Sustainability and environmental news in UK construction

Skanska scoops £105m office development

Joshua Stein — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 10:53:00 +0000

Skanska has secured the contract to replace a nine-storey office block overlooking London’s River Thames, involving the reconstruction of the retained century-old facade. The Swedish contractor will design and build the 12,100 square metre flexible workspace for Baola Properties at 7 Millbank (pictured). The facade,…

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Court throws out injunction claim on HS2 groundworks

Joshua Stein — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:06:45 +0000

A high court judge has dismissed an attempt to halt groundworks at two HS2 sites in Warwickshire. The Environment Agency (EA) launched legal action last month against HS2, arguing that it had failed to ensure groundworks at the sites would not impact nearby groundwater. It…

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Depoliticisation: the future of sustainability in construction

Contributor — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:01:13 +0000

Simon Richards is sustainability director at Sir Robert McAlpine The scale of change needed and timescales involved in a green transition supports the argument that a depoliticisation of sustainability is necessary in order to make our ambitions a reality. Carbon continues to hog the limelight…

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Election 24: How the parties are vowing to help construction

Joshua Stein — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 09:49:30 +0000

CN looks into the main parties’ manifestos as the UK general election approaches As the UK prepares to vote on 4 July, how have the main political parties’ manifestos approached the construction sector? Infrastructure The Conservative manifesto criticised “frivolous legal challenges” against big infrastructure schemes,…

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Lack of ‘green collar’ builders threatens net-zero drive, says Turner & Townsend

Will Ing — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:16:45 +0000

The UK will struggle to radically improve the energy efficiency of its building stock due to a lack of “green collar” construction workers, according to Turner & Townsend. A new report published by the consultant says in-demand green trades now command annual salaries of £134,000,…

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Labour manifesto promises infrastructure and planning overhaul

Joshua Stein — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:01:52 +0000

The Labour Party has promised to overhaul planning rules and fund infrastructure in a bid to revive the economy. In a 132-page manifesto published ahead of the 4 July general election, the Labour Party pledged to shred planning constraints for infrastructure and housing, adding that…

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Green Party manifesto: demolition to require full planning application

Joshua Stein — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 09:03:48 +0000

The Green Party has said demolition work should require a full planning application, unless already included in a local development order. In its 46-page manifesto released on Wednesday (12 June), the party said it would tighten the rules around demolition if it enters government after…

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Balfour lowers sights on carbon emissions in new strategy

Greg Pitcher — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 11:45:37 +0000

Tier one contractor Balfour Beatty has pushed back its target dates for achieving net-zero carbon operations. The UK’'s biggest contractor has said it now hopes to negate scope 1 and 2 emissions – those coming direct from its activities and indirectly through its power use…

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A circular economy is within reach – if we listen to the right voices

Contributor — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 09:34:57 +0000

Tim Danson is director of sustainability and energy at consultancy Pick Everard Construction has a pivotal role to play in the circular economy. The industry remains heavily reliant on the use of materials, products and technologies, and is a significant contributor to the 100 billion…

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Energy-performance standards must be improved

Contributor — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 10:26:00 +0000

Andy Heath is a senior building surveyor at property services firm Re:volve Real Estates Having worked for both major and specialised property firms, on commercial properties of all sizes, the recurring issue of faulty Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessments has been impossible to ignore. “We…

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