Two Kier directors exit in boardroom shake-up

Kier’s construction and property directors have stepped down in a boardroom shake-up unveiled by the group this morning.

The construction group said the management reshuffle was designed to reduce duplication and simplify its management structure as part of the on-going cost-saving programme.

Construction and Infrastructure Services director Nigel Brook and development and property services director Nigel Turner leave the business with immediate effect.

Claudio Veritiero, currently strategy and corporate development director, has been promoted to the new role of chief operating officer with immediate effect.

Veritiero, aged 44, joined Kier in 2011 as the managing director of the services division.

Prior to joining Kier, he was the chief operating officer of Speedy Hire, having spent his early career with the investment banking business of Rothschild.

Philip Cox, chairman of Kier, said: “Claudio has a strong record of managing operational performance and has acquired an in-depth knowledge of Kier, and its markets, during his time with the business. I very much look forward to working with Claudio in his new role.”

“Nigel Brook and Nigel Turner will be leaving the Board after, respectively, 10 and 21 years’ service with Kier.

“Each has made a significant contribution to the business and the Board; under Nigel Brook’s leadership, our construction and infrastructure services division has continued to perform well in a challenging market environment and Nigel Turner has, in particular, played a significant role in the property business’ growth.

“I would like to thank each of them for their hard work and contributions and we wish them well for the future.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/08/01/two-directors-exit-in-kier-boardroom-shake-up/

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Fire doors taken off market after failing safety tests

Fire doors from five manufacturers have been withdrawn from the market after failing post-Grenfell safety tests.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire has now ordered a summit of manufacturers to address the “broader issue” across the fire doors market.

The doors from five suppliers failed tests during an ongoing investigation by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The ministry began investigating the fire door industry after it was found that a glazed, composite fire door from Grenfell Tower failed a 30 minute fire resistance test after approximately 15 minutes.

Brokenshire said: “While the department’s investigations are on-going, I now have enough evidence to suggest that there is a broader issue across the fire door market.

“That is why I am calling on suppliers to meet this week and provide reassurance that they are gripping this issue properly.

“I want to see a clear plan of action to rectify existing problems and ensure such failures are not repeated in the future.

“Whilst our Expert Panel assures me the risk remains low I want to assure the public that the government is doing everything it can to ensure construction products are of the highest safety standards and accurately tested and marketed.”

The products which have failed government tests to date were glazed and unglazed doors supplied by Manse Masterdor and Masterdor Limited and glazed composite doors supplied by Specialist Building Products Limited, trading as Permadoor; Solar Windows Limited; and Birtley Group Limited, trading as Bowater by Birtley.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/08/01/fire-doors-taken-off-market-after-failing-safety-tests/

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Wates starts £300m London Borough Yards scheme

Wates has got the go-ahead to start work on the £300m mixed-use redevelopment around Borough Market in South London.

The redevelopment of the former Vinopolis premises into a new shopping and restaurant complex has now been renamed  ‘Borough Yards’ by developer Meyer Bergman.

Designed by architect SPPARC , the development features five mixed-use buildings for offices, shops, gallery, restaurants and a cinema.

Also it will restore and reinvent the lost medieval street pattern of the area adjacent to the world-famous food destination Borough Market. Several historic local street names will be revived, including Dirty Lane, Clink Yard and Soap Yard.

Trevor Morriss, Principal at SPPARC, said: “Borough Yards will become a new cultural destination that reflects the work/play balance of modern London.

“Located next to the historic Borough Market, the development of new streets, cultural galleries and flexible workspace will be a lively addition to the area which currently lacks any fashion led retail. ”

Victorian brick railway viaducts will be opened up to allow for pedestrian lanes. The scheme’s design engages with existing fabric and patterns of pedestrian movement to integrate new architecture and re-purposed structures into a complex urban context”

Victorian brick railway viaducts will be opened up to allow for pedestrian lanes and retail units

The professional team included Pell Frischmann as structural engineer and Meinhardt as M&E engineer.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/08/01/wates-starts-300m-london-borough-yards-scheme/

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“Crass stupidity” of dumping another 341 Carillion apprentices

The latest round of 341 redundancies among Carillion apprentices has been attacked as an act of “crass stupidity”.

Unite has blasted the move by the official receiver as the industry is crying out for young talent.

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “This is an appalling way to treat these apprentices who should have become the backbone of the industry.

“To dump them and to destroy their training is an act of crass stupidity.

“These actions highlight the government’s total failure to assist the workers who have been most affected by Carillion’s collapse through no fault of their own.

“The government could have used its procurement power to find placements for these apprentices but it chose not to, demonstrating that it is not serious about dealing with the skills crisis facing the industry.”

