Scotland’s Flammable Cladding Risks

Phil Diamond, MD of Diamond & Company

NEW research has revealed more than 5,000 high-rise buildings in Scotland are estimated to be covered in ‘flammable cladding’.

Figures produced by Diamond & Company reveal that around 5,500 private and public buildings across the country taller than 11m (36ft) have flammable cladding.

The firm estimates around 25,000 people living in flats in high-rise buildings are affected, with the predicted bill for removing and replacing the combustible cladding expected to eventually reach £7.5 billion in Scotland.

The research has been published following publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower public inquiry into the 2017 fire that killed 72 people.

The nine-storey Aurora Apartments in Aberdeen is one of several ‘high priority’ buildings identified in the Scottish Government’s pilot programme on cladding remediation as part of the Single Building Assessment.

The Aurora work was managed by Diamond & Company (Scotland) Ltd Chartered Building Surveyors and Chartered Fire Engineers. Using information gathered over several years from a database of high-rise buildings in Scotland, the company has produced figures that reveal the ‘true extent of the problem of dangerous cladding’.

Phil Diamond, MD of Diamond & Company, said,

“The catastrophic loss of so many lives in the Grenfell Tower fire should have been the wake-up call for an immediate overhaul of the housing industry and planning system. Yet, seven years on, little has changed. In Scotland, only one building has had its cladding stripped and replaced through a Scottish Government pilot project.

“The stark reality is that it’s estimated a further 5,500 private and public high-rise buildings contain flammable cladding affecting around 25,000 people. The cladding used on Grenfell Tower is known as Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) but worryingly there are around eight other different types of combustible cladding that have been used in buildings up and down the country over the past 20-25 years.”

Mr Diamond claimed ‘decades of inaction’ has resulted in us reaching this ‘critical point’ and estimated the cost of remedying the situation could be as much as £7.5 billion.

A law to ban combustible cladding on high-risk buildings, and the highest risk metal composite cladding material from all buildings, was passed by the Scottish Parliament in April 2022. This was implemented by amendments to the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, introduced on 1 June 2022, which bans the use of combustible materials on domestic high-rise buildings above 36ft (11m), care homes and hospitals.

The Single Building Assessment (SBA) identifies life-critical fire safety risks and any mitigation or remediation required to make a building safer. The Aurora Apartments was identified to test the SBA as part of the government pilot programme.

Phil Diamond added,

“There is now an urgent need for government in Scotland and at UK-level, along with the building industry to work in partnership to make our high-rise buildings safe. Simplifying a cumbersome procurement system would speed up the risk assessments, to identify the dangerous cladding, and the work needed to remove and replace these flammable materials.

“One bit of positive news is that the methodologies for assessing these high-rise buildings is finally in place. We now owe it to those who died at Grenfell to have the courage to take the rapid action needed to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.”

 

Source: Project Scotland

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West Fraser working towards EUDR compliance

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The EU Deforestation Regulation bans deforestation and degradation trading into or within the EU

 

As a manufacturer with a long history of embracing high standards of its raw material due diligence programme and sustainability goals in general, West Fraser is introducing additional strategies to comply with the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) which was published in June 2023 and is set to come into force at the end of 2024.

With the world’s forests being lost at the equivalent rate of 800 football pitches an hour, it is considered to be the second biggest contributor to Climate Change and results in corresponding damage to biodiversity.  The EUDR has therefore been established to not only ensure wood comes from legal sources, but to eradicate deforestation and degradation our of global forests. Ultimately, the regulation will help to decouple economic growth from resource consumption, a key target of the EU’s Green Deal.

To date, West Fraser has been working to collate data and undertakings from its supply chain partners, the forest geolocation, species and legal aspects are all considered as part of the risk assessment process, with the wider road map for its journey to full compliance being the subject of regular review.   Meeting the requirements of EUDR is an extension of the company’s already well-established due diligence systems and disciplines in line with its forestry policy commitments.

West Fraser’s Group Compliance Manager, Julie Turner, who is leading the EUDR project commented:

“We recognise and actively promote the importance of responsible sourcing across our supply chains and can assure our customers that we are engaged with the EUDR requirements to better our planet and reduce our environmental impact”.

