RoSPA has welcomed the establishment of a new national regulator of house building materials, which was announced by the Government on Tuesday (January 19). The regulator will be introduced following testimony from the Grenfell Inquiry, and will have the power to remove products from the market if they present safety
Hundreds of businesses look towards a smarter future for construction The Supply Chain School working with Build Offsite has today launched the Smart Construction Network, building on a Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Innovation in Buildings Workstream review. The review identified a need for “Centres of Excellence” to support the uptake
Leading residential managing agent, Rendall & Rittner has appointed Shreya Lakhani as Property Team Manager for the South Midlands. This is a new role for Rendall & Rittner’s Midlands division, created to support the ongoing expansion of the business in the region. Shreya will head up the teams of property
The publication of the new CIBSE/ADE CP1 (2020) Heat Networks Code of Practice is a welcome step in increasing the uptake and quality of design, installation and operation of low-carbon heat networks in the UK, says polymer pipework specialist REHAU. The long-awaited revision was developed by the Chartered Institution of
British company, Osprey Group, has won the multi-million-pound contract to deliver all of the oversized equipment needed in the next phase of construction at Hinkley Point C (HPC). Through their innovative shared services logistics model, the team will use its expertise in both marine and heavy land transport to provide
Three types of Kawneer’s curtain wall feature on the Atlas’ commercial element. Bespoke curtain walling by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer was preferred for an 11-storey office building at the heart of London’s architectural sector. Kawneer’s AA®265 unitised system was adapted by the company for the commercial element of the £200
Ibstock plc has become the first building products manufacturer in the UK to procure 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. This milestone announcement enables Ibstock to make significant steps in reaching its Sustainability Roadmap target of a 15% reduction in CO2 per tonne of production by 2025, and accelerates
Tritax Big Box REIT plc recently announced an update on its valuation ahead of its full year results for the twelve months to 31 December 2020, which are due to be published on Wednesday, 10 March 2021. All figures disclosed in this announcement are unaudited. UK large-scale logistics real estate
Launch events have been announced by real estate specialist, Urban Village Capital, for two major Midland residential redevelopments. Four Oaks House in Sutton Coldfield and the iconic Equipoint building in South Yardley – both former office blocks – are opening their doors to future residents of these impressive new schemes
The Grenfell Tower tragedy horrified Britain. Subsequent enquiries have highlighted issues with materials used, construction standards and supervisory roles, to name but a few, and enquiries are on-going. In the meantime, people are living in multi-story buildings with no clear resolution to the issue of cladding on buildings. Future plans
RoSPA has welcomed the establishment of a new national regulator of house building materials, which was announced by the Government on Tuesday (January 19). The regulator will be introduced following testimony from the Grenfell Inquiry, and will have the power to remove products from the market if they present safety risks, as well as to prosecute companies flouting the rules. Before the Covid pandemic, our homes accounted for 40% of the accidental injuries that were treated by hard-pressed NHS hospital Emergency Departments. RoSPA has been campaigning to make new-build homes safer – for those who live there throughout the life of the building – through its Safer by design initiative, which provides a framework for “designing out” common household accidents. The charity’s chief executive Errol Taylor said: “We are delighted by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick’s announcement, which implements recommendations from the Dame Judith Hackitt report on building regulations, and recognises some of the issues highlighted through the Grenfell Inquiry. “We have been doing a lot of work with the housebuilding sector in producing our Safer by design initiative, which encourages developers to adopt zero- and low-cost designs and materials to reduce the number and severity of accidental injuries. Having a new national regulator in place will certainly help us meet this aim.” The move to incorporate the national regulator within the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), with additional funding, is also welcome. RoSPA has been working with the product regulator since its inception on a range of safety issues. Errol added: “This announcement demonstrates the value the country places in the pragmatic, evidence-based approach to safety that is taken by OPSS, which is incredibly important for keeping people safe from potentially dangerous products. RoSPA uses a similar, evidence-based approach for its own charitable activities. “We understand that OPSS will be seeking to address the culture within the construction industry, aiming to take effective regulatory action – backed by strong enforcement powers – against weaknesses and poor practices to protect communities. We look forward to working with them on this new programme of work.” Safer by design has been produced in partnership with housebuilders and other industry experts, with the first homes developed in line with its standards expected to be unveiled later this year. For more information, see www.rospa.com/built-environment
