Verifying Queen Elizabeth II Bridge

When it was first opened in October 1991, the QEII Bridge over the River Thames was Europe’s largest cable-supported bridge. The 2.8km long and 130m high bridge is managed and operated by Connect Plus Services (CPS) on behalf of Connect Plus, as part of a 30-year contract awarded by Highways England.

Since its contract began in 2009, CPS had been receiving anecdotal reports highlighting incidences of vibration occurring on the pylon and stays in certain wind conditions. Due to the anecdotal and subjective nature of the information sources, CPS needed to investigate to provide a clearer understanding of the fatigue demand in critical areas of the structure. The company embarked upon a structural monitoring programme with the primary goal of ensuring that the QEII Bridge will remain in good structural condition, to minimise future maintenance costs.

In 2012 structural engineering specialists COWI performed an initial desk study and temporary monitoring exercise. This identified a potential susceptibility to vortex-induced wind excitation of the bridge pylons, which in turn seemed to cause excitation of the stays. Dry- and rain-wind galloping of the stays was also identified as a risk, due to low measured intrinsic damping.

For these mechanisms of wind-induced excitation, the magnitude of the response is known to be sensitive to the specific environmental conditions, for example the speed, direction and turbulence of the wind and the intensity of rainfall. To gain an accurate understanding of the fatigue demand on the structure, it is necessary to understand how often significant response events occur and quantify their severity. By correlating structural response against measured climatic conditions, insight is gained into the specific conditions and mechanisms that are causing the vibrations.

CPS invited Applied Industrial Systems to work together with COWI to devise a scheme that included tendering for the sensors’ design and supply as part of a permanent structural health monitoring programme (SHMP). The SHMP needed to measure and simultaneously analyse five aspects of bridge behaviour, by collecting data continuously at very high speeds. Variables to be monitored included:

1. Stay responses, in order to derive deflection amplitudes and modes correlated to wind intensity, turbulence and direction, also in conjunction with rain.
2. Stay response as a result of pylon vibrations and to observe patterns of stored energy transfer between pylons and to understand the causal mechanism (and incidence).
3. Synchronised response to the impact of corresponding wind, turbulence, rain and thermal measurements.
4. Deck response, which is measured because this may have a contributory role in the transfer or storage of energy.
5. Wind is measured at both deck and pylon-top levels for speed, direction and turbulence.

“The best way to remove speculation and subjectivity about demand on the bridge is to instrument and accurately measure what is happening and how the bridge responds during different combinations of weather conditions.” says Neil McFadyen, Technical Director at COWI, who was responsible for the performance design.

Currently in commissioning phase, the purpose of the new structural health monitoring system is to note whenever there is a response to wind by the pylons or stays, record the response and then classify it in terms of wind direction and speed.

“Once we have captured a series of response events over an extended period, we will be able to identify two things; firstly the incipient wind conditions as events take place and secondly, how often they happen. Since we also know the historical meteorological patterns for the Dartford area, we can then make reliable probabilistic predictions about the amplitude of vibrations on the pylons and stays, plus their future frequencies of occurrence. This kind of predictive power can save significant amounts of actual value when one considers the costs of stay replacement or strengthening.” says Neil McFadyen.

Ordinarily this would result in vast amounts of data, which due to volumes, could not all feasibly be stored or reviewed. The structural health monitoring system designed by COWI and developed by AIS has been designed to counter these issues, by constantly examining whether data being collected is of interest.

“During the 200Hz acquisition phase, when data of interest is captured, this activates a trigger schedule for the relevant information to be stored for a set period of time, which enables wind build-up impacts to be monitored. Since this is taking place continuously, it’s possible to examine historical information and compare impact during different weather conditions,” says Simon Burras, Managing Director at AIS.

The system has another trick up its sleeve. The UK predominantly receives wind from the southwest, so COWI anticipated a faster accumulation of event packets where the wind is coming from that direction. However, using historical wind data from the Crossing instrumentation, it is possible to exclude data segments from the statistical processing data set in proportion to this historical incidence and thereby adjust the data set to accumulate an unbiased account of the effects of wind from nearly all directions and velocities. As a result, it then becomes much easier to state with confidence when the experiment is sufficiently complete and avoid unnecessary engineering analysis.

In addition, the system allows data to be synchronised, to simultaneously observe vibrations in different parts of the bridge structure – for example, monitoring aeolian vibration of the pylons forcing vibrations in the stays. The required synchronisation was achieved by using distributed Beckhoff EtherCAT I/O over fibre optic cables.

With Connect Plus making the investment in a new structural health monitoring system, CPS aims to be in a position to accurately forecast likely longer-term maintenance and operational costs in the shortest possible timeframe. Once the data capture phase has been running for a few years, CPS will be able to demonstrate with a high degree of confidence, whether the bridge will be compromised by wind demand. More significantly, if it is, CPS will have the ability to take ameliorative action whilst plenty of residual fatigue life remains.

“Ultimately, all bridges are effectively prototypes and although theoretical modelling allows us to predict impacts in the future, bridge engineers inevitably lack the advantages of trial and error afforded to other engineering disciplines. Verification and condition monitoring are essential aspects of maintenance and ensure that any service disruption, plus the cost of managing inevitable structural wear and tear, can be kept to an absolute minimum,” says Simon Burras.

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£6.2 million flood protection scheme completes in Catterick

The Environment Agency has successfully partnered with Highways England to deliver a jointly-funded flood protection scheme that will safeguard both the A1(M) at Catterick and an additional 149 properties.

The flood protection scheme can be traced back to September 2012, when Catterick was subject to a major flood event which left some 130 properties waterlogged and brought the A1(M) to a two day standstill. In a matter of hours the regional economy took a bruising £2 million hit.

Now a new flood reservoir, built to accommodate overspill between Brough Park and the A1(M), has officially opened. Its immense six metre high embankments will be able to hold 91 million gallons of water – equivalent to 130 Olympic swimming pools for all you statisticians out there.

The scheme has also slowed the flow of water through Brough Beck, previously prone to overflowing in severe weather conditions. Here, the Environment Agency’s internal field operations team has introduced artificial meanders in the beck and built a control structure housing two ‘hydro-brakes’ to manage the overall flow of water.

Five hectares of new habitat have also been created, including wetlands, bat habitats, owl nesting and meadowland.

“As well as reducing flood risk to local homes and businesses, this flood defence will protect a main traffic artery through Yorkshire which has been affected in recent years,” said Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to get the most benefit from our flood schemes, and by also creating five hectares of new habitat, this is a fantastic example of how working together can bring multiple benefits for the local community, economy and environment.”

Peter Mumford, Executive Director of Major Projects and Capital Portfolio Management at Highways England, added: “This area suffered badly due to severe weather in 2012 and the A1 is a vitally important route which supports the UK economy so we must do all we can to keep traffic moving freely along it.

“We’re pleased to have worked with partners on this solution which helps protect the local community and lets drivers have safe journeys.”

The Catterick flood storage reservoir passed its first true test in March, after the snow melt in the Dales led to flood water streaming down the valley.

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New home registrations nears decade high, says NHBC

154,698 new homes were registered to be built in the 2017/18 financial year, according to new figures from NHBC.

Encouragingly, the NHBC findings show this to be the second highest number of registrations over the past decade – 2% short of the record 157,805 new homes registered in 2016/17 – with six of the UK’s 12 regions experiencing some form of growth.

The first three quarters of the 2017/18 financial year saw 116,451 private sector homes registered – down from 117,987 the year previous – while 38,247 affordable homes were reported in comparison to the 39,818 registered during 2016/17.

Of the six growth regions, the North West led the way with 18,272 registrations – a 21% increase on the year previous – followed by the East Midlands (14,314, +12%) and Wales (5,384, +11%).

