Building News is an information portal for all professional building specifiers. Here you can find all of the latest construction news from around the UK and the rest of the world.

Companies Suspected of Colluding to Rig Bids

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reason to suspect that several companies providing roofing and construction services – including building contractors and technical advisors – illegally colluded to rig bids to secure contracts funded through the government’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). The CMA has particular concerns in relation to roofing contracts.

CIF money is awarded annually by the Department for Education (DfE) and can involve significant sums of money. Funds are primarily awarded to schools with buildings in poor condition, to ensure educational buildings are safe and remain in good working order – this includes funding projects that address health and safety issues and building compliance.

Juliette Enser, Executive Director of Competition Enforcement, at the CMA said:

This fund is incredibly important and ensures that essential building improvements can be made to schools throughout England, meaning students are learning in safe and suitable environments.

While no assumptions should be made that competition law has been broken at this early stage, we will be investigating this issue thoroughly. We will now be making enquiries and assessing the evidence to see whether or not bid rigging has taken place – and what further action may be needed.

The investigation, launched this week, has commenced with unannounced inspections by the CMA at several business premises. The purpose of the inspections is to gather any relevant evidence, including physical or digital documents, to assist the CMA in its enquiries. The CMA has also worked closely with the DfE throughout its investigation.

If the CMA provisionally decides that the companies have broken competition law, after assessing the evidence gathered, it will issue what is known as a statement of objections. This details the CMA’s concerns and businesses have an opportunity to respond. However, not all cases proceed to a statement of objections, and, at this stage, no assumptions should be made that the law has been broken.

Public procurement represents around a third of public expenditure and evidence from around the world suggests it is highly vulnerable to anti-competitive behaviour. The CMA provides advice to government and public authorities across the UK on the design of competitive procurement processes. In addition, last year the CMA issued fines totalling almost £60 million to firms involved in rigging both public and private sector bids.

The CMA’s investigation comes in advance of the new debarment regime, which is expected to come into force in February 2025. This means that any businesses which break competition law could also be banned from bidding on public contracts in the future – in addition to the risk of financial penalties and potential director disqualification, which are available under the current regime.

Further details about the CMA’s procedures in competition cases are available in its CMA8 guidance, and any updates to this investigation will be made on the CMA’s dedicated case page: Suspected anti-competitive conduct in relation to the supply of roofing and other construction services.

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Championing Innovation in the Building Sector

Place North West will continue to support the specialist contractor as it continues to grow and affect positive change within the construction sector.

Mansell Building Solutions will join forces with Place North West throughout 2025 to champion innovation in the sector and highlight the role specialist contractors can play in helping the government achieve its ambitious 1.5m homes target by the end of the parliament.

Angela Mansell, managing director of the business and an outspoken advocate for modernisation and adaptation within the industry, said partnering with Place aligns with the company’s ambitions.

“Place is at the epicentre of the North West’s property market and, as a specialist contractor operating across the same geography, it makes perfect sense for us to be partners.

“So much of the news reported and events hosted by Place are about our clients, supply chain partners, and projects we’re involved in and so we’re looking forward to continuing our relationship throughout 2025.”

In previous years, Mansell and Place have gathered professionals from across the property industry for frank and honest discussions about how the industry needs to change.

In the summer, a roundtable discussion in Manchester asked how development can move away from old ways of thinking and embrace modern methods of construction to tackle the housing crisis.

In 2025, the two companies will partner again to drive Mansell’s message home.

“Working with Mansell Building Solutions these past two years has been a pleasure,” said Dino Moutsopoulos, managing partner at Place North.

“Angela and her team know what they want and are keen champions of change. Their continued and increasing investment in Place North West, as well as Place North at MIPIM, are signs of ambition for the future with 2025 shaping up to be an exciting one for the firm.

“We look forward to supporting the team and raising the profile of the business to new partners and clients next year.”

Source: North West Place

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A New School, after the Old, New School was Demolished

It is hoped the new building could be ready to welcome pupils from September 2026 [Preston Hedges Trust]

 

An artist’s impression of a new school building has been revealed, after the original structure was ordered to be demolished two years after its opening.

Buckton Fields Primary School in Boughton, near Northampton, opened in 2021 but was forced to close in August 2023 amid structural safety concerns.

Pupils were relocated six miles (9.6km) away at Pineham Barns school for six months, while temporary classrooms were built on another part of the site.

The Preston Hedges Trust, which runs the school, said it hoped to complete the new permanent building in time for September 2026, subject to planning permission.

 

 

Buckton Fields was one of three UK schools that were closed by the Department for Education (DfE).

They shared the same building contractor, Caledonian Modular, which fell into administration in March 2022.

 

 

Despite the challenges it had faced, the school was handed a “remarkable” positive Ofsted report earlier this year.

Principal Hannah Rogers said:

“The new building will include a state-of-the-art innovation centre, a 4G sports pitch, a larger hall… and a host of sustainable features such as solar panels and a green roof.”

Paul Watson, the chief executive of Preston Hedges Trust, said:

“Buckton Fields has shown itself throughout this challenging situation to be a unique school set in a very special community.

“We are really looking forward to continuing our work with the local community to get their input in the current plans, and look forward to developing a school building Buckton Fields can be truly proud of.”

Source: AOL

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Reducing Carbon in Steel Construction

 

 

 

With increasing pressure from central government and local authorities to minimise the carbon emissions and environmental impact of construction projects, voestalpine Metsec has introduced a reduced carbon steel option for its renowned light gauge steel construction solutions, including the pre-panellised loadbearing solution, Metframe, SFS, Purlins and its range of internal non-loadbearing stud, track and MF ceilings.

 

Branded Metsec Decarb, the steel is produced in new, state of the art electric arc furnaces and is a true move towards a reduced carbon future for the construction industry, containing less than half the amount of carbon dioxide per tonne for the same quality of steel.

 

Andy Hackett, General Manager of voestalpine Metsec’s Dry Lining Division, states,

“Together with our commitment to Net Zero Carbon operations by 2035, Metsec Decarb underlines our commitment to providing specifiers, developers and clients with a very real opportunity to reduce a project’s carbon footprint and enhance its sustainability credentials.

“Metsec Decarb is a bona fide lower embodied carbon steel. It does not rely on greenwashing, carbon offsetting, allocation of green energy or mass balance approach to achieve this, providing real peace of mind for the designer.”

 

voestalpine Metsec construction systems and products are backed by comprehensive verified manufacturer statements and Environmental Product Declarations, which can be included in the final project’s carbon assessments.

 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE METSEC WEBSITE

 

 

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Nuaire launches new CIBSE approved Passivhaus CPD

 

Indoor air quality and ventilation manufacturing specialist Nuaire has released a new CIBSE approved CPD: An Introduction to Passivhaus.  The CPD, which is aimed at the commercial market, focuses on the principles that define a Passivhaus and its ventilation criteria; the benefits of Passivhaus, especially in relation to net zero; along with a comprehensive understanding of the Passivhaus certification process.  The CPD can be delivered in-person or online by Nuaire ventilation experts who have completed certified Passivhaus Tradesperson Training.

 

With buildings contributing significantly to harmful carbon emissions, Passivhaus provides proven solutions to deliver net-zero-ready buildings that also provide a high level of occupant health and wellbeing. Passivhaus adopts a whole-building approach with clear, measured targets, focused on high-quality construction, certified through an exacting quality assurance process.

 

For a building to achieve the Passivhaus Standard in the UK, a mechanical ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery is typically required.  Nuaire provides Passivhaus certified Boxer Packages Solutions (BPS) air handling units and XBOXER XBC+ Passivhaus packaged heat recovery units.  These products have been rigorously independently tested under realistic conditions to ensure they meet the strict Passivhaus efficiency, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality criteria.

CLICK HERE to find out more about Nuaire’s Passivhaus certified products

 

To register your interest for the new ‘An Introduction to Passivhaus’ CPD, CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

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New Homes for Coventry in Spring 2027

WORK is underway at a new development at Pickford Gate in Coventry and is set to be completed in Spring 2027.

Citizen is working with Countryside Partnerships, part of Vistry Group, who are building the homes as part of 247 homes on the site overall.

The site is on Coventry’s Eastern Green, near the A45 will see 107 built for outright sale and 140 affordable homes built.

The development will be made up of 19 affordable rent, 61 social rent and 60 shared ownership homes.

Built using modern methods of construction to reduce carbon footprint of the properties the homes will be manufactured off site using open panel timber frames.

Each home built using these panels emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house and provides maximum energy efficiency helping future residents to cut their fuel bills.

Executive director of Development at Citizen, Nick Byrne, said:

“It’s great to see work is well underway at Pickford Gate and that we have started on the first phase at the site.

“More than 50 percent of the homes at the site are affordable which will help with the housing need in the area.

“At Citizen we will build the homes to meet the needs of our region and our work at Pickford Gate is part of this.

“This site is being constructed using timber frames which are a modern method of construction. Timber frames are a natural and renewable material and as the timber frames are created off-site, it means that build time on site is reduced.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the site progress over the next year and look forward to welcoming our customers into the homes when they are finished.”

The development is going to be made up of two, three and four bedroom homes.

James Warrington, divisional chair for South Midlands and the North at Vistry added:

“We are thrilled to be working with Citizen on this development which will help meet the housing needs in Coventry with family homes built using environmentally responsible methods.

“We’re excited to be a part of the area’s growth and to be entrusted with the build of these much-needed new homes which will drive regeneration and create a thriving and sustainable community.”

Source: Coventry Observer

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Construction Must Not Rely on Overseas Workers

Britain cannot rely on overseas construction workers to deliver the Government’s target of building 1.5 million homes, the housing minister has said.  While acknowledging that foreign workers would “play a role” in construction, Matthew Pennycook said on Friday that vacancies in the industry would have to be filled by “people that live in this country”.

According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the UK needs an extra 250,000 construction workers by 2028 in order to meet demand.

At the same time, businesses are struggling to recruit after 120,000 foreign workers went home during the pandemic and immigration restrictions saw the proportion of migrants in the sector fall slightly to just under 10%.

In March 2023, the previous government expanded the shortage occupation list to include more construction jobs, but Mr Pennycook said this had not “made a huge difference”.

He told Times Radio on Friday that the struggle to recruit foreign construction workers “speaks to some of the foundational importance of migration as part of the plan for change”.

The minister said: “We’ve got to do more to upskill our own workforce, to ensure that those training places, those apprenticeships and ultimately those jobs are coming from people that live in this country to fill those vacancies.  “You can’t rely wholly on an overseas workforce.”

 

His comments follow the Prime Minister’s inclusion of a housebuilding target as one of his six “milestones” that he wants his government to be judged on.

That target – described by Mr Pennycook as “stretching but achievable” – involves building 300,000 homes per year, something that has not been done since the 1970s.

But with the CITB estimating the construction industry needs to recruit 50,300 workers a year over the next five years, the housebuilding target could come into conflict with the Government’s aim of reducing migration.  Mr Pennycook stressed the need to train British workers, pointing to the investment of £140 million in 32 home building skills hubs.

He added: “This has got to be a cross-government effort on the skills agenda, and construction skills in particular, because it involves a series of challenges around training, around local labour markets.”

Source: Shropshire Star

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UK Construction – Commercial Up, Housing Down

November PMI® data highlighted a robust upturn in UK construction output. However, new order growth eased to a five-month low and year-ahead business activity expectations were the least upbeat since October 2023.

At 55.2 in November, up slightly from 54.3 in October, the headline S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI® ) – a seasonally adjusted index tracking changes in total industry activity – pointed to a robust and accelerated expansion of overall construction activity. The headline index has now posted above the neutral 50.0 threshold for nine months running.

A faster upturn in construction output was driven by the strongest rise in commercial work for two-and-a-half years (index at 58.1). Survey respondents commented on improving customer demand and new opportunities to tender, despite relatively subdued economic conditions. Civil engineering activity (55.9) also expanded at a strong pace in November. That said, the rate of growth slipped to a three-month low.

House building (47.9) remained by far the weakest-performing category of construction work in November. The respective seasonally adjusted index was inside negative territory for the second month in a row and signalled the fastest rate

of decline since June. Construction companies once again noted that elevated borrowing costs and fragile consumer confidence had an adverse impact on demand conditions.

New business volumes increased across the construction sector as a whole for the tenth successive month in November and at a sold pace. The rate of growth nonetheless slipped to its lowest since June. There were some reports that political and economic uncertainty linked to the Autumn Budget had affected client confidence. Where growth was reported, it was often linked to new projects in the commercial sector.

November data highlighted only a marginal rise in employment numbers, with the rate of job creation easing to a three-month low. Anecdotal evidence highlighted increasing employment costs as a factor holding back staff hiring. Some construction companies commented on greater use of sub-contractors to help mitigate rising costs. This was signalled by an increase

in sub-contractor usage for the first time since July. Latest data nonetheless pointed to the steepest increase in sub-contractor charges for 16 months.

Purchasing activity meanwhile increased at the slowest pace since the current phase of expansion began in May, largely reflecting a loss of momentum for new order growth. Supplier performance deteriorated to the greatest extent since February 2023, with survey respondents mainly citing transportation issues and international shipping delays.

Construction companies recorded the fastest rise in their average cost burdens for 18 months in November. This was linked to a general increase in raw material prices, as well as efforts among some suppliers to pass on higher staff costs.

Finally, around 43% of the survey panel predict an increase in business activity during the year ahead, while 21% forecast a reduction. Although this signalled upbeat business expectations across the construction sector, the degree of optimism was down sharply since October and the lowest for 13 months. Anecdotal evidence from survey respondents widely suggested that worries about the UK economic outlook and impact on business investment from rising employment costs had weighed on business optimism in November.

 

COMMENT:

Tim Moore, Economics Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said:

“The construction sector bucked the slowdown seen elsewhere across the UK economy in November, according to the latest S&P Global PMI survey. Total industry activity once again expanded at a robust pace and there has been a clear acceleration in growth compared to that seen in the first half of 2024.

“However, the recovery in construction activity remains somewhat lopsided. Strengthening demand for commercial work and civil engineering projects

contrasted with a sustained downturn in house building. Commercial construction activity expanded at the fastest pace for two-and-a-half years in November, while residential work declined at the steepest rate since June. Elevated borrowing costs and fragile client confidence meanwhile acted as a brake on new order growth in November, with the upturn in sales the slowest for five months.

“A loss of momentum for new work, alongside concerns about rising employment costs, resulted in weaker

job creation and falling business optimism across the construction sector. The degree of positive sentiment regarding year-ahead growth prospects dropped to the lowest since October 2023. Many construction companies cited concerns about the near-term UK economic outlook and subsequent cutbacks to new projects.”

Gareth Belsham, director of Bloom Building Consultancy, commented:

“Construction isn’t so much a two-speed as a two-direction industry.

“With levels of commercial construction roaring ahead, and rising at their fastest rate for two and a half years, housebuilding is stuck in reverse.

“In fact residential construction has contracted for two months in a row, and November’s decline was the fastest seen since summer.

“With residential developers still chafing at high interest rates – which make it more expensive for them to buy land and build homes – and patchy consumer demand, the Government’s promise to get 1.5 million more homes built in England over the next five years is looking ever more pie in the sky.

“Official data shows that the value of new orders placed by private sector housebuilders in the third quarter of 2024 was down by a painful 34.4% compared to Q3 2023. With costs rising and demand falling, there’s now a real risk of stagflation in residential construction.

“By contrast, we’re seeing lots of commercial property developers pressing the button on previously paused investment plans, as well as an increase in the number of commercial property landlords investing in repair and refurbishment to generate extra value from their existing buildings.

“In many ways the momentum of the commercial property sector is dragging the wider construction industry in its wake. The headline figures still look good, but the scale of the imbalance between sectors is alarming and getting worse.”

Jordan Smith, technical director at Thomas & Adamson, part of Egis Group, said:

“There is an element of a reality check in the latest PMI report, with a real mixed bag in terms of indicators. The surge in optimism following the election has been tempered to a degree – particularly with the continued stagnation in housebuilding activity, which was a major part of the policy agenda. Interest rates remaining higher for longer, as well as fragile consumer confidence, will likely weigh on the sector’s prospects in the short term, until the government’s delivery plans are fully set out. We will be keeping a watchful eye on how this develops in 2025 and look forward to new residential sector opportunities in the new year with a number of clients.

 

“Despite relatively subdued economic conditions, there is still a lot to be positive about in today’s report and within the industry, in general – not least the faster upturn in overall construction output and rising commercial activity. We are engaged on and delivering a number of commercial refurbishment and retrofit schemes across the UK. The reported rise in demand and opportunities to tender also bodes well for the start of 2025, and this is something we are also seeing as a business with a number of projects secured for the new year. The fact remains that the headline index has been in positive territory for nine months running, and this bodes well as we move into 2025/26 and beyond.”

 

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RAAC playbook unveiled: MTC leads the charge for safer UK buildings

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has today published a new, industry-first playbook containing a collection of the best available knowledge and learnings to tackle RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete). Addressing growing industry concerns about the material, the publication marks the first step towards defining a standardised approach that empowers stakeholders to manage RAAC in the long term.

