The recipient of the Stewart Milne Group Access Scholarship at Robert Gordon University has hailed its success. Stephen Collins, now in his second year of the BSc Construction Management course at RGU’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment, was awarded the scholarship worth £8,000 in 2019. Prior
Providing the local community with a new medical facility, Warden Construction has been appointed to deliver a day case hospital at Matrix Park, Buckshaw Village in Chorley. With planning permission granted by South Ribble Borough Council earlier this year, the new £8 million facility will improve access to healthcare provision
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has launched its COVID-19 restart & rebuild strategy, incorporating three specific strands of support to help members out of lockdown. The strategy has been designed to provide guidance and support to members in three ways; firstly, helping those individuals working for BALI members
Leading UK boiler manufacturer, Worcester Bosch, has launched a new initiative to support installers and homeowners for work undertaken in the home. The ‘Safe in your Home Installer Commitment’ is a pledge for installers to sign-up for, enabling them to receive a pack of digital and physical tools to help
The sense of pride and security of owning land is quite satisfying. The financial incentive is also among the top reason people invest in land, as unlike other assets, its value doesn’t depreciate. The best part is that with the readily available vacant land for sale from reliable and reputable
As the technology grows, you can easily find a lot of different applications to communicate with the people outside you. Some of them are meant to help you sending text to your friends. Some others are meant for the video calling needs. Meanwhile, the others are meant to help you
Some tenants who are self-isolating because they are higher risk may face other challenges apart from the direct risk and impact of the virus, Agents are a key part of local communities and can provide housing and support to those in need. Propertymark has joined forces with the Alzheimer’s Society
NSM has been appointed by InfraRed Capital Partners to property and asset manage its Magna 34 Business Park. An industrial scheme near Sheffield, NSM will also provide agency services, helping to secure new tenants for the forthcoming multi-million pound development. Magna 34 Business Park comprises of a mixture of units
Technology reaches a tipping point in this time of crisis, explains Roy Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Buildots, which is revolutionising construction management through the use of artificial intelligence The Covid-19 pandemic has brought remote-working into sharp focus – and demonstrated clearly how when it comes to construction management, the
The new Sewers Code for Adoption guidance is the most significant change to below ground drainage practice in a generation, providing groundwork contractors and specialists with an opportunity to turn to a wider range of drainage products and systems, according to Polypipe Building Products. The Sewers Code for Adoption guidance
The recipient of the Stewart Milne Group Access Scholarship at Robert Gordon University has hailed its success. Stephen Collins, now in his second year of the BSc Construction Management course at RGU’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment, was awarded the scholarship worth £8,000 in 2019. Prior to being awarded the scholarship Stephen held down two jobs in an effort to fund his further study. He said: “The scholarship has aided me hugely as it helps me to focus on my work without financial worries. I can only imagine it will help me out significantly in the future. I am extremely grateful for the support.” As well supporting Stephen financially, the scholarship offers a 15-week placement within Stewart Milne Homes to gain relevant skills and industry experience which will enhance his employability within construction. Although Covid-19 caused the demobilisation of construction across the UK, this has not affected Stewart Milne Group’s commitment to funding programmes like the Access Scholarship. Stephen’s placement with Stewart Milne Homes is due to begin in 2021 and will be carried out in line with government guidance on construction work at that time. Sarah Dingwall, development manager at the RGU Foundation said “RGU is committed to widening access to higher education. The scholarship scheme supports this aim, enabling students from backgrounds typically under-represented at university to reach their full potential, through a package of financial and dedicated pastoral support. “RGU’s access scholarships raise aspirations and create opportunity for students who may otherwise face barriers. We are extremely grateful to Stewart Milne Group for their support”. Stewart Milne Group is committed to attracting young people into construction to build a sustainable future workforce for the sector. As well as being one of the first companies to support the RGU Access scholarship, Stewart Milne Group runs fast-track, trade and graduate apprenticeship programmes. There are currently 39 apprentices across the Stewart Milne divisions, accounting for almost 5% of the workforce, in a variety of trades such as joinery, plumbing and quantity surveying. Stuart McGregor, CEO of Stewart Milne Group said: “Attracting, developing and retaining the best talent is key to our success and our future growth. Our commitment to and support for these different routes into construction help address the skills gap in our sector and promote the attractive opportunities and diverse career paths in construction. “Programmes such as the Stewart Milne Access Scholarship allow anyone to pursue a career in construction, regardless of their background, through financial support, encouragement and practical experience. We wish Stephen the best of luck with his continued study and look forward to his placement within Stewart Milne Homes.”
Providing the local community with a new medical facility, Warden Construction has been appointed to deliver a day case hospital at Matrix Park, Buckshaw Village in Chorley. With planning permission granted by South Ribble Borough Council earlier this year, the new £8 million facility will improve access to healthcare provision within the local community and further afield. The hospital, which starts on site in July, will include two theatres, first and second stage recovery bays, a diagnostics suite including a static MRI scanner, outpatient and physiotherapy departments. In addition, the facility will have parking for 80 cars and eight electric car charging stations. On behalf of WW Medical Facilities Limited and their client Ramsay Health Care UK, Warden Construction has commenced detailed design on the prime 80,000 sq ft plot on Matrix Park, which is also home to a number of businesses including a Waitrose distribution centre, Rutherford Point and a number of small to medium office and commercial enterprises. The new 24,000 sq ft steel framed building is largely single storey and will be clad in a mix of traditional brick with an aluminium clad feature entrance. By creating a high-quality patient environment, the contemporary design aims to create a calm and welcoming building, with full height glazing to maximise natural light and a quiet, contemplative landscaped garden adjacent to the waiting area. The facility will integrate with other health services in the wider Preston area, and has been designed to provide a flexible building to suit changing medical practices and futureproof any subsequent adaptations as much as possible. Upon completion, following the 12-month build programme, the operation is expected to create around 52 new highly skilled jobs for the region. Richard Kenworthy, Managing Director at Warden Construction, comments “Facilities, such as this scheme at Matrix Park, are crucial in maintaining exemplar medical provision to the community, particularly in response to the significant extra pressure our health service is currently facing. Once complete in summer 2021, we expect this new day case hospital to be of vital benefit and provide an essential high-quality operation which fully meets the needs of the region both now, and during any increased future demands. “Securing this contract, despite the difficult climate, is a real testament to our teamwork. With unprecedented challenges over the course of the last couple of months, the team has really proven that resilience and collaboration are key to embracing ‘business as usual’.” Neil Whittingham, Director at WW Medical Facilities, states “The delivery and success of this important project for Ramsay Health Care UK requires a dynamic partnership between health care project professionals and contractors who can coordinate the fast track delivery of complex medical and surgical facilities. Our decision to award this contract to Warden Construction was based on their knowledge and experience as a design and build contractor in the health sector, to drive as much value for money as possible to eliminate waste, coupled with their immediate understanding of the quality of the product and performance of the health care environment we require.” The project team consists of Identity Consult acting as employer’s agent with Warden Construction design and construct team consisting of P+HS Architects, WML Consulting, JRB Environmental supported by approved Building Inspectors, Ball and Berry, plus planning consultant ELG Planning. With an expanding healthcare portfolio, Warden Construction is also currently on site on the Little Hulton Health Hub; an integrated health centre which will bring together podiatry, speech and language therapy and diabetes clinics along with a smoking cessation service and mental health services to around 13,000 of the Salford community population. To view Warden’s work across the healthcare sector, please visit: http://warden.co.uk/
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has launched its COVID-19 restart & rebuild strategy, incorporating three specific strands of support to help members out of lockdown. The strategy has been designed to provide guidance and support to members in three ways; firstly, helping those individuals working for BALI members whose mental health may have suffered due to the virus, secondly, supporting member businesses with financial, HR and legal support, as well as professional advice for working safely whilst on site, and thirdly promoting members to clients via the BALI website to generate new leads. BALI’s Chief Executive, Wayne Grills, commented on the latest strategy, “The resilience and determination of our members to get back to work, safely and responsibly, continues to impress me. Throughout COVID-19 I have seen countless examples of ways in which members have supported each other, their local communities and frontline workers, and we owe it to them to ensure their businesses and employees are protected with professional guidance and support. That is why, today, we are announcing our latest strategy to do just that; support, promote and inspire.” The UK’s leading trade association for landscaping professionals, whose membership totals around 2,000 members across all four nations of the UK, over 900 of whom are Registered, has confirmed the strategy will be delivered under three distinct headings; people, prepare and promotion. People – Providing assistance to those individuals employed by BALI members who need help and support with issues related to COVID-19. BALI’s team at Landscape House are ready to listen and provide advice to support mental wellbeing, as well as working with industry partners who can provide expert support. Prepare – Provide guidance to help business owners, managers and supervisors prepare for a return to work scenario with free COVID-19 specific documents, templates and webinars. From HR and legal to business support; BALI will further increase the availability of free resources to help with business acumen, recruitment, marketing and advertising. Promotion – Rebuild client confidence in using an accredited landscape professional by advertising BALI on search engines and social media, centred around the key message the industry is open and trading safely. Raise awareness of BALI’s membership benefits and how they can be utilised to support businesses looking to secure new work. In May, BALI surveyed members to help identify how wide an impact the virus has had on members and their businesses and to find out how it could continue to help with guidance and support post lockdown. Highlights from the responses received include: Over half of members (53%) have partially furloughed their workforce 3% more staff working from home (51%) than those in on-site positions (48%) who are already back to work and adhering to strict social distancing measures 40% of members have seen contracts postponed and 13% cancelled Almost 40% of members reported that their company turnover will be affected for more than 12 months, with 20% reporting the hit will be more than 50% Almost 60% of members applied for funds from the Job Retention Scheme 63% of members want BALI to seek further clarity from government on ‘permitted works that are currently defined as outdoor working’ 72% of members want BALI to provide more guidance and support on ‘return to worksite-based guidance (safety measures for operatives and supervisors)’ and almost half want more help with ‘business development (marketing consideration)’. To deliver the strategy, BALI is planning to support members through COVID-19 to 31 March 2021 and beyond if required. Although the team hopes things will return to normal soon, in the meantime, they will continue to support members longer term with a continual development plan that follows government advice pertaining to COVID-19 as well as any feedback attained from members. Some of the ways BALI will deliver the new strategy: Update its COVID-19 support webpage to make it even easier for members to find those helpful documents, templates and links Update relevant COVID-19 documentation and supporting templates in line with the latest guidance for both England and Scotland Develop a Code of Principles for members and their clients Host a 60-minute HR-focused webinar with legal representation on Tuesday 16 June 2020, in conjunction with Oracle Solicitors, with more free webinars planned throughout the year BALI and Perennial will host a mental health training and awareness webinar on Friday 19 June, designed to support individuals who may be struggling to cope with COVID-19 BALI will be kicking off four informal drop-in sessions for members, online every Thursday throughout June, starting on Thursday 11 June 2020. Members can join from across the UK to share stories and catch up with team members from BALI Landscape House Launch a Google and Facebook advertising campaign in July to boost the number of client referrals to the BALI website in order to provide more leads for members listed online BALI is planning a new series of digital marketing webinars for July and August, designed to support members looking to advertise their business post COVID-19 BALI’s Register of Land-based Operations (ROLO) Health, Safety & Environmental Awareness Course is now online for Operative level, so Training Providers can sign up now to continue providing ROLO-related services. ROLO Supervisor and Manager are both anticipated to launch later in 2020 Continue publishing physical and digital copies of both Landscape News and the Who’s Who Landscape Directory to keep the membership network connected, informed and to promote members Continue lobbying on behalf of the landscape industry on critical COVID-19 related topics, as well as plant health and biosecurity issues If you are a BALI member and would like more information on the new strategy, including how you can get involved, contact the team at Landscape House on +44 (0)24 7669 0333 or email contact@bali.org.uk. For the latest information and support material for COVID-19 visit bali.org.uk/help-and-advice/covid-19-coronavirus. The portal includes helpful documents and templates that can be downloaded free of charge. Some documents may be available for BALI members only and a login will be required.
Leading UK boiler manufacturer, Worcester Bosch, has launched a new initiative to support installers and homeowners for work undertaken in the home. The ‘Safe in your Home Installer Commitment’ is a pledge for installers to sign-up for, enabling them to receive a pack of digital and physical tools to help them undertake work in customers’ homes safely and securely. The Commitment intends to do two things: Give installers clarity on the correct social distancing and hygiene guidelines they need to be following when entering customers’ homes Give customers reassurance that any visiting installer who signs up to the commitment will have the knowledge and tools to take the right precautionary measures Every installer who signs up to the Safe in your Home Installer Commitment receives a digital pack of assets, with the first 5,000 also being sent a physical package of free goods. This consists of: Digital stamp for use on social pages and website, a clear indicator to show they have signed up to the initiative An email checklist for customers and installer to fill out pre-visit Guidance documents for installers and homeowners, an essential reminder of the precautions to follow Email footers, to work as a signature in customer comms Removable van vinyl of the Installer Commitment logo [First 5,000 only] ‘Installer at work’ sign, showing the precautionary measures being taken [First 5,000 only], to be displayed in company vehicles during call outs The new tools have been designed by Worcester Bosch to help installers, who carry out work in people’s homes, demonstrate that safety is the main focus for any boiler installation and home heating maintenance, particularly during these uncertain times. Victoria Billings, Director of Marketing at Worcester Bosch said; “As the UK Government starts to ease its lockdown measures, industries like ours are beginning to return to work. With this comes a constant need to adapt to the ever-changing climate. “We feel it is important to support installers at this time, enabling them to reassure customers about how they are safe working in their homes. This initiative intends to do just that and ensure that homeowners and installers are reassured and clear regarding safety considerations for an at-home visit, with a variety of digital and physical reminders putting safety front and centre of every visit.” Installers can pledge to be a part of the commitment here.
The sense of pride and security of owning land is quite satisfying. The financial incentive is also among the top reason people invest in land, as unlike other assets, its value doesn’t depreciate. The best part is that with the readily available vacant land for sale from reliable and reputable services, you can comfortably find a parcel that matches your needs. Buying raw property isn’t the end, as that doesn’t bring any income. Developing on vacant land requires due diligence, as it can quickly drown your finances and leave you stranded. If you are considering investing in land, here are a few tips to ease your endeavours and ensure that you embark on a profitable venture. Have a solid plan Why are you buying the land? Do you intend to build a single/multifamily property or a commercial structure? As you hit the market, establishing the “why” helps you to narrow the options based on your needs, ensuring that you don’t buy the first parcel that pops on your search. This also helps in financial planning, as you can research a little more, find out how much you need, and seek financing from institutions such as banks if necessary. With a solid development plan, getting financing is easier, not to mention that chances of making an impulse purchase are lower, enhancing the productivity of your investment quests. Find the land Finding the best vacant land isn’t simply considering the location. You’ll have to research a lot more, determine the growth potential, and establish if there are signs of hazardous waste and any other issue that might affect your investment value. Price is also a significant consideration while selecting a land parcel, but going for the cheapest available piece isn’t the most favourable approach. While considering the cost, don’t forget to factor considerations such as how much it would cost to develop the land following your plans, noting that it could significantly influence your investment’s profitability. From development forecasts, building costs and utility extensions costs, among other considerations, you need to be as thorough as possible to ensure you purchase a parcel worth your hard-earned cash and with the potential to deliver desirable returns within a reasonable period. Consider the Drawbacks Every investment has its drawbacks, and as lucrative as land is, it also has a set of challenges. Ignoring such concerns could cause significant problems along the way to the extent of frustrating your endeavours. Development plans don’t always go as planned, and if you fail to factor in such concerns, the chances are that the slightest hiccup will frustrate your progress. Even with thorough research, during the development phase, you might uncover concerns such as huge boulders under the surface that derails the process, or old wells, cemeteries and septic system to mention a few issues. Accounting for such drawbacks lets you devise a strategy to cope with the situation in a calculated way to enhance the development’s success rate. Developing raw land might be a demanding process, but the results are rewarding. With a keen eye and attention to details, you can find vacant land for sale and spot the right parcel matching your needs and with great potential.
As the technology grows, you can easily find a lot of different applications to communicate with the people outside you. Some of them are meant to help you sending text to your friends. Some others are meant for the video calling needs. Meanwhile, the others are meant to help you doing the online conference with your colleagues. However, what if you can find all of those features in one business phone system? Is not that will be one of the most revolutionary thing that you can get on this modern time? If you are also thinking about the same thing, you can try Nextiva. It is not only an application. Nextiva is a communication system that offers you a lot of amazing features such as follows. The first one is the standard calling function with the improved features. Calling is not only about the sound if you are using Nextiva. Calling is also about having a nice and clear video display. You can do the standard call or the video call based on what you need. Of course you can also text another person out there with no limitation at all. As an addition, you will not need to worry about the toll fee once you use Nextiva. There is nothing like that if you and the other person that you want to call is on the same Nextiva network. The second one is the great mobility function. Some people will say that Nextiva is an application. The reason is because they can download and install it on their smartphone. Yet, the real form of Nextiva is the system that will connect all of its users through many different platforms. It does not matter if you want to contact your friends who are using Android devices through your laptop. You can easily do that since you can find Nextiva in Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows. The third one is the conferencing function. Almost all of the communication applications out there do not let you to have the conference video call or even conference call. Even if you are able to do that, those applications will limit the number of participants to a small number. For some people, that is enough. However, if you want to call your colleagues, you need something better. That is why Nextiva is the answer. You do not need any other application to do the conference call. You can do that with a lot of people around the world with Nextiva. The last but not least is the perfect collaboration feature. The collaboration feature lets you make groups inside the Nextiva. As an addition to that, the collaboration feature helps you to do more things in its simplest ways. That is why more and more people are using Nextiva nowadays. Considering the fact that technologies are developing at the fast pace, you can say that this communication system will be something big in the near future. So, if you can try this new communication system starting from now on, why should you wait much longer?
Some tenants who are self-isolating because they are higher risk may face other challenges apart from the direct risk and impact of the virus, Agents are a key part of local communities and can provide housing and support to those in need. Propertymark has joined forces with the Alzheimer’s Society to highlight issues those with dementia or vulnerable are facing aside from the unprecedented times the pandemic brings. Even before Coronavirus, those living alone or with cognitive difficulties such as dementia may not know how or be able to get the essentials they need, such as food and medication. Some people, unable to visit local stores and with not enough delivery slots to accommodate the need, are finding they are not able to get food at all. This puts people at high risk of malnutrition, starvation, or other health issues caused by missing medication. Many people live alone with no relatives nearby to support and many will not have internet access, meaning they can’t order a food delivery or search for other local support. These issues also greatly increase the risk of isolation and loneliness. Before Coronavirus, over a third of people with dementia said they felt lonely. Chronic loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Many people in self-isolation will not be having any social contact at all. The long-term effects of this could be devastating. How agents, even if self-isolating, can offer extra support for vulnerable tenants who are also self-isolating Considering the additional risks that vulnerable tenants may be facing, agents and landlords may wish to offer extra support to your tenants to help them keep safe and well during this time. While it is essential you make sure you are keeping safe yourself, you may be able to provide a lifeline to tenants who are isolated and scared. For many people, you might be their only local contact. Help could include: Assistance with receiving food and medicine Many people are volunteering to assist with deliveries of these items. If you wish to do this, you should reach out to your tenants to offer your assistance and liaise with them as to the best method of delivering items without physical contact. Agents and landlords can provide hands-off support by signposting them to other support. For example, they can make sure their tenants know about their local COVID Mutual-Aid community group or provide their tenants with the phone numbers for local shops and convenience stores so they can call up to place a delivery. Where tenants don’t feel confident placing their own deliveries, agents and landlords could offer to place the delivery on their behalf. Remember that communication can be challenging for people with other conditions, such as dementia. Think about whether the best way to get in contact is by phone, email, or letter, and remember that not everyone is online. Provide support by keeping in touch through regular phone calls, letters or emails just to touch base and have a chat Don’t underestimate the importance of social contact during this time. For some tenants, this could be the only social interaction they have and just to touch base and have a chat could mean an awful lot to someone as social interaction is essential to maintain wellbeing. Be proactive about getting in touch with your tenants as they may not approach you even if they need the help. But remember, it is essential that you are practicing social distancing through any of these activities. Signposting Agents and landlords can also signpost their tenants to other support, such as Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK, so they know who to call. Alzheimer’s Society is there to support anyone affected by dementia through this difficult time. If agents, landlords, or their tenants need advice, contact the Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456 (open every day). For welsh speakers please call on 03300 947 400. Share this and other helplines with your tenants. #VolunteersWeek Propertymark Protected agencies across the UK have been pulling out all the stops and helping those in need during this difficult time. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as we share the amazing things others are doing or share your generous work with us by tagging us in your posts.
NSM has been appointed by InfraRed Capital Partners to property and asset manage its Magna 34 Business Park. An industrial scheme near Sheffield, NSM will also provide agency services, helping to secure new tenants for the forthcoming multi-million pound development. Magna 34 Business Park comprises of a mixture of units totalling in excess of 120,000 sq ft, which includes two existing units that are already occupied comprising 47,000 sq ft. A stand-alone 35,000 sq ft new build and a further 40,000 sq ft, which will be developed as a smaller multi-let industrial scheme providing units ranging in size from 2,000 to 4,500 sq ft, will soon be delivered. This is thought to be one of the only small to medium sized speculative industrial developments in the local area to come forwards in 2020, as the only other scheme underway provides in excess of 5,000 sq ft units. Helen Gordon, Associate Director at NSM, said: “Magna 34 is an established business park with a high profile location close to Sheffield and Rotherham, with easy access to the M1. There is a shortage of industrial land and with most developers focusing on larger units, there is significant demand for businesses seeking well-located space for small and medium sized enterprises. As a result, I expect this new development at Magna 34 will be very popular.” Planning has already been secured for the 35,000 sq ft unit and, subject to planning permission being secured for the smaller units, construction work will commence within the next three to six months. It is expected to be a nine month build programme. Magna 34 is a well-established business park on Sheffield Road close to Junction 34, M1 and offers easy access to Sheffield. It is already home to occupiers including Parcelforce, UK Mail and Element Materials Technology Sheffield Ltd. This additional 122,000 sq ft of space will be property and asset managed by the Yorkshire based NSM team, adding value to InfraRed’s portfolio. NSM already looks after £237.5 million of property assets across more than 4million sq ft of space comprising 669 industrial properties in the north of England.
Technology reaches a tipping point in this time of crisis, explains Roy Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Buildots, which is revolutionising construction management through the use of artificial intelligence The Covid-19 pandemic has brought remote-working into sharp focus – and demonstrated clearly how when it comes to construction management, the latest technology can not only make it possible for many to work from home, but simple and efficient as well. Until recently, the industry has lacked the technological solutions it has needed to evolve in the same way as, for example, publishing or finance. However, the unique use of wearable technology by the Buildots platform, combined with the need to keep as many people as possible working from home to beat the virus, is helping to kick-start a technological revolution that will produce measurable benefits long after the present difficult circumstances are a memory. The Buildots system works using 360-degree hardhat-mounted cameras that capture images of the construction site during routine site-walks. The same principle of AI-driven visual capture is well established in manufacturing environments, where a dedicated machine vision camera is deployed at fixed inspection points along a production line to continuously capture high-resolution imagery for defect detection, dimensional verification, and process monitoring. The same principle of AI-driven visual capture is well established in manufacturing environments, where a dedicated machine vision camera is deployed at fixed inspection points along a production line to continuously capture high-resolution imagery for defect detection, dimensional verification, and process monitoring. These are overlaid with the 3D model and analysed by artificial intelligence (AI) to provide continuously updated, accurate information about progress. Before the pandemic, this information was being used to improve efficiency and accuracy on site – but as we are entering the “new normal”, the need to maintain social distancing means that the fewer unnecessary site visits the better. By using Buildots, not all members of the management team need to be on site themselves, constantly checking on the build – they can let AI do it for them, in a far more efficient and thorough way than a single, hurried walk across site could possibly achieve. The information gathered by Buildots enables accurate predictions about when materials need to be delivered, cutting down delivery waiting time on site, as well as giving all the evidence to allow commercial teams to approve payments to subcontractors in minutes, helping avoid delays in a time of financial uncertainty. It can help planners to monitor construction from afar, and builds up a detailed profile of the building for maintenance use after hand-over. In the short term, using Buildots to limit the number of people visiting a site is a measure that will keep people safer; but in the longer term it is another, very welcome, step towards the 21st century concept of a connected jobsite, where wearable sensors, AI and big data all work together to revolutionise construction and turn it into a truly digitised environment. In fact, we are likely to look back on these days and see a tipping point in the use of technology. Just as business people the world over have found that the epidemic has helped them to understand that face-to-face meetings can be accomplished without jet lag and a massive carbon footprint, construction too will realise that technology is not just something new and tricky that takes too long to master and delivers little benefit – it can truly be a real game-changer for solving the pain points in the industry.
The new Sewers Code for Adoption guidance is the most significant change to below ground drainage practice in a generation, providing groundwork contractors and specialists with an opportunity to turn to a wider range of drainage products and systems, according to Polypipe Building Products. The Sewers Code for Adoption guidance includes a national standardised set of delivery procedures that all water companies in England are working to and a Design and Construction Guidance document that will affect the installation of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and below ground drainage systems on all sites. As of April, it provides contractors with greater flexibility to work with new materials, water management systems and the latest technology. According to Richard Eddy, Product Manager, Below Ground Drainage, Polypipe Building Products, groundwork specialists have an opportunity to increase their range of skills and services: “The main focus of the new Sewers Code for Adoption is aimed at increasing the use of hard and soft SuDS at the outset of a development, in response to the rising rainfall in the country, and the recognition that distributing surplus water directly into sewers is unsustainable. “By placing water management and the control of surface water runoff as an integral part of the design process the new Sewers Code for Adoption offers an opportunity for groundworkers to offer engineering expertise on the overall management of water on a development site from waste water generated by housing units to surface water from rainfall and natural sources.” Polypipe has an extensive product portfolio of below ground drainage pipes including the UK’s largest range of sewer pipes, fittings and chambers for commercial and residential projects. The pipes are available in diameters from 110mm up to 3,000mm and make installation faster due to the flexibility, strength and easy handling properties. Polypipe has also been a pioneer in the development of sustainable drainage systems, with geocellular systems such as Polystorm and Permavoid designed to provide housing developers with water storage and attenuation solutions to keep developments safe from localised flooding and to sustainably manage surface water runoff, without increasing the burden on natural water courses and rivers. Richard Eddy added: “The changes will be most significant to contractors based in the South East where a number of different requirements have been streamlined into one document and one standard set of agreed practices across the water companies. “As the manufacturer of the most extensive range of plastic-based below ground drainage pipes, fittings and chambers, as well as significant technical expertise in the design, development and delivery of high specification SuDS systems, Polypipe is best placed to advise contractors on how they can work with the growing range of drainage systems and materials now at their disposal. Our below ground drainage technical experts are available to offer consultation and guidance on any project.”