UK’s largest new film & TV studio

UK’s largest new film & TV studio completes construction

 

Shinfield Studios, the largest new film and television studio in the UK, has completed construction. The state-of-the-art site is now fully operational with 18 soundstages, including two of the biggest in the UK at 43,000 sq.ft.

Based to the east of Reading with links to the M4 and Crossrail, Shinfield Studios has opened in phases over the last two years. In that time, it has already welcomed productions including the recently released Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Nick Smith, joint managing director, Shinfield Studios said:

“Shinfield Studios is complete. We have built from the ground-up one of the world’s most state-of-the art studio facilities – designed to attract the most ambitious and high budget productions. We’ve already welcomed to Berkshire some truly impressive feature films and high-end television series and, with Shinfield Studios now fully operational, there will be many more to come.”

Shinfield Studios offers the most modern, production-friendly film and television studio facilities available in the UK today. The 18 sound stages range from 17,000 to 43,000 sq. ft., and include the two largest, fully climate-controlled soundstages available at 43,000 sq. ft. each. The site also encompasses 38 workshops, substantial and contemporary office space, and a nine-acre filming backlot.

Accessibility and sustainability have been at the heart of the design.  Accessible facilities have been incorporated into every stage and office floor. Sustainable infrastructure such as the use of air source heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points are also featured throughout the facility.

Ian Johnson, joint managing director, Shinfield Studios added:

“Our vision was to build a studio which fulfilled every need of today’s productions, including supporting industry efforts to improve sustainability and facilitate accessibility for all. It is fantastic to have brought that vision to reality and we are enormously grateful for the support from Wokingham Borough Council, The University of Reading and the local community.”

Johnson continued: “It was also important to all of us at Shinfield Studios to contribute to developing the next generation of production talent. We’re proud to be founding members of Screen Berkshire whose aim is to connect local crew with jobs, through training, upskilling and supporting new entrants to the workforce.”

Shinfield Studios is owned by US-based Shadowbox Studios (“Shadowbox”), an industry leading independent film and television studio platform. Shadowbox develops, owns, and operates purpose-built, soundstage facilities and provides a range of on-site support services for its clients. In Atlanta, U.S., Shadowbox owns and operates a 9-stage, 850,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art studio complex that has been home to blockbusters such as Jumanji: The Next Level, Jungle Cruise and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and which is currently being expanded to exceed 2 million sq. ft. and feature up to 31 soundstages. In addition, Shadowbox is developing a large-scale soundstage campus in the LA metro area. Shadowbox is owned and controlled by affiliates of Commonwealth Asset Management and Silver Lake.

 

Source: Cinematography World

 

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Building with Moon Dust

Turning moon soil and space debris into building materials

ByEric Ralls Earth.com staff writer

Imagine the moon as a center for soil manufacturing, construction, and even building human habitation. This concept, once relegated to science fiction, is now becoming a reality thanks to increased interest and investment in space exploration.

Researchers are working tirelessly to develop the necessary technologies to make the moon a viable home for humans.

Innovative solutions with moon soil

One significant challenge in developing lunar infrastructure on the moon is the need for building materials.

Transporting materials from Earth is costly and inefficient. This has led to research into utilizing raw materials found on the moon’s surface. However, processing these lunar resources requires a substantial amount of power.

A team of researchers from the University of Waterloo’s Laboratory for Emerging Energy Research (LEER) is tackling this issue.

They are exploring how to process lunar regolith, the moon’s top layer of soil and dust, into usable materials for life support, energy generation, and construction.

This includes using defunct satellite material as a fuel source when mixed with lunar regolith.

Harnessing the power of moon soil

“Lunar regolith contains lots of metallic dust embedded with oxygen,” explained Connor MacRobbie, a Ph.D. candidate supervised by professors Dr. John Wen and Dr. Jean-Pierre Hickey in Waterloo’s Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.

“Because it already contains oxygen, we can utilize it, without the need for atmospheric oxygen, to produce thermal energy through a thermite reaction, which is particularly useful in space where oxygen is not readily available,” MacRobbie continued.

The LEER team conducted experiments using simulant “lunar” regolith synthesized and supplied by NASA.

They tested various fuel and oxidizer compositions and particle sizes to control the energy release rate of a space-based thermite reaction for heating or manufacturing purposes.

“The results demonstrate the viability of the moon’s topsoil to power lunar development, enabling humans to explore and inhabit the moon’s surface,” said Dr. John Wen, the director of LEER.

The team is now focused on improving the extraction of metals and other useful materials from the regolith and designing automated processes to support in-situ resource utilization and the circular space economy.

Addressing space debris on the Moon

Another significant threat to humanity’s future in space is the millions of bits of fast-moving debris between Earth and the moon’s orbits.

The European Space Agency (ESA) compares a collision with a one-centimeter particle of space debris traveling at 10km/s to a small car crashing at 40 km/h.

The LEER research team is addressing this problem by recycling defunct satellite material into a fuel source for space development.

“Defunct satellites have enormous potential value,” said MacRobbie. “They’re made up of many useful materials, including aluminum, which, when added to lunar regolith, can produce a thermite reaction and generate heat.”

Using the thermite reaction to repurpose salvaged space debris also provides materials for maintaining and developing solar satellite systems in space, ensuring power for further space exploration.

Turning science fiction into reality

“Our research is turning science fiction into reality,” said MacRobbie. “Our goal is to help build the infrastructure and technology that will allow sustainable human settlement on the moon—and beyond.”

This important work by the LEER team represents a significant step toward making the moon a sustainable hub for human life and industry.

Through innovative use of lunar resources and recycling space debris, they are paving the way for humanity’s future in space.

More about moon soil (lunar regolith)

Beyond the current research, lunar regolith offers several exciting possibilities for advancing space exploration.

For instance, its use in 3D printing technology could revolutionize construction on the moon. By using regolith as a raw material for 3D printers, astronauts could fabricate complex structures and components on-site, drastically reducing reliance on Earth-supplied resources.

Moreover, lunar soil might play a crucial role in future Mars missions. Techniques developed for processing regolith on the moon could be adapted for similar applications on Mars, aiding in building infrastructure and supporting life on the Red Planet.

Lunar regolith could also contribute to scientific research, providing insights into the moon’s history and the broader solar system. Its unique composition might reveal clues about the early solar system’s formation and evolution.

Lastly, leveraging lunar resources could drive international cooperation in space exploration, uniting countries and space agencies in joint missions to harness and utilize extraterrestrial materials effectively.

 

Source: Earth.com

 

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Housing, Promises and Realities

All the major parties are promising more homes at this election. Labour has promised 300,000 a year for England, while the Conservatives have pledged 320,000 a year. The Liberal Democrats committed to 380,000 a year over the whole of the UK. While the ambition is clearly high, whether it is actually feasible is a different story altogether.

Housing targets are an unusual tradition in British politics. You rarely see Biden or Trump one-upping each other based on how many millions of homes they can build, as responsibility for housing is spread across various branches of government. Yet in the UK’s centralised system these stump-speech bidding wars are commonplace. They can be traced at least as far back as 1951, when Churchill outflanked Atlee by promising to build 300,000 homes per year, seen as inconceivable at the time. Rab Butler, who would soon become chancellor, was hesitantly asked “Could we do it?”

The Tories not only hit that number but surpassed it, reaching 350,000 per year before the end of their first term. For most of the next 25 years, Westminster parties kept annual construction above 300,000 a year, with a whopping 426,000 homes in a single year in 1968.

What was their secret? Council housing. During the 1951 parliament, 74 per cent of homes were built by local authorities. Less than a quarter were made by the private sector, with the rest made by housing associations. Local authorities continued to play a deciding role throughout Britain’s housebuilding boom years from 1950 to 1980. Since then, private sector building has ranged from 100,000 to 200,000 per year, and local authority construction has been near zero. While private sector construction has fallen relative to population, the loss in local authority construction was by far the largest factor.

UK permanent dwellings completed by sector

Source: ONS

On council housing, we are going in the wrong direction. As highlighted in a recent SMF report funded by the Nuffield Foundation, stock lost through sales and demolition is not being replaced at an equivalent rate, continuously shrinking what little is available. All the while, the waiting list for social housing has grown to 1.2m households.

Cumulative sales, demolitions and completions of social housing since 1980

Source: ONS

Politicians seem to have forgotten past successes. Of the three major parties, only the Lib Dems have actually set a target for social housing construction which, if private sector building remained stable, would be sufficient to reach their target. Labour and the Tories remain committed to providing “more” social housing, but without a specific measurable pledge, instead relying on planning reform to boost their numbers. This would cut red tape for the private sector to (supposedly) unleash a wave of new homebuilding.

While planning reform is welcome, it is unlikely that it can alone meet the parties’ lofty ambitions. Even in the 1930s, when homebuilders benefited from advances in transport technology, unchecked urban sprawl, government stimulus packages, and weak investment alternatives, the private sector alone couldn’t crack 300,000. And since the Second World War, the UK’s businesses have never built more than 226,100 homes in a single year. Nevertheless, policymakers are claiming that red tape is all that restrains private sector construction.

