The Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase has been completed on the UK’s first waste plastic to hydrogen facility. The facility, which is planned for Protos – Peel L&P Environmental’s strategic energy and resource hub in Cheshire – will create hydrogen from waste plastic which could be used to fuel
IM Properties has teamed up with an award-winning, global tech firm to create a regional testbed for a new energy-saving streetlight system at Blythe Valley Park (BVP) in Solihull. Designed to reduce the use of electricity by up to 62.5%, the innovative smart system has been designed by Enzen, an
Plans to deliver an essential new school for east Birmingham in 2021 remain on track, despite the challenges of one of the wettest winters on record and the recent Covid-19 crisis. The Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East is an 800-place multi-faith school being delivered by Wates Construction in the Alum Rock
The 128-tonne unit will arrive in North Wales via an 80-metre long barge The delivery of a huge electricity transformer that was set to land on a Gwynedd beach has been delayed. National Grid had hoped to bring the 128-tonne unit by barge to Traethy Graig Ddu (Black Rock sands),
Bureau Veritas has secured a place for Fire Engineering services on the Procure Partnerships Framework, designed to simplify procurement for the public sector. Structured around 11 regional framework lots, the Procure Partnerships Framework provides local delivery with national governance to support public sector bodies with their construction projects. Bureau Veritas
A draft recovery plan for the construction sector in Scotland has been launched today by the Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF). The plan, which has been created collaboratively with industry, sets out the pathway for joint action between industry and the public sector in response to the impact caused by
Midlands-contractor G F Tomlinson is due to start highway infrastructure works this August as part of the £2.4million re-development of a mixed-use business park site in Skegness for Lincolnshire County Council, via the Scape Regional Construction framework. Works at the Skegness Industrial Estate located to the west of the town,
Scottish developers gain exclusive access to a turnkey solution including the Flygt Concertor pump – a state of the art waste water pump with energy savings of up to 70%. Scottish Water Horizons, a commercial subsidiary of Scottish Water, and Xylem Water Solutions, a world leading water technology company, have
Global industry leader will provide design, construction and project management services Bechtel to oversee and create resource-efficient utilities and a highly advanced transport system to connect NEOM’s cognitive cities. NEOM Co. has awarded a contract to U.S.-based Bechtel for executive project management work on the development of the primary, base
Building safety must be properly enforced if new measures are to protect people says chief executive Mike Robinson The British Safety Council has today welcomed the government’s draft Building Safety Bill. Many of the measures had previously been trailed and today marks the formal publication of a range of measures
The Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase has been completed on the UK’s first waste plastic to hydrogen facility. The facility, which is planned for Protos – Peel L&P Environmental’s strategic energy and resource hub in Cheshire – will create hydrogen from waste plastic which could be used to fuel cars, buses and HGVs. Completed during lockdown, the study assessed all the design and engineering aspects of the proposed facility. It also evaluated the total project costs – estimated at £20m – which will facilitate Peel L&P Environmental finalising the project financing. The ‘UK first’ facility which gained planning consent from Cheshire West & Chester Council in March 2020 will use pioneering DMG (Distributed Modular Generation) technology developed by Powerhouse Energy Group plc (AIM: PHE) at Thornton Science Park, next door to Protos. The facility will transform the way plastic is dealt with regionally, with the scheme also set to provide a blueprint for future projects to be rolled out nationally. Peel L&P Environmental will develop 11 facilities across the UK in the next few years and has the option of exclusive rights to the Powerhouse Energy technology in the UK leading to over 70 facilities in total. The plastic to hydrogen facility, is the first part of the ‘Plastic Park’ planned at Protos, which will revolutionise the way that plastic waste is currently handled. Envisaged to be one of many Plastic Parks across the UK, it will provide a comprehensive solution for the 4.9 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in the UK each year, preventing it ending up in landfill, exported overseas or in the ocean. A planning application for the first Plastic Park at Protos is expected before the end of the year. Richard Barker, Director at Peel L&P Environmental said: “This FEED phase is an important step forward in delivering this innovative technology at Protos. Working with Powerhouse Energy we’re creating a blueprint for this UK first plastic-to-hydrogen facility, with plans to roll out over 70 more across the UK. With hydrogen increasingly being seen as an important part of our journey to net zero the time is now.” Jayne Hennessy, Development Manager at Peel L&P Environmental said: “The Powerhouse Energy technology was developed right next door to Protos at Thornton Science Park which illustrates how the North West is leading on innovation around net zero. It’s great to see the project moving forward and paves the way for construction starting later this year.” David Ryan, CEO of Powerhouse Energy said: “I would like to congratulate Peel L&P on bringing the FEED phase for the DMG plant at Protos to a successful completion, especially during the lockdown period which is a significant achievement. Defining the application at Protos has provided further commercial and technical validation of our DMG technology. We are confident that the delivery of this first commercial plant will provide a community based distributed source of hydrogen to further the hydrogen economy in the UK.” Peel L&P Environmental is engaging with supply chain partners to support the project with construction expected to start later this year. The company is also in the process of applying for an Environmental Permit for the facility.
