News

September marks the start of the new financial year for the Association, and the start of the new membership year for most of our members.

The Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) has launched its new, ground-breaking Pathways programme to transform the lives of young disabled Londoners.

The Draft Building Safety Bill now available

On 1 January 2021, amendments to Approved Document M: Access to and use of buildings, Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellings will come into effect

Leadership organisations from across the building control sector have come together in the ‘Future of building control working group’ to develop 11 key recommendations for the future oversight and regulation of the profession and Building Control Bodies.

It has been a month of firsts for me. My first outing since the Coronavirus lockdown to a safe and discrete inauguration at HQ; donning the presidential chain for the first time; chairing my first CABE virtual board; my first attempt at crowd control through digital means; and my first welcome page in Building Engineer as your new President. 

In response to ONS data showing that construction output dropped by 5.9%, driven by a 5.1% decrease in repair and maintenance, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said:

The Construction Industry Council Low Value Disputes Model Adjudication Procedure (CIC LVD MAP) launched via a webinar during lockdown.

The Royal Albert Hall in west London is distinctive for its unique circular architecture and Victorian styling.

Adrian Buttress, Managing Director at Permaroof, has the following advice for working during the Covid-19 pandemic:

UCEM’s BSc (Hons) Building Control programme and Building Control Surveyor Degree apprenticeship have been accredited by CABE.

Historic England has launched a second emergency fund to support the heritage sector recovery from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In late May a new £1bn building safety fund to remove dangerous cladding from high-rise buildings was announced.

The government has published an amendment to the statutory guidance to building safety regulations – otherwise known as Approved Document B.

Responding to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee report on cladding remediation, Lord Porter of the Local Government Association (LGA) said:

The Sustainable Energy Association has sent an open letter to the Minister of State and the government to support the Domestic Premises (Energy Performance) Bill/EPC band C.

In June the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) published the Roadmap to Recovery plan.

At the NBS Construction Product Leaders’ Summit, Dame Judith Hackitt noted that the construction supply chain must change to take maximum advantage of digital technology and made it clear construction materials manufacturers must improve their standards, processes and digital toolkit.

Scottish energy firm Biskit Controls has become the latest business to demonstrate an innovation in the Energy System Catapult’s 100-home Living Lab.

Amy Flemming makes a case in The Guardian for cities to embrace an anthropological approach to planning that works with nature, instead of embracing smart systems.