Hundreds of businesses look towards a smarter future for construction The Supply Chain School working with Build Offsite has today launched the Smart Construction Network, building on a Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Innovation in Buildings Workstream review. The review identified a need for “Centres of Excellence” to support the uptake of Smart Construction techniques, materials, and processes amongst construction suppliers, sub-contractors, and contractors. By providing a free and easy to use tool that locates these centres, the Network aims to encourage the uptake of Smart Construction across the sector, connecting businesses to a national network of leading research and development organisations. These Centres of Excellence are universities and innovation organisations, which will allow the sharing of skills and knowledge to enable best practice, inspire collaboration and showcase new opportunities. There are over 20 organisations in the Network with the Manufacturing Technology Centre, National Composites Centre, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre and the Universities of Cambridge, Reading, Salford, and Huddersfield all speaking at the conference. Keith Waller, Programme Director, Construction Innovation Hub who provided the keynote address said: “Collaboration between the universities and research centres that are leading innovation in our sector is essential to help construction businesses accelerate and focus their investment on R&D. The Smart Construction Network provides a simple, quick and easily accessible way for businesses to find those centres with the right knowledge local to them.” Smart Construction Network helps address the government’s goal to “build back better”, which will require improved skills, processes, techniques, and materials to achieve higher performing buildings and infrastructure. The Network will foster collaboration and ultimately accelerate innovation in the industry. Ian Heptonstall, Director of the Supply Chain School commented, “Build back better is a great phrase, but to do this, we as an industry need to do things differently. That means we need to innovate and invest in research and development. The Smart Construction Network will allow businesses large and small to engage with the organisations leading the thinking in innovative construction techniques, materials, and processes. Through this knowledge and collaboration, we hope to see an acceleration in innovation.” The UK construction industry is second bottom in the league of R&D investment, while construction productivity has flat lined over the last 30 years, compared to the near doubling of productivity in manufacturing, according to leading consultants, McKinsey. Shelagh Grant, Chief Executive of the Housing Forum, who chairs the Smart Construction Network, said that although many businesses are keen to become smarter in construction, they are lacking a tool that will help them make the first steps. She said “We know there are many construction businesses out there that would like to make the journey towards smarter construction but are perhaps uncertain about how and where to begin that journey. Across the Smart Construction Network, our members offer an extensive range of world-leading expertise. In collaborating to create this free digital resource, we want to help accelerate the pace of transformation in our sector by making it easier for businesses of all sizes to identify and access the type of expertise and support that is right for them.” The Supply Chain School, who is a member of the Network, provides training free training to industry to enable businesses to build more efficiently buildings and infrastructure that performs better and help us tackle the key sustainability challenges our industry faces. You can find the tool here.
Leading residential managing agent, Rendall & Rittner has appointed Shreya Lakhani as Property Team Manager for the South Midlands. This is a new role for Rendall & Rittner’s Midlands division, created to support the ongoing expansion of the business in the region. Shreya will head up the teams of property managers responsible for developments across locations including Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire and Watford. Based out of the Milton Keynes office though currently managing teams remotely, Shreya’s focus will be supporting her staff to ensure they consistently deliver excellent levels of customer service and meet the highest standards across all parts of their roles. With almost six years’ experience in residential property management, Shreya joins Rendall & Rittner from chartered surveyor Fifield Glyn, where she led the residential management department. Shreya comments: “Rendall & Rittner is a large and reputable company with an exciting portfolio of developments including high-end schemes with a wide range of facilities, and I am thrilled to join the team.” Richard Daver, Managing Director of Rendall & Rittner comments: “We are very pleased to welcome Shreya to Rendall & Rittner as we continue to strengthen our team and expand the company in the Midlands and nationwide.” For more information on Rendall & Rittner please visit www.rendallandrittner.co.uk.
