In the aftermath of the historic Brexit vote, there was a lot of concern over how the UK’s economy would survive. The manufacturing and construction sectors were particularly worried; with talks of potential huge job losses and a freeze in the hiring process. The future looked bleak and with the manufacturing industry making up around 10% of the UK’s overall economy output, it’s easy to see why many Brits have become concerned we’re heading towards another recession. So, should we be worried and how are the manufacturing and construction sectors coping almost six months on? Read more at https://www.theengineer.co.uk/how-have-manufacturing-and-construction-sectors-been-coping-post-brexit/? 

Building work has got underway on site at a new £4.3 million training hub being built by J Tomlinson Ltd for Volvo Car UK. The new Training and Development Centre in Daventry, Northamptonshire, will replace the existing training facility, which has been delivering technical, commercial and management training to Volvo dealer employees from across the UK since 1980. Set to open in summer 2017, the new facility will feature remote video and web-based technologies, and will ensure the firm’s training experience matches the increasingly cutting-edge nature of its cars. Nottingham-based construction company J Tomlinson has been appointed to build the 2,825 m² training hub. Martin Gallagher, managing director (construction) for J Tomlinson, said: “Volvo is a name synonymous with quality and safety, and J Tomlinson is very proud to be constructing a new training and development centre for such a well-respected, globally known brand – helping the company to continue its position as an industry leader. “This is the latest in a number of projects that we have been involved in for the sector. Last year, J Tomlinson completed work on a redevelopment of Coventry Transport Museum, while a £5.1 million project to build a new visitor centre and factory extension for Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley, Leicestershire, is just about to finish.” Working across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire, J Tomlinson provides a range of integrated building solutions, including construction, refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical services (M&E), and facilities management. This is a significant show of commitment David Baddeley, Volvo Car UK’s operations director, said: “This is a significant show of commitment from Volvo in its Daventry operations. Our new facility will provide the thousands of Volvo dealer employees across the country with the best possible environment to enhance their knowledge for years to come, and I am delighted that J Tomlinson has now begun work on the project.” On completion, the site – which currently employs 32 people – will be purchased by Daventry District Council and leased back to Volvo Car UK. For more information, visit www.jtomlinson.co.uk

Chancellor Philip Hammond today announced on Wednesday the 23rd of November as part of the Autumn Statement, that there would be a reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate from 65% to 63%.   This will represent a modest increase in the benefits received by those in work. However, it is important to note that this followed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Damian Green’s announcement on Monday 21 November that revealed ALL social housing tenants on Universal Credit will be affected by the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) cap rather than only those starting a tenancy after April 2016, as was the original proposal. And the only exemption to the cap is likely to be short-lived. The only tenants to avoid the cap will be those who started a tenancy before April 2016 and will still be in receipt of Housing Benefit in 2019. The DWP intends to migrate all those of working age on legacy benefits, such as Housing Benefit, to Universal Credit from July 2019. There are currently around 241,000 tenants in Scotland who will be caught under the new widening of the scope of the LHA cap. Ultimately, the only social housing tenants to avoid the cap will be those over working age and in mainstream housing. Furthermore, in September it was announced that all disabled and older people in supported accommodation will also be included in the LHA cap, the impact of which was set out in a report by the SFHA. However, since the report only covered possible new tenancies, the impact is likely to be over five times greater than the SFHA first estimated for supported housing alone. Mary Taylor, Chief Executive of the SFHA, said: “Whilst the modest reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate is welcome to anyone claiming or receiving Universal Credit, it is important to note that the Autumn Statement came immediately after the announcement of further damaging changes.   Vulnerable tenants are paying the price of the UK Government’s failure to invest in social housing particularly in England, which has contributed to the housing benefit bill growing out of control with more tenants living in more expensive private accommodation. The much-vaunted simplicity that Universal Credit was supposed to deliver now seems a distant dream.  Claimants and their advisors increasingly have to navigate a maze of regulations and entitlement conditions. “The Scottish Government will have to implement its welfare powers in the midst of this uncertainty and our members, housing associations across Scotland, face trying to protect rental income whilst securing funding to invest in the affordable home the country so desperately needs. “As well as the concerns we have previously articulated about funding supported housing, we will be particularly anxious about the future for the 11,000 single tenants under-35 living in housing association accommodation reliant on Housing Benefit.  Along with our colleagues in England and Wales facing the same challenges, we will be pressing for safeguards for vulnerable people, for example those leaving supported housing, homeless people and pregnant women. “In terms of the announcement on funding, SFHA welcomes the announcement of £800million additional funding for the Scottish Budget, and notes that the £1.4 billion investment in affordable housing south of the border should mean a further £100million for this budget through Barnett Consequentials.   The Scottish Government’s commitment to increase funding in order to build 50,000 affordable homes, 35,000 for social rent, over the next 5 years has been greatly welcomed by the sector, and the SFHA calls for any Barnett Consequentials to be invested in affordable housing.”

The City of London Corporation has granted planning permission for what will be the second tallest building in Western Europe after the Shard. Singaporean developer Aroland Holdings has secured approval to build a skyscraper at 1 Undershaft, jostling between the Gherkin, the Cheesegrater and the new 22 Bishopsgate tower that Multiplex is building. The 1 Undershaft tower will have a total height of 304.94 metres above ordnance datum (289.94m structural height), outstripping the 278-metre high tower at 22 Bishopsgate. The Shard, across the river next to London Bridge station, is 309.6 metres high to its tip. 1 Undershaft was approved by a vote of 19-2 yesterday at the City of London Corporation’s planning & transportation committee meeting. Work first involves demolition of the existing Aviva Tower. The new 73-storey building, designed by architect Eric Parry, will provide 130,000 square metres of office accommodation, as well as more than 2,000 square meters of retail space. An estimated 10,000 workers will work in the building upon completion (and 1,600 of them will be able to park their bikes there.) At the top of the building will be a free public viewing gallery, which will be served by dedicated lifts. The public viewing gallery will host London’s highest restaurant and have learning spaces for schools and other groups to discover more about the capital, its growth and history. The Museum of London has had discussions with the developer over a dedicated gallery at the top of the building, using 1 Undershaft’s height to show London’s development. At the base of 1 Undershaft, a new larger public square will be created. The building has an elevated reception, allowing pedestrians to walk beneath the building. Read more at http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/city-approves-305-metre-high-skyscraper

Kentucky, US-based Sterett Crane and Rigging used a Terex CC 2400-1 lattice boom crawler crane to replace lids on eight anaerobic digester tanks at the East and West Evansville wastewater treatment plants. “Having sufficient space alone to bring in and assemble the crane was challenging enough,” said Matt Crisp, crawler crane fleet manager for Sterett, about the congested project site at the 34-year-old facilities. “To remove the massive tank lids that weighed in excess of 250,000 pounds (113.4 tonnes) each, we needed to mobilise a crane that was small enough to fit into and manoeuvre in the tight area while, at the same time, offer the capacity to lift the heavy lids.” Out of the dozens of crane options from Sterett’s fleet, the one crane stood out for this job – the Terex CC 2400-1 lattice boom crawler crane. With its 440 ton (400 tonne) capacity, the Terex crane offered power to lift the heavy loads, and its Vario-Superlift structure feature proved to be the X-factor Sterett needed to successfully manoeuvre about the site at full load. The digester tank lids were being removed and relocated for sandblasting and refurbishment. Each tank lid weighed between 258,000 to 274,000 lb (117 to 124.3 tonnes). The weight of the load required the CC 2400-1 crane to be equipped in its Superlift configuration, but as the crane’s body swung the lids into position to lower them onto the concrete cribbing, the Superlift tray had to manoeuvre past site barriers. “The lids alone were 75 feet (22.9 metres) in diameter, and we had to rig to them at 16 points,” said Mr Crisp. “The plan was to pick the lid at a 91 ft (27.7 m) radius, boom up, move the crane a short distance and then swing the ring into position for lowering it onto the cribbing. However, often a tank obstructed the path of the tray as we swung the load.” Read more at http://www.khl.com/magazines/international-cranes-and-specialized-transport/detail/item123321/