News

Frances Kirwan, Deputy Director, Technical Policy Division Building Safety Portfolio at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has written a letter to all Building Control Bodies in England to remind them that Kingspan Insulation Limited has retracted three test reports relating to K15 insulation products.

In February the government launched the Construction Playbook.

Working with Ofgem, Energy Networks Association (ENA) members have drawn up plans to unlock early investment (up to £300m) in the grid to support the future technologies driving green jobs and growth in the UK.

New developments should be tree-lined, beautiful and of high quality, according to a new draft national design code launched for consultation by the government to support community access to nature.

Companies from across the industry are being asked to take part in the biggest ever review of construction’s growing professional indemnity insurance crisis.

London South Bank University (LSBU) marked National Apprenticeship Week in February by celebrating its continuing high ranking in a league of higher education apprenticeship providers in England that uses data collated by the Department for Education.

The CABE Board election results are in and it is my great pleasure to welcome back to the Board Richard Smith, who has been elected Vice President. He will serve a four-year term starting later this year, including a year as President commencing in May 2023.

Gilbert & Goode was awarded Highly Commended Building Project of the Year for its affordable housing development at Praze-An-Beeble, Cornwall, and the firm’s Pre-Construction Manager Callum Yeowell was named Future Leader at the Constructing Excellence South West awards, held online in December.

HS2 has offered the opportunity to join one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure projects with a two-year graduate recruitment scheme.

During UK lockdown, Google searches for DIY topics increased by 35%.

Prefabricated homes have been long-heralded as the future of house building; but if the arguments for homes to be manufactured like cars are so compelling, why is factory-built housing not more common? 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced the appointment of a Chief Inspector of Buildings to establish and lead the new Building Safety Regulator.

Construction managers overseeing domestic and commercial projects incorporating green roofs need to plan carefully to best manage supply chain issues created by Brexit.

How much is social value worth to a business, asks Be Ethical Training?

Acuity Brands’ second annual State of Energy Management report gave an interesting insight into building management considerations for business premises that remain empty during Covid-19 lockdowns.

Action to confront the climate emergency is at the forefront of the Society for the Environment’s (SocEnv) work, and, with the eyes of the world on the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November, SocEnv is committed to helping individuals and organisations make 2021 a year of substantive change.

Openreach is radically changing the language it uses in its recruitment adverts after new research from Exeter University revealed that hidden bias deters more than half of female applicants.

Following the EU trade deal reached in December 2020, the construction industry is relieved that the worry of tariffs and quotas has apparently been avoided.

To aid with the smart meter roll-out in domestic new build properties, the Smart Metering Implementation Programme (SMIP) has published new guidance.

The Welsh Government has published updated editions of Approved Document B (Fire safety) volumes 1 and 2, including changes to Appendix A (Assessment in lieu of tests) and an updated edition of Regulation 7 (Materials and Workmanship).