Leading commercial property developer Morris Property has announced a substantial acquisition of 13.8 acres at Hortonwood 45 in Telford. This represents the 23rd commercial development undertaken by the Shropshire-based family-run property group in the Telford and Wrekin borough, including the two Morris-owned and built developments, Access442 and Paragon Point. It
One of the UK’s leading geospatial technology firms is harnessing the power of augmented reality to improve utility asset visibility and reduce the need for site excavation in major infrastructure projects. Civil engineering contractor, FM Conway, undertakes regular maintenance on buried utility assets across the UK and this often requires
Queensberry was a shortlisted entrant for the prestigious Developer of the Year Award at this year’s UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF). Never has its corporate mission to make the world a better place to live in, been more relevant. Founder, Paul Sargent shares his insights from the
7 June 2023 announced as date for first passenger service between Picardy Place and Newhaven as Pilrig Wheels installed. Passenger services on the new tram route to Newhaven are scheduled start at 12pm on 7 June 2023, it was announced today (Thursday, 25 May). The route, which has been under
Deepki, the world-leading ESG platform for real estate, today announced its acquisition of Nooco, the French SaaS company created by VINCI Energies that measures and optimizes the carbon footprint of building construction and renovation projects. This strategic acquisition will allow Deepki, the leading ESG data intelligence platform for real estate
A NEW organisation has been created with a core mission to collectively deliver high-quality energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies at scale across the UK’s housing stock. Backed by the country’s leading contractors and residential retrofit specialists and with widescale delivery in mind, the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) will support
Kingspan Data & Flooring, the industry leader in data and flooring solutions, has successfully completed their first external ISO 37301 audit, the global benchmark for state-of-the-art compliance management. ISO 37301 forms part of a new commitment by Kingspan Group to have all 190 of its manufacturing sites around the world
Ecofill Group, the UK-based construction technology company, announced today that Catherine Li has joined as CEO, bringing with her over twenty years of extensive global experience in sustainable development of the built environment, including most recently as CEO of Atkins / SNC Lavalin in Asia Pacific. Ecofill is an award-winning,
A policy briefing by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) examines how UK markets can better drive decarbonisation in foundation industries such as steel, cement and glass. The briefing summarises the results of a 12-month research project (the full results of which are available in a longer technical report and three
Helping deliver compliant building information at project completion and handover. Taking the pain out of Building Safety Act Gateway 3 regulator approvals. Today, Createmaster, a leading digital handover and building manual solutions provider, introduces its ‘Golden Thread: Gateway 3 solution’. Underpinned by the Zutec platform, the solution combines the Createmaster
Leading commercial property developer Morris Property has announced a substantial acquisition of 13.8 acres at Hortonwood 45 in Telford. This represents the 23rd commercial development undertaken by the Shropshire-based family-run property group in the Telford and Wrekin borough, including the two Morris-owned and built developments, Access442 and Paragon Point. It also marks the company’s 13th development at Hortonwood. The Hortonwood 45 site, acquired through agents, Andrew Dixon, situated to the north of the estate, already has planning consent for a single 140,000 sq ft Distribution Warehouse unit and, with funding secured, construction will start mid-August 2023 with completion targeted for September 2024. The unit will be constructed to a Breeam ‘Very Good’ Rating and will benefit from 11m eaves (to underside of haunch), 50kn/m² floor loadings, single storey integral offices totalling 4,995 ft² and will feature 4 Dock Levellers and 3 Level Access loading doors. Head of Development at Morris Property, Liz Lowe commented: “Sustainability sits at the forefront of our design for the unit ensuring occupiers operational costs are kept to a minimum, fulfilling many of the ESG ratings used in measuring the sustainability and social impact of the building. “We have incorporated an upgraded roof structure to accommodate PV panels and a 1MVA power supply if required. In addition, there will be parking for 193 cars including 20 EV charging points.” The acquisition represents Morris Property’s clear commitment to continued investment in Telford and its appetite to acquire oven-ready sites. Morris’s agility and resources ensure that the project will complete in 13 months, helping meet business requirement for a unit of this size in one of Telford’s principal warehouse employment areas. “Working with the vendor’s agent, we are delighted to secure this site and ensure that we have the funding in place for our construction team to be on site in mid-August 2023. We are confident that this new build opportunity will appeal to many occupiers with its excellent road links to the M54 just 4 miles away.” Liz concluded. Andrew Dixon, from Andrew Dixon & Company said: ““It was a pleasure to work with a substantial local company, and we are pleased to be involved in such an exciting project that will provide further local investment and prosperity.” Morris Property has been acquiring, building, restoring and leasing commercial property in the region for more than 100 years.
One of the UK’s leading geospatial technology firms is harnessing the power of augmented reality to improve utility asset visibility and reduce the need for site excavation in major infrastructure projects. Civil engineering contractor, FM Conway, undertakes regular maintenance on buried utility assets across the UK and this often requires complex and hazardous excavation work to determine the condition of the assets. FM Conway has a wealth of 3D data that it uses to create design models of buried assets, but this is often supplied to on-site engineers in 2D format, which can be challenging to interpret. Their engineers required access to better visual representations of buried assets to safely assess their condition, reducing both the need for excavation and the likelihood of service strikes due to damaged assets. MGISS supplied a situational awareness solution to FM Conway, comprising augmented reality software which integrates all 3D geospatial utility data and presents it through an app, allowing engineers to see both the highway and the subsurface utilities in real time. The vGIS solution uses accurate survey and scan data to create virtual 3D projects with fully customisable layers, providing visibility over buried gas, water, electric, telecoms and unmarked assets, showing a visual representation of their size, depth and exact location. The app is accessible through a QR code, which means anyone with a smart device can investigate the assets in situ, ensuring all relevant personnel have visibility over buried assets in specific sites. Many of the sites FM Conway works on, particularly in central London, are footpaths congested with underground utility networks, so the simplicity and accessibility of this solution delivers valuable insights to the team. This intelligent solution, powered by X-ray vision clarity, is now simplifying field work, improving productivity and streamlining processes for the engineering teams at FM Conway. Darren Harlen, Head of Consultancy at FM Conway, said: “We’re supporting excavations by removing the need for sprayed line tracing, and we’re able to project 3D data demonstrating the size, depth and labels for underground assets which we’ve surveyed using GPR. “Reality capture is enabling us to reduce risk by removing the need to undertake excavations when completing maintenance work on assets we’ve already scanned using the platform. “We’ve worked closely with MGISS to develop a system that works for us, leveraging their skills and expertise to rapidly deploy a solution to reduce risks across our excavation sites.” View a short video of the impact this solution is having here. Daniel Taylor, Technology Platform and Services Sales Manager at MGISS, added: “FM Conway needed a data-led solution that would improve visibility and reduce the need for physical excavation on its sites. “Now, through the power of augmented reality, the team have a robust system in place which is streamlining their design, build and maintenance processes. “This technology has a multitude of applications, across varying sectors, and the MGISS team looks forward to exploring new opportunities to integrate this solution, minimising on-site risk and delivering valuable time-savings to our customers.” Find out more about this solution and MGISS’s geospatial solutions here.
Queensberry was a shortlisted entrant for the prestigious Developer of the Year Award at this year’s UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF). Never has its corporate mission to make the world a better place to live in, been more relevant. Founder, Paul Sargent shares his insights from the week’s events and reflects on how UKREiiF has renewed his commitment to excellence, sustainability, and community transformation. Paul commented: “Our core philosophy revolves around the belief that intelligent design has enormous impact on community well-being. “We are deeply passionate about improving the quality of life in the towns and cities we work in by driving their physical and economic transformation. Our mission is driven by a genuine love for what we do and a vision for a brighter future. “I knew that UKREiiF was always going to be thought-provoking, and it proved just that. There were three key themes of the role of tech to achieve net zero; social value and equality, diversity, and inclusion; and the future of real estate. “At Queensberry, we are dedicated to incorporating environmentally friendly practices into our projects, ensuring a more sustainable future for the communities we serve. Take the recent development of Elshaw House in Sheffield as an example. We have delivered one of the first NABORS 5 standard, net-zero-ready office buildings outside of London. “The future of real estate does not have to focus purely on new buildings either. We strongly promote the restoration and rejuvenation of historic buildings. Our expertise in repurposing heritage assets at Heart of the City, Sheffield; George Hotel, Huddersfield; and Borough Yards, London has been the catalyst for significant neighbourhood regeneration and has involved meticulously preserving original buildings during the redevelopment process. “We have adopted forward-thinking approaches towards projects like Borough Yards in London. We transformed disused railway arches into retail, restaurant, and leisure spaces to meet the needs of the local community and visitors. “As developers, it is important to measure and evaluate the social value of our work and we must ensure that the social impact of development or investment proposals is proactively accounted for at every stage in the lifecycle of a regeneration scheme. “Our industry must adapt and thrive amidst the ever-changing urban landscape and UKREiiF has served as a powerful reminder that the best development partners anticipate and embrace emerging trends, technological advancements, and societal shifts. As such a partner, Queensberry remains committed to staying at the forefront of these changes to create spaces that are resilient, relevant, and valuable in the long term.”
7 June 2023 announced as date for first passenger service between Picardy Place and Newhaven as Pilrig Wheels installed. Passenger services on the new tram route to Newhaven are scheduled start at 12pm on 7 June 2023, it was announced today (Thursday, 25 May). The route, which has been under construction since November 2019, has been delivered within the £207.3m budget meeting the scheduled completion date of spring 2023. Council Leader Cammy Day welcomed the news from Iona Street, where two historic cable wheels dating back to Victorian Edinburgh’s original tram system were lowered into place on Thursday. The wheels, which are 2.6m in diameter, were rediscovered at the Pilrig Street junction with Leith Walk in August 2021 during Trams to Newhaven excavations and will now be put on permanent display as part of public realm improvements to Iona Street. Over recent months rigorous testing to ensure the newly constructed line, software and signals work effectively and safely has included running trams at half and full speed and eventually to timetable, work to integrate signalling and interface with Edinburgh Trams’ control centre and driver familiarisation. Standard timetable testing will continue on the route in the run-up to the launch of services on 7 June 2023. Council Leader Cammy Day said: “As we welcome back a piece of tram history to Leith Walk, it’s fitting that we’re also able to look forward to the future of Edinburgh’s tram network, and the start of passenger services on the brand-new line to Newhaven. “While this is a moment for celebration, it’s also a chance to reflect on the last few years, and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank residents and businesses for their patience during this major, complex project. “The completion of this line, delivering high capacity, clean transport to the densely populated north of the Capital, signifies our aspirations to become a sustainable, net zero city. And by improving connectivity to the waterfront, it won’t only promote further economic development in Leith, but will bring jobs and more affordable housing too. “We’re now counting down the days to passenger services, and I’m pleased to say this project will be delivered within budget and on time. This is thanks to lessons learned from the previous project along with a great deal of hard work and dedication from the project team and contractors involved in the construction process.” Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams, said: “The setting of a launch date for the new line is fantastic news for city residents and visitors, but particularly communities between the city centre and Newhaven. “In recent years, thanks to the efforts of the entire Edinburgh Trams team, our multi award-winning tramway has become one of the most popular transport systems of its type thanks to a single-minded commitment to service excellence that will continue into an exciting new era. “As we approach this major milestone in the history of Edinburgh Trams and the city, we can’t wait to welcome even more customers on board as we introduce swift and reliable services to the vibrant communities along the route, helping to unlock their full potential and providing a real boost for local businesses.” Maria Ortega, Project Director on SFN JV, said: “This is a proud day for the Sacyr Farrans Neopul (SFN) JV team as we celebrate the new line coming into operation. We started work on Edinburgh Trams York Place to Newhaven four years ago, tasked with the delivery of one of the most important and complex light rail projects in the UK. Today we can say that we have achieved that vision successfully. “I would like to thank the relentless efforts of our team throughout unprecedented times and recognise the power of the ongoing collaboration we have had with our client, our partners and our supply chain. “It has been a privilege to operate within the communities of Leith and Newhaven and we extend our thanks to the local community. “We hope that the City of Edinburgh will now begin to benefit from the wide-ranging social and economic benefits that a project of this significance will bring.” UK Managing Director of Infrastructure at Turner & Townsend, James Corrigan said: “Following our long-standing relationship with City of Edinburgh Council and successfully supporting the original project post mediation which led to the work for the project between York Place and Newhaven, we are delighted to see the new, improved line approach it’s final stages of construction and ready for full service. “The project is an example of how significant investment in infrastructure can not only improve connectivity across a popular city centre but also contribute to the city’s green agenda. Collaboration with the full supply chain and client is something we pride ourselves on and this has certainly been key to driving performance during the construction of this major project. Working closely with all partners has helped to mitigate the challenges of supply chain issues and general volatility in the market post COVID-19, and enabled the project to remain on time and on budget. As local authorities look to provide more sustainable and efficient transport and meet their net-zero aspirations, tram networks are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. Edinburgh has led the way in this revolution and is a superb exemplar for others to follow.” While the project will open for revenue services on 7 June 2023, outstanding public realm works will continue in some sections. Find out more about Trams to Newhaven.
Deepki, the world-leading ESG platform for real estate, today announced its acquisition of Nooco, the French SaaS company created by VINCI Energies that measures and optimizes the carbon footprint of building construction and renovation projects. This strategic acquisition will allow Deepki, the leading ESG data intelligence platform for real estate companies transitioning to zero carbon, to strengthen its offer by addressing the entire building life-cycle, including the initial stages. Founded in 2014, Deepki’s SaaS platform helps commercial real estate investors, owners and managers improve the ESG performance of their real estate assets, and in the process enhance their value. In March 2022, Deepki announced fundraising of €150 million, further consolidating its position as a global leader, and allowing it to make strategic acquisitions of both direct competitors and companies developing complementary solutions to Deepki’s own Deepki Ready, as is the case with Nooco. Nooco is a French SaaS company, which specializes in measuring the carbon footprint of construction projects (new projects, rehabilitation, renovation, operations, maintenance, and end-of-life). Created with an intrapreneurial approach, Nooco benefited from the support of Leonard, the VINCI foresight and innovation platform, during its three years of incubation. During this time, Nooco has become an established industry standard. Nooco’s platform quickly and reliably calculates carbon emissions, which is essential in the context of the French RE2020 regulation, which aims to reduce the contribution of buildings to climate change. Currently, Nooco assimilates the carbon impact data of 3650 types of technical equipment and materials, allowing its users to compare their respective impact and calculate the overall carbon footprint of their construction or renovation projects. Thanks to Nooco, fast access to reliable data allows companies to actively choose low-carbon products, evaluate alternative designs, and measure the impact of a reuse solution. Nooco’s 100-strong customer base is made up of manufacturers, design engineers and architecture firms, prime contractors, and building services, including Nexity, VINCI Energies, Elan, AIA Life Designers, Setec Bâtiment, Léon Grosse, Bouygues Energies et Services, and Eiffage Energies. This strategic acquisition enables Deepki, historically focused on the use phase of existing buildings, to broaden the scope of its impact to include new buildings and to increase the breadth of its offer, covering the entire life-cycle of the building (scopes 1, 2 and 3, and in particular “embodied carbon”). It will also accelerate the development of Nooco, which is committed to increasing the recognition of CO₂ as an industry KPI, taking into account all potential sources of carbon emissions. Vincent Bryant and Emmanuel Blanchet, co-founders of Deepki, state: “Nooco is a highly advanced technology company that has become a true benchmark in the construction and renovation industry. Its offer is complementary to ours, and will enable us to expand our expertise to include the measurement of scope 3 emissions within the real estate industry – which is responsible for 36% of energy consumption and 37% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.” Guillaume Jarlot, founder of Nooco, comments: “The Nooco team is delighted to join Deepki to further develop our offer as a leading platform for the decarbonization of the entire industry. As part of the Deepki group, Nooco aims to strengthen its position as a trusted partner to the French and, in 2024, European markets. Our sole objective: to support the industry’s organic transition by equipping decision-makers and end-users with the means to autonomously tackle the CO₂ challenges they face in their construction and renovation projects.” Olivier Genelot, managing director of the Île-de-France Building Solutions Division at VINCI Energies, adds: “We created Nooco to quickly calculate the carbon footprint of different projects. By handing it over to Deepki, we are allowing it to continue its development. We trust them to efficiently evaluate the impact of our decarbonization initiatives through the use of construction alternatives, low carbon products and reuse solutions.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A NEW organisation has been created with a core mission to collectively deliver high-quality energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies at scale across the UK’s housing stock. Backed by the country’s leading contractors and residential retrofit specialists and with widescale delivery in mind, the National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) will support retrofit installations for all housing tenure types, including social, owner-occupied and private rental homes. It will operate on a membership basis and represent Tier 1 contractors and energy suppliers that specialise in retrofit residential decarbonisation at scale. The group’s objective will be to create a collaborative platform for its members to focus on three core areas critical to achieving the government’s ambitious targets for the sector; growing the retrofit supply chain, advising on policy and stimulating innovation. All of which will underpin support for households during the on-going energy, cost of living, health, and climate crises. Derek Horrocks, chair of the National Home Decarbonisation Group, said: “The formation of the group and the commitment already seen from founding members is a defining moment for the residential decarbonisation retrofit industry. “The industry has seen commitment to retrofit projects diluted or under-delivered in the past and we believe that central and devolved governments need to hear a strong, positive message from experienced industry contractors and stakeholders, confidently confirming the ability of the supply chain to deliver on current and ambitious future targets. “The continued long-term government commitment for the decarbonisation of 26 million UK homes to meet net zero targets by 2050 is critical, and we have already seen this ramp up significantly with £6.6 billion of Government investment over the current parliament and a further £6 billion pledged between 2025 and 2028 for the sector. As an industry we must ensure we are able to grow and facilitate the long-term far-reaching ambition to achieve net zero. “NHDG will be spearheading the charge for improvements, especially in skills and innovation, including the digitalisation of retrofit, increased off-site solutions, and the development of finance solutions to support the decarbonisation of the UK’s housing stock. “This will help create a strong, more efficient industry with robust solutions for the fast-growing demand in the sector. Our links across government and industry are already robust, and the creation of the group will ensure our combined membership will put us in a prime position to move forward as one voice on one mission. “We’re aware of our own targets, such as the need for 200,000 more competent retrofitters by 2030, which is why powerful collaboration is needed to create the necessary infrastructure. We’re ready to invest and increase our wider resources collectively to ensure scaling the industry is a success.” NHDG has been founded through the National Insulation Association (NIA), a long-standing trade association with its members already delivering large-scale, PAS:2035 compliant installations funded by various government schemes – such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). Member experience is also vast in the area of home energy efficiency improvements available to the private rental and owner-occupier market, under schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Meanwhile, close collaboration and relationships with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), as well as devolved nation governments and key sector stakeholders, supports the group’s focus on three core streams – policy, skills and training, and innovation. Derek continued: “The stature of our founding members cannot be ignored, and we’re all excited about embracing what the future holds.” NHDG predicts that the majority of the large-scale domestic retrofit work in the UK will be carried out by members in the coming years. The full list of founding members includes: Expert professional services consultancy Gemserv will act as the group’s secretariat. To learn more about NHDG, visit its website at: www.nhdg.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kingspan Data & Flooring, the industry leader in data and flooring solutions, has successfully completed their first external ISO 37301 audit, the global benchmark for state-of-the-art compliance management. ISO 37301 forms part of a new commitment by Kingspan Group to have all 190 of its manufacturing sites around the world accredited and was the first time Kingspan Data & Flooring has sought to achieve this ISO standard, which replaced ISO 19600 in 2021. At its core, ISO 37301 examines whether compliance and risk management systems meet international standards. The assessment was conducted by Advanced Certification and awarded in March 2022. The accreditation is the culmination of 12 months’ work by Kingspan Data & Flooring’s Management Systems Specialist, Phil Major, with assistance from internal teams. Donagh Nolan, Divisional Operations Director Europe, said of the achievement: ‘We’re thrilled the auditor has recommended that our Hull site in the UK can be added to the list of global Kingspan sites to be accredited to ISO 37301. It recognises the strides we’ve made as a business to reach our compliance goals, investing in training & development of our team, identifying compliance risks and introducing new policies and procedures to ensure our product performance continues to align with local legislation and published product data.’ Kingspan Data & Flooring Technology’s Managing Director, Seamus Cussen, added: ‘Achieving ISO 37301 accreditation is testament to Kingspan’s values, culture, and leadership. It demonstrates the progress our team in Hull has made to establish, develop, implement, evaluate, and improve effective compliance management systems within our business. We will continue our focused efforts to improve and innovate, and our commitment to this accreditation will be driven from all areas of our business.’ ISO 37301 combines ISO standards with international agencies’ guidelines, including the International Chambers of Commerce, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the UN Convention against Corruption. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ecofill Group, the UK-based construction technology company, announced today that Catherine Li has joined as CEO, bringing with her over twenty years of extensive global experience in sustainable development of the built environment, including most recently as CEO of Atkins / SNC Lavalin in Asia Pacific. Ecofill is an award-winning, innovative, low-carbon technology and solution for the construction sector that transforms all types of clays & subsoils into aggregate replacement products on-site. It is designed to reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants throughout the construction process, optimising time and cost efficiency while minimising environmental impact. Decarbonisation and sustainability are at the core of the Ecofill circular economy process. Its methodology significantly reduces soil waste to landfill, use of aggregates, and lorry movements. Ecofill’s biofriendly binders can also enable the ground to be easily returned to its original pH level and nutrient status. Dr Nigel Griffiths, Chairman of Ecofill Group and a former UK Construction Minister, said “The board is delighted to welcome Catherine as CEO. Her accomplished career, global market reach, along with her passion for technology and innovation, and decarbonising construction, makes Catherine the ideal person to lead Ecofill Group into our next stage of growth.” “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to join Ecofill Group at this pivotal period in history on the journey to a low carbon economy.” said Catherine Li, CEO. “Studies indicate that approximately 40% of global carbon emissions can be attributed to the built environment and construction sector, and about another 30% to the transport sector. For the UK, achieving net zero by 2050 has become mission critical, and many other countries have also or are looking to set their own targets. Sustainable low-carbon construction is key in the fight against climate change. Technology and innovation will be crucial to this transition. By embracing Ecofill technology and solutions, construction projects can significantly reduce their carbon footprint as well as time and cost. We are proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, providing real opportunities for the industry as a whole. I am honoured to be playing my part in global decarbonisation, and I am looking forward to joining forces with like-minded partners and clients who share the same passion and vision.” For the last two decades, Catherine has developed significant industry knowledge and connectivity spanning the UK and Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Prior to Atkins, she was Global Alliances Leader for Arup. Catherine has been a board member of the China Britain Business Council (CBBC) and the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and was recently Chair of its International Infrastructure Forum. Catherine is a frequent and passionate speaker on industry topics including ‘Delivering large infrastructure at scale and speed’, and ‘The impact of technology and low carbon on infrastructure and investment’. Catherine is an alumna of Harvard Business School, having completed the Advanced Management Programme (AMP). Ecofill is paving the way for a decarbonised future in the construction industry on both local and global scales. Through innovative low carbon solutions, Ecofill empowers construction companies to meet and surpass their sustainability goals. This forward-thinking approach allows customers to align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, placing them at the forefront of sustainable development. As Ecofill continues to innovate, the company calls on industry leaders, stakeholders, and communities to join it on this transformative journey towards a low-carbon future. More information on Ecofill can be found at www.ecofillgroup.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A policy briefing by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) examines how UK markets can better drive decarbonisation in foundation industries such as steel, cement and glass. The briefing summarises the results of a 12-month research project (the full results of which are available in a longer technical report and three sectoral deep dive documents). The main objective of the project was to explore how creating market demand for low-carbon innovative products and materials would reduce emissions in carbon-intensive sectors. Foundation industries, which are vital for the UK’s manufacturing and construction sectors, are worth around £52 billion to the economy and account for nearly 15 per cent of annual CO2 emissions, according to Innovate UK. However, decarbonisation of foundation industries is no easy task. The briefing identifies key decarbonisation pathways and some of the greatest obstacles to them, such as the high cost of low-carbon technologies, a lack of standardised data collection on embodied carbon emissions, and a lack of familiarity with new materials. The most complicated of the cross-cutting challenges, the supply–demand catch-22, refers to a situation whereby an upstream company does not have a large enough market demand to upscale the production of low carbon materials or the technologies to produce them, and downstream companies cannot risk investing in alternative technologies before they have a stable supply of upstream low carbon materials or products. Beverley Cornaby, Director, Policy and Systems Change Collaborations, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, said: “The UK must step up to the example set by the EU and US by establishing a strong policy framework to support industrial decarbonisation. Policies to date have been insufficient to drive deep decarbonisation in key heavy industries, such as iron and steel, cement, glass, and basic chemicals, which require long-term investment and new technologies. This report sets out clear policy recommendations for the government to enable demand-led innovation and create an attractive and competitive market for green investment.” At present, UK market demand for less carbon intensive materials and products, such as low carbon cement, sustainably mined raw materials or carbon capture and storage technology, is not high enough to incentivise investment in them. Other large economies like the EU and the US offer more support, through policy frameworks like the Green Deal Industrial Plan (GDIP) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) respectively. But the UK is lagging behind its major competitors, risking a mass exodus of companies to these countries as a result. CISL’s policy briefing lays out its proposed decarbonisation pathways – electrification, circular economy solutions, novel technologies and innovative products, processes and practices, and recommends three policy actions the UK government should undertake. ‘Demand-led innovation’ (DLI) is vital if the UK is to see significant emissions reductions in core materials industries, states the briefing. DLI is innovation that is incentivised by a gap in the market for a product or service that consumers want – and for which they would be willing to pay. In this case, many of the technologies, and innovative products, processes and practices needed to decarbonise foundation industries are not yet available at commercial scale, are at very early stages of the piloting process, or have yet to be invented. Along with government action, the research highlights the role that non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, and the private sector can play in industrial decarbonisation by bringing companies together to accelerate demand, facilitating dialogue and information sharing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Helping deliver compliant building information at project completion and handover. Taking the pain out of Building Safety Act Gateway 3 regulator approvals. Today, Createmaster, a leading digital handover and building manual solutions provider, introduces its ‘Golden Thread: Gateway 3 solution’. Underpinned by the Zutec platform, the solution combines the Createmaster fully managed digital handover service with a dashboard that enables contractors and developers to understand the information required to fulfil obligations set out by the Building Safety Act at the handover stage of an asset. Gateway 3 refers to the completion or final certificate stage (equivalent to RIBA stage 6), when a building safety case is submitted for review and approval. As a stop/go point in the handover process, building control approval must be obtained from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) before registering and commencing occupation of a higher-risk residential building (HRRB). This means getting building safety case approval from the BSR before project completion and handover to an asset owner. The dedicated Gateway 3 dashboard gives contractors and developers real-time visibility to manage their building information deliverables in one place. Users can quickly see what information and documents they have, what is expected, what is in progress, what has been validated for compliancy with agreed information requirements, before handing over to a client. Commenting on the Gateway 3 solution and why it is suitable for contractors who may already have a common data environment (CDE), James Cannon, Commercial Director at Createmaster, said: “Today handover information required by contractors is likely captured across multiple formats, systems, and platforms, including the contractors and subcontractors’ CDE or Quality Management system. While these systems are widely used for effectively managing construction project data, they do not offer a single, consolidated data set for handover to a client and the regulator. “As a single source of truth for digital building information, the solution provides a clear and defined mechanism for collating the evidence required to support a building safety case, and helps our contractors ensure compliant building information and manuals are handed over to a client. This takes the pain out of the handover process and information digitisation on the path to golden thread conformance.” That’s not all. A standard template within the dashboard aligns with the new requirements for a building safety case and golden thread, including digital O&M, H&S File and Fire Emergency File forms, but also adds the full suite of information now required to demonstrate compliance. This means users can easily bring together the right information and identify what is missing to help manage risks on a project. Additionally, with the ability to grant permission-controlled stakeholder access, for example with client teams, consultants and third-party approvers, everyone can input information while managing priorities and data gaps. For contractors looking for support with Gateway 3 compliance, please contact a Createmaster representative or book a demo here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
