A key driver for the Healthcare Construction market is the NHS’ future vision, structure and funding for capital projects. In the October 2021 Budget and Spending Review, it was announced that the NHS England budget will grow from £136.1bn in 2021/22 to £162.6bn in 2024/25, this is an average real
Stirling-based procurement services provider, PfH Scotland, which represents 95 social housing providers across Scotland, has appointed 25 contractors to its new £0.25bn Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing 2 (EESSH2) framework. Procast, Easy Heat Systems, Changeworks and City Technical Services are among suppliers to win places across eight lots on
Many industries will be affected when red diesel loses its tax-free status in April 2022. With less than six months to go until red diesel users will be charged the full fuel tax to reflect on the emissions they produce, the MHM Group is urging industry leaders to adopt the
Total value of the SCAPE Civil Engineering frameworks to increase from £2.1bn to £4bn. The re-procurement includes a £3.25bn framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a separate £750m framework for Scotland, managed and operated by SCAPE Scotland. Frameworks will allow organisations access to net-zero ready specialist contractors to
A prominent polymer system supplier is advocating the specification of more sustainable heating and cooling solutions in educational buildings following the publication of analysis suggesting most UK universities are not on track to hit emissions targets. The recent release of People and Planet’s annual University League asking ‘how sustainable is
Embedding heritage-led regeneration within wider investment programmes aimed at revitalising high streets and enhancing local and regional infrastructure, will more effectively drive the growth and renewal of Britain’s historic town centres, says a new report from national planning and development consultancy, Lichfields. The ‘Historic Opportunities’ report comes at a time
Birmingham City Council Leader Lays Brick on Fifth Floor Roof Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, and client PATRIZIA have celebrated topping out of the first roof at a build-to-rent (BTR) scheme in Edgbaston, as
Building safety, hitting net zero targets, and the skills shortage were at the forefront of a major event for the South West’s construction industry. Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) hosted the CESW Construction Summit at Sandy Park, Exeter, and industry leaders and professionals gathered to discuss how the sector must
Why improved communication is key for the built environment UK construction accounts for around seven per cent of GDP and employs over 3 million people. But despite its significance, many firms are far behind modernisation and digital innovations seen in other parts of the economy — this includes its tools
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces the successful lease of G-Park Villaverde warehouse in Madrid to a US e-commerce company. On a 70,000 SQM plot of land, GLP will develop a state-of-the-art building totaling approximately 17,000 SQM. Given its proximity to the city of Madrid, G-Park Villaverde is ideally located for last-mile distribution.
A key driver for the Healthcare Construction market is the NHS’ future vision, structure and funding for capital projects. In the October 2021 Budget and Spending Review, it was announced that the NHS England budget will grow from £136.1bn in 2021/22 to £162.6bn in 2024/25, this is an average real term increase of 3.8% per year. Construction output in this sector declined by 37% between 2016 and 2020. There is an ongoing shift from hospital bases provision to a more community-based model. While the forecasts currently suggest there will be market growth between 2021 and 2025, it is not enough to compensate for the decline over the past five years. Ozge Celik Russell, Researcher Manager at AMA Research and editor of the Healthcare Construction market report explains “In the NHS, the shift of focus away from hospital-based provision towards a community-based model of care continues. This transforms primary care services in line with the NHS Five Year Forward View and the NHS Long Term Plan which creates opportunities for smaller value projects to provide extensions, reorganization and refurbishment of existing primary care facilities.” With the Government deciding to axe PFI (Private Finance Initiative Schemes) and PF2 (Private Finance 2) for infrastructure projects; although many contracts are due to expire over the next decade, it is confirmed that all existing PFI contracts will be honoured, noting that some of which will run into the 2040s. Currently the main healthcare construction procurement programmes in the UK are NHS LIFT/ExpressLIFT, the HUB Initiative Scotland, Frameworks Scotland, ProCure22 (until the end of June 2022), ProCure23 (starts in July 2022), NHS Building for Wales Frameworks. Between 2016 and Q3 2021, in terms of the type of contracts awarded, public hospitals accounted for the largest share, followed by surgeries, health and medical centres. In 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic, contract awards for all types of healthcare facilities declined over the previous year’s levels. In 2020, contract awards for private hospitals, surgeries, health and medical centres and veterinary surgeries and hospitals increased significantly while the value of contract awards for public hospitals remained stable. Q1-Q3 2021 activity in contract awards suggests that it will be a strong year in healthcare specifically in terms of public hospitals and hospices, nursing and psychiatric homes. Going forward, output from public hospitals and surgeries, health and medical centres will continue to dominate the total construction output in the healthcare sector. Since 2016, projects for public hospitals and surgeries, health and medical centres constituted on average 80% of the contract awards in the healthcare sector by value. On a regional basis, the London, East of England and South East lead the forward planning approved pipeline of healthcare work, with 25%, 23% and 12% worth of schemes respectively.
Stirling-based procurement services provider, PfH Scotland, which represents 95 social housing providers across Scotland, has appointed 25 contractors to its new £0.25bn Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing 2 (EESSH2) framework. Procast, Easy Heat Systems, Changeworks and City Technical Services are among suppliers to win places across eight lots on the five-year contract. In order to attract a wide range of small, local suppliers as well as national contractors, the framework is structured around six regions, covering every area of Scotland. Housing providers can access energy efficiency modelling through the framework, helping them to identify the upgrades needed to bring their stock up to Energy Efficiency Standards for Social Housing post 2020 (EESSH2) target levels. EESSH2 standards, which were confirmed by the Scottish Government in 2019, encourage social landlords to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions by ensuring all social homes in Scotland reach Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band B by December 2032. PfH Scotland’s EESSH2 framework covers whole property retrofit, feasibility studies, funding advice, land and environmental surveys as well as the servicing and installation of gas and renewable heating systems. Scottish housing associations and local authorities can procure from the framework either via mini-competition – where they can access template call-off documents and specifications – or on a direct award basis, meaning they won’t need to go through any additional tender process. Chris McGinn, PfH Scotland’s Commercial Manager said: “Research shows that just 7% of housing association stock in Scotland currently meets EESSH2 standards, so there is a long way to go before 2032. We did a lot of pre-tender engagement with Scottish housing providers, asking about the barriers to improving energy efficiency. They told us that identifying the right energy efficiency upgrades, accessing funding and delivering to deadlines were all areas they wanted support with and I’m confident this new framework will help providers to bring their homes up to EESSH2 standards.” Andrew Filby, Project Manager at Ayrshire-based charity the Energy Agency said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to ambitious targets on both climate change and fuel poverty, but this represents a significant challenge for housing providers. Frameworks such as PfH Scotland’s EESSH2 framework will play a key role in providing a platform for Scottish housing associations and local authorities to access the technical expertise and experienced contractors to meet this challenge. Having access to the right skills will not only provide a pathway to EESSH2 compliance but also minimise the risk to both housing providers and tenants as we transition to a low carbon economy”. For further information about PfH Scotland’s EESSH2 Heating Services framework visit https://pfhscotland.co.uk/eessh2/
Many industries will be affected when red diesel loses its tax-free status in April 2022. With less than six months to go until red diesel users will be charged the full fuel tax to reflect on the emissions they produce, the MHM Group is urging industry leaders to adopt the use of cleaner alternatives, in particular HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). Red diesel is widely used in the agricultural, marine and construction sectors, and although at present business owners benefit from a 47p-per-litre tax rebate for its use, as of April 2022 they will have to switch to ordinary ‘white’ diesel costs, taxed at the full rate. That means many businesses will be paying five times as much in fuel duty as they do currently. In the wake of rising costs and significant impacts on the environment, a market leading equipment manufacturer, the MHM Group is urging businesses within the plant hire and construction industries to consider switching to HVO fuel as a greener, more sustainable alternative. HVO is a premium quality fuel made from 100% renewable raw materials, and can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 90% when likened with fossil-fuel diesel. Every 1,000 litres of diesel burned produces 3.6 tonnes of greenhouse gas CO2, compared to just 195kg GHG CO2 for every 1,000 litres of HVO burned. The MHM Group has itself recently confirmed that all of its diesel-powered machinery, principally generators and lighting towers, are now fully compatible, approved and safe for use with HVO fuel. Commenting on how the rental market can reduce its carbon footprint, the MHM Group’s Managing Director Mat Llewellyn said: “Everyone in the industry has been aware that green changes are on the horizon, but often these deadlines come up much faster than we first anticipate. For that reason, we have been doubling down on our efforts to ensure that Bolt, our new equipment for sale and our rehire fleet becomes more sustainable and that we can offer solutions to the construction sector on eliminating harmful carbon emissions. “Using HVO is significant a part of this process and becomes even more important with the tax rises to red diesel and the growing consensus on the need for action to address climate change. We are also continuing to invest heavily in other renewables, such as solar and battery hybrid engine and diesel free machines, as part of our comprehensive approach to a sustainable future.” Launched in 2010, the MHM Group is the leading supplier of a range of sustainable equipment, including solar hybrid generators and solar lighting towers. The supplier offers a range of innovative products that emit zero carbon and can be powered by renewable fuel sources. For more information on MHM and its equipment, visit http://www.mhmplant.com.
Total value of the SCAPE Civil Engineering frameworks to increase from £2.1bn to £4bn. The re-procurement includes a £3.25bn framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a separate £750m framework for Scotland, managed and operated by SCAPE Scotland. Frameworks will allow organisations access to net-zero ready specialist contractors to help them achieve their aims around climate change. Up to £4bn of new public sector civil engineering projects for local communities across the UK are set to be accelerated as part of a new set of frameworks being launched by SCAPE. The new format puts net zero carbon construction and work for local SMEs at the heart of delivery. The public sector procurement authority has published details for its third generation Civil Engineering frameworks, with major contractors from across the UK invited to take part in the re-procurement in 2022. The re-procurement includes a £3.25bn framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a separate £750m framework for Scotland, managed and operated by SCAPE Scotland. Running for a period of four years from 2023, with an option to be extended for a further two years until 2029, the fully-managed frameworks will more than double the capacity of infrastructure focused activity procured through SCAPE. This follows the success of its existing frameworks which have commissioned more than 250 projects to date for public sector clients across the UK. The current frameworks are due to expire in January 2023. SCAPE’s new frameworks will enable local authorities and public sector organisations to accelerate the delivery of major infrastructure projects – including highways, rail, flood and coastal, broadband and electric vehicle infrastructure – with no defined upper limit for project value. In the face of the climate emergency, the frameworks will also allow organisations access to net-zero ready specialist contractors to help them achieve their aims around climate change. Local businesses will sit at the heart of the new frameworks, with the successful principal contractor expected to engage with an extensive supply chain of SMEs. This allows better access for small businesses to major public sector contracts they might otherwise not have been able to bid for, while also allowing clients to procure locally-sourced specialist services. They will also benefit from being able to agree termed service options following any major works, allowing contractors to form long term relationships with clients and local supply chains. Contractors will also be able to agree cost reimbursable contracts through the addition of NEC Option E. Part of the SCAPE’s suite of direct award frameworks, the new civil engineering frameworks have been developed following engagement with local authorities and other public sector bodies across the country, as well as industry body the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). SCAPE, which is currently performance managing more than 1,800 publicly funded projects across the UK will be holding virtual market awareness days for prospective bidders on 17th January 2022 for Scotland and 19th January 2022 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Bidders are invited to tender for either one or both frameworks. A Contract Notice will be published in February 2022 with preferred bidders announced in November 2022. For full details of timescales and information on the SCAPE Civil Engineering frameworks re-procurement, visit www.scape.co.uk/liveprocurement. John Simons, group procurement director at SCAPE, said: “The expansion of our civil engineering frameworks comes at a time when regeneration and investment in local infrastructure are playing a vital role in creating stronger local economies in a post-pandemic world. “As a leading voice for the public sector, we’ve evolved our frameworks to provide our public sector colleagues with a platform to address the UK’s infrastructure needs in the coming years, with a greater focus than ever on facilitating the journey towards a net zero future. “We’ve received positive feedback from clients using the existing frameworks and by building on its success, we can help local authorities to achieve their objectives while providing a best-in-class direct award route to market that is underpinned by the fully managed approach we’ve developed over the past 15 years.” Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, added: “Construction activity has been the bedrock of the country’s economic recovery and our civil engineering frameworks will further help contractors to deliver projects that will continue to ignite local economies and drive better outcomes for communities across the UK. “Through the addition of a termed service agreement option, the four-year frameworks will allow contractors to build long-term relationships with clients and supply chain partners, helping them to grow their business and employ new staff from the local communities they serve.”
A prominent polymer system supplier is advocating the specification of more sustainable heating and cooling solutions in educational buildings following the publication of analysis suggesting most UK universities are not on track to hit emissions targets. The recent release of People and Planet’s annual University League asking ‘how sustainable is your university?’ found that despite 46% of higher education institutes making good progress in this area, the majority were still behind. Specifically, the analysis found that over half of the 154 institutions surveyed had failed to match criteria set out for 2020-21 by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in 2010. With these findings in mind, polymer supplier REHAU is highlighting the importance of building design in improving the sustainability of universities. The appeal follows the publication of the company’s recent report ‘Designing Healthy Schools and Universities,’ which surveyed 125 architects and specifiers specialising in educational structures on futureproofing facilities through high-performing building services. “People and Planet’s latest University League re-affirms a long-standing trend in the development of university facilities that must be addressed,” says Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical for REHAU Building Solutions. “Namely, that current building stock is behind both in terms of sustainability targets, and as far as industry attitudes are concerned. “This can be seen in research carried out in our latest report of REHAU’s Designing Healthy series, which looked at this sector. Our findings showed that 67% of architects and contractors we surveyed saw leaving high-quality buildings behind was a high priority in their work, with sustainability also ranking highly as a design priority. Contrasted against these clearly stated views, this new analysis makes for sobering reading.” The report goes on to highlight Office for Students figures showing that UK’s higher education student population is expected to grow by 12.3% between 2020-21 and 2024-25, and the ensuing need for additional campus buildings. This is contrasted against National Audit Office estimates that 60% of current educational building stock was constructed before 1976. Taking these figures into account, REHAU is advocating that contractors and specifiers working on university facilities ensure building services are chosen with healthy design principles in mind. Examples of implementable technologies raised in the report include Thermally Activated Building Structures (TABS), which are increasingly being adopted into new university structures and pair well with heat pump technology to provide sustainable heating and cooling. By selecting these sorts of solutions for upcoming projects, campuses can lower emissions while also improving student and staff well-being. Steve concludes: “The environment is a huge issue for students today, and will continue to rise in prominence as the effects of climate change become more apparent. Alongside this, rising tuition fees mean those attending university have become extremely aware of their status as consumers, and expect eco-conscious, healthy design to match their own priorities. “However, as our report and the latest analysis suggests, more needs to be done in this field. We would therefore implore contractors, specifiers and stakeholders in higher education to look at other options available, including campus-wide district heating systems, and examine available funding options such as the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.” To download Designing Healthy Schools and Universities, click here.
Embedding heritage-led regeneration within wider investment programmes aimed at revitalising high streets and enhancing local and regional infrastructure, will more effectively drive the growth and renewal of Britain’s historic town centres, says a new report from national planning and development consultancy, Lichfields. The ‘Historic Opportunities’ report comes at a time of changing fortunes for the nation’s historic towns and sheds light on the environmental, economic and social contributions that heritage-led regeneration can deliver long-term for hundreds of locations across the country. It considers how long-term thinking and a holistic approach to regeneration are keys to success, recognising that the most effective way to plan for strong and vibrant future high streets and town centres is through projects focused ‘more than ever’ on repurposing heritage assets in ambitious and creative ways to meet society’s changing needs. The report builds on the themes contained in Lichfields ‘Moving on Up?’ report, which analysed over 100 bids for three key funding streams aimed at delivering town centre regeneration: the £3.6bn Towns Fund, the £1bn Future High Streets Fund (of which £95m is set aside for High Street Heritage Action Zones) and most recently the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund. This revealed that heritage-led regeneration is among six key themes underpinning these bids; the reasons for this are considered in greater detail within the Historic Opportunities report. The report demonstrates that when done well, heritage-led regeneration is not just an expedient ‘sticking plaster’ applied to cover up deep-rooted problems, it can be a powerful and recognisable indicator of change that inspires confidence, local pride and further investment. Almost half of the current buildings in retail use and 33% of office buildings were built before 1919 with many of these suffering from chronic neglect or having been poorly adapted in response to various cycles of economic and social change. However, while targeted investment in the restoration and reuse of heritage assets to deliver wider economic and social benefits is not a new approach, the report finds that the way heritage-led regeneration is being implemented has evolved and is now far more complex and multi-layered. The report highlights that the tendency to think that simply restoring historic buildings and adding new shopfronts and usable floorspace will be enough to deliver regeneration and attract new occupiers, has given way to more effective heritage-led regeneration projects that are predicated on clearer business and investment strategies. These are designed to complement and form an embedded part of wider investment programmes, which are aimed at improving local economies through investment in infrastructure, new industries and technologies. Embedding heritage-led regeneration in this way harnesses investment’s potential to inspire action and promote initiatives as well as delivering more effective and sustainable regeneration results. James Fryatt, planner and heritage consultant at Lichfields Newcastle office and the report’s lead author, said: “Heritage-led regeneration projects need to be focused more than ever on reusing assets in ambitious and creative ways to respond to people’s changing lifestyle, work and shopping habits. In the high street for instance, this will see historic buildings increasingly adapted to reflect changes in retail and growing demand for leisure activities, creative and flexible workspaces, and housing in sustainable and accessible locations. “It’s also about bringing the history of towns to the surface, engaging communities in heritage projects and enhancing places with the aim of attracting new businesses, visitors and residents.” The ‘Historic Opportunities’ report also considers two case studies – North Shields Fish Quay in the North East and Grimsby in Lincolnshire – and how they are now looking to a brighter future on the back of far-sighted heritage funding. This funding is continuing to revitalise these places as part of long-term regeneration strategies, which are delivering transformative change whilst also revealing a rich heritage. Nick Bridgland, Lichfields’ heritage director, added: “This is an important report and comes at a time of rapid change for our historic towns. Heritage-led investment must be far more dynamic because it’s such a valuable tool for regeneration. The key to long-term success is to see it as part of an overarching holistic approach embedded within wider programmes of investment aimed at revitalising places that have been left behind. “There are many positives on the horizon and our report points to a successful future for those historic towns that take advantage of the available funding and adopt a fresh approach to heritage-led regeneration work.” Founded in 1962, Lichfields offers a range of planning services including economics, heritage, sustainability, and GIS. Its clients include local authorities and government bodies, as well as developers, landowners and operators in the housing, retail, leisure, commercial, waste and recycling and infrastructure sectors. A copy of the ‘Historic Opportunities’ report is available athttps://lichfields.uk/content/insights/historic-opportunities
Birmingham City Council Leader Lays Brick on Fifth Floor Roof Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, and client PATRIZIA have celebrated topping out of the first roof at a build-to-rent (BTR) scheme in Edgbaston, as well as the commencement of the façade installation programme. Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, was invited to the celebratory ceremony at the site located adjacent to Edgbaston Stadium on Thursday, 9 December and had the honour of laying a brick on the fifth-floor roof. The 375-apartment scheme – which Winvic began constructing in February this year – comprises four concrete-framed stair and lift cores, with blocks reaching to five, six, seven, eight, 13 and 18 storeys. Furthermore, undercroft car parking and bicycle storage, a landscaped podium deck, a residents’ rooftop terrace, a gym and five commercial units on the ground floor, totalling approximately 15,000 sq ft, will be created as part of the project. Winvic’s contract also includes the full fit out of the development, which contains 189 one-bedroom, 169 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom apartments. The Winvic team is currently ahead of schedule and is almost halfway through the programme for pouring the concrete verticals and floor slabs. The façade installation programme comprising a steel framing system (SFS), masonry and windows has now commenced and will continue through to Q4 2023. Fit out to the entrance, ground floor plant, amenity and storage areas begins in the New Year and Winvic will be fitting out the apartments from Spring 2022. At the end of January 2022, the drainage and incoming utility services works will be complete. Lighting installation and landscaping works, with circa almost 3,000 trees and shrubs planted, will begin towards the end of 2022. Progress at PATRIZIA’s Edgbaston scheme can be viewed on Winvic Live on two on-site cameras. Winvic is scheduled to hand over the project in Q3 2023. Mark Jones, Director of Multi-room at Winvic, commented: “PATRIZIA was a new client to Winvic at the start of this year but our aligned vision and focus on the end goal has facilitated an excellent working relationship and reaching this important project milestone is something to be celebrated. I’d like to also thank Councillor Ian Ward for coming along to lay a brick to commemorate the start of the face installation works and the topping out of phase 1. The team has been working hard throughout 2021 on this scheme and we’re on schedule for handover in Q3 2023; they deserve to have a relaxing Christmas break and I know they are looking forward to continuing with the façade programme in January.” Richard Scutt, Development Director at PATRIZIA said: “Birmingham has one of the largest private rental sectors outside London and PATRIZIA is at the forefront of delivering homes for this growing community. This topping out of phase one is an occasion to celebrate and our construction partner Winvic is doing an incredible job in delivering the scheme swiftly and safely as well as providing assistance with obtaining the sustainable and wellbeing certifications. We are prioritising wellness of residents within the design by targeting Fitwel certification, an international standard of rating wellbeing in a building. The building will also achieve a Homes Quality Mark certification, making it one of the first BTR developments to obtain this accreditation, attesting to high standards of build, running costs, health and wellbeing, and sustainability.” Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “This exciting new development brings city centre standard accommodation to Edgbaston, creating a new rental hub and offering a real alternative for those looking for greener, leafier space. It caters for Birmingham’s wider demographic that wish to live in a high-end apartment close to the city, yet in the beautiful setting of Edgbaston and next to Cannon Hill Park.” Alongside delivery of PATRIZIA’s scheme, Winvic is undertaking improvement works for Warwickshire County Cricket Club (WCCC) at Edgbaston Stadium. To date, completed works include the demolition of a derelict building and Winvic’s contracted S278 works at Edgbaston Road and Pershore Road. Winvic is continuing with the construction of a 56,500 sq ft entrance plaza, reconfiguration of the existing car park and the creation 229 new car parking spaces into next year. Phase 1 of the WCCC works was completed in March 2021 and phase 2 is on track for handover in March 2022, in readiness for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.
Building safety, hitting net zero targets, and the skills shortage were at the forefront of a major event for the South West’s construction industry. Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) hosted the CESW Construction Summit at Sandy Park, Exeter, and industry leaders and professionals gathered to discuss how the sector must come together and work collaboratively to tackle the current challenges. The jam-packed summit included an impressive line-up of speakers who all took centre stage to highlight the existing challenges facing the construction industry and how to tackle them head-on. Gary Townsend Vila, BSF Charter Strategic Lead, talked about the Building Safety Charter and its commitment to creating safer buildings and safer homes, and how this requires an urgent and positive cultural shift and behaviour change. While Ian Nicholson, Value Delivery Lead at Construction Innovation Hub, discussed the recently developed Value toolkit designed to help the industry drive better social, environmental and economic outcomes through value-based decision making. CEO of CESW and board member of CLC Construct Zero, Andrew Carpenter, also revealed the CLC Construct Zero nine priorities and the 28 detailed metrics needed to reach the net zero goals in construction. “It was good to see so many people come together to discuss the future of construction,” comments Andrew Carpenter. “This is such a pivotal time for the industry both regionally and nationally, as there’s many challenges to overcome but equally, huge opportunities to take advantage of. “The sector has a history of being fragmented but now is the time to work collaboratively to tackle the key issues, like building safety and net zero targets, so we can make positive changes for the future.” CESW leads the change agenda in construction regionally as part of Construction Excellence’s national mission to improve the industry’s performance and produce a better built environment. For more information about the Construction Summit and to access all speaker presentations, which are available to download, visit: https://constructingexcellencesw.org.uk/event/cesw-construction-summit/
Why improved communication is key for the built environment UK construction accounts for around seven per cent of GDP and employs over 3 million people. But despite its significance, many firms are far behind modernisation and digital innovations seen in other parts of the economy — this includes its tools for communication. Here, Kristian Torode, Director and Co-Founder of business phone systems provider Crystaline, explores why construction needs to up its communication game. Besides its slow uptake of digital technologies, pressures from COVID-19 and Brexit have also created productivity challenges across the construction sector. For instance, research from the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) found that 80 per cent of the 900 construction business owners it surveyed have had to postpone or cancel projects because of the pandemic. As a result, industry is falling behind in productivity, operating on very tight profit margins and therefore the smallest inefficiencies are having a considerable impact. Challenging comms According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), poor communication is the main reason why construction projects fail one-third of the time. In fact, more than half of project budget risk is due to ineffective and improper time management of project communications. Even if the project doesn’t fail, the effect of poor communication can still be detrimental. The PMI found that, in projects with minimal communication, only 37 per cent were completed on time and just 52 per cent met their original goals. In contrast, projects where effective communication was implemented resulted in 71 per cent completing on time and 80 per cent meeting their goals. Considering the industry is already under pressure from external, uncontrollable challenges, it must make improvements to reduce communication problems that can worsen these issues. Playing catch up Construction may be one of the largest industries in the UK, but it’s also one of the least digitised. 2020 research by IDC and Autodesk found that while almost three quarters of construction firms say digitalisation is a priority to improve their processes, business models and ecosystems, only 13 per cent are well on their way to achieving this. The emergence of IP-based telephony, along with cloud (hosted) technologies and Unified Communications, presents greater opportunities to upgrade legacy systems and develop effective communication tools for construction businesses. IP-based telephony such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls will become a necessity from 2025 when British Telecoms (BT) switches off the public switched telephone network (PSTN), moving to an entirely IP-based model of voice communication. This comes with numerous opportunities for construction. Firstly, VoIP works independently from local power and systems availability, so as long as the user has a stable internet connection, they can enjoy high-quality voice calls with 99.9 per cent connection uptime. Uptime can be boosted even further by ensuring access to a backup power source in case of power outages. So, in the event of an unpredicted outage, workers can still access the people and information they need from any internet connection or mobile device. Furthermore, there is no additional maintenance costs with VoIP as the hardware is located offsite in a data centre. Improving communication In remote and rural areas where connectivity isn’t reliable, it can be difficult for colleagues on-site to communicate with those located elsewhere. So, how do dispersed teams keep in touch? If time-sensitive information isn’t available in real-time, such as last minute changes or updates that could impact work safety, workers must wait to retrieve it, delaying work. Construction companies should implement a Unified Communication system such as Vodafone One Net Business, provided by Crystaline. This solution integrates landlines, mobiles, desktop and tablet connectivity on one system, allowing on-site workers, project managers and those back at headquarters to remain connected on any device. This ability to remain connected enables workforces to have a live, shareable view of project information at their fingertips, helping to bridge the gap between on site and the office. Construction is renowned for costly overruns, expensive equipment and increasingly narrow project schedules. But, by streamlining communication into one system that does not rely on cellular connectivity, projects will run faster and more efficiently, helping the industry to combat its productivity challenges. To find out how Crystaline can support your construction project, visit crystaline.uk.
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces the successful lease of G-Park Villaverde warehouse in Madrid to a US e-commerce company. On a 70,000 SQM plot of land, GLP will develop a state-of-the-art building totaling approximately 17,000 SQM. Given its proximity to the city of Madrid, G-Park Villaverde is ideally located for last-mile distribution. In addition, it is well-connected to the M-40, without passing through residential areas. It offers the possibility of a 100% sustainable distribution service to the city, using electric vehicles and bicycles (10 minutes by delivery lorry, 40 minutes by conventional bicycle and 20 minutes by electric bicycle from the warehouse to the center of Madrid). The logistics warehouse will generate a high number of jobs, which will benefit the surrounding urban centers. In addition, the connections with local metro services, buses and Madrid trains will facilitate easy access for staff using public transport to reach G-Park Villaverde. The logistics center has state-of-the-art sustainability features. The logistics platform is BREEAM Very Good certified, reflecting GLP’s commitment to developing sustainable spaces across its European portfolio. Among the many sustainability and wellness features are an energy production and management system and increased insulation. In addition, this project will have measures compatible with wellness certifications for employee wellbeing. These include improved lighting and acoustics, water fountains and pleasant recreational environments. All these measures will help to attract employees and improve employee productivity. Oscar Heras, Country Director of GLP Spain, says: “We are pleased to welcome a new customer to G-Park Villaverde. This logistics project combines cutting-edge design with the most innovative quality and sustainability standards. Furthermore, our ESG commitment reflects our desire to respect the wellbeing of the surrounding communities, ensuring that our presence brings benefits.”