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Archive for year: 2022

You are here: Home / https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwia__HPzZjgAhUQlawKHVo9D6QQFjABegQIBhAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwavcoms.co.uk%2Fmedia-packs%2Fschool-building-magazine&usg=AOvVaw0AYJpr_dlFA9Z4FJtsnCgE / 2022
News

FROM DERELICT LAND TO BRIGHT MODULAR HOMES

The new tenants of nine highly energy-efficient, sustainable modular houses in Roath have described their new council homes as ‘big and spacious’ with bathrooms like the Hilton hotel!

Residents of the two-bedroom, terraced properties, that have been developed as part of the Cardiff Living house-building partnership between Cardiff Council and Wates Residential, collected their keys last weekend and have been busy settling in and turning their new houses into their new homes.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, visited the residents to find out what they think of the net carbon-zero properties, which are part of the Council’s ambitious development programme to build more affordable housing in the city.

Cllr Thorne said: “I’ve been eagerly awaiting the day tenants could move into these beautiful, new homes. I was here when the first units were craned into position before Christmas and it has been amazing to see this small plot of derelict land transformed into a row of nine modern houses that will help us tackle housing need in the city.”

Tenant, Krzysztof Kaniewski, who has moved to Crofts St with his partner and two daughters, said: “They are big and spacious, and just round the corner from my daughter’s school, a short walk. They have a nice garden, the bathroom is like in the Hilton hotel – we are over the moon!

“There are solar panels on the roof, everything is electric which is great because gas prices are going through the roof so we don’t know what it’s going to be like in the future. With all the technology in the house, I can adjust the temperature in every room so it doesn’t have to be the same in every room.”

Edward Rees, Wates Residential Regional Director, said: “We hope the new residents moving in will be very happy in these new state of the art homes. Being modular, they have been created offsite, which has enabled Wates to build them faster and with less disruption for people living around the site.

“They also use the latest technologies to cut carbon, like on our other sites within the Cardiff Living development programme. Along the road in Rumney, at Aspen Grove, we have just started to sell new energy efficient homes, which will help future proof them against further fuel price rises too.”

The new Crofts St homes were built offsite using modern methods of construction (MMC) and were lowered onto their final position on-site at the end of last year, with all the groundworks and external hard and soft landscaping completed.

Designed by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, engineered by AECOM and delivered by @HOME and Wates Residential, this is the first time this method of offsite construction has been used by the Council to deliver permanent homes for families living in the city.

Ivan Harbour, Senior Design Partner, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners says: “Public housing has a rich history and I’m proud to have had the opportunity to add to that. These townhouses are of exceptional spatial quality, they are both affordable and climate positive. In the current environment their energy efficiency is particularly pertinent. This terrace of houses was very quick to build, with little disturbance to neighbours. Hopefully it can make a small change to the way we think about house building in the future.”

John Lewis, Director, AECOM, said: “It’s fantastic to see tenants move into these new high-performance townhouses following their rapid installation at Crofts Street. Their speedy offsite construction has minimised waste and site activity, including vastly reduced levels of construction traffic. Our design with RSHP demonstrates how a design for manufacture modular approach can deliver high-quality, durable, and low carbon homes both quickly and efficiently.”

Andrew Partridge, Associate Partner, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) says: “It has been a great opportunity to work with Cardiff Council, with the support of the Welsh Government through their Innovative Housing programme and facilitated by Wates, in setting a new benchmark for Council housing in the UK. This project is particularly special to me as I grew up in the area.”

The construction method not only enables the units to be built and installed in record time, but also uses the latest technology and construction materials to create net-zero carbon buildings that are 90% more energy efficient than standard homes built to current Building Regulations. The homes are extremely airtight, meaning they are well insulated, and residents will see huge savings on their bills.

The homes have achieved Grade A in Predicted Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact (CO2) ratings, have solar panels on their roofs and MEV Heat Recovery with electric heating elements, so that they will not be required to connect to the mains gas service and will emit significantly less CO2 than a standard homes.

Cllr Thorne added: “We’ve come full circle on Crofts St as back in the 1940s, there was a terrace of 9 houses on this spot before they were bombed in World War II and had to be demolished.

“All the new tenants I’ve met have told me they are very happy with their homes and are looking forward to settling in with their families here.”

Source: Wales 247

February 16, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
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Latest News, Offsite Manufacturing

Bespoke Housing for Homeless Charity Centrepoint

M-AR breaks new ground with brand-new and bespoke housing for homeless charity Centrepoint

 

Offsite contractor, M-AR, is working in partnership with the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint, to create new, bespoke single occupancy homes for young people experiencing homelessness in the London Borough of Southwark.

The project is part of the charity’s bold new Independent Living Programme to pair over 300 young people with a job and a home across London and Manchester within the next three years. This will tackle head-on the shortage of quality affordable accommodation, free up hostel beds Centrepoint currently provides for those in dire need, and give young people a real future of independence.

Centrepoint currently provides housing and support for over 14,000 homeless young people every year in London, Manchester, Yorkshire and the North East.

This Southwark development with M-AR is the beginning of a five-year build for Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme. It marks the first time the charity has built brand-new accommodation as it has previously relied on refurbished accommodation.

M-AR is currently manufacturing 33 homes in its factory for Centrepoint, with the whole turnkey delivered project due to complete on site by late April 2022. Each 21m2 home has a small yet functional kitchen, dining area and a bathroom as well as space to sleep and relax, making the units a comfortable home for young people to live independently. The homes will be delivered to site fully fitted with the kitchen and bathroom, with all electrics and plumbing installed as well as being fully decorated throughout, enabling Centrepoint to start using the homes much quicker than with a traditional build, as offsite construction offers greater programme efficiency.

 

Ryan Geldard, Operations Director at M-AR commented: “It’s a privilege for us to be able to do our bit to help Centrepoint in its mission to end youth homelessness by delivering these new safe and secure independent living homes. We’re working on a turnkey basis on this project so we’re taking care of every aspect of the build programme to make the whole process as smooth as possible for Centrepoint. We can’t wait to see how the units look once they’re on site and ready to become homes.”

Sally Orlopp, Director of Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme, said: “The new homes that M-AR has delivered for are everything we could have hoped for. These comfortable, stylish, efficient and cost effective homes tackle head-on the shortage of quality affordable accommodation, free up much-needed hostel beds, and offer our young people a real step towards independence. It has been a real privilege to work with such an excellent building partner.”

 

M-AR has also named Centrepoint its Charity of the Year for 2022, meaning that the company will be supporting the charity over the course of the next 12 months through various fundraising activities, kick-started by a donation organised by the directors. M-AR will also be raising awareness of Centrepoint’s work and getting its supply chain involved in fundraising for the charity.

 

For more information call 01482 635 08, email buildingrelationships@m-ar.co.uk or visit www.m-ar.co.uk.

February 16, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
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Article

The Weird and Wonderful of Future Construction

It is without question that technology is transforming almost every facet of modern life. Our industry is of no exception to this rule. Construction methods are constantly being updated, modified and built upon, pushed into brave new terrain by the latest technological innovations. While the shifting future of the industry remains ultimately unclear, there are some trends that can be tracked, paving the way for futuristic advancements in specific fields. MMC Editor Joe Bradbury takes a look at 5 futuristic technologies that could revolutionise the way we build:

Construction technology trends whilst elusive, will always follow a predictable pattern: how to build faster and smarter, how to be more environmentally friendly and how to deliver a rich and diverse built environment that works for us in a variety of ways. Construction materials and inventions continue to advance; who knows what the future holds? With that in mind, here are some intriguing examples of futuristic materials that we may see more of as time progresses ever forward:

Transparent aluminium

The term “transparent aluminium” refers to a type of aluminium that is see-through.

When people talk about translucent aluminium, they usually mean AION (aluminium oxynitride), a ceramic alloy. However, aluminum can exist in an elemental, metallic form made transparent by bombarding with a soft x-ray laser.

Back in the 1980s, transparent aluminium was famously mentioned in Star Trek. Scotty sought to swap sheets of plexiglass for the formula for transparent metal in a classic scene from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

Science fiction is now a reality, bringing many potential benefits for other future products. Perhaps it won’t be too long until this innovative material is available to and capitalised upon by the construction industry, bringing with it a whole host of new product opportunities.

Smart bricks

Smart bricks are comparable to ‘Lego’ in that they are modular connecting bricks. Smart bricks, which are made of high-strength concrete and developed by ‘Kite Bricks,’ are adaptable and offer significant thermal energy control as well as a decrease in construction expenses. They are straightforward to join and offer space for insulation, power, and plumbing because they are modularly designed.

