McAvoy develops prototype modular house

With the housing crisis receiving great attention from the political and house building communities, and government reports promoting the use of offsite manufacture as a solution, the McAvoy Group has unveiled a prototype modular housing solution.

One of the UK’s leading offsite construction specialists, McAvoy has used its expertise to develop a modern modular house, which incorporates the latest innovations for the residential sector. McAvoy has worked in collaboration with Todd Architects and Queen’s University Belfast to deliver the property.

Designed to be assembled on site in just one day, the steel-framed building system can be used to construct both multi-storey apartments and houses in a wide variety of configurations to meet the needs of all housing tenures – affordable homes for rent, shared ownership, market sale, build-to-rent, student accommodation and emergency housing.

The house has an innovative floor construction created using highly sustainable recycled material – an alternative to energy-intensive concrete – and offering excellent thermal performance and acoustic properties. The roof module is pre-tiled in the factory, which is safer, faster and avoids work at height and in poor weather conditions. There is also a new lifting system with specially designed load-bearing brackets to facilitate installation on site.

Commenting on the prototype house, David Clark, Head of Manufacturing and Innovation at The McAvoy Group, said: “We wanted to give developers, housing providers and lenders the opportunity to see at first hand the quality of finish that we can construct in the factory. The prototype house was a critical part of our design and engineering programme, allowing us to test innovative new building techniques such as the lifting system and the floor construction – which has proved to be a high performance, highly sustainable and robust alternative to pre-installed concrete floors.”

“The team at Queen’s University Belfast worked with us on the project in a collaborative knowledge transfer partnership, providing input on testing and structural design. In return, we were able to give valuable industrial experience and the opportunity for academic research into new methods of construction to address the housing crisis.”

The 95sq m prototype house has been developed for the affordable homes sector, providing three bedrooms and two bathrooms constructed in four steel-framed modules and two pre-tiled roof units which can be installed on site in just a few hours. It is designed to Lifetime Homes standards and features an accessible bathroom and provision for a platform lift.

Certified by BOPAS with a design life of at least 60 years, the McAvoy offsite housing system is a highly flexible building solution. The system uses a light gauge steel frame to avoid the need for internal columns and offer the same ceiling heights as site-based building methods. The homes can be finished in render, brick, composite panels, timber or stone cladding to address planning requirements and to complement local architecture.

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Building into education

Construction output in the education sector saw four years of consistent growth from 2012 to 2016, and reached a peak in 2016 at around £11.2Bn, driven by investment in both the school and higher education estate. However, output declined slightly in 2017 and forecasts indicate that output will moderate over the short term before returning to growth in 2020 and 2021. In the schools and colleges sector, demand continues to be strong and the pupil population is expanding rapidly. The need for additional school places is expected to exceed 420,000 by 2021.

Education construction is a significant part of the overall UK construction market, representing an estimated 17% of total UK construction output.

While capital budgets remain constrained, the need for investment in education construction is recognised by the current Government, which announced £23Bn of capital investment in the 2015 Spending Review to cover the opening of 500 Free Schools, and provision of over 600,000 additional school places. In the 2017 Spring Budget, it also pledged an additional £320M to help fund up to 140 new free schools as part of plans to increase investment in local infrastructure and relieve pressure on local authorities for increased school places.

Broadly speaking the schools and colleges sector accounts for 65% of the industry sector while the schools and colleges sector accounts for 35%. Total construction output in the higher education sector is therefore worth close to £4Bn with public sector construction representing slightly over one third of this.

In the higher education sector, rising student numbers have placed additional strain on university infrastructure – both teaching and residential accommodation. The UK now has over 1.74m undergraduate students in full-time higher education. However, in the most recent academic year, student numbers declined driven by the uncertainty for EU students surrounding Brexit and higher tuition fees. Going forward, the impact of potential immigration targets on EU student numbers coming to the UK and fee levels remain key issues of concern.

The introduction of tuition fees has caused considerable change to the higher education structure in England and Wales as it has made it possible for private and independent institutions to enter the sector. The Government has stated that it expects universities to make greater use of private finance including bank credit, tuition fees, income from research grants, capital endowments, PFI, charitable trusts and private corporations and sponsors.

In addition, UK universities continue to increase their investment in new buildings, with around £1.8Bn worth of contracts awarded over the past year, including 8 contracts worth over £50M. A further £580M of contracts have also received planning approval. The purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) market represents a significant opportunity for contractors and developers as accommodation remains undersupplied in many cities.

Universities are becoming increasingly commercially aware when it comes to development, and over the past five years, there has been a trend for universities to build their own student accommodation and to use their property estates to generate income that can then be invested back into the campus. As well as selling off property that is no longer needed, many universities are working in joint venture with developers to build student accommodation.

In terms of schools and colleges, the number of students across all school types continues to rise, with most of the increase being primary school students. Between January 2016 and January 2017 alone the number of pupils across all school types rose by 110,000, with 74,500 of these entering primary schools. Despite this increase in numbers the total number of schools fell slightly in the same period due to a decline in the number of nursery schools, special schools, pupil referral units and independent schools. The decline in the number of schools overall, coupled with the increase in pupil numbers, means schools are on average larger.

Construction of primary and secondary schools makes up a significant part of the UK education construction market and represents over 75% of total public sector education output. Despite recent improvement in output, this area has been impacted by the increasing use of private sector finance for capital building projects, such as within Academies and Free Schools, for example, shifting expenditure away from the public sector. However, the schools sector is likely to continue to dominate as the estate is much larger than that of the higher education estate and requires greater maintenance, and as pupil numbers grow, requiring additional places to be created.

Building programmes in England’s education sector are being led by the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP), the first phase of which is currently underway and will help rebuild 260 schools. For the second phase, the Government has allocated a further £2Bn. In Scotland, the Schools for the Future Programme, worth £1.8Bn, is expected to deliver around 112 schools up to 2019, while in Wales, the main investment programme for the education sector is the 21st Century Schools Building Programme, which aims to upgrade and extend the entire stock of schools in Wales.

A key characteristic of education output in recent years has been the growing share attributable to the private sector. The private sector only accounted for around 22% of education construction output in 2010, but now accounts for just under 50%.  This shift is due to the development of the Academies, Free Schools, FE Colleges and University programmes, which have seen more private sector involvement in the commissioning and delivery of new projects. Independent schools are a smaller source of private sector construction work. However, despite the recent budget cuts the Department for Education still represents the single largest client for construction work in the schools & colleges sector.

The overall education construction market is forecast to see modest growth performance over the next few years, reflecting an existing high level of annual construction output, supported by the growing population in relevant age groups and a need for investment across many schools, colleges and universities, but constrained by public sector budget limitations and the potential impact of Brexit on funding streams for universities.

The ‘Education Construction Market Report – UK 2017-2021 Analysis’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years’ experience within the construction and home improvement markets. The report is available now and can be ordered online at www.amaresearch.co.uk

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Half way mark for Huntingdon project

The UK’s biggest road upgrade has reached the half way point. The £1.5Bn A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon project will transform journeys on one of the East of England’s most vital roads once completed, and has officially reached the halfway point this week.

Main construction on a project to upgrade 21 miles of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon started on Monday 28 November 2016 and is on target to be completed by December 2020.