It wasn’t all good news however. Registrations tapered off in the fourth quarter with 36,637 new homes recorded during the first three months of 2018 – a 14% decrease on the 42,405 registrations reported in that same period the year previous.

NHBC attribute this dip to the streak of exceptionally bad weather experienced at the top of the year which severely impacted house building nationwide. Anecdotally, there are reports that up to 30 days on-site were lost as a direct consequence of the arctic conditions.

Other contributing factors include the much publicised shortage of skilled labour, renewed anxiety over Brexit and short-term market fluctuations. On the whole the picture is positive however, with continued growth forecast for 2018/19 in both the private and affordable sectors.

“New home registration figures for the last financial year have reached the second highest level in a decade, despite a challenging start to 2018, with freezing weather conditions affecting building sites up and down the country,” summarized Steve Wood, Chief Executive of NHBC.

“Business confidence in both the private and affordable sectors remains high with clear routes to continued growth in 2018, and NHBC will continue to help support house builders to build the high quality new homes that people across the UK need.”

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The importance of infrastructure in tackling housing crisis

In our focus on infrastructure, we turn to look at the housing crisis and why infrastructure is crucial. We speak with Patrick Sweeney, Partner in the projects, infrastructure and construction team at law firm TLT.

With Theresa May’s housing policy announcements at the start of March, the government once again stated its ambition to address the UK’s housing crisis. The attention now paid to housing, whether from the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer or MPs from both sides of the House of Commons, has propelled housing of all types towards the top of the political agenda. This is an encouraging development, but it is important to bear in mind that building homes is an integral part of a far more complex picture.

Many questions remain on infrastructure if we are to truly tackle the housing crisis. The government has pledged to deliver one million new homes between 2015 and 2020, with a further half a million homes by 2022. While it currently looks unlikely that such volumes of delivery will be achieved, these are the government’s stated objectives and it is putting a number of components in place to speed up access to planning permission and maximise housing delivery. With an ever-increasing number of developments in the pipeline up and down the country, developers, local communities and local authorities need to come together to meet the challenges that will arise, particularly on issues ranging from funding to transport to energy and social infrastructure.

Funding and understanding local development challenges

Over the course of the last eight years, central government funding to local government has fallen. The reduction in this support has inevitably challenged local authorities about how they deliver front line services, how they raise revenue to try and make up for the funding gap, and at the same time develop and regenerate areas in order to provide places in which people will want to live and work.

A number of local authorities and wider public sector bodies have sought to regenerate existing land they own to provide housing (including affordable homes). This has required developers to fund the building of these properties with public sector organisations retaining a stake in the development through retention of a number of units on site (which can then be managed by third party property specialists if no in-house capability exists).

These schemes are not without controversy as opponents of this approach claim the result permanently removes key assets from public ownership and further query the number of affordable or social housing units on such redevelopments. Ultimately, the charge is that such developments can force workers on lower pay out of certain areas. Proponents of these schemes often defend the approach on the basis that they are doing what they can to address a housing shortage (and seeking to raise additional revenue to support delivery of front line services) within the parameters set by central government.

Beyond the challenges faced by the public sector on developments involving their land, there are a number of other matters which interested parties will need to consider and work on collaboratively to find acceptable solutions for all stakeholders.

Transport and service infrastructure

Given the number of homes experts suggest are required and the number of homes currently being built, a number of different solutions will be needed to meet the future demands.

Inevitably, both brown field and green field sites will be considered for development which will undoubtedly lead to contentious planning applications – a concern the Prime Minister acknowledged in her recent speech.

Provision will need to be made for new developments to be connected to existing infrastructure such as utility services and fibre optic cables, as well as transport routes. This, in turn, could result in the need to build new roads, or even tram and underground stations. In areas undergoing considerable growth, it will be necessary to re-examine the capacity of existing infrastructure as roads and public transport systems become more heavily used as new residents move in. The lead time for such vital work will also need to be considered by developers and local councillors alike.

Energy infrastructure

These questions are not new and have been grappled with by those involved with the development process for decades. Given the pace of technological change, there is a clear need when planning a development or redevelopment to consider how a major infrastructure project can be future proofed. With the rapid and continued evolution of clean energy technologies, developers need to decide whether developments are built to energy-efficient passivhaus standards and whether they will feature off-grid energy schemes.

As wind, solar, ground-heating and energy storage technologies have developed to become efficient and affordable, it will be interesting to see whether the solutions to the housing crisis will also provide the tools necessary to prevent future energy crises. We have increasingly seen energy generation or energy storage projects feature as part of developments, giving residents off-grid energy capacities and reducing energy costs in the long run, and this will be a trend to watch.

We have also seen a number of local authorities seek to address fuel poverty, carbon targets, the need to find savings and the desire for their areas to become more energy secure by assessing the viability of district heating schemes. Such schemes may yet become more financially viable with the main phase of the Heat Network Investment Fund (HNIP).

There is a clear tension between developers (who may prefer to connect to mains gas supply) and local authorities who, for the reasons set out above, may use planning to require the installation of district heating schemes in a locality. We should therefore expect a certain number of innovative schemes to offer the capability of taking entire communities off-grid. Regardless of the energy infrastructure model chosen, the effects of energy-hungry electric cars will also need to be contemplated.

As the government and leading car manufacturers have bought into the electric car revolution over the last couple years, planners, developers and local authorities will have to plan accordingly. Indeed, with the government having announced a ban on diesel and petrol vehicles from 2040, the future of cars appears to be electric. This opens a new set of questions as to whether new developments should come with electric charging points as standard or with the capacity to add them at a later date. Where homes come with charging points, costs are likely to be included in the price of the property. If, on the other hand, charging points are installed further down the line, someone will have to foot the bill and this could spark disputes between developers, residents and local authorities, or present an opportunity for a new type of ‘statutory’ service provider to deliver the necessary infrastructure.

Social infrastructure

Beyond the ‘hard’ infrastructure requirements needed to accommodate the new homes Britain needs, central and local government will have to take into account the need to update the social infrastructure around new developments. The occupiers of the new homes increase demand on existing social infrastructure such as school places, on open space and on doctors’ surgery capacity. The current model is for some of these social infrastructure requirements to be delivered through the planning system, while the rest waits for the market to provide. As with all sorts of infrastructure, by meeting these needs local authorities will increase the attractiveness of their communities for would-be residents and encourage faster development and investment.

Two halves make a whole

Whether infrastructure is transport, utilities or service-related, it should not be a secondary consideration. Providing suitable infrastructure for developments with planning permission is crucial to meeting the expectations of residents. Laying down the foundations for improved infrastructure in advance of development is also key to giving developers confidence in their ability to sell or rent out their properties.

Infrastructure construction can only be forgotten to the detriment of housing delivery. The acceleration of housebuilding in the UK should bring fresh opportunities for the infrastructure sector and this drive to deliver homes may well result in an exciting pipeline of new work for those involved in the industry. It’s worth remembering that the reverse is also true – areas well-provisioned in infrastructure are more likely to attract future residents, thereby inducing new developments to sell fully. The housing crisis is a long way from being solved, but if local authorities, the wider public sector, developers and the construction industry work holistically, this will benefit everyone and tackle the political issue of our time in the process.

 

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SkillBuild 2018

Thursday 3rd May will see the City of Liverpool College host the North West Regional Heat of CITB’s SkillBuild 2018 – the largest multi-trade competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices.

Entrants will compete against each other over a series of competitions to be crowned a winner in one of ten chosen trades, including bricklaying, carpentry, painting and decorating, joinery and stonemasonry.

Alongside the competition, the College is hosting a trade show featuring local and national construction companies including Kier, Morgan Sindall, Crown and Rollins, who will be providing information, demonstrations and hands-on activities for all attendees.

The trade show will provide an opportunity for young talent to meet with prospective employers, facilitating potential job opportunities as well as giving businesses the chance to develop their talent pools.

