According to Bloomberg, Axa Investment Managers-Real Assets will give the project’s co-investors three alternatives to proceed with the scheme: start construction this year as planned; delay; or sell it. Although, sources have told Bloomberg that latter option is the least likely. The other investors backing the scheme include Singaporean Temasek
A survey of quantity surveyors reveals a decline in optimism among the profession about their business prospects. Above: RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn The latest UK construction market survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) revealed a drop in the number of construction professionals saying that they expected
Today, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) proudly celebrates ten years since the formation of the independent global practice. RLB was launched in 2007, in response to growing globalisation and increased customer requirements. Since then, the firm has gone from strength to strength with now some 3,600 employees in 120 offices across
A recent soil mixed road project by Deep Soil Mixing Ltd has won the Environmental and Sustainability Award at the Institute of Highways Engineers Mercia Brand Awards. The project was carried out for contractor Kier Living and consulting engineers Patrick Parsons Ltd. The award was presented to the multi-disciplinary consulting
According to Bloomberg, Axa Investment Managers-Real Assets will give the project’s co-investors three alternatives to proceed with the scheme: start construction this year as planned; delay; or sell it. Although, sources have told Bloomberg that latter option is the least likely. The other investors backing the scheme include Singaporean Temasek Holdings Pte, Canada-based Public Sector Pension Investment Board and British Columbia Investment Management Corp. If the investors opt to go-ahead with construction this year, the contract could be signed as early as October, according to Bloomberg. AXA IM – Real Assets chief executive Pierre Vaquier told Bloomberg ahead of the vote to leave the EU on 23 June that he was awaiting the outcome of the referendum before deciding on whether to proceed with the tower. 22 Bishopsgate is being developed in partnership with Lipton Rogers, with Brookfield Mulitplex attached to the project in a pre-construction service agreement. The project replaced the previous Pinnacle scheme, for which construction began in 2008 and suspended in 2012 after the recession. The new designs include a 278 m tall tower – 10 m lower than the previously approved scheme – with 130,000 sq m of office space. An AXA IM – Real Assets spokesperson said: “We remain committed to the site, we are continuing to work and we are considering all our options.” Source link
A survey of quantity surveyors reveals a decline in optimism among the profession about their business prospects. Above: RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn The latest UK construction market survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) revealed a drop in the number of construction professionals saying that they expected to see workload rise over the next 12 month. While the balance between those expecting workload to rise and those expecting it to fall was a healthy 55%, this was a considerable decrease on expectations from this time last year when 79% more respondents expected to see workloads rise. Meanwhile, following 4% employment growth in 2015, respondents foresee headcounts continuing to rise over the coming 12 months with a net balance of 41% expecting growth, and a rise of 2% forecast, on average. The survey also confirmed reports that growth in the private housing sector slowed down considerably during the first quarter of 2016. In fact, private housing workloads rose at their slowest pace since the second quarter of 2013. Only 36% more of those working in the sector reported a rise in growth rather than a fall over the first quarter of 2016. A year ago that figure was close to 50%. Across all sectors, the RICS construction market survey shows that 33% more respondents saw workloads rise rather than fall during the last quarter of 2015, down from 38% three months ago. RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said: “On the surface, it might seem surprising that we are witnessing a slowdown in the construction sector just a few months after hearing the Chancellor’s ‘We Are The Builders’ speech, given the Government’s significant commitment to this sector. One might well ask why growth in private housing workloads is softening at a time when policy is firmly focussed on the creation of new starter homes. We have long held the view that starter homes cannot be the only solution. There is an issue around the availability of land on which new houses can be built, and we would like to see more being done to free up private brownfield sites. “Our survey tells us that planning delays are one of the biggest barriers to growth in the construction sector. We have recommended that councils work together to create a team of emergency planners who can parachute into boroughs that are experiencing significant delays, therefore reducing a major growth barrier. “That said, we cannot discount the climate of uncertainty caused by the forthcoming EU referendum. We know that a range of sectors have been affected by these issues as investors look to delay any decisions until a final outcome has been determined, and construction is no exception.” This article was published on 20 Apr 2016 (last updated on 20 Apr 2016). Source link
Today, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) proudly celebrates ten years since the formation of the independent global practice. RLB was launched in 2007, in response to growing globalisation and increased customer requirements. Since then, the firm has gone from strength to strength with now some 3,600 employees in 120 offices across the world, working with prestigious clients such as London Olympics 2012, Sydney Opera House and the HSBC Headquarters Building in Hong Kong. Ann Bentley, Global Chair of RLB commented, ‘It is my great honour and pleasure to congratulate and thank all who have contributed to the success of RLB over the last ten years. Our thanks are extended to the many customers and partners who have continued to work with us on projects, adding to an extensive list of achievements across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and Oceania. ‘Since the formation of our global practice, RLB has enjoyed close working relationships with many in the local and international property and construction industry. The nature of our business means that our futures are interdependent and accomplishments in each of RLB’s 120 offices reflect success for us all. ‘At RLB, we are committed to creating value for our customers through our four core services – cost management and quantity surveying, project and programme management, building surveying and health & safety, and advisory services.’ Following two centuries of progression and growth, three major companies with common values – Rider Hunt, Levett & Bailey and Bucknall Austin – joined together to form the Rider Levett Bucknall global practice on 23 June 2007. In the following decade, the global practice expanded its worldwide portfolio into Africa with seven offices, established a new business in Malaysia and Myanmar, opened new offices in China, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the Philippines, and further consolidated new business across the Middle East and Caribbean. Through the collaborative efforts of the global practice and the skills and passion of its people, RLB has enjoyed remarkable growth and achievements in the past ten years. RLB continues to build on global knowledge and local expertise as an independent leader in the industry, helping to shape the future of the built environment. Key sectors of specialisation include education, energy, healthcare, hotels and leisure, infrastructure, mixed use, offices, public and civic, residential, retail and sport. As the firm brings new projects to life, it will continue to contribute to the future direction of major cities across the globe over the next decade. RLB has released a book to commemorate its tenth anniversary in 2017, ‘Confidence Today Inspires Tomorrow; Celebrating a Decade of Achievement’. https://10years.rlb.com/
A recent soil mixed road project by Deep Soil Mixing Ltd has won the Environmental and Sustainability Award at the Institute of Highways Engineers Mercia Brand Awards. The project was carried out for contractor Kier Living and consulting engineers Patrick Parsons Ltd. The award was presented to the multi-disciplinary consulting engineers Patrick Parsons Ltd for the deep soil mixing works below the adoptable highway at Harrowby Road, Bilston. The site was being redevelop by Kier Living to provide residential properties. However, the landfilled made ground below a section of the road was of such poor quality that CBR values (CBR = California bearing ratio, a test for the mechanical strength of the natural ground) were almost non-existent. Therefore, the local Highways Authority and Severn Trent would not adopt roads due to the low ground quality. Patrick Parsons Ltd and Deep Soil Mixing Ltd provided a suitable ground improvement method using DSM’s double rotational mixing head to soil mix the ground as well as improving the waste classification of excess materials post treatment. By mechanically mixing the existing soil with a cementitious binder, the new geotechnically modified material provides greater ground stability the area can be used for residential properties. Additionally, this method also proved to be much more sustainable and environmental friendly than the previously planned method of removing the low quality ground and replacing it with imported granular fill. Besides that, it also had the advantage of being quicker a more cost effective. Colin Critchlow, Director at Deep Soil Mixing Ltd, comments: “We are very proud that the Harrowby Road project has won the IHE Mercia Award for environmental and sustainability project of the year. That is the ethos of what Deep Soil Mixing Ltd and the solutions we offer is all about, environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions.”
