Making Construction Brexit Ready

The Construction Leadership Council has constituted a dedicated Brexit working group, in advance of the expiration of the transition period with the European Union at the end of the year.

#euguidance #employment #brexit #construction

The working group aims to produce and signpost business guidance and information to help the construction industry get ready and be prepared to maintain business continuity at the end of the transition period.

The group will also aim to identify critical issues facing the construction industry (in the event of no agreement) that the government should address in advance of the expiry of the transition period, as well as championing opportunities for the construction sector in the numerous ongoing trade deal negotiations with Europe and the rest of the world.

The work of the group will be split into four workstreams covering:

Movement of People: preparing for the new immigration rules, accessing alternative labour supply and reciprocal arrangements on skills and qualifications in new trade deals.

Movement of Goods and Materials: preparing for the new customs regime, guidance on WTO rules in the event of no agreement with the EU and alternative sourcing opportunities in the rest of the world and the domestic market.

Standards and Alignment: guidance on the Construction Products Regulation, EU notified bodies, CE marking, UK designated standards, UKCA marking and the longer term prospects of (de)harmonisation and (de)alignment.

Data Adequacy: business awareness of the potential impact and mitigating actions on data flow in the event of no agreement with the EU and no decision by the European Commission on the UK’s ‘data adequacy’.

 

 

In addition, the existing workstreams of the CLC will also take on Brexit-readiness related work, helping to produce guidance on matters including procurement and contracts.

Andy Mitchell, co-chair of the CLC said: “The CLC has a leading role to play in getting our business ready for the changes that will come at the end of the transition period. While businesses contend with the fallout from Covid-19 and adjust to the new ways of working, the clock continues to tick on reaching an agreement with the EU.

“Whether we reach an agreement or not, our relationship with our European neighbours and the rest of the world will change and we’ll be doing all we can to help the industry adapt, adjust and rise to meet the prime minister’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ ambition.”

James Butcher, head of policy at the National Federation of Builders, who is co-ordinating the Brexit working group added: “We’ve identified four key areas that we believe are critical for business continuity as we enter a new post-Brexit world. We will be publishing a suite of short guidance beginning in September that explains those changes and prepares businesses for what will happen both in terms of the changes we know about and in the event of no agreement.

“We’ll also be holding short online seminars in the autumn to explain and communicate the guidance produced.”

 

Source: Infracstructure Intelligence

 

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Construction Skills Crisis, Can Ladies Fill the Gap

The construction industry in Southampton faces fears of a skills crisis after applications for apprenticeships fell by nearly a third in a year.

#constructionskils #apprenticeships #local economy #femaleworkers #buildingtrade

Sixteen per cent of the city’s construction workers are over 60 and ready to retire, research suggests.

That could leave the sector short of the labour it needs to meet government plans for more than 300,000 homes to be built next year.

Apprenticeship starts in construction, planning and the built environment have fallen by 31 per cent since 2017, according to analysis by modular building specialist Elliott.

The Chartered Institute of Building has said the industry will need more than 150,000 new workers to keep up with the government’s pledge on new home building.

Only one per cent of the UK’s construction employees are under 20.

 

 

There was positive news on efforts to get more women into the industry. Among the new starters, there was a 1,000 per cent increase in female apprenticeships.

According to the Office for National Statistics’ Labour Force survey, only 12.5 per cent of construction workers are women and it could take almost 200 years to achieve gender equality across te UK.

Amanda Luciano, Elliott’s UK resourcing manager, said: “The recruitment of construction apprentices is a serious issue that could have a detrimental impact on the local economy and construction sector for many years to come.

“It’s worrying to see the declining number of apprentices in Southampton, but at least rewarding to see there has been an upturn in the number of women wanting to enter the building industry.

“We hope our findings point towards a short-term dip and Southampton can benefit in the future from a local talent pool of highly skilled apprentices,” she added.

The construction industry contributed £117billion to the UK economy last year and contributes six per cent of the UK’s economic output.

Elliott analysed government apprenticeship figures since 2014/15 across 30 of the UK’s largest cities.

The process to recruit new apprentices is due to begin in September.

Fareham College and the Solent Civil Engineering Group have been among those working to get more young people into construction. It estimated that development worth £15bn is planned in Hampshire over the next five years, without enough skills to meet that demand.

 

Source: Southern Daily Echo

 

 

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What Happened to ‘Build, Build, Build’?