IM Properties has teamed up with an award-winning, global tech firm to create a regional testbed for a new energy-saving streetlight system at Blythe Valley Park (BVP) in Solihull. Designed to reduce the use of electricity by up to 62.5%, the innovative smart system has been designed by Enzen, an occupier at BVP and winner of ‘Business of the Year’ at the Birmingham Signature Awards 2020 for its excellence and innovation in utilities. The new system uses sensors to control the streetlights and dim them when the roads are not in use. It incorporates wireless communication and an inbuilt app within the 63 smart LED streetlights to identify maintenance and repairs required to ensure optimum performance. It can also add a renewable energy source such as solar panels or smart battery power at a later date to drive further energy efficiencies. IM Properties invested in the £90,000 technology during the lockdown and reports that if successful, the system could not only be rolled out across its own portfolio but provide Enzen with a living lab to showcase the solution to other organisations, within the private and public sector, achieve their sustainability goals. Rob Hemus, asset director at IM Properties said they were pleased to be utilising the skills of one of BVP’s occupiers to create a more sustainable lighting system for the park and create real savings for occupiers. “Despite lockdown, we decided to proceed with the project as there are wider environmental and sustainability gains for the Park and it was a chance to carry out a major infrastructure project without disruption to our occupiers. The new system should begin to deliver savings on the electricity used by the streetlighting immediately. “Since we bought Blythe Valley Park in 2014 we have invested steadily in the on-site infrastructure and this latest initiative is part of our ongoing strategy to add value for occupiers and create a high-quality working environment and sustainable best in class scheme for people to live, work and relax.” For Enzen, BVP provides an exciting new opportunity to collect live data and demonstrate the benefits of technology to new and existing customers. Harsha Anand from Enzen added: “Cities and communities will play a major role in making energy to be more available, affordable and sustainable. Smart technology and smart telecommunications will be enablers in this energy transition journey. We are very happy to be supported by IM Properties in making our base at Blythe Valley Park (BVP) in Solihull into a Living Lab Showcase for these Smart Technologies.” BVP near junction 4, M42, is one of the Midlands first truly mixed-use schemes set amidst 122 acres of parkland, with 25 businesses employing 3500 people and combining commercial, industrial, leisure and residential.
Plans to deliver an essential new school for east Birmingham in 2021 remain on track, despite the challenges of one of the wettest winters on record and the recent Covid-19 crisis. The Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East is an 800-place multi-faith school being delivered by Wates Construction in the Alum Rock area of Birmingham, on behalf of Star Academies, one of the leading Multi Academy Trusts in the country. Construction work on the school started in January this year and is set to complete in April 2021, in time for the new academic year in September. John Carlin, Wates Construction’s Regional Managing Director for the Midlands, said that a combination of adapting working practices on site and a focus on using offsite manufacturing had ensured the project remained on programme. He said: “We commenced groundworks during a period of incredibly poor weather, followed almost immediately by the Covid-19 crisis, so it’s a real testament to the dedication of the team that the project remains very much on target for its completion date in 2021. “As with all our sites, there was a short period of lockdown in line with Government guidelines but we were then able to restart the site once we had established a series of protocols that would ensure the safety of everybody working on the project.” “We are now nearing the completion of the superstructure of the main building and over the next two months we will add the steel frame system and the façade. Importantly we are also working closely with our mechanical, electrical and plumbing partner, SES Engineering Services, to integrate a number of innovative offsite solutions that are driving significant efficiencies in the build programme and helping reduce the number of people we need on site.” The new school is situated on a 3.5 hectare site and includes a three-storey teaching block, a sports hall and winter and summer sports pitches. The site will also include space for 94 car parking spaces and 96 cycle spaces. Star Academies is one of the UK’s most successful academy trusts, with many of its schools topping the league tables in terms of progress for 11-16 year olds, and John believes the new school will provide a fantastic facility for the local community. He said: “Creating an enduring legacy is fundamental to our approach at Wates and we believe this school will not only provide great facilities for the local community today, but fantastic opportunities for generations to come.” David Holland, Executive Director of Capital Programmes & Estates at Star Academies, said: “Wates’ proactive approach to delivery and their desire to maintain programme despite the many challenges faced has been very impressive. Staff and pupils are very much looking forward to the handover of the new school next year”
The 128-tonne unit will arrive in North Wales via an 80-metre long barge The delivery of a huge electricity transformer that was set to land on a Gwynedd beach has been delayed. National Grid had hoped to bring the 128-tonne unit by barge to Traethy Graig Ddu (Black Rock sands), at Morfa Bychan in Gwynedd, on September 2. However, due to adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Francis the date has now been changed to Wednesday, September 16 – providing there is no further spells of bad weather. A 330m temporary trackway will be laid on the beach on Tuesday, September 15, ready for the transformer to arrive by an 80-metre barge the following day. A 10m wide cordon will be in place around the transformer which will remain at the beach until Friday, September 18. The transformer will then begin to make its way to Trawsfynydd Substation arriving at around 12.30pm by road transport. National Grid said that there will be rolling road closures to ensure the safe delivery of the unit. The route is as follows: • Depart Black Rock Sands • Turn right onto High Street • Continue onto Britannia Terrace • Continue onto A487 • Continue onto A470 • Arrive at Trawsfynydd Substation Wendy Williams, project manager said: “National Grid has been planning the transformer delivery for months, taking into account potential delays to the schedule due to adverse weather conditions. “The change to the delivery date does not have an impact on electricity supply and we hope to follow the same plan and route beginning on 15 September, weather permitting.” National Grid added that the delivery is to replace an existing transformer at Trawsfynydd substation and is not connected to nuclear reactors at any site. National Grid and North Wales Police recommend anyone planning to use the roads mentioned above should try to find alternative routes or allow additional time for their journey. A broadcast text service will be available to keep motorists and residents updated on the morning of the transformer movement. To subscribe to this text messaging service, please text INFO to 07860 027 842.
Bureau Veritas has secured a place for Fire Engineering services on the Procure Partnerships Framework, designed to simplify procurement for the public sector. Structured around 11 regional framework lots, the Procure Partnerships Framework provides local delivery with national governance to support public sector bodies with their construction projects. Bureau Veritas has been appointed to the Procure Partnerships Framework Professional Services Agreement in all regions. The four-year framework starts on 1st September 2020 and covers 11 disciplines including project management, structural and civil engineering, quality surveying, MEP design and fire engineering. It follows the recent announcement of a similar contractor framework from Procure Partnerships. It is estimated that this new professional services framework could account for a total spend of up to £500m over the four year period. Steve Highwood, UK Construction Sector Lead at Bureau Veritas, said: “This is a significant achievement for the Fire Engineering team at Bureau Veritas and a real testament to the quality of our services. “With a proven track record of delivery, we provide a range of fire safety engineering services, working closely with clients throughout the project lifecycle to help design and coordinate effective strategies. “Being appointed to the Procure Partnerships Framework will give added confidence in the quality of our services and in the way in which we approach every individual project. We’re delighted to be included on the four-year framework and looking forward to working with public sector clients across the UK in this coming period and beyond.” Robbie Blackhurst, Procure Partnerships Framework Director, said: “This agreement has been two years in the making and it now allows the Procure Partnerships Framework to offer a one-stop shop of both professional services and contractor appointments to our public sector clients. “The framework is divided into sub-regional lots supporting the appointment of both local and national practices, offering both direct award and further competition project call-offs. “We were extremely impressed with the quality of tenders received and delighted with the calibre of suppliers that we now have locked into our four-year agreement.” Find out more about our Construction Consultancy services, including Fire Engineering, at https://www.bureauveritas.co.uk/construction-consultancy.
A draft recovery plan for the construction sector in Scotland has been launched today by the Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF). The plan, which has been created collaboratively with industry, sets out the pathway for joint action between industry and the public sector in response to the impact caused by the global pandemic on the on the construction sector. The construction industry in Scotland has, like many others, been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector in Scotland which provided £7.8 billion GVA to the Scottish economy and employs 143,000 people in over 50,000 enterprises, is estimated to have contracted by 28.6 per cent in June as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic compared to the same month a year ago (June 2019). The recovery plan has been created through extensive consultation and collaboration with more than 50 organisations across business, Scottish Government, trades unions and other bodies, including the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, and represents a shared view from across the sector of a plan to get industry back on its feet. The plan outlines the immediate and short-term response to Covid-19 and sets out a pathway between this and the longer-term transformation required to build a stronger, fairer and greener economic future for Scotland. Peter Reekie, chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust and chair of the editorial group of the Construction Leadership Forum, said: “The construction industry in Scotland has received a major blow from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the level of collaboration which has gone in to preparing this Recovery Plan is unprecedented and sets a strong foundation for transformative recovery for the industry. I urge all stakeholders with an interest in the construction and related industries in Scotland to feed in your thoughts to make it even stronger.” Ken Gillespie, chair of the Industry Leadership Group, said: “This plan has only been possible through the depth of collaboration across the sector, and hard work of all involved, and demonstrates the sector’s ability to come together in a time of crisis. This is only the beginning though. The plan will evolve and respond to reflect the feedback and the needs of the sector. We are therefore calling for industry to review and contribute to the plan.” The plan identifies five areas for concerted and collaborative efforts over the coming months and has established Sub-Groups to develop and progress joint action plans: Pipeline & Commercials Skills & Workforce Transformation Supply Chain Resilience & Capability Industry Data & Insight The plan calls for key actions to respond to immediate needs which include: A clear pipeline of work brought to market quickly and efficiently on fair commercial terms which reflect the reality of the Covid-19 environment. Support of employment, fairness of work and those who may become unemployed through what will be a difficult period. Transformation of working practices to maintain and enhance worker safety whilst enabling productivity in the Covid-19 working environment. Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “The construction sector supports many other areas of our economy so it is important that we maintain the health and vitality of the industry. In order to develop this plan, we have reached new heights of collaboration but we are now keen to hear from the wider industry to ensure that we arrive at a plan that will preserve jobs and help to revive our economy.” The Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF), which has led the development of the plan, is a collaborative initiative of Construction Scotland and the Scottish Government. It was established in March 2019. Chaired by Housing Minister Kevin Stewart for the duration of the crisis, it widened its membership in response to Covid-19 and has already developed and implemented plans to get the industry safely back to work to develop and implement an action plan of improvement initiatives aligned with Government policies and the Construction Scotland Industry Strategy. Several streams of work are ongoing and prior to Covid-19, the Forum was at the early stages of considering a wider agenda for change across the industry. The CLF shared vision is of an industry that promotes a safe, productive, profitable, digitally-enabled, low-carbon, and socially responsible construction industry which offers quality jobs and fair work to a highly skilled and diverse workforce and a quality and life-time value product to its customers. The recovery plan is available to view on https://www.constructionforum.scot/. Industry is invited to send feedback, comments and questions via the website on enquiries@constructionforum.scot by 15 September. CLF will take all feedback on board to help develop the plan further, with regular updates published on the CLF site.
Midlands-contractor G F Tomlinson is due to start highway infrastructure works this August as part of the £2.4million re-development of a mixed-use business park site in Skegness for Lincolnshire County Council, via the Scape Regional Construction framework. Works at the Skegness Industrial Estate located to the west of the town, close to main routes such as the A52 include the construction of a new highway link to join up two parts of the existing industrial estate, which will allow for the expansion of the park site onto the surrounding agricultural land. The preparation works will enable the current site to be more easily accessible for multiple business functions in future, to accommodate speculative builds or purpose-built units for a range of private clients, including local seasonal companies in Skegness for storage needs. As well as a new 4,000m2 access road, there will also be a foul water pump station that will service the land, as well as water and electric service ducts to allow services to be easily brought onto the site in future and LED street lighting to current standards. Expected to be complete in spring 2021, the redeveloped business park site will span six hectares, which includes the current existing main industrial site and surrounding road infrastructure that is being opened up for future development. G F Tomlinson has worked on numerous projects for Lincolnshire County Council in the past, including heritage works for Lincoln Castle and in the education sector – the refurbishment of school buildings at Lincoln Castle Academy and Monks Abbey Primary School, the construction of a new two storey Science and ICT building at Walton High School in Grantham, as part of its expansion and transition from an all-girls school to a coeducational secondary school, and the refurbishment of the disused former Mablethorpe Tennyson High School, to create the Springwell Alternative Academy in Mablethorpe. Managing director of G F Tomlinson, Andy Sewards, said: “We’re delighted to announce the commencement of infrastructure works this August for the redevelopment of the existing business park site in Skegness. The works will ensure accessibility to the site and existing industrial estate and will facilitate potential for economic development for the town, providing quality space with access to agricultural land for a number of businesses in the vicinity, or for those looking to relocate to the Skegness area. “We have a solid, longstanding relationship with our client, Lincolnshire County Council, and have worked with them for numerous projects and developments since 2012 when we did the first of the waste transfer stations. We look forward to seeing this project through from its summer start to finish, which is expected at the beginning of next year.” Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The expansion of the business park is a big confidence boost for our coast. Diversifying the economy in the area will provide more year-round employment as well as allowing local businesses to expand or re-locate. “The site will be suitable for a wide range of business needs and usage, including purpose-built units for many different companies, and will encourage future investment. By boosting investment and creating jobs, there will be benefits throughout the wider area.” Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “G F Tomlinson has a long-standing relationship with Lincolnshire County Council and it is great to see that they are utilising the speed and efficiency of the Regional Construction framework for the infrastructure works at the Skegness Industrial Estate, ensuring it is fit for expansion will bring investment to the local area, helping with the town’s economic recovery and future development.”
Scottish developers gain exclusive access to a turnkey solution including the Flygt Concertor pump – a state of the art waste water pump with energy savings of up to 70%. Scottish Water Horizons, a commercial subsidiary of Scottish Water, and Xylem Water Solutions, a world leading water technology company, have announced an exciting new partnership that will help developers improve efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint. The two organisations have teamed up to provide the Scottish developer market with exclusive access to the world’s first waste water pump system with integrated intelligence, Xylem’s Flygt Concertor system. The Flygt Concertor system offers a host of significant benefits. The system’s smart technology can sense environmental operating conditions and adapt the pumps performance to ensure they always operate at the optimum level, whilst providing intelligent feedback to station operators. Compared to traditional pumps, the Flygt Concertor system offers up to a 70 per cent saving on energy consumption, drastically reducing carbon and running costs. All of these benefits have a positive impact on Scottish Water vesting the asset, making the process easier for developers. Previous installations of the Xylem technology have proven to be a huge success for Scottish Water. With the pumps working significantly more efficiently and with increased resilience compared to other technologies, Scottish Water saw both cost and carbon savings at two sites in Ayrshire. David Thompson, Capital Liaison Engineer for Scottish Water, said: “With the installation of Xylem pumps at two of our pumping stations, we saw reduced energy bills combined with savings made through fewer call outs, repairs, pump replacements and maintenance time, which amounted to Scottish Water making collective cost