News

March’s budget faced a number of criticisms from the construction sector for its lack of focus on climate crisis initiatives.

The government has committed to establish a national regulator for construction products as part of wider reforms to address systemic failings identified by the Hackitt Review.

Simplified External Wall System (EWS) guidance to help leaseholders sell flats in blocks with external cladding has been issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Three months in and Brexit is still playing second fiddle to Coronavirus in the headlines.

A survey of UK employers and employees by not-for-profit healthcare provider Benenden Health revealed that 32% of construction, engineering and building firms had experience of an employee leaving their company because they felt their mental wellbeing wasn’t being cared for.

The Welsh government has launched a consultation on accessible toilets and baby nappy changing provision. It seeks views on proposals to:   

A new organisation to ensure newbuild homes are built to a high standard has been launched by the government. Natalie Elphicke MP will chair the New Homes Quality Board, which will oversee consultation on an industry code of practice and a new homes ombudsman service.

Government proposals to extend permitted development rights – which would allow more premises to bypass normal planning procedures and be turned into homes – need greater safeguards to protect communities, says the Construction Industry Council (CIC).

Since choosing Leeds College of Building (LCB) as a training provider four years ago, construction firm BAM has significantly increased the number of female apprentices enrolled on its Level 4 programme.

The University of Central Lancashire’s first cohort of Building Services and Sustainable Engineering (building services design engineer) degree apprentices have completed their training.

The government is under pressure to extend the green homes grant scheme beyond March 2022 after a committee of MPs described progress as moving at a snail’s pace.

The Acoustics Technician Level 4 apprenticeship has been developed as an employer-led industry initiative with support from the Association of Noise Consultants and the Institute of Acoustics.

Frances Kirwan, Deputy Director, Technical Policy Division Building Safety Portfolio at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has written a letter to all Building Control Bodies in England to remind them that Kingspan Insulation Limited has retracted three test reports relating to K15 insulation products.

In February the government launched the Construction Playbook.

Working with Ofgem, Energy Networks Association (ENA) members have drawn up plans to unlock early investment (up to £300m) in the grid to support the future technologies driving green jobs and growth in the UK.

New developments should be tree-lined, beautiful and of high quality, according to a new draft national design code launched for consultation by the government to support community access to nature.

Companies from across the industry are being asked to take part in the biggest ever review of construction’s growing professional indemnity insurance crisis.

London South Bank University (LSBU) marked National Apprenticeship Week in February by celebrating its continuing high ranking in a league of higher education apprenticeship providers in England that uses data collated by the Department for Education.