On 30th June, Boris Johnson promised to ‘build, build, build’, saying that he wanted to use the crisis caused by the pandemic “to tackle this country’s great unresolved challenges” and get UK construction moving.

 

#borisjohnson #pandemic #constuction #schoolbuilding #civilengineering

Aiming to emulate the New Deal policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Prime Minister promised the most radical reforms to our planning system since the Second World War, an acceleration of infrastructure schemes, and money for school building and hospital projects.

Totalling £4.43 billion, the total value of civil engineering approvals during the three months to July was three-times higher than the previous year. Major projects, at £3.6 billion, were 343% higher than the previous year.

So the development pipeline is healthy, but as we approach the two-month mark since the speech, what has changed? What are the opportunities arising from the promises made, and what can we expect from the future?

Planning system

With a view to streamlining the planning system, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and speeding up development, major planning system reforms were announced by the government at the beginning of August.

Under the new rules, land will be designated in one of three categories: for growth, for renewal and for protection.

“Land designated for growth will empower development – new homes, hospitals, schools, shops and offices will be allowed automatically”, Robert Jenrick said.

New homes and hospitals will be granted automatic outline planning permission, cutting time for developments to proceed to slight as well as cutting costs for developers.

Whilst protecting areas of natural beauty and the green belt, the government insists this will allow developments to be built at a much faster pace, despite critics claiming this could lead to bad-quality housing.

 

 

Roads

During his speech, the Prime Minister frequently highlighted road projects as a key area for government investment to get Britain moving. And in terms of work commencing on-site, this has been a stand-out area in recent months.

According to the latest Glenigan data, road projects during the three months to July added up to £971 million; a rise of 85% on the previous year.

Balfour Beatty have finally commenced on-site on the £355 million improvements to the A63 in Hull and Kier have commenced on-site on the new £150 million A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool bypass in recent months (Project ID: 03291881). The bypass will be up to 5km of new two lane dual carriageway. This was another scheme the government has approved since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many road schemes, of much lesser value, have also commenced on-site in recent months, including improvements to junction 9 on the M27 in Fareham (Project ID: 17300829). Skanska are working on the £10 million scheme to support potential housing developments in the area.

Many road schemes have also had detailed plans approved in recent months, providing more optimism for the sector.

The government gave its backing to £282 million improvements to junction 6 of the M42 back in May (Project ID: 17289535). The scheme comprises 2.4km dual carriageway link road between A45 Clock Interchange and a new junction on the M42. Skanska has been awarded the main contract.

Utilities

The Government has committed to several major utility schemes in recent months, boosting the development pipeline enormously.

Government backing of Norfolk Vanguard, a £1.8 billion offshore wind farm off the coast of Norfolk (Project ID: 18125707), provided a tremendous boost to the sector. Ground investigation works are now on site for a period of four months, but a main contractor is yet to be appointed.

Government has also granted approval of Manston Airport during the three months of July (Project ID: 08503252). The £200 million development comprises re-opening the airport primarily as a cargo airport, with a capacity of at least 12,000 air cargo movements per year. This project is also yet to go out to tender.

A development consent has also been granted for the Cleve Hill Solar Park in Whitstable, Kent (Project ID: 17443990. The £450 million scheme will cover an area the size of 900 football pitches, powering approximately 110,000 homes a year.

Future Projects

A number of high-value infrastructure projects are yet to receive planning permission, but are waiting in the wings to commence on-site in the near future.

The £290 million A1 Morpeth to Ellingham dualling (Project ID: 14429881) is one major project which has submitted detailed plans. Tenders have been returned on the project, which public consultations are due to be held this summer.

Improvements to the A47 from North Tuddenham to Easton (Project ID: 18125712) is another scheme that could be given the go-ahead in the near future. The £153 million development are yet to be granted approval, but are anticipated to start on-site in June 2022.

£100 million improvements to junction 28 of the M25 (Project ID: 14439523) are also set to be given the go-ahead from the government. Works are due to commence on-site in May 2022.

Works are due to commence on-site in 2021 on a new £68 million road bridge in Lowestoft, Suffolk (Project ID: 17077584). The Secretary of State for Transport approved plans in April, with Suffolk County Council due to finalise plans. Waveney MP Peter Aldous said the bridge would be the “foundation stone” for the town’s “post COVID-19 economy”. Tenders have been returned on the project.

