NOVEMBER 2017 18 FLAGSHIP MIDLANDS 26 THE FUTURE OF DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION: MODELS ITSELF ON BIM HAND-BUILT BY APPLICATION 52 IMPROVING WORKER ROBOTS? SAFETY WITH PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING WELCOME to the latest edition of UK Technology is often hailed for business hub, catch up with the Construction Excellence. improving energy efficiency, project team in our report. In this month’s edition we focus sustainability and building lifespan, On the other side of the coin is the on the future of construction. but the fear of robots ‘stealing’ skills shortage, and we look at what Where will the digital revolution construction jobs in the future is a can be done to encourage more take us? Is the future hand-built startling one. talent into the industry to fill this by robots? That is one of the The benefits of applying gap now. questions asked by Suzanne Gill BIM technology and digital And, as always, we catch up and Helen Garthwaite, partners construction is demonstrated well with the latest contract news, at Wedlake Bell and co-founders in the Discovery Building. BIM was industry movers and our guest of Tomorrow’s City, Today’s instrumental in the design and contributors, inside. Challenge, in their feature. delivery of this new science and Victoria Maggiani 26 18 52 The future of Flagship Midlands Improving worker construction: development safety with Hand-built by robots? models itself on BIM physiological application monitoring Publications Editor Managing Director Victoria Maggiani Grahame Steed Designer Production Manager Seamus Norton Gareth Trevor-Jones Display Advertising Sales T: 0800 6127680 [email protected] ISSN 1461-1279 Follow us on... 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Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. 3 www.biogenie.co.uk 0118 916 7340 [email protected] www.celtic-ltd.com 0118 916 7340 [email protected] EXPERTS IN SOIL AND HAZARDOUS GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION UK WIDE COVERAGE SOIL TREATMENT CELTIC IS A LEADING SPECIALIST FULLY COMPLIANT AND FACILITIES REMEDIATION CONTRACTOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS WITH A PROVEN TRACK COST EFFECTIVE WASTE BROKERAGE SERVICE RECORD OVER 25 YEARS OF DELIVERING COST OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BIFFA BASEMENT EFFECTIVE REMEDIATION ENSURES TREATED MATERIAL AND SOIL MANAGEMENT IS BENEFICIALLY REUSED SOLUTIONS SCHEMES LANDFILL TAX EXEMPT TREATMENT OF HAZARDOUS HYDROCARBON IMPACTED SOILS WITH NON- HAZARDOUS ASBESTOS FIBRES CONTACT US TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU COULD SAVE ON OFF-SITE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL CONTACT US TREATMENT BIOGENIE NOW OR VISIT OUR AND BIFFA WEBSITE TO FIND PROUD TO BE OUT MORE ABOUT GREEN WORLD OUR SERVICES AMBASSADORS www.biogenie.co.uk 0118 916 7340 [email protected] www.celtic-ltd.com 0118 916 7340 [email protected] CelticBio_DPS_adv_ct6409.indd 1 03/10/2017 12:27 www.biogenie.co.uk 0118 916 7340 [email protected] www.celtic-ltd.com 0118 916 7340 [email protected] EXPERTS IN SOIL AND HAZARDOUS GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION UK WIDE COVERAGE SOIL TREATMENT CELTIC IS A LEADING SPECIALIST FULLY COMPLIANT AND FACILITIES REMEDIATION CONTRACTOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS WITH A PROVEN TRACK COST EFFECTIVE WASTE BROKERAGE SERVICE RECORD OVER 25 YEARS OF DELIVERING COST OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BIFFA BASEMENT EFFECTIVE REMEDIATION ENSURES TREATED MATERIAL AND SOIL MANAGEMENT IS BENEFICIALLY REUSED SOLUTIONS SCHEMES LANDFILL TAX EXEMPT TREATMENT OF HAZARDOUS HYDROCARBON IMPACTED SOILS WITH NON- HAZARDOUS ASBESTOS FIBRES CONTACT US TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU COULD SAVE ON OFF-SITE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL CONTACT US TREATMENT BIOGENIE NOW OR VISIT OUR AND BIFFA WEBSITE TO FIND PROUD TO BE OUT MORE ABOUT GREEN WORLD OUR SERVICES AMBASSADORS www.biogenie.co.uk 0118 916 7340 [email protected] www.celtic-ltd.com 0118 916 7340 [email protected] CelticBio_DPS_adv_ct6409.indd 1 03/10/2017 12:27 NEWS ONS releases 2016 construction statistics The Office of National Statistics has released its latest statistics for the construction industry to year- end 2016. Figures show that the value of new construction in Great Britain continued to rise in 2016, reaching its highest level on record at £99,266M, with continued growth in the private sector driving new projects and revenue. The steady rise in the value of construction new orders seen since 2011 has continued, owing to the increase in all other work in 2016. However, construction price inflation reached 2.2% in the last month of 2016, above both the CPI and SPPI, at 1.1%. In materials and components, the trade deficit carries on. Imports are more than double the value of exports and this is concerning in the run-up to Brexit with economic and political uncertainty set to continue. The year resulted in growth in employment, with the skills gaps being filled by 55,831 extra jobs compared with 2015. Most employment is found around London, the South East and the North West, and the number of construction companies is increasing across the country. Even more positives can be found in the number of construction firms in Great Britain, which increased to its highest level on record in 2016. The ONS has stated that 2016 was a positive year for the construction industry, and while potential risks lie in confidence in the UK economy post-Brexit, this can be mitigated through government support and investment. Despite public sector output falling in 2016, low interest rates have facilitated private sector investment in the industry, and the marginal fall in public sector National HS2 college work has been far outweighed by the continuing expansion of the private sector; with growth coming launched from the housing sector in particular. Private housing and public other new work provided the main contributions to growth, with only private The Education Secretary, Justine Greening, has opened a new industrial new orders falling in 2016. The growth in all high speed rail college during a visit to Doncaster. new housing has come as a result of both private new The new technical education college, the National College for housing and public new housing increasing. High Speed Rail (NCHSR), is the largest of five new national Construction output grew consistently in real volume colleges that have been developed as part of the Government’s terms in every quarter of 2016, resulting in annual drive to address the skills shortage. The colleges will provide growth of 3.8% in 2016. This expansion in construction young people with world-class technical skills such as output comes after two years of relatively high growth engineering, design, planning, manufacturing and construction. in the industry, with construction output expanding Education Secretary Justine Greening said: “It has been great by 4.4% in 2015 and 9% in 2014. to attend the official launch of the NCHSR. It is part of how we are steadily transforming technical education in this country, training up a new generation of skilled young people and the existing workforce so that British business has the skills it needs and people have the opportunities they want – a win-win for everyone. “We can only do this in partnership with employers – the NCHSR is just one great example of this. "The impressive new building and training facilities are at the forefront of our ambitions to create a world class system of technical education. "Doncaster is also one of the 12 Opportunity Areas that will benefit from a share of £72M to raise attainment and aspirations. NCHSR is part of this work, making sure Doncaster’s local talent gets the opportunity to fulfil its potential and ensuring a prosperous future for the UK.” 6 £50M flood alleviation scheme operational in Leeds The initial phase of a hugely ambitious gates are supported by giant inflatable Chair of the Environment Agency: £50M flood alleviation scheme which, neoprene bladders, which are lowered “This groundbreaking scheme will not in a first for the UK, employs moveable when high river flows are imminent. It only benefit hundreds of homes and weir technology, has opened in Leeds. should take around two hours for the businesses in the city but it will also Phase I of the award-winning Leeds gates to lower, and it is now possible safeguard 22,000 jobs over the next Flood Alleviation Scheme relies to scale flood defence walls down so ten years due to the increased level of on state-of-the-art engineering as not to obscure views of the city’s protection it provides. It’s been great techniques and represents one of pristine waterfront. to see Leeds City Council and the the largest projects of its kind in the “We are delighted to see this much- Environment Agency working together UK today. needed first phase of the Leeds in partnership to better protect the Leeds City Council has partnered Flood Alleviation Scheme opened,” city – and it is one of many schemes in with the Environment Agency to said Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds the Defra programme investing £430M deliver the landmark scheme, which City Council. “As could be seen by to reduce flood risk across Yorkshire will safeguard more than 3,000 the devastation at Christmas 2015, before 2021. households, 500 businesses and 300 providing increased flood protection in “We’re always looking for new ways acres of development space against Leeds is essential in terms of reassuring that we can use technology to reduce flood waters from the River Aire and our residents and businesses, and flood risk so it’s exciting that this Hol Beck. There’s economic benefit this fantastic state-of-the-art scheme scheme is also a first for flood risk too, with 150 jobs and apprenticeship provides it for the city centre and management in the UK thanks to the places created during its development downstream at Woodlesford.” use of the moveable weirs, which can and construction.