Since work began, more than eight million working hours have gone into the project, and eight million cubic metres of earthworks have been moved across the site – equivalent to more than three Great Pyramids of Giza.

By the end of the year, nine new bridges will have opened to traffic and construction is well underway on 25 more. Along the way, the project team has started delivering extensive protection for the environment and uncovered astonishing archaeological finds which shine new light on thousands of years of history.

Highways England Project Director for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme David Bray said: “Our amazing team has been working incredibly hard to deliver this upgraded A14, and most days we have up to 2,700 staff working across more than 20 miles to build the new roads and bridges that are needed, in addition to all of the environmental measures we are implementing. This is the biggest road building project currently taking place in the country and yet drivers will only see around a quarter of it from the existing road at present.

“Working on this epic project has been remarkable so far: from seeing the new road emerge as we moved earth into place for its foundations, to the wide array of bridges and structures being built, the fantastic discoveries of our archaeological team and the industry-leading work our environmental team is carrying out.

“We know drivers can be frustrated by roadworks, particularly when they’re in place for a long time, but we’re delighted to announce at this two-year anniversary that we’re on time and on budget, having completed more than 50 per cent of the work, to get this new road opened for drivers by the end of 2020.”

The project itself will see a 21-mile stretch of the A14 upgraded to three lanes in each direction including a brand new 17-mile bypass south of Huntingdon, with four lanes in each direction between Bar Hill and Girton. Development of the project, which includes 34 main bridges and structures, will add capacity, boost the local and national economy and cut up to 20 minutes off drivers’ journeys. The fully upgraded A14 is due to be opened to traffic by December 2020.

The project is proving its pedigree along the way, with the team winning eight industry awards for innovative working, including ‘Best Construction Project to Work On’ and a RoSPA Gold Health and Safety Award, so far. The project is also the first of its type to be recognised as by the Considerate Construction Scheme as an ‘Ultra’ site, for the way the project is delivered.

In partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council, a £3.5M programme of works has started to build new pedestrian, cyclist and horse rider routes in addition to the 18 miles which are provided as part of the scheme. Funding has also been secured to support four local flood prevention projects.

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC in April 2019 : UKIS 2019

Click here for more information on how to register or exhibit at the UK Infrastructure Show 2019.  

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Stress-related absences need direct help

Bureau Veritas has called for a review of mental health strategies amid record stress-related absences.

According to current HSE figures, stress, depression and anxiety are now the leading cause of workplace absences in the UK. To try to counteract this, leading compliance expert Bureau Veritas is calling on organisations to tackle the problem head-on by reviewing how they recognise, assess and manage work-related mental illness.

Annual figures released by the Health and Safety Executive show that in 2017/18, a total of 15.4 million working days were lost as a result of work-related stress, anxiety or depression, up from 12.5 million last year. Overall, this now equates to 57% of the 26.8 million work days lost to ill health in the UK during the same period.

Carol Robinson, Health, Safety and Environment Manager at Bureau Veritas, said: “The HSE statistics show that a record number of Britons now suffer from work-related stress, depression and anxiety, and as the leading cause of work place absences in the UK, employee work-related mental ill-health is said to cost UK employers up to £42Bn a year.

“As such, it’s never been a more appropriate time for employers to take action and review how they recognise, assess and manage work-related mental ill-health. This will not only help to understand the root causes of stress, anxiety and depression in the workplace but will no doubt go a long way in reducing absenteeism.

“For businesses unsure of where to begin, following the requirements of ISO 45001 from Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS 18001) will help to manage workplace mental health. The new international standard goes much further than just preventing workplace injuries and is the first-of-its-kind to put the onus on employers to improve employee health and well-being.”

Overall, the HSE figures show that the rate of workplace injuries in the UK is in general decline and coincides with findings by Bureau Veritas that it has seen a 63% reduction in workplace accidents across the organisation.

Carol adds: “This improvement is a result of organisations in recent years making a concerted effort, in terms of their values, attitudes and practices, to improve workplace safety. There’s always more that can be done to prevent employees being injured at work and our advice to businesses is to review their culture and processes on a regular basis and find ways to continually monitor and improve their overall health and safety strategy.”

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Britain is building! £600Bn of projects in construction pipeline

The government has published the 2018 National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, showing Britain is backing building with some £600Bn worth of projects in the pipeline for the next decade.

The massive investment in UK roads, hospitals and schools has been set out in the pipeline, together with a call to look at modern methods of construction in a bid to make the process more efficient.

The Government’s National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline reveals the vast scale of public and private investment underway and expected by 2028. It includes schemes announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his recent Budget, such as the £28Bn national roads fund, as well as other flagship projects like East West Rail, upgrading the M6 to a smart motorway and Hornsea Project One – the largest offshore wind farm in the world.

The document also calls for greater use of offsite building, with ministers wanting more projects to be delivered using digital manufacturing and offsite building techniques to ensure maximum efficiency in building these projects. This includes the manufacturing of components in factories using the latest digital technology before being sent for assembly on construction sites. The Government has committed to increasing use of these methods in public-funded projects and has asked for views on how to encourage greater use of these cutting-edge techniques.

The construction sector is one of the least digitized sectors, resulting in weak productivity. The government’s aim is to improve this contribution through modern manufacturing approaches to building; such as a school that typically takes a year to build could be completed in just over four months.

This manufacturing technique has already been used to great success in several projects, including the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme. Parts of these bridges were developed in a factory, meaning they were built more efficiently than if traditional methods of construction had been used.

The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Robert Jenrick said: “We are committed to renewing our infrastructure to drive economic growth in all parts of the United Kingdom. Over the course of this Parliament, investment in economic infrastructure will reach the highest sustained levels in over 40 years.

“And as the pace of technological change accelerates, we are stepping up our commitment to digital infrastructure, use of data to drive greater productivity and embrace new methods of construction.

“With £600Bn of investment over the next decade, including the largest ever investment in our strategic road network, we are taking the long term action required to raise productivity and ensure the economy is fit for the

Chief Executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Tony Meggs said: “Government is the largest client for infrastructure projects so has an important role in using its purchasing power to drive improved productivity in their delivery.

“We recognise there is significant momentum within the sector to scale up the adoption of more modern and innovative practices and it is the role of the IPA to help coordinate this approach across new infrastructure projects.

“We would like to hear from a range of industry experts on government’s proposals for a Platform Approach to Design for Manufacture and Assembly.”

Chief Executive of Highways England, Jim O’Sullivan said: “At Highways England we recognise the productivity and efficiency challenges that the U.K. construction industry is facing. In recent years we have encouraged more computer-led design, automation, and pre-assembly across all of our construction activities. As well as driving productivity and efficiency, it improves worker safety and reduces delays and frustration for road users passing through our works.

“We will adopt ever increasing levels of automation and off-site construction on road improvement schemes and smart motorways in our next five year road investment programme.”

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC 30th April 2019 : UKIS 2019

Click here for more information on how to register or exhibit at the UK Infrastructure Show 2019.  

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Dumper Safety Guidance available for comment

The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) is leading the publication of a good practice guide on the safe operation of forward tipping dumpers.

Following a number of serious incidents involving forward tipping dumpers, such as overturns and individuals being struck by dumpers, a draft document has been put together for public comment. The draft document and a comments form can be downloaded from www.cpa.uk.net/sfpsgdumpers and the closing date for comments is set for Friday 11th January 2019.

An Industry Forum for Dumpers was formed in late 2016, following concerns from the construction plant sector, with the overall objective of avoiding future incidents. A major open meeting was held in September last year, hosted by the CPA and CECA (Civil Engineering Contractors Association), where it was decided a total of seven principles would be used as a basis of an industry initiative action plan including the production of a safe use publication. The CPA agreed to produce comprehensive guidance through the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group.

The SFPSG Dumper Development Group was subsequently formed to start work on the Good Practice Guide in early 2018. Members of the group include plant hirers and owners, clients, contractors, users, manufacturers, importers and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The guidance includes topics such as Operational Factors; Management and Supervision Requirements; Training and Information; Segregation/Exclusion Zones; Dumper Specifications; Machine Selection and Compatibility; and Ground Conditions.

One of the main messages of the safe use guidance is that the use of a dumper should not be an automatic choice. The correct identification of the most appropriate machine should be the first step followed by effective planning, supervision and the use of competent people if dumpers are to be used safely. The use of dumpers fitted with a cab is becoming common, for which the guidance outlines some of the issues and considerations that need to be made in terms of allowing an operator to remain seated during the loading process.

All comments received will be reviewed by the group with the amendments and additions made accordingly. This should allow the final release of the document by Easter 2019. The Plant Safety Group for Dumpers is keen to release the guidance at the earliest opportunity to mitigate further incidents, but stress that with rapid technical and operational developments occurring with dumpers, the guidance may be subject to continual future updates.

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Housebuilding continues to bolster construction

The latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review has been released by industry analysts Barbour ABI, showing that housebuilding is continuing to prop up the industry.

The value of construction contracts in October reached £5.4Bn, with housebuilding providing £2Bn worth of contract value. The latest figures also record a 3.8% drop in contract value from September.

The largest project in October was the £350M Keadby 2 Power Station, over three times the value of the second largest project on the month. With three of the top five largest projects in October based in London, the capital accounts for the largest share of contracts awarded within the month, with a total of 17.2%, followed by the North West and Yorkshire & Humberside with 16.6% and 16.1% respectively.

Medical and health projects followed housing, reaching some £250M, its best month statistically for more than two years and a 230% increase on September. Some 91% of these projects were for public hospitals, such as the £90M contract awarded to Laing O’Rourke to finish the Royal Liverpool Hospital redevelopment after the collapse of Carillion.

Infrastructure, traditionally one of the two largest sectors alongside residential, saw an increase in contract value by 6.9% taking its monthly total to £1.3Bn. However commercial & retail, hotel, leisure & sport, industrial and education construction sectors all saw decreases across the month.

Commenting on the figures, Michael Dall, Lead Economist at Barbour ABI, said: “There is no doubt that the strength of housebuilding is substantially helping improve the overall figures for the construction industry. With a shortage of homes across Great Britain and an influx of buyers helped by schemes such as help-to-buy has propelled the sector and kept developers busy to keep up increasing expectations to build more homes. Nevertheless, as Brexit continues to be discussed and negotiated, the lack of clarity on the matter for the remaining sectors seems to have influenced the total amount and value of contracts.”

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Northern Powerhouse: Manchester ripe for business investment

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss has named Manchester one of the best UK cities for start-ups and potential business expansion.

Addressing an audience of local success stories, Truss claimed that Manchester firms could one day benefit under bold new plans to encourage growth nationwide. Sir George Iacobescu, one of the minds behind Canary Wharf, is currently working with the government to develop proposals for up to ten new delivery bodies across the UK.

Designated areas could see large-scale regeneration, boosting the local economy by offering additional space for housing and office accommodation. It’s thought successful bids will receive government funding, and Liz Truss thinks Manchester an ideal candidate – the hope being that the city will be among the many submitting ideas.

“Manchester is one of the most spirited, industrious and ambitious cities in Britain and the businesses here are determined to work their way right to the top,” said Truss.

“The Mancunians I met today want to get on with growing their businesses. And that’s why I want the best and brightest businesses to come to the government with ideas for how they would make best use of a development corporation. These hubs could help attract quality jobs, give growing businesses the space to expand, and increase business confidence in the north even more.”

Recent statistics show that the North West economy is performing well. The autumn Budget made a number of announcements in support of the region, helping to drive growth and prosperity throughout the North West. Among them, a £770 million cash boost for the Transforming Cities Fund and a £53 million initative to combat potholes.

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CBI: Manufacturing activity makes a recovery in November

UK manufacturing experienced a noticeable rise in output this month, with order books on the rebound following a drop-off in October, according to the latest Industrial Trends Survey from CBI.

As part of its monthly survey, CBI – the Confederation of British Industry – polled 381 UK manufacturers and found that output volume growth had accelerated in the three months to November, outpacing the long-run average.

Total order books also strengthened following October’s drop-off, while export order books showed improvement – albeit marginal. Crucially, both remained stronger than the historical average.

Looking ahead, CBI said UK manufacturers would continue to benefit from ongoing global economic expansion and a lower sterling exchange rate, though overall economic growth is expected to remain subdued – a result of weak household income growth and prevailing uncertainty over Brexit.

According to CBI Chief Economist Rain Newton-Smith: “It’s encouraging to see an improvement in the manufacturing sector after October’s stark survey, with order books and output growth on the up. But the future prosperity of manufacturers depends on getting the Brexit deal right.

“The overwhelming message from business to the government is to make progress, don’t go backwards. We need friction-less trade for our world-beating manufactured goods and a transition period which draws us back from the cliff edge. Anything less than that and jobs and investment could suffer.”

“Improvements in output volumes and overall order books will come as some relief for manufacturers following a weaker out-turn in October,” added Tom Crotty, Group Director of INEOS and Chair of CBI Manufacturing Council. “Firms will have also broadly welcomed the Autumn Budget, especially the progress on Apprenticeship Levy reform.

“Manufacturers’ top priority unsurprisingly continues to be for the government to secure friction-less trade and a Brexit transition period. The sector will also be urging the government to rethink its proposed approach to immigration policy, which, by placing tight restrictions on low-skilled labour, would have a particularly negative impact on manufacturers.”

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New NHBC standards reflect growing interest in MMC

An upsurge in interest relating to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) from the UK’s house building industry has played a key role in determining the NHBC Standards 2019, set to come into force on January 1st.

A renewed emphasis, particularly from the offsite sector, coupled in advancements made by the light steel frame industry, has driven the review of Chapter 6.10 and focused attention on areas where helpful and informative guidance for the appropriate use of this technology is needed.

As such, Standards 2019 will introduce the first major update to Chapter 6.10 ‘Light Steel Framing’ (LSF) since it was first published in 2005.

Given the increase of modular systems using LSF, Standards 2019 have added considerations to the stage 1 certification which should be considered in the manufacturer’s system manual.

Chapter 6.2, which focuses on ‘External timber framed walls’ and Chapter 8.1 ‘Internal Services’ in relation to boiler flow rates, have also been updated, along with a number of additional minor changes on a range of issues.