Despite being in its early stages, the government’s ‘build build build’ promise is already showing signs of intent to push projects through the pipeline and drive activity.

The planning changes may take some time to make a real difference, but with a solid pipeline of infrastructure projects, the government is clearly boosting confidence for the sector, with many high-value projects finally getting over the line thanks to government backing.

 

Source: Glenigan

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Human Influence Key Agent in Ocean Warming

Researchers identify human influence as key agent of ocean warming patterns in the future

#oceanwarming #climatechange #flooding #environment

 

The oceans play an important role in regulating our climate and its change by absorbing heat and carbon.

Scientists from the Department of Physics at Oxford University have discovered that the influence of circulation changes on shaping ocean warming will diminish in the future. This is despite having been identified and modelled as a key factor over the past 60 years.

The implications of their results, published today in Nature, are significant because regional sea level, affecting coastal populations around the world, depends on patterns of ocean warming. In this study they show how these patterns are likely to change.

The results imply widespread ocean warming and sea level rise, compared to the past, including increased warming near the Eastern edges of ocean basins leading to more sea level rise along the Western coastlines of continents in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Co-author, Laure Zanna, Visiting Professor in Climate Physics at Oxford University and Professor in the Center of Atmosphere Ocean Science at NYU Courant, said: ‘In the future, the imprint of rising atmospheric temperatures on ocean warming will likely dominate that of changes in ocean circulation. Initially, we might think that as the climate warms more, changes in ocean currents and their impact on ocean warming patterns will become larger. However, we show that that this is not the case in several regions of the ocean.’

A new method, developed by scientists at Oxford University, uses climate models to suggest that ocean warming patterns will increasingly be influenced by simple uptake of atmospheric warming – making them easier to predict. This is in contrast to now and the past when circulation changes were key factors in shaping ocean warming patterns.

Changes in ocean warming due to the simple uptake of atmospheric warming are easier to model and so the scientists hope that where previous models have struggled, they might become more accurate for future projections.

Lead author, Dr Ben Bronselaer, who began conducting this research while a PhD student at Oxford University, said: ‘I think it is an encouraging possibility that climate models, which struggle to simulate past ocean warming, might be better at predicting future warming patterns. Better prediction of warming patterns implies better prediction of regional sea level rise, which will help to mitigate climate impacts such as flooding on individual communities. Of course, we do need to understand predictions of ocean circulation better to solidify this result.

‘During our research, we found a surprising relationship between ocean heat and carbon storage which appears to be unique. While there is a connection between these two quantities that is not yet fully understood, we think we have made significant progress towards uncovering it.’

 

The Nature study shows that the global ocean heat and carbon uptake go hand-in-hand, and the uptake rates are set by the present state of the ocean. This relationship is at the core of the method developed in this study.  As humans change the ocean state by adding more heat and carbon, the ability of the ocean to take up both heat and carbon will be altered. A possible implication could be that the later emissions are reduced, the slower the reductions in atmospheric surface temperature are likely to be, due to the coupling between heat and carbon uptake by the ocean.

These results highlight a deep and fundamental connection between ocean and carbon uptake, which has implications for atmospheric heat and carbon. While ocean carbon and heat are separate systems, this study shows that they are deeply interconnected, via the capacity of the ocean to absorb these quantities. These results help explain why atmospheric warming depends linearly on cumulative carbon emissions.

Prof Laure Zanna said: ‘We find that the ocean’s capacity to absorb heat and carbon are coupled, and constrained by the ocean state. This implies that the present ocean state will regulate surface warming whether CO2 emissions continue to rise or decline.

‘The rates of ocean warming over the past 60 years have been significantly altered by changes in ocean circulation, particularly in the North Atlantic and parts of the Pacific Ocean, where we can identify cooling over some decades. However, in the future changes in ocean currents appear to play a smaller role on patterns of ocean warming, and the oceans will transport the excess anthropogenic heat in the ocean in a rather passive manner in these regions.’

The modelling in this study relied on a set of creative simulations done by colleagues at The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), and other published work. Using these simulations, the scientists were able to draw hypotheses on how the patterns of heat and carbon are related and how they differ.

Building on this research, the scientists will now attempt to understand how the storage of heat and carbon in the ocean will affect the decline of atmospheric temperature and CO2 levels if carbon emissions start going down.

They will also use the component of ocean warming that is driven by circulation changes to better understand ocean circulation changes, which are difficult to measure directly, and their impact on regional sea level in the Tropics.

Read the full paper ‘Heat and carbon coupling reveals ocean warming due to circulation changes’ in Nature: 

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Built Environment can mitigate exposure to COVID-19

WorldGBC joins statement to WHO urging the adoption of indoor environment best practices to combat COVID-19

#covid19 #builtenvironment #buildingsolutions #architects #airquality @WorldGBC

More than 680 built environment experts from 51 countries have come together in a statement urging public health leaders to adopt and advance indoor environment best practices proven to help protect building occupants worldwide from the spread of COVID-19.

The statement, delivered as a petition to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), was written in support of the recent open letter penned by 239 scientists recognising the possibility of airborne transmission of the virus based on increasing research demonstrating that COVID-19 spreads via aerosol as well as through larger droplets.

While the latest WHO brief released on July 9, 2020, begins to integrate building-based solutions, this group representing some of the leading voices in the built environment calls for much more guidance.

“What started as a conversation among a few concerned practitioners across the entire built environment continuum quickly grew to a call to action drawing in experts from our collective organisations and communities and the compilation of more than 680 signatories from 51 countries in less than 30 days,” said Luke Leung, Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

“This makes clear the universal belief that our buildings play a crucial role in this fight. Each of us, along with many of the organisations we represent, stand ready to advance science-based solutions to help save lives around the globe,” said Joyce Lee, President, IndigoJLD Green + Health.

The built environment experts support the medical and health professionals’ model of doing no harm and applying the precautionary principles. In the statement to WHO, architects, engineers, interior designers and experts from across the globe urged WHO to work with building environment experts to develop guidance for integrated design and operation solutions as a critical part of the defense path for mitigating COVID-19 exposure. This will enable built environment and health professionals to work together more seamlessly to improve indoor environments and for the public to be better informed.

In addition to the hundreds of individual building professionals’ signatures, a number of influential international associations have pledged their support for this statement as well, including the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the International Union of Architects (UIA), the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), and the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI).

 

 

Quotes

“The World Green Building Council´s global network encourages the World Health Organization (WHO) to work in unity with our industry to incorporate proven strategies for healthy indoor environments into its guidelines for mitigating the transmission of infectious disease. We must action our universal principles for healthy and sustainable buildings and collaborate between different disciplines to deliver safer spaces for a green and equitable recovery.” Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) 

“We see this moment, even in the midst of this crisis, as a profound opportunity to reconnect with the importance of place, and the impact of these places where we spend our lives on our health, our well-being, our performance and also our survival. We hope that this global call to action will demonstrate that our buildings, our businesses and our communities can be at the frontlines of this fight if we deploy them wisely.” Rachel Gutter, President, International WELL Building Institute. (IWBI)

“The UIA – the sole global body representing the world’s 3.2 million architects – joins in calling for further research focused on the role of indoor air in the spread and aerosolization of pathogens, and collaboration on developing design guidelines and solutions that are supported by scientific evidence. The WHO could have pivotal influence in developing and promulgating building-based solutions that help to thwart the spread of COVID-19.” Thomas Vonier, President, International Union of Architects (UIA)

“As the sole global body for the interiors profession, one of our on-going questions has been, how to improve the quality of life of those we design for irrespective of their gender, race and faith. We have now seen more than ever, the importance of our profession and, how it affects the health and safety of all holistically.” Titi Ogufere, President, International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI)

“As the leading, global professional society for the advancement of human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment, ASHRAE remains committed to providing trusted research, leadership and resources to improve indoor environmental quality for building occupants. Our industry has a significant role to play towards the development of HVAC and building water management systems guidance, which serves as the cornerstone of healthy buildings. We encourage the World Health Organization (WHO) to collaborate across industries as we collectively envision the manner in which a post-COVID environment might operate.” Charles E. Gulledge III, President, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

Global Leadership represented among signatories from below countries:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, UK, USA, Uruguay, Zambia, and others

 

www.worldgbc.org

 

https://www.worldgbc.org/news-media/worldgbc-joins-statement-who-urging-adoption-indoor-environment-best-practices-combat

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LOW COST, RISK-FREE, CARBON CAPTURE SOLUTION

Timber pivotal to energy efficiency which is vital to counter balance constructions 45% contribution to UK carbon emissions

#carbonemissions #timber #scottishforestry #environment #energyefficiency @scotwoodlands

Trees have been imbued with a potent symbolism throughout human history – representing life, energy and stability – but woodlands as a low cost, risk-free carbon capture solution have been at the centre of climate action and the very future of the planet itself since at least the Paris Climate Change conference in December 2015.