In fact, the sector faces challenges well beyond planning bottlenecks. Inflation has increased the cost of housing materials 34 per cent since 2020. Labour shortages, meanwhile, are challenging construction trades, with the Construction Skills Network estimating a shortfall of 250,000 by 2028. Building homes has become more expensive and takes longer.

Competition is also a problem. The market share controlled by large developers reached 60 per cent in 2015, and a House of Lords report concluded that the UK housebuilding industry now displays “all characteristics of an oligopoly” while a Housing Minister likened the sector to a ‘cartel.’ A CMA report this Spring found that “Private developers produce houses at a rate which they can be sold without needing to reduce their prices, rather than diversifying the types and numbers of homes they build to meet the needs of different communities.” The monetary principles of supply and demand inevitably create perverse incentives for builders to limit construction rather than increase it.

As a result, the private sector has never built more than 226,070 UK homes in a single year – 200,000 less than the UK’s record in a year. Last year, this number was just 144,000.

The private sector has delivered inadequate levels of housing since 1945, yet Labour and the Conservatives are continuing to pitch businesses as the key agents capable of meeting abstract targets and boosting construction. The parties do not want to admit it but the reality is that ambitious targets for housebuilding cannot be met by the private sector alone: council housing must be part of the solution.

Neither major party has a credible plan to meet housing demand. Ask Rab Butler today if government can reach its target, and you’d likely get a different answer.

By Gideon Salutin, senior researcher and Niamh O Regan is researcher at the Social Market Foundation

 

Source: City A.M.

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Birmingham: Smithfield City Centre Scheme gets Green Light

Mammoth city centre scheme to be developed by Lendlease and Birmingham City Council

A £1.9bn scheme in Birmingham has been given the green light after a meeting of city planners.

An earlier 4,000-home version of the Smthfield city centre scheme was poised to get the nod last month but a decision was deferred after councillors and campaigners said a park and public square were too small.

Amended plans have now increased the size of the proposed Smithfield Park by 23% and provided more detail on how it could connect to other public spaces in the scheme. The scheme will be developed by a joint venture made up of Birmingham City Council and Lendlease.

A new report by planning officers also said another park, Manor Square, was of a sufficient size to accommodate “large scale” public events of up to 6,900 people.

Although the report said the public spaces still fell below planning policy requirements, it said the amendments had “addressed the committee’s previous concerns with the indicative proposed scheme”.

Officers recommended the revised plans for approval ahead of the local authority’s planning committee on June 13th.

The project has been hit by a string of setbacks including an intervention from Historic England, which said initial plans submitted in 2022 would harm Birmingham’s historic cityscape and “disturb significant medieval remains”.

This resulted in a one-year delay and a series of design changes including the addition of second staircases, increases of building heights by as much as 10m and 500 extra homes.

A number of high-profile architects are working on the plans, located next to the city’s Bull Ring shopping centre, including Stirling Prize-winner Haworth Tompkins as well as dRMM, Intervention Architecture, Minesh Patel Architects and RCKa with James Corner Field Operations designing the public realm and landscape.

Also on the project team is Aecom as QS, DP9 as planning consultant, Turner & Townsend as principal advisor to Lendlease, structural engineer Arup, transport and civil engineer WSP and heritage consultant Montagu Evans.

The scheme will include more than 3,000 homes as well as green space, cultural and leisure facilities and business premises.

Last month, Lendlease said it was selling its UK construction business and not taking on an new developments work in the UK, while cutting its stake in existing schemes to a maximum 25%

A spokesperson said:

“Development projects, historically funded from Lendlease’s balance sheet, will now be brought forward though partnerships with other investors. So, we will increasingly partner with third party investors at an asset, project or platform level to reduce our reliance on Lendlease’s balance sheet.”

Its other UK developments include a residential scheme at Elephant Park in south London and a mixed-use scheme in Deptford, south-east London.

 

Source: Housing Today

 

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RINNAI: EXCLUSIVE LOW CARBON PRODUCT LAUNCHES at the INSTALLER SHOW

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RINNAI INSTALLER SHOW 2024, Birmingham NEC between the 25th-27th

EXCLUSIVE LOW CARBON PRODUCT LAUNCHES – in Hydrogen & RDME / Hybrids / Heat Pumps / Electric / Solar

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SHOW

 

CLICK HERE TO LEAVE YOUR NAME TO BE AUTOMATICALLY

ENTERED INTO A PRIZE DRAW TO WIN

£1000 OF RINNAI HEATING TECH PRODUCTS

 

 

Rinnai’s Installer SHOW is packed with new products and services coupled with a welcoming site & stand – packed with refreshments, entertainment such as darts, golf putting and table football competitions.