When Carillion collapsed in January it employed 1,200 apprentices.

Following the company demise the Construction Industry Training Board has found suitable placements for over 800 of the affected apprentices and is still working to help more.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/31/crass-stupidity-of-dumping-another-341-carillion-apprentices/

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Spie starts £20m M&E package at luxury London resi site

SPIE UK has started a £20m contract for the mechanical, electrical, public health and fire engineering services for the redevelopment of Regent’s Crescent in West London.

Works will take 86 weeks on the original John Nash building which will be home to 63 new luxury residential apartments and nine mews properties with prices starting from £3.95m to £18m.

Steven Farmer, Divisional Managing Director at SPIE UK, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work on a development with so much historical significance.

“The team’s expertise will ensure that residents of Regent’s Crescent get to enjoy their new homes to the fullest, having been completed to the highest standards, deserving of a building like Regent’s Crescent.

“Moreover, the depth of expertise our team possesses in respect to coordinating and delivering such technical contracts  will ensure that works are delivered in a timely manner.”

Colin J Dyson, Operations Director for main contractor Midgard Ltd, added: “From the outset it was clear that SPIE had the proven track record in delivering the services that we were looking for at Regent’s Crescent, particularly in respect to their work on other iconic buildings.

“SPIE’s specialist technical skills and extensive experience made them the perfect partner and we have full confidence that they will deliver a high-quality output that meets our exact needs.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/31/spie-starts-30m-me-package-at-luxury-london-resi-site/

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New electrocatalyst developed for ORR

Scientists have fabricated a new type of VNQD-NG as nonprecious metal-based electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This has significant practical and commercial applications.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180731092049.htm

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Optical fibers that can 'feel' the materials around them

Researchers have developed an optical fiber capable of detecting what sort of material or liquid they have come into contact with.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180731092042.htm

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Smaller firms attack Build UK over late pay “insult”

The National Federation of Builders has blasted Build UK after it published payment practice data from its major contractor members.

The data revealed no Build UK main contractors pay their suppliers within 30 days.

Build UK chief executive Suzannah Nichol hailed the publication as a “bold first step” in showing that industry leaders are “serious about changing the way they do business”.

That prompted an angry response from smaller contractors who are demanding real action over late payment.

Neil Walters, national chair of the NFB, said: “Seeing Build UK portray tier one contractors like industry pioneers is the ultimate insult.

“Build UK members, who make up less than 1% of the construction industry, are failing the 99%.

“Fair practice is essential to changing the industry culture around payment, not transparency.

“Transparency is a legal requirement, not a bold step.

“Procurement regulations already require 30-day payment terms down the supply chain, but the first thing tier one contractors do is change the contract terms to suit their interests and all but force SMEs to sign the amended terms to get paid.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/31/smaller-firms-attack-build-uk-over-late-pay-insult/

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A colossal breakthrough for topological spintronics

Scientists have developed the world’s best-performing pure spin current source made of bismuth-antimony (BiSb) alloys, which they report as the best candidate for the first industrial application of topological insulators. The achievement represents a big step forward in the development of spin-orbit torque magnetoresistive random-access memory (SOT-MRAM) devices with the potential to replace existing memory technologies.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180731092023.htm

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Kier to build £36m cardiac hospital in London

Nuffield Health has appointed Kier to deliver a £36m redevelopment of the former pathology and residential staff quarters at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.

The not-for-profit healthcare organisation aims to transform two disused buildings into a new cardiac unit.

The 48-bed facility will house four operating theatres as well as 28 consultation rooms. It will also provide a space for physiotherapy, health assessments and a range of diagnostic services.

Construction is due to begin on site next month, with the new hospital opening in 2021 and will be known as Nuffield Health at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Cliff Thomas, managing director of Kier Construction London, said: “The UK healthcare sector has seen its biggest increase in activity for two years, and Kier is currently working on over £400m of healthcare projects in London and the South East alone.

“We’ve recently finished work on the UK’s first dedicated centre for cancer immunology research at Southampton General Hospital and are working to successful completion of the new emergency department and assessment unit at Wexham Park Hospital.”

The award adds to Kier’s leading presence in the healthcare sector. Earlier this year, Kier also won a place on the £500m Private Investment Construction (PIC) framework to deliver privately funded projects for the NHS and private healthcare operators.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/31/kier-to-build-36m-cardiac-hospital-in-london/

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Taylor Wimpey commits £30m to Grenfell reclad projects

House builder Taylor Wimpey will spend up to £30m recladding buildings that have failed post-Grenfell tests.

