Prime Minister announces ambitious infrastructure building reforms

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has announced a raft of radical reforms to the planning system as part of efforts to make it easier to build better homes where people want to live.

Billed by the government as the most comprehensive reforms to the planning system since the Second World War, the new regulations will give greater freedom for buildings and land in town centres to change use without planning permission and create new homes from the regeneration of vacant and redundant buildings.

Under the new rules, existing commercial properties, including newly vacant shops, can be converted into residential housing more easily, in a move to kick start the construction industry and speed up rebuilding. The changes include:

• More types of commercial premises having total flexibility to be repurposed through reform of the Use Classes Order. A building used for retail, for instance, would be able to be permanently used as a café or office without requiring a planning application and local authority approval. Pubs, libraries, village shops and other types of uses essential to the lifeblood of communities will not be covered by these flexibilities.
• A wider range of commercial buildings will be allowed to change to residential use without the need for a planning application.
• Builders will no longer need a normal planning application to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential and commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes.
• Property owners will be able to build additional space above their properties via a fast track approval process, subject to neighbour consultation.

These changes, which are planned to come into effect by September through changes to the law, will both support the high street revival by allowing empty commercial properties to be quickly repurposed and reduce the pressure to build on green field land by making brownfield development easier.

The Government say developers will still need to adhere to high standards and regulations, but will be able to avoid  unnecessary red tape.

The Prime Minister also announced that work will begin to look at how land owned by the government can be managed more effectively.

Ahead of the Spending Review, a new, ambitious cross-government strategy will look at how public sector land can be managed and released so it can be put to better use. This would include home building, improving the environment, contributing to net zero goals and injecting growth opportunities into communities across the country.

These announcements come alongside a package of measures to support home building across England. These include:

• A £12bn affordable homes programme that will support up to 180,000 new affordable homes for ownership and rent over the next 8 years, confirmed today.
• Included in the affordable homes programme will be a 1,500 unit pilot of ‘First Homes’: houses that will be sold to first time buyers at a 30% discount which will remain in perpetuity, keeping them affordable for generations of families to own.
• Funds from the £400m Brownfield Land Fund have today been allocated to the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, Sheffield City Region, and North of Tyne and Tees Valley to support around 24,000 homes.
• The Home Builders Fund to help smaller developers access finance for new housing developments will receive additional £450m boost. This is expected to support delivery of around 7,200 new homes.

Also announced today, the government will launch a planning Policy Paper in July setting out our plan for comprehensive reform of England’s seven-decade old planning system, to introduce a new approach that works better for our modern economy and society.

Later this year, we will also bring forward a Local Recovery White Paper detailing how the UK government will partner with places across the UK to build a sustainable economic recovery, launch our National Infrastructure Plan and legislate for wider de-regulatory reforms.

Mr Johnson said: “This is a government that is wholly committed not just to defeating coronavirus but to using this crisis finally to tackle this country’s great unresolved challenges of the last three decades to build the homes; to fix the NHS; to solve social care; to tackle the skills crisis; to mend the indefensible gap in opportunity and productivity and connectivity between the regions of the UK; to unite and level up and to that end we will build, build, build. Build back better build back greener build back faster.”

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Prime Minister announces ambitious infrastructure building reforms appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Consultation for Lower Thames Crossing

Highways England has announced today (Monday 30 June 2020), that they are to host an online exhibition with interactive maps and videos as part of a new consultation into refinements for one on the UK’s most ambition road projects in a generation.

The further consultation into the multibillion-pound Lower Thames Crossing, which is to connect Essex, Thurrock and Kent, will give local people the chance to view and comments on refinements made to the project’s design, based on the feedback from earlier consultations, discussions with communities, design updates and emerging technical information.

The proposed refinements include:

• minor changes to elements of the highways design;
• new and updated paths for walkers, cyclists and horse riders;
• proposals for redirecting and upgrading utilities;
• more detailed landscaping proposals, and;
• further developed ecological mitigation measures.

The consultation will be open between 00.01 Tuesday14 July 2020 and 23.59 Wednesday 12 August 2020.

Highways England Chief Executive Officer Jim O’Sullivan said: “The Lower Thames Crossing is part of the biggest investment in our road network for a generation and a crucial part of our future infrastructure. It will play a vital role in boosting local and national economic growth, providing reliable journeys, connecting communities and businesses.”

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “Our road network must be fit for the future and the Lower Thames Crossing will be key to this – almost doubling road capacity between Kent and Essex, boosting the local and regional economy and improving journeys across the South East.

“I encourage everyone to go online and have their say on the proposed changes to the design of the project.”

Highways England has already made several refinements to the project design based on feedback from previous consultations, engagement with stakeholders and, ongoing design work. The new consultation provides an important opportunity for people to have their say on the project updates before the planning application is submitted.

The consultation will also feature an online exhibition which will allow visitors to look at digital exhibition boards, like physical ones at events. It will also feature videos, an interactive map of the whole route and documents which will provide details of any design changes.

Another part of the consultation will also involve the project team hosting webinars to explain key changes, which also give the participants an opportunity to ask any questions to the presenters.

Those who do not have access to the internet or who have trouble downloading materials will be able to order a printed copy of the consultation materials to be sent to their homes and can also book a call back from a member of the project team should they have any questions about the changes.

From Tuesday 14 July, people can get involved by:

• Filling in an online survey at:  lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/design-consultation
• Posting comments or paper response forms to: FREEPOST LTC CONSULTATION
• Emailing comments to: CONSULTATION@TRAVERSE.LTD
• Calling 0300 123 5000 to book an appointment to provide feedback

The proposed Lower Thames Crossing project will be a 14.3-mile, 70mph new road, with the longest road tunnel in the UK beneath the Thames. It will almost double road capacity across the Thames east of London, connecting communities, reducing delays and providing more reliable journeys.

The feedback from this consultation will help Highways England complete its application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) later this year, asking Government for planning permission to build the new crossing.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Consultation for Lower Thames Crossing appeared first on UK Construction Online.

New Plans to Boost Construction Industry

New plans to help boost the construction industry post Coronavirus Pandemic have been announced by UK Housing Minster Robert Jenrick MP.

Planning permission deadlines are to be extended, with planning appeals to speed up and builders being allowed to work more flexible hours following agreement with local councils are just some of the measures Mr Jenrick announced last week (June 22^nd, 2020).

Planning permissions usually expire after three years if work has not started onsite, but sites with consent which have an expiry date between the start of lockdown and the end of this year will see their planning consent extended to April 1^st, 2020. This is to prevent work that has been temporarily disrupted by the pandemic from stopping altogether.

The UK Government estimates that by the end of this month more than 400 residential permissions providing more than 24,000 new homes would have expired. These new measures will help the developments and more resume as the economy recovers.

Other new measures will also permanently grant the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) the ability to use more than one procedure – written representations, hearings and inquiries – at the same time that they are dealing with a planning appeal, enabling appeals to happen much faster.

Last year, a pilot programme tested this approach and implemented recommendations of the Roswell Review, which more than halved the time taken for appeal inquiries, from 47 weeks to 23 weeks.

This will also help the construction industry to quickly agree more flexible construction site working hours with their local councils for a temporary period. This will also make it easier to follow public health guidance onsite, by staggering workers arrival times, public transport will be less busy, meaning the risk of infection will also be reduced.

Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “Building the homes the country needs is central to the mission of this government and is an important part of our plans to recover from the impact of the coronavirus.

New laws will enable us to speed up the pace of planning appeals and save hundreds of construction sites from being cancelled before they have a chance to get spades in the ground, helping to protect hundreds of thousands of jobs and create many others.

Taken together, these measures will help to keep workers safe and our economy moving as we work together to bounce back from the pandemic.”

Last weeks announcement builds on measures to support the economy and protect the capacity of the construction sector, including:

• Introducing more than £330 billion of loans and guarantees to help firms continue operating
• Deferring self-assessment payments until 2021 – crucial for a sector in which many are self-employed
• Providing households across the country with reassurance such as 3-month mortgage holidays, including for landlords, alongside a ban on tenant evictions which has been extended to 5 months
• Safely reopening the housing market, helping estate agents, conveyancers, removals firms and the wider construction and property industry to return to work while following social distancing guidelines
• Launching a Charter with the Home Builders Federation, helping construction sites reopen in line with health and safety guidance

The government continues to listen to all parts of industry to see what further support may be required.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post New Plans to Boost Construction Industry appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Work Starts on Phase Two of Bury Scheme

Construction work is set to begin on the second phase of a multi-million-pound scheme in order to reduce flooding to more than 800 homes and businesses across Radcliffe and Redvales.

The scheme, which is worth £40 million, is part of the Environment Agency’s programme £2.6 billion investment programme into flood defences throughout the country. The Environment Agency will be working in partnership with Bury Council and BAM Nuttall on the scheme and will be delivered in three parts.

It will not only reduce the risk of flooding to hundreds of local homes and businesses, but it also aims to keep transport routes and infrastructure open during times of flood. This will also help maintain vital links in an area which has been severely affected by flooding on a number of occasions.

The work beginning on the second phase of the Radcliff and Redvales Flood Alleviation Scheme will also see a combination of traditional walls and embankments, along with a new wetland habitat, as part of a catchment wide approach to reducing flood risk. The project will also incorporate a flagship Natural Flood Management (NFM) programme. NFM happens when natural processes are used to reduce the risk of flooding. The team are working with partners and landowners throughout the catchment area to deliver a range of measures such as the Lower Hinds wetland and other natural features.

These techniques will hold back water to help reduce the flow of rainwater into the river, as well as help reduce the impact of climate change.

Construction activity for phase two is set to start in July 2020 and will be started at several locations, including Warth Road, Central Avenue, Whitefield Road, Dumers Lane and York Street. When the work begins, much of the left bank of the river will be inaccessible from Lower Hinds, at the top of Warth Road, to Hardy’s Gate Bridge.

With the Environment Agency and Bury Council working in partnership with contractor BAM Nuttall, they hope that any disruption to the public will be kept at a minimum, but have also asked that residents adhere to any warning signage around the area for their own safety.

All works taking place will be undertaken in line with Government guidance on social distancing.

Peter Costello, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, said: ‘It is heartening to see the next stage of this ambitious scheme to reduce the risk of flooding across Radcliffe and Redvales starting. Seeing further work happening on the ground will hopefully give reassurance to residents and businesses owners that soon they will have measures in place to prevent a repeat of the catastrophic damage and pain caused by the impact of past flooding incidents. The scheme itself is a perfect example of the value of partnership working but also how when we are designing and building these incredible structures, we can regenerate the natural environment and public spaces while still making communities more flood resilient for the future. We look forward to additional progress on the ground in the coming months and will continue to keep residents and businesses affected by our work informed about the scheme at every stage of its development. Community drop in events will restart once it is safe to do so as and when coronavirus restrictions are lifted.’

Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: ‘In the last five years Bury has been hit by two of the worst storms in history, Storm Eva (Boxing Day 2015) and Storm Ciara in February. During Storm Ciara, the flood defences installed worked and stopped major flooding in Radcliffe; unfortunately Redvales was flooded as there were no defences yet.This next phase will eventually see Redvales protected and give residents the confidence that these defences are in place to stop flooding. Bury Council has contributed £2m to these defences with a further £3m partnership funding from the NW Rivers Floods & Coastal Committee. In 2018 I led a led a delegation from Bury which successfully lobbied for a further £7m from government to make sure that Bury got the flood defences it needed.’

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Work Starts on Phase Two of Bury Scheme appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Willmott Dixon to Give Cinema New Future

Willmott Dixon Interiors is set to give the Grade 2* EMD Cinema in Walthamstow a new lease of life by transforming it into a multi-purpose entertainment venue. The announcement comes at the specialist interiors branch of Willmott Dixon construction have been announced as Waltham Forest Council’s construction partner.

The art deco cinema in Walthamstow is a local landmark, and, was originally opened as the Granada cinema in 1930, and during its heyday saw performances from the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, and Johnny Cash.

However, is closed its doors in 2003 and the building fell into disrepair. But thanks for Willmott Dixon Interiors, the building will gain a new lease of life following an £18 million contract award. This means the venue will be transformed into a 950-seat comedy hub, which is set to reopen in 2022 by Soho Theatre.

Working with the confines the COVID-19 pandemic has created, the team at Willmott Dixon Interiors presented their plans to Waltham Forest Council via Microsoft Teams, which was also live streamed via YouTube, which also gave the opportunity for the public to watch.

The project will follow in the footsteps of similar schemes Willmott Dixon have worked on to transform Grade 2* and heritage property throughout the UK, including the Stockton Globe, Colston Hall in Bristol, Darlington Hippodrome, Octagon Theatre in Bolton and Eltham Cinema, Greenwich.

The refurbishment will include reshaping the seating and stage in order to allow performances with improved sightlines, whilst the ziggurat ceiling and the building’s frontage will also be restored to their 1930s glory.

The contract was procured via the Procurement Hub framework, with Willmott Dixon Interiors working in partnership with architects Pilbrow & Partners, and QS Stace LLP. Work will be carried out under the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Site Operating Procedures which includes social distancing measures to ensure the project is a safe environment to work during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Graham Shaw, managing director for Willmott Dixon Interiors said: “We are delighted to be involved in restoring this historic landmark that is part of Waltham Forest’s heritage so it can once again be a popular venue for people to visit as well as contributing important income to the local economy. Our team has configured the site to meet the latest guideless to ensure it is Covid-19 secure so we can carry out the refurbishment safely during the current pandemic.”

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Willmott Dixon to Give Cinema New Future appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Construction output numbers concerning

Simon Ayers is Chief Executive of TrustMark, where he is spearheading the future direction of the organisation. In this latest feature for Construction Online, he speaks about the latest set of ONS construction output figures.

The news that the construction industry had its worse month for output since records began, should not come as a shock. The coronavirus pandemic has hit us all very hard in many more ways than one. The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), released last week (12 June) showed the industry saw a 41.2% fall in new work while repair and maintenance work tumbled by 38.1%. With the construction industry making up nearly 9% of the UK’s GDP, the drop in construction output mirrored the latest economy figures which showed a slump of 20.4% in April.

There’s no way of sugar-coating it, all this is extremely concerning and makes pretty grim reading. There are valid concerns about how the industry will recover and how quickly. For example, even though some larger construction firms are getting back to work, many smaller companies will struggle against reduced supplies and less demand from a consumer market that will be low on confidence and reluctant to spend money on home improvements or new developments.

There are tough times ahead for the construction industry. During the 2008 recession, 1 in 3 small to medium-sized (SME) house building firms left the sector. Strong support and guidance from central government, scheme providers and trade federations are acutely needed to make sure firms survive this crisis and the road to recovery is smooth.

The government’s announcement in May, that people could get back to work, with appropriate social distancing, was a welcome one. In fact, by late May, Build UK reported that 86% of its sites in England and Wales were operational again. That, coupled with reports of some firms continued some form of work throughout lockdown, is hugely encouraging and will have a positive impact on construction outputs over the next few months.

More recently, guidance from the Construction Leadership Council has been released.  The Roadmap to Recovery sets out a two-year strategy of how to increase activity, achieve it safely, and build capacity. This should give confidence to firms that getting back to work is achievable.

The recent ONS figures will hopefully act as a watershed moment for many companies and encourage them to modernize. As firms adapt to the new circumstances in which we all find ourselves operating, we need to find ways of working more efficiently. This is a chance to update outdated procedures, retrain our workforce to combat the shortage of skilled traders and technicians to deliver both existing and new technologies as they come to the market, and develop and install new products in our working practices. The time for innovation and development is with us and if we can embrace it, the industry may emerge stronger from the crisis.

The recovery process will face significant challenges from a market place of consumers who will be low on confidence.  The key for the construction industry’s recovery will be where demand comes from after lockdown eases, given unemployment is expected to rise as some furloughs turn to unemployment. Will consumers want to pay for home renovations? And will they want contractors working in their homes?