The publication of the new CIBSE/ADE CP1 (2020) Heat Networks Code of Practice is a welcome step in increasing the uptake and quality of design, installation and operation of low-carbon heat networks in the UK, says polymer pipework specialist REHAU. The long-awaited revision was developed by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE), and takes into account the trend toward low-carbon heat networks since the previous guidance was published over five years ago. Specifically, CP1 (2020) recommends a maximum flow temperature of 70°C on new schemes, encouraging specifiers and contractors to consider fourth generation heat networks. These networks, which typically favour low-carbon heat sources like heat pumps and waste heat, are suited to polymer pipework. The guidance goes on to describe how these pipework solutions can also play a major role in the implementation of district heating schemes across the UK. With renewable heat networks increasing in popularity as a means of decarbonising buildings in line with Government net zero emissions targets, CP1 (2020)’s messaging comes at a crucial time, says Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical at REHAU Building Solutions, a leading district heating pipework supplier. He says: “We have long asserted that the implementation of district heating schemes will be vital to the decarbonisation of the country’s building stock, and are therefore pleased the latest CP1 guidance shares this view. In particular, the guide’s highlighting of the benefits associated with polymer district heating pipework, like lower installation costs and the lack of expansion loops required, clearly demonstrate the key role they will play in reducing emissions. “We also welcome the guide’s practical recommendations around fitting polymer pipework. This includes highlighting their compatibility with specialist installation methods like horizontal direction drilling, and how compression sleeve joints reduce the potential for failures during installation.” CP1 (2020) also provides a series of checklists and a toolkit for verifying compliance to ensure quality assurance and regulations within the heat network market, and more detailed guidance on diversity calculations. Taken alongside funding initiatives like the Heat Networks Investment Project and its 2022 replacement, the Green Heat Networks Scheme, Steve is confident CP1 (2020) will ensure new district heating schemes are as efficient and futureproofed as possible. He concludes: “Government support is helping increase uptake of district heating schemes, and through following guidance like CP1 (2020), heat network providers will be able to more effectively maximise carbon savings while increasing efficiency through reduced heat losses. We view these efficient, low-carbon heat network solutions as instrumental to constructing carbon-neutral new-build properties ahead of the Future Homes Standard introduction. “As ADE members, we work closely with CIBSE and are fully committed to our role in the delivery of efficient low carbon heat networks. Along with Government policies and funding, CP1 (2020) marks a fantastic turning point in favour of renewable heat networks as one answer to the low-carbon transition, and we are hugely excited to be part of this revolution.” For further information on REHAU’s pre-insulated pipework systems, and their use in renewable heat pump and district heating networks, visit: www.rehau.uk/districtheating.
British company, Osprey Group, has won the multi-million-pound contract to deliver all of the oversized equipment needed in the next phase of construction at Hinkley Point C (HPC). Through their innovative shared services logistics model, the team will use its expertise in both marine and heavy land transport to provide centralised logistics and management for all major critical assets coming into the site – giving project-critical support to Hinkley Point C and its suppliers. Osprey Group is a British-owned company that’s local to Hinkley Point C, in Somerset. It is the only British firm with the cumulative experience, skill sets, and in-house resources to deliver this new, innovative shared services model of special logistics support that’s now needed for Hinkley Point C (HPC). Hinkley Point C’s new nuclear power station will deliver a long-term socio-economic legacy for the nation. Its primary purpose is to deliver energy that is cleaner and greener – a major contributing factor to UK net zero targets – but the construction programme is also opening up sustainable career opportunities. Suppliers to HPC are encouraged to showcase innovative methods than can help overcome the challenges of major infrastructure logistics. This is Osprey’s forte: by using their learnings from a range of offshore oil and gas construction projects, Osprey’s multi-disciplined team identifies efficiencies and improves reliability in its delivery of logistics to major construction projects onshore. Osprey will become a strategically important, collaboration-focused Tier 1 supplier. The team’s shared services model removes many of the risks faced by one-off, critical asset suppliers – some delivering unique components weighing over 750 tonnes per piece – many of whom might not have the experience or local knowledge needed for organising specialist logistics to this particular site. Now, HPC is moving into the major next phase of its build: visibly constructing buildings on the carefully prepared site in Somerset. The Tier 1 suppliers are liaising on tight schedules to install key critical permanent equipment, which includes steam generators, turbines and the nuclear reactors themselves – everything needed to generate low-carbon electricity for around six million homes. Won through an international tender, Osprey’s innovative approach to shared services is making a step-change possible that will have a tangible positive impact on the environment, the local community, and HPC’s construction programme overall. John O’Connor, Commercial Director, Osprey “We’re exceptionally proud to partner with EDF to deliver strategic logistics for the project. Normally, critical assets are called forward by the Construction Director, and multiple contractors complete the delivery. It’s an enormous task to perform this to the tightest of schedules, with so many contractors and interlocking phases of construction. You need a detailed plan and the right specialist heavy-logistics’ resources – all applied intelligently with a best for project, one team mindset. HPC is an inspiring project driven by exceptional people – our job is to provide safe, flexible and reliable service every time. It’s an exciting time for Osprey and we look forward to supporting EDF and all Tier 1 contract partners in delivering success together.” Osprey’s new working model is the result of close collaboration over a period of several years with the HPC team. By drawing on learnings from other sectors and being involved in much more of the planning than might be expected, the leadership team at Osprey has created an approach to construction logistics that will make life easier not just for key project teams at HPC, but also their suppliers, and potentially for other projects of this scale too, such as Sizewell C. Nigel Cann, Delivery Director for HPC, said: “It’s fantastic to see a local company step up to the challenge of delivering this volume of critical components for our project. Osprey has already proved to us that they have the capability and expertise to deliver to the high standards of safety, quality and efficiency required for such a complex construction job. We set out to ensure that businesses in the region would benefit from HPC and this is the latest example of us delivering on that commitment.” Osprey will be transporting all of HPC’s largest assets – critical, one-off pieces of equipment manufactured around the world and delivered by water via a dedicated muster port at Avonmouth. From there, deliveries will be made to the build teams on site in line with predefined construction scheduling. Each consignment will be received direct from a delivery vessel before onward movement to the HPC terminal, cutting down on road use, disruption, and emissions. John: “This is a brand new, specialist logistics model for receiving critical equipment. All in all, over £1billion of essential, critical assets will move through this operation over the coming years.” The team’s experience in importing and transporting critical assets has provided the evidence needed to shape an accelerated marine logistics model that works well for just-in-time deliveries. This has been made possible by injecting land and marine expertise into the engineering disciplines that work as the core of the business. It is a model that is adaptable to specific project requirements and should be transferrable to all major infrastructure projects in the UK and, where adopted, will play an important role in improving interoperability between site teams, and cutting down on road-transport emissions and disruption usually associated with over-sized loads. John: “HPC’s lead here, in embracing this innovative new approach, provides an opportunity for projects like HS2 and large-scale renewables projects to see ways in which assets can be delivered faster, against more flexible schedules, and with an improved impact on both the environment and the bottom line. As the centralised logistics provider, we will be taking the pressure off for some of HPC’s own logistics teams too – and it’s an innovation legacy for the region, as we often work with local sub-contractors.”
Three types of Kawneer’s curtain wall feature on the Atlas’ commercial element. Bespoke curtain walling by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer was preferred for an 11-storey office building at the heart of London’s architectural sector. Kawneer’s AA®265 unitised system was adapted by the company for the commercial element of the £200 million Atlas building – at 40 storeys the tallest tower in London’s Tech City area – at 145 City Road, Clerkenwell. Concept-designed by Make architects and delivered by the Design Delivery Unit of Scott Brownrigg, the commercial building actually featured a total of three types of Kawneer’s curtain walling – the traditional stick system AA®110 (zone drained) on the ground floor, the adapted AA®265 on the floors above, and standard unitised AA®201 on the tenth floor return elevation to the existing building. The adapted AA®265 modular system incorporated GRC and aluminium rainscreen cladding and glazed vision areas in each panel. Some 3m wide, 3.85m high and one tonne in weight, each unit was delivered to site and hoisted into position by a tower crane, complete with the cladding and glazing in place. Kawneer’s Technical Proposals Engineer Dave Fletcher said: “The basic AA®265 design was revised to accommodate the building movement that had been