Brownfield Site, from ‘Titanic’ to Homes

Pete Butler, site manager at Keon Homes (Image credit: Keon Homes)

Construction work has started on a multimillion-pound residential site in a West Midlands town, which was once rumoured to be the home of the ironworks that manufactured the anchor used by the ill-fated Titanic. 

Keon Homes, a provider of affordable and social housing, working in partnership with housing association Bromford, is regenerating the brownfield site on Woods Lane in Cradley Heath.

Now foundations have been put into place for the scheme, which will provide 34 affordable homes. Building work is to start in earnest.

The one, two and three-bedroom houses being constructed at the development over the next 12 months will be available to rent with Bromford.

The first stage of the project, formally owned by Holtite, involved safely demolishing the old industrial buildings and completing remediation.

Ben Sharp, technical co-ordinator at Keon Homes, said:

“There is a real need in the area to build homes that are affordable, and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Bromford on Woods Lane.

“Working together, we purchased a piece of land and are turning a disused industrial site into a community where individuals, couples and families can live.”

The first homes are due to be completed before the end of the year. Construction work is expected to be finished by April 2024.

Source: Inside Media

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Exploitation of Cisco IOS XE vulnerabilities

Exploitation of Cisco IOS XE vulnerabilities affecting UK organisations

Organisations are encouraged to take action to mitigate vulnerabilities affecting Cisco IOS XE (CVE-2023-20198 and CVE-2023-20273) and follow the latest vendor advice.

What has happened?

Cisco has published an updated advisory detailing two vulnerabilities affecting Cisco IOS XE devices. Both are being actively exploited.

CVE-2023-20198 – A remote, unauthenticated attacker could create an account on an affected system with privilege level 15 access. The attacker can then use that account to gain control of the affected system.

CVE-2023-20273 – A remote, authenticated attacker could inject arbitrary commands as the root user.

The NCSC is working with UK organisations known to be impacted and have notified affected UK organisations signed up for the NCSC Early Warning service.

Who is affected?

Organisations using Cisco IOS XE devices.

The NCSC will continue to monitor the impact of these vulnerabilities on UK organisations.

What should I do?

The NCSC recommends following vendor best-practice advice to mitigate vulnerabilities. In this case, if you use Cisco IOS XE devices, you should take these priority actions:

  1. Check for compromise using the detection steps and indicators of compromise (IoCs) detailed in the Cisco advisory.
  2. If you believe you have been compromised and are in the UK, you should report it to the NCSC.
  3. Disable the HTTP Server feature on all internet-facing devices, or restrict access to trusted networks.
  4. Install the latest version of Cisco IOS XE. More information is on the Cisco website. Organisations should monitor that advisory for the latest information and software updates.

NCSC guidance, services and tools

The NCSC provides a range of free guidance, services and tools that help to secure systems:

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DEFRA: ‘Simpler Recycling’ Plan Published

Long-awaited proposals on standardising recycling services have been published, including statutory collection of glass, metal, plastic, paper and card and garden waste, with food waste slated from 2026.

Finalised plans for consistent collections for households and businesses in England, rebranded ‘simpler recycling’ in September, were initially promised by the end of 2022.

Local authorities and waste management companies have been left frustrated over a series of delays, LGC’s sister title Materials Recycling World reports.

MRW understands collection of the core set of materials will start for businesses, schools and hospitals in March 2025. Local authorities will be required to implement services in March 2026, but flexibility given to those in long-term contracts. Flexible plastics will be added to the core materials in March 2027.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs confirmed weekly food waste services will be required for “most households” from 2026. It said this would help end the “threat of smelly waste waiting weeks for collection” under three and four-weekly residual services which it said was a trend “particularly in Wales”.

The proposals include “new exemptions” to allow dry recyclables to be collected in the same container, bin or bag “to reduce the number of bins required”.

Under existing TEEP (technically, environmentally and economically practicable) rules councils are allowed to carry out co-mingled collections following an assessment. It is not clear how the new exemptions will be enacted.

Environment secretary Therese Coffey said: “Alongside weekly food waste collections, we are ending the postcode lottery of what you can put in your bin so that wherever you live in the country, you will be able to recycle the same products with confidence.”

In September, prime minister Rishi Sunak said he would ensure no household would be required to have seven bins.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “Our ambitious plans will help every household, business, school and hospital in the country to recycle more. We have listened to councils and come up with a system that will increase recycling in a way that does not clutter our pavements with numerous bins and smelly food waste collections for weeks, making recycling simpler and more effective.”

The District Councils’ Network backed the flexibility granted by Defra for authorities to adapt local services but said it was concerned that residual waste would need to be collected at least fortnightly. It added it would be “challenging” for some councils to implement weekly food waste services.

DCN said it was “hard to believe” that all councils will be able to procure new equipment and vehicles within two years to meet the new requirements.

Sarah Nelmes, DCN environment spokesperson, said: “Although we will be spared the costs of buying vast numbers of bins and vehicles for the sole purpose of conforming to top-down stipulation, there will still be significant costs attached to the reforms, and we await further detail from the government on how they will be funded.

“Any ongoing costs must be covered through either new burdens funding from the government or from the upcoming EPR scheme.”

Local Government Association environment spokesperson Darren Rodwell said: “What works in urban centres is different to rural communities. We are pleased the government has listened to the LGA and councils and decided not to significantly reduce the flexibilities in how councils collect waste from people’s homes.”

However, Paul Sanderson, chief executive of the Recycling Association, said it was “disappointing” that local authorities in England will be able to commingle materials.

He added: “We would have preferred paper and cardboard to be kept separate as a minimum. That would have avoided contamination and enabled better quality of paper and cardboard, but also the other materials where paper can act as a contaminant.”

Environmental Services Association executive director Jacob Hayler said the announcement brought clarity after “five years of uncertainty and delay”.

He added: “Significant questions still require answers though before our industry can invest in new recycling infrastructure to meet these requirements.

“In particular, we need to understand the detail of how simpler recycling will work with the emerging [extended producer responsibility] regime for packaging – whereby packaging producers will pay for the system – and any constraints imposed on how councils collect materials at the kerbside.”

Defra is to launch a four-week consultation on widening the definition of non-household municipal premises to include places of worship, prisons, charity shops and residential hostels.

The department also wants to beef up background checks waste traders and overhaul the waste tracking system.

Source: Local Government Chronicle

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Investigation into the supply of chemicals for use in the construction industry

The CMA has launched an investigation into suspected anti-competitive conduct in relation to the supply of chemicals for use in the construction industry.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reason to suspect anti-competitive behaviour has taken place involving a number of suppliers of these chemicals and some industry bodies. This conduct relates to the supply of chemical admixtures and additives which are an essential input for products like concrete, mortars and cement used in the construction industry.

The CMA is working closely with the European Commission, which has also launched an investigation into suspected anticompetitive conduct in the sector today. The CMA is also in contact with other authorities, including the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division.

Following a period of investigation and information gathering, the CMA may issue a statement of objections if it comes to the provisional view that competition law has been infringed. However, not all cases proceed to a statement of objections, and at this stage no assumptions should be made about whether competition law has been broken.

This investigation reflects the CMA’s commitment – outlined in its Annual Plan 2023 to 2024 – to deter anti-competitive behaviour, so that competitive, fair-dealing businesses can innovate and thrive.

Further detail of the CMA’s procedures in competition cases is available in its guidance, and any updates to this investigation, will be made via the dedicated web page: Suspected anti-competitive conduct in relation to the supply of chemicals for use in construction industry.

Source: Gov.uk

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ZENTIA: Grand Final Winner

Congratulations are in order for Zentia, one of the UK’s leaders in complete ceiling solutions, for being announced as the Grand Final Winner of the Made in Britain Awards 2023, a category within the North East Business Awards.

Following Zentia’s win in the Northumberland and Tyneside heat of the North East Business Awards 2023, the company went head-to-head with the other sub-regional heat winners to be named overall North East winners for the Made in Britain category. Zentia was subsequently crowned winners at the Grand Final, which took place on 26th September 2023 at Hardwick Hall, and was hosted by Iwan Thomas MBE.

