Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the July 2023 edition of its Construction Index. The Index focuses on the three months to the end of June 2023, covering all underlying projects with a total value of £100m or less (unless otherwise indicated), with all figures
Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has reached a milestone on the M2 junction 5 improvements scheme, with some significant changes made that will benefit road users. GRAHAM was awarded the £92m M2 junction 5 improvements scheme by National Highways in June 2021. The junction is one of the busiest in the
Harley Haddow has received one of the top prizes at The Grafters Awards, scooping the best Mechanical and Electrical Consultancy award. The ceremony which took place last night (Thursday 29th of June) at The Mercure Picadilly Hotel in Manchester, recognised the best of the Northwest construction and property industry. Hosted
The award-winning asbestos and abatement company, Amianto Services, is celebrating its five-year anniversary having provided vital services across the UK. Amianto Services, part of The Sovini Group, offers an award-winning asbestos and abatement removal service, in addition to their recent expansion of services to provide passive fire protection (FIRAS). Since
Aggregate Industries has proven its unrivalled technical prowess once again having played a pivotal role in the development of a landmark new solution designed to provide automated, real-time reporting of embodied carbon emissions. Formed in Spring 2022, the Scope 3 initiative aims to drive real climate action by providing detailed,
SELECT, Scotland’s largest construction trade association, has welcomed three major new enterprises to its growing Associate Membership Scheme as it continues to attract an impressive line-up of market-leading manufacturers and organisations. Schneider Electric, Robus LED Group and CompEx have all joined the 25 existing Associates who have built mutually beneficial
Major progress is being made on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade, with the majority of earthworks which set the foundations for a new passing track loop between Bamford and Hathersage stations completed. On completion of the major upgrade project between Manchester and Sheffield, the passing loop will enable passenger trains
Two tram stops on Metrolink’s Eccles line will close for 10 weeks to allow for major rail replacement work to take place. From Saturday 15th July to Thursday 21st September, track renewal work will be carried out on Eccles New Road which will result in the closure of Eccles and
A new and exciting opportunity awaits specialists in the field of fire safety as they are encouraged to participate in a groundbreaking framework aimed at supplying fire safety measures for the public sector. The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework, established by the LHC Procurement Group, is now open for applications from
A new research-led report has revealed where public funding is urgently needed to kick-start town centre regeneration and support the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda by stimulating investment in the most neglected areas of the country. National law firm Shakespeare Martineau and planning and design consultancy Marrons have analysed data from
Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the July 2023 edition of its Construction Index. The Index focuses on the three months to the end of June 2023, covering all underlying projects with a total value of £100m or less (unless otherwise indicated), with all figures seasonally adjusted. It’s a report which provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals a unique insight into sector performance over the last 12 months. Heading into Q.3 2023, construction-starts continue to slide on a consistent downhill trajectory. Similar to previous, recent editions of the Index, performance remained frustratingly sluggish across the sector, amid eye-watering price inflation, interest spikes, and widespread economic uncertainty. However, striking a more positive note, residential construction rallied following a long-lasting period of depression, with starts-on-site increasing by a tenth during the Index period. Commenting on the findings, Glenigan’s Economic Director, Allan Wilen, says, “Further weakening in project-starts in the second quarter is disappointing but unsurprising, with a continued slowdown largely attributed to the UK’s stagnant economic situation, which will likely persist into the latter half of the year. The UK economic outlook remains weak, denting investor and consumer confidence further and consequently stifling private sector activity. Particularly, civils starts have disappointed, which is a shame, given the Prime Minister and Chancellor’s big commitments to critical infrastructure. This is due, in part, to sharp drops in infrastructure approvals throughout 2022, feeding through to this year. “Despite this, a modest residential project-start recovery is encouraging, which will be welcomed by many housebuilders, whose activity has stalled thanks to icy market conditions and a raft of new regulations. Whilst we’re not out of the woods yet, these nascent green shoots reflect the predictions made in our recent Construction Forecast, which expects the industry to return to growth in 2024 as UK economic prospects improve.” Taking a closer look at sector verticals and UK regions… Sector Analysis – Residential Residential construction experienced a slight upturn during the three months to June as starts advanced 10% but stood 40% lower than a year ago. Private housing also enjoyed a growth spurt, with starts increasing 17% against the preceding three months but weakening 46% compared with the previous year. Social housing performance was weak, finishing 9% down on the preceding three months, dropping back 3% on 2022 levels. Sector Analysis – Non-Residential The value of starts across non-residential sectors fell by 11% during Q.2, down 30% on a year ago, with most verticals experiencing decline against the previous year. Hotel & Leisure experienced a relatively strong period, with work starting on-site increased by 2% against the preceding three months to stand 1% up on the previous year. Industrial project-start performance was mixed, with the value of starts increasing a modest 1% during the three months to June but remaining 33% lower than a year ago. It was a similar story for health, where the value of underlying project-starts fell back 22% against 2022 levels, but, more positively, advanced 51% against the preceding three-month period. Offices project-start performance was especially poor, with project-starts weakening 38% during the three months to June to stand 57% lower than a year ago. Retail project-starts also slipped back abruptly, declining 14% against the preceding three months to stand 44% down on the year before. Education and Community & Amenity also decreased 18% and 43% against the preceding three months, to stand 2% and 45% down on the previous year, respectively. Civils work starting on-site dropped 40% against the preceding three months to stand 54% down on a year ago. Infrastructure starts dropped 35% during Q.2, down 59% on the previous year’s figures. Utilities starts also declined 44% against the three months to the end of June, finishing 45% down on a year ago. Regional Analysis Regional performance was poor, with project-starts weakening across nearly every part of the UK during the three months to June. Project-start performance in the North East and Northern Ireland was mixed, increasing 18% and 15%, respectively, but slipping back 33% and 7% on 2022 levels. The East of England also experienced a mixed period, increasing 31% against the preceding three months but remaining 36% behind last year’s figures. Wales suffered the heaviest fall, declining 46% against the preceding three months to stand 52% down on a year ago. It was a similar story in Yorkshire & the Humber, with the value of project-starts decreasing 17% against the preceding three months and remaining significantly down (-41%) on the previous year. Project-starts in the East Midlands also experienced falls against both the preceding three months (-1%) and previous year (-40%). London and the South West weakened against the preceding three months, falling back 18% and 11%, respectively. Both regions were down on the previous year, remaining 36% and 46% lower than a year ago. Scotland was down against both the preceding three months (-9%) and the previous year (-27%). This was also the case in the West Midlands, the South East, and the North West, which all crashed compared to both the preceding three months and previous year. To find out more about Glenigan and its construction intelligence services click here. 2023 sees Glenigan celebrate its 50th anniversary, commemorating half a century of delivering the highest-quality construction market intelligence. To find out more about its services and expertise click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has reached a milestone on the M2 junction 5 improvements scheme, with some significant changes made that will benefit road users. GRAHAM was awarded the £92m M2 junction 5 improvements scheme by National Highways in June 2021. The junction is one of the busiest in the region and experiences large queues and heavy congestion on a daily basis. It also had one of the highest collision rates across England’s motorway and major A roads nationally. The project team has recently implemented major changes to the way drivers use the Stockbury roundabout. Earlier in the year, GRAHAM switched the A249 southbound traffic onto a new stretch of road on the south side of the roundabout, that runs adjacent to the existing carriageway. The new section is temporarily carrying southbound traffic and once complete will become the new Oad Street Link Road, which will carry traffic directly from Oad Street to the Stockbury roundabout. The A249’s northbound traffic has also been switched onto the existing southbound carriageway to allow construction of the Stockbury South bridge structure. Once complete, the flyover will allow traffic to flow without restrictions over the Stockbury roundabout, reducing delays and improving safety. Last month GRAHAM opened the new Maidstone Link Road, a new carriageway connecting Maidstone Road to Oad Street. The project team also opened the new southbound diverge (slip road) to southbound traffic. The start of this new slip road consists of continuously reinforced concrete paving (CRCP), to tie in the existing carriageway, with surfacing also recently completed. Once works are complete, the southbound diverge will have a dedicated slip road to the M2 (westbound). The switching of traffic to the southbound diverge will enable the construction of the northern Stockbury flyover, with the first step being the installation of 900mm dia CFA (Continuous flight auger) piles. Now the traffic has been switched, GRAHAM’s team is demolishing the CRCP slab beneath the existing A249 carriageway utilising excavators with hydraulic breakers. Recent progress has seen the construction of the southern abutment for the new Stockbury south bridge structure. The abutment is constructed with 170 cubic meters of steel-reinforced concrete. Following completion of the abutment, GRAHAM has made major progress on the scheme’s bespoke flint-clad reinforced earth RECO walls. The RECO walls will see 1,500 RECO panels placed in total, allowing earth to be backfilled behind them. The faces of the panels have been chosen to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish to the scheme, with a coarse finish of locally sourced flint utilised to suit the scheme’s natural surroundings in the Stockbury Valley. Once complete, the scheme will lead to smoother and safer journeys for hundreds of thousands of drivers each day. For more information about the scheme visit the M2 junction 5 project website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Harley Haddow has received one of the top prizes at The Grafters Awards, scooping the best Mechanical and Electrical Consultancy award. The ceremony which took place last night (Thursday 29th of June) at The Mercure Picadilly Hotel in Manchester, recognised the best of the Northwest construction and property industry. Hosted by television and radio presenter, Jenny Powell, the awards, part of Grafters Super Group, celebrate achievements from those across the Northwest industry. Ian Chalk, director at Harley Haddow said: “We are delighted to have been awarded best Mechanical and Electrical Consultancy and are proud of the accomplishments we have made over the last year in the Northwest. “It has been an incredible journey so far from when we first opened our office in Manchester, with great project wins and team expansion. Winning something like this really consolidates all the hard work and dedication that has gone in across the consultancy and we can’t wait to build on this even more.” The consultancy is going from strength to strength, with this most recent accolade one of seven award nominations in 2023 so far. Having opened their Manchester office last year, the team is continuing to grow their Northwest hub with further recruitment ongoing. If you would like to know more about opportunities within Harley Haddow please visit: https://www.harleyhaddow.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The award-winning asbestos and abatement company, Amianto Services, is celebrating its five-year anniversary having provided vital services across the UK. Amianto Services, part of The Sovini Group, offers an award-winning asbestos and abatement removal service, in addition to their recent expansion of services to provide passive fire protection (FIRAS). Since 2017, Amianto Services have worked on large and complex projects across both the public and private sectors; from NHS trusts and higher education providers to the housing sector and established commercial businesses. During this time, the firm has also successfully passed all its six external industry-standard audits, including ACAD (Asbestos Control & Abatement Division), ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractor Association and SafeContractor, to name a few. In 2022, Amianto Services proudly scooped the ARCA Gold Standard accolade, a prestigious industry award. In 2022 alone, Amianto Services have also provided additional meaningful employment opportunities, for both trainee and highly skilled operatives. Tony Loughran, Managing Director of Amianto Services, said: “We established in 2017 to provide asbestos abatement services for our parent company, The Sovini Group. Since then and gaining a wealth of experience in the housing sector, we’ve expanded our service offer and delved into various industries and sectors. Throughout our journey we’ve been recognised by leading industry bodies for our excellence. Furthermore, we’ve continued to provide new and unique employment opportunities across the North West and beyond.”To find out more about Amianto Services click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aggregate Industries has proven its unrivalled technical prowess once again having played a pivotal role in the development of a landmark new solution designed to provide automated, real-time reporting of embodied carbon emissions. Formed in Spring 2022, the Scope 3 initiative aims to drive real climate action by providing detailed, scientific embodied carbon emission calculations for the first time, as part of the automated invoice process. Headed up by construction software leader, Causeway Technologies, the project, which is due for completion next year, is being developed in collaboration with Balfour Beatty, Galliford Try and Morgan Sindall, alongside Aggregate Industries as major supplier. Dr Adam O’Rourke, Causeway’s emerging technologies consultant, comments: “As the net zero mandate grows, it’s vital that construction begins to tackle embodied carbon emissions head on. Unfortunately though, embodied carbon is incredibly difficult to measure and track due to the vast variants involved – the result being a lack of confidence in the various measurement systems available with firms often overestimating it as a precaution. “This Scope 3 initiative seeks to address the challenge by developing a solution which is able to provide wholly accurate, scientifically-led embodied carbon measurement in real-time reporting across projects as part of the invoice process.” In initial tests, Causeway worked with samples of 25,000 invoices from all involved stakeholders focusing on materials with the highest carbon impact. Crucially, Aggregate Industries’ unique Your Carbon Report provided a best practice example as part of the process – the system being capable of addressing embodied carbon figures down to the line-level items such as distance to plant, plant energy and distribution. Dr O’Rourke adds: “Aggregate Industries’ carbon reporting played a pivotal role in informing some of the strategic decision-making, thanks to the sheer level of detail and accuracy. While some suppliers tend to offer a standard carbon factor metric, with Aggregate Industries the measuring covers everything from the individual components of each different product and plant through to the distance to plant, raw material values, plant energy and distribution to site – and all in real-time.” Due for a formal launch next year, the Scope 3 initiative’s new software solution will offer a credible, verifiable, efficient and scalable way to measure Scope 3 emissions in real-time, using invoice data automatically extracted from Causeway Tradex. The companies collaborating on the initiative are currently engaging with suppliers, as well as validating and testing elements of this software. The project is also being supported via a knowledge partnership with the Engineering Department at the University of Bath. Kirstin McCarthy, Sustainability Director at Aggregate Industries, comments: “Talking to our customers, we know that sustainability is a priority and that they want to take progressive action in their approach to embodied carbon. However, we also know that the current way of doing things can be daunting and difficult. “With this, we purposely developed Your Carbon Report to provide our customers with the industry’s first true ‘cradle to grave’ measurement tool so they can see the embodied carbon impacts of their material choices quickly and with ease. “We are very proud to have been so heavily involved in the Scope 3 initiative, with our tool and our technical expertise helping to shape this important solution and we look forward to helping bring it to market in due course.” Aggregate Industries’ Your Carbon Report is the very first carbon reporting tool that enables customers to access a ‘cradle to site’ assessment to calculate, track and report embodied carbon with ease. The result is that construction professionals can easily access and view exacting material carbon-emissions data for products by manufactured Aggregate Industries, thus enabling carbon-smart choices during design and procurement. For further information, please visit www.aggregate.com.
SELECT, Scotland’s largest construction trade association, has welcomed three major new enterprises to its growing Associate Membership Scheme as it continues to attract an impressive line-up of market-leading manufacturers and organisations. Schneider Electric, Robus LED Group and CompEx have all joined the 25 existing Associates who have built mutually beneficial relationships with SELECT’s member businesses over the past 18 months. The three new Associate Members will now be able to engage with SELECT’s experts and members, enjoy access to a wealth of services and benefits and work with the organisation to share the latest ideas and in-depth knowledge to the advantage of the wider industry. Iain Mason, Director of Membership and Communications at SELECT, said: “Everyone at SELECT is delighted that enterprises of the size and stature of Schneider Electric, Robus and CompEx have joined our Associate Membership scheme. “Becoming an Associate is an opportunity for partner organisations to build stronger relationships with key players in the electrical contracting industry, and also to ally themselves with an established and successful trade body.” SELECT, which represents around 1,250 electrical firms and 15,000 contractors across the country, launched the scheme early in 2022 to help develop a mutually complementary network of industry-specific partners. Mr Mason added: “Since its launch, the scheme has proved extremely popular and has allowed Associates to speak to our members both through our print and digital channels and also face-to-face at the many events we run across Scotland throughout the year. “It has also strengthened our own relationship with some of the industry’s most renowned names and allowed us to develop and grow events such as our Toolbox Talks, President’s Cup and President’s Lunch.” Schneider Electric, which traces its history back to 1838, drives digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies to help businesses make efficiency and sustainability gains across their organisations. David Pownall, Vice President of Services at Schneider Electric UK & Ireland, said: “We have had a long and fruitful association with SELECT over the years, including sponsoring organisation awards, and we are proud to be included in an Associate Membership scheme which brings so many benefits to the electrical industry.” Robus is a Dublin-headquartered global lighting wholesaler with customers in more than 40 countries around the world. Established in 1984, it is now the biggest lighting company in Ireland. Mick G Slein, Chief Executive of Robus, said: “Becoming an Associate Member of SELECT completely aligns with our best-in-class mindset and our vision of being our customers’ most trusted LED lighting brand. We look forward to building strong and trusted relationships with SELECT members as we continue to grow internationally.” CompEx is the international scheme for competency validation and certification of people who work in explosive atmospheres. First established 30 years ago with the support of industry, its suite of training and assessment modules are delivered through a network of independent training and assessment centres to support electrotechnical practitioners in sectors including oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage manufacturing and utilities. Huw Bement, Managing Director of CompEx, said: “Our international safety and competency scheme is rooted in certifying electrotechnical technicians and engineers operating in hazardous areas – so becoming a SELECT Associate Member is hugely important for us. It’s a fantastic opportunity for CompEx to establish new industry connections and to continue building our existing relationships.” The trio’s arrival follows the announcement of Legrand UK & Ireland as SELECT’s 25th Associate Member earlier this year. The electrical and digital infrastructure specialist is part of Legrand Group, which has a presence in nearly 90 countries and employs more than 38,000 people. Other SELECT Associate Members include Hispec, V-Tac, Aico, Aurora, Electrium, Hager, Luceco, Megger, Scolmore and Thorn Lighting. SELECT has just completed its annual Toolbox Talks roadshows and is now involved in the organisation of the second Green Home Festival as a leading member of the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV). The organisation also continues to spearhead a long-running and high-profile campaign for regulation of the electrical industry, with the submission to Scottish Parliament of a Members’ Bill calling for Protection of Title. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Major progress is being made on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade, with the majority of earthworks which set the foundations for a new passing track loop between Bamford and Hathersage stations completed. On completion of the major upgrade project between Manchester and Sheffield, the passing loop will enable passenger trains to pass slower freight trains, increasing the reliability of passenger journeys. The team on the ground has completed soil nailing and regrade work at Bamford to clear the land needed for the new track and to secure the adjoining rock face. This involves drilling nails into the embankment to stabilise the ground in advance of track installation. A total of 935 nails have been installed by the team as part of the work ready for track to be installed later in the year. LINK TO VIDEO Graeme Whitehead, Senior Sponsor on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade said: “We’re very pleased with the progress of work that the team have made at Bamford, despite challenging ground conditions”. “Reaching this milestone means that we’re one step closer to completing the passing loop and delivering benefits to passengers travelling along the Hope Valley line.” The first phase of track installation on the loop was completed in Bamford between November 2022 and February 2023. This included the construction and placement of two turnout sections of track for the loop, which will eventually meet in the middle completing a passing loop for fast trains to pass, therefore reducing delays to services. The remainder of the loop is planned to be completed this year. Elsewhere on the project, work is progressing to build a second platform and a new footbridge at Dore & Totley station. Over 2355m of track has been installed in Dore & Totley since July 2022, and work has recently started to build the foundations for the platform and footbridge. The Hope Valley Railway Upgrade is due to complete in spring 2024.
Two tram stops on Metrolink’s Eccles line will close for 10 weeks to allow for major rail replacement work to take place. From Saturday 15th July to Thursday 21st September, track renewal work will be carried out on Eccles New Road which will result in the closure of Eccles and Ladywell tram stops. Services will continue to operate as normal between Weaste and the city centre, as well as the MediaCityUK and Trafford Park Metrolink lines, A fully accessible bus replacement service will also run to take passengers between Weaste and Eccles, serving Ladywell, for onward journeys. Signed pedestrian walking routes will be in place and customer service staff will be present to help passengers. More information can be found online. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM) regularly carry out maintenance, repairs and renewal to track, overheard wires and other equipment to improve the travelling experience and service for customers. Work has previously been carried out on the Eccles line in 2021 and 2022 to replace sections of worn rail along the line, which first opened 22 years ago. A total of 1.7km of worn rails will be replaced as part of the latest phase. Undertaking the repairs over the summer and early autumn will ensure that as much work as possible is completed and reduced the need to close the line for longer in the future. Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, said: “I’d like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience these works will cause.It is, however, essential to do to keep our services safe into the future. “It will be the final summer of rail replacement for some years, and this year we will be running trams all the way to Weaste from the city centre, in order to minimise disruption.” Dedicated travel advice and information can be found on TfGM’s website. For any other queries prior to, or during the course of, these engineering works, contact the TfGM Customer Relations team at customer.relations@tfgm.com or by calling 0161 244 1000.
A new and exciting opportunity awaits specialists in the field of fire safety as they are encouraged to participate in a groundbreaking framework aimed at supplying fire safety measures for the public sector. The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework, established by the LHC Procurement Group, is now open for applications from prospective suppliers nationwide until mid-August. With a substantial allocation of funds, this framework holds significant value, with £105m allocated for England, £20m for Scotland, and £15m for Wales. Each regional area will have six available spaces per lot, ensuring ample opportunities for successful applicants. The FS2 framework encompasses a broad range of services, including the provision of new or replacement passive and active fire protection measures for both domestic and non-domestic buildings. Additionally, it covers fire suppression, consultancy services, waking watch services, and cladding remediation. Compliance with all current legislation, such as the Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety Act 2021, and Fire Safety (England) regulations 2022, is a crucial aspect of the framework. Dean Fazackerley, Head of Technical Procurement at LHC, expressed the importance of fire safety in light of recent events, particularly the Grenfell Tower tragedy. He emphasized that local authorities and social housing providers are now prioritising the preparedness of buildings in the event of a fire. In response to these urgent concerns, FS2 represents a significant advancement from its predecessor, FS1, by expanding the range of fire safety measures available. The framework has been meticulously developed in collaboration with expert consultants, ensuring comprehensive coverage of current legislation. By aligning with regulations and industry best practices, it offers clients peace of mind. Fazackerley further highlighted the value and expertise that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) bring to the field. By tapping into their knowledge and capabilities, the FS2 framework aims to provide a wide array of national and local organisations capable of undertaking specialised projects. This approach will undoubtedly offer distinct value and tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of clients. If you are a fire safety expert seeking to be part of this groundbreaking framework and make a significant impact in the field, we invite you to find out more about FS2 and apply by clicking here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new research-led report has revealed where public funding is urgently needed to kick-start town centre regeneration and support the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda by stimulating investment in the most neglected areas of the country. National law firm Shakespeare Martineau and planning and design consultancy Marrons have analysed data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Government’s Geospatial Data Commission in order to pinpoint towns where public funding is most needed, and those that are primed for private sector investment. As part of the group’s More Than Stores report, which proposes policy solutions to arrest the decline of town centres across the UK, the Regeneration Index ranks 360 of the UK’s largest market towns* in England and Wales based on housing affordability, job creation potential, population growth and accessibility. The research confirms that there is a clear North/South divide, with towns in the South East of England more resilient and successful in attracting public and private sector investment than those in the North. Their relative success is largely due to a more diversified townscape, supported by stable population growth and local job creation. Regeneration Index – the ‘bottom 50’ Only two towns in the South East are ranked among the ‘bottom 50’ (of the Regeneration Index), which means that they urgently need Government support or other public sector investment to kick-start regeneration activity. By contrast, 37 towns in the ‘bottom 50’ are located in in the North of England – including Derby, Spennymoor (Durham), Barnsley (Yorkshire), Selby (Yorkshire), South Shields (Tyne & Wear) and Grimsby. The remaining 21 are located across the rest of England and Wales. While the ‘bottom 50’ towns have been ranked ‘worst’ in terms of their regeneration readiness, it is hoped that identifying their plight will help to inform future public funding decisions at a local and national level. Regeneration Index – the’ top 50’ Just six towns in the North of England – which is defined as the Midlands and beyond – and four in Wales, are in the ‘top 50’ (of the Regeneration Index), which means they are considered to be among those best placed to grow organically, without requiring urgent Government-backed intervention. The remainder are located primarily in the South of England. The ‘top 50’ towns have been ranked best in terms of their regeneration readiness, which means they are best placed to secure inward investment and grow organically, without the need for urgent Government intervention. The rankings have been published as the Government faces continued criticism over the allocation methodology behind its £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund, with critics claiming its broad reach is not targeted enough to help areas most in need of regeneration. The application process is also said to be onerous and bureaucratic, costing local authorities significant time and money when applying for funds. Analysis from the Labour Party has revealed that London will receive a higher allocation of funding (from the Levelling Up Fund) than Yorkshire and the North East, the latter of which will receive almost half of the amount given to local authorities in the South East. Further research by the Institute for Public Policy Research has found that investment in deprived areas of the North of England is amongst the lowest of the world’s most advanced economies. ‘Bottom 50’ Ranked: towns where public investment is most required, according to the analysis Town Region Derby Midlands Caerphilly Wales Spennymoor North East Barnsley Yorkshire Bridgend Wales Selby Yorkshire South Shields North East Grimsby Midlands Halifax Yorkshire Workington North West ‘Top 50’ Ranked: towns best placed to grow organically, without requiring urgent Government-backed intervention, according to the analysis Town Region Wakefield Yorkshire Tewkesbury South West Cheshunt East of England Paignton South West Chard SouthWest Baldock East of England Boscombe South West Chesham South East Bridgewater South West Aldershot South East Alex Smith, managing director of infrastructure and specialist markets at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “Our Regeneration Index takes a magnifying glass to town-level investment and sets out to explain why some market towns urgently need Government intervention, whereas others are showing that they can support themselves. Previous studies have looked at this problem regionally or have placed a significant emphasis on cities. They have also assumed that funding is limitless. Both of these approaches overlook local disparities that only a granular, town-centre analysis can reveal. “From the 360 market towns we have analysed, we’ve ranked the 50 most in need of public funding to kickstart regeneration. We’ve also ranked the 50 that are most ‘resilient’, where private sector investment is already evident and more likely to be forthcoming in the future, “This isn’t determined geographically, but on a range of demographic and social factors, not least employment density, population growth and housing affordability in sustainable communities close to or within town centres.” In a call to central government and local authorities, the report from Shakespeare Martineau and Marrons puts forward a series of policy recommendations to encourage town-centre regeneration. The NHS, planning, housing, and retail are all key areas of focus. The report recommends the introduction of micro-scale ‘health hubs’ to provide treatment for minor complaints and health conditions on the high street – an activity which could also help to alleviate pressure on NHS services. Other recommendations include the creation of Town Centre Priority Zones and Regeneration Panels within local authorities, and a centralised National Brownfield Map. The latter should be supported by a ‘Prove it or Lose it’ policy, where brownfield land is put up for auction if planning consent is not secured within two years of it being advertised. The report comes after another year of decline for high streets across the UK, where more than 50 shops closed each day in 2022, according to the Centre for Retail Research. The total number of retail closures last year was 17,000, 50% higher than in 2021, and the highest in five years. Closures from independent retailers made up 65% of the total. Brian Mullin, head of Marrons, said: “The evidence suggests that our high streets are