As we approach Earth Overshoot Day on August 22 the importance of Scottish forestry, an industry which with 19% against a UK average of 13% has the biggest coverage of woodland in the UK, will be at the forefront again.

“Scotland’s forests absorb about 10 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent every year and wood products also contribute to climate change mitigation by continuing to store captured carbon,” says Simon Oldham, technical director of Scottish Woodlands, based at its Edinburgh head office.

It’s a major player in the British forestry and timber industry, delivering more than 1 million tonnes of timber each year to UK processors, managing more than 200,000 hectares of forest and planting more than 25% of private sector woodland expansion.

Net zero is not achievable without significant woodland creation,

Simon Oldham is Technical director of Scottish Woodlands

 

 

 

“The Scottish Government is very focused on its environmental targets and recognises the importance of the forestry industry in meeting those, he says adding: “A net zero Scotland by 2045 is not achievable without significant woodland creation. The already successful commercial forestry industry here employs 25,000 people, so support for that will help achieve our emissions target while also bringing employment and other economic benefits – a win-win situation.”

Key to this has been a programme of new planting and an end to the removal of existing woodland. As recently as just over a decade ago in the UK some of the early, large-scale onshore wind farm developments erased areas of forestry, ironically in the cause of generating green energy.

“Now the quid pro quo is that you must replace an equivalent area somewhere else, based on the premise that any new woodland planting is important new carbon fixing capacity,” says Oldham.

 

 

In 2018-2019 Scotland exceeded its strategic planting target of 10,000 hectares with 11,200 hectares and the most recent figure published in June was 10,860 hectares – a good result given the backdrop of Covid-19 plus a particularly dry April that had a bigger impact than the measures taken over the virus itself and is moving toward a target of 15,000 hectares by 2025.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic Scottish Woodlands has been increasingly aware of a strengthening in investor interest in forestry and natural resources. “With the shocks and headwinds facing assets that are less tangible, investors are voting with their feet and moving their money into substantial assets such as forestry, which also has a positive environmental footprint,” he says.

Much of forestry’s value lies in the demand for its products. “Where there are choices to be made, timber almost always wins hands down as a green building material, minimising as it does the carbon footprint of the construction process, the embedded carbon profile of the completed building and ensuring its future energy efficiency,” he says.

Scotland is in an excellent position to take advantage of innovative technology using efficient, modular construction methods, with 85% of new construction in the country being timber frame compared with England where it’s around 20%, with the remainder being block and brick build.

Oldham is realistic that demand for housing could be affected in the short term, post-Covid, depending on the support given to the construction industry and wider economic prospects but is optimistic that the increased use of timber will be positive on several levels.

“The construction, operation and maintenance of buildings accounts for about 45% of the UK’s total carbon emissions so increased energy efficiency is a huge target for this industry –  and timber will have a pivotal role to play in meeting that.”

This article appeared in The Herald’s Earth Overshoot Day series, under the topic of Nature and how we boost our ecosystems.

For more information on forestry management please visit www.scottishwoodlands.co.uk

To participate in The Herald’s Earth Overshoot Day coverage on the 22nd August please contact Stephen McTaggart on 07788 367 461 or by email at stephen.mctaggart@heraldandtimes.co.uk 

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The Grenfell buck passing

Latest on the Grenfell Inquiry from the FPA (Fire Protection Association)

#firesafety #inquiry #cladding #constructionindustry #architects #localauthorities

 

The inquiry heard that architects Studio E were ‘miffed’ at demands from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) building control to install extra fire prevention during the refurbishment.

The second phase began with a focus on decisions ‘taken in the months and years before the fire’, its immediate aftermath and the government’s role. ‘Key revelations’ included that ‘almost none’ of the clients, consultants or contractors during the refurbishment were ‘accepting much blame’, and ‘ignored pleas from the inquiry not to engage in a “merry-go-round of buck-passing”’.

The first week heard refurbishers ‘knew cladding would fail’; witnesses threatened to ‘withhold evidence’; and a consultant was not sent a key report. However hearings were delayed due to witnesses asking for assurances that ‘anything they say will not be used in criminal prosecutions against them’. This was granted, and the inquiry resumed.

The inquiry also acknowledged that Sir Martin had written to Attorney General Suella Braverman to ‘request an extension’ in late April, and she extended the ruling. After the agreement had been made, testimony from architects Studio E admitted it ‘lacked experience in cladding tower blocks’ and was selected ‘despite never having carried out similar work’, without any ‘competitive procurement process, interview or design competition’.

 

 

Later, emails between senior fire engineers and consultants at Exova Warrington Fire saw admissions that refurbishment plans were making ‘a crap condition worse’, and ‘no sprinklers [were] wanted’. Studio E’s lead designer Neil Crawford then alleged that Celotex ‘calculatedly sought to deceive’ and ‘deliberately misled’ over its product’s safety ‘as if selling horsemeat as beef’.

Most recently, contractors appeared more concerned about ‘cost and delay’ than fire safety, and on ‘appearance and cost’, while Exova consultant Cate Cooney had carried out a fire strategy report in 2012 on Grenfell in its original ‘state’ but ‘without visiting the site itself’, and included a ‘number of assumptions’.

Last week it was confirmed that the inquiry would begin hearing oral evidence again ‘on a limited attendance basis’ from today, after having been suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That same month, it discussed plans to resume hearings remotely, while a later update noted that ‘potential options’ were outlined, with core participants and witnesses asked for their views on three options.

In late May, it received responses that ‘indicated a substantial consensus in favour of limited attendance hearings’, and more recently was ‘working towards’ resuming and ‘proceeding on the basis that the current restrictions will remain in place’, confirming it would restart on Monday 6 July.

The inquiry’s restrictions caused ‘anger’ among the bereaved, survivors and other residents ‘who will be prohibited from attending’.

Last week, a senior fire engineer ‘did not raise the need for any proposed cladding system to have a separate fire safety assessment’, and another then shared that he was sent the design report for the cladding, but did not view it as ‘he was not specifically asked to’. Yesterday meanwhile, the two Exova consultants were said to have given ‘no thought’ to evacuating disabled residents because the law ‘didn’t require them to’.

The Guardian has now reported on emails disclosed during the inquiry’s hearings this week, which showed that Studio E architect Neil Crawford disagreed with RBKC’s senior building control surveyor John Hoban over including firestopping ‘to prevent flames spreading between floors for at least two hours’. with the aforementioned emails sent in March 2015 between Mr Hoban and Mr Crawford.

Mr Hoban insisted that the new wall structure ‘needed to include fire-stopping to prevent flames spreading between floors for at least two hours’, but Mr Crawford said this was ‘not needed’ and that cavity barriers ‘would suffice’. Mr Crawford’s email added that ‘the subject of fire barriers is raising a lot of concern on site not lease because of program and cost. We are all miffed as to why this detail is not a cavity barrier’.

In turn, one fire engineer ‘hoped’ building regulators ‘would not notice’ that evacuation arrangements ‘might not be compliant’ with regulations. Exova’s former senior consultant Tony Pearson told the inquiry that getting building regulations approval was a process of negotiation’, after it was revealed that one of the fire engineers had written to a colleague ‘let’s hope [the building control officer] doesn’t pick up on it’.

The news outlet pointed out that one example of this in the emails was where Exova had ‘submitted a justification for having only a single staircase to evacuate flats and other uses on the towers’ lower floors’ despite knowing that this was ‘debatable’. Mr Pearson said that this was a ‘first attempt at justification and if building control comes back and says we are not happy with it, then we will revisit it’.

He told the inquiry that RBKC’s building control department ‘had a bit of a reputation as hard to convince to accept anything non-standard’, and that he knew about the risk of ‘unseen rapid fire spread through facades if proper cavity barriers had not been fitted’. This had come from knowing about the Lakanal House fire and another in France that showed ‘several story’s could be involved’, and he knew that panels could fall off and aluminium panels melt.

Mr Pearson also told his manager Terry Ashton, in an email dated 31 March 2015, that ‘if significant flames are ejected from the windows, this would lead to failure of the cladding system, with the external surface falling away and exposing the cavity’.

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Construction Up, Employment down

Activity Index figures for July, Sharp increase in house building, modest improvement in orders but employment levels fall.

#constructionindustry #employment #housebuilding #newprojects

 

Report and Comments from IHS MARKIT / CIPSUK CONSTRUCTION PMI®
July saw the fastest rise in construction output since October 2015.

 

UK construction companies signalled a sharp and accelerated expansion of business activity during July, led by another strong increase in house building.

