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.

Can Construction Adopt Bio-Based Materials?

It is well established that addressing climate change requires decarbonising of the construction industry. A critical aspect of this is reducing embodied carbon in new structures.

One emerging solution to this would be the wide scale adoption of bio-based construction materials. These materials come from biological sources (such as plants, animals and microorganisms) and have significantly lower embodied carbon compared to traditional fossil fuel-based materials such as concrete and steel.

However, despite their benefits, building with bio-based materials remains challenging in European countries due to strict regulations, limited availability, and widespread lack of knowledge.

So, what can we, engineers and planners, do to overcome this?

Earlier this year, participants in our Urban C:lab programme discussed this problem with external collaborators and industry experts to learn from their experiences. Joanna Hedley-Smith, Oliver Lerch and Oliver Stainton, members of the EU cohort, have summarised the following key themes.

Adapting material performance expectations

An important driver of which materials are used in construction relates to our material performance expectations. As designers, we are accustomed to the uniformity of man-made materials in terms of material properties, how they are handled on site, and the lack of significant maintenance over their lifetime.

But should we hold bio-based materials to the same standards?

Perhaps this would be inappropriate due to the inherent variability of natural materials compared to manufactured ones, meaning both our expectations of such materials and where we apply them should be carefully considered. They cannot simply be swapped like for like with conventional construction materials, Dan Maskell, senior lecturer at the Department for Architecture & Civil Engineering, University of Bath argued. It shouldn’t be a surprise to perform maintenance, or renew components of a building after their design life has passed. Instead, we should focus on accepting that the material has met the original expectations and then repair it to extend its life.

There was also consensus that market uptake of sustainable alternatives would be faster if the materials had undergone some level of standardisation rather than remaining entirely natural. Felix Wierschbitzki from raumlaborberlin and SLAB pointed out that handling of these materials on site would then be more similar to conventional ones, and significant retraining of labour forces would not be required.

Regarding material properties and structural performance, Katrine Juul, lead sustainability architect at Henning Larsen in Copenhagen, explained that she has started to see a general shift towards the acceptance of timber as an alternative to concrete in Denmark. However, there is still an expectation for the structural form of a building to remain the same as in a concrete structure, where the same structural spans should be achieved. In addition, it is essential to question whether, for example, tall timber buildings really do contribute to a more eco-friendly built environment, as ‘sustainable’ materials are always context dependent, as mentioned by Kika Brockstedt, co-founder of revalu.

The expectations of the acoustic performance of buildings were also called into question. To meet acoustic requirements, the conventional solution is to add additional mass to slabs and walls, which increases the building’s embodied carbon of a building, somewhat unnecessarily. Duncan Horswill of Ramboll explained that if we can reduce acoustic expectations in the first place, there would be a great opportunity to save carbon.

Supply and demand

Currently regarded as a niche, small-scale market, it could be difficult to meet the demand of large construction sites with the current volume of bio-based construction materials that are being produced. David Trujillo of Atelier One and the University of Coventry mentioned that even if we started by just specifying all windows and door frames to come from bio-based sources, on a country scale, this would be a huge amount.

But how can production be significantly increased?

Klaas De Ryke of Bollinger & Grohmann/University of Architecture, Versailles, The Bartlett, University College London, suggested that large-scale manufacturers of conventional materials could be the key. As the industry strives to decarbonise, there will be more demand for manufacturers to diversify and reduce the embodied carbon of their product portfolio. These companies are well established, have the resources, technical knowledge and experience to get building products certified and mass produce them, and are, therefore, in a crucial position to support small-scale manufacturers of alternative products to do the same.

Karianne Kraaijestein, from the Built by Nature prize explained that she is already seeing the demand for bio-based materials rapidly increase. This year saw the first edition of the prize, which is intended to explore the potential of bio-based materials on a global scale and to address the need for transformation within the sector. 297 applications were received from more than 50 countries, indicating that this is not just a regional problem, so perhaps the supply issue is not quite as daunting as we once assumed?