savings of just over £42,000 per annum. The increased efficiency of the pumps also meant that we saw energy savings of around 30 – 40 kilowatts per year.” Scottish Water Horizons’ Operations Manager, Colin Lindsay, said “Our new partnership will offer developers peace of mind whilst contributing to a greener future for Scotland. “In the midst of climate change, we’re committed to supporting Scotland’s journey to Net Zero Emissions. Scottish Water have pledged to Net Zero five years before the Scottish Government targets, so we want to do everything we can to drive efficiency and protect precious resources. The developer community is constantly looking for innovative systems that will help them reduce their carbon footprint whilst driving down costs. This partnership means they can choose the Flygt Concertor system, safe in the knowledge that installation will be managed and carried out by our team. “This agreement is exactly what Scottish Water Horizons is all about – bringing fresh thinking and innovative ideas together to help our customers, our environment and our economy thrive.” Scottish Water Horizons have years of experience in the developer market, providing a range of water and waste water services throughout Scotland. Their pumping station service starts at initial design and carries right through to vesting with Scottish Water. Chris Stewart, Xylem’s Regional Sales and Operations Manager for Scotland, said: “Xylem are delighted that Scottish Water Horizons have embraced the opportunity to drive innovation and efficiencies into this market. This collaboration will offer significant reductions in capital and operational costs to the housing developer, while contributing significant carbon reductions in line with the Scottish government’s carbon neutral strategy”. “Historically pump stations can be inefficient, expensive to install and maintain, with significant operational costs. Many of the problems that developers experience with pump stations, such as clogging and breakdowns can be alleviated through the use of innovative Xylem technology that has a proven track record within the Utilities market. With this agreement, Scottish Water Horizons and Xylem Water Solutions can offer a proven alternative from a trusted provider.” Two Scottish Water Horizons and Xylem projects in the Scottish developer market are already underway featuring the Flygt Concertor system at sites in Renfrewshire and Argyll & Bute. The projects, which were temporarily on hold due to Covid-19 restrictions and safety measures, are due for completion later this year. For more information about Xylem’s intelligent solutions and services, please visit https://www.xylem.com/en-uk/products-services/pumps–packaged-pump-systems/pumps/submersible-pumps/wastewater-pumps/flygt-concertor.
Global industry leader will provide design, construction and project management services Bechtel to oversee and create resource-efficient utilities and a highly advanced transport system to connect NEOM’s cognitive cities. NEOM Co. has awarded a contract to U.S.-based Bechtel for executive project management work on the development of the primary, base infrastructure for NEOM as the Giga-project advances work to create the world’s leading destination to attract talent and investment. NEOM, a beacon for the future of urban living, selected Bechtel to oversee and create resource-efficient utilities and a highly advanced transport system to connect NEOM’s cognitive cities. Integrating sustainable land use, intelligent urban design and multi-modal mobility, NEOM will deliver a community of exceptional liveability. Work will include simultaneous construction in multiple locations requiring extraordinary engineering solutions in challenging terrain. NEOM’s next generation cognitive cities will support its cutting-edge urban environments, improving the lives of residents and businesses far beyond the capabilities of today’s smart cities. NEOM’s infrastructure will utilize AI, robotics, and human-machine fusion to deliver greater predictive intelligence and enable faster decision making across all NEOM sectors. Commenting on the award, NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al Nasr said: “Built from the ground up as a model of future living, NEOM will be one of the largest, most sophisticated and advanced infrastructure projects ever undertaken globally, and we are delighted to have a major industry leader like Bechtel on board to work with us to realize our ambitions.” Bechtel Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Brendan Bechtel said: “NEOM is one of the most complex projects in living memory and we are proud to be part of it. The vision for a futuristic, innovative and sustainable ecosystem is unique and bold, and we believe NEOM will change the way new cities are developed by future generations. We have helped our customers shape the Kingdom’s history with many key projects and we are honored to be a partner in building its future.” Bechtel has deep experience of working in the Kingdom having been involved in many other high-profile Saudi projects, including Jubail Industrial City and the Riyadh metro. In its role as Executive Project Manager, Bechtel will draw on over 120 years of industry experience to deliver a lasting positive impact in NEOM. NEOM will be home to an economy and society oriented to the future with a technologically advanced, sustainable infrastructure powered by 100% renewable energy to support truly liveable cities. NEOM has accelerated work this year in many areas including a contract with Saudi telecom giant, stc, for