The UK’s housing crisis has well documented in the media, by both journalists and politicians, but could the rise of garden villages tackle this major issue that we are facing as an overcrowded country? Arbordeck, a UK provider of timber decking, investigates what regional implications these villages might have but
Today marks the beginning of a new streamlined structure of governance at RICS. In a world where trust is being eroded, our new boards will further enhance public trust by introducing more diverse and global expertise, alongside increased independent-led oversight of our standards and their enforcement. We believe these changes
It has been proven that you and your family’s living arrangements have a direct affect on your well-being. Many of us wish to one day own our dream home. If you’ve saved up enough money and are considering custom building your home, then you have to carefully pick a builder.
As global warming threatens the planet, consumers are starting to pay more attention to the brands they buy from. Governments across the world are trying to prevent a global crisis by forcing businesses to lower their emissions. Sustainability has become increasingly important and it’s something consumers are focusing more on
Choosing the right venue for your corporate event, training, conference or meeting is vital to your success as much as choosing the speakers and deciding the schedule of sessions. The right venue can make a massive difference to the entire experience. From deciding on the number of guests you want
Double garages are becoming increasingly popular in new builds and residential areas as a practical addition to any home. Previously, double garages were considered as a luxury for larger properties, however, now they are commonly included within the build design of many residential homes. The addition of a garage to
There is no doubt that keeping one’s home clean and tidy is a pretty strenuous and challenging endeavour. There are parts of each property that are being inhabited for a prolonged period of time and are generally harder to clean and keep organised than others. So, you are going to
Leica Geosystems, a Hexagon company, announced today its Leica Ready machine control kits will now be offered on excavators by JCB, an equipment manufacturer for construction, agriculture, waste handling and demolition. The JCB generation X Excavator 131X, 140X, 150X and 220X will now be supported with a new cable kit
The Hillhead trade fair for quarrying and construction machinery has been postponed by a year due to the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. With Hillhead taking place in 2021 instead of 2020, the organisers of the PlantWorx trade show have agreed to move their event forward by a year also,
New industry research suggests half a million people could be living in unsafe buildings With government support limited to one specific type of cladding, these residents could be left with excessive bills to make their homes safe Resident groups form an unprecedented coalition with managing agents and building owners to
The UK’s housing crisis has well documented in the media, by both journalists and politicians, but could the rise of garden villages tackle this major issue that we are facing as an overcrowded country? Arbordeck, a UK provider of timber decking, investigates what regional implications these villages might have but also what they might look like for new buyers. Garden villages: explained A garden village is a piece of brownfield land used to create housing for new communities. They are usually smaller projects and can contain from 1,500 to 10,000 homes. Often, garden villages have their own facilities — such as schools, shops and transport stations — which makes this type of living space perfect for families and first-time buyers looking to lead the picture-perfect life. There is no definitive way to describe garden villages, as they allow the communities that live there to establish their own identity and set out their own rules. However, there are a few ways to identify them. They must be a settlement outside of an existing town or city and not closely attached. The British government is currently supporting 17 locations around the country, with £6 million expected to go towards funding 14 new garden villages and £1.4 million to support three garden towns (which are similar to garden villages, only larger). There are set to be garden villages established in Cumbria, Lancaster, Cheshire East, Merseyside, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Stratford-on-Avon, East Northants, Oxfordshire, Essex, Devon, Runnymede and Surrey Heath, Hampshire, and Cornwall. Plans are also in place to build garden towns in Aylesbury, Taunton and Harlow, and Gilston. These towns are anticipated to provide an extra 200,000 homes. What are the regional implications? As garden towns and villages will supply Britain with more than 50,000 homes, we will see a rise in manual work in these regions as a result of the large development projects. This will help to boost the economy, as it will provide people with more jobs in the area. Also, these regions will become more populated as people will be purchasing these new homes. There is a popular misconception that this will put a strain on the resources of current residents nearby, such as school places for their children and obtaining doctor appointments. However, this is not the case, as garden villages are built with their own facilities including schools and general practices. In turn, this will also create more jobs in the area of development. Garden villages are usually built with their own transport links for easy commuting in and out of the area, although more traffic on the roads could be a problem. How will these garden villages look? With garden villages being built on brownfield areas, we know that there will be a lot of greenery around the new homes and that these will likely have garden spaces of their own. With everything looking brand new, there will be a need for updated garden furniture and other outdoor products — but what are the current trends? Composite decking is one of the biggest trends at the moment. With the weather at a constant change, composite decking is weather-resistant and very low maintenance, which means you don’t need to worry about repairing or repainting. Another garden craze that everybody is talking about is the rise in popularity of hot tubs, whether you’re renting them or buying them. Over the past few years, it seems like more and more people are purchasing hot tubs for their gardens. In North Wales, a businessman has even had to double the size of his hot tub showroom this year to keep up with demand! These are a great addition to any garden, especially if you have a rural view of the surrounding countryside. What about other outdoor trends? According to Andrew Hartley, research director at market research company, AMA; garden buildings including sunhouses have “high potential growth” in the industry. Sunhouses are great for maximising your garden space and creating an extra room for your family without having to pay for an expensive house extension. Typically, these are small and easy to fit into your garden with enough room for a few chairs and a table to unwind with drinks and food. Sunhouses infuse your garden with character and are excellent refuges for reading, relaxing and socialising, so these are ideal for new garden village homes. Another great trend in gardening right now is artificial lawns. Slashing the time we have to spend maintaining our outdoor spaces and beautiful to look at from season to season, fake grass is a high-demand gardening commodity. If you’ve decked much of your back garden, you can add colour by creating a small space of artificial grass on the ground level, or putting a full artificial lawn at the front of your home that you don’t have to keep weeding and watering. Lighting is another outdoor feature set to be big for people setting up new homes. From hanging Chinese lanterns between decking posts to placing LED fairy lights into vintage jam jars, how you illuminate your garden is going to be in focus. Speaking of vintage, garden furniture is set to head back in time when it comes to design and textures. We’ll see more natural, traditional materials used for tables and chairs — such as teak and rattan — to create a more rustic look, as well as a rise in woven and crochet techniques for the retro effect. Needless to say, garden village homeowners will have a lot of inspiration for their green spaces. It’s expected that the rise of garden villages is set to alleviate the pressures of the housing crisis in the UK. Even with the few points for concern, such as a rise in local traffic, this is potentially a huge boost for families, communities and the entire UK economy.
Today marks the beginning of a new streamlined structure of governance at RICS. In a world where trust is being eroded, our new boards will further enhance public trust by introducing more diverse and global expertise, alongside increased independent-led oversight of our standards and their enforcement. We believe these changes are further evidence that RICS and the profession is doing everything it can to live up to its 150-year-old Royal Charter to advance the public interest in all that it does. The governance changes are part of a package of reforms voted on by the profession in 2018 which aim to advance societal trust, positioning the body to draw more effectively on the leadership and strategic oversight required to shape a forward-looking agenda for the profession. A new Governing Council is announced today, and RICS welcomes the new professionals who have been elected with record turnout across 12 regions globally. Governing Council, RICS’ highest level governance body, also includes individuals bringing expertise from six strategic areas of the profession as well as the ambassadorial positions of RICS President, President-Elect and Senior Vice-President. The governance modernisation has also established a new Standards and Regulation Board, with its Chair and the majority of its members being independent from the profession to provider greater confidence in our assurance regime. This Board will provide assurance across all RICS standards and how they are enforced globally. Under the reforms, the previous Conduct and Appeals Committee has been renamed the RICS Regulatory Tribunal to better reflect its important role in holding the profession to account for operating to the highest standards that society would expect. Sean Tompkins, Chief Executive Officer at RICS commented: “These reforms, endorsed by the profession, directly respond to the need for us to evolve our governance structures to continue to retain high levels of public trust and confidence in our profession and in RICS as a global professional body. “Our profession is at the forefront of some of the biggest challenges facing the world and our next generations – from the need to consider climate change in all that we do, through to embracing digitisation, and responding to a rising population and the pressures this brings for our cities and natural resources. “The strategic oversight our governance bodies provide is critical to ensuring RICS can continue to deliver confidence and lead positive change in the built and natural environment. “I welcome all the new board members to our governance bodies from both within and outside of our profession. Their experience and leadership will be invaluable – both to the way we continue to qualify professionals, in ensuring we set and enforce the highest standards, as well as offering the thought leadership needed to tackle the major challenges that our next generations will face.”
It has been proven that you and your family’s living arrangements have a direct affect on your well-being. Many of us wish to one day own our dream home. If you’ve saved up enough money and are considering custom building your home, then you have to carefully pick a builder. Contracting the right builder will give you great results. Hire the wrong one and you might end up with a home from your nightmares. To help you choose the perfect custom builder, you can follow these 6 expert tips: 1. Quality Your home should be built in a such a way that it doesn’t need any repairs or rebuilds in the future. It’s important that the structure is stable and built to a high standard. Therefore, it’s vital that you check the quality of the builder first. Ask for a list of their previous projects and have a look at the quality. It should have a solid foundation and be filled with durable fixtures – from windows to countertops. Do some research on materials and make sure that the builder will be using quality building materials for your home. Click here to learn more about long-lasting building materials. 2. Communication and Reporting Throughout the building process, there will be a few kinks in the road. This is a very common occurrence. Whether it’s too rainy to work, or if the contractor has to wait for supplies, there will be unforeseen events happening. It’s important that your builder is transparent from the start. You need to know exactly what’s going on throughout the project. Find a builder that is honest and open – this is usually a character trait that can’t be missed. Also, one that doesn’t wait weeks before replying to your questions. You are likely to disagree on a few things in the future, so find someone who shares the same communication style as you. 3. Following your Vision Especially when you want the contractor to bring your vision to life, you need someone experienced who will be able to do that. Adding special features to the walls or building unique structural displays should be something that the builder can do. Experienced contractors are hard to find, so its worth checking out Auckland Builders for professional advice. In the end you’d like to see the dream home you’ve envisioned standing in front of you. A great builder can interpret your vision and turn it into a reality. 4. Experience in Custom Building There are many builders who are exceptionally well in building regular house structures, but not many can build homes with special features. It’s important that you find a builder that have experience in following uncommon building techniques. Not only will they be able to turn your dream into reality, they will be able to give you great advice and even suggest much better alternatives. You need someone who knows where to get special materials, as well as how to plan building a custom house. Check out this website for examples of excellent custom-built homes: https://silvertoncustomhomes.com 5. Willingness to Go the Extra Mile It’s evident in a builder’s attitude towards your project whether they are passionate about their work, or just sees it as easy money. You need a builder that will go the extra mile in answering your most ridiculous questions, and really dedicate themselves to the custom built. When they respond promptly, come up with great solutions, and suggest extra building options. Then you’ll know you’ve found the right one. 6. Recommendations and Reviews It’s worth checking out the builder’s online presence. Whether they have an active website with lots of feedback from previous clients, or whether they have no online trail at all. There are many scammers out there, so be wary when choosing a builder that has no paper trail. Look for a variety of online reviews and recommendations from different sources. That being said, not all builders will have a 100% rating, but at least most of the reviews should be positive. There’s no short cut in finding the right builder for your project. Avoid choosing the first one that pop up on an online search, and do some research. By following these expert tips you’ll track down the perfect builder that is dedicated while delivering quality work.
As global warming threatens the planet, consumers are starting to pay more attention to the brands they buy from. Governments across the world are trying to prevent a global crisis by forcing businesses to lower their emissions. Sustainability has become increasingly important and it’s something consumers are focusing more on too. This is especially true when it comes to product packaging. Here, we’ll look at what eco-friendly packaging is and why it’s becoming increasingly important to consumers. What is eco-friendly packaging? Eco-friendly packaging is described as a material which reduces its eco footprint over time. It could be made from 100% raw and recyclable materials, or it may be reusable packaging. It could also refer to packaging which has been made by a minimised production and supply chain process. In terms of what types of packaging businesses can use, cardboard and paperboard are great options. As well as focusing on recyclable materials, consumers also expect less packaging to be used. This means not sending goods in boxes that are far bigger than they need to be for example. Why is it important to consumers? So, why is sustainable packaging important to consumers? Well, they are much more aware of their own impact on the environment. Ensuring they buy from businesses who use sustainable packaging, therefore helps them to reduce their own carbon footprint. Another reason it’s important is because it shows consumers what a business truly cares about. They would much rather buy from companies who are dedicated to having the environment, than those who are simply looking out for their profits. The business benefits it provides It isn’t just the environment and the consumers which benefit from eco friendly packaging. It can also have great benefits to businesses too. By using sustainable packaging, it’s going to help drive profits and save the business money. When you order parcel delivery through Parcel2Go, you’ll find it’s much cheaper to send parcels with minimal packaging. As it’s important to consumers, you’ll also find focusing on sustainability helps you to attract more customers. This is turn boosts your profits. Of course, you’ll also feel good in the knowledge that you’re doing your part in saving the planet. If you really want to stand out from your competitors and make the biggest difference in terms of packaging, switching to plant based solutions is a good idea. These types of packaging are made from organic compounds which easily and safely decompose over time. As you can see, there are lots of reasons for businesses to start using more eco-friendly packaging. It plays an important role in reducing the effects of global warming, while also keeping consumers happier.
Choosing the right venue for your corporate event, training, conference or meeting is vital to your success as much as choosing the speakers and deciding the schedule of sessions. The right venue can make a massive difference to the entire experience. From deciding on the number of guests you want to invite to setting up budget constraints, there is a lot involved in hosting a professional corporate event. To make it easier for you, we have a checklist that you should consider while looking for corporate event venues in Long Island. Check what’s included Whenever you approach a venue for a quote and to discuss the activities, make sure to get a clear picture of all possible fees and costs. Ask what is covered in the fee being charged. Are any taxes included? Are there additional charges for tables, chairs, and linens? Are audiovisual equipment and Wi-Fi included? Some venues provide all-inclusive pricing. Make sure to confirm it. Layout and space Take a look at the space before to check if it meets your needs. Confirm the capacity limit once. Check if the floor space is flexible. Can you change the rooms later if required? Would you use the full venue or just a part of it? If you want to use outdoor space, check if the entire patio, garden, lawn or the deck are available. Also, check if the sponsors have any requirements. Have the sponsors requested a separate area? Is Wi-Fi connectivity available? Are there additional charges for using it? Discuss your plans with the operator in advance. Parking, accessibility, and location If your meeting is being held out of the town, then check if the delegates have easy access to the site. Check if the parking option is available. Are there any charges for arranging alternative transportation? If on-site parking is available, consider reserving the space for the attendees. If not, then it is best to book local taxis, Uber or a shuttle bus. Amenities and services You need to be careful and not just assume that all venues offer the same kind of inclusions and services. Do not assume that all amenities would be offered to you on demand. Confirm with the venue owner again if you are opting for additional services like floral arrangements, special catering, IT support, pens and pads, transportation and staging and lighting. Check this link to know about some awesome tips to host an awesome conference: https://www.inc.com/sangram-vajre/7-ways-to-host-an-awesome-conference.html Atmosphere The décor and ambiance of the venue can set the tone for your event. If it has a serious tone, then make sure to keep the professional image into consideration while choosing the venue. If you want to inspire creativity or want to host team activities, then opt for a place that can accommodate group activities and exude a fun vibe. If you are hosting a gala or an award ceremony, then an inspiring or elegant venue matters. Everything from the lighting to the furniture style adds to the atmosphere. Do not overlook the acoustics. Check the space for noise issues or for activities happening nearby that can interfere with your plans. Consider giveaways Find out if you can give away promotional freebies at the venue. If you’re hosting or sponsoring a business event or conference, giveaways are a great way to boost your branding. Imagine if you give out 1,000 pens with company branding, these are essentially 1,000 little adverts for your business. You could even look into some Knockout tech gift ideas, depending on your budget. Free stuff is a good incentive and the goodwill can do wonders for your reputation. Food and Beverage If you are hosting a lot of people for the event in Long Island, you will have to check what kind of meals and refreshments would be served. Do you want to plan a buffet-style dinner or a sit-down meal? Can the venue take special dietary requests? Check if the food is prepared using fresh ingredients. Also, find out what is the minimum food order and if alcohol would be served at the venue. You should always provide the service on table fabric runners for best results. Tech/audiovisual If you are hosting a corporate event, then you will obviously require Wi-Fi and AV for demonstrations, video presentations, and slide shows. Also, you will need special lighting, screens, projectors, and microphones. Discuss what is being offered for free and what you need to rent from a vendor. Further, find out if staff support is available. Ask whether charging stations would be provided to the attendees or not. Restrictions Certain venues may have restrictions pertaining to videography/photography, outside catering, alcohol use, and decorations. Some do not offer outside space at certain times. Make sure to be clear from the very beginning if you do not want to panic at the last minute. Staffing Would you require any staffing support? Find out what kind of support is provided. Do the staff have enough experience to manage your event? Is there enough security, concierge support and waiting staff available? Can they work overtime? Can they help managing tickets and registrations? Do they manage clean up and setup? Branding and signage Identify the kind of signage and branding opportunities available at the venue for your meeting or event. Identify your requirements. Check whether they are covered under the contract. Make sure to check specifications and sizing before the event. Check what kind of decoration options are available and permitted at the venue. Ask for recommendations. Cost While planning an event, consider the budget in mind. This is of the biggest concerns that businesses or planner have. Consider during what time of the year is the event being held. If it is not the peak season, then you can secure exclusive deals with the venue. Make sure to discuss the costs of additional services that you would be using. This will prevent discrepancies at a later stage. Click here to learn five amazing event planning strategies to make your
Double garages are becoming increasingly popular in new builds and residential areas as a practical addition to any home. Previously, double garages were considered as a luxury for larger properties, however, now they are commonly included within the build design of many residential homes. The addition of a garage to your property can be a great investment, as well as having many practical day-to-day uses. Here are some of the benefits that you can expect from the addition of a double garage. Increase kerb appeal With a double garage, there are many possibilities for what can be done with the extra space, with this extension onto your property adding instant value to your home, with a double garage increasing a property’s value by up to 20%. There are numerous designs for double garages, that feature high-quality materials, giving them aesthetic value and the ability to increase a properties kerb appeal. If you’re wanting to increase the value of your property and add instant curb appeal, double garages from Lidget Compton are a smart, long-term investment. More space for vehicles and additional storage Many households today own more than one car, so it goes without saying that many of us need more space to keep them than a single garage can provide. One of the benefits of a double garage is the safety it offers for vehicles, as well as other items that are stored in the garage. With a standard single garage, other vehicles are parked outside, which can make homeowners worry about their security. A double garage allows two average sized cars to be stored easily, as well as offering peace of mind to the owners during the night and when away from home. A double garage also provides alternative space for storage and are ideal for storing large items such as bikes and storage equipment. A larger garage means more room for shelving and cabinets to store extra clutter, freeing up space inside your home. Additional living space If you have some spare room in your double garage, it can easily be utilised as additional living space with some homeowners even choosing to convert their garages into home offices, gyms or utility rooms. It can also be easily converted into a social space for parties and gatherings, or even a bedroom for guests, or to rent out as a studio space for additional income. Vehicle safekeeping and protection Keeping your car inside a garage will keep it away from potential hazards and outdoor elements, but more importantly, it will mean that your vehicle is safer from theft and damage. A 2019 study found that there were over 114,000 motor vehicle thefts in England and Wales in 2018/19, which is an increase of over 8,000 offences when compared with the previous year and a nine year high for motor vehicle theft offences. By knowing your vehicles are safe in your garage and not outside overnight, this minimises the worry many vehicles owners may have surrounding theft and damage. There are many uses for a double garage, with a staggering 650,000 households in the UK converting their garage into another room, and many more planning on investing in a double garage, it’s clear to see that there are several amazing benefits that a double garage can provide to both you and your property, so it’s definitely an additional feature that many homeowners should consider adding to a home.
There is no doubt that keeping one’s home clean and tidy is a pretty strenuous and challenging endeavour. There are parts of each property that are being inhabited for a prolonged period of time and are generally harder to clean and keep organised than others. So, you are going to out in a little more persistence and effort in order to make them look as good as you want and need them to be. Fortunately, if you come prepared with the right tools and supplies, and you know what you are going to have to do, you should not have as much trouble achieving your goals as you may think. Let us take a look at some of the parts of your home that require the most diligence and energy to maintain in their best possible shape and condition. The place where you prepare your food Arguably the most important part of almost any household is the kitchen. It is the place where you are most likely to spend the majority of your time when at home – cooking, eating, or simply sharing time with your family. As the spot in which you prepare the food that sustains you and your family, it is of utmost importance that you keep it immaculately sanitised at all times. The kitchen is one of the few places that you might have to clean daily if you want to maintain it in a condition that is acceptable. The area around the oven and the oven itself are the two toughest places to keep shiny, especially if you do not wipe and wash them after the preparation of every meal. Many items can compromise the sanitary standards there, including but not limited to: Grease Food splatter Spills Dust Insects attracted by the organic matter Wiping every surface as soon as it gets even a little bit dirty is your best course of action in order to maintain a beautiful, clean kitchen that is safe to operate in. Pay attention to the fridge at least once a week too, and wipe the inside of all cupboards monthly for optimal results. Carpets – everywhere Carpets and area rugs are beautiful, for sure, but they are also a nightmare to keep clean and healthy. Dust and other types of dirt tend to build up deep into the fabrics of carpets and rugs that are not cleaned properly. Dog hair and pet stains of various nature can also cause problems such as allergies, asthma attacks, etc. So, do not wait too long to vacuum your carpets – do it at least a couple of times a week if you cannot spare the time to vacuum daily. Stains are also to be removed right away – baking soda, white vinegar and water concoction is a good homemade solution for nearly all stains that you can think of. Have the number of a reliable carpet cleaning service in London for really tough cases in which conventional methods do not work. Mattresses There is no need to tell you that the place where you lay your head at night is crucial not only for the quality of your sleep but for your health in general as well. Mattresses are a hotbed for bacteria and allergens and the only way to prevent damage to your overall health condition caused by dirty mattresses is to clean them. Unfortunately, many people overlook this until it is too late, which makes mattresses pretty hard to keep clean. Vacuuming and dusting them is a must, as well as the removal of any stains that may occur while you are using them. Flipping the mattress once every couple of months is also a pretty good idea. You might need some specialised tools or better yet, professional cleaning service to achieve the best results that you hope for. The area around the shower There is a popular misconception that the toilet bowl is the dirtiest place in one’s home. Surprisingly for some, this is far from being the case. Due to the frequency with which most people clean their toilets, and the heavy-duty products that are being used, they are actually relatively clean. This is rarely the case with the shower and the area surrounding it. Scum and other unpleasant entities tend to build up there, mildew is formed on the shower curtain and they silently but rather truthfully endanger your health. Make sure to roll up your sleeves and carefully and thoroughly clean every corner in your shower at least once a week. The process is strenuous and might take you up to an hour for even a relatively small area because you will have to scrub every inch in there to make sure the scum is gone. Don’t forget to open a window or to at least keep the ventilation system on because the fumes of commercially-made detergents might pose considerable risks to your health. Table: Important chores and when to do them* Daily Vacuum carpets, wash the dishes, clean table tops in kitchen Weekly Wash floors, laundry, dusting, change bed sheets, scrub toilets Bi-monthly Deep clean appliances, arrange wardrobe, clean inside of furniture Monthly Dust ceiling fans, clean light fixtures, clean air vents, wash windows *May vary depending on your household’s size and specific requirements Windows The windows in one’s home are often overlooked, simply because window cleaning is not among the chores people are used to doing often. In order to properly clean your windows – thus improving the quality of light and air entering your household, you need proper access to them, and a safe one too, which can be a problem if you live on a high floor. Using tools such as ladders and long-handled brushes and clothes is what makes cleaning windows so tough. Also, it usually goes with curtain cleaning which can be a drag especially since a few households have access to tools such as those used by professional cleaners – that allow curtain cleaning without taking down the curtains themselves. Of course if you consider your time of higher importance and you reside in London you can always book with trustworthy London cleaners such as Johnson’s in London In any case, even the toughest spots to clean should
Leica Geosystems, a Hexagon company, announced today its Leica Ready machine control kits will now be offered on excavators by JCB, an equipment manufacturer for construction, agriculture, waste handling and demolition. The JCB generation X Excavator 131X, 140X, 150X and 220X will now be supported with a new cable kit for the Leica iCON iXE1D, iXE2D and iXE3D machine control solutions for excavator guidance. The kit for these models has been designed for simple and clean factory installation with cables developed between JCB and Leica Geosystems. “Offering such integrated solutions advances the industry and the construction professional,” said Leica Geosystems Machine Control Director of Product Management Kris Maas. “Our strong working relationship with JCB brings added values to users worldwide.” Complete control for excavators With the Leica iCON excavator system, high precision GPS monitors the excavation position with a 3D model. The Leica iCON iXE3 is used for point collection and stake out activities on projects, such as large road and infrastructure construction, subdivision building, industrial sites and dereliction works. The built-in GSM modem quickly supports and transfers files while the 3D system enables detailed monitoring of any site project. Leica Geosystems – when it has to be right With more than 200 years of history,Leica Geosystems, a Hexagon company, is the trusted supplier of premium sensors, software and services. Delivering value every day to professionals in surveying, construction, infrastructure, mining, mapping and other geospatial content-dependent industries, Leica Geosystems leads the industry with innovative solutions to empower our autonomous future.
The Hillhead trade fair for quarrying and construction machinery has been postponed by a year due to the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. With Hillhead taking place in 2021 instead of 2020, the organisers of the PlantWorx trade show have agreed to move their event forward by a year also, to 2022, to avoid clashing. Hillhead, which tales place every two years, had been all set for 23–25 June 2020 at Hillhead Quarry, near Buxton in Derbyshire with a record 550 exhibitors booked. It has now been postponed to 22–24 June 2021, at the same usual location. Hillhead event director Richard Bradbury said: “The health and safety of exhibitors, visitors, contractors and employees is our number one priority and with the peak of the epidemic predicted to coincide with the show in June, this would be severely compromised. “Following an extensive consultation process, the decision has been taken to delay the event by a year to allow market conditions to stabilise and to best support the construction and quarrying industry during this challenging period.” Rob Oliver, chief executive of the Construction Equipment Association, which owns PlantWorx, said: “Of course we didn’t want to postpone our show, but after discussions with the Hillhead management we concluded that it would be in the best interests of our exhibitors and the wider construction and quarrying industries if we reset the clock and allowed Hillhead the diary space in 2021. Few people expected the impact of coronavirus just a couple of weeks ago, so we thought it best to make a quick decision so the industry had some clarity. As a trade association now, we need to focus our resources on helping our members through the unprecedented challenges arising from coronavirus which affects both lives and livelihoods”. Hillhead and PlantWorx are just two among myriad industry events, meetings and exhibitions – not just in the UK but around the world – to be rescheduled or cancelled because of the pandemic. Vertikal Days, the lifting equipment exhibition, has also been postponed. It had been planned for 13-14 May at Donington Park, Leicestershire. A new date has yet to be set. Also postponed is the Commercial Vehicle Show, which had been scheduled for 28-30 April at the Birmingham NEC. This has been put back a year to 2021.
New industry research suggests half a million people could be living in unsafe buildings With government support limited to one specific type of cladding, these residents could be left with excessive bills to make their homes safe Resident groups form an unprecedented coalition with managing agents and building owners to call on the new Chancellor to establish a fund to make these homes safe Following new evidence that the scale of the cladding crisis may affect up to half a million people, cladding campaigners, residents, property managers and the UK’s largest freeholders have formed an unprecedented coalition to request a multibillion-pound fund to remediate unsafe buildings. In an open letter to the new Chancellor, the group has called on the Government to step in following failures in the building safety regime that have dated back decades. Without support, leaseholders may be left having to pay the price, which is likely to run into the billions. The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), which represents the largest property managers in the country, has conducted an analysis of apartment buildings in the UK and found that over half a million people may be living in unsafe buildings that passed building control when they were built. Materials now deemed to be unsafe include High Pressure Laminate (HPL) – which has been found to be at least as flammable as the ACM cladding that was used on Grenfell Tower – but the Government’s existing fund is limited to ACM cladding. The freeholder signatories are coordinating remediation work on buildings with ACM cladding in every major city in the UK, but the process has revealed numerous additional safety issues and there are concerns that the cost of fixing these problems will fall on to residents unless the Government steps in. Given the scale of the task, the group is calling for a multibillion-pound, government-backed fund to be established so that these buildings can be made safe as soon as possible. Nigel Glen, Chief Executive Officer, The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) said: “The Grenfell tragedy highlighted the dangers of ACM cladding, but it has also revealed a much wider building safety crisis which could affect over half a million people. These buildings are being fixed by building owners and managing agents as quickly as possible but, without Government support, the process could take decades and leave leaseholders with life-changing bills on top of the anxiety that has already been caused.” Martin Boyd, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership said: “Nearly 1,000 days after the Grenfell tragedy there is a huge amount of worry among leaseholders that the problems are getting worse, not better. The government must help find solutions rather than just telling everyone these are complex problems.”