It is up to us as an industry, to bring back confidence to our consumers. Tradespeople will need to prove that they can deliver high-quality work, that consumers can trust. Financially, consumers will be faced with difficult decisions about whether to invest in their homes or not. Accessible green finance options are needed to allow homeowners to move forward with developing their homes, instead of holding them back. On a more personal level, householders will want reassurance that it is safe to invite tradespeople into their homes. Firms will need to demonstrate new ways of working that show homeowners it is sage. TrustMark will launch its new Work Safe. Safe Work charter later this month which will provide a new set of practices that demonstrate how work can be carried out in people’s homes and both tradespeople and customers will be protected from infection.

With the threat of coronavirus still on everyone’s doorsteps, attention has turned slightly away from the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050. Unlike the situation we are currently living in, this will not go away, and we should keep this in our minds as the construction industry’s recovery starts moving forward. The challenge of upgrading around 24 million homes over the next 30 years is still the best opportunity to not only meet the Government’s 2050 deadline but to build a stronger and better rewarding sector out of the coronavirus pandemic. This should remain our focus as we move forward together.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Construction output numbers concerning appeared first on UK Construction Online.

New and Updated Plans for A428

New and improved routes for walkers and cyclists, along with better local road access and plans for a more sustainable project, are among changes in the design of one of the UK’s biggest road projects.

Highways England is asking people who live, work and travel in and around Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire to have the say on their latest designs for the multi-million pound A426 Black Car to Caxton Gibbet improvement works, as part of the latest consultation.

The design refinements have been made after detailed analysis of the 925 responses received during last summer’s consultation, as well as new technical information and engagement with the local community and organisations.

The suggested upgrade would see a new 10-mile dual carriageway built which would link the A1 Black Cat round about in Bedfordshire with the A428 Caxton Gibbet roundabout in Cambridgeshire. Both the existing roundabouts would also get an upgrade which would turn them into modern, free-flowing junctions, and, a new junction would be added at Cambridge Road, near St Neots.

The project would also replace the only remaining section of single carriageway road between Milton Keynes and Cambridge. By doing this, it would help with one of the UK’s most congested hotpots.

The consultation opened on Wednesday, June 24^th, 2020 at 00:01am, and will run for five weeks until 23:59pm on Tuesday July 28^th, 2020. People can respond to the consultation by visiting Highways England’s virtual consultation room, where they can also hear about the changes from Highways England’s technical team, and explore maps and more details about the proposals. Alternatively forms via Freepost are available, or by sending an email.

Lee Galloway, Highways England A428 programme lead, said: “The A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements will transform one of the busiest road links in the East of England, helping to save drivers who live, work and travel in and around Bedfordshire and Cambridge an hour-and-a-half on their journeys every week.

“Getting the views of drivers, the local community and businesses is crucial to designing a project that will offer the best value, maximise the benefits for all, while reducing the impact on the local communities and the environment.”

Key changes include:

• The creation of four “borrow pits”, close to where we are building the embankments at Roxton Road, Black Cat junction and Caxton Gibbet junction. This will considerably reduce the need to transport construction materials and will also reduce construction traffic on public roads, while also making the project more sustainable by using earth and spoil from local sources.
• Improving safety for walkers, cyclists and horse riders by upgrading crossings and creating more convenient off-road routes.
• Reducing the visual impact of the scheme by improved landscaping and planting locally sourced trees and shrubs.
• Minimising the disruption to existing businesses and reducing the impact on agricultural land, reducing the impact on farmers by using less land where possible.
• Changes to local access roads to help improve driver access.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “Our roads play a critical role in keeping Britain moving and this project will help to change people’s everyday journeys across the East of England, improving vital links and helping to reduce congestion.

“We encourage everyone to have their say during this consultation and be part of the change as we continue to invest and level up across the country.”

Highways England will be taking an innovative new approach to the consultation, designed to let people find out about the plans and put their questions to the project team, while respecting the current COVID-19 guidelines. These will include:

• A virtual consultation room where people can log on from home via laptop or mobile device to hear about the changes from Highways England’s technical team and explore maps and more details about the proposals.
• Live webchats with the Highways England technical team who can answer any questions that people have about the scheme.(Thursday 2 July 2020 10:00 to 14:00, Thursday 16 July 2020 15:00 to 19:00)
• Telephone information events where people can dial in to hear more details about the consultation. To join dial 0800 640 4956 (Monday 29 June 2020 15:00 to 19:00, Monday 13 July 2020 10:00 to 14:00)

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post New and Updated Plans for A428 appeared first on UK Construction Online.

How Coronavirus is Changing Construction

Sean Keyes is Managing Director of Civil & Structural Engineering firm, Sutcliffe. Here he speaks about how the Coronavirus Pandemic is changing the construction industry.

Like every sector, every profession and every walk of life, coronavirus or Covid-19 has and will continue to impact and change the way construction is done for many years to come – we can all be sure of that.

As a company, Sutcliffe was probably one of the first in the country to witness these changes first-hand. We had already been working with Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (as  civil engineering consultants following the demise of the previous contractor), when some elements of the project were accelerated to enable additional ICU wards to open in order to meet the increasing capacity caused by the escalating pandemic.

In my 30 plus years in the profession I am currently witnessing very different construction sites to those I am used to – social distancing, where workers never encroach within two metres of their colleagues, face masks being worn by all, and more frequent hand washing. I would be lying if I said the atmosphere wasn’t unique, and strange almost – but everyone is getting on with the job at hand, carrying out their tasks in a professional and sensible manner, being respectful of their workmates and alert to the potential risks.

And who can blame them. Recent data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the death rate among low-skilled construction workers was 25.9 per 100,000 males, or 22 deaths in total, placing it among the worst-hit occupations. However, I remain incredibly optimistic for the construction industry, and believe that if we follow the safety guidelines, we will adapt and prosper in this new norm. We are used to working in dangerous conditions such as demolition sites, contaminated land and sites containing asbestos – this is no different.

At the time of writing this article, the Prime Minister has made the announcement that the lockdown restrictions will begin to be eased – with more people encouraged to return to work if it is safe to do so. And so, Sutcliffe has implemented a phased return to work. Our decision comes following guidance given by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), and regular conversations with other engineers from across the UK to gauge general opinion. The ACE informs us that they have been consulting with the Government for many weeks about the easing of restrictions and that Downing Street recognises the construction sector as instrumental in getting the UK economy motoring again.

I will say that there has been a lack of clarity in the message from the Government on how to work safely. As further announcements are given by the Government, guidance will need to adjust to accommodate the current working procedures. Both employer and employees have responsibilities to each other to work safely.

A lot of the work Sutcliffe does is office-based. In this setting, staff will be asked to avoid public transport if possible, and instead encouraged to use foot, bike, or car. Government guidelines on social distancing will be adhered to and the wearing of masks implemented. There will also be changes to desk layout to ensure two metre social distancing rules are observed, new flexible working hours for employees to reduce the impact on rush hour, and optional weekend work will be available. Of course, those who are in a high risk group will continue to work from home. A member of the team will also be assigned the new role as “Covid Police” to ensure all employees are following safety guidelines and everyone’s preferences are duly considered. Most importantly, my team must feel safe.

When it comes to construction sites, many of the practices witnessed at the Knowledge Quarter, Liverpool, some weeks ago, will be adhered to as standard practice. I am introducing temperature checks to all staff, and one-way networks adopted similar to what the supermarkets have been doing for some weeks now. Importantly, if employees cannot get to the site safely and sensibly, then they shouldn’t be there.

Now in our 35th year, Sutcliffe enjoyed one of its most successful years to date in 2019, which crucially provides us with a solid financial footing in such extraordinary challenging times. There is no denying that this is going to be an extremely testing time for the whole of the construction industry but I am genuinely relieved that we are going into stormy waters on the back of a really successful financial year.

The speed at which Covid-19 has hit all our lives is quite surreal and reminds us all how we need to better look after our planet and the food chain. Sutcliffe has an experienced top team with 100 years of management experience between us, and all have lived through many difficult periods before – we will be drawing from this wealth of experience and knowledge to guarantee our future success and to do our bit in rebuilding the UK economy.

The post How Coronavirus is Changing Construction appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Engineering to Work Harder to Attract Women

The Founder and CEO of multi-disciplinary engineering business, adi Group, has said that the industry needs to develop a laser sharp focus to inspire a new generation of female engineers.

Alan Lusty made the remarks as his company marked International Women in Engineering day on 23 June. Mr Lusty has also said that the engineering industry needs to make a greater and ongoing commitment to attracting women into the engineering workforce.

Stats show that women make up just 12% of the engineering workforce, which indicates a significant gender imbalance in the profession that must be addressed.

Mr Lusty said: “Gender inequality is one of the most pressing issues in engineering. Whether it is the result of myths and preconceptions about the job or simply a lack of knowledge about how to pursue a career in the industry, we must do more to inspire the next generation of female engineers.”

Alan Lusty and the team at adi Group are making progress in building an organisation that women want to work for. However, he argues that for more headway to be made, female engineers must become normalised throughout the industry.

He added: “We’ve heard about women with concerns about needing a thick skin to deal with sexist attitudes or even comments and it is well-known that many females report feeling a greater need to prove themselves on site.

“This is where the industry needs reform. There is absolutely no reason why a woman should not be an engineer and every reason that she can do just as good a job as a man. No one in this day and age should experience any kind of discrimination in the workplace.”

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Engineering to Work Harder to Attract Women appeared first on UK Construction Online.

How the UK Can Learn from the Construction Sector

It’s anticipated that businesses will soon start to consider ways they will get their staff safely and responsibly back to work. If construction needs an example of a good working practice to adopt it themselves, then look no further than the construction sector, said Mark Wakeford, joint managing director of Stepnell.

When the UK went into lockdown, then so did thousands of British businesses. From micro companies and the self-employed, through to SMEs and large corporates. It goes without saying that every single British business has been affected by Covid-19.

Businesses were forced into hibernation and MDs had to create new ways of working – from setting up staff with technology to enable home working, to activating furlough to even ‘moth-balling’ their operations.

Now, the mood is changing. Company bosses – and workers – are voicing their need to get back to work in order to keeping their businesses alive, as well as the British economy, and working together to stave off a deep downturn.

As company leaders now begin to consider getting teams back into their workplaces in a never seen before scenario, it’s the construction sector they can look to for best practice.

So says Mark Wakeford, joint MD of construction firm Stepnell, a company which has complied with Government policy and remained on site throughout the lockdown, keeping its projects moving ahead, and staff employed.

“While other firms closed, we have been grappling for six weeks with new ways of working,” says Mark. “And yes, it has presented us challenges, but we have overcome most of them and if we can, then so can other firms.

“For contractors in the construction sector which decided to stop all activity, it will be harder for them as they prepare to get back to site and get quickly back up to speed.

“As well as contractors, many firms across the construction sector supply chain will be preparing in the same way. Some will be on the edge and will struggle, some firms will face insolvency – and some, hopefully the vast majority – will survive.”

Stepnell has furloughed some staff, but on most of its sites, the company has kept working – responsibly, safely and, crucially, to Public Health England guidelines.

“We have been working to the guidelines for weeks,” said Mark. “We have had to consider new ways of working for our staff and subcontractor partners to keep the site moving and keeping everyone safe. There are lessons here that our construction colleagues – and other sectors – can learn from as we slowly return to the workplace,” added Mark.

“We will be seeing other businesses in the industry – and companies across all sectors, looking to adopt safe ‘back to work’ practices. To help them get quickly back up to speed, they can take some of the lessons learned from the construction sector.”

The way Stepnell quickly adapted to the ‘new normal’ and continued to work on site was largely due to the way the company had traditionally and successfully managed its sites.

Mark said: “The way Stepnell successfully ran sites through the lockdown was through stringent planning. From the way you order materials to the way you carry out individual tasks on site – everything flows from the initial planning.

“We took the pandemic very seriously and started at the bottom and worked our way up. We carried out risk assessments for each activity on site just as we always do with our supply chain partners.  Covid-19 and Public Health England Guidelines were just another element to consider on our ways of working. If you get the basics right and build on that, then everything else can work.

“We did this collaboratively with those who had to carry on working which meant that our staff were assured by our methods and keen to continue working. The mandate from our board was to find a safe system of work and if there was not a safe system, then the operation could not continue until one was found.  We shared best practice across the company and we empowered our staff to work safely or not at all.”

 

Mark believes that the ‘bottom up’ approach, coupled with plenty of collaboration with suppliers and subcontractors is the way forward, whether in construction or elsewhere. Communication with internal with teams and individuals, as well as talking regularly to partners, clients and suppliers has also paid dividends in ensuring clear messages and understanding across all Stepnell stakeholders. Continuing to communicate is vital during this period and is something that all companies should be doing.

Construction, with its overt safety culture, has worked hard to solve many of the problems that Covid-19 has created, but there are solutions for those with imagination and a can-do attitude – something that construction excels at and something that others can learn from.

While Stepnell has tried to operate ‘business as usual,’ the impact of social distancing and complying with national guidelines has inevitably slowed down operations on site.

“It has presented challenges. For example, one of our sites has windows which we have been unable to fit for six weeks because we have yet to work out how to fit them safely with a two-metre distance rule in mind,” said Mark.

“We have decorators who are working individually when they would be in a team and we have carpet fitters who are carrying carpets into a room in pairs but who are laying them individually – in accordance with the Construction Leadership Council’s Site Operating Procedure.”

Of course, the Site Operating Procedure rules don’t just include what is happening on the building sites, but also into workers’ downtime.  “We operate staggered eating times in the canteen,” said Mark. “We have rotas so that five are in the canteen and social distancing – rather than the usual 12. Many of our sites have reasonable access so we have been encouraging staff and subcontractors to use their bicycles or drive independently in cars.”

Mark is aware that these new procedures mean that site activities are taking longer.  Coupled with a shortage of key materials, construction is more costly and ultimately, these costs will have to be absorbed. These costs could be significant and will be borne by main contractors and their tier one suppliers and this next phase will be crucial to make sure that everyone in the supply chain is as efficient as they possibly can be.

To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post How the UK Can Learn from the Construction Sector appeared first on UK Construction Online.

SPA Secure 100th Partner

The Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) has revealed that it has secured its landmark 100^th partner. The SPA is dedicated to benefiting Scotland’s social housing and public buildings.

The SPA provides partners, such as councils, housing associations, universities and emergency services, with access to innovative procurement solutions that aim to drive social value by streamlining construction, refurbishment and maintenance contracts. The partner organisations delivered in surplus of £160 million worth of projects in the year 2018-19 via their procurement solutions.

The 100^th partner joining the Scottish Procurement Alliance shows that the Alliance plays a valuable role in helping public sector organisations in Scotland work with the supply chain, which helps deliver projects in a faster and more cost-effective manner.

In 2018-19 SPA worked with 43 partners to deliver more than 220 projects, to a value of £160 million. Projects ranged in size and scope of work and included the £16m Balloch Campus new school development for West Dunbartonshire Council to an £18,000 door replacement programme for Hawthorne Housing Co-operative.

The Scottish Government has committed to the delivery of 50,000 new homes, of which 35,000 are to be affordable housing, by the end of the next parliament. SPA frameworks will be used by its partners to deliver more than 3500 homes in Scotland – 10% of the Government’s 2021 target for social rent housing.

SPA Director Clive Feeney said “SPA has team of dedicated experts firmly focused on championing best practice and ensuring partners can benefit from access to specialist procurement solutions that deliver social value in their communities.

“SPA frameworks provide our partners with a quick and easy route to market – saving time, resources and money.

“We share the aspirations of Partners, suppliers, residents and other community groups to create better buildings and homes across Scotland to ‘futureproof’ the country.

“Reaching the milestone 100^th partner cements the important link SPA has with Scotland’s public organisations, local businesses and local communities.”

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post SPA Secure 100th Partner appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Developer Put on Notice for £47bn Framework

National framework provider Pagabo has put developers on notice for its new public sector framework, which is estimated to be worth £47 billion.

This is Pagabo’s first framework that is dedicated to developers, and will help the construction industry return to a boom, allow developers the opportunity to secure new work via compliant procedure and help the NHS and public sector bodies with vital expansion plans.

Action on behalf of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Pagabo will establish a framework of developers that is capable of providing developer-led schemes within the UK for the whole of the public sector. This framework will also cover all types of developer-led schemes within construction and premises.

The new framework will run for four years from September 2020, with an option to extend for a further 18 months until April 2026. It will be open to all public sector bodies, including, schools, universities, local authorities, police and emergency services, NHS organisations, health and social care providers and housing associations, as well as central government departments and the Ministry of Defence.

Jason Stapley, managing director at Pagabo, said: “We have been in consultation with key developers and local authorities since September 2019 and are really pleased to be bringing the first developer-led framework to the market at this time to help public sector bodies procure work with developers that is critical to building a better future.

“The framework will not only to save time and effort when procuring a developer but will also save developers a lot of money on bidding for opportunities – which for some larger development schemes can be as high as £1m.

“It has of course been a worrying time for the sector, with construction output dropping by record amounts, but despite the exceptional circumstances we have seen a tremendous amount of enquiries still coming through to us from the public sector – showing the vital role that frameworks have on the road to recovery.

“Government has already indicated that infrastructure around the UK is to be a focus – and a huge part of a ‘return to normal’, and a framework that allows developers the ability to procure works through a compliant, and simple to use framework that will help with creating a more robust sector all round.

“In everything we do, we consider how it will create positive change for the industry as a whole. We are listening to our clients and understanding which projects our public sector clients are looking to procure and when. We are sharing that information with our partners, where and when we can – to instil confidence and help them plan for the COVID recovery phase and beyond.”

The framework features three lots:

• Property development via Joint Venture (JV) and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
• Long Income Lease and Lease Back, and
• Property Development Single Site by Development Agreement.

These three lots look to cover a huge variety of works including, but not limited to, social housing, commercial buildings, student accommodation, arenas and stadia.

The procurement will involve a single stage process following a Public Contract Regulations 2015 Open Procedure.

Developers are able to register their interest on Pagabo’s tendering portal, with the tender documents due to be published in the week beginning 6 July. The market engagement meeting for this framework is being held via Zoom on 30 June 2020 between 10am and 12pm. To join this briefing session, register using https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tJ-3BgXKTjKtVqQ-uMhIBw

If you would like to read more articles like this, then please click here.

The post Developer Put on Notice for £47bn Framework appeared first on UK Construction Online.

BAM Appointed to Aintree Hospital

Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has appointed BAM Construction to transform its main entrance and tower block.

The £15 million renovation will rejuvenate the outside of the hospital, and therefore will extend the service life of the 10-storey town block by at least 20 years, as the tower houses the majority of the hospital’s wards.

BAM Construction has been appointed by the trust following a competitive process under the Government’s ProCure 22 capital framework for health in England. The scheme is designated as ‘essential’ and is proceeding with a wide range of adaptions in order to meet social distancing requirements and safe operating protocols as set out by the UK Government in order to protect those who are involved in the redevelopment.

The scheme’s design will also tie in with the adjacent £35 million Urgent Care and Trauma Centre, which has also been create by BAM and was officially opened by the Duke of Cambridge in 2017. The work also looks to improve staff and patient experience within the building. It will have improved insulation, solar reflection, and natural ventilation to help manage inside temperatures all year round, meaning cold winters will feel warmer and hot summers will feel cooler.

Rob Bailey, Construction Manager for the scheme, said: “We have a very strong understanding with the Trust, and the effective collaboration between us is a critical ingredient in the success we expect to achieve here. Our experience in healthcare schemes across the UK is exceptional, and the way we work means that the Trust’s people will feel involved and informed about what is happening around them. That’s very important to us.”

BAM has commenced phase one of works and they are set to finish next summer, with phase two finishing around 12 months later, with design by Day Architectural.

Funding for the work comes via regional financial allocations, via money allocated to local Clinical Commissioning Groups by NHS England. BAM is currently at work on a number of other NHS healthcare facilities in around a dozen further UK locations. It recently delivered the new NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber. Its work in Liverpool goes back to 1933.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post BAM Appointed to Aintree Hospital appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Clear and Simple Guidance for Work Safety

The Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum (CICV) has released a short film outlining key health and safety steps that all staff should take when returning to work.

The 90 second film, entitled Working Together, illustrates the positive day-to-day measures workers in the construction industry can take to protect themselves, their colleagues and the wider community.

The release of the film follows on from the Forum’s previous animation, In It Together, which outlined the procedures for emergency domestic work and was adapted by a host of other UK and European organisations for their own use.

Rebecca Crosland, Health and Safety Advisor at Forum member the Building Engineering Services Association, said: “The restart has the potential to be an unsettling time for everybody concerned, with people unsure about exactly what they should do.

“This latest animation lays down in simple terms, with bright and cheerful graphics, the common sense ways in which everyone can contribute to a safe working environment and help keep the virus at bay.”

In line with Scottish Government and Construction Scotland advice, which is underpinned by an earlier Forum guidance document, the animation advises employees to:

• Travel to work alone, if possible
• Always observe physical distancing
• Wear a proper face covering if required
• Wash hands properly and often
• Regularly clean frequently touched tools, surfaces, and areas

The film also emphasises how everyone can play their part by:

• Bringing their own prepared food and drink
• Staying on site or using their vehicle during breaks
• Always coughing into their sleeve or elbow if they don’t have a tissue
• Staying at home and following Government guidance if they have COVID-19 symptoms
• Reading their company’s COVID-19 policy and risk assessment

The new film also follows the launch of the Forum’s return to work pack and reinforces its reputation for proactive innovation, with the collective being at the forefront of information distribution and the first port of call for advice and clarity for many enterprises.

Iain Mason, Director of Membership and Communications at SELECT and Chair of the Communications Sub-Group on the CICV Forum, said: “The Forum has been at the forefront of information flow since the start of the crisis in March.

“The number of trade associations, professional bodies, companies and individuals who have come together for mutual benefit and for the sake of the preservation of the sector underlines the core message of the film that, by working together, we can successfully navigate a safe return to work.”

If you would like to read more articles like this then please click here.

The post Clear and Simple Guidance for Work Safety appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Manchester Motorway Could Get Missing Link

The only motorway in England where drivers need to come off to continue their journey could be about to get its missing link. This anomaly was created around 20 years ago when the M60 was formed. The M60 connects several existing motorways with a new stretch of road to form a 36-mile ring road around Manchester.

The current set-up of the road means that drivers travelling Eastbound on the M60 at J18 near Prestwich, which is known to locals as Simister Island, will find themselves on the M62 to Leeds if they don’t use a roundabout to reach the Southbound section of the M60.

However, Highways England is now developing plans to cut journey times for the 90,000 drivers that use junction every day. Drivers, residents and business owners will now be able have their say on the proposals in a new eight-week public consultation which launched on Monday 22 June.

One of the options being brought to the table involves creating a new link road in a loop from the Eastbound to the Southbound M60, which would mean that drivers travelling clockwise would be able to continue their journeys without leaving the M60. This option is available to view here.

Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England’s Chief Executive, said: “We want to provide quicker and more reliable journeys for drivers across the North.

“Simister Island is one of England’s busiest motorway junctions, and the improvements we’re planning will make it easier for people travelling between the M60, M62 and M66.

“We now need your views to help make that much-needed motorway upgrade a reality.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Today’s announcement is a step forwards in making the M60 easier to use, less confusing and more efficient for drivers.

“I welcome this vital improvement which has the potential to cut journey times, improve reliability and boost businesses in the North.”

Highways England is encouraging as many people as possible to share their views on this public consultation over the next eight weeks to help to develop the designs for the motorway upgrade. Other proposals include creating a new two-lane link road for drivers travelling from the Northbound to the Westbound stretches of the M60 at Simister Island, as well as a new link road from the Eastbound M60 onto the Northbound M66.

The hard shoulder would also be converted to a permanent extra lane along the mile-long stretch of the M60 between J17 and J18 to improve the flow of traffic, providing five lanes in both directions.

