Yesterday HS2 launched its first tunnel boring machine (TBM) in the Midlands The 2,000 tonne TBM has started on its journey to dig a one-mile tunnel under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire, preserving the precious habitats above The TBM is named ‘Dorothy’ after Dorothy Hodgkin, who in 1964 became the
Teams working at Tideway’s Victoria Embankment Foreshore site have completed work to uncover the original Bazalgette sewer at the site, taking another important step towards Tideway’s integration with London’s existing sewer system. In order to connect to Bazalgette’s sewers to divert sewage into the main tunnel, the team at Victoria
Ranking among the most demanding bridges in the world—not only in terms of complexity of construction but also in a complex design—2,404-m (7,887.14-ft) long, Peljesac bridge is one of the most important and largest infrastructure project in Europe. Connecting Croatia’s Peljesac peninsula with the mainland to bypass a short stretch
— Survey shows the urgency with a 72 percent of respondents identifying sustainability as an increasing priority over the past two years — Overwhelming majority of 2,348 global senior sustainability leaders surveyed in 25 countries across the globe are investing in cleaner and more energy efficient buildings — Top three
LEADING supplier of specialist building products PermaGroup is celebrating 2021 as its most successful year on record, after effectively implementing new strategies in response to ongoing industry challenges. This positive end to the year follows four consecutive record-breaking months from January to April, a first in the company’s history, as
Industry experts have called for greater standardisation, collaboration and incentivisation to make Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) work at scale. Specialists from law and finance have said that whilst MMC could be the sector’s opportunity to cultivate a sustainable future, “significant barriers” to creating viable, scalable, and tangible growth projects
Market analysis by real estate debt advisory specialists, Sirius Property Finance, has revealed that the level of social housing being built not only hit a 13 year high prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 but social housing as a percentage of all homes built also hit its highest levels since
TWO leading construction consultancies have formed a brand-new consortium to add to their procurement portfolios with the appointment to one of Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) major public sector frameworks. Pick Everard and Wood hold reputations as being among the UK’s leading providers and working together will lead to greater success and
There’s no getting away from the fact that demolition projects can be disruptive – but that doesn’t mean the industry can’t offer a wide variety of benefits for local communities. Of course, nobody working in the demolition industry needs to be persuaded of the long-term advantages we bring to local
TODD Architects has submitted a planning application to Fife Council for the refurbishment and extension of The Scores Hotel at St Andrews, Scotland; a historic property that occupies a unique position, a few yards from the first tee at the Old Course, overlooking the legendary Royal & Ancient Golf Clubhouse and
Yesterday HS2 launched its first tunnel boring machine (TBM) in the Midlands The 2,000 tonne TBM has started on its journey to dig a one-mile tunnel under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire, preserving the precious habitats above The TBM is named ‘Dorothy’ after Dorothy Hodgkin, who in 1964 became the first British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Yesterday [2 December] HS2 CEO Mark Thurston pushed the button to start HS2’s tunnel boring machine on its one-mile journey under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire, marking the launch of the first TBM on the Midlands section of HS2. Around 170 engineers have been working on the 2,000 tonne, 125m long TBM during its construction and assembly. An expert tunnelling team will now work around the clock in shifts to operate the machine for around five months as it excavates the first bore of the one-mile tunnel. HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “This is yet another vital landmark in our journey towards a better connected Britain and with the launching of Dorothy today in Warwickshire, shows real progress in helping transform journeys across our country. “It also underlines how our £96bn Integrated Rail Plan – the largest ever investment in our rail network – is instrumental in creating jobs and economic opportunities, and ensuring more people reap the benefits of better rail journeys.” This will be the first HS2 tunnel to be completed on the project, with the machine set to break through its first bore at the south portal in Spring 2022. It will then be disassembled and taken back to the north portal to dig the second bore, which is due to be completed in early 2023. The tunnel, which will preserve the ancient woodland above, forms a key element in how HS2 is managing environmental impacts through the design of the railway, preserving Britain’s precious wildlife habitats. These woods are classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and have complex ecosystems that have taken hundreds of years to establish. HS2 CEO Mark Thurston said: “Today is another major milestone for HS2. You can see the real progress the project is making as we launch this TBM on one of HS2’s largest sites in the Midlands, contributing to massive job creation in the region. “More than 20,000 jobs and over 650 apprenticeships are already being supported by HS2, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services, and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.” The machine will remove a total of 250,000 cubic metres of mudstone and soil which will be transported to the on-site slurry treatment plant where the material is separated out before being reused on embankments and landscaping along the route. After a national vote, the TBM was named ‘Dorothy’ – after Dorothy Hodgkin, who in 1964 became the first British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Her discoveries included confirming the structure of penicillin, and her work with insulin paved the way for it to be used on a large scale for treatment of diabetes. She died in 1994 in Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire. The name was suggested by a student from Warwickshire College Group. Michael Dyke, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “Today represents a significant milestone, culminating months of hard work and representing a vitally important moment in the delivery of Britain’s new high-speed railway line. “As Dorothy, our cutting-edge Tunnel Boring Machine, sets off on her one-mile journey, our work across the northern section of HS2 continues to progress at pace. Over the next few months, we’ll be building on our efforts to recruit the 7,000 people required across the Midlands to help us shape the UK’s future infrastructure landscape; those who will see their work enjoyed for many years.” Working in partnership with youth charity the Prince’s Trust, Balfour Beatty VINCI has pledged to provide 30 Kickstart placements this year as part of its ongoing commitment to support young people from the local area into work. Kickstart is a Government funded initiative aimed at creating job placements for 16- to 24-year-olds who are on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. It forms part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs campaign and is designed to support those who have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Three Kickstart placements have now secured permanent roles with BBV, including Samuel from Tamworth, who had originally wanted to become a mechanical engineer but had been unemployed during lockdown. Samuel, who is now doing a Site Engineering Apprenticeship with BBV, said: “It’s exciting knowing that I am working on a project as big as this – it’s a major project for my country that also aims to benefit local businesses. I hope to progress my career inside of Balfour Beatty VINCI and continue working on HS2 as a whole. If civil engineering is a career goal for anyone, then HS2 is one of the best jobs you can have on your CV. It’s a major project and from my experience the day-to-day scale of the job is very exciting. Every week looks different to the last.” The final section at the south end of the tunnel will become a ‘green tunnel’ – also known as a cut and cover tunnel – where a soil ‘roof’ is built around the tunnel entrance to integrate the portal into the natural landscape. In total there will be ten HS2 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) on Phase One, working to create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands for Britain’s high speed rail project.
Teams working at Tideway’s Victoria Embankment Foreshore site have completed work to uncover the original Bazalgette sewer at the site, taking another important step towards Tideway’s integration with London’s existing sewer system. In order to connect to Bazalgette’s sewers to divert sewage into the main tunnel, the team at Victoria Embankment had to uncover part of the Northern Low-Level Sewer, which formed part of the original Victorian sewerage system. While works were carried out, a temporary flume pipe was installed within the existing Victorian brick sewer to ensure sewage can continue to flow through during work. An interception chamber has also been constructed that will redirect sewage flows towards the new super sewer via a 48m deep shaft. Adnan Noor, Project Manager at Victoria Embankment, said: “This milestone, after 13 months of civil engineering and demolition work, represents an important step towards our mission to clean up the River Thames from sewage pollution. Making these connections with Bazalgette’s existing system are a great reminder of the scale of his work and its contribution to London. We’re proud of our part in updating it for future generations.” The Ferrovial Construction and Laing O’Rourke (FLO) joint venture, the principal contractor for the 12.7km central section of the 25km Thames Tideway Tunnel, appointed Barhale to carry out the works at Victoria Embankment Foreshore. Barhale Regional Director Phil Cull, said: “The completion of the breakout of the Northern Low-Level Sewer at Victoria Foreshore and the construction of the interception chamber is an important step in the integration of London’s systems – old and new.” “We are very pleased to have successfully delivered this key element of the Tideway project at Victoria Embankment Foreshore. Tideway is a huge project and we are proud to be playing our part in upgrading London’s infrastructure not only to meet existing demand but also for generations to come.” The Victoria Embankment Foreshore site will be used to control the existing local Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO), known as the Regent Street CSO. After commissioning, the connections will allow overflows at the CSO to be intercepted and carried into the 25km Tideway “super sewer” tunnel, before being treated at Beckton Sewage Treatment Works. Northern Low-Level Sewer No.1 starts in Hammersmith in the west of the city then runs beneath Fulham before joining, and becoming an integral part of, the Thames Embankment at Cheyne Walk in Chelsea. Its flows are ultimately raised at the Abbey Mills pumping station to join the Northern Outfall Sewer.