 

The stand will also feature the H3 Rinnai heating & hot water system initiative that consists of:

 

  • H1– Natural Gas, Hydrogen and BioLPG-ready hot water heating units and systems & Boilers.
  • H2 – Hybrid systems featuring a mix of appliances and renewables such as solar.
  • H3 – heat pumps, instantaneous hot water heaters electrically powered and electric cylinders.

 

All technological options focus on creating decarbonization pathways that are technically, practically, and economically feasible and have been designed specifically to reduce carbon emissions and lower capital and operational expenditure. The H3 range is supported by in-house design support along with carbon, OPEX and CAPEX cost modelling.

 

Rinnai’s H1/H2/H3 offers multiple avenues of cost reducing decarbonization across various energy vectors. To create a healthier way of living, Rinnai is expanding customer choices in hot water provision as well as heating domestic and commercial buildings through a wide range of renewable energy systems.

 

Rinnai’s solar thermal water heating systems are a market leading solution that saves up to 3.5x more carbon per m2 compared to conventional solar technology.

 

Once Rinnai’s solar technology is combined with the condensing hot water heater system, savings in carbon and cost can be made as the units will modulate from 58kW – 4.4kW dependent on the solar input. Therefore, gas will only be used to boost the temperature when needed. Rinnai’s solar hybrid technology harnesses renewable gains whilst maintaining robust and efficient operational performance.

 

Rinnai intelligent condensing continuous flow hot water heaters can save more than 30% in operational running costs when compared to gas fired storage systems, helping to reduce fuel costs and exposure to ever-increasing energy and climate change legislation.

 

All solar thermal products are precisely aligned with the hot water heating systems & units which are hydrogen blends-ready 20% and renewable liquid fuel (BioLPG and rDME) ready combustion technologies.

 

Rinnai’s H3 range of decarbonizing products includes commercial and domestic Low-GWP R290 heat pumps that contain a variety of features: the HPIH range of commercial heat pumps is suited towards schools, restaurants, and small retail outlets.

 

Rinnai’s HPIH Monobloc Air Source Heat Pumps – 21, 26, 28 & 32kW range can allow for up to seven units to be cascaded together or operate alone as one unit. Once joined together Rinnai’s HPIH Monobloc Air Source heat pump can serve increased demand for heating and hot water.

 

Rinnai’s HPHP series of LOW GWP heat pumps range from 48kW – 70kW. State-of-the-art technology added in the injection process outperforms gas compression technology and ensures that even with outside temperatures of –25 Celsius, heating, and hot water of up to 60+ Celsius can still be delivered.

 

Rinnai’s Infinit-E range is an optional three-phase all-electric water storage heater for commercial hot water applications. All electric storage water heaters are designed with flexibility in mind.

 

All units are fitted with between one and six titanium elements. The kW rating within the Infinit-E range is scalable from 12kW to 72kW ensuring that the appliances are suitable for a wide variety of applications.

 

Each cylinder is manufactured with stainless steel adding durability and enabling extensive warranties. The use of stainless steel also makes the Infinit-E range lightweight and easily manoeuvrable when compared to glass-lined variants. The empty weight of the Infinit-E is 54kg maximum.

 

All electrical elements can be fitted to a single-phase supply, should site limitations dictate. Each element within the appliance range has its own controllable thermostat with a temperature range of between 49 and 90 degrees Celsius. All elements are fuse protected and there is no need for expensive sacrificial anodes due to a tough stainless-steel build.

 

Rinnai is also showing the new and innovative KCM series of continuous flow water heaters into the UK market. The KCM series is designed to specifically increase customer savings in energy, capital, and carbon with the inclusion of internally refined technological advancements.

 

The KCM unit possesses micro-processors that ensures hot water is delivered at the exact pre-set temperature. The advanced micro-processors will measure incoming water temperatures and modulate gas input. This guarantees the system will only use the required amount of energy to increase water temperature whilst supplying limitless volumes of clean hot water.

 

The inclusion of micro-processors enables the customer to pre-set water temperature supporting the minimization of legionella and eliminating the risk of safety issues such as scalding.

 

The KCM series leads the UK market in gross energy savings and operational costs at 93% and are compact design reducing the requirement for installation wall and floor space (unit dimensions length 670x 470x 257). System set up, monitoring and error codes are all made easily available via inbuilt status monitors located at the front of the panel.

 

An all-electric ignition system has been added to ensure no energy wastage – as no additional energy is required to maintain unused water temperature. Hot water temperature is internally monitored, if any fluctuations that rise above 3 degrees of the maximum set temperature, operation of the system will immediately stop ensuring customer safety and low operational costs.

Rinnai’s H3 range is supported by free training courses, CPDs, FREE

design services and extensive warranty options – simply CLICK HERE for further details

 

 

Rinnai’s staff will look forward to meeting you at the up-and-coming Installer event at the Birmingham NEC between the 25th-27th June where additional information on Rinnai’s low carbon product offering is freely available to anyone of interest.

Or CLICK HERE for more information on the RINNAI product range

 

 

RINNAI OFFERS CLEAR PATHWAYS TO LOWER CARBON AND DECARBONISATION

PLUS CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC

AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT H3

 

  • 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.

CLICK HERE for the Rinnai Website

Or email engineer@rinnaiUK.com 

 

 

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Keepmoat Homes secures first build scheme in Weston-super-Mare

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North Somerset Council has selected national housebuilder, KeepmoatHomes, to build more than 400 new residences at Parklands Village, Weston-super-Mare, making this the developer’s first venture in the area.

The scheme, in partnership with Homes England, will deliver 425 much-needed homes in the area, including 30% affordable homes, 20% accessible homes and 15% zero carbon homes, with the remainder achieving up to 80% reduction on carbon output.

The homes will be built using modern methods of construction, using off-site, precision-manufactured components which will improve the efficiency and quality of the build process.

As part of its commitment to the local community during the development process, Keepmoat Homes has pledged to help generate opportunities in training and employment and will create at least 20 apprenticeships, as well as funding for local volunteering and biodiversity projects.

Dan Haines, Regional Director at Keepmoat Homes said:

“We’re delighted to be working with North Somerset Council to deliver new, sustainable housing on the Parklands development. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to strengthen our presence in the South West and create what will become a thriving new community.”

Cllr Ash Cartman, Executive Member for Finance and Procurement at North Somerset Council, added:

“I am thrilled to announce Keepmoat as developer for our land. The selection process set out rigorous standards that the developer would have to meet, and Keepmoat met and exceeded those requirements.

“We hope this development will set a new standard for housing in North Somerset, showing that it is possible to deliver large numbers of homes at the same time as securing quality and improved sustainability and delivering affordable housing. I am especially pleased to see that 15% will be zero carbon homes.”

Keepmoat Homes was chosen as the developer for the site after a year-long, multi-bid procurement process. Work is due to start on site in October 2021 with a forecasted build rate of at least 85 homes a year.

Source: Showhouse

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Yimbys unite! How the planning regime is holding back the UK film industry

A council’s moronic decision to block Marlow Film Studios not only hurts our film industry – it holds back our economy, Jess Jones of City A.M.argues

It would not be unrealistic to consider that building a film studio on *checks notes* a stony, unused quarry next to the A404 dual carriageway and near one of the world’s leading film schools, is a rather sensible proposition.

But, following a marathon six hour hearing two years after the proposals were originally submitted, councillors decided that, no, this would be totally “inappropriate” and too much of an eyesore for the good pensioners of Buckinghamshire to bear. Welcome to the UK, where economic growth is all anyone talks about, and where planning dreams go to die.

The prospect of Marlow Film Studios offered job creation, infrastructure improvement and a place for top directors to film their next blockbusters. Since 2015, more high-end TV and movies have been made in the UK than in California. Avatar director James Cameron backed the plans, saying he would base his Lightstorm 3D special effects company there.

Following the rejection, Robert Laycock, chief executive of Marlow Film Studios, voiced his disappointment and vowed to keep fighting. “I am determined to create life changes for our young people and send hundreds of millions [of pounds] into Buckinghamshire’s businesses,” he said, adding that 67p of every £1 spent on film productions flows back into the local economy.

It begs the question why a very thorough planning application for a 169,000 square-metre studio designed by the man behind the Olympic Park, faced over 5,500 documents worth of scrutiny.

Bucks Council refused the proposal, citing “spatial and visual harm to the openness of the Green Belt.” Green Belt maybe, but a former WWII prison turned quarry turned infill plot next to a congested A-road is not exactly New Jerusalem. Even the ‘Save Marlow’s Greenbelt‘ site admits “the site may not look like much.”

The same Bucks Council decided against a data centre next to the M25 because it would block views of the grass for people driving.

Critics also pointed out that the A-road system nearby is horrendous for traffic. The film studios had proposed a solution to help this, including funding for the heavily congested Westhorpe roundabout. Perhaps the NIMBYs of Marlow should instead ask why their council has not done anything to sort that out in the first place.

Detractors also said the site would harm local wildlife and the environment. But this largely barren grassland is hardly some sort of oasis. It isn’t even suitable for agriculture as the ground is poor quality, with only a light covering of topsoil over a domestic waste tip.

The proposal, however, pledged to turn over a quarter of the overall site into “space dedicated to wildlife, nature, and recreation” – something some have said the council has never attempted to do.