Elaine Bowker, principal of the City of Liverpool College, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be hosting this year’s regional heat of SkillBuild. There is some fantastic talent coming out of the North West in these trades which are facing ever-growing skills gaps. These skills are essential to our economy, so it’s important that we celebrate the talent and passion that exists in the region.

“At the City of Liverpool College, our students are given opportunities to work with major businesses and receive training from industry leaders, which is essential to their development and makes a huge difference to their job prospects.

“The event promises to be an exciting and interactive day and we’d encourage anyone who is interested in seeing these skills showcased to come along.”

The North West heat is one of the Regional Qualifiers held across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which are held to decide who will take part in the national final – a three-day competition held at the NEC in Birmingham – where the winners will be crowned the best in the country.

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Reduce costs by reducing waste

 

Hazardous waste poses a substantial threat to our health and the environment. Despite this, we are still producing more than 400 million tons each year. That’s nearly 60kg per person – and this is only increasing according to a report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Here, Richard Bastable, of NCH Europe’s Parts Cleaning innovation platform, explains how reducing waste can improve productivity, save companies money and make for a healthier working and living environment.

Hazardous waste is often a by-product of manufacturing processes. For most companies, much of this waste is created by using commercial products to clean a facility, equipment or parts and the misconceptions around water-based solutions. Traditionally, water-based products are believed to be less effective than cleaning products with harsh chemicals.

However, the reality is that not only do water solutions clean effectively, but  they also result in less harmful waste and can reduce the frequency of waste collection. While the waste will still be hazardous due to the contaminant or dirt being cleaned, water-based technologies minimise the hazard by not adding more harsh chemicals into the mix, thus in turn also making that waste easier to recycle.

Waste created in industrial settings will often contain elements classified as hazardous. Some contaminants result in deposits forming on internal and external parts of equipment that are difficult to remove.

Traditionally, engineers must manually brush the affected areas often after soaking parts overnight. This is a time-consuming and inefficient process, demanding the attention of an engineer and keeping machines out of operation for longer than necessary.

Plant managers can resolve this by investing in automatic or high-pressure parts washers. Yet traditionally, most parts washers make use of harsh chemical solutions that add an extra chemical into the already hazardous run-off. When the time comes to dispose of this waste, the chemical solution has exacerbated the hazard classification of the waste.

In many countries, management of hazardous waste involves the completion of waste consignment forms, which comes at a cost to the waste producer. The fees involved are normally driven by the type and frequency of waste, rather than volumes, so reducing the frequency of waste movements can reduce your costs. Extending the lifecycle of the chemistry is key to reducing the waste being generated.

The producers of waste must also keep records and provide information about the composition and quantity of all hazardous waste to authorities. The information must be provided through a series of waste recovery, disposal, transport and transfer documents to ensure the process is carried out properly. The producer is ultimately responsible for the waste up to the point of final disposal, the so called ‘cradle to grave’ concept.

This is understandably a time-consuming and costly process, particularly if a plant produces lots of hazardous waste. Using water-based solutions and extending the lifecycle of the chemistry will subsequently reduce the frequency of waste movements and the associated costs.

Reducing the quantity of waste that facilities generate can significantly ease a company’s regulatory burden, as direct contact with solvents and the fumes produced in the cleaning process can be harmful to engineers. This means that companies must consider how chemicals are used, the different chemicals they are exposing workers to and ultimately how the waste is disposed of.

Therefore, it is recommended that businesses should partner with a service provider that offers an all-inclusive service that meets regional regulations to ensure safe handling, carriage and disposal of hazardous waste without elevating costs.

Of course, this is only a partial solution. To decrease the amount of hazardous waste from the WWF’s reported 60kg per person, plant managers must address the problem at the source. This means finding alternatives to traditional chemical solutions where possible, be it in plant, equipment maintenance or parts cleaning.

 

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Government calls for innovation in new homes

Ministers have called on the construction industry to embrace the latest innovations in building techniques, in order to make sure the country will benefit from the good quality homes it needs.

It is a directive of this Government to fix the broken housing market and address the housing crisis by ensuring 300,000 new homes are built in England by the mid-2020s. These homes need to be of good quality and design, and embrace the latest innovations to ensure the homes are valuable into the future.

The housing white paper published in February 2017 set out the government’s ambition to give communities a stronger voice in the design of new housing, and to drive up the quality and character of new development, building on the success of neighbourhood planning. It is crucial to ensure local support for the new communities, and recent research says that seven out of ten people would support new residential development if buildings are well-designed and in keeping with their local area.

To this end, the Government has hosted an industry summit to promote government and industry collaboration and innovation. Industry leaders, including local authority planners, developers and design professionals, attending the Design Quality Conference shared their expertise to ensure how homes look becomes just as important as the number delivered.

Ministers will focus on how developers can use better quality design in order to win over both communities and new generations of first-time buyers, who expect the highest quality homes before parting with their hard-earned deposits.

The event builds on previous government action to ensure new homes are built using quality materials and design methods, as set out in the recently published draft National Planning Policy Framework.

The document, which is currently out to consultation, outlines requirements for design guides and codes to feature prominently in new Local Plans, significant consideration to be given to existing local character as well as setting out the density of developments that meet the needs and expectations of the community.

The conference also saw speakers from the Royal Institute of British Architects, Stephen Lawrence Trust, The Princes Foundation, Historic England and Homes England, as well as other experts with experience in delivering excellent build quality for new and existing communities.

Action to boost innovative approaches for well-designed new homes include:

• £1Bn investment through the Home Building Fund to develop new, modern approaches to design and construction. To date, eight projects across 11 local authorities, backed by government funding, will use modern methods of construction such as modular homes to build good quality homes, using the latest techniques, whilst helping to speed up housing delivery.
• Learning from other countries like Australia, Norway and Sweden where good design is embedded in decision making. For example, based on an Australian model, the government will urge councils to set their own design quality standards, giving communities the ability to better reflect their own unique character in local planning policy.
• Embracing new technologies: For example using Virtual Reality (VR) technology to win the confidence of communities before a single brick is laid. By visualising proposed new housing from the neighbour or homebuyer’s perspective, communities will be able to see how development can visually contribute to the area from an early stage, even before planning permission has been granted.

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid, said: “Our homes are the making of all of us, which is why today’s event on raising the bar on the quality of new homes is so important.

“This government is determined to make sure that high quality design is the norm rather than the exception.”

While Housing Minister Dominic Raab, commented: “We are putting high-quality design on the map as never before when it comes to building better homes and stronger communities.

“Today’s conference marks an important milestone in that journey.”

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Balfour Beatty launches sustainability policy

A Roadmap to Biodiversity Net Gain is Balfour Beatty’s latest public policy paper, which calls for action from the construction industry to address the balance between construction and the environment.

With the efforts being made in tackling environmental issues focusing on carbon, waste and water, Balfour Beatty want focus to switch and look at the perceived tension between construction and the environment.

With the UK looking to make substantial investment in infrastructure over the next 20 years, delivering improvements in transport, broadband, energy, flood defenses and housing, Balfour Beatty say a new approach is required to counter the loss of biodiversity from this continued infrastructure investment.

Biodiversity Net Gain is a concept which is set to gain increasing traction over the coming years. It focuses on enriching biodiversity as a result of construction works, leaving a positive environmental legacy once works have completed.

Balfour Beatty, working in conjunction with CIRIA, IEMA and CIEEM, has developed a set of good practice principles, offering an effective way for infrastructure projects to deliver ‘net gains’ in biodiversity, which also help to deliver the Government’s biodiversity commitments.

