Internet of Pings: How connected construction can manage better than ever

 

The internet of things (IoT) is not a new topic. In fact, it has been a discussion point for decades and the first smart appliance, a toaster, was actually connected to the internet back in 1989.

Property-wise, many connected trends focus on inside the home – be it networked climate controls, security solutions or connected appliances; however, outside the home, the construction industry has been slow to adopt technology innovations. We speak to Steve Mansour, Chief Executive Officer, CRL, about the changing technology within construction.

Steve Mansour

Last year, the construction industry was found to be one of the least digitised industries. Alongside the fact that construction labour productivity has not kept pace with overall productivity[1], it seems the need to invest in technology to keep the industry running is a given. These tools are aimed at increasing efficiencies, reducing cost and ensuring, as much as possible, that projects run on time – so resistance to change seems nonsensical, particularly when this is one of the goals for large builders and developers.

Whilst the construction industry isn’t necessarily known for its connection to technology, a surprising  number of tools have arisen to help those within the sector, such as virtual reality (VR), including 3D building modelling. From 3D walk-throughs to sell a property, to 3D VR modelling used to pitch architectural projects, there are numerous benefits to adopting this technology. In addition to the increased efficiencies and reduced costs, it can allow builders to stand out from the crowd when marketing their property to consumers and gain an edge on their competitors.

One such VR process which is widely used in construction is building information modelling (BIM). BIM is a process that provides a 3D model of a building, which can be used to model a building’s structure and systems during both design and construction. However, it doesn’t only provide a model; it also offers data management capabilities that can keep everyone on the project team on the same page at all stages of the build, from conception to construction documentation and maintenance.

Sensors can also be used to feed back to the BIM, collecting data on things like energy usage patterns, temperature trends or people movement throughout a building. This can then be analysed to improve future building projects. With large and complex build projects, this technology is imperative to ensure that all parts of the cog are running at the same pace and potential difficulties or delays are dealt with before they arise.

Sensors can also be used on heavy construction equipment, which can be remotely monitored for indicators of potential issues like temperature fluctuations or excessive vibrations. When abnormal patterns are detected, alerts can trigger maintenance workers to intervene early, before critical equipment fails. When delays on any construction project can be costly, this can benefit the more substantial construction projects / developers.

Augmented reality (AR) is at a much earlier stage in its adoption, partly due to health & safety concerns, the need for a large data repository and the complexity of tracking constantly moving data. However, the benefits of AR far outweigh the concerns and this is evident from the recent award of £1M of Innovate UK funding to a consortium working in the AR field[2]. The investment is aimed at developing an Augmented Worker System (AWE), which will pioneer the use of virtual and augmented reality for the construction industry. With a focus on reducing cost and waste, and increasing productivity, the system will improve the construction process at every stage, delivering “faster builds to a higher quality with fewer defects and more sustainable buildings.”

With construction projects often plagued by problems, working off old school paper blueprints and drawings makes it harder to capture, analyse and share data with the different contractors involved in the process. But innovative tools are reinventing the industry, with new ideas emerging all the time. Examples include the smart helmet designed specifically for industrial settings from Daqri[3]; and the SmartReality app from JBKnowledge[4], which allows users to hold a smartphone or tablet over designs or plan files and see 2D drawings projected as 3D models.

Continued investment in the construction industry is imperative to ensure it has the capabilities to respond and react to developments and changes. Through programmes like the Government’s Digital Built Britain (DBB) and through the development of innovative new technology, planners and architects are given more opportunity to collaborate with contractors, whilst reassuring clients and addressing any concerns they may have.

In addition, developers need to be forward thinking to attract talent with new skills to make use of these new technologies, and adopting these is sure to create increased interest from the digital generation. Embracing the internet of things will also allow builders and developers to push boundaries and drive the expectation and quality of new builds forward. These tools are surely being used in large-scale commercial builds, so it is time that they become the norm for large residential builders and developers too.

The adoption of innovative ways of working can be daunting, but ultimately, builders and developers need to ensure they are keeping up with new and improved ways of working which will benefit the industry, as well as the end user. Since the creation of the first connected appliance, we have come a long way; but there is still a mountain to climb when looking at how this technology can, and will, benefit us in the very near future.

[1] http://ift.tt/2eWYfAN

[2] http://ift.tt/2llTrIS

[3] http://ift.tt/2h36Rtz

[4] http://ift.tt/2lkhisg

 

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London Housing Strategy

Philip Breese, Senior Partner at Weston Williamson and Partners, reacts to Sadiq Khan’s strategy for housing in the capital.

Near my home in South East London I pass three modest land parcels every morning and evening. These parcels are adjacent to railway infrastructure and on each passing I feel a sense of responsibility to unlock them for small scale housing. Why? Because development would contribute to housing supply, builders would get work, and the community would benefit with well-designed buildings to replace the overgrown fenced off land.

The reason they are fenced is they provide important maintenance access to the railway to keep London moving. But only the gate, a small path, and steps is used for this and shouldn’t now be holding back the potential development of these pocket plots. It is therefore encouraging to see a particular emphasis in the Mayor’s Draft London Housing Strategy to bring forward and help facilitate house building on sites like these, peppered along our railway corridors or adjacent to other public assets.

The draft strategy is a hefty document, perhaps a reflection of the level of fix required for London’s housing need. It emphasises the diversity of issues the capital faces which is wide-ranging: land supply, affordability, homelessness and skills as a start. Attempting some quick wins to get things moving as well as structuring a pathway for long term resolution is ambitious but necessary after years of de-prioritisation and stagnation.

But this is the scale of the task. Supported by his Deputy James Murray, who has been everywhere over the last year gathering allies and intelligence, the Mayor’s term is surely more about resetting the strategic direction with a robust plan that can be carried forward through policy, and critically, provide a backbone for future Mayoral terms.

In 2015 Weston Williamson and Partners suggested in an essay celebrating their 30^th anniversary “with housing integral to the goal of a cohesive society, there is no reason why high quality public housing and bolder delivery targets cannot be both valued and achieved once more. All that is needed is the political will to make it happen.”

The political will is now finally emerging out of necessity but remains reliant on central government funding to make a real difference. The Prime Minister’s recent Conservative Party conference announcement to provide a further £2Bn into the affordable housing programme is welcome but the reported 25,000 homes for affordable rent this will supply is a pittance, particularly when proportioned down to London.

When promoting the draft strategy, James Murray has stated ‘80% of new housing in London is affordable to just 8% of Londoners’. The ambitious strategic 50% threshold for affordable homes on public land will be challenging, particularly on more complex sites attached to transport infrastructure. We are likely to see more linking up with donor sites for affordable housing provision elsewhere in boroughs where sales values have a lower price point and ensuring maximum land receipts can be extracted from the complex transport sites. Land values are not about to nosedive so private developers and housing associations will need to develop innovative solutions to meet the 35% affordable provision threshold.

Lack of affordability is resulting in a generation shift from home ownership as default for middle incomers to a predominantly private renting demographic. The draft policy encourages diversification in the Private Rental Sector (PRS) with variety of different tenure models and living experiences providing better choice for Londoner’s with a new growth stream of homes. It has been estimated against current growth projections that by 2025 PRS will for the first time shift the balance away from owner occupier properties.

The inaccessibility of land and limited opportunities to purchase, particularly smaller plots has arguably been a significant contributor to the decline in house building. The Small Sites, Small Builders initiative will incentivise new players in the market but only if the GLA can actively support the public landowners to release sites. Gestures such as helping with ‘a full set of surveys to help reduce risk’ is welcome but is perhaps small fry. Incentivising small scale developer and builders to take forward and purchase publicly owned sites will need a significant reduction in red tape and process smoothing to ensure they become attractive and viable house building opportunities.

The draft strategy is far-reaching which is both welcome and encouraging but as yet untested as the GLA builds its internal teams to action the initiatives and its success will ultimately be judged by the number of sites that begin to come forward and the number and quality of homes that get built.

To this end it is encouraging to see one of the three parcels of land on my journey to and from work now under development making a contribution to the homes we so urgently need to build. Hopefully development of the other two will now be kick-started by some of the new policies set out in the Mayors Housing Strategy before Sadiq Khan’s current term ends in Spring 2020.

Weston Williamson +Partners is an award winning architectural and urban design practice with a wide variety of projects in the UK and abroad.

 

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Technology allows fleet owners to identify preventable costs

 

When you’re in the supply and distribution business, your fleet is your business. Your vans and trucks are integral to bringing in income and keeping your customers happy.

As such an important piece of the business, it’s also one of the most expensive. But it can be less of a financial burden. From wasted fuel to unnecessary maintenance costs, inexact management of a fleet can bring a heftier price tag.

The good news is that it’s easy to pry these types of costs out of hiding with fleet management software that tracks the actions of both vehicles and drivers, even in a fleet of a dozen vehicles. Feeling blindsided by “hidden” costs no longer has to be the norm for companies operating fleets.

Real-time data and measurements can help fleet managers zero in on the metrics that are causing costs to rise. A better understanding of the numbers behind fleet operations is pivotal to keeping fleets running as efficiently as possible and maximising their return on investment.

Data analytics and algorithms can help companies detect and address trends that could cause a future increase in costs. For example, the data collected by the fleet management software can help determine the most cost-effective life cycle of a vehicle.

There are four easily avoidable “hidden” costs.

 

1. Failure to adhere to the recommended preventative maintenance schedule

Data shows that vehicles that failed to undergo regularly scheduled maintenance incurred service costs that were 47% higher than vehicles that received their preventative services on time. In an analysis of 167,893 vehicles whose preventative maintenance was delayed, owners spent a total of nearly $8M more than on-time maintenance would have cost. Though it seems like a cost-effective solution to go as long as possible without servicing the vehicles, skipping regular servicing causes tyre and repair costs to be much higher than if the vehicle was serviced on time. For example, tyres wear out quicker if tyre rotations do not occur often enough. Also, periodic visits to the mechanic allow problems to be detected early before they become exacerbated, which results in substantial long-term savings. Data analytics can allow fleet managers to determine the ‘sweet spot’ for how often vehicles should be serviced instead of relying on the arbitrary metrics of the past.

 

2. Poor management of fuel expenditures

Fuel costs are generally one of the significant parts of a company’s overall fleet costs. In fact, fuel disbursements make up about 60% of a fleet’s operating budget, which means that there is plenty of opportunity to save valuable money. It is vital that companies have strict policies regarding fuel card usage, desired grade of fuel, preferred fuel providers, and best practices to conserve fuel to prevent fuel costs from being higher than necessary. Behavioral changes by drivers that are as simple as following the speed limit can play a large role in reducing fuel costs. Fleet management software effectively monitors fuel consumption and determines which factors are causing fuel costs to rise. One company that used the fleet management software to collect and analyse data to create a fuel-usage improvement plan saved $1M in 18 months.

 

3. Excessive idling by vehicles

Idling is not only harmful to the environment but also to a company’s budget. Vehicles that idle more than necessary experience higher fuel and maintenance expenses. In just one hour, an idling engine can use more than a half-gallon of fuel and can cause the equivalent of 30 miles of engine wear and tear. Drivers who let their vehicles idle prevent the engine from reaching its optimal cylinder pressure and temperature, causing a large amount of costly maintenance issues. Telematics and data management solutions enable fleet operators to monitor idling and identify which drivers do not practise the company’s idling management policies.

 

4. Know when to sell

A common mistake made by fleet owners is a failure to grasp the importance of the remarketing stage when it comes to maximising a vehicle’s return on investment. It is of the utmost importance that data and algorithms are used to determine the most strategically effective lifecycle of a vehicle. Vehicles that are operated past their useful life cost more in maintenance than they contribute to the fleet. Vehicles should be retired and sold when servicing costs and downtime start to increase but resale costs are still meaningful. Remarketing a vehicle too late in its lifecycle will prevent it from being sold for a price that justifies the initial investment.

 

While operating a fleet will always be an incredibly expensive venture in the construction industry, using data to analyse day-to-day operations will play a big role in maximising and maintaining profits. Fleet management no longer has to rely on using arbitrary metrics and numbers as it was done in the past. Using real-world data allows managers to form policies and practices that are best for their business’s bottom line.

 

Article submitted by Don Woods, director of information technology at ARI in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, the world’s largest family-owned fleet management company, managing nearly 1.5 million vehicles in North America, the UK and Europe. Data was collected in North America.

 

 

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Ensure your construction site is fire-safe

Construction sites are a dangerous environment to be in for a magnitude of reasons, which is why everything needs to be done to limit the chances of anyone coming to harm.

A fire could break out on any construction site. There are a huge wealth of combustible materials lying around, and just as many possible sources of ignition.

And just because it’s a small construction site doesn’t mean the risks are in any way reduced.

In reality, construction fires account for a small proportion of fires in the UK. But they are often disproportionately large, cause an extensive amount of damage, and present a real risk to life.

In many cases, a few simple measures are all it would take to prevent a fire from starting and spreading. By being aware of the hazards, you can reduce the risk of a catastrophic site fire, protecting lives and jobs.

A fire risk assessment is likely to be one of many the site manager must complete and keep on top of. It is a requirement of legislation for the responsible person (employer or persons in charge) to ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is complete.

Spot the Hazards

A fire needs three elements to burn: oxygen, heat and fuel.

Removing one or more of those elements stops a fire from starting, and will also mean a fire cannot continue to burn.

The first job of a fire risk assessment is to identify these potential sources of ignition and fuel to then reduce their potential to cause harm.

Equipment, machinery, electrical installations, hot work, bonfires, smoking and arson are all potential ways in which a fire could start. Precautions need to be put in place, with rules strictly followed and any equipment correctly maintained.

They then need to be kept away from combustible materials. This may include rubbish, coverings and sheeting, LPG, flammable liquids, and storage areas. Even building materials, such as timber, insulation, adhesives, and furnishings, need to be considered throughout the project.

The list of hazards will be unique to every site, and should all be considered when choosing building supplies, planning the project schedule, and controlling work activities.

Who’s at Risk?

It’s important to then consider everyone who could be on site, at any time of the day. It will include your workers, contractors, subcontractors, visitors, and even overnight security staff.

Even those in adjacent properties, or people passing by, would be affected by a fire on your site.

You’ll need to put in place provisions for those who are likely to need help escaping a fire. Those with a disability or with mobility impairment are going to need extra help getting to safety quickly.

Evaluate and Act

Now you know in detail what you’re dealing with, you’re able to take the relevant action in limiting the risks and providing the appropriate precautions.

For instance, you may want to restrict on-site hot work as much as possible by replacing it with other means of construction, or carrying it out offsite unless it’s unavoidable. However, you can control the risks by using hot work permits to ensure it’s carried out in line with site procedures.

You can reduce the risk of arson by preventing easy access, ensuring skips are located well away from buildings, and securely storing equipment and materials which are not in use.

And when you have flammable liquids, make sure they’re kept in appropriate canisters and containers, and even consider locking them in specifically-designed cabinets.

Make Sure You’re Prepared

As well as preventing fires, you also need to prepare in case a fire starts on site.

It’s important to have a method of raising the alarm quickly when a fire’s discovered. The type of alarm needed can range from someone simply shouting ‘FIRE!’ to an automatic series of alarms.

In a very small site, it’s likely that a shouted warning will suffice, with manual bells, klaxons, and air horns also sufficient in a small- to medium-sized construction site.

However, for a larger site, then it may be worth investing in a series of interconnected site alarms with call points.

It is vital to have fire extinguishers on site too, although what you specifically need will vary.

On a small, low-risk site, then a single multi-purpose extinguisher may be all you need, whereas on a larger, high-risk site, you will need extinguishers to accompany specific risks, such as hot works. You then need to locate these strategically around the site so anyone can quickly and easily grab one. You may even find that for complex risks you’ll also need some form of fixed fire extinguishing equipment.

Carrying out a fire risk assessment is the best way of knowing which fire extinguishers are appropriate for your site. Once you’ve identified the hazards which exist you can then match them with the correct fire extinguisher.

It’s vitally important that you choose the right one. An inappropriate extinguisher could result in someone making the situation worse and putting their own life at risk.

Record, Plan and Train

Creating a fire action plan is the next step. This would include where the assembly point is, who calls the fire service, and who the trained fire wardens are. It’s then important to make sure everyone on site is aware of the plan so they know exactly what to do in an emergency.

To help you keep on top of fire safety on site, and to assist with evacuations, fire wardens are workers whom you trust to remain calm in an emergency situation. Having received additional fire safety training, they will help an evacuation to run as smoothly as possible.

With a plan in place, it is also helpful to carry out fire drills. This gives you the opportunity to safely see how your emergency plan works in action.

That then gives you the chance to make any necessary alterations to the plan before you, and everyone on the site, depends on it to work flawlessly.

However, it also helps workers to familiarise themselves with the plan, so that they can act appropriately and calmly should they need to use it for real.

Review

A fire risk assessment is not a one-time activity, and must be reviewed regularly, and when required.

Any change to the site or operating procedures could affect the level of risk. Even though small changes may not have an impact, a number of changes together can have a cumulative and significant effect.

Therefore, it is good practice to review fire risk assessments at least once a year. Many fire services also recommend this.

No two sites are going to be the same, so it’s impossible to provide a straightforward list of what you need to do.

Construction sites are some of the most dangerous working environments around. However, when a site is correctly managed, there is nothing to worry about.

 

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The rise of Artificial Intelligence in the construction sector

 

It is well documented that the construction industry is currently facing an increasing skills shortage and, as a result, many businesses are feeling the pressure. Carl Ghinn, Managing Director at Fixmart, looks at how artificial intelligence could provide a solution.

Carl Ghinn

According to the Arcadis Talent Scale, in order for the government to meet its housing targets, the UK needs to recruit up to 400,000 people each year till 2021 with London and the South-East needing to recruit 110,000 people alone. That works out to approximately one worker every 77 seconds. However, should a hard Brexit take place, the UK could also miss out on an additional 215,000 migrant workers by 2020 making achieving these numbers seemingly impossible.

One way the industry and its suppliers are looking to work through the skills shortage is by offering time saving solutions. For example, at Fixmart, we offer our clients a pre-assembly option where we part build products in our warehouse before they are delivered. Most recently, this has included our walkways range which has been designed to help construction workers save vital time when it comes to assembly on site. However, the big discussion in the industry at the moment is how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can improve productivity and provide a solution to the skills shortage.

The case for machines in the workplace has been proven again and again and in many cases robots can increase efficiency and quality whilst reducing errors and waste. In fact, according to Forbes, by 2035, AI technologies have the potential to increase productivity by 40% and economic growth by 1.7% across 16 industries including construction.

As well as improved efficiencies, it can mean advances in health and safety, as robots and technology can be used to assess sites and complete jobs that may be too dangerous for humans. For example, researchers at Nottingham Trent University unveiled a pair of e-gloves that alert wearers when they experience vibrations that are likely to cause conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

I recently read an article in Construction Enquirer that backs up Forbe’s claim. The article was about robots that had been programmed to lay up to six times more bricks than the average builder – 3,000 bricks a day compared to 500. On paper, that seems incredible, however, many have questioned its ability to engage with human obstacles such as corners or pillars. Consequently, this has highlighted other concerns workers have with the introduction of AI in the construction industry.

The first is the robot’s inability to problem solve outside their programmed area and as it is impossible to fully predict what can happen on a fast-moving construction site, the chances that every situation has been thought of is highly unlikely. This could result in mistakes, accidents and costly delays on projects. In addition, many in the industry fear that it will replace skilled workers resulting in a large number of people being out of work. Another concern is the risk of a loss of taxation and national insurance which might potentially have a big impact on the upkeep of vital infrastructures.

Recently, construction giant Balfour Beatty published its report: ‘Innovation 2050: A Digital Future for the Infrastructure industry”. They believe that by 2050, construction sites will be human-free and the only interaction will be through robotics. According to the company, the role of humans will predominantly be to oversee projects remotely, accessing 3D and 4D visuals and data from the on-site machines, ensuring the building is proceeding to specification. The very few people with access to the site itself will wear robotically enhanced exoskeletons which will control machinery and other robots on the site. With this in mind, it is easy to see how many within the industry have considerable concerns about the future of AI in construction.

However, I don’t believe this prediction to be necessarily accurate. Robots were designed to aid humans in their everyday lives, not to make them obsolete. In fact, the word ‘robot’ comes from the Czech word robotnik; a term used to refer to slaves. There will always be a need for humans to oversee machines. For example, the robot brick-layers I mentioned earlier require two workers full time to operate the machine, one to feed the bricks and the other to assist with laying bricks at difficult angles, smoothing over the mortar and clearing up. Therefore, instead of future construction sites being completely human free, we would need a workforce who have the skills to ensure the machines continue to run at the standard companies need to remain competitive.

To conclude, despite the benefits they may bring, I believe it will be a while before robots become a task force on the average construction site. Therefore, in the meantime at Fixmart, we will continue to help our clients to operate despite the skills shortage through pre-assembly options, easy to order services and expertise.

 

Article submitted by Carl Ghinn, Managing Director at Fixmart

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Shoreham flood defence achieves major milestone

Work at one section of the Adur Tidal Walls Scheme now complete, with roads and paths re-opened.

A major flood defence scheme that will significantly reduce flood risk to over 2,300 properties in Shoreham-by-Sea and Lancing has taken a step towards completion.

Work at Reach E3 of the Shoreham Adur Tidal Walls Scheme is now complete, and the northern section of the Downs Links and Lower Beach Road re-opened on Friday 8 December. Also, as a result of updated modelling for the project, part of the initial plan has been adapted and removed the need for major road works on the A283.

The scheme is made up of 10 individual reaches, and work has now started on 8. Construction on Reach E3, which includes raised walls and embankments, started in 2016. Steel piling has been installed along the landward side of the path, and has been clad with brick. The Downs Link path was diverted while the work was completed.

Before the advanced modelling took place, the A283 in Shoreham-by-Sea would have been closed for 12 weeks during construction in spring 2018. As a result of the work that has already taken place, only a very small number of properties would benefit from the road raising work. Instead, these properties will be protected with an alternative solution to ensure they also receive a high level of protection, and the road closures will not take place.

Elsewhere in the scheme, work on the slipway at Emerald Quay and Sussex Wharf is advancing and the first panes of glass of the riverside flood defence have been installed. The majority of the new wall at Ferry Bridge is complete, and vegetation clearance at Riverbank in preparation for construction to start in the new year is finished. Work at Emerald Quay, Shoreham Harbour Club and Shoreham Fort is progressing well. Much of the work behind the High Street in Shoreham has been completed and is open to the public.

Phil Prydderch, Shoreham Adur Tidal Walls Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “It’s great news for Shoreham-by-Sea residents that we will be able to enhance their flood protection without the planned road closures. We are committed to protecting all members of the community, and will continue to work with local residents to make them more resilient against flooding.

“When complete, the Shoreham scheme will reduce the tidal flood risk to thousands of homes and a significant number of commercial properties in the area, as well as protecting important local infrastructure such as the road network, railway line and Shoreham Airport. This is one part of the Environment Agency’s national effort to reduce the risk of flooding for at least 300,000 homes by 2020/21.”

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Digitising construction

BIM technology is revolutionary for construction, bringing together design, planning and infrastructure, and enhancing communication between contractors, sub contractors and supply chain.

Its influential nature has become a fundamental in the design, creation and development of public sector buildings, and is increasingly being applied to schemes across the UK.

We spoke with Mark Norton, Head of BIM, and Simon Spink, Head of Visualisation, at ISG about the technology and how it has integrated itself into the AEC landscape.

Having joined the industry in the 80s as a Mechanical Engineer, and building an interest in CAD, Mark has been an advocate of digital construction ever since. Joining ISG nearly four years ago as the Head of BIM has led Mark into a technological crusade, working within a forward-thinking operation that is looking to use digital technology wherever possible.

“My scope has changed quite dramatically from when I joined,” he says “when we look at the variety of interfaces available within construction and where we can use that technology. BIM is all reaching now.

“Take up of the technology has become quite rapid, and ISG have found there are a number of applications. This has led to an investment in both people and state-of-the-art equipment. But where can the technology be applied?

“There are two areas that we look at in detail: Preconstruction and VR.” says Mark.

“A few years back, people were rendering models and walkthroughs with VR. What we’ve progressed to now is live walk-throughs – which are far more intuitive to clients and a prerequisite for a room. Clients can walk-through before buildings are even built, with the freedom of the building so to speak, whereas before you had a certain area or a pre-recorded area that Clients could explore, now you can go anywhere.

“This feature has already shown significant benefits, with less or no changes to designs further down the line. Clients are given a spatial awareness not available previously, and new design options can be explored.”

Simon agreed: “The decisionmakers on projects have changed in recent years. For example, we are seeing the HR director play an increasingly important role in the delivery of a company’s new workplace. As decision making devolves to people that are not real estate experts, VR and AR can help bridge the divide between technical documentation and the finished product.

“Our real-time visualisation app means that we can go to meetings with our client and guide them through their space. The client can look at any area of their building immediately and see the finished product without having to wait for renders from the architects. We can show them what the space will look like with different floor finishes or under different lighting conditions. This not only accelerates the decision-making process, but gives the entire project team piece of mind and the client confidence.”

Applications for virtual reality are wide ranging, and Simon sees one of the most useful applications is in training. “One of the most pressing opportunities for VR is as a health and safety training tool.” He says, “It can be used for site inductions and as part of an ongoing training programme to make people aware of hazards and teach them how to respond to risks in a controlled and measured way.

“Aircraft pilots have learnt how to fly under simulated conditions for decades, so it makes sense for other industries with highly trained operatives to follow suit to reduce risk. If you immerse someone into a real-life situation within their work environment, you can train them more effectively and safely in what is essentially a live scenario rather than learning reactively on the job. We can input the risks, make them aware of them and teach them to deal with the situation.

“As well as scenario planning, it can also help with employee orientation. A virtual induction means that employees can walk around the site to familiarise themselves with fire exits or facilities, which again helps to mitigate risk. It can be used like the hazard perception test in a driving examination. We are now using VR to supplement the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), but as it becomes more widely used across the industry we should look towards accreditation for VR training schemes.”

Augmented reality is being applied in different scenarios, it is easily applied on site and can be used through smartphones and tablets.

“While AR lends itself to a lot of areas, kit is still quite expensive and not quite where it needs to be to take off.” Says Mark. “So, we’re looking at technology that people already use, such as tablets and smart phones, things where we can add AR intuitively.”

Mark continued: “We can overlay models against the actual reality of the building, pull up data, and merge that with what we’re seeing on the smart phone or tablet.”

“As we build these plans, we see it is all useful information that can be complied for the Facilities Manager. When you hand over, that information is handed over to the facilities team, so they’ve almost got an x-ray vision of what is behind walls, above ceilings, and below floors. You can also break out the data that’s associated with that, so the FM team doesn’t have to refer to manuals etc, they can do it live within the building.”

Construction is seen as a bit of a dinosaur and slow moving to take up new technologies. Whether digital construction will be embraced by the industry or dismissed as a gimmick remains to be seen.

“That’s why we’re going down the smart phone and tablet route because, everybody has them.” Says Mark. “If you look at the smart helmets, they’re a great bit of equipment, but they’re quite expensive and quite niche, maybe in five to ten years time when the price drops. But everybody has a smartphone or tablet, they are easy to use and relatively inexpensive and the technology fits with them very well.

“One of our development rules is the two-minute rule – so if somebody can’t use a bit of tech within two minutes, they are probably not going to use it, so we try to make everything as easy as possible.

Technology is developing and changing so rapidly, its applications in construction will become more ingrained.

“Over the next five years, robotics will probably play apart in what we do on site to a certain degree.” He says. “At the moment they’re manually operated, but it’s only a matter of time before they become autonomous and they’re travelling around sites on their own, that will be a big area.

“Machine/computer learning is going to grow and grow and that analysis it’s going to give us far many more solutions than we could think of ourselves. So part of design and construction iteration could be taken away from the human brain and progressed maybe with a machine.

“It’s an exciting time to be in construction.”

 

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£200M investment to fix England’s roads

Transport Minister Jesse Norman has announced a £200M fund, designed to help improve the condition of local roads across the UK.

Some £46M of the fund is dedicated to repairing up to one million potholes.

Of the £200M funding announced, some £151M will go to the local highways maintenance incentive fund, with £500,000 to fund a competition for connected technologies, and £4M for the Cycle Rail scheme, an extension to three cycle and walk to work pilot projects.

The funding was announced by the Transport Minister during a visit to York to view the progress of the innovative pothole spotter trial and a new e-bike.

The trial, which is running in York, Thurrock and Wiltshire, sees high-definition cameras fitted to bicycles, buses and bin lorries to monitor road conditions. It gives councils detailed information so they can fill potholes when they occur as well as plan resurfacing works and help prevent potholes and other road defects.

Roads Minister Jesse Norman said: “People need great roads to get about, do business and see friends and family.

“We’re investing record amounts at present to improve the condition of our roads, so drivers and cyclists don’t have to dodge potholes to travel safely.

“We’re also looking at how new innovations can help councils keep their roads in the best condition, saving money and planning their maintenance better.”

The £46M for pothole repair is in addition to the £75M Pothole Action Fund already given to councils outside of London this year. The £250M Pothole Action Fund was announced in the 2016 Budget and will fix more than four million potholes by 2020/21.

The next round of the local highways maintenance incentive fund was also launched with £151M available to reward councils for efficiently planning roads maintenance. This money is part of just over £6Bn awarded to authorities to help keep their roads in a good condition.

Finally, a £4M investment will enable the government’s Cycle Rail Programme to continue. The project pays for high quality cycle parking to be built at stations, which has resulted in bike journeys at participating stations increase by nearly 40%. Since 2012, the Department for Transport has invested almost £35M to build cycle facilities at stations, including cycle hubs which are secure and have retail and repair facilities.

The pilot Cycling and Walking to Work fund will also be extended by six months, with Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Liverpool benefitting from a share of £1.6M.

 

 

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UK ‘Silicon Valley’ rail link on track

The plan to establish a direct rail link between Oxford and Cambridge has been put on the fast track, with the launch of a new company: East West Railway Company.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling officially launched the company this week, which will be responsible for the restoration of the link between England’s two greatest universities, making sure it works for the passengers and the communities it will serve.

The new line will be one of the country’s most strategically important rail projects, providing a direct link through the corridor dubbed the UK’s own ‘Silicon Valley’. Due to complete in the mid-2020s, the new line will also create a direct link between East Anglia and central and southern England, delivering benefits for passengers and businesses regional and nationally by unlocking additional housing and economic growth.

The new company has been launched almost 50 years to the day since the closure of the old Varsity Line at the historic Second World War site of Bletchley Park.

As part of the announcement, the Transport Secretary visited Bletchley Station and Bletchley Viaduct, which are being re-opened as part of the new route. Bletchley Park was vital in the UK’s Second World War effort, and was a key stop on the old Varsity Line, and will now see new recognition lying at the heart of the East West Rail line.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “We are making the biggest investment in the railways since Victorian times to meet the growing demand for rail travel, while also boosting business and increasing productivity.

“East West Rail is the perfect example of how we can revitalise the railways, grow the network and unlock jobs and housing growth. And Bletchley Park – the home of World War II codebreakers – is the perfect location to mark the historic occasion, because the line will be key to the development of this corridor as a world-class centre for innovation, technology and high-skilled jobs.”

Rob Brighouse, interim chair of the company, said: “This railway has huge potential to spread prosperity all the way along the line, making life better for those who live and work here.

“That’s why it’s so important to deliver it quickly and cost effectively; and that’s what the East West Railway Company has been set up to do. We are working very closely with local representatives, to make sure we build a railway that works for the passengers and the communities it will serve.”

When the line opens, it will have interchange stations with four main railway lines radiating out of London, but it will run under or over each, minimising any risk of delay. The aim is to build a route that allows future upgrades to be incorporated with as little disruption as possible.

 

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Many SME’s to miss Christmas

Recent research suggests that SME owners in the construction sector are more likely to miss festive celebrations due to work demands.

Some 23% of UK small business owners will miss Christmas celebrations this year due to business and work load commitments, according to new research.

The research was undertaken to highlight the personal strains that British SMEs are under.

With nine out of ten owners saying that their business has had a negative impact on relationships and family life, 81% having a poor work / life balance, and over half missing a special family occasion such as a birthday, it is a stark reminder that SME owners need to look after themselves as well as employees.

Steve Noble, Chief Operating Officer at Ultimate Finance commented: “Christmas is an important time of year for many reasons, not least that it is one of the few times when there is potential for the majority of people in Britain to relax with family and friends. This is particularly important for SMEs who often work extremely long and lonely hours.

“Our research shows that many small business owners in the construction sector are not getting the opportunity to ‘switch off’ during Christmas; instead the stresses and strains of running a company is constant. This never-ending work pattern can put strains on personal relationships, further isolating those who are not finding the time to take off. It is important that the issue of pressure on SMEs is addressed as a serious problem.”

Business psychologist Robert Stewart added: “Taking time out to spend with friends and family is an important part of life. It can be restorative and help with mental wellbeing. I find that business leaders often struggle to strike this work / life balance, sometimes feeling guilty about ‘downtime’ despite very much wanting to more spend time with loved ones. Not getting that time off can be extremely detrimental, and I welcome this research which shows the true extent of the problem which we can work together as a single business community to tackle.”

Hundreds of Managing Directors from a wide range of sectors were questioned for the research to determine the impact that running a business was having on their lives. Carried out by 3Gem on behalf of SME funding partner Ultimate Finance, the survey was conducted as part of a bigger SME wellbeing campaign, with the aim of highlighting the need for small business owners to consider their own health, as well as their employees. To help SMEs who need support with their wellbeing, the leading UK funding ally has created an information hub with insight and guidance on a range of business wellbeing topics.

 

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Converting empty spaces above shops to solve the housing crisis

New research from the FMB shows that more than 90% of MPs think that converting empty spaces above shops could help reverse the current housing shortage.

The statistics are found in the new FMB report ‘Homes on our high streets’, which show that MPs think converting shop spaces could have a positive impact on housing availability.

The results show that some 94% of MPs believe it could reverse the housing shortage in their constituency; with 89% of MPs thinking it could boost local growth in their area; as well as 86% of MPs believing it would have a positive impact on the vibrancy of their town centres.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said: “It is estimated that as many as 300,000 to 400,000 new homes could be created by making use of empty spaces above shops on our high streets. This is space just waiting to be turned into residential accommodation. The fact that 90% of MPs of all parties recognise the potential of our existing buildings to help solve the housing crisis means we need to be more imaginative if we are going to build the 300,000 homes a year that the Chancellor pledged in last month’s Budget.”

Berry continued: “Taking a number of case studies from town centres from right across Great Britain, our research highlights the opportunities that exist for creating new homes in a range of different building types. It demonstrates what could be achieved by innovative and ambitious development. The report puts councils at the heart of the solution and suggests some practical ways for them to facilitate the development of wasted space above shops. Local authorities should include proposals to make use of these empty spaces in their planning documents and also help find ways to overcome the various barriers, such as limited building access, so that we can tap into this much needed source of additional housing supply. Building new homes is important, but a great deal can also be achieved through making better use of our existing buildings.”

Berry concluded: “Over the past decade, as consumer habits have changed with the rise of online shopping, high streets are struggling to remain relevant. There will always be a place for vibrant high streets within our market towns but if not all of this space can be used for commercial reasons, let’s make use of it for residential and help increase the supply of new homes. These sorts of properties would be ideal for young professionals, or young families just starting out, as they benefit from good transport links and are close to shops, bars and restaurants. What we must avoid is perfectly good space lying empty and achieving nothing in terms of boosting the local economy or housing individuals and families.”

 

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HCA confirms strong investment in social housing

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has released its 2017 Global accounts of private registered providers.

The HCA accounts show that the sector has delivered another strong year of investment, with both new and existing social housing properties increasing.

Based on analysis of submitted regulatory returns and statements, the annual publication provides an overview of the financial status of private registered providers of social housing who own or manage at least 1,000 homes.

Statistics from the latest accounts show that some £10Bn has been invested in new housing supply (including social housing, as well as investment in properties for sale, and market rent) and £1.6Bn in improving existing stock. With a total investment of £11.6Bn, the sector has increased investment by 15% on 2016.

Fiona MacGregor, Director of Regulation said: “This year’s figures show that the social housing sector is continuing to invest substantially in existing stock and new supply and as a whole is well-placed to respond to the changing operating environment. The sector has consolidated over recent years and there are now a small number of very large providers; significant changes in these providers can have a material effect on sector results.

“The year-on-year decrease in management costs and major repairs expenditure demonstrate how the first 12 months of rent reductions have been managed. While the lower repairs spend partly indicates the progress being made towards reducing non-decent stock we will continue to encourage providers to have a rigorous, evidence-based approach to expenditure and investment, which ensures that housing is sustainable for the long term, responds to tenant needs and gives good value for money.

“The 2016 Global Accounts were published in February 2017. In response to sector feedback that an earlier publication date would help providers to compare their performance against their peers more easily, we have brought forward the publication date compared to previous years.”

 

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Intelligent motorway network

Highways England has outlined its vision for the future of the roads network. Releasing its Strategic Road Network Initial Report this week, the vision is for an intelligent connected network, with cars able to transmit information to Highways England.

The report will be used to inform the government’s next Road Investment Strategy, expected to publish in 2019.

Cars of the future could be programmed to spot potholes on motorways, automatically transmit this information for repairs to be scheduled. Highways England believe that this will improve how efficiently roads are maintained and improve safety, with technology playing an increasing role in keeping people moving.

The report highlights that existing roads need to be properly maintained in a way which minimises disruption to local communities and road users.

In another development drones could also be used to fly overhead and report back on incidents, improving response times.

Highways England Chief Executive, Jim O’Sullivan, said: “We are delivering a record £15NBn of government investment to give people safe, efficient and reliable journeys, and provide businesses with the links they need to prosper and grow.

“Because people’s journeys are important to us we are setting out our high level aspirations which will help ensure the network continues to drive economic growth, jobs and prosperity, and keeps traffic moving today, and into the future.

“We encourage people to read our report and feedback through the Department for Transport’s consultation, which is also launched today.”

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “This government is making people’s journeys better, faster and safer to give people better access to jobs, schools and their community.

“We are planning to spend more than ever before to upgrade England’s motorways and major A roads from 2020 through to 2025.”

The Initial Report outlines eight aspirations for the next road period:

• focus on operations, maintenance and renewals
• build the smart motorway spine of the network
• roll out expressways
• undertake transformational investments
• deliver a balanced programme
• renew focus on small schemes
• deliver through refined designated funds
• prepare for the future

 

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North East Enterprise Zones Leading The Way To Success

A project to drive business and investment in the North East has been hailed a success.

North East Enterprise Zones were created to support economic growth by developing sites with key attributes to help businesses start-up, grow and expand.

Since their initial launch in 2012, the sites have attracted businesses and investors keen to take advantage of the generous financial incentives on offer, as well as the strategic locations available for development.

Now five years on, the latest figures show the zones have already created 1318 jobs across the 46 businesses that located to them.

In total, the 12 Enterprise Zones brought over £36m of investment to the North East.

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership secured the Enterprise Zones for the region and supported infrastructure work, including roads and utilities, for the sites.

Executive director, Helen Golightly, said: “We are delighted with the success of the North East Enterprise Zones.

“All of our Enterprise Zones are in key locations, so whether it’s adjacent to a major trunk road like the A19 or A1 or whether it’s next to a major cluster of activity, they’re all strategically positioned.

“They’re clustered around our areas of opportunity, for example automotive or offshore. They’re next to the areas that we really feel are going to thrive.

“The zones are all at different stages but we have high hopes for the future. We have these fantastic sites and we’re investing a lot in them to get them ready.”

One such success is Neptune Yard in Newcastle, once a centre of shipbuilding on the River Tyne but now home to a new generation of thriving industry.

Part of the North Bank of the Tyne Enterprise Zone, the historic site is now leading the way in offshore wind and renewables.