Marlow Film Studio is understood to be considering its next steps, which may include appealing the council’s decision.

It comes as investment in national infrastructure is being stifled by the UK’s cumbersome planning regime. Planning applications are now five times more expensive than in 1990. The UK’s film and TV industry, valued at over £17.4bn and employing more than 290,000 people, needs a serious boost, not more red tape and red lights.

The decision hurts even more as the UK film industry fights for every penny it can get. The global film and TV industry has struggled as it faces economic challenges such as higher borrowing costs and since streaming services overspent during the pandemic. Many major studios have been cutting content budgets such as Disney, slashing it by $3bn (£2.4bn).

According to the British Film Institute, the combined UK film and high-end television production spend for 2023 fell 32 per cent year on year to £4.23bn, due to the US writers’ and actors’ strikes.

ut with the Hollywood strikes now over, and film production picking up again, we should be encouraging directors to look to the UK to film new movies here. Surely many other countries would have jumped at the chance to have Cameron and other film industry titans backing a new studio. Vue, Europe’s largest independent cinema operator, set up a UK distribution arm last month to start rolling out its own movies, something that could help replenish the pipeline of productions.

Despite the setbacks, projects like Warner Bros’ expansion in Leavesden and the development of new studios such as Crown Works Sunderland show there is still hope. The government has granted 40 per cent relief on business rates for film studios until 2034, worth £470m over ten years. The UK is still competitive due to its solid skills base and tax regime, which includes new tax reliefs for visual effects and independent films.

Labour has announced it would allow ministers to bypass the traditional planning process if it gets elected, especially to build more prisons. Instead of returning the site to its former purpose, Starmer should overrule the council decision and help get Marlow Film Studios built to show everyone he really means business on growth.

The UK film industry desperately needs investment – and this new studio would have been a huge boon for the sector. But for now, we’re stuck with a planning system that is more about preserving the past than building the future.

 

Source: CityAM

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Meet Andrew Curry – Schlüter’s Training Manager

What was your first job?

I was a fishmonger at our local Sainsbury’s during my university days.  I used to do a 10-hour shift on a Sunday as it was double pay (£12ph was a lot in the early 90s) but 7am starts did not mean a whale of a time though!  Being a student, Saturday nights often merged into Sunday mornings and setting up the fish counter display was the last thing on my mind back then.

After graduating in IT, I eventually became a Systems Administrator for a data management company in Derby.  Although I believed I always wanted to work in IT, I missed the social interaction of working with people. 

How long have you been at Schlüter-Systems?

17 years!  I started working for Schlüter on 1st April 2007 (April Fools’ day)! 

My initial role at Schlüter was Account Manager covering East England, or Area 2 as it was called back then.  Geographically, that included Sussex through to Newcastle and everything in between.  It was a varied role that meant looking after enquiries from direct account customers, contractors, and architects/designers.  Soon afterwards, I was promoted to Senior Account Manager, which was a team leader role responsible for the team of account managers.  I then became a Business Development Manager; there were two of us at this time and, between us, we were responsible for whole of the UK. 

In 2012, an opportunity became available in training. Schlüter UK was to develop a targeted approach to training at its facilities in Coalville, Leicestershire.  For many years, Schlüter had provided industry-leading training. However, this was mainly external working with distributors, colleges etc.  A suite of training programmes was created, a practical workshop was constructed, and our Innovation Workshops were launched!  The practical workshop areas could, originally, accommodate around 6 – 8 people and sessions were held once or twice a week.  Fast forward 10 years (and a couple of major facility refurbishments), we can now accommodate up to 50 people or more, twice a week! 

What are your responsibilities?

As Training Manager, my primary responsibility is the customer training experience and everything that represents; from being greeted on arrival, the training provided on the day, and all the way through to certification and departure. 

Ensuring that experience is first class doesn’t come easy.  I’m fortunate enough to be surrounded by a great team who work with me.  Between us, we provide an experience we should all be proud of (I know I am).  We are regularly told “it’s the best training day we’ve ever had”, with many people coming back again and again (and again!).

What do you love most about Schlüter-Systems?

In my role, I’ve been lucky enough to have met thousands of people (many of whom have become friends).  I consider being able to represent a market-leading brand and innovative solutions provider such as Schlüter as a huge privilege.  What is also a privilege is to show all those installers, resellers, and designers our solutions for applications for tile, stone and other floor coverings. 

I also really enjoy working with the team around me, most of us having worked together now for many years.  We regularly meet outside of work for drinks and nibbles; even colleagues who have moved on to new pastures join us.

What makes Schlüter-Systems stand out from its competitors?

As well as providing truly innovative solutions, we also have an incredibly comprehensive range.  From tile edge protection, waterproofing, drainage, lighting, heating, and acoustics; the fact that these systems have all been tried, tested and designed to work together ensures a long-lasting installation.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Grey at the minute, I’m going grey, the skies are grey and its one of our main company’s colours!

Joking apart – I guess when I’m training there always is a degree of consistency.  The day typically starts with meet and greet, a presentation of some description (depending on the course type) followed by a tour of the facilities and, finally, practical training.  However, because I’m dealing with different people, from different ‘walks of life’, every day is different. 

Training sessions are typically twice a week and, in-between, it’s time to keep on top of the organisational side of things. 

I’d also like to think I have a thorough understanding of our business and, therefore, can provide a balanced opinion to assist other departments such as sales and marketing. I’m always keen to offer and show support where needed.  As a result, there are always projects I’m asked to help troubleshoot.

What has been a highlight since working with Schlüter-Systems?

Festive Friday!  When it first started over 15 years ago, Festive Friday was a charity breakfast for about 10-15 people.  Obviously, the company has grown now but so too has the day itself!

Typically held around the last working day of the year, it starts around 4:30 am (for me) as I arrive to prepare a full English breakfast for the whole company which is now around 50+ people!  Once breakfast is served, the table-tennis tournament typically follows, along with Secret Santa and then the Christmas party.

It’s obviously a lot of fun and a great way of finishing the year.  However, the most important aspect for me is the money raised for charity.  Over the years, we have raised thousands of pounds.  For many years now, the nominated charity has been Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, which is a fantastic organisation.

Do you have any particular goals for the rest of 2024 – career or personal?

Yorkshire Three Peaks!  Last year I got into this hiking malarky.  I’ve improved my step count from a lazy 4000 steps a day to between 10 and 12000 a day.  My son Alexander inspired me. Between us, we’ve enjoyed the best of South Derbyshire, Northwest Leicestershire, the Peak District, Malvern Hills and many more.  Later this year, we’re ready for a challenge and have decided it will be the Yorkshire Three Peaks and next year…. Well let’s see!  I will be doing this for charity so keep an eye on the socials!

 

For further information, call 01530 813396 or visit https://www.schluter.co.uk/

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CLARIFYING OUR GROUP LICENSES – The Assent Group

In light of the recent article published on 18 June 2024, by Construction News and other media outlets, the Assent Group would like to clarify the status of our group licenses, our capability to provide building control services – including for in-flight higher-risk buildings (HRBs) – and our position regarding the Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA) designation.

Contrary to what may be implied from the article, the wider Assent Group remains fully operational and capable of delivering high-quality building control services. The Assent Group operates through three licensed entities: LB Building Control, Oculus Building Consultancy, and Clarke Banks. All three businesses are registered as RBCAs and will continue to offer the comprehensive range of services that our clients rely on.

Assent Building Control itself will not be registering as an RBCA. However, it will continue to operate as an Approved Inspector until 1 October 2024 under the transitional arrangements.  

The Assent Group is working with the BSR and its clients in respect of a small number of existing HRB projects that were being delivered under Assent Building Control Limited. Contrary to what was suggested in the article, the BSR is fully aware of these projects and discussions continue.

Our commitment to maintaining high standards is reflected in our workforce. All Registered Building Inspectors within the Assent Group will continue to serve our clients. Currently, over 70% of our surveyors are registered as RBIs (from Class 2A to Class 4), with this number steadily increasing.

We hope this clarifies any misunderstandings and reaffirms our dedication to providing exceptional building control services through the Assent Group. As always, the Assent Group remains committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism in all our operations.

Whilst we trust this clarifies the position, any future queries should be directed to communications@assentbc.co.uk

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Election Pledges: A Summary

With just two weeks until polling day, the major political parties have set out their visions for the nation’s future.

From housebuilding to HS2, tidal energy to training, each manifesto touches on areas that could influence engineering in the UK for decades to come. Here are five of the key promises from each of the main parties.

Labour

  • Set up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power company, paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants. Labour said it would work with the private sector to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030.
  • “Put passengers at the heart of the rail service” by reforming the railways and bringing them into public ownership.
  • Reform planning to build 1.5m new homes, and to “forge ahead with new roads, railways, reservoirs, and other nationally significant infrastructure.”
  • A “phased and responsible” transition in the North Sea. Oil and gas production in the North Sea “will be with us for decades to come”, Labour said, and would be managed in a way that does not jeopardise jobs. The party would not issue new licences to explore new fields, however.
  • Establish a National Wealth Fund with £7.3bn over the next parliament. This would allocate £1.5bn for new automotive gigafactories, £2.5bn to “rebuild our steel industry”, £1bn to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture, and £500m to support manufacturing of green hydrogen.

Conservatives

  • Ensure annual licensing rounds for oil and gas production from the North Sea. The party also said it would open new gas power stations to back up renewables.
  • Fund 100,000 “high-quality” apprenticeships for young people, paid for by curbing “poor-quality university degrees that leave young people worse off”.
  • Approve two new fleets of Small Modular Reactors to “rapidly expand nuclear power” within the first 100 days of the next parliament.
  • Reverse the ULEZ expansion in London and apply local referendums to new 20mph zones and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.
  • Implement a new import carbon pricing mechanism by 2027 to “ensure that imports of iron, steel, aluminium, ceramics and cement from countries with a lower or no carbon price will face a comparable carbon price to those goods produced in the UK”. This would reduce the risk of industry being displaced to other countries that are not taking action on climate change, the manifesto said.

Reform UK

  • Scrap energy levies and Net Zero to “slash energy bills and save each household £500 per year”.
  • Fast-track licences of North Sea oil and gas. The party said it would also grant shale gas licences on test sites for two years, and enable major production “when safety is proven”, with local compensation schemes.
  • Increase and incentivise ethical UK lithium mining for electric batteries, combined cycle gas turbines, clean synthetic fuel and tidal power. Other ambitions include exploration of “clean coal mining”.
  • “Incentivise innovation to speed up building.” Approaches would include modular construction, digital technology and building sites that improve efficiency and cut waste.
  • Scrap HS2. The party hopes to save £25bn by “scrapping the rest of this bloated vanity project”.

Liberal Democrats

  • Make homes warmer and cheaper to heat with a 10-year “emergency upgrade programme”, with free insulation and heat pumps for people on low incomes. The party also aims for all new homes to be zero-carbon.
  • Invest in renewable power so that 90% of the UK’s electricity is generated from renewables by 2030.
  • Require all large companies listed on UK stock exchanges to set targets consistent with achieving the country’s net zero goal, and to report on their progress.
  • Remove “unnecessary” restrictions on new solar and wind power, and support investment and innovation in tidal and wave power “in particular”.
  • Review the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2 to “see if it can still be delivered in a way that provides value for money, including by encouraging private investment, or if an alternative is viable”.

The Green Party

  • End the “de-facto ban on onshore wind”. Along with transformation of the planning system, the party said this would support a “massive increase” in wind power.
  • Require all new-build homes to maximise use of solar panels and heat pumps, or equivalent low-carbon technologies. All planning applications would be required to include whole-life carbon and energy calculations.
  • Introduce a carbon tax on all fossil fuels, whether produced in the UK or imported. The tax would be proportional to the greenhouse gas emissions produced when fuel is burned.
  • Cease development of new nuclear power stations, “as nuclear energy is much more expensive and slower to develop than renewables”. The manifesto added: “We are clear that nuclear is a distraction from developing renewable energy and the risk to nuclear power stations from extreme climate events is rising fast.”
  • Push the next government to establish an Offshore Energy and Skills Passport, “so that workers can transition more easily between offshore energy industries”.

SNP

  • Demand devolution of powers over energy regulation, pricing and production to ensure that natural energy resources are used to “best serve the needs of the Scottish people”.
  • Scrap Trident and invest the money into “conventional defence” and public services.
  • Work at pace with the Acorn Project and Scottish Cluster to secure the fastest possible deployment of the project, following what the party called the “UK government’s failure to support the Acorn carbon capture, utilisation and storage project at track 1.”
  • Take an “evidence-based approach” to oil and gas. “We believe any further extraction must be consistent with our climate obligations and take due account of energy security,” the manifesto said.
  • Promote Scotland’s hydrogen export potential. Scotland is “well placed to supply significant amounts of hydrogen to continental Europe”, the party said, and its MPs would press for the UK government to secure progress with direct interconnection between Scotland and the continent.

Plaid Cymru

  • Secure the “£4bn owed to Wales from HS2”. This extra funding would be invested in improving Welsh public transport, including “properly connecting north and south Wales for the first time”, and electrifying the North Wales Main Line.
  • Oppose Tata’s plans for the closure of its blast furnaces in Port Talbot. The UK government should look to nationalise the steelworks, the party said.  Future options for “greening” steel production – including replacing coal with green hydrogen – could also be explored.
  • Create a Welsh Green New Deal. This would provide “rewarding, meaningful and fair work in the emerging green and net-zero sector, and includes re-skilling and supporting Welsh employees and apprentices into these sectors”.
  • Wales should have full control over energy powers.
  • A long-term plan for retrofitting existing properties, making them “more energy efficient, thereby reducing costs and carbon emissions”.

Source: Institute of Mechanical Engineers

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