Local authorities and housing officers need advice from architects

The challenges facing local authorities and housing officers have never been more real as they seek to tackle societal, fuel poverty and climate-related issues. An ageing housing stock and a growing population that must be provided with affordable housing are key concerns; poorly performing homes pose particular problems. Frequently, it is architects who can provide the advice and solutions needed. Architects bring the breadth of experience and knowledge necessary to create homes that are fit for the future. By taking a holistic approach to design, they consider not only spaces, aesthetics and structures but also the social, economic, and environmental context. They can help local authorities meet ever more complex regulatory demands and the rigorous sustainability goals that relate to every facet of the built environment, be it new build, retrofit or wider issues associated with placemaking. For architects, the process involves creative thinking, navigating planning and building regulations and employing up-to-date knowledge of materials and techniques.

Meeting sustainability targets and the threats associated with climate change at a time when around 95 per cent of the British population lives in areas where local authorities have declared a climate emergency* is crucial. With resilience now a key consideration in urban planning, risks of overheating, flooding and damage to buildings must be addressed from day one. It is also essential that both existing and new buildings are energy efficient and heated from low carbon sources to achieve a route to net zero.

By seeking and heeding the advice of architects, local authorities can have the confidence to maximise their assets and achieve cost effective solutions through coherent and effective development strategies. There has rarely been a time when it has been more important to exploit the skills that architects can bring to creating high quality, beautiful and sustainable homes and places that result in inclusive, diverse and thriving communities.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY DECLARATION

CLICK HERE to visit the West Fraser Website
or Telephone 01786 812 921

 

 

 

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School Constructions Halted by ISG Collapse

Construction of new classrooms halts as ISG Construction Limited enters administration

Rebuilding and extension projects at several schools have come to an abrupt halt after ISG, one of the country’s largest construction companies, went into administration.

ISG Construction Limited and seven other companies in the ISG Group entered administration on Friday. About 2,200 workers were made redundant and operations ceased immediately.

ISG is reportedly the sixth largest construction firm in the UK by turnover.

ISG is understood to have had contracts for dozens of government projects worth more than £1 billion, including schools.

At least 14 contracts worth almost £60 million awarded by the Department for Education since 2022.

It also won work through multi-billion pound construction frameworks, which involve awarding multiple projects at once, such as those in the school rebuilding programme.

‘How long will we be in this position for?’

A council-funded £22 million delayed rebuild at Woodlands Meed, an all-through special school in West Sussex, had just entered its second phase when headteacher Adam Rowland learned of the company’s collapse.

The first phase – a new school on its former playing field – is complete, so the pupils are in their new facilities. But the school is next to a building site, where its former buildings are due to be demolished to make room for car parking and a new sports pitch.

“What can I do? It’s just frustrating,”  said Rowland. “It’s not ideal, working next door to a building site.

“We’ve been a year delayed, but this is going to further delay stage two. The difficult thing is the uncertainty of it. How long are we going to have to be in this position for?”

What happens next is in the hands of the administrators, but Rowland has been told it could be weeks before he will receive an update.

The company’s collapse has also halted a £7.5 million extension at Millbay Academy in Plymouth, which will house 10 classrooms, a new reception area, staffroom and prep area.

Existing space is also being remodelled to create new classrooms, science labs and design and technology workshops.

A spokesperson said the company’s collapse was “hugely disappointing news and we have been in close contact with the Department for Education, which is funding the works, to plan next steps.

“We are confident the works will be completed as they were only a few months away from being finished.”

Contingency plans

Construction also halted at Hempland Primary School in York, part of the Pathfinder Multi-Academy Trust.

The trust said its “thoughts go out to the staff who were employed on our project. The team had very much become a part of our school community during their time on site.”

Devon Live reported that ISG’s collapse had also stopped work on Matford Brook Academy, a new all-through school in Exeter.

The school was already delayed – it was due to open last September – with pupils still in temporary buildings.

The government said “detailed contingency plans” have been enacted, with staff “working to ensure sites are safe and secure”.

It has “robust contingency plans in place to mitigate any impact on the school estate” and is working to “find alternative ways to deliver these projects where necessary”.

All the schools continue to deliver face-to-face education. The DfE is also “working to minimise additional costs and will pursue all forms of redress”.

Latest firm to collapse

Construction companies accounted for nearly one in six of all insolvencies in England and Wales in July, figures show – and are nearly 36 per cent higher in the year to July than in 2019.

