With Homes England – the government’s housing accelerator – being tasked with generating a significant hike in the number of new homes of all kinds nationwide, notable beneficiaries of their Building Fund include off-site fabricators of modular buildings whose use is set to boom as the production of new homes
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has launched the IOSH Career Hub to provide much needed support at this difficult time for members who are looking for a new job or worried about their job security and keen to keep their development on track. The Career Hub is packed
Leading commercial real estate developer Network Space has completed the industrial scheme Central 23 located on the northern fringe of Liverpool City Centre. Constructed on behalf of global investors Infrared Capital Partners, the 1.75-acre brownfield site provides a single 23,500 sq. ft industrial unit complete with substantial office provision, significant
The construction industry in the UK is facing some unprecedented challenges. Whilst that might not be surprising given the global health pandemic that has consumed the planet in recent months, for the UK’s construction industry COVID-19 is just one more burden to bear. With a shrinking skills base, increasingly older
With Homes England – the government’s housing accelerator – being tasked with generating a significant hike in the number of new homes of all kinds nationwide, notable beneficiaries of their Building Fund include off-site fabricators of modular buildings whose use is set to boom as the production of new homes ramps up when the UK eases its way out of lockdown. But specialist development lawyer Zoe Stollard warns those involved all along the design, production and installation chain that because the number of variables involved in modular projects will be very different to traditional build projects they should seek expert legal advice at the outset, to avoid getting their fingers burnt further down the line. Zoe Stollard, who is a partner in Clarke Willmott LLP’s construction team, said: “Modular homes have been around for some time, but new technologies and the UK’s growing housing need are resulting in a boom in demand which is likely to change building methods across the board. “This will impact on the way the various parties work with each other, on build times, repairs and maintenance programmes, contract models, cooperation with utility providers and statutory undertakers to name but a few. “And so the increase in the use of modular buildings is likely to have a noticeable impact not just on building methods but on the required workforce, design control, contractual mechanism and cross-party interactions across the sector as a whole. “For this reason it is crucial that the parties involved do not rush into a modular build project before considering bespoke amendments to the agreements they use. “Modular projects are exciting, innovative and really promising if used on the right development in the right way but – particularly given the likely rapid pace once works commence – a well thought-out contract from the outset will assist in the ’low cost, high speed’ approach being a success.” Modular homes producer Ilke Homes, which received a £30m injection from Homes England at the end of 2019, recently welcomed Simone Protheroe who leads Clarke Willmott’s construction cases for Homes England, and members of the wider Clarke Willmott Construction Team to their factory in Flaxby, Yorkshire, for a tour of live modular operations which illustrated the issues and potential challenges surrounding the method of construction involved in modular building. The factory is expected to deliver 2,000 homes next year, and the recent investment is intended to help boost its annual capacity to 5,000 homes within the next five years. Following the visit, Simone Protheroe said: “There are most impressive steps forward being demonstrated in the sector but advance planning is key to modular contracting and solutions need to be found at pre-tender, not just before start on site or whilst on site as too much of the works will, in effect, be complete by this stage.” Parties involved in any part of the modular design, build and installation process can find a useful free analysis by Simone and Zoe of the most prominent benefits and challenges for modular homes and what this is likely to mean for construction contract and project relationships on Clarke Willmott’s website at https://www.clarkewillmott.com/news/modular-homes-rethinking-the-industry-means-rethinking-your-contracts/ Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with seven offices across the country in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton. For more information visit www.clarkewillmott.com .
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has launched the IOSH Career Hub to provide much needed support at this difficult time for members who are looking for a new job or worried about their job security and keen to keep their development on track. The Career Hub is packed with interactive tools and resources to help users write a standout CV or cover letter, practice aptitude tests and prepare for interview or an assessment centre. In addition, the huge library of e-learning content and resources helps users get ahead of the competition by boosting their business skills and keeping their professional development on track. Each item of content is accompanied by an estimated time for completion, making it easy for users to capture in their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record. Bev Messenger, Chief Executive, IOSH explains: “We understand how challenging this pandemic is for our members and as the professional body for occupational safety and health, we want to support them as much as we can, whether they are looking for a new job, furloughed and worried about job security or wanting to boost their development. “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to bring forward the launch of the Career Hub and add value to IOSH membership during this difficult time.” Chris Kurylec, Membership Engagement Manager, IOSH highlights the importance of professional development during the current climate: “Whilst working professionals across the globe find themselves at different stages of lockdown, e-learning has played a vital role in uniting like-minded individuals, to progress their professional development during these uncertain times. With tools and resources aimed at enhancing employability and professional development, the Career Hub offers something for all our members during this difficult time.” As well as e-learning and CPD course, The Career Hub also features a company directory of top employers. This unique feature enables users to filter job searches by location and industry sector, allowing you to move between searches as well as the IOSH jobs board with ease. To find out more about the IOSH Career Hub please visit www.iosh.com/careerhub To access official advice and guidance on Covid-19 from IOSH, The World Health Organisation and the ILO please visit www.iosh.com/covid-19
