Manufactured steel is one of the few materials that can move from design intent to site reality with very little “interpretation”, as long as it’s made precisely and backed by the right paperwork. That matters even more in Great Britain now that CE marking is recognised only until 30 June 2025, and from 1 July 2025 CE marking is no longer acceptable in GB for in-scope construction products, putting UKCA marking and clear conformity evidence firmly in the spotlight. Steel is often chosen because it’s predictable: you can design it, fabricate it, deliver it, and assemble it quickly. But that promise depends on components arriving to spec, fitting first time, and carrying the documentation that proves they’re compliant. That’s why, when teams are sourcing fabricated sections and components from suppliers such as NW Metal Sections, the conversation quickly turns to tolerances, traceability, and the paperwork trail that makes sign-off straightforward. The compliance angle isn’t abstract either. UKCA marking is used for goods being placed on the market in Great Britain, and it demonstrates compliance with the appropriate designated standard for a product; for fabricated structural steelwork specifically, the designated standard is BS EN 1090-1, and fabricated structural steelwork delivered to a site in GB must be UKCA marked (or CE marked only up to 30 June 2025) against BS EN 1090-1. So, instead of treating “precision” as a nice extra, it’s more useful to see it as a practical risk-control habit that helps projects run smoothly. Let’s look at five industries that rely on manufactured steel, and what precision really changes for safety, performance, and build quality. Construction & structural engineering In mainstream building work, manufactured steel is everywhere you’d expect: primary frames, beams and columns, connection plates, stairs, and all the secondary pieces that make a structure buildable in real life. What’s easy to forget is how many other decisions get anchored to that steel geometry. Set-out lines, floor zones, façade interfaces, service penetrations, fire protection thicknesses, handrail runs. When the steel arrives accurately made, you don’t just get a faster steel erection. You get fewer micro-delays rippling through the rest of the build. This is one reason steel keeps such a strong position in UK structural framing. BCSA reported that steel took the greatest market share at 48.6% in 2023 compared with other framing materials. That’s a market signal that a lot of teams still value the speed and certainty that good steelwork can bring. Precision is how you protect that certainty. Not in a perfectionist way, but in a practical one: holes line up, cleats don’t need “encouragement”, and tolerances don’t get spent on site trying to correct something that should’ve been right before it arrived. And there’s a quiet confidence boost that comes with it. When the steel package is consistent and well evidenced, design teams and site teams can spend their time on coordination and quality, rather than detective work. Infrastructure & civil engineering Infrastructure and civil engineering projects tend to have one thing in common: interfaces. Lots of them. Bridges, gantries, stations, platforms, and access structures often connect to existing assets, third-party land, live highways, or rail environments. That leaves less room for improvisation, and it makes precise manufactured steel feel less like “nice workmanship” and more like a planning tool. In these settings, precision supports safety in a very grounded way. If parts fit first time, people spend less time doing awkward work at height, less time around temporary arrangements, and less time trying to resolve clashing details while the clock is ticking. It also supports performance, because infrastructure often lives with cyclic loading, weather exposure, and long inspection intervals where durability details matter. There’s also a broader supply reality behind the scenes. The UK government’s steel strategy consultation notes that the UK currently has a demand for steel of around 9 to 11 million tonnes a year. That’s a lot of material moving through many hands, which means the winners tend to be the supply chains that are organised, traceable, and consistent. A useful mindset for civil teams is to treat precision like good traffic management. It doesn’t make the project “fancy”. It makes it calmer. And calmer tends to be safer. Industrial & commercial buildings Industrial and commercial buildings are where steel’s repeatability really gets tested. Big footprints, regular grids, long spans, and plenty of follow-on systems that want everything to be straight and true: cladding rails, dock levellers, mezzanines, sprinkler mains, lighting, racking, and signage. When steel is accurately fabricated, that repetition becomes a genuine advantage because every bay behaves like the last. BCSA’s 2024 annual review put a number on how much steelwork runs through the UK economy and where it’s going. It stated that consumption of constructional steelwork remained at 893,000 tonnes in 2023, and it also noted industrial buildings increased by 2.2% to 450,000 tonnes in 2023. For anyone working around logistics, distribution, retail parks, or large commercial shells, those figures will feel familiar. Where precision matters most here is build quality at speed. Industrial projects often have hard operational dates, tenant fit-outs waiting in the wings, and strict rules about watertightness and floor performance. A steel frame that arrives cleanly made helps the project hit the point where it can be closed in, serviced, and finished without endless snag loops. Here’s the thought-provoking question that’s worth asking early, before the first fabrication drawings are even signed off: if the whole building typology is based on repetition, why accept site fixes that break the repeatability you’re paying for? Automotive & manufacturing facilities Manufacturing sites don’t just “contain” processes. They support them. In automotive and broader manufacturing facilities, steel shows up as the building frame, of course, but also in the steelwork that makes the place usable: equipment bases, access platforms, edge protection, service gantries, and structural supports around plant. It’s the kind of steel that has to live alongside motion, vibration, heavy loads, and frequent operational changes. That’s why precision lands differently in this sector. In

The Construction and Engineering team at Burges Salmon has advised independent construction company Benniman Limited on a series of significant projects across the UK. Led by director Christian Mulvihill, the firm provided legal support on large-scale developments for leading names in the logistics and industrial sectors. Notably, Burges Salmon advised Benniman on the creation of three new logistics and distribution facilities at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) in Northamptonshire. Totalling 618,000 sq ft, the schemes will deliver high-quality space and strengthen DIRFT’s position as a key hub for rail-connected logistics, supporting efficient supply chain operations and sustainable freight solutions. Further advice was provided across three other projects including on the construction of a c. 50,000 sq ft best-in-class industrial and warehousing estate in Reading, the development of eight industrial units in Milton Keynes totalling 200,765 sq ft., as well as recent work delivered for property developer Clowes Developments. The team also advised Benniman in relation to the construction of three industrial units in Birmingham on behalf of Coltham as well as a 57,000 sf ft unit in Worcester Six Business Park for Stoford. Christian Mulvihill, director at Burges Salmon, says: “We are delighted to have supported Benniman on these projects, which demonstrate the strength of the UK logistics and industrial sectors. Completing five transactions back-to-back within a short timeframe required careful co-ordination and a thorough understanding of contractual and regulatory issues. It is a testament to the strength and agility of our team that we were able to deliver seamless advice across multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring our client could move forward with confidence and efficiency.” Paul Barfoot, Commercial Director at Benniman, comments: “Delivering major projects concurrently was a significant undertaking, and Burges Salmon’s ability to manage the legal complexities was outstanding. Their proactive approach, responsiveness and sector expertise gave us the confidence to progress each development without delay.” With over 40 specialist lawyers working across the firm’s Built Environment, Infrastructure and Energy & Utilities sector groups, Burges Salmon has one of the largest construction and engineering legal teams in the UK and is a first port of call for highly complex and innovative projects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Do you own a business or run one? Excellent service and high-quality products are the core of your activities, but remember that there is more. Your potential clients are attentive to details and tend to look for signs of your commitment everywhere. If you want to display a professional approach to business, you should keep your commercial building well-maintained. Here are top tips on how to do that. Prevent larger problems As a business owner, you cannot allow yourself to fail, which means that none of your clients is left unattended. It is exactly the same with the form of your building. You will save a lot of time and effort when you are able to spot minor problems that need a little touch-up. Pay attention to high-traffic areas inside and outside your building to notice small cracks and chips. Bear in mind that the best option is to prevent the problem from escalating. However, if a complete repaint is unavoidable, hire professionals that deal with commercial painting in London. An experienced team of painters understands the benefits of a high-quality job. Hire those who are willing to bring your vision to life and meet your expectations. Regular clean-up of painted surfaces It is impossible to keep all the dirt and dust under control. The surfaces of your building – both inside and outside – accumulate dust and other pollutants, especially in areas that are the most frequently used by visitors. Those surfaces need a regular cleaning. To prevent damage and avoid stains, use water or paint-friendly solutions that will keep your commercial interior clean. When it comes to exterior surfaces, use pressure-rising once a year so the paint will not degrade over time. Before you decide to use a new cleaning product on the entire surface, test it in a small area that is not visible. Make sure the product is safe and will not cause any damage to the paint. Protect high-traffic areas Areas like lobbies, hallways, or entrances are always more difficult to maintain. If you want to prevent stains or scuffs, consider installing protective features. Those might be door stoppers that prevent the walls from scratching, corner guards for walls, or wainscoting, which is a wood paneling that, apart from its protective feature, is also a decorative accent. React immediately The sooner, the better, they say. Permanent staining makes your building look untidy. If you let the dirt stay for too long, it will be harder to remove or will even leave permanent marks. You will have to paint the walls over, which is both costly and time-consuming. Stay attentive, so your building looks fresh and welcoming. Beware of humidity This is often overlooked by business owners. Humidity damage is the most common problem and requires costly repairs. If you want to avoid blistering or mold, control the humidity level inside your building with climate control solutions. When your commercial building is in good shape, it is easier to attract customers and make a great first impression. If your business requires a fresh touch of paint, hire professionals that specialize in commercial painting in London. After all, keep in mind the maintenance tips so you can focus on your work, not on the look of your building.

New research from Savills reveals the mounting pressure to connect projects to the UK’s low voltage distribution network. The distribution network, where most residential and small commercial developments seek connections, is facing a rising pace of applications for demand connections as well as a supply shortage of available capacity at substations. Demand connection applications rose by 30% from April 2024 to June 2025, leaving the total queue capacity at 29 GW which is equivalent to the power needed to supply roughly 14.5 million homes. The analysis from the international real estate advisor tracks the evolution of available supply capacity in the distribution network from June 2024 to August 2025, highlighting the evolution of improvements and constraints across the network. Grid IQ, developed by Savills Earth, reveals that there was around a 2 GW uplift of available capacity in primary substations from June 2024 to August 2025, placing the total available capacity at 39 GW. This figure has been largely unchanged (± 5%) over the course of the last two years. Even though the supply of capacity is about 34% higher than the demand for connections, the geographic distribution of capacity is misaligned with development needs. According to the Energy Networks Association, applications for new distribution level connections remain high, with a total of over 9 GW of connection applications for demand, generation and storage submitted each month. To contextualise this, 1 GW could power up to 500,000 homes or around ten large data centres, highlighting the scale of projects competing for limited capacity. Despite a strong requirement for new connections across demand, generation and storage, progress has been slow. Distribution network operators (DNOs) are working to optimise existing infrastructure, but developers continue to face delays. Regionally, London and the South East saw an 11% increase in demand headroom, around 1 GW, due to revised peak demand calculations by UK Power Networks, which could ease constraints on housing and mixed-use developments. In contrast, the Midlands and South West experienced a 14% drop in capacity, driven by a surge in logistics development, which is absorbing available power. Further north, the B6 Boundary, a key bottleneck between Scotland’s renewable generation and England’s demand centres, saw headroom fall by 23%, exacerbating the constraint within the region. From April 2026, rising Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges could prompt some site owners to reduce their import capacity, potentially freeing up grid capacity for new developments. With over 210,000 non-residential sites affected, even small adjustments could have a significant cumulative impact. Kyle Rarick, Data Analyst, Energy, Renewables and Infrastructure, says: “Nearly a year on from our initial analysis of grid headroom across the UK, new data shows how the electricity grid is evolving as demand for power increases. While progress is being made through reform and reinforcement, data shows that the headroom capacity shortage persists. This shortage is increasingly shaping the pace and location of new housing, commercial, and industrial development, as grid capacity remains a key constraint on planning and delivery.” Phil Pearson, Director,Energy, Renewables and Infrastructure, adds: “The ongoing connections reform and forthcoming TNUoS charge adjustments highlight the need for developers to monitor each part of the network to identify and secure capacity. Developers who understand these changes and incorporate grid readiness into site selection, design, and investment strategies will be best placed to deliver resilient, future-proof projects in an increasingly capacity-constrained market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

By Justine Edmonds, Head of Build to Rent / Leasing Strategies at LRG The Build to Rent (BTR) sector has the potential to deliver one in ten of the government’s 1.5 million new homes, but it can only do so if the viability crisis is addressed. The Budget on 26 November is a vital opportunity to unlock stalled investment and enable the sector to contribute fully to housing supply and economic growth. At the top of our wishlist is the reinstatement of Multiple Dwellings Relief within Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) to support high-density housing. The loss of this relief last year rendered around 25,000 BTR homes unviable almost overnight. Restoring it would be the single most effective way to stimulate development. Alongside this, the government should extend empty property business rates relief from six to twelve months and remove council tax on newly completed but unoccupied BTR homes. These measures would ease holding costs at a time when inflation and higher borrowing rates have put projects under significant pressure. We would also like to see zero-VAT on energy-saving materials extended to cover retrofit and refurbishment schemes. Many BTR assets built a decade ago are now at the end of their initial investment cycle. Encouraging reinvestment in energy efficiency would improve building performance, lower costs for tenants and help meet national sustainability goals. Above all, the Budget must prioritise stability. The BTR market remains strong in fundamentals but fragile in sentiment. Starts have fallen sharply – just 2,600 in the first half of this year compared with 18,000 completions in 2024 – not because of lack of demand, but because of fiscal uncertainty. Investors need clarity and consistency, not short-term fixes. If the government truly wants to build 1.5 million new homes, it must recognise that BTR can deliver at speed and scale. With the right tax environment and a commitment to planning reform, the sector can accelerate delivery, support regeneration and play a central role in driving the UK’s housing-led growth agenda. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Archaeologists working at the Palace of Westminster have uncovered evidence of human activity dating back nearly 6,000 years – over a millennium older than the earliest earthworks at Stonehenge. The discovery includes more than 60 struck flint flakes, including one worked tool, likely dating to the late Mesolithic or early Neolithic period (around 4300 BC). The discovery is part of a phased three-year programme of archaeological investigations led by the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority. The findings will help shape future design and construction decisions as part of the Palace’s restoration.  The flints were found in undisturbed sand deposits that once formed part of Thorney Island, an area where prehistoric communities are thought to have fished, hunted, and gathered food. These rare finds offer a glimpse into early human life in what is now central London.  The Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, said:   “The history of Westminster is long, fascinating and well-documented. Discoveries such as these allow us to add to our knowledge of this ancient site. These archaeological investigations are an important part of the preparation work for the restoration and renewal of the Victorian building.”   Judith Cummins MP, Deputy Speaker of the Commons and R&R Programme Board Chair: “As we prepare for the restoration and renewal of the iconic Palace of Westminster, a huge amount of work is going on to understand more about the building and the thousands of years of history underneath the home of Parliament as we know it today.”  In addition to the flints, the investigation has uncovered a rich and varied collection of artefacts that shed light on the people who lived, worked, and passed through this iconic location over the centuries. Highlights include: Chair of the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority Board, distinguished historian, archaeologist and heritage restoration expert, Dr Simon Thurley CBE, said:  “The Palace of Westminster has been a central part of our national story for a thousand years; the location of momentous events that have shaped the UK’s history. As we plan for the significant restoration and renewal of Parliament, we must tread softly on the history beneath our feet, to protect it, and to learn from it. Last year that process of discovery began with the first trial excavations which have already revealed things we didn’t know, as well as confirming things we suspected. It is the start of a fascinating and important journey of discovery.”  A Major Medieval Discovery – the Lesser Hall  In a major archaeological breakthrough in August 2025, substantial remains of the medieval Lesser Hall, also known as the White Hall, were uncovered.   Dating back to 1167, the two-storey hall originally served as a royal dining space and later played host to key moments in Parliamentary history. Over the centuries, it housed the Court of Chancery, the Court of Requests, and even the House of Commons and House of Lords at different times.  Long thought to have been destroyed in the Great Fire of 1834 – which is believed to have started in the furnace room of the hall’s basement – new archaeological evidence, supported by historical records, reveals that sections of the hall’s medieval stone walls not only survived the blaze, but were restored, re-roofed, and continued in use until the building’s final demolition in 1851. Remarkably, parts of these walls also withstood a nearby WWII bomb strike decades later. This is the most significant discovery of the current archaeological investigations and provides vital insights into the layout and survival of historic structures beneath the modern Palace. The findings will help shape future design and conservation decisions as part of the Restoration and Renewal Programme. Head of the Government Historic Estates Unit at Historic England, David Brock said:  “The initial finds from archaeological investigations confirm the richness of Westminster as a site. They testify to the variety of human experience on this site. The locating of the Lesser Hall walls is particularly exciting. As this work continues, we hope it will further expand our understanding of the surviving Medieval buildings, especially Westminster Hall, and that the discoveries will enrich our knowledge of this World Heritage Site. It must also pave the way for a sensitive response to the site’s past when proposals are made for the restoration and renewal of the Palace.” Archaeological investigations are currently being carried out by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology), commissioned by the Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority. These investigations span nine key locations across the Palace of Westminster estate, including Black Rod’s Garden, Royal Court, Speaker’s Court, Speaker’s Green, Cromwell Green, Old Palace Yard, Victoria Tower Gardens, New Palace Yard, and the Thames Foreshore and River. These areas have been carefully selected in line with current design proposals, targeting locations where future ground disturbance is expected. The Palace sits within a Tier 1 Archaeological Priority Area, an official designation that reflects the site’s exceptional archaeological significance and sensitivity. Its grounds have been a centre of royal and political life for over a millennium. In the 11th century, King Canute established a royal residence on what was then known as Thorney Island. Later, between 1045 and 1050, Edward the Confessor built a royal palace on the site while commissioning the first Westminster Abbey, laying the foundations for the Palace of Westminster’s enduring role in British history. So far, the team has uncovered, recorded, and reburied evidence of structures and features from the medieval Palace, later Parliamentary buildings, and the Victorian-era reconstruction. These early-stage works are helping to build a clearer picture of the site’s rich and layered history. Specifically, these ongoing investigations will: By the end of this phase, specialists will have dug 14 trial pits, drilled 10 geoarchaeological boreholes and surveyed the river foreshore. Archaeological investigations will continue through to 2026, with a full report of the findings to be published 2027.  Archaeology lead at the Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority Diane Abrams said:  “These exciting discoveries and finds are all contributing to the national story

New data signals a sector reset as contractors face easing wage pressures but growing uncertainty over workforce and project pipelines. The UK construction sector is showing clear signs of a cooling labour market, according to a report by Southern Construction Framework, leading construction procurement framework delivered by the public sector for the public sector in the South of England. The report found that in Q3 2025, employment increased by a modest average of 0.1%, compared to 1.5% in Q3 2024. Across the trades, drylining decreased by the largest amount (-4.0%), with concrete frame (+1.0%) and windows (+1.6%) all seeing modest increases. This is being driven by multiple forces according to the report, including regulatory burdens, cost pressures, and skills shortages.  The news comes as an ONS report found that construction employment sunk to a 24-year low to 1.3% in the third quarter to 2.05 million. This marks a 15% collapse in capacity since a peak just before Covid.  While this is easing cost pressures on contractor project budgets, with wage growth slowing to 3.9%, down from 6.4% in March, it is indicative of weak project pipelines. In an extreme case, SCF’s report found that a South West drylining provider has experienced a -34.3% drop in employment in a strategic effort to revise their strategies and downsized operations. The survey of over 150 subcontractors found that average tender workload across all regions was +1.5% during Q3 2025, significantly lower than Q3 2021 which saw a quarterly movement of +5.71%.  Janara Singh, Assistant Framework Manager at SCF, said: “SCF contractors have reported noticeable shifts in behaviour across the supply chain, reflective of insecurities in the marketplace.  Contractors and suppliers alike are reassessing their strategies, with many adjusting their tendering approaches, cost structures, and workforce planning to remain competitive in a volatile environment.” The regulatory landscape continues to be a defining factor in shaping tender activity and project delivery timelines, having a particularly negative effect on the London housing market. The implementation of the Building Safety Act (BSA) Gateway 2 has introduced significant delays in high-rise residential developments, contributing to a -1.9% decline in window-related tenders in the capital. This bottleneck has created uncertainty for contractors and developers, with many projects stalled awaiting compliance approvals.  While a recovery is anticipated, over the next year with the report predicting a 3.7% increase in tender workload, the current environment has forced suppliers to adapt their strategies. This shift is evident in the South West, where curtain walling and carpentry & joinery have seen notable increases in tender volumes, suggesting a shift toward façade and fit out work in areas with fewer regulatory hurdles. The lack of good-quality labour is also adding time to projects, as contractors struggle to secure skilled subcontractors. In response to ongoing skills shortages in the sector, the government has published its Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, pledging to invest £100 million over the next 4 years to expand Construction Skills Bootcamps. Adrienne Turner, Framework Manager, said: “To successfully navigate today’s construction landscape, public sector organisations must prioritise early planning, proactive collaboration, and strategic investment in talent. Building resilience means engaging supply chain partners early, leveraging digital tools for compliance, and focusing on high-quality subcontractors. With labour market cooling and skills shortages persisting, visibility and certainty of project pipelines are essential for effective workforce management.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals