George Brechin has been appointed as interim Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, after Dame Judith Hackitt reached the end of her eight years as Chair of the regulator. This is a short-term arrangement while the process to recruit a permanent successor continues. Source link
The property marketplace is now operating completely differently to how it was back in 2008 According to the latest figures revealed by Home.co.uk, the supply of properties for sale has slumped to alarmingly low levels – a 51% fall in the number of properties for sale in England and Wales
International Property Developers North America (IPDNA), a company owned by the late Bill Davies of Liverpool and represented by Savills, has completed the sale of the Old Post Office on Van Buren Street, Chicago and adjacent sites to New York-based investment group 601W Companies for a net price of $130
FCC has secured finance to start construction of a £142m energy-from-waste facility near Edinburgh. Above: CGI of Millerhill energy-from-waste plant UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) has committed £28m of debt finance to the new plant at Millerhill in Midlothian, joining a lending club that includes Investec, Siemens Bank and Credit
Update on Flexible and Structured Funding – Latest window for applications opens 19 July The next CITB Flexible and Structured funds window will go live on 19 July and close on 15th August. To date we have awarded £13m through these funds to our stakeholders. Our Skills and Training fund
International real estate advisor Savills, on behalf of a private client, has brought to market The Barge Inn near Pewsey, Wiltshire for a guide price of £900,000. The three-storey, Grade II-listed pub dates back to the 1800s and offers open plan seating for up to 60 customers plus an attractive
Browser does not support script. Contact us Five buildings have been shortlisted for RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Regional Awards 2016 in Northern Ireland. From the 10 entries submitted the buildings that have been shortlisted in Northern Ireland this year are: Banbridge Health & Care Centre by Kennedy FitzGerald
Few sectors are more competitive than healthcare. Even in countries with nationalised health services, the rising cost of lifestyle changes and expensive new drugs are testing the system to its limits. Competition between private services is fierce, and expectations for care have risen with access to online diagnoses. From online
The latest report from Balfour Beatty has urged the government to maintain a commitment to devolution in the autumn statement to stop the issue of devolution from “slipping off the radar.” The contractor’s report, entitled ‘Where now for combined authorities?’, outlines 10 recommendations made to maintain the devolution agenda in
Work has started on the multi-million-pound construction of a new social housing development in Clydebank that will benefit dozens of families. Link Group Ltd, the group behind the project, announced on November 7 that 30 affordable homes will be built in the town by next August at a cost of
George Brechin has been appointed as interim Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, after Dame Judith Hackitt reached the end of her eight years as Chair of the regulator. This is a short-term arrangement while the process to recruit a permanent successor continues. Source link
The property marketplace is now operating completely differently to how it was back in 2008 According to the latest figures revealed by Home.co.uk, the supply of properties for sale has slumped to alarmingly low levels – a 51% fall in the number of properties for sale in England and Wales over the last eight years, from 855,585 in April 2008 to just 415,038 in April 2016. There has also been a 26% decline in the number of properties for sale in April 2010 compared to April this year. In addition, there was a 12% decrease in the total stock of property for sale in April this year compared to the same month last year. Further Home.co.uk figures looking at new properties coming on to the market each month offered only a small crumb of comfort that the situation may improve. These latest monthly figures found there had been a modest 4% increase in the number of new properties coming on to the market in April 2016 compared with April 2015. However, this is still 43% down on April 2008’s new monthly listings figures. April 2016’s new properties tally of 110,031 is also 7% down on April 2010’s figure of 117,803. A regional breakdown of the figures shows that every mainland UK region has seen a marked downturn in the number of new properties coming on to the market when comparing April 2008 with April 2016. In the East Midlands, South West and West Midlands, there was also a dip in supply of new properties between April 2016 and the same month last year, while two areas, the North East and North West, recorded no change at all in supply when comparing April 2015 and April 2016’s figures. Greater London saw a sharp spike of 22% in supply of new listings when comparing April 2015 and April 2016’s figures but this is still 53% down on April 2008 and 8% down on April 2010’s figures. This shows that despite the recent surge in new listings in the capital, its overheated market is still in dire need of more properties. There was a small increase in new properties coming on to the market between April 2015 and April 2016 in the South East, but this affluent area still has a chronic supply problem. An eight-year comparison in this region reveals a 44% dip in the number of new properties for sale in April 2008 and in April 2016. Elsewhere, Scotland’s new monthly property tally in April 2016 was 36% down on figures for April 2008 and in Wales the figures were down by the same proportion. The East of England and Yorkshire and The Humber saw 3% growth in new properties for sale in April 2016 compared with April 2015. However, an eight-year comparison reveals the supply of new properties is also down, by 53% and 38% respectively, in these two regions. This chronic shortage of available housing stock for sale has been a key factor in the continued rise in property prices in recent years. Home.co.uk’s latest Asking Price Index revealed there were price rises in all parts of the UK in May, with the mix-adjusted average asking price for England and Wales jumping 0.8% since April. The lack of affordable housing in London, where according to Home.co.uk’s Asking Price Index there has been a 9.5% increase in the average asking price between May 2015 and May 2016, has been a particular problem for prospective homeowners. Last month, new London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for the proportion of affordable housing being built in the capital to be quadrupled. The government has pledged to support the building of 1 million new homes across the country by 2020. Of these, ministers want to ensure 200,000 are affordable starter homes for first-time buyers. Doug Shephard, Home.co.uk director, said: “The property marketplace is now operating completely differently to how it was back in 2008. The drought has meant prices have headed skywards, but there is so little property passing through the market that large estate agency chains have been issuing profit warnings as they see their turnovers decline. Without doubt, the growth of the private rented sector has played a significant part in the supply crisis, as the average home changes hands less frequently than before. Moreover, buy-to-let remains a very popular investment choice in the current economic climate. Aside from new build solutions, there are an estimated 1 million unoccupied properties in the UK. The government needs to work out how to get these back into the marketplace.” Source link
International Property Developers North America (IPDNA), a company owned by the late Bill Davies of Liverpool and represented by Savills, has completed the sale of the Old Post Office on Van Buren Street, Chicago and adjacent sites to New York-based investment group 601W Companies for a net price of $130 million. 601W Companies was represented by HFF. The 2.7 million sq ft (250,830 sq m) heritage building was acquired by IPDNA in 2009. Detailed planning entitlements, designed by eminent Chicago architects Antunovich Associates, incorporating an additional 7.5 million sq ft (696,750 sq m) were obtained from the City Council in 2013. Since then, IPDNA has researched the optimum uses for the Old Post Office and the adjoining sites fronting the Chicago River. Richard Sykes, consultant at Savills, comments: “The Old Post Office in Chicago is an iconic property that is an integral part of the city’s history. Following a complex sales process, we are delighted to have now successfully completed the transaction and found a buyer who has strong experience in repositioning trophy office assets across the US.” Executive Managing Director Lisa Davidson and Senior Vice President Tiffany Winne of Savills Studley in Chicago assisted in the transaction, along with Charles Hubbard from Matthews & Goodman in Liverpool. Source link
FCC has secured finance to start construction of a £142m energy-from-waste facility near Edinburgh. Above: CGI of Millerhill energy-from-waste plant UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) has committed £28m of debt finance to the new plant at Millerhill in Midlothian, joining a lending club that includes Investec, Siemens Bank and Credit Agricole. The 14.1 MW facility is expected to treat up to 155,000 tonnes of waste every year once complete. The waste, sourced mainly from local residences, will be pre-screened in a mechanical treatment facility to remove recyclable material before entering the energy recovery process. The plant is forecast to generate approximately 94,000 MWh of electricity a year. The plant will also be combined heat and power (CHP)-ready, meaning it has the potential to supply excess heat from its operations to nearby homes and businesses. Spanish-owned FCC Environment (UK) has been appointed to design, build and operate the plant by Zero Waste: Edinburgh and Midlothian, a joint venture between City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council. FCC already operates similar facilities in four locations in the UK. EPC contractor is Hitachi Zosen Inova. Construction is due for completion in 2019. Cllr Lesley Hinds, environment convenor for City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I am pleased that FCC will now be able to begin work on this state-of-the-art facility. In Edinburgh we have made great progress to increase the amount of waste we recycle and this new facility will provide a sustainable way of disposing of any waste that can’t be recycled by using it as an energy source for locally-generated heat and power. The procurement of this project is an example of successful partnership working between the two councils, and will benefit both Edinburgh and Midlothian’s zero waste strategies over the coming years.” The Millerhill project is GIB’s 18th investment in Scotland. The bank has previously backed the construction of the £74m Craigellachie combined heat and power plant in Speyside and financed the replacement of 70,000 streetlights in Glasgow through a Green Loan. This article was published on 7 Oct 2016 (last updated on 7 Oct 2016). Source link
Update on Flexible and Structured Funding – Latest window for applications opens 19 July The next CITB Flexible and Structured funds window will go live on 19 July and close on 15th August. To date we have awarded £13m through these funds to our stakeholders. Our Skills and Training fund (dedicated to employers with fewer than 50 employees), which is part of CITB’s Flexible fund, has been particularly successful, with awards totalling just under £500,000. Don’t miss out. Visit CITB funding for more information or to apply How the new CITB Research Investment Fund can help you CITB has recently launched its new Research Investment Fund – a trial scheme to help the construction industry develop new research and evidence to identify and address skills shortages. It will also help us direct our funding. This is part of CITB’s Flexible Fund and will be trialled across a nine-month period. In this trial phase applications must come only from Federations. The Research Investment Fund has a maximum of £100,000 available over a 9 month period – which will be allocated between a maximum of three successful bids. We are making the application and process simple. Applications are welcomed from 19 July to 15 August, with successful applicants notified in September If you are interested in applying or for more information please contact : lee.bryer@citb.co.uk or Sandra.lilley@citb.co.uk Visit Research investment fund for more information. Here for you – Employer Forums Our new CITB Advisor role has been in place since the beginning of April and colleagues in these new roles are working hard with employers through Training Groups, Advisory Forums, Federations and other groups to help ensure you get the right skills for your business. Employers are therefore invited to attend the next round of scheduled Employer Advisory Forums which are due to take place in the autumn at a number of regional venues. Early booking is essential as these events are very popular. These regional events provide you with the opportunity to get advice and support for your business and an opportunity to have your say on matters important to you. It is also a chance to debate the issues of the day and work with us to provide solutions. Look out for the dates and booking details for the autumn Forums very soon. There is also a wide variety of CITB support available for individual construction businesses depending on your business needs. CITB is currently contacting all employers who are likely to be liable for the new Apprenticeship levy to discuss this with them individually. Telephone support and online services are also available for queries about the CITB Grants scheme and other topics. Currently our ‘contact us’ page provides all the details you should need for most enquiries including phone numbers, webchat for levy and grant, links and videos. Employer Apprenticeships Grow your business with a CITB Apprentice and access £10,250 funding 80% of employers say apprentices make their workplace more productive. Recruit with CITB and we will do all the paperwork, and you will receive dedicated support from one of our Apprenticeship Officers; from the start of recruitment through to completion of the training. Find out more. Construction Apprentice Scheme (CAS) As a result of a recent review of apprenticeship processes the Construction Apprenticeship Scheme (CAS) Committee has confirmed that there is no longer a need for the additional CAS process and are instead endorsing the employer and apprentice funding agreements of the funding agencies. This decision will mean that separate CAS documentation will no longer be required to be completed by employers, therefore simplifying the process, reducing administration, and speeding up access to grant payment. We continue to support the work of the CAS Committee and are currently working together on a joint project to improve the end point recognition through celebration of achievement for employers and our apprentices. We will keep you updated on this. Online Card Checker improvements – Response to feedback We have received your feedback about the online card checker system and understand you would prefer a simpler and straightforward process. The good news is that we are now working to make the search criteria easier to use. We will update you in the coming weeks of any changes and let you now once the improved system is live for you to use. We apologise for any inconvenience at this time and appreciate all your feedback. As always we are here to support you. You can use the online card checker here. Source link
International real estate advisor Savills, on behalf of a private client, has brought to market The Barge Inn near Pewsey, Wiltshire for a guide price of £900,000. The three-storey, Grade II-listed pub dates back to the 1800s and offers open plan seating for up to 60 customers plus an attractive canal-side beer garden. A one-acre (0.4-hectare) camping and caravan site is located in the grounds, as well as a newly-built 3,500 sq ft (325 sq m) oak barn, which could be converted into holiday accommodation subject to planning consent. Adam Bullas, licensed leisure director at Savills, comments: “This is an excellent opportunity to invest in a traditional public house, which combines plenty of character with a strong trading history. The popular camping and caravan site means potential new owners would benefit from multiple income streams.” Source link
Browser does not support script. Contact us Five buildings have been shortlisted for RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Regional Awards 2016 in Northern Ireland. From the 10 entries submitted the buildings that have been shortlisted in Northern Ireland this year are: Banbridge Health & Care Centre by Kennedy FitzGerald Architects in association with Avanti Architects David Keir Student Hub and Auditorium by Burwell Deakins Architects Home from Home BCH (Belfast City Hospital) by McGonigle McGrath The Graduate School, QUB (Queen’s University Belfast) by Consarc Design Group Ltd Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine by Ostick and Williams in association with Stantec Ltd All shortlisted buildings will be assessed by a regional jury with the winning buildings announced in April. Regional Award winners will be considered for a highly-coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, the results of which will be announced in June. The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings later in the year. The RIBA awards are running in parallel to the Royal Society of Ulster Architects Design Awards 2016 the winners of which will be announced at a Gala Dinner on 26 May 2016 in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall. ENDS 1. For further information and access to high res press images please contact Gillian Lendrum, Royal Society of Ulster Architects 028 90 323760 gillian@rsua.org.uk 2. RIBA Awards have run continuously since 1966 and are judged and presented locally. No matter the shape, size, budget or location, RIBA Award-winning schemes set the standard for great architecture all across the country. RIBA Awards are for buildings in the UK by RIBA Chartered Architects and RIBA International Fellows. 3. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. www.architecture.com Posted on Thursday 17th March 2016 Source link
Few sectors are more competitive than healthcare. Even in countries with nationalised health services, the rising cost of lifestyle changes and expensive new drugs are testing the system to its limits. Competition between private services is fierce, and expectations for care have risen with access to online diagnoses. From online booking to e-therapy, the mechanisms of care are increasingly being digitised, requiring changes to infrastructure and beckoning in more new services. In this environment the push to reduce costs is central, and facilities managers play a major role in the identification of inefficiencies and delivery of improvements. Here are five ways in which the FM’s role has gone from fixing facades to saving lives. Wireless In an age of ubiquitous wifi, it almost seems a bit old hat to talk about wireless technology. But thanks to concerns about signal conflicts, structural barriers and a relative lack of networked devices, hospitals have been slower on the uptake. Now technology is being renewed with a focus on flexibility, and patients’ expectations of hospital services are changing. Wireless equipment allows for more dynamic use of spaces, allowing rooms to be customised to the needs of the patient rather than moving them to the equipment. Conversely wireless tracking can allow for greater patient mobility, enabling remote assessments and monitoring off patients when they leave their rooms. With the ubiquity of smart mobile devices, there is also an expectations on the part of patients and visitors that internet access will be provided. The new 802.11ad wireless standard provides enormous bandwidth at shorter range than conventional wifi, meaning that a greater number of wired access points may be required in future. But by running copper lines through walls and ceilings to provide power over ethernet (PoE), the complete adoption of wireless internet can cut down considerably on visible cabling, reducing trip hazards in the process. The cheaper and more reliable use of VoIP services like Skype and messaging to talk between departments could be the final step in this all-online future. Space optimisation The use of BIM systems is crucial for efficient and accurate space management, and this is applied broadly across hospital facilities. Reimbursements from government schemes and research grants require specific details of space allocation, which can comprise as much as 12% of a facility’s income. Space management is also naturally important for patients and staff, with a delicate balance to be struck between comfort and maximising the available facilities. BIM allows for intelligent floor planning, calculating space more intelligently than traditional CAD programs. This can be combined with the tracking of a hospital’s assets to micro-manage available floor space, with simulations testing potential conflicts and usability issues. Similarly, detailed building designs can be used to simulate the spread of infection based on numerous intangible factors, combining elements such as predicted humidity and airflow. Increasingly potent computers and augmented/virtual reality solutions will only enhance these capabilities, potentially projecting the data onto real environments to highlight solutions in a physical space. User experience Little is more important in the outward facing hospital environment than the experience of patients and visitors. Hospitals can often be seen as intimidating by visitors, and all efforts should be to make the experience as pleasant as possible. Once indulgent services such as free wifi are now all but mandatory, while more advanced tech is making its way into patients’ rooms. Voice recognition is allowing occupants to change the temperature or lighting of a room from their bed, offering a degree of control, comfort and independence. Video calls meanwhile could allow patients and families to stay in touch more easily, reducing the need for expensive regular visits. For visitors, sensors can alleviate the stress of parking by tracking capacity, as well as allowing for reservations ahead of time online. Once you’ve arrived, intelligent wayfinding could point you in the right direction through digital signage, or via a companion ‘map app’. For a less sci-fi solution, data on footfall and feedback about layouts allows FMs to tweak static signage, making a hospital’s web of corridors easier to navigate. Live tracking of patient occupancy could even keep their family up-to-date on where they are in the hospital, reducing the burden on receptionists and automating another element of data collection. Telehealth Telehealth or telecare refers to the provision of remote support, diagnosis and care through internet enabled devices. With the move away from home visits by doctors, some patients’ ability to access health services has been compromised. Being able to not just book appointments online but conduct them via video has massive benefits, and not just for those who are unable to travel. With missed appointments a major source of wasted resources, remote appointments could eliminate travel problems and provide greater convenience. Reduced footfall in hospitals could also reduce costs and waiting times, as well as eliminating infection vectors for those with contagious diseases. Perhaps more pertinently, remote monitoring of patients could reduce emergency admissions and mortality rates by addressing problems more quickly. For more mobile patients with long-term conditions, wearables linked to a mobile internet connection could provide live updates on a patient, monitoring vital signs and providing GPS coordinates should they experience a problem. So-called ‘smart shirts’ are already in development, offering a health monitoring package similar to that installed in space suits. Throw AI into the mix, and this incoming data could eventually be sorted automatically, with ambulances dispatched to individuals automatically when a problem is detected. Preventative maintenance If there’s a future in automatically checking patient vitals, there’s a present implementation of this for machinery. Data logging the frequency of uses of medical equipment and any errors or hiccups can enhance maintenance routines, addressing problems before they occur. This has the obvious potential to reduce issues that could endanger lives, but also offers an efficiency saving in maintenance and the premature scrapping of equipment. The same process can be applied to cleaning and even construction. Routines can be intelligently altered by a BMS based on sensor data such as
The latest report from Balfour Beatty has urged the government to maintain a commitment to devolution in the autumn statement to stop the issue of devolution from “slipping off the radar.” The contractor’s report, entitled ‘Where now for combined authorities?’, outlines 10 recommendations made to maintain the devolution agenda in the face of political uncertainty resulting from the EU referendum and the resultant government shake up. The top recommendations made are for the government to maintain its commitment to devolution and to remove the uncertainty around EU funding for local authorities. Up until 2020, the EU has allocated £5.3 billion of regeneration funds to local councils, however the future of this funding is still not clear as the UK continues to negotiate its way out of the EU. Mike Reade, Regional Director at Balfour Beatty, said that a possible loss of funding is “certainly a concern” for local government and there is a danger that the devolution agenda may “slip off the radar” if the government places all of its focus on negotiating its way out of the EU. Reade commented: “It is the uncertainty that hurts. If there is uncertainty on policy and uncertainty on funding, then there is a danger that the momentum of devolution is lost.” Mr Reade said devolution is important for contractors because it has encouraged local government to become more commercially aware. This in turn has encouraged local councils to engage with the private sector in making investment decisions. He said: “From our point of view, discussions taking place around public and private partnerships means we’re starting to see longer programmes of work being talked about. “If we get to enter into some closer public/private partnership relationships and get more visibility about future programmes, we can be more confident about our future.”
Work has started on the multi-million-pound construction of a new social housing development in Clydebank that will benefit dozens of families. Link Group Ltd, the group behind the project, announced on November 7 that 30 affordable homes will be built in the town by next August at a cost of £3.4 million. The development, on Stewart Street, just off Dumbarton Road, will be made up of one and two-bedroom flats, and two and three-bedroom terraced houses. Link said it worked in close partnership with McTaggart Construction – which is building the homes – West Dunbartonshire Council and the Scottish Government to agree costs and timescales for the scheme. The group has been involved in the regeneration of Clydebank over the past eight years, having previously provided 134 new and improved homes at Jellicoe Street, Castle Street and Beardmore Place. Craig Sanderson, Link Group’s chief executive, said the team was “delighted” to have been supported by all parties involved, which has enabled it to build high-quality, new homes that which will continue to play a part in the regeneration of the area. He continued: “It also concludes our programme to honour the commitments we made to the local community and tenants when we merged with Gap Housing Association in 2000.” West Dunbartonshire Council’s convener of housing and Communities, Councillor David McBride, described how the council is “committed” to improving local housing throughout the area and delivering high-quality, affordable housing for all residents. He added: “We are delighted to support this development, which is creating 30 new homes in Dalmuir and helps meet the needs of our communities.” The proposed housing mix is consistent with West Dunbartonshire the council’s local housing strategy, which that sets out the housing issues in the area up until 2016. The plans show how the council and its partners mean to address the issues related to both private and rented housing.