The West Fraser range of engineered timber panels products are made from forests grown & harvested specifically for manufacturing purposes, all serving to cut unnecessary consumption of resources.  The manufacturer is also committed to further waste reduction in its own processes and utilising renewable energy only from certified sources.  Enshrining the EUDR as part of its ESG disciplines will be another waymarker on West Fraser’s journey to Net Zero.

 

CLICK HERE

to email West Fraser for further information on their sourcing and due diligence processes

 

 

 

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Planning England V Wales, is there a Divide?

 

 

Associate director in the Cardiff planning team of Savills, Rhys Govier, on the UK Government’s mission to speed up planning in England and whether the Welsh Government will be left behind.

 

 

We have never before seen planning reform take such centre stage as a key policy of the new Labour UK Government.

With little or no room for additional borrowing, and a manifesto pledge not to raise taxes, the new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, borrowed the phrase ‘graveyard of ambition’, often cited (incorrectly) as Dylan Thomas’ description of his hometown of Swansea (it was actually coined by another poet, David Hughes), in the wake of English planning reform announcements. The new UK Government sees planning reform as critical to kickstarting higher levels of economic growth.

Planning, however, is a devolved matter. With Wales at the wrong end of the UK regional productivity league, with only 73% of UK GDP per capita, and assuming planning changes can trigger growth, this begs the question what reforms are required within our own planning system to ensure Wales does not fall further behind?

 

Housing need

In England there will be new, and bigger, housing targets. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation proposes to change the focus of local plans to categorically meet identified housing need, rather than as much of it as possible, by imposing a revised standard methodology as a starting point. This is a marked change.

In contrast, Welsh local authorities set their own housing figures based on population projections and an analysis of various growth options. While these figures do undergo independent examination, the arguably less rigorous and potentially less ambitious starting point is in stark contrast to England.

In England, the Westminster government is returning to a five year housing land supply test, something removed altogether in Wales since 2018, with no sign of it returning.

In fact, the only nationally set housing target in Wales is for 20,000 new low carbon homes for social rent during this Senedd term (2021-26), which the former Minister, Julie James MS, conceded would be “touch and go”. This in itself seems an optimistic outlook given that official data suggests just over a quarter of that target – 5,775 homes – was achieved in the first two years. The commitment was, however, repeated in the Welsh Labour Party manifesto 2024.

Reeves accepts that private sector investment is integral to meeting need in England. With a target of 1.5 million new homes in five years, Wales’ ‘Barnett consequential’ could equate to a target of 75,000 over the lifetime of this UK parliament (2024-29). Yet, while Future Wales (Welsh Government’s national development framework to 2040) includes a target of 20,000 new affordable homes, it is silent on any contribution from private housebuilders – despite recent data suggesting they contribute towards 80% of dwelling completions.

 

Green belt

We might start to see a discrepancy in how UK and Welsh governments look at green belt policy in the future.

The consultation NPPF on green belt makes it explicit that authorities must review boundaries where it cannot meet its housing need, while Future Wales offers “areas for consideration” for new green belt designations in the north, south west and south east. Yet some of these areas could represent some of the most sustainable areas for growth in Wales, especially those in the south east.

Although Future Wales is clear that any new green belt should be designated via strategic development Plans (much-delayed regional development plan documents), in advance of their adoption, its policies also state that “decisions should not permit major development in the areas shown for consideration for green belts, except in very exceptional circumstances”.

 

Data centres

The NPPF consultation gives renewed prominence to the development of data centres and gigafactories. In contrast, there is no overriding economic development policy within Future Wales – which could be a missed opportunity, as Wales needs to be competitively placed alongside other home nations.

There also appears to be a widening gap between England and Wales on energy infrastructure, grid connections and pylons. The Welsh Government has invested significant effort and resource into the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 which became law in June, but there is much to do through supporting secondary legislation and guidance for it to become the flagship consenting regime promised.

In England, the new government was quick to approve three large solar farms (including one against an inspector’s recommendation), with the presumption more will follow.

Wales has been busy legislating and producing policy outputs on planning but is it creating a framework for sustainable growth, or is there a risk of over-regulation – the unintended consequences of which could be a slower, more expensive and less predictable system?

