AN UNDERGROUND mapping startup has brought in more than £82m from its latest funding round to help bring artificial intelligence to the UK infrastructure industry. Exodigo – for whom former Crossrail CEO Simon Wright OBE acts as an advisor – will use the capital to invest in its UK and European
Work has begun on an exciting £1.2 million expansion of one of Birmingham’s best performing prep schools. Two new state-of-the-art classrooms will be created at Hallfield School, on Church Road, in Edgbaston, alongside a new common room and male and female toilets. Leading development and construction company The Wigley Group
To mark International Women’s Day (8th March), Poole-based Wyatt Homes proudly shines a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of one of its employees, Victoria Grinnall. Victoria, 29, from Salisbury, and Assistant Site Manager at Wyatt Homes’ Mountbatten Park development in North Baddesley, is challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers in the traditionally
A WIDE range of businesses have secured a place on a major nine-figure framework that will enable the modernisation and improvement of Scotland’s public sector and social housing buildings. It follows a competitive process after the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) invited businesses throughout Scotland to tender for works, as part
As the rental market braces to once again feel the cold shoulder where Budget related housing initiatives are concerned, the latest research by Zero Deposit, the alternative to a tenancy deposit, has revealed the consequence of a homebuyer focussed Government, as privately rented homes as a proportion of all dwellings
A groundbreaking ceremony has officially marked the start of construction of Sonar Portsmouth. Built in the heart of Hilsea, the 4.5-acre industrial site, will host seven units ranging from 5,479 to 35,220 sq ft, all of which will all target BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings. The buildings will offer
With the proliferation of AI, cloud computing and big data, the demand for new data centres in the UK is at an all-time high. However, despite the critical need for additional capacity, the shortage of skilled construction professionals in this specialised field continues to cause bottlenecks and delay projects. To
This Women in Construction Week, HEITKAMP Site Manager Sina Motsch shares her thoughts on how digital solutions have diversified the business of earthworks… Located in the renowned mining region of Germany, Saarland, the Maybach mining heap stands as a testament to the industrial legacy dating back centuries. Historically serving as
Okarno, formerly known as Artex, a leading distributor of some of the UK’s best known construction brands, has appointed Jenny Khmel as Head of Portfolio: Commercial Department. Jenny will provide a vital role in supporting Okarno’s product management, brand marketing and sales teams to drive further business growth. With over
The CEO of TerraQuest, the company operating Planning Portal, has welcomed the backing from the Chancellor at his Spring Budget for the wider adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the planning system, but has said that high-quality data is crucial to its success. Geoff Keal, CEO at TerraQuest, commended plans
AN UNDERGROUND mapping startup has brought in more than £82m from its latest funding round to help bring artificial intelligence to the UK infrastructure industry. Exodigo – for whom former Crossrail CEO Simon Wright OBE acts as an advisor – will use the capital to invest in its UK and European team and expand its range of scanning products, which accurately identify and categorise underground hazards and assets. The geospatial specialist uses sensors and AI technology to identify utilities and other underground assets, and has been used successfully on major projects across the UK. Most recently, the technology was deployed by Colas Rail on its Birmingham Midland Metro Extension project, which extends the current light rail network and will also connect to the Curzon Street HS2 station currently under construction. With this announcement of the additional round – which takes the overall total of funding past £93m – Exodigo will now expand its teams on the ground in the UK, allowing it to better support some of the nation’s biggest infrastructure projects. Aurelia Setton, Chief Business Officer of Exodigo, said: “This new round of funding will fuel more strategic investments in the UK and in Europe. Our partners are already seeing the benefits of working with Exodigo, particularly on their ability to deliver projects at scale, on time, within budget, and safely. “Utility strikes are an issue around the globe, leading to unnecessary emissions, risks, delays and budget overspend, but our solutions locate up to 30% more utility lines than other services, and reduce preliminary digging and trial holes by up to 90%. This funding will open up even more opportunities to scale across new verticals in the UK and in Europe.” Jointly headquartered in Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv, Israel, Exodigo runs its UK operations out of its London office in Farringdon. The funding round has been co-led by Greenfield Partners and existing investor Zeev Ventures, and is further backed by existing investors SquarePeg, 10D VC, JIBE and National Grid Partners. Raz Mangel, partner at Greenfield Partners said: “Exodigo is one of those rare companies that has managed to revolutionize a large market that is difficult to innovate in, by combining breakthroughs on both the software and hardware side in order to create unparalleled technology for non-intrusive underground mapping. The company operates with a unique intensity, leading to incredible market and product velocity. “The company operates with a unique intensity, leading to incredible market and product velocity. We’re thrilled to partner with Jeremy and the entire Exodigo team to play a part in the next phase of their global expansion as the company makes underground mapping and exploration a reality for the mass market.” Jeremy Suard, co-founder and CEO, Exodigo, said: “We want to transform the entire built environment and are committed to making underground exploration safer, faster, and more sustainable so our customers can design, dig and build safely with confidence. As the only subsurface imaging company to put AI-interpreted signal processing into practice, Exodigo solves a massive, longstanding problem for industries where what lies underground matters.” For more information about Exodigo, visit www.exodigo.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work has begun on an exciting £1.2 million expansion of one of Birmingham’s best performing prep schools. Two new state-of-the-art classrooms will be created at Hallfield School, on Church Road, in Edgbaston, alongside a new common room and male and female toilets. Leading development and construction company The Wigley Group has been appointed to carry out the works, which will complete in the summer. The project is part of an ongoing programme of investment at the school and adds to £4.5 million worth of funding over the last five years to enhance the educational experience for pupils of all ages. Head Master Keith Morrow said: “This exciting new scheme will transform an underutilised building which was nearing the end of its natural life and will deliver state-of-the-art, first-class facilities for all pupils, ready for our new September intake. “We were impressed with The Wigley Group’s vision and expertise to help us realise this project and are delighted to be working with them and watching the scheme take shape over the coming months.” The works will see an existing building demolished to facilitate a striking, modern single-storey new building. The two new classrooms will be interlinked by bi-fold partitioned doors which will allow the space to be used flexibly to create one large multi-use event room. Key design features include a sawtooth roof with acoustic panelling and exposed beaming to complement the existing Georgian building. Andy Higham, Construction Manager at The Wigley Group, said: “This is a fantastic project which will make a real difference to the school’s current and future pupils. “We look forward to working with the school to deliver this prestigious scheme.” Hallfield School, which celebrated its 145th anniversary in January, is one of the largest prep schools in the country and caters for more than 580 students between the ages 0-13. The Wigley Group is an ISO 45001, 9001 and 14001 certificated company based in Southam, in Warwickshire, and is active in real estate investment, development and construction, as well as asset management of portfolios for both itself and commercial partners. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
To mark International Women’s Day (8th March), Poole-based Wyatt Homes proudly shines a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of one of its employees, Victoria Grinnall. Victoria, 29, from Salisbury, and Assistant Site Manager at Wyatt Homes’ Mountbatten Park development in North Baddesley, is challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers in the traditionally male-dominated construction industry. Before joining Wyatt Homes, Victoria spent five years in the army as a Royal Engineer, notably becoming the first female Armoured Engineer. Following her military service, she advanced her career by participating in an Ex-Armed Forces Programme in the housebuilding industry. Within just three years, she transitioned from a Trainee Assistant Site Manager to an Assistant Site Manager, demonstrating great skill and dedication in her field. Despite the industry’s historical gender imbalance, recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics reveal a positive trend. While women currently represent just 15.8% of all construction industry employees in the UK, this figure marks the highest proportion of women in the construction workforce since official records began. Victoria has gone from strength to strength in her career, marked by several achievements. In 2022, she was nominated for the ‘Champion of Women’ award at the Ex-forces in Business Awards. Building on this momentum, in May 2023, she was again nominated for the ‘Champion of Women’ award at the Ex-Forces in Business Awards and for ‘Woman of the Year’ at the Women in Housing Awards, ultimately winning the latter. She said, “Having entered the industry with limited knowledge, I now realise the tremendous growth I’ve experienced. I firmly believe that if I can achieve this, anyone can.” Aside from her personal growth, Victoria emphasised the significance of addressing mental health on-site. She said, “I think it’s so important to prioritise openly discussing mental health, making sure to check in on those who might not typically share how they feel. “Coming from a military background, I understand the importance of encouraging a supportive environment and progressing together as a team.” Offering advice to women considering a career in construction, Victoria said, “Go for it! Explore the opportunities available and discover your potential. “While management roles may not be suitable for everyone, there is a niche for every individual. I highly recommend this industry. I’ve felt incredibly welcomed and I adore it!” Tara Kelly, Sales Director at Wyatt Homes said, “Victoria is a shining example of how hard work and ambition can pave the way in any career path. At Wyatt Homes, we champion fostering a culture where every member of our team feels valued and heard, irrespective of their background or role.” Wyatt Homes builds beautiful new homes in sought-after locations across Dorset, Somerset and Hampshire. For more information and for details of job opportunities at Wyatt Homes visit https://www.wyatthomes.co.uk/careers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A WIDE range of businesses have secured a place on a major nine-figure framework that will enable the modernisation and improvement of Scotland’s public sector and social housing buildings. It follows a competitive process after the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) invited businesses throughout Scotland to tender for works, as part of its Refurbishment and Modernisation framework, known as RM3. The 21 successful organisations now have the potential to be awarded contracts directly and through mini competitions worth up to £100m combined value, on work that upgrades and maintains a broad array of social housing and public facilities. Lesley Anderson, Regional Director for SPA, Scotland’s largest free-to-join procurement organisation said: “We’re constantly seeking ways to help further support the public sector in improving their homes and buildings while ensuring an environmental focus is at the heart of every step. “This framework will empower councils, social landlords, the NHS, and various organisations to efficiently and cost-effectively maintain and upgrade buildings, ensuring they offer warm and comfortable living spaces.” RM3 will support organisations across a range of works, from kitchen and bathroom upgrades, electrical installations to painting and decorating, , environmental and external works. It can also support multi-disciplinary projects supporting a range of areas including adaptations, roofing, and mould prevention. Broken up into five workstreams, the framework offers various value bands to open opportunities to SMEs across a spectrum of refurbishment projects, with specific value ranges within these workstreams enabling a variety of projects to be delivered with no value restriction. Lesley added: “RM3 was created through extensive engagement and feedback from public sector organisations and supply chain while also gaining insight and knowledge achieved from the 4 other regions within our group enabling us to understand requirements from both a local and national perspective. “Each of our solutions delivers fantastic value and simplifies the procurement process for our partners. “We have been fortunate with RM3 to be able to provide opportunities that not only offer financial advantages to a diverse array of firms but also boost local economies. “This is a great opportunity for the appointed companies to contribute meaningfully to improving housing and building standards at a crucial time”. SPA’s RM3 framework has awarded places to 22 companies across several regions, including Eastern Scotland, West Central Scotland, Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, East and North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and Highlands and Islands. SPA works with 120+ partners across the public sector, including small cooperatives, RSLs, and local authorities, and partners with over 250 suppliers ranging from micro companies to national firms all capable of providing crucial support services. A not-for-profit organisation, SPA directs its surpluses to local communities through the Community Benefit Fund (CBF) in partnership with Lintel Trust. SPA currently has 553 live projects valued at over £1 billion, supporting 250 suppliers. Since its inception in 2017, the CBF has distributed more than £2 million in grants and match funding to assist over 100 community groups, charities, and various causes, generating a social value exceeding £5.1 million. Businesses represented on the RM3 framework: To read more about the awarded suppliers, please read: https://www.scottishprocurement.scot/frameworks/construction-extension-and-refurbishment/refurbishment-modernisation-rm3/ To find out more about The Scottish Procurement Alliance, please visit: https://www.scottishprocurement.scot/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As the rental market braces to once again feel the cold shoulder where Budget related housing initiatives are concerned, the latest research by Zero Deposit, the alternative to a tenancy deposit, has revealed the consequence of a homebuyer focussed Government, as privately rented homes as a proportion of all dwellings have fallen to their lowest percentage in a decade. Zero Deposit analysed Gov data on dwellings stock levels*, looking at the level of privately rented properties available to tenants across the rental market in England and what proportion of total dwellings these homes accounted for, as well as how this level of supply has changed over the years. PRS stock has been increasing The latest figures show* that there are an estimated 4.9m privately rented homes found across England’s rental market. The good news is that this figure has been largely increasing over the years, up from 4.5m homes a decade ago (2013) and considerably higher than the £2.5m available in 2003. However, for many years, the nation’s tenants have been playing second fiddle to homeowners, with the Government launching initiative after initiative aimed at fuelling homebuyer demand, while largely ignoring private rental sector supply, causing the cost of renting to spiral to dizzying heights. Rents on the up In fact, previous research by Zero Deposit found that the average tenant across England is now paying £994 per month in rent, a cost that has climbed by 5% in the last year alone, 37% over the last decade, and is expected to increase by a further 16% by 2030. The latest figures from Zero Deposit highlight the long-term issue caused by the Government’s obsession with homeownership. Homeowner supply overtaking PRS stock supply In the last five years, the number of PRS dwellings found across England has crept up by just 2.4%. During the same period, the number of owner occupied dwellings has climbed by more than double that, up 5%. In the last year alone, PRS stock levels have increased by just 0.2% versus a 1.3% jump in owner occupied dwellings. PRS stock now accounts for lowest proportion of all dwellings in a decade As a result, privately rented properties now account for just 19.4% of all homes across England, the lowest proportion seen since 2013 when they accounted for 19.2% of the total market. What’s more, this proportion has largely been in decline since a peak of 20.3% in 2016. A regional analysis conducted by Zero Deposit shows that tenants in some regions are worse off than others. In fact, across both Yorkshire and the Humber (18.6%) and the South West (18.1%), the number of PRS homes as a proportion of all housing stock is currently at its lowest levels since 2011, while in the East of England (17.1%) and the North West (17%) its at its lowest since 2012. In fact, just two regions have seen the level of PRS stock available as a proportion of all housing climb steadily over the years – London and the North East. In the North East, privately rented homes now account for 17.8% of all dwellings, the highest percentage seen in the last 20 years. At 29.5% of total stock, London is home to the highest proportion of privately rented properties of all regions and has seen this percentage climb consistently over the years. However, unlike the North East which is home to the nation’s most affordable cost of renting, London is home to the highest average rent in England. Sam Reynolds, CEO of Zero Deposit commented: “We may have seen a consistent increase in the volume of privately rented homes reaching the market over the last two decades, but today’s market is dominated by a chronic undersupply of rental properties despite an overwhelming level of tenant demand. This market imbalance has been one of the key factors that have caused rents to spiral beyond the realms of affordability and it’s a clear indictment of multiple cabinets that this issue has continued to worsen. Over the last five years, in particular, the supply of owner occupied homes has increased at a far greater rate than privately rented properties and renters will be forgiven for thinking that the Government is more focussed on homeowners than the real issues facing tenants today. The sad reality is that we expect it will be more of the same in this week’s Budget, as we prepare for yet more ill-advised initiatives aimed at short-term benefits to win votes as we approach an election , rather than address the root causes for those struggling within the rental market who continue to be left out in the cold.” Data tables and sources Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A groundbreaking ceremony has officially marked the start of construction of Sonar Portsmouth. Built in the heart of Hilsea, the 4.5-acre industrial site, will host seven units ranging from 5,479 to 35,220 sq ft, all of which will all target BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings. The buildings will offer market leading sustainability credentials such as CO2 efficiency, heating and cooling systems, water saving points and fittings, as well as PV panels and EV charging points, giving substantial reductions in energy consumption and associated costs to occupiers. Sonar, funded by Fiera Real Estate and developed by Wrenbridge, is located between Limberline Road and Norway Road, adjacent to Hilsea Rail Station and moments from the M27, making it one of the best-connected sites in Portsmouth. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives from Wrenbridge, Fiera Real Estate, CBRE, Vail Williams, and Magrock, the site contractor. Construction is now underway, with units ready to occupy from late summer 2024. The industrial and logistics buildings are designed to suit a range of storage, distribution and manufacturing uses, and benefit from up to 12m clear internal height, 50kN / sq m floor loading and level access loading doors. Oliver Sherriff, Associate Director at CBRE Southampton, said: “The groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant milestone in developing this sought-after site. Availability of industrial space across the South Coast although increasing, remains limited, particularly for quality space. With sustainability high on the agenda, the new units at Sonar Portsmouth will offer one of the most sustainable options in the region.” Will Jarman, Associate Director at Wrenbridge and Development Manager for Sonar, commented: “We are looking forward to bringing our high-quality product to the South Coast and deliver much needed brand new space to this brilliant location. Sonar offers a great range of units to create a thriving destination for businesses to relocate to and upgrade operations.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With the proliferation of AI, cloud computing and big data, the demand for new data centres in the UK is at an all-time high. However, despite the critical need for additional capacity, the shortage of skilled construction professionals in this specialised field continues to cause bottlenecks and delay projects. To help address this challenge, The Shore Group provides expert insight for companies looking to gain the advantage in project resourcing and recruitment. The Shore Group Co-Founder, Lewis Yorke-Johnson shares his practical advice for seamless project resourcing. Helping contractors navigate the difficult balancing act of managing project budgets with the pressures of meeting completion deadlines, Lewis provides valuable guidance to aid successful project delivery in 2024. “The demand for experienced data centre construction professionals in the UK is unprecedented and rising. To meet this demand, companies need to adopt a strategic and forward-thinking approach to project resourcing and recruitment. This requires a blend of traditional recruitment methods and innovative solutions tailored to the specific requirements of the data centre construction pipeline.” With his extensive experience and knowledge of data centre project delivery, Lewis shares his advice to help data centre developers better plan for the year ahead. Pairing deep sector expertise with the latest insights from data centre candidates, read on for Lewis’ guide to seamless project resourcing. 1. Recruit from Centres of Excellence Leveraging talent from international project management and engineering hotspots provides a fresh pool of skilled professionals to meet the growing demand for experienced professionals. By tapping into these talent hubs, companies can access a diverse range of proven skill sets and perspectives to enhance their project teams. “Developers would love to nurture the next generation of project talent; however the urgent development pipeline means identifying experienced professionals from overseas markets is an essential strategy. We’ve placed numerous engineers and project managers from Ireland onto UK data centre projects. They’re highly skilled and hit the ground running, making a huge difference to delivery. 2.Decision Making Speed In the fast-paced world of data centre development, delayed decision-making can translate to missed recruitment opportunities and delayed projects. Ironically, in a sector where speed is paramount, traditional, slow recruitment processes still dominate. Streamlined application and recruitment decisions standout, making a huge difference to candidate acceptance rates. 3. Showcasing New Head Office Developments Top talent is attracted to organizations that prioritise employee well-being and invest in cutting-edge facilities. Even though most construction roles will be based on-site, candidates still place a huge weight on iconic, state-of-the-art head offices and wider company investments. “Creating the right impression with candidates at first interview makes a huge difference. Top tier contractors use their flagship offices to showcase their financial strength and progressive company cultures. This can be a powerful differentiator in recruitment which is why we see a clear trend of investment from contractors at the moment.” 4. Hyper Local Remuneration Mapping Understanding the local market dynamics and calibrating compensation packages accordingly can help companies remain competitive in the recruitment landscape. The clustered locations of data centres can lead to resource shortages and localised inflated pay rates. Regular bench marking and remuneration reviews are vital recruitment and retention tools. 5. Career Mapping and Development Planning With data centre construction pipelines running into multiple years, providing clear pathways for career advancement is essential to attract skilled professionals. The most effective project resourcing campaigns sell multi-year, multi-project opportunities to candidates, backed by mentorship programs, training opportunities, and skills developments.“The booming demand for data centre construction professionals in the UK necessitates a strategic and innovative approach to project resourcing. Contractors need to sell a bigger dream than just a single project for the best candidates. Showcasing case studies of career progression within a business across multiple projects are powerful asset to support decision-making.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
This Women in Construction Week, HEITKAMP Site Manager Sina Motsch shares her thoughts on how digital solutions have diversified the business of earthworks… Located in the renowned mining region of Germany, Saarland, the Maybach mining heap stands as a testament to the industrial legacy dating back centuries. Historically serving as the repository for non-coal-bearing waste rock from neighboring coal mines, this site has long been a landmark of the local landscape. However, with the conclusion of mining activities in Saarland in 2012, an era spanning over 250 years drew to a close and the site remained inactive until now, as an ambitious project takes shape to breathe new life into the area. This project involves the delivery of an impressive two million cubic meters of soil across 27 hectares, over the entire duration of 10 years. Sina Motsch, a dedicated jobsite manager from HEITKAMP Corporate Group, shares insights into her mission overseeing the project this Women in Construction Week. How do you use data to improve site performance and productivity? Sina explains: “For me as a jobsite manager, the daily challenge lies in grasping the latest jobsite development. Materials are being delivered, machines are constantly running and I’m confronted with a flood of data every day. It’s crucial for me to find an easy way to make sense of it and make use of this information effectively.” Drawing on her expertise in Lean Construction and Building Information Modelling (BIM), Sina aims to integrate BIM methods into earthworks by creating a constantly updated 3D digital twin of the jobsite. This innovative approach allows for real-time consultation of the latest jobsite updates by managers, operators, surveyors, and clients. How can we efficiently collect high-quality field data for the digital twin? Drone surveying was the first solution Sina’s team put in place. She says: “It’s a great method to gain comprehensive terrain insights once every few months.” However, the logistical challenge of daily drone flights and the need for more detailed information on specific jobsite areas and material deliveries required them to explore alternative solutions. “On this jobsite, progress is also recorded using as-built data and the intelligent Machine Control system from Komatsu. These intelligent machines can record actual height and position data during the filling process.” “This data is then sent automatically by the intelligent machines to the cloud and combined with drone point clouds to create terrain models – I therefore have a daily terrain model that is solely created by my equipment,” Why is it important to consider BIM methodology in earthworks? She explains: “In my academic focus, I specialised in Building Information Modeling (BIM) within the field of structural engineering. Now, in my role within the earthmoving environment, digital solutions have empowered me to apply BIM methodologies to earthworks. “By using Dashboard from Smart Construction I can transform my sites to a digital twin, where I can immediately find out where I stand, which materials need to be delivered and I can also easily look at construction fields to see where and how much has been built.” As the construction industry strives towards becoming more digitised, digital twins can help aid this vision. Embracing the goal of a digital future, construction companies are feeling the benefits from their investment in technology – from improving efficiency and profitability to reducing spend, improving accuracy, and even ameliorating fuel wastage. Smart Construction Dashboard, paired with Komatsu’s intelligent Machine Control, serves as a robust solution for monitoring jobsite progress, supporting Sina and construction professionals alike around Europe and the world by providing efficient, real-time insight into the current jobsite conditions. For more information about Smart Construction, please visit: smartconstruction.io Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Okarno, formerly known as Artex, a leading distributor of some of the UK’s best known construction brands, has appointed Jenny Khmel as Head of Portfolio: Commercial Department. Jenny will provide a vital role in supporting Okarno’s product management, brand marketing and sales teams to drive further business growth. With over 20 years’ experience in global Category and Brand Management for major brands, Jenny brings a wealth of knowledge and skills in product development, portfolio management and market analysis to Okarno. Jenny is experienced in managing change within many leading organisations and in ensuring that customers and all people within the business are part of the journey. Jason Smith, Managing Director at Okarno, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jenny to the business, with her knowledge, skills and experience, she will be a real asset. Our recent rebrand means this is an exciting time for Okarno as we reinforce our position as an essential supply chain partner for a range of leading construction products.” In January 2024, Artex rebranded to Okarno, with a strapline ‘There are no others like us’. The Okarno brand creates a common sense of purpose, energy, and enthusiasm, whilst capturing the company’s unique approach to supply chain logistics. Jason Smith adds: “Our new brand has been well received in the market as we continue to look for ways to exceed customer expectations, deliver best-in-class and provide a unique service that makes life easier for them.” Okarno provides a unique service by combining market-leading trade brands and delivering them directly through three service offerings. Customers can choose from single pallets, mixed pallet loads, through to small parcels. Okarno delivers to customers of all shapes and sizes and tailors its offering to match the needs of independent merchants, national retailers and online stockists. As part of the Saint-Gobain group, Okarno is committed to becoming a net-zero carbon business by 2050 and has already made significant steps towards this goal. This also aligns with Saint Gobain’s purpose – Making the world a better home and supporting the vision of being the worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction. To find out more about Okarno and how its sustainable supply chain partnerships can benefit your business, visit: www.okarno.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The CEO of TerraQuest, the company operating Planning Portal, has welcomed the backing from the Chancellor at his Spring Budget for the wider adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the planning system, but has said that high-quality data is crucial to its success. Geoff Keal, CEO at TerraQuest, commended plans outlined in the Budget Red Book, which accompanies the Chancellor’s speech, including commitments to use AI solutions to help planning authorities streamline local plan development, as well as implementing new software to streamline key processes for planning officers. “The further development of AI solutions and new software should be the biggest priorities for improving the planning system,” said Geoff. “Indeed, we have already delivered substantial efficiency improvements to the industry with the ongoing development of Planning Portal and the implementation of our modular KeyChain platform. “AI is extremely important to accelerating good decision making, as well as meeting wider housing and economic needs. However, the development and implementation of robust data standards across the sector is crucial to being able to maximise the impact of AI and new software solutions. AI tools need to be able to learn from robust and comprehensive datasets. If certain data is systematically excluded, biases will inevitably emerge. Data standards must ensure that information is collected and stored in ways that are up-to-date, consistent, detailed and interoperable across different platforms. “Planning Portal has already delivered huge improvements in the validation and standardisation of application data. Government policy should now build on this to ensure the availability of high-quality data that allows the industry to enjoy the full benefits of AI.” The KeyChain platform underpins Planning Portal, which TerraQuest operates as a joint venture with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), and enables a streamlined online application system that integrates with the back-office systems of local planning authorities. As well as announcements relating to the use of AI and software, the Budget also contained a commitment to match industry-led funding of £3 million for planning capacity and resourcing. “This is an important step forward”, added Geoff. “But it is vital that local planning authorities are enabled to takeimmediate steps to deal with backlogs. Further support for that in a future Budget would be welcome.” TerraQuest is already supporting local planning authorities through its Planning Application Validation Service (PAVS), which helps speed up processes by validating new applications within just 24 to 48 hours. Meanwhile, its Planning Application Case Evaluation Service (PACES) offers an expert team of case officers to assist with the evaluation and determination of planning applications cases. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
