Contact | Apr 12 Region in focus

45

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability challenges can make Wales carbon-literate, says expert

In the Chair Linda Kibble,

divisional facilities manager, Enterprise Inns

The Welsh construction industry must embrace sustainability opportunities

A leading expert on sustainability has issued a rallying cry to the Welsh construction industry to embrace environmental challenges as opportunities. Colin King associate director at the Building

Research Establishment (BRE) says construction professionals in Wales face many issues, including the devolution of the Building Regulations in January, the Green Deal (yet to be finalised) and other financial

incentives being offered to improve the rate of CO2 reduction. However, he says that far from being deterred by change the industry should embrace it. “These changes are an opportunity in Wales to have

regulations and standards that reflect the issues we face in the principality. With the devolution of the Building Regulations and the previously devolved

planning powers we now have the mechanisms to set standards that match our needs,” said King. But he warned: “With this power comes a responsibility to get it right, to deliver meaningful improvements and to preserve the Welshness of the country.” King says it is vital that construction professionals

are “sitting at the forefront of a solution-based industry rather than wasting effort on new ways of demonstrating why things cannot be done”. “We need to pull together with a common aim. We

must ensure that we become a more carbon-literate country, we place a worth on making a difference through the importance of setting environmental standards, and viewing them as opportunities rather than barriers.”

Newport engineer saves ancient pyramid

Among the many construction professionals in Wales is historic buildings expert Peter James. His firm, Cintec, has been responsible for renovating and repairing ancient and historic buildings all over the world, including the White House, Windsor Castle and the Egyptian pyramids. His latest project is the 4,700 year- old Pyramid of Djoser in the Saqqara necropolis, which suffered severe damage in a 1992 earthquake.

Newport-based structural engineer James is a former Royal Navy lieutenant-commander. His

involvement with structural engineering began when he took charge of building services for Cardiff council. Twenty-five years ago he set up his own company, graduating from housing repairs to developing solutions to rescue poorly- designed 1960s tower blocks. James says the Djoser project is his most challenging to date, but is a welcome diversion from what is rapidly becoming his stock-in-trade — anti-terrorism measures.

For more about Djoser visit www.cintec.com

Tell us about your career and involvement with CIOB I work for the UK’s second largest pub company, Enterprise Inns, as a divisional facilities manager. I am responsible for developing partnerships with our supply chain that delivers construction activity to the value of £50m a year through our portfolio of 6,800 pubs. I also advise the business on corporate social responsibility/sustainability issues from a property perspective and have instigated a wide variety of carbon reduction strategies.

What are your aims for the Branch? I would like to: encourage and support the centres in their development of a CPD programme that is completely relevant to members; encourage centres and members to develop strategic alliances with appropriate organisations such as the Welsh government so that we may influence policy and strategy from within; and further develop strategies that will attract a younger and more diverse demographic. We have recently launched Wales Novus whose goal is to engage with younger professionals.

What are the key challenges construction faces in your region? Wales faces some idiosyncratic challenges that come with the devolved government. These challenges invite huge opportunity for us to lead the way for the rest of the UK. Two examples are waste management and the low-carbon agenda. The Welsh government has set a target of zero waste to landfill by 2020 and infrastructure and strategies from within construction and waste management need to develop at pace to meet this target. The second point of note is that

Wales has the oldest building stock in Europe but policy for driving the low- carbon agenda in Wales seems to focus heavily on new build when more focus is required on retro-fit. Linda will stand down as chair in June. The current vice chair, Mark Wusthoff from Carillion, will become the new Chair.