Bellway has become the first national housebuilder to partner with Google to bring energy-saving technology as standard to every home it builds*. Bellway homeowners will be able to save up to 16 per cent on their energy bills by using the Google Nest thermostat, while reducing their carbon footprint. The
Building work to start on new £20m, 150,000 sq ft industrial development later this year FI Real Estate Management has recently secured planning permission for a 150,000 sq ft Grade A industrial and logistics development at Wrexham Industrial Estate. This achievement marks a significant milestone in their ongoing investments, demonstrating
Spending on UK infrastructure fell back 39% to £1.2bn in August after July’s £2.0bn, although contract awards overall remained relatively healthy for the second month in a row with £6.3bn according to Barbour ABI’s latest analysis. And the bad news for infrastructure looks set to continue with a commensurate 55%
New regulations in the UK and abroad signal mounting scrutiny on the misleading practice of greenwashing. Alex Minett, Head of Global New Markets at CHAS, looks at what these changes are and how businesses can respond. Greenwashing is used to describe misinformation about the environmental and sustainability claims of an
Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day this weekend, analysis by, RIFT, has shown that while the number of suicides across England and Wales has declined in recent years, it remains most prevalent amongst those in skilled trade occupations, particularly within the construction sector. The analysis of data from the Office
Female project professionals facing challenges to gain promotions into senior roles in construction can benefit from expert career advice at the APM (Association for Project Management) Women in Project Management Conference 2023 in London next month. The event, run by APM, the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, includes
Award-winning sustainability consultancy Action Sustainability has today released its new report offering unprecedented insights into the current state of sustainable procurement adoption and maturity across various industries in the United Kingdom. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in the field of supply chain sustainability, with sustainable procurement garnering
Market analysis by debt advisory specialists, Sirius Property Finance, has found that while the volume of non-domestic rateable properties in England has crept up over the last year, there has been a marginal decline in their total rateable value. Sirius Property Finance analysed data on non-domestic properties – those not
The owner of Wagamama has said it is targeting between 200 and 220 restaurants in the long-term, up from its current estate of around 160 UK sites. The Restaurant Group said that strong returns from regional restaurants has given it confidence to accelerate its expansion plans, with the aim of
Works will transform former manor home into Cat A office space Award-winning contractor, Gilbert-Ash has been appointed to carry out the fit out of a former London manor home, transforming it into a modern Cat A workspace. Situated in the heart of Richmond, Kew Studios is a building steeped in
Bellway has become the first national housebuilder to partner with Google to bring energy-saving technology as standard to every home it builds*. Bellway homeowners will be able to save up to 16 per cent on their energy bills by using the Google Nest thermostat, while reducing their carbon footprint. The smart thermostat learns how and when households use their heating and hot water. It adapts to deliver maximum efficiency, turning down the temperature when the home is empty. It is compatible with other smart home technology including Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The partnership will be supported by key partner, Travis Perkins, whose branches across the UK, will supply the thermostats to each of Bellway’s developments. Tony Atkin, Group Production Managing Director for Bellway, said: “We are excited to announce this innovative partnership, which will deliver energy savings for our customers and help to reduce the carbon impact of every home we build. “As part of our Better with Bellway sustainability strategy, we have set ambitious carbon-reduction targets covering every aspect of our business. “As well as reducing the carbon emissions from the production of our homes, we are also introducing technologies which will help our customers. We are therefore committed to building homes that our customers can live in efficiently, while also working to reduce carbon emissions from our on-site operations and supply chain.” Neil Henderson, Sales Director at Travis Perkins, said: “We’re committed to helping our customers create better homes for the future and to leading on the net zero agenda , so we are delighted to have facilitated this partnership between Google and Bellway Homes, which will see Google Nest thermostats being installed in all of Bellway’s future new builds. “As a result, all future Bellway residents will benefit from smarter homes and be empowered to make more informed choices about controlling and regulating their home heating and thereby also cut down on energy usage. “This is also a real advancement in modern technology in that these thermostats are compatible with so many other smart devices that enhance safety, including security cameras and doorbells, and that there is no need to download multiple apps.” Bellway builds in excess of 11,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales each year. The company has invested in a series of Future Homes pilot schemes to trial new carbon-reducing innovations. This includes The Future Home at Energy House 2.0, a research project in conjunction with The University of Salford. Google Nest technology has already been trialled at selected Bellway developments ahead of the national rollout. For more information on the Better with Bellway strategy, see https://sustainability.bellwayplc.