identified by the structural engineers as it could accommodate the size of units and the GRC rainscreen units being pre-fixed to the panels. “The system developments, including new profile and accessory design such as 19 project-specific dies, were all carried out by our Technical Department at our Head Office.” Installed by specialist sub-contractor Mace Facades for main contractor Mace, the Kawneer systems also included thermally superior AA®720 entrance doors on all floors. The Atlas’ commercial element is occupied by WeWork and features a strong emphasis on nature, with three roof terraces and external green walls. WeWorks’ coworking space allows members to enjoy 11 floors of collaborative work spaces, stunning private offices, welcoming event spaces, and modern conference rooms for hosting key client meetings. In addition to being dog-friendly, this super-accommodating office space features bike storage and on-site showers. Along with the Atlas tower, the WeWork building sits above the London Underground and Thameslink lines. This discovery at planning stage changed the concept for the structural strategy, resulting in the creation of a new superstructure design to prevent the buildings from twisting and leaning. Loads imposed by the buildings are kept clear of the tube tunnels by cantilevering the structures over the subterranean Victorian engineering. The mass provided by the frame, and by increasing the thickness of the ground-floor and mezzanine first-floor slabs, helped give the structure sufficient inertia to dampen the ground-borne vibration from the underground trains. The original planning concept was for a series of white and off-white shades of terracotta cladding. However, with the stability issues raised at post-planning, the weight of the terracotta posed a challenge with the cantilevered building. Design Delivery Unit at Scott Brownrigg demonstrated options that could be achieved using anodised aluminium, and following modelling and testing of the material, proved that given the scale, repetition and shape of the facade, a unitised system would work and still achieve the original vision.
Ibstock plc has become the first building products manufacturer in the UK to procure 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. This milestone announcement enables Ibstock to make significant steps in reaching its Sustainability Roadmap target of a 15% reduction in CO2 per tonne of production by 2025, and accelerates its Net-Zero Carbon journey. Total Gas & Power, Ibstock’s energy supplier, says its Pure Green energy tariff enables Ibstock to report zero emissions for electricity under the GHG Protocol Corporate Standards, Scope 2 as the electricity can be matched to Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates. Pure Green guarantees that the REGOs will only come from solar, wind or hydro sources. The generation mix of Total’s Pure Green power is typically hydro/wave power (0.31%); solar (24.69%); and wind (75%). Decarbonisation measures This switch to renewable electricity is the latest in a series of decarbonisation projects Ibstock has invested in, including the completion of a solar park – the first of its kind in the brick industry – at the Group’s Leicestershire head office. Supplying 20-30% of the power requirement on site. The company is also continuing to play its part in the reduction of reliance on fossil fuels through the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across several sites. Joe Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Ibstock, said: “This is a very significant moment for our business. We take our goals and ambitions on sustainability extremely seriously and procuring all of our electrical power from renewable sources is further evidence of that. “We are a market leader in an energy intensive sector, and we believe it is vital that we demonstrate that leadership in terms of reducing carbon emissions and supporting the market for renewable energy. Many of our customers right across the construction sector have made commitments to achieving net zero emissions and our move to Pure Green shows them that we are with them on that journey. “We have many more projects and initiatives planned and under way to further reduce our carbon impacts – but, there is no doubt that this move to Pure Green really is a very big step forward in achieving our decarbonisation goals. “As the first UK building products manufacturer to make a move to 100% renewable electricity, we believe we have set an example to others in our sector; we hope our peers are quick to follow suit.” Dave Cranfield, General Manager of Total Gas & Power, said: “We are proud to have been working with Ibstock since 2013 and during that time we have seen them become an industry leader in the drive towards carbon neutrality. It’s particularly pleasing to be helping them reach their Sustainability Roadmap target of a 15% reduction in CO2 by 2025 by supplying them with Pure Green, 100% renewable electricity. As one of the largest electricity suppliers in the UK, Total shares the ambition, together with society, to become net zero by 2050 for all of our activities. We will continue to work closely with our customers, including Ibstock, as the demand for renewable electricity grows, and we will continue to evolve and invest significantly in carbon neutral initiatives over the coming years.” Ibstock’s operations commenced use of Pure Green electricity on January 1st 2021.