The Made in Britain category aims to recognise and champion businesses that are promoting manufacturing and production in the UK. Zentia places a focus on UK manufacturing, with its home base in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, it is the UK’s only manufacturer of complete ceiling solutions. Its UK focus also extends to technical and specification experts, as well as creating short supply chains and reliable deliveries, making it a deserving winner for the Made in Britain category.

Dirk Jaspers, Managing Director at Zentia said:

“This makes us very proud. Our company is only three and a half years old, but we have evolved to impressive new heights. We have invested in assets, in people, and in our premises in Gateshead, and we have also invested in partnerships across the value chain in the UK. We excite our employees, please our customers and thrill our shareholders, so we are very honoured to receive this award.”

To find out more about Zentia click here.

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UK Government investing in water sector AI  

 
A detailed overview of artificial intelligence (AI) and its increasing emergence in the water and wastewater sector was the focus of British Water’s latest webinar, featuring speakers from Ofwat, Thames Water, and across the supply chain, including consultancies Jacobs and ExploreAI.
The most recent briefing, AI Explained, on 3 October, explored the emergence and adoption of AI in the water and wastewater industry. The session was designed for those new to AI, companies looking to implement AI, or those hoping to gain greater knowledge about this topic. It explained how companies can take the first steps in understanding their data landscape, how to lead AI implementation within an organisation, and current applications in the water and wastewater industry.
Speakers included Caroline Gregory director of IT, digital and estates at Ofwat, who discussed AI and the open data strategy; Jethro Yates from Thames Water, George Schley from engineering consultancy Jacobs and Tania Flasck, Byron Roelofsz and Aidan Helmbold from ExploreAI, which builds AI-driven software and digital twins for global companies.
Increased investment
“With the growth of big data, cloud computing and other technological advancements, AI has become more accessible than ever. The potential for AI to help drive and support economies is already recognised across government and industry,” said Gregory. “There is a widespread commitment from the government to support and invest in the water sector’s use of AI.”
Ofwat’s £200 million Innovation Fund supports developing and deploying innovative solutions to address the water sector’s challenges. Several AI projects are backed by the Innovation Fund, including Safe Smart Systems (SSS) which is led by Anglian Water in partnership with Jacobs, Skanska, Imperial College, Microsoft, the University of Sheffield, and South West Water, Portsmouth Water and Affinity Water.
Long-term resilience
George Schley spoke in detail about the £7.5 million SSS project, which is developing an AI-powered system to improve the long-term operational resilience of water systems in the face of climate change and rapid population growth. The system will identify, predict, and manage vulnerabilities to reduce leakage, interruptions, and pressure issues across the whole water cycle.
The project is a first step towards autonomous control of water systems in the UK. The system will be able to learn from data and experience to make decisions that optimise the performance of the water system – helping to ensure everyone has access to a safe and reliable water supply, even in the face of challenges such as climate change and population growth.
The UK Government’s commitment to investment in AI for the water sector is a positive development. The AI market for the global water sector is growing rapidly, driven by the need to address the challenges of climate change, population growth, and pollution. According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, the global AI market for the water sector is expected to reach US$2.6 billion by 2027.
Latest technologies, trends, and regulations
British Water’s Explained briefings are a series of paid-for webinars that are open to both members and non-members. They provide in-depth overviews of key topics in the water and wastewater industry. They are designed to help attendees learn about the latest technologies, trends, and regulations, and to make informed decisions about their businesses.
Lila Thompson, British Water’s chief executive said, “The webinars are proving to be one of our most popular offerings. The briefings are excellent value for money and open to anyone interested in learning more about the water and wastewater industry. They are particularly well-suited for water and wastewater professionals, as well as for suppliers and other stakeholders in the industry.”
Topics covered in the Explained webinars include:
  • Technology: New and emerging technologies in the water and wastewater industry, such as artificial intelligence, big data, and the internet of things
  • Regulation: Changes to government regulations that affect the sector, and how businesses can both comply with them and identify opportunities
  • Procurement: A detailed explanation of the procurement process and contracts within the water sector
  • UK Water Industry: An overview of the structure of the UK water industry – the key players and how it is regulated.
British Water provides numerous opportunities for water companies and the supply chain to connect, collaborate and access current and trending innovation and information through its UK, Technical and International forums. Membership is open to all companies with an involvement in the water and wastewater industry in its broadest sense.
To find out more visit>britishwater.co.uk
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Sentry Doors celebrates company’s combined 130-year heritage

Leading fire safety and security door manufacturer, Sentry Doors, is celebrating a major milestone this year as its recent acquisition, Knowles, marks its 100th anniversary, giving Sentry a combined heritage of over 130 years.

As part of Sentry’s ambitious growth plans, the company acquired E. & S. W. Knowles in August 2022. Bringing the company under the Sentry banner and launching the Knowles product range has made Sentry the UK’s leader in fire safety and security doorsets.

Following the acquisition, Knowles, a renowned specialist door manufacturer, went on to celebrate its 100-year anniversary earlier this year. To celebrate this milestone event, Sentry Doors, which is part of the Cairngorm portfolio, hosted a special event for employees at its Birmingham site on 12th October.

The celebration day featured a pub quiz, and attendees were treated to catering from a host of local street food vans. The previous owners of Knowles were invited to take part and share their memories of the firm throughout the years. The event was also attended by members of the Sentry Executive Team and Chairman Jon Gatfield.

Established in Birmingham in 1923, by former miner William (Bill) Knowles, the company came from humble beginnings. Having observed piles of sawdust at his father’s workplace, Bill invested £4 in a cart to haul the sawdust around local engineering companies.

Following Bill’s death in 1942, the company was taken over by his stepson Horace Wright, who began to convert timber offcuts into skittle boxes, pram handles, mirror backs and fire surrounds. The business thrived, and eventually began producing custom-made doors in the 1980s.

Knowles grew into a highly successful company, before being acquired by Sentry Doors last year, and to this day, Sentry continues to build on its 100-year heritage and honour its family roots and manufacturing excellence.

The extensive Knowles product range now sits within the Sentry Doors catalogue of market-leading products, giving customers access to a complete range of fully certified, bespoke timber fire and security door sets, designed for the social housing, public sector, commercial and residential markets.

Production of the Knowles range still takes place at its 60,000sq ft facility in Birmingham, where the focus is on manufacturing specialist timber internal doorsets with fire rated, acoustic and PAS 24 security certification. The 100-strong team in Birmingham offers bespoke, sector-specific solutions that meet the exacting requirements of its customers.

Sentry Doors continues to be headquartered in Doncaster, where it has an additional 40,000sq ft facility. This takes the company’s total footprint to 100,000sq ft across the Birmingham and Doncaster branches, both of which are fully equipped with the latest manufacturing equipment.

Since the acquisition, Sentry has invested £1.2m to support the expansion of production capabilities in Birmingham. This enables Sentry to offer a complete, end-to-end service, consistent lead and delivery times and a first-class customer experience.

Ty Aziz, CEO at Sentry Doors, celebrated alongside staff at the event, and commented:

 

‘We’re delighted to be marking this incredibly special occasion with our Knowles colleagues. A trusted pair of hands for 100 years, Knowles has a rich history and a well-earned reputation for manufacturing the highest quality fire doors. This milestone gives Sentry Doors a remarkable, combined heritage of 130 years, and together, we look forward to many more successful years at the forefront of UK industry.’

 

Steve Horner, MD at Knowles and Sentry board member, also attended the centenary event, and added:

 

‘This was a wonderful event and a fitting tribute to the amazing staff, both past and present, who have helped to make Knowles so successful for 100 years. As part of Sentry Doors, we’re now looking forward to the next chapter, and with strong backing and investment, we’re confident that we will continue to grow and build on our many years of success.’

 

CLICK HERE for more information on Sentry Doors

including the Knowles range

 

 

 

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Sprinklers could have contained Luton Airport Fire

Luton Airport has stated that it is improbable any of the vehicles caught in a massive fire, which resulted in the collapse of a car park, will be salvageable. The Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service received a report about the blaze on level three of Terminal Car Park Two on Tuesday. Chief Fire Officer Andrew Hopkinson has estimated that around 1,500 vehicles were inside the car park when the fire broke out.