The good practice principles are built upon Balfour Beatty’s tried-and-tested Biodiversity Net Gain model, which has received wide acclaim from industry and statutory bodies including Natural England. The principles focus on avoiding biodiversity losses wherever possible; quantifying any losses incurred with gains in biodiversity to plan, budget, design, build and maintain Net Gain; and delivering Net Gain in collaboration with local stakeholders.

Phil Clifton, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Highways business, said: “By considering Biodiversity Net Gain as early as possible and ensuring that Biodiversity Net Gain measures are incorporated in the design, programme and budget, projects can generate long-term benefits for nature as well as wider benefits for society and the economy.

“It is imperative that we take action on this now so we can square the circle of how to deliver the infrastructure the country urgently needs, in a way which leaves an environmental legacy to be proud of.”

Balfour Beatty’s paper, “A Better Balance: A Roadmap to Biodiversity Net Gain” details nine recommendations, which amongst others, call for Biodiversity Net Gain to be made an obligatory part of the UK’s planning policies. The paper is available to read here.

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Innovative new ‘green’ concrete developed

Scientists at the University of Exeter have made a break through in innovative construction techniques, by developing a new greener, stronger and more durable concrete.

Experts from the university have developed a pioneering nanoengineering  technology, that the wonder-material graphene incorporated into concrete production.

The technique could revolutionise the construction industry, with the new composite material being more than twice as strong, and four times as water resistant, than existing concretes. The new material can be used directly by the construction industry on building sites, with all of the concrete samples tested to British and European standards.

Crucially, the new graphene-reinforced concentre material also drastically reduced the carbon footprint of conventional concrete production methods, making it more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The research team insist the new technique could pave the way for other nanomaterials to be incorporated into concrete, and so further modernise the construction industry worldwide.

Professor Monica Craciun, co-author of the paper and from Exeter’s engineering department, said: “Our cities face a growing pressure from global challenges on pollution, sustainable urbanization and resilience to catastrophic natural events, amongst others.

“This new composite material is an absolute game-changer in terms of reinforcing traditional concrete to meets these needs. Not only is it stronger and more durable, but it is also more resistant to water, making it uniquely suitable for construction in areas which require maintenance work and are difficult to be accessed .

“Yet perhaps more importantly, by including graphene we can reduce the amount of materials required to make concrete by around 50% – leading to a significant reduction of 446kg/tonne of the carbon emissions.

“This unprecedented range of functionalities and properties uncovered are an important step in encouraging a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly construction industry worldwide.”

Previous work on using nanotechnology has concentrated on modifying existing components of cement, one of the main elements of concrete production. In the innovative new study, the research team has created a new technique that centres on suspending atomically thin graphene in water with high yield and no defects, low cost and compatible with modern, large scale manufacturing requirements.

Dimitar Dimov, the lead author, added: “This ground-breaking research is important as it can be applied to large-scale manufacturing and construction. The industry has to be modernised by incorporating not only off-site manufacturing, but innovative new materials as well.

“Finding greener ways to build is a crucial step forward in reducing carbon emissions around the world and so help protect our environment as much as possible. It is the first step, but a crucial step in the right direction to make a more sustainable construction industry for the future.”

The paper, Ultrahigh Performance nanoengineered Graphene-Concrete Composites for Multifunctional Applications, is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, and supported by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

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MPs look to bring empty homes back into use

MPs have been debating new measures in Parliament, which will give councils powers that will bring thousands of long-term empty homes back into use.

The proposed new legislation will allow councils to double the rate of Council Tax on homes that have been left empty for years. Currently, the premium that can be levied is 50%.

The number of homes left empty for six months or longer has dropped substantially, since records began in 2004, when the figure was 318,642. Current numbers show some 205,293 vacant properties. The lowest number recorded was in October 2016, when there were 200,145. Councils already have powers and incentives to tackle empty homes, through the New Homes Bonus scheme introduced in 2011, and a 50% council tax premium on homes empty for two years or more. 291 out of 326 councils applied an empty homes premium in 2017 to 2018.

The move is part of the government’s range of measures designed to tackle the housing crisis and rejuvenate the housing market. The government is investing in an ambitious package of reforms to ensure the country has the homes it needs.

The funds raised from the premium will help keep Council Tax levels down for working families.

Local Government Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “While we should celebrate the number of long-term empty homes dropping by a third since 2010, there are still 200,000 vacant properties across the country.

“This bill hands councils further tools to bring much-needed homes back into use and provide thousands of families with a place to call home.”

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Independent review of housing policy in Wales

The Welsh Government has confirmed its intention to review housing policy in Wales.

Announced by Minister for Housing & Regeneration, Rebecca Evans AM, the independent review comes just five months after the launch of Housing Horizons and Community Housing Cymru’s call for a policy review, investigating how the sector can deliver the 75,000 affordable homes promised and establish good housing as a basic right for all in Wales.

The review will be chaired by Lynn Pamment and will consider how to double the rate of affordable home building in Wales, encompassing such issues as rent policy, affordability, grant and standards. The review will be independent of government and recommendations will be shared with the Minister in 2019.

Stuart Ropke, Chief Executive of Community Housing Cymru said: “Housing associations in Wales have ambitions to build a minimum of 75,000 affordable homes in Wales over the next twenty years – doubling the current delivery rate. However, housing is much more than bricks and mortar; the whole life journey takes place in a home. It’s where strong communities and, therefore, solid local businesses can be established.

“Everybody deserves to live in a good quality home, and have the opportunity to live a prosperous, healthy, well-connected life. That’s why in November 2017 we launched ‘Housing Horizons’, our sector vision to make good housing a basic right for all. This far reaching ambition cannot be achieved without a full analysis of Welsh housing policy and how this is put into practice, so we are delighted the Minister has backed our call for a review.

“Through the review we can establish the most effective policy environment to meet our affordable home delivery ambition and build a solid foundation for current and future generations. If we get this review right, it will be a big step towards solving the housing crisis.”

CIH Cymru director Matt Dicks welcomed the review, but says it must consider housing alongside education, health, social care, public protection and economic development.

He said: “We welcome today’s announcement into a review of housing policy in Wales. The review is focussed on housing development which we feel is sensible given the one-year lifespan of this work. There is clearly a recognition of the role local authorities can increasingly play in boosting the supply of affordable homes and the standards homes should meet to be fit for the future.

“As the work-plan is drawn-up we believe it is vital to consider:

• The need to create a cohesive one housing system approach that focuses on delivering the right mix of homes – it should not just be an exercise in numbers
• Continuing to be ambitious in the standards and quality we want to see in our homes both now and in the future
• Placing affordability at the heart of the review and ensuring that the impact on people’s lives is at the forefront of discussions

“This review cannot be an exercise in isolation and should show an awareness of the developments in education, health, social care, public protection and economic development if we are to see true progress that connects services in the right way.

“We are looking forward to engaging fully with the review, bringing the experiences of housing professionals to life as we continue to utilise the expertise and insight of our members to shape housing policy in Wales.”

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Technology as the catalyst for change: what should you do about it?

Technology has emerged as a pivotal focus for many organisations, firms and professional bodies. While it is certain that innovation will trigger a disruption in property management, how organisations adapt to this is less clear.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) recently hosted a series of discussions between thought leaders to consider how the industry is changing with the advancement of technology. The discussions tackled wide-ranging topics but three themes emerged as central to the issue: professionalism, adoption of standards and the competition for skilled workers.

“Real estate is undergoing a tectonic shift, with professionally trained and equipped talent defining success in this new environment,” said Toby Dodd, Executive Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield.

There was a consensus that critical thinking and analytical skills are becoming increasingly vital for property professionals around the globe, as data-driven decision making and developments in technology continue to accelerate the rate of change within the industry.

As data entry and repetitive tasks are increasingly automated, the role of the property manager will also evolve to focus on human skills that cannot be automated for firms to continue to provide value to clients. “Interpersonal skills, professional skills, advisory skills; technology cannot replace these,” argued Clint Kissoon, Academic Chair at George Brown College.

As algorithms become more sophisticated, questions around how to regulate them also become more difficult to answer. What standard are we holding the machines accountable to? How should we assess the quality of the decision-making process? What information has the decision been based on? How has that information been interpreted? It is part of the role of a professional to start engaging with these questions, “the role of standards and being a professional is becoming more and more important,” stated John Hughes, Partner at Hemson Consulting and RICS President.

Advancement in technology will reshape the market, putting increased emphasis on the adoption of standards to ensure any data collected is applied according to good judgement and industry ethics.

“Real Estate is a good place to work…. to continue to attract the best talent, we need to be the best industry to work in, it’s about standards, experience, fellowship and professionalism… and we have to show people that there is a future,” added Bob Courteau, CEO at Altus Group.

Many of the areas covered during these roundtables are set to be debated further at the RICS Digital Built Environment Conference 2018 on 21 June in London. Key topics include collaborative approaches to BIM, using data to improve the maintenance and operation of buildings, and the potential of smart infrastructure and buildings in reducing lifecycle costs. View the full programme and speaker line up at: rics.org/digitalconference

RICS has also launched a Technology Affiliate Program to increase awareness and adoption of technology in the Real Estate and Built Environment sectors. To find out more, visit rics.org/tap.

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RIBA calls Hackitt review into question

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has called into question the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, led by Dame Judith Hackitt.

The RIBA Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety – established in response to the tragic Grenfell Tower fire last June – has urged the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, to take into consideration its own recommendations ahead of the final report’s publishing next month.

In a letter addressing Mr Javid, RIBA welcomed Dame Judith’s interim report which called for “clearer definition and allocation of statutory duties, increased independent oversight of construction quality and better building control enforcement”. But the institute went on to raise serious concerns – core changes that would prohibit flammable cladding, make sprinkler systems mandatory and ensure a second means of escape for high rise residential buildings were not addressed in any meaningful way.

Consequently, RIBA has made four key recommendations for baseline prescriptive requirements which will give greater clarity to professionals and better protect the general public:

1. External walls of buildings over 18 metres in height must be constructed of non-combustible (European class A1) materials only.
2. More than one means of vertical escape for new multiple occupancy residential buildings over 11 metres high, consistent with the current regulations for commercial buildings.
3. The retrofitting of sprinklers or automatic fire suppression systems to existing residential buildings standing 18 metres above ground level as “consequential improvements” where an existing building is subject to ‘material alterations’.
4. Sprinklers or automatic fire suppression systems in all new and converted residential buildings, as currently required under Regulations 37A and 37B of the Building Regulations for Wales.

Immediate Past President of RIBA and Chair of the institute’s Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety, Jane Duncan was on-hand to explain more: “RIBA has engaged closely with Dame Judith and her review and we welcome many of the suggestions made in her interim report to strengthen the building control system. However, we fear that the current set of proposals under consideration overlook simple but critical changes that would provide clarity for professionals and most importantly, would help protect the public.

“Sprinklers, a second means of escape and a ban on flammable cladding for high rise residential buildings are common-sense recommendations, and a basic requirement in many other countries. We have written to the Secretary of State making clear that there must be a thorough re-writing of the building regulations and guidance on all aspects of fire safety, to avoid continuation of the regulatory failings that lead to the Grenfell Tower fire.”

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The future is digital

Propelled by the BIM mandate, technology within construction is taking leaps and bounds into the future. With construction traditionally seen as a slow moving beast, it’s evolution since the introduction of digital technology has been rapid, with companies seeing the benefit of investing in these emerging technologies.

Mott MacDonald is a leader in the sector and keen to enhance the digitisation of construction where it can be.

We spoke to Mert Yesugey, Senior Project Manager at the company, about the developments in technology and how Mott MacDonald is applying the techniques.

Mott MacDonald is an engineering, management and development consultancy involved in solving some of the world’s most urgent social, environmental and economic challenges. The firm also helps governments and businesses plan, deliver and sustain their strategic goals, responds to humanitarian and natural emergencies and improves people’s lives.

Mert currently leads on the Thames Tideway East project, which won Mott MacDonald’s internal BIM Award in 2016 and Bentley’s Be Inspired Award for BIM Advancements in Project Delivery this year. He has extensive management experience in design delivery and collaborating with both clients and contracting organisations in the global design and build environment. A keen promoter of innovation, Mert’s work on the Thames Tideway digital delivery design project saw him win Mott MacDonald’s internal Group Project Manager of the Year Award for 2017. He also represents the consultancy on i3P, the UK Infrastructure Industry Innovation Platform.

We asked Mert about the developing use of technology in construction.

“Construction has always been reliant upon technology in some way or another,” he says, “whether that be advanced materials, construction vehicles or tunnel boring machines. However, because construction projects take place over such long timescales they carry enough residual risk to mean they rarely drive transformational technology. The pace of technological development in consumer-facing industries is far more rapid.”

What about the newer technologies that are emerging, such as virtual and augmented reality?

“We are using VR on live projects, largely to look at the operational use of infrastructure during the design phase. On Thames Tideway East, this has been with Thames Water’s operations and maintenance teams, while we have also been looking at the end users on a major metro project in Australia. All our work is undertaken with a view to create better outcomes for society, not just looking for ways to streamline the delivery process.”

Such is the take-up and interest in the emerging technology, the company is currently deploying VR facilities across its major global offices, such as London, Singapore, Dubai and New Jersey, as well as a number of others across the globe. In the UK, many teams and offices are adopting the technology in different ways, from dedicated suites in Bristol and Blackburn to more agile deployments within some of the delivery teams.

The investment is a direct response to the reaction of clients, who have been highly receptive to the technologies deployed on projects, explains Mert. While there are often front-end challenges, such as demonstrating measurable benefits and identifying areas to maximise the return on investment, once these are overcome, the company sees significant uptake from clients and increased upskilling of the teams involved. With every new project delivered, these technologies are becoming the norm.

And what are the benefits that are gained from VR and ‘virtual construction’ technologies? 

“When targeted to specific construction challenges, there has been great benefit in demonstrating the feasibility of complicated construction methodologies during design development,” says Mert. “On Thames Tideway East, VR was used to appreciate the scale and complexity of the construction of very large precast concrete sections, which was time dependant. This aided the design development of connection details where access is limited by tidal windows. The key challenge of VR is making sure it is deployed in a timely fashion during the feasibility phase of a project to maximise its benefits.”

And the more it is used, the less it is seen as a gimmick.

“The drive from the consumer market is so much bigger and the level of immersion is far more compelling than it was even a year ago,” adds Mert. “Immersion is not just visualisation. By adding elements such as spatial sounds and temperature changes, the brain is tricked into believing that what it is experiencing is real, to the point where the user is not only seeing the world from the cab of a crane, but feeling what it is like to be the crane driver. The user experiences vertigo, can see but not hear the banksman. This true sense of reality ultimately generates far more value to the overall outcome than a 3D model on a screen can.”

The adoption of these new technologies is going hand in hand with the development of BIM and the ability to run at higher levels, he says. “Immersive technologies offer a much more intuitive and natural way to interact with information and digital assets than computer monitors and drawings. The opportunities for enhanced engagement with non-engineering stakeholders is clearly a vector for the demand for BIM from infrastructure owners and operators. It provides a much more tangible and impactful way to demonstrate and deliver the value of BIM to ultimate end users.”

By embracing the BIM Mandate, both consultants and contractors are able to forge ahead with the digitisation of construction.

Mert continued: “This is typical of the wider digital transformation effort, however, and adoption of new technologies is just one indicator of innovative and future-facing businesses. I don’t think we require a separate, concerted effort to cause a wholesale shift in culture across the supply chain, market forces will see to that.”

And it’s not just the larger companies that should be pursuing this integration.

“SMEs and smaller businesses are well placed to embrace VR and AR, ” he says. “The nature of their leadership and smaller breadth of internal communications can allow rapid adoption, should their leadership choose to embrace it. The cost of equipment is also dropping rapidly, which, combined with the democratisation of software, is removing barriers to entry. At the same time, these organisations are potentially limited in wider application by their own boundaries. However, SMEs and smaller businesses can work with organisations such as Mott MacDonald to understand the benefits and help each other progress. As a larger organisation, Mott MacDonald can operate at different speeds, making sure projects are successfully delivered to standard processes while at the same time innovating by utilising new technologies on a global scale to maximise adoption and boost the expertise of staff.”

And not only are the pre-construction stages benefiting from the development of technologies. Sensor technology is starting to come into play, giving facilities managers and engineers information that would not be available otherwise.

Mert agreed: “I think there is still great potential in sensor technology. Our industry has a long way to catch up compared to others when it comes to collecting data and I feel that this is preventing productivity from being improved when delivering built infrastructure. As designers, we get limited feedback from the actual assets we have designed and built. However, there is great potential in sensor technology to provide us with the appropriate data to improve the way we design, build and operate. I would like to think that one day, our designs will be based on real-world data rather than empirical and dated design codes and standards.”

When talking about the digitisation of construction, it is impossible to avoid mentioning the BIM mandate. Whether the mandate has been successful can be determined by the steps the industry is taking, rather than the full adoption of higher levels.

Mert explains: “Was the BIM Mandate successful? It depends on how you view success. If it means that we are now using BIM level 2 by default throughout the value chain, that all three million people in the UK construction industry are fluent with BIM ways of working and that we are seeing the step change in efficiency that was hoped for, then it hasn’t been wholly successful. However, if it is viewed as the UK construction industry taking meaningful steps towards a more progressive, digital future and is leading the world in the adoption of a structured approach to information management through the delivery of capital projects, then I think it has been very successful.”

The government is pushing for higher levels across all public sector projects, whether this will further drive the change remains to be seen.

“Change is most effective when there is a compelling need for it,” says Mert. “Sharing positive stories about real savings that have been achieved will certainly help. However, perhaps there also needs to be a stick to follow on from the carrot for those not making the necessary changes.”

“We have all the technologies we need to make BIM level 2 a reality,” he continued, “it is the mindsets and behaviours we lack. There could certainly be improvements in the way the leading software providers’ products interact with each other, but this should not prevent us from making significant progress with the technology that is already available. For SMEs such as product manufacturers, there is a burning need for industry-wide product data templates so that they can provide the same information to each client. There also needs to be a consensus on a realistic amount of graphical detail that is needed so that their products are adequately represented spatially. But again, these are not technological barriers.”

The benefits of BIM to the design process are well known, with 3D models allowing for supreme optioneering, which streamlines the delivery process and brings efficiency savings in materials, time and costs to the construction process. However, project-centric BIM can only go so far as the majority of an asset’s costs fall within its operational life.

Mert explained: “Asset lifecycle information management sees the physical, operational asset complemented by active management of information-rich models. This virtual asset uses intelligent data to streamline maintenance and optimise performance.”

He concluded: “The future is smart infrastructure. Assets are interconnected to each other and all other information sources, everything from social media and ticketing data to weather forecasts and traffic information, to optimise the performance of all infrastructure for the benefit of the ultimate customers.”

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Cost of construction materials on the rise, says FMB

New research conducted by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has revealed that the majority of construction SMEs feel rising material prices are putting the squeeze on their profits, and now the consumer is feeling the pinch.

The FMB surveyed the nation’s small and medium-sized builders to find out which materials were in shortest supply and which had the longest wait times.

The findings were quite astonishing. Bricks – that most basic of building materials – were gold dust, with some SMEs reporting a wait of over one year. Roof tiles came next, with a six month waiting period recorded in some parts, while insulation followed suit in third – the longest delay here being four months.

SME builders were also asked by what percentage material prices had risen over the past 12 months. On average:

• Insulation increased by 16%;
• Bricks increased by 9%;
• Timber increased by 8%;
• Roof tiles increased by 8%;
• Slate increased by 8%;
• Windows increased by 7%;
• Blocks increased by 7%;
• Plasterboard increased by 7%;
• Boilers increased by 7%;
• Porcelain products increased by 6%.

Crucially, this increase has put the squeeze on more than half of all construction SMEs (56%) surveyed and pressured 49% to pass the burden on to their clients, making building projects all the more expensive for consumers. Worse still, almost one fifth (17%) of SME builders reported losses on their building projects due to material price increases. This has gone up from one in ten since July 2017.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, had this to say: “Material prices have rocketed over the past year. The reason for this could include the impact of the depreciation of sterling following the EU referendum still feeding through. High demand due to buoyant international markets could also be contributing to price increases. What’s particularly worrying is that when prices have increased mid-project, almost one fifth of builders have absorbed the increase and therefore made a loss.”

Berry concluded: “We are calling on builders merchants to give their customers as much advance warning of forthcoming material prices increases or wait times as possible so that firms can warn their customers and plan ahead. We are also advising builders to price jobs and draft contracts with these material price rises in mind.”

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Transporting infrastructure

When George Osborne set out his plan to create a Northern Powerhouse back in 2014, the former Chancellor identified four “ingredients that would transform the Northern economy: transport, devolution, innovation and culture”. Today we can see that there has been progress with three of these elements, says Hiro Aso at Gensler.

City-region mayors have been appointed in Greater Manchester and Liverpool, allowing these cities more autonomy in their future. And last year saw Hull enjoy huge success as the UK’s Capital of Culture, thanks to significant investment from central Government. But without question, it is transport infrastructure that will have the most transformational impact on the Northern economy. Northern England has a population of over 15 million – more than Greater London. It contains five of the UK’s ten largest cities, and contributes 20% of UK GDP.

Earlier this year Transport for the North (TfN), the organisation formed to transform the transport system across the North of England and provide the infrastructure needed to drive economic growth, published a draft investment plan for public consultation. This 30-year plan is the first of its kind and outlines how transport connections across the North of England need to be transformed by 2050 to drive growth and close the economic gap between the North and the rest of England.

These plans are ambitious, and include a new rail line between Liverpool and the HS2 Manchester Spur via Warrington; upgrades to the lines to Hull from Leeds and Sheffield; investment at Newcastle, York and Manchester Piccadilly stations to boost capacity; improvements to the A590 and A595; and work on the M53 junctions 5 to 11.

Without substantial investment in transport and transport infrastructure, there can be no Northern Powerhouse. And that means major investment not just in HS2 but in a transport system that will transform connectivity between the key cities in the north: Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Liverpool and Hull.

As well as HS2, which will connect Manchester and Leeds to the south, regional leaders in the north are recommending Northern Powerhouse Rail to improve east-west connections across the North, cutting journey times between Manchester and Bradford to 20 minutes and bringing 10 million people within a two-hour train journey of Manchester Airport. This, they say, will deliver an economic benefit to the north of up to £100Bn.

While I applaud these plans, I believe that making the Northern Powerhouse a reality is going to require more than faster trains. As well as connectivity, it is a culture of collaboration, rather than competition, that will be needed between the cities of the north but also between the several departments and sectors involved with NPH – including Transport and Energy, Housing and Manufacture, Education and Business. The question then is who will oversee a balanced, co-ordinated NPH strategy?

Whilst key supporters and stakeholders recognise that a united North of England is vital, with the cities working together to develop a robust regional economy, each city also needs to establish its unique position in the market. This vital piece of the puzzle is unlikely to be a priority for central government; Northern cities will need to create their own identity and cultural legacy, engaging the business community and unlocking the economic potential (estimated at over £1Bn) that exists.