 

Produced in collaboration with the Construction Leadership Council and other key industry stakeholders, the Playbook also showcases a number of non-destructive testing methods. These offer a faster, more cost-effective alternative to traditional intrusive methods to assess the presence and condition of RAAC in buildings. In addition, the Playbook includes:

 

  • An analysis of technical parameters for developing effective solutions
  • A review of existing principles and methods for remediating RAAC roof planks
  • An assessment of the most appropriate solutions for remediating RAAC roof planks
  • A reinforce to replace strategy
  • Case studies of remediation options from industry

 

Steve Nesbitt, Chief Technologist for the Built Environment at MTC said:

“The deteriorating RAAC in UK public buildings demands urgent attention. However, due to insufficient records and limitations with current detection methods, the exact condition of any given RAAC plank in a building can be uncertain.

“By developing a non-destructive testing method and producing this first draft of our RAAC Playbook, we hope to realise a future where RAAC can be either replaced in a secure, easy and affordable way, or guaranteed to be safe in all buildings across the UK.”

 

Funded by Innovate UK’s RAAC Impact Programme, the MTC RAAC Playbook is now available

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PLAYBOOK

 

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From Disused Garage Plot to Affordable Homes

Work to turn a council-owned disused garage plot in Bristol into affordable housing thanks to the innovative Gap House concept has reached its final stage of construction.

 

The first factory-made panels, which will be used to create the external walls of the homes, have been lifted onto site and are now being installed in stages due to the constrained nature of the site.

 

Designed by multidisciplinary design practice BDP and built by contractor Beard and SIP (structural insulated panel) specialist Etopia, the nine one-bedroom, two-storey sustainable homes on Bell Close, Horfield, have been commissioned by Bristol City Council’s Housing Development team and funded by the local authority’s Housing and Landlord service.

 

The homes are being built using modern methods of construction (MMC), with the high-performance structural insulated panels (SIPs) manufactured off site, before being brought to Bristol by lorry and carefully lifted into position by crane. The installation of the internal walls, floors, and roofs is also underway. Groundworks had already taken place in preparation for this phase of work.

 

BDP originally showcased its Gap House concept design at the Housing Festival Expo in 2018, as a proposed way of helping to meet the city’s acute need for housing and revitalising neighbourhoods.

 

The Gap House concept was refined as part of an Innovate UK programme supported by the Housing Festival, designed to explore the potential for MMC housing. This year, it  featured in the Housing Festival’s Social Rent Housing: The MMC Playbook, a guide for local authorities, which highlighted Gap House as “an innovative approach to successfully unlocking land and overcoming challenges for successful creation of new housing”.

 

Each home will be highly insulated with low energy lighting to support minimal heating requirements and will use renewable energy generated by solar PV panels and air source heat pumps, resulting in low environmental impact and running costs.

 

The homes will include an open-plan kitchen-living area and a bathroom on the ground floor, with a bedroom and storage on the first floor. Large windows will allow for maximum natural light. The entrance to each property has been designed to promote a ‘front porch culture’ with green space and outdoor seating in front of each home to encourage social interaction and community cohesion.

 

 

Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee at Bristol City Council, said:

“The council welcomes the progress of these innovative new homes for social rent, which will help meet housing need in the city.  Utilising small pieces of brownfield land to deliver much needed affordable homes is a priority for the council and the learning from this, and other similar projects, will help us make better use of our smaller sites for affordable housing delivery.”

 

Adam Darby, associate architect in BDP’s Bristol studio, said:

“The Gap House has the potential to bring huge benefits to cities up and down the country where there are thousands of disused garage plots sitting empty, which could be transformed into much-needed housing. Having first conceived the idea of the Gap House some years ago, it is fantastic to see the project coming to fruition and nearing the moment when people can start moving in. A once derelict site will have a new lease of life, revitalising the neighbourhood and providing high quality homes.”

 

Matt Cooper, director of Beard’s Bristol office, said:

“The Gap House design is a thoughtful way to bring back to life disused urban spaces, and could contribute to addressing the housing crisis and improving local communities. Over Beard’s 135-year history, we have been involved in many residential projects, but none quite like this. Working with factory-made panels and within the limits of a small site has presented challenges that the team has embraced. It has been exciting to apply the innovative new methods to create sustainable, contemporary and affordable homes in the city.”

 

Andrew Tatt, head of delivery at Etopia, said:

“The Gap House project serves as an example for councils across the country. When driving through cities and towns, you see many underused plots of land, like garage sites, which could be repurposed to help address the housing crisis and revitalise these neglected spaces. BDP, Beard, and Etopia have demonstrated that, with careful planning, these sites can be transformed effectively—not just with any buildings, but with high-quality, fabric-first constructions that incorporate the latest technology and are designed to meet future standards.”

 

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