 

New orders also picked up for the second month running, with survey respondents commenting on a boost to sales from easing lockdown measures and the restart of work on site. However, the speed of recovery was insufficient to prevent additional cuts to employment numbers across the construction sector and the rate of job shedding was faster than in June.

 

At 58.1 in July, up from 55.3 in June, the headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Total Activity Index registered above the 50.0 no-change threshold for the second consecutive month. The latest reading signalled the steepest expansion of overall construction work since October 2015.

 

 

Residential building was the main growth driver in July, with activity increasing to the greatest extent since September 2014. Survey respondents commented on the release of pent up demand and reduced anxiety among clients.

 

Commercial work and civil engineering activity both expanded at slightly quicker rates than in June. Growth was often attributed to the catch up of work that had been delayed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

 

July data indicated the fastest rise in new orders since February, although the rate of expansion remained softer than that recorded for output levels. Some construction companies noted a gradual improvement in demand from the lows seen during the second quarter of 2020. There were reports that clients remained apprehensive about committing to new projects, resulting in intense competition to secure sales and squeezed margins.

 

Construction firms are optimistic overall about the prospect of a recovery in business activity during the next 12 months. Around 43% of the survey panel expect a rise in output over this period, while only 30% forecast a fall. However, confidence moderated since June, which was linked to concerns about the economic outlook and a lack of new work to replace completed projects.

 

Worries about the speed of recovery contributed to a sustained decline in staffing numbers during July. The latest data signalled a sharp rate of job shedding, with around one-in-three survey respondents (34%) reporting a fall in employment.

 

Meanwhile, input cost inflation reached its highest level since May 2019. Pressure on costs was partly linked to stretched supply chains, as signalled by another steep lengthening of average lead times among vendors in July.

 

Tim Moore, Economics Director at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey:

 

“Construction companies took another stride along the path to recovery in July as a rebound in house building helped to deliver the strongest overall growth across the sector for nearly five years. Civil engineering and commercial activity are also back in expansion, which has been mainly due to the restart of work that had been delayed during the second quarter of 2020.

 

“Survey respondents noted a boost to sales from easing lockdown measures across the UK economy and reduced anxiety about starting new projects. However, new work was still relatively thin on the ground, especially outside of residential work, with order book growth much weaker than the rebound in construction output volumes.

 

“Concerns about the pipeline of new work across the construction sector and intense pressure on margins go a long way to explain the sharp and accelerated fall in employment numbers reported during July. This shortfall of demand was mirrored by the fastest rise in sub-contractor availability since November 2010 and another decline in hourly rates charged.”

 

Duncan Brock, Group Director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply:

 

“Remobilisation in the construction sector intensified this month, with another significant jump in output following the reopening of businesses and supply chains after the first Covid wave. House builders were the most active with the fastest rate of growth since September 2014, as operating capacity improved and anxious clients were ready to unleash deferred orders at the highest rate since February.

 

“Though builders were slightly less optimistic about prospects for the year ahead compared to the previous month, recovering lost ground gives hope that the damage caused by the pandemic may be less entrenched if recovery continues along this robust path. However, with another sharp fall in staffing levels, the number of redundancies increasing and competition for raw materials resulting in higher costs, holes are already starting to appear just as the sector regains its strength.

“After a summer of this blistering return to growth, building companies should prepare for a chilly autumn as furlough schemes come to an end and the real strength of the UK economy is revealed. Making up for lost time is one thing, but sustainable real growth is what the sector needs otherwise this recovery is just building on soft sand.”

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Reforming Planning Laws

New planning consultation paves way for small business construction boom with comments from FSB and Nexus Planning

#planning #constructionindustry #localauthroities #developers #housing @nexusplanninguk @fsb_policy

Responding to the announcement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government that it is launching a major new consultation on reforming planning laws, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Policy & Advocacy Chair Martin McTague said:

“It’s great to see government finally stepping into this area, the bureaucracy surrounding which has long dogged small firms.

“The current planning process is slow, complicated and far too cumbersome, putting small construction firms off building applications.

“For years, it’s been fraught with uncertainty and lengthy delays, making projects expensive before a shovel has even hit the ground.

“So the news of this plan to overhaul the system is a hugely welcome. We look forward to working with the Ministry and wider government officials to feed into this consultation and hone what will hopefully become a more productive and positive planning process.

