First of its kind Partnership

A new partnership between Preston City Council and Calico Enterprise Ltd has been given cabinet approval to ensure developers create demonstrable impact in local communities by using local suppliers and creating skills, training and employment opportunities for local people.

The partnership will provide an innovative end-to-end process for the implementation and monitoring of the Central Lancashire Employment and Skills Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) – introduced with the aim of generating significant ‘added value’ benefits to the residents of Lancashire.

Preston City Council will use planning conditions to ensure that major construction activity delivers real benefit to local suppliers and residents. Calico Enterprise Ltd, part of the Calico Group, will provide the Council with additional resources, expertise and experience to ensure the outcomes are achieved and reported back to the council.

Calico Enterprise Ltd will use their extensive experience and long-standing relationships with construction companies, training providers, DWP and local charities to ensure all parties work together to maximum social value for local people.

Jane Smith, Partnership Manager at Calico Enterprise Ltd said, “We have worked extensively with Preston City Council to support them to use their planning powers to create opportunities for local people. We are delighted that we have now received the go ahead from cabinet to ensure that local supply chains and residents benefit from the opportunities that major construction developments can bring.

As a company, we’re committed to creating genuine opportunities for local people to gain skills and access employment. This service will help ensure that developers meet their commitments to creating these opportunities and achieve maximum impact in their communities.”

Councillor David Borrow, Cabinet member for planning and regulation, added, “We’re very happy to be working with Calico on this new partnership and we welcome their support and expertise in this important aspect of demonstrating responsible planning and development.

“Fundamentally, this will help with addressing the national skills shortage across the country by ensuring that developers in this region work with local employers and training providers on specific skill sets and training, and to consider creating apprenticeships.”

 

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BOREHOLE SOLUTION FOR NUCLEAR WASTE

Deep Isolation, a leading innovator in spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste storage and disposal solutions, announced a new contract to conduct a borehole feasibility study for ARAO, Slovenia’s radioactive waste management organization.

The study will examine whether a deep borehole repository could dispose of spent fuel from Slovenia’s TRIGA II research reactor at the Josef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana. The 1960s-era reactor, one of 66 of its kind worldwide, produces radioactive isotopes for medical research and for training. It is scheduled to be shut down in 2043.

“We are very interested in the potential for deep boreholes to provide a safe disposal solution for Slovenia’s spent nuclear fuel at a lower cost than in a mined repository,” said Leon Kegel, ARAO Head of Planning and Development. “We are already studying this at the Krško nuclear plant as part of a separate project with Deep Isolation and other ERDO members. The TRIGA II project gives ARAO the opportunity to evaluate the potential for Slovenia’s research reactor fuel.”

Deep Isolation’s deep borehole disposal (DBD) solution combines established directional drilling techniques with patented technologies and processes that can be deployed in many geologies. The study will evaluate data about the reactor’s spent fuel; provide cost estimates for a borehole in granite and shale; and provide a timeline.

Deep Isolation has completed other feasibility studies for advanced nuclear projects, including for EPRI (U.S.) and Fermi Energia (Estonia). “Research reactor fuel is an interesting market for Deep Isolation, and waste disposal is still an unsolved problem,” said Chris Parker, Managing Director of Deep Isolation EMEA Ltd. “More countries have research reactors than full-scale power plants. Slovenia is an early adopter in this market, and we expect that the work will show that DBD is a cost-effective solution.”

In recent years, Deep Isolation has established itself as offering a credible and innovative solution that is increasingly being considered an alternative to (or complementary with) traditional mined repositories. The company is now in conversations with multiple countries on three continents about its DBD option.

About Deep Isolation

Berkeley, CA-based Deep Isolation is a leading innovator in nuclear waste storage and disposal. Founded through a passion for environmental stewardship, scientific ingenuity, and entrepreneurship, Deep Isolation has developed a patented solution using directional drilling and inclusive community engagement to safely isolate nuclear waste deep underground.

www.deepisolation.com

 

 

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Almond Valley, 1st phase planning permission

Detailed planning permission for first phase of a new neighbourhood at Almond Valley, Perthshire is approved

 

A detailed planning application submitted by Savills on behalf of Almond Valley Limited and Stewart Milne Homes has been granted consent by Perth & Kinross Council at Committee on 24th August 2021.  This will enable 340 homes, of which 85 will be affordable, as well as supporting road infrastructure to be delivered in the first phase of a new neighbourhood at Almond Valley to the north-west of Perth.

