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.

Theresa May confirms there will be an inquiry into Grenfell Tower fire

Prime Minister Theresa May visited the scene this morning and witnessed the overwhelming devastation for herself. With many questions arising as to why the cladding allowed the fire to spread from the bottom of the tower to the top in just 15 minutes, she said that community around the Grenfell Tower are right to demand answers.

Confirming that an official enquiry will take place, she said “We need to ensure that this tragedy is fully investigated. People deserve answers. The inquiry will give them.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said “The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that tragically 17 people are now known to have died in the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower. Sadly this figure is likely to rise, and my thoughts and prayers remain with all those affected.

“Today the fire has been brought under control and the fire brigade and our other emergency services are continuing to work heroically. The operation is now shifting from the search and rescue phase to the recovery phase.

“Under these circumstances the full scale of the tragedy is becoming clear and there are pressing questions, which demand urgent answers.

This news follows the earlier announcement that fire checks will be carried out on all revamped blocks in the country.

Listen to the audio from Theresa May’s interview on the subject below:

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Refurbished London tower block blaze UPDATE

Fatality figures are beginning to emerge at the 24-storey tower block blaze currently being tackled 200 by firefighters in West London today.

The inferno, which broke out in the early hours of morning and quickly engulfed the entire building, has put 50 people in hospital so far.

Grenfell tower at the Lancaster West Estate in Kensington is comprised of 120 homes and 600+ residents, many as of yet still inaccessible to firefighters.

Eyewitnesses have claimed that the rapid spread of fire seems to be due to the plastic cladding system.

The building itself recieved an £8.6m refurbishment in 2015 delivered by Contractor Rydon. As part of this, block of flats were externally fitted with new rain screen cladding, a new curtain wall façade and replacement windows to improving thermal insulation and aesthetics.

Contractor Harley Curtain Wall, who fitted the facade, fell into administration soon after.

More to follow.

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Welsh government and home builders sign pact to boost housing supply

Communities and Children Secretary Carl Sargeant today launched a pact with the Home Builders Federation and the Federation of Master Builders to help boost the supply of market housing in Wales.

The Cabinet Secretary sealed the agreement on a visit to Edenstone Homes, a housing developer building homes across South Wales and South West England, in Magor, along with representatives of both organisations.

The aim of the pact is to set out a number of commitments for all parties that would help deliver against housing targets. It builds on the House Builders’ Engagement Programme which was established by the Welsh Government and the Home Builders Federation in 2014. The Federation of Master Builders has been invited to join the partnership to represent those building on a smaller scale.

Launching the pact, Carl Sargeant said “While recent figures published show that the numbers of new homes started and completed in Wales last year were at their second highest level since the start of the recession in 2007-8, there is still an acute need for more homes across Wales. As the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for Housing, I have made clear, my commitment to increasing housing supply.

“This pact, developed in partnership with the Home Builders Federation, the Federation of Master Builders and their members, will help deliver on our commitment to increase housing supply. It signals a positive step forward, and reflects our strong relationship with the house builders, which is vitally important to ensure the successful delivery of market and affordable housing across Wales.

“I look forward to continue working them to ensure the people of Wales are provided with the homes they need.”

Stewart Basely, executive chairman of HBF said “The Pact provides a framework for housebuildersto work with the Welsh Government to develop policies that will allow desperately needed homes to be delivered. Together we need to create an environment that allows the industry to invest in the land, people and supply chains required to increase output to meet the acute demand for housing.”

Ifan Glyn, Director FMB Cymru said “Although in-roads have been made of late, a lot of work needs to be done if we are to build the numbers of homes required to meet demand. This pact brings together the main players that need to work closely if we are to achieve this objective.

“Federation of Master Builders members are all small local firms, once the main drivers of house building here in Wales. Over a number of decades they have increasingly become mere marginal players in the market which has hampered the capacity of the industry to deliver the homes we need. We hope this pact acts as a catalyst to reverse this trend. We look forward to working in a progressive, innovative, and positive way with ourpartners to make this happen.”

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Mayor outlines ambition to make London world’s leading ‘Smart City’

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today outlined his vision for London to become the world’s leading ‘Smart City’ – with digital technology and data at the heart of making the capital an even better place to live, work and invest.

