

An unused school building at Royal Hill was refurbished to provide an interim decant facility for John Roan year 10 and 11 students. On completion of the new school at Westcombe Park, the Royal Hill scheme was upgraded and converted for occupation by James Wolfe Primary School.

A Highly Complex and Challenging Project

The redevelopment of The John Roan School was highly complex and involved many challenges:

• Children could not be displaced and teaching had to remain uninterrupted throughout, despite working in a live school environment during each phase. This involved moving year groups around and noise levels were carefully managed. During exam periods, construction activity levels were halted and then accelerated to maintain programme.
• This was a multi-stakeholder project which required continuous liaison and dialogue between different parties.
• Managing the design and installation of a lightweight, transparent ETFE roof at Maze Hill connected to the listed building on three sides involved multiple agreements, a high degree of consultation with different interested parties and a visit to another application of this structure to inform the project management of the process.
• All finishes had to be signed off by the school before design close. To achieve this samples of furniture, wall colours, fixtures and fittings were obtained and ‘mock’ classroom areas created to attain feedback and a high degree of engagement with teaching staff.
• School technology was constantly evolving, with initial designs incorporating projectors, which moved to interactive white boards and finally touch screens.
• The construction budget was constrained and various funding streams had to be managed.

Lessons Learned

Images © Hufton+Crow

Consistent and regular communications are essential on a project of this scale and with so many stakeholders and in the context of having to manage constantly changing requirements from the school.

Site walks throughout the construction process were very useful to inform everyone what was taking place and when. Evolution5 conducted monthly meetings with school governors and took senior management around the new buildings when it was safe to do so. These initiatives worked very well.

The sample classrooms were invaluable in helping to obtain informed and constructive feedback on design detailing from teaching staff, whilst effectively managing the school’s expectations.

The Client’s Perspective

Andrew Carr, Contracts Manager, Royal Borough of Greenwich Council, said: “We were kept up-to-date at every stage and the project management of this highly complex school redevelopment was excellent. The approach to communication was really helpful and we could pinpoint the project’s progress precisely, at any point. The consultancy team was fast to respond to any challenges and engaged with us at every level. They were extremely thorough, identifying any issues and the most appropriate solution. They did a great job on this challenging scheme and we can’t think of any areas they could improve on.”

At the opening, Des Malone, Head Teacher of The John Roan School, said: “This is a landmark for The John Roan which opens our outstanding buildings fit for 21st century learning. We are all immensely proud of our very special school.”

Images © Hufton+Crow

Project Data:

Client: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Lead consultants:  Babcock International Group

Project managers: Evolution5

Main contractor: Wates Construction

Architects:

Westcombe Park – John McAslan + Partners

Maze Hill – John McAslan + Partners

Royal Hill – Hawkins/Brown

Structural engineers: BDP

M&E engineers: BDP

Independent certifier services: WSP

CDM co-ordinator: Sweett Group

 

 

The post Case Study : The John Roan School appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Operations cease for Zero Carbon Hub

31^st March 2016 will see The Zero Carbon Hub close.

Established in 2008 to help the industry implement the government’s target of making all new homes zero carbon by 2016, the Hub is to close following the Government’s decision not to pursue this and funding withdrawal.

The Hub has provided an invaluable service in the eight years it has been established, supporting the industry through practicable regulation and removing barriers to implementation, whilst overseeing the successful introduction of higher energy efficiency standards. Members of Hub came from across the industry including; Construction Products Association (CPA), Home Builders Federation (HBF), Homes and the Communities Agency (HCA), Local Government Association (LGA), National House-Building Council (NHBC), Robust Details Ltd and UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC).

Paul King, Chair of Zero Carbon Hub Board said: “Zero Carbon Hub has been remarkably successful in bringing together a wide spectrum of stakeholders with an interest in the world-leading zero carbon target across public, private and third sectors. It has been a model of collaboration between industry and government, helping translate policy aspiration into reality. I would like to thank the many individuals and organisations who have supported us on this remarkable journey and their commitment to improving the quality of new homes.”

Neil Jefferson, Zero Carbon Hub Chief Executive said: “I am extremely proud of what Zero Carbon Hub has achieved in the past eight years and very grateful for the hard work of its dedicated staff. Since we embarked upon this journey, the industry has come a very long way and Zero Carbon Hub has made a significant contribution by engaging government, industry and consumer interests and successfully translating policy ambitions into practicable standards and guidance.”

The work carried out since 2008 will remain available for the industry at http://ift.tt/hDdeGI

The post Operations cease for Zero Carbon Hub appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Tata Steel to sell UK base

Tata Steel is to sell its UK operations following a decision by the board.

Following a lengthy board meeting in Mumbai, Tata confirmed its decision due to: “trading conditions in the UK and Europe have rapidly deteriorated more recently, due to structural factors including global oversupply of steel, significant increase in third country exports into Europe, high manufacturing costs, continued weakness in domestic market demand in steel and a volatile currency.

Tata said it would: “explore all options for portfolio restructuring, including the potential divestment of Tata Steel UK, in whole or in parts”.

The Company confirmed that it had been subsididising the UK operations for some time and could no longer support the UK business.

Talks are still underway with investment firm Greybull Capital over the sale of its long products division, based at Scunthorpe, which makes steel for use in construction.

In a Joint statement, the UK and Welsh Governments said: “This is a difficult time for workers in Port Talbot and across the UK. During the review process, we remain committed to working with Tata and the unions on a long term sustainable future for British steel making.

“Both the Welsh and UK governments are working tirelessly to look at all viable options to keep a strong British steel industry at the heart of our manufacturing base.”

Following the strategic view taken by the Tata Steel Board regarding the UK business, it has advised the Board of its European holding company to explore all options for portfolio restructuring including the potential divestment of Tata Steel UK, in whole or in parts. Given the severity of the funding requirement in the foreseeable future, the Tata Steel Europe Board will be advised to evaluate and implement the most feasible option in a time bound manner.

Established in 1907 as Asia’s first integrated private sector steel company, Tata Steel Group is among the top global steel companies. It is now the world’s second-most geographically-diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and a commercial presence in over 50 countries. The Tata Steel Group, with a turnover of US$ 22.32 billion in FY 2015, has over 80,000 employees across five continents.

The post Tata Steel to sell UK base appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Network Rail invest in infrastructure over Easter

Spare a thought for Network Rail. While the rest of us whiled away our Easter weekend, more than 3,000 of their workers braved Storm Katie to begin the integration of Crossrail with the UK’s existing rail network.

Delivered with aplomb, this latest £30M tranche of work represents one of the largest Easter investment programmes ever undertaken on Britain’s railways.

The completion of this initial phase of works was absolutely critical. Three quarters of the proposed Crossrail route – to be known as the Elizabeth line from December 2018 onwards – will run above ground, through the outskirts of London and into nearby Berkshire and Essex.

Once complete, 1.5 million more people will be brought within 45 minutes of central London.

At Crossrail’s behest, Network Rail undertook electrification works between west London and Berkshire, and improved railway infrastructure at selected sites in Essex, to facilitate the introduction of quicker and quieter electric trains in 2017. A series of platform extensions also took place to accommodate these lengthier trains.

Elsewhere, track work took place to improve overall reliability, while the construction of a new station at Abbey Wood began in earnest. Hefty pre-cast concrete slabs were hoisted into place to form the base of the new two-storey building.

 

Matthew Steele, Crossrail Programme Director at Network Rail, said: “I would like to thank passengers and our lineside neighbours for their patience and our team of staff and contractors for their dedication during the Easter period. Our orange army worked tirelessly over the Easter weekend to deliver a staggering amount of complex work. As three quarters of the route will run above ground on the existing rail network the improvements we have delivered are crucial to the successful completion of the new railway.”

Matthew White, Surface Director at Crossrail said: “The Crossrail project will provide a step change in public transport for many thousands of people in outer London, Berkshire and Essex. The programme of work delivered by Network Rail over Easter brings us a step closer to delivering quicker journeys, improved stations and better connections for local people along the route.”

In total, Network Rail’s orange army amassed an exhausting 100,000 hours of work across 16 separate sites in Berkshire, Essex, Kent and west London.

The post Network Rail invest in infrastructure over Easter appeared first on UK Construction Online.

EU project announced for Welsh & Irish water industry

Finance and Government Business Minister, Jane Hutt, has announced a £2.5M EU-backed project for the water industry in Wales & Ireland.

Designed to improve the long-term sustainability of water supply and distribution in both countries, as well improving efficiency, the project also aims to create a culture of innovation in the industry due to the environmental challenges the water industry faces in Wales and Ireland as well as the challenges of climate change.

The project – Dŵr Uisce – will help to develop new low carbon energy-saving technology, including micro-hydropower turbines. These new technologies will be tested in Ireland and Wales before being released commercially.

Dŵr Uisce are the Welsh and Irish words for water.

Trinity College Dublin and Bangor University will work in partnership on the five year project which has been financed by £2M of EU funding through the EU’s Ireland-Wales co-operation programme.

Dŵr Uisce is the first project being funded under the new Ireland-Wales programme. Aiming to strengthen economic links between Wales and Ireland, the Co-operation programme has a £75M fund to support cross border initiatives including around climate change, natural resources, innovation, heritage and tourism, which will benefit people and communities within the south-east region of Ireland and the north and west of Wales.

Finance Minister, Jane Hutt, said: “The Ireland Wales programme is a unique partnership between both our nations that provides an excellent platform to do business and address common challenges and opportunities which cut across our sea border.

“The programme is also another valuable source of EU investment, and I’m delighted that £2m of EU funds will enable Trinity College Dublin and Bangor University to take forward a project with such important potential for our water industry.”

Stephen Blair, Director of Ireland’s Southern Regional Assembly, said: “The Dŵr Uisce project  is an excellent example of a collaborative cross border project that will deliver positive economic and environmental impacts in both Ireland and Wales.”

Dr Prysor Williams, from Bangor University, said: “The work within the Dŵr Uisce project will help achieve those environmental and economic ‘win–wins’ that are so important for Wales to meet its ambitious targets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Securing this EU funding is excellent news, and we are looking forward to bringing our expertise to a project that will have significant benefits for Welsh industries, consumers, and the wider environment.”

Dr Aonghus McNabola, from Trinity College Dublin, said: “The water industry in Ireland and Wales is the fourth most energy intensive sector in both countries and contributes heavily to carbon emissions.

“The Dŵr Uisce project will make significant advances in improving energy efficiency in this sector and will have important environmental and economic impacts on the region.”

 

The post EU project announced for Welsh & Irish water industry appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Building tomorrow’s Megacities smartly

How will we deal with the growth of urbanisation? With over 200 megacities expected by 2020, the implementation of smart technology is needed to make our cities greener and more efficient.

More people today live in cities than rural areas; and by the end of the century it is expected approximately 80% of people will inhabit urban spaces as the global urban population projected to hit nine billion.

These numbers pose huge challenges for the megacities of tomorrow – especially those in fast developing regions such Asia, Africa and Latin America. Cities such as Shanghai, Sao Paulo, Istanbul and Lagos are examples of economies that now contain populations well over the ten million mark.

The colossal migration to urban areas can be explained, as people leave their homes for the big cities in search of a better quality of life – better jobs and wages, access to education for children, and more variety of things to do in their spare time and people to meet. To put this into perspective, back in 1950, it was almost the opposite of today with 70% people living and working in rural areas.

Chongqing, China

New York and Tokyo may be amongst the most well-known megacities – meaning cities with a population of over ten million people, but by 2020, China will lead the way with 121 urban conglomerations. India will follow with 58 and the US with 46. Subsequently, the societies, governments and businesses of such megacities will face challenges in the form of congestion, waste management and sanitation to name a few. It is also well documented that urbanisation poses serious concerns for the future of our planet, as pollution becomes more and more damaging to both the environment and the health if citizens living there. Burning fossil fuels to feed rapid urbanisation not only leads to harmful emissions, but it means that we are and will continue to use resources at an unsustainable rate.

In spite of some of these challenges, urbanisation can be tackled using the power of creativity to make cities smarter. The implementation of ‘smart cities’ can accommodate for our growing needs by essentially making cities greener and more efficient.

Singapore, Gardens by the Bay

One such frontrunner, Singapore, is trying to accelerate the adoption of smarter technologies process to make 80% of its buildings “green” by 2030. This year, Singapore is on target as building professionals plan more than 60% of their work to be green, compared to only 19% back in 2009 (according to Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority).

Efficient urban planning and infrastructure development are significant factors in ensuring successful urbanisation and smarter cities. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen if other countries will implement such technologies. In China, there have been investments of €532Bn for residential units and €210Bn for commercial units, with these numbers only expected to rise.

From a building and infrastructure perspective, overcrowding is one of the top challenges facing megacities. An estimated 85% of the existing urban and commercial floor space will need to be developed by 2025. The world’s answer to this has been the building of mid to high-rise buildings that not only occupy less land, but allow for green areas in the city. Such benefits have established a trend and in London, high-rise construction has increased by 56%, with 263 buildings over 20-storeys approved for building according to New London Architecture (NLA) and consultancy GL Hearn.

High-rise living, Kiev

As buildings get taller, elevators and technology to keep people moving becomes more important. For example, although sometimes overlooked elevators transport more than one billion people every single day. They also contribute to approximately seven per cent of a building’s total electricity consumption and depending on the size of the building, the elevator footprint can occupy between 25% and 50% of a building’s floor space. To work around this, technologies pioneered by companies such as ThyssenKrupp – like MUTLI or the “Willy Wonka” it as some like to call it – have been developed that use two cabins operating in the same shaft across different floors, resulting in energy savings of 27% and a 30% reduction in floor space being occupied. Also buildings can now evolve, reach new heights, shapes and purposes.

Another new technology introduced in partnership recently by ThyssenKrupp and Microsoft will make getting stuck in an elevator a thing of the past. The technology nicknamed MAX is a game changing predictive and pre-emptive maintenance service solution. By monitoring individual elevators that are connected to the Cloud, tapping into the Internet of Things it is capable of identifying in real-time the need for replacements in components and systems before the end of their lifecycles. This will save time, stress and also make the lives of service engineers and building managers that little bit better.

There are significant decisions for developing nations to make as our world continues to grow and evolve. What is pleasing is how companies are working hand in hand offering their skills to design infrastructure and technology to make sure our cities are the best mankind has ever lived in.

Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO thyssenkrupp Elevator

The post Building tomorrow’s Megacities smartly appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Government starter home pledge

One in five new homes to be a starter home

The Government has announced new proposals, which will help support its pledge to build one million new homes as well as first time buyers.

New developments, which have ten or more homes must ensure one that one five is a starter home, providing 200,000 new homes for first time buyers under 40 (and joint purchases were one partner is below 40).

This is a major step towards the Government realising its one million homes promise, including affordable housing for sale, rental and private purchase. The starter home support package comprises some £2.3Bn for the first wave of 60,000 starter homes, including £1.2Bn for house building on brownfield land.

The starter homes will be available at a minimum 20% discount below market value, making them genuinely affordable to those on moderate incomes.

Ensuring the homes benefit from genuine first time buyers, the homes can only be resold with a discount to other first time buyers five-to-eight years after purchase. There will also be restrictions on sub-letting the starter homes so they are not bought on a buy-to-let basis.

Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said: “We want to ensure young people who aspire to own their own home can settle down and enjoy the security home ownership brings.

“This is why we have committed to building 200,000 high quality homes exclusively for first time buyers backed by £2.3Bn government funding to get building underway including on brownfield sites.

“Today’s proposals mean starter homes will be built on hundreds of housebuilding sites across the country, encouraging private and affordable housing is built side by side in mixed communities.”

The proposals would also see injured military personnel and partners of those who lost their lives in service eligible for a starter home at any age, rather than see a cut off at age 40.

The move will help this group who may otherwise face issues accessing the starter homes scheme.

Brandon Lewis said: “It’s absolutely right that we provide help and homes for our heroes, that is why we’re proposing that starter homes should be available to injured soldiers and partners of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”

The consultation runs until 18 May 2016 and seeks views on the details for the regulations to be made under powers contained in the Housing and Planning Bill.

 

The post Government starter home pledge appeared first on UK Construction Online.

MOD releases more land for new homes

Ten sites expected to generate some £140M

The MOD has today released further land for housing as part of the department’s plan to reduce its built estate by some 30%, thus creating a more efficient estate for the department.

Expected to generate around £140M income, which will be put back into defence spending, the ten sites will be used to provide some 7,000 new homes. The vast majority of these new homes will contribute towards the government’s target of 160,000 new homes by 2020.

From across the country, the sites released are:

• Thornhill Barracks (Part of Clayton Barracks, Aldershot)
• Burgoyne Barracks (Part of Shorncliffe Barracks, Folkestone)
• Clive Barracks (Tern Hill, Shropshire)
• Fitz Wygram House – Royal Army Vet Corps (Aldershot)
• Army Officer Selection Board Westbury (Wiltshire)
• Defence Training Estate land near Cove (Farnborough)
• Rylston Road ARC (London)
• MOD Wethersfield (Essex)
• Chetwynd Barracks (Chilwell, Nottinghamshire)
• MOD Cheadle Hulme (Greater Manchester)

MOD Wethersfield in Essex, the MOD Police HQ, will account for more than two-thirds of the 7,000 homes earmarked for land disposed of in this latest wave, with the potential for some 4,850 homes. The next largest site is Clive Barracks, where up to 600 homes could be built.

These ten sites join an initial 12 sites that were released in January and will see the Ministry make land available for up to 22,000 homes, which is expected to generate some £640M income for the MOD.

Defence Minister Mark Lancaster said: “Every pound we make by disposing of excess land will be reinvested into a defence budget that keeps Britain safe. It will make the defence estate more efficient and better suited to the needs of our armed forces. And it will help thousands of people to own their own home.

“The defence estate currently spans one per cent of all UK land and covers 452,000 hectares. The department has committed to generating £1Bn through land sales during this parliament and contributing up to 55,000 homes.”

 

 

The post MOD releases more land for new homes appeared first on UK Construction Online.

£372M support for Hawk training aircraft secures 700 jobs

The MOD has committed £372M for the continued in-service support of Hawk fast jet training aircraft, securing 700 jobs.

The Ministry of Defence has committed £372M across four contracts for the continued in-service support of Hawk fast jet training aircraft, securing around 700 UK jobs until 2020.

The five year support contracts will provide a range of services to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force’s Hawk aircraft at bases across the country including Wales, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Somerset and Cornwall.

The fleet of Hawk TMk1 and TMk2 are used by the UK armed forces for military flying training prior to conversion onto the frontline fast jet aircraft, and for a variety of other Royal Navy and Royal Air Force training requirements.

The Red Arrows, one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams, also use the aircraft.

Minister for Defence Procurement Philip Dunne said: “The Hawk is a world-class training aircraft for our future fast jet aircrew. Pilots currently flying Typhoons and Tornados with such precision targeting Daesh in Iraq and Syria to keep Britain safe first learnt their skills in the Hawk. It will also be used to train the pilots that will fly our new F-35s, some of the most advanced aircraft in the world.

“The contracts to support these vital training aircraft are a boost to British industry, sustaining hundreds of jobs across the UK – all made possible by our growing Defence budget and our £178Bn investment in buying and maintaining the best possible kit for our Armed Forces.”

Contracts worth almost £300M have been awarded to BAE Systems, who will give advice on design and modification and obsolescence management, with the main support service hub being RAF Valley in Anglesey, working with its maintenance partner, Babcock.

Around 470 people are based at RAF Valley, 65 at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire and 55 at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. It also has 65 people based at Brough in East Riding of Yorkshire and around another 20 across its sites in Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire.

Rolls Royce have been awarded a £70M contract to provide support for “Adour” engines which power the Hark Aircraft, with testing, repairs and overhauls taking place at RAF Valley and in Filton, Bristol sustaining 40 jobs across both sites.

 

The post £372M support for Hawk training aircraft secures 700 jobs appeared first on UK Construction Online.

New government strategy launched to encourage walking and cycling

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill announced a new government strategy to encourage more walking and cycling.

On Saturday (27 March 2016), a blueprint to encourage more walking and cycling was launched by the government, which plans to get people to travel on bike or on foot for shorter journeys.

By 2020, the new strategy aims to have people choosing the natural alternative to travelling shorter distances, or as part of a longer journey, by bike or on foot rather than driving or using public transport.

It includes ambitions to double cycling, reverse the decline in walking, reduce the rate of cyclists killed or seriously injured and increase the number of children walking to school.

This strategy focuses on making a major shift from short term funding streams for cycling and walking, and will be supported through providing safe and attractive infrastructure to encourage people to choose a healthier option of travel for themselves and the environment.

This will boost the economy, improve health, cut congestion and improve the air quality.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said: “Realising our ambition will take sustained investment in cycling and walking infrastructure. That’s why we have committed over £300M to support cycling and walking over this Parliament and this will increase further when spending on enhancing and maintaining existing infrastructure is taken into account.

“Delivering this long term plan will require patience, persistence and a change in attitudes – amongst government, local bodies, businesses, communities and individuals. We cannot afford not to grasp the opportunities available and we are determined to make this country a cycling and walking nation, comparable to the very best in the world.”

A consultation has been launched, finishing on Monday 23 May 2016, which will be assessed for the final strategy which will be published in the summer.

The government will also issue guidance to local bodies on developing local plans, with individual and tailored interventions identified to fit with local areas.

The government will take the lead on issues such as setting the framework and sharing knowledge and good practice.

The post New government strategy launched to encourage walking and cycling appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Winstanley Estate regeneration

How green spaces and Battersea’s Victorian heritage could support regeneration plans for the notorious Winstanley Estate in South London

By Jake Mason, CEO of Evolve

As the detailed plans unfurl to bulldoze the Winstanley Estate in Battersea, it will present Wandsworth Council with an opportunity to create a community with its roots placed firmly in the area’s rich and vibrant history.

The local authority is planning to rebuild the housing estate, where controversial hip hop group So Solid Crew formed, and replace it with more than 2,000 homes and new retail, leisure, community and office space. It will also knock down and rebuild the nearby York Road housing estate. The plan is to rebuild hundreds of out-dated council homes and to create new affordable housing, private rented and private for sale accommodation, as well as a range of commercial and community spaces. The council wants to improve the local environment and create a well-designed mixed-use scheme. And it is currently appealing for a joint venture partner to help deliver the scheme in central Battersea.

A look into the history of the area provides much inspiration for the architecture, identity and marketing of any potential scheme. Before the Winstanley Estate was built in the 1960s and 1970s, the area was a Victorian slum and was earmarked for demolition. However heavy bombing during World War II levelled much of the area. The irony is that these days the Victorian terraced homes which remain have rocketed in price, going for more than £1M.

Now that the council is planning to rebuild the estate, it provides it with an opportunity to revive elements of this lost Victorian neighbourhood. Historic street names could be used again and building design could take inspiration from this era. It would help the developer to create a sense of place and tie the new community to the local area. The beautiful Victorian architecture which was destroyed by the war could be restored to the residents.

