Why choose electric vehicles for your fleet?

The increasing number of electric vehicles on offer to consumers and the financial advantages associated with making the switch to ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) has seen the number of new vehicle registrations skyrocket in recent years.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) reveal that over 63,000 new electric or hybrid electric vehicles were registered in 2017 – an astonishing increase on 2013’s figures of around 3,500.

What though are the advantages to the commercial user considering making the leap to embracing this new technology?

Currently, there are close to 40 models of electric vehicles available for consumers in the UK to choose from.

The latest models of electric vehicles produce no CO2 exhaust emissions with the government expecting their uptake to play a significant role in meeting emission targets – with the UK legally committed to reducing emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050.

The government is clearly taking the impact of the technology seriously having pledged to invest over £600M by 2020 to support the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles.

The advantages of people adopting this technology are not, however, restricted to creating a greener environment but the financial benefits to businesses adopting electric vehicles into their fleet are numerous – they are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel vehicles; benefit from tax breaks and have generous government grants available.

It is also worth remembering the ultra-low emission zones (ULEZ) in London will come into force from April 2019, with the heaviest polluting cars, vans and motorbikes having to pay £12.50 to drive through central London, while buses, coaches and HGVs will pay £100.

The capital’s ULEZ will cover the same area as the existing congestion zone and will be in addition to the congestion charge.

The charge will hit petrol cars that fail to meet Euro 4 standards and diesel vehicles that do not meet Euro 6 standards.

Many companies incorporating ULEVs into their business are keen to promote their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint as more clients make environmentally conscious decisions when choosing where to spend money.

Schemes such as the joint funded government and auto industry-backed campaign Go Ultra Low Companies provide an opportunity to display this commitment.

It also seeks to increase awareness and showcase the numerous benefits of electric vehicles to corporate and private buyers in the UK.

The decision for businesses on whether to take the plunge and introduce electric vehicles to their fleet may feel like a leap into the unknown but there are companies out there that can provide guidance and support.

Farnborough-based company, Alphabet offers such a service through their AlphaElectric consultancy package.

Initially, an analysis of a company’s fleet is undertaken to assess the potential to incorporate electric vehicles into their fleet including costs and sustainability.

Should a company display the prerequisite potential to make the switch to electric vehicles,  guidance would then be offered on the most suitable plug-in vehicles and charging solutions to support them.

Given the push from vehicle manufacturers and the government, not to mention the financial benefits to businesses, it seems only a matter of time before electric vehicles are the norm, rather than just the latest emerging technology.

 

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Keeping your fleet secure: installing CCTV on commercial vehicles

UK Construction Online’s Matt Brown speaks with Jonathon Backhouse, Director and Solicitor at Backhouse Jones, about the advantages of installing CCTV on commercial vehicles.

With a history dating back to 1819, Backhouse Jones Solicitors are specialists in logistics & transport, providing a bespoke service completely tailored for logistics.

 

How big a problem are false insurance claims against the transport industry?

All false claims are an issue, but the problem is exacerbated by the fact that many claims are highly suspect and may be thought false, but in order to accuse someone of a false claim you need the highest quality of evidence before you challenge their claim on the basis of fraud. It is sadly the rarest of cases where all the evidence comes together in such strength that you can rely on it to prove the fraud.

What can companies do to minimise their exposure to these claims?

Obtain as much evidence as possible as early as possible from the most reliable of sources, cross check it and challenge it to identify its strength before you plead fraud as you need to be certain.

In terms of safety cameras being installed on vehicles, is there an opportunity to improve drivers’ performance in addition to combating fraud?

Of course, any system which identifies driver related issues is good for safety for the driver as well as others. For example a driver suffering from micro sleeps due to an undiagnosed condition may be identified due to analysis of such film. Also driver behaviour towards road users and or passengers may be identified by such analysis, for example angry, road rage type responses to other road users might be shown and the driver can be dealt with accordingly.

There is also the chance thieves could be deterred by cameras…

I would suggest it is common sense that a thief might be discouraged if he / she thought they might be on camera, historical evidence suggests that the likelihood of being caught is a major factor in deterring a criminal, as opposed to the sentence. If a criminal thinks there is a good chance he / she will be identified and therefore caught he is surely less likely to commit that crime.

Many of the advantages associated with CCTV cameras seem to come from cameras outside the vehicle but what of inward-facing cameras?

Certainly post-accident analysis of accidents involving injury or even fatality greatly benefit from inward facing cameras, you can see why someone might have come off badly whilst others appear unhurt. Also you can demonstrate that a claimant was not injured who claims to have been.

Could inward-facing cameras also be used in protecting the driver?

I have dealt with many cases where a camera in the vehicle has helped the driver by looking at such footage it can be shown what he was doing in the moments leading up to the incident. It is true that it will also condemn the driver as well, as it will show what he is doing wrong, if that be the case.

What is the general reaction from drivers to the introduction of these methods?

Drivers are wary of anything that means they are constantly on film, I think this is a natural human response, would any of us like to be filmed doing our job every day, no one is perfect. However that having been said they are aware they are doing a job which could be dangerous to both themselves and others, as such most drivers when the requirement is properly explained understand it is a safety item which provided they do their job properly should help not hinder.

Does having CCTV systems installed on vehicles reduce insurance premiums?

I couldn’t comment on that, however, I think it must be something that the insurance company would take in to account when quoting for the policy, less claims reduces premiums and as such if CCTV reduces claims ultimately it should reduce premiums.

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Sir Robert McAlpine appointed on Phase 3 of Battersea Power Station project

Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) has confirmed the appointment of Sir Robert McAlpine as the new construction manager to complete Phase 3 of the redevelopment project.

An intensive handover process is currently progressing, with Sir Robert McAlpine’s Phase 3 team set to grow over the next few months.

The existing progress on site will not be affected by the change in contracting partner as the developer already directly appoints the trade contractors and their ongoing management has continued during this transitional period.

Phase 3 is a key part of the Battersea Power Station project which features over 1,300 new homes, a hotel, shops and restaurants and a new London Underground station. The phase has been designed by architects, Gehry Partners, and Foster + Partners, and will include a new pedestrianised high street, Electric Boulevard, which will run from the new Underground station up to the Power Station.

Sir Robert McAlpine’s Managing Director for London, Paul Heather, said:”We are delighted to be involved at the Battersea scheme and look forward to working successfully with the developer and consultant team on the completion of Battersea Power Station phase 3a.”

Simon Jenner, COO of Battersea Power Station Development Company, said: “On behalf of the shareholders, we are pleased to welcome Sir Robert McAlpine to the project. Sir Robert McAlpine have demonstrated a comprehensive and robust understanding of our objectives; they have identified a strong, proven team with highly relevant experience and have shown a true desire and enthusiasm to work on this exciting and demanding project.

“This is another step towards the successful completion of this phase and we look forward to working with their team in due course.”

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New research shows importance of digital building techniques

Study shows major impact technologically digital building methods can have on the construction industry.

New research undertaken by Erika Parn, a lecturer in Architectural Technology at Birmingham City University, has suggested that combining advanced digital building techniques can transform infrastructure and communities.

The study showed that combining a number of technologically advanced construction methods could have a major impact in mapping our entire buildings, cities and road networks.

By using emerging digital technologies, a better understanding of how people utilise land and infrastructure can be created, which could help create more responsive communities and save money on government funded infrastructure schemes.

Pärn is looking into how the technologies, which are most commonly associated with modern commercial buildings, can be merged together and applied to provide smarter cities equipped with facilities, amenities and services to suit the needs of both affluent and deprived populations.

Building Information Technology is usually viewed in isolation, but by combining it with other technologies, it can help provide smarter cities which suit the needs of bit affluent and deprived populations by plotting the ideal locations of infrastructure such as homes, shops, roads and water sources.

Erik Pärn said: “By bringing together these techniques we can make cities and communities which better fit the needs of the people living there, as well as helping to cut the levels of deprivation seen in some areas.

The seven key elements are:

• Optoelectric devices (e.g. laser scanning)
• Machine learning
• Sensors and network based technologies
• Building Information Modelling
• Machine vision technology
• Hybrid technology
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

“Mixing the seven dimensions of digital technology offers a potential solution to critical infrastructure needs, and will enable countries such as Ghana to capitalise upon the very real benefits that come out of smart city development.

“This includes environmental sustainability and infrastructure operational cost efficiency. It is an exciting prospect to be working with our African colleagues and be at the very forefront of future developments.

“In the UK the government has already laid out a mandate for use of digital building techniques but I think we need to go even further and look at the impact these technologies can have on transforming how whole cities look across the globe.”

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Success for Balfour Beatty as WICE awards celebrates women in Business

WICE awards bring another success for Balfour Beatty’s women working in construction and engineering.

Balfour Beatty are celebrating success after Business Analyst, Jwerea Malik, won the Best Woman in Highways award at The European Women in Construction and Engineering (WICE) awards this week.

The award celebrates the most exemplary women in the industry, highlighting great contribution and encouraging companies to train and employ more women.

As well as attending numerous external speaking and networking events, Jwerea Malik is driving forward the Balfour Beatty Women in Business Allies Affinity network, helping to create a more inclusive environment for the company’s future pipeline of female employees. An active promoter of Health and Safety Initiatives, Jwerea was also recognised for her work to encourage the use of safe reporting resulting in a marked increase of safety observations.

Jwerea said: “It is a real honour to be recognised at the European Women in Construction and Engineering Awards. Improving diversity in our workforce is key for Balfour Beatty, and we are constantly seeking new ways to ensure our business fully reflects the society we serve.

“I understand the importance of providing guidance, mentoring and preparing young females for a career in engineering and construction. It gives me great joy to think that together, we can encourage more women to join the industry.”

Balfour Beatty work to decrease the gender gap within construction, with a range of initiatives to achieve progress. The group has signed up to the Young Women’s Trust to help more women enter the industry by undertaking a construction apprenticeships. They have also officially launched there Women in Business network to help maintain and develop its talent.

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House building could be hit by lack of workers following Brexit

The government has been warned that its plans to tackle the housing shortage could be hit by attempts to tighten Brexit immigration controls with fewer skilled construction workers coming to the UK.

The cautionary words come from the British Property Association (BPF), which represents developers and investors in the sector.

BPF chief executive Melanie Leech said: “Talent is a critical issue to sort and, in our sector, it’s construction skills.

“There are a huge number of workers coming from within and outside the EU currently and, if we’re going to have a really ambitious house building programme and we’re going to build the business infrastructure we need for the 21st century, we have to make sure we can staff the construction industry.”

The Conservatives have pledged to build one million new homes by 2020 and further half a million by the end of 2022.

The Prime Minister has also vowed to cut net migration to fewer than 100,000.

Labour has also set out a similar programme of house building with one million new homes to be built over five years, including half a million council and housing association homes.

The party has, however, refused to be drawn on setting a target on immigration.

Both parties have said they broadly support those EU workers currently employed in the UK right to remain but the exact details have yet to emerge.

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CML report housing market is “moving sideways”

Mortgage lenders CML reports UK housing market is “moving sideways”, with latest figures showing a drop in borrowing.

Latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has reported a relatively large fall in demand for loans during April, saying that the housing market appears to be “moving sideways”.

There was an 11% drop on the figure for March, with mortgages worth £18.4Bn advanced during the month. However, monthly mortgage lending figures often change rapidly, and activity often drops in the Spring. Taking this into account, the CML said the amount borrowed last month was higher than the average over the past year, and was 4% higher than in April 2016.

Senior Economist for CML, Mohammad Jamei, said: “First-time buyers and remortgage customers appear to be buoying the market.

“Home movers are having less luck. Their activity has been subdued for some time now and the low number of movers means fewer properties for sale. This supply and demand imbalance will continue to underpin house price values, even as the rate of price rises slows.”

There are other factors are pointing to a slowdown in the housing market, with HM Revenue and Customs reporting a 22.5% drop in property transactions in April, compared to March.

An explanation for this could be the landlords rush to make purchases following the latest in a series of a tax changes.

The CML also report that for the first time since 1996, the number of first-time buyers taking out mortgages had overtaken the number of people moving house. But while the number of home mover and landlords taking out mortgages is falling, the number of first-time buyers is rising.

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Bunkabin rises to military portable accommodation challenge

Defence feature writer Mark Lane reports how experience of one firm shows pitching and fulfilling defence contracts can be much easier.

Pitching for and then fulfilling defence contracts might seem intimidating to the uninitiated, but the experience of one firm shows that it can be relatively plain sailing, as defence features writer Mark Lane reports.

Housing hundreds of highly trained military personnel in high-quality temporary accommodation is a tall order.

And it was one that had to be met at MOD Caledonia in Rosyth to support the fitting-out of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of two new aircraft carriers being built for the Royal Navy.

MOD Caledonia – formerly HMS Caledonia – is a tri-Service Ministry of Defence site. Its role is to provide professional support services to the Royal Navy, and more generally the MOD, on the East Coast of Scotland, with particular emphasis on the requirements of the Queen Elizabeth Class build project, operational and non-operational lodger units and their personnel.

In 2014 Caledonia already had 422 bed spaces available but an assessment by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) indicated that a total of 704 were needed, leaving a shortfall of 302.

It was decided that self-contained portable cabins would provide the best solution as being quicker and lower cost than building units from scratch and avoiding the need to rent private accommodation, which would have cost more and seen crew members widely dispersed.

That decision having been made, DIO awarded a contract to undertake the necessary infrastructure works – including the construction of a drainage and sewage system to connect into local services together with the installation of an additional transformer to meet the extra power requirements – to Imtech, and began the search for a supplier of cabins.

One firm which tendered was an Oldham-based company called Bunkabin, which had previously supplied the MOD at RAF Brize Norton.

The family-run business was set up in 1979, originally manufacturing portable offices for the construction industry; but in 1994, with the construction of the Channel Tunnel, the business saw a market for good-quality sleeping accommodation.

“We started making them and people wanted them straightaway, and before we knew it we had orders for them before we had even built them,” says Business Development Manager Ben Rothwell. “Before our competition had got wind of it, we had made a considerable number; our reputation preceded us and now we are the biggest in the country.”

Bunkabin currently has 2000 sleeper units for hire, as well as various welfare units, shower units, toilet blocks and diners.

The cabins, which conform to building regulations, include beds, mattresses, thermostatic controlled heating, en suite bathrooms and storage space and sleep one, two or three people. They come in three ranges: junior, deluxe and bespoke, which comes with LED lighting, a fridge and a microwave.

In December 2014 Bunkabin was approached by the MOD and asked to quote for some units in Edinburgh.

“We put some prices in and we didn’t know anything more than that,” recalls Rothwell. “Just after Christmas we were contacted again and asked to requote, with more meat on the bones now, asking for a specific number and asking whether we could cope.”

Bunkabin was subsequently invited – along with a couple of national-name competitors – to take some units up to MOD Caledonia.

“We turned up there on a freezing day to meet people from the DIO, Royal Navy and main contractor CarillionAmey,” says Rothwell. “We went into a competitive dialogue session where we sat in front of all these people and were asked lots of questions; we told them who we were and what we were about.

“We were extremely proud of our product. We knew it could deliver everything that they wanted, and even though we haven’t got an expensive sales team we stood in front of them saying, yes we could do that and we’ll be the people delivering it on the day. We weren’t saying anything just to win the contract and then on the day have totally different people turn up.’’

They were then asked to submit detailed plans and maps and a proposal for one year’s supply of units. Three months later Bunkabin received a phone call advising that their bid had been successful and the company was the preferred supplier.

“We had impressed people with our pride in our product and our ability to offer confidence that we could be trusted,” says Rothwell.

Bunkabin was contracted to supply 302 Bespoke Sleeper and 13 Welfare Units to house laundry and communal spaces.

However, the MOD’s choice to go for the Bespoke Sleepers caused a slight problem for Bunkabin.

Rothwell explains: “We hoped they would pick the Junior Sleeper because we had 1200 of them available but they said no, they wanted the bigger one. We said well, we have a problem because we only have 360 of them and we already have customers hiring some of them, so we haven’t got 302 lying around.’’

Bunkabin is the manufacturer, so the company explained to the MOD that it could provide the required cabins but that it would need six weeks’ notice. In the event they had about three months until phase one so they won the order and fulfilled the contract.

Now the cabins are in place and the original contract has been extended to three years.

Bunkabin also provides maintenance support and it works with CarillionAmey to keep the cabins up to standard, maintaining stores on-site supplied so that any repairs can be done quickly.

Once the aircraft carriers are fitted out and moved to their new home in Portsmouth, the cabins will be decommissioned and returned to Oldham for use elsewhere.

It seems the cabins have been a success.

Captain Simon Petitt, Senior Naval Officer on HMS Queen Elizabeth, said: “The accommodation is both modern and practical, and more importantly offers a real sense of home comforts for our sailors who are looking forward to moving in and being in one location so that we are all of one company.”

The MOD also reports that during a visit to MOD Caledonia the Navy’s then First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas stayed in one of the cabins and was ‘very complimentary’ about his experience.

This is a matter of understandable satisfaction for Bunkabin.

Rothwell, who himself served eight and a half years in the Royal Navy, says: “We are proud to have done it. We get lots of good feedback and that’s quite flattering.’’

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Rising to the challenges of urban construction

Metsä Wood explores the possibilities of using timber to help solve the housing crisis in our cities

Urbanisation is one of the most significant issues facing humanity today. By 2050, two thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. Consequently, urban growth is fast outpacing the ability to build affordable and sustainable living space.

Cities all over the world are in dire need of new ways to house a rapidly growing urban population. Nowhere is this more evident than in the UK and in our capital city, where space is at a premium and housing the ever-growing population continues to pose a huge challenge.

London is at the heart of the housing crisis with experts forecasting that the city will require 60,000 new homes a year (around double the current rate) to meet new projections. Innovation in building methods and materials is required for house building in urban areas to hit these targets, while ensuring fast and sustainable construction.

One obvious, yet often overlooked solution is to start building up, and stop tearing down. Utilising new modern timber materials enables several stories to be constructed on top of existing structures. A building extension constructed with a timber frame can be a fast, sustainable and inexpensive solution.

At a recent roundtable event hosted by Metsa Wood in London, industry professionals, including architects, designers, planners, and academics discussed the merits of modern timber and how it could be better utilized in urban architecture.

Speaking at the event, Rory Bergin of HTA Design said: “We find there is still a lot of anxiety and lack of knowledge, particularly on cost. The way to further innovation is to push at the sweet spots where the benefits are indisputable to the client.”

These comments were echoed by Nick Milestone of B & K Structures, “The people we need to convince are quantity surveyors. I’m starting to see that firms are now measuring the costs of engineered timber against traditional construction. They are saying to developers they can now build it quicker, lighter and cheaper. It is now a competitive solution. Reinforced Concrete frame is becoming very expensive.”

Linda Thiel of Sweden’s White Arkitekter discussed how timber is being used in her country for commercial and public buildings as well as houses, where it wouldn’t have necessarily been considered in the past. She said: “Too often engineered timber is being used simply to replace concrete. Once designers see it as a different material, design will flourish and create a new architecture.”

This is particularly true in urban areas, such as London, where space is at a premium and planners are looking to build on existing structures to maximise every last square foot of space.

Research shows that approximately a quarter of existing buildings are strong enough to carry additional floors made of wood. Moreover, it is the only material light enough to build quickly on to existing structures. This makes wood a highly promising building material for providing living space for billions of people – while also preserving the architectural heritage of our cities.

One of the other main considerations for considering timber in urban construction is energy efficiency, not only during the construction process but also for the lifetime of the building. This is extremely important in London as it currently has a target of a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025. With homes and workplaces currently accounting for 78% of CO2 emissions in London and with 80% of the existing housing stock likely to still be in place by 2025, it is essential to improve the energy performance of new builds in order to cut costs and carbon.

In the UK, building a million new homes by 2020 in order to meet the demand of the UK housing crisis requires innovative thinking and the need to explore new possibilities, such a hybrid construction, using a range of materials including steel, concrete, brick and timber.

Through its Plan B project, Metsä Wood has been challenging the perception of architects, constructions engineers and builders as to what is possible with timber construction. As part of the project, which explores various possibilities of building with wood, Metsä Wood offers detailed examples of how to build recognizable, but modern versions of well known architectural buildings, such as the Empire State Building using wood as the main material. The models have been exhibited at trade shows across the globe and have helped to raise awareness and spark debate around modern timber construction.

Metsä wood also recently ran a competition, inviting architects to design timber structure extensions to existing urban buildings using Kerto® LVL as the main material. Entries were submitted from 69 cities worldwide, including Sidney, Shanghai, New York, Berlin, Paris and London.

One of the 16 entrants based on the city of London was the impressive Chrisp Street Market project by Kalpana Gurung and Robert Buss from Studio Hoopla.

Chrisp Street Market is a 3.6 hectare site near Canary Wharf, built in the 1950s as part of the Festival of Britain, and having been active as a street market since Victorian times. There are currently plans to build 750 new homes while upgrading the existing retail units.

According to Gurung and Buss, the proposal will “destroy most of the site and, with it, businesses, homes and community”.

They continued: “London has a housing crisis but tackling this should not come at the expense of quality of life and the destruction of diverse and functioning communities. Our proposal seeks a sustainable future: environmentally and socially, for everyone, by building on the existing structure and community.

“The Metsä Wood Plan B competition provided an opportunity to address the socially and environmentally unsustainable trajectory of housing development in London.”

“Chrisp Street Market shares the qualities of many large redevelopments around London: wholesale destruction of existing buildings, private developers with a stranglehold on profit and the ‘cleansing’ of the city.

“We should address the much more difficult, but responsible challenge of augmenting the new with the old – both physical and social.

“Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is the ideal material to achieve this; lightweight, prefabricated modules can be craned into place with minimal disruption to the everyday life of the market.

“Existing residential blocks are extended upwards, using Kerto-Q and Kerto-S LVL modules while new blocks sitting on the podium itself use the same system. The timber is protected from the elements but visible through an aluminium-glazed screen and is exposed throughout residential interiors, providing a highly insulated and high quality finish.

“This system could be adapted and replicated across London and other cities, as a way to address the tide of wholesale gentrification – a more human, slower paced and responsible method of regeneration and change, while adding significant density to the areas people want to live.”

The Chrisp Street Market project is just one example of how innovative design is challenging the perception of what is possible in urban construction. It is now becoming more widely acknowledged that timber products have a major role to play in building cities of the future using fast, light and green materials.

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Ultimate Finance reaches £14M milestone in funding to construction businesses

SME lender Ultimate Finance reaches £14M milestone in funding construction SMEs through Construction Finance product.

A total of £14M in funding has been provided to SMEs in construction by Ultimate Finance, with their Construction Finance product which is uniquely tailored to meet the specific requirements of businesses in the sector.

Martin Bennison, Managing Director of Construction Finance at Ultimate Finance, commented: “The construction industry faces a number of challenges, not least a weak pound, skilled labour shortages and managing the costs of raw materials.

“Despite this, these figures prove that our customers are confident in accessing funds, and are positive about their future.”

This follows a record 2016 for Ultimate Finance, which saw a 23% increase in overall lending, 16% increase in client base, and an expansion of its national footprint with new offices in Leeds, Edinburgh and Manchester.

“Irrespective of industry or size, SMEs need fast, flexible and fair cashflow solutions that supports good working capital and allows them to grow and, as importantly, let’s them get a good night’s sleep knowing that the wages will be paid.

“As an independent business ourselves we know that one day you have money in the bank and the next a big bill can change everything. Our growth over the past year reflects the investment we have made in our portfolio f products, and the insight we are able to bring to our offering.”

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Four new projects for Galliford Try Partnerships North

Developer, Galliford Try Partnerships North, is to undertake the new projects with a combined value of £13M.

The initiatives in Crook and Esh Winning in County Durham and Brotton in Cleveland follows the start of work last month on the £2.3M development of 19 family homes in Chester-le-Street on behalf of Karbon Homes.

All four schemes are with leading regional and national housing providers and the company’s Development Director, Sara Holmes, said:  “We have been working hard to become the partner of choice in the development of new homes which will improve the quality and choice of housing across the region.”

“Being selected to deliver these four schemes is extremely encouraging and we look forward to working with our clients to build homes which will make a positive difference to the lives of many people.”

The new work, which will take approximately 12 months to complete, will create jobs and training opportunities within the company and with sub-contractors and suppliers.

The Brotton project will deliver 25 bungalows for Coast & Country and will be known as The Cliffs.  With care and support delivered to meet a range of residents’ needs, the facility will enable people to retain their independence for longer.

Benefitting from a £575,000 Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) grant and a further investment of up to £250,000 from Redcar and Cleveland Council, Brotton is the third development to be delivered through the Redcare partnership, comprising Coast & Country, the Council and Galliford Try Partnerships North.  The aim is to provide extra care housing for older and vulnerable people across area.  Site preparation is well underway and construction will start early June.

At Crook 40 bungalows and houses will be built in a £4.3M project with County Durham Housing Group.  Galliford Try Partnerships North will contribute £1.2M of this from its 2015-18 Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) grant, secured from the Homes and Communities Agency.  Work is due to begin next month.

County Durham Housing Group Chief Executive, Bill Fullen, said: “This project will bring 40 new, high quality affordable homes to Crook. As well as new family homes with up to three bedrooms, the development will feature bungalows, including some specifically designed to be wheelchair accessible, so that we can offer properties for a variety of tenants’ circumstances.

“Demand for affordable homes has probably never been higher. By working with the local community and a range of partners in the public and private sector, housing associations like County Durham Housing Group are best placed to deliver the new affordable homes that hard working families desperately need.”

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Survey reveals drones set to revolutionise surveying sector

A new report examining the UK’s drone technology market has revealed that the surveying sector is to be transformed by the use of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).

The report ‘Eyes on the Sky’ by drone specialists COPTRZ’s surveyed over 45,000 commercial drone users and enthusiasts, the majority of whom are expecting significant business growth, thanks to the adoption of the technology.

The results showed that photographers are the earliest adopters of drone technology but 38% of people believed that the surveying sector stands to gain the most from using UAVs in a commercial capacity.

The report comes at a time when the UK Government is compiling the results of its own consultation of individuals and businesses to ensure that drone technology can be safely leveraged for the benefit of public and commercial activities, which support UK innovation targets.

Steve Coulson, Managing Director of COPTRZ said: “Many people consider drone technology to be in its infancy here in the UK and as much as consumer sales are potentially falling, sales of drones for commercial uses are actually increasing week by week.

“This report is being released at a time where the adoption of UAV technology is seeing great momentum in industries such as civil engineering and construction, emergency services and video production.

With the number of companies now operating fleets of drones increasing by over 1500% in three years, we decided that it was a good time to find out where people prioritise on their technology requirements and where people saw the greatest opportunities for business expansion here in the UK.

“This report allows any business who has been toying with the idea of using drone technology to proceed with the confidence that this is a growing sector and demand for UAV services are increasing dramatically.”

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Construction in the Virtual World

Andrew Zhao, Emerging Technology Strategist at Mott MacDonald, speaks exclusively to UK Construction Online about the emergence of augmented and virtual reality, and the potential applications for construction industry-wide.

How prevalent is augmented and virtual reality in the construction sector? What factors have contributed to its uptake?

Immersive technologies have certainly been making headlines for infrastructure. There are degrees of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) being used at various aspects of the delivery process on major projects. While there remains a stark disparity between flagship projects and delivery as normal, this is beginning to change. The increase in availability of consumer VR systems and VR ready computers over the last year has been a key stepping stone in the use of VR across many industries.

How is Mott MacDonald putting augmented and virtual reality to good use? Has its implementation been at all difficult?

We’ve been exploring and utilising pre-consumer ready AR and VR on major infrastructure projects for a while now. However, it is far more challenging to take the knowledge from these specific projects and enable more members of the company to have the same capability globally. In order to do this, we are leading immersive technology innovation centrally within Mott MacDonald, specifically aiming to overcome the two hurdles of hardware and content creation.

How do you see augmented and virtual reality impacting construction best practice? How is this technology rationalising the built environment?

The thing to consider with immersive technologies is what you can only do using the technology and not through a proxy such as a laptop or a phone screen. It then comes into a spectrum of uses from pure VR through to pure mixed reality (MR).

Pure VR, contrary to popular belief, is not just about experiencing a shiny 3D model. Fundamentally it is about empathy, experiencing the world through the eyes, ears and hands of another person. The obvious use is for a designer, contractor or client experiencing the world through the end user or the operator maintainer’s point of view. However, VR offers so much more. Designers can experience a contractor’s point of view mid-construction, allowing for better and safer constructability. They can also see the perspective of someone with a visual impairment or another disability, delivering better signage and layouts.

AR and MR offer more than the often touted uses of checking progress against programme or stakeholder engagement. Engineers can begin designing right out in the field, which is only one step away from undertaking civil or structural calculations. This helps reduce the design and build decision making cycle significantly, which in a world where we have to react rapidly to environmental and climate changes can make the difference between an effective, resilient scheme and one that is delivered too late to make a difference.

How long is it before augmented and virtual reality is as commonplace as BIM, for instance?

Immersive technologies are emerging as a layer of new services which, in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), are built on top of building information modelling (BIM). It is only on maturing our BIM processes that we can unlock the advantages of immersive technologies. Certainly, the rapid development of wireless and station-less VR converging with AR over the next few years will accelerate uptake. In fact, I see it riding closely on the coat-tails of BIM advancement. Where businesses have strong BIM capability, VR and AR usage will develop quickly over the next few years.

Does augmented and virtual reality have wider applications – training, for instance?

Beyond AEC, there are so many uses in entertainment, education and healthcare that can deliver, seriously democratise and disrupt traditional industries by providing better social outcomes.

What advice would you have for companies considering investment in augmented and virtual technology?

Immersive technology is a rapidly changing world, there will always be bigger and better technology coming over the horizon. It’s not just the technology that should be thought about when it comes to investment, it’s also the improvements and changes to processes, workflows, services and ultimately capability as a business.

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RIBA calls for next government to build a global Britain

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has urged the next government to build new communities across the country and keep secure the UK’s position as the global leader in architecture and design innovation.

The call is made in RIBA’s General Election manifesto ‘Building a Global Britain’ in which it outlines the steps it would like to see the newly elected government take.

RIBA says the UK must:

• Grow as a global trading nation–ensuring the existing mutual professional recognition agreement with the EU is maintained as part of the Brexit negotiations and that new mutual recognition agreements are developed with other key trading nations including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

• Put local people at the heart of the planning system– delivering powers on housing and planning to regional and Metro Mayors so cities and regions can deliver more.

• Deliver many more good quality homes that meet the needs of society– perusing development of new high-quality, affordable homes that alleviate the housing crisis and unstick some of the UK’s productivity problems.

• Build schools that are better spaces for learning–ensuring better design of public buildings like schools, museums and hospitals to inspire communities and make the best use of scarce public money.

• Show greater leadership in resilient infrastructure– Supporting innovation in flood defences to catalyse the UK’s export potential in new technologies.

RIBA President Jane Duncan said: “People across the country will be keen to see how political parties respond to the challenges and opportunities of these changing times. Our political leaders recognise the need to improve quality of life across the country; they can start by supporting a better built environment. The RIBA’s manifesto outlines how the next UK Government can ensure that our communities have great high quality, sustainable places in which to live, work and play.

“The UK has a thriving architecture sector delivering inspiring buildings and places across our great nation and around the world. Our multibillion pound contribution to the UK economy and to the country’s reputation abroad is highly prized, and our universities train and equip the architects of the future.

“Whomever forms the next UK Government must recognise the strength and importance of our global cultural links and influence, and continue to support us by safeguarding our ability to attract the brightest and best talent from around the world, as well as ensuring post Brexit that architects practising in the UK are in an environment where they can thrive.”

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Plans submitted for 232 bed student accommodation development in Dublin

Crosslane Student Developments submits first purpose-built planning application for 232 beds in Irelands capital, Dublin.

Crosslane Student Developments, part of the Crosslane Group, has announced that it has submitted its first purpose-built student accommodation planning application in the Republic of Ireland, in the capital, Dublin.

The plans outline the delivery of 232 bed purpose-built student accommodation development in the city centre, at the junction of Carman’s Hall and Garden Lane, within the city’s main ring road, just to the west of Dublin city centre and south of the River Liffey.

It is a short walk away from Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons’ Campus, and a short bus journey from the University College Dublin and City University.

The proposals are to develop the site into a new purpose-built, high specification student accommodation scheme, comprising 232 en-suite beds arranged in cluster flats of between five to eight bedrooms. The development is made up of four residential blocks which will be at stepped heights between three to six storeys with two private outdoor landscaped courtyards.

There will also be communal areas, including a common room, gym and study room as well as management suite, bicycle storage and a coffee shop on the ground floor.

The development is due for completion in the time for the 2019/2020 academic year.

In 2015, the Higher Education Authority highlighted the shortage of student accommodation was at its worst in Dublin, and that Ireland needed an estimated 25,000 more beds to keep up with demand.

Lisa Timberlake, Development Manager, Crosslane Student Developments, said: “Crosslane is delighted to have submitted its first planning application for a student accommodation development in Dublin. The proposed scheme is in the heart of the city centre and a short walk to Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons, with public transport connections to University College Dublin and City University. At 232 easy beds, the scheme would have a significant impact in easing the supply/demand fundamentals which persist for purpose-built student accommodation in the Dublin.”

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UK’s safest house builders honoured

NHBC announce winners of first round of Health and Safety Awards, honouring safest house builders.

NHBC, the leading provider of health and safety services to the homebuilding industry today announced the winners of the first round of its annual Health and Safety Awards; the UK’s only awards scheme to honour the safest home builders.

Every year several thousand construction workers are injured whilst working on a building site. Through effective management of working areas and access routes many of these could be avoided, whilst also helping to reduce the number of working days lost to a business. The matter of health, safety and environment (HSE) continues to be one of the top priorities in housebuilding and construction.

The NHBC Health and Safety Awards, now in their seventh year, are designed to recognise and reward the very best in health and safety, and are also helping to drive up safety standards in the industry by showcasing and sharing best practice.

The Awards are broken down into the following categories:

Best Sites Health and Safety Award:

• Best small builder site                        (1-50 NHBC registrations per annum)
• Best medium builder site                   (51-1,000 NHBC registrations per annum)
• Best large builder site                         (1,001 or more NHBC registrations per annum)
• Best multi-storey site                          (A site where the structure is five or more storeys)

A total of 56 site managers have been awarded Commended status for their sites and will now go on to compete for the Highly Commended and National titles. The winners are to be announced at a gala event on 7 July 2017.  All of the competing sites have been visited by NHBC Health and Safety advisors and were scored against the highly stringent health and safety standards set for the competition.

Stephen Ashworth, NHBC Health and Safety Services Manager, said: “Congratulations to all the winners on achieving their NHBC Health and Safety Commended Award. In 2017 we saw a record number of entries and an outstanding shortlist of finalists. This underpins the importance given to health and safety on house-building sites across the UK.”

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Sustainability rating schemes can help projects reap benefits

For a small cost a sustainability rating scheme can help construction and infrastructure projects deliver not only better environmental outcomes but also better social and economic outcomes.

Sustainability rating schemes such as CEEQUAL and BREEAM are sometimes seen as a great cost burden for construction or infrastructure projects but the reality is that the cost works out to be less 0.5% of the total cost of a project for smaller-scale projects and significantly less for larger projects.

Chris Broadbent, Managing Director at CEEQUAL Ltd and Director, BREEAM Infrastructure commented: “There is a cost but there is also a gain. And the gain, we would argue – if properly managed, can be greater than the cost.”

A rating scheme allows projects the chance to use the scheme to gain an understanding and manage a whole range of sustainability and environmental impacts that are relevant to the project to achieve the best overall outcome.

“It helps them to use that as a framework to manage all of those impacts to deliver a better project. And through all that there is a process of learning about sustainability, of applying it effectively, innovating to get better outcomes and at the end having a really good result to show to the world by way of an independently verified award certificate”.

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Contractors on £225M Education Modular Buildings Framework announced

Nine contractors have been appointed by Fusion21 to its national Education Modular Buildings Framework, worth up to £225M over four years.

The framework comprises of four lots that span the hire of modular buildings and modular construction with different brackets of value.

Modular construction with a value greater than £750,000 will be handled by a single supply partner, with Wernick Modular Buildings Ltd already securing this role.

Fusion21 provides procurement services and OJEU compliant frameworks to the education, blue light and social housing sectors, in addition to working alongside NHS Trusts and local authorities.

Fusion21 members including local education authorities, academies, colleges and universities using this framework will be able to take advantage of significant efficiency savings and social value, plus other benefits such as competitive tension, early supplier engagement and transparency of costs.

Nick Verburg, Procurement and Supply Chain Manager at Fusion21, said: This framework offers a flexible procurement solution to all education providers and local authorities who require permanent or temporary safe learning spaces to cope with growing student numbers – and seek quality modular buildings which are compliant with all building regulations and present lower carbon emissions than traditional builds.

“Accessing the single supply option will also generate enhanced value for money for Fusion21 members – providing opportunities for collaborative working and early supplier engagement which will drive down costs and time efficiencies at the design stage of a project.”

The framework will go live on 1 June, 2017.

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PlanBEE scheme to tackle skills shortage extended following success

Success of innovative scheme to attract talent into built environment extended after successful first year.

Last year, Gateshead College teamed up with a strong partnership of architects, designers, contractors and engineering specialists to launch PlanBEE, an innovative scheme to help tackle the skills shortage within the construction industry.

A unique flexible training programme was designed to attract and retain the highest standard of new talent, plug the skills gap and create a workforce with a more varied set of skills which could be used across multiple construction disciplines. The programme differs from original training models, as it allows students to gain valuable experience within multiple companies, allowing them to gain more understanding of the built environment industry.

An initial cohort of 13 students enrolled on the scheme last September and all have been retained having completed a Higher National Certificate (HNC) qualification. They will now work towards a Higher National Diploma (HND) in year two and an honours degree in year three and these qualifications will help them secure a guaranteed job on completion of the programme.

A new recruitment drive has now begun and successful students will begin in September.

Working with Gateshead College, the group has created a bespoke higher level skills programme that provides talented individuals with study and off-the-job training at the college’s construction facility on Team Valley, along with a job working with some of the region’s leading companies. It has been tailored specifically for and by the North East construction sector, providing students with a starting salary of £10,700 per year, a professional qualification and a guaranteed job opportunity on graduation.

Chris Toon, deputy principal at Gateshead College, said: “Employers across the built environment industry have expressed a need for a greater convergence of skills that traditionally sit within the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, engineering, surveying and landscaping. The PlanBEE programme has been designed to equip students with valuable experience in all of these important subject areas.

“This will help to provide industry with a pipeline of work-ready talent that enables companies to become more productive and competitive now and in the long run.”

The scheme has attracted high-profile names, including Brims Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine, Xsite Architecture, Robertson, 3e Consulting, Cundall, Arup, FaulknerBrowns, Sadler Brown Architecture and Tolent.

Brims Director Richard Wood said: “We are a fast-growing business and realise how important it is to play our part in nurturing the talent of the future. We look forward to welcoming more students to the company.

“It is a real alternative to full time education; one that offers a future with no debt and a job offer on completion.”

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Green light for 133 new apartments in Redhill

New development comprising living accommodation in Redhill given the go-ahead, with latest images released today.

A new development on the site of a historic former Odeon cinema in Redhill comprising living accommodation, has been given the green light, with the latest images of the development released today.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council approved planning permission for the seven storey development, opposite Redhill station and shopping centre, at a meeting on 17 May.

The development will include a total of 133 apartments for rent for the local commuter market including 15 affordable apartments. The area in front of Redhill station will be enhanced by newly landscaped public areas.

Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper is providing architectural and mechanical, electrical and civil engineering services and structural/civil engineering for the scheme, on behalf of owners Rainier Developments.

Mark Leeson, Director of Design, McBains Cooper, said: “The planning process on this site has been long and complex, involving the proposal to demolish the locally listed front façade of the former art deco cinema. The development of our revised proposals for this site revolved around the notion that the site was capable of delivering more housing for Redhill than had previously been consented, a key thrust of the Government’s planning framework.

“The approach was to focus on developing a high quality design, to demonstrate that the benefits of regeneration and bringing this long derelict key central site in Redhill, outweighed the loss of the locally listed façade. Working closely with the rest of the team, a robust case was put forwards ultimately supported by officers and approved by the planning committee last week.

“Public consultation undertaken during the process proved that the local community supported the proposals, and agreed that this will be a welcome contribution to help meet local housing needs.

“Construction is expected to start later this year and the first flats on the market by 2019.”

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New legislation might be hitting number of landlords

The number of people renting properties forced to move home due to their landlords selling up has seen a substantial increase according to a recent survey from landlord insurance company, Cover4LetProperty.

The survey examined the reasons why private tenants move from one rented property to another and to see whether the move is influenced by the landlord, property or by circumstances.

In previous surveys, landlords deciding to sell their property hadn’t been given as a reason, making its appearance high up on the list all the more notable.

The government has brought in a raft of new legislation including a rise in stamp duty and making them responsible for costs that had previously been passed on to tenants.

Covering the last five years, the study examined the reasons why tenants moved from one rented home to another.

The reasons included tenants moving to a different area (27%); moving due to cost (27%); landlord deciding to sell up (11%), while some tenants decided to change properties because they wanted to move to a bigger home (8%).

Richard Burgess, director at the landlord insurance specialists says “Our survey this time highlighted two standout results for us. Firstly, that tenants moving due to bad property conditions has decreased, suggesting that let properties are being improved and invested in. And, for the first time, we see that tenants are moving because landlords are selling up.

“While this could be simply due to landlords realising profits in their property, it could also be that increased legislation and fees are making it much more difficult for landlords to make a sustainable profit. Only time will tell if this trend continues.”

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FMB respond to Green Party’s launch of the “Green Guarantee” manifesto

In response to “Green Party’s Green Guarantee” manifesto, FMB say other political parties should take note of retrofitting plans.

Following the publication of the Green Party’s Green Manifesto, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said that other major political parties should take note of the plans outlined in the “Green Guarantee” manifesto,

The FMB highlighted that retrofitting seems to have become less of a priority in recent years, and that this was a vital reminder that the UK needs a serious programme to update British homes, which are amongst the oldest in Europe.

The Green Party’s vision to retrofit nine million of the UK’s existing homes would limit energy bills and high levels of fuel poverty by keeping houses up to date. CO2 emissions can be reduced significantly.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “At a time when both the Conservatives and Labour are proposing tinkering with the private energy market to push down bills, an ambitious retrofitting programme offers a more elegant, simpler alternative that could start on June 9th and would provide a significant economic stimulus and create thousands of jobs. One in four British households live in fuel poverty and a major factor behind this is the poor energy efficiency of much of our existing housing stock. Moreover, taken together our homes account for over a quarter of all carbon emissions. The Green Party has recognised that both of these issues need to be tackled together and whoever wins the election would do well to take this lesson on board.”

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Birmingham Airport consider new terminal for HS2 station

Birmingham Airport is considering plans to build a terminal at the new HS2 Birmingham Interchange station.

The airport is currently drawing up a 2030 masterplan that will examine the future of the transport hub with the terminal being one of the options considered.

The hub will feature new parking and the latest security facilities including x-ray technology.

The potential for the airport is clear, being the only airport on the planned new high-speed line between London and Birmingham. Its location could attract millions of extra passengers once HS2 is up and running in 2026.

Birmingham Airport said in a statement: “HS2 will give our region an enormous opportunity to develop a truly integrated transport network that supports the continued growth of our region’s connectivity and aids travellers.

“It is therefore vital we maximise the benefits of its arrival in 2026, at which time Birmingham Airport will become the UK’s first high-speed connected airport and its catchment area will be dramatically enlarged into central London, giving it an increasingly national role.

“The airport is currently undergoing a master planning process to explore and preserve options for the long-term future of Midlands air travel.

“This exercise is not only exploring options to maximise the existing site but also future expansion opportunities and how it makes the most of this unique position with HS2 to ensure that all growth and infrastructure considerations are aligned to ultimately benefit the region’s businesses, workers and residents.”

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£1.1M Highways England M62 LED Lighting contract complete

McCann complete energy efficient Highways England lighting contract worth £1.1M.

A Highways England contract worth £1.1M has been completed by electrical engineering firm McCann, which involves lighting upgrades between J22 at Saddleworth Moor, and Kirklees Viaduct to the west of Junction 25.

The project, coordinated by Highways England term contractor A-one+, was completed over nine weeks between January and March 2017, and covers a total of 19km.

A total of 1,224 existing high pressure sodium lanterns were replaced with new Ampera Maxi LED lighting units and 12 existing street lighting feeder pillars were replaced.

A new Central Management System (CMS) has been installed, with remote manipulation of operational burn hours, control over the timing of dimmed lighting when there is minimal traffic and fault monitoring and energy consumption tracking systems. The reporting and control mechanisms can also be operated on a light-by-light basis or across the entire network.

The importance of energy efficient LED street lighting is being highlighted as a greener method of lighting the UK’s roads. This specific upgrade along the M62 will generate a 53% energy saving, reducing annual energy consumption from 2,203,807 kWhrs to 1,041,658 kWhrs. The energy saving per year is enough to run 20,000 households for a fortnight.

A total of 612 tonnes of carbon emissions will be saved every year.

John McCann, Managing Director at McCann, said: “Both air and light pollution are issues that continue to be addressed because the need for energy-efficient LED lighting on UK roads is becoming more important than ever before.

“The benefits of our work on the M62 will be seen far into the future, offering a more sustainable approach to lighting the way for road users. We are proud to be at the forefront of the shift to energy-efficient LED lighting in the UK and we will hopefully continue to roll out such projects in the years to come”

The new lights require no routine maintenance, which keeps down the costs of keeping them operational.

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Deal agreed for Warrington £51M apartment development

A development of 284 apartments for private rent in Warrington’s regenerated town centre has taken a step closer following the completion of a land deal.

All Saints Living has purchased a former industrial site located next to the central station, with construction of a six-storey complex expected to begin in the autumn.

The ground floor will include underground parking for over 250 cars, retail space and a small number of residential units.

The upper five floors will contain the majority of the residential units facing on to Winwick Street, John Street, internal courtyards and the station square.

A total of 178 of the contemporary open plan units will have two bedrooms, while 106 will come equipped with a single bedroom.

Gary Forrest, Founder and Chairman of The High Street Group, parent company of All Saints Living, said: “As the build to rent, or private rented sector, continues to grow due to demand for homes outstripping supply, we have taken this opportunity to develop these much needed homes.

“These are all exciting projects which we feel will enhance the towns and cities in which they are developed and I would like to thank all our partners for working so hard to help us make them possible.”

Since 2013, Warrington Council has been pushing ahead with an £800M regeneration programme, with over half that figure already being spent on projects that have already been built or are currently under construction.

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Consultation on £36M Lossie High campus next month

Consultation events are to got underway next month on plans for a new Lossie High School.

The £36M project will see a new campus including a swimming pool with community facilities built on the site of the existing school.

Representatives from Moray Council and the project’s design team will be available to answer questions at a drop in session to be held at the school on Thursday, June 1 from 2pm to 8pm.

An exhibition of the proposals will be held at the Lossiemouth Sports and Community Centre from Monday June 5 to Friday June 16.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced funding for the new school back in January 2016 and will be built through the Scottish Government’s Scottish Futures Trust scheme, which is contributing around 67% of the total cost.

The inclusion of the swimming pool had been thrown into doubt after costs escalated from the originally estimated £31M due to sandy ground conditions and additional sound proofing works insisted upon by the Ministry of Defence because of the close proximity to RAF Lossiemouth.

The removal of the swimming pool from the plans would have seen costs drop to £33.5M, however, Moray Council members voted in favour of keeping the pool following a meeting on the issue last month.

Councillor John Cowe said: “This is a great decision. The building is past its sell by date, and make do an mend would not do. There will be a high school, community centre, library and a swimming pool.”

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Construction of modular homes to support Dublin housing crisis

Co Tyrone firm bringing millions of pounds into Dublin with the construction of modular homes to support Dublin’s worsening housing crisis.

Modular homes are being constructed by Co Tyrone, in a bid to help the Irish Capital’s housing crisis, which continues to struggle due to an imbalance in housing supply and demand, which has seen both rent and housing prices soar in Dublin.

The crisis has become so severe, that there have been reports of internet cafes charging people €10 (£8.50) a night to sleep.

It has been estimated that the Greater Dublin area needs at least 1,200 new homes a month to meet demand.

Modular homes are being completed in just three to six weeks, compared to three months using the traditional methods.

Donaghmore Construction are completing two Dublin projects in the north of the city – a 2-home development in Wellview, Mulhuddart and a 25-home development in Balbriggan.

Fingal Council has said it has plans to build a total of 300 modular homes.

It is estimated that a modular housing development of around 20 homes can be worth between £3M-£4M to contracting firms, with a large potential for growth.

The Irish government’s Rapid Delivery Framework includes plans to build up to 1,700 rapid-delivery or modular houses.

The overall value of the framework is estimated to be between €250M and €400M (£212.5M and £340M).

Last year, Western Building Systems finished a 22-home development in Ballymun, an area to the north of the city and continue to build modular homes in the republic and hope to get involved with future projects in the city.

Marketing Manager, Seamus Donnelly, said the homes were partly modular and built using timber frames as part of a pilot project for the council.

“There’s a housing crisis in the south at the moment so they’re trying to get houses up as quickly as possible,” he said.

“But between planning and other things that can be easier said than done, so the modular homes offer a good way to get construction completed as quickly as possible.”

Dublin City Council has announced this month that it would begin to offer permanent tenancies in modular homes, since the rising popular and number of people looking for a home now majorly outnumbers supply.

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Construction firm found guilty of manslaughter over fall deaths

A construction company has been found guilty of manslaughter following two workers falling to their death as they worked on renovating a multi-million pound flat in London.

The two workers, Tomasz Procko, 22, and Karol Symanski, 29, were killed in November 2014, as railings being used for support gave way as they attempted to haul a large sofa up over a balcony.

A jury found Martinisation (London) Limited guilty of health and safety breaches and two charges of corporate manslaughter.

The firm’s boss, Martin Martin Gutaj, 43, from Brentford, was convicted of breaching health and safety.

The Company had denied the charges.

Martinisation (London) Limited had been warned about the importance of having trained, competent and effective supervisors prior to the incident.

The entire workforce spoke Polish as their first language but the policy documents and risk assessment were only available in English.

Prosecutor Adrian Darbishire QC told jurors how the incident occurred.

He said: “”As they hauled the sofa up about 20 feet to the level of the balcony, the workers were hauling against, and leaning over, the balustrade.

“The 130-year-old Victorian cast iron balustrade gave way and two of the men fell to their deaths on the pavement below. A third was saved only by being grabbed by his colleagues as he began to fall.

“The fact that the men were hauling the sofa up in the dangerous way that they were was the result of a long and unhappy history of neglect of health and safety at the company which employed them.”

Mr Darbishire described the tragedy as an “entirely foreseeable and preventable one.”

A recent survey of over 2,000 building site revealed that working at height remains the most significant hazard on a building site, with working at height accounting for 19% of all incidents recorded.

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3G camera protects company from false motor claim

A roadside assistance and vehicle recovery company from Hampshire was able to successfully defend against a false insurance claim by using video evidence taken from a 3G camera.

A driver of a motorhome claimed that one of Ravenscroft Motors’ car transporters jumped a red light resulting in a crash at the A331 Interchange near Frimley, Surrey.

Footage taken using Intelligent Telematics’ IT1000 3G camera meant that the company were able to prove the allegations to be false, saving a bill of over £6,000 in repair costs.

The footage shows the moments leading up to the collision, contradicting the motorhome driver’s version of events.

It shows the car transporter travelling in the same direction as the motorhome and not entering the roundabout from an alternative route, disproving the red light claim. It then reveals the motorhome switching lanes without due care, resulting in significant damage to the offside front corner of the car transporter and the rear of the motorhome.

Martin Brimson, Transport Manager at Ravenscroft Motors said: “The cost of repairs to our vehicle alone was more than £6,000, so the overall claim could have reached over £15,000 had we not been able to challenge this false driving allegation.

“We installed the IT1000 vehicle cameras on 70 vehicles last year to help reduce insurance costs and better handle the claims process, while at the same time provide a way of engaging with our drivers to promote responsible driving. Having access to HD footage of driving incidents within minutes of them occurring has been invaluable, enabling us to respond quickly to any given situation.”

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Construction begins on University of Sussex’s new student campus

A ground-breaking ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction on the University of Sussex student village development with the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Pete West, and Maureen Chowen and the High Sheriff of East Sussex in attendance.

They joined Balfour Beatty and The University of Sussex at the new development, which will see a new living space comprising of 2,000 new bedrooms replace the existing 600 bed facility on the University’s campus.

The £197M development will include a mix of town houses and flats containing communal areas such as kitchens, common rooms and laundry space.

The village will also include social hubs and a new student union facility.

Last month saw Balfour Beatty reach Financial Close on the project following their appointment as preferred bidder in January 2015.

David Swarbrick, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Investments, said:  “This event marks the start of construction of the East Slope Residences project and a significant milestone in our partnership with the University.

“We look forward to seeing the transformation of the East Slope site and to welcoming students to the first phase of additional accommodation, which is expected to be ready for the start of the 2018/19 academic year.”

Professor Davies said: “This is an exciting milestone in our plans to deliver an outstanding university experience for all our students.

“A key part of this is giving more of our students the opportunity to live on campus in high-quality accommodation, and providing a fantastic, purpose-built new home for our Students’ Union. It’s great to see this work get under way.”

The first phase will be ready by October 2018, with all work due to be completed by 2020.

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Welsh government investment sees work begin on Welshpool project

The start of site preparation works on Charlies Stores new headquarters and e-commerce fulfilment centre was marked by a visit from Welsh Economy Secretary, Ken States, as the first turf was cut on the seven-acre site.

Charlies Stores Managing Director Designate, Rebecca Lloyd, joined him as the site is prepared for the planned 108,000 sq ft facility.

The Welsh government is investing over £750,000 to enable Charlies Stores to build the company’s new headquarters and e-commerce fulfilment centre on Offa’s Dyke Business Park in Welshpool.

Mr Skates said: “The Welsh Government has worked closely with Charlies Stores to support their plans to expand and grow in mid Wales and I am delighted work is now underway preparing the site for development.

The work includes levelling the site, diverting a public footpath, the demolition of existing infrastructure works including a length of road and an electricity sub station.

Rebecca Lloyd said: “We are delighted to see groundwork begin on our new headquarters and distribution centre. We are proud to call mid Wales our home and are pleased we can continue to do this with this new state-of-the-art facility.”

Once work on the site is complete in August, the site will then be sold to Charlies Stores.

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City of London Corporation award £4.6M Facilities management deal

The City of London Corporation has awarded Skanska a contract to carry out mechanical and electrical maintenance and be responsible for the upkeep of Corporation’s buildings.

The City Corporation’s property also includes areas outside of the capital including Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, Tilbury Docks and Burnham Beeches.

The portfolio consists of buildings such as schools, police stations, libraries and a large investment portfolio of commercial offices, retail and leisure facilities.

The contract worth £4.6M will begin in July this year for a duration of five years, with the option to renew for a further two years.

Pete Collinson, Operations Group Director at the City of London Corporation, said: “We’re pleased to appoint Skanska with the demanding task of delivering a quality maintenance service to our built environment and our heritage and green spaces. Providing continued maintenance and improvement to our property and facilities for the benefit of visitors and users is an ongoing priority.”

The City Corporation is a unique public body, with a large and diverse portfolio of properties.

Iconic infrastructure in the capital includes Mansion House, Tower Bridge, the Old Bailey, the Guildhall and the Barbican together with Smithfield and Spitalfields markets.

Katy Dowding, Managing Director at Skanska, commented: “We are thrilled to have won this contract. We look forward to working with this prestigious new customer. We’ll be using lots of new ideas and innovations to deliver a first-class service.”

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Deal agreed for Warrington £51M apartment development

A development of 284 apartments for private rent in Warrington’s regenerated town centre has taken a step closer following the completion of a land deal.

All Saints Living has purchased a former industrial site located next to the central station, with construction of a six-storey complex expected to begin in the autumn.

The ground floor will include underground parking for over 250 cars, retail space and a small number of residential units.

The upper five floors will contain the majority of the residential units facing on to Winwick Street, John Street, internal courtyards and the station square.

A total of 178 of the contemporary open plan units will have two bedrooms, while 106 will come equipped with a single bedroom.

Gary Forrest, Founder and Chairman of The High Street Group, parent company of All Saints Living, said: “As the build to rent, or private rented sector, continues to grow due to demand for homes outstripping supply, we have taken this opportunity to develop these much needed homes.

“These are all exciting projects which we feel will enhance the towns and cities in which they are developed and I would like to thank all our partners for working so hard to help us make them possible.”

Since 2013, Warrington Council has been pushing ahead with an £800M regeneration programme, with over half that figure already being spent on projects that have already been built or are currently under construction.

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Birmingham Airport consider new terminal for HS2 station

Birmingham Airport is considering plans to build a terminal at the new HS2 Birmingham Interchange station.

The airport is currently drawing up a 2030 masterplan that will examine the future of the transport hub with the terminal being one of the options considered.

The hub will feature new parking and the latest security facilities including x-ray technology.

The potential for the airport is clear, being the only airport on the planned new high-speed line between London and Birmingham. Its location could attract millions of extra passengers once HS2 is up and running in 2026.

Birmingham Airport said in a statement: “HS2 will give our region an enormous opportunity to develop a truly integrated transport network that supports the continued growth of our region’s connectivity and aids travellers.

“It is therefore vital we maximise the benefits of its arrival in 2026, at which time Birmingham Airport will become the UK’s first high-speed connected airport and its catchment area will be dramatically enlarged into central London, giving it an increasingly national role.

“The airport is currently undergoing a master planning process to explore and preserve options for the long-term future of Midlands air travel.

“This exercise is not only exploring options to maximise the existing site but also future expansion opportunities and how it makes the most of this unique position with HS2 to ensure that all growth and infrastructure considerations are aligned to ultimately benefit the region’s businesses, workers and residents.”

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£1.1M Highways England M62 LED Lighting contract complete

McCann complete energy efficient Highways England lighting contract worth £1.1M.

A Highways England contract worth £1.1M has been completed by electrical engineering firm McCann, which involves lighting upgrades between J22 at Saddleworth Moor, and Kirklees Viaduct to the west of Junction 25.

The project, coordinated by Highways England term contractor A-one+, was completed over nine weeks between January and March 2017, and covers a total of 19km.

A total of 1,224 existing high pressure sodium lanterns were replaced with new Ampera Maxi LED lighting units and 12 existing street lighting feeder pillars were replaced.

A new Central Management System (CMS) has been installed, with remote manipulation of operational burn hours, control over the timing of dimmed lighting when there is minimal traffic and fault monitoring and energy consumption tracking systems. The reporting and control mechanisms can also be operated on a light-by-light basis or across the entire network.

The importance of energy efficient LED street lighting is being highlighted as a greener method of lighting the UK’s roads. This specific upgrade along the M62 will generate a 53% energy saving, reducing annual energy consumption from 2,203,807 kWhrs to 1,041,658 kWhrs. The energy saving per year is enough to run 20,000 households for a fortnight.

A total of 612 tonnes of carbon emissions will be saved every year.

John McCann, Managing Director at McCann, said: “Both air and light pollution are issues that continue to be addressed because the need for energy-efficient LED lighting on UK roads is becoming more important than ever before.

“The benefits of our work on the M62 will be seen far into the future, offering a more sustainable approach to lighting the way for road users. We are proud to be at the forefront of the shift to energy-efficient LED lighting in the UK and we will hopefully continue to roll out such projects in the years to come”

The new lights require no routine maintenance, which keeps down the costs of keeping them operational.

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Consultation on £36M Lossie High campus next month

Consultation events are to got underway next month on plans for a new Lossie High School.

The £36M project will see a new campus including a swimming pool with community facilities built on the site of the existing school.

Representatives from Moray Council and the project’s design team will be available to answer questions at a drop in session to be held at the school on Thursday, June 1 from 2pm to 8pm.

An exhibition of the proposals will be held at the Lossiemouth Sports and Community Centre from Monday June 5 to Friday June 16.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced funding for the new school back in January 2016 and will be built through the Scottish Government’s Scottish Futures Trust scheme, which is contributing around 67% of the total cost.

The inclusion of the swimming pool had been thrown into doubt after costs escalated from the originally estimated £31M due to sandy ground conditions and additional sound proofing works insisted upon by the Ministry of Defence because of the close proximity to RAF Lossiemouth.

The removal of the swimming pool from the plans would have seen costs drop to £33.5M, however, Moray Council members voted in favour of keeping the pool following a meeting on the issue last month.

Councillor John Cowe said: “This is a great decision. The building is past its sell by date, and make do an mend would not do. There will be a high school, community centre, library and a swimming pool.”

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Construction of modular homes to support Dublin housing crisis

Co Tyrone firm bringing millions of pounds into Dublin with the construction of modular homes to support Dublin’s worsening housing crisis.

Modular homes are being constructed by Co Tyrone, in a bid to help the Irish Capital’s housing crisis, which continues to struggle due to an imbalance in housing supply and demand, which has seen both rent and housing prices soar in Dublin.

The crisis has become so severe, that there have been reports of internet cafes charging people €10 (£8.50) a night to sleep.

It has been estimated that the Greater Dublin area needs at least 1,200 new homes a month to meet demand.

Modular homes are being completed in just three to six weeks, compared to three months using the traditional methods.

Donaghmore Construction are completing two Dublin projects in the north of the city – a 2-home development in Wellview, Mulhuddart and a 25-home development in Balbriggan.

Fingal Council has said it has plans to build a total of 300 modular homes.

It is estimated that a modular housing development of around 20 homes can be worth between £3M-£4M to contracting firms, with a large potential for growth.

The Irish government’s Rapid Delivery Framework includes plans to build up to 1,700 rapid-delivery or modular houses.

The overall value of the framework is estimated to be between €250M and €400M (£212.5M and £340M).

Last year, Western Building Systems finished a 22-home development in Ballymun, an area to the north of the city and continue to build modular homes in the republic and hope to get involved with future projects in the city.

Marketing Manager, Seamus Donnelly, said the homes were partly modular and built using timber frames as part of a pilot project for the council.

“There’s a housing crisis in the south at the moment so they’re trying to get houses up as quickly as possible,” he said.

“But between planning and other things that can be easier said than done, so the modular homes offer a good way to get construction completed as quickly as possible.”

Dublin City Council has announced this month that it would begin to offer permanent tenancies in modular homes, since the rising popular and number of people looking for a home now majorly outnumbers supply.

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