Commenting on the new guidelines, which will come into force for new homes where the foundations are begun on or after January 1st 2019, NHBC Standards & Technical Manager Paul Cribbens said: “NHBC’s dedicated team have spent the past year developing technical content and updates to form the new Standards, working with other partners and organisations from across the industry.

“The increased interest in MMC has contributed to these changes and we hope that these revisions will continue to help in raising standards of new home quality for the benefit of homeowners.”

For further information and for access to a range of useful provisions, including free access to the latest standards, please visit nhbc.co.uk/standards

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£1Bn for Scottish schools programme

The Scottish Government has announced it will invest a further £1Bn in rebuilding and refurbishing schools.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced the funding package which will begin in 2021, after the current school building programme ends. The funding is set to benefit around 50,000 pupils – in addition to the 60,000 who will see their schools renewed or refurbished by the end of this Parliament.

The fund will deliver digitally enabled, low-carbon schools and campuses providing benefits to pupils and the local economy. The design of schools will ensure they are inclusive and welcoming places that meet the needs of all who use them.

New investment models to support the scheme will be developed in partnership with COSLA and councils, with decisions on which schools will benefit focused on those in the poorest condition. It is expected that partnership design and development work will begin next year.

Speaking at the Education Buildings Scotland conference in Edinburgh, Mr Swinney said: “Every pupil should have the best support throughout their education, which includes access to high-quality, up-to-date facilities that parents, staff and children can be proud of.

“This further £1Bn investment will build on the progress already made by the existing Schools for the Future Programme and drive further improvements in the learning estate from 2021.

“We have worked closely with local authorities since 2009 and will deliver 117 new school projects benefitting 60,000 pupils by March 2020. We will keep up the momentum of improvements in education facilities throughout Scotland.”

COSLA’s Children and Young People Spokesperson Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “I am pleased that this investment will be developed in partnership with COSLA. It is vitally important that we get this right and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government to ensure that we do.

“All of our children and young people deserve to be taught in the best possible facilities to enhance the learning and teaching experience and it is vital that we work together to make this opportunity work for every pupil in every community.”

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Plans for Eden Project North revealed

The vision for Eden Project North, a major new attraction in Morecambe, Lancashire, has been revealed.

The Eden Project, the Cornwall-based environmental charity, has presented its vision for a northern twin – revealing new images and details to its northern partners, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Lancaster University, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council.

Eden and its partners successfully completed a feasibility study in September and are now seeking funding to make the project a reality.

The plan is to develop a destination that combines indoor and outdoor experiences, connecting people with the internationally-significant natural environment of Morecambe Bay while also enhancing well-being. The vision will bring the seaside resort into the 21st century, boasting reimagined lidos, gardens, performance spaces, immersive experiences and observatories.

©Grimshaw Architects

Eden is working with Grimshaw, the architecture firm who designed its world-famous Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes, to create this unique structure for Morecambe with a focus on the marine environment.

Located on a prime site on the Morecambe seafront, central to Grimshaw’s vision of Eden North is a series of pavilions inspired by mussels, which could house a variety of environments.

Dave Harland, chief executive of Eden Project International Limited, said: “We’re incredibly proud to present our vision for Eden Project North and hope that the people of Morecambe and the surrounding area are as excited about it as we are. We aim to reimagine what a seaside destination can offer, with a world-class tourist attraction that is completely in tune with its natural surroundings.

“Morecambe is a unique and beautiful location, perfectly situated near the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. It’s so heartening to be working with partners who share our ambitions and aspirations for the town and region.”

Eden Project North will be designed to help the regeneration of the area socially, economically and environmentally. Its southern twin has already contributed £2Bn to the local economy and welcomed more than 20 million visitors since it fully opened in 2001.

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How can construction improve educational standards?

In this article, Mark James, Partner – Dispute Resolution, Coffin Mew,  explores the opportunities for the construction industry arising from the Government’s education agenda. From renovations and refurbishments to the building of new and interactive learning environments, what is happening and how can construction play a positive part in improving educational standards?

After a few years of steady growth for construction output in the education sector from 2013 to 2016 that reached a peak of around £11.2Bn in 2016, activity seems to be declining slightly on the path to 2021. With an ever-increasing demand for school places and pupil populations across the country expanding to capacity and beyond, the Department for Education has a difficult balance to strike between opening new schools and improving the condition of the existing school estate, particularly in the context of severe financial constraints. As we welcome September and the new school term, now seems as good a time as any to take stock of the current landscape for the construction industry on the back of the government’s education agenda.

Capital funding for schools

It is the responsibility of each local authority to ensure there are enough places for all children to attend good schools within its area. The Department for Education’s role is to allocate capital funding to enable local authorities to manage the supply and demand of school places.

To relieve the pressure on local authorities caused by the rapidly growing school-age population, the government’s 2015 Spending Review announced a £23Bn capital investment to facilitate the opening of 500 Free Schools, and provision of over 600,000 additional school places. Free Schools are independent, state-funded schools that have been brought in to increase choice for parents, encourage innovation and stir up competition to improve education standards. The Free School expansion plan was bolstered by a further contribution of £320M in the 2017 Spending Budget.

Construction projects in England’s education sector are also being driven by the government’s Priority School Building Programme (PSBP), which recognised the need to maintain existing schools with a £4.4Bn investment to rebuild and refurbish schools in the worst condition across the country. The programme is being rolled out over two phases and will cover a total of 537 schools before coming to a conclusion in 2021.

However, some say the Department for Education’s initiatives have not gone far enough. A report by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) titled ‘Building a Better Britain” comments that schools built under the PSBP are “just too cheap” and suggests that an additional 20% capital investment is required to achieve quality schools with good durability to limit future repair and maintenance costs. The RIBA observes that the government is failing to properly analyse how well school buildings are performing against their design objectives and recommends that a focus on better design can help ensure that government funding for schools stretches as far as possible by delivering better value for money.

Controversy surrounding the government school building programmes triggered two high-profile public enquiries into Capital Funding for Schools last year, one by the National Audit Office (NAO) and another by the House of Commons. Among other things, the reports concluded that capital funding is perhaps not being applied in the most coherent and cost-effective way. The reports also recognised that the Department of Education is not yet able to reliably assess the state of the existing school estate and how the condition is changing over time, which means funding may not be targeted according to the greatest need.

A significant part of the school estate is in poor condition and in need of urgent overhaul. The NAO report suggests it would cost an estimated £6.7M to return schools to satisfactory or better condition and forecasts that this figure will double by 2020-21. Given that a further 420,000 new school places are needed by 2021 to meet the growing demand, the tension between opening new schools and maintaining existing schools will continue to mount. With the Free Schools initiative and the PSBP tarnished by evidence that capital funding is not being utilised efficiently or targeted appropriately, the extent to which the Department for Education will adjust their approach is yet to be seen.

Higher Education

While higher education construction work represents a smaller market than the schools and colleges sector, university development projects seem to be on the rise. This is so despite a significant decline in UK university applications, which were down 11,000 from last year according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), with the decline largely explained by there being a lower population of 18-year olds available to go to university.

Construction output in the higher education sector is forecast to rise to around £4Bn by 2021 as universities seek to invest in research, teaching and accommodation facilities to compete for higher fee-paying students. The shortfall in university owned halls of residence continues to be met by privately funded purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), a sector which has seen significant growth over the past few years.

Funding crisis?

The Department for Education’s problems do not stop there. It has been reported this month that thousands of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are not getting the essential support they need following cuts to funding. The consequences of these cutbacks include a reduction in the number of specialist teachers and teaching assistants, and pupils with SEND struggling to access vital services, support, specialist equipment and teaching materials. As a result of this, many schools can no longer afford to support children with SEND, with some schools excluding disabled children or encouraging parents to remove them.

Figures show that the number of children with SEND left without a school place more than doubled from 2016 to 2017, with the total number reaching over 4,000 last year. In addition, pupils with SEND are up to six times more likely to be excluded and make up almost half of all permanent exclusions.

In response, the campaign group SEND Family Action has launched a crowdfunding appeal towards a legal challenge against the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds. The action is being led by a group of parents of children with SEND who have seen firsthand the catastrophic impact the cuts are having on disabled children and the wider school age population. The group claim that government policies are leaving local authorities with insufficient money to fulfil their statutory responsibilities to disabled children and this is undermining their legal right to an inclusive education.

This national action follows a number of judicial review challenges against local authorities in respect of SEND funding. In August 2018, a court ruled that Bristol City Council acted illegally by cutting £5M from its SEND budget, forcing the Council to back down on the cuts.

The High Court has granted permission to a further two challenges against funding plans of Hackney Council and Surrey County Council which will undergo judicial review later this year. 

 

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Imperative for resilient UK infrastructure

Infrastructure is at the heart of the UK’s economy and productivity, running through transport, communication, energy, water supply and sewage systems.

To prevent significant disruption to our transport, economy, well-being or even loss of life, it’s essential that infrastructure is protected and scenarios explored to help counter threats such as cyber-attacks, extreme climatic events, or accidents, say experts from DAFNI, the UK’s Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure.

Substantial investment goes into infrastructure: the UK’s National Infrastructure Plan has set aside over £460Bn of investment for the next decade. This year’s budget includes £28.8Bn pledged to a strategic roads investment package, £770M to improve transport infrastructure in cities, and new funding for fibre and 5G investment. Billions more could be spent if disaster struck major infrastructure nodes.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has commissioned a study on infrastructure resilience to identify how resilient the UK’s infrastructure is now and what needs to change to improve resilience and minimise cascade failures.

In his letter commissioning the study, the Chancellor notes that “The development of the Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure (DAFNI) provides a particular opportunity to undertake an in-depth analysis of resilience, working with key stakeholders.”

The UK’s Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure (DAFNI) is a world-leading centre for excellence in infrastructure research based in Oxford, UK and is managed by the Scientific Computing Department (SCD) of the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

Sam Chorlton, Leader of DAFNI at STFC commented that: “A major electricity outage alone can have a devastating impact far beyond the region where the substation is located. Increasing dependence on computer systems and connectivity in areas such as our hospitals, transport, businesses and communication means identifying failure scenarios and their impacts is vital to plan for ways to mitigate those potential failures.”

From DAFNI’s perspective, the analysis would look into the social-technical and economic impacts of systemic cascading failure across several interdependent sectors as a consequence of a disruption in one or more of its parts.

This could include mapping how the failure of electricity sub-stations would impact on other critical national infrastructure, including transport systems, water supply, telecommunications, health, education and business services. This type of disruption can be caused by man-made actions (on purpose or as a result of error) or by natural events such as flooding, extreme heat or high winds, with extreme weather situations set to become more likely with climate change and global warming.

Ensuring that monies spent on infrastructure are invested in the right place, in the most efficient way, in ways that will ensure projects complement each other now and in the long term, and can withstand challenging incidents, have been boosted by the Chancellor’s request to the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) to conduct a study on infrastructure resilience.

Infrastructure underpins success: the UK’s economic success is dependent on having efficient and reliable infrastructure systems. The study will review our increasingly-interdependent infrastructure systems and investigate how systems can cope with “future shocks, threats and challenges”. It will also assess the costs and benefits of preventative measures and will be of vital importance to government, economists, business leaders and research and government bodies in the UK and overseas.

In his request the Chancellor specifically references DAFNI, a UK national research facility recognised as a world leader for infrastructure systems analysis, modelling, simulation, visualization and decision support being delivered by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and hosted at the prestigious Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Harwell, Oxford.

Chair of the DAFNI Governance Board, Jim Hall, comments: “It is encouraging to see this level of recognition of the opportunity that DAFNI provides for UK infrastructure systems analysis.”

Sam Chorlton, Leader of DAFNI at STFC, added: “At a time when so much is changing around the world both climatically and politically, it’s essential to look at how we shore up our infrastructure and ensure critical hotspots are identified as early as possible, to ensure global resilience and success.”

The final report is provisionally set to be published by spring 2020.

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC in April 2019 : UKIS 2019

Click here for more information on how to register or exhibit at the UK Infrastructure Show 2019.  

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Construction industry to benefit from major skills boost

With the skills crisis a major worry across the construction industry, the announcement of 26 new innovative partnerships designed to train up thousands of workers, will come as welcome news.

With an estimated 158,000 new construction workers needed in the UK over the next five years, the new scheme will help create the skilled workers to meet this challenge.

Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, has confirmed the names of 26 innovative partnerships which will be set up across the country on ‘live’ construction sites.

The partnerships have won a share of the £22M Construction Skills Fund to set up the new ‘hubs’ which will train more than 17,000 people to be job and site-ready by March 2020. The winning projects, including Southwark Construction Skills Centre in South London and Liverpool Waters Construction Hub in the North West, have collectively committed to training up over 7,000 people into permanent jobs by the end of the programme.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said: “It is vital that we have a strong workforce post-Brexit. The Construction Skills Fund will ensure more people gain the skills they need to forge a successful career and help create the skilled workers we need to deliver on our housing ambitions.

“I’m pleased to announce the 26 winning projects that will train up thousands of workers and help tackle the skills shortages in the construction industry. To support this drive further we are transforming technical education including introducing a brand new T Level in construction, a high-quality technical qualification which will be rolled out from 2020.

“Whether building new homes or contributing to major infrastructure projects to keep our country connected, working in construction means helping to shape Britain in the months and years ahead.

According to the latest statistics, over 222,000 new homes were delivered in 2017 to 2018 demonstrating that the government is on track to deliver 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s. The training ‘hubs’ will help deliver on that promise and provide a skills boost for the construction and housing industry.

Minister of State for Housing Kit Malthouse said: “We can’t build the homes our communities need without a dedicated and skilled construction workforce.

“Our Construction Skills Fund will play a crucial role in training the future labourers required to build more, better and faster homes.”

The scheme is funded by the Department for Education and is being delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

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New white paper highlights the need for more CSCS SmartCards to be checked electronically

A new white paper by CSCS IT Partner Donseed looks at the statistics behind how CSCS SmartCards are currently being verified on site. It highlights that visual checks with paper-based recording are almost 10 x more likely to occur than electronic checks using smart technology.

As many fake cards are difficult to spot from a visual inspection alone this could lead to unqualified workers gaining access to construction sites, where they can cause accidents and injury, the very issues CSCS was designed to prevent. In comparison, electronic checks can detect fake cards with 100% accuracy in a matter of seconds.

This means that many employers are missing out on the full potential of CSCS SmartCards.

The Chief Executive at CSCS, Graham Wren, has made it very clear that “unless people use consistent and accurate methods of checking cards to certificate workers’ training and qualifications, the schemes cannot fulfil the roles they were designed for. The smart technology within CSCS SmartCards is a simple and cost-effective way to do this.”

This white paper, written by the team at Donseed, covers:

• The background of CSCS SmartCards
• Current on site card checking procedures and how information is verified
• How smart technology could be better employed to help tackle card fraud
• The benefits of integrating third-party apps with CSCS’ smart technology

Download the white paper for free here.

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Innovative tech to improve Saltash Tunnel safety

A scheme to introduce new technology into the Saltash Tunnel is due to start next week.

The scheme will see the incident detection system within the A38 tunnel upgraded, which will provide quicker and more reactive detection of vehicle fires and other incidents.

Some 5,000m of cable – equivalent to 415 double decker buses – will be installed inside the 410m long tunnel. New state-of-the-art technology inside the 30 year-old tunnel will include Wayfinder emergency evacuation signs, and separate smoke and heat detection systems, all aligned to the public address system to direct drivers to the safest tunnel exit in the event of an incident.

The new improvements will link into the current system to ensure drivers are alerted quicker and help Highways England and the emergency services to react quicker in responding to any potential incidents via the Tamar Bridge control room.

Highways England spokesman Julian Strong said: “The current detection system is still operational but this essential upgrade is needed to meet current standards, and the work to integrate the different systems is innovative.

“This will enable automatic detection, without the risk of false alarms, and make the tunnel as safe as possible for all those who use it.”

The £1.2M scheme, financed from Highways England’s Innovation Fund, will start on Monday, 26 November 2018 and is scheduled to be completed in the spring.

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC in April 2019 : UKIS 2019

Click here for more information on how to register or exhibit at the UK Infrastructure Show 2019.  

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Construction industry sees 392,000 sick days in 3 years

New research from Direct Line for Business reveals the construction industry suffers from the highest proportion of sick days taken due to accidents at work.

Across industry, workers took in total 4.3M sick days between 2014 and 2017, with 568,000 being the result of an accident in the workplace. Employers are losing on average 1.4 million days of workers’ productivity each year due to sickness.

The construction industry lost 392,000 work days between 2014 and 2017 due to employees self-reporting illness caused or made worse by their job.

Stress, depression or anxiety are the most common illnesses keeping people off work, with more than 12.5 million days lost by more than 526,000 workers in the 2016/17 financial year alone. Musculoskeletal disorders, breathing or lung issues, upper limb or neck problems are other common ailments that keep workers from attending their job.

The new research showcases just how risky working in the construction industry can be, between 2012 and 2017 there were 26,196 non-fatal accidents recorded on building sites and 196 fatal. Almost half (49%) of fatal accidents on a building site were the result of workers falling from a height. However, not all dangers are high up. When it comes to non-fatal accidents, more than 100,003 people were injured following a slip, trip or fall, while 84,734 recorded an injury when handling, lifting or carrying something.

Unite, the construction union, has called for employers to start taking workers’ safety seriously. Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail, said: “Each and every one of these accidents will have a profound effect on the worker involved. With regards to the large number of tragic fatal accidents; families will have been left devastated when a loved one went to work one day and never came home again.

“What this research demonstrates is that far too many employers are playing fast and loose with safety laws, resulting in workers being needlessly injured at work.

“The sharp decrease in HSE prosecutions is deeply troubling. The best deterrent against unscrupulous employers cutting safety is the fear that they will be caught and prosecuted.”

The survey also found that the number of prosecutions being taken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in construction has substantially declined. There were 246 cases taken in 2015/16 and just 206 in 2016/17, a fall of 16%.

However, safety is improving, with 2016/17 seeing the lowest number of fatal accidents in the construction industry in the last five years with just 30 deaths, compared to 47 in 2015/16. This decrease was driven by a decline in the number of fatal accidents caused by falling from a height (down 27%), while deaths caused by being trapped by a collapsed or overturned item fell by 88%.

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Fully structured education

How engineering is helping to build centres of learning excellence across the UK, Paul Jarvis, Director at Thomasons, explains.

Although very much behind-the-scenes, a structural engineer plays a key role in the design of world-class educational buildings. We provide essential consultancy on everything from the construction of nurseries and primary schools to the conceptualisation of universities and other centres of higher education.

Our approach to the design and construction of educational facilities has changed a great deal in recent years.

As such there are many more design requirements which need to be considered and regulations which need to be met in order to create environments where young people can excel, mentally and physically.

Our role is to help architects and designers realise their blueprint vision, whilst delivering structures which are robust and fit-for-purpose. From time-honoured techniques to the latest innovation, I’ll be looking into how engineering is helping to deliver centres of learning excellence across the UK.

‘Long life, loose fit’

There are now a myriad of architectural ‘essentials’ which make up the modern educational building. One which immediately springs to mind is the current desire to achieve open plan spaces, with plenty of natural light and ventilation while also providing a safe, robust yet cost effective and sustainable structure.

It’s a tough balance to strike, and that’s where structural engineers come in. Essentially, the structural solution needs to support future flexibility, allowing for short term changes of layout and use as well as long term expansion. Careful location of load-bearing columns and walls is key to designing schools that are able to respond to change quickly, minimising disruptive construction work. This is well encapsulated in a catchphrase that is often applied to the design of schools: ‘long life, loose fit’.

At Tormead School in Guildford, we utilised a lightweight ETFE roof comprising a series of inflated cushions supported via curved circular steel sections to span over the dining hall creating a fantastic open plan architectural space with excellent levels of natural light.

Bedford Modern School Science Centre

Framing the future

Looking towards material innovations which are helping to meet this increasing appetite for open plan spaces, there have been some very interesting recent developments.

Developments in terms of Structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS), cross-laminated timber panels (CLT), and Glulam space frames often combined with hybrid steel tension members are providing exciting opportunities for structural engineers.

The use of these timber engineered products enables a higher degree of off-site manufacturing and fast factory quality construction combined with good inherent airtightness and self-finishing. Additionally these methods of construction offer real benefits in terms of low environmental impact providing the timber is responsibly sourced.

Accommodating students

There has also been a definitive rise in student accommodation to complement an increase in higher-education academic facilities. For these projects, architects are becoming extremely creative. We are noticing a growing emphasis on embracing off-site manufacture and timber engineered structural solutions.

In line with the material innovations mentioned above, the boundaries of timber structures are being pushed further on a daily basis. For example, the Structural Award-winning Tallwood House is a mass timber-hybrid student residence at the University of British Columbia and at 18 storeys is one of the world’s tallest contemporary timber buildings.

The structure comprises 17 storeys of prefabricated timber construction over a reinforced concrete podium incorporating two reinforced concrete cores that house elevators, stairs and services conduits. It is a building which is truly ahead of its time.

Engineering academia

With regards to how a well engineered project can help to improve educational standards, it is known that well designed schools raise the aspirations and achievement of the students that use them, help to retain and motivate staff and raise the overall morale of the school.

The structural engineer working closely with the architect, and the services engineer, plays a fundamental role in designing great schools. Spaces within school buildings need to be flexible and facilitate everything from individual study to large classrooms or even lecture theatres.

Putting theory into practice, at Bedford Modern School Science block we designed a structure that formed cutting edge laboratory spaces wrapped around a central teaching theatre. No one structural solution fits all spaces, so concrete framed construction was utilised for the laboratory spaces and cantilever access walkways, whereas longer span lightweight steel framing was used to span the roof over the central space.

Always be flexible

Ultimately, designing the structure for educational buildings is about utilising the best fit structural solution for the architectural space which may be the more traditional concrete or steel frame or more innovative timber engineered solutions to give the most flexible but viable structural solution, incorporating repeatable and adaptable details.

The impetus for embracing off-site manufacture particularly with emphasis on the benefits of timber engineered solutions offers many tangible benefits including aesthetics and sustainability.

However, this approach must always be grounded by the proviso that the cost versus other more traditional methods needs careful evaluation, together with the robustness / fire performance, and difficulty of incorporating late design changes.

It is only through ensuring this essential equilibrium that you will achieve a high-performance building which meets the needs of the client’s brief and the expectations of students and staff.

 

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HS2 seeks construction teams for new station

HS2 has launched its search for the construction teams for the new station at Curzon Street, in Birmingham.

With ground works contractors already on site, preparing the ground where the new concept station will be built, the finished station will put Birmingham firmly at the heart of the HS2 network.

The arrival of HS2 in 2026 is expected to help transform the city centre and unlock up to 36,000 jobs and 4,000 new homes across Birmingham.

Designs for the station have been developed by WSP, working with Grimshaw Architects and Glenn Howells, and include a huge arched roof inspired by the city’s transport and industrial heritage. The layout places people at the heart of the design, offering seamless connections to the local metro, rail and bus network, giving easy access to the wider region.

Work is also underway to restore and reopen the original Curzon Street Station building, the only surviving part of the original 1838 station, as a visitor and heritage centre.

Welcoming the start of the contest, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, Mark Thurston, said: “HS2 is already unlocking new opportunities to create skilled jobs across the West Midlands and, over the next decade, the winner of the Curzon Street contract will go on to build one of the most exciting and high profile elements of the project.

“We’re looking for the best the construction industry has to offer. Companies that share our commitment to safety, good design, environmental protection and value for money. Together we will deliver an iconic new gateway to Birmingham – a building the city, the wider region and the travelling public can be proud to call their own.”

HS2 Minister, Nusrat Ghani, said: “Birmingham is central to HS2, and the transformation that is already taking place shows exactly how our new high-speed railway will drive forward regeneration and economic growth across the country.

“Curzon Street station will be the perfect gateway to Birmingham and will live long in the memories of visitors, boosting business and tourism in the city.”

Dawn Karakatsanis, Director of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Midlands), said: “The start of the procurement process for a new station at Birmingham Curzon Street is a fantastic opportunity for industry and a boon for the entire region.

“CECA believes HS2 will be fundamental to the rebalancing of the economy and will drive growth, create jobs, and be transformational in closing the capacity gap on the UK’s railways.

“HS2 will be central to the diverse portfolio of transport infrastructure the UK will rely upon in coming years, and the initiation of procurement for a new station at Birmingham Curzon Street should be seen as a major milestone towards the delivery of this once-in-a-generation project.”

Bidders are expected to be shortlisted in the spring, with contracts awarded in 2020. Separate construction contracts for Birmingham Interchange will follow next year.

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC 30th April 2019 : UKIS 2019

Click here for more information on how to register or exhibit at the UK Infrastructure Show 2019.  

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Environment Agency launches Thames lock improvement programme

The Environment Agency has launched a £2.1M programme of improvements to River Thames locks, as part of its annual winter programme of infrastructure investment.

The work will support recreational and commercial boating along 135-mile stretch of the River Thames.

Major projects will be carried out at five of the 45 lock sites it owns and operates from Cricklade in Wiltshire to Teddington in Middlesex – but all sites will benefit from some level of investment.

Barry Russell, River Thames Waterways Manager, at the Environment Agency, said: “This year’s £2.1M programme of work is one of the most extensive for some time.

“The work our specialist navigation engineers, craftsmen and contractors will carry out is absolutely vital. It will directly support both recreational and commercial boating on the Thames, and indirectly support the many thousands of businesses along the river sustained by the spending power of our boating customers. That’s not just marinas, boat yards and chandleries, but shops, hotels, restaurants, pubs, visitor attractions and so on.”

Major schemes covered under the programme include; the refurbishment of the concrete-lined chamber of the launch locks at Teddington Lock, Middlesex and Caversham Lock, Reading; fabricating four brand new gates for Day’s Lock, Little Wittenham, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire; replacing the facing timber and balance beams on all four lock gates at Rushey Lock, Buckland Marsh; and replacing the facing timber on all four lock gates at Molesey Lock, East Molesey.

Additional works include refurbishing the concrete sill underneath the tail gates at Cookham Lock near Maidenhead in Berkshire, structural surveys of the lock chambers at King’s Lock near Wolvercote in Oxfordshire and Whitchurch Lock near Reading in Berkshire. The agency is also refurbishing mooring facilities at Blake’s Lock in Reading.

Other work being carried out as part of this year’s programme includes upgrading lock control systems; repairs to numerous towpath bridges; bank protection works at a number of locations; improved site-security systems and a survey of all lock offices to check on their condition and identify where improvements could be made to improve staff welfare and facilitate greater commercial activity.

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC 30th April 2019 : UKIS 2019

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HSE warns construction firms after worker falls from height

The HSE has reminded construction companies of the dangers presented to employees working at height after a construction company was fined after an incident at one of its sites.

Croudace Homes Limited has been fined after an employee fell through a plasterboard ceiling onto a staircase below at a site in Basingstoke.

At a recent hearing, the court heard how an employee was working in a loft space when he fell through a plasterboard ceiling onto the staircase below. He sustained a punctured lung, six fractured ribs, a fractured vertebra and a fractured shoulder.

The HSE carried out an investigation and found that there was poor planning of the pre-plaster work and a lack of understanding of the risks associated with working at height in the loft without adequate fragile surface protection.

Croudace Homes Limited of, Croudace House, Caterham, Surrey CR3 6XQ, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulation 2005 and was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £5,355.

HSE Inspector Sharron Cripps said: “Falls from height remain the most common cause of work-related fatalities and serious injuries in the construction industry and the risks associated with working at height are well-known.

“Working on or near fragile materials at height can be particularly dangerous and it is very important that those in control of the work identify the risk, plan to eliminate it if possible, or where it is not possible, take appropriate precautions to safeguard workers and others. Good management will also include regular monitoring that the controls in place are keeping people safe.”

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Network Rail partners with Innovate UK

Network Rail is partnering with Innovate UK in a bid to see new ideas, greater efficiencies and more investment in the railway.

The news comes as the railway infrastructure company says it is transforming, and increasingly opening up to new ideas that bring value for money and innovation. The partnership illustrates Network Rail’s commitment to breaking down barriers to entry, making it easier for other organisations to invest in and build on the railway, brought about by  Hansford Review.

To mark the new partnership, Innovate UK and Network Rail have opened a competition for UK businesses to win a share of up to £300,000 for projects that develop and demonstrate tools to automatically plan rail infrastructure, helping deliver the Whole System Modelling agenda to put performance at the heart of planning.

By working with Innovate UK, Network Rail will make it easier for other organisations – especially those not familiar with working in the railway sector – to get a foot in the door where they have not been able to before. This relationship could result in increased efficiency and reduced cost for the taxpayer-funded organisation by tapping into new suppliers as well as help UK based companies develop new products and services to export.

The competition: planning rail capacity through automated infrastructure design.

Network Rail is seeking to stimulate development in the automated design domain. 2018 saw this area take off commercially for mechanical products; entrepreneurs and technologists are now looking for other applications. The company’s ambition is to put rail in the mainstream of this domain by promoting it as the case study for use in the broader infrastructure, urban and transport planning sectors.

The collaborative research and development competition has been funded and implemented by Network Rail’s Whole System Modelling programme. The intent of this competition is to encourage the development of solutions in automated design tools where they will be market-ready in the next two to five years, and to demonstrate an open innovation procurement approach that harnesses the power of the market.

Automated design enables engineers to automatically explore a wide design space and identify the best design options quickly and in a cost-effective manner. The competition encourages the development of products and services that enable rapid automatic design of rail infrastructure. Applicants are being asked to develop solutions relevant to rail that apply automated design to track layout, overhead line electrification, traction power supply systems, and signalling systems. The competition is now open until 19 December 2018.

Ben Ford, Network Rail’s innovation lead for whole system modelling said: “We want this partnership to help us be smarter in buying technology; it will help us bring new talent to bear on our problems, and even more it creates commercial benefits. Entrepreneurial companies will invest their own capital in developing solutions and produce commercially competitive products which they will maintain and export. And when they do that they create more UK tax revenue, some of which supports the railway, so we win all round, and the public win all round. It really is a better railway, for a better Britain”

Simon Edmonds, deputy executive chair and director – manufacturing, materials and mobility, Innovate UK said: “We’re launching this first competition with Network Rail to encourage people and businesses to apply with ideas to develop tools to help plan future infrastructure requirements. This is just the start; we want to help the railway and to help Network Rail. And we want to help the UK economy. Aligned with the government’s modern industrial strategy, our purpose is to drive growth by working with companies to de-risk, enable and support innovation.

“Our message to applicants is that we’re here to help you get a foot in the door – especially if you’ve not worked in the railway sector before. We look forward to find and drive science and technology that delivers a better railway for a better Britain.”

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC in April 2019 : UKIS 2019

Click here for more information on how to register or exhibit at the UK Infrastructure Show 2019.  

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Construction of Princes Quay Bridge, Hull now underway

Construction of Princes Quay Bridge in Hull, which will one day shape development across the city, is officially underway.

Princes Quay Bridge is being built to link the city’s marina to the southern end of Princes Dock. Crucially, the bridge will significantly improve access, making it easier for pedestrians, cyclists and disabled users to cross the A63.

The £12M Highways England scheme is being part funded by the Humber LEP Local Growth Fund programme, which secured £4M through growth deals with the government and as part of an ongoing Northern Powerhouse commitment. The construction phase was officially kicked-off by Lord Haskins during an event held at the marina site.

According to Highways England Senior Project Manager, James Leeming: “This start of work is great news and a milestone we have been working towards for some time. The bridge will provide easy access across the A63, helping link communities, shops and business. The bridge has been designed to allow further development around the waterfront and is an important part of Hull’s plans for the future.”

Councillor Daren Hale, who is portfolio holder for economic investment and regeneration in Hull, added: “Our city’s transformation is well underway, and continually improving Hull’s transport infrastructure to support sustainable economic growth is a huge priority for the council. As well as delivering improved air quality targets for this area of the city. The bridge will connect the heart of the city to its thriving waterfront and is a critical element of our long-term regeneration plan for Hull.”

 

Finally, Lord Haskins – Chair of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – concluded: “This link will improve safety when crossing the busy road, and will of course impact positively on future developments. I’m sure that this will prove to be a fantastic addition to the city’s infrastructure, and I am pleased that this project is being delivered with support through the LEP’s Growth Deal programme. It is an important step towards the wider A63 Castle Street upgrade, which we look forward to seeing proceed.”

Nearby, work has recently begun on the A63 at Roger Millward Way, which will add an additional lane through the centre of the roundabout and install traffic signals to reduce congestion and smooth the flow of traffic. The £6M improvement programme is being funded as part of a nationwide £220M Congestion Relief Fund, announced by the government last year to help tackle congestion at key locations.

Work on Roger Millward Way is expected to take around nine months to complete, while Princes Quay Bridge is expected to finish in early 2020. Both schemes are being carried out together under a single contractor to minimise disruption and make the best use of available funds. The schemes will complete in advance of the major A63 Castle Street project which will improve access to the port and city centre and is due to begin in 2020.

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC in April 2019: UKIS 2019

Click here for more information on how to register or exhibit at the UK Infrastructure Show 2019.

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State-of-the-art King’s School development begins on-site

Work has begun on a brand new state-of-the-art facility at King’s School in Macclesfield – one of the UK’s biggest independent day schools.

It is thought that the 80-acre Derby Fields development, which forms part of a wider programme of works at King’s School worth around £60M, will complete in May 2020. Three sites are to be co-located at a single location, creating a new 16,000 square metre academic building with 350 rooms, in addition to a brand new sports centre which will include: a six lane, 25 metre swimming pool; a six-court sports hall and a dedicated indoor cricket centre. Outdoors, five new rugby pitches, one rounders field, two AstroTurf hockey pitches and six netball courts will also be created.

According to Natalie Clemson, Associate Director at Pick Everard and the project’s design and engineering consultant: “As well as including fantastic educational and sporting facilities, the new building will be highly energy efficient and sustainable with a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’. It will also score highly on environmental management, responsible construction, resource efficiency, low energy and water use with a reduced carbon footprint, as well as efficient heating and lighting systems and controls, among other sustainable features.”

The new development is the single most ambitious project in the school’s 516-year history. It will supplement, and sit beside, the school’s existing Derby Fields campus. Crucially, the project has been funded through the school’s selling of land at Fence Avenue and Cumberland Street to housing developers. The move will provide sustainable and affordable homes in the area alongside retirement and assisted living options.

“The school selling its existing sites to fund the project has freed up valuable land in the town centre for housing,” added Natalie, “which in turn will address the town’s need for additional housing and provide significant economic growth. We also worked with the school to deliver a series of value engineering workshops, which contributed savings of up £6M, as well as providing design solutions to maximise teaching space while meeting the client’s budget.”

John Kennerley, Chair of Governors at King’s School concluded: “We are delighted to be able to launch our 2020 vision for King’s. It will deliver not just a fantastic campus for our pupils, but enable us to develop further community use of the school beyond the 27 organisations that already share our facilities.”

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