Lords recommend increased public sector role to tackle housing shortage The post Residential: Will councils build again? appeared first on Estates Gazette.com. Source link
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, Jun 21st 2016 Interphone, the security systems and building technology for the commercial residential property marketplace, has gained accreditation with Constructionline Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Interphone, the security systems and building technology
©Bloomberg Multinational oil services companies are pulling staff out of Singapore and relocating to neighbouring Malaysia to cut costs, in a further sign of the damage being inflicted on the city-state by the crude price slump. Businesses that have relocated to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur over recent months
An independent construction commissioner has been appointed to resolve complaints from the public during construction work of the HS2 project. Above: Gareth Epps Gareth Epps has been appointed HS2 construction commissioner on an interim basis. He will investigate any matters that are not resolved by HS2 Ltd’s own complaints process.
Spirotech unveils Euro 2016 promotion Published: 15 April, 2016 Spirotech UK is celebrating this year’s Euro Championships in style with the launch of a new installer giveaway. Between 11 April and 10 June, Spirotech UK will be giving away a series of prizes, including five pairs of tickets to Lens
Plans have been submitted for Oxford University’s Magdalen College’s first new building scheme since taking full control of the Oxford Science Park earlier in the year. It is the first of a number of new projects planned at the Park in Littlemore where the college is hoping to build a
The scheme to construct a new community hub and shops in the village of Merstham, Surrey, has secured a new contractor to complete the work. W Stirland has been chosen to carry out the work and is expected to get things underway on the Triangle site after the bank holiday
Two major coastal dairy farms have come to the Market in Pembrokeshire, offering almost 1300 acres in total. Corston Farm at Hundleton and Broadmoor Farm near Talbenny are the farms in question and represent two of the most significant farms to have come to the market in Wales over the
Work is set due to get under way on a new £340 million combined heat and power plant in Kent that will convert household waste into electricity and steam. Wheelabrator Technologies, the developer of the project, has now secured an agreement with all parties and construction is set to begin
The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) has launched a new Online Learning Centre to support its commitment to help heating and plumbing organisations develop profitable and successful businesses. The new online facility will offer learning products tailored to the specific needs of the heating and plumbing industry and
Lords recommend increased public sector role to tackle housing shortage The post Residential: Will councils build again? appeared first on Estates Gazette.com. Source link
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, Jun 21st 2016 Interphone, the security systems and building technology for the commercial residential property marketplace, has gained accreditation with Constructionline Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Interphone, the security systems and building technology for the commercial residential property marketplace, has gained accreditation with Constructionline, the leading procurement and supply chain management service in the UK. The company will now become an approved sub-contractor, demonstrating that Interphone operates to the highest standards within the building industry in terms of health, safety and quality. The detailed accreditation process undertaken by Constructionline involves the collection, assessment and monitoring of important company information that is required by the BSI’s PAS 91 standardised pre-qualification questionnaire. As a result, Interphone has become a recognised, best practice supplier that is now available to 8,000 procurement professionals from over 2,800 organisations that are already using the Constructionline service. Julian Synett, Managing Director of Interphone said: “We are committed to the highest levels of health, safety and quality with our business, so we are delighted that this has been recognised by Constructionline. We will now become part of their pre-qualified database of approved industry partners, which will support tendering processes moving forward and provide peace of mind to prospective customers that we are meeting the necessary standards within the building industry.” Constructionline’s aim is to provide efficiency savings to public and private sector buyers and the construction industry as a whole. This is achieved by streamlining procurement procedures and improving the supply chain management processes by reducing risk, creating cost efficiencies and helping buyers engage with new suppliers, including SMEs and local companies. Contact information Source link
©Bloomberg Multinational oil services companies are pulling staff out of Singapore and relocating to neighbouring Malaysia to cut costs, in a further sign of the damage being inflicted on the city-state by the crude price slump. Businesses that have relocated to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur over recent months include McDermott, Technip, and Subsea 7. More On this story On this topic IN Oil & Gas The cost of real estate is lower in Malaysia than Singapore, reducing expenditure on commercial property and staff housing. It is also significantly cheaper to buy or lease company cars in Malaysia. Singapore is one of the world’s most expensive places to own a car due to high registration fees and taxes, and the steep cost of a “certificate of entitlement” to own a car. Singapore auctions these certificates as a measure to curb the growth of vehicle ownership. The engineering companies also cite the advantage of being closer to customers in Malaysia’s offshore oil and gas sector. In addition to these factors, one oil industry insider said the slump in the value of the ringgit last year had made a relocation to Malaysia more attractive, sharpening the difference in costs with Singapore. Malaysia is increasingly seeking to compete with Singapore to seize opportunities in Asia’s oil, gas and petrochemicals markets. Petronas, the Malaysian state oil and gas company, is building a refinery in the southern state of Johor, which borders Singapore. The city-state is one of the world’s top three refining centres despite producing no oil or gas of its own. Subsea 7, the Oslo-listed engineering contractor for offshore oil and gas, said it was “committed to streamlining processes, reducing costs and finding efficiencies in light of ongoing market conditions”. The company will retain three functions in Singapore: a logistics base, an office managing offshore personnel and a unit handling inspection, maintenance and repair. McDermott, the US oil and gas services company, said the relocation was aimed at taking advantage of a more favourable cost base, as well as creating a larger in-country presence for customers. Technip, the French oilfield services company, said the thinking behind its move, decided at the end of 2014, was to rationalise costs and consolidate regional operations at a single base. “Prior to the shift, Technip had two subsea hubs in Southeast Asia which were geographically close to each other — one in KL and one in Singapore with each offering different expertise, engineering disciplines and services,” it said in a statement. Technip said its move had created a “one-stop centre” in the region. It was important to be closer to customers for “better visibility”, it added. The moves by multinationals are adding to the pain Singapore has suffered during the oil price drop. Companies in Singapore’s offshore marine sector, a key part of the island’s economy, have slashed their workforce. Keppel Corporation, the world’s biggest manufacturer of jackup rigs, cut 17 per cent, or about 6,000, of its global workforce last year and reduced its subcontracted Singapore workforce by 24 per cent, or about 7,900. Local rival Sembcorp Marine, which reported a net loss of S$290m (US$211m) for 2015, let go between 3,000 and 4,000 workers in 2015, mostly foreign nationals employed by subcontractors. The collapse in the oil price has not left Malaysia unscathed, however. Petronas is making deep cuts in operating and capital expenditure, deferring some projects. “As difficult as 2015 has been for us, the next two years will continue to be challenging,” Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, chief executive of Petronas, told reporters in Kuala Lumpur last month. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link
An independent construction commissioner has been appointed to resolve complaints from the public during construction work of the HS2 project. Above: Gareth Epps Gareth Epps has been appointed HS2 construction commissioner on an interim basis. He will investigate any matters that are not resolved by HS2 Ltd’s own complaints process. His appointment is on an interim basis pending the passage of the enabling legislation. Following royal assent, an independent body of project stakeholders will determine the full terms of reference and agree on a permanent appointment. Mr Epps was previously in community relations on the Crossrail project for nine years and is a former leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Reading Borough Council. At the 2015 general election he was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Keighley and came in fifth with 2.7% of the vote. In the 2001 general election he stood against David Cameron in Witney. His main functions as HS2 construction commissioner will be to: ensure that people affected by HS2 know he exists and what he does mediate in unresolved disputes between HS2 Ltd and individuals or bodies, including claims under the Small Claims Scheme monitor complaints and providing reports marking trends and providing advice on how to reduce the instance of complaints where possible. HS2 Ltd chief executive Simon Kirby said: “We recognise that people will be affected by the construction of the line and are thoroughly committed to ensuring that those people are treated fairly and all practicable measures are taken to minimise disruption. “Improving our approach to affected communities is at the very top of our priority list. We are continuously striving to refine our complaints handling and improve community engagement. The appointment of a Construction Commissioner is a key part of that process. “We have recently made improvements to our complaints procedure and we aim to respond to any complaint in a fair and timely fashion but it is important that people can have their issue considered by an impartial party if they don’t feel it’s been satisfactorily resolved.” Gareth Epps said: “I’m looking forward to taking up this post. HS2 will be one of the largest infrastructure projects the UK has ever seen. Urban and rural communities will see construction and while HS2 Ltd and its contractors will take steps to minimise disruption, it is important that residents and businesses along the route know they can seek fair and independent resolution of complaints if necessary.” This article was published on 29 Jul 2016 (last updated on 29 Jul 2016). Source link
Spirotech unveils Euro 2016 promotion Published: 15 April, 2016 Spirotech UK is celebrating this year’s Euro Championships in style with the launch of a new installer giveaway. Between 11 April and 10 June, Spirotech UK will be giving away a series of prizes, including five pairs of tickets to Lens for England’s match against Wales on 16 June, five 50″ widescreen TVs, and a host of other goodies. To enter the prize draw, simply visit www.spirotech-offer.co.uk and follow the instructions. Alternatively, visitors to the PHEX+ exhibition at Alexandra Palace on 18 and 19 May can enter the draw on Spirotech’s stand. (To attend PHEX+, register for your free ticket online here.) Each week, winning entrants will be announced live via Spirotech’s Twitter feed and on the Spirotech-offer.co.uk website. Installers need simply follow @SpirotechUK following entry, and a new winner will be announced every week in the run up to the fixture. Kevan Peaker, Spirotech UK’s sales director, said: “We’re delighted to launch this latest installer promotion in celebration of the forthcoming Euro Championships. Whether the match is enjoyed live in Lens, or at home in crystal-clear HD quality, the prizes should make the championships a memorable occasion for the winners; even if the home nations don’t deliver on the pitch! “As all the winners will be announced on Twitter, it gives us the opportunity to engage in real time with them, and they will hopefully then choose to share their experiences with us via social media.” No purchase is necessary, terms and conditions apply, details of which can be found via the offer homepage. To be in with a chance of winning, visit www.spirotech-offer.co.uk, or follow Spirotech on Twitter @SpirotechUK for news, product updates, and for all competition announcements. Source link
Plans have been submitted for Oxford University’s Magdalen College’s first new building scheme since taking full control of the Oxford Science Park earlier in the year. It is the first of a number of new projects planned at the Park in Littlemore where the college is hoping to build a further 300,000 sq ft over the next five to seven year period. The first of these speculative building schemes is a 61,500 sq ft office with a roof terrace. This phase of the plan has been designed by Bogle Architects. The Plot 12 building will go up to four storeys and be constructed to at least a BREEAM Very Good rating. Managing Director at the Oxford Science Park, Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, said that the Oxford Science Park was established 25 years ago as a business community to support entrepreneurship, innovation and discovery. Scrimshaw-Wright continued: “With Plot 12 we have an opportunity to build the next logical and natural expansion to the Park. “Our proposal is to speculatively build efficient and flexible, energy efficient accommodation that supports high value business growth and the local economy.” Meanwhile, Oxford University’s Iffley Road site is set to be transformed into a “globally competitive” sports centre, with work due to get under way later in the month on a £60 million scheme to transform the site. Phase one will see the construction of an £8.5 million indoor sports hall built next to the iconic running track where Sir Roger Bannister famously ran the four minute mile in 1954. The facility could become the first of its kind in the UK to feature a ‘smart floor’ that will light up with different line layouts needed to play various sports in the hall. The new sports hall would add to the existing gym and swimming pool already at the site, used by some 3,200 staff and students of the university and 600 members of the public.
The scheme to construct a new community hub and shops in the village of Merstham, Surrey, has secured a new contractor to complete the work. W Stirland has been chosen to carry out the work and is expected to get things underway on the Triangle site after the bank holiday weekend at the end of this month, with the project due to be completed in spring next year. The appointment was made after the previous contractor for the site, T&A Kernoghan, entered administration in April. Included in the community hub development will be a new library youth skills centre, training rooms, café, public IT resources and drop-in advice facilities to provide residents with easier access to local services, as well as four restaurant/takeaway units. Stirland is currently working on a job at the nearby former Iron Horse pub where the firm is building new shops and flats. Executive Member for Regeneration & Property at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Natalie Bramhall, commented: “I’m pleased to be able to announce Stirland’s appointment to complete the build of the new community hub and shops on the Triangle site and look forward to their start on site.” Bramhall continued that the news is positive for resident who have been most patient while they have carried out the formal process of appointing a new contractor. She added that Stirland has a good track record of similar projects and they are pleased with the work they have undertaken on the Iron Horse site so far. Construction of the shops and flats are almost complete, ready for handing over to the lessees to fit-out. Prior to the new team coming in, the old contractor firm’s site cabins will be taken away and the site will be cleared out. At the nearby Iron Horse site, the shop units are nearly complete and will be free for retailers to kit out by the end of the month.
Two major coastal dairy farms have come to the Market in Pembrokeshire, offering almost 1300 acres in total. Corston Farm at Hundleton and Broadmoor Farm near Talbenny are the farms in question and represent two of the most significant farms to have come to the market in Wales over the last few years, according to selling agents Savills. Broadmoor Farm covers more than 800 acres and, bordering the Pembrokeshire coastline, is home to modern milking facilities and housing for 400 cows. The current owners have run it as a successful dairy farm in conjunction with Corston Farm, as part of a bigger vegetable and farming firm in England. The farm currently houses a herd of 400 Holstein Friesans, that produce an average of 9,500 litres per cow for cheese production and has the potential to expand and milk a bigger herd. Although it is currently dairy farmed, a significant proportion of the land has been arable farmed in recent times and, with a coastal influence, is known as being “early.” There are five residential dwellings in the farm; tow houses adjacent to the main farmyard, a main farmhouse set away from the main farmyard and a further farmhouse and cottage on an adjoining holding. Furthermore, there are two semi-detached houses on the edge of the main farmyard that have been used for staff accommodation in the past. The main farm is well served by a range of substantial modern portal frame outbuildings all set round a thoughtfully designed farmyard complex, while most of the land is down to grass with areas of woodland and the coastal cliff land. The farm’s northern and western edges border the coastline and feature a small pebbly beach called Mill Haven. Broadmoor Farm is currently on the market with a £6.2 million guide price for the whole site or can be bought in three lots.
Work is set due to get under way on a new £340 million combined heat and power plant in Kent that will convert household waste into electricity and steam. Wheelabrator Technologies, the developer of the project, has now secured an agreement with all parties and construction is set to begin later in the month. Clugston will work as the civil contractor for the Kemsley plant, with CNIM as the principal contractor and Arup as the lead building designer. Arup will provide geotechnical, structural and civil engineering, along with reviewing mechanical, electrical and plumbing building services. The new facility will divert 550,000t of waster from Kent to the South East of England each year. This waste would otherwise have been exported to Europe for treatment or sent to landfill sites. The site has been designed to provide steam for a peppermill nearby and will generate 43MW of electricity when it is at full capacity. Ben Glover, Arup Associate Director and Energy Water Buildings Business Leader, commented: “As an industry we are increasingly acknowledging how valuable waste is as a resource for generating energy, but also the treatment of waste through an Energy from Waste plant reduces greenhouse gas emissions.” Glover added that the new facility is a prime example of how high quality engineering can produce benefits for both the environment and the economy. The Wheelabrator Kemsley facility is due to start operations in 2019. Meanwhile, last month Arup announced that it will work on the 21 storey resi tower made of wood, which will be the highest wooden residential building in the world. Arup will provide multi-disciplinary engineering services, including building services engineering, fire, acoustics and building physics consulting for the 73 metre tall HAUT tower which is to be built in Amsterdam. Construction of the tower is due to get underway early next year.
The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) has launched a new Online Learning Centre to support its commitment to help heating and plumbing organisations develop profitable and successful businesses. The new online facility will offer learning products tailored to the specific needs of the heating and plumbing industry and provide access to bite size courses that cover important areas of business development. The scheme has been designed to give all businesses access to learning, without the need to travel to a learning centre. Currently, there are fours online learning courses available to purchase, these are: Understanding Basic Contracts, Developing a Quality Management System, Recruitment and Selection of Employees and an Introduction to Business Finance. Understanding Basic Contracts – Starts with an explanation of exactly what contracts are, their purpose and how installers can benefit from them. This course gives example situations to help businesses make sure that they stay on the right side of the law when drafting up and signing contracts. Also covered in this course are the terms and conditions, business contracts and documents linked to pricing and payments. Developing a Quality Management System – This course has the aim of providing installers with an understanding of the common parts of a Quality Management System (QMS) with regard to physical documentation and the main advantages of developing one for the workplace. Also included in the course is the implementation of the QMS and how to map it against external quality criteria, reviews and internal and external audits. Recruitment and Selection of Employees – The third course offered by the APHC is providing information on each stage of the recruitment process, from identifying the needs of a business and writing up a job specification and advert, through to the selection process, interview preparation and process and the next steps to take once the successful candidate has been identified. Introduction to Business Finance – The introduction to business finance course takes installers through the importance of proper bookkeeping and maintaining cash flow, how to measure and improve profit as well as an explanation of raising finance for growth.
