Plans for new banning orders to crack down on rogue landlords and property agents and stop them operating have been set out by government today. The banning orders would be put in place when rogue landlords commit serious offences against tenants. This could include failing to carry out work required
4 reasons why modular is more sustainable than traditional construction – Over the past decade, modular construction has grown substantially. A recent report by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills has estimated the total value of the offsite construction industry at £1.5 billion, with the potential to grow to
Plumb and Parts Center turns over a new tweet Published: 23 August, 2016 For any installers previously unsure of where to find Plumb and Parts Center on Twitter, it has officially relaunched itself as @plumbcenterUK. Formerly known as @TradeOnTap, the business decided to change its name in response to customer
6 July 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Kier Group’s facilities management business has been awarded a substantial four-year contract with the London Borough of Southwark, worth £32 million. The contracted services, previously delivered through a significant number of individual outsourced arrangements, was awarded to Kier as part of Southwark council’s drive
Analysis of 15 North East areas by sales and lettings firm KIS shows homeowners in the region wait an average 238 days to sell their property – two months faster than this time last year. People who own propertes in Tynemouth have the shortest waits for sales with houses selling
Amey has set up a joint venture with drone specialist VTOL Technologies for infrastructure survey work. Above: The Flying Wing The aim is to be able to introduce a new level of surveying technology by 2018. AmeyVTOL will use its own patented unmanned autonomous drone, known as The Flying Wing,
It has been estimated that the total cost to the construction, insurance and transport industries of 2014’s floods was around £2.5bn and the consequences still linger in the form of legal disputes and insurance claims. Jonathan Hyndman looks at what lessons have been learned. Above: The seawall at Dawlish has
“The advantage for interior designers to use BIM (Building Information Modelling) software to win business needs no explanation, but the real value lies in the information it supplies and the co-ordination and collaboration that it facilitates.” So says Jon Case, Director of ARRCC interior designers. Although its architectural counterparts have
Sellafield Ltd has awarded the Morgan Sindall and Arup joint venture an extension of the Infrastructure Strategic Alliance (ISA) contract for a further five years. The ISA is one of a number of long-term strategic supply agreements aligned to the Sellafield Ltd acquisition strategy. Awarded to Morgan Sindall and Arup
Construction professionals are being urged to act as mentors for young people training to become the next generation of workers in the industry. The West Midlands Construction UTC (WMCUTC), which is sponsored by CITB, is appealing for volunteers to help its 14 to 19-year-old students gain a deeper insight into
Plans for new banning orders to crack down on rogue landlords and property agents and stop them operating have been set out by government today. The banning orders would be put in place when rogue landlords commit serious offences against tenants. This could include failing to carry out work required by the council to prevent a health and safety risk to tenants, threatening tenants with violence, or illegally evicting them. If a landlord or property agent is subject to a banning order they could be prevented from letting or managing a property indefinitely. Their name would also be included in a national database of rogue landlords and property agents. Government is seeking views on which offences committed by rogue landlords or property agents should constitute a ‘banning order’ offence in a consultation launched today. Housing Minister Gavin Barwell said: Banning orders will allow us to drive out the worst offenders and help make sure millions of hard-working private tenants across the country are protected from exploitation. While the vast majority of landlords are responsible we are determined to tackle the minority who abuse and exploit vulnerable people. As part of the government’s commitment to improving standards within the private rented sector, banning orders will protect tenants and target the small minority of poor landlords and property agents. They will also help local authorities to take robust and effective action against rogues who knowingly rent out unsafe and substandard accommodation. The banning orders will force the most serious and prolific offenders to either drastically improve the standard of the accommodation they rent out, or to leave the sector entirely, with a minimum ban lasting 12 months and no upper limit for a maximum ban. Those subject to banning orders will also not be able to earn income from renting out housing or engaging in letting agency or property management work. Landlords could also find that their property could be made the subject of a management order by the local authority, which allows the council to rent out the property instead. Banning orders are part of a range of measures introduced in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to tackle rogue landlords, including: a database of rogue landlords and property agents who have been convicted of banning order offences or received 2 or more civil penalties extension of Rent Repayment Orders to cover illegal eviction, breach of a banning order or failure to comply with a statutory notice civil penalties up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution for offences under the Housing Act 2004. Further details Proposed banning order offences as outlined in the consultation include: illegally evicting a tenant renting out a property decided to be unsafe as a dwelling by local authorities failing to carry out works required by local authorities to prevent health and safety risk to tenants renting out a property to an illegal migrant using violence, or threatening violence against a tenant making fraudulent applications for housing benefit, or committing identity theft using the property to cultivate cannabis theft or criminal damage colluding with the tenant to commit a criminal offence, such as tax evasion or the supply of illegal drugs. Where someone has been convicted of a banning order offence, the local authority can apply to a first-tier tribunal for an order banning that landlord or property agent from being involved in the letting and/or management of property. The definition of a banning order offence will not be retrospective and will only relate to offences that are committed after the regulations have come into force.
4 reasons why modular is more sustainable than traditional construction – Over the past decade, modular construction has grown substantially. A recent report by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills has estimated the total value of the offsite construction industry at £1.5 billion, with the potential to grow to £6 billion[1]. Attitudinal changes towards offsite building techniques, as well as their increased sustainability and capabilities as seen on many high-profile jobs, have all contributed to this growth. Matthew Goff, director of UK operations at Actavo | Building Solutions, gives four reasons why modular is overtaking traditional construction methods in the sustainability stakes: Modular buildings are manufactured in controlled environments It is widely recognised that modular has the potential to reduce overall construction programmes. In most cases, while onsite ground works are being completed, building modules are being manufactured in a controlled, factory environment. This means a large portion of works are completed simultaneously, reducing the building programme from the outset. Once modules are delivered to site – pre-fitted with electrics, plumbing, heating, doors, windows and internal finishes – they are carefully craned into position on prepared foundations. This is a key driver for education facilities where disruption to staff and pupils needs to be kept to a minimum. Offsite construction is up to 50% quicker than traditional[2] – buildings can be created onsite in timeframes as short as just four weeks. Modular buildings are often recyclable Offsite construction can reduce up to 90% of waste generated when compared with traditional construction methods[3]. Some modular buildings are now manufactured using recyclable material from other projects. Being adaptable and flexible to changing needs, modular buildings are easy to move without disturbing surrounding landscapes. Think of a school campus which needs to evolve as systems develop and additional space is required. Modular allows and, following the introduction of BIM (building information modelling), can plan for any future changes throughout a building’s life cycle – from concept to demolition. Offsite construction uses less energy Compared to an equivalent, traditionally-built project, up to 67% less energy is required to produce a modular building[4]. Not only is the actual construction of the building ‘greener’, but the building is also energy- efficient for life. Modular buildings are now being installed with sustainable energy-efficient systems such as energy-efficient glass, geothermal systems and solar panels. Offsite construction also impacts on the carbon footprint of a building, as it allows for a reduction of the total number of deliveries to sites by 90%[5]. Modular can be built to the exact same standards as traditional The key benefit of modular construction is the essential quality benefits which come with working in a controlled factory environment. Buildings are designed and built to the same, higher sustainability standards as traditional construction such as BREEAM, PassivHaus and AECB. Unlike traditional construction, there are many cost savings associated with modular buildings, stemming from a reduction in project timeframes and leading to reductions in overall costs. Although changing views of offsite construction methods are continuing to increase its popularity, traditional methods still account for the largest market share in the building industry. As the construction sector develops and adapts to meet changing Government strategies, modular will be increasingly employed across the industry. For more information about sustainable, modular buildings, please visit: www.actavo.com/buildings. [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/305024/Technology_and_skills_in_the_construction_industry_evidence_report_74.pdf [2] https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Modular_vs_traditional_construction [3] http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Housing%20newsletter%20Hi_res%20080307.pdf [4] http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Modern%20Methods%20of%20Construction%20-%20Summmary.pdf [5] http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Modern%20Methods%20of%20Construction%20-%20Summmary.pdf
Plumb and Parts Center turns over a new tweet Published: 23 August, 2016 For any installers previously unsure of where to find Plumb and Parts Center on Twitter, it has officially relaunched itself as @plumbcenterUK. Formerly known as @TradeOnTap, the business decided to change its name in response to customer feedback. Anyone following the old account needn’t worry, as they will be automatically transferred over to the new Twitter handle. To celebrate the new handle, Plumb Center is offering £100 worth of branch credit if installers tweet a picture of themselves with their branch manager, share it with @plumbcenterUK and use the hashtag #MeAndMyBranch. What’s more, Plumb and Parts Center will also be tweeting daily deals due to the popularity of ‘deal of the week’ – where installers can take advantage of special offers in branch and online. Source link
6 July 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Kier Group’s facilities management business has been awarded a substantial four-year contract with the London Borough of Southwark, worth £32 million. The contracted services, previously delivered through a significant number of individual outsourced arrangements, was awarded to Kier as part of Southwark council’s drive to rationalise the delivery of its hard FM and compliance services across its non-housing estate. Kier will be working on a full range of planned and reactive maintenance and compliance services across the borough, as well as minor works, and will become the central point of contact through a dedicated helpdesk for the council’s properties managed by the corporate facilities management division. There is also significant scope for project work, including associated programme and project management work. Kier will provide a range of hard services over 94,000 square metres of building floor space – including mechanical and electrical maintenance, and fabric and reactive maintenance. This is in addition to providing compliance services to properties across the estate, including fire and water risk assessments, electrical installation and condition reports, display energy certificates, F-Gas regulations, and asbestos duty holder reinspections. Steve Davies, managing director, facilities management, Kier, said: “This win underlines our experience in mechanical and electrical maintenance and project work, both of which will play a key part in our work with the council.” Source link
Analysis of 15 North East areas by sales and lettings firm KIS shows homeowners in the region wait an average 238 days to sell their property – two months faster than this time last year. People who own propertes in Tynemouth have the shortest waits for sales with houses selling 42% faster than the regional average, with homes in the town typically taking just 140 days to sell. Their neighbours in Whitley Bay have a similarly short wait, with properties selling on average after 161 days. Vendors in Ashington should prepare themselves to be left waiting for more than a year – with the average property in the town taking 375 days to sell. This wait is, however, down from 424 days recorded this time last year. North East houses are currently selling an average of 20% faster in March 2016 than they did in March 2015, with Blyth leading the way with 38% year-on-year drop in the time taken for properties to sell. Homes in Chester le Street were the only ones surveyed to be selling at the same speed that they were twelve months ago. Ajay Jagota, founder and Managing Director of North-East based sales and lettings firm KIS, commented: “When people come to sell their homes the first question they always ask their estate agent is ‘how long with it take to sell my property?’ but it’s a question no-one has really been able to answer honestly– until now. If you live in the North East and are looking to move house in 2016 and have a property to sell, you should be prepared to wait eight months to find a buyer. So if you want to be in your new home for Christmas, get your home on the market now. Our research really shows how true the cliché of ‘location location location’ can be, with our research showing properties in Whitley Bay selling 235 days faster than those in Ashington – a difference of 7 months, despite the towns being just 15 miles apart. It’s this kind of local insight that you get from an expert estate agency. It’s a really positive sign for the North East property market that houses are selling two months faster this year than last. This have something to do with the 3% Stamp Duty on additional homes being imposed from April 1st, which could be causing a rush of properties being purchased by investors. What will really be interest to see if whether or not that pace can be sustained, especially if we see flood of properties coming to market, for example from landlords disheartened by recent tax changes.” Source link
Amey has set up a joint venture with drone specialist VTOL Technologies for infrastructure survey work. Above: The Flying Wing The aim is to be able to introduce a new level of surveying technology by 2018. AmeyVTOL will use its own patented unmanned autonomous drone, known as The Flying Wing, which carries ground penetrating radar, high definition video and still, infrared, thermal and light detection and ranging sensors. The Flying Wing can take off and land anywhere, travel long distances at speeds of up to 60km/h and change direction to map the same route over and over, regardless of weather conditions. It also captures data in real time and streaming it live to a data processing engine. AmeyVTOL service development director Richard Butterfield said: “Using this cutting-edge technology to inspect the vital infrastructure that we all rely on is a world first. It will change the way we inspect assets forever; allowing us to assess at the touch of a button, make real-time recommendations and potentially save millions of pounds for our clients.” AmeyVTOL director Mark Shaw added: “Our unique and patented Flying Wing outperforms existing drones and represents the future of aerial inspections. We’re really excited to be introducing this market-leading technology which will revolutionise the asset management industry to deliver repeatable, consistent and accurate inspections as early as 2018.” AmeyVTOL is launch the partnership at the 2016 Farnborough Airshow this week. This article was published on 13 Jul 2016 (last updated on 13 Jul 2016). Source link
It has been estimated that the total cost to the construction, insurance and transport industries of 2014’s floods was around £2.5bn and the consequences still linger in the form of legal disputes and insurance claims. Jonathan Hyndman looks at what lessons have been learned. Above: The seawall at Dawlish has been rebuilt since collapsing in last year’s floods Many construction projects were, at the very least, hindered and at worst, terminated due to the deluge of flood water last year. Efforts were initially focused upon the clean-up of the sites to allow projects to continue. As time elapses, disputes invariably arise between employers and contractors in relation to project delay and, in particular, whether the contractor is entitled to an extension of time to complete the works and/or a claim for direct loss and expense. Moreover, these disputes are generally hotly contested. Looking at the provisions of the JCT design and build contract the phrase ‘the devil is in the detail’ immediately springs to mind. In relation to extensions of time, the contractor is required, as soon as it becomes apparent that the project is being, or is likely to be, delayed, to give notice to the employer of the ‘material circumstances, including the cause or causes of the delay’. The contractor is also required to provide an estimate as to any expected delay to the completion of the works beyond the contractual completion date. Only where the cause of the delay constitutes a ‘relevant event’ the employer is obliged to give an extension of time as it considers fair and reasonable. The term ‘relevant event’ is defined within the JCT suite of contracts as including ‘exceptionally adverse weather conditions’. It is, however, important for both contractors and employers to note that only exceptional, adverse weather will automatically constitute a ‘relevant event’. Whilst the phrase ‘exceptionally adverse weather conditions’ is not defined within the JCT suite of contracts, it is generally accepted that to amount to ‘exceptionally adverse weather conditions’ the adverse weather must, during a calendar month, exceed the long-term average at that time of year and in the location of the project by a significant amount. Accordingly, under the terms of the JCT form of contract, contractors are required to bear the risks associated with non-exceptional weather conditions and will often take these into account when negotiating the contract sum and the construction programme. ‘Relevant event’ under the JCT contract also includes loss or damage occasioned by any of the ‘Specified Perils’ and force majeure. With flooding both expressly included within the JCT definition of ‘Specified Perils’ and also arguably an event outside the control of the contracting parties, these additional provisions may provide the contractor with alternative grounds for an application for an extension of time where the weather conditions responsible for the delay are not sufficiently exceptional. The position in relation to a contractor’s entitlement to claim direct loss and/or expense incurred as a result of flooding from its employer under the JCT form of contract is, however, somewhat different to its entitlement to an extension of time. Under the JCT form of contract, a contractor will only be entitled to submit a claim for direct loss and/or expense where regular progress of the works has been impeded either as a result of a deferment on the provision of possession of the site by the employer or by a ‘relevant matter’. Crucially, weather conditions, however adverse they may be, do not constitute a ‘relevant matter’ under the JCT form of contract. Consequently, the contractor is not entitled to any additional payments for costs incurred as a result of adverse weather conditions. It is of course standard practice for physical damage to the works and site materials to be protected during construction by an all risks insurance policy. The JCT form of contract requires either the employer or the contractor to maintain all risks insurance in joint names until the earlier of practical completion of the works or the termination of the building contract. Clearly, the extent of any insurance recovery will depend upon the specific wording of the policy, although the Courts have given some guidance on the meaning of a ‘flooding’ for indemnity purposes. The authorities suggest that there must be sufficient volume and suddenness: some abnormal, violent situation, involving a rapid accumulation or sudden release of water from a natural or possibly manmade source. It appears that a slow seepage or build-up of less than around 3 inches of water may be deemed insufficient to trigger insurance cover. It is also worth considering that it may be possible to bring a claim in nuisance in respect of loss caused by escape of water from a neighbouring property. The duty of nuisance is limited to doing that which is reasonable in all the circumstances to prevent or minimise the known risk of damage or injury to one’s neighbour or to his property. There is also the possibility of a claim against the Environment Agency or utility companies, for example for failure to dredge rivers or sewerage overflow, although it is difficult to establish in practice. Where a statutory authority is entrusted with a mere power (as opposed to positive duty), it cannot be made liable for damage sustained by a member of the public as a result of failure to exercise that power. In exercising a discretionary power, the only duty owed to individuals is not thereby to increase the damage that would have been suffered had they done nothing. About the author: Jonathan Hyndman is a partner at law firm Rosling King This article was published on 21 Jan 2015 (last updated on 21 Jan 2015). Source link
“The advantage for interior designers to use BIM (Building Information Modelling) software to win business needs no explanation, but the real value lies in the information it supplies and the co-ordination and collaboration that it facilitates.” So says Jon Case, Director of ARRCC interior designers. Although its architectural counterparts have been using BIM software for a number of years, the addition of a customised furniture and interior finishes library that ARRCC recently completed in Revit, allows them to now also successfully engage the software to design interior spaces. “The accurate visualisation of design is not just important to impress the client, but for us as interior designers and decorators, it is important that the software can show the design 100% accurately so that every finish, material, feature element and item of furniture is realistically portrayed in a working model. We can intuitively place items and materials using the software, edit the content and see our interiors in a virtual reality environment. If the architects make a change on the original plans, we can immediately adapt our plans to accommodate that as we work from one co-ordinated 3D model,” Case continued. As various elements are added to the design, Revit creates a schedule of all the product specs and sources and materials – a complete inventory relating to real world calculations which has allowed us to expedite the construction phase of our projects. Revit also allows us to co-ordinate seamlessly with engineers lowering the risk of unsightly clashes on site. When asked about why only a limited number of interior designers employ this software in their business processes, Case explained that the software is traditionally very expensive and the technical expertise needed is very specialised. Interior designers will typically use only 30% – 40% of the software package (the rest is only relevant to architects) but with its proximity to architects, SAOTA, ARRCC has been able to extend its BIM knowledge and expertise to bridge the divide between Architecture and Interiors. This has been key in unlocking a higher level of client and project type. The 3Ds that are produced in Revit are living documents that change continuously and are updated as the client or designers make changes to initial designs. Although the client will never see the working 3Ds, the renders that they receive for presentation purposes are created from the same Revit files making it 100% accurate and aligned. “With our most recent work, our clients also benefit from the VR development, taking them inside our buildings to experience their new homes before the soil has even been turned on site. This has allowed us to expedite the design approval process as clients can engage with the model in a real world scale, pointing out various aspects that either they enjoy or would like to revise,” Case said. “In short, BIM software allows us to easily create an interior design model that enables us to visualise the design using real world parameters. We can capture various options within the same model – so options for layout and finishing’s can be included. And then of course the accurate and detailed information that we get from the schedules allows us to take control of costings, timelines, deadlines, etc,” Case concluded. Even when the initial building plans are still in 2D format, 3Ds that preserve the design intent can be created in Revit.
Sellafield Ltd has awarded the Morgan Sindall and Arup joint venture an extension of the Infrastructure Strategic Alliance (ISA) contract for a further five years. The ISA is one of a number of long-term strategic supply agreements aligned to the Sellafield Ltd acquisition strategy. Awarded to Morgan Sindall and Arup in a joint venture in 2012, the ISA is responsible for a £1.1 billion contract to provide essential infrastructure assets to the Sellafield site. This is the first renewal of a contract that has the potential for further extension periods, subject to performance, up to a total life of 15 years. The ISA contract provides Sellafield Ltd with the capability and capacity to deliver a growing programme of infrastructure projects required for an aging asset portfolio. The contract is primarily aimed at utility assets, such as the on-site provision and distribution of steam, electricity, water supply and compressed air, bulk chemical storage and distribution, civil infrastructure, the site’s drainage networks and other facilities including roads, bridges, car parks and general buildings (such as canteens and laundry facilities). It also includes some non-utility assets such as analytical services facilities, transport systems, flask maintenance plant and emergency management systems. Alongside the delivery of key infrastructure projects to the Sellafield site, the ISA contract has placed a great emphasis on socio-economic contributions across Cumbria. Throughout the duration of the contract, the ISA delivery partners have invested in local employment, skills development and apprenticeships. Currently over 12% of the ISA workforce are graduates, apprentices or trainees. Through the Creating Careers in Cumbria programme, the ISA delivery partners have given twenty previously unemployed local people the chance to gain full time employment. The programme focuses on providing work experience and employment skills for long-term unemployed local people. The scheme has an 80.5% success rate, which reflects the ISA delivery partners’ commitment to the people of Cumbria. Simon Smith, Morgan Sindall Arup joint venture board member said: “The extension of the ISA contract builds on our commitment to deliver the most complex and challenging infrastructure projects for our customer. The alliance is not only a key vehicle for delivering infrastructure improvements on site at Sellafield; it is also driving wider socio-economic benefit across Cumbria. Through a combination of our leading construction and innovative design knowledge, we will continue to develop a strong programme of work to tackle the unique challenges at Sellafield.”
Construction professionals are being urged to act as mentors for young people training to become the next generation of workers in the industry. The West Midlands Construction UTC (WMCUTC), which is sponsored by CITB, is appealing for volunteers to help its 14 to 19-year-old students gain a deeper insight into careers in the building sector. It is hoped the mentoring programme will help to broaden the horizons and aspirations of the students, as well as building their understanding of the world of work. Among the responsibilities of the mentors, who can be from any area of the industry, will be to attend meetings with the pupils twice a year and to attend a special half-day training session. They will also be required to provide support to the students and answer any questions they may have in between meetings over email. The WMCUTC, which is based in Wolverhampton, is hoping to sign up enough mentors for every one of the students enrolling for the term starting in September 2016. It was successful in meeting this aim for its September 2015 intake of students, with volunteers coming from construction firms including Barratt, Carillion, Hewden, Lovell Partnerships, Morgan Sindall, Redrow, Thomas Vale and Willmott Dixon. Catering to young people from Birmingham, the Black Country, Staffordshire and Shropshire, the centre provides technical learning alongside GCSEs. Bruce Boughton, People Development Manager at Lovell Partnerships said: “This is a unique partnership between business and the WMCUTC, and is a clear demonstration of the industry’s commitment to find, develop and encourage the next generation of construction trade, technical, and professional people.” To find out more information about the scheme, visit: http://www.westmidlandsconstructionutc.co.uk/ Source link