The planning consent also provides for a new local centre including commercial units and leisure facilities with sports pitches, a changing pavilion, extensive open space and new play areas.

The approved wider masterplan allows for up to 1,500 houses to be built in due course and is an important element of the planned growth of Perth.

Alastair Wood of Savills said:  “The decision to grant this detailed consent is really positive news and is the result of a significant amount of work which has been undertaken with the local authority, key stakeholders and the community council over a long period of time to set out the details of the initial phase of development.  We will continue to work with council officers, local residents and key stakeholders in order to deliver the best possible start to the Almond Valley neighbourhood.

“Almond Valley Ltd. is intent on providing an attractive, design-led neighbourhood which takes account of the local landscape with a focus on open spaces and woodland and the creation of new foot and cycle paths.”

Savills Development team has been marketing the Phase 1 site and a preferred bidder is expected to be appointed in early course.

 

 

 

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Crossover to Electric Aircraft Well Progressed

Electraflyer has announced that it has passed crossover, meaning it now sells more battery-electric aircraft than polluting ones. Pipistrel sold over 100 battery-electric aircraft last year as they take over from its traditional offerings. Bye Aerospace does not even make conventional aircraft. With its Tesla-style approach, its order book exceeds 720 battery-electric aircraft evenly split between two and four-seaters. As the IDTechEx report, “Manned Electric Aircraft: Smart City and Regional 2021-2041” points out, this has caught Cessna, Cirrus and Piper by surprise. Particularly so because the purchasers are not people easily bamboozled – they are mainly pilot training and air taxi businesses that collapse if they get it wrong. Primarily they buy because it saves them money. Brand enhancement and saving the planet are useful bonuses.

Attention now turns to two-propeller fixed-wing aircraft up to 10 passengers for business and regional use similarly beating the traditional cost of ownership, with the zero emissions and faster climb typical of battery electric. Noticing this, Textron, owner of Beechcraft which is under threat, has belatedly said it will look into electric. It is not too late because approaches to these larger versions have been questioned by both battery experts and aeronautical engineers. There is no simple scalability. They need disproportionately more power and any new aerodynamics, where proposed, has issues.

For instance, the battery team at IDTechEx caution that solid-state lithium batteries of the necessary size and energy density are unlikely to be rolled out by 2026 but several putative makers of regional aircraft promise otherwise. Bye announced a partnership with Oxis Energy enabling such an aircraft in 2026,

only to see the company go under shortly afterward. Yes, LG Chem talks of a similar date for such lithium-sulfur batteries with high energy density but IDTechEx advises that 2030 is probably the earliest for full deployment. Believe that only if several issues are overcome such as cycle life and toxic emissions on misuse or wrongful disposal. Other aircraft developers such as Aura Aero and Regent talk darkly of their access to a battery with much-improved energy density but investors would be well advised to check out exactly what they mean and verify that technology’s roadmap with battery experts such as IDTechEx. See IDTechEx report, “Solid-State and Polymer Batteries 2021-2031: Technology, Patents, Forecasts, Players” for more.

Usually, the aerodynamics and construction of these larger battery-electric aircraft are required to go faster, but 50% faster means three times the battery. The acceptable range may be 500 nautical miles and conventional design may be inadequate for this. Cars put in double the battery to get more range but that is less effective with aircraft.

The primary focus should be on reducing the 250kW or so needed in cruise. The Flying Ship Company, Regent, and RDC Aqualines will use ground effect to greatly reduce drag but that limits them to flying low over the sea. Heart Aerospace finds that low speed and short-range are acceptable in Scandinavia so it sharply reduces the battery requirement with 216nm range 215 knots. With a conventional airframe, the conventional lithium-ion batteries are one-third of the weight. The batteries will probably need to be changed fairly often and shorter-range in cold or rough weather will need to be acceptable.