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building work to start on new £20m, 150,000 sq ft industrial development later this year FI Real Estate Management has recently secured planning permission for a 150,000 sq ft Grade A industrial and logistics development at Wrexham Industrial Estate. This achievement marks a significant milestone in their ongoing investments, demonstrating a strong commitment to the region. The development adds to FI Real Estate Management’s substantial portfolio in Wrexham, with their total investment in the area now exceeding £160 million. The noteworthy accomplishment occurred when Wrexham Council granted permission for the development of the 7.5-acre ‘Site 5’ on Monday, September 4th. This development approval is particularly remarkable, as it marks one of the first applications to be heard at the committee following the resolution of the city’s two-year phosphate challenges. This new site seamlessly integrates with FI Real Estate Management’s rapidly expanding portfolio at Wrexham Industrial Estate, where the company holds the distinction of being the largest landowner, with a substantial portfolio comprising 2.8 million sq ft of high-quality industrial space. Further reinforcing their commitment to the region, FI Real Estate Management has also had plans validated for the expansive 62.8-acre Kingmoor regeneration site. This site is earmarked for an £80 million development with a construction value, offering a staggering one million sq ft of warehouse and office space dedicated to logistics and distribution. This venture is set to generate employment for approximately 1,200 individuals. Construction at Site 5 is anticipated to commence later this year and will be overseen by FI Real Estate Management’s dedicated construction division, FI Construction. This division is responsible for managing their new build pipeline across the UK, which is slated to encompass a total of 7 million sq ft of space over the next four years. Site 5 is projected to provide employment opportunities for around 250 individuals, further underlining FI Real Estate Management’s commitment to the region. In January of the current year, the company acquired an additional 56 acres of land, and with the completion of their initial developments, they successfully secured new leases with logistics specialists, Gorton Brothers, and multinational furniture company, Howdens Joinery.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Spending on UK infrastructure fell back 39% to £1.2bn in August after July’s £2.0bn, although contract awards overall remained relatively healthy for the second month in a row with £6.3bn according to Barbour ABI’s latest analysis. And the bad news for infrastructure looks set to continue with a commensurate 55% drop in approvals in August. Meanwhile, the education sector saw some positives in the wake of recent chaos around RAAC repairs. Barbour ABI Chief Economist Tom Hall commented: “All eyes are on the education sector following the scandal around crumbling concrete in schools. It may, therefore, come as a small positive for those affected that spending in the form of new project contracts increased 34% to £700m in August, driven largely by secondary school redevelopments. Approvals were also positive, with projects worth £500m moving through the pipeline and £400m of project applications in July.” August also saw a continuation of higher spending levels for the commercial sector with £1.0bn in contracts awarded thanks to several large mixed-use projects in London and a positive month for healthcare with £300m. Hotel and leisure appeared to be slowly returning to normal levels post-Covid but remains dependent on small numbers of larger projects. Planning pipeline remains mixed. Planning approvals continued a mini-resurgence with £8.9bn worth of projects in August. This was the third month of higher activity after a slump in the new financial year. The recovery has been driven by recoveries in the residential, infrastructure and industrial sectors, and a strong Q3 result is all but certain. However, there was still no good news for planning applications, with continuing low activity since the beginning of the year pointing to a challenging future for the industry as the pipeline dries out. In particular, extreme weakness in the residential sector remained clear, with just £3.3bn of new applications in the latest monthly figures. “In the wider construction environment, confirmed activity remains very uncertain, and prospects remain muted for the second half of 2023.” Concluded Hall. Find out more at https://barbour-abi.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New regulations in the UK and abroad signal mounting scrutiny on the misleading practice of greenwashing. Alex Minett, Head of Global New Markets at CHAS, looks at what these changes are and how businesses can respond. Greenwashing is used to describe misinformation about the environmental and sustainability claims of an organisation. It’s an all too common practice. Marketing ploys, vague assurances and manipulation of language and symbols are adopted by companies looking to present themselves as more environmentally responsible than they actually are. As awareness around greenwashing increases, so too does the demand for evidence on eco claims. Businesses not only need to be prepared to demonstrate their own sustainability processes, but ensure their supply chains are ready for scrutiny too. Who are the greenwashing culprits? Greenwashing is employed by a wide range of companies, organisations and even governments. Very often, it is a case of all talk, no action, but some firms go further with their attempts to mislead via deceptive labelling or disingenuous marketing campaigns. The motivation to greenwash might simply be to improve public image but it can also involve diverting attention from more negative environmental practices that are being undertaken elsewhere in an organisation. What is the impact of greenwashing? Greenwashing is not an innocuous practice. It can deceive consumers or stakeholders into thinking they are making environmentally responsible choices when in reality, they may be supporting companies that are not sincerely committed to sustainability. And when companies falsely claim to be environmentally friendly, they may draw support and revenue away from ones that are making genuine efforts to reduce their environmental impact. Greenwashing also hinders meaningful progress in addressing sustainability and the environment. It gives the impression that issues are being adequately dealt with, leading to complacency and a lack of urgency in moving forward with sustainable practices and meeting environmental targets. Eroding consumer trust can result in cynicism and apathy which also impacts progress. What is being done about greenwashing? In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are putting forward a package of new measures to build transparency and trust around sustainability. These measures include sustainable investment labels, disclosure requirements and restrictions on using terms such as ‘ESG’, ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ in product naming and marketing. They also propose an ‘anti-greenwashing’ rule that would apply to all FCA regulated firms, reiterating that sustainability-related claims must be clear, fair and not misleading. With the consultation period ending at the start of 2023, dates for implementing these measures are expected to be published before the end of the year. Meanwhile the EU is planning its Green Claims Directive, which sets out new minimum norms for how companies substantiate, communicate and verify their environmental claims to consumers in the EU. The directive will apply to the vast majority of EU operating companies, from SMEs to large public companies, and across industries. This includes companies based outside the EU that target EU consumers. While still only in draft stage, once the directive comes into force, member states will have 18 months to transfer it into national law and a further six months before the rules are applied. The commission expects a timeline of around four years for the directive to apply. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is also taking aim at the practice of greenwashing by big business with an update to its “Green Guides”. The intention is to give the agency stronger legal cases against polluters by clarifying when companies’ deceptive marketing around sustainability and environmental responsibility violates federal law. How can businesses respond? The crackdown on greenwashing is gaining traction globally, and the onus is on businesses to maintain transparency and be ready to evidence their genuine commitment to sustainability. This includes verifying that their supply chain partners are operating in an environmentally responsible manner. Engaging the services of a third-party organisation such as CHAS can provide assurance to firms looking to strengthen their environmental credibility. CHAS offers accreditation for contractors and suppliers to help them demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility and enhance their credibility. This includes latest assessments, such as the CHAS Advanced and CHAS Elite accreditations, as well as the CHAS Verified Supplier qualification which all include environmental assessments. Meanwhile, CHAS Clients have access to a database of accredited contractors and suppliers via the CHAS Client Portal, which enables them to search for organisations via trade, location and qualification level, meaning they can easily find partners who have confirmed their commitment to operating responsibly. Furthermore, clients can look for additional accreditations such as the CHAS Social Value Level 1 assessment that considers the value an organisation adds to society beyond its reported profits. The assessment considers how a contractor addresses a range of social value issues, including climate change and environmental degradation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day this weekend, analysis by, RIFT, has shown that while the number of suicides across England and Wales has declined in recent years, it remains most prevalent amongst those in skilled trade occupations, particularly within the construction sector. The analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics by RIFT found that: – The construction industry is one that RIFT is heavily involved within and, as a result, the company has supported The Lighthouse Club – a charity dedicated to helping those within the industry who have fallen on hard times – for almost two decades. The Lighthouse Club’s many volunteers give a whole range of welfare and wellbeing advice as well as providing emotional and legal support. One of their most valued services is their emergency financial assistance. The Club raises money to give to those who need it, for example, if the family breadwinner can’t work because of illness or injury. If you work or have worked in construction and you’re in need, there’s somebody at the other end of the phone. The Lighthouse Club’s Construction Industry Helpline 0845 605 1956 is open for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. the Lighthouse Club has also recently launched its Make it Visible portal, with the aim of reducing suicide and improving welfare and wellbeing within the construction industry across the UK and Ireland. The portal provides access to a wealth of information, advice and guidance on a wide variety of emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support. Bradley Post, MD of RIFT, commented: “The choice to take your own life is rarely down to one specific factor. While it is an extremely complex issue, the data does suggest it is more prevalent within certain occupations such as skilled trade roles and construction. We hear first hand about the range of issues facing those within the sector on a daily basis, whether it be financial or otherwise. That’s why we work so closely with The Lighthouse Club in order to provide support and advice during tough times and the work they do is quite frankly remarkable. They are available 24/7 and we would urge anyone struggling within the construction industry to give them a call, whatever the reason may be.” Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Female project professionals facing challenges to gain promotions into senior roles in construction can benefit from expert career advice at the APM (Association for Project Management) Women in Project Management Conference 2023 in London next month. The event, run by APM, the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, includes guest speakers such as renowned equality advocate and business leader Dame Inga Beale, and leadership coach and award-winning author Susanne Madsen, as well as a programme of panel events, talks and exhibitions covering the themes of career progression and project success. It comes after new research by APM found women now comprise around one third of senior positions such as consultant and project director in the project management profession across the UK, as highlighted in APM’s Salary and Market Trends Survey 2023. A separate APM report, entitled Women in Projects: Levelling the Playing Field, highlighted generational and cultural progression for female project professionals but warned “the pace of change is slow”, adding: “Despite some positive developments, our experts agreed that much more needs to be done.” Speaking ahead of the annual conference, themed ‘Pathways to Progression’ for 2023, Sue Kershaw, APM President, said: “APM has a proven record of championing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the project profession, and has long advocated better use of the breadth of talent available. The importance of project and programme management today only increases this need. “Making sure that women can flourish in project roles is absolutely vital. That’s why it’s important that events like our Women in Project Management Conference continue to bring together experts and like-minded individuals to listen, share ideas and the latest insight, and work together. “We encourage anyone interested in attending to visit our website to find out more information and confirm your place before booking closes within the next few weeks.” The event, sponsored by BAE Systems, has two main themes: ‘Strategies for progressing your career’ and ‘Think Differently: Project success from the inside out’ with dedicated events and topics ranging from leadership skills and overcoming the fear of change, to managing stress in project management. Other speakers include Kay Sanders, chief executive of CITI; Victoria Richards, head of profession for project management at Jacobs, and Dr Tammy Watchorn, author of the award-nominated book The Change Ninja Handbook. Sue Simmonite, Global Project Management and Control Director at BAE Systems, said: “We’re proud to be the Headline Sponsor of the 2023 APM Women in Project Management Conference and playing our part in raising awareness of and supporting greater inclusivity across the project management profession. “As a leading provider of advanced solutions across the defence, aerospace and security sectors, we are committed to creating a workplace culture that promotes gender equality and contributes significantly towards our continued success.” The APM Women in Projects Conference 2023 takes place at etc.venues, London, on 21 September from 8am to 5.40pm, with a post-event drinks reception finishing at 6.40pm. For more details, visit the conference’s event page. The event is open to APM members and non-members, as well as APM Corporate Partners and students. Group bookings end on 13 September and individual bookings close on 19 September. APM is the only chartered organisation representing the project profession in the world with over 40,000 individual members and more than 400 corporate partners based across 140 countries. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning sustainability consultancy Action Sustainability has today released its new report offering unprecedented insights into the current state of sustainable procurement adoption and maturity across various industries in the United Kingdom. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in the field of supply chain sustainability, with sustainable procurement garnering global awareness. However, although numerous organisations are taking action to become more sustainable themselves, they often fall short in extending this to their supply chains. In response to this, Action Sustainability has published a ‘Sustainable Procurement Progress Report 2023’, drawing from their evaluations of various organisations against the ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement Standard. Findings in this report indicate that, while organisations that invest in sustainable procurement have some level of sustainability embedded in their procurement activities, more progress needs to be made for this to be perceived as business-as-usual and to fully realise all benefits. The report provides valuable insights to organisations aiming to start embedding sustainability into procurement practices, as well as those seeking to further develop their existing approaches. Key highlights from the report: Central to the report’s vision is the need to embed sustainable procurement across each spending area and continually seek improvement. It advocates for a collaborative approach, emphasising communication, knowledge-sharing and partnership throughout the value chain as key to shaping a more sustainable future. Shaun McCarthy OBE, Director of Action Sustainability, said: “This report provides useful case studies and advice from some of the numerous people we have worked with over the years. We have not taken a scattergun approach to this work, reporting on sectors based on flimsy research, we have focused on those sectors where we have comprehensive, hands-on experience and insight. It is not a complete overview of sustainable procurement; it is our attempt to share what we really know.” Dale Turner, Head of Procurement & Supply Chain at Skanska, added: “Over the last 10 years, there has been greater alignment between our customers and extended supply chain. The hierarchy of the relationships are aimed at encouraging collaboration and achieving more value together. A sustainable procurement approach also drives a more diverse supply chain which helps to manage risk and understand where innovation can be applied down the tiers of the supply chain to make our projects more efficient and productive.” To access the complete report and gain an in-depth understanding of the sustainable procurement landscape, visit Action Sustainability’s website here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Market analysis by debt advisory specialists, Sirius Property Finance, has found that while the volume of non-domestic rateable properties in England has crept up over the last year, there has been a marginal decline in their total rateable value. Sirius Property Finance analysed data on non-domestic properties – those not used for living accommodations such as shops, offices and warehouses – looking at the rateable value of this commercial real estate in current market conditions. The rateable value is an estimate of what it could cost to rent a property for a year based on a set valuation date. The analysis shows that there are just over 2m non-domestic rateable properties located across England, with London home to the highest proportion (16%) with 319,300. This marks a marginal increase of 0.2% versus 2022, which may sound insignificant, but equates to an increase of 3,750 properties. In the current market, the rateable value estimated totals over £63.5bn, a marginal reduction of -0.1%, but again, one that equates to a drop of almost £77m. As a result, the average value per rateable property currently sits at £31,488 per year. Of the three primary non-domestic sectors, it’s the industrial sector that boasts the highest volume of commercial rateable properties (532,680), however, the retail sector sits top with a highest total rateable value of £15.9bn in 2023. This is despite both an annual reduction in the volume (-0.3%) and total value (-0.9%) of these properties when compared to last year. The office sector has also seen a year on year decline in both volumes (-1%) and total rateable value (-1%). In contrast, the number of industrial rateable properties is up 0.7% annually, with the total value of these properties also climbing by 1.1%. Managing Director of Sirius Property Finance, Nicholas Christofi, commented: “Overall, the rateable value of non-domestic properties across the nation has declined marginally over the last year, despite the challenging landscape facing the commercial sector. At the same time, volumes have also crept up, which suggests an underlying air of confidence within the commercial space. Of course, this marginal reduction in values still equates to a notable £77 million versus last year, which really demonstrates the sheer size of the sector in England. While retail remains the most valuable non-domestic core sector, it’s the industrial space that has gone against the wider grain to register an uplift in both volumes and rateable value.” Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The owner of Wagamama has said it is targeting between 200 and 220 restaurants in the long-term, up from its current estate of around 160 UK sites. The Restaurant Group said that strong returns from regional restaurants has given it confidence to accelerate its expansion plans, with the aim of now opening between eight to 10 sites from the 2024 financial year onwards. This comes as the group, which also owns the Frankie & Benny’s chain and the Brunning & Price pub group, releases its interim results for the first half of the 2023 financial year. The group said it was also aiming to open between one to three “high quality” Brunning & Price pubs from the 2024 financial year onwards. During the 26 weeks ending 2 July 2023, the group’s total revenue increased by 10% to £467.4m, up from £423.4m the previous year. Whilst the group’s Wagamama, pubs, and concessions businesses had all seen year-on-year increases in like-for-like sales of 7%, 8%, and 29% respectively, its leisure business saw a fall in sales of 3%. The Restaurant Group said that despite more resilient trading in the third quarter, it has continued to rationalise its leisure estate. It now expects to reduce the size of this business to around 76 sites by the end of the financial year, down from 116 sites previous year. This would mean that the group’s two-year rationalisation programme would be delivered in 12 months. The group will hope to achieve this through: the exercising of lease expiries or break clauses on 14 sites; the sale of eight freehold sites; the conversion of three sites to Wagamama restaurants by the end of the 2024 financial year; and the acceleration of the disposal of between 12 and 17 sites through agreements with landlords or alternative tenants. The Restaurant Group expects to exit the vast majority of lease obligations on the circa 40 closed sites by the end of the 2024 financial year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Works will transform former manor home into Cat A office space Award-winning contractor, Gilbert-Ash has been appointed to carry out the fit out of a former London manor home, transforming it into a modern Cat A workspace. Situated in the heart of Richmond, Kew Studios is a building steeped in history and rich in character which will be completely transformed into stylish office space with a strong focus on sustainability. The £10million project includes the refurbishment of the building to include structural works to create a staircase, lift core and mezzanine plant platform. There will also be alterations to external openings, building repairs, replacement of MEP services to reconfigure the building for subdivision and fitout. Work to the Kew Works building includes roof and front elevation with front and rear extensions, new roof including a green roof, insertion of mezzanines, external and internal refurbishment including fit out to shell and core. The project, which will be carried out in three phases, also includes external hard and soft landscaping. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson said the company is delighted to be working on such an innovative project which includes a number of sustainable initiatives. He said: “The architect, AMD along with our client, 10JSP Investments has developed a really exciting vision for the future of this building and one that is respectful to its long history. “Much of the original building will be preserved but it will be enhanced with features such as a living green roof, electric vehicle charging, cycle storage and solar panels. “Gilbert-Ash has an excellent reputation for delivering high quality fit out projects and we are excited to be working on the scheme at Kew Studios.” Just a short distance to the River Thames and Chiswick Bridge, Kew Studios is also only a short walk to the iconic Kew Gardens, making the new office space an excellent choice for companies working in the capital. Gilbert-Ash has a unique approach to construction, fit out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. Sustainability is a key focus for Gilbert-Ash with a number of initiatives underway to help the company to drive down its carbon footprint. To find out more about Gilbert-Ash visit www.gilbert-ash.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals