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For specifi ers, contractors and installers it is yet another box ticked. qbic.wavin.co.uk 07617_002_WAV_Q-Bic Plus Campaign_Ticks Ad G_NCE_265x210__New Brand_AW.indd 1 05/11/2019 12:30 New Civil Engineer NEW DECADE, NEW OPPORTUNITIES CLAIRE SMITH EDITOR he more observant of those among you may have industry. In this issue’s Big Interview, Emily Ashwell spoke to Transport noticed that I am not Mark Hansford – Mark is leaving for NSW senior executive Paul McCormick who recently emigrated to New Civil Engineer this month to join the ICE as Australia to help deliver the huge infrastructure projects planned there. T director of engineering knowledge. For the last eight Australia has been in the news almost daily so far this year as a result years I have been editor of New Civil Engineer’s sister of the devastating bush fires there, and this brings me to the critical title Ground Engineering but New Civil Engineer has played a key part challenge of the next decade: tackling climate change. of my career since I first joined the ICE as a student member in 1995. Now New Civil Engineer is the focus of my career. So, new decade, new editor but will there be new opportunities Insight I have gained in recent for the sector? I do believe that there will be, but there are also challenges ahead which must be tackled. months means I believe that a While the conclusion of the withdrawal from the European Union (EU) at the end of January is not welcome to all, many will be relieved return to growth is coming: my contacts that decisions are finally being made. With a line drawn in the sand, we can move on from the political turmoil of the last three years. in the ground investigation industry tell And it is not a moment too soon – the Construction Purchasing Managers Index, which gives a guide to whether the construction me that the market is booming industry is growing or contracting, has been hovering at low levels “ not seen since the height of the 2008 recession. The index has shown This issue also contains a focus on the drive to reduce greenhouse gas a steady fall since the 2016 EU referendum – a clear barometer of emissions to net zero and the key role the civil engineering industry has falling confidence in the market. to play dealing with the climate crisis that few now deny exists. However, the industry insight I have gained in recent months The UK was the first major economy to take on legally binding through my role on Ground Engineering means that I believe that a commitments to reduce greenhouse gas output with the target of return to growth is coming: my contacts in the ground investigation reducing emissions by at least 100% of 1990 levels – net zero – by industry tell me that the market is booming. Ground investigation is 2050. Promises are easy to make but putting policies in place and always the first to suffer in a downturn as clients pull back from new putting them into action is critical. projects, but it is always the first to recover too when confidence returns. In this issue’s lead feature, WSP executive director and UK head Within weeks we can expect a decision on High Speed 2, which, if of transport Rachel Skinner, who will be inaugurated as the next the rumours started by Lord Berkeley’s dissenting report are true, is President of the ICE this autumn, hits the nail on the head when expected to come out in support of the project. This is in addition to she says: “The nature of what we do has the potential to be part of the ramping up this year of Network Rail’s Control Period 6, the start the problem; now we have to demonstrate we can be part of the of the water industry’s Asset Management Period 7 and Highways solution.” England’s second Road Investment Strategy. What are you going to do to today to make sure you play your role But the UK is only part of the opportunity – the growth in in being part of the solution? international sectors creates huge potential for the civil engineering l Claire Smith is New Civil Engineer’s editor FEBRUARY 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 3 Contents NEW CIVIL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2020 MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS 08 News, Comment 21 Towards & Analysis Net Zero 08 The Edit: Crossrail is now running two and a half years late 08 The Edit: New editor for New Civil Engineer announced 11 Inside Track: Battle over need for HS2 erupts 12 Inside Track: Heathrow access row 13 Inside Track: Bakerloo Extension to be funded by property levy 14 Inside Track: Power cut report triggers resilience move 16 Big Interview: Paul McCormick, Transport for NSW 18 Your View: Florida collapse; PI costs 46 ICE Record Engineers are part of the solution to the climate crisis, in particular the global eff ort to cut carbon emissions. Some construction fi rms are already building carbon reduction into their business plans and into their projects. Here we look at what is being done 22 With governments around 26 Skanska UK is using a tunnelling 46 ICE pass list the world declaring a climate project on Humberside to develop emergency, it is time act on carbon low carbon solutions 4 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | FEBRUARY 2020 We want your feedback! Have your say on New Civil Engineer’s magazine and online content in our annual readers survey. Deadline 7 February. Visit www.research.net/r/RHRLFZH 29 Innovative Live! EDITORIAL TEAM Thinking EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Email: [email protected] Editor Claire Smith (020) 3953 2818 claire.smith Deputy Editor Alexandra Wynne (020) 3953 2822 alexandra.wynne Associate Editor Emily Ashwell (020) 3953 2094 emily.ashwell LISTEN: THE ENGINEERS COLLECTIVE News Editor This month we interview Heathrow Rob Horgan 30 Mace is building on its jumping (020) 3953 2087 rob.horgan factory concept at a housing expansion director Phil Wilbraham development in east London newcivilengineer.com/podcast Features Reporter Catherine Kennedy (020) 3953 2095 catherine.kennedy 32 Cover: Bam Nuttall is using new technology to predict when concrete News Reporter Joshua Stein will cure, speeding up London City (020) 3953 2088 joshua.stein Airport’s expansion (above) Chief Sub Editor 36 Innovation showcase Andy Bolton (020) 3953 2823 | andy.bolton Designer 35 Innovative James McCarthy [email protected] Thinker BOOK NOW Graphic Artist New Civil Engineer’s Future of Airports conference Anthea Carter [email protected] is back in 2020. Visit airports.newcivilengineer.com to see the speaker line up Technical Editor Emeritus Dave Parker dave.parker COMING SOON CUSTOMER SERVICES (020) 3953 2152 NCE100 awards [email protected] https://100awards.newcivilengineer.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING Future of Rail Francis Barham 35 WSP’s Giles Perkins on new https://rail.newcivilengineer.com (020) 953 2912 francis.barham approaches to transport infrastructure FEBRUARY 2020 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 5 Lighthouse ICE VIEWPOINT Delivering net zero emissions by 2050 he start of 2020 consciousness. brings with it a An Ipsos Mori poll carried out last Every nation majority government year found that 85% of British adults has a role to T for the first time since now express concern about climate 2017. change. play in mitigating the Coupled with the UK’s exit date The outlook could not be any from the European Union at the end clearer. If global average temperatures impacts of climate of January, there is now, at least, rise above 2°C, then catastrophic some optimism. BY ART WE damage will be done to the planet. change With the parliamentary deadlock MASTER The resulting change in weather “ lifted, progress can be made in WHAT WOULD patterns will cause widespread taking forward much needed MASTER US drought and unprecedented flooding The ICE will dedicate this public policy programmes across events. Both will have irreversible year’s State of the Nation report all Whitehall departments. This impacts on all life that exists on our to identifying actionable policy includes those departments allied planet. solutions so that policymakers and to infrastructure and the natural Every nation has a role to play in industry stakeholders can work environment. mitigating the impacts of climate collaboratively towards achieving If this government is serious change. For its part, the UK has the target. about the environment – which it legislated to reach a net zero Some of the specific questions should be – then now is the time greenhouse gas emissions target by that the project will tackle include: for making rapid progress on the 2050. l What are the practical, technical climate change agenda. Since doing so in July of last year, and financial interventions required The need to do so is demonstrated a flurry of research, insight and to meet the target? by all of the leading science and is solutions have been put forward l What lessons can be learned fast becoming a fixture in the public for meeting the UK target from from international approaches to organisations representing many reducing or offsetting greenhouse different parts of the economy.