Aerogel insulation

Have you considered using gel to insulate your construction project? We know that seems insane, but hang in there with us. Perhaps you should.

Although “gel” is commonly thought of as a wet substance, “aerogel” is an entirely different beast! Aerogels are low-density synthetic materials made by draining the liquid from a gel and drying it under specific conditions, avoiding the shrinkage and cracking that occurs during ambient evaporation. This results in a solid three-dimensional nanoporous structure that is virtually entirely made up of air – hence the name!

Aerogel is a flexible blanket insulation that can help reduce energy loss while also saving space in residential and commercial buildings. To achieve optimal energy efficiency, it’s often used for total coverage in walls, floors, and roofs, as well as in framing and windows.

Self-healing concrete

Self-healing concrete is a form of concrete that can fix cracks on its own. Concrete cracks are a regular occurrence due to the material’s poor tensile strength. These fissures reduce the durability of concrete by providing a convenient conduit for the passage of liquids and gases that may contain dangerous compounds. If microcracks become large enough to reach the reinforcement, not only will the concrete itself be harmed, but the steel reinforcement bars will corrode as well. As a result, it’s critical to keep the crack width under control and to cure the cracks as quickly as feasible.

Self-healing concrete imitates the automatic healing of body wounds. Some specific elements (such as fibres or capsules) containing adhesive solutions are poured into the concrete mix to make self-healing concrete. When cracks appear, the fibres or capsules break, and the liquid within them immediately heals the crack.

Robotic swarm construction

Robotic swarm creation was developed by Harvard academics and is based on how termites function. Termites work as a’swarm,’ and construction robots are taught to do the same.

Four-wheeled robots are designed to develop a specific design in each case and are equipped with sensors that detect the presence of other robots, allowing them to collaborate.

In summary

We’ve seen a sequence of building material advances throughout history in the construction industry. These materials, considered radical at the time, affected the way we construct today and influenced some of the greatest architectural accomplishments of humanity. This ever-evolving sense of progress is in itself nothing new, it is the great motivational force that guides us forward into the unknown. There are always fresh, cutting-edge materials, just on the horizon, waiting to propel us forward into a new age of construction!

February 16, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/mmc-winter-article-16.02.22.jpg 320 800 Lyn https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MMC-ONLINE-LOGO4-small-300x62.png Lyn2022-02-16 09:04:492022-02-20 12:25:13The Weird and Wonderful of Future Construction
Latest News

Adopting New Sustainable Ways of Working

 

 

By Stewart Dalgarno, project director at the Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH) project

THE end of the UN’s climate change conference COP26 marked the beginning of the hard work required to prevent global warming rising above 1.5C. For the UK to play its part in lowering emissions, the construction sector, which accounts for 47% of the country’s total carbon emissions, must accelerate the adoption of new sustainable ways of working across the built environment sector.

The Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH) project is one I believe offers the housebuilding industry a way to continue to  improve the sector’s environmental performance.

The challenges faced by AIMCH are not insurmountable, but we must acknowledge that it is concluding at a time when demand for high quality, energy efficient and affordable housing continues to grow. What excites me most about it though, is that the project could offer solutions to skills shortages, the ageing workforce and poor productivity – challenges not limited to the housing sector, while also responding to requirements to use sustainable materials and panellised MMC systems.

AIMCH’s ambition is to use industrialisation to transform how we build our homes in the UK, leading to more homes that can be built quickly, viable and sustainably. If we get it right, I believe the AIMCH project will accelerate the delivery of the 120,000 new homes the UK needs each year, for an acceptable cost, compared to masonry built homes and with at least 30% reduction in build times.

An integral part of the project has been the completion of a Whole Life Carbon Assessment of current building regulations over a 60 year design life, assessing four typical homes across masonry, open and closed panel timber MMC build methods. The report’s findings indicate five tonnes of embodied carbon saving, per four bed home, when using timber construction compared to masonry, equivalent to 16,500 road mile emissions. The report also finds that aerated masonry blocks have half a tonne less carbon emissions at end of life than timber frame construction methods. The carbon sequestration benefits of timber have been used in the research, benefiting all construction methods, where elements of the build use timber, such as internal non load bearing walls, floors and roofs.

Many of our partners are working on exciting developments, using proven, reliable and viable panellised timber based MMC systems, which will soon transform how the house building sector operates. As part of AIMCH, Barratt Developments PLC has created a Z House – a zero carbon concept house that applied 50 different solutions to understand how we will deliver the “sustainable home of the future”. It is located on the University of Salford’s campus with their scientists tasked with measuring its energy efficiency to provide hard data on the home’s design versus actual performance.

The home’s clever design feature’s high performing energy efficient building fabric, using Barratt Developments’ internal timber framer Oregon’s advanced panellised timber MMC systems at its core. The home incorporates PV solar panels and battery storage to generate and store power, electric car charging points and an air source heat pump that transfers heat from the outside to water for home heating and hot water use. Inside, underfloor heating, innovative infrared panels and skirting heating systems provide instant zero carbon heat, a fridge controls humidity levels to reduce food wastage by 60% and atomising showers  that could cut water usage by 80%.

As research continues into sustainable housebuilding, developers and housebuilders can use AIMCH findings as a starter for assessing how they can lower embodied carbon emissions of materials used in construction and their impact on lower whole life carbon emissions.

Such is the environmental benefits of building houses with timber components or build methods, the UK Climate Change Committee reports that the UK can triple the amount of carbon captured in homes by building 270,000 timber frame homes each year.

Where houses are built is changing too. Increasingly more homes today are manufactured off site and assembled at the development. New MMC factories developed by AIMCH, are being designed to include PV electric power generation to run machinery, electric forklift fleets and EV car charging for employees, such that they produce more power than they use, with any surplus recycled back into the national grid, making the transition to net zero carbon manufacturing a supply chain reality.

In the long term, battery storage systems could be used in these factories to store power 24/7 for continuous manufacturing needs. In addition, zero factory waste goes to landfill and 100% of waste is either repurposed, reused or converted to energy through large-scale waste to energy plants.

The UK needs more homes. At the same time, we must play our part in limiting the dangerous impacts of the climate crisis and transition to net zero carbon homes and businesses.

Continuing with the status quo in the housing sector will likely see the UK fail on both fronts. However, I am confident that projects like AIMCH will catalyse industry to accelerate near to market, reliable, viable and sustainable MMC solutions that transform how homes are built. Additionally, this will increase housing output, while helping the UK meet its environmental obligations to limit climate change to 1.5C.

 

Source: Project Scotland

February 16, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
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Technology

Coventry’s Mini Skyport for Flying Taxis

Work starts on world’s first skyport for flying taxis and delivery drones

Construction of the world’s first air hub for flying electric cars, police and delivery drones is under way, with a demonstration event planned later this year.

The facility, known as Air One, is being built in Coventry through a partnership involving South Korean car maker Hyundai.

 

Backers of the mini airport, known as a skyport, have said sites like it will host electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, such as air taxis and autonomous delivery drones, transporting people and cargo across cities over coming years.

West Midlands Police have also been in discussions with the company behind the Government-backed project, Urban-Air Port (UAP), about how such hubs could in future provide drone bases for “policing the sky”.

UAP has said the build will be finished ready for an industry launch event running from April 25-27, with public demonstrations planned immediately afterwards.

Originally planned to be built next to the Coventry Building Society Arena, the skyport is now being located on a disused car park near the Central Six Retail Park and the city’s railway station.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council cabinet member, said the start of building work showed the city was “leading the way” on transport innovation.

“We are right at the front of the green industrial revolution and this is a brilliant world first,” he added.

Mr O’Boyle said the “breakthrough system” could lend a productivity boost to UK towns and cities, and aid efforts to tackle climate change by taking vehicles off the roads.

The completed site will include a 46-metre diameter dome-shaped steel frame, with tensile fabric cladding.

The centre of the dome will house a platform lift, allowing cargo drones to take off and land – initially for demonstration purposes.

UAP founder and executive chairman Ricky Sandhu, who grew up in Birmingham, said he was “thrilled” building work was starting and said it was “a unique and transformative moment”, which placed the UK “as the world’s leading player in advanced air mobility”.

“Our technology will enable Coventry and other cities around the country and the world to decarbonise by enabling safe adoption of cleaner mobility solutions,” he added.

Mr Sandhu said it was a privilege to be working with West Midlands Police, who would be showcasing the site as a “disaster emergency management and security hub for their demonstrations”.

He added: “It is a model we hope to replicate across the country as we enter a net zero age.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara, of West Midlands Police, said: “Urban-Air Port will allow us to explore, showcase and implement what the future holds for policing the sky.”

Developers are planning up to 200 such hubs in cities across the world, within five years of proof of concept.

Last year, the project was awarded a £1.2 million Government grant by UK Research and Innovation’s Future Flight Challenge.

Source: Central Fife Times

February 13, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MMC3-13.02.22.jpg 320 800 Lyn https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MMC-ONLINE-LOGO4-small-300x62.png Lyn2022-02-13 18:40:162022-02-13 18:40:16Coventry's Mini Skyport for Flying Taxis
Technology

Decarbonising Cement

AN innovative project led by Heriot-Watt University of Dubai is accelerating efforts to decarbonise the energy-intensive cement industry.

In a collaboration with industry and government, the university will share technological solutions to support the decarbonisation of cement – the source of around 8% of global carbon emissions.

Dr Gillian Murray, deputy principal of business and enterprise at Heriot-Watt, said the university’s research in sustainable construction was already changing the landscape.

“Our spin-out company has launched a revolutionary brick made of 90% recycled construction and demolition waste,” she said. “By re-using valuable recycled materials from construction and demolition waste, Kenoteq has achieved a circular economy exemplar, and we are confident it will lead to a circular economy revolution for the construction sector.”

Construction and the wider built environment accounts for around 40% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and the global construction market is expected to grow by $4.5 trillion US dollars up to 2030 – to reach $15.2trn – with China, India, US, and Indonesia expected to account for 60% of this growth.

“During the global transition to net zero, the construction sector needs to dramatically reduce the amount of carbon embedded in new infrastructure and buildings, ultimately reducing its wider impact on the environment,” said Dr Anas Bataw, director of Heriot-Watt’s Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction (CESC).

The university’s research on decarbonising the cement industry is being led by CESC, which is based at its Dubai campus.

“As we develop advanced material, technological solutions and educational initiatives that will support the cement decarbonisation journey for the UAE, we’ll be sharing these insights on a global scale to support worldwide decarbonisation efforts,” said Dr Bataw.

“As a university with a global footprint, collaborating with global industry partners, we are perfectly placed to share this research.”

The university is hosting a 48-hour global student Hackathon event during Expo 2020 Dubai [October 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022] as part of its support to the UK Pavilion. The Sustainability in Construction Hackathon on February 23 and 24 will bring together students and experts to tackle climate change issues and will include keynote speeches and workshops.

Source: The National
February 13, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
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Latest News

THE MIDAS COLLAPSE AND THE BOSSES POCKETS

The commencement of work at the Maudlin Farm site in Liskeard, Cornwall,

just one of the sites with a question mark hanging over it’s completion

Despite calls upon the government to intervene and, later, attempts to sell the business, the South West construction firm Midas collapsed into administration last week.

The collapse of the business has led to over 300 redundancies, though it is understood that a section of the business (Mi-Space) has been sold, saving over 50 jobs. Concerns have also been raised about the knock-on effort on sub-contractors and connected businesses, many of whom have been left out of pocket through unfulfilled contracts and unpaid invoices.

The collapse of any business is always disappointing to read about and in this case is consistent with the latest insolvency statistics relating to the construction industry. The statistics, released by the Insolvency Service for Q4 of 2021, evidence a significant increase in insolvencies for the sector as compared with 2020.

Increases in insolvencies were seen across the majority of industries in 2021 compared to 2020. However, construction was one of a number of sectors showed increases above the overall annual increase of 11%, at 25%. Furthermore, as standalone figures, construction was the industry which experienced the highest number of insolvencies (2,579). By way of comparison, wholesale and retail trade and repair of vehicles experienced 1,722 insolvencies, and accommodation and food services activities experienced 1,673 insolvencies.

It is understood that blame is being placed on the pandemic, shortages of materials and labour and a significant rise in costs caused by inflation. These could all have a significant impact on the cost and programme for construction projects, and the allocation of this risk should be carefully considered by parties when negotiating the building contract terms. We may also see parties re-negotiating building contracts for distressed projects, if the contractor’s insolvency would ultimately lead to higher costs and delays than allowing short-term financial relief.

There may be some hope on the material shortage front as this seems to have been easing since the end of 2021. However the reprieve may be short-lived as soaring energy costs could lead to a higher cost of some energy heavy materials, such as concrete and steel. The next year will bring a lot of uncertainty for the construction industry, with many companies likely to have a stronger focus on efficiency. As a result we may see significant growth in areas such as off-site manufacturing and sustainable construction.

Source: Lexology

The collapse leaves unfinished housing projects that will now become part of the administration of the Midas Group, leaving questions about who will complete the work and when.

However bosses at the failed firm seem to have faired better.  It seems one was paid more than half a million pounds while the company was making huge losses.

Accounts for the stricken firm, show the highest-paid director trousered £504,000 in the 18 months to the end of October 2020.

This sum does not include pension contributions so it is likely the director benefited further.

The payment was made in the same 18 months when the company made an after-tax loss of more than £2m.

The highest paid director also pocketed £443,000 in 2019, the group’s annual report and financial statements reveal.

In total, directors were paid £1,869,000 during the 18 months to the end of October 2020, with £53,000 paid in pension contributions.

At the time the directors were chairman Steve Hindley, chief executive Alan Hope, Mike Hocking, and chief commercial officer Scott Poulter, plus finance director Duncan Rogerson, who resigned in July 2019 and was replaced by Michael Ready.

Mr Ready left the company in March 2021 to move to Australia and was replaced by Peter Skoulding.

 

 

February 13, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
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Article

Is the tide turning on UK energy strategy?

Part one of an article from Construction Journalist Bruce Meechan examining the UK’s recent energy policy and considers its frailty for fulfilling our rapidly increasing requirements for electricity; as well as to keep homes heated and industry running.    

 

The current debate on our energy security as well as the spiralling wholesale costs is riddled with contradictions, political point-scoring and predictions of widely varying accuracy. And as someone who has been questioning the UK’s policy direction for the past couple of decades, I also felt it was a profound irony that one of the very first sectors to suspend operations due to unaffordable fuel costs was the fertiliser manufacturers who supply our food processors with the demonised Greenhouse Gas, carbon dioxide.

Cue panic over shortage of fresh food; or as author and columnist Richard Littlejohn would put it: “You couldn’t make it up!”

Contrary to the stance it has taken over the growing number of energy suppliers going out of business, as they are forced to pay more on the world market than they are allowed to charge under the Energy Price Cap, our Government rapidly stepped in to strike an undisclosed deal with the fertiliser companies to ensure controlled volumes of CO2 continued to be available for fizzy drinks and filling the plastic trays most of our meat is sold in.

Predictably, many of those who considered it was an act of self-harm to leave the EU have been quick to blame Brexit for the shortages of tanker drivers, butchers, baristas and any other basics temporarily in short supply. Spiralling gas prices, of course, were portrayed as just another aspect of new found isolation.

What most economists understand, however, is that Britain’s energy problems are deep rooted and driven by much wider, indeed global factors. Unfortunately these are forces of supply and demand to which our reliance on renewables (especially wind) and imported gas, have left us uniquely vulnerable.

The UK economy is back to within a whisker of where it was before the pandemic, and this is – as the BBC never tires of telling us – “Despite Brexit”: which was finally delivered while our world leading vaccine programme was beginning to be rolled out in January this year.

As I have tried to explain in a number of editorials addressing the growing clamour over Climate Change, published since the Millennium, I do not believe my continued scepticism regarding man-made global warming conflicts with a passion for cutting pollution and waste.

Margaret Thatcher was amongst the first to give credence to the notion of Global Warming back in the eighties, and it has rapidly gained traction, despite the fact that scientists have been unable to explain how CO2 levels affect the Jet Streams which actually drive our weather and – whisper it – the 1.5 degree Brink of Doom for global temperature rise, considered by some as an arbitrary assumption.

However, ridding our oceans of plastic and our atmosphere of pollutants like micro-particulates should be a no-brainer for virtually everyone, as is recycling whatever is economically viable. I also fully support embracing new technologies that can reduce our reliance on fuel from unpredictable and potentially hostile foreign sources; providing they do not exacerbate fuel poverty, as wind does now, while forcing us to import ever more gas.

At the start of this month, the percentage of our energy needs being met by gas was 43%, up from 38% a year ago, while nuclear’s contribution has slipped from 21 to 13.5% in the same period; and most of our remaining reactors are scheduled for decommissioning over the next decade.

The current situation regarding the wholesale price of gas having risen 400+ per cent in a period of weeks, is attributable to European pipelines being controlled from the Kremlin, while China (unable to quarry enough coal to feed its ever growing number of smoke belching stations) is buying up the liquefied gas we thought Qatar was committed to shipping us.

Meanwhile, having hit a peak of 25% in February, weeks of calm weather around Britain this autumn has meant electricity from our forests of wind turbines fell to just 3% of needs. And to add to the gloom, all the roof panels and solar farms were feeding the Grid just 3.5% of our requirements, and will continue falling from their summer peak as the nights lengthen and demand increases.

Interestingly, battery packs to install along with PV panels have become more affordable in recent years, but electricity storage at scale is highly problematic. A blaze on Merseyside at one of the country’s 400 active or planned ‘battery farms’ proved very difficult to extinguish and some physicists have warned there is a serious risk of explosions causing widespread damage. Our pumped hydro storage for electricity, and the conversion of off-peak surpluses into hydrogen gas for use later, also make minimal contributions to the teatime turn-on of cookers and kettles.

Fire also temporarily interrupted the 10% we are fed via undersea cables from nuclear stations across the Channel, while the French are currently making noises about pulling the plug in a row over fishing licences. Well, that’s one you really can blame on Brexit.

So what are the chances of the lights actually going out across the country this winter, and what have we got that we can rely on for our power supply?

Back before the Clean Air Act came into force in 1956 to combat the smogs which claimed many lives, coal was used to generate much of our electricity and was also the source of ‘Town Gas’.

The discovery of North Sea gas brought considerable change and our remaining coal-fired power stations have been shut down and dynamited in order to cut carbon emissions: while the giant Drax plant has moved to mainly burning wood pellets imported from America. Interestingly the station in North Yorkshire, which generates some 7% of our power, was recently highlighted as being the UK’s biggest emitter of CO2, even though its biomass fuel allows politicians and dewy-eyed activists to claim it is ‘carbon neutral’. Shamefully, a key element to our back up capacity, which goes by the misnomer STOR – or Short Term Operating Reserve – takes the form of diesel generators.

This chicanery is completely in harmony with the way our heavy industry has been driven overseas by crippling energy costs, causing manufacturing to be carried out in countries like China and India where the embodied carbon will be far worse, even before goods are shipped back to Blighty.

Truly, our energy policy is a mirage of smoke and mirrors; crafted to appease agitators while imposing a 20% tax surcharge on energy consumers, enriching supposedly sustainable technology providers, and fooling the electorate into believing it’s all in their best interests.

The Government has announced its Net Zero Strategy ahead of Cop26, with renewed emphasis on replacing gas boilers using heat pumps, plus further funding for electric cars. However, as Downing Street’s green ambitions remain at odds with the Treasury’s fiscal concerns, detail is short.

Expecting Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s autumn Budget statement to contain broader spending commitments – including greater clarity on new nuclear, and other strategies aimed at making our energy infrastructure more resilient – I will wait till the next edition of MMC to look at some of the potential long-term answers which I am hoping will embrace hydrogen and super reliable tidal power.

 

Part two comming soon

February 10, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BSC-BRUCE-10.02.22.jpg 320 800 Lyn https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MMC-ONLINE-LOGO4-small-300x62.png Lyn2022-02-10 14:35:102022-02-10 14:35:10Is the tide turning on UK energy strategy?
Latest News

FACTORY BUILT AND AFFORDABLE

40 ‘prefab’ modular homes to be lifted into place on popular Milton Keynes estate, The government scheme will eventually see160 new homes on the estate

 

40 factory-built and cut-price modular homes are set to be craned into place on Tattenhoe.

The Tattenhoe Park development is being delivered as part of a wider scheme by Homes England that will consist of 160 rapid build homes with steel and timber frames.

Homes England is the government’s housing accelerator that strives to release more land to developers to build better homes faster.

Bellway is due to start work on the site next month and have selected specialists ilke homes to deliver the 40 modular units, which will all be built off site in a factory and precision-engineered to focus on quality, sustainability and energy efficiency.

There will be a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes for both affordable and open market tenures.

The developers will use the project to assess the benefits of modern methods of construction after a government report said MMC (modern methods of construction) will be vital in speeding up the delivery of housing across the UK.

Work will start on the site in March and the first modular homes will be ready for occupation in as little as five months’ time.

Tom Heathcote from ilke Homes, said: “It’s great to partner with Bellway Homes at Tattenhoe Park, a truly innovative, Homes England-backed scheme that is aiming to demonstrate the benefits of MMC by collecting granular data on the performance of our own precision-engineered homes.

Paul Smits, managing director at Bellway Northern Home Counties, told the trade press this week: “Bellway is pleased to confirm this partnership with ilke Homes to deliver our first modular homes at Tattenhoe Park.

“We have developed our plans with ilke’s input throughout, and their expertise has accelerated our learning around their products and processes.

“Now contracts are signed, we look forward to seeing these new homes being manufactured by ilke Homes and preparing to install the units at Tattenhoe Park.”

The remaining 120 new homes at Tattenhoe Park will also be built using a speedier methods – with timber frames and panels in place of traditional breeze blocks. This will enable them to be delivered at a faster pace than properties built using more traditional techniques.

Plans for the new development were approved by Milton Keynes Council last October.

A mix of one small apartments, maisonettes and two to four-bedroom houses, 112 of the homes are earmarked for private ownership and 48 will be classed as affordable, for rent or shared ownership.

There will be public open space and new pedestrian and cycle links included.

Paul Smits, managing director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, said this week: “This is a hugely significant development not only for Bellway and Milton Keynes, but also for housebuilding in this country. Phase four at Tattenhoe Park is the first Bellway development to include modular homes. It will deliver much-needed new housing for the town, and it is one of a select group of developments chosen by Homes England for its pilot scheme.

“The modern methods of construction we are using at Tattenhoe Park have the potential to transform the way new homes are delivered in this country. We are pleased to be working with Homes England on this exciting project to help accelerate the supply of new homes in high-demand areas.”

 

Source: M K Citizen

 

 

February 8, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MMC-08.02.22.jpg 320 800 Lyn https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MMC-ONLINE-LOGO4-small-300x62.png Lyn2022-02-08 14:08:582022-02-08 14:08:58FACTORY BUILT AND AFFORDABLE
Latest News

McAvoy delivering £40million education contracts

The McAvoy Group is currently delivering three new educational facilities valued at £40million on behalf of the
Department for Education (DfE). The latest projects are The Cavendish School in Cambridgeshire, Merstham Park
Secondary School near Reigate, and Laureate Academy in Hemel Hempstead.

 

The Cavendish School will provide a much-needed specialist school for children with autism, the world’s first International Baccalaureate (IB) special autism school, with a range of new facilities including multi-functional learning areas, calm and sensory spaces, and a horticultural room. Merstham Park School will see long-standing temporary facilities replaced by a brand-new building, designed to be one of the DfE’s first pioneering low-carbon pathfinder projects. At Laureate Academy an outdated teaching block has been demolished, and a new building created, along with a new multi-use games area.

Progress on delivering these projects follows a productive 12 months for the offsite manufacturing specialists, which, despite the challenges of Covid 19, has seen the business invest heavily in strengthening its senior management team and building for the future.

Ron Clarke, CEO of The McAvoy Group, said: “Our primary objective at The McAvoy Group is to deliver an exceptional experience for every customer through the quality of service we provide. We’re delighted to have been entrusted with the delivery of these latest contracts by the DfE. Given the huge disruption to education during the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for new school buildings to be delivered quickly and efficiently on programme and to the highest standard.

“We look forward to working with the DfE, local councils and other partners to deliver these new school places in well-designed, high-quality buildings that are fit for the future.”

The announcement comes as the business retained a place on the latest iteration of the DfE’s £7bn four-year Construction Framework for the delivery of school buildings in England.

The McAvoy Group is one of the leading offsite manufacturing and MMC specialists in the UK and Ireland. It offers a full range of design, manufacturing, fit out and construction services for the purchase and hire of high quality, affordable and sustainable modular buildings in the health, education, commercial and infrastructure sectors. Renowned for innovation, it is a key player in the pioneering Seismic Consortium, an R&D project launched to revolutionise the construction of school buildings. The Seismic II project is also now underway, which will see its learnings applied to other sectors, including healthcare and commercial.

 

www.mcavoygroup.com

 

February 2, 2022/0 Comments/by Lyn
https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MCAVOY.jpg 344 800 Lyn https://mmcmag.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MMC-ONLINE-LOGO4-small-300x62.png Lyn2022-02-02 12:45:312022-02-02 12:45:31McAvoy delivering £40million education contracts
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