Introducing Sustainable Development to the next Generation

Renowned architect and TV presenter George Clarke’s education charity MOBIE – Ministry of Building Innovation and Education – is launching free workshops in home design, sustainable development and green skills to primary and secondary schools in South and West Wales.

 

Part of securing a greener future for Wales rests with how well we design, construct and then manage our buildings. 40% of carbon emissions come from the built environment – 11% from how we build them and 28% from how we heat and power them – so it is critical that buildings of the future use less energy, less raw materials and create less waste.

The workshops, offered through the Swansea Bay City Deal ‘Homes as Power Stations’ project, provide an opportunity for young people to think about how we can deliver our future housing needs whilst protecting our planet.

They use practical design exercises to help students appreciate key design principles and emphasise the importance of homes and buildings in helping us to address climate change and other environmental challenges. They can introduce young people to the range of roles in housing, the built environment and green industries and technologies that we need to deliver the homes, other buildings and communities of tomorrow.

The presenter of Channel 4 programmes George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, Remarkable Renovations and Old House, New Home and founder of MOBIE said:

“Home is the most important piece of architecture in our lives. It crafts the way we live, and how we grow as families and communities.

“The built environment accounts for 40% of our carbon emissions and we have around 27 million homes in the UK that need to be retrofitted by 2050 if we are to achieve our net zero obligations and avoid 1.5 degrees of warming. We must make buildings, new and old, more energy efficient for people and the planet.  This requires new thinking and new skills.

“MOBIE’s workshops are a great way to introduce sustainable development – through home we can inform young people about our environmental challenges and explore design solutions that can help us live more sustainably in the future. The workshops have been well received in England and Scotland so I am really excited that they are now coming to Wales.” 

Wyn Prichard, Sustainability and Net Zero Consultant and chair of the WJEC Qualification group, said

“We are really pleased to be working with MOBIE on their first project in Wales. The materials that have been jointly created for these sustainability and green skills workshops will engage and inspire pupils, students and staff about our green challenges and stimulate thinking and designs for ‘Homes as Power Stations’ and what the Welsh homes of the future should look like. The workshops complement the ‘Sustainability in Action’ qualification that was recently launched by the WJEC.”

Jayne Jones, Head of Business Development at NPTC Group of Colleges said

“With MOBIE as a key partner of our Net Zero Skills Academy, we look forward to supporting the workshops and developing further programmes with George, the MOBIE team and our other partners in the Academy to help inspire and train the workforce of the future to deliver low carbon housing, buildings and communities.”

Nicola Pearce, Director of Environment and Regeneration for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and Senior Responsible Officer for HAPS said

“one of the objectives of HAPS is to increase the skills associated with the

technologies needed to create homes that are cleaner, greener and that reduce fuel poverty. It’s essential we engage and support learning of all ages from school age up to the diversification of the current workforce. Funding from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MSC) has enabled us to begin this exciting journey and we look forward to working with MOBIE and our partners to progress this work and make a positive impact”.

 

The workshops support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) learning and other curriculum.  They help to promote awareness and understanding of the environmental and societal issues that face young people and their future lives and lifestyles, including the UN Sustainable Development Global Goals.

The workshops cover topics including what is a home, climate change, zero carbon homes, housing innovation and technology, sustainable building materials and renewable energy. By participating, learners can develop skills in teamwork and team building, design, communication and presentation.

The workshops complement the ‘Sustainability in Action’ qualification, launched by the WJEC in April 2024, which was developed in collaboration with the office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, to support the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015 and net zero jobs of the next generation of workers.

They are open to primary and secondary schools in the Swansea Bay City Deal area, which comprises Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot,

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£45m investment and jobs boost for sustainability industry

 

£45m investment and jobs boost for sustainability industry in East of England

Assan Panel, a major affiliate of Kibar Holding, a renowned name in Turkey’s industrial sector, has confirmed its plans to locate its first UK manufacturing facility at Gateway 14, part of Freeport East.

The firm produces sustainable building materials and is one of the world’s market leaders in this sector. The move to Gateway 14 will create around 100 highly skilled jobs in Stowmarket and bring an investment of up to £45m.

The announcement comes at a time when the UK and Turkey are discussing an enhanced Free Trade Agreement.  Both Freeport East and Assan Panel are keen to ensure the investment acts as a positive signal to other companies looking to strengthen trade connections between the two countries.

Contingent upon securing required approvals, İhsan Tolga Akar, Managing Director of Assan Panel, mentioned that the goal is to have the new plant operational by Autumn 2025.

As part of its investment, Assan Panel, which exports to 85 countries from Turkey, is planning to establish a new office in Ipswich to cater the UK market.

A skilled workforce will be required at the new multi-million-pound facility, which will manufacture sandwich panels filled with Polyisocyanurate (PIR), mineral wool, or polyurethane – critical components in constructing sustainable and eco-friendly buildings.

Steve Beel, Chief Executive of Freeport East, comments:

“This announcement represents a real milestone in strengthening the presence of green industry in and around the Stowmarket and wider Freeport East area. As well as direct job creation, the investment will provide opportunities to build strong local R&D relationships with universities and drive the development of the skills and innovation cluster at Gateway 14.

“With close proximity to the Port of Felixstowe and the flexibility of the freeport customs model, locating in Freeport East provides Assan Panel with the ideal base from which to serve both UK and European markets. We are confident this is a model that will encourage other international manufacturers to consider Freeport East as a future strategic location.”

Haluk Kayabaşı, CEO of Kibar Holding, made a statement regarding the new facility investment:

“Kibar Holding, one of the leading groups of the Turkish industry, under which Assan Panel operates, is taking firm steps forward on its globalization journey with its unabated investment moves. We aim to further strengthen our presence in the European market with the new facility investment of Assan Panel in the UK, which has previously increased its presence abroad with the investments it has realized in Jordan and Azerbaijan. By making a difference with the innovative, pioneering, sustainable, energy-efficient products we offer, we serve for the transition in European sandwich panel market for sustainable solutions, and now with more concentration in the UK.”

Minister for Investment in the Department for Business and Trade, Lord Dominic Johnson, said:

“Assan Panel’s investment underscores Freeport East’s outstanding offer to businesses operating in green industries, and will create new, skilled jobs in the region. UK Freeports are perfect places for businesses to innovate, collaborate and grow. This news highlights Freeport East’s exceptional opportunities which underpin their vision of a global hub for trade and investment into advanced manufacturing and green energy.”

The Minister for Levelling Up, Jacob Young, said:

“This significant commitment by Assan Panel, made possible by the government’s Freeports programme, not only brings high-skilled jobs and investment to the east of England but also strengthens the UK’s important trading relationship with Turkey.”

Councillor Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Skills, Transport Strategy and Waste, said: “

It is excellent news that Assan Panel will manufacture its panels here in Suffolk. This is a substantial investment which will create many new local jobs and be a significant boost for Suffolk’s manufacturing sect

or, and I would like to commend the joint inward investment and Freeport East teams for their important role in securing it.”

 

Gateway 14, led by Mid Suffolk District Council-owned Gateway 14 Ltd with development partner, Jaynic, is next to the A14 at Stowmarket.  It is East Anglia’s largest business park, providing 2.36 million sq. ft. of accommodation and as part of Freeport East, the site offers tax reliefs and simplified customs arrangements and is fast becoming a hub for manufacturing, logistics, and R&D firms.

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Adapting to Heatwaves: Government response a missed opportunity

 

The Environmental Audit Committee expects the Government to provide more detail on its plans to adapt the UK to climate change, as it publishes the Government’s response to its report on Heat Resilience and Sustainable Cooling.

In its report, the Committee cited findings that heat-related deaths could rise to 10,000 every year without concerted actions to adapt to the warming climate. It found that while the UK population spends on average 90% of its time indoors, the country’s housing stock is not designed to cope with excessive heat, and millions of UK homes experience summertime overheating.

With four out of five homes set to exist by 2050 having already been built, and the UK having some of the oldest housing stock in the world, the Committee recommended launching an ambitious and comprehensive national retrofit programme to adapt the UK’s houses for the demands of net zero. It recommended this be delivered via local authorities, be underpinned by long-term funding and prioritise vulnerable households.

In response, the Government falls short of committing to a retrofit programme on this scale. Ministers say that the Heat and Buildings Strategy, published in 2021, sets out the Government’s actions to reduce emissions from buildings, and point to recent announcements extending support in this area. The Government also says that it has made progress improving energy efficiency in homes, indicating that 48% of homes in England have now achieved an Energy Performance Certificate C level.

Meanwhile the Committee recommended that standards covering overheating in new buildings – Part O of the Building Regulations 2010 – should be extended to cover not just material changes of use but also refurbishment of existing properties. In its report, it recommended that Ministers set out whether the Government would pursue this, or if not, explain how the UK would achieve its commitments on global cooling.

The Government does not say whether it plans to extend these regulations. Ministers plan to use a call for evidence currently running to understand any potential problems with the Part O regulations, and to determine future updates.

Another of the Committee’s recommendations centered on nature-based solutions to climate change in urban areas, such as trees, parks and bodies of water, which have cooling effects alongside a host of co-benefits. In its 2023 Adaptation Progress Report, the Climate Change Committee also found that there was “no requirement for local authorities to protect or provide green space”, and that funding commitments were required to maintain parks and green spaces.

The Committee welcomed Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework (GIF), which is intended to help planners improve green space in urban areas, as a “welcome step forward”. It called for the Government to take action to expand urban green spaces, including by mandating local authorities to use the GIF and introducing a statutory requirement to protect green space.

However, the Government says local authorities are responsible for delivering new green areas and says it is currently not planning to mandate local authorities in urban areas to use the Green Infrastructure Framework, as the Committee had recommended.

In its report, the Committee had criticised the level of joint working across Government, but said that the new cross-government Climate Resilience Board could represent an important step forward. In response, the Government outlines the range of Government departments involved, with membership extending to “all climate risk-owning departments”.

Chair’s comment

Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Philip Dunne MP, said:

“Extreme heat is already affecting health and livelihoods in the UK. While there is much to welcome in this response, there are still serious unanswered questions about how the Government plans to respond to a rapidly warming UK climate. This is frankly a missed opportunity.

“I am cheered to read further details of the Climate Resilience Board, which demonstrates exactly the kind of collaborative work across Government likely to be crucial in meeting the net zero challenge – a key theme in our committee’s work over the course of this Parliament.

“However, the Government has made no further commitment towards a national retrofit programme aimed at reducing the risks of overheating and improving energy efficiency. It has not for example added cooling measures to current programmes such as the Home Upgrade Grant scheme.

“Equally, Ministers have not answered our questions on whether building regulations on overheating will be extended to cover refurbishments. In my letter to the Secretary of State, I press the Government to provide more detailed information on its plans.

“Also lacking clarity at present is the Government’s approach towards protecting and enhancing green spaces. The Government insists that local authorities are responsible for this; however, as the Climate Change Committee has highlighted, serious funding pressures and the lack of a legal requirement for councils to take action mean that in reality, green infrastructure projects are unlikely to get off the ground.

“While this response falls short of what the Committee was seeking, these issues are of direct interest to colleagues across the House. I look forward to working with colleagues to secure further answers from the Government.”

Dr Radhika Khosla, Associate Professor at the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, University of Oxford, who acted as Specialist Adviser for the EAC’s inquiry, said:

“The Government’s response is a positive start – it demonstrates a recognition of the threat of extreme heat and details the existing steps in place to mitigate it. However, the levels of coordination, knowledge, and capacity building required for a rigorous National Heat Resilience and Sustainable Cooling Strategy are not yet in place. The proposed “cooling outlook document” provides a baseline but will require an integrated and strategic roadmap that is implementable. Looking ahead and recognising the threat of extreme heat and the existing measures that can help are important first steps, but there remains a lack of urgency and commitment to further action.

“Two gaps that require immediate attention are the need to hone in on overheating in existing buildings and retrofits, and the push to make the protection of green spaces, vital for passive cooling, a statutory requirement for local authorities. The Government notes that voters can take action “at the ballot box” if they feel their local authority is not doing enough in this regard. But, as the heatwave of 2022 demonstrated, extreme heat will not wait for electoral processes to complete before it has a devastating impact on population health and productivity. The Government’s response is an important first step, and hopefully one that leads to a sustainable and actionable heat resilience strategy for all.”

Source: UK Parliament Debates

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Pioneer Cities Reducing Carbon Emissions

The World Economic Forum’s Centre for Urban Transformation released a report today showcasing the best practices of pioneer cities that are effectively reducing carbon emissions from urban development projects.

As urban populations continue to grow, the pace of urban construction is expected to increase. It is projected that the global floor area will double by 2060, which is equivalent to constructing a city the size of New York every month for the next 40 years. The report titled “Reducing Embodied Carbon in Cities: Nine Solutions for Greener Buildings and Communities” outlines nine innovative solutions for various stages of construction and demolition.

Jeff Merritt, the Head of Urban Transformation at the World Economic Forum, emphasized the need for a more comprehensive approach to address carbon emissions throughout the life cycle of buildings. He highlighted the importance of rethinking traditional construction methods and materials, as well as repurposing existing structures to reduce embodied carbon.

The report features case studies that serve as models for cities striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. For example, the One Westside Office Campus in Los Angeles, which was transformed from a struggling mall into a cutting-edge UCLA science campus, diverted over 75% of construction and demolition waste from landfills, resulting in a 33% reduction in embodied carbon compared to a new construction project.

Additionally, a program implemented by San Diego’s local utility company is assisting fleet owners and operators in transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) to eliminate emissions. The initiative aims to convert at least 3,000 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, many of which are utilized in the construction industry.

Vancouver has implemented a policy that sets a limit on the amount of embodied carbon allowed in new construction projects. Additionally, they have created a benchmarking tool to accurately measure and track emissions. This proactive approach demonstrates Vancouver’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development. In a similar vein, Seattle has established an expedited permitting process for projects that meet the standards for embodied carbon.

This initiative not only benefits environmentally friendly construction companies but also helps to expedite the construction process while aligning with the city’s environmental goals. New York City has taken a different approach by implementing a Clean Construction Executive Order. This order mandates that all capital project agencies must work towards lowering embodied carbon in municipal construction projects.

By doing so, New York City is actively working to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices in the construction industry. According to Jennifer Holmes, Accenture’s lead for cities, transportation, and infrastructure, cities play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions within the built environment. She emphasizes the importance of cities setting clear targets, providing incentives, and collaborating with the private and non-profit sectors to achieve emission reduction goals.

These cities, along with others, are highlighted in a report developed in collaboration with Accenture following a City Sprint event hosted by the City of Los Angeles. The City Sprint included a three-day workshop with over 50 stakeholders from various disciplines who are committed to transforming the construction industry for the 21st century.

This event builds upon Los Angeles’ commitment to the C40 Cities Clean Construction Accelerator, which aims to reduce embodied emissions by at least 50% for all new buildings, major retrofits, and infrastructure by 2030. Cécile Faraud, Head of Clean Construction at C40 Cities, emphasizes the role of cities in driving demand for sustainable development. She highlights the progress made through the C40 Clean Construction program, with 10 leading cities participating in 2019 and now over 45 cities across all continents working towards decarbonizing the built environment and promoting climate resilience and equity.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

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Irish Schools Benefit from Modular Constructions

The Department of Education is using modular builds as part of its move

to modern methods of construction.

The benefits include a faster delivery of construction projects and

minimising disruption while pupils are attending the school.

Initial project approval has been given for four new secondary school extensions in Kerry.

The schools to benefit are Coláiste na Sceilge in Caherciveen, Castleisland Community College, Causeway Comprehensive School and Meanscoil Nua an Leith Triuigh in Castlegregory.

All four schools have received initial project approval for new modular classrooms and facilities which can be delivered quickly and have a lifespan of 60 years.

Coláiste na Sceilge in Caherciveen is due to get four new mainstream classrooms and two special educational needs classrooms via modular build.

Meanscoil Nua an Leith Triuigh is due to get a one new mainstream classroom, a new art room via modular build. It will also get a new special education teaching room and an existing room reconfigured to provide for special needs education.

Castleisland Community College is due to get two new mainstream classrooms via modular build

Causeway Comprehensive School is due to get one new mainstream classroom and one new special educational needs classroom via modular build

Education Minister, Norma Foley, said she is particularly pleased to see that the projects include new state-of-the-art special education facilities.

 

Source: Killarney Today

 

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50% of Companies in ‘Critical’ Financial Distress

The number of construction companies in “significant” financial distress hit increased 38.6% in Q1 2024, reveals the latest Begbies Traynor Red Flag Alert research.

In addition, construction was the sector with the most companies in “critical” financial distress, hitting 6,141 in the first quarter of this year.

Overall, the level of “significant” financial distress leapt 30.8% year-on-year in Q1 2024 with 554,554 companies affected (Q1 2023: 424,041).

The construction, food and drug retailers and general retailer sectors in particular drove the increase in “significant” financial distress.

With many companies in “critical” financial distress expected to enter insolvency over the course of the next 12 months, the picture in the construction, real estate, financial services and support services sectors is particularly concerning as nearly 50% (c.20,000 businesses) of the companies in “critical” financial distress are represented by these sectors.

Julie Palmer, partner at Begbies Traynor, said:

“Despite some optimism as we entered the new year, 2024 has so far been characterised by a continuation of the same pressures that plagued companies in the UK throughout 2023.

“Since the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of UK businesses depleted their financial reserves and loaded their balance sheets with increasingly unaffordable debt which for many may simply be too great to bear.

“As with the prior quarter, the picture is particularly concerning in the consumer facing sectors.

“We are starting to see this translate into larger companies entering insolvency, a trend that I expect to continue while consumer confidence remains uncertain.

“On top of that, the higher levels of financial distress in bellwether sectors such as real estate and construction point to a troubled UK economy.

“Right now, many companies will be pinning their hopes on a meaningful cut to interest rates later this year, but the Bank of England continues to be hawkish, so it is unlikely to make a cut in the near-term given inflation is still higher than expected.

“All of this means that these pressures are here to stay, and I fear this will result in thousands of businesses failing in the coming months as the constant pressures will become too great for many.”

 

Source: Development Finance today

 

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Net Zero: Invest and Profit

How will the transition to net zero affect the UK economy?

The rapid roll-out of clean energy and energy efficiency measures needed to deliver the net zero transition will be capital-intensive upfront but can serve to make the UK economy resilient, productive and competitive in the long term.

In 2020, the Government’s independent climate advisers, the Climate Change Committee, estimatedthat additional annual investment of over £40 billion would be needed as early as 2025, combining both private and public investment, increasing to around £50 billion between 2030 and 2050. Ensuring the UK can maximise economic and social opportunities from the transition means going beyond bringing emissions to net zero: it will also require designing policy and investments to make up for decades of underinvestment in key assets like public buildings and skills, tackling biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, and developing domestic capabilities in markets of the future. Achieving these objectives will require additional annual investment equivalent to at least 3% of GDP (or £77 billion, at current prices), with at least 1% of GDP (or £26 billion) coming from the public sector, according to a recent estimate.

What evidence is there for clean investment bringing economic benefits?

Investment into a clean economy can have long-term benefits for growth and productivity, as International examples demonstrate. Examples from the UK also highlight the opportunity for investment in clean technologies to induce creativity and innovation across the whole economy and generate new learning and experience along the way. For example, the Government’s investment in offshore wind, which started in the early 2010s when its cost was several times that of existing generation sources, has since supported cost reductions through economies of scale and further technological innovation. As a result, offshore wind now produces almost 15% of the UK’s electricity and has become one of the cheapest forms of energy generation, while also providing new jobs and export opportunities.

The economic gains are even greater when we take full account of the co-benefits that result from joined up deployment of clean alternatives across sectors, such as reduced traffic congestion and air pollution from investment in compact cities connected by public transport and electric vehicles, powered by renewable energy. These problems currently threaten people’s wellbeing and limit productivity, with air pollution costing the NHS and businesses more than £20 billion each year.

How can the net zero transition improve productivity and efficiency?

The majority of the economic activities involved in the transition towards net zero – such as investing in renewable energy and constructing more efficient buildings – have the potential to boost the UK’s productivity. This is achieved through improving energy and resource efficiency, shifting from low productivity sectors to the new, innovative, higher value-added sectors of the clean economy, and through process and product innovation in existing sectors.

Many low-carbon technologies are more efficient, and thus cheaper, to run than their fossil fuel counterparts. For example, electric vehicle drive systems have 15–20% energy loss, compared with 64–75% for petrol cars. Clean technology use will also shield the UK from the volatility of global fossil fuel markets. Even when upfront and running costs are incorporated, certain clean technologies have become almost exponentially cheaper in recent decades, while the real price of fossil fuels has remained roughly constant for more than a century. These cost reductions were made possible by economies of scale and learning by doing, causing an upsurge in demand and encouraging further innovation and cost reductions. In contrast, increased production of fossil fuels triggers the opposite effect, since it becomes necessary to extract a flow of resources that are ever more difficult and expensive to access, tying up expensive labour.

How can the growing demand for clean technologies benefit the UK?

The UK is an innovative economy and can access growth benefits as a centre of finance and services such as consultancy, engineering and design, which will be core to the green transition. It is also specialised in the innovation of several clean technologies that are seeing rapid growth globally, such as offshore wind, carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS), and tidal stream energy. Further investment in these innovative technologies can unlock export opportunities as well as productivity-enhancing spillover effects into other sectors, with potential for relevant investments to support local prosperity as well, particularly in less productive parts of the country. Major economies like the US, EU, China and India have already introduced strong policy packages to develop the knowledge clusters and supply lines of the future and so there could be a risk that the UK falls behind if its policymakers do not act in this respect.

Some have argued that ambitious climate policy may have inflationary impacts as it drives up demand for materials and labour while supply remains insufficient. Yet recent experience with the energy crisis suggests inaction could be even more inflationary, as continued reliance on fossil fuels would keep the UK vulnerable to inflationary price shocks in global markets. Locking into fossil fuel infrastructure such as new oil and gas fields in the North Sea, and the continued construction of energy-inefficient buildings, also creates the risk of stranded assets, future financial losses and costs for businesses and households that will likely fall back on taxpayers. The Office for Budget Responsibility has estimated that if the UK continues its dependence on gas at the current level, recurring gas price spikes could add around 13% of GDP to public debt by 2050.

 

Source: LSE

 

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Brownfield Site for Walsall Homes

During a recent visit, Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands praised GreenSquareAccord’s (GSA) Canalside Close development which is being built in partnership with Keon Homes.

GSA’s Canalside Close development, located in Blakenall Heath in Walsall, will provide 33 affordable homes on disused industrial land close to the Wyrley and Essington canal. The housing scheme will be comprised of one and two bed apartments alongside houses with two and three bedrooms totalling 33 new and fully affordable homes.

The West Midlands Mayor’s visit to Canalside Close was part of a campaign to seek new powers to block controversial Green Belt developments and reclaim even more derelict industrial sites.

Andy commented:

“Canalside Close is a perfect example of what can be achieved when a builder and a housing association tap into new modern methods of construction through a partner like LoCaL Homes.

“We will eventually have 33 new homes for individuals and families to enjoy – all benefitting from high energy efficiency that is so important during the current cost-of-living crisis.”

 

Construction on the first properties at Canalside Close is complete with the new occupants already collecting the keys to their homes.

Sophie Green, a GSA customer who recently moved into her new home at Canalside Close, said:

“I am starting to feel settled into my new place and it’s amazing to know that I’m the first person to live here. It’s great to have the towpath so nearby which is perfect for an evening stroll now that the weather is getting better.”

Sophie’s new neighbours Chad and Kelly said:

“We are really happy with our new houses and the service we have received so far.”

Mike Nolan, Head of Development at GSA said:

“It is fantastic to see construction of the first homes at our Canalside development in Blakenall Heath now complete. It can only be good news for the local community that we are providing 33 new homes on a site which had become a hot spot for fly tipping in recent years. Our new homes at Canalside Close will help to address local housing pressure without impacting on precious green spaces.”

All the new homes on Canalside Close will be built using the low carbon LoCaL Homes Eco-200 off-site closed timber panel system, which is reducing construction times on site, and achieving savings overall in terms of carbon release.

The external wall panels will be finished with a brick slip system applied in the factory and will further improve both the quality and delivery of the development. Waste will also be dramatically reduced and will make for a much cleaner and safer site.

Mike Doolan, Sales and Partnership Manager at LoCaL Homes said:

“We recently had the pleasure of giving Mayor Street and his colleagues a tour around our award-winning factory in Walsall.

“It was great to follow up on this with a visit to the Canalside Close development where the West Midlands Mayor could see first-hand how LoCaL Homes’ off-site closed timber frames have been deployed.

“The future occupants of the homes at Canalside Close will benefit from reduced fuel bills thanks to a fabric first design approach and thermal efficient materials used in construction.”

 

Incoming residents to Canalside Close will have an allocated parking space, access to cycle storage and will be a short stroll away from the canal towpath.

Matt Beckley, Head of Development at Keon Homes, said:

“It is built into our operating strategy that we are ‘Brownfield First’ and the development at Canalside Close shows why it is the right decision.

“This was a derelict piece of land in an area that desperately needed affordable housing. Working in partnership with GSA, LoCaL Homes and local authority partners we have brought it to life in a way that really benefits the local community.”

 

The Canalside Close development is within easy reach of several local schools, including Rivers and Goldsmith Primary Academies, a nursery and playing fields which make the housing scheme an ideal base for those with young children.

 

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Liquidation Leaves Development Un-finished


The housing development has been left half-finished.

 

Half-finished Shrewsbury housing development ‘to be finished next spring’ after builders went into liquidation.

A half-finished housing development left abandoned after a construction firm went into liquidation “will be finished by next spring”.

Concerns had been raised over mess and safety after the development in Racecourse Crescent, Shrewsbury was left untouched for several months.

Star Housing, Shropshire Council’s housing arm, had instructed Tricas Construction to build 13 affordable homes on the site of the old police station next to Monkmoor Recreation

But Tricas went into liquidation, causing work to grind to a halt.

The council has expressed “disappointment” over the situation, but insists it is trying to get a new contractor in place and hopes the work will be done by next spring.

A Shropshire Council spokesperson said:

 “STAR Housing is disappointed over the liquidation of Tricas Construction, its contracting partner for the development at Racecourse Crescent.

“Tricas Construction made STAR Housing aware of some the challenges it was facing during a very difficult time for the construction industry. STAR Housing did its best to support Tricas Construction during this period but due to the complexity of the issues facing Tricas

“Legal matters arising from this situation are being addressed and efforts are underway to secure a new contractor to complete the project.

“Safety measures have been implemented on the site, and STAR Housing anticipate the completion of all work by Spring 2025.

“STAR Housing remains committed to completing this important affordable housing scheme in Shrewsbury.”

Source: Shropshire Star

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Access2 Wins ADSA Sponsored Award

 

Pic Cap: Ken Price (left) presents the award to Neil Rule of Access2 seen here with Philip Goldberg (right), Treasurer of the GAI.

 

This month (April) Access2 clinched the ADSA Sponsored Product Design and Innovation Award (Electronic) at the AI Specification Awards 2024.

The Newcastle-upon-Tyne company, which specialises in the supply of master keyed cylinder locks, scooped the prestigious award for TeDee – a keyless home locking system which can be used remotely via a smartphone or watch.

ADSA managing director Ken Price attended the ceremony at Southwark Cathedral and presented the award to Access2 MD Neil Rule.

Judges considered TeDee a “highly innovative product combining functionality, aesthetics and security with the convenience of modern technology” and deemed it a “most impressive product”

CLICK HERE  TO WATCH THE WINNING ENTRY VIDEO

 

This was the second time that electronic solutions have had their own category in the biennial awards – reflecting levels of innovation within the industry and the demand for blended solutions. The category attracted significant entries, showcasing solutions which combine traditional architectural ironmongery with electronic/technological components and interfaces.

Other finalists included: UAP Limited for IONIC, ASSA ABLOY for Openings Studio and Surelock McGill: Trent for its mechanical and electronic access control heavy duty lockable handle.

Organised by The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the awards are staged to identify and reward excellence in the specification of architectural ironmongery in the construction industry.

Said ADSA Managing Director Ken Price:

“It was a wonderful event hosted in a magnificent venue – a place where we could appreciate the historic architecture and marvel at the skills that must have gone into building such a place.

“Our warmest congratulations go to the team at Access2 which has demonstrated ingenuity and innovation by using emerging technologies to improve security and provide home owners with convenience and peace of mind.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE ADSA WEBSITE

 

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