Month: June 2019

The latest news this week in the Property Industry:

How successful have digital solutions been for housing associations?

Three housing associations replaced their self-service facilities with easy-to-use portals and found customers were quick to sign up Read more…

Government has been aware of HPL test failure since November, Malthouse admits

The government has been aware since November that high pressure laminate cladding failed an official safety test, ministers have confirmed. Kit Malthouse this week confirmed his department became aware eight months ago that high pressure laminate (HPL) cladding failed a large-scale test when combined with combustible insulation. Read more…

Changes announced to Support for Mortgage Interest policy

Disabled people and others receiving Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) will now be able to transfer this support to their new property when moving home, rather than having to repay the loan and reapply, it has been announced. SMI is the help offered by the Government to owner occupiers in times of need. It is paid as a loan and contributes towards the interest on people’s mortgages if they are in receipt of certain benefits, to protect them against repossession and keep them in their own homes. Read more…

Rents in the UK up 1.3% in the 12 months to May 2019, latest index shows

Rents in the private rented sector in the UK increased by 1.3% in the 12 months to May 2019, up from 1.2% in the previous month, the latest official data shows. In England rents increased by 1.3%, in Wales by 1.1%, in Scotland by 0.8%, and in Northern Ireland rents were up 2.1%, according to the figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Read more…

“Lessons of Grenfell must never be forgotten”

The ‘golden thread’ of information proposed by the government’s consultation into building safety in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire would transform FMs into “guardians” of tower blocks, according to a digital data firm. James Connolly, head of partnerships at EviFile, speaking to Facilitate on the second anniversary of the fire in 2017 where 72 lives were lost, said that the proposed “golden thread” had to improve transparency and often depended on sophisticated technology. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

G20 agrees global action to reduce ocean plastic

20 environment ministers have agreed to adopt a new voluntary framework of actions to tackle the issue of marine plastic waste on a global scale. Environment and energy ministers of the Group of 20 major economies met in Karuizawa (15-16 June), northwest of Tokyo, ahead of the G20 summit in Osaka, western Japan (28-29 June). Read more…

Ofwat calls for views on developing water resources market

Water regulator Ofwat is seeking views from interested parties about the development and implementation of a bilateral market in water resources in England. A bilateral market would allow water resource providers, other than the incumbent water company, to contract directly for the supply of water resources with retailers operating in the business retail market. Read more…

Light appointed new CCWater chair

Ensuring water consumers’ views shape the decisions of water companies, regulators and policymakers and building a more resilient water sector that reflects people’s growing concern for the environment will be among the most pressing priorities for the new chair of the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater). Read more…

Monitoring technology guide launched by British Water

A live guide to drinking water and wastewater monitoring technology and services has been launched by industry trade association British Water. The web-based document includes clear definitions of monitoring components, parameters and the monitoring requirements of different applications, along with direct links to suppliers able to provide suitable equipment. Read more…

Water firms explore new relationship with energy

Delegates at WWT’s Water Industry Energy Conference heard contributions and shared ideas on optimising energy usage and saving costs. Energy managers and leaders from the UK’s water companies met in Birmingham last week for a day of knowledge-sharing and debate on the future of energy use and generation in the UK water sector. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

Galliford Try Partnerships buys northern builder

Galliford Try Partnerships has struck a deal to buy north of England contracting and land-led developer Strategic Team Group. Based in Yorkshire and the North West, Strategic Team Group employs 120 staff and currently has 23 live sites. Last year the firm reported revenues of £62m and delivered over 500 new homes. The management team and staff at STG will remain in place, working within Partnerships to accelerate both businesses growth plans. It will begin to trade as Galliford Try Partnerships Yorkshire from 1 July 2019. Read more…

Buckingham bags relief road for HS2 village

Buckingham Group has won a package of traffic improvement schemes for one of HS2’s main construction site traffic routes. Work in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire includes the completion of Chipping Warden relief road. The A361, which runs through Chipping Warden, is the approved route for construction traffic to access one of HS2’s main construction sites in Northamptonshire. The relief road will remove the need for construction traffic and through traffic to travel through Chipping Warden. Read more…

Skills card scheme shuts safety test loophole

The CSCS skills card scheme is ending an exemption to the CITB health, safety and environment test. Applicants are normally required to achieve a recognised construction related qualification (usually an NVQ or SVQ) as well as pass the CITB safety test within the last two years. But if an applicant has achieved an SVQ or NVQ within the last two years they currently do not have to sit the CITB Health, safety and environment test. Read more…

UK construction forecast lowered for 2020 due to Brexit delay

Mace’s latest UK tender cost update reveals how the extension of Brexit has resulted in continued uncertainty among construction firms and developers. The latest research from Mace’s cost consultancy experts explains how – following minimal output growth of 0.1% in the first quarter 2019 and a 1.9% decline in new orders numbers in the final quarter of 2018 – construction firms have been hoping for a Brexit outcome and a subsequent improvement in conditions over the summer. Read more…

Aecom, Balfour and Morgan Sindall bag spots on a public-private framework

Scape Group has unveiled the winners on its next generation of “Venture” frameworks, set up to deliver support public-private partnerships. Aecom, Balfour Beatty and Morgan Sindall are among 10 contractors to have been named as delivery partners on the frameworks which cover consultancy, civil engineering and construction (see table below for full breakdown). Read more…

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This weeks latest news in the Rail Industry:

Diversity and inclusion: The shape of things to come

How the organisation developing the UK’s new high-speed rail network is changing the industry’s diversity and inclusion practices. Mark Lomas joined HS2 as its head of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in January 2016. After starting out as a musician he became an EDI specialist, overseeing the development of major programmes at the Shaw Trust, the Law Society of England and Wales and the BBC. Read more…

CAF wins DLR train order

CAF has been awarded the contract to design, manufacture and supply a fleet of 43 trains for the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) by Transport for London (TfL). The contract will include a Fleet Support Agreement to provide technical support services and spares supply. Based on CAF’s successful Metro vehicle design, the new five-car trains enter passenger service from 2023. Thirty-three of the trains will replace DLR’s oldest rolling stock which is nearly thirty years old and 10 will increase frequency and capacity across the network. Read more…

The 5 bidders for HS2 train order reveal their designs

Five organisations are bidding for a contract to design, manufacture and maintain the trains for the first phase of HS2. The original list was Alstom, Bombardier, Hitachi, Siemens and Talgo. When Bombardier and Hitachi decided to make a joint bid, CAF was added to the list to maintain five bidders. The first phase, for at least 54 trains to run on both HS2 and the ‘classic’ network, is likely to be ordered in Spring 2020 with a contract value of around £2.75 billion. Read more…

WWII bomb-damaged signal box celebrates 120 years

A doodlebug, a blast-injured signaller and one of the longest frames on the South Eastern railway – Maidstone West signal box has had an extraordinary history. The Grade II listed box turned 120 years old on June 4 but remains fully operational. In fact, it’s one of the last remaining examples of the original signal box design by Evans O’Donnell &Co. Read more…

How to upgrade a railway station

Station upgrades are important to our efforts to put passengers at the heart of what we do. Such improvements can range from more room for passengers in the station and on platforms to improved railway infrastructure around the station for better journeys. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

Bidders day for £900m Heathrow rail tunnel project

Network Rail is to hold a bidders days to set out contract plans for a 6.5km new rail link from Reading and Slough to London Heathrow Airport. Read more…

TfL awards contract for new DLR fleet to replace 30-year-old trains

TfL has awarded a contract for 43 new trains to replace the oldest rolling stock on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), with the first scheduled to enter passenger service from 2023. Read more…

Welsh Water customers enjoy £47M boost

Projects including a lead pipe replacement programme, reservoir visitor centres, and support for lowest-earning customers will benefit from a record £47 million ‘dividend’ from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to its customers. Read more…

UK supermarkets sign government pledge to help halve food waste

More than 100 of the “biggest players in food”, including all of the UK’s major supermarkets, have signed a pledge to take “ground-breaking action” to drive down food waste following a call to action from the government. Read more…

Still top dog: London continues to be the market to beat despite sluggish price growth

The latest data from independent London estate agent, Benham and Reeves, takes a look to see if London really is on its knees, or if this has been exaggerated. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Property Industry:

Legal & General announce its first affordable homes schemes

Legal & General Affordable Homes has revealed that its first four affordable home schemes, located in Croydon, Cornwall, Dunstable and Shrivenham have been secured. Read more…

Self-employed make major life changes in a bid to get on property ladder

Some 38% of self-employed people are forced to make significant personal sacrifices in order to buy a home, according to new research. Read more…

Scottish government on track for 50k affordable homes by 2021

According to the latest statistics, the Scottish Government is on track to hit its ambitious target of 50,000 affordable homes by 2021 and reveal that there were more than 9,500 affordable homes delivered in 2018-19, an increase of 12 per cent on the previous year. Read more…

RICS’ first female president awarded OBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Louise Brooke-Smith FRICS receives her OBE for services to the built environment and for her activites promoting diversity and inclusion. Read more…

Is it currently better to rent or buy?

Lettings platform, Bunk, has compared the cost of remaining in the rental market or stepping on to the property ladder and how this differs across the UK. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

Utilities urged to map out digital future

Containing insights from 40 utilities and 20 industry thought leaders globally, the white paper – entitled Digital Water: Industry Leaders Chart the Transformation Journey – urges water leaders to think boldly about their digital future and the impact they can create for their broader watersheds and communities. Read more…

Sainsbury’s to trial reverse vending at Lincoln store

Supermarket giant, Sainsbury’s, has announced it will be trialling reverse vending at its Lincoln store that will collect plastic bottles and metal cans from customers. Read more…

Wessex Water home visits save one million litres

A Wessex Water scheme to make homes more water efficient has helped to save one million litres. Read more…

Housing developments need 200-metre waste site restriction

The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has called for housing developments to be prevented from encroaching within 200 metres of existing waste management facilities. Read more…

Thames partners with police to promote priority services register

Thames Water has partnered with Thames Valley Police as part of a major drive to help individuals and families who need extra support. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

Kier axes plan to charge subcontractors to work with them

Kier has shelved controversial plans to charge subcontractors 1.5% of their package turnovers to become closer strategic partners. Read more…

Former BHS warehouse makes way for new HS2 station

HS2 has released a set of new images showing progress at London Euston where the team this week completed the demolition of the former BHS warehouse on Hampstead Road, close to the new station’s proposed Camden Town entrance. Read more…

Gender equality in construction “will take nearly 200 years”

Gender equality in construction will take nearly 200 years to achieve according to latest analysis from the GMB union. Read more…

B&K signs off £60m Preston UCLan student centre

The  University of Central Lancashire has signed off a contract with Bowmer & Kirkland for its £60m flagship student centre and new civic square at its Preston campus. Read more…

Government invests £142m to boost housing infrastructure

The government is to invest £142m on widening bridges, building roads and connecting utilities to boost the construction of up to 8,500 properties across the UK. Read more…

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This weeks latest news in the Rail Industry:

Week on the Network

We cater for 4.8m rail journeys every single day, while simultaneously delivering an ambitious, multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan. Watch their video of the week on the network here…

A train journey on the Midland Main Line 15 years from now…

A mere 15 years from now, a description of a rail journey from London to Sheffield could include an explanation of how part of the journey will be clean and green under electric power and the rest will be driven by dirty diesels. Read more…

No excuse for derailing station IT

Are you truly a commuter until you’ve reached a mainline station at 6pm on a muggy summer Friday evening and experienced the dreaded digital signage failure? Read more…

From the archive: WWII and the railway

This D-Day – 75 years since Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy – we uncover fascinating images of the railway’s preparations for conflict in Europe. Read more…

The skills bottleneck: Dealing with growing apprenticeship demand

The Network Rail Engineering Technician apprenticeship program develops the technicians, team leaders, supervisors, managers, and engineers of the future. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

Out with the old: London Underground’s track renewal works

In February 2019, Balfour Beatty was awarded a four-year contract by TfL for the replacement of life-expired track assets across the London Underground network. Read more…

Thames Water to build first new sewage works since 2005

Thames Water’s new chief operating officer has announced the company will build its first sewage works since 2005, in Guildford, Surrey. Read more…

Government details new building safety regulator plan

The government has revealed its plan to create a new national regulator for building safety in response to the Grenfell disaster. Read more…

Fire and building safety – government launches two consultations today – IRPM

Today, government has launched two consultations for proposals for response by 31st July. Read more…

6 in 10 renters fear they will never afford to own a home

A majority of people renting in the UK say they will never be able to afford a home – although they would like to buy their own place, according to a new YouGov survey on behalf of the HomeOwners Alliance and BLP Insurance. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Property Industry:

Inland Homes gains £350m Beaconsfield scheme approval

Developer Inland Homes has gained planning approval for its £350m Wilton Park development on a 100-acre site in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Read more…

Gascoigne estate to set new environmental standards

Councillors gave the green light for plans to build over 500 homes on a new look eco-friendly Gascoigne estate at a Barking and Dagenham Council planning committee. Read more…

£350m Barking riverside village approved

Developer Weston Homes has received planning permission for a new £350m urban-village in Barking, east London. Read more…

6 in 10 renters fear they will never afford to own a home

A majority of people renting in the UK say they will never be able to afford a home – although they would like to buy their own place, according to a new YouGov survey on behalf of the HomeOwners Alliance and BLP Insurance. Read more…

Five-year fixed BTL rates cut at Barclays

Barclays has announced that it has reduced its rates across its buy-to-let and residential products. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

Biffa ups investment in plastic bottle recycling facility to £27.5m

Waste management firm Biffa has announced it will expand the capacity and scope of its new PET plastic bottle recycling facility in County Durham, increasing its total investment to £27.5m, which will take its combined plastics processing capacity to c120,000 tonnes p.a. Read more…

Wessex Water appoints two non-executive directors

Wessex Water has appointed two independent non-executive directors, Kate Mingay and Jim McKenna, to its board. Read more…

National Drought Group agrees support for farmers and wildlife

A National Drought Group (NDG) meeting was convened yesterday (4 June) to review water resources ahead of summer, following a dry winter and spring which has affected river flows and groundwater levels. Read more…

Waitrose unveils package free ‘pick and mix’ trial

A dedicated refillable zone, the UK’s first supermarket frozen ‘pick and mix’ and first borrow-a-box scheme are among a series of ideas being looked at in a unique test from Waitrose & Partners, which has the potential to save thousands of tonnes of unnecessary plastic and packaging. Read more…

Thames Water to build first new sewage works since 2005

Thames Water’s new chief operating officer has announced the company will build its first sewage works since 2005, in Guildford, Surrey. Read more…

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

Ardmore wins £30m London town hall restoration

Hong Kong developer Far East Consortium has signed up contractor Ardmore to restore the Grade II* listed Hornsey Town Hall in North London. Read more…

£350m urban-village in Barking gains planning

Weston Homes and the Estates & Agency Group have received a Resolution to Grant planning permission for the £350m regeneration of Abbey Retail Park in Barking. Read more…

Plans in for two Liverpool Paddington village projects

Morgan Sindall Construction has submitted plans for two more projects at the Liverpool Paddington Village regeneration scheme. Read more…

How fleet telematics can help construction meet their eco goals

Fleet and asset management specialists, Masternaut, discusses how your construction company can use fleet telematics to capture data and boost the efficiency of construction vehicles. Read more…

Contract race starts for £48m Salford private rental scheme

The contract race has begun for one of the North West’s biggest private rental schemes. Read more…

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This weeks latest news in the Rail Industry:

Network Rail works hard to improve the railway each week

Last week on the network with Network Rail, watch here…

Work starts on Horden station, County Durham

Construction of a new station at Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, has commenced and should be complete by Spring 2020. Read more…

How we’re improving journeys through fewer speed restrictions

Handing back the railway to passenger services at a higher speed is a top priority for our engineers. Read more…

Birmingham Moor Street vision embraces the future and celebrates the past

Over the years, many of Birmingham’s beautiful, historic buildings have been lost to the bulldozers.  Read more…

International Archives Week – Network Rail

This International Archives Week – 3 to 9 June – highlights how archives put people at the heart of information. Read more…

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