Viking, Homegrown Power for Shetland

SSE’s Viking Wind Farm in Shetland.Photo: SSE

The Viking Wind Farm on Shetland has produced its first power.

The wind farm, with a capacity of 443MW, is expected to become the UK’s most productive onshore wind farm when fully operational.

The final turbine was installed in August 2023, and the project is now in the commissioning phase.

Full commercial operations are expected by late summer 2024.

The wind farm will generate enough electricity to power nearly half a million homes annually.

The milestone coincides with the Shetland High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea cable project nearing completion, set to connect Shetland to the GB electricity grid for the first time.

This connection will support energy security and enable further renewable energy development in the region.

Heather Donald, SSE Renewables’ Onshore Renewables Development and Construction Director, said: “This latest milestone is another step towards cleaner, more secure, homegrown power for Shetland, Scotland and the UK.”

John Scott, SSEN Transmission’s Programme Director, said: “Full energisation, linking Shetland to the GB transmission system for the first time will be crucial in delivering Shetland’s energy security as well as enabling extensive renewable generation development and export.”

Source: Energy Live News

 

/0 Comments/by

World’s first full-sized, carbon-negative plasterboard

,

Adaptavate founder and CEO Tom Robinson stands in front of the new pilot line

for low-carbon and carbon-negative plasterboard at the company’s headquarters in Bristol, UK.

World’s first full-sized, carbon-negative plasterboard announced by UK construction disruptor

  • Bristol-based construction disruptor Adaptavate has produced the world’s first plasterboard to store carbon permanently.
  • This technology is Adaptavate’s latest development following the release of its low carbon technology. It could take approximately 1kg of CO2 out of the atmosphere for every m2 of plasterboard produced, meaning that this technology is absorbing and storing more carbon than it produces.
  • Adaptavate’s technology platform will equip the construction industry with cost-effective, drop-in and planet positive solutions.

 

Adaptavate, a global leader in the development and industrialisation of low-carbon and carbon-negative construction materials, has announced the production of the world’s first carbon-negative technology to produce plasterboards. The leap from producing low-carbon construction materials to now providing an additional carbon-negative product comes through the incorporation of char – produced by the pyrolysis of ligno-cellulosic materials. This locks the CO2 sequestered by plants into a stable state, and subsequently into the board, preventing it from being released through decay.

Incorporating char makes the current technology to produce Breathaboard genuine permanent carbon-storage, as an alternative to plasterboard which absorbs and stores more carbon than it produces. Importantly, this has been quantified by Adaptavate’s independent, industry verified carbon calculation tool to the latest EN 15804+A2 standard.

Adaptavate’s innovative technology allows for CO2 savings through both its product formulation and manufacturing methods. The company repurposes ligno-cellulosic wastes, combining them with minerals and a small amount of water to create a flat board material. Unlike conventional board production, this process requires no natural gas and can absorb low concentration CO2 in the curing process, which can be sourced from industrial emissions during the curing stage.

Tom Robinson, founder and CEO at Adaptavate, says:

“Our new carbon-negative and carbon-storing technology marks a significant milestone and step forward not only for Adaptavate, a business I founded a decade ago, but also for the global construction industry as a whole. Plasterboard is one of the most heavily used construction material after cement and steel, in an industry that produces around 40% of the world’s carbon emissions. As a former builder, the potential impact of putting carbon storing building materials in the hands of every builder, architect and developer around the world as a drop-in solution is massive in our global endeavour to decarbonise construction. This announcement demonstrates with a real-world example of how we can do this and have a successful business on a global scale.”

The development of this new climate-positive technology and the pilot line for the board’s production has been made possible by UK Government grants (Innovate UK), and investment from a group of climate-focused businesses dedicated to accelerating carbon removal within the construction industry, including Counteract, Perivoli Innovations, Low Carbon Innovation Fund 2 (LCIF2), and SEMIN Group.