Peter Molyneux, Major Roads Director at Transport for the North, said: “Simister Island is a well-known anomaly in the area which causes delay and disruption for thousands of vehicles every day.

It is included in our Northern Infrastructure Pipeline as a vital scheme for improving road connections in the North West, and on completion the upgrade will better serve local traffic and improve reliability for east-west journeys across our region.

“This consultation is welcome news as the next stage in progressing this scheme and we urge everyone to give their views.”

Highways England is changing the way it carries out its consultations during the Coronavirus pandemic, and, will no longer be holding face-to-face public events. Instead, the organisation will arrange a series of telephone and online chats, where those who take part in the consultation will be able to speak directly to a member of the project team. Almost 10,000 consultation brochures are also being posted to homes and businesses near Simister Island.

The project team will be available to answer your calls on 141 0117 2444 061 every Tuesday for four weeks from Tuesday 30 June between 11am and 7pm, as well as on Saturday 11 July and Saturday 18 July during the same times. Using 141 at the start of the number will withhold your phone number.

The online chats will take place on the project web page between 10am and 5pm on Thursday 9 July and Thursday 16 July.

A preferred option for the scheme is due to be announced in the winter once the consultation responses have been considered and, if the project is approved by the government, construction work could start by 2024.

You can find out more about the proposals and complete a consultation response form at www.highwaysengland.co.uk/m60-j18-simister-island.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Manchester Motorway Could Get Missing Link appeared first on UK Construction Online.

World First Electric Digger up for Award

The world’s first electric volume-produced electric digger has been named as one of three companies shortlisted for the 2020 MacRobert Award.

Founded in 1969, the MacRobert Award is overseen by the Royal Academy of Engineering, and is the United Kingdom’s longest-running engineering prize. It endorses the engineering achievements of those that demonstrate outstanding innovation, tangible societal benefit and proven commercial success.

The 19C-1E digger was developed by Staffordshire-based JCB. It produces no exhaust emissions and is much quieter than existing construction machines. It is the only volume-manufactured battery-powered machine of its kind on the market, with hundreds of models sold around the world. Those already sold and are in use, are responsible for saving the equivalent of 15,100kg on C02 emissions across 5,616 hours of work.

The MacRobert Award judges were impressed with the way in which JCB brought a range of engineering disciplines together when developing the machine. They also identified the optimised battery life and ability to operate indoors as important innovations.

The JCB 19C-1E is a finalist for the award alongside the all-electric I-PACE sports utility vehicle from Jaguar Land Rover and ecoSMRT® liquid natural gas reliquification technology from Babcock’s LGE business.

All three finalists demonstrate the ingenuity of engineers in developing significant innovations, which support the Academy’s drive to build a sustainable society, enabling faster decarbonisation and more sustainable use of resources.

Tim Burnhope FREng, Chief Innovation & Growth Officer at JCB, said:

“To be nominated for the UK’s most prestigious engineering award is a tremendous honour for the JCB electric team, who have excelled and risen to the challenge of introducing a brand-new technology to our business.”

MacRobert Award winners are chosen by an expert panel of Royal Academy Fellows, who have vast experience across engineering industry and academia. The JCB finalist team includes:

• Tim Burnhope, Chief Innovation Officer
• Bob Womersley, Director of Advanced Engineering
• Lee Harper, Chief Engineer – Electrified Machines
• Lee Milward, Design Manager
• Corey Smith, Test and Development Manager

MacRobert Award judge Naomi Climer CBE FREng said:

“The team at JCB has put sustainable engineering on the construction map with the 19C-1E. Their electric digger is hugely impressive and it’s an extremely important engineering innovation. JCB has demonstrated to the construction sector that it is possible to develop powerful machinery that is also emission free at the point of use. We expect their example will spur further innovation in the industry.”

The winner of the award will be announced in July, with the winning team set to receive the signature MacRobert Award gold medal and a £50,000 cash prize.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post World First Electric Digger up for Award appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Women Helping Shape the Engineering World

Highways England marks International Women in Engineering Day by speaking to the women who are helping to engineer the future of our transport network.

Although traffic levels may have dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, for Highways England engineers it’s been an important time for maintenance and work to take place. They’ve been planning, maintaining and building roads to ensure medical and food supplies can be transported around the country to those who need them most.

Highways England is celebrating International Women in Engineering Day (23 June), in a bid to encourage women of all backgrounds to ‘Shape the World’ (this year’s theme) by considering a rewarding career in engineering.

Three of Highways England’s engineers explain more about their roles and how they’ve contributed to the pandemic work force.

Bonnie Pearce – Assistant Project Manager  “Working at Highways England has widened my experience and has provided me with knowledge into the lifecycle of a construction project from all areas and specialties needed for the preconstruction period. 

I previously worked as a project management professional and engineering surveyor on a variety of environments including large construction sites, residential areas, Network Rail and London Underground gave me a view of construction from a survey perspective, enabling me to move to Highways England into my current role as a project manager on the A303 Stonehenge Project.

“The widening of my experience includes working with stakeholders, planning and scheduling works and an insight into contract preparation.

The team I work with on the A303 Stonehenge Project have adapted well to working from home during Covid19 and have kept up communication and supported each other throughout.”

Dr Joanna White – Head of Intelligent Transport Systems  “Highways England has enabled me to focus on my passion for research in Intelligent Transport Systems and how they can deliver safer and more reliable journeys. 

“I’ve developed from a Senior Research Engineer through promotion to Team Leader and then to my dream role as Head of Intelligent Transport Systems. I now lead a group of about 25 people who research and develop our technology standards and systems of the future. This includes trialling communications infrastructure to enable connected vehicle environments on our network, helping us to deliver our digital roads ambitions.

“I’ve learned about the architecture of the operational technologies we use on our network as well as about emerging technologies, such as connected and autonomous vehicles. I’ve developed as a leader, a people manager as well as improving my understanding of finance and programme management. My career at Highways England has also contributed to building my professional competence and capabilities to become a Chartered Engineer with the Institute for Engineering and Technology which I achieved in March 2020.

“Although I’m not a key worker, I’ve participated in regular calls to help manage the changes that have resulted from Covid-19, in particular the move from office-based working to home working and the opportunities and challenges that’s brought. I’ve made sure everyone’s been regularly updated and escalated issues. Part of my group’s remit is to provide advice and assurance to Operations and Major Projects schemes, and by supporting the transition I’ve been able to ensure this service has continued.”

Lorraine Bennetts – Senior Project Manager  “Highways England has provided a unique opportunity to develop my project management skills in a complex, fast paced and challenging environment.  I have been able to make use of a wide variety of training opportunities ranging from formal learning, shadowing senior leadership and more recently access to the Chartered Project Professional cohort approach.  

“I have developed my knowledge base through formal learning i.e. business case course but perhaps the biggest skill learnt is the art of collaboration.  This considers the six iBip behaviours and how together they form collaborative behaviours which empower successful delivery. I endeavour to role model and practice these skills and help others to consider their approach as there is no ‘one size fits all’ and everyone brings a different insight into the working environment. I also have had the opportunity to become a mental health first aider which has been really beneficial in supporting colleagues through difficult times.

“First and foremost, in these challenging and unprecedented times, is ensuring that my family and I help stop the spread of the virus by following the rules; maintaining our lock down and social distance requirements whilst balancing this with home-schooling four children and working full time (and living in a static caravan).

“In terms of work my project is the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements scheme and it has been crucial that we maintain progress on the scheme as we move towards our Development Consent process.  This scheme has the potential to unlock economic growth in the area and if we are to recover our economy then maintaining our commitment to the delivery of the RIS is essential.”

If you’re interested in finding out more about a career in engineering with Highways England, have a look at our website: https://careers.highwaysengland.co.uk/search-apply

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Women Helping Shape the Engineering World appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Diversification Vital for Firms’ Survival

While the construction industry is buoyed by lockdown restriction-easing, and 56% of projects that were previously suspended are now back on-site, there is a deep concern about what happens next, and where future opportunities will come from.

As the UK faces the possibility of another recession, leading business analysts are encouraging diversification strategies in order to spread risk and maintain businesses throughout the crisis.

The commercial property sector is possibly most likely to be hit first, with office in a state of flux regarding whether employees will return and continue to work at pre-Coronavirus volumes.

The development pipeline appears firm right now, with 1,080 projects being approved throughout the UK in the last three months, a six per-cent increase than this time last year. It remains to be seen in investors will progress these to site, caution and preparing to spread risk now would be prudent.

A recent report entitled ‘COVID-19: UK industry focus. Where next for real estate?’ from Strategy& – part of the PwC network – states that “42% of workers can work from home”, and “In the worst-case scenario, real estate companies would be left with expensive, significantly devalued assets on their balance sheets for which there is no demand.”

So it stands to reason that should firms be solely focused on office construction, then they should be looking elsewhere as well, in order to spread their risk and avoid he worst-case scenario if it were to arise.

Some manufacturing business are also at risk should they decide to remain focused on their ‘old-normal’ way of doing business. Strategy& states in their report “COVID-19: UK industry focus. Where next for industrial manufacturing?”, that; “Our figures suggest the industrial manufacturing sector will be hit harder than the economy as a whole, with a possible productivity fall of more than 30%”, and “Whether making parts or assembling products, manufacturers with a broader, more diverse set of customers will fare better than those who specialise in serving specific industries.”

If history has taught us anything, it is that short-term measures taken in response to a global crisis lead to changes which can last for decades. And, manufacturers that can identify new opportunities to meet newly created needs will have ample opportunity for growth.

For example, Tharsus, an advance robotics companies, has developed ‘Bump’, a new cutting-edge technology system that is designed to help keep people safe in the workplace during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Alloy Wire International have also been commissioned to produce more than 5km of material that will be used to produce crucial parts to use in life-saving equipment destined for the Nightingale Hospital in London.

Another example is Coventry-based flooring manufacturer, Amtico, who have modified its manufacturing facilities in order to produce up to 20,000 parts for protective face shields per day.

But, how can business who are entrenched in one single way of working and supplying one sector quickly turn around and be involved in other areas they many not have first-hand experience in? PwC’s Strategy& again has some useful advice to “use demand signals such as customer leads and market insight to inform recovery, preparing for different scenarios depending on the length and nature of lockdown.”

The more businesses can diversify the types of projects they work on, or supply, the better position they’ll be in to spread risk, and weather the storm.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Diversification Vital for Firms’ Survival appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Smart City Scheme Piloted

A local energy system demonstrator project which aims to show how ground source heat pumps with smart heating controls can reduce heating costs, as well as lower carbon emissions, is officially underway in Oxford.

Home provider Stonewater have partnered with Kensa Contracting to have 60 of their homes at Blackbird Leys installed with Kensa’s innovative low carbon heating solution. Individual Kensa Shoebox ground source heating pumps will be put into each property and will be connected to a communal ground array. This will integrate with smart controls and time-of-use tariffs to optimise heat production for cost and carbon savings.

The heat pump installations form part of the Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO0, a world-first project which will showcase an integrated approach to decarbonising power, heat, and transport throughout Oxford. The project is supported by Innovate UK, with ESO being led by consortium partners Oxford City Council, Pivot Power, Habitat Energy, Kensa Contracting, Invinity Energy Systems and the University of Oxford.

The renewable heating scheme with Stonewater is the first phase of Kensa’s aim to pilot smart technology in 300 homes around Oxford over the next two years under the ESO project. ESO aims to demonstrate how ground source heat pumps with smart controls can help balance the electricity grid as part of an integrated local energy solution which also includes grid connected batteries and smart electric vehicle charging points.

Leon Storer, Assistant Director – Capital Investment at Stonewater, said: “We’re delighted to be a part of this innovative and forward-thinking project, supporting the local authority in achieving a net zero carbon future.

“By replacing our residents’ current high carbon night storage heaters with Kensa’s ground source heat pump systems, we are able to not only work towards a more sustainable future, but an economical one too. This is because a benefit of transitioning to this type of heat pump system is the significant cost savings it provides for residents.”

Dr Matthew Trewhella, Managing Director of Kensa Contracting, said: “Kensa is delighted to partner with Stonewater for the first phase in this 300-property pilot ground source heat pump project.

The residents will benefit from clean, renewable heat with savings of up to 25% compared to a standard ground source heating system. Smart meters enable residents to switch to Octopus’s unique Agile Tariff, which varies the electricity price every half hour and optimises energy use when renewable power is prevalent on the grid, and together with Switchee internet connected smart heating controls will automatically run resident’s heating systems at the lowest cost times to reduce their bills while maintaining their comfort levels, and caring for the environment.”

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Smart City Scheme Piloted appeared first on UK Construction Online.

£750m Framework Partners Announced

Great Places Housing Group have announced that Seddon have been appointed to their £750 million Innovation Chain North Framework.

The four-year framework which has placed social value at its heart, is designed to support the delivery of new homes across the North of England, not only for Great Places’ but also for other Housing Associations that operate across the North of England.

Seddon have been appointed to two lots, including the high value North West and North East categories. There is a high emphasis being placed on the contractor’s social value pledges, including commitment to apprenticeships, work experience opportunities and volunteering hours.

Joanne Whitehead, Great Places’ Procurement and Performance Manager, said: “Well done to Seddon and all the organisations who have been awarded a place on the framework. We received a large number of high-quality bids and we now have an excellent group of contractors and consultants covering a wide range of disciplines to support our housing delivery ambitions. Great Places and the other housing providers who access the framework look forward to working with them all in the future.

Duncan Williams, regional director at Seddon, said: “Social value has always been at the heart of what we do, and we’re well known for our commitment to charity, training and community work across the North West. We’re really pleased that our continued focus in this area has helped us gain a place on this new framework, enabling us to not only create new homes across the region but also create new opportunities for the residents too. A big thank you to all our team who have helped to make this happen.”

Helen Spencer, Great Places’ Director of Development, said: “We are delighted to be working with Seddon on our new ICN framework. We are confident they will be able to work with us and the clients of ICN in delivering the sector’s extensive development ambitions in the North. We were delighted to have a huge response from the market and receive high quality proposals and substantial social value pledges for our communities. We are now looking forward to mobilising the framework and working together on new projects with Seddon supporting us with building new homes”

More information on the framework can be found here.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post £750m Framework Partners Announced appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Lockdown Eases: Where Does this Leave Landowners and Developers?

Barney Hillsdon is Principal and Senior Director, Land and Development, Avison Young, here he speaks about how the COVID-19 lockdown has changed the landscape of the construction industry

In March, the UK construction industry and property market effectively came to a standstill. The COVID-19 lockdown meant that contractors were sent home, sales offices were emptied, and large numbers of employees responsible for valuations, surveying and administration were furloughed.

Now, however, the industry is slowly restarting. As the government encourages construction workers to return to site and sets out plans to further ease the lockdown, we consider how land and development can regain momentum.

Setting expectations

While spring and early summer would have been a natural time for many landowners to release their development opportunities to the market, the current context means that this is no longer the case. Instead, we are using this time to have conversations with our clients about how to structure deals and present opportunities to the market, and when might be the best time to do so. Public sector organisations in particular are keen to understand when they may be able to dispose of surplus assets; for many, this is an important way of raising funding for delivering services.

But what about the other side? As we speak to housebuilders and developers, we are getting a sense of when they expect to be able to carry out the required due diligence to make proposals to landowners. The picture that is emerging is a more cautious and selective land-buying approach, with developers more likely to make conditional proposals and to seek to defer payment terms. It is important that landowners and vendors understand this, and can set their expectations accordingly.

New opportunities

There are silver linings, however. For those looking to buy, we expect to see a steady flow of development opportunities coming to the market as vendors hope to realise returns from their sites. Over the coming months, it’s likely that we will also see an increased number of distressed assets for sale. As lenders and funding markets are cautious, buyers who are sitting on cash reserves are in a good position to negotiate.

Of course, buyers need to be prudent and realistic. Social distancing measures are likely to slow the progress of builds, and developers will need to account for added uncertainty about future property values. Careful planning and forecasting will be key.

Retail redevelopments

While the whole of the property industry is being affected by the pandemic, the retail market is experiencing particularly dramatic impacts. Retail was already struggling, and many brick-and-mortar retailers are now unable to operate under the current social distancing measures. Over the next few months, we expect to see a significant increase in retail assets being sold off for residential redevelopment. Retail parks are often particularly appealing to residential developers, as they tend to be in good locations with strong transport links. Planning policy is becoming more flexible to change of use, meaning that residential developers may be more inclined to make speculative purchases when they see a good deal. Town centre and high street premises – which have been less popular in the past due to lease restrictions and planning policy – may also offer interesting opportunities for speculative buyers.

A more streamlined market

One positive outcome of a nation on lockdown is that organisations have been forced to adapt quickly to new ways of working, and digitalisation has been accelerated. As the property industry restarts, technology will help to streamline the industry. Checking site progress, contacting surveyors, and meeting with planning committees and local authorities could be quicker, easier, cheaper and just as effective if moved online. Some tasks — showhome viewings, final inspections, safety surveys — will still need to be done in person, but others can be dramatically reduced.

At Avison Young, we’ve found that flexibility has helped us to get the most from our teams. On-site staff have been staying safe but working tirelessly, and office staff have adapted incredibly well to working from home. Technology has allowed many of our people to continue their duties without coming into a shared workplace, so we’ve made returning to the office voluntary for the remainder of the year. In order to move forward and rebuild the future of the industry, we need to be promoting safe, healthy work environments — wherever they may be.

Moving forward

As lockdown begins to ease, opportunities are emerging across the property industry. Although movement may be slow and cautious, we will see transactions progressing again. Landowners and agencies are keen to get things moving, and developers could see some very interesting sites coming onto the market. Shifts are also underway that will reshape the industry forever. Open discussions, flexible plans and robust risk management strategies will be the key to success for the foreseeable future.

The post Lockdown Eases: Where Does this Leave Landowners and Developers? appeared first on UK Construction Online.

UKIS 2020 Webinar Explores Opportunities with HS2

UKIS 2020 and CompeteFor hosted a webinar earlier this week (Wed 17 June 2020) in partnership with HS2 Ltd, entitled ‘Building for Recovery: Opportunities in Infrastructure and Supply Chains’.

The webinar featured Rob Slater, a Supply Chain Manager at HS2 Ltd, who spoke to attendees about HS2 as a programme and what is going on at the various HS2 sites as well as information on major contracts within HS2. He also took attendees through how HS2 is using CompeteFor to widen their supply chain opportunities.

Rob gave the inside track on how large-scale infrastructure projects work along with insight on what buyers are looking for in their supply chains, how and when they engage with suppliers and the many requirements they have – not all of which are obvious.

Rob was joined by Eddie Regan, BiP Solutions’ Principal Procurement Consultant, who was on hand to give advice to public sector organisations on how to bid and win tenders, as well as offering advice on procurement policy.

HS2 Ltd iw official partner at UKIS, which will take place on 9 September 2020 at Birmingham’s NEC. Experts from HS2 will be based in the HS2 Pavilion, where attendees will be able to meet and engage with representatives and gain a further insight into this exciting project, as well as the supply chain opportunities that are available to suppliers.

HS2 will also be participating at the UKIS Live Stage, and in the Transport Supply Chain Zone.

Don’t miss out on the chance to visit HS2 Ltd at the HS2 Pavilion and hear leading procurement experts speak about how they do business with CompeteFor. Book now to avoid disappointment at https://www.ukinfrastructureshow.co.uk/book-now/

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post UKIS 2020 Webinar Explores Opportunities with HS2 appeared first on UK Construction Online.

15 Year Vision to Revolutionise Construction

A digital revolution in the construction sector has the ability to dramatically increase productivity and save billions of pounds. Along with this, it could also reduce disruption for the public, as well as slashing the amount of accidents which occur on building sites.

Highways England are spearheading the launch of a 15-year plan to accelerate the use of technology in infrastructure. Connected and autonomous plant (CAP) is something which is already being used in order to transform activities within the construction sector in the UK, including the use of robotic trucks on Britain’s biggest road project, the recently opened A14 improvement.

Now, Highways England, in partnership with TRL and the Infrastructure Industry (i3P), have set out a vision where the use of CAP techniques will become standard industry practice by 2035. It has also been estimated that the productivity improvements that can be achieved via CAP may exceed £400 billion by 2040.

Jim O’Sullivan, Highways England Chief Executive said: “Connected and autonomous plant will make work safer and quicker. The Roadmap lays out the benefits and addresses the barriers to making this a reality. We are confident the Roadmap will help our supply chain to rapidly make this the norm on our worksites.”

The CAP roadmap has been developed through collaboration with more than 100 industry stakeholders and predicts that the adoption of this technology in the construction industry could:

• reduce fatalities in the construction sector by 37%
• improve productivity by up to £400Bn by 2040
• see annual savings of £53bn across new construction work
• assist with 47% of construction activities currently performed
• see road construction deliver benefits of >£3bn between now and 2035

Alex Wright, Chief Technologist for TRL explained: ” The CAP roadmap has been developed collaboratively with more than 75 organisations. Through a wide variety of questionnaires and workshops, we identified the actions required to overcome the various technical, business, and legislative challenges to delivering the vision.

Overall, the Roadmap brings together nine pathways which have been identified to deliver success by 2035. This includes elements from legislation, regulation, and policy as well as factors facilitating finance and investment and an understanding of the skills gaps.”

Highways England are already trialling CAP plant in key areas. Automated dump trucks have been trialled on the recently opened A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement in the East of England. These trucks were programmed to remotely follow a pre-determined route, and also have the capability to detect and avoid obstacles and other vehicles along the route as they drove.

By introducing CPA usage, the potential for round-the-clock working can be introduced, therefore this can reduce the amount of time roadworks are on the ground. As well as this, being automated the risk of accidents on-site can also be reduced. Automation also allows or jobs to be moved to other skilled areas.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post 15 Year Vision to Revolutionise Construction appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Sustainable Housing Scheme for 2021 Start

Work on a new 88-home Cotswold Village neighbourhood could begin in 2021 after a final application was submitted.

The new village will see half of the houses built be affordable housing, is earmarked for the Severell’s Field development in Siddington, near Cirencester. Retired architect, Nicholas Arbuthnott of South Cerney had the vision behind the scheme, secured an option n the 35-acre site next to Barton Farm, and, was given outline permission on appeal in June 2017.

The environmentally friendly housing estate will occupy just 11 acres of the site, with the rest being devoted to woodland, landscaping and a new pond which will act as a wildlife haven.

Mr Arbuthnott has entered into a joint venture (JV) partnership with housebuilder Stonewood Partnership, which is based in Tormarton, to build the neighbourhood, which will be designed by another arm of the Stonewood Group, Stonewood Design.

The stone and render homes will also be designed to conserve as much energy as possible. He added: “The aim is to make the houses as close to passive as we can in terms of energy use. We will use mechanical ventilation heat recovery to recycle hot air, which means energy bills are much lower.

“We want to try and be fossil fuel free by using air source heat pumps, solar panels on the roofs and we’ll also build a solar farm with the aim of feeding the electricity into the houses.

“We have designed the site to have as many parking spaces with charging points. We are trying to future proof the development as far as we can.”

The houses will have walls up to 60cm thick to ensure the construction of the homes contribute most to their energy efficiency.

Matt Vaudin, Stonewood Design architect said the ethos of the development isn’t just sustainable buildings: “You need to get the social side of things right too. If you plonk a load of houses and face them all south so you have got all the best roofs for solar panels, you’ll have cool eco houses but you won’t have created a community,”

Mr Vaudin led a team of specialist consultants including Cirencester based Landscape Architects Portus Whitton. A footpath and cycleway will link the development to the village via neighbouring Siddington Primary School and the 2,350 homes being built on the neighbouring Bathurst Estate.

The reserved matters application for landscaping, appearance, and scale to Cotswold District Council will be considered in the next few months and, if approved, work is set to begin early in 2021.

If you would like to read more like this, then please click here

The post Sustainable Housing Scheme for 2021 Start appeared first on UK Construction Online.