If we are serious about investing in the North, it is essential to agree that connectivity is needed to deliver the economic plan – the cities need to connect and collaborate with each other physically, economically and culturally in order to comprise a true Northern Powerhouse, with a dynamic infrastructure existing alongside the development of culture, science and skills.

In the key Northern cities of Leeds, York and Manchester, Gensler, along with other architects, designers and engineers, is working to address these questions. We’ve seen first-hand that when foreign investors look to the Northern Powerhouse, they are not only interested in investing in a city with genuine potential to grow, but also in cities that embrace the essential elements of a vibrant community—connected, resilient, inspiring and healthy. Social and transport connectivity need to be of equal standing in a city’s infrastructural agenda, producing buoyant cities that are inspiring and healthy for all.

For this to be successful, we need to ensure that the transit authority, the local governing jurisdictions and private developers are all aligned. Vision and leadership will be essential to fully address long-term regional growth trends and needs that should be achievable through genuine collaboration.

While there is still uncertainty as to how the UK, will fare post Brexit, what is certain is that we need to ensure that each of our key cities in the North is as strong economically and culturally as they can be, working in collaboration with each to create what will indeed be a Powerhouse of the north. A strong central strategy will help overcome this uncertainly and send an emphatic message that the Northern powerhouse is not just a concept but a reality that we will celebrate.

Hiro Aso is a leading UK-based specialist in the architectural design and delivery of regenerative transport hubs, with more than 20 years of experience. He has led major railway infrastructure projects in the UK, most notably as lead architect overseeing the multi-award winning redevelopment of London King’s Cross Station for Network Rail and Crossrail Bond Street.

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£2Bn Housing JV for Hertfordshire

Morgan Sindall and Hertfordshire County Council have agreed to form a joint venture Property Development Partnership, which will provide much needed homes across the county.

Working together, the council’s own property company, Herts Living Ltd and Morgan Sindall Investments’ subsidiary, Community Solutions for Regeneration (Hertfordshire) Limited (‘CSRH’), will form a 50:50 partnership, to be formally known as Chalkdene Developments.

The JV will drive the construction of new housing-led developments built on the Council’s surplus land, specifically 12 locations which have already been identified. Once developed, these sites will provide more than 500 properties, capacity has been established, through the OJEU procurement process to extend this to approximately 40 sites with a gross development value of up to £2Bn.

The partnership will benefit from working with other companies within the Morgan Sindall Group to enable it to deliver the works at pace. These include the Group’s partnership homes developer, Lovell, and its Construction and Infrastructure division.

The partnership agreement between Herts Living Ltd and CSRH is for 15 years, with the option to extend to a further five, and has the potential to deliver schemes under the Government’s One Public Estate initiative and on behalf of other public sector authorities in addition to Hertfordshire County Council.

John Morgan, Chief Executive of Morgan Sindall Group, said: “This win demonstrates the potential for our Investments division to become a meaningful contributor to Group profits. It also reflects our ability to leverage our diversified portfolio of businesses to offer our partners and customers a comprehensive solution spanning strategic partnerships and project delivery. “We understand how important the development of new housing is for Hertfordshire and are excited to have the opportunity to work with Herts Living in achieving the Council’s vision.”

Steve Faber, managing director of Herts Living, said: “We are delighted to be working with Morgan Sindall Investments to deliver new, high quality, sustainable houses that will help the county to meet the needs of its growing population, reduce the housing shortage and provide much needed social housing and community assets. Doing this will also release significant capital over the long term for strategic expenditure and investment.”

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Construction Apprenticeships Working Group

This month saw the first meeting of a new group which will shape the future of construction apprenticeships.

The Construction Apprenticeships Working Group, chaired by Steve Hearty, Director of Apprenticeships at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), met during April to help address future skills requirements in the construction industry.

The groups includes a number of key industry figures from a range of large and SME contractors.

The aim is to support the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), by bringing forward evidence that identifies the industry’s future apprenticeship needs, the barriers to them, and the development of construction apprenticeship standards. It will also work with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Benita Notely, IfA Head of Standards, intended to underpin this new, joined-up approach.

Tony Ellender, group member and Emerging Talent Manager at Balfour Beatty, said: “I am delighted to join this group. It is the perfect opportunity to accelerate the progress of construction apprenticeship standards across the industry.

“After a successful first meeting, I am extremely confident of a clear, consistent, approach to the development of apprenticeships throughout construction leading to more talented individuals joining our sector.”

The inaugural meeting saw the group discuss a number of topics, including:

• Defining what occupations construction employers need from apprenticeships
• Addressing key reasons for failure to complete apprenticeships and/or enter construction
• Grow the proportion of women and Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) undertaking and completing apprenticeships
• Ensure provision is available in the occupations and locations where it’s needed.

CITB’s Steve Hearty, said: “Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of the construction industry. It is vital that the right training is in place to produce the highly-skilled workforce required, and help encourage more talented people from all backgrounds into construction.

“Our first meeting was highly constructive and demonstrated the strategic approach that we will be taking to apprenticeship standards going forward. This talented and capable group is well equipped to deliver the outcomes industry needs.”

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UKIS 2018: Building the future of infrastructure

Official Media Partner

The buzz was all about collaboration at this year’s UK Infrastructure Show.

 

 

Following a successful inaugural year in 2017, the UK Infrastructure Show was back at the NEC, providing a comprehensive overview of the infrastructure projects and commitments in the UK today.

With more than 1,000 delegates attending, 50 companies exhibiting, and talks from some of the key people in infrastructure, the event represented the best in UK infrastructure today.

Delegates had the opportunity to engage directly with some of the largest infrastructure projects ongoing in the UK, such as Tideway – the super sewer across the Thames, and HS2 – the biggest infrastructure project in Europe, as well as housing providers, local authorities and procurement specialists.

While training zones provided comprehensive advice to delegates, bringing buyers and suppliers together, led by CompeteFor, PASS, tracker, Delta eSourcing and Supply2Gov.

The show was divided into three zones, representing the key areas in infrastructure: Moving, Housing and Powering. Each zone was packed throughout the day with delegates keen to learn the latest in procurement and supply chain advice and opportunities available. It was fascinating to see the overarching reach of infrastructure from utilities, and roads, to networks, skills and business.

With the Government confirming a £600Bn pipeline of public and private infrastructure investment over the next ten years, the sector is buzzing. And speakers talking at the show were keen to highlight that it’s not just investment in infrastructure projects that is happening, but a massive amount of effort is also being driven into developing the people who will design, build and run these projects.

With major transformations ongoing and more funding and investment in the pipeline, industry confidence has been boosted and this was reflected in the atmosphere at the show.

One major theme was the longevity of infrastructure, and the need to ensure what we are building today is not only suitable for the future, but adaptable and agile enough to remain useful for future generations.

The insights offered by the high-level speakers were invaluable for any business looking to succeed in the infrastructure pipeline.

Keith Waller, Commercial Advisor at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, set the tone for the show, with a speech about how government is helping the industry shape itself, through the Transforming Infrastructure Performance Plan. By setting out broad long-term strategies for infrastructure investment, the government will help the sector plan for long term change, delivering better outcomes by focussing on efficiencies in procurement and delivery.

The skills agenda also made up some interesting talking points throughout the day, with visitors, exhibitors, and speakers all highlighting the need to invest in skills training, and retaining talented youth.

The devolution of power and decision-making to individual regions led to some lively conversations, with lots of talk about opportunities across the UK. UK regions were well represented at the show, with Wylfa Newydd Power Station in Wales, the West Midlands Combined Authority, Transport for the North and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, all having a significant presence at the show, as well as Enterprise Ireland.

The Midlands was well represented, appropriately enough with the show being hosted by the NEC, as it is proving to be a hub for infrastructure. The development of HS2 is obviously a large factor in this, but it was great to see the Midlands Engine, Midlands Connect and WMCA, all expounding the benefits of the Midlands.