 

Jeff Ive, CTO at Adaptavate, says:

“The production of full-sized permanently carbon-storing plasterboard is a major step forward for Adaptavate and the scale up of our regenerative material solutions. We have brought together a systemic solution for carbon dioxide removal that is required on a global scale, and matched it with a product that is used on a similar scale. With our licencing business model, we aim to deliver these systemic innovations at a rate that the planet needs them. The innovations’ development is thanks to the expert international team we have at our Bristol headquarters. With their knowledge, skills and dedication we have produced a game changing carbon-storing product with a comparable performance to the incumbent. The past few years of innovation in this space have been exciting for us, and we can see that this core technology has some important attributes that could be well used in a diverse product portfolio.”

/0 Comments/by

Build A Better Housing Policy

 

If they don’t come, they can’t build it.

 

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Keir Starmer tout ambitious plans to ease Britain’s chronic housing shortage by adding more new homes. But with little hope of luring builders from abroad, the plunge in the number of domestic construction workers will ensure those remain empty election promises.

 

Starmer told, opens new tab a televised debate on Tuesday that Britain’s dream of homeownership has “all but gone” due to sky-high prices caused by a lack of housing supply. If his Labour party wins the July 4 election – as seems likely given its 22-percentage-point lead in the polls – he has pledged, opens new tab to build 1.5 million new homes over five years. That’s remarkably similar to the government’s estimate, opens new tab that the country needs 300,000 new homes a year.

 

Both parties’ diagnosis is correct. UK first-time homebuyers face the most difficult financial environment in 70 years, according to a recent report by the Building Societies Association. That’s because real wages, discounted for inflation, have stagnated over the past 15 years but house prices have risen by around 80%, according to official figures.

 

Yet Sunak and Starmer don’t base their proposed solution on solid ground. Their pledges to “get Britain building again” overlook a simple fact: there aren’t enough workers to do that.

In the first quarter of this year, there were fewer than 2.1 million construction workers in Britain. That’s the lowest level since 2001, when just 146,700 new homes were built. The biggest loss of workers occurred during the pandemic, when building activity plunged. More than 346,000 construction jobs have disappeared since 2019. Noble Francis, economics director at the Construction Products Association, estimates that construction vacancies are currently 42% higher than the average of 2018 and 2019.

 

On top of that, the number of new houses is already behind the politicians’ target – only 234,400 net homes, subtracting demolitions and conversions, for example into offices, were built in 2022-23, government figures show, opens new tab. And given the lack of workers, the CPA forecast a drop in new housing volumes to around 180,000 in each of the next two years.

 

Better training would alleviate this problem but only over the long run. A shorter-term solution – immigration – is currently anathema to both parties. Without either, though, an unprecedented surge in housing activity is a pipe dream. A more realistic approach would be to ensure that house prices don’t grow faster than earnings by changing lending rules, taxation and planning permissions.

 

Once the electioneering ends, whoever lives in 10 Downing Street – an old home not available to first-time buyers – will have to start building a better housing policy.

 

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told a televised debate with opposition leader Keir Starmer on June 4 that the Conservatives had built 1 million homes since 2019. Starmer countered that a Labour government would build 1.5 million homes in five years.

The two were meeting in the first live debate ahead of a general election on July 4.

Source: Reuters

 

 

 

/0 Comments/by

London Brownfield could provide half a million New Homes

London’s brownfield sites could house nearly half a million new homes – what’s the hold-up?

  • London’s brownfield sites hold the key to solving the city’s housing crisis, having the space to accommodate at least 414,273 new homes
  • Across the capital, brownfield space covers a huge 3,515 hectares – around 25 times the size of Hyde Park
  • At present, only around half of the city’s brownfield sites have full planning permission for works to proceed – so what’s the hold-up?

New research reveals nearly half a million homes could be built across London on land that currently lies derelict amid a worsening housing crisis in the capital.

London’s brownfield space, defined as previously developed plots of land that are no longer in use, covers a vast expanse of 3,515 hectares – around 25 times the size of Hyde Park.

Analysis of local authority data from residential block and facilities management company SBA Property Management has found that the city’s brownfield space could accommodate a minimum of 414,273 new homes if put into use.

At present, however, only approximately 56% of brownfield sites have full planning permission for work to proceed, meaning there are thousands of sites standing unused without any plans for redevelopment. The news comes at a time of acute housing shortages across the capital, with many Londoners pushed into insecure or unaffordable accommodation.

In 2021, City Hall set targets of delivering 52,000 new homes a year, though so far it has failed to reach its annual goal on any occasion. Brownfield space could accommodate most of these new homes, however strict planning laws and high development costs have slowed progress.

Habib Mogul, Director at SBA Property Management, said: “London’s vast reserves of brownfield space hold the key to alleviating the city’s housing shortages and catalysing local economic growth, while also reducing pressure to build on precious Green Belt land.

At present, however, thousands of brownfield sites lie empty across London, with development made difficult by complex planning regulations. For private owners, speaking to a property expert can help clarify key aspects of compliance and accelerate the process of bringing derelict land back into productive use.”

Of all London boroughs, Southwark holds the greatest potential for brownfield development, containing the largest amount of brownfield space both in terms of area and housebuilding capacity.

Local authority data shows that the borough’s derelict plots of land could accommodate at least 54,550 new homes. However, just 37% of brownfield sites have full planning permission for development – well below the average for London as a whole.

Other boroughs with significant brownfield capacity include Brent, Wandsworth, Waltham Forest and Haringey, all of which could house at least 25,000 new homes if derelict land was put into use.

The incentives for developing brownfield space are strong as nearby amenities and transport infrastructure are often already in place, reducing the need for further development in surrounding areas. Bringing derelict land back into use can also provide community benefits by creating jobs, improving the environment and raising property values.

The challenge for private owners and public authorities is to overcome obstacles like site contamination and poor ground conditions that often make brownfield development costly. In recent years, the government has taken steps to reduce these barriers by delivering £180m in funding to councils as part of the Brownfield Land Release Fund.

Planning rules for brownfield development have also been eased, with local authorities instructed to be more flexible when reviewing brownfield planning applications, particularly in areas that are falling behind housebuilding targets.

The changes have been welcomed by the construction industry and should resolve some of the issues that have prevented brownfield development historically.

It is hoped that the relaxed planning framework can usher in a new era of urban regeneration, maximising the immense potential of London’s brownfield space.

/0 Comments/by

Cautious Optimism as Construction Growth Increases

Growth in the UK construction sector gained momentum during May, with activity and new business increasing at sharper rates than in April. Rising workloads prompted renewed expansions in purchasing activity and employment, while business confidence also strengthened.

Supply-chain conditions continued to improve amid reports of good stock availability at vendors. This contributed to the pace of input cost inflation slowing to a marginal pace.

The headline S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®) – a seasonally adjusted index tracking changes in total industry activity– posted above the

50.0 no-change mark for the third month running in May to signal a sustained expansion in activity midway through the second quarter of the year. Moreover, the index rose to 54.7 from 53.0 in April, pointing to a marked increase in activity that was the fastest for two years.

For the first time since May 2022, all three monitored categories saw activity increase during the month as housing activity returned to growth. The expansion in activity on residential projects was only marginal, however. The sharpest increase in activity was seen in the commercial category where the rate of growth accelerated to a two-year high. Meanwhile, civil engineering activity rose at a solid, but slightly softer pace.

According to respondents, the latest increase in total construction activity reflected sustained growth of new orders. New business rose for the fourth consecutive month, and at a solid pace that was the fastest for a year as demand conditions improved. In particular, firms linked higher new orders to the winning of new contracts and the commencement of previously delayed projects.

With new order growth sustained midway through the second quarter, construction firms increased employment for the first time in five months. Although only modest, the pace of job creation was the sharpest since last September.

 

COMMENTS:

Andrew Harker, Economics Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said:

“The UK construction sector looks to be building good momentum as we approach the middle of 2024, highlighted by activity increasing at the fastest pace in two years during May. Particularly pleasing was the broad-based nature of the rise in activity as work on housing projects increased for the first time in more than a year-and-a-half.

“Firms are gearing up for further growth in the months ahead, posting renewed expansions in both employment and purchasing activity as workloads increase.

“Moreover, the supply-chain environment continued to improve in May. Companies were able to secure inputs much more quickly than in April and at prices that were only slightly higher than in the previous month on average. These factors should help constructors in their efforts to ramp up operations in line with greater new order inflows.”

Jordan Smith, technical director at Thomas & Adamson, said:

“The Construction PMI figures are encouraging, but there is a lot going on beneath the surface. We’re certainly beginning to see more stability and signs of future growth. However, the market is still challenging, with a number of projects either being paused, pushed out, or held at early design stages because of issues relating to cost, viability, and the level of returns on investment.

“Cost increases are stabilising, but they are still on the rise, driven by material shortages, a tight labour market, and limited supply chain capacity. Careful consideration towards cost management and the overall approach to projects remains key to mitigate risk.

“Mechanical and electrical services are still being particularly affected, with continued anticipated cost increases greater than other trades causing budgetary issues on a number of projects. This is largely due to material and labour shortages and limited capacity within specialist supply chain resources.

“Levels of activity are generally mixed across different sectors. Whilst we are seeing a lot happening in refurbishment, commercial fit out, and the public sector, for example, there are challenges identifying suitable sites for residential developments despite the strong levels of demand outweighing supply. Reductions to NHS budgets have hit the development of new facilities planned in the healthcare sector too.

“Nevertheless, looking ahead we are cautiously optimistic about the remainder of 2024.”

Fraser Johns, finance director at Beard, said:

“A two-year high in activity in the commercial sector certainly makes for fantastic reading – as does positive performances across construction more broadly. In particular, a return to growth in housing will be most welcome for those firms reliant on the sector, who have endured considerable challenges as supply has waned.

“From our viewpoint, clients certainly haven’t been shy in committing to new projects, and both regional and national frameworks continue to provide us with a healthy pipeline of new work. We are really encouraged by the prospects for the remainder of the year, particularly given the momentum we are seeing in the commercial space.

“Of course, with a date now set for the general election, some clients may well take a wait and see approach before making any big commitments. It will also be interesting to see what impact this has on infrastructure new work with potential changes to public sector spending. Nonetheless, it’s still positive to see firms across the sector gearing up for growth and expecting a positive second half of the year. We are certainly in this camp at Beard with strong order books across our five regional offices.”

/0 Comments/by

The new stone age: launch of first ever reference book for stone wool sandwich panels

‘Building with stone wool insulated sandwich panels’, authored by Prof. Marco Imperadori of the Politecnico di Milano, draws together extensive case studies, industry expertise, and cutting-edge science

Released in June 2024, the 300-plus-page reference book is the first of its kind, and the go-to source of information for sandwich panels featuring non-combustible stone wool insulation technology

 

Prof. Marco Imperadori, Chair of Design & Technological Innovation at the Politecnico di Milano, has just published the world’s first definitive guide to the design and use of sandwich panels incorporating stone wool insulation. The development of the book, ‘Building with stone wool insulated sandwich panels’, has been sponsored by ROCKWOOL Core Solutions, part of the ROCKWOOL Group — the leading manufacturer in stone wool insulation.

 

The first of its kind, the book is aimed at designers and construction engineers involved in the development of commercial and residential buildings worldwide. It provides a scientific review of the physical properties and real-world applications of stone wool insulated sandwich panels, with practical details, data, and guidance on usage. The book establishes the technology’s mature market position and ability to meet the current challenges faced by the construction, architecture, and related industries.

 

It focuses on the implementation of stone wool sandwich panels in the built environment, such as industrial facilities, warehouses, logistic centres, schools and more. Further, it highlights the significant benefits of the solution, such as its improved energy consumption, recyclability, aesthetic versatility, and ability to repel or absorb water as required.

 

The aim of the book is to examine the technology from an objective scientific perspective. Through case studies, it demonstrates how stone wool sandwich panels offer a highly robust, sound-absorbent, and non-combustible insulation solution in practice.

 

Prof. Imperadori said:

“With the release of this book, we hope not just to inform but to inspire both industry leaders and young professionals. Investors, building owners, construction professionals, and architects — it has something in store for each of them. The variety of case studies we delve into shows a breadth of elements to consider when implementing insulation: building types, design and utilisation objectives, aesthetic finishes, sustainability, waste minimisation, and more. The stone wool sandwich panel stands up to scrutiny on every point and proves itself an excellent form of insulation.”

 

Bernard Plancade, Managing Director of ROCKWOOL Core Solutions, added:

“We are committed to advancing safer and more sustainable building practices. The launch of this reference book marks a pivotal step in informing the industry about the benefits of stone wool insulation. This resource showcases the exceptional qualities of the technology and supports our goal to steer our target sectors towards sandwich panels that deliver safety, efficiency, and environmental performance.”

 

/0 Comments/by

NFRC ROOFING SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS INDUSTRY RECOVERY

The latest NFRC State of the UK Roofing Industry survey, covering the first quarter of 2024, provides welcome positive news for the roofing sector. The results show overall roofing contractors’ workloads and enquiries continuing to increase in the first three months of the year, with further rises expected over the next 12 months. However, it also reveals that some long-term challenges persist with regards to late payment, recruitment and material costs.

 

The quarterly survey of National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) Members tracks key indicators such as workload, recruitment, material availability and costs across all regions of the UK. It also looks at trends within both new build and repair, maintenance and improvement (RM&I) across the public, commercial and residential sectors.

 

Work and enquiries continue to improve

One of the key findings of the latest survey is the continued growth in the demand for roofing services. Overall, a balance of 25 per cent of respondents to the survey reported improved workloads in the first quarter (41 per cent reporting an increase minus the 16 per cent reporting a decline). This marks a significant rise from the 15 per cent balance figure from the previous survey. Increased levels of enquiries for new work were reported by a similar proportion of respondents, with a balance of 27 per cent.

 

The RM&I sector of the industry had the greatest increases in work, with public, commercial and domestic RM&I all showing strongly positive balance figures of 34 per cent, 32 per cent and 29 per cent respectively. The Members’ outlook was also generally positive for the next 12 months, with 72 per cent foreseeing an increase in work over that period and only 8 per cent expecting a decrease.

 

The Yorkshire and North East region showed the strongest growth in workload, with 43 per cent overall reporting an increase. This was followed by the North West and Scotland regions with balance figures of 34 per cent and 33 per cent reporting increases respectively. However, the survey also highlighted areas of the UK with less positive market conditions. For example, among those in Wales, 50 per cent said they had experienced a decrease in workload with no respondents reporting an increase.

 

Challenges remain for the new build sector

The results of this latest survey highlight the continued low levels of activity in residential new build. Among the survey respondents that operate in this sector, 29 per cent reported that their workload had reduced from the previous quarter with just 17 per cent saying it had increased. This negative balance figure of -12 per cent, compared with -10 per cent in the previous quarter, indicates a worsening picture for this area of the industry. While performing slightly better, the public non-residential new build and commercial new build sectors showed only marginal increases in workload (3 per cent and 2 per cent on balance respectively) in the first quarter.

 

Skills shortages persist

While employment levels remain stable, a further finding of the State of the UK Roofing Industry survey was the reported problems in recruiting the required skilled people. In fact, 53 per cent of firms experienced greater difficulty employing in the first quarter. This is a sizeable increase from the 44 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023. Roof Slater and Tiler was found to be the most challenging role to fill, with 40 per cent of businesses experiencing issues.

 

Late payment and rising costs

One of the biggest issues for NFRC Members remains the late payment of invoices. While improvement have been made, only 37 per cent of respondents that have 30-day payment terms with their clients were, on average, paid within that period. Similarly, of those with payment terms of 46 days or more, only 25 per cent reported this was the average time in which they received payment.

 

While Members indicated continued improvements in the availability of materials, many are experiencing significant material price inflation, with 58 per cent reporting increased prices in the first quarter of the year. A similar proportion (57 per cent) stated they had seen labour costs rise since the start of 2024.

 

Commenting on the results of the latest State of the UK Roofing Industry survey, James Talman, NFRC CEO said: “At NFRC, we are pleased to see the green shoots of recovery and growing demand in our industry. While some challenges remain, and not every sector is seeing the same boost in workload and enquiries, the continually improving market conditions in recent months shown by the survey findings is a cause for real optimism.

 

“With a general election set for the beginning of July, these findings also highlight the priorities for any future government wishing to support the vital work of the construction industry. This includes long term commitment to the public sector pipeline, expansion of the RM&I sector in tackling energy efficiency, as well as working closely with the industry to reinvigorate the residential new build sector alongside tighter legislation on prompt payment, which is so vital to SME and sole trader businesses.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT

 

/0 Comments/by

WHY WE SHOULD TRANSPORT CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS BY RAIL

Image Network Rail

Using rail freight to move construction materials could boost Manchester’s economy and help the city region meet its environmental goals – that’s the message from a new industry report calling for support from the Government and Network Rail .

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) and the Rail Freight Group (RFG) want to encourage more use of rail rather than road to move materials such as aggregates and cement, used in construction.

Their new publication, Building Better with Rail Freight in Greater Manchester, says rail freight typically produces 76% less carbon dioxide than the equivalent road journeys, while a single aggregates train can carry as much as 125 lorries.

The MPA says its members supply around 200m tonnes of aggregates and 9m tonnes of cement each year to meet UK demand. But just 10% of those materials are transported by rail.

While that makes mineral products the second largest market segment on the rail network after containerised freight, both the MPA and the RFG say there is a

“huge opportunity” to deliver more of those materials by rail – cutting lorry miles, traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

The report sets out how local and national government, alongside Network Rail, can support those ambitions. It suggests measures including:

  • Putting freight at the heart of future rail policy
  • Commitment to a long-term programme of rail electrification to encourage private sector investment in electric rail freight
  • Prioritising timetabled slots for freight – and optimising timetables to allow for longer freight trains
  • Affordable track access charges
  • Protecting freight land, railheads and depots for future use
  • Safeguarding the operation of strategically important railheads and depots from
  • new housing developments nearby, securing the land for future use
  • Safeguarding rail-connected terminals and depots near city and town centres in future housing and regeneration plans, so building materials can still be delivered near to key construction sites

The report also includes case studies of local firms using rail freight, including the upgraded Cemex railhead at Salford which receives aggregates from Dove Hole quarry in Buxton. It also notes Tarmac’s three Greater Manchester railheads at Agecroft, Ashbury and Bredbury, which import hardstone and limestone aggregates from four Northern quarries.

Maggie Simpson, director general of industry body the Rail Freight Group, said:

“Greater Manchester has one of the fastest growing economies in the UK, and is seeing investment in new homes, offices and infrastructure. Rail freight is already helping to minimise the carbon emissions of this construction, and with the right policy environment in place our members will be able to transport more products by rail into the region, reducing the number of lorries on our roads.”

The MPA is the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and industrial sand industries. It has some 520 members including most independent SME quarrying companies in the UK, as well as the nine major global players in the sector.

Robert McIlveen, director of public affairs at the MPA said:

“Rail freight is an environmentally efficient way for MPA members to deliver aggregates and cement to city centre locations where they are in the greatest demand. We would love to see the market for materials by rail grow to allow the industry to supply more materials in a more efficient and environmentally friendly manner and we hope that government policy will help to deliver more desired outcomes for all.”

Source: MSN

 

 

 

/0 Comments/by

Marlow Film Studio’s Rejected by Council

Despite a recent polling of Buckinghamshire residents which showed overall support for the proposal, the council has refused planning permission for Marlow Film Studios, a £750m project supported by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and James Cameron.

Conducted on behalf of the film studios. The survey covered a sample of 500 Buckinghamshire residents, including 152 residents living within 5 miles of the proposed development.

Citing the creation of 4,000 new jobs, investment in the local road network, public transport, and the development of a new public recreation space, four fifths (79%) of Bucks residents surveyed support the building of the film studio in Marlow, with just 11% in opposition. This resounding support is retained within the 5-mile radius of the proposed site, where 78% support against 17% opposed.

At a meeting of the council’s Strategic Sites Committee, the plans were rejected after concerns were raised over the impact on the local road network and the use of greenbelt land for development. An initial decision was deferred by councillors in October 2023.

Other industry figures who voiced their support for the project included Andy Serkis; producer Gareth Ellis-Unwin; former BFI CEO Amanda Nevill; American Film Institute chair Howard Stringer; and CEO of global drama at Fremantle, Christian Vesper.

Speaking to the BBC, Robert Laycock, chief executive of Marlow Film Studios, said they were considering their next steps.

The proposals were for a 36-hectare plot built upon a former landfill site.

Buckinghamshire is already home to Pinewood Studios, which was approved for an extension last this year, as well as Wycombe Film Studios which is in the midst of development.

 

Source: ScreenDaily

/0 Comments/by

ASBESTOS: The Deadly Legacy in our Schools

Up to 150 school workers and pupils are at risk of death or fatal exposure from asbestos each year as current plans to fix the UK’s crumbling schools fail to address the deadly building material, experts have warned.

A group of leading health charities, professional bodies, unions and campaigners has accused Rishi Sunak’s Government of “abandoning” attempts to deal with the “schools asbestos crisis”.

Asbestos was banned in 1999 but was used extensively in England from the 50s to the mid-80s. In February 2017, the Department for Education published a report that found 83 per cent of English state schools reported that asbestos was present in their school estate.

The group – made up of the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), Asbestos victims’ groups, Mesothelioma UK, and education unions – are calling on the next government to take more robust action and set a deadline for the complete removal of asbestos from all schools.

They estimate that current plans will mean that 15 school workers in the UK will die annually from exposure and cite US research on asbestos which suggests that this means 135 pupils will be fatally exposed to asbestos each year.

The data from the Environmental Protection Agency in the US revealed that for every teacher dying from mesothelioma, an incurable cancer which can develop decades after asbestos exposure, nine pupils would die in middle or old age.

In a joint message, the group said the current school rebuilding plan “fails to address the growing risk to teachers, workers and pupils” and criticised data collection methods used to assess buildings which, according to government documents, do not report on hazardous materials, principally asbestos.

The experts said the Department for Education (DfE) has effectively “ceased to monitor” the condition of asbestos in schools and hope to put pressure on political leaders to act ahead of the election.

The Government argues that asbestos management in schools and other buildings is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Asbestos is the biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, according to the HSE. Around 5,000 UK workers a year die from asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that 371 teaching and education professionals died from mesothelioma from 2010 to 2020.

The Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC), representing teaching unions, estimates that between 1980-2017 between 5,000 and 10,000 school pupils and staff died from mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure in their former schools from the 60s-80s.

Wendy Gregory, 68, a former teaching assistant who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at a primary school in the 80s and 90s, told i it was “absolutely devastating” that teachers and pupils were still at risk.

Liz Darlison, the chief executive of charity Mesothelioma UK, said:

“We have demonstrated that the incidence of the disease amongst school and health workers is far higher than reported.

“Clearly, management of asbestos in situ isn’t working for a variety of reasons. Not least because what is assessed as safe on the day of inspection can change immediately in a high throughput environment.”

In a joint statement, the group criticised the way in which the DfE currently collects data on the physical condition of the 22,000 schools in England.

A Commons Committee of Public Accounts report on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in November said the DfE had “incomplete knowledge” of asbestos in schools.

The “unexpected presence of asbestos” had complicated ongoing work to address RAAC, the committee said, as it called for DfE evidence it has “a full picture of asbestos across the school estate”.

Professor Kevin Bampton, chief executive of BOHS, said the Condition Data Collection (CDC) methodology does not automatically prioritise asbestos and the risk is only considered when raised as an exceptional factor.

This could mislead schools returning CDC information and was unlikely to prevent future deaths, he said.

He believes the current approach of leaving asbestos where it is “is storing up poison for the future”.

“My children go to a school with an asbestos problem. It’s too late for me to prevent them from having been exposed,” he said.

“My daughter literally has an asbestos sign in her bedroom which was blowing around the playground.

“But I definitely don’t want my grandchildren to be still dealing with this problem when asbestos in schools is in an even worse condition.

“Asbestos is not a problem of the past, any more than climate change is. It is a deadly legacy, we bequeath future generations, if we don’t act now.”

For a school to be eligible for exceptional school funding, the asbestos must have already caused an exposure risk or be in a condition that would cause a direct risk to human health, the group said.

The experts are calling on any future government to commit to legislation for a national action plan for asbestos management and a deadline for removal from schools.

Sarah Lyon, a National Education Union lead on asbestos, said: “The odds are stacked against schools successfully bidding for a rebuild, with so many hoops to jump through (the guidance seems to be suggesting that people have to have been put at risk by exposure before action will even be considered) and removal would be cost effective.”

The group also want a publicly available register of asbestos in schools, including information about condition, risk and management plans.

Other demands include ensuring school workers who are likely to have been exposed to asbestos are properly trained, and that governors and parents are given information and training on asbestos.

The Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM), the professional body for those managing asbestos risks, is concerned that teachers are being left to fend for themselves.

Jonathan Grant, chair of FAAM, said:

“Asbestos management requires complex risk assessment and constant vigilance.

“Less than 2 per cent of maintenance and other workers in schools who might need to disturb asbestos had appropriate training and 13 per cent did not even have asbestos awareness training.

“That’s like putting someone in a minefield, but not giving them a map.”

The HSE says annual deaths from mesothelioma are expected to decline during this decade, as asbestos has been banned for almost 25 years and legal protections are in place.

A 2022/23 HSE inspection campaign of more than 400 schools showed that the majority of schools were managing asbestos safely, the HSE said, with inspections on compliance in schools and elsewhere ongoing.

But Charles Pickles, an asbestos campaigner, said it would take hundreds of years to rid schools of the “toxic carcinogen” unless the UK planned to remove asbestos from buildings.

“The general message is that we don’t want to panic parents and pupils at a time of declining school attendance,” he said.

“However, that message is also being used to undermine accountability and bury the issues. It’s also patronising to suggest parents should be kept in the dark about a genuine risk to their children’s health.”

The DfE says responsible bodies could nominate schools for the School Rebuilding Programme, including evidence where asbestos could no longer be effectively managed, with schools and local authorities responsible for keeping buildings safe.

The department said it follows HSE advice that provided asbestos-containing materials are in good condition, and unlikely to be disturbed, it is generally safest to manage them in place.

Source: iNews

/0 Comments/by