The firm revealed much of this would be spent replacing substandard ACM cladding on a project in Scotland, which was built under prior building regulations.

The building complex is understood to be the Glasgow Harbour scheme built 12 years ago where around 300 homes are affected.

Pete Redfern, chief executive, said the firm had completed a review of cladding on its building and discussions with owners.

“Whilst each example is slightly different, and this is an exceptionally complex issue, we have in a number of cases agreed to support customers both financially and practically with removal and replacement plans, even though the buildings concerned met the requirements of building regulations at the time construction was formally approved.

“We have taken this decision for buildings constructed recently because we believe that it is morally right, not because it is legally required.

“Our primary goal in doing this is seeking to ensure that any work is undertaken properly and promptly, but also to ensure that customers are not impacted by bills that are significantly greater than normal maintenance.”

Announcing half-year results., Redfern said pre-tax profits were up by 48% to £301m on stable revenue of £1.72bn.

He blamed poor weather at the start of the year for a 3% fall in completions to 6,367. Average selling prices on private completions increased by 2.8% to £295k (H1 2017: £287k).

Build cost per unit in the UK increased to £143.7k (H1 2017: £137.4k), with the greater level of strategically sourced sites requiring higher infrastructure costs, together with marginal build cost inflation, mix and specification improvements.

 

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/31/taylor-wimpey-commits-30m-to-grenfell-reclad-projects/

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Solar road studs light-up revamped A38

Highways England contractors have installed more than 4,500 solar road studs as part of an £8.5m improvement to the A38 between Ripley and junction 28 of the M1 near Mansfield

The studs harness sunlight in the daytime and light up the road at night.

They are also effective in heavy rain, mist or fog and a four-hour charge from daylight can power the devices for over 200 hours.

Highways England project manager, Matthew Carruthers, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to further improve journeys and safety for drivers and this is a great example of that.

“This section of carriageway has no street lighting so the solar road studs and improved lane markings make a real difference.

“At the same time the new technology is more durable, meaning less disruption for motorists in the long term thanks to fewer roadworks.”

Standard road studs require car headlights to illuminate their reflective surface – typically this means that the headlights can be seen up to 90 metres away, giving drivers travelling at 60mph around three seconds to react to conditions on the road.

The solar road studs generate their own light through a battery powered LED and can be seen up to 900 metres away, giving drivers travelling at 60mph more than 30 seconds to react.

The new studs are also more durable, lasting up to five years longer than standard studs, require less maintenance during their lifetime and at only 4mm in height means are they safer for motorcycles.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/31/solar-road-studs-light-up-revamped-a38/

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Construction self-employment on the rise again

Construction union Unite is sounding a warning after new figures revealed a rise in self-employment.

A Freedom of Information request made by Unite to HMRC revealed that 1.12 million construction workers were paid via the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) in 2017/18 – a 4% increase on the previous year.

Unite claims “the vast majority are bogusly self-employed”.

It said: “In 2014 the government introduced measures designed to crack down on bogus self-employment in the construction industry, by barring construction workers operating via engagers (employment agencies and payroll companies) from being self-employed

“The continuing year on year increase in the number of workers operating via the CIS scheme demonstrates that the government’s crack down on bogus self-employment has failed.

“Since 2014 there has been an 18% increase in workers operating via CIS.”

In total 49% of the industry’s 2.29 million workers were paid via CIS in 2017/18.

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “These latest figures are a damming indictment of the failure of the government to deal with rampant bogus self-employment in construction.

“Bogus self-employment is costing the exchequer millions in lost revenues and amounts to a huge hidden subsidy to construction employers.

“The government has clearly lost control of tackling bogus self-employment in construction, resulting in the routine exploitation of workers.

“The entire system needs to be radically reformed so that workers are either genuinely self-employed or paid via a standard PAYE format.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/31/construction-self-employment-on-the-rise-again/

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No Build UK main contractor members pay bills within 30 days

Not one major contractor member of Build UK pays supply chain invoices within an average of 30 days.

The trade body has published details of the payment performance of 24 of its main contractor members as new government transparency rules come into force.

The quickest payer is Willmott Dixon with an average of 33 days to settle bills.

Bottom of the league is Murphy Group with an average of 66 days.

Build UK members payment performance
Company Name	Average payment time (Days)	% of invoices not paid within terms
Willmott Dixon	33	8
Canary Wharf Contractors	34	8
VolkerWessels	35	19
Bouygues	40	31
AECOM	40	52
Skanska	41	11
ISG	42	48
Multiplex	43	47
Wates	44	62
Seddon	44	7
Morgan Sindall	44	24
Mace	45	43
BAM Construct	45	49
Keltbray	47	11
Galliford Try	47	26
Sir Robert McAlpine	49	70
Interserve	50	83
William Hare	51	29
Vinci	52	36
John Sisk & Son	52	64
Kier	54	48
Balfour Beatty	54	54
Engie	61	1
Murphy Group	66	66

Build UK and some of its members are signatories to the Construction Supply Chain Payment Charter which aims to enforce standard payment terms of 30 days and abolish retentions by 2025.

The trade body has hailed publication of the table as a “bold first step” in reforming payment practices.

But subcontractors are more sceptical.

One said: “We all already know that none of them pay on time.

“The real question is what are they going to do about it?

“It’s like the police publishing crime statistics without any strategy for improving them.”

The Government has welcomed the move by Build UK.

Minister for Implementation Oliver Dowden said: “Government is leading by example in fair payment practices.

“All public sector organisations are required to pay undisputed invoices in 30 days and ensure this payment term is passed down the supply chain.

“Build UK is leading the industry by publishing its members’ payment performance.”

Recent research by the Electrical Contractors Association and Building Engineering Services Association revealed that nine out of ten councils are breaking prompt payment rules.

Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol MBE said: “Transparency is essential to changing the industry culture around payment.

‘This bold first step by Build UK and its members shows that the leaders within the sector are serious about changing the way they do business.”

Suppliers can now check on a major contractors payment record here

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/31/no-build-uk-main-contractor-members-pay-bills-within-30-days/

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3D printing the next generation of batteries

3D printing can be used to manufacture porous electrodes for lithium-ion batteries – but because of the nature of the manufacturing process, the design of these 3D printed electrodes is limited to just a few possible architectures. Until now, the internal geometry that produced the best porous electrodes through additive manufacturing was what’s known as an interdigitated geometry – metal prongs interlocked like the fingers of two clasped hands, with the lithium shuttling between the two sides.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180730160351.htm

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'Smart' machine components alert users to damage and wear

Scientists have used advanced additive manufacturing technology to create ‘smart’ machine components that alert users when they are damaged or worn.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180730154739.htm

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Nano-optic endoscope sees deep into tissue at high resolution

Experts in endoscopic imaging and pioneers of flat metalens technology have teamed up to develop a new class of endoscopic imaging catheters – termed nano-optic endoscopes – that overcome the limitations of current systems.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180730120321.htm

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Trapping light that doesn't bounce off track for faster electronics

A new protective metamaterial ‘cladding’ prevents light from leaking out of the very curvy pathways it would travel in a computer chip.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180730145421.htm

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A domestic electron ion collider would unlock scientific mysteries of atomic nuclei

The science questions that could be answered by an electron ion collider (EIC) – a very large-scale particle accelerator – are significant to advancing our understanding of the atomic nuclei that make up all visible matter in the universe, says a new report.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180724174319.htm

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Looking inside the lithium battery's black box

Researchers report the use of SRS microscopy, a technique widely used in biomedical studies, to explore the mechanism behind dendrite growth in lithium batteries, the first team of material scientists to directly observe ion transport in electrolytes. They were able to see not only why lithium dendrites form but also how to inhibit their growth. Visualizing ion movement could help improve the performance of electrochemical devices, from batteries to fuel cells to sensors.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180730090143.htm

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Heatwave sparks call to cut modular homes funding

The Government should stop funding construction of modular homes because they are “not resilient to heatwaves.”

The call was contained in a report from MPs on the Environment Audit Committee.

It said: “The Committee heard that public money is used to support the construction of modular homes.

“Modular homes are not resilient to heatwaves, and the Committee is calling for the Government to end public funding for them.”

The MPs put forward a raft of reommendations across all sectors warning that “there will be 7,000 heat-related deaths every year in the UK by 2050 if the Government does not take action.”

Experts at the Concrete Centre said the construction of modular homes should be modified to negate the threat of soaring temperatures.

It said: “The problem with most factory-made homes is their light-weight nature, which lacks thermal mass and causes them to warm up very quickly on hot days.

“Thermal mass is a property found in heavy-weight masonry and concrete dwellings and describes the ability to soak up heat, helping control the internal temperature and maintain comfortable conditions.

“Where modular, factory-made homes are required, the solution then is to build them from thermally massive materials, which means concrete products, for which there are a number of construction systems already on the market.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/30/heatwave-sparks-call-to-cut-modular-homes-funding/

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McAlpine starts landmark office at £350m Newcastle scheme

Sir Robert McAlpine has started work on the flagship office project at Legal & General’s Newcastle Helix scheme.

The eight-storey office building, known as The Lumen, forms part of the initial £65m being invested in the site.

It is the largest city centre office, with private sector funding, to be constructed in the last decade.

Newcastle Helix – formerly known as Science Central – is a £350m project being delivered as a partnership between Newcastle City Council, Newcastle University and Legal & General.

Newcastle Helix will create over 4,000 jobs, 500,000 sq ft of office and research space, and 450 new homes.

The aim of the development is to become a major UK hub for scientific research, and technology businesses, creating knowledge-based jobs for future generations in Newcastle and extending the Northern Powerhouse to “the North of the North”.

Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive of Legal & General, said: “With three quarters of the UK population living in cities, there is increasing strain on these areas as populations expand and demand for housing, work space and amenities increases.

“Legal & General is committed to solving this and would urge more of these collaborative partnerships to ensure people living in our urban areas are excited about the place they live, work and play.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/30/mcalpine-starts-landmark-office-at-350m-newcastle-scheme/

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South east utilities specialist goes under

Essex-based utility infrastructure contractor AWH Utility Services has been placed in administration.

The £9m revenue contractor worked across the south east and Gloucestershire, employing around 80 staff, according to last accounts.

Administrators from Cheltenham-based Hazlewoods are now running the firm’s affairs, which has been trading since 2004.

AWH Utility Services installed gas, water and electric infrastructures on new developments and had worked with most of the national developers and gas transporters.

It saw strong growth for housing developments last year and had predicted strong turnover growth based on a record order book.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/30/south-east-utilities-specialist-goes-under/

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Brick production problems prompt Ibstock profit warning

Brick giant Ibstock issued a profit warning to the city this morning after production problems at its UK factories.

Ibstock said it is struggling to meet demand after brick output from its plants fell below anticipated levels.

The company will now  boost maintenance work at its factories over the next year leading to an increase in shutdowns.

Ibstock said: “The Group’s UK brick factories have been producing at, or close to, full production capacity for an extended period.

“In recent months however, particularly in July, production has been lower than expected and despite corrective measures output, and therefore cost recovery, in the second half of the year is now anticipated to be below expectations.

“A twelve month period of increased maintenance activity is now planned to ensure the factories can operate at sustainable levels to meet continued increasing demand.”

Profits for the year to December 31 2018 are now expected to be in the rangeof £121m to £125m compared to previous forecasts of £130m to £134m.

Joe Hudson, CEO, said: “Demand in our UK brick markets is robust and the outlook for our UK Clay business remains encouraging, supported by the ongoing need for new housing.

“However, following my appointment as CEO, the Group has completed a review of its brick manufacturing assets which has identified a number of measures that are required to sustain the quality and range of our production output.

“While the resulting additional maintenance shutdowns and extra spending on plant maintenance and refurbishment will have a short-term impact on our financial performance, we firmly believe that it is the right thing to do for our customers and to maximise long-term value for shareholders.

“We will be working closely with all customers to ensure we continue to meet their demand requirements over the second half.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/30/brick-production-problems-prompt-ibstock-profit-warning/

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Construction growth to rebound by 2.3% next year

UK construction output is expected to bounce back to 2.3% growth in 2019 after dipping by 0.6% this year.

The growth hiatus this year ends the five-year run enjoyed by the industry, fed mainly by private sector home building and strong commercial and industrial activity.

While growth will benefit civils contractors and trade contractors working for house builders, commercial building contractors are expected to continue to feel the squeeze in both commercial and retail work opportunities.

The latest forecast from economists at the Construction Products Association, revises 2018 down from stagnation to contraction due mainly to bad weather and the fall-out from Carillion.

Forecasters predict growth will bounce back in 2019 and then expand by 1.9% in 2020.

Strong housebuilding activity outside London will drive up activity in this sector by 5% in 2018 and 2% in 2019.

Infrastructure will also become a primary driver of growth for the whole construction industry, with output forecast to hit a historic high of £23.6bn by 2020, driven by large projects such as HS2 and Hinkley Point C.

CPA summer 2018 forecast

• Construction output to fall by 0.6% in 2018 before growth of 2.3% in 2019 and 1.9% in 2020
• Private housing starts to rise by 2.0% in 2018 and 2019
• Commercial offices output to fall by 20.0% in 2018 and by 10.0% in 2019
• Commercial retail output to fall by 10.0% in 2018 and remain flat in 2019
• Infrastructure construction to grow by only 3.2% in 2018 and 13.0% in 2019

Without the forecast growth in infrastructure and private housing activity, total construction output would fall by 3% in 2018 and remain flat in 2019.

The demise of Carillion resulted in a poor performance for the industry at the start of the year, which combined with the bad weather, lost UK construction £1bn of work.

It is estimated 60% of this work may be recovered, but Carillion’s collapse will cause further delays at two major hospitals as work on the £335m Royal Liverpool University and Birmingham’s £350m Midland Metropolitan hospitals is on hold until at least 2019.

Brexit uncertainty continues to drive the sharpest decline for construction in the commercial sector, particularly felt in the offices sub-sector which is expected to fall 20% in 2018 and a further 10% in 2019.

Meanwhile, the shift to online shopping is causing woes for the high street, with new retail construction expected to fall by 10% this year.

Noble Francis, Economics Director at the Construction Products Association said: “Overall, it’s mixed fortunes for contractors at the moment.

“On the positive side, house builders are keen on accelerating building rates outside of London and that is expected to be enough to offset sharp falls in house building in the capital.

“Firms working on major infrastructure projects also have a lot of work in the pipeline. Infrastructure output is forecast to rise by 3% in 2018 and 13% in 2019.

“This growth is highly dependent on large projects such as HS2 and Hinkley Point C. As ever, there remain concerns about government’s ability to deliver infrastructure projects without the cost overruns and delays that we have seen on Crossrail and HS2 recently.

“On the negative side, the elephant in the room is clearly Brexit uncertainty, which has had a big effect on international investment, especially where it is high up-front investment for a long-term rate of return, which is now highly uncertain.

“It badly affects demand in sectors such as prime residential in London, commercial offices towers and industrial factories, which is dependent on manufacturing.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/30/construction-growth-to-rebound-by-2-3-next-year/

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Laing O’Rourke completes refinancing in Australia

Laing O’Rourke has agreed a refinancing deal for its Australian operation and is “progressing well” with similar talks over its UK contracting business.

O’Rourke has been in detailed discussions with its lenders since revealing a £63.4m pre-tax loss in March for its latest accounts for 2016/17.

O’Rourke has now completed a deal for Australia and is understood to be in the final stages of talks for the UK.

A Laing O’Rourke spokesperson said, ‘The Group is progressing well with its various refinancing discussions in Australia and the UK.

“The Australia Hub refinancing was completed on July 27 and is the first step in the financial processes of the broader Group.

“Our lenders continue their strong support of the business and the significant operational improvements delivered over the past two trading periods.

“We are trading in line with our expectations and previous public forecasts for FY19 and anticipate that our results for the financial year ending 31 March 2018 (FY18) will confirm significant further progress against the Group’s key performance indicators.’

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/30/orourke-completes-refinancing-of-australian-business/

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Bid race starts for £500m Heads of the Valleys dualling

The Welsh Government has formally invited bids to build and finance the £500m last section of the A465 Heads of the Valleys dualling.

It is proposing to upgrade 18km of the A465 trunk road between Hirwaun and Dowlais Top under a design, construct, operate and maintain non-profit distribution contract model.

Under this Mutual Investment Model being used in Wales, private partners build and maintain public assets. In return, the Welsh Government will pay a fee to the private partner, which will cover the cost of construction, maintenance and financing the project.

At the end of the contract the asset is transferred into public ownership.

If the A465 dualling is given the final go-ahead by the Welsh Government, it would take three years to construct, commencing in late 2019 with completion in 2022.

This is the final section of a 40 km improvement to the A465, spanning from Hirwaun in the west to Abergavenny in the East.

The Welsh Government has appointed engineering consultant Jacobs to develop the design, produce an environmental impact assessment and take the scheme through the statutory process and seek the powers to build the road.

Dowlais and Hirwaun project

 

The A465 will be upgraded from 3-lane single carriageway to dual 2-lane carriageway.

This includes 2.2 km off-line new road construction from Hirwaun to Trewaun and six full movement grade-separated junctions located at Hirwaun, Croesbychan, Baverstock, A470, Prince Charles Hospital, and Dowlais.

The successful consortium will deliver over 100 structures, including four large viaducts, 35 widened or constructed bridges and 40 retaining walls and 41 culverts.

The operation and maintenance network will comprise the new A465 trunk road between Dowlais and Hirwaun although the inclusion of the operation and maintenance of the A465 trunk road between Abergavenny and Dowlais is also being considered.

To register an interest visit the Sell2Wales website.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/30/bid-race-starts-for-500m-heads-of-the-valleys-dualling/

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Bouygues £600m Canning Town scheme phase 3 approved

Bouygues development arm Linkcity has gained planning for the latest phase of its £600m redevelopment of Canning Town in east London.

Linkcity, advised by planning and development consultancy Montagu Evans, has got the go-ahead for the largest phase of the Hallsville Quarter development, which comprises 620 homes including 50 extra care homes – the first in the borough.

Designed by Hawkins Brown architects, the scheme includes extensive public realm works to create new centre for Canning Town, with around 120,000 sq ft of retail, offices and an NHS health centre included in the plans.

Overall, Hallsville Quarter comprises retail, offices, leisure, hotel, community uses, student accommodation, 1,148 homes and basement car parking.

Phase three is the largest of the planned five phases of development.

Phase 1 included 179 homes, while phase 2, due to be completed this year, included a mix of uses such as retail, hotel and 349 homes, including shared ownership.

The project is expected to be completed in 2023.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/30/bouygues-600m-canning-town-scheme-phase-3-approved/

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Cooking oil coating prevents bacteria from growing on food processing equipment, study suggests

Many foods produced on an industrial scale include raw ingredients mixed together in enormous stainless steel machines that can be difficult to clean. A research team proposes a simple new solution: trapping a thin layer of cooking oil at the metal surface to fill in microscopic scrapes, cracks and fissures and create a barrier to bacterial attachment. This solution resulted in a 1,000x reduction in bacterial levels inside the industrial machines tested.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180728083559.htm

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Engineers use Tiki torches in study of soot, diesel filters

Chemical engineers are using the summer staple in testing methods to improve efficiency of diesel engines.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180728084149.htm

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And then there was (more) light: Researchers boost performance quality of perovskites

Scientists report that a prototype semiconductor thin-film has performed even better than today’s best solar cell materials at emitting light.

from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180726161939.htm

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CITB to offload construction plant skills cards scheme

The CITB is understood to be selling off the Construction Plant Competence Scheme.

The Enquirer understands that a deal is imminent with the buyer believed to be the awarding and assessment body NOCN.

It would be the latest deal between the two after NOCN bought CSkills Awards from the CITB last year.

The Construction Plant Competence Scheme provides skills cards for plant operators and has issued more than 300,000 cards since it started in 2003.

The CITB declined to comment but said it would “make an announcement on the future ownership in due course.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/27/citb-to-offload-construction-plant-skills-cards-scheme/

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Heathrow team promises a “major shake-up” in construction

Heathrow’s team has completed its tour of 65 sites longlisted to become off site construction hubs for the airport’s £14bn expansion plan.

Heathrow said “Britain’s construction industry is set for a major shake-up” as it plans to build as much as possible off site.

The nationwide tour concluded in the Midlands this week with the Heathrow team visiting sites from Balfour Beatty, SEGRO and Prologis located in Tamworth, Derby and Daventry.

The next stage of the selection process will be a pre-qualification questionnaire which opens in autumn this year.

A shortlist of potential Logistics Hubs will be announced early in 2019, before the final four sites are announced later in the year, with construction set to begin at these sites in 2021.

Emma Gilthorpe, Expansion Executive Director at Heathrow said: “Heathrow expansion is much more than the delivery of Britain’s new runway.

“Expansion is a once in a generation opportunity to transform British construction as the country prepares for life post-Brexit.

“This nationwide tour has shown us the possibilities offsite construction offers and we’re looking forward to announcing the shortlist early next year.”

Business & Industry Minister Richard Harrington said: “We want the UK to lead the bytes and mortar revolution within the built environment and our Construction Sector Deal lays the foundation to take advantage of these opportunities – boosting productivity, creating better jobs and increasing new offsite manufacturing technologies to speed up construction.

“The Heathrow Logistics Hubs have the potential to be an example of this modern construction in action, embodying the principles of our Industrial Strategy and benefitting millions by allowing businesses across the UK to harness the strengths of their own regions to deliver a landmark infrastructure project.”

About Heathrow Logistics Hubs  

Heathrow will be the first major infrastructure project in the UK to pioneer the large-scale use of Logistics Hubs – aiming to build as much of the project offsite as possible. The hubs will work by pre-assembling components offsite before transporting them in consolidated loads to Heathrow just as they are needed. This method will boost the project’s efficiency and cut emissions by transporting components to site in fewer lorries. Research by WPI Economics revealed that integrating an offsite manufacturing supply chain into a major project has the potential to reduce the overall cost of the project by as much as 25% whilst speeding up delivery by up to 30.

On these tours, Heathrow’s representatives are looking for sites that will be able to work together to pre-assemble components of the expanded airport before transporting them in consolidated loads to the site. This method is set to have several benefits include the reduction of traffic on the airports surrounding roads, which will benefit the local community, as well as being able to provide better site welfare

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/27/heathrow-team-promises-a-major-shake-up-in-construction/

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Go-ahead for Laing O’Rourke Guggenheim of the North

Revised plans for Manchester’s ‘Guggenheim of the North’ arts building have been approved by city planners.

Laing O’Rourke is in the box seat to deliver the £112m arts centre project planned for the south west corner of the wider St John’s regeneration scheme.

The Factory project, named in honour of legendary music label Factory Records, involves demolition of the Starlight theatre and other buildings and structures at a site between the Old Granada Studios, the Museum of Science and Industry and the River Irwell.

Landowner Allied London established a joint venture partnership with the council to deliver the 2,300 capacity theatre and a separate 5,000-capacity warehouse space.

The Factory scheme was revised by architects Office for Metropolitan Architecture, after the orchestra pit was deemed too small and the theatre acoustics of too low a standard.

The client team includes Buro Happold for structures and MEP, Arup designing acoustics, and Gardiner and Theobald as cost consultants.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Culture and creativity have a critical role to play in Manchester’s future success – not just by inspiring ideas and imaginations but through creating opportunities and jobs. The Factory will help take this to a whole new level and open up a new chapter in Manchester’s history of innovation.

“Not only will people no longer need to move to London for the best cultural and creative roles, it will give audiences from around the country and even the world another great reason to head here.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/27/go-ahead-for-laing-orourke-112m-manchester-arts-factory/

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Green light for 860-bed Sheffield student digs

Plans for a high-rise 860-bed student scheme in Sheffield city centre have been waved through by planners.

Joint venture developers Bakewell-based Litton Property Group and Edinburgh-based Buccleuch Property plan to build the scheme on the former Stokes Tiles Centre site at Fitzwilliam Street.

The scheme, which will be split into four interlinked blocks ranging up to 15 storeys, is out to tender with Bowmer & Kirkland understood to be among firms seeking to build the project.

Work is expected to start on the project in September and take 24 months to complete.

The landmark project will boast 395 studio apartments, 33 two-bedroom apartments and 417‐12 bed cluster apartments, providing a total of 850 beds.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/27/green-light-for-860-bed-sheffield-student-digs/

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10,000 votes cast already for Enquirer awards

More than 10,000 votes have been cast already for the 2018 Construction Enquirer Awards after the shortlists were revealed earlier this month.

It’s a stunning response to what are are construction’s only truly interactive awards.

There’s still time to support your favourites as the online voting portal is open until August 8 when the Top Ten winners will be decided in each category.

This year’s shortlists are stronger than ever as leading contractors,specialists,consultants, clients and suppliers look to make the Top Ten.

Two new categories this year also mean you can vote for your favourite building and civil engineering projects.

Simply click here to see all the nominees and cast your vote.

Voting is quick and easy and winners in each category will be decided by the number of votes in relation to the size of their workforce and turnover to make sure everyone has an equal chance.

Winners will be presented with their prizes at the awards evening on October 9 held alongside UK Construction Week in Birmingham.

Supreme winners in each category will also be revealed on the night which promises to be another great evening for the industry.

Sponsors are lining-up to have their names associated with the people’s construction awards.

The current role of sponsors includes Laing O’Rourke, Kier, Torsion, Engage and JLT as a host of other firms look to become part of construction’s most interactive awards.

Further sponsorship opportunities are available to associate your brand with an event which is engaging the entire industry.

The whole supply chain including clients, contractors, specialists and suppliers will be in the room in October to celebrate the best construction has to offer.

Award category sponsorship packages cost £7,500 including a table of ten on the night.

For more details contact Stephen Blackie on +44 (0)20 3225 5200 or email stephen.blackie@media-ten.com

Early bird tickets for the awards night cost £250 or £2,500 for a table of ten if booked before July 30 when the individual ticket price rises to £275.

To book your places please click here

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/27/10000-votes-cast-already-for-enquirer-awards/

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Countryside wins £137m South Kilburn housing scheme

Peel Properties has selected partners Countryside Properties and Home Group to deliver £137m residential-led mixed-use development in South Kilburn in north London.

The high-density Peel Precinct development features seven new buildings, including a landmark 16-storey tower.

As well as more than 200 flats, the partners will also deliver a new health centre, pharmacy, cafe and retail space.

Architect Penoyre & Prasad has restored much of the area’s historic street pattern within the regeneration scheme.

Under the current plan, it will be built in three phases and forms part of a wider £400m regeneration of South Kilburn.

Phase 1 requires demolition of the South Kilburn Studios to allow the first 38 lower rise affordable units to be constructed in Block E, housing all secure tenants currently remaining on the Peel site.

Phase 2 will include the high-rise element of 64 private sale flats and health centre

The structural engineer is Price & Myers, with mechanical and electrical engineering services provided by XCO2 Energy.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/27/countryside-wins-137m-south-kilburn-housing-scheme/

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