As part of the Control of Dust and Emissions during Construction and Demolition SPG the London Mayor has introduced new standards to reduce pollution emissions from the construction industry thereby creating the world’s first ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’ (ULEZ) for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM). The new standards are as follows: From 1 September
A company that installs solar panels has been fined after a worker fell through a roof-light whilst installing solar panels on the roof of a barn at a property in Newton Stewart. Stranraer Sheriff Court heard that on 25 April 2014, an employee was placing solar panels onto a roof
Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Brighton and Hove City Council for a £12 million contract to build 44 extra care apartments for people over 55. The company was chosen through Scape Group’s Major Works framework to deliver the Brooke Mead Extra Care Housing development in Albion Street, Brighton. The
Simon Vivian, Chief Executive of Breedon Aggregates Limited, the UK’s largest independent aggregates business, has been appointed MPA Chairman for the next two years. He will succeed Bill Brett, Brett Group, from 1 September, and of the Mineral Products Association’s (MPA) five Chairmen to date, he is the third to
Prime Minister David Cameron vowed today he will “not waver” in his commitment to open 500 new free schools over the next 5 years – as he announced the first wave to be approved this Parliament and pledged to deliver 2 waves of new schools every year until 2020. The
Research carried out among members of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) indicates that order, enquiry and turnover levels all rose across the board during the past six months. The Association’s latest state of trade survey, which covers the period from January to June this year, reveals a positive
As part of the Control of Dust and Emissions during Construction and Demolition SPG the London Mayor has introduced new standards to reduce pollution emissions from the construction industry thereby creating the world’s first ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’ (ULEZ) for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM). The new standards are as follows: From 1 September 2015 NRMM of net power between 37kW and 560kW used in London will be required to meet the standards set out below. This will apply to both variable and constant speed engines for both nitrogen dioxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). These standards will be based upon engine emissions standards set in EU Directive 97/68/EC and its subsequent amendments. NRMM used on the site of any major development within Greater London will be required to meet Stage IIIA of the Directive as a minimum; and NRMM used on any site within the Central Activity Zone or Canary Wharf will be required to meet Stage IIIB of the Directive as a minimum. From 1 September 2020 the following will apply: NRMM used on any site within Greater London will be required to meet Stage IIIB of the Directive as a minimum. NRMM used on any site within the Central Activity Zone or Canary Wharf will be required to meet Stage IV of the Directive as a minimum.
A company that installs solar panels has been fined after a worker fell through a roof-light whilst installing solar panels on the roof of a barn at a property in Newton Stewart. Stranraer Sheriff Court heard that on 25 April 2014, an employee was placing solar panels onto a roof stepped back on to a roof-light and fell through it 3.6metres to the floor below. The court was told that RJW Electrical Services (Lochmaben) Limited of Lockerbie had no measures in place to prevent the risk of falling from the edge of the roof in question or falling through roof-lights, exposing the employee to the risk of injury. RJW Electrical Services (Lochmaben) Limited of Vendace Place, Lochmaben, Lockerbie pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £10,000 at Stranraer Sheriff Court.
Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Brighton and Hove City Council for a £12 million contract to build 44 extra care apartments for people over 55. The company was chosen through Scape Group’s Major Works framework to deliver the Brooke Mead Extra Care Housing development in Albion Street, Brighton. The scheme is on the site of a former council owned sheltered housing scheme which will be demolished to make way for apartments primarily targeted at people with low to moderate dementia. Nearly 25 per cent of Willmott Dixon’s residential construction activity is in the care and retirement sector, with local authorities and Registered Providers investing significantly in accommodation for over 55s as this demographic continues to grow. It is also the company’s first scheme for Brighton and Hove City Council and will include new communal spaces, landscaping, cycle and scooter parking for residents as well as new community facilities such as meeting rooms, café etc. Brighton & Hove has a growing population including a significant increase in the number of older people with a support need. The investment in Brooke Mead is part of Brighton and Hove City Council’s commitment to developing housing solutions for those in housing need, including vulnerable older people. The Brooke Mead scheme will provide independence and dignity by enabling people to live in their own home for longer in a supported environment. Willmott Dixon’s managing director for residential construction in the Southern Counties David Issott: “We already have a presence in Brighton where our interiors company is delivering a £20 million upgrade to the university’s Cockcroft building. We are delighted to add to this with our residential capabilities to create new modern homes for local people who want to live independently while also having access to facilities for care and assistance when needed. “This will be a high quality extra care scheme that offers older people a dignified environment which enhances their quality of life when complete in 2017.”
Simon Vivian, Chief Executive of Breedon Aggregates Limited, the UK’s largest independent aggregates business, has been appointed MPA Chairman for the next two years. He will succeed Bill Brett, Brett Group, from 1 September, and of the Mineral Products Association’s (MPA) five Chairmen to date, he is the third to serve from an independent company. Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive MPA, paid tribute to Bill’s contribution to MPA over the last two years saying, “Bill, like his predecessors, has invested a huge amount of time and passion into maintaining the unity of the association for the good of all members irrespective of size or the nature of their businesses. His personal commitment to improving the sector’s Health & Safety record has been obvious to all and has inspired members to do better. He has helped the association navigate through a number of significant challenges it has faced as we transitioned from recession to recovery and he can look back with pride knowing he has made a positive and lasting impact. “We are delighted that Simon has agreed to pick up the baton from Bill. His wide industry knowledge and experience will be invaluable to the association as we look to set the agenda for the industry for the next 10 years and respond to the challenges ahead.”
Prime Minister David Cameron vowed today he will “not waver” in his commitment to open 500 new free schools over the next 5 years – as he announced the first wave to be approved this Parliament and pledged to deliver 2 waves of new schools every year until 2020. The government’s commitment to open 500 free schools over the next 5 years will create 270,000 school places across the country – giving parents more choice while challenging existing schools to up their game. Today, the first 18 projects of this Parliament have had the green light – creating more than 9,000 places across the country and giving more families the choice of an excellent education for their children than ever before. They will join the 252 already open and the 52 new free schools opening up their doors as schools head back this week. These will bring the total number of free school places created since 2010 to more than 236,000 – making this policy the most successful new schools programme, with schools being created more quickly than ever before. 500 more free schools The government has committed to opening 500 more free schools in this Parliament, creating good school places in communities across the country. To achieve this, 2 waves of schools will be announced every year up to 2020, with application deadlines in March and September. The latest application window to set up a free school opens on 28 September and runs until 7 October, with pre-application registration opening today (Wednesday 2 September). Education Secretary Nicky Morgan today called on more groups to step forward, invest in the next generation and reap the rewards that opening a free school can bring. To help them do that she has committed to streamlining the process for existing high performing schools and encouraging businesses, charities, cultural and sporting bodies to enter the programme. Prime Minister David Cameron said: As a ‘one nation’ government we are clear that every family should have access to a great local school and every child should get the very best education – and free schools are a crucial part of that aim. The aim of this policy is crystal clear – to increase the number of good and outstanding school places so that more parents have the security of knowing their child is getting a great education. Today’s announcement shows that we will not waver in pressing ahead with our plans to open 500 more of these innovative and exciting schools over the next 5 years, creating 270,000 places, delivering an excellent education and giving parents across the country real choice for their children. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: The free schools programme has sent out the message loud and clear, that parents should never have to settle for anything less than the best for their child. Right across the country, these innovative, community led schools are helping to fulfil our ‘one nation’ commitment to educational excellence for every child. We know that free schools don’t just give parents greater choice, they also force existing schools to up their game. Today’s news sends a clear message that we are committed to extending this unprecedented level of choice to more parents than ever before. The 18 new schools announced today include a number that will be set up by teachers themselves, showing the programme is putting power back in the hands of those who know children best. These include Solihull Alternative Provision Academy, set up by 3 headteachers of high-performing schools in Solihull, West Midlands, which will help transform the lives of local children who have fallen out of mainstream schooling. Other innovative schools due to be created include: XP East, a new secondary school for 350 children in Doncaster. XP East will have a deliberately-small campus feel, like its heavily-oversubscribed sister school, the XP School, and is influenced by a number of charter schools in America. Gipsy Hill Secondary School, which will provide a classical and aspirational education for up to 1,600 children in South London. Opening in 2017, the school will educate children based around the classical ‘trivium’ – a system of thinking developed as far back as Ancient Greece that sees logic, grammar and rhetoric as the foundations of learning. CAPA College, a specialist performing arts college in Leeds through which pupils can look forward to the opportunity to perform in world class venues, such as the Royal Albert Hall. Piper Hill Vocational Learning Free School, a special school in Wythenshawe, Cheshire, which will help children with severe learning difficulties and autism spectrum disorder to improve their independence and employability skills through a range of courses that include horticulture and animal welfare.
Research carried out among members of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) indicates that order, enquiry and turnover levels all rose across the board during the past six months. The Association’s latest state of trade survey, which covers the period from January to June this year, reveals a positive “net optimism measure” of 45%, up from 39% six months ago, confirming that B&ES members in all regions – and of every size and specialism – are feeling positive about their future business prospects. Growth in order levels was experienced by 53% of respondents – compared with 47% in the second half of 2014 – while 41% enjoyed an increase in enquiries and 40% an increase in turnover. Encouragingly, an improvement in tender prices was also detectable – for the first time since the six-monthly B&ES survey was introduced in 2012, more members reported a rise than had experienced a decline. Labour and material costs were both seen to increase – while 36% of firms claimed to be employing more direct labour than six months ago, and 40% expected workforce levels to increase further during the remainder of 2015. There was also a rise in the number of members taking on apprentices and making use of agency personnel. However, a range of concerns continue to temper members’ optimism. These include skills shortages, zero and ultra-low margins, over-long tender lists and the prevalence of late payment. Commenting on the research findings, B&ES chief executive Paul McLaughlin said that they confirmed the anecdotal evidence already garnered from members that the construction industry and the building engineering services sector continued to enjoy a sustained, if still sometimes tentative, recovery. “I am also pleased that firms are responding to the challenge posed by skills and labour shortages by stepping up their training activity so as to take full advantage of the commercial opportunities that are available to them. “The optimism which is clearly spreading throughout the membership augurs well for our sector as a whole,’” Mr McLaughlin concluded. A total of 17% of B&ES member firms took part in the seventh B&ES state of trade survey – up from 15% last time, and one of the highest responses since June 2012. The online survey was augmented by in-depth telephone interviews with 20 of the Association’s top 60 members.
