Strand Technologies has clinched a prestigious AI Specification Award for its innovative Virtual Engineer – a technology solution for the control and diagnostics of automatic doors, gates and barriers.

It won the Product Design and Innovation Award (Electronic) category, sponsored by the Automatic Door Suppliers Association, at the 40th biennial event, held at the ‘Cheesegrater’ Leadenhall Building, in Central London.

Judges commented: “This product has innovation written all over it. It provides an effective solution which has the benefit of remote fault finding coupled with helping to reduce carbon footprint.”

Ken Price, ADSA’s Managing Director, presented the award to the Strand Technologies’ team – a landmark moment for the company which began trading in 2021.

Virtual Engineer was selected from a shortlist that also featured products from ASSA ABLOY, Codelocks and Salto Systems.

It uses a device which is attached to entrances and ‘talks’ to a cloud software platform for on-site or remote management. It sends alerts to flag up problems and identify potential causes – potentially saving time and money for engineer call outs.

Steve Marshall, Managing Director of Strand Technologies, said that the team was delighted to have scooped the award.

“It was a crowning moment that followed 18-months of hard graft to bring our products and services to the market. Our strength is in working with organisations to provide an holistic solution to the issues they are facing for effective asset management which in turn results in efficiency savings.”

Said Mr Price: “I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to Strand Technologies. This is a major accolade which recognises the problem-solving nature of a ground-breaking product that blends traditional electronic and digital technologies.”

The awards are organised by The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THE CEREMONY

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The Prince of Wales has delivered the Queen’s Speech on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, outlining 38 new bills.

The Prince of Wales highlighted that Her Majesty’s Government would aim to “grow and strengthen the economy and ease the cost of living for families”, while ensuring all corners of the country would have the opportunity to level up.

Key announcements included:

• A Bill to drive local growth and empower local leaders to regenerate their areas
• Legislation reforming the planning system to give local residents more involvement in developments in their area
• A Transport Bill to deliver safer, cleaner services and enable more innovation, as well as the modernisation of rail services to improve reliability for passengers
• An Energy Bill to deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy
• Draft legislation to promote competition, strengthen consumer rights, and protect households and businesses
• Legislation to implement new competition rules for digital markets and the largest digital firms
• Legislation to introduce reforms to education to raise standards and improve the quality of schools and Higher Education
• The establishment of the UK Infrastructure Bank in legislation to support economic growth and the delivery of net zero
• A Bill to enable European Union law to be more easily amended, and regulations on businesses to be repealed and reformed
• Legislation to simplify public sector procurement to provide opportunities for smaller businesses
• Legislation to strengthen financial services industry
• Reforms to the existing data protection regime
• Legislation to enable implementation of UK’s first new Free Trade Agreement since leaving the EU
• Legislation to unlock the potential of new technologies for sustainable farming and food production, to encourage agricultural and scientific innovation
• A Bill to further strengthen powers to tackle illicit finance, reduce economic crime and help businesses grow
• Legislation to improve the regulation of social housing and strengthen the rights of tenants

INDUSTRY RESPONSES

LGA statement on Queen’s Speech: Renters Reform Bill/Social Housing Regulation Bill

Responding to the Queen’s Speech, Cllr Darren Rodwell, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said:

“Proposals to strengthen both the role of the Housing Ombudsman and the Regulator in the Social Housing Regulation Bill are positive, to increase the rights of tenants and enable tenants to better hold their landlord to account.

“Councils want their tenants to have the security of a safe and well-maintained home with any issues quickly and satisfactorily addressed, and we are keen to continue working with councils, the Regulator and the Ombudsman to support the implementation of the reforms.

“We are pleased that the Government has committed to introducing legislation through the Renters Reform Bill to strengthen protections for private renters and abolish ‘no-fault evictions’. This is something the LGA and councils have been calling for the Government to introduce since it was included in its 2019 manifesto.

“A dramatic recent rise in the number of ‘no fault evictions’ from the private rented sector is putting additional pressure on homelessness services, so we are glad that a plan to strengthen safeguards for private renters is finally in place, allowing renters to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of eviction.”

Mike Foster, CEO of EUA, said:

“We welcome an Energy Bill designed to promote Carbon Capture and Storage and help deliver large scale hydrogen heating trials. This puts consumers at the heart of decarbonising homes in the UK, giving people the choice between the relevant technologies – heat pumps, heat networks and hydrogen gas boilers. The latter will involve no additional upfront costs to the consumer and minimal levels of disruption and creates a secure energy supply free from the blood-stained hands of President Putin.

“We need to hear details of the business model that will deliver UK domestic production of this zero-carbon wonder-fuel, and practical action to make sure every home that wants cheap, zero carbon gas for their boilers, cookers and fires gets it.

“We need to urgently shift away from fossil fuel gas to hydrogen, using the world-class gas networks already underground to supply our homes and businesses. Now is not the time to consider re-wiring Britain; ripping out boilers to be replaced with £10 grand a time heat pumps would be a folly when clean gas is just around the corner.

“From our recent research of 2000 UK consumers, the majority of Brits agree. Over three quarters (77.7%) of respondents saying they would support the UK generating and distributing alternative, low-carbon gas through the existing grid to replace the imports of natural gas from countries such as Qatar and Russia. An overwhelming 82% also believed the government should prioritise affordability in the development of renewable technologies for heating homes in the UK. There is a clear message that costly alternatives like heat pumps will not be favoured by households in this cost-of-living crisis.

“Meanwhile, let’s also hear what the Government plan to do to keep bills down this winter. Massive investment in economically-viable energy efficiency schemes would be an entirely sensible step while the Energy Bill progresses through Parliament, creating the hydrogen future the Prime Minister and others have spoken about.”

Jonathan Hale, Head of Government Affairs at RICS, said:

“RICS and its professionals, are supportive of the levelling up of UK regions, and are working hard to unlock jobs and opportunities by supporting our high streets and communities.

“We understand the wish to bring empty property back to life, but those opening for business on high streets will need to meet the needs of the wider community. Government highlighted community led levelling up and planning in the speech, but forcing landlords in such a blunt way, may not fit with this vision.  Landlords do not want empty properties, but fit outs, planning permission, and insurance need to be considered as high streets necessarily evolve.

“We are pleased, that the Levelling Up Bill will be led by community driven planning, something we recently called for in relation to CRE*, and housing, and the bill must be used to drive ambitious changes.  However, we are disappointed that planning has been side lined – we have supported root and branch planning reforms and now look forward to seeing where government’s level of ambition for a reformed planning system is.

“We also call on Government to include financial incentives and government policies that support the renovation and upgrading of commercial assets within the levelling up actions, importantly including to hit net zero ambitions.  Well-managed commercial real estate boosts less developed areas, and promotes economic growth and social value*. Building communities, backed up by locally led commercial real estate is central to achieving levelling-up.”

Stephen Beechey, Group Public Sector Director at Wates Group.

“We welcome the Queen’s Speech today including the announcement of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which will give local leaders the power to breathe new life into high streets. As a national business working on projects for both the public and private sector, we have extensive experience in delivering regeneration projects, from building net zero schools to developing energy efficient, affordable homes. We welcome this Bill as it will enhance our ability to deliver Levelling Up across the UK and regenerate communities.

“We are also pleased to the see the Government is continuing to push forward with the Procurement Bill. As a lead contributor to the Construction Playbook, this is a positive step ensuring procurement across the public sector is aligned to the highest standards.

“While we support much of this legislative programme, we would like the Government to go further and give urgent consideration to a nationwide domestic energy efficiency programme – something that would play a significant role in addressing current concerns around energy security, energy bills and the climate crisis.”

