News
CIMCIG news round up
31/03/2009
A new feature for the CIMCIG website. We've trawled the press, and come up with the following selection of articles relevant (we hope) the the life of a construction marketer.
First, there's a list of all the pieces concerned, then there follows an abstract.
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LIST
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ACTIVITY
RIBA CALLS FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY ON ZERO CARBON DEFINITIONS - Daily Housing News
CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO GROW SLIGHTLY - Construction-now
ARCHITECTS SUFFERING WORST FROM RECESSION - Daily Housing
NEWS
£2.3bn of BAA frameworks under threat if airports sold - Contractjournal.com
'UK's greenest healthcare building' breaks ground - Building.co.uk
CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO GROW SLIGHTLY - Construction Now
SLIGHT GROWTH IN CONSTRUCTION - PSLG Online
Communities secretary approves Blackfriars towers - Building.co.uk
Construction output falls further than forecast - Contractjournal.com
Government urged to create jobs through energy efficiency investment - Contractjournal.com
HOUSING AND HOUSEBUILDING
ENGLAND SEES DROP IN HOME EXTENSION APPLICATIONS - Construction-now
Mortgage lenders denounce the Government as home loans tumble to an eight-year low - An extract from The Times
NEW MORTGAGE APPROVALS RISE IN FEBRUARY - Daily Housing News
Social housing faces 'a daunting challenge' - Guardian.co.uk
Mortgage approvals up 16% in February - Building.co.uk
Sorry to be a party pooper, but hold fire on bigging up the mortgage figures - Brickonomics on Contractjournal.com
Home building plans 'in trouble' - BBC News
Margaret Beckett allows homes to be built on greenbelt land - CNPLUS.co.uk
Housing stats: New-build sales and completions in February - Building.co.uk
SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN ISSUES
CIBSE RESPONDS TO ZERO CARBON HOMES CONSULTATION - Construction Now
Home Energy Saving Scheme now open for business - unprecedented level of interest in insulation grants
FUEL POVERTY BILL BID FAILS - Daily Housing News
RICS SAYS ZERO-CARBON HOMES TARGET NOT REALISTIC - Daily Housing News
Don't ditch 2016 target, says Green Building Council - Building.co.uk
UKTI promote sustainable construction expertise - Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team
Council uses spy plane with thermal imaging camera to snoop on homes wasting energy - From the Revolution Radio website.
MAJOR CONTRACTOR REPORTS
Wates set for Midlands shake-up as group turnover passes £1bn - Contractjournal.com
Galliford Try wins £43m school and homes project in Rutland - Building.co.uk
Henry Boot shines thanks to £19m pre-tax profit - Contractjournal.com
Henry Boot posts 59% fall in profit - Building.co.uk
LAING O'ROURKE HOPES TO GROW BY A QUARTER - Construction Now
Laing O’Rourke to grow 25pc this year - CNPLUS.co.uk
OTHER KEY COMPANY REPORTS
REDROW FOUNDER SUCCESSFUL IN TAKEOVER BID - Daily Housing News
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ABSTRACTS
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ACTIVITY
RIBA CALLS FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY ON ZERO CARBON DEFINITIONS
Daily Housing News
23rd March 2009
RIBA has called upon the Government to implement a more flexible definition of zero carbon to enable the construction industry to deliver low carbon buildings of the future.
Responding to the Definition of Zero Carbon Homes and Non-Domestic Buildings consultation, it has called for a reclassification of district power and heating schemes, alongside a national energy trajectory to underpin future efforts to achieve 80% zero carbon by 2050.
This would plot the UK's route to decarbonising our energy supply, helping to address what constraints and opportunities exist in applying different clean energy technologies, and providing a roadmap and thereby increased certainty to local decision makers, the construction industry and its clients.
RIBA has also proposed a reclassification of biomass and district heating systems through building regulations, in future to be considered measures of energy efficiency in buildings, rather than energy generation. RIBA believes that reclassifying allowable renewables as only 'on site' would simplify the planning process.
This could be easily overseen by the planning authority based on an objective assessment of available roof area, development density and orientation. The RIBA is proposing the planning process is simplified to ensure that all developments are future-proofed to accommodate renewables when they become viable.
Alan Shingler, Head of Sustainability at Sheppard Robson, who led the RIBA's response said: "RIBA welcomes the proactive approach to legislate for energy efficiency and carbon reductions through the introduction of the consultation. We support the 2050 target of reducing UK carbon emissions by 80% and, although new buildings will only represent a small proportion of these targeted carbon efficiencies, are encouraged that the Government has remained steadfast in its commitment to reduce carbon emissions from all new buildings.
"We encourage the more flexible approach to defining zero carbon, underpinned by a hierarchical approach to emissions reduction, which this consultation proposes. The RIBA also welcomes the ambition to define a similar framework for non-domestic buildings. Clarity of both targets and timescales will provide much needed certainty for the construction sector."
CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO GROW SLIGHTLY
Construction-now
25th March 2009
Despite the current economic gloom, construction output in the UK is expected to grow slightly by two per cent to around £79bn, in 2010, according to analysis of the industry by Deloitte, the business advisory firm.
This is despite recent forecasts from industry commentators showing expected falls in construction output in the UK of between seven and ten per cent in 2009 to £77bn, with the house building and commercial markets being the primary cause.
Colin Gibson, partner, Deloitte, said: "Industry commentators are generally agreed that the raft of new public sector projects, supported by increased Government expenditure, will be insufficient to prevent construction output falling steeply in 2009.
"In December, the Construction Products Association (CPA) published a forecast predicting construction output will fall to £76bn, a level not seen since 2002 and the biggest annual fall on record. It is clear that this year will be a year for 'battening down the hatches' for what could be a prolonged period of stagnation.
"Recent opinions from the industry indicate that public projects in the education, health and transport sectors are essential for the short-term prospects. However, in the medium-term it must not be forgotten that there will be high levels of Government debt that need repaying, and this could lead to a cut in public spending. Therefore, we must hope that by 2010 the private sector has regained at least a modicum of momentum before the inevitable Government cuts are felt."
There are two main areas that a construction company must focus on in a declining market to ensure they do not become another casualty of the current economic and market turmoil: an unwavering concentration on cash and working capital, supported by a strong corporate governance and risk management.
Gibson added: "While in the recent past the construction industry has focussed on growth and profit, cash and working capital will be at the heart of every construction firm's survival during 2009 and 2010. Some companies are adapting to this faster and more effectively than others.
"The ones which adapt quickest are most likely to preserve the Profit & Loss statement as well as the Balance Sheet. Those companies that chose to ignore the signals and do not adapt quickly could well be heading for some very difficult discussions with their lenders."
ARCHITECTS SUFFERING WORST FROM RECESSION
Daily Housing News
23rd March 2009
Architects are joining the ranks of benefit claimants at a faster rate than any other profession, according to a Guardian analysis of figures for the last 12 months.
Other jobs related to the construction industry, including managers, surveyors, engineers, bricklayers, carpenters and scaffolders, also feature prominently among the 20 professions that have seen the biggest increases in benefits claimants.
Construction unions and professional bodies said the actual numbers out of work were much higher than the official figures suggest and reiterated their pleas for the government to revive the industry by underwriting public building projects.
Office of National Statistics figures show that between February 2008 and February 2009 the number of architects claiming benefits rose by 760% from 150 to 1,290 - the biggest increase among recorded professions. The second biggest increase was among architectural technologists and town planning technicians.
RIBA said the figures came as no surprise and estimated that the level of unemployment and under-employment among its members was at least 30% higher than official figures.
RIBA president, Sunand Prasad, said: "I would estimate that those figures represent a fraction of the reality, based on our returns, anecdotal material and our projections. And the reason is simple: construction always gets hit in the neck in a recession. It's one of the first casualties of a decline in the economy."
He predicted levels of unemployment in the industry would get worse: "Architects are a bellwether for what's going to happen to the construction industry - buildings that are not being designed today are not going to be built tomorrow."
£2.3bn of BAA frameworks under threat if airports sold
Contractjournal.com
25th March 2009
BAA framework contractors could see their workload plummet by around £2.3bn if the sales of Gatwick and Stansted airports go ahead.
The airport operator, which is owned by Spanish contractor Ferrovial, has been ordered by the Competition Commission to sell Gatwick, Stansted and either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports within the next two years.
Planned improvements at Gatwick and Stansted airports make up around a quarter of BAA's £9.5bn 10-year capital spend programme. Four 10-year frameworks have been set up by BAA to deliver the programme, which runs until 2018.
But if both airports are sold, works at Gatwick and Stansted will be stripped out of the frameworks.
Gatwick is already up for sale, with the deal due to close by the end of April.
The bidders are: Global Infrastructure Partners, a private-equity fund that owns London City Airport; a group led by Citi Infrastructure Investors; and Canada's Borealis Infrastructure.
Contractors are steeling themselves for change. "We do not know what is happening, but there are sure to be changes. We would hope the new owners would use the same contractors, but they are sure to review the situation sooner or later," said one contractor.
Another BAA framework member told CJ: "It is a concern. The new owners could bring their own contractors with them or use different methods of delivery. They could just ignore the frameworks and put the work out to tender."
A BAA spokesman said that even without BAA as client, the capital works at Gatwick and Stansted must continue: "The capital plan for these airports was agreed with the regulatory authority and as such they must go ahead," he said, adding, "Obviously, if we sell these airports then we will no longer have any influence on decisions as to how the work is carried out."
http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2009/03/25/66098/23bn-of-baa-frameworks-under-threat-if-airports-sold.html
'UK's greenest healthcare building' breaks ground
Building.co.uk
25 March, 2009
£300m new building at Great Ormond Street will offset more than 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year
Construction has begun on the first phase of a new two-part development at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in central London. The £300m Mittal Children's Medical Centre at aims to be the UK's greenest healthcare building.
The 30,000m2 structure, designed by UK-based architect Llewelyn Davies Yeang, will house new wards, operating theatres, imaging facilities, offices and a staff and family restaurant.
The building is expected to offset more than 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. It will generate all its own energy and supply green energy to other parts of the site. It will do this by using energy-saving technologies such as two combined cooling, heat and power units, which will initially run on natural gas, but could switch to biofuels later. It is estimated this will reduce its carbon by 60%, which could climb to 120% if biofuels from sustainable resources are used. A decision on whether to use biofuels will be made at a later date.
Natural daylight, presence detectors and LED lighting will also help to reduce energy consumption. A glazed natural ventilation flue will extend the full height of the building, naturally ventilating the restaurant on the ground floor. The bedrooms also use mixed mode natural ventilation.
Bill McGill, GOSH director of redevelopment, says: "We believe this is as green as it is possible to get for a central London building. We have faced up to the challenges of the hospital's location, got through stringent planning procedures and will be ready to start building this spring.
“The redevelopment design is being used as an example to other developers and our energy assessment is being used by the Greater London Authority as a guide to best practice in London, something we're very proud to achieve.”
http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3136933&c=1
CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO GROW SLIGHTLY
Construction Now
25th March 2009
Despite the current economic gloom, construction output in the UK is expected to grow slightly by two per cent to around £79bn, in 2010, according to analysis of the industry by Deloitte, the business advisory firm.
This is despite recent forecasts from industry commentators showing expected falls in construction output in the UK of between seven and ten per cent in 2009 to £77bn, with the house building and commercial markets being the primary cause.
Colin Gibson, partner, Deloitte, said: "Industry commentators are generally agreed that the raft of new public sector projects, supported by increased Government expenditure, will be insufficient to prevent construction output falling steeply in 2009.
"In December, the Construction Products Association (CPA) published a forecast predicting construction output will fall to £76bn, a level not seen since 2002 and the biggest annual fall on record. It is clear that this year will be a year for 'battening down the hatches' for what could be a prolonged period of stagnation.
"Recent opinions from the industry indicate that public projects in the education, health and transport sectors are essential for the short-term prospects. However, in the medium-term it must not be forgotten that there will be high levels of Government debt that need repaying, and this could lead to a cut in public spending. Therefore, we must hope that by 2010 the private sector has regained at least a modicum of momentum before the inevitable Government cuts are felt."
There are two main areas that a construction company must focus on in a declining market to ensure they do not become another casualty of the current economic and market turmoil: an unwavering concentration on cash and working capital, supported by a strong corporate governance and risk management.
Gibson added: "While in the recent past the construction industry has focussed on growth and profit, cash and working capital will be at the heart of every construction firm's survival during 2009 and 2010. Some companies are adapting to this faster and more effectively than others.
"The ones which adapt quickest are most likely to preserve the Profit & Loss statement as well as the Balance Sheet. Those companies that chose to ignore the signals and do not adapt quickly could well be heading for some very difficult discussions with their lenders."
SLIGHT GROWTH IN CONSTRUCTION
PSLG Online
27/03/2009
Despite the current economic gloom, construction output in the UK is expected to grow slightly by two per cent to around £79bn in 2010, according to analysis of the industry by Deloitte, the business advisory firm. This is despite recent forecasts from industry commentators showing expected falls in construction output in the UK of between seven and ten per cent in 2009 to £77bn, with the house building and commercial markets being the primary cause.
Colin Gibson, partner, Deloitte, said: "Recent opinions from the industry indicate that public projects in the education, health and transport sectors are essential for the short-term prospects. However, in the medium term it must not be forgotten that there will be high levels of government debt that need repaying, and this could lead to a cut in public spending. Therefore, we must hope that by 2010 the private sector has regained at least a modicum of momentum before the inevitable government cuts are felt."
There are two main areas that a construction company must focus on in a declining market to ensure they do not become another casualty of the current economic and market turmoil: an unwavering concentration on cash and working capital, supported by a strong corporate governance and risk management. Gibson added: "While in the recent past the construction industry has focussed on growth and profit, cash and working capital will be at the heart of every construction firm's survival during 2009 and 2010. Some companies are adapting to this faster and more effectively than others.
"The ones which adapt quickest are most likely to preserve the profit & loss statement as well as the balance sheet. Those companies that chose to ignore the signals and do not adapt quickly could well be heading for some very difficult discussions with their lenders."
www.deloitte.com. http://www.pslgbuilding.com/newsitem.asp?newsID=705
Communities secretary approves Blackfriars towers
Building.co.uk
26 March, 2009
Public inquiry into south London towers favours Ian Simpson Architects and Wilkinson Eyre
A cluster of towers designed by Ian Simpson Architects and Wilkinson Eyre have been given approval by the communities secretary.
The towers, which are intended to be built on the Blackfriars Road in South London, had been the subject of a joint planning inquiry last September. One, the 52-storey Beetham tower, has been designed by Ian Simpson Architects and the other, the 42-storey 20 Blackfriars Road, by Wilkinson Eyre.
The Beetham tower was the most controversial of the two, and the communities secretary Hazel Blears called in the £150m scheme to examine its impact on the skyline, and whether it would fit in with the aspirations of the London Plan. But Blears found that on matters of height, massing and environmental impact both developments were in line with government and local policy.
In the letter of approval, the secretary of state noted only that the balance of tenure was not in line with local policy, but said it was a “minor” conflict, and did not “attract significant weight.”
It remains to be seen whether or not either tower will start construction in the short term. Beetham has signed a deal with Dubai-based hotelier Jumeirah, but it is not known if the developer behind 20 Blackfriars, Circleplane, has a tenant lined up for the smaller tower.
http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3137238&c=1
Construction output falls further than forecast
Contractjournal.com
27th March 2009
Construction sector output underwent a dramatic collapse in the final quarter of 2008, according to government figures released today.
Output in the sector was expected to drop by 1.1% for the quarter. But revised figures showed that it actually fell 4.9%.
The decline helped push gross domestic product (GDP) down by 1.6% for the quarter.
http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2009/03/27/66344/construction-output-falls-further-than-forecast.html
Government urged to create jobs through energy efficiency investment
Contractjournal.com
27th March 2009
The government is being urged to invest in energy efficiency measure to create construction jobs and reduce carbon emissions.
Ahead of next month’s budget two reports have been launched which spell out the required investment and resulting economic and environmental results.
A report from Greenpeace suggests that for every £1m spent 15-20 jobs are created to improve the housing stock.
Meanwhile, research from Caleb Management Services says up to 50,000 jobs could be created and significant amounts of carbon dioxide saved if the government were to invest in refurbishing non-residential buildings.
The research, commissioned by Kingspan Insulated Panels, says that 20% of the UK’s emissions could be saved with an annual investment of £1.18bn.
It is suggested that, rather than further burden the taxpayer, the funding could be provided through Government supported loans paid back through energy savings.
Alan Whitehead MP, chair of the parliamentary renewable and sustainable energy group, said: “These recommendations should act as a call to action for government and industry in addressing this most important of issues.”
Mark Harris, Kingspan’s Divisional Building Technology Director, said: “There is a precedent in the public sector for interest free loans for improvements to public buildings. The owner pays this back with the energy savings.
“It becomes self financing and we’re pushing for the government to do something similar in the private sector.”
http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2009/03/27/66369/government-urged-to-create-jobs-through-energy-efficiency.html
HOUSING AND HOUSEBUILDING
ENGLAND SEES DROP IN HOME EXTENSION APPLICATIONS
Construction-now
25th March 2009
Two thirds of England's top 50 towns and cities saw an average eight per cent drop in applications for home extensions, according to research.
An analysis of the period between 2006 and 2008 by commercial law firm, EMW Picton Howell found homeowners were quick to react to the worsening of the credit crunch and declining house prices by reigning in applications to have extensions and other improvements made.
Figures for 2008/09 are expected to show an even sharper decline.Homeowners in London and towns in the South East of England bucked the national trend with relatively substantial increases, suggesting that property in commuter towns around London has been less affected by the downturn.
Luton saw the biggest increase at 19%, Greater London saw a ten per cent increase followed by Slough with an eight per cent increase. Homeowners in Exeter and Plymouth appear to have been the most affected, as these towns saw the biggest decrease in applications for extensions with 23% and 22% respectively.
EMW Picton Howell principal, Giles Ferin said: "One might assume that with house prices falling so rapidly, homeowners would stay put and turn to DIY in order to improve their homes while weathering the housing slump.
"However, it appears that the nation's favourite pastime has also taken a hit from the credit crunch which with the drop off in new build housing has contributed to the collapse of businesses like MFI.
"In many cases people would re-mortgage their homes in order to fund home extensions. Obviously this has been more difficult to achieve in the past year, and this is reflected in the drop in applications for planning permission.
"Many homeowners appear to have been put off either by worries about their own job security or by the fact that an extension or other alteration to their property would probably not add any more value to it at the moment. With nearly four million homeowners reaching negative equity, home improvements have taken a nose dive."
Mortgage lenders denounce the Government as home loans tumble to an eight-year low
An extract from The Times
March 20, 2009
Mortgage lenders launched an attack on the Government yesterday as it was revealed that home loans granted to borrowers by banks and building societies fell by 60 per cent to an eight-year low last month.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said that efforts to boost lending, in line with Government demands, had been undermined as savers flock to deposit money with state-owned National Savings and Investments (NS&I) rather than high street banks or building societies.
The Government has said that lenders need to extend more funding to borrowers in an attempt to stem the damaging declines in the housing market. House prices have fallen by 20 per cent since the market peaked in 2007. Economists said that there was little hope that the market would show any sort of recovery until borrowers, particularly first-time buyers, could access mortgages more easily.
Lenders are increasingly dependent on savers’ deposits to fund mortgage lending as wholesale markets remain gummed up in the wake of the credit crunch. However, Michael Coogan, the director-general of the CML, said that this source of funding was being undermined by N&SI.
Mr Coogan said: “Retail savings are now the predominant source of funding for mortgages. But banks and building societies have seen savings ebb away to National Savings and Investments, which has a negative impact on their ability to lend.”
NS&I had a bumper year in 2008, taking a record £9.9 billion in savers’ deposits in the final three months of the year, treble the sum saved in the same period a year earlier. Although NS&I’s savings rates approximate to those of many banks, savers have been lured by the 100 per cent guarantee offered on all deposits. Banks and building societies guarantee only the first £50,000 held in each institution.
Mr Coogan said: “This is yet another example of fractured policy. There are now fewer active lenders in the market, but the Government wants them to lend more. At the same time, the Government’s own savings institution is sucking away the funds that would enable them to do so. Until funding improves, the capacity of lenders to lend will remain constrained.”
Gross mortgage lending fell to £9.9 billion in February, down 15 per cent from £11.7 billion in January, and down by 60 per cent from the sums advanced to homebuyers and remortgagers in February last year, the CML said. This is the lowest monthly lending figure since February 2001.
The CML said that the lending figure was in line with its forecast for £145 billion gross mortgage lending this year.
Howard Archer, of IHS Global Insight, the economic consultancy, said that activity in the housing market remained under pressure from “the awful economic climate and ongoing low mortgage availability”, adding that these factors were likely to continue to outweigh the benefit of lower mortgage interest rates.
Although banks and building societies have slashed mortgage rates for borrowers with deposits of 40 per cent or more, borrowers with smaller deposits or less equity in their homes are not benefiting from the Bank of England’s recent rate cuts to the same extent. Borrowers with a 5 per cent or 10 per cent deposit must pay interest rates as high as 6 per cent on their home loans.
Dr Archer said: “We continue to expect house prices to fall by 15 per cent overall in 2009 and then dip by a further 5 per cent in the first half of 2010 before stabilising. This would take them some 35 per cent below their 2007 peak levels.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/property_and_mortgages/article5941409.ece?&EMC-Bltn=CWOREA
NEW MORTGAGE APPROVALS RISE IN FEBRUARY
Daily Housing News
Friday 27th March 2009
The number of mortgages for new house purchases approved rose by 16% in February on the previous month to 28,179, according to the latest data from the British Bankers Association (BBA).
This figure is also significantly higher than the six-month average of 22,068. In addition, banks approved £7.8bn of mortgages in February, a marginal rise on the January figure of £7.6bn. However, the £7.8bn mortgage approval figure was still less than half the equivalent for the same month last year, falling by 56.5%.
In addition, the actual amount of money issued by banks on mortgages, which lags the approval of mortgages by around a month, was higher than the mortgage approval figure, at £9.2bn, meaning the overall trend is still for a decreasing amount of lending. The £9.2bn gross mortgage lending figure was its lowest level since June 2001.
Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the RICS, said the data showed that the increase in buyer enquiries highlighted previously by the RICS was now feeding through into actual transactions.
He said: "Suggestions that the heightened level of interest was just window shopping are clearly misplaced."
However, he cautioned reading too much into the data: "The actual level of activity still remains not that far away from historic lows and it would be premature to conclude that some semblance of order has returned to the housing market," he said. "More needs to be done to ensure that the market is able to function effectively."
BBA statistics director, David Dooks said: "Most new mortgage lending is being done by the high-street banks but demand is being moderated by the impacts of the recession. Higher numbers of loans approved for house purchase simply reflect the banks' greater market share."
Social housing faces 'a daunting challenge'
Guardian.co.uk
Wednesday 25 March 2009
The government has just unveiled its new plans to make our existing homes greener. Seven million homes will be targeted for an energy upgrade over the next 10 years. Every single home will have been overhauled by 2030.
These targets, proposed in last month's heat and energy strategy, are ambitious. And the social housing sector will be expected to take a lead, according to ministers.
But what resources will they need to meet the challenge? Peabody, one of the largest housing associations in London, has 18,000 homes, many of them dating back to Victorian times.
We are committed to doing everything we can to meet the Greater London Authority's target of cutting carbon emissions by 60% by 2025. Cutting emissions is vital if social housing communities are to be sustainable, thriving places to live and our low-income residents are to avoid increasing fuel poverty.
New research we have commissioned from De Montfort University in Leicester shows the scale of the challenge ahead. Even if the national grid reduces its reliance on carbon energy by 50% and energy demand from residents declines slightly, the estimated costs to Peabody of meeting the 2025 target could be at least £100m to £150m.
This is over and above our existing planned expenditure on home improvements to 2030.
If this is the cost for one social landlord, it suggests a daunting challenge across the social housing sector and the UK housing stock as a whole. London's social landlords face a bill running to billions of pounds if they are to hit the 60% target.
It is a challenge that can only be met by powerful partnership working from social landlords, the government, utilities firms and residents themselves. Government financial support will be critical. There will also need to be support for residents, so they can see tangible benefits in adapting their lifestyles.
We have already made a start. As well as continuing improvements to our homes, we are lending residents energy-saving meters and training frontline staff to be accredited energy advisers. The government's strategy proposes a range of important, larger measures.
Ensuring greater use of renewable energy through feed-in tariffs and the renewable heat incentive could offer real opportunities for us to create a package of carbon-reduction measures, based on financial models we have been working on for some time.
Soft loans - which offer lower rates of interest and more flexibility than more traditional loans -
would make refurbishment economically viable for more householders and landlords. The planned community energy savings programmes, which will give residents support and advice on turning greener, could deliver wholesale community refurbishment and promote economic efficiency and behavioural change.
One crucial issue is timing. If we are to meet the 2025 target, we need these initiatives to be introduced quickly. For example, our research shows that solid wall insulation is easily the most effective thing we can do to reduce home emissions. A grant roll-out to support solid wall insulation looks unlikely until 2015. But if we could bring this forward and introduce feed-in tariffs early in 2010, we would not only speed up the delivery of carbon reductions, but also create jobs.
With the new strategy, we now have a national support framework that could produce the substantial carbon emission cuts we need to make from our existing homes. The government must turn these proposals into reality - and that means getting the financial and timing mechanisms right.
Our research has shown the scale of the challenge landlords face on carbon reduction. But we now see a big opportunity to make a genuine difference to energy efficiency in our local communities. Social landlords have a vital role to play in making our future residential energy demands sustainable.
Stephen Howlett is chief executive of Peabody Trust housing association
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/mar/25/social-housing-stephen-howlett
Mortgage approvals up 16% in February
Building.co.uk
24 March, 2009
Number of approvals rises strongly but total lending only slightly up and still half that of a year ago
The number of mortgages for new house purchases approved rose by 16% in February on the previous month to 28,179, according to the latest data from the British Bankers Association (BBA).
This figure is also significantly higher than the six-month average of 22,068. In addition, banks approved £7.8bn of mortgages in February, a marginal rise on the January figure of £7.6bn.
However, the £7.8bn mortgage approval figure was still less than half the equivalent for the same month last year, falling by 56.5%.
In addition, the actual amount of money issued by banks on mortgages, which lags the approval of mortgages by around a month, was higher than the mortgage approval figure, at £9.2bn, meaning the overall trend is still for a decreasing amount of lending. The £9.2bn gross mortgage lending figure was its lowest level since June 2001.
Markets reacted positively to the “encouraging” data. Charlie Campbell, analyst for Liberum Capital, said: “This is not the bottom of the housing market, but at least it's the end of the period of freefall, and might mean volumes increase this year even as prices continue to weaken.”
Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the RICS, said the data showed that the increase in buyer enquiries highlighted previously by the RICS was now feeding through into actual transactions. He said: “Suggestions that the heightened level of interest was just window shopping are clearly misplaced.”
However, he cautioned reading too much into the data. “The actual level of activity still remains not that far away from historic lows and it would be premature to conclude that some semblance of order has returned to the housing market,” he said. “More needs to be done to ensure that the market is able to function effectively.”
BBA statistics director David Dooks also urged caution. He said: “Most new mortgage lending is being done by the high-street banks but demand is being moderated by the impacts of the recession. Higher numbers of loans approved for house purchase simply reflect the banks' greater market share.”
http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3136927&c=1
Sorry to be a party pooper, but hold fire on bigging up the mortgage figures
Brickonomics on Contractjournal.com
25th March 2009
There has been much joy in the housing sector at the news that the number and amount of home loans approved by banks grew for the third consecutive month in February, according to the British Bankers' Association.
While this is clearly not more bad news for housing and homes loans businesses it may be worth holding back on hopes that this represents the start of an upward slope.
Certainly the figures are consistent with other data indicating the first signs of "green shoots". And the surveyors' body RICS has been quick to suggest that this mortgage data concurs with its figures on growing interest being shown by buyers and has used the BBA figures to dismiss claims that the interest was just "window shopping".
But with the spectre of unemployment and short time working looming large and with a consensus among experts that house prices have further to fall, it may be that the rise in the number of mortgages approved during the three months to February proves little more than a slight upward adjustment.
Most people have at some point to move and even in this climate plenty will prefer to buy than rent. Indeed there may have been a backlog with more than usual holding back in the run up to the festive season, which has assisted in bumping up the February figure. Without closer examination it is hard to know.
But with interest rates down sharply and mortgage lenders slightly more willing to lend (providing there is a healthy deposit) it would be unreasonable to assume that lending would remain at the crisis levels of late last year.
It is worth noting that, according to the BBA figures, the number of loans approved for home purchase in November 2008 was about 20% that of November 2006. Let's face it you would be shocked if the numbers didn't bounce back from that.
Naturally it is good when things stop getting worse. But frankly looking at the figures for mortgage approvals over last winter, there was little scope for them to get much worse.
http://www.contractjournal.com/blogs/brickonomics/2009/03/sorry-to-be-a-party-pooper-but.html
Home building plans 'in trouble'
BBC News
2009/03/28 09:41:18 GMT
A government pledge to build three million affordable new homes by 2020 is in trouble because of the recession, the housing minister has said.
Margaret Beckett said the government must now look at ways to put the programme "back on track" once the downturn comes to an end.
She said the government was doing what it could to help the building industry. But housing bodies are calling on the government to do more, including invest in the UK's one million empty homes.
Waiting list
In 2007, Gordon Brown promised to build three million affordable homes to help reduce the housing waiting list, which now stands at nearly five million.
But Mrs Beckett said of the targets: "They were set because of the predicted levels of household growth - that is not going away.
"So of course we're in difficulty at the present time because there is very little building.
"But what we have to do now is to consider how we can tackle that," she told BBC News.
“ What we're not going to do is do the jobs that local authorities should be doing ”
Margaret Beckett, housing minister
"Now we have to consider when this recession comes to an end, which it will, some day, how can we get back on track."
Richard Diment, of the Federation of Master Builders, said it was unlikely the targets would be met.
He said house building was at about 20% the rate that it was 12 months ago, making it "extremely difficult" to hit the targets.
Mrs Beckett insisted the government was doing all it could to help, including bringing forward £1.2bn of investment in construction, maintenance and repairs.
"We're doing everything we can to sustain and support [the construction industry].
"We're working with them to prepare for the upturn when it comes," she added.
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) suggested the only way to deal with the current housing problem was to renovate empty homes.
Simon Rubinsohn, of Rics, said: "While it's understandable that the government may not feel that this is the easiest way and perhaps the most opportune way of actually dealing with the problem, ultimately I think probably in the short-term, it is the only way."
David Ireland, head of the campaign group Empty Houses Agency, said the recession meant homes that became empty were staying empty.
He urged for policy change to ensure any investment was correctly targeted and called for housing associations to shift their focus from new builds to regeneration.
Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the government's Homes and Communities Agency, accepted the government should be doing what it could to put empty properties back into use.
But he said they were empty for a number of reasons, including probate or refurbishment and about half were occupied again within six months.
Margaret Beckett said if there were empty homes the government could help, but urged the local authorities to do more to find them and make them habitable.
"What we're not going to do is do the jobs that local authorities should be doing.
"They do have opportunities, they do have their own resources and you know we're keen that they are more pro-active than sometimes some of them have been on this subject," she said.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/7969526.stm
Margaret Beckett allows homes to be built on greenbelt land
CNPLUS.co.uk
27 March, 2009
Housing minister Margaret Beckett has given the go ahead for affordable housing to be built on greenbelt land.
Mrs Beckett has announced a range of measures to encourage local authorities to build more affordable homes in the countryside.
This includes making more “exception” sites on greenbelt or other restricted land available for affordable homes.
Councils in market towns will also be encouraged to develop sustainable new neighbourhoods rather than building “soulless” housing estates on the outskirts of town, with a £1 million competition to promote best practice.
Mrs Beckett said that the measures were essential to tackle the “unsustainable pressures” which were jeopardising the future of many rural communities.
She said: “All too often the high cost of homes and low wages are pricing young families out of their communities, with the average rural home costing up to 10 times the average salary in some rural areas.
“These subtle but important changes are the key to getting the balance right between protection and development in the countryside.
“This will give local communities the flexibility they need to take the right decisions on the individual issues they face.”
However Kate Gordon, senior planner for the Campaign to Protect Rural England, warned thousands of homes could be built on greenfield sites, including in national parks, if local authorities take advantage of exception sites.
Instead she said councils should be rebuilding derelict buildings and developing brownfield sites.
http://www.cnplus.co.uk/sectors/housing/margaret-beckett-allows-homes-to-be-built-on-greenbelt-land/1996062.article
Housing stats: New-build sales and completions in February
Building.co.uk
27 March 2009
Private registrations are down to less than a third of this time last year
NHBC is the standard-setting body and leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK. Established 70 years ago, its main purpose is to help raise the standard of new homes and provide protection for homebuyers. NHBC statistics are based almost exclusively on information relating to its 20,000 registered housebuilders, which construct more than 80% of new homes in the UK. As such, they represent a unique source of information on new home construction and the housebuilding industry.
http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=555&storycode=3137114&c=1
SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN ISSUES
CIBSE RESPONDS TO ZERO CARBON HOMES CONSULTATION
Construction Now
27th March 2009
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has welcomed the recognition that the original definition of zero carbon is impractical, and has responded on a number of significant issues.
It believes that building services engineers and other suitably qualified professionals are well placed to certify compliance with the carbon emissions requirements and other aspects of Part L of the Building Regulations.
Allowing compliance to be confirmed by accredited professionals would enable Building Control Bodies to focus their own efforts on higher risk projects.
CIBSE believes that the total energy used by a building should be the basis for compliance with whatever zero carbon definition is agreed - and that total energy covers energy that is currently not regulated.
Also, in its response, the Institution emphasises the need to address non-domestic buildings as a matter of urgency, and to apply similar policies where possible as renewal of the non-domestic stock tends to occur on a faster cycle than for dwellings, and may offer significantly greater opportunity to achieve substantial reductions in emissions.
The Institution is committed to tackling climate change and through its professional Code of Conduct requires its members to 'have due regard to environmental issues in carrying out their professional duties.' CIBSE members are therefore at the forefront of delivering low and zero carbon buildings.
Home Energy Saving Scheme now open for business - unprecedented level of interest in insulation grants
Dublin, 25th March 2009
Insulation will create thousands of jobs and halve electricity bills - Minister Ryan
Energy Minister Eamon Ryan today announced that the €50 million Home Energy Saving Scheme is 'open for business'.
From today (25 March) Sustainable Energy Ireland will accept applications from householders wishing to save money and energy by insulating their properties.
Announcing the opening, Minister Ryan said, "Since I announced that I had secured the funding for this scheme, there has been an unprecedented level of interest from the public. Sustainable Energy Ireland has received 94,000 calls and website visits. SEI has assured me that from today applications received online will be processed in under 3 days. I am pleased that so soon after the initial announcement we are up and running, with all the proper procedures in place.
We need even more qualified contractors to come on board in order to deliver this scheme. I would urge contractors to register with SEI and secure a major business boost for themselves in the process. The level of public interest is such that contractors can be assured of work for themselves and for new employees through this Government scheme.
Sustainable Energy Ireland will emphasise quality throughout the scheme, ensuring that homeowners get the best workmanship and value for money.
Insulation is the single best way of saving money on energy. This Scheme will see homeowners save up to €700 annually on their electricity bills. This, coupled with recent reductions in electricity prices is great news for consumers in these tight times.
Construction workers will benefit from the thousands of jobs this scheme will create. It's good news for our pockets, for the economy and for the environment".
ENDS
Householders and contractors can apply online at www.sei/hes or by calling the dedicated phone line 1850 927000
Eligibility:
* The scheme is aimed at older houses that would not typically have the energy efficiency features of recently built homes. The scheme is open to all houses built prior to 2006. Houses built from 2006 onwards should be built to the Building Regulations 2002 standard, which specifies high quality insulation and heating controls
Objectives:
The objectives of the Home Energy Saving Scheme are:
(1) To reduce energy use and CO2 emissions from the existing housing stock, and
(2) To support the development of the energy services industry in Ireland.
Eligible measures:
The table below sets out:
* The eligible measures and the set grant amounts available.
* The typical improvement in BER rating that could be expected from each individual measure, done in isolation. Note that in estimating the total potential BER improvement, if the full range of measures is installed, the potential BER improvements for each measure should not be added together.
* The typical payback period for each measure, arising from energy saved.
Measure
Grant rate
Typical net BER improvement
Typical payback (years)
Roof Insulation €250 10-20% 3-6
Cavity Wall Insulation €400
15-20%
4-5
Internal Wall Insulation €2,500
25-30%
7-10
External Wall Insulation €4,000
25-30%
15-20
High efficiency boiler plus heating control upgrade €700
25-30%
4-5
Heating control upgrade only €500
15 -25%
4-5
Building Energy Rating €200
Minimum investment:
* A minimum level of investment is required of householders to participate in the scheme. Householders must avail of measures (excluding BER) involving a minimum grant payment of €500 for a first application. This means that householders cannot avail of a grant for roof insulation or cavity wall insulation only. These low cost measures must be undertaken together or with another measure.
Heating controls and boilers:
* To avail of the €500 grant for heating controls, a homeowner must install a range of time, temperature and zone controls on their heating system and electric immersion water cylinder. This low cost measure can improve a home’s BER rating by up to 25%, yet has a payback of only 4 to 5 years.
* While heating controls can be added to an existing heating system, it is particularly attractive to any homeowner replacing their boiler to also install heating controls at that time. Under the Building Regulations 2008, anybody replacing an existing oil or gas boiler must install a condensing boiler with a minimum seasonal efficiency of 86%. Condensing boilers with an efficiency of up to 95% are available on the market. This additional efficiency can lead to significant savings. A grant of €200 towards the cost of these higher efficiency boilers is available to any homeowner who is also installing heating controls.
Wall insulation options:
* To insulate the walls of their home, owners may have a choice of cavity wall, internal or external insulation, depending on the construction of their home. Homeowners should seek professional advice on which option is most suitable for their home.
* Where a house has a suitable cavity, then cavity wall insulation is the most economical investment. Where this is not possible the options are either internal dry lining or external insulation. Internal dry lining, while considerably less expensive than external insulation, will ultimately reduce somewhat the internal habitable space of the home and may not be practical where there is decorative internal plasterwork. External wall insulation may prove preferable where a significant upgrade to the external facade is already envisaged. Both may result in additional works in order to reinstate electrical, plumbing and glazing fixtures.
Building Energy Rating:
* A BER assessment is not required for participation in the scheme. However, a BER carried out prior to works can provide useful advice to a homeowner on the upgrade measures he or she needs to take to improve the home’s energy efficiency. A BER conducted after the measures are finished can establish the impact of the works and give the homeowner comfort regarding their investment.
* To avail of the BER grant of €200, a homeowner must have a BER assessment conducted before and after works. Anybody wishing to secure the services of a registered BER assessor can find details at www.sei.ie/ber . Homeowners should shop around for the best price.
FUEL POVERTY BILL BID FAILS
Daily Housing News
23rd March 2009
A cross-party bid to end fuel poverty by promoting energy efficiency and social tariffs for the less well off has failed in the Commons.
Spearheading the move, Liberal Democrat, David Heath (Somerton and Frome) said: "Support for this Bill is a no-brainer."
However, despite backing from organisations ranging from Help the Aged to Friends of the Earth, his Fuel Poverty Bill ran out of time.
Mr Heath said: "This Bill is good for those living in poverty, good for the health of the nation, very good for the environment and - at a time when it is desperately needed - it's good for the economy."
Co-sponsored by Labour and Tory backbenchers, the Bill would bring about a major energy efficiency programme and force energy suppliers to provide cut price tariffs for less well off households.
It also requires the Government to produce a strategy to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016 but allows the Secretary of State to decide on what measures are used.
Mr Heath said it was a 'national disgrace' that up to five million households were in fuel poverty in the UK and his Bill could provide a 'huge stimulus' for the energy efficiency business just when it was needed during the economic downturn.
But junior energy minister, Joan Ruddock said it was already Government policy to tackle fuel poverty and criticised the 'absolutist' nature of the Bill, saying this could not be acceptable to any government. The Bill placed an 'absolute duty' on ministers irrespective of cost.
The Government's commitment to meet a 2016 target for ending fuel poverty "as far as reasonably practicable" remained in place, she said.
After four hours, a bid to end the debate and move to a vote on second reading failed by just 11 votes. The minister was still speaking when time ran out at 2.30pm and the Bill now stands no chance of progressing.
RICS SAYS ZERO-CARBON HOMES TARGET NOT REALISTIC
Daily Housing News
23rd March 2009
The RICS has said the government's target to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016 is not realistic.
In its submission to the government on zero carbon RICS said the government will struggle to meet its targets of zero carbon by 2016 but a 70% reduction is achievable.
Such a reduction would be possible through building energy efficient homes with access to on site technologies.
RICS says building zero carbon homes is currently too expensive and it would be unrealistic to expect all homes to achieve these standards.
Gillian Charlesworth, director of external affairs at RICS said: "We believe that, given the financial constraints caused by the downturn, government should be aiming to maximise reductions in carbon emissions in a cost effective manner.
"RICS wants to see achievable solutions. Resources should be allocated to lower cost measures that will provide maximum insulation to homes. This would be a pragmatic solution towards reducing our carbon footprint, given the current recession."
Don't ditch 2016 target, says Green Building Council
Building.co.uk
26 March, 2009
Goal of zero-carbon for all new housing is still achievable, claims body
The UK Green Building Council has said that zero-carbon for all new housing by 2016 should still be a government target. It was reacting against calls to scrap the goal by the RICS last week.
“This is not the time to scrap the zero-carbon target,” a spokesman told an architectural magazine.
“The whole point of setting out the future direction of the Building Regulations is to drive innovation and bring down the cost of zero-carbon solutions. The 2016 target is tough, but still achievable.”
The RICS had previously called on the government to rethink its unrealistic target, in response to the consultation on the definition of zero-carbon homes and non-domestic buildings, which began at the end of 2008. It claimed only a 70% reduction of emissions in all new homes is achievable by 2016.
http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3137095&c=1
UKTI promote sustainable construction expertise
Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team
Mar 27, 2009
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is asking companies to provide examples of their work that can be used to promote British green construction expertise abroad.
Have you recently delivered a 'green' building, or do you have a zero carbon project on your drawing board?.
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) - the Government's international business development organisation - is asking companies to provide examples of their work that can be used to promote British green construction expertise abroad.
UKTI's analysis of Britain's capabilities in green, sustainable and intelligent buildings will create a database of completed, ongoing and planned projects that may be described as 'sustainable'.
There are no size, sector or regional restrictions and international projects will be welcomed.
The work will highlight professional service providers and contractors, together with product suppliers and manufacturers.
The goal is to compile an evidence base for UKTI to promote British firms, attract inward investment and help UK companies win business overseas.
It will provide ready examples of UK companies delivering best practice in the field.
Whether you are involved in a concept building or a commercial property, an infrastructure project or a residential development, UKTI needs to hear from you!.
Council uses spy plane with thermal imaging camera to snoop on homes wasting energy
From the Revolution Radio website.
Posted on Mar 25, 2009 by Paul Martin in Government Evil, Police State, Surveillance, Technology 24th March 2009
Our movements are already tracked by CCTV, speed cameras and even spies in dustbins.
Now snooping on the public has reached new heights with local authorities putting spy planes in the air to snoop on homeowners who are wasting too much energy.
Thermal imaging cameras are being used to create colour-coded maps which will enable council officers to identify offenders and pay them a visit to educate them about the harm to the environment and measures they can take.
A scheme is already under way in Broadland District Council in Norfolk, which has spent £30,000 hiring a plane with a thermal imaging camera.
It said the exercise has been so successful other local authorities are planning to follow suit.
But critics have warned the crackdown was another example of local authorities extending their charter to poke their noses into every aspect of people’s lives.
Broadland, which covers towns including Aylsham, Reepham and Acle, hired the plane from a Leicestershire-based company for five days at the end of January.
The aircraft took images of homes and businesses, with those losing the most heat showing up as red, while better insulated properties appear blue.
The council’s head of environmental services, Andy Jarvis, said the original plan was to target businesses but it was realised the scope could be extended to include residental properties.
'The project we put together was for a plane to go up on various nights flying strips of the district and taking pictures,’ he said.
'Through those images, a thermal image photograph can be created in which you can pick out individual properties which are losing a lot of heat.
'We do a lot on domestic energy conservation already and realised it would be useful to see if any of the homes which were particularly hot were properties where people had not insulated their lofts.
'We were also able to look at very cold properties and think we might have picked up people on low incomes who are not heating their homes because they cannot afford to.’
More than half the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions come from the domestic sector, which includes property and transport.
Almost 60 per cent of a household’s heat is lost through uninsulated walls, lofts and windows, costing the average home £380 a year.
Insulation is estimated to reduce each home’s carbon emissions by around two tonnes annually.
The first city in the UK to make a heat-loss map was Aberdeen, while the first local authority in England was Haringey Council, in London - although environmental groups at that time said they viewed the practice as a 'gimmick’ of little real value.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance has added concerns about the issue of privacy.
Chief executive Matthew Elliott said: 'People are sick and tired of being heckled and spied on by local government and this council has shown an utter disregard for the man on the street.’
He added: 'We’re in a recession and you would have thought this council had better ways to spend £30,000.
'Taxpayers are already footing the bill for innumerable advertising campaigns at a time when families are struggling to make ends meet.’
But Conservative-led Broadlands insisted the heat-loss map would allow officers to pinpoint offenders and point out how to get help and grants to improve insulation to cut carbon emissions.
Council leader Simon Woodbridge said the project would 'effectively pay for itself within a few weeks in terms of the amounts of money we can help people to save’.
Lib Dem group leader Stuart Beadle added: 'Cameras are in place all over today and we have to accept them. So long as the right guidelines are in place and it will bring benefits, I think the scheme is a good thing.’
Britain now has more than four million CCTV cameras - a fifth of those in use around the world - and around 8,000 speed cameras.
Almost 500 local authorities have been using anti-terrorism powers brought in under the controversial Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act to launch a string of bizarre investigations.
These have included checks on dog fouling, putting bins out on the wrong day and people trying to cheat school catchment area rules.
http://revolutionradio.org/2009/03/25/council-uses-spy-plane-with-thermal-imaging-camera-to-snoop-on-homes-wasting-energy/
MAJOR CONTRACTOR REPORTS
Wates set for Midlands shake-up as group turnover passes £1bn
Contractjournal.com
25th March 2009
Wates is to undergo a shake-up in its Midlands division, as its director Matthew Kennedy is seconded to explore a business case for expanding into the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the contractor has started a consultation on the future of 34 jobs in the region - including 19 in its Interiors business and 15 in its Construction division.
It is thought that Wates will attempt to move workers whose jobs are under threat to its £270m BSF scheme in Luton, which it won in January this year.
No other regions are thought to be affected.
Phil Harrison, currently business unit director of the North East, will take over Kennedy's role in addition to his own.
A spokeswoman for the company said: "Last year we undertook initial research and identified sectors where we believed Wates could deliver value.
"We have now appointed Matthew Kennedy to lead the next level of investigation and bring a business case to the board for approval. A key element of the decision as to whether to proceed with an expansion into the Middle East is that it in no way puts the UK business at risk - either reputationally or operationally."
The news came as Wates unveiled that its turnover exceeded £1bn for the year ended 31 December 2008 for the first time in its 111-year history.
Pre-tax profit increased 25% to £47.1m, taking the group profit margin to 4.2%. The company's forward orderbook stands at £2bn.
2008 turnover by division:
* Construction - £484m
* Living Space - £237m
* Retail - £170m
* Interiors - £96m
* Developments - £18m
http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2009/03/25/66097/wates-set-for-midlands-shake-up-as-group-turnover-passes.html
Galliford Try wins £43m school and homes project in Rutland
Building.co.uk
23 March, 2009
Contractor named on development of 900-student school and 120 homes at Big Build in Oakham
Contractor and developer Galliford Try has won a £43m education project in Rutland.
The firm was named preferred bidder on the Big Build project at Oakham for Rutland county council.
The scheme includes construction of a £23m school for 900 students, plus community facilities, and the acquisition and development of a 120-home residential site.
Fitzgerald: "using both contracting and housebuilding skills to deliver a single-source solution"
Construction of the school is due to start this spring. The housing site, which has an estimated development value of £20m, is expected to be handed over to Galliford Try in 2011.
Group chief executive Greg Fitzgerald said: “This project is
