NEWS
New construction chief faces big challenges
The building services sector has welcomed the appointment of former Institution of Civil Engineers president Peter Hansford as the government’s new chief construction adviser. He will succeed Paul Morrell when the latter stands down at the end of November after three years in the job
Morrell has been widely praised for establishing the role and improving communication between the industry and the government, but leading industry fi gures believe the new man faces a number of major challenges.
CIBSE warned that his biggest challenge would be to get a collective view from the industry on the main tasks ahead. ‘Paul Morrell has done an outstanding job,’ said CIBSE chief executive Stephen Matthews. ‘Much has been achieved, but there is still frustration with the long list of issues that remain to be addressed.’
He pinpointed the introduction of BIM as a key milestone for the new man. ‘The pressure on public spending, the increasing cost of energy and the challenge of the Green Deal will all feature large in Peter Hansford’s in- tray,’ added Matthews. Contractor bodies also welcomed the appointment with the Building and
‘The pressure on public spending, the increasing cost of energy and the Green Deal will feature large in Hansford’s in-tray’
Engineering Services Association (B&ES) pinpointing improved procurement and project delivery as priorities.
‘He has some clear challenges in terms of the delivery of the strategy agreed by the industry and government,’ said B&ES deputy chief executive Roderick Pettigrew. ‘Cost reduction and improved procurement
arrangements are key to the task ahead, as well as driving home industry sustainability and integrated working arrangements.’ The Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group said Hansford was the ideal candidate. ‘Paul Morrell has set the standard, but I’m confi dent Peter Hansford will be a worthy successor,’ said chairman Trevor Hursthouse. Hansford will report to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Cabinet Offi ce Ministers. His responsibilities include chairing the government construction board to deliver the government’s
construction strategy that targets a 15- 20% reduction in the cost of construction procurement to the public sector. Minister for the Cabinet Offi ce Francis Maude said it was ‘an incredibly important role’, and that Hansford would oversee 600 government funded construction projects and £40 billion of investment over the next four years.
Barker ready to ‘sort’ heat pump RHI dispute
Air source heat pumps have moved closer to inclusion in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, following a concerted campaign by industry groups.
Many building services engineers believe it is a technical nonsense that air-to-water systems remain outside the consumer incentive scheme, when ground source heat pumps are included alongside biomass and bio-gas heating and solar thermal systems. Air source products were excluded when the RHI scheme got under way last October because government said there was insuffi cient data to set appropriate tariffs. However, the heat pump industry claims that data was provided in May 2011. Now groups including the Micropower
Council and Heat Pump Association have issued a joint call for air source heat pumps to be included in the RHI from October. ‘We have confi rmed with offi cials that [energy minister Greg Barker] has no legal reason why he cannot proceed without a further consultation,’ said Micropower Council chief executive Dave Sowden. ‘Our call is to apply a tariff to the same formula as other technologies, and the EC told us it could process a properly completed State Aid application within two months.’ Barker recently tweeted that he was ‘keen to sort this vital issue too’ and has agreed to a meeting with the industry groups.
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08/08/2012 10:43
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