Leading commercial real estate developer Network Space has completed the industrial scheme Central 23 located on the northern fringe of Liverpool City Centre. Constructed on behalf of global investors Infrared Capital Partners, the 1.75-acre brownfield site provides a single 23,500 sq. ft industrial unit complete with substantial office provision, significant power capacity, fibre broadband and generous on-site car parking provision within a self-contained and secure yard. The site benefits from an additional service area to the rear offering rare additional parking and storage capacity. Ideally located for easy access to the City centre and surrounds, it sits off the junction with the A5038 Vauxhall Road and Leeds Street, adjacent to the City’s new creative district of Ten Streets and in close proximity to Liverpool Docks & L2 deep port to the north. Network Space Senior Development Manager Catherine Chilvers said: “Provision of prominent and accessible industrial warehouse space of this size and quality, so close to the city centre is a rarity. The scheme’s position on the fringe of the City Centre means the development is perfectly placed to appeal to a wide range of businesses and urban logistic operators who require access into the City and wider conurbation. “There is a known shortage of modern, high quality, self-contained and accessible industrial accommodation across the Liverpool City Region and the level of interest already been shown in Central 23 is extremely encouraging.” Dean Harrison, Investment Director from Infrared Capital Partners, added: “Upon completion of Central 23, its ownership transferred to InfraRed Capital Partners which acquired the site as part of a £93 million deal with Network Space in 2018. Since 2018, the portfolio has been materially expanded through a selective acquisition strategy targeting last mile delivery occupiers. The portfolio, located within the Northern Powerhouse cities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield, now extends to 1.4m sq ft in 32 urban logistics assets with construction having commenced on an additional two multi-let industrial estates.” Construction partners on Central 23 were Caddick Construction, Architectural and Engineering services were provided by WYG, with Quantity Surveyors Walker Sime. Agents for the scheme are CBRE and DTRE.
The construction industry in the UK is facing some unprecedented challenges. Whilst that might not be surprising given the global health pandemic that has consumed the planet in recent months, for the UK’s construction industry COVID-19 is just one more burden to bear. With a shrinking skills base, increasingly older workers and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit, is it really any wonder that the construction industry is weathering out its worst slump in living memory? Coronavirus is not going to disappear anytime soon and it is yet another invisible risk to front line workers in the building trade. Whilst the physical risks of the job are often abundantly clear, other personal and mental risks can be harder to spot. For example, suicide rates in the UK construction industry are an astonishing ten times higher than the national average, with the pressures of COVID-19 presenting additional dangers and further worsening the crisis. In these somewhat tumultuous times, the UK government has reiterated on multiple occasions how keen they are to reignite the construction, housing and infrastructure industries as soon as practically possible. However, it would be nonsensical and indeed dangerous for the government to overlook the fact that workers in the construction industry are among those worst affected by the virus and all of its implications. According to the Office of National Statistics, in a study of 2,500 deaths, builders were identified as most at risk of death from COVID-19, alongside taxi drivers, security guards and public transport drivers. Whilst the construction industry needs to get back on its feet sooner rather than later, that revival simply cannot come at the cost of so many lives. Well accustomed to spearheading pioneering solutions under pressure, the construction industry is one of the most innovative employment sectors in the UK. With worker safety consistently paramount anyway, Coronavirus is further complicating matters by limiting levels of interaction between workers on site. One of the key methods in tackling COVID-19 head on is through tracking technologies. In addition to this, Bluetooth device tags could also be making their way onto construction sites across the country, attached to ID badges or pieces of equipment. The hope being that these tags and trackers would be able to alert workers and trigger warnings when too many people were in one vicinity at a time, as well as monitoring worker interactions. Understanding these interactions could play a pivotal part in reducing the level of face to face contact actually required on each construction project. A number of existing innovations in the construction sector could be advantageous in tackling COVID-19 and its associated risks. Off site and modular construction techniques could help to facilitate the deployment of prefabricated critical care facilities. This would, in turn, increase the capacity of the healthcare industry, which has been under immense additional pressures; one of the largest challenges the pandemic has inflicted upon the UK and many other countries thus far. It is important to note that in order for something to be an innovative solution, it does not necessarily need to be newly invented. Often, research and developmental work focuses on progressing existing ideologies and procedures. Establishing ways for employees to interact with one another safely, or limiting their need to do so entirely could be highly beneficial long after the threat of COVID-19 dissipates. New processes and procedures to ensure all surfaces and tools are safe for workers are key in minimizing the risks facing people in the construction sector on a daily basis. In addition to this, access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is also essential, raising additional challenges to be solved with provision and distribution. “Innovative ideas always present some sort of risk, which is why it is vital to understand and utilise all of the support available,” says Sarah Collins, Head of R&D at RIFT Research & Development. “About more than just problem solving, financial incentives such as R&D tax credits work to encourage long term success, rather than merely surviving a business issue or challenge. The main objective is to make innovation less of a risk and more productive, with the hope that benefits of such actions will extend beyond any one sector or individual firm. Innovation can help everyone, and that is only becoming more apparent in the wake of COVID-19, which is why an emphasis on R&D financials in sectors like construction or engineering is more important now than ever.”