Another way the council could firmly root the development in the local area is to look to Battersea’s connection with the market gardening industry. Before the industrial revolution much of the area was farmland. In the 16th century the area became a home to Protestant Huguenots fleeing persecution in France, who planted lavender and gardens, as well as founding a range of other industries. Between the 17th century and the 19th century it supplied fruit, vegetables and flowers to London markets. Could flowers lend their names to new buildings and public spaces? Could allotments or flower meadows be included in the development as a nod to the area’s past? This would also help to promote community cohesion. Growing your own food provides light exercise and cheap fruit and vegetables. Another way to incorporate the area’s market gardening history could be a community garden or orchard. Again this would bring the community together and give people a beautiful space to enjoy. An insight report which our agency recently published called ‘Wild Cities’ looks at how having access to green spaces and taking part in community gardening makes residents happier and helps them to ward off the alienation often associated with living in a big city. It also makes developments more attractive to buyers and helps the community to thrive.

Meanwhile for marketers looking to create emotion around products these readymade stories are a gift. This is a technique which too few property developers are using. A look around London new build developments will prove this. But simply by weaving in some of the local history from Battersea, it will help the revived Winstanley and York Road Estates to merge with their new surroundings effortlessly. We used this technique in Fitzroy Gate in Isleworth. The housing development is being built on an historic riverside estate and we took inspiration from its close proximity to royal parks such as Richmond Park and Kew Gardens. We included royal blues and purples in the design. We created a gold logo which could look at home in historic royal palaces. We decided to focus on the history of the area to create an interesting narrative around the development. It also helped Fitzroy Gate to become part of the local story and to blend in with its surroundings: something all developers should consider when gifted huge regeneration.

 

The post Winstanley Estate regeneration appeared first on UK Construction Online.

BREEAM on sustainable building

BREEAM was first founded 26 years ago with the goal of bringing sustainable value to developments. It aims to encourage the use of natural resources to investors, designers, developers and construction teams.

Whilst the costs involved with building in line with BREEAM’s enhanced standards can prove higher than average, evidence shows that a sustainable development has increased financial returns for investors.

However, in order to see the full value of BREEAM, you need to look all stages of the development process – let us explain.

Higher value to investors

Research has found that office developers are willing to invest up to two per cent more for higher BREEAM rated buildings, in the knowledge that the savings on energy and water bills will recover the additional investment in just two – five years.

Reduced risk to investors and developers

The industry is only going one way in terms of the emphasis being put on sustainable buildings. As time goes on and the focus on climate change intensifies, stricter regulations are likely to be imposed upon developments. This means older buildings with lower BREEAM ratings could be forced to either invest heavily in improving their standards or face the risk of depreciation .

Increased returns for investors

A study published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICs) found that “Green Buildings” achieved a 21% premium on transaction prices and an 18% premium on rents.

Sustainability is now being immediately associated with quality and attractiveness within the real estate industry.

Increased Value to Occupants

Prospective occupants of office space will look for offices that increase employee productivity and well-being. A productive and healthy workforce is one the makes the company money, a company that makes money attracts the best talent – and so it goes on.

It is said that “Green Buildings” do just this; the efficient energy and heating systems not only reduce operating costs, but they create an optimal working environment.

This then comes back to the point of increased returns for investors; companies searching for office space will see the office space as an opportunity for business growth – they will therefore be more willing to part with additional cash if they believe they can recover the costs through increase employee productivity.

Conclusion

Achieving BREEAM certification is becoming more and more important as time goes on. Whilst the initial capital outlay of BREEAM standards may prove high, the lifecycle savings of the building will quickly outweigh this outlay.

It is also highly likely that as time goes on, tighter regulations for sustainable developments will mean that many old office blocks will require significant investment to keep up. By getting ahead of the curve, you’re essentially bullet-proofing your development against further financial investment.

Over two million buildings have registered for assessment since BREEAM’s launch in 1990. As more people start to see the value that BREEAM can bring to a development this number is only going one way.

The post BREEAM on sustainable building appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Sky is literally the limit for sustainable timber

Sustainability is one of the most prominent and topical issues in the construction industry. Here, Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association (STA) reflects on how sustainability will continue to affect and shape the UK construction industry and specifically the choice of building material used for projects both small and large.

The building sector currently stands at a crossroads. Whilst, there is huge pressure on the Government, contractors and developers to deliver on housing targets, the requirement to keep costs to a minimum while adhering to environmental regulations represents a major stumbling block. As the issue of sustainability becomes evermore pronounced, specifiers, architects, contractors and self-builders must consider the merits of choosing timber frame for their housing projects.

The environmental qualities of timber are readily apparent. After all, timber is the only truly renewable building material, grown and nurtured by the power of our sun and rain. If controlled in a responsible manner, timber is an environmentally sustainable resource that can be harvested without adversely affecting our environment.

Furthermore, timber frame is constructed offsite, which equates to a significant reduction in waste. The building industry contributes nearly one third of all national waste. Prefabricated timber frame, produced offsite, reduces the amount of waste generated onsite by up to 40%. The timber components are delivered onsite, cut to size with a detailed ancillary list, meaning less over-ordering of materials and onsite mistakes generating waste. Also, nearly 80% of timber waste generated onsite can be recovered or recycled offsite.

Buildings constructed from structural timber frame are not only more environmentally friendly than block and brick when considering the build phase but also throughout the whole lifetime of the building. This is especially important when considering that the embodied energy associated with lighting and heating a building throughout its lifetime accounts for approximately 83% of its total energy usage.

The majority of heat is lost from a building by uncontrolled ventilation. Air tightness is strongly influenced by the type of construction. Timber frame buildings are intrinsically more airtight than both cavity masonry walls and solid masonry walls. Having a superior airtightness performance means decreased energy use, increased thermal comfort, increased air quality and a lower risk of moisture damage.

An example of such a project that incorporated timber frame to achieve the categorical aim of sustainability, first-class energy saving insulation and airtightness was the Young Homes development in Snettisham, Norfolk. The project was undertook by STA member, Stewart Milne Timber Systems on behalf of Flagship Housing Developments and consisted of 15 units of two-storey houses.

Stewart Milne Timber Systems met these requirements through manufacturing pre-insulated, closed external timber frame wall panels. Each panel, produced offsite, was insulated with blown polystyrene beads, providing high thermal performance and utilised innovative space stud technology to vastly improve thermal bridging. Due to the speed of offsite timber construction, all 15 units were erected ahead of schedule and subsequent inspection and testing of the erected units confirmed the high level of accuracy of manufacture, panel fit and the incorporation of airtightness

Timber frame housing projects such as the Young Homes development are becoming more prevalent across the country. In fact, there has been somewhat of a boom in the use of timber in the UK housing sector, with timber frame housing expected to comprise 27% of new housing projects by 2017. And it’s not just within the confines of the UK that timber has surged in popularity.

An ever-increasing focus on sustainability and new innovations in pre-fabricated timber are opening up the scope of what is possible with wood. Indeed, some industry experts are heralding this moment in time as ‘the beginning of the timber age’. Before, there wasn’t much incentive for developers and contractors to deviate from the status quo when choosing building material. As the impact of climate change becomes undeniable, environmental concern demands that the industry challenges the role of steel, brick and concrete.

The Boabab building in Paris will use cross-laminated timber Credit: MGA

As such, there is a growing trend amongst architects worldwide to incorporate timber in major construction projects. The strength and stability of pre-fabricated and engineered timber is enabling architects to conceptualise the prospect of timber skyscrapers dotting major cities’ urban skylines in the near future. In fact, Canadian architect Michael Green has been commissioned to deliver the tallest timber-supported tower in the world – a 35-storey skyscraper that will form part of a development called Baobab in Paris. Using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) sheets manufactured and cut to exact sizes, the material will be transported to site where it will be lifted into place and screwed together akin to a giant piece of IKEA furniture. Furthermore, plans are already afoot for the erection of timber skyscrapers in Austria, Canada and Sweden.

With stricter and more stringent environmental requirements inevitably on the horizon, the choice of building material is an integral concern. Structural timber’s low heat conductivity, low embodied carbon, high structural strength, airtight construction and traceable supply chain make it an ideal choice for any building contractors, specifiers, architects, contractors and self-builders with sustainability in mind.

The post Sky is literally the limit for sustainable timber appeared first on UK Construction Online.

11 million drivers expected on the roads for Easter weekend

Widespread rail disruption will result in an expected 11 million drivers to be on the roads over the Easter weekend.

Those that are planning on getting away for the Easter break have been warned that they may encounter some of the busiest roads, as an estimated 11 million drivers will be taking to the roads after disruption to rail services across the country.

A comprehensive £60M programme of Easter railway engineering works will lead to more people choosing to drive, rather than catch a train. A total of 450 engineering projects will be taking place on mainline routes, 75 more than last year, affecting around 5% of rail routes over the next week.

Delays will hit all six of Britain’s main line routes, linking London with the West, the Midlands, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Norwich and Weymouth.

Network Rail is billing the disruption as “the biggest ever Easter investment programme.”

The investment is being made because school holidays are traditionally quieter.

The AA said it expected Easter to be busier than last year, after a survey of its members suggested 55% planned to go somewhere by car today (Thursday), compared with 47% in 2015.

The number is expected to fall to 50% on Good Friday.

Highways England said it planned to finish or lift 208 sets of roadworks, however 57 sets will stay in place due to large excavation or major structural projects which would make them unsafe to lift.

Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA said low petrol prices could encourage people to travel by road.

Airport travel will also be affected, with the Gatwick Express from London Victoria out of action for four days, and London Underground Piccadilly Line services to Heathrow hit by a strike on Maundy Thursday.

Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport is expected to see 850,000 people travel through it this weekend, including 200,000 more families than usual.

 

The post 11 million drivers expected on the roads for Easter weekend appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Queensferry Crossing on schedule as north approach viaduct’s launched

Queensferry Crossing across the Forth River is on budget and on schedule as north approach viaduct is completed.

The £1.35Bn Queensferry Crossing is due to open to traffic by the end of the year, after the 5,600 tonne north approach viaduct was completed on time and on budget.

The north viaduct was constructed on site and pushed out over static temporary supports as a single operation, unlike the south viaduct which was completed in sections.

Including the temporary equipment needed for the launch, the total weight of the 220 metres long viaduct was 6,300 tonnes.

There are now only 64 metres, about the width of a football pitch, between making the connection from the north viaducts to the north deck fan.

Michael Martin, project director for the consortium building the new bridge, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors, said: “A massive total of 6,300 tonnes of steel and concrete was launched out 230 metres, in itself a significant feat of engineering. But what makes this operation really special is the fact that we had to slide the trailing edge of the moving structure down two ramp walls in order to raise the front edge by two metres. This allowed us to pivot the entire structure over the top of one of the two support piers as it moved forwards, resulting in the viaduct structure being at the correct geometry to match the emerging deck coming from the north tower.”

Keith Brown, Infrastructure Secretary said: “If any further evidence is required to demonstrate large-scale, world-class engineering, look no further than the latest progress on the Queensferry Crossing.”

The 2.7km bridge is being built by the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) consortium, comprising Hochtief, Dragados, American Bridge and Morrison Construction under a £790M contract.

The post Queensferry Crossing on schedule as north approach viaduct’s launched appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Coastal Communities fund is money well spent

New analysis shows that the Coastal Communities fund can save the Great British coast £8 for every £1 invested.

New analysis shows the Great British Coast could see up to an £8 boost for every £1 invested, Communities Minister Mark Francois revealed today.

The Coastal Communities Fund has invested £120M since 2012, with the potential to generate an annual £320M boost to the coastal economy over the next few years.

The government’s investment over a wide range of areas, whether through arts and heritage projects or new business hubs and tourist attractions, is bringing a financial boost to the coast communities. The funding is expected to create or safeguard up to 18,000 jobs in seaside resorts.

Communities Minister Mark Francois said: “We’re determined to unleash the enormous potential of our Great British coast, which is why we’ve invested £120 million in the last 3 years alone.

“We’ve already helped more than 200 projects get up and running across our much-loved seaside towns, bringing not just a wave of excitement but also protecting or creating up to 18,000 jobs.”

An example of successful projects include £1.9M which was awarded to Blackpool city council to radically transform its iconic illuminations, and potential to create 500 new jobs in the local area.

Cornwall Tate St Ives was awarded £4M to renovate and expand its gallery, to make it accessible all year round. This is forecast to bring an additional £87M benefit to the community over 10 years.

Across 150 resorts, the tourism industry alone accounts for the employment of 250,000 people, contributing £4Bn to the UK economy.

As a result of the Coastal Communities Fund, more than 200 seaside projects – which support thousands of small businesses, apprentices and entrepreneurs – have been launched, enhanced and improved.

The government has also supported over 100 new local coastal teams, who decide where the investment would best be spent in order to revive seaside towns. Local people within the teams were given £10,000 to kick-start work and given expert guidance.

In December, through the Coastal Revival fund, 77 projects ranging from theatres to piers and lidos to lighthouses, received an additional share of £3M to help restore and improve them.

An additional £1M will be available in 2016-2017 for projects that missed out on being selected.

The post Coastal Communities fund is money well spent appeared first on UK Construction Online.

London’s Burning: Why a great fire is anything but.

By Hannah Mansell, BWF-CERTIFIRE Manager, BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme

The Great Fire of 1666 turned out to be a seminal moment in fire safety management, which ultimately led to today’s comprehensive building regulations requirements and more recently, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Despite this, the latest research findings from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) show a widespread complacency towards fire safety which highlights how responsibilities in this area are simply not being taken seriously enough.

When the Great Fire occurred, it swept through London, gutting at least a third of the medieval city, destroying parish churches, wiping out landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral and making an estimated 100,000 people homeless.

Thanks to Britain’s stringent fire safety regulations, we are now living in very different times. Those who fail to act responsibly may face major penalties in the form of a prison sentence, a hefty fine, or often both. So it’s somewhat shocking to learn that in 2015, over £1M of fines were issued for faulty fire doors.

This figure is based on every news report that FDIS could find on prosecutions under the Fire Safety Order since the start of 2015, including references made to faulty or missing fire doors. In total, 53 published prosecutions across the country and including various building types were accounted for.

More than £1M in fines and costs were imposed by the courts in these cases. These were handed to private landlords, business owners and care home managers after they failed to install or maintain adequate fire doors.

On top of the large number of fines given, many defendants also received suspended prison sentences of typically three to eight months, or longer. In some of the worst cases, prison was seen as the only suitable punishment for deterring other, future would-be offenders.

The majority of prosecutions seen by FDIS (57%) were issued to landlords of houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs), such as bedsits, flat-lets and shared houses. Letting agents were often included in these fines as well.

A number of cases in the hospitality and leisure sectors were also found, with just over 22% of cases reviewed involving pubs, hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation, restaurants, nightclubs and takeaways.

This was followed closely by 19% of prosecutions involving nurseries or care homes – buildings that tend to house the most vulnerable. In most of these cases, either special measures were put in place or buildings were closed down altogether.

However, a million pound problem is likely to be an underestimate. What we’re looking at here are the cases that have been publicised in the press – cases representing only the very tip of the iceberg. As the figures show, continued and widespread ignorance surrounding fire door safety is a massive issue. And, it’s placing our lives, the lives of fire service personnel and the buildings in which we inhabit in great danger.

The level of fines may be significantly high but the real cost of fire is even greater when you take into account the knock-on effects. Take the consequential loss to business for example, this could also result in job or contract losses or even closure. Fire can also cause huge disruption in the local community, especially when healthcare or educational facilities are badly damaged or the short supply of housing is impacted further because of it.

Fire doors need to be correctly specified, fitted and maintained in order to help prevent the spread of fire. Every building owner or landlord should be regularly inspecting their fire doors, or using a qualified professional to ensure they are fit for purpose.

The city of London is preparing to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire this year – at a time when we’ve benefitted from Fire Safety Order legislation for just over a decade. As we reflect on what was possibly one of the biggest disasters to have ever hit the capital, we should also remember that the characteristics of fire remain the same today as they did then. In this day and age there really is no excuse for seeing prosecutions relating to faulty fire doors on such a high scale. So what’s it going to take for attitudes to change?

Developed by industry experts within the BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, FDIS is Europe’s first qualification and inspection scheme for fire door safety.

BWF-CERTIFIRE is the UK’s largest fire door certification scheme. Through it, around two million fire doors are tested and certified in the UK each year, which equates to approximately 70% of the market.

Together, our organisations campaign for improved fire safety in all the buildings we design, construct, manage, own and use. You can join us at http://ift.tt/1Uc1Bki.

 

The post London’s Burning: Why a great fire is anything but. appeared first on UK Construction Online.

90,000th Site Registration with Considerate Constructors Scheme

A milestone has been reached for UK construction industry, as 90,000^th construction site registers for Considerate Constructors Scheme.

The Considerate Constructors Scheme, the national Scheme that works to improve the image of the construction industry, has reached a milestone registering 90,000 construction sites.

The 90,000^th registration was made by house builders Barratt London, for the high profile Nine Elms Point development in London.

Barratt London is also working with Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, who are the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s founder member Client Partner, and housing association L&Q to deliver 645 new homes, a new 80,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s store and 27,000 sq ft of local shops, restaurants and office space at Nine Elms Point.

The scheme registered in 1997, and has since become an important feature in the construction industry, with posters and banners appearing throughout the country.

The Scheme undertakes around 13,000 visits to sites, companies and suppliers per year, sharing best practise on-the-ground.

Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive Edward Hardy commented: “The Scheme is immensely proud to reach this momentous milestone of 90,000 registered sites; it is a phenomenal achievement.

“Since the Scheme was first established 19 years ago, registered sites, clients, companies and suppliers have strived for ever better performance across all aspects of our Code of Considerate Practice. However, there are still huge amounts to be done, and we look forward to helping the industry raise these standards even further.”

Simon Garrett, Operations Director for Barratt London said: “Barratt London has undertaken substantial community engagement at Nine Elms Point since October 2013. We have built strong relationships with local residents and regularly update the local community on construction work progress. We hold an annual summer BBQ on-site that is a hit with many local residents and attend regular meetings to inform other developers involved in the wider scheme of our community engagement work. As part of our commitment, we expect to make improvements to the Wandsworth Road – including widening the highway, installation of new road drainage and realignment of the traffic lights.”

David Parnell, Sainsbury’s Construction and Delivery Manager for the South said: “Our store, which we expect to complete in the summer of this year, will not only bring extra choice for local shoppers but will also bring jobs for local people, as well as community support in the form of choosing a local charity to support and providing sporting equipment through our Active Kids scheme.”

Andy Rowland, Land & Projects Director at L&Q added: “It’s great to see Nine Elms deliver the Considerate Constructor Scheme’s 90,00th Site Registration. The Scheme plays an important role within the industry in helping to drive up standards and improve the image of construction. It’s apt that one of the most transformational development sites in London, which will provide hundreds of homes across all tenures, is also doing its part to transform the image of construction.”

The post 90,000th Site Registration with Considerate Constructors Scheme appeared first on UK Construction Online.

National Infrastructure Delivery Plan sets out £100Bn of spending

National Infrastructure investment detailed in plan

The National Infrastructure Delivery Plan (NIDP) has been published today, which, for the first time, brings together all of the infrastructure priorities for the government up to 2021.

Established at the beginning of the year, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, alongside the independent National Infrastructure Commission, will help policy makers to make better decisions on future infrastructure; support and improve project delivery; and provide the confidence needed by industry and investors.

It brings together the expertise of Infrastructure UK and the Major Projects Authority to improve delivery of major government projects.

Committing some £100Bn of funding into infrastructure by 2020-21, today’s document covers plans from large-scale housing, regeneration, schools, hospitals and prisons. The projects will bring significant investment into local communities, improving the economy and enriching lives.

As part of this local focus, the plan also highlights plans for the Northern Powerhouse and the connection of the great towns and cities, such as Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.

Also featured within the document is the planned £425Bn investment in over 600 major projects driven by the National Infrastructure Pipeline. With projects such as Crossrail and Mersey Gateway Bridge well underway, the Government is keen to highlight the beneficial impact that infrastructure projects are already having on communities, pointing to the 3,000 individual infrastructure projects that have already been completed across the UK, from major new road improvements, rail station improvements to an extra 20GW of new electricity generating capacity.

As part of the government’s commitment to creating new housing, the house-building sector investment has been included in the NIDP for the first time; documenting the commitment with the release of public sector land for the construction of some 160,000 new homes and plans to directly commission the construction of 13,000 homes on four sites around London.

The adoption of the BIM Mandate is also a high priority within the report, with Building Information Modelling seen as key to delivering many projects. The government’s new Construction Strategy commits to reducing the cost of projects by £1.7Bn during this parliament through the use of innovation and efficiency.

The government is keen for all major contractors to follow these guidelines, with notice to work towards BIM Level 3. The report states: “The Government in conjunction with industry will develop the next generation of digital standards to enable BIM Level 3 adoption under the remit of the Digital Built Britain Strategy. The continued embedding of BIM Level 2 is crucial to support government adoption of BIM Level 3 at a later date. The IPA construction team will work with GCB departments and the BIM Working Group to support this development process and adoption of BIM Level 3 products as appropriate. Early adopter departments will seek to understand the full potential benefits of BIM Level 3, including increased capability for whole-life cost measurements.”

Key highlights from the report sees £483Bn of economic infrastructure investment including £58Bn of public investment in social infrastructure (part of the government’s commitment to spend over £100Bn in infrastructure by 2020-21).

A roads and rail investment package including the transformation of the Strategic Road Network will see over 100 schemes advanced, while the rail network will benefit from the largest rail modernisation since Victorian times, with the HS2 construction phase, Crossrail completion, and green lighting of Crossrail 2, plus the investment into the Northern Powerhouse.

In the private sector, over £100Bn will be invested in energy projects across electricity generation, transmission and in the North Sea, while improved broadband and mobile networks will also be supported targeted investment, legislative and regulatory reform and increasing the amount of spectrum available to mobile operators.

Speaking at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury Lord O’Neill said: “From more modern transport links, to faster broadband, better infrastructure is at the heart of our plans to build a more productive economy and improve people’s everyday lives.

“That is why we are stepping up with the private sector to invest in some of this country’s most ambitious projects to create a more secure future for the next generation.

“This government is determined, even at a time of global uncertainty, to invest in the long-term projects that will make our economy and our country fit for the future.”

Chief Executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Tony Meggs said: “This plan sets out details of infrastructure investment by government and the private sector across all sectors and regions. It describes not only what we are going to build, but also how we will prioritise investment and work with industry to improve delivery.

“Through the new IPA we will continue to support delivery of the government’s priority projects and ensure we remain on track to deliver.”

Nick Baveystock, ICE Director General, said: “The National Infrastructure Plan has evolved steadily since 2010, and this new iteration of the plan and pipeline builds on the progress made, improving visibility for the supply chain and investor community. The shift in focus to delivery over five years sets a fresh tone – one of ‘spades in the ground’ – and we welcome the recognition that this must be complemented by a vision for the longer term. This brings to the fore the role of the National Infrastructure Commission in setting out the UK’s priorities up to 2050, and the importance of a robust needs assessment to underpin the vision.”

 

 

The post National Infrastructure Delivery Plan sets out £100Bn of spending appeared first on UK Construction Online.

CITB and HBF announce £2.7M Home Building Skills Partnership

Over 45,000 new homebuilding workers will be training by 2019 through a £2.7M Home Building Skills Partnership to tackle housing crisis.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Home Builders Federation (HBF) have announced that over 45,000 new homebuilding workers will be trained by 2019, to tackle the housing shortage.

It will be overseen by a Board that will be chaired by Redrow CEO John Tutte and include a range of senior industry representatives and CITB.

The Home Building Skills Partnership working with research on their needs from a total of 40 UK home builders, will bring together firms of all sizes to ensure that the industry has the skills it needs to build more homes.

In addition to training 45,000 new homebuilding workers, the partnership will support over 3,500 construction businesses and 1,000 expected workers will have new homebuilding training qualifications.

This will include initiatives to promote collaboration on skills across the supply chains so that the industry can better plan for its future needs.

Initiatives include research led by HBF and employers, to get a better understanding of the barriers faced by the homebuilding sector, and the design and delivery of a new Homebuilding Training and Developmental Needs Analysis tool, which will ensure the right training is delivered so that the sector’s skills needs are met now and in the future.

A framework will also be established that will set a common standard for skills and training in the home and building sector. This will deliver a more relevant and valued curriculum, ensuring the safety and satisfaction of homebuilders and their customers.

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman at HBF, says: “The industry has delivered huge increases in supply over the past couple of years. To enable us to continue increasing output, such that we can deliver the high quality new homes the country needs, it is absolutely crucial we build up industry capacity. To allow us to do it is essential we have a clear focus on delivering the training the industry needs. The partnership will enable us to develop targeted training that meets the specific needs of our industry in a structured way so we can grow steadily and sustainably.”

Steve Radley, Policy Director at CITB, says: “Homebuilding faces major skills challenges and we will only meet them through new ways of working. Homebuilders have said they want to work with CITB to anticipate their skill needs, to get closer to their supply chains and to ensure training provision and qualifications meet their needs.

“The Homebuilding Skills Partnership will deliver the infrastructure, the tools and the funding to meet the industry’s skill needs.  We look forward to playing an active role in the partnership to create the skilled workforce that Homebuilding needs.”

Lastest figures show that 181,000 new homes were provided last year, a rise of 25% year on year, showing that the housebuilding industry has delivered unprecedented increases in building.

Industry capacity must be increased, in order to meet the Governments ambitions to increase output further whilst maintaining high levels of build quality and customer service.

The new partnership will use industry insight to understand skills needs and develop new training that will reflect the modern housebuilding sector, creating long-term skills solutions to meet the government’s target of one million new homes by 2020.

Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said: “The number of new homes is up 25% in the last year because the country is building again and delivering the homes the nation wants.

“That’s why the Home Building Skills Partnership is an important initiative and will help deliver the training of skilled workers we need to get the job done and to improve quality across the industry.

“Construction offers an exciting and rewarding career and we need to build a new generation of home grown talented, ambitious and highly skilled construction workers.”

The post CITB and HBF announce £2.7M Home Building Skills Partnership appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Growth Deals worth billions of pounds offered to local leaders

England’s 30 Local Enterprise Partnerships will be able to apply for a share of £1.8Bn in the latest round of Growth Deals.

Local leaders wanting to boost skills, support business and build more homes, will be offered the chance to apply for the latest round of Growth Deals, Community Secretary Greg Clark said yesterday.

Yesterday, he met with Chinese regional leaders to highlight the opportunities available across the country, saying that the deals would boost the chances of areas securing significant inward investment from overseas.

England’s 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships are made up council leaders and business representatives who will be able to apply for part of the funding to boost local economic growth and create jobs. The funding comes as part of the government’s £12Bn Local Growth Fund, which is being used to support local projects. The government has made clear its commitment to giving communities the power to shape the future development of their area.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: “We’re completely changing the way business is done in this country, ending the top-down, ‘Whitehall knows best’ mentality of the past and instead putting power back where it belongs – in the hands of local communities.

“With this offer of a Growth Deal to communities across the country, we’re backing this devolution revolution with billions of pounds, releasing vital investment in projects across the country to boost local skills, deliver new homes and create jobs.”

In last week’s Budget, five new and extended devolution deals which allocate funding support from the Local Growth fund were made, which transfer billions of pounds and extensive powers from Whitehall to cities and counties, to start work on major infrastructure and housing projects.

This includes new devolution deals with councils in East Anglia, Greater Lincolnshire and the West of England, extended devolution deals with Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region and £475M for large local transport projects.

A total of £7.7Bn of the £12Bn Local Growth Fund has been allocated to more than 900 projects across England to build vital infrastructure, improve skills and create thousands of jobs.

 

The post Growth Deals worth billions of pounds offered to local leaders appeared first on UK Construction Online.

ATLAS Awards 2016 short list recognises best in sector

The short list for the Association of Technical Lightning and Access Specialists (ATLAS) Awards has been announced.

The awards were judged by experts from the industry including Chris Kendall, Marketing Committee Chair of the Access Industry Forum, Sarah Wicks, training manager at Build UK, Allen Robertson, National Product Manager at CITB and Elinore Mackay, Editor of Electrical Review.

Shortlisted candidates will be judged on the high level of technical excellence achieved on a number of projects, ranging from military bases to historic houses and monuments.

Within the sector, there are two awards which will also be presented to the best Lightning Conductor Engineer and Steeplejack apprentices in the sector.

Chair of the judging panel Graeme Fisher, and Honorary Life Vice President of ATLAS, said: “We were extremely impressed by the standard of entries which demonstrates the outstanding work being delivered in the lightning protection and specialist access industry. ATLAS members are uniquely placed to deliver the highest quality standards for their clients and continue to use innovative methods to secure the safety of client buildings. Congratulations to all the shortlisted companies – a great achievement against strong competition!”

The award ceremony will be held at a black tie event at the Atlas Awards Gala Dinner 2016 on Thursday 19 May at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London, a flagship event which marks the association’s 70^th anniversary.

It will showcase the sector to 200 guests across the construction industry.

The post ATLAS Awards 2016 short list recognises best in sector appeared first on UK Construction Online.

£300M for Inverness as part of a UK City Deal

More than £300M of public money will be provided to Inverness as part of a UK City Deal for economic growth.

A UK City Deal will invest over £300M in projects that will help the economic growth of Inverness and the Highlands, creating more than 3,000 jobs over the next two decades.

UK Government Minister Andrew Dunlop was in Inverness today to announce the details of the UK City Deal, which includes money from the UK Government, Scottish Government, Highland Council, the University of the Highlands and Islands and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The UK Government created City Deals as a way to provide UK cities with the power and resources to unlock the economic potential of their city.

The government is proving £53.1M of new money as part of the Inverness City Deal, for spending on areas that are reserved responsibility for the UK Government.

These include investing into extended digital coverage in the Highland area, enabling it to become the most digitally connected rural region in Europe, including superfast broadband and mobile 4G connectivity.

The money will also support a package of new innovation measures that builds on existing academic and industry expertise in Inverness, as well as business support networks across the Highlands. This will include a Northern Scotland Innovation Hub and the exploration of ways to support a multi-disciplinary centre focused on the commercialisation of new medical products and technologies.

Work will also be done to ensure business-friendly air-routes to international hubs and improved access to London.

Speaking in Inverness, Scotland Office Minister Andrew Dunlop said: “This UK City Deal has the potential to transform the economy of Inverness and the Highlands. City Deals are all about unlocking the economic opportunities for a city and this deal could leverage in private money that makes the total package for Inverness something nearer to £1Bn. This is a very exciting time for the city and the region.

“In my view, the Inverness deal also marks a step change in closer working between the UK and Scottish Governments. Both governments have pulled together to deliver the best possible deal for Inverness, and that is what people in the city expect of their two governments.”

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Greg Hands said: “This historic deal is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs and leverage £1 Bn of private sector investment by handing real power to local decision-makers, who are best-placed to ensure the Scottish economy is fit for the future.

“It’s all part of our plan to drive forward the devolution revolution and empower local leaders across the UK.”

The post £300M for Inverness as part of a UK City Deal appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Transport Minister launches Scotland’s rail freight strategy

Transport Minister launched Scottish Government’s new rail freight strategy for Scotland on “Delivering the Goods”.

Transport Minister, Derek MacKay, launched the Scottish Government’s new rail freight strategy for Scotland at Aberdeen Craiginches Freight Terminal.

The document, ‘Delivering the Goods’ outlines plans that will meet the demands of modern markets, creating a competitive and sustainable rail freight sector that will provide a boost to the industry and support economic and environmental targets.

The new vision supports the rail freight sector, entering new and growing markets through four key levers of innovation, facilitation, promotion and investment. It has a range of actions to inform its delivery and critical success factors against which progress can be tracked and measured.

Calling upon the industry and business sector across Scotland and the UK, Mr Mackay said: “What became clear during this process is that there are growing challenges facing the industry, however it also revealed a definite desire to tackle them and a need to work together in order to put rail freight back onto a sustainable footing.

“By offering a range of concrete actions that will lead to increased innovation and collaboration across the industry, targeted investment in Scotland’s strategic freight network, and better promotion of the benefits of rail freight both to business and society, we can create the conditions that will allow the sector to prosper and grow.

“I am confident that this strategy will lay the necessary groundwork for creating a sustainable, high quality, highly efficient rail freight industry that Scotland needs, wants and deserves.”

The Transport Minister visited Tarmac’s depot at Aberdeen Craiginches rail freight terminal where he saw first-hand operations which will transport concrete from Dunbar to Aberdeen for use in the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

The new rail freight strategy has been endorsed by the Rail Freight Group (RFG), which represents users and suppliers of rail freight throughout Britain.

RFG’s Scottish Representative, David Spaven, said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s strong support for the development of rail freight in Scotland. The industry is ready to rise to the challenge, working innovatively with government – at all levels – and with our customers, both existing and potential. The more freight we can move by rail, the greater the economic and environmental benefit for Scotland.”

 

The post Transport Minister launches Scotland’s rail freight strategy appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)

Under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), contractors deduct money from a subcontractor’s payments and pass it to HMRC.

Under the CIS, deductions are made and passed on to HM Revenue and Customs, counting as advanced payments towards the subcontractor’s tax and National Insurance.

It is the contractor’s responsibility to register for the scheme, as they pay subcontractors for construction work, making them a ‘mainstream contractor’. This applies to builders, labour agencies, gang masters/leaders and property developers. If more than £1M a year is spent on construction in any three year period, then they count as a ‘deemed contractor’. Examples of this are housing associations, ALMOs, local authorities and government departments.

In order to avoid penalties, contractors must check if the person should be an employee as opposed to subcontracting the work. A full CIS record must be kept, and monthly returns must be filed to avoid penalties. Any changes to the business must be reported to HMRC.

Subcontractors do not have to register, but deductions are taken from their payments at a higher rate if they’re not registered.

CIS covers most construction work, to buildings, including site preparation, decorating and refurbishment. Registration is not necessary for architecture and surveying, scaffolding hire (with no labour), carpet fitting, delivering materials or work on construction sites that is clearly not construction, for example running a canteen or site facilities.

Other exceptions for contractors where CIS doesn’t apply is if a company is paid by a charity or trust, paid for by a governing body or head teacher of a maintained school on behalf of the local education authority, or on the subcontractors own property and worth less than £1000 excluding materials.

CIS covers construction work done in the UK and applies whether you’re based in the UK or abroad. For those based outside the UK doing construction work, a different registration process is followed.

The post Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Survey on the value of apprenticeships in construction

A survey has revealed the value of apprenticeships in the construction sector following NAW2016.

To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week 2016, a survey of over 1000 employers in the construction sector was carried out, which show both the value of apprentices to employers and a lack of knowledge about the scheme across a large section of employers.

The survey was carried out by Power Tool World to promote the value of apprenticeships across the sector. An expected 230,000 jobs are to be created in construction over the next four years, with the campaign aiming to create guides for both apprentices (Kick-starting your Career in Construction) and a guide for those thinking of hiring an apprentice (Why should you hire an apprentice?) Both of the guides were created with the help of the National Careers Service, who provided important tips for both employers and those thinking of becoming an apprentice.

The responses in the survey reveal that apprenticeships are vital to the sector as a whole, providing real benefits to the companies that employ them. Out of all of the employers interviewed, 75% said that apprentices provided skilled workers for the company going forward, 35% reported that apprentices had already made their businesses more productive and 14% said that hiring an apprentice had directly and positively impacted upon their profits.

It was also reported that one quarter of respondents feel that having an apprentice on their staff looks good to clients.

On the other hand, the survey revealed a lack of knowledge about apprenticeships by those who haven’t hired one yet, with half of those who were interested in hiring an apprentic, admitting that they did not know where to start. Additionally, over one third of employers who have not yet hired an apprentice are unaware of the grants available.

Chris Guy, Managing Director of Power Tool World, said: “You can see from the results of this survey how important apprenticeships are to the construction industry and that there is still work needed to raise awareness and educate the industry. We’re taking any opportunity to do our bit to promote the scheme to young people and employers on the many benefits of apprenticeships.”

The post Survey on the value of apprenticeships in construction appeared first on UK Construction Online.

£38M fund will use F1 technology to design greener cars

An innovative research project has won a share of a £38.2M government prize which will use F1 technology to design greener cars.

Formula 1 (F1) technology could soon be used for family cars, after an innovative research project won a share of a government prize announced in the Budget. The project is one of more than 130 car manufacturers, technology companies and research centres across the country to have won a share of the money, which will create hi-tech jobs and allow Britain to export state of the art, emission-cutting technology.

Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan has received £1.7M for “light weighting” technology, which applies the science behind F1 cars and space satellites to make passenger cars weigh less. The weight of steel components in vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, could be reduced by half, potentially extending the distance a plug-in car can drive by 25%.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “Our £38M investment will help Britain become a world leader in this exciting and valuable technology sector, creating skilled jobs of the future as part of our long-term economic plan. It will also mean lower running costs for motorists and less fuel consumption, which is good for the environment and our economy.

“This competition continues our £600M commitment by 2020 to support the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, making journeys cheaper and greener, ensuring the nation is fit for the future.”

The funding combines £30M from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) with £8.2 million of additional funding from Innovate UK, who will support the schemes.

A total of £7.6M has been split between 36 organisations across the west midlands, including £1.7M for a consortium led by Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan, to develop ways of manufacturing composite materials making vehicles lighter and more energy efficient.

Sheffield-based Faradion Ltd lead a consortium receiving £1.3M to significantly reduce the cost of electric vehicle batteries by using cheaper sodium-ion technology, while a collaboration between Magnomatics Ltd and the University of Sheffield will develop a more efficient transmission system using magnets.

The south-east have received £5.6M across 20 organisions. Ceres Power Ltd in Horsham lead a team receiving £770,000 to test new fuel cells extending the range of electric vans.

The east-midlands have £7.5M across 23 organisatons, with one consortia led by Far-UK in Nottingham has been awarded £1.4M to work on the replacement on steel bodies with lighter materials, while maintaining the highest safety standards.

In Scotland, £2.5M has been split across 7 organisations, with Sunamp Ltd near Edinburgh leading a team to transform chilled or frozen food fleets using ‘thermal store’ technology to minimise battery power used up to keep food deliveries fresh.

A total of £1.7M has gone into the North-west across 7 organisations including Clean Air Power Ltd in Lancashire who will seek to apply greener dual-fuel technology to HGVs, cutting emissions on freight deliveries.

Over 15 organisations in the East of England, £2.9M has been awarded to develop a low-cost hybrid system suitable for capturing braking energy and providing an extra boost to smaller city cars.

Greater London will receive £2.2M across 11 organisations to develop thermal recovery kits that capture waste heat from the exhaust and turn it into electricity.

The South-west received £3.1M across 16 organisations, with projects to develop new lighter vehicle components made from advanced aluminium alloys.

The North-east received £570,000 across 5 organisations including the light weighing collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover.

The post £38M fund will use F1 technology to design greener cars appeared first on UK Construction Online.