In a statement issued by the airport, it was acknowledged that it is ‘unlikely that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable.’ Nevertheless, this assessment is still under evaluation.

The fire, which engulfed the £20 million Terminal Car Park Two, necessitated the deployment of a hundred firefighters, who spent 12 hours battling the blaze. Unfortunately, the block caved in shortly before 9 pm during the incident.

The airport has been in contact with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), providing them with registration details for 1,405 vehicles. Additionally, the airport and its parking provider, APCOA, have responded to nearly 16,500 customer queries since the fire.

As a result of the fire and the subsequent partial collapse of the car park, the facility remains closed. It has suffered extensive damage, with debris from vehicles piled up within the charred structure. Furthermore, the airport’s Dart rail transit system, which commenced operations earlier this year, remains non-operational.

Investigators suspect that the fire was ignited by a diesel car, believed to be a Range Rover, experiencing an electrical fault or a leaking fuel line.

Expressing regret for the incident’s impact on car parking customers, London Luton Airport issued an apology and acknowledged the distress it has caused. The airport is working in collaboration with the Association of British Insurers to explore the possibility of safely retrieving personal items from the affected vehicles.

The airport has reported that emergency services have now relinquished control of the site, and efforts are underway to secure the area. It is anticipated that Terminal Car Park Two, constructed in 2019 at a cost of £20 million, may need to be demolished.

Experts have raised concerns that if the car park had been equipped with an effective sprinkler system, it could have prevented the fire from spreading, resulting in only localized damage. In light of this incident, a government source has revealed that a major review of fire safety guidance related to building regulations, including research on the fire resistance of car parks, is underway.

While this incident has been undeniably distressing, London Luton Airport remains dedicated to transparency and resolution, pledging to provide ongoing updates as the situation evolves.

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The main span of the Govan – Partick Bridge has arrived

The main span of the Govan – Partick Bridge has arrived at Yorkhill Quay, close to the site where it will be installed, after sailing up the River Clyde by barge. This a Glasgow City Region City Deal project, with funding from the Scottish and UK Governments.

The £29.5million project includes the construction of a new pedestrian/cycle bridge (image above shows the completed bridge when in place next summer) over the River Clyde between Water Row in Govan and Pointhouse Quay in Partick, re-establishing the historic connection between the areas.

The bridge is significant economically, environmentally and socially through the link it will create between communities, visitor attractions and institutions of national economic importance, and is also a central part of the active travel route between the University of Glasgow’s campus at Gilmorehill and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The bridge span left Westdorpe in the Netherlands on 7 October – it was constructed in Belgium, before being transported along canals to Holland at which point the pylon and cabling was installed prior to sailing to the Clyde estuary and up the river.

The bridge span is six metres wide and was fabricated in two parts: the moving span, which weighs 650 tonnes, is 99 metres long and which will use the South Pier (at Water Row) as its access; and the fixed span, which weighs 45 tonnes and is 15.7 metres long.

The moving span will – weather permitting – be put in place next week after a set-up period for the lifting crane. The fixed span will be kept in storage until works on the North Pier and northern approach works are complete, and then installed in the summer of 2024 to complete the project.

In addition to the construction of the fabricated steel cable stayed opening swing bridge, the project – which began in April 2022 – will also feature:

 

· Demolition of a section of masonry/concrete quay wall and access stairs at Water

  Row, Govan;

· Construction of a sheet piled quay wall and Infilling to finished ground level to extend

  Pointhouse Quay to form the north bridge landing, access ramp and public realm;

· Construction of a reinforced concrete abutment/quay wall and Infilling of the disused

  Govan Ferry Inlet at Water Row in Govan to form the south landing;

· Construction of bridge approach ramps, retaining walls, provision of drainage and

  public realm at the north and south bridge landings;

· Bridge and public realm statutory and feature lighting;

· Diversion of the Scottish Water Combined Sewer Outfall at Pointhouse Quay;

· Installation of timber fenders and access for a layby berth at Merklands Quay.

143 construction jobs will be supported through this project, and significant community benefits will be delivered, including starts for 11 new employees; five new apprentices and a new graduate; school mentoring, work placement, volunteering and work experience opportunities; business mentoring opportunities and supply chain briefings; and community engagement from the contractors, with both financial and non-financial support for local projects.

The Govan – Partick Bridge is key to and complements public and private sector investments such as the £38million UK Government Strength In Places funding to help the University of Glasgow develop the Clyde Waterfront Innovation Campus next to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital; the ongoing Water Row (housing and commercial) development; and proposals for more than 1,000 homes at Yorkhill Quay.

Following construction of the bridge, it is expected that there will be 23% increase in jobs that are accessible within a 20-minute walk of Govan Cross and an 87% increase in the number of jobs within a 10-minute cycle of Govan Cross.

 

Councillor Susan Aitken, Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said:

“The arrival of the main span of the Govan-Partick Bridge is a major milestone for the project and a remarkable sight on the Clyde.  When complete, the bridge will benefit those visiting, living and working in Govan and Partick, but also the entirety of the city and wider region. The creation of an active travel connection between the West End and the South Side can boost local economies and complement significant regeneration projects between the University of Glasgow and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and on both banks of the Clyde.”

 

Scottish Government Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray said:

“I welcome this significant step towards reconnecting Govan and Partick. This will boost the local and wider economy and give people in Govan access to more jobs, visitor attractions and the University of Glasgow.  By expanding options for active travel and bringing communities together, we are delivering a fairer, greener and growing economy.”

 

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:

“The opening of the Govan-Partick bridge will be an exciting moment for the community.  This bridge will create a brand-new pedestrian friendly connection to bring the communities together and support redevelopment and business growth.  The UK Government is supporting the project as part of £524 million investment in the Glasgow City Region Deal.”

 

David Buchanan, Project Manager for Farrans Construction, said:

“The arrival of the main span of the Govan – Partick Bridge represents a key milestone in this project and an exciting period of activity for our team. There are many factors to consider with a civil engineering operation such as this one, most of which we are able to plan, however we also have changeable elements like the weather and tides to contend with. The crane we will use for the bridge is the Hebo Lift 10 which is capable of lifting 2200 tonnes. To have the Bridge and crane here and ready to progress means that we are moving into the final stage of this important project. I would like to thank our client, supply chain and the local community for continuing to work closely with us to facilitate major events like this one.”

 

The Govan – Partick Bridge project is a Glasgow City Region City Deal project, funded by the Scottish and UK Governments. The Glasgow City Region City Deal will see both governments provide £500million of funding for infrastructure projects.

Source: Glasgow City Council

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Men’s Shed benefits from West Fraser timber donations

The members of Nairn Men’s Shed

 

Leading panel manufacturer, West Fraser, has been providing donations of SterlingOSB Zero to a Men’s Shed which is a fabulous initiative allowing members to meet and create!

The Inverness plant has provided the product to Nairn Men’s Shed members allowing them to create furniture items, signs, and crafts using the wood for other charities and local groups in the community; of course, the work helps to combat loneliness and isolation.

One project includes creating a number of wooden workbenches which are being used as part of the renovated waiting room at the local train station in Nairn.

The Nairn Men’s Shed, which has been running for seven years, recently hosted a supporters’ event to welcome the West Fraser team to meet the 70 inspiring members to find out more about the work they’ve been enjoying.

Claire Ironside, Marketing Executive at West Fraser, said:

“Our relationship with the team at Nairn Men’s Shed is beneficial for everyone as the projects that the shed’s members create from our donated OSB boards can benefit more than just the one group. From memorials and signs to gardens for local schools, it was fantastic to see what an amazing difference the members have made to the wider community using our products.”

Ian Marshall, Director of the Nairn Men’s Shed, said:

“Our group relies heavily on the generosity of local businesses and other charities. We simply couldn’t function without the generosity of West Fraser and we hope to continue working with them to help others.”

 

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/

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