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07617_002_WAV_Q-Bic Plus Campaign_Crate Ad L_NCE_265x210_AW.indd 1 04/09/2019 15:42 New Civil Engineer INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS GOVERNMENT VISION

MARK HANSFORD EDITOR

ith the government set to continue to invest in the largely in the form of the Thames Tideway tunnel – but again where development of the country’s infrastructure, particu- is the Singaporean vision of collecting and reclaiming this otherwise larly its transport networks, this country will remain a waste water? W world leader in terms of the quality of its infrastructure,” Both nations need to accommodate population growth and eco- says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company nomic prosperity on a small island. Both are water scarce and growth this month. cannot be accommodated without either using what we have more ef- Clearly it is not talking about the UK. It is actually talking about ficiently or finding new sources. Unlike Singapore, the UK has no big Singapore, where GlobalData is tracking infrastructure projects with a vision. total value approaching £80bn and spending on railway projects mak- ing up around half. These schemes would increase the length of the country’s railway There is certainly no network from 230km in 2018 to 360km by 2030, increasing the density Singaporean-vision to put rail and reach of mass rapid transit so that eight out of 10 households will be within a 10 minute walk of a train station. travel within reach of the vast majority Contrast this to the UK, where, with the exception of the Sisyphus- esque efforts to complete Crossrail, no significant expansion of the of the population rail network is being committed to right now. High Speed 2 (HS2) is under review (again). Crossrail 2 is firmly in the long grass thanks to Cross- rail 1. Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), with which Crossrail 2 must “This month’s issue focuses on the housing crisis, and the UK gov- proceed in parallel to portray balanced north-south rail spending, has ernment’s stated aim of facilitating the building of 300,000 new homes only just submitted its first outline plan for the government to ponder. a year. It takes the ICE’s annual State of the Nation report as its lead. Meanwhile, Network Rail is forbidden from even sharing what might be The report focuses on the critical link between housing and infrastruc- in its pipeline, let alone beginning market engagement on it. ture. It talks of giving sub-national transport bodies a broader remit There is certainly no Singaporean-vision to put rail travel within that includes creating regional infrastructure strategies that reach of the vast majority of the population as a means to facilitate include housing. At a national level it wants the remit of the National economic and population growth without introducing crippling coun- Infrastructure Commission (NIC) similarly extended to include hous- try-wide congestion and adding to world-crippling carbon emissions. ing so that it can recommend properly “joined-up” strategies. Singapore’s government is also investing in water infrastructure This is fine. But it needs the government to listen and adopt the with the second phase of its Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, which NIC’s recommendations. The latter has already set out it its strate- includes a conveyance system comprising 40km of deep tunnels and gy and it includes support for the under review mega-projects such 60km of link sewers to create an interconnected network that channels as HS2, Crossrail 2 and NPR. It also wants to see more investment in used water by gravity to the new Tuas water reclamation plant. The water resources. All with a view of facilitating economic and popula- £3.9bn project is due to be completed by 2025 and is also fully aligned tion growth. What it is not supporting is bridge between Scotland and with investing in infrastructure to facilitate growth. Northern Ireland. Now who would be proposing something like that? Yes, investment is being made in water infrastructure in the UK, l Mark Hansford is New Civil Engineer’s editor

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 3 Contents NEW CIVIL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2019 MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

08 News, Comment 25 Future of & Analysis Housing

08 The Edit: Bechtel ends opposition to Old Oak Common suspension

09 The Edit: HS2 review could force Birmingham airport rethink

11 Inside Track: HS2 review could lead to major project overhaul

12 Inside Track: Manslaughter case threatens smart motorways

14 Inside Track: Hammersmith Bridge repairs begin as bill tops £100M

14 Inside Track: Flats blaze raises new questions about fi re regs

20 Big Interview: Anglian Water

22 Your View: Whaley Bridge

61 ICE Record Developers and city planners are looking for new techniques and more fl exible designs as they pit their skills against the worst housing shortages since the Second World War. This report looks a some of the latest innovations and identifi es obstacles to be overcome

26 How the government can 36 High rising increasingly overcome obstacles to increased the solution to housing shortages housing output 40 Homes that can fl oat on fl oods 61 State of the Nation report launched; 32 Modular construction is beginning are a response shortages of space People’s Choice Award vote to making an impact on the opens; New York State approves ICE housing sector 46 Debate: Tackling planning learning programme for tunnelling

4 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER  OCTOBER 2019 For instant updates follow us: Twitter: @ncedigital LinkedIn: new civil engineer Facebook: ncedigital

Instagram Email: newcivilengineer.com/newsletters

51 Innovative Live! EDITORIAL TEAM Thinking EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected]

Editor Mark Hansford (020) 3953 2821 mark.hansford

Deputy Editor Alexandra Wynne (020) 3953 2822 alexandra.wynne

Associate Editor Emily Ashwell (020) 3953 2094 emily.ashwell

LISTEN: THE ENGINEERS COLLECTIVE News Editor Crossrail 2 managing director Michèle Dix is the Rob Horgan 52 Piling challenges for contractors (020) 3953 2087 rob.horgan working on Tilbury Port expansion special guest on New Civil Engineer’s latest podcast programme newcivilengineer.com/podcast Technical Reporter Katherine Smale (020) 3953 2044 katherine.smale 56 Atkins has developed a system to encourage companies to share road Reporter Sam Sholli excavations and minimise disruption (020) 3953 2086 | sam.sholli

58 SME Interview: Qualis Flow Contributor Tim Clark tim.clark

18 Special Chief Sub Editor Andy Bolton Report (020) 3953 2823 | andy.bolton

VISIT: FUTURE OF BRIDGES Designer Plan your visit to New Civil Engineer’s Future of James McCarthy [email protected] Bridges event in London on 25-26 November. bridges.newcivilengineer.com Graphic Artist Anthea Carter [email protected] COMING SOON Technical Editor Emeritus British Construction Industry Awards Dave Parker London, 9 October dave.parker

bcia.newcivilengineer.com CUSTOMER SERVICES The ICE’s latest State of the Nation Future of Floods (020) 3953 2152 report advocates more joined up thinking London, 20-21 November [email protected] between infrastructure providers and fl oods.newcivilengineer.com housing planners

OCTOBER 2019  NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 5 Lighthouse ICE VIEWPOINT Housing and infrastructure need joined up thinking

ith a growing streams, data and the local need population, a need to avoid poorly planned housing There is to meet net zero developments with inadequate much scope W carbon targets, and infrastructure provision. rapid advances on To aid in this, the report sets out within the current technological fronts, delivery of the case for the creation of regional infrastructure to enable and support infrastructure strategies. These system to consider quality housing development is would be developed by evolving crucial. BY ART WE the role of existing subnational infrastructure more The ICE published its annual MASTER transport bodies to include all “strategically State of the Nation report in WHAT WOULD economic infrastructure sectors. September, focusing on the steps MASTER US These strategies would identify required to better join up the the provision of infrastructure delivery of infrastructure and housing. and housing required across a to connect to fossil-fuelled power In producing the report, the ICE given region and complement the and heating networks and prioritise asked 170 expert individuals and government’s forthcoming National car ownership. As part of the organisations across the UK for Infrastructure Strategy to ensure that (traditional) polling for the report, their views on where improvements joined up planning takes place across 53% of British adults say the highest can be made. multiple administrative boundaries. priority should be given to public A number of consistent themes New places with significant transport infrastructure, such as emerged from the evidence numbers of new homes are in rail and buses, when planning the gathering, while a public opinion themselves large-scale infrastructure building of new homes in their area. poll conducted by Ipsos Mori for projects that require energy generation, The report calls for housing the report found that 60% of British water supply and strategic transport to be included in the National adults say they would support links. By amending the Development Infrastructure Commission’s charter housing developments in their Consent Order process to cover large- and recommends that its next local area if the necessary new scale housing developments, there is National Infrastructure Assessment infrastructure was integrated with it. an opportunity to better coordinate identify options for future proofing There is potential to create closer housing delivery with nationally developments to help develop new alignment between budgets, funding significant infrastructure, business housing standards. and commercial projects. There is much scope within Investment in infrastructure can the current system to consider There is make a difference to the viability of a infrastructure more strategically development or the ability to move instead of seeing it as something potential to forward with construction. The that runs as a consequence of report makes the case for extending development. By seizing the create closer alignment the Housing Infrastructure Fund opportunities provided by new beyond 2023/24, which would enable technology and demanded by climate between budgets, its momentum to continue. change, we can fundamentally The goal of achieving net zero rethink how more integrated funding streams, data emissions by 2050 will not be met housing and infrastructure is “and the local need if housing developments continue provided.

6 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 INNOVATING THE FUTURE OF HIGHWAYS

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Find out more at colas.co.uk/innovation MORE NEWS AVIATION HS2 REVIEW COULD Sign up for FORCE BIRMINGHAM The Edit New Civil AIRPORT EXPANSION THE BIGGEST STORIES OF THE MONTH Engineer’s RETHINK FROM NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM Breaking, Daily and Birmingham Airport’s plans for a major £500M expansion programme Weekly news may have to be redrawn if the scope alerts at of High Speed 2 (HS2) is changed newcivil following an independent review of the project, New Civil Engineer engineer. understands. The airport launched an com/ ambitious masterplan in 2018 which was focused on maximising the newsletters opportunities that HS2 would bring to the region and link up with the new interchange station, 2km from the airport. But if the HS2 project is scrapped the airport’s operator could be forced to review forecasts for surface access to the airport. Close alignment with HS2 has formed part of the airport’s thinking for almost a decade.

STRUCTURES KEY STATS TFL SPENT £10M ON DOOMED PLANS Bechtel drops opposition to £1bn FOR ROTHERHITHE Amount BRIDGE chancellor suspension of High Speed 2 Old Contractors, consultants and Sajid architects were paid almost £10M for Oak Common station contract Javid has the development of the Rotherhithe crossing before Transport for London committed (TfL) shelved the scheme. Information HIGH SPEED 2 that “the automatic suspension to infra- obtained by New Civil Engineer via a Bechtel has withdrawn its challenge imposed by regulation 110(1) of the structure Freedom of Information request to HS2 Ltd’s application to lift the Utilities Contracts Regulation 2016 is reveals that consultant Atkins received suspension of its Old Oak Common brought to an end and the Defendant over next 12 the largest sum, pocketing just under station contract, New Civil Engineer may enter into the Construction months £5.5M for providing advice on transport can reveal. It means HS2 Ltd can now Partner Contract with the Interested planning, and engineering and sign the £1bn deal with the BBVS joint Party”. While no official reason has architectural issues. Consultant Arcadis venture – comprising Balfour Beatty, been given for withdrawing the legal – which carried out initial technical Vinci and Systra. The station challenge, New Civil Engineer scoping for the bridge – was paid just construction partner contract award understands that Bechtel could have under £1.4M, while contractor Costain was suspended after Bechtel lodged a faced a counter claim from HS2 Ltd for received more than £900,000 for legal challenge in February claiming costs associated with resulting delays construction advice. Consultant Mott that HS2 Ltd had accepted an to other contract awards. It is now McDonald also received £590,000 for “abnormally low bid” when it made expected to take around two weeks environmental consultation. TfL the award to BBVS. Despite dropping for contracts between HS2 Ltd and scrapped the River Thames crossing its challenge against the lifting of the BBVS to be signed, paving the way for between Rotherhithe and Canary suspension order, a spokesperson for construction work to begin. An HS2 Wharf in June after the maximum cost Bechtel confirmed that the company Ltd spokesperson said: “We remain estimate rose to £600M. It would have will still pursue legal action for confident that the construction been the world’s longest and tallest damages, with a trial scheduled for partner procurement process was vertical lift bridge. (See www. next year. Official court documents robust, and we intend to sign newcivilengineer.com for full payments – seen by New Civil Engineer – confirm contracts as soon as possible. break down.)

8 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 RESERVOIRS DAM LAWS FACE REVIEW

An independent review into the partial collapse of Derbyshire’s Toddbrook reservoir dam is to determine whether current legislation which governs UK dam safety is “fit for purpose”. A mass evacuation of people in the area around the dam took place last month after concrete panels on the Whaley Bridge dam’s main spillway started to fail leaving it vulnerable to collapse.

STRUCTURES CROSSRAIL FUNDING JOHNSON CALLS CROSSRAIL SAFETY CHANCELLOR TO FOR SCOTLAND- IN SPOTLIGHT AFTER SPEND £1BN ON NORTHERN IRELAND FIVE WORKERS HURT ROADS, RAIL AND BRIDGE STUDY IN TWO INCIDENTS HOSPITALS

Prime minister Boris Johnson has Crossrail’s safety programme is under Chancellor Sajid Javid has outlined asked the Treasury and Department renewed scrutiny after Transport for an extra £1bn of capital spending on for Transport to produce a feasibility London board papers revealed that hospitals, funds for the strategic study for a bridge between Northern there had been two worker injury road network and £275M of extra Ireland and Scotland. Both departments incidents in the past month. In one cash for rail maintenance over the have been asked about the costs and incident at Farringdon station, two next 12 months. Javid said that risks of building the bridge spanning scaffolders were injured when the UK had suffered from multiple the Irish Sea. Johnson believes it scaffolding collapsed. Three workers governments under-investing in could be part of an alternative to a were also hurt at Bond Street station infrastructure, and planned to post-Brexit backstop agreement with when a temporary wooden bench address structural problems so stripthe adEuropean ideas_Layout Union. 1 6/7/18 11:47 AM Pagecollapsed. 2 that the economy can grow.

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OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 9 CIVILS UTILITIES POWER & FIBRE HIRE 01685 374771 0344 2511 999 0344 2511 666 0344 8244 482 Inside Track THE BIGGEST ISSUES OF THE MONTH EXPLORED

His internal Stocktake report on the HS2 project noted that the method, which is used to allow the government (in particular the Major Projects Authority), to gauge the benefits of separate projects, was “not designed with transformational programmes such as HS2 in mind”. The Euston terminus is also facing a precarious future. It is one of the most costly parts of the route, with unoffi- cial estimates suggesting that building the 10km from Old Oak Common to the terminus will cost around £8bn. These costs include the HS2 terminus next to the existing mainline station plus property costs, tunnelling and track integration. Sources close to the Oakervee review have told New Civil Engineer that Old Oak Common station could be used as a terminus with minimal changes to the HIGH SPEED 2 design. But they said this could only work realistically if only Phase 1 and Oakervee Review could leave HS2 unrecognisable Phase 2a were built. Old Oak Common is believed to not have the capacity to Both ends of the high speed route face changes as the cost of the project handle the trains needed to serve both soars and a government-commissioned review of the project gets underway northern phases of the project. New Civil Engineer also understands that HS2 Ltd could be forced to restart BY TIM CLARK procurement for its Old Oak Common station partner contract if the scope of ts budget has ballooned to £88bn. It is Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) which the station was changed significantly. beset by a five year delay and it faces would upgrade rail connections between Scrapping Euston means Phase 2b a rapid independent review which will key northern cities. would also have to be redrawn or possi- Idecide just what parts – if any – should The revised £72bn to £78bn (£88bn in bly even scrapped. Alternatively a new be built. 2019 prices) budget is also expected to London terminus could be sought and High Speed 2 (HS2) is at a pivotal erode HS2’s benefit cost ratio of 2.3:1, delivered as a separate part of the stage of its lifecycle and could well be threatening the scheme’s viability even project, although HS2 Ltd strategic scrapped despite a staggering £7.4bn further. advisor Andrew McNaughton remains being spent on the project thus far. HS2 Ltd chair Allan Cook said the insistent that no suitable sites exist. The independent review headed by assessment method for HS2 would have There has also been a suggestion that former HS2 Ltd chair Doug Oakervee, to change to “capture the true scale of HS2’s budget could be split and rolled with Rail Freight Federation chair Lord the benefit” of the project. into upgrades in the North. The funding Berkeley as his deputy, is anticipated to package for HS2 is separate to NPR, but report in the autumn. It is expected to the increased budget for Phase 2b (now take a dim view of HS2’s cost and could believed to be £38bn) is close to the recommend that those areas consid- £39bn estimate for NPR, making the two ered superfluous to the core aims of the £7bn projects comparable in financial terms project be cut. Amount already spent at least. It has been suggested that NPR Areas under close scrutiny include on High Speed 2 could be handed the Phase 2b funds to the cost of building the line to handle increase capacity in the North. train speeds of 400km/h; the inclusion of A source close to the review said: “I Euston station as a terminus in Lon- £72bn-£78bn think it would be better to give the mon- don and Curzon Street in Birmingham; ey to the Northern Powerhouse between and whether Phase 2b from Crewe to Revised High Speed 2 Liverpool, Hull, Manchester, York, Leeds Manchester and Leeds is worth building budget (2015 prices) and Sheffield to come up with a really as part of HS2 or whether it could form good metro service that had proper part of a wider transport package for connections, proper platforms and

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 11 Inside Track Xxxxx xxxx xxxxx

proper services. The current services SMART MOTORWAYS are awful. “The best they [the review] can do is Not so smart? present something to the government which is to reduce the spec [of HS2]. When it comes to Manchester and Crewe, they should put it all in a big Pressure to change way smart package for the Northern Powerhouse motorways are rolled out and let them get on with it.” Evidence submitted to the Oakervee BY KATHERINE SMALE review so far includes plans by Midland Connect which suggest amending part corporate manslaughter charge is of the HS2 route north of Birmingham being brought against Highways to provide faster connections between England after two motorists died Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester and onA a smart motorway section of the M1 Leeds. when their vehicles were struck by a Costed at £170M, the proposals state lorry following a minor collision. that changes at Toton junction in Not- The incident has highlighted concerns tinghamshire together with infrastruc- about the safety of the UK’s smart ture upgrades on the Midland Main Line motorways, threatening to undermine would allow conventional-compatible future projects earmarked to start in trains to travel along high speed and Highways England’s second road invest- electrified tracks, allowing them to call ment strategy (RIS2) from 2020 to 2025. at HS2 and existing stations. This would “Smart” motorways use converted allow hourly services from Bedford to hard shoulders as running lanes and re- Leeds via Leicester. place them with emergency refuge areas Other evidence submitted to the (ERAs) at specified intervals. review has warned of the cost to the Drivers of vehicles which break down construction industry of cancelling and are unable to get to a refuge area, the project. The chief executives of 22 are told pull over to the left lane, and get companies including Balfour Beatty, out on the left hand side, or if that is Skanska, British Steel, Jacobs and Mace unsafe, use their hazard warning lights, have written to Oakervee, warning that sit with their seat belts on and call 999. cancellation of, or dramatic changes to, Smart sensors will detect the vehicle HS2 could put future projects at risk. and red Xs will then appear on overhead They say the £100M already spent on gantries to close the lane and alert driv- bidding for HS2 contracts would have to ers of the impending obstruction. be recouped on future bids. But those bringing the corporate man- of its recommendations which were to Cancellation has also been taken into slaughter case against Highways England increase the size of refuge areas and account as part of the review of the claim that this system is unsafe. reduce the distance between them. project. It is understood that a large A survey of over 2,000 people carried Highways England chief executive Jim part of the £7.4bn spent so far could out by the motorists body the RAC O’Sullivan has hit back at the critics be recouped by selling off purchased in March found that 23% of drivers insisting that smart motorways are safe, property assets. admitted to disregarding the red Xs and that he is “content” with the design, and Whether HS2 Ltd remains in charge driving in closed lanes. that the accident rate is comparable to of delivering the project is another Highways England says safety remains traditional motorways. question. “central” to what it does and one of “From the data we have collected, The Oakervee review’s terms of refer- its focuses was “increasing awareness there is no difference in the safety ence include an assessment of whether and understanding of how to use smart performance of conventional motorways HS2 Ltd is in “a position to deliver the motorways”. and smart motorways, there is nothing project effectively, taking account of There have also been campaigns to between them,” he said. “And the nature its performance to date” as well as any reduce the spacing between refuge areas with the accidents we’ve seen are very other relevant information. to increase safety. In January 2018, High- similar.” Cook also noted that HS2 Ltd must be ways England cut the spacing of O’Sullivan said data from stretches of “match fit” to deliver a scheme which the refuges from 2.4km to 1.6km on all motorway where refuge areas are closer now may not be fully completed until future projects after a Commons trans- together suggests that made people feel 2040. port select committee report argued that safer. But he said accident rates were Whatever the outcome of the review, the conversion of the hard shoulder to comparable with sections of motorway the UK’s biggest transport project this running lane created a “real challenge” where refuges are further apart. century could be a vastly different beast for motorists. “We have with refuge areas on the by the end of 2019 than it was when the But committee chair Lilian Greenwood M40 which are less than a kilometre year started. said the reduction still fell “far short” apart and up to 2.4km [apart] on certain

12 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 MORE NEWS NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM

TUNNELS in at 94.56%, just 0.5% more than STC’s Overhead gantries overall score. indicate lane closures Silvertown tunnel row In particular, STC has questioned an “individual evaluator’s scores and rationales” which led to STC having a Losing bidder accuses TfL of comparatively lower score for a number failings in High Court challenge of commercial elements. In relation to “Critical Consents” which make up 3% of the commercial BY ROB HORGAN scoring, two of the three evaluators gave STC scores of 15 and 12 out of 20. How- ransport for London’s (TfL’s) pro- ever, the third evaluator – named in the curement process for the £1bn Sil- document as Andrew Lunt – only gave vertown Tunnel contract has been STC four out of 20, citing issues relating Tslammed as being “flawed, in breach of to an “assumption regarding crane loca- the principles of equal treatment […] tion [as] not realistic” as part of access and manifestly erroneous”. plans for a footbridge. TfL has also been accused of flouting STC’s court submission claims that its principles of “transparency” and the crane and footbridge in question “non-discrimination”, in a damning legal “did not form part of the Critical Con- document submitted to the High Court sent required” and therefore TfL has by losing bidder Silver Thames Connect “failed to evaluate the actual Critical (STC) comprising Hochtief, Dragados Consent” by adopting “Lunt’s manifestly and Iridium Concesiones de Infraestruc- erroneous approach”. turas. It adds that: “The Defendant [TfL] It comes after TfL named the Riverlinx treated STC unfairly and/or unequally consortium of Ferrovial subsidiary in comparison to Riverlinx and/or in Cintra, Bam PPP/PGGM, Macquarie breach of its obligation of transparency Capital and SK E&C as preferred bidder in that it […] did not enquire into or for the 1.4km twin-bored tunnel in May. evaluate Riverlinx’s proposals for crane STC has submitted a Part 7 Claim access for the footbridge.” to the Technology & Construction The document also raises questions court, preventing TfL from awarding about former STC executive committee the contract. A Part 7 Claim relates to member Tim Hasketh’s involvement with procurement and automatically results the Riverlinx consortium after he was in the suspension of the defendant’s appointed as Bam PPP managing direc- right to award a contract. The contract tor in January 2018. stretches of the M1, and there seems to will remain suspended until TfL gains STC claims that TfL has “failed to be no correlation between the spac- a successful High Court ruling allowing provide” proof that “it did not fail in its ing of those emergency refuge areas the contract award to go ahead. duties to protect effective competition and the live lane breakdown,” he said. In support of its Part 7 Claim – seen by and required undertakings to be given “That’s highly counterintuitive, but New Civil Engineer – STC claims that it by Bam and Mr Hesketh”. that’s what we see.” “should have been the winning bidder” It adds that TfL has refused to provide Instead of retrofitting ERAs to in- on the grounds that it “scored signifi- any documents to support the asserta- crease their size, which O’Sullivan said cantly better than Riverlinx on price”. tion that “no substantial changes” were would be hugely expensive, spending It also claims that TfL “failed to treat made to the Riverlinx bid following to improve safety should be focused on STC fairly, transparently or equally” Hesketh’s employment. installing concrete central reservation which led to “manifestly erroneous” A TfL spokesperson said: “We are barriers which cost around £1M more scoring in relation to commercial disappointed that our reserve bidder, per mile than steel barriers, but which aspects of the contract. STC, has decided to challenge the out- perform significantly better. The court documents show that come of our procurement process for TfL gave heavy weighting to price, the design, build, finance and maintain which made up 85% of the overall pro- contract for the Silvertown Tunnel.” curement evaluation, with commercial Bam PPP declined to comment. 23% submissions accounting for 10% and Transport for London’s official response ground condition rates accounting for has not yet been made public. Percentage of motorists the final 5%. As New Civil Engineer went to press who disregard signs While STC scored the maximum 85% TfL had submitted its defence docu- closing smart motorway for price, the Riverlinx consortium ments to the court, but details had not lanes scored 82.34%. But when commercial been released. and ground condition scores were l More updates will be posted on factored in, Riverlinx’s total score came www.newcivilengineer.com

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 13 Inside Track Xxxxx xxxx xxxxx

STRUCTURES The blaze swept through the 23 flat building Hammersmith Bridge repairs begin as bill tops £100M

TfL has stumped up £25M

BY TIM CLARK

epairs to Hammersmith Bridge are set to begin after Transport for London (TfL) provided £25M Rto fund the first stage of the work. The bridge has been closed to traffic since April after critical faults were BUILDINGS found with the historic cast iron struc- ture. According to early stage estimates Timber in spotlight after fire destroys flats in the total cost could be up to £120M (New Civil Engineer, July). four storey south west London block of flats The bridge has been at the centre of controversy in recent years. Worcester Park blaze raises new questions about fire safety regs In 1998, it was subject to a 7.5t weight limit due to concerns about the struc- ture’s strength. BY SAM SHOLLI This resulted in wardens policing the bridge to ensure only one single deck fire which spread through a block cladding had a role to play in the quick bus crossed at a time. of flats in south west London has progression of the fire. It should be noted After repairs are complete cars and raised more questions about Brit- that even timber which has been treated buses will be able to cross the bridge, ain’sA fire safety regulations. with fire retardants will eventually burn, although to prevent future damage, TfL The fire ripped through the four if exposed to a high enough temperature.” will continue to limit the flow of buses. storey, 23-flat building in Worcester Park The development was completed in TfL and Hammersmith & Fulham early on 9 September. 2010 by Berkeley Homes with the design Council are continuing to explore Early reports suggest that the fire based on New England “timber boarded” funding options for the next repair started on one of the building’s timber architecture. phase, before a contract is awarded next balconies and spread rapidly across the A Berkeley Homes spokesperson said: spring. This work is expected to take building’s timber panel façade. “The property was constructed a decade approximately three years. Part of the 645 home Hamptons ago, in full compliance with all fire regu- In 2018 it was revealed that Mott development, the block of apartments lations. We will support the London Fire MacDonald was to carry out extensive was built in an “American style” with tim- Brigade in their investigation.” testing to establish the extent of the ber cladding and timber balconies. Tarada drew similarities between The strengthening work required to allow the While no injuries were reported, Mosen Hamptons fire and a fire earlier this year weight restrictions to be lifted and dou- managing director Fathi Tarada said that at a new blocks of flats in Barking, East ble decker buses to use the crossing. there could have easily been fatalities. London, where flames spread across tim- The bridge’s owner Hammersmith & “While the Worcester Park flats may ber balconies destroying 20 flats. Fulham Council had originally an- have adopted an American architectural Following the Barking fire, Tarada sug- nounced a feasibility study and prelim- style, they did not adopt the American gested that there is a gap in the building inary design for strengthening works National Fire Protection Association fire regulations concerning the specification was to be completed by the summer last sprinkler regulations,” said Tarada. of fire-retardant materials on balconies in year with work starting on site at the “Another issue of concern is that the multi-storey apartment blocks. end of 2018. building occupants reported that the “This gap could be closed if such However, this was delayed, and in alarms were only triggered in the com- balconies were considered part of the April this year the bridge was closed mon areas, but not within their own flats. habitable space, and balcony materials indefinitely after hairline fractures “Fire investigations will inevitably focus were covered by Class 0 reaction-to-fire in the cast iron “pedestals” were on the question of whether the timber requirements,” he said. discovered.

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The Engineers The Engineers Collective is EPISODES SO FAR sponsored by Bentley Systems. Collective Around the world, engineers and architects, constructors and EPISODE FIVE owner-operators are using Bentley’s Crossrail 2 with Michèle Dix ew Civil Engineer’s software solutions to accelerate (August 2019) podcast The Engineers project delivery and improve asset This month on The Engineers Collective is now In association with performance for the infrastructure Collective, Mark and Alex are joined four months old and that sustains our economy and our by the managing director of Crossrail already attracting environment. Find out more at www. 2, Michèle Dix. The trio, of course, talk plenty of plaudits for bentley.com. Crossrail 2 and the impacts and lessons its conversational style and insightful The Engineers Collective is proving learned by Crossrail 1. Innovation, Ncomment on the major issues facing truly global in reach, with a third of embracing new technologies and the civil engineering profession today. listeners based outside the UK. It the future of large infrastructure Special guests joining regular is also appealing to an inquisitive, projects are all under the microscope co-hosts New Civil Engineer editor career-builder demographic, with 80% as Michèle offers a fascinating insight Mark Hansford and deputy editor of listeners under 35. into the industry. Alexandra Wynne have already l e ngineers ollective is This episode also looks at the new included HS2 Ltd special advisor available via pple odcasts High Speed 2 review, talks dam safety Andrew McNaughton, Crossrail 2 poti cast titcer odean in the wake of Whaley Bridge and asks: managing director Michle Dix and and via newcivilengineer.com is prime minister Boris Johnson going ICE vice president Ed McCann. podcast. to be our infrastructure champion? All have talked candidly about the KEY FACTS challenges facing the industry and EPISODE FOUR offered inspiring thoughts about how Digital Twins with Bhupinder Singh the industry can overcome those 15,000 from Bentley Systems (August 2019) challenges. In this special episode of The Engineers The fi ve episodes broadcast to date Downloads to Collective, Mark and Alex are joined by have been collectively downloaded date Bentley Systems’ chief product officer and listened to 15,000 times, and The 5.0 out of 5 Bhupinder Singh. The trio talk digital Engineers Collective has consistently twins. What are they? What can they sat in the top 5 of Apple’s UK Tech on Apple be used for? What does the future News chart topping it several times Podcasts look like for digital twins? As well as in the last month alone.

16 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“Two bright experts with a refreshing point-of- view, expressed sincerely and in an informal and unpretentious tone. It can’t get any better”

“Really good listen and very well produced”

“So good to listen to long form conversation for once rather than ‘same old same old’ soundbites”

EPISODES SO FAR “Really enjoying this podcast so far! Great debunking myths about the technology, Each episode the ongoing need for light rail and Singh talks about some of Bentley’s new features a special traditional rail solutions. work” partnerships and the innovation taking guest, hand picked place around the world with digital twins to talk insightfully EPISODE TWO at the heart. on a hot industry The Future of Airports with Henrik This episode also touches on Bentley topic Rothe (June 2019) “Great Podcast. Thought Systems’ Year in Infrastructure Co-hosts Mark and Alex are joined conference which will be held between by Henrik Rothe who runs Cranfield provoking. You now have 21-24 October in Singapore. Find out University’s Urban Turbine. He is more by visiting yii.bentley.com. rethinking how airports of the future a subscriber hungry for will operate and integrate with the more” EPISODE THREE towns and cities that they serve. Tune The Future of Rail with Andrew in to hear Henrik explain how rapid McNaughton (July 2019) changes to the way we check-in, deal This month Mark and Alex reflect on with our baggage and move through “A great podcast. Keep the first anniversary of the catastrophic security will transform how airports are Polcevera viaduct collapse in Genoa, Italy accessed and used. them coming please.” and ask: is the UK safe from a Genoa- style collapse? Also up for discussion is EPISODE ONE Crossrail 2 and Network Rail’s future Future Skills with Ed McCann project pipeline. (May 2019) “I’ve searched for The co-hosts then introduce special In Episode One, Mark and Alex discuss guest High Speed 2 strategic advisor projects in the headlines including engineering podcasts in Andrew McNaughton who was the chief Heathrow expansion, HS2, the the past without joy so I’m architect of the mega-project. He was Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project and responsible for determining the route and tall buildings in New York. Later, they really pleased that this has setting the much-commented on design are joined by ICE vice-president and speed. Andrew takes a wider look at the Expedition Engineering director Ed arrived!” future of rail worldwide, questioning McCann, to discuss the future of skills the role of hyperloop and stressing within our industry.

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 17 ICE State of the Nation 2019

Join up housing and infrastructure planning

Emily Ashwell infrastructure piece is surprisingly critical.” KEY STATS Skinner said that there is current- ly a disconnect between housing nfrastructure and infrastructure policy, which 300,000 strategies better initially drove the report. But she aligned with housing New homes also cited two issues which make I policy are key to meet- per year the report particularly topical: first, ing the long-term needs needed to the groundswell in public interest in role evolved to become subnational of new communities, a report has said. meet demand climate change, which leads on to infrastructure bodies. These bodies The Institution of Civil Engineers how engineers consider carbon when would then create strategies which (ICE) State of the Nation report, designing and building. Second, the include housing and which would Connecting Infrastructure with Housing, 222,190 technological shifts, such as in eventually feed into the National makes 10 recommendations for better New homes transport and energy, which again Infrastructure Strategy. integrating infrastructure and hous- built in relate through to housing. “What we are suggesting is that you ing. It suggests ways in which this 2017/18 “There are two big things here could extend that focus [subnational integration can transcend govern- which have actually shifted, meaning bodies’ transport focus], so that they ment boundaries at a local, regional we can attack the problem in a slight- start to think about water, energy and and central government level. ly different way,” she says. similar, in a similarly strategic way ICE vice president and chair of The report makes 10 recommen- as it applies to the relevant patch,” the report’s steering group Rachel dations covering planning, funding, says Skinner. “These issues do vary Skinner explained the decision to financing and future proofing. The as you go around the country and at focus on housing this year. recommendations come after the moment, sometimes, it is difficult “Our start was that we all know, consultation with 170 organisations to see how that mid-tier focus would and there’s political consensus, and professionals. otherwise come about. It means around the fact that we need to build Under planning, the ICE recom- when it comes to planning for new more homes in the UK. That, in itself, mends that subnational transport homes, you have national targets, isn’t necessarily a thing for the ICE to bodies in England should have their you have very local targets, but very typically jump into. often nothing that comes in-between, “But when you start to see which makes it very difficult to think new homes in the context of new about the [cross boundary] infra- communities and sustainable places structure needs that are going to for the future and the fact that come about.” economic infrastructure – transport, There is The Development Consent energy, water, digital, waste – is Order (DCO) process should also absolutely fundamental to how you currently a be amended to enable large-scale bring through high quality homes, housing developments of 5,000 or placemaking and all the other good disconnect between more homes to be delivered under things that come with it, to do with housing and it, so that these schemes are better homes, productivity, jobs and so on, coordinated with other infrastructure actually the civil engineering and “infrastructure policy developments. 18 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 Too often, infrastructure and housing delivery “aren’t properly aligned

tions should feed into developing and iterating the Future Homes Standard in England. “We are very keen that the combi- nation of the drive to address climate change, low carbon solutions, plus technological potential, means that we think really carefully about how you actually future-proof new housing developments, but also strengthen existing communities, so that the potential advances that you could start to capture, actually come through in practice, that the drive towards a net zero carbon outcome The report also suggests that the The ICE is bids, rather than a rush of bids at actually becomes a reality as you put National Infrastructure Commission advocating a defined times. homes on the ground,” says Skinner. (NIC) should have its remit expand- strategy for It says the HIF – which loans de- The report recommends homes ed to consider housing alongside more closely velopers cash for infrastructure such are future-proofed through various infrastructure. integrating as roads – should have some of the options identified in the next National Royal Town Planning Institute housing money ring-fenced for areas where Infrastructure Assessment. These chief executive Victoria Hills said on constructionand land values are lower. options could cover transport, water, publication of the State of the Nation infrastructure This would ensure a better spread energy and digital infrastructure, report: “Our recent research on the provision of investment, rather than it being factoring in climate change and tech- Location of Development found that weighted to areas where developers nology. These factors should then over half of the houses permitted are get a higher financial return on the feed into a Future Homes Standard in not within easy walking or cycling overall development and there is England. distance of a railway, metro or under- more incentive to invest. National Infrastructure Commis- ground station. We welcome the ICE’s The government’s 2018 commit- sion chair and ICE past President Sir report and further evidence that in- ment to implement the Strategic John Armitt said on the launch of frastructure should not be considered Infrastructure Tariff – a sort of roof the report: “We also need homes and in isolation of other development, tax for house builders – should also places designed for our future, not and also the recognition of the crucial be carried through, says the report. our past. role planners play.” “We want the Strategic Infrastruc- “That means housing set up for The report also makes recommen- ture Tariff to stay alive, essentially,” the switch to low-carbon power and dations about funding, including a she says. heating and designed with electric call for regulators to give utilities The next National Infrastructure car charging in mind and fast digital more flexibility to consider infra- Assessment should identify options connectivity as a necessity not a structure provision for new housing for future-proofing new housing luxury, situated in well-designed developments which might be built developments and strengthening communities – connected by effective beyond the current five-year price existing communities. This means transport networks - that can support control periods. linking decisions concerning new jobs, growth and a good quality of life. It calls for the English and developments to the changes in “Too often, however, infrastructure Scottish funds for housing infrastruc- transport, water, energy and digital and housing delivery aren’t properly ture to continue beyond their current infrastructure that will come about aligned. The ICE’s call for more integrat- timeframes. It says England’s Housing from new technology and the need ed housing and infrastructure planning Infrastructure Fund (HIF) should be to respond to climate change. The is a welcome contribution to this processing a continuous cycle of report recommends that the NIA’s op- increasingly important discussion.”

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 19 David Riley BY TY BYRD Anglian Water innovates to shrink its carbon footprint

rones to keep Anglian Water’s carbon footprint drains flowing is in mind all the time, apparently, and cytometric especially throughout the design D control of impurities and construction of new facilities. to replace chemicals “Engineers can don virtual reality in water treatment. Who says the headsets to test sites before they water industry is failing to innovate are built, to ensure everything is got

The Interview The to reduce its carbon footprint? right first time,” says the voiceover Certainly not David Riley, of a video Riley uses to amplify the who speaks and acts on carbon innovation message. neutrality mainly for his employer Satellite technology is helping Anglian Water. maintain raw water quality, for As chair of Water UK’s carbon example, by protecting groundwater working group, he from animal pollution. aided delivery of the Treasury’s More prosaic, but imaginative infrastructure carbon review and to 5m,” says Riley. nonetheless, vibration from pumps helped steer the Green Construction He says that leakage in Newmar- is being employed as energy to Board-sponsored PAS 2080 on ket has been slashed by 23%, saving power other equipment, saving carbon management in infrastructure. 126M.l/year. money on battery replacement. So Riley’s views are worth lis- “Cytometric technology from Many other examples of innovation tening to, especially those on the the pharmaceutical sector is being are given. challenges facing the water industry applied to spot microscopic chem- “We’re encouraging customers to and the necessity for innovation to icals and bacteria in water, our use less water,” Riley says, continu- drive carbon neutrality. intention being to remove the need ing the theme. “Through this we’ve “A lot is being done across the for chemical treatment in future,” achieved a 6% reduction in water industry, not least by my own com- he says. use.” The ideal, it seems, is for each pany,” he says. Riley points person to consume just 80l of water in particular to the “magic” of per day. Newmarket, a town being turned Riley comes across as an evange- into an innovation shop window. list for a low impact and The Suffolk town is metaphorical- Previously we carbon-efficient water industry ly stuffed full of the latest in water driven by innovation. industry thinking and capability. could detect “Combine the words water and For instance, drones equipped with innovation and we get blank faces,” thermal imaging cameras are being leaks to within 22m. he says. put to use in detecting leaks. “The perception is that, in the “Previously we could detect leaks Now it is within three water industry, we don’t innovate.” to within 22m. Now it is within 3m to five metres This is untrue: the industry as 20 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 “ Anglian Water regularly supplies 1bn litres water per day to its customers

a whole is having to innovate, not In the UK we is working within Water UK and with least to reduce its carbon footprint KEY FACTS other water companies to achieve, and provide services households can lose about 23% is net zero carbon emissions for the afford. 6% sector by 2030. Riley continues by describing the of the water we supply “We are in the process of develop- challenges Anglian Water faces in de- Amount ing a route map to be launched as a livering wholesome water and dealing Anglian has on an annual basis first draft in January 2020 to illustrate effectively with effluent. how exactly the industry will get to His company’s asset base regularly encouraged that point,” he says. supplies 1bn.l of water per day and up customers to “ Preventing the equivalent of 4bn to 1.4bn.l/day during a hot summer. cut water use single use plastic bottles ending up in It recycles waste water from 2.7M able ambition) from the environment waste is a target for 2030. households. against a growing population when “As a group, we can deliver far The demands are substantial. “Take 1M water is already scarce?” more than working in isolation,” climate change. Anglian Water’s remit Affordability is also an issue, across says Riley. extends across the lowest lying area Projected the whole of the water industry. “We But the challenges are not simply in England and Wales: 52% of it below population have to make sure, in particular, that for the water sector alone. “These sea level. If sea levels rise, that puts a increase we are looking after our vulnerable are the challenges we want to work lot of our infrastructure at risk. customers,” says Riley. on with our supply chain and wider “We are also the driest region in the in Anglian He points out that ensuring water stakeholders, to make sure we can UK. In fact we get about two thirds Water region services are more affordable is one deliver in the public interest as a of average rainfall. We’ve got sites of of several objectives that water com- whole,” he says. special scientific interest which rely in next 20 panies acting together in England are It was way back in 2006 when on water – we are custodians of our years committed to achieve. Anglian Water began talking seriously local environment. Another “that is talked about a lot” about carbon with its supply chain, “When we are planning our assets is to triple the rate of sector-wide when the company began promoting going forward, planning for flooding leakage reduction by 2030. innovation as the engine to deliver events, for other events like heat “In the UK we lose about 23% of the carbon solutions. waves and dry periods, we have to water we supply on an annual basis,” “After that the magic started to ensure we can supply the right water he says. happen,” says Riley. and water recycling services.” Anglian Water is a market leader Collaboration and innovation had Population growth is another in locating, stopping and preventing helped his company halve its capital problem. leaks. “All of us in the industry are carbon in just five years. “We are “We’ll see an extra 1M people over now committed to working together now intent on being a carbon neutral the next 20 years within the region to significantly reduce those high company by 2050.” that we operate – when we are al- levels of leakage,” says Riley. l Anglian Water’s video on the ready water-stressed. And how do we One objective that he feels particu- Newmarket innovation shop window reduce the water we abstract (a desir- larly close to, and one Anglian Water is available on YouTube.

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 21 Engineer, last month), it seems that every organisation engaged in removing the old structure and providing the new one is Italian. Contrast that with any large public construction project in this country, where so often the companies Your View involved are overwhelmingly from other European countries. Why LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should this be? Is it really the case AND COMMENTS ONLINE that British contractors are less capable or more expensive than their continental counterparts? Or might it be because the UK actually STRUCTURES above and below spillways. complies with European Union The vulnerability of spillways is procurement rules whereas Italy WHALEY BRIDGE therefore already acknowledged and does not? WARNING SIGNS @ a major review of their design and John Horsler (M retd), 11 Castle WERE THERE maintenance in the UK would now Hill Avenue, Berkhamsted, Herts seem very appropriate. I agree with your view that ENVIRONMENT I live in Whaley Bridge and I would questions need to be asked of the like to add some detail to your robustness of dam inspections in PLASTICS AND ASPHALT September article “How engineers the UK. Should such inspections saved Toddbrook reservoir dam” include non-destructive testing (New Civil Engineer last month). checks for voids beneath spillways Investigations are, as you for example? In my opinion, the have reported, now underway to previous Toddbrook Reservoir determine exactly what triggered inspections should be reviewed for the partial collapse. In my opinion, adequacy and content, especially long term seepage below the as the Canal & River Trust has concrete apron at the crest of the advised that the 10 yearly Panel spillway and/or poor maintenance of Inspection was only completed in cracks/joints in the concrete would November 2018 as well as twice be consistent with the type of failure yearly inspections by Supervising observed. Engineers. The Department for the The Emergency Services, the We need to know environmental Environment, Food and Rural RAF, Kier and other support impact of plastic asphalt Affairs/Environment Agency workers should be congratulated publication SC 080046/R1, Delivering for implementing the emergency Benefits Through Evidence – Lessons procedures so effectively to make It would be interesting and impor- from Historical Dam Incidents, the dam safe. Without those tant to know if Highways England published in 2011, records that the efforts, a catastrophic failure could has considered the contribution to majority of incidents are related have occurred, and the gravity of micro plastics in our water courses to “external erosion due to flood” such a situation requires, in my to the breakdown of plastics being which is described as “overtopping opinion, an independent inquiry used as a partial substitution for incidents and those when spillway so that the above matters can be asphalt (New Civil Engineer, last is damaged”. At least six incidents fully addressed and appropriate month). Given the recent public de- are recorded that were in some actions taken to avoid a similar bate on the effect of micro-plastics way associated with inadequate crisis occurring on other spillways on wildlife and possibly drinking spillways and a further four elsewhere in the UK. It is not water, it is something we need be spillway failures are included in sufficient, in my view, just to leave sure of. subsequent Environment Agency investigations solely in the hands of Bob Gilchrist (F), incident reporting between 2012 the owners of the dam. [email protected] and 2017. The major spillway Malcolm Hollings (M retd) failure in 2017 at the Oroville Dam Whaley Bridge, High Peak, STRUCTURES in California also appears to show The Editor, Derbyshire. some comparability to the failure at New Civil MODULAR TERRACED Toddbrook, although the former was Engineer, PROFESSION on a much greater scale (New Civil HOUSING TO SOLVE Telephone Engineer, December 2017). Slab joint ARE WE MORE EU HOMES SHORTAGE House, design, reinforcement provision COMPLIANT THAN and inadequate maintenance were 69-77 Paul In the September edition of New identified as contributing to the Street, London, OTHERS? Civil Engineer there was a panegyric failure at Oroville and recognition EC2A 4NQ As reported in the interesting to Homes England and its attempts was given to the consequences of Email: nceedit@ article on replacing Genoa’s to increase housebuilding in this hydraulic and hydrostatic pressures emap.com Polcevera Viaduct (New Civil country. It is apparently supporting

22 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 MAIN POINT THAMESLINK:YOUR PRAISE VIEWS AND OPINIONS WHERE IT’S DUE

A propos your supplement on Thameslink, the scheme “we began in 2009 to work out how to do it”. However the originally started in 1984 in my office at Waterloo. The meeting track layout required had already been established by the was called to hear a proposal from the old Greater London original Thameslink 2000 project team in the mid-1990s, in Council (GLC). The GLC transport model showed that the particular “untangling the spaghetti” at Bermondsey. The restoration of the Ludgate Hill link between Blackfriars and arrangement included widening the proposed dive under to Farringdon would benefit the GLC particularly in deployment four tracks to accommodate the South Central Down Slow line, of road transport. bringing it on to the east side of the Thameslink fast lines, thus Apart from our engineers, we had Mike Bland eliminating the need for a flyover at New Cross Gate. of Economic Survey and Peter Olver from Her A detailed scheme design report was produced for Majesty’s Rail Inspectorate (now ORR). There Thameslink 2000 by Scott Wilson in August 1997. was a very approximate agreement between The final results achieved at Bermondsey are the British Rail and GLC figures for passengers stunning, but due credit should be given to the using the Blackfriars/Holborn/ Farringdon work of the Thameslink 2000 team 20 years stations. As we explored the problems, it previously. became clear that we had a scheme, and Dick Watts (M retd) Cholsey, Oxfordshire David decided that the GLC would foot the bill. The scheme was progressed and the link Referring to Nigel Bueton’s letter (Your was authorised. View, last month), I wish to point out that the Meanwhile, with the cost of trading floors Thameslink programme had an even earlier rising in the city, developer Rosehaugh Stanhope incarnation than “the infrastructure upgrade called proposed the use of the old Holborn Viaduct terminus Thameslink 2000”. In the early 1990s, British Rail for commercial development, in return for which British Network SouthEast started work on a project known at the Rail would have a new station (City Thameslink) on the time as “Thameslink Metro”. reinstated link. This associated scheme was not easy, since It comprised all of the main elements of the central section to meet Rail Inspectorate requirements the track in the new of the Thameslink Programme: the remodelling of Farringdon station had to be on a gradient flatter than 1 in 260. This and Blackfriars stations, the Borough Market viaduct, London required the track from Blackfriars to drop sharply down to Bridge station track and platform works and the Bermondsey the new station, and where previously it crossed Snow Hill on dive under. An environmental statement was prepared in an overbridge it now had to pass beneath. readiness for a Transport and Works Act application, but it The link was restored, the new station built, and the was never published, as the project was cancelled with the commercial development completed. The new station was privatisation of the rail industry in 1994. built to take 12 coaches, very far sighted. Built to link the It then re-emerged as “Thameslink 2000” with Network Rail’s old Bedford to St Pancras service with a number of Southern successor body, Railtrack, as client in 1996. Region services, it ran happily for years. What was needed Trevor Crocker & Partners was commissioned to prepare was the second stage – with a new London Bridge station and a Thameslink Metro environmental statement for British Rail improved junctions – all now completed. in 1991. Its successor, Aspen Burrow Crocker, prepared the Peter Coster, [email protected] 1997 Thameslink 2000 environmental statement for Railtrack, followed by Waterman Burrow Crocker which prepared a In New Civil Engineer’s August project report on the third one for Network Rail in 1999. I was involved in some way Thameslink Programme the former Network Rail project in all three. director, in describing the necessary track remodelling, states Edward King (F), Brockham, Surrey an organisation called Urban Splash disadvantaged. simplicity and cheapness the aim. and an example of its product There are large numbers of Victorian Carefully aligned terraces with was shown in the form of some narrow frontage (3.6m) terraced mono-pitched solar panelled roofs uninspiring single-storey wooden houses which, when modernised, could be created. cabins. These appear to be exactly still provide reasonable family There can be no effective solution what we do not require more of. homes. Would we not do better to to housing the disadvantaged until They will merely cause further land- follow this example rather than there is a government which is hungry urban sprawl. more bungaloid low density sprawl? willing to tackle the tyranny where a Housing developments I observe I would like to see explored the small proportion of the population are all aimed at the comfortably industrialised construction of large owns the land (mostly fortuitously) off, making little contribution to numbers of narrow, preferably and holds the rest to ransom. providing for the young and the four-storey terraced houses, with Ken Bowman ( M Retd ),

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 23 Make contracts easy with CEMAR®

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Britain is facing its biggest housing crisis since the Second World War. This report examines ways the industry can help the country increase output and meet targets.

TAKLIN THE STALES T HUSIN RWTH PAE HW MDULAR NSTRUTIN AN ST UTPUT PAE URAN HIH RISE RESPNSE T PPULATIN RWTH PAE HMES WHIH LAT N LD WATERS PAE DEATE: SLIN PLANNIN PRLEMS PAE

OCTOBER 2019  NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 25 UK HOUSING COMPLETIONS, 1949-2018 450,000 Private Private housing Local enterprise associations authorities 400,000 ELUSIVE 350,000 300,000

HOUSING COMPLETIONS 250,000 SOLUTIONS 200,000 The reasons for the UK’s housing shortage are 150,000 complex and varied, and there is no silver bullet to solving the problem, as Margo Cole reports. 100,000

50,000

0

1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Future supply report says that 222,190 were building up to 400,000 homes a homes came onto the market in year. “Throughout most of the 1950s KEY FACTS of Housing England in 2017/2018, most of which and all of 1960s and 1970s, we were (195,290) were new build homes, building more homes than we have at 300,000 with the remainder being gains from any time since,” he adds. he UK is in the grip of a change of use from non-domestic to Neate says that in that period, new housing crisis, evidenced Annual residential, and conversions from homes were built by a wider range of by the fact that there are number of houses to flats. In Scotland, 22,258 organisations and individuals. “You too few homes available, new homes were built during the had biggish housebuilders, regional and the homes that new homes same period, a further 7,056 were companies, small housebuilders and are available are too needed to end built in Northern Ireland, and the general builders, which contributed expensive. The causes of the crisis the housing latest figures for Wales show that to resilience in supply capacity,” he are complex, with commentators 5,974 new homes were built in the last says. “And you had councils building T shortage blaming everything from population 12 months. their own houses.” growth and demographic changes This is an increase over previous The shift away from public to the rise of buy-to-let and overseas years, but with the total so far short provision of housing is the biggest property investment. But most agree of the government’s target, is the change. In its report Building for our that part of the equation is a shortage target unrealistic? future: A vision for social housing, of new homes. “It’s ambitious, but it ought to housing charity Shelter says around The government says we need be achievable,” says WSP Indigo 126,000 social homes were built every to build 300,000 new homes a year executive director Simon Neate, year between the Second World War to meet the shortfall; others claim adding that during the 1960s we and 1980, whereas last year, there it should be more. Heriot Watt were only 6,463 new social homes. University professor of urban studies The Institute for Social Policy, Glen Bramley says there is a current Housing, Equalities Research and backlog of 4.7M households across the National Housing Federation say the whole of Great Britain. To correct These days, we should be building around 90,000 this within a 15-year time frame, homes a year for social rent in England Bramley says we should be building most social alone – and a further 5,000 to 10,000 in 380,000 new homes a year, 340,000 in housing is delivered by the rest of Britain – as well as 28,000 England alone. for shared ownership and 33,000 for The government’s annual housing private housebuilders intermediate affordable rent. 26 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 “ UK HOUSING COMPLETIONS, 1949-2018 The number of 450,000 builders which Private Private housing Local are small to medium enterprise associations authorities 400,000 enterprises has dropped dramatically 350,000 “ because of planning difficulties 300,000

HOUSING COMPLETIONS 250,000 will unlock new homes in areas of greatest housing demand. So far, £1.9bn worth of grants have been awarded, the latest of which 200,000 were handed out to projects in Essex, Enfield (see box), Bedfordshire and east London in August. 150,000 But even with the cost of infrastructure taken out of the equation, Turner says the current 100,000 planning regime is probably the biggest constraint to housebuilding. “The planning process takes too 50,000 long. Big builders can live with that, because they can factor it in. But a small builder traditionally would 0 finish one site while they put an application in for the next site, then get on with that. Now they can’t 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 afford to do that. “The number of builders which are The dramatic reduction in new The government because of the cost of remediation small to medium enterprises (SMEs) homes in the social/affordable sector is still falling etcetera, which means the scheme has dropped dramatically because of stems from the political decision short of the is not viable unless you reduce the planning difficulties, the time it takes to allow council houses to be sold target to build obligation to build social housing. and the expense,” he adds. to their tenants, after which local 300,000 homes “The thing that gets hit is the social “The complexity has also authorities, pretty much abandoned per year housing provision, which means a lot increased, with environmental issues, large-scale housing provision [of developments] are getting built biodiversity and energy efficiency – – something Neate calls “the with no social provision because it is most of which are the right things to emasculation of the local authority not viable.” do, but they make the whole business housebuilding sector”. Home Builders Federation director very complex and expensive for “Governments made it very difficult of communications Steve Turner says SMEs, so the number has dropped for them [to build], and we’ve some developments do not get built dramatically over 25 years. struggled since then to achieve the at all because there are too many “We need to find ways to bring same sort of numbers,” he says. constraints. more SMEs into the game. Big “These days,” he explains, “most “Developers are expected to fund builders can’t keep growing at the social housing is delivered by the affordable housing and also the rate they have been, so we need to private housebuilders, who make infrastructure and amenity through find ways to get SMEs building, and a percentage [of homes in each Section 106 [agreements]. That local authorities building, and to get development] available as social impacts how much they can afford to housing associations involved. We housing.” This percentage varies pay for land. They won’t pay as much also need to look at different delivery across the UK, but it is usually around because it wouldn’t be profitable models, for example the private rental 30% to 40%, and up to 50% in London. to do so. Which means there is less sector paying for construction.” This means the supply of much- incentive for whoever owns the land Neate agrees that the current needed affordable homes relies on to sell it.” planning system is constraining planning permission being granted The issue of expecting developers the delivery of new homes. “The for larger, predominantly private, to pay for and provide key way the planning system deals developments. This can have infrastructure has been addressed with housing has become much interesting consequences, says Neate. in part by the government’s Housing more complicated,” he says, “And “If a developer is told that they Infrastructure Fund, launched in complexity tends to lead to delays.” have got to build on brownfield land, 2017. The £2.3bn fund enables local Another problem is that we shouldn’t be too surprised when authorities to compete for capital government cutbacks have led they say it is more expensive to build, grants to fund new infrastructure that to planning departments having

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 27 Future of Housing Overview

Even if we wanted to, we WORTHING couldn’t double our output tomorrow “The intention is to make these new homes available to key workers” “significantly fewer planning officers, so planning applications take longer to process. And the appeals system is Worthing Borough Council is in talks with something we are determined to tackle in also very slow. residential developer BoKlok to deliver up to innovative ways even as the amount of funding But even when developments are 162 homes on a site to the west of the town. we receive direct from central government is granted planning permission, homes reducing,” Jenkins says. are not built as rapidly as they are BoKlok is jointly owned by Swedish contractor The council’s initial analysis indicated the land needed. Last year former Cabinet Skanska and flat pack icon Ikea. It was set up to earmarked for the new BoKlok homes could provide Office minister Sir Oliver Letwin build contemporary, sustainable homes priced to 45 homes using a traditional approach, with 13 published a review of build-out rates. make them affordable for working families. classed as affordable. But the agreement with BoKlok He found that the median build-out As part of the proposed deal, the council will could treble the number of homes on the site. period for sites with over 1,000 take 30% of the units as social housing. “Given the approach BoKlok takes to homes is 15.5 years, and concluded BoKlok has already built over 11,000 homes affordability, the intention is to make these new that the main reason for this is “the across Scandinavia, but the Worthing development homes available to key workers,” says Jenkins. homogeneity of the types and tenures would be its first in the UK. “BoKlok has shown that this type of housing works of the homes on offer on these sites, Worthing Borough Council executive member – with thousands of people across Scandinavia and the limits on the rate at which the for regeneration Kevin Jenkins says house prices living in similar types of units. market will absorb such homogenous in the town are 11 times the average local salary. If it can work in some of the most expensive products”. In other words, houses “Worthing is an increasingly popular town with countries of the world, there’s no reason why this are too similar, and there is a limited more and more people looking to move into the innovative approach cannot work in the south of number of people who want to buy area, either to live or work,” he explains. “But, England. this type of home. being hemmed in between the sea and the South “The fact these new modular homes can be Letwin says the solution is not Downs National Park means that land is at a built quickly, to a high quality and meet top to force major house builders to premium.” environmental standards makes this an extremely reduce the prices of these “relatively The town’s Draft Local Plan, which will guide attractive proposition,” he adds. homogenous products”. Instead, development in the town for the next 15 years, Discussions have suggested that BoKlok could he suggests they offer much more indicates that there is only enough space for around provide up to 500 units within Worthing, so if the variety of type, design and tenure, 4,000 new homes in that time. first scheme proves successful and popular, the including a high proportion of “That has put more pressure on the council in council will look at other sites where this approach affordable housing. terms of social housing and also homelessness, could work. Another reason new homes are not being built at the rate they are needed is the skills shortage in the construction sector. As Turner says: “Even if we wanted to, we couldn’t double our output tomorrow”. Letwin also addressed this issue in his review, saying that lack of bricklayers would be a “binding constraint” in the immediate future unless there is either a substantial move away from brick-built homes, a significant import of more skilled bricklayers from abroad, or an “implausibly rapid move to modular construction techniques”. Importing skilled labour seems unlikely post-Brexit, but modular construction, or modern methods of construction (MMC) has long been touted as a way of offsetting the

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Modular is definitely ENFIELD part of the solution moving forward “We were very clear from the beginning: if you’re not going to do 50% “skills shortage, as well as improving affordable, just don’t bid” quality. However, so far only around 15,000 modular homes are built in the UK each year, according to law firm Pinsent Masons. Turner says: “Modular is definitely part of the solution moving forward, and most builders are using MMC in some way. Clearly, it’s got a part to play in how you increase output and quality moving forward, but we’re not going to move from traditional methods to homes built in factories overnight.” The uptake may not be “implausibly rapid”, but it is happening. Developer Barratt recently announced that it has already achieved its 2020 target of building 20% of its homes using MMC; and construction is well under way on the world’s tallest modular development comprising a 44-storey tower and 38-storey tower in Croydon. These are being built for Enfield Borough Council is spearheading a housebuilders, contractors and social housing private rental. regeneration scheme that will see 10,000 providers set up to accelerate new home delivery on Meanwhile some of the biggest houses built over the next 20 years, half of them public land. Galliford Try will build 725 hew homes, names in financing and construction earmarked as “affordable” for local residents. together with public squares, shops and leisure are getting in on the act. Places for facilities, between now and 2022, People has announced a deal to The Meridian Water development will be built on “When we invited bids, there was lots of interest, buy 750 offsite manufactured units former industrial land in north London, close to the but we were very clear from the beginning: if you’re from Ilke Homes; Japan’s largest North Circular road and the Lee Valley Regional not going to do 50% affordable, just don’t bid,” says housebuilder, Sekisui House, is Park. It will include schools, a new railway station Caliskan. “If you’re only interested in international taking a 35% equity stake in Urban and employment space as well as the new homes. sales, we’re not interested. And we want you to Splash’s modular house business; and The council initially intended to do a deal with show how you’re going to co-develop with local Goldman Sachs last year announced a single masterplan developer, but council leader people.” it was investing £75M in modular Nesil Caliskan says the deal “would not have been The council funded a new railway station at producer TopHat, which is currently in the best interests of local people”. Meridian Water, which opened in June. It recently building its first residential site in Instead, the council opted to oversee the whole received a £156M grant from the government’s Chatham, Kent. project itself, selecting partners to deliver individual Housing Infrastructure Fund, part of which is going Perhaps the ultimate modular parts of the regeneration programme and investing its on infrastructure to enable eight trains an hour to builder, Ikea, could also soon make own money. serve the station during peak times. its first appearance in the UK The council has been acquiring land at Meridian The money will also ensure some of the housebuilding sector through its Water since April 2014 and now owns 64% of the development’s key infrastructure can be built – BoKlok venture with Skanska (see developable land within the site. Developers will taking it out of individual housebuilders’ obligations. box). be offered sites on the basis of a development This includes a central spine road, two new parks, “Modular housing is more agreement rather than the sale of land, so the cycle lanes, bridges, flood works and remediation. advanced in other countries, but I council can retain control. Caliskan says: “It is a real success to secure this do see that changing,” says Neate. The first phase will be built by Galliford Try, money. It is a vote of confidence in the scheme and “That’s only going one way – there’s which was appointed in April through the London the potential Meridian Water has for really denting an inevitability about an increase in Development Panel, a framework of 29 developers, the number of homes needed.” MMC.” N

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Bringing structures to life Future of Housing Modular LT E With a government housebuilding target of 300,000 units a year proving hard to meet, modular housing is shaping up to disrupt the Project Etopia prefabricated homes sector. Katherine Smale reports. under construction in Corby

modular home smart technology; faster delivery; and nd in May, Japan’s biggest revolution is on its way. KEY FACTS improved safety for those building housebuilder, Sekisui House, struck Glossy, modular built, them as a result of taking riskier work £0M deal with Homes ngland to normal looking family offsite and into a controlled factory invest in UK house builder Urban homes are popping up 30% to 40% environment. Splash modular housing division around the country in Crucially, to help widen the roll out (ee, last month). response to the housing crisis. But Percentage of modular housing, the government Maor players are also aiming to toA get there ust needs a change in of Homes is now actively promoting it. Non- turn the modular house market on attitude towards this new take on an England departmental public housing body its head. Swedish furniture giant Ikea old idea. Homes ngland now stipulates that and contractor Skanska have already ike today, post-war Britain faced houses to have on all of its sites, 30% to 40% of the been successful in building homes a housing crisis which was solved some kind of houses built should have some sort of in this way in Scandinavia. They are largely by the invention of the modular, prefabricated element. now looking to bring their sustainable, prefabricated house. lthough initially prefabricated “hat we’re saying to the top fi ve to solar panel clad, low cost, factory hailed as a great success, many have element 10 maor players in the market that it’s built but customisable, modular outlived their shelf lives, deteriorating no longer acceptable to build in the BoKlok concept to the UK (see ). in the process. This has consequently traditional way,” says Homes ngland lsewhere, egal General has left the prefabricated housing with a technical director ob Stone. created a 51,100m2 modular housing hard to shake off reputation for being factory ust outside eeds capable shabby and poorly held together. of building 3,500 homes a year. nd But new advances in technology aing ’ourke has been working with have meant that modular housing is the University of Sheffi eld dvanced once again on the rise with recent It’s no longer Manufacturing esearch Centre improvements too good for many to (MC) to bring in “risky technologies ignore. acceptable to which take a bit more time to The benefi ts are plentiful – cheaper, develop”. super high performing homes with build in the traditional The latter has also been consistent quality and embedded way streamlining the process by 32 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER  OCTOBER 2019 “ 41406-GF MP Service Ad NCE 265x210 with logo.qxp_Layout 1 07/06/2019 12:03 Page 1

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You get the old Luddite saying it’s not as good as traditional. It’s not as “good, it’s miles better transferring capabilities from other industries to the house building process. “We are developing the technology, and showcasing it in a construction application,” says AMRC head of construction innovation strategy James Illingworth. “Sometimes it’s not the actual, full development of technology, it is just taking something we’ve already learned in, say, the automotive or aerospace industry slightly applying it elsewhere.” For example, he says the work it has done on glue used on aircraft wings can be applied to the application of mortar to a façade system before want. Go modular kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces sticking bricks on it. “All this and [they are] still made housing all tailored to suit the size of the space And alongside the major players, about four or five times faster than units being behind. the modular housing market is conventional builds with locally assembled in “There is some negative perception proving a perfect place for technology- trained contractors; in most cases a factory about modular,” says Urban Creation focused start-ups to showcase their carbon positive over the next five director and owner Jonathan potentially disruptive ideas. years. And it’s more affordable.” Brecknell. Project Etopia was created by The panellised shell of the building “You get the old Luddite saying it’s entrepreneur Joseph Daniels who is designed to be stacked up to 10 not as good as traditional. has bold ambitions to fundamentally storeys high and as a consequence “It’s not as good, it’s miles better. change people’s perceptions of the internal walls are all stud, highly “The quality and finishes are far and modular housing and is doing so on a insulated and high performing, adds away better, then there’s the benefits global scale. Daniels. However, these are essentially to the environment, local community So far, the company has built homes non-load bearing and therefore with less disruption on their doorstep in Namibia, California and Spain changeable to create future flexibility. and fewer construction vehicles and has just secured its first UK site Because the system is made up of travelling to site.” in Corby to build a “contemporary panels which click together on site, no Although he says developing the collection” of 47 new energy positive cranes are needed, he points out. idea came with an extremely steep homes. Modular is not just for the mass learning curve with quite a few These new homes come with an market, claims Daniels. Project Etopia challenges to overcome, he is not impressive list of extras from double has a division that can make one off looking back. height, triple glazed windows, “state units as well. “Of course, we’ve faced challenges of the art” lighting, quality kitchens UK developer Urban Creation’s along the way, as you would expect and bathrooms and 5G ready, smart modular specialist division Go when taking on such a complex homes energy management systems. Modular has also just completed a project,” he says. “But in future we “We can build the best performing project that is more of a bespoke expect offsite construction to cut the box in the world, with more approach to modular housing. time it takes to deliver schemes like intelligence than any other of the At 50 Park Street in Bristol, the this one by up to 50%. boxes,” says Daniels. “They have partnership has kept an original “With most people living in towns heating and cooling and the best façade, cleared out the building and cities, our project shows what’s appliances in the world. They behind it, erected a steel frame, and possible in tight, urban sites with generate more energy than they use, over six nights craned in a series of major implications for the future of and we can make it look any way you modules. These contain pre-installed house building.” N

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The Sara Cultural Centre in Sweden is a mixed use development exploring the LIFE IN use of timber frames THE SKY With an estimated 1.5M people moving into cities every year, high rise developments are set to increase. The challenge is to make them safe, sustainable and attractive to live in, Margo Cole reports.

ccording to the United to reduce the minimum height of no way to access the outside of the Nations, 55% of the KEY FACTS buildings requiring sprinklers from the glass box.” world’s population now current 30m – around 10 floors – to He advocates sky bridges between lives in urban areas, 18m or around six floors. towers, which give residents an a proportion that is 68% The Grenfell Tower fire highlighted alternative means of escape, and also expected to increase the specific risk of fire in tall buildings, create community space. “Horizontal to 68% by 2050. High rise living has Percentage but in other situations high rise connection is very important,” says longA been assumed to be the best way of world’s structures can be safer than low rise, Du, who has done research into the to house today’s urban populations, population explains Du: “High rise typically has factors that contribute most to a good and the cranes on the horizon of the better performance in seismic areas residential environment. UK’s big cities are now far more likely expected to be than low rise buildings because of the “The two critical components were to be building high rise residential living in urban damping action. “To me, high rise is safety and accessibility,” he says. developments than offices. pretty safe. But people might not have “Good residential buildings need “We only have limited land, and areas by 2050 confidence because it is tall, and if to be safe, and they also need to be we can’t continue to develop the something happens people might feel accessible to infrastructure like public sprawl of the suburbs,” says Peng Du, they are trapped in a glass box with transportation systems, shops and China office director and academic amenities.” coordinator at the Council on Tall Many of the new residential Buildings and Urban Habitat. “Because towers in the UK, like London’s of limited land, we have to go One Blackfriars and Manchester’s vertical.” High rise Deansgate Square are aimed at London’s high rise housing the luxury market. Residents pay boom has not abated, despite typically has a high service charge but get a safety concerns that arose from the lot of amenities like on site gyms Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017. better performance in and concierge services. High rise The government has responded to seismic areas than low affordable housing usually does not that event with various measures, offer the same facilities – to the extent including in September proposals “rise buildings that occupants of affordable housing 36 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 PLANT FRIENDLY ENCOURAGES VEGETATION IMMEDIATE EROSION PROTECTION Future of Housing High Rise

difficult to maintain, and contribute The whole city very little to the overall power consumption of the building, and the needs to think roof footprint is usually so small that even if it is filled with photovoltaic about what sort of panels the energy generated is negligible. projects the city needs But Du thinks there is scope for and what policies and incorporating solar collection into the façade of a high rise, as well as “ using it to collect rainwater for grey incentives will make water recycling. New façade materials that happen are also being designed to clean up their environment, like Elegant Embellishments’ smog-eating façade within a mixed tenure development panels, which have already been used often do not have access to the in Mexico, Australia, and the United communal roof gardens. Arab Emirates. Du says there are not many good There is also potential for using examples in western countries of different materials and methods for affordable high rise residential the building structures, including developments, because high land modular construction and timber, says values in favoured locations combined WSP associate director, structures with construction costs mean Dan Hagan. developers need to maximise the sustainability director Andrew The Pinnacle, “We don’t consider mass timber price they get for the apartments. But Bickerdyke says: “Building high rise Singapore, a – glulam, cross laminated timber Singapore has some good examples residential brings challenges and social housing (CLT), laminated veneer lumber, of what he says are “fantastic high opportunities, particularly when development etcetera – to be a new construction quality residential buildings at an it comes to meeting the ultimate with buildings material, it is just a product that affordable price”. challenge of building zero carbon linked by sky isn’t used often enough in the UK “The whole city needs to think buildings.” bridges contain- construction industry. Our colleagues about what sort of projects the But, he says, it is useful to compare ing communal in Scandinavia, Canada and New city needs and what policies and an individual high rise apartment gardens Zealand consider timber to be the incentives will make that happen,” with a typical suburban house: “In first structural material they would Du says. “In Singapore, if you create any home, space heating is one propose on a project due to the local a certain amount of green area or of the largest contributors to the abundance of raw material.” gardens – for example on the roof or carbon emissions of the dwelling. He gives the example of the Sara façade – you can go higher. Or if you Other than occupant usage and Cultural Centre in Skelleftea, Sweden, open the lobby of the building to be control, the biggest factor on the a 25,000m2, 19 storey development partly accessible to the public, you heating requirements of a house is framed in mass timber. It follows can go higher. the efficiency of the façade. How well the completion of the 85.4m high “High rise is often criticised for lack insulating are the walls and windows, Mjøstårnet in Norway, a mixed-use of facilities for families, but you do and how much solar gain does the development built using CLT that see high rise buildings that include façade let in? includes housing, recently announced high quality communal space for their “In high rise residential, we typically as the world’s tallest timber building residents to interact – for example big use highly engineered façades with “As well as specifying full mass roof gardens, sky gardens or the roof excellent air tightness and good levels timber frames, we advocate the use of a podium where kids can play.” of construction quality. Normally of hybrid solutions – steel frame with He cites two examples in Singapore: only one or two of the walls of the CLT slabs, CLT frame with concrete The Pinnacle, a social housing apartment would be external, and core, etcetera) – which use the development of seven, 50-storey above and below would be another relative strengths of all materials,” towers linked at the 26th and 50th apartment, so heat loss is generally explains Hagan, emphasising that UK floors by sky bridges containing much less of an issue. Often the solar Building Regulations limit the height communal gardens; and Sky Habitat, gain through the windows is adequate of housing developments with CLT a 38-storey residential complex to heat the house for much of the year. perimeter loading bearing walls to that “brings landscape into the air” “In a domestic house, construction 18m. “In order to construct a load through a mix of private terraces and quality is likely to be more variable, bearing CLT frame above 18m, the communal gardens. and more walls and the roof are perimeter elevation needs to revert to One of the biggest issues in exposed, so there is more opportunity an alternative framing system; such as high rise housing is how to make for heat loss.” beams and columns or a cold-rolled it sustainable. WSP MEP and Roof-mounted wind turbines are framing system,” he says. N

38 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CR-2019-004895 BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES COMPANIES COURT (CHD) in the matter of QBE UK Limited and in the matter of East West Insurance Company Limited and in the matter of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Piling Techniques Micro Augered NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on 15 August 2019, QBE UK Limited (QBEUK) and East Driven West Insurance Company Limited (EWICL, and QBEUK and EWICL together the Applicants) made an application (the Application) to the High Court of Justice (the Mini Court) pursuant to section 107(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Drilled (FSMA) for an Anchors 1. under section 111 of FSMA sanctioning an insurance business transfer scheme for the transfer of certain insurance business of QBEUK (the Scheme), as outlined Mono below, to EWICL; and 2. making ancillary provisions in connection with the Scheme pursuant to section 112 of FSMA. Specialist Areas The Scheme provides for the transfer to EWICL of the following general insurance Low Headroom business of QBEUK (the Transferring Business): a. certain United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland employers’ liability, public liability Rail and general liability business, written or assumed by QBEUK and which incepted Restricted Access on or prior to 31 December 2007, subject to certain policies that are specifically Mezzanines excluded under the terms of the Scheme (the Autumn Portfolio); Industrial/Retail b. UK employers’ liability, motor and personal accident policies and global public and products liability policies written or assumed by QBEUK and issued to Tata Steel Basements Europe Limited, which incepted on or after 1 January 1990 and expired on or prior Transmission Towers to 31 March 2016 (the Chestnut Portfolio), subject to certain liabilities under policies comprised in the Chestnut Portfolio that are specifically excluded under the terms of the Scheme; and www.technikgs.com 01928 579464 c. outwards reinsurance agreements entered into by QBEUK relating to the Autumn Portfolio. Copies of a report on the terms of the Scheme prepared pursuant to section 109 of FSMA (the Independent Expert Report), a statement setting out the terms of the Scheme and a summary of the Independent Expert Report are available free of charge to download at the QBEUK website (https://qbeeurope.com/qbeuk-ewicl-part-vii- information/) and EWICL website (www.armourholdings.com/regulatory-and-statutory) Supporting documents and any further news about the Scheme will be posted on the webpage so you may wish to check for updates. You can also request free copies of any of these documents from QBEUK by writing to QBE, Plantation Place, 30 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BD clearly marking on the front reference ‘Project Fall Part VII Transfer’, calling the QBEUK contact centre on 0800 022 4027 (if calling from the UK), 1800800817 (if calling from the Republic of Ireland) or +44 203 465 3337 (if calling from ARE YOU PART OF A TEAM? elsewhere) which is open on Monday to Friday during usual business hours (09:00-17:00 (UK)), or emailing [email protected], or from EWICL by writing to East West Insurance Company Limited, 20 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1DP clearly marking on the front reference ‘Project Fall Part VII Transfer’, calling the EWICL contact centre on 0800 470 0437 which is open on Monday to Friday during usual business hours (09:00-17:00 (UK)), or emailing [email protected]. The Application is directed to be heard before a judge on 29 November 2019 at The Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1NL, United Kingdom. If approved by the Court, it is proposed that the transfer will take effect at 00:01 (GMT) on 4 December 2019. Any person who has an objection to the proposed transfer or believes that he or she would be adversely affected by the carrying out of the Scheme is entitled to make written representations to the Court and/ or have their concerns or objections heard in person (or by a legal representative) at the hearing of the Application on 29 November 2019. Any such person may also raise their concerns or objection with QBEUK or EWICL in writing or over the telephone and QBEUK or EWICL as applicable will make a record of these concerns and communicate them to the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Independent Expert and the Court. Any person who intends to make representations (whether by telephone or in writing) or to appear at Court is requested (but not obliged) to provide details of their representations or notice of their intention to appear at Court and details of their concerns or objections as soon as possible and ideally at least 15 days before the hearing of the Application on 29 November 2019 using the contact details set out above. Dated: 19 September 2019 While you are enjoying this informative issue of New Civil Engineer, your colleagues aren’t and that doesn’t seem fair to us. To help your team keep Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP Tower Bridge House, St Katharine’s Way, up-to-date with the latest developments, best practice and thought-provoking London E1W 1AA, opinion in the construction industry, contact us today: United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0) 203 953 2112 Ref: QBE4.59/AP02/MG02 Email: [email protected] Solicitors for the Applicants Future of Housing Flood Resilience

In the Dutch village of Maasbommel, some houses are designed to float when RIDING water levels rise THE TIDE With innovation enabling engineers to build flood-resilient homes in flood-prone areas in other parts of the world, the UK has not been so quick to embrace such change. Sam Sholli examines why.

s the UK is tasked with currently permitted. Proponents of not displace any water off the site. tackling a housing KEY FACTS this approach argue that this can be The Dutch are very good at this,” says shortage alongside done by ensuring those homes and Floodline technical director Faruk boosting resilience to the communities in which they are Pekbeken. climate change, the £2.6bn built are themselves flood resilient. Indeed, back in 2005, Dutch need to build flood- Floodline Consulting, a developer firm Dura Vermeer constructed resistant homes has perhaps never Environment and water management consultant several such houses in the village of beenA greater. Agency established nearly a decade ago, is Maasbommel along the Maas River. The Environment Agency is commitment proposing to build houses that are If the water levels rise, the houses currently committed to spending designed to float when the areas do too, keeping their occupants dry. £2.6bn over six years on delivering to flood surrounding them are flooded. The The houses float on hollow concrete 1,500 projects which will better resilience idea has been tried and tested in the and timber pontoons and sink back protect 300,000 homes from coastal Netherlands. to their original position when erosion and flooding. spending “You could build homes that go floodwaters fall. But it has also warned that it up and down [with rising and falling It’s a bold solution and clearly the cannot win a war against water by flood water levels] that mean you do idea of a floating home is not going building away climate change with to be for everyone. But there are infinitely high flood defences. By the other options. For example, on a Environment Agency’s own admission, development site at risk of relatively simply investing in flood defences will low levels of flooding, the ground not be enough to tackle the climate You could build could be contoured to channel flood risk issues facing the UK. water away from the homes. One solution to the housing crisis homes that go “If in a development plot that is and the challenge of mitigating climate modelled to be at risk of relatively risk that is being put forward with up and down that mean low levels of flood water, you do not increasing vigour is to allow houses to have to build a flood-resilient house,” be built in areas deemed at risk from you do not displace any Pekbeken explains. “You could simply flooding at a far greater rate than is water off the site raise the homes, or you could adjust

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Because people are not understanding of floating homes, it is “very difficult to get planners on board ground levels to balance where flood water goes compared to where a house goes.” And for sites more at risk, other options still exist. “If you are looking at a development site which is wholly at flood risk, you could build homes that are built on stilts effectively,” says Pekbeken. The challenge, Floodline Consulting’s team has found, is not with the technical solution but with Meanwhile, the Exceptions A floating their application of planning policy. the reluctance of local authorities to Test, also set out in the NPPF, home developed “The impression I get is that…you permit its use. This, explains managing requires developers to show that by Bluetech seem to be going through the hoops director Justin Meredith, is because any development will provide Waterfront quite a lot. Because people are not government rules guide authorities sustainability benefits that outweigh solutions understanding of floating homes it towards the low-risk option through two flood risk, and that a development is very difficult to get planners on key measures: the Sequential Test and will be safe for its lifetime, without board,” says director Carl West. the Exceptions Test. increasing flood risk elsewhere while One solution to the lack of The Sequential Test, set out in the reducing overall flood risk. pragmatism has been proposed by government’s National Planning Policy But it is on the Sequential Test Mott MacDonald global practice Framework [NPPF], seeks to ensure where Floodline Consulting appears leader for water resources and that a sequential approach is followed to be coming most unstuck. Meredith flooding Fiona Barbour. to steer new development to areas explains: “The difficulty we have had She is arguing for a risk-based with the lowest probability of flooding. is that an authority which is naturally approach, very much in line with the Through flood risk assessments, nervous of encouraging development Exceptions Test. This could unlock the aim of local planning authorities in a flood-risk area can use it to work flood-prone brownfield sites for is to steer new development to Flood it against us by saying ‘the NPPF does further development easing pressure Zone 1, areas which the Environment not say I have to consider the fact that on greenfield land. Agency considers to have a your building has been designed for “Generally, the approach is that probability of flooding of less than 1 in that area. you cannot build within a flood plain,” 1,000 years. “All it says is I need to find Barbour summarises. Where there are no reasonably somewhere with less risk of flooding, “My proposal is that while there is a available Flood Zone 1 sites, local so you might be proposing your general consensus that we should not authorities take into account development in Flood Zone 2 or 3a, be building on greenfield flood plains, reasonably available Flood Zone but if there is any land in Flood Zone, I think we should take a different 2 designated sites. These are 1 then by definition you must fail the view when the flood plain is already considered to have a flood risk of less Sequential Test.” developed,” she argues. than 1 in 100 years. Meredith accuses local authorities She, explains that there are homes Only where there are no Zone 1 or of applying an extremely black and and buildings on such sites that 2 area is the suitability of high flood white approach to the application of existed before current planning risk sites in Zone 3a considered. the Sequential Test, without feeling policies were put in place and are These areas have a high probability of the need to be pragmatic. already likely to be at high flood flooding, at least 1 in 100 years. Zone 2 Bluetech Waterfront Solutions risk – a risk that could be reduced and 3a areas have a wide spectrum of works on developing floating homes. through development. The status quo, flood risk, and Floodline believes there It has also accused local authorities meanwhile, leaves businesses and is the capacity to release such land of lacking understanding of the homeowners trapped in devaluing which can be sustainably developed. technology available when it comes to properties. N

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NCE Floods Advert 265mmh x 210mmw.indd 1 06/09/2019 16:11 INNOVATION IN DESIGN & DELIVERY INNOVATION IN TUNNEL LINING Bam Nuttal, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV, Thames Tideway Tunnel Bam Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV & KERN Tunneltechnik - Bouygues Travaux Publics - Dragages Hong Kong, TM-CLKL - DfMA Hammersmith Pumping Station, Thames Tideway Tunnel Approach for tunnel internal structures Bam Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV, Carnwath Road Riverside BSCU, Dragados, TfL, Dr. Sauer & Partners, Bank Station Capacity Tunelling Team, Thames Tideway Tunnel Upgrade project Concrete Canvas, CC Culvert Lining, providing a design life in excess of 2019 Dragages Hong Kong Limited (DHK), Bouygues Travaux Publics, CEDD, 120 years Liantang Heung Yuen Wai Highway – Lung Shan Tunnel (Hong Kong) Dragados SA UK and Mapei UTT, Eliminating dust from spray applied Dragages-Bouygues JV, Atkins China, Tuen Mun Chek Lap Kok Link - waterproofing on Bank Station Capacity Upgrade 05 DECEMBER 2019 | LEONARDO ROYAL HOTEL LONDON TOWER BRIDGE northern connection sub-sea tunnel section Dragados, TfL, Dr. Sauer & Partners, Optimisation of sprayed concrete Ferrovial Agroman Laing O Rourke JV, Thames Tideway Tunnel – central lining on Bank Station Capacity Upgrade section Ferrovial Agroman Laing O’Rourke JV (FLO), Tecozam, Innovation in Ferrovial Agroman Laing O Rourke JV, Kennington Station cross passages secondary tunnel lining on the Northern Line extension, Automatic on the Northern Line Extension fullround shutter Golder, Finsbury Park Station step free access Soprema, Repairable system Novaslice, The simpler and safer way to remove pile foundation heads INNOVATION IN TUNNEL SHAFT DESIGN SHORTLIST REVEALED! INNOVATION IN INSTRUMENTATION & AND CONSTRUCTION MONITORING Bauer Technologies, Woodsmith Mine, North Yorkshire Bouygues Travaux Publics, Tunnel Lab:Big Data Bouygues Travaux Public, Bachy Soletanche, Bessac and Bouygues Travaux Datum, Woodsmith mine, North Yorkshire Publics Régions France, Stations of the Nice tramway COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR TUNNELLING PROJECT OF THE YEAR (UP TO $50M) KERN Tunneltechnik, Automatic fullround shutter Spie Batignolles fondations, Small diameter shaft diaphragm wall innovation Hong Kong Special Administrative Region CEDD, AECOM and Leighton Active Tunnelling & DNMA (Doosan & NMCN), Birmingham Resilience Murphy Surveys, Autonomous self-adjusting wireless sensor network Bouygues Travaux Publics, Dragages Hong Kong, Atkins China, TM-CLKL - China State JV, Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel – main tunnel and Project Pinssar, Setting the new global gold standard in real-time DPM monitoring cellular shaft integrated in caterpillar-shaped cofferdam associated works Golder Associates, Spencer Group, London Underground, Finsbury Park Senceive, Long-term wireless monitoring of the Botlek Tunnel Sirius Minerals, Joseph Gallagher, Carey’s Civil Enginneering and John Holland CPB Ghella JV, Sydney Metro City & Southwest – tunnel Station step free access Socotec Monitoring, Barking riverside extension Herrenknecht, Woodsmith mine and station excavation Joseph Gallagher and OTB Engineering, Knightsbridge Station Temple Group, Ferrovial Laing O’Rourke, Northern Line Extension - FLO & Active Tunnelling, Thames Tideway Tunnel – heathwall pumping Scottish Water, School engagement during Paisley tunnelling project Scottish Water, Paisley tunnelling project environmental monitoring station shafts Southland Holdings (Oscar Renda Contracting - ORC), Waller Creek HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING INITIATIVE OF Tunnel inlet facility at Waterloo Park INNOVATION IN TUNNEL EXCAVATION TUNNELLING TEAM OF THE YEAR THE YEAR United Utilities, Farrans Roadbridge JV, Ward and Burke Construction, Thirlmere Link main, Castlerigg Tunnel Bam Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV - Hammersmith Pumping Bam Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV, Frogmore Connection Tunnel Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project - Dragados/TfL, Bank Station WestonWilliamson + Partners, OTB Engineering and Costain, Bakerloo Station - Thames Tideway Tunnel BSCU, Dragados, TfL, Bank Station Capacity Upgrade Project Capacity Upgrade project Line Link Bemo Tunnelling UK, Karl-Friedrich-Strasse tunnel in Karlsruhe/Germany Dragages-Bouygues JV and Aecom, Tuen Mun – China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Ganntas railway tunnel Dragados, TfL, Graphical illustration of complex excavation sequences on Chek Lap Kok Link in Algeria Bank Station Capacity Upgrade FLO JV, Thames Tideway Tunnel - central section TUNNELLING PROJECT OF THE YEAR (BETWEEN Dragados, TfL, Excavation of shaft through a hollow-pile on Bank Station Dragados SA UK and Mapei UTT, Bank Station Capacity Upgrade $50M AND $500M) Joseph Gallagher, Knightsbridge Station Spie Batignolles Génie Civil, Real-Time - Harsh Environment - Diesel Capacity Upgrade Ramboll Major crossing global spearhead Particulate Matter (DPM) Monitoring Bouygues Travaux Publics, Bachy Soletanche and Bessac, Ligne 14 Metro FCC Construccion, Tunnel Vallirana Skanska Strabag JV, The new Ulriken Tunnel The Joseph Gallagher Group, LIFE - Living incident free everyday Line extension Contract T02 MMC Gamuda JV, Autonomous TBM Bouygues Travaux Publics, Bachy Soletanche, Bessac, Bachy Soletanche TUNNELLING SPECIALIST SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVE Tunnel, Bouygues Travaux Publics Régions France, Nice Tramway (France) INNOVATION IN TUNNEL FIT-OUT, OPERATIONS OF THE YEAR FCC Construccion, Tunnels of Vallirana & MAINTENANCE BASF, Sprayed concrete challenges with integral waterproofing (Catalonia-Spain) Dr. Sauer & Partners, Dr. Sauer & Partners’ innovative tunnelling solutions Costain, Vinci Construction Grands Projets and Bachy Soletanche, Skanska Strabag JV, The new Ulriken Tunnel Murphy Surveys, Crossrail – Liverpool Street and Tottenham Court Road Joseph Gallagher, Tunnelling specialist sub-contractor Tideway East Atkins Tunnel Safety Team, Road tunnel operations Normet UK, Sprayed concrete products and services Dr. Sauer & Partners, Dr. Sauer & Partners’ inclusive recruitment University of Cambridge, Optimising growing underground Senceive, Wireless remote monitoring condition tunnel monitoring programme TUNNELLING PROJECT OF THE YEAR (OVER $500M) John Holland CPB Ghella JV, Sydney Metro City & Southwest – tunnel Bane NOR and Acciona Ghella JV (AGJV) - The Follo Line Project, Tunnel YOUNG TUNNELLER OF THE YEAR and station excavation TBM contract Dragages Hong Kong Limited, Bouygues Travaux Publics, CEDD, Liantang Rosie Amami, Bouygues Travaux Publics ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE Heung Yuen Wai Highway – Lung Shan Tunnel (Hong Kong) Donal Kelly, Dragados OF THE YEAR Qatari Diar, Vinci Construction, GS Construction and Al Darwish Joint Josh Knight, Costain Vinci Bachy JV Venture (RLSJV), Qatar integrated railway project Chris Sumsion, Cowi Bouygues Travaux Publics, EOLE metro line (France) Bouygues Travaux Publics, Bachy Soletanche, Bessac and Bouygues Travaux Publics Régions France, Nice Tramway (France) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region CEDD, AECOM and Leighton China State JV, Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel – main tunnel and tunnelling.newcivilengineer.com associated works John Holland CPB Ghella JV, Sydney Metro City & Southwest – tunnel and station excavation Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsors For table package enquiries, For sponsorship and exhibition enquiries, please contact: Ben Joudar please contact: Francis Barham T: +44 (0)20 3953 2638 E: [email protected] T: +44 (0)20 3953 2912 E: [email protected]

NCE Tunnelling Shortlist DPS.indd All Pages 10/09/2019 12:08 INNOVATION IN DESIGN & DELIVERY INNOVATION IN TUNNEL LINING Bam Nuttal, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV, Thames Tideway Tunnel Bam Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV & KERN Tunneltechnik - Bouygues Travaux Publics - Dragages Hong Kong, TM-CLKL - DfMA Hammersmith Pumping Station, Thames Tideway Tunnel Approach for tunnel internal structures Bam Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV, Carnwath Road Riverside BSCU, Dragados, TfL, Dr. Sauer & Partners, Bank Station Capacity Tunelling Team, Thames Tideway Tunnel Upgrade project Concrete Canvas, CC Culvert Lining, providing a design life in excess of 2019 Dragages Hong Kong Limited (DHK), Bouygues Travaux Publics, CEDD, 120 years Liantang Heung Yuen Wai Highway – Lung Shan Tunnel (Hong Kong) Dragados SA UK and Mapei UTT, Eliminating dust from spray applied Dragages-Bouygues JV, Atkins China, Tuen Mun Chek Lap Kok Link - waterproofing on Bank Station Capacity Upgrade 05 DECEMBER 2019 | LEONARDO ROYAL HOTEL LONDON TOWER BRIDGE northern connection sub-sea tunnel section Dragados, TfL, Dr. Sauer & Partners, Optimisation of sprayed concrete Ferrovial Agroman Laing O Rourke JV, Thames Tideway Tunnel – central lining on Bank Station Capacity Upgrade section Ferrovial Agroman Laing O’Rourke JV (FLO), Tecozam, Innovation in Ferrovial Agroman Laing O Rourke JV, Kennington Station cross passages secondary tunnel lining on the Northern Line extension, Automatic on the Northern Line Extension fullround shutter Golder, Finsbury Park Station step free access Soprema, Repairable system Novaslice, The simpler and safer way to remove pile foundation heads INNOVATION IN TUNNEL SHAFT DESIGN SHORTLIST REVEALED! INNOVATION IN INSTRUMENTATION & AND CONSTRUCTION MONITORING Bauer Technologies, Woodsmith Mine, North Yorkshire Bouygues Travaux Publics, Tunnel Lab:Big Data Bouygues Travaux Public, Bachy Soletanche, Bessac and Bouygues Travaux Datum, Woodsmith mine, North Yorkshire Publics Régions France, Stations of the Nice tramway COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR TUNNELLING PROJECT OF THE YEAR (UP TO $50M) KERN Tunneltechnik, Automatic fullround shutter Spie Batignolles fondations, Small diameter shaft diaphragm wall innovation Hong Kong Special Administrative Region CEDD, AECOM and Leighton Active Tunnelling & DNMA (Doosan & NMCN), Birmingham Resilience Murphy Surveys, Autonomous self-adjusting wireless sensor network Bouygues Travaux Publics, Dragages Hong Kong, Atkins China, TM-CLKL - China State JV, Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel – main tunnel and Project Pinssar, Setting the new global gold standard in real-time DPM monitoring cellular shaft integrated in caterpillar-shaped cofferdam associated works Golder Associates, Spencer Group, London Underground, Finsbury Park Senceive, Long-term wireless monitoring of the Botlek Tunnel Sirius Minerals, Joseph Gallagher, Carey’s Civil Enginneering and John Holland CPB Ghella JV, Sydney Metro City & Southwest – tunnel Station step free access Socotec Monitoring, Barking riverside extension Herrenknecht, Woodsmith mine and station excavation Joseph Gallagher and OTB Engineering, Knightsbridge Station Temple Group, Ferrovial Laing O’Rourke, Northern Line Extension - FLO & Active Tunnelling, Thames Tideway Tunnel – heathwall pumping Scottish Water, School engagement during Paisley tunnelling project Scottish Water, Paisley tunnelling project environmental monitoring station shafts Southland Holdings (Oscar Renda Contracting - ORC), Waller Creek HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING INITIATIVE OF Tunnel inlet facility at Waterloo Park INNOVATION IN TUNNEL EXCAVATION TUNNELLING TEAM OF THE YEAR THE YEAR United Utilities, Farrans Roadbridge JV, Ward and Burke Construction, Thirlmere Link main, Castlerigg Tunnel Bam Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV - Hammersmith Pumping Bam Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty JV, Frogmore Connection Tunnel Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project - Dragados/TfL, Bank Station WestonWilliamson + Partners, OTB Engineering and Costain, Bakerloo Station - Thames Tideway Tunnel BSCU, Dragados, TfL, Bank Station Capacity Upgrade Project Capacity Upgrade project Line Link Bemo Tunnelling UK, Karl-Friedrich-Strasse tunnel in Karlsruhe/Germany Dragages-Bouygues JV and Aecom, Tuen Mun – China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Ganntas railway tunnel Dragados, TfL, Graphical illustration of complex excavation sequences on Chek Lap Kok Link in Algeria Bank Station Capacity Upgrade FLO JV, Thames Tideway Tunnel - central section TUNNELLING PROJECT OF THE YEAR (BETWEEN Dragados, TfL, Excavation of shaft through a hollow-pile on Bank Station Dragados SA UK and Mapei UTT, Bank Station Capacity Upgrade $50M AND $500M) Joseph Gallagher, Knightsbridge Station Spie Batignolles Génie Civil, Real-Time - Harsh Environment - Diesel Capacity Upgrade Ramboll Major crossing global spearhead Particulate Matter (DPM) Monitoring Bouygues Travaux Publics, Bachy Soletanche and Bessac, Ligne 14 Metro FCC Construccion, Tunnel Vallirana Skanska Strabag JV, The new Ulriken Tunnel The Joseph Gallagher Group, LIFE - Living incident free everyday Line extension Contract T02 MMC Gamuda JV, Autonomous TBM Bouygues Travaux Publics, Bachy Soletanche, Bessac, Bachy Soletanche TUNNELLING SPECIALIST SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVE Tunnel, Bouygues Travaux Publics Régions France, Nice Tramway (France) INNOVATION IN TUNNEL FIT-OUT, OPERATIONS OF THE YEAR FCC Construccion, Tunnels of Vallirana & MAINTENANCE BASF, Sprayed concrete challenges with integral waterproofing (Catalonia-Spain) Dr. Sauer & Partners, Dr. Sauer & Partners’ innovative tunnelling solutions Costain, Vinci Construction Grands Projets and Bachy Soletanche, Skanska Strabag JV, The new Ulriken Tunnel Murphy Surveys, Crossrail – Liverpool Street and Tottenham Court Road Joseph Gallagher, Tunnelling specialist sub-contractor Tideway East Atkins Tunnel Safety Team, Road tunnel operations Normet UK, Sprayed concrete products and services Dr. Sauer & Partners, Dr. Sauer & Partners’ inclusive recruitment University of Cambridge, Optimising growing underground Senceive, Wireless remote monitoring condition tunnel monitoring programme TUNNELLING PROJECT OF THE YEAR (OVER $500M) John Holland CPB Ghella JV, Sydney Metro City & Southwest – tunnel Bane NOR and Acciona Ghella JV (AGJV) - The Follo Line Project, Tunnel YOUNG TUNNELLER OF THE YEAR and station excavation TBM contract Dragages Hong Kong Limited, Bouygues Travaux Publics, CEDD, Liantang Rosie Amami, Bouygues Travaux Publics ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE Heung Yuen Wai Highway – Lung Shan Tunnel (Hong Kong) Donal Kelly, Dragados OF THE YEAR Qatari Diar, Vinci Construction, GS Construction and Al Darwish Joint Josh Knight, Costain Vinci Bachy JV Venture (RLSJV), Qatar integrated railway project Chris Sumsion, Cowi Bouygues Travaux Publics, EOLE metro line (France) Bouygues Travaux Publics, Bachy Soletanche, Bessac and Bouygues Travaux Publics Régions France, Nice Tramway (France) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region CEDD, AECOM and Leighton China State JV, Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel – main tunnel and tunnelling.newcivilengineer.com associated works John Holland CPB Ghella JV, Sydney Metro City & Southwest – tunnel and station excavation Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsors For table package enquiries, For sponsorship and exhibition enquiries, please contact: Ben Joudar please contact: Francis Barham T: +44 (0)20 3953 2638 E: [email protected] T: +44 (0)20 3953 2912 E: [email protected]

NCE Tunnelling Shortlist DPS.indd All Pages 10/09/2019 12:08 Debate: Future of Housing

DEBATE BACKGROUND

300,000 10% £2.3bn Target for UK’s Percentage of Value of annual housing housing built using Housing output by mid- modern methods of Infrastructure 2020s construction Fund

In association with Modern methods of construction (MMC) are being seen as a possible miracle cure for the housing crisis. But new research from Arup has found evidence that the planning system is considered too rigid and unaccommodating to allow their use. Katherine Smale reports.

he government has only The planning hit its housing targets system is said to twice in the last 100 be a blocker to years, once in the 1920s efforts to meet and again 40 years later housing targets in the 1960s. In the 1920s, planning regulations as we Tknow them today did not exist, new regulations brought in during the late 1940s allowed newly developed prefabricated housing technology to provide the solution to the post war crisis. But now 50 years on, the planning system is once again becoming a blocker to the very same technological advancements which are touted to once again solve the current crisis. Past research into the problem has focused on the financial and technical barriers, but now a new study by benefits for the workforce. With a tyranny,” says Arup London office from Arup suggests that the current government housebuilding target of leader Tim Chapman. “The red line planning system is considered too 300,000 units per year by the mid- means we don’t do things necessarily rigid and unaccommodating for 2020s it is hard to see why the uptake for the longevity that they should modern methods of construction has been so low. have. How can you actually go (MMC) which typically involve But the problem may be far more beyond that?” prefabrication and offsite construction. systemic with planning regulations that A large part of this, he says, At a round table discussion, do not accommodate the larger housing is the lack of co-ordination with experts from the government, schemes for which the modular transport alongside other supporting construction industry and planning building market is well suited. infrastructure such as water, power, authorities met to discuss what must In particular, the concern is flood defences and digital within the done by councils, planners and the that planning authorities are only planning system. government to encourage MMC and concerned about issues within the “All this comes back down to a address the housing crisis more boundary of a development – the system of systems approach,” he broadly. so-called “red line” – and not broader says. “How do we actually bring The facts are stark. Although infrastructure issues. this together in a way where we can MMC is not a new concept, less than “Everything we do in the UK is enable all these systems to come 10% of housing is currently built in dominated by the red line and its together in a way that people actually this way. But with the benefits of want to buy a home there, bring up new technology, houses using MMC their families there. now come with an impressive list of “This is not a housing thing. This is extras. These include super thermal Everything we a national infrastructure thing.” properties to minimise energy To try to solve this, the ICE has bills, high quality finishes, smart do in the UK is made several recommendations in its technology embedded in their core dominated by the red State of the Nation report out earlier and faster delivery than those built this month (see page 18). traditionally. There are also safety line and its tyranny The first of these is to evolve the “ OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 47 Future of Housing Debate

This is not a housing thing. AT THE ROUND TABLE This is a national This report is informed by a round table Chris Langdon development and investment infrastructure thing debate held in association with Arup in August director, Engie 2019. Around the table were: Janice Morphet Visiting professor, UCL Tony Mulhall associate director, Royal Institution “role of subnational transport bodies Tim Chapman director, Arup of Chartered Surveyors in England to incorporate other Anthony Downs estates director Gascoyne Estates Robbie Owen head of infrastructure planning and housing and infrastructure to create Mark Hansford editor, New Civil Engineer government affairs, Pinsent Masons subnational infrastructure bodies. Victoria Hills chief executive, Royal Town Planning Richard Ploszek engineering infrastructure The second is to include housing Institute specialist, Infrastructure and Projects Authority in the National Infrastructure Chris Jofeh director, Arup Jon Sandford national lead on infrastructure Commission’s remit. This is currently Abdool Kara executive leader for local services planning, Homes England not the case and it is something National Audit Office Robert Stone Technical director, Homes England which the ICE wants to see changed Corina Kwami Policy advisor, Royal Academy of Andrew von Bradsky architectural advisor, and therefore embedded into its Engineering Ministry of Homes, Communities and Local National Infrastructure Assessment. Government But the recommendation Pinsent Masons head of infrastructure planning and government affairs can be done in “one fell swoop” and the country received a share of up Robbie Owen says is focused on is it is “far more democratic” than the to £291M, but there have since been around consenting. current system. problems in unlocking the funds due “If government is really serious Whether the attendees agreed to a list of criteria which the sites about its housing target, they or disagreed that this was the right must fulfil. absolutely have to do something step to take, all agreed that bringing “It’s not always bed of roses,” says about consenting,” says Owen. together the infrastructure with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority “This isn’t about bashing up the housing in one holistic view and engineering infrastructure specialist conventional planning system, yes, from an early stage is beneficial to Richard Ploszek. there are ways that can be and projects, and more had be done to “We found that it was a great idea, should be continued to be improved, unlock the housing potential. but as we delve into the individual but it’s all about allowing for major But these measures alone will not projects, it’s been quite interesting housing proposals to be brought fix the problem. finding out exactly how they fit forward in the centre of the national Another issue is, ironically, with a together the infrastructure and what infrastructure planning regime, which measure which is was brought in to the wise benefits of that infrastructure has been a great success.” help unlock large development sites. is, and really trying to pull those In practice, this would mean The Housing Infrastructure Fund is a together into a sensible proposition. amending the Development Consent £2.3bn government sponsored capital “It is all very easy to say, well, Order (DCO) process to enable grant programme which provides cash this fits with the policy, but actually large-scale housing developments of to build infrastructure for large housing turning that into a deliverable 5,000 or more homes to be delivered sites which would otherwise have been proposition is another matter under it. This, says the ICE report, unattractive unpalatable for developers. altogether.” will ensure greater coordination of In March, seven major sites across One example of this is the housing delivery with nationally proposed Old Oak North site by significant infrastructure, business the Old Oak Common High Speed and commercial projects. At the moment only major infrastructure FURTHER READING projects are considered in this way. Owen says that by taking this State of the Nation: RICS Insight paper: step, it would be a recognition of Connecting Infrastructure International models for Bringing the fact that consenting for major with Housing delivering affordable housing schemes cannot be taken www.ice.org.uk housing in Asia together the in isolation of the decisions around rics.org other infrastructure such as the How Modern Methods of infrastructure with the motorway junctions, railway stations Construction can deliver housing in one holistic and utilities which inevitably needs to more through the planning be upgraded as well. system, Arup view and from an early The beauty of the DCO process, www.arup.com he says, is that all of these things “ stage is beneficial

48 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 2 station in west London. There, he says, is a good example of where the current use value of the land is relatively high CASE STUDY and the benefit derived from converting it to housing land is actually not enough, from a business perspective, to justify the investment. Although the current planning regulations have appearance and cladding of houses to ensure they Yet despite these problems, been seen as a barrier to MMC, there are some harmonise with the surrounding area and early, pre- there are some good examples good examples of where policy has been used to application engagement. of headway being made to actively encourage it. Wakefield District Residential Design Guide speed up the housing problem SPD (2018) meanwhile sets out the different (see case study). The modular A number of these examples are detailed in the types of MMC and encourages applicants to “take housing agenda is also now on recent Arup report on housing, including the case advantage of the latest technologies to improve the government’s agenda with of Stratford-on-Avon District Council which is building quality; and amenity of residents during Homes England setting targets for taking a proactive approach to include MMC in its construction (for example, off-site or modular the elements of homes built on its regulations. systems)”. Modular units will be appraised against sites using MMC and signing a deal There, the council has taken the bold step of all residential design principles within the SPD. with Japan’s largest housebuilder writing a supplementary planning document which And Central Bedfordshire Council’s Local Plan and modular builder Urban Splash will sit alongside its planning policy setting out its 2035 (pre-submission January 2018) sets out earlier this year (see p32). requirements for modular development – including support for MMC within its Draft Policy HQ11. One thing is clear, without how it should comply with wider design principles. The council hopes 20% of all new development change, the housing target will The document is currently subject to public over the period of the plan will use MMC, and not be reached, and it is up to the consultation, but clarifies some of the issues developers will be specifically asked to demonstrate government, developers, planners surrounding modular buildings. This includes how they have considered the use of MMC in their and the engineering industry to encouraging careful consideration of the external proposal. play their parts.

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Engineers are tackling piling challenges for Tilbury Port’s expansion and devising a new way of minimising roadworks disruption by helping contractors to share excavation space. A SME is also cutting out the paper chase for on site sustainability

OCTOBER 2019  NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 51 Innovative Thinking Tilbury Port Expansion

The project involves pouring 200,000m2 of DOCKING concrete pavement STATION Contractor Graham has had to overcome piling and ground engineering challenges as it tackles the £1bn Port of Tilbury expansion. Connor Ibbetson reports.

ith a 200,000m2 country’s biggest construction Civil engineering specialist Graham area of concrete to KEY FACTS materials processing hub. Thousands won the marine and terrestrial port create, new roads, of tonnes of aggregate will be brought expansion contracts in February, new bridges, a new in by ship and stored at the port shortly after the project was awarded railway line, not 200,000m2 before being transported around the its development consent order. The to mention new UK. A conveyer system which was contractor has wasted no time in berths and marine assets, the Port of Size of previously used to transport fuel to getting stuck in on the site. WTilbury expansion, dubbed Tilbury2, concreted the former power station runs from The 52 week marine contract is no small undertaking. area of the new berths up into the site. This will includes work within the tidal The site on the River Thames near be repaired and restored to transport estuary beyond the existing sea the town of Tilbury in Essex was roll on roll off construction aggregate to the new wall. It includes building a floating formerly home to the Tilbury A and terminal construction materials hub. pontoon which incorporates a fixed Tilbury B power stations. It is now set To support the increased flow of steel bridge and a link-span bridge, for a complete transformation. Once cargo and materials through the port, associated piling and river-bed complete, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s the expansion programme will create preparation for the berth. There is largest unaccompanied freight ferry a new significantly larger railhead for also an existing bridge on site to port, which means that freight lorry the port to accommodate 775m freight access the existing berth. trailers are moved by small tractors trains. The 84-week terrestrial contract pulling them on and off ships. incorporates a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) Tilbury2 is central to the Port terminal area from where vessels will of Tilbury’s £1bn investment operate and shipping containers will programme. Between 2012 and 2020, be handled. It also includes highway the port will have doubled the size of Between 2012 works, the relocation of the existing its business and is projected to double railhead, and a new concrete road to the volume of cargo handled from and 2020 the access the site. 16M.t to 32M.t. The history of the site provided When the redevelopment is port will have doubled engineers from Graham’s with their complete, the site will be the the size of its business first challenge. The Tilbury A power 52 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 “ BOOK YOUR PLACE TODAY Call James on 020 3953 2112 or email [email protected]

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The biggest a lot of money to fix it.” The first concrete pour for the challenge for new terminal took place in June and N Graham expects to pour almost 400m3 us here is dealing TILBURY per day, each day, until January 2020. A concrete batching plant on site will with differential help minimise construction vehicle PORT OF TILBURY deliveries for the job. settlement between the The site is close to site of the Tilbury sixteenth century Tilbury Fort, which “ Fort old reinforced power has a complex, historically significant

TILBURY 2 tunnel system beneath it. station land and the River Thames Although the tunnels do not go land next to it under the site the contractor had to undertake condition surveys and monitor vibration during

500m construction. station was already long gone by GRAVESEND “Due to our proximity to Tilbury the time the project began, and Fort, it’s owner English Heritage Graham’s first priority was to tear was interested in the impact of our down the remaining Tilbury B power piling activities, so we had to set station. up vibration monitors to ensure Graham Civil Engineering there was no damage to the Fort or contract manager Thomas Craven tunnels,” says Craven. says the ground conditions at the It is not just land-based piling site of the former power stations are which have challenged Graham. As a much greater challenge than the part of the marine works package demolition work. the contractor will deliver three new “This job is probably the most berths. Creating these berths involved complex of the project,” Craven dredging the riverbed to provide the says referring to work to enable necessary draft for shipping. the pouring 200,000m2 of concrete This in turn meant stabilising the that will form the new port’s RoRo landside walls of the excavation with terminal. sheet piles. “Because part of the site is a former “Out on the marine area, one of power station, there are a lot of old the big challenges was the three new piles remaining in the ground. The berths. We needed to put a new cut-off biggest challenge for us here is dealing wall for the berths so we could dredge with differential settlement between down to the new depth,” says Craven. the old reinforced power station land A sheet pile attachment aided underwater piling Putting in the piles would normally and the land next to it which has never have meant driving them down to 7m had anything on it and is essentially silt underwater at low tide level. and is very soft. Graham came up with an innovative “The potential settlement numbers solution to get round the lack of we were seeing were massive,” he visibility as the piles were driven adds. underwater. The solution, Craven says, was to “The top of the sheet piles of that make the concrete surface as thin as wall were about 7m below the low possible to reduce the load placed on tide, so we were never going to be the unconsolidated ground and match able to see the top of those piles to the ground conditions on the old drive them properly. We own our own power station site. modular pontoons, so we designed “We tried to slim down the our own modular floating piling rig. pavement as much as we could to try The barge Graham built also utilised and keep the level as similar to what a hydraulic stabilisation system to it is now. keep the pile driving operation steady “ Our designers now think the in the choppy waters of the Thames, settlement will be a lot less than we “it also takes a lot of manual work out first thought. It’s such a key part of the of the job,” Craven adds. job at the end of the day it’s 200,000m2 The port expansion is set to be of concrete. It if goes wrong it will cost Graham designed its own modular floating piling rig completed by Spring 2020. N

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NCE Bridges FP Advert.indd 1 06/09/2019 15:45 SHAREDInnovative Thinking SPACES Different utility firms digging up the same road over again has long been the scourge of everyone from motorists to the utilities themselves. A data sharing innovation from Atkins aims to bring this to an end. Emily Ashwell reports.

t may sound like an obvious to five years, unless there is an thing to do – utility owners With the client emergency need for the work or for a and local authorities better KEY FACTS new customer connection. If the road coordinating works to minimise we decided has to be dug up, the whole width of the number of times a road is the road has to be resurfaced, and 120km the big challenge it dug up. But it still is not the this considerably drives up cost. normal state of play. Length of was facing was the Organisations tend to only start to IAtkins is currently working on road Atkins share information about work on the a project, called ThamesConnect, identified for affordability of its road at the planning stage, after the which could lead to more utilities simultaneous “ detailed design is undertaken and co-working on the same stretch of capital programme funding has been obtained. At this utility works in road, dramatically cutting disruption stage two years’ worth of work could and bringing about huge cost savings Thames Water have been done, all of which could in terms of hours worked and road region go down the drain. remediation work. Atkins approached the problem The project started in 2016 with by bringing together geographical a decision by Atkins to seed fund compromised. It will invest time and data and Thames Water asset data. a number of internal innovation energy scoping out programmes of It mapped this out so that the utility projects. Atkins principal engineer work and investing in design, only to could better assess whether more Angus Kelly wanted to find out how realise later that some projects aren’t than one piece of work could be done better sharing of information and viable for a number of reasons. If at a time when a road is dug up. This data could bring value to clients. you’re working in the roads space in was alongside a mapping out of the He took his idea forward with client London, for example, you can invest organisation’s own work programmes Thames Water, which wanted to work a lot of time and effort designing and identifying which of Thames in a more open way with increased a scheme, only to realise the local Water’s alliances hold which pieces collaboration between its different authority has come in and resurfaced of data. departments. the road and there’s no longer access The data included the information “With the client we decided the available.” which helps make early decisions on big challenge it was facing was the One of the problems the utility projects, such as the condition of an affordability of its capital delivery faces is Section 58 of the Highways asset, its risk of deterioration, and programme,” explains Kelly. “The Act, which says that if a road has where investment is needed for new common pain point that came back, recently been dug up and resurfaced, services. is that a lot of the design effort is it cannot be dug up again for up “If you can share the data which

56 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 If you can share the data, it flags up risks and “opportunities early on

it increasingly challenging and costly to work in a congested urban environment,” says Kelly. The first pilot project was initiated in Croydon earlier this year, drawing on data from bodies including as Transport for London and UK Power Networks. For this pilot, Thames Water and Southern Gas Networks collaborated on a scheme on relatively busy Epsom Road. If undertaken in isolation, the construction work on the two programmes would have taken 30 weeks, but with co-ordination it was reduced to 15. The two utilities followed each other along the length of the road. Demarcating works between the two was important in terms of risk and liability. A full width closure of the road meant Thames Water and SGN were helps make decisions, the really early Atkins has led to some renegotiation with able to bring in more efficient plant, stage data, with other organisations come up with contractors so that a proportion of as they had more space. which are potentially going to be a technological Thames Water’s programme could be If they had worked in isolation, they working in the same road space, solution to delivered by one firm. would have only closed half the width it flags up risks and opportunities identify where With the success of the initial work of the road and had less room as a earlier on,” explains Kelly. work on more with Thames Water, Kelly and his result. Evaluation of public sentiment A reluctance within the industry than one team looked to expand the concept found at 90% of residents were to share data – for reasons such streetworks and set up a partnership with the supportive, with cost savings for clients as commercial sensitivity – had to programme London Borough of Croydon, an initially evaluated at £240,000, with be overcome. Atkins developed can take place area which is expected to witness socio-economic benefits of the faster non-disclosure agreements detailing simultaneously intensive development for new work, such as reduced congestion, exactly what the data will be used for, housing and businesses over the next estimated to be around £670,000. providing reassurance for the firms decade. The borough is therefore The ThamesConnect initiative which made up the different Thames keen to minimise disruption where has led to the establishment of an Water alliances. possible. infrastructure co-ordination team, of “We were able to pre-process the Thames Water was also keen to which Kelly is a member, representing data, depict it geospatially and by carry on the partnership with Atkins Atkins, being set up within the presenting it on an intuitive platform, and see how the concept could work Greater London Authority. we could systematically identify with other utilities. This team is developing a opportunity across a wide area,” At the same time, a link was number of other pilot projects. It is says Kelly. made with the London mayor’s working with Kings College London The result was that it was possible Infrastructure High Level Group. This construction law professor David to identify more than 120km of road group was set up around five years Mosey, on an appropriate new draft where two projects, such as mains ago to look at ways to enable the of the FAC-1 Framework Alliance replacement or new connections, capital’s ageing infrastructure to cope Contract. could be taking place simultaneously. with projected growth. It is made up This looks at risks and liability In total £7M in construction costs senior utility executives. Realising the of contractors working in the same was saved alongside 3,900 days of Group had the same aim as Atkins, space, to develop a new version construction time. the group backed Atkins’ work, specifically for co-ordinated utility One contractor undertaking a meaning it had high-level sponsors street works. The team’s remit also dig across two works programmes within industry. includes collating best practice, with – rather than contractors working “We found we were pushing against all the lessons from the Croydon in silos on separated projects – open doors. Utilities were finding project documented in a handbook. N

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 57 Innovative Thinking SME Profile TRACKING DEVICE The co-founder of Qualis Flow wanted to use her civil engineering expertise to make an impact in sustainable development, and that meant going it alone. Emily Ashwell reports.

ike many civil engineering On graduation Harris joined students, Brittany Harris BuroHappold Engineering in Bath, chose to study the subject KEY FACTS where she was able to follow her because she wanted to interest in water. It was during this make the world a better £36,000 time that her desire to make an place. And after working as impact took two significant steps a volunteer in Uganda, she gained an Amount forward. In 2016 she was New Civil Linsight into how civil engineers make Qualis Flow Engineer’s Graduate of the Year and a difference. saved Canary in 2016-17 she was one of the ICE But when that passion for making President’s eight Future Leaders. a difference got transposed into the Wharf by “It was an opportunity to challenge corporate world – with the agendas eliminating the industry. I went into the Graduate of wider teams and clients – it of the Year interview with one proved harder to make the impact the need to mission in mind, and that was to she wanted. That was when Harris chase delivery challenge engineers to think about people and conversations which were decided to go it alone and start up notes building a sustainable future – what is crucial in the development of Qualis Qualis Flow, the company behind the their role in that?” she says. Flow. They also gave her the ability Qflow platform that tracks, monitors, The award and the Future Leaders to see how she could make an impact and predicts where a project is at risk programme gave Harris access to – particularly in her role helping to of failing to meet its environmental develop the ICE’s focus on the UN obligations. Sustainable Development Goals. “The key things I found that were It was a chance meeting with a holding back communities in Uganda judge for the Royal Academy of from thriving were all to do with Engineering’s Launchpad competition infrastructure. I don’t think we which propelled Harris to enter the “Poor roads meant people idea for Qualis Flow. The competition couldn’t get to market, no access to ever expected helps young engineers start a water or sanitation caused a lot of business based on their innovation. illness, and very limited access to it to go this far. It was She put together an entry with future telecommunications meant it was more something we business partner, Jade Cohen, a hard for them to find out what they former environmental advisor for needed to take to market,” she says. wanted to suck and see Skanska working on Crossrail.

58 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 “ READ MORE INNOVATIVE THINKING ARTICLES AT NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/INNOVATIVE-THINKING

in Africa so that all of the countries We had a lot of which abstract and discharge into the river could be supported when advice about claiming that the river had been polluted upstream. The business just getting a grey- case for that idea failed to pan out, but Harris took forward the idea of haired man to come to capturing environmental data to enable a more open discussion about meetings with us environmental impact. “ “We knew the construction industry very well, and it’s heavily Harris. regulated in terms of environmental Harris estimates that over a year, impact. Alongside heavy regulation, Qflow saved Canary Wharf £36,000 it sucks at managing it [compliance simply by eliminating the need to with environmental regulations]. It chase and input delivery notes. uses paper and pencils to track its Added to that was another £100,000 environmental impact,” says Harris. in savings after factoring in elements When developing the concept, such as programme delays. Harris and Cohen spoke to more than Qflow is now being used 100 engineers – from environmental everywhere from Central London to managers on site to project directors Wales. It tracks all materials – steel, – to understand what the problem is concrete, timber, aggregates and from the perspective of their jobs. waste. It is also building noise and Now Qualis Flow is focusing on air quality tracking, which it hopes digitising paper trails on site. When to have live on site in November. materials are delivered or taken Harris stresses that the company away, they are tracked through is not about its software, it is about paper tickets – which get lost, have the information on environmental unreadable handwriting or which can conformance data it produces. be incorrect. Qualis Flow has a team of 10, The consequences, particularly in mostly made up of software fines for improper waste disposal, developers. Earlier this summer, but also for time, productivity, and it raised £790,000 from real estate rectifying non-compliant material use, venture capitalist specialist Pi Labs. are huge. Qualis Flow uses scanning She admits that as two young women technology to digitise the paper trail, she and Cohen have faced hurdles flagging up problems or anomalies by attracting investors – “we had a lot sending real time alerts. of advice about just getting a grey- Before sites have started to use the haired man to come to meetings with Qflow platform, it has found between us” – which she says has made them 40% and 80% of environmental data “crazy resilient [to knock backs].” is missing, and data collected Harris says attracting investment “I emailed Jade and said ‘hey do Harris: Qualis contains errors. was tough, but by addressing you fancy entering a business idea Flow service Qualis Flow is currently working at investors’ concerns about into this competition, I’ve got three digitises paper Canary Wharf, where it has been put construction’s slowness to respond to (ideas) I’m working on’… I don’t think trails and helps on the Considerate Constructors Best changing attitudes, the opportunity we really ever expected it to go this construction Practice Hub for its management of became clear. far, it was something more that we projects meet Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) Harris would like to expand into expected to suck and see .” environmental certified timber, to ensure that timber Europe and the United States next Qualis Flow won the competition’s requirements used is from a sustainable source. year, and raise more investment People’s Choice Award, following an “The first version of QFlow was capital to fund expansion. She also audience vote and online voting in developed just to track timber tickets. wants to grow the client base from the run up to the event. After running a trial, we increased the seven tier one contractors the From there, the firm joined Canary Wharf’s data capture up to firm has at present. Entrepreneur First, a start-up 92% from way less than that, but “The people we’re working incubator, and Harris left her job at also gave them alerts when they had with really are the pioneers of BuroHappold in March 2018. things like new suppliers. It captured sustainability, which is great. But The idea for Qualis Flow came from really basic things like whether where we want to be is picking up the another idea, which was a plan to suppliers have the right licence to laggards of sustainability and helping install water monitors down the Nile provide FSC certification,” explains them be more sustainable,” she says. N

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 59 Innovation News NEW INNOVATIONS THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR PROJECTS NEWCIVILENGINEER.COM/INNOVATIVE-THINKING

TRANSPORT ‘WASTE’ HEAT FROM NORTHERN LINE FOR LONDON HOMES

Heat from the London Underground’s Northern line is to be captured and used to warm homes in Islington as part of an attempt to capture more “waste heat” in the capital. Transport for London is working with Islington Council to use heat recovered from the Tube network at a disused station on the Northern line between Angel and Old Street. The latest phase of the Bunhill Heat and Power network involves building a new energy centre at the northern end of Central Street, connecting the King’s Square Estate to the network and adding capacity to supply a further 1,000 homes with heat from a 1MW pump.

STRUCTURES PLANT MATERIALS LIGHT RAIL LINE REMOTE EXTRA TOUGH ASPHALT RESURFACING TO RUN ACROSS CONTROLLED FOR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED FLOATING BRIDGE CRANE ASSISTANT IN UNITED STATES LAUNCHED

Light rail track is being installed A remote-controlled load on a floating bridge in the management system for crane United States for the first time operations has been launched as part of a £4.5bn project. in the UK. The R-Series system New track will be installed on eliminates the need for human the bridge which currently held taglines to control carries a section of the suspended loads. The R-Series Interstate 90 highway across can handle up to 20t. Developed Lake Washington between by Australian firm Verton, the Seattle and Mercer Island. A equipment is operated by Extra-durable Supreme Asphalt known as “The Arena” two days total of 1.6km of fixed rail will be remote control with cameras supplied by Aggregate Industries before the event. Supreme placed onto the Interstate 90 live streaming the operation. helped to ensure that Britain’s Asphalt is described as being Homer M Hadley Memorial The feed from the cameras is Goodwood Festival of Speed “highly compactable, very strong Bridge, which floats on the lake connected to smart software went ahead as planned. Civil and durable” best suited for on a series of pontoons — which interprets real time load engineering contractors Tidey & heavily loaded areas. In total 20t watertight concrete blocks movement. Live metrics can aid Webb resurfaced a dedicated of Supreme Asphalt was laid at filled with air. engineers’ decision making. course for drifting vehicles the track.

60 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 Institution of Civil Engineers Record

STATE OF THE NATION Regional housing and infrastructure plans needed

Regional infrastructure strategies across England could help to better integrate infrastructure and housing planning across boundaries and at local, regional and national levels, according to the ICE’s 2019 flagship policy report. The recommendation is one of 10 made in the State of the Nation 2019: Connecting Infrastructure with Housing report launched in September The programme covers tunnelling (see page 16). below metro systems using London’s The report is a comprehensive Underground as an example assessment of the relationship between the UK’s housing and infrastructure networks. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The ICE says the way infrastructure and housing are delivered must be reformed to ensure a more strategic and New York State gives ICE learning aligned approach and to enable the government to deliver its housebuilding programme. programme its seal of approval ICE vice president and report Steering Group chair Rachel Skinner said: “We know that A free ICE online learning resources. our long-term ambition is the provision of housing in the programme has been accredited Practising civil engineers to accredit more learning UK, as a key part of creating for US Professional Development in the US must obtain a programmes for our US high quality, productive places, Hours (PDHs). Professional Engineers (PE) audience,” said ICE regional is one of the country’s most The “Tunnelling under metro licence. Continuing professional director, international pressing problems. systems” programme looks education for licensed operations Paul Gordon. “However, we must also at designing, planning and engineers is measured in PDHs. ICE learning and development recognise that without properly monitoring tunnelling projects ICE launched its first pilot manager Dean Lenton added: integrated infrastructure, it can appropriately to build new in New York State because “This eLearning programme often fail to meet the needs of underground infrastructure, it has one of the largest ICE was chosen as the ICE’s first the places it hopes to support.” without impacting on existing membership bases and also recognised PDH knowledge infrastructure or the urban one of the most rigorous sets of offering as it’s currently environments above them. It requirements. accessed more by our global uses the London Underground Only learning resources membership than any other. as the main case study. approved by a New York State “It contains nine hours of It has now been approved accredited provider can be used high quality learning that has in New York State and is a as evidence of PDH. Many, but been expert reviewed by leading significant development for ICE not all, US states will recognise industry professionals within members in the US. At the 2018 the accreditation. Members are this field.” Americas Regional Strategy advised to check specific PDH The programme is free and Meeting, ICE US representatives policies for each state. exclusive for ICE members. It can identified a clear need for PDH “This is a first step. If the be found on the ICE Learning Hub Report was published in September accreditation of ICE knowledge level of take-up is good, via the ICE website.

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 61 Institution of Civil Engineers Record

AWARDS Last year’s winnier was the Kaikoura earthquake recovery programme in New Zealand People’s Choice Award vote opens Public invited to choose the infrastructure project which has most benefited local areas over the last 12 months

Voting for the ICE People’s nominations providing fantastic Choice Award 2019 has opened. examples of how civil engineers Members of the public are safeguard the future for people. encouraged to choose the These projects deserve to be civil engineering projects recognised and the People’s that have made the biggest Choice Award gives members positive impact on their local and the general public the communities this year. perfect opportunity to celebrate Projects competing this year how their local infrastructure include the Northern Spire has made a difference.” Bridge in Sunderland, the Shed In 2018, over 70,000 people cultural centre in New York City, around the world voted for the Colwyn Bay Waterfront in the People’s Choice Award, links to isolated communities, vote, visit www.ice.org.uk/ Wales, and a children’s surgery with the top prize going to the following the damage caused by peopleschoiceaward. All voters facility in Leeds. Kaikoura earthquake recovery a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in will be entered into a prize ICE membership director Seán project in New Zealand. The November 2016. draw to win an Amazon Echo. Harris said: “Civil engineering project rebuilt 194km of road To see the full list of this Award updates are on social is all around us, with this year’s and 150km of rail, restoring year’s nominations and to media at #ICEPeopleschoice.

PROFESSION GOVERNANCE ICE ICE signs cooperation ICE members given until 11 October to Baker quits ICE agreement with Brunei respond to Presidential Commission’s engineering professional body governance report and recommendations knowledge role

The ICE has signed a Members wanting to give members’ ballot, and resolutions ICE Engineering Knowledge cooperation agreement with feedback on the Interim Report passed at a Special General director Nathan Baker is to Brunei engineering, surveying by the Presidential Commission Meeting which expressed leave the ICE in November to and architectural body into ICE governance have disappointment in the ballot take up a new opportunity as Pertubuhan Ukur Jurutera dan until 11 October. The report process and called for a full review managing director of the Institute Arkitek. The two organisations published in August explains the of ICE governance. of Occupational Medicine have agreed to promote “the Commission’s detailed analysis of The interim findings also (Consulting). During his time at development of a closer working key governance issues and sets recommend that a majority of the ICE, Baker led the ICE 200 relationship, to the mutual out 19 interim findings for further Trustee Board members should programme, including the Global benefit of their members and consultation. be elected by the ICE voting Engineering Congress in 2018. He in the interests of advancing This includes a recommendation members, and that all trustees oversaw the transformation of the the engineering profession and for a compact 12- or 13-member should have equal levels of One Great George Street library benefiting society”. The ICE Trustee Board with a larger, mainly responsibility. The Interim Report into an award-winning exhibition has also renewed its training advisory, Council (New Civil and Consultation pack is available space, which attracted 25,500 scheme with Brunei’s Ministry Engineer last month). at www.ice.org.uk/about-ice/who- visitors in 2018. He also launched of Development, which gives The Commission was set up runs-ice/presidential-commission. the ICE Learning Hub, delivering trainee engineers access to last year following approval Send comments to presidential. online learning and development professional development. of governance changes in a [email protected]. content to members worldwide.

62 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019 YORKSHIRE & HUMBER VIEW INSTITUTIONS MUST FIGHT FOR MAJOR PROJECTS

We have to talk about The placard count – infrastructure Much is being said in favour or against about “infrastructure” and the need variously – simply defines the public to “renew our ageing Victorian...”, to “be at demonstrations of attitude that Chris the forefront with this any specific project attracts Longley new...” or to “connect Voting is open until 27 our splintered nation “ September, with the winning with much better...” ending. project to be announced by infrastructure. These hugely divided, splintered public incoming ICE President Paul It seems to the casual observer that these responses have made it immensely difficult for Sheffield at his Presidential and many other catchphrases can sometimes those charged by law with the taking of any kind of Address on 12 November. outnumber the very infrastructure projects to decision. How do they take these decisions in this which they are applied. swirling world of opinions? These phrases – or their like – characterise When the views and opinions of “experts” have ICE most of the debate that surrounds whatever been derided as “the blob” by those who achieve Sheffield to deliver people perceive to be “infrastructure”, and that high elected office, these questions about the debate moves seamlessly to those who are “for” proper taking of justifiable decisions about our Presidential Address or “against” particular infrastructure projects. infrastructure take on an even greater significance. The placard count – in favour or against – simply Because it is the due processes, set down in on 12 November defines the public demonstrations of attitude that law, that are the framework within which we as a any specific project attracts. society – for better or for worse – have chosen to Paul Sheffield will deliver his These binary divisions – probably on display take such decisions, and to give effect to such due Presidential Address on 12 at a construction site near you – can be as evenly process needs the expertise and capabilities of November, setting out the aims balanced or as one-sided as their devotees those who understand them. But such “experts” and objectives for his year in choose. As with much else in these days of instant are in retreat. office. He will become ICE’s communication and instant rush to judgement, The scatter of inquiries, reports, investigations 155th President. The address these divisions split friends, families, political and scrutinies that have been commissioned about will be followed by a drinks and parties, commentators, “experts” and every voice every recent significant infrastructure project canapé reception for attendees, with access to any kind of media. within the public realm seems to be the symptom which will include ICE members, Some famous opponents of famous projects of this dilemma. How do we build (where that’s the heads of institutions, MPs and even promise to “lie down in front of the stated hope) for the future and at the same time industry leaders. To book a bulldozers”. How long the nation might be waiting not fall foul of present objections? place at the event, go to www. with bated breath to watch that particular scene I suspect that only the collective “clout” of the ice.org.uk/events/presidential- unfold is an interesting speculation. charter institutions, acting in unison, has any address-2019-london. But it epitomises the quandary in which chance of easing the nation out of this sclerotic Discounted accommodation every proposer of every infrastructure project embrace. I hope I’m right. options are available for in the 21st century UK finds themselves. Celebrity l Chris Longley is a member of the ICE Yorkshire & attendees. The address will also support or opposition can be the making or the Humber regional committee be live streamed online.

OCTOBER 2019 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 63 Institution of Civil Engineers Record

ICE VIEW New Civil Engineer 4th Floor, Telephone House 69-77 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NQ

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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD AND LOW CARBON Rachel Skinner (chair), Bill Grose, Alan Clucas, Andrew Mylius, Martin Knights, Mike Napier, Miles Ashley, Rob Naybour, Tim Chapman, Tony Gates, David Caiden, Simon Creer

Our decision to focus Magazine of the this year’s State of Put very simply, we Institution of Civil Engineers the Nation report on 1 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA 020 7222 7722 | www.ice.org.uk the need for more need to deliver homes joined-up thinking ICE MEMBERS’ ADDRESS between housing and and infrastructure diff erently CHANGES/ SUBSCRIPTIONS infrastructure was QUERIES Rachel entirely intentional. www.ice.org.uk/myice to update your Skinner In the UK, civil else’s problem, or something to be fi xed by the address quickly online. For subscription engineering exists to engineers of tomorrow, but to me this would queries, please phone 020 7665 improve our quality “be a crushing mistake for technical leadership, 2227, or email [email protected] of life, and for every one of you reading this technological innovation and our long-run SUBSCRIPTIONS column, that daily quality of life starts, and ends, reputation. For subscription queries contact; dsb.net Ltd, 3 Queensbridge, at home. Every infrastructure sector has a critical role Northampton NN4 7BF Housing is one of the keys to the creation of to play in achieving net zero carbon. We’ve had Telephone: 01604 828 705 productive places, thriving communities and a growing focus on sustainable solutions for effi cient infrastructure systems. And it is a fact decades, but the emerging climate-led evidence All rights reserved © 2019 New Civil Engineer. Published by EMAP a member that we need more homes. is clear: it is time to raise our game. of the Metropolis Group. Metropolis Decisions – good and bad – about where to The second is a pull factor related to Group respects the privacy of every build, how much to build and when to build opportunity through technology. This is where person for whom we have personal new homes have centuries-long impacts on our technology and the fourth industrial revolution data. We comply with data protection infrastructure systems. come into their own, not for their own sake, but legislation such as the Data Protection Similarly, decisions about infrastructure because of the potential to deliver more. We do Act 1998 and the General Data provision and upgrades are instrumental in not have to do things the way they have always Protection Regulations which regulates enabling or holding back good, productive been done. the processing of data and ensures housing and place-led growth. On technology, we have a binary choice that your data is processed fairly and This two-way linkage is often overlooked or as an industry: either we embrace new tools lawfully, is kept secure and only that data quietly considered to be “too diffi cult”, which is and welcome those who are leading their necessary for any processing is kept. exactly why it matters and why the ICE has taken introduction into our teams, or we choose to live You can see our privacy policy at www. metropolis.co.uk/privacy a stand. with the consequences. There are two key factors that make better Change is inevitable, but it is time to engage Printed by Precision Colour Printing links between housing and infrastructure if we want to shape it for the best outcomes and Ltd, Telford. Registered as a newspaper particularly relevant. Both relate to future- benefi ts in “our” sectors. with the Post Offi ce ISSN 0307-7683; proofi ng. We want to be a part of the creation of Issue No: 2077 . Statements made or The fi rst is about the need for change – local strong, productive and sustainable places and opinions expressed in New Civil Engineer and global. Put very simply, we need to deliver communities for the people who live in them for do not necessarily refl ect the views of ICE homes and infrastructure differently. Why? In generations to come. Council or ICE committees four words: achieve net zero carbon. Let’s take advantage of the carbon-led need The lively international debate around climate and the technological opportunities to deliver change stretches far beyond the housing or that growth well. infrastructure sectors, of course. l Rachel Skinner is ICE vice president, We could, as the ICE, decide that it is someone public voice

64 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | OCTOBER 2019

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The Ins� tu� on of Civil Engineers (ICE) is an interna� onal membership organisa� on that promotes and advances civil engineering around the world. ICE is a qualifying body, a centre for the exchange of specialist knowledge, and a pro- vider of resources to encourage innova� on and excellence in the profession worldwide. The Role:

The Director of Engineering Knowledge sits right at the heart of what the ICE stands for. Across the world, civil en- gineers look to the ICE’s Director of Engineering Knowledge to lead thought on global and na� onal infrastructure thinking. Engineers of all disciplines need access to relevant and leading edge knowledge across subjects ranging from specialist technical insight through to procurement methodologies and the implementa� on of global engineering pol- icies. No individual will have all of these skills and hence it is cri� cal that the Director is able to work with the experts (both members and non-members) to fuse together views, opinions, policies and experience into packages usable by prac� sing engineers. Those packages are likely to fall into three broad areas. Firstly engineers need to be able to keep up with day to day changes in our profession through a vibrant, rigorous and auditable programme of con� nuous professional development. Secondly, the Ins� tu� on must be able to work with other like minded bodies to ensure that it remains at the cu� ng edge of current best prac� ce and technical insight to raise global engineering standards. And thirdly, the Ins� tu� on looks to the future to iden� fy trends, challenges and mi� ga� ons to the issues society faces. Infrastructure, by its nature, takes a long � me to create and has a long lifespan. Our thought leadership programmes look out to 2050 and cover both societal developments in UK, and more broadly across the world. The Director of Engineering Knowledge drives all of these programmes.

The Ins� tu� on is already globally recognised for all of these a� ributes. But we are looking to transform the way in which we deliver our knowledge both to our members and to other interested par� es, and we are looking to increase both the quality and insight of the knowledge we create. Both are challenges. We are looking for an individual who can lead a team through a change programme that will see a much broader and be� er off ering, much of which will be digi� al, who can build strong and deep rela� onships with other organisa� ons and individuals who have so much to off er, and who has a sound understanding of infrastructure and engineering which will allow them to iden� fy trends, to draw on exis� ng rela� onships, and to lead engineering thought. While not essen� al, it would be highly deirable were applicants able to demonstrate professional understanding of the challenges faced in the modern infrastructure industry. Experience as a a professionally qualifi ed Civil Engineer would be highly desirable. But , this is as much about understanding how people learn as it is about understanding engineering and infrastructure. The successful candidate will be dynamic, curious, highly proac� ve and personable enough to lead teams of both staff and experts in shaping engineering thought.

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