Building weekly digest | 31 January 2025
Building Magazine
The UK's leading magazine for construction professionals featuring the latest industry news, expertise and intelligence.
Although January may be winding down, this week at Building has been all about growth. We have featured insight into how Network Rail plans to become one of the UK's biggest housebuilders along with comment pieces on the chancellor's plans for the future of construction.
‘This is a growth story’… How Network Rail plans to become one of the UK’s biggest housebuilders
The transport operator’s group property director talks to Tom Lowe about the ‘new mindset’ at Network Rail – and why the country’s biggest owner of brownfield land is taking a more assertive role in redevelopment projects on its sites.
Under the leadership of Robin Dobson, the transport infrastructure firm aims to develop up to 50,000 homes on its extensive portfolio of disused land. It has already delivered 17,000 units over the past five years in joint ventures and partnerships, but now, its ready to make a name for itself as a housebuilder.
My route into construction … Jack Norkett, senior project manager at RED Construction
The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this ?series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns.
In Jack Norkett 's 16 years in the industry, he has encountered his fair share of successes and challenges.
From starting a carpentry apprenticeship to joining the company where his dad was a project director, Norkett shares his professional journey and offers advice to those looking to start a career in construction.
The chancellor has put infrastructure at the very centre of her growth plan – so where is the sense of excitement?
Backing for big and bold projects should help boost sector confidence, but with such long time horizons it all feels a bit distant, writes Building's editorial director Chloe McCulloch .
"Too often good policy intentions have been swallowed up by departmental complexity within the Treasury. Now there is an identifiable person accountable for the strategy’s success.
More generally, onlookers can see that this government, despite its shaky start, is now making a huge effort to create a positive narrative that will boost business confidence and attract private sector investment. Construction has called for a long-term plan, so now that ministers are outlining what that looks like, we should see that as progress."
The Building Safety Act is changing project procurement. Here’s how to navigate the way ahead
New safety requirements could signal the end of single-stage design and build, says Steven Jackson AtkinsRéalis . Expert advice and collaborative working are the keys to a smooth transition.
"Until more schemes have gone through the gateway process, providing clarity on what will and, more importantly, will not be acceptable to the BSR, and the time it is likely to take to gain gateway 2 approval, the likelihood of contractors willing to accept this risk will be very low.
"It is far more likely that contractors will seek to be engaged under a PCSA to gain gateway 2 approval, before committing to a contract sum to deliver the build, leading to a natural move to two-stage tendering."
领英推荐
How to fix the broken paradigm of risk transfer and procurement in construction
Design and build contracts have led to a “design and dump” mentaility that is unsafe and unsustainable. Kevin P’ng of BW: Workplace Experts proposes a radical alternative:
"The construction industry is at a crossroads, grappling with legislative change, increasing scrutiny and macroeconomic pressures. Despite commitments to safety and collaboration in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, on-the-ground practices often undermine these ideals.
"Nowhere is this more evident than in the misapplication of design and build (D&B) contracts and the conflicting approaches to the principal designer (PD) role under Building Regulations."
CPD
Learn how to meet ventilation compliance standards while ensuring air quality and energy efficiency in modern homes. Sponsored by Xpelair by Dimplex, this module outlines the key ventilation requirements and explores the role of MVHR in meeting modern standards.
Deadline for completion Friday 21 February 2025.
Our top picks this week
Sponsored by Ryno, this module takes a deep dive into balcony and terrace flooring, looking at the regulations and standards which govern design, alongside the common challenges and best practices
Sponsored by Vandersanden, this module will explore the specification of carbon negative bricks, a recent innovation developed to offer a more sustainable alternative to clay brick in terms of carbon sequestration.
Events update
Launching February 13th, register now for our free webinar 'World Architecture 100 Live: Highlights and insights from industry leaders'
In this webinar, we revisit the highlights from recent World Architecture 100 Live events. These experts contributed to impactful discussions, data, and emerging trends across 2022, 2023, and 2024, providing attendees with a comprehensive overview of the evolving priorities and achievements of the world’s top architecture firms.
Register now here!
New speakers announced for upcoming Good Employer Guide: Live
NEW key note speech by: Sarah Olney, MP for Richmond Park
Inaugural Good Employer Guide lecture brought to you by Gleeds
Sarah Olney is the Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, and has been an MP continually since 12 December 2019. She is currently the co-chair of the APPG The APPG for Ethnic Minority Business Owners, which aims to promote the advancement of businesses owned by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people to reduce barriers and unlock their potential for the overall benefit of the UK’s economy and undertakes the role of Liberal Democrat spokesperson (Cabinet Office).
Secure your ticket now: here
From the newsdesk
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