Ranking among the most demanding bridges in the world—not only in terms of complexity of construction but also in a complex design—2,404-m (7,887.14-ft) long, Peljesac bridge is one of the most important and largest infrastructure project in Europe. Connecting Croatia’s Peljesac peninsula with the mainland to bypass a short stretch of the Bosnia and Herzegovina coastline started three years ago. The project is worth 550 Million Euros, although most of the funding came from the European Union. ln order to meet the main criteria of quality design, such as stability, durability, economy, and integration into the environment, the inventive design proposed the construction of an extra dosed bridge with an integrated hybrid structure comprising of five central spans, each 285-m long, and six low pylons. Especially careful approach was taken to ensure durability for the extended lifespan of over 130 years. Cortec’s MCI® 2018 was specified on this project during the design phase as a silane-based impregnation with a migrating inhibitor property to protect against the harmful effects of corrosion, thus extending the service life of the bridge. MCI® 2018 is a 100% silane-based concrete sealer containing migrating corrosion inhibitors that allows deep penetration into concrete and provides water repellence by chemically reacting with the cementitious substrate. It seals surface pores, preventing the intrusion of chlorides, reduces carbonation, and protects from the ingress of wind-driven rain. Treated concrete surfaces are fully breathable and their natural moisture-vapor transmission is not affected. After repair of surface damage and cleaning of discolorations and other surface defects, the concrete surface of the pylons needed to be protected with a colorless silane coating to improve durability and increase the resistance of the concrete surface to long-term external influences. MCI®-2018 carries CE certification that indicates conformity with health, safety and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). Application of MCI®-2018 A combination of AC coatings, cathodic protection of steel reinforcement in piles and pile heads, a concrete cover of 65–85 mm stainless steel reinforcement and impregnation of all concrete surfaces with MCI®-2018 was chosen as the strategy to help the bridge achieve a 130-year service life. MCI®-2018 was applied on the entire substructure of the bridge. All concrete parts were coated with MCI®-2018 by a spraying technique. The work was performed in accordance with the project requirements and after surface preparation to full functionality. This included: Access to pylons Rehabilitation of the concrete surface of the pylons Cleaning the concrete surface of the pylon (washing the pillars with water) Impregnation of the concrete surface of the pylon with MCI®-2018. MCI®-2018 contains time-proven Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors (MCI®). The silane component provides water repellency by chemically reacting with the cementitious substrate under proper application, decreasing the ingress of aggressive materials. The product penetrates deep into concrete, providing corrosion protection to reinforcing steel from existing water and chloride ions, or other contaminants. For the Peljesac bridge, continuous monitoring of the condition of the structure at one central place will be done during the construction phase and the exploitation phase to examine parameters of structural behavior, time, seismic activity, and structural durability. The designer of the bridge specified corrosion protection for all concrete segments in order to achieve a 130-year service life. After completion, the Peljesac Bridge will be ranked among the five largest and most attractive European bridges, constructed at the beginning of 21st century. This important new structure is connecting two separate parts of Croatia and bypassing border crossings at the short coastal strip near Neum in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cortec’s CEO, Boris Miksic, Croatian-American businessman is proud that his patented technology was used on this historic project to connect two parts of his country. “Our MCI® technology is used in largest construction projects throughout the globe. I dedicated more than forty years of my life in developing most advanced, environmentally safe corrosion protection solutions. Witnessing its application in my home country on this monumental bridge structure is truly a special feeling. Croatia has gone through some tough times, having to fight its independence in a war 30 years ago. Seeing it prosper and develop in of the most desirable countries in Europe feels just about right and completion of Peljesac bridge is huge step forward for all of us.” You can learn more about Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors (MCI®) here: https://www.cortecmci.com/
— Survey shows the urgency with a 72 percent of respondents identifying sustainability as an increasing priority over the past two years — Overwhelming majority of 2,348 global senior sustainability leaders surveyed in 25 countries across the globe are investing in cleaner and more energy efficient buildings — Top three hurdles for customers today relate to the challenge what to measure and how to track their carbon footprints effectively Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today released the results of a global study to evaluate progress sustainability-focused companies have made in pursuing their goals, showing that sustainability is now the top global business investment priority and that the overwhelming majority of companies see clear competitive advantage from their sustainability focus and the goal of achieving net zero carbon. The survey clearly shows that business leaders see sustainability as the number one business priority. Results from a series of interviews and an online survey conducted by Forrester Consulting, commissioned by and developed in collaboration with Johnson Controls, found that to accelerate decarbonisation efforts, companies must align with stakeholder demands, collaborate with partners on transparent sustainability roadmaps and effectively measure the progress of sustainability initiatives. “The survey clearly shows that business leaders see sustainability as the number one business priority and that increasing investment in sustainability initiatives to improve business efficiency, reduce harmful environmental impacts and address urgent climate challenges, is top of mind,” said Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “We also see a clear trend of customer demand for unique service and partnership models that allow them to focus on their core business while we drive customised, scalable steps for planning, execution, financing and reporting for their sustainability journeys.” In October 2021, 2,348 senior sustainability strategy leaders across 25 countries and 19 industries were surveyed about their top business priorities and sustainability strategies over the next 12 months. Key takeaways from the study include: Sustainability maturity delivers competitive advantage More organisations are realising that the future of business is inextricably bound to sustainability, with its importance continuing to increase. 72 percent of respondents indicated that implementing or maturing their sustainability programs is not only a top priority, but has also increased in importance over the past two years. Respondents found that embracing sustainability opportunities gave their organisations a competitive edge. More than 8 in 10 companies that recognise sustainability as an important business priority report benefits in the form of improved brand reputation (89%), decreased costs (89%), improved customer acquisition and/or loyalty (86%), and revenue growth (83%). In fact, 86 percent have a long-term goal for reducing carbon emissions by 2025 or earlier. By investing in decarbonisation efforts, companies hope to attract customers who share similar environmental values while also addressing the needs of investors. Incremental progress delivers exponential results Companies at every maturity level report they have realised or expect to realise a variety of benefits, with 9 in 10 or more of sustainably engaged companies seeing benefits in the form of improved efficiencies (96%), improved compliance (95%), improved employee recruitment and/or retention (90%), and reduced waste (90%). Companies are investing in people, process, and technology improvements because they understand that it takes a multi-faceted approach to achieve sustainability progress and success. Achieving decarbonisation requires a strategic plan and strong leadership Although organisations recognise the benefits of implementing sustainability practices, many companies don’t know where to start in preparing for critical business transformations. The survey findings indicated more than half of respondents hope to reduce energy consumption in their buildings by 2024 or earlier, but lack alignment around what metrics need to be tracked and how. Only 26% of respondents had ESG reporting software to help measure their progress and nearly 40% of respondents believe their organisations have a shortage of internal expertise, preventing them from tracking their carbon footprints effectively. While the survey shows that the business advantages of environmental improvements may look different across companies, there is consistent importance placed on strong leadership and strong partners to guide smart decisions. The Johnson Controls OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a Service Offering is a reliable path for companies looking to achieve net zero carbon and renewable energy goals. The offering recognises customers’ needs for making decarbonisation and renewable energy goals easier to plan, execute, track and achieve while optimising building performance. “To lead in the race to decarbonisation, companies must align priorities to the demands of many stakeholders, work with partners to develop transparent sustainability roadmaps, and identify metrics and adopt tools to measure progress,” said Mark Reinbold, vice president of global sustainability services & solutions at Johnson Controls. “More customers are looking for ways to make this process easy, and are transferring their sustainability commitments and the risk to reach these targets to Johnson Controls. It helps them optimising their building performance with technology that is capable of delivering significant energy savings and a corresponding drop in CO2 emissions, while also ensuring that outcomes will help the planet.” Johnson Controls has developed a holistic eight-step process to decarbonisation. The journey starts with decarbonisation advisory services and moves through assessment of digitally enabled environments, infrastructure efficiency, renewables and clean energy procurement, through to certification and impact measurement. For operations and continuous improvement, the game-changing new OpenBlue Net Zero Advisor will deliver real-time, AI-driven tracking and reporting of sustainability metrics, helping facility managers ensure and prove the net zero carbon reduction and renewable energy impact of their buildings. “2021 has been a critical year for climate change,” said Johnson Controls Chief Sustainability Officer McGinty. “It’s crucial for governments and the private sector to come together to drive meaningful emissions reductions by the end of this decade to avoid the disastrous effects of climate change and seize the upside economic opportunities for all. The recent COP26 Climate Summit brought together world leaders, academics, business executives and others. During the Summit Johnson Controls clearly demonstrated that with innovative technology already existing today, we can put ourselves and others solidly on the pathway to net zero before 2050.”
LEADING supplier of specialist building products PermaGroup is celebrating 2021 as its most successful year on record, after effectively implementing new strategies in response to ongoing industry challenges. This positive end to the year follows four consecutive record-breaking months from January to April, a first in the company’s history, as well as November – resulting in an overall annual turnover increase of 37.5% when compared to 2020, which was previously PermaGroup’s most successful year. These results are made even more significant when considering the challenging trading conditions of the UK construction industry, including escalating building materials cost and supply pressures further exacerbated by a shortage of HGV drivers. Adrian Buttress, managing director of PermaGroup, is confident that the key to the company’s success has been its pro-active, transparent approach at a time when the sector is still recovering. He said: “Our strategy has been three-pronged: rewarding regular customers for their loyalty, thinking ahead to secure bulk amounts of stock at pre-increase prices and maintaining good trading relationships with key suppliers. We’ve even helped supply fellow building product companies on the occasions they’ve been unable to fulfil orders, and have spent a lot of time securing stock for the first half of 2022 as we anticipate the shortages to continue. It’s been a test but we’ve enjoyed facing the challenge head on. “Meanwhile, our PermaRoof Commercial team, which launched in December 2020, has also continued to go from strength to strength. It has launched its own CPD courses and successfully secured or completed 35 tenders and specifications on a whole host of different projects across the UK, with a further 37 in progress and many more lined up next year. “Sustainability has also become a significant focus for us, following the recent buy out of Firestone Building Products by Holcim we’ve ensured we’re in tune with its ambitions and look forward to being a major contributor to sustainable and energy efficient roofing within the UK.” Committed to helping tackle the industry skills gap, PermaRoof’s Commercial team recently launched a brand-new PermaRoof registered installer card scheme to help upskill aspiring professionals across the country. Sunny Lotay, national commercial manager for Permaroof Commercial said: “With a reduced workforce across the country due to the ongoing skills gap , it’s never been more important to equip those already in the industry with all-important sector skills, providing projects across the country with a reliable and effective workforce when they need it most. “It’s essential that projects are carried out by qualified contractors and our new PRI system ensures that PermaGroup and the client can guarantee a quality output on every project.” Despite the recruitment issues, PermaGroup has continued to make several new appointments throughout 2021, as part of its ambitious growth strategy. In November, five new starters joined across PermaGroup’s brands, including its commercial, operations and customer services departments. The team also celebrated awards success after clinching the inaugural ‘Disruptor Award’ at the East Midlands Business Master Awards, where it was commended for its forward-thinking approach and the investments it makes into product development and customer initiatives. Adrian added: “However, that’s not to say this year hasn’t been without its challenges and we’re not out of the woods just yet. The ongoing crises are likely to continue to test us as a sector for at least the first quarter of 2022, so it’s never been more important to ensure we don’t rest on our laurels. “We have set out some really ambitious plans for the growth and stability of PermaGroup over the next three years and already have a number of exciting projects lined up for 2022, marking a healthy start as we set another bold target – to achieve our third consecutive record-breaking year.” To find out more about PermaGroup, please visit: www.permagroup.co.uk/
Industry experts have called for greater standardisation, collaboration and incentivisation to make Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) work at scale. Specialists from law and finance have said that whilst MMC could be the sector’s opportunity to cultivate a sustainable future, “significant barriers” to creating viable, scalable, and tangible growth projects still remain. Ian Atkinson, construction partner at law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, explained: “For many, the prospect of the upfront investment in MMC is not sufficiently weighted against the short-term financial benefits needed to drive the progress towards bigger, faster and more profitable projects. “Whilst we’ve discussed the argument for incentivising MMC to speed up adoption, it’s a shift by volume housebuilders that has always been the move needed to pave a realistic path forward for the whole sector.” Industry standards and collaboration Ian continued: “There needs to be a significant advancement in industry standardisation to ensure that MMC products are scalable, profitable and increasingly mortgageable. “At the moment only 8% of homes are built in the UK using MMC according to RICS. To ensure MMC grows in scale and at pace, we need to see more standardisation – in its methods, design and new technologies. By developing common parts, standard sizing and shared processes, economic and environmental efficiencies will follow. “Standardisation would also offer greater protection for housebuilders. With so few working at scale with MMC in the residential sector, contractors are at considerable risk if one of their MMC suppliers, for one reason or another, can no longer deliver their contribution to the project. If parts and processes are standardised, it will be much easier for alternative suppliers to step into projects. “Architects and design professionals all have a role to play too – in fully understanding the ever-growing MMC technologies, advising clients on whether MMC is suitable for their projects, and increasingly collaborating with each other, contractors and the supply chain to make MMC projects a success. “We are already seeing successful collaboration in action through the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS) – jointly developed alongside RICS, Lloyd’s Register and BLP Insurance – which has given lenders more confidence in the quality, durability, and the mortgageability of MMC homes.” ‘Buy to help’ incentivising consumers to choose MMC homes Whilst lessons can be learned from the MMC-led construction of commercial retail, hospitals, schools and prisons – all of which contribute to MMC’s scalability potential in the residential sector – emphasis needs to be placed on the fact that consumers generally want more diverse homes. Industries must support a credible counterargument for the perceived lack of aesthetics in MMC and find a way to stimulate demand. Ian thinks it may be time to redirect encouragement to the consumer, suggesting: “Rather than incentivising the private sector to build, it is perhaps time to incentivise the consumer to buy. Much like ‘help to buy’, the MMC sector may be crying out for the carrot to motivate consumers to choose a home that could contribute to Net Zero targets – a ‘buy to help’, if you will.” The funding landscape Another key to unlocking the scalability of MMC is access to funding. Joseph Worland, Associate Director (Housing) at Lloyds Bank, explained: “Most MMC is embedded within existing build methods and is considered normal course of business; these include panelised systems and individual pods for bathrooms and kitchens. The key challenge from a funding perspective is whole-house volumetric systems that utilise completely different supply chains and delivery methods than traditional housing. As the volumetric industry matures, we will see a more standardised approach to lending against MMC assets, and this will be supported by evidence of sustained and stable pipeline generation across the industry. “We’ve seen a steady increase in uptake of MMC in recent years, whether through volumetric, panelised or other systems, each of which has its own use case and suits certain sectors better than others. In the housing sector we have seen the larger builders introduce MMC to a significant proportion of their homes, supported by ambitions on build quality and sustainability. This is complemented by new players in the market which can be a real force for incrementally increasing the supply of homes in the UK.” What is the future of scalable MMC? Ian concluded: “As MMC continues to drive conversation in the sector and build real momentum on a larger scale, it’s important to explore the challenges and opportunities that exist and how businesses can find the right fit for scalable, sustainable and profitable construction.” For more information on Womble Bond Dickinson’s rebuild Britain campaign, visit www.womblebonddickinson.com/rebuild-britain.
Market analysis by real estate debt advisory specialists, Sirius Property Finance, has revealed that the level of social housing being built not only hit a 13 year high prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 but social housing as a percentage of all homes built also hit its highest levels since 2015/16. The analysis of the latest dwelling completions data by Sirius found that the total number of homes delivered to the UK market hit 210,984 in 2019/20 before the pandemic stopped the industry in its tracks. This marked a 3.5% increase on the previous year and the highest number of homes completed in a single year since 2007/08. However, it was also the smallest annual uplift in housing delivery seen since 2012/13. When dissecting the market by private and social dwelling delivery, the data shows that 169,087 new homes were delivered via the private sector in 2019/20 across the UK market. Again, the highest level of new homes completed on an annual basis since 2007/08 and 2.2% more than the previous year. But, this annual increase was also the smallest seen since 2012/13. In comparison, just 41,897 social dwellings were completed in 2019/20. While this only equates to 20% of total homes built, it’s the highest proportion of market share since 2015/16. It’s also the highest level of social housing delivered to the UK market in a single year this side of the millennium and the largest annual increase (8.8%) since 2014/15. Head of Corporate Partnerships at Sirius Property Finance, Kimberley Gates, commented: “The private sector has done a tremendous job ramping up the delivery of new housing across the UK and while we’re yet to return to the highs of 2007, we’re certainly heading in the right direction. However, it’s important to also recognise the great work that is being done with regards to the delivery of social housing. Although it still accounts for a far smaller proportion of total housing stock, there have been notable efforts to boost social housing delivery and we’re now consistently seeing annual completions hit their highest levels this side of the millennium – and by some margin.” Housing delivery statistics for England sourced from Gov.uk – Live tables on housebuilding Housing delivery statistics for Wales sourced from StatsWales.gov – New dwellings completed by period and tenure Housing delivery statistics for Scotland sourced from Gov.scot – Housing statistics quarterly update Housing statistics for Northern Ireland sourced from Finance-NI.go.uk – New dwellings statistics Note: 2020/21 data not currently available for Scotland and Wales so 2019/20 used as the latest data for UK wide completions.
TWO leading construction consultancies have formed a brand-new consortium to add to their procurement portfolios with the appointment to one of Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) major public sector frameworks. Pick Everard and Wood hold reputations as being among the UK’s leading providers and working together will lead to greater success and greater benefits for clients. The formed consortium will bring together the firms’ collective expertise, resources, and skills to support the public sector throughout the whole of the UK – and internationally. Together, the firms have been appointed to five of the six available lots under the RM6165 Construction Professional Services framework covering: Lot 1 – Built Environment and General Infrastructure Lot 2 – Urban regeneration Lot 3 – International Lot 4 – High Rise Lot 6 – Environmental and Sustainability Technical Services The Construction Professional Services framework is the UK’s largest public sector framework of its kind, with a total value of up to £1.7bn. It replaces CCS’s Project Management and Full Design Team Services framework, to which Pick Everard and Wood Group were both previously appointed. Under the new consortium, clients will benefit from the two organisations’ combined forces now serving the appointed lots in collaboration. Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2020/21, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.04bn – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers. This latest appointment follows a raft of successful framework wins for Pick Everard, including two other CCS frameworks – namely the Estates Management Services and Management Consultancy Framework Three. Managing partner Duncan Green said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be announcing this consortium agreement with Wood, another industry heavyweight. “When working in such close collaboration with another organisation, the cultural alignment is of utmost importance. We have worked closely with Wood throughout recent years and this consortium appointment is the next step in the evolution of our relationship. The complementary expertise and shared client-focussed approach across our businesses will position us well to tackle any project in the public sector, providing the best possible solutions and services for any client. “We’re also really pleased to see the appointment mark us within the top consultancies being successfully awarded more than four lots on the framework, backing up the excellent industry reputations of both businesses. We look forward to continuing our collective work to deliver the excellent, high-quality services and developments for the public sector that we are known for.” The lot appointments will see the two organisations able to support public sector bodies in delivering a wide and varied range of major and minor building and civil engineering projects throughout the UK, as well as internationally under lot 3. This will cover projects that include infrastructure, urban regeneration, and high-rise accommodation typically more than 18m in height, along with the provision of environmental and sustainability technical services. Ian Cromie, senior vice president at Wood, said: “Adding this major framework to our portfolio alongside an industry leader like Pick Everard is excellent news for us at Wood. It brings significant opportunities for our combined and complementary business expertise to create benefits for the wider public sector through our development schemes. “Being appointed to five of the six available lots is a brilliant result, seeing our solutions made available across a wider breadth of the sector through an excellent, compliant and respected procurement route. We very much look forward to working in close collaboration with Pick Everard through this consortium, and to working with our clients on schemes procured through the framework.” Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering across energy and the built environment, operating in more than 60 countries and employing around 40,000 people. For more information, please visit www.woodplc.com. Pick Everard employs more than 600 staff across its 13 offices, providing a range of project, cost, and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.
There’s no getting away from the fact that demolition projects can be disruptive – but that doesn’t mean the industry can’t offer a wide variety of benefits for local communities. Of course, nobody working in the demolition industry needs to be persuaded of the long-term advantages we bring to local areas. Demolition projects are often a vital part of urban renewal plans, for example, clearing the way for the regenerative benefits of a revitalised environment. McKinsey has highlighted the urgency surrounding urban transformation brought on by the pandemic. Its report on the Bloomberg New Economy Forum notes that while cities still have a prominent part to play in our lives, we need to rethink what city centres look like – for example by making shopping more experiential in a way that can’t be replicated when making an online purchase. While demolition plays a huge and necessary role in that kind of regeneration, it’s completely understandable that local people, facing short-term disruptions to their lives, aren’t always inclined to take a broader, long-term view of the situation. As such, it’s important that the demolition industry takes the initiative to proactively demonstrate and expand upon the ways in which we contribute to the communities we serve. One of the most tangible and immediately impactful ways of doing this is to employ local labour for the various non-permanent roles that each project needs to fill. The community benefits of engaging local labour It goes without saying that providing a source of employment within a given community is going to have positive ramifications. Offering jobs to local people will stimulate the community’s economy and forge closer connections between demolition firms and the people around them – and there’s scope for firms to make a real difference in that arena. Hiring ex-military personnel, for example – as we plan to do on an upcoming project – could have a hugely positive impact on a deserving group. According to pre-pandemic research from Barclays, around 22 per cent of armed forces leavers face employment difficulties. Stepping in to help resolve this issue is completely within the grasp of demolition firms up and down the country. Alternatively, firms might consider employing younger, less experienced people for some of its junior positions. After all, the industry can be highly rewarding, but – beyond childhood images of wrecking balls and explosions – it’s not one that many young people will have considered as a career path. In setting young people’s feet on this path, demolition firms can contribute towards changing the current youth unemployment problem. The House of Lords Youth Unemployment Committee has just recently pointed out that one in eight under 25s are neither working, in education, nor in training – leaving the stage set for the industry to give back to the community in an instantly substantive way. Local councils have recently woken up to benefits like these, with some new projects requiring the employment of local people – ten per cent of the workforce, in some cases – in order to satisfy and discharge planning conditions. But firms are under no obligation to limit themselves to these minimum requirements – especially considering the advantages that local labour can offer demolition projects. Advantages of local labour for demolition firms Beneficial though employing local labour can be for communities, this isn’t just an empty gesture towards CSR. There are, in fact, a wealth of varied advantages for demolition firms which embrace local labour. Taking a broad view, there are wide-ranging implications for the environmental impact of projects which employ local people. With several employees living close to demolition sites, the carbon emissions associated with commuting will be reduced or eliminated altogether. This is of great benefit for firms looking to reduce their carbon footprint – something we should all be looking to embrace. According to the International Energy Agency, road vehicles account for three quarters of all emissions, so taking steps to limit their usage is a fantastically beneficial aspect of local labour. Leaving aside the wider environmental ramifications, local labour can also provide practical, on-the-job advantages to firms prepared to embrace it. Employing local people allows firms to access new pools of talent and different skill sets, which isn’t necessarily possible if firms choose to ferry existing employees to faraway sites on a regular basis. These different skill sets come to the fore when – returning to a previous example – firms hire ex-military personnel. Military veterans are trained to operate in high-risk environments, making them well suited to the demolition industry – and a prime instance of the transferable skills that local labour can offer. Clearly, then, the practice of hiring locally has extensive ramifications – for the environment, for local economies, for local people in need of good employment in a rewarding profession, and for an industry whose long-term efforts to improve local areas can be matched by an immediate and tangible contribution to the communities it serves. Written for BDC Magazine by Ben Griffiths, SHE and Operations Director, Rye Group
TODD Architects has submitted a planning application to Fife Council for the refurbishment and extension of The Scores Hotel at St Andrews, Scotland; a historic property that occupies a unique position, a few yards from the first tee at the Old Course, overlooking the legendary Royal & Ancient Golf Clubhouse and North Sea coastline. The application has been submitted on behalf of the new owners, a joint venture between Links Collection Capital and Northern Ireland based property investment company, Wirefox, who purchased the property earlier this year. The proposal will see the hotel’s existing rooms reconfigured and a five-storey extension added at the rear to create a 5* luxury hotel with 51rooms. The design includes a new entrance that will add a sense of arrival to the hotel, whilst the new extension will include a high-quality restaurant and garden-dining area to deliver culinary excellence. Andrew Murray, Director at TODD Architects, said: “The Scores Hotel has been in existence since the mid 1930s and we fully understand the responsibility of restoring such an important and well-loved building for the local community and the tourism trade in the area. “Whilst a truly special hotel, it has been subject to a series of unsympathetic and piecemeal changes and additions, leading to many of the lovely Victorian spaces being carved up into awkward shapes with difficult access and many level changes. The hierarchy of spaces, dramatic settings and potentially amazing views have been lost. Our aim is to bring it back to its full potential, respecting the existing fabric whilst making sure our contemporary additions sit gracefully within the hotel grounds and the wider conservation area.” Speaking about the proposals, Joanne McBurney, Director, at Wirefox, said: “We are delighted to have finally submitted plans for the transformation of the much-loved Scores Hotel along with our development partners Links Collection Capital and our project team. “We are grateful to those that have provided feedback on the proposals from our informal consultation with a range of local stakeholders over the past few months. “We will continue to work proactively with local stakeholders and community groups as well as our neighbours as the application progresses through the planning process. Our aim is to create as world-class facility to complement the existing offer in St Andrews and the site’s location overlooking golf’s most famous course.” TODD Architects’ design will see bedroom floors in the existing terrace reconfigured to increase room sizes in keeping with 5-Star requirements and better benefit from the amazing views over The Old Course and North Sea Coastline. The rear extension will sit discretely to the rear of the main hotel and features a simple, contemporary look with materiality that is distinct from the original fabric but complementing its forms and features. A mansard roof creates a lighter finish to the building, and articulation creates a strong vertical rhythm accentuated with recessed and projecting elements for the outer wall. The ground floor will contain space for a new destination restaurant and a flexible multi-purpose area that can be used for small weddings or reconfigured into rooms of differing sizes for corporate bookings. Patrons of the ground-floor rooms can spill out into the freshly landscaped, south-facing garden. A predominantly glazed link forms a delicate connection between the original hotel and the new wing. The design includes the creation of a modest new stone and glass entrance in a simple contemporary style, reconfigured to contain a dedicated staircase to an upper bar and restaurant. Andrew Murray concludes: “It is a rare opportunity to contribute to the ongoing story of such an important and historic building as The Scores Hotel. Building on our growing portfolio of hospitality and leisure schemes throughout the UK, we have drawn on our experience to enhance and add value to the property with a workable layout and additions that respect the proud history of the site and St Andrews, the home of Golf.”