the establishment of a 5G network infrastructure that will accelerate NEOM’s digital ambitions. It also signed a $5-billion partnership with US-based Air Products and Saudi Acwa Power to develop the world’s largest green hydrogen and green ammonia plant to be operational in 2025. About NEOM NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a New Future might look like. It is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built from the ground up as a living laboratory – a place where entrepreneurship will chart the course for this New Future. It will be a destination and a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses, and reinventing environmental conservation. NEOM will be the home and workplace to more than a million residents from around the world. It will include hyperconnected, cognitive towns and cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues, and tourist destinations. As a hub for innovation, entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies will come to research, incubate and commercialize new technologies and enterprises in ground-breaking ways. Residents of NEOM will embody an international ethos and embrace a culture of exploration, risk-taking and diversity – all supported by a progressive law compatible with international norms and conducive to economic growth. For further information email: media@neom.com or visit www.neom.com. About Bechtel Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers’ objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world’s infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place. Bechtel serves the Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Oil, Gas & Chemicals; and Mining & Metals markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com
Building safety must be properly enforced if new measures are to protect people says chief executive Mike Robinson The British Safety Council has today welcomed the government’s draft Building Safety Bill. Many of the measures had previously been trailed and today marks the formal publication of a range of measures outlined in the wake of the tragic fire at Grenfell tower three years ago. According the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, the bill takes forward the government’s commitment to fundamental reform of the building safety system. It includes measures to implement the principles and recommendations of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. The government has also today published a consultation on Fire Safety. The bill formally creates a new national regulator for the safety of buildings, working with local authorities and environmental health departments. The government has asked HSE to establish a new building safety regulator to oversee the safe design, construction and occupation of high-risk buildings so that residents are safe and feel safe. It will be independent and give expert advice to local regulators, landlords and building owners, the construction and building design industry, and to residents. Last week, Mike Robinson, chief executive of the British Safety Council, wrote to the housing minister Chris Pincher MP asking for an urgent update on the building safety bill. He expressed his concern at the slow progress in removing dangerous ACM cladding from high-rise residential buildings saying: “While I know you share my frustration at the slow progress since 2017, I would be grateful if you could focus all the efforts of your officials in addressing this important issue of public safety.” Speaking today Mike Robinson, said: “I am glad that the bill has now been published, even if after such a long wait. The measures set out by the government in the Building Safety Bill should mean that building owners have nowhere to hide if they break the rules. But if that is to mean anything for residents and workers in potentially unsafe buildings then the government has got to stump up for it. The HSE has a great track record, but if they are to live up to the expectations of this bill then they must be properly resourced. The reality is that over the last decade funding has halved, and staff numbers cut by a third.” He went on to say: “Alongside establishing a sound financial basis for the new building safety regulator, we must see local authorities given the resources they need to inspect and enforce regulations. Enforcement must be able to make its presence felt – as I have said before, local authorities need hard cash as well as teeth.” About the British Safety Council The British Safety Council believes that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work. Since its foundation in 1957, the British Safety Council has campaigned tirelessly to protect workers from accidents, hazards and unsafe conditions, and played a decisive role in the political process that has led to the adoption of landmark safety legislation in the UK. Its members in more than 60 countries are committed to protecting and improving the wellbeing of workers, believing that a healthy and safe work environment is also good for business. As part of its charitable work, the British Safety Council leads health and safety networking forums for all sectors, facilitates and promotes best practice in Britain and overseas. It also offers a range of services and products, including training, qualifications, publications, audits and awards. The British Safety Council works closely with organisations, charities and individuals who share its vision of ensuring that every worker goes home at the end of the day as healthy as they were when they went to work.
