10 INDUSTRY NEWS
NFB and Built Environment Networking announce new partnership
A partnership has been struck between The National Federation of Builders (NFB) and Built Environment Networking, the bodies recently confirmed. According to the NFB, the partnership will see them support the Built Environment Networking conferences and drive economic growth across cities, regions and the UK.
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the
NFB, said: “We’re very proud of the high standards that our members achieve and are pleased to announce this partnership, allow- ing our members to benefit from networking at conferences taking place across the country.” Keith Griffiths, managing director of Built Environment Networking, commented: “We’re delighted to announce this partnership with the NFB and hope this is the start of a long-standing relation- ship. We have similar values to the NFB and our conferences will enable their members to create new business opportuni- ties and help their companies grow their market share. This partnership will ensure that NFB members get additional benefits from their membership by attending Built Environment Networking Conferences at a special discounted rate.’’
trians walking along, an already over-used road where two wide vehicles cannot pass without one mounting the pavement, and where pavements are so narrow that two pedestrians cannot pass without one stepping into the road.”
The developer had submitted plans for 125 houses in Brabourne Lees, 245 homes in Charing, and 110 houses in Biddenden, which were all rejected by the council. Gladman subsequently went to appeal on all three cases, challenging the council’s available land supply. Earlier this year, planning inspectors held public inquiries into two of Gladman’s appeals (with the this scheduled for October), as well as hearings into the council’s new Local Plan. Council officers and representatives from the parish councils involved, along with the CPRE worked together to challenge these appeals.
Following the hearings into the new Local Plan, inspectors issued an advice note confirming that Ashford Borough Council does have an adequate five year housing land supply. With the Brabourne Lees inquiry (which has now been cancelled) and the Charing inquiry already closed, Gladman have now withdrawn their appeals on those sites, having already withdrawn the appeal on the Biddenden site.
response to growing rates of homelessness, will use the modular housing to provide temporary accommodation for people needing a home. The project has been developed by
the London Housing Directors’ Group in collaboration with partners from across London’s local Government. Supported by the Greater London Authority, which is investing £11m from its ‘foundation fund’, and by the umbrella group London Councils, which represents the 32 Boroughs and the City of London, PLACE is hosted by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and has an initial target of delivering 200 modular homes across the capital. Mark Baigent, PLACE’s director,
commented: “Our aim is to challenge and inspire the housing design and construc- tion industry to create an innovative and high-quality product to meet London’s opportunities and needs head-on.” Baigent continued: “We want to procure
attractive and spacious factory-built homes that can be easily moved from site to site around London. We look forward to sharing our vision and seeing what the rapidly growing modular market can offer.”
Ashford rejects 500 ‘unfit’ homes
Three appeals to seek planning permission for nearly 500 new homes have been withdrawn by Gladman Developments, a decision reportedly welcomed by Ashford Borough Council as well as members of the local community.
Jill Leyland of Charing Parish Council explained the Charish community’s reason- ing: “The site Gladman wanted to develop off Pluckley Road was completely unsuit- able in many ways. “In particular, it would have added
additional traffic to, and seen many pedes-
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Competitive tender issued for modular temporary homes
An invitation to tender for the design and manufacture of modular temporary accommodation has been issued by PLACE (Pan-London Accommodation Collaborative Enterprise). This is thought to be the first time UK local authorities have collaborated to acquire modular housing for this purpose. The non-for-profit company is looking
for precision manufactured family homes that “will have the quality of permanent housing, but can be moved from one site to another as required”. The accommoda- tion will be placed on vacant sites that would otherwise remain underused over the short to medium term (known as ‘meanwhile’ sites). PLACE, which was set up by a group of London’s boroughs earlier this year in
SME workloads rising despite shortages, says FMB
Construction SMEs experienced rising workloads in the second quarter of 2018, despite continuing concerns over skills shortages and increasing costs, the FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey has indicated.
The quarterly assessment of the UK- wide SME construction sector revealed that construction SME workloads remained positive in Q2 2018 and grew at a faster rate than they did in the first quarter of 2018, the sector enjoying more than five years of consecutive quarterly growth. Perhaps due to this success, 54 per cent of construction SMEs expect salaries and wages to increase over the next six months.
Figures from the survey have also shown however that 76 per cent of builders reported increasing material prices in Q2 2018, 65 per cent of construction SMEs are struggling to hire brick layers, and 60 per cent are struggling to hire carpenters and joiners.
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