12 July 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has been awarded a £170 million contract to modernise baggage handling at Heathrow Airport.  The project, which has been awarded through the Heathrow Airport Limited Delivery Integrator Framework to which Balfour Beatty was appointed in 2014, involves upgrading and installing baggage screening and handling systems at Heathrow’s eastern baggage facility. The company will use its technological expertise across the project including the latest Building Information Modelling techniques to define the most efficient approach to design, manage logistics and to interface with live airport operations. Source link

Thinking of building a big house extension or your own home in 2016? You aren’t alone! The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today (Thursday 17 December) published new research forecasting the main trends in UK housing design for the year ahead. Over the course of 2015, RIBA Chartered Architects have reported the design trends in greatest demand: Sustainable and energy conservation measures – demand for sustainable materials, advanced insulation products, water conservation and recycling features Larger extensions and bigger new build bespoke houses Adaptable designs – increased demand for homes that can make living easier for ageing occupants and live-in relatives Family social hubs – multi-functional open-plan spaces are still highly desirable An increase in land availability and the relaxation of planning restrictions have led to an increase of one-off single houses and housing extensions. 55% of our Architects reported that bespoke homes and housing extensions are getting bigger in size. As the ageing population increases, more of us are planning ahead for later in life by seeking designs solutions to facilitate easier living. Adaptations to make independent living simpler, or adjusting a family home layout for the addition of an older family member are the two main drivers in this growing market. The popularity of generous multi-functional living spaces – combining cooking, dining and living space shows no sign of diminishing – when these spaces are combined with direct access to gardens and outside space, they are even more popular with 66% of our Architects reporting a demand. Sustainability and energy conservation are no longer niche concerns but factor prominently in the design decisions of many clients. 70% of our Architects expect to see an increase in specifying advanced insulation products and 66% expect to see a rise in the use of solar/PV panels. RIBA President Jane Duncan said: “The appetite for building or improving your own home for your family and future shows no sign of abating, with architects experiencing increased demand from creative and ambitious homeowners. This new RIBA report gives a glimpse of what to expect in housing design for 2016 and beyond. It shows the insight, value for money and peace of mind that an architect can bring to any housing project.” Find your own architect in 2016 Choosing an accredited RIBA Chartered Practice will give you peace of mind. They comply with strict criteria covering insurance, health and safety and quality management systems. Use the RIBA’s free ‘Find an Architect’ directory at www.architecture.com/FindAnArchitect and search for an RIBA Chartered Practice that is right for you. You can create your own shortlist from over 3,000 practices and 40,000 projects. Architects are highly skilled, and professionally trained to turn your aspirations into reality. ENDS Notes to editors 1. For further press information contact Howard Crosskey howard.crosskey@riba.org  2. To download the full report click here: https://riba.box.com/s/furxttrnl3hlne98mjrvv7403v9ediw9  3. To ‘Find An Architect’ visit www.Architecture.com/FindAnArchitect  4. Alternatively, RIBA can create a tailored shortlist of practices with the appropriate skills and experience on your behalf. The service is confidential and provided free of charge. Contact us on 020 7307 3700 or email clientservices@riba.org. Posted on Thursday 17th December 2015 Source link

The really determined can make a bull case for Travis Perkins, builders’ merchant and favourite hang-out for DIY-aficionados. Determination is needed, as both share price and fundamentals are bleak. Since June, the shares are down a quarter, falling 5 per cent on Wednesday’s trading update. Travis, unlike rival Wolseley, is 99 per cent exposed to barely-growing UK construction. And awesome kit like the DeWalt Cross Line Laser and Hammer Drill, yours for £200, is made overseas. The pound’s collapse means either the price must rise, hurting customers’ wallets, or Travis’s margins will suffer. This leaves nothing but unpleasant choices. Travis announced some branch closures and job losses in its latest quarterly results, which despite market disappointment could have been worse. There was like-for-like sales growth in most segments, particularly the consumer side (6 per cent, year-on-year). The exception was plumbing and heating, hit by the gradual end of government-funded efficiency schemes; a blow, but by its nature not one that will repeat. The bull case has various other parts. There is a government vow to build more houses; yes, a promise often broken, but this government will be all the more keen to keep it, given what a “hard Brexit” does to other drivers of growth. Also, builders and households are less indebted than during the last recession, which saw Travis shares fall 85 per cent. Its own balance sheet is in better shape, too, with net debt below one times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. A price of 11 times 2016 earnings, according to UBS, is not expensive. Add to this a record of cost discipline (Travis made profits through the financial crisis) and you have your bull case. Against this, no one, including Travis, has any idea of how the inflation about to hit the high street will affect sentiment. Hence Travis’s belt-tightening which, if echoed by their customers, will lead to a DIY recession with no instruction manual. Email the Lex team at lex@ft.com Sample the FT’s top stories for a week You select the topic, we deliver the news. Source link

Solar panel VAT rate ‘to stay at 5%’ Published:  24 March, 2016 The government has announced it will keep the reduced VAT rate on energy-saving materials such as solar panels and heat pumps. There had been fears the rate of VAT applied to these products would rise to 20% following a European Court (EC) ruling that the reduced rate breached EU laws. Following the EC ruling, HMRC published a consultation proposing to increase the VAT rate as of 1 August, 2016. However, the Labour party tabled an amendment to the Finance Bill that would empower the Treasury to give solar and other energy saving materials lower rates of VAT. This has gained cross-party support in recent weeks, and the Prime Minister told the House of Commons on 21 March that the government would not oppose the amendment. Treasury aides have now confirmed that the installation of all energy saving materials “including solar panels, wind turbines and water turbines will continue to benefit from the current, reduced rates of VAT”. The European Commission has also said it will bring forward proposals to allow “flexibility” in the VAT rates applied to different products within EU countries. The renewable industry has reacted positively to the news, with the Solar Trade Association (STA) describing it as “very encouraging”. A large number of organisations including the STA, the Builders’ Merchants Federation (BMF), the Association of Conservation of Energy, Sustainable Energy Association and the Residential Landlords Association have all campaigned vigorously against the VAT rise. Leonie Greene, head of external affairs at the STA, said: “The solar industry owes a big thank you to the MPs of all parties who rallied in support of solar over the last week and put their name to the amendment.” The STA estimated that an increase in VAT from 5% to 20% would add £900 to the cost of a typical residential solar photovoltaic panel installation. Brett Amphlett, policy and public affairs’ manager at the BMF, commented: “Now the legislation has been passed, improvements can continue to enjoy the 5% rate to make homes warmer, cut bills and save money. That is good news for merchants, manufacturers and solar panel installers.”   Source link