 

 

“Businesses that want to extend or build new premises, whether that be in city centres or rural areas, will hopefully be able to speed up a process that can take months or even years, as well as lowering costs.

“The proposed measures also include exempting small firms from Section 106, a levy which has for so long priced businesses out of building work. This sort of proposal shows that the Government is serious about making the lives of small firms better.

“These plans will give a crucial injection of energy into the small business construction sector which has been devastated for years now by the financial downturn and tricky planning conditions.

“The past few months have been some of the most challenging that small businesses have ever faced and moves like this are crucial to aiding long-term economic recovery.” Fsb.org.uk

 

 

Adam Ross, Executive Director, Nexus Planning 

 

“As a matter of principle, the proposed front-loading of the planning process as advanced in the White Paper, with key issues relating to the allocation, delivery and design of strategic greenfield housing sites resolved as part of the Local Plan process, with a streamlined application process thereafter, must be welcomed. However, given the additional work involved in such a front-loaded process, there are questions on whether, in reality, Local Planning Authorities and The Planning Inspectorate will realistically be able to meet the identified 30-month timescale.

 

“The commitment to the 300,000 homes per annum national requirement, and to the production of a revised ‘standard method’ to achieve it is important, as is the intent that this is binding on each local authority. This approach avoids the need for a legal ‘duty to cooperate’ – a system which has never operated as intended in the absence of more strategic planning.

 

“As has been the case repeatedly in the past, the change from one planning system to another creates the very real likelihood of delay in Local Plan production in the short term. Whilst the White Paper acknowledges the importance of transitional provisions, it is silent on what they might actually be. The efficacy of such arrangements will be critically important.” nexusplanning.co.uk

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Planning Consent Secured

Planning Consent Secured for Next Phases of Gateway 36

#planning #constructionindustry #localauthority #employment #developers

Harworth Group has received a resolution to grant planning consent for Phases 2 and 3 of its Gateway 36 employment development, located close to Junction 36 of the M1 in Barnsley. It represents the latest planning success for Harworth as it delivers on its strategy of bringing forward places for people to live and work across the Midlands and North of England.

Barnsley Council has granted consent for up to 1.1m sq. ft of new employment space across 95 acres of land, to be brought forward in two phases which could deliver up to 2,500 jobs for Yorkshire. Adjacent to the Dearne Valley Parkway, a major regional arterial route, the proposed units in both phases will be suitable for light and general industrial use as well as storage and distribution. Consent was also granted for a new link road from the existing Shortwood Roundabout, running south to serve Phase 2, alongside a new roundabout on the Dearne Valley Parkway with an arm to the north to serve Phase 3.

 

 

The newly consented development will build on the success of Phase 1 of Gateway 36.  Harworth directly developed 145,248 sq. ft of employment space between 2015 and 2018, comprising four industrial/warehouse units and one drive-thru retail unit.  Five units were leased on a long-term basis to Barnsley Council, Motor Depot and Fieldrose prior to their profitable sale to clients of Mayfair Capital in August 2018.

All three phases of Gateway 36, alongside nearby employment and residential land, have been unlocked as part of a £17.1 million funding package from the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund (SCRIF).   This investment has already funded key improvements to Junction 36 of the M1 to facilitate development, including a dedicated lane from the M1 slip road, preventing queues backing onto the M1 at J36, cutting local traffic jams, and improving bus journey times.

Harworth will now be responsible for undertaking the site’s remediation and restoration works, using its specialist remediation and infrastructure skills to engineer land prior to  it either selling to commercial occupiers or retaining it  for its own direct development programme.

“Receiving this consent following months of detailed work between Barnsley Council and ourselves is a major milestone.  The region’s lack of well-connected employment space close to the motorway network is well documented and we hope to bring both phases forward as quickly as possible to bring new investment and jobs to Barnsley as we did with Phase 1.”

Peter Henry, Regional Director – Yorkshire & Central, Harworth Group plc

“As for our other major schemes across the North of England, the ongoing development of Gateway 36 is strongly supported by a robust public-private partnership, in this case both Barnsley Council’s desire to bring further high value employment to the Borough and Sheffield City Region’s long-term funding commitment to unlock land to support this aim.  Phase 2 and 3 of Gateway 36 could deliver up to 2,500 new jobs and I look forward to the team making this happen.”

Joanne Neville, Planning Manager, Harworth Group plc

 

www.harworthgroup.com

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