Tritax Big Box REIT plc recently announced an update on its valuation ahead of its full year results for the twelve months to 31 December 2020, which are due to be published on Wednesday, 10 March 2021. All figures disclosed in this announcement are unaudited. UK large-scale logistics real estate market has significantly strengthenedThe second half of 2020 saw a significant increase in the value of prime, larger scale, UK logistics real estate assets let to high calibre occupiers on long leases. The supply of these prime assets remains constrained and occupier demand for larger scale logistics buildings continues to strengthen. When combined with a buoyant investment market, this is driving tighter pricing in transactions, accelerating yield compression and increasing valuations for prime assets both in the broader logistics real estate market and in our own high-quality investment and development portfolio. Portfolio valuation ahead of market expectationsThe independent valuation of our portfolio’s investment and development assets¹ as at 31 December 2020 indicates a like-for-like increase in value of approximately 8% since 30 June 2020. This has been driven by the strength of the logistics real estate market, our active development and asset management activity, alongside the high-quality nature of our portfolio as demonstrated through consistently high levels of rent collection. As a result, we expect our 31 December 2020 EPRA NTA per share to have increased materially since the half year (30 June 2020: 154.85 pence per share) and to exceed the upper end of current analysts’ estimates². The Company will publish its Q4 2020 trading update on Thursday, 28 January 2021.
Launch events have been announced by real estate specialist, Urban Village Capital, for two major Midland residential redevelopments. Four Oaks House in Sutton Coldfield and the iconic Equipoint building in South Yardley – both former office blocks – are opening their doors to future residents of these impressive new schemes within easy reach of Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield town centres. The two repurposed commercial buildings have both undergone stunning transformations to the tune of £54.8m creating a range of desirable apartments in both locations. Equipoint, located just four miles east of Birmingham city centre, has seen an investment of £17.5m to redevelop the first phase of the scheme, which is now valued at £40.8m. The initial phase has created 250 homes. A planned second phase will take the Equipoint development to 410 units, while it also boasts a number of onsite services for residents, such as security, concierge and cycle stores. The location will also benefit from good links to the HS2 connection to London. An open day is scheduled for Saturday January 23rd from 10am – 2pm, for prospective residents to have the opportunity to see the stylishly designed mix of one and two bedroom apartments, which are for sale and also for rent. The apartments are expected to attract a lot of interest from the city’s key workforce, particularly as Equipoint offers a ‘help to buy’ scheme for potential buyers. Property viewing is permitted under the current Lockdown rules but will be by appointment only. A maximum of two people from the same household are permitted to attend and must adhere to the government’s Covid-19 rules. Urban Village Group’s second development – Four Oaks House – is in the leafy north Birmingham suburb of Sutton Coldfield. The development features 52 one bedroom and 17 two-bedroom luxury apartments, which are available on a rent-only basis and are expected to appeal to affluent professionals. Each apartment features designer kitchens and appliances, bathrooms with ceramic tiles and fixtures and fittings, laminate oak wood flooring to kitchen and living spaces, luxury bathroom units and electric heating throughout. The property also benefits from secure parking and CCTV. Each apartment also has access to high speed Hyperoptic broadband, ideal when working from home, and a stunning roof terrace. The development is a short drive from the centre of Sutton Coldfield and its array of bars, restaurants, and shopping facilities. It is also within walking distance to the popular Mere Green area, while Four Oaks House is close to excellent transport links to Birmingham. The Four Oaks open day is on 30th January and will follow the same rules as the Equipoint open day. Urban Village Group chief executive Nick Sellman said: “We have completed two stunning and very individual transformations to extend the range of repurposed, residential opportunities in Birmingham. “Equipoint is an iconic landmark that has undergone a stunning makeover and have already received a flurry of enquiries from interested parties. It provides stylish living at a very affordable price. “Four Oaks House adds to our portfolio of luxury developments in Sutton Coldfield, which we know from past experience are very much in demand.” Urban Village Group is pioneering the conversion of former commercial buildings and turning them into desirable living spaces, which is aiding the UK government’s push for 300,000 new homes every year. To arrange a viewing call property agent Centrick on 0121 347 6116 or email ep@centrick.co.uk for Equipoint and foh@centrick.co.uk for Four Oaks House.
The Grenfell Tower tragedy horrified Britain. Subsequent enquiries have highlighted issues with materials used, construction standards and supervisory roles, to name but a few, and enquiries are on-going. In the meantime, people are living in multi-story buildings with no clear resolution to the issue of cladding on buildings. Future plans are on hold for some who are effectively locked into the ownership of their flat until a resolution is found and suitable funds are available to undertake suggested remedies. Replacement seems to be the preferred action plan but other potential measures such as communal fire alarm systems and sprinkler systems are being ignored. An intolerable situation is developing which has the potential to create a whole new set of victims – this time financial ones. The cost of building insurance for affected buildings is spiralling and may reach the point of being unaffordable, but building insurance is one of the foundation requirements for a mortgage. I think you can see where this is going! The Housing Ministry provides advice covering the fire safety of external wall systems in which the seller is obliged to confirm whether or not the building has potentially flammable cladding and whether there is an active management plan in place. This creates a dilemma for Chartered Surveyors who are neither skilled nor equipped to rule on these matters simply by carrying out a visual inspection. If clarity on the subject is unavailable, they have no choice in England and Wales but to apply a nil value to the property. In Scotland, the now tried and tested regime of Home Reports means that surveyors can propose a value with the caveat in the report that the matter of cladding is Category 3, meaning that it must be addressed immediately. The effect in both cases however is the same – surveyors cannot value comprehensively until the paperwork covering the technical specification for the cladding is provided. If it cannot be provided, the property is blighted, with the knock-on effect of people not being able to sell. What does the Government suggest property owners should do in these circumstances? Well, in its advice-note it provides a list of Chartered Professionals from whom property owners can seek a statement that the cladding meets all current legislative requirements and is fire safe. It is a long list, ranging from architects, inspectors and building engineers, through to clerks of works, fire engineers, building control, town planners and façade engineers. There is only one problem. There are very few people actually providing an EWS 1 report, or probably more accurately adequately insured to provide an EWS 1 report. We have spoken to many – though by no means all – of the bodies on the list and the unanimous response has been, to paraphrase: “We’re not doing the testing.” Sellers are being pushed into a Catch-22 situation where they need a qualified professional to confirm compliance before they can sell but, post-Grenfell, the listed professionals have little incentive to approve cladding – or insulation and fixings – without knowing what the future may hold. Zero valuations and consequent blight are causing increasing concern among brokers, particularly in London. To complicate matters the on-going availability and affordability of insurance to provide EWS 1 reports is open to question. The RICS presently has a consultation paper out on the valuation of multi-storey, multi-occupancy buildings with cladding and inevitably this includes the use of EWS 1 reports. Consistency from surveyors is one of the aims of the consultancy and any subsequent guidance that will be provided to RICS members involved in property valuation. Lenders are not consistent in their approach to buildings with cladding and this complicates any search for funding to purchase. Risk, and more accurately the adoption of risk, is high on all of the stake holders’ decision making when it comes to buildings with cladding. When the music stops no-one wants to be holding the monetary risk that cladding presently presents. Until solutions are found to minimise the risk that cladding is perceived to cause, safety, saleability, mortgageability, insurability and market value, owners will continue to be the new victims of the Grenfell Towers. Chartered Surveyors, at the coal face in this complex situation, find themselves in the uncomfortable position of reporting cladding issues using different criteria. The different approach to cladding by stake holders serves no-one well and the lack of government led solutions and funding means that the present situation continues. Dare I ask if public liability sits in the background and influences government intervention? PI insurers have been running for the hills since Grenfell, adding onerous exclusion clauses to developers and constructors. Exclusion clauses are also now entering the PI cover for surveyors undertaking property valuation. The valuation of properties with cladding may well grind to a halt unless decisive action is taken. As surveyors we await the RICS guidance from the consultation paper that closes on the 25th of Jan. 2021. Eric Curran is a partner of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors, based in the firm’s Glasgow office. For further information, contact DM Hall Chartered Surveyors, 220 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5SG. eric.curran@dmhall.co.uk. For further information about DM Hall’s Scotland-wide network, please contact Caroline Wayte, Marketing Manager, DM Hall, 220 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5SG. M: 07786 362517. E: caroline.wayte@dmhall.co.uk W: www.dmhall.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/dmhallllp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dm-hall?trk=biz-companies-cym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DM-Hall-Chartered-Surveyors-LLP-168316039915372/