News
News in brief
Construction ‘will not
WSP rebrands itself
The WSP Group has rebranded
itself WSP Lincolne Scott, two
revive before 2011’
years after the firms merged.
The group will continue
to design, engineer and n
The UK construction industry
will not see any recovery until
manage property, transport, 2011, according to the Construction
shutterstock
infrastructure, environmental Products Association (CPA).
and energy projects Despite some encouraging signs
internationally. that the wider economy may be
coming out of recession and that
Climate change ad launched the housing market is beginning
The first government advert to recover, the trade association
confirming the existence of forecasts that construction output
man-made climate change has will fall 15 per cent this year and a
been launched as part of the further two per cent in 2010, before
‘Act on CO2
’
campaign in a bid beginning a slow recovery from
to educate people about the 2011.
dangers. Research has shown It is anticipated that it could take
that 52 per cent of people until 2021 for construction output
don’t believe it will affect them. to reach 2007 levels, according to
Furthermore, just 18 per cent the CPA.
believe it will take effect during Michael Ankers, CPA, said: ‘The
their children’s lifetime. total number of houses expected to
be built in 2009 and 2010 will only
New CEO for planning body equal the number built in the year be some time before we expect to warehouses is expected to fall
John Saunders has been before the credit crunch. see significant growth in private almost 60 per cent between 2007
announced as the new chief ‘Government spending on sector commercial projects.’ and 2010;
executive of the Infrastructure construction projects in the short Key aspects in its forecasts • Public investment in schools
Planning Commission. It is term remains strong and, without include: and hospitals is anticipated to fall
hoped the new planning body this, the industry would be in a far • Private housing starts will grow sharply post-2010; and
will slash decision times and worse position. steadily, reaching 148,000 in 2013; • The infrastructure sector is
save up to £300m a year. It ‘We remain very concerned that • By 2010 commercial new work expected to grow significantly,
will begin considering major any significant cut-backs in capital is expected to be less than half the reaching an estimated £10bn in
planning applications from spending after the General Election size it was in 2008; 2013.
March 2010, but is open now will prolong the downturn as it will • Construction of factories and www.constructionproducts.org.uk
to advise developers of major
new infrastructure projects.
Revenue down
University wins green award
Birmingham City University
at Waterman
has been awarded the Bronze Engineering and environment
EcoCampus Award for its efforts consultancy the Waterman Group
to become more environmentally has reported a 10 per cent drop in
sustainable. It has also signed turnover for the year ending June
up to the WRAP (Waste and 2009.
Resources Action Programme) Revenues were down to £122.4m,
Halving Waste to Landfill against £136.4m in 2008. Pre-tax
voluntary agreement for the profits have also fallen from £7m in
construction of its new city centre 2008 to £2.6m in 2009.
campus. The fall has been attributed to
restructuring and redundancy costs
100th birthday celebrations amounting to £2.1m, bad debts,
Air movement products outstanding fees worth £2.8m
distributor Fläkt Woods has on a limited number of overseas
celebrated its centenary. It is
At the Cross roads
projects, and a shortage of funds
100 years since Maurice Woods in construction caused by the
founded the fan manufacturing Hilson Moran is part of a team structure. Bell Phillips and Kimble recession worldwide. Debt has
company in Colchester in 1909. shortlisted in a competition to architects proposed a multi-use now been reduced to £10.2m, from
Today it employs about 460 reinvigorate a redundant gasholder internal and external events £12.5m in 2008.
workers directly, and several in King’s Cross, London. Built in 1851 space, with advice on structural Nick Taylor, chief executive, said:
hundred other jobs in the to supply gas to the surrounding engineering, MEP (mechanical, ‘The property sector, both in the UK
Colchester area are reliant on the area, a competition with a £2.5m electrical and plumbing) and and overseas, has been severely
company. redevelopment budget is under sustainability from engineering affected by the downturn in the
way to revitalise the Grade II-listed consultancy Hilson Moran. economy.’
12 CIBSE Journal November 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEnov09 pp12-13 news.indd 12 23/10/09 13:11:53
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