There is no doubt that new reforms in England will have implications for Wales’ future economic development – a real challenge for the new devolved administration that will take shape under Eluned Morgan’s leadership.

The political alignment between UK and Welsh governments creates an opportunity for mutual learning and cooperation. It is my hope that the new Welsh Housing Cabinet Secretary embraces the potential for positive change recognising the economic and social dividends of ambitious growth.

Source: Business Live

 

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UK’s Longest Rail Bridge – Culmination of 10 years Work

The company responsible for overseeing the controversial high-speed rail project said the end of construction marked “the culmination of more than ten years” of work.

The UK’s HS2 high-speed rail project has completed construction of the country’s longest rail bridge after lowering the final deck segment of the 3.4km Colne Valley Viaduct into place.

The structure, one of the largest pieces of infrastructure built for HS2, will carry trains across the valley by the M25 motorway and has taken just over two years to complete, with work beginning in May 2022.

HS2 Ltd’s senior project manager Billy Ahluwalia said:

“Lowering the Colne Valley Viaduct’s final deck segment into place today marks the culmination of more than ten years of planning, design and construction.

“I pay tribute to the dedicated team that has delivered a bridge that is both the longest on HS2 and has become the United Kingdom’s longest railway bridge.”

The new rail bridge takes over from the 3.3km Tay Bridge as the UK’s longest after almost 140 years of the Scottish bridge holding the record and will now move into the rail systems installation phase as part of the HS2 project’s preparations to begin full services by 2033.

 

Source: Railway Technology

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GYM GROUP CONVERTS TO RINNAI’S LOW-GWP ASHP

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SOUTHERN BASED GYM GROUP CONVERTS TO RINNAI’S LOW-GWP ASHP

TO SUPPORT  DECARBONISATION PROGRAMME

 

A chain of gyms has successfully piloted Rinnai’s LOW-GWP commercial ASHP (Air Source Heat Pump) with the aim of replacing their existing carbon intensive electric storage water heater systems which rely on multiple electrical immersions. The flexibility of Rinnai’s bespoke system design capability has even ensured that some of the existing electric water heaters can stay in situ as a part of a cost saving Hybrid heat pump system – saving the end user on cost and reducing carbon emissions.

Each gym studio that Rinnai had to measure revealed different kW load limits ranging from 8kW to 20kW. Rinnai’s system design team then decided on the necessary decarbonizing technology required for each individual gym, bespoke design-led packages including a mixture of Rinnai decarbonizing HDW heating technologies was then selected, these include;

 

  • LOW-GWP R290 ASHP’s
  • Infinit-e Electric Storage water heaters
  • Optimised Heat Pump Cylinder Coil cylinder or plate heat exchanger.
  • Unvented kit (cold water feed).
  • System controls

 

The Rinnai system selection is supported by unique capital expenditure, operational expenditure and carbon modelling, ensuring that the end user could make practical, economical and technically feasible decisions.

Below is a few graphs that illustrate carbon output, CAPEX costs and system efficiency over 5 years. The graphic inputs are shown only for the 12 kW ASHP, 300 heat pump cylinder and direct electric storage water heaters (E-cylinder 305L) for one of the gyms in the southern region.

This graph focuses on carbon production

The CAPEX costs associated with Rinnai’s 12kW Air Source Heat Pump over 5 years

Revealing the annual consumption of energy Rinnai’s 12kW fully electric system

Rinnai aims to make heat pump design simple and model the reality of total

system performance.  Including the use of SPF (seasonal performance factors) which

analyses the complete system performance for support with your next design.

 

CLICK HERE FOR  RINNAI’S ‘HELP ME CHOOSE PAGE’

 

CLICK HERE for more information on the RINNAI product range

 

Or HERE to email engineer@rinnaiUK.com 

 

RINNAI OFFERS CLEAR PATHWAYS TO LOWER CARBON AND DECARBONISATION PLUS CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY  

  • Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of hot water heating units in gas/BioLPG/DME, hydrogen ready units, electric instantaneous hot water heaters, electric storage cylinders and buffer vessels, a comprehensive range of heat pumps, solar, hydrogen-ready or natural gas in any configuration of hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H1/2/3 range of products and systems offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable low carbon/decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions.
  • Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.
  • Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours.
  • Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question.
  • Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s.
  • The Rinnai range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.
RINNAI FULL PRODUCT AVAILABILITY 24/7 FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY of ALL HOT WATER HEATING UNIT MODELS
INCLUDING 48-58kW UNITS-

SAVINGS OF

20%    REDUCTION of opex cost,
30%   REDUCTION of initial cost
15%   REDUCTION in carbon
75%   REDUCTION of space

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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GOVE URGES PROSECUTIONS

Bring criminal prosecutions against Grenfell Tower cladding firms, urges Gove

The former housing secretary claimed attempts to punish Kingspan, Arconic and Celotex when he was in government had been blocked.

Former housing secretary Michael Gove has said criminal prosecutions should be brought against Grenfell Tower cladding firms.

Companies that are “still making vast profits without acknowledging their full responsibility” must also be punished financially, he suggested.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Gove claimed attempts to punish Kingspan, Arconic and Celotex when he was in government had been blocked by “bureaucracies”.

There was “insufficient action” from foreign governments on responsible companies based abroad, he said, adding that attempts to restrict imports of their products ran up against the “commercial purism of Treasury Mandarin Brain”.

The final report of the Grenfell Inquiry, published last week, said the west London tower block was covered in combustible products because of the “systematic dishonesty” of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation.

Kingspan had, from 2005 and even after the inquiry began in the wake of the fire, “knowingly created a false market in insulation” for use on buildings over 18 metres tall (59ft), it said.

Celotex then, in an attempt to break into the market created by Kingspan, “embarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead its customers and the wider market”, inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said.

Mr Gove apologised to the relatives and survivors of the tragedy who were

“let down by successive governments, including governments of which I was a part”.

Companies which manufactured materials used on the tower have “still not shown proper awareness of their guilt, contrition for their crimes or restitution for their wrongs”, he added.

“Because Kingspan is based in Ireland, and Arconic’s European operations and Celotex are in France, our jurisdiction was limited. But we were determined to go after them,” Mr Gove said.

The former Conservative Party leadership hopeful pressured Ulster Rugby and Mercedes’ F1 team, asking them to reconsider their relationship with Irish insulation firm Kingspan in 2021.

Last year, he warned shareholders in cladding companies that the firms will face “severe consequences” if no post-Grenfell financial support package is forthcoming.

Mr Gove said taking the “necessary action” against cladding firms “will require toughness… I know there will be voices opposed to robust action”.

“You cannot purchase prosperity at the price of justice. Those who are the guiltiest must pay, and pay the most,” he added.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said

“appropriate cases should go through to court”.

“The worst we could do is say or do anything which would prejudice the outcome of any proceedings,” he added.

Source: Shropshire Star

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Liverpool’s Ground-Breaking New Home

Mayor to reveal ground-breaking new home that will revolutionise house building and deliver skilled jobs and zero-energy-bill homes (issued on behalf of FUTURE HOMES LIVERPOOL CITY REGION)

  • Two-storey purpose-built house will showcase how Liverpool City Region (LCR) aims to be the UK’s centre of excellence for offsite construction of new homes.
  • The low-energy, zero-carbon house has been built on the ACC Liverpool waterfront events campus using innovative construction methods.
  • Offsite construction speeds up building new homes, helps tackle the housing crisis, provides skilled jobs and reduces or removes energy bills.
  • Liverpool City Region Combined Authority brings together partners under Future Homes banner to coordinate new approach to housebuilding.
  • Mayor officially opened the house on Monday, September 9.

A major initiative aimed at revolutionising the housing sector by delivering innovative, zero-energy-bill homes is to be launched by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram.

The Future Homes LCR plan, which will position the region as a centre of excellence for zero-carbon, low-energy-cost homes, will be officially unveiled today (Monday, September 9) at a specially constructed house built on the Liverpool waterfront outside the ACC conference centre, using Offsite Construction methods.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Security and Net Zero is also attending The Housing Community Summit on 9th September and being shown energy saving projects by Liverpool City Region and local companies.

The news of the zero bills homes will provide a major boost for the economy as well as generating significant energy saving benefits and carbon emission reductions. It is also proof that the city region is at the vanguard of meeting government targets to build new houses.

Mayor Steve Rotheram emphasised the potential of the flagship scheme:

“The country is in the throes of a housing crisis that is driving up prices, creating homelessness, and holding back our economic growth. For too long, we have faced national governments that have ignored the growing crisis, but we have a new government that wants to tackle it head on.

“Keir Starmer’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes is exactly the bold action we need, and I want as many of them to be built here in the Liverpool City Region as possible. With innovative solutions like modular construction, we can make a massive dent in that target and deliver homes faster, more affordably, and sustainably.

“As Mayor, I’m committed to overseeing an affordable housing revolution in our region – including the return of large-scale council house building. We’ve got the skills, the expertise, and the determination to make this a success, and we stand ready to work with the government and legislated providers to make it happen.

“Future Homes LCR shows exactly what’s possible when innovation and collaboration come together – creating a brighter, more sustainable future for everyone.”

The unveiling of the Future Homes LCR house coincides with the opening day of the Housing Community Summit, a joint event from the Chartered Institute of Housing and the National Housing Federation. The event brings together over 2,500 housing professionals, tenants and politicians, including a conference session with Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and MP for Peckham, Miatta Fahnbulleh, under one roof at ACC Liverpool for the most collaborative event in housing.

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation said:

“We’re honoured to have this new initiative launched at the first ever Housing Community Summit. We share a joint ambition with the Liverpool City Region to solve the housing crisis and deliver a generation of new social homes. It’s great to see how innovative construction methods, like the one unveiled today, can help us achieve this; providing energy efficient, affordable homes for those that need them.”

Gavin Smart, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute for Housing, added:

“It is great to see Future Homes LCR’s commitment to delivering more housing. Embracing modern methods of construction highlights how building can happen at pace to provide the much-needed homes this country needs which also makes a significant contribution towards our national carbon reduction ambitions. Not only providing a decent, safe and affordable place to live but also highlighting the varied and fulfilling career opportunities the housing sector provides.”

Using innovative Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) such as offsite manufacture, houses can be completed within a week and have estimated heating, hot water, and lighting bills of £124-a-year – or even zero, in some cases.

The homes are constructed and part-assembled off site. The Future Homes LCR waterfront house has been built using a light-gauge steel frame, clad with insulation and brick slips to create a super-insulated, airtight building with an energy performance (EPC) rating of 100%.

The Future Homes LCR scheme is a public-private alliance which aims to accelerate the development of ultra-low-carbon housing across the region, offering a sustainable solution to the housing crisis.

The initiative brings together local experts in modular housing construction and national suppliers to support councils and social housing providers in addressing both housing shortages and labour challenges.

The two-storey house has been built by the Wirral-based Starship Group, one of the leading manufacturers of zero-carbon prefabricated housing components.

As well as providing a backdrop to the Housing Community Summit the house will remain in place during the period of the Labour Party Annual Conference from September 22 – 25. It will then be disassembled and rebuilt at Starship’s Wirral Waters campus and become a prototype house used to promote MMC, and for training purposes.

This type of three-bedroom family home, constructed in just one week at Starship’s factory at Wirral Waters and installed within a few days, would normally come with a 10-year guarantee from Octopus Energy, ensuring residents will not receive any energy bills for 10 years.

Equipped with solar panels, a heat pump and a battery, the house offers a glimpse into the future of sustainable living.

Liverpool City Council Leader and Lead Member for Innovation at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Cllr Liam Robinson, said:

“We desperately need more homes to be built in Liverpool to ease the housing crisis and reduce the number of families on the waiting list for social housing. Working with our partners in the public and private sector, we are determined to deliver innovative solutions that are eco-friendly and energy efficient, helping us meet our ambitions around Net Zero and also cutting bills.”

Cabinet Member of the Combined Authority for Housing and Leader of Knowsley Council, Cllr Graham Morgan, said:

“I can testify that we really need to accelerate house building and affordable homes in our city region. We stand ready to play our part in building houses at scale and pace using modern methods of construction as this innovative show house demonstrates. It can and should be done to alleviate the housing crisis holding back growth and prosperity in so many of our communities’.”

A development of 13 modular homes, Greenleas, is already underway in Wallasey on the Wirral, also built by Starship Group and supported by £195,000 from the Liverpool City Region Brownfield Land Fund and Homes England.

Dave Dargan, Founder and CEO at Starship Group, said:

“These are exciting and challenging times, where combining innovative construction methods with new technologies, allows us to deliver next generation housing today. Low carbon living has always been part of Starship’s DNA. As one of the key partners of Future Homes Liverpool City Region, we can now showcase the region as a centre of excellence in delivering low-energy and zero bills’ homes. Building at scale and pace we can  provide housing that transforms people’s lives while making a major contribution to tackling the national housing crisis.”

Nigel Banks, Octopus Energy Zero Bills Technical Director, said:

“Homes without energy bills aren’t a distant dream – they’re a reality. ‘Octopus Zero Bills’ is turbo-charging the green housing revolution, unlocking the power of technology and cheap renewables to deliver no energy bills.

“Our work with Liverpool City Region and Starship demonstrates that Zero Bills homes are available now and aren’t just helping customers eliminate the cost of energy but making the grid greener and cheaper at the same time.”

The project exemplifies how modular construction can fast-track housing developments and significantly reduce carbon footprints, using 60% less carbon than traditional methods.

The build is part of a broader ambition to harness modular building techniques to make full use of the 700 brownfield sites in the Liverpool City Region, which have the potential to accommodate 42,000 homes.

Future Homes LCR is a joint effort between key figures and organisations in the region, including David Meyerowitz, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Business and Enterprise Board; Rachael Baker, Managing Director at JJ Smith; and Dave Dargan, Founder & CEO at Starship Group.

The alliance is set to help the Liverpool City Region meet its target of building 83,000 new homes by 2040, as outlined in the Combined Authority’s Spatial Development Strategy.

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Contracts Awarded to Main Grenfell Contractor Despite Bans

The building firm found to have borne “considerable responsibility” for the Grenfell fire with its “casual attitude to fire safety” was handed contracts worth tens of millions of pounds by councils, colleges and NHS trusts after the tragedy.

Property group Rydon was the lead contractor overseeing the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower between 2014 and 2016, including the installation of combustible cladding. The inquiry found that the firm should have been aware of “the risks of using combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise buildings”.

Founded in 1978, the Kent-based group has won construction and maintenance contracts mainly across London and south-east England. The Grenfell contract was delivered by Rydon Maintenance, one of its subsidiaries.

In June 2018, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, signed an order saying that the construction arm of Rydon should not be permitted to bid for any contracts under a development scheme “until the Grenfell Tower inquiry has reported on the extent to which any Rydon group companies or employee contributed to ­causing or exacerbating the Grenfell Tower fire.”

The following year, the then housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, said that Rydon should not bid for further work “until we know the truth”. He wrote on Twitter, now X: “I understand why survivors and bereaved do not want to see public contracts awarded to the main contractor for the Grenfell Tower [refurbishment].”

In December 2021, Rydon Homes, another subsidiary, was blocked from the government’s help to buy loan scheme. Ministers said the decision had been made because of concerns over “unacceptable business practices” in the group.

Despite the bans in the wake of the fire, which killed 72 people in June 2017, Rydon subsequently picked up a string of multimillion-pound contracts, according to analysis by Stotles, a public sector procurement intelligence platform.

In September 2019, Maidstone council awarded Rydon a £9.9m ­contract for the building of a new innovation centre to serve as a hub for work in medtech, life science and healthcare. The council said its position in 2019 was that it had been “appropriate to wait until the public inquiry ran its course before making judgments”.

The next month, Labour-controlled Ealing council in west London awarded Rydon Construction a £99m contract for the regeneration of the 264-home High Lane estate, which was built in the 1970s and was plagued with damp and mould.

In 2021, Rydon transferred regeneration and construction projects to Real Contracting Group, which later collapsed into administration. Ealing council now states on its website: “Due to the council’s developing partner going into administration in late 2023, it is not known at this stage when the redevelopment will be complete.”

Liberal Democrat councillors have criticised the “appalling decisions” that were made in the choice of construction partners. Jon Ball, the Liberal Democrat opposition spokesperson on housing at Ealing council, said the choice of contractor had delayed the construction of hundreds of properties, with residents waiting for much-needed homes. He said: “It leaves questions to be answered about why Ealing’s Labour administration awarded a contract to Rydon in 2019 when they must have known the appalling Grenfell legacy.”

Also in 2019, the University of Bath awarded Rydon a £30m contract for the construction of a new automotive propulsion research facility, as part of the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems.

Glass for the project was supplied by Saint-Gobain, a French multinational and former owner of Celotex, which manufactured the combustible insulation used at Grenfell.

The Rydon group has also won maintenance contracts with NHS trusts since the Grenfell fire, including a £4.3m contract awarded in April last year by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS trust. Oxleas NHS foundation trust, which provides a range of healthcare services in south-east London, awarded Rydon Maintenance a £6.6m contract in July 2022.

The Guardian has previously revealed that about £250m in deals have been made with corporations involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower in the past five years, based on searches of public contracts by the outsourcing data firm Tussell.

The Grenfell inquiry report found the Rydon team working on the Grenfell Tower project had been “notably inexperienced” and had lacked “even the most basic knowledge of the regulatory regime”.

The inquiry report strongly criticised Studio E, a now defunct architectural practice involved in the refurbishment, and Harley Facades, the cladding contractor. It also found that Arconic, the US firm which supplied the cladding panels, had sold them despite knowing the dangers; that insulation firm Celotex had “embarked on a dishonest scheme” to mislead customers; and that building products firm Kingspan had knowingly made a false claim about test results.

Arconic said its subsidiary Arconic Architectural Products did not mislead or conceal information, and that its product was legal to sell in the UK; Kingspan said it had long acknowledged “unacceptable historical failings” which were not reflective of the overall group; and Celotex said it had since reviewed its marketing and process controls to meet best industry practice.

Keir Starmer said after the Grenfell inquiry report was published that the government would write to all companies found by the inquiry to have been part of the “horrific failings”. He said it would be a “first step to stopping them being awarded government contracts”.

Ealing said it had initially selected Rydon as a partner on the High Lane development in April 2017, prior to the fire. The council said Rydon was no longer involved in the project and “the council is continuing to work with residents to determine a new way forward”.

The University of Bath and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS trust said they had followed all relevant procurement rules. Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and Rydon were contacted for comment.

 

Source: The Guardian

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Harmonising Solar Power and Farming

Scientists from Swansea University have developed a new tool to help identify optimal photovoltaic (PV) materials capable of maximising crop growth while generating solar power.

In a recent study published in Solar RRL, academics from the University’s Department of Physics have been exploring the effect of semi-transparent PV materials placed over crops – an exemplary application of agrivoltaics (solar panels combined with agricultural settings).

As part of this work, the team has developed an innovative freeware tool that predicts the light transmission, absorption, and power generation of different PV materials nearly anywhere on the globe using geographical, physical, and electrical measurements.

Austin Kay, lead author of the study and a PhD candidate at Swansea University, said:

“This technology, which allows us to compare many types of PV material, could help us determine how we balance food production and renewable energy generation.”

A key factor for optimising agrivoltaics is selecting the appropriate PV material, which requires an understanding of how the material absorbs different wavelengths (colours) of light, as well as its bandgap. A wider bandgap means the material can absorb light that is higher-energy and has a shorter wavelength (blue), while a narrower bandgap allows the absorption of lower-energy, longer wavelength (red) light.

By carefully selecting PV materials with specific bandgaps and absorption properties, researchers can fine-tune the ‘colour’ of light transmitted through semi-transparent PVs to hit the crops, which mainly absorb red and blue light to photosynthesise, reflecting green light.

Project lead, Associate Professor Ardalan Armin, said:

“By optimising the combination of solar panels and agriculture, agrivoltaics has the potential to significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of the agricultural sector. This approach not only generates clean energy but also enhances food security.”

Solar panels or PVs can be introduced into agricultural settings in many ways to provide locally generated power with minimal effect on a farm’s output. They can be attached to the roofs of greenhouses or polytunnels and can also be used to provide shelter for livestock. In return, the livestock can reduce maintenance costs by eating vegetation around the panels. However, careful consideration of the type of livestock is crucial as some species, like goats, can jump onto the PVs and cause irreversible damage.

Read the paper On the Performance Limits of Agrivoltaics—From Thermodynamic to Geo-Meteorological Considerations in full.

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Insuring Modern Construction Methods

Allianz has been lauded by brokers across Britain for its strengths across several key categories relating to its construction insurance coverage. This reflects the insurer’s commitment to comprehensive and tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of the construction industry.

Steve Kelly, head of insurance, engineering, construction and power, said:

“Our recognition in this award reflects Allianz’s commitment to excellence in the construction sector. The high marks for claims processing speed and access to risk mitigation partners show that we are effectively supporting our customers through the complexities of modern construction projects.”

Experts in cutting-edge construction and sustainability

Allianz supports brokers with insurance products and risk management services tailored for modern methods of construction (MMC). By working closely with brokers and customers, the company helps mitigate risks and ensures the successful delivery of modern, sustainable construction projects.

Allianz understands the evolving landscape of the construction industry enhances the quality of construction projects:

  • Prefabricated modular construction: Manufacturing building modules in a factory setting and transporting them to the site for assembly, significantly reducing construction time and improving quality control.
  • Panelised systems: Creating wall, floor and roof panels in a factory before transporting them to the site for assembly, offering a balance between off-site manufacturing and on-site flexibility.
  • Hybrid systems: Combining MMC techniques, such as modular construction with panelised systems, to leverage the benefits of each method.
  • Digital construction: Technologies such as building information modelling, 3D printing and virtual reality are transforming the construction landscape along with enhancing precision, reducing waste and improving collaboration among stakeholders.

Comprehensive insurance solutions

Allianz offers tailored insurance products that meet the specific needs of brokers in the construction industry:

  • Speed and efficiency in claims processing: Prompt claims handling is vital to maintaining project timelines and managing costs.
  • Expert underwriting: The underwriting team is deeply knowledgeable about the challenges and opportunities in the construction sector, particularly the adoption of MMC. This allows them to craft bespoke policies that address the specific risks their customers face.
  • Risk management: Integrates risk management services with comprehensive coverage options, ensuring that customers receive the most out of their insurance.

Christian Simpson, technical underwriting manager, engineering, construction and power, said:

“We’re committed to providing insurance solutions that adapt to the evolving landscape of construction. Being recognised for our comprehensive coverage and underwriting experience highlights our dedication to understanding the unique risks that MMC present.”

Addressing common concerns

Despite its advantages, MMC also presents several common concerns and challenges, such as quality control, supply chain and logistics, design, integration with existing infrastructure, perception and acceptance, environmental impact and costs. Allianz addresses these concerns, and its underwriting team recognises the challenges and opportunities in the construction sector, particularly with the adoption of MMC.

Allianz is also committed to promoting sustainability in construction through:

  • Energy efficiency: Designing buildings with additions such as high-performance insulation, energy-efficient windows and advanced HVAC systems and incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, into designs.
  • Sustainable materials: Using materials with low environmental impact, such as recycled or reclaimed materials, and those with a low carbon footprint. Promoting the use of sustainable timber and other renewable resources.
  • Waste reduction: Implementing waste management strategies to reduce, reuse and recycle construction waste. Designing buildings for disassembly, allowing materials to be reused or recycled at the end of the building’s life.
  • Water conservation: Incorporating water-saving technologies, such as low-flow fixtures and rainwater harvesting systems. Designing landscapes to reduce water usage through xeriscaping and other water-efficient practices.
  • Green building certifications: Achieving certifications such as Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) to demonstrate a building’s sustainability credentials.
  • Health and well-being: Designing buildings to enhance the health and well-being of occupants with features such as natural lighting, good indoor air quality and access to green spaces.

 

The firm has been recognised with an IBUK Brokers on Construction award for the second successive year

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