Paresh Raja, CEO, Market Financial Solutions

“Will they, won’t they – that was the big question surrounding the Planning Bill ahead of today’s Queen’s Speech. It is certainly positive to hear it mentioned, with the policy seemingly dragged back out of the proverbial long grass, into which it was kicked last year. As ever, the devil will be in the detail, but stating that “the planning system will be reformed” is a start at least.

“Let’s start with the obvious fact: the UK needs more housing, and fast. To achieve this, we need to make it easier to build more new homes and, crucially, also convert disused commercial properties into residential ones. Tabling the Planning Bill is a vital first step in hopefully addressing the red tape that prevents the delivery of new homes.

“Question marks hang over the purported decision to give local leaders more power to revitalise high streets, which was hinted at. It sounds promising, but the policy could miss the mark a little. Landlords seldom want their properties to sit empty – really the question whether there is viable demand from businesses to rent shops and offices, and at a price that ensures landlords can cover their costs.

“The continued efforts to raise standards in the private rental sector and protect tenants’ right is welcomed. It will be interesting to see how this takes shape.”

Jamie Johnson, CEO, FJP Investment

“It’s encouraging that today’s Queen’s Speech has signalled a renewed effort in favour of tackling geographic inequality across the UK as part of the forthcoming levelling-up and regeneration bill.

“In the face of the current pressing economic, social and environmental challenges, now more than ever, it is crucial that housing is put at the forefront of the government’s agenda and while a root and branch shake-up of the planning system is still required, the reforms referenced today are a step in the right direction towards increasing the number of homes that this country so desperately needs.”

Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive of Transport for the North, has welcomed today’s Queen’s Speech, which included references to improving transport and delivering on the levelling up agenda. 

He said: “It is reassuring to hear clear mentions of the need for rail reform in today’s Queen’s Speech, something that we and our region’s political and business leaders have been calling for and contributing to. Combined with a focus on innovation and decarbonisation, and underpinned by the ongoing commitment to levelling up, this is a welcome commitment to enhancing connectivity.

“We now need greater detail on the role of Sub-national Transport Bodies within the new Transport Bill, setting out how we can offer our regional insights and expertise to help deliver a new rail regulatory framework that puts passengers first. Transport for the North is ready and waiting to be at the forefront of the Government’s plans to make levelling up a reality and create a sustainable transport network across the North of England.”

Press Response: 

Cara Jenkinson, Cities Manager at climate charity Ashden said:

“The government missed an opportunity today to tackle soaring energy prices that are plunging hard working families into crisis mode.

“What we needed from the government to fix this, was a commitment to launch a funded national retrofit strategy that would turn icy houses into insulated homes, and lower emissions and energy bills at the same time.

“In addition, we wanted to see a reform of the apprenticeship system so that the UK can build a skilled green workforce, ready to take up the thousands of well-paid green jobs that would stem from an ambitious nation-wide retrofit strategy. Today we needed a rallying cry,  instead we heard a whimper.”

Richard Smith, partner at Sandstone Law, about the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill:

“The government’s wide-ranging Planning reform White Paper was published in August 2020 and was heavily criticised.  It has since vanished into thin air. A  Levelling Up White Paper was published in February 2022 and now forms part of the legislative intentions for the 2022-23 session of Parliament in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

A number of planning changes are proposed under the ‘levelling up’ umbrella.   Changes to Permitted Development rights are hoped to enable expansions of public infrastructure. However the long term impact on high streets and town centres is a concern.   Currently shops can stand empty for years, blighting the high street and wasting opportunities for new jobs. New legislation could force landlords to rent out commercial properties.

The government has also stated its wish to reform developer contributions by the introduction of a new Infrastructure Levy. However, there is a danger that this could become overly complex, holding back development in some locations and undermining the promise of levelling up in key places.

The paper also includes continued commitments to brownfield land restoration that should go some way to levelling the playing field between green and brownfield development.  Unless brownfield development can be made to work better for all kinds of developers, there will inevitably be more urban sprawl.  It looks like the ‘levelling up’ agenda has subsumed ideas for wider planning reform.   The new Bill should present an opportunity to create a planning system that delivers the right homes in the right places, whilst allowing nature’s recovery.”