Not to let the Midlands take all the glory, the North continued to show its strong presence, with Transport for the North and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership represented in talks in both the Keynote arena and Moving Zones.

The keynote arena was chaired by Abigaile Bromfield, Associate Director at Arup, who has worked on some major growth and infrastructure plans and strategies, such as UK Central Hub and Solihull HS2 interchange station, as well as supporting delivery of consents for major housing, regeneration sites and infrastructure for a variety of national schemes.

She spoke about the critical part infrastructure plays in shaping society, how it is the foundation on which our economy is built.

The enthusiasm for infrastructure development came across from the keynote speakers, the energy with which they spoke drove lively Q&A sessions and conversations around the exhibition hall.

A central theme was the need to work together across the industry to deliver transformation within the sector, both in productivity and technology. And having witnessed the infrastructure sector in action, there is certainly a determination to make this happen.

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Steady rise for house prices

The latest House Price Index has been published, revealing data for house prices across the UK.

February’s data shows that house prices are maintaining steady growth, with the annual figures showing a 4.4% rise, bringing the value of the average property in the UK to £225,047. This is down from 4.7% in the year to January 2018.

Overall, the rate of growth has slowed over the last two years, coming in under 5%. This has been mainly driven by the fall in London prices, which have decreased by 1% over the year.

Across England’s regions, the West Midlands showed the highest annual growth, with prices increasing by 7.3% in the year to February 2018. While the lowest annual growth was in London, with 1% registering as the lowest annual growth in London since September 2009 when it was negative 3.2%.

In England, the February data shows on average, house prices have risen by 0.2% since January 2018, with an annual price rise of 4.1%. The North East experienced the greatest monthly price rise, up by 3.1%, with London experiencing the most significant monthly price fall, down by 2.1%.

Sales of homes have fallen since December, with the latest HM Land Registry figures available for England showing a drop of 21.2% (62,697 sales compared with 79,605 in December 2016).

 

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£74M investment for Ebbsfleet Garden City

Homes England has secured an investment deal to accelerate the development of more than 5,000 homes at Ebbsfleet Garden City.

The £74M deal will unlock the next phase of development at the new Garden City in Kent, by funding a range of infrastructure works that include earthworks to fill in a lake to prepare the land for the development.

The infrastructure works will unlock 657 acres of land, allowing almost a third of the total Ebbsfleet Garden City houses to go forward, as well as around 180,000sq ft of commercial development.

Homes England supported the enabling works through a loan deal to Henley Camland, who recently purchased the Eastern Quarry site from Landsec, simultaneously agreeing land deals for 2,900 homes to be developed. Some 2,600 of these homes will be delivered by Countryside Properties and Clarion Housing Group in a new joint venture, with Barratt Homes building the remaining 300 homes, as a direct result of the works funded by Homes England.

The deal is one of the largest made by Homes England’s in the past 12 months, with the funds coming through the Home Building Fund (HBF). The HBF helps unlock or accelerate the delivery of residential and mixed-use housing developments through both development loans and loan funding for the infrastructure needed to prepare land for development.

Nick Walkley, Chief Executive of Homes England, said: “At Homes England we’re using our land, finance and expertise to speed up the delivery of new homes. The vital infrastructure works that we’re funding in Ebbsfleet will bring forward the development of many new homes by around four years overall and, importantly, will mean many more homes can be built in the earlier phases of the development as a result of our support with the significant infrastructure costs.”

The HBF loan will also mean other important services to support the housing development, such as a new secondary school, can be delivered much sooner than would have been. A ‘fast track’ route through the site connecting Bluewater to Ebbsfleet International Station will also be created.

Ian Piper, Chief Executive of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation who oversee Ebbsfleet Garden City, said: “This from Homes England, when combined with the investments already made by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation in key utilities infrastructure, is key to delivering the new homes that are required to create our vision for the Garden City. It is a good example of public bodies working together to deliver great places”.

 

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Dave Ingram joins Donseed as new Chief Operating Officer

Biometric workplace management specialists Donseed have appointed Dave Ingram, former Managed Service Director for Maintel, as Chief Operating Officer.

Dave brings over 25 years’ experience of working in the communications and IT industry and a wealth of leadership experience. He will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the business and will be based out of the Donseed HQ’s in Birmingham.

Following his graduation from The University of Plymouth and the completion of a British Rail Management training scheme, Dave was launched into a career of managing technology-focusing teams. His previous roles include Operations Director at TTML, Head of Technical Operations at Weston Convergence and, more recently, the Managed Service Director for Maintel – an AIM listed technology company delivering complex solutions and high levels of customer service for Blue Chip organisations.

As a senior member of the leadership team, Dave helped grow Maintel to become a £140 million turnover business with over 500 employees through acquisition and diversifying into new technologies.

Ollie McGovern, Chief Executive Officer at Donseed, said: “We are delighted that Dave has joined Donseed. His experience will be of considerable value as we shape our future strategy. He has great knowledge in the technology space and has been the driving force behind the success of operations in each of his previous roles. Dave has joined us at an exciting time.”

Speaking about his appointment, Dave said: “I am looking forward to taking the business to new levels of customer service and innovation and helping Donseed drive forward the digitisation of the construction industry. Donseed is a leader in the biometrics field and heading up the next stage of evolution of the Donseed software is a challenge I am looking forward to.”

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Regeneration Brainery

Homes England has joined property developers CAPITAL&CENTRIC to launch a pioneering programme to encourage diversity in regeneration.

Regeneration Brainery is an immersive experience that pairs 16-21-year-olds with well-known mentors from across the industry. The scheme is designed to inspire a new, diverse generation of young people into property and regeneration, with Homes England a trustee.

The project has been launched following a successful pilot last summer, with the first week-long Brainery taking place in Manchester this Easter. It will be followed by two further events in other city centre locations later this year.

The Brainery is completely free for young people to take part and features a mix of visits to construction sites; interactive workshops; visits to workplaces; and practical tips and skills to get ahead in the industry. It is part of a drive to challenge perceptions of regeneration, promoting people from a diverse array of backgrounds to play a role in shaping our towns and cities.

The Regeneration Brainery is the brainchild of CAPITAL&CENTRIC and it is hoped it will become a blueprint for encouraging ambitious young people into other industries across the UK, in turn creating inclusive communities.

Mentors include property developers; investors; local authority figures including Chief Executives; project managers; agents; planners; designers; architects; and marketers.

Nick Walkley, Chief Executive of Homes England, said: “Creating vibrant new places and providing quality homes for people should be hugely inspiring career choices. Unfortunately, the opposite is true and as an industry we’re really struggling to attract young people to replace those who are retiring in the next few years. The housing crisis is as much a skills crisis.

“So, we need to work much harder and smarter to change perceptions of our industry and show how we’re making it more diverse, more modern and more progressive for young people who want to build a career while contributing to society.

“I’m determined that the new Homes England will show real leadership on these issues, so we didn’t hesitate to support the Regeneration Brainery, which is a brilliant, innovative scheme with real potential.”

Tim Heatley, co-founder of CAPITAL&CENTRIC said: “If we’re to going to push the boundaries of how our cities and towns grow in the future, we need new ideas and creative thinkers. The launch of the Regeneration Brainery is timely, given the ongoing conversations about equality and diversity across almost every industry in the UK – especially property. There’s a lot of people accepting there’s a challenge, but few practical ideas of how to bring about change.

“For me, widening the pool of talent coming into the industry is essential. Doing so will bring fresh experiences; viewpoints; ideas and solutions. It’ll mean our built environments start to better reflect the people living in their communities – and that’s to be championed.

“We’re chuffed Homes England are our first trustee. The Brainery is a practical way to fire up young people to aspiring to a career in regeneration.”

 

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