Workers Memorial Day this Thursday 28 April
Vince Butler on LinkedIn: Workers Memorial Day is Thursday 28th April 2022.
“Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don’t die of mystery ailments, or in tragic “accidents”. They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn’t that important a priority. International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) 28 April commemorates those workers.”
This year, for the second year, Hazards Campaign has also included the estimated number of UK workers who have died because of Covid-19. More than 60,000 UK workers are now estimated to have died last year because of work-related harm. Hazards Campaign have produced some resources to help remember the dead and fight for the living. Access the resources
London Skyrise Extravaganza
98 skyrises were granted planning permission in 2021, that’s 26% more than in 2020 and more approvals than any other year. Not all approvals were in the City with 56% in outer suburbs. The overflow is due to temporary blocked approvals in 2019 and 2020. There are currently 583 tall buildings proposed or approved with an average height of 28 stories. 109 are currently under construction.
However, in 2021 only 29 high-rise buildings were started, the second lowest level since 2013.
New rules for reclaimed steel
Reclaimed steel has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity due to the scarcity of new steel and environmental concerns. The British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) has released new rules about selling reclaimed steel to assure quality across the industry. The BCSA has recommended reclaimed steel should be used in line with the new model framework as published in Annex J – Sustainability Specification of the National Structural Steelwork Specification for Buildings (NSSS), BCSA Pub. No. 65/22
The UK has stringent quality standards regarding raw materials which usually leads to lower costs down the line. For example, the London Eye built with Tata Steel’s fine grain steel has stood the test of time, unlike the Melbourne equivalent ‘Southern Star’ which had to close 40 days after it was opened due to substandard Chinese steel.
Bam Nuttal to fill missing motorway link
Bam has won a £200m contract to build the major and delayed controversial new road link between M6 and M54 connecting Wolverhampton and Cannock in South Staffordshire which will go through historic woodland and sit 40 metres from homes. The 2.5km link will relieve congestion on the A460, A449 and A5. Approval was originally delayed by Grant Shapps due to environmental concerns but has got the go-ahead now with work to commence in 2024/5.
City of London Corporation has established a new Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce
The City of London Corporate has launched a new Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce whose job it will be to ‘define and address skills gaps around the construction, retrofit and maintenance of low carbon commercial buildings’ decarbonise London office towers. The taskforce will run for three years in response to a poll of 100 people which showed
- 91% said the commercial built environment sector lacks sufficient skilled workers to achieve net zero targets;
- 80% believed a lack of workplace diversity is an issue for the sector; and
- 87% agreed that there is a growing ‘green skills’ gap in the commercial built environment.
The taskforce will support City Corporation’s ambitious Climate Action Strategy which commits City Corporate to net zero emissions by 2027 and in the Square Mile by 2040.
Alderman & Sheriff Alison Gowman said, “I am pleased to mention that I have joined the construction skills taskforce that will look at growing the green skills base needed to create better greener commercial buildings. This blends my interest in real estate and construction as well as my wish to open up the diversity of the workforce.”
Members:
- Bola Abisogun OBE, Founder & Chairman, DiverseCity Surveyors
- Tim Balcon, Chief Executive Officer, Construction Industry Training Board
- Julia Barrett, Chief Sustainability Officer, Willmott Dixon
- David Frise, Group Chief Executive Officer, Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and Member of Executive Group, Actuate UK
- Martin Gettings, Vice President – Portfolio Management, Real Estate, Brookfield
- Alison Gowman, Trustee, Trust for London
- Emma Hoskyn, UK Head of Sustainability, JLL
- Sir Stuart Lipton, Co-Founder and Partner, Lipton Rogers
- Carol Lynch, Chief Executive, Construction Youth Trust
- Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive Officer, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)
- Fiona Morey, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Compulsory and Further Education), London South Bank University
- Benjamin O’Connor, Director, New London Architecture
- Stephen Pomeroy, Founder and Chief Executive, BECG
- Hannah Vickers, Chief of Staff, Mace
- Danna Walker, Founder, Built By Us
£200m new home development for Leeds
Plans for 1,400 new homes in a £200m development have just been approved with Latimer, a division of Clarion Homes to transform a 30-year vacant 13 acre site on Kirkstall Road. The project will create 270 jobs and deliver 500 affordable homes over 11 blocks up to 17 stories. It will include student accommodation, private gardens, a river crossing, commercial and public spaces. The scheme has attracted criticism from local groups for only including 17 three bedroom homes in the 620 total residences which does not allow for multi-generational living which is required in this area but the developer has said they can look at an increase of larger homes in Phase 2.