Andrew Eldred, ECA Director of Workforce and Public Affairs, said:

“Today’s speech showed a commitment to delivering Net Zero along with a recognition of the vital importance of better technical education and skills.

“We hope to see this promise realised in a tranche of new funding and support for industry-endorsed training to deliver the EV charge points, solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage systems that will place the UK in pole position in the race to Net Zero carbon.”

ECA Director of Legal and Business Rob Driscoll said:

“In leading Cabinet Office’s SME Advisory Group on payment, ECA has worked hard with Government to design a post-Brexit environment allowing for simplified procurement.

“The announcement in today’s speech should lay the ground for establishing UK procurement processes which embrace and unlock the potential of SME contractors as Government seeks to build back better.”

Mike Smith, ECA Technical Director, said:

“ECA and our industry partners have fought hard (and sometimes uphill) to improve the safety of people’s homes. While the recent Building Safety Act has brought us closer to our goal, today’s announcement should help provide a more uniform approach to electrical safety in social housing, including high rise residential buildings like Grenfell Tower.

“We expect further legislation to highlight competency as a key factor in making homes safer for residents, and we will be keeping a very close eye on developments to make sure that is the case.”

Following the release of the latest UK Construction PMI today (6 May 2022), Brendan Sharkey, Head of Construction and Real Estate at MHA, believes the construction sector faces a challenging environment as rising costs cut into profit margins, although demand for new builds in the housing market continues unabated, despite the cost of living crisis:

“The UK construction sector continues to ride a wave of strong demand. However, construction work is now less profitable due to inflation and interest rate rises. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to be responsible for some staggering prices increases. We’ve seen the price of certain raw materials surge by 20% or more within a month.

“Hopefully employers and larger construction firms will be sympathetic to the struggles of smaller businesses. If they are not, we may see more than a few casualties. In the long term, the sector may experience a decline in new civil engineering, commercial and industrial projects as businesses and investors start to hold back on new orders until price stability returns and there is more economic certainty.

“Housing is a bright spot, especially outside of London. Despite the cost of living crisis, housing demand shows little signs of slowing, boosted by high levels of employment across the economy. The rising cost of living and of increasing mortgage costs will surely start to bite soon, but even then demand for new build homes should continue to be strong. Compared to second-hand properties newer builds are generally more energy efficient thereby saving running costs but also avoiding potentially expensive energy refurbishment in years to come.

“The government can do very little to support the sector at this time. It has already stimulated demand through infrastructure projects, including HS2, and work generated to meet the standards set by the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) action plan. The big question is how businesses can meet this demand while also addressing rising costs. Now would be a good time to reassess delivery models to identify potential cost-savings. Firms also need to be vigorous in negotiating and renegotiating contracts. Rampant inflation means a job that looked profitable one month will be loss-making the next.”

Clients have voiced concerns about the increasing costs of construction work, but the body insists this is due only to ongoing global events sparking a rise in fuel costs and shortages of raw materials and labour.

Iain McIlwee, chief executive of CICV member the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS), said: “The war in Ukraine, energy price hikes, impact of Brexit and fallout from COVID-19 have all created a ‘perfect storm’ just as there is a surge in demand, with price increases being imposed on the industry as a result.

“Construction professionals are increasingly being forced to shoulder these ongoing rises, particularly when it comes materials, and are having no option but to pass these increases on to clients. But it is not profiteering – it is a necessity for these businesses to survive.”

The CICV’s Post-Brexit & Trade sub-group this week discussed the higher costs for raw materials, energy, labour and transport being faced by construction businesses of all sizes in Scotland, with particular focus on inflationary pressures for SMEs caused by external factors.

Mr McIlwee added: “This is a really challenging time for all in the construction supply chain with costs rising, often at short notice.  The critical thing now is that we work together as a supply chain.

“Too often in construction we have contracted down all risks, but we are now in a position where fixed prices could undermine the resilience of contractors or suppliers and we need to adopt a more collaborative approach and consider how fluctuations clauses can be deployed and any risks fairly shared so as not to undermine the quality or viability of a project or businesses.”

The CICV says as well as the negative impact of political, military and health issues, the withdrawal of red diesel in April has also led to higher costs for construction firms.

Chris Cassley, policy manager at CICV member the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), said: “The UK Government’s environmental strategy with the removal of red diesel for construction plant has undoubtedly contributed to the current financial impact on industry, and despite representations to government departments, has proceeded regardless.

“The rise in energy and material prices, together with supply chain pressures and higher inflationary figures, has led to a tipping balance for suppliers and customers alike, and in many instances resulted in necessary price increases. These increases are very likely to be passed back up to the client and for government projects, it will be the taxpayer who will ultimately have to pay.”

Another warning came from Andrew Richards, strategic director of Safedem and a member of the Construction Scotland Industry Leadership Group, (representing SMEs and the supply chain) which is working in tandem with CICV to support the industry.

Mr Richards said: “The knock-on effects caused by the global events of the past two years looks like they will continue for the immediate future, so clients should consider fluctuations and rises in construction costs as part of ‘the new normal’ and shouldn’t expect prices to fall any time soon.

“Construction professionals are equally concerned about the uncertainty that surrounds the marketplace and are only passing on cost increases through necessity, not greed.”

The Post-Brexit & Trade panel is one of 12 sub-groups run by the CICV, covering a range of issues ranging from health and safety and skills to the supply chain and project bank accounts.

The collective was rebranded from the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum at the start of 2022 to reflect its widened remit, which now covers all areas of construction

Since its creation in March 2020, the CICV has drawn on the collective expertise of its members to maintain a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, hosting webinars and making appeals to government ministers.

Source: Scottish Construction Now

This comes in response to transport secretary Grant Shapps’ request for further comments on the scheme from interested parties.

In its submission to the Planning Inspectorate, the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) said it “continues to urge” a reconsideration of alternatives due to the harm that the proposed scheme would do to the World Heritage Site (WHS).

The CBA said its position remains the same as in evidence submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in May 2019, when it suggested considering a southern surface route or a long bored tunnel “to remove the A303 from the WHS without unduly harming other objectives”.

Overall, the CBA stressed that it does not believe alternatives have been adequately considered in the planning process.

Its submission says: “We reiterate even more strongly that far more serious consideration should therefore be given to any alternatives by which the harm to the WHS could be avoided – especially where they offer much greater opportunities for enhancement and rehabilitation.”

The CBA added that if a long tunnel under the whole of the WHS is not achievable, then other alternatives such as the southern surface route should be examined “to avoid the unacceptable harm caused by the proposed scheme”.

“The CBA examined this issue in some detail, recognising that if a substantially longer tunnel is not acceptable, the southern surface offers significant advantages which had not been optimised or given sufficient weight,” the submission says.

“This includes how beneficial outcomes are weighed against harm – especially in the context of how the cumulative effects of the existing highway are dealt with as required by NPSNN, how adverse effects might be ameliorated and how cost benefits are identified.”

The current plans are for a 12.8km dual carriageway, and a 3.2km tunnel underneath the World Heritage Site closely following the existing A303 route.

Shapps is currently in the process of “re-determining” his decision on National Highways’ planning application for the Stonehenge Tunnel after a High Court judge ruled his original decision to approve the scheme as “unlawful”.

As part of the process, Shapps released a statement of matters in December last year which sets out the aspects of the planning application that he will be taking another look at.

A big part of redetermining the application is looking at the environmental and carbon impact of the proposed scheme in relation to government commitments and legislation. Shapps will also have to prove that he has considered an alternative scheme for a longer tunnel.

However National Highways has stood by its original Stonehenge Tunnel plans.

In documents submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, National Highways said its position regarding a bored tunnel extension “remains unchanged” and “this option should be excluded from further development”.