With major infrastructure projects such as HS2 driving demand, rail improvement sites across the UK are under pressure to deliver safely, efficiently and without delay. Behind the scenes it’s the logistics, planning and safety solutions that keep everything moving. Here are seven top tips from Paul Goossens, operations director at SafeSite Facilities, to ensure a rail improvement project stays on track. 1. Offloading made easy – even on the toughest sites Offloading is one of the biggest challenges on rail projects. That’s why truck-mounted forklifts and crane-equipped vehicles are key to handle the most complex deliveries. Whether it’s a narrow roadside drop or a night-time install, it’s important to coordinate every detail to ensure materials are delivered and installed without delay. Remember it can take a long time to offload from a delivery vehicle. 2. Preventing unauthorised access: people and wildlife Rail sites should be protected with a wide range of fencing which can prevent people and animals from accessing the site. Wildlife fencing can even prevent animals from burrowing into the site and helps to ensure the construction industry protects wildlife.   These preventative measures are essential for safety and compliance. There are multiple options, including fencing, concrete and water-filled barriers to consider. 3. CCTV: protecting lives and reputations Modern CCTV systems boast thermal imaging and AI detection, which provide real-time alerts and can trigger public address warnings to prevent accidents. They can monitor site safety which can reduce the risk of accidents and deter young people and trespassers from entering a construction site. 4. Built for high winds and heavy impact Fencing systems with ballast are designed to withstand extreme conditions, including high winds, ensuring the site remains secure even in bad weather. Ballast blocks and crash barriers ensure stability and safety, even in exposed or high-traffic areas. 5. Planning and compliance at every stage Every delivery must be backed by detailed documentation to ensure it goes off without a hitch. This includes driver IDs, vehicle MOTs, training certificates and lift plans for cranes which will be used to offload. For projects like HS2, where 24-hour booking systems and strict access routes are expected, this level of planning is essential. 6. Speed and flexibility when it matters most It’s crucial that delivery services can meet urgent site needs, ensuring that materials and equipment are available when required to prevent site closures and work stoppages. Choose operators close to the site which can deliver urgently needed materials within 24 hours. Whether it’s a last-minute request to secure a dangerous area or a planned overnight install, they should be ready to respond, delivering and installing within a single shift so the team can operate safely. 7. Risk assessment and expert advice Before any order is confirmed, a full risk assessment should be completed with advice on the safest and most efficient solution presented. If a delivery or installation is too risky, it’s crucial to communicate this and help find a better alternative. For more information, visit: https://www.safesitefacilities.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Maintaining site safety is a core responsibility for the construction manager. As part of this duty, understanding the regulatory framework for confined space rescue is absolutely essential so, in this article we explore the key legal requirements, the practical implications for busy sites, and best-practice how-to steps. What Counts as a Confined Space? According to the UK’s Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, a confined space is any enclosed or partially enclosed area not designed for continuous human occupancy, where there is a foreseeable risk of serious harm such as lack of oxygen, toxic gas exposure, drowning, or explosion. Examples include tanks, silos, manholes, tunnels, sewers, boiler interiors, shafts, vaults, and basements. Key Legislation Construction Managers Must Know 1. Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 2. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 & Management Regulations 1999 These set the wider framework requiring competent risk assessment, supervision, planning, and provision of safe systems including training, PPE, and emergency planning. Why Delegation and Preparedness Matter HSE guidance makes clear that relying on external emergency services is inadequate in confined space incidents as response times are often too slow, and access for uniformed crews may be difficult. A dedicated rescue team needs to be immediately available on‑site or nearby. Safe rescue starts well before need arises through hazard assessments, drills, equipment maintenance, and clear communication protocols. Supervisors and rescuers alike must hold appropriate certification including City & Guilds qualifications such as 6160‑03 for high‑risk spaces and 6160‑08 for rescue team members. Look for experienced training providers that offer a wide range of confined space training courses. Practical Checklist for Construction Managers Step Action Risk Assessment Identify confined spaces on your site. Use the HSE-approved Code of Practice L101 to guide assessment. Avoid Entry if Possible Wherever feasible, carry out work from outside. If entry is unavoidable, ensure it follows a robust system of work. Develop Rescue Plan Prepare rescue arrangements before entry (Regulation 5). This must include whether self-rescue, non-entry rescue, or entry rescue is viable. Appoint Competent Personnel Ensure site leaders and safety supervisor are trained in confined space oversight and rescue protocols. Ensure Equipment Readiness Confirm ventilation, atmospheric monitoring, breathing apparatus, harnesses, tripods, winches, lighting, communication tools are all functional. Train & Drill Regularly Ensure entrants, attendants and responders regularly rehearse rescue procedures. Consider mobile training units or experienced third‑party providers for practice scenarios. Audit and Review Conduct periodic reviews of confined space plans, equipment servicing, rescue performance and incident lessons. Real Consequences When Preparedness Lapses Numerous real-world incidents have underlined the danger and according to various studies, about two‑thirds of confined space fatalities occur not to the initial victim but to would-be rescuers entering without proper planning or equipment.  By contrast, companies that embed trained rescue teams, regular drills and documented rescue systems improve outcomes significantly, and reduce liability, downtime and risk exposure. Final Thought For construction managers, confined space regulations aren’t just administrative burdens, they’re life-critical frameworks. Understanding Regulations 1997 (especially Regulations 4 & 5), taking proactive steps to minimise entry, appointing competent teams, and establishing ready rescue arrangements are essential. It’s not about promotion it’s about responsibility and informed leadership. Setting a high bar for rescue readiness, training and compliant systems ensures safer worksites, fewer incidents and peace of mind when high-risk jobs arise.

Off the back of Storm Floris, energy solutions and temperature control specialist Aggreko is urging site managers to adopt more robust dehumidification and heating strategies in the face of high-risk weather in order to minimise damage to materials. Storm Floris recently brought 90mph winds and torrential rain to the UK, posing significant disruption to operations across the north of England and Scotland.[1] Chiming with this, Aggreko’s latest report, Building in Resilience: Weather-Proofing European Construction in a Changing Climate, found that damage to materials was the top concern regarding high-risk weather among UK construction managers, with almost 40% also stating that they had faced major delays, missed deadlines, and financial penalties as a result of high-risk weather. Chris Smith, Head of Temperature Control at Aggreko, is emphasising the need for site managers to bolster their approach to dehumidification and heating in order to minimise the financial impact of both Floris and future storms. He said: “As last year’s storm season evidenced, extreme weather is becoming all the more common in the UK, though volatile supply chains and rising material costs mean that the potential financial impact is greater than ever. As such, there is a renewed need for construction managers to deploy effective dehumidification and heating solutions to minimise damage to materials and ensure that sites are able to weather the storm.” ‘Storm season’ saw a record-breaking 12 named storms hit the UK between September 2023 and August 2024,[2] with the Met Office also forecasting that winters will be up to 30% wetter by 2070.[3] More recently, a report from QBE Insurance Group, developed in collaboration with Control Risks, found that the construction sector is already facing surging material costs due to geopolitical developments, with copper, steel, aluminium, and timber all spiking, and some reaching all-time highs.[4] Chris concluded: “With material costs on the rise, site managers must do all they can to safeguard their stocks against water damage, or pay the price. Copper, steel, aluminium, and timber – as well as wider materials such as concrete and insulation – are all susceptible to the effects of water ingress and damp, so an all-encompassing dehumidification and heating strategy is key. “Bringing in solutions from a temperature control specialist can help materials to dry out quicker, allowing damage that may otherwise render them unusable to be avoided. While the worst of Storm Floris may have passed, it is certainly not the last of the UK’s wet weather, particularly as we approach the autumn and winter months, so I urge site managers to engage with these contacts ahead of time to get wet weather ready.” Read Aggreko’s full report, Building in Resilience: Weather-Proofing European Construction in a Changing Climate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A wave of revolutionary projects is sweeping through the UK construction industry in 2025. From the groundbreaking Lower Thames Crossing in the south to the Eastern Greenlink in the north, these transformative schemes represent the latest developments in cutting-edge engineering and architecture.  With a strong emphasis on sustainability, these transformative schemes are reshaping the nation’s infrastructure and urban landscapes through innovative thinking and rapid advances in building technology, such as construction ERP software.  The following 9 state-of-the-art projects showcase the UK as a leader in design and innovation, while offering fresh opportunities for construction professionals.  1. Lower Thames Crossing  A trailblazing project to build the UK’s longest road tunnel received a massive boost in June after the award of £590m of extra government money.  The Lower Thames Crossing will connect Essex and Kent via a 14.5-mile route designed to alleviate traffic congestion in the region. Costing an estimated £10bn in total, the government’s recent cash injection signals the go-ahead to secure further private investment, with work expected to start in 2026 and finish in 2032.  2. Sizewell C Nuclear Plant  The new Sizewell C nuclear power plant moved a step closer to fruition this year after the government committed £14.2bn of investment.  The plant, situated on the Suffolk coastline, will create 10,000 direct jobs and generate enough energy to power six million homes. When construction work begins in the near future, the project could take around 10 years to complete and dramatically reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels in line with Net Zero targets.  3. Viadux 2 Tower  An ambitious project to build the UK’s fourth-tallest building received planning approval from Manchester City Council in April 2025.  The 246m, 76-storey Viadux 2 tower will contain 452 apartments, a 160-bedroom hotel, plus an adjacent 23-storey tower purely for affordable homes. Construction work is due to start this year, and when complete, Viadux 2 will transform the Manchester skyline and become the UK’s fourth tallest building after The Shard, 22 Bishopsgate and the soon-to-be-built 1 Undershaft.  4. Dundee’s Eden Project (pictured)   The £130m Eden Project Scotland entered its final design stage in early 2025, transforming an old gasworks into a green oasis that will attract thousands of visitors each year and give the local economy a massive boost.  The project features the complete regeneration of Dundee’s industrial waterfront and will become a landmark destination for green tourism. The scheme, similar to the famous Cornwall site, was granted planning permission in 2024 and will offer a combination of eco-friendly attractions, live music, exhibit, food and more. The charity behind the Eden Project schemes is in the process of raising funds and seeking investment before construction work can begin.  5. Havant Thicket Reservoir  Project leaders will be ramping up groundwork and site improvements of the UK’s first new reservoir in decades throughout 2025.  The Havant Thicket Reservoir, located in East Hampshire, will store around 8.7 billion litres of water by the time it’s operational in 2029. A joint venture between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water, and costing around £340m, the site covers 160 hectares. When complete, this incredible feat of engineering will supply up to 21 million litres of water to homes across the South of England each day, making it one of the largest schemes of its type anywhere in the world.  6. Eastern Greenlink 2  Construction work is currently underway on the dynamic Eastern Greenlink 2 project, marking one of the biggest changes to the UK’s energy infrastructure for many years.  The scheme will create a 505km electrical superhighway between Aberdeenshire and North Yorkshire via a cable laid under the North Sea. When work is completed in 2029, the £4.3bn project will produce clean energy from offshore wind and other natural sources, carry enough electricity to power two million homes, create thousands of jobs and boost the economy.  7. Transpennine Route Upgrade  Rail passengers travelling across the Pennines will benefit from a multi-billion-pound electrification project to improve services between Manchester Huddersfield, Leeds and York.  Dubbed the Transpennine Route Upgrade, the line between Manchester Victoria station and Stalybridge was electrified earlier this year while construction work on other sections continues to gather pace. Once complete, passengers will benefit from faster journey times of around 40 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and 65 minutes between Manchester and York. Developers say the project will also allow greener trains to operate and reduce carbon emissions by up to 87,000 tonnes each year.  8. Cambridge Children’s Hospital   Construction of a new children’s hospital in Cambridge is fast approaching after the tender for main contractors was launched earlier this year.  The government committed £100m to the state-of-the-art project, with the rest coming from fundraising and donations. Preparation work on the site is already underway, with completion expected in 2029. The hospital will serve the regions of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. It will be the first of its kind to combine treatment for both physical and mental health in children and young adults.  9. Gate Burton Energy Park  Approved in July 2024, work has started on a giant solar farm in Lincolnshire that will provide enough clean energy to power over 160,000 homes in the region.  Gate Burton Energy Park spans nearly 1,700 acres and will generate, store and export up to 500MW of electricity. Not only that, but the £300m scheme is expected to save more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year when the project is completed in 2028.  Overall, 2025 marks a significant milestone in UK construction and innovation, with a strong focus on renewable energy, sustainability, transport and new housing dominating the industry.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

By Blueprint Interiors With the hybrid tide turning and more businesses bringing people back to the office, the conversation has quickly moved from “how do we get them back?” to “how do we make them want to stay?” The answer lies not just in desks and deadlines – but in design, culture and purpose. We’ve spent over two decades helping businesses create workspaces that are more than just functional. They’re places where people want to be. And with recent stats showing that nearly 40% of global workers value a positive work environment over salary (Microsoft Work Trend Index, 2024), now’s the time for employers to rethink what a return to the office really means. Here are our top tips for keeping your people happy, productive and loyal once they’re back through the door: 1. Design spaces that inspire collaboration The traditional “rows of desks” model doesn’t cut it anymore. The office isn’t just a place to complete daily tasks – it’s a space for culture, collaboration and connection. Research shows that people want to come into the office to collaborate, build relationships and be part of something bigger. It’s not just about getting people back into the office; it’s about creating spaces that make them want to stay. By creating collaborative spaces that encourage teamwork and innovation, businesses see a significant boost in creativity and employee satisfaction. Top Tip: Use spatial zoning to create different environments – quiet zones, collaboration hubs, social spaces. These spaces will inspire creativity and make employees feel more connected. It shows you understand that work isn’t one-size-fits-all. 2. Prioritise employee wellbeing in design A great workspace isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s about creating an environment where employees feel physically and mentally supported. With employees increasingly prioritising wellbeing over salary, the design of your office space plays a crucial role in retention. Top Tip: Integrate biophilic design elements such as plants, natural lighting, and outdoor views to enhance mood and productivity. Include quiet zones for relaxation and focus, and ensure ergonomic furniture is a priority to prevent burnout. 3. Tailor the office to your culture We take a bespoke approach to each client, ensuring the office design mirrors the values, mission, and personality of the company. The workspace should reflect your company’s unique culture, encouraging employees to feel part of something bigger than just their job. Top Tip: Use branded elements in your workspace design, such as custom wall art, colour schemes, or interactive displays that reflect your company’s ethos. Integrate spaces for informal team building, brainstorming, and socialising, ensuring employees feel a sense of belonging. 4. Flexibility still matters Flexibility remains a top priority for employees, and we champion flexible, hybrid-friendly office designs that allow businesses to adapt to evolving work styles. Creating adaptable workspaces helps employees feel empowered and trusted in their roles. Top Tip: Design spaces that can accommodate various work styles. Include adjustable desks, movable partitions, and multi-purpose areas to ensure that the office meets both personal and team needs. 5. Enhance productivity through acoustic design One area that often gets overlooked is acoustics. Poor acoustics can significantly impact employee focus and satisfaction making sound management a priority in creating a better working environment. Top Tip: Use acoustic panels, ceiling baffles, and carpeting to reduce noise in open-plan areas. Offer employees quiet rooms and phone booths for private calls, ensuring they have spaces to focus without distractions. 6. Listen to your people and measure what matters One of the biggest mistakes we see is businesses assuming they know what people want. Is your workspace actually doing what it’s supposed to? Track key metrics like engagement, retention, and productivity – but also qualitative feedback on how the office really feels to your team. We work closely with our clients to evaluate the success of office transformations, measuring not only how well the space works but how it impacts employee experience. Top Tip: Define success criteria and assess progress over time. Conduct regular employee feedback surveys to identify areas for improvement and ensure your office space evolves to meet their needs. At Blueprint, we believe the office should be more than a place to sit – it should be a place to belong. The employers getting it right aren’t just filling their desks – they’re building spaces that fuel purpose, connection and growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

When many of us think about the classic responsibilities and tasks that estate agents are associated with – ranging from marketing properties to arranging viewings and negotiating deals – it might seem that so much about this sector is inherently “face-to-face” in nature. This raises the question in 2025: to what extent is the typical estate agency still a “brick-and-mortar” business that first greets property owners, buyers, or tenants when they walk through the door, and to what degree do estate agencies need to immerse themselves in digital marketing? Online vs Offline: The Importance of Doing Both for Estate Agents The above question is, in various respects, a false premise. While a strong online presence, for example, is important for an estate agency in its efforts to attract and educate all the right people, its offline touchpoints – such as a high-street branch – can still be crucial for reinforcing the legitimacy of the brand, as well as its roots in the local area. This is literally the business of brick-and-mortar property, after all. However, even in the world of estate agents, it is difficult to deny that a gradual shift has occurred in recent years, away from traditional methods. When this is considered alongside technological advances and the continuing evolutions in consumer habits and preferences, it becomes clear that estate agents need to be highly engaged with digital marketing. 3 Key Changes in Digital Marketing That Are Impacting on Estate Agents It was reported as long ago as 2017 that 93% of UK homebuyers used online channels to search for properties – as well as that some 51% of recent home purchasers first reached out to an estate agent online, instead of in person. In light of findings like these, the importance of embracing the latest digital and online-based marketing solutions should have long been obvious enough to many estate agencies. Recent years, however, have seen further shifts in digital marketing that are highly relevant to estate agent businesses. These have included, but have not been limited to: The leading estate agents today are increasingly making the most of the evolutions in social media-ready video content over recent years. These have encompassed, for example, the sharing of 15-to-30-second vertical videos on platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok to show off properties, and even the introduction of augmented reality (AR) tours and live-streamed video walkthroughs. Search engine optimisation (SEO), of course, will likely retain its critical importance for estate agencies for as long as “search engines” (as we might recognise them today) still exist. Any responsible estate agent, for instance, needs to be optimising for “near me” search terms – such as “estate agents near me” – to help capture clients who may well be using their mobile device to seek out local property firms. However, when it comes to ensuring the best possible online visibility for property businesses, it is fair to say that both voice search and visual search are also increasingly entering the conversation. Visual search might have particularly obvious relevance to property searches. So, it has been intriguing in recent times to see platforms like Pinterest and Google Lens giving users the ability to upload images and then be presented with similar-looking properties. It is tricky these days to write any article charting the latest shifts in digital marketing, without addressing how artificial intelligence (AI) has upended… well, almost everything. As far as the digital marketing of estate agencies is concerned, the rapid rise of AI has manifested in such developments as AI-powered chatbots that can guide prospective clients through queries, as well as intelligent data analysis with the ability to predict buyer intent. The insights that an estate agent gains from such analysis can help with the tailoring of its marketing messages. Plus, AI simply makes it so much easier for estate agencies to personalise how they reach out to and engage potential clients. By taking these digital marketing shifts into account, and tailoring them to their own circumstances, needs, and aspirations, property businesses can help to ensure they engage their target audiences more effectively, thereby making improved business outcomes possible.

Lighting is playing an ever-increasingly important role in the circular economy. Luminaires are no longer seen as part of the disposable society, thanks to a recognition that they can be upgraded and refurbished to extend their lifetime. Responsible manufacturers are integrating this approach into the design of luminaires from the outset, providing greater convenience to sustainability. David Goddard, Head of UK Projects from LEDVANCE explores this principle.  For many years the lighting industry faced the challenge of reducing electronic waste. The barrier to achieving this was the limited lifespan that traditional light sources, and even early generation LEDs, offered. To address this, responsible manufacturers have adopted manufacturing practices that enable luminaires to be part of the circular economy.   At its heart, the circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves reusing, repairing, refurbishing existing products for as long as possible. The lifecycle of products is subsequently extended and is a move away from the linear economic model society had become reliant on. The unsustainable linear model is one which involves large quantities of cheap, and therefore rapidly disposable, products. These are never recycled or upgraded and ultimately end up being sent to landfill on an all too frequent basis.   One example of the circular economy in practice is LEDVANCE’s EVERLOOP approach. This principle enables the replacement of individual light sources and drivers in a convenient way, rather than having to replace luminaires in their entirety. The purpose behind EVERLOOP is that it is integrated into the LED from the offset, allowing for the straightforward upgrade with new drivers and new LED light sources at any time. This means the luminaires have an almost unlimited lifespan.   The ease of replacement is key to the success of this sustainability practice. Having the ability to change the driver and light source embedded into the luminaire offers a convenient choice for many across the industry. This includes installers, planners, and facilities managers, among others wanting to secure sustainable efficiency of industrial and office applications, as well as public buildings.  The EVERLOOP approach is one way that LEDVANCE is contributing to the EU’s plan to reduce electronic waste. As well as meeting legislative requirements and targets, it also represents how lighting manufacturers are demonstrating efforts and measures that go above and beyond to address sustainability matters.   There are many reasons why focusing on the reduction of electronic waste is crucial. Firstly, the re-use of existing products slows down the use of natural resources and raw materials. This means a reduction in landscape and habitat disruption as materials do not need to be mined.  A circular economy further protects the natural environment by lowering the amount of waste that is sent to landfill, or disposed of through burning. Figures from the World Resources Institute show that each year, 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced globally. This is in addition to 54 million tonnes of electronic waste. Designing products that can be used for much longer will reduce waste levels, and therefore pressure on the environment.   Adding to this, creating more efficient and sustainable products from the beginning of its lifecycle helps to lower energy and resource consumption. This is because, according to research published by the European Parliament, it is estimated that more than 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined during the design phase.  To put this into context, data shows that around 45% of global greenhouse gas comes from product use and manufacturing. By implementing circular economy strategies that reduce this need to keep producing more and more, will significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions. This has the ability to reduce and potentially reverse some of the negative implications of climate change.   The circular economy also secures benefits that go beyond the individual products themselves. A reduction in the number of new products also lowers the associated packaging that needs to be disposed of. By upgrading the products that are in situ, there is less packaging for the replacement products – only what is needed to transport and store them safely. This in turn lowers the amount of waste, that in too many cases is still non-recyclable, that will be sent to landfill.  The role of lighting in the circular economy is clear to see, especially when there is an easy solution to challenging the outdated and detrimental linear model. The move to refurbishing and upgrading luminaires is becoming increasingly commonplace, and LEDVANCE is proud to be part of this movement. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals