A former office building in the heart of Milton Keynes, that has been transformed into a new 200-unit residential development, has been refinanced following a £35m residential investment loan from Secure Trust Bank (STB) Real Estate Finance Located directly above Milton Keynes Central station, Station House is the result of
Lendlease, in collaboration with its design team featuring David Kohn Architects, has resubmitted plans for the £1.9 billion Smithfield area project in Birmingham’s city centre. Last October, modifications were reported as the developer had to make significant design adjustments to its original planning application filed a year ago. This was
The UK Government has approved the construction of a new Category C super prison in Buckinghamshire, with a budget of £300 million. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has granted planning permission for the prison, which is set to accommodate nearly 1,500 inmates. The facility will be located adjacent to the
VIVO Defence Services today (Thursday, 1 February) marks its second anniversary looking after the UK Military’s Built Estate during which time it has undertaken more than one million maintenance jobs, completed nearly 25,000 special projects and contributed to a number of social value initiatives. Facilities management provider VIVO started working
Leep Utilities has been appointed as a partner of Persimmon Homes New Appointments and Variants (NAV) adoption framework. The UK leading owner and operator of last-mile utility networks will now own, maintain and operate the clean and wastewater networks for the housebuilder’s new developments across England. By introducing the new framework, Persimmon Homes
Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething recently addressed a construction summit in Cardiff which brought together Welsh construction sector leaders during a period of economic pressures and challenges. With around one in 20 of all jobs in Wales being in the construction sector, the summit was an opportunity for leaders to discuss
Leading property specialist, Towngate PLC, is gearing up to reveal its latest development — a brand-new row of industrial units, adding approximately 45,695 sq ft to the footprint of Towngate Business Centre at Manchester Road West, Walkden. With the steelwork phase and roof installation now complete, along with the commencement
Around £150 billion worth of investment opportunities are set to be showcased and discussed at UKREiiF (The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum) this coming May as towns, cities, and counties across the UK look to meet investors and developers to bring forward sustainable and inclusive growth within their
One of Britain’s largest contributors to climate change is at a turning point. The construction industry, responsible for 18% of the country’s large particle pollution, is now taking steps towards sustainability. But how soon can the industry realistically achieve this? Digitising paper processes, working towards ISO 14001 and 50001, along
On Wednesday 31 January 2024, the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has raised concerns over the UK’s lack of preparedness in its report on ‘Heat resilience and sustainable cooling’, after the world’s hottest year on record. The EAC’s report makes recommendations to the Government based on written and oral evidence
A former office building in the heart of Milton Keynes, that has been transformed into a new 200-unit residential development, has been refinanced following a £35m residential investment loan from Secure Trust Bank (STB) Real Estate Finance Located directly above Milton Keynes Central station, Station House is the result of a conversion of disused offices into 200 vibrant apartments across four floors. Developed by New York and Bahamas-based real estate specialist, Gold Wynn Group, the scheme is one of the latest property developments in an area predicted to see one of the highest long-term growth rates among UK cities outside London. Having topped the UK Competitive Index for 2023, the development will provide much needed housing at a time when demand is on the rise. The deal for the three-year residential investment loan, agreed at 59% loan to value (LTV), was led by Mike Feasey, Relationship Director at STB Real Estate Finance, alongside Matthew-Blaine Young, the bank’s Head of Origination. BBS Capital advised on and secured this facility for Gold Wynn, continuing its high level of activity in the refinancing space. Mike Feasey commented: “It was a pleasure to be able to deliver this transaction on behalf of Secure Trust Bank and showcase many of the bank’s strengths. Our hands on approach and team ethos, coupled with a strong working relationship with our professional partners, ensured we were able to deliver on a complex transaction in a relatively short period of time. The success of this deal shows what it truly means to be a relationship-led bank and I look forward to building on this success with Gold Wynn over the years to come.” Taking no longer than an hour to reach London from Milton Keynes Central station, the development is particularly ideal for commuters working, but not living, in the capital. Ben Friedland, President of Gold Wynn’s US & UK real estate divisions, said: “We’re delighted to have now opened the doors to Station House’s 200 stylish apartments. Milton Keynes is a thriving area on the rise and Station House is proof of this. As experts in property finance, the tailored approach provided by STB ensured that we were able to seal the deal against the clock, proving it to be one of the quickest refinances we have been involved in.” The bank’s longstanding relationship with BBS Capital, was crucial to completing the process within an allotted timeframe of three months, with it taking just six weeks from sanction to drawdown. Mark Geraghty, Director at BBS Capital said: “BBS Capital is pleased to have supported Gold Wynn on this key refinancing and build on its relationship with Secure Trust Bank. This was a notable transaction in the office-to-residential conversion space, demonstrating good liquidity in the marketplace for quality assets with robust business plans and credible sponsorship. The structured finance was arranged and executed over a short timeframe despite current market conditions, which is testament to all parties involved.” Matthew-Blaine Young added: “It was a pleasure to work alongside BBS Capital once again; this deal is the latest of several success stories we have achieved together. As a result, BBS Capital was confident of our ability to provide the necessary property investment finance and deliver on a significant deal associated with unique challenges.” Acting on behalf of the bank for this property finance loan was solicitors Shepherd & Wedderburn, while BNP Paribas was the appointed valuer for the deal. Both parties played a vital part in organising the deal, alongside Secure Trust Bank’s experienced Relationship Support Specialist, Julie Percy. Visit here to discover more about Secure Trust Bank Real Estate Finance. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lendlease, in collaboration with its design team featuring David Kohn Architects, has resubmitted plans for the £1.9 billion Smithfield area project in Birmingham’s city centre. Last October, modifications were reported as the developer had to make significant design adjustments to its original planning application filed a year ago. This was prompted by objections from Historic England regarding potential harm to the historic cityscape and concerns from the government’s heritage watchdog about disturbing ‘significant medieval remains.’ The revised plans also incorporate adjustments to comply with forthcoming changes to fire safety legislation, necessitating a second staircase in residential buildings over 18m tall. The masterplan for the 17ha site, home to Birmingham’s historic markets, was devised by Prior + Partners with New York High Line lead James Corner Field Operations. It features contributions from RCKa, Stirling Prize-winners dRMM and Haworth Tompkins, as well as local practices Intervention Architecture and Minesh Patel Architects. Significant alterations were made to the proposed market designed by David Kohn Architects and Birmingham-based ‘artist-run multiverse’ Eastside Projects. Originally set above the buried remains of the historic moat and manor house of the de Birmingham family, the indoor markets (Plot 5A) will now be relocated north to avoid the archaeology. The site will become the main public space in the development’s early stages, renamed Manor Square to highlight its significance as the Birthplace of the City. The indoor market building maintains the design principles of the original application, featuring a sawtooth roof over the fish and meat market hall, colourful signage, wayfinding, and a brick exterior with shops along the perimeter. The relocation of the public square resulted in adjustments to the workspace building by Haworth Tompkins and Minesh Patel Architects (on Plot 3A). An extra storey has been added to increase the total office space. All residential buildings by dRMM and Intervention Architecture (on plot 1D) have been redesigned to include an additional staircase accessible to all residents. Lendlease was named as the development partner by Birmingham City Council in late 2018 for the site, a portion of which previously housed the now-demolished wholesale markets. Colin Murphy, project lead on Smithfield Birmingham for Lendlease, stated, ‘Throughout 2023, Lendlease and our design teams redesigned aspects of the masterplan to further enhance and protect the heritage of Birmingham’s markets. The resubmission of our planning application reflects that engagement and is an important step forward in Birmingham’s transformation as an international city.’ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK Government has approved the construction of a new Category C super prison in Buckinghamshire, with a budget of £300 million. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has granted planning permission for the prison, which is set to accommodate nearly 1,500 inmates. The facility will be located adjacent to the existing HMP Springhill and HMP Grendon sites. This initiative is part of the Government’s ambitious new prisons programme, which has secured over £4 billion in capital funding. The goal is to accommodate an additional 18,000 inmates across the prison estate by the mid-2020s. The project, gaining momentum after last year’s approval of Wates’s £300m HMP Gartree 2 Category B super prison in Leicestershire, is now advancing. ISG is reportedly in contention to construct the Grendon Springhill 2 Category C resettlement prison. The plan involves building six house blocks, including essential facilities like kitchen workshops and a central services hub. Each of the four-storey house blocks is designed to house 240 prisoners. However, before construction commences, the existing education block associated with HMP Springhill prison needs demolition, and a new sports pitch will be installed to serve the existing prison. The construction phase is expected to create around 100 jobs and inject over £77 million into the local economy. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