Construction giant Carillion went into administration almost seven years ago. The government was also forced last year to order the demolition and rebuild of three new schools built by Caledonian Modular, at a cost of £45 million.

That company had also collapsed.

The buildings could not withstand “very high winds or significant snowfall”. The DfE is seeking legal advice on recovering costs.

Zoe Price, the chief executive of ISG, has blamed the collapse on loss-making contracts it signed before the Covid pandemic.

The DfE defended its “robust procurement process”.

 

Source: Schools Week

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Unique reboots online presence

 

Unique Window Systems, the multi-award-winning fabricator of UPVC and aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling, has revamped and relaunched its online presence.

 

The company’s new website, which is viewable at www.uws.co.uk, has been developed as part of the business’ wider rebranding.

 

As well as featuring an updated look, the new site offers more information and greater functionality than ever before.

 

Mir Patel, from Unique’s senior management team, said:

“Unique is using our ongoing rebrand to rethink and relaunch a number of our marketing assets in line with our focus on continuous improvement.

“Rather than simply reskinning our old site, we wanted to identify and implement features capable of delivering maximum benefit to our customers in the trade, new build and commercial sectors.”

Visitors to the new site can explore and discover in-depth information about Unique’s continually growing range.

 

This includes systems and products from well-known brands like Eurocell, AluK, WarmCore® and CORTIZO as the fabricator’s own brand products such as Unifold bifold doors.

 

Visitors to the new site can also learn more about Unique’s impressive credentials and latest developments in areas such as sustainability and corporate social responsibility through case studies and a regularly updated news page.

 

In addition, the relaunched site offers a number of valuable resources such as downloadable order forms, installation guides, technical documents and marketing collateral.

 

Plus, it features an extensive gallery of product and project imagery as well as a growing selection of videos.

 

These videos provide information on products, past projects and the sales support initiatives offered by Unique like its dedicated showroom. They also offer a look behind the scenes of Unique’s operations and give an insight into what it’s like to work for the company.

 

“The launch of our new website is far from the end of its development” adds Mir. “It will be an ever-evolving piece of digital real estate that sees ongoing additions and enhancements. We want to ensure its continued relevance and value so that users have a reason to revisit it on a regular and repeat basis.”

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW WEBSITE

 

 

 

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Contractors wanted for outdoor maintenance work in the Midlands

Contractors wanted for outdoor maintenance work in the Midlands: Join OUTCO’s supply chain at Meet the Buyer event

 

OUTCO, the UK’s leading outdoor estate maintenance experts, are seeking local contractors for a variety of outdoor maintenance services in the Midlands region. In partnership with Veriforce CHAS, the trusted compliance and risk management specialist, OUTCO is hosting a Meet the Buyer event where Midlands-based businesses can discover how to join OUTCO’s supply chain and secure new contracts.

 

The event, which will be held at Lutterworth Town Hall in Leicestershire on 16th October 2024, offers contractors the opportunity to learn more about the work available and the standards required to be part of OUTCO’s trusted network. Services required by OUTCO include arboriculture, general landscaping, civil works (such as resurfacing and pothole repairs), line marking, grounds maintenance, and more.

 

OUTCO delivers a full range of outdoor estate services to clients nationwide, including winter and grounds maintenance, as well as asset upkeep. By attending this event, contractors will gain insights into how they can contribute to OUTCO’s success while securing long-term work.

 

Health and Safety compliance
The Veriforce CHAS team will be present to explain their accreditation process, which ensures that contractors meet essential standards including health and safety requirements. For contractors not yet certified, CHAS can guide them through the steps to gain industry-recognised accreditation. Achieving this will enable businesses to compete for contracts with OUTCO and other national firms that value compliance and safety.

 

Trades needed
OUTCO is looking to recruit local contractors with expertise in the following areas:

•          Arboriculture

•          General Landscaping

•          Civil Works / Resurfacing / Potholes

•          Line Marking

•          Grounds Maintenance / Site Clearance / Graffiti Removal / Fly Tipping

•          Gutter Clearance & Roof Repairs

•          Jet Washing

•          Winter Gritting

 

OUTCO’s complete service offering provides an innovative approach for managing outdoor assets. Their combined services ensure greater efficiency, performance, and convenience, with the company dedicated to keeping outdoor estates operational 24/7, 365 days a year, regardless of weather conditions.

 

David Turner, VP Marketing & Communications Strategy at Veriforce CHAS comments: “We are excited to support OUTCO in finding skilled local contractors. This event is an excellent opportunity for Midlands-based businesses to take advantage of new opportunities and work alongside a leading maintenance provider. Our team will be on hand to discuss the benefits of achieving CHAS accreditation and how to meet the industry’s compliance standards.”

 

For more information and to register for the event, please visit: https://www.chas.co.uk/mtb-outco-midlands-2024/

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ISG: Government Forced to Activate Contingency Plans

ISG had £1bn-plus pipeline of work for MoJ and other projects for DfE and DWP

Government departments have been forced to activate contingency plans for the delivery of new prison places and schools after one of the nation’s largest construction companies fell into administration.

ISG reportedly held around 69 government contracts with a value of at least £1.84bn, the bulk of that work was for the Ministry of Justice. One project – the £300m expansion of HMP Grendon Springhill in Buckinghamshire – was given the go-ahead in January this year.

ISG’s collapse resulted in more than 2,000 job losses at the firm. It comes six years and eight months after construction and outsourcing giant Carillion went bust, creating an immediate crisis for the MoJ because of the firm’s facilities-management contracts for some prisons. Delivery of two new NHS hospitals was also severely delayed as a result. The £750m Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick, near Birmingham, is due to open to the public next month – six years later than originally expected.

ISG is understood to have had at least 22 contracts with the MoJ, and work on the government’s prison-building programme was one of its biggest sources of income. The timing of the firm’s collapse, just days after the new government’s early-release rules to ease overcrowding pressures at the nation’s jails came into effect, will be a further obstacle to increasing capacity in the secure estate.

 

Source: Civil Service World

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Companies are ready to pay a premium for lower emission steel and concrete

NEW YORK, September 24, 2024 – A new report released today by Climate Group and Ramboll at Climate Week NYC reveals close to 50% of global businesses that were surveyed for the research are prepared to pay a premium for lower emission steel and concrete, signaling a powerful and growing demand for more sustainable materials. With steel and concrete emissions responsible for 15% of global emissions, their urgent decarbonization is critical to meeting the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.

 

The report, The Steel and Concrete Transformation: 2024 market outlook on lower emission steel and concrete, comes after over 250 companies globally from 42 countries and 21 industries were surveyed on their current readiness to use and willingness to pay for lower emission steel and concrete. It aims to evaluate business readiness, including from developers, manufacturers, and utilities, to incorporate lower emission steel and concrete in their operations, their willingness to pay a premium for these materials, and the existing key barriers preventing wider adoption.

 

Positive market outlook but barriers remain

The research indicates growing momentum, with 45% of respondents saying they would be willing to pay a premium for emissions reductions of 25% or higher for steel, while 57% would be willing to do so for reductions exceeding 50%. For concrete, these numbers were 40% and 49% respectively. While the ability to pay varies across sectors and geographies, compared to one year ago 52% of respondents had a higher willingness to do so, whilst 34% reported no change in their stance.

 

The report also lays clear the encouraging signs that businesses expect the transition towards lower emission materials to be inevitable: 78% of respondents answered they expect lower emission steel and concrete will be standard materials for new products or projects within the next decade. This demonstrates a growing recognition across industries that the transition to lower emission materials is inevitable, driven by both regulatory pressures and market demand.

 

While the outlook is broadly positive, the report also focused on the barriers and solutions to this widescale adoption and transition. Businesses said while progress is accelerating, the greatest barriers to adoption remain cost (84%), industry conservatism (37%), and lack of knowledge (33%).

 

In terms of solutions, businesses were clear that governments have a significant role to play in supporting them. Financial levers such as tax incentives, credits, and subsidies (69%), carbon pricing (50%) as well as minimum product standards or embodied carbon limits (43%) were identified as crucial policies for governments to prioritise. Without them, the world is unlikely to see the rapid scaling of lower emission steel and concrete in time. Clear and robust policies must be implemented at all levels of government, now.

 

Jen Carson, Head of Industry of Climate Group, says:

 

“Business leaders are not only calling for change – they’re enacting it. This report is a real temperature check of the market. It’s hugely encouraging to see the appetite is here, now, for organisations to pay a premium for lower emission steel and concrete. Actors across the value chain – suppliers, governments, and investors – should take note.

But there’s deep work to be done to speed up progress. It’s critical that businesses can make the right choices for their operations, and the planet, and switch to lower emission steel and concrete. Governments must listen to their concerns, support their ambition, and act quickly to remove barriers. This way we can unlock corporate demand to drive real sector transformation.”

 

Michael Simmelsgaard, Chief Operating Officer of Ramboll, says:

 

“The fact that more companies are now willing to pay a premium for lower emission steel and concrete sends a strong signal to the market. To accelerate progress, all actors now need to come together – from policymakers and investors to off-takers of steel and concrete, as well as end users who will need to accept a price premium until the market matures. Let’s build on the momentum we have to drive a rapid and lasting decarbonization of heavy industries on the path to global net zero.”

click here to download the report

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ISG collapse is far worse than initial figures suggest

According to leading construction intelligence provider, Glenigan,

public sector work accounts for only a third of ISG’s pipeline

Glenigan data shows impact of ISG collapse is far worse than initial figures suggest

ISG’s recent collapse has sent shockwaves through the UK construction sector, placing many projects in peril and putting a number of subcontractors in a precarious position.

Whilst some analysts were quick to point out the scale of the problem especially for government projects, with a few days hindsight, it’s clear to see the impact was significantly underestimated, and will be felt across the whole of the construction sector for months to come.

 

According to leading construction intelligence provider, Glenigan, public sector work accounts for only a third of ISG’s pipeline, while industrial, commercial and private housing projects on ISG’s books total over £2.8 billion.

Overall ISG currently has projects totalling over £2.5 billion on site and has been awarded contracts on a further £1.7 billion of work.

33 awarded contracts, 57 projects in progress on-site and 3 imminent completion, have been left up in the air. This includes:

Project NameLocationValue
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies FacilityBillingham, Cleveland£200 million
Slough Data Centre Campus Phase 2Berkshire£200 million
Institute of Neurology for UCLLondon£158 million
Data Center for Vantage Data CentersEaling£150 million
Data Center for Colt Data Center ServicesHillingdon£150 million

 

ISG was also on 19 Construction Frameworks with a combined value of over £104 billion.

This situation presents a major problem for both contractors and subcontractors, many of which will be left seriously out of pocket, putting a large number of jobs on the line.

However, there is a commercial opportunity for agile suppliers to step into the breach, ensuring many of these projects do not fall behind and involved subcontractors are supported.

Commenting on these figures, Economic Director, Allan Wilen, says,

“ISG’s demise is set to dampen overall industry workload in the near term as clients look for contractors to complete projects currently on site and as recently awarded projects are re-tendered. Its subcontractors and suppliers will be under increased financial pressure and contractors’ nationwide will need to review and work with their own supply chains to minimise financial stress and avoid any additional loss of industry capacity.”

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Landlords urged to take up Funding

In the Government’s home upgrade announcement, it confirmed the continuation of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, now referred to as the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund. This will provide funding for social housing landlords to make much-needed energy-efficiency improvements to their properties.

 

Tamsin Lishman, CEO of the Kensa Group, the UK’s leading ground source heat pump provider and who has installed renewable heating systems for thousands of social housing properties, is urging landlords to make the most of this funding to protect their residents from future energy bill shocks by submitting their applications when the window opens on 30 September:

 

Tamsin Lishman, CEO of the Kensa Group comments: 

 

“The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund offers a time-limited opportunity for social landlords across England to upgrade their housing stock and take people out of fuel poverty. Against the backdrop of high fuel poverty levels, rising energy bills, and ambitious climate targets, this is an important opportunity for landlords to secure funding to provide residents with the best possible heating systems, delivering a triple win of warmer homes, lower energy bills, and reduced carbon emissions.

 

“Kensa’s solution addresses these challenges directly and is ideally suited to social homes that are considered ‘complex to decarbonise,’ such as high and low-rise flats. Networked heat pumps offer the most viable option for these buildings, maximising emissions reductions, delivering a potential two-band EPC uplift, ensuring the lowest lifecycle costs, and offering residents the lowest running costs, which can significantly alleviate the impact of fuel poverty.

 

“When the competition opens next week, social landlords must take full advantage of this opportunity to access funding, which provides up to £15,000 per off-gas property and up to £20,000 for on-gas properties. By maximising funding, landlords can implement the best solutions for both their properties and their residents, and with no further funding expected before 2028 now is the time to act. Kensa is ready to support social landlords in navigating the application process, helping them optimise energy efficiency, future-proof their properties, and enhance the quality of life for their residents.”

