FOCUS ON: PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION


knowledge and skills to respond to increased demand.


targets and the carrot has been dangled by customers who are becoming increasingly keen to have buildings with green credentials and low energy running costs.


Kevin Harris, innovation and sustainability


manager at Cheltenham-based Britannia Construction Ltd, says the key to being invited to tender and winning contracts can often hinge on a contractor’s approach to elements such as responsible sourcing of materials and site waste management plans. “We have recently filled in a pre-qualification questionnaire which awarded 10% of the available marks if the applicant had signed up to the Waste & Recources Action Programme which includes a commitment to halve the amount of waste being sent to landfill by 2012.”


“The rules are tight. Under the Site Waste Management plans Regulations 2008, any construction project with a value of more than £300,000 has to have a site waste management plan, Britannia's policy is to embed


environmental and sustainable actions into everything we do


and we provide site waste management training to make sure that our managers and operatives fully understand the waste issue,” said Kevin.


Small and medium sized construction businesses in the South West have an opportunity to increase their skills in order to take advantage of the growing demand for low carbon construction. A partnership has been formed between CITB- ConstructionSkills, the National Specialist Contractors’ Council and the Federation of Master Builders to help SMEs understand what new carbon legislation will mean for them and equipping them with a tangible mix of


14 Business West Update JULY/AUGUST 2011


The key to being invited to tender and winning contracts can often hinge on a contractor’s approach to elements such as responsible sourcing of materials and site waste management plans


UNIVERSITY CHALLENGED Keeping a close check on all costs is essential for any business and that’s particularly important when it comes to an organisation like the University of Bath which spends around £5m a year on energy and water services. Peter Phelps, the university’s energy and environment manager, said: “The university is the equivalent of a small town, with 18,000 inhabitants spending around £5m on energy and water. Every effort is being made to reduce carbon consumption and that message is being conveyed to every sector within the university. One useful method we have used is to introduce an element of competition which has galvanised both departments and student halls of residence to greater efforts.” The university seeks to construct all new buildings at the “Excellent” level of Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) standards. It has achieved this in recent completed construction projects, which have also included the creation of the largest solar photo voltaic area of panels in Bath, which is also one of the largest in the west of England.


As a result of all those efforts the university


has reduced its electricity use by 10% and 14% when it comes to gas in the last four years, saving approximately £500,000.


So, despite the obstacles and the threats facing the property and construction market, our businesses are rising to the challenges and creating new buildings which will provide the vital


accommodation which will allow modern businesses to flourish.


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