Transformed Liverpool Lime Street station reopens

Rail services to and from Liverpool Lime Street station have resumed following a comprehensive eight-week improvement programme.

Worth a whopping £140 million, the transformation of Liverpool Lime Street forms part of the wider Great North Rail Project, which Network Rail says will revolutionise public transport across the North via a raft of track and train improvements. For commuters, this means an additional three services per hour, with new direct services to Scotland.

The most noticeable improvements can be found on the platforms themselves however. Each has been remodelled with many lengthened or widened to accommodate longer trains and greater passenger frequency. Two new platforms, built in 2017 during the initial phase, have also been commissioned.

Elsewhere, almost three kilometres of track surrounding the station have been overhauled and the entire layout has been reconfigured to allow more services to run reliably. Improvements to the signalling and overhead line equipment have also been completed, while signalling control has now moved to the centrally-operated Manchester Rail Operating Centre, meaning more reliable journeys for passengers and faster decision making to reduce delays.

According to Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s London North Western Route Managing Director: “The transformation of Liverpool Lime Street is the station’s biggest upgrade since the 19th century. We’ve remodelled station platforms, making them wider and longer to make room for longer trains and more passengers. An extensive signalling upgrade also allows us to run more trains, more reliably.

 “This vital upgrade is part of £340 million of improvements across the Liverpool City Region and sits within the wider Great North Rail Project. This work will bring significant improvements for train customers for generations to come.”

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling added: “Liverpool Lime Street passengers can now take advantage of new platforms, longer trains, more services and more seats thanks to this upgrade.

“Passengers are at the very heart of every decision we make and this is just one part of a huge investment across the north. This includes £3 billion on the Transpennine upgrade, all Northern and TransPennine Express trains being replaced or refurbished, more than £1 billion in improvements on other parts of the northern network and up to £780 million investment on the East Coast Main line.”

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New Housing Minister visits Medway following planning reforms

New Housing Minister Kit Malthouse has visited the Rochester Riverside development in Medway as the government attempts to future-proof the UK housing market.

Having announced a raft of planning reforms late last month, Malthouse toured the Medway residential development to meet with apprentices and experience first-hand how the build is helping to sustain the local economy. Since 2018, 400 of the 1,400 homes proposed have been built at Rochester Riverside, with Countryside Properties working in partnership with joint landowners Medway Council and Homes England.

“There are few missions more important than building more homes in the places that desperately need them,” said Malthouse. “Rochester Riverside is a great example of high quality, well designed homes with the infrastructure needed to create thriving communities that people want to live in. This is exactly what is at the heart of our new planning rule book which will help to deliver the 300,000 homes a year by the mid 2020s.”

Councillor Alan Jarrett, Leader of Medway Council, added: “We were delighted to welcome the new Minster of State for Housing, Kit Malthouse, to Medway and show him our flagship regeneration site, Rochester Riverside. Here we are undergoing a monumental regeneration programme and delivering developments across our five towns to provide new opportunities and growth for all our residents.”

Malthouse’s visit followed the launch of the National Planning Policy Framework, which outlined new requirements for the delivery of high quality homes. Communities are to be given a greater say over development proposals and tougher environmental protections are to be put in place to better safeguard wildlife and air quality nationwide.

Following on from the 217,000 homes built last year – the biggest increase in housing across England for almost a decade – the government has also reiterated its ambition to achieve 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s.

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First phase of works now complete at Worthy Down

Military personnel from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army are taking advantage of the new facilities at Worthy Down as the first phase of construction is completed.

The new facilities at Worthy Down provide a single location for training and operations, to meet the combined needs of Princess Royal Barracks, HMS Raleigh and RAF Halton. The college, recreational space and accommodation are among the first phase of completed works.

Skanska and Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) have provided the Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration with a 154-seat lecture theatre, 60 brand new homes for military people and their families, 755 single-bed spaces in six new blocks and a 358 seat canteen.

The site’s new, larger water tank holds 324,000 litres, while More than 15,000 metres of pipes and cables have been installed underground on site to accommodate current and future power, water and drainage needs. New energy-efficient boilers for the camp will also produce enough heat to meet all current and potential future requirements.

Building Worthy Down is one part of a two-part scheme for the DIO called Project Wellesley. The second is the development of a new community called Mindenhurst, in Deepcut, Surrey, where the MOD is vacating Princess Royal Barracks. Combined, the two parts will help the MOD to rationalise its estate and improve its training provision and living quarters.

Matthew Richardson, DIO Principal Project Manager, said: “DIO supports service personnel by providing and improving single living and service family accommodation so we’re pleased to be working with Skanska to deliver these facilities. Once the new facilities are complete it will enable the MOD to train personnel more efficiently and effectively so that they can provide the best possible support for military operations.”

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What the Hackitt report means for contractors

June marked the one-year anniversary of the great tragedy at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, London and it rightly remains the talk of the construction industry.

Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the government commissioned an independent review of building regulations and fire safety which sought to make recommendations on a future regulatory system. This independent review of Building Regulations and Fire safety; which has been piloted by the former chair of UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Dame Judith Hackitt, is of course central to these discussions. In December 2017, Dame Hackitt produced her report on how the regulatory system covering high rise and complex buildings was not fit for purpose. Since then she has considered further evidence which demonstrates further – deeply concerning – flaws in the current system. These flaws have been highlighted in her more recent report; ‘Building a Safer Future – Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: Final Report, May 2018.’

In this article, we speak with Arianne King, managing partner, Al Bawardi Critchlow, about what the report means for contractors.

The May report should be an eye-opener to those involved in the planning and construction of buildings and contains several recommendations that will impact the way buildings are designed, built, managed and regulated:

Clearer responsibilities

The report advocates that there should “be a clear model of risk ownership,” with clear responsibilities for the client, designer, contractor and owner to demonstrate the delivery and maintenance of safe buildings.

Ideally, there should be one allocated person who is accountable for safety measures and precautions and a point of contact for the residents of the building. This would prevent contractors from being able to place blame on other contractors or subcontractors.

There can be no more passing the buck.

Improved relations with the residents

Hackitt expressed how important it is that residents feel that their voices are being heard. Not only must any new regulatory framework clarify the roles and responsibilities of the various contractors involved in servicing the building, this information must be adequately communicated to the residents.

Residents should further be given a clear, quick and effective statutory route for raising concerns on fire safety.

Stricter penalties

The report also states that the new regulatory framework should be ‘simpler and more effective,’ leaving no room for error. In particular, she proposes stricter penalties for those who fail to comply with the standards which fall within the framework.

Such penalties would replicate the full range of penalties assigned in the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Better documentation

Hackitt discusses the importance of documentary evidence, which must be produced throughout the life-cycle of a building, to provide both assurance and evidence the building has been built safely and is fit for purpose.

It is crucial that contractors do not throw away any paperwork relating to the building project.  The culture of mismanaging paperwork will need to come to an end.

More rigorous testing

Hackitt found the current process for testing and ‘certifying’ products to be overly complex, calling for an overhaul of the way products are classified and tested, in order to make the process transparent and efficient.

Interestingly, she did not object to the future use of combustible cladding on high-rise buildings, such as that installed at Grenfell. Nevertheless, when choosing materials for buildings, contractors should make their own carefully considered and informed decisions on whether certain materials are worth the risk.

New authorities to answer to

Dame Hackitt also proposes a Joint Competent Authority (comprising Local Authority Building Standards, fire and rescue authorities and the Health and Safety Executive) to oversee better management of safety risks in high-risk residential buildings. Her recommendation appears to be aimed at buildings above ten storeys, however, there is no reason why duty holders of buildings below this height should not adopt the same guidelines and regulatory framework.

The Hackitt Report notes that the new regulatory framework, “must have real teeth, so that it can drive the right behaviours.” Dame Hackitt has expressly stated that penalties could include unlimited fines and even imprisonment. Consequently, the Hackitt Report heralds a radical change in accountability for and enforcement of building regulations and fire safety. Contractors must be prepared to adhere to a higher standard of planning and construction, and to be subject to far stricter enforcement of building regulations and penalties.

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Keep British workers safe

With the UK currently processing how to exit the European Union, safety organisations are calling for clarity on Health & Safety laws to protect workers.

Recent figures have shown that work related fatalities rose in the last year, from 135 to 144 during 2017-18, as reported by the HSE.

The British Safety Council has pledged to campaign more vigorously for safe and healthy workplaces, and protect workers.

“This increase in workplace deaths may be the first sign of the effect of years of budget austerity, although the government cuts to health and safety investment have been taking a while to impact on workers.” said Lawrence Waterman, Chairman of the British Safety Council.

He continued: “Every workplace death is a tragedy for the person and their families, friends and workmates. The latest rise in deaths at work reported by the HSE undermines the complacent belief that ‘we have the best safety record in the world’ and raises questions about the hollowing out of the HSE’s and local authorities’ ability to inspect workplaces. In every aspect of life, you tend to get what you pay for and our government is paying less money and less attention to workplace safety year on year.”

With the largest number of deaths once again occurring in construction (38), the industry must work harder to ensure site safety.The most common causes of fatal injuries were falls from height (35), being struck by moving vehicle (26) and being struck by a moving object (26).

In addition to workplace fatality figures, the HSE also reported alarming statistics of deaths related to mesothelioma, asbestos-related cancer, which is still prevalent some 20 years after the use of asbestos was banned in Britain. In 2016, there were 2,595 mesothelioma deaths and it is also estimated that there was a similar number of deaths due to asbestos-related lung cancer.

Lawrence Waterman commented: “The headline accident figures shouldn’t blind us to the terrible and continuing toll that poor health is wreaking, not just physical health, with deaths from asbestos alone dwarfing the accident numbers. Talk about helping ‘the just about managing’ has done nothing to alleviate growing poverty. Similarly, the pronouncements about mental health haven’t been matched by action. That is why Mates in Mind and similar initiatives are crucial to encourage employers, workers and their trade unions to take practical steps to reduce the causes of mental ill health at work and respond appropriately when it does arise.

“The government is in a state of Brexit paralysis, which is why it is essential that the British Safety Council joins forces with other organisations to achieve our vision of work that doesn’t kill, injure or harm anyone but instead enhances their wellbeing. The fatal accident statistics are a real disappointment after years of improving our performance in the UK. However, instead of being disheartened, we shall campaign even more vigorously to make workplaces more healthy and safe. That is the least we should do as a memorial to the 144 people who died last year.”

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Drone industry forecasts are wrong

Forecasts for the drone industry are wrong, according to Robert Garbett Founder and Chief Executive of Drone Major Group Ltd, the UK’s first global trade organisation for the drone industry.

Mr Garbett made the statement as he delivered the keynote speech at the Drone World Congress in Shenzhen, China, one of the world’s leading forums for the drone industry.

Mr Garbett said: “leading accountancy firm PwC, forecast that the drone industry in the UK alone would be worth £42Bn by 2030… but they were wrong. And two years ago, top banking firm Goldman Sachs said the world’s drone industry would be worth $100Bn by 2020… they were wrong… it will be much, much more… because the opportunities are far greater than this, since such projections are based purely on an analysis which focuses only on the air industry…And we must define the entire drone industry as covering surface, underwater, air and space. So many members of the public simply do not realise the full spectrum of this amazing revolutionary industry. My company, and the British Standards Institution (BSI), define a drone as any vehicle, ship, aircraft, or hybrid system which is remotely or autonomously controlled.”

“This includes autonomous vehicles, pilotless aircraft, satellites, space craft, underwater ROVs, marine surface vehicles and most excitingly of all, hybrid systems which are increasingly breaking down environmental barriers by operating seamlessly between land, sea and air or simultaneously in all three. It is therefore clear, that the UAS or air drones, with which we’ve all become familiar, are only one category in a very, varied and exciting industry. So, we should always refer to drones in the wider sense, since to do otherwise will be ignoring the inevitable and ubiquitous future of this industry… The potential is huge!”

Mr Garbett added: “This year, 2018, the worldwide drone industry will be boosted further by new drone standards, due to be released globally for public consultation by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) later this year.”

“I believe the development and adoption of these standards for the drone industry, in the months and years ahead, will lead to a new confidence in safety, security and compliance within this dynamic industry which represents a global phenomenon and a significant opportunity for any country which embraces it.”

“The new Standards will reinforce and deliver the underlying safety and quality principles upon which the drone industry can grow and thrive…energised and empowered to open up new avenues to innovation that we can only begin to imagine.”

“For this reason, we need governments around the world to recognise the importance of the development of this vital business sector, which will have such a positive impact on the global economy, providing particular opportunities for those countries that embrace and enable the growth of this technology.”

“But it is not just governments who have an important role to play in the future growth of this amazing phenomenon of ‘the rise of the drones’… it is all of us… we who are in the drone industry and who have the knowledge and ability to guide and educate the world on the possibilities ahead.”

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Outsourcing for UK Architectural Design Firms

Increased immigration and the subsequent housing needs to accommodate the influx of new residents is a leading concern in the UK. Building design for new structures is required to be practical, fast and cost effective. Leading architects and their teams can benefit significantly from high quality architectural design drafting and architectural CAD services that are delivered on time and at competitive rates.

Following Brexit, the Royal Institute of British Architects, or RIBA, has identified areas of concern for architecture in the UK and possible solutions: to bolster the strength of the architecture sector, to maintain skilled professionals and continue with the free exchange of skills and services. Solutions involve the government focusing on open markets, ensuring the movement of architects and other industry personnel and continuing to recognise skills, services and qualifications of those from outside the UK.

A growing trend in urban architectural design in the UK is the use of homes that are wholly or partially constructed from pods, or modular units. Structural frames, walls and other parts of a building can be made of brick skin or cladding and are transported on site from an off-site factory. This process of prefabrication can be made even more fast and economical by outsourcing CAD design services. Outsourcing CAD drawing services and BIM modelling and prefabrication also ensures that the construction process is less prone to weather delays and skill shortages.

Architectural design has progressed to a level where teams in different places can work on the same model, sharing project data and collaborating. BIM modelling (Building Information Modelling) is a process that enables synchronized coordination, communication, reviews, comments, edits and checks for clashes among all stakeholders of an architectural project. UK design teams can benefit from sources of support that deliver a range of services, such as:

Revit BIM 3D Modelling

Delivering BIM models, drawing construction sets and associated drawings can be effectively done using Revit Architecture. Modifications to schedules, plans, elevations, sections or the model itself result in changes made to all corresponding areas.

Point Cloud 3D BIM Modelling

Laser scans are used to collect point cloud data, which is then used to develop precise Revit BIM models. These Scan-to-BIM models are especially useful for existing structures with no available plans. Alterations, such as false ceilings, can be modelled.

3D Modelling

From just 2D layout plans and elevations, 3D models are created with precision and according to any given specifications.

4D Modelling

To show how a model develops over a certain time period, 3D models are created with time-based scheduling. This is useful to manage resources and budgets.

3D Component Modelling & Revit Family Modelling

Libraries are created for equipment, fixtures, fittings and furniture.

Architectural CAD Drafting

The many stages of a project, such as tender, planning, construction and facility management for commercial, retail and residential projects, can be drafted with Revit Architecture and ArchiCAD.

Retail/Shop Fitting

Space planning, interior design and construction are included while creating construction drawing sets, which consist of plans, elevations and sections.

Rendering

Useful for internal design approvals and reviews, rendering enables the viewing of proposed layouts and for marketing and presentations. Textures, materials, reflections, depth, lighting and other features can be shown in rendered images.

So, why is it better to outsource some of these services?

Well, in a nutshell – savings in time and money, while maintaining high quality.

Architectural design in the UK is moving towards specialisation. For increased productivity and reduced costs, the design has to be precise and accurate. Minor oversights could have major consequences for architecture and housing. Outsourcing drawing, drafting, 3D conversion, BIM modeling or other architecture design services can offer benefits of cost saving, fast delivery and high-quality work.

Design services need well-qualified technical staff, investment in CAD technologies and relevant hardware. Operation costs can be reduced by outsourcing, so that specialised work can be attended to. Salaries and perks for in-house employees can be saved. Up to 60% of architectural costs can be saved by effective resource usage and BIM drafting, some of the services that outsourced companies proffer.

Outsourcing architectural CAD services helps prepare and modify design. Drawings, models, drafts, renders and conversions of paper sketches to detailed design drawings are some of the services outsourced companies can provide. High quality services, photorealistic renders, accurate BIM models and CAD drafting services can be outsourced for residential or commercial projects, so that more time can be channelled into other key areas of construction. Partnering an architectural outsourcing services provider can therefore help reduce costs and save time. Projects can be delivered quickly and with high quality.

Firms that outsource these services can be sure of the technical qualifications of the personnel delivering their services, since offshore companies take great care to retain the best talent.

Architectural design teams in the UK, therefore, will find many benefits if they choose to seek support through outsourcing. Services, such as architectural design drafting and BIM modelling, can be delivered with superior quality, on time and at a fraction of the cost, freeing up time and a larger budget for more efficient, ecofriendly and sustainable design ventures that will ease the load of an increasing population.

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When will the construction industry embrace digital transformation?

Commentators from the construction industry may be wondering what the rest of 2018 will hold for the sector. Q1 was incredibly bumpy – the collapse of Carillion in the first few weeks of January, the Beast from the East and ongoing uncertainties with Brexit meant firms faced unprecedented challenges.

Stanley Chia

Stanley Chia, Senior Vice President for Tungsten Network discusses the situation.

While the latest IHS Markit/CIPS construction figures for April show an uplift, this is perhaps inevitable after the industry’s poor start to the year. The Purchasing Managers Index rose to 52.5 in April, its highest level for five months, having sunk to a 20-month low of 47.0 in March. Anything above 50 indicates a moderate expansion of overall construction output.

Hopefully, housebuilding, commercial building and civil engineering activity will continue to fuel the recovery, but it’s clear there are systemic issues within the sector that hold it back.

Pre-digital methods

While the modern supply chain is entering a new era, too many construction businesses are still using archaic, paper-based invoicing rather than embracing newer, streamlined digital systems. This isn’t just a shame – it has huge consequences. Reliance on paper in the finance department, manually entered data, and countless other dated practices leave too much room for friction in the procure-to-pay process.

After the collapse of Carillion, it was revealed some suppliers were waiting as long as 120 days to receive payment from Carillion, many probably unaware of what stage invoices were at and feeling powerless to fight the late payment contagion. As a result, the government has vowed to implement an urgent crackdown on the late payments crisis, but legislation can only go so far. If construction companies run their back-office operations in an outdated and pre-digital way, productivity will continue to be hampered.

Since 1994, according to the Office for National Statistics, UK output per hour has improved by 60% in the manufacturing industry, 30% in services, but only five per cent in construction.

Why is this? In my opinion, too many construction companies are resisting digital transformation.

Embracing technology to boost business

Research conducted by Tungsten Network, in partnership with Forrester, supports this view. It found that the victors in the digital age will be the companies that best use technology to win, serve, and retain customers. It also found that too often supply chains and procurement practices are not yet optimised to meet the demands of today’s customers.

When asked, both buyers and sellers – regardless of industry – outlined their many shared challenges, including cyber fraud, siloed data, insufficient cash, and legacy technology. These challenges distract from higher priorities, such as customer experience, product and service quality, and – crucially for the construction industry – operational agility.

It’s important to note that construction is not the only industry falling behind. A recent Gartner survey found that only 42 per cent of CEOs have begun digital transformation, while 451 Research’s Voice of the Enterprise Digital Pulse study showed that 60 per cent of organisations have no formal transformation strategy in place.

Despite this, many are feeling the pressure to transform how they run their businesses. PwC’s latest CEO Survey revealed that speed of technological change and cyber threats are among the top ten things CEOs worry about.

So why is it so difficult to bring the digital revolution into an organisation? What is it about new technology that sparks such fear and how can construction bosses buck the trend?

Most probably, it is the fear of the unknown and sometimes simply knowing where to begin. So much attention is given to customer-facing systems and processes and how they can be modernised that areas such as accounts payable, invoicing and supplier monitoring can easily be left behind. All too often a construction firm might update its website without thinking about its back office, paper-based and manual systems. If the goal is an agile and productive business the work must start from within.

A revolution with financial benefits

By moving from a manual invoicing system to an electronic one, businesses stand to save tens of thousands of pounds each year as digitising the payment process reduces the cost of handling invoices by more than 50%. The shift is a major one, however, and one that has to be handled with care.

When companies digitise their payment processes, everyone benefits. Electronic invoicing increases the efficiency, accuracy and productivity of the accounts payable team and it provides real-time data to optimise spending and support the procurement process. It also improves internal controls, reducing the potential for fraud and mistakes. For suppliers, they can have full visibility of their invoice status online, from confirmation of receipt to final payment meaning they no longer have to chase for payment. This strengthens supply chain relationships and helps tackle the late payment epidemic.

The truth is, many businesses are struggling with inadequate processes and it is impacting the bottom line. For businesses to thrive, they need to be properly managed using modern tools and processes that establish accountability, reduce uncertainty, and foster trust through creating a responsible supply chain. If the construction industry is to tackle its very real challenges – productivity and late payment to name just two – it’s time to stop sticking its head in the sand. Instead, firms need to look ahead and focus on removing friction from the construction supply chain by embracing what digital transformation can offer.

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RIBA responds to NPPF

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has responded to the government’s newly revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Initially welcoming the revisions, RIBA is cautious about its implementation and has urged the government to support the industry in achieving its aims.

RIBA President Ben Derbyshire said: “The RIBA’s welcomes the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) by Government yesterday. Time and the fulfillment of these proposals will be the real test for the NPPF. But we are pleased to see commitments to the Climate Change Act, to Garden City principles and that our call for increased transparency in viability tests has been formally incorporated. We will now be urging Government to closely monitor confidentiality exemptions to ensure this is not abused.

“The Government have also highlighted the importance of quality design to address any concerns about the potential impact of higher density development and the importance of well-designed housing generally. The RIBA welcomes this awareness and urges further action on how to design high density homes that are desirable. This includes urging the Government to give planners the resources, tools and power to raise the bar of quality design in the system.

“It is vital that we now ensure these proposals make a real impact on the quality of the built environment. The new NPPF must be accompanied by appropriate guidance for local planning departments on proactive placemaking that delivers sustainable wellbeing as well as aesthetic quality. We will continue to work with the enhanced team now at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and local Government to help get this right.”

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McCann drives environmental improvements

Nottingham-based civil and electrical engineering firm McCann has made a substantial commitment to protecting the environment with the introduction of a fleet of hybrid electric vehicles.

Working on major infrastructure projects nationwide, McCann holds within its fleet a number of company cars and as part of its aim to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

As part of McCann’s environmental objectives and its commitment to FORS, Fleet and Plant Manager Paul King has driven an initiative over the past 18 months to reduce the company’s impact on the environment by introducing hybrid electric vehicles to the company’s fleet of cars.

This new initiative has resulted in 25% of the company’s 66 cars becoming electric hybrid – vastly reducing McCann’s carbon footprint as part of a long-term commitment which will see a further investment in electric hybrids over the coming years.

Speaking about the shift, Paul said: “The world we live in is changing dramatically, with heavy investment in sustainable energy across many different sectors. It’s fantastic to see McCann backing this initiative and taking steps to operate in a way that puts the environment first.”

As well as investing in the cars, the company is installing home charging points for employees – enabling them to charge the car at night and use it for work the following day. The average cost per month for an employee to run an electric car by charging it at home is £30 – significantly cheaper than operating a petrol or diesel equivalent.

Paul continued: “If driven correctly, all of these new cars can travel between 100-150 miles on a single gallon of fuel and a single charge of a car’s batteries can cover 30 miles alone. This means that if an employee lives within a 15 mile radius of work, they can get to and from work without the need to use fossil fuels. It’s great to see McCann making this commitment and as a company we will continue to explore further avenues where we can become greener within our operation moving forward.”

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Play the game or save lives?

Behavioural science is the scientific study of human behaviour and has been used for several decades now to improve performance. The momentum is gathering in the UK as increasing numbers of construction companies are awakening to the huge benefits this scientifically proven discipline can offer their business.

UKCO speak to Bob Cummins, one of the UK’s leading practitioners in behavioural science within health and safety, an author and founder and director of Sodak Limited, based in Edinburgh.

Bob Cummins

Pick your side, are you playing along or are you helping design a better future?

Do you believe that the worker gets injured because they are stupid or are they just trying to do their job and get the task completed for you?

Do you think that giving the worker a patronising talk on how injuries affect their life will drive safer behaviours or do you understand that they didn’t come to work to get injured in the first place?

Do you believe that everything is ok because that box is ticked or are you going to get out there and help the ‘at-risk’ worker do their job without losing a limb or their life?

What kind of safety leader are you? Pick a side.

The majority of the UK’s major construction companies’ health and safety management is sliding down a dangerous path. There are things that we do as an industry that we will look back on in years to come with disbelief. Our children will look at us with disappointment as we recount how we used to try and drive health and safety compliance with threat and coercion instead of compassion and genuine support.

As our species matures, we become less tolerant of practices that cause human suffering. Child labour, slavery and marital rape were all legal in the not so distant past. Health and safety at work has improved because of our recognition that people shouldn’t come to work and be made less healthy or suffer injuries, but we still have a long way to go.
I’m sure you would agree that injuries causing suffering should be prevented in the workplace but most of us lack the ability to delay gratification and ensure workplaces are as injury free as they could be. We have the right intentions but when push comes to shove we will put ourselves and others in a position of risk to get the job done quickly.

We are not great at doing things in the present to benefit our future, what behavioural economists call delayed discounting. This is why there is a need for legislation and policy. Good policy is designed to nudge us to do things in the present that may be slightly more onerous but will benefit us in the future. Pensions are a good example of an enforced rule that takes something away now to allow us to live a better life in the future.

Health and safety is the same. To do the right thing, to plan the job, to carry it out safely, to provide the right equipment, to get the right people, at the right time all take effort in the present for a benefit in the future. The problem is, we don’t live in the future, we live in the present. So, although we understand that saving is good and wearing a dust mask when required is beneficial, we have to give up something in the now for an imagined future that is not entirely certain.

What’s more, we learn that we can get away with ‘risky’ behaviours and achieve what we want in the moment with very little perceptible detriment to our future. This is a future that we aren’t yet experiencing versus a present which we most definitely are. This is why some people still smoke, drink or eat too much despite the obvious health risks. It’s why work causes us to be ill and why we place ourselves in dangerous situations for short-term gain. We are continually trying to achieve things in the moment supported by a society and culture that rewards instant gratification.

The way we manage a lot of health and safety in the workplace ignores this knowledge of basic human functioning. Legislation exists because governments understand that individuals won’t always do the right thing just because they’re asked to. We need to have rules and policies, positive and negative reinforcement. The government doesn’t get it right all the time of course and has recently begun to enlist the help of behavioural experts to help improve policy decisions but they do understand that changing behaviours takes a multi-faceted approach of expectation setting, removal of obstacles, measurement, motivation and feedback.

It takes effort to do the right thing as an individual. Left to my own devices, I am likely to opt for instant gratification over delayed gratification but, as part of a collective, my ‘now’ efforts can be supported by others. I get reinforcement in the present for behaviours that will bring future benefits.

We can recognise, acknowledge and reward ‘now’ effort in others to make the delay of gratification more likely to happen. In our affluent lives, filled with things we don’t need we’re still perfectly programmed for surviving in a hunting and gathering world that no longer exists.

We can help mitigate our outdated programming by creating cultures and social norms that support purposeful behaviours with long-term benefits.

The majority of current health and safety management systems are built around instant gratification. Briefing a worker on what to do and getting a signature on a piece of paper to prove a briefing happened is instant gratification. It is also irresponsible. It doesn’t make anyone more competent or safer but the manager now has a checkbox ticked and a signature that proves any accident wasn’t their fault. This is not how we should do safety.

Or, think of the workers who are told they have to wear safety glasses constantly when working on site, and are then issued with one pair of poor quality, cheap, uncomfortable glasses. Instant gratification from management’s point of view but completely irresponsible.

Many of the current behavioural safety programmes are also built around instant gratification for management and are near to useless for the worker. A four-hour briefing depicting the horrendous injuries that could befall you coupled with the obvious statement that you want to go home safe every day is not going to make you behave more safely when you are at risk. That’s not how humans work. If it was, scary pictures on cigarette packets would have been all that was needed to stop people smoking and prevent large numbers dying.

A myriad of current safety practices designed to make management feel good about the action they have taken leave workers bewildered and drive an even bigger wedge into the divide. Safety stand downs, yellow and red card systems, near miss reporting, tool box talks, safety posters, reverse parking, safe to start checklists – I could go on. None of these things actually save lives.

It’s time to apologise for all the nonsense created and continually supported by playing along. It’s time to use the scientific research that is readily available and to design systems and processes that help to drive the safer behaviours we want.

This will take more effort in the short term, but it is the only way we can improve. Collectively, we are supporting the broken system, collectively we can create and support a better future for everyone at all levels within our construction industry.

Are you playing along or are you helping design a better future?

Pick a side.

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New planning policy revealed

New planning rules published by Secretary of State Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP will lead to better quality, well-designed homes, to be built where they are needed.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework also covers rules for councils to challenge poor quality and unattractive development, giving communities a greater voice in the look and feel of new developments in their area.

The revised rules have been developed following a public consultation launched by the Prime Minister earlier this year to provide a comprehensive approach for planners, developers and councils to build more homes, more quickly and in the places where people want to live.

The new rule book will provide a greater focus on high quality design, stronger protection of the environment, and housing density, while providing greater responsibility and accountability for housing delivery from councils and developers.

Secretary of State for Communities, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said: “Fundamental to building the homes our country needs is ensuring that our planning system is fit for the future.

“This revised planning framework sets out our vision of a planning system that delivers the homes we need. I am clear that quantity must never compromise the quality of what is built, and this is reflected in the new rules.

“We have listened to the tens of thousands of people who told us their views, making this a shared strategy for development in England.”

The revised planning rules come as the government pushes its housebuilding agenda, with 300,000 new homes a year to be built to address the current housing crisis.

The publication has received mixed reviews across the industry, while most acknowledge the good intentions implemented, application of the methodology has been questioned, particularly in addressing the housing crisis.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “The Government has proven to be much less ambitious than it had originally aspired to. Cutting the small sites requirement to 10% is a clear sign that the revised NPPF is not radical thinking but ponderous progress. Despite some positives, 99% of the construction industry has been overlooked. The Government has missed a golden opportunity to put this country on the road to addressing its housing crisis and solving the broken housing market.”

Matt Thomson, Head of Planning at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: “Rather than delivering ‘what communities want’ as it claims to promise, the new planning rulebook and its new ‘housing delivery test’ will result in almost all local plans becoming out of date within two years. It is a speculative developers’ charter and will lead to the death of the plan-led system.

“Without a local plan, councils and communities have little control over the location and type of developments that take place. This results in the wrong developments in the wrong places – local communities’ needs are ignored and valued countryside destroyed for no good reason.”

While Ian Fletcher, Director of Real Estate Policy, British Property Federation commented: “The Government’s NPPF gives formal recognition to the build-to-rent sector, which will give the sector a much-needed boost to deliver more high-quality rental homes across the country.

“With a target of 1.5 million new homes by 2022, the Government has rightly acknowledged that all housing tenures, including both homes-for-sale and build-to-rent, must be firing on all cylinders.

“Now, local authorities across the country must understand the sector’s benefits including its commitment to offering family-friendly tenancies, such as for three years, to those customers who want or need security.

“Currently, methods employed to calculate housing need vary significantly across the country and result in significant time and cost burdens, fundamental flaws that will impede an ambitious housebuilding programme if not resolved.

“We strongly support the standardised approach to assessing housing need without exception. Equally, we support the housing delivery test – this will provide a consistent measure against which different local authorities’ performances can be compared.

“This is the way that the Government will deliver on its housing promises, and as importantly, cater for a generation that wants to have a home to call their own.”

See the National Planning Policy Framework.

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Efficiency and productivity competition

Some £12.5M has been made available to fund transformative ideas for the construction industry, through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

The funding, made available through UK Research and Innovation and delivered through Innovate UK as part of the Industry Strategy Challenge Fund, will be available to companies devising ways of increasing productivity, performance and quality in construction.

The competition has been devised due to the shortage of high-quality housing in the UK and the need for more affordable, energy-efficient and healthier places to live and work. This is creating demand to produce buildings more quickly, safely and with lower emissions.

Construction is traditionally a slow-moving beast, lagging behind other industries and take up of new technologies is slow. This competition will pave the way for a revolution in the construction sector, improving efficiencies in both production and construction.

The £170M government investment, matched by £250M from industry, will create new construction processes and techniques for building manufacture.

This £12.5M funding competition is one element of the programme, which also includes funding for research, a new construction network and the creation of an active building centre and innovation hub. It is a core part of the Construction Sector Deal, which sets out its vision for a future-proofed sector that can provide affordable, energy efficient homes in days or weeks, rather than months, and at a third of the cost.

Tackling the construction lifecycle

The competition is looking for projects that address the three main stages of the construction lifecycle. Specifically, they should focus on how we:

• design and manage buildings, such as using digitally-enabled performance management systems
• construct high-quality buildings, taking a manufacturing approach
• power those buildings, for example, through the use of active energy components

The idea proposed should ultimately lead to cost savings, reduced delays and improvements in collaborations, productivity and outputs.

Delivering the modern Industrial Strategy

To meet the objectives of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, projects must do one or more of the following:

• encourage the adoption of design approaches that favour pre-manufacturing and assembly
• increase productivity on construction projects
• develop scalable methods to speed up construction and provide greater certainty over budget and time
• develop integrated building components that generate, manage and store energy at lower costs
• reduce the construction and whole-life costs of built assets
• improve the whole-life value and safety of built assets, while reducing the carbon impact of that asset

Depending on the length, projects can be for feasibility studies, industrial research or experimental development.

Competition information

1. This competition opens on 23 July 2018, and the deadline for applications is midday on 19 September 2018.
2. A UK business must lead the project, working with other businesses, research, public sector or third sector organisations. At least one SME must be involved
3. The total project costs can be between £25,000 and £500,000 for projects that last six to 12 months, or between £250,000 and £1M if they last 12 to 24 months
4. Funding is available for up to 70% of your project costs.
5. Projects must start by December 2018

As part of the competition you can attend a briefing event, where you’ll find out more about how to create and submit a quality application. Register for:

• London or an online webinar on 23 July 2018
• Bristol on 24 July 2018
• Birmingham on 25 July 2018

Find out more about this competition and apply.

 

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Passivhaus development achieves Secured by Design Gold Award

Passivhaus development which heats homes for just £25 a year is first development of its kind to achieve Secured by Design Gold Award for security.

A development of 72 innovative new homes, which are so eco-friendly they require virtually no heating, are also some of the most secure thanks to Secured by Design (SBD), the national police crime prevention initiative, which builds in proven crime prevention techniques.

The homes at Primrose Park, Plymouth, have been developed by Mi-space, part of the Midas Group, one of the UK’s largest independent construction and property service providers, for Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), the city’s largest social house builder.

The £11.6M development off Bodmin Road, Whitleigh, is the first site in Plymouth to be built to Passivhaus design principles and is believed to be one of the largest low-energy Passivhaus developments in the country.

Pioneered in Germany in the 1990s, Passivhaus innovations avoid the need for a traditional heating system in favour of high levels of insulation, which wraps around the house like a tea cosy, an airtight envelope that eliminates draughts, triple glazing on windows and external doors and a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system.

This system recovers heat from the air in each room before extracting the stale air and warming up the incoming fresh air. It means that heat can be generated from passive measures, which include occupants’ body heat and the warmth generated from light bulbs, which serve to reduce reliance on the heating system during winter.

The homes’ excellent thermal and energy performance means they are not only eco-friendly by reducing dependence on fossil fuels but also help to tackle fuel poverty by keeping energy bills low. For example, Mi-space calculate that a household living in a 70sq m Passivhaus with gas heating could spend as little as £25 on space heating each year.

The development of 23 homes to buy through shared ownership and 49 for affordable rent, which were built on the site of the former Hillside and Woodlands School, include crime prevention measures and techniques that meet SBD standards.

It is the first Passivhaus development in the UK to receive an SBD Gold Award, which is given for incorporating proven crime prevention techniques into the layout and landscaping, such as to increase natural surveillance and limit through movement, and the physical security of buildings, such as the installation of SBD accredited attack resistant doors, windows and locks.

For example, the doors and windows on this development have been provided by PCH’s uPVC manufacturing company, PCH Manufacturing, which has achieved SBD’s Police Preferred Specification accreditation. This means these products are sufficiently robust to resist attack from casual or opportunist burglars.

SBD accreditation requires companies to be certified by an independent, third-party UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) certification authority, which requires regular re-testing and production audits to ensure manufacturers’ processes are maintained over time rather than one-off testing. SBD is the only way for companies to obtain Police accreditation in the UK.

Police guidance has come from the Plymouth-based Designing Out Crime Officer, Paul Shepherd, who is part of a national network of SBD trained police officers and staff who work to design out crime. Paul Shepherd took part in many pre-planning application meetings with Plymouth-based architects, Mitchell Architects, to discuss incorporating crime prevention techniques into the development.

Emma Snow, SBD Development Officer for the South West, said: “I am thrilled we have been involved to make this exciting and pioneering development secure for incoming residents. Our experience over the last 30 years shows that our techniques will deter criminals and reduce crime. This can only serve to ease the pressure on hard-pressed police resources and reduce repair and maintenance costs for property management companies.”

Andrew Lawrie, Head of Development, at PCH, said: “This development demonstrates PCH’s commitment to the environment and our wish to reduce running costs for residents of affordable housing. We know many residents struggle with fuel bills so these homes should go a long way to addressing that. It’s reassuring to know that our safety measures have been recognised by Secured by Design. We know that feeling safe in their homes is important to residents.”

In keeping with the on-site environmental credentials, Mi-space recycles 100% of its waste so that nothing goes to landfill.

SBD has been a staunch campaigner for improved security in the built environment for nearly 30 years and during this time has built up a wealth of experience promoting increased levels of crime prevention and security through active involvement with the government, standards authorities, trade associations, the construction industry and local communities.

Many developers around the country have been working with SBD to incorporate proven crime prevention techniques into tens of thousands of new and refurbished homes. SBD trained police officers and staff in Police Forces work closely with architects, developers and local authority planners on new build developments to design out crime at the drawing board stage. These officers, known principally as Designing Out Crime Officers, promote the use of proven crime prevention techniques in the layout and landscaping of developments, such as to increase natural surveillance, create defensible space and limit through movement. In addition, they seek to improve the security of buildings, by recommending products that are sufficiently robust to resist physical attack to deter opportunistic burglars.

SBD officers work across a range of building sectors including housing, commercial, retail, mixed use, transport, health, education, sport and leisure.

Independent academic research has shown that homes built to incorporate SBD crime prevention techniques have been proven to reduce crime by as much as 75% in new build developments compared to equivalent non-SBD estates.

Evidence suggests this figure is sustainable year-on-year and represents a significant reduction especially as most SBD developments are in social housing. In addition, because our accredited products are of high quality and last longer, they require less maintenance, repair and replacement over time.

SBD developments include such iconic sites as the 2012 London Olympics, Wembley Stadium and the Welsh and Scottish Assembly buildings.

Contact SBD

Tel: 0203 8623 999
Email: enquiries@police-cpi.co.uk
Web: www.securedbydesign.com
Video: https://youtu.be/jZ7oeAQcHmc

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CBI reports manufacturing boost

The latest quarterly CBI survey has been released, with manufacturing providing a bright spot for industry.

According to CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey, manufacturing has picked up to its strongest pace this year, sparking an optimistic outlook for the remaining months.

In the survey of 357 manufacturers, many reported a growth in new orders – particularly in the domestic market, which is offsetting a slight slowdown in new export orders. The growth has prompted a lift in industry outlook, with general business conditions stable over the second quarter. However, optimism towards export prospects has stalled.

Survey respondents reported growth in output and total orders are expected to slow moderately in the three months to October.

Manufacturers’ investment intentions were subdued despite signs that capacity pressures were rising again last quarter. The proportion of firms working below capacity fell close to the record-low seen at the turn of the year.

Respondents reported major worries over a lack of skilled labour, which is likely to constraint activity.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Economist, said: “The pick-up in output growth is good news and with new orders still running at a healthy rate, the near-term outlook for manufacturers remains reasonably bright.

“Yet manufacturers are still in wait-and-see mode when it comes to their investment plans. Skills shortages are increasing and making it hard for businesses to invest in capital projects, particularly with on-going uncertainty around the direction of Brexit talks. The retrenchment of training budgets is worrying at a time when skills shortages are increasing, and it underlines the urgent need to pick up the pace on apprenticeship levy reform.”

Tom Crotty, Group Director of Ineos and Chair of CBI Manufacturing Council, said: “It’s great to see the manufacturing sector firing on all cylinders, with production revving up again after the slowdown earlier this year.

“But rising trade tensions and ongoing uncertainty over our future trade and customs arrangements are clearly taking their toll on manufacturers’ confidence and investment.”

 

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Shortlist announced for prestigious 2018 RIBA Stirling Prize

The shortlist for the prestigious 2018 RIBA Stirling Prize ‘best new building’ category has been officially announced.

The nominees consist of six exemplary buildings ranging from student housing to an office building, cemetery, art gallery, lecture theatre and nursery school. The winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize, the highest accolade in UK architecture, will be selected from the shortlisted projects and announced on Wednesday 10th October.

The nominees for the 2018 RIBA Stirling Prize are:

• Bloomberg, London by Foster + Partners
• Bushey Cemetery, Hertfordshire by Waugh Thistleton Architects
• Chadwick Hall, University of Roehampton, London by Henley Halebrown
• New Tate St Ives, Cornwall by Jamie Fobert Architects with Evans & Shalev
• Storey’s Field Centre and Eddington Nursery, Cambridge by MUMA
• The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre, Worcester College, Oxford by Niall McLaughlin Architects

Of the shortlist RIBA President Ben Derbyshire said: “Each of the projects on this year’s shortlist shows the power and payback of investing in quality architecture, illustrating perfectly how well-designed buildings are worth every penny and can exceed the expectations of the community they serve.

“It doesn’t go unnoticed that half of the buildings were commissioned by UK universities, suggesting that parts of the higher education sector value the importance of improving the quality of their buildings and estates to reward and attract students, staff and visitors, and to make a positive contribution to their local area. It’s encouraging to see clients who recognise the broad range of benefits that can be achieved by working with skilled and resourceful architects, and I hope more public-sector organisations will follow their lead.”

Mr Derbyshire concluded: “This shortlist illustrates why UK architects and architecture are held in such high regard around the world. In these challenging and turbulent political times, we must celebrate how the UK’s architectural talent can help to improve local communities and their quality of life.

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Construction SMEs unfazed by Brexit upheaval, says FMB

Construction SMEs experienced rising workloads in the second quarter of 2018 despite ongoing uncertainty over the skills shortage and Brexit, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has today announced.

The findings form the basis of a brand new FMB State of Trade Survey – currently construction’s only quarterly assessment of UK-wide SME performance.

1. SME workloads remained positive throughout Q2 2018 and rose at a faster rate than they did in the first quarter of 2018;
2. The construction SME sector has enjoyed more than five years of consecutive quarterly growth;
3. More than three-quarters (76%) of builders reported increasing material prices in Q2 2018;
4. Two-thirds (65%) of construction SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers and 60% are struggling to hire carpenters and joiners;
5. More than half (54%) of construction SMEs expect salaries and wages to increase over the next six months.

“The second quarter of 2018 proved to be a positive one for the UK’s builders,” confirmed Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB. “Our latest research shows that firms enjoyed stronger growth in workloads than they did in the first three months of this year. Pleasingly, the construction SME sector has now enjoyed more than five years of consecutive growth.

“Furthermore, employment rose at a faster pace in the second three months of 2018 than it did in the first three months. Looking ahead, despite growing political uncertainty and Brexit now less than a year away, construction SMEs remain positive. Businesses are optimistic with nearly half of firms predicting rising activity levels over the next three months.”

Berry urged cautioned however, and pointed towards the prevailing skills shortage which has seen recruitment levels dwindle: “The latest evidence reveals that nearly all of the key occupations have become harder to recruit in the second quarter of this year compared to the previous three months. Bricklayers continue to be the hardest to recruit with nearly two-thirds of firms struggling to hire them, and carpenters not far behind. Without guaranteed access to skilled EU workers, there is a real possibility that skills shortages will further intensify.

“Skills shortages are also the leading cause of rising wages. This, coupled with the fact that margins continue to be squeezed by significant material price increases, should add a cautionary note to these otherwise encouraging findings. While we wait to hear what the post-Brexit immigration system will look like, we are hoping that the government will listen to the needs of the sector. The construction industry is a cornerstone of the UK economy, so it’s in all of our interests to do what we can to support its small firms.”

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Prime Minister confirms cash boost for Northern Powerhouse

The Prime Minister has confirmed further investment for the Northern Powerhouse, in addition to a landmark devolution deal for the North East.

At a Cabinet meeting held in Gateshead, Theresa May outlined delivery of the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and emphasised the integral role Local Enterprise Partnerships play in boosting economic prosperity across the Northern Powerhouse.

Talks then turned towards the government’s North Eastern transport infrastructure agenda. According to the Prime Minister, up to £780 million will be spent over the next decade to overhaul the East Coast Main Line. New platforms will be built alongside a raft of track, signaling and junction improvements along the route.

This, in addition to a new fleet of Intercity Express trains, will mean that passengers travelling long distance between northern towns and cities will benefit from more seating and faster, more frequent journeys between Doncaster, Leeds and Newcastle.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that the government would lay the legislation to formally conclude the North of Tyne Devolution Deal with Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. The landmark deal, which represents an unprecedented transfer of powers from central government to local people in the North of Tyne, is worth £600 million over 30 years and is expected to generate 10,000 new jobs throughout the region.

“Making Britain a country that works for everyone, in urban and rural regions, is a priority for my government – and a thriving economy across the Northern Powerhouse is central to that,” said the Prime Minister.

“We have set out major policies and investments as part of our Modern Industrial Strategy to unlock the potential in the North – and more than any government in history, we are making sure that we are delivering the outcomes that really matter to people who live and work here.”

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HS2 Ltd announces major managerial appointments

HS2 Ltd has this week announced the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Richard Robinson – formerly AECOM’s Chief Executive of Civil Infrastructure in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa – joins HS2 Ltd as COO. Robinson will support Chief Executive Mark Thurston’s efforts to deliver the single biggest infrastructure project in Europe to date.

At AECOM, Robinson was responsible for the civil infrastructure business – first as Managing Director and then Chief Executive – leading 8,000 people across four regions and a variety of different infrastructure projects. Prior to this, he was Managing Director of AECOM’s Transportation Europe arm.

“I am delighted to welcome Richard to the team at HS2,” said Thurston. “He joins us at an exciting time and brings wide-ranging experience of complex infrastructure projects and extensive management skills. Richard’s appointment will enhance our leadership team at this important time, as the project picks up pace and we begin to deliver lasting economic benefits across the UK.”

Additionally, Michael Bradley has also joined the company as Chief Financial Officer. Bradley comes from Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) – an arms-length body of the Ministry of Defence – where he was CFO and Director General Resources, and he has been Acting CEO since December 2017.

Responsible for the financial affairs of the multi-billion government body, Bradley has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors where he has overseen financial accounting and planning alongside internal auditing and assurance.

Commenting on Bradley’s appointment, Thurston added: “Michael is an excellent addition to the HS2 Ltd team and brings a wealth of experience with him to this important role. HS2 is a hugely important project that will leave a significant economic legacy here in the UK and it is imperative that we have the best people in place to deliver our ambitions.”

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Boosting digitally built Britain

A new taskforce has been established, designed to harness digital expertise to improve the construction industry.

Bringing together experts from industry, academia and government, the taskforce will advise Treasury on how data, AI and machine learning can help us predict and meet the needs of the UK. The work will build on the success of previous construction projects, like the London 2012 Olympics and Crossrail, where digitisation led to greater productivity and efficiency.

The taskforce will be run by the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB).

During the launch, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Robert Jenrick, said: “We are investing record amounts in UK infrastructure to build the roads, railways, schools and hospitals we need.

“There are vast amounts of data and information on the UK’s infrastructure, but only with better coordination can its incredible potential help us meet the country’s needs.

“What we’ve announced today will support this ambition. That way vital projects like transport, housing and broadband will complement each other and help us ensure our infrastructure is fit for the future.”

Professor Andy Neely, Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Enterprise and Business Relations at the University of Cambridge said: “Digital technologies are shaping all industrial sectors and will have a profound impact on construction. The core aim of the Digital Framework Task Group (DFTG) is to ensure that the UK is well positioned to capitalise on the use of data for the public good in the UK’s economic infrastructure and the wider built and natural environments.

“To achieve this the DFTG will collaborate closely with industry, policy makers and academia to develop and encourage adoption of the digital framework for infrastructure data.

“The framework will unlock the potential of digital twins, and the next generation of digital construction and smarter infrastructure advances.”

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Lords call for radical overhaul of sector

A radical overhaul of the construction sector is needed, according to a report published by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee.

The problems within the industry have been highlighted through the current push to address the housing crisis. The Committee has found that the sector will struggle to produce the housing the UK needs, together with associated infrastructure, without a sea change in attitudes and production methods.

Given that the UK already lags behind other countries in construction productivity, and is facing a labour shortage, the Government and the construction sector must urgently find solutions.

The report: Off-site Manufacture for construction: building for change, calls for more use of off-site manufacture (OSM) methods, which can help increase productivity while reducing labour demands, improving the quality and efficiency of buildings, and reducing the environmental impacts associated with traditional construction.

However, the report found that take up of OSM is varied and somewhat limited across the sector. This is due to out-dated and unsustainable business models that are not conducive to OSM for construction. OSM requires collaboration between clients, designers and contractors from an early stage but much of the evidence the Committee received painted a picture of a construction sector that is fragmented and lacking in trust. These barriers must be addressed by the sector itself and strong leadership is needed from the Construction Leadership Council.

While OSM could lessen the labour shortage, the different skills required for manufacturing are currently lacking in the UK labour market and must be developed. OSM will require a combination of skills involving site implementation, digital and procurement. The Government must therefore ensure that young people entering the workplace are equipped with the digital skills needed for modern methods of construction, including off-site manufacture.

The Committee has welcomed the Government’s Construction Sector Deal, with its ‘presumption of favour’ of OSM methods, and commitment to investing in this. Recommendations from the Committee include the publication of Key Performance Indicators against which the success of the ‘presumption in favour’ can be assessed. Where the presumption in favour is set aside and a project goes ahead that does not use off-site manufacture, the Government should publish a statement explaining why it has not been used and justifying that decision.

In many cases, OSM is suitable for the construction of important social infrastructure such as hospitals and houses. The Committee heard evidence that if the Government is to achieve its aim of building 300,000 houses a year by 2020, OSM would be the only way to meet this target, and that traditional construction methods do not have the capacity to build enough homes. The Government must set out what conditions it will attach to the extra financial support for housing to drive the uptake of off-site manufacture and other innovative technologies.

Chairman of the Committee, Lord Patel said: “There are clear and tangible benefits from off-site manufacture for construction which make a compelling case for its widespread use. We heard evidence that OSM could increase productivity in the sector by up to 70%.

“The construction sector’s business models are no longer appropriate and are not supporting the UK’s urgent need for new homes and infrastructure. The construction sector needs to build more trust and create partnerships so that companies can work together to improve the uptake of off-site manufacture, and the Construction Leadership Council should provide the necessary leadership.

“The role of the Government and the wider public sector is pivotal in a move to greater use of off-site manufacture. The report sets out actions that the Committee thinks the Government should take including implementation of the Construction Sector Deal, committed execution of the ‘presumption in favour’ of off-site manufacture and a greater move to procuring for whole-life value rather than lowest cost.”

The report is available here.

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Dangerous site conditions lead to prosecution

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has successfully prosecuted a contractor, client and director after conditions at a building site were found to be dangerous.

Southwark Crown Court heard that HSE inspectors had visited the construction site on Gladesmore Road, London on numerous occasions in 2015 while building work was taking place at the property.

Poor health and safety conditions were found on site including dangerous work at height, unshored excavations, and poor welfare facilities. Numerous prohibition notices, improvement notices and notifications of contravention were served on the contractor and client throughout the period.

A subsequent HSE investigation found that the contractor, Mr Bodnariu, failed to plan, manage and monitor the work on site. The client company WEL Estates Limited failed to make suitable arrangements for managing a project, and the director of WEL Estates Limited, Mr Yoel Lew, had allowed the poor conditions on site.

Mr Bodnariu pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, 250 hours of community service, and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.

WEL Estates Limited was found guilty of breaching Regulations 4(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000.

Mr Yoel Lew was found guilty of breaching Section 37(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and sentenced to 200 hours of Community Service.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Sarah Robinson said: “Dutyholders should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

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Heathrow cleared for take-off

With Heathrow cleared for take-off, following overwhelming support from Parliament, the airport has confirmed that over 100 businesses have expressed interest in becoming an innovation partner.

In April, Heathrow launched the search for partner organisations to make the development – one of Europe’s largest privately funded infrastructure projects, more efficient, sustainable and affordable. Now, as the airport enters the delivery phase of the project several companies have expressed interest in sharing ideas around sustainability, service innovation, building design, cost efficiencies and commercial concepts.

Emma Gilthorpe, Executive Director of Heathrow Expansion said: “Following an overwhelming majority of cross party MPs showing their support for Heathrow expansion, the team is focused on delivering our commitments and ensuring the project is implemented in the most responsible way. This includes making sure we have the best technology and delivery methods available to us when building the new runway and associated infrastructure. The response to our call for expressions of interest has been extremely positive and I am really excited to move to the next stage, where we will compile a long list form all the great ideas put forward.”

The list of those being taken forward will be announced in late August and, from there, remaining potential innovation partners will be invited to submit a business case and implementation plan demonstrating the feasibility of their idea.

Gilthorpe concluded: “Now we have had the stamp of approval from Government for our North-West runway scheme we can press ahead with finalising the scheme. We have been refining our plans as a result of a wide range of stakeholder feedback and we will launch the final public consultation on a preferred masterplan in early 2019 ahead of preparing our development consent order submission in 2020. We have been exhaustive in our exploration of options and mitigations throughout this process and it is only right that we put our thinking to the test one final time. By asking the best in Britain to challenge our thinking, we will ensure no stone is left unturned in the delivery of excellence for our customers and communities.”

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SMEs: building the future

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a vital ingredient to help drive better performance from our construction industry, providing specialist capabilities, innovative thinking, agile ways of working and often independent views and approaches. As such, SMEs have an important role to play as ‘agents for change’ or, in more current parlance, as disruptors, we speak to Paul Dyson, Partner at HKA, one of the world’s leading providers of advisory, consulting and expert services.

We are all acutely aware of the ever-quickening pace of the globally focused aggregation of the construction supply chain, both horizontally and vertically, in response to the increasing complexity and size of (especially) economic infrastructure. Whilst clients, sensibly, look to larger organisations and their Joint Ventures (JVs) to deliver their projects, we believe that SMEs play a key part in providing a broader choice for clients and thus are an important part of the construction supply chain ecosystem.

The importance of the small independent companies to the UK economy cannot be overstated; SMEs account for more than 99% of all UK business and employ over 12 million people. They are a vital and energetic part of our growing UK economy.

It is interesting to observe that Germany has been highly successful in driving the expansion of its economy through the growth in its smaller businesses or ‘Mittelstand’. The UK government is cognisant of this success and is increasingly looking at ways to ensure that public money finds its way in part to SMEs. A good example of this is the current Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) RM3745 Management Consultancy Framework Agreement that is looking to achieve 35% total spend through SMEs by 2020.

The difficulty faced by all SMEs is their respective ‘routes to market’ – how do they compete, and how do clients gain access to their skills and experience? Cognisant of this and in support of the UK government’s SME objectives, HKA has been successful in forming a strong alliance of specialist SMEs to respond to CCS’s framework needs. To support the successful delivery of our partnership, we have established an open, transparent and collaborative teaming agreement giving equal opportunity to all partners to participate. Our view (and that of our partners) is that through such agreements we are able to offer very broad and deep capability in order to compete with much larger organisations. We are also able to offer true independence free from any conflicts of interest.

We believe that, in the wake of Carillion’s demise, there is a growing desire for clients to engage, where appropriate, with smaller consultancies that at the same time have access to a broad and deep set of skills that can be efficiently and effectively mobilised, something that larger organisations sometimes struggle to achieve. This is particularly true for the smaller but no less complex commissions. We carefully analyse each commission’s needs and draw together the appropriate capabilities from our own and our partner’s teams. Having a talented network ensures we are able to provide the right team at the right time.

From our experience of working closely with SMEs, it is evident that there is an openness to collaborating and sharing, an ability to be more agile and responsive, provide deeper specialist knowledge and also to be more innovative. Our industry is in need of both incremental and transformational innovation, and we believe this is best delivered by assembling the best teams from different business cultures and experiences to positively impact outcomes.

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South East Construction Expo 2018 comes to Sussex

Construction Expo South East 2018 will be held in Sussex for the first time on September 13 at the South of England Event Centre in Ardingly.

The trade show, founded ten years ago and previously held in Kent, will showcase the region’s largest range of construction products and services and is a ‘must visit’ for anyone whose business deals in development, property and construction.

Carole Black from South East Construction Expo said: “Sussex really is leading the way with its exciting construction projects in Brighton & Hove and across East and West Sussex, so it is great to be able to hold the South East Construction Expo 2018 here.

“The UK’s construction output stands at more than £110 billion per annum, accounts for ten per cent of employment and will continue to be a key driver in our prosperity over the coming years. We are committed to continuing to support this fast-moving industry with a leading conference and exhibition enabling sponsors, exhibitors and delegates to build lasting business relationships.”

New for 2018 will be the ‘Construction Village’, which will accommodate exhibits of any size both inside and out – offering the ultimate in flexibility for exhibitors and demonstrators. It will take this event to a totally new dimension and make it one of the most exciting construction events in the UK.

The event offers free Meet the Buyer appointments with the top construction companies in the country, great exhibitor packages, brilliant networking opportunities, high quality CPD approved workshops, plus the latest news on projects and developments across the UK.

An exciting list of speakers and panel discussions will cover every aspect of what is important to the industry right now, with Wayne Hemingway MBE from the Design Council, Kevin Byrne founder of Checkatrade and Anne Timpany from On Tap Plumbers speaking at the BIG networking breakfast and the entertaining Gyles Brandreth hosting the BIG construction dinner. Many more speakers and attractions are yet to be announced.

Delegates can sign up for free entry and Meet the Buyer appointments at constructionexpouk.co.uk and there are still sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities available. Twitter @ConstructExpo

South East Construction Expo 2018 will take place at the South of England Event Centre in Ardingly, Haywards Heath on Thursday 13 September (8.30 am – 4.30 pm).

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