Challenges and Opportunities of Brexit for Construction Industry

Paul McFadyen is the Managing Director of metals4U, in this latest feature for UK Construction Online, he writes about the challenges and opportunities Brexit will bring to the construction industry.

In a matter of months, Britain will face major changes to many aspects of society as the Brexit deadline passes and the UK officially leaves the European Union. Without a doubt the country faces challenges due to these changes, but opportunities will also present themselves.

The construction industry is no different from the rest of the nation in this regard. Whilst it faces obstacles in the form of disruption to supply chains and possible manpower shortages due to the ending of freedom of movement, changes to regulations and legislation could provide huge opportunities.

One such example is housing. It was with much anticipation that the construction industry waited to find out exactly what was included in the new planning laws of July 2020. The changes announced by Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, are focussed on speeding up the processes that supply new homes to the market, and helping breathe new life into town centres across England to meet rising private, domestic, and commercial property needs.

The changes are intended to fast track and streamline the planning application process to allow businesses and domestic housing to expand without the need to relocate. The intention is to reduce the need for building on greenbelt land surrounding towns and villages while keeping economic communities strong and viable, helping retain jobs, and provide continuity for the local workforce, businesses, and communities.

Full planning applications will no longer be required to demolish unused buildings before rebuilding; these buildings can now be repurposed into housing, retail, or commercial concerns, with less bureaucracy, to bring new revenue quickly into the heart of towns and cities.

Homeowners can also add up to two storeys to their existing homes to help transition the changing face of family life- this will be especially helpful to growing families and to help provide support and familiar surroundings for our aging population.

Updating the planning permission system is well overdue; for years the construction industry has bemoaned the red tape that created a sticking point in terms of time, and finance, to get construction projects off the ground.

The new system has attracted large investment from Westminster; £12 billion has been injected into the government’s affordable home programme, this is projected to underpin the building of 180,000 new homes. The government have also pledged to boost the Home Building Fund with £450 million to help give access to financial support to small developers- in real terms this is expected to assist the building of 7,200 new homes, and a further £400 million has been assigned to support the building of around 24,000 new homes through the Brownfield Land Fund to target housing provision in city areas such as Liverpool, Manchester, Tyne and Tees Valley, Sheffield, and the larger areas of West Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

This amount of financial commitment to the construction industry will definitely help safeguard the security of the industry, construction worker, and associated services and suppliers throughout the Brexit period and beyond.

Access to products and services post-Brexit are a major factor in the future planning and security of construction. Details of how the UK will do business with the EU and Global markets are beginning to emerge, however, Covid-19 is also heavily affecting the sourcing of raw materials, construction materials, and labour; it is the major contributing factor to the recession the UK is now facing.

The best way to grow the construction industry through these trying times is to invest within our shores as highly as possible. By utilising the skills and products already held, or manufactured, within the UK we can support the UK economy while making a real difference at a grass roots level to the livelihoods of all the sectors and services that make up, and contribute to, the construction industry supply chain.

We need to prioritise UK based materials manufacturers and suppliers, utilise the skills and talents of UK based architects, surveyors, tradespeople, project managers, and the entire collective of workers that are instrumental in the success of all construction projects.

The UK construction industry currently relies heavily on migrant workers from other EU countries and the end of the free movement of labour post-Brexit will lead to a skills shortage in some areas. The Construction Industry Training Board, (a public body sponsored by the Department for Education) has recently published its Strategic Plan for 2021-2025; this focusses heavily on how the department is investing in training support for the construction industry to increase the opportunities and outcomes for trainees and existing workers. Although this will not necessarily solve the problems in the short term, it offers hope for the longer-term success of building a skilled and innovative workforce post-Brexit.

Much of the investment for larger infrastructure construction projects currently comes from the European Investment Fund and the European Investment Bank- this funding will end when we exit the EU, at this present time it is unknown if the revenue the UK will save in EU membership fees will adequately plug this €7.8bn deficit, an educated guess would suggest not.

There is no doubt that the construction industry will suffer in the wake of our exit from the EU, however, with a forward-facing positive attitude, a commitment to investing in UK based suppliers and services from within the industry, the pledge of government investment, and an update to planning law to remove some red tape, the future success of construction in the UK has much promise of a brighter tomorrow.

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

The post Challenges and Opportunities of Brexit for Construction Industry appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Kier Starts Work on Devon GP Hub

Kier has kicked off work at a new purpose-built health club in Crediton. To celebrate the start of construction, Kier held a socially distanced turf-cutting ceremony, with doctors from two GP surgeries that will merge following the construction of the Crediton GP hub.

Kier was appointed by Chiddenbrook and New Valley GP Practices. The new hub is to be funded by the NHS England Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (ETTF) along with Mid Devon District Council, and is set to improve the provision of health facilities for thousands of patients in the town.

The new GP hub will be an ‘L’ shaped building, with facilities based over two floors, including 16 multi-purpose clinical rooms and eight consultation booths for clinicians to speak to patients via telephone or video calling. There will also be training rooms for staff, offices and ample parking facilities.

The new building has been designed to provide a spacious and light environment, including a double height entrance atrium that will allow the reception area to be filled with natural light. The new building is situated on Joseph Lock Way and is due for completion in the Autumn of 2021.

Doug Lloyd, Operations Director for Kier Regional Building Western & Wales, stated: “We are proud to be delivering this vital new healthcare hub for the Crediton community. The new building will have purpose-built facilities that will help to serve the local community effectively for years to come.”

Dr Harris commented: “Kier has been a supportive and enthusiastic partner in this venture and we feel sure they will provide us with a building that we are really proud of”.

And Dr Peter Twomey added: “We know that the two practices in Crediton will be stronger and more resilient being together. This is an exciting time and a great opportunity to future-proof healthcare for the community we serve and to work collaboratively with all those involved in delivering the wider health and well-being agenda”.

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

The post Kier Starts Work on Devon GP Hub appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Designs for Canterbury Works Revealed

On Tuesday, October 27, 2020, HS2 revealed updated designs for the Canterbury Works vent shaft headhouse and compound in South Kilburn, London.

It will be one of four structures that are to be built to provide ventilation and emergency access to the high-speed rail line for the 4.5-mile-long Euston Tunnel between Euston and Old Oak Common. These designs have been published as part of an ongoing engagement with the local community.

The features and materials chosen for the headhouse will embed the building within the local townscape. Situated behind Canterbury Road and Canterbury Terrace, the structure will be visible from the existing network rail lines and local properties.

The structure will be surrounded by planting, with a mixture of tree and shrub species creating an enhanced biodiverse habitat for wildlife.  The building roof will be covered with a ‘green roof’ containing a range of biodiverse planting to improve sustainability.

Below ground level, a 40-metre deep ventilation shaft will reach down to the twin tunnels below, with fans and other equipment above ground designed to regulate air quality and temperature, remove smoke in the event of a fire and provide access for the emergency services.

Kay Hughes, HS2 Ltd’s Design Director, said: “The HS2 line through London will be mostly underground in tunnels and this is one of the few visual manifestations of the railway between Euston and West Ruislip. Located on a brownfield site, we have been conscious of the proximity of local neighbours and views in developing the design and surrounding landscape. I hope that the design will be welcomed by the local community.”

The plans were drawn up by HS2 Ltd’s min works contractor, SCS JV, a joint venture made up of Skanska Costain STRABAG, working with architects from Arup TYPSA STRABAG.

James Richardson, Managing Director for Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV), said: “As our work ramps up across all of our sites, these exciting designs give a glimpse of how the vital structures will complement the surrounding environment. We are committed to working closely with the local community and look forward to getting their input to help us shape the final designs.”

There are still some design elements that need to be refined including the appearance of a security boundary wall around the perimeter of the headhouse. The updated design plans for the headhouse have gone on public display, with local residents invited to view information online and attend online engagement events where they will be able to learn more about the design and construction of the vent shaft and headhouse.

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

The post Designs for Canterbury Works Revealed appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Wates to Build 1,000 Eco Homes

Wates has won a deal to deliver the next two phases of its ten-year Cardiff Living partnership with Cardiff Council. As part of the partnership, Wates will deliver 1,500 new homes by 2027.

Wates Residential and Cardiff Council are aiming to install ground source heat pumps, solar PV panels and batteries on all the new homes that will be delivered in phase two and three. Charging points for electric cars are also to be installed across the site, after Wates Residential, Cardiff Council and Sero Energy secured over £4 million Innovative Housing Programme (IHP) Grant funding from Welsh Government for the Eastern High site.

£1.4 million in IHP funding has been secured for Croft Street site in Plasnewydd to enable the delivery of a highly energy-efficient modular system. The new housing will be designed and manufactured of-site in controlled conditions.

The first of the new developments have now started on site and include the largest single Cardiff Living development to date at the former Eastern High School site in Rumney, where there will be 214 new homes developed including 44 Community Living flats for older people at Addison House.

At least 40% of the new homes in phase two and three will be earmarked for council rent or sale via the authority’s assisted home ownership scheme. Work is also continuing at phase one sites at Briardene in Gabalfa and Silverdale Park.

Edward Rees, Regional Director for Wates Residential, said: “Since 2015, our award-winning partnership with Cardiff Council has delivered 343 much-needed new homes for local people across Cardiff. These homes are an exemplar for high quality, sustainable new housing that people can be proud to live in.

“Starting the process for the next two phases of the programme is an exciting step forward for Cardiff Living. We believe that everyone deserves a great place to live and, by harnessing innovative construction methods and carbon saving technologies, we hope that these new homes will continue to bring positive benefits to the local community for many generations to come.”

Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities Councillor Lynda Thorne said: “One of the focuses of Cardiff Living has always been to improve on Building Control standards for energy efficient buildings and we’re aiming to bring forward the proposed 2025 standards now in the exciting developments in the pipeline.

“We’re delighted to be continuing the partnership with Wates Residential and can look forward to utilising innovative construction methods and sustainable technologies to create high quality homes fit for the future.”

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

The post Wates to Build 1,000 Eco Homes appeared first on UK Construction Online.

COVID and the Reinvention of Construction

Asite is pleased to announce that it has released a new research report which examines how the construction industry can adapt to survive and thrive in the face of COVID-19.

The report, which has the title, “COVID-19 and reinvention of the construction industry”, examines how industries such as construction need to adapt to survive and thrive.

Nathan Doughty, Asite CEO, said: “Reinventing construction after COVID-19 is necessary to ensure that the industry not only survives, but thrives.

“We have many solutions and technologies around us that are already being used to advance the industry into the future, but we must work collaboratively and apply them together with meaningful intent to create the largest impact. Taking an ecosystem view of the industry will see communities and economies continue to build a resilient, vibrant society we can all be proud of.

“I believe our built environment needs an open platform to capture the golden thread of structured and open data we all need. The team at Asite intends to keep working hard to help make this a reality.”

The report looks at the recommendations from the UK’s Construction Leadership Council (CLC), which has played a key role in coordinating the industry’s initial response to the pandemic and has now urged a three-step programme of restart, reset and reinvent.

The three-step programme, which will be delivered over the next two years, is part of the CLC’s Roadmap to Recovery, a strategy that will drive the recovery of the construction and built environment sectors following the pandemic and resulting economic downturn.

In its restart recommendations, the CLC has spoken about a rapid resumption of all projects and programmes, maximising employment of all those working in the construction industry and supply chain, and minimising disruption due to contractual disputes.

This step is scheduled to take place within zero to three months of the overall strategy.

As part of its reset strategy, the CLC says wider adoption of digital technologies across clients and throughout the supply chain will enable better data and information sharing across the built environment to improve efficiency, productivity, sustainability and building safety.

This section of the overall strategy is set to take place during the three to 12-month period of the programme.

If CLC recommendations are carried through, as of mid-2021, Government and construction should be focused on applying such digital approached to deliver better value, collaboration and partnership, these areas are not new additions to the mix in light of COVID-19. They reflect the UK Government’s continued commitment to its Construction 2025 goals, which include lowering project delivery costs, delivering projects quicker, with lower CO2 emissions and making UK plc more competitive, which were first set in 2013.

This is the last and final section of the programme, which is scheduled to take place between the 12^th and 24^th month.

Reinventing construction after COVID-19

A return to old ways of working, or a slightly altered ‘new normal’ will not achieve the advancement the industry requires. Low productivity, low profitability, and low resilience have been caused by fragmented conditions, which have been characterized by low margin, lowest-price procurement approaches, onerous and often-adversarial contracts, maximum passing of risk and low investment in digital working and collaboration.

Asite believes adopting a more progressive approach which uses the current crisis as a catalyst for change could deliver a very different industry sector, one which is more capable, professional, productive and profitable delivering better value to clients, better performing infrastructure and buildings, and which competes successfully in global markets.

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

The post COVID and the Reinvention of Construction appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Work Starts on £13.2m School

Contractor Henry Brothers Midlands has started work on a new £13.2 million special school in Derbyshire. The contractor is constructing the Alfreton Park Community Special School on behalf of Derbyshire County Council.

This new single-storey building is being built on a site adjacent to Alfreton Park, known as Highfield Plantation. It will replace the outdated and unusable teaching facilities at the school’s existing site. The current facilities will be demolished once the new site is completed and up and running.

Managing Director Ian Taylor said: “This new, replacement building for Alfreton Park Community Special School will provide a larger, purpose-built facility for pupils with special needs, including mobility issues, and we are delighted to have been selected to build this new school.

“Henry Brothers Midlands has worked with Alfreton Park Community Special School before – we delivered a hydrotherapy pool, which opened in early 2017 – and we are very pleased to be continuing our relationship both with the school and with Derbyshire County Council to help improve the education facilities within the county.

“This new school will offer modern facilities, extra space and increased car parking, and we are excited to have now started on site.”

The new buildings will see an increase in the teaching and other facilities available at Alfreton Park Community Special School.

The new site will provide 12 classrooms, six group rooms, including specialist therapy rooms and soft play areas, as well as a combined hall and dining area, where there will be space for 100 students.

The building is expected to be completed by late 2021, with the school opening in early 2022.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Young People, Cllr Alex Dale, added: “I’m so pleased that work has started on what will be a fantastic new home for the school.

“The current building is just not fit for purpose but the new one will really give these students the best possible start in life.

“I’d like to thank Amber Valley Borough Council who have helped out by providing the land for the new building in return for the council giving them some land in Heanor.

“This is much appreciated as without this land it would have been very difficult to provide the new building.”

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

The post Work Starts on £13.2m School appeared first on UK Construction Online.

How to Secure the Construction Industry’s Talent Pipeline

Sam Hyams is the founder of Springpod, a virtual careers network which partners with many of the UK’s leading businesses, schools and universities to facilitate virtual work experience programmes, events and careers networking. In this feature, he writes about construction and Brexit.

Whilst it is difficult to predict what 2021 has in store, one certainty for the construction sector is the impact on recruitment from European countries when the transition period ends.

EU nationals make up 7% of the UK construction industry’s workforce. When considered against the fact that there has been a 95% decrease in EU Nationals entering the UK workforce since June 2016, and the potential for currently residing EU workers to leave the UK, companies need to be putting measures in place now to secure their talent pipeline. One such measure must be a greater focus on the next generation and inspiring them to look to construction as a potential career path.

And there is no time to waste.

Our recent research showed that nearly a fifth of young people are thinking about their career choices as early as primary school. Alongside that, stereotypes persist about what sort of person goes into what sort of career – boys still favour technology and engineering, whilst girls are more attracted to medicine and psychology.

The risk is that the assumptions made about the construction industry mean that young people who have the right skills, creativity, and motivation to contribute enormously, don’t consider it as ‘for them.’

So, the challenge is two-fold. The industry needs to attract more young people, and to broaden its appeal.

The new online world

If the pandemic has inspired any positive changes, it is the digitalisation of interaction.  The time is ripe for companies to engage with young people outside of their usual boundaries, from geography to socio-economic.

A recent OECD report brings home the scale of the challenge. They found that by the age of just seven years old, young people are already facing limitations on their career aspirations because of ingrained stereotyping about social background, gender, and race. And it is not just stereotyping, there are well recognised routes for young people depending on their parent’s jobs, or who they know.

When it comes to work experience for example, for those whose parents don’t have the sort of job where they can bring you along in half term, or set up an introduction to a colleague, then exposure to different career routes are limited. The result is a whole cohort of skilled young people not knowing that a variety of paths are indeed open to them.

And this is not just an issue for young talent. The result is companies having narrower pools of recruitment and missing out on the chance to attract and retain the best people.

An additional factor is that generation Z are coming through education into the world of work as the most digital social group yet. The construction industry is changing, with increasing automation, digitalisation, and consequently different recruitment needs. Investment in construction technology has doubled in the past decade, meaning it is imperative that companies in the sector are attracting enough of their natural affinity with innovative technology and its benefits.

Diversifying talent

Property company JLL is showing what can be done. They have reached out to engage with young people, targeting groups that historically have not applied to JLL in large numbers, through a virtual work experience scheme in partnership with Springpod. In doing so they are opening their doors to prospective talent, to show what their work entails and to inspire more young people to consider property management, surveying, building, and investing in real estate as a career option.

The scheme comprises live workshops with various JLL teams, from property development to commercial valuation, and issues associated assignments. Students from anywhere in the country, who attended state school, can take part in the ten hour course, gaining insight, knowledge, and an accolade for their CV.

The scheme is proving to be a powerful lever in attracting a broader range of students. In a cohort of 132, 63% were black or ethnic minority students, and over half were female. Furthermore, 86% of attendees had parents who didn’t go to University, and just over half had been on free school meals. Add into this that the virtual nature of the scheme means students were not limited by their location, or lack of funds to travel to and stay in London for the week, the scheme’s diversity demonstrates the myriad of benefits of virtual work experience and learning. This bodes well for the industry because multiple recent studies have shown that companies with more diverse workforces tend to enjoy higher profitability – everyone is winning.

The next chapter

The UK construction industry is a global player. If we are to maintain that status and the £117 billion contribution that the industry makes to the UK economy, the acute shortage of skills in the UK requires action now to build a powerful, data-driven talent pipeline.

There is a role to play for Government and schools, but the reality is, business needs to actively engage with young people throughout their time in education, to build the next generation of construction talent.

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

The post How to Secure the Construction Industry’s Talent Pipeline appeared first on UK Construction Online.

£42m Scheme to Enhance A630

The UK Government has pledged £42 million to help tackle congestion on the A630. The key route between Rotherham and Sheffield is used by around 65,000 vehicles per day.

The A630 is one of the busiest roads in the region and a vital part of Yorkshire’s transport network. The scheme will see a transformation of the existing road into a dual three-lane carriageway, increasing capacity. Junction 33 on the intersecting M1 will also benefit from the carriageway widening and resurfacing, reducing congestions, cutting CO2 emissions and further boosting the capacity of the road, whilst helping road users move more easily.

Peter Molyneux, Major Roads Director at Transport for the North, said: “Confirmed funding to upgrade the A630 will be welcome news for the thousands of people and businesses who are faced with daily delays getting into and out of Sheffield and the surrounding area.

“Investing in this vital strategic road is a clear example of the Government’s commitment to levelling-up the North and supporting our economy by creating jobs and delivering a transport network that will aid recovery and growth.”

Main works are set to begin soon, with the new road scheduled to be open and in use by Summer 2022. Along with the Department for Transport’s funding contribution forming the majority of the total scheme, which will cost £46 million.

Baroness Vere said: “The funding announced today will make a real difference to thousands of commuters’ journeys in the region every day, and further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to levelling up transport infrastructure in the North.

“By boosting the capacity on this vital A-road, and delivering this scheme in good time, we’ll help improve connectivity, cut journey times and boost local economies in South Yorkshire.”

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

The post £42m Scheme to Enhance A630 appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Landmark Regeneration Project Proposed

Property development company MHA has announced that a planning application has been submitted for the development of Fisherman’s Dock in Poole.

In a prime location, along Poole’s historic Quay, the application is looking to further enhance the iconic setting through a comprehensive regeneration project, which will see the construction of 228 apartments and a 118-bed boutique hotel complete with a rooftop restaurant, bar and commercial space.

With fantastic views overlooking the harbour, the new private and affordable apartments will be spread across four distinctive buildings, specifically designed to reflect Poole’s quayside heritage.

Along with this, the proposed hotel and 8,600 sq ft of commercial space will be available for a range of uses, including leisure and retail. This will cater to Poole’s growing tourism business, attracting visitors as well as creating much needed employment opportunities.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MHA conducted a virtual public consultation on the project. Thanks to the help of its dedicated project team, a consultation website and animated sketch video was created, with a specific platform enabling local residents and businesses to comment and interact with the development proposals.

Hossein Abedinzadeh, Founder of MHA, commented: “This project is inspired by the rich history of the site and its local surroundings; not only will Fisherman’s Dock regenerate this part of Poole, it will also give back to the local community with the provision of valuable homes and employment opportunities. This fantastic project will embrace the heritage of the site and create a prime cultural, commercial and residential destination in the heart of Poole.”

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

The post Landmark Regeneration Project Proposed appeared first on UK Construction Online.

HS2 and Innovate UK Team Up

HS2 and Innovate UK last week (Wed 21 Oct) announced they will be teaming up to drive innovation on the UK’s largest construction project.

The Innovate UK at HS2 2020: Small Business Research Initiative is now open to small and medium-sized firms that will receive support to put together research and development plans for their proposal.

The scheme looks to harness innovative ways to advance the digitalisation and automation on construction, improve efficiency, and integrate and digitise the many interfaces of a construction project the size of HS2. Other innovations sought as part of this initiative include recruitment and costs management and control.

With the R & D phase beginning in March 2021, each of the 10 selected firms will have three months to demonstrate the desirability and feasibility of their solutions and that their innovative has a viable business case.

Commenting, HS2 Ltd Innovation Manager Rob Cairns said: “Thousands of businesses right across Britain are already getting involved in HS2, benefiting from the project and creating jobs at a time when the country needs it most.

“There are huge benefits to be reaped from innovating in the construction sector – not just for HS2’s delivery but also to provide a legacy of innovation benefitting future infrastructure projects.

“HS2 encourages innovative small businesses to come forward with their ideas. We’ll help the chosen 10 firms to hone and develop their solutions and integrate with the HS2 supply chain, unlocking a route to market.”

Simon Edmonds, Deputy Executive Chair and Chief Business Officer, Innovate UK, said: “HS2 has the potential to revolutionise Great Britain’s railway. It will connect commerce and communities, providing capacity and speed. It is right that such an innovative project should call upon the UK’s most innovative smaller companies in its delivery. Innovate UK can bring its unique ability to reach these enterprises and bring forward the best of British ideas.”

Further details of the competition will be published at https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/708/overview

Applications close on 16 December 2020.

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

The post HS2 and Innovate UK Team Up appeared first on UK Construction Online.

GRAHAM Sign £161m Construction Contract

A milestone in Aberdeen’s Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre project has been achieved with the signing of a £161 million construction contract by NHS Grampian and contactor GRAHAM.

This scheme is the largest project to be procured through the Heath Facilities Scotland Framework and GRAHAM is preparing to go on sire in November.

Gary Holmes, Regional Managing Director for GRAHAM, said: “This is the culmination of a long but hugely fulfilling journey for us, during which we’ve brought to bear all the experience gained on a succession of major healthcare projects across the years.

“These are pioneering facilities that will enhance healthcare provision in the North East of Scotland for decades to come. It’s a landmark contract for us and moves our business on to the next level of delivery.

“The project team has shown outstanding dedication and commitment to get to this point. We now look forward to working with NHS Grampian and their stakeholders throughout the construction phase.”

The Baird Family Hospital is to be built on the site previously occupied by the Foresterhill Health Centre and Breast Screening Centre on the Foresterhill Health Campus. It will house all maternity, neonatal, reproductive medicine, breast and gynaecology services in one place, as well as a patient hotel and dedicated teaching and research facilities.

The ANCHOR Centre will be attached to the existing Radiotherapy Centre, and will bring haematology, oncology and radiotherapy day and outpatient services under one roof. There will also be a dedicated lounge of teenage and young adult patients, an aseptic pharmacy to produce chemotherapy treatments and dedicated teaching and research facilities.

There will also be a dedicated lounge for teenage and young adult patients, an aseptic pharmacy to produce chemotherapy treatments and dedicated teaching and research facilities.

The new facilities will help modernise patient care and facilities at the Foresterhill Health Campus, Europe’s biggest healthcare site, and is part of NHS Grampian’s continued investment in new and improved facilities across the North East of Scotland.

NHS Grampian Director Alan Gray said: “We are delighted to announce the formal signing of the Baird and ANCHOR project.  Both projects will provide world class facilities for staff, patients and their families and an environment that has been designed with accessibility, quality and patient care firmly at the centre. We would not have reached this stage if had not been for the commitment and dedication by our combined projects teams who have faced numerous challenges professionally and who have worked collaboratively to enable the project to proceed. For their support I am truly grateful. We look forward to seeing the buildings emerge in the coming months.”

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

The post GRAHAM Sign £161m Construction Contract appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Costain Deliver Pre-Construction at A40 Westway

Costain has secured a contract to deliver pre-construction services for the critical flyover structures on the A40 for its long-term client, Transport for London (TfL).

The flyover structures will take the elevated A40 from Wood Lane flyover to the west side of Marylebone on the 2.5-mile A40 Westway. The contract incorporated concept design for the safety critical elements of the structure.

This announcement follows Costain’s first appointment to TfL’s Professional Services Framework, to compete for contracts to provide lean consultancy, quantity surveying, construction project management as well as assurance and quality management.

The A40 Westway is one of the UK’s busiest roads, and is also a key strategic route, used by 96,000 vehicles a day. Major refurbishment works are needed to keep the A40 Westway and surrounding road network running safely and reliably in the future.

Costain previously undertook a feasibility study for the refurbishment of the structures in 2017 and is pleased to be involved in this phase of the project. The delivery of the project will be in two stages, with work on Stage One to validate the design concept, detailed design and programming and cost analysis beginning immediately. Stage Two is a design and build package incorporating the final detailed stage of design and will not commence until further instruction by TfL.

The contract will be digital by default and be managed by a smart delivery platform in line with Costain’s drive to accelerate the digitisation of infrastructure design, delivery and operations to enhance the sector’s productivity and resilience.

Sue Kershaw, Managing Director of Transportation at Costain, said: “In this difficult period we’re glad to support our long-term client TfL on this project, which will help keep traffic moving on one of the busiest roads in the country. It’s a clear demonstration that TfL see us as the safe pair of hands to deliver this safety-critical scheme.”

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

The post Costain Deliver Pre-Construction at A40 Westway appeared first on UK Construction Online.

HS2 Reveals Viaduct Designs

On Monday 19^th October 2020, HS2 revealed its latest designs for the Edgcote and Lower Thorpe Viaducts, as the high speed rail project began a four-week online engagement event for communities in Northamptonshire.

Set low into the landscape, the 515m long Edgcote Viaduct will carry the railway across the floodplain of the River Cherwell, to the South of Chipping Warden. At between six and eight metres high, the viaduct will be supported by 20 pairs of concrete piers, which will be largely hidden by existing hedgerows and woodland.

The viaduct will pass close to the site of the medieval Battle of Edgcote. Initial archaeological investigation along the route of the viaduct has not found any evidence of the battle and further investigation will be completed before construction begins.

There will also be two new wildlife sites close to the where the viaduct crosses the floodplain, with new and enhanced fen, marshland, and meadow, along with new woodlands planting. The schemes which total 7.6 ha will create valuable new habitats for insects, bats, newts, and other amphibians.

The Lower Thorpe Viaduct will be 210m long and will also be set low into the landscape with seven weathered steel spans carrying the railway across Banbury Lane, to the South of the village of Thorpe Mandeville.

By using weathered steel, it will echo the tones of the surrounding countryside, as well as reducing the impact of the structure.  There will also be three more new wildlife sites, totalling 9.5 ha.

HS2 Project Client Director Ambrose McGuire said: “The start of today’s public engagement is an important step in the development of the Edgcote and Lower Thorpe viaducts. Set low into the landscape, the designs of both structures are heavily influenced by their location and our determination to reduce the impact of construction on the surrounding communities.

“That’s also why we are delivering five major new wildlife sites alongside the viaducts with significant areas of new woodland and opportunities for valuable new meadows and wetland habitats.”

The designs have been drawn up by HS2’s main works contractor EKFB – a team made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial and Bam Nuttall – working with design partners Arcadis and architects Moxon.

EKFB Technical Director Janice McKenna said: “It is a huge privilege to be responsible for the design and delivery of these two viaducts and to create a legacy for future generations. EKFB is using innovative, digital techniques to create designs that meet the needs of the future railway, while balancing the community, environmental and engineering requirements of designing lasting infrastructure. Our design solutions are created with people in mind and we are using construction methods that limit the impact on residents.”

The online public engagement event opened on Monday 19 October and will last for four weeks.

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

The post HS2 Reveals Viaduct Designs appeared first on UK Construction Online.

City Centre Scheme Enters Final Stages

A major city centre improvement scheme, costing £8 million, in Leeds city centre is nearing the final stages of completion with pavement resurfacing works set to start on Park Row and Infirmary Street.

The essential improvement scheme will see Park Row being converted into a one-way street for most of its length, this will make it easier for buses to use, whilst also easing congestion. Pavements will also be significantly widened, and a protected cycleway will be created to link the City Station to The Headrow and Cookridge Street. The road will also be modernised, and more greenery will be planted to improve public realm.

On Infirmary Street the road will be converted into a two-way operation, designed for bus and cycle priority access, with bus stops being upgraded and bus-only restrictions improving journey times and air quality.

The scheme forms part of Leeds City Council’s Connecting Leeds programme, to make public transport, cycling and walking more attractive, with a focus on improving bus services and cleaner air.

As the resurfacing works involve removing the existing road surface, there will need to be full road closures of Park Row in Phase 1 and Infirmary Street in Phase 2. Details of these closures are as follows:

• Phase 1: Park Row and City Square – 8pm Saturday 31 October to 5am Tuesday 3 November
• Phase 2: Infirmary Street and East Parade – 8pm Saturday 7 November to 5am Tuesday 10 November

The diversions will be clearly marked, and access will be provided for emergency vehicles. The Park Row and Infirmary Street scheme is being undertaken by John Sisk & Son and is expected to be fully completed by January 2021.

For more information on the scheme, visit www.leeds.gov.uk/connectingleeds

Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, said:

“I am thrilled to see this essential project in its final stages. The scheme undoubtedly offers major benefits which will improve the experience for those visiting the city centre whether on foot, bike or bus.

“Easing congestion, improving cycleways, widening pavements and offering a safer, greener and more attractive space for visitors will all help us with our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030.

“I would like to offer my thanks to the public for their patience while we carry out these works – in particular residents living close-by to the work.”

John Sisk & Son’s Regional Director Dave Hill said:

“This Connecting Leeds programme is important for the city of Leeds and we at John Sisk & Son are proud to be part of a lasting legacy in the city for generations to come.”

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

The post City Centre Scheme Enters Final Stages appeared first on UK Construction Online.

How Construction Will be Affected by Brexit

Craig Sanders, Co-Managing Director at Protrade Ltd, discusses the challenges and opportunities that the construction sector will face with Brexit in mind.

It is undeniable that the construction industry, in much the same way as the nation as a whole, will be faced with both challenges and opportunities in a post-Brexit Britain.

With that being said, it is currently difficult for any business leader to put themselves in a position to precisely take advantage of any opportunities which present themselves, due to the lack of clarity coming from the central government.

The only thing C-suites in the construction industry can do is make a number of assumptions and provisions based on the comments and posturing of our Prime Minister.

However, it’s difficult to know whether certain comments and news are an expectation of reality, which is causing political uncertainty. Unfortunately, this puts everyone in the position of having to prepare for multiple scenarios and essentially preparing for the unknown.

From material manufacturers to housebuilders, no segment of the industry will come out unscathed.

One of the most concerning possibilities construction professionals should be considering, is that in the advent of the cessation of freedom of movement, the UK could lose around 200,000 skilled, willing, and able construction workers.

This will cause a knock-on effect as the industry is already facing a problematic skills shortage, despite making movements to create a more diverse sector.

With an aging workforce, a lack of interest from young people, and uncertainty about the outcome of Brexit, the construction industry looks certain to face a skills crisis in the next decade, with one in five roles currently left unfilled in the sector.

It is clear that investment will need to be made in training the workers of the future and to make construction a more appealing industry in order to tempt school leavers.

In addition to promoting the opportunities of a career in construction to school leavers – with plenty of them offering progression – the importance of promoting career diversity is pivotal, too.

Making young girls aware of the benefits and opportunities within these roles is important, and last year, it was predicted that 26% of positions in the industry would be filled by women.

In the immediate short-term, the loss of EU workers will drive up the costs of construction as employers will be fighting for workers from a smaller pool of people, who will all be in high demand.

The outcome of Brexit could have the potential to destroy a cost-effective and competitively priced workforce, resulting in established businesses having to relocate their HQ to a location that offers a more comprehensive and effective solution to both their employment and infrastructure needs.

The availability and choice of business development land and premises are both essential factors when it comes to maintaining local and regional business competitiveness.

Another way to overcome staff shortages is to ensure efficiency and encourage the streamlining of work. For example; if construction companies can assist in making tasks 20% more efficient across five workers, that will effectively create one additional person.

Companies should look to adopt web-based solutions that will provide accurate and timely project costing and multisite consolidation reporting.

These cloud-based solutions can help track plant and equipment, manage maintenance contracts renewal dates, schedule engineer visits, respond to reactive calls, and help workers with back-office tasks such as timesheets and expenses, freeing up more time for them to carry out their core tasks.

Another issue that should be considered and prepared for is the fact that at least 25% (approximately £10.2 billion) of all materials, tools, and fixings used in construction in the UK is imported.

Whether that be from the EU or from third countries, it is expected that tariffs of some sort will be applied which, combined with a weaker sterling, will drive costs up further as well as slow down the supply chain.

The delivery time of materials will also be delayed, so it is essential to include this in forward planning and ensure you have a sustainable supply to carry out relevant work.

Some – but not all – construction merchants can mitigate for these extra costs by buying in large quantities and while tariffs can’t be avoided, additional costs like shipping and profit margin can be negotiated with greater ease.

Things like long-term agreements with the supply chain, which guarantees prices for 12 months will help in being able to forward plan with greater accuracy.

Another consideration to account for is the possibility of paying VAT upfront, which will certainly have an instant impact on cash flow and revenue.

Despite the negatives, light is being shed on opportunities within the sector.

The government has pledged to invest in infrastructure projects up and down the country, investing £600 billion in infrastructure development in the next decade, providing a welcome stimulus to the industry.

Infrastructure investment is typically more resilient and will likely become a key part of the market as the government attempts to smooth out peaks and troughs of demand in the near and medium-term future.

Work is well underway on transforming the M26 in Kent into a potential lorry park, while the Department for Transport is developing plans to handle the massive queues of trucks likely to appear in the event that freight being unable to progress swiftly through the ports when the UK leaves the EU.

Furthermore, various sectors of the construction industry could see particular growth. For example, off-site construction is an area that is gaining a strong foothold already.

In addition to investing billions into infrastructure development, the government has also been outlining proposals to use offsite manufacturing to modernise construction processes.

Both of these initiatives will make a huge difference to productivity across the industry, with circa 700 other projects, programmes, and investments in the pipeline.

With the Government making plans to modernise construction within the UK and invest within areas such as transport, energy, social and digital infrastructure, and flood and coastal erosion, the future may still be bright for the construction sector, no matter what the outcome of Brexit may be.

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

The post How Construction Will be Affected by Brexit appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Legal Experts Warn: ‘Secure Your Workforce’

With just 10 weeks to go until Brexit, Tijen Ahmet from law firm, Shakespeare Martineau, are issuing a call to action for construction companies, as free movement will end on 31 December.  

With the UK set to leave the EU in a matter of months, leading lawyers are issuing a call to businesses across sectors to make 11^th hour preparations to secure their workforces before Brexit. As of 31 December 2020, free movement will end, posing extreme challenges for main and subcontractors, which currently rely on EU migrant labour.

Many UK construction businesses have utilised migrant labour in recent years and, come January, those businesses whose workforces have consisted of a large percentage of lower skilled migrant workers sourced from the EU will run into difficulties, as many salaries will not meet the new minimum salary threshold imposed by the government under the new system.

After spending the past six months dealing with the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, the prospect of further Brexit-related workforce issues is the last thing the construction sector needs.

In order to prepare for the upcoming changes, businesses must do everything in their power to make last minute preparations where possible. These include ensuring that they have the necessary sponsor licence in place to hire skilled workers, regulating the status of their current EU workforces by ensuring that all those eligible have applied for, or are in the process of registering under the EU Settlement Scheme, and where possible bringing forward recruitment plans to hire Europeans, before the end of the transition period.

After mixed messaging from Government throughout the Brexit process, a policy statement on the new immigration system was laid out in February this year with a ‘Further Details’ statement published in July 2020. However, with the Home Office swamped with applications and working through a significant backlog, businesses looking to apply for a sponsor licence may experience significant delays.

Tijen Ahmet, head of business immigration at law firm, Shakespeare Martineau, said: “It’s getting close to the line now and the reality is that any business that employs Europeans from next year will find themselves in a tough position if they haven’t got the necessary sponsor licence and compliance processes in place by now.

“Smaller companies may still be able to secure their workforce ahead of the Brexit date, however larger corporates whose workforces are made up of a high percentage of migrant workers have a tough task ahead of them. The Government hasn’t helped this process and with it taking up to six months to obtain a sponsor licence in some cases, even those businesses, which have been proactive risk getting caught out.”

However, Ahmet believes that whilst time is running out, it is still worth business owners and HR departments doing all they can to secure their European workforces today and before 30 June 2021 when the EU Settlement Scheme is due to close.

She continues: “If businesses want to employ Europeans in future, getting the ball rolling now would be hugely advantageous. Whilst the current system is in place, EU citizens can enter the UK with their EU passport or ID card and begin to work. As of January, that simply won’t be possible.

“There are tough times ahead for us all, especially as the country grapples with the Coronavirus pandemic. The international talent pool is set to become much smaller, however there are steps which can be taken, even in the short term. The worst thing any business can do is bury its head in the sand and think that everything will continue as normal after 1 January 2021– any action is better than no action at all.”

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

The post Legal Experts Warn: ‘Secure Your Workforce’ appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Offshore Portside Hubs Create Opportunities

Two weeks ago, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that offshore wind is to produce more than enough electricity to power every home in the UK by 2030, and that the Government will make £160 million available to upgrade ports and infrastructure throughout the coastal communities of Teesside, the Humber, Scotland and Wales.

This funding will see the creation of around 2,000 construction jobs and will also enable the sector to support up to 60,000 jobs directly and indirectly by 2030 in ports, factories, and supply chains.

In an encouraging move for the construction sector, this commitment doesn’t seem to just another party conference promise, because straight after Mr Johnson’s announcement, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) issued a request for information (RFI) related to the development of large-scale manufacturing of portside hubs.

BEIS is inviting coastal landowners, as well as those who have potential to manufacture portside hubs, who wish to be considered for potential Government support, to reply with information on their sites and projects by 30^th October 2020.

Consideration will be given to ports and land with significant quayside capability, quay length and water depth, connected land for marshalling operations, sufficient land availability to support multiple manufacturers on the site, and having a realistic chance of completing construction or being partly operational by 2023.

They are also interested in hearing from landowners/developers of projects which may not have sufficient capability to accommodate a large manufacturing portside hub but could accommodate significant offshore wind manufacturing facilities.

Firms that have relevant experience don’t need to wait, as there are plenty of offshore windfarm construction projects to get involved in before the Government kick-starts funding for ports and infrastructure.

The £1.4 billion 100km2 Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm for EDF Energy located 15km off the coast of Fife started piling works earlier this year and is expected to start its first commercial supply of electricity by 2023.

Further vast investment is taking place on the £2.6 billion Moray Offshore Eastern Masterlead, which includes the McColl offshore wind farm, the Telford offshore wind farm and the Stevenson offshore wind farm. The scheme will comprise 277 turbines on the three sites near the Beatrice oil field, and is expected to power up to 950,000 homes by 2024.

One of the biggest investments in offshore wind farms is for the £5.25 billion SSE subsidiary Seagreen Wind Energy’s Firth of Forth Masterlead scheme which involves the construction of two wind farms, Seagreen Alpha and Seagreen Bravo. The two wind farms will have a combined installed capacity of 1.075GW and are expected to power approximately one million Scottish households.

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

The post Offshore Portside Hubs Create Opportunities appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Tarmac Kier JV Secure TfL Highway Win

A 50-50 joint venture (JV) between Tarmac and Kier has been awarded the Lot 2 contract on the Transport for London (TfL) highways Maintenance and Project Framework. The JV will maintain and improve highways and related assets covering a 189km network in North London.

The framework will run for a total of eight years, with the potential to extend by an additional four. Mobilisation is due to commence this month, with the contract due to start in April 2021. The framework can be accessed by TfL, London Boroughs and other TfL group companies.

Paul Fleetham, Managing Director, Tarmac Construction, said: “We are proud to have been given the opportunity to work collaboratively with TfL and our partner Kier to deliver a safe and sustainable network in north London.

“A key strategic focus will be working efficiently to minimise disruption to residents and the travelling public while supporting TfL’s Healthy Streets and Vision Zero initiatives. By leveraging our collective knowledge, expertise and network of materials plants the Tarmac-Kier JV offers an exciting integrated partnership to meet London’s highways challenge.”

Group Managing Director for Kier Highways Joe Incutti said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract. Kier is proud to have worked with TfL to provide safe and sustainable journeys for people walking, cycling and travelling on London’s roads since 2007, and we are looking forward to continuing to do so alongside our partner Tarmac.”

Glynn Barton, TfL’s Director of Network Management, said: “Our network of red routes are the arteries of London’s road network and play a vital role in helping people get around the capital safely, whether they are walking, cycling, getting the bus or driving. These new maintenance and small projects frameworks will help us to keep these roads safe and well maintained for years to come, as we work to cut road danger and congestion and make London one of the best cities for walking and cycling.”

The Highways Maintenance and Project Framework is a brand new, single supplier framework which has been launched by TfL and has three Lots covering different geographical areas in London.

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

The post Tarmac Kier JV Secure TfL Highway Win appeared first on UK Construction Online.

New Health and Wellbeing Village for Bridgend

A new £23 million integrated Health and Wellbeing Village in Bridgend is to get an £18 million funding boost from the Welsh Government.

Spanning 4.6 acres, the project at Sunnyside, Bridgend is to include a GP surgery, general needs and supported housing. Along with this, the presence of community services will form part of a much larger Health and Wellbeing Village, which will promote physical and mental health along with better signposts to care and support within the community and reduce social isolation.

This new development will connect to the Bridgend Life Centre, which incorporates a library, community café, wellness service, sports and recreational facilities including provision of a GP exercise referral service linked to Newbridge Fields.

The village is being designed to provide care closer to home, and will provide 59 affordable homes, six of which will be supported homes for those who have physical, as well as learning disabilities, along with ten flats to help people transition from care or supported accommodation. There will also be a dedicated room for third sector and outreach services to use.

The project is receiving £10.7m from the NHS Wales Capital Programme, £6.6m from Social Housing Grant and the Housing Finance Grant, £480,000 from the Integrated Care Fund capital programme and £315,000 Transforming Towns’ Green Infrastructure Funding, alongside private finance. The development is a partnership between Welsh Government, the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, Bridgend CBC and Linc Cymru Housing Association.

The Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and the Welsh Language, Eluned Morgan said: “The coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on the importance of mental health and wellbeing. The new health and wellbeing village in Bridgend, will provide a major boost to community care and wellbeing by accommodating a wide range of Health and Wellbeing resources, including support for frail and older people, vulnerable young people and people with learning difficulties. This should avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital or residential care and delays when someone is due to be discharged from care.

This project has been a true example of collaboration between the Health Board, Bridgend County Borough Council and Linc Cymru to deliver a fit-for-purpose multi-faceted centre to provide wrap around support for some of our most vulnerable people.”

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

The post New Health and Wellbeing Village for Bridgend appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Taskforce Launched in West Midlands

A new taskforce that will feature some of the UK’s top property experts has been launched to help the West Midlands accelerate the construction of low carbon, energy-efficient homes.

The Zero Carbon Homes Taskforce has been set up by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to support the region’s fight against climate change by making sure all new homes meet tough zero carbon standards from 2025 onwards.

The taskforce, which is chaired by the UK Green Building Council will provide local and expert insight into how the region plans for a net zero future as it works toward achieving its ambitious target of being carbon neutral by 2041. This move towards zero carbon homes will play a key role in the region’s wider plans for a successful economic recovery from COVID-19, one which makes the West Midlands a greener and healthier place to work and live.

The WM2041: A Programme for Implementing an Environmental Recovery sets out a range of initiatives from small-scale through to potentially region-wide and complex schemes, including retrofitting old and cold homes to make them more energy efficient and accelerating the transition of the region’s automotive industry to electric vehicles.

The taskforce will regularly meet over the coming months to co-develop a charter and roadmap to help guide the move toward zero carbon homes in the region and build consensus across major public and private sector organisations.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “Housebuilding has been one of the West Midlands’ best success stories in recent years, with record numbers of homes being built and the vast majority of them on brownfield land.

“Now, not only must we look to continue that success in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but we must also think more about how housebuilding can help tackle the climate emergency we are facing and help the region reach its net-zero goal of 2041.

“This new taskforce will help do exactly that, building on work which is already underway to understand our existing performance and what more needs to be done.”

Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council, will chair the taskforce which includes representatives across the construction, finance, academia, innovation and energy sectors.

“We have secured a multi-disciplinary and highly experienced group of representatives from business, local government and academia, all of whom I am confident will play a critical role in ensuring that the WMCA adopts an ambitious and impactful approach to delivering zero carbon homes closely aligned with UKGBC’s own framework definition for net zero carbon buildings,” she said.

“The taskforce will inform the development of a charter and a roadmap for zero carbon homes that the WMCA has a direct stake in, but importantly it should also set an example for other local authorities in the region to follow. This is a unique opportunity to bring the public and private sectors together to build back better by delivering homes fit for the future.”

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

The post Taskforce Launched in West Midlands appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Industry Forum Assessment of Covid in Construction

Mathew Baxter is the Group Chief Executive of Echelon Consultancy, which provides best practice advice and guidance through its asset management improvement partnerships for registered providers, contractors and suppliers (AMIP/CAMIP).

In our role as an industry forum, with AMIP as a unique best practice and benchmarking club formed for housing providers to share expertise across the asset management field and CAMIP, its industry expert equivalent, we’re perfectly placed to share our insights into the trends and behaviours of the construction and housing industry over this extraordinary period.

In March 2020 we began holding weekly Covid calls for members of our partnership organisations; we had no idea we would still be holding the calls in October 2020.  The request came from some of our regular clients which include local authorities, housing associations, construction companies and other stakeholders, who felt they would feel more confident if they could understand how their contemporaries were handling the crisis. Our aim was to try and keep organisations in the construction industry and housing sector ahead of the curve and after initially having 40 people on the call we’re now up to 200, ranging from representatives from the Chartered Institute of Housing, suppliers and local authorities.  We immediately began accruing data which has enabled us to create a comprehensive picture of the industry since the onset of Covid.

It’s easy to forget that lockdown only ended in the middle of July as there were many slightly over-optimistic predictions of a bounce-back rate.  The industry is back to 93% capacity in the new build arena and we would expect that to go up in September.  The expectation was that the construction economy would return to normal but it takes between 4-6 weeks just to restart a construction site as so many external suppliers and contractors are involved.  It’s certainly not like flicking a switch and the timescales reflect that.

Although the Government guidance indicated construction sites could continue to work once they were gated, controlled and Covid-safe, the industry took a hit in perception from the public who were unaware and occasionally would take their frustration out physically or verbally at workers on site.  As a result, some of the big developers took the economically painful decision to shut their sites.    The confusion occurs when the government guidance is unclear and the public are unaware of the regulations.  For a small business owner who has been forced to close his premises and let staff go, seeing a busy construction site that he thinks is working in spite of the lockdown is going to be infuriating.  Construction, as the backbone of the economy, has to be given the green light to continue but it can only do so if that permission is made explicit to the public.

In terms of the construction sector as a whole, if, as seems likely, we are entering into a period of severe localised lockdowns, then the construction sector is ready, sites are safe, and operatives understand what is expected of them.  As a result, I firmly believe we are in a strong position to continue delivering works and services in a safe manner.  The key thing will be to get that message across to the general public.

Much of the housing sector outside of new build is focusing on compliance and repair and gradually restarting sites that were closed down.   This led to some difficult decisions for contractors.  If a tenant is isolating or shielding, does the operative go into the property to undertake that work or not?  Potentially harmful events like flooding would have to be dealt with immediately, but masonry cracks could be stockpiled until the guidelines had eased.

During the first lockdown in Spring we noticed that the core demand for repairs dropped dramatically.  People assumed that as they were in lockdown no-one would be permitted to attend their property.  This time however, areas that have been put into localised lockdown like Liverpool and Manchester have had no drop off in demand from tenants as yet.  The behaviour has changed – people are confident, they have seen operatives attired in masks and they have read or seen communications about how the operative will behave so it feels more achievable and safer to allow maintenance in the property.  As an industry body we have not had been made aware of tenant complaints about operatives.  Quite the opposite, for example when the operative goes in and the tenant is glad of the company and the operative has to remind the tenant of the 2m distance rule and explain why they can’t accept the tenant’s kindly offered hospitality.

Coronavirus has profoundly altered the relationship between tenants and landlords, oddly enough for the better.  Our research has shown that customer satisfaction is currently high among social housing tenants.  They can see the extra effort made by landlords.  As an example, we have managed to maintain 99% compliance on gas services throughout the Covid period, although we were informed that lenience would be shown bearing in mind the difficult circumstances.  Credit should be given to these landlords, who put the safety of their tenants first.  Some of our members have had HSE snap audits to assess how Covid-secure they are (both at site and office level) and to date all our clients have had a clean bill of health.  The positivity and communication between tenants, landlords and contractors has been a real success story throughout Covid which is a cheering thought in such desperate times.

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

The post Industry Forum Assessment of Covid in Construction appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Guidance on New Government Immigration System

Brexit is expected to have a considerable impact on the construction industry in the UK and on firms across Europe that have links to the UK. Business Immigration experts from leading law firm, Walker Morris, Suzanne Treen and Shabana Muneer, discuss the key considerations for businesses in the sector ahead of the new points-based immigration system coming into play from 1 January 2021.

The construction sector represents 10% of total UK employment and is a key driver of jobs and economic growth, however, it is facing challenges as the country edges closer to the new immigration system coming into play. The sector has one of the highest proportion of migrant workers within its labour force^[i], although the share of migrant workers varies across regions with an ONS^[ii] report finding 8% of the UK and 28% of the London construction workforce are EU nationals. It is therefore imperative for businesses in the sector to prepare for the changes now to minimise the impact on their workforces.

According to the Construction Industry Brexit Manifesto[iii], the Government must view construction as a strategic industry as, without it, Ministers will be unable to meet their plans for the delivery of ambitious infrastructure projects. The Government’s decision to implement immigration changes from January 2021 has resulted in criticism from groups like the National Federation of Builders (NFB), which has insisted firms will need “at least two years to adapt to any new immigration system”^[iv] so it is important that businesses act now to adapt as quickly as possible to the new rules.

Though the changes are already impacting heavily on the industry, the Government maintains that the new system will be more streamlined and accompanied by simplified rules and guidance for businesses looking to recruit workers from the EU however, that may be of little comfort for sectors such as the construction industry which, historically, have been accustomed to recruiting from the EU without any restrictions.

What’s new?

The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, which will form the legal basis of the new system, has yet to become law but the aim of the guidance is to prepare employers and applicants alike for the upcoming changes. The guidance confirms free movement for EU nationals will end at 11pm on 31 December and changes will take effect. Key points to note include:

• EU migrants arriving in the UK from 1 January 2021 will be subject to the new immigration system.

• The existing Tier 2 (General) route will be replaced by a new Skilled Worker route. Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) will remain in place with some adjustments.

• Existing sponsors will automatically be granted a new Skilled Worker licence or Intra-Company Transfer licence and will not need to make a further application.
• Existing Tier 2 (General) migrants who need to make a new application following the closure of that route will do so under the Skilled Worker route.

Many low paid jobs that require a high level of skill are not covered by the new system, and employers will not have access to the same number of workers as they have under freedom of movement, so they are being encouraged by the Government to invest in homegrown talent and technology. According to the Home Builders Association, the housing supply in the UK has grown 74% from 2013 to 2017 and is expected to grow further over the next few years. The Construction Skills Network estimates that a further 168,500 new jobs will be created in the industry between 2019 and 2023[v]. Many organisations such as the Construction Industry Training Board[vi] have already begun developing strategies to address post-Brexit challenges and created training programmes to attract people to the industry.

A key difference between the Tier 2 (General) and the Skilled Worker routes, and one that will be welcomed by the sectors, is the lowering of the required skills level from degree level (RQF 6) to A-level equivalent (RQF 3), bringing a number of previously excluded roles within the scope of sponsorship. In the construction industry, this includes builders, carpenters, welders, plumbers, and electricians.

The salary threshold for Skilled Workers will be lowered from £30,000 to £25,600 per annum, with new entrants able to enter on a lower salary than their more experienced counterparts, provided it does not dip below the lower floor of £20,480 per annum. While there are still certain mandatory criteria for Skilled Workers which will earn an applicant a fixed number of points, the new system introduces tradeable points for certain attributes such as salary, relevant PhD qualifications and shortage occupation roles.

The annual cap under the current Tier 2 (General) route will be suspended and employers will no longer have to carry out the Resident Labour Market Test, which, coupled with lower salary and skill thresholds, should make it easier to recruit migrant workers to skilled roles than it currently is. However, the extension of the points-based system to EU workers is still a huge shift from the current regime, under which there are presently no skills and salary restrictions on recruitment from the EU. Crucially, the new regime will also require migrants to satisfy minimum English Language requirements to be eligible for sponsorship, which may prove to be a practical obstacle to the recruitment of some EU migrants in the future.

Watch this space

As you might expect, the implementation of the points-based system will be phased, and the Government’s guidance document is likely to be the first of many providing details of the Home Office’s wider plans up to 2025. As part of the implementation of the UK’s fully realised points-based immigration system, the requirements for the main work and study visa categories are expected to be written into the Immigration Rules and published later in 2020, along with more detailed guidance for applicants.

The Home Office retains the ability to widen the number of attributes for which tradeable points may be obtained, and they may seek to do so in response to the country’s economic needs and pressures and the needs and challenges faced by specific sectors.

An unsponsored graduate route will be launched in summer 2021, giving international students the opportunity to stay in the UK to work or look for work after they graduate and an unsponsored route for highly skilled workers is expected to be introduced under the points-based system in 2022. This will allow a small number of the most highly skilled workers to enter the UK without a job offer in place.

What now?

If your business already has a sponsor licence under Tier 2 (General) or Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer), no new application is required, although you should familiarise yourself with the changes to the rules which may in some cases mean sponsorship is now possible for roles that were previously excluded. You should also check whether you have a sufficient certificate of sponsorship allocation to deal with the potential increased demand from January 2021. Now is also a good time to make sure the existing licence is up to date, is held by the correct sponsoring entity, contains correct key personnel details etc, and that all Home Office notification requirements have been met.

If your business doesn’t currently have a sponsor licence but may need to recruit from the EU or beyond from January 2021, the Government is actively encouraging licence applications to be made now. As we get closer to the end of the year, more organisations are likely to be submitting applications which is likely to result in increased processing times, and potential delays to recruitment plans.

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

[i] http://speri.dept.shef.ac.uk/2020/02/19/restrictions-to-immigration-and-work-in-the-uk-construction-industry/

[ii] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/articles/migrantlabourforcewithintheconstructionindustry/august2018

[iii] https://www.london.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s70098/04%20a1%20FSB%20-%20Manifesto.pdf

[iv] https://www.politicshome.com/members/article/the-construction-industry-needs-at-least-two-years-to-adapt-to-any-new-immigration-system

[v] http://speri.dept.shef.ac.uk/2020/02/19/restrictions-to-immigration-and-work-in-the-uk-construction-industry/

[vi] http://speri.dept.shef.ac.uk/2020/02/19/restrictions-to-immigration-and-work-in-the-uk-construction-industry/

The post Guidance on New Government Immigration System appeared first on UK Construction Online.

New COO at Social Profit Calculator

Following a sustained period of growth at the Social Profit Calculator, the organisation is pleased to announce that Sarah Coughlan has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The Social Profit Calculator is a software platform which has been accredited by both Social Value UK and Social Value International. Led by an expert team, the organisation provides a wide range of services to help businesses and public sector organisations accurately to measure the social value they generate.

Ms Coughlan joined the Social Profit Calculator in 2018 in a front-end developer role focusing on working on technical development of the organisation’s products and has worked her way up to Head of Development. In her new role as COO, she will be working with industry leaders on integrating sustainable methodologies for social value into built environment practices.

Sarah Coughlan said: “The importance of social value has been growing over recent years, particularly within the built environment sector, and we’re of course still feeling the impact of COVID-19 at present, so I’m thrilled to be moving into this new role at what is a really interesting point in time.

“As an organisation, we were really pleased to see the government’s new measures for social value announced last month. In the wake of COVID-19, people will need to see the impact of every pound invested and these new measures will mean that central government will – from 1 January 2021 – need to go further than the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2021 to ensure that all major procurement explicitly evaluate social value, rather than just consider it.

“I’m very much looking forward to getting started in this new position and working with the wider team and organisations throughout the industry to make a real, demonstrable change in how we view and measure social value.”

Executive chairman and chief executive officer Gerard Toplass, who is also executive chairman of national framework organisation Pagabo and software solutions organisation Sypro, said: “Since joining the company, Sarah has shown dedication to our customers, the team and the product development that sets us apart from other organisations, so we’re really pleased to be announcing her appointment as COO.

“I look forward to working closely with Sarah, the board and the rest of team as we look forward and work with the wider industry to embed social value at the heart of all built environment endeavours.”

At the same time as Sarah stepping into this new role, Social Profit Calculator’s co-founder Mark Bolger will be standing down from day-to-day operations but will stay involved in the company as a shareholder and contributor.

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

The post New COO at Social Profit Calculator appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Some Funding for Hammersmith Bridge Agreed

The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) has agreed to funding permanent repairs to the Hammersmith Bridge. DfT Permanent Secretary Bernadette Kelly has confirmed that the Government has agreed to provide ‘some funding’ for permanent repairs, during a Public Accounts Committee Meeting which was held on 15 October 2020.

However, Ms Kelly stopped short of revealing how much of the £141-£163 million repair bill the Government would foot. This comes after Grant Shapps, UK Transport Secretary, formed a Governmental task force to plan the next steps for the bridge.

Kelly said: “I don’t have the exact figure in front of me, but we are now providing some funding to repair the bridge.

“Baroness Vere our Lords peer is leading a taskforce aimed at bringing all parties together to ensure we can make progress on short-term solutions in terms of improving people access [across the Thames], as well as a long-term solution to the bridge itself.”

It has been a struggle to try to find funds for the repairs, as well as trying to find out which body ultimately has responsibility for the upkeep of Hammersmith Bridge.

The full cost of the repairs is expected to be between £141 million and £163 million with local council the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham estimating that £46 million is needed just to stabilise the bridge itself. In September, the former Transport for London (TfL) official who masterminded the operation of London’s roads during the Olympics was bought in to oversee repair plans for the bridge.

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

The post Some Funding for Hammersmith Bridge Agreed appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Work Begins on Flood Scheme in Stokesley

Construction work on a new multimillion-pound flood defence scheme in Stokesley has begun with preparation work to help manage the ‘river flow’ of the River Leven.

The project is due for completion by Spring 2021 and will improve protection to 509 properties in the town, as well as providing £46 million in economic benefits over the next 50 years. The Stokesley Flood Alleviation Scheme is part of the current six-year capital investment programme which sees Government funding of £2.6 billion to protect 300,000 homes from flooding and coastal erosion between 2015 and 2021.

Beyond 2021 a record Government investment of £5.2 billion has been announced. This will also better protect 336,000 properties, via the creation of around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences in England by 2027.

The Environment Agency also published its Flood and Coast Erosion Risk Management Strategy, a blueprint setting out how it will work with communities to deliver the government’s long term plan.

Leila Huntington, the Environment Agency’s Flood Risk Manager for the North East, said: “We are delighted that work will begin on the Stokesley Flood Alleviation Scheme. This is a project that will benefit residents, businesses, the local economy and local wildlife.

“With the impacts of climate change we are seeing changes in weather patterns and an increase in flood risk. The improved flood defence at Stokesley, which is part of the government’s current flood risk capital investment programme, plays a crucial role in better protecting the wider community from the risk of flooding into the future.”

The contract working on the project is BMMJV, a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald with the first part of the programme will see the removal of the ‘downstream flow control structure’, this will enable construction of the new structure in the same location.

The River Leven flow will be closely managed to ensure the watercourse flows normally downstream during the work and flood risk is not increased.

All contractors working on the site will be wearing appropriate PPE and adhering to any social distancing requirements. The work is expected to be complete by the end of spring 2021.

To find out if you are living in a flood risk area and for information on how to sign up for flood alerts please visit the Environment Agency website

Any questions about the scheme should be sent to stokesleyfloodscheme@environment-agency.gov.uk

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

The post Work Begins on Flood Scheme in Stokesley appeared first on UK Construction Online.

Brexit Could Lead to New Dawn for Talent

Lesley McLeod, CEO of The Association for Project Safety writes about how Brexit could signal a new dawn for home grown construction talent in this latest feature.

It is no secret that, personally, I am a passionate European and that I believe Brexit to be an act of self-harm. To me it can never be the sane choice to leave a group made up of our nearest neighbours and constituting our biggest trading partner. I have never thought it could be credible to have a better deal out of the club then for members in it.

But I am equally aware that, if you aggregate the vote across the whole of the UK, my concerns were not the majority view. So, there is no choice for me – and the members of the Association for Projects Safety [APS] for who I work – but to make the most of things.

And there are potential opportunities.

The most likely could be increasing job opportunities across the construction sector at home. This is especially the case as the government has signalled its hope the UK can build its way out of the worst economic consequences of the Covid19 outbreaks.

This, allied to the continuing need to develop new homes and upgrade our national infrastructure, should see more opportunities for skilled trades and build environmental professionals. The trouble is that these workers are not waiting in the employment wings right now.

There have been years of buying in cheaper labour rather than training home-grown talent. It will take time, money and effort to bring on people with the skills to take the place of European colleagues who may be on their way home to Budapest, Bratislava or Barcelona. And experience is not oven-ready overnight.

Set this against the economic reality that construction is often as an indicator of the wider economy and signs that projects are slowing down – particularly in the previous hot house of London and the South East – and perhaps alarm bells should be starting to ring across the country.

In fairness, I ought to offset this with the caveat that perhaps construction work is just signalling the start of a move away from the major urban centres as we seek a more distanced life post-epidemic. There certainly may be a need to repurpose current unloved, unused and unwanted office space to housing.

But, for the jobs we gain, there may be opportunities lost. The UK must continue to recognise the qualifications of EU construction professionals because it would seem highly unlikely that – without reciprocal arrangements – architects or engineers, gas fitters or electricians will be able to work unfettered across the remaining 26-country block. Not least as there will be restrictions on how long – without the appropriate paperwork – people will be able to stay in an EU country.

And the bureaucracy – either way – won’t come without additional red tape for tax, insurance or medical cover. It cannot be the unlocked revolving door we have enjoyed since we joined the community.

Similar constraints will go for other parts of the supply chain too. Materials approved for use in construction across the UK could help grow home markets but close doors to trade – and business growth – with our closest market.

Financing will also involve more headaches as cross-border banking arrangements look like being affected making everything from opening a personal bank account to raising the dosh for a flagship project more complex and more expensive.

And all of this is just the risks you can see on the surface. There is a separate home-grown hidden Brexit threat in the Internal Market Bill a piece of UK legislation that runs in parallel to work on our withdrawal from the EU.

One of the aims of the Bill is to create – across the devolved administrations – a level playing-field for goods and services. Nationalists see this as a land-grab by the Westminster government and a way of diluting the devolution settlements and powers enjoyed in Cardiff, Stormont and Holyrood. Others are more worried by its practical consequences for construction.

Currently, the regulations currently applied in Derby may demand a higher [or even lower] standard than those in Dundee – or Dungiven or Denbigh. The rules will certainly be different wherever you go. And while I have sympathy with the desire to simplify bureaucracy, making business easier across the countries of our islands, I fear the actual impact on the rules that underpin each and every project, large or small.

There is nothing in the legislation to force up rules and behaviours and every time and cost imperative to see standards fall to the lowest level overall.

I fear – if this is not too European – a Dutch-auction of safety standards with everything chased down to the lowest level. This, particularly for members of my association whose driving force is to cut the risks of accident and ill-health associated with all aspects of construction, is a worry. We feel already that we are swimming against a tide that risks overwhelming safety with considerations of cost, the need for speed and the aspirations of aesthetics.

I started this piece with the intention of being even-handed. Of trying to present both sides of the argument. But I just can’t do it. The more I look at the consequences of Brexit the more I think it is harmful to ordinary people, restricting their freedom of movement and limiting their opportunities while, at the same time, making it more difficult to do business with those nearest to us. I see risks in putting up barriers with Europe and removing restrictions across the UK.

Believe me I want to be proved wrong. And I am not forecasting a apocalypse: we will muddle through – just not as well or as easily. I am sure, for many, they will not miss a step or see any difference.

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

The post Brexit Could Lead to New Dawn for Talent appeared first on UK Construction Online.