JOINING FORCES WITH FESTIVE CHEER

Teal Scaffold have joined forces this festive season with charity, HiS Church to provide Christmas donations.The duo collaboratively provided hundreds of advent Christmas to the much-loved, Grange Youth Community Hub.

North West based Teal Scaffold were delighted to support the local community they’ve been working in this Christmas through the support of their latest donation.

The donation has provided much needed Christmas cheer as families this winter face the looming cost-of-living crisis.

Teal Scaffold will continue to provide high-quality services over the coming weeks for their clients at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Head of Operations at Teal Scaffold, Dan McGregor shared: “We are committed to creating opportunities and changing lives in the communities we serve. While not a huge expense to some, an advent calendar may be considered a luxury item for families in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their bills. As prices continue to rise, households across the North West are unfortunately preparing for a challenging festive period. It’s my hope that by our donation and working with local charities in Blackpool, we are able to restore some festive cheer.”

Groundwork CLM Development Manager, Cath Powell MBE adds: “We are absolutely delighted to receive these wonderful Advent Calendars which will be distributed to the families of Grange Park by Father Christmas at our special Christmas Event where every child gets to visit Father Christmas in his beautiful grotto for free. This added gift for the families will make their visit very special”.

The scaffolding firm, proudly part of The Sovini Group, made all this festive cheer possible thanks to donations from HiS Chuch Charity and The Grange Youth Community Hub.

For more information about The Grange Youth Community Hub visit their Facebook page or call 01253 478301

To find out more about Teal Scaffold click here.

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FINAL PHASE OF £41.5 MILLION LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE DEVELOPMENT LAUNCHED

The impressive final phase of apartments has been announced by Liverpool-based property developer Integritas Property Group (IPG), as part of its £41.5 million city-centre development Bastion and Central Point.

Central Point Encore is the final phase to be announced by the ethical developer – 52 apartments across seven floors – and will offer a mix of studio, one and two-bedroomed residences at the stylish Naylor Street site.

Designed by Snow Architects, the building boasts riverside living with its proximity to the River Mersey, the convenience of city centre amenities and sits just a short walk from the World Heritage Albert Dock Conversation area.

Each apartment will be tastefully decorated with the best in modern and sustainable fixtures, including high specification bathroom and ensuite shower room fittings, flooring and light and electrical fittings.

Investors will have the optional benefit of furniture packs starting at just £3,500, selected and matched by IPG’s interior design consultant.

In addition to the luxury apartments, residents of Central Point Encore will also be able to enjoy a communal residents’ garden, concierge, bike storage and residential parking spaces.

Mitchell Walsh, managing director of IPG, said: “The launch of our final phase at this exciting site is a tremendous milestone for us and we are offering investors and renters alike the chance to enjoy a slice of one of the most vibrant, and fastest growing, places in the UK.

“It comes at a great time for the North West property market, with house prices predicted to grow by 24 per cent in the next five years – more than 40m people visit Liverpool each year, there is around £1.6bn year-on-year economic growth here, and we’re giving people the opportunity to join us in being a part of this city’s success.

“As an ethical property developer, IPG is committed to injecting money back into the communities surrounding our project sites, and we are proud to be working with such a fantastic pool of local talent within our supply chain, offering jobs to local people.”

 

Construction is expected to begin on Central Point Encore in July 2023, with work set to complete in Q4 2024.

 

For more information or to book a viewing, visit:  Central Point Encore, Liverpool – Integritas Property Group (integritaspg.com)

 

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Higher Borrowing Costs Curtail Construction Activity

S&P Global / SIPS UK Construction PMI®

Growth slips to a three-month low. Business expectations weakest since May 2020.

UK construction companies signalled a renewed slowdown in business activity growth during November, reflecting subdued demand and reduced risk appetite among clients. A number of survey respondents noted that higher borrowing costs and worries about the economic outlook had curtailed construction activity.

Moreover, expectations for business activity growth during the year ahead continued to slide in November, with optimism the lowest for two-and-a-half years. Aside from the levels seen at the start of the pandemic, the degree of positive sentiment was the joint-weakest since December 2008.

At 50.4 in November, the headline seasonally adjusted S&P Global / CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index®(PMI®) – which measures month-on-month changes in total industry activity – registered above the 50.0 no-change mark for the third month running. However, the index was down from 53.2 in October and pointed to the weakest performance since August.

Commercial work was the only segment to register an overall rise in business activity in November (index at 51.1). House building activity meanwhile stalled (index at 50.0), which ended at three-month period of marginal expansion. Construction companies often noted higher mortgage rates and falling consumer confidence as factors that had held back residential activity.

Civil engineering activity (46.7) declined for the fifth consecutive month. The latest reduction was the sharpest since August. Lower volumes of output were mainly linked to a lack of new work to replace completed projects.

November data pointed to modest increase in total new orders across the construction sector, which contrasted with a slight decline in October. However, the rise in new business intakes was much weaker than seen on average in the first half of 2022. Survey respondents often noted that weaker domestic economic conditions had acted as a headwind to client spending.

Employment numbers continued to increase in November, but the rate of job creation eased to its slowest since February 2021. Construction companies suggested that concerns about rising costs and weaker growth had led to more cautious hiring policies.

In contrast to the slowdown in staff recruitment, latest data signalled the fastest increase in input buying since July. Higher levels of purchasing activity were linked to rising workloads and improved raw material availability, although some cited efforts to place orders ahead of supplier prices hikes.

Average cost burdens increased sharply in November, which was linked to rising energy prices, tight supply conditions and general inflationary pressures. However, the overall rate of input cost inflation eased to its least marked since January 2021, partly due to softer commodity prices. Meanwhile, suppliers’ delivery times lengthened to the greatest extent since July. Survey respondents suggested that transport and logistics delays had led to longer wait times for the receipt of construction products and materials.

Looking ahead, around 29% of the survey panel anticipates a rise in business activity in 12 months’ time, while 26% forecast a decline. The resulting index signalled the lowest degree of confidence since May 2020. Anecdotal evidence suggested that recession worries, higher interest rates and a subdued housing market outlook had all weighed on optimism.

 

 

Comment

Tim Moore, Economics Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, which compiles the survey said: “Stalling house building activity contributed to the weakest UK construction sector performance for three months in November. Survey respondents noted that new residential building projects had been curtailed in response to rising interest rates, cancelled sales and worries about the economic outlook.

“Construction growth was largely confined to the commercial segment, but even here the speed of expansion slowed considerably since October as client confidence weakened in response to heightened business uncertainty. At the same time, a lack of new work to replace completed projects resulted in another fall in civil engineering activity.

“The number of construction firms anticipating a rise in overall business activity during the year ahead exceeded those forecasting a decline by only a very fine margin during November. Moreover, disregarding a three-month period of negative sentiment at the start of the pandemic, our survey measure of business expectations across the construction sector was the joint-weakest since December 2008.”

 

Dr John Glen, Chief Economist at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said:”The small uplift in activity in November did little to dispel builders’ fears about the future as optimism fell to the same level as December 2008 during the last recession and to one of the same lows seen during the pandemic.

“This gloomy view was fuelled in part by continuing shortages of key materials such as steel and timber along with skilled labour, affecting job hires which rose at the slowest pace since February 2021. As new order growth remained below the 2022 average to date, builders were becoming hesitant about hiring too many labourers and there was some mention of shedding jobs over fears of the strength of the economy in 2023.

“Overall, it was civil engineering that remained steadfastly stuck in the mud, with the fastest fall in activity since August. Client hesitancy, concerns around the cost of materials and doing business weighed heavily on the sector which recorded the fifth consecutive monthly fall in activity. Residential building also appears to have run out of steam as greater borrowing costs continue to dampen demand.

“Purchasing activity remained buoyant as businesses concerned about higher costs and potential delays reportedly ordered more than they needed, with delivery times increasing for the fourth consecutive month. Construction companies now have a tightrope to walk in terms of being ready for recovery and cautious around investment until the road is clear for sustainable building opportunities ahead.”

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The Roller Coaster of Construction Jobs

Skills shortages and the cost-of-living crisis have driven salaries up across construction, despite the demand for staff beginning to slow. That’s according to the latest report from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo).

The data, provided by the world’s largest network of job boards, Broadbean Technology, revealed that despite vacancies dropping 6% between January and October 2022, the number of applicants per vacancy has fallen at a far greater pace, down 44% for the same period.
While this is indicative of an ongoing skills shortage across the sector, the report suggests that the cost-of-living crisis and a general reluctance to move roles during economic uncertainty could also be impacting application numbers, with salary inflation being used to lure recruits. According to the analysis, average pay across construction increased 4% between January and October, with salaries increasing 1% between September and October when signs of economic instability began to show.