The revitalised site has created 485 jobs and attracted over £40m of investment.

Businesses located at Neptune Yard include global companies Shepherd Offshore; GE Oil & Gas; Bridon International; IHC FHP; and JDR Cables.

Newcastle University has also established Tyne Subsea, a hub for hyperbaric research, test and certification.

Demand for the site is so high plans are in place to extend to create more space with the North Bank of the Tyne Extension project.

The North Bank of the Tyne Enterprise Zone includes the Port of Tyne, the former Swan Hunter ship yard and the former Neptune Shipyard.

The cluster of sites in the North Bank of the Tyne Zone is a primary location for the offshore, subsea and energy sectors.

The Enterprise Zones also offer simplified planning procedures, access to some of the best development land in the North East, as well as business-specific benefits.

Through Business Rate Discount, businesses can gain up to 100% discount against business rates worth up to £275,000 over a five year period from occupying the premises on the Enterprise Zone site. This is equivalent to £55,000 per year but does not need to be taken as an even annual split.

Alternatively, through the Enhanced Capital Allowance, business can receive up to 100% capital allowance for investment in plant and equipment on the Enterprise Zone site. This can represent tax relief worth up to £125m.

But it is the strategic locations of the zones that businesses can most benefit from.

Helen said: “All of the business in our Enterprise Zones benefit from being ideally positioned in a strategic location within a cluster of companies working in key areas of opportunity.

“Businesses can be part of the supply chain and work with each other. This approach has really worked very well.

 “If you look at Neptune, they’ve now got global companies that have located there. It’s all about working with the investors and building links.

“We think the North East Enterprise Zones have huge potential. With over 1300 full-time jobs and £36m of investment already in our Enterprise Zones, the figures really do speak for themselves.”

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Councils awarded new funding to transform communities

Some £8.7M in funding has been awarded by the government to councils, which will improve public services, stimulate economic growth and free up land for thousands of new homes.

The funding has been allocated as part of the One Public Estate (OPE) programme, a partnership between the Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association, which will help Council’s access vital support in delivering new projects.

Some 90% of councils are now part of the programme, designed to create 44,000 new jobs and release land for 25,000 new homes. This will see 56 council-led partnerships supported through the OPE, which gives partnerships the support and funding to help them to use publicly-owned land and buildings more efficiently, benefiting communities across the country.

The support and funding will help them develop and deliver ambitious property programmes to benefit their communities. Launched in 2013, the programme has grown from 12 areas to support over 90% of councils with the new projects announced today.

By 2020, partnerships on the programme are expected to deliver £615M in capital receipts, £158M running costs savings, create 44,000 new jobs and release land for 25,000 new homes.

Caroline Nokes, the Minister for Government Resilience and Efficiency, said: “When I launched this application round in August I hoped that new funding and the obvious benefits of the programme would grab the attention of councils and boost the numbers getting involved. I’m delighted to see that we now have over 90% of councils on board, up from around three quarters previously. People in many more communities will feel the benefits of new housing, better public services and efficiencies as a result.”

Cllr Nick Forbes, Senior Vice Chair of the LGA, said: “Councils play a crucial role in their communities. With the right funding and support they can help transform them and ensure that they are enjoyable and prosperous places to live. One Public Estate is a good example of providing coordinated backing for councils and I am glad that so many of them are taking part in this important initiative. I look forward to this programme’s results.”

 

 

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Scotland sees increase in new build homes

Optimism is growing within the sector with the release of the latest Quarterly Housing Statistics for Scotland from Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

The latest results show there were 19,598 new build homes started across all sectors over the year ending June 2017, an increase of 13%, or 2,188 homes, on the previous year.

The figures gather all information on new build housing, affordable housing supply, and local authority right to buy sales, along with the latest annual figures on long term empty properties and second homes.

This quarter saw a 13% increase in all sector new build starts in the 12 months to end June 2017, including increases in private-led starts (5% or 668 homes) and housing associations starts (63% or 1,942 homes), whilst local authority starts fell by 422 homes (26%). The total number of social sector starts (housing association and local authority starts combined) increased by 1,520 homes (32%).

There were 17,178 all sector new build completions in the 12 months to end June 2017, a decrease of 186 homes (1%) on the 17,364 completions in the previous year. Private-led new builds increased by 59 homes (0.4%) and local authority new builds increased by 94 homes (8%), whilst housing association new builds decreased by 339 homes (12%).

The statistics show that Affordable Housing Supply is also growing, with more than 70,000 affordable homes delivered in Scotland since 2007 – a total of 48,813 homes for social rent, including 8,819 council homes, as well as 4,936 for affordable rent and 17,112 for affordable home ownership.

Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) statistics reflect the broader supply of affordable homes (ie. for social rent, affordable rent and affordable home ownership) and include off-the-shelf purchases and rehabilitations as well as new builds.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart visited an affordable housing development in Edinburgh to meet tenants and mark the completion of the 70,000th affordable home.

Mr Stewart said: “Making sure everyone has a safe, warm and affordable home is central to this Government’s drive for a fairer and more prosperous Scotland.

“We are determined to accelerate housing supply for communities across Scotland and I am delighted to announce more than 70,000 affordable homes have been delivered to date, including 48,813 homes for social rent.

“I am confident that we will continue to increase affordable housing across Scotland with our ambitious target to deliver 50,000 homes during the lifetime of this Parliament, backed by £3Bn of investment.”

 

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Latest guidance on Lifting Operations with excavators

The Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group (SFPSG) has released a new refreshed plant safety guidance document entitled ‘Lifting Operations with 180⁰ and 360⁰ Excavators.’

Taking into account the prolific use of excavators for lifting operations in the construction and allied sectors, the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group has revised, expanded and updated the Group’s original guidance publication which was first introduced in 2008. Additions to the original document are so widespread that the guidance has increased from seven pages to 72 pages.

The Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group was formed to produce good practice guidance on plant safety-based topics. Chaired by the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), the SFPSG also has membership for this project from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), as well as significant representation from a range of construction and contracting companies, plant hirers, manufacturers and training organisations. This latest guidance adds to a number of Plant Safety Group publications on various topics, produced through subject-specific meetings by those from industry holding the relevant expertise.

The new ‘Lifting Operations With 180⁰ and 360⁰ Excavators’ Good Practice Guide thoroughly sets out the precautions and procedures that should be taken into account when planning and carrying out lifting operations with 360⁰ tracked and wheeled excavators as well as 180⁰ excavators/backhoe loaders. The precautions and procedures specified in the publication should enable work to be carried out safely and in accordance with the law.

A core message within the guidance is that in terms of selection of lifting equipment, excavators are primarily designed for excavating and handling loose material rather than lifting suspended loads. The document advocates that an excavator should not be the first or only choice for lifting, even if it is already on site, is quicker and maybe more cost-effective than using another, more appropriate, piece of lifting equipment that has specifically designed for lifting operations such as cranes and telehandlers.

The guidance details that the use of excavators further introduces a number of additional risks when carrying out lifting operations which are not present with conventional cranes, such as:

• Fast articulation and slew movements of the hydraulic services
• The need to operate the boom and dipper arm simultaneously to keep the load vertical when lifting or placing loads
• Standard excavator rated capacity warning devices generally only warn, but do not prevent the handling of loads in excess of the rated capacity and can be muted by the machine operator
• Rated capacity varies if lifting over the front and rear or side-on to the machine and if features such as blades, stabilisers and axle locks are engaged or not
• Some appointed persons may not have the experience of planning and supervising lifting operations with excavators

Topics covered within the guidance include planning and supervision requirements, machine selection, roles and responsibilities, specific issues and maintenance and inspections. A key part of the guidance is a flowchart that introduces a hierarchy and sequence to the planning process. The section on specific issues includes information on the factors that affect topics such as stability, ground conditions, specific issues when using 180⁰ excavators, the use of fork attachments and the effects of tilt-rotators during lifting operations.

A number of case studies have been incorporated within an annex which identifies how the changing environmental and load complexity determines the classification of a lifting activity as a basic, intermediate or complex operation. As with all CPA Plant Safety Group publications, the Good Practice Guide for Lifting Operations With 180⁰ and 360⁰ Excavators can be downloaded free of charge from http://ift.tt/2uqBJGq

Chair of the Plant Safety Group, Kevin Minton, Director of the CPA, said: “As lifting using excavators has become much more prolific and in many cases, excavators are only lifting equipment on site, it was time for us to update and expand the guidance, highlighting and emphasising that lifting suspended loads with excavators is no different to the management and execution of the lifting of loads using a traditional crane.

“The increased guidance means that lift planners now need to think carefully about just using an excavator for the lifting operations on their site even though it may be convenient. I thank the Plant Safety Group for undertaking and completing this work and ask all those planning and executing lifting operations with excavators to follow the advice given within the guidance.”

 

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Crossrail programme meets 1,000th apprenticeship milestone

The Crossrail programme in its entirety has helped generate more than 1,000 apprenticeship places since 2009.

In recognition, Andrew Jones – Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury – paid a visit to the new Elizabeth line station on Tottenham Court Road, meeting current Crossrail apprentices and those who have since moved on to other infrastructure schemes – among them Tideway and the Northern Line Extension.

To date, 710 apprenticeship places have been created by Crossrail Limited and its construction partners during the building and fit-out of new stations and tunnels running underneath London. These figures have eclipsed the 400 apprenticeships target set previously.

As for the apprentices themselves, they have received trained across a various disciplines – from civil engineering and business administration to railway systems and mechanical and electrical services.

Network Rail, Bombardier Transportation and MTR Crossrail have generated a further 297 apprenticeship places as part of a comprehensive upgrade of the existing rail network and the manufacture and operation of a brand new fleet of Class 345 trains.

Sir Terry Morgan – Chairman of Crossrail – was among the many welcoming the news: “Apprenticeships are at the heart of the Crossrail project and our commitment to creating quality learning and career opportunities for young people has made a huge contribution towards revitalising our infrastructure skills base.

“Investment in skills and training is essential, not just to the delivery of the Elizabeth line, but also the next generation of projects. I am continually impressed by the drive and commitment of our apprentices and I would like to congratulate each of them on their fantastic achievements.”

Meanwhile, Mark Wild – Managing Director of London Underground and the Elizabeth line at TfL – had this to say: “The number of apprentices who have worked on the construction of the new railway is quite spectacular. They represent the future of the transport industry and have played a key part in creating the Elizabeth line, which will redefine how people travel around the capital.

“As the line becomes operational we will continue to support apprentices. It is essential that we build on this legacy and inspire more people to realise the fantastic opportunities that are available within the transport industry.”

Once the TfL-run Elizabeth line opens in 2018 it will carry more than 200 million passengers each year, boosting rail capacity in central London by 10%. Crossrail will link London’s key employment, leisure and business districts – Heathrow, West End, the City and Canary Wharf – and encourage regeneration right the way through the capital.

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House buyers twice as likely to be ‘very satisfied’ with an SME built home

New research, conducted by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), has revealed that house buyers are twice as likely to be ‘very satisfied’ with the quality of their new homes – providing they are built by a small or medium-sized (SME) house builder, that is.

Satisfaction rates among house buyers who have purchased a home over the past five years show that twice as many homeowners (36%) are ‘very satisfied’ with the finish of their new property when purchased from an SME, in comparison to those whose home was built by one of the top 20 house builders (17%).

According to Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB: “There is a popular misconception that new build homes are poor quality compared to period properties that were built to last. Small local house builders, who hang their hat on delivering high-quality new build homes, find this view immensely frustrating. Our research shows that you are twice as likely to be ‘very satisfied’ with the quality of your new home if it was built by an SME house builder as opposed to one of the large top 20 firms. This research draws a clear distinction between what is being delivered by SMEs and what is being delivered by larger firms.”

Mr Berry continued: “For a small, local builder, reputation is everything. They will typically reside in the same community that they’re building in and are therefore doubly motivated to deliver a high quality product that the home buyer will love. Furthermore, SME building firms are more likely to work with a small team of broadly skilled tradespeople. For example, if an SME house builder only employs three bricklayers, they all need to have a wide range of skills and experience. Large house builders tend to use gangs of semi-skilled bricklayers who can lay row upon row of bricks in a line but only a handful of broadly skilled brickies who can turn corners, build chimneys and arches.”

In conclusion, Brian added: “If we are to improve the image of the house building sector, all house builders, large and small, need to put quality at the heart of every project. Not only will this make our industry more attractive to new entrants, including children and young people, it will soften planning committees to the prospect of new developments. We are in the midst of a serious housing crisis and in order to win people over and make them more pro-development, we need to deliver fantastic new homes that local people would be proud to have built in their community.”

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Anglian Waterways investment

The Environment Agency has launched a Capital Investment Programme to maintain, improve and protect Anglian Waterways.

Some £1.4M will be invested into the waterways as the Environment Agency launches its latest improvement programme, detailing repairs and upgrades to be made across the 353 mile network.

During the programme eight locks are set to be refurbished on some of the most popular rivers, with the investment set to ensure the structures remain in good working order for years to come. Locks coming under the programme include: Wadenhoe, Woodford, Titchmarsh, Orton, Cotterstock, and Ashton on the River Nene, and Eaton Socon and Brandon on the River Great Ouse; these are amongst the busiest locks on the network, used by around 7,000 boaters a year.

Other works involved in the programme includes de-shoaling work on the rivers Great Ouse and Nene, and investigations into improving and upgrading Nene’s landing stages.

Neil Pope, Anglian Waterways assets team leader at the Environment Agency, said: “Our precious waterways are an important part of our nation’s rich heritage and beauty. They are a national treasure, valued for their contribution to our environment, our health and wellbeing, and our economy. We’re proud to play a part in caring for them, and we take that responsibility very seriously.

“Maintaining them to a good, safe working standard is our number-one priority. We invest money very carefully to ensure the best value for every pound we spend. This means our waterways will continue to offer outstanding value to the many, many people who enjoy them every year.”

The Environment Agency cares for more than 353 miles of navigable waterways in the Anglian region, as well as a vast network of associated facilities such as bridges, locks, moorings and toilets.

Work began in November and is set to continue throughout the winter months, avoiding the peak boating season to minimise disruption for those on the river.

 

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Four year high for manufacturing

The latest IHS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI® figures have revealed the sector is riding a four year high.

UK Manufacturing PMI saw levels rise to 58.2 in November, with all sectors reporting speedy rises; rates of increase in new orders and production are among the best registered over the past four years. These results tested manufacturing capacity and encouraged further job creation, with employment also rising, hitting its greatest extent since June 2014.

Rising from 56.6 in October, the November reading of 58.2 is the tenth-best registered during the index’s 26-year history. Manufacturing production expanded at the fastest pace since September 2016 and to one of the greatest extents during the past four years.

Respondents to the survey cited stronger inflows of new orders, which reflected solid domestic demand, while some companies also reported higher sales to clients in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. The higher export figures are reflective of the weak sterling exchange rate according to some Managers.

By sector, consumer, intermediate and investment goods industries all reported strong growth, with investment goods producers seeing an increase in new orders that was the sharpest since August 1994.

With the increase in orders, a backlog of work at UK factories has increased, although this leading to calls for an increase of employment.

November saw purchasing costs rise at a pace close to October’s seven-month high, reflecting increased commodity prices (including for oil and steel), exchange rate effects and higher vendor prices due to supply-chain constraints. The latter was also highlighted by a further substantial lengthening in average supplier delivery times.

Overall a positive outlook is held by manufacturers, with over 50% expecting production to be higher in one year’s time. Optimism was linked to company growth plans, capital spending, improving market conditions and efforts to grow client bases.

Rob Dobson, Director at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey, said: “UK manufacturing shifted up a gear in November, with growth of output, new orders and employment all gathering pace. On its current course, manufacturing production is rising at a quarterly rate approaching 2%, providing a real boost to the pace of broader economic expansion.

“The breadth of the rebound is also positive, with growth strengthening across the consumer, intermediate and investment goods industries. Of real note was a surge in demand for UK investment goods, such as plant and machinery, with new orders for these products rising to the greatest extent in over two decades. This suggests that capital spending, especially in the domestic market, is showing signs of renewed vigour.

“On the price front, rates of inflation in input costs and output charges remained elevated. Manufacturers have seen supply-chain constraints and rising demand for raw materials overtake exchange rate effects as the primary motivator of price increases. The coming months should provide greater evidence on any impact that the recent interest rate increase from the Bank of England will have on reining in cost pressures.”

Duncan Brock, Director of Customer Relationships at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply: “A festive toast to a positive end after a turbulent Brexit backdrop year. Encouraging global market forces provided the foundation for the strongest rise in activity for 14 months, and a renewed confidence and focus in the manufacturing sector.

“As the impact of the weak pound diminished, businesses were turning their attention to new opportunities, clients, and investment as business optimism flourished from October’s four-month low. However this increase in demand meant suppliers fared less well as delivery times continued to lengthen amidst the scrabble in demand and raw material shortages, leading to further rises in input costs for manufacturers which were then passed on to customers.

“The domestic market remained strong but new export orders primarily from the US and Europe were a big part of this overall picture of success. Job seekers were also winners, with the strongest rise in employment since June 2014, plugging the gap in growing capacity issues.

“We wait with bated breath to see if the EU negotiations manage to derail this accomplished end to the year or lift the sector to new heights with a clear path ahead for the UK.”

 

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Bechtel scores Gatwick contract

Gatwick airport has appointed Bechtel to manage the construction delivery of its Capital Investment Programme.

The airport is currently investing some £180M to more than double the size of Pier 6 in the North Terminal, as part of its continued commitment to grow sustainably. Once complete, the project will ensure service levels and even greater operational efficiency in response to continued record-breaking growth of the airport.

Two major enabling projects are underway; firstly, the stand for the A380 – the world’s largest aircraft – is being moved to a newly created stand on Pier 5, while a second set of works will widen and re-align the taxiway to accommodate the A380’s 80m wide wing span.

Extension works are planned to start in 2018 over four phases, with the extension as the final phases and due to be operational in 2022.

This latest project is part of Gatwick’s a £2.7Bn programme to transform the airport at every touch point for passengers (landside, terminals, and airside). Pier 6 follows major transformation projects such as the re-development of the North Terminal, and the newly constructed Pier 1, as well as major works on Pier 5 to create a second level.

Delivery of the project is being managed under a Construction Management model, with Bechtel appointed to lead the development due to its global expertise in delivering construction projects within complex working environments. Bechtel will be responsible for the management of engineering, procurement and construction works and will be integrated alongside Gatwick’s construction and development teams.

Gatwick’s Construction Director, Raymond Melee said: “This is one of the most important programmes of work we have in our current capital investment programme as it will give a crucial boost to our operational efficiency and help us to grow sustainably. It will be complex, as it is right in the heart of our airfield, but we are experienced in delivering complicated projects in challenging environments at Gatwick.

“We are grateful for the partnership with Bechtel whose experience will be invaluable. We look forward to our teams working side-by-side as we deliver a world class project while not compromising the airport experience for our passenger.”

Bechtel’s UK Managing Director, Paul Gibbs said: “This appointment is a positive reflection of our partnership with Gatwick Airport. We know that construction in the middle of a very busy airfield can be complex, so we will be working alongside Gatwick’s operational teams to ensure the work is sequenced carefully and that the passenger experience is maintained throughout”

 

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Record infrastructure investment

A new National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline has been published, which confirms over £500Bn of private and public investment in UK infrastructure.

Published by the government’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority, it comes hot on the heels of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in which he promised investment into infrastructure and construction skills through a £23Bn National Productivity Investment Fund.

Government investment is supporting some 40% of projects included in the pipeline, which is the largest and most comprehensive ever, with private finance making up more than half of the pipeline to 2020/21. The pipeline will help deliver important local projects across the country including transport, broadband, flood defence, and housing.

Major projects featured in the pipeline include, Thames Tideway Tunnel, the rollout of smart meters, and the upgrading of the A14.

Through the pipeline, UK infrastructure investment is set to reach a record high. The investment fund includes infrastructure investments of over £2.6Bn to improve transport networks; a multi-million pound package to accelerate the future of broadband, and £7.2Bn to support the construction of new homes. Over 720 projects and programmes across transport, housing and digital to fire up the nation’s infrastructure are featured within the pipeline, with around 20 new schemes added to the pipeline since March 2016, including the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway

Investing in better infrastructure is at the heart of the government’s ambitious plans to close the UK’s productivity gap, and the NPIF is deigned to boost productivity in the long-term. If the UK raised its productivity by one percentage point every year, within a decade it would add £240Bn to the size of the economy; £9,000 for every household in Britain.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said: “This record infrastructure pipeline is set to make a real difference to people’s lives from quicker and easier journeys, to better broadband access, and building more homes for people who need them in high demand areas.

“It is clear proof that we are absolutely committed to ensure our infrastructure is fit for the future, which is at the heart of our ambitious plans to close the UK’s productivity gap and build a fair economy for everyone.

“It builds on our strong record of delivering the modern infrastructure this country needs for the twenty-first century.”

Chief Executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), Tony Meggs: “Creating the IPA has enabled us to produce a more comprehensive pipeline. Having the visibility and certainty of a pipeline of construction and infrastructure investment allows industry to invest strategically for the market, not just tactically for the project.

“We will continue this comprehensive approach, working with industry to deliver the pipeline.

“It is an important step in the IPA’s mission to deliver important infrastructure projects successfully, so we can raise people’s living standards, boost our productivity and grow our economy.”

Alasdair Reisner, Chief Executive of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA): “If the UK infrastructure sector is to plan for the investment in skills and innovation that will be required to deliver world-class infrastructure in the coming years, it is vital that companies are able to strategically allocate funding on a basis of projected need.

“The pipeline is a crucial tool that enables companies to plan ahead and deliver optimal outcomes for clients, taxpayers, and communities.”

Nick Baveystock, Director General of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): “Infrastructure services enable balanced economic growth and thriving communities.

“This updated National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline sets out the value of infrastructure to the economy and provides long term visibility to industry.

“ICE welcomes the government’s commitment to infrastructure delivery and a more strategic approach to addressing the UK’s infrastructure needs.”

 

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North East to benefit from £15Bn construction investment

A new study carried out by the CITB suggests some £15Bn of construction projects will be underway in the North East over the next five years.

The research was carried out in conjunction with North East Local Enterprise Partnership, and shows that there will be large infrastructure and new housing spends of £709M and £574M, respectively.

Major works due to be developed include the Science Park in Newcastle and the International Advanced Manufacturing Park in Sunderland, while over 184 new housing projects are scheduled throughout the area up to 2021. Just one housing development will see the creation of over 1,000 new homes at the new Vaux Village on the old brewery site in Sunderland.

Details of the report come from analysis of planning applications, which anticipate the total volume of work substantially increasing as more applications are lodged.

However, the CITB has warned that this progress could be held back by a lack of skills. The research identifies current and future skills gaps in the region and examines the scope of construction training on offer in the North East LEP area. Several occupations are at risk of a shortfall of workers, including: carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and painters and decorators.

Jeremy Wright, Partnerships Manager for the North East at CITB, said: “This research clearly shows there’s a great deal of important construction work planned for the area over the next few years. While overall output in the North East is expected to decline, the volume of activity is still impressive but that presents challenges when it comes to getting the right skills in place.

“This research will be useful for the industry, training providers and local government to work together on a series of interventions to help narrow current and anticipated skills gaps. We want to avoid a situation whereby skills shortages are causing delays to any of these exciting projects.”

Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Construction is a hugely important industry for the North East. There are over 70,000 construction employees in our area alone, many of whom work for small businesses that contribute enormously to the local economy.

“CITB’s research gives us a good overview of activity for the next few years which will help give confidence to the market. The North East LEP and the region as a whole is doing a lot of work to address skills shortages and ensure our workforce, both young and old, are equipped with the skills employers need.

“We’re improving careers advice and guidance for school children across the region as part of North East Ambition and we’re ensuring our older workforce have the opportunity to learn new skills to adapt to the labour market.

“By working in partnership with the business community we’re able to support schools, universities and other education providers to match the needs of industry and deliver a skilled workforce.”

 

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