The predicted exponential population growth of urban areas in African countries could be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the suitability of bio-based materials in sustainable construction. Nyomi Roswell explained that historically, the built environment of Western countries has been regarded as a status symbol in developing counties, with an aspiration to emulate their architectural styles. It is therefore important that in the future development of urban areas in Africa, any inspiration taken from the western world focuses on the most innovative, sustainable solutions, to ensure the associated environmental impacts are as low as possible.

Detailing is critical and changing the stigma

Despite the negative reputation of bio-based construction materials, particularly concerning durability and fire safety, this perception is often misguided, according to Dan Maskell. An essential factor to consider when working with innovative construction materials is the importance of detailing and its thoroughness. Mistakes in the detailing process are frequently responsible for the issues listed above, Matthias Oppe from knippershelbig pointed out. Therefore, these problems should not be solely attributed to the novel material but rather to human error in detailing.

For centuries, natural and traditional building materials have endured, with many examples of structures still existing today. So perhaps it’s time to forget what we have learnt in the past 50 years, and instead learn from the previous 500 years, combined with modern construction practices, argued Katrine Juul.

Insurance process and profit margins

Thanks to Funké Adeosun, global transition solutions director at Allianz Commerical, we were able to delve deeper into the topic of insurance when implementing ‘novel’ building materials. A key driver behind being able to insure bio-based materials (or any new material) is the volume of data available, in particular when it comes to material failure modes. A lack of enough reliable data prevents an accurate prediction and understanding of all failure modes, which then limits the scope and availability of insurances. This affects the overall confidence in a material, as there may not be a complete understanding of the risks involved with its use. This highlights the need for further research, testing and, crucially, monitoring of building projects that have used bio-based materials.

So how can these materials be employed on construction projects today?

This relies on the alignment between the client and regulatory authorities. When these materials lack existing regulations, a unique approval procedure involving prototyping and rigorous testing is usually required. Once the material has been implemented in a project, ongoing monitoring and maintenance are typically necessary for several years post-completion, something that Patrick Teuffel of Circular Structural Design and the SRH Berlin School of Technology experienced during the construction of fibre-reinforced polymer footbridges in Almere in 2022 and Ulm in 2024.

Additionally, there appears to be a lack of interest among construction companies in investing in research for novel construction materials. According to Manfred Curbach, director at the Institute for Massivbau, Technische Universität Dresden, companies often face limited profit margins. Consequently, this financial limitation hinders their ability to allocate resources toward exploring new construction materials.

The Danish effect

Throughout the European region and the world, carbon targets and roadmaps are being introduced to drive down the construction sector’s impact on the environment. Denmark is the first EU country to affect a large change on a national level. It recently introduced more stringent carbon targets for both embodied carbon and energy over time, reducing from 12 in 2024 to 7,5kgCO2e/m²/year by 2030.

Working in Denmark, both Katrine Juul and Duncan Horswill have already noticed an increase in interest and motivation in using alternative solutions to ensure the targets can be met. Similarly, a change in focus has taken place in investment portfolios for Danish institutions, such as pension companies. Duncan explained that these companies now have an increased interest in investing in healthy and sustainable buildings, following the introduction of the new regulations. So perhaps the key to making change in the industry is the creation of regulations.

Housing is the first step to adoption

Paul Rogers of Buro Happold mentioned that with an ever-increasing demand for housing in cities, the benefits of bio-based materials could provide a driver for creating more attractive properties and investments. The health and wellbeing benefits associated with bio-based materials could be quantified and measured, then lead the design requirements of new buildings, alongside energy usage and environmental impact.

As a starting point, there could be an initial focus on implementing bio-based materials in non-load-bearing components, such as partition walls, floor build-ups, insulation, or façade elements, said Manfred Curbach, as these will be viewed as the lowest risk elements. Following this, a staggered implementation of these materials could be a key to ensure their success, allowing for the demand to gradually increase without overburdening the supply, as well as allowing for insurance and regulatory authorities to keep up, as mentioned by both David Trujillo and Funké Adeosun.

Conclusion

These insightful conversations have shown us that there is no single solution to the problem at hand. It will always be a combination of implementing a ‘material first’ approach and assessing what is actually needed for your project. Overcoming the hurdles mentioned above will not be a simple process, but so long as the demand is there and growing, we will see results, such as those that are already tangible following the implementation of the Danish embodied carbon targets.

Across Buro Happold, involvement in projects implementing natural building materials is growing, such as the Nest House, recently completed by the Copenhagen team, along with our C:lab project.

Soure: Burro Happold

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Free guide to Part L Compliance

AluFoldDirect shares free guide to Part L Compliance In response to customer uncertainty 

 

Leading fabricator AluFoldDirect is continuing its commitment to education and innovation with the release of a 10-page guide to compliance with Building Regulations: Part L, 2021. Available as a free download, the guide is a proactive response to customer uncertainty over the changing landscape of UK Building Regulations, and a demonstration of the expert knowledge, advice and aluminium solutions that AluFoldDirect can offer.

 

“We are hearing lots of concern over U-values and the Future Homes Standard,” explains Rhodri John, Commercial Director at AluFoldDirect. “It really is a case of ‘stay informed or be left behind’ in the glazing industry right now, and the guide is a simple, succinct round-up of what installers need to know.”

 

The AluFoldDirect Part L Compliance guide aims to empower customers and contacts by providing a clear picture of current legislation, highlighting requirements for refurbishment and new build projects, specific products, regulation differentiation in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, plus key considerations that should be understood during the planning stages of a project.

 

The download also introduces AluFoldDirect’s Solution series of quality aluminium products. Pioneered by the A-BiFold, A-Slider and A-Window, the Solution series is available to installers at passive performance 0.8 W/m²K U-value, a new build-ready 1.2 W/m²K U-value, and Building Regulation compliant Solution at 1.4 W/m²K U-value – meaning AluFoldDirect now offers ready-to-fit window and door systems that meet any thermal requirement, with delivery in two weeks.

CLICK HERE

For more information and to request the AluFoldDirect Part L Compliance guide

 

 

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 ADSA Celebrates Dual ISO Accreditation Achievement


The Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) has secured not one but two ISO accreditations – 9001 45001– a significant achievement that underscores its commitment to excellence in both quality management and occupational health and safety.

ISO 9001 certification is a globally recognised standard for quality management systems (QMS). It demonstrates an organisation’s ability to consistently provide services that meet customer and regulatory requirements while striving for continuous improvement. In achieving this, ADSA has validated its robust processes and dedication to delivering superior value to its members and stakeholders.

Likewise, ISO 45001 is the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS). It provides a framework for organisations to manage risks and improve health and safety at work, reducing workplace incidents and enhancing employee well-being.

“Achieving ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certifications is a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality and safety,” said ADSA MD Ken Price. “These accolades reflect our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in our operations and our ongoing efforts to promote safe and responsible practices within the automatic door industry.”

He highlighted that ADSA had embarked on a “rigorous journey” to achieve these standards:

“It has been a challenging process which has taken more than a year to achieve. We have held up a mirror to our own processes, identified gaps and areas for improvement, and put improvements in place. As an organisation that helps establish and maintain quality and safety standards in the automatic door industry, we felt it was important to apply the same level of scrutiny to our own operations.”

ADSA’s ISO journey involved a comprehensive evaluation of its management systems, including audits by an independent certification body. The association’s adherence to these standards, ensures that it operates with efficiency, consistency and maintains a focus on continuous improvement.

This dual certification not only strengthens ADSA’s reputation as a leader in the automatic door industry but also provides significant benefits to its members. It assures them that the association operates with a strong emphasis on quality and occupational health and safety, fostering trust and confidence in its services and initiatives.

As ADSA moves forward, it remains committed to upholding these standards and driving positive change within the industry.

CLICK HERE For more information on ADSA membership and training

 

or phone us on 01827 216136.

 

 

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West Fraser panel products are the natural choice for Cambridge workshop business

A Cambridgeshire based couple with a burgeoning woodworking business have established a reputation for precision made products, based on basic flair, topflight equipment and buying high quality performance board products from the West Fraser range.

Natural Workshop began trading back in 2013, when Michelle Elener wanted to get back into the workplace after having the couple’s third child and began producing table mats and artwork using a technique known as pyrography – burning images into wood with a soldering iron.  And despite the cost of initially buying small blanks of birch plywood from high street art shops, increasing demand soon saw her partner Josh Anders getting involved.  Since then, they have moved premises twice, with the current one in the town of March turning out everything from chopping boards and pottery stands to bespoke speaker cabinets and kitchen units.

Josh Anders recounted:

“Michelle was selling a lot of her pyrography on eBay but also began producing bespoke sections of ply for other businesses. When we got more space in 2019, we installed an 8 x 4 CNC router as well as a laser cutter and began diversifying further.  Up until Covid hit, we were doing a lot of work for the hospitality industry – making coasters and menu boards etc – but when that industry was shuttered by the lockdowns, we began working with interior designers and specialist joinery companies.  Most recently I have been building some exhibition stands for a new client, using the SterlingOSB Zero on a timber frame.

“Unfortunately, apart from the economic ups and downs of recent years, we have also had some bad experiences with very poor quality boards so we started buying West Fraser’s CaberMDF Pro some 18 months ago. This is a quality product which cuts and engraves really well, while we also use the MDF to make our router templates for shaping beech chopping boards.  I now go out of my way to purchase West Fraser products, currently getting them from Travis Perkins – in a world where so much seems to be being dumbed down and inferior, it is great to know there is material you can buy which won’t cause you stress.”

The premium grade CaberMDF Pro is part of a range of high quality, medium density boards widely used in shop-fitting, furniture manufacturing and other applications where accuracy and sharpness of cut are crucial.  The range also includes the CaberMDF Trade and CaberMDF Trade MR options, the latter being ideal for making kitchen and bathroom units where the enhanced moisture resistance is required.   Being precision-made in the UK means less waste onsite and the associated costs of disposal to landfill, plus lower transportation charges.  As well as guaranteeing a more secure supply in a currently challenging global market, specialist manufacturers, fit-out contractors or other customers can specify West Fraser’s well proven MDF options with total confidence.

Josh and Michelle are meanwhile in the process of designing a new range of precision made marking and measuring tools which will be sold in MDF presentation cases, and they are also planning to invest in a computer-controlled ACC machine which features an automatic tool-changer so they can produce more complex fabrications.

For further information call 01786 812 921

OR CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEST FRASER WEBSITE

 

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Delegates Call for Policy Certainty

 

Social housing providers are at the heart of two political hot potatoes in the United Kingdom: the ongoing housing crisis and, with registered providers’ 4.4m homes contributing significantly to the nation’s carbon emissions, the drive to net-zero by 2050. Bringing up the quality of homes through retrofit also alleviates the burden on the NHS and social services.

The challenges faced by social housing providers were recently expressed during a roundtable meeting of senior social housing representatives co-hosted by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Chartered Institute of Housing as part of CIOB’s Client Strategy.

The roundtable delegates confirmed the variety of ages and types in their portfolios of homes makes the task of upgrading them complex. Because of this, making efficient and effective progress along the path to net-zero is tricky, especially when some of the technology has yet to mature and past government policy (on gas boilers, for example) has wavered.

The complexity for providers is compounded by conflicting priorities, not least to do with health and safety, innovation, the need to adapt to climate change, and meeting Decent Homes standards. As one delegate put it, putting these pieces of this policy jigsaw together at the moment is like “trying to pin jelly to the wall.”

Cash of the sort provided by the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) isn’t all that’s needed to greenlight decarbonisation work. Housing associations frequently have overriding commercial pressures. Take homes featuring older, solid-wall construction, for example. Insulating them as part of a fabric-first solution is not only comparatively expensive but runs the risk of actively damaging the assets’ value, making the work hard to justify in the business case.

Even when SHDF cash does greenlight retrofit work, structural barriers in how the fund works make it less efficient and cost-effective than it could be. Instead of piecemeal upgrades around the country, the money could be better spent funding regional partnerships of providers for joint procurement of work focused on single areas, perhaps governed by the relevant local authority.

Not only would this lessen the resource-intensive administrative burden of running multiple contracts – lowering prices and achieve economies of scale – but it would also encourage a greater emphasis on placemaking (in line with the Building Beautiful Places plan and the National Policy Planning Framework). The resulting pipeline of work would encourage industry investment in recruiting labour and upskilling in retrofit work, which are currently in massively short supply. According to the roundtable delegates, though, making it happen requires a more “grown-up strategic partnership” between the social housing sector and government.

Despite these barriers, there is goodwill in the sector and, indeed, progress towards net-zero is already well underway. Housing providers are reskilling, reorganising and reprioritising their investment goals with the help of carbon literacy training and better data. The forthcoming UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard is providing a robust benchmark and springboard for agreed cross-sector action.

Importantly, providers are increasing their focus on social tenants by paying due attention to their justified anxieties about work that disrupts daily life and might tip them into, or further into, fuel poverty without competent technical oversight.

Asked about their hopes and aspirations for the UK’s new government, the delegates were unanimous in wanting adequate long-term funding, a national retrofit strategy, reform of town planning and, especially, relief from policy uncertainty. These should, perhaps, feature in the new Labour government’s housing policy.

 

Source: The House

 

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Recycled bricks: Decarbonising the Construction Industry

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The embodied carbon of K-Briqs is less than 5% of that of standard bricks

 

Scottish firm Kenoteq has developed recycled brick tech — called K-Briq — to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry.  The company aims to reduce the carbon footprint of construction materials and address the issue of construction waste, which accounts for about 40% of the world’s waste.  Brick manufacturing also accounts for 2.7 per cent of global carbon emissions.

About K-Briq: K-Briqs — made from plasterboard, brick, mortar, rubble, and stone — have a carbon footprint of less than 5% compared to that of standard bricks, Kenoteq’s head of business development Lucy Black said, this is achieved by recycling materials destined for landfills, reducing the need for energy and carbon-intensive raw material extraction and mining.

What’s next? The bricks are currently certified for interior use, with the company in the final stages of securing certification for external applications in the UK, Europe, and the US. The company also supplied bricks for the Dubai Holding exhibition space at COP28 and held meetings at the summit to drum up interest in the region.

Source: Enterprise

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Reducing Carbon in Historic Buildings

Historic England has produced a new Advice Note to provide clarity and support consistent decision-making for proposals to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings whilst conserving their significance and ensuring they remain viable places to live in the future. It reflects current national planning policy.

As historic buildings continue to change and evolve, they need to contribute to a greener future and be fit for purpose for the people who live in, experience and care for them. If done thoughtfully and carefully, changes to historic buildings can achieve the complementary goals of protecting our heritage and adapting to climate change. Keeping historic buildings in use, through sensitive repair, maintenance and adaptation, can help to reduce carbon emissions, reliance on fossil fuels, and energy costs.

The Advice Note provides:

  • Advice on advice on what permissions, such as listed building consent, are needed for some of the common changes required to decarbonise and improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings
  • Advice to assist local planning authorities – and other parties involved in the planning process – in determining proposals to decarbonise and improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings to enable positive climate action. Some typical building adaptations in response to climate change impacts are also included
  • Signposting to other relevant information, advice, and guidance.

Whilst primarily aimed at a specialist audience (such as local planning authorities, heritage consultants and those involved in the planning process), it will also be useful to building owners and occupiers.

The Historic England Advice Note Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency has now been published.

This Advice Note is mainly for a specialist audience, but it will also be helpful to building owners and occupiers.

 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

 

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King’s Speech, Get Britain Building

In the King’s speech, King Charles reinforced the government’s plans for a Planning and Infrastructure Bill to get Britain building through planning reform and accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing. The King also outlined Labour’s focus on sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.

Kelly Boorman, national head of construction at RSM UK, said: ‘The government has made its commitment to restimulating the housing market clear by reintroducing mandatory housing targets, planning reform and investing in infrastructure to deliver on 1.5m homes in the next five years. We’re already seeing this in action with the new housing task force to tackle stalled housing schemes. Further investment in industry, skills and new technologies to ensure sustainable and long-term growth is also encouraging for the construction industry, especially given workforce shortages and productivity issues. We’re going to see a major shift in the labour profiling and skills required in construction over the next two decades, so government’s investment in new technologies will ensure there are more opportunities for people with different skillsets.’

She added: ‘However the housing sector still has a number of unanswered questions. While there’s a drive for building and planning reform for economic growth, there remains concerns about the lack of detail about the provision of affordable and social housing. Government has pledged to “get Britain building”, but there is no indication as to how housing delivery and first-time buyer incentives will encourage more households to flip from rental to owners. Although government will strengthen tenants’ rights to challenge rent increases and landlord discrimination, further clarity is needed on how government will incentivise first-time buyers trapped in the rental market, as well as addressing social housing shortages and making housing more affordable.’

 

Source: RSM

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‘Get Britain Building Again’, but we need Clarity on Water

 

Chancellor wants to “get Britain building again”, but Wavin says not without clarity on water

In her first speech as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves laid out plans to rebuild Britain, starting with an end to the effective ban on onshore wind farms, and an overhaul of planning restrictions, with a promise to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years.

Emphasising that ‘there is no time to waste’, one of the key things on the to-do-list is a reform of the National Planning Policy Framework, with ‘a new growth-focused approach to the planning system’.

Reacting to the speech, a leading solution provider for the building and infrastructure industry across multiple continents, Wavin, has welcomed the news, but is urging for clarity when it comes to water regulations, if we’re to build homes that can be resilient to extreme weather.

Martin Lambley, Global Product Manager for Urban Climate Resilience at Wavin, said:

“Clarity on water needs to be a top priority in planning reform if the new government wants to repair the UK’s broken relationship with our most precious resource. 

“In her first speech as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves promised to overhaul planning restrictions as the new government set about getting Britain building again. The industry will welcome this ambition, but everyone needs clarity on water regulations if we want our new developments to be resistant to the extreme weather that we’re likely to see more of in coming years. 

“Water regulations that affect the planning process have been dripping through over the past decade, as the Flood and Water Management Act is slowly implemented in inconsistent chunks. We need this legislation, but the lack of clarity on when and how it needs to be executed means that its positive impact is being severely limited.  

“We’ll only get the best from technologies such as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) if developers are clear on their responsibilities well in advance – having to comply halfway through a project or a design always leads to an imperfect solution.  

“The new government has introduced ambitious new housebuilding targets. This is a significant opportunity to repair our relationship with water, and start using it as a resource, rather than funnelling it out of town as fast as possible. Ultimately, planning reforms announced by the new Chancellor on Monday need to tackle the growing water challenge made more drastic by the changing climate.” 

Source: Water Magazine

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Jump in Housing improves UK Economy

UK economy grew by more than expected in May, helped by house-building

Over the three months to May, the economy expanded by 0.9%

Britain’s economic output rose by 0.4 per cent in May, a bigger rise than expected and helped by a jump in housing construction, according to official data that will be welcomed by the new government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a 0.2 per cent increase for monthly gross domestic product in May.

The data from the Office for National Statistics revealed a broad-based increase in economic output, with the services, manufacturing and construction industries all growing, the latter up by 1.9 per cent on the month, driven by the housing sector.

Over the three months to May, the economy expanded by 0.9 per cent, the strongest reading since the three months to January 2022, compared with the consensus forecast for a 0.7 per cent expansion.

The Bank of England last month said it expected the economy would grow by 0.5 per cent over the second quarter.

“The economy grew strongly in May, with all the main sectors seeing increases,” ONS Director of Economic Statistics Liz McKeown said. “Many retailers and wholesalers had a good month, with both bouncing back from a weak April.”

Source: Business Times

COMMENT:

Fraser Johns, finance director at Beard, said: “While the three-month picture is a little more shaky, we can be really encouraged by a strong upturn in output in May – especially as it was seen across almost all sectors. Although more recent PMI data shows just how volatile the sector is, the news that both private and public new housing is leading this charge will be welcome to the many that rely on this sector. It is a real example of the resilience we continue to see from firms across UK construction.

“Until we see output and new orders increasing consistently month-on-month, we shouldn’t take anything for granted though. With the election now settled, the hope is we can all pick back up and continue to build momentum during the second half of the year. As we see borrowing conditions improve, with a potential base rate cut in the near future, this will certainly enable more clients to push ahead with plans.

“From our perspective at Beard, the construction sector remains really buoyant with our secured orders at a record high. We continue to prioritise close partnerships with both our clients and our supply chain, as well as a clear focus on both our approach to tendering and our cost plans.”

 

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