Ann Swain, Global CEO of APSCo commented:

“While the construction sector has been on a roller coaster ride in terms of jobs throughout 2022, it is the sustained fall in application numbers that presents the greatest challenge to recruiters across the sector. This latest data does show that the economic uncertainty since the beginning of September has hampered hiring, something we don’t expect to see a reverse in the immediate future. It’s crucial that the government enacts policies that will bring stability for workers, including announcing the long-awaited Employment Bill and revising policies to better recognise and support the unique needs of the highly skilled contractor labour market.”

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Respiratory illness and buildings

Respiratory illness and buildings: Five design principles for future risk mitigation

The spread of a virus like we haven’t seen before changed the way we live and work forever. In the wake of a global crisis, the conversation surrounding health was amplified, making one thing clear: health and wellbeing are the foundation for a quality life.

As professionals in this industry, we have seen the rise of the health and wellbeing movement and how not that long ago this was still considered as going above and beyond, rather than a design-defining factor.

Today, research suggests that in monetary terms the global health and wellness industry is expected to reach $7.0 trillion (over £5.0 trillion) in 2025 (Global Wellness Institute). For comparison, the construction industry globally is set to reach $13.3 trillion (almost £10 trillion) in 2025 (Oxford Economics). The message sent by the people and organisations is clear – wellness is moving to the top of the list of factors that shape building design.

The rise in health-oriented design did not come without its fair share of criticism. Over the years, we watched the idea of healthy buildings being misconstrued, with the primary criticism being that health-oriented design will come at a higher cost of environmental degradation. History and our work, however, show that sustainability and wellbeing can operate in perfect harmony supplementing each other. In fact, the correlation between higher levels of reported subjective wellbeing and pro-ecological, altruistic behaviours is well documented in behavioural science. With the pandemic fading out and following the events of COP27, amplifying this message has never been more important.

The ultimate goal of our buildings, communities & organizations: to create a positive human experience

International Well Building Institute

The aim of this article is to provide some of the key guidance and principles for building design and operation as it relates to the spread of respiratory illnesses in buildings. The guidance in this article is intended for both existing buildings and new build projects.

Principle 1: Understand your ventilation system

Image: John Linden

There are three elements that influence the risk of airborne infection (BCO, 2021) – ventilation rate, airflow direction and airflow pattern. A well-designed ventilation system will have an established strategy for each element. Ask the following questions in the development of your ventilation design:

  • What are the spaces/areas in buildings that traditionally are likely to be poorly ventilated?
  • Where are the spaces/areas in the building where enhanced aerosol generation is likely?
  • Does the system allow for a 100% outdoor air supply?
  • Is the system capable of maintaining relative humidity between 40% and 60% at all times?
  • Can any form of air recirculation be avoided?

The design should be cautious of air-cleaning solutions as research on the impact of air-cleaning devices on the survival of viruses and bacteria is still limited. REHVA (Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations) can be referred to for further guidance on air-cleaning devices.

Principle 2: Promote clean contact

cleaning of surfaces in offices covid advice
Image: Getty

Consider the following three strategies to promote clean contact in buildings:

  • Mindful bathroom design. Includes provision of non-refillable liquid soap, hand dryers with HEPA filters (or paper towels) and large sinks to prevent the risk of recontamination.
  • Hands-free operation. This applies to light switches, elevator buttons, trash receptacles, doors (especially bathroom exits), faucets, hand sanitiser stations and other high-touch points as identified by the project.
  • Antiviral surfaces and coatings. Includes but is not limited to nanostructured surfaces, mineral nanocrystals, and metallic nanoparticles (Rakowska et al., 2021).

Principle 3: Design for future

The design should strive towards the value spaces concept – the project team should consider the value of the offer that the space(s) will provide. The following questions can be used as a starting point:

  • Is the space responding to the occupants’ needs? Does it go beyond?
  • Can the space provide a safe environment without compromising the quality of the space in times of increased risk for respiratory illness?
  • What are the key characteristics of the space that make it a valuable space? Consider design features that support physical health, productivity, multiple ways of working, mental health, and an opportunity to connect with others

Principle 4: Ensure Safe Travel

Image: John Linden

The way people access, leave and move around the building is pivotal in times of increased risk for respiratory illness transmission. In conversation with the end user or client, consider the following interventions:

  • Identify queue and waiting area control
  • Clearly mark standing positions to maintain social distance
  • Provide anti-microbial handrails for escalators
  • Reduce the time doors stay open
  • Install touchless call devices where possible
  • Provide sanitiser on entry and exit
  • Reduce the average lift capacity from 16 to four people

Principle 5: Safety for all

Car-Park-Safety-For-All-Adobe-Stock

Consider how the design and management of buildings could be improved to address the needs of the most vulnerable. The universal design professional should be consulted at the early design stage. The following can be referred to as a starting point:

  • Safe drop-off zones. Consider higher parking capacity to allow for greater segregation of spaces in times of emergency (e.g., creating safe “drop-off” zones for people who are at higher risk).
  • Circulation routes. Consider how creating new, one-way, or split routes around workplaces may affect wheelchair and other mobility aid users i.e., what impact will the space/distancing requirements have on travel times from A to B?
  • Bathroom facilities. Determine which toilet facilities could be dedicated to people at high risk in times of emergency i.e., consider location, accommodations, access.
  • Safe access/exit routes. Identify alternative access/exit routes that may be used in times of increased risk for respiratory illness transmission. Any alternative routes (even if used only in times of crisis) should be designed with security in mind.

Source: Buro Happold

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RIVER CLEAN UP COULD THREATEN SME BUILDERS

More SME builders at risk of folding if forced to pay to clean up England’s rivers

Housebuilders have hit out at plans to buy ‘nutrient credits’ for building on protected wildlife sites where pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus have leached into rivers.

They claim many smaller developers will go out of business when the new nutrient mitigation scheme goes live early next year.

National Federation of Builders, NFB, housing and planning head Rico Wojtulewicz said: “It’s farcical. We are paying for someone else’s mistake.”

The building industry claims intensive farming is the real culprit with fertilisers and animal excrement from pig and poultry farms the main cause of river pollution.

Home Builders Federation, HBF, said described the £30m government scheme as a ‘wholly inadequate’ solution.

Communications director Steve Turner said: “We have over 100,000 desperately needed new homes on hold despite the fact that all parties accept their construction would barely contribute to the nutrients issue.”

The Natural England is inviting developers in the Tees region to apply next March to buy credits to build in the area with additional mitigation projects identified over the next three years.

Housebuilders maintain the government’s requirement for water companies to improve their waste treatment works to remove nutrients by April 2030 is too long to wait.

“Far more decisive and proportionate action is needed to prevent businesses going bust, jobs being lost and further delaying homes for young people and families,” said Mr Turner.

Currently, there is a planning moratorium on housebuilding in large swathes of England including parts of the Northeast, Cumbria, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Herefordshire and southern Hampshire.

 

Over one in five councils are affected

Property agents Savills calculated back in 2021 that 33,000 new homes a year weren’t being built due to nutrient neutrality rules. It’s estimated this figure has probably doubled as the number of local authorities affected by nutrient neutrality rules has increased from 32 to 74.

Property finance intermediary Hank Zarihs Associates said development finance lenders were concerned that SME builders were already grappling with extensive overheads without being lumbered with a new tax burden.

Nutrient neutrality rules are a result of an EU court of justice decision in late 2018 on the interpretation of the habitats directive.

The new nutrient mitigation scheme is an amendment to the levelling up and regeneration bill that went through its third reading in parliament this week.

 

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Britiain Ousts China from Sizewell Development

On Tuesday, Britain ousted China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) from construction of its new Sizewell C nuclear power station, which will now be built with the remaining French partner, EDF.

In his first foreign policy speech just a day prior, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned that the “golden era” of UK-China relations was over, saying Beijing represented a “systemic challenge” to UK interests.

The prime minister said the UK had to replace wishful thinking with “robust pragmatism” towards competitors and that closer economic ties of the previous decade had been “naïve”.

The UK plans to invest GBP 700 million in the project, which was matched 50:50 by EDF, while CGN’s 20 percent stake will be stripped by Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government.

The development of Sizewell C, which will power about six million homes in eastern England, is underway on the Suffolk coast. At the earliest, London plans to start producing electricity in 2035.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that sent household gas and electricity bills soaring this year, nuclear and renewable energy sources are seen as crucial to Britain’s energy security.

The Sizewell decision raises questions about CGN’s role in building Hinkley Point, a new nuclear power plant in southwestern England, in conjunction with EDF.

A statement from Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on Tuesday stated that the UK government’s investment in Sizewell C will facilitate the project’s future development and allow China General Nuclear to exit.

The UK says Sizewell will deliver cleaner energy than fossil fuels and create thousands of jobs for the local area and national economy.

There are 15 nuclear reactors in the UK, located at eight different sites, but many of them are nearing the end of their lifespans. As part of Tuesday’s announcement, the government will establish a new vehicle, Great British Nuclear, that will oversee development of more projects, with an announcement expected in the new year.

 

Source: TVP World

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Managing Budgets in Large Scale Projects

Stuart Binnie, associate director at Rund, a specialist surveying and construction consultancy, offers some guidance on how quantity surveyors can help ensure that proposed projects are affordable and offer good value for money. With the markets more tumultuous than ever, managing budgets in large-scale construction projects is all the more critical.

What value do quantity surveyors provide?

The role of a quantity surveyor is centred on maintaining real-time cost information on any given project on behalf of our clients and safeguarding and representing our client’s best interests in any cost-related discussion. The role also extends to identifying risks, thinking ahead to anticipate any potential problems in the project lifecycle. Should any issues arise, a quantity surveyor can quickly find the most cost-effective solution, liaising with the client as to where changes can be made to the overall project to minimise the impact on budget and timeline.

Quantity surveyors also ensure projects meet all legal and quality standards during construction and completion. They are experts in minimising risk by undertaking cost analysis for repair and maintenance, identifying responses to commercial liabilities, and assisting other parties in meeting health and safety requirements.

Advances in technology support have helped build teams to benchmark costs and undergo scenario testing, but this information alone isn’t enough to safeguard a project and the interests of all stakeholders. Quantity surveyors are needed to understand how to interpret the figures by providing an experienced oversight of the data. They have the skill to take the data and apply it to differing situations, using their experience and knowledge of the construction industry to ensure the timely completion and success of projects. It’s these contributions that are invaluable to a project.

Who benefits from appointing a quantity surveyor on a project?

Well-trained quantity surveyors improve the construction process for everyone involved in the project. One of the main reasons for hiring a quantity surveyor is to ensure value for money, which benefits the developer and the investors and all other specialist teams. In the short term, this can involve selecting contractors that meet the right requirements for the project, or overseeing costs for materials used.  As well as this, quantity surveyors also work closely with architects and design firms to ensure the feasibility of their plans, and finance teams by offering advice on property taxation.

Over longer periods, actions made by a quantity surveyor can benefit the environment and the end user.

Why are quantity surveyors more important than ever?

The current economic uncertainty and global political pressures are having a serious and challenging impact on the construction and built environment sector. There is less capital to invest in the budgets of construction projects, along with the eye-watering rises in the cost of materials. Government data shows that material costs alone have risen by 23% in 2021. Quantity surveyors have the knowledge and skill to ensure the most affordable materials are used – without compromising on quality. They are also best placed to negotiate deals with contractors to consistently provide the best value for money, helping to alleviate additional pressures in these unprecedented times.

Another issue that has become increasingly urgent in construction is sustainability. Many sustainable construction practices are now a benchmark, and developers that do not make an active effort to reduce the carbon impact of their buildings are being left in the dust. Quantity surveyors can play a crucial role in improving the sustainability credentials of a project by advising on sourcing sustainable materials and suppliers.

What type of qualifications do quantity surveyors have?

Quantity surveyors come from an incredibly diverse selection of educational backgrounds. For their undergraduate degree, quantity surveyors have the option to complete a RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) accredited degree in Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management. Other increasingly popular options are to undertake part-time study to qualify as a quantity surveyor while working, or to take an advanced surveying technician apprenticeship.

However, quantity surveyors can also come from educational backgrounds as diverse as civil engineering, geography, economics, urban studies or mathematics. After completing a degree in one of these subjects, those interested in becoming a quantity surveyor can apply for a RICS-accredited postgraduate conversion course, typically lasting a year. Some employers are also now choosing to hire graduates as ‘non-cognates’ to fund them through their postgraduate studies.

What other services can a quantity surveyor provide?

Quantity surveyors, being highly trained and experienced figures within a construction project, are extremely multi-faceted professionals, and can provide a number of additional services to assist in the project’s completion. For example, a Quantity Surveyor can undertake the Employer’s Agent role. Employer’s Agents act on behalf of the client as a contract administrator, meaning they issue instructions to contractors, approve parts of the project on behalf of the client, and agree on the final account once the project is complete. They are an essential contact point between the developer and contractors, maintaining clear communication between both parties and reducing the amount of micromanaging involved for the developer. Quantity surveyors are ideally suited to fulfil this role, as they are already involved across all aspects of the project, and are required to inspect in detail all construction work. Therefore, they are ideally placed to ensure all building work is completed in line with the employer’s vision.

Source: Inside Media

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Strand Technologies Welcomes New ‘Associazione’

Open sesame: Strand Technologies is now the official UK distributor for Ditec – a worldwide market leader and manufacturer of swing and sliding gate operating equipment, and traffic barrier systems.

The partnership is an “ideal fit” for Strand Tech which manufactures its own technology solutions for the safety, security and control of electro-mechanical operating systems, including automatic doors and entrances.

Ditec marks the company’s first brand introduction outside its own manufacture. Ditec products combine functionality and customisation options for gates and traffic barriers. They boast a stylish aesthetic with advanced technology for reliability and ease of use. Its entrance systems are energy efficient – enabling users to make energy savings while reducing environmental impact.

The Ditec sliding gate range provides automated systems for gates up to 3000 kg in weight. Weather resistant, they combine strength with a modern elegant design. The swing gate range moves wings up to five metres wide. An underground system is also available – concealing moving parts from view.

Ditec automatic barriers are perfect for shopping centres, hotels, residential blocks and public areas which need safe, efficient and reliable access control. They are ideal for sites with medium to high traffic volume. A wide range of accessories is available for various control needs.

Ditec, which is based near Milan, Italy, has been operating for more than 40 years and is now part of the AssaAbloy Group.

Strand Technologies will hold extensive stock for the UK gate installer market supported by expert technical support.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS OF THE PRODUCT RANGE

 

Said Steve Marshall, Managing Director of Strand Technologies: “Ditec ideally complements Strand Technologies existing range of control and diagnostic systems and reinforces our position within the door and entrances market. The introduction of Ditec to the UK brings something fresh and exciting; combining superb technology with exquisite design and durability.”

 

Alessandro Gozzi, Ditec’s Sales Manager for Western Europe said: “It was clear from the start that our two companies share the same values and work commitments. The team at Strand Technologies has extensive knowledge and skills and we are delighted that they have become our distribution partner in UK.”

EMAIL HERE For more information on Strand Technologies

WEBSITE

 

 

 

 

 

contact: info@strandtech.co.uk or visit:

https://www.strandtech.co.uk/

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Councilor States ‘Green Washing’ by Homes England

CLAIMS that building 250 houses in the open countryside will improve the variety of plant and animal life have been questioned.

Mike Amesbury MP is objecting to an outline planning application by Government agency Homes England for an extension to the Sandymoor South residential development in Runcorn.

Proposals will follow for a further 600 houses on farmers’ fields either side of Red Brow Lane.

Homes England literature claims retaining mature trees, hedgerows and ecology ponds will achieve ‘biodiversity net gain’.

A sceptical Mr Amesbury responded: “How can Homes England argue bio-diversity net gain when concrete will be poured over wildlife habitats across a large area of countryside?

“They can dress it up in academic language, but you will never convince me that decimating vast swathes of green space will enhance nature.

“I do not like a situation where Homes England feels it can take my constituents for fools. I believe this is a PR exercise that amounts to little more than greenwashing.”

A former shadow housing minister, Mr Amesbury agrees with the need to build more houses generally, but says there must be a ‘brownfield first approach’ and a mix of tenures that includes genuinely affordable homes.

The Weaver Vale MP, whose constituency covers east Runcorn, also argues all new housing must be built to the highest energy efficiency standards.

“There is also no reference to space being allocated for self-build homes that allow people to slash construction costs and ramp up energy efficiency measures to reduce bills.”

To comment on the application, search the planning section of Halton Council website for case number 22/00543/OUTEIA then leave your observations by clicking where it says ‘comment now’ by December 6.

Source: The Standard

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