 

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‘Poorly Crafted Regulations’ a Blight to Construction

Analysis from Glenigan shows that 53,379 new homes were approved between April and June 2024, a 13% drop compared to the same period in 2023.

Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Policy and Market Insight at the National Federation of Builders (NFB) said:

“The new Labour government’s job has been made considerably harder by Michael Gove’s decision to remove housing targets and water down housing supply ambition.”

Yet this is only half the story. We have seen many small and medium sized housebuilders (SMEs) exit the industry, not just because councils were allocating fewer sites, but due to the Government adding new taxes and ignoring the business impacts of poorly crafted regulations, such as Biodiversity Net Gain.

I have seen SME housebuilders, some older than the Labour party itself – builders who helped solve the post-war housing crisis – call it a day because the risks associated with planning are simply unaffordable and new regulations are removing any profitability. However, this isn’t just about housing supply; it’s also about the future of our workforce. These sized companies train eight in ten construction apprentices and favour directly employed workers and consistent supply chains.

The previous government, despite being warned about the consequences of their actions, have torched the construction industry with their party-political actions and to fix this, the Labour government now needs to get their head around how the industry operates in practice and what the price of big builder reliance really is.

Unless wholesale planning reform is delivered within the next twelve months, the drop in approvals will bite the Government mid-way through their term. Not only do existing permissions need to be built first, but due to pre-commencement conditions to satisfy, legal agreements to agree and infrastructure to first build, it typically takes years to go from approval to spades in the ground.

It is crucial that the Government explores which sized sites are seeing fewer approvals, because large sites of more than 250 can take five to ten years to go from approval to completion.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) review offers a chance to unpick the broken planning system and NFB will be submitting deliverable recommendations which aim to speed up decisions and supply. These include a ‘medium sized site’ definition of ten to fifty homes, an open ‘call for sites’ for smaller developments, more delegated powers, and reforms to deemed discharge.

Alongside new towns and the New Homes Accelerator, our NPPF recommendations will get us much closer to achieving the 300,000 new homes a year target.”

 

Source: Politics Home

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Projects Under Threat as ISG Collapses

Major construction firm ISG bankruptcy results in over 2,000 job losses and halts significant government projects

Thousands of jobs have vanished as ISG, one of the UK’s major construction firms, collapsed last week, leaving its employees and many government projects hanging by a thread. This unexpected downfall sends shockwaves through the construction industry, raising alarms about the growing instability within this sector and its ripple effects on employment and public infrastructure.

With around 2,400 employees across its UK operations, ISG declared its bankruptcy after appointing EY (Ernst & Young) as the administrator, halting all trading immediately. Most of these employees were let go, with only about 200 retained to help manage the transition of the company’s assets. This stark cut has been described as the largest collapse of a UK construction contractor since the infamous fall of Carillion back in 2018.

ISG was deeply involved with 69 current government projects, including significant contracts for the Ministry of Justice to expand prison facilities. Specifically, its contribution was targeted at enhancing the capacity of the UK’s prisons by adding approximately 20,000 extra spaces amid growing concerns over overcrowding and prison conditions. The abrupt cease of its construction activities has plunged these projects, valued collectively at over £1 billion, and other public sector jobs, creating uncertainty for local governments and communities dependent on public works.

Echoes of disappointment rang out across many projects, including plans for new schools and upgrades to existing facilities. For example, the construction activities at Hempland Primary School in York, which had just begun earlier this year, are now halted indefinitely. The school’s representatives voiced their disappointment, expressing concern for the workers impacted by the winding down of the project.

Local authorities and government officials are now scrambling for solutions to stabilize affected projects and find alternative contractors. A spokesperson from the Cabinet Office announced, “We have implemented our detailed contingency plans and affected departments are working to secure sites and manage safety measures.” This statement highlights the urgency felt by local officials who know their communities rely on these developments.

The story of ISG’s collapse isn’t just about the sudden loss of jobs—it’s also wrapped up with far-reaching consequences impacting construction and service sectors alike. Since its inception, ISG was recognized for its ability to deliver high-profile projects efficiently but was recently plagued by financial mismanagement stemming from unprofitable contracts agreed upon between 2018 and 2020. This unfortunate history sent the company spiraling, leading to decreased cash flow and inability to keep operations running.

Source: The Pinnacle Gazette

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