The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has stepped in over a planning application for the first time since coming into office, intervening on two rejected high-rise residential developments in the capital Sadiq Khan has taken over the schemes designed by Allies and Morrison and Moss Architecture after the councils involved
Sales in Q4 of 2016 continued to grow for the UK construction sector – the fifteenth quarter in a row according to the Construction Products Association. On an annual basis, 78% of heavy side firms reported that sales had increased in Q4, whilst on the light side, 75% of firms
Olympic boroughs continue to outperform other areas According Property Partner, a residential property crowdfunding platform, the six Olympic boroughs for London 2012 have outperformed most other local authority areas in the host city in terms of house price growth. Major financial investment has helped boost property prices by an average
EDF’s decision on whether or not to procced with Hinkley Point C will be a ‘litmus test’ for investment in big infrastructure project post-Brexit, unions in Britain have said. Unite, Ucatt, Prospect and the GMB union have reiterated their support for the project in anticipation of the
Stopcocks Women Plumbers to take on male members Published: 20 October, 2016 Stopcocks Women Plumbers is calling on men and women to join its new franchise scheme, to be launched in January 2017. The female-led plumbing firm, based in West Yorkshire, is opening up the franchise to skilled and competent
A new partnership made up of representatives of house builders, warranty providers and training and trade bodies aimed at attracting new people to the construction industry in the UK has met for the first time. The Board of the Home Building Skills Partnership (HBP) has started work in earnest on
Business is booming for UK tradesmen due to Britain’s do-it-yourself attitude, according to a new survey. Commissioned by Swinton Commercial, a business insurance broker, the snap-shot study took a sample of 100 tradesmen and women from across the UK, and found that out of all trades, it was plumbers who
Robinson & Lawlor believe their skills add real value to projects that will allow them to continue their growth into 2016 and beyond, despite the unpredictable future of renewables. The renewable energy sector continues to experience highs and lows with a reduction in costs being been offset by the withdrawal
10 March 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Support services provider Churchill has extended its partnership with ZSL Whipsnade Zoo to carry on delivering general cleaning services at its 243-hectare site in Bedfordshire. The original contract started November 2011 and has now been extended for a further three years.
The final two contracts have been awarded as part of Highways England’s new delivery arrangements in the East Midlands. This means all key Area 7 contracts are now in place ahead of Highways England bringing asset and operational management functions back in house in the region from 1st July 2016.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has stepped in over a planning application for the first time since coming into office, intervening on two rejected high-rise residential developments in the capital Sadiq Khan has taken over the schemes designed by Allies and Morrison and Moss Architecture after the councils involved threw out the proposals. The mayor hopes that City Hall experts will help devise more suitable proposals. Khan wants to look at a 505-home project backed by Muse Developments and the Canal and River Trust and drawn up by Allies and Morrison at Hale Wharf in Tottenham, which was turned down by Haringey Council over concerns the 21-storey scheme would be too tall and adversely impact green belt land. He has also called in a 186-home 17-storey development, designed by Moss Architecture for Origin Housing, in Palmerston Road, Wealdstone, which was rejected by Harrow Council over similar height issues. Both schemes were earmarked for sites are within designated Opportunity Areas and Housing Zones – areas considered appropriate for development. Khan said: ‘These developments have the potential to bring real benefits as part of the wider regeneration of Tottenham Hale and Wealdstone, including hundreds of genuinely affordable new homes. However, each proposal needs work if they are to realise that potential. ‘I have asked my planning team to work with both local authorities to bring forward revised proposals that could produce better schemes that will protect the green belt from development and will deliver much-needed affordable housing.’ Interested in this article? Read more at The Architects’ Journal.
Sales in Q4 of 2016 continued to grow for the UK construction sector – the fifteenth quarter in a row according to the Construction Products Association. On an annual basis, 78% of heavy side firms reported that sales had increased in Q4, whilst on the light side, 75% of firms reported that sales were higher than a year earlier, which was the highest balance since 2014 Q3. However, as uncertainty intensifies and cost pressures from the fall in Sterling post-Referendum hit this year, the industry may struggle to experience similar growth. Among heavy side manufacturers only 6% on balance anticipate a rise in sales over 2017 Q1, and 29% on balance of light side manufacturers anticipate a rise during the same period. Rebecca Larkin, CPA Senior Economist said: “Unsurprisingly, manufacturers’ expectations for 2017 appear to have been tempered by the uncertainty surrounding the economic and political outlook. Heavy side manufacturers appeared most exposed to the effects of Sterling’s depreciation during the second half of 2016. In Q4, two-thirds of firms reported an increase in costs, the highest in five years, and a further 89% anticipate an increase over the next year. Rising costs of imported raw materials continue to be a primary driver of cost inflation, but there is now an indication that currency weakness is filtering through to higher energy and fuel costs too. “The impact of Brexit on the construction industry is, as yet, unclear, but it is unlikely this year will be as buoyant as last unless government is able to provide greater certainty and the industry is able to manage cost pressures.” Interested in this article? Read more at Builders Merchants Journal.
Olympic boroughs continue to outperform other areas According Property Partner, a residential property crowdfunding platform, the six Olympic boroughs for London 2012 have outperformed most other local authority areas in the host city in terms of house price growth. Major financial investment has helped boost property prices by an average 64% over the last four years in the ‘Olympic Boroughs’ of Hackney, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. Meanwhile during the same period, the average property price rose by a healthy 52.8% across the capital’s 32 boroughs. The research comes as athletes arrive for Rio 2016. Property Partner analysed the UK House Price Index, using data since the 2012 Games in London. Waltham Forest delivered a peak performance, winning gold for the strongest growth (76%) in average property price rises in London. The average cost of a house today in the East London borough is £418,146 – up from £236,796 in 2012. Other notable risers include the boroughs of Hackney (66.9%) and Newham (62.6%), taking third and fourth position in the rankings respectively. Non-Olympic borough Lewisham squeezed into second place, with average house prices accelerating by 67.9% in the four years partly due to interest from homebuyers in Blackheath, Brockley and New Cross. Former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, identified the host boroughs as areas that would benefit from investment around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London. Dan Gandesha, CEO of property crowdfunding platform Property Partner, comments: “London 2012 was the catalyst for a flood of investment into the capital, much of which was injected into regenerating some of the capital’s most disadvantaged boroughs. The economic legacy of the Games – supporting new jobs and skills, encouraging trade, inward investment, tourism and improved transport links – has meant a corresponding rise in house prices in the six host boroughs. The economic, social and environmental gap between these boroughs and the rest of London is closing. Over the next few years, the capital will further benefit from significant infrastructure projects – particularly Crossrail where areas that were relatively inaccessible will suddenly be on London’s doorstep. In turn, like the Olympic effect, house prices around Crossrail’s 40 stations are continuing to see an upward trend despite post-Brexit uncertainty. The reality is, no one can say for sure what will happen just now. But the fundamentals of the capital’s housing market are self-evident – demand far outstrips supply, which is further exacerbated by population growth and low borrowing costs. Moreover, the Bank of England is likely to reduce base rates even further in the very near future.” Source link
EDF’s decision on whether or not to procced with Hinkley Point C will be a ‘litmus test’ for investment in big infrastructure project post-Brexit, unions in Britain have said. Unite, Ucatt, Prospect and the GMB union have reiterated their support for the project in anticipation of the conclusion of a consultation between EDF and the French unions represented on its board. “The UK trade unions are 100 per cent in support of Hinkley Point C and believe that it is vital to make a final investment decision in a timely fashion soon after the consultation process is completed,” they said in a letter to EDF Energy chief executive Vincent de Rivaz. They continued: “It would be a tragedy, in both France and the UK, if all this work and the extraordinary opportunities it provides were to be lost. “The moment to make the decision is upon us and we have a genuine fear that any further delay will lead to the unravelling of all that we have fought so hard to achieve.” Unite national officer for energy Kevin Coyne said: “The final investment decision by EDF Energy on Hinkley Point will be the first litmus test following the Brexit vote that much-needed investment in large infrastructure projects is still coming on stream.” Acting general secretary of Ucatt Brian Rye said: “This is a vitally needed and ground breaking project. The decision on the final go-ahead on Hinkley will demonstrate whether foreign-owned companies are still prepared to invest in the UK. The government needs to ensure that they get this deal over the line.” De Rivaz has previously said the vote to leave the European Union will not affect the need for Hinkley. EDF has been holding a consultation with workers via the company’s central works council which represents its employees. The consultation began on 9 May and is due to last 60 days, concluding on 4 July. The process was launched after the council reportedly threatened to take legal action against EDF’s board of directors if they didn’t consult with workers. Shortly afterwards EDF delayed its final investment decision to allow the consultation to take place. The views of British unions contrasts sharply with those of their French counterparts. In May the secretary general of the central works council said they are unlikely to give their blessings to the project. The following month it was reported the council had taken legal action to get the consultation extended. Although the central works council is an official body within EDF the company is not legally obliged to abide by the council’s decision on whether or not to support the project. EDF has previously declined to comment on what the company’s legal obligations are regarding the council, and whether it is required to allow the consultation to conclude before making a final investment decision. Source link
Stopcocks Women Plumbers to take on male members Published: 20 October, 2016 Stopcocks Women Plumbers is calling on men and women to join its new franchise scheme, to be launched in January 2017. The female-led plumbing firm, based in West Yorkshire, is opening up the franchise to skilled and competent male and female plumbers, in keeping with its commitment to make the industry landscape a level one regardless of gender. “After 26 years in the business I have realised that men CAN make good plumbers after all,” joked founder Hattie Hasan. When Stopcocks was founded in 1990, its vision was of an industry where both women and men were able to train, gain skills and competence, qualify and work as plumbers and where customers had access to skilled tradespeople they could rely on. While much is made of the number of girls joining the construction industry, they are still very much in the minority. “The fact is there still aren’t enough women plumbers,” said Ms Hasan, “and their businesses are mostly too new or too small to take on new plumbers and mentor them.” However, it’s not only women who contact the company to say they’re sick of being patronised and ripped off, she explained. “We know there are a few good men providing excellent customer service and this is a fantastic way for them to differentiate themselves from the negative reputation plumbers sometimes have,” said Ms Hasan. “By joining us as franchisees, these male plumbers will be joining a brand that stands for high levels of technical excellence and exquisite customer service.” Anyone interested in becoming a Stopcocks plumber is encouraged to email mica@stopcocks.uk or call 0800 8620010. Source link
A new partnership made up of representatives of house builders, warranty providers and training and trade bodies aimed at attracting new people to the construction industry in the UK has met for the first time. The Board of the Home Building Skills Partnership (HBP) has started work in earnest on plans to attract and train tens of thousands of new workers, led by Redrow Homes chief executive officer John Tutte with a strong group of leaders from across the home building sector. The HBP aims to develop, grow and sustain a programme to provide the workforce the industry requires to deliver the further increases in housing supply the country desperately needs. It will focus on attracting new entrants into the industry, and on providing focussed training to develop the qualified workforce needed to construct today’s high quality new homes. The Board will guide and direct the Partnership and define its operational parameters and priorities. It will also oversee the recruitment of a dedicated team that, in collaboration with the wider supply chain, will drive forward the initiatives on a day to day basis. Over its first four years it is hoped that HSP programmes will engage with over 3,500 companies, more than 40,000 workers and some 180 Colleges and Training Providers. ‘The house building industry is totally committed to increasing output and meeting the housing needs of the country. The Partnership will help us attract and train the people we need to deliver more, high quality homes in the coming years,’ said Tutte. ‘The broad experience of the Board we have recruited will help us put in place the building blocks we need to succeed. Over the coming years the Partnership will help secure tens of thousands of skilled employees for house builders and the wider industry who will help us solve the housing crisis we now face. More quality people will enable us to deliver more quality homes,’ he added. The HBP aims to develop an improved public identity for home building, influence the development of a more professional, fully trained workforce and increase productivity and the value added per employee. It also aims to improve the quality and relevance of industry training, co-ordinate the tackling of common workforce challenges and influence and leverage investment in skills to the benefit of the home building industry. Source link
Business is booming for UK tradesmen due to Britain’s do-it-yourself attitude, according to a new survey. Commissioned by Swinton Commercial, a business insurance broker, the snap-shot study took a sample of 100 tradesmen and women from across the UK, and found that out of all trades, it was plumbers who reported having to fix the highest number of DIY disasters in the home and workplace, with 20% saying that fixing dodgy DIY attempts often accounted for as much as 84% of their workloads. The study showed that 100% of those surveyed felt that most amateur DIY attempts resulted from people believing it would be cheaper to do the jobs themselves rather than hiring a professional, thinking skilled plumbing jobs were easy (42.9%), or because they worried they would get ripped-off by rogue traders (42%). Over 25% of plumbers said they were regularly called out to fix DIY mishaps at businesses, while 100% said that over ambitious DIY-ers were guilty of putting themselves and others at risk. 50% of UK plumbers said they thought it was a growing trend. Botched DIY jobs reported by UK plumbers, included: • A waitress in a cafe attempted to repair a commercial boiler using a bread knife and scissors. The unit was still live at the time. • An unsecured bath where overflows were running into the ceiling void. Lead pipes had been left and fudged into the copper pipes, with boxing made from MDF absorbing water • A basin tap fitted without a sealing washer, causing a large water leak, which ran through the ceiling in the hallway. Alastair Denness, national business development manager at Swinton Commercial, said: “The results of the study are troubling showing that UK plumbers are seeing a growing trend in people undertaking technically demanding and potentially dangerous DIY jobs in order to cut costs. “Although these jobs might be good news for UK plumbers, businesses need to be aware that cutting costs by attempting to do the job of a professional is a false economy, often costing a lot more than it would to pay a professional to do the job in the first place. “Business owners also need to remember that failed DIY attempts can put you and employees at serious risk, and result in insurance claims when disaster strikes, leading to increased business insurance premiums. We, therefore, advise supporting your local tradesmen to provide a professional service which could save you and your business a lot more money in the long run.” Read more at http://www.hpmmag.com/news/botched-diy-jobs-account-80-business
Robinson & Lawlor believe their skills add real value to projects that will allow them to continue their growth into 2016 and beyond, despite the unpredictable future of renewables. The renewable energy sector continues to experience highs and lows with a reduction in costs being been offset by the withdrawal of government subsidies for green energy. With further subsidy reductions expected in 2016, how will the renewable energy sector remain competitive? Electrical contractors, Robinson & Lawlor feel they can use their expertise to weather the storm in this continuously changing landscape. 2015 has seen the company diversify their skill set; having worked on one of the largest solar farms in the UK, helping complete one of the few UK gas-to-grid anaerobic digestions systems and installing hydro power to the iconic Cragside House. Although they’ve diversified, creating value for clients through quality workmanship at affordable prices has been a focal point throughout, regardless of the type of project, from 50MW solar farms to testing commercial properties. This focus on providing real value has resulted in a 35% jump in turnover from the previous year, with profit margins mirroring this. Like many businesses within the sector, Robinson & Lawlor have felt first hand the impact of the Government’s decision to cut subsidies with many partners now struggling to find funding for projects. This is particularly frustrating as countries such as Germany and Denmark are setting records for meeting their national energy demand through renewable energy alone on certain days. Energy Secretary, Amber Rudd is set to cut subsidies for renewables once again, with wind and solar being hit the hardest. In spite of this, there are still huge opportunities in the renewable energy sector. Robinson & Lawlor’s ability to work with a number of different technologies has meant they’ve naturally adapted to the way the market has shifted and been able to take advantage. Peter Robinson, Director at Robinson & Lawlor, said: “We completed work on one of the largest solar farms in UK as recently as March, but since the election, things have changed drastically. The government wants to stop onshore wind farms while also cutting back on solar. As frustrating as this is, we don’t see it as a negative and instead we’re focusing on the positives and the opportunities it creates for other renewables. We’re taking on a lot of Hydro and Anaerobic Digestion work now, that’s why it has been so important to be able work with a number of different renewable technologies. We’ve made sure all of our eggs aren’t in one basket.” Working with a vast range of local and international partners, the Blackburn based firm can offer a full range of electrical engineering expertise from 33,000 volts to extra low voltage, high contestable works to balancing of the plant. They offer a full service package that has the expertise to undertake all electrical aspects of a clients project. They provide complete design, supply, install, management and certification in all types of complex electrical installations for the renewable sector. Originating from the North West, Robinson & Lawlor have over 58 years experience in industrial electrical engineering and are supported by a wealth of knowledge that their staff have gained from working with long term clients such as Rolls Royce, Michelin and Smith & Nephew. Over the last 7 years they have made a gradual transition from industrial engineer to renewable engineer. Their history as electrical engineers gives them a distinct advantage over their rivals in the renewable energy sector. This has been an important factor in their recent successes as many new businesses have identified opportunities in sustainable energy and looked to exploit them without the necessary experience that is crucial with this type of work. Steven Robinson, Managing Director at Robinson & Lawlor, was initially surprised by the standard in the industry: “The renewable sector seems to have all the prerequisites for our industrial electrical engineering experience. Being able to work on the full range of systems from high voltage to process control means we are confident we can offer clients high quality, reliable services together with cost reductions. We were initially surprised on some of the larger projects by the amount of unskilled and semi skilled staff employed, and by the lack of quality control and management expertise exhibited by a lot of sub contract companies working in the sustainable sector. We feel its important when investing in renewable energy that reliability and quality are primary goals, as these are long term projects that need to stand the test of time in order to be beneficial and profitable. With our long-term experienced staff we are able to offer quality whilst also driving down costs for this client. This is something we feel is currently missing and one of reasons we’ve won contracts on some of the largest scale projects in the UK.” The electrical engineering specialists have continued to take advantage of gaps that have appeared in the renewable energy market. They’ve gone on to secure 15 solar projects across the UK, ranging from 4MW up to 19MW, all to be completed before March 2016. How have they managed to secure such a large volume of work in a ‘slowing’ market? By identifying what their clients need and providing a solution, in this instance acting as the engineering procurement contractor, EPC. Being an internationally recognised EPC means that Robinson & Lawlor can oversee all electric and civil engineering aspects of large scale projects, with so much at stake their clients want reassurance from a trusted contractor to oversee fundamental elements. Robinson & Lawlor have benefitted from partnering with leading experts in the renewable energy sector such as Biogas Hochreiter and Anaergia, both world leaders in the biogas sector who design and install anaerobic digestion plants. Partnering with world leaders requires working to the highest possible standards in the industry. As a direct result, Robinson & Lawlor recently secured work on 11 solar farms across the country due to the impeccable work they’ve previously
10 March 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Support services provider Churchill has extended its partnership with ZSL Whipsnade Zoo to carry on delivering general cleaning services at its 243-hectare site in Bedfordshire. The original contract started November 2011 and has now been extended for a further three years. Service delivery includes cleaning and periodic deep cleaning, and additional ad hoc cleaning. As part of the contract improvement process, Churchill will be introducing two electric vehicles to the contract to reduce emissions. The organisation is also implementing a three-level staffing structure to correspond with seasonal patterns, with increased levels in place during the summer months. The zoo is owned by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) – a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL also owns London Zoo in Regent’s Park. The contract follows other wins so far this year for Churchill, with North Herts College, Arts University Bournemouth, Luton College, Surrey Heath Partnership, and a partnership with Skanska, Woking Borough Council, and Kent County Council. Source link
The final two contracts have been awarded as part of Highways England’s new delivery arrangements in the East Midlands. This means all key Area 7 contracts are now in place ahead of Highways England bringing asset and operational management functions back in house in the region from 1st July 2016. The contract for structural inspections has been awarded to Derby-based Rogers Structural Inspections, which was acquired by Aspin in October 2014. This has an estimated value of up to £3m, running for up to five years. The contract for weather forecasting has been awarded to the Met Office. This is expected to be worth £1m and run for a minimum of three years. The signing of these two latest contracts follows the appointment of suppliers to the new framework for delivering construction works in the East Midlands last month. The framework provides for a range of services, including pavement, drainage, landscaping and general civil engineering. To mark the changes in delivery, Highways England recently held a launch event with its supply chain at its new office in Mansfield. Alongside the newly appointed construction works contractors, the event was attended by representatives from the maintenance and response contractor, Amey, and the design services contractor, Kier (Mouchel). David Poole, director for commercial and procurement at Highways England, said: “Working with our supply chain partners to establish the community will be pivotal to the success of the new approach to asset maintenance and delivery in the East Midlands. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with our new colleagues from the supply chain over the coming months and years.” The appointed contractors for the Construction Works Framework are: Lot Description Preferred Bidder(s) 1 Specialist Surface Treatments Eurovia Infrastructure 2 Corrosion Protection Taziker Industrial 3 Road Lighting and Electrical Works J. McCann & Co (Nottm) 5 General Civil Engineering Carnell Support Services North Midlands Construction Interserve Construction 6 Structures Waterproofing and Expansion Joints VolkerLaser 7 Landscape and Ecology Ground Control 8 Road Markings Jointline Wilson & Scott (Highways) WJ North 9 Pavement Tarmac Aggregates Hanson Contracting 10 Road Restraint Systems (Vehicle and Pedestrian) Joe Roocroft & Sons H W Martin Safety Fencing 11 Structural Concrete Repairs VolkerLaser Balvac 12 Technology J. McCann & Co (Nottm) 13 Temporary Traffic Management Chevron Traffic Management H W Martin (Traffic Management) Carillion Traffic Management 14 Specialist Drainage Carnell Support Services Forkers This article was published on 16 Jun 2016 (last updated on 17 Jun 2016). Source link