Speaking at the launch of London Tech Week, Sadiq said technology is essential to solving many of the biggest economic, social and environmental challenges we face. He called on the global tech community to help tackle issues such air pollution, housing and the future of transport.

As part of his plans, the Mayor has today unveiled a new £1.6m Clean Tech Incubator called Better Futures which will help 100 London-based small businesses to deliver low-carbon and clean-tech products to tackle the causes and effects of climate change.

Better Futures will help kick start the development of a clean-tech cluster for London, developing a hub for low-carbon industries in the capital.

London is already Europe’s leading tech hub, attracting talent, innovation and investment from around the world. However, the Mayor wants to see the capital become the leading global city in the use of smart technologies and data to improve public services and city life. According to a recent report by IESE Centre for Globalisation and Strategy, London is already Europe’s leading smart city, and is second only to New York in the global rankings.1

In his speech to London’s tech community, the Mayor reaffirmed his pledge to appoint London’s first Chief Digital Officer (CDO). Recruitment has now begun to find the new CDO who will work with the Mayor’s Office, the Mayor’s Smart London Board, local authorities and the technology sector to drive the development of smart city technologies and to build London’s reputation as the city that the world looks to for leadership in urban innovation.

The Mayor’s Office is also currently scoping the potential for a new London Office of Technology and Innovation to provide a place where London’s boroughs can come together to share best practice, build collaboration and drive solutions to the challenges they face.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said “As Mayor of this great city – the best city in the world – it fills me with pride to see our tech sector thriving. New technologies are having an enormous impact on our way of life – reshaping our societies, our economies and our culture.

“My ambition now is to harness the new technologies that are being pioneered right here to transform London into the world’s leading smart city.

“The potential for cutting-edge technology to tackle a host of social, economic and environmental challenges is immeasurable. From air pollution and climate change to housing and transport, new technologies and data science will be at the heart of the long-term solutions to urban challenges.”

One year on from the UK’s vote to leave the EU, the Mayor will also seek to reassure the global tech community that London remains open to talent and investment from all over the world. New data from EY shows that London is Europe’s leading city for foreign direct investment into the technology sector, attracting significantly more investment projects, than any other European city, in each year during the last decade. International investors also ranked London as a leading global tech hub, with London featuring in the three highest ranked cities with the potential to produce the next global tech giant.

To coincide with the launch of London Tech Week, the Mayor officially opened Plexal, Europe’s newest technology innovation destination, forming Europe’s biggest business innovation ecosystem at Here East. Spanning 68,000 square feet, Plexal has been built on the principles of a mini City & will support 800 technology start-ups & global corporations from across the world.

Claire Cockerton CEO of Plexal and London Tech Week ambassador, said “Plexal will become a truly unique innovation destination not only for London but the rest of the World. The success of London’s technology sector has been built on a strong culture of collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit. At Plexal, our mission is to become the beating heart of inventive enterprise; connected, intelligent & dynamic – where people join forces, ideas spark & new business is born.”

Also at today’s event, the former British Paralympic gold medallists, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Lord Chris Holmes MBE, launched The Global Disability Innovation Programme, a new accelerator designed to encourage the development of technologies to improve the lives of people living with disabilities.

The programme, which is run in partnership with Plexal and UCL, will bring together disabled and able-bodies experts, users and start-ups with corporates to accelerate the development of innovative businesses and products around disability.

Entrepreneurs and start-ups on the programme will focus on the development of innovations in areas such as accessible and affordable housing, transportation and how big data and analytics can be used to have a positive impact on the lives of disabled people around the world.

Lord Chris Holmes, announced today as Chair of the Global Disability Innovation Hub, said “I am absolutely delighted to Chair the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and to be a part of a project with such potential to transform lives. I have personally benefited from assistive technology and believe truly inclusive design not only removes barriers to disabled people but also, essentially, benefits everyone by leading to ground breaking technological solutions or applications and truly excellent design. Technology is neutral but is an incredible tool in the hands of humans and the ways in which we respond to the 4th industrial revolution and the benefits we achieve will be a measure of our civilisation. I’m looking forward to the role the GDI Hub will play in this mission, we have a brilliant team and I relish the challenge before us.”

Also speaking at today’s London Tech Week launch was Steven Armstrong, Group Vice President and President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company. He announced that Ford will open a dedicated Smart Mobility Innovation Office at Here East focusing on future mobility solutions for Europe.

A dedicated team of Ford specialists will work alongside world-class digital companies, leading academic institutions and existing partners as it targets the near-term commercialisation of smart mobility solutions that meet the needs of Europe’s major cities.

Gavin Poole, CEO of Here East, said “The success of London’s flourishing tech sector is partly due to the collaboration between entrepreneurs, established businesses, academics and policy makers. As the tech community comes together at Here East for the launch of London Tech Week, we are delighted that Ford is joining our campus as it accelerates its capabilities to develop urban mobility solutions for Europe and that Plexal, Europe’s largest technology innovation destination has opened its doors.”

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Hung parliament – Keep Calm and Carry On!

The results are in and Britain once again finds itself with a hung parliament. As uncertainty spreads like wildfire as to what this will mean, speculation runs rife regarding how it will affect the construction sector.

Regardless of whether we end up with a coalition government led by Theresa May or a minority government fronted by Jeremy Corbyn, there are bigger fish to fry in the long run! Buildingspecifier investigates:

Brexit

Brexit still looms over us as an industry, and whatever shape the new government takes, they will still need to ensure it happens as smoothly as possible. We need to continue to harness the potential for future infrastructure investment and economic growth, championing ourselves as bastions of innovation and construction prowess.

Although the snap General Election has added more uncertainty and speculation into British economy as a whole, as seen with fluctuations in the value of the pound, 2017 has been a tumultuous year politically. As a country and as an industry we have shown resilience to these challenges and risen to meet them. Let’s keep up the good work!

The election campaigns of all parties have focussed heavily on upcoming Brexit negotiations, and for the construction sector in particular a major priority has been to make sure we still have access to the wealth of skilled labour afforded to us by close ties with Europe.

From an economic perspective, market surveys across both residential and commercial sectors now reveal an overall acceptance of Brexit and people are now looking beyond and seeing the bigger picture. However, there is still ongoing concern about deferral of major investment and recruitment plans, which are understandable but likely to subside in coming weeks and months following on from the distraction of a dramatic election.

Skills

An inescapable truth is that there needs to be a drastic narrowing of the construction skills gap as soon as possible, and today’s result doesn’t negate this harsh fact. The new administration will undoubtedly continue to reinforce the importance of the construction industry to the country’s physical and economic wellbeing, and will need to continue implementing modern technologies such as offsite and modular into our projects nationwide, contributing to further growth of the UK economy by championing us an a lucrative opportunity for investors.

In summary

There is going to be a lot of confusion and insecurity following today’s result; it is vitally important that as an industry we do not lose sight of what we need to achieve as an industry. Today’s result doesn’t change this, it merely adds another dynamic that we will need to evolve and change in order to adapt to. We mustn’t allow procrastination, frustration or insecurity to unravel all of the good things we have achieved over the past few years. We must keep calm and carry on!

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Hinkley’s construction workers receive bonus to avert strike threat

Constructive discussions between employers at Hinkley Point C and Unite the union have resulted in an interim agreement over the payment of bonuses during the construction of the power station.

All parties have agreed to take part in a collective differences panel that will seek to identify an agreeable long-term settlement of the bonus issue.
As part of the agreement, interim bonus payments will apply until the end of August 2017 and will be linked to safe and collaborative working on site. The total bonus to be paid on this basis is as follows: working supervisor and craft grades £4 an hour, skilled worker grades £3 per hour and general workers £2 an hour.

The interim payments were agreed by representatives of EDF Energy (the client), BYLOR (the Tier 1 contractor comprising Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues TP), the Kier-Bam joint venture (who are undertaking the enabling works) and Unite the union.

As part of the agreement, the previously approved Civil Engineering Sector Agreement (CESA) for the project, which governs pay and conditions, will be fully implemented with effect from 1 June 2017, including the interim bonus arrangements.

The collective differences panel, which will consist of a senior Unite full time official and a senior EDF Energy executive, will thoroughly examine the matter of bonuses.

The panel will seek to identify appropriate permanent bonus arrangements that are agreeable to all parties and is scheduled to deliver its recommendations on productivity/milestones bonus payments by August.

As part of the agreement, no industrial action will be considered while these interim arrangements are in place or until the collective differences procedure has been exhausted.

Nigel Cann, EDF Energy’s Programme and Construction Delivery Director for Hinkley Point C, said “We are proud about the ‘best in class’ nature of the overall package for the Hinkley Point C civil workforce.

“We have created great facilities, an opportunity to develop and a very competitive reward structure.

“We are pleased that these interim arrangements allow constructive dialogue to continue to finalise this important agreement.

“Unite the Union has been a constructive partner in the discussions to date and I look forward to this continuing throughout the construction of the Hinkley Point C power station.”

Unite acting national officer for construction Jerry Swain, said: “I am pleased that following consultation with our stewards and members that we along with the various parties have been able to agree a clear path forward and that the prospect of industrial action, which is always a last resort, can be taken off the agenda in order to allow the ‘Differences Panel’ to deliberate.

“The work undertaken by EDF Energy in ensuring that all parties signed up to the interim agreement has been crucial in providing a breathing space and creating the opportunity for a long-term solution being agreed to finally resolve this matter.”

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Iconic Battersea chimneys have been completely rebuilt

Battersea Power Station’s four iconic chimneys have now been completely rebuilt, as part of the restoration programme that will see the Grade II* listed building brought back into use after more than 30 years.

Since the rebuilding began on May 14th 2015, nearly 25,000 wheelbarrow loads of concrete have been hand-poured into special “jump form” shutters to recreate the chimneys which each stand 51 metres above the building. Rather than use hoses to pour the concrete, it was decided to replicate the original construction methods: some 680 tonnes of concrete have been lifted in hoists, transferred into wheelbarrows and then poured into the structures.

The rings that can be seen around the new chimneys, and could also be seen around the originals, are a result of the “jump form” method in which shutters are erected at the top of the growing chimney. They are then filled with concrete which is allowed to dry before the shutters move up again to create the next layer. In modern buildings the shutters would typically move up continuously to create a smooth exterior, but this technique was not in use when the Power Station was built. Overall, the hoists have travelled the equivalent of 21 miles, lifting concrete to the workers waiting on boards high above the ground.

The original chimneys – two were built in the 1930s and the second pair in the 1950s – had to be taken down: they had become dangerously unstable as a result of their many years of funnelling corrosive gases, and in part because salty Thames water was used to mix their concrete.

The dismantling and rebuilding of the chimneys, which was especially difficult due to the need to preserve the building beneath and the special methods which had to be used, won a prestigious award at the London Civil Engineering Awards last month.

The northeast and southwest chimneys will return to service as exhaust stacks, albeit much cleaner ones than in the old days: they will release the water vapour generated by the new clean, green Energy Centres which will provide heat, cooling and electricity to the new Battersea Power Station and potentially other buildings in the neighbourhood as well.

The northwest chimney is the last to be finished.

Rob Tincknell, CEO of the Battersea Power Station Development Company, said “Battersea Power Station’s chimneys have been the backdrop for films, music videos and album covers and really are world famous. On behalf of our shareholders, I would like to say it has been an honour to restore this iconic symbol to the London skyline so that it can be enjoyed by generations to come.”

The Malaysian shareholders of the Battersea Power Station project are committed to giving back to the communities in which they operate. They recognise the importance of creating shared value and this is embedded in all their undertakings to ensure that they contribute towards a harmonious and considerate community.

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The UK construction outlook is positive despite challenges

Despite worries surrounding Brexit, tighter margins and labour supply to name a few, optimism across Britain’s construction sector is relatively high in regards to potential growth and future profits, according to the 2017 Construction Sentiment Survey.

Causeway Technologies and Barbour ABI’s survey of the construction sector – measuring various levels of optimism, growth & obstacles within the industry, found that of those surveyed 71 per cent believe that their company’s revenue is expected to grow in 2017 compared to last year and 63 per cent foresee a growth in profits.

The survey also found that the three biggest issues facing the construction industry are stronger competitors, labour supply and customer demand.

Construction

A large proportion of construction companies (67 per cent) are already implementing cost-reduction measures, however they are more prevalent in larger companies (82 per cent) compared to smaller companies (58 per cent). However, the survey also showed evidence of initiatives for growth, with almost 70 per cent believing that their company is implementing initiatives to fuel growth in 2017.

Colin Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Causeway Technologies commented “The UK construction industry is facing considerable change in the coming years and needs to be well prepared for what lies ahead.”

“Whilst it is clear from the survey that construction professionals remain reasonably optimistic about 2017 with the industry growing steadily since 2013, they are also aware that they face an array of challenges, with a significant number of companies already looking at how they can cut costs and improve efficiency.”

“Identifying the issues is clearly the first step in tackling them, the next stage is for construction companies to introduce the solutions that will help them perform better in the face of the challenges they expect to encounter in 2017.”

Commenting on the figures, Michael Dall, Lead Economist at Barbour ABI, said “Construction firms are looking to “future proof” and expand markets to meet the economic challenges that inevitably lie ahead.”

“The industry appears to be learning its lessons from the years of subdued performance between 2009 and 2012 with many considering closely its initiatives for growth, issues facing their businesses but also ensuring the systems are in place to ensure they can weather any future downturn.”

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First modular homes to be built by a housing association land in Coventry

The first modular homes to be built by housing association Midland Heart have landed in Coventry.

The four, three-bedroom properties on ‘Modular Mews’ in Foleshill are part of a pilot scheme delivered in partnership with developers Central Site and Coventry City Council.

Work on the scheme started toward the end of 2016 and during one weekend in February all four homes were craned in after being built off-site at a factory in Nuneaton. Construction of the development was completed within six weeks.

Midland Heart’s Director for Development, Chris Miller said “It’s been an incredibly interesting journey as we prepared the site and watched all four homes being built in just a couple of days.

“Modular homes are just one of the options we are exploring to deal with the effects of the housing crisis and are part of our commitment to build 2000 new homes across the Midlands over the next five years.”

The properties have been built to an incredibly high standard of both design and environmental sustainability making them cost-effective to run and maintain.

Each property includes amongst other amenities an externally fitted electric car charging port and walls that can be removed so properties can be easily adapted.

Brian Maunder at Central Site said “It was a pleasure to work with Midland Heart on delivering the first modular homes in Coventry, the first of many.”

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New government urged to use housebuilding for social and economic boost

The house building industry has set out a blueprint for how it believes the next Government can build on recent increases in supply and go even further to deliver more new homes in the next parliament.

Whilst supply has increased by over 50% in the past three years, if the industry is to deliver the increases all parties now agree are required, the next Government will need to continue to develop the policy agenda to allow existing builders to expand output even further and faster, and also support new entrants and struggling smaller firms. HBF’s proposals include:

  • Promoting policies that enable more builders to build – in particular SMEs – such that they can play their part in increasing output further
  • Providing certainty about the future of the Help to Buy scheme which has been absolutely key in the increases in supply to date
  • Delivering further improvements to the planning system. The time consuming and bureaucratic nature of system remains a constraint on increasing supply. Delays and costs deter new entrants and prevent construction work starting
  • Developing policies that encourage more specialist homes to be built to meet the needs of our ageing population
  • Encouraging better collaboration between infrastructure planners and house building. Builders pay millions each year towards improved infrastructure and more effective coordination would deliver considerable benefits for communities while accelerating delivery.

‘Blueprint 2017: A plan to deliver even more new homes’ sets out in detail what the new Government needs to do in each of these areas to increase supply to the level the country needs.

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation said “Housing supply has increased significantly over the past three years, but if we are to raise our sights still further and better match supply to demand, Government needs to play its part.

“House builders already have a strong desire to continuing boosting supply, as evidenced by the huge investments being made by the country’s largest builders in the land and workforce needed to deliver additional homes. Ensuring a policy environment that promotes development will allow this investment to be sustained.

“Over decades building homes has become increasingly costly and risky as developers have been bogged down in red tape and inevitable delays. That has driven out small firms and prevented new entrants from contributing. Encouraging greater entrepreneurialism in the sector could help boost housing supply by tens of thousands a year.

“The social implications of our housing shortage are becoming ever more apparent with today’s young people struggling to own a home, high rental payments preventing them from saving for a mortgage deposit and ever more people in sub-standard or temporary accommodation and on local authority waiting lists. Building homes helps address social issues, whilst creating jobs both directly and in the supply chain and delivering investment in existing communities.

“Delivering more desperately needed high quality homes will both help strengthen our society and give our economy a boost in the uncertain years ahead.”

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