VIVO Defence Services today (Thursday, 1 February) marks its second anniversary looking after the UK Military’s Built Estate during which time it has undertaken more than one million maintenance jobs, completed nearly 25,000 special projects and contributed to a number of social value initiatives. Facilities management provider VIVO started working on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) providing maintenance, asset management and project work at military bases across the southwest and central regions in February 2022. This covers a wide array of tasks such as maintaining hangars and runways at air stations, looking after Single Living Accommodation (SLA) and providing grounds maintenance across Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Strategic Command and Defence Equipment & Support bases. During that time, VIVO undertook around 260,000 preventative planned maintenance tasks in 2022 and over 372,000 in 2023. These were largely brought about due to VIVO moving the service towards one where planned maintenance work is carried out to keep things running, rather than the ‘fix on fail’ approach of the previous contract. In regards to reactive maintenance tasks, VIVO carried out around 148,000 in 2022 and nearly 226,000 the following year. In total, this equates to around 1,006,000 overall planned and reactive maintenance tasks across the more than 100 military bases it is charged with looking after stretching from the Scottish borders to Cornwall. VIVO also operates a 24/7 helpdesk across its Built Estate regions so military personnel can report maintenance issues directly and this received over 204,000 emails and phone calls in 2022 and nearly 246,000 in 2023. In fact, the helpdesk recently had its busiest day ever on 8 January 2024, following Storm Henk, when it received 1,099 calls and 679 emails in one day. VIVO has invested heavily in extra resources – increasing the number of people available on its contracts by 40 per cent – and carried out almost 25,000 Billable Works projects – work outside of the contract scope that includes everything from repairing a gate to building a new facility. For example, at MoD Ashcurch, in Gloucestershire, VIVO replaced all the windows in a 71-block barracks, making it warmer for those living in them and much more energy efficient. At RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire, along with its supply chain partners VIVO completed a £3.6 million dye-bay for the Red Arrows in July 2023 – the first bespoke maintenance facility the world famous aerial flying team have had for their dye pods , which make their iconic smoke trails. The Red Arrows were so pleased with this they performed a fly-past to mark its opening (picture attached). VIVO also recently completed – with partners – a Primary Care Rehabilitation Facility at RAF Waddington for service personnel with musculoskeletal injuries and upgraded a data centre at ISS Boddington, in Gloucestershire. Other tasks have included rebuilding the historic grade II listed Serpentine Wall at RM Norton Manor, in Somerset, and refurbishing the entrance gates at Britannia Royal Naval College, at Dartmouth, Devon, which have been battered by the elements for 117 years. At the same time, VIVO has carried out much social value work including providing work placements for armed forces personnel to practice their trade skills in a private sector environment. This is aimed at helping them gain work when they leave active service. Other social value projects include working with partners to provide a safe space ‘listening ear’ for school children from military families and their friends to talk about concerns at a school in Dorset. The next 12 months will see a whole new range of billable work projects, for example, a new nine-mile security fence at RNAS Culdrose. in Cornwall, a glider storage building at RAF Shawbury, in Shropshire, and an accommodation block at MOD Kineton, in Staffordshire. Jerry Moloney, VIVO Defence Services Managing Director, said: “It has been a really busy, but productive time on our Built Estate regions over the past two years with more than a million maintenance jobs carried out and tens of thousands of special projects completed. “I am particularly proud that, in addition to the major contribution we have made to the military bases where we work, our people have contributed to some extremely worthwhile social value initiatives. This is a total credit to them, and I thank all our hardworking teams and our partners for everything they have done.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leep Utilities has been appointed as a partner of Persimmon Homes New Appointments and Variants (NAV) adoption framework. The UK leading owner and operator of last-mile utility networks will now own, maintain and operate the clean and wastewater networks for the housebuilder’s new developments across England. By introducing the new framework, Persimmon Homes will ensure that all its regional offices will work only with pre-approved partners to obtain asset values – ensuring consistency and transparency of offers and adherence to pre-agreed terms. Leep Utilities – the UK’s largest adoption-only NAV – has already been awarded multiple projects by housebuilder. The first scheme secured by Leep is The Hawthorns – a development of 350 two, three, four and five-bedroom new homes, part of the Persimmon Eco Range, located just outside Market Harborough, in Leicestershire. It’s being built in line with new Part L regulations and offers a 31% reduction in carbon emissions. After successfully submitting detailed applications to industry regulator Ofwat, Leep has already exceeded the recommended six-month timeframe set for insets to be granted – highlighting the firm’s proactivity, experience and agility during the tender process. Prior to being adopted by Leep, the firm will work in collaboration with Persimmon Homes-appointed Self-Lay Providers (SLPs) who will install the water networks. Leep Networks (Water) Ltd – a subsidiary of Leep Utilities – is already a water and sewerage undertaker for many prestigious UK developments including MediaCityUK, Liverpool International Business Park and Kent’s Chatham Waters. It provides safe and reliable water to 35,000 residential and commercial developments across the UK, managed from its Salford headquarters and Berkshire base. Gus Watt, Group Director of Energy Networks, at Persimmon Homes, said: “Persimmon prioritises engaging with progressive partners who are able to embrace our ambitions as a business. “The success of our communities depends on our approach to utilities management, with framework partners being integral to this through the support and expertise they give to our regional teams and supply chain.” Louise Manfredi, CEO of Leep, said of the partnership: “Working with NAVs brings many cost and service benefits to housebuilders and developers, whilst assisting the overall efficiency of development activity. And this is especially true when delivering multi-utility solutions. “It’s most encouraging to see the growing prevalence of Ofwat-regulated NAVs in the market, which is driving competition and at the same time enabling more efficient housing and commercial development and driving innovation. And what an enviable position we’re now in, operating at the forefront of the water industry and working nationally with a leading housebuilder to increase the UK’s housing supply. “As a recognised 5-Star Builder, by the House Builders’ Federation, Persimmon selects its partners very carefully. With our nationwide scope, we’re able to work collaboratively with all 29 of its UK offices, whilst bringing transparency, best practice and focus when delivering the very best customer journey. It’s all testament to our capabilities, experience and expertise and we look forward to working with Persimmon Homes on more of its developments over the next two years and hopefully beyond.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething recently addressed a construction summit in Cardiff which brought together Welsh construction sector leaders during a period of economic pressures and challenges. With around one in 20 of all jobs in Wales being in the construction sector, the summit was an opportunity for leaders to discuss the opportunities available in Wales and how best to lever those opportunities to grow the economy, create prosperity and provide the skills and training necessary for the workforce in a rapidly changing environment. The summit also marks the start of a new relationship between Welsh Government and Constructing Excellence in Wales which will now provide Welsh ministers with specialist construction advice, real time market intelligence and a research capability. The new relationship will improve the quality of engagement between government and the sector at a time when the economy is experiencing challenging times. In addressing the summit at the Leonardo Hotel in Cardiff, the Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “The Welsh Government recognises the important role that the construction industry plays in both supporting economic development in Wales and contributing to Wales’ engagement with businesses across the world. “In these challenging times Construction Excellence in Wales’ members and industry views have never been more important to help achieve the objectives set out in the recently announced Economic Mission. “Our aim through the Economic Mission is to set Wales on a path to deliver a greener, fairer and more prosperous Wales. We want to create an economic environment to support both wellbeing of the population and increase a focus upon productivity and growth, where nobody is left behind and to help more young people feel confident in planning ambitious futures in Wales. “One of our priorities is to create stronger partnerships for our everyday economy and I look forward to working more closely with Construction Excellence Wales. “This summit is timely, it brings together sector leaders engaged across the entire spectrum of activity and partnerships with the public sector. “The sector must remain confident and viable going forward if we are to see real economic growth in Wales. “However, this is not something that the government can achieve singlehandedly, it needs engagement and collaboration with the sector if we are to deliver on our programme and it needs honest debate to address the challenges that lie ahead.” Cat Griffith-Williams, CEO, Constructing Excellence in Wales, said: “The Welsh built Environment is an innovative and interesting sector, which is central to Wales’ foundational economy, providing essential support for the well-being of all of us. I am delighted to have secured a partnership contract with Welsh Government and am passionate about working with industry stakeholders, Welsh Government Ministers and officials to represent the construction sector in Wales. This more formalised arrangement clearly demonstrates the importance of the sector to the Economic Mission of Wales. CEWales has a long-standing, reputable legacy of providing professional specialist construction advice; we are passionate to support Welsh Ministers to deliver Welsh Government priorities across the Welsh construction sector, gathering real-time market intelligence, articulating and engaging with the wider Welsh construction sector.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading property specialist, Towngate PLC, is gearing up to reveal its latest development — a brand-new row of industrial units, adding approximately 45,695 sq ft to the footprint of Towngate Business Centre at Manchester Road West, Walkden. With the steelwork phase and roof installation now complete, along with the commencement of the installation of the external cladding and PV Solar Panels, the project is on track for practical completion in April 2024, offering businesses an exceptional opportunity to secure modern industrial and warehouse spaces. With its £6 million+ investment, the property specialist has crossed a significant milestone in the revitalisation of the site, once home to the iconic Lucozade factory. The project not only restores the area to full capacity but also contributes to the creation of hundreds of jobs, leaving a lasting legacy. Strategically located just off Lester Road, with easy access to the M61 Motorway and key city centres, the business park is set to become a hub of economic activity. Anticipated to be ready for occupancy in spring, a series of cutting-edge units boast sizes ranging from 5,450 to 45,695 sq. ft., providing firms with an opportunity to operate from a strategically located and technologically advanced environment. Due to demand, two of the largest units are under offer on a pre-let basis, leaving available spaces ranging from 5,450 – 27,855 sq ft. New occupants of the Towngate Business Centre will benefit from a secure 30m yard area, remotely-monitored CCTV, 24-hour security, EV charging points, and ample on-site parking. The development prioritises sustainability with photovoltaic solar panels, thermally efficient cladding, air source heat pump systems, and wellness showers. With a keen focus on achieving a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating, Towngate is committed to fostering environmentally conscious workspaces. Situated in close proximity to Ellesmere Shopping Centre and Walkden Town Centre, the business centre will also provide easy access to essential amenities such as Aldi, Costa Coffee, and independent pubs and restaurants. Tom Lamb, property director for Towngate PLC, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating: “We are excited to already be seeing several enquiries for the units, and it is wonderful to have two units under offer at such an early stage. I expect there will be further interest now that they are taking shape. With a range of appealing features, we’re ensuring the units will be suited to assorted industrial sectors.” Throughout construction, Towngate PLC has been working in collaboration with Ellenby Construction, along with appointed partners, including David Stanway Associates, KPP Architects, Steven Abbott Associates, Adept, and Michael Eyres Partnership. For further information and leasing inquiries, please contact Tom Lamb, property director, or Julia Ford, marketing manager, at Towngate PLC. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Around £150 billion worth of investment opportunities are set to be showcased and discussed at UKREiiF (The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum) this coming May as towns, cities, and counties across the UK look to meet investors and developers to bring forward sustainable and inclusive growth within their regions. Almost 12,000 domestic and international attendees will head to Leeds in May 2024 for a three-day event where UK cities and regions will highlight opportunities and ambitions across numerous sectors, including housing, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, technology, healthcare, energy, retail and high streets, infrastructure, leisure, and hospitality, industrial, and more. This week, numerous speakers have been confirmed, including senior figures from the public sector and government, including: In addition, the private sector is set to feature heavily, with the first confirmed speakers including: With over thirty stages, the event has been described at the Glastonbury of the real estate industry as bringing a mixture of content, activity, and fringe events together to create an inspiring and creative way to make connections, tackle challenges in the sector, and create investment opportunities to drive inclusive and sustainable prosperity across the UK. Event Background Launched in 2022, the event is held over three days and brings together the public and private sectors, with all of the UK’s cities and regions represented alongside the UK Government and the numerous governmental departments. Over 700 speakers will be involved across 30 stages, with speakers already confirmed including The Rest Is Politics stars Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, in addition to the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Kerry McCarthy. Mayors from numerous devolved authorities have already announced they’ll be attending, including Mayor Tracy Brabin of West Yorkshire, Mayor Oliver Coppard of South Yorkshire, and Nik Johnson of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Having grown from 3,500 attendees in 2022 to 7,500 in 2023, the event in 2024 is set to attract over 12,000 to Leeds. In addition to 12,000 attendees, the event is set to attract a further 3,000 people to the city to enjoy the fringe events across the city, with £20 million set to be generated for the local Leeds community. The event generated £2.25 million in social impact in 2023 for the local economy. Facilitation and Investment The event has already been lauded across the UK by many cities and regions, with Torbay Council recently confirming a major £100m investment into the seaside destination, which is set to create jobs, homes, and revitalise the leisure offering in the region, all happening directly because of the event. In addition to this, there are several other schemes totalling over £500 million of investment known to be in the pipeline across other cities following direct facilitation and introductions at the event. During UKREiiF, international and domestic investors, developers, and occupiers will be invited to meet and greet UK cities and regions to understand their requirements and see if there are any natural collaborations and partnerships that can be brought forward. High Praise The sudden emergence of UKREiiF as Europe’s fastest-growing real estate and built environment event comes with much high praise from senior figures in the industry: President of international investors Amro Partners said: “UKREiiF tells me that the UK is open to business, and as an investor, that is a fantastic message. The event brings together government ministers and officials, people from Whitehall, local authorities, investors, and developers; it’s a phenomenal representation of the real estate sector.” Alan Denby, Director of Pride in Place at Torbay Council, added: “Being at UKREiiF has enabled Torbay to have discussions with investors, developers, and occupiers, and from these discussions we’ve announced the preferred development partner to work with us on four key development sites worth over £100m to the local community, and that investment is a direct result of being involved in UKREiiF.” Alastair Campbell, Former Director of Communications for No. 10 Downing Street, said: “UKREiiF brings together all the different parts of the equation that are needed to regenerate regions and the economy successfully. And it’s changing people’s views of the industry world.” Greg Ward, Principal Regeneration Office for Economic Development at North Northamptonshire Council: “I was unsure of the opportunities UKREiiF would bring, but I decided to attend, and our council was pleasantly surprised. There were a lot of learnings to have, but the dedicated investment and development facilitation sessions were excellent, in which we had five prospects come from this, which has led to follow-up meetings in North Northamptonshire.” International Delegates Around 1,500 delegates are expected from overseas, including a trade delegation from Asia headed up by the Department for Business and Trade. European capital investors and developers will be in attendance, attracted by the strength of the UK’s market, especially in new and emerging sectors such as Agri-Tech, Life Sciences, Aerospace, EV and Data Centres. International cities and regions are also signed up, with those registering early including Illinois State, New York Economic Development Corporation, Choose Paris, Business Iceland, and the Municipality of Genoa, with many more set to announce their attendance as they look to share best practices amongst UK regions while sharing their own case studies and success stories. To find out more, visit www.ukreiif.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of Britain’s largest contributors to climate change is at a turning point. The construction industry, responsible for 18% of the country’s large particle pollution, is now taking steps towards sustainability. But how soon can the industry realistically achieve this? Digitising paper processes, working towards ISO 14001 and 50001, along with reviewing the supply chain are all simple steps towards decarbonisation that construction firms can start today. There’s also an increased urgency now to deliver sustainability commitments across the sector. Why Must Construction Firms Demonstrate Their Commitment to Sustainability? In line with recent Net Zero targets set out by the UK government, construction firms now have a spotlight on them. As an industry that’s responsible for 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions, with 50m tonnes of CO2 produced every year, it’s immediately clear why the industry must commit to sustainable targets. Before 2030, the industry is expected to reduce its current emissions by at least 68%. The government has also made it clear that these targets are mandatory, especially for businesses bidding on government contracts worth over £5 million. To avoid being pushed out, businesses must act now. Construction firms must now completely overhaul their processes and review any practices, contractors, goods, materials, or procedures that work against these targets. This could mean a greater investment in alternative-fuelled work vans and machinery as well as enhanced pressures on subcontractors to meet requirements. What Steps Can Construction Businesses Follow to Improve Sustainability? For businesses aspiring to those high-ticket government contracts, they’ll need to highlight their dedication to reducing carbon emissions. Construction firms can evidence and demonstrate their sustainability commitments by being accredited with ISO 14001 and ISO 50001. Those working towards ISO 14001 must outline carbon reduction targets for their organisation and determine a means to measure it. There’s no obligation for firms to become net zero immediately, but working towards an international standard solidifies the business’s commitment to sustainability. Likewise, ISO 50001 shows how firms are addressing their impact on the planet and resources. Green building materials are a vital component when it comes to sustainable construction and have been available for some time but these key targets will make green materials more widely used. Such materials, like recycled steel and low-VOC paints, offer numerous advantages for firms looking to reduce their environmental impact. For example, utilising recycled steel and concrete decreases the need for a resource-intensive manufacturing process to create them from new. Similarly, low-VOC paints are designed to promote a much healthier indoor air quality. Through sustainability measures in the industry, it should also make green building materials a sought-after product, with many choosing to use recycled or long-lasting materials over brand-new ones. What’s more, by 2033, the green building materials market is expected to grow to over £700 billion worldwide, leading to more innovative and recyclable materials on offer. As part of the construction process, energy-efficient designs can be established from the drawing stage. Thanks to BIM (Building Information Modelling) software, architects and engineers can completely visualise how a build will look and where greater energy efficiencies can be adopted. Much earlier on in a development project, expectations can be set for sustainability. The emissions produced by subcontractors, delivery of goods and import materials all count towards a construction firm’s total emissions. That’s why optimising the supply chain can immediately offer some reduction when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. Contractors and subcontractors may also be producing their emissions reports in a bid to remain an attractive choice for projects. Certain suppliers might use alternative-fuelled vehicles or follow more energy-efficient routes to complete deliveries. Likewise, for smaller projects, it could be more beneficial to source materials, services and goods within a local area, almost eradicating long delivery routes. Leaving a physical paper trail behind can negatively impact emissions figures. Where possible, digitising certain paper-based procedures, such as goods received notes and invoicing, could work in favour of firms committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. In this case, using software, like a construction ERP system, can aid the process. Not only does it offer a futureproof solution for businesses needing to adapt quickly, but it also means productivity and efficiencies can be boosted too. Transitioning to renewable energy is another way construction businesses can reduce their carbon emissions. Using solar, wind and geothermal power, construction projects can significantly reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, including gas, further demonstrating their commitment to the planet. Choosing renewable energy as part of an overall business strategy could also make firms more attractive for hire during the tender process. Crossing the Finish Line: How Construction Firms Can Prepare for Strict Sustainability Measures From working towards ISO certifications to optimising the supply chain, there are plenty of opportunities for firms to invest in their business whilst exploring more sustainable pathways. With imposing deadlines for both 2030 and 2050, imminent action is required. If the industry is to reduce 68% of emissions by 2030 and 100% of emissions by 2050, it’s going to be a monumental task but one that could see businesses profit in the long run. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On Wednesday 31 January 2024, the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has raised concerns over the UK’s lack of preparedness in its report on ‘Heat resilience and sustainable cooling’, after the world’s hottest year on record. The EAC’s report makes recommendations to the Government based on written and oral evidence given by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). RIBA President Muyiwa Oki said: “Today’s report is another stark warning about our warming planet – and the dangers it brings to both people and our built environment. It positively echoes our calls to accelerate action on heat adaptation measures as part of a well-funded National Retrofit Strategy and expand urban green space. These “no regret” solutions bring great benefits, not only mitigating the impacts of extreme heat, but also by supporting healthier lives. We hope the Government urgently acts on these recommendations and utilises our professional expertise – architects are critical to the delivery of a sustainable, more resilient built environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
