The rural roads of North Yorkshire are set to receive a boost this month as North Yorkshire County Council will complete its biggest ever roads surface dressing programme. North Yorkshire is the largest authority in England and its 5,000 mile road network connects market towns, villages and major towns throughout vast rural regions. The overall road distance would more than stretch from England to Pakistan. The picturesque region attracts visitors from throughout the world and maintenance of the roads is a top priority for local authorities as they must be fit for purpose for residents, business and tourism. As a result, the region is increasing how much it spends on preventative road maintenance, which has bucked the national trend, in order to reduce the cost of pothole repair and reactive patching. By the end of this month, North Yorkshire County Council will partner up with contractor Ringway to surface dress approximately 400 miles of road, an unprecedented amount, as part of a process that combines chippings with bitumen. At present, the County Council currently spends around £65 million a year on road maintenance, which is a significant amount more than it has previously. The additional money comes from a £44m pot being spent between 2014-21 to bring more of the road network up to scratch, particularly across rural areas. Cllr Don Mackenzie, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Highways, commented: “Surface dressing also helps to keep roads safe, improving skid resistance. “In more urban, densely populated areas and on estate roads we are also now using a system called lock-chip, which binds the chippings to improve safety. “In addition, we aim to complete this programme every year before autumn when the weather deteriorates. This minimises costs and improves the life of the material.” Many businesses in North Yorkshire are situated along minor rural roads, so their upkeep is vital to the success of trade.

Rail Minister Paul Maynard has revealed further funding for the construction of new train stations to boost local economies, deliver higher quality journeys and link communities in England and Wales. The Department for Transport (DfT) said that the £20 million worth of funding would provide up to 75% of the construction costs for new stations or to re-open stations that have been shut down. The aim of the investment is to improve rail network access and create new travel, housing and employment opportunities. The first round of funding will help to construct new stations in London, Lea Bridge, Pye Corner, Devon and Newcourt, while stations are currently being delivered in Kenilworth near Coventry, Derbyshire and Ilkeston. Network Rail Director of Stations, Norrie Courts, commented: “These are important stations for passengers who rely on the railway every day, and the announcement of additional investment to undertake a further round of new stations is welcomed.” The DfT revealed that the already completed schemes have seen towns connected and homes constructed, which provided a boost to local economies. Maynard explained: “Through this fund, passengers will benefit from new connections and faster journeys, making it easier to get to work and visit friends and family. It will also provide a major boost for local economies and support the delivery of local housing developments.” The DfT has encouraged a number of organisations, including train operating firms and local authorities, to bid for work on the scheme. The deadline for bidders is 18 November, 2016. Successful projects are expected to be announced early next year. Meanwhile, the DfT has unveiled a shortlist of five potential routes for a Trans-Pennine road tunnel between Manchester and Sheffield. Ministers have said that this is the most ambitious road scheme since the construction of the first motorways 50 years ago, and both the DfT and Transport for the North (TfN) have identified the scheme as a priority in their strategic plans.

Welsh Water has announced that it will invest £21 million to improve the supply of drinking water in west Wales. As many parts of the water network in the area are coming to the end of their functional lives, the investment is a significant one which will see over 174km of water mains in the area replaced or cleaned in the next two year period. Among the first regions to receive investment will be Hermon, where more than £500,000 will be spent on upgrades to the water network, with a further £600,000 to be invested in the Eglwyswrw drinking water network. Another £650,000 is also set to be spent in the Pont-sian area in Ceredigion. The company’s widespread investment in the area will also see the replacement of over 5km of the drinking water trunk main in Cilgerran and Llechyrd. At the end of last year, Welsh Water experienced a burst on the network in Llechryd which left customers without water for a period. To reduce the risk of such supply disruption in the future, Welsh Water has invested £5 million to replace this strategic trunk main. This investment came as well as the £16 million already planned on improving the quality and resilience of the water supply throughout the region. Ian Christie, Welsh Water Managing Director of Water Services, commented: “With some parts of the water network laid over a century ago, the time has come for us to undertake some essential work to cleanse the pipes or where needed replace whole sections. “We are committed to providing customers with a first class supply and our work here, including the replacement of the Llechryd main after the recent burst, reflects this. Christie added that the company understands that such a major refurbishment may cause short term disruption, but he believes the long term benefits include reduced leaks, less interruptions to supply and high quality drinking water for the whole community for decades to come.

As a construction engineer or planner, there’s bound to be a number of wires, cables and other equipment in your arsenal of gear that you’ve got no use for. However, one classic piece of equipment that every engineer should have in their toolkit are tri rated cables. Not only do these kinds of cables provide your construction business with a safe way to wire panels, but they’re also flame retardant and temperature resistant. We’ve shared exactly how using tri rated cables can benefit your construction business and the reasons why they’re such an important piece of equipment: How can my Business Use Tri Rated Cables? There are many uses for tri rated cables and can be used within a variety of construction sectors. Electrical cabinets, switch control boards and motor starters are just a handful of items that can benefit from using this kind of wiring, and can also be used within smaller electrical devices. 1. Temperature Resistant From wiring home appliances to completing complex lighting solutions, tri rated cables are one of the only pieces of high-quality cable that are able to withstand extreme temperatures. This kind of cable is designed to suit with the British Standard BS6231 specification, yet achieves many more benefits beyond this. The tri-rated cable has a maximum operating temperature of 105 degrees Celsius and also complies with the UL758 and CSA 22.2 No. 210 regulations. Not only does this provide you with a robust piece of cabling for areas of high temperature, but it also aids to ensure that the safety of the building or component you’re fitting is kept intact at all times. 2. Flame Retardant Another notable benefit of tri rated cables is the fact that they’re flame retardant; meaning that the cables themselves are able to run beside areas that have the potential to be exposed to fire. This can benefit your construction business as it simplifies the amount of wiring you’re using, and making the entire cabling system more streamlined. As you can see, there are many benefits of using tri rated cables within the construction industry. Created with a layer of insulation of heat resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC), we’re sure that you’ll find the perfect use for them.

CH2M is embarking on the second phase of the Thames flood protection project, which will see the biggest every improvement programme to protect London and Kent from flooding. The scope has now been agreed for the second year of CH2M’s work on Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 Programme (Team2100), which will include construction, detailed designs, appraisals and investigations throughout the Thames Estruary, featuring improvements to the major barriers. In total, 1.25 million people are protected by the Thames Estuary tidal flood risk management system, while £200 billion of property is also protected. The system is made up of major barriers, outfalls, pumping stations, flood gates, embankments and walls on the River Thames and its tributaries. Peter Nicol, CH2M’s global water business group president, said: “The innovative approach being implemented on Team2100 is generating significant benefits in efficient delivery, having generated more than 100 innovation ideas and implementing six of these innovations to date.” CH2M was selected by the Environment Agency as its delivery partner on Team2100 two years ago. Team2100 is listed as one of the government’s top 40 infrastructure schemes and will invest up to £300 million on tidal defences across the next 10 year period. Major investment is needed in order to make sure that the assets continue to provide protection against flooding into the next century, even though sea levels continue to rise. A new barrier and increased wall heights will be needed later in the century, however the focus of the first 10 years of investment will continue to be on essential improvements and maintenance. Meanwhile, an £18m project to reduce flooding on a stretch of railway near Oxford has been completed. The Oxford to Didcot Parkway line was shut for over two weeks while the flood prevention work was being carried out at Hinksey, which runs adjacent to the River Thames.

Five routes have been shortlisted by the Department for Transport for the proposed multi-billion pound Trans-Pennine road tunnel that will link Manchester with Sheffield. All five of the routes link the M1 north of Sheffield with the M60 east of Manchester, with four of the routes starting at the M67. The proposed tunnel could nearly halve journey times between the two cities and save about 30 minutes on journey times. Data from Trafficmaster shows that the current journey from the urban centres of Sheffield and Manchester via Pennine routes excluding the M62 is around 40 miles and on average takes an hour and 15 minutes. The distance from Sheffield and Manchester via the M62 is approximately 75 minutes and on average the travel time is just over an hour and a half. John Hayes, Transport Minister, said that the project will be the most ambitious one of its kind since the motorways were first constructed 50 years ago. In response, civil engineering contractors called on the Department for Transport to engage with its supply chain from the outset to make sure that the next wave of major road schemes are delivered efficiently. The tunnel announcement was accompanied by reports that encouraged the construction of improved connections between Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford and upgrades to important parts of the A1 in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Marie-Claude Hemming, CECA Head of External Affairs, commented: “CECA has long argued for investment in world-class infrastructure to ensure the UK remains an attractive place to live and work. “As such we welcome the publication of these long awaited reports which will deliver this growth through quicker, more reliable journeys. But in a time of economic constraint, it is imperative that these projects are completed with speed and efficiency.” Hemming added that CECA believes that the DfT and its delivery partners must engage with their potential supply chains early in the development process to make sure that the new routes are built in budget and on time.