Probably the most trustworthy, beneficial improvement to aerodynamics, beyond born-electric sleek designs, is to intimately integrate propulsion with thrust using propellers along the wing. That can include large ones at the wing tip reducing vortice drag. Enjoy at least a 10% increase in range partly from a much smaller wing volume. NASA, the German Aerospace Institute DLR, and others are behind this. Regent and to some extent Aura Aero are going this way.

Better sourcing of electricity is also necessary. Airbus is going earlier to 1000nm range by the inelegant approach of huge bulges to carry hydrogen that drives notoriously inefficient fuel cells. They still need quite large batteries. However, the idea of battery aircraft of this size should not be abandoned. Rolls Royce, working with Tecnam and Widerøe, plans an 11 seat one for 2026 plying the short distances acceptable in Scandinavia.

The Tesla approach to cars of many small improvements in powertrain efficiency, lightweighting, and simplification has lessons here. For example, a regional aircraft can have 500km of cabling but in cars, at least 50% of cable weight is eliminated by higher voltage, improved geometry, and board-to-board wireless connection. In-mold electronics, structural batteries, and large aluminum die castings together eliminate at least 1000 parts. However, although solar upper-atmosphere drones will be up for 5 years on sunshine alone and China even has a “Meiying” drone flying 24/7 at only a few thousand meters on solar alone, the necessary 3-5 multijunction solar bodywork all over a business/ regional aircraft would cost $100,000 at present and only contribute 5-10kW. It will be affordable and make sense for up-market single-propeller aircraft around 2031. For the larger aircraft, better opportunities can be taken from cars as detailed in the IDTechEx report, “Routes to 1000 Mile Electric Cars 2021-2041”.

For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/1000Mile. This report forms part of the broader electric vehicle and energy storage research from IDTechEx, who track the adoption of electric vehicles, battery trends, and demand across more than 100 different mobility sectors. This is summarized in a master report: www.IDTechEx.com/EV, or for further in-depth analysis, please see the full portfolio of electric vehicle research available from IDTechEx: www.IDTechEx.com/research/EV.

 

 

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CONSTRUCTION SECTOR WAGES RISE EIGHT TIMES FASTER

BUILDING UP STEAM – CONSTRUCTION SECTOR WAGES RISE EIGHT TIMES FASTER THAN AVERAGE SALARIES

  • Construction salaries advertised by employers have soared by 6.7% in the space of just five months1, according to new data from the world’s largest job site Indeed 
  • With employer demand for workers outstripping the number of candidates, advertised wages are also rising fast in driving jobs (up 5.7%) and in manufacturing roles (up 4.8%)
  • Wage growth is accelerating as jobseekers’ interest in food sector jobs has slumped by 57% and in construction jobs by 27% 

High demand for workers in the construction, transport, manufacturing and food industries means wage growth in those sectors is far outstripping that in the rest of the UK economy1, new research from the world’s largest job site Indeed and the Central Bank of Ireland shows.

Average advertised salaries in construction, which has seen the highest salary growth over the past five months, rose by 6.7% between February and July. That’s more than eight times the 0.8% average recorded for all jobs. 

Salaries for driving jobs are also up strongly (5.7%), while manufacturing sector wages have risen by 4.8% and food preparation and service jobs are paying 3.7% more than they did in February when the UK Government announced its ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown.

The sectors recording the biggest salary increases are those in which employers’ need for extra staff, and thus the number of job postings, have risen rapidly as lockdown restrictions eased, but where the supply of candidates has not kept pace with demand.

Chart: Occupations with the fastest growth in job postings this year

 

Between February’s roadmap announcement and England’s so-called ‘Freedom Day’ in July, UK-wide job postings grew 83%, smashing through pre-pandemic levels. Overall, job postings now stand 21% above their pre-pandemic level.

The sectors seeing the fastest growth in postings include cleaning and sanitation, customer service, driving, food preparation and service, loading and stocking, and retail. 

However, this demand is not being fully met as the number of clicks from jobseekers per posting has fallen by 52% for food preparation and service roles, 37% in cleaning and sanitation and 30% for loading and stocking jobs. Candidate clicks on construction jobs have also dropped by 27%2.

Table: Posted wages have grown in occupations where clicks have fallen

Pawel Adrjan, head of EMEA research at the global job site, Indeed, comments: “Hiring bottlenecks are driving up wages in some sectors of the economy as employers use pay as an incentive to attract candidates and beat their competition to the best people.

“Historically, low interest in jobs has always translated into increased salaries, but what is unusual about the 2021 recovery is that demand for workers increased suddenly, coinciding with the re-opening of the economy – and employers appear to have responded swiftly.

“However, the surge in advertised salaries is limited to a few specific sectors which have a severe shortage of candidates. Elsewhere in the economy, wage growth is much more modest as the labour market still has not recovered fully.”

Reamonn Lydon, senior advisor at the Central Bank of Ireland, added: “Understanding which sectors of the economy are seeing the fastest growth in wages, and why, is important for central banks as they monitor inflation dynamics. 

“Our research shows that wages are growing faster in sectors where employers are finding it harder to get workers – in construction, driving, food services, manufacturing and cleaning and sanitation.”

 

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Fassa Bortolo lends render knowledge to transform new Co-op convenience store

Leading Italian render manufacturer, Fassa Bortolo has recently added convenience and service provider, the Co-operative Group, to its list of commercial brands completing a new render project at Maypole Garage in Bream, Gloucestershire.

With a brief to source a high quality, long lasting render that would suit the store’s hightraffic environment, following a full specification assessment from the expert team at Fassa, Woodman Brothers, in Bristol, supplied the materials for the Project.

The Project was completed with one of the popular Fassarend systems, using Externalight as the render carrier board. The base coats used were Fassa A96 and Fassa before finishing with Fassa RX561 and Fassa PX505 acrylic based siloxane topcoats this gives better performance and maximum resistance to weather and improve overall color quality.

Stephen Gore, Fassa UK area sales manager for the region, added: “We’re thrilled that internationally recognized brands are now looking to Fassa Bortolo to specify a render system they can trust. Our products are of superior quality and are competitively priced, so whatever kind of system chosen, you can rest assured you are making a reliable choice for any commercial or residential property.”

To find out more about Fassa Bortolo and its range of render systems and building products, visit the WEBSITE or call 01684 218 305.

About Fassa Bortolo

Fassa Bortolo is the leading Italian manufacturer of renders and integrated render systems. Building on 311 years of heritage, the company has grown to open a number of distribution units across Europe including the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. With a rigid set of values, Fassa prides itself on unrivalled product quality, its commitment to research and ethical quarrying.

 

 

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LANDLORDS MUST GO GREEN

Gavin Holvey, Priva General Manager UK & Ireland

 

London’s commercial landlords must invest now in building tech to ‘green’ their building stock, or risk being ‘unrentable’ 

A new report which claims that around 10% of London’s office space, has an EPC rating of F or G making it potentially unusable when new MEES regulations come into effect in 2023, should prompt swift action and investment in energy efficient building technology by commercial landlords, says Priva UK & Ireland.

The new analysis from leading commercial real estate company Colliers shows that approximately 20% of central London offices can be classed as A and B on the EPC rating scale, (Colliers calculates that the majority of buildings (57 %) fall into the D to G categories).

Priva UK, a leading manufacturer of building automation and building energy management technology, believes there is much work to be done to bring existing buildings up to a higher standard. Post 2023, any building that does not meet the minimum rating of E may be un-rentable under the MEES legislation.

“It is imperative that London’s commercial landlords and real-estate asset owners invest now in their existing building stock to bring the energy efficiency ratings up to scratch,” says Gavin Holvey, Priva General Manager UK & Ireland.

“The Colliers report says that while new Grade A+ schemes in Central London ‘rightly demand the highest rental levels’, there is a genuine appetite for sympathetically refurbished buildings which benefit from low carbon technologies and energy management tools. Such buildings will not only contribute to Net Zero emissions goals, they are likely to be much more affordable to the majority of tenants.”

 

Make more of existing buildings 

“We must make so much more of the buildings we already have,” continues Gavin Holvey. “By upgrading building control systems and taking advantage of cloud-based energy management technologies, we can help to bring existing buildings closer to the operating performance of modern Grade A structures. A BMS system – in experienced hands – can deliver 40% savings on energy bills during the operational phase of the building.”

“It’s well known that building from scratch – or indeed demolition and total re-build – is highly carbon intensive. We take a view that we must all think smarter – and find new ways to embrace circular economy principles. Our technology has been used on many commercial retrofit projects in London and elsewhere in the UK’s cities. We have seen first-hand the impact that re-using and greening existing building stock can have on getting Scope 1 and Scope 3 Green House Gas Emissions under control.”

 

Simple retrofit

Priva’s suite of building control technologies makes it possible to upgrade existing buildings with legacy BMS systems by reusing existing cabling and sensors and field devices. This can be achieved with ease. Previously, in older buildings, burdened with outdated controls technology it was uneconomical to fully replace, owners and occupiers had no choice but ‘make do’. However, the ability to retrofit old systems with new controls makes a positive contribution to sustainability – such as energy outcomes and operational efficiencies

“Quite simply, the ‘invest in retrofit’ approach offers a commercial ‘win-win’ for London’s real-estate sector and UK plc more widely. Finding more sustainable approaches to managing the long-term impact of the built environment should be the focus of everyone in our sector,” concludes Gavin Holvey.

 

 

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TESLA BOT, will carry out repetitive tasks

But don’t worry if it takes the hump at these tasks, as long as you can run faster than 5 miles an hour it wont be able to catch you, hopefully it equally can’t figure out how to use a weapon!

Tesla will build a humanoid robot called Tesla Bot, to tackle “dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks”, Elon Musk announces

CEO Elon Musk used Tesla’s ‘AI Day’ event to tout a humanoid robot the electric car maker intends to build.

The AI Day event is essentially a series of tech talks hosted by Tesla to recruit machine learning talent and excite investors about future technologies.

The event was recorded in this YouTube video, and Musk can be seen explaining how Tesla will build a humanoid robot called Tesla Bot (skip to the 2 hour and five minute mark)

Tesla Bot

The Tesla Bot will be designed to eliminate “dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks”, but Musk warned that that the robot “probably won’t work,” at least not to begin with.

In the video, Musk engaged in his typical showmanship when the Tesla Bot figure was shown off, but it turned out to be a human actor in a Telsa Bot suit who took to the stage and proceeded to dance and gyrate around in a very unrobotic manner.

Musk began his speech by pointing out that Tesla was essentially already the world’s biggest robotic company, given the level of automation in its cars.

“We’re also good at sensors and batteries and we’ll probably have a prototype next year that looks like this,” Musk said.

He confirmed that the Tesla Bot actor was not a real robot, but he insisted “the Tesla Bot will be real.”

The “friendly” Telsa Bot will measure 5.8” in height, and will weigh nearly 57kgs, with a carrying capacity of 20kgs.

It will have a screen instead of a face, and is designed so humans can run away from it (it can only run at 5 miles per hour) or people can overpower it.

If a humanoid robot works and can perform repetitive tasks that only humans can do today, Musk said, it has the chance to transform the world economy by driving labour costs down.

However, Musk warned that the robot “probably won’t work” at first.

“It’s intended to be friendly, of course, and navigate through a world of humans, and eliminate dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks,” Musk said.

Musk revealed that the robot is codenamed “Optimus,” and is based on the same chips and sensors that Tesla’s cars use for self-driving features.

“It should be able to, you know, please go to the store and get me the following groceries, that kind of thing,” Musk said.

Musk concerns

Elon Musk’s labelling of the Tesla Bot as ‘friendly’ and designing it so it can overpowered by a human, is significant, considering his previous warnings about the dangers of AI and robotics, which was echoed by the likes of renowned physicist Dr Stephen Hawking and Microsoft’s Bill Gates.

Musk for example has previously tweeted that artificial intelligence could evolve to be “potentially more dangerous than nukes”.

In 2014, Elon Musk had stated: “With artificial intelligence we’re summoning the demon. You know those stories where there’s the guy with the pentagram, and the holy water and he’s sure he can control the demon? Doesn’t work out.”

He even described AI as an “existential threat”.

In 2015 Musk set aside a $10 million cash pot to protect humanity from eventual extinction at the mechanical hands of robotic overlords.

The donation was to the Future of Life Institute (FLI), a non-profit advisory board dedicated to weighing up the potential of AI technology to benefit humanity.

In 2017 the British government was warned by a think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, that robots and workplace automation must be carefully managed, if predictions of mass unemployment and economic disruption are to be avoided.

 

 

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Ensuring Access for all

GEZE UK’s popular RIBA-approved CPD Removing Barriers to Access has been completely revised and updated and includes new visuals and updates to regulation all in GEZE’s new branding.  

The CPD looks at why door controls are needed, explains the various standards and regulations that apply, where and when to use a manual door control or an automatic operator. It looks at self-closing devices for fire door applications and the benefits of electro hold-open devices. The seminar also explains the benefit of automatic doors, the different types and their suitability, as well as their potential danger points.

Offering architects and specifiers invaluable advice and guidance, which contributes to their continuing professional development, this updated training seminar gives a better understanding of the requirements of specifying door control devices to make buildings accessible to everyone.

The 40 minute seminar covers all the relevant standards and regulations and is included in RIBA’s core curriculum: Access for all, Compliance, and Designing and building it.

It can be presented in person or virtually via a variety of online platforms and at a time to suit, usually lunchtime but breakfast seminars or afternoon sessions can be accommodated.

 

To find out more or to book a CPD seminar CLICK HERE or email cpd@geze.com

National Specification Manager Richard Richardson-Derry said: “The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and its replacement The Equality Act 2010 has rightly enshrined in law that a disabled person must not discriminated against and has the same opportunities as every other member of the public. This includes access to shops restaurants, theatres, hospitals or any public building.

This seminar provides detailed guidance on how architects and specifiers can do just that.”

 

RIBA Chartered Architects are obliged to undertake a minimum of

35 hours a week to maintain their competence

 

Other presentations offered by GEZE UK, include EN 16005 – Safeguarding Pedestrians from Accidents at Power Operated Doorsets; Designing Effective Natural Heat and Smoke Ventilation, Glass Door Assemblies – Selection and Specification, and Specifying, Installing and Maintaining Ironmongery for Fire Doors.

For more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of automatic and manual door closers call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk

 

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MMC and net zero on the agenda for LHC at Housing 2021

Public sector housing teams will be able to hear about and discuss the challenges of and opportunities available in MMC, retrofit and the net zero agenda, as experts from procurement specialist LHC appear at Housing 2021.

Two of LHC’s regional directors will be tackling the hot topics at the first major housing event to take place in-person following the pandemic.

Mary Bennell, director of LHC’s South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA), will be joining a panel to discuss the role of MMC and digital in UK housing delivery on the Future of Living stage at 2pm on Tuesday, September 7.

Gary Cawley, director of Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC) – LHC’s regional division for the North and Midlands – will be chairing a session at the Unlock Net Zero stage on the same day at 11.50am. The panel will be assessing whether the sector can agree a single, credible approach to the data and standards needed to inform the retrofit agenda. He’ll also sit on a panel the following day at 2.55pm, on the same stage, discussing the net zero procurement and skills challenge.

On Thursday 9 September at 8am, LHC will be hosting a breakfast briefing in conjunction with Engie and Ground Control.

 

John Skivington, director of LHC, said:

“Through our procurement expertise honed over the past 50 years, we’re committed to helping the public sector get to grips with, tackle and reap the benefits of the net zero agenda and the emergence of MMC, for them and their residents.

“It’s vital to us that we can help our clients and suppliers realise the social value inherent in both issues, and we recognise that this is the very beginning of the journey for many. So we’re really looking forward to taking part in Housing 2021, and meeting and speaking with our peers from across the sector.”

 

Housing 2021 will feature more than 500 speakers across three days from 7-9 September in Manchester.

The LHC team will also be on hand throughout the event to answer any questions about procurement options and the process, located at stand D46.

To find out more about LHC see www.lhc.gov.uk, and for more details on Housing 2021 see cihhousing.com/

 

 

 

 

 

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