A major new electrical industry event has been announced for 2017 at the world-renowned NEC in Birmingham. Publishing and events group All Things Media (ATM) will run the brand new national exhibition which is aimed at the whole electrical and electronics industry. Leading electrical and building service trade body, the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), is backing ‘The Electrical Design and Install Expo’ (ED&I) by being the headline sponsor. The aim of ED&I is to bring everyone involved in the installation, design, specification, inspection, manufacturing and distribution of electrical products together under one roof. The event will offer a one off chance to learn more about and interact with the latest products and innovations, listen to industry experts, and network with thousands of professionals in the industry. The show has been billed as ‘the electrical event the industry has been crying out for’ and will be shaped around discovering new services and technologies that will help companies to grow. The comprehensive seminars will offer valuable insights into the latest opportunities and trends in the industry, and the latest on legislation and policy, while a series of industry investors will show off their latest industry leading products and services on the exhibition floor. Managing Director of ATM, David Kitchener, said: “The ED&I Expo represents a real watershed moment in the electrical sector, allowing everyone involved in the industry to get together, share ideas, unearth new business opportunities and drive the industry forward. “We expect to attract visitors from all over the UK and are extremely confident that the event will quickly become the “must attend” exhibition for senior level decision makers, contractors, specifiers, consultants, architects and designers, distributors, training providers, facilities managers and other key influencers.” Meanwhile, ECA Chief Executive, Steve Bratt, said that the ECA is pleased to be working with ATM on the ED&I Expo.

With the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) to be introduced in April 2018, there has been some scaremongering regarding how the new regulations will affect businesses. Engineering consultancy firm Cundall has now given advice on how to get the most out of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Assessments, with their comments primarily aimed as asset managers and property owners who are concerned that they will no longer be able to lease their property as a result of having an EPC rating of F or G. The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England & Wales) Regulations 2015, better known as MEES, comes into effect from April 2018. They will initially stop the granting of a new lease on properties with an F or G rated EPC from April 2023 and will then stop the continued letting of a property with an EPC rating of F or G. These regulations could have a significant impact on the value of a property portfolio if they are not considered and managed in advance. For instance, an EPC commissioned today could affect someone’s ability to continue to lease a property in 2023. Cundall advises to first of all check the existing assessor’s accreditation scheme; the level and software for the assessment which is provided on the bottom of the certificate. It is most likely that the rating can be significantly improved if the software is iSBEM and/or it is not a Level 5 assessment. EPCs produced from simple Level 3 & 4 assessments using free iSBEM software can vary as much as 20% compared to a detailed Level 5 assessment using simulation tools. A 20% variation can be equal to two EPC bands, with the high level assessment generally giving better results. Furthermore, the simple assessment usually means that the assessor uses default values due to lack of time and knowledge resulting in a worse rating.

The government has approved the development of the largest offshore windfarm in the world, Hornsea Project Two. Situated off the Yorkshire coast, the windfarm will have a 1.8GW capacity and will be made up of 300 turbines. The project is owned by Dong Energy and will be developed by Smart Wind. Greg Clark, Business and Energy Secretary has now approved the plans and has given government consent for the project in its entirety, including export cables, array cables, offshore and onshore substations, foundations and turbines. Clark commented: “The UK’s offshore wind industry has grown at an extraordinary rate over the last few years, and is a fundamental part of our plans to build a clean, affordable, secure energy system. “Britain is a global leader in offshore wind, and we’re determined to be one of the leading destinations for investment in renewable energy, which means jobs and economic growth right across the country.” Meanwhile, Brent Cheshire, UK County Chairman at Dong Energy said that the development of the second phase of the Hornsea project is most welcome and will build on the company’s £6 billion investment in the UK so far, providing a further exciting development opportunity in offshore wind. The company believed that a project of this size will help them in their efforts to keep cutting the cost of electricity from offshore wind and illustrates their commitment to UK investment. Huub den Rooijen, Crown Estate Director of Energy, Minerals and Infrastructure, said that offshore wind is already on course to meet 10% of electricity demand in the UK by 2020. He added that major developments on the same scale as the Hornsea Project Two will result in a continuation of growth along with a reduction in costs that will create high value jobs and support the UK’s transition to a low carbon energy supply.

Northumbrian Water has announced that it is to embark on a £2.5 million upgrade to its sewerage network in a County Durham town next month. Working in conjunction with Natural England, the company will start the project on Monday September 12, 2016 and will run until May next year. Involved in the work will be the replacement of the existing pipework, which is currently in a poor state of repair and is at risk of causing pollution in the Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve near Peterlee. The scheme will also see Northumbrian Water remove non-native trees, which were planted in the reserve some 40 years ago. The company said that this will “maximise benefits” for wildlife by reshaping the natural environment. The project will also see entrances and exits created from Durham Way to access the land on the north side of Castle Eden Dene. Once work has been completed, Northumbrian Water will work with Natural England to restore these. Sean Barry, Project Manager at Northumbrian Water, said that the project will help to protect the Dene from future pollution risks, along with the burn that runs through it. Barry added: “As someone who grew up in the area and still lives close to Castle Eden Dene, I know how important the conservation of the site is to residents and visitors, so while this is a delicate project, it will be handled with care and I look forward to leaving the dene ready for the return and resurgence of its natural species.” Meanwhile, Chris Evans, Senior Reserve Manager at Natural England, said that the scheme is a good example of how Natural England is working in conjunction with Northumbrian Water throughout the North East. Evans continued: “We will be working closely with their team and are confident there will be real benefits for wildlife on the site once works are complete.”